Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News

PAGE 04

Tuesday August 22, 2017

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL CELEBRATING YOUTH On August 12, youths in Guyana joined their counterparts around the world in celebrating International Youth Day (IYD) which was first observed 17 years ago.

IYD was endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly on December 17, 1999, on the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth - held in Lisbon, 8-12 August 1998 - that August 12 be declared International Youth Day. The occasion is an awareness day designated by the United Nations for governments, organizations and the business sectors to draw attention to the issues affecting youths worldwide and to find solutions. It is also dedicated to celebrating young people’s contributions to conflict prevention and transformation as well as social justice and sustainable peace. This year’s theme was “Youth Building Peace.”

There has been growing recognition that youths are the agents of change and the future leaders of the world. In Guyana, the current generation of youths is the largest in nation’s history, comprising more than 60 percent of the population, which means that they are by far the majority of voters in the country. In the broadest sense, this reaffirms their important role.

The current administration must make it its priority to include young people in the decision-making process, as well as provide them with access to quality education, health care and basic services. Their role as active contributors to society can afford them with opportunities to reach their potential and achieve their goals. When our youths are excluded from political, economic and social spheres and processes, it can be a risk factor for violence and criminal acts. Therefore, identifying and addressing the social exclusion of young people is a precondition for sustaining a peaceful society.

Often when it comes to politics, many of our youths have shown little or no interest. Some did not vote in previous elections. However, the last election was a turning point for the most youths who were disenchanted with the status quo and wanted change. As a result, they turned out in large numbers and voted for change, because they realized that the country was at a crossroads.

Not only did youths vote in the last election, but they also carefully evaluated each party’s positions on a number of issues that have impacted their lives. Their objective was to make sure that their voices were heard and that they were adequately represented in the decision-making process.

Most youths believe that the quality of fiscal management will influence the future of education, employment opportunities, cost of living and the standard of living. Another dimension relates to national security. On this particular issue, many youths believe that the current government has the ability to put the national interest above narrow party politics, especially in dealing with the border dispute with Venezuela and the safeguarding of citizens from crime.

A third aspect involves health care. This necessitates the development of a proper system to ensure that patients are treated with dignity, a reduction in infant mortality, and a comprehensive prevention mechanism for chronic diseases. Adequate care not only makes a nation healthy, but it also prevents unnecessary deaths.

Education is another very important element. It is a selfenlightening process that is crucial to the overall development of youths. It is an empowering tool that enables one to be productive, creative and solve problems.

Education enriches society and is an asset for the socioeconomic and political development of the country.

We believe that International Youth Day has made a positive contribution to the youths of Guyana over the years. It has made them more aware of the leadership capable of creating a healthy and safe environment for all to live in harmony. It is appropriate and essential that we celebrate our youth.

Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.

Suicide rates here are higher than what is reported Dear Editor, Recently, sections of the local media inaccurately cited the statistics on suicide b y t h e Wo r l d H e a l t h Organization (WHO) when they reported that Guyana’s suicide rate stands at 20.6 per 100,000 in 2015. Editor, there is no truth to this. A visit to the WHO website (http://www.who.int/mental _ health/prevention/suicide/ suicideprevent/en/) revealed a suicide rate of 30.6 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2015 which is significantly higher than what is reported by the local media.

Such inaccuracy spurs widespread speculation that the media may be hiding the suicide problem for political reasons, bearing that Guyana is immersed in massive corruption and it is deeply divided, politically. Further, WHO has reported a sharp increase in suicide for the year 2012 (44.2 per 100,000 inhabitants) and then a robust drop in 2015.

I remain skeptical about such statistics. A significant decline in the suicide rate is not rationally possible.

Editor, how can there be such

a huge reduction in the suicide rate when the primary triggers to this problem remain unaddressed and any kind of therapeutic intervention remains severely limited?

One needs to be cautious about the suicide statistics because of mountainous problems. Although, WHO is a reputable and wellrespected organization, it needs to be clear that WHO acknowledges that data from numerous countries are of poor quality due to inherent problems of underreporting and misclassification.

Furthermore, the accuracy of such statistics remains questionable due to poor data collection methods and procedures in this country.

Moreover, it does not surprise me one bit that the suicide data are deliberately manipulated through political influence when considering the gravity of lawlessness in this country.

Clearly, multiple problems reduce the accuracy, validity, and reliability of the suicide statistics. And due to such problems, I remain skeptical about the reported decline in

the suicide rate. Importantly, these issues cannot be ignored when interpreting and drawing conclusions from such statistics.

I reasoned that a significant reduction in suicide can only come about by addressing the abnormally high levels of stress arising out of the catastrophic social, economic and political conditions.

Stress mechanistically drives suicide directly or indirectly by disrupting brain functions, thereby unleashing mental illness (e.g. depression, schizophrenia, etc.) or substance abuse (e.g. alcoholism) or both. Stress basically hijacks the brain in eliciting suicidal behaviors.

Although such an intricate dynamic is working to propel suicide, it must also be recognized that genes can also augment this problem.

Sadly, this dynamic remains unaddressed.

Specifically, a reduction in suicide requires reducing the massive unemployment rate, reducing the massive crime rate, curbing

widespread discrimination, ending dysfunctional leaderships, stamping out corruption and bringing ethnic diversity and muchneeded skills, as well as ending dysfunction at the Ministry of Social Protection, among a slew of others. Unfortunately, as it stands, this Ministry hurts Guyanese rather than helping them. This has been my personal experience.

Furthermore, a robust reduction in the suicide rate can only come about by eliminating the primary triggers of suicide together with making available meaningful therapeutic interventions (counseling, community support, reducing access to pesticides, etc.). It needs to be noted that although therapeutic interventions are appreciated, valued and necessary, they cannot alone bring down the suicide rate and are band aid approaches with marginal and transient gains if any at all because v i c t i m s W I L L INEVITABLY RELAPSE into suicide.

Annie Baliram

Bombardment at Triumph Front Lands Dear Editor, Bombardment of the Tr i u m p h F r o n t L a n d s community on the East Coast of Demerara, continues. As if our previous complaints of noise nuisance (leading to deafness) from the neighbouring community of Mon Repos north, and constant flooding (causing respiratory and other illnesses) were not enough, we are now faced with a similarly sized problem and that is, the eminent danger of our collapsing homes. How much more must we endure?

A private home owner, who apparently runs a roti shop in Georgetown, started building a house with plans for an upstairs swimming pool, less than a 100 feet away from the seawall. One major problem, he is driving forty 100-plus-foot piles into the ground using a drop hammer method, in a built up residential area. On Friday 18 August he assembled his workforce, equipment, lined up about 20 of these piles, and then tested one of them using the drop hammer. The vibrations sent shockwaves both literally and figuratively across the

front half of the community comprising about 40 homes, including the famous RDC Region 4 staff compound.

Mind you, on this very day, a home in another neighbouring village, LBI, crumbled, due to a weakened foundation, killing a child.

Experts will tell you the radius of vibrations is about 200 feet for a Hydraulic Press type of pile driving equipment. However, these guys are using a drop h a m m e r, t h e c r u d e s t , outdated and disastrous pile driving equipment for built up areas. And in the absence of a soil test, reaching more resistant depths will worsen the vibrations waves.

Residents faced a similar situation some 3-4 years ago when a telecommunications tower was installed to support the now infamous fibre optic cable project, whereby houses suffered immediate major structural cracks when the same type equipment was used.

This time around, there is at least 1 newly built concrete home in the immediate flight path of these vibration waves, while other residents have recently

done concrete repairs to their homes, as such there would be no time to allow for curing and settling. Let alone the other homes less than 60 feet away. What is to be noted also, some structural damage may not show up immediately.

While other residents have made complaints to a variety of relevant authorities, the BV-Triumph NDC, Sea Defence Department of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI), the Environmental Protection Agency, the Regional Democratic Council, it appears the ball lies in the BV-Triumph N D C ’s c o u r t ( a n d b y extension both the Ministry of Housing & Communities) regarding this construction loophole. Efforts to contact the Housing Ministry were futile. I used the term loophole since one complication faced by Sea Defence Department is that its jurisdiction is limited to 50 feet from the sea defence structure, because the previous Administration some years ago changed the law from over 250 feet jurisdiction, to facilitate

similar type construction nearer to the sea wall, the most popular example being, Pradoville 2.

While the sea defence structure, which protects our 6 feet below coast line, is considered an industrial type construction, and has greater resistance, pile driving is occurring just 100 feet away, notably within the 200 feet radius for a more sophisticated type of equipment than the one currently used. In New Orleans, USA, similar to Guyana being below sea level, Hydraulic Presses are mandated by that state due to the risk of damage to its sea defence structures.

As such the primary problem lies with the BVTriumph Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) led by its Chairman, Mr. Leyland Harcourt. The NDC has indicated to villagers that it has approved this “housing plan”, despite the complaints about this industrial styled construction and its considered impact on neighbouring homes. It was the Chairman himself who caught the perpetrators in the (Continued on page 6)

Tuesday August 22, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Juvenile justice concerns and the role of economics and politics DEAR EDITOR, Recently in at least two of our daily newspapers the CEO of the Rights of the Child Commission (RCC) voiced several concerns that the commission have with our juvenile justice system. Interestingly, some of the concerns mentioned are the same that have been articulated publicly on numerous occasions by the hard -working commissioners - MS Hooper and Cole. Two of these concerns are particularly disturbing and offensive to citizens of conscience and demand our collective voice of disapproval.

First, the RCC request that juveniles found wandering are no longer brought before the juvenile court. Wandering is not a crime and therefore juveniles found wandering should not be made to appear at court whether the proceedings occur at adult or juvenile court. Wandering is a status offence. That is, it is only an offence because it is committed by persons of a certain age, other status offences are truancy, running away from home, alcohol drinking etc.

The world over emphasis is on diverting juveniles away from the criminal justice system when possible and extracting the justice system from dealing with status offences is an easy position to embrace. There are several reasons for this emphasis on diversion. In the case of Guyana two of these reasons should be of particular interest.

One reason is too frequently young people found guilty of minor offences are sentenced to do time at one of our correctional institutions (which one they are sent to is influenced by their age and the seriousness of the offence).An immediate negative impact of this is that maintaining correctional institutions carries a steep cost which must be met by tax payers.

The other reason is that studies in the developed world have concluded that for youths’ incarceration is a greater predictor of recidivism than possession of a weapon, gang membership or poor parental relationship.

Indeed, in many third world countries juveniles guilty of status offences are referred to as neglected children (the term delinquent is reserved for juveniles guilty of criminal acts) and are therefore immediately on being detained passed to a community based rehabilitation agency. This tendency in Guyana of having such children taken into custody at police stations and brought before the court for non-criminal behavior is unacceptable, embarrassing and nonproductive.

My second concern grows out of the RCC’s revelation that in Guyana juvenile offenders do not have the right to counsel. Adherence to the right to due process seems to demand that this right to counsel be strictly observed. Indeed, in Guyana,

as is in most countries, an adult charged for committing a felony is afforded counsel if he/she cannot afford one, in adherence to his/her right to due process.

The argument justifying this right in the adult court is that if guilty the adult offender is likely to lose his/her right to liberty and freedom. Thus, such persons must be afforded all reasonable assistance in their attempt to protect this sacred right. Now, if accused adults need such assistance at court; since their freedom is at stake; how much more in need of same is a juvenile who also stands to lose his/her freedom if found guilty of a mere status offense?

The RCC tells us that 70% of the juveniles presently at the New Opportunity Corps are there for having committed the non- criminal offense of wondering. Some of them might have been thirteen when the court made its decision to have them institutionalized. I guess there is the possibility that they can be there until they are 18 years old. This means for 5 years they can be denied their freedom without right to due process and having not committed a crime. This is child abuse in a most ugly and detestable form, and the motivation for this tendency, this willingness to incarcerate young offenders for petty violations need to be examined and understood.

Mr. Editor, economic concerns have a long history of influence on how we treat ju-

Hamilton Green on Freddie Kissoon DEAR EDITOR. I have just read Freddie Kissoon’s article, “I never lusted for la dolce vita”.

Please allow my brief reaction. First, every rational person, even if not sharing all of his views, could not help but respecting and admiring his courage, his erudition and his deep patriotism. Second when he takes a swipe at any of us , it is his right if not duty; in a viable free society we must hear all sides of a story, even with its boundaries that is the essence of democracy.

I quite like Freddie and say more power

to him. Let us be reminded of this “The pen is mightier than the sword. Let me add this caveat, for his service to Guyana he and his family deserve to live in a purported “mansion”.

But what of those castles that house here and abroad, the villains who have pillaged our coffers.

At a public function some time ago I referred to Freddie as our modern Shakespeare.

K N and F K keep it up you give substance to our generation Hamilton Green

veniles. In the early days of the industrial revolution to satisfy the needs of factories, children worked as adults. In fact, they were considered adults in miniature and were therefore subjected to the same treatment as adult at the work place and by the justice system which served the interest of big business.

In time, as the growth in technology led to a reduced need for children at the work place coupled with the coming of age of the social sciences, we began to understand the process of brain maturation and the needs of children. These combined to influence our concept of the age of responsibility and have led to the outlawing of child labor.

These developments forced the justice system to develop a separate system of justice for dealing with juvenile offenders. Today, with economic concerns playing a reduced role in influencing how the justice system deals with young offenders, politi-

cal concerns have taken its place as the main motivator.

We saw in the 1990s how elevated levels of crime in the USA affected politics. Citizens in states with relatively high levels of crime were voting incumbents out in favor of fresh faces with the hope new officials could do what their predecessors failed to do - bring down the crime rate.

Out of fear of losing their office politicians began to put pressure on the states’ criminal justice system, accusing police and courts especially of being too soft on criminals.

The justice system responded by sentencing offenders to long periods of imprisonment for minor infractions as part of, what became known as the ‘get tough on crime’ approach. A similar situation developed in Guyana. Crime was/is citizens demand that government to do something, the police began arresting young citizens for all sorts of petty crimes and the courts are responding, incarcerating young of-

fenders for the most trivial of offences.

Today it widely accepted that programs that have known success when dealing with juvenile offenders have been those that have the following characteristics (a) Treatment occurs at home or near home, (b) Service is delivered in a culturally respectful manner, (c) Treatment is built around the youth and family strengths and (d) A range of services and resources are delivered to the youth, as well as their families.

Mr. Editor, I understand that a new juvenile justice bill is soon to be presented to parliament. Let us hope that some of my suggestions would find place for consideration and there would be less use of the justice system for adjudicating matters concerning juveniles. As a nation, we must learn from the mistakes and successes of others as we seek to do the best we can for our children.

Claudius Prince

It is not smoking per se but when and where you smoke DEAR EDITOR, Some years ago when I served as the Secretary of UGSS, the then Health Minister - Dr. Leslie Ramsammy held a position and that was to make the University of Guyana a smoke free zone. I never spoke to Dr. Ramsammy before and stand corrected if that was not his position however, it was brought to my attention by senior officials of UG that the then Minister held the position of making UG in its entirety a smoke free zone. I was very uncomfortable with that position and immediately started to sound my voice.

After making a lot of noise on campus with the intention of protesting the Minister’s intended position, I wrote directly to the Minister outlining my position and that of many other smokers on campus. He never replied.

In my missive to the then Minister, I highlighted the fact that the University of Guyana

is a public space and the peaceful existence of students and staff within the public space should not be hampered by an imposition that is not constitutionally supported.

I went on to state that it is my democratic right to smoke if I so choose to however, it will be utterly wrong of me to disturb the peaceful existence of someone else if I am to bring discomfort to them with my habit of smoking.

Smoking is not the issue but rather when I smoke and where I smoke. I then suggested to the Minister that there should be smoke free zones within the University of Guyana and as a student leader I will work to ensure the rule is upheld. I ended my letter by stating that smokers must not impede on non smokers’ space and similarly non smokers must not impede on smokers’ space. My letter was copied to the then Vice Chancellor and Union (Continued on page 6)

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Call for the Agriculture Minister to probe NAREI DEAR EDITOR, Kindly permit me a few lines in your newsletter column to reach out to the Honorable Minister of Agriculture, in an attempt to have him

launch a thorough investigation into the management of the National Agriculture Research Extension Institute.

I would like to request his urgent intervention into the

following: 1 staff victimization 2. Awarding of staff promotion (favouritism) 3. Discrimination Frustrated staff member

That danger facing the public at the Astor cinema DEAR EDITOR, It has been several days now since a stop demolition order was issued ceasing the continued demolition of the building that once was the Astor Cinema, since mandatory bylaws were breached. I passed there on Saturday and observed still no barricade or fence has been erected around the remains of the

building despite a directive being issued. I further observed two persons sitting in the rubble.

What will it take for the owners to act and what are the authorities doing about the disregard of a legitimate order? In the meantime the public continues to traverse the area.

Shamshun Mohamed

It is not smoking per se but when and...

From page 5 Leaders. I cannot vividly remember the date the then Minister visited the campus but he visited and signed an agreement with the Vice Chancellor and UGSS to make all buildings on Campus smoke free zones.

I wanted specific places to be identified as smoke zones but that didn’t happen. Nonetheless I welcomed the decision to make buildings Smoke Free Zones for it showed respect to all but would have preferred about five different areas on campus, of course downwind, to be

made smoke zones and all other areas smoke free zones.

Editor, my position then and now is the same and for that it gives me great pleasure as a smoker to endorse and throw my full support behind the recently approved bill.

I also call on His Excellency President David Granger to assent to the said Bill for a nation’s wealth is its health. Only the ignorant will believe that there is going to be a complete ban on smoking and further the people and companies that benefit

from smoking and smokers respectively will of course try to distort and manipulate the real truth of the matter.

The facts remain that smoking in the eyes of this go v e r n m e n t i s n o t t h e problem but rather WHERE you smoke and WHEN you smoke suffice it to say that this law will not be in isolation to the world.

There are many, many countries that have similar laws and in fact more stringent ones that the bill recently approved by the National Assembly of Guyana.

Editor, I can argue my position further by comparing and contrasting the benefits of cigarette smoking verses the negative effects but the irreversible damages of cigarette smoking to myself and friends are more important to address than the soothing and relaxing comfort I so claim to get from cigarette smoking.

In closing, I wish to reaffirm my support and endorsement of the Bill recently approved by the National Assembly of Guyana.

Ganesh Mahipaul.

Tuesday August 22, 2017

Will we get from oil what we didn’t get from bauxite and gold?

DEAR EDITOR, Matters not if Guyana secures a good or bad deal, we got a deal; time to move on as Minister Jordan which has quoted in Kaieteur newspaper, Tuesday15th August, 2017 edition. Those were the words of my finance minister which in my view is total disrespect to the whole of Guyana and Guyanese or is it an excuse for gross malpractice. Let Mr. Jordan know that Guyana and its resources be-

long to Guyanese and not a few selective politicians. And I think if the deal is so good it should be transparent so that all Guyanese should be able to look at it to see what Guyana is getting for the extraction of its oil. Take a look at those African nations that the same company had dealings with; the masses are way below the poverty line.

Please don’t allow this to happen to Guyana. Bauxite has been extracted for over

100 years and what do we have to show for it? Basically nothing! Please don’t let this be the same with oil. Gold is being extracted by several large foreign companies and still there is no significant change in the dollar or economy. Our forest is being raped by several foreign companies.

When would it end? So please don’t be a run-of-themill third world country.

Derick Bacchus

Bombardment at Triumph Front Lands From page 4 act some 2 months ago, stopped the pile driving exercise, took photographs, even lamented the damage to the parapet of the road leading into the construction site caused by dragging the piles in the wet mud, and so he has full first-hand knowledge.

He even said then he was amazed that such a pile driving method could be done so close to homes and sea defence structure.

So what has changed since, what questions do we ask ourselves?

Bear in mind the Chairman signs off on all property plans within an NDC. Some 20 years ago this large swathe of land was given to the Imam of this masjid under the pretext of a charitable hospital and similar projects.

However, he has now sold large sections, at discounted prices, a portion of which, to this private owner. Is it important that the land was surveyed and demarcated some 4 years ago, but with no buyers lining up?

Is it relevant that the NDC Chairman attends a Masjid run by the Seller of this land, a so-called prominent member of the BV-Triumph area?

For a house plan which contains a planned upper

floor pool, one would think this to be a significant variation from a normal house plan, warranting the intervention of the Housing Ministry.

Had the NDC flagged this concern, or had it been under pressure from any influential community member, the smart thing to have done was to further its doubts and the plan to the Housing Ministry, who has jurisdiction on complex construction plans.

But, clearly if there is collusion or nepotism by the NDC, transparency is out the door. It is only one year ago (2nd August) that Kaieteur News published a letter on the failure of the BV/Triumph NDC. And as NDC wallows, the road, Dasrat Street Drive, in this very community, remains a bush trail, not surprisingly the piles were dragged through it!

To further complicate this story, somehow, several mangrove tress, initially planted by National Agricultural Research & Extension Institute (NAREI), in the sea near to the seawall, and directly opposite this planned pool house, have somehow suddenly disappeared in the past few months, coincidentally when the first pile driving attempt occurred.

Any upper storied pool

house would have unhindered ocean views, while the rest of coast-landers stare at bush!

As the piles are currently lined up in the air, Stonehenged-styled, we can only now await Sunday 20th August’s or Monday 21st August’s planned vibrations and shock waves, and enjoy systemic rocking of our homes, and allow immediate or creeping structural damage.

To do otherwise would be to take the laws into our own hands. It is this wanton disregard for people’s lives and livelihood that led to the demise of the last Administration.

In the interim, at minimum, can the Government, Sea Defence Department of MPI, the EPA, NAREI, the Ministry of Housing, Ministry of Communities, the RDC, first halt the construction, conduct a review of due process, and even if somehow all is well, get the contractor to use a Hydraulic press to minimize vibration shocks?

If not, by Tuesday 22nd August pile driving will be over and creeping structural damage would have already begun to step in.

There are at least a dozen Hydraulic presses in Guyana, and we are well beyond the Stone Age era!

Concerned Citizen

Tuesday August 22, 2017

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Patterson claims oil experts “lecturing” to Guyana have hidden agenda …As AFC calls for “balanced” reports

By Abena RockcliffeCampbell Sections of the media have been churning out solid and accurate information on the history of ExxonMobil.

Also, a great deal of focus has been placed on issues that are common in oil-rich countries that Guyana needs to guard against.

Politicians, both in government and opposition, have differing views on the role being playing by the media in an attempt to help shape the developing oil industry. Some feel as though Kaieteur News, in particular, is unjust in highlighting the history of ExxonMobil, while others feel that it is absolutely necessary to do so.

Recently, the Alliance For Change (AFC) hosted a press conference, and the panel was made up of five AFC representatives - Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson; Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan; Minister of Public Telecommunication, Cathy Hughes; Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin and General Secretary Marlon Williams.

Williams was the only AFC executive member present at that forum who did

Members of the AFC hierarchy from left: David Patterson, Khemraj Ramjattan, Marlon Williams, Cathy Hughes and Dominic Gaskin not express concern about the kind of reporting being done on ExxonMobil.

Ms. Hughes was one who seemed very offended by the reports. She said that too much of a bad light is being shed on ExxonMobil. She suggested that some of the good things that the oil giant has done should be included in articles. The politician noted that she has a journalistic background and knows that balance is of utmost importance.

Gaskin supported the

stance taken by Hughes. He even described ExxonMobil as an accountable company and said that Guyana could have done a lot worse.

Ramjattan also weighed in the issue. However, from the outset, he sought to make it clear that while he may not agree with some of the commentary contained in articles about oil-related issues, he remains a strong supporter of democracy, hence has no problem with those who may want to air their views. Nevertheless, the former AFC

Sports executive beaten, robbed during home invasion The President of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) was on Sunday morning beaten and robbed when three gunmen broke into his Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara home.

One of the gunmen gained entry into Aubrey Hutson’s Lot 24 Middle Street home via a window in the upper flat of the two storey building and once in, he opened a window in the lower flat of the property for his two accomplices.

At the end of the half-hour ordeal, the men escaped with Hutson’s jewellery, passport, cell phone, television and laptop, and even treated themselves to cookies.

They entered the man’s home around 03:30 hrs and left after tying his hands behind his back and putting him to lie on his stomach. His feet were also tied and he was gagged. Hutson, who is the owner of Office Machines

Electronics Laboratory (OMEL), said that he got home a little earlier and fell asleep while looking at the television in the lower flat of his home. The businessman, who was alone in the building, said that he was subsequently awakened by a “cracking sound” from the stairs and when he looked, he saw a man coming down his stairway with a gun and instructing him not to move.

According to Hutson, the gunman approached him and demanded that he open the door, but before he could have done so, the (gunman) told him to open the window instead.

“I thought that he was leaving and then he tell me to move away and he whistle and two other men came in and tied me,” Hutson noted, while adding that he was gunbutted during this process.

(Continued on page 11)

The injured Aubrey Hutson

leader said that some reportage has been harsh and seems to suggest that the media think the government should “shut shop.”

Kaieteur News then questioned Ramjattan as to why he saw the reporting being done as an indication of the media’s desire to “shut shop,” as opposed to a patriotic stance to help Guyana to learn from the mistakes of other countries.

To this Ramjattan responded, “There is no better scrutineer of government than the press. But I have seen opinion in the press that gives the impression—and I respect that opinion and I will fight to the death for that opinion to be expressed— that we should not have gotten into this deal.”

Ramjattan continued, “The trouble is that I differ from that opinion. But respect my view; we want to live the examined life. I agree with what the press is doing to as much as possible inform us.

You can give your opinion, but when we give ours’ please respect that too.”

Ramjattan said that the impression is sometimes given that the government does not know what it is doing and that it is hiding something “but that is not true.”

HIDDEN AGENDA Patterson forms part of a Cabinet sub-committee to look at matters relating to the oil industry. That committee is referred to as the quintet plus one. He suggested that most of the so-called experts who are “lecturing” to Guyana have ulterior motives.

He told media operatives that it is now a “norm” for foreigners to come to Guyana, create a problem, then turn up at his office with a proposal to solve it.

Patterson said, “An individual turns up in Guyana, holds a press conference on oil and gas, and preaches gloom and doom. As soon as he comes to Guyana, he is deemed an expert, because we

do not have any experts.”

Patterson continued, “So he comes to Guyana he says chicken licken the sky is going to fall and things like that.

Our media, without interrogating the background, takes it.”

He said that some of these, “experts” are politicians who were voted out in their own country and they now come to say what is wrong with Guyana’s industry.

“The very next day, after saying to Guyana gloom and doom, they ring my ministry to make an appointment and say, ‘I have a solution to the problem I told the media about yesterday.’”

Patterson stressed “That is what is becoming the norm… an expert gives a lecture and the very next day he calls to speak to the Minister of Natural Resources or Public Infrastructure to offer a solution to the gloom he prophesied the day before.

You can see the sort of jeopardy we face.”

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Tuesday August 22, 2017

‘Karibee’ owners make bid for Skeldon estate One of the country’s leading rice millers has expressed intense interest in running the troubled Skeldon sugar estate, located in Corentyne, East Berbice.

While an official proposal has not been submitted, Nand Persaud and Company Limited, renowned for its Karibee rice brand in Guyana, the region and the US, handed in an Expression of Interest (EoI) a few weeks ago.

The c o m p a n y, headquartered in Number 36 Village, Corentyne, would be joining UK-based Tate and Lyle and East Berbice Development Association (EBDA), that have also expressed interest.

Tate and Lyle has been involved in the country’s sugar industry, not only buying the sugar, but in different levels of management in the corporation, in the past.

EBDA is a grouping of Berbice businessmen and farmers who have touted the idea of selling shares and running the various departments of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) - which owns the Skeldon estate - as profitable ones.

Contacted yesterday, Chief Executive Officer of Nand Persaud, Rajindra Persaud, confirmed that his company is highly interested in Skeldon, following declarations of

The Number 36, Corentyne, Berbice headquarters of Nand Persaud and Company Limited.

the administration that it is up for possible privatization.

“We believe that with our marketing experience, and that in logistics with field work and in dealing with farmers and packaging, that Skeldon can become profitable,” Persaud disclosed.

The Skeldon factory is a major pain for the administration and the previous one, despite being the newest kid on the block.

Commissioned in 2009 with an estimated US$200M spent on a new factory and bigger fields, the estate failed to kick-start the industry, leaving the previous administrations under Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar,

embarrassed.

The Coalition Government, under David Granger, has made it clear that the bleeding of the treasury by the loss-making GuySuCo, which demanded billions of dollars annually in bailouts, is unsustainable.

Despi t e strong resistance from the unions and People’s Progressive Party (PPP), which had built its support on sugar workers, the administration last December closed the 100-year-old Wales estate, citing a $2B loss that the facility would have racked up at the end of 2016.

Tw o m o r e e s t a t e s Enmore and Rose Hall - are reportedly being

considered for closure.

Skeldon, despite being the newest of the factories, faced major boiler issues this year, forcing GuySuCo to cancel its first crop.

Critical reports have pointed to several defects in other parts of the factory, that has been costing millions of dollars to repair.

Wi t h Government banking on the large chunk of foreign exchange that GuySuCo brings in, despite the massive losses and debts, there has been growing pressure for the Granger administration to find a local solution, instead of going with an overseas investor.

According to the Nand Persaud compnay’s CEO yesterday, he believes that his company with its years of logistical experience in rice, would feel right at home with Skeldon with its vast sugar cane fields. He

said that it is a proposal at this time, with Government considering.

Persaud said that some of the ideas include using some of the vast lands of GuySuCo to plant a mix of cane and rice.

Nand Persaud recently struck a major deal with Cuba, impacting positively on the rice industry and exports, with the first shipments expected to start next month.

According to the CEO, his company is buying up all the rice it can get, processing over 80,000 tonnes annually significant, as Guyana produces over 600,000 tonnes annually.

Karibee is selling not only in the region but in the US, with a major market in Queens, New York, where thousands of Guyanese live.

According to Persaud,

his company’s experience in packaging and marketing is what will make Skeldon profitable.

“Currently, we plant very little rice. We buy from farmers. Our business is processing and exporting.

We want to do the same with sugar. There is huge market for packaged sugar right here in CARICOM…the people depend on Central America for their sugar. If we can package, brand it and sell, there are huge possibilities.

Our Demerara Gold from GuySuCo has tremendous potential.”

Currently, the Karibee brand is highly popular in Guyana, with Nand Persaud controlling more than 50 percent of the market.

“Our plan is to do business with more f a r m e r s . We a r e i n t h e business of processing and we want to use the same model at Skeldon.”

Tuesday August 22, 2017

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

Discrediting its own Commissions of Inquiry A number of commissions of inquiry have been launched by the government.

But very few of the reports of these inquiries have been made public. This is one of the reasons why there are grave misgivings over the findings of these Commissions of Inquiry (COIs).

The introduction of COIs raised expectations of improved governance. It was expected that these COIs would contribute to improving transparency and accountability. Instead of politically-tainted interpretations of events, COIs offer the chance for impartial and independent determination of facts. The principal function of a commission of inquiry is to ascertain facts. Incidental

to this search for the truth is the possibility of recommendations being made. But that is only a secondary function to the primary mission of seeking to find causes and explanations for what happened.

The government has made a mess of the commissions of inquiry. It has treated them unfortunately as state secrets. The report of the COI into the death of the late historian Walter Rodney, had to be leaked to be made public, and the full report is still not available for the public to read. An important commission of inquiry was the one dealing with the public service. This report has not yet been made public or if it has, it is not widely available.

The report has implica-

tions for the conditions of service for public servants.

The unions should have been pressing for the findings to be publicized, so that these can form the basis for demands on the government.

There was an investigation into the movement of a vessel in Guyana’s waters prior to that vessel being intercepted overseas with narcotics. The findings have not been made public, even though there has been a shake-up at the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit, which has created the perception that the shake-up was related to the findings of the COI. There was a COI launched into education. Snippets of that report have been made public but the full report, like

Dem boys seh ...

Strange subjects appearing in dem school curriculum Times really change.

Once upon a time, people in high school use to write eight subjects at de big exams. Dem use to write things like English, Maths, Literature, French, Spanish, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and even Human Biology.

Some use to write History and Geography. Dem subjects use to mek sense.

Dem was useful.

Couple people who want to build up de numbers use to write Scripture and sometimes that was de only subject dem use to pass. A former big boy had that as his only subject pun he results. Scripture was easy.

Today wid all dem pastors, finding Scripture teachers can’t be difficult, but that is not one of de subjects dem children does pass, because Scripture missing from de country.

Now-a-days people

writing 20 and one boy write 25. Dem boys want to know wha dem really writing.

People writing cooking, computer science, technical drawing (which is a good subject), law, and some subjects that people never know.

But then again, if a child can write 25 subjects it mean that the child more bright than all dem people who running de country and all dem old people who is public servants and dem doctors. None of dem got more than ten subjects at GCE or CSEC. De very old ones use to write Oxford and Cambridge.

De thing is that dem can’t write subjects like commonsense spelling, reading and writing. That is missing from all de subjects people does write, because when some of these same children apply fuh a job, simple commonsense things

dem can’t handle.

When it come to writing, some of dem does write like when somebody drop cockroach in ink and loose it to walk pun paper. Spelling is something that is not part of de equation. Is like de examiners don’t check fuh spelling, because computers got spellcheck.

But dem boys want to know wheh these children does get de teachers to teach all dem subjects.

In some school dem don’t have teachers to teach anything. And some schools barely got teachers to teach dem common subjects like English and Maths. Wheh de Ministry of Education does find teachers to teach dem other subjects?

Times really change.

Talk half and wait fuh when children gun write 50 subjects one time.

17-month-old toddler has “severe” rash, no sign of rape as yet – source A 17-month -old toddler, who was reportedly sexually molested while in her father’s care, two Mondays ago, is being treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital for a severe case of rash. It is believed that she contracted the infection from wearing dirty diapers.

While the child is not being treated for injuries she sustained during an alleged rape, the matter is still being investigated by both the police and the Childcare and Protection Agency (CCPA).

Medical practitioners at the hospital have informed social workers that it is difficult to ascertain whether the toddler was sexually assaulted at this stage or whether her injuries are as a result of the rash.

Once the infection is completely treated, the child will be examined again to determine whether she was sexually molested.

If it is found that the little girl was not molested, both parents will continue to share custody while attending counseling sessions.

In an interview with this newspaper, the child’s great grandmother had explained that

the child’s father was paying child support and when he asked for his daughter to spend some time with him, the mother did not object.

The man collected the child two Saturdays ago and took her to his Diamond, East Bank Demerara home.

According to the great grandmother, on Monday, August 14, the father called and asked for his daughter’s birth certificate and clinic card, since he wanted to take her for a medical examination.

The mother reportedly found this suspicious and followed him to the Georgetown Hospital.

The child’s father had explained that the same day he collected her from her mother, his wife noticed something strange when she was bathing her and they took her to the hospital where they were informed that the police had to be called in since it was potentially a sexual assault case.

He explained that he went to his ex-wife’s home and informed her.

The matter is still under investigation.

so many others, remains a state secret. The government is not bound by any recommendation, but the fact that government has in some instances acted contrary to the recommendations contained in the COIs and, in other instances, not acted at all on some of the more urgent recommendations, has called into question the use of COIs to inform policy decisions.

The government is sending mixed signals. In the case of GuySuCo, it has acted contrary to the findings of the COI. In other cases, the public has been unable to gauge the quality of some of the findings. A number of these reports were done by persons without a legal background. The public has an interest in assessing how some commissioners assessed and weighed the evidence. The public also has an interest in examining to what

extent the findings are based on verifiable evidence.

In the case of the COI into the education sector, a number of findings were reportedly made. But the question being asked is: to what extent were these findings based on quantitative data rather than opinions? The public is at sea in trying to determine the quality of the reports and the validity of many of the findings, because the reports are being treated as state secrets.

This is not the only concern. A graver issue is selectivity. COIs have been conveniently applied. The Rodney commission of inquiry was halted after the evidence became embarrassing to the PNCR. A commission of inquiry was launched into a police investigation when a simple independent review of the matter would have sufficed. But no COI has been

launched into the collection and use of funds which were used to construct the D’Urban Park facility; no COI was launched into the rental of a bond for the storage of pharmaceuticals and no COI was launched into the Pradoville matter. The government has discredited its own COIs by the selective manner in which it has employed this mechanism. There is still time for the administration to redeem itself on this question. All the reports of the COIs should be laid in parliament and then made public.

PAGE 10

Tuesday August 22, 2017

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

Money without commonsense evaporates into nothingness There is no question, not even an ounce of doubt in my mind, that the current leaders in Guyana have already laid out plans for spending the income that will come from oil resources. And there is no question in my mind that those plans are mediocre, arid and destructive. That is because except for a short period of Burnham’s reign, the rest of all of our leaders have been seriously damaged by colonial brainwashing, and they cannot and will not move Guyana away from outdated developmental models.

From Jagdeo to Granger, Guyana has been a failure in economic development. Perhaps the most morbid outcome of this damaged, colonial psyche was Jagdeo’s decision to build the Marriott Hotel. I believe at the time that Jagdeo decided on the construction of the Skeldon factory, he believed it could have saved the sugar industry. But the Marriott Hotel was the invention of an insane leader.

Why would a government in a country without any level of manufacturing, whose foundations in science and technology were primitive and whose delivery of modern facilities to the citi-

zenry was almost non-existent, want to build a hotel costing sixty million American dollars? Can there be a repeat of this diseased wastefulness come 2022 with oil money flowing? My answer is yes. I see nothing in Granger, right down to the party workers in the offices of the PNC and AFC, that will take that oil money and pour it into manufacturing, engineering, scientifically-based agriculture, etc. You can see from the mentality of these leaders that there is going to be huge spending without commonsense. That oil money in the hands of the PPP leadership that we had in control of Guyana, and the PNC and AFC that are now in control, as my mother used to say, “will melt like butter against the sun.” People without commonsense do not know how to use money wisely.

About fifteen years ago, I did a column on a stupendous stupidity that I saw in this country. I put it down to the vacuous, failed leadership of the PPP kings and queens. I am seeing the same stupidity in the performance of the current government. It is about lack of commonsense in administering this country.

What I saw fifteen years ago, I know hundreds of thousands of Guyanese have seen this elephantine idiocy.

Here is what takes place in the administering of the affairs of this sad nation. The water authorities would dig up the roads to put down water and sewage pipes. The entire street would be destroyed. The workmen would simply shovel the gravel back into the craters they created and that street would deteriorate rapidly and be destroyed by the rainy season.

What I wrote about fifteen years ago, I continue to see.

Last December, the entire Duncan Street was dug up by GWI to lay pipes. Go and see what Duncan Street from Vlissengen Road to Sheriff Street looks like. It is badly damaged and made even worse by the rainy season.

What is wrong with what the government has done in the past and is still doing?

Commonsense should inform the politicians in charge of Guyana that GWI and the Ministry of Works (I like “Works” over “Public Infrastructure”; hope the new government in 2020 reverts back to “Works”) should have an ongoing relation, in that GWI informs the Minis-

try when roads are dug up and after GWI is finished, the Ministry moves in and repairs the roads.

I ask any reader out there if this is not commonsense. It is, but GWI and the Ministry have no such arrangement.

More money has to be spent to rehabilitate the streets after long decay, when they could have been repaired immediately after GWI completed its pipe-laying projects.

It is these kinds of performers that will have oil wealth to spend after 2022, and just think of how it would be spent.

I predict the following. As soon as the revenue comes in, there will be a spanking new presidential compound.

State House will be rebuilt in palatial style. Every ministry will be greatly expanded. Every ministry will be fitted out with a fleet of the latest SUVs that not even EU and North American leaders use.

The courts, police stations and army facilities will be extended in extravagant ways. More public money will go into the construction of more swimming pools in addition to the four the Guyana Government already has and

Frederick Kissoon which are not open to the public. And trust me; by 2024, the washrooms in all the public schools will still be stink and fetid.

GRA sees marked improvements over the last year The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has recorded vast improvements over the last year.

While CommissionerGeneral Godfrey Statia has not yet gone into specifics about the strides made, he committed to doing so at an upcoming press briefing.

Statia recently accompanied Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan at a press conference the Minister hosted at his Main Street Office.

At that forum, Statia was asked about the

progress made by GRA in getting businesses to clear their tax debts.

The CommissionerGeneral said that he did not wish to go into much detail because it was the Finance Minister ’s press conference.

Statia indicated that he will soon host his own press conference to bring the media up to speed with what is going on down at GRA. He reminded of a yearold promise to the effect that he will resign from the Authority if he failed to

make major strides within one year. Statia said that year has elapsed.

Promising to go into more details at the upcoming press conferences, Statia said that over $4B has been collected in arrears so far this year.

The CommissionerGeneral said that this is clear evidence that the GRA is going after back taxes. He said, “We are trying to find persons who should have been paying their rightful taxes but have not been doing so.”

Statia continued, “We are way ahead in collection this year as compared to last year.”

(Abena RockcliffeCampbell)

Tuesday August 22, 2017

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

Toshaos call on Govt. for more consultations on relevant decisions …as 11th Annual Conference begins

By Murtland Haley The National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference 2017 began yesterday with an opening ceremony at the Cyril Potter College of Education.

During his remarks to the gathering, Chairman of the NTC, Toshao Joel Fredericks, called on President David Granger to have his administration consult with the Indigenous people on a number of issues relating to the nation’s first people.

Fredericks stressed that there needs to be consultation between the government and the leadership of the Indigenous peoples regarding decisions that will affect Amerindians.

He said that this year is an important year for the Indigenous people in Guyana.

“It marks the 10 years of the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the rights of I n d i g e n o u s Peoples and I want for us all to reflect on our progress, and how we as a nation have addressed the issues faced by the indigenous people.”

Fredericks made reference to Article Five of that Declaration which speaks about the indigenous rights to participate in decision-making. He said that the NTC has seen townships being named, with indigenous lands being placed in them, such as Lethem, Bartica, Mabaruma and Mahdia, that will be classified a town soon.

Further, Fredericks said that Articles Nine and 13 of the UN Declaration call for consultation. However, the NTC Chairman said that it has been noted that there are government programmes and policies being implemented without consultation with the indigenous peoples.

Fredericks said that despite these challenges, the NTC remains willing to dis-

Seated at the head table at the opening of the NTC, from left: First Lady Sandra Granger, President David Granger, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock and Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams (DPI Photo) cuss a way forward with the APNU+AFC government.

In addition, he highlighted Article Two of the Declaration, which calls for Indigenous peoples being free from discrimination. “I must say that I have not felt discriminated against based on my Lokono (Arawak) background, but my people are asking why are we being treated sometimes like third class citizens in this land where we are the first people to occupy this land.”

Fredericks however admitted that no government can solve all the problems facing Indigenous people.

He said that “there are six races in Guyana and they can work together in love and unity”.

Meanwhile, Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock encouraged the Toshaos to publicise the positive things happening within their villages and communities. He said that the Conference is also the place for reflecting, introspection and forward planning.

He said that the NTC is meeting at a time when there is much expectation of a bright future, particularly with the recent oil find. He added that there is a need for a stronger and more unified approach in decision making at the level of the NTC, whereby there is greater consultation with the wider membership of the Council.

He challenged the NTC to examine its own processes and identify the successes and shortcomings, and to work to ensure that the legacy made would be celebrated by future generations.

Delivering the feature address was President David Granger, who congratulated the NTC for including in this year’s theme ‘good governance’. He said that good governance is important in economic development, so that employment can be created and poverty can be reduced. He said that the NTC is responsible for preparation and planning, and improving the quality

Sports executive beaten, robbed...

From page 7 He explained that the men were asking for money and a gun—which they thought he owned. “I tell them nothing in the house and he tell me that if he find a gun, he gone shoot me with it.”

The businessman said that as he lay on the floor, the men were constantly hitting him and asking him questions while hunting for valuables.

“When I realized that the place was silent, I got in a sitting position and untied myself and went by a neighbour.

Kaieteur News was informed that when the Hutson’s neighbour telephoned ranks at the Sparendaam Police Station, a rank informed the individual that the victim had to visit the

station to make a report.

“They don’t know if my skull crack or anything serious happened to me, but they want me to go to the station…I went and make the report and then I went to the Georgetown Public Hospital for treatment.”

Hutson further explained that he got to the hospital at five o’clock in the morning and only received assistance after nine o’clock. “There were only four persons in the

Accident and Emergency Unit and it took over four hours for me to see a doctor.”

The devastated sports executive said that he is happy that his wife and children were not in the country.

“I am in Guyana because I love my country and I want to make it better, but after this, I don’t know what will happen,” Hutson reflected.

Investigators visited the scene of the crime and took fingerprints.

of life for the indigenous people and their communities.

The President said that the government along with the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and the NTC have an obligation to work together towards improving the economic and social conditions of Indigenous people in several ways.

First, he highlighted that there is need for improvement in the education sector for Indigenous People.

“We must work together to improve the standard of education in terms of the three As, Access, Attendance and Achievement, especially in the primary and secondary schools in the hinterland communities.”

The President said that he would have visited a number of Amerindian

communities along with his wife, where there were no buses, bicycles or boats to transport children to school.

He said that efforts must be made to ensure that each child has access to education, can attend the institution, and thereby have the opportunity to achieve.

In the area of Social Protection, the President said that the government as well as the NTC need to work together to reduce alcoholism, prostitution, substance abuse, teenage pregnancy and trafficking in persons. He said that these social issues undermine the cultural fabric of Indigenous communities.

The President outlined a number of issues which Indigenous communities face and must be protected from such as flooding, environmen-

tal degradation and pollution.

He said that his government will not ignore these issues and will continue to work through the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs to address the problems.

He reminded the Toshaos that the Conference is not a talk-shop but rather a workshop, a forum for planning and problem solving. The President urged the NTC to adopt the advantageous measures needed to improve the quality of life in Indigenous communities.

The Conference began yesterday and continues for the next five days, where representatives from 215 Indigenous Communities will meet, discuss and decide on a number of issues. This year’s theme is “Good Governance – A brighter future for Guyana’s first peoples.”

PAGE 12

Oil and gas sector can redistribute employment in Guyana – Economics expert

By Murtland Haley Guyana is scheduled to become an oil-producing nation in 2020. When this begins, the possibility exists that there can be a redistribution of employment within the economy.

This was posited by Trinidad and Tobago Economics Expert, Dr. Roger Hosein last Thursday, while he was delivering a lecture on ‘Corporate Social Responsibility in Small Oil Producing States’ at the Pegasus Hotel.

Dr. Hosein is a senior lecturer in the Department of Economics at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus. He said that when production starts, people will leave the services sector and try to go and work in the oil sector where the salary would be almost seven times higher.

He also said that persons working in the agricultural and eco-tourism sector will move to the oil sector, since their present salary is considerably low.

“As the oil sector generates more wealth it is going to need more factors of production, so it is going to increase wages to attract the best engineers, the best accountants, the best lawyers and of course, the best economists, to come and work for them. So the salaries of these professionals would rise.”

In light of this development, the economics expert said that the traditional sec-

Tuesday August 22, 2017

Kaieteur News

tors would be forced to make changes to the salary scales offered. He said that the manufacturing, agricultural, eco-tourism and export sectors will have to increase their salaries so as to preserve a certain amount of employment of skilled people.

When this is done, Dr. Hosein said that wages in the economy would generally be higher. Further, the UWI Lecturer said that this development does not pose a problem, as long as the current account balance and fiscal balance in the economy, motivated by improved energy sector revenues, remain stable.

“So no love lost; everybody gets higher wages, the non-energy exports fall and there is redistribution in employment in the economy.”

He said that ultimately, employment in the services and oil sector will expand while employment in the manufacturing, agricultural and eco-tourism sectors will contract, because there will be a reduced amount of the factors of production.

Using Trinidad and Tobago as an example, Dr. Hosein explained that the neighbouring island country had experienced an expanded services sector as a result of oil and there was a contraction of the other sectors.

“We made the dangerous technical error of falling diversification and increase of production in the services sector.” He said that an expan-

sion of the services sector creates entities which absorb a large amount of foreign exchange.

As a result, he said that currently, Trinidad and Tobago is probably the only country in the Caribbean whose current account balance is in deficit. He said that over the years the current account balance of Trinidad and Tobago was maintained by the price of oil and gas.

He said that the decreased prices of these commodities have resulted in the current account balance being in its current state.

“So the expanded services sector is a problem in the context that it uses a lot of foreign exchange; it is a problem in the context that it has lower productivity on average than the manufacturing, export, agriculture and eco-tourism sector and the petroleum sector.”

Dr. Hosein said that a number of structural problems enter into the economy on the account of oil production.

He said that the entities which will have to fix these problems, if they occur, will be the entities that produce oil, which include the company extracting the resource and the State of Guyana. He said that these two parties have a role to play in breaking back down the problems that emerge in the economy from a structural perspective, from the start-up of production.

Chronicle sued for $2B by Sleep-in owner for alleged libel On August 16, 2017, the Guyana Chronicle published an article stating that the Gaming Authority is likely to reject an application for the operation of a casino at the Sleep-in Hotel.

The newspaper also reported on the following day that the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) had indicated that it has been investigating the owner of the hotel, Clifton Bacchus and a number of his associates since July 2016 for money laundering. In court documents seen by this newspaper, the claimant, Bacchus, is suing the Guyana National Newspapers Limited and the Editor of the Guyana Chronicle, for its initial publication on August 16 and the follow-up article in its August 17 publication which claimed that Bacchus and his hotel are being funded from criminal activities. Damages are being sought in excess of $1B for each article.

Further, the Claimant also filed for an injunction restraining the defendants from publishing any statement whatsoever of and concerning the claimant which suggests or tends to suggest that he or his business are engaged in or connected to money laundering, drug trafficking or any criminal conduct whatsoever.

Bacchus is also seeking exemplary damages, interest on all damages awarded pursuant to Section 12 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, costs and any order the court may deem just and proper. Bacchus said in his claim that he was at all material times a businessman, a husband of a businesswoman and the father of two.

Businessman Clifton Bacchus He said that he is also the owner of three international hotels located in and operating from the city of Georgetown. He added that the Sleep-in International is a multimillion-dollar investment comprising a new 150-room facility complete with restaurants, a gym, a swimming pool, a spa, bars and a building to house a casino.

According to Bacchus, the Editor of the articles falsely and maliciously published articles with sensational headlines concerning him. Bacchus has since denied there being any truth in the articles published by the Guyana Chronicle.

Last Thursday, the hotel owner denied that he is being funded by a Surinamese businessman, Bhagwandath ‘Bidjay’ Parmasar, who is facing legal troubles in the neighbouring country.

Through his lawyer, Anil Nandlall, Bacchus had addressed the claims in a letter published in the Chronicle demanding an immediate

apology from the stateowned newspaper, saying that the articles have caused customers to cancel reservations and that he is suffering embarrassment.

Bacchus believes that his chances at obtaining the casino license from the Gaming Authority have been affected. The letter also stated that the articles sought to convey to the reader that Bacchus and his company are funded and financed from criminal proceeds.

The article published by the Chronicle had stated that certain criminal legal proceedings were instituted against Parmasar. Nandlall said in the letter that the Chronicle’s articles tried to create a nexus between Bacchus and Parmasar’s legal troubles.

According to the Chronicle, Parmasar is the owner of Yokohama Trading Company, the parent company of Pasha Global Group, a supposed main player in the setup of the Carnival Casino, owned by Bacchus. Nandlall said that his client has not received a single cent from Parmasar and that Bacchus’ financing has been from Trust Company (Guyana Limited), Scotia Bank (Guyana), Wide Grace Limited and Global Trading Company Limited; entities Parmasar and Yokohama Trading Company are not directors or shareholders. Based on Guyana’s law, there can be only three casinos in each of the 10 administrative regions. As it relates to Region four, one license has already been granted to Princess Casino.

This leaves two for the taking, one of which is expected to be awarded to the stateowned Marriott Hotel.

Tuesday August 22, 2017

Kaieteur News

PAGE 21

PAGE 22

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyanapassport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535.

INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

Christian couple is seeking to care take property – house, yard and pets. Call: 667-9013 Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigration Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496/ 662-6045 Computer & Mobile repairs systems upgrade, software installation, website development, mobile unlocking. Beats any price.

Call: 647-7622/645-7471 Repairs at low cost: Fridges, air- conditioners, washing machines, TVs, microwaves, freezers- Call:629-4946 or 225-4822 Budhram landscaping services, free advice. Call: 656-1326

Tuesday August 22, 2017

Kaieteur News

WANTED 1 Accounts Clerk, preferably from E.B.D – 5 subjects CXC minimum @ gtcareers592@gmail.com Experienced curry cook.

Apply at Hack’s Halaal with handwritten application, 5 Commerce Street (Day Shift only) Dried corilla bush in large quantities. Call: 665-1397 1 Live-in nanny/domestic to care for small children & home; must know to cook various food. Call: 600-1898 Security guard, apply in person @ Millenium Manor Hotel, 43 Hadfield Street, Werk-en-Rust, between John & Camp Streets.

Ladies to do cleaning on the W.C.D- Call: 629-4236/ 662-9341 1 Live in maid. Call: 666-4153/ 656-3241 Experienced salesgirl @ Christine’s Fashion on Lombard St. Call: 227-8529 One experienced hairdresser @ Magic Touch Salon: 225-6492 1 Diesel mechanic welder to work in the Interior, interested person can contact: 625-5136

VACANCY One experienced salesman, apply with written application & recommendation, also one general domestic. Apply @ Keyfood, McDoom Village.

One Cleaner . Contact 223-5273/ 74 One Supervisor / Manager to work in Charity contact 2235273/74 One Cook contact 223-5273/74 Accounts Clerk for Eccles Area, knowledge of VAT, QuickBooks and Payroll.

Call: 614-4358 Immediate vacancy exists for males to work at Ice Factory in Blairmont Berbice, ages 2540. Call: 618-3800 Male security guard, female room attendant 30yrs & older @ 233 South Road Lacytown.

225-0198 One office assistant female, must be between the age of 3045yrs. Call: 220-2034/623-8078 Chef and Assistant cook preferably Carnegie trained.

Call: 225-7933 or visit 173 Sheriff Street.

Security officer, welder, kitchen assistant, accountant.

Interested persons can contact via email: chungsoffice@gmail.com Experienced female Accounts clerk between ages of 2350yrs. Apply @ Alabama Trading, 65-66 Robb Street.

Canter Driver to sell bottle water on West Coast Demerara -$30,000 weekly.

Call: 684-8231

Dispatcher will be required to work shift. Call: 622-6413

Wanted one experience cook.

Tel: 623-8654, 265-3111 or 2260554.

One babysitter for 2 kids.

Apply @ R. Sookraj & Sons, 108 Regent Street (opposite GBTI)

Experienced waitress 1825yrs, live in domestic must know to cook, salary starts $20,000 weekly. Call: 610-3974

Cook/ Baker for interior.

Applicants must be experienced. Call: 618-2020 One experienced pharmacy assistant to work in a reputable pharmacy in G/ Town (flexible hours). Call: 227-0630

SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc.

-CosmetologyCourses:$120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000.

Call: 647-1773/660-5257 MASSAGE The Gent’s Spa: let us relieve the stress from your body with lovely masseuses. For appointment call: 658-5528 LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj Building- Call: 644-5166; 6222872; 615-0964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).

TOURS Holiday weekend tour trip to Surinam: Eid Ul Adha, August 31st – Sept 3rd, book early.

Call: 665-5171/ 639-2663/ 6583758/223-7589 TAXI SERVICE

B&C Driving School: pickupdrop off. Call: 231-8719/6806826

GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 2257878 (24HRS)

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.

New Housing Developments @ Blankenburg & Schoonord, Houses and lots available. Cash or terms.

Contact # 650-0402/ 603-1402 Lawn grass - $1,400, potting soil -$800, Ficus, Exora, Purple Heathers – 4 for $1,000, Palms @ $1,000. Call: 626-1044 5 lots in Blankenburg, back of the gas station @$2.9 M each. Contact: 650-0402\6031402 1 - Mitsubishi Fuso 7 1/2 ton Canter, year :2007 - $ 4 M. Contact: 650-0402/ 603-1402 House & land. Just Arrive!

Tundra, Tucoma & Titan parts. Call: 674-8911 Two (2) Caterpillar 324DL Excavators. In good working condition. Call: 600-3304, 600-3306/7/8 Caterpillar, Model: D6M, In good working condition.

Price: G$10,000,000 negotiable. Call: 600-3304, 600-3306/7/8 All sizes of solar panels, batteries & inverters. Come & check us out @ Boodhoo’s General Store. Contact: 2604115\260-4018 \650-0402

Attractive waitress & female bartender. Apply in person with written application: Chestor’s, New Road, W.C.D One experienced legal computer clerk. Call: 6247087/ 226-4283/258-0213/ email:husainsaphier@ yahoo.com

Tuschen Phase 1 -$2.5M, Zeelugt 1st New Scheme$2.5M, La Parfaite Harmonie$1.6M. Call: 642-1252 Land in La Parfaite Harmonie: 45X90, well fenced land & sand filled, serious inquiries only. Call: 671-9035 Transported land @ Diamond New Scheme (2nd Avenue) 96ftX64ft. Call: 6097766 Herstelling (front), Diamond -$3.5M, Eccles, La Parfaite, South, Cummings Lodge, Sophia, Canaan, Nismes, Highway. GME: 231-7805/ 618-7483 La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.4M, $1.9M, $3M, $2M, Eccles $6M, Herstelling -$3.M, $2.5M, Tuschen -$2M, Vreeden-Hoop -$50M. Call: 6046724/ 686-9608 La Parfaite Harmonie - $1.3M, $2.5M, $3.5M, $1.6M, Herstelling - $2.2M, Tuschen -$2.5M, La Parfaite Harmonie, main road (50X100). Call: 6662326 Tuschen house & land - $2.7M, $5M, La Parfaite Hamronie $3.5M, $1.4M, Vreed-en-Hoop house & land -$50M. Call: 6046724/ 686-9608 FOR RENT

1 Caterpillar skid steer loader, model#:236 B, low hours.

Contact: 650-0402\603-1402

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

1 -BMW 318 I, never register..!!! $ 2 M. Contact: 650-0402/603-1402

Property for rent - 2 storey house at Republic Park, E.B.D$1200US. Call 647-1773

One Mitsubishi canter 14 feet tray, GSS series in excellent condition -$1.8M negotiable.

Call: 684-8231

Prime business place to rent suitable for offices on Sheriff Street. Call: 6276740/227-8644

One 700 W enclose gasoline generator on wheel -$200,000 negotiable. Call: 684-8231

Fully furnished luxury apartment 2 &3 bedrooms, long & short term stay.

Call:664-2143

3 Salon chairs with dryers, reclining chair with sink. Call: 626-6325

One experienced & honest snackette attendant/ salesgirl. Call: 698-4288/2265793 between 10:00am6:00pm Need experienced housekeeper/domestic. Call Ms. Yulana Alleyne: 695-9838

LAND FOR SALE Land for sale in Tuschen, Phase 1. Call: 679-1096

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE OFACADEMIC EXCELLENCE: Registration commenced for I.A.E Secondary school, forms 15, termly fee -$30,000. Call: 683-5742/621-7365 Rising Star Academy: spaces available for Nursery, Grades 1 & 2 Students, in class sizes of 8, 12 &15. Call: 677-0296/ 690-9378

3 Bedrooms house: toilet & bath, A/C, hot & cold water, garage and yard space @ 4th Avenue Diamond. Call: 2160589/ 686-5645 1-3 Bedrooms with a selfcontained room & 2 bedrooms apartment, parking available, located @ Diamond. Contact Steve: 680-5944/ 656-4211 1 Split 2 bedrooms house and a garage @ Cemetery Road Lodge, $50,000 security & 2 months advance. Call: 2335805 1 Bedroom apartment, well secured for working couple or single person -$35,000 monthly, light & water included. Call: 638-8858

PROPERTY FOR SALE Property @ 180 Charlotte Street Bourda, 1 building in front & 2 storey house at the back, L 120X B 30- $50M negotiable. Call: 624-7341/ 227-6817/226-5183 Lot 22 Dowding Street, Kitty, G/ Town, 100 Granville Park B.V, E.C.D.Call:619-4152or227-1905 Kastev, Meeten Meer Zorg, W.C.D: 3 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, verandah overlooking Atlantic ocean.

Owner migrating -$36M, negotiable. Call: 676-7974/ 615-0173 One 3 bedroom property with bond, big land space for building house, poultry rearing, farming, etc. Call: 627-5607 25-X72 house and land p/r Friendship, EBD, parking space for 10 cars, business or residential $16M. Call: 648-4810 House and land available @ La Parfaite Harmonie, Providence, etc, we also assist with financing. Contact Pacific Development: 2236035/ 227-8274 Property @ lot 89 Robb Street Lacytown, Georgetown next door to Mike’s Pharmacy, size 3431.25 sq.ft. Call: 6175323 or 666-8052 One concrete building (incomplete) in residential area, close to National Stadium, Massy Supermarket, price negotiable. Call: 699-4114 New executive 4 bedrooms house 3 1/2 bathrooms, office, grilled, A/C, filtrated water with reservoirs, 4 vehicle garage, fenced, alarm system @ Eccles.

Call: 609-7766 7 Bedrooms 2 family houses on transported double lot – fenced with adequate parking, pump & water reservoir @ Georgetown.

Call: 609-7766

TO LET Fully furnished apartment $95,000-$140,000. Call: 644-5151 One bedroom apartment @ Soesdyke. Call: 604-7022 Furnished & unfurnished one, two & three bedrooms apartment at Providence and Diamond. Call: 216-2299/ 6721906/ whatsapp: 1-246-8339739 Two 3 Bedrooms unfurnished apartment to let in Diamond -$70,000. Call: 685-8470/ 660-7013 Continued on Page 23

Tuesday August 22, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Teens’ escape bid from NOC lands them in further trouble The New Opportunity Corps at Onderneeming

From Page 22

VEHICLE FOR SALE RZ, Pit Bull, 212 Carina, IST, Verossa, Suzuki Vitaera, Premio, Allion, Fielder Wagon, SpacioCall: 650-7501/ 616-2577 Unregistered bluebird 1500cc, 31,000KM, front wheel drive, RZ bus good working condition, owner leaving. Call: 265-0204/ 265-2171/682-7589 Nissan Pathfinder jeep, fully loaded, left hand drive. Call: 609-7766 2015 Ford F150 V6 2.7 litre, twin turbo, 4X4 automatic, fully loaded 34,000 kilometers, excellent conditioner. Call: 610-5370 Eleven inmates who escaped from the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) at Onderneeming on the Essequibo Coast, on Sunday, have no choice but to stay at the facility for a longer period of time. Charges are likely to

be laid against the teenagers sometime this week.

Kaieteur News understands that six females and five males escaped from the facility around 17:15 hrs on Sunday by scaling a fence.

Two females were recaptured

almost immediately after their escape and the others were held around 06:00 hrs yesterday aback of the facility.

According to information received, the five boys were behaving disorderly and as a result, they were placed in the

confinement area as punishment. However, two of the boys climbed onto the roof of the building and got into the administrative office where they stole a bunch of keys.

The boys reportedly opened the door to the girls’

cell and allowed six of them to leave. They then scaled the fence at the back of the building. The teens were placed at the correctional facility for various offences ranging from simple larceny to damage to property.

Professional assessment of street dwellers to commence in last quarter The issue of street dwellers will be dealt with through a refined process beginning in the last quarter of this year.

This update was given recently by Major General (Ret’d) Joe Singh who is Chairman of the National Task Force Commission.

The Commission was mandated in 2015 to execute Project Restore Guyana.

During a press conference at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure on Wight’s Lane, Singh said that some amount of work was done in this regard through a pilot project, in a collaborative way, with trained therapists and psychiatric professionals from the Ministry of Public Health.

He said that during one particular night the team went into the capital city and conducted screening exercises to determine what type of therapy or welfare management would be appropriate for the various categories of street dwellers.

“There are some who are intelligent but homeless; some who prefer to be homeless even though they have families; those who are mentally challenged; those who are lazy, and those who have diseases.”

Singh added that since the Hugo Chavez Centre in West Coast Berbice is up and running, the Welfare Management Committee will be working closely with the Ministry

From left: Research Engineer, Lennox Lee, NTC Chairman, Major General (Ret’d) Joe Singh and Head of the NTC Secretariat, Dr. Sewnauth Punalall of Social Protection to see to what extent persons can be relocated there.

The Convenor of the Welfare Management Committee is Abike Benjamin-Samuels and her Alternate is Evadne James. Further, according to Singh, there is the Phoenix House that is dealing particularly with rehabilitation of addicted persons while the night shelter is addressing the issue of persons that need a proper place to live rather than the pavement.

Noting that some of those living on the pavement prefer

to live there, Singh was asked how this will play a role in terms of moving persons off the pavement. He said that it calls for very careful management of the process. “...because persons in the past have been removed from the pavement, taken to the night shelter, cleaned up, and given all the necessary accoutrements, and then the next day they are back on the pavements. If you visit some of those persons on the pavement, you will see for many of them, that is their home.

They actually have a Godfa-

ther or a Godmother who looks after the welfare of the people who are sleeping on that pavement. They know exactly where each person is sleeping.”

According to the NTC Chairman, the system on the pavements regarding home-

less people is a reflection on society seeming to have lost the concept of caring for each other. Further, he said that it has to do with the significant percentage of Guyana’s population that migrated, leaving many behind without anyone to care for them.

Singh reflected that the whole structure and fabric of society needs to be retooled to restore that caring attitude.

He said that this begins in the home and within the communities.

Singh noted that when the NTC and its partner agencies embark on the relocation and screening of street dwellers, it will be “a complex activity that requires all hands on deck”. He said that these include the Ministry of Social Protection, the Private Sector Agencies, the Red Cross and Phoenix House.

Currently, according to Singh, the Welfare Management Committee is working with the other agencies so as to ensure that when people are screened they are assigned to wherever it is they need to be so that the best course of action can be taken.

One used 275 Massey Ferguson tractor. Call: 669-5400/ 662-6151 (2) 2010 Vitz - $85,000 each, 2010 Suzuki swift & Nissan March - $85,000 each (all unregistered & duties to pay). Call: 649-7771/699-7155 Toyota Avensis, PJJ, genuine low mileage (less than 19,000 miles); perfect condition - $2M. Call: 225-6701/ 225-8451/ 6248657/623-5114 Honda 4X4 CRV, PSS (less than 5000 miles) almost brand new - $9M. Call: 2256701/ 225-8451/ 624-8657/ 623-5114 Mercedez Benz 350 SEL, PEE, perfect condition (stick shift), below 30,000 miles - $2M. Call: 225-6701/ 225-8451/ 6248657/623-5114

CAR RENTAL DOLLY’SCARRENTAL-CALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL:656-0087,6435122 ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIALOFFERS! .

CALL: 690-6494 AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL: PICKUP,9-11SEATMINIBUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILYOUTINGS,CHEAPEST RATE.Call:698-7807

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday August 22, 2017

Ambushed Ohio judge shoots gunman dead outside court Ohio, US (BBC)- A US judge in Ohio has fatally shot a gunman who critically wounded him in an ambush-

style attack outside court.

Judge Joseph Bruzzese Jr was shot several times just after 08:00 local time (12:00

GMT) in Steubenville on Monday morning.

Sheriff Fred Abdalla told reporters the attacker and the

judge exchanged about five shots each.

A court officer also fired several shots at the suspect.

The Jefferson County prosecutor identified the attacker as Nathaniel Richmond, but said they had not yet identified a motive.

Mr Richmond is the father of Ma’Lik Richmond, a high school football player whose rape conviction made national headlines in the 2012.

Prosecutor Jane Hanlin said there is no connection between Judge Bruzzese and that rape case.

Judge Bruzzese, who has been on the bench at the Jefferson County courthouse since 1998, was airlifted to hospital in Pittsburgh to undergo emergency surgery.

The Steubenville city manager says that the judge is out of surgery and “doing fine”.

Sheriff Abdalla said he had advised the 65-year-old judge several years ago to carry a firearm during his commute.

“This individual laid in wait, for our judge,” the sheriff told reporters hours after the shootout.

“It just hurts. First thing

on a Monday morning.

“You have a judge shot in front of his courthouse, and that affected me. This was ambush and attempted murder on our judge.”

Police have also detained the driver who brought the attacker to the courthouse, but say they believe he did not know what his passenger was plotting.

The sheriff added that both men had served time in prison.

“He’s shooting and shooting,” Sherriff Abdalla said at a news conference.

“He’s right up to the judge.

“And that’s when he fires another round and he shoved the judge over and then he takes off running towards his vehicle.”

Th e c o u r t h o u s e h a s been closed for the rest of the day and for Tuesday as detectives process the crime scene.

The state governor has been updated on the situation and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is leading the investigation.

Tuesday August 22, 2017

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Brazil’s Lula on the road, eyes comeback despite graft conviction

Former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva LAGARTO, Brazil (Reuters) - Former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Monday accused Brazil’s government of undoing social progress made during his years in office and vowed to restore it if he was allowed to run again next year.

During a three-week bus tour through impoverished northeastern Brazil, Lula lashed out at the austerity policies of President Michel Temer. He is on the road to boost his popularity in the face of corruption charges and possibly make a comeback.

At an unplanned stop where villagers blocked the road to welcome him, chanting “Out with Temer!”, Lula said, “They are selling Brazil for scrap,” referring to a government plan to sell public assets and infrastructure concessions.

“What they want is to roll back the gains we have made and leave you begging at the road-

side,” the 71-year-old leftist said from atop a truck.

Millions of Brazilians were lifted from poverty during Lula’s 2003-2010 government. He is still Brazil’s most popular politician, despite a corruption conviction that could bar him from running in the 2018 presidential election if upheld by a higher court.

Rising public spending under Lula and his impeached successor Dilma Rousseff led to a gaping federal deficit, a severe recession and unpopular belttightening by Temer.

Opinion polls show Lula winning a first round vote in the October 2018 election, but losing a runoff because of a high rejection rate.

Many detractors blame Lula for a vast political graft scheme that flourished under the Worker’s Party, calling his bribery conviction last month the end to his political career. [nL1N1K31KP]

Yet loving crowds still turn out to hear the fiery speeches of Brazil’s first working class president, wearing the T-shirts of his Workers Party and chanting “Lula, we won’t abandon you.”

Party leaders have said that they have no candidate for the 2018 race but the former president. However, Lula told supporters that he did not know if he would be able to stand, calling his conviction a political persecution to stop him from running.

In Lagarto, a farming town in Sergipe, Brazil’s smallest state, Lula was awarded an honorary degree at a rural university campus built by his government.

He accused Brazil’s elite of denying poorer Brazilians access to a good education and vowed to cheering supporters to restore investment in universities.

CARIFESTA XIII underway From page 13 Barbados Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth also issued warm greetings to participants and patrons alike.

Barbados' Minister of Culture, Stephen Lashley in declaring the event open, reminded that the festival was birthed by Caribbean Literary Artists who advocated for the event becoming a reality years prior.

"Guyana hosted the first event and we salute Mr Forbes Burnham for leading the way as the first host.

Guyana has always been a strong representative at the event and they must be celebrated," the Minister said.

“Caricom offers the best opportunities to address the many trades and cultural matters of its members and it encourages all to work even harder towards full integration. We must recommit ourselves to the dream of our forefathers...the aim is to make the festival a world-renowned festival while providing a platform for the region as one united.”

Further, the Minister announced that "the cabinet of Barbados has conferred the Cultural ambassadorship title on internationally renowned artiste Rihanna, while renewing the title to Calypso sensation the Mighty Gabby. Fur-

ther, the list has been increased to include 'Red Plastic Bag' and soca sensation 'Allison Hinds."

The historical moments of hosting will be remembered for many reasons including cultural development as a means of showcasing how proud the region is of its identity. Thirty-two international buyers have been invited to assess the offerings of the Caribbean in fashion, craft, beauty products etc.

CARIFESTA XIII has over 500 listed events to be hosted at twenty-five venues. The mega event concludes on Sunday.

Tuesday August 22, 2017

Jamaica training stakeholders to dispense marijuana Jamaica (CMC) – The Jamaica government Monday said it has taken steps to train doctors and other stakeholders in dispensing marijuana as it moves to regulate the industry.

“To date 39 physicians, 22 pharmacists, two scientific researchers, and 17 National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA) staff members have been trained by NeuroPsych Services,” the Ministry of Health said in a statement.

It said that two training programmes will take place in October.

According to the ministry, to be able to recommend/ prescribe medicinal cannabis in Jamaica, registered physicians must first be certified in the use of medicinal cannabis.

“Physicians completing the accredited course offered

by NeuroPsych Services receive a certificate of registration to recommend medicinal cannabis in Jamaica and will appear on the ministry’s register, which will be shared with the Pharmacy Council and pharmacies in Jamaica. This

certification is renewable every two years. Pharmacists completing the course receive a certificate of completion.

Physicians with similar and verifiable training elsewhere can also become registered by the Ministry of Health to prescribe/recommend medicinal cannabis in Jamaica. The certification is supported by the Medical Association of Jamaica and the NCDA,” the ministry said.

In additional to those regulations, the authorities said that regulations are be-

ing finalised and will be submitted to Cabinet within the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, nine medicinal cannabis products have been registered with the Ministry of Health, three of which were approved in June 2017.

The ministry said guidelines have been implemented to allow for a smooth registration process for products manufactured both locally and overseas, and applications are currently being accepted by the Medicinal Cannabis Unit for medicinal cannabis.

TT PM agrees: Something fishy about ferry contract Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley yesterday agreed that something crooked may have gone down with the procurement process for the Cabo Star and the Ocean Flower II vessels.

Rowley was asked the following question by CCN investigative journalist Mark Bassant at a news conference following his meeting with stakeholders at the Magdalena Grand, Tobago: “Dr Rowley, as head of the Cabinet and Government, are you convinced that something has drastically gone wrong and is crooked in this transaction?”

“Yes,” Rowley responded.

Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan, line minister with responsibility for the port, was present at the news conference The Prime Minister also noted that from the documents he saw with respect to the acquisition of the Galicia he believed three could be criminal conduct and he had passed this on to the Attorney General.

“What surprised me is that having said that, as Prime Minister of this country to that specific situation ... what surprised me is the level of bold-facedness that attended

the attempt to find a ferry in this year under this Government,” he said.

The Prime Minister was drilled by the media on the ferry fiasco, including whether due diligence background checks were done on Bridgemans Services.

Rowley reiterated something was wrong and the investigation by businessman Christian Mouttet will unearth more.

Rowley met with stakeholders for almost three hours yesterday. Some of them described the meeting as a “waste of time” to journalist Andy Johnson.

Rowley said, however, “I don’t think I wasted my time.

As a matter of fact I was very happy that I came here.”

He noted that a number of issues were raised other than the ferries.

‘I don’t know’ He said coming out of the meeting, it was decided the port board will be expanded to include two people from Tobago to ensure Tobago’s interest is present.

He said it was also agreed a committee be established with the Prime Minister, Tobago House of Assembly (THA) and Central Government to focus on operationalising the propos-

als that have been put to the meeting.

“And if that is a waste of time, then I have pleasantly wasted mine,” he said.

Rowley was asked why wasn’t there an inspection before the cancellation of the Ocean Flower contract.

“I don’t know,” he replied.

He disclosed that the Mouttet report would be made public.

He also said he welcomed the call for a Joint Select Committee (JSC) probe as well as the probe by the Integrity Commission.

The Prime Minister was asked about possible Mouttet conflict and comments that he is a PNM financier.

Rowley said Mouttet is a highly respected member of the business community of Trinidad and Tobago.

He said it is the business community who have been complaining about the unacceptable developments “and therefore I see no problem in asking a member of the business community to look at the state operations there to see what is going on there”.

Rowley said he awaits the report and it in no way influences or effects what others are doing in their investigation.

Tuesday August 22, 2017

Barcelona attack: Van driver shot dead by police

Spain (BBC)- Spanish police have shot dead the main suspect in last Thursday’s Barcelona attack, Younes Abouyaaqoub.

Police believe he was the driver of a van which careered down the Las Ramblas avenue, killing 13 and injuring more than 100 others.

He was killed some 25 miles (40km) west of Barcelona near a sewage treatment works following a tip off.

Abouyaaqoub, wearing a fake explosive belt, is reported to have shouted “Allahu Akbar” (“God is Greatest”).

An extensive manhunt was already under way when police closed in on the Subirats area, close to Sant Sadurní d’Anoia.

A petrol station employee spotted Abouyaaqoub and called the police who found him hiding in vineyards.

After he was shot, bomb disposal officers used a robot to examine the fake explosive belt. This led to some delay before Moroccan-born Abouyaaqoub could be officially identified.

Local residents described seeing some 20 police cars heading for the scene and helicopters circling.

Police said the investigation was still international in scope.

At an earlier news conference, police described Abouyaaqoub’s escape from the scene of the Barcelona attack on foot to the outskirts of the city where he hijacked a car and stabbed its driver.

CCTV footage in Spanish media appears to show him walking through a market district.

The man murdered in the car was named as Pau Pérez, 34, from Vila Franca - the 15th victim of the Barcelona bloodshed and a later attack in the resort of Cambrils.

A woman died in Cambrils when a car was driven into pedestrians and five suspected jihadists were killed at the scene by police early on Friday.

Police have also confirmed that an imam, suspected of radicalising the young men who carried out the attacks, died in what is believed to have been an accidental explosion on Wednesday at a house in Alcanar, south of Barcelona, that was being used as a bomb factory.

The remains of one other person found at the house are still being examined.

The terror cell behind the attacks was 12 strong. Police say eight suspects are now

dead and four are in custody.

The group had apparently been planning three coordinated attacks using home-made bombs, but were thwarted by the Alcanar blast.

Police found about 120 gas canisters at the Alcanar site.

Family members of the dead suspects said they believed Imam Es Satty had radicalised several young people in their home town of Ripoll, north of Barcelona.

Spanish media outlets say he had spent some time in prison, and had met prisoners involved or linked with the 2004 Madrid train bombings in which 191 people died.

He had also stayed in Belgium for some three months last year, where he had been searching for work, including in Vilvoorde, a small town of 42,000 people from which more than 20 jihadists departed for Syria in 2014.

An official who works on de-radicalisation in Belgium has told the BBC that Es Satty tried to secure a post at a mosque near Brussels but the elders decided he should not be allowed to preach due to his “radicalised and polarising” approach.

The mosque asked police to perform a background security check but this did not throw up any specific areas of concern.

Men in South Africa court on cannibalism charges South Africa (BBC)Four men have appeared in a South African court facing charges of cannibalism after one allegedly walked into a police station declaring he was “tired” of eating human flesh.

When questioned further, the man produced part of a human leg and hand.

Police then accompanied the man back to a house in KwaZulu-Natal

where more body parts were found.

Four men, two of them traditional healers, were arrested and charged with murder and conspiracy to murder. They appeared in E s t c o u r t M a g i s t r a t e ’s Court, about 175km (110 miles) north-west of Durban, on Monday.

A police spokesperson told the BBC that it is possible that the four young

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Kaieteur News

men, aged between 22 and 32 years old, are part of a bigger syndicate.

The investigation is still under way, with police urging people whose relatives have disappeared in the vicinity of Estcourt to come forward. A team of forensic experts has been called in to identify the remains, as it is not clear whether the body parts belong to one or several victims.

North Korea shipments to Syria chemical arms agency intercepted: U.N. report United Nations (Reuters) - Two North Korean shipments to a Syrian government agency responsible for the country’s chemical weapons program were intercepted in the past six months, according to a confidential United Nations report on North Korea sanctions violations.

The report by a panel of independent U.N. experts, which was submitted to the U.N. Security Council earlier this month and seen by Reuters on Monday, gave no details on when or where the interdictions occurred or what the shipments contained.

“The panel is investigating reported prohibited chemical, ballistic missile and conventional arms cooperation between Syria and the DPRK (North Korea),” the experts wrote in the 37-page report.

“Two member states interdicted shipments destined for Syria. Another Member state informed the panel that it had reasons to believe that the goods were part of a KOMID contract with Syria,” according to the report.

KOMID is the Korea Mining Development Trading

Corporation. It was blacklisted by the Security Council in 2009 and described as Pyongyang’s key arms dealer and exporter of equipment related to ballistic missiles and conventional weapons. In March 2016 the council also blacklisted two KOMID representatives in Syria.

“The consignees were Syrian entities designated by the European Union and the United States as front companies for Syria’s Scientific Studies and Research Centre (SSRC), a Syrian entity identified by the Panel as cooperating with KOMID in previous prohibited item transfers,” the U.N. experts wrote.

SSRC has overseen the country’s chemical weapons program since the 1970s.

The U.N. experts said activities between Syria and North Korea they were investigating included cooperation on Syrian Scud missile programs and maintenance and repair of Syrian surface-to-air missiles air defense systems.

The North Korean and Syrian missions to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The experts said they were also investigating the use of the VX nerve agent in Malaysia to kill the estranged half-brother of North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un in February.

North Korea has been under U.N. sanctions since 2006 over its ballistic missile and nuclear programs and the Security Council has ratcheted up the measures in response to five nuclear weapons tests and four longrange missile launches.

Syria agreed to destroy its chemical weapons in 2013 under a deal brokered by Russia and the United States.

However, diplomats and weapons inspectors suspect Syria may have secretly maintained or developed a new chemical weapons capability.

During the country’s more than six-year long civil war the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has said the banned nerve agent sarin has been used at least twice, while the use of chlorine as a weapon has been widespread. The Syrian government has repeatedly denied using chemical weapons.

Johnson & Johnson faces $417m payout in latest talc case Johnson & Johnson has been ordered to pay $417m (£323.4m) to a woman who says she developed ovarian cancer after using products such as baby powder.

The California jury’s decision marks the largest award yet in a string of lawsuits that claim the firm did not adequately warn about cancer risks from talc-based products.

A spokeswoman for Johnson & Johnson defended the products’ safety.

The firm plans to appeal, as it has in previous cases.

“We will appeal today’s verdict because we are guided by the science,” Carol Goodrich, spokesperson for Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc, said in a statement.

The evidence around any link between talc use and cancer is inconclusive.

Johnson & Johnson, headquartered in New Jersey, faces thousands of claims from women who say they developed cancer due to using the firm’s products to address concerns about vaginal odour and moisture.

Johnson & Johnson has lost four of five previous cases tried before juries in Missouri, which have led to more than $300m in penalties.

Johnson & Johnson said the safety of talc was supported by decades of scientific evidence.

The California lawsuit was brought by Eva Echeverria, a 63-year-old woman who said she started using baby powder when she was 11 years old. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer 10 years ago; the diagnosis is terminal, according to lawyers working on the case.

The lawsuit alleged that the company was aware of cancer risk associated with talcum powder, but concealed that information from the public.

The verdict included $70m in compensatory damages and $347m in punitive damages.

PAGE 28

Kaieteur News

Tuesday August 22, 2017

Tuesday August 22, 2017

Alleged ‘tampering’ by Lakers under investigation (The Sports Xchange) The NBA is investigating the Los Angeles Lakers for alleged tampering involving Paul George after the Indiana Pacers filed a formal complaint.

The league released a statement Sunday from Mike Bass, executive vice president of communications.

“At the request of the Indiana Pacers, the NBA opened an investigation into alleged tampering by the Los Angeles Lakers,” the NBA statement said.

“The independent investigation is being conducted by the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. The Lakers have been cooperative and, at this point, no findings have been made. We have asked both teams to refrain from commenting while the investigation is ongoing.”

Peter Vecsey on Patreon

reported Saturday that Lakers president Magic Johnson, general manager Rob Pelinka and owner Jeanie Buss were contacted by an investigator for the NBA and asked to provide “any correspondence pertaining to” George, his agent and his parents.

“As the NBA’s statement made clear, we cannot comment about the specifics of any ongoing investigation,” the Lakers said in a statement.

“We can confirm, however, that we are cooperating fully with the NBA in the hope of clearing our name as soon as possible.”

The Pacers declined to comment when contacted by The Indianapolis Star on Sunday.

George’s agent contacted the Pacers on June 18 and informed the team that George would not return af-

ter his contract expired following the 2017-18 season and that his preference was to play for his hometown Lakers.

When contacted in June, a source told The Indianapolis Star the Pacers were more concerned about finding a trade for George. The Pacers dealt the All-Star forward to the Oklahoma City Thunder on June 30 in exchange for guard Victor Oladipo and forward Domantas Sabonis.

George, who is from Palmdale, Calif., previously mentioned his admiration of Lakers legends Johnson and Kobe Bryant.

Within an hour of an initial report about George’s intentions to leave the Pacers, Johnson tweeted “God is good!” Johnson also acknowledged in a late-night TV interview in April that he would welcome George as a Laker.

Tuesday August 22, 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Real estate investments will be extremely profitable in the long run. You need to get out and have some fun to reduce tension. Interaction with colleagues will only be upsetting.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- may 21) Be sure to take advantage of the opportunities that exist.

Enlist the aid of family members and consider the feelings of your mate. Expect your workload to be heavy.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Romantic relationships could be under pressure. You may have problems with those you live with.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Try to include the one you love in your plans today. You may have difficulties with foreigners. Risky financial ventures will result in unrecoverable losses.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Try not to be too aggressive or judgmental when talking to your mate. Your business sense will be leading you in a direction that indicates more travel and communication.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Tempers could boil if someone you work with has not been pulling their weight. Try to iron out any friction over money with your mate or conflicts could prevail. Be careful not to hurt the ones you love.

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You need to spend time with friends and family. You are best not to retaliate if members of your household are trying to pick a fight. You will have a problem with your boss if you haven't done your job.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You would be wise to socialize with as many people as possible. Enjoy some socializing today. Your passionate mood will be well received by your mate.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You may find that you can be the recipient of valuable information if you're willing to be a good listener. Follow through on some of the good ideas that come up, and you could have a real winner of a deal.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Don't be afraid to say what's on your mind. Be quiet about your intentions or ideas that might bring added cash. The knowledge you have will enhance your reputation.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You would be wise to consider attending lectures that will broaden your awareness concerning your professional direction.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You can make financial gains if you are prepared to take a risk. After all, they may have valuable information to pass on.

Alleged doping cover-up: Athletics officials have life bans upheld by Cas BBC Sport - Three athletics officials have had their life bans over an alleged doping cover-up upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Papa Massata Diack, son of ex-IAAF president Lamine Diack, and Russians Valentin Balakhnichev and Alexei Melnikov had their appeals dismissed.

They were charged in December 2015 with multiple breaches of anti-doping rules relating to Russia’s Liliya Shobukhova.

Cas are yet to publish the grounds for upholding the sanctions.

On Monday Cas said:

“The panel concluded that on the evidence adduced, the charges were established beyond reasonable doubt and that the sanctions imposed should be upheld.

“The full award with grounds will be published as soon as possible.”

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) said it “welcomed” the Cas ruling and IAAF president Lord Coe added: “The ruling sends a clear message that anyone who attempts to corrupt our sport will be brought to justice.”

In a 170-page report, the

independent IAAF ethics commission panel ruled Diack, Balakhnichev and Melnikov conspired to “blackmail” Shobukhova to cover up her doping violations by her paying them “bribes” of about £435,000.

Diack and Balakhnichev, a former president of the Russian athletics federation and IAAF treasurer, were fined £17,000, while Russian coach Melnikov was fined £10,000.

In December, Diack told the BBC he “totally rejects” the blackmail allegations, saying: “There was no extortion of funds from any athlete.”

Pacquiao versus Horn rematch confirmed for Brisbane (Reuters) - Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao’s rematch with Australian Jeff Horn has been confirmed for Brisbane later this year, the city’s mayor said yesterday.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk had earlier threatened to pull funding without confirmation from the Pacquiao camp but said he had been reassured at a meeting with promoters yesterday.

“I have had a meeting earlier today which has confirmed that Manny Pacquiao will definitely be in Brisbane this year for a rematch with Jeff Horn,” Quirk told local media.

The fight is expected to be

Reigning 1st, 2nd...

(From page 31) defeated Kobras 74-71. It was business as usual for the unbeaten Colts, led by Shelroy Thomas, who scored a whopping 37 points, while sinking 4 three-pointers in the process. The only other significant contributor to the score board for colts was Dave Causway with 16 points, as Thomas dominated the game.

Travis Burnett top scored with 28 points for Kobras who lost by a meager 3 points.

The tournament is scheduled to resume tomorrow evening with two games at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. The first game will see EAGLES Vs COLTS in the Under-23 division from 6:30pm and PACESETTERS Vs SONICS in the second division from 8:30pm.

held in November at the same Lang Park stadium where a packed crowd of 50,000 saw former schoolteacher Horn upset Pacquiao for the WBO welterweight belt in an unanimous 12-round decision last month.

Quirk said Brisbane Marketing, the city council’s major events subsidiary, would be re-engaged for negotiations with promoters Top Rank and Duco Events.

“It was a matter of Manny Pacquiao deciding whether he wanted to take up that clause in the contract to give a rematch in the event that he lost,” Quirk added.

Horn’s surprise win over 38-year-old Pacquiao caused controversy, with many observers outraged by the decision.

But a WBO scoring review later endorsed Horn as the rightful winner.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 30

Tuesday August 22, 2017

West Indies’ day/night debacle a sign of the time BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom (AFP) — It says something when an exEngland captain in Michael Vaughan voices “fears” for the state of West Indies cricket.

But the fact such comments have been made for the best part of two decades, and not solely after the West Indies’ innings and 209-run defeat by England in the first Test at Edgbaston, tells its own story.

B r i t a i n ’s i n a u g u r a l day/night Test was already a landmark clash.

It became so in another way as the West Indies lost 19 wickets on Saturday, with England cruising to victory inside three days. England piled up 514 for eight declared on the back of Alastair Cook’s 243 and Captain Joe Root’s 136 before the West Indies were shot out for 168 and then 137 after following on.

At one point Stuart Law, the West Indies’ coach, had his head in his hands and it was easy to sympathise with the Australian’s despair as his side made several ‘schoolboy errors’.

This was the latest in a long line of inept Test displays outside the Caribbean by the reigning World Twenty20 champions.

The West Indies, who dominated the long format in the 1970s and 1980s, last won a Test in England 17 years ago.

Chris Gayle among regional stars missing from West Indies Test squad in England. (Photo: CWI Media) And since 1997, excluding matches against perennial strugglers Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, they have won just three out of 87 away Tests in total.

“Every time they have arrived in England, they seem to have got worse,” Vaughan told the BBC’s Test Match Special.

West Indies’ plight has not been helped by players being barred from Test selection unless they appeared in the entire domestic four-day competition.

But star names faced with a choice between a lowly paid tournament — the economics of many West Indies territories mean officials cannot match the wages on offer elsewhere in the world — or a clashing

but lucrative Twenty20 league simply took the better deal.

Add in a bitter dispute between several leading players and Cricket West Indies (CWI) President Whycliffe “Dave” Cameron and you have a situation where Jason Holder’s Test squad are without the likes of Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Darren Sammy.

Meanwhile, the privately run Caribbean Premier L e a g u e Tw e n t y 2 0 tournament is continuing at home while a three-Test tour of England is in progress.

In the absence of ‘Test windows’, where there are no competing formats running at the same time, top West Indies cricketers will most likely continue to sign

Digicel hosts second phase of Big brother clinic at The Marriott

By Zaheer Mohamed Students from Diamond Special Needs School of East Bank Demerara were given the opportunity to interact with players from the Guyana Amazon Warriors when Digicel hosted the second phase of the Caribbean Premier League Big Brother Clinic at the Marriott yesterday.

The students were given a few lessons on some of the basics of the game like gripping the ball and bat, and even had the opportunity to test their skills in an indoor game with some of the players.

Digicel Guyana, Communications Manager Vidya Sanichara expressed gratitude to The Marriott for partnering with them.

She said it’s a wonderful gesture to give the students an opportunity to meet with

the players, adding that special needs are close to their hearts and they have been supporting them for some time.

Fast bowler Rayad Emrit said they are excited to be among the children once again especially after winning on Sunday night. “ I t ’s a l w a y s a g o o d experience to be in Guyana and we knew the last four games are very important, it’s like four finals before the knock out stage so we have to take each game as it comes,” he added.

“We are going to prepare well for the next game which we have to win. The stadium was absolutely sold out last night, we weren’t the best team the two previous matches and the support from the fans has been good.

We know we owe them a lot, it’s been two close games we have lost but that’s how it goes and we have to win our

remaining matches.”

Emrit stated that the players were a lot more intent against the Barbados Tridents on Sunday night.

“In the first six over Sohail did some hitting for us and hopefully he can continue. In the field we show that we were out there, diving around saving runs and I think the intent was there from ball one,” he said.

Teacher Tricia Michael lauded Digicel for giving the students the opportunity to meet with the players since some of them are interested in the game.

The Programme is designed to give youths from across the Caribbean the opportunity to be mentored by players from the teams in the five territories participating in this year’s Hero CPL. Phase one of the programme was done prior to the CPL.

contracts that offer them the greatest chance of financial security.

“I find it difficult to think they can go on without any senior players,” said Vaughan.

“I really fear that this series could be one of the saddest for Test cricket.”

The current West Indies side also face the problem of constant and unfavourable comparisons to their ‘golden era’ teams, especially in

England where the likes of Clive Lloyd (Lancashire), Gordon Greenidge and Malcolm Marshall (Hampshire), and Vivian Richards and Joel Garner (Somerset) all starred in county cricket as well.

An “amnesty” means the hardline selection policy is set to be relaxed for the subsequent One-Day series against England.

The West Indies have problems in the 50-over format too.

They failed to make this year’s Champions Trophy and the twice former champions will also have to qualify for the 2019 World Cup in England after sliding too far down the rankings for direct entry.

England Coach Trevor Bayliss suggested the West Indies’ woes were just part of the cyclical nature of international cricket.

“West Indies are going through a rough time but 20, 40, 60 years ago there were other teams that were going through rough periods,” the Australian said.

But Johnny Grave, the English chief executive of CWI, who was among the crowd at Edgbaston, insisted he was not relying on a change of luck to spark a revival.

“They are a better side than they have shown and that’s the disappointing thing,” Grave, who took charge in February, told the Sunday Times.

“But one of the biggest misconceptions of Caribbean cricket is that nobody cares.

“The talent is there — we just won the Under-19 World Cup. “We’ve now got to create a system that makes our 18y e a r- o l d s a s g o o d a s England’s, India’s and Australia’s when they get to 23 or 24,” added Grave, who previously worked at county side Surrey and England’s Professional Cricketers’ Association.

“We need the players on side and we need to work with them. They’re the product and they’re the future,” he said.

Holding raises controversial two-tier system following defeat LONDON, CMC – West Indies great Michael Holding has reignited the discussion of two a two-tier system in world cricket, in the wake of the Caribbean side’s devastating innings defeat to England at Edgbaston.

The Windies were rolled over twice in two days for 168 and 137 in their first and second innings respectively, losing 19 wickets on Saturday to collapse inside three days in the first Test.

“That has been in my mind since this Test series started – and I’ve been talking about it for years,” said Holding, a long-serving broadcaster on Sky Sports cricket commentary team.

“What is the point of having a team outclassing another team like this?

“I played Test cricket for 12 years. I never played a Test match against Sri Lanka because at that time Sri Lanka just weren’t good enough to play against the West Indies.

“What is the point of having a contest like this?

It’s not good for cricket.”

Last year, the International Cricket Council shelved a proposal for the two-tier system which would have seen the

Legendary former West Indies speedster, Michael Holding. top seven teams in the world form the top division and the five lower-placed sides pushed into a second tier.

West Indies, currently ranked eighth in Tests, would campaign in the second tier along with the likes of minnows Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

The idea is likely to be revisited in 2019.

West Indies’ continued decline, however, has kept the discussion alive and Saturday’s humbling innings and 209-run loss has put the issue back front and centre.

Holder, a legendary member of the fearsome Windies pace quartet of the 1970s and 80s, said the current team lacked the quality to properly compete with England but needed to

get their selection right for the next Test starting in five days.

“We heard a lot of talk, of course, from captain [Jason Holder] and coach [Stuart Law] along the lines of ‘don’t write off the West Indies, we have a chance’.

That is bravado,” the Jamaican maintained.

“What they need to do is sit down and think to themselves ‘how can we actually do something on the field? What have we got?’”

He added: “They are not a great team – everybody knows that, but you’ve still got to make the right moves.

If you lose doing the right thing, then fine – but you can’t start of doing the right thing by making wrong selections.”

Kaieteur News

Tuesday August 22, 2017

PAGE 31

Alexander Dolgopolov v Thiago Monteiro being assessed after suspicious betting patterns BBC Sport - The Tennis Integrity Unit is assessing Alexandr Dolgopolov’s defeat by Thiago Monteiro at the Winston-Salem Open as some bookmakers suspended their markets because of suspicious betting patterns.

Brazilian Monteiro beat Ukrainian world number 63 Dolgopolov 6-3 6-3 in the ATP Tour match on Sunday.

The odds shifted in favour of Monteiro, ranked 114, leading up to the match.

“The TIU was made aware of concerns over betting patterns during the match,” it said.

“As with all match alerts, the TIU will assess, make a judgement and take appropriate action on the information received

Alexandr Dolgopolov was beaten by eventual runner-up Nick Kyrgios at the Cincinnati Open last week. (Getty Images) through its co-operative agreements with betting operators.”

Dolgopolov, 28, was the favourite for the hard-court tie, but an increase in money

being placed on Monteiro, 23, reversed the odds, leading to several bookmakers to stop taking bets on the first-round match.

Gayle, Samuels for England ODIs ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Talismanic opener Chris Gayle is poised to play his first One-Day International in 29 months after being named yesterday in a 15-man squad for the five-match tour of England next month.

The 37-year-old will be joined by fellow Jamaican Marlon Samuels who has also been kept out of the squad in recent times by C r i c k e t We s t I n d i e s ’ controversial eligibility rule, which required players to make themselves available for the domestic format in which they wish to play internationally.

However, CWI last month announced a “temporary player amnesty” paving the way for the return of several of the region’s previously marginalised stars.

The left-handed Gayle, with over 9000 runs and 22 hundreds from 269 ODIs, will be massive boost to a young squad which have found life difficult on the international circuit and have slumped to ninth in the ICC rankings.

He last featured in ODIs during the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Samuels, meanwhile, has not played ODIs since the Pakistan series last October but his over 5 000 runs and 10 hundreds will

also add to the experience of the unit.

“The panel welcomes back Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels, who will both add value to our batting and help with the nurturing of the young batsmen in the team,” chief selector Courtney Browne said.

Seasoned fast bowler Jerome Taylor has also been recalled for the first time in a y e a r, a d d i n g f u r t h e r experience to the squad.

The Bravo brothers, Dwayne and Darren, along with Sunil Narine have opted out of selection for the tour, however.

Darren Bravo, exiled by CWI from nearly nine months over a controversial tweet, has indicated his unavailability for the tour.

CMC Sports understands the stylish left-hander is keen on first regaining his form in the upcoming first class season for Trinidad and Tobago Red Force before returning to international cricket.

Likewise, Narine and Bravo have both timetabled their return for next year.

“Both Sunil Narine and Darren Bravo have declined to be considered for ODIs in England,” Browne said.

“Narine has however confirmed his desire to play 50-over cricket again but has asked to play in our Regional Super50 before he is considered and Darren said he was not available for

selection.

“Dwayne Bravo said he is still not 100 per fit, but is looking at a possible return to international cricket next year.”

Narine played as recently as the Pakistan series last October, while Dwayne Bravo has been controversially overlooked since his role in the abandoned one-day tour of England three years ago.

Meanwhile, uncapped Windward Islands batsman Sunil Ambris has been retained in the touring party.

He was called up in the recent series against India but failed to play a match.

Test batsman Roston Chase, who made his debut against Afghanistan in June but has mustered a mere 68 runs in six innings, has been dropped.

As expected, Jason Holder will lead the squad and will have Jason Mohammed as his deputy.

West Indies open the tour with a match against Ireland in Belfast on September 13 before facing England from September 19-29.

SQUAD – Jason Holder (captain), Sunil Ambris, Devendra Bishoo, Miguel Cummins, Chris Gayle, Kyle Hope, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Ashley Nurse, Rovman Powell, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor, Kesrick Williams.

Former top-20 player Dolgopolov, who lost his first meeting with Monteiro on clay earlier this year, failed to create a break-point chance on the Brazilian’s serve as he was beaten in 55 minutes.

“I can confirm we suspended the match [betting] due to the suspicious moves in prices pre-match,” said a spokesperson for betting firm Ladbrokes.

“This was flagged to relevant authorities right away.”

The TIU, which was set up to police the sport, has a match alert policy that states “every alert received is

assessed” and also stresses that “an alert on its own is not evidence of matchfixing”.

It also lists potential other reasons to explain unusual betting patterns, including “incorrect oddssetting, well-informed betting, player fitness, fatigue and form, playing conditions and personal circumstances.”

An independent review panel was set up in 2016 following a BBC and BuzzFeed News investigation that uncovered suspected illegal betting in tennis.

Analysis

B B C t e n n i s c o r re s p o n d e n t R u s s e l l Fuller The odds shifted quite dramatically away from Dolgopolov and towards Monteiro in the hours before the start.

It is unusual for the TIU to comment directly on a match so soon after it has been played, but they do now list the number of match alerts they receive from the betting companies in a quarterly report.

There is still no firm publication date, meanwhile, for the interim report of the Independent Review Panel.

Chase, Holder tumble in ICC rankings

Roston Chase, pictured here appealing during the Edgbaston Test, has fallen in the ICC batting rankings but risen in the bowling rankings. (Photo courtesy CWI Media) LONDON, CMC – The fallout from West Indies’ humbling innings defeat to England in the opening Test weekend has continued with several of the Caribbean players slumping in the latest International Cricket Council rankings.

Roston Chase, who entered the contest at Edgbaston on a high following heavy run-scoring against Pakistan last May, fell seven spots in the batting rankings to 32nd while opener Kraigg Brathwaite dropped three spots to 30th.

The right-handed Chase managed scores of 0 and 24 while Brathwaite scored 0 and 40 as West Indies went

down by an innings and 209 runs inside three days in the day/night encounter.

Captain Jason Holder, whose stock as a genuine allrounder has risen in recent times, tumbled 10 places and is now ranked 61st.

The only real spark in the rankings for the Windies was Jermaine Blackwood who jumped six spots to 41st after hammering an aggressive unbeaten 79 in the first innings at Edgbaston.

Blackwood was playing his first Test in 10 months after being left out for the Pakistan series.

In the bowling rankings, there was more bad news for the Windies as 20-year-old

speedster Alzarri Joseph lost 11 places to drop to 77th while seamer Holder also fell four spots to 39th.

Neither impressed at Edgbaston with Joseph going wicket-less and Holder claiming a single victim in England’s massive first innings of 514 for eight declared.

Chase, who grabbed four wickets with his part-time off-spin, climbed four places to 73rd.

Au s t r a l i a ’s S t e v e Smith leads an unchanged top five in the batting while India’s Ravindra Jadeja heads an unchanged top five in the bowling rankings.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 32

Tuesday August 22, 2017

Warriors battle St. Kitts Stars tonight in final game at home

By Zaheer Mohamed Following their first win on home soil against B a r b a d o s Tr i d e n t s o n Sunday night, The Guyana Amazon Warriors will be looking to give their fans more to cheer about when they take on St. Lucia Stars tonight at Providence.

The Warriors are still in with a chance of reaching the playoffs, but must win their remaining games handsomely. Following their loss on Thursday and Saturday, Sohail Tanvir was promoted to open the batting with Chadwick Walton, the move paid off as the duo got them off to a flier and the Warriors won the game with five balls to spare.

Speaking with reporters after the contest, man-of-thematch Walton who stroked 92 was happy with the win.

“We had to make a change because we can’t do the same thing all the time and expect different results, so it worked

Opener Chadwick Walton will be looking for a good start tonight. for us,” he said.

He felt the pitch played better in the second half so

they just had to remain focus.

“We had our back against the wall so we needed a win and

the players just had to focus more.”

He stated that the victory

is important. “This win is important for us because if we had lost tonight then technically we would have been out of the competition so winning the game keeps us in the hunt.”

Meanwhile, Tridents skipper Keiron Pollard said they were confident of defending the total but it’s disappointing they didn’t come out on top. “The key was to bowl straight with some variation and let the batsmen make the mistakes.

Chadwick and Guptill were going well, Chadwick was there from the start, he batted well but once you bowl on the stumps, the ground big enough, you just have to hold on to your chances. But I think we lost the game in the first six overs the Warriors batted,” he explained.

Bowling in the powerplay overs is one area he would like his team to improve in. “We would like to improve with our bowling, each game, teams have gotten off to a flier that’s a

worrying factor for us because when we bat we found it difficult to get off to a fast starts, so that’s an area we need to improve in. Our experienced bowlers now really need to step up to the mantle and take control of that first six overs so the others can back them up, but you know having said that a lot of positives have come out of this game, the way Smith and Kane Williamson batted after we lost Shoaib Malik for whatever reasons, they showed their experience and batted well.

Pollard stated that playing in their conditions will be an advantage for them. “One good thing is that we get the luxury of being comfortable playing in our conditions. We have been on the road for the first six games now we have a lot of time to go home and practice and hopefully that will do us well at Bridgetown on August 29,” he said.

Tonight’s game starts at 18:00hrs.

Pakistan to host World XI series in September ESPNcricinfo - For the first time in nearly nine years fans in Pakistan may have a season of cricket in their country to look forward to, after the PCB confirmed that the Punjab government had approved a T20 series with a World XI to take place in Lahore. And to the talk of Sri Lanka potentially playing a single T20 from their tour to the UAE in Lahore can be added to the possibility of a three-match T20 series against West Indies in November, also in Lahore.

The developments, announced by the new PCB chairman Najam Sethi, in a press conference in Lahore amount to a bumper season of home cricket for a country that has seen only a short visit by Zimbabwe and the final of the Pakistan Super League, featuring a number of foreign players, since March 2009.

The Punjab government has promised presidentiallevel security for the weeklong tour by a World XI which will be a 15-man squad comprising players from all top Test-playing countries. The team will be led by Andy Flower as coach

and will undergo a seven-day camp in Dubai before travelling to Lahore for three T20s, starting from September 10. An ICC security team is expected to visit Lahore on August 26 and 27.

“This is a very big thing,” Sethi said. “September, October and November are big months. It’s a big agenda, we need your prayers and we will open the doors and international teams will come. Pray that we keep our security solid. The Punjab government has given us the signal and preparations are in full swing.”

The World XI series has been in discussions ever since the PSL final was held in Lahore in March this year, a result of the efforts of the PCB, including Shahryar Khan who stepped down as chairman recently, and the ECB president and chairman of the ICC’s Pakistan Task Force Giles Clarke.

“Within the next 72 hours I will announce the names of the players [in the World XI],” Sethi said. “I have the names with me but at the moment I can say that all top players from top cricketing nations will tour Pakistan.

The World XI team was chosen by the ECB’s director Flower, and the matches will have international status.

Though it is not yet clear which players will come, decisions will be taken based on the security report. It is understood that FICA will leave it to players to make individual decisions. The ICC has thrown its support behind the tour, and has been closely involved with the PCB, helping it assemble the security apparatus to FICA’s satisfaction as well as its own, according to PCB chairman Najam Sethi. All the expenses of the tour will be borne by the PCB. The key to Pakistan’s future as a viable host will lie in those three games. If they go off without incident, Sethi said that it will pave the way for more countries to tour.

Last week the Sri Lanka Cricket chairman Thilanga Sumathipala revealed that he was eager for Sri Lanka to play a T20 in Lahore as part of their tour.

Sethi also said that the PCB was in advanced discussions with Cricket West Indies (CWI) about a series of T20 games in late November in Lahore. “That tour will be subject to the safe conclusion of ICC World XI team’s three-match series in Lahore in September and affirmation of manageable security by the ICC-sponsored international security company overseeing the

Pakistani fans will have lots to cheer about when the international teams tour. ©ICC security arrangements of the World XI,” Sethi read out a statement from CWI. For now, the matches will be confined only to Lahore, the scene incidentally of the attack on the Sri Lankan team in 2009 that moved international cricket away from the country. “I wish we could shift it to Karachi, but so far it’s only in Lahore,” Sethi said. “Those who are coming let them come. I am planning to go to Karachi and will meet with security

personnel.”

Several countries have refused to tour Pakistan due to security concerns.

Zimbabwe and Afghanistan are the only international teams to play in Pakistan since the attack on the Sri Lankan team bus by gunmen in March 2009. That dealt a severe blow to Pakistan’s status as a host nation, with the country losing their share of games in the 2011 World Cup, which was scheduled to be jointly hosted by India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and

Bangladesh.

The Zimbabwe series in 2015 finally revived international cricket in the country, but was marred by a bomb blast during the second ODI, 800 metres from the Gaddafi Stadium, which killed two people.

Since then, however, the PCB has hosted the 2017 PSL final - which featured a contingent of overseas players including former West Indies captain Darren Sammy - in Lahore on March 5 without major incident.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday August 22, 2017

PAGE 33

GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power U-17 League –West Demerara

Eagles, Pouderoyen & Golden Warriors take full points Eagles and Pouderoyen have maintained their unbeaten run whilst Golden Warriors secured their first points when the West Demerara Football Association leg of the G F F / N A M I L C O Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 Intra Association League resumed on Sunday last at the Leonora Track and Field Facility following a prolonged break for rain.

On field action finally got cracking again with solid wins for Eagles FC over Den Amstel in the feature match 4-2, while in the main supporting game, Pouderoyen Thumped Wales United 6-2.

Golden Warriors snared three points as a result of a walk over from Crane Rovers, while Jetty Gunners and Uitvlugt Warriors were to face off but neither team showed up, the match would be recorded with none of the teams securing any points.

Eagles FC soared to an upset 4-2 win over Den Amstel in the feature match of the day.

Ronaldo Macey scored the first of his double in 4th minute to hand his team the lead which was increased in the 32nd minute through Glanray Duncan’s goal.

The half time whistle sounded with Eagles leading 2-0. On resumption, Den Amstel were able to reduce the deficit by one in the 59th minute on account of an

Devin Gaskin (right) and Keanu Lawrence - Pouderoyen FC. Anthony Benn effort. But one minute later, Eagles restored their two goal cushion when Adrian Adelph found the back of the nets.

As the exchanges continued with both teams going at each other in search of more goals, Ruben Dainty, on 68 minutes netted Den Amstel’s second goal to make it a 3-2 score line but still in favour of Eagles.

But a determined Eagles side again restored their twogoal advantage when Macey achieved his brace in the 75th minute for a 4-2 lead,

the match ended with the score unchanged with Eagles taking full points.

Pouderoyen FC hammered Wales United 6-2 on account of a five-goal performance from Keanu Lawrence who had the goalkeeper retrieving the ball in the 6th, 22nd, 24th, 30th and 90th minute. The other goal was scored by Devin Gaskin in the 80th minute.

Wales responded in the 42nd and 50th minute through goals from Andrew S o o k r a m a n d Te l b e r t Baptiste.

Ronaldo Macey (right), Adrian Adelph (center) and Glanray Duncan - Eagles FC.

Two matches will be contested on Saturday at a venue to be confirmed as

play continues. From 09:00hrs, Den Amstel will take on Jetty Gunners and

two hours later, Uitvlugt Warriors will oppose Golden Warriors.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 34

Tuesday August 22, 2017

Krystian Sahadeo qualifies for ITTF World Hopes training and selection camp National 11years and under player Krystian Sahadeo performed outstandingly at the ITTF Caribbean Hopes Table Te n n i s T r a i n i n g a n d selection camp, winning selection to participate in the ITTF Continental Latin American World Hopes training and selection camp.

The training camp held from the 14th -19th August (prior to the 2017 Caribbean Min and Pre Cadet Table tennis championships) was first for the Caribbean region and was conducted under the auspices of the International Table Tennis Federation, Latin American Table Tennis Union and the Jamaica Table Tennis Association for the 11 years and under participants.

The camp is used to select the best two (2) 11 years and under Boys and Girls from the participating countries at the 2017 edition of the Caribbean championships to participate in the ITTF Continental Latin American World Hopes Training and selection Camp scheduled th for Asuncion Paraguay 18 rd 23 September 2017. They will compete among the best players from South America, Central America and the Caribbean for possible qualification as a World Hopes prospect.

The ITTF and Latin America Table Tennis Federation used the format of the camp for the first time in the region, to bring the Caribbean in line with the rest of the world in terms of the format used to select World Hopes players.

Krystian follows in the footsteps of his country man, 2016 Caribbean 11 years and under Boys Champion Kaysan Ninvalle, who qualified last year for the ITTF Latin Hopes camp

The four players selected from the Caribbean region.

The Guyana Team and officials at the Pre and Mini Cadet Table Tennis Championships in Jamaica.

Peru and won Bronze medal and also national women’s champion Chelsea Edghill who was selected in 2012.

Special mention was g i v e n t o K r y s t i a n ’s accompanying team mate at the camp, young debutant Jonathan Van Lange who played outstanding and made a good run but came up short against the more experienced players from the Dominican Republic.

Kennard Sahdeo, father of Krystian who accompanied the team to the camp, said he was very pleased with both players adaptation and performance at the camp, he indicated that he felt a lack of experience hampered Jonathan since he felt, like Krystian he played well during the camp and on the first day of the competition.

The camp ended on Saturday last and the players will now switch gears to the championships in their quest to bring Guyana regional honours.

The rest of Guyana national Mini and Pre cadet members who departed Guyana on Sunday morning

at 1.15 am on Fly Jamaican flight enroute to Jamaica arrived safely and had their practice session which went

well according to national coach Linden Johnson.

The championships commenced yesterday with

the Guyana 13 years and under Boys team of Kaysan Ninvale, Isaiah Layne and Jonathan Van Lange being

grouped with Jamaica A, St Vincent and St Lucia in the group stages for a place into the semifinals.

NA Warriors to meet Rose Hall Town Jammers on Sunday in Berbice B/ball final

Action in the semifinal match of the Berbice Basketball Association tournament between NA Warriors to meet Rose Hall Town Jammers last Sunday.

The Berbice Amateur Basketball Association 2017 Tournament for teams in Berbice sponsored by Nigel Hinds Financial Net continued over the weekend with New Amsterdam Wa r r i o r s a n d I t h a c a Hardliners clashing in the second Semi-Final at the Hardliners court.

NA Warriors defeated Ithaca

Hardliners 59-57 to book their spot in the final.

The first quarter saw them lead 21-8 and at half time 29-21. The third quarter ended 45-24 for Warriors who moved onto win 59-57.

Kwesi Mickle led with 16 points, 2 steals, Kevin Thom 11 points and Edmar Semple 10 points, 4 steal saw Warriors through. Liners’

Royan Solomon 12 points, Deander Walcott 9 points and Elroy Amsterdam 12 points led their charge.

NA Warriors will meet Rose Hall Town Jammers on Sunday at the New Amsterdam Basketball court from 6:00pm in the Final.

Six teams participated in the competition which was played on a round Robin

basis in two zones. Zone A includes Canje Knight, Fyrish Black Shark and Ithaca Hardliners, while Zone B comprises of Rose H a l l To w n J a m m e r s , Hopetown Stealers and NA Warriors.

Trophies, cash and other incentives are up for grabs.

The tournament is being organized by Vibert Garrett.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday August 22, 2017

PAGE 35

GABA/Powerade/Malta Supreme/Rainforest Water basketball tournament Reigning 1st, 2nd and U-23 champs Bounty Colts forge ahead in title defence

By Calvin Chapman Five matches were played over the weekend in the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association in collaboration with Banks DIH 1st, 2nd & Under-23 tournaments at the Burnham Hard Court.

On Saturday evening, Kobras defeated UG Trojans 81-73, in the first match of

t h e d o u b l e h e a d e r. A disappointing performance from the Trojans, who have victories against the top two clubs in the division, 2015 champions Eagles and reigning champions Bounty Colts.

The Kobras were positive in the match and dominated the first quarter with a ten-point advantage, with the score 26-

Inaugural Guinness Cage Launch on tomorrow at Windjammer Hotel -All 32 teams reps urged to be present

Organisers of the inaugural Guinness Cage / Three Peat Promotions Indoor Competition are asking all thirty-two teams representatives to attend the Launch of the tournament tomorrow at the Windjammer International Hotel & Cuisine, Queen Street, Kitty.

According to a release, the Launch which was originally set for Monday had to be postponed due to circumstances beyond their control, but the Organisers have assured that all systems are in place for tomorrow’s official opening scheduled to begin at 14:00hrs.

Over $800,000 in prize monies and trophies will be up for grabs with the winner set to receive $400,000 and the c h a m p i o n s h i p t r o p h y, while second, third and fourth placed finishers will take home $200,000, $100,000 and $50,000 along with trophies respectively.

The teams invited are tournament which kicks off on Thursday at the National Gymnasium will see teams from Georgetown, West Demerara, Linden, East Coast Demerara and East Bank Demerara go head to head over eight nights for the right to be crowned inaugural champs of the newly-introduced Guinness

Cage format.

Those invited are: Georgetown- Sparta Boss, West Front Road, Future Stars, Back Circle, Leopold Street, Sophia, Tucville, North Ruimveldt, Queen S t r e e t o f Ti g e r B a y, Abouystown A&B, Channel 9 Warriors, North East La Penitence, Alexander Village, Old Skool Ballers, Broad Street, West Back Road, Bent Street, Campbellville, Pike Street, Sophia, Newtown, Kitty, Kitty Hustlers, New Market Street; East Coast- Vryhied’s Lust, Plaisance, Melanie; East Bank- Agricola; Linden- Dave & Celena All Stars, Silver Bullets and West DemeraraShowstoppers and ESPN and Mocha Champs.

The other playing dates for the championship are August 29 and 31, September 2, 5, 7, 9 with the final set for September 16, at the same venue.

Meanwhile, all the rules and regulations to govern the tournament will be announced at the Launch and the Organisers are imploring on teams representatives to be early for a prompt start.

Kick off time on each playing night is 20:00hrs with five minutes allowance given for any team arriving late after which the opposing team will be granted a walkover.

The Organisers are asking all teams to work together with them to pull off an exciting and successful tournament.

16. Trojans then rallied back to take the lead after the first half with a meager one-point lead with the score 45-44.

Kobras then outscored Trojans 37-28 in the final half of the game to emerge with an 8-point victory.

Amoniki John was the main man for Kobras with a game high 22 points, while Darroll Williams scored an impressive 20 points to lead UG Trojans’ losing battle.

Pacesetters defeated Eagles 82-76 in the second and final match on Saturday, an Under-23 matchup.

Pacesetters, who had twelve players in the match, capitalized on the depleted Eagles team who have two players in Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation’s national camp, preparing for the Inter Guiana Games; those two players are Patrice Agrippa and Akeem Vaughn.

Eagles only employed 6 players in the match up and lost their third Under-23 game of the season despite stellar performances from Travis Belgrave who scored a game high 31 points and Shemar Huntley’s 21 points.

Belgrave and Huntley secured 52 of the Eagles 76

Eagles Travis Belgrave (10) and Shemar Huntley both scored over 20 points in the loss against Pacesetters points.

Pacesetters burned out Eagles in the match that they were afforded to have rested legs on court throughout, with 7 players on the bench.

In the collective effort, Marvin Durant top scored with 21 points, Quincy Dos Santos and Tafawa Daly contributed 14 points each, while Zion Gray (9 points) and Jude Gray (7 points) also chipped in.

Sunday Night Three matches were played on Sunday at Burnham Court.

Bounty Colts won the first

game 63-53 against Plaisance Guardians in the Under-23 division. The Colts continue to extend their lead in this division after just one loss in their first match of the season a g a i n s t U G Tr o j a n s .

Winning has become easy as breathing for the defending champions Colts and it was another mundane procession for them on Sunday night as Timothy Thompson led the team with a game high 27 points.

Colts outscored Guardians in every quarter of the match that was ultimately an easy victory.

University of Guyana Trojans decimated Pepsi Sonics 75-48 in the second match of Sunday night in the 2nd division. Kadeem Peterkin top scored for Trojans with 25 points and was supported by Denzil Ross with 15 points.

Terrence Audain scored 18 points in the Sonics embarrassing 27-point defeat.

The third and final match of Sunday was a 1st division game. Bounty Colts, who are also the defending champions in this category, (Continued on page 25)

GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power U-17 League – Berbice

Reid’s brace orchestrates Paradise Invaders’ 1st loss as Cougars triumph to take lead

Cougars Football Club handed Paradise Invaders their first loss backed up by good home support on Sunday last at Burnham Park, New Amsterdam when the GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 Intra Association League continued in the Ancient County.

Both teams approached the battle with purpose and a desire to outdo each other from start to finish of an intense clash. End to end action in the opening 45 minutes did not produce any goals.

However, it was home

team Cougars which broke the deadlock after being finally able to penetrate the Paradise defence just three minutes into the second half, Lamar Reid netting the first of his two goals in the 48th minute.

As the exchanges continued to heat up, Reid was on target again to complete his tally in the 61st minute. Now finding themselves with their backs against the wall, Paradise Invaders stuck back when

Shafeel De Harte rocked the nets in the 70th minute to hand his team a chance of at least sharing the points.

But the determined Cougars line up were not going to have any of that and were not in a mood to share points.

They were able to defend the one goal advantage to walk away with full points which propelled them into the top spot on the points table ahead of Paradise Invaders on goal difference, both clubs locked on 12

points, losing one of their five matches apiece.

M e a n w h i l e , Yo u n g Strikers were scheduled to play Hopetown United Rangers yesterday afternoon at the same venue.

At the #5 ground, Mahaicony Thunder Hawks failed to make an appearance for their match against Corriverton Links, the latter earning a walk over for their first points of the competition whilst also gaining 2 goals.

t r o Sp Gayle, Samuels Warriors battle St. Kitts for England ODIs Stars tonight in final game at home

Superstar opener Chris Gayle ‌ returns to the West Indies side for the first time in over two years.

Assad Fudadin and Rayad Emrit congratulate each other following the Warriors victory against Tridents. (Zaheer Mohamed photos)

Digicel hosts second phase of Big brother clinic at The Marriott

Members of the Guyana Amazon Warriors with students of the Diamond Special Needs school and Digicel Guyana, Communications manager Vidya Sanichara (left).

Inaugural Guinness Cage Launch on tomorrow at Windjammer Hotel Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210