Wednesday April 19, 2017
Kaieteur News
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Lethem bank guard killed while defending wife from robber
A security supervisor at the Guyana Bank For Trade and Industry, Lethem, was yesterday tragically killed after he rushed to the defence of his wife against a bandit. The incident has left that Region Nine community in deep shock and two young sons are now without a father. Dead is Haimchand ‘Raj’ Persaud, 31, of Tabatinga, Lethem, and from the Essequibo coast, Region Two. According to reports, shortly before 2 am yesterday, Persaud and his wife, Shenika Xavier, 22, were heading home from a pageant held at a hotel in Lethem when they were pounced upon. Persaud had gone there with a motorcycle, but decided against riding home because of a few drinks he had. He instead opted to walk with his wife. Family members indicated that the incident happened not far from the GBTI compound, in the vicinity of Carly Bus Service. The robber, who was dressed in a red shirt, had a cloth wrapped around his face to mask his identity. The couple had reportedly turned onto a dark street in the direction of their home, and appeared to have been followed. The robber ran up to the woman and
Raj Persaud was fatally stabbed yesterday morning, not far from his workplace at GBTI, Lethem.
Persaud in his work attire. attempted to grab her bag. However, Persaud immediately rushed to her defence. During a scuffle with the robber, the bank official was stabbed in the chest. The assailant is believed to have panicked and abandoned the robbery bid. He escaped on a motorcycle that was ridden by another man. In the meantime, his wife reportedly ran screaming to a nearby army base, but no one came out. She then went for help at a nearby hotel. Relatives said that by the time Persaud was taken to the Lethem Hospital, he was
dead. Police in a statement said that Persaud, a Central Rupununi resident, was pronounced dead just after 2:30hrs at the hospital. He was bleeding profusely from a single knife-stab wound to the left region of his chest. Police said that from investigations, Persaud and his wife had left an entertainment bar about 01:55hrs, in their community, after imbibing with some friends. “…as they were in close
Bath Settlement teen dies in early morning accident A family of Bath Settlement is mourning the loss of their loved one after he succumbed to injuries sustained during a motorcycle collision at D’Edward Village, West Coast Berbice. Dead is Dave Kumar Williams, 16, a former student of Fort Wellington Secondary School. Reports are that Williams, who was the pillion rider on a motorcycle ridden by Leon Norton, a 21 year-old of Bath Settlement, lost his life after the motorcycle, CF 9832 that was proceeding in a northern direction crashed into a utility pole situated on the western side of the road. The accident occurred at just about 12:30 hrs yesterday morning. According to reports, they were heading home after an evening out imbibing at
Dead: Dave Kumar Williams Rosignol Village when the accident took place. They were both rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital for medical attention. However, Williams succumbed to his injuries at approximately 04:30 hrs while being prepared to be transferred to Georgetown Public Hospital. Norton is listed in a
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
Critical: Leon Norton critical condition at the New Amsterdam Hospital.
proximity of their home, the suspect pounced with a knife and attempted to rob them, during which a physical encounter ensued between the victim (deceased) and the suspect who stabbed him (victim) and escaped on a motorcycle.” Kaieteur News was told that the pageant, part of the annual rodeo activities, had been postponed from Friday because of poor weather. According to Opposition Parliamentarian, Alister Charlie, who is from the area, Persaud was a hardworking man who moved to there about six years ago. He was at the time of his death in charge of security at the bank. “We are deeply shocked at his death. He is a committed family man and well-liked.” Kaieteur News was told that persons in the community believed that robber was from neighbouring Bon Fim, a community in Brazil that borders with Lethem via the Takutu River. Persaud’s two boys are both said to be under five years of age. There was an outpouring of grief on Persaud’s Facebook page yesterday with former classmates of his, from Abram Zuil Secondary School, Essequibo coast, expressing deep shock.
In happier times: Haimchand ‘Raj’ Persaud with his wife and two children.
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday April 19, 2017
KAIETEUR NEWS Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
Let us really get to know each other One of the perennial bones of contention in our society has been the seeming inability of our people to find a ground of commonality that would allow us to see ourselves as one people; one nation and fulfilling one destiny. Many believe that this lapse has been the bane of our postindependence history; relegating us to the bottom of the barrel on so many indicators that are supposed to measure “progress”. The politicians have taken the bulk of the blame for this sad state of affairs, but we believe that the reality is a bit more complicated than that. It is our contention that a significant factor in our lack of social cohesion is the constraints we place on ourselves when we interact in the public sphere. These restrictions prevent us from sharing our views and opinions in a frank and candid manner. We smile and nod with each other in the various marketplaces, but when we retreat into our private spaces and enclaves, a different and more divisive discourse emerges. If we are to escape the morass into which we have been mired for so long, we must remove our self-imposed barriers to initiate open and sincere communication. The philosopher, John Stuart Mill, is very well known for his arguments on freedom of speech, which form the very essence of a modern democratic order. Mill, of course, proposed that individuals must be free to express their thoughts and opinions in an unencumbered manner, excepting for when harm may result to others. The latter caveat is very apposite in light of some of the discourses that are swirling about us today. Since Mill’s seminal text, “On Liberty” was published in the 19th century, the restraints on free speech have been accepted to emanate primarily from the government – the Leviathan. And all our efforts to secure that right have been concentrated against the state. Mill, however, saw the problem as being much more nuanced and was concerned not only with arbitrary laws and actions of governments, but also with the actions of society. He identified the restraints not only on an intolerant government but also an intolerant culture. We believe that the point is so important in our efforts at nation-building that Mill’s explication deserves to be quoted at length: “Like other tyrannies, the tyranny of the majority was at first, and is still vulgarly, held in dread, chiefly as operating through the acts of the public authorities. But reflecting persons perceived that when society is itself the tyrant — society collectively over the separate individuals who compose it — its means of tyrannising are not restricted to the acts which it may do by the hands of its political functionaries. Society can and does execute its own mandates; and if it issues wrong mandates instead of right, or any mandates at all in things with which it ought not to meddle, it practices a social tyranny more formidable than many kinds of political oppression, since, though not usually upheld by such extreme penalties, it leaves fewer means of escape, penetrating much more deeply into the details of life, and enslaving the soul itself. Protection, therefore, against the tyranny of the magistrate is not enough; there needs protection also against the tyranny of the prevailing opinion and feeling, against the tendency of society to impose, by other means than civil penalties, its own ideas and practices as rules of conduct on those who dissent from them; to fetter the development and, if possible, prevent the formation of any individuality not in harmony with its ways, and compel all characters to fashion themselves upon the model of its own. There is a limit to the legitimate interference of collective opinion with individual independence; and to find that limit, and maintain it against encroachment, is as indispensable to a good condition of human affairs as protection against political despotism.” In our situation, the advice of Polonius to his son Laertes is apt: “This above all: to thine own self be true”. Let us shake off the fetters of fossilised opinions and really get to know each other.
GUYANA REVENUE AUTHORITY IS “ROBBING” VEHICLE OWNERS DEAR EDITOR, This is a letter to the Commissioner-General of GRA, Mr. Godfrey Statia. Please reproduce in the Kaieteur News for emphasis. I am a Guyanese who currently resides abroad. I left Guyana in 2008 but since 2013 have returned annually. I own two motor cars in Guyana. One was left with relatives for their use and the other was parked due to mechanical problems. In 2015 I decided to fix the motor car with mechanical problems and wanted to use
said motor car on the roads again. I visited GRA to obtain a road licence for the current year but was told that I have to pay for all previous years back, this I find to be robbery since this vehicle has been parked and not in use on the roads. GRA has indicated that because I did not inform them that I would not be using the vehicle, I still have to pay for years back regardless that the vehicle was not in use and not on the road. Since the law requires a Road Licence for use on the
roads, and the police regularly check for this document making it impossible to use a vehicle without said document, why is GRA robbing the Guyanese people by requiring that they pay for years when the vehicle is not in use?. Also, most Guyanese are unaware of this requirement of notifying GRA when a vehicle is not in use. Even worse is the fact that now in 2017, even if you are to notify GRA that the vehicle will be parked and not in use on the roads, you are still required
to pay for all past years if you ever decide to use the vehicle in the future. This represents another tax on the Guyanese populace just for owning a vehicle even though it is not in use. This problem seems to be affecting many persons since I raised this issue while at GRA and many persons remarked that they too had experienced the same problem, but were held to ransom and had no choice but to pay. Also there is no agency to report complaints about the GRA to. Moises Carpenay
DEAR EDITOR, I would like to comment on “Police probe $20 M-plus rates and taxes at Grove/ Diamond NDC” in the Kaieteur News, Tuesday, March 14, p. 3. I hope you highlight this letter merely as informational purposes to the uninformed people of Grove/ Diamond, in which they have elected officials based on friendship and other issues, rather than representation of the people’s interest. It was with great pleasure to read that some in the NDC of Grove/Diamond have come under the radar. From traversing the Grove/ Diamond area frequently, both driving and walking, I could not deny myself the shock and awe of failures in all areas of community leadership, especially the jungle-like vegetation which is an invitation for thieves, roads with large pot-holes and loads of sand in the middle of roads (at construction sites), trenches completely covered with grass and interfering with the already poor drainage
system, street lights either inoperable or not installed, while at the same time these so-called community leaders sitting on their hands doing nothing and enjoying themselves with hard earned taxpayers’ money. Take for example, at the second bridge; one of the local representatives resides at the spot immediately upon making the right turn off the main road bridge. Instead of this representative doing what is right for her community, she has tolerated additional harm by erecting the Evolution Barber shop in close proximity to the road. Patrons of this barber shop would park their vehicles in such a way that it hinders smooth flowing traffic in this quiet neighbourhood, as well as, drunk patrons would be standing on the road, especially on Friday and Saturday evenings. Just a few feet from her abode there are large potholes on the road and by the bridge, yet she has done nothing. Straight down her street has a garbage dump by the trench
including refrigeration units, stoves, and other hazardous metals. If this is not open and blatant abandonment of civic duties perpetrated by the NDC, then what is? Further, Mr. Editor, if this is a residential area, why are these business allowed to pop up without oversight or accountability, or is it that the NDC taking a blind eye for reasons best left out of the media? As it stands, Grove looks like a jungle and it is difficult to comprehend that the residents are not even in tune of what is going on in their back yards, nor saying anything about it, because it appears as though a bad hand of cards have been dealt to them – a way of life unlike that of the heartless NDC administrators. No one should take an office if they cannot serve the citizens’ interest, as is evident with this NDC, [and for that matter throughout the country], as they have learned from the madness from the previous government. Let me interject that I have spoken with
residents in the community regarding the NDC, and I have been told that when they asked about taxes collected they have been ignored, and I have been further told that they were afraid of speaking out in fear of becoming victims. Mr. Editor, please highlight this letter and if possible, highlight the names of the representatives of Grove/Diamond because public officials should be held accountable. Hopefully, publishing this letter would open the eyes of the public leading to a helping hand in terms of voices to get the roads repair of the pot-holes, clean the trenches, fix the street lights, and most of all place names on the streets by erecting signs. How could someone even call the police in an emergency where it’s impossible to give directions without street names and signs? Failure comes from poor leadership and lack of oversight. Attached please find some photographs need highlighting. Annoyed Citizen
The NDC in Grove/Diamond was elected to serve but not doing so
The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission small miners. is involved in questionable things fromThetheparticular claim that DEAR EDITOR, I wish to bring to your attention a matter that involves questioning the attitude at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission. I have been responsible for some claims held by Cyril Francis and Joseph Isidore (my father) both deceased, who were residents of Mahdia. Since my father’s death, I’ve tried to get the claims verified with much difficulty. I was never aware of the greed and covetousness of persons in the mining sector until having to deal with these
claim issues. The first issue I had with the Commission was in 2010 when I attempted to verify eight claims at Konawak, Mining District #2. Another claim holder who I would consider a ‘big fish’ came up with a strategy to take those claims away from me. So I was told that the said claims were null and void due to late payments. However, in 2012 upon my lawyer’s request for information of the claims, I received a response stating that only two of the eight claims were null and void. It was very interesting to
note that the two gold claims with excellent potential were made null and void by the GGMC official to benefit a Pomeroon “Big fish” gold miner. In 2015 I commenced verification of another ten claims in Pamela, Mining District #2. This process has prolonged until now where another ‘big fish’ is trying to attack again. I must let you know however, that these individuals are being aided by officials in GGMC. Not the ordinary officials, by the way, it is some of the big ones who are facilitating these people to get whatever they want
this ‘big fish’ is trying to grab is Gift #1 which is situated at the left bank of the Potaro River about 2500ft from Pamela Landing. The coordinates read: A59.201831, 5.334111; B59.202110, 5.334850; C59.204050, 5.33850; D59.204180, 5.337720. Location date: 15th September, 1993, all payments were made on time, boundary lines clear and boards intact. With no authentic reason this individual has been able to have a cease order placed on our operations there. He Continued on page 5
Wednesday April 19, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Ministry of Health needs to investigate this conspiracy in Region 5 DEAR EDITOR, The shortages of essential drugs and medical supplies at regional hospitals have long been denied by the government. Then on March 2, 2017, a team headed by the Junior Minister of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings as part of the Parliamentary oversight committee for Social Services, visited the New Amsterdam Hospital and discovered there was indeed a shortage of drugs. I had written about this in a previous letter, “As an MP, I get complaints often of drug shortages”, published in Kaieteur News on September 22, 2016. And while Regional Health Officer, Dr. Steven Cheefoon had denied there were shortages of essential drugs in Region 5 (KN - Sept. 19, 2016), I have copies of many prescriptions given to patients with the word “Buy” written on them, because the hospital pharmacy at Ft. Wellington did not have the medication to give those
patients. However, while patients in the region were suffering from these shortages, there is one highprofile APNU+AFC Regional Councillor who is having no problem at all getting more than what is required. In an article published in another newspaper, Monday, April 10, 2017, Regional Health Officer, Dr. Steven Cheefoon expressed concern that some patients abuse the system by “double-dipping” on medication. He said, “Patients are currently collecting drugs from multiple health facilities across the region, and there is an urgent need to fix this broken system…we have found cases where a patient has collected medications five times in one week, and has gotten clean away with such unethical behaviour.” The problem with this statement is that Dr. Cheefoon is being very evasive, for he himself may have contributed to this
crisis. Editor, as I write, there is an ongoing case in New York involving the former PNC Minister of Health, Guyanese born Dr. Noel Blackman, who is facing serious jail-time and possible bankruptcy after pleading guilty for illegally prescribing drugs for hundreds of persons while practicing in that US State. Back in Guyana, on December 13, 2016, a letter was written by Staff Nurse/ Mid-Wife, Sherilyn Marks of the Ft. Wellington Hospital in Region 5, and sent to the then Minister of Health, Hon George Norton, and copied to the Regional Health Officer RHO Region 5, Dr. Steven Cheefoon. In her handwritten letter of which I have attached a copy, nurse Marks expressed her disapproval at the way she was being verbally abused and threatened by a certain APNU+AFC Region 5 official, after she had earlier reported the official’s reliance on
Is there a lack of fear of God that led to this baby’s death? DEAR EDITOR, I am troubled .When I recall the news of the death of a premature baby at the West Demerara Hospital, the circumstances surrounding the death, and the response, I am troubled. A premature baby is born, 25 weeks old .The child is born alive, but because the baby is not yet 28 weeks old she is dismissed as a “non-viable foetus”. It is reported that the mother was asked “Yuh want we dump it in the bin one time?” Dump a living, breathing child in the bin? Is this what we have come to as a nation? Don’t lives matter anymore? I have read of cases of babies born prematurely that lived, that were so small that they could fit in the palm of one’s hand! The PRO in trying to explain away the callous behaviour of those involved said “…it is the desire of every physician to save even the most premature of lives…”(KN Thursday, April 13,2017), but there is no evidence of this here! The physician (if the report is accurate) was allegedly prepared to dump a living child in the garbage bin! This child fought for life for hours… and was still alive when the mother visited the next day. I could understand if the child had died despite efforts to keep her alive, but this was not the case. I call to mind many, many years ago, when a sister of mine gave birth to a premature baby of similar age. She was put in an incubator and was
doing well…until an unadvised member of staff took the baby out of the incubator to show her to a relative. Later that evening when someone checked the baby, she had turned blue…She died. Could it be that our medical practitioners need to be advised that every child, even when chances of survival seem slim, MUST be given a fighting chance to live! And shouldn’t every hospital be equipped with incubators? I hear the lofty explanation by the PRO “ That when fetuses are considered non-viable, resuscitation attempts would not be offered”. I repeat: That child lived for hours…till the next day. That baby was not waiting to be ‘resuscitated’, but was begging for a kind hand and heart to help her to continue living. According to the PRO, in the USA, “viability… occurs at 24 weeks with the chances of survival charted at 40 to 70 percent. In Japan, viability stands at 22 weeks, with slightly higher chances of survival…” (Kaieteur News, Thursday April 13, 2017). Is it true that the West Demerara Hospital has no incubator and we are prepared to dump a living child in the garbage bin? May God have mercy on us! Could it be that the lack of the fear of God and the minimizing of the sanctity of life has unleashed wanton bloodshed on our dear land? The rest of the mother’s story, as reported, seems to
be taken from the script of a horror movie. “ … a man…turn up the oxygen that the baby was on…We start seeing the smoke how it coming through the oxygen through she nose, but by the time we get the doctor that was the last of the baby.”( another newspaper for Wed. April 5, 2017). Could someone explain this? With whose authority did ‘this man’ turn up the oxygen? Was this a deliberate attempt to snuff out the child’s life? In the book of Proverbs in the Holy Bible, a King is groomed for National leadership with this advice from a truly wise mother: “Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy (Proverbs 31: 8-9). This advice is not only for ‘kings’ but for every God-fearing citizen. Earlier in Proverbs ( Chap. 24:10-12) King Solomon, renowned for his wisdom, counseled: “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Deliver those who are drawn toward death, and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. If you say,” Surely we did not know this,” Does not He who weighs the heart consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?” Claudia Heywood Bel Air
Pethidine, a restrictive and highly addictive drug similar to morphine. According to the letter, nurse Marks had written a previous letter in which she expressed concern about the “…prolong administration of the injection Pethidine” to the patient. After this, she was told (name given but withheld), “Nurse, why did you copy this letter to all these people, you will cause our region to be investigated, and morphine and Pethidine will stop coming to the region.” She was also told she would cause everyone at the hospital to be sent home. When the official got wind of nurse Marks’ letter, presumably from one of the big wigs, she was furious and cautioned Marks that her “days are numbered at Ft. Wellington.” She was also threatened to be assigned to Monkey Mountain. According to Marks, the APNU+AFC official told her, “I am getting Minister (name offer but withheld) involved
in this, because I have the authority to do this. And if I have to get it (the drug), I have to get it.” Whether this party person would have been dumb enough to tell the Minister of her reliance is unlikely, but Marks’ letter is certainly an indictment on the abuse of a drug administered to a certain officer with the full knowledge certain people in the public sector in Region 5. Here is a quote from the letter: “On Saturday evening, 3rd December, 2016, the Councillor came to the hospital. When (redacted) saw that I was working, the party person said, “Let me call the (redacted) before I have to sin here tonight.” At approximately 18:50 hrs, a certain person came and asked me to do a task to which I refused. I was ordered to hand the keys over to my junior staff. I also refused. The person demanded that the keys be handed over. I handed it over and ensured that it was signed for.”
In her letter, nurse Marks expressed her concern to Minister Norton that despite her complaints, nothing was done to curb this abuse. Section 13 (1) of the Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substance (Control) Act of Guyana reads: ”A physician or dentist shall not - (a) prescribe for, or administer, sell or supply, to any person any narcotic: or (b) sign any prescription or order for the supply of a narcotic to any person, unless the narcotic is required for the medical treatment of a person who is under the professional treatment of the physician or the dentist, as the case may be.” A person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) above, is liable, if convicted, to a fine and imprisonment. On October 25, 2016 a prescription was written for a “patient” (name withheld) suffering from Biliary Colic. Later that day, another person (the party official referred to Continued on page 6
100 years after the arrival of the last batch of Indian indentured labourers DEAR EDITOR; The Indian Action Committee (IAC) wishes to inform all Guyanese that, April 18, 2017, that is last Tuesday, was the centenary of the arrival of the last batch of immigrants from India, mainly indentured labourers, who landed here on April 18, 1917 aboard the Coolie Ship, S.S GANGES. A total of 437 persons including 268 males, 130 females and 39 infants were distributed among twenty four (24) sugars estates in Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo. Of this total, 124 persons embarked at Calcutta (Kolkata) while 313 embarked at Madras (Chennai). These immigrants were allotted to the following sugar estates: (1)
Skeldon -15; (2) Springlands15; (3) Port Mourant-26; (4) Albion-19; (5) Rose Hall-16; (6) Providence (EBB)-15; (7) Mara- 10; (8) Blairmont-19; (9) Bath -15; (10) Cane Grove26; (11) Hope- 21; (12) Enmore-19; (13) Nonpariel-28 ; (14) Lusignan-23; (15) Mon Repos-19; (16) La Bonne Intention-19; (17) Ogle-16; (18) Diamond-2; (19) Uitvlugt24; (20) De Kinderen-21; (21) Marionville (Wakenaam)-16; (22) Golden Fleece-16; (23) Anna Regina-19; (24) Hampton Court-18. Immigrants who boarded at Calcutta were allotted to the following eight plantations: Springlands, Providence, Blairmont, Bath, Lusignan, Ogle, Diamond and Anna Regina.
The Guyana Geology and... From page 4 has no grounds for dispute but still continues to attract the attention of the officials to even adhere to his plea. After seeing that there were no loop holes for him to glean on, this individual is now seeking to have ‘his’ officers remove our boundary so as to give him access to the said location. I think it is time to expose the things that have been going on at GGMC, as these people fail to realize that we all have to live. They have been continually robbing the small miners and this has to stop. I am of the view that questionable behaviour at the GGMC is so epidemic and strategically aligned to benefit the questionable officials and their questionable cohorts, thus small and medium scale miners have been robbed and continue to be robbed with impunity. Mary Isidore
Immigrants who boarded were allotted to the following sixteen plantations: Skeldon, Port Mourant, Albion, Rose Hall, Mara, Cane Grove, Hope, Enmore, Nonpariel, Mon Repos, La Bonne Intention, Uitvlugt, De Kinderen, Marionville (W), Golden Fleece and Hampton Court. The IAC regards this day as an important anniversary in the history of Guyana which marks the end to this form of trading in humans on our shores, the British Government having ended the emigration of indentured labourers from India on March 12, 1917. The IAC urges all Guyanese to remember our ancestors who perished as well as those who survived the arduous journey and made Guyana their home. They worked, struggled and sacrificed with other groups to build our country and realized its freedoms. Saira Alli Secretary/Coordinator Indian Action Committee
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Wednesday April 19, 2017
Linden’s administrators really don’t care about its existence DEAR EDITOR, The Kaieteur News of April 3rd under bold head line “Scrap metal dealers’ plundered’ Linden of several famous artifacts”, carried a disturbing story by Enid Joaquin which derailed the mental balance of every conscious Lindener who read it. We read “Tons upon tons of scrap metal were “harvested” from Linden over the past two decades from derelict machines that lay dormant in the graveyards of mined out sites. The famous Bucket Wheeler Excavator, the 13,000 volts Walking Dragline, and various other machinery could not escape tentacles of the voracious scrap metal dealers whose insatiable appetite they fed” This immediately brought to mind some of the very fears some former workers were
having when this scrap iron business started. Many expressed concern as former IMC chairman Orrin Gordon mentioned unscrupulous persons took advantage of the situation I was jolted reading that article; never, not even remotely did I ever entertain the scrapping and selling off of that history making 13,000 volts walking dragline, and those miles railway stretching from the Bauxite Plant at Mackenzie to the various mines- that history would have been so snubbed. What was even more ridiculous was to learn from Mr Gordon that no mechanism was put in place and as such there was no way of monitoring the scrap metal trade. Says Gordon: “What happened here is a real travesty, because certain items that tied into the history
of the town should not have been touched but there was no supervision of what took place with regards to harvesting of the scrap metal” Imagine that no safe guard for important historical artifacts. As you read on you become more and more riled up. This was blind plundering without rhyme or reason. The dragline and bucket wheeler were two massive and impressive pieces of machinery that were captivating, not seen anywhere else across this country, not even in the Caribbean. I think just who were placed in charge of this operation to allow the scrapping of these prized artifacts were they devoid of values? We learned from the article that the wheeler was in working condition when it was scrapped and sold. Think of having these two
artifacts on display, painted, decorated, lighted up at nights, indeed a tourist attraction spectacular beyond. The railways could have been used with carriages for making trips to and fro. Over 90% of the folks in Linden have never seen these two impressive pieces of mining equipment. Our tourism sector has definitely lost out big time. As said above; the business was a free for all, no rules no boundary, so much so that the lone column standing-a land mark and a relic representing the very first bridge across the Demerara River. Hope Bridge was ripped out in the mad hustle, with no regards for anything; the people nor their history, sort of naked profanity. And as I was made to
DEAR EDITOR; A lot of Caribbean people seem to be concerned about President Donald Trump being president of the most powerful country in the world, The United States of America (US). He is perceived as a racist and an antiimmigrant president. Millions of Caribbean nationals reside in the United States and the concerns are reasonable. I am not concerned about that because that decision can only be made by US citizens. I see a more serious threat that is an unstable US economy. After 1944 Bretton Woods Conference the US dollar became the global reserve currency and it was reinforced in 1975 when OPEC decided that oil must be purchased in US dollar. Every Central Bank in the region has US dollars as their reserve currency. The US is the Caribbean number one trading partner and usually the biggest contributors to our tourism industry so their economy directly affects us. In 2008 there was a global financial crisis, mainly caused by the United States. They mitigated it by Quantitative Easing (QE). Quantitative Easing is when central banks create money by buying securities such as government bonds from banks with electronic cash that did not exist. This aims to put more cash in the economy- create liquidity. The Federal Reserve also took interest rate in the US to zero. This has encouraged borrowing and credit that are unrealistic and unsustainable. This will eventually lead to another financial crisis when
the parties or people cannot pay back the creditors. At the end of 2016 in the Car industry alone 40% of debtors in the US are either in default or have missed payments. Most economists expect another financial crisis. The table below shows the US consumer debt at the end of 2016. So far the US has spent about $6 trillion to stabilize their economy but it is still tenuous. There is no way their economy could sustain a National debt of 19 trillion (104 % of GDP), consumer debt of 12.6 trillion and an entitlement debt of many trillions for social security Medicare etc. and their debt is growing steadily. It is a recipe for disaster. Credit card was invented in the US in 1950 by Frank. X. Mc Namara and it has transformed the US economy tremendously. The world is noticing. 23 countries (60% of the world’s GDP) have bypassed the US dollar and SWIFT which is the dollar based worldwide transaction system by swaps. The IMF has an International reserve currency called Special Drawing Rights (SDR) made of US dollar, Euro, Yen and Renminbi. The other aspect is global military instability. The US dropped its biggest non-
nuclear bomb in Afghanistan on April 13, 2017. This bomb cost approximately US$ 314 million and only killed 36 ISIS fighters; quite inefficient. The US is still fighting ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The US has also deployed war ships to the Korean Peninsula. They hope to contain North Korea leader Kim Jong UN. I suspect he is behaving like that after what happened to Gaddafi in Libya who abandoned his nuclear ambition and got destroyed by US led forces. China is North Korea’s greatest ally so US will have to deal with China to contain North Korea. US is the hegemon in global security because it has the best weapons quantitatively and qualitatively, but China is the world hegemon when it comes to economic security. US is the leader of NATO, the strongest military alliance in the world. The US owes china US $ 1.12 trillion (it used to be more. China has been transferring US government debt) and China has over US $3 trillion in foreign reserves. China helped to stabilized Europe during their financial crisis. The two countries are interdependent because the US buys billions of cheap Chinese exports which keep consumer prices low. They are also competitors for global hegemony. It is comparable to
the relationship between the US and the United Kingdom around the 1930’s. The uneasy configuration in the US both politically and socially will induce her to act more combative in the international arena. China has to project dominance in the South China Sea or her legitimacy as a global leader is nullified. Don’t forget the uncertain military conflict in Ukraine which involves both the US and Russia. It is quite incredible and indeterminate. It is now April 2017 and a lot has changed both locally and globally. For Guyana, a new government is in office from May 2015. We see that regardless of who is in government the struggle continues. We still have to face crime, unemployment and a huge foreign debt. Let’s focus on nation building. Guyana has to become more self-reliant and prepare for turbulent times ahead. From a mathematical perspective the more ways something can happen, the more likely it will occur. If not a new world order will be created. All preliminary indicators both globally and locally manifest change is coming soon. Will the future belong to us because we are prepared or will we be reactionary? Brian Ellis Plummer
The most serious threat about the US we should worry about
understand so many times, many heavy duty machinery that went as scrap and sold for a smile were in fairly good working condition; front end loader, low bed, crane, D9 bull dozer and such like. Machines with their box sealed and preserved, only to return as hired to do contracts for the town. Why none of them were given as token to the M&TC or the Region to assist with work in the town. Lindeners are not strangers to the over loaded trucks, trailers and other types of vehicles that have been transporting scrap metal night and day for over two decades out of the town. Surely we couldn’t maintain them, but they could have been managed in a more responsible manner whereby the Town\Region could have benefited in a delightful way. After all those tonnage of scrap metal that once characterized the various mines and form part of the Town’s landscape were as a result of the toil, sweat, sinews and blood as expended over many rough and challenging years by former workers who worked like Trojans with the industry. One is at lost to figure out how miles upon miles, tons of incalculable railway from Wismar and Mackenzie could disappear without a trace! I have to assume that maybe hundreds of millions were accumulated from the sales, hence I need ask what is there to show? And isn’t it a bit of a shame that to this day there is not even a pin standing in honour of Bauxite workers! If this industry should disappear tomorrow there will be nothing standing as a tribute\testimony that there were a people who once lived here that mined bauxite except for the many hills, craters,
overburden, lakes and ponds that came about by the process. Incidentally it was the Chinese, the new expatriates in control of the Bauxite Industry “BOASI” whom the task was left to in erecting a monument to mark the centenary of Bauxite mining on this shore. This brings us to the question; just were the quality of leaders we were saddled with? And now, are we any better? Have we gone past that stage? I don’t think so, as some would say we are half a dozen of one and six of the other. I make bold to say that some of our top functionaries who we loosely label as leaders are in many instances not up to scratch in terms of earnestly looking out for and serving this Town\Region as their counterparts were some decades ago. Observing their conduct within the scheme of things, one hardly gets the impression that this Town\Region is uppermost in their mind, but rather more self serving, sometimes you just have to wonder about their agenda. You walk around and see things that just don’t belong, but somehow they don’t see, as if they don’t live here, their minds are clogged with strange things. They are fascinated with the appellation attached to them, the, “policy paper to be looked at”, “feasibility study to be done”,” documents, and documentations”, and other nice sounding terminologies and phrases. Then, when the ministers visit the place, it is like a turkey parade; they follow around with wings spread. Then when the show is over we are back to where we belong. Frank Fyffe
Ministry of Health needs... From page 5 above) presented that very prescription with the other name on it to the nurse’s station at the Ft. Wellington Hospital, substance. It is important to note that nurse Marks also sent a copy of her letter to the Hon. Minister Volda Lawrence soon after she replaced the Hon Minister George Norton as Minister of Public Health. While our youths are being arrested and incarcerated daily for the use of small quantities of marijuana, the taxpayers of this country are made to pay for a certain party comrade’s drug addiction. Nurse Marks should be promoted and celebrated for demanding high professional ethics in the workplace and from public officials, and for her courage in standing up to threats of victimization. She does not deserve to be victimized in any way, or transferred to Monkey Mountain or anywhere else. I hope the Ministry of Public Health is not foolish enough to go down this road. I therefore call upon the Guyana Medical Council to investigate this situation misconduct, On another matter but related to the power of party officials in Region 5, as a Member of Parliament, I have been getting reports from contractors that alleged having to provide things to certain APNU +AFC councillors in order to get work from the RDC. Harry Gill, MP (PPP)
Wednesday April 19, 2017
Jagdeo says no to polygraph test By Brushell Blackman
Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo at his weekly party press briefing at Freedom House yesterday, said that he is not prepared to submit himself to a polygraph test as was suggested by the Chief Executive Officer of the State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU) Aubrey Heath-Retemyer. Jagdeo said that Retemyer is “insignificant” and he will not be dictated to by the SARU CEO. The former president described Retemyer as a “fossil” and “a geriatric who has only gotten the position he currently holds because he is a friend of the president and the APNU/AFC government”; and that he (Retemyer) did not go through a transparent employment process. Jagdeo said that Retemyer’s utterances with respect to him not being married and wanting to get his hands on upcoming oil money, was behaviour unbecoming of a public official who is the head of an impartial unit that has to investigate the citizenry. Jagdeo said that Retemyer is correct when he said that he (Jagdeo) is “hungry for power”, since the Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) indeed has a yearning desire to win the next general elections. The opposition leader said that while he was toiling as president to build Guyana, the SARU CEO ran away and was doing menial jobs abroad; hence he cannot be taken seriously. “When he was being a security guard in the US I was here working to develop this country”. Jagdeo contends that Retemyer does not have the requisite qualification to function in the position he
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…offers to have one with President
Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo
SARU’s CEO Aubrey Heath-Retemyer
currently holds. He repeated allegations that SARU is corrupt and that the CEO has now returned to Guyana and is enjoying the spoils of his office. The opposition leader asserted that if the administration were to change, the same SARU officials that he referred to as political hacks would pick themselves up and run away. Continuing on the issue of the polygraph, Jagdeo said that if President Granger suggests that the two men (Granger and Jagdeo), should take such a test, he will be amenable to one, but with a caveat. “I (Jagdeo) will determine the questions that will be asked of the president and he determines what questions are put to me, I think that will be a brilliant idea”. The opposition leader said that such a move will ensure that the two top officials will be in the same room whilst the exercise is conducted, since he has a number of questions he wants to put to the head of state. Jagdeo’s rationale for having a polygraph with the president is that he is a former president and it will only be
fitting to have it with the head of state. The fallout with the SARU CEO and the opposition has its genesis in an accusation made by Jagdeo that SARU officials are shaking down businessmen. Retemyer said that Jagdeo’s accusation against SARU officials was disgusting and had no substance. He said that if the former head of state has proof of such behaviour by officials from his unit, he should share them with the police. The outspoken CEO said that if officials from SARU are engaged in such behaviour let them be embarrassed and his unit will stand by the consequences. Retemyer had described Jagdeo as a desperate individual who is hungry for power, and he is sure that the former president has no evidence. He said that if that were the case, why aren’t businessmen not coming forward. In a scathing attack, Retemyer said that throughout the Caribbean Jagdeo has been listed as one of the most corrupt head of states that has ever walked the corridors of power.
Ministry of Presidency protecting fuel smugglers - Opposition Leader Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said that since the coalition APNU/AFC government took office there has been an emergence of three huge fuel smuggling gangs that he alleges is being supported by the government. At a press conference at Freedom House yesterday, Jagdeo said that his party has brought this matter to the attention of the ruling administration, but nothing has been done. He said that one gang consists of businessmen that are sympathetic to the Alliance for Change (AFC) and others, while the second gang which is headed by a prominent lawyer who is also the relative of a top government official, and the third gang by people who Jagdeo claims are know. He said the members of this alleged third gang have recently acquired licences to import fuel and this was written about in the mainstream media. Towards this end, the former head of state admonished the media to ‘throw some rocks in the bushes’. Jagdeo is of the view that this issue is not being ventilated in the media and asked that the fourth estate check what is happening on the local wharves, since according to him, fuel smuggling is rife and is at an
all-time high in the country’s history. The former president frowned on the idea of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) going after people in the interior for fuel smuggling, when there is much going on in the capital city. In an attempt to add context to his claim, Jagdeo made reference to a recent bust of 38 drums of illegal fuel seized and the alleged gang of three that he said is “operating with impunity and has the protection of the Ministry of the Presidency”. When Jagdeo was asked if he had approached the government formally on the issue, he said that he made the call for an investigation at one of his press conferences. He said that he was sure that the president heard his call, and in fact, he (Jagdeo) later learnt that an investigation was ongoing into the matter. The opposition leader said that he was hopeful that the investigations would have yielded results but they bore no fruit. According to Jagdeo the gangs are ‘very huge’ and are marauding, with the executive squarely in their corner. It was only recently that the Guyana Energy Agency, with support from the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Revenue Authority,
conducted an operation in the Mahaica area, seizing two boats of illegal fuel. According to GEA, during the course of the operation, officers observed two boats linked together, containing several drums in the area of Helena Number One. The agency said that the occupants of the vessels refused to comply with instructions issued by the officers for them to come ashore. However, shortly after, they abandoned the vessels by jumping into the river and escaping. Efforts by officials to pursue them proved futile. A public spirited citizen assisted by swimming and pulling the boats ashore. Upon retrieving the vessels, it was discovered that there were efforts by the occupants to sink the larger of the two vessels. The officials discovered 38 drums containing fuel which is estimated to be 1,900 gallons. Field tests carried out by GEA’s inspectors revealed that the fuel was illegal as the marker concentration was below the legal level. As a result, all 38 drums of fuel were seized along with both vessels, an outboard engine and a gasoline powered pump. Investigation into the incident is ongoing, GEA said.
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Wednesday April 19, 2017
Food & Drug Dept. faces another lawsuit for barring milk importation An Order Nisi of Certiorari has been directed to Director of the Government Analyst Food & Drug Department,(GAFDD)
Marlon Cole quashing his decision prohibiting the importation of “Ancient County Full Cream Evaporated Milk.”
The action filed by Attorney-at-law, Anil Nandlall, noted that the prohibition of the item is arbitrary, whimsical, capricious, and unlawful, in breach of the rules of natural justice, in breach of the applicant’s legitimate expectation, null, void and of no effect, discriminatory, unlawful and illegal. The Applicant is a well-known businessman in Berbice. According to the writ, filed in the High Court, Ramanand Sripal, is carrying on the business as J’s Supermarket at several locations and branches across Berbice since March 2016. The Applicant has imported various milk and other products from Gloria S.A. including, Gloria One litre Box Milk, Gloria Condensed Milk and a variety of Gloria juices. In March 2016, the Applicant contracted Gloria S.A. to prepare and package for him evaporated and condensed milk in various sizes under the brand, “Ancient County” From March 2016 to December 2016, the Applicant imported 14 containers of the “Ancient County”, brand milk from Gloria S.A. and sold and distributed same throughout Guyana without any problem whatsoever. According to the businessman, the 14 containers were also inspected by the GAFDD, without any objections. However in January 2017, the Applicant received a letter from the GAFDD informing him that after examining the label of a sample of full cream evaporated milk, under the brand, “it was found to be adulterated with Soy Lecithin (E-322) as an emulsifier. This is in contravention of the Guyana Food and Drug Regulation of 1977 Cap. 34:03 Division 5 which states; ‘a dairy product that contains a fat other than milk fat is adulterated.’ The department would therefore no longer be facilitating the importation of this milk to be released on our local market”. But from his own experience in dealing with milk and milk products over the years, the businessman said that Soy Lecithin is not a fat, but is an additive used as an emulsifier. “This is widely done in milk products across the world.” “Soy Lecithin is used as a food additive and it contains less than 0.1 % of the finished product; further, that its use is sanctioned as a food additive in the production of
The Ancient County Full Cream Evaporated Milk evaporated milk by Codex Alimentarius, the international regulator of food standards established by the World Health Organisation and the Pan-American Health Organisation.” “Significantly, of what is of greater importance is that my product, that is, the Ancient County Evaporated Milk complies fully and absolutely with the specifications contained in the relevant Regulations made under Food and Drugs Act, that is, Regulation 14 of Division 5, of Part IV of the Second Schedule, which deals specifically with evaporated milk, in respect of its constituent composition, as well as, its ingredients,” the applicant stated. “Indeed, it is significant to note that the GAFFD is not contending non-compliance with that particular regulation which ought to govern evaporated milk but faults the product under another regulation which deals with dairy products generically, more particularly, regulation I verily believe that the Respondent’s actions are at the behest of my competitors, who want to stop me from importing my product which is cheaper and in greater demand than theirs,” the businessman stated. The businessman therefore contended that the actions of the GAFDD are wholly erroneous, capricious and arbitrary. He therefore asked that the court grant the requested orders.
Former Finance Minister, Frank Hope, passes on Franklin Eleazer Hope, 92, passed away peacefully at his home in Maryland USA , last Thursday April 13. In keeping with his wishes, his body was cremated and will be remembered in a private memorial. Born in Buxton where he grew up and had his formative years, attended Teachers Training College, eventually achieving the position of Deputy Head Master. He left the teaching profession to pursue studies in economics (UK) and statistics (USA). On returning to Guyana, Hope joined the staff at the Bureau of Statistics where he subsequently attained the position of Chief Statistician. He was appointed Secretary to Treasury in 1970 and Minister of Finance and Trade in 1972. He remained a member of the cabinet until 1983 when he resigned from his Ministerial position to take up an appointment with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Washington DC. He had returned to Guyana in 1991 as a representative of the World Bank, to head the implementation of the Economic Recovery Programme (ERP) during the Hoyte administration.
Franklin Eleazer Hope In retirement, his interest in economic and political events around the world never ceased. He is survived by his wife, children, daughters-in law, sons-in law, grand children, a great-grandson and his brother.
Wednesday April 19, 2017
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Kaieteur News
WHAT IS THERE TO REVIEW? The AFC is becoming discredited. It can hardly now be trusted by its main coalition partner, APNU, and worst of all, it can no longer be trusted by its supporters. The AFC as part of the government cannot openly come out and dissociate itself from a decision of which it was a part. This will lead to mistrust within the coalition with the government. The AFC was part of the government which gave its approval to the parking meter by-laws. After citizens began protesting these by-laws, the AFC suddenly came out and said it was opposed to the deal. The AFC was part of the government which approved, in the National Assembly, the 2017 Budget. The AFC therefore had to have known that the government, of which it is a part, had planned, to introduce VAT on private
education. If the AFC feigns ignorance of this plan, then it must question whether it is a mere footnote within the government’s master script. The AFC is now saying that it wants a review of the VAT on private education. But what does the AFC want to be reviewed. Does it want reviewed the very policies which it helped pass in the National Assembly? Or is the AFC up to its old tricks trying to pander to its middle-class base by calling for a review of the policy of VAT on private education? What does the AFC want reviewed? Does it wish the revenue impact of the VAT to be reviewed? There is hardly anything to be reviewed here. The government plans to earn at least $300M from the VAT on private education, which is really crumbs, considering the overall size of
the Budget. Does the AFC want the economic impact of the VAT on private education to be reviewed? Is it so hard for the AFC to appreciate the impact that the VAT will have on even its own middle class base. Some parents, intent on sticking with private education, are now shopping around for the best deal for their children. This, unfortunately, involves sacrifices in the standard of education which they can afford to provide for their children. Others have had to abandon plans of ever sending their children to private schools, because they cannot afford 10-12% student loans at the bank, plus an additional 14% VAT. Is the AFC asking for a review of the discriminatory application of the VAT? And for the record, the government simply has to pass an Order which exempts
DEM BOYS SEH...
Jagdeo hiding from de polygraph Parliament clear de way fuh de special unit to hunt all de property that some people thief. And is not three cents things some people tek and hide away, some in dem own name and some in dem wife and other family name. Dem have government house that suddenly become other people property. How de house change from government to ordinary people was easy. People just get dem friends in de registry to forge certain documents. When Soulja Bai tek over from Donald he promise that all de corruption gun come to an end. De big problem was that he couldn’t find de law that would allow him to jail all of dem who thief de things. Some people pay a token fee fuh certain property and now it look like if dem gun have to pay de real price. And Jagdeo don’t like that. As soon as he hear certain people gun be searching fuh thiefing property he call dem dunce and geriatrics—that is a big word fuh feeble and forgetful old people. Well dem boys seh that dem same dunce and geriatrics gun drag him by his hanging parts. One of dem same dunce and geriatric people, Retemyer, tell Jagdeo that dem must have a polygraph test. Jagdeo tell de man he ain’t tekking no test wid no old man. But when dem boys check de man younger than Gail, Luncheon, Donald, Rohee, Lumumba and Sam Hinds. Jagdeo can’t even see de geriatrics in he own group.
He then seh that Retemyer and de rest of dem not qualified and how dem gun lost de wuk because is parliament got to appoint dem and dem can’t get no wuk wid no qualification. He gun be surprised when Retemyer keep de wuk fuh hound him. De story ain’t done deh. Jagdeo tell dem boys how he can’t leh anybody write de questions to ask him fuh any polygraph. He, Jagdeo, gun
write he own questions. Nobody can ask “Who was you wife?” “You ever lock she out de bedroom?” “You ever sign de marriage certificate?” and “Did you ever steal?” You can ask if he and Babbie are friends and if dem did hustle de Sanata complex. That is one of de property that SARA planning to tek back. Talk half and watch how Jagdeo and he kavakamites gun start sweating.
public education on VAT to ensure that the VAT can be applied to private education alone. This will mean that VAT can be charged on even ‘play schools’ once the incomes of these schools exceed the financial threshold to be registered for VAT. The AFC need not get technical. The tax hits private students in the guts. It is a low blow. VAT on private education is a revenuegenerating measure. It is not intended to push private students into public schools. VAT on private education may be discriminatory in relation to that of public education. But it is lawful; so what is there to be reviewed? The AFC should be now, if it was not earlier, about the implications of the precedence that the government has set. Today the government is taxing private education. It had plans, seemingly, to tax private health care. It can end up applying VAT on private
newspapers, radio and television. The AFC should not be calling for any review of VAT on private education. It should be stating its position unambiguously. It should indicate where it stands on this issue. If it supports the VAT on private education, it should state so in as many words. If it is opposed to the VAT on private education, it should come out and say to the government that the tax should be repealed. The AFC cannot eat its cake and have it too. It cannot be a party to the imposition of the VAT on private education and then demand
a review. It cannot be opposed to the parking meter by-laws and then only consent to a three-month suspension of the by-laws approved by the government of which it is part. The AFC must stop shadowboxing. It must emerge out of the shadows of APNU and assert its rights as an equal partner with APNU as part of the government. If it cannot do this, then its presence within the government is of no consequence.
CORRECTION
In yesterday’s edition of Kaieteur News, on Page 20, pronouncements in an article titled “Land seizures, climate change, equipment prices challenging West Berbice” were inadvertently credited to Imran Sacoor, President of Regent Five Chamber of Commerce. The statements were instead made by Region Five chairman, Vickchand Ramphal. We apologise for the error.
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Wednesday April 19, 2017
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN...
Visible people, non-existent voices
In 2014, on Emancipation Day, the Government decided to make financial donations to African cultural organizations in celebration of the event. Suddenly, there was an outpouring of these groups from all ten Regions of Guyana. You had to ask one basic question; where were they all the years. In the preceding years, there was a big issue involving the sacred history of Guyanese Africans – the location of the 1823 slave rebellion monument. President Jagdeo had turned the sod on Parade Ground where the monument was to be. It was on Parade Ground that the captured slaves were tortured and executed. One of Jagdeo’s business
friends wanted the Parade Ground for some commercial purpose, so they located the planned statute elsewhere. An organization of African rights groups formed a coalition to protest the transfer. Only one African rights group entered the coalition –ACDA. So where were those African rights groups that turned up in their numbers to receive free money from the Government in 2014? It is the same opportunistic, unpalatable situation with human rights in general. I read the other day, four delegates from youth groups represented Guyana at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in Washington DC. In their submissions, the
group’s criticism of human rights in their country was scathing. They told the forum that young people’s rights in Guyana are constantly being violated. I looked at the pictures of these four young people and the organization they belong to and wondered if I was seeing and reading about another country. I never heard about the organization they said they belonged to, I never saw any protest action from these people, even a letter of indignation to the press, on how young people are treated. I could only have concluded that these four young people are still living in that great empire that existed a few thousand years
ago named Timbuktu. Now let us say these four young Guyanese were lacking in human rights dynamism before they went to their conference, surely they must have had their Road to Damascus moment on their return. If they haven’t, then an opportunity is waiting for them to pick up their bodies, use their voices, and head off to the Georgetown Hospital. A ten-year-old girl was kicked in the stomach, went to the Georgetown Hospital, took an ultra sound, then, was sent home. She died four days after. The post mortem showed she died from ruptured organs which led to internal poisoning. You will have to wait until Noah builds a second ark before those four young people display their voices. But you can bet a “Granger” (the green $5,000 bill) that next year, more young people from Guyana will travel to the human rights forum and tell their audience that Guyana violates the rights of young people. I know there is an organization named the Justice Institute. I honestly
don’t know what work that entity does and I do not see its physical presence on the ground. The least said of the Guyana Human Rights Organization, the better. I read a letter in yesterday’s edition of the Kaieteur News in which a woman of Guyanese origin from London expressed deep chagrin at the profusion of Caucasian faces in local advertisements. She intoned that this was not the Guyana she knew when she was very young. One solitary voice from London remonstrated against this cultural deformation that has been going on now for years and so far only one voice was heard. The Council of the University of Guyana has increased fees. The Minister of Education has come out belatedly to say he disagreed with the increase. Not even one student has held a picket against the increase so far. I will end with something Raphael Trotman told me in the studio of channel 6 in 2012. He said a lecturer on the Cave Hill campus at UWI
Frederick Kissoon in Barbados was dismissed and the entire student population came out in protest. This is small, conservative Barbados. Here in Guyana the university can bundle dozens of lecturers in a jeep and drive them over the highway into the Atlantic and if you go on the campus, the students would be preoccupied with their smart phones, totally oblivious to what happened to their tutors. A magistrate can sentence a baby to life imprisonment and the Guyanese people would happily go on their way and couldn’t be bothered. Some engineers are predicting that because of global warming, and Guyana is below sea level and right next to the Atlantic, we may be overrun one day. Should that happen, who would miss a disappeared Guyana?
Wednesday April 19, 2017
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Soesdyke/Linden Highway, Mon Repos Main Access Road to be rehabilitated During the opening of tenders yesterday at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPATB), contractors vied for the contract to rehabilitate Main Access Roads. This contract was divided into two lots: lot one, rehabilitation of the Linden/Soesdyke Highway; and lot two, the rehabilitation of Mon Repos Access Road, East Coast Demerara. The Ministry of Public Infrastructure is the procuring entity.
The RDC is also the procuring entity for the construction of a new store for the Ministry of Education, Plantain Walk, Vreed-en-Hoop, Region Three.
Bids were submitted for the supply and installation of one complete 4.0kWp grid connected photovoltaic system for the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA).
The Ministry of the Presidency was listed as the procuring entity for the supply of three re-conditioned 15- seater buses.
Tenders were opened for the rehabilitation of the Liverpool Health Centre Street, north of the public road. The procuring entity was listed as the Regional Democratic Council for Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne).
Tenders were submitted for consultancy services for several projects for the Ministry of Education. Consultancy Service for the Construction of New Maintenance Building, University of Guyana Turkeyen Campus (Financial):
Provision of consultancy services for the expansion of the library at the University of Guyana Berbice Campus (Financial):
Consultancy Services for the Construction of Teachers and Learning Complex, University of Guyana (Financial): The Ministry of Agriculture is the procuring entity for the procurement of earth moving and land preparation equipment. This contract was divided into three lots: lot one, for the supply, delivery and testing of earth moving equipment (excavators); lot two, the supply, delivery and testing of earth moving equipment (dozers); and lot three, the supply, delivery and testing of land preparation equipment (tractors and implements). Consultancy Services for the Construction of Office Building at 21 Brickdam (Financial):
Consultancy Services for the Construction of Dormitory at the Linden Technical Institute:
Consultancy Services for the reconstruction of the St. Rose’s High School (Financial): Tenders were opened for the construction of a new single flat Special Needs School at the Schoonord Housing Scheme, West Bank Demerara. The procuring entity is the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) for Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara).
>>>> Continued on page 30 <<<<
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Wednesday April 19, 2017
Kaieteur News
Agricola men in court Guyanese embassy in Cuba acquires electric car its green energy initiative, for robbing woman of but now it has proved handy indeed. “I’m lucky, and I’m happy cash, jewellery about that,” He said. Two residents of Agricola, East Bank Demerara have been remanded to prison for robbing a woman at gunpoint of cash and jewellery. Antonio Maraj, 20, a fish vendor, of 27 Public Road, Agricola, East Bank Demerara and Dexter Wray, 24, of 95 Romulus Street Agricola, were not required to plead to the charge which stated that on April 4 at Lot 4 Public Road McDoom, East Bank Demerara, while armed with a gun, they robbed Simone Beaton of two tablet computers, two gold rings and $1,135,000 cash. Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan ordered the duo to make another court appearance on May 8. Attorney-at-Law Stanley Moore represented the two accused and asked for them to be granted bail in a reasonable sum. However, Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore opposed bail citing that there is a likelihood they might not return to court. The prosecutor also disclosed that none of the articles mentioned in the charged were recovered. According to the prosecutor, the case file is still incomplete.
Guyana Ambassador Halim Majeed (right), talks to his driver as he shows a recently acquired electric car at the embassy in Havana, Cuba, April 14, 2017. (REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini) By Marc Frank | HAVANA An electric car dealer with a Miami subsidiary is telling Cuba-based diplomats struggling with a gasoline shortage on the Communistrun Caribbean island that they should fret no longer. The United States, which maintains a trade embargo on Cuba, licensed Premier Automotive Export to sell vehicles to non-state entities in Cuba, such as embassies and private companies, as part of detente under former president Barack Obama. “We put together a
special offer and are distributing the flier - a 2016 Nissan (7 2 0 1 . T ) L e a f electric sedan, plus super c h a rg e r, f o r $ 2 5 , 0 0 0 , including shipping direct from Miami to Mariel Port,” said John Felder, owner of Premier’s Cayman Islandsbased parent, Automotive Leasing and Sales Co. The cash-strapped Cuban government cut back deliveries of high-octane gasoline this month, sending diplomats, other foreigners and better-off Cubans scrambling to locate fuel and
waiting in long lines to fill up their cars. It was not clear how long the shortage would last, and the government has not commented on the situation. Most Cubans who own cars, mainly vintage American and Soviet-era models, use lesser-quality fuel that can damage modern engines. To date, Felder has sold just one of his vehicles, to the Guyanese Embassy before the shortages began. Ambassador Halim Majeed said his government purchased the car as part of
Majeed said other diplomats had always shown interest in his electric car, but there was more now. “It is natural that when one faces an issue, you devise ways and means to overcome that challenge,” he said, “and in this situation, the electrical vehicle can help do that.” Cuba depends on crisisracked ally Venezuela for about 70 percent of its fuel needs, including oil for refining and re-exports. But socialist Venezuela’s subsidized shipments have fallen by as much as 40 percent since 2014. Potential new suppliers usually want cash due to Cuba’s poor credit rating. Two of three Cuban refineries have closed or have operated well below capacity for months. Swedish Ambassador Jonas Loven said he would “think seriously” about Premier’s offer the next time the embassy changes its official car. “It would send a good CO2 message as well,” Loven said. “Unfortunately, we just bought a new Mercedes.”
Wednesday April 19, 2017
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday April 19, 2017
Woman arrested after allegedly attacking mother, stabbing brother to death Controversy surrounds the death of a 21-year-old man who succumbed at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) yesterday, hours after being stabbed. The victim has been identified as Vishaul Hansraj, a trawler operator of Covent Garden Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara (EBD). The young man was stabbed twice in the back around 18:00 hrs on Easter Monday. Hansraj’s older sister was taken into police custody for attacking her mother, Sumintra Brijmohan, and inflicting a wound to her neck. The sibling is also being questioned about her brother’s death, even as her mother denies that the woman stabbed her brother. Brijmohan informed investigators that while her daughter attacked her, she did not stab her brother. In fact, no one knows who stabbed the young man. Investigators however believe that Hansraj’s stabbing is linked to his mother’s attack and as such, the young woman has been detained at the East La Penitence Police Station. Brijmohan in an interview denied that her daughter killed her son. “No, she didn’t stab him. We had a quarrel because I ask her why she drink (alcohol) and she picked up a knife and cut me on my neck, but it’s not deep,” the woman
The dead man’s mother, Sumintra Brijmohan
DEAD: Vishaul Hansraj
said. The woman explained that after she was attacked, neighbours called a taxi for her to go to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre. According to Brijmohan, while preparing to go to the hospital, Hansraj came home, covered in blood, claiming that someone stabbed him but he didn’t say who it was— the ground is not far from their home. “He say he can’t breathe and he gone die and we take him in the same taxi to the hospital. We don’t know who stabbed him and he didn’t see, because he say it was dark,” Brijmohan explained. She related that her son left home early Easter Monday to go and lime at the Covent Garden ground with his brothers and friends. “He doesn’t stay one
place, so his brothers them ain’t see anything. All we know is that he get in an argument with some boys and they stab he and he lil hot headed. If he and someone get it out, he does jump to fight,” the woman related. Brijmohan maintained that she doesn’t want any story and that she is a poor woman. “My daughter didn’t stab him.” Police sources however said that neighbours have indicated that the young man was indeed stabbed by his sibling. “They are always fighting with each other,” the rank said they were informed, while adding that there is enough information to suggest that the young man was stabbed at home. Investigation is ongoing.
Wednesday April 19, 2017
Kaieteur News
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Duo remanded over robbing “Resistance” in municipalities damaging quality of local governance - Granger church-goers at gunpoint Less than one month after a murder charge was discharged against him, Negus Lamazon is back in court again. This time, he and another man were remanded to prison over robbing a group of church members who were gathered at a farewell. Lamazon, 21, a mason, of 51 Durban Street, Lodge, Georgetown and Corinth Taylor, 22, a mechanic of 53 Durban Street, Lodge, Georgetown were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. It is alleged that on April 10, while armed with a gun, they robbed Quacy Waldron of a BLU cell phone valued $30,000. It is also alleged that on April 10 at Regent Road, Georgetown while in the company of others and armed with a gun, they robbed Adidrey Liverpool of two gold chains valued $220,000. It is further alleged that on the same day at the said location while armed with a gun, they robbed Lester Andrews of a Samsung galaxy cell phone valued $160,000. It is also alleged that on the said day at Regent Road, while armed with a gun, they robbed Robin Fibruse of three gold chains with pendant valued $284,000 and a Samsung Galaxy J7 cell phone valued $65,000. They both pleaded not guilty to the charges. According to reports, approximately 20 persons were attending a farewell and were sitting on the northern pavement of Regent Street, when they were robbed by bandits on CG motorcycles. Police said the bandits arrived from the western direction and came off their motorcycles, pointed their guns at the victims and robbed them. Some persons resisted and the gunmen fired about six shots in the air and made good their escape, south along Oronoque Street.
REMANDED: Corinth Taylor Kaieteur News understands that two of the bandits escaped on a motorcycle while the other bandit escaped on foot and left his motorcycle behind. A motorcycle used during the commissioning of the robbery was confiscated by police. Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore told the court that the defendants were positively identified by some of the victims. The prosecutor said that the persons were gathered at a farewell when the defendants and two other men pounced on them and demanded that they hand over their valuables. The prosecutor disclosed that Lamazon was arrested at Springlands, Corentyne, Berbice, while en route to Suriname. Attorney-at-Law Adrian Thompson asked for his client to be granted bail while acknowledging the offences are of a serious nature. According to the lawyer, Taylor was arrested when he went to report his motorcycle stolen at the Alberttown Police Station. Thompson said that while at the station police ranks arrested his client after telling him that the motorcycle was used to carry out robberies. According to the lawyer, Lamazon was never picked out on an identification parade and was arrested in
Springlands. Thompson pointed out that police violated his clients’ constitutional rights by keeping them in custody for eight days. However, Prosecutor Moore disclosed that investigators were granted permission from the High Court to keep the men in custody beyond 72 hours. Lamazon and Taylor will make another court appearance on May 8. A few weeks ago, Magistrate Dylon Bess discharged a murder charge against Lamazon and Samuel McIntyre. The two men were accused of killing 33-year-old Orin David, who was riddled with bullets in front of his Laing Avenue, Georgetown home on August 1, 2016.
President David Granger thinks that the “resistance” being put up by various local government officials is hampering the progress that Guyana so needs at that level. During a recent Public Interest programme, Granger told reporters that municipal leaders who are linked to the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) “seem reluctant to pay simple courtesy when I visit…Some regional chairmen do not even come out to see me, especially the Region Two Chairman.” Granger said that Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan hosted numerous conferences where Regional Chairmen and Mayors refused to show up.” “There is a lot of resistance taking place in the municipalities and this is damaging the quality of local governance,” said Granger. The President said that it is important for governance to be seen at all three levels— national, regional and municipal. “If the three don’t work together there will be not only discontinuities but in some cases, resistance, and this is what is affecting the local government system.” Granger continued, “In measuring the performances of the municipalities, there must
President David Granger be a greater appreciation by the mayors that they are not serving their political parties. They are serving the people of Guyana who are living in that municipal area. This is an intellectual hurdle that some of the mayors and regional chairmen have to overcome. That spirit of resistance is really causing hurt.”
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Kaieteur News
Teen to serve life for Enmore rum shop killing
An Enmore teenager convicted for killing his fellow villager during a rum shop brawl has been sentenced to serve life imprisonment for the offence. The sentence was handed down by Justice Navindra Singh around noon at the Georgetown High Court, yesterday. Deosaran Bisnauth, 19, of Enmore, East Coast Demerara, was found guilty of the offence after about three hours of deliberations by a mixed 12 -member jury. The teenager, who is nicknamed “strokes mouth,” was represented by Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos. Bisnauth was originally indicted for the murder of Robert Mangal called “Trevor.” The incident occurred on July 6, 2013, at
Deosaran Bisnauth Enmore, East Coast Demerara. According to the facts of the case, the two people were said to have been imbibing in a shop, at
the time. The matter was presented by State Prosecutors, Tuanna Hardy and Siand Dhurjon. Following deliberations by the jury yesterday, the teen was found not guilty of murder but guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter. Before the sentence could be handed down, De Santos asked the court to consider the fact that his client was just 16 years old when the act was committed. The Attorney beseeched the court for mercy. He asked for the court to consider that the teen has not been given a chance to make a meaningful contribution to society. The lawyer told the court that his client is not usually hostile and would contribute meaningfully to (Continued on page 23)
Wednesday April 19, 2017
Gold mining in Mazaruni, Puruni...
Govt. sending team to investigate GHRA’s claim of river degradation The Ministry of Natural Resources says it has noted the recent media coverage emanating from a report compiled by the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) regarding environmental degradation due to gold mining activities. “We can confirm that the Minister of Natural Resources has ordered a team comprising officers of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Ministry’s Compliance Division be despatched into the affected areas in Puruni a n d Mazaruni in a matter of d a ys with a view to ascertaining the severity of the impact and the accuracy of the reports and putting in place urgent corrective measures,” the ministry said yesterday. As part of its 2017 programme, the Ministry said it has made the issue of compliance in all natural resources operations a high priority. “Our Compliance Division, created in 2016, is now being staffed. This
notwithstanding, the Compliance Division has already been integral in a number of recent compliance enforcement campaigns in c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h the GGMC which have resulted in the shutting down of a number of mining operations, including river mining, due to e n v i r o n m e n t a l infringements.” Minister Raphael Trotman has also tasked the Compliance Division of the Ministry to work with other relevant stakeholders and agencies on a rapid assessment of the situation in order to formulate long-term remedial policy adjustments. “This action is in addition to the plans the Government has for encouraging and enforcing compliance with relevant laws and regulations and for technical interventions including the use of dredge tracking technology and drones.” At the inception meeting of the new Board of Directors of the GGMC on Thursday April 13, 2017, Trotman charged the members of the board to focus on
Environmental Management with sensitisation in the first instance and more proactive initiatives for monitoring of water quality. “Government recognises that mining has been for decades, and will continue to be, one of the mainstays of our economy and will not shirk its responsibility to ensure that it is done in a manner that respects the environment. As a nation, our efforts have not been as effective; especially in the area where mining effluent from both within Venezuela and Guyana combine to affect our rivers.” The Ministry said it is appreciative of the vigilance of agencies such as the GHRA and “we commit to holding environmental stewardship in high regard as outlined in the Ministry’s Mission Statement: ‘To develop, implement and oversee policies for the responsible exploration, development and utilisation of natural resources whilst ensuring the protection and conservation of the environment and advancing the green economy.”
Wednesday April 19, 2017
Kaieteur News
Public release of forensic audit reports hampering police probes - Junior Finance Minister By Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell Reports of forensic audits conducted into state agencies will no longer be made public. This is according to Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Jaipaul Sharma. The Minister explained that the decision to no longer make public releases came on the heels of complaints from the Guyana Police Force, to the effect that the public disclosures of the wrongs committed by state officials put a strain on investigations. He said, “The police found it better when (the reports) are not made public; they get better cooperation in terms of getting people to speak.” Sharma made the disclosure as he spoke about recommendations in the audit reports that point to criminal proceedings. Sharma said that the government would like to give the police a better chance to carry out criminal investigations “so that justice can be given to the people of Guyana”. Aside from recommendations for criminal proceedings, most audit reports contained numerous recommendations on how to better the agencies and companies. However, little is known about the implementation of these. Sharma said that the onus is on the various Boards to have the recommendations implemented. “The audits were done to strengthen the entities, so the reports go to the boards, because there are some administrative things that need to be put into place.” Sharma singled out the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest). He said that most changes being implemented by that Board are based on the recommendations contained in the report of the audit conducted into the agency. He then turned his attention to the audit into the Student Loan Scheme. “Everything that was recommended for Student Loans was considered. The Ministry of Finance put all these things in place; like a new building and the regularization of the system to make sure money is paid, etc.” It was in May 2015 that the Granger-led administration began expending some $133 million on 45 of the 50 forensic audits
Junior Minister of Finance, Jaipaul Sharma to ascertain how the assets of the state were sold, disposed of or transferred under the previous administration. The remaining five audits were sponsored by the InterAmerican Development Bank. Just about 30 forensic audit reports were released. They all pointed to severe deficiencies in the manner the monies of the state have been handled by the entities. Some of the firms contracted to conduct the forensic audits included Nigel Hinds Financial Service, Ram and Mc Rae and HLB Seebarran and Co. Chartered Accountant Anand Goolsarran along with Harryman Parmesar were also contracted to conduct several forensic audits. Nigel Hinds Financial Service audited agencies such as the Guyana Oil Company Limited, Guyana Energy Agency and GOInvest. Ram and McRae audited the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Guyana Gold Board and E-Governance Project among others. Several audits were also launched in July 2015 while others started later that year. Sharma had said that the revelations of some of the forensic audits vindicate the concerns the APNU+AFC had regarding the lack of accountability under the previous administration as well as the stench of corruption in some agencies. With regard to the forensic audit launched into the Environmental Protection Agency, Sharma had said that it revealed that the entity had been holding some 15 accounts with over $400M. Kaieteur News understands that recommendations were made for the monies to be transferred to the Consolidated Fund.
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Wednesday April 19, 2017
Kaieteur News
Father of two dies after beaten by ‘drinking buddies’ A father of two died in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) around 05:00 hrs yesterday, two days after he was allegedly beaten during a suspected robbery by a group of men with whom he had been imbibing. Balwant Ramsaran of 504 Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD) was attacked after he reportedly put up a fight when his “drinking buddies” tried to rob him in a rum shop at Farm, EBD. According to information received, the father of two was imbibing at a ground in Farm with a group of men. Reports are that when Ramsaran became intoxicated, the men he was drinking with allegedly tried
Dead: Balwant Ramsaran to rob him to which the victim put up a fight and left. The victim’s brother-inlaw, Devon Winter said that Ramsaran reportedly left the ground and went to a shop a short distance away. It was
there that the men followed him and attacked him. “When he drink, they usually rob him,. but this time he put up a fight,” Ramsaran noted. Kaieteur News was informed that when the 41year-old man was attacked by the group of men, one of the individuals picked up a piece of wood and dealt him several lashes to the head and back. The victim collapsed and was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, and later transferred to the GPHC where he succumbed. Winter explained that while the man lived at Herstelling, he spent most of his time in Land of Canaan where he worked as a joiner. No one has been arrested.
PI into Ryan Sergeant murder to commence next month May 5 has been set for the commencement of a preliminary inquiry into the murder of Ryan Sergeant who was gunned down in front of the Rio Night Club last year September. Lloyd Roberts, also known as ‘Robbie’ of North Ruimveldt, is currently on remand for the capital offence. The date was set yesterday by City Magistrate Judy Latchman after the matter was transferred to her court by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for fixture. Sergeant of Festival City, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was shot dead while his friend Jeffrey Ferrel was injured. The shooting incident reportedly stemmed from an argument between a group of young men outside the aforementioned night club on September 26, 2016 at Oronoque and Forshaw Streets, Queenstown, Georgetown. While outside, an individual whipped out a gun
MURDERED: Ryan Sergeant and shot at Sergeant and his friends. It was while Sergeant and a friend were running to his vehicle that he was hit by a bullet. In January, Roberts was among three men who were remanded to prison over an AK-47 rifle find at a home in Campbellville, Georgetown. Teon Alleyne, 30, of Soesdyke/Linden Highway and Andre Pollydore, 24, of South Ruimveldt Georgetown
Lloyd Roberts have since been released on bail. The trio was slapped with four charges each-two for possession of illegal firearms and two for illegal possession of ammunition. The court heard that on January 22 at 81 John Street Campbellville, Georgetown, the men had in their possession two weapons – one being an AK-47 rifle and one 9mm pistol – without being holders of firearm licence. It is also alleged that on the same day, the men had in their possession 60 rounds of 7.62 by 39 ammunition and 20 rounds of 9mm ammunition while they were not owners of firearm licence. According to reports, police acting on information swooped down on the home and conducted a search during which they found the illegal items along with several cellular phones. In February 2010, Roberts was freed of the murder of Romeo De Agrella and his son Clint De Agrella after a murder charge against him was discharged by Magistrate Alan Wilson. They were killed at Iron Punt, North West District.
Wednesday April 19, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Teen to serve... GPHC Social Workers recognised (From page 16) society and his family if he is given a chance. Bisnauth sat quietly in the docks as his lawyer made the submissions. Bisnauth‘s family members wept silently as they listened to the words of his lawyer. Prosecutor Hardy nonetheless asked the court to consider the fact that a life was lost. She asked that the court‘s sentence be in line with the actions of the accused. “Mr Bisnauth, do you wish to say anything?” the judge asked before handing down the sentence. “No Sir,” Bisnauth replied. “Well then, the sentence of this court is life imprisonment,” the judge stated. Loud wails erupted from the area of the court which the teenager’s family occupied, as the sentence was announced. Bisnauth had claimed that he acted in self-defence after Mangal charged him with a rum bottle at the shop. But an eyewitness account revealed that Bisnauth used a piece of wood and dealt Mangal lashes about the body before he collapsed to the ground unconscious. The account given by Karran Bharrat Chattergoon called Manoj outlined that the victim was unarmed, but Bisnauth picked up a piece of wood and dealt the man “about three lashes across his back” after which, he (Mangal) fell, facedown to the ground. Additionally, a medical doctor testified during the trial that he examined Robert Mangal, following the incident. Dr Roy Samlall said that there were signs of assault and intoxication when the victim was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital. Samlall said that Mangal was also unresponsive. The witness noted that upon examining the patient, he found that there was an injury to the right side of his head and swelling to his right elbow. According to Dr Samlall, a CT scan was ordered and conducted on the victim. The scan revealed that there was bleeding in the right temporal lobe and blood clots in the brain. The witness told the court that the injuries were considered life-threatening. As such, Mangal was placed in the High Dependency Unit (HDU), for further medical monitoring until the day he died.
The social workers and their supervisor, Fiona McKoy (far right) pose following the recognition ceremony at the GPHC As part of its efforts to recognise the tedious work of its Social Workers, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation [GPHC] recently honoured them with a breakfast. The occasion for the recognition was International Social Work Day 2017 which was held under the theme ‘Promoting community and e n v i r o n m e n t a l sustainability’. At the small but meaningful ceremony, the Social Workers were
addressed by the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer [ag], Mr. Alan Johnson; Chairperson, Ms. Kesaundra
Alves; General Medical Officer within the Oncology Unit, Ms Latoya Gooding and Supervisor of Social Workers,
Ms Fiona McKoy. International Social Work Day is celebrated annually on March 21.
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday April 19, 2017
Gold off to terrific start for 2017 - But other industries projected to show decline - Finance Ministry Advisors The Ministry of Finance is projecting another year of positive growth for Guyana and there are already indications that this is very likely to occur. Strengthening the base of its conclusion thus far, are statistics gathered on the performance of the nation’s major industries for January last. According to the Economic Policy Analysis Unit (EPAU), gold production for January 2017 was recorded at 44,959 ounces. This, the Unit said, is 25.1 percent above the total achieved in January 2016. The EPAU said that this increase continues to be underpinned by strong performance by Guyana Gold Fields Inc. and Troy Resources along with greater declarations from the small and medium-sized miners. The members of the Unit said that this industry is expected to continue to experience positive growth in 2017. While the gold sector is off to an outstanding start for 2017, other sectors are lagging behind. According to the Unit, no sugar production was recorded for January 2017. This is expected as production is not generated until February of each year. Nonetheless, the Unit said that sugar production was targeted at 208,000 tonnes for 2017. However, due to ongoing issues at the Skeldon factory, this forecast will have to be revised. Similar to sugar, no production was recorded for rice for January 2017. The Economic Analysis Unit said that sowing continued during January and is expected to continue into February. Furthermore, it was noted that rice production is targeted at 590,000 tonnes, provided that conditions remain favourable and new markets are found. As for forestry production for January 2017, this amounted to 17,174 cubic metres compared with 25,733 cubic metres in January, 2016. The Unit said that lower production is expected for this industry as reorganization by Government continues. Production for 2017 is targeted at 297,070 cubic
metres. The members of the EPAU said that the forestry industry is also expected to continue to decline in 2017. They said that over the medium term, growth within the industry will rebound as more value added products are added. With respect to bauxite production for January, last, 125,835 tonnes was recorded compared to 144,524 tonnes in January 2016. The Unit said that this was mainly due to lower demand. Additionally, the Bauxite industry is targeted to grow by almost two percent in 2017, with growth expected to be sustained by rising global prices along with stronger demand during the year. In relation to government expenditure, the Unit said that $7.2 billion was spent on transfer payments for January 2017, representing an increase of $4 billion or 127.5 percent compared to January 2016. The Economic Policy Analysis Unit said that this expansion in transfer expenditure was mainly due to a $3 billion subsidy given to the Guyana Sugar Corporation to cater for operational expenses. In spite of the aforementioned, the EPAU said that economic growth for 2017 is targeted at 3.8 percent and is expected to be driven by growth in the mining and quarrying and services sectors. Growth in the services sector is also expected to be underpinned by strong performances in the construction, electricity and water, transportation and financial industries. Additionally, growth in the mining and quarrying sectors is expected to be driven by continued growth in the gold industry as production for both Guyana Gold Fields and Troy Resources is expected to rise; along with expected increased declarations from the small and medium sized miners due to favourable global prices. The agricultural sector is expected to show improvements in 2017 with strong growth expected for the rice and fishing industries.
Wednesday April 19, 2017
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Kaieteur News
GAWU: President’s announcement on sugar estates a betrayal The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) says it has taken note of the remarks, which appeared in various sections of the media, made by President David Granger at the opening West Berbice Expo on April 15, 2017. “The President in his address announced that the Government was intent on keeping Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt Estates. The Head of State utterances, therefore, is yet another indication, in our view, that the administration has embraced the plan of the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) to close Rose Hall and Enmore Estates and to divest Skeldon Estate.” According to GAWU, the biggest workers’ union of GuySuCo, the decision on sugar, taking into account the closure of Wales Estate, will see some 9,000 workers being thrown on to the breadline. “Thousands more who depend on the workers whether as dependents, or as goods and service providers will also been harshly affected by the closure and sell-out thrust as reportedly signaled by the current President.” The union said that it also see the President’s announcement as a departure from previous commitment by other high-ranking officials of the administration. “GAWU is mindful that just a few weeks ago, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon told the Guyanese people, through the media, that a
Rose Hall Estate, in East Berbice, may be one that is destined for closure.
‘White Paper’ on sugar would be taken to the National Assembly for deliberation and debate. The Minister further went on to say that it was only after that exercise that firm decisions would be made with respect to sugar.” The union made it clear yesterday that so far the paper has remained a secret and it appears that the President is taking a different approach. “Our Union and the thousands of sugar workers see this as another betrayal. In recent times, the workers a n d t h e i r o r g a n i s a tions
have heard from the administration phrases like “Sugar too big to fail” or, as coming from PM Nagamootoo, “Sugar will never die” but then decisions are made which see them being pushed or facing the stark reality of a life of uncertainty and almost certainly misery.” GAWU said it is saddening that the administration has taken this course and has chosen to shun the “credible advice” it has been receiving on ways to turnaround and safeguard the industry. “Moreover, when the alternative
presented by GuySuCo is filled with so many holes and questions it is doubly worrying for our Union. The Government’s
approach obviously brings into question its professed sincerity to the thousands dependent on its operations and embracing
positions to safeguard and enhance the life and work conditions of our people, particularly the workingpeople.
PAGE 26
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Wednesday April 19, 2017
Kaieteur News
Tuschen, Uitvlugt, La Parfaite Harmonie, Eccles, Providence, Herstelling. We pay best price. Call: 666-2326 Experienced shop workers, handyman & domestic to work in the Interior, age 1840yrs. Call: 231-0363 (9am4:30pm). (TIN, ID & NIS) Business opportunities needed to invest in Gold trade in Interior. Call: 6587553 Truck Driver. Call: 227-1717
VACANCY Room attendant, male security age 30-55, 233 South Road, Lacytown. Call: 225-0198 Accounts Clerk for Eccles, Industrial Site area knowledge of NIS, PAYE, VAT, Quickbooks. Call: 6144358 Experienced female Accounts Clerk, apply in person to Alabama Trading, 65-66 Robb Street Bourda. Experienced cook (for canteen), porters, bond clerks, snackette attendants. Apply: Survival, Lot 10 Vlissengen Rd, Kitty.
AutoCad Technician. Must be familiar with AutoCAD 2008 or higher. Computer will be provided. Call: 628-2962
PEN PAL Male seeking female 25yrs 45yrs for serious relationship. Call: 687-3616
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Bottom flat house @ 25 North Road & Oronoque Street, fully furnished/ air condition/ residence /business.Call: 226-7012 Upper flat for rent 3 bedrooms in Atlantic Gardens- Call: 2274377/227-0613/624-6013 Space for rent @ Vreed-en Hoop Junction, lessons place, church, storage bond, office, others -$20,000 monthly. Call: 603-6400 Business property to rent near Campbellville Secondary School. Call: 6276480/ 613-6815 One and two bedrooms apartment Herstelling E.B.D - Tel: 641-2311 or 627-3882 One bedroom apartment well secured for working couple $35,000 monthly. Light, water and garbage included. Call: 638-8858 1-Bottom flat 2 rooms apartment situated pm East Bank Demerara. Call: 6886228 2 Bedrooms apartment for rent; working couple. Call: 664-2861
PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461
Upper flat $120,000 and lower flat $100,000 fully furnished 2 bedrooms for rent in Barr St. Call 592-6011700 serious inquiries only.
House & Land available for sale. Contact Pacific Development Inc @ Lot 3 Church Street, G/Town. Call: 223-6035/227-8274 Newly built @ Craig E.B.D land 91X50, house 40X28, 3 rooms, 1 self-contained- $23M. Call: 718213-6496/617-7691 Subryanville property for sale: 44 fifth Avenue., Subryanville, Georgetown $45M or best offer. Call Mortimer: 625-7669/ Richard: 624-1154
LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj BuildingCall: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).
LAND FOR SALE Transported land for sale size 37X270 @ Coglan Dam, Vreed-en-Hoop, W.B.D. Call: 650-5644/677-9938 La Parfaite Harmonie- $1.6M, $1.2M, $1.4M, Tuschen Phase II - $1.4M, Herstelling -$3.5M, Uitvlugt - $2M. Call: 604-6724 or 673-6300 La Parfaite Harmonie - $1.8M, $1.2M, $1.1M, Tuschen Phase II $1.3M, Uitvulgt $2M, V/Hoop - $27M. Call: 666-2326 21 Acres land for housing, alongside Linden Highway, average distance from Soesdyke -$20Million. Call: 692-8216
Govt. completes framework strategy for Green State Development The Ministry of the Presidency yesterday indicated that the framework document for Guyana’s development along a ‘green’ pathway has been finalized. The document titled ‘Framework of the Guyana Green State Development Strategy and Financing Mechanisms, is intended to provide guidance on the prioritized areas to be developed in the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS). It reportedly lays out the elements to be examined and consulted upon during the course of developing the GSDS. The Ministry said that the document represents a roadmap for developing Guyana along a reduced emissions pathway, and builds on the successes of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and several other national documents such as the Nationally Determined Contributions, Climate Resilience Strategy Action Plan (CRSAP), Draft National Energy Policy, and National Adaptation Strategy for the Agricultural Sector (2009 2018). The Ministry indicated that the development of the GSDS will be completed over the course of the next 12–18 months. Nationwide consultations and stakeholders’ feedback will guide the development of the seven major themes of the strategy. The ministry listed the themes of the strategy to include structural transformation; Sustainable management of natural resources; Energy – transition towards renewable energy; Resilient infrastructure and spatial development; Human development and wellbeing; Governance and institutional foundations; and, International cooperation, trade and investment. The Ministry said that there will be a massive sensitization campaign to raise awareness of the Framework document. This campaign will ensure that consultations and engagements over the next 12-18 months are informed and constructive.
Wednesday April 19, 2017
Kaieteur News
Canadian charity donates to GPHC’s Paediatric Oncology Dept.
The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation [GPHC] was recently the recipient of a sum of $1,000 CDN compliments of the Letna Healing Hope Foundation in Canada. The monetary donation is intended to be used in the Paediatric Oncology Department of the public hospital. Receiving the donation on behalf the hospital was Dr. Radha Looknauth in the
presence of Ms. Kesaundra Alves, Chairperson of the GPHC Board of Directors; Mr. Allan Johnson, the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, and Dr. Sheik Amir, Director of Medical and Professional Services, among others. Letna Healing Hope Foundation has given assurance that the endowment will be an annual feature.
The United States of America was propelled to a status of greatness because of the resilience of its people. Aiming for such a goal is not beyond this South American territory. This is according to Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, as he addressed the most recent batch of Emergency Medical Technicians [EMTs] to the National Emergency Medical Service programme. According to Ramjattan, the key factor upon which the greatness of a nation hinges, is the ability to have individuals who are skilled and equipped with the ability to multi-task. “In America, one person could probably do the jobs of 100 people in the third world...that’s how skilled they are to the extent that they can produce,” said Ramjattan. But according to him, “what Guyana needs to reach that level is not necessarily a stream of money coming with it...let’s say [from] a oil sector or a better gold sector, but the people who can do the job of not necessarily what they can do today, but 10 times better, and are skilled that they can rate themselves like the advanced countries of the world. That is what is necessary, and why this administration is paying attention to ensuring that you be trained.” Training for EMTs, according to Ramjattan, is expected to continue for two or three years and even further down the road. To realise this, the Public Security Minister considered that greater efforts will be required including “greater finances, more international lecturers and that we are now trying to work out and so much more.” He continued, “that is what it takes...a lot of us sometimes come to the conclusion that we are going to do well soon, and we are just going to have to learn to distribute the wealth. No, no, no...We have to learn through our skills and training how to generate more wealth. The generation of wealth is very important and how we generate that will come through training.” But according to the Minister, “self
initiative is important to proceed to learn more. Read and read and read, that is what will make the modern society. Don’t ever feel that those great advanced countries did it another way...that is why they are famous for their universities, colleges and schools.” However, Chief Fire Officer, Marlon Gentle, who has been playing a major part in the EMS programme, assured that the EMS service already being offered here is not only laudable based on local recognition, but it has benefited from commendable international attention too. According to Gentle, it was several weeks ago, during an encounter with International Assessors of the United Kingdom, that he too was able to appreciate what Guyana has in place. The International Assessors have been involved in helping Guyana to do training and from which Guyana has procured some of its emergency equipment. “When they looked at what is going on in the medical field in Guyana and how we stocked our ambulances, how we had our emergency communications running, they said that they could not understand that we are here in this part of the world and we are using that first world type of practice to our people’s benefit,” said Gentle. The Fire Chief moreover emphasised his conviction that the local EMTs have at their disposal “some of the best in the medical fraternity in Guyana and I dare say further afield.” “My association with Dr. [Zulfikar] Bux, Mr. Ron Morris, and even some of the other physicians at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation [GPHC]...has been that I am confident, and I am convinced that we have within us some of the best practitioners in Guyana who could deliver a service worthy of international comment,” Gentle added. In fact, Gentle disclosed that the Caribbean Association of Fire Officers has also been impressed with the Guyana EMS programme and has indicated its desire embrace that approach.
Guyana EMS programme gets impressive ratings
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Wednesday April 19, 2017
Suspect in Facebook video murder Trump orders review of visa programme to encourage hiring Americans kills self in Pennsylvania: police
(Reuters) A murder suspect who police said posted a video on Facebook of the killing of a Cleveland man fatally shot himself after a “brief pursuit” by Pennsylvania State Police officers on Tuesday, police said. Steve Stephens was accused of shooting Robert Godwin Sr., 74, on a sidewalk on Sunday before fleeing in a car and uploading a video of the murder to Facebook, becoming the focus of a nationwide manhunt. Pennsylvania State Police officers found Stephens in Erie County, Pennsylvania, after getting a tip around 11 a.m. local time from a “con-
cerned citizen” who saw Stephens at a McDonald’s, Major William Teper Jr. of the Pennsylvania State Police told a news conference on Tuesday afternoon. Local media said an employee at the restaurant’s drive-through window called police. Stephens had left the restaurant but stopped briefly when officers located his car nearby. He sped away, and police then hit his car with their vehicle, causing him to lose control and spin out, at which point Stephens shot himself, Teper said. Stephens, who had no prior criminal record, was not
suspected in any other killings, Cleveland officials said. Stephens said in a separate video on Facebook on Sunday that he had already killed a dozen others. The shooting marked the latest video clip of a violent crime to turn up on Facebook, raising questions about how the world’s biggest social media network moderates content. The company will do all it can to prevent content like Stephens’ post, Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg told Facebook’s annual conference for software developers on Tuesday in San Jose, California.
(Reuters) President Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered a review of the U.S. visa program for bringing high-skilled foreign workers into the country, putting technology firms and the outsourcing companies that serve them on notice that possible changes may be ahead. Seeking to carry out a campaign pledge to put “America First,” Trump signed an executive order on the H-1B visa program. It was vague on many fronts, but in a press briefing and a fact sheet the White House pointed toward basic goals. One objective, said Trump aides, is to modify or replace the current lottery for
H-1B visas with a merit-based system that would restrict the visas to highly skilled workers. Indian nationals are the largest group of H-1B recipients annually. Such a change could affect companies, such as Tata Consultancy Services Ltd, Cognizant Tech Solutions Corp and Infosys Ltd, that connect Silicon Valley with thousands of foreign engineers and programmers. None responded to requests for comment. Trump announced the order and made remarks at a visit to the headquarters of Snap-On Inc, a tool maker in Wisconsin. In addition to addressing the visas issue, he also or-
dered a government review of government procurement rules favoring American companies to see if they are actually benefiting, especially the U.S. steel industry. “With this action, we are sending a powerful signal to the world: We’re going to defend our workers, protect our jobs and finally put America first,” Trump said. As he nears the 100-day benchmark of his presidency, Trump still has no major legislative achievements. With his attempts to overhaul healthcare and tax law stalled in Congress, Trump has leaned heavily on executive orders to change policy.
Thousands of Massachusetts drug cases to be dismissed after lab scandal
FILE PHOTO: Annie Dookhan, a former chemist at the Hinton State Laboratory Institute, stands beside her lawyer Nick Gordon (L) Close to 20,000 Massachusetts criminal drug cases are set to be dismissed because of a scandal involving a former state chemist who admitted faking tests, civil liberties activists and prosecutors said on Tuesday. It will mean the largest number of drug cases tossed out in U.S. history due to one person, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. Rogue chemist Annie Dookhan pleaded guilty in 2013 to tampering with evidence during her nine years working at a state crime lab in Boston. The
scandal shook the foundation of the state’s criminal justice system. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in January ordered prosecutors across the state to dismiss the vast majority of convictions tied to that lab, where Dookhan identified evidence as illegal narcotics even without testing it, in an effort to make herself seem more efficient. “Today is a major victory for justice and fairness, and for thousands of people in the commonwealth who were unfairly convicted of drug offenses,” said Matthew Segal, legal director of the ACLU of Massachusetts, which represented many of the defendants during the appeal process. “The victims of this crisis waited far too long for justice. It shouldn’t have taken years
of litigation by the ACLU, public defenders, and pro bono lawyers to address this stain on the Commonwealth’s justice system,” Segal said. Prosecutors in Massachusetts’ Suffolk County, which includes Boston, said on Tuesday they had opted to stand by the prosecution of just 1.5 percent of the cases they had brought involving Dookhan. “The average defendant has more than 60 entries on his record,” County District Attorney Daniel Conley said, referring to the cases his office would still pursue. “They are neither low-level nor nonviolent, and they stand at the intersection of drugs and violence.” Those cases also rely on evidence not linked to the now-shuttered lab where Dookhan worked, Conley said.
Wednesday April 19, 2017
Growth returns to Latin America and the Caribbean WASHINGTON,– The World Bank says that countries in the Caribbean and Latin America are now pursuing counter-cyclical fiscal policies, in that they spending more in bad times and saving in good times. In its semiannual report for the region entitled “Leaning against the Wind: Fiscal Police in Latin America and the Caribbean in a Historical Perspective”, the Washington based institution argues that the transformation is significant for a region that has often pursued pro-cyclical spending – increasing the risks of overheating economies during boom times and making recessions deeper during the bad times. According to the Consensus Forecasts, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the region is expected to grow by 1.5 per cent this year and 2.5 percent in 2018, putting an end to six years of an economic downturn, including recession over the past two years. The bank says if they
materialize, recoveries expected in Brazil and Argentina will largely fuel the return to growth in the region. “Mexico’s growth is expected to hover around 1.4 percent, while Central America and the Caribbean will maintain steady growth of around 3.8 percent.” However, the World Bank says the fiscal accounts of many countries have suffered due to the prolonged slowdown. “As of 2016, 29 of 32 countries were facing fiscal deficits, largely due to higher spending. The median gross debt for the region stands at 50 percent of GDP.” However, the institution says that in a significant break with the past – many countries now find themselves in a better position to escape this difficult fiscal predicament, according to the report. “Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have traditionally been procyclical, either because of political pressures to spend
during good times or lack of access to international capital during bad times,” said Carlos Végh, World Bank Chief Economist for Latin America and the Caribbean. “As a result, they often found themselves caught in a fiscal procyclicality trap, leading to higher public debt and fiscal deficits as well as lower credit ratings that left them few options to turn things around.” In response to the global financial crisis of 2008, the number of countries with a countercyclical fiscal policy increased from 10 to 45 per cent of the region’s economies. Countries such as Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, and Peru begun to increase public spending and/or lower taxes in an attempt to stimulate the economy. The bank says while such measures produced fiscal deficits, they were the result of a concerted effort to minimize the downturn.
Opposition party wants public debates ahead of May 10 poll
Prime Minister Perry Christie (centre) flanked by DNA leader Branville McCartney (Left) and FNM leader Dr. Hurbert Minnis (Right) NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – The minority opposition Democratic National Alliance (DNA) is calling for at least three public debates ahead of the May 10 general elections in the Bahamas. DNA leader, Branville McCartney, said he had written to the leaders of the two other main political parties, Prime Minister Perry Christie of the ruling Progressive Liberal Party ( P L P ) a n d D r. H u b e r t Minnis of the main opposition Free National Movement (FNM) urging them to participate in the initiative. “The DNA therefore challenges the leaders of both the PLP and FNM to a series of
public debates so that all three parties may present their vision to the voting public, to voice their visions for the future,” he said, adding that the letters were sent Thursday. “We have been in contact with the University of the Bahamas who has graciously agreed to host the debates.” he added. McCartney said that he was urging the leaders of the two other political parties to join him “in providing the Bahamian people with a real look at the leaders we might be and where our parties will take this country. “If you are proud of the country which you helped create, if you are confident
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that your plans are indeed the best way forward for Bahamians and if you believe as strongly in the ideals you have espoused on the rally stage then agree to a debate on the issues and give Bahamians a real chance to compare the ideas and ideals of each organization. The DNA leader said that he believes Bahamians will not “blindly follow any politician. Both the PLP and the FNM have said they are confident in winning the election. In the 2012 poll, the PLP defeated the then ruling FNM by a 29-9 margin to take control of the 41seat parliament.
Prime Minister condemns attack on women in Nevis BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, CMC – Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris has condemned the attack that led to the death of one woman and injured another in Nevis early Monday. In a release on Tuesday, Harris said the incident that took place in Cotton Ground, was in “shocking contrast with the values espoused during this season of reverence”. The police report that early Monday, Moreall Webbe, 28, was killed and Sonia Grant, 34, sustained injuries when the car in which they were traveling was riddled with bullets. “I tender my deepest sympathy to the families and loved ones who are grieving during this difficult time and offer my assurance that justice will be done,” the Prime Minister said. “My Government condemns this abhorrent, barbaric act and implores those with any information to contact the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force di-
Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris rectly, indirectly or anonymously, to ensure that justice is meted out swiftly for the sake of the victims, their families and loved ones, as well as for the safety and security of us all.” He said the “heinous incident serves as a lurid reminder that we all need to band together and look out
for one another to stamp out the scourge of crime”. The Prime Minister also said that crime can have an impact on anyone and encouraged residents to support security officials “because they stand up for us each and every day on the frontlines in the war on crime”.
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Wednesday April 19, 2017
Soesdyke/Linden Highway, Mon Repos Main Access...
From page 11 Consultancy Services for the Rehabilitation of the Christianburg/Wismar Secondary School Financial):
For the installation of fuel pipeline for axial pumps at Greenfields, East Coast Demerara:
Finally, under the Education Ministry, tenders were opened for consultancy services for the construction of the St. Stephens Primary School Annex (Financial): For the rehabilitation of the NDIA No.58 D6R LOG C-frame CAT bulldozer located in the Crane Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Compound: Tenders were also opened for the construction of a law enforcement Building (annex) at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).
Tenders were open for the monthly maintenance cleaning of the Canal Numbers One and Two main drains, West Bank Demerara.
Tenders were opened for the construction of control structure and distributary at Parika, Region Three. The procuring entity is the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) of the Ministry of Agriculture.
The NDIA is also the procuring entity for the rehabilitation of structures at Boerasirie Conservancy, Region Three.
Tenders were also opened for the empoldering of farmlands in Kabkaburi, Upper Pomeroon Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam).
For the excavation and empoldering of drains and embankment at Lower Pomeroon, Region Two:
Finally, tenders were opened for the construction of the sluice operators’ building at Hope/Dochfour, East Coast Demerara.
Wednesday April 19, 2017
Kaieteur News
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Anderson, Cope deliver records... Verstappen apologizes to Brazil... (From page 32) the clock at 21.54. Guyanese Compton Caesar, who two days ago captured 100m gold, returned to take bronze in 21.57. Jamaica, however, had the upper hand in the Under-18s, winning both the girls and boys events. Michae Harriott crossed the line in 23.73 to barely get the better of Bahamian Devine Parker (23.87) while in the boys, Michael Stephens raced to 21.30, to pull off a narrow win over Joel Johnson of the Bahamas (21.55). In the 800m, Barbadian Jonathan Jones proved the spoiler, as his win in the Boys
Under-20 event prevented Jamaica from completing another clean sweep. He was timed at one minute, 51.51 seconds, finishing ahead of Jamaican Agerian Jackson who took silver in 1:52.07. However, the Jamaica flag was all over the remaining three 800m events with Cemore Donald (2:11.28) and Shaquena Foote (2:13.44) producing a one-two in the Girls Under-18, Kimar Farquharson (1:54.65) and Tyrese Reid (1:54.79) pulling off a similar feat in the corresponding boys race, and Chrissani May winning the Girls Under-20 in 2:12.43.
Cope, meanwhile, stole his share of the headlines when he tossed the discus 61.25 metres to break the record of 60.44 set by by fellow Jamaican Phillippe Barnett last year. Saj-Jay Stevens and Kevin Nedrick extended Jamaica’s success in the field events, winning the girls Under-20 javelin in 45.10 metres and the Boys Under-20 shot putt in 19.29m respectively. Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago made their presence felt in the distance relays, winning the Boys Under18 event in 3:14.65 and the Boys Under-20 in 3:09.32 respectively.
Wednesday April 19, 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Difficulties at an emotional level may be likely. Try to be as mellow as possible. Tempers could boil if someone you work with has not been pulling their weight. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Spend time with youngsters today. You need to get involved in groups that offer physical activities. Compromise may be necessary. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Do your best, but don't make too many promises or you may exhaust yourself. A long, quiet walk alone may help you sort out your thoughts. You may have difficulties with someone close to you. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You will enjoy interacting with those who come from different backgrounds. Look for something entertaining to do. You've got that competitive edge. Do not invest in joint ventures. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Get involved in the activities of children. Do not let the reactions of others get you going. You will find it easy to learn and excel. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You are best to keep hard feelings to yourself. You should follow through on educational endeavors you have wanted to pursue for some time. Try making some changes to your appearance and your attitude that will reinforce just that. LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Opportunities will come through behind the scenes
activities. Partnerships could be tense. Don't push your luck. Be sure to look into travel opportunities that will provide you with mental stimulation. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Take care of the needs of elders in your family. Stretch the truth, and you may get blamed for something you didn't do. You may find that your anger stems from lending or borrowing money. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Visit someone who hasn't been feeling well lately. Children may be less than honest with you. Don't let your personal partner hold you back or slow you down. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Don't avoid your true feelings. There will be hidden matters that you may find disturbing. Visit someone who hasn't been feeling well lately. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Your mate could get on your nerves if he or she backs you into an emotional comer or puts restrictions on your time. You can elaborate on your creative ideas and get involved in groups that relate to the arts. Moneymaking opportunities will surface. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You can make excellent career moves if you are open to the opportunities that exist. You will get out of shape easily if you don't keep on top of things. Don't go hog wild when it comes to entertainment or you could find yourself short of funds at the end of the month.
Redbull Formula One driver Max Verstappen of Holland drives during the first practice session of the Bahrain F1 Grand Prix. (REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed) (From page 39) I visit the country. “I would like to apologize to any Brazilians that feel offended and look forward to racing in your country again,” he added, referencing Brazil-
ian world champions Ayrton Senna, Emerson Fittipaldi and Nelson Piquet. Massa, the only Brazilian driver on the current starting grid, told UOL Esporte that he had spoken to Verstappen af-
ter the race and warned him to “be careful what you say because you’re going to have to go to Brazil to race there”. Verstappen crashed out of Sunday’s race at the Sakhir circuit after a brake failure.
Jamaicans haul in 86 medals at 46th... (From page 34) Jeremy Farr taking the bronze while Orlando Bennett won the Under-20 boys’ gold medal in 13.0 seconds (1.0m/ s), edging the Bahamas’ Tavonte Mott (13.64) with Alex Robinson of Jamaica
C. Mohan Contracting... (From page 35) include the 4x100 (Male and Female); 4x400 (Male and Female); 4x200m Mixed Relay; 4x400m Mixed Relay; Sprint Medley Females (100m,100m, 200m, 400m); Sprint Medley Males (100m, 200m, 400m, 800m); Distance Medley Females (2400m) (400m, 600m, 600m, 800m) and the Distance Medley Males (2800m) (400m, 600m, 600m, 1200m). Cash Prizes of $25,000; $15,000 and $10,000 will be awarded to teams finishing first to third in each event for total prize money of $500,000 to be handed out in 10 races. In addition, the event this year will include football, softball cricket, cycling and dominoes competitions.
third in 13.72 seconds. After winning just one gold in the 100m on Saturday, Jamaicans won two gold medals in the 200m Monday with Michae Harriott and Michael Stephens winning the girls’ and boys’ Under-18 sections
respectively. Harriott clocked 23.73s (0.1m/s) to win her final while Stephens won in 21.30 seconds (0.9m/s) with Xavier Nairne taking bronze in 21.58 seconds and The Bahamas’ Joel Johnson taking the silver.
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Wednesday April 19, 2017
‘I wanted this so badly’ - Chris Gayle Anderson, Cope deliver records, St Fort completes sprint double
Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle got the visitors off to a solid start, Royal Challengers Bangalore v Gujarat Lions, Rajkot, IPL 2017, ©BCCI ESPNCRICINFO C h r i s G a y l e ’s f i r s t significant contribution in IPL 2017 - a 38-ball 77 helped Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Gujarat Lions by 21 runs in Rajkot to lift themselves off the bottom of the table. Victory aside, the innings was special for Gayle, who became the first batsman to bring up 10,000 T20 runs. Brought in as a replacement for the injured AB de Villiers, he put together a 122-run opening stand with Virat Kohli as Royal Challengers blasted 213 for 2, the highest total of the season. But much before unleashing mayhem, it was a single that brought him much relief. “Samuel Badree reminded me before the game and said ‘Chris only three more runs to go, make
sure you get it’ so it was actually playing on my mind a bit,” he said of the landmark. “Once I crossed the line, I said: ‘listen it’s time to have a go and then it eventually paid off, so I am really happy to get the runs.” By the time Gayle walked off, he had blasted five fours and seven monstrous sixes. “People are still looking out for Chris Gayle. The universe boss is still here and still alive,” he said. “It was great fun. You know it’s good to be back. I wanted this so badly, but first of all to get 10,000 runs, it was actually on my mind, so I’m glad to get that sort of achievement. It’s a privilege to actually be the first person to get there. Hopefully I can continue entertaining the fans.”
Gayle had the lowest strike rate among openers who had played 50 balls this season before coming into the game. An aspect he corrected yesterday. The trigger was Ravindra Jadeja’s second over, in which he hit two fours and two sixes. The key to his effort was the manner in which he held his shape and didn’t slog wildly. “It’s not really premeditated, it just comes natural, to be honest,” he said. “Over the years, a lot of guys spoke to me about my stance. Even Shaun Pollock spoke to me about my stance. You’re never too old to learn.” In his hour of glory, Gayle didn’t forget to thank everyone who helped him get there. “I just want to thank the fans and all the franchises where I have actually played around the world. Even playing for West Indies as well. At the end of the day, they have actually played a part in this 10,000 runs as well. So, I want to thank all the franchises. It has been fantastic and like I said still I have a lot more to offer to the fans. Hopefully, I can keep entertaining and get a few more thousand runs under my belt.”
WILLEMSTAD, Curacao, CMC – Jamaican Britany Anderson set a new record in the girls Under-18 sprint hurdles while Trinidadian Khalifa St Fort completed the sprint double by winning the 200 metres, to climax the 46th CARIFTA Games here Monday evening. A n d e r s o n ’s v i c t o r y u n d e r l i n e d J a m a i c a ’s dominance in the sprint hurdles as they swept all four events at the Ergilio Hato Stadium, to once again reiterate their class on the final day of the track and field showpiece. The record was one of two in the final session for Jamaica as Daniel Cope also set a new mark in the boys Under-18 discus throw. Powerhouses Jamaica won two of the four 200 metres finals and clinched three of the 800m gold on offer, while also picking two gold medals in the 4×400 metres relays. Anderson set the tone for the evening session when she stopped the clock at 13.16 seconds, erasing her countrywoman Janeek Brown’s two-year-old mark of 13.29. She led a Jamaica onetwo as Daszay Freeman followed her home in 13.39 while Bahamian Gabrielle Gibson did enough to grab bronze in a time of 14.07. Dejour Russell easily captured the corresponding boys 110m event, speeding to a time of 13.19 seconds to beat Rasheem Brown of Cayman Islands into second in 13.70, and fellow Jamaican Jeremy Farr into third in 13.71. Barbadians Tre Hollingsworth (13.89) and Nathan Fergusson (13.93) missed out on the podium when they finished fourth
and fifth respectively. Meanwhile, Amoi Brown narrowly missed out on countrywoman Samantha Elliott’s seven-year-old record of 13.42 seconds, when she crossed the line first in the girls Under-20 event in 13.44. Brown followed her home in 13.49 to create another Jamaica one-two, with Laetitia Bapte delivering bronze for Martinique in 13.79. In the Boys Under-20, Orlando Bennett won a close battle with Bahamian Tavonte Mott, clocking 13.60 for the victory to his challenger’s 13.64. Jamaican Alex Robinson was third in 13.72. Rising Caribbean star St Fort once again emphasised her credentials when she followed up Saturday’s victory in the 100m with another convincing triumph in the 200m. She clocked 23.99 seconds to easily dismiss Grenadian Halle Hazzard who took silver in 24.15, while Jamaican Kasheika Cameron grabbed bronze in
Compton Caesar at Carifta 2017 claimed bronze in the 200m.
Sprinter Khalifa St Fort won the 200m to complete the sprint double. 24.28. Jamal Walton of Cayman Islands ensured the Jamaicans did not taste gold in the Under-20 category as he won the corresponding boys half-lap in a time of 21.29, ahead of Trinidadian Jerrod Elock who stopped (Continued on page 31)
Kaieteur News
Wednesday April 19, 2017
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East Coast Demerara Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Competition
Rogers’ 12th minute strike gives Melanie ‘B’ title -Buxton Diamond finishes third A capacity crowd was on hand to witness the final of this year’s East Coast Demerara Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Competition on Easter Monday, at the Haslington Market Tarmac. By the time the final w h i s tle sounded after midnight, Melanie ‘B’ were crowned new champions after squeezing past Plaisance ‘B’ by a 1-0 margin. The holiday turnout was arguably the largest to date in the East Coast segment and even though the final failed to live up to past competitions in terms of excitement, fans went away feeling satisfied with the night’s action. Amoniki Rogers’ 12th minute missile from long range was the only goal to be scored in the game. Melanie ‘B’ reached the final after securing a 2-0 penalty shootout win against Beterverwagting (BV) ‘B’ after their encounter ended in a goalless draw, while Vincent Thomas’ 34th minute goal was enough for Plaisance ‘B’ to enjoy a 1-0
A Melanie ‘B’ player (with ball) contemplates his next move during their clash against Plaisance ‘B’ at the Haslington Market Tarmac.
win over Buxton Diamond in the other semi-final. In the playoff for third place, Buxton Diamond edged BV ‘B’ 1-0 through a 3rd minute effort from KevonAssaye. Melanie ‘B’ for the win walked away with $250,000 and the championship
trophy along with the right to represent the East Coast in the national playoffs, while the second, third and fourth placed teams received $150,000, $100,000 and $50,000 respectively. With the completion of
this latest zone it now means that the East Coast Demerara, Georgetown, West Demerara/East Bank Demerara and Berbice Zones are finished, while the Linden and Bartica segments are expected to be played shortly.
In the night’s full results: Final Melanie-B-1 vs PlaisanceB-0 Amoniki Rogers-12th 3rd Place Buxton Diamond-1 vs BVB-0 Kevon Assaye-3rd
Semi-final Round Game-1 BV-B-0 vs Melanie-B-0 Melanie-B won 2-0 on penalty kicks Game-2 Plaisance-B-1 vs Buxton Diamond-0 Vincent Thomas-34th
CBR Hotspots Stag Bowl Football Tournament
Wisroc/Block 22 and Blue Berry Hill advance to the next round The CBR Hotspots Stag Bowl Football Tournament kicked off last Saturday at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground with a double header. Promoter Rickland ‘Tallo’ Hutson and Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland met the teams and officials before the start of the first game in Group B between Wisroc/Block 22 and Central Mackenzie. The players from both teams seemed confident with Central Mackenzie playing more veterans but it was in the 11th minute of the first half Clarence Hubbard (4) nailed the first goal for Wisroc/Block 22. Central Mackenzie scored the equalizer in the 16th minute off the boot of Malique Atkins (16). From then it was a battle for goals as each team fought to move forward. Randy Wills (7) in the 17th minute scored the second goal for Wi s r o c / B l o c k 2 2 a n d
Rickland ‘Tallo’ Hutson (left) and Mayor Carwyn Holland (right) meet players and officials prior to the start of the game. Central Mackenzie found it hard to get the equalizer missing two goals. Hubbard again scored in the 20th minute to strengthen his team’s chances of winning and in the 32nd minute Javel Isaacs sealed the win with the fourth goal.
At the end of regulation time Wisroc/Block 22 defeated Central Mackenzie by 4 goals to 1.Two yellow cards were given in the 23rd and 32nd minutes of the game to Wisroc/Block 22 players Fordyce and A. Greene and a red card was
given to Stephon Tappin (3) from Central Mackenzie. In the second game in Group A, Blue Berry Hill defeated One Mile/Half Mile/Scheme 3 nil. The first goal came just six minutes into play off the boot of Shane Luckey (16)
and as hard as One Mile/Half Mile/Scheme played they couldn’t net an equalizer. At the end of the first half it was 1 nil in favour of Blue Berry Hill. From the sound of the whistle in the second half Blue Berry Hill looked
determined to secure their lone goal but in the 50th minute Sheldon Holder (11) netted a second goal giving them more confidence. One Mile/ Half Mile/Scheme played their hearts out but they were no match for Blue Berry Hill and in the 67th minute during a blunder Blue Berry Hill capitalized and scored their third goal as Thaskod Whitehead sealed the win for Blue Berry Hill. Only one yellow card was given in this game in the 70th minute to Keron Noble. The tournament continues tomorrow at the same venue with another double- header. The first game will see Amelia’s Ward vs. Silvertown/Canvas City/West Watooka in Group B action and the second match will pit Christianburg v s S i l v e r City/Valleys/Alleys in a Group A contest. (Jacquey Bourne)
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Wednesday April 19, 2017
Wilbert Benjamin wins FACC 40-miler Overseas based former national cyclist Wilbert Benjamin showed that he hasn’t lost much since his younger days. Benjamin, the owner of a number of businesses on the Corentyne showed that he is not only a top businessman, but still has it on the cycle. On Sunday Benjamin rolled back the years to thump the field at take top honours when the Flying Ace Cycling Club in collaboration with the Troy’s Taxi Service, held a 40-mile cycle race on the West Berbice. The event, which marked the return of cycling on the West Side, was for club cyclists only. Benjamin winning time was 55 minutes as he won in fierce sprint home in a close finish from Balram Narine, with Syborne Fernandes third and Clement Doris fourth. The cyclists were sent on their way around 09:00 hrs
from in front of Troy’s Taxi Service base at Bennet Dam, Rosignol Village by owner Tyrone Ray Kishore and proceeded to Weldaad Police Station before returning to its place of origin. As the riders were sent on the way there was soon a battle for the lead and by the time they reached Fort Wellington a five man pack broke away from the 17 man field. The leading pack of Benjamin, Narine, Fernandes, Doris and Audrell Ross were never caught as they battled for the lead which changed hands constantly. On the downward journey it was much of the same until the sprint home with Benjamin who rode a tactical race showing them how it is done. The female segment was won by Shenika Teixeira, while the top BMX riders were Cameron Yorrick who won from Chinarine
Wilbert Benjamin powers home to win the 40-mile event. Veteran rider Wilbert Benjamin receives his winning prize from wife of the owner Wanita Kishore as the sponsor, other riders and organisers savour the moment. Bhowandin. The females and BMX riders rode from Cotton Tree to the finish line. The Sprint point prizes were shared by Doris with three, Ross two and
Fernandes one. The presentation of the prizes was done immediately after the race by Kishore and his family. Kishore thanked the
cyclists for participating in the event and plans to make it an annual affair. The event was coordinated by coach Randolph Roberts. Roberts took the opportunity to thank Kishore for sponsoring the event and wished him well in his future endeavors.
He also used the opportunity to call on members of the business community to come on board and supports the club in its effort to keep the sport going and youngsters off the road and away from illicit activities. (Samuel Whyte)
Jamaicans haul in 86 medals Caribbean Union of Teachers Les Harris at 46th FLOW Carifta Games T20 cricket underway
Darnell Douglas scored 51 in a losing effort for Guyana at DCC yesterday. The opening day of the four-day Caribbean Union of Teachers Les Harris t20 cricket tournament involving hosts Guyana, Tr i n i d a d & To b a g o , Bahamas and early favourites Jamaica bowled of yesterday at the DCC ground in Queenstown. In the opening game, a
Guyana Teachers team boasting the likes of Renole Bourne, Wayne Osborne, Balram Samaroo, Andre Williams, Albert Sinclair and Darnell Douglas were defeated by Jamaica by 83runs despite 51 from Douglas. Watched by a large and vocal crowd, Jamaica
reached 184 with Gavaskar Malachi leading the way with 63. He got support from Keith Hibbert who made 49 as Festus Benn (2-34) and Kevin Paul (2-30) doing the damage with the ball for the Guyanese. When Guyana began their reply needing to score at 9.2 runs per over to win, they were never in the hunt as only Douglas and Samaroo (18) reached double figures as they were dismissed for 101 in 16.5 overs. Carl Briggett (4-8), Gerald Morgan (2-4) and Malachi (2-12) bowled the team from ‘Yard’ to victory. In the afternoon game T&T defeated Bahamas by 91 runs after being led to 169-5 by Christopher Siewsankar (49), Vinood Maraj (26) and Kirti Kalpoo (19). Bahamas were bundled out for 78 in 16.5 overs with Siewsankar returning with the ball to take 2-10. The action continues today at the GDF ground with Guyana playing in the opening game at 09:30 hrs game vs. Trinidad and Tobago, while to follow Jamaica face Bahamas. Sean Devers)
Members of the Jamaica team at the Carifta Games in Curacao. (Collin Reid) Jamaica Observer Jamaica strolled to a 33rd straight hold on the Carifta Games track and field championships after once again outclassing the region at the junior level. They bagged their 41st lien on the championships that started in 1972 as the curtain came down on the 46th staging at Ergilio Hato Stadium in Wi l l e m s t a d , C u r a c a o Monday. Jamaica won 86 medals for the third-straight year, finishing with 39 gold, 28 silver and 19 bronze but failed to equal the 42 gold medals won last year. In 2016, Jamaica had won 42 gold, 25 silver and 19 bronze when the three-day event was held in St Kitts. Trinidad & Tobago finished second with seven gold, 5 silver and 10 bronze, followed by The Bahamas,
who won six gold, 15 silver and 10 bronze, Barbados (four gold, four silver and four bronze) and Guyana (four gold, a silver and three bronze). Jamaicans were responsible for two records Monday, Daniel Cope got his second of the weekend, when he won the Under-18 boys’ discus, while Britany Anderson lowered the mark in the Under-18 girls’ 100m hurdles. Cope who had smashed the record in the shot put earlier threw the discus 61.25m to break the oneyear-old mark of 60.44m set by compatriot Phillipe Barnett as Cobe Graham took bronze in a personal best 52.71m. Anderson led a clean sweep of all four sprint hurdles gold medals as after setting the ISSA Girls
Champs record of 13.04s three weeks ago, ran 13.16s into a negative head wind of 2.1 metres per second, breaking the 13.29s set by teammate Janeek Brown two years ago. Daszay Freeman was second in 13.39 seconds and Gabrielle Gibson of The Bahamas third in 14.07 seconds. Amoi Brown was also impressive, just missing the Under-20 girls CARIFTA Record of 13.42 seconds set seven years ago by Samantha Elliot by two hundredths of a second when she ran 13.44 seconds (0.4m/s) to take the gold, just getting to the line ahead of teammate Jeneek Brown (13.49s) with Laetitia Bapte of Martinique third in 13.79s. Dejour Russell took the Under-18 boys’ title with (Continued on page 31)
Kaieteur News
Wednesday April 19, 2017
PAGE 37
Former RCB owner Gayle becomes first 10 000-run Mallya arrested in the UK T20 batsman in RCB win
Brendon McCullum raises his bat after notching up his half-century, Royal Challengers Bangalore v Gujarat Lions, Rajkot, IPL 2017©BCCI RAJKOT, India, CMC – West Indies superstar Chris Gayle became the first batsman to score 10 000 runs in Twenty20s, when he belted a typically bellicose half-century to fire Royal Challengers Bangalore to a 21-run win over Dwayne Smith’s Gujarat Lions in the Indian Premier League here Tuesday. The veteran left-hander, who has not played for West Indies in 12 months, hit a sparkling 38-ball 77 – his first half-century in 17 T20 innings – as RCB, sent in at the Saurashtra Cricket
Association Stadium, raced to 213 for two off their 20 overs. In reply, Lions made a good fist of it but were restricted to 192 for seven off their 20 overs, with Smith failing at the top of the order with one. New Zealander Brendon McCullum pummelled 72 from 44 deliveries but lacked support in the top order. The headlines, however, were all about the sensational Gayle who with 32, six and 22 in his three
previous innings in the tournament, entered the game just three shy of the 10 000 run mark. And he achieved the mark in the fourth over of the innings and in his 290th T20 game when he edged seamer Basil Thampi to third man. The 37-year-old then unleashed his full powers, blasting five fours and seven sixes as he raced to his 61st T20 half-century off just 23 balls, launching left-arm spinner Shivil Kaushik for his fifth six to raise the landmark. Gayle featured in a up tempo 122-run stand for the first wicket with captain Virat Kohli who punched 64 from 50 deliveries. The Jamaican eventually perished in the 13th over when he was lbw to legstump yorker from Thampi. Gayle now has 10 074 runs, well ahead of McCullum who is second on the run-getters list with 7 596, with Australian Brad Hodge third on 7 338 and West Indies power-hitting Kieron Pollard fourth with 7 087. Scores: Royal Challengers Bangalore 213 for 2 (Gayle 77, Kohli 64, Jadhav 38*) beat Gujarat Lions 192 for 7 (McCullum 72, Kishan 39, Raina 23, Chahal 3-31) by 21 runs.
Vijay Mallya with Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli during IPL 2013 © BCCI ESPNCRICINFO Vijay Mallya, former owner of the Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise, was arrested, and later granted bail, in the UK yesterday following an extradition warrant from Indian authorities. The warrant in the UK was issued in relation to accusations of fraud surrounding his failed Kingfisher Airlines company, which is reported to owe banks over a billion dollars. Mallya had his passport revoked by the Indian government last year and has been living in the UK in what he termed “forced
Boyce/Jefford Relay Festival...
exile” in an interview with the Financial Times last May. He was arrested at a central London police station yesterday and appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, where he was granted bail for £650,000. “ O ff i c e r s f r o m t h e M e t r o p o l i t a n P o l i c e ’s Extradition Unit have this morning, Tuesday 18 April arrested a man on an extradition warrant,” a police statement said. “Vijay Mallya, 61 (18/12/1955), was arrested on behalf of the Indian authorities in relation to accusations of fraud.” M a l l y a ’s U n i t e d Breweries Group had purchased the franchise in
2008 for $111.6 million, making it the most expensive in the league after Mumbai Indians. Last year, Mallya stepped down as director of the Royal Challengers Sports Pvt Ltd (RCSPL), which ran the Royal Challengers franchise. RCSPL is a fully owned subsidiary of United Spirits, which in turn is part of the Diageo Plc, a UKbased business group. Amrit Thomas, who is RCSPL chairman, was also appointed as head of the Royal Challengers franchise. Royal Challengers are yet to win an IPL title, but have finished runners-up in three seasons of the tournament - 2009, 2011 and 2016.
RHTY&SC, MS congratulates... C. Mohan Contracting Guyana (From page 38) Selectors, the release further stated. Inc. sponsors Women’s 4x100m Cricket We are also very proud of our five female cricketers – C. Mohan Contracting Guyana Inc. yesterday entered a long-term agreement with sponsorship of the Women’s 4x100 metre race at the upcoming Boyce and Jefford Relay Festival and Family Fun Day, scheduled for April 30 at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary. C. Mohan Contracting Guyana Inc. indicated during the simple presentation that they will adopt the Women’s 4x100m race for continued s p o n s o r s h i p a n n u a l l y, beginning this year. The group is of the view that the event is a refreshing activity for sports in Guyana, and as such, it will partner with the hosts to offer continued annual support. Chairman of the Management Committee for the Boyce and Jefford Relay
Office Manager, Bevaughn Ferrier (left) of C. Mohan Contracting Guyana Inc., hands over the sponsorship to Chairman of Boyce and Jefford Committee, Colin Boyce yesterday as Proprietors Carl Methuram (foreground, left) and Vishal Mohan share the moment. Festival, Colin Boyce, thanked the entity for their contribution, indicating that
it augurs well for the longevity of the event when a company decides to offer
long-term sponsorship. The relays this year (Continued on page 31)
Shemaine Campbelle, Erva Giddings, Meliane Henry, Shabati Gajnabi and Plaffina Millington on their selection to the Guyana team. The girls have all worked hard to make the team and we are confident that each one of them would make us proud on and off the cricket field. The RHTY&SC, MS and Metro Office Supplies have invested heavily in Guyana’s only female cricket team and the team over the years have become the pride of the Club. The success of the RHTY&SC over the years has been based on a simple formula of hard work, dedication, faith in the God we serve, honesty and we would advise the girls to remain committed to those values. The RHTY&SC, M.S would like to also acknowledge the role of the official cricket sponsors who have invested heavily into the careers of every one of our cricketers – Farfan & Mendes, Bakewell, Pepsi, Metro and Gizmos & Gadgets. Special congrats to Andre Percival on his selection as Coach of the Guyana Female team. Andre is a highly respected Coach who inspires his players and who earns the respect of them, the release said.
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Wednesday April 19, 2017
EBFA hosts Coaches Awareness Workshop New club, Diamond Upsetters gets support
EBFA Technical Advisor Winston Benons hands over one of the balls to a female member of the Diamond Upsetters FC as the other club members display the FIFA branded bibs and tee shirts. Technical Advisor to the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Mr. Winston Benons recently held a Coaches Awareness session with the chief tacticians attached to clubs affiliated to the association.
Held at the Diamond Community Centre, Benons said that the session was aimed at reaffirming a number of important components of the sport that must be upheld and improved upon by the
Coaches. ”This is one of my regular sessions with the coaches as I seek to ensure that they are on top of their game at all times as they work towards improving the overall abilities of the players attached to the
various clubs in the association.” Among the areas Benons dealt with were Change in Culture where he reminded the coaches that they are required to spearhead the change; Respect for the
Guyana hunt Singles titles at Caribbean TT Championships
the Junior Boys’ Singles competition when Nickolus Romain and Elishaba Johnson both concluded the day unbeaten and in top places in their respective groups. Romain beat Jamaica’s Tyreek Thompson 15-13, 411, 12-10 and11-7 and St. Lucia’s Mario St Cyr 13-15, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7; Johnson defeated Cuba’s Carlos Sanchez 11-9, 11-1 and 11-9) and Jamaica’s Ricardo Hall 11-5, 7-11, 11-5 and11-6. In addition to Mariano Lockward and Kyle Edghill topping their groups in the Junior Boys’ Singles contest, Barbados’ Tyrese Knight and Trinidad and Tobago’s Lu O’Young
also came out on top of their groups. Meanwhile, in the Junior Girls’ Singles competition, D o m i n i c a n R e p u b l i c ’s Esmerlyn Castro and Cinthia Sanchez secured the top spots in their groups- a situation that also applied to Janae Lewis of Barbados, Jamaica’s Onika Francis and Cuba’s Shelly Machado. Jamal Nickolas and Niron Bissu both secured first places in their Cadet Boys’ Singles group. Nickolas overcame Suriname’s Chen Reddy 116, 11-2 and 11-6 and Aruba’s Robert Dirken 11-6, 11-7 and 11-8); Bissu beat St. Lucia’s D’Andre Calderon
11-4, 11-6 and11-9 and Trinidad and Tobago’s Messiah Walcott (11-4, 1210, 11-9). Likewise, in the Cadet Boys’ Singles contest, the Dominican Republic’s Steff Guttierez was first place along with Trinidad and Tobago’s, Uzair Omardeen. It was the same for their colleagues in the Cadet Girls’ Singles competition. Dahyana Rojas, Estefany Rodriguez, Idelsa Baez and Rosa Torres all topped their groups. The respective finals were set for last night, bringing the curtains down on the 2017 Caribbean Cadet and Junior Table Tennis Championships.
Upsetters, a new club that has been formed in the Diamond Community, was presented with balls, FIFA branded bibs, tee shirts, boots and cones compliments of the EBFA and Benons.
Red Force beat Hurricanes by an innings and 17 runs – 4th day, 10th round BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago Red Force defeated Leeward Islands Hurricanes by an innings and 17 runs on the final day of the 10th round match in the Regional four-day championship at Warner Park yesterday. Scores: RED FORCE 533 (Yannic Cariah 196, Tion Webster 109, Amir Jangoo 46, Ewart Nicholson 45, Akiel Cooper 41, Isaiah Rajah 40, Marlon
Kyle Edghill serves one up yesterday in the group-topping performance at the Caribbean Championships at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. Dominican Republic racquet wielder, Mariano Lockward dominated his Under-18 group at the start the Singles competition of the Caribbean Cadet and J u n i o r Ta b l e Te n n i s Championships at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall yesterday. Guyana’s Kyle Edghill, however, gave the visitor food for thought. After beating St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Jamai Williams in straight sets 11-4, 11-9 and 11-5, Edghill overcame Osvaldo Ramos in five sets 11-5, 7-11, 7-11, 11-9, 12-10 to put him on a path to success. There was further success for the host nation in
game, players, parents, community and self; Players Safety; Players Rights; Coaches Behavior; Coaches and Parents Relationship and Child Abuse Awareness, among others. Meanwhile, Diamond
Richards 24; Jason Campbell 3-100, Jeremiah Louis 2-90, Gavin Tonge 2113). HURRICANES 299 (Chesney Hughes 71, Montcin Hodge 64, Akeem Saunders 27, Kacey Carty 53, Jacques Taylor 27; Imran Khan 566, Roshon Primus 2-62) and 237 (Montcin Hodge 96 not out, Kacey Carty 54, Akeem Saunders 41; Imran Khan 6-74, Bryan Charles 3-110).
Pride beat Scorpions by 26 runs – 4th day, 10th round BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Barbados Pride defeated Jamaica Scorpions by 26 runs on the final day of their final round clash in the Regional four-day championship at Kensington Oval here yesterday. Scores: PRIDE 377 ( J u s t i n G r e a v e s 11 4 , Kenroy Williams 82, Ashley Nurse 60, Kyle Corbin 51, John Campbell 3-57, Derval Green 3-57)
and 187 (Kevin Stoute 52, Justin Greaves 34, Anthony Alleyne 22; Nikita Miller 446, Fabian Allen 4-47). SCORPIONS 224 (Devon Thomas 59, Trevon Griffith 39, Paul Palmer 27; Justin Greaves 3-40, Ashley Nurse 2-50, Sulieman Benn 2-51) and 314 (Chadwick Walton 93, Fabian Allen 60, Tr e v o n G r i ff i t h 5 3 , Jermaine Blackwood 44; Jomel Warrican 5-87, Sulieman Benn 3-90).
Kaieteur News
Wednesday April 19, 2017
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Kvitova enters French Open draw (Reuters) Two-times Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has entered the draw for next month’s French Open four months after suffering a serious hand injury, she said on Monday. The 27-year-old was stabbed by a knife-wielding intruder in her home in the Czech Republic in December. “My name will appear on
the entry list for Roland Garros tomorrow because I had made good progress in my recovery process and I want to give myself every last opportunity to be able to compete at one of my favourite events,” Kvitova said on Instagram on Monday. “This un f o r t u n a t e l y does not mean necessarily that I will be ready to play in Paris, but that I’m doing
everything possible to give myself the chance and keep a positive mindset. There remains a long road ahead.” The hard-hitting lefthander rose to number two in the world rankings in 2011 when she won the first of her two Wimbledon singles titles. She is now ranked 14th. The French Open starts on May 22.
Petra Kvitova (Robert DeutschUSA TODAY Sports/Reuters)
GCA’s USACA Guyana tour
USACA end Guyana tour on winning note Mukkamella’s 60 lead tourists to 128-run win against GCA X1 By Sean Devers A 68-run opening stand between 13-year-old Saijeja Mukkamella and guest player Adrian Hinds led the USACA X1 to an emphatic 128-run win over a GCA X1 in their youth fixture yesterday at Bourda to end their GCA hosted 11 day tour to Guyana. Mukkamella reached the boundary thrice in his well calculated 60 from 127 balls before he was run out when well set to become his team’s second centurion, while the left-handed Hinds’ 34 included four boundaries. Pradeep Ravi stroked two fours in 23 and put together 50 with Mukkamella for the fourth wicket. Isaiah Jagarnauth chipped with an unbeaten 19 as the visitors reached 200-7
off 50 overs in hot conditions on a slow track. The GCA team, who like the Americans, included four U-17 players to their U-14 side, slumped to 72 in 18.5 overs only Twan Hicks, who made an undefeated 20 with two boundaries and talented 12-year-old opener Mavendra Dindyal (11) reached double figures. AS Khangura (4-32), Ravi (316) and Aditya Sharma (2-4) did the damage with the ball for the Americans. The U-14’s suffered just two loses in seven games, while the U-17s lost to DCC under lights, TSC and Blairmont in West Bank Berbice and won their other five games. The 16-year-old Sanjay Stanley started the tour with an unbeaten 55 and followed it up with masterful century the next day against GCC at Bourda to enhance
The USACA U-14 & U-17 teams ended the Guyana tour at Bourda yesterday (Sean Devers photo)
his reputation as America’s best U-17 batsman. Barbadian Wesley King, Manager of the teams said his charges enjoyed the tour despite the hectic schedule. “The boys gained a lot of exposure and experience from being here since they play on matting pitches back home. We are very satisfied with the trip. The grounds and hospitality everywhere we went were very good. The best facility was at Malteenoes, while the best ground was the Imam Bacchus ground in Essequibo where we played on Good Friday and would like to thank Mr Bacchus and his staff a wonderful day,” King said. King thanked the GCA for being a wonderful host and described the tour as a success for both teams. Aryan Chowdhury was the
13-year-old Saijeja Mukkamella stroked a well crafted 60 at Bourda yesterday. youngest member of team at eight-years-old and the little left-hander looks full of
talent. The team had two dayoffs with them attending the
last ODI at Providence where they were featured on TV and Easter Monday.
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Wednesday April 19, 2017
Generation ‘next’ steps up “Pleased with the new players’ performance” says Coach Crandon Assad Fudadin batted brilliantly for his century.
Kemo Paul took nine wickets and made 47 runs in only his second match. By Sean Devers On Easter Monday at Providence the Guyana Jaguars, still with a final game to play, joined Jamaica as the only teams to win three consecutive Regional FirstClass titles when they beat the Windwards Volcanoes by an innings and 121 runs.
“It’s obviously a great feeling to win three titles in three years. It was a total team performance and everyone involved played their part,” said the delighted 35-year-old Esuan Crandon, the Jaguars’ Head Coach. “Although we were without our six senior players I think this was our
best batting, bowling and fielding performance at home. The players that came in really played their role especially Kemo Paul. It was good to see Hemraj and Jacobs getting fifties in their come-back game. Young Motie bowled well in the second innings. So yes I am very pleased with the way
we played.” Crandon feels the Jaguars have improved and has done tremendously well since the GCB’s Professional League started. “A lot of hard work, planning and executing contributed to this team’s success. Assad Fudadin batted brilliantly and as a senior player put
Vishal can provide stability, says Browne ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Chief selector Courtney Browne believes Vishal Singh can provide added stability in the West Indies middle order, during the upcoming Test series against Pakistan. The 28-year-old lefthander was one of two uncapped players named in 13-man squad to face Pakistan in the opening Test bowling off at Sabina Park in Jamaica on Friday. Vi s h a l e n d u r e d a n underwhelming first class season but carved out an unbeaten 135 in the threeday tour match against the Pakistanis at the Trelawny Mult-Purpose Stadium last weekend, to force his way into contention. “Vishal has been one of the more consistent batsmen in the Regional four-day tournament over the last few seasons and had a very good A-Team series against Sri Lanka last year,” Browne pointed out. “His hundred over the weekend for the WICB President’s XI against the Pakistanis helped to fortify in our minds that he has a place in our squad. He gives us the option of a solid
Jaguars Head Coach Esuan Crandon. his hand up and scored a century to set up the win,” the former Guyana pacer explained. Only Shiv Chanderpaul, of the Guyana batsmen had scored a hundred before this match. Chanderpaul, who missed this match to honour his English County contract for Lancashire, is second in the Regional First-Class aggregate 622 runs behind Kyle Hope’s 649. Crandon said this is one area that the batsmen needed to improve in. “We have been batting well but have not been converting good starts into hundreds. People remember hundreds, I hope the batsmen capitalise on the opportunity of getting a few hundreds in our last match this weekend. We have already won the
tournament and there is no pressure on us,” the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club member said. Crandon said over the past three seasons Leon Johnson has demonstrated remarkable leadership and feels Johnson is best Captain in the competition. He is the only Guyanese Captain with three Regional titles. Johnson has been going through a lean period with the bat in the last few games but Crandon said Johnson is one of hardest workers he has known and is a very intelligent young man. “We all know that he can bat and he only needs one big innings to return to his best form and he has a great opportunity to do that in the last match,” Crandon concluded.
RHTY&SC, MS congratulates Assad Fudadin and Senior Female cricketers Guyana Jaguars lefthander Vishal Singh. middle-order batsman around whom our more freescoring players can bat.” Vishal managed over 700 runs last season and followed up with a superb 161 for West Indies A against Sri Lanka A in Pallekele last October. However, his returns this season have been poor, with just 317 runs at an average of 26. Ever since selectors axed the long-serving Shiv Chanderpaul two years ago, they have been without a
steady hand in the middle order, and with Marlon Samuels dropped and Dwayne Bravo continued exile from the squad, Vishal is being viewed as a solution to the middle order. His Guyana Jaguars teammate Shimron Hetmyer has also found space in the squad following a season that yielded 496 runs, and Browne said the Youth World Cup captain was one for the future. “Shimron has shown a
lot of maturity during this season of regional games and also within our A team,” Browne explained. “It is really satisfying to see someone that only a year ago was leading our Under19 squad to the ICC Youth World Cup title progress so quickly to be considered for a place in the squad. “We want to wish the young man well and hope that he like all the others can grasp the opportunity when it presents itself.”
The Management and members of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS would like to congratulate our member Assad Fudadin, on scoring his sixth first class century last weekend and five of our female cricketers on their selection on the Guyana Senior female cricket team, the club stated in a release. As a Club we are very proud of their achievements and we would like to wish all of them continued success in their future. A s s a d ’s c e n t u r y i s special to all of us at the RHTY&SC as it comes at a crucial period in his career after being left out of the
Guyana four day team at the start of first class season. We are confident that this century along with the 50 he scored against Trinidad in the 7 round would be the start of a highly successful second phase of his career. Assad’s special talent is well known but in life, there has to be a phase where disappointments have to occur so that we can cherish success when it comes around. We would like to encourage Assad to remain focused and to work towards scoring another ton against the Leeward Islands in the final round to remain in the plans of the West Indies (Continued on page 35) th
Wednesday April 19, 2017
Kaieteur News
PAGE 41
NAMILCO’s investment highlighted at CONCACAF Congress FIFA President encouraged The investment by the National Milling Company of Guyana (NAMILCO) to invest at a critical stage of Guyana’s football growth through a long term plan with the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has gained the attention of CONCACAF and FIFA, respectively. The Youth Development Plan was inked last year between NAMILCO and the federation that has seen the birth of the GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 Intra Association League being contested in nine (9) associations. President of the GFF Wayne Forde highlighted NAMILCO’s investment during his presentation at the XXXII CONCACAF Ordinary Congress which took place in Aruba. Commenting on his company’s venture being recognized at the highest level in the confederation, N A M I L C O ’s F i n a n c e Controller Mr. Fitzroy McLeod said that the company was more than happy to be informed of such
acknowledgment. ”This is indeed great news for us at NAMILCO but more importantly, for Guyana. This venture for us will see the strengthening of the game at a very important level, U-17. Being played in nine associations simultaneously underscores the fact that we are very serious about seeing the sport really take off here.” McLeod noted that while they have shown their commitment financially, they are hoping to see the associations really taking on the responsibility of making this work for the youths and the nation. ”We have done our part and its now down to the association and the national body to ensure that this works out. At NAMILCO we are very confident that once managed in the right way with the requisite supervision to ensure that things go smoothly, this intra association competition will really take off to the benefit of Guyana development at the regional and international levels by bringing to the fore our
talented players.” FIFA President Gianni Infantino, during his brief visit to Guyana last week was also briefed about the tournament and he noted that he is encouraged to see a corporate entity showing such a high degree of confidence in the growth of the youths by inking a fiveyear deal. McLeod expressed delight that the league was able to catch the attention of the FIFA boss and again reiterated that NAMILCO will continue to take on its role in seeing the youths develop. ”We have exhibited our commitment not only in football but other sports since we believe that it is important to give back to the society, especially by empowering our young people. Our Managing Director Mr. Bert Sukhai is very serious about this and this we will continue to do.” The second half of the G F F / N A M I L C O Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 Intra Association League is expected to kick off shortly.
NAMILCO’s Finance Controller Fitzroy McLeod with FIFA President Gianni Infantino during his brief visit to Guyana last week.
Shariff Racing displeased with horseracing in Guyana at the moment
The battle in the feature event of Guyana Cup Fever 2017 which Shariff Racing Stable is contending. The Shariff Racing stable of No 4 and 6 West Coast Berbice, which is one of the biggest racing stables in Guyana, barring the Jumbo Jet entity, is not pleased with the way horseracing in being administered in Guyana at the moment.
In a missive to the media, a representative gave details of some of their disappointments. It stated, ‘On behalf of the Shariff’s Racing Stable, we are displeased to say that the decision made during the feature event of Guyana Cup
Fever 2017 was very unfair. Spit Fire clearly ran second as can be seen in the photo finish camera and should have been justly awarded. However, the decision taken by the judges to split the 2nd and 3rd prizes with Good Will Boy was unfair. There
was no reason and no evidence to support such a decision. This is not the first time unfair and unjust decisions have been made towards our racing stable. I am humbly requesting Mr. Nazrudeen Mohamed Jnr. to look into this matter because there have always been unfair judgments granted against our stable. It seems that the only racing track that good decisions are made is at the Rising Sun Turf Club. The only way we will continue to support this event is if decisions are being made fair and just. Take for example Guyana Cup 2016, the judges banned the Jamaican Jockey Brian Blake for the day and took away the prize from Witchie Poo, although the horse was innocent. In the last race held the 2nd April, 2017 at the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club, Golden Blue E c h o ’s j o c k e y J u l i u s Persaud willingly admitted that he braced Settling Star
as it was coming through to pass. The jockey was only fined $20,000, the animal retained its second position and Settling Star remained at third. The position wasn’t reversed or the winning prize
wasn’t taken away or the prize money split. We are calling on those responsible to do something tangible urgently or horseracing would flop,’ the Shariff Racing Stable communicated.
Verstappen apologizes to Brazil for Massa remark (Reuters) Max Verstappen apologized to Brazilian Formula One fans on Monday after a comment about Felipe Massa caused offence at the weekend. The 19-year-old Red Bull driver had accused the Williams veteran of wrecking his best lap in qualifying at the Bahrain Grand Prix and was asked by reporters whether he would be speaking to him. “Well, he’s a Brazilian. So there’s not much to discuss,” Verstappen had replied. The Dutchman, who won huge admiration for a stellar drive through the field to third place at a rainswept Interlagos circuit last year, took to Instagram to clarify remarks that went down badly in Brazil. “Being a passionate racer, I was very disappointed with my last (qualifying) stint and gave an emotional reaction that was taken out of context,” he said. “By no means did I mean to insult the Brazilian people who I greatly respect and are always very nice to me when (Continued on page 31)
t r o Sp Caribbean Union of Gayle becomes first Teachers Les Harris T20 cricket underway 10 000-run T20 batsman P.35
in RCB win
Christopher Siewsankar hits a six for the Trinis at DCC yesterday.
Chris Gayle guides one towards backward point, Royal Challengers Bangalore v Gujarat Lions, Rajkot, IPL 2017 ©BCCI
East Coast Demerara Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Competition
Rogers’ 12th minute strike gives Melanie ‘B’ title
Banks DIH Area Supervisor Evlon Hendy hands over the prize money and winning trophy to Melanies ‘B’ Captain Ryan Seales in the presence of teammates and Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste (left) during the presentation ceremony on Monday. Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210