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Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL THE GECOM IMBROGLIO Recently, the spotlight has been on the appointment of a new chair of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). The selection of a Chairman for GECOM dates back to the 1991 formula presented by former US President Jimmy Carter. It states that the Chair shall be appointed by the president from among a list of six persons acceptable to the president and submitted by the opposition after consultation with the public and other political parties. Article 162 (2) of the Constitution states that the Chairman of GECOM shall be a judge, former judge, or someone qualified to be appointed a judge, or any other fit and proper persons to be appointed by the President. However, no judge or former judge has been appointed, although the names of judges were submitted on earlier lists. Everyone else who was appointed fell into the “fit and proper person” category. After the resignation of the Chairman of GECOM late last year, President David Granger, in accordance with the Constitutional requirements, had asked the leader of the opposition to submit a list of six names from among whom he will choose a successor. It was the first time that the opposition was asked to submit a list. On all previous occasions, all of the lists were submitted by the PNCR when in opposition. On two occasions, the name of Brigadier David Granger, now President was on the list. The names submitted by Mr. Jagdeo appeared to be unacceptable and were rejected by Mr. Granger. The list was deemed improper by the president. In the past, there was no rejection of the entire list because they had at least one person who was acceptable to the president. Contrary to the views of the opposition, the Constitution gives the President the power to determine who is best suited to hold such an important position. But was it wise for him to reject all the names on the list which appeared to be highly partisan? The person holding such a sensitive office has to be as non-partisan as possible. It is clear that the leader of the opposition did not do a thorough search or approach the issue with non-partisan lens. When in office, the PPP was never placed in a position to reject all six candidates because the lists submitted by the PNC included persons who were not affiliated to political parties. It seems that Mr. Jagdeo acted in a partisan manner and expect the President to accept it. It seems that GECOM has found itself mired in allegations and counter-allegations between the opposition and the government whether justifiable or not, could damage its image. After meeting with the President to iron out the misunderstandings, Mr. Jagdeo has agreed to submit another list. But if it is rejected again, the President may be inclined to make a unilateral appointment. If so, the Constitution requires that he appoints a judge or former judge because he has not left himself much room to maneuver. If he decides to go the unilateral route he will inevitably be accused of having wanted to name his own appointee all along. However, the opposition has already indicated that it will not accept a unilateral appointment. The GECOM imbroglio could place the nation in unchartered waters and could destroy the neutrality which it possesses. It means that the nation could potentially embark on a constitutional crisis? At the very minimum, it will regurgitate all the old guiles about the PNC. However, since the President is the architect of this situation, hopefully, he would find a reasonable exit strategy.
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He went to fancy universities, has a fancy house, fancy car and fancy dog Dear Editor, I am not even an amateur commentator much less an analyst but I still would like to add my little, tiny bit to the debate about which Guyanese is likely to do good as the presidential candidate for a third party in the general elections of 2020. When you read the newspapers and watch the television talk shows, you get a sense that Guyana is on the verge of getting another major political party. In all these discussions, one name keeps coming up – Freddie Kissoon. For a man whose output the reader cannot keep up with, Mr. Kissoon is very silent. I w o n d e r w h y. F r e d d i e Kissoon is not the silent type, on the contrary his voice is booming. Freddie has his reason for his unusual
silence which I hope we hear why in the coming months. Recently someone joined Ralph Ramkarran’s name and from thereon he has been pitted against Freddie. One writer made the interesting but unusual point that Freddie while being one of the heroes of the nation will not make a successful candidate because the business folks would frown on him and he will not be embraced by a wide cross section of the nation if the third party wins. This is the point I would like to introduce in the debate and it does not concern support for or arguments against Freddie Kissoon. My letter here is not about Freddie Kissoon or Ralph Ramkarran. It is how candidates get elected. I say this because I am not in favour of the letter writer
who posited that if Freddie Kissoon runs he will receive all the votes of poor people but none from the business and middle classes. He goes on to say that Ramkarran is a better bet because he will pick up votes from all sections of the nation. As I said Mr. Editor, I am not even an amateur commentator but this does not make sense to me at all. What makes sense to me is how many votes are required to win an election. You can get them from anywhere or nowhere but you have to get them and they must be in large numbers. The letter to me is more concerned with presentation than the ways you can win an election. He says people find Freddie Kissoon a philosophical dreamer the type you don’t put in government whereas
Ralph Ramkarran has more accessibility among voters. One can hardly argue with that but my entry in this debate is to ask about the amount of votes and not who is more presentable to voters. Mr. Editor, correct me if I am wrong but it is not accurate to say that one section of the society can vote against you, another section can vote for you and that other section is larger therefore they will make you win the election. Correct me again if I am wrong Mr. Editor, didn’t the recent US presidential election show us how wide spread is sectional voting? Mr. Trump won because one half on the US voted for him, the other half didn’t. I don’t have any particular and special fondness for Freddie (Continued on page 5)
Sunday April 02, 2017
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Legitimacy versus legality of Amendments The poor performance DEAR EDITOR, The debate over the affirmation of our Court of Appeal of the ruling of Chief Justice (ag) Ian Chang in the Richardson case was joined by the intervention of former Chancellor and AG Keith Massiah. The learned Chancellor (rtd) wrote “in respectful concurrence with Justice Duke Pollard’s crystalline analysis of the issues bearing on the question of the presidential term limit.” In doing so however, he reveals unfortunately, his concern and that Justice Pollard was solely about “presidential term limits” and not even the three other categories of citizens that were removed from consideration as presidential candidates to the citizenry by Act 17 of 2001. Most significantly they give short shrift to the real issue of the limits of the amendment power in reference to the basic structure of the constitution in general and of the “democratic sovereignty” of the Guyanese people in particular. But in supporting Justice Pollard’s focus on an exegesis of “associated words on statutory terms…that articles 1 and 9 of the Constitution refer to “a unified political entity” and not to “constitutional entitlements of the people” Chancellor Massiah reveals their common source
of confusion. Our Constitution emphasizes at its very beginning: “We the people do adopt (the constitution)”. It then declared, the Guyanese people, possessing the “constituting power”, created “THE STATE AND THE CONSTITUTION”, including Art 1: “Guyana is an indivisible, secular, democratic sovereign state…and Art 8: “The constitution is the supreme law of Guyana”. The Constitution therefore possesses “constituted power” that is superior to the state but subordinate to the ‘“constituent power” of the people. Under the next heading, “PRINCIPLES AND BASES OF THE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SYSTEM”, Art 9 reaffirms one aspect of the “constituting power” of the people by affirming, “Sovereignty belongs to the people”. And they “exercise it through their representatives and the democratic organs established by or under this Constitution.” The latter have constitutive power. Chancellor Massiah ignores the distinction between “constituent power” which resides in the people and “constituted power”, which is delegated to the Constitution and the people’s representatives. The constituent power is
exercised by the people to create their constitution and not vice versa for the constitution to specify “entitlements” of the people, as the Court of Appeal claims. In Guyana, while the people have delegated the power of amending the constitution to their representatives (Art. 164) this is inevitably a substantively and procedurally limited power. Procedurally it is to be exercised according to specified increasing levels of difficulty which ends with the ultimate possibility of a referendum of the people. The latter is a simulation of the exercise of their constituent power by acclamation, and is absent in the Indian and Belizean constitutions, which Justice Pollard (and by implication) Chancellor Massiah ignored. The other use of the distinction between “constituent” and “constituted” power is to delineate the limits of the substantive amendment power by the representatives of the people: the latter, we emphasize being constitutive and limited cannot alter what was dubbed the “basic structure” by the Indian Supreme Court and encapsulated in our Arts 1 and 9. This delineation created the distinction between the “legality” of an amendment and its “legitimacy”. It raises the possibility as
has occurred by Art 17 of 2001 that an amendment may be legal (according to the constituted delegated rules of Art 164) but illegitimate, based on its constricting the foundational principles emanating from the constituent power of the people. The latter impose “implied limitations” of the delegated amendment power and illustrates the distinction made by Carl Schmitt between the “Constitution” (substantive) and stressed by CJ (ag) Chang (rtd) and) the Appellate Court and “Constitutional law” (procedural”) relied on by Justice Pollard and Chancellor Massiah. In sum, CJ (ag) Chang and the Appellate Court hold that the Constitution specifies the ontological unalterable basic structure produced by the constituting power (“dubbed “eternity laws” by some) which cannot be restricted in Guyana unless approved by a referendum of the people, in a simulation of their constituent power. Art 17 of 2001 sought to create an “unconstitutional constitutional amendment”. With Constitutional reform possibly on the horizon, determining the necessary basic structure of a constitution for Guyana might hopefully be informed by the debate. Ravi Dev
The ownership of the Anna Regina play park DEAR EDITOR; I read an article in the newspapers a few days ago and was appalled when the writer, one Elroy Stephney ended his article by saying that he was pleased that the rehabilitation of Cheddi Jagan’s play park in Region 2 has been made a priority. I know Anna Regina very well as I grew up there in indentured houses. No religious or political grouping has ever been given the land which is now the Anna Regina Play
Park. In the late 80’s, when Anna Regina was declared a town, the Mayor and the councillors – and I was a councillor then – designated the land as a play park for the Anna Regina Community. The ground was mowed and residents frequently used it for soft ball and volley ball. During that time many days I would be found playing either of the two games on the ground. In 1997, as manager of Courts Guyana Inc.,
Essequibo Branch, I was instructed by the then managing director, one Errol Le Blanc, to have discussions with the owner of the park as the company wanted to make contributions to have the park made more attractive. I went to the Anna Regina Town Council and had said discussions. They were very happy with the gesture. Subsequently, hundreds of thousands dollars’ worth of items, including swings, slides, benches etc. were handed
He went to fancy universities, has... From page 4 Kissoon except to say that like most, Kissoon has my admiration and is an honest citizen without baggage. One way or the other, I have no interest if he is a presidential candidate or not. My letter here is to raise the debate as to which candidate will get more votes. One letter writer says Ralph Ramkarran will do better because he will get the
votes from all classes in Guyana while Freddie Kissoon will only pull the votes of the masses. This is where I find his argument weak. To win you need the votes of the masses. Mr. Editor, I am still in confusion as to why the middle classes will reject Freddie Kissoon according to your writer. By any standard isn’t Freddie Kissoon a
middle class man? Any reader could Google the relevant information on this man. Plus he is a public figure in Guyana; his life is on display. This gentleman went to fancy universities, drives a fancy car, lives in a fancy house, walks a fancy dog and listens to classical Italian music. Isn’t that a middle class man? Roopnarine (Roop) Latchmansingh
over. Even today, despite all the negligence over the years some of the items are still there. It would be good if this company can do some follow up work with the rehabilitation. A few days ago, during dusk, a resident of Anna Regina was walking around with a petition asking for signature. When asked what the petition was all about he said that ‘they’ want to take away Cheddi Jagan’s Play Park.’ When told why fight for rehabilitated lands when your burial ground is in the most deplorable state on the Essequibo, he hastily retreated. A few days ago I was riding through the Lima Sands Community when I was attracted by a large sign (Continued on page 6)
at GuySuCo continues DEAR EDITOR, As 1st crop 2017 at GuySuCo continues, it appears that the cadillacstyle IMC and Executive team are well on track to deliver the lowest ever first crop production in recent memory. I say this because after 6 weeks of operation, the industry has recorded a meagre 20,240t sugar or 27% of its crop target. At this point in time, the industry should have delivered 35,697t or 48% of crop target. This explains the magnitude of poor performance at this moment. In 7 weeks from now, we will be well into May and the rainy season will cause a cessation of the crop. The poor run in this crop is not unique to a particular estate however, output at Rose Hall and East Demerara Estates have a bearing on a disenchanted and demoralized workforce because of the CEO’s plan to close those estates. The proposed closures by GuySuCo, the employer have created a volatile industrial relations climate and the Corporations’ CEO and Executives seem to have great difficulty to comprehend a fact of life, that is, whenever a p e r s o n ’s l i v e l i h o o d i s taken away he/she will naturally respond/react especially when no alternative is immediately available. Maybe, if Government terminates the
services of some executives & managers, they will appreciate the plight of disenchanted workers, and can comprehend that fact of life. An examination of performance at Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt shows that these Estates are converting cane to sugar at a rate of 11.89, 12.54 and 13.42 respectively. This is too high according to standards set by these very estates in previous years. Albion and Blairmont factories typically operate continuously but this is not happening now because of cane supply and mill problems. Low grinding time per wee k a n d inefficiency at Uitvlugt has been an issue for many years now. It did not commence in 2015 but it seems to have worsened since. GuySuCo’s CEO somehow convinced Govt. that his plan to close Wales will solve Uitvlugt’s problems. Readers, here we are in March 2017, Wales Estate remains closed and Uitvlugt continues to operate approximately 50 100hrs/week and takes 1314tonne cane to make 1tonne bulk sugar. One wonders whether Dr. Clive Thomas or the Hon. Minister examines performance data from GuySuCo or current performance levels is acceptable by their standards. Sookram Persaud
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Not much money will come from VAT on private tuition
I REJECT THE INCREASED FEES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GUYANA
DEAR EDITOR, Education is regarded as a right and not a privilege. Every citizen is guaranteed a right to basic education provided free of cost by the state. In fact it is compulsory for parents and guardians to send their children to school failing which they could be hauled before the courts. Guyana has a relatively high enrolment rate at the primary and nursery levels compared to other countries in our hemisphere. It is fair to say that access to education at the primary and nursery level is reasonably good even though some serious challenges still remain in the hinterland and deep riverain areas. Under the previous PPP/ C administration, substantial progress was made in terms of education access in hinterland areas especially at the secondary level. Several new secondary schools were constructed in several hinterland communities where none existed before such as Annai, Aishalton and Sand Creek in Region Nine and for that matter in all of the ten administrative regions of the country. It is no exaggeration to say that the PPP/C administration had over-
hauled the entire education infrastructure of the country. Emphasis was put not only on infrastructural development but in other critical areas such as teacher training, curricula reforms and in the area of measurement and testing. Despite the best efforts, there were still significant gaps in terms of the quality of education delivery between urban and rural public schools on the one hand and between hinterland and coastal schools. The gap in educational delivery was all the more apparent between public and private schools which eventually gave rise to a plethora of private schools some of which were more interested in making money rather than in any meaningful way addressing the deficit in quality delivery by public schools. It is in the above context that the desire for parents and guardians to send their children to private schools has to be seen. The perception that ‘fee’ education was superior to ‘free’ education’ increasingly gained currency especially among those who could afford to pay the fees demanded by private educa-
tional institutions. To a large extent, the continuing failure of the government to arrest the decline in student attainment levels in the public schools especially at the primary and secondary levels have only served to perpetuate this perception that the chances of children making it to the top of the performance ladder can only be achieved through private schools. This is unfortunate but a reality that cannot be wished away by officialdom. The truth is that the majority of the top performers at both the CXC and the National Grade Six Examination, formerly Common Entrance Examination come from the public schools even though it has to be admitted that some of the private schools are outperforming some of the top public secondary schools. Education is becoming much more competitive. Our children are grilled to pass examinations which sadly take away from the real purpose of education which is to develop rounded personalities. Too much emphasis is placed on cognitive development at the expense of the other domains of development inclusive of affective and physical. My own view is that the (Continued on page 7)
The Coalition’s problems on account of VAT are going to get worse. DEAR EDITOR, What is really amazing is that protests have been successfully organized against the parking meters affair and VAT on private education but no such efforts have been placed behind the immediate bread and butter issues affecting the entire nation, the VAT on water and electricity. Admittedly, the poor are exempted from the direct application of this tax, but they will have to bear the ultimate burden of its imposition as businesses raise their prices to recover costs associated with paying VAT on these inputs. It is entirely possible that businesses will roll back their cost increases once VAT on water and electricity are removed. But within the context of all of the hullaballoo generated over VAT and the parking meters, the real tragedy is
that Granger doesn’t understand enough of economics to know that Jordan has flushed the PNC/coalition down the toilet with the 2017 budget. Worse, his advisors are turning out to be either yes-men or completely daft about the implications of the VAT policies in the budget. How can anyone make a decision when they can’t see or understand the problem? To compound all of this, enough discussions have been made available in the public domain to facilitate clarification on the issues, but this matter has apparently moved beyond the professional to the personal, a showdown between the Minister of Finance and the Opposition to see who’s the boss. The Finance Minister apparently carries some bad blood, over being canned by them, and intends to make his
point while the population suffers. The Private Sector understands the situation clearly, but aren’t willing to play ball with a hardhead. So the Coalition’s out, but doesn’t know, or doesn’t want to ‘fess up and change. Granger’s inaction will bury the economy and his government. The country pays for his ignorance, which is what it really is, not to mention his inability to recognize his gross limitations. As the saying goes, you’re a wise man until you open your mouth. The stark fact is that the Coalition’s problems on account of VAT are going to get worse because the budget has pitted the government against the entire country. The great Brigadier Granger has engineered his government and himself into a siege. The Private Sector with whom the (Continued on page 7)
The ownership of the Anna Regina... From page 5 which reads CHEDDI JAGAN BIODIVERSITY PARK. I went inside and found at the entrance two huge stones painted in white and marked in red CHEDDI and JANET. On a cylindrical object were the names of P.P.P activists. In front, in the north easterly corner was an oil tank with an American flag. In front of the tank was the name Fidel Castro. Prepare for
more petitions! Make no mistake about it: during 23 years of P.P.P rule half of Guyana was sold out. Out of office they are still trying to gain ownership of state assets in Guyana. If they gain power in 2020 the other half will go. Most likely we will be a colony. In fact the Colonists are here already squatting in a prestigious way. Nazir Mohamed
DEAR EDITOR, I have had an abiding interest in the University of Guyana and, in spite of many negative things said about the University, I have always believed and continue to believe that UG has played a tremendous role in providing essential human resources for the development of Guyana. I was shocked to see a report in the news that the University of Guyana has increased fees by 35%. As a citizen of Guyana, I can say unequivocally that the ViceChancellor of UG and the Council cannot count on me for support for any increase of fees for students at UG. I am certain that many people in Guyana feel the same way. I am certain that students and their families also reject the increase. I do not doubt that the UG can benefit from an input of more resources. I believe considering the waste we have in Government today that the Government of Guyana can fully provide an increase in financial support to UG. The waiver of $5B of
taxes from DDL could have supported an increase of $1B annually to UG for five years. This is just one example of how APNU+AFC can support UG with additional resources without the University burdening the students and their families further. Families are over-burdened with increases in more than 200 different taxes, including VAT on education, water and electricity. Increasing the student fees at UG is another assault on the education sector. I was intrigued by the news that UG has increased student fees by 35% at a time when the Vice-Chancellor had visited the General Secretary of the PPP and the Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Bharat Jagdeo. I met the GS of the PPP and asked him pointblank if the VC had requested his support for the increase in student fees. Dr. Jagdeo was very clear in his response - he and the PPP will oppose the increase in student fees at UG. Dr. Jagdeo confirmed that he was explicit in his discussion with
the VC that neither he nor the PPP would support the increase in fees at UG. At a t i m e w h e n t h e economy is clearly on a downward trajectory and at a time when families have been forced to cut down on expenditures because their buying power has been under assault by a government that is looking for every way to increase the tax burden on people, it is unconscionable for either the UG management or APNU+AFC to increase student fees. Education is a public good and a necessary part of developing the human capital that is necessary for development. The recent introduction of VAT on educational services and commodities is a counter-productive and retrogressive step by APNU+AFC. I would encourage the VC and Council to rescind the increase of student fees at UG. This will add to the retrogressive policy on education by the APNU+AFC government. Dr. Leslie Ramsammy
The Attorney-General cannot extricate himself from this situation Dear Editor, It is anyone’s guess why the Guyana Chronicle is the only media outfit that has been given a copy of Justice Holder’s letter of complaint against the Attorney General’s conduct in open court on the 24th day of March, 2017, during the Carvil Duncan’s case. It is also anyone’s guess why the Guyana Chronicle is not releasing the letter to the public. So much for freedom of the press and information under this “new dispensation.” Nevertheless, the Guyana Chronicle has published snippets of the letter over the last two days. Despite its best spin, each publication has sunk the Attorney General deeper into a conundrum from which he may not be able to extricate himself, in the end. From the excerpts of the letter published, thus far, in the Guyana Chronicle the following seminal points can be distilled: (i) the learned Judge felt “disrespected”; (ii) the learned Judge said that “the AG is in contempt” of his court; (iii) the learned Judge described the AG’s statements in the Court as “most egregious”; (iv) the learned Judge
has called for a “genuine and meaningful apology” f r o m Wi l l i a m s i n o p e n court; (v) that in the absence of such an apology the learned Judge said that he will not hear Williams in his court as an Attorney-atlaw, in any case, whatsoever. (vi) t h e learned Judge’s account of what transpired in the court at the relevant time bore a striking similarity to what I disclosed transpired and is materially different from what Williams recited at his Press Conference on the 24th March, 2017; (vii) I n o t h e r w o r d s , Williams has not only publicly fictionalized about my conduct but he effectively is calling the learned Judge a poor interpreter as the Judge’s version did not corroborate the concocted tale which he told at his Press Conference; (viii) the AG has now gotten two junior counsels at the Attorney General’s chambers, who were present in court, to give statements which are in his defence, thereby putting their careers on the line by putting them against the Judge, to make out the Judge to be a poor listener (ix) the learned Judge quoted Mr. Williams as
saying “all morning Mr. Nandlall disrespecting you and you have done nothing about it” to which the learned Judge told Williams “that is not a true statement of what occurred.” Despite all of the foregoing already in the public domain, the Attorney General issued another statement aggravating the wrongs he has already committed by not only refusing to accept responsibility for his outrageous conduct and apologizing to the Judge and the Nation for his blatant prevarications, he “thanks Justice Holder for doing the right thing and exposing the iniquity of Nandlall.”! As far as I am aware, Justice Holder has not said a single word critical of me. He then continues to insult the Judge’s intellect by saying that the Judge “fell prey” to “transferred frustration” I am so happy that the nation has witnessed this incident. It has provided to the public, a preponderance of irrefutable evidence that this gentleman is mentally unfit to hold public office. Significantly, he has furnished this evidence all by himself, unsolicited. It is now for the President to act. Anil Nandlall
Sunday April 02, 2017
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SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON LINDEN TELEVISION DEAR EDITOR, I am obliged to respond to the article “Setting the record straight on Linden television”, by Mr. Imran Khan, Director of Public Information, which appears in the Guyana Chronicle of Wednesday March 29th 2017. M r. K h a n ’s a r t i c l e should be seen for what it is, a veiled attempt to excuse the non-implementation of The APNU/AFC campaign promise and an excuse for the failure and inability of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo to successfully conclude this initiative so far. Further in doing so he sought to take a swipe at the former PPP/ C administration. I will address firstly the question of the implementing of Linden TV, and secondly the events behind this call which Mr. Khan so skillfully and colourfully misrepresents in his first three paragraphs. We are nearly two years into our APNU/AFC Coalition and Linden TV is not yet up and running. Mr. Khan wrote (in his fourth paragraph) that, “During the 2015 election campaign the Coalition Government made a commitment to the people of Linden that it will deliver on the agreement and ensure that the television station is returned to the community for their full ownership, management and control”. You might have expected that Linden TV would have been up and running within six months of the Coalition being in office! Note how-
ever that Mr. Khan ends his letter hoping “that come March 31st (2017) this problematic hurdle will be overcome and the process will move forward and be concluded”. He goes on further to state “the ball has always been and remains in the court of the Linden stakeholders”. Was it not much the same when the PPP/C was in office? Obviously there have been problems – problems which one might have expected to disappear with the PPP/C out of office. As I have written before the PPP and the PPP/C are not all that is wrong and bad for bauxite communities, Guyanese and Guyana. Indeed, I am ready to argue that we (PPP and PPP/C) have been good for all Guyanese and Guyana. Let me acknowledge that a lot of anger and hostility to us might have been earnest, but as is the case here a lot of it was not well founded. True, Green Construction Company in that time of foreign exchange difficulties arranged the purchase of the equipment/ technology of the day (early 1980s), its delivery and setting up. They put in a bill for it. It was not free and not a Green gift to anyone. Note that from then to 2012 the technology supplied then was superseded many times over: some was destroyed in a fire and any remainder was no longer useful. Just consider the large thirty feet receiving dishes on Richmond Hill,
Linden and at Versaillas (of VCG 28/TVG) and the small two feet and less satellite dishes of today. There was/is no Green TV to “return to the community for their full ownership, management and control”. It should be considered that handing over the present day NCN TV station in Region 10 presents a precedent for every RDC to plead for our Central Government to grant them a TV Station in similar manner! Editor, I beg my turn to set the record straight with respect to the proposed increase in electricity rates which proved to be the occasion for or cause of those protests which ended so tragically. The proposal was for an increase from about G$5 to $7 per kWh to about G$27.50 per kWh, about 50% of what customers of GPL were paying then. This proposal was to be the first step in a staged reform over a number of years which would end with the responsibility for electricity generation and supply in Linden being merged into GPL. We did not come up with such a position out of the blue and all by ourselves. Such a policy had been accepted and adumbrated since 1976 by then Prime Minister Mr. Forbes Burnham, during a speech in Linden to mark the fifth anniversary of the nationalization of the bauxite company there. T h e s t e a d i l y, m o r e heavily subsidized electricity offered to the commu-
nity began in the days of DEMBA, when the Linden area was truly a company town. Then, apart from households of employees of various Government arms, nearly every other household contained one or more employees of the bauxite company. As the bauxite company lost profitability, responsibility for financing this electricity subsidy was turned over to Central Government, and as the bauxite operations shrunk and Linden grew, the number of households containing a current employee of the bauxite company is now likely less than 10%. Meanwhile with crude oil prices rising past US$100/bbl by 2012, the electricity subsidy to Region 10 had risen to G$3 billion per year, mostly for Linden. This subsidy, reduced by the lower oil price, continues uninterrupted to today. Recall that the budget for year 2012 having been read, our PPP/C administration was in meetings with APNU (AFC having dropped out) on possible amendments to the budget. Recall that for the first day of the debate the Minister of Finance read to the House a statement on the compromise reached to raise the old age pension even higher than we had proposed. That compromise proceeded smoothly. During the second day of discussions, we (PPP/C) proposed the reform of electricity rates in Linden as outlined above noting
Not much money will come from VAT on private... From page 6 government has a duty to create a level playing field when it comes to education delivery which should be done not by punishing private schools through the imposition of Value Added Taxes (VAT) but by pumping more resources into public schools and ensuring through the School Inspectorate System that all public schools measure up to the required standards. Low
performing schools should be brought up to standard even if it means a change in school administration. It cannot be business as usual when schools continue to underperform. That would be a great injustice to our children and their parents who have high expectations of their children and their teachers to have those expectations realized. I am all for education to
remain secular in keeping with the constitution of Guyana. I do not sub s c r i b e t o t h e views that the future of any child in the realization of his or her learning potential should depend on parents earning capacity but on their innate ability and potential. Education should be the vehicle for upward social mobility and it is the responsibility of the state to
have a well-oiled vehicle to take every child to that destiny. The application of VAT on education is in my view counterproductive and should be reconsidered. In any event, the amount of money that will accure to the treasury is insignificant given the size of our national budget. It simply is not worth the fight. Hydar Ally
The Coalition’s problems on account of VAT are... From page 6 government was supposed to be collaborating has recognized the futility of dealing with the Coalition and the Minister of Finance as its point man. They have buckled in for the long haul and are looking forward to 2020 as they navigate the wellknown territory of inflation and eroding exchange rates. Granger has to think
about surviving 2020 if he wants his Party to survive at all, because there is no Burnham after him to hold the PNC together. If going down is not an option, then some policies and/or bodies have to be put on the block. More than this, there has to be some tactical engineering to regain the confidence of the Private Sector. What is clear is that the Finance Minister, who
has been baptized Mr. Ludicrous by a blogger because of his 2017 budget, isn’t worth his salt. The question now is how to get rid of Mr. Ludicrous? How do Guyanese convince the Coalition that Mr. Ludicrous isn’t worth his salt? And this business of monitoring foreign currency accounts and controlling imports is the road to hell, be-
cause we’ve come from there already. What is needed is some radical decision-making to recover the government’s image and the country as a destination for FDI. And an anti-business finance minister and an uncontrollable run on the exchange rate are not going to help this. Granger has some decisions to make. The time for dallying is long past. Lance Cumberbatch.
that the average electricity consumption in Linden was twice that of GPL customers, most likely because of t h e n e g l i g i b l e r a t e . We wanted Linden developed, but Guyana could not sustain a Linden developed on electricity rates that were negligible and would entail ongoing calls on the Treasury. I quickly wrote up a paper to read to the House announcing the initiation of a reform of electricity in Linden. I showed it to the then MP in Opposition the Hon Rupert Roopnarine and the then leader of the Opposition the Hon Mr. David Granger who were seated next to each other. MP Roopnarine suggested two word changes which I accepted and read the amended statement to the Assembly with no objections. Things started falling apart about two hours later when it was rumoured that one of the two AFC leaders sitting in the House had phoned then Chairman of the RDC 10, Mr. Sharma Solomon, saying that Granger and APNU had sold them out to the PPP/ C. Subsequently it appeared that telephone calls were being received by the leaders of APNU and Hon Members Granger and Roopnarine hurried to Linden amidst rumours that people in Linden were ready to burn even “things green”. It is irresponsible for Mr. Khan not to have given an indication of the electricity rates which were being increased and to claim that the “three persons” were ruthlessly gunned down (by the Guyana Police Force?!) as they pro-
ceeded peacefully. Has Mr. Khan not heard of the Commission of Inquiry which was demanded and the report of that Commission? The Commission found that the protestors were not peaceful at that time and much responsibility for those tragic events had to be placed on the shoulders of the organizers of those marches and protests. Please read the report Mr. Khan. Mr. Editor, I ask where today are the “heroes” of those marches and protests which ended with those tragic events? Where are the then RDC 10 Chairman, Mr. Solomon and then MP Vanessa Kissoon? They have been dropped from the political scene. It has been a great misfortune of the Linden community that the social-political-economic struggles there have often led to tolerance even encouragement of behaviour and actions which are neither acceptable nor helpful. Many persons including potential leaders have often been misled. The dropping of Solomon and Kissoon are plainly a rapping on the knuckles for the tragic events of 2012: those deaths should not have been; those marches and protests cost the Linden community a lot: and they cost Guyana lot. Those events are to be regretted not celebrated if Linden is to be built soundly. Mr. Khan is doing a great disservice to the people of Linden in his attempt to smear the PPP/C. Samuel A. Hinds (OBE) Former Prime Minister, Former President
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Farmers, residents to benefit from new Corriverton wharf The residents, farmers and loggers of Corriverton will now benefit from the use of a new wharf built at the river front of the township. The project which cost $16M was made possible through a $25M allocation from Government through the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. The facility was commissioned yesterday. Outgoing Mayor of Corriverton, Ganesh Gangadin, said that the wharf was built to provide
some assistance to persons living upriver, the Orealla Community as well as farmers and loggers who use the river. He said that prior to the wharf being built, persons would have had to depend on the mercy of the tide before they landed or moored their boats to move their products. “Of course that was extremely difficult and they had to be stuck in the boat for several hours sometimes, waiting on this tide.
“So we proposed this about a year ago. Also some other ministries were interested in the project thus parliament granted an approval, an allocation of a sum of $25M for this project.” Although $25M was approved for the project, just $16M was spent. Gangadin said that the remaining money will be used to improve the facility. “It was recently completed but some sort of modi-
fication has to be done; for example, we’re looking into the future to put in storage facilities for persons who bring out their produce and may not be able to sell all in the same day. They can actually rent a storage compartment, store their produce and continue the commercial transaction the following day.” Gangadin added that
eventually, the design will also cater for future expansion outward by another 100 feet so that the entire channel edge can be captured. There will be no future interference whatsoever. “We’re still somewhat hampered by the tide but minimally. I can foresee that a lot of benefits are on the way for the municipality as well as the residents of Orealla and even
farmers and the farming community and loggers who are operating almost 50 to 60 miles upriver.” The outgoing Mayor said that currently, people are using the wharf but it is not in full operation as yet. He said that the mooring piles are already in place. These will be bolstered by another set of mooring piles so that boats (Continued on page 72)
The newly built Wharf in the town of Corriverton
Sunday April 02, 2017
UG Council approves 35 percent hike in tuition fees On Thursday, the University of Guyana Council met and approved the 35 percent hike in tuition fees that was proposed by the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Griffith. The council, in accordance with Griffith’s proposal, has agreed to have the tuition fees hike be implemented incrementally. The first 15 percent increase is to be effective from September. A 10 percent increase is planned to be applied next year, followed by the other 10 percent increase in 2019. New students enrolling into the University are likely to pay a higher increase. Ron Glasgow, President
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of the University of Guyana Student Society (UGSS) told Kaieteur News, yesterday, that the body no longer has jurisdiction over the increases – the first 15 percent of which is set to take effect from September – the beginning of the new academic year. Glasgow, who is also a member of the UG Council, said that he recognises the need for the University to garner more funds, but is disappointed that the administration went ahead to burden students with the responsibility of fulfilling that need. “Many of our students can’t afford it,” he said. The UGSS President could not immediately say
whether students will be going ahead with their plan to intensify protest actions, now that the feared increases have been confirmed. “Right now, we are just allowing students to really wrap their heads around the announcement, and soon enough, we’ll decide where to go from here,” Glasgow said. He explained that even the UGSS is going to need time to assess the impact that the increases are going to have on students. “As far as the student representation body is concerned, more consultation would be required to determine our next course of action,” Glasgow pointed out. He said that the one thing The University of Guyana Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara campus
UGSS President, Ron Glasgow that is for sure is the fact that the University’s administration will have to now be more accountable to the students. “They are going to have to explain and give us evidence as to how the monies are being spent and so forth,” Glasgow added. Meanwhile, it was Dr. Jewel Thomas, President of the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) who openly accused the University of not being transparent enough when it comes to its spending. “We can’t agree to Continued on page 69
Dem boys seh...
Two man own de East and West Banks countrywide Foreign currency is de talk of Guyana. It short more than de head of de Bank of Guyana who li’l more tall than de Foreign Minister. He role is to be de watchdog fuh all dem banks in de country just like de Waterfalls paper is de watchdog fuh de whole country. He suppose to check how money moving in and out of Guyana. De banks got to notify him about all de transactions and that is de law. But a banker seh some of de banks does only report transaction wha ordinary people mek, Dem boys wonder if dem does report de transaction wha dem own big businesses does mek. A banker tell dem boys de biggest businesses in this country got dem own banks. Demerara Distillers Limited got Demerara Bank; Banks DIH got Citizens Bank, Beharry Group got GBTI, Ansa McAl, Neal and Massy, Ainlim all of dem got Republic Bank. When de Waterfalls paper and de Big Market paper want pay fuh newsprint dem got to apply and wait in a queue. When de business people got to pay fuh goods dem also got to join de queue. Dem boys hear when a banker ask if dem very big business got to wait in a queue when dem want pay fuh dem goods and supplies. De banker want to know who does check on these banks to see if a level playing field exist or if dem does keep money fuh these big businesses. De short man from Bank of Guyana who mek de money short should be checking on dem other banks. He should have been peeping to see if dem hoarding but he suh short he can’t see over de counter much less to see de books. Dem boys always wonder how come Babbie and Jagdeo wha got more money than all dem banks put together, including Bank of Guyana, never think about owning dem own bank. But after careful consideration and thinking dem boys realize that dem two chaps own East Bank and West Bank of Berbice, Essequibo and Demerara. That is what you call bank—de real banks of Guyana. If de short man serious he got to go and check dem banks on de east and on de west of dem three counties. If he can get dem to declare dem money Guyana rich fuh life. Talk half help dem boys open dem own bank.
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Sunday April 02, 2017
Kaieteur News
Integrity Commission will have final say - Ramjattan Amidst concerns by the main Parliamentary Opposition, the People’s Progressive Party /Civic (PPP/ C), that the proposed amendments to the integrity laws will give “new” power to the President and the Minister of State, the Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan thinks otherwise. While registering his support for the proposed amendments and the revision of the Code of Conduct for Ministers, members of the National Assembly and public office holders, the Public Security Minister said that he sees no issue with the proposals and is questioning the reason for the Opposition’s rebuff. He dismissed the notion that the amendments will give powers to the President and the State Minister.
- Dismisses Opposition’s ‘power shift’ concerns Ramjattan said that the Integrity Commission amendment Bill makes provision for the establishment of an Integrity Commission. This ‘independent’ body, he explained, will have the final say on who will be disciplined and how they should be disciplined. The Code of Conduct was one of the promises made by the Coalition during their May 2015 elections campaign – which they won. Six months after getting into Office, the Coalition Administration released its draft Code of Conduct for Ministers, Members of Parliament (MPs) and other
public officials, warning against excessive gambling and accepting big gifts, especially from suppliers who do business with the government. According to the document, ministers by virtue of the oath or affirmation of allegiance taken when they are elected, have a duty to be faithful and to bear true allegiance to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, according to law. Moreover, the code addresses one of the sore issues of officials accepting gifts, noting that the acceptance of gifts and other forms of reward worth more than $10,000 by ministers,
PPP/C General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo
Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan
Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo
MPs and public office holders in their official capacity, shall be reported to the Integrity Commission. Ministers, MPs and Public Office holders should consider declining such gratuities if the acceptance could be perceived to have an effect on their objectivity , initial reports on the Code had revealed. General Secretary of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, during a news conference last week, accused the Prime Minister of trying to undermine the laws by giving the President executive authority to go after people; to discipline people.” Under Article 12 Breach of Code (1), “The Authority
for ensuring the observance of the provisions of this code shall rest with the President i n t h e c a s e o f Vi c e Presidents or Ministers, and the Minister of State in the case of the other persons in public life.” Jagdeo zeroed in on this clause and postulated that all Ministers are subject to this provision. He questioned who will “discipline the President when he violates the provisions of the Act.” Further, Jagdeo referenced Article 12 Breach of Code (2) which states: “A person in public life may be removed from office when he or she contravenes any of the provisions in this code.”
Jagdeo is arguing that the Minister of State will have the power to remove an MP if the amendments should be made. However, there are laws that would protect the Member of Parliament from any abuse of power. Ramjattan said that the proposals were made in keeping with international best practices and the rejection of the proposals by the PPP/C is an indication that “they don’t want to live up to any high standards”. Quizzed on what will be Government’s next move, Ramjattan said that the Bill will be taken to the National Assembly where he is confident that it will gain support.
Sunday April 02, 2017
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‘Incestuous conduct’ between banks and big companies needs urgent attention - accountants
By Kiana Wilburg Over the last few weeks, there have been expressed fears fuelled by fluctuations in the foreign currency market and the nation’s economic stability as a whole. While the Government has been making moves to quell all concerns, local financial analysts believe that there is another potentially huge problem that must be given attention. The matter surrounds the impact of big businesses in Guyana and their controlling interest in commercial banks. Speaking to the matter recently was Chartered Accountant and Tax Advisor, Christopher Ram. Ram cited three major conglomerates – Banks DIH Limited, the Beharry Group and Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL). The Chartered Accountant said that Banks DIH Limited has a 51% stake in Citizens Bank Limited, the Beharry Group indirectly controls the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Limited (GBTI), and DDL has common control with Demerara Bank Limited. He noted, however, that DDL is a special case. In this regard, he said in his recent writings that there is no “significant shareholding” relationship (by law, 5%) between DDL and Demerara Bank Limited but the two entities share three directors – Messrs. Yesu Persaud, Komal Samaroo and Harry Parmessar, all leading accountants.
Financial Analyst and Tax Advisor, Christopher Ram Ram said that prevailing circumstances make the relationship between the group of companies and the banking sector a matter of national interest. He said that the need now arises for one to ascertain how the banking arm of these groups of companies treats other group companies in respect of foreign currency. The Chartered Accountant said, “Are the foreign exchange requirements of Banks DIH Limited, for example, procured from Citizens Bank Limited with which it shares a Chairman, and if so, under what conditions? The same questions will apply to the Beharry Group of Companies and to Demerara Distillers Limited which are both holding companies and operating entities.” “I believe that such transactions should be formally and separately identified in the periodic reports by the respective
banks to the Bank of Guyana. The intervention in the currency market by Banks DIH Limited when it repurchased its shares in Guyana dollars and then went out to buy large sums of US dollars may never have happened but for its control of Citizens Bank.” Ram added that the Bank of Guyana as regulator should undertake checks of such reports to identify any self-dealings and preferential treatment by these commercial banks. He said that the Bank of Guyana should also enquire why the sale and purchase of foreign currency is not disclosed in the financial statements of the banks and their respective associated companies, clearly a requirement under International Financial Reporting Standards. The tax advisor said that accounting standards are not there to be narrowly construed and selectively applied. Ram intimated, “For me, there is a bigger and more fundamental problem with these conglomerates. While the concept of conglomerates is entirely normal, the question of whether any of them should include a bank
in any of its forms is one that needs to be critically examined. The existing arrangement is full of incestuous conduct and it would require an inordinate amount of time and resources by the Bank of Guyana to police them.” The Financial Analyst said that the Government needs to consider very seriously, whether financial institutions should be allowed to continue to operate as part of any group of companies. “Of course, the same kind of self-dealing which the conglomerate arrangement permits exists in those companies and groups which are granted non-bank cambio licences. In so far as cambios can be justified, they are licensed to carry on trading in foreign currency, not selfdealing. The Bank of Guyana as the licensing authority needs to address this problem,” the Chartered Accountant said. He noted, too, that the relationship between the Government and the private sector needs to be strengthened; the demonization of the entire business community sedated; and the bigger players in the foreign
Chartered Accountant and former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran exchange market paid far more attention, rather than the individual seeking a US$500 to purchase. Ram’s perspective was recently supported by former Auditor General and financial analyst, Anand Goolsarran. Like Ram, Goolsarran said he is concerned about the impact of big businesses in Guyana having controlling interest in commercial banks, especially at a time where there is a decline in foreign exchange earnings. Unlike other businesses, Goolsarran commented that they have
ready access to foreign currency to the extent where major foreign currency transactions, using that relationship, are putting pressure on the exchange rate. The former Auditor General said he agrees that additional mechanisms need to be put in place to avoid possible abuse. Goolsarran added that what those mechanisms should be is for the Government to decide, without being seen to attempting to impose exchange controls. He noted that Guyana’s economy is relatively small, and one major player in the foreign exchange market can be a source of significant influence on the exchange rate. At a minimum, Goolsarran said that there should be adequate disclosure of major foreign currency transactions, in keeping with the International Financial Reporting Standards. He insists that greater monitoring by the regulatory authorities is also needed.
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AG yet to complete ‘heavy’ investigation into GECOM Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, has said that his office is yet to complete the special investigation into the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). State auditors have been working, perusing contracts and inventories, to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars, including spending for the May 2015 general and regional elections. Sharma said that auditors are working hard to complete the “heavy” investigation. He noted that his auditors have to look into the purchase of high frequency radios, toners for printers and photocopiers and pliers and nippers and batteries. The Auditor General said that the auditors have already completed some aspects of the investigations. Sharma declined to give a timeline as to how soon this investigation can be completed. “What takes times is that we have to interview all the officers and go through the procedures and everything. We do this so that when we present a case it is perfect. The audit has been on for more than five months now. Auditors have been working from GECOM’s headquar-
ters in High Street, Kingston. They have visited the stores at Coldingen, East Coast Demerara, among other GECOM’s facilities. The probe reportedly extended to the spending of the 2016 local government elections. The auditors have reportedly found several cases of worrying breaches of procurement procedures, excesses and wanton spending. In some cases items were purchased for four or five times the retail prices. Kaieteur News understands that a number of sweeping adjustments will have to be made. GECOM last year was under severe pressure with the scandal leaving a dark cloud on the legacy of outgoing Chairman, Dr. Steve Surujbally. The Chairman, who had signaled his intentions to step down on November 30, has been asked by the administration to stay on to oversee the transition to a new person. The process to choose a new Chairperson is ongoing and has developed into a battle between the administration and the Opposition over the interpretation of the Constitution of the land.
With regards to GECOM’s spending, from internal documents and that filed with the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), GECOM reportedly deliberately bypassed established procedures of the state when it comes to using tax dollars to procure services and items. The purchase of high frequency radios, toners for printers and photocopiers and pliers and nippers all had one thing in common in 2015—hundreds of millions of dollars were paid for them by GECOM under very questionable circumstances. There are other transactions that also came under investigations, including the purchase of Duracell batteries. According to official figures of contracts awarded in 2015, there were two payments for Duracell batteries by GECOM. One contract was awarded on April 23, 2015, about three weeks before the elections for $14,529,000. This contract was awarded to Mobile Authority, a business owned by Water Street businessman, Michael Brasse. There was another (Continued on page 72)
Sunday April 02, 2017
Kaieteur News
Guyana a leading country for tax exemptions - Tax advisors
Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram Tax reform usually starts out with the intention to make a nation more progressive. It appears, however, that Guyana’s leaders have done quite the opposite. Some six years ago, tax measures were implemented by the former regime which opened the floodgates for increased exemptions and remissions. In fact, tax advisors are saying that the move was one that has made tax administration difficult and revenue loss significant. Guyana now stands to be one of the leading countries with massive overlay of tax exemptions and remissions. Tax advisors are calling for a major reduction in the incidence of tax holidays. Speaking to the genesis of the former regime’s actions, the Tax Reform Commission which was established by the Granger administration said that between 2009 and 2013, two comprehensive studies on Guyana’s tax system and its administration were conducted. They opined that fundamental reform measures were proposed in both of these studies but the recommendations were not implemented. Instead, in 2011, the PPP Government undertook major tax policy reversals when the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act of 2003 was amended to introduce more exemptions and remissions into the tax system. The Commission members said that countries have generally been slow to roll back tax incentives, partly because it has been very difficult to determine whether the incentives are having the desired effect or not, in the absence of data that would facilitate serious research and investigation. The advisors said, however, that a consensus has been slowly emerging that outside of, for example, light manufacturing activities
GRA Boss, Godfrey Statia
NICIL Chairman, Dr. Maurice Odle and internet-based call center backroom services, tax incentives are not very effective in attracting foreign investment and merely result in a “race to the bottom”. The Commission also highlighted the strong views held by the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and other international institutions that countries such as Guyana, should focus more on the classical determinants of investment that are possibly within their control, along with other factors that facilitate ‘doing business’ and rely less on tax incentives. Besides size and factor resource endowment, the international organizations believe that determinants of investment should include consistent and stable macroeconomic and fiscal policy; political stability; adequate physical, financial, legal and institutional infrastructure; effective, transparent and accountable public administration; skilled labour force and flexible labour code governing employer and employee relations; availability of adequate dispute resolution mechanisms; and foreign Continued on page 69
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“We have to meet people’s demands” - Education Minister weighs in on UG’s problems
Bruce Haynes, President of the University of Guyana Workers’ Union (UGWU) Staff Unions of the University of Guyana have been in a constant battle to have the salaries of the institution’s workers, increased. Weighing in on this plight, Education Minister, Dr. Rupert Roopnarine said, “We have to meet people’s demands.” In an interview with Kaieteur News, the Minister noted, “We need to ensure that we have satisfied workers.” But the Minister’s good intentions reflect a different reality from what is being painted by the UG administration. Vice Chancellor of the tertiary institution, Professor Ivelaw Griffith, has been complaining of a financial shortfall. He has given this as the reason behind the 35 percent hike in tuition fees, as well as the delay in the negotiations for staff salaries. Reminded of Professor Griffith’s concerns, Minister Roopnarine informed that he will be making a special effort to engage the Ministry of Finance to work out increased subventions for the University. “This is where we have to go,” Roopnarine said. The unions representing employees of the University of Guyana met with members of the institution’s administration last week, following an intervention by the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC). While no decision was taken in relation to the salary increases being demanded by workers, the unions are moving to craft a proposal,
Education Minister, Dr. Rupert Roopnarine intended to guard them against being omitted from discussions relating to salaries. This was according to Bruce Haynes, President of the University of Guyana Workers’ Union (UGWU). “The proposal that we are going to present to the (UG administration) is going to be futuristic,” Haynes said. The union representative has often decried the conditions under which employees of the university are forced to work. “In addition to the wages and salaries, the proposal will also highlight issues relating to conditions of employment. The inadequate environment in which persons are forced to work and so on,” Haynes said. He noted, too, that they often omitted exercise of job evaluation which is also a component of the proposal. Dr. Jewel Thomas, President of the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association indicated on Tuesday, that the university’s administration has been blaming the shortfall in Government subventions, for its “inability” to raise salaries. Dr. Thomas rejected the argument that staffers can only be afforded an increase in pay, if students of the university pay the proposed 35 percent fee hike. “We do not back that argument at all. We do not need to be put against the students…We are not going to say that students have to pay an increased tuition in order for us to get proper pay,” Dr. Thomas asserted. She is of the firm belief that decent salary increases for UG staff can be facilitated with the very subvention approved by the government. “(The UG administration) can look after us from what the government has allocated, Dr. Thomas argued. (Rehana Ahamad)
Sunday April 02, 2017
Kaieteur News
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UG Council approves 35 percent... From page 9 convince students to pay the increases, when we ourselves have not even seen the university’s priorities. We haven’t seen the budget. We don’t know how they plan to spend the money. They have conducted this process by hugging all the information to themselves,” Dr. Thomas told Kaieteur News recently. In addition to being disappointed with the actual increase in fees, Glasgow is also annoyed at the way these are being applied. “Under the past UGSS administration, a five percent increase was agreed to. Even
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
Sunday April 02, 2017
Kaieteur News
if they are going to go ahead with the hike, the five percent would’ve been best,” Glasgow said. The student body has been coming under fire from students on social media. Many are of the opinion that the UGSS has taken a stance that makes it seem gullible. “It sets a dangerous precedence for the student movement at UG. They are basically telling us to roll over and accept the increases, because council has decided it. But we know that in the past, decisions were halted as a result of students’ activism,” Marketing student, Romel Roopnarine pointed out. In a statement issued on Facebook, Public Relations Officer of UGSS, Christina Basil, said that the decision was made following a seven and a half hour-long Council
meeting. “UGSS President, Mr. Glasgow, was presented with the actual UG Budget, which shows that we were operating at a projected deficit,” the statement said. The post sought to assure students that UGSS “did not go down without a fight.” “Comrades, we are cognizant of the economic hardships faced by majority of our students. The UGSS, as promised, will be aggressive with the UG Admin, with respect to accountability and transparency of all monies spent. “We are asking the students to stand behind us so we can continue our fight for better standards, better services, and better facilities across campus.” (Rehana Ahamad)
Murder or accidental death? Investigators to seek DPP’s advice on way forward in pensioner’s demise Investigators are preparing a file to send to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for advice on the way forward in the case of 69-year-old Wilfred Bacchus, whose body was found in a trench at Coghlan Dam, Pourderoyen, West Bank Demerara (WBD) on March 6, last. Initially, Bacchus’s death was being treated as a case of drowning but it became a murder investigation when a Post Mortem (PM) examination revealed that he died as a result of haemorrhage which is consistent with a fall or being struck in the dead with a heavy object. After almost a month, investigators have failed to pinpoint anyone to the murder since neighbours and relatives have claimed that the pensioner was someone who was once loved by villagers and had no issue with anyone in the village. Bacchus’s wife, Rosalyn Singh and children have refused to accept the fact that their loved one was murdered even as the PM showed that he did not drown. They are holding out that the 69-yearold man fell into the trench and drowned. However, one of the victim’s siblings, is pushing investigators to question his relatives, the persons who refused to accept that he was murdered since one of them said that the pensioner had problems at home—serious
Dead: Wilfred Bacchus issues. “This man is saying that his brother was murdered and his (deceased) family is saying that they had no issue and that no one killed him but according to the PM, he might have been struck in the head with a heavy object,” one of the investigators revealed. He said that they have questioned everyone who lived with the pensioner at Lot 38 Coghlan Dam and their story checked out. “The only thing left for us to do is to question some boys who steal in the area but what we are looking at is that this man had nothing on him that anyone could have stolen and if you are from the area, you would know that,” the rank said. Kaieteur News was informed that the pensioner’s body was found a few hours after he left his home to guard a house now being constructed not far from his home. He was under the
influence of alcohol when he left to go to work. The man’s son-in-law, Asgar Ali, said that he was heading to work and decided to call out for the pensioner but got no response. “I went in the yard and look for him because normally when I pass around four in the morning and call, he does answer,” Ali said. He further explained that he went back home and informed his family that he did not see Bacchus at the premises. “Everybody went back and searched, and then we went and report it (the man missing). When the police come, we went in the trench and search and we found his body,” Ali noted. He added that there was blood on Bacchus’ head and hands but they never thought that someone had killed him. “No one heard anything, so we don’t know what happen with him and this area is very quiet,” a neighbour said. The victim’s wife said that her husband had been imbibing the night before he died. “I beg him not to go to work, but he insisted that he had to go.” The woman said that her husband was a quiet individual who had no problem with anyone in the area. “He goes his way straight and come his way straight,” Singh said. She noted that they were all shocked when they were informed that he had been killed.
Sunday April 02, 2017
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Success of paediatric surgeries dependent on post-operative care – Dr. Soto - local paediatricians being trained to take up slack By Sharmain Grainger Without follow-up care a patient’s recovery could hang in the balance. It is for this reason that deliberate efforts are being made to train paediatric doctors attached to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to be suitably qualified to render follow-up care to paediatric cardiac patients. This move will essentially complement measures that have already been implemented to advance paediatric cardiac care at the premier public health institution. The Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Public Health and the GPHC, has for the past two years been collaborating with the International Children’s Heart Foundation, better known as the Baby Heart Foundation, which has been offering its expertise here. In fact, the Foundation has been offering similar support to a number of countries across the globe. The Foundation, which is driven by donor and volunteer support, has to date conducted more than 7,000 paediatric surgeries globally. Scores of these surgeries have been con-
ducted at the GPHC as a result of the strategic collaboration. According to the Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer of Clinical Operations, Dr. Rodrigo Soto, since commencing surgeries in Guyana, there has been a two percent mortality rate. “In general terms it is important for the community to know this programme has a mortality of only two percent in two years,” said Dr. Soto. He continued by making reference to the fact that even in a developed country like the United States with a similar patient cohort, the mortality rate is three percent. Over in Europe, he informed that the mortality rate is some five percent. “So at the moment we have had even better results...so we are extremely happy about this. People need to know if they bring their children here [GPHC] they are in good hands and we will really take care of them,” said Dr. Soto. For some time, measures have been implemented at the GPHC to help advance its paediatric cardiac care. But according to Dr. Soto, the suc-
Dr. Rodrigo Soto. cess of such cases is dependent on post-operative care. But although this aspect of paediatric care is viewed as especially important, Dr. Soto, during an interview with this publication, took into consideration that there currently does not exist a formal programme in Guyana to train intensivists. An intensivist, also known as a critical care physician, is a medical doctor with special training and experience in treating critically ill patients. An intensivist completes a fellowship in critical
The Baccoo Speaks There is another bank fraud that will be uncovered at another commercial bank. A staff member would be browsing through some lesser used accounts and would proceed to make withdrawals from them. As fate would have it, one of the holders would turn up from overseas to check the account and would discover the withdrawals. ** A home intruder is going
to be surprised when he encounters the homeowner in
rather surprising circumstances. The homeowner would be armed with a cutlass which he would not hesitate to use. ** A road accident is never far away. A young driver is going to lose control of his vehicle and crash into a stationary object with fatal consequences. Such accidents always leave heavy expenses, so this one would be no different.
care medicine after finishing a residency in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine, anaesthesia or surgery. In order to ensure that local capacity is built to cater to the paediatric cardiac care, Dr. Soto disclosed that the Baby Heart Foundation is currently working with five paediatricians. “We are training them in order to take care of the intensive care,”said Dr. Soto as he added, “the post-op care with cardiac patients is probably one of the most complex in intensive care, so if we teach the physicians and nurses [too] to take care of their patients, you are sure that they will be able to take care of any other sick kid coming to the hospital.” Moreover, he noted that with the advanced capacity, the GPHC will have personnel who not only have the ability to care for paediatric
heart patients, but any paediatric patient for that matter. Dr. Soto observed that at the moment, there is not an exclusive paediatric intensive care unit [ICU] in the country, since the intensive care at the hospital caters to both adults and children, which is not good. “So I think one of the main challenges is to train people capable of taking care of intensive care - nurses and physicians. You can do a beautiful surgery, but if the patient is not well looked after [following] surgery, you may lose the patient,” said Dr. Soto, as he reiterated the importance of post-operative care. The Baby Heart Foundation has over the years catered to children with congenital heart disease, which is regarded as the most common global birth defect. According to information shared by the Foundation,
“one percent of the world’s population is born with heart disease…many congenital heart defects can be repaired with just one surgical intervention, while others require staged repairs”. The Foundation has been lending its support to countries with limited to no capacity to address congenital heart defects. In many of these countries these heart defects go undetected or are diagnosed too late. In its quest to address this “unfortunate situation,” the Foundation has embraced a three-fold approach: providing direct care to as many children as possible in the short term; sending medications, surgical supplies and diagnostic equipment to medical facilities in developing countries, and training surgeons and medical staff so they can ultimately provide care for their own people.
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Sunday April 02, 2017
Kaieteur News
THE MONICA REECE MURDER MYSTERY As another Good Friday approaches, Kaieteur News takes another look at one of the nation’s most sensational unsolved murders By Michael Jordan I guess you want to know why I am dredging up a story about a woman who was killed and dumped in Main Street, 24 years ago. I can hear you saying that there are worse horror stories, and you can list them too…‘Gurple’ beheaded in Agricola…two motorcyclists shot and burned to death in Albouystown…the chap that hit-man Axel Williams and his crew chased through the National Cultural Centre and executed on the tarmac. And you would be right. Because if Monica Reece had been killed between 2002 and 2008, her passing, I reckon, would have been a one-week media story. So maybe I am bothering with Monica Reece because someone who feels they are above the law took it into their head to carry out this act on Good Friday. Maybe it’s because of this, that this is one of those cases that stick in your head. Maybe it’s because I feel, like many policemen of high and low rank, that this case should have been solved, and I can’t shake the feeling that her killer is out there laughing at all of us and saying: Look what I did on a public street and you can’t touch me. So sit back. I am going to tell you all I know about this case, giving you information
The spot where Monica Reece was dumped 15 years ago.
that was never released before. I will tell you how close the cops came to holding the killer. I will tell you how the case got screwed up by the police, and maybe by the press also. I will tell you about the suspects, stopping short of naming them. Then I will leave you to form your own conclusions. I was a freelancer at the Chronicle back then on April 9, 1993, when police informed the media that someone had killed a 19year-old female security guard named Monica Reece, and had thrown her
body out of a pickup on Main Street, in the vicinity of where Geddes Grant used to be, and where the Courts main branch is presently. The story fell into the hands of another senior journalist at the Chronicle. Because of the break for the Good Friday holiday, the story did not appear until Sunday in the Stabroek News and the Chronicle Neither of those dailies carried it as a headline story. Stabroek News, I think, carried it on their back page. There were no pictures
of the victim. Back then, reporters didn’t rush to people’s homes begging for photographs. All of that would change after the Monica Reece case. There was something sickening about this bodydumping story and I was somewhat surprised at the offhand way that it was being treated in the media. I decided to try to find out more. First, I went to the Brickdam Police Station, where a detective told me that they had a description of the pickup from which Reece was thrown. I then went to Main Street where the guys who sell their sculptures and other craft hang out. One of the chaps claimed that he was around when the 4×4 vehicle passed. Then he gave me a partial number. ”How did you observe that?” I asked. “Old police,” he replied, meaning that he was an excop. I also learned that a cousin of Reece’s had written down the telephone number of a man who had called her on Good Friday (later– bad break). I then went to CID Headquarters, Eve Leary.
Monica Reece A Homicide Division rank informed me that they had a suspect in custody and I spotted a dark-coloured pickup in the compound. I jotted the number down and returned to the Chronicle. I told Chief Photographer Mike Norville what I had. “Why you don’t try the Licence and Revenue Office?” he said. I called, giving them the number of the vehicle in the CID compound. A male staffer readily gave me the name of the vehicle owner. I turned to Mike Norville, stunned. ”Is —–vehicle,” I said. But I wanted more. I can’t recall who told me that ace Ray Rahaman was in Main Street on Good Friday night and had spotted the pickup. Mr. Rahaman readily confirmed this information.
He hadn’t seen Reece’s body being thrown out, and told me that he had at first thought that it was a hit-andrun driver. He attempted to pursue the driver, who was heading north down the western carriageway of Main Street. A c c o r d i n g t o M r. Rahaman, he tried to pursue the driver, but the man managed to escape before he could catch up. Rahaman said that he was too far behind to identify the occupant or the vehicle. I then went to the East Street residence where Monica Reece’s mother lived. Shirley Reece, her mother, readily supplied me with what information she had. She also gave me a photograph of a fair-complexioned girl, with a hand on one hip as she smiled into the camera. It was the first picture that the public would see of Monica Reece. I published the s t o r y with the satisfaction that a journalist feels when he knows that he has left his competition in the dust. I felt that it was only a matter of days before the Police Commissioner would announce that the case had been solved. I anticipated that Reece’s killer would appear in court and that his photograph would be splashed over the newspapers. I have never been so wrong… (To be continued)
Sunday April 02, 2017
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Kaieteur News
President Granger on Integrity: Part 2 This is the conclusion of my last Sunday column, in which I looked at President Granger’s requirement of the possession of integrity for the next GECOM chairman. I examined the philosophical question of moral values that underpin integrity of character and asked the question; that based on what the philosophers defined moral values as, can it be found in the Granger Cabinet. Today I undertake that specific examination. The consensus among philosophers, no matter how large is the difference between them, is that moral values have to carry obligation to others. This is where Machiavelli is not given credit. A closer examination of his seminal work, ‘The Prince’, would reveal that he prescribed certain obligations on the invader, one of which is the respect for the wives of the conquered. It is difficult to find consistent obligation to nation and citizens by the Granger Government, and there is a particular act of moral violation by the
president himself. I know this because I was involved in a direct incident with the President in which he refused his moral obligation to me. He even refused to apologize to me when I pointed out that he was blatantly wrong. Could this be an example of lack of integrity in the President himself? I find the episode so egregious that I believe it needs to be ventilated. I will repeat it again in these columns. At the first press conference that he held as the leader of the AFC in February, Raphael Trotman spent a few minutes explaining to the press that President Granger, outside of the requirements of the Cummingsburg Accord, was generous to the AFC by selecting on his own, three AFC leaders to be Ministers. Trotman named the three as the President’s own sonin-law, he, Trotman, and the Minister of Agriculture. Trotman went on to explain to the media that the portfolio of the business ministry of
the President’s son-in-law was not catered for in the Cummingsburg Accord. He ended the discussion by exclaiming; “we are the three extras.” The next day, Denis Chabrol reported on that very statement of Trotman. Media houses have the tape. I have the tape. I did a column and reported on what Trotman said after listening to the tape umpteen times. Enter President Granger. The Office of the President issued a press release and accused me of mischief by attributing the politics of patrimony to Mr. Granger, by saying that he gave his son-in-law a Cabinet post. Trotman said the president made his son-in-law a Minister, Chabrol reported those exact words yet when I repeated that, President Granger accused me of mischief. I wrote another column requesting the President and Minister Harmon to apologize to me, pointing out that the information is not false
and was not invented by me. It was never done. Now against this background, am I not right to question President Granger’s possession of integrity? Let’s look at the presence of integrity in the Granger Cabinet. The Government’s Director of Public Information, Imran Khan, who sits in the AFC’s executive, was running wild with a draft of a press release, showing it to the AFC leaders and shouting; “let’s reply to Freddie Kissoon.” Now mind you; reply not to Raphael Trotman or Denis Chabrol, but Freddie Kissoon. The press release stated that the AFC refutes the assertion made by me. I’m accused of an assertion I never made and the AFC knows that what it has accused me of is what its leader said. This is the government
that is demanding that the next GECOM chairman must possess integrity. I am absolutely sure that despite demands to define integrity, no minister or the President or Prime Minister is going to do so. Mr. Granger does not hold open press conferences (he has only kept one since he became President), so I cannot be there to question him on what Trotman, not Freddie Kissoon said. I will meet Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and ask him, as the advisor and elder statesman of the AFC, if this is the way he wants to shape a legacy, by his party openly and shamelessly lying on a newspaper columnist. But let’s get back to integrity. What is it? Whatever it is, it cannot involve leaders barefacedly lying on patriotic citizens of their country. The
Frederick Kissoon tragic thing about this repugnant and immoral situation is that integrity was one of the great themes of the 2015 election campaign, in which the populace was told to vote for the APNU+AFC coalition because they are the good guys with integrity and the PPP boys when in government had none. The populace believed them. The rest is history.
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Sunday April 02, 2017
Kaieteur News
We have a responsibility to turn the negatives upside down By Devin Sears General Secretary, Youths for Change The opportunities and challenges that present themselves to youths in a country like Guyana are enormous. Young people stand at the intersection of current trends that include relatively high levels of unemployment, uneven educational opportunities and the accompanying ‘pressures’ to play the various roles required of us. We are the change makers, and we have the ability to influence the development of our youth in business, education, community development, sports and culture. We have the wherewithal to push Guyana into the global spotlight. More than ever before we need to ramp up youth collaboration, scale up support and the delivery of quality programmes with and for young people. This is critical
in ensuring that our voices, our priorities and needs remain on the table in a most constructive way. The Youths for Change group since it was established in 2006 has been working tirelessly to represent the needs and wants of Guyana’s youths. Our organization was created to champion the causes of young people all over Guyana, in partnership with the alliance for change. One other key role is to fashion appropriate responses that find solutions for the flaws and inequalities in communities and governance which were perpetuated during the previous administration. YFC since its inception has been partnering with NGOs to help tailor social and economic solutions and creative approaches that empower youths particularly in remote areas. Young people in Guyana,
Youths for Change 2017 Executives and Members with Leader of the Alliance for Change, Raphael Trotman, Minister of Natural Resources (3rd left) as everywhere else, are challenged to look above and beyond the status quo. We have very active imaginations. We have a responsibility to turn the negatives upside down, make them become positive
drivers and creators of events and circumstances that chart different courses veering towards full restoration of our national pride. That is when we begin to see ourselves as the drivers and implementers as well as the beneficiaries. The Youths for Change Group, in conjunction with all stakeholders, has the unique opportunity to foster (in the truest sense) a new generation equipped with the skills to lead, to shape the future of our country as partner decision-makers, and implementers of developmental goals. Simultaneously, we are also responsible for continuously holding our leaders to account. The wellbeing of Guyana’s youth depends on progressive and inclusive developmental programmes that should improve social and economic circumstances for all Guyanese, while it contributes to the national economy. The current Youths for Change executive committee was elected in March 2017.
Our trajectory encompasses the priorities and demands that have been brought to the table by the youths from almost every region in Guyana. We provide the Clearing House; where young people could lay out their opinions on the future of Guyana and proffer suggestions and proposals for implementation. YFC provides a platform for youths to express their views on crucial issues including education, employment, health, environmental protection and the myriad issues, big and small, that make up the mosaic of this colourful nation. Guyana’s youth are demanding that practical steps be taken to tackle youth unemployment. We have highlighted deficiencies in the education system and are calling on the government and our stakeholders to keep on implementing new ideas to address the shortcomings. YFC has also made recommendations in relation to health education and services, e.g. to implement more active sexual and reproduc-
tive health services at regional hospitals, community clinics and health centres. We would like to see the curricula at ‘Tech/Voc’ institutions drastically altered so as to graduate students with skills to work in the imminent oil and gas industry – either directly, or at the Crab Island Supply facility, or in the downstream businesses as employees or in their own enterprises. YFC, in an effort to help alleviate some of the difficulties faced by young people in the sports and arts industries, has d r a w n u p a number of practical steps to work around these issues, especially those that concern youths with disabilities. Gender equality is another issue of paramount importance to Guyana’s youth today. Though this is a global issue, YFC intends to play as big a role as we can in this country to bring to life our vision for a truly equal Guyanese society where women of any age would enjoy equal pay, adequate protection from violence, and an equally loud voice in governmental and other matters. It is intended that this youth movement will inform and influence Guyana’s government and stakeholders of young people’s priorities and demands, while we remain fully cognizant of our own civic responsibilities, i.e. developing the combination of knowledge, skills, high values and motivation to make that difference. It means “promoting quality of life issues in communities through both political and non-political processes” (Erlich, 2000). It involves civic engagements – political and environmental activism, and community and national service (Michelson et al, 2002).
Sunday April 02, 2017
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Kaieteur News
My column
Corruption thrives in the face of weakness This week a woman walked into my office to complain that the people at Money Gram were asking her too many questions before they give her some money sent from overseas. She said that she considered the questions to be too invasive and that she did not like the idea. The questions ranged from her address to what she proposed to do with the money. She then said something interesting. She wanted to know if the Federal Bureau of Investigation was aware of these happenings in Guyana. I tried to explain that the anti-money laundering regulations demand these things. Indeed, I got to thinking that the person sending the money would have been the person to be asked questions. The sender would be required to provide the name of the receiver. Of course the messenger could not ask the sender the reason for sending the money. I suspect that is why that question is left to the receiver. The woman was not happy to disclose her address, since
she feared a visit from unwanted persons. The upshot of it all is that I called the company and learned that the questions became mandatory from February 1. I then turned to the woman and said that if someone asked her to state the reason for the money she could give any. She could say that she wanted to repair something or that she wanted to buy something. Indeed, Guyana has the reputation as a drug transshipment point hence the global police keep looking at the earnings from the sale of illegal drugs. They then set about trying to corral the money hence the various questions when there are money transfers. Guyana made the news on a number of occasions. One was when the owner of a private jet was held with a quantity of cash. Later he was arrested for cocaine transactions. We then had a doctor who was also coming with a quantity of cash believed to have been procured by illegal means. Not so long ago remittances to Guyana totaled more than US$400 million an-
nually. The word is that these remittances are down. The result is that people complain about a shortage of foreign currency. Yet, when the going was so good and all this money was being transferred to Guyana, the exchange rate still climbed. Between 1992 and 2015 the exchange rate moved from $125 to the United States dollar to $206 to the dollar. Some say that business has slowed and this may be true, because illegality is being tackled. The Ministry of Health remains one of the greatest sources of illegal money. Pharmaceuticals are bought with billions of dollars, but there seems to be a perennial shortage in the public institutions. It has now been found that nearly every employee that has access to the pharmaceuticals siphon off large amounts. The doctors fund their private clinics at the expense of the taxpayers. Pharmacies also enjoy those supplies. Last week I read that a shipment of drugs sent to the Suddie Hospital disappeared. The drug shortage continued at the hospital
and the government was being blamed. There is still no word of prosecutions. People in the health sector are of the view that if the culprits are prosecuted then the government would have to build another jail. In fact, there may not be enough people to staff the various hospitals and clinics. This situation had to be existing for a very long time, but the public was unaware. With the clampdown it is not surprising that the business community is shouting how business is bad. The illegal flow is drying up. I remember the days when every young person joining the Guyana Police Force wanted a job as a traffic rank. There was money to be made on the road because there are so many lawless road users and, rather than face the courts, they simply pay the detaining rank. The police seem to have got a grip on this situation. There were the illegal roadblocks that became cash cows. That too has been curtailed, but as fate would have it, the criminals in the force would seek other ways of making money. I hear that they are shaking
down drug pushers. Suffice it to say that there is a lot of money around. What is happening is that there is hoarding of foreign currency and the reason is simple. If there is hoarding then eventually an artificial shortage would be created and the exchange rate would climb. The hoarder would then release some of his money and make a handsome profit. There are clever people out there, but elsewhere there are not so clever people. Or so it seems. There is this matter that should never have left the confines of the court. The judge is the head of his court; he is all powerful within those walls. I now read that a judge contends that a lawyer appearing before him was in contempt but rather than dealing with the matter, the judge goes to the Chancellor. This is similar to the case of a boy running to his mother to complain, “Mommy, this boy knock me.� For writing something
Adam Harris critical of a judge I was once hauled before the court and tried for contempt. I narrowly missed being jailed. Had I been in this other judge’s court I would have been spending time inside the prisons. The judiciary needs to be strong if there is to law and order in this country. It must protect itself. However, I must now await the outcome of a matter that should have been dealt with. I should have been writing a different story.
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Sunday April 02, 2017
Kaieteur News
Investment, infrastructure and information (Excerpts from His Excellency Brigadier David Granger’s address to the Opening Ceremony of the Linden Trade and Investment Fair 2017) Once upon a time just two years ago, I stood on the bank of the Berbice River at the Village of Calcuni. I gazed in amazement at the slow-moving barges of bauxite and the lofty pontoons of lumber moving northwards to other countries. It looked like an ancient landscape painting from 1916, n0t 2016. The Region’s reliance on the extractive industries is legendary. The time has come to move forward, however, from digging, cutting and fetching. The time has come to add value and to create new products. The Region needs to unlock and unleash its full potential. It needs to combine its abundant natural
resources with its human talent and financial capital…. There has to be change. We cannot expect to become rich by repeating the practices which have kept us poor and hoping that things will improve. TOWN AND REGION Linden is the capital town of the Upper DemeraraBerbice Region – a sprawling area of 17,040 km2 which is larger than Jamaica and three times the size of Trinidad and Tobago. The Region is strategically located. It not only occupies 12 per cent of the country’s landspace, but its borders touch seven other regions. It is the gateway to the hinterland and to Brazil and the rest of the Continent of South America. It straddles the country’s three major rivers – Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice. It is a critical link
with the rest of the country. Linden must leverage its strategic location to attract greater investment and boost business development. Linden must become an example of the role which capital towns must play in the development of regions. Linden must drive the economic development of this sprawling and promising Region. Linden cannot develop in isolation from the Region in which it is located. Its future and economic fortunes are intertwined with, and can benefit most from, the resources of the entire Region and not merely from the town itself. The prospects for the development of business, commerce and industry in Linden are linked to the wider development of the region and the country. Linden’s will develop faster, it will progress further and its future will be richer, if
it looks beyond the town’s limited boundaries. It must envisage its role on a Regional, rather than a municipal, scale. Linden must lead. It must show the entire Region the way towards becoming a significant commercial and industrial centre. It must leverage its status as a capital town and as a strategic location of the Region and its stocks of natural resources and its store of entrepreneurial talent. This Region has several advantages. It possesses its own aerodrome, banks, courts, fire and police stations, NIS office and other utilities and services. The Region is rich in agricultural lands which can contribute to food security. Its forests, flora, savannahs, waterways and wildlife all have the potential for eco-tourism. This Region can create a
strong industrial base. The Region has been the heartland of bauxite mining for a century and has been a beneficiary of an industry that attracted and trained engineers, electricians, geochemists, geologists, machinists, mechanics, surveyors, technicians and welders among a range of skilled personnel. Linden has entrepreneurs who seek opportunities to establish industries and to develop business. It has skilled and talented residents who can constitute the labour force of new industries and services. Initiatives such as the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) have the potential to unlock the latent inventiveness of its people. Linden must fulfil its mission as a capital town by becoming a commercial and services centre. Linden must lead the Region to realise its potential to become the country’s industrial heartland. Linden can drive the development of the Region in three ways: Information technology: Information and information technology are the windows of business opportunities. Information is vital to ensuring sound business decisions. Businesses need information about markets, products and resources. Information technology is the vehicle for accessing, communicating and storing that information, so as to inform business decisions. Business development in Linden must be informed by information and information technology. Effective communication increases the volume and rapidity of economic transactions. It is supportive of businesses and economic diversification. Investments: Linden needs increased economic activity to create jobs, generate wealth and reduce poverty. Investments are needed to stimulate this increased economic activity. The Linden Trade and Investment Fair is an opportunity for Linden to showcase the investment potential and opportunities. It is a chance for existing business in Linden to partner with
other companies outside of this region, so as to secure greater opportunities. It is an opportunity to attract the huge Linden diaspora in North America to invest its financial capital and its human talent. This Fair can sell the Region as an attractive destination for investment. Incentives contribute to an enabling environment for investment. Your government is willing to examine the introduction of an incentive regime to stimulate specific types of economic activity to this region in accordance with its Plan of Action for Regional Development (PARD) – one which aims to add value to the region’s natural resources and which includes the manufacturing, ec0- tourism and renewable energy generation sectors. Investment in micro- and small enterprises is needed to develop this Region’s commercial, industrial and services sector. Your government recognises the potential of micro- and small enterprises, including cottage industries, in reducing employment and in lifting people out of poverty. It is for this reason that we have resurrected the Linden Enterprise Network. INFRASTRUCTURE: The inadequacies of infrastructure are impediments to increasing production. Infrastructure can unlock the economic potential of individuals and groups with society. It opens previously inaccessible resources for exploitation. Infrastructure correlates positively with increased competitiveness. It reduces the cost and time of getting goods from farms and industries to markets. Your government would like to see the improvement of the East-West corridor – from Kwakwani to Ituni, Linden, Mabura and, eventually all the way to Lethem. These factors – information, investment and infrastructure – form the bases on which to build the Region’s development. Linden’s business sector must lead the process of developing the economy of the entire region.
Sunday April 02, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Osteoporosis: The bone-breaking disorder By Dr Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine I have recently had to experience my aunt who has osteoporosis, break her hip from a simple fall. Given her age, there wasn’t much we could do. Her life was restricted to being in bed and unfortunately, we lost her. I would not wish for this turmoil to afflict any elderly person or anyone who has osteoporosis. Today we will talk about this silent condition so that we may prevent another broken bone or another lost life. WHATIS OSTEOPOROSIS? Osteoporosis is a disease that makes your bones weak. People with the disease can break their bones too easily. For instance, people with osteoporosis sometimes break a bone after falling down at home. Breaking a bone can be serious, especially if the bone is in the hip. People who break a hip sometimes lose the ability to walk on their own. Many of them end up in a nursing home. That’s why it is so important to avoid breaking a bone in the first place. WHATARESOMERISK FACTORS FOR OSTEOPOROSIS? · Age. After maximum bone density and strength is reached
(generally around age 30), bone mass begins to decline naturally with age. · Gender. Women over the age of 50 have the greatest risk of developing osteoporosis. In fact, women are four times more likely than men to develop it. Women’s lighter, thinner bones and longer life spans are part of the reason they have a higher risk. · Ethnicity. Research has shown that Caucasian and Asian women are more likely to develop osteoporosis. Additionally, hip fractures are twice as likely to occur in Caucasian women as in African women. · Bone structure and body weight. Petite and thin women have a greater risk of developing osteoporosis. One reason is that they have less bone to lose than women with more body weight and larger frames. Similarly, smallboned, thin men are at greater risk than men with larger frames and more body weight. · Family history. Heredity is one of the most important risk factors for osteoporosis. If your parents or grandparents have had any signs of osteoporosis, such as a fractured hip after a minor fall, you may be at greater risk of developing the disease. · Prior history of broken bones. · Cigarette smoking. Smoking puts you at higher risk of
having osteoporosis and fractures. · Alcohol. Heavy alcohol use can lead to thinning of the bones and increase your risk of fracture. · Certain Diseases. Some diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis increase the risk for osteoporosis. · Certain medications. The use of some medications - for example, the long term use of steroids such as prednisone - can also increase your risk of developing osteoporosis. HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE OSTEOPOROSIS? Osteoporosis does not cause symptoms until you break a bone. But your doctor or nurse can have you tested for it. The best test is a bone density test called the “DXA test.” It is a special kind of X-ray. Experts recommend bone density testing for women older than 65. That is because women in this age group have the highest risk of osteoporosis. Still, other people should sometimes be tested, too. Ask your doctor or nurse if you should be tested. Some people learn that they have osteoporosis because they break a bone during a fall or a mild impact. This is called a “fragility fracture,” because people with healthy bones should not break a
bone that easily. People who have fragility fractures are at high risk of having other bones break. WHAT CAN I DO TO KEEP MY BONES AS HEALTHY AS POSSIBLE? You can: * Eat foods with a lot of calcium, such as milk, yogurt, and green leafy vegetables * Eat foods with a lot of vitamin D, such as milk that has vitamin D added, and fish from the ocean * Take calcium and vitamin D pills (if you do not get enough from the food that you eat) * Be active for at least 30 minutes, most days of the week * Avoid smoking * Limit the amount of alcohol you drink * Do your best to keep from falling. It sounds simple, but you can prevent a lot of fractures by reducing the chances of a fall. To do that: * Make sure all your rugs have a no-slip backing to keep them in place * Tuck away any electrical
cords, so they are not in your way * Light all walkways well * Watch out for slippery floors *Wear sturdy, comfortable shoes with rubber soles * Have your eyes checked * Ask your doctor to check whether any of your medicines might make you dizzy or increase your risk of falling CAN OSTEOPOROSIS BE TREATED? Yes, there are a few medicines to treat osteoporosis. These medicines can reduce the chances that you will break a bone. Doctors usually suggest trying medicines called bisphosphonates first. If those medicines are not sufficient or if they cause side effects that you cannot stand, there are other medicines to try. HOW WILL I KNOW THE TREATMENT IS WORKING? Doctors often order bone density tests to check if os-
Dr. Zulfikar Bux teoporosis medicines are working. These are the same tests they use to find osteoporosis in the first place. Sometimes a blood or urine test is also needed If you think you are at risk for osteoporosis, then get screened early to decrease your chances of breaking your bone(s) which can leave you incapacitated. I wish to dedicate this article to my old pal Ms Minie Balchand. You were my friend when there was none. Osteoporosis or not, you lived your life your way.
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Kaieteur News
SUNDAY SPECIAL TELECOMS LIBERALISATION WAR HEATS UP…GTT ACCUSES DIGICEL OF “ILLEGAL” SURINAME BYPASS; WANTS INDEPENDENTAUDIT As negotiations continue to liberalise the telecommunications sector to allow new players, USowned Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) is calling for an independent third party audit of what it says are “illegal” activities of Digicel. GTT last week Saturday(March 25), in one of its toughest statements yet, said that its call would come given recent developments and news accounts regarding “illegal activity” being conducted by Digicel. ”We believe it is time for action that gets to the bottom of this situation and finally provide transparency for everyone in Guyana,” GTT said.According to GTT, Digicel, a company that has a licence for mobile services, has been facilitating an “illegal, unlicensed trans-border link between Guyana and Suriname”. GTT said that there is no ambiguity about this bypass activity. In fact, the company said, in a demonstration of “remarkable arrogance and disregard for rule of law in Guyana”, Digicel itself has acknowledged the operation on several occasions. ”Just as recently as March 21, 2017, Digicel told the PUC (Public Utilities Commission) that its bypass operation was not appropriate for the discussion at hand, while never once denying any aspect of the operation. GTT said that it knows that this “bypass” is causing very real and very significant harm to our country – by one estimate, it has cost the country an “incredible” US$30M over the last five years. ”With liberalization on the horizon, the practice of equity and transparent conduct of all players is of paramount importance. It is essential that both the public and our leaders have the complete details about Digicel’s bypass operations, and
that they understand the full consequences of the company’s actions, which are illegal and in direct violation of their license.” GTT recommended that Government initiate an independent, third party audit, or, investigation into Digicel’s alleged activity. ”It appears that Digicel’s bypass operation has been active for more than five years. And over the last two years, GTT, and others who support a fair and competitive telecoms landscape, have called out this situation to various governmental agencies.” GTT said that over time, and especially more recently, it has been assured that the matter has the attention of the local regulatory authorities. “However, to ensure openness and forthright conduct, and to establish confidence that all interested parties are being treated fairly and equitably, the Guyanese people must know the complete details of the unauthorized cross-border link. ”While Digicel acknowledges the bypass activity, the company has never answered questions or provided any specific information – instead, it makes excuses or launches new and unfounded claims that are meant to distract the public and the media.” GTT pointed out that since as-
suming office, the government has pursued a number of audits to bring clarity to various aspects of the economy. ”Given the financial significance of an illegal bypass operation, it would certainly seem appropriate for a similar audit to take place here. `Secondly, we call for the public release of documentation that shows whether Digicel has made tax payments on the revenue generated by the illegal bypass operation. Given Digicel’s acknowledgement of its bypass activity, the public deserves to know – with conclusive evidence – if the company has paid its fair share of taxes on the tremendous revenues it has reaped from this activity.” GTT said that the operations of the alleged bypass have enormous consequences for Guyana’s treasury. “Based on extensive investigation into the magnitude of Digicel’s bypass activity, it has been estimated that the company should have paid US$30M or $7B to the Guyana treasury over the last five years. MONDAY EDITION DISPUTE OVER DIGICEL’S ‘ILLEGAL’SURINAME BYPASS…TELECOMS MINISTRY ASKS GT&T TO SHOW IT CAN DELIVER QUALITY DATA SERVICES The Ministry of Public Telecommunications has invited the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) to clearly demonstrate that it has the network capacity to ensure that the people of Guyana have access to quality data services. According to the government arm Tuesday, the request was done to guarantee that Guyanese would not be adversely affected by a discontinuance of a bypass link Digicel is accused of having to Suriname. GT&T in a statement on Saturday had accused its telecommunications counterpart, Digicel, of having an illegal, unlicensed trans-border link between Guyana and Suriname. GT&T said that it knows the bypass is causing very real and
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significant harm to Guyana, costing the country about US$30M over the last five years. However, according to the Ministry, its intention is to arrive at a resolution that will be in the best interest of the people of Guyana. The entity said that the claims made against Digicel have proven to be a complex matter, exacerbated by demands of the market for adequate voice and data services. The statement read, “Among the issues to be considered are whether GT&T has sufficient data capacity to meet the needs of the market and the degree of congestion of its network.” The Ministry stressed that its request of GT&T to show proof of its ability to properly serve the Guyanese people should not be interpreted as condoning the illegal activity. The government entity said that it recognises that in this age of such high dependence on telecommunications and the internet for the conduct of business, learning and many activities of life, it must be satisfied that there is adequate communications available for the people. ”While the Government is committed to ensuring that applicable licence terms and conditions are honoured, we must similarly ensure that relevant obligations in the licences that provide for adequate service are met, and also that the needs of the people are met.” ECONOMY IS SLOWLY BEING ‘CHOKED TO DEATH’BY GOVT.’S POLICIES – PPP The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is of the impression that the government’s policies are slowly choking the economy to death. In fact, it believes it is justified in making such a conclusion given the recent preliminary findings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which was in Guyana during March 6 to 17. The PPP said that the findings of the IMF validate the positions that it has articulated for months, including the perception that the local economy is in trouble. The IMF noted that Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
growth was uneven, buoyed by the new gold mines, while the non-mining sector saw a contraction in growth. In this regard, the Opposition Party said, “We have seen no plans by the Coalition government to stimulate growth; rather increased burdens on major sectors with a slew of tax measures and other policies that constrict their potential for growth.” Furthermore, the PPP highlighted the fact that the IMF projects real economic growth of 3.5 per cent driven by an increase in public investment and a recovery in rice production. In spite of this projection, the PPP said that the reality is that Guyanese are witnessing the continued deterioration of the rice sector’s performance. The Party said that two weeks ago one major rice operator, after 25 years, closed down his operations. In this regard, the PPP was referring to Alesie Rice Group. The Party said, “We are also witnessing massive underperformance by the government, relative to public investment. The IMF itself noted that Guyana saw ‘lower than budgeted public investment’ in 2016, which was a point that was made by the Opposition during the Budget 2017 debates.” It continued, “The IMF statement confirms that the Government slavishly followed the recommendations of CARTAC on extending the Value Added Tax (VAT) regime to crucial sectors, without regard to the social impact on Guyanese. The IMF noted that it welcomed the VAT ‘reform’ that was advanced. Additionally, the PPP said, “the increased borrowing by the Coalition government has also been a major point of concern, particularly over the last few months – with government inking multiple multi-billion dollar loan agreements – as many as five in one week, as we have seen recently.” TUESDAY EDITION BORDER CONTROVERSY…VENEZUELA TO REFUSE JURISDICTION OF INT’L COURT- REPORT With the United Nations making one last-ditch attempt to arrive at a solution over the Guyana and Venezuela controversy, it appears that the latter is not prepared to recognize the jurisdiction of International Court of Justice (ICJ). The matter could be handed over to the ICJ as early as next year if the Good Offices process that has been triggered by Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, fails to find a workable recourse by December 31. A scathing editorial in Venezuela’s El Nacional on Sunday last, has thrown light on that country’s game plan to tackle the issue. Headlined “Will all roads lead to The Hague?” the article said that (Contineud on page 33)
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(From page 32) Venezuela’s claim is in danger. ”That operation would be a triumph for Guyana, who always advocated going to the ICJ, and a setback for Venezuela, which for almost a century has consistently refused to submit its territory and boundary issues to courts and others,” the article said. Guterres, on February 27, named Norwegian lawyer and diplomat, Dag Nylander, as his Good Officer to Georgetown and Caracas to handle the controversy. Venezuela has also preferred this course. The article noted that the controversy would come at a time when US giant ExxonMobil confirmed oil discoveries on the continental shelf under Atlantic waters off the Essequibo. Venezuela seemed to be paying close attention in this regard. The report said that the Payara1 and Liza fields would contain more than one billion barrels of oil. “Analysts at Tudor, Holt, Pickering & Co. estimate up to 2 billion barrels, which, if valued at about US$50, could mean US$100 billion for Guyana in 20 years.” The article noted that the centre of analysis of the Venezuelan Council of International Relations (Covri) has stressed in a statement that “the Secretary-General of the UN has no competence to refer the dispute to the ICJ” and that the judicial settlement and arbitration methods should be excluded. It was noted that the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry has already advanced the arguments that it will refuse to go to the ICJ. Minister Delcy Rodriguez stressed that Venezuela “ratifies its commitment to the negotiated solution of this controversy.” For Eloy Torres, former ambassador and professor of international relations, it is a pointless discussion whether Venezuela is right or wrong. “We cannot recover the whole territory. We have to make an effort to recover an exit to the Atlantic and not be locked up: we are a country that exports oil and imports food. “ The article argued that it would be a good idea for Venezuela to refuse to submit to the jurisdiction of the ICJ. WEDNESDAY EDITION POLICE INVESTIGATE DRUGS FRAUD AT SUDDIE HOSPITAL -SUPPLIES DISAPPEARS DAYSAFTER DELIVERY The Guyana Police Force is investigating suspected fraudulent activities at the Suddie Public Hospital. This development follows a recent visit by a Ministerial Task Force to the Region Two hospital. According to information disseminated by the Public Health Ministry, when Task Force members visited the hospital on Monday the authorities there could not account for several items sent only
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last week Tuesday by the Materials Management Unit [MMU]. The missing items were not reported to the Regional Health Officer (RHO), the team notified the police. During the Task Force’s one-day visit to the Region Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam) health institution, several other irregularities were unearthed. In one instance, the pharmacist at the hospital could not have given account for several ampules of pethidine, codine and morphine. In another, the Dangerous Drugs Register wasn’t up-to-date. The last entry was made sometime in 2015. The team also found instances where the stock of narcotic drugs either could not be accounted for and the pharmacist had extra drugs that were still not recorded as prescribed under the law. A MMU staffer confirmed on Tuesday that 10 items on the list of drugs destined for the Suddie Hospital “either never arrived” or significantly less was received when compared to what was sent. For example, all 100 boxes of the drugs Simvastatin disappeared before arriving at the hospital. Each box contained 100 of the drugs. The official said, too, that “all 108 bottles of the Paracetamol suspension also vanished.” The MMU employee disclosed that 20 of the 1,000 Ampicillin 500Mg sent disappeared. The MMU senior official said that all 20,000 disposable gloves sent for the hospital were not accounted for. This discovery comes on the heels of other similar questionable discoveries at other public health facilities. PRESIDENT SWEARS IN ACTING CHANCELLOR, CHIEF JUSTICE During a ceremony at State House Tuesday, President David
Granger swore in Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire as acting Chancellor of the Judiciary and Chief Justice respectively. On behalf of the Executive branch of government, the President congratulated both women on their appointments to the two highest positions in Guyana’s judicial system. He said that the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana is the supreme law and that its provisions are mandatory. He said that Article 127 (2) of the Constitution prescribes, “If the office of Chancellor or Chief Justice is vacant or if the person holding the office of Chancellor is performing the functions of the office of President or is for any other reason unable to perform the functions of his or her office, or if the person holding the office of Chief Justice is for any reason unable to perform the functions of his or her office, then, until a person has been appointed to and has assumed the functions of such or until the person holding such office has resumed those functions, as the case may be, those functions shall be performed by such other of the Judges as shall be appointed by the President after meaningful consultation with the Leader of the Opposition.” Granger reiterated the fact that both positions of Chancellor and Chief Justice were vacant and after a satisfying consultation with Leader of the Opposition as required by the constitution, he decided to appoint the two Justices to act in the positions until such time that substantive office holders can be appointed in accordance with the Constitution. He said, “The offices of Chancellor and Chief Justice are the most senior of Guyana’s Judiciary. The appointment of persons to perform the functions of these offices is necessary to upholding the Constitution and for the administration of justice.” The President wished both Jus-
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tices every success in the discharge of their duties. He urged them to continue upholding the high tradition and standards of the offices of Chancellor and Chief Justice, the functions of which they’ll be performing in accordance with the oath they have sworn. Members of the legislative, executive and judicial arms of Government were urged by the President to continue showing respect for the country’s Constitution. THURSDAY EDITION JUDGE SAYS AG DISRESPECTFUL TO HIM IN COURT High Court Judge, Justice Franklin Holder, has described the utterances of Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams as disrespectful. Justice Holder’s contention was communicated to Justice Cummings-Edwards who is now performing the functions of Chancellor of the Judiciary. The incident is said to have occurred during last week Thursday’s court proceedings when the confidential secretary of Chairman of the Public Service Commission, Carvil Duncan faced questions regarding notification of the Prime Minister, towards the establishment of the tribunal to address the matter relating to his removal from the constitutional offices. According to an account given by the former Attorney General Anil Nandlall who is counsel for Duncan, the current AG had uttered words to Justice Holder which can be interpreted as a threat. Based on Justice Holder’s account seen by this newspaper, Williams would have asked the secretary a question to which he had recorded ‘yes’. This answer was soon changed following statements being made by the witness during cross examination about a specific docu-
ment. In addition Williams had indicated that he wished to admit that document into evidence. Justice Holder further recounted that Williams would have made statements suggesting that he did not believe the ‘yes’ was recorded. The Judge in his letter noted, “Mr Williams’ misconception of this part of the evidence, I then read aloud the record of the court in this regard. I further offered that he, may ask the witness the question again if he so desired, since the record showed that there was no answer to the questions. Mr Williams did not do so.” As the proceeding continued, Williams asked a question to which the confidential secretary had responded with a ‘no”. According to Justice Holder, Williams had then said that the ‘no’ should be recorded. “I then said to him that a record is being made that the witness did say “no…I then told Mr Williams that I took umbrage to his tone and what he was insinuating, which was in effect, that the court was being selective in recording the evidence.” COURT SHOCKED AS SEIZED FIREARM REPLACED WITH TOY GUN – SEVERALARRESTED AS OPR CALLED IN TO PROBE Imagine the shock when a policeman was called to identify a firearm in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday only to discover that the weapon he had carried out ballistic tests on in 2016 was replaced with a toy gun. This was the embarrassing situation that played out in Court Two and caused the Magistrate to immediately adjourn the matter and called for an investigation to be launched. Several ranks who would have had access to the weapon while it was lodged at the Brickdam Police Station have been arrested. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed (Continued on page 34)
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(From page 33) that the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) has launched an investigation. On October 8, last, 32-year-old Carl Carter was arrested and subsequently charged after he was found with a .38 revolver and four matching rounds while he was not the holder of a firearm licence at Palm Court on Main Street, Georgetown. The firearm was submitted to the Crime Laboratory and after examination, it was found to be a firearm by the expert, under the firearm Act, Chapter 16.05. One of the ranks who tested the weapon signed when he collected it from the Brickdam Police Station last year and signed when he returned it after tests were carried out. However, when the rank was called to identify the weapon on Tuesday during a court proceeding, it was revealed that it was not the weapon he had tested. In fact, it was discovered that the original weapon was replaced with a toy gun. This caused uproar in the court room. Later, a number of ranks who had access to the weapon were detained. DR. JENNIFER WESTFORD TRIAL… EX-SNR. PERSONNEL OFFICER COLLECTED MONIES TO CARRY OUT WORKS REGION WIDE -AFTER APPROVAL FROM PERMANENT SECRETARY It was Ms. Margaret Cummings, a former Senior Personnel Officer at the then Ministry of Public Service, who collected monies to carry out works throughout the various administrative regions after approval was given by Omar Shariff, past Permanent Secretary (PS) at the Ministry of the Presidency. This is according to Alwyn Williams, an accountant at the Ministry of the Presidency. Williams was recalled to the stand Wednesday when the trial of
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Dr. Jennifer Westford and Cummings continued before Magistrate Judy Latchman in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. He was called to give evidence in relation to several memoranda, payment vouchers and cheques. The women are accused of stealing $$639,420,000 between August 2011 and April 2015, while being employed in the Public Service of the Government. They have pleaded not guilty to the charge and are currently out on $4.8M bail each. During cross examination by Senior Counsel Neil Boston, who is representing the defendants, Williams told the court that memoranda and payment vouchers for the monies to carry out works in the various regions were approved by Shariff. He said that after the approval was given, cheques were prepared by the Ministry of Finance and carried to the then Office of the President by a duly authorized person. According to the witness, these cheques were endorsed by a duly authorized person and then taken to the Bank of Guyana, where they were encashed. Williams disclosed that the monies were handed over to him and he and an accounts clerk placed the
sum of monies requested for works in the regions into separate envelopes based on information provided on memoranda. The monies, Williams insisted, were handed over to Cummings. He stated the cheques in question were paid out after approval was given by the Permanent Secretary. Williams was also asked about a cheque that was encashed for $30,165,000 but payment voucher was prepared for $30M. Boston repeatedly asked the witness about what was done with the extra $165,000. Nevertheless, despite being told by Senior Counsel Boston that a police officer (name called) should talk to him in relation to monies he received from the cheque that does not correspond to the payment voucher, Williams insisted the cheques prepared and monies collected were done by lawful authority. FRIDAY EDITION ANOTHER FIND CONFIRMS GUYANA’S OIL DEPOSITS LARGER THAN ENVISAGED Another discovery by United States (US) oil and gas giant – ExxonMobil, has confirmed that Guyana’s oil deposits are larger than what was previously envisaged by experts. The ExxonMobil Corporation, as promised, on Wednesday announced positive results on its sixth well – Snoek – located offshore Guyana, confirming a new discovery on the Stabroek Block. Drilling targeted similar aged reservoirs as encountered in previous discoveries at Liza and Payara. The announcement would come days after top officials and experts in the field of oil and gas journeyed to Guyana to participate in a major conference which was hosted in the nation’s capital, Georgetown. Government announced that ExxonMobil was set make a major announcement on its latest well. According to insiders, the findings so far would suggest that the deposit from the wells are accumulatively over 2.5 billion barrels of potential recoverable resources – way beyond what was previously estimated to be found in the Stabroek Block.
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Back in May 2015, ExxonMobil announced a huge oil find in the Liza-1 well and encountered more than 295 feet (90 metres) of highquality oil-bearing sandstone. With the second well on the block, Liza-2, the company confirmed the finding as “significant,” with a potential recoverable resource of 800 million to 1.4 billion barrels of oil equivalent. Drilling operations on ExxonMobil’s Skipjack prospect, the company’s third well in the block offshore Guyana, yielded disappointing results. It was reported that the company did not find commercial quantities of hydrocarbons within that well. The Liza-3 appraisal well was subsequently drilled to a total depth of 18,100 feet in 6,000 feet of water on a location about 2.7 miles from the Liza-1 discovery. The well hit around 200 feet of net pay “in the same high-quality reservoirs” as the first two Liza wells which would further solidify the potential recoverable oil in the reservoir. The Payara-1 well – the fifth well – located approximately 10 miles (16 kilometres) northwest of the Liza-1 discovery, was drilled by ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), and encountered more than 95 feet (29 metres) of high-quality, oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs. The well was safely drilled to a depth of 18,080 feet (5,512 metres) in 6,660 feet (2,030 metres) of water. According to the Company’s website, the latest discovery at the Snoek well demonstrates the continued success the company has achieved in this ‘technically complex play’. EEPGL commenced drilling of the Snoek well a little over a month ago and encountered 82 feet (25 metres) of high-quality, oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs. The well was reportedly safely drilled to 16,978 feet (5,175 metres) in 5,128 feet (1,563 metres) of water on March 18. The Snoek well is located in the southern portion of the Stabroek Block, approximately 5 miles to the southeast of the 2015 Liza-1 discovery. BARTICA GOLD DEALER, SENIOR BANKING OFFICIAL IMPLICATED IN $900M TRANSACTION A local commercial bank has reportedly launched an investigation into how hundreds of millions of dollars were reportedly paid out to a Bartica gold dealer without proper procedures being followed. The incident has since seen a senior bank manager of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) being sent home last week after details of the transaction became known. Multiple banking and other sources confirmed that more than a week ago, the gold dealer, Saddiqi ‘Bobby’ Rasul, of Bartica, deposited more than $900M in cheques, into
his bank accounts. Under banking regulations, those cheques, drawn on another commercial bank, were supposed to be cleared first before payments could be honoured against them. However, staffers reportedly went ahead and effected payments without the cheques, drawn on Citizens Bank, being cleared. The Citizens Bank cheques later bounced because of insufficient funds. Investigations by GBTI officials reportedly found that its staffers did not follow regulations on placing a hold on those Citizens Bank cheques, therefore potentially causing significant losses to the bank. The matter has been reported to Bank of Guyana – the regulators. Sources indicated that Citizens Bank has closed the gold dealer’s accounts and GBTI followed suit this week. GBTI officials are mum on the issue. It is unclear whether the bank has reported the matter to the police. It is a criminal offence for anyone to knowingly issue cheques when there is no money in their bank accounts. MISSING BLACK BUSH WIFE STRANGLED, BURIED IN BACKYARD -HUSBAND AND HIS LOVER HELD Police prepared Friday for the gruesome task of digging up a backyard at Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder, Berbice, where a 44-yearold farmer is believed to have buried his 38-year-old wife, some eight months ago, after strangling her. The victim, Lilwantie Balack, 39, of 117 Mibicuri North, Black Bush Polder, is believed to have been slain on September 6, 2016, but the husband, Sunil Datt Balack, had told the couple’s three children conflicting reports about her whereabouts, including claiming she had run off with a man to the United States. But under intense questioning Thursday, the farmer reportedly admitted that he had strangled Lilwantie during a quarrel and buried her in the backyard. Immigration records also gave no indication that the missing woman had travelled (Continued on page 35)
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(From page 34) overseas. Police have also detained a 21year-old woman, who the suspect took as his reputed wife, after his spouse disappeared. The suspects were taken into custody at the Whim Police Station. ”We will secure the scene and Crime Scene Ranks will have to assist us,” a senior police official told Kaieteur News. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said that ranks from the Major Crimes Unit will also be travelling to Berbice to assist in the investigation. Lilwantie Balack’s horrible fate only came to light on Wednesday after her daughters, who had become increasingly suspicious, contacted the police. Mrs. Balack’s eldest daughter, Darshanie Devi Balack, 20, said that she last saw her mother on Saturday 27 August, 2016. DIFFERENT STORIES ”When I ask my father, where is she, he give everybody different direction. First he tell us that my mother is at Cane Grove; he tell my brother at 66 Village (Corentyne), when I ask my grandmother, she say she (the mother) is at Mahaicony.” According to her, the father told her brother that “Somebody come pick up she (the mother) in the night.” ”So dem ask he if somebody come pick she up, why she nah carry none clothes or nothing; he tell them that the people dem wah pick she up bring clothes and so fuh she”. She also said that on September 6, last, her father told them and other relatives that their mother, “fly out.” She explained that her mother had visited the US prior to September 6, and had stayed with her uncle, their only US-based relative. ”She nah deh with me mamoo (uncle), he deh looking fuh she right now”. Two months after they had last seen their mother, her father brought a woman to their home. According to the daughter, her father claimed that he had known this woman for seven years. He then presented his 21-year-old new partner with a wedding ring, which the daughter rec-
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ognized as her mother’s. ”I can watch the ring and know is my mother ring, it fade out and so.”
was said to be stable. The bullet is said to have passed through his body.
GRANNY SHOOTS HOTEL WORKER SHE MISTOOK FOR THIEF
SATURDAY EDITION
Police have detained a 69-yearold woman who shot a 23-year-old maintenance worker in the abdomen after mistaking him for a thief. The incident occurred at around 06.45 hrs Thursday in the vicinity of the Alpha Hotel at Ogle, East Coast Demerara, where the victim is employed. Brandon Collins, of Manchester Village, Corentyne, was reportedly shot while clearing vines from a fence that separates the Alpha Hotel from the woman’s property. It is alleged that Collins, who had a cutlass, had clambered onto the fence. The woman, who has a licenced firearm, ordered the man to climb down, then discharged a round, which struck Collins in the abdomen. He was admitted the Georgetown Public Hospital, where his condition
GRUESOME FIND ON BLACK BUSH FARM… COPS DIG UP MISSING WIFE’S REMAINS FROM 6-FT. DEEPGRAVE Shackled and emotionless, 44year-old Sunildat Balack watched as police dug up the skeletal remains of his 39-year-old wife, Lilwantie Balack, from the six-foot-deep grave in which he had buried her eight months ago. Police unearthed a skull and a few bones at around noon, after two and a half hours of non-stop digging in an area about 100 metres away from the Lot 117 Mibicuri North, Black Bush Polder home in which the couple had lived. But they found no clothing with the remains, and this indicated that the killer dumped his victim naked into the makeshift grave he had dug on his two-and-a-half-acre farm.
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Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said that DNA tests will be conducted for positive identification. Detectives were later seen gathering the bones into a container before taking them away. Balack was then escorted from his farm to the Whim Police Station. The farmer’s 21-year-old lover, who had moved in with him, remains in custody. It is still unclear whether she played a role in the killing. Divisional Commander Ian Amsterdam, who was on the scene, told reporters that, “we recovered bones and skull. He (the alleged killer) gave us directions to where the remains were (and) we will also be using video analysis for evidence.” Ranks from B’ Division, their colleagues from the Major Crimes Unit and Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh, were all on site. From as early as 08.30 hrs, villagers, family and friends gathered at the area in anticipation of police recovering the remains of the woman, who some described as “quiet and reserved.” Some of the curious lined the
street and even climbed nearby trees to get a glimpse of the gruesome scene. Some shed a few tears when the remains were eventually brought to the surface. Overall, though, there was a sense of relief that the fate of the woman who had vanished eight months ago was finally known. Police said that Sunildat Balack, also known as “Red Man,’ had confessed on Friday to strangling Lilwantie Balack, called ‘Darling,’ and burying her in the family’s backyard. He had reportedly committed the act on September 6, 2016, when the couple had argued about her wanting to go to the United States. ‘GRANNY’ GETS BAIL OVER HANDYMAN SHOOTING The 69-year-old granny who reportedly told police that she shot a hotel maintenance worker after she thought he was a bandit, was on Friday charged and released on bail. Leila Jagdeo, of Lot 3 Ogle, East Bank Demerara, was indicted for discharging a loaded firearm at (Continued on page 36)
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(From page 35) 23-year-old Brandon Collins, a hotel maintenance worker at the Alpha Hotel, Ogle, East Coast Demerara. Jagdeo was released on $100,000 bail after an appearance before Magistrate Alisha George at the
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Sparendaam Magistrates’ Courts. The incident occurred at around 06:45hrs on Thursday in the vicinity of the hotel. Collins, of Manchester Village, Corentyne, was reportedly shot while clearing vines from a fence that sepa-
rates the Alpha Hotel from the woman’s property. It is alleged that Collins, who had a cutlass, had clambered onto the fence. The woman, who has a licenced firearm, ordered the man to climb down, then discharged a round, which struck Collins
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in the abdomen. The bullet is said to have passed through his body. Jagdeo was instructed to return to court on May 22. GOVT. CONTINUES TO RENT COSTLY BOTTOM HOUSE DRUG BOND The Government continues to rent the controversial bottom house drug bond on Sussex Street at the same steep price. However, sources at the Ministry of Public Health say that more drugs and medical supplies are being stored there. Last December, former Minister of Health, Dr. George Norton was able to prove that the bond was in use. However, mainly condoms, lubricants and umbilical cord clamps were being stored at the facility. Boxes upon boxes of lubricants were seen, along with several cartons of umbilical cord clamps. All boxes had delivery dates of August this year. That was in the upper flat. The lower flat stored several pieces of equipment along with several empty refrigerators. The Public Health Ministry, which is now being headed by Volda Lawrence, is claiming that the bond is in full use now. Officials say that a media visit is being planned for next week. The Sussex Street property owned by the Linden Holdings Company is being rented at G$12.5 per month. Linden Holdings Company is owned by firearms dealer Lawrence Singh. A three-year contract has been signed for use of the facility which has not been certified for the storage of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies in keeping with international standards set out by PAHO/WHO. Just about $25M was paid in rental and security deposit for the period July to August 2016 as provided for in the Supplementary Financial Paper No. 1 of 2016, yet as of August 8, the building was empty of any pharmaceuticals and medical supplies and was
not in a position to store any medicines or any other medical supplies as was claimed. The drug bond fiasco has been one of the biggest scandals to hit the APNU+AFC coalition government so far. President David Granger had set up a Cabinet subcommittee to review the matter. This Committee recommended that Dr. Norton apologize to the Speaker, which he did. Government is still to prove a need for the bond. $900M BANK FRAUD… HOMES, BUSINESSES RAIDED AS POLICE TAKE BARTICA GOLD DEALER INTO CUSTODY Investigators on Friday took a prominent Bartica gold dealer into custody, hours after a commercial bank filed a complaint of fraud at the police headquarters, Eve Leary. Several simultaneous raids were later reportedly carried out at a number of premises owned by the businessman, Saddiqi ‘Bobby’ Rasul. Rasul is being investigated for allegedly collecting more than $900M at the Bartica, Region Seven branch of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) based on a number of cheques he deposited. The cheques reportedly later bounced. Kaieteur News was told
that early Friday morning, GBTI officials contacted investigators of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of Eve Leary and a complaint was later filed. The gold dealer, around midday, went to Eve Leary, and was taken into custody. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed Friday evening that Rasul was taken into custody and is being held. He declined to give details, saying that the matter was a sensitive one and is still being investigated. However, well-placed sources said that police raided the Gordon Street, Kitty business place of Rasul, as well as his Prashad Nagar and Bartica homes. It is unclear whether the police took away anything. Heavily-armed police were seen in front of the Bartica location. Rasul had been one of the major gold buyers for a number of dealers before he branched off on his own. With regards to the allegations against him, officials disclosed Thursday that the issue came to a head more than a week ago. At the GBTI’s Bartica branch, cheques drawn on Citizens Bank and totalling over $900M were deposited to the accounts of Rasul. To protect themselves from fraud, banks would normally hold other banks’ cheques until they are cleared before making payments against them. In this case, it appears that the GBTI officials did not follow protocols. More than $900M was paid out. The Citizens Bank cheques later bounced. A senior official was sent home by GBTI last week Friday. Last week also, Citizens Bank reportedly closed Rasul’s accounts after noticing a number of suspicious transactions. GBTI also did the same this week. Officials of GBTI declined to comment on the issue.
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Integrating climate resilience measures into national planning imperative
The integration of climate resilience measures into Government’s decisionmaking and planning processes, is imperative at this juncture as the effects of Climate Change continue to be a major source of concern for many countries. This was repeatedly expressed at a ceremony which was hosted at the Grand Coastal Hotel, Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara, on Friday, to commemorate the closing of a five-day workshop where more than 21 persons were exposed to the Caribbean Climate Online Risk and Adaptation Tool (CCORAL). The event was sponsored by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) and the United States Agency for International Development/ Eastern and Southern Caribbean’s (USAID/ESC) under the Caribbean Climate Adaptation Programme (CCAP). Participants were drawn from the various Ministries and state-run institutions including the Communities Ministry, the Office of Climate Change, the Ministry of the Presidency, the Department of Environment, and the Civil Defence Commission. CCORAL comes as part of
Some of the participants at the closing ceremony of the workshop.
a continued effort by CARICOM Heads of Government to strengthen climate adaptation. A few years ago, Heads of Government approved the 2011-2021 Implementation Plan (IP) to operationalise the Regional Framework for Achieving Development Resilient to Climate Change. The IP was designed by the CCCCC with funding from Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) and the United Kingdom (UK) Department for International Development (DFID). One priority challenge
identified in the IP was the need to develop a risk management ethic in decision making in the Caribbean, ensuring the use of risk management processes and tools, management of uncertainties and integration of climate change into national development p l a n ning and decision making. CCORAL has been developed in response to this need. CCORAL was developed by the CCCCC with support from the CDKN, based on a thorough consultation process involving significant inputs from across the region.
The online support tool is an important step towards increasing the climate resilience of the region and has already been embraced by several CARICOM member states, including Grenada. Training is also being conducted in other nations throughout the Caribbean. Presenter and Sustainable Development Coordinator within the Department of the Environment, Edon Daniels, with the assistance of Karen Roopchand, the Special Projects Officer and Environmental Coordinator of the Ministry of Communities,
provided an overview CCORAL to the invitees on Friday. Daniels noted that the tool is a data-driven programme which guides users through several steps, helping them to quickly identify whether their activity is likely to be influenced by climate change. It states also if their activity is a priority for further investigation and recommends taking action to increase climate resilience. Specific guidance is also provided on how to address climate impacts with regards to legislation, national planning, strategy, policy, programmes, projects and budgets, Roopchand asserted. Water Resource Manager at the Guyana Water Incorporated, Orin Browne, during his presentation provided a background on how CCORAL can be applied. Browne said that the tool is unique in that is has been designed for users of all skill levels, with different
resources provided, depending on user needs and experience. He added that it is “resolutely pragmatic” in its approach, promoting the right tools and techniques to fit the context of Caribbean decision-making, available time and resources and uncertainty about climate variability and change. He noted that by using CCORAL, decision-makers will also be able to demonstrate to funders, investors and development partners, that climate resilience has been considered and integrated into relevant activities. Brown, during his presentation, provided a casestudy where he took a particular project that was done some 11 years ago and applied CCORAL. The findings, he pointed out, vary from the actual outcome of project. He added also that CCORAL is not limited to infrastructural projects but caters for a wider range of sectors.
Sunday April 02, 2017
Kaieteur News
Recover economic cost for CLICO’s mess or declare Duprey persona non grata - Ram By Abena RockcliffeCampbell Colonial Life Insurance Company (CLICO)’s Lawrence Duprey has taken a lot from Guyana. A simple apology and a promise to repay is not good enough. The government should demand more based on respect for its people. That in essence is a synopsis of the points of view articulated by financial analyst Christopher Ram. His expressions came as he lamented the audacity of Duprey to return to Guyana with an investment proposal several years after “causing so much harm.” Ram stressed that Duprey acted dishonorably in the past and should not be accepted with open arms. It has been eight years since regional insurance giant, CLICO went belly-up and Duprey was the man in the middle of it all. But now Duprey, the major shareholder of parent company CL Financial, wants to go into another business venture in Guyana. Two Thursdays ago, Minister of Finance Winston Jordan met with Duprey. A statement from the Minister’s office indicated that Duprey wants to “renew his relationship with Guyana as well as publicly apologize to its people for the collapse of CLICO Guyana”. Duprey told Jordan that CL Financial will try to make amends for the approximately US$40M debt owed mainly to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS). While Jordan committed to further meetings and the statement from his Ministry carried a somewhat accepting tone towards Duprey, Ram thinks that the government ought to take a firm stance. “That man should be declared persona non grata until he returns all the money that he so improperly and unlawfully took out of Guyana,” said Ram. Sounding very passionate about the issue, the Chartered Accountant said that before allowing any investments, government should secure a concrete guarantee from Duprey that Guyana will be compensated. Citing the fact that Duprey said he will make a public apology, Ram asserted, “The best apology is to return the money to people. That, in fact, is the only meaningful apology.” The attorney-at-law continued, “Places like the NIS suffered immensely as a result of the loss of income for several years.” The financial analyst said
Financial Analyst, Christopher Ram that Duprey should not be made only to give back Guyana what was left outstanding eight years ago. “We want to recover the economic loss, not only the financial loss,” said Ram. To do so, Ram noted that Guyana can apply “a proper rate of exchange and a proper rate of interest and on that basis, we will determine what it is we have lost as a result of his breaching the laws of Guyana.” Duprey is interested in investing in several areas here, including providing solar energy at competitive prices, affordable housing, clay brick and solar technology for housing, as well as introduce a financial model that will generate savings and alleviate poverty, the statement from the Ministry of Finance said. Jordan informed Duprey that he will apprise Cabinet of the discussions. He reportedly told Duprey that
future engagements could be conducted on parallel tracks, especially as it relates to recovering monies owed by CL Financial and investment in Guyana. Meanwhile, the Finance Ministry said that the Governor of the Bank of Guyana, Dr. Gobind Ganga will be consulted to determine the status of all outstanding matters relevant to CLICO Guyana. Last year, Government announced a $5.6B long-term financing for NIS to help the entity recover its investments in CLICO. Jordan had stated that going to court to recover the $5B-plus for NIS may be useless. He emphasized that the sad reality is that the CLICO situation might very well turn out to be a long drawn-out process, as Guyana is not even on the radar when it comes to the settlement process in the Caribbean as yet. “So Government is going to have to step up to the plate and find another way of recouping the losses for NIS in this regard.” Jordan had referred to the situation as another “mess” inherited from the PPP/C administration. Government, in 2009, seized local properties from CLICO in Guyana to help pay policyholders, after it became clear that the regional insurance giant was in dire financial problems. Some 7,744 policyholders were paid a total of $4.1B. One of the properties that NIS received was the one on Camp Street where the current headquarters of the Guyana Revenue Authority is located.
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Guyana protected areas can be key foreign exchange earner - says veteran tourism entrepreneur Guyana is on a path to successfully expanding its ecosystem services and ultimately propelling its local tourism sector into a leading foreign exchange earner and an engine of economic development for hinterland communities that neighbour protected areas. Peruvian nature basedtourism entrepreneur Eduardo Nycander shared his country’s tourism experiences with key stakeholders last Thursday evening during a World Wildlife Fund-hosted Protected Areas and Tourism Development presentation at Moray House on Camp and Quamina Streets. Nycander acknowledged Guyana’s tourism potential, noting that the two countries’ “natural resources are the same and the equation of the protected areas are the same, so I see the potential that Guyana has”. Nycander, who has been in the tourism business for close to three decades, runs what is deemed a wildly
successful public-privatecommunity-tourism model with his company, Rainforest Expeditions. His company has worked closely with international donor community, governments and conservation NGOs, and was able to secure substantial grant support for community ecotourism projects while creating innovative financial investment packages. This has seen Peru’s income from the tourism sector grow from less than 200 million dollars to more than 4 billion dollars annually. In Guyana’s situation, according to Nycander, there must be collaboration or team effort from all levels to ensure marked success is achieved (Miners, Ministry of Tourism and the Protected Areas Commission) complimented by a dynamic international tourism marketing strategy. “It is going to take time, it must happen, because you have the resources here. You have a problem now (some challenges) but you also have
A section of the gathering at Moray House for the Protected Areas and Tourism Development presentation a great opportunity”, Nycander noted. Meanwhile, Vice President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock, who was an active participant at the evening’s function and who is also a celebrated environmentalist, expressed satisfaction with
Nursing education should be... From page 22 outcomes,” Tross added. She further recognized Nursing Practice as a key component of any setting, be it in the home, primary health care setting or the hospital. The increase in student numbers, despite reduced bed capacity in the tertiary institution where students are expected to be exposed to a variety of clinical experiences, creates frustration and disillusionment for both students and nurse managers, Tross opined. The problem is further compounded, she noted, by the lack of basic resources and clinical supervision.
GUIDANCE Moreover, the need for clinical instructors who are experientially and academically prepared in current nursing practice was emphasised. “There should be a skills laboratory where students can become familiar with procedures which they may not have had the opportunity to witness in the clinical areas,” Tross said. Added to this, she spoke of the need for evaluation of students' performances in relation to stated objectives after each clinical placement. This result, she said, should be shared with the schools of nursing, so that deficiencies
could be identified and remedial steps put in place. “It is important for Nurse Educators and Nurse Managers to collaborate if progress in the delivery of health care is to be realized,” said Tross, as she stressed the need for Procedure Manuals, which should include general and specific care plans, to give guidance to clinical staff and students. It is also Tross' belief, that ward meetings to prioritize and plan patient care using the nursing process should be encouraged, even as moves are made to have in place a careful documentation of care plans and their execution. Careful documentation, she pointed out, becomes necessary in cases of litigation. “As health systems reform and change and as nursing practice develops, the challenge of nursing education is to respond to the changes. Nurse tutors need to seek assistance in developing strategies for coping with large classes. There should be collaboration and coordination, not competition.” Also needed within the schools of nursing is an organizational chart to determine lines of communication,” said Tross, as she emphasized, “we need nurse leaders at all levels of the health care system who can articulate the value of nurse education and practice, and are proactive in seeking opportunities for the development of nursing as a profession.”
the progress made locally, although according to him, much more can be accomplished. “We have already been practicing; there are some communities that are ready for the next phase, the next stage...There are opportunities and we have to find that teamwork, we have to make better linkages, we have to have an understanding of the technology that is available. What is also needed is the expertise and the financial support,” the Minister explained. Allicock also cited the need to ensure key legislation
is in place to ensure greater success is achieved. He commended the significant strides Peru’s tourism sector continues to make. Like Peru, Guyana is facing its fair share of challenges in finding that equilibrium between the thriving extractive sector, ecosystem services and Tourism-driven initiatives. As Peru’s example (it has established itself as one of the world’s most interesting and unique tourism destinations) over the past decade clearly demonstrates, nature and culture-based tourism has proven to be a critically
important driver of economic development, demonstrating that protected areas can conserve Guyana’s biodiversity and globally important ecosystem services while making significant contributions to growing a Green Economy. Over the past year, President David Granger has reiterated his administration’s commitment under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CDB) and National Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Paris Agreement, to expand Guyana’s protected areas system by two million hectares.
The fear of tax reform From page 43 especially since it sends the wrong signals to those persons whom the Government is hoping to rope into the tax net. Furthermore, the tax advisors observed that various forms of tax exemptions have also been used to favour Members of Parliament and to provide non-tax benefits to public servants to compensate for what is perceived to be inadequate salaries. However, the advisors said that they constitute unfair discrimination, which causes dissatisfaction within the private sector. Noting other weaknesses of Guyana's tax system, the advisors said that the high incidence of evasion relates to those companies and individuals who use various devices to evade the several taxes imposed on them by law. They also said that there is a very large underground economy, made up of both unincorporated firms, employing various evasion and avoidance practices, and self-employed persons of various skills and occupations. In addition, the Commission members documented the fact that smuggling is
rampant because of the thousands of miles of unpatrolled borders. The tax advisors said, “The failure to capture more operatives into the tax net is partly related to the relatively low capacity of the Guyana Revenue Authority in terms of trained and skilled personnel; the absence of the availability of adequate and appropriate information technology and the failure to use the available technology to capture common and relevant information regarding taxpayers and a common and adequate database; as well as a level of professionalism that is not sufficiently high to resist various forms of bribery. In addition, in the past administration, there has been political intervention/interference as to prevent the officers from conducting their duties in a fair and non-partisan manner.” The advisors said the abovementioned weaknesses have all contrived to burden Guyana economy's with a very narrow tax base, in terms of both the relatively small number of firms and individuals that do pay tax (in addition to the high revenue concentration among those who
actually pay). This derived weakness is also structural, given the significant share of the agricultural sector in the country's GDP and the large number of small farmers. Also, the large services sector, with its considerable number of small operatives, with various levels of skill, income and net worth, do not lend itself to easy taxation. Finally, the Commission said that the constellation of weaknesses, and the peculiar nature of their inter-play, has conspired to negate, to a considerable extent, the tax equity objective of the Government. The members of the tax reform committee noted that at the vertical level, indirect taxation, which impacts irretrievably and indiscriminately on the poor, is high in yield relative to direct taxation. At the horizontal level, they said that some pay corporate and individual income tax, while others do not; and the individual income tax burden falls disproportionately on fixed income earners. Over time, the tax advisors said they are convinced that the tax structure has not evinced fundamental change. (To be continued)
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Mixing alcohol and energy drinks ‘may be a risky cocktail’ “Mixing energy drinks with alcohol could be a risky combination, leading to a greater risk of accidents and injuries,” BBC News report. A review of evidence found a number of potential risks, but the picture was not as clear-cut as reported. Energy drinks are drinks that contain high amounts of caffeine. Some people mix them with spirits such as vodka. Canadian researchers aimed to look at the published evidence on whether mixing alcohol with energy drinks is linked to an increased risk of harm or injury. The researchers identified 13 studies – overall, 10 of them reported an increased risk of injury when drinking the mixture compared with alcohol on its own. One possible factor discussed in the review is that the stimulant effects of caffeine could combine with the inhibition-lowering effects of alcohol, making people more prone to taking risks. Caffeine could also mask the sedative effects of alcohol, so people become less aware of how much alcohol they’ve drunk – a phenomenon referred to as being “wide-awake drunk”. However, the studies included in the review varied considerably in their methods, including the lifestyle factors they took into account, such as alcohol or drug use. This review can’t quantify risks or link them with particular combinations of drink, or specific quantities. But it does serve as a general reminder that so-called “social drinking” is not without risk, both in terms of how much alcohol is consumed and potentially making yourself vulnerable to harm. The study was carried out by two researchers from the
Centre for Addictions Research at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada. It was funded by the Canadian Institute of Health Research. No conflicts of interest were reported by the researchers. The study was published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs on an open access basis, so it’s free to read the study online (PDF, 208kb). The way the study was reported, while generally accurate, in some cases made the links between risks and drinking alcohol combined with energy drinks appear to be much better established than is actually the case. And The Sun’s headline, “Bingeing on vodka Red Bull or Jagerbombs ‘as bad as taking cocaine’,” is an opinion, not a proven fact. This systematic review aimed to examine the published literature to identify studies that have assessed the link between mixing alcohol with energy drinks and the potential risk of injury. The researchers say in 2007-11, 13-16% of emergency department visits in North America involved people who had drunk alcohol combined with energy drinks. This is said to be the first review to date to look at the association. A systematic review is the best way of compiling the available literature. However, the findings of reviews are only as good as the pooled studies included. Studies assessing links between food and drink and health outcomes are usually observational, so they aren’t able to prove cause and effect because many other factors could have had an influence. And if the studies included in a review are very
different in terms of methodology, as was the case with this review, it isn’t possible to carry out a meta-analysis of the results. This means any conclusions provided by the review carry less weight of evidence. THE RESEARCH INVOLVED The reviewers searched two literature databases to identify studies published between 1981 and January 2016. The studies included must have looked at the link between consuming alcohol mixed with energy drinks and the risk of harm or injury, and compared this with the risk from just drinking alcohol. Energy drinks and alcohol could be either consumed in a mixed drink or separately, but on the same occasion. A total of 13 studies met the inclusion criteria – 10 of which came from the US and Canada, and the remainder from New Zealand, Australia and Taiwan. Eight of the studies included students – high school, college or university. They all date from 2011-15. All of the studies were cross-sectional, mostly online surveys reviewing reports of drinking injuries. The timeframe of alcohol or energy drink consumption was questioned ranged from the past month to the past year, while the timeframe for self-reported injuries ranged from the past month to a lifetime. Eight of the studies asked whether injuries were actually related to drink consumption, while the other five studies just asked about reports of the two, which may not necessarily have been related. The reviewers give an overall narrative summary of the findings. Ten of the 13 studies re-
Overweight young men ‘more likely to get severe liver disease’ “Men who are overweight in their late teens have a higher risk of developing liver cancer in later life, new research suggests,” reports ITV News. Swedish researchers also found a link to other serious types of liver disease. The researchers assessed the link between body mass index (BMI) and risk of liver disease in later life in 17-19year-old Swedish men conscripted into national service, which was compulsory in Sweden until 2010. More than one million teenage boys were included in the study. Researchers found a higher BMI in late
adolescence was associated with an increased risk of severe liver disease, including liver cancer, in later life. Being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes during followup also increased the risk of liver disease, irrespective of weight. But the main limi-
tation of this study is it isn’t able to prove BMI is responsible for the increased risk. Various unmeasured factors could also be having an influence. Nevertheless, the relationship is in line with current thinking around the risks of excess fat. Fat cells can directly damage the liver in the
same way as alcohol (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease). Obesity can also raise the risk of secondary conditions that can impair the liver, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Women shouldn’t assume that a similar risk doesn’t apply to them. This study only focused on men simply because the Swedish national service system made data on men more easily available for study. Maintaining a healthy weight will help reduce the risk of a wide range of longterm, often serious, conditions. http://www.nhs.uk/ news.
ported a link between drinking alcohol and energy drinks and an increased risk of injury, though there were no consistent links with the type of injury. Three studies didn’t find this link – in fact, one study actually found the risk was higher with alcohol on its own. The researchers feel the differences could have been down to the design of the studies. Three studies reported that when the links between the two are assessed, you need to consider risk-taking tendencies or behaviours, as well as sensation seeking. When the researchers controlled for these variables, they still found links between alcohol and energy drinks and injury. Most studies also controlled for general alcohol consumption or binge drinking. Two studies also controlled for drug use and one for caffeine. Studies also reported more alcohol tended to be consumed during mixed drinking sessions than when drinking alcohol on its own. THE RESULTS The researchers concluded: “There is significant need for further examination of the role of [alcohol and energy drink] use in the risk
of injury. “A better understanding of the relationship … and of the potential underlying mechanisms is crucial for informing effective preventive intervention strategies.” They go on to say the review could be used to inform the public, health professionals and policy makers of the possible risks. CONCLUSION This systematic review aimed to try to better establish whether drinking alcohol mixed with energy drinks is linked with risk of injury. Although the majority of studies generally supported a link between consumption and increased risk of injury, as the researchers acknowledge, the high variability in the methods of the individual studies and assessment of harms “makes it difficult to determine the extent of this risk”. Nearly all the studies were online surveys that asked questions about alcohol and energy drink consumption, and self-reported injury. But the temporal relationship between the two, and whether the drink was actually the direct cause of the reported injury, is very difficult to be sure of, especially if the timeframe of reported
injuries could extend to up to a lifetime, while drink consumption was relatively recent. For example, one of the studies was even questioning reports of injury or disease in the past year as a result of participants’ work. It’s also possible confounding lifestyle factors influenced any links seen. The individual studies varied considerably in the different factors they adjusted for, such as socioeconomic factors, drug use, and normal alcohol drinking behaviours. The studies are also mostly representative of young student populations, and none were conducted in the UK. A link may be found if college or university students in the UK were surveyed, but we can’t know this for sure. Overall, although this study is of interest and supports a plausible theory, it can’t definitively tell us whether drinking alcohol combined with energy drinks will put you at greater risk of injury or harm than if you drink alcohol alone. But the study does reinforce the fact alcohol can be a common contributing factor to injury. http://www.nhs.uk.
A Lonely Heart Could Worsen a Cold A cold is never fun, but it’s even more misery for folks who feel lonely, new research suggests. “We think this is important, particularly because of the economic burden associated with the common cold,” said study co-author Angie LeRoy, a psychology graduate student at Rice University in Houston. “Millions of people miss work each year because of it. And that has to do with how they feel, not necessarily with how much they’re blowing their noses,” she said in a university news release. For the study, LeRoy and Rice psychologist Chris Fagundes used nose drops to deliberately infect a group of 159 volunteers with the cold virus. The participants were all unmarried and ranged from 18 to 55 years of age. Each also filled out standard psychological questionnaires aimed at assessing their feelings of social isolation. According to LeRoy, “Research has shown that loneliness puts people at risk for early death and other physical illnesses. But nothing had been done to look at an acute but temporary illness that we’re all vulnerable to — the common cold.”
In their new research, the investigators tracked the mental and physical health of the volunteers as they were quarantined — often with a nasty cold — in hotel rooms for a period of five days, and for some time afterwards. Would each participants’ mental state affect whether they caught the cold, or their symptoms? First off, three-quarters of the participants did go on to develop a cold. But whether or not the participants were lonely didn’t seem to play a
role in cold acquisition, the findings showed. However, even though the study couldn’t prove causeand-effect, there was a difference in terms of symptoms. Fagundes and LeRoy found that people who said they had less “social support” had cold symptoms that were more severe compared to people who felt more socially included. And this was true regardless of the size of an individual’s social network, the study authors said.
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Usher’s Private World Revealed Since the mid-nineties, Usher has been a household name. He’s had countless hits, earned eight Grammy Awards, starred on The Voice, traveled the globe and yet, fans still don’t know much about the 38-year-old’s personal life. That’s precisely how Usher Raymond IV wants things to be, it seems, as he’s done his best to keep his family life as far out of the public eye as possible. Through marriages and divorces, highly publicized love and heartbreak, happy times and truly tragic ordeals, the R&B super star has chosen to separate his home life from his onstage persona in recent years—and for good reason. But what may have sparked the hit-maker’s decision to shield his family from the limelight? Let’s have a look at what may have contributed to Usher’s secrecy as of late. In 2009, after two years of wedded bliss, Usher and wife Tameka Foster revealed that they were divorcing. The two hadn’t shied away from putting their love (or marriage) on public display—but neither could’ve predicted the stormy times
ahead. Fast forward to July 2012 when Usher’s stepson Kile Glover was declared brain dead after being hit by a jet ski on Lake Lanier in Atlanta. One day later, the 11-yearold passed away after being taken off of life support. At the time, Usher and Tameka had been in the midst of a contentious custody battle over their two sons, Usher Raymond V and Naviyd, but they set aside their differences to support one another after the horrific accident. However, even the painful loss couldn’t keep the exes on good terms. Media reports began speculating that Usher hadn’t attended Kile’s funeral, which he vehemently denied during an interview on Oprah Winfrey’s The Next Chapter. “It hurts me to hear people speculating that I wasn’t at the funeral. I absolutely was at the funeral. I was at the burial as well,” he told the TV mogul. “I miss Kile. We cooked together, we laughed, we sang. He loved to sing and dance. He loved to tell jokes.” Just today, Usher paid tribute to Kile on what would
have been his 16th birthday. “Though you’re gone you still live in my mind. The only thing we ran out of is time.
Burger King May Have Just Found a Way to Enjoy Hamburgers Calorie-Free
Craving a hamburger but don’t want the calories? Burger King has the solution. With just a few short days before April Fool’s Day, the fast-food chain has created a new commercial to showcase an innovative product. May we introduce you to the Whooper Toothpaste? “Our flame grilled whopper is so good that some
people will do anything to keep the taste in their mouth,” the ad states. “Don’t worry, Burger King has the answer. To keep your mouth Whooper Fresh, use Whopper Toothpaste.” According to a release, the so-called product embodies “the iconic flavor of the Whopper and combines it with active ingredients for
optimal teeth and gum hygiene.” Sounds convincing, right? Or should we ask: Totally dentist recommended? “From day one, the ultrafresh advanced whopper technology will help keep your mouth whopper fresh longer than ever and you’ll notice the results immediately,” the ad continues.
Since you left I ain’t been quite the same. I wonder if you miss me, do I make you proud. Know you’re watching me, I feel your spirit. I keep you right by my side.” He added, “Happy 16th birthday, Kile. We miss you.” Usher also spoke candidly to Oprah about his ex’s allegations that he is an absentee father during their custody battle. “Absentee from the aspect of having to go and work, that probably would be her version or idea of what absentee would be. But no, I’m not an absentee father at all. I was born to do what I’m doing as a dad. I realized that once I had a child. When I had them, that was when they became a priority,” he explained. Ultimately, he says, the two just “don’t see eye-toeye” anymore. “The friend that I was to Tameka, I don’t know that I could ever be again, because I really felt like we were friends. She made us enemies in a way that I never could have understood.” And as if things weren’t difficult enough in the separate Raymond and Foster households, on August 5, 2013, the former couple’s eldest son was rushed to the ICU after a scary swimming pool accident. According to police reports at the time, Usher V was trapped in a drain at his pool at his famous father’s home. Less than a day later, Foster filed a request for emergency custody after her son’s
“near-death” experience. She claimed that there was a lack of supervision of the children while they were swimming in the pool and sought temporary primary custody. After the two went to court, the case was ultimately dismissed and the Grammywinner continued to have primary custody of both of their kids. In a February 2007 interview with O magazine, Usher said that “getting married at 28” was “best mistake.” Over the course of the next few years, Usher maintained a very private life and shielded his children from the public eye. In January 2015, however, news broke that he had proposed to his longtime manager and girlfriend, Grace Miguel. The two eloped nine months later and word got out only because Usher posted an Instagram shot from his travels that showed him wearing a gold band. Fans immediately caught wind of the new jewelry and began speculating that the
two had become husband and wife—and boy, were they right. He finally opened up about the top-secret marriage in December of 2015 on Ellen DeGeneres’ hit daytime talk show. “You know what’s funny,” he said while pointing to the Instagram photo that hinted at the elopement. “We put this picture up and we were actually just in Cuba on a cultural exchange and people were like, ‘Hey, they got married.’ But you know, the ring is on the other finger, you guys. But we had a great time. She’s a wonderful woman.” As of today, there’s so little we know about Usher’s current private life. We haven’t seen photos from his wedding, gotten any new details about how married life is now treating him, or even caught a glimpse at his children as they grow up. And all things considered, that’s quite alright. After all, Usher likes it his way.www.eonline.com
Sunday April 02, 2017
Kaieteur News
Gruesome find on Black Bush farm…
Husband planted bora around wife’s grave
The spot where Sunildat Balack buried his wife It surely must have taken someone with a certain level of cold-bloodedness to daily tend to a garden that is just next to the spot where one’s murdered wife is buried. But that’s exactly what Mibicuri farmer, Sunildat Balack, apparently did for almost a year. When police went to the spot where 44year-old Balack said he had buried Lilwantie Balack, it was observed that the alleged killer had planted a row of bora plants about a foot from the area. There is speculation that the farmer had cultivated other crops at the same spot during the months that Linwantie Balack lay buried there. On Friday, police unearthed a skull and a few bones from a six-foot-deep grave, which was located about 100 metres from the couple’s Lot 117 Mibicuri North, Black Bush Polder home. But they found no clothing with the remains. This indicated that the killer dumped his victim naked into the makeshift grave he had dug on his two-and-a-half-acre farm. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said yesterday that police will be taking DNA
samples from the slain woman’s relatives, and these samples, along with others from the remains, will be sent to a laboratory in Brazil. He indicated that the suspect is likely to appear in court tomorrow. The farmer’s 21-year-old lover has since been released. Police said that Sunildat Balack, also known as “Red Man,’ had confessed on Thursday to strangling Linwantie Balack, called ‘Darling,’ and burying her in the family’s backyard. He had reportedly committed the act on September 6, 2016, when the couple had argued about her wanting to go to the United States. To cover his tracks, the alleged killer reportedly told neighbours that Linwantie, was on holiday in the US. Just about three months ago, the suspect brought home ‘a girl’, and he told neighbours that “Darling nah come back, that she tek somebody over deh.” Lilwantie Balack’s horrible fate only came to light on Wednesday after her daughters, who had become increasingly suspicious about their father’s conflicting stories, contacted the police.
10-year-old dies after classmate’s kick to stomach Following more than a week of illness, 10-year-old Rosanne Harris succumbed at her Public Road, La Penitence home, yesterday. The child’s mother, Samantha Peters, said that her daughter fell ill after a classmate would have kicked her in the region of her stomach. Rosanne attended the St. Stephen’s Primary School located in Charlestown, Georgetown. Peters said that two Fridays ago her daughter came home complaining of not feeling well in her stomach. She said that when she asked what happened, her daughter responded that a student by the name of ‘Tyrese’ kicked her to the stomach. According to Peters, on Saturday and Sunday her daughter was complaining about pains and began vomiting. She said that her father had gone to the school and enquired about the incident in the new week. The only compensation the family received according to Peters was ‘sorry’ from Tyrese’s mother. “What I gonna do with sorry now; sorry can’t help
The dead child: Rosanne Harris me.” She said that last Thursday her daughter was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) where she underwent a number of tests including an ultrasound but her condition remained the same. She said that on Friday, Rosanne complained about feeling as if she had diarrhea but when taken to the washroom, ‘nothing ain’t come so I took her back to bed.” Peters said that yesterday when she checked on her daughter after waking up, she asked her if she wanted to get
up and have a bath or clean her skin. Thechild nodded in the affirmative. Peters said that she left the room for a moment and heard the scream of her other daughter. According to Rosanne’s older sister, when she checked on her sibling and felt her arm, it was stiff and cold. “When I raise up she hand, it didn’t stay up, it just fall right back down.” She said that there was blood running from her sister’s nose as her lifeless body lay on the bed. Rosanne’s father, Randel Harris, in an emotional state, said that when he had visited the school concerning the issue, he did not want to engage in an unfriendly confrontation with the parent of the child who allegedly kicked his daughter. The child’s father said, “This come as a real shock.” The dead child’s mother said that the family will have to find money to finance a funeral and that will be difficult. At the scene were relatives and friends who were both upset at the unfortunate situation and emotional since nobody had expected the child to pass away.
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Investigations ongoing into irregularities uncovered at MARDS Burma According to Divisional Commander, Marlon Chapman, at least three persons have been questioned by the Mahaicony Police and have been placed on station bail. The files have since been sent to the Fraud Squad, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Georgetown. So far there is no word of charges laid. The Mahaicony Abary Rice Development Scheme is a semi autonomous State entity with a mandate to administer State lands within
Sunday April 02, 2017
Kaieteur News
the Mahaicony- Abary area, and to support farmers. Tracts of land have been rented out to rice farmers, and they are also provided with drainage and irrigation services. A former manager and a board member are among the people questioned so far. Former chairman of the board, Abel Seetaram, who has been identified in some sections of the media as one of the persons questioned by police in relation to the irregularities uncovered at Burma, has categorically
denied being involved in any irregularities. He is claiming that contrary to what has been published in some sections of the media, the police have not been in contact with him in relation to the matter. The entity, last week Monday, opened an agro chemical outlet on the MARDS Complex, allowing farmers to source chemicals needed in the industry at a competitive price, rather than having to travel outside the area. A new board of directors took office in June 2015, under the chairmanship of Abel Seetaram. Seetaram, however, no longer sits on the board, having left in June 2016. He has been succeeded by Alison Bourne, while Dane Henry assumed duties as manager as of March.
Crane housewife killer continues to walk free
While relatives of some murder victims might be impressed with the work being done by the Guyana Police Force (GPF), family members of 30-year-old Candy Rawlins are still hoping that the cops will some day call to inform them that they have found her killer. They are claiming that since her demise in 2014, they have not received any feedback from the lawmen regarding the case. They do not know whether ranks had made any effort to find the woman’s reputed husband, Vidol Anthony Rawlins, who confessed to killing her in a letter. The woman’s nude body was discovered on her bedroom floor a little before 09:00hrs on July 18, 2014 by her daughter, who had managed to untie herself after being bound and gagged by the suspect. Kaieteur News was told that the housewife’s face was wrapped with a mosquito net and bound with duct tape. Her hands were tied behind her back with a sheet. Investigators found a bloodstained knife believed to be the murder weapon, next to her body. The killer had left a note, in which he claimed that he loved his wife very much and that he regretted his action. A senior police source who saw the letter said that the carpenter asked for
Candy Rawlins and her daughter with Vidol Anthony Rawlins forgiveness from his mother who resides overseas. The suspect also requested that no one must search for him since he will be with his father who died a few years prior to the murder. While the motive for the killing is still unclear after almost two years, investigators who have worked on the case believed that it might have been as a result of infidelity. However, the victim’s daughter had provided police with a statement and a possible motive. According to a police source, Rawlins’s 11-year-old daughter informed them that she was in her room when she heard her stepfather demanding sex from her mother. The little girl said that she “did not take the noise too serious” because
constant quarrelling was a norm in the home. “She said she went back to sleep. The next day when she awoke, her stepfather taped her mouth and tied her up in a chair,” a police source explained. He added that the 11year-old girl claimed that she managed to untie herself after some time and she ran to her mother’s room. “When she see her mother, she start scream and she run and call out for the neighbours who then informed us,” the police source said. The child is now living with her biological father. There are reports that the 46-year-old suspect, Vidol Anthony Rawlins fled Guyana to neighbouring Suriname. There is also information that he might be working in the interior.
Sunday April 02, 2017
By Dr. NerominiFagu If you’ve ever been unfortunate enough to scald your tongue or the roof of your mouth on something hot like tea, coffee, soup, then you might know what it’s like to suffer from Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) with the exception being that while you will eventually get relief once the pain subsides,that is not so for sufferers of BMS. The sensation for BMS sufferers can be quite severe and does not easily go away. BMS may also be referred to as burning tongue syndrome. The condition is most common in menopausal women but it can affect anyone at any age. Usually there isn’t any noticeable physical change to your mouth or tongue. Causes of BMS The exact causes of BMS are not known but certain factors seem to play a role in its etiology. These include damage to the nerves controlling taste or pain, hormonal changes, nutritional deficiencies, stress, anxiety, depression, immunological
Kaieteur News
BURNING MOUTH SYNDROME issues, smoking, allergies, poorly fitting dentures, and dry mouth. Additionally, certain medical conditions such as diabetes, oral thrush, and
thyroid problems have also been implicated in the condition. In some cases, the cause of BMS has been said to be multifactorial. BMS can appear suddenly or develop gradually over a period of time. People who suffer from the condition may experience a moderate to severe burning
feeling on your tongue, palate, lips, gums, or inside their cheek. Numbness or tingling of the mouth or tongue, a bitter or metallic taste, or a dry or sore mouth
may also result. The sensation may come and go or be ever-present. For many people, the burning sensation begins in late morning, builds to a peak by evening, and often subsides at night. It may last for months or for years. Diagnosing BMS In order to determine if you suffer from BMS, your
STANDARDS IN FOCUS
Metrology and Standards are important for Laboratory Accreditation More than ever in our global economy, it is essential that measurements are deemed fit for their intended use – to reduce technical barriers to trade and provide domestic and international socio-economic benefits. To achieve this objective, it is important that accreditation bodies and certification bodies like the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), laboratories and other stakeholders, continue to give sufficient emphasis to technical issues as well as management systems. Metrology as the science of measurement consists of four main pillars which underpin all measurements. These are traceability, calibration, method validation and quality assurance /control. Metrology provides a basis for reliable and accurate measurements and reflects the need for sound measurement practices in both the calibration and testing areas. The ISO/IEC 17025 Standard, General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, emphasizes the need to address the metrological aspects associated with testing (as well as calibration) including the use of traceable reference materials for method validation, calibration and control of the measurement process). The standard recognizes that sector specific “application documents” are often required and elaborates on the general requirements for particular types of measurements which are often needed if the accreditation process is to be effective and credible. It is important to note that accreditation is not just compliance with international standard but it is both a symbol of achievement of a certain status and a process. Accreditation provides public notification
that an institution or programme meets standards of quality set forth by an accrediting body. As a process, accreditation reflects the fact that in achieving recognition by the accrediting body, the institution is committed to self-study and external review in seeking not only to meet standards but to continuously seek ways in which to enhance the quality of education and training provided. Usually, laboratories are accredited based on the range of services they provide, which lists the specific measurement capabilities that have been assessed by trained (technical) experts, who ascertain whether the laboratory staff has the technical competence, that is, knowledge and skills, to perform specific tasks. Scopes can be limited to calibration of balances (scales) or to a large range of chemical tests on food, waters and metals, for example. Laboratory accreditation is essential if users are to get the required confidence in the measurement results produced by accredited laboratories and achieve the “test once, accepted everywhere’ objective. As we close this very technical discussion, there are no ‘guarantees’ that the accreditation model is a cost-effective and efficient way of providing confidence in the technical competence of the accredited laboratories which provide measurement results in specific areas. However, these measurements must be backed up by sound metrological principles and practices, which are, and must be, an integral part of the accreditation process. For further information on this subject, call the Guyana National Bureau of Standards on Telephone numbers: 2190064, 219-0065 or 219-0069 or visit www.gnbsgy.org
dentist will take a thorough medical and dental history to find the cause of the problem. A comprehensive examination of your mouth would be done and blood work requested to check for nutritional deficiencies, any infections, or other medical conditions. Specialist referrals may be done to an allergist to identify if there are any allergies. Treatment options for BMS The treatment for BMS will depend on the cause, and would be structured to the needs of the individual. If BMS was brought on by a poor diet, then your dentist may recommend supplements to you. Poorly fitting dentures may need to be adjusted or replaced if necessary. When there is no clear identifying cause, treatment may be geared towards alleviating your symptoms and you may be instructed to avoid alcohol and certain foods as well as
switching certain medications. Some people may find it difficult to battle this chronic condition, and counselling and low-dose antidepressants may be required treatments. Other therapeutical regimen may include meditation, relaxation, yoga, and hypnotherapy to help some people cope with anxiety caused by the condition. Homecare remedies You may try to alleviate the symptoms at home and some remedies include sucking on crushed ice, sipping water often, and chewing sugar-free gum, all of which help to increase saliva production and prevent dry mouth. Also avoiding things that cause irritation to the mouth such as hot and spicy foods or acidic fruits and juices may provide some level of relief. Because the cause of BMS is so elusive it makes
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Dr. Neromini Fagu diagnosing and treatment more challenging. Also, the symptoms are similar to other disease conditions so proper diagnosis is needed to determine if the condition is truly present. In rare cases, symptoms may suddenly disappear on their own or become less frequent. If you are experiencing any discomfort in your mouth, talk to your dentist about your symptoms. For more information contact OMNI DENTAL at 295 Quamina Street, Georgetown Tel: 227-0025, Parika Tel: 260-3133 or send emails to nerominifagu@hotmail.com.
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SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535.
TO LET Fully furnished vacation home with all amenities Call during working hours 2271218 Lodge apartments (Vlisssengen/Durban): furnished (visitors) USD$600-$1,000 monthly, unfurnished 2 bedroom $60,000, studio -$40,000 monthly- Call:668-7687/ 6779638/697-6421
INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.
Lodge (Vlissengen/ Durban): Professional/Office/ Business (no food retailing) space. Call: 668-7687/ 6779638/697-6421
Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigration Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496/ 662-6045
4 AC Rooms/2 large hall with 1 extra room, suitable for business/offices @ 21 Seaforth St. Campbellville, Georgetown. Call: 226-4877, 624-7436, 654-9350
Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158
Sunday April 02, 2017
Kaieteur News
For factory or bond, Eccles Industrial Site E.B.D. Call:
WANTED One experience hairdresser/ cosmetologist preferable on the East Bank. Contact: 6453010. Female worker wanted sound secondary education, computer literate-Tel: 6225518
ACCOMMODATION
Veterinary Services, East Side Animal Clinic @ 147 Section ‘A’ Grove Block ‘Y’ East Bank. Call: 216-4144/ 6817215
Harmony Inn: Furnished self contained apartments & rooms from $20USD daily. Call: 218-1400/ 694-7817
General Repairs to all ladies, gents, gents & children footwear, bags, suitcase etc. Call Lesley Lowe: 678-4128 (anytime).
Secret Villa apartments fully furnished, hot & cold water, Jacuzzi, air condition from $20USD daily. Call: 225-6337/ 266-5244/668-0306
Brian Moe @ 642-3543: Computer Technician, FB: Brian.Moe.165; Home and office visits at your comfort!!
Hilton Int’l Hotel, “your home away from home”: rooms fully self-contained - $20USD. Call: 225-9211
FOR SALE
- Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 6471773/660-5257
LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Fibre-Tech 220 9192/6907. Fiberglass, Resin materials in any quantity all for your repairs.
Live in female supervisor with secondary education @ bar shop 25-35yrs, waitress, salary $80,000 monthly. Call: 610-3974 One shop assistant to work in the Interior, must have experienced. Call: 668-6421 We are buying WamaraTonka Bean Logs, cash down as document ready. Call:664-5150 Contract hire car to work @ GR Taxi. Contact Ganesh: 6146202 If you are selling your land in Eccles, Herstelling or anywhere. Call Duncan: 677-4092 Investors for mining land in the Mazaruni Area. Call: 6728844 We pay in USD for residential house lots, all legal fees taken care of. Call: 684-5822/6292881. One female to prepare cutters live in or live out Georgetown. Call/Whatsapp: 673-9283
Eagle’s: Re-gas -$8,000, Washing machine repairs, Gas Stove, Plasma flat Screen computer repairs & more. Call: 697-2969/646-0966
SALON
1 Part-time Technician must be knowledgeable about computer networking (LAN & WAN), Wi-Fi, routers & Ubiquiti devices. Call: 6619447/648-6292 Cleaners, water truck driver $30,000 weekly, to work on W.C.D. Call: 684-8231 Driver needed (stick gear) to operate smoothie business. Be your own boss, fixed location, preferably someone EBD- call: 628-1479 We buy land in La Parfaite Harmonie, Eccles, Herstelling, Farm, Covent Garden, Zeelugt, Bartica. Call: 2333006/658-5897/651-1969
VEHICLE FOR SALE 1-Leyland DAF GRR Series; excellent condition. Call: 6804101
One Ford Van E350, one Toyota Tundra, One Caterpillar back hoe 4x4, one bobcat Tel: 660-2212
Dwayne Stephen Auto Sales! New Shipment of Vehicle: Rush, Blue Bird, Note, Axio, Allion. Call: 6652330/ 648-6869
1 Twin Steer Leyland DAF dump truck, GMM6584 & four flat beds Leyland DAF lorries. Call: 649-8449
Not working Vehicles: 1 Surf, 2 Pathfinders, 1 Bobcat, 3 Toyota Cars, 1 Canter, 1 Fiber glass boat. Call: 227-4377/ 624-6013 Allion, Primo, Fielder Wagon, Spacio, Bluebird, 212 Carina, NZE, Honda CRV, Toyota IST, RZ & Pit-bull – Call: 650-7501 Toyota Raum, PLL Series, Rims, Alarm. Call: 666-7439/ 628-1450 Toyota Vigo pickup -$3.5M and Nissan Pathfinder Jeep -$1.5M negotiable. Call: 609-7766/ 225-8427 (must be sold)
CAR RENTAL
CAR RENTAL
DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM
PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 677-7827, 6435122 ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL: PICKUP, 9-11 SEAT MIN BUS, GOOD FORAIRPOTR & FAMILY OUTING, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807
WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP REATES,SPECIALOFFERS FOR THE SEASON. CALL: 690-6494
1 Evening Tutor for Grade 9 Student: CPCE Graduate/ attending UG, experienced in English A & B, 2 references. A p p l y :jobrecruiter7860@gmail.com
1 Big music set for sale, owner migrating - urgent sale price $350,000- Call: 690-5225 Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, motors, etc. Call:225-9032;647-2943;604-5198 1 Double twin steer Atkinson Truck. Call: 684-2708 Complete game shop equipment. Call Leon: 2318424 or 610-0808 7840 Ford Tractor Baldan Rome Plough Chipper, cage wheel, 16inch pump, complete music set. Call: 228-2551/ 6133175 1 Steel hull boat for sale 50’X13’X6’, 1-GM Engine 165 HP, Alison gearbox. Call: 6915104
TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS) Clarke Kent Cabs, located at Kingston, exceptional services. Email: clarkekentcabs@yahoo.com. Call: 231-0800/ 231-0801
1 Accounts Clerk, preferably from E.B.D – 5 subjects CXC minimum @ gtcareers592@gmail.com Straight stitch/over edge machine operators/labourer. Call: 222-2541 8:00am-4:00pm (Mon-Fri) Live in Couple Duties: Husband – Driving with mechanic skills; Wife: domestic, 1 Plant millwright with skills. Call: 227-1830
Kobelco 210, Perkins 4 CYL, Yangdong 4CYL, Miller Welder, HondaATV, asking -$18,000,000. Call: 651-4699/ 677-8104
PEN PAL Caring female for a mature gentleman, age 37-55. Contact Mr. Other, Heskey Mount, 9296 Lord Street, PR8 1JR, England. Indian Male seeks female age 27/34 write to M.D 7475 Goreway DR #47Mississauga on L4T 3T3, Canada. TOURS Rodeo, Lethem Rodeo, Brazil, Falls and sightseeing, April 1317th. Call: 665-5171, 639-2663, 223-7589,658-3758,673-2348
PROPERTY FOR SALE 2 bedroom luxury house at madewini villas, open plan kitchen & garage. Price negotiable. call 647-1773. Transported property @ Grove $14M negotiable. Call: 625-5461 House & Land available for sale. Contact Pacific Development Inc @ Lot 3 Church Street, G/Town. Call: 223-6035/227-8274 Tuschen: 2 storey building, 2031 ft2 - $9.8M Negotiable. Tel: 231-9690 (During working hrs). Parfaite Harmonie: 2 storey building, 1245 ft2 - $9M Negotiable. Tel: 231-9690 (During working hrs). Tain, Corentyne: 2 storey building 3309 ft2 - $8M Negotiable. Tel: 231-9690 (During working hours). House and land for sale block ‘12’ Non Pariel, East Coast Demerara. (no agents) Call: 227-3961/ 270-5302 House for sale 2482 North Ruimveldt, 2 flat, no flooding , 6 feet fence, in secure area. Price $21M negotiable. Call: 233-5400/ 618-0595 3 Bedrooms house located in East La Penitence, price $11.5M negotiable. Call: 6456498 2 Storey house 35X45 3 bedrooms, 1 self-contained @ 5th Avenue Diamond, H/ Scheme. Call:677-0583/6645052
Electrical Motors – 71/2 HP & Copy Machine. Call: 2332725/ 233-2439
Goat Creek, Riverfront , 75 Acres land -$7M, Lanaballi River Front, 50 Acres -$9M. Diamond -$7.5M Call: 6880087
1 Fishing boat & 7000 Lb ice box (fiber glass). Call: 6470800/680-3853 or email: vineshprashad@gmail.com
Riviera Island: 145 Acres $30M, Tuschen property $5.8M, $6M, $15M. Call: 6880087
Miller welder 225 Amps, Honda Generator 6500 Watts Honda Civic – Contact: 6390866
Tuschen 5,8,6,2 bedrooms; Hope- 2 bedrooms $7.8M, Hague Jibb property 300X75 -$15M Call: 688-0087
Datsun Bluebird, model Z16…. Used spare parts. Call:614-0162
Melani 2 bedrooms - $10M, Tuschen $11.5M & $25M, Canal #2 (15 acres) -$9M. Call: 688-0087
PROPERTY FOR SALE
Property @ 87E, Albert Street, Alberttown, front lot, size 80X20 price $35Million. Call: 669-8701
1-2 Storey building 3 bedrooms upstairs, 2 apartments downstairs, all self-contained @ avenue B Diamond, E.B.D- Call: 6585452 Covent Garden E.B.D, land 120X40, house 60X26, 4 bedrooms (1 self-contained), kitchen, cupboard, concrete yard & fence. Call: 612-4722/ 675-9093
House for sale @ South Ruimveldt Gardens -$26M. Call: 642-9855 One Roadside, 2 storey building @ V/Hoop (ideally business/residence). Call: 614-0107 Continued on page 69
Sunday April 02, 2017
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Kaieteur News
CONSUMER CONCERNS
Reminisces on Derek Walcott and Mona By PAT DIAL Derek Walcott, the great St Lucian and West Indian poet and one of the two West Indians who were awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature died on 17th March. Three weeks before his death, I felt the desire to e-mail him since we had not been in contact for very many years. I phoned the CARICOM SECRETARIAT to find out if they had his e-mail address and the young lady with whom I spoke said they did not have it but she will contact St Lucia and secure it for me. I tried on two other occasions to contact her without success. I had wished to contact Walcott because we were both 19-year old students who, among other students from other parts of the West Indies, started the Faculty of Arts of the University College of the West Indies at Mona, Jamaica. This was about 1950. The years we spent there were the happiest in our and our fellow-students’ lives. Since the survivors of that era are gradually becoming fewer and fewer, I had wished to reminisce with him about those years. The other reason why I desired to contact Walcott was to mention to him, Ryhaan Shah’s important Caribbean novel, Weaving Water, which uses Indian Mythology in a masterly fashion to produce a unique novel. He himself had used Greek Mythology for his Omeros which won him the Nobel Prize. I expected to have had his take as to why our writers in the West Indies, though brought up for generations on Greek Mythology, never creatively used it as European writers had used it from the Middle Ages to the 19th century, enriching the literatures of Europe. I also wished to have his take on the present and future use of the Greek and Indian Mythologies since the Caribbean is the only region in the world where these two complete Mythologies exist side by side and are available
Guyana a leading... From page 13 exchange rules and the ability to repatriate profits. The Tax Reform Commission included the likes of Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram, Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Godfrey Statia, NICIL’s Chairman, Dr. Maurice Odle and Economist, Dr. Thomas Singh.
to all Caribbean writers. The University College of the West Indies started out as a college of London University under the auspices of Britain. It had a campus of over 600 acres, that is, more than six times the size of Turkeyen. It was on a low plateau surrounded by the Blue Mountains. The plateau itself had a valley through which flowed a crystal clear stream, all the rivers and streams of Jamaica being clear. The Arts Faculty, I believe, started out with less than 60 students and these together with the 100 or so who were pursuing Medicine and the Natural Sciences meant that there were a very small number of us living on the campus. The lecturers were largely from the UK and Europe with a sprinkling of Americans and West Indians. They resided on the campus creating a genuine university community. We all initially lived in wooden huts built for the refugees from Gibraltar and Malta who were evacuated to Mona during World War II. The lecture rooms and library were also wooden huts. The dining room and kitchen facilities and the teaching Hospital were new concrete structures. The new Halls of Residence came up one by one beginning with Taylor Hall. There were comparatively few of us on the campus and we came from every part of the Caribbean. We lived in close proximity to each other, saw each other every day, ate together, studied together, danced together for every night after dinner we entertained ourselves in the common room before retiring to our rooms. We became closer to each other than our families. All the students of those first few years of the University, if ever they met each other in any part of the world, did so with warmth. Walcott did tell me in the few times we met in other countries, about his pleasure in meeting friends of those years. Mona was an extraordinarily beautiful place. Its temperature was always cool and the Blue Mountains which surrounded it gave it an awesome beauty. Every afternoon, the surrounding Mountains vividly reflected the colours of the sunsets and moonlight on the plateau could only be described in poetry. Since there was often a mist, the moonlight impregnated the mist and one felt that one was actually physically touching the moonlight. Walcott, as a poet, and he came up to Mona with published work, drunk in this
beauty with more sensitivity and enjoyment than any of us. The beauty of Mona would certainly have been an influence in his creativity. Walcott, like all of us, positively considered ourselves West Indian by living at Mona. For the first time, West Indians from every part of the West Indies, including Guyana, came together as a close community. We saw how much the same we were and developed close friendships with each other. An ideal West Indian nationality was realized at Mona and Walcott shared in it. There is a plethora of ordinary occurrences featuring Walcott which come to my mind: His play, Henri Christophe, was performed for the first time at the well-appointed theatre we inherited from the Mediterranean refugees and Walcott produced and acted in the play. It was a very successful production. Prof. Croston, an Englishman, taught us English Literature. We laboured with reading and synthesizing literary criticisms for our essays. Walcott’s sensitivity was so great that he wrote his essays without much reference to critics. There was, for example, White Devil, a play by Webster where we could find no criticisms to help us with our essays. Walcott did his own criticism and Prof Croston congratulated him on it. He got an A+.. Walcott was one of the founders and the first editor of the University’s newspaper, the Pelican. The newspaper was usually six or eight sheets of cyclostyled matter. I was a reporter but in Walcott’s book, reporters took on editorial duties. There were some regular features Dunstan Champagnie wrote a witty comic column and Eddie Seaga who later became Prime Minister of Jamaica wrote articles on Economics. As far as I could remember, Walcott never wrote anything under his own name in the newspaper. He was also a painter and drew very quickly and very well and he was the one who designed the Pelican’s monthly cover. One evening at our nightly parties in the Common Room, I saw him glancing at me on the dancefloor. He later told me he had actually sketched me dancing with my academic gown blowing in an odd direction for the cover of the next issue of the Pelican. Every Sunday evening, one of the medical students who knew a great deal about classical music and played the piano, presented recorded concerts in one of the smaller
rooms. Walcott had a liking for Bach and Beethoven but he enjoyed popular music as well. One evening we were listening to the current popular hits, one of which titled “Beyond the reef” noticeably moved him. The first lines of that song, I well remember, were: Beyond the reef/where the sea is dark and cold/will she remember me, will she forget. At Christmas, Jamaicans went home often inviting friends to spend Christmas Continued on page 72
VACANCY Cook/Baker and Kitchen Assistant for interior location. Applicants must be experienced, for details call: 618-2020 Experienced Waiters/ Waitresses, apply to: Manager, Herdmanston Lodge, Queenstown. Apply before 5th April, 2017. One salon assistant must know to cornrow. Call: 6222643/ 225-8701 Outdoor Salesman/Driver, Salesgirls, general domestic. Apply at R.Sookraj & Son’s, 108 Regent Street Georgetown. Looking for experienced all round IT specialist. Send CV to jobs@ expresstruckingcorp.com or call 227-6025. Wood mizer & moulder operator, timber grant manager at least 5yrs experienced. Call: 609-7675/ 674-1705/ 233-2614 Office Clerk (senior/junior) with CXC English/ Mathematics, computer knowledge an asset. Call: 223-7500 Live in or live out babysitter/ domestic –Call: 223-7500. Monday-Saturday 8:154:15pm Welder: apply in person to Alabama Trading G/town Ferry Stelling.
From page 68
LAND FOR SALE Transported land for sale size 37X270 @ Coglan Dam, Vreed-en-Hoop, W.B.D. Call: 650-5644/677-9938 1 Transported land in Tuschen Phase 1 -$2M, Tuschen Phase 2 - $1.4M, La ParfaiteHarmonie (main road) -$2M, La ParfaiteHarmonie $1.4M. Call: 642-1252
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Lot 14 Croal & Longden Street: 4 Storey building (infront Demico). Call: 6631876
Bartica - $3M, Uitvlugt (100ftX50ft) - $3M, Farm$3M, Herstelling (4th Bridge - $3M). Call: 677-4092
Vreed-en-Hoop Junction: office, storage bond, lesson place, church -$20,000 per month. Call: 603-6400
Farm (East Bank) -$3M, Providence (New Scheme) $5M, Herstelling -$3M, La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.6M. Call: 684-5822/ 629-2881
2 Bedroom Executive furnished Apartment in residential Area, close to Ogle Airport with all modern amenities.Call:622-5725/6641070
La Parfaite Harmonie - $1.6M, $1.4M, $1.3M, Tuschen Phase II -$1.2M, Uitvlugt $2M. Call: 614-6802
Upper flat for rent 3 bedrooms in Atlantic Gardens- Call: 2274377/227-0613/624-6013
La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.8M, $1.6M, $1.4M, Tuschen Phase II -$1.3, Uitvlugt -$2M, New Road V/Hoop -$27M. Call: 604-6724
1-2 Bedroom house in Lamaha Gardens $1000US monthly. 1-2 bedrooms apartment @ Lyng Street Charlestown -$50,000 monthly. Call: 231-4681/6945000
Diamond Scheme ( 2 nd Avenue), Eccles Scheme (middle) negotiable. Call: 6097766/225-8427 (must be sold) La Parfaite Harmonie -$1M, Bartica -$3M, Uitvlugt -$3M, Farm -$3M (East Bank), Herstelling (4th Bridge $3M) – Call: 233-3006/ 6585897/651-1969 50X198 Located in Friendship, E.B.D, price $4M negotiable. Call: 645-6498
Sisher Realtors: if you want to sell, buy or rent. Contact us: 694-5000/231-4681 Space for rent 70X22 at Public Road La Penitence suitable for storage or office space. Call: 673-7541/ 2265396/ 225-7845 Apartment for rent – 1 bottom flat 3 bedrooms at Lamaha Gardens. Call: 2258084, 689-6001
Mining Claim in Cuyuni $3M, mining claim in Mazaruni mining district -#3 -$M each. Call: 629-7760 Plantation Elizabeth Ann, Right Bank Demerara River (58 Acres) - $15M negotiable. Call: 233-2725/233-2439/6723886 East ½ 84 David street, back lot for sale- Contact: 84davidstreet@gmail.com
Experienced female Accounts Clerk, Apply in person with hand written application to Alabama Trading 65-66 Robb Street Bourda One experienced legal computer clerk. Call: 6247087/ 226-4283/258-0213/ email:husainsaphier@ yahoo.com
FOR RENT
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Cotton Club: Restaurant & Banquet Hall, buffet Sunday, breakfast & soups, daily lunch, breakfast specials. Call: 231-1908
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Jamaica expecting 4.2 million visitors in 2017 MONTEGO BAY, St James — Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett has projected that tourist arrivals will reach 4.2 million by the end of this year, surpassing last year’s 3.84 million, to set a new record in Jamaica. “So you know what that means. It means 4.2 million opportunities for income generating and earning. More consumption in the Jamaican space translates into more opportunity for jobs,” the minister said. He was speaking at the official opening of the fourth staging of the Tourism Linkages Speed Network at the Hilton Rose Hall Hotel and Spa in Montego Bay last week. Meanwhile, noting that 172 representatives from 98 supplying companies and 79
representatives from 59 buyers were attending the event, Chairman of the Tourism Linkages Network Adam Stewart, challenged stakeholders to grow the event. “This thing has taken on a life of its own and if we could ask you for something, don’t just make a lot of money today (Wednesday). That is objective number one, right? The cash flow? Please spread the word, please try and build the hype, please try and inspire others so that next year we have 150 (suppliers), not just 100,” Stewart charged. At the same time, Bartlett, who noted that he was heartened by the strong support of buyers and suppliers to this year’s event, said when he makes his sectoral budget
presentation in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, he plans to highlight the economic gains derived from the staging of the event over the last four years. “I want to show what we have achieved by way of income from the reduction in the import of certain inputs in the tourism that is consumed here. I also want to say how the tourism spend has been increased over the period as
a result of more local consumption, because that is what it is all about,” he said. President of the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association Metry Seaga was encouraged by the opportunity to showcase local goods and services. “This initiative brings us all together, and above all, makes buyers aware of the wide range of goods and services available right in our
own backyard,” Seaga said. “We are heartened that as we advocate the message of buying Jamaican, we are able to create innovative opportunities to do so. The truth is, buying Jamaican is a multisectoral solution,” he continued. Similar sentiments were echoed by President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourism Association (JHTA) Omar Robinson.
“We recognise the businesses which can be built, the employment which can be created, and the foreign exchange which can remain within our shores through buying locally...,” the JHTA president noted. “The ability of tourism to impact businesses beyond the realms of the sector is farreaching and today serves as a testament to that,” he said. (Jamaica Observer)
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Sunday April 02, 2017
Kaieteur News
Islamic State second-in-command killed in airstrike, Iraqi intelligence says Ayad al-Jumaili
Reuters - Ayad al-Jumaili, believed to be a deputy of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was killed in an air strike Friday, an Iraqi intelligence spokesman said yesterday. The U.S.-led anti-Islamic State coalition said it was unable at the moment to confirm the information that was reported earlier in the day by Iraqi state-run TV. Jumaili was killed with other Islamic State commanders in a strike carried out by the Iraqi air force in the region of al-Qaim, near the border with Syria, a military intelli-
gence spokesman told Reuters. “The air force’s planes executed with accuracy a strike on the headquarters of Daesh in alQaim...resulting in the killing of Daesh’s second-incommand...Ayad al-Jumaili, alias Abu Yahya, the war minister,” state TV said earlier, citing a statement from the directorate of military intelligence. Iraqi forces, backed by a U.S.-led coalition, have been battling since October to retake the city of Mosul, Islamic State’s last major stronghold
in Iraq and the city where Baghdadi declared a caliphate nearly three years ago. Nearly 290,000 people have fled the city to escape the fighting, according to the United Nations. U.S. and Iraqi officials believe Baghdadi has left operational commanders with diehard followers to fight the battle of Mosul, and is now hiding out in the desert with senior commanders. A separate battle is in preparation in Syria to drive Islamic State from its stronghold there, the city of Raqqa.
AG yet to complete ‘heavy’ investigation... From page 12 contract awarded to the same entity for $9,180,518 on May 21, 2015, making it a total of $23,709,518 paid for Duracell batteries last year. With regards to the contract date of May 21, the big question according to GECOM officials was, ‘Why would the entity want to enter into a contract after the elections for the batteries?’ GECOM was left with several boxes of the Duracell batteries delivered by Brasse.
Investigations by Kaieteur News revealed that GECOM and taxpayers paid millions of dollars more for those batteries than what they could have been acquired f o r. The Duracell batteries contracts would join a number of other questionable multi-million-dollar payments to Brasse and his brother, Mahendra Brasse, owner of Standard Distributors, a King Street, Lacytown business.
Three weeks prior to the May 11, 2015 General and Regional Elections, the entity doled out $14.8M for the purchase of nippers/ pliers from a King Street, Lacytown business called Standard Distributors. It appeared that GECOM paid out an average of $6,000 apiece for those pliers when they could have been acquired on the local market for $600. It was not even a popular brand name.
Reminisces on Derek Walcott and Mona From page 69 with their families. Many students from the other territories largely stayed on the campus. Prof Bowen, a Jamaican and warden of Gibraltar Hall, always had open- house for the entire day where there was much good food, music and conversation. On Christmas morning, when many of us were over-sleeping, Keith Tang usually led a band which went around banging a metal drum to awake everyone and reciting appropriate poetry such as Fitzgerald’s Omar Khayyam: Awake! for Morning in the Bowl
of Night/ Has flung the stone that puts the Stars to Flight/ And Lo! the Hunter of the East has caught/ The Sultan’s Turret in a Noose of Light. Walcott, who was generally a person of thoughtful reserve and kept away from loudness, surprisingly was in one of these marches. While talking with him, he suddenly mentioned Arthur Seymour, as being a person who promoted young West Indian poets and he said Seymour was the first person to publish his poetry outside of St Lucia in one of his anthologies. At the time, he did not know Seymour and was quite interested when I told
him who Seymour was. Walcott had a great wit and sense of humour. I remembered he married towards the end of his last year, which would have been 1953, to Fay Moston. I was in company with a Jamaican who asked him how was Fay and he replied “swell”. The pun was that she was pregnant. [“swell” was a current slang at the time meaning “very well”.] Not much, if anything at all, has been written about Walcott’s formative years at Mona and this may be a good MA or PhD research topic since some of his contemporaries of those years are still alive and could be accessed by ICT.
Sunday April 02, 2017
Kaieteur News
With Trump approval, Pentagon expands war-fighting authority WASHINGTON (AP) — Week by week, country by country, the Pentagon is quietly seizing more control over war-fighting decisions, sending hundreds more troops to war with little public debate and seeking greater authority to battle extremists across the Middle East and Africa. This week it was Somalia, where President Donald Trump gave the U.S. military more authority to conduct offensive airstrikes on alQaeda-linked militants. This week it could be Yemen, where military leaders want to provide more help for the United Arab Emirates’ battle against Iranian-backed rebels. Key decisions on Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan are looming, from ending troop number limits to loosening rules that guide commanders in the field. The changes in President Donald Trump’s first two months in office underscore his willingness to let the Pentagon manage its own day-today combat. Under the Obama administration, military leaders chafed about micromanagement that included commanders needing approval for routine tactical decisions about targets and personnel moves. But delegating more authority to the Pentagon — and combat decisions to lower level officers — carries its own military and political risks. Casualties, of civilians and American service members, may be the biggest. The deepening involvement in counterinsurgency
Donald Trump battles, from the street-bystreet battles being fought in Iraq right now to clandestine raids in Yemen and elsewhere, increases the chances of U.S. troops dying. Such tragedies could raise the ire of the American public and create political trouble with Congress at a time when the Trump administration is trying to finish off the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria and broaden efforts against similarly inspired groups. Similarly, allowing lower level commanders to make more timely airstrike decisions in densely populated areas like the streets of Mosul, Iraq, can result in more civilian deaths. The U.S. military already is investigating several bombings in Mosul in mid-March that witnesses say killed at least 100 people. And it is considering new tactics and precautions amid evidence suggesting extremists are
smuggling civilians into buildings and then baiting the U.S.-led coalition into attacking. Alice Hunt Friend, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, cited yet another concern: Military operations becoming “divorced from overall foreign policy” could make both civilian leaders and the military vulnerable to runaway events. “Political leaders can lose control of military campaigns,” she warned. But top military leaders say they need to be able to act quicker against U.S. enemies. And they’ve been staunchly supported by Trump, who has promised to pursue Islamic extremists more aggressively and echoed the view of Pentagon leaders that the Obama administration’s tight control over military operations limited effectiveness.
Farmers, residents to benefit from... From page 8 c a n b e m o o r e d e a s i l y. Gangadin said that the wharf will be handed over to the municipality under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). He said that the MoU is currently being drafted and after signature will be managed solely by the Municipal Administrative Council of the town. Further, Gangadin said that apart from the w h a r f , t h e m unicipality is seeing the new infrastructure as a great commercial venture. He said that in the future, there are plans to further modernise the area. “ We a p p l i e d s o m e time in 2016 and we are awaiting approval for a B r i t i s h grant to actually build a boardwalk right out here with a restau-
rant on-b o a r d a n d t o also pave that area out there to make it a commercial area where it is planned to build a few concessionary stores for which they’ll be rented as a source of revenue for the municipality.” Gangadin said that based on initial calculations, if the model of
franchising is u s e d , t h e potential revenue w h i c h c a n be garnered from the project will outweigh that of the town’s rates and taxes. “ We w i l l a l m o s t double the revenue to t h e m u n i c i p a l i t y, o f course which is also a sustainable way o f d e veloping our town.”
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Turkey’s Erdogan says he’s ‘guardian of peace,’ as seeks Kurds’ support
Supporters of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan wave Turkey’s national flags as they wait for the start of a rally for the upcoming referendum in the Kurdish-dominated southeastern city of Diyarbakir, Turkey, April 1, 2017. REUTERS/Murad Sezer Reuters - President Tayyip Erdogan described himself as a “guardian of peace” yesterday as he called on Kurds in conflict-torn southeast Turkey to vote ‘yes’ in a referendum in two weeks time on reforms that would grant him sweeping new powers. Since the collapse of a two-year-old ceasefire in July 2015, the mainly Kurdish southeast has been rocked by some of the most intense fighting in three decades of conflict between Kurdish militants and Turkish security forces. According to a United Nations estimate, about 2,000 people were killed and up to a half a million displaced in the state’s conflict with
Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants. The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), strongly supported in the southeast but cast by Erdogan as an extension of the PKK, was among the targets of the president’s ire during a rallying speech in the region’s largest city Diyarbakir. “These supporters of the PKK keep on saying ‘peace, peace, peace’. Does empty talk bring peace? Could there be peace with those who walk around with weapons in their hands?” he said. “We are the guardians of peace, we are the guardians of freedoms,” he said as a crowd of several thousand in the city centre waved Turkish flags.
The ruling AK Party, which Erdogan founded, also has strong support in the southeast. In a close race, pollsters say Kurdish voters, about a fifth of the electorate, could tip the balance in the April 16 referendum. The HDP opposes the constitutional reform but its ability to campaign has been devastated by a crackdown which has led to the jailing of its leaders, a dozen of its MPs and thousands of its members on charges of PKK links. The state has taken over municipalities which the HDP had hitherto run. The HDP denies direct links to the PKK, seen as a terrorist organisation by Europe, the United States and Turkey.
Colombia landslide kills 154 on city outskirts, scores injured Reuters - A landslide in Colombia’s southwestern border province of Putumayo sent mud and debris crashing onto houses overnight, killing at least 154 people and injuring scores, officials said yesterday. Heavy rains caused several rivers to overflow, pushing sediment and rocks
onto buildings and roads in the provincial capital of Mocoa and immobilizing cars in several feet of mud. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos flew to Mocoa, population 345,000, to oversee rescue efforts on the city outskirts and speak with affected families.
“We will do everything possible to help them,” Santos said after confirming the death toll. “It breaks my heart.” Officials were working to determine the number of missing, Santos said. Nearly 200 people were injured, the defense ministry said, and more than 1,100 soldiers and police officers were called in to dig people out. “We have sent a team of 150 people to make our response effective and machinery began work immediately,” Carlos Ivan Marquez, head of the national disaster unit, said in a statement.
Sunday April 02, 2017
Kaieteur News
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Sunday April 02, 2017
Kaieteur News
GAWA identifies team for World Masters Games in Auckland, New Zealand Local weightlifters will continue their quest for international honours at the World Masters Games in Auckland, New Zealand from 20 - 30 April 2017 after the Guyana Amateur Weightlifting Association named a squad four member to represent this nation. Those shortlisted for participation are overseas based, Howard Bovell, competing in the 77kg class (75 - 79 yrs), Colin Mc Koy, competing in the 62kg class (55 - 59 age group), Deion Nurse, competing in the 77kg class (55-59 age group) and Sean Cozier, competing in the 94kg class (40-45 age group). The locally based selectees are scheduled to leave Guyana on April 18th to join their compatriots in New York and onward to Auckland one day later.
Local lifters have attended this championship in 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2009 and 2016 and have procured commendable accolades. In 2000, the Masters Team had distinguished itself in Florida U.S.A after lifting two Gold medals, one Silver and one Bronze in the small nation
category. GAWA officials continue to exhibit confidence in their charges in the procurement of lucrative accolades at this level. They are appealing to the business community and the wider Guyanese society for assistance towards the squad’s participation.
Dominoes action set for Alexander Village and Dynasty Senior Organising Secretary of the Georgetown Dominoes Association Mark Wiltshire will be hosting back to back dominoes competition starting today. Ram’s Bar in Alexander Village will be the venue for today’s contest which starts at 13:30hrs and concludes tonight; entrance fee of $15,000.
The action will move to Dynasty tomorrow night. The entrance fee is $12,000 and double six time is 19:30hrs. The winning team will take home a trophy and $150,000, runner up $60,000 and third place $25,000. Teams can contact Wiltshire on 665-5855 for more information.
Sunday April 02, 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) YFocus on forming business partnerships. Your social skills with people may be more than just helpful. Difficulties may be encountered while traveling in foreign countries.
let that will help you relieve your tension. LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You must not make unnecessary changes today. Secret enemies will be eager to spread rumors about you. You will be accident prone if you aren't careful today.
TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) You may find yourself changing crowds. You can find out important information if you listen to friends and relatives. Travel or short trips will probably be your best outlet.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Look into real estate. Some of your new friends may not be that trustworthy. You may want to put your creative thinking cap on.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Situations you can't change should be forgotten for the present. Refrain from overspending on entertainment or luxury items. Travel will be good if you are seeking knowledge. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You may exaggerate your emotional situation. You may feel a need to make changes to your legal documents. Let others know what your intentions are and be honest in your approach. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Friends or groups that you're affiliated with may want you to contribute more cash than you can really afford. Don't turn down an invitation or a challenge that could enhance your chances of meeting someone special. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Travel and family gatherings should be in order. You have a real need to be vocal. You may need a physical out-
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Romance can surface if you get into some of those fitness programs you've been putting off. Take a close look at contracts and agreements that have been offered to you.
Cheddi Jagan Memorial softball set for April 9 at Lusignan The Lusignan Central PPP Group will be hosting the Cheddi Jagan Memorial 10/10 softball tournament on April 9 at the Lusignan Community Centre ground starting at 09:00hrs. Prizes for outstanding
teams and players will be in the form of trophies, medals and hampers. Teams will be drawn from across the country and entrance fee is $5,000; balls score sheets and umpire fees will be provided by the
organisers. The competition will be played in the Open, Over-40 and Over 50 categories. Teams can contact Seeraj Bhimsain on 647-2840 for more information.
Caribbean administrators hail Jason AK47... (From page 79) and historic. “The bigger picture is that boxing can change the lives of persons. Mr. Jason Barker deserves it and I would vote with both hands in the year for him to get that award. We are trying to copy the system that is in Guyana so that we can go into our prison and attempt to reform some of the inmates. I commend the president and executive of the GBA for their role in changing lives and making better citizens. My hope is that this can be used for an early release of Jason Barker and he be used to prevent others from ending up in prison,” Christopher stated. Meanwhile, the Caribbean’s only Three Star AIBA Referee/Judge Trinidadian ‘King’ James Beckles acknowledged that not many sport disciplines can boast of such reforming abilities. “It does wonders for the sport. In fact anytime you can have people being rehabilitated through a sport it is special. Not every sport can do this. You will not find many footballers and cricketers coming through the system and doing so well. It’s about getting a second chance and a chance to better your life and represent your country. This says a lot for the present programme that Guyana has going,” Beckles stated.
Shotokan Karate-Do...
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) It would be in your best interest to stay away from any intimate involvement with a client or coworker. Relationships will become stronger.
(From page 75) the National Park Dojo which was very insightful. Students were thought the various selfdefense techniques and their application. He also thought them advance Kata - Sochin. At the conclusion of his visit, Master Warren expressed gratitude and noted the strong commitment and spirit demonstrated by the Guyanese Karatekas was commendable. Sensei Christopher Chaves also expressed gratitude for the support given, especially from the parents and students, and was pleased to have achieved 100% passes in the Dan (blackbelt) examinations.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Your involvement in sports or entertainment will lead to new romances. Recognition will be yours if you meet your deadline. For now just do the best you can.
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Lend an ear to children; it can make a difference. This will not be the day to lend money to friends or family. Property investments, insurance, taxes, or inheritance should bring you financial gains.
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The 27-year-old Barker defied the odds when he moved up from his heavyweight comfort zone to snatch the region’s superheavyweight title in Barbados last December. ”We obviously had no hesitation is nominating Mr. Barker. He has done, himself, the Guyana Prison Service and Guyana very proud. I am not certain but this may be the first time that we have actually had an inmate of the prison being nominated for such a prestigious award,” Ninvalle said recently. Barker has ruled the local heavyweight scene with an iron fist. He won the National Open with ease and has not lost a fight during last year. With promptings from the local coaching team he decided to take aim at the Caribbean
Super Heavyweight title in Barbados. There in the final, ‘The Prison Pride’ defeated Jamaican Ricardo Brown who outweighed him by over 40 pounds. ”Even with the odds stacked against him Mr. Barker was able to achieve what many considered to be improbable. Even if he were to quit the sport now he would still be a success story. He has turned his life around and is well respected in the prison. It is our hope that his achievements, disciple and dedication would inspire other inmates,” Ninvalle added. The National Sport Awards is scheduled to be held on April 21 and is organized by the National Sports Commission.
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Sunday April 02, 2017
Kaieteur News
LBFCC/Baker Memorial Day of All set for horserace and Duck Cycling set for next Sunday in Linden Curry Competition today at Kennard Memorial Turf Club
2016 Baker Memorial Cycle Road Race champion Geron Williams powering to the finish line followed by five other cyclists. The crème de la crème of the nation’s cyclists are expected to face starter’s orders come Sunday next when the 6th annual Baker’s Memorial Classic Day of Cycling comes off in the Bauxite Mining Town of Linden. Last year ’s winner, reigning National Road Race champion Geron Williams would be hard pressed to retain his crown given the form that has been shown by the younger brigade of riders led by Jamal John so far this season. Add to this list the likes of Paul De Nobrega, Shaquel Agard, Briton John,
Andrew Hicks and Hamza Eastman among others, Sunday’s race which has attractive cash prizes on offer, is anticipated to be a ding dong affair in the Linden Town and on the Linden Soesdyke Highway. According to LBFCC President Okel Arthur, the race will pedal off outside the Baker’s residence at 08:00hrs proceed through the Town before entering the Linden Soesdyke Highway and proceeding to Moblissa Hill before returning to the starting line. The senior and junior riders will repeat the race route four times before
concluding what would be an 80-mile contest. Juveniles veterans under and over-50 will match pedals for two laps while the ladies will do so for one lap. Andrew Hicks won the junior category last year, Warren ‘Forty’ Mc Kay took the veterans segment, Ronaldo Narine was the juvenile winner with Byonka Barker was eth best female competitor. The Baker’s family is the main sponsor but the LBFCC has informed that support has also been garnered from Sports Plus Store and the Guyana Sports Development Foundation.
The Kennard Memorial Turf Club, at Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice, will be a hive of activity when that entity in collaboration with Anirude and Son Construction Company take things to a different level. Thousands are expected to throng to the venue to be a part of the grand one day horserace meet and Duck Curry Competition. Seven races are listed on the days programme with over $3M in cash, trophies and other incentives up for grabs. The feature event is for horses classified E and lower and the likes of Golden Blue E c h o , G o o d w i l l B o y, Settling Star, Brace Sky, It’s MY Choice, Got To Go and Campador will be tearing up the track over seven furlongs for a first prize of $400,000M and trophy. The H and lower race will have the likes of T and T, It’s My Turn, Cat Messiah, Chels ea, S uper Bow l, Amazing Run, Campador and Isn’t She Charming competing for a winner’s purse of $220,000 and trophy over six furlongs. Among the three years old maiden runners are Prince Saria, Miss Angelie,
Over $3M to be won, Crown Vibes International Sound on board the Rock, King Stanley, Supreme Cat, Royal Paymaster, Crown Prince and Natural Beauty competing for the winners take of $150,000 and trophy over five furlongs. A large field has taken entry for the ‘I’ class six furlongs event for a winner’s money of $160,000 and trophy. The list includes Party Time, Flow Joe, Red Region, Mary Ann, Miss Olympic, Red Jet, Awesome Cash, Secret Escape Plane Land, Little, De Rocket, Slim Shady and Amazon Warrior. Big Man in Town, the Rock, Blondie, Royal Blaze, lil Dude, Secret Thinker, Party Don and Royal Son will be looking to have a grand time in the event for horses classified K and lower as they race for a winning package of $120,000 and trophy over five furlongs. The L class non-winners five furlongs event for a winning pocket of $100,000 and trophy has Something Special, Blue Lightning,
Unruly, Royal Control, Ebola and Call She Royal among others. The winner in the L nonearners race is set to ride away with $80,000 and trophy also over five furlongs with Anabella, Country Boy, Sweet Silence, Royal Prince, Red Weasel, Blacka, Lil Dude, Prince Brian, So Silver and Wondering looking to put their name on the board. Outstanding performers will receive trophies and other incentives compliments of Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall, Bourda Market and the organisers. Other attractions will include games and a fun section for kids including trampoline, face painting and bouncy castle. The duck curry competition will begin boiling at 10:00 hrs. A big after race bashment w i t h C r o w n Vi b e s International Sound System will follow. Race time is 12:00 hrs. (Samuel Whyte)
GCB launches 75th Anniversary Raffle The Guyana Cricket Board announces the launching of its grand fund raising 75th Anniversary Raffle in aid of youth and female cricket development. The Guyana Cricket Board was officially formed in 1943 and next year, 2018, it will be celebrating what is usually referred to as the Diamond Anniversary. Approval for the raffle has already been received from the relevant authorities and tickets would go on sale from next weekend. Raffle tickets have been priced reasonably at just $200 per ticket in books of 25 for an even $5,000. The final drawing is set for April 7th 2018. The controllers for the raffle are: Anand Kalladeen,
Raj Singh & Anand Sanasie. There would be 8 very attractive prizes to be raffled out at its final drawing. The first and second prizes take care of your transportation woes, a motor car would be the first prize with a motorcycle as the second prize. The 3rd prize is a return airfare to New York. There is a condition attached to this prize that it does not include a visa but it is anticipated that the ticket holder can either obtain a visa on his/her own or the GCB and the sponsor may be flexible to agree to a transfer of the ticket to a relative or friend of the ticket holder. The fourth prize is a 60" Television set. The fifth prize is a beautiful gold
necklace which is sponsored by popular jewellery establishment, Steve’s Jewellery. The sixth prize is an Acer laptop computer. The seventh prize is a return trip for 2 to Kaieteur Falls, with the eight prize being a day trip for 2 to one of our most exotic resorts, Arrow point. More information on the sponsors for the other prizes would be released in the forthcoming week. Tickets would be on sale at the Providence National Stadium during the 3 ODIs, WI vs Pakistan, so be on the lookout look for ticket vendors as there would be a consolation drawing during the 3rd ODI on Tuesday, 11th April. There would be other consolation drawings in August during CPL and December. Tickets will be on sale afterwards to specified outlets around the country and from any executive member of the GCB.
Assistant Administrator of the Guyana Cricket Board, Ms Melinda Bishundyal (left) receives the fifth prize of a beautiful gold necklace from Steve’s Jewellery, Tiffiana Narine.
Sunday April 02, 2017
Kaieteur News
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Milo 18 and under Schools Football Competition
Sir Leon Lessons, Morgan’s through to semi-finals Considered one of the pre-tournament favourites, Sir Leon Lessons were made to fight for dear life, before securing a narrow 4-3 triumph on penalty kicks after their quarter final clash against a stubborn Bishop’s High ended in a 0-0 draw, at the completion of regulation yesterday. Playing in the opening game of a doubleheader in this year’s Milo 18 and under Schools Football Competition at the Ministry of Education ground, Sir Leon Lessons were very fortunate not to lose in regulation time after Tyrone Singh’s 86th minute penalty sailed over the crossbar much to the dismay of his teammates and supporters. In the penalty shootout, Bishop’s High Jordan Kellman netted first, before Omari James equalised for Sir Leon Lessons. Keith Cort and Tyrese Forde kept the contest tied as they scored for Bishop’s High and Sir Leon Lessons respectively. Bishop’s High Shemar Britton then missed his
Part of the action between Morgan’s Learning Centre and Carmel yesterday. effort, before Richard Rayside netted to give Sir Leon Lessons a 3-2 lead. Tyrone Singh scored to level the fixture, before Adrian Aaron netetd for Sir Leon to preserve their lead. Needing to score to stay in contention, Imran Khan’s effort was saved by the opposing goalkeeper to hand
Sir Leon Lessons victory. In the other game, Morgan Learning Centre demolished Carmel Secondary 11-0. David Coates registered a helmet-trick in the 38th, 67th, 77th and 79th minutes. He was assisted by doubles from Osafo Matheson in the sixth and 32nd minutes and a
Chris Macey in the 47th and 63rd minutes. Adrian Adolph, Daniel Clarke and Orin Moore supported with a goal apiece in the first, 43rd and 49th minutes respectively. The competition continues today at the same venue with the final two quarterfinal fixtures.
Masters Academy take on Buxton Youth Developers at 13:00hrs, while defending champion Chase Academy engage Pure Masters at 15:00hrs. Game-1 Sir Leon Lessons-0 vs Bishop’s High-0 Sir Leon Lessons won 43 on penalty kicks
Game-2 Morgan Learning Centre-11 vs Carmel-0 David Coates-38th, 67th, 77th and 79th Osafo Matheson-6th, 32nd Chris Macey-47th, 63rd Adrian Adolph-1st Daniel Clarke-43rd Orin Moore-49th
Shotokan Karate-Do of Guyana international grading and clinic a success Shaqueel Amin becomes youngest karateka of SHOKO-GUY to hold Sandan Last Friday and Saturday saw scores of parents and students rendezvous in the National Park to witness the 2017 Shotokan Karate-Do of Guyana (Shoko-Guy) international grading exercise. Shoko-Guy is the official representative of the International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF) in Guyana. As such, guest examiner this year was; 8 Dan Master - Peter Warren from neighboring Barbados. Master Peter Warren is part of the ISKF’s Technical Committee and possesses a wealth of experience. He undertook the grading of 84 students which was done in two parts on Friday and Saturday. On F r i d a y, t h e g r a d i n g commenced at HQ Dojo in the National Park with the Dan Testing examination. He tested the first group of 1 Kyu brown belts attempting Shodan (1 Dan Blackbelt). The Dan testing th
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was very intense, in which the karatekas demonstrated their skill and competence. Promotions to Shodan were as follows: Aftab Khan, Christopher Chand, Thierry Williams, Javed Troyer, Akeem Morgan, MikasiWarde and Tempest Katchay. Promotions from Shodan (1 Dan) to Nidan (2 Dan) included Stephanie Kerry, Nyota Rodrigues, Alex Rodrigues, Shaun Singh, Kristalia Chaves, Kristian Chaves and Loren Black. The final group of Dan promotion, were from Nidan (2 Dan) to Sandan (3 Dan Blackbelt). As usual, the Master applauded the strong spirit demonstrated by these higher ranked Karatekas which led ultimately to their success. The parents and other students witnessed first hand what it is like to test for a higher rank. Those examined and successfully promoted to Sandan were: Shermon st
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The successful Blackbelt Karatekas pose with 8th Dan Master - Peter Warren.
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Best, Marlon George, and Shaqueel Amin who now holds the record as being the youngest karateka of SHOKO-GUY to hold such a high rank. On Saturday, the KYU examinations were conducted at the HQ National Park Dojo also. Eight students received promotions from 10 KYU (white belt) to 8 KYU
(yellow belt), 11 student were promoted from 9kyu (1 yellow belt) to 8 KYU (2 yellow belt), 9 students were promoted from 8 KYU (2 yellow belt) to 7 KYU (orange belt), 11 students moved from 7 KYU (orange belt) to 6 KYU (green belt), 14 moved from 6 KYU (green belt) to 5 KYU (1 purple belt), 6 moved from 5 KYU (1 purple belt) to 4 st
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KYU (2 purple belt), 4 moved from 3 KYU (1 brown belt) to 2 KYU ( 2 brown belt) and 6 students moved from 2 KYU ( 2 brown belt) to 1 KYU ( 3 brown belt). On Saturday evening, the organising committee met with Master Warren to go over plans to host the ISKF Caribbean Karate Championship which will nd
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be held in Guyana in November this year. Chief Instructor – Sensei Christopher Chaves advised that an official announcement is forthcoming. However, the approval has already been granted. On Sunday, Master Warren conducted a special training clinic at 10:30hrs at (Continued on page 73)
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Sunday April 02, 2017
Kaieteur News
Lewis’ blasts snap Windies’ losing run – 3rd T20I P O R T O F S PA I N , Trinidad, CMC – Hometown boy Evin Lewis went on a six-hitting spree to lead the charge with a pugnacious 91 that ended West Indies’ home season losing skid in style with a convincing seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in the third Twenty20 International yesterday here. Playing in front of a crowd of more than 6,000, the diminutive left-hander went ballistic upon the Pakistani bowlers, striking five fours and an incredible nine sixes from just 51 balls, as the Windies successfully chased 138 on a docile Queen’s Park Oval pitch to claim their first victory in six international matches on home soil for the year. The 25-year-old Lewis from the remote village of Ta b l e l a n d a b o u t 3 0 kilometres east of the southern Trinidad city of San Fernando shared halfcentury stands with Marlon Samuels and compatriot Jason Mohammed to be a shoo-in for the Player-ofthe-Match prize and put the West Indies firmly on track for a morale-boosting victory before he was dismissed with four needed. Lendl Simmons, another Trinidad & Tobago native, carried the home team to the magic number with 31 balls remaining, when he
scorched a drive back past leg-spinner Shadab Khan, whose bowling was the difference between the two sides in the first two matches in the series, but was reduced to rubble by a rampaging Lewis. The result meant that West Indies now trail 1-2 in the four-match series, following a six-wicket loss in the first T20I last Sunday at Kensington Oval and a three-run defeat in the second match last Thursday at this venue. The final match of the series will be contested today here. West Indies did well to recover from a half-century, third-wicket stand between Kamran Akmal and Babar Azam to restrict the Pakistanis to 137 for eight from their allocation of 20 overs after they chose to bat. After leg-spinner Samuel Badree struck twice in the first over of the match, Akmal hit top score of 48 and Babar supported with 43 in a stand of 88 before the Pakistanis badly lost their way in the second half of their innings. T h e Wi n d i e s t h e n suffered a setback in the second over, when Chadwick Walton was caught at deep backward s q u a r e - l e g o ff S o h a i l Tanveer for one from a flick. But Lewis had a slice of good fortune on seven, when
mid-off fielder Imad Wasim failed to get his fingers under a low chance off Tanveer in the fourth over with West Indies 16 for one. Marlon Samuels got into action with a wristy flick off Tanveer for four, but Lewis started to cut loose, taking a couple of boundaries off the same bowler’s second over before collecting three sixes in the space of six deliveries off Wasim and Hassan Ali, as the hosts reached 49 for one at the close of Power Play overs. Samuels late cut Shadab to square third-man to take West Indies past 50, but he was caught at long-off for 18 from a mistimed drive at a slower delivery from leftarm fast bowler Wahab Riaz off the last ball of the eighth over. The Windies were 58 for two, but Jason Mohammed, replacing Rovman Powell in the line-up, brought a steadying influence and guided Lewis to his 50 which came with a hearty pull high over deep mid-wicket for his fourth six off Shadab in the 12th over. Lewis celebrated with another six high over deep square leg off the same bowler two balls later and he never eased up, saving his best for Tanveer’s third over. He smashed three sixes – all over the leg-side – and sliced a drive to third man for
GMR&SC ‘Race of Champions’ Meet
Shewjattan throws down gauntlet on rivals The past few years has taught local speedster Rupie Shewjattan a valuable lesson and that is sometimes as a competitor you have to be patient and according to him he has learned and learned well. The local speedster will be competing in the Group 4 category of today’s Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) ‘Race of Champions’ Meet against the likes of veteran Andrew King, Kevin and Kristian Jeffrey and Danny Persaud among others and he intends to upstage his rivals. “I want to send out a challenge to everyone that takes to the grid in the Group 4 division that I’m back and dominating the category is the goal I’ve set myself,” Shewjattan said.
Shewjattan, who is no stranger to success, having dominated the Group 1 and 2 categories for some time, before taking a hiatus from the sport, has returned with his Mitsubishi Evolution machine purchased from former Caribbean speed king Jamaican Doug ‘Hollywood’ Gore. A c c o r d i n g t o Shewjattan, after experiencing problems with the handling of the car he decided to take some time off to get the problem rectified and was happy to report that all the issues that previously handicapped the car are in the past and fans could expect a good performance from him today. He stated that he is
relishing the opportunity to race against drivers such as current Caribbean champion Kristian Jeffrey and his father Kevin as well as the other drivers such as Andrew King, a former champion as well. Shewjattan paid respect to the skills of those drivers, but reminded that he will not be entering the race to be counted as ‘also ran’, but rather to rumble with the best there is. “I’m happy to report that the machine is in top condition, adding that I’ve done a lot of work on it and I expect good results come today.” Fans are being warned not to miss the exciting Shewjattan as he turns up the boost today against the best there is locally.
Kamran Akmal turns one fine, West Indies v Pakistan, 3rd T20I, Port of Spain, ©AFP
four in the 14th over of the innings which cost 24 and condemned the left-arm fastmedium bowler to figures of 0-41 from three overs. A savage slog/sweep off Shadab over cow corner gave Lewis the highest score by a West Indies batsman against Pakistan in a T20I before he was caught at longoff trying to hit the winning runs off the same bowler. Earlier, there was an eventful start to the Pakistan innings, when Ahmed Shehzad swung the very first delivery of the match from Badree to the deep backward square leg boundary for four. The West Indies legspinner got retribution however, when the Pakistani opener was bowled for four with the next delivery, wrong-footed, moving down the pitch and looking to play into the leg-side. Two balls later, Badree struck again, when lefth a n d e r I m a d Wa s i m , promoted to three, reached for a delivery outside the offstump, lost his balance and was stumped for a duck to leave the visitors four for two. But Akmal and Babar stemmed the fall of wickets with purposeful batting, carrying Pakistan to 42 for two at the end of the Power Play. The West Indies bowlers continued to leak boundaries before Babar brought up the 50 partnership with a single to fine leg off Sunil Narine in the eighth over. But the breakthrough for the Windies came from an unlikely source, when
Marlon Samuels came on to bowl and had Akmal caught at deep mid-wicket with his first delivery, a high, loose, full toss – if ever there was one – in the 13th over. This triggered a golden
period for the Windies, as they claimed the next six Pakistani wickets for 45 runs in the space of 43 balls. Badree was the most successful West Indies bowler with 2-22 from his allotted four overs.
Sunday April 02, 2017
Kaieteur News
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Noble House two-day 2nd division Final
Singh’ 6-29 & Campbell’s 62 highlight day one GNIC holds the advantage By Sean Devers At the end of a day in which 16 wickets tumbled GNIC held the advantage in their GCA’s Noble House Seafoods two day second division cricket final against Transport Sports Club (TSC) at Bourda yesterday with a half-century from Stephon Campbell and a six-wicket haul from Raffal Singh highlighting the first day action. In hazy sunshine GNIC were asked to bat on a slow track and heavy outfield and led by Campbell’s 62, which included five fours, and an aggressive 31 decorated with a four and three sixes Marc Nicholson added 52 for the first wicket. Premchand Sookdeo (28) and former National U-19 batsman Ryan Shun (18) offered token support as GNIC slumped from 150-4 to 167 all out.
Stephon Wilson, who made 62, survives a confident LBW shot off Joshua Wilson who operated with a suspect action at Bourda yesterday. (Photos by Sean Devers) Singh dismantled the middle and lower order with an incisive spell of off-spin bowling to bag 6-29 for TSC, who were in a spot of bother when stumps were drawn at 68-6 despite a 26-run first wicket stand between Charwayne McPherson (16) and Rayn Hemraj (11). But only Sunil Singh (11) of the other batsmen
reached double figures as Deswin Butts (2-20) and Gajanand Suknanan (2-9) give GNIC the upper hand. E a r l i e r, t h e b u r l y Nicholson lofted Kevin Ross, who opened the bowling with his off-spin, onto the roof of the Rohan Kanhai stand. The lefthanded Campbell then
Samaroo, Balkishun bowl ECD to huge win, Singh, Bookie help GT triumph
Sachin Singh
Pradesh Balkishun
Andrew Samaroo and Pradesh Balkishun shared 10 wickets between them to propel East Coast Demerara to a 76-run victory over West Demerara, while half centuries by Sachin Singh and Alphius Bookie guided Georgetown to a 152-run win over East Bank Demerara when the Inter Association U17 50-over tournament continued in Demerara yesterday. At Ogle, Samaroo finished with 6-24, while Pradesh Balkishun had 4-2 as West Demerara were
skittled for 53 in 11 overs chasing 129. Kevin Christian and Dextroy Hyman made 19 each with the former hitting three fours and the latter one four and a six. Earlier, East Coast Demerara were bowled out for 129 in 39.1 overs, batting first. Robin Williams and Tameshwar Permaul added 58 for the opening stand before Permaul was dismissed for 20. Williams hit five fours and one six in a top score of 39, but apart from him, only Tyrone
Alphius Bookie Bygne offered resistance with 30 (2x4,1x6). Andre Seepersaud bagged 5-26 and Aftab Bashu 2-12. At Everest, Sachin Singh slammed 89 and Alphius Bookie struck 58 as Georgetown posted 247-5, taking first strike. Jeremiah Scott took two wickets. East Bank Demerara were sent packing for 95 in 44 overs in response. Movindra Dindyal hit 25 as Dwayne Dick picked up three wickets and Ashmead Nedd two. (Zaheer Mohamed)
Marc Nicholson hits Kevin Ross onto the roof of the Rohan Kanhai stand yesterday at Bourda. survived a confident LBW shout off spinner Joshua Wilson who operated with a suspect action, played the supporting role as the 50-run stand was posted in the 14th over. Campbell turned Ross forward of square for four and on-drove him for another boundary while Nicholson continued his big
hitting before he was removed by Ross at 52-2. Kurt Lovell (2) was then run out by a direct hit from short mid-wicket from Skipper Shawn Massiah as he wandered out of his crease two runs later. Shun and Campbell carried the score to 87 before Shun, just when he was beginning to look
threatening, was caught and bowled by Wilson. Campbell found a useful ally in Sookdeo but once Sookdeo was LBW to Singh at 134-4 the ‘Raffal Singh Show’ commenced as six wickets fell for just 17 runs. But the GNIC bowlers were launching a determined fight back by the end of the day.
Hercules shines in T&T C/ships zones T20 Former Guyana U19 allrounder Ryan Hercules continues to enjoy a fruitful season playing for Marchin CC in the Trinidad and Tobago Championships zones T20 competition. The 29 year-old from East Bank of Essequibo has so far notched up 236 runs with scores of 48, 64, 63 not out and 61 not out in four matches and has taken five wickets. In one of his latest games Hercules took 1-15 from three overs to help bowl out Edinburgh CC for 88, he then returned with the bat to hit 63, guiding his team
Ryan Hercules
to victory thereby taking the man-of-the-match award. His team has qualified
for the semifinals with Hercules taking 3-21 and hitting a top score of 61 in the quarterfinals.
OP Inter ministries Tapeball on today The office of the Presidency inter-ministries and Government agencies Tapeball competition will be held today at the National Cultural Centre tarmac starting at 09:00hrs. The outstanding teams and players will be rewarded with trophies, medals and cash prize. Among the teams that have confirmed their participation so far are
Forestry Commission, Prison Service, Police Training School, PSM, Demerara Harbour Bridge, Ministry of Education, T and HD, GPHC, Eccles NDC,
Camex, CJIA, GRDB, Qualfon and Noble House Sea Foods. Oragniser James Lewis can be contacted on 628-1656 for any information.
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T&T’s Kristian Boodoosingh coming for GT Grand Prix Kristian Boodoosingh
Reknowned for his daredevilry in circuit racing, Trinidad and Tobago’s Group Four star, Kristian Boodoosingh, is promising “a great show for the fans” on April 7 when the second staging of the Georgetown Grand Prix, organised by GT Motorsports, is held, at the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club, Albert Street and Thomas Lands. According to a release from GT Motorsports, the Trinidadian has confirmed that he will be coming to compete in the Grand Prix in a Shifter Kart provided by the Organisers and is relaishing the opportunity to showcase his talent to the local fans. “I’m eager to test the newly refurbished track and hopefully cop some podium
finishes. I am ecstatic about this opportunity given to me by Vishok (Persaud) to compete at the GT Motorsports Grand Prix this Friday. Having competed in Guyana on three previous occasions in the Group Four class and coming out with several podium finishes, I am looking forward to racing at this new facility and hopefully I can put on a great show for the fans and come out with some more podium finishes,” Boodoosingh said. Boodoosingh is not the first overseas driver to compete at the event following the participation of Trinidad and Tobago father/daughter combination of Ravi and Bridget Singh, Barbados’ Orry Hunte and Canada’s Darryl Timmers
who competed in the inaugural Grand Prix in February. He said the reviews of the facility and the atmosphere on race night from Bridget Singh has been positive and he is excited to race. Singh was the champion driver in the 125cc Senior Cup, having won both her races. The event is being sponsored by Stag Beer, Sun Burst Juices, E-Networks, ISG, Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club, Optique Vi s i o n C a r e , K i n g ’s Jewellery World, Truck Masters, Trophy Stall, Prem’s Electrical Store, Honda Powersports, Super Bet Sport Betting, Vishal Auto Toy Store and Cyril’s Taxi Service.
LABA/ Hamid Foundation Under-23 Basketball
Kwakwani face Jets in do or die clash tonight After forfeiting their opening game which they had won, Kwakwani, with one win and one loss, finds themselves in a win or go home situation when they face Amelia’s Ward Jets tonight in the final preliminary game of their group to finalise the semifinals of the Linden Amateur Basketball Association / Hamid Foundation Under-23 basketball championship at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court. This evening’s clashes will wrap up the preliminary round play as already through from Group A are leaders Half Mile Bulls and Retrieve Raiders who they defeated to remain unbeaten after the first round of matches.
Sunday April 02, 2017
Kaieteur News
Group B is one that the Jets will top having already gotten four points from two wins and a loss, tonight will find them on five points. However, Kwakwani would be second to the Jets with a win, because they are currently on two points. Having played an ineligible player when they won their first game and then winning their next game meant they are still on two points due to losing all their points from that game they forfeited. A win therefore tonight means they will finish like the Falcons on four points, but will move through to the semifinals having beaten the Bankers Trust Falcons in their head to head clash earlier. Falcons are on four points from one win and two
losses and a loss to Kwakwani. The Kwakwani team then on three points from one win, one loss and another defeat due to the forfeiture where they got no points. It is therefore a ding dong clash between the sub region side Kwakwani and the Jets at 18.30hrs in what will be the first game. The second game is of no importance apart for the records because neither the Christianburg Pistons nor their opponents Block 22 Flames can advance to the next round but they are after their first win after two previous losses. That Pistons versus Flames game is set for 20.30hrs after the first game will be starting at 18.30hrs sharp according to the organisers.
FIFA President Infantino to visit Guyana this month FIFA President Gianni Infantino is scheduled to visit Guyana between Sunday, 9th April and Tuesday, 11th April, Guyana Football Federation President Wayne Forde said yesterday, as international bodies focus on supporting the progress of national football associations in reforming and developing football around the world. The visit by the leader of global football follows visits within the last six weeks by the CONCACAF President and FIFA Vice-President Victor Montagliani and FIFA Director for Africa and the Caribbean Veron MosengoOmba, in a further sign of the confidence regional and global bodies have in the direction of football in Guyana. ”We are delighted that the FIFA President is visiting Guyana so soon after his election last year,” said GFF President Forde. “FIFA and CONCACAF have expressed their support and encouragement for the work of the Guyana Football Federation, and this visit will be a great honour for the whole of Guyana.”
Gianni Infantino
”We are excited about the prospect of building for the future of Guyana’s football with FIFA and President Infantino, as well as showcasing some of the work we are doing here during his visit.” President Infantino was elected to lead FIFA, which governs and serves 211 member associations around the world, in February 2016 with a mandate to reform football governance, rebuild trust in the game, and increase investment in football development. Under President Infantino, FIFA member associations now have access to at least USD 1.25 million per year to support running costs, training,
infrastructure and facilities projects, and for development programmes and competitions such as youth leagues and women’s football. ”This level of funding has the power to transform football in Guyana for generations to come,” said President Forde. “We are determined to reform and develop football for all in Guyana through sustainable, careful and transparent investment and strong, ethical leadership, in line with the international vision s e t b y F I FA a n d CONCACAF. We look forward to discussing this further in person with President Infantino this month.”
Wins for Hyde Park Tuschen SC, Hydronie, Cold Fusion Hyde Park, Tuschen SC, Hydronie and Cold Fusion recorded victories when the East Bank Essequibo Dwayne Stephens Auto Sales T20 tournament continued on Sunday. At Tuschen, Hyde Park beat South Side A by four wickets. Batting first, South Side made 126-8 with Julio Jones scoring 25 and Damien Leacha 24. Looknauth Chinkoo grabbed 6-28 and Ricardo Gordon 2-24. Hyde Park responded with 127-6 in 11 overs. Ricardo Adams struck 58 and Adrian Johnson 18. Bernard Lewis had 2-27. Tuschen SC overcame Ruby United by eight wickets at the said venue. Ruby United took first strike and were bowled out for 68. Chris Mangra made 18 and Marlon Young 11; Hemraj Ramnarine, Reaz Khan and Nazim Ally had two wickets each. Tuschen SC responded with 74-2 in five overs. Aftar Khan hit 21
Ricardo Adams while Nicholas Gundalall made 20. At Zeelugt, Hydronie beat Parika Salem by seven wickets. Parika Salem batted first and managed 113 all out in 19.1 overs. Rayon Fredericks scored 34 and Kevon Boodie 22. Vickram Kissoon claimed 3-12 and Azaad Azeez 2-15. Hydronie made 114-3 in 15.4 overs in reply. Amrit
Rai and Safraz karim made 34 each. Deon Carew, Edwin Burnette and Daniram Lallaram had one wicket apiece. Cold Fusion defeated Zeelugt by 36 runs at the said venue. Batting first, Cold Fusion posted 151-7. Khanyaiya Ramkarran stroked 38 while Bisram Kissoon hit 34; Awad Bissessar snared 3-15, Junkarim Renkin 2-20 and Keon Roberts 2-32. Zeelugt made 115-7 in reply. Tameshwar Dass and Keon Roberts made 18 and 14 respectively. Kevin Leitch had 3-10 and Bisram Thomas 2-10. The competition continues today with Tuschen versus South Side A at 09:30hrs and Hyde Park playing Ruby United at 13:30 hrs at Vergenoegen in zone A. In zone B at Tuschen, Zeelught will take on Parika Salem at 09:30 hrs and South Side B will play Cold Fusion at 13:30 hrs.
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Kaieteur News
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International basketball official concludes historic assessment in Guyana International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Assistant Executive Director (for the Americas), Victor Mansure concluded his historic threeday visit to Guyana on Friday after meetings with key stakeholders to compose a development programme. Mansure met with several officials from the basketball community that included every aspect of the sport: sub-associations of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), Coaches and Officials to further FIBA’s global ‘One FIBA Initiative’. In addition, Mansure, who worked for three years in the Toronto Raptors organisation in the National Basketball Association (NBA), also met with the National Sports Commission (NSC) as an organ of the Government of Guyana. One of the biggest hallmarks of FIBA’s new initiative, the home and away international games structure, was especially relevant to the Government since modern facilities are essential to the success of the implementation of the programme. However, because of the
International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Assistant Executive Director (for the Americas), Victor Mansure (fourth, left) takes a photo opportunity with Director of Sport, Christopher Jones (left) and NSC Commissioners. absence of facilities to accommodate FIBA’s plan that include rights to international televised games etc., FIBA has assented to proposal from the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) to defer the home and away game structure until such time that appropriate facilities are constructed. The home and away structure meant that each national team would have been allowed to play in specified windows against
international opposition on a home and away basis with all games on international television and attracting international branding. According to Mansure, the move is to ensure major support is given to national teams during the six windows of qualification, which will take place over a 15-month period. Mansure informed that this year marks the beginning of a new global era for basketball. The FIBA Basketball World Cup will now be held
in 2019 in China, with the International Federation shifting away from hosting their major event in the same calendar year as FIFA and other major international sports events. The Sports Commission committed to working with FIBA to ensure that Guyana benefit from the new initiatives of international basketball as this will be beneficial to the country in terms of putting Guyana on the map. The increased interest in
Guyana’s basketball product is as a direct relation to its runner-up finish at the CBC Under-16 Championships in July last year. In addition, Guyana again played in an U-18 FIBA 3x3 Final in St. Lucia recently, losing in the final seconds. In 2014, a strategic FIBA development programme was established at the Congress in Istanbul, Turkey. One of the strategic plans was ‘The National
Federation Development and Support’. It is a document that purports the belief that FIBA is as strong as its National Federations. Following the Congress this year, FIBA will send its development plan to the GABF based on the assessment of Mansure. The GABF will be responsible for the implementation of that plan with the aim of taking Guyana’s basketball to the next level.
Caribbean administrators hail Jason ‘AK 47’ Barker nomination Caribbean Super heavyweight boxing champion Jason ‘AK 47’has been receiving rave reviews for his nomination for the Guyana 2016 Sportsman of the Year Award. Barker, an inmate of the Georgetown Prison, was recently nominated by the Guyana Boxing Association for the prestigious award. The nomination created history as it is the first time that an i n m a t e ’s n a m e w a s submitted for the award. Boxing aficionados and administrators from across the Caribbean have hailed Barker’s recent elevation claiming that it is a positive injection for the sport across the region. Head of the Jamaica Boxing Association Stephen ‘Bomber’ Jones welcomed the decision and argued that it was another “bold move” made by GBA president Steve Ninvalle. “The fact that Jason Barker has even been nominated for the Sportsman of the Year in Guyana is
Jason ‘AK 47’ Barker already a win on many levels in my eyes. It’s a win for him as an athlete because it is recognition that hard work put in, no matter the circumstances, will pay off. It is a win for the Guyana Boxing Association for in order to be a registered boxer on the national level certain disciplines need to be adhered to. So in order for Jason Barker to have made that cut it gives credence to a penile system that is not just incarcerating but more
Kathy Harper-Hall
importantly, rehabilitating,” Jones said. “It is a win for Caribbean Boxing on a whole as not only is this a story which will inspire other associations to follow suit, but it also means that we have a tremendous talent in the heavyweight division which will only force the level of the rest of our boxers to rise. At the end of the day a win for one of us is a win for all of us. Mr. Jason Barker has my vote,” declared Jones.
Overseas based boxing promoter Seon Bristol saluted the nomination. “Great news, great sacrifice and a job well done. The fact that Mr. AK 47 could have kept his focus and hone his skills in such an environment speak volumes of his discipline. This is not his first but second gold medal at the Caribbean Championships. I fully support his nomination but the icing on the cake would be when he is crowned
Stephen Jones Guyana’s Sportsman of the Year. Great job Mr. AK 47, great job Guyana Boxing Association and great job Guyana Prison Service,” Bristol added. General Secretary of the Barbados Amateur Boxing Association Kathy HarperHall, who witnessed B a r k e r ’s t r i u m p h i n B a r b a d o s l a s t y e a r, a p p l a u d e d t h e G B A’s decision. “I think that it’s a good thing that the Guyana Boxing Association has
Steve Ninvalle decided to do that. If boxing can be used a tool to reform then its hooray for the sport in general. I fully support the idea and it is my hope that M r. B a r k e r i s g i v e n favourable consideration,” Harper-Hall, considered to be the mother of Caribbean boxing declared. President of the St Lucia Amateur Boxing Association David ‘Shakes’ Christopher, described the Barker’s selection as pivotal (Continued on page 73)
t r o Sp Lewis’ blasts snap Windies’ losing run – 3rd T20I Evin Lewis belted nine sixes in an innings of 91 off 51 balls, West Indies v Pakistan, 3rd T20I, Port of Spain, ©AFP
Ahmed Shehzad is bowled by Samuel Badree, West Indies v Pakistan, 3rd T20I, Port of Spain, ©AFP
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FIFA President Infantino to visit Guyana this month 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