Kaieteur News

Wednesday March 22, 2017

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

A thousand curses on those Economists’ wrong advice can responsible for Wales’ factory closure wreak a country’s economy DEAR EDITOR, I have been following the events surrounding the closure of operations at Wales with a mixture of amazement and concern for the people of our blessed, or cursed country. What we know is that the decision to close operations was made by GuySuCo management, rubber stamped by its Board and Cabinet was subsequently informed by Minister Holder. No studies were done, only flimsy financial justifications were put forward to the public.

This Minister’s nonperformance has been well ventilated and it is not

surprising to see that his rapidly fading party is standing resolutely by him.

Note that even the arguments put forward by the charming Minister Hughes and by the redundant Vice President Ramjattan were rejected by the aggrieved workers at Friday’s meeting, which must also have been an eye-opener for Minister Harmon, who prides himself as the representative of West Bank, Demerara.

We know from GuysuCo’s own figures, that Uitvlugt was performing worse that Wales when the decision was made. Why was Uitvlugt not closed instead of Wales? It

would have been much easier for Uitvlugt workers to find employment along the vibrant West Demerara coast.

There would have been no need to construct an allweather road to Wales and the lands at Uitvlugt are easier to convert to rice and other activities. Additionally, lands are more in demand along the coast by ancestral groups and others. The Wales community is now in a depressed state after the factory closure. A thousand curses on those who are responsible, and those who supported this terrible decision.

John Richards

Possible solutions for the Wales severance pay controversy DEAR EDITOR, The recent negative news on the lack of severance pay for cane harvesters and transporters from Wales Estate is quite concerning.

Correct or not it is starting to give a less positive impression of the dedicated leadership involved, especially given the wage increases at their level under the current circumstances.

The undertaking at Uitvlugt is being perceived as insincere and is surrounded with suspicion when considering that if Wales was still operative Uitvlugt would have to find other means to address such an urgent labour issue.

Some possible solutions for the severance payment controversy may be the following: 1. Provide a more diverse severance package that includes land, rice seed, training, some monetary reward and a rice crop purchase agreement. This may be attractive at the union level also. Given the recent announced closure of a major

rice industry participant and the recent purchase agreement with Mexico, the timing of the start of rice production at Wales may prove an important asset to the rice industry.

2. Provide work for the affected workers that aid in the transition to rice at Wales allowing for the absorption of most affected workers and the reduction of the overall severance package required

by Guysuco.

3. A rejection, reduction or delay in the implementation of the pay increase for Guysuco’s leadership by leadership would show solidarity with the work force and help reignite the cooperation needed within the company towards a common goal.

4. A market value payment by the government to Guysuco for government services absorbed by the corporation over the years with an agreement for those services going forward. In addition this study may highlight how Guysuco’s income statement may be

The NBS case and poetic justice DEAR EDITOR; In the year 2007, several officials of the previousadministration conspired to place trumped up charges against three Managers of the NBS which was confirmed in a report by the then Ombudsman in the year 2014.

N o w, 10 years thereafter, it is noted that three of those officials have been hauled in by SOCU for questioning into “misconduct by public officials “in the Pradoville 2 Scheme and may face criminal charges shortly

according to the Law. Isn’t this poetic Justice?

What goes around comes around. The three managers who have endured untold suffering and humiliation without Justice for the past decade would have the last laugh and, it would be the BEST. L. Latchman

overburdened by inappropriate accounting. An activity based accounting approach may clarify what the real profitability or lack thereof is.

5. No cost refinancing of mortgages of affected workers by government financial institutions such as NBS offering a lower mortgage rate and monthly payment. This will help relieve the burden on the families affected.

In an environment where major infrastructure projects are being prepared and procurement savings or lack thereof, are being questioned, it is difficult for workers to swallow the lack of funds statements being offered. We should not turn our backs on those who have helped build this country over the last 50 plus years.

After all we are a small society with limited human resources, and maintaining a motivated & engaged labour force is essential for any positive transition which is to occur in the Agriculture Sector. Our motto remains the same “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”.

Jamil Changlee

DEAR EDITOR, Economists today stand as the most dangerous and socially destructive noncombat professionals after politicians. A de facto source of advice on managing an economy, their ill-advised policies can wreak havoc on economies, giving rise to inflation and depressed welfares which fuel crime, stagnation of investment and employment creation, and a wasting of scarce financial resources on unnecessary and ill-timed infrastructure projects.

The social discord caused by the VAT policies in the 2017 Budget, combined with the strenuous support from the Minister of Finance and Government so far says that something is very wrong with the thinking of Minister of Finance at the very least. Both the Minister and Government may be of the opinion that

opposition to the 2017 VAT policies is rooted in the PPP’s own efforts to have these policies removed from the budget. This is wrong, and a grave miscalculation that is exacting severe political costs for the government.

What is unfolding so far is that the Private Sector is unhappy and unwilling to get involved in any long term investment plans under the current policy framework, the entire country is upset about VAT and the middle class in Georgetown are screaming about the parking meter affair.

Only sterling protest action has seen a recent roll-back on the parking meter fiasco, but bowing to these or anything else perceived to have socially and developmentally consequences will create avenues for more ridiculous policy ideas which will further erode the economic gains made thus far.

Unfortunately, we have to start talking about economic gains made because the PNCled government seems intent on a lock-step dance back into our dark past during the PNC’s infamous previous reign. There is level of basic common sense to scrapping the 2017 VAT policies that makes this act a no-brainer.

This however escapes the Minister, and is something that needs social pressure to get corrected. In the States they say, ‘Call your congressman/woman.’

Here I have to say, ‘Get on the protest line!” Societies and countries the world over have had their share of mad men in high offices. We ourselves have had enough firsthand experience as such a young country. We have to stand together and start booting our elected officers who would trample us.

Lance Cumberbatch

Killer dogs on the loose DEAR EDITOR, For quite some time dogs of special breeds have been assigned roles of sentry, protector and defender of property and owner, and in many instances are even regarded more highly than citizens. Many of these special breeds as we know have built quite a formidable reputation, engendering a dreadful and ghastly fear that leaves onlookers transfixed.

And many victims who have been attacked were mauled to death, including children.

As I was made to understand these types of dogs and their upkeep are very costly, with a single injection being administered costing at times over $20,000 - indeed a rather lucrative business. Dogs on guard is the “go” now, and I have no qualms if this is a person’s preferred mode of protection, once these ferocious animals are kept well confined and secured within their premises safe away from the public; having fences and gates that are well reinforced and not compromised, as there have been numerous complaints of some dogs, scaling both fence and gate without difficulty.

While some species of dogs are by nature aggressively ferocious or having a killer instinct, others I am told can be so trained, and I have seen some utterly dumb things done by these tenacious creatures. To begin with owners lack any real training\knowledge about these dogs, despite the lifetime injuries

and loss of lives these animals have caused.

It is now a common and habitual practice of simpletons I must say, walking around with their prized possession unleashing fear in citizens, forcing citizens to hear their dumb, proud, and silly utterance; “don’t frighten she ain’t gon do yuh nothing”.

Sometimes you see their dogs sitting outside their gates and the owners are sitting on their verandas looking so pleasantly satisfied. I say they should enact a law forthwith prohibiting this foolishness; no one should be allowed to walk around parading these ferocious dogs unleashed and unmuzzled. I have heard about other dumb things like allowing these dogs to fight to their death with heavy stakes to be won. Stabroek News cartoonist, P. Harris once depicted a not too wise chap in foolish delight modelling his prize medal on the sea wall where a large crowd and families were having fun. In the midst of that crowd he depicted his fearsome killing machine, unmuzzled, bulging muscles, broad as a door and no leash on.

This clown, with a ton of gold around his neck, a mouth full of gold and rings on all fingers, with an idiotic smile admiring his prize; scaring the daylights out of everyone and putting them on edge - stupidity on show. This is a matter that has definitely gotten out of hand and needs urgent attention, citizens are in danger.

Frank Fyffe

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday March 22, 2017

Min. Lawrence’s justification of the $606M purchase should be rejected DEAR EDITOR, Even Joe Harmon and the Cabinet find Minister Volda Lawrence’s explanation for the $606M no-tender, solesourced $606M emergency purchase of medicines from Ansa McCal incredulous. She is being asked to make a second attempt.

This morning, she made another scandalous explanation. Clearly, Minister Lawrence and APNU+AFC are twisting like pretzel to explain another scandalous deal, as APNU+AFC sinks further into the cesspit. Who is responsible? The buck stops somewhere.

The first stop is the Minister of Public Health.

The final stop is the President. The President insists that people will be disciplined if there were wrong doings. There is no dispute anymore that there were wrongdoings.

So will Minister Lawrence be disciplined? Minister Lawrence’s first and second explanations so far are steaming garbage. Minister

Lawrence cannot be serious when she justifies the Ansa McCal contract on the basis of a donation of refrigerators worth a few hundred thousand dollars for a transaction of more than $606M with overpayment of almost $300M. It is apposite to note that for over a decade the New GPC provided warehouse space of thousands of square feet, including cold storage for free, worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Minister Lawrence for good measure defended the high prices because the supplier had to air-freight the medicines. Again this cannot justify sole-sourcing and cannot justify the absurdly inflated prices. The resort to a petty donation as justification for a $606M contract is obscene and insulting.

Minister Lawrence insists that she had to approve the contract because of the shortages of supplies and was, therefore acting in the interest of the people. But

Nurses’ exam re-sit...

From page 4 expectations. The question of accountability for nursing education also needs to be addressed, because nursing instructors may see their role as simply forwarding and dispensing knowledge, thereby neglecting the need to know how to be great educators.

The majority of nursing instructors have never been officially trained as educators.

Most have either a Masters’ degree or no graduate degree at all, just the mere nursing background and experience.

They have not undergone any formal training in how to evaluate the learning needs of students, how to develop learning tools to assist nursing students achieve satisfactory program outcomes. In addition they cannot evaluate student performance outside of an exam score, or assist students at the margin develop corrective plans to address unaccounted concepts or content.

Therein may lie the crux of the problem. Should the nursing instructors be held accountable for the student outcome? Most certainly! If nurses are held accountable for patient outcomes, then in like manner nurses in educational practice should be held accountable for student outcomes.

From hereon the nursing instructors must be made aware of their responsibilities to create lifelong learners and not just assist nurses to prepare themselves to pass a

onetime final nursing examination.

The present breach has served its purpose – it has laid bare the flaws of the entire nursing and nursing education system, although some nurses may have previously benefitted from the surreptitious behavior of the Nursing Council. Sad but true, the occurrence of certain in hospital tragedies may have its roots in the quality of nurses produced by the breach.

The entire nurse training program, nurse selection, nursing curriculum and nursing instructors must be rigidly scrutinized, evaluate and remedial measures put in place as necessary.

Those at the General Nursing Council responsible for the breach should be pursued to the full extent of the law, along with all identified accomplices. In actuality the punishment meted out should be severe enough to serve as a deterrent to others.

An entirely new body working in conjunction with the Minister and Ministry of Health should be created to overlook the nursing curriculum, the setting of the nursing examination, distribution, collection and tabulation of the results.

It is only in so doing that nursing education can have an effect on the ability of the profession to uphold and transmit its core values to provide nurses that make intelligent judgement, thereby keeping patients safe.

Yvonne Sam

these shortages have been chronic since June 2015.

These shortages did not suddenly appear. In fact, George Norton, the former Public Health Minister, this past week confessed that the Public Health Ministry has been plagued with medicine shortages since June 2015.

In early 2016, Norton had explained that the shortages had to do with the implementation of a more accountable procurement arrangement. This makes Minister Lawrence’s explanation an unholy smokescreen.

While rampant chronic shortages of medicines exist in the public health system since June 2015, the “emergency” claimed by Minister Lawrence was not driven by these shortages, but was an engineered “emergency” designed to provide “rewards” to chosen beneficiaries.

With chronic shortages, why would tenders for medicines advertised at least

five times since October 2016 delayed and cancelled, even as recently as February 2017 in the face of serious debilitating shortages?

It is because the solesourced contract for $606M worth of medicines was intentional. The “emergency” is less about responding to shortages, but rather an engineered platform for a sole-sourced contract.

The Minister identified “moles” as part of the problem. But “moles” did not cause the shortage, cancellation and delays of tenders compounded chronic shortages.

Moles did not solesourced items for an “engineered” emergency worth over $606M, the Minister approved the contract. The “moles” did not transact a corrupt deal, the GPHC and the Ministry of Public Health, part of the APNU+AFC machinery, committed a corrupt deal.

Lawrence further cast blame on rogue staff of the GPHC

and the Public Health Ministry for complicity in creating the “emergency”.

But shortages of medicines, delays and cancellation of tenders have been going on now for almost 20 months, while APNU+AFC stoutly denied shortages in Parliament and to the public.

Minister Lawrence also equated the “emergency” with the non-delivery of medicines by contractors who failed to supply medicines even though they were given contracts and paid.

She neglected to provide information about the delinquent suppliers.

There is information that certain suppliers bid low prices in 2015 and 2016, some through sole-sourced contracts and failed to deliver, seeking to renegotiate the prices. But these are not reasons for sole-sourcing, unless the Minister is now saying that only Ansa McCal is qualified to supply medicines to the Public Health system.

Unfortunately, solesourced contracts have become well-entrenched for procurement under APNU+AFC. An examination of the Ministry of Public Health 2016 budget for medicines reveal that out of the almost $2B spent only about $200M could be accounted for by publicly tendered contracts.

All the rest were from sole-sourced procurement.

Worst, the pattern fits perfectly into the “Trotman Thesis” that political donations are investments with expectations of State favors which APNU+AFC considers legitimate obligations.

APNU+AFC got caught with its hands down and it is now engaged in a game of obfuscation, deliberate lies and blaming others. This is plain and simple conspiracy, nothing less. The Guyanese people must show unreserved revulsion at the abuse of tax payers’ money.

Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

Who really is in charge of cricket administration in Berbice?

DEAR EDITOR, Allow me to respond to the two articles written by Mr. Mortimer George which was published on Februray 28th, 2017 in the Kaieteur News, and then in Kaieteur News on 1 March, 2017.

In these articles, it appears that Mr. Mortimer George either made valiant efforts to highlight issues that were more pertinent to his apparent aims of upholding the favorable image of particular members of the Berbice Cricket Board, namely Angela Haniff and company, or he has been out of touch with the realities of the existing circumstances and situations pertaining to the BCB, Angela Haniff and fellow colleagues.

Surely, one would expect Mr. George to be cognizant of principle, ethical guidelines and legal implications surrounding matters of interest to the Berbice Cricket Board, and Angela Haniff.

It is hoped that Mr. Mortimer George, would be aware that the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) is a body corporate, established under the Guyana Cricket Administration Act No. 14 of 2014; that the BCB held its last Annual General Meeting (AGM) in December, 2014.

This means that for almost three years, there has been no further AGM of the BCB, since this was last held in December, 2014.

Further, he should be cognizant that the BCB

rented an office space for decades, going way back to the days of Mr. Leslie Amsterdam. This fact becomes important, since on whose authority does the secretary has to transfer BCB asset.

On this basis, it must be acknowledged that Mrs. Angela Haniff was elected as Secretary at the said 2014 AGM, and had rightfully assumed her position.

However, individuals are not likely to concur that authority would be invested in the secretary of the BCB, to transfer previous BCB assets into her own name.

One is likely to find such a conjecture dishearteningthat a land telephone formerly assigned to the BCB would be apparently transferred to and in the name of Angela Haniff.

So discouraging is such a conceptualization that when one considers that the BCB was paying for all telephone bills; that the BCB was ill informed of s u c h a t r a n s f e r, t h a t payments were allowed to be continually made on such a transferred telephone bill, one is left to perceive the action of transfer to be highly questionable, thoroughly unfair, full of doubts and extremely discouraging.

Further, it is even more depressing when one recognizes that the lease for the BCB has been apparently unilaterally transferred. At

some stage, one must ask themselves whether, Angela Haniff and the Berbice Board are one and the same?

Certainly not! Are other executives aware of these actions? I am not.

However, Ms. Angela Haniff continues to seemingly act in ways that questions her authority to function legitimately – “for on what basis could Angela Haniff refuse direct instructions from the vice president of the BCB to prepare an asset register and to hand over asset to the BCB? On what basis or by what authority does Ms. Angela Haniff have the audacity to conduct non-administrative matters from the office space of the BCB? Certainly, by seemingly allowing the BCB to pay for office space on a lease that was transferred without the consent of the BCB executives and its members, must be deemed highly demoralizing; above it all, it is saddening to know that Ms. Angela Haniff has apparently refused to release documents belonging to the BCB, regardless of authority personnel requesting of her to do so.

Angela Haniff and her collaborates must not be allowed to autonomously act in self-centred manners, especially when there is an established structure of the Berbice Cricket Board BCB). The

disorderliness should Stop; Stop it must!

I would like to make it clear that my objective for Berbice cricket is to produce cricketers not to become popular or use the BCB to as a charity.

Mr. Mortimer George, the BCB, as per its constitution appended to the Cricket Administration Bill consists of member clubs and associations. It does not provide for individuals to be members and certainly not for life so stop masquerading.

It also reminds me that the last two presidents failed to read the Bill since their clubs are not members of the BCB, what an oversight. I look forward to correcting this situation at my first meeting.

Mr. George you need to read the entire Cricket Administration Act, not parts of it. We are in the process of conducting a financial and asset audit.

I am already aware that the BCB is broke since the GCB was approached to pay for the audit. Mr. George, you and your cohorts can continue to write letters, we will run the cricket for the benefit of the kids in Berbice.

Dhieranidranauth Somwaru 1st Vice President BCB (Elected) President (ag) BCB PresidentGuyana Umpires’ Council Headmaster- Berbice Islamic School

Wednesday March 22, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Guyanese need to know more about oil deals, benefits

By Kiana Wilburg Devastating effects can follow when a nation’s resources are mismanaged; when various forms of corruption are allowed to take the steering wheel instead of effective systems of governance.

Guyana, a resource-rich nation, has great experience in this regard. Its forestry sector is an ideal example of demonstrating what happens when checks and balances are not in place; when the nation is left in the dark about what it is getting in return for the exploitation of its resources.

With this as its premise, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) is taking a firm stance when it comes to Guyana’s looming multibillion-dollar oil and gas industry.

Members of this body insist that given Guyana’s

lessons in other sectors, Guyanese need to know more about the oil deals that are currently in place, and what the nation and its people stand to benefit.

Specifically making these points recently was the PSC Chairman, Eddie Boyer.

“Guyanese need to know what is really going on out there in that Stabroek block… how many oil companies are out there, what they are finding, how we are going to work on policing these people in ensuring that Guyanese get what they deserve for their resources, and what deals were signed between those companies and the Government of Guyana,” the businessman stated.

He added, “They (the government) should be preparing the private sector and the Guyanese people for the future that awaits them with this oil sector. We cannot

- Private Sector Commission begin to imagine the future that lies ahead of us with what is going on out there. The carbon credits, the other minerals out there…what is out there can really propel Guyana to the next level.”

Other members of the Private Sector who spoke with Kaieteur News indicated that the Government should also push to hold more seminars and programmes that would make Guyanese more aware of how they intend to handle the coming oil sector.

They also called for the speedy reform of legislation governing the oil and gas sector.

One of the ways in which the Government is preparing Guyana to properly handle the oil sector, specifically with regard to guarding against corruption, is by working

Bandit shot dead at Blygezight was “serial robber” Ray Goulding, the 32year-old man who was shot dead by a licenced firearm holder during an attempted robbery at Belvoir Court, Blygezigt Gardens, Georgetown, in the wee hours of Sunday, has been identified as a serial robber.

Yesterday, this newspaper was informed that Goulding’s name was linked to several robberies but he was never convicted.

Prior to his death, he was wanted in connection with more than six armed robberies around Georgetown, more so, in the

Stabroek market area. He was said to be a part of a gang in Agricola.

Goulding, of Diamond New Scheme, East Bank Demerara, was identified on Monday by relatives after he was shot the previous day when he attempted to rob one of three passengers in a car. The person was being dropped off in the area.

According to reports, the three friends had left the Giftland Mall, and headed to Blygezigt Gardens, where one of them resides.

It is alleged that the resident had just exited the car

and was heading to his gate when a man with a gun approached him.

On seeing this, the driver reversed, and the bandit shot in the direction of the vehicle, hitting the driver in the arm.

One of the passengers, who was armed with a licenced handgun, returned fire, hitting the bandit in the chest. He succumbed at the scene.

Police recovered a .32 pistol that allegedly belonged to the slain man, along with seven .32 spent shells and a cellular phone.

towards fast tracking Guyana’s application to be a member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

EITI is an international body which allows scrutiny of government’s records of what they receive from companies in the extractive sectors. These include oil and gas, mining and forestry, among other areas.

The body also urges for the contracts of those companies in the sector to be made public, among other measures for guarding against corruption. These disclosure requirements are expected to bring a level of transparency and accountability in the extractive sector that is practically unheard of in Guyana. The Government’s action in this regard was spurred particularly by the declaration of significant oil finds in the Stabroek block by ExxonMobil.

Should Guyana become a member of EITI, it will be required to ask all companies in the extractive sector, including Exxon Mobil, to reveal what it is paying the government, among other things.

While there are a few more stages left to go through, Guyana certainly made significant headway recently

Head of the Private Sector Commission, Eddie Boyer as it relates to its application for membership to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative with the launching of Guyana’s very own EITI Multistakeholder Group (MSG).

This is one of the requirements for Guyana to make it into the EITI fold.

Speaking to the importance of the initiative, Dr. Rudy Jadoopat, National Coordinator of Guyana’s EITI Secretariat, said that EITI brings together a number of groups. He said that these include oil and gas companies, representatives of government, local and international stakeholders and assessment management companies.

He stressed that the

objective of the EITI is to bring international and acceptable standards for transparency to the oil, gas and mining sector.

“EITI creates opportunities for the building of trust among stakeholders and indeed the community at large. Companies are required to disclose what they pay to government and the government must in turn disclose what receipts from the companies are made.”

Dr. Jadoopat added: “These figures are then compared to discover any discrepancies, and the information made public as a way to foster public scrutiny and greater accountability over natural resource profits earned by governments...”

He said, too, that Guyana has already satisfied a number of requirements.

However, there are still a few steps which need to be completed.

These include adapting the terms of reference of the MSG, determine the materiality and scope, to review and finalize a draft work plan, to prepare a communication strategy and plan for it, to review and ensure the finalization of the scoping study which was commissioned and prepared by a consulting firm etc.

The National Director assured that the Secretariat will provide support to the MSG.

PAGE 8

Wednesday March 22, 2017

Kaieteur News

Govt. finally sinks parking meter deal - police to protect vehicle owners against clampers

By Murtland Haley Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan signed a new order yesterday suspending the Parking Meter Project as of today for a period of three months. Bulkan’s order followed deliberations by Cabinet which ultimately instructed him to formally suspend the operation of the by-laws governing the parking meter project with immediate effect.

In addition, Cabinet also instructed Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan to advise the Commissioner of Police to ensure that as of today, citizens and their vehicles would receive the protection of the Guyana Police Force to prevent them and their vehicles from being unduly hindered or restrained in any way whatsoever by the Georgetown City Council and its agents.

Speaking with Kaieteur News, Minister Bulkan admitted that there was some degree of ambiguity with his initial order directing City Hall to suspend the project. However, he said that this has been cured. He added that the Council was given an order and should have acted accordingly, but failing to do so lead to Cabinet’s decision to formally suspend the project.

According to Bulkan in a subsequent statement, City Council would now be advised to inform the company, Smart City Solutions, that paid parking would be suspended. He said that the company would be invited to enter into negotiations, and at that stage, it would be up to the company to determine what its response to the new action of the government would be.

Michael Rodrigues pummelling away at the clamp affixed to his vehicle yesterday.

This order comes two days after a majority vote by the Georgetown Mayor and City Council sought to defy the advice of Minister Bulkan to suspend the project. Cabinet, two Mondays ago, had requested Bulkan to advise City Hall to suspend the project for three months to facilitate consultations with citizens of Georgetown.

Responding to the advice, Town Clerk Royston King had written Bulkan saying that the suspension would be impossible since the contract M&CC signed with Smart City Solutions does not provide for a suspension of any kind, and would result in a breach of the contract.

King told the Minister that the M&CC would not be in a position to face the legal, economic and other implications of a breach of the contract. Ultimately, King had asked for more clarity on Cabinet’s recommendation to facilitate a full discussion by the full council of the M&CC. As a result of the suspension order,

Deputy Mayor and Acting Mayor Sherod Duncan had said via a Facebook post that under his authority as Mayor, he would be calling for an extra-ordinary meeting of the council to deliberate and decide on the matter.

It was at this meeting that the council voted for more time to consider the legal implications that a suspension would attract.

Since its announcement in May 2016, several red flags were raised concerning the project. Last May, four City Council representatives - Mayor Patricia Chase-Green, Councillor Junior Garrett, Chairman of the Finance Committee Oscar Clarke and Town Clerk, Royston King. - proceeded on a due diligence trip to Mexico and Panama.

According to Chase-Green, the purpose of the trip was to determine whether the company was capable of performing the tasks which they had proposed. The company had apparently done similar projects in the two Central American states.

Continued on page 12

Wednesday March 22, 2017

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

Standing on our heads Guyana is an awesome country. Where else in the world can you pick up the newspapers and read that the procurement of $605M in medical supplies is deemed an emergency; four persons put to guard school are under investigation for stealing from that school; and the opposition is entertaining the President explaining the qualities that the Chairman of GECOM should have to be acceptable to him, when the

law makes it clear that the President is obligated to choose someone acceptable from a list submitted by the Opposition Leader.

Guyana is an upside down county. We are all standing on our heads.

But things are not as bad as they seem. We must not beat ourselves up and feel that as absurd as things get in Guyana that there are no parallels in the rest of the world.

DEM BOYS SEH...

Reports are surfacing that some persons, including famous ones, are claiming that the world is flat.

Columbus in fact left Europe in 1492 with the same preconceived idea. He did not sail off the end the world but discovered another world which he thought was part of the ancient world.

The geography of the world has since been mapped. Satellites are orbiting in outer space and projecting images back to Earth. Yet, some persons

Soulja Bai clamp City Hall balls Dem boys did warn Guyana bout dem four people who sleep wid dem hand outside dem window and cat jump it. De four was de Mare, de Town Clown, Clarky and long pocket Garrett.

When dem go to Mexico nobody in Guyana know till dem send photo posing pun de road in Mexico in front of something that look like a coffin but was a parking meter.

Dem boys believe that a small piece pass and dem come home very happy. Wha dem boys didn’t know was beside de small piece dem had a great time. Dem eat and drink a set of Tequila that mek dem sign a contract dem couldn’t even see.

When dem boys dig out

de contract dem see de Mare sign as Hammy and de Town Clown sign as King Kong from King Street by de Cathedral.

De parking meter deal was beginning to smell like Jagdeo and that is why Soulja Bai seh scrap it. Soulja Bai did send Bulkan wid a soft message asking dem to suspend de deal because it was beginning to become a burden on de business community.

Dem boys hear de Mare cuss and jump pun a plane and go way after Soulja Bai announce de parking meter scrap. Dem boys ain’t certain wheh she gone but dem know she gone looking fuh de money to pay back.

As fuh de Town Clown, he end up at Public Hospital after he collapse after hearing Soulja Bai announcement.

Nobody can find Clarky but dem see ee car by Sandy’s.

He probably gone fuh cool down or sign de lastttt contract.

Garrett gone by Herman on Lombard Street to shorten ee pocket.

Talk fuh rain or talk fuh sun, de Mare seh she was promised another big job.

She intend to tek control of GWI. After all, she and Bee Kay tun friend overnight and Dickie Van West vex.

Talk half and give Soulja Bai a pat on ee back fuh his stand on this, and not Sandra property.

have suddenly decided to question how it is that one country can be on top of another at a point in time.

They have missed the concept of gravity and forces generated by rotation and revolution of the Earth. They will want us to believe that we are not walking on our heads.

An editorial in yesterday’s Stabroek News makes us feel that some people should have their heads examined. The editorial spoke about an unnamed public official talking “rough” to subordinates. Like the man who left Europe in 1492 in search of a new route to the East, Stabroek News has made a discovery which had been in existence long before the Great Discoverer was born.

It is called verbal abuse.

It is nothing new to public administration. There are quite a few tyrants within the public bureaucracy. They let loose their venom. They do not know how to speak to their peers and to the public.

They are standing on their heads.

Their conduct is unprofessional, but many of them cannot do better. They learn what they live. They

have been brought up in an environment of verbal abuse and they feel that this is quite normal. They transpose what they experience in their homes to the public offices.

We hear a lot about domestic violence – the use of physical force against someone from the same household. Very little attention is paid to verbal abuse. But on closer examination of victims of domestic abuse, the majority of them were consistently being verbally abused by loved ones.

Verbal abuse is widespread in homes in Guyana. And it is not just the women who are victims. Men are also victims of torment and harassment within the homes. But the chief victims

of verbal abuse are children.

They are told the most cruel and hurtful things. It is therefore not surprising that when they grow up, they do the same to those over whom they have power, be it in the home or office. People have been standing on their heads for too long.

Political abuse has always been the norm in Guyana. But the greatest political abuse is not the corruption which we read about. The greatest form of political abuse is the verbal abuse to which citizens are subjected from their political leaders, abuse that takes the form of spin doctoring and fake news. It is time we stop standing on our heads.

PAGE 10

Kaieteur News

Wednesday March 22, 2017

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN...

I’m calling on the President to help this aging Amerindian fellow To say that I live in disgust of how poor people are treated in this country would be an understatement.

I believe people like President Granger, Vincent Alexander and many others, if pressed to bare their soul about the Walter Rodney/Forbes Burnham confrontation, would say that Rodney went too far in trying to remove the Burnham Government that for all intents and purposes was a pro-working class administration, therefore Rodney’s passion was misplaced.

Looking back at events long gone, we make interpretations of moments that we were not part of, therefore our conclusions are not based on experience.

I was part of the Walter Rodney landscape as a youth, and I would make the incontrovertible statement that Walter’s purpose towards Burnham was the creation of a revolution to remove Burnham.

It is when you live in the moment of the life of an episode that you embrace a perspective that the historian,

writing from a distance, cannot grasp.

I have no regrets at being part of the Walter Rodney phenomenon. I participated in Walter’s revolutionary activities because I saw wrongs committed by the Burnham regime that I could not be silent on.

The list is virtually endless. You are there inside the moment and you do have an existential choice – to rebel or not. I chose the former as did hundreds of others.

Walter lost his life in the process.

But you chose to rebel because wrongs must be righted. Yes, looking back, when we compare Burnham to every other president gone by, Burnham stands out. But Burnham stands out in the

negative sphere too. And once leaders commit violations, maybe there is no existential choice but only one choice.

This has been a long preamble to the caption above, the relevance of which is that I am admitting that if I was as young in 2017 in Guyana as when I was young during the Rodney era, maybe I would have reenacted my Rodneyite instincts. I refer readers to a KN letter yesterday by an aging Amerindian gentleman who gave his name and address.

In that sad missive, he recounted how he worked for one of the super-rich family businesses in Guyana for 32 years, only to find that over those three decades, six contributions the NIS have for him.

Is he lying? Well he gave his name and location, so he could be identified and be reached. He said there is an ongoing correspondence on his missing contributions with the NIS. He also named the Human Resource Director of the company that gave him a statement of his working status. If he is lying then the

NIS should issue a statement.

The company official should also deny what he wrote. He also pointed to four visits from the interior where he lives, to the NIS. I may be wrong, but this does not sound like a man who is out to make mischief.

If this man’s story is true that in a period lasting 32 years, only six contributions were paid on his behalf, then we have criminal action that needs to be investigated.

But there is a but.

Suppose the head of the family business did not know that the contributions were not paid, then you can’t charge him/her. But surely, the finance people in the business are culpable. Then the law has to come into play; not only the law, also the voices of Guyanese.

Can one imagine what goes through the mind of a sixty-one year-old person who gave half his life to a company, only to find that he will not get an NIS pension as he grows older?

This is not only heartbreaking, it is inhuman. Of course here comes my cynicism – who in Guyana cares about the inhuman existence in this long

Frederick Kissoon forgotten land.

So are all our radical women folk who write letters and protest with their pickets, ready to come to this gentleman’s assistance?

Are all those nice people with whom I picketed in the anti-parking meter protest willing to help this poor, Amerindian man?

I have asked you the question. Now I will ask myself the question and answer it.

Trump will be long gone from the US presidency; we will long go past the 2020 elections; people will fly in their personal drones in the next ten years; Scotland will have its Independence from the UK, and we will still wait for those voices in Guyana to help this Amerindian man.

And why is this so? Read two philosophers - Arthur Koestler and Thomas Hobbes - and you will know why.

Wednesday March 22, 2017

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

$$M sluice to be constructed at Triumph; M.V Lady Northcote for rehab During the opening of tenders at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) yesterday, contractors vied for the contract to construct a sluice at Triumph on the East Coast of Demerara, Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica).

The procuring entity is the Ministry of Agriculture through the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA). The engineer’s estimate was announced at $249.3M.

Contractors also vied for the contract to construct a new NDIA building at Onverwagt.

Tenders were opened for the provision of consultancy services for engineering/architectural design and supervision of the NDIA office building.

The Ministry of Agriculture is also the procuring entity for the provision of consultancy services for the design of a drainage and Irrigation system, and conservancy at West Watooka, Linden Region 10.

Bids were also submitted for the rehabilitation of the Number 68 Village House in the Mahaica/Mahaicony/Abary (MMA) compound at Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne).

Tenders were opened for a consultant to design, provide drawings and bills of quantities for civil works on buildings for the University of Guyana (UG).

Financial and technical proposals were submitted by: Caribbean Engineering and Management Consultants Incorporated; Calitech Incorporated; Innovative Engineering Consultancy Services; and E&A Consultants. Bid prices were not announced.

There were also tenders for the supply and delivery of two reconditioned mini-van vehicles.

The Ministry of Public Telecommunications was listed as the procuring entity. Car Care Enterprise was the sole bidder for this contract with a bid price of $4M. A tender was opened for the provision of audit services for the Audit Office of Guyana. D. Bahadur Chartered Accountants was the sole bidder for this project. Financial proposals were submitted along with the firm’s bid price.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure was announced as the procuring entity for the supply and delivery of materials for sea and river defence works. The contract was divided into three lots.

Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) was listed as the procuring entity for the construction and delivery of two water taxis. H. Dhanraj Woodworking Establishment was the sole bidder for the contract with a bid price of $14.9M. The T&HD was listed also, as the procuring entity for the docking and rehabilitation of Motor Vessel (M.V) Lady Northcote.

The Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs was listed as the procuring entity for three projects. The rehabilitation of the male and female dormitories at the Indigenous residence: Under the Agriculture Ministry, also, tenders were open for the construction of timber revetment at the Leonora intake, Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara).

>>>> Continued on page 14 <<<<

PAGE 12

Wednesday March 22, 2017

Kaieteur News

World Water Day Message

By Honourable Raphael G.C. Trotman M.P., on the occasion of World Water Day 2017, Wednesday March 22, 2017, under the theme ‘Why Waste Water?’

World Water Day is a day dedicated to focusing attention on the world’s water crisis. Elevated to a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of the United Nations, access to clean water by the world’s citizens by the year 2030 is an ambitious undertaking by the United Nations. Ambitious...but attainable.

This year’s World Water Day theme “Why Waste Water?” is in support of SDG 6.3 on improving water quality and reducing, treating and reusing wastewater.

Clean water is vital for sustainable development and for quality of life. However, too many of the world’s poorest citizens have little or no access to clean water, thereby exposing them to waterborne diseases and restricting their chances of living a life that is fulfilling and healthy.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there are over 663 million people living without a safe water supply close to home and who spend much valuable time queuing up or trekking to distant sources to access water.

Guyana should not take for granted that it is blessed with an abundance of this natural resource and we must

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman do our part to augment global efforts to combat the lack of access to clean water.

We must take a moment to appreciate what we have and to commit to its protection and sustainable utilisation for the development of our country and its citizens.

In the mining sector, our water resources are sometimes affected by gold mining operations, which can lead to mercury contamination and higher than acceptable turbidity levels.

For this reason, the Ministry of Natural Resources through its agency the Guyana Geology

and Mines Commission (GGMC) takes a strong regulatory stance against actions that can lead to mercury contamination in water, high turbidity levels or the degradation of freshwater quality.

There are also restrictions on riverbank mining, since it can lead to changes in the physical characteristics of rivers.

The Ministry of Natural Resources is always on the lookout for complaints from the various communities in the mining districts, especially as it relates to the quality of water in rivers and streams.

In response, teams are dispatched from the GGMC with support from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to investigate.

Water has many benefits, chief amongst which are its functions in ecosystems and human wellbeing. Hence, a recent announcement by the Guyana Water Inc. that a new wastewater facility is to be constructed in Georgetown is welcome news.

Continued on page 27

Govt. finally sinks parking...

From page 8 The city officials were condemned for going on the trips since it is customary in such arrangements that a due diligence inquiry into a company is done before parties sign the contract. Further investigation by this newspaper revealed that the company copied details from legitimate websites to create its own. Also, the address given by SCS proved to be false when checks were made.

Tainting the contract further, the traveling and accommodation for the officials were paid for by the company. When the M&CC was asked to release the details of the contract, both the Mayor and Town Clerk had said that the document could not be released. However, the Mayor advised that anyone wishing to see the contract would have to sit in the office of the Town Clerk and peruse the document.

When Kaieteur News reported on details of the original contract it was revealed that if City Hall wishes to unilaterally terminate the contract without the written consent of the company, the City shall pay SCS a lump sum payment equivalent to the total direct and indirect, hard and soft cost cumulative gross investment of the company in the project.

However, this cost is compounded by an additional 15 per cent of the total direct and indirect, hard and soft cost cumulative gross investment of the company in the project.

When that 15 per cent is calculated it is to be multiplied by the number of remaining years under the agreement.

The company was also given the power to begin charging at nights in areas that are high traffic spots. The enforcement activities of the project have also been heavily criticised.

The enforcement of the contract has been consistently rejected by the Movement Against Parking Meters, an apolitical group

set up to protest against the implementation of the project.

Meanwhile, small business owner Michael Rodrigues, yesterday expressed his frustration by using a sledgehammer to rip off a ‘boot’ or ‘clamp’ from the front right wheel of his Toyota Raum motor vehicle. His vehicle was parked opposite Harvey’s Furniture and Appliance Store on Regent Street.

The boot was placed on his wheel by a SCS staffer after the man refused to pay for parking. Rodrigues said that his vehicle was clamped around 11:00hrs. According to Rodrigues, he resorted to removing the clamp because he is planning to take care of himself, since it seems as though the government has left Guyanese “at the mercy of Tiberius”.

“Smart City Solutions has locked my wheel. I will be taking off those locks myself.

I don’t know what the consequences will be, but in light of the Mayor and City Council not caring, the government not caring, I myself have lost care.”

After removing the clamp from his vehicle, Rodrigues was approached by a Constable of the City Constabulary. However, the frustrated man entered his vehicle and quietly drove away.

In an invited comment, Marcel Gaskin from the MAPM said that the group is pleased with the stance taken by the government. The action by Cabinet, he said, will undoubtedly, once put into effect, bring much needed relief to the residents of Georgetown, who have suffered for weeks during the implementation of the parking meter system. He further stated that although the media release does not specify the time limit of the suspension of the by laws, the Movement will continue to work in the interim to ensure the complete revocation of the contract and by laws.

Wednesday March 22, 2017

PAGE 13

Kaieteur News

Weak policies will give officials easy access to cookie jar

By Abena RockcliffeCampbell While Guyana may be approaching its economic pinnacle, the possibility of the country ending up worse off is very much real. Experts are noting several factors that can land Guyana in the proverbial pickle. These factors range from the country not being able to secure the best possible deals from oil companies to the mismanagement of the garnered wealth and high levels of corruption.

A proven way of minimizing the possibilities of high levels of corruption is the establishment of a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF). This is a government-owned investment fund. It has been set up by many countries with oil wealth, and there are several models to choose from.

International experts have been lending advice to Guyana on how it can make the best of a SWF. Just last evening, three partners from international law firm—Arnold and Porter Kaye Scholer— facilitated a lecture on the SWF at the Marriott Guyana.

Arnold and Porter Kaye Scholer is versed in sovereign finance, corporate finance, corporate governing, etc.

The three partners— Darren Skinner, Whitney Debevoise and Gregory Harrington—focused their lecture on an introduction to

- Strong Sovereign Wealth Fund policy crucial to Guyana’s oil success — Int’l experts

Gregory Harrington

Whitney Debevoise

Darren Skinner

structure, governance and legal aspects of the SWF. Kaieteur News was able to secure an interview prior to the lecture. During the exclusive, the three experts zeroed in on how Guyana can benefit from the establishment of a SWF. They noted that it is not for them to recommend which model of the SWF is best suited for Guyana and said that Guyana will choose its model based on its objective.

However, Debevoise said that no matter the objective, governance is important. He said that good governance in this regard starts with having a clear legal framework for the fund.

Debevoise said that there are ways in which one can draft the policy to govern a

SWF leaving much ambiguity. He said that such ambiguity presents an easy opportunity for officials to take advantage of the fund for the benefits of themselves.

Therefore, said Debevoise, there needs to be a clear legal framework. He said that there needs to be clear accountability mechanisms and levels of oversight. He said that attention needs to be paid to the way in which people who are going to have responsibility for the fund are appointed, as well as the political accountability for those appointments.

He said that there is also a need for mechanisms for internal and external audits.

The expert said that it is also important to be transparent

about the volume of money coming in and about the way the money is being invested.

Debevoise said that there should be transparency in the guidelines and in the process of establishing the guidelines.

There should also be clear rules about who establishes the guidelines, how those persons are to be appointed, the format for them to report every step of the way and the process for changing or

Chase-Green acts as GWI Chair …in light of no substantive appointment Since the resignation of accountant Nigel Hinds from the post of Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Guyana Water Incorporated, there has not been a substantive appointment to the position by the Ministry of Communities.

As a result, Mayor of the City of Georgetown Patricia Chase-Green has been performing the duties of chair, ad interim. Hinds’ resignation came into effect on October 26, 2016.

During the latter part of 2016, this newspaper made calls to the office of Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Dawn Hastings-Williams and was informed by the Minister’s secretary that Hastings would not be commenting on the matter.

Earlier this year, when Managing Director of GWI, Richard Van-West Charles was asked whether he knew when a board chairman would be appointed, he said he was not in a position to say.

However, Van-West Charles did confirm that Chase-Green was performing the functions of Chairperson of the board and as a result operations of the water authority were

Mayor of Georgetown, Patricia Chase-Green moving along smoothly.

The board’s life is effective from September 1, 2015 to June 30, 2017. The other persons who were appointed at the time to sit on the board included engineer Charles Ceres, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communities, Emil McGarrel, David Dewar, Carol Joseph, Savitri Singh-Sharma, Ryan Belgrave and Samantha Fedee from the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs.

Under the previous Government, GWI fell under the Ministry of Housing and

Water. Housing, Water and the Ministry of the Local Government and Regional Development have been merged and now are all managed under the Ministry of Communities. However, according to staff members of the GWI, the water company comes under the portfolio of Minister Hastings.

Since the life of the board comes to an end in June, two months away, one may believe that the appointment of a new chairman of the board is being delayed so that a new board can be appointed, thereby filling all the positions.

When Hinds had issued his resignation letter, he told Minister Bulkan that he was not able to perform his duties in the best interest of GWI staff, GWI stakeholders and other stakeholders of GWI as a rubber stamp Chairman of GWI. He told the Minister that it was with a deep sense of regret that he is resigning from his post.

He said that despite being pleased with the faith and confidence placed in him to perform his duties as chairman, he was unable to perform his duties to the best of his ability.

amending the guidelines.

Harrington said that it is very important to have clear rules about when money can be taken out of the fund. He said that this creates discipline in terms of spending. Harrington was keen to note that successful SWFs managed by various countries have very clear rules on when you can draw down. He said the clearer the rules are, the more successful the fund is likely to be.

Agreeing with what his colleague said, Debevoise asserted that these requirements and guidelines should be on one or more instruments “but the whole package has to have these elements of transparency.”

He said that some rules can be in the authorizing legislation and some can be in separate guidelines that are to be established.

Harrington and Skinner

spoke about how bad it can be if Guyana decides not to get a SWF altogether. They noted that the SWF contributes to stability.

They said that the absence of stabilization will spell problems when the price of the commodity goes down; then there is a shortfall in the Budget.

Harrington said that the risk of not having a SWF is becoming highly dependent on a commodity price from what is an ultimately a depleting asset. He said that the idea is to take that finite depleting asset and turn it into longer term wealth. He said that there are countries that made the mistake in becoming dependent on the commodity and end up in problems especially when fixed costs have been created.

“Creating fixed expenses based on variable income is not good.”

PAGE 14

Kaieteur News The blaze that engulfed the Anna Catherina property on Monday night.

Wednesday March 22, 2017

Fire destroys unoccupied Anna Catherina house - blaze believed to be deliberately set A two-storey wooden and concrete house, believed to be owned by some overseasbased Guyanese, went up in flames late Monday night.

According to Fire Prevention Officer, Andrew Holder, the owners of the Lot ‘A’ Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara property are still unidentified.

“Nobody occupies the place, and none of the neighbours could give the names of the owner or owners,” Holder said. He explained though that the blaze is believed to have been a case of arson.

“The information reaching me suggests that the flame was deliberately set,” Holder added.

As of last evening, the fire service official could not say how exactly the fire was started, but pointed out that further investigations will most likely determine this.

Holder told Kaieteur News that the now destroyed house sits among those that form a line of unoccupied

properties.

“Nobody seems to know who owns them,” Holder added.

This would explain why passersby were unable to wake up neighbours to alert them that there was a fire.

Public spirited citizen, Craig Jacobis was driving along the Anna Catherina Public Road when he noticed the raging flames.

“It was really horrifying, and I kept honking my horns over and over, and over again, trying to wake up the neighbours, but nobody came out,” Jacobis said.

The man was unaware of the fact that stretch of houses was unoccupied.

“I keep wondering how is it that nobody ain’t waking up, because it was a very big blaze and the heat was very, very real,” Jacobis stressed.

The man was extremely annoyed at the fact that several of his calls to emergency services went unanswered.

“I keep dialling 911 over

and over again, but nobody was answering.”

Jacobis said that he began to feel an overwhelming sense of helplessness, because all he could do was stare at the brutal inferno.

“I just kept wondering in my mind if anybody was trapped in the building or so, but really and truly, there was nothing I could do. The whole building was on fire,” Jacobis related.

The man said that after several minutes of continuously failing to summon the assistance of emergency services, he decided to make a ‘U’ turn and drive to the Leonora Fire Station to get help.

“But just as I reached to Leonora, I saw the fire truck pull out of the fire station, and that was a good time after. By the time I pass back, the house was done with,” Jacobis said.

The man was relieved to have been informed that no one was hurt in the fire.

$$M sluice to be constructed at Triumph...

From page 11 Financial proposals were submitted by companies: Calitech Incorporated; and Innovative Engineering and Consultancy Services for the design and supervision of construction of a new Indigenous residence.

Finally, under the Indigenous Peoples’Affairs Ministry, tenders were opened for the supply of reconditioned mini-buses.

The Office of the Prime Minister is the procuring entity for construction of facilities at the Bartica Radio Station in Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni).

Tenders were also opened for security services for the Head Offices and Head Office locations of the Ministry of Public Health.

The Health Ministry is also the procuring entity for the provision of security services at the Linden Hospital Complex, Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice).

Wednesday March 22, 2017

Trade union movement needs urgent overhaul - GTUC President

By Brushell Blackman President of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Coretta Mc Donald, is of the firm opinion that the trade union movement in Guyana needs an urgent overhaul, since much has not changed over the years, and too many union leaders are ‘hogging’ leadership positions for too long.

Mc Donald said that the movement has gradually shifted from a position of strength to one that has been diluted, and has been declining steadily, with politics rather than assured leadership taking precedence.

In an interview with Kaieteur News yesterday, she said that the work that is being done by trade unions is a far cry from what is expected. Mc Donald is of the view that many trade union leaders are not doing enough for the people that elected them. She said while she can appreciate a person having a political affiliation, too often partisan politics gets in the way of robust activism.

“The fact that these leaders were elected indicates that there is some degree of confidence in their ability and leaders should not betray the people who are looking to them to champion their causes.

Leaders should represent their masses without fear or favour, and should divorce the politics from their positions, failing which problems will arise, as what the trade union movement is currently experiencing.

“We have some questionable leaders among us; some accede to these positions for personal reasons and personal gains, and they do not mind the workers suffering.”

Mc Donald said that on the other hand, there are leaders within the trade union movement who continue to give their all for the people they represent. She noted that while trade unionism is not a lucrative endeavour, some leaders are “fortunate” and are collecting “handsome salaries”.

The trade unionist said that there are instances where persons have designed their trade unions and their constitutions in such a way that they are allowed to hold leadership positions for life.

This, she believes, cannot be

GTUC President, Coretta Mc Donald wholesome for the future of the trade union movement, since the various leadership roles are dominated by “aged men who have been heading these unions for many decades”.

“When they were elected as leaders someone had to step aside, so why are they not stepping down to give others a chance?” She believes that this temperament by these leaders gives the impression that there is a paucity of competent persons who can accede to these positions.

Mc Donald noted that on the contrary, there are a number of intelligent and vibrant individuals that can rise to the challenge.

What is worrying, she said, is the fact that large sums are being spent to send union members on training, but it all counts for very little if there is no room for upward mobility and promotion.

On the current picketing exercise that is ongoing in front of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) headquarters, calling for the president Patrick Yarde to step down, Mc Donald said that she is in support of those individuals, and Yarde should step down.

“Everyone should laud the contribution of Mr. Yarde, because he has been a towering figure within the trade union movement, but it is time for him to pass on the mantle to someone else for the greater good and continuity of the trade union movement.”

Mc Donald went further to assert that it was not only Yarde who should call it quits, but there are a number of other aged union leaders who should step down as well.

Habits are not the product of one decision — They’re the result of repeated choices that eventually become automatic responses. How can you know your true spiritual condition? By the company you keep and the choices you make. When you’re free to go, where do you choose to go? Whose company do you prefer?

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

PAGE 16

Wednesday March 22, 2017

Kaieteur News

Nat’l Assembly to be briefed on new direction for CH&PA The recently appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Lelon Saul, has started to coordinate the information and studies that are resident within the housing authority to assist in the preparation and compilation of government’s white paper for its new housing programme.

This is according to Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan, who is expected to table the white paper, in the National Assembly very soon.

The white paper will provide the National

Assembly with a clear understanding of what the government is seeking to achieve with its new housing programme, a release from Government explained yesterday.

It will provide information pertaining to the construction techniques, the method of payment for units, mortgage arrangement for recipients and the criteria for allocation, among others.

Minister Bulkan told state media that the white paper would speak to all of the lessons that would have been learnt in the recent past.

“It would seek to take advantage of both the

successes and having identified what were the deficiencies or failure out of that past policy, it would identify what would be the strategic direction and where the government’s priority should be,” the minister explained.

The preparation of the white paper is in keeping with the new data-driven policy of outlining and planning development in the housing sector.

The minister explained that this absence of having timely and reliable data in relation to the usefulness of the inherited housing programme, resulted in

inaction of the CH&PA in 2016.

The minister explained that the previous board of the CH&PA, as part of critically reviving and evaluating the housing programme that was inherited, needed to satisfy themselves that continuation of the programme was in the best national interest.

“They do not feel compelled on the basis of business as usual and to continue the programme that was inherited and …it is not an approach that I could find fault in, because once these resources are committed and the funds are spent, it cannot be recalled,” the minister highlighted.

He noted that the extraordinary high rate of unoccupancy in many of the government schemes was reason enough for the board to question, and have a second look at the continuation of the inherited programme, and to look at having a different housing priority.

“It is a result of that examination that the resources are now on hand that they can be committed to this first phase of the construction of housing

CH&PA CEO, Lelon Saul units,” the minister pointed out.

As part of ensuring proper planning for housing development, the CH&PA recently concluded a housing profile.

The Housing Authority is also working with the InterAmerican Development Bank to support the development of a national h o u s i n g strategy, which in addition to ensuring that the housing needs of the public are properly identified, will reaffirm government’s trust and confidence that it is moving in the right direction, with regards to its national

Ministry of Communities, Ronald Bulkan housing programme, the government release said.

CH&PA is facing major problems with little lands and more than 20,000 applications on file for house lots and turn-key homes. The allocation of house lots, which formed the major part of the policy for the previous administration, virtually slowed under the current government which came in office in May 2015.

The slowdown in the housing sector has affected a number of key areas of the economy, including transportation, banking, hardware, contracting and forestry.

Recently, Government announced plans to build over 700 home units, including townhouses and duplexes, in a number of regions as part of $5B programme targeting low income earners.

CH&PA, the agency charged with overseeing housing development, is reportedly set to benefit also from lands owned by the Guyana Sugar Corporation, on the East Coast of Demerara.

Wednesday March 22, 2017

Private Sector worried about economic decline The Private Sector Commission (PSC) is worried about the fact that the main driver of the nation’s 2.6 percent growth in 2016 was the gold industry. Strip that away, and the picture that remains tells an unsettling truth—the economy is in decline.

With this in mind, the Commission is saying that the Government needs to bring an economic plan and a vision that will actually drive investment into the country.

The body said that it is also willing to help the government in this “time of trouble,” as it believes that the state of the economy is everyone’s business.

Particularly making this, among other statements recently, is the head of the Private Sector Commission, Eddie Boyer.

In an interview with this newspaper, Boyer said, “They should first look at why people are not investing.

People want to live, work, recreate, educate and study in an environment where they are free from fear and uncertainty.”

He added, “If we can’t rein in crime, nothing else matters. This is a big issue because we receive a lot of complaints from businessmen and the various Chambers around the country. Let me put it this way, even if you have significant improvement

- Says Govt. needs to bring an economic plan that actually drives investment in education, health and tourism but you do not have that improvement in the crime rate, then you wouldn’t get investment…”

Furthermore, the PSC Chairman emphasized that the business community needs to see some economic policies from the government, apart from what was inherited.

“When you look at the growth rate, gold seems to be the only leading denominator and other sectors are declining. The government’s economic policy needs to be able to change this state of affairs. Their vision needs to be able to stimulate the other industries...,” Boyer noted.

He said that the Commission is not complaining but simply saying that “this is what we have on our hands, and we need to find ways of fixing it now.”

According to the most recent Economic Bulletin prepared by the Ministry of Finance, it was noted that various sectors performed poorly.

The Economic Policy Analysis Unit noted that economic growth up to November, of 2016, was

spurred particularly by growth in the mining sector.

“While strong performances continued in the gold, diamond and quarrying industries, the agricultural sector continued to underperform. The El Niño phenomenon was partly to be blamed for the dismal performance in the rice and sugar industries during the first half of the year (2016),” the Unit noted.

It continued, “However, late planting in both industries (rice and sugar) hampered production for the second crop, and hence production for the second half of the year (2016). In the case of sugar, union strikes during the fourth quarter of the year also affected production adversely.”

The Unit added, “Further, the forestry industry continues to perform poorly as a result of a halt in the awarding of concessions.

While this has resulted in lower than expected growth in the forestry sector, these measures are important as the Government aims to reform the industry so as to benefit the nation over the mediumto-long term.”

Awareness in TIP sees more...

(From page 3) the Government has over the years demonstrated its continuous commitment to counter trafficking in human beings as well as the smuggling of migrants.

This was done through the adoption and implementation of legislation and international treaties relevant to human rights and the movement of persons across borders.

“Stakeholders from across the globe are gathered here because trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants is a global issue and efforts to combat these crimes which violates one’s basic human rights required robust, sustained intervention particularly through exchange and experiences on policy implementation and best practices among counties,” Reece pointed out.

She explained that the country has ratified the Protocol against the smuggling of migrants by land, sea and air, and the protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children, both of which supplement the United Nations Convention

against transnational organized crime.

The Ministerial Advisor told the gathering that in 2005, Guyana passed the Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act in the National Assembly which is in line with the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons.

It defines trafficking in persons as “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons by means of threat or use of force or other means of coercion, or by abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or a position of vulnerability, or by the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.”

According to Reece, in January last, the national plan of action for the prevention and response to trafficking in

persons 2017-2018 was launched. It is a comprehensive plan which focuses on “prevention, protection, prosecution and partnerships” to combat trafficking.

It includes a victim– centred and rights–based approach in assisting and protecting trafficked victims and mechanisms to ensure that victims are protected throughout law enforcement as well as methods to strengthen the judicial process to handle cases.

Training progammes for medical practitioners and police officers are constantly conducted to guide these front line officials on victim identification, referral to services, victim-centered investigations and protection of victims.

These training programmes are intended to improve the capacity of these front-line officials to handle cases.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 25

PAGE 26

SERVICES

SALON

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620

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

- Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 6471773/660-5257

VEHICLE FOR SALE

FOR SALE

VACANCY

FOR RENT

1-Leyland DAF GRR Series; excellent condition. Call: 6804101 Dwayne Stephen Auto Sales!

New Shipment of Vehicle: Rush, Blue Bird, Note, Axio, Allion. Call: 665-2330/ 6486869

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

2 Leyland Dump truck (55210), 1 Caterpillar Backhoe, owner migrating, very good condition. Call: 672-5876

Cook/Baker and Kitchen Assistant for interior location. Applicants must be experienced, for details call: 618-2020

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Lot 14 Croal & Longden Street: 4 Storey building (infront Demico). Call: 663-1876 Vreed-en-Hoop Junction: office, storage bond, lesson place, church -$20,000 per month. Call: 603-6400 Bottom flat house @ 25 North Road & Oronoque Street, fully furnished/ air condition/ residence /business.Call: 226-7012

Next to new 2013 Silver Nissan March PWW series, new magrims & new tyres – price $2.6M negotiable. Call: 660-6145 Rita

Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana passport application.

Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535.

Tractor Foreign used Massey Ferguson 165$1.7M, MF 135- $1.2M, MF 265-$2.2M, MF 165 Loader Tractor -$2.4M. Call: 6825230, 628-9596

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

2005 Tacoma from Canada $2.4M ford 150 sports -$1.6M, Ford Ranger Sports - $1.5M. Call: 682-5230, , 628-9596 Not working Vehicles: 1 Surf, 2 Pathfinders, 1 Bobcat, 3 Toyota Cars, 1 Canter, 1 Fiber glass boat.

Call: 227-4377/ 624-6013

Repairs to washers, dryers, stoves, deep fryers, control system etc. Call: 619-0793/ 699-8802 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 Singh AC Service & Refrigeration, repairing auto A/C, washer, fridge & stove @ ZZ Durban Street Wortmanville. Call: 698-7807/ 683-6741 Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigration Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496/ 662-6045 35yrs Experience Spraying and repairing all types of furniture, also floors, spindles, all different stripes.

Call: 677-6679/ 662-7965 Desmond Repair Services Fridge, AC, gas stove, microwave, washer, etc on the spot repairs –Call: (592)678-8683; 613-9181

Wednesday March 22, 2017

Kaieteur News

PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461 House & Land available for sale. Contact Pacific Development Inc @ Lot 3 Church Street, G/Town. Call: 223-6035/227-8274 Tuschen: 2 storey building, 2031 ft2 - $9.8M Negotiable.

Tel: 231-9690 (During working hrs).

Parfaite Harmonie: 2 storey building, 1245 ft2 - $9M Negotiable. Tel: 231-9690 (During working hrs).

Tain, Corentyne: 2 storey building 3309 ft2 - $8M Negotiable. Tel: 231-9690 (During working hrs).

Subryanville property for sale: 44 fifth Avenue., Subryanville, Georgetown $45M or best offer. Call Mortimer: 625-7669/ Richard: 624-1154 One Roadside, 2 storey building @ V/Hoop (ideally business/residence). Call: 614-0107

Eagle’s: Re-gas -$8,000, Washing machine repairs, Gas Stove, Plasma flat Screen & more. Call: 697-2969/6460966

Fibre-Tech 220 9192/6907.

Fiberglass, Resin materials in any quantity all for your repairs.

Great Deals on video games & all gaming consoles. PC, video games & repairs – Call: 672-2566; 265-3231 1 Big music set for sale, owner migrating.Call: 6905225 Beauty Salon equipment.

Call/whatsapp: 270-5074/ 259-3153/655-2142/616-6221 One 312 CL CAT Excavator Short Broom, owner leaving country, mint condition, 4600hrs, asking $14M. Call: 625-2685 One Diesel welding generator 4 cylinder, 16000 W, Miller welding, generator new. Call: 6994300/ 228-2734

LAND FOR SALE 1 Lot of land @ Yarrowkabra -$950,000. Call: 672-5876 Transported land for sale size 37X270 @ Coglan Dam, Vreed-en-Hoop, W.B.D. Call: 650-5644/677-9938 Transported corner lot with approved building plan @ 90 Garnett & Republic Streets, Newtown Kitty. Call: 6016000/227-3305 La Parfaite Harmonie -$1M, $1.3M (corner lot) & $1.6M, we also buy and pawn land.

Call: 233- 3006/ 658-5897/ 6511969 Uitvlugt New Scheme (100ftX50ft) -$3.5M, First Street (20ft reserve) we buy and pawn land. Call: 2333006/ 658-5897/ 651-1969 Farm (East Bank next to Herstelling) (100ftX50ft) $3.5M, We buy and pawn land. Call: 233-3006/ 658-5897/ 651-1969

Fully Setup taxi service with 16 Radio sets, location Sherriff Street.

S e r i o u s i n q u i r y o n l y.

Call:695-0704 Design & Make Aluminum windows, doors, stainless rails, showcases, rolling shutters, make & install automatic doors. Call: 2336818/677-5599/659-9999 Fox tail, palm plants 2 and 3 feet tall wholesale - $300 each. Call: 638-8858 La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.4M, $1.8M, $1.7M, Uitvlugt $2M, Diamond -$4M, Herstelling -$3.5M, Farm $6M, New Road V/Hoop $27M. Call: 604-6724 La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.4M, $1.8M, , Uitvlugt -$2M, New Road V/Hoop -$29M, Tuschen -$1.5M, House & Land @ La Parfaite Harmonie -$20M. Call: 614-6802

Accounts Clerk for Eccles, Industrial Site area knowledge of NIS, PAYE, VAT, Quickbooks. Call: 6144358 Refrigeration & Ice Machine maintenance workers age 25 & older. Call: 231-1408/ 6429191 between 8 to 1pm Earn 5k-20K daily at home.

Call: 233-6517/622-1957/ www.jobfairworldwide.com Gardener , watchman, handyman, guard – Call: 2237500 Monday – Friday 8:154:15pm, Saturday 8:15am1:15pm Experienced salesman.

Apply with handwritten application to Key Food Trading, Mc Doom Village, next to post office.

One live in domestic to work in Mahaicony River, Serious person. Call: 655-9419 1 Handyman with electrical knowledge @ Shield Intigrated Systems @ 57 Brickdam Road, to make appointments. Call: 690-6679 IT Technician to manage network at Shield Intigrated Systems at 57 Brickdam Road, to make appointment.

Call: 690-6679 High-level client care management support specialists wanted. Contact jobs@expresstruckingcorp.com or 227-6025 for inquiries Pump attendant Call: 6240033/ 680-3863 1 Company driver, 1 porter.

Call: 680-3863 1-Cook, 1 Cleaner, Customer Sales assistant. Call: 6240033

1 Bottom flat 2 bedrooms @ Diamond E.C.D – Call: 6641030/ 654-7081 Three bedrooms bottom flat @ Lamaha Gardens. Call: 2255084/ 689-6001 Fully furnished three bedrooms, top flat, opposite Georgetown Hospital School of Nursing. Call: 225-3756/ 662-0973 1 Bedroom apartment well secured for working person $35,000 monthly, light, garbage included. Call: 638-8858 Three storey 75ftX25ft building/bond. Call: 2230654/ 225-0604 Bottom flat for rent @ Diamond Scheme. Call: 6792928/678-3388 Upper flat for rent 3 bedrooms in Atlantic Gardens- Call: 2274377/227-0613/624-6013 1-One bedroom apartment located at Nurses Section, ‘C’ Field Turkeyen. Call Lisa: 697-8867 2 Bedroom Executive furnished Apartment in residential Area, close to Ogle Airport with all modern amenities.Call:622-5725/6641070

Security Guard, office clerk, bilingual person, bus driver.

Call: 638-5303/ 227-7380

Self-contained rooms in Prashad Nagar. Tel: 227-2993

CAR RENTAL

ACCOMMODATION Harmony Inn: Furnished self contained apartments & rooms from $20USD daily.

Call: 218-1400/ 694-7817

CAR RENTAL

LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj BuildingCall: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).

PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 677-7827, 6435122 ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL @YAHOO.COM AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL: PICKUP, 9-11 SEAT MIN BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPOTR & FAMILY OUTING, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807

TAXI SERVICE

PEN PAL Indian Male is seeking a serious relationship with female between age 20-30.

Call: 653-09975

GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS) TO LET Fully furnished vacation home with all amenities Call during working hours 227-1218

DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP REATES,SPECIALOFFERS FOR THE SEASON. CALL: 690-6494

Secret Villa apartments fully furnished, hot & cold water, Jacuzzi, air condition from $20USD daily. Call: 225-6337/ 266-5244/668-0306 Continued on page 27

Wednesday March 22, 2017

Kaieteur News

Stakeholders support needed to eliminate Neglected Infectious Diseases Controlling Neglected Infectious Diseases (NIDs) requires a long term, interdisciplinary, multisectoral approach that includes the collective efforts of all concerned stakeholders.

This notion was yesterday emphasized when the Vector Control Services Unit of the Ministry of Public Health held a stakeholders meeting at the Hadfield Street, Georgetown Regency Hotel.

Reading a speech on behalf of Dr. Karen Cummings, Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Samantha Kennedy, Technical Adviser to the Minister, underscored that “Guyana is still home to some NIDs which continue to have adverse effects on the lives of persons afflicted. Each individual disease is very different, but unfortunately, one person can be affected by more than one of these diseases at the same time.

Therefore, it is imperative that more effective methods be employed to suppress the spread of NIDs in Guyana.”

She moreover commended the Vector Control Services/Global Fund Malaria Programme of the Ministry of Public Health, for once again organizing this forum for stakeholder engagement on NIDs. The Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Kennedy noted, recognizes that in order to comprehensively address NIDs in Guyana, it needs to strengthen even further primary healthcare systems, as platforms for the national control programmes and capacity-building, through implementation of those programmes.

As such, the establishment of close partnerships with international donors like Global Fund, international partners like PAHO/WHO, pharmaceutical industries, communities, and nongovernmental developmental

The meeting in session yesterday. organizations is very essential.

“These stakeholders have essential roles to play in the drive towards more effective control and ultimately elimination of NIDs in Guyana,” related Dr. Kennedy.

Even as Dr. Kennedy pointed out that several factors make the elimination of NIDs within reach, she considered that some of these factors are epidemiological, technological, and historical, but the most important one is a high level of commitment from government and stakeholder partners.

“I cannot over-emphasize the point that more collaborative effort is necessary in the fight against NIDs,” said Dr. Kennedy, as she added that “the Ministry of Public Health will scale up its use of safe and effective diagnostic tools and interventions that are available for the control of each of the NIDs in Guyana.”

In addition, she noted that more effective surveillance and monitoring will be done even as an evaluation system for tracking progress on a regular basis, especially based on performance indicators, will

Prisoner takes control...

(From page 22) improvised ice pick during a fight between him and one of his co-accused. The incident occurred after the 18-year-old and four others were committed to stand trial at the High Court for the murder of Professor Pairadeau Mars.

In light of the recent attacks, Deputy Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels, had told Kaieteur News that he believes that these incidents can be eradicated, if police ranks at the court conduct routine searches on prisoners they escort.

Samuels had pointed out that prisoners leaving penitentiaries to attend court are searched with metal detectors.

However, he said that police ranks reserve the right to search prisoners, as this would be an additional layer of security.

Last year, a male prisoner who was about to enter the prison van cuffed an Assistant Superintendent of Police to the face after condemning the manner in which the officer was speaking to him.

These escalating attacks at the court have led to an increase in ranks patrolling with high-powered rifles. In an effort to tighten security, almost a dozen batons were recently distributed to ranks at the court.

also form part of the Ministry’s strategy to combat NIDs. “Ultimately, the data generated will be used for advocacy and for developing more appropriate evidence-based policies and strategies,” said Dr. Kennedy, as she added “Strengthening the integration of our national disease control programmes within our general public health systems remains important.”

Dr. Kennedy, whose remarks came at the end of the stakeholders’ forum, highlighted yesterday too, that intensified initiatives in the hinterland areas will serve as entry points for strengthening primary health care services, and provide a catalyst for health-care development. This strategy, she added, is in direct recognition that health systems appear weak in remote and border areas, where NIDs can remain undiagnosed and untreated.

She continued, “Together, we must work assiduously to narrow the inequities of access to best quality health care services in the hinterland regions.”

But according to her, preventing stigma and discrimination is a remaining challenge along with the possible social displacement

of people affected by NIDs. As such, training for health staff may be required to increase their awareness of how stigma and discrimination in communities can lead families to discourage their relatives with disfiguring diseases from attending health services, particularly if they are disabled and require assisted travel.

And since there is need for renewed efforts to eliminate NIDs to occur in ways that help bolster health systems, Dr. Kennedy assured “we are committed to ensuring that improved health services and access to drugs is accompanied by increased community awareness. Sustained advocacy, information, education, and communication will be utilized in the fight against NIDs.” According to her, in the long term, it will be important to ensure that as a Ministry, “we collaborate with stakeholders to develop community-based programmes for the rehabilitation of disabled persons and their reintegration into their communities.”

For this reason, she noted that existing partnerships will need to be strengthened and new ones created. However, Dr. Kennedy considered that gender issues will require

World Water Day...

From page 12 While the aim of such facilities is to treat wastewater from our homes, restaurants, hotels, municipal markets and businesses before it is released into the Atlantic Ocean, we can envisage a day when such facilities can treat wastewater to a stage where it is safe enough for human consumption.

The Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana will continue to take steps in ensuring that all communities have access to clean water, and through the Ministry of Natural Resources, ideas will be explored on how the country can achieve a green economy through responsible and sustainable stewardship of our natural resources including water.

A mini health check is the first step to donating blood

greater attention, particularly where women fear to attend health services because a specific diagnosis can cause them to be rejected by their families and communities.

Moreover, alliances will need to be established with community development organizations that address broader gender issues in affected communities, Dr. Kennedy announced.

“On a more positive note, intensified efforts to eliminate NIDs will surely bring us closer to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and strengthen human rights. NIDs have serious consequences, particularly because those affected experience hunger and poverty and reduced access to education and employment,” said Dr. Kennedy, as she pointed out that “WHO has noted that these diseases are central to human rights as they deal with issues related to poverty, discrimination, and stigma as well as the right to health.”

In achieving the goal of ridding Guyana of NIDs, Dr. Kennedy stressed that “a lot of work needs to be done and it requires the collective efforts…Strike a decisive blow against NIDs and improve thousands of Guyanese lives,” she confidently asserted.

Among the NIDs that Guyana is currently battling are chagas disease, soil transmitted helminthes, leishmaniasis, lymphatic filariasis and leprosy.

The NIDs stakeholder meeting represents an annual initiative to solicit the support in the quest to build and foster relationships to raise awareness.

PAGE 27

From page 26

WANTED One driver/porter from Diamond, Grove area. Call: 2161043, 677-6620 One shop assistant to work in the Interior, must have experienced. Call: 678-0565 Female worker wanted sound secondary education, computer literate-Tel: 6225518 Farm Workers, preferably couple. Call: 265-3586 (8:00am-4:00pm, Mon- Sat) Live-in domestic must know to cook Indian Dishes $80,000 monthly, boarding & lodging free 25-40yrs – Call: 610-5043 Live in or live out waitress.

Call: 643-9007/ 666-4647 Urgently needed investor to invest in gold purchasing in the Interior. Call: 658-7553 Female between age 35-50 to c a r e f o r a e l d e r l y person, A.S.A.P – Call: 692-1300 Responsible Hire Car Drivers. Call: 231-7200 Driver for water truck, preferably on the E.B.D- Call/ Whatsapp: 682-1048 Live in female supervisor with secondary education @ bar shop 25-35yrs, waitress, salary $80,000 monthly. Call: 610-3974 Wanted land to buy at: Tuschen, Uitvlugt, Zeelugt, La Parfaite Harmonie, Eccles, Providence, Herstelling. We Pay Cash. Call: 614-6802

WANTED One maid and one handy man. Attractive salary. Call 226-1324 ONLY from 9am 11am.

HEALTH Dietitian’s Clinic: dietary counseling for all disease conditions, BMI check, blood pressure testing etc.

Call: 231-9335, 699-7083 Have your health checked through iridology- Monday April 3. Call Hazel’s Herbal Store: 226-9136

We buy land in Eccles, Herstelling, Farm, Zeelugt, Bartica & Florida, all legal fees paid. Call: 233-3006/ 6585897/651-1969 Pawn your land for up to $1M, Only in Eccles, Herstelling, Farm, Zeelugt, Bartica. Call: 233-3006/6585897/651-1969 Get up to $5M for your land in Eccles, Providence, and Herstelling. Call: 233-3006/ 658-5897/ 651-1969 General service mechanics to work in the interior with a mining company. Must be capable of servicing dredges and excavators. Call 2237165. Attractive salary.

Experienced excavator operators. Good salary.

Call 223-7165

PAGE 28

Wednesday March 22, 2017

Kaieteur News

Body of unidentified man found in trench The body of an unidentified man was discovered yesterday morning in a trench along Woolford Avenue, opposite the Richard Ishmael Secondary School.

The body, clad in a black jersey and short pants, was discovered by a staffer at the school, who only started working at the facility yesterday.

Kaieteur News understands that the woman was about to park her vehicle at the side of the roadway, next to the trench, when she observed an object floating in the water.

Upon closer examination, it was discovered that it was the body of a male, of African descent.

The police were subsequently called in to

South Korea’s Park goes home after 14-hour interrogation in graft probe

The body at the side of the trench yesterday. investigate.

When undertakers arrived at the scene, the body was fished out of the trench

and examined by investigators.

No marks of violence were found.

Year on from bombings, Brussels remains on alert

(Reuters) Ousted South Korean President Park Geunhye left prosecutors’ offices early on Wednesday after being questioned in an investigation into a corruption scandal that ended her presidency this month.

Park did not respond to reporters’ questions as she emerged from the building after nearly 22 hours and entered a waiting car to be driven to her private home.

Prosecutors questioned Park as a criminal suspect for the first time since the Constitutional Court on March 10 upheld her December impeachment by parliament.

Park is accused of colluding with a friend, Choi Soon-sil, to pressure big businesses to donate to two foundations set up to back the president’s policy initiatives.

She and Choi have denied wrongdoing.

Prosecutors declined to comment on Tuesday whether Park would be called back for more questioning or whether they will seek an arrest warrant from the court to detain her.

They did not discuss the details of the questions but said Park was responding well to the investigation.

Park, 65, became South Korea’s first democratically elected president to be removed from office when the Constitutional Court on March 10 upheld her impeachment.

She issued a brief statement upon arriving at the prosecutors’ office on Tuesday, her first public remark since being removed from office.

The questioning lasted

South Korea’s ousted leader Park Geun-hye 14 hours until just before midnight, one of her lawyers, Sohn Bum-gyu, told reporters.

North Korea has no fear of U.S. sanctions move, will pursue nuclear arms – envoy

People take part in a rally called ‘’The march against the fear, Tous Ensemble, Samen Een, All Together’’ in memory for the victims of bomb attacks in Brussels metro and Brussels international airport of Zaventem, in Brussels, Belgium (Reuters) A year after Islamic State suicide bombers killed 32 people in Brussels, Belgian authorities say much remains unclear about who ordered the attacks, even if those who staged them are either dead or in jail.

The March 22 bloodshed in Brussels hit Zaventem airport and a metro train, four months after bombings and shootings in Paris that killed 130 people. Both sets of attacks were carried out by related cells of young Muslims, some of whom had returned from fighting in Syria.

Since then, Belgium has remained on high alert as it tries to curtail threats both at home and from militants who may return from the Middle East.

“We will only have certainty when the situation in Syria and Iraq is resolved,” one senior official said of the inquiries into the Brussels attacks. Those two countries have attracted over 400 Bel-

gians to join the ranks of Islamist militants, according to a study by the Hague-based International Centre for Counter-Terrorism.

That figure makes Belgium one of the biggest contributors to foreign jihadists in the Middle East in proportion to its population.

As the Belgian capital prepares to mark Wednesday’s anniversary with ceremonies timed to the moment the bombers struck, authorities are still unsure just who in the IS group organized and ordered the attacks, even though 59 people are in custody and 60 on bail.

Asked about the perpetrators, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel told Reuters the investigation was still not completed but added there was little doubt about the ideology inspiring the killings.

“The attacks are inspired

by IS, they are inspired by a totalitarian ideology that aims to destroy European values,”

Michel said. “We need to fight this ideology with full determination.”

The most recent arrest was in January, of a man suspected of providing forged identity papers to Khalid El Bakraoui, the 27-year-old suicide bomber who killed 16 people on a train at the downtown Maelbeek metro station.

With soldiers still a permanent presence around Brussels’ transportation hubs, security officials told reporters in briefings ahead of the anniversary that there was still a risk that armed militants were still at large.

For Belgian security services, some communities can remain hard to penetrate, such as the tight-knit Muslim neighborhood of Molenbeek where the prime suspect of the Paris attacks, Salah Abdeslam, hid near his family home for four months. His arrest triggered his associates to strike Brussels four days later.

(Reuters) North Korea has nothing to fear from any U.S. move to broaden sanctions aimed at cutting it off from the global financial system and will pursue “acceleration” of its nuclear and missile programs, a North Korean envoy told Reuters on Tuesday.

This includes developing a “pre-emptive first strike capability” and an inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM), said Choe Myong Nam, deputy ambassador at the North Korean mission to the United Nations in Geneva.

Reuters, quoting a senior U.S. official in Washington, reported on Monday that the Trump administration is considering sweeping sanctions as part of a broad review of measures to counter North Korea’s nuclear and missile threat.

“I think this is stemming from the visit by the Secre-

tary of State (Rex Tillerson) to Japan, South Korea and China...We of course are not afraid of any act like that,” Choe told Reuters.

“Even prohibition of the international transactions system, the global financial system, this kind of thing is part of their system that will not frighten us or make any difference.”

He called existing sanctions “heinous and inhumane”.

North Korea has been under sanctions for “half a century” but the communist state survives by placing an emphasis on juche or “selfsufficiency”, he said. His country wants a forum set up to examine the “legality and legitimacy of the sanctions regime”.

He denounced joint annual military exercises currently being carried out by the United States and South Ko-

rea on the divided peninsula and criticized remarks by Tillerson during his talks with regional allies last week.

“All he was talking about is for the United States to take military actions on DPRK,” Choe said, using the acronym for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

North Korea rejects claims by Washington and Seoul that the military drills are defensive. They involve strategic nuclear bombers and a nuclear submarine, Columbus, that recently entered South Korean ports, he said.

“In the light of such huge military forces involved in the joint military exercises, we have no other choice but to continue with our full acceleration of the nuclear programs and missile programs.

It is because of these hostile activities on the part of the United States and South Korea.”

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watched the ground jet test of a Korean-style high-thrust engine newly developed by the Academy of the National Defence Science

Wednesday March 22, 2017

Media group expresses concerns over new cybercrimes legislation KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) Tuesday expressed concerns about aspects of the Cybercrimes Act that deal with “malicious communication”.

In a statement, the PAJ said that w the Defamation Act 2013 repealed criminal defamation and Jamaica was hailed for this significant legislative advance by groups like the International Press Institute (IPI).

It said freedom of expression is a fundamental right that, like many others, is subject to restrictions.

“Those restrictions include the law of defamation to protect the reputations of others. These are matters for the civil courts. Restrictions are also often placed by criminal law on types of speech that incite violence, or are threatening in nature, for example.”

But the PAJ noted that criminal defamation laws that penalise statements that injure reputation are understood by freedom of expression advocates all over the world to be an enemy of freedom of expression, to have a chilling effect on free speech, and to facilitate the repression of criticism by governments.

The PAJ said that when Jamaica’s Cybercrimes Act was being reviewed, representatives from the police and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions recommended the inclusion of cyber defamation as an offence.

But the media group said that together with the Media Association of Jamaica (MAJ) they “strongly opposed” the move adding “ we were of the clear understanding that the Joint Select Committee reviewing the legislation fully appreciated the negative consequences of attempting to reintroduce criminal defamation, albeit to apply in cyberspace.

“Indeed, on the face of it, section 9 does not appear to allow for charges for statements that may be defamatory.”

PAJ said that recent arrests by the police, on the facts available, make it appear that the police are interpreting the legislation as having re-introduced criminal defamation by the back door.

It said that the section states that a person commits an offence if that person uses a computer to send to another person any data -whether in the form of a message or otherwise- that is obscene, constitutes a threat or is menacing in nature and with the intention to harass any person or cause harm or the apprehension of harm to any person or property….”

The media group said that the penalty in a Parish Court can be a fine of up to four million Jamaican dollars (One Jamaican dollar =US$0.008 cents) or four years imprisonment, or five million dollars or five years in jail in the case of a second offence or if “damage” is

caused.

“Before the Circuit Court the penalty is a fine and imprisonment for up to 10 years, or up to 15 years if “damage” is caused, or the penalty is up to 20 years in the case of a second offence.”

The PAJ recalled that in one recent case, the Ministry of National Security reported that a woman was charged under the section after she “posted pictures in social media claiming that her ex-boyfriend is wanted for rape, assault and murder.”

In another case, a women’s rights advocate was arrested after posting on social media sites the names of persons alleged to have carried out various sexual assaults.

“The allegations in each case relate to what would, offline, be matters for the civil courts through the law on defamation, and could not be subject to any criminal charge.

These cases are before the courts, which will decide whether the offence detailed in section 9 is made out in these specific cases.

It said this will entail arrested persons being exposed to the trauma of arrest, and force them to spend time, and perhaps significant sums of money to defend themselves.

“Making arrests for what are essentially matters for the civil courts places Jamaica on a steep, slippery slope where freedom of expression is at risk. We do not believe this was the intention of the legislature.

St. Lucia clamping down on illegal workers CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – The St. Lucia government Tuesday said it had embarked on a drive to clamp down on foreign nationals working here illegally.

“It has been brought to the attention of the Labour Department, that there are individuals employed at various organizations here without a valid work permit. The country`s Labour legislation mandates that overseas nationals desirous of employment in St. Lucia, must first obtain a work permit or exemption where applicable,” the Ministry of Labour said in a statement.

It warned local employers of employing foreigners who do not have the necessary

documents to work here and quoted Labour Minister Stephenson King as saying that “this notification serves as a warning to employers and employees engaged in illegal employment.

“The laws of St. Lucia are clear when it comes to employment, we want people to adhere to the laws or face the penalties” said King.

The Minister of Labour said that the ongoing drive is targeted at people who do not have the necessary documentation and that employers and or employees who are currently in contravention of the law are asked to visit the Labour Department to regularize their employment status urgently.

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Kaieteur News

“Failure to comply will result in the case being passes on to the Immigration Department for full enforcement of the law.

“Employers and employees should note that a foreign national who engages in occupation in St. Lucia or is employed in St. Lucia in contravention of the law is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding EC$5,000 (One EC dollar =US$0.37 cents) or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or both.

“Should the offence continue, the convicted is liable to a further fine not exceeding EC$500 for each day the offence continues and or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years.”

Demonstration after reports of an attempt on the life of former president Aristide

PORTAU PRINCE, Haiti, CMC – Supporters of former president Jean Bertrand Aristide staged a protest here late Monday after reports emerged that he had survived an assassination attempt.

“Aristide is unscathed, but a security guard was injured and at least one Lavalas sympathizer,” said a member of the board of Famni Lavalas, the political party to which Aristide is affiliated.

Police have not yet commented on the incident, but Aristide’s attorney, Ira Kurzban, said that the attack

took place as the former Roman Catholic priest who served as head of state on three occasions between 1991 and 2004, was returning to his vehicle after having appeared as a witness.

The 63-year-old Aristide had been summoned to appear before investigating judge Jean Wilner Morin, who is probing allegations of money laundering involving the former commissioner of police, Jean Anthony Nazaire.

“Shots were fired directly at the vehicle in which President Aristide was,” said

IKurzban, the Miami-based lawyer, who is representing Aristide.

The attorney said there was blood on the front bumper of the vehicle.

Another of Aristide’s lawyer, Mario Joseph said the incident was an “assassination attempt” on the life of the former president who was ousted from office in 2004 and later went into exile in South Africa.

As news of the incident spread in the Haitian capital, supporters took to the streets clashing with police officers.

PAGE 30

Kaieteur News

Wednesday March 22, 2017

City Hall’s delay on parking meter suspension unfortunate – Former Local Govt. Minister The decision by the Full Council of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council not to heed the direction of Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan to suspend the parking meter by-laws, has been described as ‘unfortunate’ by former Local Government Minister Ganga Persaud.

Speaking with Kaieteur News yesterday, Persaud said that Minister Bulkan acted appropriately and in the spirit of the law which empowers him to direct City Hall to suspend the enforcement of the by-laws for the suggested three-month period.

He said that the suspension of the by-laws would render all activities which the by-laws govern, illegal. According to Persaud, Bulkan’s order calls for a suspension for a definite period, this means that after the time expires, the project will be enforced once again.

However, he said that if Bulkan had pulled his approval of the by-laws completely or for an indefinite period, it would mean that City Hall would have to re-submit by-laws for the Minister to approve.

Persaud added that the by-laws can only be approved by the Minister, and likewise, he alone has the power to suspend them. He said that Bulkan has the right to order the suspension if there are issues which he believes he needs further information on before proceeding with the project.

Bulkan in his order made under the Municipal and District Councils Act (Cap. 28:01) described the order as the Georgetown Metered Parking (Suspension) Order 2017.

The Communities Minister declared that the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown are in default of their functions with respect to the Georgetown Metered Parking by-laws. He directed the Mayor and Councillors to suspend the Georgetown Metered Parking by-laws for three months which should have commenced last Friday.

At an Extraordinary Statutory meeting held on Monday last, 18 councillors of the M&CC decided that they should be given more time to study the legal implications which a suspension of the metered parking by-laws would invite.

It was expected that with the majority of the councillors

Former Local Government Minister, Ganga Persaud being politically aligned to A Partnership for National Unity, that the council would have decided in favour of Bulkan’s order.

The order issued by the Minister followed the request of Cabinet that the M&CC be advised by Bulkan to halt the project for three months to allow for thorough consultation with citizens of Georgetown and wider Guyana concerning the implementation of the project.

At the extraordinary meeting, a legal opinion on the matter prepared by Attorneyat-Law, Roger Yearwood was circulated to the councillors.

In that document, the lawyer said that Bulkan’s order was null and void, since nowhere in the Act permits the Minister to direct the council to suspend any contract or bylaw.

According to Yearwood, if the Council were to accede to the mandate of the Minister, it would be the act of the council which will effectively suspend the by-laws and not the order of the Minister.

As such, the Attorney said that this would necessarily leave the council susceptible to a claim for breach of contract by Smart City Solutions.

It is believed that the wording of Minister Bulkan’s order with the use of the word ‘direct’ is putting the ball in the court of the M&CC to call for the suspension of the bylaws and not Bulkan using his power to suspend them himself.

However, after perusing Section 306 (2) of the Municipal and District Councils Act (Cap. 28:01), the Minister can issue a second order making it clear that the by-laws are suspended and not leaving it up to the M&CC to make the call. The section reads, “The Minister may by a subsequent order, vary any directions contained in an order made under subsection (1).”

Wednesday March 22, 2017

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday March 22, 2017

Wednesday March 22, 2017

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Disgusted by that Somwaru... Head Coach pleased with Jaguars’...

(From page 32) senior official from Georgetown asked on numerous occasions that Angela Haniff be removed as Secretary of the Berbice Cricket Board before funding will be restored to the Berbice Cricket Board. e) Why did you sign as the Secretary of the Chesney Cricket Club when you are not even a Member of that Club on the Request for Special Meeting by Clubs to Ms. Angela Haniff, Secretary, Berbice Cricket Club. f) You are not the Head Teacher of the Berbice Islamic School. Why did you sign as the Head Master? Did you forget to inform the author of the letter that you have resigned that position

many years ago? g) Why are the two persons who filed an Injunction against the Anil Beharry’s Berbice Cricket Board Administration, which you were a part of in March 2015, are assisting you with the drafting of letters and also assisting you to serve letters on behalf of the Berbice Cricket Board to person you felt may be against your idea of development of cricket in Berbice. You have become buddies. h) You stated that you are in the business of producing cricketers not getting popular. Can you please provide an example of a player you have played a major role in developing his career. What have been your contributions

to the development of Cricket in “Chesney”, the Club you claim to represent? i) You signed as President of the Guyana Cricket Umpires Association. How has the Association benefitted from your leadership and why no Berbice Umpires have been promoted in the ranks despite umpire Imran Moakan is among the best in Guyana.

My hands are clean; I have served Berbice Cricket to the best of my ability and can never be accused of corruption. I refused to be a puppet for anyone. My policy in serving any organisation is “Not what I can gain from an Organisation but what I can put into it”.

Yours in Sports, Angela Haniff.

Wednesday March 15, 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You have a tendency to think that no one else will do things properly. You should be traveling to that exotic destination you've been dreaming about. Get involved in the activities of children.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) It might be time to do some of those chores at home. Take the time to help old friends or relatives who have had a stroke of bad luck.

You could be blind to the defects of those you love.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You're eager to learn. Your practical approach to life may charm someone who has been observing you.

You can prosper if you invest in property or mutual funds.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Don't volunteer private information about yourself unless you're prepared to be talked about behind your back. Problems with your mate will develop if you don't let them have their way. Let your lover know what your personal intentions are.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Trips will be more than adventurous. Your lover may cost you financially. Romantic opportunities will develop through friends or relatives.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Matters pertaining to work must be completed before you leave. Try to be honest when dealing with your mate. You are best

not to discuss your personal life with others.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Your domestic scene could continue to be in an uproar today. Emotional disputes will only end in sorrow. You may come down with minor infections if you have allowed yourself to get rundown.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Put your energy into home renovations. Think twice before you speak. Empty promises will cause confusion.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Upgrading at this point is not a bad plan. Avoid any hassles. Concentrate on work or make changes to yourself.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Your flair for dramatic appeal will unleash itself at social functions. You can meet friends who will let you know how valuable you are.

You won't get the reaction you want from your mate today.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) It's time to consider putting money into long-term investments. You should be able to tie up loose ends today. Be inquisitive about unfamiliar circumstances.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Travel will stimulate your need to experience exciting new things.

A second chance will result in good work. You will be in the mood for competition, and your ability to lead a group will bring you popularity.

(From page 39) charges to work a bit harder on their ground fielding. “(Devendra) Bishoo did not bowl well in this game but we all know his capabilities and what he can do. I am confident that he will step up in Barbados especially since Permaul will not be there and he will be expected to do more work with the ball,” revealed Crandon.

“Remember that our fastest and best bowler is out with a knee injury and will be badly missed but his absence gives another young fast bowler an opportunity,” added Crandon, Guyana’s most successful First-Class Coach, speaking of West Indies ‘A’ team pacer Keon

Joseph who has 24 wickets this season including 7-53 against Jamaica.

Joseph has been replaced by fellow Berbician Clinton Pestano who arrived here last Saturday.

Crandon confirmed Shiv Chanderpaul will play in Barbados after missing this game to travel to the USA for personal reasons and was high in praise for the Captaincy of Leon Johnson.

“While Leon is going through a bit of a tough time with the bat I believe that one big score will put him back on track. There is no questioning his ability and he has another six possible innings to be among the leading scorers in this tournament,” Crandon

2028 Games not an option...

(From page 37) centre remaining to be constructed.

With photographs of abandoned and decaying venues from last year’s Rio de Janeiro Games already doing the rounds, Estanguet promised that there would be no ‘white elephants’ left after a Paris Games.

He said the city would also be a safe option for the IOC, both in terms of the organisation and security despite a series of militant Islamist attacks over the past two years in which more than 230 people have been killed.

“Of course we will maintain the safety of the Games,” he said, referring to last year’s European soccer championship in France. “We proved recently that we are com-

pletely able to organise strong international events with total security.

“We want to have security and we have the expertise in France at the moment.

There is no question about our ability to maintain safety during the Games.”

Asked how confident he was of Paris’s eventual success, Estanguet said it would be a case of fighting right down to the last minute.

opined.

The last time Guyana lost a game was six games ago when they lost to the Leewards in St Kitts in the first half of the season and Johnson has joined Clive Lloyd, Roger Harper and Carl Hooper as Guyana Captains with two titles and the only Skipper to win back-to-back titles.

Guyana are three matches away from winning a hat-trick of titles and Crandon was high in praise of his Captain.

“Leon continues to lead the team very well and a tremendous knowledge of the game, his players and the players around the Region.

Leon is a very intelligent leader and to my mind the best Captain in the Region,” Crandon concluded.

Team spirit is very high and the young guns have settled in nicely and confidence in the camp seems high going into Thursday’s game in Barbados.

Most of the players celebrated their victory with a ‘lime’ at their Hotel on Monday night, organised by former Berbice all-rounder Luke Latiff and his Trinidadian wife. The Jaguars departed for Barbados yesterday.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 34

Wednesday March 22, 2017

UKAD alarmed by drug use Letter to the Sports Editor in British amateur sport Disgusted by that Somwaru letter Cyclists compete at an amateur race meet in south London May 5, 2012.

(REUTERS/Toby Melville)

(Reuters) Drug use in amateur sport in Britain is ‘fast becoming a crisis’, UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) said yesterday in re s p o n s e to a BBC poll that revealed widespread use of performance enhancing substances at grassroot levels.

Some 35 percent of the 1,025 adult men and women members of amateur sports clubs, teams and gyms who were polled said they

personally knew someone who had doped, and eight percent had taken steroids.

Half felt the use of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) was widespread among those who played competitive sport and 49 percent thought drugs were easily available.

The online poll was carried out by ComRes between Jan 27-31, 2017.

“The figures as regards the prevalence of

performance-enhancing substances at an amateur level are incredibly alarming,” UKAD chief Nicole Sapstead told the BBC. “I don’t think any sport can say that they don’t have a problem at an amateur level.”

Sapstead said UKAD needed greater powers and extra cash from individual sports governing bodies to “ad d r es s w h at is f as t becoming a crisis for sport”.

Warriors, Timberwolves to play two preseason games in China (Reuters) Two-times reigning Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors are headed to China for two preseason games against the Minnesota Timberwolves in October, the NBA said on Monday.

The teams will play Oct. 5 in Shenzhen at the Shenzhen Universiade

Center, followed by a contest in Shanghai at the MercedesBenz Arena on Oct. 8, the league said in a statement.

The games will mark the Warriors’ third trip to China following visits in 2008 and 2013, while the Timberwolves will be playing in China for the first time.

“I have visited China every year since 2013, and

the fans there are incredibly supportive of me, the Warriors and the NBA,” Curry said in a statement.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to return to China, enjoy the country’s culture, and bring the excitement of live NBA games directly to Chinese fans.”

The Warriors, who won the NBA championship in 2015 and came one win short of a repeat last year, currently lead the NBA with a 55-14 record.

Minnesota, whose roster features the last two rookie of the year winners in KarlAnthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins, are 28-41 and five games back of the final Western Conference playoff spot.

Dear Sir, It is with total disgust that I have decided to respond to a letter that appeared in your newspaper on Saturday 18th March, 2017. The letter was signed by D. Somwaru and was a response to letters written by Mortimer George about the current situation affecting Berbice Cricket.

The response was a libelous attack on me by a man who I had worked with for a number of years and his main intention was to destroy and tarnish my reputation among the unsuspecting and uninformed general public.

My name was mentioned over half a dozen times in the letter which was supposed to be a response to Mr. George’s letter which questioned Mr. Somwaru’s motive to elevate himself to the Presidency of the Berbice Cricket Board when an Injunction was granted against the Executive members of the Board by a High Court Judge in March, 2015.

I have no personal problem with Mr. Somwaru and as such was totally shocked that he accused me of changing the Berbice Cricket Board’s office lease and to transfer the telephone service in my name. I would like to publicly state that the GTT telephone service is still in the Board’s name and same was never changed to my name. That Berbice Cricket Board paid the telephone charges in January, 2017. After I realised that Mr. Somwaru was not communicating with me I was in the process of sending out letters to changes the Executives and I

continued paying the bills on behalf of the Berbice Cricket Board onto the 15th March, 2017.

Concerning the lease for the Berbice Cricket Board, the landlord of the building has informed me that he never had a lease agreement with the Berbice Cricket Board but rather a verbal month to month agreement over the years with the rental being paid at the end of the month by the treasurer. The landlord, who could be contacted via phone, gave notice to me in my capacity as the Secretary of the Berbice Cricket Board to vacate and give up possession of the concrete building on or before the 1st February, 2017. He wanted possession for his own use.

Having knowledge and not wanting to be involved in the politics of cricket in Guyana, he approached me and asked what I would do if the situation got worse and possession is given up. I then told him that I want to do my own business; he asked me if I am interested in renting the building to conduct my typing and computer business. I accepted his offer and together we agreed and have decided to enter into an Agreement of Tenancy with an increase on the monthly rental of the building from the month of February, 2017.

I am so delighted that Mr. Somwaru has suddenly showed great interest in the development of Berbice Cricket. He should not be attacking anyone who has worked beyond the call of duty lifting the standard of the game. The last two Presidents of the Berbice

Cricket Board should be very proud of their contributions because together they have so much to be proud of. Every cricketer in Berbice would know that during the period 2007 to 2015, Berbice Cricket was at its best and was spearheaded by individuals like Keith Foster, Anil Beharry, Carl Moore, Hubern Evans, Hilbert Foster, Malcolm Peters, Romesh Munna, Shabeer Baksh, Albert Smith and Robby Saywack among others.

To my knowledge, no one has ever used the Board in the past or now to make themselves popular or to enrich themselves and it is a shock that Somwaru would make such allegations against hard working administrators. The development that took place in Berbice during that period is unmatched across Guyana and as Berbicians we should be very proud of all our achievements.

In closing, I would like Mr. Somwaru to answer these questions for all Berbicians: a) Why you did not answer any of the facts stated

by Mr. George in his letter, instead you chose to attack me personally. b) Isn’t it true that your letter to the Editor was sent from an email account of a female employee of the Guyana Cricket Board? c) Did you write the letter yourself or was it penned by the author of destruction of Guyana’s cricket. d) Isn’t it true that a (Continued on page 31)

Kaieteur News

Wednesday March 22, 2017

Puerto Rico reach Classic final with win over Netherlands

Puerto Rico right fielder Eddie Rosario (17), first baseman T.J. Rivera (5) and third baseman Carlos Correa (1) celebrate the 4-3 victory against Netherlands during the 2017 World Baseball Classic at Dodger Stadium. Gary A. (Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)

(Reuters) Puerto Rico made it to their second straight World Baseball Classic final on Monday with a 4-3 extra-innings win over the Netherlands at Dodger Stadium.

Eddie Rosario’s sacrifice fly drove in Carlos Correa in the bottom of the 11th inning to seal the semifinal triumph and set up a decider against the United States or Japan, who square off in the other semi on Tuesday.

“We want to win it all, that’s our goal,” Correa said after scoring the winning run. “This is one of the best moments of my baseball career so far.

“Doing it for my country

means everything to me.”

Correa opened the inning at second base and Enrique Hernandez was placed at first in a game played under international tiebreaker rules.

Yadier Molina’s sacrifice bunt moved the runners before Javier Baez was intentionally walked by Loek Van Mil (0-1).

Rosario hit the first pitch to send Puerto Rico to the title game for the second consecutive tournament after they fell to the Dominican Republic in 2013.

“Unfortunately, (the last time) didn’t go our way.

(But), the fact that we were able to get this win today, I

know Puerto Rico is celebrating and we’re excited for them,” said Carlos Beltran.

“The future is so bright for Puerto Rico.”

Netherlands outfielder Wladimir Balentien gave his team a 2-0 lead in the opening inning with a tworun homer off right-hander Jorge Lopez.

Correa responded for Puerto Rico in the bottom of the first with his third homer of the tournament to tie the score at 2-2.

T.J. Rivera gave Puerto Rico a 3-2 lead with a solo homer in the second inning, but the Netherlands tied it in the fifth on an RBI double from Shawn Zarraga.

PAGE 35

GCB/DMLAS/MOE/NSSCL Combined Phase

North Georgetown to do battle with Rest of Georgetown on Saturday 25 Georgetown Combined compete with Mahaicony-East Coast on Sunday 26 The Guyana Cricket Board/Demerara Mutual Life Assurance Society/ Ministry Of Education/ National Secondary School Cricket League, will on Saturday 25 March, 2017, witness North Georgetown Combined taking on the Rest of Georgetown (players from South and East Georgetown) at the Ogle Community Centre in a 50 Overs aside match, from 09:30 hours.

This match was previously schedule for today at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground but had to be rescheduled due to the unfavorable

playing condition of the GCC ground, which has been hampered due to heavy rainfall over the past two days.

On the conclusion of the G e o rg e t o w n m a t c h , a Georgetown Combined District team will be selected to play Mahaicony-East Coast at the said Ogle venue on Sunday 26 March, 2017 from 09:30 hours.

North Georgetown X1 will come from: Alphius Bookie, Aren Beharry, Amel Tilku (Christ Church), Juspice Jones, Joshua Gardener (Richard Ishmael), Ashmead Nedd, Lester Cupidor, Sachin

Singh, Dwayne Dick, Garrick Persaud, Orande Chase, Kadeem Parris, Trevon Eddwards, Tyresse Prescod, Tai-rlys Payne, Tyrese Craward, Shalom Paulis and Lose Blair (Chase Academy).

Rest of Georgetown (South-East Georgetown) X1 will come from: Carlos Pollard, Dequan Bamfield, Qumar Torrington, Chad Shivrattan, Tuen Hicks, Sunil Ramlall, Aubry Thompson, Osapho Greene, Stephon Wilson, Daniel Paul, Delon Allen, Ameer Singh, Wayne Bollers, Kester McAllester, Nkosi Beaton and Jamal Michael.

ABCA president urges WICB to look into Sabina Park pitch

The pitch at Sabina Park.

Limacol winners receive prizes Champions Western Tigers, winners of the recently concluded Limacol Football Competition were officially presented with their prizes on Monday evening, during a simple ceremony that was conducted at the Bransville Hotel on Pike Street, Campbellville.

The title holders received $500,000 plus the winning trophy, while the other top finishers were also on hand to receive their prizes.

Among the other recipients were the Guyana Police Force (GPF) that finished runner-up and they took away $300,000 and a trophy, while Winners Connection and Santos received $200,000 and $100,000 respectively.

In the individual categories, Philip Rowley of Western Tigers was voted the Most Valuable Player

(MVP), while teammate Tr o y C a r r i n g t o n w a s adjudged the Best Goalkeeper Award.

Quincy Holder of GPF collected the Highest Goal Scorer award, netting four goals.

Meanwhile, Co-Director of the Petra Organisation Troy Mendonca in his remarks said they’ve concluded the staging of another effective event which according to him is the hallmark of the organisation.

He declared that organising football tournaments at every possible level is their contribution to the sport and the society as a whole.

Mendonca expressed thanks to the Limacol brand, GT Beer brand, Star Party Rentals, Trophy Stall, GFF, Guyana Football Referees Council, clubs, p l a y e r s , f a n s ,

administrators of GFC, Leonora, Victoria and the Mackenzie Sports Club ground, signaling that without their respective input the event would not have been a such a success.

B a n k s D I H Communication Manager Troy Peters speaking on behalf of the Company said, “We are extremely proud to be apart of the event. At the start we had anticipated that it would be a success and we saw it happen. We look forward to continuing our support of the tournament and we will continue to support football in Guyana.

Once again this tournament was an opportunity to showcase our support for sports.”

Trophy Stall and Star Party Rentals are the other companies that had thrown their support behind the championship.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC — Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association president, Leon Rodney, has criticised the Sabina Park pitch and called on the West Indies Cricket Board to pay closer attention to the preparation of pitches for the ongoing Regional four-day championship.

His calls come after Leeward Islands Hurricanes beat Jamaica Scorpions by 34 runs at the venue in a lowscoring affair that ended on the third day, despite the abandonment of the first day due to rain.

Both teams were dismissed below 100 in their first innings, with Hurricanes managing 133 in their second innings and Scorpions falling for 114 in pursuit of 149 for victory in the last innings of the day/night fixture.

“If our first class competition is going to

operate like that, then the West Indies Cricket Board [has] to look into the preparation of the grounds, especially in Jamaica,” said Rodney, a former Leeward Islands coach.

“There are just too many issues of that happening in Jamaica for us not to be concerned and maybe the West Indies Cricket Board needs to give a special eye.

“You can’t tell me that two first class teams playing – one is out for 71, one is out for [56], one for 133 and one for [114] so there is not even 500 first class runs in the match.”

Bowlers thrived in the contest with rookie seamer Jeremiah Louis finishing with an eight-wicket match haul and Test seamer Alzarri Joseph claiming five wickets in the second innings.

All told, a mere 374 runs were scored across four innings, with only 12

double-figure scores registered, and a highest score of 47 by Test batsman Jermaine Blackwood in the Scorpions second innings.

Rodney said based on Sabina’s recent history, there were obviously issues with the pitch which needed to be addressed.

“When I was coaching Leeward Islands in 2010, as a matter of a fact we had two games stopped in Jamaica and the pitch had to be reorganised,” he noted.

“And one was against Guyana in Sabina and then the England Test match that was stopped, so when I saw these figures I am saying that something has to be wrong.”

The second round game at Sabina Park involving Windward Islands Volcanoes was also a lowscoring affair but the second and third round games both saw totals of above 200 in every completed innings.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 36

RHTY&SC Beharry 5/5 Say No Cricket Finals to be played on Sunday The Rose Hall Town Area “H” Ground would be a hive of activity on Sunday, when the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS, hosts the grand finale of its historic Beharry 5/5 Say N o / S a y Ye s C r i c k e t Tournament.

Twelve teams would battle each other for over $300,000 (three hundred thousand dollars) in prizes, starting at 09.00 hours (09.00 am) sharp.

The tournament was organised as part of the massive Beharry’s Say No/Say Yes Campaign which targets over 60,000 youths in the ancient county.

This Campaign’s main objectives are to get youths to say no to crime, suicide, drugs, alcohol and yes to education, life and sports.

The tournament included the hosting of four sub zones (West Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje, Lower Corentyne and Upper Corentyne).

Three teams from each zone advanced to the finals.

The twelve teams for the finals are D’Edward, Cotton Tree, Blairmont, Rose Hall Town Bakewell “A”, Rose Hall Town Bakewell “B”, Courtland, F y r i s h , Yo u n g a n d Restless, Rose Hall Canje, Scottsburg, No. 73 and Crabwood Creek.

Secretary of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS, Marketing Executive of Beharry Ms Kamini Naresh and a Representative of the Guyana Police Force would speak to the teams before the start of play.

Secretary Hilbert Foster disclosed that the winning team would take home $150,000 plus the Beharry’s

Say No Trophy, the Runnerup would receive $75,000, while 3rd place would get $25,000. The winner of each sub-zone would also receive $15,000.

Teams are reminded that all players would have to be properly attired in white clothing and they would have to walk along with a new red cricket ball. No.73 would play Courtland in the first match at 09.00 hours, while Blairmont and Crabwood Creek would play in the 2nd match. The other fixtures for the first round are Young and Restless vs D’Edward, Rose Hall Canje vs Scottsburg, Fyrish vs Cotton tree and Rose Hall Town Bakewell “A” vs Rose Hall Town Bakewell “B”.

Members of the public would also be given the opportunity to win attractive prizes during the day’s play.

Meanwhile, the Management of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club has declared the squads for the Rose Hall Town “A” and “B” teams.

Rose Hall Town “A”: James Fraser, Khemraj Mahadeo, Mark Papannah, Kevlon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Keith Simpson, S y l u s Ty n d a l l , R a v i Narine, Jamal Jarvis, Delbert Hicks, Kelvin Sinclair, Michael Hicks and Tyrese Park.

Rose Hall Town “B”: Brandon Prashad, Sunil Madrimutoo, Brandon Corlette, Chanderpaul Govindan, Simon Naidu, Tagwag Ross, Justin Gobin, Erva Giddings, Joshua Wilson, Balram Thomas, Mahendra Gopilall, Vijay Gopilall, Tyrese Sealey and Matthew Prass.

Wednesday March 22, 2017

Referees put through their paces in FIFA fitness tests

Elite referee Mars looks focused during Referee’s Fitness Test.

Georgetown: Guyana’s referees and assistant referees underwent a series of grueling fitness tests at the Leonora National Track and Field Centre on Saturday, 18th March last, as part of ongoing assessments to ensure match officials are able to cope with the demands of topflight and international football.

Five out of six elite group male referees, all six elite group male assistant referees and three out of five female assistant referees passed the tests.

“Fitness tests are very essential,” said Guyana Football Federation Executive Committee

member and President of the Guyana Football Referees’ Council Dion Inniss. “The game demands very fit match officials – as fit as the players. We administer these tests at least three times a year to ensure that our match o ff i c i a l s a r e i n p e a k condition.”

FIFA toughened up the fitness tests for referees last year, as part of efforts to ensure that match officials could keep pace with the intense energy of top-flight international football.

Within a short time limit, referees are required to complete a test for “repeated sprint ability” with six bursts over 40 metres, and an

“interval” test of a series of 40 consecutive, high-speed runs over 75 metres that are interspersed with 25-metre recovery, walking sections.

Assistant Referees must also complete a “change of direction ability” test, which corresponds to the particular demands of running the line.

“You have to prepare to officiate in any conditions,” said 29-year-old former football player and referee Gladwin Johnson from Berbice. “The game demands fitness from the referee – the modern game is much faster, so we have to keep ourselves fit as referees.”

The tests are part of

F I F A’ s c o n t i n u o u s worldwide assessment of member associationaffiliated match officials, alongside an annual medical examination. Failure to pass the tests means that match officials are not eligible to take part in elite professional competitions or matches organised by the national member association, CONCACAF or FIFA. Some of Guyana’s lower level male referees and Assistant Referees did not meet the strict fitness requirements for international referees, giving an overall pass rate for the group of 27 tested of 63 percent.

Sherwin Johnson on track during the Referees Fitness Test.

A young referee goes through their paces during fitness test.

Kaieteur News

Wednesday March 22, 2017

PAGE 37

EBBA/YBG Inter Village Tourney

Prospect Jammers bounce past Bagotstown to win title

EBBA IMC Chairman Gregory Horsham (right) hands over the champion’s trophy to Prospect Jammers’, Troy Harding.

MVP Drexel Aaron (left) receiving his trophy from Coordinator Wayne Francois.

The trio of tournament MVP Drexel Aaron (12 points), Kwame Fox and Mark Richards with 9 points each combined to d e l i v e r t h e w i n n e r ’s trophy to Prospect Jammers when the IMC of

the East Bank Basketball Association (EBBA)/Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) sponsored Inter Village competition concluded on March 19th at the C o v e n t G a r d e n Secondary School

Basketball Court.

Having won their previous four matches in the round-robin competition that attracted five Villages, Prospect went on to trounce Bagotsown in the final, 3727.

Even the combined efforts of Jermaine Reid who tipped in the top score of 10 points and teammates Jermaine Slater and Sherwin Lawson 9 apiece could not keep Bagostown from losing.

In the third place match, Mocha defeated the c o m b i n e d McDoom/Agricola.

This competition saw the welcome return of competitive basketball to the East Bank and was

coordinated by Wayne Francois.

The other competing v i l l a g e i n t h e competition which bounced off on March 13th at the same venue was, Herstelling.

Jadeja pips Ashwin to No.1, Pujara climbs to second in ICC rankings

The top bowlers in Test cricket © ESPNcricinfo Ltd

ESPNCRICINFO Ravindra Jadeja has overtaken R Ashwin at the top of the ICC Test rankings for bowlers, after taking nine wickets against Australia in

the third Test of the BorderG a v a s k a r Tr o p h y.

Cheteshwar Pujara was also a major gainer as his 202 off 525 balls propelled him above Virat Kohli to become

Ravindra Jadeja ©Associated Press

the top-ranked India batsman in Tests. He was at No. 2, behind Australia captain Steven Smith.

Although the Ranchi Test was drawn, at the end of the fourth day, the hosts had seemed in quite a dominant position thanks to these two players. Pujara, by facing more balls than any other Indian (where data is available) in Tests, secured a whopping 152-run lead though Australia had put up 451. It was the third doublecentury of his career, second against Australia, and it helped him continue a rich vein of form in the 2016-17 home season - 1259 runs at 66.26 with four hundreds and seven fifties.

Jadeja, meanwhile, has outbowled his closest

The top batsmen in Test cricket © ESPNcricinfo Ltd

competitor Ashwin in the first innings this season - a sign that he was becoming a threat even without the pitch helping him too much. In all, Jadeja has taken 67 wickets at 22.98 with four fivewicket hauls in 24 innings.

The changes he has made to his bowling, namely the ability to draw batsmen forward with flighted deliveries, as opposed to his usual method of bowling darts to get bowleds and lbws have made a strong impact. Kohli, at the end of the Ranchi Test, singled out Jadeja as “standing apart” from the rest of his bowlers.

Smith consolidated his place at the top of the rankings with scores of 178* and 21 in Ranchi. Smith has

941 rating points is now joint-fifth highest ever with Peter May. Only Don Bradman (961), Len Hutton (945), Jack Hobbs and Ricky Ponting (942) have ever got more.India will hold on to their position at the top of the rankings at the April 1 deadline for a cash award of $1 million. Australia and South Africa, on the other hand, have a chance to take

over the second position. If Smith’s men at least draw the upcoming Dharamsala Test, they will finish at No. 2.

South Africa can take over if Australia lose, and they either draw or win the Hamilton Test against New Zealand. The team that finishes second will be awarded $500,000 and the third-placed team will get $200,000.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 38

Wednesday March 22, 2017

GMR&SC ‘Reaction’ Dragz Meet

Mohamed’s Enterprises GTR records staggering 7.5 seconds Mohamed’s Enterprises GTR of Team Goliath scorched the quarter-mile Drag Strip to establish a new record with a staggering 7.5 seconds on Sunday when the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) held its season opening ‘Reaction’ Dragz event on Sunday, at the South Dakota Circuit.

The Blue speed monster driven by Josh Ramsey obliterated the opposition which included fellow stablemate Nizmo and several attempts by top Superbike riders in an astounding performance, setting the GTR in a league of its own.

However, the day was not without a bit of controversy and it occurred when the Toyota Caldina, the reigning eight-second champion driven by Shawn Persaud challenged the GTR and appeared to ‘beat’ it in a staggered start, but the officials ruled it as a false

-Surinamese perform outstandingly

Dutch Superbike dragsters who dominated the category seen at the starting line awaiting the flashing lights. start and the race was declared null and void.

Persaud, however, was officially classified the eight-second champion following the release of results.

S u r i n a m e ’s Vi s h a l Ramcharran in a Toyota Mark X dominated three classes, winning the nine-ten and eleven seconds division to make it a good day for the Dutch.

The visitors also claimed the Superbike category through Rajiv Lallbeharrie, who dispatched all and sundry in a dominant performance, Raymond John captured the twelve-

second class.

Imran Khan was continued his dominance of the thirteen-second division, while Sunil Singh and Devindra Persaud were unstoppable in the 14 and 15

seconds categories.

Meanwhile, motor racing action returns to the South Dakota Circuit with the staging of the Race of Champions Meet on April 2.

Bonus for women cricketers as Australia puts big pay deal

Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer (CEO) James Sutherland reacts as he talks during a media conference at the WACA Ground in Perth, Australia, November 4, 2016. (REUTERS/David Gray) (Reuters) Cricket Australia (CA) has proposed a new pay deal to players which offers large salary increases, particularly for women, but breaks with the 20-year model of a fixed percentage of revenue from the game going to the cricketers.

The A$419 million (259.21 million pounds) offer is a 35 percent increase on the current five-year deal, which expires in July, and was laid out by CA chief James Sutherland yesterday.

CA said the new deal meant international men’s players, taking into account bonuses, match fees and

domestic Twenty20 wages, would be earning an average of $1.45m a year by the 2021-22 season.

“We have placed the emphasis on increasing the guaranteed amount that the men will receive, rather than rely on any projected increase in revenue,” Sutherland said. “...CA believes that the model devised in the 1990s, which is based on a fixed percentage of revenue, has served its intended purpose — to make Australia’s cricketers some of the best paid sportspeople in the country.”

The Australian Cricketers Association

Australia’s Meg Lanning celebrates with team mates lifting the Women’s Ashes trophy. (Action Images via Reuters / Andrew Boyers Livepic) (ACA), the player’s union, responded by saying they needed to scrutinise the small print of the offer and reiterated its stance that any new deal should include a revenue sharing model.

“CA has responded to the ACA’s calls for improved pay and conditions for all cricket players regardless of

gender and of the need for more investment in grassroots cricket,” ACA chief Alistair Nicholson said.

“The ACA has fought long and hard for these causes. Men and women have stood united for a fairer deal for all and for the next generation of cricketers. The ACA

commends our members for their resolve.”

The biggest winners under the new deal would be women players, who will be included in the “memorandum of understanding” for a first time.

“Under the proposal, women will receive an immediate average pay

increase of more than 125 percent,” Sutherland added.

“As a result, our international women cricketers will see their average pay increase from A$79,000 to A$179,000, as of July 1 this year. By 2021, we expect to see our international women cricketers earning an average of A$210,000.”

Wednesday March 22, 2017

Kaieteur News

NSC seeking to establish sporting hub for New Amsterdam youths

The dilapidated sporting complex in New Amsterdam, Region Six. GINA - The National Sports Commission (NSC) is looking to resuscitate the abandoned sports complex in New Amsterdam, Berbice to provide another avenue for youth development.

The complex was once the sporting hub for New Amsterdam, and was used for facilitating events such as wedding receptions, parties, and sporting activities and even housed a large pool.

The complex, which was formally operated and owned by the Berbice Mining Enterprise Limited

(BERMINE), is now the responsibility of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).

Director of Sport Christopher Jones and a team from the NSC, along with the Mayor of New Amsterdam visited the complex last Saturday.

The intention is to take control of the site and make it the NSC’s subcommittee headquarters in New Amsterdam.

Jones told the Government Information

Inside of the dilapidated sporting complex in New Amsterdam, Region Six.

PAGE 39

2028 Games not an option for Paris, says bid chief

French canoe champion and co-president of the Paris candidacy for the 2024 Olympics, Tony Estanguet. (REUTERS/Benoit Tessier) Agency (GINA) that the NSC, through the Ministry of Education will be writing to NICIL in an attempt to acquire the building. Jones noted that the building will cost approximately $200M to rehabilitate. However, he pointed out that once rehabilitated, the sports complex will be able to generate revenue.

“There is need for rehabilitation works to be done on the building.

Downstairs there is a sports bar that could easily be rented out for income

generation for the commission. There are several spaces that could accommodate persons wanting to host wedding receptions and parties. So therefore, we recognise that this space here can generate income on its own and pay for itself,” Jones explained.

The sports complex is expected to be the main hub for sports related activities in Regions Five and Six, and according to Jones, similar initiatives will be undertaken in Regions Seven, Eight, Nine and Ten. Mayor of New Amsterdam, Kirt Wynter is delighted that the NSC will acquire the building. The Mayor said that the complex was once a vibrant building but after the mining company left the town, it was left to deteriorate.

Mayor Wynter stated that, “I am glad now that the National Sports Commission is embarking on this venture of taking it up, restoring it and opening it up back to the public where we can all enjoy the facility once again.”

Wynter said that once the building is acquired, the council will be supportive in ensuring that the facilities are up and running again.

LONDON (Reuters) Paris Olympic bid officials have ruled out any possibility of the French capital hosting the 2028 Games and say it is 2024 or nothing.

Three-times Olympic canoeing champion and bid co-chairman Tony Estanguet told Reuters yesterday that Paris was not opposed to the 2024 and 2028 host cities being decided at the same session later this year in a break with past procedures.

But he made clear that Paris, which last hosted the Games in 1924 and is going head-to-head with Los Angeles after other bids withdrew, was only an option for the Olympics that follow four years on from Tokyo 2020. “(2028) is not an option for us,” said the International Olympic Committee (IOC) member.

“Our project is only feasible and guaranteed for 2024...the land to build the Olympic and Paralympic village is only available for 2024.

“This is the fourth bid by Paris and we believe it is now or never. This is the last chance to see Paris bidding for the Games. Afterwards, I think Paris and France will do different things.”

Bid officials said there was an agreement that the land earmarked for the village would be handed over to developers after the 2024 Games — or next September if Paris lost out to California.

IOC president Thomas Bach has hinted he would not be against awarding the 2024 Games and 2028 at the same time.

He said last week the IOC Executive Board had agreed to set up a working group to explore potential changes to the process and report back in July. The 2024 host city will be awarded at a vote in Lima, Peru, in September.

Officials from both bid cities have said they are not looking beyond 2024.

Estanguet said Paris would have no problem with both Games being decided at once provided Los Angeles was given 2028.

“We are ready for this option, and we welcome this process,” he said. “If the IOC can find a solution with LA, that’s great.

“But I can only say that Paris is only possible for 2024. We cannot accept 2028.”

He said Paris has 95 percent of venues already in place, with only the aquatics (Continued on page 31)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 40

Wednesday March 22, 2017

Athletics association selects CARIFTA Games team

Kenisha Phillips The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) has identified a 15-member contingent that includes 12 athletes,

Chantoba Bright two coaches and a manager for the CARIFTA Games, April 13-20, in Curacao.

An email release from

Natricia Hooper

James Cole “for and on behalf of” President of the AAG, Aubrey Hutson listed the team as ‘Qualifiers for CARIFTA Games 2017’

Daniel Williams

with the athletes representing the final team f o r C A R I F TA G a m e s .

Four of 10 registered clubs are represented on the team;

those are Guyana Defence Force (GDF); Running Braves Athletics Club (RBAC); Upper Demerara and Christianburg/Wismar Secondary School (CWSS).

The team included: Under 18 Girls: Kenisha Phillips (GDF, 100m, 200m); Claudrice McCoy (RBAC, 1500m); Chantona Bright (Upper Demerara, High, Long, Triple Jump); Onasha Rogers (CWSS, 100m); Tremaine Browne (CWSS, Long, Triple Jump).

Under-20 Girl: Natricia Hooper (RBAC, Overseas,

Compton Caesar Triple Jump, 400m).

Under-18 Boys: Daniel Williams (Upper Demerara, 200m, High Jump) and Tarique Boyle (GDF, High Jump).

Under-20 Boys: Compton Caesar (CWSS, 200m); Anfernee Headecker (GDF, 800m, 1500m); Samuel Lynch (RBAC, 800m); Matthew McKenzie (RBAC, 5000m).

Jo h n n y G r a v e s a n d e (Upper Demerara) and Moses Pantlitz (CWSS) were listed as the Coaches. Yvonne October w a s n a m e d a s Te a m Manager.

Kaieteur News

Wednesday March 22, 2017

Head Coach pleased with Jaguars’ performance but concerned with conversion rate

PAGE 41

Shelly embraces the majesty of motherhood, hopes to return to competition in 2018

Elaine Thompson Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Esaun Crandon

By Sean Devers in Trinidad In association with Cascadia Hotel, Vnet Communications & Stag Beer Head Coach of the Guyana Jaguars, former Guyana pacer Esaun Crandon says he is pleased with his team’s performance in their emphatic 10-wicket win against T&T’s Red Force Monday to take them to 103.2 points, but the Berbician is a bit concerned with the conversion rate of his batsman with only Shiv Chanderpaul converting a 50 into a three-figure score.

“Yes! Defiantly, I am very pleased that we performed the way we performed as a team. We played very consistent and individual cricket in the last two matches,” the 35-yearold Crandon said.

The Head Coach, who took 90 wickets from 38 First-Class matches, was also impressed by the batting of Assad Fudadin, who scored a responsible half-

Leon Johnson century in his first match in this year’s tournament after replacing the injured Tagenarine Chanderpaul for this game.

He was also pleased by the performance of the new players in the side; Romero Shepherd and Kemo Paul.

“Fudadin played a very good innings in his first match back at this level, but he could have gone on to get a big score. I am a bit concerned that only Shiv (twice) has converted good starts into hundreds.

Everyone of the batsmen have scored half centuries but only Shiv, the oldest and most experienced batsman in the side has reached a hundred and that is disappointing,” Crandon said.

“Shepherd is young and not only has he bowled well but I was also impressed by his maturity during his fifty here in only his second game. I am also pleased with the fighting attitude shown by young Kemo Paul. This was his first First-Class game. He hurt his hand but

insisted that he wanted to bat and he played in an important 50-run last wicket stand with Shepherd before he was left not out,” an upbeat Crandon stated.

Crandon was also very impressed with the bowling of left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul who took nine wickets against the Red Force including seven in the second innings to take the Man-of-the-Match award.

“Permaul was outstanding with the ball as usual and will be badly missed in Barbados for our next match since he has been selected for the West Indies t20 team,” disclosed Crandon.

The bowlers need to be more consistent in line and lengths …Permaul bowled tight and took wickets…but overall the bowlers need to bowl more maidens to build pressure,” said Crandon.

While Crandon said the fielding has improved from the Regional Super50 and is not too bad he wants his (Continued on page 31)

Jamaica Observer There will be a new women I A A F Wo r l d 1 0 0 m champion in London as J a m a i c a ’s S h e l l y - A n n Fraser-Pryce, who won in Moscow in 2013 and Beijing in 2015, will miss the 2017 edition because she is expecting her first child.

Fraser-Pryce, who struggled with a toe injury last year and just failed to win her third consecutive 100m Olympic title in Rio, told the Jamaica Observer that she is actually okay with missing this year’s World Championships.

“I announced that I am pregnant, as a result I will miss the World Championship. But I have b e e n t o m a n y Wo r l d Championships,” said Fraser-Pryce, in her usual vivacious style.

Fraser-Pryce, who turned 30 years old last December, is the only female to be crowned World champion over 100m three times (2009, 2013, 2015). In Berlin, she clocked 10.73 to win in 2009, the year after

surprising the world with Olympic Gold in 2008. Then in 2013 the “Pocket Rocket” went even faster, capturing gold in 10.71 in Moscow and 10.76 in Beijing.

In 2013, she became the first female sprinter to win gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay in a s i n g l e W o r l d Championships.

Fraser-Pryce, who was the first woman to own IAAF world titles at 60m, 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay and to hold them all simultaneously, said she is looking forward to motherhood.

“It’s a new experience for me right now and I am embracing that new experience. The World Championships yes, you would want to be there, but other things are in the process, so you just work with it until the time comes when you focus on something else,” she told the Observer.

Two weeks ago, the diminutive Fraser-Pryce made the bombshell announcement on Facebook

about her pregnancy.

“But life is filled with many blessings with God. So here I am thinking about being the greatest mother I can be with my biggest blessing and the promise God made me,” she said on her official Facebook fan page.

“I look forward to seeing you all in 2018 when I return to competition on the tracks and around the world,” she added.

Only last year, FraserPryce’s former MVP club mate, Sherone Simpson, who was second behind her in the 100m at the 2008 Olympic Games, had to halt her preparations toward the Rio Olympic Games because she too was expecting. She gave birth to a daughter last October.

A new 100m champion will be crowned at the 2017 World Championships, but Jamaica can feel happy that one of the leading contenders for FraserPryce’s crown will be none other than her prodigy, Elaine Thompson.

t r o Sp GMR&SC ‘Reaction’ Dragz Meet

Mohamed’s Enterprises GTR records staggering 7.5 seconds -Surinamese perform outstandingly

Mohamed’s Enterprises GTR with driver Josh Ramsey on board seen heading to the starting line on Sunday.

Limacol winners receive prizes

Troy Mendonca (right) presents the championship prize to a Representative of Western Tigers during the presentation of prizes for the Limacol tournament as Banks DIH Communication Manager Troy Peters (left) and other prize winners and officials share the moment.

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