Guyana Times Daily

Jagdeo lays out PPP/C record in Reg

Carter Centre holds strategy talks with GECOM

Cause of death of missing WCD teen inconclusive GPSU briefed on requirements for observer status

tuesday, april 14, 2015 |

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, April 14, 2015 – 13:30h-15:00h and Wednesday, April 15, 2015 – 14:00h-15:30h

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, April 14, 2015 – 12:45h-14:15h and Wednesday, April 15, 2015 – 13:50h-15:20h

FERRY SCHEDULE

Ferries will be departing the Parika and Supenaam stellings on:

Tuesday, April 14 – 05:00h, 10:00h and 16:00h

Wednesday, April 15– 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery showers are expected to prevail throughout the day and evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly between 4.47 metres per second and 6.25 metres per second.

High Tide: 13:02h reaching a maximum height of 2.39 metres.

Low Tide: 06:32h and 19:06h reaching minimum heights of 0.92 metre and 0.76 metre respectively.

ERC staff monitoring election campaign

…but cannot sanction violators

By Devina Samaroo

Staffers of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) have been discreetly monitoring election campaign meetings across the country despite there being no Commission in place. But former Chairman of the constitutional body, Bishop Juan Edghill said there was nothing wrong with the activities of the staff. He said, however, because of the absence of a fully constituted ERC, they would not be able to sanction anyone.

The Guyana Times during the current elections period has noticed ERC staff at most of the major public rallies of the various parties.

Contacted on the issue, President Donald Ramotar pointed out that the ERC cannot officially execute its mandate without a Chairman.

But Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the ERC, Yvonne Langevine said the Commission can monitor the campaigns without a Chairman. She said the staff has always been involved in the monitoring of elections and even if the Commission did not have a Chairman, it could still compile reports of its findings.

Further, she explained that the ERC did not an-

nounce its intention of observing the elections season, because they fear victimisation. According to the CEO, ERC staffers were abused and attacked by members of the pubic during the last elections period in 2011 and as a result, they decided to go undercover this time around.

Meanwhile, former Chairman Edghill explained that to his knowledge, the body can indeed monitor the elections process. Edghill clarified that the staffers can go into the field to record the speeches at the political rallies, public meetings, and on television programmes.

However, as it relates to pronouncing on a violation or administering sanctions to anyone for breaching the laws, the ERC cannot do that without a Chairman. In fact, Edghill said that it was the practice of the ERC to make those records all year round, not only during the hype of an election campaign season.

Sometime in February, the President had announced that the ERC would become fully operational in time for elections with the swearing in of 10 new Commissioners and the election of a new Chairperson. However, to date, that has not yet materialised.

Integral

The ERC is said to play an integral role as a constitutional entity which serves to protect and preserve the interests of all stakeholders as far as creating an atmosphere of tolerance and harmony among the different races and ethnic groups in Guyana’s diverse society.

The ERC has been virtually dysfunctional since 2011, when then Opposition Leader Robert Corbin had secured an injunction against the body, barring the Chairman and two Commissioners from

taking any decision, recommendation or issuing any direction on behalf of the constitutional body.

Corbin was also granted an order to have the current Commissioners and Chairman of the ERC refund to the state all monies they had collected after August 2007, when the life of the Commission had expired.

However, in November of that same year, the injunction filed against the ERC officials was thrown out of the High Court. The Judge had said that the case was baseless. The

Commission’s Chairman at that time, Edghill, who was also blocked from performing his duties, resigned from the post, to join the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) election campaign. Edghill is now Minister within the Finance Ministry. The Opposition had also in the 2012 and 2013 national budgets cut funding for the constitutional body, but this was later restored through a court order.

The ERC had comprised representatives from seven different constituencies. These included a representative each from the three main religions – Hinduism, Islam and Christianity; Labour; the Private Sector; youth and women’s affairs organisations. However,

a motion was moved and passed by the National Assembly to increase the number of representatives from seven to 10.

Among those chosen by the Appointments Committee were: Pastor John Smith who represents the Christian community; Rajkumarie Singh, the Hindu community representative; and Sheikh Moeen ul Hack from the Muslim community; Norris Witter from Labour; Ravindra Dev, the Private Sector representative; Gomattie Kalicharran for youth organisations; Ruth Howard for women’s organisations; Peter Persaud for Amerindian groups; Barrington Braithwaite for African groups; and Neaz Subhan for Indian groups.

Previously, Presidential Adviser on Governance, Gail Teixeira noted that the prorogation of Parliament would have affected the swearing in of Commissioners or the election of the Chairperson.

Teixeira explained that once the Commissioners were sworn in by the President and they took the oath of office, the next step would be for the Speaker to convene a meeting of the new Commissioners where he would preside over the election of the ERC’s Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson.

Despite the Parliament being prorogued, Teixeira said the role of the Speaker of the National Assembly remains intact.

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

Culture and violence

There has been much handwringing about the increasing levels of violence in our society. Unfortunately, the Opposition's reflexive reaction is to "blame Rohee". They should peruse a study issued a few years ago by the IDB“Antipodes of violence”. “Antipodes”, of course, refer to things that are direct opposites.

The finding of the study, which was conducted in several Latin American cities, finds remarkable echoes in our own experience.

It bluntly concludes that any successful strategy to prevent violence should include measures to recognise and change behaviours prompted by beliefs, emotions and cultural factors. What then are the cultural factors that are the “antipodes of violence”?

Unlike countries like the USA and Guyana, which stress Police action and incarceration, along with various ameliorative “social” programmes, the study warns it is not enough to increase Police capacity, reduce socio-economic inequalities or amend laws to achieve deep changes in the safety of citizens.

This ought to give pause to those in the Opposition that insist “marginalisation” and “economic inequalities” (themselves disputed) lead to the higher rates of crimes and violence. We have to look at the variations of the cultural practices of the several communities and find out which of those practices are more highly correlated with crimes/violence and then look for causative mechanisms.

Culture is defined as rather broadly, cognitively and behaviourally as the universe of social norms, attitudes, beliefs and habits shared by individuals in a social group.

The premise is that violence is not normative and that the communities want to live in peace. One of the researchers pointed out:

“Harmony or disharmony among law, morality, and culture often determines the attitudes of people before the law, and lie at the root of legal or illegal behaviours. When a society or social group approves illegal behaviour and disapproves of legal behaviour, the law naturally loses authority as a regulatory system, and the likelihood of committing illegal acts increases.”

We see this operating every day in Guyana. Not long ago, when the Mayor of Georgetown Hamilton Green was asked about the then incipient problem of street vending, he replied that the owners of the stores were greater violators of the law.

In this way, rather than going after the store owners if his allegation was true, the Mayor encouraged the vendors to continue with their illegal activities. By the time the problem inevitably metastasised into drug dealing, gambling and robberies under arms, etc, the country did not have the resources to deal with the problem.

The culture of “looking the other way” towards law breaking has become endemic. Today, there is a whole section of the media and Opposition elements that are bent on subverting and undermining law enforcement officials and officialdom on the whole.

The result is a loss of faith in all institutions and a culture of anarchy and nihilsm. Although young people generally enter the world of crime because of economic problems or lack of opportunities, the study’s authors argue that the root cause is cultural.

For instance, youths may feel the need for social recognition and to express machismo. Increasing penalties, therefore, would not attack the underlying problem, since punishing individuals who do not feel guilt or shame for their criminal actions may be useless in preventing recidivism, the study said.

One of the mechanisms in which violence and law breaking becomes normalised and “acceptable” is when the popular media flood communities with dysfunctional traits with graphic images of violence.

This newspaper has long argued that the sensationalist yellow journalistic practices in some sections of the press must be curbed by the authorities. However, it is possible to modify culturally instilled traits and collective beliefs that nurture violent behaviour.

Culturally “slack” institutions must be curbed and the “politically correct” norm not to place responsibility on individuals for their beliefs and actions must be abandoned.

Is the Opposition willing to get with the programme?

From dark days under PNC to progressive, developing country

The memories of the PNC dictatorship are still a nightmare. The oppression, discrimination, insecurity, kick-down the door bandits and killing of ministers and those who were a threat to the PNC.

Guyana was the poorest country in the Caribbean with lack of foreign investment, rampant poverty and lack of economic development.

The Government had to subsidize millions to Linden, PNC strong hold, for water and electricity.

Despite the country was in deep recession, truckloads of essential items, mainly rice and sugar, were sent to Linden.

The roads, schools, bridges and hospital were beyond repair. There were daily blackouts and no money to buy fuel.

Guyana was a suitcase economy. People such as Glenn Lall used to bring shoes with suitcases and sell at Stabroek Market.

Economic growth was

dead and many businessmen such Robert Badal and Imam Bacchus had to close investment. C N Sharma had a small refrigeration repair business in his garage.

Today, these businessmen have acquired so much wealth that they suffer amnesia. I could remember the horror of National Service.

It was compulsory so as to deprive Indo-Guyanese tertiary education and Government jobs. My sister and niece were raped by officers. Females had to surrender for a loaf of bread.

The PNC had employment offices in all the regions of Guyana to assist their supporters to fill positions in all the ministries. No jobs with loss of hope, like Freddie Kisson, myself and thousands of Guyanese had to migrate.

I lived in the USA and travelled to many countries and the memories of the days under the PNC kept reminding me that such a beautiful country with so

much natural resources was crippled by the PNC.

Since 1992, I have been visiting Guyana with friends and relatives and the transformation has been unbelievable.

The country has been making progressive economic growth when all over the world people are suffering and recession is taking place.

The life style of Guyanese has improved. The many fast food outlets are filled with customers.

Many Guyanese can now afford to own a house with air condition, hot water and a washing machine.

The roads are congested with vehicles because every Guyanese can afford a vehicle and 50 per cent own one or more.

A trip under the PNC that would take six hours with damage to your vehicle, now takes one hour and you can travel to any part of the country via road.

Visitors are astonished to see from kindergarten

to pensioner afford a cell phone. The pensioners are given free water, electricity and computer. This doesn't happen even in USA and Canada, where everybody has to work and nothing is free.

I feel very proud to know that Guyanese students are doing better than those in the Caribbean. No more party card is pre-requisite to get scholarship, entry to UG and other institutions. Students now have many options to achieve higher education.

The Government has set up the learning channel, built many technical, secondary and primary schools to enable everyone to have free access to education.

Guyanese are returning home in Thousand and no more those going on holiday want to stay illegal.

Recently, I visited the Canadian Embassy and was amazed that Guyanese are no-more anxious to migrate.

Economic blockade on Cuba must be lifted

Dear Editor,

Cuba´s President Raul Castro described his US counterpart Barak Obama as an "honest man" during a lengthy speech largely taken up with the history of USCuba relations. He added that "when I talk about the revolution, the passion oozes out of me".

The Cuban leader said "I have asked President Obama for forgiveness. He is not responsable for the things which happened be-

fore his time".

Castro stressed for the decades-long economic blockade on Cuba to be lifted.

Earlier, Obama described the historic thaw in USCuba relations as a "turning point". He pointed out that "the fact that President Castro and I are both sitting here today marks a historic occasion.

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar in her

brief presentation said that CARICOM has a strong voice in the region on spoke about security in the region.

He pointed out that the Caribbean has the highest homicide rate with firearm being used in a large number of crimes.

She said she was in favor of the Arms Treaty and called on nations which have not yet adopted the Treaty to do so as soon as possible. She said that her country would like the Secretariat

for the Arms Treaty to be in Port of Spain.

Like President Obama, she stressed the importance of education which she said is the key to success and said her country is playing much importance in that area since education is free at both primary and secondary schools and that each child in secondary school is given a computer.

Oscar Ramjeet

Good marriages should last

Dear Editor,

I attended the PPP/C rally in Linden on Sunday and left with a sense of anger mixed with sadness.

I came face to face with some realities that I would not normally confront in the normal course of my busy life – realities that sadly surface only in the season of politicking and rallies.

The first stark reality was that the PPP/C, in office since 1992, has done a tremendous amount of work to bring Guyana to the place it is today. They must have!

Speaker after speaker could not have rolled out that countless list of achievements if it were not so. Not in front of such a crowd, and not with an

Opposition alliance hungry for a chance to punch holes in their credibility

Why this sense of anger?

Anger that a party that has such a tremendous record of achievement, that has done so much for so many, would have to work so hard at justifying their right to govern.

Another reality that was disturbing, only because it should have been so obvious to the conscious man, was the popularity of former President Bharrat Jagdeo, in Linden territory, I might add.

Especially, after reading that Brigadier David Granger had dismissed his presence in the PPP/C’s lineup as a waste of time because he was so unpopular.

Besides wondering whether Granger was on another planet, cause I was listening now, I came upon another reality. That was the military nature of the alliance that was creeping up on the population.

Sadness prevailed because as if remembering the past repression and militarization of the PNC was not enough, I was reminded of my lecturer in Comparative Politics, the eminent Dr Decarlo, teaching me that the military is not trained to govern, they are trained to rule, and would it is not their nature to tolerate opposition and dissent. It’s just not their nature.

As the PPP/C rolled out

its countless list of achievements in all ten regions, in Linden alone two water treatment plants, new hospital, nursing school and on and on, I wondered, does one discard a good wife because he has been married too long?

Is loyalty to purpose and devotion to the people cause for dismissal?

And the sadness returned because the APNU/ AFC alliance is calling for change, and as if that isn’t enough cause for sadness, the fact that there are some who may believe them, is sad indeed.

Vote wisely!

Name withheld by request

Stabroek News and Kaieteur News are extremely biased

Dear Editor, I have sent several letters to Kaieteur News and also to Stabroek News, but both news papers refuse to print my missives in their letter columns. Stabroek News printed a letter from me only be-

cause it was critical of Ravi Dev and the PPP/C.

These news papers are biased against any letter that is pro PPP/C. Their letters columns are the exclusive territory of PNC/APNU-AFC. This is unfair to

the reading public and they are not fulfilling their mission to be fair and open to all opinions. The various watch dog committees should look into this matter.

Latchman Mohabir

Religion and culture

Dear Editor,

Please permit me a space in your paper to reply to Devanand Bhagwan on his many questions on Hinduism, culture, faith, prayer and samskars, etc, posted in this paper on March 26.

Mr Bhagwan, I take the opportunity through this media to answer for Pt R Balbadar and Shivanie Rampersaud (no connection) and will try to give you a clear understanding on some of those topics, but cannot give a full answer to your questions because of space.

I learned my religion (and I am still learning) back in Guyana since I was a little boy and speaking English only. I was receiving monthly Bhawan Journals (English) from India when I was in Guyana. I was an associate member from 2000-2005, in the US, until they told me that they will stop distribution.

You have mentioned that you were a Hindu and are comfortable in the faith of Christianity. I must tell you that you can change your faith, but you can never change your religion. I would like to congratulate you of

choosing Christianity.

Christianity and Hinduism are of similar nature. We try to reach that One God, for I believe Lord Jesus is God incarnated. He said that “I am the Father, The Son and The Holy Ghost” of which I believe he is All.

Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva (Trinity) and it is clearly stated in our scripture that God said, “I will embody myself whenever there is turmoil and a decline in religion for the safeguard of mankind”. And that is how Lord Jesus came to save mankind.

This will be a learning experience for the 95 per cent of the Guyanese Hindus whom you think do not know of their Hindu religion. When I was in Guyana and onto now I never think of Phagwah as an Indian New Year, nor the name of the year.

I am a frequent visitor of India and I know for a fact that about 95 per cent of the people do not know about their Hindu religion, also the same for Phagwah. We also never think of Christmas as Lord Jesus’ birthday. All we think of is that it is a special

occasion for us and for special celebrations.

Although most of us know what these celebrations stand for, we do not pay any interest to what they signify. Previously, I have tried to explain “culture” a little and I give the basics of how we came to be given the name Hindu.

Mr Bhagwan, Sanatana Dharma, aka, Hinduism is a very scientific religion. There is no beginning nor ending. We pray through the cosmic energy to reach the Supreme Energy. Sanatana Dharma started 4,320,000 years ago in the starting of Staya Yuga unto now the Kali Yuga which is about the end of time. It is a cycle the planet Earth and the Universe has to go through and then start back after 4,320,000 years completed. The planet Earth is billions of years old according to our Scripture.

Many believe that the world began 4000 years BC, according to the Bible and Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Judaism, Islam and after that. But our Vedic philosophy, Sanatana Dharma

Dark days under the PNC...

Remigrants and those visiting are stunned by the rapid development in Georgetown and in rural areas. The beautiful five and six storey buildings, which are among the best in the Caribbean.

Businessmen like Mr Badal claim there is no economic progress, but yet wants to buy into the Marriot for US$8 million.

Mr Sharma owns from Regent Street to North Road and his friend Glenn Lall still hasn't paid the Government

for Guyana Store. He had wanted to buy much more on credit, but his offer was refused and like a ravenous snake he wants to take out revenge.

These people are insane and should the PNC win dark days would return. What will happen with their businesses and expectation?

How can the PNC change? These are the same people who contributed, executed and facilitated the PNC to carry out all the atrocities

from page 4

against Guyanese.

Look at the campaign, the AFC members are on the platform like a pack of brainless wolves, while the PNC members are hiding from the shame of the past and their personality.

Those who cannot see and comprehend the transformation in Guyana should ask their relatives and visitors to make the comparison.

Joel Persaud

Why is meal allowance being taxed?

Dear Editor, It is quite heartening to know that members of the taxpaying public are seeking answers to numerous tax related matters, especially those that impact their livelihoods.

As the Agency that is mandated to promote voluntary compliance, with Guyana’s tax laws, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is always willing to provide answers to questions asked by our taxpayers. More particularly during this busy tax period we continue to encourage persons to ask questions.

In this regard, reference is made to a letter that appeared on April 3, “Why is meal allowance being taxed?” in which the unnamed writer indicated that, as a security officer, he/she was surprised to learn that their meal allowance is being taxed.

(called Hindusim), teaches us that this world (this Earth) is billions of years old. It never ends. It runs in cycles – one cycle according our belief is 4,320,000 years. Modern scientists and historians are finding that out now. There is no end to Sanatana Dharma. The Vedic System is the oldest of all religions and it spread throughout the world in ancient times.

S N Singh

For the benefit of all taxpayers, meal costs are generally considered to be of a private or domestic nature, since these are a normal part of living.

Thus, if an employer pays employees a meal allowance for them to buy their lunch, in the course of their normal working day, the allowance is generally considered taxable to the employee.

Generally, meal allowances are provided to employees who carry out

work during the hours designated for lunch or recess. Employees in the Public Sector are given a subsistence allowance for working short periods away from their base and as a consequence have to incur expenditure for lodging and meals. However, as it relates to Private Sector employees, consideration may be given to treat subsistence or meal allowance as nontaxable, if an employer in the Private Sector pays subsistence or meal allowance to employees, provided the allowance was used to the satisfaction of the Commissioner-General for its intended purposes.

Both employers and employees should be aware of provisions under the Income Tax Act of Guyana Chapter 81:01 which makes provision for allowances subject to Income Tax and allowances exempt from the tax. Under the said Act, all allowances are subject to Income Tax with the exception of leave passage, travelling, entertainment, station and subsistence allowances, medical discharge and dental expenses once it is proven to the satisfaction of the Commissioner-General that these allowances were used for the intended purpose.

Canadian-based Guyanese busted with cocaine at CJIA

ACanadian-based Guyanese was on Monday morning nabbed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport as he attempted to smuggle a quantity of cocaine in false walls of his suitcase.

The bust was made by members of the Custom Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) at about 04:00h.

The man was about to board a Caribbean Airlines, 524 Flight destined for Canada. Head of the Custom Anti Narcotics Unit, James Singh confirmed that the cocaine was found in false walls o the passenger’s suitcase who was later identified as Arthur Manget of Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara.

Singh noted that the man arrived in Guyana about five months ago and was on his way back to Canada when the cocaine was found. While the actual weight of the illegal substance has not been disclosed, Singh stated that it is estimated to be between 8 and 11 kilograms.

Guyana Times under-

stands that Manget was about to be checked-in by a counter clerk when members of CANU recognised that he was acting in a suspicious manner. Upon checking his suitcases, it was noticed that one side looked heavier that the other causing it to topple on its side. On taking a closer look, CANU ranks detect-

ed that the man’s suitcases had false walls which were filled with cocaine.

He was taken to the search room where he was grilled and told ranks that he knew nothing of the illicit substance. CANU has launched an investigation and has since visited the man’s East Bank Demerara home but no one was there.

ATC hosts successful career workshop on writing cover letters, CVs

The Accountancy

Training Centre (ATC) hosted a career workshop on April 10 on preparing a good cover letters and curriculum vitae (CVs).

The workshop targeted secondary school students, aspiring accounting and management professionals, and anyone seeking employment and, it was deemed a success. Participants present indicated that they felt more confident in their ability to market themselves to employers after the session, a release from the Centre said. They described it as “a good initiative” which was “beneficial” and “informative” to everyone present, the release added.

Administrator Kamladevi Singh stated that ATC offers resources,

counselling and guidance to its students as they pursue their qualifications at the institution. “The institution also networks with employers in and out of Guyana to ensure that its students have good employment prospects as they study,” she said. However, she noted that

one of the issues highlighted by some of the employers in Guyana, is that not many persons know how to prepare a convincing cover letter and CV to create that outstanding first impression which is needed.

“Thus, the workshop was hosted to sensitise and empower students and

members of the public at large on this issue,” Singh said. Representatives from Sambora Communications and Giftland Mall were present in support of the event.

Last December, ATC hosted an employer consultation with the Association of Business Executives

(ABE), one of its international partners. The event sensitized employers about the ABE qualifications and how the skills-set acquired by students, matched employers’ needs.

Singh said the institution will continue to strive to bridge the gap between employers and employees through career workshops and in-class meetings with students. This is an additional service offered to students.

The next batch of Accounting, Business, Marketing, Human Resource Management and Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Management classes will commence in June 2015. Interested persons may call 227-1007 or 223-7673, or visit www.atcguyana.com for more information.

By April FreemAn

Because I homeschool, I spend lots of time with my kids. Usually, that is a good thing. I enjoy watching them learn and creating fabulous memories with them. However, with my oldest, the family togetherness sometimes has an ugly side. Her intensity can drive us all crazy. My daughter is a wonderful child. However, she has some personality quirks that can make her very challenging to be around. Many of these quirks have become more moderate now that she is an older teen. However, when she was younger, having a peaceful home wasn’t always easy. I had to learn methods to keep her calmer and more centred.

If you have a challenging, intense child, these ideas might help you. Of course, don’t make the mistake of thinking they will “fix” your child; these tips never made my daughter easy, sweet, or compliant. However, when I stuck to these techniques, I found that some of the “rough edges were knocked-off”, so to speak. Remember, though, that what works for MY child may not work for yours, so study your own children to see which of these tips will work for your family.

The Importance of rest I found out early on that my child was not the type to handle fatigue very well. One late night could mean several days of irritability, arguments, and tantrums, so I place a huge emphasis on getting enough quality sleep. I am that parent who rounded up her children on family vacations and makes them go to bed no more than a half hour later than normal. My daughter has never be able to sleep later to make up for a late night. Instead, she’d just get up at the same time as usual and act grumpy all day. As my daughter hit puberty, the need for quality sleep grew. She actually needed more rest as a preteen and a teen. When it came to sleep-overs, I had to be the bad guy for many years. I often volunteered to host the sleep-overs so that I could make sure that my daughter got enough rest. And I knew my daughter’s friends’ parents well enough to mention that I really needed her to get some sleep, so I’d appreciate it if the children could get to bed before midnight or 11 pm (yes, even when my daughter was 15 or 16-years-old). Amazingly, most of the other parents were happy to try to enforce this when hosting because they were dealing with grumpy children the next day, too.

Jagdeo lays out PPP/C’s record in Reg 10

… says party saved bauxite industry; improved conditions

By Gomatie GanGadin

Former President of Guyana, Bharrat

Jagdeo has urged the mining town of Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Upper Berbice) and its environs to vote solidly for the ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), stating that it is only under that party that progress, especially for that region can continue.

Speaking at the party’s public rally in Linden on Sunday, Jagdeo told the gathering that under his tenure as President and under the current President, Donald Ramotar, emphasis has always been placed on development in the region.

To this end, Jagdeo noted that this commitment to development can be seen in the past situation where the Russian-based, Aroaima Bauxite Company had decided to pull out from Guyana.

According to Guyana, had it not been for government’s intervention and the welfare of the people of Linden at

heart, more than 750 persons would have been out of jobs.

“…we saved the 650 jobs in the bauxite industry right here. In Kwakwani, when the Aroaima Bauxite Company decided to walk away because the PNC union nudged them to walk away, we took it over, we bought Aroaima and merged BERMINE with Aroaima and got RUSAL to invest US$150 million dollars, into the company and as a result 750 persons were able to have a job,” Jagdeo told the crowd.

Infrastructural developments

Continuing, Jagdeo told those gathered to show their support for the ruling party that under his administration and that of Ramotar, the lives of many in that region were also significantly improved through the provision of hospitals, schools and other infrastructural developments.

“When I came here in the 1990s, this road that we are on, that is now called Burnham Drive, was im-

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

passable but look at it now.

We have built roads, we built a new hospital for US$15 million dollars and now, Granger came and spoke about the color of the water, and we are building two water treatment plants that will cost US$2.5 billion dollars for Wismar and Wisroc,” he expressed. The former President said that the government did not stop there but has, for the past ten years, given the region more than US$25 billion dollars

in subsidy for electricity, declaring that this was one of the many clear indications that the government truly cared for that region.

“We have spent over US $25 billion dollars over the last ten years on electricity subsidy here. We have been here on the fore front of the struggle for change in this community… but let me say that you have seen us work over the past decade, work to change your lives, work in a way that doesn’t exclude Region 10 from development…” the former President shared with those present.

Contrast

To this end, he related that this was in stark contrast to the PNC/APNU’s administration who has control of that region and which was done nothing compared to the plans and projects implemented by the ruling administration for that part of the country.

Jagdeo implored the crowd to vote for the ruling party on May 11 if they

wanted to see Linden further developed, noting that if so much can be done for that Region despite its support the Opposition, then they can imagine what will be done, should the party win that region at the polls while further pointing out that despite the fact that the Opposition had control over that region, it was still blaming the government for everything that went wrong.

“…vote for the PPP. The regional administration have pumped tons of money into this administration and now it is time…it is time to change the regional administration because for the past fifty years, the PNC has run this region, let’s change this now. Let us kick them out this region and you will see how this region will progress. They are running the region and they are criticizing us, the government. Give us the power to run this region and then you will see the progress. We will not discriminate against anyone…let us make the difference,” Jagdeo

told the residents of Linden. Meanwhile, he encouraged the gathering to continue to hold the faith and to continue to support the party, even thought he knew that they were being victimized and intimidated by the members and supporters of the APNU/AFC coalition. He urged them to retaliate for this intimidation on May 11 when they will hold the ballot paper in their hands.

“Wismar and Mackenzie I know that for the past three years they have used the region to bully people, they have been quietly bullying people even over the last few days, they have been saying to them if you go to the PPP rally, you will face consequences…they will keep intimidating you, they will tear down our flags, our banners but when you go into the ballot box on elections day, they won’t be there. They cannot intimidate you in there and I ask you to teach them a lesson, say no to intimidation and vote for the PPP,” Jagdeo implored.

New jobs coming to Orealla, Siparuta – President tells residents

Government has been aggressively pursuing a people-centred development course and President Donald Ramotar has assured residents of Orealla and Siparuta that this will result in new job opportunities for them and other Guyanese.

The President yesterday visited the two riverain Amerindian communities along the Corentyne River, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), which has a combined population of about 1800.

He told the residents of the Administration’s pursuit of plans to build a deep water harbour in the Berbice River and a highway from Linden to Lethem to link Brazil, “so that Brazil and South America can do international trade through Guyana”.

Government is also working with the Surinamese to bridge the Corentyne River, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said.

“These are projects that will transform our country, transform the lives of our people, and that is why we are preparing our people through education… we want our people prepared and ready,” the President said.

Government, he added, is expending large sums to ensure the country’s human resources are highly qualified and skilled to take advantage of the opportunities that will be presented.

These, he said will directly impact the prospects available to residents in Orealla and Siparuta by opening up new avenues for business from which they can capitalise.

“That will create new kinds of jobs, plenty of jobs and even the road itself -you have to have mechanic shops, tyre shops, vulcanizing shops, hotels, restaurants all of

which can generate lots of jobs for people. Those are the things that the Opposition want to cut from the budget.”

The President said the global trends have shown that countries that focus extensively on the development of its human resources have progressed rapidly, and that is the direction Guyana is heading with the hope of having a highly skilled workforce that will attract more investments.

In this context, the Government has been focusing heavily on the social sector to improve people’s quality of life, particularly education, which receives the largest portion of the social sector annual budget.

These provisions include free text books, uniforms, education grants for school children and transportation and meals for children to attend school regularly. Much investment has also been made in the provision of education for hinterland children, including the construction of dormitories.

Similarly, the health sector has recorded numerous

strides, and in Orealla, there

are now two resident doctors. In the past these villages had only health workers and visiting doctors. Persons from the community have also been trained as doctors and will return to serve.

Other plans for the areas include providing a boat ambulance, transportation to assist farmers to fetch their produce out from the farming areas, and linking the two communities by road, “so that we can have better communication, better transportation and help to improve the overall economy.

However, President Ramotar warned of the deliberate attempts by the political Opposition to stymie national development.

“We have an Opposition that has not been cooperat-

ing, they want power for power sake,” he said, noting that they have opposed the passage of critical piece of legislations such as the AntiMoney Laundering Bill, the amendment to the environmental tax on imported bottled aerated drinks.

The Opposition has also opposed money for development projects such as the Amalia Falls Hydroelectric Project, the airport expansion project, the Speciality Hospital and the Amerindian Development Fund. Money was also cut from the National Budgets in 2012, 2013 and 2014 by the Parliamentary Opposition using its oneseat majority in the 10th Parliament, which was dissolved by President Ramotar in February 2015.

“This was a deliberate attempt by these people to stymie development in our country…this is not an Opposition that is interested in development. It is an Opposition that is interested in power for the sake of having power,” he reiterated.

The President acknowledged that both Orealla and Siparuta have challenges with the provision of some services, but noted that Government is continuously working to address those.

Among the issues on which the residents sought the President’s attention are governance and accountability at Orealla while those at Siparuta have requested improved access to potable water for residents on the hilltop, and power generation.

ExxonMobil ignores Venezuela’s warning … remains upbeat

US-based company

ExxonMobil said it was careful not to respond to a recent warning by Venezuela to cease explorations in the Stabroek Block area, even as it remained upbeat about the prospects of finding oil.

In keeping with its initial decision to stay clear of the issue between Venezuela and Guyana, ExxonMobil Guyana has remained mum on the recent letter sent to it by the Spanish-speaking nation’s Foreign Minister Delcy Rodríguez. Rodríguez had late last week sent another note to the oil company via the subsidiary’s head, Jeff Simmons, reasserting her country’s rejection of the company’s exploration plans.

Contacted by the Guyana Times on Monday, Simmons refused to comment on the issue, saying that the company would do so at the appropriate time. In an earlier comment, ExxonMobil had made it clear that its agreement was with the Guyana Government and not Venezuela and as such it would not be responding to the Nicolas Maduro administration. The note from Rodriguez, related in legal and diplomatic terms, the determination of the Venezuelan Government to deplore the meddling of trans-nationals in sovereignty-related issues, especially those related to the border dispute between both nations. Rodríguez pointed out that the transnational’s behaviour contravened public international law, as Esso intended to carry out operations within the maritime area adjacent to Venezuela.

This, she said, is a breach of the Geneva Agreement of 1966.

The official added that such a situation should be viewed in light of US President Barack Obama’s executive order declaring Venezuela an “unusual and extraordinary threat to the

about finding oil

national security and foreign policy of the United States”.

The recent letter to ExxonMobil is the second to be received from the Bolivarian Republic. Just before the commencement of its exploratory work last month, the oil and gas company, one of the largest in the world, was warned by the Spanish-speaking country to refrain from going ahead with its planned exploratory drilling activity,

some five weeks into its exploration, has expressed optimism at the prospect of finding oil in Guyana’s waters and said it expected results from the first phase soon.

The company’s massive rig dubbed the “Deep Water Champion” commenced operations more than a month ago on March 5. With the total area allotted to Exxon covering 26, 806 square kilometres, the company has a target depth of 1750 metres.

support vessels and two shore bases – Georgetown and Trinidad, as well as a waste treatment facility at the John Fernandes Site at Houston, Greater Georgetown.

Up to that point Simmons had said the work was proceeding without any interference from Venezuela.

The company, which intends to pursue exploration activities over a 10year period, remains leery of a possible showdown with

on a concession awarded by Guyana.

The multibillion-dollar project, however, got underway early last month.

Venezuela has repeatedly laid claim to the area being explored, ignoring an 1899 Arbitral Tribunal Award, which was declared as the full and final settlement of the boundary between the two South American nations. With Venezuela’s obdurate insistence on its position, Guyana is considering judicial settlement of the boundary.

Meanwhile, ExxonMobil,

Simmons last Wednesday had related that the drilling was midway.

He explained that it was expected that the team would conclude the initial stages of drilling shortly. At which time the project is expected to produce promising results.

The scope of operations spans a drillship, with approximately 200 crew and contractors; helicopter support flying out of Ogle International Airport – a utility as well as a searchand-rescue craft, which is always on standby; four

Venezuelan authorities.

Guyana has been receiving sustained international attention from huge companies, especially in the oil sector, particularly since the US Geological Survey said in 2000 that the GuyanaSuriname Basin has the second largest unexplored oil potential in the world after Greenland. ExxonMobil, the largest public traded international company in the world, is an industry giant that has the leading inventory of oil and gas projects, and the world’s largest refiner of petroleum products.

High-profile murder trial opens in Berbice

Amixed jury was empanelled in the Berbice Assizes on Monday before Justice Franklyn Holder to decide the fate of the man accused of the murder of Gary Simon also called “Fat Bull” and “Bull” on December 18, 2004.

Abdulssalam Azimullah, also called “Sato”, is on trial for the shooting of the Corentyne man.

State Prosecutor Natasha Backer is expected to outline the facts which led to Simon’s death when the trial opens today.

The accused is being defended by Attorney Kim John-Kyte.

The matter has been making headlines ever since the Preliminary Inquiry (PI). It had been reported in the media that during the initial PI which saw three persons before the Magistrate for the December 18, 2004 killing, that one of the key witnesses gave evidence which was inconsistent

Accused: Abdulssalam Azimullah

with her statement to Police. Hence, she was deemed a hostile witness and after further investigations, Police placed her before the court for perjury.

During the perjury trial, it was reported that an Attorney who was defending the murder accused in the PI, had paid her to lie to the court.

In August 2009, the Attorney was also placed before the court. At the end of the PI, Magistrate Chandra Sohan found that there was not enough evidence to commit the accused and freed the three of them. However, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) insisted on a retrial and Azimullah was rearrested in June 2012 and committed to stand trial in the High Court.

In March 2014, the State’s key witness was shot at point blank range at a house on the Corentyne. The shooter tried to shoot her a second time, but the gun snapped and she survived the incident.

This will be the first trial before Justice Franklyn Holder for the February session of the Berbice Assizes.

Eyew tness

IMr 11%...

...and Granger on sugar

n the the run up to the last elections - fresh from his rigging PNC-R1G's election for leader, Brigadier (rtd) David Granger, now it's Presidential candidate unequivocally, declared his intention to “get out of Stateowned sugar….”

He explained: “I don’t think this is the concern of the State… I don’t think there is any place for State ownership of those things anymore, certainly not under David Granger”.

His statement created quite a furore in the society as you, dear reader, would figure. The industry, after all, directly employs about 17,000 persons and at least five times that indirectly.

FITUG, the largest labour body in Guyana (it makes the TUC look like a runt) came out swinging - but Granger never changed his position. In the last budget debate, he and his APNU fig leaf for the PNC refused to assist the industry - causing sugar worker to protest in front of Parliament.

Granger's hatred for the sugar industry goes back decades - in fact to 1977! when, in the midst of the longest strike in the history of Guyana 135 days, GAWU was crippling the newly nationalised industry and drying up foreign currency.

Burnham was determined to break the strike and, in addition to scabs from the House of Israel, called out the GDF. There's a famous picture of Granger posing in his army fatigues with a cutlass in his hand in front of some stalks of sugar cane. He was so embarrassed at his pitiful performance: it caused skinny, regular cane cutters to fall down laughing. He swore to get back at them one day. That day came in 2011.

But it looks like when he and Nagamootoo were negotiating their wedding vows - in which Nagamootoo promised to bring 11 per cent GUYANESE (we can't say "Indians") to APNU as dowry - Nagamootoo must've told him to sing a different tune. At least until the elections.

And so we had the strange sight of Granger contradicting his "sugar man" Vieira from last year, saying he'll now "revamp" the sugar industry.

And we now have Nagamootoo desperately trying to take Granger’s foot out of his mouth - but ending up pushing his own boy foot down his throat. What Granger means, says Nagamootoo, is to move the industry to "value-added products such as molasses, rum and ethanol".

We can understand Granger not knowing a sugar cane from a bamboo, but Nagamootoo??

Doesn't he know that whenever you produce sugar you'll have molasses?? And that you can make the rum and ethanol from the molasses?

So without more sugar, how will he get increased amount of molasses?? From the larwah he got from Granger??

...and Ramjattan

Is it only your Eyewitness who's noticed that Ramjattan's been shunted to the side after the nuptials he arranged between Nagamootoo and Granger at Whim?? It has been remarked by very wise "old heads" that "all smart flies does end up on cow's backside". And this is where "smart fly" Ramjattan has now found himself.

As revealed by their Essequibo Organiser and Regional Councillor Darchiville, Ramjattan spent five years trying to dump Trotman as co-leader. Trotman just couldn't bear the thought of serving under Ramjattan whom he thought was "classless".

Ramjattan succeeded when Granger wooed Trotman independently to be the Speaker.

Next he had to neutralise Nigel Hughes who everyone thought would succeed Trotman as the rotating "African Guyanese" co-leader.

Ramjattan convinced AFCites that his buddy Nagamootoo would bring in Indian votes (dare we say it?) so Hughes stepped aside.

But now that Mr 11 per cent has Granger's ring on his fingers, looks like it's Ramjattan who got the Larwah first!!

...and young professionals

Some've complained if Granger could persuade his daughter to be a candidate of the APNU/AFC, how come Nagamootoo didn't?

After cogging from his daughters in "law school" (in his late 60s), you think he wants further humiliation??

tuesDAY, APRIL 14, 2015 | guYAnAtImesgY.com

APNU/AFC adds 20 females to balance “flawed” list

Days after the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) found fault with the List of Candidates submitted by the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition, citing insufficient female representation, the group has now added 22 members to its list, 20 of who are female.

The List was submitted to GECOM last Tuesday, Nomination Day, at City Hall. However, it had to be adjusted after the Elections Commission indicated to the APNU/AFC coalition that there was a need for more women representatives to be included on the list.

Of the 75 persons who were named on the List which was submitted on Tuesday, only 20 were women. The APNU and the AFC subsequently added 22 more members after GECOM had found fault with the list, bringing the total number to 97.

According to the legal requirement, the list of representatives must have one third females as such; the al-

liance was required to make some adjustments.

The Representation of the People Act says the total number of females on each party’s national top-up list shall be at least one-third of the total number of persons on that list. With the addition of the 22 persons, the coalition has now satisfied the constitutional requirement. The law also states that the total number of females on any party’s lists for geographical constituencies, taken together, shall be at least one-third of the total number of persons on those lists taken together for the geographical constituencies in which that party is contesting.

The other women are Genevieve Allen; Mabel Baveghems; Aileen Chalmers; Susan Farnum; Ingrid Ferguson; Aurdell Glasgow; Nia Gonsalves; Viviana Harris; Shondel Hope; Ebony Hunte; Ciselyn Jonas; Janice LewisGonsalves; Ann Marcelle Lee- A-Ping; Andrea Marks; Ann Gentian Miller, a lecturer at the University of Guyana; Allison Maureen-

Philadelphia; Hazel Pinder; Alicia Roopnaraine, daughter of Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Leader and APNU Executive, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine; Benita Lauren Sampson and Aileen Whyte.

Meanwhile, the two men who have been added to the List are Lawrence London and Rajendra Bissessar.

Dr Roopnaraine expounded on the criterion which was used, citing at the top of the list, competency and integrity.

“We wanted to place a great deal of emphasis on competency because part of what we are suffering from at the moment is a high level of incompetence in many areas of state operations and we wanted to ensure that we left the level of competence. We have a strong insistence on integrity. So we were putting forward candidates I believe who could be trusted with political office and we tried to ensure as far as we can that our lists that we had submitted would in fact pass those tests,” Dr Roopnaraine shared.

PPP/C flays Opposition attacks on youth candidates

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP) says it has taken note of the attacks being levelled against those young professionals who have identified themselves with the PPP/C and have consented to appear on its List of Candidates.

Speaking at the Party’s weekly press conference on Tuesday, General Secretary Clement Rohee said the attacks emanating from the Opposition camp were demonstrative of the vicious and vindictive nature of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition towards the young people who dared to stand up and be counted in support of a party and a cause which they believed in and for which they are willing to contribute towards.

According to Rohee, the Opposition has constantly encouraged the young people to get involved in the decision making process, but when they do, they are attacked. “It is baffling, if not mind-boggling, that the coalition (confusing) party which speaks so much about the need for young people

to get involved in the political life of the country would now cast aspersions and innuendos against the very cohort of people who they falsely claim to be so concerned about. The fact that some of the young people happen to be close relatives of members and supporters of the ruling PPP/C Administration cannot diminish nor in any way inhibit their involvement in the national discourse for a better and more secure Guyana,” Rohee said.

He noted that the PPP/C strongly condemned the attacks on those who have come forward on its platform and would not sit idly by and allow them to be treated as

second-class citizens because of their family back ground or association with organisations or individuals who are sympathetic or supportive of the Party.

“These are young people who have not emerged out of thin air, but have been integrally and actively involved in the work of the Party and Government and who have demonstrated high levels of commitment and competence in the execution of whatever assignment they are required to execute. The APNU/AFC coalition has now sunk to a new low by taking cheap shots at some of our young and bright minds,” the PPP/C’s General Secretary intoned.

Rohee said that the PPP/C has never and will never object to young people wishing to identify with one or the other political party regardless of family or organisational ties and sees no reason why the Opposition parties should do so. “It is time for the APNU/AFC coalition to stop pointing fingers against our youths and take a page out of the leaf of the PPP on how to treat with our young people.”

Carter Centre holds strategy talks with GECOM

With less than a month left for the General and Regional Elections to be held on May 11, 2015, the Carter Centre is pro -

gressively establishing its presence in Guyana. A precursor team of me -

dium-term observers visited the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Friday last to meet with the GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally, to discuss the strategic di -

servers deployed closer to Election Day. A total of 42 persons are expected to complete the Carter Centre’s Observer Mission.

Calder also discussed a preliminary logistical plan

rections of their Observer Mission.

Team Leader and Assistant Director, Global Development Initiative, Jason Calder indicated that the Carter Centre may be looking to establish a core medium observer team of four persons to lead its Mission. He further stated that Carter Centre planned to have six medium-term observers comprising three teams of two persons each which can be deployed by April 22, 2015. The Carter Centre is expected to have at least 30 short-term ob -

for the three medium-term observer teams which is as follows: (a) one team to cover Regions Two, Three, and Seven; (b) another team will cover Regions Five and Six; and the other team to cover Regions One, Eight, and Nine.

GECOM’s Chairman, Dr Surujbally expressed his satisfaction that the Carter Centre is once again taking a keen interest in observing elections in Guyana. Dr Surujbally also gave a commitment to the Carter Centre representatives that GECOM will assist the team in

whatever information requirements they may have. He also advised the Carter Centre representatives to send all plans and other training materials they intend to use, during their Election Observer Mission to GECOM, so that those materials can be assessed by GECOM for accuracy and completeness. The GECOM Chairman also asked the Carter Centre to agitate for peace and serenity before, during and after the elections, and to help explain to the public the need for calm as citizens await the final official results. He further emphasised that GECOM will not be sacrificing accuracy for expediency when it comes to the delivery of the election results.

The PPP/C formula for victory: Getting their messages to stick

By MK Singh

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) can win the forthcoming elections. Their track record of accomplishments is very impressive, but that could only work to their advantage if they are able to get their messages of ‘success and hope’ to stick with voters. The foundation of accomplishments is already there.

Under the PPP/C governance, the country has witnessed unprecedented economic growth over the past eight years; while pride and freedom have returned to a once politically fatigued nation under the People’s National Congress (PNC) rule. Having cleaned the untold mess that the PNC had created and brought back the country into solvency with positive growth rates, the PPP should have the edge in this election.

On the other hand, the PNCR is asking the Guyanese people to forget their failure as a government and to give them another chance to govern. Well, the PNCR had several chances before, and only brought on more distress to the Guyanese people. Now that they have rebranded themselves as “A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)” party, they hope that this new label would wipe away their past failings and help to cast them as a new force with new ideas.

But who in his right sense can ask anyone to forget the past or forget history? Let’s heed the wisdom of George Santayana: “Those who

do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” PNCR wants Guyanese voters to forget about election rigging in the past, to forget about the nonaccountability of 150+ AK47s from the Army; and to forget about David Granger’s and Moses Nagamootoo’s refusing to appear before the Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI). Former President Bharrat Jagdeo has asked Granger to come clean on his role in election rigging, the AK47s issue, and Granger’s failure to appear before the CoI. Granger’s indifference or refusal to address these issues shows the potential for weakness in his leadership. What type of political landscape has developed in Guyana over the past three to four years, in particular? A Parliament whose public rating was abysmal; a Parliament noted for cutting development funds; a Parliament that voted against the Amerindian Development Fund; a Parliament that voted against the funding for the Cheddi Jagan airport expansion; and a Parliament which was best known for its gridlock. At the public level, there are approximately 600,000 registered voters in Guyana. This figure represents a huge increase in the voters list by about 37 per cent over a four- year period. How is this possible? Over 100,000 new voters have been added to the list? How does the Elections Commission explain this dramatic increase? Has the country’s youthful population (below 18) declined and the older

(Part One)

(18+) segment exploded? What’s the geographic or demographic distribution of the 100,000 new voters? GECOM should explain this unusually high increase. Which political party will benefit from this huge increase in voter registration? Based on past voting pattern, at least (three in every four), 450,000 voters are likely to vote. We believe that a high turnout rate will favour the PPP/C. The PPP’s goal is to achieve at least 51 per cent of the votes cast on May 11, 2015. They must work hard on turnout rates. They must convince the “undecideds” within their strongholds to vote. They must consolidate their base and not take anything for granted. They must narrow or even eliminate their 2011 loss of votes, particularly in the Corentyne to the AFC. See chart of voter participation rate in 2011 elections. At the 2011 elections there was a turnout rate of 72.9 per cent, which means that 27.1 per cent of voters did not vote. That’s a ratio of one in every four voters. Whether that was due to political apathy or indifference, or some other reason, this is a huge chunk of voters to whom careful attention should be given. If messages are fashioned to meet their tastes, many of them would likely change their minds and decide to cast their votes. Other methods should be employed to energise this group of voters. We would speculate that low turnout rate would work to the disadvantage of the PPP/C.

Father of 3 commits suicide at Exmouth

Afather of three from Exmouth village on the Essequibo Coast has ended his life tragically. Dead is Rakesh Kellawan.

Details of the incidents are sketchy. According to reports, Kellawan, a truck driver, and his wife had an argument on Sunday after-

noon at their home after which he drank a quantity of poisonous substance. He was immediately rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital where he was admitted, but he succumbed on Monday.

Kellawan was described as an understanding individual, and relatives are

GPSU briefed on requirements for observer status

President and members of the Executive Council of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) were given a brief outline of the prerequisite principles and guidelines for local election observers when the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) met with them last Friday.

GECOM’s Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally explained the importance of local observers paying strict heed to the Commission’s established terms of reference, so as to ensure that they operate in a professional manner within the spirit and letter of the principles and guidelines outlined in GECOM’s Observer Protocols.

In a release, GECOM said it would be leading a training exercise with members of the GPSU on Friday, April 17, at the Union’s Headquarters on Regent Street, Georgetown. “This exercise is being done to ensure that the GPSU deploys observers on Election Day who have been properly trained to execute their task of election observation with the requisite efficiency and integrity.”

GECOM also said it expected that by providing the necessary training in its election observation principles and guidelines, that it will receive positive and constructive feedback that can further help to improve

Guyana’s electoral processes. As a consequence, the continuous development of Guyana’s democratic election culture will be further facilitated and enhanced. Surujbally commended the GPSU for its initiative to become a local election observer of the May 11 General and Regional Elections. He stated that free, fair, creditable and transparent elections are the hallmark of GECOM’s electoral management principles and best practices. And since observing elections is one of GPSU’s action priorities, GECOM is looking forward to a most rewarding working relationship with the Union.

baffled by his death. He is survived by his wife and three children.

Only recently, Police Constable Leono Patrick from Anna Regina Housing Scheme ended his life by similar means after an argument with his wife as well. She remains baffled by his death.

tuesday, april 14, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Cause of death of WCD teen inconclusive

The autopsy performed on the body of 17-year-old Devika Ramodar, who was discovered dead Saturday afternoon at Blankenburg foreshore, West Coast Demerara (WCD) was inconclusive. The post-mortem was performed at the Ezekiel Funeral Home by Dr Nehaul Singh on Monday.

The Guyana Times was told that samples of several body parts were taken and would be analysed by investigators. The investigators are presently working on the theory that the teenager, who went missing on April 4, might have been raped, murdered and then dumped at the foreshore.

The father of the dead teenager, who witnessed the post-mortem, told the Guyana Times on Monday that the family was hoping to take possession of the body so that his daughter could be given a decent funeral.

He added that the two young men who were arrested for his daughter’s death remain in custody, but the Police have not been telling the family much. When asked about the relationship his daughter and the two men shared, he stated that they were friends.

He also confirmed that his daughter and a workmate had a confrontation on the day she went missing, but he was not certain why. After the confrontation, she left work about 10:30h

and met one of the young men who promised to take her to Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) to solicit a job.

A friend of the teenager subsequently phoned the teenager’s mother, Jagranie Omadatt, relating what had occurred. Her mother attempted to contact her, but the calls went unanswered. Upon seeing the missed calls, the now dead teenager called her mother back and reportedly told her she was heading to Demerara Distillers Limited to look for a job.

Manickchand condemns destruction of PPP/C campaign flags in Region 5

Campaign material belonging to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) such as flags, posters and billboards were either completely destroyed, ripped down or tampered with over the last 12 hours throughout Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Education Minister Priya Manickchand said.

“This thuggery and bullyism speaks of an intolerance for freedom of expression and association that has no place in a 2015 Guyana,” Manickchand said in a release. She said it was reminiscent of an era where persons were jailed and killed for holding and expressing a political view. “It comes on the heels of embarrassing displays of disorder exhibited by the PNC/ APNU/AFC on Nomination Day where rules were broken and people affected,” Manickchand said. She said Guyana has come a far way in promoting basic fundamental rights such as the freedom to associate and express oneself.

“It would be a crying shame if we were to revert to that dark time when our people were intimidated and bullied for expressing their views. Citizens and the supporters of the PPP/C are asked to be vigilant against this type of behaviour and are asked to report this unlawful behaviour to the Police, GECOM and/or

the Party if this is to re- occur,” she said.

Manickchand added that supporters were specifically asked also not to reciprocate this type of “hooliganistic, criminal, backward behaviour”. “This is not what we stand for as a party. Let us use this time to discuss ideas and solutions to our challenges and to craft the best way forward for our beautiful Guyana. We will address this unlawfulness and bullyism with our vote on May 11. On May 11, we must vote to protect the freedoms we have gained and we must vote specifically to prevent us as a people from returning to that horrible time in our country’s history where bullyism like this was the order of the day. On May 11, we must vote PPP/C.”

Omadatt reportedly gave the teenager a curfew and said if she did not comply, she would thereafter file a missing person’s report. That was the last time the grieving mother heard from her daughter.

The Guyana Times was told that the teenager might have been seeing both of the suspects, since one of them reportedly dropped her home a few days before she went missing.

It is believed that after the other young man found out, he confronted her at work hence the commotion.

The suspects have both denied meeting the teenager on the day she went missing although they confessed to making arrangements to meet.

The two men were arrested on Thursday last and have since been assisting with investigations. Once there is no evidence against them, they will be released.

Ramodar, of Lot 59 Bella Dam, West Bank Demerara, was found in a semi nude state and bore several marks of violence.

Following the discovery, Police sought the assistance of the missing teen’s parents to identify the corpse owing to its state. She was positively identified by a mauve top that she left home with, a bangle she was wearing and a black and silver ring. The investigation is ongoing.

Men held with illegal gun and ammunition in separate incidents

Two men are facing possible charges after they were found with guns and ammunition in separate incidents at locations hundreds of miles apart in Arakaka, North West District and New Amsterdam Berbice, respectively.

According to information received, about 20:00h on Sunday, the Police responded to a report of threatening behaviour at Arakaka, during which an unlicensed .32 Pistol and 17 rounds of matching ammunition were discovered. The man who the report was made against was questioned with respect to the items and told investigators that he was not the holder of a valid firearm and ammunition licence.

He was arrested and was assisting with investigations. Meanwhile, about 01:30h on Monday, ranks of a mobile Police patrol conducted a search on a man at Main Street, New Amsterdam, during which a Beretta pistol with two matching rounds was recovered. He was arrested. Charges are expected to be laid shortly.

Sterling, GGMC murder accused appear in court

The infamous duo of exPolicemen who pretended to be Policemen and allegedly killed Sterling Products Limited Security Guard Wilbert Stewart and Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Engineer Trevor Abrams made their first appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday.

Orin Arthur and Rayon Paddy appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

The first charge stated that in December 2014, at Providence, East Bank Demerara, Arthur and Paddy stormed the compound of Sterling Products Limited with the intention of robbing it and Stewart was killed during the botched robbery.

Rayon Paddy and Orin Arthur were not required to plead to the murder charges levied against them

The second charge detailed that Arthur and Paddy, with Stephen Prescod, murdered Abrams on February 27 in the vicinity of Demerara Distillers

Limited (DDL). They were not required to plead to either of the charges. It was reported that the accused admitted to killing the men.

Arthur and Paddy were busted on March 28 with the guns at their hideout in Diamond New Scheme. Police officers were on the lookout for them or information on them after they had committed a daring robbery on the roadways, posing as uniformed Police officers during a roadblock. The men allegedly made off with over $900,000 in cash and items after robbing the three employees of a Poultry Farm. In Court One on Monday, Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru did not go into any details regarding the case, stating that investigations were still underway. He asked the court for some time for their conclusion. Arthur, Paddy and Prescod were remanded to prison until April 28.

Company wilfully trespassed on Reaz Khan’s land – court hears

DAX Contracting Services Incorporated was brought before Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry on Monday to answer to the charge of wilful trespass at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Appearing on the entity’s behalf was its secretary, Faizal Mohamed, who pleaded not guilty to the charge

of wilful trespass, contrary to section 33 (c) and 42 of the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:02. The prosecution stated that DAX Contracting Services Incorporated, of Lot 41 Eccles Industrial Estate, Eccles, East Bank Demerara unlawfully entered upon land situated at Lots 55 and 57 Eccles Industrial Estate, prop-

erty of Reeaz Trading Enterprises Limited and remained there after being required by the owner of the said property , Reaz Khan, to remove from the property.

It was further alleged that several officials from DAX Contracting Services Incorporated, namely Faizal Mohamed, Bibi Azeena Mohamed, Shamshaud

Nerissa Mohammed and Ferzanna Alisa Mohamed, while acting in their managerial capacity consented to or connived in the commission of the said act. After listening to the case and considering the charge being levied against the defendant, the Magistrate released him on his own recognisance. The matter will be heard again on April 16.

Mega launch for Marriott set for Thursday

...chronicles success in face of obstinate opposition

The US$58 million flagship Marriott Hotel, in Kingston, Georgetown, opens its doors on Thursday to the public with an official ribbon cutting ceremony – accomplishing that feat despite the naysayers, litigation, protests, parliamentary motions and the plethora of resistance to one of Government’s key developmental projects.

The National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) is the Governmentowned company lawfully entrusted to pursue investments on behalf of the State, including public-private partnerships and in September 2009, incorporated Atlantic Hotel Inc (AHI), the Special Purpose Company to pursue the Marriott project.

Regional, national support

It’s been made pellucid time and time again. No tax dollars were directly invested into the Marriott Hotel Project, in Kingston, Georgetown, but even if this were the case, such a reality is not unique to the industry in the Region.

As is evident as close as Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Puerto Rico – established travel hubs of the Caribbean – Governments have been taking on leading roles in developing hotel projects.

Local critics chastised the Guyana Government for its part in pursuing the Marriott Hotel project, but over in Trinidad and Tobago, its 428-room Hyatt Regency was built by that country’s Government, despite its already established, privatelyowned hospitality industry.

The Trinidad and Tobago Government had taken a conscious step to develop and diversify its tourism industry and to make it more attractive and sustainable; hence, the pursuit of the Hyatt Regency in 2007. The Trinidad Government‘s strategy was focused also on business conventions, conference hosting, eco- adventure, sport and recreation— similar to the pursuits espoused by the Guyana Government.

The Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (UDeCOTT), Trinidad’s leading public developer now owns the hotel and all elements of the mixed- development.

Over in Barbados, there is an even more glaring example of Government taking the principal role in pursuit of the development of a major hotel project – not waiting on the Private Sector – as is advocated by antagonists locally. In fact, in pursuit of the Four Seasons Hotel in Clear Water Bay, Barbados, that country’s Government not only provided a Government Guaranteed loan to the tune of US$60 million, it also sup-

plied additional financing by sourcing another US$30 million from the State-owned National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

Over in Puerto Rico, that country’s Government successfully pursued the development of a Ritz Carlton Hotel at a cost of almost US$350 million.

This too was funded partially by that country’s National Tourism Development Board which allowed for certain equity and guarantees for the developers.

In fact, the Puerto Rican Government, in using tax dollars to boost the tourism industry has also “installed aggressive incentive laws which reduce tax rates charged to hotel operators”.

But this was not the end of Government support for the development of the Hotel Project. The Puerto Rican Government also put in place a “90 per cent tax exemption and various tax credits, some of which are transferrable and may be sold and utilised as part of the equity involved to finance hotel development.

In Guyana’s case, NICIL, a privately registered Government-owned company invested and loaned to the Marriott Project, money not derived from tax dollars but rather revenues earned by the shareholding company.

Vociferous antagonist

Over the years, criticisms and unwarranted opposition against the Marriott Project have persisted incessantly. Among the recent criticisms by vociferous antagonist Christopher Ram is that the creation of AHI, preceded any feasibility study for the project, but “which company exactly would have been tasked with hiring the international consultants for a Feasibility Study or approach the Marriott Group”?

This was an observation made by AHI Chairman Winston Brassington, who ahead of this week’s opening, attempts to once and for all dispel the incessant criticisms against the project, which in part did lead to

an Opposition parliamentarian leading court action that saw financing being held up and NICIL having to rescue the project.

According to Brassington, as the opening of the inter-

nationally branded Hotel draws nears, AHI has set the record straight too on NICIL’s involvement in the project, contrary to numerous inaccurate, erroneous and sometimes fabricated

reports in the media and irresponsible assertions made by Opposition politicians.

Guyanese dream

In fact, Brassington, in setting the record straight, is of the opinion that had NICIL not played the role it did in crafting and marketing an investor-friendly package during a time of global financial crisis, the Marriott Hotel, as it stands in Kingston, Georgetown, ready to open its doors, “would have still been a Guyanese dream”. All the processes for attracting investors, selecting the contractor, selecting the supervision firm were all conducted in an open and transparent manner.

Construction of the Hotel started in earnest in early 2012 following the sod-turning ceremony in November 2011, but ever since 2009, AHI had been actively look-

ing for partners, locally and internationally, interested in entering into a PublicPrivate Partnership to develop the Hotel.

This invitation was published at least a dozen times but there were no takers from locals, including the owner of the nearby Pegasus Hotel, Robert Badal, who after years of criticising the project is now looking to buy into it. However, even if Mr Badal had the funds, he would have to be approved by Government, Marriott and Republic Bank and would need to prove that he is fit and proper and that any ownership interest would not be harmful to the parties. Given the recent attacks, including his recent attack on Marriott, and the many court matters with NICIL over Mr Badal’s improper shareholder actions, such an approval would be unlikely.

Hundreds of thousands rally against corruption in Brazil

Hundreds of thousands of people have joined peaceful demonstrations across Brazil against Government corruption.

Crowds were generally smaller than in March when more than 1.5 million people turned out.

They allege involvement of the governing Worker’s Party in bribery at the state oil firm Petrobas.

President Dilma Rousseff denies involvement and has been exonerated in an investigation by the Attorney General.

The political Opposition say much of the alleged brib-

ery of politicians took place when Rousseff was head of the oil company. Despite her exoneration, many protesters still believe that the President must have known about the scandal. Some have been calling for her impeachment.

The number of protesters varied widely. Police have said that 696,000 people took to the streets on Sunday, but organisers have put the number at 1.5 million, according to Globo news.

Many of the protesters wore the yellow shirts of the national football team and waved Brazilian

flags. Others held placards reading “Dilma out” and “Corrupt government”.

In Rio de Janeiro, several thousand people marched along Copacabana beach, a turnout reported to be considerably lower than the 25,000 protesters seen on March 15.

The exact turnout in the city of São Paulo is unclear. Police say 275,000 participated in the march, but organisers have put the figure nearer one million.

After the protests in March, the government promised a series of measures to combat corruption and impunity. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Trinidad mother of four killed in freak accident

A39-year-old mother of four was killed after a vehicle crashed through the wall of her home pinning her underneath.

TT to host conference on problems facing Caribbean

Athree-day conference aimed at identifying the challenges to Caribbean development and identifying strategies for securing a sustainable future gets underway on May 5.

The forum on the “Future of the Caribbean” is being cohosted by the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the Trinidad and Tobago Government in collaboration with United Nations System and regional intergovernmental partners as well as the London-based Commonwealth Secretariat.

According to the organisers, the participants, including Caribbean heads of Government and policymakers, civil society and business leaders, and aca-

demic experts, will confront existing development paradigms through innovative, disruptive thought.

“This is aimed at producing models for research, policy development and transformative action to support an equitable, sustainable Caribbean society in the post-2015 period and for generations beyond.

“They will challenge each other to consider persistent development problems in new ways and identify approaches directed at widening opportunities and improving living conditions for all Caribbean citizens,” the organisers said in a statement.

The three-day conference will focus on poverty, ine-

quality, and resource mobilisation, as well as the specific vulnerabilities of small – often high and middle income – Caribbean states.

“Business as usual cannot possibly meet the complex challenges of poverty, inequality and funding we now face in the Region. We need disruptive thinking and bold action if we are to create a resilient and international Caribbean future. I believe we need to accelerate regional convergence and new models of diplomacy in a global setting and the Forum provides us a real opportunity to do just that,” Trinidad’s Foreign Minister Winston Dookeran said.

(Excerpt from CMC)

“Coke grandpas” arrested following multimillion-euro cocaine haul

Ajudge in the Netherlands have extended the detention of two elderly men arrested last week after more than six million euros (one euro =US$1.29) worth of drugs were found in a container of soft drinks shipped from Suriname on March 30.

Police said the men, ages 79 and 70, whose names and nationalities were not given, appeared before the Judge who extended their pre-detention by 30 more days.

Police had to use a crane to lift the vehicle off the family.

Police said the vehicle was driven by a 22-year-

Police said that Donna Jennifer Mascal, her husband, Anthony Mascal and her three-year-old son, Andrew, were asleep in their bedroom when the incident occurred on Sunday morning.

old man who lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the house in Longdenville. They said the driver passed a breathalyser test and was released from custody pending further enquiries. (Excerpt from CMC)

Caribbean Court of Justice celebrates 10 years

By far its most celebrated case involved a Jamaican national, whose country is still going through the legislative process as to whether or not it should become a full member.

But Sir Dennis Byron, the second Caribbean national to head the Trinidadbased Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is certain that within a year, not only will Jamaica be added to of the full membership of the court, but also Trinidad and Tobago and the other islands in the sub-regional Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States.

“All the countries have agreed to be on board because when they signed the treaty establishing the court they entered into that arrangement and they went further than that, they have all put money to fund the operation of the court so they are fully on board in that respect.

”What they have not done is abolish appeals to the Privy Council. That is one thing that has not been done and as far as my crystal ball suggests that within the next year or two the countries will be on board,” he told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).

The CCJ was inaugurated in Trinidad and Tobago on April 16, 2005. It replaced the London-

based Privy Council as the Region’s final court and has been created with a dual jurisdiction – as a final appellate court and in its original jurisdiction as an international court with the exclusive jurisdiction to interpret and apply the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas that governs Caricom, and to decide disputes arising under it. (Excerpt from CMC)

The men have been dubbed “Coke grandpas” by the media.

The authorities said that the discovery of the cocaine was similar to a find in Suriname last Tuesday after

Well below-average Atlantic hurricane season forecast for 2015

Forecasters from Colorado State University are predicting a “well below-average” Atlantic hurricane season for 2015. The forecast calls for seven tropical storms, of which three will become hurricanes and one will become a major hurricane.

In an average year there are 12 tropical storms, of which seven will become hurricanes. A tropical storm has sustained winds of 39 miles per hour (mph); it becomes

a hurricane when its winds reach 74 mph.

The forecast was released on Thursday by meteorologists Philip Klotzbach and William Gray of Colorado State University’s Tropical Meteorology Project. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30.

“The tropical Atlantic has anomalously cooled over the past several months, and the chances of a moderate to strong El Niño event this

summer and fall appear to be quite high,” Klotzbach said in a statement. “Historical data indicate fewer storms form in these conditions.” If the forecast is accurate, it would be the second straight below-average season. The 2014 Atlantic hurricane season had eight named tropical storms. The first named storms of the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season will be Ana, Bill, Claudette and Danny. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

5th murder in 8 days forces new arrangements for patients at health clinics

The St Lucian Government has announced changes to the operations at the Castries Health Centre following an upsurge in murders near the facility in the past few days.

The Ministry of Health, Wellness, Human Services and Gender Relations said the changes are “to facilitate the revision of security arrangements to ensure the safety of clients and staff of

the Castries Health Centre”.

Police are now investigating the fifth murder in eight days with the latest victim being 31-yearold Micah Joseph who was gunned down near the main market in the capital on Sunday.

Police said while they had no motive for the latest killings, they nonetheless believe it may have been gang-related. No one has been arrest -

ed for the latest killing, but Police said they have so far detained four people in connection with the other murders committed last week. St Lucia recorded its first murder for 2015 last week.

The Ministry of Health, Wellness, Human Services and Gender Relations said it was urging the public to cooperate with the new security arrangements as well as the change in venue for services until April 17. (CMC)

Abducted Nigerian girls seen alive

More than 50 of the girls abducted by militant Islamists in Nigeria last year were seen alive three weeks ago, a woman has told the BBC.

She saw the girls in the north-eastern Gwoza town before the Boko Haram militants were driven out of there by regional forces.

Boko Haram sparked global outrage when it seized more than 219 girls from Chibok town a year ago.

The United States, China and other foreign powers promised to help find the girls.

However, the girls have never been traced, and lit-

tle has been heard of them since they were taken from their boarding school.

The whereabouts of the remaining girls is not clear.

Campaign group Bring

Back Our Girls organised a silent march in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, on Wednesday to raise public awareness about the abductions.

A year-long campaign for the release of the girls has not yet been successful.

In an open letter, Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai called on Nigeria’s authorities and the international community to do more to secure the release of the girls.

Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has said the girls have been converted to Islam and married off, fuelling concern that the militants had treated them as war booty and sex-slaves.

The Nigerian woman, who lived under Boko Haram’s rule in Gwoza, told the BBC she saw the girls in Islamic attire, being escorted by the militants.

“They said they were Chibok girls kept in a big house,” said the woman, who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisals.

“We just happened to be on the same road with them,” she added. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Russia opens way to missile deliveries to Iran, starts oil-for-goods swap

Russia paved the way on Monday for missile system deliveries to Iran and started an oil-forgoods swap, signalling that Moscow may have a headstart in the race to benefit from an eventual lifting of sanctions on Tehran.

The moves come after world powers, including Russia, reached an interim deal with Iran this month on curbing its nuclear programme.

The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin signed a decree ending a self-imposed ban on deliv-

ering the S-300 anti-missile rocket system to Iran, removing a major irritant between the two after Moscow cancelled a corresponding contract in 2010 under pressure from the West.

A senior Government official said separately that Russia has started supplying grain, equipment and construction materials to Iran in exchange for crude oil under a barter deal.

Sources told Reuters more than a year ago that a deal worth up to US$20 billion was being discussed and would involve Russia buy-

ing up to 500,000 barrels of Iranian oil a day.

Officials from the two countries have issued contradictory statements since then on whether a deal has been signed, but Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Monday one was already being implemented.

“I wanted to draw your attention to the rolling out of the oil-for-goods deal, which is on a very significant scale,” Ryabkov told a briefing with members of the Upper House of Parliament on the talks with Iran. (Excerpt from Reuters)

India orders investigation into red sandalwood killings

India’s National Human Rights Commission has ordered an investigation into the killing of 20 alleged red sandalwood smugglers last week after hearing the testimony of two witnesses.

The two men have contested the Police’s account that the victims were shot in an exchange, suggesting instead the killings were staged encounter deaths.

The Police have denied the claim. The Commission has ordered the men – local villagers – be given protection and an investigation be carried out.

Rights activists say more

witnesses are willing to come forward to support the allegation that the men were killed in a staged encounter near the holy town of Tirupati in the state of Andhra Pradesh on April 7.

The Police say the killings took place after they challenged a group of 100 red sandalwood smugglers who attacked them with axes and stones.

Sandalwood smuggling is rampant in southern India, with a tonne selling for tens of thousands of dollars on the international black market.

Red sandalwood or red sanders is a species of tree en-

Ricci heiress convicted of tax fraud

The heir to the Nina Ricci perfume and fashion fortune has been convicted of tax fraud by a Paris court after hiding millions in an offshore HSBC account.

Arlette Ricci, 73, was sentenced to a year in prison and ordered to pay a €1 million (US$1.1 million) fine.

The court also confiscated two properties worth four million euros (US$4.2 million).

HSBC’s Swiss private banking arm is being investigated after a leak revealed large-scale tax fraud.

Ricci, who can appeal,

was given a two-year suspended sentence on top of her one-year custodial sentence.

Her daughter, Margot Vignat, 51, was also convicted and given an eight-month suspended sentence.

Ricci was accused of hiding millions of euros from the French authorities to evade tax using an offshore HSBC account.

She was ordered by the court to pay millions in back taxes for the period of 20072009, with the exact amount to be set at a later date.

Ricci was the first of around 50 French nation-

als to face trial over tax evasion in the HSBC case. Her prosecution was seen as a test case for the so-called “Swissleaks” scandal. A list of thousands of HSBC’s clients was passed to the French Government in 2009 by whistleblower Herve Falciani, a former employee of the bank’s private operation in Switzerland. But the bank’s tax-evasion practices didn’t come to light until the documents were reported by the BBC’s Panorama programme and a host of other international media outlets in 2015. (Excerpt from BBC News)

China frees 5 women activists on bail after outcry

China has unexpectedly released five women activists on bail, two lawyers said on Monday, after a vocal campaign against their detention by the West and Chinese rights campaigners.

The women were taken into custody on the weekend of March 8, International Women’s Day, and detained on suspicion of “picking quarrels

and provoking trouble”. They had planned to demonstrate against sexual harassment on public transport.

Their case has outraged a swath of Chinese society. Dozens of students and workers have signed petitions and held slogans calling for their release.

US Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State

John Kerry also called for their release, prompting China’s Foreign Ministry to lodge a formal protest with Washington. The European Union also expressed concern about the case.

Now Wei Tingting, 26; Wang Man, 32; Zheng Churan, 25; Li Tingting, 25; and Wu Rongrong, 30, have been released on bail, Liang Xiaojun and Wang Qiushi, two lawyers involved in the case, told Reuters, citing accounts from family members. Police did not immediately respond to a written request for comment.

President Xi Jinping’s Administration has detained hundreds of activists in the past two years, in what some rights groups say is the worst clampdown on dissent in two decades.

Liang said the women were still considered suspects, adding that “their freedoms will be restricted, so it’s not something that we should be happy about”. (Excerpt from Reuters)

“Empty words”: Donors fail to deliver pledged Gaza aid

Just a quarter of the US$3.5 billion in aid pledged to rebuild Gaza in the wake of last summer’s devastating war has been delivered, according to a new report.

demic to the Western Ghats of India.

The tree is prized for its rich red wood, mainly for making furniture, and is not to be confused with the highly aromatic sandalwood trees that are native to southern India.

Most of those killed are believed to be Tamils and there was an angry reaction in Tamil Nadu to the killing.

Correspondents say the loggers are often tribespeople or other poor migrant workers from Tamil Nadu.

India banned the sale of red sandalwood in 2000. (BBC News)

The report from the Association of International Development Agencies, released on Monday, found that only 26.8 per cent (US$945 million) of the money pledged by donors at the Cairo conference six months ago has been released, and reconstruction and recovery have barely started in the besieged coastal enclave.

“The promising speeches at the donor conference have turned into empty words,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of Oxfam, which was among the report’s signatories.

“There has been little rebuilding, no permanent ceasefire agreement and no plan to end the blockade. The international community is walking with eyes wide open into the next avoidable conflict,

While some damaged buildings in Gaza have been repaired, almost no large-scale reconstruction projects have started [AP]

by upholding the status quo they themselves said must change.”

Operation Protective Edge, the 2014 Israeli assault on Gaza that spanned nearly two months, resulted in the deaths of 2132 Palestinians and 71 Israelis, according to data from aid agencies.

More than 10,000 homes were destroyed in the war, and thousands more were severely damaged. An estimated 17,500 families remain

homeless. After Israel and armed Palestinian groups agreed on a ceasefire, international donors met in Cairo in October 2014, where more than US$5 billion in aid was pledged. Of this, US$3.5 billion was earmarked for Gaza, while the rest was intended to provide support for the Palestinian Government in general, including programmes in the West Bank. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

tuesday, april 14, 2015|

Trio fined after admitting to drunk driving

The Guyana Police Force’s Traffic Department continues its traffic enforcement activities and has charged

three more drivers for driving under the influence of alcohol.

These persons were separately charged and placed before the courts, where they all pleaded guilty to the DUI offence and were fined.

Andre Stroll, of Lot 72 Adelaide Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on March 3, while driving motor vehicle PTT 1335 on Waterloo Street, Georgetown. He was found to be above the legal limit in terms of consumption of alcohol and was charged. Stroll appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on March 26, where he was fined $7500 after entering a guilty plea.

Then a Kaneville, Grove, East Bank Demerara man

was intercepted while driving motor vehicle PRR 6167 on the Providence Public Road, EBD. Jaman Jomndoo, of Lot 257 Kaneville, was found to be above the legal limit after Police stopped him and conducted a breathalyser test. He was charged and sub-

Mega launch for Marriott...

By 2010, the following year, AHI also caused to be published numerous invitations locally and internationally for contractors to submit their proposals to be pre-qualified. These were again repeated in 2012.

Feasibility studies

As is appreciated by most, if not all in the field of business, before venturing into such a large-scale project, a study of the various market forces at work needed to be undertaken in order to determine the feasibility of the endeavour.

Such feasibility studies generally contain confidential information a client would not want shared with the public, especially its commercial competitors.

Despite this knowledge, the naysayers continued to peddle the assertion that there were no such studies undertaken, when in fact in 2010, Marriott International Inc, via HVS Valuation and Consultancy, did two such studies.

All parliamentarians had been made aware of these facts, and it was indicated in March 2012 that “these documents are confidential at this time; however, the Government is willing to have a closed-door presentation that will allow certain details of these documents to be made available under the condition of utmost confidentiality and discussed with key Opposition members without these documents being made public.”

The Parliament was, however, supplied with a full answer to all of its questions and given copies of all major contracts including the Shanghai Construction Group (SCG) contract, the lease, and the tax agreements.

The Opposition never accepted the offer for a closeddoor presentation. However, in 2013, extracts of an updated study conducted by HVS Valuation and Consultancy were placed in the public domain at a public press conference. This, however, did little to stop the onslaught of criticisms and subsequent court action against the Hotel’s lease and financing.

Shanghai Construction Group

Having determined that the project was feasible,

AHI continued in its pursuit of a qualified contractor that would be able to meet the standards as required by Marriott International and also build the project within budget.

Twenty-three firms expressed a formal interest in being shortlisted to be considered for the construction of the Hotel and Entertainment Complex and after an evaluation, seven firms were shortlisted and invited on January 23, 2011 to bid for the project. Tenders for the construction of the Hotel, Casino and Entertainment Complex were closed on May 3, 2011 and submissions were publicly opened at NICIL’s office in the presence of a representative from the Guyana Audit Office. Bidders were given the option of bidding on a design already conceptualised or submitting an alternative design that would meet the Marriott standards, AHI’s requirements and the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

Two proposals were received, both offering the option of an alternate proposal. According to Brassington, SCG submitted an alternative design proposal during the tender process which was considered to be more costeffective while guaranteeing that its design would be in accordance with Marriott International Hotel Design Standards. This conceptual design was accepted by Marriott International as the look of its Guyana flagship hotel, which is now being open this week.

Supervision

Even as AHI pursued a qualified contractor to build the Hotel, the company was also actively seeking a reputable company to supervise the construction of the project. Requests for Proposals for Construction Supervision for the Marriott Hotel were publicly advertised and two proposals received.

M A Angeliades Inc submitted a bid of US$1,068,000 and secured the contract, with the other bid coming from CEMCO Consultants Inc at US$1,614,000

According to Brassington, “AHI contracted M A Angeliades of New York to supervise the construction of the

sequently appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on March 26, where he pleaded guilty to the offence and was fined $7500.

Junior Daymon was also charged for a DUI offence committed while he was driving motor vehicle PHH 2425 on Waterloo Street, Georgetown. The man, of Lot 146 Cooper Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser, and was found to be above the legal alcohol consumption limit. He was placed before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on March 26, when he pleaded guilty and was fined $7500.

Road fatalities

Drunk driving is an issue that the Police continue to

project based on price and experience with constructing hotels both in the USA and within the Caribbean.”

Financing

But while things seem to be coming together for the project, the international financial crisis that had devastated economies of scale, the Opposition onslaught to stop the project, the attacks of the owners of the Pegasus, legal actions, parliamentary action, and foreign banks and investors wary of Guyana’s increasing risk in light of its failure to pass the AntiMoney Laundering Bill, were

money would be borrowed. The private investors will in the end own 100 per cent of the equity of the AHI, which in turn would own 100 per cent of the debt which would be borrowed and has to be repaid. The total equity of the Marriott Hotel is US$12 million, while the total debt was projected at about US$46 million.

NICIL agreed to invest US$4 million to own 33 per cent of the shares of AHI, while an international private investor agreed to invest the remaining US$8 million of the Hotel’s equity and would inherently own 67 per cent of

ardently work to eliminate.

The illegal behaviour has been the cause of the deaths of not only the occupants of vehicles but pedestrians as well.

In its most recent monthly crime update, the Police disclosed that there have been 28 road fatalities from 19 accidents at the end of March 2015 compared to 28

would only own 67 per cent of the equity of US$12 million; the rest of the financing would be owed to the bank, who would hold a debenture and mortgage securing themselves ahead of the equity investors.

ACE Square Investment

Early last year, the announcement came: the COMPLETION of the financial arrangements by Republic Bank for the US$27 million Syndicated Loan and British Virgin Island (BVI) registered ACE Square Investments Ltd. ACE Square Investments Ltd will

taking their toll on the project. It was reeling against a relentless Opposition posturing that made securing a private investor a most difficult undertaking, even Republic Bank who had more expressions of interest in 2011, began to find investors backing away. NICIL/AHI, according to Brassington, structured an attractive Public-Private Partnership arrangement to pursue a project that was ultimately determined to cost about US$58 million to construct and bring into operation.

The unique financing structure saw that no taxpayers’ dollars were being put into the project, an incorrect assertion that has continuously been peddled over the years. Under the Financing Arrangement for the project, the Marriott Hotel would be built using a debt and equity structure, which simply means some of the money, would come from an actual investment of private capital and the remainder of the

AHI. NICIL as an investor of US$4 million and the confidential private investor with his investment of US$8 million would together own 100 per cent shares of AHI, and the company would be responsible for the repayment of all the debts. NICIL loaned the project US$15.4 million and AHI approached Republic Bank Trinidad to syndicate the US$27 million that needed to be borrowed. According to Brassington, this information has been in the public domain for a number of years and has consistently been twisted in order to peddle inaccurate assertions against the project.

Brassington observed too that critics continuously lamented that a private investor is being cajoled to invest US$8 million to own 67 per cent of a US$58 million Hotel, “a complete fabrication…the furthest thing from the truth that can be substantiated with the plethora of evidence in the public domain. The private investor

fatalities from 26 accidents for the same period in the previous year. Drunk driving accounted five of the accidents.

Passengers in motor vehicles have been the main category of road users affected so far in road fatalities with 12 such persons losing their lives at the end of March. In addition, one pedal cyclist, 10 pedestrians and five drivers also lost their lives.

Traffic enforcement by the Police has resulted in a total of 15, 807 cases being made against errant motorists at the end of March 2015. Of this, 433 for driving under the influence of alcohol, 325 cases were for speeding, 176 for using a cell phone and 465 for failing to wear a seat belt.

earliest possible time –opt to buy the property outright which would render the litigation against a lease ‘null’ . This, however, did not stop the Opposition parliamentarian, who not satisfied that his attempt to thwart the project did not succeed, moved to the Court a second time leading to the delay of the disbursement of several million dollars committed by Republic Bank, critical to the project.

Court action The syndicated US$27 million loan for the project is being secured through a debenture and a mortgage, since the northernmost plot of the Kingston property is still leased while the other swathe of land on which the building sits had to be purchased by AHI. This predicament, according to Brassington, led to the use of the financial facilities of both a mortgage and debenture to secure the USS$27 million Syndicated Loan by Republic Bank. The litigation by Trotman has currently held up more than US$11.7 million of the Syndicated Loan, some of the other investors have proceeded to lend ahead of the discharge of the opposition to the mortgage.

acquire 67 per cent of the equity of AHI for US$8 million.

The continued effort to stop the project led to court action by A Partnership for National Unity’s Desmond Trotman. The litigation by Trotman inherently delayed completion of the financing of the project, according to Brassington, who said that despite this, the principals continued to pursue the realisation of the investment, for an internationally-branded Marriott Hotel, Casino and Entertainment Complex, once the legal matters were discharged.

As part of the arrangement with Republic Bank, Trotman firstly challenged the lease between NICIL and AHI for the land on which the property sits. NICIL had initially leased the land to AHI with an option to buy it for US$1 million as long as there is a significant amount of the proposed infrastructure in place. Overcoming the Opposition parliamentarian, saw AHI having to, at the

But the manoeuvrings on the part of Trotman and the political Opposition have not only delayed the full disbursement of the Republic Bank Syndicated Loan, but also caused the private equity investor ACE Square Investment Inc’s transfer of US$8 million to the project to also be halted.

This situation, led to NICIL, which is already a US$4 million equity partner in the project having to advance US$16 million, to the project, to ensure the completion of the Hotel, now set to open its doors on Thursday – all in the face of the chronicled plethora of attacks against the project.

The Marriott Hotel will be officially declared opened by Head of State, Donald Ramotar, at a grand ribboncutting ceremony to mark the occasion with Marriott executives. Already, many, including the Private Sector Commission, are raving about the impressiveness of the property and the project.

NACTA poll: Voters racially polarised for May elections

The ongoing North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA) tracking polling exercise that began in mid-February has found that voters are as racially polarized for the May 11 general elections as in earlier elections.

Very few voters, primarily some Indians, Mixed, and Amerindians, show they are breaking from the old habit of traditional voting patterns that began in 1955 following the racial split of the original People's Progressive Progressive Party (PPP).

According to the poll’s findings, almost every African is voting for the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) + Alliance For Change (AFC) coalition, unlike Indians who are splitting their votes to benefit the Opposition alliance, complaining that the PPP/Civic (PPP/C) has neglected them in favor of People's National Congress (PNC) supporters.

But the bulk of the Indians are voting for the PPP/C to prevent the return of the PNC to office. In terms of racialized voting, the PNC is getting a much larger portion of Africans than the PPP/C is getting from among Indians.

According to the poll’s findings, the APNU+AFC alliance, though comprising of several (paper) parties and prominent Indians from the AFC, is viewed by a majority of the population as the PNC disguised under a new name.

Also, some of the Indian

supporters of the alliance are of the view that they are not voting for the PNC but for the AFC faction of the opposition alliance, saying they can’t bring themselves to vote for the PNC because of the history of abuses they suffered under its rule.

The Indian supporters of the opposition do not view the alliance as PNC and feel convinced that in voting for the alliance their support is going to the AFC and not the PNC. While these AFC supporters are opposed to their party’s partnership with the APNU (that most voters equate with the PNC), they do not want to break with their support for AFC.

They say they want to punish the PPP for neglecting them and for the perceived arrogance of some officials. Hence, the reason for supporting the AFC and the alliance.

The findings also reveal that some of the Indians, primarily those who break with AFC for partnering with the PNC, are supporting United Republican Party (URP) of Vishnu Bandhu.

Voters of Mixed races are splitting their votes with the bulk of them going for the opposition alliance and some returning to the PPP/C because they feel the AFC has betrayed them for linking up with the PNC (APNU).

A large majority of the Amerindians are supporting the PPP/C with a quarter supporting the Opposition. Most of the Amerindians fear a re-

turn of the abuses they suffered under the PNC should the Opposition become victorious in the election.

The findings of the poll are obtained from interviews with 1300 voters (42 per cent Indians, 31 per cent Africans, 17 per cent Mixed, 9 per cent Amerindians, and 1 per cent other races) from mid-February through now.

The findings reveal traditional supporters of the PNC want a change in the Government, saying they no longer want to be ruled by the PPP/C that they define as “Indian or coolie rule”.

They say they want to be governed by their own party and their own leader. Analogously, traditional supporters of the PPP/C are fearful of a return of Burnhamism should the PNC win – the discredited past practices (contraband goods, national service, racism, lining up for goods, victimization, persecution, dictatorship, kick down door banditry, and the like) that were associated with the PNC when it governed Guyana.

Nevertheless, the findings show that PNC-led alliance has a very good chance of gaining control of the Government because of the division in support among the PPP/C base and strong racial unity in the Opposition camp.

The Opposition PNC has an excellent ground organization of volunteers of former military and Police officers convincing voters to

support the alliance. Africans are voting almost exclusively for the PNC-led alliance, APNU+AFC, and not splitting their votes.

The Indians, on the other hand, are splitting their votes, the major reason being complaints of perceived neglect by the PPP/C especially by their “local officials", enhancing the alliance’s chances of capturing power.

The supporters of both sides square off in what is likely to be a close outcome.

Pro-PPP/C supporters describe their choice in this election as being between a party that would take them backwards, ban basic goods and practice racial discrimination, against a party that would look to build on the economic and social progress of the last two decades.

They add it is a choice between a party that is national in scope and policies and that is reflective of the varied races (promoting racial and religious harmony and tolerance) versus one that took the country to the brink of an abyss of racial divisiveness and underdevelopment during its 28-year rule.

Pro-Opposition (PNU+AFC) supporters, on the other hand, while grudgingly giving credit to the PPP/C for the progress of the last two decades, say they have had enough of the PPP/C and want change.

They make no bones of their desire about having someone of their own ethnic background to govern them.

GPL explains blackout woes

The Guyana Power and Light on Monday confirmed that Sunday night’s prolonged blackout was caused when a canter truck crashed into one of its utility poles at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.

The Power Company said that at approximately 20:18h, the truck while en route east along the Railway Embankment crashed into and broke the pole, which was supporting a primary 69-kilovolt transmission line linking the Demerara and Berbice systems resulting in a Demerara Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS) shutdown.

The affected transmission line was isolated and efforts to restore power commenced around 20:45h. However, due to a defective breaker, two further shutdowns were experienced during attempts to restore power. Thereafter, all areas apart from communities along the East Coast Demerara to sections of Seafield, West Coast Berbice were repowered by midnight (excluding Enmore to Victoria which were repowered at 01: 16h).

According to GPL, in Berbice, power restoration commenced around 22:00h, with generation being supplied from the Canefield Power Plant, Skeldon and Onverwagt facilities. Temporary remedial works to restore the broken pole lasted until 05:30h this morning after which all remaining affected consumers

in Demerara and Berbice were fully repowered.

It should be noted that this shutdown follows one which occurred over a month ago in central Georgetown. Reckless use of the roadways has caused much structural damage to GPL’s property and major inconvenience to valued customers. “We plead yet again with all road users to exhibit due caution on the roadways,” the company said.

GPL will be replacing the temporary infrastructure at Mon Repos shortly which will require an outage during the day. The timing of this outage will be communicated to the public as it is currently being determined. “Our company extends sincerest appreciation to the dedicated staff and contractors who worked tirelessly to restore electricity to all affected customers and apologises for the inconvenience caused.”

Meanwhile, across in Essequibo, the Number One Wärtsilä Unit and Caterpillar Genset at Anna Regina experienced some minor mechanical issues over this past weekend resulting in brief intermittent outages at Anna Regina. The issues were identified and corrected on the Caterpillar set on Monday morning; that will reduce any further interruptions in the supply of electricity. A troubleshooting exercise was performed on the Wärtsilä Unit, with further work required during the week.

Caribbean records 49% decrease in HIV infection – PANCAP

The Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) has reported that the Caribbean recorded a significant decrease in the number of HIV infections.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, PANCAP Director Derek Springer pointed out that many persons did not know about the work of the organisation or its achievements. He noted that one of the organisation’s major achievements is the reduction of the number of new HIV cases being detected by a staggering 49 per cent.

Springer added that this was the sharpest decrease recorded by any region around the world. However, despite this significant decrease, the Caribbean still remains the second most infected region in the world. The PANCAP Director explained that this was because of the Region’s large population.

“When we look at the population size of the Caribbean compared with other regions’ population, the Caribbean continues to be the second most infected region. The other thing we must also take into consideration is previously people who tested positive eventually died

within so many years, but because of treatment people continue to live longer. It means that if we are able to eliminate HIV transmission today, we will continue to see people living with HIV and, therefore, what we have to monitor at the national and regional level is the incidence of news cases,” he stated.

According to Springer, the reduction of new cases of HIV infections reflects that the Caribbean is making progress in eliminating this societal scourge. In addition to this, the Region has seen 70 per cent of persons who are eligible for antiretrovirals (ARVs) receiving the treatment, which is a significant improvement from 2001 when less than five per cent had access to treatments.

51% decline in HIVrelated deaths

The PANCAP Director further stated that the Caribbean has also seen a decrease of 51 per cent in the number of deaths as a result of HIV-related illness. “Our Region is on track to becoming the first region in the world to eliminate motherto-child transmission of HIV and we have seen in some Caribbean countries over the last few years that there

were no reported cases,” he disclosed.

To this end, Springer noted that a Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/ WHO) team is currently in Cuba, conducting verification and will even do so in other Caribbean countries

men.

“Of course, a lot of that has to do with the fact that our response to address men who have sex with men and ensuring that we have services that are tailored to meet their needs, was later than when the initial response was focusing on general pop-

the care and treatment programme.

“All 5041 persons are receiving ARVs but of that (figure), we have about 89 per cent of those receiving antiretroviral care. This is a significant achievement and as we monitor the ARV programme over time, we can

to determine whether in fact mother-to-child transmission has been eliminated in the region and Latin America.

Furthermore, Springer highlighted that there has been a significant decline in infections among female sex workers. However, he noted that there were challenges as it relates to cutting the rate of HIV infections among males who have sex with

ulation,” he remarked.

Improved services in Guyana

The Programme Director of Guyana’s National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS), Dr Shanti Singh, highlighted that for the first time Guyana has seen a hike in its prevention and treatment services. She noted that by the end of 2014, some 5041 persons were in

see the proportion of persons in the treatment programme receiving ARVs, increasing,” she noted.

Dr Singh added that Guyana has managed to reach out to over 3000 female sex workers and over 3000 men who have sex with men, during the course of last year. Additionally, NAPS was able to prioritise areas of interest and was

able to reach out to an increased number of miners and loggers.

PANCAP has approached the Global Fund with a concept note that seeks to strengthen its various programmes. The organisation is confident that it will receive approval for the US$12.1 million.

According to Director Springer, the project is focused on addressing human rights issues such as discriminatory laws and policies. It will also look at community system strengthening to ensure that the responses are not only a topdown approach but also a bottom-up approach.

In addition, Population Services Consultant Sarah Romorini outlined that she was working closely with PANCAP to promote social marketing activities within the Caribbean and Latin America. She noted that through this programme, condoms are becoming more available and accepted in HIV affected areas. This, Romorini stated, is not only profitable for companies, but also reflects that persons are taking measures to protect themselves, which will result in more healthy environments.

SUDOKU

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

(May 21June 20)

CANCER

Proceed with caution. Someone will purposely put obstacles in your path. Be clear and concise with your comments so that your words cannot be turned against you.

Business meetings and social events will be stressful. If you maintain your course and concentration, you will pick up useful tips regarding a partnership or collaboration.

Before you start on a new project, complete what you’ve left undone or what you’ve been avoiding. It will be easier to concentrate once you have cleared your mind of unfinished business.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Don’t allow anyone to push you into doing something you don’t want to do. Your financial concerns will be lessened if you set up a realistic budget that you can maintain.

Don’t remain in a partnership that is detrimental to your health. If your feelings have gone cold, be fair to yourself and your partner by discussing your emotions honestly.

Positive changes are on the horizon. Consider your current options, and if things are not satisfactory, don’t hesitate to make a move. Hear what your contacts have to offer.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Don’t try to persuade others to agree with your opinions. Travel is highlighted, along with making new friends. A pleasure or business trip will bring unanticipated insights.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Listen to the voice of experience. You can help yourself and those around you by utilising strategies that worked for people who faced similar circumstances.

CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

A friend or family member will come to you for advice. Don’t try to fit too much into your day. You will avoid frustration by letting matters unfold naturally.

(Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Money matters will upset you. Enlist a financial consultant to help you deal with your income issues. The more time you spend planning for your future security, the better off you will be.

AQUARIUS

PISCES

(Feb. 20March 20)

Stop limiting yourself. Get out and participate. Sitting on the sidelines will not get you the recognition or rewards you are looking for. Show the world what you have to offer.

Workplace headaches will cause undue anxiety. You are competent and hardworking, but you need a break. Get together with some friends for recreation and forget about your troubles.

“I’ve been different since Jadeja incident” – Anderson

James Anderson fears

he may not be the bowl-

er he was before the incident with Ravindra Jadeja at Trent Bridge last year.

Anderson was charged with a Level 3 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct after India alleged that he pushed Jadeja inside the pavilion as the players left the field for the lunch break on the second day of the first Investec Test.

While the charges against both players were later dismissed, Anderson feels the sense of being monitored by the ICC has left him a more inhibited bowler lacking the aggression that was a key element in his game.

In particular, Anderson felt the issue compromised his effectiveness in the World Cup, where he cut an oddly peripheral figure claiming just five wickets in six matches.

“I’ve definitely been different since that incident,” Anderson said. “And it probably affected me during the World Cup.

“It didn’t affect me during that India series because there was still that real determination to win; I was aggressive without being over the top.

“But in the World Cup, there was a constant sense that the ICC were watching.

James Anderson

“So we saw that great spell from Wahab Riaz to Shane Watson (in Adelaide) and they were fined after that. It puts you off.”

Anderson has been England’s most effective bowler over much of the last seven years and goes into the Test series against West Indies starting on

Monday requiring just four more wickets to overhaul Sir Ian Botham’s England record tally of 383 Test wickets. The game will also be Anderson’s 100th Test.

But while his reputation as a highly skilled bowler is

unquestioned, Anderson has also developed a reputation as one of the fiercest sledgers in the game. His words have often been hidden from television spectators by judicious use of an arm held over his mouth while his comments are directed at batsmen, but opposition players have long named him as an unusually abrasive competitor. At one stage during the Jadeja episode, BCCI officials suggested they were taking a stand against Anderson for the good of the game.

Anderson, however, insists he needs the edge provided by the overt aggression and hopes to rediscover it in the Caribbean; albeit while staying “within the spirit of the game.”

“What comes naturally to me is being aggressive,” he said. “And I think that’s worked for me in the past.

“Obviously you have to stay within the boundaries and within the spirit of the game. But I think it did affect me during the World Cup.

“Hopefully it won’t here. It’s about trying to find a balance.”

Wahab and Watson were fined after the match in Adelaide, though the ICC have clarified that the incident actually occurred after the initial spell that captured the imagination of viewers around the world.

(Cricinfo)

Kirani James opens season with world leading time

Olympic 400 metres champion Kirani James posted his fastest season opener and the current world leading time of 44.31 seconds in the 400 metres at the Sun Angel Track Classic in Arizona, USA on Saturday.

The Grenadian quartermiler was a class act in the men’s 400m which also featured another Grenadian Bralin Taplin and Deon Lendore of Trinidad and Tobago.

Both athletes competed for Texas A&M University where Grenadian Alleyne Francique is an assistant track coach.

Classy Bell hundred puts England...

Elsewhere in a tough start, Alastair Cook dragged on against Roach and Gary Ballance was lured into driving a wide delivery to slip, his mind muddled by some challenging bowling, as West Indies probed away around the wicket, and an approaching shower. West Indies offered barely a bad ball - but, not for the first time, that pressure only lasted a session.

The early movement, aided by some residual moisture which had encouraged Denesh Ramdin’s surprising choice to bowl, diminished after lunch but equally as important was the greater intent shown by Bell and Root on the resumption. Bell had needed 20 balls to get off the

mark and was 10 off 48 deliveries when he started to pick off regularly boundaries, although he could have been in trouble on 21 had a third slip remained for Jerome Taylor. It was not a pitch which made Bell’s graceful cover drive an easy shot to play, but he still dominated through the off side by driving strongly square and latecutting down to third man: the region from point to third man brought 56 runs from 21 balls with ten of his boundaries.

Not for the first time, Root’s busy approach at the crease helped to liven up an England innings that had barely moved out of first gear. His nimble footwork and use of the crease disrupt-

ed the line of Sulieman Benn - something that Bell also did impressively, including a six over long-on - while the consistency of the pacemen, which had been a stand out feature of the morning session, was not replicated.

Root brought up his fifty off 99 deliveries with a crunching on-drive, holding the pose for good measure. However, shortly before tea he needed treatment from the physio for a back problem which led to him being contorted in all manner of directions before resuming his innings.

He was given a life straight after tea, on 61, when Benn dropped a simple catch at midwicket but he did not appear too imped-

ed until lazily dragging on against Taylor with a century on offer.

Three figures did not elude Bell, but the boundary that brought his milestone from 194 balls was one of his less convincing as he went for his favourite late cut against Marlon Samuels and edged it to the left of slip who had already starting move to his right in anticipation of the shot.

Bell and Stokes continued to enhance England’s position during the final session against an attack which had lost its morning zip. Benn could not provide the control needed by his captain while Samuels went at nearly fivean-over when Ramdin rested his quicks.

It took Stokes seven balls to score his first Test runs since Sydney last January as he opened his account with a square cut off Taylor. On 21, West Indies reviewed for an lbw shout from Benn but the ball was only clipping the top of leg stump and a short while later Stokes took the left-arm spinner for six over long-on.

The extra pace of the second new ball was to his liking as well as he sped to his half-century before taking three consecutive boundaries off Taylor - to make it five in nine balls off the same bowler - switching between powerful drives and pulls. For him, if not for Bell, there is the chance of further plunder. (Cricinfo)

James, who will be facing LaShawn Merritt next week, never underestimated his Caribbean contenders. He was slow over the first 150 metres gauging Taplin and Lendore before pulling away into the home straight.

Taplin was second in a personal best and collegiate leading time of 44.89 and Lendore finished third in 45.18.

James and Merritt will renew their rivalvry next Friday at the Drakes Relay, a preview to this summer’s IAAF World Championships in Beijing,China. (CMC)

SCOREBOARD

ENGLAND 1st Innings *A Cook b Roach

Royal Challengers v Sunrisers, IPL 2015, Bangalore…

Warner, Dhawan set up breezy Sunrisers chase

Half-centuries from David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan laid the platform for Sunrisers Hyderabad to cruise to a target of 167 and pick up their first win of the season. They were aided by a dewy outfield, but Royal Challengers Bangalore would have known their total was never going to be good enough to test Sunrisers on a flat Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch.

Having been sent in, Royal Challengers were 93 for 2 in the 12th over of their innings, with Virat Kohli batting on 41, when two wickets in two balls from Ravi Bopara precipitated a slide that saw them lose their last eight wickets for 73 runs.

Royal Challengers were always going to struggle to defend 166, and a poor start from their seamers only made their task harder. The first ball of Sunrisers’ chase encapsulated the story that was about to unfold. Sean Abbott sent down a full-toss, and Warner simply met it with the full face of his bat to send it screaming away to the extra-cover boundary. By the end of the second over, Warner and Shikhar Dhawan had hit five more fours and a six, against Abbott and

innings, Ravi Bopara said the Sunrisers bowlers had struggled to grip the dewsoaked ball too. If so, they did a pretty good job to cope with it. They couldn’t control every ball, and gave away their share of boundaries to AB de Villiers and Sean Abbott, but bowled a lot of good balls towards the end of the Royal Challengers innings, usually targeting the base of the stumps. They took three wickets with yorkers in the last five overs, one from Ashish Reddy in the 16th over and two from Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the 20th.

In between, Trent Boult took out de Villiers, who sliced a wide one straight into sweeper cover’s hands, and removed Abott and Harshal Patel in the same over, with well-directed short balls. In all, Royal Challengers lost their last six wickets for 41 runs, and their last five in the space of ten balls.

Dominant spieth wins masters

Jordan Spieth equalled the lowest winning score in Masters history to cap a record-breaking display at Augusta and win his first major.

The 21-year-old American, second on his debut last year, shot a two-under 70 to triumph on 18 under.

England’s Justin Rose hit 70 to finish 14 under, joint second with three-time champion Phil Mickelson (69) who ended runner-up in a major for the 10th time.

World number one Rory McIlroy finished fourth on 12 under after a 66.

for anyone to get close.

The Texan caught the eye immediately with an opening eight-under 64 and followed that up with a 66 on Friday for a two-day total of 14 under, breaking a 39-year-old record for the lowest halfway score in Masters history.

A late wobble on Saturday - when he double-bogeyed the 17th - gave the chasing pack hope, with Rose making the biggest move to cut Spieth’s lead to four under going into Sunday’s final round.

The story going into the Masters had been all about the Northern Irishman’s quest to become just the sixth man to win the Grand Slam of all four of golf’s majors.

Rose looked to apply immediate pressure as he putted for birdie on the first, but playing partner Spieth kept his cool to respond with a birdie of his own and maintain his advantage.

Royal Challengers introduced spin in the eighth over, which began with

SCOREBOARD

Royal Challengers

Bangalore innings

CH Gayle c Ashish Reddy

b P Kumar 21

V Kohli* b Bopara 41

KD Karthik† c Williamson

b Sharma 9

AB de Villiers c Dhawan

b Boult 46

Mandeep Singh c Warner

b Bopara 0

DJG Sammy b Ashish Reddy 6

SA Abbott c Sharma b Boult 14

HV Patel c Williamson b Boult 2

AN Ahmed b B Kumar 4

VR Aaron b B Kumar 6

YS Chahal not out 1

Extras: (lb-4, w-12) 16

Total: (all out; 19.5 overs) 166

Fall of wickets: 1-43 (Gayle, 5.3 ov), 2-77 (Karthik, 10.1 ov), 3-93 (Kohli, 11.5 ov), 4-93 (Mandeep Singh, 11.6 ov),

Harshal Patel’s assortment of hit-me balls, and Sunrisers had shaved 36 runs off their target.

Warner was in a particularly punishing mood, and in the fifth over took two fours and a six off successive balls from Varun Aaron. The six was the shot of a man in the zone. Aaron saw Warner making room and dug it in short, getting the ball to rise over shoulder height, but Warner still managed to jump off the ground and uppercut the ball over the backward point boundary.

5-125 (Sammy, 15.6 ov), 6-152 (de Villiers, 18.2 ov), 7-152 (Abbott, 18.3 ov), 8-155 (Patel, 18.5 ov), 9-165 (Aaron, 19.3 ov), 10-166 (Ahmed, 19.5 ov)

Bowling: TA Boult 4-0-363, B Kumar 3.5-0-30-2, P Kumar 4-0-34-1, RS Bopara

3-0-31-2, KV Sharma 4-0-201, A Ashish Reddy 1-0-11-1 Sunrisers Hyderabad innings DA Warner* lbw b Chahal 57 S Dhawan not out 50 KS Williamson st †Karthik b Chahal 5 KL Rahul not out 44

Extras: (lb-5, w-9, nb-2) 16

Total: (2 wickets; 17.2 overs) 172 Fall of wickets 1-82 (Warner, 7.5 ov), 2-94 (Williamson, 9.5 ov) Bowling: SA Abbott 2-021-0, HV Patel 2-0-23-0, VR Aaron 3.2-0-36-0, AN Ahmed 4-0-41-0, DJG Sammy 2-018-0, YS Chahal 4-0-28-2

Sunrisers 73 for 0. Warner muscled a short ball from Yuzvendra Chahal over the leg-side ropes, but the legspinner had his revenge three balls later, when he trapped Warner lbw as he failed to connect with a sweep.

Williamson missed another sweep in Chahal’s next over and ended up dragging his back foot out of the crease. The twin strikes could have stalled some of Sunrisers’ momentum, but KL Rahul ensured that didn’t happen.

He pulled Sammy for an authoritative four soon after walking in, and stepped out to Chahal and hit him fiercely to the straight boundary in the next over. By that point, Sunrisers had brought the equation down to 57 from 52 balls. With eight wickets in hand, Dhawan well set, and plenty of dew for the bowlers to contend with, there was only going to be one winner.

Dhawan, who had been content to ride in both Warner and Rahul’s slipstreams, accelerated as he approached his fifty, hitting two massive sixes off Abu Nechim, a pull and a pick-up shot over backward square leg. Royal Challengers weren’t just beaten comfortably, with 16 balls remaining, they also suffered the anxiety of watching AB de Villiers hobble off the field with a twisted ankle, suffered while trying to stop a ball with his feet.

Interviewed between

The total of 166 was far less than what Royal Challengers seemed set for during a breezy first-wicket partnership between Chris Gayle and Kohli. With the ball coming on beautifully and the outfield lightningquick, both batsmen were able to find the boundary by simply pushing the ball into gaps.

Gayle fell in the sixth over, flicking Praveen Kumar straight to deep square leg, but Kohli was still batting fluently at the other end, and a spilled return catch from Karn Sharma in the ninth over may have raised Sunrisers’ worries of having to chase an outlandish target.

But that wasn’t to happen. Karn got rid of Dinesh Karthik, who picked the wrong ball to try and slogsweep, and Bopara rattled Kohli’s off stump when he tried to force him away through the off side. Next ball, Mandeep Singh looked to flick a legcutter and got a leading edge to off. There didn’t seem to be anyone in its way, until Warner flew to his right from short cover to pluck it one-handed. It wouldn’t be his last eyecatching contribution of the day. (Cricinfo)

But it was Spieth, the new world number two, who dominated the headlines on each day, equalling Tiger Woods’s winning score of 18 under in 1997, when the former world number one won his first Green Jacket.

Spieth also became the second-youngest Masters champion, winning the tournament at the age of 21 years and 259 days, 155 days older than Woods when he recorded his 1997 win.

He also became the first player in 39 years to lead a Masters from start to finish, and the first to shoot 28 birdies at the tournament.

A one-over 73 for Woods meant he finished tied 17th on five under, while 2014 champion Bubba Watson carded a 74 to finish tied for 38th on one over.

Rose can consider himself unlucky not to have come even closer to winning his first Green Jacket, with 14 under good enough to have won 12 of the last 13 Masters, but such was Spieth’s dominance from the very first round it was hard

It was an electrifying start, and one that continued when Rose sank a birdie putt on the second but Spieth did likewise one hole later.

The blockbuster pairing of current world number one McIlroy and former incumbent Woods ensured packed galleries to watch the two play the final 18 holes sideby-side.

They both started the day tied for fifth, but 10 strokes behind Spieth, meaning something extraordinary would need to happen to see either of the two challenge for victory.

Woods’s cause was not helped when he injured his hand on the ninth, appearing to strike a hidden tree root when hitting the ball out of the pines, but he recovered to sink an eagle on the 13th, prompting a huge cheer from the galleries.

Spieth’s stunning form and a slow start for McIlroy meant he rarely looked like challenging for a third consecutive major win, but can at least be happy with his performance during the weekend. (BBC Sport)

2024 Olympic & Paralympic Games: Paris bid moves closer

Paris city council has voted in favour of the city bidding to host the 2024 Olympics.

The French capital hosted the summer Games in 1924, but it lost out to London in 2005 when applying for the 2012 edition.

The French National Olympic Committee (CNOSF) had ordered a feasibility study into Paris’ suitability, which its City Hall has approved. CNOSF must now formally declare Paris’ candi -

dacy before 15 September.

Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo said the CNOSF “did a fantastic job and asked the right questions about our past failures”.

In addition to being passed over for the 2012 Games, Paris was also unsuccessful with bids for the 1992 and 2008 Games. Boston, Hamburg and Rome have all expressed interest in staging the 2024 Games, with the final decision on the host city to be made in 2017.

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Assuria Classic Open off to exciting start

The annual Assuria Classic Open rolled off last weekend with six matches at the National Racquet Centre on Camp Street. The tournament, which is expected to last two weeks with competition in five categories, has attracted Guyana’s top players and fresh faces.

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Daniel Razick, who won the Novice Trophy Stall 2014 doubles, defeated Akeem Bailey 6-1 in the Novice Medley Singles. Fiona Bushell also had a 6-1 win over fellow club member Patricia Hope in the same category. The Men’s Open had wins by Hemant Dalip against Malik Williams 6-1, 6-0. The seasoned Benjettan Osborne took a comfortable 6-0, 6-1 win against Jeevan Dalip, who played in his first competition.

tial lead of 5-2 and serve for the set, and eventually secured the set 6-3. Both players served well, hitting a high percentage of first serves, but Andrews’ consistency and approaches at the net gave him the edge over Chand.

The second set started with a bang when Andrews powered the first ace of the match to take the first game which seemed to put him in overdrive. He then took a 4-1 lead.

He extended his lead to 5-2 and it seemed history would be repeated as in the first set. Chand then took a medical time-out after apparent leg cramps.

the set to Chand 6-7. Chand had a good comeback which can be attributed to mental toughness and coming up with winners at the right time.

A visibly bothered Andrews shook Chand’s hand and declared his retirement from the match. When asked about his decision, he noted that he was “perturbed and stunned by his [Chand’s] unsportsmanlike behaviour” and decided not to continue the following day.

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Jason Andrews and Sandeep Chand played the main game of the day with much excitement and buzz around the match-up since the two old rivals never fail to bring their best game. Chand opened and held serve in the opening set, with Andrews doing the same, followed by both trading a break to level the score at 2-2. Andrews took the advantage of breaking Chand to gain a substan-

On serve, Andrews lost two match points after a dicey call made on the serve. Chand then mounted a comeback to force a tiebreak. Although the lighting was insufficient, given the lack of court lights, the two battled on and Andrews took a 4-1 lead, but lost the following six points to drop

Chand said in his postmatch interview, “I think Jason played better today. I was just fortunate to hold on in the second set and win some critical points. It was a challenge for both of us playing on that surface.”

The 3-6, 7-6 (7-4) win by Chand sets up his next match against Harry Panday. Other matches will continue during the week and this weekend at the National Racquet Centre and Le Ressouvenir Tennis Club.

Rose Hall Town Gismos & Gadgets name 18-man training squad for Busta Champion of Champions

The Selection Committee of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club has named a strong 18 man training squad to commence training under the supervision of Club Coach Delbert Hicks and captain at the Area “H” Ground.

The squad would undergo intense physical fitness sessions and pitch practice as the Rose Hall Town Gizmos & gadgets team seeks to claim their tenth Busta Title after first winning it in 2004. The team would clash with arch rival,

Albion Community Centre on Saturday 25th April, 2015, at the historic Albion Cricket Ground under flood lights.

The match would start at 15.00 hours and would ne broadcasted live on NCN Radio.

Secretary/CEO of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club Hilbert Foster disclosed that all plans are in place for the successful hosting of the finals and the organisers are currently undertaking a massive public relations campaign to promote the match

which is expected to feature at least three test players and numerous senior and junior cricketers. Twenty five percentage of the gate revenue would be donated to ailing Guyana Chronicle Sports Reporter Calvin Roberts while the remainder would be used for cricket development.

The full training squad is Shawn Pereira, Delbert Hicks, Assad Fudadin, Ashkay Homraj, Vidal Crandon, Khemraj Mahadeo, Leroy Bristol, Collis Butts, Brandon Prashad, Keon Sinclair, Troy Mathieson,

Eon Hooper, Sherain Murray, Jason Anderson, Denzil Sinclair, Jason Sinclair, Kelvon Anderson and Sylus Tyndall. The Manager is Keith Hicks. The winning team would receive $100 000.00 and the Busta Cup Trophy, the runner up would take home $50 000.00 and a trophy. There would also be prizes for the Man of the Final, Nest batsman and best Bowler. Lucky Patrons would also receive gate prizes that would include a tablet, blenders and food hampers.

Mourinho hails cech professionalism

etr Cech may not have been on the field much - he has started only four Premier League games this season - but manager Jose Mourinho still believes he has made a significant contribution to Chelsea’s cause.

The giant Czech Republic goalkeeper is in his 11th season at Stamford Bridge having played more than 480 times for Chelsea, but for the first time, has had to play second fiddle as an understudy to young Belgium stopper Thibaut Courtois.

Cech, 32, and with many seasons still ahead of him, gave a clear indication last month that he was unwilling to accept the situation for a second campaign but his commitment to Chelsea’s title charge has not been lost on Mourinho.

“Cech is absolutely fantastic,” the Portuguese told reporters after his team restored their seven-point lead at the top of the table with

a 1-0 victory at Queens Park Rangers on Sunday.

“His attitude is amazing. Before the game he told the captain (John Terry) to choose a certain end if he won the toss because at 1:30pm it would be better to play in a certain goal because of the sun.

“And he was not playing,

he was thinking of Courtois. With this attitude Petr deserves everything.”

Chelsea were a long way short of their best against relegation-threatened Rangers and needed Courtois to pull off several fine saves to keep them in the game before Cesc Fabregas sealed a smash-

and-grab victory with a late goal.

“Defensively we were very strong all game including at set-pieces against big guys who are good in the air,” said Mourinho.

“Obviously Courtois was there for us. I told him during the week...after Charlie Adam... we needed him to give us a couple of points with a couple of saves and he did it.”

The Belgian suffered an embarrassing fate eight days earlier when he was lobbed from beyond the halfway line by Scotland midfielder Adam in Chelsea’s 2-1 home win over Stoke City.

Mourinho’s men have seven games left to play, with third-placed Manchester United the visitors to Stamford Bridge on Saturday, and they are now odds-on favourites to add the Premier League trophy to the League Cup they won last month. (Reuters)

Juniors Jewellery and Pawn Shop supports Busta Soft Shoe Tournament

Juniors Jewellery Gallery and Pawn Shop has come out in support of the Busta Soft Shoe Tournament currently underway.

The jewellery store located on Robb Street, Georgetown next to Scotiabank has committed to providing the highest goal scorer of the game with a gold chain.

Director of the Petra

Organisation, Troy Mendonca, at the simple handing over ceremony on Monday, noted his gratitude for the contribution.

“It is good to reward the person that entertains the fans and this will only add to the success of the Tournament,” Mendonca noted.

Proprietor of the store, Ferdinand Bacchus was pleased to be on board with

the Tournament, “The reason for doing this is that I think football always need a little more; in spite of how much it might get, it always needs some more… so this is just a token for the player,” Bacchus stated.

The Tournament will continue today at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) Ground from 19:00h.

Hinds promises to help Berbice basketball

Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) President Nigel Hinds is pushing to improve the standard of basketball in Berbice.

The GABF President met with basketball organiser Vibert Garrett on Sunday and discussed plans for the improvement of the sport in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

During the meeting, which took place at the Area H Court in Rose Hall Town, Garrett outlined some of the difficulties affecting the development of the sport.

Since being resuscitated in early 2014, the Berbice Amateur Basketball Association (BABA) has not lived up to a promise made by President Keith Myers during his inaugural speech that BABA will organise a tournament for each quarter for the year.

It is now the second quarter of the second year and players are still waiting on BABA’s first basketball tournament.

On Sunday, Hinds met with Garrett during what should have been the first game of the MPG Packaging Plant basketball tournament.

During the discussion, the President promised to

organise clinics for basketball table officials.

The clinics are expected to focus on persons who are interested in scoring, while another clinic for persons interested in refereeing the game will be looked at. Interested persons are being asked to make contact with the BABA.

Meanwhile, Rose Hall

Jammers got a walkover in the opening game of the MPG Packaging Plant basketball tournament as Hopetown Stealers failed to show.

The tournament continues on Sunday when New Amsterdam Warriors take on archrivals Smythfield Rockers at the Vrymens Erven Court.

Seven teams are listed in the tournament, which is being played on a roundrobin basis in two groups.

The Jammers, Stealers and Canje Knights are in group A, while group B consists of the Warriors, Rockers, Fyrish Black Sharks and Ithaca Hardliners.

To date this is the fourth tournament Garret has organised since last year. All the tournaments have been sanctioned by BABA. (Andrew Carmichael)

Nauth’s Motor Spares 50-over cricket …

ecccc beat Lusignan in thriller to win title

Cheered on by a sizeable and vocal crowd, Enmore Community Centre Cricket Club (ECCCC) defeated Lusignan by six runs in a thrilling final to lift the title in the inaugural Nauth’s Motor Spares 50-over cricket competition on Sunday at the Enmore Community Centre Ground.

Inserted to take first strike after Lusignan won the toss, ECCCC managed to post 133 all out in 39 overs. Lusignan in reply fell agonisingly short at 127 all out in 38.1 overs to finish second best.

ECCCC got off to a solid start with openers Bheemraj Ramkelawan and Under-19 batsman Vishwanauth Ramlakhan posting 50 in the first 10 overs. However, their dismissals – Ramlakhan for 21 and Ramkelawan for 17 – sparked a dramatic collapse, which saw the home side lose six wickets for just 19 runs.

It took a last-wicket partnership of 26 between Chaitram Ramlall and Nandram Ganesh to lift the morale of the hosts going into the innings break. Bowling for Lusignan, Ferron Kadir was the chief destroyer, claiming 5-32 from 10 nagging overs, while veteran Narvan Singh bagged 3-27 from seven overs.

Faced with nine overs to negotiate before the scheduled lunch interval, Lusignan slipped to 49-3 by the break with left-arm seamer Gavin Moriah removing former national Under-19 opener Brian Sattaur and the experienced Vishnu Ramjeet, and off-

spinner Christopher Surat removing Safraz Alli.

Upon resumption, firstclass leg-spinner Amir Khan was called into the attack, and he kept a tight rein on proceedings, conceding just eight runs and picking up two wickets from 10 overs on the trot.

At the end of the 22nd over, a sharp shower had the players scurrying off the field, adding to the drama

seven runs required from 12 overs, ECCCC skipper Ramkelawan gambled by introducing seamer bowler Ganesh ahead of Ramlall. It proved the right move as Ganesh cleaned up Khan with the first ball of the 38th over to seal the win.

Moriah picked up three wickets, while there were two apiece for Surat, Seemangal and Khan. For the victory, ECCCC received a trophy and

with Lusignan at 85-7 after Moriah added a third wicket to his name by removing the in-form Somnauth Bharrat for 45.

After the rain break, Chandraban Seemangal struck twice in one over to sink Lusignan further, removing Narvan Singh to end a 47-run, eight-wicket partnership with Emran Khan.

Seemangal then removed Rajendra Naikbarran two balls later, and with

Guyana Football: Moore gets first taste of Finnish football

Guyanese defender Walter Moore had his first taste of Finnish Premiere League football on the weekend when he played the full 90 minutes for new club Jaro Jalkapalloseura (FF Jaro) in their 1-1 draw against

Kamraterna Mariehamn (IFK Mariehamn).

The game between the two sides marked the opening of the league and Moore who signed a two-year deal with the top flight Finnish club was instrumental in his team’s opening goal, which

was scored by Johan Brunell.

“We got a corner and the ball was passed out to me and I whipped in a powerful cross. It was headed back on goal and a player was there to just roll it in,” Moore said.

Speaking after the game Moore said football in the

league is more physical and played at a faster pace than in the Caribbean.

Moore first played professional football in Trinidad and Tobago for North East Stars in 2006. He also played for the Charlotte Eagles Football Club in the USA.

(Digicel SportsMAx)

$200,000, while Lusignan also collected a trophy, but had to settle for $100,000. Moriah was named Man of the Match. Bharrat was named Best Batsman of the final, while Kadir was the Best Bowler.

Bharrat was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament for his 333 runs, pipping Ramkelawan (271 runs), Ramlakhan (241) and Moriah (19 wickets) for the award.

The game was witnessed by executives of the Guyana Cricket Board, including President Drubahadur, who later commended Surendra Nauth of Nauth’s Motor Spares for sponsoring the tournament.

The East Coast Cricket Committee also came in for high praise for delivering a well-organised tournament, which attracted 12 teams.

Nauth promised to increase the sponsorship in the next tournament, which is expected to attract 18 teams.

tuesday, april 14, 2015

UA&GS 11th annual cycling competition set for Saturday

The inner circuit of the National Park will be transformed into a battleground on Saturday when the 11th annual Universal Auto and General Supplies (UA&GS) 11-race cycling programme is held from 09:00h.

The event will signal the return of competitive cycling to the venue after a few weeks’ break, and according to national coach and organiser Hassan Mohamed, an exciting day of racing is anticipated with all the country’s top riders set to face the starter’s order.

With the Independence Three-Stage set for next month, local riders will look to start assessing their state of readiness for that event, by putting much-needed miles on their legs, and this weekend’s programme will serve as ideal preparation.

Last year’s main event –the gruelling 35-lap School Boys and Invitational – was won by Carlton Wheelers Cycle Club rider Robin Persaud, who clocked one hour, 16 minutes, 17.18 sec-

onds (01h:16m: 17.18s).

Cleveland King won the Juveniles race, while Stephen Fernandes, Clyde Jacobs and Avish Ramkellawan were winners of the Veteran, Mountain Bike and 12-14 Boys and

Busta Soft Shoe tournament...

Big

Girls races respectively.

UA&GS Managing

Director Shameer Baksh, himself a cyclist in the Veterans division, will assist in the presentation of prizes at the conclusion. (Avenash Ramzan)

match-ups set for Day 3

The Busta Soft Shoe Tournament will continue this evening at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) Ground from 19:00h.

Some of the Tournament’s best teams will face each other in six thrilling games.

The first match-up will see Queen Street Tiger Bay, a regular campaigner of the Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” facing Stevedore

Housing Scheme. Ballerz, the winners of the first game of the Tournament, will battle Sophia in the second game of the night in a match-up that just might produce a number of goals.

Alexander Village will take on California Square, a community known for hosting street football as well as boxing, in the third game of the night.

The fourth game will see

may Day cup secures first sponsorship

The organising committee of the May Day Cup received an early boost after securing the first sponsorship for the oneday event, billed for May 2 at the historic Albion Sports Complex.

Popular businessman Mohamed Latif, of Line Path, Upper Corentyne, Berbice, recently presented a cheque to Dennis DeRoop, a member of the organising committee. Proceeds from this event will be donated to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to carry out its work in preparation for the 2015 elections and beyond.

Latif said he was pleased to be a part of such a mega event. He added that he was fully supportive of the work of the PPP/C Government and encouraged the general public to support the Party in the upcoming elections.

DeRoop thanked Latif for coming on board so willingly and reassured him that he would get his money’s worth when archrivals Berbice and Demerara clash in the feature T20 game.

He added that although the event was intended to raise funds for the ruling party, it would also provide entertainment for the entire family.

Following the cricket, Shakti Strings Orchestra,

accompanied by the popular Crown Vibes International, will entertain the crowd during the big after-party lime.

Several top national and international players will be on show in the T20, according to the organisers. The winning team will collect $200,000, while the losing team will get half that amount. The Man of the Match will receive $20,000.

Further, the event will see four exciting zone teams from the county of Berbice – West Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje,

Lower Corentyne and Upper Corentyne/Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) clash.

The matches will be 15 overs-a-side with two semifinals and the grand final. The winners will take home a trophy and $100,000, the runner-up $50,000, and the two losing semi-finalists $25,000 each. The Man of the Match will also receive a trophy and $10,000.

The day’s activity bowls off from 10:00h. Tickets cost $1000, with children under 12 admitted free.

Leopold Street taking on Kitty Weavers in what can be termed as the most even match-up of the night.

North Ruimveldt and West Back Road could also provide some sparks depending on which team is in better rhythm on the night.

The last game will see regular street football campaigners Sparta Boss taking on Charlestown in what is expected to be a mismatch.

Classy Bell hundred puts England in control over Windies

Much of the talk around English cricket is about a batsman who spent a lot of time batting at No. 4. What the future holds for Kevin Pietersen remains unclear, but the man who moved into the position vacated by his sacking last year is a fine player himself. Ian Bell’s 22nd Test hundred - now just one fewer than Pietersen (currently) has - helped England recover from a difficult start in Antigua and end the opening day of the series in the ascendency.

It was a quite a turna-

round in the second two thirds of the day: at lunch England had plodded and prodded their way to 49 for 3 off 25 overs - although against some testing bowling from West Indies’ three quicks - but in the rest of the day they amassed 292 off 65 overs. Joe Root made 83 in a fourth-wicket stand of 177 which reset England after a start that had threatened more bad vibes.

Ben Stokes, recalled to the side in the No. 6 spot vacated by the injured Moeen Ali, continued the resurgence by skipping to

a 59-ball fifty after three consecutive ducks against India last year, ending in sight of a second Test hundred.

No need to punch a locker this time. He and Bell surged to a partnership of 130 in 25 overs until Kemar Roach produced an excellent delivery to nick Bell’s edge off the last ball of the penultimate over.

Jonathan Trott’s international return after a gap of 16 months was less successful as he lasted three balls and edged to first slip.

turn to page 19

Tough task for Demerara after Hetymer’s 114

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Demerara, chasing an improbable victory target of 298, were 71-8 in their second innings at stumps on the penultimate day of the second round of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Under-19 Inter-County ThreeDay Tournament against Berbice.

When bails were lifted at the Georgetown Cricket Club Ground, Sherfane Rutherford was unbeaten on four with Daniel Basdeo yet to score.

Fast bowler Grisean Grant struck three times, and spinners Balchand Baldeo and Daniel Lewis snared two crucial wickets apiece, while Kassim Khan chipped in with a wicket to put Berbice in pole position.

Grant removed Ronaldo Renee (4); Tevin Imlack (9); and Travis Persaud (13) in a devastating 36-ball spell. Baldeo claimed the wickets of Akahaya Persaud (3) and Tariq Dharamlall (4), while Lewis had the wickets of Carlton Jacques (18) and Jayaden Mana (1). Khan removed Mark Hamilton for four.

Demerara will resume today, needing 227 runs with two wickets at their disposal.

Monday morning, Demerara had a first innings deficit of 54 runs, and their resistance folded after just 5.4 overs into the day’s play.

Spinners Leon Andrews (3-3) and Baldeo (3-38) combined to wrap up the Demerara innings, with the hosts losing their last three wickets for eight runs. They were eventually bowled out for 152. Andrews accounted for Jacques (2) and Mana without scoring, while Baldeo removed Basdeo for 29. Lewis (235); Khan (1-32); and Omar Weatherspoon (1-11) were the other successful bowlers for Berbice.

on his way to a 124-ball 114, before his side, leading by 47 runs in the first innings were bowled out for 250 in 53 overs within the first hour of play after tea.

Berbice lost Andrews (2) after fast bowler Rutherford provided Demerara with the early breakthrough at 5-1.

However, Hetymer joined forces with Baldeo and the two batsmen were in complete control until mid way through the second session and set the stage for an exciting denouement.

showed brutal aggression but also fine shot selection.

Wayward bowling

The pair capitalised on wayward Demerara bowling to reach the lunch interval at 91-1 and shared a secondwicket partnership of 169, with Baldeo stroking 66. Baldeo was on 40 with the left-hander Hetymer, who missed the opening round due to West Indies Under-19 duties, resuming after the interval on 48.

were found wanting on the slow track and their problems were compounded when a few chances went begging.

Batting with total composure, Hetymer pressed on to three figures with a 107-

When play resumed

When Berbice took to the bat again, Shemron Hetymer smashed 16 fours

While Baldeo was content to graft, Hetymer was the aggressor, unleashing a number of extravagant offside drives and cuts against both pace and spin. Hetymer

Both Hetymer and Baldeo raised their half-centuries soon after lunch, with Hetymer’s 50 coming off 56 balls, inclusive of eight fours and Baldeo’s half century spanned 76 balls.

The Demerara bowlers

ball century.

However, both batsmen fell in quick succession, with Travis Persaud (1-21) removed Baldeo, and Tariq Dharamlall (2-22) claiming the wicket of Hetymer, after an innings that once again underlined his character.

Samuel Kistasammy (5) was also removed by Dharamlall, while Kassim Khan was run out without scoring. After the interval, Parmanand Ramdhan showed his intent by hitting six boundaries and a huge six for his 48, but the remaining batting inspired little confidence.

Rutherford scythed though the lower order to claim four of the last five wickets and finished with figures of 5-68, while Akshaya Persaud (1-27) was the other successful bowler during that period. GCB U-19 Inter-County 3-Day tournament...