SARU: Crossing the line between recovery and reprisal?
Dear Editor,The recent outburst of Major (Rtd) Aubrey Heath-Retemeyer, CEO of the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU), is the latest example of the constant denouncing of groups and individuals who have expressed reservations about aspects of the SARU Bill. This behaviour reinforces an impression that the agency is not overly concerned about putting in place the impartial, broad-based national anti-corruption programme that Guyana so urgently requires.Indeed, SARU’s constant and excessive allegations are fragmenting the broad national consensus on anti-corruption which contributed significantly to the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition electoral victory. From what ought to be the easiest issue on which to generate formidable national support, SARU has succeeded in politically polarising the society, as reflected in the heavy list of speakers that forced consideration of the SARU Bill to be postponed in the last session of Parliament.SARU by these and related actions is succeeding in creating the impression that it seriously lacks the political judgment and skills needed to assure the success of the technical and legal aspects of its mandate. The price of the evangelical animosity towards the major Opposition party employed by the head of SARU since its inception and taken up recently by its CEO will be counted in terms of constitutional reform, electoral issues and all matters that require cooperation of the major Opposition.Major Heath-Retemeyer’s criticism of the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) in questioning “where the GHRA was when hundreds of young men lost their lives with no steadfast commitment to pursue justice…” is a trite and quite misplaced response to the GHRA’s comments and criticisms of sections of the SARU Bill. For his information, while acknowledging the need for the nation to confront those deaths, the GHRA is at least on record at the time as having denounced them. Which prompts the question as to where the zealous Major and his military organisation were at that time. This new-found sensitivity to “the tears of parents and wives and children” stands in marked contrast to its silence when the deaths were generating the tears.The GHRA collaborated closely in the early stages of setting up the SARU. This civil society organisation continues to fully support a vigorous anti-corruption programme, incorporating preventative measures as well as asset recovery and criminal action.However, the anti-corruption drive is contaminated when corruption is effectively interpreted as beginning and ending with the last Administration. Rehabilitating the impartiality of SARU will be an up-hill task, notwithstanding Major Heath-Retemeyer’s belated assurance that members of the current Administration suspected of corrupt acts would also be pursued.There are many imaginative and indeed successful anti-corruption programmes in existence around the world. Guyana does not have to re-invent the wheel. The common feature running through them is that while anti-corruption is a crowd-pleaser, it requires shrewd political skills to achieve.Sincerely,Executive CommitteeGuyana HumanRights Association
Negros Occidental gov’t, church call for prayers for safety of Taal evacuees “As a true leader, I don’t want to leave them. As long as I can walk, I’ll be showing up to games and practices.” No need to wear face masks in Metro Manila, says scientist ‘People evacuated on their own’ MOST READ Taal Volcano’s lava fountain weakens, but Phivolcs says it’s not sign of slowing down “The main thrust is to show the team that I won’t leave them in the heat of battle,” said Pumaren, who said he has to go back to the hospital for further assessment on his condition.Pumaren said he was on his way to the Falcons’ practice when he experienced “pain so excruciating” that surgery was immediately needed.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSAndray Blatche has high praise for teammate Kai SottoSPORTSBig differenceSPORTSAlmazan status stays uncertain ahead of Game 4The 55-year-old former PBA point guard was first rushed to The Medical City along Ortigas Avenue but had to transfer to VRP Medical Center in Mandaluyong to have his kidney stones removed.“At the back of my mind, I, as a head coach, made an effort just to be here when in fact I’m supposed to be on medical leave,” said Pumaren as his Soaring Falcons dropped to 3-6 for the sixth seed. LATEST STORIES Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next PBA: RR Garcia nails winner to lift Phoenix past Rain or Shine Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. LOOK: Taal Volcano island 2 days after eruption For the complete collegiate sports coverage including scores, schedules and stories, visit Inquirer Varsity. Adamson coach Franz Pumaren. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.netMANILA, Philippines—Adamson head coach Franz Pumaren was just a few days removed from surgery but he made sure to be on the sidelines when his Soaring Falcons faced defending champion Ateneo Wednesday in the UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball tournament.Pumaren underwent an emergency procedure to remove kidney stones on Tuesday but asked for clearance to join the Soaring Falcons, who made the Blue Eagles sweat despite the 80-74 loss, just a day after.ADVERTISEMENT Daybreak as smoke, ash billows from Taal volcano PLAY LIST 01:04Daybreak as smoke, ash billows from Taal volcano01:05Poor visibility, nakaapekto sa maraming lugar sa Batangas03:028,000 pulis sa Region 4-A, tuloy ang trabaho03:57Phivolcs, nahihirapan sa komunikasyon sa Taal01:04Sold-out: Stores run out of face masks after Taal spews ash01:45Iran police shoot at those protesting plane shootdown LOOK: Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Part 3 takes you straight to hell with a Music Video and First Look-Images Francis Kong, Jason Magbanua headline ‘The School for the Passionate, New Bold U 2020’ Taal Volcano eruption: House to develop rehab plan for Batangas, Cavite, Laguna View comments
Members of the Varsity Blues women’s basketball, hockey and volleyball teams volunteered their time and took donations at the Woodsworth College Student Association pancake breakfast events throughout the week before Junior Blues gymnastics kicked off a busy Saturday with their annual bake sale. Back at the Athletic Centre, track and field gathered over $1000 in online donations in support of the cause. Earlier in the fall, the Varsity Blues field hockey team raised $780 and four Blues cut their hair in support of the Canadian Cancer Society. The University of Toronto Varsity Blues are proud to announce that $6019.75 was raised over the course of the 11th annual Think Pink campaign, January 13-20.The promotion began on January 13 as donations were accepted at the women`s hockey home game versus the Guelph Gryphons. The women’s hockey team raised $655 in online donations in support of the Canadian Cancer Society. For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite U of T athletes and teams, please visit www.varsityblues.ca. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook for the latest and greatest in Varsity Blues intercollegiate athletics. Print Friendly Version Story Links The Junior Blues gymnastics bake sale raised an astounding $1155.60. They then highlighted the women’s basketball halftime festivities with their annual Think Pink performance. On the court, the women’s volleyball team raised $200, while women’s basketball raised $555 and rookie Elise Holt cut her hair in support of the cause. The U SPORTS women’s basketball schools initiated the Think Pink ‘Shoot for the Cure’ campaign 11 seasons ago. U SPORTS schools raise money through regular season games, tournaments and other special events. A cheque will be presented to CCS – which merged with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) in February – during the gold medal game of the 2018 U SPORTS Women’s Basketball Final 8, hosted by the University of Regina.
Guyana’s First Lady, Mrs Sandra Granger, has called on residents of Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice) to support the Wisroc Senior Citizens’ Club as it aspires to bridge the generational gap through transfer of knowledge and sharing of experiences.A prayer breakfast held on Friday at the Wisburg Secondary School to officially launch the club — where the First Lady asked for support for the club — saw seniorSenior citizens enjoying breakfast at the launch of the Clubcitizens from the Dorfor Home for the Elderly and from communities such as Blueberry Hill, Silvertown, One Mile and Christianburg well in attendance.Later on Friday, the First Lady turned the sod at the site in the Wisroc Housing Scheme where a building would be constructed to house the Club.“This Club will not only provide opportunities for seniors of Wisroc to meet and share their knowledge, it will also promote intergenerational interaction by having the seniors interact and share their knowledge and experiences with the young people in the communities. The young people, too, will be given opportunity to share their experiences and their knowledge, and to learn from those of our seniors,” the First Lady said.The First Lady pledged to provide assistance to advance the Club’s programmes.She also committed to exploring the possibility of hosting the Care for the Elderly and Early Childhood Education workshops in Region 10 next year, to complement programmes with similar missions that are already ongoing.Club President Ruperta Fanfair said she was divinely inspired to gather all the senior citizens in Wisroc and spearhead programmes that would enhance their lives. The club would be benefiting from accommodation and other forms of tangible support from Food for the Poor (Guyana) Incorporated (FFTP) and Caring for Others Guyana Incorporated and Corporate Guyana.Fanfair said the 60 members of the Club meet every Wednesday to socialise and create craftwork and other items, such as hand-painted and applique pillow cases, bedsheets and tablecloths.The six-month-old Club also benefits from assistance from teenage girls in the community, and principally from those enrolled at the Mackenzie High School, who help with the production of scented candles and other novelty items for sale.
GWI blamedThe service of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) is being criticised by residents in La Grange and La Parfaite Harmonie Housing Scheme on the West Bank of Demerara, since residents in those communities are forced to deal with low water pressure or no water at all.The issue have been ongoing for over three weeks, and residents are calling on the relevant authorities to have it addressed.Since August 10, residents in Independence Street and several parts of La Parfaite Harmonie Housing Scheme has been continuously forced to endure low water pressure, and in most cases no water at all. According to the residents, several complaints have been made to the GWI Office at Pouderoyen on the West Bank of Demerara, but to no avail.“We are not getting any water, sometimes for days; and if we do get water, it come around 3am and very slow; so we have to get up early morning to full water to do our work, and it is tough,” Independence Street housewife Veronica said.She added that residents would have made several calls to the GWI office, only to be told that they are working on the issue, with no additional information.“The water does come one-one time, but when it come it is coming slow, and we have to use bowls to full our containers; and it is hard, because it take a long time to full a small bucket, and we need the water to wash clothes and bathe the children to send to school,” Recht Door Zee resident Shafrana Khan told the Guyana Times.Several calls have been made to the GWI office at Pouderoyen, WBD, and this publication was informed that the issue is being worked on, but the employee there was unable to say what exactly the issue is.The Guyana Times made contact last Tuesday with the Public Relations Department of GWI to source additional information, and was told that the sought-after information would be gathered and forwarded to us. However, the information is yet to be forwarded, and several follow up calls have gone unanswered.
165Let’s talk business.Catch up on the business news closest to you with our daily newsletter. Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, in its role as the community development commission, approved $258,000 Tuesday for architectaul plans for a community center at Potrero Heights Park in Montebello. It also approved $51,600, or 20 percent of the total amount, to be used for any unseen costs. The park is located at 8051 Arroyo Drive.
AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREFrumpy Middle-aged Mom: My realistic 2020 New Year’s resolutions. Some involve doughnuts.The residents said they had originally planned to serve the three notices of intention to circulate recall petitions, with 25 required signatures on each, prior to the meeting. They were prevented from doing so by city and Sheriff’s Department officials. Lt. Christopher Reed of the sheriff’s Pico Rivera Station asked the residents to refrain from taking action in City Council chambers, saying the action would be too disruptive. All three council members stayed calm while accepting the notices. Ramirez became the first recipient on the steps at City Hall, followed by Armenta and Beilke in the lobby. But they also shared some angry words. “Instead of these people working for the betterment of Pico Rivera, all they have done is create lies to divide the city,” said Armenta. “Basically, I feel like I have not done anything wrong, and the city will continue moving in a positive direction.” Beilke, who worked with some members of the group during the city’s last recall effort in 2004, described the residents as sad and lonely people who have nothing better to do. “This particular group of people is never happy,” he said. “Do they really think people will sign a petition for these issues?” Deputy City Clerk Evelyn Izaguirre said the served council members can now respond to the notices. She said the number of signatures the group will need for the recall depends on the total number of registered voters in Pico Rivera. Murga said the hope of CTIP was to put the issue on the ballot in the March election. This is the third recall effort in the city in the last nine years. In 1997, a group calling itself Pico Rivera Concerned Citizens successfully recalled longtime council members John Chavez and Gil De La Rosa after accusing the two of gross abuse of elected authority. The two were ousted in the first recall election in the city. Councilman Carlos Garcia, who opposed the recall, was elected to replace Chavez. Ramirez was elected to replace De La Rosa. In 2004, the North-Southeast Coalition to Reform Local Government launched a recall against council members Gregory Salcido, Garcia and Beatrice Proo after the three voted to give then City Manager Dennis Courtemarche a $40,000 pay raise. The raise put Courtemarche’s salary at more than $200,000 a year. The effort failed after the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s Office and then-City Clerk Chris Schaefer found insufficient valid signatures on recall petitions for an election to go forward. Despite that most recent failure, organizers of the latest recall say they are determined to do what it takes to oust Beilke, Armenta and Ramirez. “These council members conspired to bring in their intimate friend, Chuck Fuentes, to be the city manager and it has reached the point where we feel the city is being mismanaged,” said resident Miguel Meraz. “So we believe we have to do this.” debbie.pfeiffer@sgvn.com (562) 698-0955, Ext. 3028160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! • Video: 08/01: Pico Rivera Recall PICO RIVERA – A group of discontented residents served the mayor and two council members with notices of intent to recall on the steps and in the lobby at City Hall following Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Members of Pico Rivera Community for Truth in Politics said they were targeting Mayor Pete Ramirez and Councilmen Ron Beilke and David Armenta because of the hiring of City Manager Chuck Fuentes, the closure of the Pico Rivera Stables and the decision to throw out the Chamber of Commerce. “The city manager, fiasco at the stables, misspending of taxpayer funds, backroom dealings and basic abuse of power are the main reasons for our actions,” said Raul Murga, executive director of CTIP. “Today is the first day we return control of this city to honorable people.” 
She said: “It’s just such an incredible achievement, far more than the previous time, I think.“I’m just so delighted for everyone at the club and everything they put into it. It’s incredible to think that City has done it again and continue to perform at the top end of European football.”City head coach Scott Booth reflected on what he thought was a “remarkable” night and paid tribute to the older players in his side.“What a game,” he said. “It was a bit of a difficult one to take at times as a coach but I think the overall feeling is just on how much the players give to each other and to the club in terms of never giving up.“We’ve got a core of really experienced players who have been through it all before and I think we rely on them really heavily but despite being experienced tonight I think their fitness also showed through.“To come out after a poor first half and turn it around like they did was remarkable. It really was.” Glasgow City star Lee Alexander believes her side’s progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League is “incredible” and unmatched in the club’s history.City knocked out Brondby to reach the last eight after a dramatic shoot-out that saw that Alexander save three penalties to put her side through. The Scots had held a 2-0 lead from the first leg in Denmark but conceded after just six minutes to put themselves under pressure. Brondby scored a second to level the tie before half time but City dug in in the second half and Alexander made a series of crucial stops to keep her side in the competition before the penalties. “I was just trying to get my body in front of the ball,” she said. “Everyone was putting their body on the line and I’m no different. As the last line of defence I knew that I need to try and make a difference for us to try and stay in the game.“Obviously I’m happy with how it went but I think everybody tonight showed how much it means to be at Glasgow City and to be a player here.“I didn’t really know what to do at the end – I didn’t know what was happening. I think it was just sinking in at the end.”City reached the quarter finals in the 2014-15 season but Alexander feels the recent injection of cash into the women’s game at the top level makes the latest success even more notable.
In a preview special of this weekend’s Galway International Rally, Brian McDaid takes a look through an all-star cast of Donegal competitors lead by Declan and Brian Boyle as they prepare to compete on what’s looking like the best Galway Rally in YearsWhen you live and travel along the western coast of Ireland you soon get to know the way trends work with towns and villages closing down. The names left still above shop doors that have long been vacated. Advertisement That’s the way it looked two years ago when we watched the 2017 Galway Rally that just got running and no more that year. It felt the writing was on them famous Galway’s stone walls and the Galway International Rally was going to be only a memory.That winning feeling… Declan and Brian Boyle celebrate on the finishing ramp at the Mt Errigal Hotel as they win the Donegal International a few years back. They will lead the Donegal Crews out on Sunday Morning for Galway International in their Ford Fiesta R5. Photo Brian McDaidThe then Galway Motor Club went back to the drawing board and cut their cloth to suit the needs of the present day competitor and have returned with what looks like a winning package.In a class of his ownThere was only one R class of note running around the West of Ireland last year with the Galway Rally off the road, that was Pope Frances in his Skoda Rapid, as he flew into Knock International Airport and travelled in style for 20km up the road in the modern Skoda on his visit to Knock Shrine. Advertisement One year on and there is an abundance of R5 class Rally cars in the West with the Galway International returning in style. Twenty-five and counting R5’s in top 30 lining up for the 2019 rally start this weekend.CurleyCurley messaged me this week: “Hi Brian, are you for the Galway Rally on Sunday? “I will be, hopefully, sir.,” I replied.“Good On U, I might see you down there over the weekend,” Curley said.Our Curley, not to be mistaking for Curley as in Cathal CB Curley, who also has a Galway connection as he was the first winner of the Galway International Rally in 1971 in a twin cam Escort Mk1 with Austin Frazer co-driving.Our “Curley” is also locally known as Curley Kelly, (Martin) a big rally man with his brother Anthony. Both of them were in my class in the boys school in the early 70s when the other Curley was making himself a household name in rallying circles, and come the weekend we will all be in Galway for the rally.Back to schoolThe 2019 Galway International Rally will have a bit of a back to school ring to it this weekend.All the old familiar names like Kelly and Boyle and even Breen will be in the new R5 class. Declan Boyle’s Fiesta R5 ready for Galway this weekend with Brian Boyle back on the notes.The teacher even moved Manus Kelly over to the passengers’ side of his desk and gave him a steering wheel on the left with Barrett calling the notes from the driver’s side of their Hyundai.Sunday SchoolThe learning curve will be tight on Sunday morning as event organisers have concentrated the event into a single day.Those like the two Moffetts from Monaghan Josh and Sam have their homework done over the last few seasons in class R5, so expect them to be very quick out of the box on Sunday morning.Their biggest challenge will be from the top of the class when world rally material of Craig Breen and Paul Nagle are seeded at Number One.Former works Citroen driver and also a winner of the Circuit of Ireland in 2015 Breen will be the man to watch on the Irish championship opener of the Galway a winter equivalent of the Monte Carlo Rally.Galway is a winter rally and anything can happen when the weather or road conditions change so quickly.The top crews to factor this into their preparation to do well this weekend. Breen is in one of the twenty-some R5s that will take part in the rally with is based a the Clayton Hotel on the outskirts of Galway.Old song new tuneOn Sunday morning, it will not only be the Fields of Athenry that are be lying low, crews will strap themselves in to their new machines and, instead of watching small free birds fly, we’ll enjoy the sweet note of highly tuned Fiestas, Skoda’s, and Hyundai’s as the new breed of rally cars migrate west to compete in the stage around the roads that sit along the Fields of Athenry which is where the rally is based on Sunday.TourishOn the last Galway rally, two years ago Donegal’s Damien Tourish nearly won the national title in a lower powered version of his present Escort. Watching the resurgence of this talented driver over the last few years he will be a man to watch on Sunday morning.Damian Tourish on the Galway International Rally in his Escort leading the modified section in 2017 Photo Brian McDaid.Damien and his navigator Domhaill will have every inch of tar and then some on Sunday, which could serve very well on Galway on Sunday in the modified section.The Jennings FactorSeeded at number two, back to back winners of the last two events Fermanagh Flyer, Gary Jennings has only the one plan this weekend and that’s to go for a win.Chatting with his navigator Rory Kennedy earlier this week, with more wins than any other competing on the Galway as co-driver, the five times winner believes his teammate Jennings has few options with their Subaru – with it being not eligible to score points in the championship. other than to go for an outright win.But Rory is more than aware of how much of an uphill battle this will be.Gary Jennings and Rory Kennedy on their way to winning the Galway International Rally in 2017. Photo Brian McDaid.Manus Kelly has three Donegal wins under his belt, he will be fast, as will Donagh Kelly, and Declan Boyle with Brian Boyle back on the notes.All these boys have their homework done for Galway but, there so many more drivers that will be out for a win.Josh and Sam Moffett have both held the tarmac championship title over the last few years.And Breen is world class material so Craig and Paul Nagle have to be favourites for an outright win.The rallying pilgrimage to Galway from Donegal will start as it always does on Friday evening.Instead of Casio Square in Monto Carlo, we will be happy to hit Eyre Square in Galway where on Friday night we sort maps, get coffee, and eat grub to go and then try to figure out where we are going to enjoy the rally on Sunday.DD Motoring: All eyes turn to the Galway International Rally was last modified: February 6th, 2019 by Brian McDaidShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Tags:Brian BoyleBrian McDaidDeclan BoyleGalwayGalway Rallyrally
Share This!Magical Dining Month, an Orlando-area event, runs from August 23 to September 30, 2019. At participating restaurants, for $35 per person, you can enjoy a three-course prix-fixe dinner. Although Disney-owned restaurants do not participate in this, many third-party restaurants at the Walt Disney World resort do. One restaurant that is participating this year is Morimoto Asia at Disney Springs.Here’s what you can find on the Magical Dining Month Menu.Appetizers (choose one)Sashimi “Mizuhiki” Salad (bourbon soy seared tuna and kona kanpachi)Grilled Gem Lettuce Cesar Salad (jasmine tea smoked chicken, roasted sesame caesar dressing)Crispy Soft Shell Crab Bao (house-pickled kimchi mayo, lettuce, cucumber)Bluefin Toro Tartare (house-pickled kimchi mayo, lettuce, cucumber) — $9 extraEntrees (choose one)Seafood Miso Hot Pot “Ishikare Nabe” (lobster, crab, mussels, shrimp)Ginger Soy Braised Veal Osso Buco (japanese style risotto, katsuo-bushi, crunchy garlic chili)Sweet + Sour Pork Katsu (shishito peppers, sweet mochi rice)Morimoto “Buri-Bop (Korean-style yellowtail rice bowl, served in a hot clay pot, finished with egg yolk, prepared tableside) — $12 extraDesserts (choose one)Banana Lumpia “Turon” (roasted pineapple, spiced chai milk tea, tapioca pearls)Kaffir Lime Creme Brûlée (yuzu sorbet, yuzu caramel)Vietnamese Coffee Parfait (coffee jelly, fior di latte gelato)Have you taken advantage of Magical Dining Month specials in previous years? Excited about what this year has to offer? Let us know in the comments.