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April 30, 2019 - Vol. 12 No. 19

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U.S. Embassy rebukes National Assembly for honouring “convicted terrorist” Abdul Kadir - Govt. says it's all a misinterpretation... it is a tradition

The late Abdul Kadir

Implementation of CSME cannot be a shifting target - CARICOM Secretary-General tells COTED

Delegates at the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED)'s 48th meeting at the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown yesterday

High Court dismisses Situation diffused at Guyana Goldfields… China's Belt and Road CEO, two directors retired Judge's lawsuit to be replaced in Initiative should only for gratuity, pension settlement with go where it is needed - IMF “dissident” shareholders Head and other benefits and sustainable

Review over-generous fiscal concessions, tax exemptions in Exxon's contract - Goolsarran

Kaieteur News

PAGE 02

Tuesday April 30, 2019

U.S. Embassy rebukes National Assembly for honouring “convicted terrorist” Abdul Kadir

T

he US embassy in Georgetown yesterday issued a stinging rebuke of the National Assembly's motion last Friday, which paid tribute to the late Member of Parliament (MP) Abdul Kadir's service to the Parliament of Guyana.

In its statement, the embassy said that the resolution was insensitive and thoughtless, and would leave a stain on the legacy of the country's law-makers.

However, the Government of Guyana, in a statement hours later, said it is all a big misunderstanding…that is a tradition in the National Assembly to honour Members of Parliament who have passed away.

The motion was presented by former Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valerie Patterson-Yearwood.

The statement from the US embassy said it is condemning the resolution by the National Assembly, reportedly honouring the life and work of convicted terrorist Kadir.

Kadir, who was 66 when he died in a US prison last year, was sentenced to life by a court after being found guilty of plotting a 2007

- Govt. says it's all a misinterpretation… it is a tradition

The late Abdul Kadir Bad legacy: The US Embassy has criticized the motion to pay tribute on the death of former MP Abdul Kadir, who was convicted on terrorism-related charges, but the Guyana Government says it is a time-honoured tradition.

U.S. Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch The motion was moved

by Minister Valerie Patterson-Yearwood terrorist attack at John F. K ennedy International

Airport in New York.

“Members of the N a t i o n a l A s s e m b l y, therefore, chose to honor a man who conspired to kill innocent people from across

the United States and around the world. This resolution is an insensitive and thoughtless act, which demonstrates the National Assembly's disregard for the gravity of Kadir's actions,” the US embassy said.

The embassy pointed out that while speaking at an International Peace Conference recently, U.S. Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch held up Guyana as “a model to the world on religious tolerance and understanding.”

The National Assembly's resolution of April 26 would draw into question that reputation, said the embassy.

“It also comes on the heels of Guyana's historic

cooperation with the United States on the extradition of a n a l l e g e d m u r d e r e r.

Members of Parliament have placed this resolution in direct contradiction to the efforts of security cooperation between our two countries.” According to the e mb a s s y, w i t h t h i s resolution, honouring a convicted terrorist, members of Guyana's National Assembly have left a stain on their legacy as representatives of the Guyanese people and on their commitment to the rule of law.

However, according to the Government statement, it is clear that the motion in the National Assembly was

misinterpreted.

“It is well known that there is a time-honoured convention of the National Assembly to observe, in a standard and solemn form, the work of former members who are deceased. The observance of this tradition has never been selective, and has included, over the decades, persons of all political parties and persuasions who served in the National Assembly.”

Government said that it regrets the interpretation given to the motion passed in the National Assembly on April 26 on the death of Kadir. “The Government of Guyana asserts that it had no (continued on page 13)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday April 30, 2019

PAGE 03

Implementation of CSME cannot - CARICOM Secretarybe a shifting target General warns COTED C

A R I C O M SecretaryG e n e r a l , Ambassador Irwin LaRocque has called for consistent efforts of Regional Heads for the implementation of recommendations, towards the achieving goals set out under the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME).

LaRocque was at the time addressing the opening of the 48th meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) at the Guyana Marriott in Kingston, Georgetown. He warned that implementation of the CSME cannot be a shifting target. “We cannot come to meeting after meeting and agree to a Plan and not carry forward the work.”

In his remarks to delegates, the CARICOM Secretary-General emphasised on the necessity of the COTED to take decisions that impact the people of the Region.

“An urgency to complete the agreed measures and make the CSME a lived reality for our citizens has been the hallmark of the recent discussions among our Heads of Government.

As the Council tasked under the Revised Treaty to “promote the development and oversee the operation of the CSME” you have a pivotal role to play in ensuring that we accomplish the goals in that regard.”

He also placed emphasis on the importance of implementation of decisions.

“I do so, keenly aware of the responsibilities that have been placed upon this Council at this time.

Foremost among them are issues crucial to the further development of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy.”

La Rocque noted that in a little over two months, heads of government will be expecting to receive a report card that indicates that the mandates laid out last year, have been fulfilled.

Priorities were identified by the Leaders and an implementation plan agreed upon. Member States recommitted fully to the effective implementation of the CSME and agreed to the timelines - short, medium and long-term - set by the Plan. This meeting presents

an opportunity to review the actions taken by Member States to meet the timelines so that there could be an assessment of our progress.

He stressed that there must be an urgency to complete the agreed measures and make the CSME a lived reality for our citizens, has been the hallmark of the recent discussions among our Heads of Government.

“As the Council tasked under the Revised Treaty to “promote the development and oversee the operation of the CSME” you have a pivotal role to play in ensuring that we accomplish the goals in that regard.”

A fundamental element of the Single Market is the Trade in Goods. A review of the Common External Tariff (CET) and the Rules of Origin, the Community's two major trade policy instruments, has been undertaken to assist in increasing the effectiveness of the Trade-in-Goods Regime. It aims to bring those instruments up to date, given the changes to our production structures that have taken place since they were first drafted.

Another critical component of our economic integration, La Roque said is t h e C A R I C O M Development Fund (CDF).

The CDF is designed to provide assistance to Regions, countries and sectors disadvantaged by the operations of the CSME. As part of its mission to reduce the gaps in the development of Member States, a proposed Cohesion Policy has been put forward by the CDF which would support the CARICOM Strategic Goal of 'Building Economic Resilience – Stabilisation and Sustainable Economic Growth and Development'.

CARICOM Secretary General Irwin LaRocque and Chairman of COTED, Sandra Husbands One of the aims of the Cohesion Policy is to ensure that, in addition to supporting disadvantaged countries, the CDF should, by 2020, support targeted pilot projects in every Member State.

As such, the CARICOM Secretary General urged Member States to complete long overdue national consultations, to enable the formulation and implementation of these interventions.

“And of course there is also the need to replenish the Fund. The CDF is written into the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and we are obliged to ensure its operation.

Completing our internal market and economic arrangements will allow us to engage more effectively as a unit with our international trading partners. We have been active in that arena, with most notably ensuring that our trading relationship with the United Kingdom

will remain essentially the same when that country leaves the European Union.“ Meanwhile, Chairman of COTED and Barbados Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Sandra Husbands, urged Trade Ministers to take action on matters that will allow the people of the Region to actively feel the benefit of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). Chief among those actions are related to the free movement of people.

“We need to take care of certain elements that are important to our people”, she said She told delegates at the Meeting that collective thinking, identification of

common interests and unity were necessary to achieve integration goals.

Ministers, she added, needed to be strategic, deliberate and effective with d e c i s i o n s a n d implementation activities of the CSME. “The Implementation of the CSME is one of the main issues under discussion at the two-day Meeting.

Delegates will review the agreed implementation plan

for the CSME and challenges that are being encountered, and will also brainstorm priorities for making the flagship programme more effective.”

It was important, she said, for Ministers to view their work under the umbrella of COTED, not from the perspective of individual Member States, but rather what was best for common interest of the Region.

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Tuesday April 30, 2019

Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

The wealth gap is an understatement The wealth gap is an understatement, for that differential between haves and have-nots can no longer be confined to a mere gap. The stark reality is that it is more of a wealth ocean in vastness, a separate planet all by itself. Gap does not begin to capture the hard disparities.

According to the 2018 report from the Billionaire Bonanza, as published by the Institute for Policy Studies and carried online by Yahoo Finance on April 26, in America, the land of unlimited opportunity and dreams, three family dynasties - the Waltons of Walmart supermarket fame, the Koch Brothers with diversified businesses, and the Mars family, makers of the candy with the same name, together possess and control “a staggering US$348.7 billion in assets as of October 2018”.

“This represents a monumental increase of 6,000 percent in overall holdings for these three superrich families since 1982. Capital breeds capital; prudent risk-taking brings results; and sound entrepreneurial visions harvest incredible returns.”

That was good, at least for those three families. At the individual level, the trend of extreme wealth concentration at the top continued. Three men: Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Bill Gates (Microsoft), and Warren Buffet (Berkshire Hathaway), cumulatively have more wealth than the bottom half of the American population combined.

Conversely, the regular man (“median household wealth”) in America is going the other way - down by 3% since 1982. With the average Joe, one in five recorded zero to negative wealth; and 2 in 5 do not have $400 for an emergency. And this is in the richest society in the world.

What is the story in Guyana? What could be the picture, if accurate information on wealth distribution was available?

Lots of the physical symbols of wealth: the many formidable buildings; the much more numerous business ventures; and the endless array of cars (maybe two) in many old and new communities. Almost all who have a vehicle drive. Yet the real-life motor shows are the bus parks at rush hour. Those traveling multitudes flagging down buses and dealing with the routine ordeal of the roads and parks are the minimum wage toilers, renters and scroungers, and the army of unemployed or underemployed.

There are multitudes of them, who cannot afford a basket of basic goods. Not many can claim household income of $80,000 monthly, which would severely stretch the daily existence of a 4-member family. In view of the price of goods and living, that elusive $80,000 monthly income would still place too many below a realistic poverty line.Further, in spite of construction, real estate movements and exchanges, aviation travel, conspicuous consumption (all admittedly softer nowadays), a strong case could be made of the relatively few with very much as against the very many with very little on which to get by.

Some observers assert that wealth concentration in Guyana resides in the hands of a mere several hundred citizens; and at that core, are a few dozen only. The wealth differences here may not be as extreme as in the US, but they cannot be very far off either. That is the real Guyana, the mostly unspoken, unseen, and uncared for Guyana. It does exist despite the towers, countless wheels, and the bellows over oil and elections.

The unanswered questions of this moment are: how far is the real top from the rest?

In a largely cash economy and a believed considerably off-the-books and underground one, what is the concentration at the pinnacle of economic strength and how does that relate to perceived hollowness at the middle and below? It can’t be close.

Teacher and nurses say (rightly) it is a struggle. The police complain bitterly. That still leaves a lot of people (labourers, domestics, the unskilled and near-illiterate) in the flutter gutter. Flutter is that heartbeat away from personal and family failure; gutter because it is the pits of existence. When the races are over, which leader is there for them?

More dialysis centres will be a blessing to patients DEAR EDITOR, I am writing in response to a letter from a patient being dialysed at the Doobay Medical and Research Centre (DMRC) that was published in your Newspaper on April 26, 2019. I would like to thank Ms. Romayne Atkinson for her testimony of the service she received from DMRC. The idea to start a Dialysis Clinic came about as a result of my visit to Guyana in 2009.

I discovered patients had to pay $36,000 dollars for one Dialysis Session. Considering that a patient requires 3 dialysis per week my question was “what happens when the patients’ money is finished?”

I was told they cannot be dialysed anymore, which is essentially a death sentence for the patient.

I approached the nephrologists at Mc Master University and sought their help to work with me to see if a dialysis clinic can be established in Guyana.

Professor Ingram from Mc Master University and his team were gracious enough to supervise this undertaking. In 2010, this Centre was commissioned at Annandale, East Coast Demerara, Guyana.

Over the years, we continuously raise funds to enable a reduction in cost for dialysis. Currently, one Dialysis cost is $9,000 but at a heavy loss to the Centre.

Unfortunately, we had no choice but to make the hard decision to raise the fees to G$12,000 as of May 1, 2019 in order to sustain operations.

This is only so we can survive

financially and the patients who can’t afford any money whatsoever can also survive, as approximately 50% of the patients being dialysed cannot afford to pay at all.

Mr. Sattaur Gafoor heard about the patients’ plight and he decided he will cover the shortfall which is $2M Guyana dollars per month from May to December. It is only because of his generous support; patients will continue to pay $9,000 over this period. Mrs. Ameena Gafoor contributes to the work of the Centre so patients can be dialysed in a timely manner.

I am appealing to all Guyanese to visit the Centre and see how you can help because we do not want to close our doors to patients,

to our fellow Guyanese who are in need. Your help is CRITICAL for patients who cannot afford these treatments.

A Dialysis Centre was started at GPHC with Machines and Water System given by the Centre in Annandale so very sick patients do not have to travel to Annandale by ambulance.

To facilitate our patients further, we will start Dialysis in Georgetown soon so that patients can access Dialysis without incurring further transportation cost.

The Ministry of Health is considering opening up Centres in New Amsterdam, Essequibo and Linden in the near future. This will be a great blessing for the residents in those areas.

Dr. Budhendra Doobay

I honestly believe that Abdul Kadir was the victim of an entrapment DEAR EDITOR, The APNU+AFC Coalition must be commended for passing a motion in the National Assembly honouring the late former PNCR parliamentarian, Abdul Kadir, describing him as “a great man, a stalwart, a bold and courageous man”.

Indeed he was. Kadir, a civil engineer by training and profession, was also a scholar of Islamic History, Jurisprudence and Theology, particularly in the Shia tradition. He was among a tiny minority of Muslim scholars in Guyana who understood the importance of contextualization when reading the Qur’an and not only interpreting, but decoding the verses in a world far beyond the sands of 7th Century Arabia.

Secondly, Kadir was no “terrorist”. I honestly believe that Kadir was the victim of an entrapment put in place by foreign agencies for their own nefarious objectives, in collusion with certain

dubious regional characters who are yet to be touched. Kadir was a firm opponent of the deviant teachings of Wahhabism that emanated in Saudi Arabia and has spawned such entities as Al Qaeda and ISIS, organizations that have been encouraged, facilitated and utilized by successive British, US and Israeli regimes to wage their wars of terror against revolutionary nationalist regimes in both the Arab World and Africa. At the same time, these imperialist nations have used the existence of the very groups they support to wage their fallacious “war on terror”. In my many essays on the subject, I have referred to these so-called “Jihadists” as NATO’s foot soldiers. I know from my personal discussions with Abdul Kadir, that like myself, he was a firm opponent of terrorism in any shape or form.

There are those who are well-known for aiding and abetting terrorism globally for

centuries, right up to the present day. We in Guyana have experienced their terror since our very inception, starting with the massacre of the indigenous people of this land and the trans-Atlantic trade in captured Africans, right up to a specific case in point that occurred in our lifetime, that is, the bombing of Air Cubana Flight 455 on October 6, 1976. This was a CIA sponsored act of blatant terrorism that took the lives of 57 Cubans, 11 Guyanese and 5 North Koreans. And who was responsible for the deaths of Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, the brutal destruction of AIM (American Indian Movement) and the Black Panther Party, and all the false charges that were used to jail George Jackson, Leonard Peltier, Sundiata Acoli, Mumia Abu Jamal and Jamil al Amin (Rap Brown) to name but a few of the many political activists imprisoned. These activists were imprisoned for resisting the fascism,

implemented both nationally and internationally, under the guise of so-called liberal democracy, by the leading terrorist entity and rogue state. Disciples of the Honourable Marcus Mosiah Garvey must never forget what J. Edgar Hoover and his “G-Men” did to Garvey, in order to destroy one of the most powerful African organizations ever established. What can we call this, if not terrorism?

Finally, the PPP, who condemned APNU+AFC’s tribute to Abdul Kadir as support for terrorism, should be the last entity in this country and the world to accuse anyone or any organization of supporting terrorism.

Again, kudos to the Coalition for acknowledging the sterling contribution of the late Abdul Kadir. May Allah reward him with everlasting life.

Gerald A. Perreira Organization for the Victory of the People (OVP)

Was 500-acres of prime land really leased for fertilizer packaging?

DEAR EDITOR, The grapevine continues to run and spread and brings the APNU + AFC Administration and the actions of their agents once more under the spotlight. The smoke from the Ministers’ conflict of interests contracts and the SOCU fraud is still swirling in the air while a number of suggestions on the way forward seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. At the same time, the Lands and Surveys department has

denied any act of land frenzy gifting and deals. This department is under the microscope again, with the rumors running wild that a huge Linden prime real estate has been leased to a foreigner to package fertilizer.

As the rumours run, a State lease for 503 acres of prime real estate around ‘bluewater lake’ in Linden has been given to a woman from North America to pack fertilizer. This lease raises eyebrows and of course, many questions.

First, the recipient of the lease has not so far set eyes or feet on the lands granted to her.

Second, this activity of packaging of fertilizer questions the need for 503 acres of prime lands at this particular area of Linden.

Could this be a ‘sweetheart’ deal?

It should be noted that, in recent years, this particular piece of real estate has been attracting significant interests from Guyanese entrepreneurs who have expressed their

keen interests in developing the ‘blue-water lake’ as a recreational site for locals, other Guyanese visiting Linden and real tourists. Their efforts to obtain lease for this area have obviously been unfruitful.

Furthermore, it is worthy to note that several people have applied for smaller amounts of lease lands in the Linden area and along the highway but have yet to hear from the Lands and Surveys.

(Continued on page 6)

Tuesday April 30, 2019

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

Henry Jeffrey responds to Frederick Kissoon DEAR EDITOR, Responding to an attack Mr. Frederick Kissoon made upon me I stated that, like Donald Trump, he consciously or unconsciously distorts facts, lies regularly, has difficulty logically following an argument and is prone to character assassination (For me ANUG is an idea that is bigger than ANUG itself. 26/ 04/2019). Mr. Kissoon promptly responded only to again demonstrate the above characteristics.

He stated ‘Jeffrey wrote that I got annoyed with him because as my Dean, he was not supporting me in UG’s attempt to end my contract in 1989. Nothing could be further from the truth.’ Firstly, I did not say that the letter was about his contract. I said ‘as I remember it,’ the letter was about his contract.

The material issue was not about his contract but his sending a letter in 1989 that promised to do me harm.

Secondly, UG usually gives three-year contracts and since he claimed to have started employment in 1986, 1989 would have been about the right time for his contract to

be renewed. It is for Mr. Kissoon to tell us what is not truth, is he claiming that he did not send a letter or that the letter he sent was not about his contract or both?

My original position does not allow him to provide a sensible response by conflating the two issues in the manner he did.

I said in my letter that Mr. Kissoon does not handle concepts properly and here we have it. Psychology Today tells us that the six common traits of narcissists are that they are prone to frequent lies and exaggerations; have the tendency to lift themselves up and put others down; rarely admit flaws and are highly aggressive when criticized and challenged; suffer from ‘trophy complex’, ‘I’m better than you!’ or ‘Look at how special I am — I’m worthy of everyone’s love, admiration, and acceptance!’; enjoy getting away with violating rules and social norms and enjoy spreading and arousing negative emotions in order to feel powerful, and finally, they manipulate and use control of others as an extension of themselves.

However, Mr. Kissoon claimed, ‘You do not have to be an educated person to know there are certain traits associated with narcissism.

Narcissists are people who here, there and everywhere throw themselves openly in all circumstances and possess paraphernalia that make them noticeable. The opposite to narcissism is introverted personality.’ The opposite of an introvert is not a narcissist but an extrovert.

Furthermore, M r.

Kissoon confused the ways narcissists may express their traits with the traits themselves! That is, he purposefully (it would be extremely sad if this type of behaviour is not deliberate) attempts to deceive the public by defining narcissism as extroversion and then claiming that Jeffrey is more extroverted than he is and therefore more narcissistic! So not only is Mr. Kissoon’s definition incorrect but he also demonstrates the lengths to which he is prepared to go to win an argument.

But Mr. Kissoon exhibits these negative qualities not

Why honour the convict who died in a US prison?

DEAR EDITOR, It is a sad day when terrorists and those convicted of terrorists related actions can be defended by writing about different levels of crimes as in the recent letter in the press.

Already the one-sided parliament meeting before the CCJ ruling opens spaces to defend the indefensible. Why honour the convict who died in a US prison of terrorism-

related crimes?

The Minister, who did not hesitate to put her name to this resolution, still has to answer questions on undue influence and unfair competition about the contracts to her husband.

Is it that easy to step over the line? This is a new ‘can of worms’, online for all to see and just after the horrific terror acts in Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

R. L. Singh

only in relation to Henry Jeffrey. In another article (It is impossible to comprehend the thinking of the APNU+AFC. KN 27/04/2019), he went upon another tirade, saying ‘‘Security falls to no other sector than the state. Yet in Guyana, the APNU+AFC leader has invented a concept called public security. There is no such thing elsewhere in the world. That is why you would never find the word “public” before security in any Cabinet in any government in the world.

It has to be “national security. My guess is that the person(s) who thought up of those name changes is a basic fool not worthy of being part of a modern government.’ Yet a simple Google search shows that ‘The Ministry of Public Security was founded in 1948 as the Ministry of Police. Its Minister has three areas of responsibility – public security, law enforcement and corrections – and oversees a number of operational bodies: the Israel Police, Israel Prison Service, Israel Fire and Rescue Authority, Israel Anti-Drug and Alcohol Authority and the Witness Protection Authority.’

Like Donald Trump, Mr. Frederick Kissoon needs to be consistently fact-check as he seeks to satisfy his “trophy complex”, by lying and devaluing others. We have seen it here and how many times have we not heard these complaints from those he sought to chastise?

Henry B Jeffrey

We need answers from NIS DEAR EDITOR, We need answers from the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) regarding payments of senior citizens’ pension arrears for 2011 - 2019 checks with the Georgetown Office have yielded no explanations, except the consolation that several people are still awaiting such arrears payments for last year’s

minimum pension arrears are still waiting .

Would the Chief Executive Officer or General Manager (acting) please say who made the decision not to have the arrears paid? How many people are affected? Is a particular category being targeted, and if not, are certain pensioners randomly selected? Should pensioners now forget about increase arrears?

Pat Sing

Lincoln Lewis must be mad!

DEAR EDITOR, I read with awe a letter in Stabroek News of April 29 written by Lincoln Lewis about Abdul Kadir. I do not know him but would like to meet him to check his sanity.

He can contact me at depoolaw@hotmail.com Kadir was a human being and deserves respect! GOD rest his soul. But does the Parliament of Guyana need to condone terrorism? This man planned an act of terrorism that would have killed countless innocent human

beings. He was not just accused but found guilty in a court of law, not a kangaroo court but a court where he was afforded due process with the assistance of competent counsel at the expense of the American People, the very people he plotted to kill!! Does he deserve recognition by Guyana’s highest law making body for his dastardly acts?

I value freedom of the press and freedom of speech but how does Stabroek News dare publish the dribble written by Lewis?

Randy Depoo

PAGE 6

Tuesday April 30, 2019

Kaieteur News

We desperately need an innovative stride in the fight against corruption DEAR EDITOR, The news over the past two weeks has been inundated with conflict of interest and corruption on a daily basis. This is nothing new on the media landscape since the turn of the Century, except that the accusations of conflict of interest have now been leveled at people on top of the proverbial food chain (Ministers). The general public continues to read and watch the drama unfold in apprehension.

This is nothing new to the public, for generations since independence the general public has been tossed to and frown like debris on the beach amid a sea of corruption that has become more turbulent in recent times. The public had long ago accepted and subjected itself to its faith.

The public has no choice but to remain a passive onlooker. The concept of Article 13 of the constitution which

verbally allows the people to participate in the decision making that directly affects their well being remains a distant mirage. The battle, the debate, the power to transgress on the coffers of the people did nothing more than change hands from the PPP to the Coalition. The latter (coalition) seems to have taken the transgression to an unprecedented level in anticipation of its failure to maintain its position in the impending power struggle (coming elections).

While it is perceived that the former regime was content to pass the bread to friends on the outside for safe keep.

The present crop seems to trust no one with their bread (the people’s bread).

They have chosen to keep it as close to home as possible, hence a term (conflict of interest) that had scarcely reared its head in the past has now

become prevalent. Some may say it’s just conflict of interest but the truth is, it is the foundation of corruption. It needs to be nipped in the bud for the battle against corruption to succeed.

The AFC and APNU while in opposition were vocal in their call for a Public Procurement Commission (PPC), allegedly to stem the tide of corruption in procurement in the past regime. Has the initiation of the PPC by the Coalition seen a reduction in corruption? I think not. The PPC has not cited or stopped a single incident of corruption since its inception. The PPC like the integrity commission has failed to stem the tide of corruption and conflict of interest in public procurement.

Public confidence in these two organizations has hit rock bottom a long time ago.

The PPP when faced

Was 500-acres of prime land really leased for fertilizer...

From page 4 In some cases, applicants have been several years in waiting. More recently, local entrepreneurs have been unable to obtain lands, whether by purchase or lease, for housing schemes. Worse yet, a few leases, which were already signed, have since 2015 been held back without any explanation from the department. It has been opined that the powers that be stopped those leases for politically questionable reasons.

In a nutshell, the current land gifting political climate seems pregnant with partisan

curry-favours aimed at leasing lands to inner-circle comrades or for other incentives/motives. At the same time, many other leases are either denied or withheld without proper explanations.

Clearly, the government’s boastful transparency and fair land distribution practice is called into question. The populace is, therefore, called into action to pressure the government to provide explanations on such questionable deals as well as reasons for holding back leases for other Guyanese.

Yours sincerely, Ronald Singh

with allegations of corruption in procurement were quick to point out that their procurement policies were in harmony with internationally accepted methods. The Coalition added a PPC to those methods and the result is an increased perception of corruption. We have no option, except to conclude that what works on the international scene on public procurement does not work here. Is it something about our psyche or the inclination of our politicians for graft?

While accusation of corruption through tendering has been hurled from politicians in opposition to government, I have not heard any politician, on the government side nor the opposition, expressing any dissatisfaction or contempt for the system- those on the outside (opposition) fancy their chances of getting on the inside (Government). They are all set on sleaze!

In the news a while ago, an employee was caught changing figures on a tender document at N P TA B .

A Berbice contractor complained bitterly of not getting any contracts despite bidding the lowest. He accuses the engineers of bloating the estimates and passing the information to specific

contractors. Presumably, because of kickbacks! It is common knowledge that the tendering system favours the bidder closest to the engineer’s estimate.

There is no law to dictate that a contract should be awarded to the lowest b i d d e r. L a s t y e a r t h e Auditor General cited some ten contracts in Berbice where all were given to the h i g h e s t b i d d e r. I s t h a t competitive procurement by the state? The above paints a picture of chaos, confusion and skullduggery, leading to corruption in the tendering system.

Despite the fact that our internationally renowned tendering procedures are not working in Guyana, not a single politician is prepared to acknowledge that. So where would any innovative ideas to stop the assault on the treasury come from? Corruption has become so pervasive and acceptable that honest people in public life are being laughed at, if it is perceived that they are in position to illegally cream off some of the state’s pie and does not.

We need to take the human element, with all its greed, graft, and kleptomania out of the tendering system as much as possible.

Why can’t we have a

group of competent people, quantity engineers included to provide an estimated price on everything the government needs to build or purchase.

These prices should be published so every interested contractor will know what price they would be paid if they get a contract. All interested contractors should submit prequalification documents with a letter of interest for specific contract. The tender board should invite them to a location where the contract or contracts will be won by raffling; replacing their names with numbers, the media and the public should be invited too. In this manner, no contractor will be obligated to any e n g i n e e r, g o v e r n m e n t official or anyone for winning a contract. Even a Minister of government could win a contract with no conflict of interest in this method.

As a nation, we desperately need an innovative stride in the fight against corruption before oil and gas. Taking the buck away at the top by raffling contracts! We may see a shortage of politicians in the future some people will never be politicians if the opportunity for graft is not present.

Rudolph Singh

Evidence suggests Guyanese now feel much safer DEAR EDITOR, Permit me space in your publication to reply to a lengthy missive by former Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee that was published in the newspapers this week.

In it he basically lambasts the administration for doing a poor job with public security but it should be clear to unbiased onlookers that Mr. Rohee is prejudiced and even bitter about not being in control of national security anymore.

First, he needs to know that Guyanese feel so safe now that the so-called ‘Mom and Pop’ corner shops are thriving with both young and old imbibing beers, malts and other liquids, sometimes doing so annoyingly with loud music from vehicles.

There is also the fact, Honourable Mr. Rohee, that the current Coalition Government cannot be faulted for abusing Police units to terrorize citizens as was the case with the infamous Black Clothes gang of the Jagdeo

era. There is no Phantom or death squad roaming the streets, engaging in drive-by shootings with the protection of officialdom, using machine and other guns loaned to them from the State. People don’t complain about being framed by the police in large numbers anymore and there is certainly not a single political prisoner in the State system.

Reforms and modernization efforts in the police system which the Jagdeo Administration failed to implement are now being undertaken. Few can point to widespread corruption at the top echelons in the Force as was the case previously when American entry visas were cancelled.

The visas of at least two PPP ministers associated with security were also pulled for malfeasance in public office because of unusual association with the underworld, much to that government’s embarrassment and disgrace. One involved the very minister who

attacked the Coalition for its alleged poor record in national security.

Mr. Rohee complained about the disbandment of several security commissions including one related to airport security but he should recall that many of those who sat on those commissions would not be of the personal and professional caliber that the Coalition would feel comfortable with.

I could go on and on about the horrible times Guyanese lived through during the time of the PPP, particularly after August 1999 when Mr. Jagdeo became president. Not since the slave era has so much blood drained on and stained the nation.

I argue this point without fear of the possibility successful contradiction as Guyana is a much safer place, run by people of integrity and far more decency than during the time of the PPP. This certainly includes the security sector.

Peter Joseph

Tuesday April 30, 2019

No bail for cocaine-inpepper sauce suspects Forty-three year-old Ramaeo Chandrabhan called ‘Chan’ and 30-year-old Andrew Yong were yesterday brought before the court where they were slapped with a charge of trafficking a little over 237 pounds of cocaine in pepper sauce.

They both pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on April 26, last, at Camex Cargo Shed, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, East Bank Demerara, Chandrabhan and Yong trafficked 107.6 kilograms (237.2 pounds) of cocaine.

The men appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before the Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Attorney-at-law Ganesh Hira represented the number one defendant Chandrabhan. He stated that his client lives at Lot 39 Oronoque Street, Queenstown, Georgetown. He went on to say that the taxi driver is the sole breadwinner for his home, and

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Andrew Yong has three children.

The attorney asked for reasonable bail to be granted to his client as there is no clear evidence against him and no substance was found in his possession. Yong’s attorney also entered an application for bail to be granted to his client in a reasonable some. The attorney told the court that Yong is also a taxidriver.

The cocaine was allegedly concealed in these containers Yong’s address was given as Lot 2008 Section ‘C’, Diamond, East Bank Demerara. He stated that the father of three is known as a hard working individual and as such he has no knowledge of the alleged cocaine or intention to traffic same.

Customs Anti Narcotic Unit (CANU) prosecutor Konya Sandiford, who is representing the state in the matter, objected to bail being granted, based on the quantity of cocaine and the fact that there are oral statements and telephone recordings that implicate the defendants in the case.

The suspected narcotic was unearthed at the Camex Cargo Shed at Timehri, concealed in a quantity of 15-gallon bottles of pepper sauce slated for export.

She also mentioned that in one of the recordings the men can be heard boasting about CANU and the police’s inability to detect such crimes. She also indicated that Yong allegedly identified the containers that the substance was found in.

Magistrate McLennan upheld the submission made by the prosecutor and remanded the men to prison until May 15, when they will return to court for statements into the matter.

Review over-generous fiscal concessions, tax exemptions in Exxon’s contract - Goolsarran Parliament’s honouring of a convicted terrorist, a Cabinet reshuffle, and headlines about Ministers’ conflict of interest have all dominated the front-pages of daily newspapers and public discourse recently. But Chartered Accountant, Anand Goolsarran hopes to remind of an issue that will affect the future of all citizens and the next generation to come. That issue relates to the lopsided ExxonMobil contract and the urgent need for it to be renegotiated. In his recent writings, Goolsarran stressed that the contract has over-generous fiscal concessions and tax exemptions which ultimately shave away significant revenues from Guyana’s national purse.

Goolsarran said, “Ever since the Petroleum Agreement with ExxonMobil’s subsidiaries Esso, Nexen and Hess was made public, we have been calling for the Agreement to be renegotiated to ensure that Guyana gets a better share of the oil revenues which are expected to commence flowing in the first quarter of 2020.”

The former Auditor General continued, “Our assessment of the Agreement is that it is too heavily weighted in favour of the oil giant, especially in terms of royalty, cost recovery, taxation and profit sharing. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), there are too many loopholes in the Agreement that if not plugged, could result in Guyana losing significant amounts of revenue.”

He added, “The Agreement provides for Guyana to receive a royalty of two percent which is significantly below what other oil-producing countries are receiving...In countries where ad valorem rates are applicable, the rates vary from eight percent to 20 percent.

For example, in Trinidad and Tobago, the royalty rates are between 10 percent and 12 percent while for the United States, the rate is 16.6 percent.

Colombia’s royalty rates are between eight percent and 25 percent, while for Brazil and Peru, the rates are 10 percent and five to 20 percent respectively.” Further to this, Goolsarran reminded that

Guyana will receive 50 percent of the share of profits after deducting up to a maximum of 75 percent of recoverable costs from monthly revenues.

He pointed out, too, that any excess recoverable costs are to be carried over to the following month. Because of the difficulty in verifying such costs and perhaps, Guyana’s apparent lack of capacity and technical expertise to do so, Goolsarran said it was suggested that in any renegotiated agreement, the profitsharing model should be replaced with a revenue-sharing one, as is being done in the case of India.

In the petroleum industry, Goolsarran noted that recovery costs are by far more difficult to verify compared with revenue.

On the basis of the foregoing arguments, Goolsarran reiterated his call for the contract to be renegotiated while reminding that even the U.S. Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, recently stated that Guyana would be within its sovereign right to renegotiate the agreement if it so wishes.

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China’s Belt and Road Initiative should only go where it is needed and sustainable - IMF Head

By Kiana Wilburg While China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has the potential to stimulate infrastructural development, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde says it should only go where it is needed and where countries can “sustainably” handle the debt that will follow.

Lagarde made these and other remarks to nearly 40 world leaders and other highranking officials at China’s second Belt and Road summit in Beijing. The three-day event ended on Saturday. The summit sought to encourage discussions on opportunities for growth that are possible for nations involved in the

Belt and Road Initiative. There were also talks on ways to further promote trade, foster greater financial inclusion, and facilitate more people-topeople connections through BRI. Lagarde’s presentation however, was focused on exposing that BRI is only successful in countries that need it and can subsequently service the debt that will be incurred.

The Managing Director said, “To borrow from a Chinese proverb, ‘It is easy to start a venture —the more difficult challenge is what comes next.’ That is where we find ourselves today, at the more difficult challenge. The BRI is clearly having an impact. From

stimulating infrastructure investment to developing new global supply chains, some of the promises of BRI are being realized.”

Lagarde added, “Consider Kazakhstan, where a new manufacturing zone is beginning to unleash previously untapped economic potential. Or look at Senegal, where robust economic growth of over six percent in each of the last four years was supported partly by BRIlinked investment projects, including the construction of a new highway linking the airport to three large cities.”

At the same time, the IMF Managing Director alluded to the fact that other nations have not been so lucky. She

said, “History has taught us that, if not managed carefully, infrastructure investments can lead to a problematic increase in debt. I have said before that, to be fully successful, the Belt and Road should only go where it is needed. I would add today that it should only go where it is sustainable, in all aspects...”

But this is not the first time Lagarde has warned about the debt risks that come with the BRI. Last year April, the Financial Times reported that the IMF Head cautioned Chinese policymakers about taking “unneeded and unsustainable” BRI projects in countries which already heavy debt burdens.

She had told a similar conference in Beijing that while China’s Belt and Road Initiative could provide muchneeded infrastructure, “ventures can also lead to a problematic increase in debt, potentially limiting other spending as debt service rises, and creating balance of payments challenges”. (See link for more on this: https://www.ft.com/ content/8e6d98e2-3ded-11e8b7e0-52972418fec4) While Lagarde made such cautionary statements, she nonetheless praised China for its efforts to recalibrate its Belt and Road plan in the face of international pushback and criticism.

Locally, Kaieteur News

IMF Managing Director, Christine Lagarde has been at the forefront of exposing how the debt burden from China’s BRI has been breaking the backs of nations which signed up for it.

Sri Lanka for example was forced to sign over its strategically important Hambantota port to a Chinese state-owned company on a 99-year lease in 2017. The transfer of the port was to lift some of the enormous billion-dollar debts Sri Lanka owed to Beijing, debts which came from loans that helped fund Hambantota in the first place.

Other countries which have landed in the same boat

with Sri Lanka include Pakistan, Djibouti, the Maldives, Fiji and Malaysia. (See link for further details: https:// www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ category/chinas-modus-operandi/).

In spite of the revelations made by this newspaper and the international reports warning countries about the BRI being nothing more than a debt trap, Guyana still signed up it. Other Caribbean nations which have done the same include Jamaica, Barbados, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica, and the Dominican Republic.

Opposition party renews efforts to reverse 2015 general election results P O RT O F S PA I N , Trinidad - CMC – The main opposition United National Congress (UNC) says it is moving to get the courts here to set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal in the results of the 2015 general elections.

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad Bissessar, addressing the 30th anniversary celebrations of the party on Sunday, said that the hearing is scheduled for June 5.

The UNC, the biggest partner in the then coalition People’s Partnership government that had governed the country from 2010-2015, had in petitions challenged the unilateral decision of the Elections and Boundaries Commis-

sion (EBC) to extend the voting period by one hour in Trinidad only due to the inclement weather on polling day.

It was challenging the results in six of the constituencies.

The People’s National Movement (PNM) won 23 of the 41 seats that were at stake while the coalition, which had won 29 seats in 2010, was only able to win 18 in the election.

“Our lawyers have returned to court on the 2015 election petitions to set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal on the ground of bias and unfairness.

“The application urges the court to re-open proceedings as the final arbi-

ter of the electoral petitions- which are of pivotal and political importance to determine a complaint of bias,” Persad Bissessar said.

She told par t y s u p porters gathered in Central Trinidad that the party was now into election mode and that it has already completed the nomination process for the Local Government Elections with over 400 persons having filed nominations.

But she said that she wanted to send a warning to Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley and the PNM that the UNC is aware “what is going on and what he and his party are planning for elections.

Tuesday April 30, 2019

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Silly semantics The government’s excuse that there is in place a timehonoured convention which allows the National Assembly to recognize the services of members of Parliament is woeful. A person convicted of a serious criminal offence and a person who is expelled from the National Assembly forfeits his or her right to be honoured.

Time-honoured conventions paying tribute to convicts and persons expelled do not exist. If you are required to vacate your seat in the National Assembly once you are convicted, why should you be honoured by the said National Assembly?

It is true that there is a timehonored convention to pay tribute to persons from both sides of the House who have served in the National Assembly. But there has never before existed a case in which a member of parliament was charged or convicted for engaging in terrorism. Kadir

was the first. Abdul Kadir, by his conviction, forfeited any right to be honored by the National Assembly. Ishak Basir, the PPP Member of Parliament who was expelled from the National Assembly, has also forfeited his right to be hailed for his contributions as a parliamentarian.

There was no need for a motion paying tribute to Kadir and asking for the Assembly to convey expressions of sympathy to his family. On January 4th 2019, the NationalAssembly had observed one minute of silence for three parliamentarians – Ronald Gajraj, Heeralal Mohan and Abdul Kadir. This was recognition enough.

Why the government would wish to have tabled and passed this particular motion is beyond comprehension. The only logical explanation is that it is so obsessed with outflanking the PPPC, that everything the PPPC does the government feels an

obligation to respond to.

The PPPC did not attend that sitting, but had it done so, it had proposed to introduce a private motion paying tribute to its former member of parliament Heeralal Mohan and asking for the National Assembly to convey sympathies to his family.

In other words, the PPPC, had it attended the sitting, was going to pay tribute to Mohan.

And therefore the government felt that it should pay tribute to one of its own, Kadir.

But Mohan is not Kadir. He was not a convicted and disgraced member of parliament.

The government made a big mistake. It should have should have admitted to the mistake and apologized not just to the Americans, but also for the shame which this motion has brought to the nation.

The government also ought to have known that there were international implications when

Dem boys seh ...

Soulja Bai resign he politicians Old people always seh ‘Come see me is not come live wid me.’ Is a smart saying. Dem boys mother use to use it a lot because dem boys always talking how a certain gyal nice and how dem in love.

De statement merely mean what you see is not necessarily what you gon get. Is de same like ‘All dat glitters is not gold.’

People see Soulja Bai and dem think he soft; dat people can push him around. Some of dem get a rude awakening de odda day. After de no confidence vote in Parliament and de court ruling dat dual citizenship can sit in parliament, couple of dem understand dat dem either resign from parliament or dem give up de citizenship.

Dem boys watch to see wha gon happen. Dem got a man who is a citizen but he can’t even go near de airport because he believe de United States gon grab him. So, whether he resign or not is neither here nor there. De only people who benefit from he citizenship was he wife and children.

De odda people try to bluff dem way. One man announce how he got to represent he constituency suh he ain’t got to resign. Soulja Bai didn’t waste time. He know from de time he appoint dem and mek dem swear in, he did done have dem resignation. All he had to do was put in de date. He was in Cuba suh he couldn’t put in de date but as soon as he come in, he do dat.

De news shock all of dem. De

man mek de announcement while some of dem was still puffing up dem chest. Dis thing woulda been a secret but is when dem boys was drinking in Bam Bam Alley dat dem hear de whole story. One of de men who resignation announce, was crying at de bar. Is he been talking. Dem boys seh all of dem who was big ones is now ordinary citizens. People use to call dem and couldn’t get dem pon de phone. Now dem would answer even before de phone ring.

Some women talking more powerful than dem. Dat is why dem boys always seh wha goes up must come down. Dem does also seh life is a circle.

Talk half and don’t underestimate Soulja Bai.

Cabinet to receive Guyana’s first EITI Report this week Guyana’s inaugural report since becoming a member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) will be presented to Cabinet this week. According to a statement released by the Government yesterday, the report is in keeping with the nation’s obligations since becoming part of the international body. The report was submitted to EITI by the April 25 deadline.

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman who received a copy of the report yesterday, reminded that his Ministry is the lead agency with responsibility for the implementation of Guyana’s EITI. Preparation of the report was initiated by the said Ministry through the GYEITI as it seeks to bring transparency to the country’s ex-

Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman tractive industries. Trotman said that for a country like Guyana where the bedrock of the economy is the extractive

industries, the report is significant. He said, “… This has been a steady process. We trust that this is the part of the journey to full transparency. The Government is fully committed to this.” EITI is the global standard for the good governance of oil, gas and mineral resources. In August 2017, Guyana submitted its application to the EITI International Secretariat and on October 25, 2017, Guyana was officially accepted as an EITIimplementing country.

In February 2017, the Government launched the GYEITI Multi-Stakeholder Group comprising 12 substantive members with civil society, government and the extractive industries each having four representatives. Additionally, each member is supported by an alternate.

it decided to move this ill-advised motion. The government should have been aware that the motion would have aroused the consternation of the United States government and brought the government into disrepute with the United States. There is no way that such a motion would have gone unnoticed by the United States. The United States Embassy in Guyana was swift in condemning the motion. The Embassy said that it was insensitive and counterproductive towards security cooperation between the US and Guyana.

In a feeble attempt at damage control, the government has issued a statement expressing

regret that the motion was misinterpreted. It took the opportunity to reiterate its disapproval of terrorism. The government has not even had the decency to admit that the motion was ill-advised and inappropriate. It has excused itself by pointing to a convention which has no application when it comes to persons convicted of certain offences.

The government in its statement in response to the US’s condemnation said that it had no intention of conveying the impression that the motion was designed to honour a former MP convicted of terrorism in another jurisdiction, but merely recognises the member’s service

as a parliamentarian.

The government wants us to believe that Kadir had two distinct lives – one as a parliamentarian and the other as a terrorist and spy for Iran. It would have been much better if the government had avoided embarrassing itself by employing such silly semantics.

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Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

A $6 million offer by a Guyanese racist I will be looking at the released MI5 files on the PPP in the fifties and sixties. It is impossible in any country, except Guyana, for such documents to not be analyzed for the education of the forthcoming generations. There are people in this country that would gladly let priceless, historical information die, and the country becomes intellectually poorer.

When national figures die, those who knew them offer wonderfully inspired eulogies, but the other side of the coin is never told. That of course is understandable. Eusi Kwayana and Moses Bhagwan did just that – offered glowing tributes to Miles Fitzpatrick. They were right to do so, because they highlighted the positives they knew about the man. It is for others to analyze the negatives they saw in

Fitzpatrick.

This is where my pen comes in. I have an undying loyalty to Guyana, the land that gave me birth and the land I chose to spend my entire life in. Long after I am gone, those who make Guyana their home should be entitled to read about who was who in their country eighty years ago, and who and who shaped or developed or destroyed their country eighty years ago. In other words, history must be recorded. It is an undying passion in places like Europe and the US. It must be so for Guyana.

Unfortunately, we will miss great opportunities to inform the next generation about many things it needs to know. It has to be a display of the sickest mind steeped in racist miasma when one

reads what one of the Shah sisters divulged recently. For over 40 years, the Shah sisters staged a dance show named Nrityageet, originally a performance of East Indian dances. As the show grew, it took on a more diverse flavour.

There were dance pieces that were not exclusively Indian in origin and non-Indians specializing in Indian classical dance performed.

Two notable inclusions were Andre Subryan and Philip McClintock, the latter benefitting from a scholarship from the Indian government. The National Dance Company, whose performers were not East Indians, was a regular feature.

Because of the inclusion of non-Indian performers, Ms.

Sita Shah wrote that she was offered six million dollars if she excluded non-Indians from performing in her show. Lost forever is the name of that person or company that made the repulsive offer. One doubts Ms. Shah will want to identify him or her. Obviously, there is the libel threat.

Stop for a moment and think of what this person is made of.

In a country where ethnic tensions and ethnic suspicions have destroyed this nation, and where there have been phenomenal attempts to heal this country, someone was willing to pay six million dollars just to keep a non-Indian from being part of a performance. How could someone have such a mind? Cultures must always reach out to each other, learn from each other, and help build tolerance.

There could only have been one result if Nrityageet had incorporated diverse talent in its midst – diversity would have brought a better appreciation of the difference that separates people in Guyana.

What Ms. Shah wrote about that offer is so shocking that it numbs the mind to think that we have such types in the country. That person is a truly sick human that should not be part of a multi-racial country. I would like to ask Ms. Shah if she ever saw that person again, and if she ever asked for an apology and was the apology given.

There were more shocking revelations from Ms. Shah. In declaring that 2019 will see the last rites for Nrityageet that endured for forty years, she said the show over the years was decimated by boycotts from the Indian communities because they wanted it to be an all-Indian affair. She intoned that the mandirs didn’t offer support for that reason too.

What a tragic country we live in. When I read what Ms. Shah revealed and what Lincoln Lewis wrote about foreigners coming here to take our “economic greatness” (a subject I will return to in a

Frederick Kissoon forthcoming column), one must despair for the future.

When I read these things, I think of the young ones who will not get a visa and will have to spend the rest of their lives here.

I wish Ms. Shah could reveal the identity to someone who can put it in context that will avoid libel. But such poisonous minds have no right to exist in this country. To think such minds that brought Trump to power dwell right among us here. I doubt God cares about Guyana.

Tuesday April 30, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Situation diffused at Guyana Goldfields…

CEO, two directors to be replaced in settlement with “dissident” shareholders It appears that growing internal troubles at the country’s biggest gold mining company are nearing a resolution.

Yesterday, Guyana Goldfields Inc. announced that it has reached a settlement with a group of shareholders who had requisitioned a special meeting of the company’s shareholders.

One of the shareholders was Patrick Sheridan, the Canadian company’s former Executive Chair and founder.

The settlement will see two directors and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Scott Caldwell, being replaced, and money for the shareholders who wanted the meeting.

The May 22nd special meeting would have led to a fight in a company that started commercial production in January 2016, producing annually over 150,000 ounces.

However, troubles started last year after Sheridan was fired. He was part of the group of shareholders who claimed that the current management has made poor decisions that caused the company to lose hundreds of millions of dollars due to a fall in share valu e s .

There were counter accusations that the amount of gold that company has was overestimated. They requested a meeting that was set for May 22nd.

The Government had been worried, as Goldfield’s contributions to the country’s revenues have been significant - almost US$50M in royalties in last three years, among other spinoffs. The company has more than 500 workers and is preparing to start underground mining soon. The internal shareholders’ fight would have been something it could ill-afford.

The company announced

recently it has started a number of measures to reduce costs, including selling its Twin Otter plane and consolidating inventory and its accounts.

According to the company, in its statement giving details, it will appoint two experienced mining executives, Alan Pangbourne and Allen Palmiere, to join the Board as independent directors - two long-serving independent directors will step down.

The company will also implement a succession plan for the role of CEO, to replace Scott Caldwell.

“We have reached a constructive outcome with the R e q u i s i t i o n i n g Shareholders,” said René Marion, Chair of the Board.

“The two new directors will add valuable experience to the Board, allowing all of us to move forward and devote our full attention to the company’s optimization strategy for its Aurora Gold Mine in Guyana.”

“This agreement coupled with the changes already undertaken by the Company achieve our objective of positive change, specifically reconstituting the Board and management.

The new Board and a new CEO will provide the fresh approach needed to optimize operations and enhance shareholder value,” said Patrick Sheridan. “I would like to thank all of the shareholders who expressed support for positive change and I am sure I speak for everyone when I say: It’s time to get down to work.”

BOARD CHANGES The Board said it is welcoming its two new directors.

Pangbourne has more than 35 years of experience in the mining industry, including open pit and underground operations. Prior to his retirement last year, he was Chief

The mill area at the Aurora processing area, Cuyuni, Region 7.

Operating Officer of SSR Mining Inc. Before joining SSR Mining in 2013 he was Vice President Projects, South America, with Kinross Gold Corporation.

Palmiere has more than 35 years of operational and financial experience in the mining industry. During his career, he has served as President and CEO of Adriana Resources Inc., CEO and Chair of HudBay Minerals Inc, and Executive Chair of South Africa’s Barplats Investment Ltd. “Jean-Pierre Chauvin, who joined the Board in 2012, as well as Michael Richings and David Beatty, who joined the Board in 2013, have agreed to step down. The board warmly thanks them for their tireless service. Mr. Beatty had previously indicated that he would not stand for election at the upcoming shareholder meeting.”

According to Guyana Goldfields, the company will nominate, and recommend that shareholders vote for the election of each of the seven directors of the reconstituted board at the upcoming annual and special meeting of shareholders scheduled to be held on May 22, 2019. They include Peter Dey; Wendy Kei; René Marion; Allen Palmiere; Alan Pangbourne; Maryse Saint-Laurent and Scott Caldwell.

CEO SUCCESSION PLAN The Board’s CEO succession plan involves the establishment of CEO search committee consisting of independent directors Ms. SaintLaurent (chair), Pangbourne and Marion.

“The CEO search committee will undertake to identify a new CEO for the Company as soon as practicable and, in any event, within six months.

Scott Caldwell has agreed to continue to serve as President and CEO while the search is u n d e r w a y . ” Caldwell expressed gratitude to the workers at the Aurora Mine, Georgetown office and Toronto office for all of their hard work and dedication.

“The Board expresses its deepest thanks to Mr. Caldwell for his critical role in developing and constructing the Aurora Mine as well as his steady leadership during his years as a director since 2012 and as President and CEO since 2013. Among his many accomplishments are policies that led to training and promoting dozens of local Guyanese employees and that led to, as of last month, one million person-days without a lost-time injury at the Aurora Mine.”

OTHER TERMS The company yesterday

said that the shareholders have agreed to immediately withdraw the special meeting requisition previously made by them, and have also agreed to customary standstill provisions extending through to the conclusion of the company’s 2021 annual shareholder meeting.

“The company has also agreed to reimburse the Requisitioning Shareholders for reasonable expenses incurred by them during the proxy contest. The company has separately also agreed with Mr. Sheridan to resolve certain outstanding claims. The full settlement agreement is available under the Company’s profile on SEDAR.” Guyana Goldfields Inc. is a Canadian-based mid-tier gold producer primarily focused on the exploration, development and operation of gold deposits here.

Rod Rosenstein, U.S. deputy attorney general who appointed Mueller, submits resignation WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who appointed Special Counsel Robert Mueller in May 2017 to investigate links between the Russian government and President Donald Trump’s campaign, said yesterday he was resigning from his post.

Rosenstein’s departure, effective May 11, was not a surprise. He had been expected to step down in March.

The White House had no immediate comment, but noted that Trump had already nominated Deputy Transportation Secretary Jeffrey Rosen to replace him.

Rosenstein ended up staying on the job longer to help Attorney General William

Barr manage the public release of Mueller’s findings from his 22-month investigation, which was completed on March 22.

In a letter to Trump, Rosenstein echoed two of Trump’s signature phrases, writing that he helped staff the department with officials “devoted to the values that make America great” and adding that “we always put America first.”

Mueller’s investigation did not establish evidence that Trump’s campaign illegally conspired with Moscow.

Mueller, in his final report, did not make a determination on whether Trump obstructed justice, but instead presented evidence on both sides.

After receiving the final

report, Rosenstein and Barr made their own determination, finding there was insufficient evidence to charge the president. “We enforce the law without fear or favor because credible evidence is not partisan,” Rosenstein wrote in his resignation letter.

Rosenstein, a Republican, was often criticized by Trump and his allies for appointing Mueller.

He has also been involved in decision-making at the Justice Department that has been criticized by Democrats. Democrats have directed most of their anger at Barr for how he chose to selectively release certain details of the Mueller report before making it public and for his decision to declare Trump

had not obstructed justice.

But Rosenstein played a prominent role in weighing the evidence Mueller had gathered on obstruction and deciding that Trump should not be charged.

Last autumn, questions swirled about whether Trump might fire him, after the New York Times reported that Rosenstein had suggested in 2017 secretly recording Trump with a wire and recruiting Cabinet members to remove the president from office under the U.S. Constitution’s 25th Amendment. Rosenstein has said the story was “inaccurate.” Despite stoking Trump’s ire, he remained on the job.

In a speech last week, he blasted “mercenary critics”

U.S. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and defended how the Mueller investigation was handled. “If lawyers cannot

prove our case in court, then what we believe is irrelevant,” he said.

Kaieteur News

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PAGE 13

“More rigorous” measures to improve Health Ministry's procurement process

I

n order to ensure that its existing procurement process i s m u c h f a i r e r, m o r e competitive and unquestionably more transparent, the Ministry of Public Health has put in place measures which it has described as “more rigorous”.

These measures, according to information released by the Ministry's Health Promotion and Public Relations Officer, Mr. Terrence Esseboom, are needed to ensure contractors and suppliers abide by the terms of agreements brokers.

“The system is also ably supported by a Contract Consultant and a Drug Inspector.

These measures help improve accountability and move the Ministry much closer to guaranteeing it gets value for its money from its suppliers, and by ensuring we get both the quantity of items ordered, and the quality we have paid for,” the Ministry announced yesterday.

It was also noted that robust inventorying is an additional step to boost accountability within the Ministry.

According to the Ministry, this renewed focus o n a c c o u n t a b i l i t y, transparency, and fostering collaboration is required to ensure long-term systems sustainability “and with assistance from our partners and stakeholders such as USAID, PAHO/WHO and Global Fund we are continuing to strengthen coordination and collaboration and to promote strong governance, transparency and accountability in the supply

chain.”

The Public Health Ministry is one that provides a vital service within the social sector with specific responsibilities to provide quality and timely health care to all the people living in Guyana. To help fulfill the Ministry's vision, the role of procurement has deemed critical.

With the establishment of the new Procurement Department in July 2017, officials have noted that the Public Health Ministry was able to set about tackling the myriad and daunting challenges it was facing.

It deliberately broadened the procurement to pursue O p e n i n g Te n d e r i n g ; Restrictive Tendering; Single Sourcing; Request for Quotations; and Request for Proposal except for Community Participation.

However, during a 12day study of the Ministry's procurement system in December 2018, USAID specialists determined that the Ministry is at level 2 of the 5-tier system: Canvas; Bronze; Silver; Gold; and Accredited.

Attaining the Bronze supply chain maturity level is an important achievement.

This level signals that the supply chain improvement journey is underway. To achieve Bronze, the country has trained staff, implemented processes and has some level of functional technology.

This is to be applauded, as the most difficult step to make is the first, from Canvas to Bronze.

Guyana is now well positioned to lift from the Bronze level to Silver, by implementing a systematic and structured improvement

programme. Silver builds on this with further advanced staff qualifications, introduction of Standard Operating Procedures and improved technology.

The Supply Chain Maturity Model generated a portfolio of 53 improvement activities which are required to attain the next level.

However, each country has its own and sometimes, individual and unique challenges which also require attention.

“Part of our attention will focus on continuing to improve the skill set of our procurement staff, and this year we have planned additional training by USAID experts in a number of key areas including drafting of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), implementing our P r o c u r e m e n t Tr a c k i n g System software and taking steps to improve synergies between the Procurement and the Materials Management Unit (MMU) to improve its collection and distribution cycles of drugs, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies in the quest to help improve the lives of everyone living in Guyana,” Esseboom shared.

Better quality of living includes protection against vector-borne diseases such as malaria endemic in interior locations of Barima/Waini (Region 1); Cuyuni/Mazaruni (Region Seven); Potaro/Siparuni (Region Eight); and Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo (Region Nine).

In June 2018, the National Malaria Programme (NMP) disbursed some 92,000 longlasting insecticide treated

U.S. Embassy rebukes National Assembly for honouring “convicted terrorist” Abdul Kadir From page 2 intention of conveying the impression that the motion was designed to honour a former MP convicted of terrorism in another jurisdiction. The motion recognises the member's s e r v i c e a s a parliamentarian.”

The statement also stressed that the Government of Guyana continues to condemn terrorism in the strongest possible way.

“The Government of Guyana reaffirms its commitment to continue and

intensify the fight against terrorism in any form and is proud of its record to date in this regard.”

Below, for clarity, is the motion as passed by the National Assembly: SYMPATHY ON THE DEATH OF MR. ABDUL KADIR, FORMER MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT BE IT RESOLVED: That this National Assembly records its deep regret on the death of Mr. Abdul Kadir, on 28th June, 2018, and pays

tribute to his dedicated service to the Parliament of Guyana as a Member of Parliament where he served in the Eighth Parliament, from 17th April, 2001 to 2nd May, 2006, and to the people of Guyana; B E I T F U RT H E R RESOLVED: That the National Assembly directs that an expression of its sympathy be conveyed to his sorrowing widow, children and relatives.

(Notice Paper No. 180 (M 127 Govt 68) published on 2018-12-13)

nets (LLINs) targeting the atrisk populations in these four Regions in the fight against the deadly disease.

For this year, the NMP aims to reduce malaria cases to approximately 11,000, a 30 percent reduction over 2018 figures.

Given the magnitude of the work to be done, the Ministry is appealing for strengthened public-private partnerships as well as greater ownership in the rollout of all malaria activities at the community and Regional levels.

The treated LLINs help prevent the spread of malaria by the Anopheles mosquito.

However, based on information filtered to the media, there is sufficient treatment available for anyone with malaria-like symptoms.

As such persons believed to be so infected are being encouraged to seek immediate treatment and follow the guidelines given by the Ministry.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e Ministry also professes to have enough vaccines available to cater for the high volume of neighbouring Ve n e z u e l a n s s e e k i n g assistance here.

Meanwhile, even as the risk of imported measles continues to be real, the Ministry in its response to this imminent threat collaborated with its technical partner PAHO/WHO to increase vaccination coverage along its borders and among the most vulnerable groups.

“We have formulated an action plan which includes additional vaccines, cold-

chain, security, HR and transportation needs while conducting surveillance and providing daily reports, the Ministry has noted.

The action plan developed focuses not only on childhood immunisations but across all of the life cycles, which means protecting the adolescents, the young adults and the elderly.

Special emphasis was placed on ensuring that all migrants were screened for relevant vaccines and vaccinated when evidence was lacking.

The Ministries of Citizenship, Communities and Public Security all collaborated with the Ministry to ensure that bordering areas were reached by local health care workers.

Man who tries to fool magistrate remanded

A

man was yesterday remanded to prison after he tried to outsmart the magistrate so that she could grant bail to him on a break and enter charge. Deon Brown claimed that he was arrested for the charge in his house, which is next to the location of the alleged crime, however, he later told the magistrate he resides elsewhere. His alleged accomplice also joined him on remand.

Brown and Teon Alleyne were brought before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts where the charge was read to them.

It is alleged that between April 26 and 27, 2019, at Regent Road Bourda, the two defendants broke and entered a business place and stole articles valued in excessive of $1M, property of Vivikanand Ramoutar.

Both men pleaded guilty to the charge after it was read to them and they offered to explain their actions. Brown, who is a mason, told the court that he is 38 years old, resides at Lot 207 Charlotte Street Georgetown, and is the father of one. Alleyne is 20 years old, is currently unemployed and resides at Leopold Street, Georgetown.

According to Brown, he lives in a house which is next door to the business place in Regent Street. On the day in

Remanded: Deon Brown question, police ranks came to his house and woke him up from his sleep accusing him of being involved in a burglary. “When I wake up I see about four police over me. They started telling me how I break in the man store next door, but I don't know anything. Eight boys also live at the house with me.”

He further mentioned that the police went upstairs in his home and returned with two batteries and another item which they stated belonged to the businessman. When given a chance to speak, Alleyne stated that he did not break into the business place,

however he removed a battery which was left outside of the premises. “I was outside of the business place when I see the battery and is that the police see I pick up and they arrest me.”

The defendants further alleged that several other persons were arrested, but the police later released them. Brown also claimed that one of the persons released, left their phone behind in the building.

Facts presented by police prosecutor Adunni Inniss, stated that on April 26, last, about 17:00hrs the victim secured his place of business at Lot 104 Regent Road Bourda and left.

The following day, police ranks, acting on information received, went to the location and apprehended the defendants with the alleged stolen articles in their possession.

Prosecutor Inniss then objected to bail, based on the seriousness of the offence and the fact that both defendants were arrested at the scene with the items in their possession.

Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus then remanded both men to prison until May 2, as she entered not guilty pleas on their behalf given their explanations. In the case of Alleyne, a new charge will be made out against him for simple larceny based on his explanation.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Tuesday April 30, 2019

High Court dismisses former Judge's lawsuit for gratuity, pension and other benefits

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n a ruling delivered earlier this month at the High Court in Georgetown, Justice Nareshwar Harnanan has dismissed a lawsuit filed by former Judge, Jainarayan Singh, who had claimed he was sacked without being paid his entitlements of gratuity, pension and other benefits upon reaching the age of retirement, which he contended was a breach of the Constitution.

According to court documents, the lawsuit was in relation to Articles 128, 197, 149B, 213, 214 and 215 of the Constitution. Jointly and severally named as the Respondents, were the Attorney General, then Chancellor of the Judiciary Carl Singh, the Accountant and Auditor General.

Singh, through his Attorneys-at-Law, had asked the court for damages in excess of $50M for breach of the Constitution. The former judge had asked the court to declare that at all material times, he held the position as

a puisne judge, with security of tenure guaranteed by the Constitution.

He had further asked the court for, “A declaration that he is entitled on his retirement to all pension, gratuity and other benefits to which a puisne judge is entitled on reaching the mandatory retirement age of 62, whether under the Pensions Act or any other enactment.

A declaration that unilateral declaration and refusal by the Accountant General, on the advice of the Auditor General to effuse the plaintiff's benefits, are made in breach of articles 149B, 213 and 214 of the Constitution; An account of all monies as may be due to him as puisne judge on retirement, in particular pension and gratuity and payment of such sum as may be determined on the account or as the court decides.”

In his ruling, Justice Harnanan outlined that Singh was appointed under

Former Judge, Jainarayan Singh an instrument to act in office of Puisne Judge with effect from August 10, 2000, in accordance with Article 128 (2) of the Constitution; and not Article 128 (1) which provides that judges, other than the Chancellor and Chief Justice shall be appointed by the President, acting in accordance with advice from the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

“Therefore, the contention by the Applicant (Singh), that he “enjoyed all

of the emoluments and privileges of judges inclusive of security of tenure under Article 197”, is misconceived, as a person appointed under Article 128(2) can have that appointment revoked at any time by the President,” Justice Harnanan noted.

The Judge held that, “A Judge appointed under Article 128(1), on the other hand, has full security of office as provided for in Article 197. Under Article 197, a Puisne Judge must vacate the office upon attaining a particular age [Article 197(2)] but may only be removed from office for inability to perform the functions of his office or misbehaviour, and such removal must be in accordance with the provisions of Article 197.”

According to Justice Harnanan, there is no provision that enables a person who has been appointed to act in the office of a judge, having the status and authority of a judge, to

convert himself into the position of holding the office of a judge, by retiring in the manner, or at the time, as a person appointed to hold the office of a judge.

The Judge added, “This Court is of the view that such retirement cannot possibly serve to convert an acting appointment into a substantive appointment and automatically endow a person with all the benefits he would have obtained had he been appointed as the substantive holder of the office of a judge.

It is also this Court's view that (Singh's) claim, that he was at all material times holding the position of a substantively appointed Puisne Judge, must fail, as it is clear from the evidence before the Court that he was at all times acting in the office of a Puisne Judge. He was never appointed and thus never held the substantive post of a Puisne Judge.”

Added to that, Justice Harnanan stated, “His (Singh) period of acting may

have qualified as pensionable service if he had then been appointed to the substantive position prior to him retiring.

Since he retired under his appointment to act, that period of service cannot qualify as pensionable service.”

The Judge said that if Singh was made to retire from his acting appointment otherwise than by a revocation of the appointment by the President in accordance with Article 128(3) of the Constitution, this may be subject to a claim for wrongful dismissal.

However, the Judge noted that there was nothing before the court that suggests that this was the case, as Singh only says that, upon attaining the age of 62 years, “he vacated the office of Puisne Judge”. This appears to be tantamount to a resignation by Singh, and not a dismissal.”

In this regard, the Judge dismissed the lawsuit and ordered that the parties bear their own costs.

Women and Gender Equality Commission recommends mobile courts for rural, hinterland locations

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he Women and Gender Equality Commission has recommended, among other things, the implementation of a system of mobile courts which go to rural and

hinterland locations to hear cases - a suggestion, the body says, was made by Chief Justice Roxane George in 2015.

In a report titled, “Achieve gender equality

and empower all women and girls”, it was pointed out that women in hinterland or rural areas have extremely limited access to the courts, and that it can take days to get to court from a remote location only

to be told that the matter is being adjourned.

Noting that court times are often inconvenient to working women, the report said, “The Common Law which Guyana has inherited,

began with the King's courts travelling through England to dispense justice. In the modern era with improved communications, there seems to be no good reason why Guyana cannot institute a system of mobile courts which go to rural and hinterland locations to hear cases as suggested by Justice Roxane George…”

According to the report, for many women their first encounter with the justice system is the police officer to whom they are making a report. The report was keen in highlighting that there is no doubt that police responses to women need to be improved. It said, “Chauvinistic attitudes to women need to be identified and replaced with a

commitment to equality and respect for the inherent dignity of each woman.”

The report continued, “There is also a need to increase awareness among the judiciary of Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and of other international jurisprudence that protects the rights of women.

The CEDAW Committee has called upon Guyana to disseminate the CEDAW a n d G e n e r a l Recommendations to the judiciary and law enforcement officers in order to “establish firmly in the country a legal culture supportive of women's equality and nondiscrimination.”

Tuesday April 30, 2019

Kaieteur News

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PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

Tuesday April 30, 2019

Liza Phase Two to produce 6.6M barrels per month

EPA Head, Dr. Vincent Adams

- Operators get green light from local authorities for project development

By Kiana Wilburg

E

Map showing the position of Liza Phase Two within the Stabroek Block. (The purple line is drawn to indicate the exact location.)

xxonMobil's subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), has received approval from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop the second phase of the Stabroek Block Liza discovery. It is expected to produce over 6 million barrels of crude oil per month.

A c c o r d i n g t o E PA documents, oil production from the Liza Phase Two Development is expected to last at least 20 years. EEPGL will drill approximately 3540 wells offshore to support extraction of the oil from below the sea floor. Each well will be drilled to a depth which is over 5,000 metres (m) below the sea floor.

EEPGL will then install some of the oil production facilities on the sea floor at approximately 1500-1900 m (4900-6200 ft) water depth.

These subsea facilities include various types of pipes and hardware. The subsea facilities allow the oil from the wells to be gathered and moved to the surface of the ocean for further processing.

Kaieteur News understands that EEPGL will install other oil production facilities on a vessel which floats on the surface of the ocean. The vessel is called a Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO). The FPSO will be moored on location in approximately 1,600 m (5250 ft) of water depth and will remain on location throughout the life of the facility.

Further to this, oil production facilities on the FPSO will further process the oil extracted from below the sea floor. The FPSO will have the capacity to produce approximately 190,000 to 220,000 barrels of oil per day.

During the early stage of production operations, the FPSO is anticipated to produce an average of approximately 5,700,000 to 6,600,000 barrels of crude oil per month.

At peak, EPA documents

note that EEPGL will utilize approximately 1,200 personnel offshore during the stage where the wells are being drilled and the offshore oil production facilities are being installed. Kaieteur News understands that this number will decrease to less than 200 personnel during the production operations phase. A smaller number of personnel will then be utilized at the onshore support facilities.

KEY DIFFERENCES According to reports perused by this newspaper, there are some key differences between the Liza Phase Two Development and the Liza Phase One Development.

In the area of Oil Production Rates, the Phase Two production rate will be approximately 190,000 to 220,000 barrels of oil per day while Phase One's production rate is 100,000 barrels of oil per day with the ability to operate at sustained peaks of 120,000 barrels per day.

With respect to FPSO Oil Storage Volume, Phase Two storage volume will be approximately 1.6 to 2 million barrels, depending on the hull selected. Phase One storage volume is 1.6 million barrels.

In terms of the number of wells, Phase Two will have approximately 35-40 wells.

Phase One has 17 wells.

POSSIBLE EFFECTS The reports held by the EPA notes that the Liza Phase Two project comes with a fair number of possible effects on people, wildlife and the environment.

The effects include changes in quality of air; disturbance of seabed; changes in quality of ocean water; impacts to whales, dolphins, sea turtles, fish, birds and protected species; changes in food sources for fish and wildlife; restriction on fishing around drill ships (temporary) and FPSOs; and oil spills which could impact the environment (e.g. coastline, protected areas), indigenous communities, (continued on page 20)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday April 30, 2019

PAGE 17

Guyanese charged in BVI with conspiracy to impersonate, granted $60K bail amount be paid in cash and $40,000 by way of two signed sureties. During their submissions, the Crown argued that while they were not objecting to bail, strict conditions should be imposed on the accused woman.

The Crown argued that

Lolita Callendar-Skelton at the Magistrate's Court in BVI yesterday.

BVI (BVI News) - A Guyanese woman has been granted $60,000 bail with strict conditions including a curfew after she allegedly solicited a man to obtain an HIV test in her name.

Charged with conspiracy to impersonate is 28-yearold make-up artist, Lolita Callender-Skelton.

She was not required to plead when she appeared before Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards yesterday.

ALLEGATIONS The court heard that the accused arrived in the territory on April 20 and was granted permission to remain for 30 days.

Upon her arrival, she met and reportedly had a conversation with a man named 'Eric'. It is alleged that he agreed to assist her in getting an HIV test.

On April 24, the accused and Eric reportedly attended Peeble's Hospital's laboratory and Eric identified himself as Lolita.

It is alleged that while there, the lab technician on duty asked the young man: “Are you sure that's your name? Your mother named you Lolita?”

It is alleged that when the lab technician requested identification, the accused woman inquired where else on the island the test could be done. It is reported that she subsequently went to another medical facility.

It is further alleged that later that day, Eric who was not required to provide any form of identification, took an HIV screening test as 'Lolita Callendar'.

When the test was done, the accused along with Eric returned to the lab for the results, the court heard.

Prosecutors claimed the receptionist on duty proceeded to stamp the results of the test when the accused Guyanese woman interrupted her and asked to see the document before it was stamped.

The court heard that after

reviewing it, the accused asked that the gender be changed from male to female. The receptionist then asked if the results were hers and she responded 'yes', it is alleged. The court further heard that the receptionist then took the results to be signed by the technician.

The two then took the results, the court heard. But before leaving the medical facility, Eric reportedly asked laboratory employees: “Why can't a man be named Lolita?”

The court heard that the accused woman then posted the results on social media site, Facebook. The matter was subsequently reported to the police who launched an investigation. CallendarSkelton was later met at the Road Town ferry dock where she was arrested, interviewed, and charged.

BAIL Bail was granted in the sum of $60,000. The court ordered that $20,000 of that

Callendar-Skelton not being a resident of the territory and the fact that the man named 'Eric' is still at large, meant she could possibly interfere with the investigation.

The Crown also pointed to the seriousness of the offence. As such, the court ordered her to surrender her

travel documents and report to the Road Town Police Station from Monday to Saturday between 6 am and 12 pm.

A daily curfew of 6pm to 7am was also imposed on the accused woman. Her matter was then adjourned to June 5.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 18

Tuesday April 30, 2019

127 Guyanese among 716 immigrants deported from Trinidad detention centre in 2016

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r i n i d a d (Newsday) About $23 million a year is spent to house illegal immigrants and another $2 million each year to deport some of them, yet many detainees languish at the Immigration Detention Centre (IDC) because the language barrier slows down the processing of their cases.

This was revealed in a recent report by Parliament's Joint Select Committee (JSC) on Human Rights.

The IDC was run at a cost of $12 million in 2014, $16 million for each year of 2015-2018, and $23 million in 2019 (recurrent expenditure). A further $6 million was spent on development work at the IDC over the past three years.

Further, $9 million was spent in repatriation costs from 2012-2016.

This was $2 million in 2012/2013, $2 million for 2013/2014, $4 million for 2014/2015 and $790,000 for 2015/2016. The $4 million bill for 2014/2015 included

$2.48 million to charter an aircraft to Nigeria.

Without specifying any year, the report added, “The last two airline charters each cost an estimated $3 million and $5 million respectively.”

Of the 716 immigrants deported from the IDC in 2016, 162 were Jamaicans, 127 Guyanese, 101 Venezuelans, 95 Chinese, 78 were from the Dominican Republic and 31 were from Nigeria.

The report shows that the cost of deporting a Nigerian was $235,904 - including his one-way ticket ($36,000) plus return tickets for three escorts at $57,000 each, totalling $172,440.

Despite this big expenditure, the report notes detainees complaining of difficulties posed by the language barrier, which impeded the hearing of their cases, whether applying for refugee status or fighting deportation.

Amid a huge influx of Venezuelan migrants, the IDC has only two staff members with CSEC passes

in Spanish, respectively grade 1 and grade 2, amid a detainee population at any time of 120. One employee als o s peaks M andarin Chinese.

The report showed a snapshot for March 2018, when out of 126 detainees at the IDC, some 81 were Venezuelan (51 men and 30 women).

For all of 2017, some 585 detainees passed through the IDC, of whom 227 were Venezuelans (145 men and 82 women). For 2016, passing through the IDC were 1,146 people, of whom 222 were Venezuelans (125 men and 97 women).

“Approximately 19,000 Venezuelans entered the country legally from 2017 to 2018, and 17 percent have overstayed their time in the country,” said the report.

“Given the increase in detainees from Latin American countries, the IDC should recruit an in-house Spanish interpreter to facilitate communication between detainees and officials."

It also recommended, "Given the influx in the number of Venezuelan detainees at the IDC from 2015 to 2018, the Ministry of National Security should review other alternatives to detention.”

The report said detention at the IDC was due to breaches of the Immigration Act such as illegal entry, overstayed visit/working illegally/expired travel documents, drug trafficking or tendering counterfeit currency or fraudulent documents.

“Detention at the IDC is utilised as a last resort, after immigration officers have sought a relative or person who is willing to put up a security bond for detainee custody release under an order of supervision.”

In TT, some 1,700 immigrants were on orders of supervision, paying a refundable security bond and being monitored by a team of 19 supervision officers.

Nine IDC detainees are awaiting deportation after imprisonment or paying criminal fines, but there are challenges in deporting them.

These include the high cost of airfare, lack of permission to transit certain countries, language barrier and lack of interpreters, cost of escorts and the problems with the identification of detainees and acquisition of travel documents for them.

“The unwillingness of

some detainees to sign visa documents or provide accurate personal identification information contributes to delays with the repatriation process.”

As of April 2018, the IDC held 25 people from African countries who lacked travel documents to be repatriated. The Ministry of National Security had sourced funds for this and found a route through Turkey, but this route was no longer feasible.

The report lamented the Immigration Act failed to specify the treatment of people who were refugees or registered as asylum seekers in TT. The report noted discrepancies in the treatment of detainees between submissions from the Ministry of National Security and NGOs such as t h e L i v i n g Wa t e r Community (LWC) and the Emancipation Support Committee (ESCTT).

Living Water said an absence of procedures to submit complaints, as compounded by language barriers, had resulted in the alleged payment of bribes and a fear to submit complaints.

“The ESCTT indicated there was discriminatory treatment of detainees based on race and nationality that impacted the length of detention and punishments.”

The report noted concerns that IDC detainees

were separated from their children.

“Female detainees were not allowed to have their children at the IDC and separate children accommodations were made at children homes.

Children are allowed to visit the mothers via a special request made by the mother to the IDC officials,” the report said.

“According to the ESCTT, family life is severely impacted due to the physical separation of husbands from wives and children.

ESCTT recommended measures to permit the introduction of special family visits at reasonable intervals at IDC.” Detainees are "aired" for two hours a day, a limit questioned by the report.

The report noted two cases of harm to detainees included suicide.

“A female Guyanese in 2013 committed suicide via hanging from the rafters of the ceiling of the washroom of the dormitory in the female housing unit.”

The report said the ESC lamented that a Ghanaian man was beaten in 2014, suffering head injuries, damage to his ear and chest pains.

Subsequent lack of medical treatment led to him losing hearing in his left ear, plus an unhealed fracture that caused other medical problems.

Tuesday April 30, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

More supplies flown to Venezuelan migrants in Region 1

T

he Civil Defence Commission (CDC) over the course of three days visited the communities of Black Water, Whitewater, Khan's Hill, Yarakita and Joshua Landing, in Region 1, to distribute food and water supplies to Venezuelan migrants.

There are about 6,000 Venezuelan migrants in Guyana who have fled hardship that is currently being experienced in the Spanish-speaking country. The Guyana government has been lending assistance with plans to build a community in Region 1.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Tuesday April 30, 2019

Special Education Needs symposium held for Region Three parents

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arents of children with special education needs and disability within Region Three benefited from a symposium yesterday at the Department of Education's office in Vreed-en-hoop.

National Special Education Needs (SEN) Officer within the Ministry of Education, Ms. Savvie Hopkinson, said that the symposium is an interactive occasion for parents to share, discuss and ask questions.

She said that the event

wisdom and enjoyment.

She said that parents must first accept their child or children.

“Acceptance is not to tolerate or to have a feeling of being trapped or saying you have no choice. Having prepared and followed the best prenatal advice, your first responsibility is to accept the reality and seek the help needed and follow recommendations that would improve the life chances of the child and grow your personality,” the

A section of the gathering of parents at yesterday's symposium

National SEN Officer, Ms. Savvie Hopkinson (left) and Regional Education Officer, Region Three, Mrs. Annesta Douglas. was being held under the theme 'Parenting with Love and Logic'. According to Hopkinson, she believes that for parents who desire to be parenting with love and logic they need to keep four points in mind, which are, acceptance, courage,

National SEN Officer remarked.

On the matter of courage, Ms. Hopkinson noted that courage refers to inner strength to prevent being consumed by the reality of disability. She said that parents should praise their

child for good deeds and good behaviour. Children should be challenged with new tasks and stimulating engagements to boost their holistic development, Hopkinson advised.

Moreover, she explained that wisdom allows parents to

set realistic goals for their children. She said that daily interaction with children will reveal their strengths and weaknesses.

“Spending quality time with your child will help you to understand him or her and set realistic achievable goals.

You are your child's greatest advocate. It is important to believe that your child can achieve and become successful,” Hopkinson said as she offered advice to the parents in attendance.

Lastly, parents were told that enjoying their children does not mean ignoring teachable moments and training. The National SEN Officer noted that children

Fisherman on trial for attempting to kill reputed wife

A

34-year-old Corentyne fisherman who is charged with attempting to kill his wife is on trial before Justice Jo Ann Barlow and a mixed jury in the Berbice High Court.

Ian Saraswati of lot 91 Bush Lot Village, Corentyne, Berbice, is charged with attempted murder. He is accused of unlawfully and maliciously wounding his then teenage wife Serojini Isaacs who is now 23. The alleged incident occurred on the 11th of December 2014 at Whim village. The state's case is being prosecuted

by Attorney at Law Mandel Moore. The accused is being represented by Attorneys at Law Murseline Bacchus and Saria Sabsook.

The state's case is that at approximately 07:30hrs on the day in question, the man chopped the woman on her head and foot.

According to reports, Isaacs left her Bush Lot Village home after a dispute with Saraswati and went to live at her mother's home. On the day in question the man

cornered the woman and dealt her several chops about her body.

The woman was reportedly rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital and then to the New Amsterdam Hospital and later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

A number of persons have given evidence so far, including Isaacs, who told the court that she was chopped by Saraswati on her head and thigh in her aunt's kitchen. Under cross examination by Defence Counsel Bacchus, she denied that she was chopped by her uncle after he tried to attack the accused.

Detective Corporal Ronald Beharry said that he went to the hospital where he saw medical staff attending to the virtual complainant (VC). He noticed wounds on her forehead and left leg.

The VC's Aunt, Kamlawattie Binda, testified to seeing the accused chop her niece, while another witness, Totoram Munilall, told the court that he took the injured Isaacs to the hospital in a canter

On trial: Ian Saraswati

truck. Ex-policeman Glenford Blair testified to arresting the accused on the day in question and taking him to the station.

with special education needs and disability must also be taught to respect others. She said that parents need to be fair, consistent, calm and realistic when teaching their children.

Meanwhile, Regional Education Officer for Region Three, Mrs. Annesta Douglas, said that with the month of April being used to observe autism globally, it is important to place the spotlight on the hurdles that people with autism face every day. She said that as a growing global issue, owing to its increasing exposure, in the press and common knowledge, autism is an issue that is only gaining more understanding, and

activities such as yesterday's parent symposium are planned every year to further increase and develop world knowledge of children and adults who have autism.

During the symposium, parents were engaged in discussions targeting four topics - understanding behavioural therapy for children with autism; characteristics and core defects of autism; classroom management and functional routines and everyday life; and how to teach self-help skills.

The symposium was a collaborative effort between the SEN Unit and the Department of Education Region Three.

Liza Phase Two to produce...

From page 16 and the livelihoods of farmers and fishermen.

A BUMPY ROAD The approval of the Environmental Permit for the Liza Phase Two Project came with a number of challenges.

The EPA's Head, Dr. VincentAdams was adamant on ensuring that Exxon supplied Guyana with an internationally recognized insurance policy.

While it was able to do so to the tune of US$2.4B, it did not use a local broker to secure the insurance. The EPA granted the permit on the condition that it would rectify this by working along closely with Bank of Guyana which is in charge of monitoring the insurance sector.

The permit was also held up due to reviews that were being conducted on the Field Development Plans for the Project. In February last, the

Energy Department had announced that UK based firm, Bayphase Oil and Gas Consultants, won the contract from Guyana to review the Field Development Plans.

But prior to this, Kaieteur News had exposed that Bayphase is a client of ExxonMobil and even some of its primary contractors working here. In fact, Bayphase which was established in 1986 is an employee of NEXEN, a subsidiary of the Hong Kong based China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) which holds 25 percent interest in the Stabroek Block.

With the Liza Two Permit in hand, ExxonMobil is now pushing to get approval for the development of the Payara area in the Stabroek Block, which would serve as the third oil and gas development project in Guyana.

Tuesday April 30, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Global military spending at new post-Cold War high, fueled by U.S., China: think-tank S T O C K H O L M (Reuters) - Global military expenditure reached its highest level last year since the end of the Cold War, fueled by increased spending in the United States and China, the w o r l d ’s t w o b i g g e s t economies, a leading defense think-tank said yesterday. In its annual report, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said overall global military spending in 2018 hit $1.82 trillion, up 2.6 percent on the previous year.

That is the highest f i g u r e since 1988, when such data first became available as the Cold War began winding down.

U.S. military spending rose 4.6 percent last year to reach $649 billion, leaving it still by far the world’s biggest spender.

It accounted for 36 per-

cent of total global military expenditure, nearly equal to the following eight biggest-spending countries combined, SIPRI said. China, the second biggest spender, saw military expenditure rise 5.0 percent to $250 billion last year, the 24th consecutive annual increase.

“In 2018 the USA and China accounted for half o f t h e w o r l d ’s m i l i t a r y spending,” Nan Tian, a researcher with the SIPRI Arms and Military Expenditure (AMEX) program, said.

Wi t h President Donald Trump committed to strong national defense despite reducing U.S. troops numbers in conflict zones such as Afghanistan, 2018 marked the first increase in U.S. military spending since 2010, SIPRI said.

His defense spending request to Congress this year is the largest ever in dollar terms before adjustment for inflation.

“The increase in U.S. spending was driven by the implementation from 2017 of new arms procurement programs under the Trump administration,” Aude Fleurant, the director of the SIPRI AMEX program, said in a statement.

The other top spenders are, in declining order, Saudi Arabia, India, France, Russia, Britain, G e r m a n y, J a p a n a n d South Korea. Saudi Arabia, which is leading a military coalition battling Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen, was the biggest per capita spender on defense, just ahead of the United States.

NATO TARGET

Trump has criticized s o m e o f Wa s h i n g t o n ’s NATO allies in Europe, especially Germany, for failing to meet the alliance’s spending target of 2 percent of gross domestic product.

SIPRI data showed military spending equaled 1.2 percent of GDP in Germany - Europe’s largest economy - last year, based on GDP estimates for 2018 from the International Monetary Fund.

Britain and France, the two other largest economies in Europe,

spent 1.8 percent and 2.3 percent of GDP respectively on defense in 2018.

Military expenditure by all 29 NATO members amounted to just over half of global spending, SIPRI added.

Russia, which flexed its military muscles with its 2014 annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region and intervention in the Syrian conflict, dropped out of the list of the top five spenders in 2018 following an annual decline of 3.5 percent.

Despite a sustained drive to upgrade and modernize R u s s i a ’s armed forces, President Vladimir Putin has had to tighten purse strings following a sharp decline in global oil prices and the need to prioritize some domestic spending programs.

Russian spending recorded its first annual decline in nearly two decades in 2017, with a fall of 20 percent in real terms, SIPRI estimates released last year showed.

Housing Dept. warns about fake Facebook page of minister The Central Housing and Planning Authority is advising the public tha t there are no arrangements in place with GTT Mobile Money to a c c e p t payment for land, housing units or any other services offered by the a g e n c y.

“It has come to our attention that members of the people were bei n g c o n t a c t e d through

Facebook about the possibility of purchasing lands or housing units from the agency by someone purporting to be Minister Va l e r i e Patterson-Yearwood.

The Facebook profile is a fake, in fact the Minister does not h a v e a Facebook profile,” a statement from the Ministry of Communities said yest e r d a y.

T h e a g e n c y s aid it will be in contact with the police, but members of the public are advised to make contact with its enforcement unit in relation to complaints on the payment for lands, housing units or any other services being offered via the Facebook page.

P a t t e r s o n - Ye a r w o o d was last week transferred from the department.

PAGE 22

Tuesday April 30, 2019

Kaieteur News

Over $69M allocated for roads in Vergenoegen, Philadelphia WANTED Supervisor to work at Xenon Hotel Charity.Contact 233-5273/ 74.

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisement, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535.

ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6006887: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

HOUSE PLAN TO DRAW UP OR ESTIMATES? GIVE US A CALL 216-0671, 6928464, 622-0267 LAND FOR SALE Transported land 11.6 acres.

Lot 15 public road. #2 Village W.C.B. Price $18M. Contact 686-4818, 648-7109 Herstelling $5.5M, Farm$4.5M, $5.5M, $4.8M Province, Parfaite Harmony $3.5M, Tuschen Corn lot $1.5M, $3.5M.Call 666-2326.

Parfaite Harmonie $1.4M, Schoonard $3.6M, Dairy $1.8M, Farm $3.5M.Tel#6560701/651-1959.

PEN PAL 59 Year old female looking for a male companion for a serious relationship age 59-62, Cell#622-5826 No Texting, Call only.

CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS FROM $4000 & UP, SUV’S PER DAY- CALL:643-5122/ 6 5 6 - 0 0 8 7 , ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM

FOR SALE

1 female or male receptionist.Must have Maths and English.1 Handy man.Apply in person at 12 Henry street Werk-enRust.225-9211.

House lot Layon street North Ruimveldt.Call 614-4075 or 1 Masseuse.3 times per 266-2355. week.Contact 672-5625.

House lot for sale.27 Hill St Attractive live in waitress- Call: Albouystown.Contact#225- 327-0252/674-4665/649-3750 8916.

Waitress to work in Bar #661Used furniture and Appliances 4863 for restaurant purposes (Table,Chairs,Freezers,Coolers Boys & girls to work @ & Food warmers etc.)684-9268 Bonny’s.Apply in person with written application@302 Crab Wood.All sizes,any Church street G/ amount.Cut to order.Contact town,Charlestown. #684-9268.

One attractive waitress from E.C.D to work from 3-11 LEARN TO DRIVE Pm.Salary $20,000 N. Outar Driving School, weekly.Tel#610-7142.

Learn to Drive the right way Experienced Cashier. Apply @ Cuffy Square. Affordable Hacks Halaal with H/written package. Call: 644-5166/691application, 5 commerce street.

2561 Wanted Land to Buy: Parfaite TO LET Harmonie, Eccles, Province, Diamond, Uitvulgt, Tuschen, Self contain rooms for Farm.Call 666-2326. working couple/single person $32,000 monthly, light & 1 Couple to work and live in a farm house in Mahaicony water, Lodge.Call:623-0076.

River.1 part time domestic.673Two and three bedrooms 1131. apartment in Section A, Block VACANCY X, Great Diamond.Master room and AC rooms.Tel#688- Industrial Sales 5211.

Representative, 5 Subject CXC Age 25+ Experience in FOR RENT Sales, must own vehicle, email PLANNING AN EVENT? r e s u m e : BIRTHDAY PARTY, vacancy@josarltd.com GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , Vacancy exists for certified Bring in ANNIVERSARY, ETC. - accountant.

CALL DIAMOND TENTS: application to Agri Parts Machinery and Services.

216-1043; 677-6620 Receptionist, Deskstaff.Ages New one bedroom 25-40, 233 South Road Apartment for Lacytown/225-0198. rent.Meadowbrook Gardens.Rent $45K.Contact Driver must be able to assist Lennox at 233-2306. in workshop at Eccles, age 2 Bedroom Apt fully furnished, 25-45, Car/Van licence.Call 1 bedroom Apt fully furnished, 642-9823.

3 bedroom Apt fully furnished Vacancy for Experienced in Providence.Tel:682-6238 or lorry/tractor driver.Apply at whatsapp 1246-833-9739/660- Alabama Trading.65 Robb 7716. street Bourda.

1 Bedroom Apartment for Vacancy for porters. Apply Rent.E.B.D.No pets.Tel#625- at Alabama Trading. 65 Robb 1618 Street Bourda.

Furnished two bedroom bottom flat for overseas visitors.619-2575.

A I D A N ’ S C A R RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807

3 Bedroom fully furnished upper flat.Vigilance North, E.C.D $50,000/Month.6399345/630-3750.Special conditions applied.

WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAY M E N T, C H E A P RATES,SPECIALOFFERS! .

CALL: 690-6494

1 Bedroom apartment furnished, Secured in Lyng Str Charlestown.Call 8AM to 8PM. 625-0266/225-1418/6011585.

Nirva Superstore 49 Sherrif & Craig str for Cashiers & Supermarket helpers.Apply in person with written application.Tel#227-5771.

1 Live in Domestic. Salary: $70,000 per month.Call:6780691.

Driver.Must have a sound secondary education.For more information please call:223-0090.

A section of the residents who gathered at the recent ministerial outreach initiative in Region Three Over $69M has been tabled for works on the West Bank Demerara roads after the Government of Guyana, just recently conducted its ministerial outreach initiative in Region Three.

Some $20M has been allotted for works on George Williams Street, Vergenoegen, while $49M will be expended in the New Philadelphia area. That aside, there is a contract out to tender for approximately $12M to install lights at sections of the main road in these areas.

The sixth regional ‘Government Comes to You’ outreach was held recently at the National Track and Field Centre, Edinburgh, West Coast of Demerara, and more than twenty ministries and agencies of the state participated.

The event was attended by hundreds. Before the initiative concluded, they were given the assurance that 700 house lots would be allocated in a few months.

Residents were able to visit booths representing the Ministries of Public Health, Agriculture, Social Protection, Education and Finance, among others, and have outstanding matters properly addressed.

Because of the large turnout, persons seeking resoluPROPERTY FOR SALE House for sale, Eccles Housing Scheme. 7 bedrooms, 3 toilets and bathrooms enclosed. $28.5M. Call 6420391/ 001447587233657. yashardabhola4@gmail.com 1 Flat concrete property at Diamond 19th Street.12M neg. Contact#680-2952/6632063.

Lot 89 Robb Street, Lacytown, Georgetown. Next door to Mike’s Pharmacy.Land size3431.25 Sq.ft. Phone: 617-5323, 666-8052.

tion of matters from the Ministry of Housing were asked to return to the same location at a specific date and time.

Ministers and their aides (and agencies representatives) also visited several areas outside of the outreach location to give ear to issues of residents.

At New Philadelphia Primary School, recently appointed Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams urged East Bank Essequibo residents to be more proactive and involved in their community’s development.

At the Malgre Tout Primary School, matters highlighted included improper garbage disposal, the need for road rehabilitation, drainage clearing and upgrade, street lights in the community, and the worsening mosquito infestation in the area. Residents were also told that the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) will begin fogging shortly to deal with the mosquito infestation.

In Pouderoyen, there were calls for house lots, especially from persons who are squatting in Swan Street and other areas. In response, Minister Raphael Trotman said he was going to take up the matter with the relevant minister. In response to calls for street lights, Trotman assured this would be possible in the next two weeks.

At the Parika Salem community, Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton pledged his commitment towards sport development within the community while Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan urged residents to become each other’s keepers through love and peace.

At Meten-Meer-Zorg Primary School, residents were concerned about drug abuse among the youths, neglect of educational facilities, drainage and irrigation, land titling issues and inadequate street lighting.

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan along with Minister in the Ministry of the Presidency, with responsibility for Youth Affairs, Simona Broomes, engaged residents of Wales and surrounding communities at the Wales Primary School.

The issue of delayed wait for house lots was foremost, and the residents were assured by Bulkan that hundreds of house lots will be made available. He also noted that 200 acres of land would be developed within the next year for the same purposes at Meten-Meer-Zorg. Over in Uitvlugt, Minister David Patterson announced the award of a contract to service all lights on the main access road from Wales to Parika.

These works are expected to commence in three weeks.

Tuesday April 30, 2019

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Kaieteur News

‘Strip Club’ owner finally appears in court, remanded on TIP charges The owner of the Diamond Hotel and Night Club, located at George and Princes Streets, Georgetown, has finally made his way to the courts after evading the police for almost two months on two charges of Trafficking in Persons(TIP).

Freeman Fordyce, 41, of Lot 99 Collingswood Avenue, Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara, is accused of trafficking two Venezuelans for sexual exploitation at his club. The matter allegedly took place between September and November 2018.

Yesterday the defendant walked into the courtroom of Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where the charges were read to him. He pleaded not guilty to both

charges and was remanded to prison. He was instructed to return to court on May 8, when his matter will continue.

Fordyce had been released on his own recognizance (self-bail) in relation to the charges at the station, and was instructed to report to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), pending his arraignment in court, however he failed to do so.

When the matters were first called in court, Fordyce also failed to show up. A summons and arrest warrant were issued for him after the police had issues finding him to be brought before the courts.

According to information, police carried out a raid at the club which lead to the arrest of 15 women, all said to be foreign na-

tionals.

This was after a video circulated on social media, which showed a woman jumping over a locked gate to get into the Diamond Hotel and Night Club compound. The woman was being assisted by four of her friends who were on the other side of the fence.

They were holding up barbed wire so that the woman could have gained entry. Hours after the video hit social media, police raided the compound and detained the 15 women, whom investigators suspected to be victims of trafficking in persons (TIP).

The woman, Dailyn Garcia, 25, a Venezuelan, who was seen climbing the fence, was later charged for overstaying her time in Guyana. She was fined $30,000 for the offence or

in default six months imprisonment.

Fordyce was handed a suspended sentence recently by Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty on an illegal gun and ammo charge, after he was found guilty. The Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions has since appealed the Magistrate’s decision.

A suspended sentence allows a judge or magistrate to decide that the offence is serious enough for a jail term; however, it is not put into immediate effect. If the person is charged again after the suspended sentence is passed then they would serve the jail time.

Moreover, Fordyce’ attorney Nigel Hughes had indicated that the defendant would not be serving the suspended sentence

Music School to introduce full-time diploma programme -Director The National School of Music will soon be implementing a three-year music programme at the Diploma Level, according to Director, Andrew Tyndall.

Tyndall told Kaieteur News yesterday that the action plan for the Diploma Programme was initiated at a recent forum attended by professional music educators, and is for the benefit of persons desiring a grounded career in music.

It caters for individuals pursuing a career as a performer, music educator, producer, and even for journalists writing about music and entertainment.

While the curriculum is still being finalized, Tyndall indicated that it will be put into motion long before the end of 2019.

To e n s u r e t h a t a l l Guyana benefits from this ‘soon to come’ initiative, the music school will be hosting outreach sessions in various communities to provide exposure to budding musi-

National Music School Director, Andrew Tyndall cians, and to extract raw talent from near and far.

With the University of Guyana presently working to introduce a degree programme in the fine arts, the Music School is gearing towards having a music programme included at the Bachelor ’s Degree level in this tertiary institution as well.

That aside, the school will continue to have its annual July/August Camps

for students ages 8-13 to ensure they receive balanced education in music. These camps will expose students to instruments like the piano, a c o u s t i c guitar and others.

Tyndall revealed that the music camps are normally much sought after forums, and in many cases, they have had to conduct extended sessions because of the number of students attending. Tyndall noted that the local entertainment fraternity is continuously expanding, as such the music camps have become the perfect tool to fine tune talented individuals.

He said that while many students have shown an interest in music during their school years, there is really not much scope for them to continue in that direction after school. He noted that the Diploma Programme creates an extension of their studies to get them better equipped for the world of music after leaving school.

Freeman Fordyce because the current allegation took place before the charge for the firearm and ammunition, therefore it does not apply to the laws of a suspended sentence.

Fordyce is also currently on trial for assault-

ing a police officer and resisting arrest.

He was charged after video footage showed him (Fordyce) resisting being searched and then punching a police Inspector in the face.

PAGE 24

Kaieteur News

Tuesday April 30, 2019

Tuesday April 30, 2019

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Mozambique cyclone: Death Guantanamo Bay commander toll rises as storm blocks aid fired over ‘loss of confidence’ The death toll in cyclonehit northern Mozambique has risen to 38, officials say, as aid workers struggle to reach the worst-affected areas.

Cyclone Kenneth struck the southern African nation last week with winds of 220km/h (140mph), flattening villages and damaging thousands more homes.

The storm lost strength, but torrential rain was still battering the area on Monday, with more expected.

As a result, flights have been grounded - hindering the aid effort.

It is predicted the weather

system will dump twice as much rainfall as Cyclone Idai, which struck last month, leaving more than 900 dead across Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe.

The flood risk was compounded by Kenneth hitting at the end of the rainy season when river levels were already high, the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) noted.

Already, Pemba, the regional capital of Cabo Delgado state, has experienced more than 2m (6.5ft) of rain and flooding. According to Mozambique’s National In-

stitute of Disaster Management (INGC), 38 people have been killed by Cyclone Kenneth, while another 35,000 homes have been destroyed or damaged.

The privately-owned O Pais website reported five people died after part of a rubbish dump collapsed onto homes in Pemba on Sunday evening. It is unclear if these deaths are recorded in the government total.

Ocha says humanitarian needs “have sky-rocketed, and the humanitarian response will need to rapidly scale up”.

SAS pilots’ strike leaves tens of thousands of travelers stranded

The commander in charge of the military prison at Guantanamo Bay has been dismissed just seven weeks before he was due to leave the post. Navy Rear Admiral John Ring was fired due to a “loss of confidence in his ability to

command,” according to the US Southern Command.

Rear Adm Ring will be temporarily assigned elsewhere in the Southern Command, which oversees the prison.

His deputy, Army Brig General John Hussey, will

serve as acting commander.

“This change in leadership will not interrupt the safe, humane, legal care and custody provided to the detainee population at GTMO,” a statement from Southern Command said.

‘Completely avoidable’ measles outbreak hits 25-year high in US

London (CNN Business) Tens of thousands of air passengers have been left stranded after a pilots’ strike forced Scandinavian airline SAS to cancel most of its flights.

More than 1,200 flights have been canceled for Monday and Tuesday, according to the Reuters news agency, after SAS pilots walked out on Friday when wage talks broke down.

Around 70% of the airline’s flights have been canceled since then, affecting around 280,000 passengers. On Friday, 673 flights were canceled, affecting

more than 72,000 passengers, according to SAS. In total, 667 flights were canceled on Monday, affecting around 61,000 people. A further 49,000 travelers will be affected on Tuesday, when 546 flights are grounded, Reuters reported.

F l i g h t s o p e r a ted by SAS’ partners, which make up about 30% of routes, are unaffected. Discussions between SAS, pilots’ unions in Sweden and Denmark and NHO, Norway’s employers’ association, have not pro-

Trump accuses New York attorney general of illegally investigating NRA Wa s h i n g t o n ( C N N ) President Donald Trump on Monday accused the New York attorney general’s office of illegally investigating the National Rifle Association and called on the group, which has been roiled by a leadership fight, to “get its act together quickly.”

“The N R A i s u n d e r s i e g e b y ( N e w Yo r k G o v. A n d r e w ) C u o m o a n d t h e N e w Yo r k St a t e A . G. , w h o a r e i l l e g a l l y u s i n g t h e St a t e ’s l e g a l apparatus to take down and destroy this very i m p o r t a nt organization, & others,” Trump wrote in a tweet.

duced an agreement.

The airline, which is partowned by the Swedish and Danish governments, has indicated that it is prepared to return to talks but cannot afford to agree to the pilots’ demands. European airlines, including SAS, have come under pressure from rising fuel costs, volatile currencies and overcapacity.

SAS Chief Executive Rickard Gustafson released a statement Friday on Twitter.

“Despite intensive negotiations and a determination to avoid conflict we have regrettably been unsuccessful.

The pilots’ unions have today decided to go on strike. I regret this deeply,” he said.

American health officials report that more than 700 people have been infected by measles this year, marking a 25-year high for the infectious disease.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Monday that cases had been recorded in 22 states and were mostly affecting unvaccinated children.

Officials said the increase in cases is the largest since 1994, including 78 reported in the past week.

There have been no deaths reported as a result of the outbreak.

“The suffering we are seeing today is completely avoidable,” US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said on Monday. Mr Azar directed his comments at some parents who have chosen to leave their children unvaccinated due to the unscientific claim that vaccines cause illnesses such as

autism.

“We know vaccines are safe because they’re among some of the most studied medical products we have,” he said.

The findings mark a 1.3% increase over the rep o r t l a s t We d n e s d a y, which found 695 cases that have been detected in the US this year, and was the highest level discovered since the disease was declared eliminated from the US in 2000.

The report adds that 40 people in 2019 have brought measles back to the US after returning from international travel, with Ukraine, Israel and the Philippines being the most frequent sources.

Most cases occurred in 13 outbreak zones, including in New York City’s orthodox Jewish communities.

Up to 10% of patients are adults who have received measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, leading offi-

cials to warn that some adults may need additional booster vaccines.

Adults travelling to outbreak zones, or adults who were vaccinated prior to 1968 with an earlier prototype of the vaccine, should consider receiving another vaccination, federal officials say.

The 22 states where cases have been reported are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Te x a s , Te n n e s s e e a n d Washington.

The disease was declared eliminated from the US in 2000, which meant it was no longer continually present year round, but health officials say that sporadic outbreaks do still occur from travellers coming from countries where measles are more common.

PAGE 26

Peru plans first large deportation of Venezuelan migrants

Venezuelan migrants queue to get temporary residency permits outside the immigration office in Lima, Peru. Reuters/Mariana Bazo/File Photo LIMA (Reuters) - Peru plans to deport about 50 Venezuelan migrants for concealing that they had criminal records, the interior ministry said yesterday, in the first large expulsion since hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans fled to the Andean nation last year to escape their country’s crippling economic crisis.

The migrants were detained in different districts of the capital Lima early yesterday and will be flown to Venezuela later in the day, the min-

istry said in a statement.

The ministry accused the migrants of providing false sworn declarations in their residency applications stating they had no criminal record, a violation of Peru’s migration law that is punishable with deportation.

Peru has granted special residency permits to 330,000 Venezuelans, allowing them to work and receive health and education services, and another 160,000 applications are being processed, according to Peru’s immigration de-

partment.

The planned deportation follows reports in local media in recent months about Venezuelan nationals involved in criminal rackets including an alleged kidnapping-for-ransom gang that police announced they disbanded last week.

Peru is home to the second-biggest population of Venezuelan migrants after Colombia. More than 700,000 Venezuelans now reside in Peru, a country of some 32 million people.

PM says resignation of minister is in “best interest of all parties” CASTRIES, St. Lucia CMC – Prime Minister Allen Chastanet yesterday said the resignation of his Public Service Minister, Dr. Ubaldus Raymond, is “in the best interest of all parties and the country”.

Raymond had been sent on leave earlier this month after the government announced that it had launched an investigation into “recent information being circulated in the public domain”.

Prime Minister Chastanet had earlier denied reports that Raymond had tendered his resignation amidst media reports that the minister was at the centre of a salacious conversation that had gone viral on social media last weekend.

The media had reported that Raymond had tendered his resignation following the release of a telephone recording on social media between a male and a woman with a foreign accent.

Tuesday April 30, 2019

Kaieteur News

In a brief statement yesterday, Chastanet said that “Raymond has served our country well and in several capacities; including Leader of Government Business in the Senate and previously as Minister in the Ministry of Finance.

“I thank him and his family for his years of service to our nation,” Chastanet said, adding that the resignation, which took immediate effect, should not “in no way affect the ongoing investigations.

“The government remains committed to bringing closure to this matter,” he added.

The statement issued by the Office of the Attorney General earlier this month had said that as a consequence of an “initial probe, more information has come to light which warrants further investigations by the relevant authorities. “The government, in seeking to protect the interest of the People of St., wishes to give the assurance that these investigations will be

performed without interference and with the utmost integrity.” the statement had indicated.

Raymond is the holder of a Ph.D. degree in Development Economics from Howard University in the United States. He served as a senior economist in the Department of the Environment and the DC Public Service Commission in Washington DC and as Assistant Professor of Economics at Florida A&M University in the Department of Economics.

In 2011, he unsuccessfully contested a seat on behalf of the now opposition St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP), but resigned his position in the Senate in 2012 to take up the position of Chief Economist in the Turks and Caicos government.

He was appointed Minister in the Ministry of Finance after Chastanet led the United Workers Party (UWP) to victory in the June 2016 general elections.

M calls on Europe to remove Dominica from blacklist ROSEAU, Dominica CMC – The Dominica government yesterday called on the European Union to remove the island from a list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions saying that it had done all that had been required by Europe in meeting the obligation requested.

“We don’t want an apology, all we want is to remove our name from the blacklist because we have done everything and we have gone beyond what was required by the international community,” Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit told Parliament as it approved amendments to earlier pieces of legislation that had been mandated by the European Union.

In March, the European Finance Ministers said that Barbados, United Arab Emirates and Marshall islands that were on the 2017 blacklist and moved to the grey list following commitments they had taken, were now being backlisted for not having followed up.

The European said that seven other countries, namely Belize, Bermuda, Dominica, Aruba, Fiji, Oman and Vanuatu were moved from the grey list to the blacklist for the same reason.

They said another 34 countries will continue to be monitored in 2019, while 25 countries from the original screening process have now been cleared.

But Skerrit told Parliament that the blame surrounding the decision to place the island on the blacklist should be placed at the feet of the European, who had failed to communicate adequately an in time, the necessary procedures to be followed after Dominica had first met all that

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit had been required of it.

He used the occasion to reiterate his call for a bipartisan approach to dealing with the situation.

“There are something in our country that it transcends party politics because when our country gets into this negative list, it is not Roosevelt Skerrit or the Dominica Labour Party, it ia Dominica and these things have the potential of impacting the way we conduct business in our country and between countries” He warned that the blacklisting will also affect the island’s banking and financial systems.

“So people have to understand these things and recognise that this is not about UWP (United Workers Party) or Dominica Labour Party. This is about our country and our country is facing, like all other developing countries, a monumental task.

“We are small fries, we are sprats…in a deep blue ocean surrounded by sharks and

whales,” he said, noting that unlike the United States that “quite rightly” warned the European when they tried to impose the same policies “you have no jurisdiction over the United States.

“We don’t have that power,” he said, adding “all we do in this country is watch and pray to our Lord to protect and guide us in this every difficult world because we don’t have the civil authority to deal with these issues so we have go beyond the civil authority and seek the spiritual intervention”.

Skerrit said that having diplomatic relations with countries were no longer the criteria for getting in aid in the future.

“It boils down to one thing, friendship,” he said, adding “the world has changed it has become more difficult and if you do not know how to navigate this world and if you do not have friends you could call or send a Whatsapp…you have problems.”

Jamaica institutes water rationing KINGSTON, Jamaica - CMC – The National Water Commission (NWC) said it has implemented water restrictions for sections of the Corporate Area as yesterday as it indicated that several of its water supply systems across the island are being affected by worsening drought conditions.

The NWC said that as of last Thursday, the Mona Reservoir was at 34.7 per cent of capacity and the Hermitage Dam was at 31.4 per cent.

It said that the six hour water restrictions daily would affect several communities served by the two reservoirs and that it is also asking customers to store water as necessary for use.

The NWC announcement follows the warning by the Barbados-based Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) that the drought situation in the Caribbean is expected to continue into the early wet season as weak El Niño conditions are forecast to persist.

Price hike Daily Nation - In two months consumers will be paying more for local eggs, chicken and poultry products. It is as a result of farmers using paper and bagasse pulp packaging for their products on July 1, when the ban on petrobased single use plastics takes effect.

President of the Barbados Egg and Poultry Producers Association (BEPPA), Stephen

Layne, said that while consumers might have to pay more, the preservation of the environment was more important. “I think we all must play our part in protecting the environment.

The transition and the period of the transition is my only concern,” he said, while admitting that alternatives would cost more to farmers and consumers.

Tuesday April 30, 2019

PAGE 27

Kaieteur News

Not getting ‘any compensation’ from Mumbai Indians - Sachin Tendulkar ESPNcricinfo - Sachin Tendulkar has denied the accusations of conflict of interest against him, saying he neither “received any compensation” nor held any decision-making role with Mumbai Indians.

Tendulkar has filed a 14point written response to a notice sent to him by Justice (Retd) DK Jain, the BCCI ombudsman. The notice was sent after a complaint filed to the ombudsman by Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association member Sanjeev Gupta.

The complainant alleged that Tendulkar and VVS Laxman, an icon and a mentor with Mumbai and Sunrisers Hyderabad respectively, have been performing dual

roles - with the IPL franchises as well as with the BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), of which both are members.”At the outset, the Noticee (Tendulkar) denies the contents of the Complaint in totality (except the statements specifically admitted herein). No part of the Complaint should be deemed to be admitted by the Noticee for lack of specific denials,” Tendulkar wrote in his response, which PTI has accessed.

On his role with the Mumbai IPL franchise, the reply said: “The Noticee (Tendulkar) has received no pecuniary benefit/ compensation from the Mumbai Indians IPL

Franchise in his capacity as the Mumbai Indians ‘ICON’ since his retirement, and is certainly not employed with the Franchise in any capacity.

“He does not occupy any position, nor has he taken any decision (including selection of team players) which could qualify as being in governance or management of the Franchise. Accordingly, there is no conflict of interest, either under the BCCI Rules or otherwise.”

As for the role in the CAC, Tendulkar explained that he was appointed as a member of the committee in 2015, which was well after his involvement with Mumbai Indians began.

Tuesday April 30, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Your energy and spunk should finally return after a couple days of feeling slightly down, Aries. You should enjoy a good mood all day.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) People may be somewhat selfish and self-centered today, but this doesn't mean that you have to follow suit, Libra. Remind others of the importance of the collective.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Get out of the mud, Taurus.

Have fun and don't worry too much about the consequences. Put your to-do list aside for a while and focus on enjoying yourself.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) It may not be the easiest day to relate to others, Scorpio, but as usual, if you just go with the flow, you will find that you can have fun.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Your emotions may be volatile right now. There's passion behind your words. You have the power to instigate major changes in your life.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) If you aren't careful about the energy you dish out today, you will find that it all comes back to smack you in the face. Other people are likely to be as stubborn as you, so proceed cautiously.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Today is a fantastic day for you. You should enjoy a good mood and positive experiences with others.

There's most likely a slow-moving, transforming energy in your life right now that's touching off your emotions.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Other people may be demanding of you, so do what you can to please the crowd. Don't go overboard in thinking you need to be someone you're not, and certainly don't do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Things should flow extremely well for you, Sagittarius. Load your engine with extra fuel, because you will be burning red hot.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You need bigger and longer hugs than usual today. A powerful force is moving through your life and trying to shake things up. Don't stoop to the level of petty argument and verbal sparring.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Act with courage today, Aquarius. Dress as if you were going to meet an important statesman. See yourself in the mirror and be proud to say you look good. Take action with confidence and feel free to strut your stuff.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Be conscious of your own needs, Pisces, and feel free to be a little selfish. Give yourself the credit you deserve, and don't let other people bully you into feeling like you aren't worthy of the attention you receive.

“The Noticee was appointed to the panel of the Cricket Advisory Committee (“CAC”) in the year 2015. The Hon’ble Ethics Officer will appreciate that the Noticee was named as the ‘ICON’ for Mumbai Indians much prior to his empanelment with the CAC - which fact has always been in the public domain,” the reply said.

“Accordingly, the BCCI aware of the Noticee’s association with the Mumbai Indians Franchise at the time of his appointment to the CAC.” Tendulkar added that the “icon” position was not a management or governance role: “The Complaint wrongly assumes that the Noticee’s association with the Mumbai Indians IPL Franchise (“Franchise”) is in the capacity of “governance”, “management” or “employment” - thereby attracting a conflict under Rule 38 (4).

Hand-InHand Inter...

From page 31 Azim Mohamed, Amit Persaud, Badesh Parsontam, Mervin Benjamin and Amos Sarwan. Ryan Hercules is the Coach and the manager is Fabian Durant.

Select U-17: Matthew Nandu, Sarwan Chitnarine, Marvan Prashad, Mavendra Dindyal, Niran Bissu, Zeynul Ramsammy, Andre Seepersaud, Sheldon Charles, Azizi Christiani, Chandrapaul Ramraj, Jagdesh Dowlatram, Chaitram Balgobin , Avinash Rajkumar and Ajay Gainda .

Valvoline and Concacaf...

From page 26 nationally on the Univision and FOX family of networks and transmitted on radio in Spanish by Fútbol de Primera Radio Network, and broadcast by television partners in countries around the world. The Valvoline and Concacaf agreement was facilitated by Soccer United Marketing, Concacaf ’s agency of record.

Valvoline joins Allstate Insurance Company, Camarena Tequila, Cerveza Modelo, Nike, Scotiabank, Sprint and Toyota as official sponsors of the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup. To learn more about Valvoline, visit www.valvoline.com.

Tickets for all Gold Cup matches are available by visiting www.GoldCup.org.

Durant helps Warriors...

From page 26 Gordon had 27 points and Paul 17 for the Rockets, who are playing the Warriors in the playoffs for the fourth time in the last five seasons.

The Rockets shot just 29.8 percent on 3-pointers, making 14 of 47.

The Warriors led 85-76 in the first minute of the fourth quarter after a pair of Shaun Livingston free throws, before the Rockets took advantage of Curry’s foul trouble to draw even at 89.

Two free throws by Nene at the 6:00 mark finally got

Houston even, setting the stage for the late heroics by Durant and Curry.

The Rockets took advantage of 13 Warriors turnovers to forge a 53-53 halftime tie.

Houston shot just 9 of 28 on 3-pointers in the half, but managed to stay even by shooting 12 of 13 on free throws, as compared to Golden State’s 2 of 4, and getting off one more fieldgoal attempt despite the large foul-shot discrepancy.

(Field Level Media)

PAGE 28

Tuesday April 30, 2019

Kaieteur News

Thiem rides out difficult start to Durant helps Warriors dispatch Rockets ease to Barcelona Open victory BARCELONA (Reuters) World number five Dominic Thiem captured his second title of the year after thrashing Russian Daniil Medvedev 64 6-0 in the Barcelona Open final on Sunday.

The Austrian had been beaten by Rafael Nadal in his previous appearance in the Barcelona final in 2017 but after knocking out the 11times French Open champion in the semi-finals, Thiem easily dispatched the 23-yearold Medvedev.

Thiem made a slow start as he trailed 3-0 but he then got into a groove as he produced a number of scorching winners, including a sublime drop shot, to win four successive games and go 4-3 up.

Medvedev struggled to respond and called on the physio to get some treatment on his shoulder but that intervention failed to get him going and Thiem easily served out for the set.

Thiem faced little resistance in the second, using his drop shots to

Austria’s Dominic Thiem celebrates with the trophy after winning the Barcelona Open. (REUTERS/Albert Gea) devastating effect to wipe out seventh seed Medvedev.

The Austrian third seed, who triumphed at Indian Wells last month, sealed victory with a simple volley.

“It’s such an honor to win this tournament, looking at all the names who have won it I’m very happy and proud that my name is also there now,” Thiem, who

prevented Nadal from his bid to win a record-extending 12th title in Barcelona, told reporters.

“I had some trouble in the beginning and going 0-3 down. I had some troubles at the beginning with the slice then it got better and that’s the only thing you can do against him and I’m happy that I made it work.”

Valvoline and Concacaf Announce Partnership for 2019 Gold Cup Miami — The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) announced yesterday that Valvoline Inc. (NYSE: VVV), a leading worldwide supplier of premium branded lubricants and automotive services, will be an official partner of the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup, the confederation’s official championship.

Taking place every two years, the Concacaf Gold Cup features many of the best players from the top national teams across the region. This year’s edition will feature an expansion in teams and host countries, with 16 participating teams as well as venues in the United States, Central America and the Caribbean.

Valvoline serves as an official marketing partner of the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup and underwrites the “High Mileage Stats of the Game Presented by Valvoline” digital platform, which will deliver unique statistics and infographics to fans throughout the tournament.

“We are proud to welcome Valvoline, a renowned global brand with over 150 years of heritage, as an official partner for the

Concacaf Gold Cup,” said Concacaf General Secretary Philippe Moggio. “Valvoline shares our passion for the game and vision to provide an innovative and premium quality experience to fans as they interact and consume the best football in the region.”

The 15th edition of the competition will be in 15 venues across 13 U.S. cities including Denver, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Minneapolis-St. Paul (a soldout game at state-of-the art Allianz Field, opening this year), and New York, among other major markets. The knockout rounds will be played in Houston, Nashville, Philadelphia and Phoenix, with the championship match set for Soldier Field in Chicago on July 7.

“We’re proud to be an official partner of the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup and to join such a passionate group of sports fans,” said Tim Ferrell, Valvoline Vice President of Brand Equity and Consumer Marketing.

“We look forward to sharing in the excitement of the games and showcasing Valvoline’s commitment to innovation, hands-on expertise and world-class products to a global audience.”

Valvoline will also have a major presence at Fútbol

Fiesta, the tournament’s official pregame celebration.

As part of the agreement, Valvoline is partnering with O’Reilly Auto Parts to expand reach to retail consumers through advertising, digital, social and pre-game activations.

“The Concacaf Gold Cup is the pinnacle of international soccer in the region, and this summer’s edition will be the biggest in tournament history,” said Carter Ladd, Senior Vice President of SUM. “Soccer United Marketing is proud to facilitate this partnership between Concacaf and Valvoline. We look forward to working with Valvoline to drive awareness and engagement for its premium, global products and services as we partner to celebrate the beautiful game.”

The 2019 Gold Cup will be the biggest-ever edition of the event, with more participating nations (16 up from 12 in 2017), more host countries (three, including first-time matches in Costa Rica and Jamaica), and more stadiums (17 up from 14 in 2017, eight of which are in contention to become a 2026 FIFA World Cup venue).

The 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup will be broadcast (Continued on page 25)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots the basketball against Houston Rockets forward Danuel House Jr. (4) during the third quarter in game one of the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports) Kevin Durant scored nine of his team-high 35 points in the final 5:35 and Stephen Curry buried a back-breaking 3-pointer with 25.9 seconds remaining Sunday afternoon as the Golden State Warriors outlasted the Houston Rockets 104-100 in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals in Oakland, Calif.

The second game in the best-of-seven between the top-seeded Warriors and fourth-seeded Rockets is slated for Tuesday night in Oakland.

In a tight game that featured poor 3-point shooting and turnovers, the Warriors found themselves in an 89-89 tie with six minutes remaining before Durant took charge.

His two free throws with 5:35 left gave Golden State the

lead for good, and his three subsequent free throws and two field goals seemingly put the Warriors in command at 100-95 with just 1:26 to go.

But a three-point play by James Harden got Houston back within two, before Curry countered with his 3-pointer that proved to be decisive.

A dunk by Harden with 21.3 seconds to go kept the Rockets alive, and when Chris Paul stole the ball from Durant, Houston had a chance at a tie.

But Paul was pressured into an awkward pass and Eric Gordon stepped out of bounds while retrieving it, allowing the Warriors to hold on.

Paul thought he was fouled on the play and argued the non-call, for which he received a second technical

foul and was ejected from the game with 4.4 seconds left.

Curry made the foul shot to complete the scoring.

Durant shot 12-for-15 from the line during his 35point outing for Golden State, which won despite committing 20 turnovers.

Curry (18 points), Andre Iguodala (14), Draymond Green (14) and Klay Thompson (13) also scored in double figures for the Warriors, who are attempting to win a third consecutive NBA title.

Green also contributed nine rebounds and nine assists to the win.

Harden matched Durant’s 35-point total, but shot just 4 of 16 on 3-pointers and was 9 of 28 overall. He made 13 of his 14 free throws. Eric (Continued on page 25)

Houston Rockets forward PJ Tucker (17) shoots the basketball against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the first quarter in game one of the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

Tuesday April 30, 2019

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

IPL 2019 - the race for the last two playoff spots Played 12, Points 14, NRR 0.347 Remaining matches: v Sunrisers Hyderabad (home), v Kolkata Knight Riders (home) Mumbai Indians are reasonably well placed with 14 points and a healthy net run-rate (NRR); in addition, their last two games are at home. A win in either of the two games will be enough to put them into the last four.

Even if they lose both, they will still have a chance to qualify if they lose narrowly and their NRR, which is currently 0.347, stays above teams that are currently in the bottom four.

Mumbai will, however, have lofty ambitions - if they win their last two games, and depending on how other results go, they could be among the top two teams.

Sunrisers Hyderabad Played 11, Points 10, NRR 0.559 Remaining matches: v Kings XI Punjab (home), v Mumbai Indians (away), v Royal Challengers Bangalore (away) Their campaign has gone off track somewhat with only two wins in their last seven matches, but what keeps them very much in the hunt - apart from the fact that they can still finish on 16 points - is their NRR of 0.559, which is the best among the eight teams.

Three wins will obviously sort their problems. If they win two, and there’s a shootout between teams with 14 points, they should be in the best position to qualify because of their NRR. However, if Super Kings, Mumbai, Capitals and Kings XI Punjab all finish with 16 or more points, then they will fall short.

Sunrisers will breathe a lot easier if they beat Kings XI at home on Monday night. Not only will they add two points to their kitty, they will also ensure that Kings XI cannot finish on 16. In that case, they will need to win only one of their two other games to finish on 14 and go through on NRR. Kolkata Knight Riders Played 12, Points 10, NRR 0.100 Remaining matches: v Kings XI Punjab (away), v Mumbai Indians (away) The win against Mumbai has put Knight Riders back in the race, but the maximum they can finish with is 14, and that might not be sufficient, as there is a possibility of as many as six teams finishing on 14 or more. That means not only do they need to win, but also win with healthy margins to push up their NRR, which is currently below those of Sunrisers Hyderabad and

Krunal Pandya checks if he’s made his ground. (BCCI) Mumbai Indians.

They do have a slim chance of qualifying even with 12 points, but for that to happen, several other results will have to go their way: Sunrisers have to lose all remaining games, putting Knight Riders level on 12 points with Kings XI and Royal Challengers Bangalore/ Rajasthan Royals - teams with worse NRRs than them.

Knight Riders’ next match, against Kings XI, is a must-win a defeat there could see them slip behind Kings XI/Sunrisers in the fight for fourth spot.

Kings XI Punjab Played 11, Points 10, NRR -0.117 Remaining matches: v Sunrisers Hyderabad (away), v Kolkata Knight Riders (home), v Chennai Super Kings (home) Like Sunrisers, Kings XI are on 10 points from 11 games, but their NRR of -0.117 is much poorer than Sunrisers’. If it comes down to NRR between the two, there will only be one winner.

Like for Sunrisers, the key game for Kings XI will be the one tonight. Thereafter, they have two home games, against Knight Riders and Super Kings. If they beat Sunrisers, they can afford to lose one of their two remaining matches, but only if Sunrisers lose one of their last two as well, as Kings XI have a far inferior NRR. The other way Kings XI could sneak through with 14 is if Mumbai lose their two remaining matches and stay on 14. But even then, the result margins will have to be significant enough for Kings XI to go past Mumbai’s NRR, which is currently 0.347.

Outsiders, but not quite out yet Rajasthan Royals Played 12, Points 10, NRR -0.321 Remaining matches: v Royal Challengers Bangalore (away), v Delhi

Capitals (away) Royals have plenty to do going into the last week, but the win against Sunrisers has given them a new lease of life.

If they win both their two remaining matches - both are away games, though, and their side is significantly depleted following the departure of some of their overseas stars - they could make the cut even without NRRs coming into play, as there could be scenarios

where four teams finish with 12 or fewer points. If they lose one, though, they will be out, given their poor NRR. Mathematically in, practically out Royal Challengers Bangalore Played 12, Points 8, NRR -0.694 Remaining matches: v Rajasthan Royals (home), v Sunrisers Hyderabad (home) The defeat against Capitals means Royal Challengers are almost certainly out of IPL 2019. The maximum they can finish on is 12 points, and while that is iffy enough, what makes it worse for them is their NRR of -0.694.

Given the way the tournament has shaped up, it is possible that teams with 12 points could still be in contention for the last playoff spot. One of the scenarios in which that could happen is if Kings XI beat Sunrisers and lose to Knight Riders, Super Kings and Mumbai win their last two games, and Royals and Sunrisers lose their remaining matches. Then, Super Kings will be on 20, with Mumbai and Capitals on 18 each. Knight Riders, Kings

XI and Royal Challengers will be on 12 each, and fighting for the last playoff spot.

That’s when NRRs will come in, and Royal Challengers will be severely hamstrung - for them to top Knight Riders’ NRR, they have to win each of their matches by around 50 runs, and hope Knight Riders lose to Mumbai by around 95 runs, after beating Kings XI by a small margin (around five runs).

It’s possible mathematically, but for all practical purposes they are out of it.

Looking for a top-two finish Delhi Capitals Played 12, Points 16, NRR 0.233 Remaining matches: v Chennai Super Kings (away), v Rajasthan Royals (home) Having already qualified for the playoffs, Capitals’ next target will be to finish in the top two. If they win their last two matches, they will achieve that goal, but if they lose one, things could get tricky. They have a better NRR than Super Kings, which will come in handy if the two teams have to battle for one

- Four-way race for the last-four spots place, but Mumbai are currently ahead, at 0.347 (though the gap is relatively small, and Capitals can go ahead on NRR if the results go their way).

Even if they lose their two remaining games and finish on 16, Capitals could still make the top two if Mumbai lose both, and if other results go favourably for them.

Chennai Super Kings Played 12, Points 16, NRR -0.113 Remaining matches: v Delhi Capitals (home), v Kings XI Punjab (away) They were the first to qualify with 16 points, but by no means are they assured of a top-two spot, especially given their poor NRR. Even with 18 points, they may not be in the top two as Capitals and Mumbai could both finish on 18 or more points, with better NRRs. Winning Wednesday’s game against Capitals would be a good way to go, though even that result will not put a seal on the matter. However, if Super Kings win either of their last two matches and Mumbai lose one of theirs, then Super Kings are assured of finishing second at least.

Farah not distracted by Gebrselassie dispute despite marathon disappointment LONDON (Reuters) Britain’s Mo Farah said his dispute with Ethiopian distancerunning great Haile Gebrselassie did not act as a distraction ahead of S u n d a y ’s London Marathon in which he finished a disappointing fifth.

Farah had been tipped to challenge Eliud Kipchoge for the title but after running the first 30 kilometers in a British record time, he fell away in the latter stages.

He finished over three minutes behind Kenyan great Kipchoge, who won his fourth London Marathon in five years.

Farah’s preparations were overshadowed by his public dispute with Gebrselassie, with the Briton unhappy that he did not receive help from Gebrselassie after he was robbed at a hotel in Addis Ababa owned by the Ethiopian.

Gebrselassie, a former world record holder and current president of the Ethiopian Athletics Federation, said the matter was immediately reported to police, who interviewed five hotel employees but decided not

Great Britain’s Mo Farah finishes the men’s elite race in the London Marathon.

(REUTERS/Matthew Childs)

to bring charges against any of them.

The episode dominated the news in the run-up to the Sunday’s race, but Farah said he retained his focus despite having failed to challenge for the lead throughout.

“I didn’t think the fuss affected my run and I wasn’t distracted by the build up,” Farah said. “It was all about London today and so I put my head down, did my best.

“I don’t regret anything I said and I respect the race.

“My aim was to reel them back once the pacemaker dropped out but wasn’t able

to. I am disappointed as training went well.”

Farah also said he is yet to decide which race he will commit to in the upcoming World Championships in Qa t a r, w h e r e h e c o u l d compete in either the marathon or 10,000 meters.

“At the minute my brain

is all over the place,” he added. “I am going to have a chat with my coach and my agent and have a step back.

“I think for me I want to do a marathon. I gave it my all, I was aiming to run a low 2:04 but that is what it was.”

PAGE 30

Transcend Entertainment to host $1million Tapeball tourney Over 20 teams have already signaled their interest to compete in the third annual edition of the Transcend Entertainment seven-a-side Independence Tapeball cricket festival on May 5-6, at the National Cultural Centre Tarmac.

The event, which is organised by Transcend Entertainment, is set to attract some of the biggest names in Tapeball cricket with over $1M in cash and prizes up for grabs.

Organiser, Dwight

Dodson, is urging cricket lovers not to miss the action since he says it is expected to be one of the biggest and most exciting tapeball events ever organised. Entrance fee for the event is a meager $10,000 and interested teams can contact Dodson on telephone numbers 639-3785 and 664-5035.

Action at the ground bowls off at 08:00hrs on both days with drinks and food on sale for patrons to consume.

The event has gained the support of the National

Sports Commission (NSC) while the sponsors on board so far are Superbet, Banks DIH, Ramps Logistics Ltd, Imperial Trading, Red Carpet Washbay, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Star Party Rentals, Xavier ’s Investment, Movement Auto Sale, Precision Auto Works, W&J Enterprise, Fung-A-Fat Hatchery, Ole’s Jewellery, Seeta’s Bar, Regent Household and Electronics, Royal Real Estate, Church’s Chicken, Fireside Grill, Magic City and S&D Enterprise.

Semenya decision to be announced by CAS tomorrow CAPE TOWN (Reuters) The decision on Caster Semenya’s challenge to continue competing without any restrictions will be announced by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) at 1000 GMT tomorrow.

The double Olympic 800m champion is challenging the sport’s governing body, International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), over its decision to restrict testosterone levels in female runners.

The IAAF wants the South African and other female athletes with differences of sexual development (DSD) to take testosterone blockers.

Under the new rules, which will apply to women events between 400 meters to the mile, athletes classed as having DSDs must reduce their blood testosterone level to below five (5) nmol/L for a period of six months before they can compete. They must then maintain it below that level continuously.

Semenya, 28, has been waiting since February following her appeal against an IAAF regulation, which said female athletes classed as having DSDs gain an unfair advantage due to their higher testosterone levels.

Testosterone is a hormone that increases muscle mass, strength and haemoglobin which affects endurance.

CAS had been due to announce its decision in March but postponed it several times.

Semenya’s dominance of the middle distances has been labeled unfair by many of her competitors but the proposed

Tuesday April 30, 2019

Kaieteur News

South Africa’s double Olympic champion Caster Semenya acknowledges a crowd after winning the 5,000m gold at South African Championships in Germiston, South Africa, April 25, 2019.

(REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/file photo) restrictions have also been branded as discriminatory.

Several expert witness were called by both sides during a five-day hearing presided by three judges at CAS’s headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland in February.

Semenya won 1,500m and 5,000m golds at the South African Athletics Championships over the past few days. Should her appeal be unsuccessful, Semenya would have to meet the IAAF requirements to keep running in the 800 and 1500 meters, but they would not apply were she to step up to 5,000.

Last month, Semenya said in a statement released through her lawyers that she wanted to differentiate her

case from those of transgender athletes who were born male.

“Ms Semenya is a woman. There is no debate or question about this and the IAAF does not dispute this,” the statement said.

“She was born a woman, raised a woman, socialized as a woman and has competed as a woman her entire life.

“Ms Semenya does not wish to undergo medical intervention to change who she is and how she was born.

She wants to compete naturally.”

The IAAF has previously said it is confident of the legal, scientific and ethical basis for the regulations and expects CAS to reject Semenya’s appeal.

MYO thump MSC by 267 runs in GCA Toucan U-15 tourney

From left Devon Sobai, Sanjay Algoo, Avinash Rajkumar and Zeynul Ramsammy Host Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) thumped Malteenoes Sports Club by 267 runs when the Georgetown Cricket Association Toucan Under15 100 overs tournament continued on Sunday last.

Led by half centuries from Zeynul Ramsammy, Avinash Rajkumar and Sanjay Algoo MYO posted a challenging 367-8 from their reduced quota of 49 overs after they decided to bat. Ramsammy struck eight fours in scoring 65; he added 62 for the opening stand with Devon Sobai who was dismissed for 25, and put on a further 70 for the second wicket with Rajkumar.

Rajkumar slammed eight

Romeo Deonarain fours and two sixes in a top score of 68, while Algoo smashed two fours and six sixes in scoring 53. Neil Hutton claimed 3-33 for MSC. Left-arm spinner, Sobai then bagged 5-14 to restrict

Malteenoes SC for 100 in 28 overs in reply. Elijah Wills top scored for the visitors with 25.

On Saturday, Demerara Cricket Club overcame MYO by five wickets. MYO took first strike and scored 141 all out 36.2 overs. Isai Thorne and Nicquan Samuels made 22 each while and A. Rampersaud contributed 18 and S. Aroquim 14.

Wavel Allen claimed 3-25, Jeremiah Hoenkirk 2-2, Jaden Dowlen 2-17 and Kareem Caesar 2-34. DCC responded with 142-5 in 38 overs. Romeo Deonarain made 40 with six fours while Shiquan Walters scored 27 and Premchand Permaul 19. (Zaheer Mohamed)

Pooran, Gayle struggle as Kings XI lose again HYDERABAD, India, CMC – Nicholas Pooran got a start but failed to carry on while Chris Gayle suffered a rare failure as Kings XI Punjab slumped to a 45-run defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad here yesterday.

Chasing a difficult target of 214 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Kings XI were held to 167 for eight off their 20 overs, to suffer their seventh defeat of the Indian Premier League season and remain three from bottom of the eight-team standings on 10 points.

Pooran, a member of the West Indies 15-man squad for the World Cup starting next month, looked in good nick for his 21 off 10 balls but Gayle perished early for just four.

Opener Lokesh Rahul topscored with 79 off 56 deliveries while Mayank Agarwal chipped in with 27.

The left-handed Gayle was first to fall in the third over, brilliantly taken at cover

by Manish Pandey off leftarm seamer Khaleel Ahmed (340) with 11 runs on the board.

Rahul then punched four

Windies left-hander Nicholas Pooran. fours and five sixes in a 60run, second wicket stand with Agarwal which re-energised the run chase.

When Agarwal fell in the ninth over, Pooran arrived to punch two fours and two sixes in a 24-run third wicket stand with Rahul, which briefly threatened to upstage the hosts.

He had lashed a six and two fours off the first four balls of the 11th over from Ahmed before top-edging a hook to be taken on the ropes at long leg.

Pooran was one of three wickets to perish for 19 runs

in the space of 14 balls as the run chase lost momentum.

Australian David Warner had earlier stroked a Man-ofthe-Match 81 off 56 deliveries to help fire Sunrisers up to 212 for six off their 20 overs.

He put on 78 off 38 deliveries for the first wicket with Wriddhiman Saha (28) and a further 82 for the second wicket with Pandey (36).

Scores: Sunrisers Hyderabad 212 for 6 (Warner 81, Pandey 36) beat Kings XI Punjab 167 for 8 (Rahul 79, Rashid 321, Khaleel 3-40) by 45 runs.

Tuesday April 30, 2019

Guyana U-17s depart for nation’s debut at Concacaf U-17 Championship - Play first match tomorrow against El Salvador A 20-strong Guyana U17 Boys’ national squad departed for Florida, USA yesterday ahead of the nation’s debut at the Concacaf U17 Championship, following a final encampment at Leonora Stadium.

The U17 squad, which beat Elite League side Den Amstel 2-1 in a friendly match at the GFF National Training Centre on Saturday, is set to compete in Group ‘C’ at the IMG Complex against El Salvador (10am, May 1st), Honduras (4pm, May 3rd) and Haiti (10am, May 5th).

“There is great chemistry and continuity in this current crop of players, building on the U15 group that was successful at the 2017 Soualiga Cup and t a l e n t f r o m t h e G F F ’s nationwide Academy Training Centres, where we have been developing our young players in line with the GFF’s national playing philosophy,” U17 Head Coach Sampson Gilbert said.

“We know we are going up against teams that have a reputation at this level, but we know that we can compete with those teams.

We are looking forward to

going as far as possible in the tournament: getting out of the group as the first target and then taking each game as it comes.”

The U17s are ranked 18th in Concacaf and have been in training since early March with up to five sessions per week at the National Training Centre and practice matches against local club teams.

The Concacaf tournament schedule clashes with some CSEC examination dates, meaning that participating Caribbean nations have had to tailor their p r e p a r a t i o n s a n d s q u ad selection around the availability of players.

“Education has to go hand in hand with football,” Gilbert said. “We are working with the parents to alleviate the situation so that as many of our children can benefit from playing at this level, but also perform properly in their exams.”

As part of this arrangement, some players in the U17 squad will return to Guyana after the second group match against

Honduras while some others will be unavailable for selection due to exam commitments if Guyana progresses to the next round.

“We wish our boys all the very best as they prepare to represent their country at this level for the first time in our history,” said GFF President Wayne Forde.

“With this age group, we recognize that it is important for each of the players to learn as much as they can from this valuable regional exposure as we continue to develop them through the academies and within our national pathway.”

“We believe a significant number of these players have the attitude and ability to grow into top players in the region in the years ahead, and we are looking forward to seeing them make a big statement of intent against some tough opposition in Florida this month.”

The Concacaf U17 Championship will be broadcast live in Guyana via Flow Sports.

U17s Boys Concacaf Championship Squad: Name Position Club Academy Training Centre Shawn Adonis Goalkeeper Golden Grove East Coast FA Oswin Fredericks Goalkeeper Buxton United East Coast FA Ronaldo Blair Goalkeeper Timehri Panthers East Bank FA Jermaine Padmore Defender Santos Georgetown FA Marcus Wilson Defender Georgetown FC Georgetown FA Nicholai Andrews Defender Fruta Conquerors Georgetown FA Joshua Braithwaite Defender Fruta Conquerors Georgetown FA Wayne DaSilva Defender Saints Sports Club Rupununi FA Kevin Reddy Defender Potaro Strikers Bartica FA Jamar Harrigan Midfielder Buxton United East Coast FA Tyrell Khan Midfielder Soesdyke Falcons East Bank FA Isiah James Midfielder Rosignol United Berbice FA Osafa Simpson Midfielder Fruta Conquerors Georgetown FA William Vaughan Midfielder Whitby SC Canada Shannon Samnauth Midfielder Soesdyke Falcons East Bank FA Shoran James Forward Herstelling Raiders East Bank FA Omari Glasgow Forward Buxton United East Coast FA Ronaldo Rodrigues Forward Santos Georgetown FA Ravon Bayley Forward Fruta Conquerors Georgetown FA Orville Daniels Forward Paimak Warriors Rupununi FA Technical Staff: Head Coach - Sampson Gilbert, Assistant Coach - Vurlon Mills, Goalkeeper Coach - Eon DeVeira, Youth Development Officer - Bryan Joseph, Team Doctor Nico Alstrom, Physiotherapist - Pablino Cupido, Fitness Coach - Wilson Toledo.

Allicock and Adams win Al Sport Double Wicket Windball Cricket...

From page 30 match, Stacy Flores and Angel Hunte scored 44-1, Flores made 32.

Kelliann Fredericks and Alexis Noel replied with 39 –

PAGE 31

Kaieteur News

1 with Noel scoring 36.

Allicock was named the MVP of the day’s programme for both her batting and fielding.

The two weeks

Wi n d b a l l training programme was organised

by NSC Sports Officer A. Munroe.

The presentation will be done on Saturday May 4.

On-fire Russell “hungry” for World Cup success KOLKATA, India, CMC – All-rounder Andre Russell says there is a renewed hunger to represent West Indies in the upcoming World Cup, especially with his current batting form.

The 31-year-old has played only a single One-Day International in the last four years but was named in the Caribbean side’s World Cup 15-man squad last week.

He was recalled for the last two matches of the recent five-match home series against England but was subsequently kept out due to a knee injury.

“I’m so hungry now to represent the West Indies,” the Jamaican said.

“The last time I joined the West Indies team was recently, when I had taken two injections to better my knee and it flared up again. I was so upset. I was watching the game against England

and couldn’t do anything about it. “But as I said, I’m so hungry right now to represent the West Indies and smash sixes and do what I’ve been doing here and score hundreds.”

Russell has been on fire with the bat in the ongoing Indian Premier League where he has plundered 486 runs at an average of 69 with four half-centuries, to top the Kolkata Knight Riders batting charts.

Though there has been less emphasis placed on his medium-fast bowling, the right-armer has already claimed 10 wickets at an average of 22 and economy rate of nearly nine.

Despite his absence from the ODI side in recent years, Russell said his selection for the May 30 to July 14 showpiece in England was not unexpected.

“I wasn’t surprised that I

was a part of the World Cup squad,” Russell explained.

“I’ve been doing well. I’ve been back and forth with the selectors and the coaches back home. I know once I’m doing my work here and performing, that will lead to national duties.

“I wasn’t really focused on the World Cup. I was just trying to make sure that whatever happened here, I did my best and put my best foot forward.”

New interim West Indies head coach, Floyd Reifer, said last week that Russell’s current form in the IPL had weighed heavily in the decision by selectors.

“He’s shown that he has tremendous striking ability – look at his stats in the IPL, he’s been doing very, very well,” he pointed out.

Russell averages 28 from 52 ODIs and has taken 65 wickets.

Alex Hales withdrawn from England World Cup squad BBC Sport - Alex Hales has been withdrawn from E n g l a n d ’s p r e l i m i n a r y World Cup squad to ensure the team is “free from any distractions”, the England & Wales Cricket Board has said.

Last week, a spokesman for the batsman said he had been suspended following an “off-field incident”.

Hales, 30, was part of a provisional 15-man squad named for the World Cup. “I want to make it clear this is not the end of Alex’s career as an England player,” said ECB chief Ashley Giles.

The ECB has refused to say what Hales has done to warrant his withdrawal, citing confidentiality concerns.

Hales missed Nottinghamshire’s OneDay Cup games last week for what the county described as “personal reasons”.

The incident happened last year, and the player’s spokesman added: “While the issue is not cricketrelated, he accepted it was right he was suspended.”

The ECB says he has also been removed from the England squad for the oneday international against Ireland on Friday, as well as the Twenty20 international and ODI series against Pakistan.

A replacement for the

World Cup squad must be named by 23 May, when final squads are submitted to the International Cricket Council.

“We have thought long and hard about this decision,” added Giles, the ECB’s managing director of England men’s cricket.

“We have worked hard to create the right environment around the England team and need to consider what is in the best interests of the team, to ensure they are free from any distractions and able to focus on being successful on the pitch.

“The ECB and the PCA (Professional Cricketers’ Association) will continue to aid Alex and work alongside his county club Nottinghamshire to give him the support he needs, to help him fulfil his potential as a professional cricketer.”

Hales’ management company said in a statement it is “hugely disappointed at the treatment” of the cricketer.

It said the ECB “insisted on Alex taking certain rehabilitation measures following his suspension” and that “at every stage, Alex fulfilled his obligations and both he and his representatives were given assurances that any suspension - again under the ECB’s guidelines - could not affect his selection for the World Cup”.

The statement added: “The fact all those assurances seem to have been rendered

meaningless has understandably left Alex devastated. He will take time to reflect on both his actions and the subsequent decisions, but will receive the support from his team he deserves.”

Hales has played 11 Tests, 70 one-day internationals and 60 T20 matches for England.

He is now regarded as a white-ball specialist, however, and in 2018 signed a new contract with Nottinghamshire to play only limited-overs matches until the end of the 2019 season.

It is the second time he has been suspended, following his punishment which also included a fine for an incident outside a Bristol nightclub in September 2017.

The England limitedovers batsman did not face any criminal charges, while team-mate Ben Stokes was cleared of affray at a trial.

In addition to the incident in Bristol, Hales was charged in relation to “inappropriate images”.

Speaking to the Guardian earlier this m o n t h , t h e batsman said the fallout from the incident had been a “lesson learned the incredibly hard way”, and subsequently told BBC S p o r t h e believed he deserved a “second chance” after he and his team-mates were “caught up in the wrong place at the wrong time”.

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Tuesday April 30, 2019

Kaieteur News

WDFA/Trophy Stall U-11 League

Pouderoyen and Eagles claim latest wins

Teon Kennedy (right), Mikiah DeFratus and Jamalli Gomes – Pouderoyen FC Pouderoyen were flawless in their 4-0 win over Den Amstel, while Eagles of Stewartville needled neighbours Uitvlugt Warriors when play in the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA)/Trophy Stall Under-11 League continued on Saturday last at the Den Amstel Community Centre Ground.

Pouderoyen got their goals from Mikiah DeFratus who netted twice, in the 11th and 20th minutes; Jamalli Gomes had opened the scoring in the 5th minute, while the final goal was netted by Teon Kennedy in the 19th minute. Home team Den Amstel was unable to get on the scorecards.

Eagles got their second win compliments of a lone strike by Orlando Stephenson in the 19th minute, Uitvlugt Warriors failed to respond.

Pouderoyen and Den Amstel are on 12 points apiece; Eagles and Uitvlugt Warriors are locked on 6 each, while Genesis has 3.

Ramnauth, Thorne among surprise omissions from Inter County U-19 tourney

By Zaheer Mohamed Age group tournaments are often the cornerstone for the elevation for many young cricketers. And with the Handin-Hand Inter-County U19 three-day tournament starting today where four teams will battle for supremacy, many players will look to capitalize on the opportunities provided.

This tournament is being used as a yardstick to select Guyana teams for Regional age group tournaments, take into consideration that the tournament is being played in the three-day and 50-over formats, the selectors will be given enough time to come up with the best possible squads to represent the Golden Arrow Head.

But first, the respective counties must put together their best possible teams so that the best players can be given equal opportunities to stake a claim for selection on the national team. Like a coach, selectors can either break or make a player. Often we see players are being miraculously selected, while others are being sidelined even tough their performances should

guarantee them places on the teams.

Young players either switch to other sports, which may not be their favourites or strength, or even stop playing because of not being selected when performing well in preceding tournaments. The aftermath of selection blunders can also lead players to migrating as we would have seen with so many promising cricketers in the past-former West Indies U19 batsman Hemnarine Chattergoon is a name that readily comes to mind.

Berbice U15 opener, Rampertab Ramnauth, undoubtedly one of the finest talents around, was surprisingly omitted from the Selected U17 team. This player has shown much promise and is definitely one to look forward to in the future. He has displayed maturity that belied his age and impressed many in the recently concluded Regional U15 tournament in which he scored a century against Jamaica and 92 not out versus Trinidad and Tobago. Yet he wasn’t selected on the U17 side for this tournament.

Promising fast bowler Isai

Thorne, who performed well in the regional U15 tournament, was left out.

From all reports he was the fastest bowler in that competition in which he took 10 wickets, the most by a fast bowler.

Jonathan Rampersaud, another young talent, who had a best of 41 not out and 4-17 at an economy rate of 2.15 in the recently concluded inter county U17 tournament, was another surprise omission. Shamar Yearwood, one of the best wicketkeepers at the U17 level; he effected the most dismissals in the inter county, Trevon Charles, one of the fastest bowlers around at this level and Alvin Mohabir, the leading wicket taker in the Inter County U17 with nine scalps were all omitted.

Talented Essequibo fast bowler Reyaz Khan is another name that is missing from the list of players submitted. But it is alleged that the Essequibo Cricket Board didn’t hear from Khan leading up to the competition, which may have led to his omission. Not sure what efforts, if any, were made to get him involved.

Allicock and Adams win Al Sport Double Wicket Windball Cricket

Orlando Stephenson - Eagles FC

Stag Easter Futsal Festival set for exciting climax tonight - Gold is Money to clash with Bent The final night of rivalry in the Stag Easter Futsal Festival championship will unfold tonight at the National Gymnasium with some potentially breathtaking action in the making.

Gold is Money will hope to end their sojourn in these championships in golden fashion but will have to get past an equally determined Bent Street which will fancy

Street in final; $700,000 at stake

their chances of also walking away with the top prize of $700,000 and trophy.

Which ever way it goes tonight, there will be some consolation for the losing finalist as they will pocket $300,000. The third place encounter brings together North East against Sparta Boss and this clash is also expected to be a fierce encounter between these two sides.Purses of $200,000 and $100,000 respectively are at stake for the winner and loser of this shindig.

There will be three exhibition matches that will whet the appetites of the fans prior to the third place match and the final. Opening proceedings at 20:00hrs

would be Legends of Futsal East taking on their counterparts from the West.

This would be followed by an all female showdown between Albouystown and Tiger Bay; a match-up that is anticipated to be a classy affair. The final exhibition match will see Ramps Logistics opposing Bounty Supermarket with bragging rights at stake.

Corporate support for the competition has come from Stag, Bakewell, Dinars Trading, Broomes Foundation, Power Producers & Distributors Inc., 94.1FM, Star Party Rentals, GuyBisco, Ground Structural and Engineering Inc. and DeSinco Trading.

The teams (pairs) in order starting from the winners after the action.

The pair of Carlisa Allicock and Easter Adams won the AL Sport & Tour Promotions – NSC Easter Holiday Schoolgirls Double Wicket Windball Cricket competition played at the National Gymnasium.

In the final they won the toss batted first and scored 68-1, with Allicock making 38.

Keisha Jones and Erica Mentore team were restricted to 60-1, with Mentore 32 and Jones 16. In the 3rd place (Continued on page 29)

The winning pair of Carlisa Allicock (left) and Easter Adams.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday April 30, 2019

GFF Elite League Season 4

Armed forces arrest opponents in latest action; Ann’s Grove still winless When the latest action in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Elite League Season Four continued on Sunday evening last at the Police Sports Club Ground Eve Leary, the Guyana Police Force FC handed fellow debutants Santos FC their second loss (2-0) whilst securing their second win in the process in the feature match.

Opening play between the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and Ann’s Grove saw the latter putting up a stern display but were not able to keep the Army at bay at the death as they fell to their fifth loss in six outings as the GDF recorded their fourth win (3-1) in six matches to keep their unbeaten record intact.

Police netted either side of play in a solid win over their fellow City side Santos.

Damien Thomas in the 9th minute put Police in the lead.

Latest Points Table Team P Fruta Conquerors 5 Western Tigers 6 GDF 6 Den Amstel 6 Guyana Police Force 6 Santos 6 Buxton United 6 Victoria Kings 5 Ann’s Grove 6 Milerock 4

Amumchi Opara Benjamin – Guyana Defence Force Football Club.

Santos stood up to the task but just could not make it count in the attacking third.

Making home advantage count, Police sealed the deal in the 63rd minute thanks to a goal off the boot of Lerone Charles. In the opening match, Ann’s Grove came very close to sealing an upset draw against the GDF which scored the opening goal of the match in the 16th minute thanks to a Kenneth Opara strike. The score line remained untouched for quite W 5 4 4 3 2 2 0 0 0 0

D 0 2 2 2 1 1 2 2 1 3

L 0 0 0 1 3 3 4 3 5 1

GF 31 15 11 10 7 5 2 5 1 2

some time as the Army were kept on a tight leash by the East Coast based side still in search of their first win.

They {Ann’s Grove} shocked the GDF in the 69th minute when Steve Francis fired one past the GDF goalkeeper, a goal which changed the momentum of the match. Scoring at that moment of the match surely did bring with it a high level of confidence among the Ann’s Grove lads as they held on to the balance for as long as they could.

Unfortunately for Ann’s Grove, they could not hold off the running GDF side at the death and conceded back to back goals in added on time.

First it was Amumchi Opara Benjamin who broke the deadlock in the 90+3rd minute after which his teammate, Olvis Mitchell sealed the deal one minute later when he converted to formalise his side’s, fourth win.

GA 4 4 3 5 9 11 11 15 22 5

GD +27 +11 +8 +5 -2 -6 -9 -10 -21 -3

Saheed Gittens Rodrigues captured 3-6.

We l l m a n M a s t e r s overcame Narine XI by 90 runs in their semi final game.

Wellman Masters batted first and managed 214-4.

Latchman Kallicharran led with 54 while Greg De Franca made 44; Nandram Samlall 35 and Sheldon Perch 34 not out. Jailall Ramlall took 2-31. Narine XI were limited to 124-9 in response. Mahendra Nauth made 27; Perch grabbed 3-0 from one over while Ganesh Sookdeo snared 3-22.

Razack unbeaten half century hands Hand-in-Hand eight-wicket win over GBTI

The victorious Hand-in-Hand team with their prizes

A

fine unbeaten half century from Shaun Razack propelled Handin-Hand to an eight-wicket victory over the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) when the teams collided in a T20 Tapeball contest on Sunday last at GNIC SC. Batting first, GBTI managed 147 all out in 19.3 overs. Mohan Balram struck two fours and four sixes in a top score of 56 and added 52 for the seven-wicket with Rabindra Benny to add respectability to the total. Benny was dismissed 19 while Ramesh Sookram made 17 as Ganesh Singh picked up 3-21, Saadiq Khan 2-10 and Madan Ghani 2-28.

Hand-in-Hand lost Huzifah Shakeem (06) early in the chase, but Razack anchored the innings with resolute batting as he added 105 for the second wicket with Ronald Stanley before Stanley departed for 23 off 25 balls with three fours and one six. Razack and Danesh Seepersaud then saw their team to victory as they ended on 149-2 in 16.3 overs.

Razack slammed two fours and nine sixes in scoring 73 off 52 balls while Seepersaud made 19 off seven balls with three sixes.

Benny (1-18) and Balram (1-37) were the wicket takers for GBTI. The game was sponsored by both entities. (Zaheer Mohamed)

Pts 15 14 14 11 7 7 2 2 1 0

Ariel, Wellman Masters secure final berths - Gittens clams century Ariel and Wellman Masters have secured their places in the final of the Trophy Stall 15-over softball tournament following victories in their respective semi final games played on Sunday last at the Malteenoes Sports Club.

Ariel defeated Success Masters by 12 runs in their semi final encounter. Ariel took first strike and posted 166-8. Saheed Gittens slammed six fours and four sixes in a top score of 61, while Oslyn Batson made 33 with four fours and two sixes and Richard Persaud 31.

Randy Katwaroo claimed 220. Success Masters were restricted for 154-8 in reply.

Vijay Baljit made 47 including two fours and four sixes, while Seekumar Budram scored 32 and Katwaroo 27. Rudy

PAGE 33

Earlier, Ariel defeated Narine Masters by 97 runs.

Ariel batted first and managed 232-3. Saheed Gittens struck six fours and 14 sixes in an unbeaten 132, while Ron Ramnauth made 59 with five fours and three sixes. Narine Masters were bowled out for 135 in 13 overs in reply. Ramesh Bisraj made 45 while Andre DeRoop contributed 19 as Robert Kumar claimed 3-22 and Oslyn Batson 2-19.

Success Masters beat HS Masters by seven wickets. H S Masters were bowled out for 83 in 11 overs, taking first strike. Patrick Khan got 27; S. Singh claimed 3-19 and Sham Persaud 2-17.

Success Masters replied with 85-3 in 8.4 overs.

Randy Katwaroo made 25 and R. Singh 23 not out.

(Zaheer Mohamed)

Members of the GBTI side

Hand-In-Hand Inter County tourney bowls off today Hand-In-Hand is once again the official sponsor for the Under-19 Inter-County tournament, which will be played in the 3-Day and 50 overs formats.

Cricket Guyana Inc. has been tasked with handling the logistical and financial responsibilities for the competition which commences today with action in the three-day version.

The first round will see Demerara taking on Essequibo at Bourda and the Select U-17team battling the defending champions Berbice, at Everest Cricket

Club. Both matches are scheduled to commence at 10:00 hrs.

T h e t e a m s a re a s follows: Berbice: Kevlon Anderson, Alex Algoo, J u n i o r S i n c l a i r, L e o n Swammy , Kevin Umroa, Garfield Benjamin, Gevon Schultz, Chanderpaul Govindan, Jeetendra Outar, Nigel Deodat, Shamar Angel, Seon Glasglow, Doorsammy Mahadeo and Chris Harry. The manager is Neil Rudder and the Coach is Andre Percival.

Demerara: Ashmead Nedd (captain), Sachin

Singh, Adrian Hinds, Alphius Bookie, Robin Williams, Andrew Samaroo, Yudister Persaud, Pradesh Balkishun, Joel Spooner, Daniel Mootoo, Satesh Bisram, Zachery Jodah ,Dequan Bemfield and Qumar Torrington. The manager is Latchman Yadram and the coach is Rohan Sarjoo.

Essequibo: Kevin Christian, Ameer Singh, Bhumeshwar Ramkisoon, Jeremiah Scott, Ellian Whyte, Orlando Jailall, Badesh Parsotam, Adrian Ramkirpaul, Lance Roberts, (Continued on page 25)

t r o Sp

Guyana U17s depart for nation’s debut at Concacaf U-17 C/Ship - Play first match tomorrow against El Salvador

Part of the Guyana National U-17 Team.

West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell.

On-fire Russell “hungry” for World Cup success

Alex Hales withdrawn from England World Cup squad

Alex Hales was previously suspended and fined by the ECB following an incident outside a Bristol nightclub in September 2017. (Getty Images)

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