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AIETEUR NEWS

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Paddy bug ravages Region Six rice crop

Thursday Edition April 11, 2019 - Vol. 12 No. 15 Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

Price $80

Online readership yesterday 103,885

Don't approve Liza Phase Two permit until all issues are resolved - Jan Mangal West Berbice man dies after falling off truck Over 100 minibus touts arrested in crackdown

Ten years after body found in car trunk...

Fuel dealer's wife charged with murder

- police warns of blue, green lights on vehicles

Ramzan Alli

City Mayor prepared to release names of Commercial tax dodgers

Charged: Milaimi Alli

Council to work with PSC, govt. to resolve fees for container trucks, other issues

No procurement regulations breached in contract award to

MoTP says...

Cathy Hughes Media Company

Kaieteur News

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Thursday April 11, 2019

City Mayor prepared to release names of Commercial tax dodgers

C

ity Mayor, Ubraj Narine, is prepared to release the names of commercial tax evaders.

Mayor Narine told the media during a press conference at City Hall, yesterday, that he will need approval of the city millions to release the names of businesses that owe millions of dollars in taxes.

He was at the time responding to a request by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) to provide a list of

the businesses that owe taxes.

Earlier this week, GCCI President, Nicholas Boyer, noted that the body is extremely disappointed by the “public and broad brush attack on the integrity of the entire business sector” by the Mayor.

However, he believes that direct appeals should be m a d e t o t h o s e establishments, rather than label every organisation with the same title.

“Before you got to that

stage of just calling out highe n d b u s i n e s s e s , th o s e comments may start to create a more contentious atmosphere…We understand why he is doing it because he may feel like these businesses have not been paying taxes over suchand-such a period so maybe, he feels frustration,” Boyer explained.

The Mayor had previously expressed frustration that over 140 “high-end” city businesses

owe millions in taxes. This is affecting the City Council's cash flow.

The Mayor had previously complained that while the City Council continues with its garbage collection, many businesses just dump their garbage on the street. He said that that is one of the issues that must also be addressed by the Chamber of Commerce and the Council.

He added that the Chamber could have played

the part of a mediator between those errant businesses and City Hall and seized the opportunity to encourage businesses to pay up their dues to M&CC. At a press conference held at his office yesterday, Mayor Narine noted that the business community in the city needs to work along with the new council to settle outstanding taxes, and assist in the building up and development of Georgetown.

He said he prefers to be cooperating with the business community rather than fighting businesses down.

“I want to build a bridge, not a wall, and I am surprised by the newly elected President (of the GCCI) with his statement. I did not attack anyone. It was a neutral statement,” he said.

Deputy Mayor, Alfred Mentore noted that citizens should take advantage of Council's open door policy.

CANU to continue body searches in keeping with int'l standards

F

acing allegations and at least one lawsuit, Guyana's premier anti-narcotics agency has vowed to continue the fight to stem smuggling and use of illegal drugs. According to the Customs AntiNarcotic Unit (CANU), the searches will be conducted in accordance with the laws.

“Law enforcement operatives at all ports in Guyana have been, and will continue to conduct their searches of passengers, luggage, vehicles etc. at all Ports of entry and exit in Guyana lawfully and in accordance with local

and international standards with due cordiality and professionalism,” CANU said in a short statement.

The agency has over the years been keeping out of the spotlight though its initial years were dogged by issues of corruption.

However, this week, a New Yorkbased woman who was ordered to subject herself to a cavity search and then hauled in by CANU has threatened to sue.

There are other women who said they were searched and ranks asked for their phone numbers after.

Yesterday, CANU said that In keeping with its mandate to stem the trafficking of narcotics, the unit has been successful in thwarting a number of passengers from using their bodies, luggage, cargo and other objects to traffic narcotics, cocaine in particular, through Guyana's ports.

“CANU will continue to aid in maintaining the perceived credible Image of the majority of Guyanese Travellers and will continue to abide by the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act Chapter 10:10 of the Laws of Guyana.”

Kaieteur News

Thursday April 11, 2019

PAGE 03

Don't approve Liza Phase Two Permit until all issues are resolved - Dr. Jan Mangal O

il and Gas Consultant, Dr. Jan Mangal, is of the firm view that the Environmental Permit for the Liza Phase Two project should not be approved until a long list of issues has been resolved.

These include the need for all oil companies to have internationally recognized insurance policies and for the industry to be governed by a robust legislative and regulatory framework.

He made this remark, among others, during an exclusive interview with Kaieteur News recently.

The former Presidential Advisor said, “We need new legislation which is all aligned. But this cannot happen without teams of oil professionals which we do not have. And these teams cannot include the 'experts'

Oil and Gas Consultant, Dr. Jan Mangal

popping up who have zero years experience with the major oil companies.”

He added, “We have people who went off to do a Masters, have never worked for a major oil company, but are prancing around Guyana as oil experts and consultants.

“We cannot do anything

without the right people, and we do not have the right people now.”

Dr. Mangal commented that the only way Guyana has a chance to do a modicum of justice to its own interests, is by slowing the pace of ExxonMobil so as to give the country a chance to catch-up.

He emphasized that the players in government are obviously desperate to give the impression that they are in control and that Guyana is being well served. But this is not the case, the Oil Consultant said.

FURTHER DELAYS ExxonMobil's subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), was supposed to receive its permit for the Liza Phase Two Project on or before March 1, 2019. But a few issues related to its permit are still being worked out before this can happen.

Confirming this was Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams.

He said that the Energy Department is conducting a rigorous review of the Field

Over 100 minibus touts arrested in crackdown - police warns of blue, green lights on vehicles

Commuters at the bus park

P

olice has warned of blue and green lights illegally on

vehicles.

It has been observed that owners and drivers of motor vehicles are affixing coloured lights, blue and green, to the front of their vehicles…it is illegal and should cease forthwith, a statement said yesterday.

“Regulation 34 (1) (a) of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02 states, “Every motor vehicle, the width of which does not

exceed seven feet, other than a two-wheeled motorcycle not having a side car attached thereto and an invalid carriage, on any road, during the hours of darkness shall carry two lamps, each showing to the front a white light visible from a reasonable distance”.

According to the Police Traffic Department, it wishes to advise owners and drivers who are guilty of this illegal practice, to desist from affixing these lights on their vehicles or face the

consequences of being prosecuted.

Meanwhile, the police are also warning that the force is getting tougher on touts.

“As the “soliciting of passengers” campaign continues, 17 more Touts were arrested and charged on April 8, last. This exercise was conducted by Sergeant 18039 Michael Ramdas and ranks of Traffic Headquarters at the route 31, 32,40,41,42,43,44,45 and 72 mini-bus parks,” the police

said.

“The department continues to address the challenges commuters are currently facing at the parks.”

Traffic Chief, Senior Superintendent Linden Isles, was stern: “This exercise is aimed to rid the parks of all touts and as such, the public cooperation is critical. This campaign will be ongoing until the desired results are achieved; so far, over 100 touts have been arrested and charged.”

Development Plans (FDP) for the Phase Two Project.

He reminded that the EPA has to work along with the Energy Department where these matters are concerned.

The Environmental Engineer said, “We are working together to ensure everything is in order before signing off on the permit. I wouldn't go and sign off on the permit if their plans are not approved or if the Department is not comfortable with the development plans.”

He assured that permit would be granted once the aforementioned issue is addressed.

It was in February that the Energy Department announced that UK-based firm, Bayphase Oil and Gas Consultants, won the

contract from Guyana to review the Field Development Plans (FDPs) of its client, ExxonMobil.

But prior to this, Kaieteur News had exposed that this company is not only a client of Exxon, but even some of its primary contractors working here.

In fact, Bayphase which was established in 1986 is also contracted by NEXEN, a subsidiary of the Hong Kong based China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC). CNOOC holds 25 percent interest in the Stabroek Block.

Bayphase also works for Exxon's subcontractors which include Schlumberger and Technip FMC. (See link for full list of clients: http://www.bayphase.com/c lients-list2.php)

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Thursday April 11, 2019

Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

The rhetoric of elections A dedicated son of the soil, Dr. Yesu Persaud, asked whether this country needs politicians. It is neither an improper nor an untimely question. Thought-stirring to be sure, and one that tables several other questions.

Does this country need elections? Does it have any use for elections campaigns? Does it have regard for political advertisements? This is getting monotonous, even boring. And what about all the rushing about, the frenzy, and the ballooning hysteria?

The record of history is very illuminating, sure not to be liked; and worse, to be scorned for the places to which it leads. The answers tell a lot about what and how this country is, and why together they represent futility, frustration, and failure.

Elections in this country have been, at different times and by different people, dismissed as census, selection, mere statistical collection. They solve nothing; lead nowhere. The minds of the electorate, with near flawlessness, and with few exceptions, are written in stone, and encased in the hardest plaster. It is a two-layered sheath of the unreachable and the unbreachable. Shut. Final.

Irreversible. The behaviour and mindsets of the eligible are that predictable and closed. Contests are tighter now because of changing demographics brought about by emigration, two-income families, and smaller family sizes, to name the more significant factors.

But the underlying passions and decisions are as unchanging as the doldrums. Very few, if any, from the ranks of experts, commentators, or analysts, even man-inthe-street observer, would raise a voice to disagree.

With this as history and concrete context, the next question is: is there any use for elections campaigns? Those fevered and ferocious forays into the ugly, the dirty and the mangy? The short answer is: No! People’s minds are made up and not open to either discussion, appeal, even intimidation. The latter only makes matters worse, by solidifying intents.

Despite all the debating and complaining and condemning, no voter has the interest or courage or intellect to go anywhere, or do anything, other than what has driven into them before, and through which foregone outcomes are based.

The records will show, fraud and skullduggery aside, that the primary and sole determinant of male or female voter choice for the high obligation and sacred responsibility of governance can be compressed to a single word: race. After all the analyses and arguments, matters boil down to this: racial loyalty. Come what may; this is regardless of who is alleged to have done what, and is even strongly believed (by loyalists) to have been heavily involved in that putridity.

So, why campaigns? These are to wave the party flag, to whip up enthusiasms, to make promises that, to a great degree, there is no intention to honour, which cannot be honored, and with one more crucial objective in mind. That would be to shore up the waffling by rekindling any weakening spirits. For certainty, waffling should never be misconstrued as any voter considering the treachery of voter adventure through voter crossing to the other side. Simply not done. In Guyana’s elections, waffling means targeting those so disillusioned and disgusted that there is the thinking of staying away from the polls.

Too much of that can be costly, where the tussles are so razor thin, as evidenced in the last elections cycles. Too much of that waffling has the embedded risk of gaining traction and developing into a small bushfire of absenteeism.

The same answers should suffice for elections advertisements: no voter’s mind and preset decision is influenced by written encouragements on road, colors on lampposts, and symbols bandied about through various media channels. Not a single vote is gained by engaging in such effort. More and more are articulating that they will never vote again here.

Freddie Kissoon’s recklessness in attending to this matter of import is counterproductive DEAR EDITOR,The reckless tendency of Freddie Kissoon in treating with matters of national import often robs this nation of the value to proceed in a constructive manner. And it is he who is often out front leading charges of what a failed nation and intellectually bankrupt people we are, when he actively participates in acts to give credence to his charges.

How in the devil’s name does the call for a planned approach to immigration, factoring placing primacy on Guyanese’s welfare, particularly with the advent of oil and gas, become an act of fascism, whether it be of the Black or White race?

Reference is being made to the article in the Freddie Kissoon column titled “Is Lincoln Lewis the Black version of White fascism?

(KN 9th April 2019). His article is an attempted response to mine, “They are coming…are we prepared?” carried in the column ‘Eye on Guyana with Lincoln Lewis’

(KN, 7th April).

What was articulated by me would only find offence to those wanting to be malicious or have chosen not to address the stated. This is a serious issue and we must have frank, honest and open conversation.

And while he holds the view that article should not have been published, it is being duly noted the media’s judgment in showing respect for the freedom to share ideas on a matter considered of national import. Also, the preference for media silence does not mean the issue is not being discussed in the streets and strong views are held one way or the other.

Every country has a right to its sovereignty. This includes its immigration laws, policies and programmes which are expected to be just and fair to its citizens, for without these, a nation loses its sense of existence, its identity, and its people the right to chart their destiny.

My position is undergirded by universally

acceptable principles of what a nation state is, what nationhood constitutes, and the security of the people within to foremost exploit the finite resources for their benefit, and how same can be done in an atmosphere of peace and harmony. Charity begins at home and for Guyanese it means Guyana.

It is my position there exists a plan by others in moving here and lest government puts a plan in place, the very things we need to forge an independent and unified nation will unravel.

Any country that fails to observe what is happening on its borders and internally, and does not see the need for a plan or thinking a plan, undergirded by universal principles, would make it fascist; would be acting just like Freddie on this matter, crazy.

Mark my words, where the situation is left unattended and things do not go right, he will lead the charge in condemning the present administration for failing to

prepare, for not having the foresight, for failing to plan for the changes taking place in our economic environment that can influence social and political realities. He will rain down fire and accept no responsibility, whatsoever, for seeking to thwart efforts calling for a plan.

For instance, Guyana has one official language, English. What does it mean for us a nation communicating with each other, for integration and cohesion with the culture challenges we are likely to face from those who are nonEnglish speaking? Are we going to say there is no need to learn English? What does other cultures coming here mean for assimilating into the Guyanese culture?

Are we prepared to abandon what gives meaning to our uniqueness and identity, or should it be said further, because there are already slippages? What does the concept of nation state mean to us? Do we have (Continued on page 6)

LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE ON DUAL CITIZENSHIP THROUGH A REFERENDUM DEAR EDITOR, I have read, listened and watched quite a few items across the media on the dual citizenship saga as a result of the no-confidence motion of 21st December 2018.

There appears to be an equal number of supporters and opposers of dual citizenship Parliamentarians. Given some good arguments and suggestions on both sides of the divide, it is difficult to discern any potential solution.

I therefore strongly contend that the answer should come from the populace.

Such an important matter should not be left to our politicians who may generally have good intentions, but whose actions invariably support the changes that maximize their interests.

With the introductory remarks in mind, and the fact that I have no intention of flouting, or support flouting of our constitutional provisions, I take the liberty to indulge in a sociological explanation as to why Guyanese should not be considered as pledging allegiance to a foreign country in the true sense/ meaning of the concept. Further, I have shied away from commenting on some of the list of other potent reasons why the populace should be involved.

In explaining, I venture to say that while many Guyanese hold dual citizenship, perhaps the majority still

identify with their native culture. More often than not their allegiance lies with their original country of birth. This is so for two reasons: On one side of the coin, cultural diversity is sustained because the dominant groups in society seek to maintain their power and privilege by keeping minority groups separate and unequal. The other side posits that cultural minorities do not want to assimilate into the dominant culture because they place a high value on their own beliefs, customs and cultural identities.

In the United States, as in other multicultural societies, both reasons coexist; On one hand, assimilation is limited, while on the other, cultural minorities are reluctant to give up their natal cultural identities by way of total assimilation.

If we were to analyze the adjustment patterns of Guyanese in North America or elsewhere, we would observe a strong inclination of Guyanese to hold on to their traditions and lifestyles with respect to family affairs, education of their children, and cultural and religious practices.

Though explained through concepts a number of psychosocial concepts, these immigrants subscribe to what is known as the asynchronous parent-child adjustment pattern according to which they hold stead-

fastly to their natal cultural beliefs as evidenced in their music, songs, dances, dress modes, religious practices and foods.

As a distinct group, Guyanese exist in several cultural enclaves that facilitate and foster their economic and social existence. So, their existence in foreign climes does not necessarily translate to foreign allegiance despite their pledging alliance upon becoming citizens of the foreign nations.

In a nutshell, we can question the extent to which Guyanese are truly foreign.

We can also raise questions about dual citizenship within

CARICOM. We can also question the extent of the realistic experience of dual citizens and whether such experience projects a different image/allegiance that is diametrically opposed to that of the regular guy on the street.

I hasten to say that while we must consider our national interest a priority, we should tread cautiously on our decision-making processes and pronouncements on the dual citizenship/allegiance issue. In essence, we should let the populace, rather than politicians, make such decisions.

Yours sincerely, Ronald Singh

I have no respect for corrupt politicians DEAR EDITOR, Corruption is a vicious and nasty act of selfishness that stifles the growth and development of a country and its citizens. Whether it came from the PPP in the past or is now a cancerous tumour infecting the population because of the greed of today’s elected officials, it must be confronted and destroyed. I have no respect for corrupt politicians.

I stand in support of the good things our government has done and continues to do, but I will not support the bad apples in the corridors of power who are scrummaging to fill their endless pockets at the expense of others who are qualified but are denied opportunities, because the well-placed in our society want it all for themselves.

This grabbing behaviour by some in government tells a sordid tale that even at this juncture where the longevity of the Coalition hangs precariously, they couldn’t care less about the bad image of the Coalition resulting from their greed and desire to have it all. Such are like nits on a cow’s body sucking it into a skeletal frame before it reaches its death.

Norman K Browne

Thursday April 11, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Human Trafficking with a political agenda: A full scale investigation by by the govern- voters with the intent of pad- back track for Cayenne. I can IOM and other agencies is needed supported ding the electoral list which assure you of that…we know ment…”

DEAR EDITOR, The recent exposure by the Parliamentary Opposition Leader, Mr. B. Jagdeo, at his weekly press conference on April 3, 2019 of what he believes to be a “people smuggling racket” in the Ministry of Citizenship aimed at inserting the names of foreigners into the voting list should come as no surprise.

An overwhelming pattern has been emerging over the last year of ‘human trafficking with a political agenda’ and this requires a full scale investigation by the media, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other regional and international agencies that monitor human trafficking.

Mr. Jagdeo’s recent statement was backed up by a sample from a number of advertisements published in the state newspaper, the Guyana Chronicle, of persons applying for Naturalization in Guyana with the Ministry of Citizenship.

He observed that there were two ads with the photograph of the same person at different addresses, one in Lethem and one in Kitty, on March 27 and 29th 2019. The actual applicant, who lives in Lethem and who is known, is correctly portrayed in an ad on February 22, 2019.

In another two ads, the photograph of another per-

son appears with different names and addresses on February 5th and February 7th, 2019. Four mistakes such as these may seem insignificant, but they do send up red flags for attention.

On investigating the ads for 2019 further, another two applicants have only lived in Guyana for a year and therefore are not eligible for citizenship, which requires five years consecutive residency. In addition, one of these same persons’ name is different than in the ad.

This is not the first case we have encountered with persons obtaining Guyanese citizenship who have not been resident here for the required time. In September last year, a non-national entered Guyana and was granted a Guyanese passport with a Guyanese name in the same month they landed, even though their maiden and married names are completely different.

However, these concerns with regards to a political agenda behind a large human trafficking ring are not new. In fact, this issue has been on the radar of the Parliamentary Opposition since January 2018.

Over a year ago, the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Foreign Affairs, which I chaired, discussed the issue of Foreign Nationals and concerns regarding Human traf-

ficking, particularly, of Haitians.

On February 26, 2018, the Committee wrote Minister Winston Felix, requesting information on the number of Haitians entering and departing Guyana over the last 5 years. After many reminders, Minister Felix on May 8 and May 23, 2018 provided information of the arrivals and departures for the years 2013-2018 (April) of Foreign Nationals of China, Brazil, India, Cuba, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Bangladesh.

The Minister on July 20, 2018 provided information on arrivals and departures of CARICOM Nationals and other nationalities which did not show the same disparities between arrivals and departures as the May 2018 data.

On May 31, 2018, the Parliamentary Opposition Leader at his press conference stated that “false documents, including birth certificates and passports, are being sold for US$6,000 per person and the illegality is being facilitated by the Ministry of Citizenship.” He further added that: “We have said that we are aware that Haitians are trafficked through Guyana, that is

I also wrote a letter to the Editor on June 14, 2018 headlined ‘State sponsored Human Trafficking in Guyana?’ and this was published in several newspapers. My letter used the data provided by the Minister of Citizenship for the years 2013-2018 (April) to the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Foreign Relations.

This information revealed that the years 2016 and 2017 showed the highest upsurge in the numbers of arrivals of several nationalities. Most alarming, these figures revealed that the presence of 5,485 Haitians and 17,615 Cubans in 2018 could not be accounted for. This is a significant number of unaccounted people, speaking different languages, who represented 3% of the population.

These are rather serious indications of human trafficking on a large scale and its connection to the provision of Guyana identity documents (and in some cases creation of new identities) to the victims as part of their “safe passage” through Guyana, should have set off alarm bells.

In fact, there were concerns that these new Guyanese identities could be used for registration of

seemed to have been dismissed.

This information emerged at the same time a new cycle of continuous registration was in progress and which ended on July 8, 2018. Yet none of this information triggered the media and the relevant agencies, such as the Ministry of Citizenship, Guyana Registry, and, the Guyana Police Force to investigate.

Based on this information, it does not appear to be a mere coincidence that in April 2018, there was a call for a new House to House registration Minister Felix finally appeared before the Committee in the presence of the media on August 9, 2018. The Minister in response to a series of prepared questions from the Committee emphatically said: “What you can see is not great disparities between the arrivals and departures…one thing I will assure is that you will not find Cubans neither would you find Haitians, they are not there…all that they do is come to Guyana and we are assuming that they leaving

where the Brazilians are, we know where the Cubans are, but no one can tell me they know where the Haitians are.”

He assured the Committee that “…we have not suspected any trafficking of Haitians in Guyana, through Guyana, or whatever. Not Haitians. At least up to this point of reporting, so far, zero.”

On the issue of special treatment at airside of the CJIA for Haitian arrivals, the Minister said he needed evidence from the Opposition.

Despite the Minister’s denial, one company employed by the Georgetown Hospital buses its employees, majority are Haitians, every day to work. Between the months of October 2018 to March 2019, some 3,800 Haitians landed in Guyana on COPA Airlines.

One may wish to remember that Minister Felix was summoned to appear before the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Foreign Relations in 2016 to answer a number of queries: 1. With regard to the (Conitnued on page 6)

PAGE 6

Harassment by Customs Officer to be used. As a law-abidat CJIA’s Immigration not ing Guyanese citizen, where DEAR EDITOR, On April 6, 2019, I arrived at CJIA. It was just after 11pm.

Processing at immigration was slow. I spent over 40 minutes in the line. Then after that I collected my single carry-on and proceeded to the back of the line. I noticed that there was only one custom officer and the line was not moving.

I then proceeded to the front to ask her that since I just have one piece and nothing to declare, if there was another officer who could process others who didn’t have much luggage. Instead of hearing me, she started verbally abusing me, asking me if I think I special and want to bore in

front of others, and to go at the back of the line.

Then I made an observation that others were passing with lots of suitcases and she did not even check their slip.

I took some pictures.

I waited my turn and then when I went to her the harassment continued. She asked what I do? I said it was on the form. She continued to ask. I said I declared everything on the form. She said I have to make an oral declaration to her before I passed. We were going back and forth until the lady behind me asked that we end it.

I later learned after taking the pictures that phones are

are my rights?

I see that the only reasons that we are not allowed to take pictures in that area is because we are restricted from exposing the very poor work flow, harassment by officials, and every bad thing that can possibly happen that I did not experience that night.

Who are those VIPs and why were those persons allowed to pass with ease: (a) without joining the line (b) or her checking their form like she did everyone else.

Things like this must be exposed.

Delon White

Human Trafficking with a political ...

From page 5 reasons for the refusal of entry of 168 CARICOM nationals (2015-2016); and 2.

The role his new Ministry of Citizenship, which is now responsible for Immigration, plays with regards to the statutory Immigration responsibilities of the Guyana Police Force and its investigative role.

Minister Felix is in direct control of Immigration, the GRO, Passport Office and the granting of citizenship—an interesting and convenient combination. However, for the Guyana Police Force, it has two masters it must report to and take instructions from the Minister of Citizenship and the Minister of Public Security. It is therefore no surprise that the concerns regarding a human trafficking ring with the involvement of government officials have yielded no results.

When asked about the difference between the treatment of CARICOM nationals in 2016 and CARICOM nationals and other nationalities in 2018, the Minister merely said “the policy had changed.”

During the Budget debate, the Minister informed the House that the digitization of the GRO records had commenced and they had three million transactions thus far and that the GRO had ordered 300,000 birth certificates.

In the case of the former, the issue of the integrity of the system and who is in charge of the system are critical to ensure that it is tamperproof, since false data or “mistakes such as the Guyana Chronicle ads” can be inputted into the system, which

Thursday April 11, 2019

Kaieteur News

can then be used to give false identification to individuals both Guyanese and foreigners.

If one were to input data for the last 100 years - births, deaths and marriages - one could estimate approximately 2.8 – 3 million records. But this is not the time period that is being inputted.

In the case of the latter, since one does not know how many birth certificates are issued each year, but, assuming that each person applying for their birth certificate requests 3 copies, then 100,000 birth certificates would be issued. If all the births in 2019 are issued their birth certificates coupled with those who request copies as these maybe lost or they never one, it is hard to conceive of 100,000 persons being issued birth certificates.

Therefore it should come as no surprise that concerns with regards to ads in the newspapers for applicants for Guyanese naturalization also came under scrutiny. Compounding this is the fact that birth certificates are also being given out at PNC “green” events in the presence of GRO staff.

In the light of the GECOM Chairman and governmentappointed members refusal to comply with the article 106 (6) and (7) of the Constitution of preparing to hold elections within three months, and, instead bull-dozing their way for a House to House registration in order to “sanitise” the voters list - a list used in November 12th 2018 which the government nor any political party had any complaints - one cannot but be suspicious of the

Government’s agenda to delay elections as long as possible.

The government’s objective to have House to House registration was part of the plan since 2018 in order to prepare for the scheduled 2020 General and Regional Elections. This would allow for a new voters’ list which would include thousands of false identities and “new citizens”, many of whom would not have been eligible due to the 5-year residency requirement, while at same time disenfranchising Guyanese who were out of the country for more than three months.

The passage of the no confidence Motion put a “spoke in the wheel.” Nevertheless, the government and GECOM continue to relentlessly and hurriedly move forward to commence a House to House registration despite the appeal before the Caribbean Court of Justice. Interesting that such speed was not shown in complying with the 90-day requirement for elections by March 21, 2019.

We may not have conclusive evidence, but all these events, information and data point to an overwhelming pattern which requires a full scale investigation.

We welcome and want all people, regardless of their nationality, to love our country and be happy to make their home here. However, we cannot stand by silently when information keeps emerging that point to human trafficking of a significant level in which the victims are being exploited to serve a political agenda.

Sincerely Gail Teixeira

PRISON SECURITY DEAR EDITOR, As prisons become more crowded and internal problems arise, it is important to keep control and stability inside such facilities. Although there are many security measures that can be put in place, it is hard to say whether it is the physical design of the prison or the skilled officer that makes the difference in safety and security. Both play a major role in keeping things running smoothly inside and outside the perimeters.

The reason for this research is to analyse how each part of security helps maintain cohesiveness and what can be done in those cases where there is chaos.

The physical structure of

a prison is extremely important. The role is twofold; to keep society out and keep inmates in.

Therefore, high walls or fences and detection system are essential, and every day more innovations are being introduced as a way to heighten security, also introduce a Vehicle Interrogation and Notification System.

Other valuable security measures are inmate classification, categorization and allocation - although the physical features of an institution’s perimeter by themselves are useless without staff properly trained to be alert to their responsibilities while operating a post. The only sure way of providing top-notch security

is through education and training.

As the prison population grows, so does the need to heighten security. This requires extensive training by the correctional officer and flawless design in physical security.

No one aspect is more important than the other, but each has its own duty and responsibility for protecting the institution, inmates, officers and the community.

A detection system is no good without someone there to react to it, just as an officer cannot identify problems without being alarmed by a detection system.

Yours Co-operatively, Parmanand Ram

Minibus mayhem and other challenges DEAR EDITOR, I travel frequently on the East Coast highway and observed that almost all 44 minibuses have music boxes which are played loudly. However, when they approach police they turn the volume down and as soon as they pass they raise it again. Also, these buses are overloaded especially in the mornings and at lunch time.

The police must inspect these buses and seize the equipment, for the drivers and conductors ignore the pleas of passengers.

Now if a minibus is certified to carry 14/15 passengers, then they cannot carry 14/15 plus the conductor. This will make the number of passengers 15/16. Further, some buses have

no conductors so drivers have to collect fares and make change. As a result, they cannot concentrate on their driving, which puts passengers at risk. The Police must ensure that each bus has a conductor.Also, the median on the East Coast highway is too high. At least, there should be a low cut passageway on the median where a street connects to the highway in each village. This will make it easier for elderly people and physically challenged individuals to cross the highway, especially wheelchair users.I do hope the authorities concerned can do something tangible to address these issues.

Sincerely yours Ed Singh

Freddie Kissoon’s recklessness in ...

From page 4 the quality of social services such as health, education and housing to facilitate unplanned immigration?

These are issues we have to grapple with, and planning will factor in.

Even as Freddie sees the call for a plan as an act of fascism, the United States (US) is planning strategically how to capitalise. In yesterday’s Stabroek News (10th April) Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch made known the US’ ”main role in looking at this tremendous opportunity in the oil and gas industry…is that businesses are treated fairly.

There is ample opportunity for growth and interaction with the government and mostly that there is a level playing field.

That would be our focus.”

The ambassador is not talking about Guyana’s businesses, for her role is to foremost advance and secure US’ self-interest. Further, according to a Foreign Policy in Focus article of 3rd April, the US Department of State is focused on “achieving

business climate change in Guyana….all with little concern for the e n v i r o n m e n t a l impact.” Everybody is planning for us except us, and this includes how to make us dependent and beholden, how to exploit our resources, make demands of us for fair treatment.

The US has made known the focus for its citizens in Guyana, and Guyanese must not have a focus or demand of its government a plan to make sure our inalienable rights are taken care of?

Does Freddie understand the political upheaval that could follow and in our racially polarised society what it could mean; is he thinking?

If we are not strong with our policies, programmes and laws then we will be overridden, and others will ride roughshod over us.

Now is time for Guyana to put systems in place. We can no longer wait for more movement to our place, whether welcoming or unwelcoming, to do this.

Any good planner would be

mindful of the environment and frame a plan to deal with it.

This is the role of government, and it has to address these kinds of things before it is too late.Contrary to Freddie’s view, there is no need to educate me about the number of Guyanese living abroad, in various countries, legally or otherwise. That will not stop the call on government to have an immigration plan, or to have persons show respect for another country’s right to plan a n d e n f o r c e i t s immigration laws. My views on these issues are matter of public record. In like measure I am on record calling on our government to develop a national development strategy that makes it rewarding for Guyanese to stay/return, develop this nation and reap of its bounties, rather than feel compelled to flee or remain in exile.

This position is being reiterated even more so with the pending wealth that is expected to flow from our oil and gas sector.

Lincoln Lewis

Kaieteur News

Thursday April 11, 2019

PAGE 07

MoTP says... No procurement regulations breached in contract award to Cathy Hughes Media Company

A

mid deep public s c r u t i n y, t h e Coalition Government insists that proper procedures were followed in the awarding of a contract to a Media Company that had close links to Minister of Public Telecommunication, Cathy Hughes.

According to the Ministry of the Presidency, its Department of Energy worked closely with the ministry's Procurement Unit in finalizing the contract.

The contract being referred to is one for $832,000 to Video Mega Productions, a company that has its address at the Middle Street property said to be controlled by Hughes and her husband, attorney-atlaw, Nigel Hughes.

“The Ministry wishes to make it pellucid that the Department of Energy c o n t r a c t e d Vi d e o m e g a Productions to develop three 60-second television and radio Public Service Announcements (PSAs) at a cost of $832,000, as part of its public awareness and sensitization campaign with regards to the Co-operative Republic of Guyana's emerging oil and gas sector.”

According to the Ministry of the Presidency, in a statement late Tuesday night, it wishes to make it clear that the Department of Energy is not engaged in any “incestuous relationship” as is being claimed by the Opposition, and its Parliamentary Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira.

Rather, the department has from its inception, “worked in compliance with all rules and regulations relative to the procurement of goods and services”.

The allegations of impropriety were made by the Opposition and came on the heels of a recent disclosure that Pastor Godfrey Yearwood, the

Opposition's Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira

Nothing wrong here: Minister Cathy Hughes

husband of Minister Valerie Patterson-Yearwood, who has charge over housing, was awarded a contract to build homes. That award only came to light after a worker complained of not being paid.

Under practices worldwide, it is an accepted rule that family members and companies with linkages are not awarded contracts from the particular public entity or ministry in which a relative works.

Even a number of private companies have such rules.

Even if the contract went out to tender, officials say, to ensure that there are no questions from the public, it is the general rule not to award.

According to the Ministry of the Presidency, the reports about impropriety were malicious misinformation.

The ministry noted that it was Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, who took up the issue on Tuesday in a Facebook post.

“Ms. Teixeira, in a video statement on the People's Progressive Party's (PPP) Facebook page, this evening, accused the Department of Energy of singlehandedly contracting Video Mega Productions to produce brochures, television and radio advertisements for the Department.

“That one would speculate that the contract relates to campaign material for the APNU-AFC Coalition for elections is outrageous and completely baseless. The material being developed is solely in keeping with the furtherance of the mandate of the Department of Energy.”

Minister Hughes herself, in a statement Tuesday, said that her attention was drawn to a press release by one Edward Layne and a subsequent press statement the Opposition member Gail Teixeira in which reference is made to the award of “a multimillion-dollar contract” to Video Mega Productions “to produce brochures, as well as Radio and TV PSA's for the Department of Energy”.

“Prior to the two press releases I was completely unaware of the award of any contract to Video Mega Productions.”

Hughes stressed that in May 2015, upon her assumption of the role of Minister of Tourism, she relinquished any involvement in the day-today running of Video Mega Productions.

“Russel Lancaster was appointed Manager and is responsible for the operations of the company.

I have since been informed that the contract

City Constable charged with shooting bus driver during 'bad parking' spat

A

spat over 'bad parking' in the city ended with a minibus driver being shot in the leg and a city constable who allegedly wounded him being charged.

Mark Murray, a city constable seconded to the Bourda Outpost, is accused of shooting bus driver, John Paul, during a scuffle.

He appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates' Court yesterday before Principal Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty.

The charge, which Murray denied, stated that on September 26, 2018, at Water Street, Georgetown, he discharged a firearm at John Paul, with intent to maim, disfigure and cause actual bodily harm.

Appealing for bail for his client, attorney Roger Yearwood said that Murray did not act with malicious intent. He also noted that his client has a six-month-old child. The defendant was released on $75,000 bail He is to return to court on April 24.

was for the production of three sixty-second television P u b l i c S e r v i c e Announcements. The value of the contract is $ 832,200.”

The minister insisted that the award of this contract was never brought to her attention neither would she have been aware of it in the normal conduct of the company's business.

H e r m a n a g e r, i n a separate statement, refuting the reports of impropriety, denied it was a multi-million award.

“I was contacted by the Department (of Energy), and informed that based on my experience and knowledge of the industry, they would like to get an example of the kind of work that could be provided and it was I that informed them that I was n o w m a n a g i n g Vi d e o Mmega and would like the work to be contracted to the company as opposed to me personally.”

Lancaster said that Minister Hughes was completely unaware of this

as she has had no involvement with the company's operations since assuming the post of Minister.

“As a matter of fact, she only called this evening to find out about this issue after she heard of the false report being propagated. Both she and Ms. (Beverley) Alert, also mentioned in the statements made earlier, are no longer connected to Video Mega.”

The manager said that when he was approached by the department, he was informed that they were in the process of reviewing the work of a number of service providers in an effort to find a fit suitable for the department, since this was a burgeoning industry and they wanted to be sure that any such provider selected would be able to represent the oil and gas sector adequately.

“As such, they asked that we produce three 60-second TV Public Service Advertisements in an effort

to determine our suitability.

The cost we charged was $832,200. We were never asked to provide any other service and we want to be pellucid in this regard.

“We would like to state that we are deeply disturbed by the allegations being peddled and consider that this does not augur well for the maintenance of a stable environment when statements are made in the public domain by members of the press and sitting parliamentarians without any attempt at verification.”

Lancaster said that this would suggest that a few persons are trying to score cheap political points at the expense of truth and good behaviour and that decency has long been thrown out of the window.

“We would trust that a public retraction will be made and that in future, some effort will be made to determine the true facts of a matter before embarrassing oneself in such a shoddy fashion.”

PAGE 08

Kaieteur News

Thursday April 11, 2019

Verdict looms for father-son murder accused in Mahaica land dispute murder

F

ollowing closing arguments by the State and defence, Justice Navindra Singh has set aside this morning to address the evidence in the trial of 54-year-old Sukhdeo Dharamdat, and his son, 25-year-old Eshwardat Dharamdat.

The two are accused of the February 3, 2015 murder of Suresh Nandkishore, at Handsome Tree Creek, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.

According to reports, Suresh Nandkishore, his father Bhopaul Nandkishore, and brother Parmanand Nandkishore, were in the process of erecting a fence on a plot of land when a heated argument erupted between them and the Dharamdats. This led to a fight.

It was reported that the older Dharamdat, with whom the Nandkishores had a land dispute, came as they were working and appeared to have no objection. But Sukhdeo reportedly returned with his two sons, one of whom was armed with a cutlass.

The men reportedly picked up two of the posts that were meant for the fence and began lashing the Nandkishores about their bodies.

Suresh reportedly tried to walk away, but was cornered and dealt several lashes to his head, blows that cracked open his skull.

Attorneys-at-Law Pamela De Santos, Brandon De Santos and Alanna Lall, who are representing the two murder accused, urged the jury to acquit them both since the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove that their clients committed the act.

However, Prosecutor Tuanna Hardy pressed the jury to return a verdict in accordance with the evidence.

The prosecutor advised the jury to disregard the evidence of Sukhdeo, who during a sworn testimony, said that he was acting in self defence. “It was deliberate”, Hardy noted.

Prosecutor Hardy held that the duo intended to cause grievous bodily harm to, or kill Suresh, given the length and mass of the post that was used to inflict the injuries.

According to Hardy, both Sukhdeo and his son had a motive to kill Suresh based on the evidence.

That motive, she stressed, was because there was an ongoing dispute between the two families over a plot of land. The prosecutor submitted that the defence of the two accused was riddled with inconsistencies and lies.

Thus, she asked the jury to rely on the evidence of Parmanand Nandkishore. His evidence, she said, was consistent and was in no way challenged by defence counsel.

Parmanand had told the court that the land was owned by his great grandfather, and was later passed down to his father. He said that land for which his family has a lease, was the subject of a dispute between the two families.

The dispute was settled in court, with his father winning rights to the land.

According to him, it was about 25 acres of land which his family used to plant rice, cash crops and rear cattle. Recounting what transpired on February 3, 2015, Parmanand Nandkishore told the jury that his father had

Suresh Nandkishore asked him and his brother (Suresh) to follow him to make repairs to a fence on the land.

The relatively calm witness said that they left by boat and arrived some 30 minutes after and offloaded posts to begin works. He added that some-time after, Sukhdeo Dharamdat arrived and asked his father what they were doing.

The man testified that his father responded that they were erecting a fence.

He further said that Sukdeo Dharamdat left and returned with his two sons, Chaitram and Eshwardat, who he said, was armed with a cutlass. Parmanand said, “…They (the Dharamdats) started to argue with my father who told them to let us leave.”

The witness said that as he and his family were walking away, Eshwardat attacked his brother with one of the posts meant to build the fence. He stated that his brother was struck several times to the head, which resulted in his skull being cracked open with blood gushing. The post, he said, was left stuck in his brother's head.

Parmanand recounted that Chaitram lashed him with a cutlass and then struck him on his head with a post causing him to fall to

Sukhdeo Dharamdat (left) and his son, Eshwardat Dharamdat the ground where he lay and “played dead.”

According to him, the attack has left his father with brain damage, which causes him to suffer from constant seizures.

Chaitram was jointly charged along with his father and brother for Suresh Nandkishore's murder, but he later died while in jail. Justice Navindra Singh is presiding over this trial at the High Court in Georgetown.

Passengers urged to travel only with boats with licensing stickers Public Communications Officer observing a boat operator places the MARAD sticker on his boat at the Parika Stelling.

P

assenger boat operators have welcomed the safety initiative by the Maritime Administrative Department (MARAD) that helps passengers identify certified vessels at the various stellings. Travellers

can identify the boats by looking for the MARAD decals that will be displayed at the front of the vessels.

The stickers indicate that the boats are licensed and certified by MARAD and are safe for travelling.

Captains Stephen Belle

and Steve Narine who operate at the Parika Stelling have commended the initiative.

Captain Belle, who is also the President of Bartica Speedboat Owners Association, said: “It will let (continued on page 23)

Kaieteur News

Thursday April 11, 2019

PAGE 09

Public office involves making a choice

W

h e n t h e President calls and offers you the job as a Minister of the government, it is often hard to decline. It is a glitzy appointment.

But acceptance involves making a choice between public duty and the sacrifices which your acceptance will involve.

If you are in business those sacrifices may be financially costly and not confined to only you, but also to the members of your immediate family.

You have to decide whether you are willing to forego what has to be foregone in order to serve your country as a Minister.

You have to make a choice.

Everyday people make choices and each choice involves giving up something. You have to decide what clothes to wear; whether you will catch a bus or take a taxi; what you will eat, what you will buy and what you will do.

Persons accepting Ministerial appointments have to weigh the various options at their disposal.

They have to decide whether they are prepared to accept the sacrifices which come with Ministerial responsibilities.

Involvement in public life, as a Minister, has its upside and downside. A person called to higher public office has to decide whether he or she is prepared to sacrifice personal and business interests and that of

the immediate families in order to ascend to assume higher public duties.

Ministerial appointment has its benefits. A Minister receives a fat salary and healthy allowances – housing, telephone, security, entertainment, maid, gardener etc.

He or she is provided with a SUV and a chauffeur.

International travel is by first class. The appointment carries with it social prestige.

Automatic appointment to parliament comes with accelerated pension after a few years. Being a Minister is also a spur on one's curriculum vitae and a passport to opportunities after demitting office.

Ministers enjoy the good life.

But there is also a downside. Ministers sacrifice a great deal. They spend long hours at work and this affects their family life.

The job is stressful and takes a heavy toll on their physical and mental health.

Ministers have to maintain a certain distinguished and dignified profile. They cannot be seen at striptease joints – and there are quite a few in Georgetown.

They cannot afford the scandal of having an extramarital affair; they cannot binge drink; they cannot associate with disreputable characters or be caught behaving pompously or abusing their authority.

Ministers are often vilified and subjected to

harsh and at times hurtful public criticism. The most sordid things are likely to be mentioned about them on social media. Their children suffer as a result.

Values can easily be corrupted. Ministerial appointment can change you. You can wake up one morning and not recognize the person you are seeing in the mirror. You may find yourself asking, “Is that me?”

Being a Minister gives you unprecedented reach and influence. People bow to your wishes. People treat you nicely – sometimes too nicely.

It can get to your head.

Power can become intoxicating. And there is a danger that so doing it can uproot your feet from the ground and cause you to lose your humility.

Your businesses suffer.

As a Minister you and your immediate family are precluded from benefitting from government contracts.

It matters not if your business is in a blind trust or a contract is offered by a Ministry in which you are not the subject Minister.

A Minister is part of the Cabinet which holds collective responsibility for government.

A Minister holds direct political responsibility for his or her portfolio, but as a Member of the Executive the Minister is part of a collective responsibility mechanism.

As such, as a member of

Dem boys seh...

De whole world change

D

e whole world looking at how things changing. A long time ago dem boys read how de seats in cinemas bigger than dem cinema seats that use to exist 50 years ago.

De same study find that de people had to mek wider seats in schools. De reason was that dem gyal of today got more broad behind that dem grandmother. Something had to happen to mek that change.

And any man wid two eyes seeing more confusion going behind dem woman that when dem was li'l boys forty or fifty years ago. Every woman got a big behind. De thing become so fashionable that de people who use to mek underwear start to pad some of dem same underwear to mek de behind look bigger.

Climate change is anodda thing. People talk how de ice melting at de poles and when that happen dem low-lying island countries gun flood out. Water gun cover dem and people gun have to find new place to live.

Guyana wid its seawall and low coastland gun flood. People gun stand up at Mackenzie and rinse dem foot in de seawall.

Dem boys seh this climate change and

global warming is a dangerous thing. But that is not de most dangerous thing. Dem boys seh anybody who want to see de most dangerous thing must go in de night clubs.

Fifty years ago when you go to any place wheh dem had dancing was man and woman dancing. Dem use to kiss and things like that.

Today, in dem night club is woman kissing woman. Dem boys never see man kissing man.

This thing rampant. Woman walking wid a tablet that dem does drop in odda woman drink and rape dem. In fact, man and woman doing de same thing. Both of dem fighting fuh woman.

Dem innocent gyal who get ketch in this thing does got to keep dem mouth shut because people got dem in video.

Dem boys seh that long time men use to smile how dem got ten woman to every man.

That might have been true because nuff man was really woman. That shorten de number of men going around. Now de women evening up. Dem mekking sure that dem use up de excess women too. And dem really nuff.

Talk half and watch woman and man fighting fuh woman.

upper tier of the Executive arm of the State, it is a conflict of interest for a business associated with a Minister or any member of that Minister's immediate family to benefit from a government contract, regardless of the Ministry involved.

There are no exceptions to this rule. Once you are a Minister it is a conflict of interest for you or any enterprise associated with you or your family to benefit from a contract to provide public services.

A Minister has to consider all of these factors before accepting Ministerial appointment.

It is not an easy decision to make. People want to have the opportunity to serve their country and to make a difference, but those choices come at a price – the threat to one's reputation, missed business opportunities for you and your immediate family and the loss of quality time with one's family.

Once you accept a Ministerial offer you have to abide with the consequences

of that decision. You have to accept the good with the bad, the benefits and the losses.

You cannot want your cake and eat it too.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Thursday April 11, 2019

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

City Council taxes: This nation is a cemetery

T

he more you live here you more you find this country obnoxious and surreal. The more you live here, the more the existence of this society torments your mind and you want to know if in the international community of nations, we are not the number one country for having no logical reason to exist.

Civilized society remains civilized because it is run by the rule of law.

When humans disregard the rule of law and they do so with impunity, you no longer have law and order and breakdown is inevitable.

In every country, the rule of law stands between beastly descent and modern life. This pattern does not seem to exist in Guyana. I

predict early collapse of this society if fragility of the rule of law gets worse.

The law says you have to pay taxes. The GRA, as I write this column, is warning rum-shop entitles that they must be licensed.

The law says you cannot drive a car without a road fitness certificate. The law says you cannot sell liquor to an underage child.

The law says that you cannot have sex with an underage child.

The law says that you must have permission to establish a business. The law says that you cannot be a food vendor if you do not have a health certificate.

The law says that you must declare if you have more than $10,000 American dollars on leaving

Guyana.

The law says that you cannot have a bar open after 2 AM. The law says possession of any amount of ganja is an offence. The law says you have to produce compliance document from the GRA to have approval to sell your assets I could fill hundreds of columns with what is r e q u i r e d b y t h e l a w.

Violations of the laws of Guyana could land you before the courts.

The law also states that citizens are legally bound to pay the municipal government of the capital city, rates and taxes. It simply boggles the mind to find out that over 140 business entities have not paid rates and taxes for over a long period. The City

Council says the outstanding debt is $8 billion.

If you deny that such a situation is not an example of nihilism in a modern country then you are a complete idiot.

It simply means that such a country has broken down.

How can any judge grant even a moment's hearing to a business taken before the courts for non-payment of rates and taxes for over a tenyear period?

64Surely no such judge should be part of a modern judiciary.

How does one explain the City Council being owed billions of dollars by people who have been violating the law for over ten years? Why then should city folks in the lower income group pay rates and taxes? Can you

violate the law by not paying GRA for over ten years and GRA does nothing?

What happens to you when the traffic cop stops you and finds your insurance expired ten years ago? Does the rank walk away? Does he charge you?

What happens when you apply for a passport and your birth certificate is a fake?

Did you break the law? And if you did, will the immigration people charge you?

I could go on to give examples but my point is how can someone break the law as in the examples I have given and not face the consequences?

So how could a business place not pay rates and taxes for over ten years and not face the consequences? That

Frederick Kissoon does not happen in the real world. It means that either the information offered by the Mayor is fictional or something bizarre is at work here.

It is not fictional because five years ago the City Council made the same disclosure and made the identical statement two years ago.

It means we have a surreal situation in Guyana.

But this is Guyana of course.

There has been an interesting intervention by the Chamber of Commerce. It has suggested to the Mayor that he publish the names of the defaulters. Why would the Mayor not do so?

If you have a business place and not pay taxes for a number of years why should the City Council not publish your name?

In fact the NIS does just that. They put the names in the newspapers of those who are in arrears. Why is the City Council not doing so? I close with my mind in total confusion.

How could a property owner not pay rates and taxes for ten years and the City Council does nothing about it? But don't forget; this is Guyana.

Thursday April 11, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

EU, British diplomats meet Opposition

Thursday April 11, 2019

Region Three Administrator loses fight to keep job

S

A delegation of European Ambassadors along with EU Ambassador to Guyana, Jernej Videtic; and UK High Commissioner to Guyana, Gregory Quinn, met Tuesday with a delegation from the Parliamentary Opposition. The opposition delegation included Irfaan Ali, PPP Presidential Candidate; Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, MP; and Juan Edghill, MP.

Council to work with PSC, Govt. to resolve fees for container trucks, other issues

T

he Georgetown Mayor and City Council is looking to resuscitate the tripartite agreement between the Private Sector Commission, (PSC) and the Government to resolve the issues surrounding the collection of container fees, and other issues.

Kaieteur News learnt that the PSC met with officials of City Hall, yesterday, as part of efforts to resuscitate the arrangement.

According to officials attached to City Hall, the threefold agreement will be used to address a number of important matters affecting the Council, Private Sector and the Government.

Among the issues set to be addressed are, the controversial parking meter deal, garbage collection in commercial areas and issues surrounding the collection of fees for containers traversing the city streets.

The council is optimistic that the arrangement will

serve to help us iron out the issues surrounding the payment of container fees.

The council has been looking to tighten the system on containers fee for a number of years. Former Mayor Patricia Chase-Green had previously met with the committee in a bid to increase the rate of container fees.

The council was looking at $8,000 in fees for a 20-foot container and $10,000 for those that are 40 or 45-foot in length, the current amount

being paid is a mere $5,000 for a container leaving the wharf.

The $5,000 was agreed to be paid in the interim before a decision could be taken by the tripartite c o m m i t t e e , b u t approximately two years have gone by without any movement.

The former Mayor had complained that “the private sector is not interested in meeting with this council or moving it forward in any way; two years now and the issue cannot be resolved.

We've only been writing and writing and writing.�

Chase- Green had also touched on the issue of huge (continued on page 22)

anjah Singh yesterday lost a court battle to keep his job as Region Three Hospital Administrator, a position that was revoked by the Regional Administration after recommendations from the Public Service Commission (PSC). Both bodies had found that Singh was not qualified for the post.

Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire ruled that upon reviewing the evidence, it was found that Singh failed to produce evidence of his qualifications. She ruled that the court could not determine whether he was qualified for the post.

Justice George explained that during the probationary period for the position there was no evidence to show that Singh made attempts to adequately qualify himself.

In 2017, Singh, through his Attorney-at-Law Anil Nandlall, moved to the High Court challenging the decision of the Regional Administration to demote him to Accounts Clerk II. Singh had asked for, and was granted an Order of Rule Nisi of Certiorari directed to the PSC, temporarily halting its decision.

That order sought to quash the decisions on the grounds that it was unconstitutional and not in keeping with the rules of natural justice, and that the PSC should show cause why the order should not be made final by the court.

Chief Justice George, however, discharged the order yesterday. In his application to the Court, Persaud outlined that in June 2016, he was

Chief Justice: Roxane George informed by Dennis Jaikaran, the Regional Executive Officer, Region Three, that the PSC granted approval for him to be appointed Hospital A d m i n i s t r a t o r, w i t h i n Region Three on probation for one year, with effect from 2016-05-13, inclusive; that he was acting in the position since 2013.

However, without prior notification and for reasons unknown, Persaud said that he was notified in September 2016 of a decision to rescind his promotion. According to him, the letter outlining his appointment as Hospital Administrator is rescinded and he should revert to his previous position of Accounts Clerk II with immediate effect.

The man had noted that he was not afforded a hearing neither was any reason given for the decision. He also pointed out that the constitutional tenure of the PSC had ended at the time when it made the decision contained in the aforesaid letter, dated September 26, 2017.

AFC elects new RMC chairman...

From page 11 altercation between the trio, the General Secretary Marlon Williams had told this publication then via telephone that "it was nothing of that sort" as against what a member of the party had said.

Gobin Harbhajan, an executive member of the party in Berbice was quoted that his name was removed from the National Geographic List of names that was sent to the AFC head office to be sent to GECOM, was removed without his knowledge.

"I only learnt that my name was not on the list only when Barbara Pilgrim was appointed as Member of

Parliament.

When I did glance the real list that they have with GECOM, it was a shock to me that myself and Ryan Crawford and Nalini Lall were not on that list although the members of the region would have democratically picked us at a big forum in region (RMC) election," he had said.

On April 3, the AFC had issued a statement debunking those claims.

They said it was based on "falsehoods and misinformation".

The party explained that in 2015 it requested all Regional Management Committees to submit names for the consideration of the

National Executive for the purposes of inclusion on the list of candidates.

The lists submitted by the RMC were not to be automatically included in the list of candidates but were to first be considered and shortlisted by the National Executive, "this was done and in that process some of the names submitted did not move forward.

Dozens of names submitted did not move forward".

They added that at the time, there was some discord among the Berbice groups and the party thought it best to seek submissions from all the factions for consideration.

Thursday April 11, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Thursday April 11, 2019

Immigration Officers receive customer training to deal with travelers T

he Guyana T o u r i s m Authority (GTA), in collaboration with the C a r i b b e a n To u r i s m Organization, recently concluded the first of a fivemonth 'Delivering Quality Service' training with the Immigration Department of Guyana.

The training focused on educating and empowering officers who interface with travelers and visitors in the areas of customer service, the visitor welcome, and hospitality techniques.

The overall aim is to improve first impressions and the overall quality of visitor experience at all of Guyana's international ports of call, according to the GTA. From April 2, 2019, 25 officers from various ports of entry and departments within the Immigration Department including Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Eugene F. Correia International Airport, Moleson Creek, Criminal Investigation Department, Parika and Immigration Head Quarters took part in daily trainings from 09:00hrs – 15:00hrs at the Officers Training Centre at Eve Leary, Georgetown.

The trainings were designed to raise awareness

of the importance of the customer services and hospitality in Guyana and the impact it has on incoming travelers and citizens returning home.

“The training created an understanding of the role each individual plays in delivering quality service, the importance of first impressions, and the value of each individual's personal brand, impact and attitude,” explained Carla Chandra, Deputy Director of the GTA. “This initiative is helping to boost the quality of service at our various ports of entry, passport office and police c l e a r a n c e o ff i c e a n d immigration staff as a whole.”

The training was conducted by Marlon G e o rg e , Tr a i n e r a n d Business Owner of Solution Pro Group Inc, and Deborah Clementson from the Travel Industry Development and Operations Division within the GTA. “Th e G TA r e m a i n s committed to elevating the tourism sector and will be hosting a series of monthly training May through August 2019, in collaboration with Immigration Department.”

G TA i s a s e m i -

The Immigration Officers who participated in the recent customer service training autonomous governmental organisation responsible for developing and promoting

sustainable tourism in Guyana through collaboration with sister

agencies and the tourism private sector in order to maximize local socio-

economic and conservation outcomes and improve the visitors' experience.

NDIA to spend $47M on critical dredging at Coomacka …works to

R

esidents of Coomacka Village in Region Ten will soon benefit from a series of drainage works which are expected to bring great relief to their flooding issues.

O ff i c i a l s f r o m t h e National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) said that during 2019, the authority will expend $47M to reduce flooding in the village.

These works will include the partial removal of sand from the Demerara River, construction of a reinforced laterite dam with overflow mechanisms to retain the migration of sand into the Demerara River and the revegetation of a pilot area with grass.

Deputy Chief Executive Officer of NDIA, Dave Hicks, said that flooding of Coomacka and its environs

has been a continuous challenge for those agencies responsible for maintaining the infrastructure and for ensuring the wellbeing of the citizens of that area.

“An interagency task force was thus assembled to determine the root causes for flooding in the community.

To t h i s e n d , t h e interagency task force lead community engagements with regional authorities and residents, and conducted an engineering analysis to determine the factors that contribute to recurring flooding of Coomacka,” Hicks said.

Coomacka, which is estimated to have over 300 residents, is located in a basin. This increases its vulnerability to both longterm and flash flooding from heavy rainfall.

The village is also more susceptible to increased

commence in May

Image showing approximately two thirds of the Demerara River blocked by sand from Eroded Areas runoff from higher elevations which drain into the river.

These factors have led to the blockage of two-thirds of

the width of the Demerara River at Coomacka. This blockage not only affects the ecosystem, but also the navigability of the river and

further exacerbates the flood risk of the community.

The village often suffers continuous flooding, and requires emergency

interventions to curtail the impacts on the social and economic wellbeing of residents. While making his (continued on page 19)

Thursday April 11, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

Thursday April 11, 2019

Visiting medical team donates Dr. Ramdin presents Dr. Gray with a fetal monitor probe

T

he Guyana-Jamaica Friendship Association (GJFA) a US-based non-profit organization has promised help to both Suddie Hospital and the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

At a simple ceremony on Monday, Association Member Dr. Nadia Ramdin, a cancer specialist in Pennsylvania, USA, presented Medical Superintendent of the Suddie Hospital Dr. Sonia Gray, a fetal heart monitor probe which would be of great benefit to pregnant patients at the Suddie Hospital.

Dr. Ramdin promised that there would be other medical equipment donated to the Suddie Hospital in the near future as well as increased collaboration between her hospital in the US and Suddie Hospital which would benefit cancer patients from Guyana.

GJFA also met with CEO of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, Brigadier Retired George Lewis, and other senior officials of the Corporation on Wednesday to discuss ways to implement significant c o l l a b o r a t i o n b e t w e e n D r.

Ramdin's hospital in Pennsylvania, USA and GPHC whereby pathology slides and other tests can be discussed and advice given for treatment protocols to be used for local patients.

President of GJFA, Dr. Frank Denbow, said that GJFA plans to step up its programme of cooperation with the Guyanese Medical Community with Biennial Medical Symposia and annual Medical missions particularly to the Essequibo Coast of Guyana.

Dr. Denbow, who participated in a Medical Symposium last Sunday, heaped praise on Dr. Nadia Ramdin, also of the GJFA who in 2017 was awarded National Honors for her services to Medicine.

The symposium featured Nutrition and Disease at the Arthur Chung Convention Center along with Dr. Raymond Massay of Barbados and Ms Abigail Caleb of the Ministry of Public Health.

Kaieteur News

Thursday April 11, 2019

PAGE 17

Region Four awards almost $68M in contracts - REO vows to take 'no nonsense' stance with contractors

A

lmost $68M w o r t h o f contracts was awarded to eight contractors by the Regional Executive O ff i c e r [ R E O ] o f t h e Demerara Mahaica Region Four administration.

The projects form part of the region's 2019 budget for Civil Works of $507M. The major signing ceremony yesterday was witnessed by contractors, senior regional officials and staff of the region and was held in the Regional Democratic Council [RDC] boardroom at Triumph, East Coast Demerara.

The Region in its 2019 budgetary allocation saw REO Pauline Lucas successfully arguing for $601.6M. She had put forward a number of projects and programmes for the region as the administration seeks to continue the “Good Life” promise being made by President David Granger.

Armed with her stellar performance since assuming the portfolio of REO in 2015, Lucas has seen the budgetary allocation for the region continuing to increase with several new projects and programmes becoming a reality.

The eight major projects awarded yesterday were for the Construction of River View Drive, Smith Estate, Friendship, East Bank Demerara to Guyana Construction and Engineering Services to the tune of $7,411, 206.00 M; Upgrading of Supply Old School Street, Eastern Section Vereneeging, East Coast Demerara to Guyana Construction and Engineering Services to the tune of $8,848,964M; Noel Joe's Construction Service won the award for the construction of Duplex Living Quarters at St. Cuthbert's Primary School, Linden/Soesdyke Highway for $11,046,998M; Linton Nicholl's Enterprise secured the contract for the Construction of Footpath Bridge Linking Buxton West Side line to Eastville Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara for $5,778,223M; the extension of Kuru Kururu Nursery School, SoesdykeLinden Highway went to Royal Contracting Services for $11,891,759 M while SKI Construction secured the contract for Construction of RC Culvert, Western End of Josiah Street, Haslington, East Coast Demerara for $4,126, 335M. Ski was also awarded the

contract for the upgrading of Two Friend's Dam, Ann's Grove, East Coast Demerara to the tune of $11 605, 535M. REO Lucas, in extending best wishes to the contractors, cautioned them that she will continue her 2018 trend of a “no nonsense approach” to contracts being issued by the Region.

She urged them to recognise their responsibility to the region and more particularly the residents.

She said that she wants nothing less that quality work being completed in a timely manner.

“I have no reservations in terminating contracts as if you cannot deliver what you've signed to, then allow someone else to do it because the region has no intention of paying for substandard work.

“I am Pauline Lucas, REO for this region, and as the accounting officer no one will allow me to be embarrassed and or disciplined for their inefficiencies because it will not be tolerated.

“For too long we see taxpayers in this country not getting what they truly deserves and as a Public officer I will do my part so that you can do your part,” a stern Lucas said.

The REO reminded the contractors that it was the level of inefficiencies and substandard work that resulted in her terminating the construction of the Supply Health Centre.

She said that if she is faced with a similar situation she will do it again.

“As long as I am the REO, things will be done at a very high standard, if you are a contractor you must be able to deliver quality work and let me say in a timely manner because many times we see contractors not taking deadlines seriously.

“Well let me say this publicly and you can quote me, it will not be tolerated.

You have a contract and you are expected to provide quality work in a timely manner and I urge you to be cognisant of your contract and what is expected of you,” she asserted.

Lucas disclosed, too, that in another week about 10 more major contracts will be awarded. By the middle of May the remaining major projects or this year's Civil works will be issued to the successful contractors.

According to her, some 30 projects will make up this year's Capital and Civil Works totalling $507 M.

REO Lucas [fourth from right] and Regional Vice Chairman, Earle Lambert, along with the successful contractors and other senior Regional Officials.

PAGE 18

Kaieteur News

Thursday April 11, 2019

Ten years after husband's body found in car trunk...

Fuel dealer's wife charged with murder

A

lmost ten years a f t e r h e r husband's body was found in a car trunk, 50year-old Milaimi Alli was yesterday handcuffed and escorted to court to be charged with his murder.

She was remanded after appearing in the Georgetown Magistrates' Court before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Mrs. Alli was represented by attorney at law Bernard Da Silva. She is to make a second appearance on April 15, when the matter will be transferred to the Vigilance Magistrate's Court.

Milaimi Alli was arrested last Thursday at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport after returning from the US. That was after police issued a bulletin which stated that she was wanted for questioning into the murder of her husband, Ramzan Alli.

Ramzan Alli

Charged: Sadeek Mohamed Mitchell

Police had first charged Sadeek Mohamed Mitchell, a taxi driver, for Mr. Alli's murder. It is alleged Mitchell had given a caution statement in which he admitted to killing the fuel dealer on a woman's orders.

Investigators held a confrontation between Mitchell and Mrs. Alli following her arrest.

Ramzan Alli, 45, was discovered dead on Sunday, July 12, 2009, in the trunk of his rental car, which was on the Coldingen Railway Embankment Road.

He was reportedly slain on the same day that he was preparing for a religious function for his brother, Akbar Alli, who was murdered the previous year.

Kaieteur News

Thursday April 11, 2019

PAGE 19

Paddy bug ravages Region Six rice crop R

egion Six, stretching just a r o u n d 36,000km² is known for its vast rice fields and farmlands with thousands of persons within the ancient county depending directly or indirectly from it.

However, over the past few months, farmers have been battling an infestation of paddy bugs on their rice lands and crops. The bugs have damaged nearly 25% of crops across the region.

The alarming percentage has caused a flurry of questions among farmers as it relates to what is being done to quell the issue that seems to have gotten out of control. Lekka Rambrich who sits on the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and who is also a large scale rice farmer in the region, told Kaieteur News that although the problem is serious "the board is not doing anything".

He explained that on many occasions suggestions were made to the board to have aerial spraying of the lands done since himself and other farmers believe that it is a solution that will garner the results needed to fix the problem but those suggestions have fallen on deaf ears, he said.

According to Rambrich, it is harvesting season but the paddy bug infestation is ripping through the rice crops. "Let the board come up with something to solve the problem. The board is doing absolutely nothing. “In fact, they have an entomologist who never comes up with solutions.

They are being trained and paid to do a job; let them deliver," he said.

Farmers are being told by the board to spray their rice crops but Rambrich argued, "A farmer knows to himself he has to spray his rice; we don't need someone to tell us that. They have a worker attached to the board. He picks up data on the ground, routinely and relays the information to the

Lekka Rambrich entomologist. This has been going on for years but with no sense of urgency or anything and this issue is getting bigger and bigger."

He said that while farmers continue to suffer and lose millions of dollars from the destructiveness of the paddy bug, "No-one came to meet with farmers, not even the Minister of Agriculture."

Rambrich stated that the present situation requires "total aerial spraying" of the entire rice cultivation area.

This, he said, will eliminate "the bugs in the trenches, the dams, the fields, everything and this needs urgent attention."

He explained that

NDIA to spend $47M on critical dredging at...

From page 14 presentation during the reading of the 2019 National Budget, Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder, disclosed that some $8.2B has been allocated to NDIA to carry out major drainage and irrigation works across the country.

This, he noted, was part of Government's efforts to

intensify flood relief efforts in vulnerable villages and communities across the country.

To date, the NDIA has commenced a series of works, which include clearing of drainage canals and water ways, keeping on track with projects outlined in their 2019 work programme.

farmers, individually, are spraying their crops with pesticides but the paddy bugs are also on abandoned lands, trenches and dams, making it almost impossible to cover such a wide area of spraying by the farmers themselves.

"I sent my request for the aerial spraying to the board, yesterday, since there was a meeting because this is beyond control. We need urgent intervention. This has never happened to such an extent in Berbice."

Rambrich is suggesting aerial spraying to be executed once every season coupled with the individual farmers continuing to spray.

According to him, when it was done in the past through Nand Persaud and Company Ltd, there was control over the problem but the present government, he said, "abandoned aerial

spraying".

The technique, he disclosed, was done over four years ago. Recently CEO of Nand Persaud and C o m p a n y, M o h i n d r a Persaud, had told the media in Berbice that he had developed an airstrip at an approximate cost of $25 M. This was for the sole purpose of having aerial spraying done through the Number 36 Village location.

However, his application for approval appears to be stuck at the Ministry responsible for such a move for the past three years, leaving that idea in limbo.

Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, over a year ago during a meeting with farmers in Black Bush Polder had considered having spraying done by agricultural drones, that idea also appears to be stuck in time with no major moves to

implement.

Additionally, Rambrich told this publication that he and other farmers are of the opinion that the paddy bug issue escalated because of the "substandard chemicals being brought into the country".

He m e n t i o n e d t h a t previously the chemicals used in pest control were brought in from neighbouring Suriname but that has since decreased because "the Pesticide and Toxic Chemical Control Board (PTCCB) has been putting a lot of pressure and we are not having that amount anymore coming from Suriname and so we are forced to buy the chemical coming in Guyana from other places and that is not really working".

He added that the farmers are losing money, the government is losing and the

board is losing "because when you get 20% of your crop loss you are losing money and 20% of our export is being cut as well because of losses.

So the government loses on taxes and the board loses on the export levy".

Rambrich also believes that a research programme should have been implemented to study the pest which may intern make a way for solutions, this he said has not been done since there was an invasion of the pink mealy bug.

A special programme was set up then to eliminate that pest problem. "I think it can be done with the paddy bug too," he said. According to him, there is currently no programme to deal with the paddy bug issue and farmers continue to suffer while they wait for solutions to be brought forward.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Thursday April 11, 2019

'Wait and willpower' key factors to help students succeed – Education official

T

he 2019 National Grade Six Assessment [NGSA] is set for two days from April 17. The Ministry of Education has a number of measures in place to ensure that the efforts of all are on board to realise the desired success.

It has been emphasising the importance of partnership in the delivery of education, something that cannot be understated.

This notion of partnership was brought to the fore, Monday, when the Ministry of Education hosted a Town Hall meeting at the Aishalton Community Centre.

At the event attended by community leaders and educators, Schools' Welfare O ff i c e r, M r. Vi c k r a m Mohabir, said, “Children and teachers need your involvement and support in their pursuit of a better life through education. We are encouraging all parents to get involved.”

His sentiments were mirrored by Ms. Nadia

Hollingsworth, Coordinator of the Parent-Teacher Association Unit of the Education Ministry.

Monday's event marked the second hosting of such an activity for this year as the Ministry commenced yet another series of meetings with parents of learners from the nursery, primary and secondary schools, throughout the 11 education districts.

Mohabir, in his interaction with the gathering, encouraged them to inculcate the words, “Wait and will power” to ensure that their children succeed in their education pursuits.

He said, "Word power encouragement is important and we need to start telling our children positive things about themselves to motivate them."

He further encouraged the parents by saying, "Parents we need to exercise and encourage wait power knowing that every child has the right to finish school."

Recalling the fact that secondary school has a legal

Parents participating in the town hall meeting in Aishalton age limit for children, Mohabir added that children must be allowed to access education up to at least 16 years of age to acquire a sound secondary education, according to the Ministry's standards.

The Schools Welfare Officer also posited that while some parents may have difficulties at home, "our children should not be sent into the back dam to work when they should be in school because they will

have better opportunities if they get an education as opposed to them being allowed to leave school early."

Mohabir said, too, “There is also the need for us to help encourage 'will

power' because where there is a will there is always a way... We got to have that will power and desire to see our children succeed and do better than we have.”

"We are happy that you (continued on page 22)

St. Pius Primary receives robotics kits Students busy with their robot building

T

he St. Pius Primary School robotics club yesterday received a visit from Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes. The Minister's visit coincided with the school receiving robotics kits.

The event saw Minister Cathy Hughes, ICT officials, STEM Officials, students, teachers and members of the media witnessing the students indulge in building mini robots from the

manuals, as well as from their imagination.

Ms. Audrey Massiah, a teacher at the school, attended the STEM programme some months ago.

She was overjoyed that the students were about to get that same experience and even more.

The interest in the school was developed and when the STEM official reached out to Minister Hughes to partner, immediately she responded.

Via the ICT hubs established by the Minister, STEM Guyana was able to reach over 35 different STEM Club Programmes.

The Minister said she is excited that young people are having the fabulous opportunity to study robotics and they are lucky to have the collaboration with STEM Guyana.

“The young people in Guyana should be ready for the new world of technology.

They should be given the

Students giving a robotics lesson

same opportunities as children in other parts of the world.”

Thirty-five hubs were earmarked so that students in their vicinity and schools close by can benefit from free STEM training.

The government has put all of these opportunities and initiatives in place with help from the private sector to ask parents, teachers and students to take advantage of all it has to offer.

Minister Hughes said

that the young people are good with technology and they already intimately know how to use a phone.

For the jobs that will be available in the future they will need all these skills, and they should start thinking about how to make a living when they get older.

The students also benefitted from the Scratch Programme which is computer-based and which allows for the animations of letters, the creation of games

and stories among others.

One student demonstrated how to animate her name and assign sounds to specific letters.

Students were encouraged to showcase and interact with members of the media about what they have been doing over the course of the last two days.

In her closing remarks the Minister wished the Grade Six students well at their exams and encouraged the others to keep learning.

Kaieteur News

Thursday April 11, 2019

PAGE 21

AFC elects new RMC chairman for the third time in two months A

fter a few Alliance for C h a n g e members in Berbice expressed their displeasure with the way the recent Regional Management Committee (RMC) elections have been held, a third election was held two days ago.

It resulted in a new RMC chairman being voted in.

However, questions are still lingering since this election was done with less than half of the registered members of the party. On the previous elections 72 members took part in the voting process.

In March, a Regional Management Committee (AFC/RMC) election was held when Subash Orilall was elected as the new chairman.

That election was declared null and void by the General Secretary of the party, Marlon Williams, after some issues were raised by members.

An executive member of the AFC had told Kaieteur News that Derek Basdeo had declared himself the Returning Officer for the elections then, but that was not "given the green light by senior members of the party. “The result was that they

Members pose with the newly elected Chairman of the RMC, Subash Orilall, (plaid shirt in front) along with the GS Marlon Williams (first from right front row) had to declare it null and void because Basdeo was not mandated to do that. It only had Ramjattan set of people voting in that.".

That resulted in a second election in February. At that election Lindon Jones was voted in as the new RMC Chairman with over 70 members voting, but members from the "Ramjattan faction" had walked out.

A meeting was held with

the General Secretary in Berbice a few days after the election and it was announced that a new date again will be set for another RMC election.

"They weren't pleased with who was voted in, because apparently they want Ramjattan people to be heading the committee and Jones was not in Ramjattan fraction of the party", an AFC Berbice member said.

That third election held on

West Berbice man dies after falling off truck

A

Rosignol, West Bank Berbice man, lost his life on Tuesday in a freak accident on the Cotton Tree Public Road, West Coast Berbice.

The dead man has been identified as John Mohamed, 44, of Rosignol, West Bank Berbice. He reportedly fell out of the back of a Canter truck.

The man was a bachelor who fathered no children. He lived with other family members and worked with his brother who is a businessman. At the time, Mohamed was working on the Canter which is owned by his brother. The police are investigating the cause of the fatal incident which occurred on about 16:30 hrs.

According to reports motor Canter GKK 2071, which is owned by Chetram Ramoutar, of Lot 267 Geraldine Street, Rosignol, was being driven by 22-year-old Anwar Ghanniaoman of 46 Section A Cotton Tree, at the time of the accident. The canter which was reportedly transporting sand from Rosignol to Cotton Tree had dropped off the Sand and was returning toward Rosignol with the deceased and two others in the back of the enclosed Canter.

The right half back door was not properly secured and as the vehicle was negotiating a turn on the Cotton Tree Public Road, the door flew open. The deceased who was sitting

John Mohamed next to the open back door reportedly fell off the Canter and unto the road. He sustained injuries to his head and other parts of his body.

He was picked up in an unconscious state, placed in the said Canter and rushed to the Fort Wellington Hospital where he received emergency treatment.

He was subsequently transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The driver was tested for alcohol and no trace was found.

He is in custody and the vehicle has been lodged.

Sunday resulted in Subash Orilall grabbing the chairman spot but only 33 members attended and voted, far fewer than the second election.

Donna Mathoo was among the persons who declined nominations while Gobin Harbhajan, Mavis Nagamootoo, Lindon Jones among others were all absent.

Over the past few months after the Local Government Elections in 2018, the Alliance For Change has attracted some controversy with members from within the party almost daily providing information of

alleged wrongdoings within the party.

Several members have expressed their lack of confidence in the way things are being done but are afraid to go on record for fear that they may be penalized and

criticized in some way.

Just recently, there was an assault matter filed against an AFC member by two other AFC members in Berbice after there was a physical and verbal (continued on page 12)

PAGE 22

Thursday April 11, 2019

Kaieteur News

Wait and willpower' key...

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WANTED Wanted urgently. Fish processing plant workers. Contact 223-5180, 500-2661 Porters. Apply with written application @ Best Buy Food Supplies, Lot 1E Dennis & Middleton Street, Campbellville 1 Security personnel to work shift. 6 Days a week. Tel# 2275536/ 223-0504 One truck driver preferably from Diamond/Grove area. Age 40 & over. Tel: 644-5957 Wanted urgently. One part time babysitter/ tutor for a 3 year old. Contact 603-2590 One truck driver needed. Call 223-7165 One experienced cook needed urgently to work in creole restaurant. Must know to make pastries. Contact#6269900.

Wanted experienced hire car driver at Ramada Princess Hotel. Contact 616-5419, 2657075 Live in or live out domestic worker. Call from Monday Saturday between 8:15 4:15PM 223-7500

Council to work with...

1 Cashier, 1 food server.Food handler certificate needed.

Must have experience. Call 231-8737

From page 12 fuel-laden bush trucks parked in front of people's premises.

According to her, the city council should no longer allow these bush trucks to pass Agricola and enter Georgetown because of the amount of damage they are causing to city streets.

“People have to understand that a penalty is a penalty; it's nothing you can just pick up US$12 or US$50 and pay off.

They (businesses) could put it (their containers) on the road for 10 days and pull out $25,000 out their pocket easy, because they have $50M worth in the container.”

City Hall had decided to implement a $25,000 container fee, but the proposal had attracted much flak from members of the business community and the PSC.

Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665/6493750 Urgently needed soursop leaves and stem from 50lbs to 1000lbs. Tel#609-8281

Wanted experienced MD Guyana Inc is looking for carpenters. Apply Alabama (1) female clerk;computer liter- Trading. 65-67 Robb Street ate, knowledge of Accounting, Bourda. 227-4234. reliable, honest, email photo & resume to Douglas.Lind@ Wanted land to buy anywhere on the East Bank, West Coast majordrilling.com and Parfaite Harmonie. Tel: 1 Experienced male sales 697-6311 attendant with stocktaking knowledge. Apply with One general domestic. Must handwritten application & able to prepare vegetarian recommendation. KeyFood meal. Apply at Alabama Trading 65 Robb street McDoom Village.

Bourda General domestic. 3 Days work.

Must know to cook. Apply Handyman to do errands and with 2 references. KeyFood minor repairs to building. Half day. Call 500-5519 McDoom village (1) Office/counter clerk. Must be computer literate & possess Maths & English. Telles steel & Hardware. Tel#226-6771/ 231-3265

“I encourage you [parents] to take the message to other parents who have not come to this meeting," said Ms. Karen Andre, a teacher of the Aishalton Primary School.

"I was elected chairperson of the PTA here about two weeks ago. What I have recognised after being away for 20 years is that we [parents] need some more training but we are happy that you have come to encourage us," said Mr. Ray Atkinson.

The Town Hall meetings began on April 4 and will conclude on June 13, 2019.

The objectives of the Town Hall Meetings are to encourage parents to embrace collaboration between home and school, empower parents through health and family life education and to make parents aware of social issues that can affect the academic achievement of their children; and the necessary programmes available for assistance and guidance.

In total, 13 meetings are scheduled. In the deep south of the Rupununi Region Nine, the village of Aishalton is home to more than 1,000 residents and is located about 100km from the township of Lethem. It has schools at the secondary, primary and nursery levels.

Those in attendance included Leyon Jones, Head Teacher of Aishalton Secondary School; Ms. Jean Nah-naFook, Head Teacher of Aishalton Primary School; and Ms. Joan Peters, the Head Teacher of Aishalton Nursery School.

Experienced whole day domestic. 4 Days per week.

Excellent salary & conditions to work in Bel-Air Park. Call 500-5519

Thursday April 11, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Guyana’s Green State agenda MoE donates wheelchair promoted at ACS summit to boy with Special Needs

Guyana’s Ambassador to Cuba, His Excellency Abdool Halim Majeed at the eighth Summit of Heads of State and Government of the ACS Guyana’s Ambassador to Cuba, Abdool Halim Majeed, recently reiterated the country’s commitment “to combat the adverse effects of climate change”.

The statements were made at the Eighth Summit of Heads of State and Government for Member States of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) held in Managua, Nicaragua on March 29, 2019.Representatives of the 35 ACS Member States met under the theme “Uniting Efforts in the Caribbean to Face Climate Change” while also celebrating the 25th anniversary of the establishment of that body.

Noting the importance of the ACS to the stimulation of sustainable development in the Greater Caribbean region, Ambassador Majeed pointed to Guyana’s own efforts in this regard.

“We have embarked on the development of a Green State or a Green Economy. In summary, it is “a total transformative plan at every level, including the household and the community.” It allows for promoting “energy generation from renewable resources and the preservation of wetlands, waterways and lakes,” he stated in a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Additionally, Ambassador Majeed emphasized ongoing efforts to further develop the local eco-tourism sector.

“Guyana has devoted considerable resources, not only to developing new and innovative eco-friendly tourism products as a part of our Green State Strategy, but also to incorporate sustainable tourism best practices into all aspects of its strategy, planning and programming,” Am-

bassador Majeed said.

He revealed to the Heads that these efforts had not gone unnoticed as Guyana was recently named the Number One “Best of Ecotourism” destination in the world at the ITB Global Travel Trade Fair in Berlin.

During the summit, ACS Member States adopted the Managua Declaration in which countries pledged to unite efforts to tackle the effects of climate change, reinforce the region as a zone of peace, focus on sustainable development, ensure safe migration and support the call made by CARICOM for reparations for the Trans-Atlantic slave trade and slavery.

They also adopted an Action Plan for the period of 2019-2021.

Miner who shot reputed wife remanded

F

ifty-two-year-old Desmond Hamer, who allegedly shot his reputed wife, Ava Abrams, last Sunday, was remanded, yesterday, on an attempted murder charge.

Hamer was represented by attorney-atlaw Crystal Lambert when he appeared in the

Bartica Magistrate’s Court.

Abrams, 49, a businesswoman of Lot 77 Third Avenue Bartica, was sitting in her car when the accused attacked her.

During an argument, Hamer allegedly drew his pistol and shot her on her left hand.

He is to return to court on May 2.

Passengers urged to travel only...

From page 8 people know the boats that are ferrying passengers... have operators who are licensed and once you are licensed to carry passengers, it brings some amount of safety in terms of the entire boat operation.

“I think it is a good venture and it will be welcomed by associations throughout the length and breadth of Guyana.”

Captain Narine, who plies the Supenaam to Parika route, said that it will help passengers identify the boats that are safe for travelling. “The passengers will know it's a licensed boat and it is not the 'hustle boat' because after hours, the hustle boat charges

an extra fee and passengers blame all the boat operators, including the licensed boats and captains as well.

“They say they travelled on a boat and had to pay X dollars. So, this will help them; it will shine a guiding light for passengers, especially those who travel regularly.”

The different coloured decals seen on the boats will identify which route the vessels are travelling. Blue stickers are for the Bartica route, green for Supenaam, purple for Leguan and orange for Demerara.

The initiative was a call made by boat operators to protect themselves and their passengers. “The colours will signify the route and the route is

also at the front of the boats. It is basically for passengers to know which are the boats that are certified as competent by MARAD and those that are not.“They should not go on because they probably are not safe to travel on,” Director of Maritime Safety, Captain John Flores explained.

Passengers are being called upon to only use such boats and to adhere to the safety regulations when traveling in the vessels.

Licensed boat operators can uplift the decals at the various stellings or at the MARAD office for $1,500. (DPI)

Jeremiah Bailey surrounded by his mother and officials after the wheelchair presentation The office of the Deputy Chief Education Officer, Ministry of Education, handed over a wheelchair to Jeremiah Bailey, yesterday.

Bailey was referred to the Regional Centre for Stimulating Children, Youth and Adolescents with Special Education Needs associated with Disabilities.

Jeremiah needed to be re-evaluated to determine the level of support needed as he is scheduled to sit the upcoming National Grade Six Examination.

It was noted that Jeremiah’s mother had to physically take him from the car to the building

and then to various departments where he accessed evaluations owing to the fact that he did not have a wheelchair.

The Regional Centre for Stimulating Children, Youth and Adolescents with Special Education Needs, associated with Disabilities was birthed out of efforts to strengthen the CARICOM-Cuba programme of cooperation.

The Centre located on the campus of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Public Health with technical support from Cuban Specialists.

Guyana to have first ever National Robotics Competition Guyana will be hosting its first ever National Robotics Competition this year.

The competition which will attract at least 60 teams from all 10 administrative regions isn’t aimed at youths being perfect at robot building. It’s a challenge to be optimistic, to learn, to strengthen skills, to think critically and to solve conflicts, said STEM Guyana Co-Founder Karen Abrams.

Lethem came on board last week to be a part of the competition. They are looking to take a trip out to Mabaruma as well to engage them in the initiative. The first Global Robotics International Competition will be held in October, in Dubai.

However, the National Robotics in Guyana from May 5 is a pre-qualifier for the International Youth Robotics Competition held in August in Korea.

The team for this isn’t necessarily going to be the team that wins the Guyanese leg but the more talented will be put into a team and they will represent the country. STEM Guyana is looking at sponsorship, as well as parents either being able to come or send their child or children if they are selected.

She expressed joy at the youths being brought up to speed with children from other countries, and that they are being brought in line for the betterment of the country.

Karen Abrams the CO-Founder of STEM Guyana

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Kaieteur News

Thursday April 11, 2019

Thursday April 11, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Virat Kohli achieves double honour as Wisden 2019 is published ESPNcricinfo - Virat Kohli’s reputation as the outstanding cricketer of his generation has been further enhanced by a brace of accolades in the 2019 edition of Wisden Cricketers’Almanack, which is published yesterday. · Kohli, who will lead India’s World Cup campaign in England later this year, has been named as the Leading Cricketer in the World for an unprecedented third year in a row. · He has also achieved one of the few accolades to have eluded him in his career so far, by being named as one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year, the oldest individual award in the sport. · Jos Buttler and Sam Curran were also named among the five cricketers, following their key roles in England’s summer cam-

paigns, alongside Rory Burns, Surrey’s championship-winning captain, and Tammy Beaumont,the outstanding player in another successful year for England’s women. · Kohli’s fellow Indian, Smriti Mandhana, is the Leading Cricketer in the women’s game, after racking up 1291 runs across limited-overs formats, including 13 half-centuries, while Rashid Khan, the Afghanistan legspinner, is the Leading Twenty20 Cricketer for the second year in a row. · Kohli, however, was the sport’s dominant figure in 2018, making 2735 international runs at 68.37 across all formats, more than 700 more than his nearest challenger, England’s Joe Root. · In that time, he scored a remarkable 11 centuries in 37 innings, seven of which came on India’s tours of South Af-

Virat Kohli with his batting gear in Australia. (Getty Images) rica, England and Australia, traditionally three of toughest venues for overseas batsmen. · His form on the Test tour of England was particularly outstanding - al-

Thursday 11 April 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) The vast social whirl of late might have overwhelmed you with new names and faces, all of which you want to remember.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Your skills with computers and other forms of technology should be growing rapidly. This will greatly increase your efficiency with these tools and your marketability, should you be thinking of changing careers or simply be looking for a new position.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You should feel especially strong, motivated, and focused, Gemini. Your ability to establish yourself in the world is enhanced by increased self-sufficiency.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Sudden positive developments regarding the family could make a big difference to your future if you make the most of them, Cancer.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You might want to leave the office early today to finish all those pressing errands, Leo. Phone calls could keep you busy, as could small tasks that still need tending around the house.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) A task that requires a lot of writing might have you discovering a new talent you never knew you had. You might be surprised, but you will want to develop this new skill.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) A new piece of equipment could be delivered to the workplace and make you feel like you've received a new toy. Resist the temptation to spend the afternoon playing!

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Emotional reunions with friends or relatives you haven't seen in a long time could take place today, Scorpio. Some of these might be unplanned and off the wall.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) A quarrel with a friend might put you in the position of having to lay all your cards on the table and tell him or her exactly how you feel. It isn't always easy to be so frank.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) A talent for writing that you haven't tapped may surface today, Capricorn. Perhaps using a computer, particularly one with voice activation, is making it possible.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You could either be planning or preparing for a long journey by air, Aquarius.

Your plans may still need to be confirmed.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Unexpected social invitations might find you meeting people in the healing professions - doctors, surgeons, nurses, or technicians. You might also rub shoulders with bankers and investment information.

though India slipped to a 4-1 series defeat, Kohli himself made 593 runs in the five Tests at 59.30, including hundreds at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge. · And, as a consequence of making such a big impact on the

English season, he was finally named as one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year, an honour that dates back to 1889. · Wisden states that “excellence in, or influence on, the previous English summer are the major criteria for inclusion as a Cricketer of the Year”, and seeing as Kohli had managed just 134 runs at 13.40 on his previous Test tour in 2014, this was his first real opportunity to claim an exclusive honour that - unlike the Leading Cricketer award - can only be achieved once in any player’s career. · “Despite finishing on the losing side, India captain Virat Kohli shone with the bat, laying to rest his struggles in England in 2014,” said Wisden’s editor, Lawrence Booth. · “His Test batting, espe-

cially in England, was magnificent, while his 50-over form moved to a new level - if that was possible.” · Elsewhere in the 2019 Wisden, the Almanack’s 156th edition, Booth reflects on another eventful year for the sport, which included the fallout from Australia’s ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town , and the retirement of England’s leading Test runscorer, Alastair Cook, who features on the front cover alongside England’s leading wicket-taker, James Anderson.

“There was more to him than met the eye,” Booth wrote in his Notes By the Editor.

“Sluggish between the wickets, he was tter than anyone.

Possessing only three strokes against the seamers - the cut and the pull grew scarce as bowlers cottoned on, leaving the nudge off the hip - he made more Test runs than any other left-hander or opener.

“And he took his only Test wicket while impersonating Bob Willis. When Radio 4’s “World At One” cut to a clip of Cook “doing what he did best”, that wicket is what they came up with, as if his 12,472 runs had passed them by.

“But in one respect Cook was no paradox: for mental strength, England has never seen anyone like him. Even his parting shot - 71 and 147 against the world’s No.1 side [India] - required him to rediscover the edge he said had deserted him. We shouldn’t have been surprised.”

In Cook’s absence, Booth is pessimistic about the prospects of England’s Test team uncovering another top-order batsman to replace his grit and resolve - not least given the advent in 2020 of the ECB’s new competition, The Hundred, a format about which he is scathing.

“Quite what a 100-ball tournament will do to England’s search for a Test top order does not bear thinking about,” he wrote.

“If only someone at the ECB had been on hand last year to explain why they thought it a good idea to stake cricket’s wellbeing on a form of the game played nowhere else in the world.”“England’s openers were once the envy of the world; gutsy, stoical, pragmatic, they may even have embodied a certain Britishness. Now, it’s a pleasant surprise when one survives until lunch.”“It is not easy to see what can be done while the domestic schedule treats four-day cricket as an inconvenience … unless the Championship can reclaim the turf of high summer, the flow of hopeful young openers will slow to a trickle.”

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Thursday April 11, 2019

Kaieteur News

Pollard, Joseph trump Gayle fifty as Mumbai win last-ball thriller MUMBAI, India, CMC – Captain Kieron Pollard struck a magnificent half-century but it was an unruffled Alzarri Joseph who stole a share of the honours as he scrambled a couple of the last ball of the match, to hand Mumbai Indians a dramatic three-wicket win over Chris Gayle’s Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League here yesterday.

Starting the final over requiring 15 runs to overhaul their target of 198 at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai looked certain for the win when Pollard blasted a six off the first ball – a no-ball – from seamer Ankit Rajpoot and then lashed the resulting free hit for four.

With just four runs needed from five balls, Pollard holed out to deep mid-wicket for a top score of 83 off just 31 deliveries.

Joseph, who ended on an invaluable 15 not out off 13

balls, was kept scoreless off the third ball before getting a single off the fourth, and when Rahul Chahar squeezed a single into the deep, it left Mumbai needed two from the final ball.

However, Antiguan Joseph kept his composure to punch Rajpoot down the ground and claim a memorable win for the hosts.

Veteran Gayle had earlier struck 63 off 36 balls as Kings XI reached 197 for four off their 20 overs, after being sent in.

The left-hander struck three fours and seven sixes but was outshone by opening partner Lokesh Rahul who carved out a brilliant unbeaten even hundred off 64 balls, striking half-dozen fours and sixes.

Crucially, the pair put on 116 for the first wicket before Rahul combined with Mandeep Singh (seven not out) to add a further 46 in an

unbroken fifth stand and give Kings XI a strong end to their innings.Joseph, who snatched a record-breaking six-wicket haul in his previous match, sent down two overs for 22 runs.In reply, Mumbai found themselves in trouble at 94 for four at the end of the

Heat’s Wade set for finale at Brooklyn Dwyane Wade was hoping to extend his legendary career into at least four postseason games.

Instead, Wade’s career was set to end last night when the Heat visited the playoffbound Brooklyn Nets, who were in line to clinch the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.

Wade, 37, announced his retirement on Sept 16 before training camp began, and this season has been a farewell tour filled with a few magical moments and some postgame jersey exchanges.

Despite the good feelings of celebrating Wade’s storied career, which began as the No. 5 overall draft pick in 2003 and includes NBA championships in 2006, 2012 and 2013, the Heat were unable to do enough to reach the postseason this year.

Miami was formally eliminated Tuesday night as Wade’s career was celebrated in front of home fans for the final time. Wade scored 30 points in his first start of the season in a 122-99 rout of the Philadelphia 76ers, exited to a standing ovation in the final minute and exchanged jerseys with Jimmy Butler.

“I’m still just amazed, even after all these years,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

“I’ve seen him go into his bag of tricks so many times and just compartmentalize. But I’m truly amazed that he was able to perform like that tonight.”

Wade’s final moments in front of the home fans occurred after the Detroit Pis-

The Pandyas pile onto Kieron Pollard after Mumbai seal a last-ball win. (BCCI)

West Indies batting star Kieron Pollard.

12th over despite 24 from Quinton de Kock and 21 from Suryakumar Yadav.

But Pollard, leading Mumbai for the first time in the absence of Rohit Sharma, promoted himself to number four and revived the innings, adding 41 for the fifth wicket with

Hardik Pandya (19) and a further 54 with Joseph for the seventh wicket.

All told, the right-handed Pollard blasted three fours and 10 sixes as he raced to his first half-century of the season off 22 deliveries.

With the victory, Mumbai

Ethiopian Olympic protest runner...

From page 30 not because of the prize money. I’m happy because I’m witnessing my struggle being fruitful in the country,’’ Feyisa told the BBC Afaan Oromoo after the ceremony.

He joined Mr Abiy and

President Sahilework Zewude in doing a gesture showing that his hands were now unshackled.

Anti-government protesters had used the crossing of arms above their heads as a symbol of defiance.

P.K.F Barcellos, Narine & Co. Tapeball cricket tourney on this weekend Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) takes a breather against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first half at American Airlines Arena.

(Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports file photo) tons (40-41) stormed back from a 22-point deficit to beat the Memphis Grizzlies and eliminate the Heat (39-42).

Miami will miss the postseason for the third time in five seasons since LeBron James returned to Cleveland in 2014.The Heat were one game over .500 three times but only reached the .500 mark once since Jan. 27 and were done in by losing four straight before Tuesday.

Brooklyn (41-40) will face either third-seeded Philadelphia or second-seeded Toronto in the first round of the playoffs. The Nets are even with Orlando but own the head-the-head tiebreaker and would finish sixth with a win or if the Magic lost yesterday at Charlotte.

The Nets are in this position because of what unfolded in a challenging road back-toback set. After getting a fivepoint win at Milwaukee on Saturday, Brooklyn led most of the way and celebrated

clinching a playoff berth with a 108-96 victory at Indiana on Sunday.

“To be honest, it is a big moment for us and a big moment for the organization, from where we’ve come from in the last couple of years, the improvement that we’ve had individually and collectively,” Nets guard Joe Harris said at practice Tuesday. “Just to clinch a playoff spot, it’s a big moment for the organization for sure, and we’re all very happy. But at the same time, we still have Miami left to finish out the year the right way, and we still want to make some noise in the playoffs and make it competitive.”

By clinching Sunday, the Nets are in a position to rest players, and two may be out.

DeMarre Carroll will sit out due to a sprained right wrist while Harris — who leads the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage — is questionable because of a sore right foot.

(Field Level Media)

moved up to third on eight points while Kings XI, also on eight points, slipped to fourth.

Scores: Mumbai Indians 198 for 7 (Pollard 83, Shami 3-21) beat Kings XI Punjab 197 for 4 (Rahul 100*, Gayle 63, Hardik 2-57) by three wickets.

T

his Saturday, the Royal Tape Ball Academy (RTBA) will be hosting their fourth annual end of term, In ter Secondary School super-6 overs knockout Tapeball cricket competition on the Durban Park tarmac from 08:45hrs.

So far, the following schools have registered to participate including The Bishops’ High School, South Ruimveldt Secondary, New Campbellville Secondary, I.E.A, The Business School, Central High, Carmel Secondary, St. George’s High School, School of the Nations, Christ Church, St. John’s College, Covent Garden, Friendship, Dolphin Secondary and North Georgetown Secondary.

The winning school teams will walk away with the P.K.F. Barcellos, Narine and Co. Trophy with medals and $70,000 cash, while the runner up will pocket $30,000 in addition to the second place trophy.

The MVP will receive a gold cricket band in the tournament that is being coordinated by James Lewis and Loran Tracey.

Consult players first...

From page 29 Skerritt’s election has been widely viewed as a positive development, especially with outgoing president Dave Cameron having become widely unpopular during his three terms in charge.

But Holding said it was important the new CWI leadership engage in wide consultation ahead of fundamental changes.

“They also need to sit down with administration, the people who actually work and are paid by the West Indies cricket board [and ask] what do you think? How do you think we should move forward? The financial controller, the CEO, the head of coaching – all of those people,” the Jamaican said.

“It is a long process … [they need to] see what needs to be fixed, see what needs to be changed.”

Feyisa became the first Ethiopian to finish in the top two of a men’s Olympics marathon since 2000, taking silver behind Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge.

After his political protest, Ethiopian officials denied he was in danger, saying he would be welcomed home from Rio as a hero.

But at the time, Mr Feyisa said he had relatives who were in prison and if they talked about democratic rights they would be killed.

He told the BBC that since his return to Ethiopia he had not been able to race competitively as he was struggling to acclimatise back home.

Feyisa is from Oromia, home to most of E t h i o p i a ’s 3 5 m i l l i o n Oromo people, where a wave of anti-government protests began in the region in November 2015 with people complaining about social and political marginalisation.

The demonstrations led to the resignation of Hailemariam Desalegn as prime minister in February 2018.

In just a few months, his successor, who is also from Oromia, had lifted the state of emergency, ordered the release of thousands of prisoners, allowed dissidents to return home and unblocked hundreds of websites and TV channels.

He also ended the state of war with Eritrea by agreeing to give up disputed border territory, in the process normalising relations with the long-time foe.

Thursday April 11, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Regal Masters overcome Wellman Masters to take Mike’s Pharmacy softball title

Kippins- Man-of-the-match Troy Kippins accepts his prize from Latoya Smith.

L

ed by a fine allround performance from Troy Kippins, Regal Masters defeated Wellman Masters to win the final of the Mike’s Pharmacy 15-over softball tournament which was contested on Sunday last.

Lloyd Ruplall’s rich run of form continued as he fashioned a fine unbeaten 68 to propel Wellman Masters to a commendable 156-4, taking first strike at Malteenoes Sports Club. Ruplall thumped five fours and four sixes and

got support from Eon Lovell with 32 which contained one four and four sixes and Greg De Franca who struck five fours and one six in scoring 31. Mohendra Arjune claimed 2-46, Kippins 1-28 and Tyrone Sanasie 1-29. Kippins then blasted two fours and a similar number of sixes in a top score of 40 at the top of the order to lead Regal Masters chase. Rudolph Baker struck five sixes in scoring 32, while Eon Abel made 28 including three fours and one six and Arjune 18 not out as Regal

The victorious Regal Masters Masters responded with 159-4 in 14 overs. Rawle Reid captured 3-18; Kippins was named manof-the-match.

Regal Masters beat Fisherman Masters by 29 runs in their semi final encounter. Batting first, Regal Masters posted 192-5 with Eric Thomas scoring 101, while Baker and David Harper got 19 each. Puran Singh had 2-20 and Zameer Hassan 2-24.

In reply, Fisherman Masters made 163-8. Ewie

Sharma made 61, Jagdesh Persaud 24 and Unnis Yusuf 17; Arjune picked up 3-27 and Laurie Singh 2-27.

Wellman Masters defeated HS Masters by 47 runs in their matchup. Wellman Masters took first strike and scored 198-6.

Lovell struck 56 not out, while De Franca made 46 and Latchman Kallicharran 29. H. Singh claimed 2-16 and M. Ifill 2-43. HS Masters responded with 151-9. J. Jairam led with 72, while Danny Mohanram got 26 as Reid grabbed a hat-

trick in taking 3-21; Kallicharran had 2-19 and Wayne Jones 2-41. The tournament served as a warm up for Regal who will be defending the Masters and Open titles at the upcoming Florida Cup. (Zaheer Mohamed)

RHTYSC Cricket Teams support Port Mourant Public Hospital with sizeable donation

WCC/Mike’s Pharmacy/ Trophy Stall U19

Hansraj, Ramkissoon boost Good Success/SS/ SS Jaguars, Jadookool grabs 6 as Z’dia/MP triumph Half centuries from Devendra Hansraj and Bhumeshwar Ramkissoon guided Good Success/ Sans Souci/ Sans Souci Jaguars to a 113-run victory over G Square Cavaliers, while Zeelandia/Maria’s Pleasure defeated Noitgedacht Sports Club by 52 runs when the Wakenaam Cricket Committee Mike’s Pharmacy/Trophy Stall U19 40-over tournament continued on Sunday last.

At the Wakenaam Community Centre ground, Good Success/Sans Souci/SS Jaguars posted 221-6 off their reduced quota of 30 overs, batting first.

Openers Bhumeshwar Ramkissoon and Mahase Ramnarine added 51 before Ramnarine, who struck four fours and one six, was lbw to pacer Mahendra Dindyal for 22. Ramkissoon, who timed the ball well, put on a further 45 with Devon Ramrattan with sensible batting. Ramrattan was caught off Toshall Surujpaul for 21, while Ramkissoon was run out for a well played 66 which contained six fours and two sixes.

Devendra Hansraj further

RHTYSC Secretary CEO Hilbert Foster hands over donation to Doctor of the Port Mourant Hospital.

T

Devendra Hansraj Bhumeshwar Ramkissoon propped up the total with a robust unbeaten 70 which included six fours and four sixes as Tikeshwar Nankoo picked up 2-26, while Dindyal and Surujpaul had one each. G Square Cavaliers never recovered following the demise of both openers cheaply and were restricted to 108-8 in reply. Dindyal made 28, while Balram Persaud and Kumesh Sudin got 16 and 14 respectively. Diquain Clarke took two wickets.

At Zeelandia, Zeelandia/

Maria’s Pleasure beat Noitgedacht SC by 52 runs.

Batting first, Zeelandia/ Maria’s Pleasure made 1307 from their reduced 30 overs. Rickey Persaud scored 36, while Derindra Sitaram got 20 as Terrence Softley claimed 2-21 and Cleon Retemiah 2-28.

Noitgedacht SC were bowled out for 78 in reply.

Andrew Binda and Fitzroy Retemiah got 13 each as Mohindar Jadookool bagged 6-8.

he ten cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS on Monday last fulfilled a committment made by their Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster and handed over $100,000 worth of materials to the Management of the Port Mourant Public Hospital.

The Secretary/CEO was very impressed with the high standard of the staff and the general physical upkeep of the institution after being a patient for a week recently.

Foster stated that the donation would be the first of many to the hospital as the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club and its cricket teams would establish a long term relationship with the hospital. The donation included

stationery, clocks, medical items, electric iron, blenders, kitchen utensils, toys, calculators and crayons among others. The long standing Secretary/CEO disclosed that another donation would be done shortly, while four doctors and ten nurses would be honoured on the 12th May, 2019 under the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club first ever Tribute to Health Workers Programme.

Noting that he was unwilling to visit the Public Hospital because of negative reports in the media, Foster stated that the service was at the highest level.

Head Doctor at the Hospital Dr. Devendra Radhay expressed gratitude to the Rose

Hall Town Youth & Sports Club for the contribution. He stated that the entire Management and Staff were committed towards providing health care service at the highest standard. Over the last five months, the compound and facilities of the hospital have undergone remarkable transformation under Dr. Radhay’s dynamic leadership.

The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club Cricket Teams are among the best in Berbice and in 2018/2019 have won fifteen titles and being runner-up in three others.

They are also involved in many off the field programmes and activities to the benefit of the Berbice community at large.

PAGE 28

Letter to the Editor Majority Cricket Stakeholders respond to Minister Norton Request President Granger’s intervention Dear Sports Editor, Minister George Norton’s comments in the Stabroek News dated 8th April, 2019 are cause for concern as they tend to confuse rather than resolve the ongoing cricket crisis.

A recent High Court ruling has deemed the Executives of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) illegal, null, void and of no legal effect justifying the stated position of the Majority of Stakeholders of Guyana Cricket over the past eight (8) years, principally because there were no constitutional elections of the GCB during that time. Minister Norton’s assertion that the “national impact this ruling has on the sport leaves the door open for uncertainty” is therefore alarming.

We resent the Hon. Minister’s reference to us as ‘those calling themselves cricket stakeholders’ since we have made it clear on several occasions, and it is worth repeating, that the Majority Stakeholders of Guyana Cricket comprise the Berbice Cricket Board, the East Coast Cricket Board, the Georgetown Cricket Association and the Upper Demerara Cricket Association.

These Associations / Boards collectively constitute the major strength of Guyana’s Cricket Administration /structure.

A check of the male and female players at all levels would reveal that, with a small exception, they come from these areas as reflected in our national teams over the past fifteen (15) years.

Sadly however, these areas have been deliberately excluded from the mainstream of Guyana Cricket administration and have also been denied subventions or any form of assistance from the GCB. It is pertinent to note that that the Cricket Executives of these areas have all been democratically elected to office unlike the illegal executives of the GCB who Minister Norton appears to be so passionately supporting.

Minister Norton’s comment that the extremely talented Keemo Paul and Shimron Hetmyer have ‘put Guyana on the map’ clearly indicates that the Minister is out of touch with reality for Guyana has been on the ‘cricket map’ for well over three-quarters of a century. It

Thursday April 11, 2019

Kaieteur News

may be of interest to the Minister that these two (2) youngsters are products of Georgetown and Berbice. Like Ramnaresh Sarwan, Keemo Paul is Essequibo-born but has played and developed his cricket within the Georgetown Cricket Association.

Minister Norton is respectfully reminded of the following: 1. It was Anand Sanasie and the illegal Executives of the GCB which filed an injunction preventing Dr. Winston Mc Gowan from officiating as the Cricket Ombudsman whilst challenging the Guyana Cricket Administration Act 2014, a case which languished in the court for years while the illegal executives occupied the GCB conveniently and selfservingly.

2. It was the Anand Sanasie-led GCB which urged the Parliamentary Cricket SubCommittee to exclude the entire Upper Demerara (including Linden) from the Guyana Cricket Administration Act. 3.

That Minister N o r t o n ’s a s s e r t i o n t h a t Stephen Lewis is a lawyer and has integrity is not a point in question.

What is the critical point is that the Ombudsman must be independent and impartial reflective of a Supreme Court Judge.

4. Minister Norton publicly stated in the Guyana Chronicle of 16th May, 2018 that the present GCB is illegal and further opined that “the life of the present members of the GCB had long expired”.

He also said, “As far as the Guyana Cricket Administration Act 2014 is concerned, we don’t have a GCB because that first election never took p l a c e a n d t h a t t h e first election was to create a Guyana Cricket Board, so this Guyana Cricket Board (the Anand Sanasie Cricket Board) is illegal, because they were appointed for a certain time and that time has passed by years”.

5. In September 2018 Minister Norton’s Department of Sport had filed a swor n a f f i d a v i t ( 2 0 1 8 HC-DEM-CIV-FDA-808) in the High Court declaring among other things that the GCB exe c u t i v e s w e r e i l l e g a l, that they had hijacked the Board and that the Court has

the power to terminate the appointment of Mr. Stephen Lewis as Cricket Ombudsman.

6. It came as an utter surprise to the cricketing public when in December 2018 Minister Norton along with Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo attended the GCB Award Ceremony despite the facts as presented in that affidavit ostensibly giving unwarranted credibility to the illegal GCB regime.

In view of the foregoing we, the Majority of Stakeholders of Guyana Cricket, urge the Hon. Minister George Norton to allow the court to play its part in bringing resolution to the shambolic state in which Guyana’s cricket has fallen.

President David Granger and the Government of Guyana have seen it necessary to create a Ministry to bring cohesion to the people of Guyana and have placed much emphasis on sport as a vehicle to enhance that cohesion. Minister Norton’s current posturing is therefore of great concern, given that cricket is our number one sport and plays an important part in this regard.

The Hon. Minister seems to be incapable of discharging the functions and duties of his designated portfolio resulting in the continuation of the divisiveness and chaos that have plagued the administration of cricket in Guyana.

As the subject Minist e r, t h e H o n . G e o rge Norton must approach the cricket crisis in an impartial manner, failing which he could be accused of once again bringing embarrassment to our Government.

We respectfully call on His Excellency, President David Granger to intervene by having the appointment of Stephen Lewis as Cricket Ombudsmen rescinded and also to ensure that decency, order, accountability and legitimacy are once again the pillars upon which of our beloved national game can be supported.

Malcolm Peters Former Vice-President of the Guyana Cricket Board Former President of Berbice Cricket Board Former Chairman of the Cricket Development Committee of the GCB For and Behalf of the Majority of Stakeholders of Guyana’s Cricket

Consult players first before sacking Pybus, warns legend Holding PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Fast bowling legend Michael Holding has warned the new Cricket West Indies leadership against axing interim head coach Richard Pybus ahead of next month’s ICC World Cup without first consulting the players.

Holding, now a well-respected television broadcaster, said the current players were the ones who stood to be impacted most by such a substantive personnel change and therefore needed to give their input in any such decision.

Pybus, a controversial appointment to the post last January, is widely expected to be replaced prior to the May 30 to July 14 showpiece in England.

“I wouldn’t say right now that we need to change everything. We need to analyse before we have knee-jerk reactions and kick out everybody and change everything,” Holding to i95.5FM radio here.

“We need to sit down and analyse. The people that are coming in – the president (Ricky Skerritt) and the new vice-president (Dr Kishore Shallow) – need to sit down with everybody at various times.”

He continued: “I am hearing them talk about changing the coach for the World Cup. You need to sit down with the current players now and have a discussion with them and say to them ‘what do you think?’, because they are the ones who are going to be af-

West Indies fast bowling legend, Michael Holding. fected.

“We sitting down in our living rooms watching, we won’t be affected – the players will be ones to be affected.

They (Skerritt and Shallow) need to sit down with them, have a frank discussion, ask them what they think – if they think it is a wise decision or if they are happy to continue with the way things are.”

Pybus, a former director of cricket, replaced Stuart Law as head of the Caribbean side for England’s tour of the Caribbean this year, overseeing their shock 2-1 win in the three-Test series.

The Englishman’s appointment was met with pushback from several CWI directors, with Skerritt during the election campaign noting his discomfort with the manner in which the decision had been made.

And only last week, leading regional academic and UWI vice-chancellor, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, argued that a Caribbean coach should

lead the Windies at the World Cup. Holding, who claimed 249 wickets in 60 Tests, said any decisions made on the coaching role should be made with the long term future of West Indies cricket in mind.

“You don’t go into a business and just change everything. You’ve got to go into the business, study how the business operates and deal with the people that are in there and find out how things need to be changed. I’m not saying don’t change anything – what I am saying is do not have a knee jerk reaction,” Holding contended.

“What is the World Cup? One tournament. We’re talking about West Indies cricket and the future of West Indies cricket. Do we only want to win the World Cup? We need to think about the future of West Indies cricket. The World Cup is in a couple months time, what happens after the World Cup?” (Continued on page 26 )

GCA Easter Youth Cricket Festival set to bowl off on April 16

By Zaheer Mohamed The Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) has earmarked two youth tournaments for the upcoming Easter Vacation - The American Youth Premier Cricket League U19 and the Toucan Distributors U15 - both tournaments were launched yesterday at the Demerara Cricket Club.

The U19 tournament which is set to commence on April 16 and conclude on April 26, will be of 50 overs duration and is being divided into two zones; the top two teams from each zone will contest the semi finals. 12 teams including Tri State of the USA will battle for supremacy with Tri State, Bel Air Rubis, DCC, Queen’s College, Gandhi Youth Organisation and Muslim Youth Organisation in zone A, while Georgetown Cricket Club, Everest CC, Malteenoes SC, Transport SC, Gycea and GNIC are in zone

B. The U15 competition will be played over 100 overs with the team batting first having the opportunity to bat for a maximum of 55 overs and the team batting second a minimum of 45 overs as well as any over that the team batting first did not utilise.

This competition which will commence on April 24 due to the Secondary School Entrance Examination has been divided into two zones with the top two teams from each zone going through to the semi finals. Defending Champions DCC, GCC, GYO, MYO and Malteenoes SC are in zone A, while zone B comprises Transport SC, Bel Air Rubis, Queen’s College and Everest CC. It will culminate on May 6.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, President of the GCA, Roger Harper, said, these tournaments will give the

youths an opportunity not only to showcase their talent, but to learn the game. Harper noted that they had a successful partnership with their sponsors last year, adding that both tournaments are expected to be keenly contested. He thanked the sponsors and media.

Chairman of the GCA Competition Committee, Shaun Massiah pointed out that 40% of the overs must be bowled by seamers in both tournaments and 10 runs will be added to the batting side for every over that is not bowled by seamers.

He said that helmets must be worn by all batsmen, wicketkeepers when fielding up to the stumps and fielders fielding within 15 yards of the striker and that all no balls will result in a free hit. Massiah noted that over 150 youths will be participating in the festival.

Thursday April 11, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Police Commissioner B/Day Inter-Division T20 cricket

Johnson’s fifty powers ‘B’ Division to another win Savory’s all-round performance spearheads G to victory Known more for his hostile fast bowling, First-Class pacer Ruan Johnson hit a pugnacious 55 to lead favourites B Division to a four-wicket win over C Division, while a good all-round performance from Kemol Savory, who made 73 and captured 3-29, as the final preliminary round of the Commissioner of Police Birth Anniversary Inter-Division and Branches T20 cricket Tournament ended yesterday at Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary.

In yesterday morning’s game, B Division, with just one loss, racked up another win when the beat C Division by four wickets.

C Division made 154 all out off 20 overs as Reginald Rodrigues made 46 with two fours and four sixes, while Ronny Caleb hit a four and cleared the boundary five times in 44 as Michael Newland took 2-26 off 4 overs and was supported by Cromwell Mitchell 2-25 from 4 overs.B Division replied with 156-6 off 16.5 overs with Raun Johnson blasting four fours and five sixes in 55, while Kareem Mentore chipped in with 22 as Gresean Grant had 3-38 off 4 overs and got support from Keron Gordon who had 2-26 off 4 overs.

In the afternoon game yesterday, G Division made 185-4 off 20 overs with Kwasi Abrams clobbering six fours and five sixes in 78, while Kemol Savory slammed 73 decorated with seven fours and fours sixes as Paul Tyndall took 2-32 off 4 overs.

Presidential Guard (PG) were dismissed for 170 in 18.5 overs as Savory returned with the ball to capture 3-29 off 4 overs, while Abrams had 2-14 off 3 overs as G Division won by 16 runs.Meanwhile, in the morning game on Tuesday,Officers were dismissed for 113 in 20 overs with Stephen Harris hitting four fours and three sixes in 64, while Onand Arjune made 21 as Rondell Ward (4-13) and David Huge (3-24) for D Division who replied with 114-4 off 13 overs.

Boshnarine Lalbachand made 52 with six fours and two sixes and got support from Ronald Allyene who made 22.

Bowling for Officers Stephen Harris had 2-29 as D Division won by 6 wks.

In afternoon action, E Division made 152-7 off 20 overs with Anthony Adams making 30, Garfield Moore hitting 29 and Lawrence Sears scoring 26 as Dexter Skeete finished with 2-40 for FAPC, who re-

Guyana fast bowler Ruan Johnson made 55 yesterday to power B Division to victory. plied with 130-9 off 20 overs. Dexter Skeete topscored with 32, Reon Venture got 23 and Hemraj Persaud contributed 23 as Garfield Moore captured 425 and Adams took 3-13 as E Division won by 22 runs.

Today’s quarter finals fixtures: G Division vs D Division F Division vs E Division Friday’s games B Division vs A Division HQ vs PG (Sean Devers)

Good Success, Sans Souci triumph as Birbal Constructing Estb. T20 continues

Kemol Savory works one past mid-on during his 73 for G Division yesterday.

Stag Easter Futsal tournament

Preliminary action continues tonight Seven group round-robin matches are on tonight in the Santos’ football club organised Stag Beer Easter Futsal tournament at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue from 20:00hrs.

Opening the action tonight will be Kingston and Norton Street followed by Fearless versus Albouystown B at 20:30hrs. At 21:00hrs, Spot Seven will match skills with Ansa McAl before Germans play Sophia in a much anticipated encounter which will be a precursor to Tiger Bay versus North East at 22:00hrs.The penultimate class will see one of the tournament favourites; Gold is Money, being pitted against Linden’s Silver Bullets that are in a bit of form, at 22:30hrs.

Meanwhile, the feature match of the night

will see Sparta Boss; the most successful small goal team in Guyana, playing Broad Street, in the match that kicks off at 23:00hrs.

During the last match night on Tuesday, four matches were contested while Benn Street were granted a walkover against Showstoppers in the feature match. In other results, Hustlers defeated Street Ballers 3-0, Young Ballers made light work of Alexander Village with a 6-1 thrashing.

Back Circle registered a 2-0 win over Melanie, while Stabroek Ballers edged Stevedore 2-1.

Apart from STAG beer, other sponsors of the event include Dynas Trading, Star Party Rental, Sonic Boom and 94.1.

The winners of the tournament will pocket $700,000.

Chaitnarine’s 2nd fifty powers Berbice...

Vickram Ramnarine

Wayne Osborne

Imran Khan

Good Success and Sans Souci registered victories when play in the Birbal Constructing Establishment T20 tournament continued on Sunday last at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground.

Good Success defeated Noitgedacht SC by five wickets. Batting first, Noitgedacht SC managed 98-9 with Dellon Retemiah scoring 20; Vickram Ramnarine claimed 3-9 and Imran Khan 3-14. Good Success responded with 101-5 in

14.2 overs. Bhumeshwar Ramkissoon made 34 and Gurnauth Khemraj 24.

Retemiah captured 3-11.

Sans Souci beat Maria’s Pleasure by 55 runs. Sans Souci batted first and posted 206 all out in 20 overs. Wayne Osborne struck 47, while Seon Venture made 30 and Kamal Khan 23. Samuel Persaud snared 3-21; Kennard Lewis had 2-38 and Bernard Lewis 2-41. Maria’s Pleasure replied with 151 all out in 20 overs.

Kevin Hemraj scored 35, while Marsh Singh made 34 as Omal Bacon picked up 2-17 and Heera Sukram 230.

The competition continues on Sunday with Zeelandia hosting Maria’s Pleasure, Good Success facing Sans Souci Jaguars at 09:30hrs and G Square Cavaliers playing Noitgedacht at 13:30hrs at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground.

From page 31 scored with an unbeaten 39 on Tuesday against Demerara, failed to reproduce that performance yesterday and was bowled for a duck at 9-3 by Harilall who trapped Azizi Christiani for a duck at 15-4.

When Charles, who reached the boundary twice on the uneven and heavy outfield, was taken at slip off Ramesh, the team from Guyana’s largest but least populated County were in deep a hole on 16-5.

Orin Gibson, who finished not out on 29 in an unfinished 74-run last wicket stand against Demerara, hit two boundaries in his 10 before he l a s t dismissed; bowled by Ramsammy.

Essequibo lost three wickets with the score on 36, including Wazim Mohamed (8) and were never in the fight as Ramesh mopped up the tail.

Earlier, Berbice opted to bat on a slow track with some assistance for the spinners in hot conditions and lost Noble (13) as Charles made the breakthrough at 24-1.

Ramdihol and Zeynul Ramsammy looked good but when one short of 50, Wazim Mohamed got rid of Ramdihol (12), the stylish Marvan Prashad (4) was bowled by Ryan Atkinson six runs later before Ramsammy was run out to leave Berbice in a spot of bother on 65-4.

Abdul Ramsammy hit Scouten over mid-wicket for the game’s only six before Rampersaud (10) departed at 102 and Ramsammy fell at 133-6.

Chaitnarine played several delightful shots but once he was removed by Wazim Mohamed just after reaching his fifty at 150-7, Mohamed had Toinani Caesar (0) stumped and bowled Ramesh (0) as two more wickets tumbled at 150.

Gopilall continued to play his shots and found a useful partner in last man Harilall and together the pair added 27 before Harilall was run out for 10. (Story & Photos by Sean Devers)

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Kaieteur News

Mitra Dhanraj cops best batsman prize in Noble House tourney 500 kites for kids next Sunday Jumbo Jet Triple Crown final leg

The Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee (JJTRC) will complete the first Triple Crown horseracing event to be contested in Guyana on Easter Sunday (April 21) at the Port Mourant Turf Club in Corentyne, Berbice and keeping with the Easter spirit, the promoters of the event will be distributing a total of 500 kites to all kids at the race meet and in the outlying communities.

In a release to this publication, the organisers noted that they always look to give back to the community in any way possible and it is a fact that this gesture will make a lot of children happy during this time, especially the underprivileged youths.

The Triple Crown race promotion provides a bonus of $500,000 for whichever horse can complete three consecutive victories and come this Easter, the mare Valentina, in the three-year-old Guyana Bred category, will be the only animal in the running for the Triple Crown bonus.

More importantly, a rematch between Lucky Star; the unprecedented winner of

Valentina (leading to win in the previous race) will be gunning to register the ‘triple’ and the bonus and bragging rights. the second leg’s feature race, which was jockeyed by 18year-old sensation Marvin Appadu, and Vera’s Finally of the Jumbo Jet Racing Stables will be feature event for the turfites.

The feature race on Easter Sunday will attract a total prize purse amounting to almost $2million with the winner of that C Class and lower race

pocketing $1million.

The winner of the three-yearold Guyana bred race which Valentina will be looking to complete her triple crown in, will pocket $400,000, the F Class winner; $350,000, H Class; $300,000, I Class; $250,000, J class; $230,000, K Class; $220,000, L Class; $200,000, L Class and lower; $140,000.

Ethiopian Olympic protest runner Feyisa Lilesa finally rewarded BBC Sport - An Ethiopian runner who brought the world’s attention to a wave of protests in Ethiopia at the Rio Olympics has been rewarded by his government.

Feyisa Lilesa, who received $17,000 (£13,000), said his struggle had paid off given new freedoms in Ethiopia.

The athlete had held up his crossed wrists as if they were shackled as he took marathon silver in 2016 in protest at the treatment of demonstrators.

He had remained in exile for two years, saying his life might be in danger.

‘No longer shackled’ But sweeping reforms implemented by Prime Minister Ahmed Abiy, who came to

Feyisa Lilesa made the protest at Rio 2016 as he took silver in the marathon. (AFP) office a year ago, encouraged Feyisa to return home last October.

Mass demonstrations by members of the Oromo com-

munity - Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group - had precipitated the resignation of his predecessor.‘’I’m very happy, (Continued on page 26)

Volleyball set for this weekend at National Gymnasium The Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF) is making a concerted effort to up the level and the consistency of volleyball being play in Guyana, both among males and females, however especially among the females. In so doing the GVF will be convening a two days Female National Volleyball festival on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th April at the National

Gymnasium in Georgetown, commencing at 09:00 hrs.

Female teams are expected from throughout Guyana including Castrol Strikers, Vanguards, CBB, Port Mourant Females, Pakuri Warriors, Glasgow Rangers, Corriverton and Fluffy Girls.

Trophies and other incentives are at stake complements of former national Player Benie Sukra

and other sponsors.

President of the GVF Levi Nedd is using the opportunity to call on other former national players to get on board and give back to the sport so that Guyana’s volleyball can return to what it was before.

The under 21 males and females teams will also be going through their paces under the guidance of Nedd and other coaches.

Mitra Dhanraj emerged as the batsman with the highest score in the recently concluded Noble House Seafood/ Generation Next 50overs U-19 cricket tournament.

Dhanraj, who is 14 years old, hit 138 not out during the tournament which was eventually won by Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) over Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) in a low scoring final at GCC Bourda.

Dequan Bamfield was awarded a trophy for taking the most wickets, while Joel Spooner got a trophy for scoring the most runs.

Mitra Dhanraj collects his prize for the batsman with the highest score in the tournament 138 not out.

Demerara are GCB inter County U17 champs following narrow win over Select U15s

By Zaheer Mohamed Demerara were crowned champions of the Guyana Cricket board (GCB) Inter County U17 50-over tournament following a narrow tworun victory over the Select U15 side in the final round yesterday at Everest Cricket Club.

Led by a fluent half century from Matthew Nandu, the son of former Guyana allrounder Arjune Nandu, Demerara posted a challenging 207 all out in 48.1 overs, batting first.

Nandu anchored the innings as he added 99 for the second wicket with Rommell Daterdeen after opener Raynaldo Mohamed was run out for one. Nandu played a number of attractive drives, mixing aggression with defence, while Daterdeen timed the ball well on both sides of the wicket as the duo kept the scorecard ticking. Daterdeen struck five fours before he was lbw to Zachary Jodah for 49 off 79 balls.

Jodah then removed Shamar Yearwood for five and Andre Seepersaud for 16 while Krsna Singh accounted for Chetram Balgobin and Rudranauth Kissoon for five and two respectively as the U15s stemmed the scoring fairly, reducing Demerara to 162-6.

The level-headed Nandu stroked 10 fours in a top score of 70 off 111 balls before he was removed by Alvin Mohabir, while Niran Bissu beefed up the total with 40 off 30 balls including four sixes.

Jodah captured 3-39 and Singh 3-44; Mohabir, Mavindra Dindyal and Thaddeus Lovell had one each.

Matthew Nandu accepts his man-of-the -match award from Rahaman Khan.

Openers Rampertab Ramnauth and Anthony Khan got the chase going with a decent 38-run stand before Khan, who struck three fours, was bowled by Seepersaud for 12 in the fifth over.

Ramnauth executed a number of handsome drives and along with Mavindra Dindyal steadied the chase nicely with a second wicket stand of 106. The duo rotated the strike nicely with sensible running between the wickets and dispatched the wayward balls whenever they were served. The pair hardly put a foot wrong as they continued to accumulate and batted with maturity that belied their age, much to the appreciation of the fans present. After hitting 11 fours off 123 balls, Rampertab was run out for a well crafted 76.

Following his dismissal, Demerara pegged back the scoring with some tidy field-

ing as Mohabir was run out for seven with the score on 157. Dindyal shot selection was second to none, but as the asking rate kept mounting, he attempted to loft Kissoon and was taken at mid-on for 67 which came off 104 balls and contained seven fours.

With the departure of Dindyal, the U15 side failed to maintain their stranglehold on t h e g ame as Jodah was bowled by Seepersaud without scoring and Tameshwar Motiram was removed by Mohamed for 17 with two fours off 21 balls.

Lovell, perhaps batting a bit too late in the current situation, smashed one six in scoring 16 off 18 balls as the U15s who needed 15 from the final over, fell two runs short, ending on 205-6. Seepersaud had 2-31, while there was one each for Mohamed and Kissoon. Nandu was named man-of-the-match.

Kaieteur News

Thursday April 11, 2019

PAGE 31

Chaitnarine’s 2nd fifty powers Berbice to runner’s up position As E’bo catapults to 41 all out GCB’s U-17 Inter-County 50-over cricket

Hemraj Harilall (3-4 from 7 overs) traps Azizi Christiani LBW for a duck as E’bo collapsed to 41 all out at Bourda yesterday.

Sheldon Charles top scored for E’bo in an inept batting performance at Bourda yesterday.

Archery Guyana represented at the World Archery Ranking Tournament in Santiago City, Chile

A

Wasim Mohamed had 5-28 against B’ce at Bourda in a losing effort.

Sarwan Chaitnarine stroked a fluent 51, while three-wicket hauls from Hemraj Harilall, Gourav Ramesh and Abdul Ramsammy conspired to give Berbice an emphatic 136-run victory over Essequibo in the final round of the Inter-County 50-over U-17 cricket tournament at Bourda yesterday.

Chaitnarine followed up his 58 against the National U-15s on Tuesday with a well-constructed 51 with three boundaries from 62 balls, while Mahendra Gopilall (25*), Zeynul Ramsammy (22), Abdul Ramsammy (14) and Collis Noble (13) helped Berbice to 177 in 47.4 overs.

Wa z i m M o h a m e d captured 5-28 for Essequibo, who were sent crashing to 41 all out in 22 overs despite 13 from Sheldon Charles and 11 from opener Uriah Stoll as five batsmen failed to score.

Harilall had 3-4 from seven overs, while Abdul Ramsammy (3-10) and Ramesh (3-15) were the main wicket-takers for Berbice who had to settle for the runners-up position as Demerara, who beat them in the first round, successfully

Berbician Sarwan Chaitnarine cuts at Bourda yesterday to register consecutive fifties to take the MVP Award.

Abdul Ramsammy followed up his 14 with 3-10 for Demerara at Bourda yesterday.

defended the title they won last year.

Once Johnathon Rampersaud removed Renaldo Scouten (brother of Guyana player Ricardo Adams) for two at 2-1, Essequibo, who owns the lowest ever total in Senior Inter County four-day cricket (31) against Berbice in 1998 at Hampton Court, never recovered.Harilall, a leftarm spinner, began his penetrative and economical spell by having Stoll well caught at short mid-wicket

by Ricardo Ramdihol at 9-2.

Aryan Persaud, who top (Continued on page 29)

rchery Guyana p r o u d l y announces that member, Wayne Gerald DeAbreu, represented Guyana at the World Archery Ranking Tournament, in Santiago City, Chile. This event also served as a Second stage of qualifier for the PanAmerican Games, Lima 2019, but regrettably Guyana did not qualify.

On Tuesday 2ndApril was the 72 Arrows Ranking Round as our Guyanese Archer secured position numbered 32 after shooting a score of 594.

On Wednesday 3rd April, he was up against Bolivia in the Eliminations but regrettably lost in the first round to Bolivia 7-1.

The following day the Pan Am Eliminations continued

Wayne DeAbreu at 2019 Pan Am Qualifiers in Chile (Photo Credit: Crispin Duenas) and Wayne DeAbreu excited fans as he won against Barbados Archer, Brandon Field in the first round 6-0.

He then went on to compete against Ecuador’s Lester Ortegon Morales where regrettably he lost with a score of 0-6.Regrettably, Guyana as a result did not

qualify to move forward to Lima, Peru Games but the reports out of Chile reveal that in spite of this being Guyana’s first participation at an international tournament, our Archer was competitive, and that it is certainly a promising startup for Guyana’s Archery.

rt o p S The winning Demerara U17 side.

Demerara are GCB inter County U17 champs following narrow win over Select U15s P. 30

GCA Easter Youth Cricket Festival set to bowl off on April 16 P.28

President of the GCA Roger Harper accepts the cheque from General Manager ofToucan Distributors Lenox Shuffler in the presence of representatives of the GCA and sponsors.

Consult players first before sacking Pybus, warns legend Holding

P. 28

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