By Edison Jefford
Ansa McAl on Tuesday completed its ‘Crown Your Community’ promotion when it handed over the final piece of equipment, which was a $600,000 John Deere Grass Cutter, to Mackenzie Sports Club’s (MSC) Management as part of a $3M ground makeover.
Public Relations Officer at Ansa McAl, Darshanie Yussuf, told the media that the Company wants the facility to benefit the people and the community. She said that the STAG initiative shows that Ansa McAl is serious about the holistic development of sports.
“We resurfaced the ground as MSC requested and as part of maintenance,

Ansa McAl PRO, Darshanie Yussuf (right) hands over the keys for the John Deere Grass Cutter to MSC Treasurer, Phillip Gibbons as part of the final phase of the $3M STAG ‘Crown Your Community’ Initiative.

we are handing over an equipment that we’re certain will give the ground a neat finish,” Yussuf said, adding that the cost to resurface the ground amounted to $2.4M exclusive of the equipment.
The Grass Cutter and resurfacing cost accounted for the $3M ground makeover under the STAG Beer brand. Treasurer at the MSC, Phillip Gibbons, in receiving the equipment, thanked them for the gesture, adding that it will certainly enhance their care of the facility.
“We are not too happy that you had to come at a time when the ground is not fully completed but we are grateful for this gesture; it will ensure that we have a beautiful surface so that sports could come back to the MSC at a high standard,” Gibbons said.
Ansa McAl has had a hands-on approach to the management of the MSC ground project through its completion. However, while the ground is levelled and fully grassed there is still a final phase of rolling to be done, which the inclement weather has prevented.
The MSC was chosen as the venue for the makeover after the popular liming spot, Chicken’s Bar in Linden had won the STAG Beer ‘Crown Your Community’ promotion. The outlet in Linden is renowned as a popular STAG Beer ‘watering-hole’ in the community.
Yussuf had described the promotion as “revolutionary”. It was based on the community that had collected the most STAG Beer crowns (corks), and highest weight, being adjudged the winner at the end with a field renovation prize worth $3M.
However, in addition to the field renovation, Ansa McAl Trading had also done Dressing Rooms aback the MSC Basketball Court. The Dressing Rooms were named after one of Linden’s and one of Guyana’s most prolific basketball players, James Brusche.

Daily Mail – Neymar all but fired Brazil to the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup as they saw off the challenge of Mexico in the Group A clash at Estadio Castelao.

Brazil won their opening match against Japan and the three points from last night means they are in pole position to progress to the next stage, while in contrast, Mexico’s cup ambitions look to be over after they also lost their opening game to Italy.

It was not a classic performance from Brazil by any means, but the flashes of brilliance remained, and it was two pieces of fantastic skill by Neymar at the start and the end of the game which proved to be the ultimate difference.

The 21-year-old fired Brazil into the lead within nine minutes when he picked up the ball in the edge of the box and volleyed home a stunning strike before his jinking run up the left and deft footwork set-up Jo in stoppage time for the second.

Much of the fault for the opening goal lay with Mexico defender Hiram Mier, whose failed clearance fell at the feet of the waiting forward, who showed why Barcelona had paid almost £50million to secure his services from next season with a rocket from his left foot.

Brazil almost doubled their lead five minutes later when Dani Alves saw his 20-yard lobbed shot tipped over the bar by Mexico keeper Jose de Jesus Corona.

Mexico had their first real chance of the game in the 16th minute when Mier almost capitalised on some scrappy Brazilian defending.

The Monterrey defender shot wide of Julio Cesar’s right post when Brazil failed to close down an attack, with Mier doing well to stay on his feet and get a shot away from the right of the area.

Neymar then went close again after he took the ball on his chest in midfield and beat two defenders, but he got too much power on the ball which flew just over the bar.

Brazil were threatening on the counter-attack at every opportunity but they could only take a narrow 1-0 lead into half-time.

It looked as if Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side had extended their lead almost immediately after the break from when Thiago Silva put the ball into the back of the net from a Neymar free-kick, but the defender was correctly flagged for offside and the goal chalked off.

Hulk then wasted a golden opportunity to bury Mexico when he shot just wide after some slick build-up play before Neymar again fired a fizzing shot across the face of goal, giving El Tricolor yet another let-off.

The tricky forward forced another save from the Mexico keeper after yet another slick counter-attacking move, with the ball eventually blocked at the near post.

Paulinho lifted a chance over the bar from a whipped-in Neymar cross and it looked like there would be no more goals in the match until the Barcelona man produced a final piece of magic to cut inside and lay the ball off to substitute Jo, who slotted the ball home as Brazil took maximum points.

Confederations Cup Group A standings

MIAMI (AP) — LeBron James led a title-saving charge, and now his crown will be on the line one more time in Game 7.
James powered Miami to a frantic fourth-quarter rally and overtime escape as the Heat beat the San Antonio Spurs 103-100 on Tuesday night to extend the NBA Finals as far as they can go and keep Miami’s repeat chances alive.
Losing his headband but keeping his cool while playing the entire second half and overtime, James finished with 32 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, making the go-ahead basket with 1:43 remaining in the

Heat forward LeBron James faces up against Spurs guard Tony Parker in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, which Miami won 103-100.(Photo Derick E. Hingle, USA TODAY Sports)

extra period.  “If we were going to go down tonight, we’re going to go down with me leaving every little bit of energy that I had on the floor,” James said. Tim Duncan scored 30 points for the Spurs, his most in an NBA Finals game since Game 1 in 2003, but was shut out after the third quarter. He added 17 rebounds.
Game 7 will be in Miami today, the NBA’s first do-or-die game to determine its champion since the Lakers beat the Celtics in 2010.  “They’re the best two words in sports: Game 7,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
And two the Spurs were oh so close to avoiding.
They looked headed to a fifth title in five chances when they built a 13-point lead with under 4 minutes left in the third quarter, then grabbed a five-point edge late in regulation after blowing the lead.  But James hit a 3-pointer and Ray Allen tied it with another. Just 5.2 seconds remained in regulation. The Heat were that close to the edge.
James was just 3 of 12 after three quarters, the Heat trailing by 10 and frustration apparent among the players and panic setting in among the fans.  Nothing to worry. Not with James playing like this.  He finished 11 of 26, even making a steal after his basket had given Miami a 101-100 edge in the over time.
Before that, he was 12 minutes from hearing the familiar criticisms about not being able to get it done, from having to watch a team celebrate on his home floor again.  Then he changed the game and erased that story.
The Heat, who haven’t lost consecutive games since January 8 and 10, had too much defence and way too much James for the Spurs in the final 17 minutes. They are trying to become fourth team to win the final two games at home since the NBA went to the 2-3-2 format for the finals in 1985.
They said they welcomed this challenge, a chance to show they how much mentally tougher they were than the team the Dallas Mavericks easily handled in Game 6 that night.  James made sure they did, looking nothing like the player who was so bad in the fourth quarters during that series.  He was simply unstoppable down the stretch of this one.
Kawhi Leonard had 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Spurs. Tony Parker had 19 points and eight assists, but shot just 6 of 23 from the field.
The Spurs had one final chance down 103-100, but Chris Bosh blocked Danny Green’s 3-pointer from the corner as time expired.  Bosh had said Green wouldn’t get open the way he has all series – and he didn’t.  Green finished 1 of 5 from behind the arc after going 25 of 38 on 3-pointers (65.8 percent) in the first five games.
The Heat, the NBA’s 66-win powerhouse during the regular season, will be playing a seventh game for the second straight round, having needed to go the distance to beat the Indiana Pacers in the East finals.
The race will go down to a final day.
Parker’s 3-pointer over James tied it at 89 with 1:27 left. He then came up with a steal, spinning into the lane for a 91-89 lead with 58 seconds to go. Miami coughed it up again and Ginobili made two free throws, and he made another after a third straight Miami turnover to put the Spurs ahead 94-89.  But James nailed a 3-pointer with 20 seconds left, and the Heat had one more chance after Leonard made just one foul shot to give the Spurs a 95-92 edge. James missed but Bosh got the rebound out to Allen, the league’s career leader in 3-pointers, who made another one from the corner to even it up.
The Spurs went ahead by three again in overtime, but James found a cutting Allen for a basket, then scored himself to put the Heat on top. They clinched it when Bosh blocked San Antonio’s final two shot attempts.  Bosh finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Mario Chalmers scored 20 points and Dwyane Wade had 14.
Duncan made all six shots in the first quarter, but consecutive 3-pointers by Shane Battier and Chalmers late in the period rallied Miami to a 27-25 advantage.  Duncan made his first eight shots, scoring 13 straight San Antonio points over nearly 8 minutes in the second quarter. Boris Diaw finally stopped that stretch with a little scoop shot in the lane and Leonard tipped in a miss with 1.3 seconds left, capping the Spurs’ 11-0 run to end the second quarter. It was 50-44 at the break.
With Duncan 37 and Ginobili nearly 36, the Spurs know they may never get another shot like this one. Duncan knew how tough it would be to get back to the top six years ago, when the Spurs swept James’ Cleveland Cavaliers for their most recent title.

The Guyana Draughts Association (GDA)\Marlon Harris and Gentle Elias tournament is set for Sunday at the National Gymnasium. The tournament will be played using the 100 square boards on a round robin basis. Registration starts at 09:00hrs while game time is 10:00hrs. Entrance fee is $300 per person.
Both sponsors promised to make it an annual event while President of the GDA, Jairam thanked them for their support. He said that others should emulate the efforts of Harris and Elias since the GDA depends solely on sponsorship. Jairam added that Draughts in an indoor sport and the cost to sponsor a competition is minimal. Players countrywide are invited to participate. Mr Harris recently handed over the trophies.
Meanwhile, winners of the GDA fund raising raffle which was drawn on May 18 are asked to collect their prizes not later than three months after this publication.
Following are the results; 1st prize no. 1322, 2nd prize no. 372, 3rd prize no.1274, 4th prize no. 29. Number 558,381,806,991 and 711 won consolation prizes.

BBC Sport – England powered into the final of the Champions Trophy with a seven-wicket victory over a South Africa side who once again underperformed in a major semi-final.
James Anderson (2-14) and James Tredwell (3-19) starred with the ball as the Proteas collapsed to 80-8 before a 95-run stand between David Miller and Rory Kleinveldt hauled them to 175.
Jonathan Trott scored a typically measured unbeaten 82 as England passed their modest target in 37.3 overs to reach their first global 50-over final since 2004.

Jonathan Trott made sure England had no problems during their chase © Getty Images

The hosts will play the winners of today’s second semi-final between India and Sri Lanka in Sunday’s final at Edgbaston.
It is some achievement for Alastair Cook’s side, who have calmly shrugged off criticism of their cautious batting tactics, allegations of ball-tampering and injuries to Kevin Pietersen and Graeme Swann to reach the showpiece.
The question now is whether they can go one better than the 2004 Champions Trophy final, when they were improbably beaten by West Indies at The Oval.
For South Africa, this defeat will no doubt be added to their long list of so-called “chokes” in 50-over tournaments.
The Proteas, who won the inaugural Champions Trophy (then known as the ICC Knock Out) in 1998, infamously threw away a winning position against Australia in the following year’s World Cup semi-final and went out of the 2003 World Cup on home soil in the group stage after misinterpreting the Duckworth-Lewis rain rule.
They also suffered batting collapses in losing to Australia and New Zealand at the semi-final and quarter-final stages at the 2007 and 2011 World Cups.
After being put in to bat on a humid, overcast morning, South Africa were blown off course by a superb opening burst from Anderson and almost entirely derailed by Tredwell, who took three wickets in his first five overs.
Colin Ingram was trapped lbw by Anderson with the fifth ball of the innings and Steven Finn followed up with the prize wicket of Hashim Amla in the next over.  Amla, who scored an unbeaten 311 against England in last year’s Oval Test, made a late decision to leave a ball outside off stump and gave Jos Buttler the first of six catches. Robin Peterson and Faf du Plessis’s brief rebuilding act was curtailed as Anderson vindicated Cook’s decision to extend his spell into a seventh over by removing Peterson lbw with a full, straight ball.
South Africa’s next five wickets added just 35 runs, with the England-supporting contingent of the crowd revelling in the mayhem on the hottest day of the year.
Captain AB de Villiers, whose one-day average exceeds 50, had a reckless swipe at Stuart Broad and was caught behind before JP Duminy played on to Tredwell.   Du Plessis edged Tredwell behind and Ryan McLaren was expertly run out by Trott from slip after a sharply turning ball had deflected off the batsman’s pad.
Miller announced his intentions by crashing Finn over long-off for six as he led a spirited counter attack with Kleinveldt, who replaced the injured Dale Steyn.   They struck 12 boundaries in an entertaining partnership as they dragged South Africa towards respectability.
But Broad wrapped up the innings in the space of two balls by having Kleinveldt, for 43, and Lonwabo Tsotsobe pouched by the excellent Buttler, leaving Miller unbeaten on 56.
England had openers Cook and Ian Bell caught behind inside the first 11 overs to give South Africa a sniff at 41-2.
But Trott exuded calm authority as he put away anything overpitched to keep England in the ascendancy.
Joe Root struck seven fours and had moved to within two runs of 50 when he was bowled round his legs attempting a paddle sweep off Duminy.   By that point, however, with only 30 needed for victory, the match was a foregone conclusion. Fittingly, it was Trott who struck the winning runs through the covers to see England into the final.
Scores: England 179 for 3 (Trott 82*, Root 48) beat South Africa 175 (Miller 56*, Kleinveldt 43, Tredwell 3-19, Broad 3-50) by seven wickets.

Pic – Jonathan Trott made sure England had no problems during their chase © Getty Images

Redeemer (Girls) and Mae’s (Boys) were crowned champions of this year’s Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport (MCYS) / National Sports Commission (NSC) /AL Sport & Tour Promotions  Primary Schools Windball Cricket Championships which ended Saturday, at the National Park.

Director of Sport Neil Kumar (3rd right) poses with the respective winners and teachers following the completion of the finals last Saturday, at the National Park.

Playing in the Georgetown Zone, before a sizeable crowd, Redeemer defeated St. Agnes by seven runs to capture the title, while Mae’s registered a nerve tingling four runs triumph over West Ruimveldt to add another trophy to their burgeoning collection.
In the girls’ final, Redeemer batted first and scored 40-1 with Cindy Mohamed hitting 17 not out, whileTonesha Gladd supported with 14.
Chasing 41 runs for victory, St Agnes were restricted to 33-0, before the overs ran out with Deslyn Leitch’s 19, being the topscore.
In the third place playoff, St. Pius beat West Ruimveldt by 10 wickets.
West Ruimveldt batted first and made 35-2 with Aliya Mc Lennon hitting 14.
St Pius in reply ended on 36-0. Carlisa Rogers stroked 19.
Meanwhile, in the Boys equivalent, Mae’s defeated West Ruimveldt by four runs.
Mae’s batted first and scored 60-2 with Yudistir Persaud 35 and Navindra Persaud 18, being the principal contributors.
West Ruimveldt in their reply made a valiant attempt to reach the victory target, but could only manage 56-2 with Imran Panchan 25 and Sachin Persaud 17, the topscorers.
Last year’s champion St. Agnes won the 3rd place playoff against St. Margaret’s in a game that had to be reduced to three overs.
St. Margaret’s batted first and made 16 -4 off the allotted overs. St. Agnes replied with 17-0. Eon Joseph hit 11.
Director of Sport Neil Kumar, who was on hand to do the presentation in his address to players, parents and spectators, first thanked Sports Officer Allister Munroe, co-ordinator of the tournament for a job well done, before congratulating the respective winners.
The Director also seized the opportunity to congratulate the students who did well at the SSEE and are fully involved in sports, before acknowledging the presence of Head Teachers and teachers who were present in the crowd.
Munroe “I want to tell you” the MCYS and NSC will continue to support this programme in closing he applauds all the parents, all the students and more important the teachers present.
NSC Admin Officer Gervy C Harry, Cricket Coach Daniel Richmond, AL Sport & Tour Promotions officials Basil Persaud, Mark White, Nigel Hope, Edward Cobenna and Ron Marks were all present at the finals.
Munroe expressed special thanks to the Management & Staff of the National Parks Commission and also the Police, who were visibly present at the venue during the programme.

The Berbice Volleyball Association in collaboration with the Trophy Stall of Bourda Market, Georgetown will be holding the third Annual Trophy Stall Volleyball Competition for teams in Berbice on Sunday, June 23rd at the Albion Sports Complex Volleyball Court.
At a recent handing over of trophies ceremony, the Owner/Managing Director of the Trophy Stall, Mr. Ramesh Sunich, said he was pleased to be associated with the BVA and to assist in the promotion and development of Volleyball in Berbice. He said the Trophy Stall is always willing to assist in sports development and the

BVA President Gregory Rambarran receiving trophy from Mrs. Sunich of the Trophy Stall.

development of youths, noting that this year’s donation is bigger and better than last year’s.
The President of the BVA, Gregory Rambarran in receiving the trophies from Mrs. Sunich, expressed his association’s gratitude for the sponsorship and lauded Mr. Sunich’s contributions to the BVA over the years.
This year the competition will be played on a round-robin basis and is expected to attract teams from the following clubs – PMTC, Port Mourant Jaguars, Albion Sports Complex, Falcons of Canje, Union – Renaissance Sports Club of #53 Village, Vikings of Blairmont and 3Doors Strikers of D’Edward as well as a team from the Berbice Under-19 Squad.
The action is scheduled to commence at 9:30hrs. Trophies will be presented to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place male teams and the 1st and 2nd placed female teams. Prizes will also be presented to the MVP in both categories as well as to the best setter, best spiker, best server, best defence, best blocker and best libero.
A very high standard of Volleyball is anticipated as players will also be vying for places in the BVA Senior Squad.

The Albion Community Centre is at the moment receiving a face lift with rehabilitation work being done to the once prestigious sports facility which was once touted among the best in the country.
At the moment renovation work is being undertaken on the commentators’ booth to make it more spacious and habitable in anticipation for the influx of sporting and other activities planned for the second half of the year.  The work is being undertaken as a joint venture between the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce (CCCC), the Albion Estate, which is providing the labour, and popular Corentyne Businessman Shane Balram of the Balram

Renovation works has already started on the commentary booth at Albion as efforts forge ahead to spruce up the venue.

Shane Store in Rose Hall, Corentyne.
The businessman, who also organises a yearly fund raising cricket venture, uses most of the funds raised to pour back into the rehabilitation of the venue. The Community Centre, which was one of the leading sports grounds in Guyana, has of recent time being neglected with some of the structures around the ground being in need of repairs. As such the CCCC took the initiative to spearhead the rehabilitation venture.
The famous Albion Sports complex was the venue for the first ever one day international cricket match in the West Indies which was played on the 16th March, 1977 between West Indies and Pakistan. The venue which was one of the premiere cricketing venues in Guyana in tandem with Bourda, has hosted a number of one-day games, but it’s been more than two decades now that an international game has not been played there.
The venue which can host a number of different sporting activities, boosts a number of stands and pavilions and can accommodate over 15, 000 spectators.
The Community Centre will soon see the installation of permanent lights at the venue which will enhance night activities.  The lights, which will be similar to those installed at the National Stadium, are expected to bring back the international flair to the venue.  This work is set to commence shortly.
In the past, the Berbice Cricket Board, the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association (BCCDA), Republic Bank in Berbice along with the CCCC and a number of other organisations have contributed to the upkeep of the venue.  (Samuel Whyte)

Captain’s workshop set for Saturday

Due to the incessant rainfall being experienced in the City, the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) was forced to suspend all of its competitions until further notice.
However, according to GCA’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Colin Alfred, the Association will recommence its development programmes on Saturday June 22 with a Captains Workshop at the M.Y.O pavilion, Woolford Avenue from 09:00hrs.
The facilitators are former Guyana players Roger Harper and Neil Barry.
Meanwhile, the G.C.A will also be holding a Junior Scorers Workshop on Saturday, June 29 at a venue to be announced.Under-13 and Under-15 cricketers from member clubs affiliated to the Association are invited to participate.
The following cricketers are asked to attend:-
Govinda Muniram, Trevor Hossein  (Third Class C.C), Johsua Ram,  Keon Morris, Collin Barlow, Sunil Singh (Transport S.C), Melroy Stephenson (University of Guyana), Mohan Ramdeen, Chris Persaud, Troy Gonsalves, Darshan Persaud (Everest C.C), Nicose Barker, Shaquille Williams, Denzil Allen, Vishal Narayan, Kevon Williams, (Malteenoes S.C), Deryck Koulen,Wazim Mohamed, Kamesh Yadram (G.Y.O), Leon Johnson, Devon Lord, Renaldo Mohamed, Samuel McKenzie (G.C.C), Chien Gittens, Joshi Pooran(M.Y.O), Lawrence Smith, Christopher Barnwell, Tevin Imlach, Michael Shalim, Cleon McEwan, Reaz Ali (D.C.C),Collis Butts, Jason George, Ryan Shun, Baskar Yadram (G.N.I.C), Garett Allen, Leon Gittens (Sophia C.C), Fitzroy Culley, Norwayne Fredericks (Police S.C), Marcus Watkins, Paul Castello (G.D.F)
Hassed Hamid, Reaz Amil (Queens College).

Essequibians are hoping that the newly formed Interim Management Committee (IMC) efforts to reinvigorate football in the county will bear fruits.
Recently Kaieteur Sport recently spoke with some residence in the county who said they can’t wait to play the game competitively.
They stated that they played on a friendly basis but would like to participate in tournaments.
Amit Persaud of Good Success, Wakenaam stated that there are a number of talented players on the island who if given the opportunity can excel in the sport.
“We have some talented players here but they don’t get the exposure, we are hoping that the IMC will put systems in place so that we can advance in the game,” he said.
Persaud said that sometimes more than one games are being played on the said ground because of the number of players. He indicated that the youngsters are fond of the game, but they would like to do some coaching and refereeing programmes in the near future.
The people indicated that if the IMC can get things on track, it will advance the sport in the county.
They informed that cricket is the most popular game there but football can achieve similar heights. Some of them opined that it will also help to keep the youngsters more occupied.  (Zaheer Mohamed)

By Zaheer Mohamed
Manager of the National U-17 team, Nazeer Mohamed, told Kaieteur Sport that Guyana have what it takes to win the regional U-17 tournament which will played in Trinidad from June 29.
Speaking during the team practice session yesterday at the Gandhi Youth Organization ground in Woolford Avenue, Mohamed who hails from Wakenaam, said that guys are responding well to the training sessions. “The players are committed and eager to do well. I

Shimron Hetymer bats in the nets yesterday.

am confident the players will do a good job. They are supporting each other and the spirit is high. We have some talented players who can hold their own in any given situation,” he said.
Captain of the team Travis Persaud, who plays for the Demerara Cricket Club, stated that he is excited to captain his country. “It’s an honour to lead my country, the coach and manager put their trust in me to win this competition and i will do my best,” he said.
Persaud indicated that he is happy with his form. “I scored a few half centuries recently in the West Demerara second division tournament and I am hoping to continue in the regional competition”, he informed.
He said the players are gelling well. “We are doing drills together which help to us to identify our weaknesses and we can improve out techniques,” informed Persaud. He stated that he expects a lot from vice captain Shimron Hetymer and fast bowling all-rounder Kemo Paul. “These are two senior guys in the team, I know what they are capable of and I am looking forward to their support in every department”, added Persaud.
The captain affirmed the team allround ability is superb. “The bowlers are good enough to restrict oppositions, we have a variety to choose from, and our batsmen are more than capable of posting respectable totals,” he declared.
When quizzed about the team’s fielding, he pointed out that the inclement weather prevented them somewhat from getting enough practice in this department, but the players did well in the few drills they have had.
He stated that he is looking to make his country happy and as long as the guys play as a unit they will be very hard to beat. Meanwhile, Kemo Paul, who recovered from the injury he sustained during the recently concluded inter county competition which was won by Essequibo, said they are focused on the task ahead.
“We are prepared to give one hundred and ten percent and hopefully bring home the silver ware,” Paul stated emphatically.

Carib will on Sunday host a male and female Super Six Softball Cricket Competition at Golden Fleece Beach, Essequibo, beginning at 10am and featuring the top softball cricket players out of the area for lucrative cash and prizes. Teams will comprise of six players and an innings will worth six overs per side. The entrance fee per team is $3,000 and the winning male team will pocket $100,000 while second place takes home $25,000; the female champions will pocket $50,000 while the runners-up tale home a sum of $20,000 in the Cinderella County.

-hands over equipment to MSC in final phase

By Edison Jefford

Ansa McAl on Tuesday completed its ‘Crown Your Community’ promotion when it handed over the final piece of equipment, which was a $600,000 John Deere Grass Cutter, to Mackenzie Sports Club’s (MSC) Management as part of a $3M ground makeover.
Public Relations Officer at Ansa McAl, Darshanie Yussuf, told the media that the Company wants the facility to benefit the people and the community. She said that the STAG initiative shows that Ansa McAl is serious about the holistic development of sports.
“We resurfaced the ground as MSC requested and as part of maintenance, we are handing over an equipment that we’re certain will give the ground a neat finish,” Yussuf said, adding that the cost to resurface the ground amounted to $2.4M exclusive of the equipment.
The Grass Cutter and resurfacing cost accounted for the $3M ground makeover under the STAG Beer brand. Treasurer at the MSC, Phillip Gibbons, in receiving the equipment, thanked them for the gesture, adding that it will certainly enhance their care of the facility.
“We are not too happy that you had to come at a time when the ground is not fully completed but we are grateful for this gesture; it will ensure that we have a beautiful surface so that sports could come back to the MSC at a high standard,” Gibbons said.
Ansa McAl has had a hands-on approach to the management of the MSC ground project through its completion. However, while the ground is levelled and fully grassed there is still a final phase of rolling to be done, which the inclement weather has prevented.
The MSC was chosen as the venue for the makeover after the popular liming spot, Chicken’s Bar in Linden had won the STAG Beer ‘Crown Your Community’ promotion. The outlet in Linden is renowned as a popular STAG Beer ‘watering-hole’ in the community.
Yussuf had described the promotion as “revolutionary”. It was based on the community that had collected the most STAG Beer crowns (corks), and highest weight, being adjudged the winner at the end with a field renovation prize worth $3M.
However, in addition to the field renovation, Ansa McAl Trading had also done Dressing Rooms aback the MSC Basketball Court. The Dressing Rooms were named after one of Linden’s and one of Guyana’s most prolific basketball players, James Brusche.

With solid emphasis on ensuring that their foundation is solid one for the future, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) in association with sponsor, TCL Guyana Inc. unveiled their 16th Cricket Academy at the latter’s 2-9 Lombard Street Head Office.
Plant Manager Mark Bender and Marketing Representative Eric Whaul joined RHTY&SC CEO/Secretary Hilbert Foster in revealing details for this year’s activity which will target 120 youths between 8 – 18 years-old and will be conducted at the Area ‘H’ Ground from July 8-19.

TCL Guyana Inc. Plant Manager Mark Bender (right) hands over the cheque to RHTY&SC CEO/Secretary Hilbert Foster in the presence of Marketing Rep., Eric Whaul.

Bender in feature remarks pointed out that TCL – in its second year of sponsorship of the Academy – had no hesitation in approving this year’s request due to the fact that the academy is holistic in nature.
“Cricket is just being used as a catalyst, but we really like the idea of the academy while enhancing the cricketing skills of the participants, they are also tutored in areas such as the danger of drugs, the importance of education, HIV Aids, teenage pregnancy and so on”.
Bender is of the view that given all the social challenges that faces the youths of today, there isn’t always easily accessible counseling for students or parents who don’t have the know how to deal with some of these challenges.
Dealing with these issues at the academy is something that TCL is very impressed with according to Bender.
The value of this year’s sponsorship is $200,000. Conducting the academy will be Coaches Winston Smith, Michael Hyles-Franco and Renwick Batson. Sessions would be held daily from 09:00 – 14:00hrs.
Special emphasis would be placed on batting, bowling, fielding, and physical fitness while classroom sessions would focus on the social ills of society as well as the history of cricket and personal hygiene among others.
Those participants who are outstanding would be rewarded at the conclusion of the academy.
Other clubs in the Ancient County will have the opportunity to send up to three representatives according to Foster as the RHTY&SC aims to assist others in their development.
“We at the RHTY&SC are quite confident that as usual, the academy would be quite successful and that more new and exciting talent would be unearthed.
The club management would like to express profound gratitude to TCL Guyana Inc., for the sponsorship and also to our friends, Mr. Mark Bender and Mr. Eric Whaul for their continuing support.
Please be assured that the academy would be well organised and all the objectives would be achieved”, Foster informed.
The long serving CEO/Secretary also took the opportunity to thank all for their support during his recent period of illness which has caused him to resign with immediate effect as Public Relations Officer of the Berbice Cricket Board.
Foster said that he would now, based on his doctor’s advice, decrease his work load but has assured that systems are in place to ensure the normal high level of efficiency is attained.
The club remains on target he stated to achieve the 175 programmes/activities target that they have set themselves.

By Latoya Giles  
A former coast guard has testified that Sherwin Hart had continuously told him that he was dropping off Dweive Kant Ramdass at Bonasika in the Essequibo River. Randy Renville, called “Celly” is a former coast guard and he had once worked with Hart.
Renville told the court that he was living at Parika during the time of the incident. He said that he was a former coast guard up until 2004. The witness told the court that he had known Sherwin Hart for some time since they had worked together. He said that some time before the incident with Ramdass he had met Hart and they had exchanged mobile numbers.
According to Renville, around 15:45 hours on August 20, 2009, Leonard Brotherson called him. As a result of that call, Renville said that he went to the Parika beach area. Renville said that he and Brotherson spoke and he subsequently called Hart. The witness said he tried calling the phone some five times before he eventually got through. He eventually got through to Hart and recognized him because he “stammers”.
Renville said he called Hart and asked what was the problem with the “youth man on the boat” and according to him the accused responded that he was giving him a drop to Bonasika. The witness said he disconnected the phone and called back Brotherson.
Renville said that he again had the cause to call back Hart and tried to ensure that he was indeed taking Ramdass to Bonasika.
“I spoke to Hart and I ask he about de youth man in de boat. Yuh sure you dropping he off at Bonasika?” The witness told the court that Hart told him that he was heading there to drop off Ramdass. Renville said he left for the ball field which is at the back of the Parika Market. He said that it was about 16:40 hrs, while he was playing cricket that Kurwin Chance also known as “Cow” came to him. He said that he knows Chance from the interior.
Renville said that he and Chance spoke, and as a result he took Chance’s cell phone and tried calling Hart.  The witness told the court that he called Hart’s phone for about ten times before he eventually got through.
“When he answer de phone I seh Hart …He seh Celly and I seh is wah y’all do with the youth man? Yuh sure yuh drop he off at Bonasika?” Renville explained. The witness said he tried to put the phone on speaker so as to allow the persons present to hear what Hart was saying, but the phone went off and he did not hang up.
The man said he tried getting back to Hart and he managed to get through. Renville said he heard Hart’s voice shouting saying “Ah tell y’all don’t answer the phone; let it ring out”.
Renville said that he along with Chance was at the Stelling when they saw Hart and Greenidge. He said that he spoke to Chance and he along with a police subsequently went and invited Hart and Greenidge into the Parika station.
The man said he saw the coast guard boat and no one was inside. Renville further told the court that afterward he was coming back off the Stelling when he saw Devon Gordon and a young lady who he later learnt was Vanda Adolphus.
He said that the two were standing next to a truck when he saw Gordon give her a “black travelling bag”. He said the two of them were later arrested.
A few hours later Renville said that he along with a team of men went in search of Ramdass. The man said that they went to Fort Island, Caiman Hole, and Worm Hole, but they failed to locate Ramdass.  Prior to the incident Renville said that he and Hart never had any problems.
Under cross examination by attorney at law Latchmie Rahamat, the witness was asked why during the search they didn’t go to “Bonasika”. Renville explained that it was dangerous to go there at that time of the night.
During cross examination, the witness told the court that he could not have remembered all of the persons who were on the boat. He was asked how long they spent searching for Ramdass, and according to Renville’s estimation they spent approximately three hours.
Another witness for the day was Corporal Rodwell Sarrabo who is stationed at the Criminal Investigation Department. On August 20 Sarrabo told the court that he was on duty, when he received certain and instructions.
As a result of what he heard he along with a party of policemen headed by Assistant Superintendent Trevor Reid, left CID and went to La Grange Police Station.
He said they arrived at the station and in his presence Sergeant Suraj Singh contacted Shawn Ageday, the brother of Sherwin Hart. Ageday was in custody at the station. He was interviewed and a statement was taken.
Sarrabo said that Reid along with Singh and a party of policemen left La Grange Station.
The officers subsequently arrived at the Leonora Police Station. On arrival at the station Reid spoke with Deputy Superintendent Paul in the compound. The witness explained that shortly after Deon Greenidge was escorted out of the station and handed over to Reid. Sarrabo told that court that Greenidge left in the company of a party of policemen who went to Lot 166 Middle Road, La Penitence.
On arrival at the house Reid spoke to one Yvonne Beckles, who is the mother of Deon Greenidge. Sarrabo said that Reid and the woman spoke briefly then she left and went inside her home. The woman, according to Sarrabo, brought out a brown shoulder bag and gave it to Reid. He said that the bag was packed and the bag was opened in his presence and Greenidge by ASP Reid and it contained a quantity of parcels of $1000 currency notes.
The woman was arrested and taken to the Criminal Investigations Department. He said that an allegation was put to the woman in the presence of Singh where she made a statement and was cautioned.
Around 01:40hrs on August 21, the allegation was put to Greenidge who was also at CID. Sarrabo told the court that it was Corporal Singh who told Greenidge that the allegation was that on August 20, he Greenidge with others murdered Ramdass at Caiman Hole, Essequibo River. After the allegation was put to him, Sarrabo said that Greenidge agreed that he would tell them everything.
Under cross examination, Sarrabo denied that he had changed aspects of his testimony. The witness denied the allegation that he was deliberating stating that Reid was in the compound speaking to DSP Paul in an attempt to remove Reid from inside the Leonora Police Station.
The witness further denied that he ever witnessed any of the policemen beat any of the three men accused of killing Ramdass.
A police photographer was the third person called to give evidence as the matter continued. Police Corporal Lancelot Whittington, who is stationed at CID, testified about photographs he took of some of the seized money. Whittington said that he had been a photographer for several years, having completed courses within the police force.
He said that on August 20, 2009, he was at the crime lab when Reid requested a photographer. When he arrived at the front of CID he took three photographs of money which was being displayed on a desk.
The three pictures of the “money” were tendered into evidence yesterday. They were also shown to the members of the jury. Under cross examination the officer admitted that photos were not of the best quality. The lawyer suggested to Whittington that since the photos were not of the best quality, one could not see the domination of the money.
However, Whittington maintained that it was indeed the money which he was instructed to take.
The matter will continue today.
Sherwin Hart, Deon Greenidge and Devon Gordon are all charged with the 2009 murder of Bartica gold miner Dweive Kant Ramdass.

A government security contractor is in hot water after police, in search of stolen items, discovered millions of dollars worth of suspected stolen items including several laptops linked to government’s One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) programme.
Up to late last evening, ranks from the city and the West Demerara area were still loading a Canter truck filled with speakers, several flat screen TVs, computers and even a plough, that was recovered from the Queenstown compound of Strategic Action Security Limited.

Police raided this Queenstown office of Strategic Action Security yesterday, recovering several OLPF-marked laptops, and other items suspected to be stolen.

The company, which is reportedly managed by Richard Kanhai, is a company that normally bids for security contracts on Government properties.
Police, Kaieteur News was told, arrived at the 93 Laluni Street residence/office sometime around 15:00hrs.
Reportedly, investigators were tipped off that several stolen items were sold to someone there.
Police ranks searched the security company’s offices and later moved over to a back building that is part of the compound. There they reportedly forced open a secured area. It was there that they made the startling discoveries.
In addition to around seven or eight OLPF-marked laptops, there were plasma TVs, and a host of other items. The ranks reportedly were preparing to conduct searches in another area in the compound late last night.
Kaieteur News understands that police in the West Demerara area recently arrested a number of persons for theft. Those arrested reportedly claimed they sold the items to a Queenstown businessman whom they named.
Included in the haul was said to be a computer power backup system with a Ministry of Health marking on it.
The OLPF laptops may very well intrigue investigators as 100 of them disappeared last August from the project’s Queenstown, Georgetown office. The police had been called in.
To date, no one has been arrested and according to Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon, several staffers were subjected to lie-detector tests. The tests were inconclusive.
In April, Dr. Luncheon disclosed that on the basis of the investigation by the police and the result from the lie-detector test “we haven’t got any closer to identifying who specifically is or was the thief.”
Kaieteur News was told that all the people who came under suspicion took the test and the response of quite a few of them “generated considerable doubts in the minds of the analyst.”
The OLPF is a multi-billion government project meant to, over a three year period, distribute 90,000 computers to poor families who cannot afford one.
The security company will now have to explain how the OLPF laptops ended up there.

The quick action by public-spirited citizens and the Guyana Fire Service saved a five-year-old girl who was trapped in her North Sophia home at the time of a fire.
According to an eyewitness, about 9:45 am yesterday at lot 93 Block ‘F’ North Sophia, she had just arrived home when she was startled by the sound of a child screaming.

The damaged interior of the house.

The woman said that when she looked through her window she saw black smoke emanating from the bottom flat of the building and heard the child continuously screaming for help.
“The grandmother who was upstairs heard her screaming and keep asking her what happen but is couple boys who been on the corner run in the place and bruck down the door,” the eyewitness said.
The resident added that she had already dialed the fire service which arrived promptly and was able to join forces with the two men and remove the child from the house.
Another resident who declined to be identified said that he believed that the child was left alone in the bottom flat of the home while other family members were upstairs. The man added that the occupants who have been in the area for a number of years “are not the social type”. He added that he did not realize that someone was living in the bottom flat.
“Although I vex with them for what happen I feel it for them because they now start extending and renovating the house. It just calls for a little more responsibility. But it could have been worse,” the man said.
The interior of the structure was destroyed but in the interim, scores of residents had gathered outside of the home as rumours surfaced that the child had perished in the blaze. After the child emerged with her mother who was said to be an employee of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company, residents returned to their homes.
Investigations are ongoing.

24 radio, cable, TV licences ready for hand out
Revelations by Bibi Shadick, the chairperson of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) show that Radio Guyana Inc. and Telcor Cultural Broadcasting have five frequencies from which to undertake radio broadcasts. However, one of those frequencies is being used to transmit signals to different parts of the country.
The two stations are among 24 radio, cable and TV licences which are ready for handout by the GNBA once the approved licencees pay up the licence and the spectrum fees. Of those, there are eight TV licences, eight are radio licences and six are cable TV licences. There was no word on the plight of the other existing television stations in the capital.

Bibi Shadick

It was Prime Minister Samuel Hinds who announced in the National Assembly that former President Bharrat Jagdeo had handed out 11 new radio licences in November, 2011.
Among those new licencees were Radio Guyana Inc., owned by Jagdeo’s best friend Dr. Ranjisinghi Ramroop and Telcor Cultural Broadcasting, which has as its directors Jagdeo’s niece Kamini Persaud and Ruth Baljit, who is the sister of Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Mr. Robert Persaud.
These two licencees, the Prime Minister had said, were each granted five radio frequencies. However, yesterday, Shadick said the GNBA approved six radio frequencies for these two licencees.
Telcor has 90.1 (Georgetown), 91.5 (New Amsterdam), 104.9 (Skeldon,Corentyne), 103.3 (Linden) 104.9 (Bartica) 89.7 (Essequibo).
Radio Guyana Inc. has 89.5 (Georgetown) 89.3 (Essequibo) 89.7 (New Amsterdam) 106.9 (Skeldon, Corentyne) 107.3 (Linden) and 106.9 (Bartica).
“Me ain’t know. I just calling out what I have,” Shadick told reporters when it was indicated that five frequencies are what the Prime Minister had announced.
The licences which are ready for handout are not new. They are among the 36 broadcasters (including those approved by Jagdeo) which existed at the time the new Broadcasting Act came into force on August 28, 2012.
The Prime Minister had also announced that Mirror, the newspaper of the ruling People’s Progressive Party was granted five radio frequencies. However, the Mirror has not yet submitted all its documentation to be approved for a licence under the new Act.
All the broadcasters were given permission to continue broadcasting and then to apply to the GNBA for a licence under new regulations of the Broadcasting Act.
Approved licencees have to pay two fees before they are handed their licences. They have to pay a spectrum fee and a licencee fee.
The licence fee was set at a minimum of $2.5 million by Cabinet – the Council of government Ministers chaired by the President.
Ms Shadick said that Cabinet has directed that the licence fee be calculated at three percent of gross income for the preceding year, but it should be not less than $2.5 million.
So even in a case where three percent of the licencee’s gross income is less than the $2.5 million, that licencee still has to pay $2.5 million. In the case of new companies which have been set up and which applied for licences but do not have a prior income, they would have to pay the $2.5 million licence fee.
Of the licencees which have now been approved, Shadick said that only two of them are required to pay more than $2.5 million, since a calculation of three percent of their gross income exceeds the minimum fee.
There is no clear cap on what the spectrum fee should be. Shadick said that the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) determines what the spectrum fee should be based on technical aspects of the transformer such as signal strength and the height of the transmission tower.
Ms Shadick said that licencees have to pay spectrum fees per frequency. So in the case of Radio Guyana and Telcor, they would both have to pay for each of the frequencies they were granted.
The licences which the GNBA is ready to handout once the fees are paid up would expire at the end of the year.
But to get that licence, the station was informed that it has to pay two separate fees to the GNBA. The fees CNS TV 6 has to pay are $680,000 for the use of the frequency under which Channel 6 broadcasts and a licence fee of $2.5 million.
One of the approved licencees is CNS TV 6, owned by Chandra Narine Sharma. He intends to query how the GNBA arrived at its figures.
He has been asked to pay the minimum licence fee plus $680,000 as the spectrum fee. This he does not understand, since in the past, he said, he paid $320, 000 to the NFMU and nothing has changed about his frequency.
Shadick has said that the GNBA is not yet processing new applications.
She said that the broadcast spectrum operated as if the spectrum was “squatting area” and so the GNBA Board has sought to first “regularize” what currently obtains before proceeding to the new applications.
Shadick said the GNBA has not yet decided on a deadline by which approved licencees must pay the spectrum and licence fees.
Of the broadcasters currently in operation, nine TV stations, three radio stations and two cable operators are yet to meet all the requirements in order to be approved for licences.
The GNBA has also not decided on how much more time they would have to comply.
The Board at a recent meeting also agreed to the establishment of a Monitoring Committee, which would replace the Advisory Committee on Broadcasting and the Media Monitoring Unit.
Shadick said that Members to that Committee would be named once they accept the offer to sit on the Committee.

A postman was preparing to open a branch of de United States embassy in Berbice. De man collect all dem letter de embassy was sending to people. He collect other letter too like he did planning to set up he own post office.
Dem boys seh that he hear bout people sending money through de post office suh he was going through all dem letter. But is de embassy wuk that had he busy.  Even Barbie letter from de embassy end up at this postman.
De thing woulda pass if de man didn’t beat he wife. When de police come because she complain she show dem de letter. Some of dem was since Edghill was in charge of de post office. De embassy couldn’t understand why dem Berbicians wasn’t coming to de embassy like before. Dem even lower de rate. Wha dem didn’t realize is that de postman was enjoying heself.
Now after he beat he wife and she call de police and land he in hot water, she decide that she ain’t want no court story. And she right because he got more story than he can handle. He now writing to nuff people and he wondering if dem other postman delivering he letter.
De man who got name like de Berbician batsman, Rohan Kanhai, a cricketer of great fame always use to boast bout he name. Now he more than famous.
Dem boys seh that he get famous fuh collecting thiefing property. De government lose dem laptop and couldn’t find any till dem raid de man house.
This is a man who is a big security kingpin. Dem boys now realize that when people think he was guarding de place he was helping heself.
Imagine that de police bring out so much thing from de house that had to hire a truck and coulda open a super market. Dem boys want to know if he was going to open an internet café. But then again, since he deh in Queenstown, perhaps he was trying to open a foundation, like de King Bee.
Talk half and wait fuh see wha gun come out of Pradoville2

Guyana’s coconut industry raked in $480M (US$2.4M) from exports last year, the Ministry of Agriculture has announced.
“The increasing importance of coconut was represented with the increased production from 10,725 metric tonnes (mt) in 2011 to 17,104 mt in 2012. Additionally, 2012 showed an increase in coconut exports, recording in excess of US$ 2.4M of coconut and coconut products.

Coconut is the third largest export crop behind rice, sugar

The Ministry made the disclosure during an announcement yesterday that it intends to hold a coconut exposition tomorrow at the Guyana Shop, on Robb and Alexander Streets.
According to the Ministry, in Guyana, coconut has been a very important crop in sustaining livelihoods in many communities and is once again regaining its importance in agricultural development in Guyana.
“The coconut industry in Guyana has been identified as one of the sectors with a large potential for further development. Coconut already exists in Guyana as one of the key non-traditional crops and its production relies on Guyana’s comparative advantages in terms of land, water and labour.
The Ministry of Agriculture is currently focusing on a very aggressive agriculture diversification programme of which the coconut industry is an important component of this initiative.”
As a matter of fact, the Ministry said, coconut is the third largest crop in Guyana after rice and sugar. Tomorrow’s exposition is in support of coconut and coconut products’ development in Guyana.
“The objective of this activity is to create greater awareness and promote the market opportunities that exist for coconuts and coconut based products including the increased demand for dried and coconut water.”
Some of the products that will be on display includes extra virgin coconut oil, coconut water, canned coconut cream and milk, coconut craft, coconut wine and coconut dishes.
“There will also be displays on new and innovative technologies, proper post harvest management, improved farming practices and export requirements and many more,” the Ministry said.

Guyana is to sign 23M Euros ($6.4B) financing agreement today as part of Europe’s continuing assistance programme for sugar.
The monies will be for the 2012/2013 programme and will see Guyana drawing down on 115M Euros since the programme started back in 2006.
The measures were developed by the European Union to help Guyana and other sugar-producing nations deal with the fallout from the

Guyana is to sign an agreement with the EU today for the release of $6.4B, representing assistance to price cuts.

removal of a protected market to the members of that trade body, which includes Britain. As a result, Guyana and other sugar producing countries were saddled with a 37 per cent price cut.
Earlier this year, EU said that since 2006, when the programme started, it made available 91.5M Euros to Guyana, equivalent to more than $24.7B at today’s exchange rate.
“A further amount, up to 23.4M euro is scheduled to be disbursed in 2013 on signing of the Financing Agreement for the 2012 /2013 programme, which is expected in the near future.”
The disbursements have assisted the delivery of the Guyana National Action Plan (GNAP), which focuses on adaptation of the sugar industry by measures which include the upgrading of sugar factories, adding value through sugar packaging and co-generation of power, increasing sugar production and mechanizing field operations, thereby enhancing the competitiveness and productivity of the sector.
The disbursements are determined on the basis of the Government of Guyana achievement of general macro-economic conditions as well as indicators that monitor the sugar industry’s performance. Funds are also channeled towards studies, evaluations and audits to ensure effective implementation, EU had said.
Guyana’s sugar industry has fallen from being top earner as labour worries, falls in prices and outdated equipment combine to make it hard to compete.
Several Caribbean countries have pulled out of the sugar business, but Guyana has remained committed. It has invested more than US$200M in a new factory at Skeldon, mechanisations of field operations, and a new packaging plant at Enmore.
Recently, the EU’s agricultural arm voted to extend the deadline, to 2020 from 2015, for the opening of the market there, giving Guyana a little breathing space to get its house in order.
On Sunday, President Donald Ramotar called for help to rescue the industry even offering lands to sugar workers and their unions under a cooperative-style deal.
Last year, sugar recorded its worst performance under the PPP/C administration and the trend continued this year with the crop a dismal one, falling way short of projections.
Guyana is among 20 or so sugar producing African/ Caribbean/Pacific (ACP) countries benefitting from the sugar assistance programme being carried out under EU’s “Accompanying Measures for Sugar Protocol Countries affected by the Reform of the EU Sugar Regime”.

 
Acting Chief Justice (CJ) Ian Chang ruled that Leader of the Opposition David Granger should no longer be a person of interest in the 2012 budget cut case and has therefore struck him out of the court matter.
The Chief Justice ruled at the High Court yesterday that Granger was no longer a defendant in the matter of Attorney General Anil Nandlall versus Raphael Trotman, Speaker of the National Assembly, David Granger and Ashni Singh, Finance Minister.
He also ruled that the Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh is also no longer a litigant in the matter.
Attorney General Anil Nandlall had argued that the Opposition Leader was not the one responsible for the budget cuts. He blamed the House Speaker for allowing votes for the cuts. With this argument, the Attorney General felt that Granger should no longer be a participant in the court matter.
Lawyers for the Opposition Leader, Basil Williams and Deborah Backer, argued however, that Brigadier Granger, being the Leader of the Majority Opposition, must be a person with an interest in any matter voted on by the National Assembly, and taken to the High Court by the Attorney General, and must be heard in any such matter.
APNU stated via a press release following yesterday’s court hearing that despite their strenuous requests to be heard on the matter before Justice Chang made his ruling, lawyers were refused a hearing, and the CJ proceeded with his judgment.
They charged that “today’s (yesterday) court ruling by the Chief Justice (acting) Mr. Ian Chang is a calculated political move to prevent the Leader of the Parliamentary Majority Honourable Brigadier David A. Granger from being heard on the matter.”
They said that they “firmly believe that this move is intended to prevent the Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon from being cross examined on the “gloom and doom”statements (which he swore in his affidavit) would follow the budget cuts.
APNU lawyers had asserted in court that where there is no trial or evidence led, a Plaintiff would not be granted a declaration. The AG is seeking to use only the affidavit of their witnesses instead on having them enter the witness box. As a matter for the future, Attorney Nandlall told the court that the matter should not necessarily be treated as a trial, but rather for reference, although a request for a final ruling on whether the opposition has the right to cut the annual budget is requested.
Williams further argued that a Plaintiff, in a matter, must prove his case through live evidence of witnesses from the witness box. “The opposition plans to mount a vigorous appeal of this obviously flawed legal position taken by the Learned Chief Justice,” he told the media.
Concerning the Speaker of the National Assembly, his lawyer Khemraj Ramjattan has requested that to settle a statement of fact means that the Judge would rule on a set of factual information consented to by the parties involved.
Opposition lawyers requested however to be a part of the court proceedings and to make submissions on the ongoing matter. The Chief Justice has allowed it.

Alexei Prashad, owner of the two pit bull dogs

The lawyer in question is Huckumchand. He was at Court 10 of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court; the Attorney-at-law insisted that he would not cross examine one of the witnesses because her Hijab (veil) prevents him from knowing for certain whom he is questioning. The lawyer contended that it is important for the court to see the expressions of the woman as well as her demeanor in full.
Though advice from the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) indicated that the woman should submit her testimony in her garment because she is protected by the constitution which allows her to observe such religious practices, Huckumchand still remained firm on his position.
When the case returned to the court, with the advice of the DPP, the Magistrate took Mrs. Ali into her chambers in the company of a female officer, who verified that it was her via her passport and identification card. But this was not enough for the lawyer and he asked for the case to be sent to the Chief Justice for advice.
The lawyer stated, “Khairoon Ali, who is a Muslim, is throwing her religion in the face of the court.”
Mrs. Ali said that only the males in her immediate family are allowed to see her face. “The Hijab is a means of protection and a sign of modesty and my decision is an act of obedience to Allah.”
The case of Mobarak Ali, 64, of 46 Austin Street, Kitty, whose arm was brutally mauled by two ferocious pit bulls in Kitty last year, now evokes a worrying uncertainty as it may face the possibility of being thrown out of court on its next hearing.
When the case was first called before Magistrate Alan Wilson at the Georgetown Magistrates’ court, the particulars of the charge read that on February 2012, in Kitty, Alexei Prashad, “being the owner of two pit bull dogs, knowingly suffered the animals to be at large in a rabid state.” Prashad pleaded not guilty.
Ali had left his home at 5:15 am to visit the Kitty Masjid when he was suddenly attacked by the ferocious pit bull dogs. As a result of his cries for help, a neighbour, Aritha Scott, stood on her fence and threw buckets of water on the dogs in efforts to free him.
Whilst other neighbours assisted, the police were summoned and the defendant was arrested. When the allegation was put to him, Prashad, 37 of 49 Austin Street, Kitty, remained silent.

Mobarak Ali

He was subsequently charged for the said offence and placed on $10,000 station bail.
The case was then transferred to the court of Chief Magistrate Priya Beharry on May 28, 2012 who later transferred the matter to Magistrate Chandan-Edmond’s court where trial commenced on June 19, 2012.
During trial, Prashad’s defence which started with Attorney at law, Vic Puran, was taken over by Hukumchand.
The case was adjourned until June 24, when Magistrate Chandan –Edmond will make the final decision on the testimony of the witness.