Sunday April 01, 2018
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To Australia: That’s definitely “not like teams and people around hypocritically said the team’s cricket!” the world have been waiting collective integrity would DEAR EDITOR, The fundamental nature of cricket being a gentleman’s game is memorialized in the preamble to the MCC’s laws of cricket relating to “the spirit of the game,” which makes it a breach “to direct abusive language towards an opponent or an umpire” or “to seek to distract an opponent either verbally or by harassment with persistent clapping or unnecessary noise under the guise of enthusiasm and motivation of one’s own side.” Australian players are by far the chief culprits who front up to their opponents like street thugs, chins thrust out aggressively, the adrenalin pumping, are you talkin’ to me attitude. Their abuse on the field was so gross that South African batsman and captain, Faf du Plessis, said they were like a “pack of wild dogs,” while former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe decried their “thuggish” behaviour. However, Australian authorities have been unwilling to clamp down on them, but now the wheels have fallen off. “I think a lot of what they’re copping at the moment comes from the way they have played their game,” England’s coach Bayliss, an Australian, said. “It’s almost
for them to stuff up so they can lay the boot in. I don’t think you can say when any culture has changed. It’s one of those things that continually, over a period of time, builds and builds and unfortunately on this occasion it’s gone too far… including the Cameron Bancroft-Jonny Bairstow head butt incident in Perth.” Steve Waugh started it all as captain, with his ‘’mental disintegration’’ of the opposing team after Ian Chappell inaugurated modern sledging. Previously, we wrote that South Africa’s doctoring of home pitches and their whining when it came their turn to face the music “was just not cricket, the gentleman’s game.” However, Australia’s ball tampering has taken this to another level. The verbal harassment, threats and thuggish body language of many Australian cricketers inflicted on opponents over the years have become endemic and despicable, and while some may defend it as tough gamesmanship, tampering with the ball in such a manner cannot be tolerated or justified in any way. It is the last straw. Now, caught on candid camera, captain Steve Smith
rightly be called into question by events in Cape Town, and said he was far from proud of the events that had transpired. He added that he would still have felt regret about the team’s actions even if they had not been picked up by television cameras at the ground. “The leadership knew about it, we spoke about it at lunch. I’m not proud of what’s happened, it’s not within the spirit of the game,” Smith said. “My integrity, the team’s integrity, the leadership group’s integrity has come into question and rightfully so. It’s certainly not on and it won’t happen again, I can promise you that under my leadership.”Cameron Bancroft, a rookie test cricketer, was the sacrificial lamb who found himself taking blame for “volunteering to carry out the ideas discussed by more senior members of the Australian side.” An angry and ashamed Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has also called the incident a “shocking disappointment.” “We all woke up this morning shocked and bitterly disappointed by the news from South Africa,” (Continued on page 7)
DEAR EDITOR, I must advise at the outset that even though the PPP is still run by an Executive Committee in between Congresses, it is my observed view that the post 1992 set of PPP leaders have no desire to take Guyana to any communist or socialist system. So what is it that they are trying to promote? It is my observed view that they are hell bent on completing the hundreds of necessary deals to uplift the lives of the Guyanese people eco-
nomically after failing under the Ramotar term. Deal like completing the Hydro Electric Project, the Transportation Link to Brazil, the Deep Water Harbour, the restructuring of the productive sectors to take them up the value chain to the point that they can become more productive; create greater value and more jobs for the people and of
course that Speciality Hospital among others. This is what distinguishes them from the current PNC led Granger government. This Granger government has exposed its stripes as the same old PNC that is focused on form rather than substance; pageantry rather than human progress. What this (Continued on page 6)
The PPP losing power in 2015 was necessary
Kaieteur M@ilbox
Guyana needs humanitarian procedures for Venezuelans DEAR EDITOR, This statement has been prompted by our organizations having had an opportunity to interact with a delegation of Venezuelan citizens currently residents in Guyana. Guyana has remained remarkably untouched by the massive humanitarian crisis playing out across the Venezuelan border over the past two years. That situation has now changed. Venezuelans themselves estimate some 30 of their nationals are arriving in Guyana every day without visas, many of whom are of Guyanese origin whose family migrated during the 1980s. Guyana urgently needs to adopt sensible, humanitarian policies along the lines adopted by Colombia, Brazil and the majority of South American countries. In making the proposals set out below, the signatories of this statement are conscious of the very limited resources Guyana can bring to bear on a refugee crisis. However, we are also conscious that providing Venezuelans with the assurance that they will not be treated as criminals and hounded out of the country is a humanitarian response well within Guyana’s capacity to implement. Venezuelan refugees already here are making clear that they are not looking for free services, ii) Many of the Venezuelan-Guyanese among them can make arrangements with former family and friends. iii) The overwhelming
need is security of being here long enough to earn some money in order to sort out a more permanent future elsewhere. The World Bank estimates 655,400 Venezuelans left the country since 2015. (More than five times the 125,000 who left Cuba in the Mariel boat exodus in the 1980s). The International Monetary Fund estimated that inflation reached 13,000 percent this year. A year ago, a dollar was worth about 4,200 bolivars, today it is worth 213,200 bolivars. The average monthly salary is USD3.00. The growing severity of the food shortage has contributed to the average Venezuelan losing 11 kilograms in 2017, compared to almost 8 kg lost on average in 2016. A group of Venezuelans, some long resident in Guyana, along with returning Guyanese-Venezuelans, are appealing to the Government of Guyana. “We know that the government and its people do not owe us anything, we only want a gesture of brotherhood of humility and help” in the form of “a renewable temporary permit of one year that allows us to have the right to work, to health, to education, to free transit, we do not want to be refugees, we just need to work”.
Other countries inundated by Venezuelans have devised a variety of schemes. Colombia has issued a Border Mobility Card, a document to allow movement around the border without a passport, but with migratory control. Every day about 25,000 Venezuelans enter Colombia and an equal number leaves, in a circular transit to buy products such as rice, sugar, pasta or personal hygiene. Indigenous communities on the Guyana borders have seen a substantial increase in numbers due to the return to their place of origin of people who left years ago. A local group has documented over a hundred undocumented Venezuelans. Many of them are GuyaneseVenezuelans, the second generation of those who fled in the 1980s when Guyana was experiencing conditions not dissimilar from what Venezuela is now passing through. Venezuela at that time opened its doors to them, they were allowed to work, they enjoyed the right to health, education and basic services. Entire families followed professional careers, made investment and contributed to the cultural life (Continued on page 6)
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Kaieteur M@ilbox Why are my letters not being published? DEAR EDITOR The Kaieteur News, for reasons best known to it, has stopped publishing my letters. While I do respect the paper’s right to publish or not to publish, I am disappointed that the paper, which claims to encourage pluralism and diversity has opted to shut out views and opinions that
may not coincide with that of its editor.I do not believe that it is the editorial policy of the paper not to publish such letters. I rather think it is the deliberate attempt of one particular person who I understand has control of the letters column. I respectfully wish to suggest that the Management of the paper takes a closer look at the letters column.
As I wrote in an earlier letter, in the marketplace of ideas, let a thousand ideas bloom! Hydar Ally Editor’s Note: We have never stopped publishing Mr. Hydar Ally’s letters. Mr. Ally is also incorrect is suggesting that there is “an individual” who has control of our letters column.
The PPP losing power in ... Fom page 5 Granger government is focused on, is reviving Burnham’s words as issued in the Sophia Declaration in the 1970’s. They are a political force still stuck in the past who does not know how to build the future. The PPP losing power in 2015 was necessary because it caused two things: 1. It created the memories of their political humiliation that took them back to their core – Jaganism, (lean, clean and mean administration). 2. It has created the opportunity for the great purge where the party apparatchiks who served for generations but who are still stuck in the old world, are moved out to create room for more youths who are living in the present moment. The PPP in 2020 is expected to have almost all its candidates under 60 years of age with the majority in their 30s and 40’s. That said, history has taught us that the PPP has a natural political strength of about 190,000 solid votes come rain or storm. The PNC on the other hand has about 160,000 of
those. But the winning force needs 205,000 votes. The mathematics reveals that the PNC has to hunt for 45,000 votes for victory, which I believe is unachievable with a record like what they have today. The PNC leadership appears lethargic and incompetent and logged off from the people’s problems. They seem more focused on self enrichment with two AFC Ministers reputed to have become billionaires already and one PNC Minister in the Ministry of the Presidency also in that elite group. Additionally, the AFC and WPA are more focused today at fighting each other for the political crumbs and thus are of no help to the PNC politically. The one thing that is driving the PPP today is “no more humiliation for the PPP” and thus they were forced by the people to clean up their act. But they cannot be seen to be clean with people like Donald Ramotar and Clement Rohee on the list and this is their challenge. But where does this leave Bharat Jagdeo? Well, he was the creator of Ramotar and must share
the blame for the mess the PPP is in today. But what we must never discount is that among the rank and file of that 190,000 voters who are considered at the natural strength of the PPP, he is almost like a demi-god. These 190,000 people know only a Jagdeo can beat a Granger in 2020. Though he has much baggage, he is the most capable of the entire Executive Committee. But that does not mean that if the CCJ rejects the third term case, the PPP is finished. They have two other very capable members of the Executive Committee who has the talent and experience to do this job under the guidance of Jagdeo - Gail Teixeira and Anil Nandalal. Frank Anthony is a nice fellow but he is a political ‘mook’ when it comes to the national stage. He is seen as a shallow politician who does not have a position on most matters and that projects him as one with no charisma. Therefore, he does not have what it takes to combat in the ring with candidate Granger. Maybe in 10 years time. Albert Allen
Kaieteur M@ilbox Guyana needs humanitarian .. From page 5 of the country. At present, they constitute complete communities and residential districts in San Felix, San Cristobel and other bordering States of Venezuela. During the Presidency of President Chavez citizenship was extended to all who had remained undocumented. Venezuelans of Guyanese origin are now a substantial part of Venezuelan life. This description, contrasts sharply with complaints made by Venezuelans of their current treatment by Guyanese officialdom. Venezuelans complain of having to pay fines of $30,000 for being illegally in the country. They also are forced to bribe the police with similarly large amounts. Venezuelan families are being split up at entry points. One 14 boy was returned to Venezuela being without a passport while other family members were admitted. Most of the people deported are women. Many do not have passports, in part, because the effective cost of a passport is over USD1000. Moreover, all Mercosur countries allow citizens to cross borders with an ID Card, rendering passports unnecessary. Numbers of undocumented Venezuelans is likely to increase because travelling overland costs roughly USD100 compared to the cost of flying to other more distant Latin countries. A Guidance Note issued recently by the UN High Commission for Refugees calls on States receiving and/or already hosting Venezuelans to allow them access to their territory, and to continue to adopt appropriate and pragmatic
protection-oriented responses, building on existing good practices in the region. “Such arrangements”, the Note states “are guided by the principle that providing international protection is a humanitarian and nonpolitical act” Such arrangements, could, for example, include …temporary protection or stay arrangements, or alternatively visa or labour migration arrangements that would offer access to legal residence and to a standard of treatment akin to international protection.” States should: “…ensure that persons benefiting from such arrangements are issued with an official document and such an arrangements should not be refused by virtue of the fact of irregular entry or lack of identity documents.” Short –term visas should provide access “on an equal basis with other foreign nationals who are legally resident on the State’s territory and, finally under these protection arrangements “holders of complementary forms of protection, temporary protection or stay arrangements, or visa or labour migration arrangements will not be deported, expelled, or in any other way forced to return to Venezuela, consistent with international refugee and human rights law. This guarantee would need to be assured either in the official identity document received or through other effective means, such as clear instructions to law enforcement agencies.” The signatory organizations of this Press Release are calling on the Government of Guyana based on principles of decency, humanitarian imperatives and our commitments under human rights Conventions to undertake several tasks. Firstly, we are calling on the Judiciary and Director of
Public Prosecutions to cease with immediate effect the practice of fining and jailing illegal Venezuelan immigrants. Secondly, we call on the immigration authorities to respect Guyana’s international human rights obligations to children who should not be separated from their families. Thirdly, we urge the Government of Guyana to give effect to the exhortation of the UNHCR: i. To adopt more flexible procedures with respect to lack of documentation ii. To provide Venezuelans seeking temporary residence with security of tenure for a period of one or two years with permission to work. Fourthly, we propose urgent revision and publication of any procedures applicable to VenezuelanGuyanese citizens, which would facilitate their remaining in Guyana Fifthly, we p r o p o s e that the immigration authorities devise a form of temporary ID card, which can be provided to Venezuelans desirous of remaining in Guyana but not claiming refugee status. Sixthly, in liaison with Immigration authorities that Toshaos in remote border communities be authorized and empowered to implement to a registration process of Venezuelans crossing the border. Finally, our organizations are appealing to all Guyanese as individuals or organizations to develop a positive and welcoming approach to displaced Venezuelans. The attitude of ordinary citizens, as demonstrated wherever mass movements of peoples have taken place in recent year, is as critical as official policy in determining a successful outcome. Signatories Amerindian Peoples Association Guyana Human Rights Association Transparency Institute Guyana Inc Roman Catholic Church in Guyana Policy Forum Guyana Red Thread
Sunday April 01, 2018
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WPA OA salutes the stand taken by four GNNL board members
To Australia: That’s definitely ...
DEAR EDITOR, The WPA OA salutes the stand taken by four board members of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL), Bert Wilkinson, Tabitha Sarabo-Haley, Karen Davis and Ruel Johnson in resigning in protest against the firing of the two columnists Lincoln Lewis and Dr. David Hinds. We cannot underestimate the importance of this principled stand by these board members, one of the more remarkable and important acts of principle over party affiliation and support for a democratic press taken in recent years. This act of courage by these Board members may be a sign of the emergence of a maturing Guyanese consciousness that party politics must not subvert the
wheels of democracy. The WPA OA stands in support of all Guyanese patriots who resist the temptation of narrow party politics at the expense of the nation. We feel this is what this nation cries out for as it struggles with our historical legacy of divide and rule. The Guyana Chronicle and the company, which runs the paper, the GNNL, has been subject to the whims of the specific party in power for far too long. Both the PNC and PPP/C have been blatant in rendering the Guyana Chronicle a mouthpiece of the state. We felt a turn had been achieved with the accession of the APNU-AFC administration to power, but in the recent actions of the Guyana Chronicle and its editor, the clear hand of manipulation
and diktat of the state at the highest level was visible. While an argument can be made for Members to have remained on the Board as a means of struggling against a total takeover of the board, thereby giving the dictatorial policymakers free reign or rein in reducing the newspaper to a mouthpiece of the Government, we commend their stand on this assault on the right of a free press. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, under whose portfolio the Chronicle and by extension the principles of press freedom fall, owes the general public an explanation for this dire and dark decision that stabs press freedom in the back. Keith Branch Press Secretary WPAOA.
Neither the PPP/C nor APNU... From page 4 members is for them to resolve providing such does not violate the Constitution and Laws of Guyana. But even as Nandlall highlights treatment of smaller members in the group he ignores that the Civic component of the PPP in government fared no better. One of its earliest members, who was disposed of, is on public record speaking of the loose arrangement of that alliance, which was nurtured and allowed by the PPP in order to miniaturise, sideline and ignore what was said to be an amorphous group. Neither the PPP/C or APNU+AFC Coalition can point a finger of purity to the other, though in principle there is support for members of this Coalition to earn and demand their rightful place at the table. There must be political maturity and growth in our politics. The Member of Parliament needs to be reminded that support for any government or opposition is not hinged on blind loyalty but on adherence to universally acceptable principles that would see realisation of good governance through respect for the Rule of Law, citizens/workers’ rights and freedoms, p u b l i c a c c o u n t a b i l i t y, sound policies and programmes that would bring about equity, justice and fair play in the society. There is no delusion on my part. There is belief in the equality of man and the capacity of man to act towards each other with reason and conscience. The benefit of the doubt will always be given until proven otherwise.
Support or non-support is contingent on these. To brand me, pro-government and antiPPP but still witness my voice being raised against issues I consider reckless and inappropriate by this administration, which I participated in asking people to elect in May 2015, demonstrates absence of blind loyalty or silence to violations or transgressions. This ought to serve as a lesson that all shall be held accountable by me, as citizen and leader. The claim that the administration is engaging in “vulgar disregard for the Constitution and crass undemocratic actions” since 2015 truthfully is not without some merit. Laws, rules, conventions, declarations and charters are not made to be cherry-picked but respected in their entirety. Where this g o v e r n m e n t continues the practice of
cherry-picking, Nandlall’s accusation will find fertile ground. At the same time, he nor the PPP/C can claim moral authority as the nation witnessed that government’s flagrant disregard for the Rule of Law, rights and freedoms; and the rapacious plundering of the nation’s resources to the benefit of a clique. I close by borrowing Nandlall’s use of George Santayana’s admonition that, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Truer words could not have been spoken. The things the people condemned with the PPP/C management of our government, we must not now accept from the APNU+AFC. Whenever the ugly signs, acts or actions raise their heads, we must nip them in the bud! Lincoln Lewis.
From page 5 Turnbull said. “It seemed completely beyond belief that the Australian cricket team had been involved in cheating.”Well, Mr. Prime Minister, your Australian “champions” have always engaged in uncivilized conduct in the past. Where were you? It was always “win at all cost” for Australia. Ask the other players who your guys sledge, ridicule and beat up mercilessly. This is merely the tip of the iceberg. You should have called them out long before.When former captain Steve Waugh told Herschelle Gibbs “You’ve just dropped the World Cup,” after Gibbs dropped a simple catch in 1999, which proved to be a prophetic sledge with Australia winning the trophy, that was an acceptable wise crack. However, it crosses the line when David Warner angrily and disparagingly told Indian Rohit Sharma to “speak English.” Warner’s response? He defended his actions, saying he “did the polite thing.” Well, we have seen how “impolite” Warner can get. Or like when Shane Warne was suspended for a year for taking a banned diuretic, or when Warne and Mark Waugh were the subjects of public shame for providing pitch and weather information to a bookmaker, or like when the otherwise stylish Greg Chappell ordered his brother Trevor to bowl underarm, which was within the laws of the game, but in poor taste, or like when wicket-keeper Rod Marsh once told Sir Ian Botham “How are my kids and your wife?” Botham, unperturbed, replied: “The wife’s fine, the kids are retarded though.”There are also instances far more serious, like when Dennis Lillee provoked and threatened Javed Miandad, who raised his bat
to defend himself ominously, when Lillee blocked, kicked and pushed him out of the way while batting in Australia. Sobers had to teach Lillee a lesson to stop bowling so many bouncers at him in retaliation to curb Lillee’s overdone bodyline thunderbolts by bowling some of his own at Lillee, when he came to the crease. Bully Lillee was unpleasantly surprised and “turned completely pink,” that Sir Gary’s versatility gifted him the ability to bowl vicious bouncers also. Roy Fredericks, Rohan Kanhai and others have related the “cauldron of prejudice, intimidation and aggression when you play Down Under (in Australia).” They said that the crowds are no different than the players, and want to see your blood, although they will respect you if you stand up to them. Fredericks related that he was so angry at the Australian tactics and fear shown by his other team members, that he just decided to lash Lillee, Jeff Thomson and Gary Gilmour in 1975, when he plundered 169 off only 145 balls at the then lightning fast Perth pitch, hooking, slashing and pulling them imperiously. “His flashing bat could be described as lying somewhere between a rapier and a bludgeon,” England’s legend, Frank “Typhoon” Tyson, who is rated as one of the fastest bowlers of all time, wrote in his tour book, “The Hapless Hookers.”Kanhai withstood an early barrage and excruciating body blows bravely when Lillee bowled unrestricted bouncers and beamers at him during the
Rest of the World tour of Australia in 1971. Gavaskar wrote in his book “Idols” that he was reduced to an entranced spectator at the other end as Kanhai cut loose, and watched in amazement as “the master” blasted Lillee and others to all parts of the ground in an innings Gavaskar rates as one of the best he has ever seen - 118 at Perth. “Watching Kanhai bat was an education on how to play pace bowling,” Gavaskar wrote. Sobers, who struck 254 in the same series, an innings Bradman rates as the best he ever saw on Australian soil, Richards, Lloyd, Kallicharran, Rowe, Greenidge and Lara, in their heyday, also gave commanding lessons in how to meet fire with fire, employing majestic stroke play and dominance over insults and taunts. But how many players have similar abilities to overcome unsportsmanlike and illegal tactics?On the historic 196061 tour, Sir Frank Worrell and fellow West Indians showed Australia and the world sportsmanship and statesmanship with the gracious and exemplary way they played the game, while rival captain Richie Benaud also helped to make it one of the best sporting contests ever. Enough is enough. Australia, and other nations who are following in their footsteps must lift themselves from this morass of poor sportsmanship. It is bad for the gentleman’s game. The ICC must initiate and enforce uniform codes of conduct that are not mere slaps on the wrist. Albert Baldeo
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Kaieteur News
GGMC carried out no audit or verification of ExxonMobil’s US$460M pre-contract costs
By Kiana Wilburg Since the citizenry was informed that ExxonMobil has submitted a US$460M bill regarding pre-contract costs, one burning question was being asked repeatedly—was this sum verifiedoraudited? Business Minister, Dominic Gaskin, who is a member of the special quintet assigned to look at oil and gas matters, was unable to provide clarity recently on the matter. On the television show, Plain Talk, which is hosted by Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram, Gaskin was asked a series of questions. One included whether the US$460M bill was verified or not. The Business Minister was not in a position to give such an assurance. Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, was asked the same question. “Of course it was. You need to speak to (Commissioner General of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission) Mr. (Newell) Dennison again, and he will explain.” The Minister said that it is GGMC which tracks the
…But Commissioner General says it is “satisfied” that sums submitted were “reasonable”
GGMC Commissioner General, Newell Dennison work programme of companies, including expenses. GGMC Commissioner General, Newell Dennison’s version of the US$460M precontract costs is a far cry from what Trotman had to say. Dennison said, “We were satisfied that the amount that was identified , based on the programmes of work that was done before, up to the point in time when the aligned arrangement was done, represented the expenditure up to
Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman
Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram
that time.” How did GGMC “satisfy” itself that the figures were correct? The GGMC Commissioner General stated, “Because the programmes that were done, there were estimated costs for those programmes (by ExxonMobil) .We would have had the work programme that was approved from the time the contract started from 1999 to 2015. So it would have been based on those costs.” Asked to say if an audit was then conducted on those costs, Dennison said, “We didn’t do an audit.” He said that it is not that GGMC took what the company said with blinders on, but, it all seemed “reasonable.” Kaieteur News then explained to Dennison that his statements contradict that of the Minister who said that the
pre-contract costs were verified. To this Dennison said, “Well that is why I was cautious as to whether I should say anything at all because verification and satisfaction are two different things. But in terms of an audit, no, an audit was not done.” Asked if there was any shred of verification of the figures, the Commissioner General answered in the affirmative. He explained that ExxonMobil would have submitted financial statements on the expenditure it incurred on an annual basis. But when challenged to say if in each year, GGMC sought to verify that the numbers were adding up; that they were not padded, Dennison said, “No, we have never done.” The Commissioner General added, “(ExxonMobil) would have submitted docu-
Business Minister, Dominic Gaskin ments and there would have been accounting documents that were prepared by accountants and submitted saying that yes, these are the expenditures that have been done by such and such and such for the years so, so, so, so, so.” NOTADDING UP While Dennison is convinced that the pre-contract costs are “reasonable”, there are several local critics, who by virtue of their own investigative work, have found that the numbers just aren’t adding up. With the use of financial statements, Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram, was able to show how ExxonMobil’s pre-contract cost opens itself to much question and suspicion. He noted that ExxonMobil is represented by three companies as the contractor for the Stabroek Block: Esso, CNOOC and Hess. No financial statements can be found here for Hess. Turning to the financial statements of Esso and CNOOC, Ram pointed out a few important figures.
Ram stated that the combined expenditure of Esso and CNOOC at December 31, 2015 was $26B and reported losses of $21B, giving a total of $47B. In United States Dollars, using a $200 rate, Ram said that this gives a total US$245 million, well short of the US$460 million that the Government has accepted in the Agreement with ExxonMobil. To make up the total of US$460 million, Ram said that Hess alone would have had to spend, in contract costs, some US$215 million or approximately $46B. He said, “That defies logic and credulity. But there is more. It must be a stretch that the pre-contract cost of CNOOC which only entered the sector in Guyana in late 2014 would have incurred greater contract costs than Esso. And an even greater stretch that Hess which signed with Esso in late 2014 would have spent nearly as much as Esso and CNOOC combined.” Ram continued, “One would recall that Esso signed its first Petroleum Agreement in 1999, and it is the company which has been reporting all the oil discoveries. That either CNOOC or Hess which entered the sector in late 2014 would be outspending Esso arouses particular interest...” Having looked at the available information, the Chartered Accountant said it is hard to avoid the conclusion that the US$460 million cannot be explained on any rational basis. Ram stressed that the only satisfactory and acceptable resolution of this matter is a special audit independently undertaken.
Sunday April 01, 2018
Guyanese man accused of impersonating cop, asked teen for money, sex
Devenish Seecharan being arrested by police. RICHMOND HILL, Queens — A man allegedly impersonating an NYPD officer in Queens attempted to force a teenage girl to give him money and sexual favors, police said. Devenish Seecharan, 25, had police lights on his car, officials said. He allegedly told a 17-year-old girl to get in at 123rd Street and 89th Avenue because she was a “truant.”
Seecharan allegedly told the girl he’d let her go if she gave him $200, police said. She said she didn’t have the money and Seecharan apparently suggested sexual favors instead, a pix11.com report said. The girl realized something was going on and secretly called her brother, officials said. She spoke in a way so he would know she was in trouble.
Seecharan, said to be of Guyanese origin, eventually told the girl to get out of the car and then he drove away once she was out. Police got surveillance video of the vehicle and tracked it to an auto body shop where Seecharan works. He’s been charged with impersonating a police officer, grand larceny, harassment and unlawful imprisonment.
Miners appealing for army escort as Venezuelan gangs set up base on Cuyuni River Authorities have ordered more patrols in the Eteringbang border area after miners complained of being harassed to pay illegal toll to Venezuela gang members called the Sindicato. Miners are also appealing for Government to place matching camps on the Guyana side of the Cuyuni River to protect locals who use that waterway. The situation has been
escalating in recent weeks as Venezuela continue to battle runaway inflation, food shortages and thousands of its citizens fleeing daily. Protests had been reported daily in that oil-rich country forcing persons to theborder area. This past week, miners paid for an advertisement in Kaieteur News, appealing for “urgent help”. They said that miners
operating in the Cuyuni River which separate Guyana and Venezuela are being threatened by the operations of the Sindicato. The gang, last year, descended on San Martin, a Venezuela community opposite the Eteringbang landing on the Cuyuni. However, the Venezuelan citizens objected after the gang members started to (Continued on page 71)
Dem boys seh... Is only Good Friday some things does happen Good Friday is a time some people does frighten to do anything. Christians believe that is de day when de Lord died and since de Romans crucify him at midday people does either go in church or stay home. Nuff li’l boy get licks or fall from tree because he climb it at midday. That is when dem parents does holler pun li’l children to come down from de tree. But when a li’l boy hungry he ain’t got time wid who seh what. Of course dem boys see people fall from tree pun Good Friday. Dem also see people fall from tree pun odda days, like de one that fall pun a concrete fence from a breadfruit tree. That is why
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dem don’t worry too much wid who seh dem mustn’t climb pun Good Friday. Pun Good Friday dem boys notice that dem hardly had car pun de road. Some church didn’t have space in de car park because Good Friday is one of de few days people does go to church. That was one of de few days Guyana didn’t have a road accident. People was so happy that dem wish every day was Good Friday. Then dem hear how people get kill. De sun barely go down when one man stab another one. Deh had a quarrel over money and some people seh dem was quarrelling over de 30 pieces of silver that Judas
get when he betray Christ. By nightfall, a lady decide to visit she fella but he had something else suh when de odda one come, she see wha she didn’t want and she eye get red. She start a fight and de next thing dem boys hear is that she dead. Now people saying that she did want do like Christ and die on Good Friday. But de soldier who play ‘war break’ wid he wife tek de cake. People preparing to fly kite but he was playing wid a gun. He get vex and he empty he gun pun de lady. Now plenty people got reason to feel sad when is Good Friday. Talk half and pray fuh peace prevail from today.
Labourer stabbed to death after heated argument Taj Andrew Jarvis of Dowding Street, Kitty, was fatally stabbed on Good Friday night in the vicinity of Barr and Alexander Streets, Kitty. The incident was said to have occurred around 20:00 hours over money but was framed as a robbery. At the time of the robbery, the victim was seen walking with his friend along Alexander Street when the suspect confronted him and demanded money. An argument between the deceased and the suspect developed and quickly escalated. This consequently caused the suspect to pull a weapon with which he stabbed Jarvis to his left side chest and chin. Jarvis fell to the ground. The suspect then gave the deceased several blows and kicks to his stomach and walked away south along Alexander Street. Jarvis was picked up and rushed by the ambulance to the Georgetown Public Hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival by the doctor on duty at the time. Investigations are still ongoing to find the suspect who fled the scene. The suspect is 30 years of age and resides in Shell Road, Kitty.
Taj Andrew Jarvis
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Guyanese man killed in Nevis St Kitts and NevisNevis has marked its third homicide for 2018 with the death of a Guyanese national who was found dead in Hamilton area yesterday morning. The Observer was informed that the victim goes by the name Marlon James. He lived in Brown Hill and was a former employee of Nevis Spring Water.A police public relations representative confirmed the homicide, which may have occurred the night before, and noted that the police were currently on the scene combing the evidence. Police declined however to confirm the name of the victim or any other details. This death follows the murder of Cleon Browne of Rawlins Village and Dawn Thompson of Hanleys Road.James is said to be from Buxton, East Coast Demerara.
Sunday April 01, 2018
Kaieteur News
Eccles woman dead after fight with ex-lover
Murdered in Nevis: Marlon James
The dead Rosmaray Rudder A thirty-nine-year-old minibus driver is currently in police custody assisting with investigation after his former lover who visited him on Good Friday was found dead at his Westminster, West Bank Demerara home. The dead woman has been identified as thirty-twoyear-old Rosmaray Rudder of Eccles, East Bank Demerara. According to information Rudder around 22:30 hrs visited the minibus driver with whom she shared a relationship with some time ago. It was reported that
Rudder on her arrival at her former lover’s home saw him in the company of another woman. Rudder after seeing her ex-lover in the company of a female, who is employed at a city online shopping centre, got into a heated argument with her paramour. The two ended up in a scuffle during which Rudder collapsed to the floor. The minibus driver subsequently left the woman lying motionless in the house and went to make a report at the police station. The police then visited
the scene and took the body to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival. A close family member of the deceased, in an interview with this publication stated that the two shared an on and off relationship and they were having domestic problems. The woman added that the ex-lover would normally abuse the woman. On one occasion, she overheard him threatening to kill her. A man is in custody assisting with the investigation.
Sunday April 01, 2018
Kaieteur News
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Sunday April 01, 2018
Kaieteur News
False measles report places Guyana on PAHO/WHO watch list Efforts are being made continually by the Ministry of Public Health to improve its public health status. However, its efforts were recently marred, though for a moment, when Guyana was thrust onto a Pan American Health Organisation/ World Health Organisation [PAHO/ WHO] watch-list. The development was one spurred by a report published by a local daily newspaper – Guyana Times. The publication in question reported that there was an outbreak of measles in the Barima/Waini area [Region One], a situation that was reportedly due to the influx of Venezuelans who are reportedly entering Guyana. There have been reports of an outbreak of measles in Venezuela. The newspaper report gained the attention of Senior Public Health Minister, Ms. Volda Lawrence, who raised the issue at Cabinet on Tuesday. This is according Minister of State, Joseph Harmon who disclosed during
Thursday’s Post Cabinet press briefing that “the Minister of Health called Cabinet’s attention to the report published in the Guyana Times newspaper by the Regional Chairman of the Barima/Waini area Region Number One that had indicated that Venezuelans who are coming to Guyana were transmitting the measles virus and as a result there was a catastrophe in Region Number One.” According to Harmon, the Minister told Cabinet that as a result of the article, Guyana had been placed on the PAHO/WHO watch list, along with Brazil, Venezuela and Honduras. But according to Harmon, a subsequent investigation by technical staff of the Ministry along with representatives of PAHO here in Guyana was able to confirm that the reports emanating from the Region One administration had been patently false since there was no outbreak of measles as claimed.
Harmon said the Minister has since advised that caution be exercised when public pronouncement on health issues are made and stated that “experts should be allowed to perform their duties in relation to such issues.” Cabinet, the Minister of State said, was assured that the Public Health Ministry would continue to work with the regional administration and the Guyana Defence Force in order to “increase surveillance and to monitor the movement of persons across our borders and also to ensure that health and safety of our border communities in our regions were maintained.” In 2016, Guyana and the other countries in the Region of the Americas were certified as measles and rubella free having had no confirmed case of either disease for over 15 years. Measles is a highly infectious illness caused by the measles virus, which manifests with symptoms Continued on page 69
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Nearsighted negotiators leave... From page 12 discoveries like Snoek, Turbot, Payara, and Ranger come on-stream. It will mean that ExxonMobil will write off any decommissioning costs as expenses and that will lessen significantly future revenue for Guyana.” Ramson said in offshore production (such as where Guyana’s will be located), the costs can range in the region of a few million dollars to over US$500m per oil and gas reservoir for which plugging and abandonment is one of the highest cost factors – representing about 60% of the total decommissioning cost. The politician said that in 1999 when the original agreement was entered into even before any commercial quantities of oil were discovered, the importance of decommissioning was never even on the radar globally. “The focus was on exploration and production and how to get more revenue (both from the company and country perspective) which in 2016 is very similar to the Guyana situation at the moment. Globally, that has now changed significantly especially for mature basins.” Ramson opined that the David Grangerled government should have been advised better about these costs and should ask
ExxonMobil to share these costs or to establish a fund, which takes out a nominal percentage in preparation of this large costs later in the future. Ramson said that statements made by Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, to the effect that shared by the government and ExxonMobil are “simply not true and Guyanese could read the Contract at Article 20 (d) (iii) and judge for themselves.” Indeed, several countries are making moves to protect themselves against the burden of decommissioning cost. Canada, for example, has set up a fund to handle decommissioning. It is called the Abandonment Fund Reserve Account and is established under Section 172 of The Oil and Gas Act (“the Act”) of Canada. The Abandonment Fund may be used as a source of funds to operate or abandon a well or facility that is non compliant with the Act where the licensee or permittee of the well or facility fails to comply. The Abandonment Fund may also be used to rehabilitate the site of an abandoned well or facility or to address any adverse effect on property caused by a well or facility. http://www.manitoba.ca/iem/petroleum/ infonotes/15-03.pdf
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Sunday April 01, 2018
Kaieteur News
Cease fining and jailing illegal Venezuelan immigrants Five non-governmental organizations have called on the Government to implement humanitarian procedures which will assist Venezuelans fleeing severe economic and political hardships. The groups, who issued a joint statement yesterday after a meeting with delegation of Venezuelan citizens currently resident in Guyana, included Amerindian People’s Association, Guyana Human Rights Association, Transparency Institute Guyana Inc., Roman Catholic Church in Guyana and the Policy Forum Guyana. Among other things, the organizations are calling on the Judiciary and Director of Public Prosecutions to cease with immediate effect the practice of fining and jailing illegal Venezuelan immigrants. “Our organizations are appealing to all Guyanese as individuals or organizations to develop a positive and welcoming approach to displaced Venezuelans. The attitude of ordinary citizens, as demonstrated wherever mass movements of peoples have taken place in recent year, is as critical as official policy in determining a successful outcome,” the groups stated. Based on the statement, the organizations are calling on the Government to use prin-
- GHRA appeals for compassion ciples of decency, humanitarian imperatives and commitments under human rights Conventions to undertake several tasks. Additionally, the organizations call on the immigration authorities to respect Guyana’s international human rights obligations to children who should not be separated from their families. Government is being urged to give effect to the exhortation of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to adopt more flexible procedures with respect to lack of documentation and to provide Venezuelans seeking temporary residence with security of tenure for a period of one or two years with permission to work. The organizations also proposed that immigration authorities devise a form of temporary ID card which can be provided to Venezuelans desirous of remaining in Guyana but not claiming refugee status. There is also a recommendation for liaison with immigration authorities that Toshaos in remote border communities be authorized and empowered to implement a registration process of Venezuelans crossing the border. The organizations also
called for the urgent revision and publication of any procedures applicable to Venezuelan-Guyanese citizens which would facilitate their remaining in Guyana. According to the groups, Guyana has remained remarkably untouched by the massive humanitarian crisis playing out across the Venezuelan border over the past two years. It is estimated that some 30 of their nationals are arriving in Guyana every day without visas, many of them of Guyanese origin whose family migrated during the 1980s. “Guyana urgently needs to adopt sensible, humanitarian policies along the lines adopted by Colombia, Brazil and the majority of South American countries,” the organizations stated. The signatories in their statement noted that they are conscious of the very limited resources Guyana can bring to bear on a refugee crisis. “We are also conscious that providing Venezuelans with the assurance that they will not be treated as criminals and hounded out of the country is a humanitarian response well within Guyana’s capacity to implement,” the groups pointed out.
Father of two arrested for murdering Linden businessman John Caesar, 35, a father of two was on Friday pointed out during an identification parade at the Brickdam Police Station as the man who is responsible for the shooting death and robbery of Linden Businessman, Romel Edison Gomes. According to information reaching this publication, Caesar who was identified as a chef and who is said to be a resident of East Ruimveldt, was one of two men spotted at the home of the dead businessman, acting in a suspicious manner hours before he was found dead. For the past two weeks, the police have been monitoring the movements of Caesar and they decided to move in on him last Wednesday when he was arrested on Carmichael Street in Georgetown. This is not the first time that Caesar has found himself involved with the law. He was previously the subject of a police investigation and even sent to prison on remand for the shooting of a man at the City Mall some time back. It was alleged that he was paid to carry out a hit on the man but the victim survived the attack. The police in their release
John Caesar to the press on Good Friday indicated that John Caesar’s arrest resulted from an intelligence led operation. We learnt that residents from at least three communities cooperated with the police and shared information which resulted in the capture of the suspect. They are however seeking to locate his accomplice. On March 12, last, Romel Edison Gomes, 32, a Businessman of Wismar, Linden was killed at his home where he also operates a dry good store and wholesale beverages. His body was found late the afternoon and according to what was reported, he lived
there alone with his young son as his wife resided abroad. The police are working with the information that the death of the man might also not have just been robbery related but due to a misunderstanding over some money owed to someone. It was observed by a neighbour that the two suspects and the victim were arguing in the shop. A customer went to make a purchase and saw the victim in the shop sitting on the floor. As the victim saw the customer, he stood up and told her to carry his son over to another shop. The customer then heard one of the suspects saying, “Bai you owe me”. As the customer was informing persons of what was transpiring with the victim, a loud explosion suspected to be a gunshot was heard. Shortly after, the victim’s car, a silver grey Toyota Allion PVV 2057 which was parked at the front of the shop on the driveway, was seen driving away at a fast rate. The police later found the man’s car intact and suspected that it was just used by the bandits to get away from the scene of the crime.
Sunday April 01, 2018
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Kaieteur News
Venezuela may not recognize Int’l Court decision Venezuela, on Friday, again made it clear that it may not recognize any decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), in the Hague, Netherlands, with regards to its claim on a large part of Essequibo. The rejection of Guyana going to the ICJ would have come one day after Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, officially filed Guyana’s case with Registrar of the court, Philippe Couvreur. “Likewise, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has reported that it expressly objects to the judicial settlement as a means of resolving the territorial dispute over Guyana Esequiba (Essequibo) since it violates the preamble of the 1966 Geneva Agreement, which establishes, exhaustively, that the controversy must be "amicably resolved in a way that is acceptable to both parties". The aforementioned method also violates Article I, since it does not lead to "satisfactory solutions for the practical settlement of the dispute,” a statement of the Venezuela government said Friday. Venezuela claimed that on Wednesday, its Ministry of People's Power for Foreign Affairs on March 28, 2018,
- Maduro govt. prefers diplomatic solution
Registrar of the International Court of Justice, Mr. Philippe Couvreur (left) and Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge on Thursday. sent a Diplomatic Note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guyana, establishing a position on the letter from the Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, of January 30, 2018, in which he
proposes the judicial settlement as a method of peaceful settlement of the territorial “dispute”. Venezuela is insisting that the arbitration award of 1899, on the border between Ven-
ezuela and the then British Guiana, is null and void. “In this regard, it has been made known to the Guyanese authorities that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela rejects the content of the aforementioned letter, and this was made known to the Secretary General of the UN on February 25, 2018, because it exceeds the powers that they were granted by the figure of the Good Offices, mutually agreed by the parties, and contravenes the spirit, purpose and reason of the Geneva Agreement of February 17, 1966.” Guyana has made it clear that it is not a dispute but rather a territorial claim by Venezuela. The area that Venezuela is staking a claim on is about two-thirds of Essequibo, Guyana’s largest county that is filled with natural resources including gold and forests. Venezuela is also laying claim to even Guyana waters in which US-owned ExxonMobil and its partners discovered oil in 2015. “Similarly, the Guyanese
government has (been told) that resorting to a judicial settlement to settle the dispute is unacceptable, sterile and unenforceable, given that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela does not recognize the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice as mandatory, and in this sense, it has always been consistent with its historical position of making an express reservation or not being a signatory of any international legal instrument that contains arbitration clauses that grant compulsory jurisdiction to the aforementioned Court.” Venezuela now wants to restart diplomatic contacts that allow reaching a practical
and satisfactory solution of the issue. “These contacts will allow, in addition, to evaluate jointly the convenience of continuing with the figure of the Good Offices, under the auspices of the Secretary General of the UN, all in a context of cordiality and constructive and peaceful dialogue.” Guyana has retained the services of former Attorney General, Sir Shridath Ramphal, to lead the legal team that is fighting the ICJ case. The rejection by Venezuela would not be surprising. Since 2015, when the David Granger government entered office, the neighbouring country has taken a hardline stance with the territorial claims widely seen as a distraction by the Nicolas Maduro-government as a distraction to that country’s financial crisis.
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Sunday April 01, 2018
Kaieteur News
Hughes says he has two more eyewitnesses to seawall shooting
Attorney at-law Nigel Hughes says he has interviewed two other eyewitnesses to the March 15 shooting at the seawalls that ended in the slaying of three men. But Hughes, who is representing the interests of the family of Dexter Cordis, said that the individuals have all expressed fear of giving statements to the police. Cordis was one of the men slain on the seawalls on March 15. The attorney also said
that his clients believe that the police lack the capacity to conduct an impartial probe into the incident. His statement came shortly after Acting Police Commission of Police David Ramnarine held a press conference in which he stated that self-proclaimed eyewitness, Devon Lyte, was never on the rooftop of the Education Ministry building from which he had claimed to have seen the police shoot the three men. “I have personally inter-
- calls for independent investigation viewed two additional eye witnesses who were at much closer proximity to the shooting, and whose line of sight was considerably more proximate than that of Mr. Lyte,” Hughes stated in a release to the media. “I also spoke to both the Minister of Public Security and the Crime Chief about the fears of the witnesses about
their safety. This was prior to the Commissioner’s statements.” EYEWITNESSS In redacted statements provided to the media, one of the individuals stated that he was in the canteen located at the NIS ground just before noon when he heard “loud gunfire.” “I assumed that it was target practice being conducted by the police but then some girls on the upper floor said, ‘Look shooting going on at the sea walls.’ “I then saw a black car and some men in plainclothes putting a man in the trunk of a black car.” The ‘eyewitness’ said that the men then drove further east in the vicinity of the GNS ground. “I then heard three more shots. About 15 minutes, later I saw two police vans drive in the direction which the car had gone.” In another statement, another ‘eyewitness’ claimed to have been eating lunch when about 15 Brazilian pastors entered the compound to play football. They were on the field warming up, when there was the sound of rapid gunfire from the direction of the seawalls. A dark car was then seen in the area, along with a male and female, and others. The rapid fire, which appeared to be closer, continued, but the ‘eyewitness’ did not see anyone.
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
The couple then clambered over the seawall, the ‘eyewitness’ stated, and the woman started to run back and forth on the wall. According to the statement, the man “looked in our direction,” then put his hands in the air and lay on the ground. A “short man in burgundy shirt and bulletproof vest” and carrying an automatic weapon allegedly then went to the man on the ground, while some other men came to the scene. It is alleged that “a red/ burgundy vehicle and a silver-grey vehicle drove up and blocked the vision of the ‘eyewitness.’ Rapid gunfire was reportedly again hear. Two men in bulletproof vests allegedly drove the two vehicles to a black vehicle that was also on the scene. While five men with bulletproof vests ran east, “the short one in bulletproof vest remained standing over “the body.” It is alleged that the men then turned their weapons towards the pastors, who fled from the field. The ‘eyewitness’ then saw some of the men searching the black vehicle, while others ‘braced’ the darkcoloured one. Shortly after the men in the burgundy and silver-grey cars drove off, while the rest continued searching the area. “They eventually left, while “a tall, Indian-ish one in a bulletproof vest remained. Two police vehicles reportedly then arrived and the ranks strung yellow tape in the area. “In the light of the considerable fear and apprehension felt by eye witnesses who have provided me with state-
ments of the events of the 15th March 2018 the family of Mr. Cordis is of the opinion that it is beyond the capacity of the Guyana Police Force to conduct a fair and impartial investigation into the death of Dexroy Cordis,” Hughes stated. “These statements have disclosed a frightening chronology of events which have cast not only grave doubts on the version of events provided by the Commissioner of Police, but include a recount of one of the police officers turning his gun on a group of persons who were playing football at the Guyana National Service ground when they were observed looking on at the events. “Both of these witnesses have expressed little confidence in the ability of the Guyana Police force to protect them and in the light of the public statements and treatment of Mr. Lyte by the Commissioner of Police…the fears of the two witnesses along with that of Mr. Lyte are now fully justified. I personally telephoned both the Minister of Public Security and the Crime Chief today to express these fears. “I confirm that on Monday afternoon Mr. Lyte met with Mr. Paul Williams Crime Chief in the office of the Crime Chief, Eve Leary. “The sole purpose of attending the Crime Chief’s office was for Mr. Lyte to give a statement. The senior officer who Mr. Williams contacted was not available at the time and we agreed that we would return on Tuesday at lunchtime. “In the intervening period, Mr. Lyte contacted me and expressed the collective fear of his entire family about his safety and protection.”
Sunday April 01, 2018
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Kaieteur News
---Hinds’ Sight by Dr. David Hinds---
Reflecting on Dr. Cheddi Jagan and the state of the APNU+AFC Coalition
L
ast month - March 22 to be precise marked the 100th birth anniversary of Dr. Cheddi Jagan. It is only fitting that Guyana stops for a moment and remembers this giant who passed our way and enriched our social and political landscape. Half of our country understandably remember a hero, a peerless leader and a visionary. To the Indian Guyanese community, Dr. Jagan was in a league by himself. The African Guyanese section of the population has a less uncritical attitude to him, but there was always an underlying respect. Dr. Jagan was a different kind of anti-colonial leader. He did not seek mere constitutional independence from Britain, for he had the vision to realize that without economic independence based on a fair distribution of wealth, constitutional independence would be meaningless. On this score, he stands apart from his contemporaries. If the working peoples of Guyana and the Caribbean enjoy any dignity today, it is due, in part, to the fact that Dr. Jagan had the courage to stand in their ranks and proclaim their cause. And he inspired other fortunate members of the society to put their skills and talents to the service of the less fortunate. His was a full life of service, selfless service. By the time I met Dr. Jagan in the late 1970s, he was already an icon of the freedom struggle. He was an example to a seeking young man wanting to play a part in his people’s quest for justice and dignity. I had read the “The West on Trial” and it made an impression on my young mind. Despite my later critical rereading of it and my questioning of some of the choices and tactics made by Dr. Jagan and his generation of leaders, my respect for the man who persistently summoned
Guyana to reach deep within itself never waned. Yes, to my mind, Dr. Jagan committed his fair share of errors. At the heart of his errors was his inability to reconcile race and class. I disagree with his admirers who place him above race. While he accepted the primacy of class in theory, he aggressively used race as a mobilizing tool. In that regard, he succumbed to the trap that our ethnically divided country sets for all those who seek ultimate political power. The logic of that choice took his politics to places he may have not intended to go. He was, for example, on the wrong side of the discourse on West Indian Federation. His failure to take Guyana into the Federation betrayed a misguided commitment to Indian Guyanese security over Caribbean unity. That error was fatal for Guyana. It led to a second split of the PPP, as Sydney King et al left the PPP, a move that consolidated the ethnic division that has dogged the country to this day. Dr. Jagan was not a racist as some would have us believe. Ironically, I don’t think his relationship to Indian Guyanese was culturally driven—he was not an Indian Nationalist. His relationship to that community was purely political, in the sense that he utilized Indian ethnic emotions for political purposes. He was more emotionally attached to Marxist ideology than he was to any deep sense of his Indian-ness. It remains one of the mysteries of Guyanese politics that a people could be so devoted to a leader who did not share their cultural praxis. Dr. Jagan was a firm believer in ethnic unity. But once again, the imperatives of party politics stood in the way of translating belief into practice. He wanted political unity,
but on his terms. That is why he only pushed hard for power-sharing when he was out of power. One of my major disappointments was his refusal to implement a Government of National Unity when he came to power in 1992. Once again, he squandered a golden opportunity to take the country in a different direction. But his sincerity, integrity, and patriotism could not be faulted. Many people have correctly cited his honesty and innocence as both his major strengths and weaknesses. But I will remember Cheddi Jagan as an apostle of the working people’s struggle for bread and justice; a tireless worker for the emancipation of the poor and powerless. Some have made claim to that mantle, but Cheddi has earned it. He fought battles on behalf of the poor, even when it was not fashionable to do so. His was an unshakable belief in the right of the toilers — the hewers of wood and fetchers of water— to stand in the front ranks of humanity. In so doing, he challenged the very basis upon which modern accumulation of wealth rested. That was no easy thing to do in a world dominated by an imperial order and bent on turning back the tide of working class resistance. COALITION POLITICS The PNC, WPA and AFC all agree that the Coalition is stronger than the individual parties, and that we could only win when we are together. Where we seem to disagree is on how the Coalition should function when in government. The WPA firmly believes that the Coalition is good for Guyana, but we also believe that a Coalition in which there is limited intra-coalition consultation and no meaningful role for the coalition parties in influencing broad policy is bad for Guyana. WPA worked as hard as any party to bring the gov-
The Baccoo Speaks Every so often there would be a misadventure. This is going to be the case over this period when the tides are high and people try to make the best of the opportunities presented to them. A group would be on the seas when another group with evil on their minds would attack. The people in one boat would not be ready for what happens but help would not be too far off. So it would be that another group would be
removed from the waters off Guyana. ** One can only hope that the day would come when intelligence would be added to the list of requirements for
permission to operate on the roadways. Another crash would result from utter madness. An inept driver would target an immovable target and end a life. ** The death of three men suspected of being bandits would actually lead to another call for police action. However, this would be one of the few times when the wider society would not come out in support.
ernment to power; we put our cherished reputation on the line when we joined with the PNC to form APNU, and with the AFC to form the coalition. When the WPA helped to frame APNU and the Coalition’s vision and write their manifestos, we did so not as WPA, but as a Partnership and a Coalition. So, if we helped to frame the vision, write the manifesto and convince the electorate from the platform, in the media and on the ground to vote for them, then it is only fair that we help to govern in meaningful ways. This has not been the case. All we ask is to be treated as a legitimate partner —we are not in the government as window dressing. We, the WPA and APNU, are fooling the nation by giving the impression that we help to govern when we are not. WPA is daily eroding its noble tradition and special place in
Guyana’s political history by continuing this charade. Decision-making has been skillfully and deliberately confined to the Cabinet, where the WPA has one member. But the Cabinet is not a place for policy direction and policy making—it’s a policy-executing council. Policy direction comes from the parties. But there is no forum within APNU or the Coalition to do so. All attempts to change this model have been rebuffed by the leadership Giving the WPA a Ministry and a few positions is not enough—the party must influence policies. If we were good enough to help shape the vision and the message to bring victory in 2011 and 2015, then we are good enough to help to govern after 2015. I therefore join Tacuma Ogunseye in urging a review of the WPA’s role in the government, not only within the
Dr David Hinds party, but in the country at large. This is not just a WPA matter, but a national one. My personal view is that if our exclusion from influencing and framing government policy continues, then we should not be there. More of Dr. Hinds ‘writings and commentaries can be found on his YouTube Channel Hinds’ Sight: Dr. David Hinds’ Guyana-Caribbean Politics and on his w e b s i t e www.guyanacaribbeanpolitics.com. Send comments to dhinds6106@aol.com
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Sunday April 01, 2018
Kaieteur News
A recipe for bloody murder By Michael Jordan
L
et’s get a 31-year-old widower. Mix him with a lonely, lovestruck married woman, add in a wealthy and jealous husband, and what do you get? You get a recipe for bloody murder. Sounds like a silly riddle? It wouldn’t sound so silly to some folks at Chelsea Park, Mahaica. And it certainly wouldn’t sound so foolish to old Sookranie Dass. There are people from that village who came right up to her and said that this is how her son got himself killed. Those folks have named names of men that Ms. Dass knew for most of her life. At least, that is what elderly Ms. Dass said; and if the stories are true, her son was biting the hand that fed him,
and that hand decided to bite back.At around the time this story begins, Jadesh Dass had been working for about a year with a businessman who owned several trucks. At around 1.00 a.m. on Tuesday April 17, 2012, the truck driver left his mother’s Chelsea Park, Mahaica home on his bicycle to pick up a truck from his boss’s home. He then drove along the Mahaica New Road with the intention of heading to a sand pit along the Soesdyke/ Linden highway. An hour later, Sookranie Dass was awakened by someone calling at her gate. The visitor was one of the truck drivers who worked with her son, and he had brought troubling news. The driver said that he had passed Jadesh’s truck on the Mahaica New Road, near Unity. The truck
Jadesh Dass was parked with the hazard lights on, and the man assumed that Jadesh had gone into the bushes to relieve himself. According to the man, he had become worried after realising that the vehicle was
still motionless and he decided to turn back to check on his colleague. After calling repeatedly and getting no answer, the driver eventually found Jadesh’s cell phone. On hearing this, Mrs. Dass and other relatives set off to search for the missing truck driver. They scoured the area near the parked truck; calling his name but getting no answer. Eventually, at around 2.00 a.m., they found Jadesh Dass’s body on the parapet near a trench. At first, police surmised that someone had clubbed him in the head with such force that bits of his skull were left on the parapet. But a post mortem revealed that Dass had been shot twice at close range with a handgun. One of the bullets entered near his right eye. Almost immediately, detectives ruled out robbery. The slain man’s wallet was still in his pocket and $20,000 was in the truck. Some relatives suggested that Dass must have known his killer for him to have stopped his truck where he did and emerge from his vehicle. So who had killed Jadesh Dass after making him stop on the desolate, unlit road? On the very day of Dass’s
murder, detectives began to get hints as to who might have wanted him dead. Rumours were circulating that Dass, a widower, was having an affair with the wife of one of the men connected to the trucking company where he was employed. It was suggested that the jilted husband and others had carried out the attack. Dass’s mother also said that her son had confided in an in-law about the affair. It was suggested that the married woman had made advances to her son. Dass’s mother said she was also told that the woman would sometimes contact her son by telephone and that she had given him $100,000 a few days before his death. Ms. Dass says that she knew the alleged lover, and she and the woman had lived “like family.” All that changed after the murder and subsequent investigation. According to Ms. Dass, she had sensed that her son was worried about something. He had not confided in her,
but had reportedly told others that someone had threatened him. Acting on these rumours, detectives detained three men from the trucking firm. They questioned them, swabbed their hands for traces of gunpowder— and got nowhere. Police also questioned the slain driver’s alleged lover. She denied having an affair with Dass. They eventually released the three men on $100,000 bail each. However, in early July 2016, two Chelsea Park residents were charged with Dass’s murder. If you have any information about this or any other unusual case, please contact Kaieteur News by letter or telephone at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown offices. Our numbers are 2258465, 22-58473 and 2258458. You need not disclose your identity. You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email a d d r e s s e s : mjdragon@hotmail.com or kamarangnight@gmail.com
Sunday April 01, 2018
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Kaieteur News
==THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN==
Autocratization is present in Guyana since 2015
I
n political theory, autocratization is the gradual erosion of rights and freedoms whose beginning is almost indiscernible, and by the time the society sees its creeping nature, essential freedoms and important pillars of the rule of law have been dissolved. Autocratization is the dialectical supplanting of what Samuel P. Huntington referred to in his famous book, “The Third Wave” with the emergence of perestroika in Eastern Europe and abertura in South America from the late eighties. The role of perestroika is now being reversed in many states in the world, with nascent autocratization in process at the moment in the US under an ideologically extremist right wing cabal. The first sign of autocratization occurred in Russia after the death of Boris Yeltsin. Russia is an autocratic permanency under Putin, a very serious oligarch. In Eastern Europe, autocratization in Poland and Hungary has dangerous traits that are more sinister than when communism ruled those lands. It has the European Union very worried. In Poland, the independence of
judges has been virtually removed and judges can be hired and fired by the government of the day. There are open racist diatribes from the leaders of Eastern European countries. In Turkey, there is a version of Putin in power. The Arab Spring has ended in the winter of nightmare and the nightmare of winter. There is an autocrat in Egypt that has just rigged the presidential election. So far, Samuel P. Huntington’s Third Wave is holding strong in South America. One hopes the summer of abertura in South America lasts forever. In Guyana, autocratization is real. Tracing autocratization in Guyana is a journey into pessimistic philosophy. After the British allowed self-government once again in 1957, democracy didn’t come. The victory of Dr. Jagan saw a zero sum ethnic and political struggle that finally ended in 1964. But even after 1964, democratic emergence moved slower than a sloth. The 1964 coalition regime dissolved in 1968, and a series of rigged national elections started that only came to an end in 1992.
There were flashes of hope after 1968. The European/Portuguese domination of aesthetics, culture, religion and commerce came to end. The University of Guyana was prodigiously expanded and became a centre of learning. Caribbean integration began first with CARIFTA then CARICOM. By the time the seventies came, Walter Rodney emerged on the scene and the shape of his praxis led to a deepening of autocratization that eventually led to his murder. Hopes of perestroika and abertura filled every dining room in Guyana with the style of leadership of President Hoyte in 1985. Many authoritarian features of the Burnham epoch were removed. Three optimistic highlights of the Hoyte period were the prosecution of the House of Israel for violent crimes, the stepping down of a Vice President to allow an investigation into wrongdoing and a criminal investigation into an allegation against the then head of the army by a city businessman. The Hoyte moment in politics came to an end with the victory of Cheddi Jagan in the October 1992 elections.
Jagan’s role was shortlived, because he died a little over four years later, but in power as President, he succumbed to the politics of ethnic patronage, political witchhunting and the ostracization of the PPP’s political ally, the WPA. If Jagan had intentions of bringing to Guyana what it never had since self government – democracy – President Jagdeo decapitated that process. Under the presidencies of Jagdeo and Ramotar, the depraved exercise of power catapulted Guyana into the category of the most sordid polity in the history of the English-speaking Caribbean. The PPP lost power in May 2015 and just as in the second self-government election in 1957, the Guyanese people saw the coming of
perestroika and abertura. When ruling parties govern for too long, emotions run wild against them at election time. Guyanese wanted the PNC out in 1992. Guyanese wanted the PPP out in 2015. Sadly, what came in from the 2015 election was not democratization but autocratization. It is outside a mere newspaper column to document the development of autocratization since 2015. I will have to be content in the remaining paragraphs with a broad generalization. It is my considered academic opinion that the people who won the 2015 elections are not essentially driven by ideals of a free Guyana. I don’t think the entire leadership from top to bottom is instinctively and passion-
Frederick Kissoon ately moved by thoughts of deepening freedoms in Guyana. On the contrary, under their leadership there are increasing setbacks, of which the Hinds/Lewis/Chronicle imbroglio is dangerous sign. It is an egregious indication that autocratization is going to spread and embed itself. Nietzsche’s Übermensch has to intervene after 2020.
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Sunday April 01, 2018
Kaieteur News
Mercury contamination is a matter of urgency
A
most distressing situation was dis covered recently at one of Guyana’s leading agencies in the production sector. The nation learnt that the staffers of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) were reporting symptoms of mercury poisoning. They all work in the compound that the GGMC shares with the Guyana Gold Board and the Ministry of Natural Resources, which are situated right next to the Ministry of Public Health. For decades, the Gold Board’s testing and assayer’s laboratory has been located in that very same compound. Raw gold brought in for dec-
laration by our relatively large brigade of miners/pork knockers, (Venezuelan, Brazilian, Indian, Chinese or Guyanese), is tested for purity, quality, malleability and ductility, among other things. The miners are then compensated for quantity and quality. Located quite close to the lab, are several of the GGMC’s key departments including the mines administration, which is the hub of the Commission. Other nearby departments include Maintenance, Audit, Human Resources and the Legal Officers’ unit. Perhaps in retrospect, successive Guyanese Governments and GGMC executives at both the Commission
and the Board should have been switched on to the fact that prolonged exposure to mercury vapour is a recipe for serious illnesses, medical debilitation or fatality. They should also have been guided by the findings of a recent World Wildlife Fund (WWF) study that was conducted within the Guianas - Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. One of their findings stated that jewellers working in secure, tightly enclosed rooms presented higher levels of mercury in their bodies than miners who work in open camps in the ‘jungles’. That alone should have alerted us to the possibility that the people working in the
Gold Board’s labs (at least) may have been exposed to this potentially debilitating metallic element. So now we know, and now is the time for every authority to act quickly to mitigate the situation at the GGMC and Gold Board. We are told that the workers, nearly 200 of them, are being tested to determine their levels of contamination, if any. Medical experts may also want to include the staff at the Natural Resources Ministry and the workers in compounds neighbouring and opposite the GGMC. Management says that this situation calls for utmost urgency, and that medical personnel from Eureka Labs have been contracted to conduct the tests, procure emergency medication, and treat all staff who present higher than acceptable levels of contamination. Both public and private sector agencies and companies should now pay keener attention to their own operations and hasten to take every precautionary action if their workers deal with any hazardous material, even bleach and toilet cleaner, on a daily basis. Proprietors of jewellery stores, in particular, ought to have their gemologists, repairers, cleaners and polishers,
even janitors, tested for possible mercury contamination. This situation brings to mind the fact that there are a few buildings still in use in and outside the City that have asbestos roofs, walls and ceilings. We could hazard a guess at 40 year-old buildings. This too is dangerous to the health of all who enter those edifices. FACTS AND EFFECTS OF MERCURY - Guyana is among the last few gold-producing states in the world that have not instituted an outright ban, or imposed stringent restrictions on the use of elemental mercury - We have found out that mercury released by smallscale mining around the world is a very significant source of atmospheric pollution, and it has been added to the list of “must-do’s” in the fight against global warming - Mercury is easily absorbed by humans, animals and marine life - The form of mercury found in contaminated fish is different from the elemental mercury in thermometers, or what is used in mining. Because of its extreme toxicity, it is very important that mercurial waste is tightly controlled - Mercury is absorbed directly through the skin, but
the main route of exposure is inhalation - Both mercury vapor and methyl mercury affect the brain, the nervous system, and all of your five senses vision, hearing, taste, touch, and smell. It affects internal organs as well, e.g. liver, kidneys and glands - Mercury has no biological purpose so the human body recognizes it as a harmful intruder. The liver and kidneys attempt to rid the body of it. The liver attempts to detoxify through the digestive system. The kidneys attempt to get rid of it in urine. These ‘interventions’ work but they don’t do a complete job. That takes a long time. - The hair is another means the body uses to try to rid itself of mercury. If contaminated, hair should be washed with neutral detergent, acetone and water to eliminate the mercury stuck to the strands. And most importantly: - Mercury also passes through the placenta in pregnant women, affecting developing foetuses. Mercury would impair proper development of nervous tissue and can result in mild to severe reduced intelligence and coordination, and distortion of limbs, at birth or later.
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Kaieteur News
My column
Kite flying appears to be a dying tradition. In years gone by there would have been kites in the sky almost after Mashramani. Boys would have used the coconut pointers to make kites. These would be seen over many houses. A few weeks later there would have been the real preparations for Easter. Those who attended the handicraft centres would have planed strips of wood to make the frames. Shops would be stocked with what was known as kite paper. The more affluent of the boys would have gone for the more expensive Barbados paper. These days I see imported kites. These come at a cost to the economy, but who cares? The people who make kites and line them up outside stores cannot compete, so we are effectively killing local enterprise. In rural Guyana where I lived, few people bought kites, but that had nothing to do with imported kites. We made our own. Indeed there were no smart phones back then, so children found activities to keep them occupied. I remember the dangerous ‘spinners’ fashioned from the bottom of
milk tins. All that needed to be done was to find a strip of concrete on which to grate the tins. Once done, one would punch holes near the centre of the tin, place a piece of string through, and one had a toy. Of course it was dangerous; many people were cut, because the edge of the spinner was razor sharp. The greatest danger came when two boys would play ‘rake.’ They would use the spinners to compete with other spinners in the hands of the holder. That was how many people got cut. Suffice it to say that I can remember no incident of one being rushed to hospital. Used tyres made for a super toy. These were rolled down the street. Any tyre was good. There were tyre races that featured enterprising boys beating the tyres down the street in what could only be described as a foot race. Today we bemoan the fortunes of West Indies cricket. Our lads simply seem unable to compete with others in the rest of the world. Back in the day, every patch was a cricket pitch; the balls came in all shapes. Some used balata, some, milk tins and others, any round object from trees
including young coconuts. The size of the cricket pitch determined restraint in strokeplay. You hit a ball too hard and sent it into a neighbour’s yard meant that you were out. The result is that young batsmen learned to keep the ball on the ground. Dropped catches meant missing a turn at bat. Jamaicans played a game called ‘ketchie shubbie’. In Guyana we called it ‘get the ball bowl; out the man bat.’ Guyana produced many good cricketers and so did the other Caribbean islands. Easter was the time for many games and the cinema. It was when people did all the chores imposed on them, because a failure to do so would mean no cinema or no games. Going to church was not a matter of choice for those whose parents were Christians. Many of us dreaded the Good Friday services. For starters, some services began at nine and some at noon. For each, one could not eat a hearty meal. These were three-hour services of kneeling and standing almost continuously. The boredom was immense, but one had no choice. The midday meal, often cross buns and porridge, was the
staple. Perhaps that is why many of us do not go to church any longer, and in so doing, allow our children to miss the discipline and the words of sanity. The radio station played sombre music; rum shops were closed, in fact all shops and stores were closed, but that did not necessarily mean ‘no business’, because things were sold through the back door. While I lived at Bartica, it was always funny to see the alcoholics lining up outside the rum shops just before opening time at six o’clock in the afternoon. You could not escape them wiping their mouths and other signs that suggested that desperation for a drink. I am not sure that an alcoholic cannot find a drink at any time these days. One can hear dance hall music on the radios almost all day. The religious movies seem to have disappeared from the television screens. This year there was anything but reflection on the life
of Jesus Christ in some households. A man shot and killed his wife. There was another murder on the west side of the Demerara River; at least two car accidents and of course, there was the smell of some tantalizing meals from some kitchens. I remember these things, because I do not see children playing as they should. I also realize that children from the other side of the tracks easily gravitate to crime because their youthful exuberance can find no other outlet. So here I sit thinking about the benefits of technology and the consequences they bring. I think about the holy days when my parents would refuse to let me venture outside; telling me that I needed to sleep. I resented the order to sleep when I felt that I did not need to. My mother often admonished me, telling me that one day I would need that sleep. I failed to see her side of the coin until I became a grown man. Good Friday was
Adam Harris indeed a day of rest for me. I slept through most of the day after I had cooked. Indeed, I had vowed that I would have no porridge and cross buns for lunch. Another promise I made was to avoid soup on Sundays. There was a time when I knew what my midday meal would be on Sunday, years in advance. I too have broken with tradition, but there are traditions that I would like to see maintained. Kite-flying is one of them.
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(Address by H.E. David Granger President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana at the Founding Conference of the International Solar Alliance, New Delhi, Republic of India, on March 11, 2018)
T
he International So lar Alliance is par ticularly significant to the societies and economies of the small, sunbelt states. It represents a leap
Sunday April 01, 2018
Kaieteur News
forward towards ensuring that solar power becomes more accessible and more affordable to more people. States are not created equal. Small states are limited not only in size but usually, also, in human resources, technology and capital. Small states need support in the form of investment, innovative technology, infrastructural photovoltaic systems and capacity-building in order to close the technological gap with larger and
richer states. The International Solar Alliance, from the start, should support the energy ambitions of the small, sunbelt states by promoting: investment-financing mechanisms for solar technologies; information-sharing and technology transfer relating to solar energy; and capacity-building in the solar energy sector. Guyana, a small state, signed and ratified the Frame-
work Agreement of the International Solar Alliance on 30th January 2018. It views the ‘Alliance’ as an essential element in ensuring energy, economic and environmental security. Guyana aims at becoming a ‘solar state’. It is already in transition to becoming a ‘green state’. Guyana is part of the Guiana Shield – the ‘lungs of the earth’. The ‘Shield’ spans an area of 2.7 million km2 and is one of the largest blocks of pristine rainforest on the planet. The ‘Shield’ provides environmental services that are vital to the survival of mankind. Guyana’s green development thrust, however, is not merely about environmental and economic security. It, also, is about energy security. Energy from renewable sources is needed to power agro-processing, manufacturing industries, commercial offices, colleges and households – all essential to becoming a ‘solar state’. Renewable energy technologies will be a source for empowering women who are housekeepers and wh0 manage cottage industries and crafts and nurture future generations. Guyana, consistent with this ambition, reaffirms its Intended National Determined Contributions (INCs) – made under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – to “move closer towards a 100% renewable power supply by 2025, conditional on appropriate support and adequate resources.” Guyana is ideally placed to become a ‘solar state’. Its strategic location in the Tropic of Cancer – and a mere 6.8 degrees north of the Equa-
tor – makes it suited for solar energy generation. It enjoys an average of 12 hours of daylight, all year round, with consistently high levels of solar insulation. Guyana’s low population density of a mere 3.5 persons per km2 and the fact that many of its hinterland communities are small and isolated make solar energy a necessary response to the challenges of its demography and geography. Solar energy, by reducing the negative effects of the use of fossil fuels, will ensure improved air and water quality while mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. Guyana has begun to transition to increased solar power generation and use. Solar farms are being planned and established. Solar-powered street lights are being installed and government buildings are increasingly being equipped to use solar energy. Incentives are being offered to encourage this transition to solar technologies. Guyana has the physical conditions for increasing generation but needs technologies to develop capacity in the solar energy sector. Much more needs to be done in other fields such as education, communication, transportation and housing. The International Solar Alliance should seek to ensure that sun-rich, small states, such as most attending this summit, have access to solar technologies. The ‘Alliance’ should seek to ensure that small states benefit from investment, innovative technologies, photovoltaic infrastructure, information-sharing and the dissemination of scientific and technological data. (End
of Address) THEADVANTAGES OF SOLAR POWER There are enormous advantages associated with the use of solar power specifically in the context of environmental impact and self-reliance. The major advantage of solar power is that no pollution is created in the process of generating electricity. Environmentally, it is the most clean and green energy. Solar Energy is clean, renewable (unlike gas, oil and coal) and sustainable, helping to protect our environment. Solar energy does not require any fuel. It does not pollute our air by releasing carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide or mercury into the atmosphere like many traditional forms of electrical generation does. Therefore, solar energy does not contribute to global warming, acid rain or smog. It actively contributes to the decrease of harmful greenhouse emissions. It can be flexibly applied to a variety of stationary or portable applications. Unlike most forms of electrical generation, solar panels can be made small enough to fit pocket-size electronic devices, or sufficiently large to charge an automobile battery or supply electricity to entire buildings. Solar energy is quite economical in the long run. After the initial investment has been recovered, the energy from the sun is practically free. Solar energy systems are virtually maintenance free and will last for decades. It is not affected by the supply and demand of fuel and is therefore not subject to the ever-increasing price of fossil fuel.
Sunday April 01, 2018
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Kaieteur News
Neck Pains: Is it your blood pressure? By Dr Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine Two out of three of us will have neck pain at some time in our lives. In most cases, it is not due to a serious disease or neck problem, and often the exact cause for the pain is not clear. Most persons tend to think that their high blood pressure is causing the neck pains and often present for “pressure treatment” instead of treatment for their neck pains. Today, we will focus on neck pains and figure out where high blood pressure fits into all of this. WHATARE THE TYPES AND CAUSES OF NECK PAIN? Types and causes of neck pain include: · Nonspecific neck pain This is the most common type. This is sometimes called ‘simple’ or ‘mechanical’ neck pain. Often the exact cause or origin of the pain is not known. It may include minor strains and sprains to muscles or ligaments in the neck. · A ‘whiplash’ jolt to the neck - This is most commonly due to an accident involving a vehicle, such as a car crash. It can cause neck pain. · Sudden-onset (acute) torticollis - This is sometimes called ‘wry neck’. A torticollis is a condition in which the head becomes twisted to one side and it is very painful to move the head back straight. The cause of acute primary
torticollis is often not known. However, it may be due to a minor strain or sprain to a muscle or ligament in the neck. · Wear and tear (degeneration) - Wear and tear of the spinal bones (vertebrae) and the discs between the vertebrae is a common cause or recurring or persistent neck pain in older people. · Cervical radiculopathy When the root of a nerve is pressed on or damaged as it comes out from your spinal cord in your neck (cervical) region, the condition is known as cervical radiculopathy. As well as neck pain, there are symptoms such as loss of feeling (numbness), pins and needles, pain and weakness in parts of an arm supplied by the nerve. · Rarer and more serious causes - These include rheumatoid arthritis, bone disorders, a heart attack, infections, cancers and serious injuries that damage the vertebrae, spinal cord, artery or nerves in the neck. HOW WILL I KNOW WHAT’S CAUSING MY NECK PAIN? Your best option is to go visit your doctor who will talk to you and do an exam. Often testing may not be needed, since your doctor may find the cause after examining and talking with you. Sometimes your doctor might order imaging tests to get a better picture of the cause of your neck pain. Examples include:
· X-rays - X-rays can reveal areas in your neck where your nerves or spinal cord might be pinched by bone spurs or other degenerative changes. · CT scan - CT scans combine X-ray images taken from many different directions to produce detailed cross-sectional views of the internal structures of your neck. · MRI - MRI uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field to create detailed images of bones and soft tissues, including the spinal cord and the nerves coming from the spinal cord. HOW CAN I TELL IF THE PAIN IS DUE TO A MORE SERIOUS CAUSE? The following are the sort of symptoms that may indicate a more serious problem: · If neck pain develops when you are ill with other problems such as rheumatoid arthritis, AIDS, or cancer. · If the pain becomes progressively worse. · If some function of an arm is affected. For example, weakness or clumsiness of a hand or arm, or persistent loss of feeling (numbness). · If you feel generally unwell and have ‘general’ symptoms such as weight loss or a high temperature (fever). · If the neck bones (vertebrae) are very tender (which may indicate a bone problem) · If you develop any problems with walking or with passing urine. This may indicate problems with pressure on the spinal cord.
WHATARE MY TREATMENT OPTIONS? The most common types of mild to moderate neck pain usually respond well to selfcare within two or three weeks. If neck pain persists, your doctor might recommend other treatments: · Medications - Your doctor might prescribe stronger pain medicine than what you can get over-the-counter, as well as muscle relaxants and tricyclic antidepressants for pain relief. · Therapy - You may get referred to a physical therapist who can teach you correct posture, alignment and neck-strengthening exercises, and can use heat, ice, electrical stimulation and other measures to help ease your pain and prevent a recurrence. · Traction - Traction uses weights, pulleys or an air
bladder to stretch your neck gently. This therapy, under supervision of a medical professional and physical therapist, may provide relief of some neck pain, especially pain related to nerve root irritation. · Short-term immobilization - A soft collar that supports your neck may help relieve pain by taking pressure off the structures in your neck. However, if used for more than three hours at a time or for more than one to two weeks, a collar might do more harm than good. · Surgical and other procedures - Your doctor may give you injections near the nerve roots, into the small facet joints in the bones of the neck or into the muscles in your neck to help with pain. If all of this fails, then surgery may be the last option to fix
Dr. Zulfikar Bux the defect. You would have noticed that I did not mention much about high blood pressure with neck pains. That’s because high blood pressure does not cause neck pains (unless it bursts an artery in your neck - which is extremely rare). Almost all the time it’s your neck pain that is causing your pressure to go up and not the other way around.
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Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber Chairman, Manniram Prashad SUNDAY SPECIAL Proposed oil production should be put on hold – Int’l Lawyer…Says this is necessary until Govt. can show what an oil spill could cost Guyana Article 149 J of the Constitution mandates that the Government shall protect the environment for the benefit of present and future generations. It is expected to do this through reasonable legislative and other measures designed to prevent pollution and environmental degradation among other things. Understanding the significance of this Article, citizens continue to voice their concern that the Government is not doing enough to protect Guyana from any environmental disaster that would likely result from ExxonMobil’s operations. In fact, international lawyer, Melinda Janki, told Kaieteur News that she believes the proposed oil production by ExxonMobil should be put on hold. She said that this is necessary since the Government has failed to “come clean” on several fronts. Janki said that an oil spill can have several devastating obligations on Guyana’s economy as well as its neighbours. She said that from Government’s end, there is a deficit of information which would speak to how such matters would be dealt with. In light of this and other factors, Janki stressed that the Government has failed to live up to its obligations. The international lawyer then turned her attention to ExxonMobil’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which she finds to be quite questionable, leaving Guyana open to further risk. Janki noted that the EIA for the Liza well Phase 1 contains a scenario of a well blowout resulting in 20,000 barrels of oil for 30 days i.e. 600,000 barrels of oil. That is over 25
Sunday April 01, 2018
Kaieteur News
million gallons of oil. ”In that scenario, how will Guyana cope with something that is more than double the size of an Exxon Valdez disaster? The marine environment in Alaska still has not recovered from the 1989 spill. A 2009 status report from the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council found that the ‘Exxon Valdez oil persists in the environment and, in places, is nearly as toxic as it was the first few weeks after the spill. ”Although two decades have passed, as much as 16,000 gallons of oil persists in the Sound’s intertidal zones, continuing to poison wildlife.” Janki added, “…So the Guyanese people are in a very risky and dangerous situation. We have been put there because the government has failed to take expert legal advice, expert financial advice and expert environmental advice. They are in breach of their legal obligations to the people of Guyana.” The lawyer further noted that Esso’s EIA also says that the prevailing currents are likely to take the oil northwest. So in addition to damaging Guyana, Janki stressed that the oil could also end up harming the nation’s neighbours in the Caribbean. Tax returns were not reviewed for years… GRA Boss says system now being corrected After conducting some internal assessments, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has found that for several years, tax returns were not reviewed. GRA’s Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia, recently confirmed this in an interview with Kaieteur News. He said that the system governing tax returns was flawed and steps have been taken to correct it. Statia also explained that businesses have been slipping under the radar with regard to their operations for some time. He said that there
International Lawyer, Melinda Janki are several factors which should have been looked at by the authority but they were ignored. The Commissioner General said that based on the files of certain companies, assessments are supposed to be done on the major shareholders, the related parties who are doing the supplying and the directors “because you are looking at inter-company transactions and so forth”. The tax chief said, “What you had over the years is that the people were not doing a review (of the statements coming in). The system was flawed. So the information came in, went into TRIPS and the return was filed. But you skipped a step…” Statia added, “We have found companies saying they are noncommercial when they are commercial…In that case; you are robbing the nation 10 percent of the taxes you were supposed to pay. These are some of the simple things that you pick up every day.” Statia noted, however, that with an efficient IT system, the GRA would be in a position to look at the industry’s norms and make the necessary comparisons. FLAWED IT SYSTEM The Guyana Revenue Authority failed to implement critical parts of an IT system for almost ten years. The consequences of the entity’s actions in this regard contributed to billions of dollars in revenue leakages and even rampant corruption. Statia is now racing to implement measures that would bring an end to unjust practices that resulted from the GRA’s past actions. Statia explained that the IT system referred to as the Total Revenue Integrated Processing System (TRIPS), was intended to merge all departments by having a common database where all tax records could be scanned or entered into the system and found when needed. It was introduced with the aim of boosting efficiency in
the assessment, collection and accounting for revenue. TRIPS comprises of two core applications: Taxes and Customs, which share information with each other and each application encompasses a total of 13 modules. The Customs Modules include Lodgment, Data Entry; Goods Inspection/Enforcement, Valuation and Document Check, Risk Profiling, Cashiering, Release, Remissions, and Warehouse. The Tax Modules include Taxpayer Identification, Tax, Accounting, Audit, Reports/ Notices/Certificates. Statia noted however that since all of the modules were not implemented, the “TRIPS system was just tripping.” The GRA Commissioner General said that the Authority has been trying to implement TRIPS completely since 2007. He said disappointingly, that the entity spent over US$4M on the IT system and it is still not up to date. MONDAY ExxonMobil must list 309 local companies it used in 2017…until then, claims cannot be seen as credible – Ram If ExxonMobil fails to name the 309 companies it claimed to have utilized last year, then its assertions on the matter cannot be taken as genuine or credible. This is according to Chartered Accountant and Attorney-at-Law, Christopher Ram. Ram recalled that it was ExxonMobil’s Public and Government Affairs Advisor, Kimberly Brasington who had disclosed the “questionable” figure. The lawyer said that if Brasington makes such statements, then she and the company must be able to provide the evidence. The Chartered Accountant also stressed that it is for the company, not government to provide the facts since they are the ones benefitting from an extremely generous contract.
GRA Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia Ram said, “Brasington has a duty to provide the evidence. This is part of the company’s local content obligations Their obligation to do so is higher than any other company and it is even mandatory, otherwise how do we know that their local content efforts are genuine?” It was earlier this month that Chairman of the Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC), Manniram Prashad issued a challenge to Brasington to also name the companies she said ExxonMobil used in 2017. Prashad told Kaieteur News, “If these figures are accurate then we would obviously be happy about it; But 309 Guyanese-owned suppliers? That is just concerning when there is no evidence provided at the same time to support it. Hence, we would like the evidence of this. We would like to have a list of the companies and the services they provided and when.” When questioned by this newspaper on the matter, Brasington failed to provide the names of the entities. Instead, the Government Affairs Advisor said, “This should be a good news story not a controversial one. ExxonMobil Guyana, on behalf of all our contractors, was excited to share some of the project’s local content numbers and thought Guyanese would be proud. We take building local content seriously and have demonstrated that through action and capacity building. We want Guyanese suppliers, businesses and individuals to be a part of the industry.” Oil companies monitor every cent they spend; ensure you monitor your local content– Int’l expert warns Oil investors have one simple goal; convert the oil wealth of a nation and take it to their shareholders as quickly as possible. To get the most out of
what they do in this regard, several strategies are employed. One of them includes a careful monitoring of every cent that is spent. But if oil companies can do this, then why is there a fuss or a nonchalant attitude towards carefully monitoring the number of people employed and trained by these operators? This very perspective and question was what renowned Local Content Expert, Anthony Paul put to his attentive audience at the recently concluded Spotlight on Energy Conference in Trinidad and Tobago. There, Paul spoke of the importance of Local Content and the fact that value can The international expert on Local Content said, “We have a tendency of focusing on getting value from the taxes and royalties that the oil company has to pay the government. But in addition to this, we can get people employed, ensure the provision of goods and services for the sector and that is where the local content aspect is in the value chain.” The Advisor to Chatham House stated, “But what gets monitored gets done. You might think it’s a lot of work to monitor local content on a person by person basis or a contract by contract basis but companies monitor every cent they spend. And so, Local Content must be monitored.” Paul stressed that oil companies track things in detail and keep records. He also revealed that in Trinidad and Tobago, the Government has access to all records held by oil companies. He said that this is necessary so that the relevant authorities can find where slippages of revenues are taking place and close them off. Paul said that Trinidad and Tobago’s Local Content Committee (Continued on page 33)
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The three bandits
From page 32 has been providing technical input in this regard. TUESDAY Govt. fails to negotiate signing bonuses with oil companies – “Even the ExxonMobil money is just a legal fund”- Ram Guyana has not been able to secure signing bonuses on any of Petroleum Sharing Agreements (PSA) that the governments signed with oil companies, except for ExxonMobil. Guyana has standing PSAs with several oil companies including Ratio Energy Limited, CGX Energy Inc, EcoAtlantic and Tullow Oil. The only “signing bonus” received so far is from ExxonMobil and critics say that the US$18M received under that name is “chicken feed” to the money given to other countries. Even further, Attorney at Law Christopher Ram is saying that the US$18M is not even a signing bonus. “The ExxonMobil money is not a signing bonus it is a legal fund; they have admitted that themselves. So in truth, Guyana has not received any signing bonus from any of the companies.” Monday, Ram told Kaieteur News that he believes the reason Guyana missed out on signing bonuses is that the persons who may have negotiated the contracts at various times were not aware of all the elements that go into the fiscal regime of a petroleum contract. He said, “Lots of contracts also have a production bonus; so on first production, the companies pay a bonus as well.”
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The horse cart used to sell cooking gas and kerosene
There are also cases where countries get discovery bonuses. Just one year after Guyana surreptitiously accepted US$18M from ExxonMobil as a “signing bonus,” the same company handed Brazil a US$700M bonus. This reality raised many questions in the minds of cynics who worry that Guyana is going down a very bad alone is a major strength of Guyana. Three captured after cutlass robbery on horse cart vendor Prompt action by ranks from the Leonora Police Station Monday led to the capture of three bandits who, at around 10am Monday, beat and robbed 71-year-old Neil Persaud, known as Kala, of $100,000. The victim is a cooking gas retailer from Anna Catherina, West Bank Demerara.According to a senior Police officer, Persaud was using a horse cart to sell cooking gas and kerosene when the robbery occurred at Silver Sand Street, Windsor Forest, West Bank Demerara. The officer said one of the three bandits was armed with a cutlass, which he used to beat Persaud. He said Persaud was beaten in the presence of his son, who was also on the cart with him. According to an eyewitness, Persaud was approaching the “concrete strip” between Ruimzeight and Windsor Forest when the three bandits, who appeared to be waiting, accosted and pulled him off the cart and dealt him several lashes to the head with a cutlass. The eyewitness said, after the beating, Persaud fell
to the ground. The bandits then proceeded to search Persaud’s pocket. The man’s son was also beaten and his pocket searched by the robbers. After robbing Persaud of $100,000, the bandits ran into the compound of an old rice mill that was overtaken by bush. However, they were chased by villagers who witnessed the attack. By that time, Persaud’s son alerted police officers who, within minutes, arrived at the scene of the robbery and began to search for the bandits.According to the eyewitness, villagers also began to comb the bush for the bandits who by that time, had already escaped to another nearby yard, which was also overtaken by bush. The eyewitness said that residents were unable to search the other yard because there were thorns in the bush. However, a villager used his tractor to weed down the bush to get to the bandits. Goldfields insists local content footprint has met requirements – company steams ahead with US$600M expansion to underground mining Canadian-owned Guyana Goldfields Inc./Aurora Gold Mine (AGM) is insisting that it has fulfilled its part of the agreement with the people of Guyana, even surpassing projections of its footprint in Guyana. Officials of the Region Seven mining company were being grilled by media workers on Sunday during a tour to the area. Aurora, as it is known locally, started commercial operations in January 2015, with over 95 percent of the 500-
plus staffers being locals. Administrative Manager, Peter Benny insisted that local content is very evident with several staffers shadowing expats who number just under 40. The visit would come at a time when the company, which is traded on the stock market and is the largest mine in Guyana, is preparing to start underground mining in Guyana, the first time it will be done here.AGM would be heartened, as there are over 2.2 million ounces in the area where the underground mining is being planned. Preparatory workers are underway with local experienced mining company, Japarts, handed a major project to strip and haul the hard rock from the Rory’s Knoll pit which is over 250 feet below sea level. Rory’s Knoll is where the
A 24-hour laundry service is available for staffers
mother lode was found and where almost US$600M would be sunk into. The operation is a huge one by any accounts. Since the start of operations, AGM has become the biggest single contributor to the declaration pie of the country’s gold production. With five years left in open pit mining at Rory’s Knoll, AGM’s Deputy General Manager, Vic Rozon, said that the company’s current estimated operating life, based on what was found, would be around 2033. In the meantime, the company is busy exploring its concessions. With regards to its impact, according to Camp Coordinator, Troy Semple, over 1,770 meals are being prepared daily (four meals daily) for the 528 staffers on site. That is over 53,000 meals being prepared
per month. There are 170 self-contained sleeping quarters for staffers, including hot and cold showers and air-conditioning. In addition, there is a games room, with even a PS4 console, along with a full gym and bar. Last year, the company purchased a Twin Otter aircraft, flying staff in and out every four weeks. Locally, the company is purchasing over $60M monthly in food, with training provided to 16 suppliers on how to handle food safely. THURSDAY Govt. orders probe into fatal shooting of suspected bandits Amid questions, an investigation has been ordered in (Continued on page 34)
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From page 33 relation to the deaths of three suspected bandits on the seawall two weeks ago. On Wednesday, President David Granger, responding to media questions at State House, disclosed that the matter has been dealt with at the National Security Committee level. The committee comprises the president, senior ministers and other security officials. Granger noted that it is his “instructions” that on any occasion where there is the death of a person by an unnatural means, that death should be investigated, particularly in the defence of the police force. He said that while he has not received a report on the matter on his desk, one was received by the Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan. “We have ordered an investigation into the circumstances in which the men came to be killed and I believe that some actions will be taken to have the files sent to the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) to determine any “blameworthiness” in the deaths.” The president said that in keeping with the Constitution of Guyana, a Coroner’s Inquest into the manner and cause of an individual’s death by unnatural means is therefore required. “Royalty lumped with profit oil not unusual” …Minister Trotman says it’s in Guyana’s best interest In most Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs), governments negotiate with oil operators for fiscal terms that are fair, favourable, and in keeping with international best practices. In fact, one of the fiscal terms a country would ask for is royalty. This money comes out first from the oil profits. No matter the economic circumstances, this tax remains unchanged and it must be paid by the
The sleeping quarters are all-conditioned with hot-and-cold showers
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Kaieteur News
The mill area which is being expanded
contractor. This tax would be in addition to the terms agreed upon by the contractor and government as it relates to sharing or splitting the remaining profit oil. But Guyana’s PSAs with at least four oil operators show a different arrangement for royalty. According to the oil deals with Tullow Oil and Eco Atlantic, Ratio Oil and CGX, Guyana is getting a one percent royalty that is being lumped with its share of the profit oil. Some commentators, who Kaieteur News consulted, explained that not only is this “bizarre” but also “criminal, since “lumping it with the 50 or 60 percent share of the
profit oil that belongs to the country is essentially robbing it of the royalty it deserves”. Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman was questioned about this peculiar arrangement Wednesday. The politician said that he does not find anything unusual about it. “No, as I said, there are different models of PSAs, and so there is no norm. Things have changed, but each country determines what is in its best interest, so I wouldn’t accept the word bizarre.” Asked if he believes that such an arrangement would be in the nation’s best interest, Trotman re-
sponded, “It was in our best interest to attract investors to Guyana, yes. The previous administration did it and this administration is bringing investors as well.” Female pensioner robbed at gunpoint after leaving bank – cops hold suspect, impound CG motorbike Shortly after withdrawing her last savings from a commercial bank on Wednesday, a 67-year-old woman found herself standing at Parika, East Bank Demerara, with a gun pressed to her stomach, as a bandit relieved her of $90,000 and personal documents. The brazen attack occurred at around 10:00 hrs, mere seconds after the Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara pensioner had exited a bus. Police said that the robber and an accomplice escaped on a CG motorcycle, with registration number CH 1423. The bike was later found abandoned. Police have since arrested a suspected ‘trunker’ who they believe trailed the victim in a burgundy-coloured car. According to a release, the suspect has a pending case for armed robbery before the courts. The pensioner told Kaieteur News that prior to going to the bank, she had visited the clinic at the Leonora Cottage Hospital. She then visited the National Insurance Scheme, which is also located at Leonora. From there, she travelled by bus to Vreed-en-Hoop, where she withdrew the last of her savings from a branch of the Republic Bank. She then boarded a bus that took her to Parika, where she had planned to purchase materials for a house that she is building. “As soon as I come out the bus, a man put a gun to my stomach and
say, ‘hand me the bag.’” Instead, the woman said she screamed and held on to her handbag. However, the strap snapped, and when the bag fell to the ground, the robber picked it up and fled. Female passenger awarded US$272,000 for 2011 CJIA crash A Connecticut, US court on Tuesday awarded US$272,000 (approx. G$56M) to a female passenger injured in a 2011 Caribbean Airlines crash at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri. According to court documents, family members Indrawatie Shiwbodh, Yadram Shiwbodh and Maleisa Shiwbodh had filed action against the Trinidad and Tobago-controlled airline. The action came to trial at the US court, with Indrawatie Shiwbodh standing before Judge Michael Shea. According to court documents filed last week, after the issues were tried, the court issued a Memorandum of Decision on March 27, 2018 awarding the plaintiff (Indrawatie Shiwbodh) US$68,093.04 in economic damages and US$204,279.12 for pain and suffering, for a total judgment amount of US$272,372.16. It was also disclosed that Caribbean Airlines had reached a settlement agreement with Maleisa Shiwbodh, and on April 9, 2015, a settlement was also reached with Yadram Shiwbodh. In their complaint, filed in 2012, the family in the personal injury action suit for damages disclosed that that matter arose from a crash landing of Caribbean Airlines Flight #BW523 in the early morning hours of July 30, (Continued on page 35)
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From page 34 2011 at Cheddi Jagan International Airport in Georgetown, Guyana. $30B syndicated bond secured for GuySuCo The Special Purpose Unit (SPU) has secured a $30B syndicate bond through several local and regional banks to help with the revitalization plans for the three sugar estates that were kept open under the ‘right-sized’ Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). Recently-appointed Chairman of GuySuCo, Colvin Heath-London told Kaieteur News that the SPU and GuySuCo’s management team will decide how to capitalize on bonds with detailed plans to be revealed in the coming weeks for Uitvlugt, Albion and Blairmont Estates. Further, Heath-London pointed out that the SPU should have access to the bond in about two weeks. The SPU, which is also headed by Heath-London, is an arm of the state-controlled National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), which is tasked by Government to execute privatization plans for the Skeldon, Rose Hall, Enmore and Wales Estates that were closed by the end of last year. FRIDAY Guyana’s oil contracts lack provisions to guard against inflated costs… But Liberia ties companies with strict clauses Any careful assessment
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of Guyana’s Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs)with ExxonMobil , Tullow Oil, Ratio Oil, Eco Atlantic and CGX, would reveal that there are mechanisms in place for these oil operators to recover their exploration, development and production costs. But what is lacking in all of these contracts is a single clause that speaks to how the Government of Guyana should deal with inflated costs, once detected by these entities. While such loose provisions exist, other nations have ensured that the necessary provisions have been taken to guard against inflated costs. Liberia, for example, is known for its oil rich potential just offshore West Africa. Its oil industry has attracted multinationals such as Chevron and ExxonMobil. Even though the Government of this English-speaking nation is elated to have the attention of these oil giants, it is by no means an indication that there would be a free for all for those entities as it relates to inflated costs. In one of its PSAs, Liberia ties ExxonMobil and its other oil partner to a strict set of provisions. Wife, accomplice sentenced to death for murder of US citizen The two women, one of them a United States citizen, who were on trial for the 2012 murder of the US woman’s husband, have been sentenced to death. The sentence was handed down by Justice Sandil Kissoon in the Berbice High Court. The women, US citizen
The scene at the seawall on March 15 with the three bodies on the ground.
The damaged aircraft after it overshot the runaway at CJIA, Timehri
Hemwattie Abdulla, 43, called “Anita Nazeema Khan,” formerly of Albion, Corentyne and of Ozone Park, New York, USA; and her accomplice, Surojinie Permaul, 49, of Belvedere New Housing Scheme, Corentyne Berbice, were on trial for the murder of Abdool Shakeel Majid called “Shakiel.” Majid, a citizen of the USA, was reportedly killed between April 23 and April 27, 2012, in Berbice. There was an arrangement that saw Seerujnie Permaul called “Surojnie” and “Usha”, paying money to a third person, at the request of Hemwattie Abdulla called “Annie” and “Anesa”, to kill Majid. Abdulla was represented by attorney Mursalene Bacchus in association with Arundanauth Gossai. Permaul was represented by Nigel Hughes. The state case
was presented by Special Prosecutor Ganesh. ‘Eyewitness’ to seawall killings was never on roof - Police Commissioner Self-proclaimed eyewitness, Devon Lyte, was never on the rooftop of the building from which he claimed he saw police ranks shoot and kill robbery suspects Dextroy ‘Dutty’ Cordis, Kwame Assanah, and Errol Adams. Commissioner of Police (ag) David Ramnarine said Thursday that this was confirmed in statements investigators received from the contractor and sub-contractor with whom Lyte was working. There was a third and similar statement from a security staffer at the same site. “Our investigators are in possession of three statements which are very instruc-
tive, to the extent that Mr. Devon Lyte was never, ever on the roof of the building that he claimed he was on at the press conference Monday,” Ramnarine told journalists during a press conference. “One of the statements is from the contractor, one from the subcontractor and one from the security supervisor. “In fact, I have to let you know, and let the world know that on (March 28), (Lyte’s lawyer, Nigel Hughes) went to that location where his client seemingly was on the roof on the day in question, and enquired as to where specifically his client was. “On being told that his client is a labourer, not a skilled worker, and works on the ground, with a ransom (concrete mixer) he left,” the Acting Top Cop said. “It is painful that you can
have someone turn up at your office, give what is purported to be a story that has national implications, that impinges the good work and reputation of a national institution and its officials, rush to publicise all over the world, and then, after the fact, you turn up at a location to find that it cannot be substantiated. It is not only grossly reckless, it is truly irresponsible behaviour.” Flanked by Crime Chief Paul Williams, Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) Head Heeralall Mackanlall and other senior officers, Ramnarine also remarked that “it is instructive to know, that Mr. Devon Lyte, since Sunday last, when he worked at that location, on the ground, has not turned up for work again.” Territorial claim by Venezuela… Guyana files case with ICJ Guyana on Thursday submitted its application to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) requesting the court to confirm the legal validity and binding effect of the 1899 Arbitral Award regarding the boundary between Guyana and Venezuela. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the application follows the decision of UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, in choosing the ICJ as the next means of resolving the controversy that arose as a result of the Venezuelan contention that the Arbitral Award of 1899 about the frontier between British Guiana and Venezuela was null and void. In its application to the Court, Guyana “highlighted that Venezuela had, for more than 60 years, consistently recognized and respected the validity and binding force of the 1899 Award and with the 1905 (Contiued on page 36)
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From page 35 map agreed by both sides in furtherance of the award.” However, Venezuela only changed its position formally in 1962 as the United Kingdom was making final preparations for the independence of British Guiana and threatened not to recognize the new state, or its boundaries, unless the United Kingdom agreed to set aside the 1899 award and cede to Venezuela all of the territory west of the Essequibo River, amounting to some two-thirds of Guyana’s territory. The Ministry disclosed in Guyana’s application notes that while Venezuela has never produced any evidence to justify its belated repudiation of the 1899 award, it has used it as an excuse to occupy territory awarded to Guyana in 1899, to inhibit Guyana’s economic development, and to violate Guyana’s sovereignty and sovereign rights. The Ministry also pointed out that on January 30, 2018, Secretary General Guterres concluded that the Good Offices Process, in which the parties had engaged for almost 30 years, had failed to achieve a solution to the controversy and chose the ICJ as the next means of settlement. The application was handed over to Registrar of the ICJ, Philippe Couvreur by Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl
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Kaieteur News
Acting Commissioner of Police David Ramnarine and other senior police officials during yesterday’s press conference
Greenidge, who will serve as Guyana’s agent in the proceedings before the Court.
Life imprisonment for Grove man who chopped neighbour over loud music Andy Boodram of Grove, East Bank Demerara, stood in disbelief Thursday as he was sentenced to life imprisonment for chopping his neighbour over noise nuisance. The sentence was imposed by Justice Navindra
Singh at Georgetown High Court around noon. Boodram, called ‘Boy,’ on September 24, 2011, unlawfully and maliciously wounded Deonarine Persaud, called ‘Anil’, with intent to commit murder. He was charged with attempted murder but was found guilty on the lesser (alternative) count of felonious wounding by a mixed 12-member jury. Even in the face of the guilty verdict, Boodram maintained that he is innocent of the crime. He claimed that he did not chop the com-
plainant but that “me and Anil had a fight.” H i s l a w y e r, G e o rg e Thomas, begged for a minimum sentence alluding to the fact that this was his client’s first conviction. “He is 32 years old and a father of three,” Thomas told the court in his plea of mitigation. However, State Attorney, Abigail Gibbs, asked the Court to consider the effects that the injuries had on the complainant. “This court would have seen him and heard of the number of surgeries, which he underwent pursuant to the act,” Gibbs stated. Justice Singh in imposing sentence told Boodram while the law allows for flogging or life imprisonment as a penalty, “I will not sentence you to flogging.” The Judge therefore imposed the life imprisonment. During his testimony, Deonarine Persaud that his n e i g h b o u r, ( B o o d r a m ) chopped him to the head after he (Persaud) called out to him to turn down loud music that was coming from his house. Oil and Gas sector needs to be subjected to parliamentary scrutiny…must ensure good deals are made in the extractive sector –Int’l Consulting Agency In the case of Norway, one is able to observe that oil and gas revenues can transform nations for the better. But there are other cases where countries have not been so fortunate. It is on this premise that the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) believes that the parliamentarians must ensure strict oversight of the oil and gas sector. NRGI is an independent
no n p r o f i t o r g a n i z a t i o n dedicated to improving countries’ governance over their natural resources. The Institute stressed in a parliamentary briefing that parliamentarians should also exercise their oversight role to ensure that good deals are made in the extractive sector. NRGI said, “Through their oversight role, parliamentarians should ensure that all legislation affecting the fiscal elements of oil, gas and mining projects are coherent. “Some countries have wrestled with inconsistencies between pieces of legislation. For example, mining laws and investment promotion laws might each spell out distinct incentives, which together may give away far too much or result in a lack of clarity as to which incentives apply.” In the interest of transparency and accountability, the Organization noted that opposition parliamentarians should ask the government to provide revenue projections over the life of any major project— particularly when special fiscal exemp-
Andy Boodram
tions or incentives are granted. It also said that the Opposition MPs should request a detailed listing of all assumptions (prices, costs, etc.) upon which these projections are based. The Institute asserted, “Over time, legislators should request regular reporting of revenues the state receives and compare them against these projections.” NRGI stated, too, that there should also be a request for disclosure of all contracts with companies. It said that this is pertinent so that parliamentarians can access information about deals, including all the exemptions and incentives offered to companies that may deviate from those contained in generally applicable law. It stressed that contract disclosure is essential for effective parliamentary oversight. In another note to opposition parliamentarians, NRGI said that they should ask Government officials to explain the actions they take to ensure compliance with the fiscal regime, including conducting independent tax audits.
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Expert warns Caribbean must strengthen its Internet infrastructure Bevil Wooding
KINGSTOWN (CMC) – An Internet expert calls for greater regional network resilience and security and is urging Caribbean countries to strengthen their critical Internet infrastructure if they are to defend against the growing threat of climatechange-driven natural disasters. The expert, Bevil Wooding, is also urging regional countries to adopt the new strategies if they are to keep up with the world’s growing digital economy. Wooding, the Caribbean outreach director at the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) said ‘in today’s world, the security, resilience and robustness of computers networks are critical to the development of the digital economy. “The Caribbean can no longer afford to leave important decisions about network buildout, network resource management and network infrastructure spend only to commercial telecommunications providers. Those issues are now the concern and the responsibility of governments, private network operators and even end users,” said Wooding, who works with the US-based non-profit organisation responsible for Internet number resource management. Wooding, who is also the Strategic ICT Advisor for the St. Lucia-based OECS Commission, told officials attending the 36th Executive Council meeting of the Caribbean
Telecommunications Union (CTU), that the regional regulator has established a special commission to identify “actionable recommendations for improving Caribbean network resilience”. He also highlighted current efforts by regional and international non-profit organizations to address the issue, noting that the CTU, ARIN, the Caribbean Network Operators Group (CaribNOG), Packet Clearing House and others are already collaborating on initiatives “to develop greater awareness and technical capacity in computer network design, management and cybersecurity.” OECS Director General, Dr. Didacus Jules, said that the devastating impact of the 2017 hurricane season on several Caribbean territories has put a spotlight on the importance of strengthening the resilience of the region’s communications network and infrastructure. “As a region, we must have a clear, strategic approach to building our Internet infrastructure to drive business innovation and economic development,” Jules said, warning that, the global economy will become increasingly unforgiving to regions with failing, outdated or unsecured technology infrastructure. “If we do not act with urgency to address this, the impact on our economic and social development can be more devastating than last season’s hurricanes,” he added.
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Region-wide training for CAPE’s Green Engineering teachers The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) says it will be undertaking a threeday training exercise to prepare teachers to deliver the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE)’s new Green Engineering Syllabus. The training will be held between April 4 and 6, this year in Montego Bay, Jamaica, and will see the participation of teachers from thirteen CARICOM Member and Associate Member States. According to CXC, the main objective of the boot camp is to familiarise teachers with the resources that have been recently created to support the implementation of the syllabus. Earlier this year, educators from six Caribbean territories; Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago met in Kingston, Jamaica to develop a range of digital resources at a three-day capacity-building workshop that was intended to improve their delivery of the CAPE Green Engineering syllabus across the region. CXC is a member of the Capacity Building and Research Thematic Working Group (TWG) of the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Roadmap and Strategy (C-
SERMS) Platform and has been able to benefit from the ongoing technical assistance that is being provided by GIZ Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Technical Assistance (REETA) Programme. The GIZ REETA programme provides technical assistance to the CARICOM Secretariat and is financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The programme specifically supports the implementation of the Work Programme of the CARICOM Secretariat’s Energy Unit. Further, the upcoming capacity-building project also directly involves the Organisation of American
States (OAS) as part of the organisation’s sustainable energy sector programme. Upon completion of the programme, participants should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the requirements of the syllabus; demonstrate an understanding of how to implement resources in the teaching and learning process and use a range of resources to support diverse assessment strategies. They will also have an opportunity to visit one of the Caribbean’s leading Renewable Energy Laboratories Wigton Wind Farm – where they will receive hands-on information on the different technologies used in the sector.
World Bank report calls for more action on violence against women WASHINGTON (CMC) – The World Bank is urging Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) countries to do more to address violence against women even as it acknowledges they have done much to improve women’s economic inclusion. In a report titled “Women, Business and Law 2018”, the World Bank said reforms have been taken in several LAC economies in the past two years to improve women’s economic position. It said that most of the reforms focused on making it easier for women to work by expanding maternity leave benefits. “However, the region’s economies need to do much more to protect women from violence by enacting laws against domestic violence and sexual harassment in public places,” the report notes. Now in its fifth edition, the report introduces, for the first time, a scoring system of zero to 100, to better inform the reform agenda. According to the World Bank, scores are assigned to every monitored economy on each of the report’s seven indicators: accessing institutions, using property, getting a job, providing incentives to
work, going to court, building credit, and protecting women from violence. “Women’s entrepreneurship is a driving force behind economic activity in the region. So, the more women can realize their full economic potential, as workers or business owners, the more the region’s economies and societies will benefit,” said Rita Ramalho, senior manager of the World Bank’s Global Indicators Group, which produces “Women, Business and the Law.” The report says the region’s strengths lie in the areas of using property, with an average score of 98. All but four of the region’s 32 econo-
mies score a perfect 100, the report states. It says the region also performs well in the area of accessing institutions, with an average score of 97, “as most economies do not differentiate between women and men in a range of public interactions, such as registering a business, opening a bank account or obtaining a national identification.” The report also highlights areas where the region is not faring as well and where progress on indicators, such as getting a job, building credit and legislation on sexual harassment and domestic violence, could be improved.
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Bad nutrition advice dietitians want you to forget How many times have you read that you need to eat clean, start juicing or only eat foods that have a specific number of ingredients? The advice may be compelling, and even sound science-y, but in the age of Google and information overload, you have to be careful about who you’re turning to for advice. That’s why, to separate food facts from fiction, I turned to the real nutrition pros— my fellow registered dietitians (RDs). RDs have undergraduate degrees (and often graduate degrees, as well) from accredited programs, complete at least 1,200 hours of supervised practice, pass a registration exam and meet continuing education requirements in order to maintain their professional status. Let’s just say they know a thing or two. Here are their top food misconceptions they’d prefer you’d forget. MYTH: THEREARE NO BAD FOODS FACT: Let’s set the record straight. A soda is not of equal nutritional value as a piece of salmon. Lauren Slayton, MS RD, founder of Foodtrainers likens the perpetuation of this food fairy tale to handing out trophies to everyone on the soccer field. In a child’s protective bubble, it’s considered hard to process the truth that some kids are better soccer players (or baseball players or gymnasts) than others. But the reality is, as we’ve just seen with the Winter Olympics, there are only a few spots on the podium — for the winners. As adults, we should be able to handle the truth that not every food is a winner. “We can’t compare a KitKat to spinach,” says Slayton. “Some foods are better than others and some foods are bad for you. Does this mean we need to live exclusively on ‘good’ foods? No.” But, she says, we must accept that just like street drugs are bad for us and we should limit contact with toxic people in our lives, some foods are also unhealthy. “In this age of nutrition confusion, let’s be clear in the advice we dole out. It’s okay to say some items in the market are unhealthy or treats or bad. Don’t worry. The KitKat won’t be insulted,” she adds. MYTH: USE UNREFINED SUGAR IN PLACE OF ORDINARY SUGAR FACT: “Sugar is sugar!” says Lauren Harris-Pincus, MS, RDN, author of “The Protein-Packed Breakfast Club.” It doesn’t matter what you call it. Honey, agave,
maple syrup, coconut sugar, cane juice, fruit juice concentrate and more are all code words for sugar. “You may benefit from scant amounts of a few extra vitamins or minerals in certain sweeteners, but make no mistake, they’re all added sugars and all contribute to the recommended daily limit on added sugars in the diet.” The American Heart Association suggests a cap of 24 grams per day (6 teaspoons) for women and 36 grams (9 teaspoons) for men. Instead of getting minuscule amounts of nutrients from maple syrup, stick with the targets for added sugar from any source and meet your nutritional needs from healthful whole foods. MYTH: FRUIT HAS TOO MUCH SUGAR FACT: Of all the food lore circulating, few make dietitians as crazy as this one. “It’s amazing how many people think fruit should be avoided,” says New York City-based dietitian, Natalie Rizzo, MS, RD. She breaks it down this way: “Our brain needs natural sugars in the form of glucose to function properly. Our muscles need those same natural sugars to perform exercise.” True, you should keep tabs on sugar added to processed foods, but the sugar in fruit is different. “It’s paired with so many other beneficial vitamins, minerals and nutrients,” she says. “Bananas have tons of potassium, red grapes have antioxidants, and pineapple is loaded with vitamin C. There is no reason a healthy person should avoid fruit,” explains Rizzo. MYTH: JUICING ISA GREAT WAY TO LOSE WEIGHT FACT: Juicing to lose weight is a terrible idea. “This is not a good road to lasting weight loss,” explains Amy Gorin, MS, RDN, owner of Amy Gorin Nutrition in the New York City area. There are so many reasons Gorin advises against juicing. “For one, drinking only juice would leave you short of the calories your body needs to optimally function. You’d also be getting mostly carbohydrates and would be lacking the protein
and healthy fats your body needs daily. Protein and healthy fats help to keep you full, so you’d also likely be very hungry on this diet!. It may not be as sexy as juicing, if you really want to lose weight, Gorin recommends filling up on healthful foods instead. “Eat a balanced diet of fruit and vegetables, lean protein such as tofu or salmon, whole grains (oatmeal or quinoa are great picks), and healthy fats such as avocado and olive oil.” She also suggests cutting calories by limiting the foods that don’t need to be in your diet, such as alcohol. MYTH: ONLY SHOP THEPERIMETER OF THE STORE FACT: Believe it or not, this isn’t the perfect recipe for your body or your wallet. “It’s true that the perimeter of the store holds colorful produce (fruits and veggies that don’t even require labels), meat and poultry, and the dairy, but if you ignore the center aisles, you’ll be missing out on valuable foods that are kind to your body and your budget,” advises Bonnie Taub-Dix, RDN, author of “Read it Before You Eat It - Taking You from Label to Table.” When you steer towards the center, you’ll discover plant foods like beans, whole grains and nuts. “These foods are delicious, healthy, affordable, versatile and easy to store,” she says. Still, you can’t ignore the fine print known as the ingredient list and Nutrition Facts Panel. “Flip packages over to read what you’re really getting,” says Taub-Dix. MYTH: DON’T EAT EGG YOLKS FACT: This myth persists for dieters trying to cut fat and calories, but according to Angie Asche, MS, RD of Eleat Sports Nutrition, skipping the yolks is a big nutrition miss. “Egg yolks are rich in vitamins A and D, fatty acids, and antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, to name a few,” she explains. Asche encourages eating the whole egg for the most nutrition.https:// www.nbcnews.com/better/ health/bad-nutrition-advicedietitians-are-begging-youforget-ncna859176.
Sunday April 01, 2018
Who Bit Beyoncé? See the March Madness Bracket That Could Reveal the Suspect College basketball is cool, but finding out who bit Beyoncé is cooler. Ever since Tiffany Haddish claimed in GQ’s April issue that a drugged out actress bit the “Crazy in Love” singer in the face, pop culture fans have been asking one very important question: Who could do that? Three days later and the Beyhive is left wondering who they can trust, who is innocent and who is holding the big secret. “This is like the modern day ‘Who shot J.R.?’” Chrissy Teigen recently joked with Today’s Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb. “Listen, I think we’ve all done things under the influence. It’s not who I thought, I will say.” While Chrissy is keeping her lips sealed and not revealing the Hollywood star, others are heading to social media and making it clear they are not responsible. At the same time, we totally get why the celeb in question may not want to reveal themselves. After all, it’s party foul with an A-list twist. Ultimately, we decided to have some innocent fun and create a March Madness type bracket for fans to fill out. We’re not saying it’s going to reveal the truth once and for all. But gosh darn it, we might as well have some fun before a brave Hollywood star reveals the truth.www.eonline.com .
The Crown Casts Outlander’s Tobias Menzies As New Prince Philip
Frank Randall may be dead, but Tobias Menzies will basically never be out of a job. E! News has confirmed that Menzies, who starred as both Frank and Black Jack Randall on Starz’s Outlander for two and a half seasons, has been cast as the new Prince Philip on Netflix’s The Crown for seasons three and four. Fellow prestigious British actor Matt Smith played the role for two years alongside Claire Foyas Queen Elizabeth II, who will now be played by Olivia Colman as the show jumps ahead a few years.
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Helena Bonham Carter will also join the show as Princess Margaret, replacing Vanessa Kirby. Aside from his often controversial and definitely polarizing role(s) on Outlander, Menzies is known for Game of Thrones, Catastrophe, The Terror, and The Night Manager, just to name a few recent projects. To get the scoop on everything else we know about season three (and four!) of The Crown, head to our gallery: Everything We Know About The Crown Season 3. The Crown streams on Netflix. www.eonline.com
Fans Accuse Jay-Z and Beyoncé of Copying Kanye West and Kim Kardashian Jay-Z and Beyoncé are being accused of copying Kanye West and Kim Kardashian.The controversy all started on social media last week when the couple’s On the Run II tour was announced. On March 12, Beyoncé shared a promotional photo for the tour on Instagram that shows the singer on the back of a motorcycle that Jay-Z is riding. In response to the picture, social media started making comparisons between Beyoncé and Jay-Z on the motorcycle and Kanye and Kim in the “Bound 2” music video. In the video, released in 2013, Kanye and Kim also cozy up on a motorcycle. “Kanye and Kim,” one commenter wrote on Bey’s
picture. While another Instagram user replied to the photo, “KANYE ASKED FOR HIS IDEA BACK LOL KANYE AND KIM DID A MUSIC VIDEO LIKE THIS ALREADY.” And in response to the tour’s promotional video, which also shows the couple on a motorcycle together, one Twitter user asked her followers, “Why does it look like Jay Z & Beyoncé are about to drop a country version of Bound 2?”Since announcing On the Run II, Jay and Bey have been spotted in Jamaica, filming what appears to be content for the tour. The couple was being filmed while riding around on a motorcycle in Kingston, Jamaica earlier this week.www.eonline.com
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Guyana confident U.S. ban on catfish export will be lifted Nearly one month after the United States imposed a ban on catfish from Guyana, Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, briefed Cabinet on efforts being made to meet the requirements to lift the restrictions. Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, at his post-Cabinet press conference on Thursday stated that Holder informed Cabinet on Tuesday that the action by the U.S., which was a revision of the rules for imports, was a protective measure. According to the Minister, the difference is in the ways the catfish was sourced in that the new U.S. rules targeted farm-raised catfish. In Guyana’s case, catfish is wildcaught and U.S. officials were requiring additional documentation. “The ban is seeking to
Minister of States, Joseph Harmon deal with farm-reared catfish, but because we are all caught in this category called catfish. Our catfish that is not farmreared is caught into that and that is why we feel confident it is going to be affected in a
positive way for us,” Harmon stated. The local fishing industry was dealt a severe blow when the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) stopped the export of all Siluriformes fish and fish products (catfish species) from Guyana, effective March 1. “Cabinet was advised that the ministry of agriculture was actively engaged with the U.S authorities to have the matter resolved in the shortest possible time,” Harmon told reporters. According to industry sources, the decision affects over 90% of all fish exports to the U.S and over 70% of the overall fish export market. The U.S. decision means that apart from the catfish, hassar, cuirass and gilbacker can no longer be exported to the U.S.
“The ban does not affect the export of catfish from Guyana to other markets. This is one of the staple diets of Guyanese who live in the diaspora; the Guyanese in Canada, United Kingdom and other parts of the world; there are not affected by this,” Harmon noted. Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo has blamed Government’s inaction for the ban and noted previously
with concern the silence from the APNU+AFC Coalition on the plight of hundreds of fishermen. Amanda Cauldwell, Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Georgetown told Kaieteur News that the U.S. notified the Government of Guyana of the pending changes in November 2015, more than 18 months before they were to go into effect. According to Jagdeo, the
Coalition Administration, despite having received notice of these changes, failed to communicate effectively with the stakeholders of the fisheries sector, many of whom have invested heavily in this area. Government received an extension until February 3, 2018, to bring Guyana into compliance with the new export regulations and failed again.
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A WOMAN TARGETED AS A DRUG COURIER By Telesha A. Jules
On October 10, 2017, I was travelling from Ogle International Airport in Guyana to Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados. I checked in at the LIAT airline counter and then was processed by Security and Immigration. I went through the normal procedures while being processed by these two entities. After that, Ms. Mercedes Theobald, a Customs and Anti- Narcotics Officer, asked to inspect my passport and carry- on luggage. In my carry- on was a brand new lunch bag. Ms. Theobald asked me who am I taking the Lunch Bag to and I said my boyfriend in Barbados. The Lunch Bag contained two gel packs. She asked me what was contained in the gel packs. I said to Ms. Theobald that I
do not know the exact contents of the packs but only that you may freeze them to keep the contents of the Lunch Bag cool. Ms. Theobald was not satisfied with that explanation, she proceeded to obtain a small knife and scotch tape. She instructed me to puncture one of the gel packs with the knife, which Ms. Theobald then squeezed to reveal the contents of the gel pack. It was a clear gel-like substance. When Ms. Theobald was satisfied that it was just gel she sealed the punctured area with the scotch tape she had obtained earlier. While I was re-packing my carry-on, Ms. Theobald left and returned quickly and accompanied me to the departure lounge of Ogle Intl Airport. She then asked me to urinate in a small plastic drinking cup because she
wanted to acquire a sample of my urine. I informed Ms. Theobald that I was menstruating at the moment. I accompanied her to a washroom. Ms. Theobald told me that I should urinate in the cup with the toilet cover down; however, she only informed me of this requirement as I had already started to urinate when she pushed open the bathroom door to tell me. When I had finished urinating in the same small plastic drinking cup and had redressed myself, I opened the door to the toilet and Ms. Theobald came in and took the sample of my urine. She then proceeded to pour the urine in the cup on what appeared to be some kind of testing apparatus. After Ms. Theobald had finished the apparent testing of my urine, she instructed me to have a seat in the departure
lounge as we left the washroom. After the episode in the washroom, Ms. Theobald returned to me in the departure lounge and stated that she wanted me to drink some water and that she wanted to repeat the urine test about a half hour later. Ms. Theobald then escorted me to a room. Inside the room was a ‘made’ bed, a desk, chair, a water dispenser and plastic cups. As I proceeded to drink the water and, in between sips, I said to Ms. Theobald, ‘I do not appreciate the embarrassment that she is causing me and that this is an insult. I reminded her that she did the same thing to me in 2015. Ms. Theobald responded by saying that, ‘no one would have seen me being escorted to and fro at the airport.’ I said to her, ‘Of course they saw. I said to Ms. Theobald, ‘I do not traffic drugs,’ While I was sitting on the bench, I was approached by a female security guard who informed me that Ms. Theobald had requested that I give my Passport to her so that Ms. Theobald may examine it. After sitting in the same area for about fifteen minutes, I heard an announcement over the Airport’s public address system. The announcement was to alert passengers travelling from Ogle Int’l to Grantley Adams International, that they should be seated in the departure lounge. After listening to the announcement, I approached Ms. Theobald and, as she saw me approaching her, she returned my passport. I asked Ms. Theobald if I would have to clear immigration again, she then asked if I would like her to escort me and I said yes. After clearing immigration again, I was once more seated in the departure lounge. After about ten minutes, a tall, slim male, whom I assumed was an employee of the Airport, approached me and pointed to in the direction of Ms. Theobald, who was seated at the door of the departure lounge. I went to Ms. Theobald and she opened a book and said to me, See? You’re not the only person who gets harassed.’ Ms. Theobald then asked me for my name, where I was staying with in Barbados, and the name of the person at which I was residing and the nature of their occupation. However, Ms. Theobald wasn’t satisfied with the address in Barbados that I had given her, so she asked me to call the person to try to see if I can obtain a more accurate address. I said to her that I will try to contact them via ‘Whatsapp.’ After a few moments after I had messaged my party in Barbados, Ms. Theobald returned to ask if I had made contact with my party in
Barbados, to which I replied, ‘not as yet.’ Ms. Theobald then went on her way. Ms. Theobald did not harass me again. I spent about fifteen minutes in the departure lounge before I boarded the LIAT flight that was destined for Barbados. The time that I was finally seated on the plane was approximately 2:23p.m. I landed at Grantley Adams International Airport at 4:45p.m. It was a long wait to clear Immigration; however, I was finally instructed to proceed to booth #19 to be processed. The immigration officer took my passport, the entry form, along with my ticket. She asked me where would be my place of residence while in Barbados, the nature of the relationship between the person and me, she then asked for a contact number of the person at which I would be residing. Afterwards, she stamped my passport and gave me back the documents that I would’ve handed her. As I was leaving immigration to collect my luggage, I was intercepted by two members of the Royal Barbados Police Force, one male, the other obviously female. The male officer, a police Constable Collymore proceeded to ask me where I was residing in Barbados during my stay in the country, how long was I staying and who I was staying with. The female member of the Royal Barbados Police Force asked me if my carry-on was the only luggage that I had to which I replied, no. She then instructed me to go collect the rest of my luggage, which I did. The two members of the Royal Barbados Police Force told me to wait as they spoke to a female Customs Officer. The female Customs Officer then called me over and asked me to place my luggage on the counter. I opened my ‘check in luggage and she unpacked the contents while wearing gloves. She opened my deodorant, body cream and body spray, she then asked me to re-pack my check-in suitcase. She then followed the same procedure for my carry-on. She asked me about the lunch bag and the gel packs that were inside; I explained their intended use and she replaced them in the lunch bag. She then proceeded to check my shoes, when she was satisfied she asked me to re-pack my carry-on. She also checked a small bag that I had around my shoulder. She then went away; however, I wasn’t aware of where she went as I was busy re-packing my carry-on. On her return, she informed me that I would have to submit to a check of my person. I complied. She then escorted me to a room. Once I
was inside, the female Customs Officer who had processed me outside was now accompanied by another female Customs Officer. The officer, who’d processed me was now instructing me to remove my shoes and to stand on a piece of Cardboard. She then asked me to remove my clothing to which I complied until I got to my brassiere and panty because I didn’t think that they meant all of my clothing. I informed the customs that I was menstruating and I wanted to change my sanitary napkin and apply a fresh one. She obliged but informed me that one of them would have to observe me throughout the whole process. After I was finished, I was then instructed to stand on the piece of cardboard again and at this point, I had to remove my brassiere and panty as well. I was then instructed to assume a stooping position and to cough. It appeared that my first two attempts at coughing were not satisfactory to the two customs officers so I was asked to cough harder the second and third time. I was then instructed to get dressed. As I was dressing, the Customs Officer who checked my luggage asked the other officer if she had checked my shoes to which she replied yes. I was not aware that my shoes were checked as it must have occurred while I was changing my sanitary napkin in the bathroom. I was asked to undo my hairstyle which I had pinned up on the top of my head and held in place by several hairpins, I was asked to run my hand through my braids and to shake them as well. When they were apparently satisfied, I was then escorted outside. One of the Customs Officers recorded the information from my passport and then she handed my Passport to Police Constable Collymore and she told me that I was free to go. I approached P.C. Collymore to obtain my passport and he said to me, ‘Ms. Jules, based on my suspicions, I believe that you have ingested drugs and that you have to accompany us to the Oistins Police Station, then to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, to have an x-ray done on your stomach. So if you know that you have the drugs in your stomach, you need to say and be honest with us.’ I responded by saying that I did not swallow anything. The female member of the Royal Barbados Police Force asked me if I have any phones in my possession and I said I have one. She asked for it and I gave it to her. I was then escorted to a Continued on page 69
Sunday April 01, 2018
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I’M NOT SEEING THE TV AS CLEARLY AS BEFORE. TO WHOM DO I GO TO CHECK MY EYES?
You would go to an optometrist. The optometrist is trained to diagnose and treat vision conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism , and presbyopia. They check to see if the eyes are straight and not turned or crossed, and if you have normal colour vision. They also check to see if you have eye diseases like cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, ptyrigium (what guyanese call growing flesh) , etc. Optometrists prescribe eyeglasses, contact lenses, eye exercises, and medications to treat eye
diseases. The optometrist usually goes through a 4 year University program. In North America ( Canada and the USA), the optometrist requires a BSc ( Bachelor of Science) degree before the OD ( Doctor of Optometry) degree. The optometry and medicine program are very similar for the first 2 years. Both cover General Pathology ( the study of diseases), Pharmacology ( the study of drugs/medicines) , Genetics , Neurology, Anatomy and Microbiology. The final two years of the optometry programme are spent
specializing on the eye. In the early days both the person who did the eye testing and the person who made up the spectacles were called opticians. However, this has changed and nowadays the doctor who checks the eyes is called an optometrist and the person who makes up the glasses is called an optician. I HAVE A CATARACT. TO WHOM DO I GO TO GET IT OPERATED ON? You would go to an ophthalmologist. The ophthalmologist is trained to do surgical and medical treatment of eye diseases.
STANDARDS IN FOCUS
UNDERSTANDING THE METRIC (SI) SYSTEM - Using the Units of Mass The Metric System, which is the legal system of measurement in Guyana, conforms to the Standard International (SI) units including the kilogramme that is used to measure mass. This system is simple to learn and easy to use because of its decimal nature and a concerted effort must be made by every citizen to adopt and use this measurement system. Today, almost all the countries in the world use the metric system, especially in scientific research, manufacturing and exports. Only a few countries still use the imperial system of measurement or a combination of both measuring systems. In Guyana, most of the sectors have fully adopted the use of the metric system, even though there continues to be a wrestle between the two systems in the retail sector. Over the years, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) has worked to educate vendors and shopkeepers to use the metric system and monitor same to ensure only verified metric measuring instruments are used in trade. Let’s look at the metric units used for measuring mass, commonly referred, to as weight by retailers and consumers. The metric base unit for measuring mass is the Kilogramme. When the Kilogramme is divided by 1000 the result is 1 gramme and when the Kilogramme is multiplied by 1000 the result is 1 metric tonne. (Note the difference in spelling for tonne) The units of Mass (Weight) For everyday transactions especially in the conduct of commerce, there are four commonly used units namely, the milligramme, gramme, kilogramme and tonne. Milligramme (mg) - This unit is used for measuring very small amounts of substances for example, ingredients in medicines or drugs and some ingredients in recipes. It is the equivalent of one gramme divided by 1000.
Gramme (g) - The gramme is used for measuring intermediate amounts. For example, 100 grammes of butter, 250 grammes of cheese, 500 grammes of peas, sugar, flour, etc. 28.35 grammes is equivalent to 1 ounce. Kilogramme (kg) - The Kilogramme is used for measuring larger amounts. For example, 1 kilogramme of potatoes, 10 kilogramme of bananas, 25 kilogramme of rice, etc. One kilogramme is equivalent to two pounds, three ounces. Tonne (t) - This unit is used for measuring very large amounts, for example, truckloads of sand or stone, bulk sugar or rice. Remember! 1000 milligrammes (mg) equal 1 gramme (g); 1000 grammes (g) equal 1 kilogramme (kg); 1000 kilogrammes (kg) equal one tonne (t) Consumers, you are urged to start requesting solid goods such as rice, peas, onions and potatoes from shops and markets in grams and kilogrammes. These units should also be used to weigh solid hardware items such as nails, putty and glues that are sold by weight. These goods can be easily and accurately weighed on verified metric devices used in the market place. Wholesalers and retailers have a significant role to play by packaging and selling their solid goods in metric quantities. Advertise your goods and prepare and display pricelists in the SI Units. Industry, in the manufacturing of products, prepackage and label solid products in only in milligrammes, grammes and kilogrammes. Regulators, when conducting monitoring and enforcement within the various sectors, you are urged to do so using the SI System, the Legal System of Measurement in Guyana. For further information please contact the GNBS on Tel: 219-0062, 219-0065, 2190066, 219-0069.
They remove cataracts and insert intraocular lenses, do medical treatment for glaucoma as well as glaucoma filtering surgeries, remove ptyrigium ( growing flesh), and do laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who has done a 4 yr. medicine degree (MD)
and then did additional training specializing in diseases and surgery of the eye. MY GLASSES ARE BROKEN. TO WHOM DO I GO TO GET THEM FIXED? You would go to an optican/optical technician. Opticians in Guyana learn through apprenticeship, but in other countries they usually go through a one or two-year college programme. The optician/technician is trained about the different kinds of spectacle lenses and how to adjust and repair spectacles. They are trained to grind lenses to the correct power, and to fit lenses to the frames. If trained to do so, opticians
can dispense contact lenses from a doctor’s prescription . Opticians use prescriptions supplied by ophthalmologists or optometrists, but do not test vision or write prescriptions for visual correction. Keeping your eyes healthy is important. The different practitioners in the eye care field work together to keep your vision intact and your eyes healthy. Check your eyes yearly. For more information , or if you wish to suggest a question, please contact Dr. Karen Persram at 295 Quamina Street, Georgetown. Tel: 225-0605 or send emails to drkpoffice@gmail.com
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Miner stabbed after heated argument with friend
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;Guyanapassport application. G r a p h i c s design, advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6004212: We create A/works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. PASSPORT, PERMANENT & VISITOR VISA APPLICATION, PROFESSIONAL IMMIGRATION CONSULTANT – SABITA IMMIGRATION SERVICES. CALL: 613-3920/625-3767. Installations, Repairs and parts for AC, Fridge, Washing machine, Stove etc call Nick 627-3206, 630-1600 Drawing of house plan, or if you need estimates, call: 216-0671/622-0267/6928464
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY- $19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Parts for Tacoma Tundra Titan for sale. Tel#686-9608. Ps 2 games $900 Ps 3 games $1200 Xbox 360 $4000 and repair to all systems.Call:6722566/265-3231 1 steel Hull boat 50x13’x6' Engine: gm marine 165 HP. Contact: 691-5104 1 six base music set with all amp QSE and speaker RCF. Contact: 698-8828 CT Cummings engine starter for ERF lorries, Used Bedford 500 engine 1-620-240 DAF engine foreign used. #6498449/228-5655 1 small ice machine $47,000 1 indoor restaurant gas grill $120,000 #220-1716 1 chowmein machine/ dough sheeter for pastries and cutter $275,000 1 large gas deep fryer $220,000 #220-1716 Gold & Diamond land, to buy or rent. Giving out work ground #225-7026/622-0036/ 690-5300 Freezers for sale. Call: 671-3004
Desmond Repair Services Fridge, AC, gas stove, microwave, washer, etc on the spot repairs –Call: (592)6788683 Mason available all casting, blockwork and plastering. Reliable, reasonable and quality work offered. Call: 619-3296 Eagle’s: Re-gas –low prices, washing machine repairs, gas stove, plasma flat Screen, computer repairs & more. Call: 697-2969/646-0966 PEN PAL Overseas Indian Male seeks female age 30/35 yrs, write to M.D 7475 Goreway Drive #47 Mississauga Ontario L4T 3T3 Canada. TOLET 1 & 3 Bedroom apt in a gated community in Versailles WBD. Call: 264-2946 2 Bedrooms furnish apartments situated in close proximity to UG & Teacher’s training college $50,000 Two bedroom airconditioned bottom flat South Riumveldt Gardens US$750, Call: 2181949
CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR R E N TA L : S U V F O R RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL:6435 1 2 2 /6 5 6 - 0 0 8 7 , ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807 WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIALOFFERS! . CALL: 690-6494 LAND FOR SALE Land at Tuschen Housing Scheme, near school, 3 minutes away from main road. Call: 261-2988 or email: gzplayter@aol.com Parafaite Harmonie, Eccles, Uivlugt, Tuschen, Covent Garden, Herstelling, Diamond, Providence, Zeelugt. Tel# 6869608
FOR RENT
WANTED
VACANCY
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.- CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 2 bedroom house for rent Parfaite Harmonie WBD #6254118 1(2) bedroom Apt Lyng St, Charlestown $40,000 #6764426
Looking to buy a house or empty land, Preferences-EBD Public road. Buyer #1917-6225810/694-3331
One Fabricator/Welder. Apply in person at Alabama Trading, Gerogetown Ferry Stelling, Stabroek.
Experienced Pastry Maker/ Cake Decorator, Curry & Roti/ Puri cook. Apply Hack’s Halaal with H/written application, 5 Commerce St.
Porters, Apply in person at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling, Stabroek Janitor, Apply in person at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling, Stabroek Maintenance workers, farm workers, labourers call: 2653586 8am-4pm
3 bedroom upper flat 143 Pike street, Kitty. Tel#234-0733 For rent: 5 bedroom 2 bath #618-5985 Apartment to rent from 1st April 2018 West Minister, 1st Bridge, Living room, bedroom, kitchen, toilet & bath. Call: 674-5779 2 and 3 bedroom fully furnished luxury to rent long and short term #666-7028/ 691-1432 Two Bedroom apartment, bottom flat $40,000 #687-3017 small family
Wanted Handyboy, must have police clearance. Apply at Shanta’s 225 Camp St. Live in waitress to work in bar. Call: 604-6606/ 692-4649 (1) Gardener Age: 20-35 must know to use grasscutter and wash vehicles. Salary: $20,000 per week. Call: 675-1430 One maintenance person. Ages 20-35 yrs. Contact 6289268 between 9-5 Mon-Fri. Saw men/Operators. Contact: 617-5700 Land Wanted in Diamond H/ S Bet 1-6 Ave. WhatsApp/Call Rich +592-644-2073 Labourers for wood concession -$5,000 per dayCall: 618-0487
VEHICLE FOR SALE Bluebird 2012 model-$2.7M Axio 2010-$2.6M Tida-2010 $2.1M All vehicles unregistered #655-3400 1- TwinsteerDoubleaxle Leyland DAF 4- LeylandDAF Flatbed tray 30ft 10- Guysuco Lorries 1 DAF engine. owner migrating #228-5655, 649-8449 Toyota AE100 Corolla GTouring wagon, 5 speed gear box-$800,000 negotiable. Call: 639-3131/653-3131 1 Longbase canter $1,200,000 Negotiable 1 RZ Minibus $500,000 Negotiable #6284436 Nissan Bluebird, Excellent condition #664-0802 1 Laurel car with extra engine, excellent condition, air conditioner working $400,000 #652-0709 Unregistered Axela 2011, New shape, dark interior, fully loaded. #617-5536 $2.5 Mil. 1 AT 170 Car $280k 1 Marino Car $450k. Contact: 601-4929
1 Female cahsier must have CXC Maths,English, EDPM, Accounts for immediate employment. #601-2622/2317839 1 Live in maid. Contact: 6955505/611-6364. Call between 9am-4pm 2 Housekeeper to work shift system at Land of Canaan. Tel# 225-6337 PROPERTY FOR SALE Lot 15 Public road #2 Village. West Coast Berbice. 49ft by 10,314ft. $20M. Contact:6487109/686-4818 Diamond EBD 2 storey concrete, 6 bedrooms, hot/ cold, secured parking etc Price negotiable. Call: 693-4890 2-flat 3 bedroom wooden building situated at 154 ‘B’ Shell road, Kitty 2 lots East of Kitty Market.670-2653
One Toyota Verossa $2.4 Neg Tel#614-0694 White Toyota Premio C Light PVV Series. Tel#624-5650 LAND FOR SALE Lot 46 (Long Dam) Vergenoegen East Bank Essequibo. Land approx 10,000 sq ft Building 656 sq ft. $4.5 neg. Tel: 628-9390
SALON Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $90,000 Nail Technician Course: $35,000. Call: 647-1773/688-0009
Driver, able to drive manual transmission, valid lorry license. Contact: 608-3839 Cook/Baker & Welder for interior location. Applicants must be experienced. Call: 6182020 Paralegal with degree in law. Duties: secretarial, clerical & research tasks. Email: lawofficegy@gmail.com/ guyana@hotmail.com Experienced male sales attendant, stocktaking knowledge, computer literate, excellent service attitude, able bodied. Key Food McDoom Village. Exists for one experienced dispatcher- Call: 231-5784 Female kitchen assistant for interior location. Job entails assisting cooks and general cleaning. Call: 618-2020 1 Supervisor for a logging operation $150,000 monthly + allowances. Contact:617-5700 1 Receptionist $25,000 weekly. Contact:617-5700 Driver living in G/town with minibus license to work with company. #646-8748 LAND FOR SALE Prime land to build that dream home. Not far from Princess, New Thriving, Massy, HJ water world $13M neg- Call: 669-8397 Uitvlugt (100x50) $2.6M Farm $2.8M Schnoord $2.4M Parfaite $1.4M Harmonie 2nd Avenue $2.3M #611-7223/ 656-0701 Parafaite (10) year $2.5 $1.3M $2M Uivlugt $2.5M Tuschen Property $5.5M $3.3M Eccles $5.5M Zeelugt $1.3M Call: 604-6724
Victor Davis after being stabbed. Victor Davis, a 41-year-old miner of Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara, was stabbed in the abdomen on Thursday by a man known to him after he and the man had a confrontation. According to information from a senior police officer, around 2a.m. on Thursday, Davis was at the Puruni Landing, Mazaruni, Region Seven, when he and the assailant were involved in a heated argument. The officer said that during the confrontation, the man took out a knife and stabbed Davis in the abdomen causing his intestine to protrude. Davis was rushed to the Bartica Hospital where he is being treated. He is currently in a stable position. The matter is currently being investigated.
Pomeroon River body identified as Charity man The body which was discovered in the Pomeroon River last Monday, has been identified as 26-year-old Orlando Naughton of Charity squatting area, Pomeroon. According to police, the dead man was identified by his father, Keith Naughton, who approached ranks at the Charity Police Station last Tuesday, and informed police that the unidentified person was his son. The deceased, Orlando, who worked as a labourer on the Charity Waterfront, was last seen by his father on Friday evening. Keith Naughton explained that the young man lived alone in his Charity home, and had a drinking problem. Naughton’s body was spotted by residents floating face down in the Pomeroon River, within the vicinity of Grant Stelling Hope, Lower Pomeroon. Police claim that there were no marks of violence to suggest foul play.
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CONSUMER CONCERNS
EASTER HERALDS JOY AND UNITY
by PAT DIAL Today is Easter Day. This is the holiest day in the Christian calendar since it is fundamental to the very meaning and existence of Christianity. God incarnated Himself in a human body as Jesus, and as in the accounts of the incarnations of God in all traditions, the birth of Jesus was a miraculous one. Jesus was born in Palestine at the town of Nazareth and spent His life in that country. There are records of His life, which are historically credible as well as records of His death. It is His conquest of death and His resurrection, which Easter commemorates and
celebrates. It also leads us to reflect on the beauty and attractiveness of the example of His life and His teachings. The Middle East, and indeed the whole Mediterranean world had fallen into religious decadence. There was widespread agnosticism, continuous wars, barbarous blood sports like the gladiatorial contests, the dominance of the strong over the weak, lawlessness had taken over, and ethical and spiritual culture had been replaced by unrighteousness. God incarnated Himself as Jesus so as to restore this decadent world. For example, the Middle Eastern world practised an
ethic of violence and people were encouraged to settle disputes by violence. Jesus taught an ethic of peace, forbearance and forgiveness. He also tried to guide people to abandon selfish, hypocritical and illogical ways, which would bring suffering on others and ultimately themselves. Examples of such guidance are manifested when he drove the moneylenders out of the Temple underlining how evil it is for man to be exploiting man economically; or when a crowd was going to stone a woman to death for adultery as permitted by the barbarous law and custom of the time, he showed them how
hypocritical and wicked they were and were able to change many of them. Or when he showed there are inflexible, meaningless and illogical rules which govern the lives of so many people to their own detriment or the detriment of their neighbours when he pointed out the case of a lamb falling into a muddy pit on the Sabbath but should be rescued and not left to die because of the mechanistic rule that one should do no work on the Sabbath. Above all, Jesus taught that the poor and hungry should be protected and helped. He not only taught ethics, He also showed the way of spiritual development. He
A WOMAN TARGETED AS A DRUG... From page 66 gray vehicle in colour and transported to the Oistins Police Station. I left the Grantley Adams International Airport in the custody of the Royal Barbados Police Force at approximately 6:05p.m. On the way to the Oistins Police Station, I asked to place a call to my party who was supposed to collect me at the Airport. The female officer responded by saying that that wouldn’t be possible until everything was finished. While still on the way to the Police Station, I was interrogated as to the nature of the relationship between my party that was supposed to receive me and myself, where we met and the nature of his occupation. The female member of the R.B.P.F. asked me if I was ok to which I replied no. She asked why and I told her that I didn’t appreciate the treatment I received at the hands of the Barbados authorities and that I have no interest in returning to Barbados. On arrival at the Oistins Police Station, I was asked to give my name to the Officer in uniform stationed at the desk; also my address, and a contact number in Guyana. While I was sitting at a desk in the station, the female officer asked me if I was ok yet again, I said yes. I then asked her how much longer this episode would last as I was tired and that I received the same sort of treatment in Guyana. She asked me what happened and I told her of the events that would have transpired at Ogle International Airport. She said Ok and the conversation ended. Approximately fifteen minutes later, we were on our way to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
On arrival at Q.E.H. before we exited the vehicle, Police Constable Collymore gave the female member of the R.B.P.F. who was with him, an object that resembled a clear ‘Ziploc’ bag and said to her in a low voice, ‘That this is for the things she will pass out.’ I was ushered to the accident and emergency department of the Q.E.H. on arrival at the Hospital. The person at the counter, who appeared to be some kind of Clerk, asked for my address in Guyana, my age, telephone number, and next of kin. After a brief wait, I was ushered into a room by a uniformed nurse, who then measured my blood pressure and asked me if I was allergic to any medications. I told her no. I was then asked to go back to where I was seated outside. Then the two members of the R.B.P.F. asked me to accompany them down a hallway where we all stood outside a room. A man, whom I assumed to be a doctor, approached us standing in the hallway outside of the room. He asked me to have a seat right there. I was standing. He asked me if I have any medical issues to which I replied that I have been diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome but I wasn’t aware that I was allergic to any medication. He then called a female who I also assumed was a nurse as she was wearing what appeared to be ‘scrubs.’ The man then gave the nurse what appeared to be a file and she then invited me to accompany her into the room, the female member of the R.B.P.F. was also present in the room at this time. The woman instructed me to remove my brassiere and shoes. She then asked me to lie on a gurney, which was
cold and uncovered. She asked me to lie flat. She then proceeded to give me an abdominal examination during which time she asked me if I was feeling any pain. I said no. She then told me to follow her instructions. The woman went to what must have been a monitor across the room, she asked me to breathe in and out, to breathe normally then she repeated the instructions again. Then the female member of the R.B. P. F signalled for me to get dressed. I was sitting outside the room again. The man who appeared to be a doctor came outside and sat at a desk where I was seated. The man said that this x-ray is negative. He then asked why this young lady was brought here. Police Constable Collymore answered, ‘On suspicion of ingesting narcotics.’ Then the female officer communicated to someone that the x-ray was negative. While exiting the Q.E.H., Police Constable Collymore asked me if I am still not talking to him and I replied no. He said, ‘Ms. Jules, everything is over and feel free to return to Barbados.’ I then asked P.C. Collymore why he suspected me of trafficking drugs. I then asked if I may take my luggage from the vehicle and he said no. P.C. Collymore stated that I will have to accompany them back to the Oistins Police Station. He told me that when we returned there, I would be allowed to place a call to my party that was collecting me and that if I were unsuccessful in reaching my party, transportation would be provided to my intended place of residence. While still on the way back to the station, P.C. Collymore gave the female
member of the Force my Cellular Phone, she asked him why are you giving this to me? He told her to give it to me. On arrival at the Police station once again, I was allowed to remove my luggage from the vehicle and then we went into the station. I was led into a room where P.C Collymore, the female member of the R.B.P.F and another male were present. P.C. Collymore then proceeded to write his version of the events that would have transpired from the time I was arrested at the Grantley Adams International Airport to the time I returned to the station from the Hospital. He then gave me the version of the events that he’d written. He asked me to read it and sign it if I agreed with his version of the events. I signed the document. I also had to sign the book of the Diarist who was stationed at the front desk of the Oistins Police Station. P.C. Collymore asked me if I was hungry and I said no. I said that I was tired as I had been awake since 5a.m. I told him that I was harassed in Guyana before I came here. He asked me by whom in Guyana and I told him that it was a Customs and AntiNarcotics Officer and that it was the second time that she had done this to me. P.C. Collymore asked me if I had addressed the matter through any official channels and I said no but I assured him that I would pursue the matter upon my return to Guyana. The female officer of the R.B.P.F. exited the room and came back shortly afterwards to inform me that my party was outside to collect me. I left the Oistins Police Station at approximately 9:25p.m.
taught the achievement of Enlightenment and getting closer to God by such methods as fasting, invoking God, sincere prayer and other techniques. Over the centuries, mystics such as St Francis of Assisi preserved and practised this mystical aspect of Jesus’ teaching. God incarnated Himself as Jesus so that human beings would be able to easier empathize with Him and absorb the teachings of regeneration. He would be an example to Man, suffering all the pains and joys and abuses, which all men experience. His death and resurrection were meant to illustrate that there was always renewal and hope in worst scenarios of life and even death could be conquered once there is absolute belief in and commitment to God. Easter is such a joyous festival or holy day because it celebrates Man’s conquest of death and sorrows and the ability to always do this once one lives strictly according to the example of Jesus. The various churches, in their Easter services, also repeat this message and the spread the infectious joy of Easter. They symbolize the cleanliness of body and spirit and the joy of Easter by wearing white garments. In Guyana, our three national Faiths are Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. These are also the three greatest World Religions. Unlike in other countries where there is religious conflict, in Guyana, these three Faiths live side by side, respect each other, and identify their commonalities. Here, the vast majority accept
that all religious paths lead to God. In Islam, Jesus is the most important Prophet, second only to the Prophet Muhammad and he is revered in the same way that Christians revere him. And much of the teachings of Islam and Christianity are similar. Many Muslims may view Easter church services on television. Hindus regard Jesus as an incarnation of God as Christians do and may pay worship to Lord Jesus as they do to Lord Rama. In the Bhagvat Gita, God says this well-known quotation: For whenever the law of righteousness withers away and lawlessness raises its head Then do I generate myself on Earth For the protection of the Good For the destruction of evildoers For the setting up of righteousness I come into being, age after age. Hindus may not only view the Easter church services on the television but may attend such services, sharing the relief, hope and victory over death with their Christian brethren in the same way that Christians participate in Phagwah and Diwali religious functions. Easter, therefore, is not only a time of joy, hope, renewal, conquest over death, and strengthening belief in God and Jesus, it is a time when Guyanese reflect on their unique religious unity.
False measles report places... From page 13 including: watery eyes, sneezing, and a dry hacking cough. Although vaccination can prevent many cases of measles around the world, WHO estimates that some 2.6 million unvaccinated people die of measles every year. There is no specific treatment for measles once contracted, health officials are constantly promoting the motion of ‘prevention is better than cure’. But, according to information out of the Public Health Ministry, the influx of Venezuelans in Region One, and other hinterland regions, has the potential to challenge this status. Currently the Expanded Programme on Immunization within the Ministry of Public Health boasts of an active surveillance for all vaccine preventable diseases including Measles. Also, the Ministry is said to have weekly syndromic surveillance nationwide which is used for the early detection of diseases such as measles and rubella. The Ministry has also highlighted that it has some 105 surveillance sites across the 10 Administrative Regions, which provide weekly reports on “rash with fever” which are characteristic of measles. All suspected cases are identified, interviewed and blood samples sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency for testing. “Guyana’s international partners are supporting the country’s ongoing efforts to help keep out the entrance of measles,” disclosed Dr. Ertenisa Hamilton, of the Ministry’s Maternal and Child Health [MCH] Office. Dr. Hamilton said that the small population size of the Region and up-to-date record keeping make it easier for health workers to identify residents who need to be immediately immunised.
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Sunday April 01, 2018
Sunday April 01, 2018
Global Witness Investigation reveals…
A
new Global Wit ness investigation released a few days ago, has uncovered that US oil giant ExxonMobil has been complicit in oil sector corruption in Liberia, with the purchase of an oil block the company knew was tainted by corruption. Global Witness warns that corruption will continue undetected unless the US adopts a strong oil and gas anti-corruption rule to implement Section 1504 of the Dodd-Frank Act. “Exxon and its lobbyists have spent the past 10 years fiercely fighting oil and gas transparency laws in the US,” said Stefanie Ostfeld, Deputy Head of Global Witness’ US office. “It’s no surprise that at the same time Exxon was lobbying to keep its payments to governments secret, it was
EXXON COMPLICIT IN OIL SECTOR CORRUPTION IN LIBERIA
getting entangled in Liberia’s corrupt oil sector.” In an Exxon PowerPoint presentation obtained by Global Witness, Exxon wrote that it was interested in purchasing the oil block despite its “concern over issues regarding US anti-corruption laws.” Exxon knew that the oil block, known as Block 13, had been previously awarded through bribery. It also suspected the block was partially owned by former Liberian politicians who may have illegally granted it to the m s e l v e s while holding office. But despite its concerns, Exxon went ahead with the deal, using the Calgary-based company Canadian Overseas Petroleum as a go-between to purchase the block. Exxon has not responded to Global Witness’s request
for comment. Canadian Overseas did respond and stated it conducted due diligence and a forensic audit of the block’s owners, which showed that the deal posed no legal problems and that Block 13 was not owned by former politicians. The company also said it followed legal advice in the US, UK, Liberia, and Canada, including anti-corruption and anti-money laundering advice. However, US oil competitor Chevron had previously passed up a deal to buy the same oil block, expressing similar corruption concerns, according to an individual with knowledge of the negotiations. “While the US was spending billions of dollars to help rebuild a war-ravaged Liberia, Exxon – under Rex Tillerson’s watch – was effectively un-
65 years’ jail for predator who violated 7-year old A carpenter who violated a seven-year-old child by having sex with her back in 2014 has been jailed for 65 years. The man Krishna Tulapersaud, 30, a carpenter of Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara was handed the sentence by Justice Sandil Kissoon in the Berbice High Court after he was found guilty by a mixed jury. The case for the prosecution as presented by Attorney-at-law Tuanna Hardy, was that during February 2014, at a village on the West Coast Berbice, the predator engaged in sexual penetration of a girl under the age 12 years. It was revealed that the child’s mother knew of the abuse but did nothing. It was discovered that on one occasion she saw the accused naked. There was
also a bloodstained sheet and mattress. Blood was also on her daughter’s private parts. Nothing was reported. However, during May 2015 an observant teacher noticed the child frequenting the bathroom. On May 28, 2015, the teacher decided to question the child and received some startling revelations. The child related that the accused Tulapersaud would sleep with her in her bed in the evenings. The man would fondle her breast and vagina and reportedly had sex with her. On most occasions when she awoke, she would find the accused either holding her breast and vagina. On one occasion when she awoke, she was bleeding. The teacher reported the matter to the headmistress and the police and Welfare
Department were notified. The child was taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital and a medical certificate which was issued by Dr . Alexander Sinclair, stated that the child was sexually active. However, Defence Counsel Attorney-at-law Charrandas Persaud in his submission stated that his client is not guilty. He stated that the accused was only charged as a matter of revenge, after the relationship between him and the victim’s mother went sour. Among those testifying were the victim, her mother, medical practitioner Dr. Alexander Sinclair, a police officer, a teacher of the school and a Welfare Officer. After the man was found guilty, he was handed the 65 years sentence as a deterrent to those bent on committing such crimes.
Miners appealing for army escort as ... From page 9 harass them for toll payments and percentage of goods being transported on the river. A few weeks ago, the Sindicato moved down river and set up a camp on the Venezuela side of the river, about three miles from Eteringbang.According to the advertisement, the gang was demanding a gram of gold for every five drums of fuel that had to pass.They are also demanding food, cash and other things. A local miner said that his boat engine was seized a few weeks ago and he was forced to pay them to get it back.
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The miners said that they are transporting the fuel for their own operations and there is little that can be done about the Sindicatos who are heavily armed and would even fire shots if vessels fail to comply with orders to halt. Another gang has reportedly set up another camp about 20 miles away in a place called Butanamo. The miners not only want the local army which has a presence at Eteringbang to send out patrols to ensure that they have a presence around the illegal bases of the Sindicato, on the opposite side of the river, but for escort
for the boat that traverse the Cuyuni River. “We are heavily dependent on the river for transporting supplies and food stuff for our operations. This is dangerous.” A Ministry of the Presidency official confirmed Thursday that the matter is engaging their attention. Reports are that the army base in the Eteringbang area has been ordered to conduct more patrols.However, the miners are insisting on escorts.“The Cuyuni River is open waters that also belong to Guyana. We are not supposed to pay anything.”
dermining these efforts by becoming embroiled in oil sector corruption,” said Jonathan Gant, Senior Campaigner at Global Witness. Exxon’s purchase in 2013 was accompanied by over US$200,000 in unusual large payments made by the corruption-tainted Liberian oil agency NOCAL to six Liberian officials who approved the deal. Officials who received payments included Liberia’s then-Justice, Finance, and Mining Ministers, each of whom received $35,000 – more than doubling their annual salaries. Robert Sirleaf, then-Chairman of NOCAL and son of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, also received
a $35,000 payment despite reportedly working pro-bono. Three of the officials who received payments denied that the payments were irregular, stating instead that they were “bonuses” for what they called a very good deal. There is no evidence Exxon knew about these payments. Section 1504, which requires US-listed companies to disclose payments they make to governments, could help detect and prevent similar deals abroad. However, in February 2017, days after Tillerson was sworn in as Trump’s first Secretary of State, the Trump administration and Congress overturned the SEC rule implementing
Section 1504. Tillerson had personally lobbied Congress against the law when it was introduced in 2010. “While the Liberian oil block didn’t pay off, Exxon’s lobbying efforts in Washington, DC have,” warned Ostfeld. “Now the SEC must adopt a strong new rule to ensure 1504 is enforced and oil deals worth billions are brought out into the open.” h t t p s : / / www.globalwitness.org/en/ press-releases/exxoncomplicit-oil-sector-corruption-liberia/
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UK-Russia standoff deepens as Moscow cuts UK diplomats MOSCOW (Reuters) Moscow has told Britain it must cut just over 50 more of its diplomatic and technical staff in Russia in a worsening standoff over the poisoning of a Russian former spy and his daughter in England, the Russian Foreign Ministry said yesterday. Separately, Moscow also demanded an official explanation for the search of a Russian passenger plane in London, saying it could reserve the right to act similarly against British airlines in Russia. Britain said the search was routine. More than 100 Russian diplomats have been expelled by various countries, including 23 from Britain itself, to punish the Kremlin over the March 4 attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the historic English city of Salisbury.London says Moscow was responsible for poisoning the Skripals in the first known use of a military-grade nerve agent on European soil since World War Two. Russia flatly denies that and has cast the allegations as part of an elaborate Western plot to sabotage East-West relations and isolate Moscow. Russia had already retaliated in kind by ejecting 23 British diplomats. On Friday, the Foreign Ministry summoned British Ambassador Laurie Bristow and told him London had one month to further cut its diplomatic contingent in Russia to the same size as the Russian mission in Britain. It also expelled 59 diplomats from 23 other countries for backing Britain.
Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, were poisoned by a nerve agent called Novichok A spokeswoman for Britain’s Foreign Office called the Russian move regrettable, and said it was considering the implications of the measures. It did not say how many diplomatic staff in Russia would be affected, while the British Embassy in Moscow says it does not make staff numbers public. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Reuters the demand meant Britain would have to cut “a little over 50” more of its diplomatic and technical staff in Russia on top of the 23 diplomats who have already gone home. “We asked for parity. The Brits have 50 diplomats more than the Russians,” Zakharova said yesterday. Asked if that meant London would now have to cut exactly 50 diplomatic and technical staff, she said: “A little over 50.”The Russian Foreign Ministry later published a list of 14 questions its London embassy sent Britain’s Foreign Office about the case yesterday. It included queries
about why Russia had not been granted the right to provide the Skripals with consu-
lar assistance following the incident and about France’s role in the investigation. Russia’s Ministry of Transport meanwhile demanded Britain explains why the Aeroflot passenger plane was searched at Heathrow airport on Friday, in what the Russian Embassy in London called a “blatant provocation”. “After the search was over, the British officers refused to provide any written document that would specify the reasons for their actions, their legal foundation and their outcome,” the embassy said, concluding that the ac-
tion was “connected with the hostile policy” of the British government towards Russia. “It is routine for (Britain’s border agency) to search aircraft to protect the UK from organised crime and from those who attempt to bring harmful substances like drugs or firearms into the country,” Security Minister Ben Wallace said in a written statement.“Once these checks were carried out, the plane was allowed to carry on with its onward journey.” Britain’s Foreign Office also said yesterday it was considering allowing visits under consular access terms
to Yulia Skripal, who is recovering in hospital against all expectations and is no longer in critical condition. Russia’s embassy said that it had contacted Viktoria Skripal, Yulia’s cousin. “Upon receiving confirmation that Yulia Skripal’s condition is getting better and she is able to communicate, she said she would like to go to London and to visit her cousin,” the embassy said. The BBC reported on Friday that Yulia was “conscious and talking,” a factor which may influence the investigation of how she and her father were poisoned.
Nobel winner Malala visits hometown in Pakistan for first time since shooting MINGORA, Pakistan (Reuters) - Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai visited her birthplace in Pakistan’s Swat Valley yesterday, bursting into tears as she entered her childhood home for the first time since a Taliban gunman shot her in 2012. The 20-year-old told a family friend she planned to return home after completing her education at Oxford, where she is reading for a degree in politics, philosophy and economics. Roads were blocked off in the town of Mingora as Yousafzai, known universally by her first name, flew in by military helicopter with her parents and brother. Security was tight around her former home, now rented by a family friend, Farid-ulHaq Haqqani, who has kept the young woman’s room intact with her books, school trophies and luggage. “They were weeping. They were kneeling on the ground. They were touching the mud with their eyes,” Haqqani said of Malala and her family. He agreed to be interviewed inside the family home and pointed out a shelf in her room with books including Shakespeare’s “Comedy of Errors” and “Romeo and Juliet” as well as a copy of the television series “Ugly Betty”. “I asked her when are you permanently coming back and she said ‘God willing, when my education is completed, I will God willing come back to Pakistan.’” He added that Malala chatted in her room with four friends from her school days in Swat, while her parents greeted neighbours who dropped by - since the security detail would not allow her to go to other houses or even up on the roof of her home.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai (R-front) sits with her family and Pakistan Minister of State for Information and Broad casting Marriyum Aurangzeb (L-back) while visiting her hometown Mingora in Swat Valley, Pakistan yesterday. REUTERS/Stringer Malala has been visiting Pakistan since Thursday, her first trip home since she was shot and airlifted abroad for treatment. The government and military have been providing security. It had been uncertain whether she would be able to visit Swat, a scenic mountain region parts of which spent nearly two years under the control of Pakistani Taliban militants and their harsh interpretation of Islamic law, due to continued concerns for her safety. “I miss everything about Pakistan ... from the rivers, the mountains, to even the dirty streets and the garbage around our house, and my friends and how we used to have gossip ...to how we used to fight with our neighbours,” Malala told Reuters in an interview on Friday. “I had never been so excited for anything. I’ve never been so happy before,” she said of returning to Pakistan. Two security officials told
Reuters the trip to Swat would likely be just for one day. Another family friend, Jawad Iqbal Yousafzai, who is from the same Pashtun clan as Malala, said the family also visited a local army cadet college.The Pakistani army wrested control of Swat back from the Taliban in 2009 and the area remains mostly peaceful, but the militants still occasionally launch attacks, including one on the military a few weeks ago.The Taliban claimed responsibility in 2012 for the attack on Yousafzai for her outspoken advocacy for girls’ education, which was forbidden under the militants’ rule over Swat. She wrote an anonymous blog for the BBC Urdu service as a schoolgirl during the Taliban rule and later became outspoken in advocating more educational opportunities for girls. In 2014, Malala became the youngest Nobel laureate, honoured for her work with the Malala Foundation, a char-
ity she set up to support education advocacy groups with a focus on Pakistan, Nigeria, Jordan, Syria and Kenya. This month, a new girls’ school built with her Nobel prize money opened in the village of Shangla in Swat Valley. “The people of Swat and the whole of Pakistan are with Malala,” Jawad Iqbal Yousafzai said. “God willing, we will counter the terrorism and extremism in our region with the weapon of education, with the weapon of a pen, with the weapons of teachers and with the weapons of books.” Haqqani said Malala and her brother requested to be sent dried plums from a tree in the garden once they were harvested. The family visit lasted about 90 minutes, he said. “They were leaving the house slowly. They were dragging their feet. They were coming back inside again and again,” he said.
Sunday April 01, 2018
Kaieteur News
Jamaica to benefit from World Bank funds
KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – The World Bank has signed a multi-million dollar grant agreement with Jamaica to aid climate-resilient practices in the fisheries sector on the island. Newly appointed Finance and Public Sector Minister, Dr. Nigel Clarke and World Bank Country Manager in Jamaica, Galina Sotirova, signed the US$4.875 million grant last week “to help highly vulnerable fishing and fish farming communities in Jamaica to adopt climate-resilient practices. The World Bank noted that about 90 per cent of Jamaica’s gross domestic product (GDP) is generated in coastal areas and that both fisheries and tourism are a major source of the country’s revenue. Both industries are “largely affected by environmental pollution, overfishing, as well as the impacts of climate change and warming of the ocean,” the World Bank said, adding that an estimated 50,000 people are engaged in fishing activities. It said aquaculture directly employs 800 to 1,000 Jamaicans. “This project will be key to putting in place effective measures to protect the marine and coastal resources, build resilience to climate change and promote livelihoods in the most vulnerable fishing communities of the country,” Sotirova said. “The Caribbean Sea’s ecosystems and natural re-
Finance and Public Sector Minister, Dr. Nigel Clarke and World Bank Country Manager in Jamaica, Galina Sotirova sources represent a unique asset for Jamaica. By helping the fishing communities protect and better manage this ‘natural capital’ asset, we hope to promote the blue economy and foster sustainable growth in the country.” Clarke said that the project is “aligned with the government of Jamaica’s 2030 development goals and the 2015 National Fisheries and Agriculture Policy,” adding that the government is “committed to ending poverty in Jamaica and providing prosperity for all by supporting communities most vulnerable to climate change.” “This is a government which believes in partnership, and we thank the World Bank for its partnership over the past 55 years,” he said. Noting that the fishing industry plays a “critical role” in the Jamaican economy, Clarke said the industry was
“particularly susceptible to the vagaries of climate change, and the project was specifically designed to support fisherfolk and fishing communities with little or no engagement in other economic activity.” The World Bank said the “Promoting Communitybased Climate Resilience in the fisheries sector” project will “strengthen the fisheries policy and regulatory framework for climate resilient fisheries and aquaculture management and build capacity to promote sustainable fisheries management.” The project will also support fishing and fish farming communities adopt climateresilient aquaculture, coastal mari-culture/poly-culture, “and diversify their livelihoods and raise awareness on climate change impacts on the fisheries sector,” it added.
T&T police rescue Venezuelan “child” bride PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC – Trinidad and Tobago police say they have rescued a 13-year-old Venezuelan girl after she was brought here to marry a 24year-old man. In a statement, the police said that the child, who was rescued from a house in Penal, south of here, is now in the case of the Child protection Unit. The authorities have given no further details regarding the marriage, but media reports said that she was married to the main “in what was described as tribal rites”. The media reports said that the child had been married to the man on a small island off the coast of Venezu-
ela, before she was brought here. The police said that they were conducting an exercise in south Trinidad on Wednesday when they received infor-
mation and executed a search warrant at the house where the child was found. The police said they have since launched a search for the 24-year-old man.
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Expert warns Caribbean must strengthen its Internet infrastructure KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent - CMC – An Internet expert calls for greater regional network resilience and security and is urging Caribbean countries to strengthen their critical Internet infrastructure if they are to defend against the growing threat of climate-changedriven natural disasters. The expert, Bevil Wooding, is also urging regional countries to adopt the new strategies if they are to keep up with the world’s growing digital economy. Wooding, the Caribbean outreach director at the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) said ‘in today’s world, the security, resilience and robustness of computers networks are critical to the development of the digital economy. “The Caribbean can no longer afford to leave important decisions about network build out, network resource management and network infrastructure spends only to commercial telecommunications providers. Those issues are now the concern and the responsibility of governments, private network operators and even end users,” said Wooding, who works with the US-based non-profit organisation responsible for Internet number resource management. Wooding, who is also the Strategic ICT Advisor for the St. Lucia-based OECS Commission, told officials attending the 36th Executive Council meeting of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), said the regional regulator has established a special commission to identify “actionable recommendations for improving Caribbean network resilience”. He also highlighted current efforts by regional and international non-profit organizations to address the issue, noting that the CTU, ARIN, the Caribbean Network Operators Group (CaribNOG), Packet Clearing House
Bevil Wooding and others are already collaborating on initiatives “to develop greater awareness and technical capacity in computer network design, management and cyber security.” OECS Director General, Dr. Didacus Jules, said that the devastating impact of the 2017 hurricane season on several Caribbean territories has put a spotlight on the importance of strengthening the resilience of the region’s communications network and infrastructure. “As a region, we must have a clear, strategic approach to building out Internet infrastructure to drive business innovation and economic development,” Jules said, warning that, the global economy will become increasingly unforgiving to regions with failing, outdated or unsecured technology infrastructure. “If we do not act with urgency to address this, the impact on our economic and social development can be more devastating than last season’s hurricanes,” he added.
Maduro lands on Panama’s ‘high risk’ money laundering list PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro along with more than 50 Venezuelan nationals are considered “high risk” for laundering money and financing terrorism, according to an advisory issued by Panama’s economy and finance ministry. Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab and electoral board president Tibisay Lucena were also named in the advisory along with Socialist Party No. 2 Diosdado Cabello, the elder brother of late president Hugo Chavez, and 16 firms in Venezuela. The economy and finance ministry’s National Commission Against Money Laundering released the list late on Thursday, following its initial announcement on Tuesday. Maduro’s socialist government has repeatedly
Nicolas Maduro vowed to combat corruption that has plagued Venezuela and its oil industry for decades, contributing to its devastating economic collapse. Panama’s advisory calls on financial and non-financial entities in the country to redouble efforts to prevent risk in any transaction involving
the listed people and companies. “It’s recommended... that they adopt policies and procedures of ample due diligence,” says the document. In Caracas, Maduro’s government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Sunday April 01, 2018
Human rights group seek support for INDECOM
KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – The independent Jamaican Council For Human Rights (IJCHR) has called on the government to take all necessary steps to give clear and express authority to the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) and its officers to institute criminal proceedings and effect arrests in respect of matters investigated by them. In a statement, the IJCHR said that it was the original advocate for the establishment of an independent agency for the investigation and prevention of criminal acts by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and particularly the use of unjustified or excessive force against citizens. “Accordingly, IJCHR strongly supports the recommendation to remove all doubts about the legal competence of INDECOM Officers to arrest and initiate criminal prosecutions,” the statement said. The IJCHR’s position follows the March 16 ruling by the Court of Appeal indicating that INDECOM does not have the power, under the INDECOM Act, to arrest,
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charge or prosecute any member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) or any other person. INDECOM has since expressed that it will be going to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London to address the matter. The INDECOM is a Commission of Parliament, governed by the INDECOM Act. The Act was passed on April 15, 2010, and the Commission began operation on August 16, 2010. The INDECOM Act repealed the Police Public Complaints Act that established the Police Complaints Authority (PPCA), which was a civilian body established to probe allegations against members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). In its statement, the IJCHR said that “there can be no doubt that in particular situations private persons have had the right to institute criminal proceedings merely by signing information and in particular circumstances even to effect an arrest. “It is also clear that particular authorities or agencies have been given such powers. For instance, for the purpose of carrying out the pro-
visions of the customs laws all persons employed in the Department of Customs and Excise, the Revenue Protection Division of the Ministry of Finance have such powers.”The human rights group said that the Minister of Health or Local Authority may authorise public health officers to institute proceedings against persons for offences against the Public Health Act. It said also a forest officer may, in certain circumstances, arrest any person found committing or reasonably suspected to have committed an offence under this Act.“In view of the importance of the functions of INDECOM and the historic reluctance of members of the JCF to investigate and prosecute their colleagues, there is no rational reason why INDECOM should be left in a state of partial incapacity. “IJCHR therefore urges the Government and Parliament to take all necessary steps to give clear and express authority to INDECOM and its officers to institute criminal proceedings and effect arrests in respect of matters investigated by them,” it added.
Central Bank of T&T reports lacklustre performance in non-energy sector PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC – The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (CBTT) says activity in the non-energy sector “remained lacklustre” during the second half of last year which production indicators suggested an improvement in economic activity in the energy sector during the same period. In its “Monetary Policy Announcement” for March, the CBTT said that within the energy sector, natural gas production rose year-on-year by 10 per cent in the second half of 2017, mainly owing to new gas output from the BpTT Juniper field, while petroleum output improved by just 0.9 per cent. “The increase in natural gas output helped to alleviate the gas shortages in the downstream sector, facilitating higher output of metha-
nol and liquefied natural gas,” the CBTT added. The bank said that private sector credit growth rose in January 2018 by 6.2 per cent compared with 3.7 per cent in November 2017 based partly on a recorded pickup in business lending. But it said “it is not clear whether this momentum will be sustained. “Liquidity levels drifted upward during the first two months of 2018 facilitating government borrowing from the financial system in the first quarter. Commercial banks’ daily excess reserves at the Central Bank averaged TT$3,725 million (One TT dollar=US$0.16 cents) in February before dipping just below three billion in March.” The CBTT said that rising interest rates in the US combined with relatively stable rates domestically have
pulled the TT-US yield differential on three-month treasuries further below parity, adding the differential stood at negative 51 basis points in late March. The CBTT said it remains concerned about the potential impact of the US Fed’s anticipated actions in coming months on TT-US interest rate differentials and consequently on Trinidad and Tobago’s external balance. It said as a result of that concern as well as the fact that domestic inflation was low and there appears to be little price pressures in the short term, as well as the fact “the nascent recovery in late 2017 in the energy sector had not yet been reflected in a boost to non-energy activities,” it has agreed hold the repo rate – the rate at which it lends money to commercial banks here – at 4.75 per cent.
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Sunday April 01, 2018
Sunday April 01, 2018
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Riveting without Bolt? A Commonwealth Games conundrum GOLD COAST, Australia (AFP) — With Usain Bolt retired after almost a decade of freakish dominance, the Commonwealth Games looks to track and field’s support cast to trigger public interest as Australian sport reels from a damaging cricket scandal. The stage had been set for triple Olympic sprint medallist Andre De Grasse to step out of the Jamaican’s giant shadow in the April 8-15 athletics competition in Gold Coast.However, the Canadian, who took bronze and silver behind Bolt in the 100 and 200 metres at the 2016 Rio Games, pulled out of the Commonwealth Games to focus on his fitness after missing last year’s world championships with a hamstring injury. In his absence, Yohan Blake — himself a former world champion — will look
to fill the Bolt-sized hole left by his countryman’s retirement by targeting a sprint double. “Usain Bolt has left his legacy for us to carry on and that’s what we want to do,” Blake told local media after arriving in Australia. “I don’t have a Commonwealth medal. Usain told me ‘if you don’t win there’s going to be a problem.’ My body is great, we’re ready to go. I want to take over the dominance of the sprinting world.” In the women’s competition, expect more fireworks from Jamaican Elaine Thompson, who stormed to a 100200m sprint double at the Rio Olympics. With South Africa’s Olympic 400m gold medallist Wayde van Niekerk also out after tearing knee ligaments in a celebrity touch rugby match
late last year, both the men’s 200m and the one-lap race will be missing their biggest drawcards. But while Bolt’s world records of 9.58 seconds in the 100m and 19.19 in the 200m look to be safe, both races could be absorbing battles, contested under the gaze of Bolt himself, in Gold Coast as a Games ambassador. Englishman Adam Gemili, silver medallist in the 100m at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow — the same year he won the European 200m title — is a potential threat. Gemili’s team-mate Zharnel Hughes will be in the mix after a blistering start to 2018, with South Africa’s Akani Simbine also lurking. Local fans will hope Sally Pearson can complete a Commonwealth Games hat-trick in
Sunday April 01, 2018 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Is your love interest out of town, Aries? If so, you might spend much of the day feeling lonely and gloomy. Your friend misses you, too, so don't think you'll be alone for long.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) An emotional phone call could come from a close friend or love partner, Libra. This person has a lot of worries, and is apt to lay them all on you if you let it happen.
TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) A financial goal you've been hoping to reach very soon might seem right around the corner, Taurus, but there still seem to be a thousand things you have to do before it's actually realized.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Financial worries could plague you today, Scorpio. This is unfortunate, because your concerns are probably misplaced.
GEMINI(May 21–June 20) Expect a hectic pace today, Gemini. Some of your colleagues may have been procrastinating a little and now everything has to be done at once. Don't get too frustrated, however. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Have you been planning to travel, perhaps for business, Cancer? You might receive word that your trip has to be postponed, which could be disappointing. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) A proposed get-together with a love interest might have to be postponed until much later tonight or perhaps another evening, %. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Are you expecting a close friend or love partner to visit you at home, Virgo? Don't panic if your friend doesn't show up at the allotted time.
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Love matters could have you feeling uptight and somewhat fearful today, Sagittarius. Perhaps this involves a relationship that hasn't really manifested yet CAPRI (Dec.22–Jan.19) Idealized romantic feelings could pour out today when talking to your love interest, Capricorn. That's fine, but you should exercise restraint. If it's a new relationship, your partner could be scared off. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Money worries could cause you to resist attending a group event with some friends, Aquarius. Are you afraid you'll be tempted to spend more than you can afford now? PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Someone you know from work could suddenly seem to have romantic feelings for you, Pisces. At first this might make you a little uncomfortable
Usain Bolt, center, poses with his gold medal alongside Yohan Blake (left). the women’s 100m hurdles and deflect at least some of the attention away from a cheating scandal that has engulfed the Australian cricket team. The 31-year-old Gold Coast resident and former Olympic champion, who missed the Rio Games with a hamstring problem, will be the hot favourite despite struggling with a sore Achilles in the build-up to the competition. Elsewhere in the women’s competition, Englishwoman Katarina Johnson-Thompson is hoping to secure the second leg of a golden treble this year, ahead of the European championships in Berlin in August. The 25-year-old finished sixth in Rio and fifth at the 2017 world championships in heptathlon, but went some way to banishing her demons by winning pentathlon gold at last month’s world indoor championships. A first Commonwealth Games gold would see her finally emerge from the shadow of fellow Briton Jessica EnnisHill, who captured gold at the
President’ Guard... From page 82 London 28. Lallbachan took 3-21 and David Hughes 2-26. F Division took first strike and posted 193 all out in 20 overs. Lennox Andrews stroked 65, Vishal Jaigobin 56 and Leon Crawford 18. Earl Miller claimed 3-42, Said Sattaur 2-23 and Lennox Williams 2-24. TSC responded with 124 all out. Haimnauth Mattadeen got 26, Sattaur 21 and Gavindra Jagnarine 19. Trevor Benn captured 3-10, Michael Jobe 2-3, Devon Joseph 2-22 and Marvin Peters 2-24.
2012 London Olympics and a silver in Rio. Away from the track, the Kenyan team arrived in apparent turmoil with athletes threatening a Games boycott after a row over alleged unpaid training allowances. It comes after a turbulent period for the East African country, which was deemed “non-compliant” by the
World Anti-Doping Agency in 2016 after more than 40 athletes failed doping tests in the previous five years. It has brought several top athletes, including Olympic and world steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto, world 1,500m gold medallist Elijah Manangoi and former javelin world title holder Julius Yego.
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TO AUSTRALIA: THAT’S DEFINITELY “NOT CRICKET!” By Albert Baldeo “It is far more than a game, this Cricket”- Sir Neville Cardus. “The Australian public has a line, too. And with their culture of sledging, whining, hypocrisy and arrogance, our cricketers have been head-butting it for so long that they have become an insufferable national migraine”-Bryon Coverdale, Australian journalist. The fundamental nature of cricket being a gentleman’s game is memorialized in the preamble to the MCC’s laws of cricket relating to “the spirit of the game,” which make it a breach “to direct abusive language towards an opponent or an umpire” or “to seek to distract an opponent either verbally or by harassment with persistent clapping or unnecessary noise under the guise of enthusiasm and motivation of one’s own side.” Australian players are by far the chief culprits who front up to their opponents like street thugs, chins thrust out aggressively, the adrenalin pumping, are you talkin’ to me attitude. Their abuse on the field was so gross that South African batsman and captain, Faf du Plessis, said they were like a “pack of wild dogs,” while former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe decried their “thuggish” behavior. However, Australian authorities have been unwilling to clamp down on them, but now the wheels have fallen off. “I think a lot of what they’re copping at the moment comes from the way they have played their game,” England’s coach Bayliss, an Australian, said. “It’s almost like teams and people around the world have been waiting for them to stuff up so they can lay the boot in. I don’t think you can say when any culture has changed. It’s one of those things that continually, over a period of time, builds and builds and unfortunately on this occasion it’s gone too far… including the Cameron Bancroft-Jonny Bairstow head butt incident in Perth.” Steve Waugh started it all as captain, with his ‘’mental disintegration’’ of the oppos-
ing team after Ian Chappell inaugurated modern sledging. Although he was a tough, uncompromising captain, attitudes have sunk way below the line he drew, although his physical assault on Vic Insanally at Bourda, and his baring of his naked butt (“mooning”) to Sir Don Bradman almost terminated an otherwise impressive career. Previously, we wrote that South Africa’s doctoring of home pitches and their whining when it came their turn to face the music “was just not cricket, the gentleman’s game.” However, Australia’s ball tampering has taken this to another level. The verbal harassment, threats and thuggish body language of many Australian cricketers inflicted on opponents over the years have become endemic and despicable, and while some may defend it as tough gamesmanship, tampering with the ball in such a manner cannot be tolerated or justified in any way. It is the last straw. Now, caught on candid camera, captain Steve Smith hypocritically said the team’s collective integrity would rightly be called into question by events in Cape Town, and said he was far from proud of the events that had transpired. He added that he would still have felt regret about the team’s actions even if they had not been picked up by television cameras at the ground. “The leadership knew about it, we spoke about it at lunch. I’m not proud of what’s happened, it’s not within the spirit of the game,” Smith said. “My integrity, the team’s integrity, the leadership groups integrity has come into question and rightfully so. It’s certainly not on and it won’t happen again, I can promise you that under my leadership.” Bancroft, a rookie test cricketer, was the sacrificial lamb who found himself taking blame for “volunteering to carry out the ideas discussed by more senior members of the Australian side.” The “leadership group,” with Smith, consists of the vice-captain David Warner, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and coach Darren Lehmann. An angry and ashamed Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has also called the incident a “shocking disappointment.” “We all woke up this morning shocked and bit-
West Indies were World Champions in the 1975 inaugural World Cup. Players like Kanhai, Lloyd, Fredericks, Greenidge, Richards, Boyce, King, Julien, and Kallicharran always let their bats talk louder for them whenever they were sledged while batting. (ICC World Cup site) terly disappointed by the news from South Africa,” Turnbull said. “It seemed completely beyond belief that the Australian cricket team had been involved in cheating.” Well, Mr. Prime Minister, your Australian “champions” have always engaged in uncivilized conduct in the past. Where were you? It was always “win at all cost” for Australia. Ask the other players who your guys sledge, ridicule and beat up mercilessly. This is merely the tip of the iceberg. You should have called them out long before. When former captain St e v e Wa u g h told Herschelle Gibbs “You’ve just dropped the World Cup,” after Gibbs dropped a simple catch in 1999, which proved to be a prophetic sledge with Australia winning the trophy, that was an acceptable wise crack. However, it crosses the line when Warner angrily and disparagingly told Indian Rohit Sharma to “speak English.” Warner’s response? He defended his actions, saying he “did the polite thing.” Well, we have seen how “impolite” Warner can get. Indeed, it definitively reaches too far, like when former captain Michael Clarke was heard through the stump microphone on the field telling England’s James Anderson that he should “get ready for a broken f——ing arm,” or feared speedster McGrath asked Sarwan provocatively, “What does Brian
Lara’s d—k taste like?” “I don’t know, ask your wife,” Sarwan replied, a counter attack typical of a “not a man move” cover drive. Unbeknownst to Sarwan, McGrath’s wife Jane was very ill at the time, and it was an unfortunate sledge that backfired on the Australian bowling great as he proceeded to hurl abuse back at Sarwan and point his finger in a very threatening manner. Or like when Shane Warne was suspended for a year for taking a banned diuretic, or when Warne and Mark Waugh were the subjects of public shame for providing pitch and weather information to a bookmaker, or like when the otherwise stylish Greg Chappell ordered his brother Trevor to bowl underarm, which was within the laws of the game, but in poor taste, or like when wicket-keeper Rod Marsh once told Sir Ian Botham “How are my kids and your wife?” Botham, unperturbed, replied: “The wife’s fine, the kids are retarded though.” There are also instances far more serious, like when Lillee provoked and threatened Miandad, who raised his bat to defend himself ominously, when Lillee blocked, kicked and pushed him out of the way while batting in Australia. Sobers had to teach Lillee a lesson to stop bowling so many bouncers at him in retaliation to curb Lillee’s overdone bodyline thunderbolts by bowling some of his own at Lillee,
when he came to the crease. Bully Lillee was unpleasantly surprised and “turned completely pink,” that Sir Gary’s versatility gifted him the ability to bowl vicious bouncers also. Roy Fredericks, Rohan Kanhai and others have related the “cauldron of prejudice, intimidation and aggression when you play Down Under (in Australia).” They said that the crowds are no different than the players, and want to see your blood, although they will respect you if you stand up to them. Fredericks related that he was so angry at the Australian tactics and fear shown by his other team members, that he just decided to lash Lillee, Thomson and Gilmour in 1975, when he plundered 169 off only 145 balls at the then lightning fast Perth pitch, hooking, slashing and pulling them imperiously. “His flashing bat could be described as lying somewhere between a rapier and a bludgeon,” England’s legend, Frank “Typhoon” Tyson, who is rated as one of the fastest bowlers of all time, wrote in his tour book “The Hapless Hookers.” Kanhai withstood an early barrage and excruciating body blows bravely when Lillee bowled unrestricted bouncers and beamers at him during the Rest of the World tour of Australia in 1971. Gavaskar wrote in his book “Idols” that he was reduced to an
entranced spectator at the other end as Kanhai cut loose, and watched in amazement as “the master” blasted Lillee and others to all parts of the ground in an innings Gavaskar rates as one of the best he has ever seen- 118 at Perth. “Watching Kanhai bat was an education on how to play pace bowling,” Gavaskar wrote. Sobers, who struck 254 in the same series, an innings Bradman rates as the best he ever saw on Australian soil, Richards, Lloyd, Kallicharran, Rowe, Greenidge and Lara, in their heyday, also gave commanding lessons in how to meet fire with fire, employing majestic stroke play and dominance over insults and taunts. But how many players have similar abilities to overcome unsportsmanlike and illegal tactics? On the historic 1960-61 tour, Sir Frank Worrell and f e l l o w We s t I n d i a n s showed Australia and the world sportsmanship and statesmanship with the gracious and exemplary way they played the game, while rival captain Richie Benaud also helped to make it one of the best s p o r t i n g c o n t e s t s e v e r. Enough is enough. Australia, and other nations who are following in their footsteps, must lift themselves from this morass of poor sportsmanship. It is bad for the gentleman’s game. The ICC must initiate and enforce uniform codes of conduct that are not mere slaps on the wrist.
Sunday April 01, 2018
Milo Schools’ Under-18 Football tournament
Zion Gray’s hat-trick fires Sir Leon Lessons to 1st title
Sir Leon Lessons’ Zion Gray holding off two Buxton players while controlling the ball on the right wing during his hat-trick, game winning performance last night at the MOE ground in the Milo Schools football final. The grand finale of the Milo Schools’ Under-18 football tournament which was supported by the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) through the theme ‘Stop Gender Based Violence’ turned out to be everything it promised to be and more, as Sir Leon lessons demolished Buxton Youth Development 51. Playing under lights at the Ministry of Education (MOE) ground on CARIFESTA Avenue last night, Sir Leon’s Zion Gray scored the first of his hat-trick after tapping in from close range. This was possible after Gray’s teammate Julian Bamfield had his effort from a free kick spilled by Buxton’s goalkeeper in the 2nd minute of the match. The initial goal of the match was greeted with spirited celebrations from the players and
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fans who invaded the pitch. However, it took Buxton’s Shamash London 16 minutes after to find an equalizer and quell the premature celebrations from the Georgetown based team, fans.The score remained deadlocked for the duration of the half, before Sir Leon Lessons’ hat-trick hero, Zion Gray, fired them into the lead shortly after the resumption of play in the second half. Evidently, the winners began to play with more fluidity and scored three more unanswered goals to add daylight between themselves and the losing finalists, Buxton. Alwin Franklin netted in the 59th minute to carry the score to 3-1 before Gray completed his hat-trick in the 63rd minute and Teon Forde topped it off with a goal, two minutes into stoppage time to complete the 5-1 rout and help
his team to their maiden Milo Schools’ Football Tournament victory. Speaking to the press after the match and despite having a major impact on the game, Gray posited, “We (Sir Leon Lessons) came out as one and played one. The past couple weeks we have been training hard and everything that coachman thought us, we executed to win as one.” Sir Leon Lessons pocketed $500,000 for winning the tournament, while Buxton received $300,000, all of which will go towards a school project of their choice. Meanwhile, in the scheduled third place playoff before the finale, Annandale Secondary won by virtue of walkover after Lodge Secondary were a no-show. The respective prize money is $200,000 and $100,000.
Two players from the opposing sides (Sir Leon Lessons and Buxton Youth Development) prepare to challenge for an air ball during last night’s Milo Schools’ football final at the MOE ground.
‘Lightning’Allicock to strike as flyweight at 2018 Commonwealth Games Caribbean bantamweight champion ‘Lightning’ Keevin Allicock will strike one division down when contesting the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast. The intended strike was divulged by President of the Guyana Boxing Association Steve Ninvalle who claimed that Allicock and compatriot light welterweight Colin ‘Superman’ Lewis have been responding well to training since arriving in Australia early last week.“Keevin will be competing as a flyweight. It’s the same division in which he won a silver medal at the Youth Commonwealth Games last year. I have been in constant contact with his coach Sebert Blake and from all indication things are unfolding as planned,” Ninvalle said yesterday. The 19-year-old Allicock recently qualified as a bantamweight for the Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC) held last month in Mexico. In that heavier division the Guyanese sensation lost a hard-fought battle to Olympic gold medalist and world cham-
pion Robeisy Ramirez of Cuba. Ninvalle explained that Allicock would be in his natural habitat while campaigning as a flyweight and that Team Guyana has been afforded a nutritionist who was expected to commence work yesterday. According to Ninvalle, competition in boxing is scheduled to punch off on Thursday when the talented Allicock and 13 other flyweights commence their quest for medals. The GBA president added that the Caribbean bantamweight champion will find it mathematically easier to qualify for a medal than Lewis who is also the king of his division in CARICOM. “Keevin’s flyweight category has 14 boxers, while there are 24 fighters in Lewis’ light welterweight division. We expect both to do well as they have been provided the necessary tools to do so.” Lewis and Allicock will seek to break the 28-year-old Commonwealth Games jinx following Wesley Christmas’ 1990 bantamweight bronze medal in Auckland, New Zealand.
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Sunday April 01, 2018
Kaieteur News
Windies receive traditional Berbice Cricket Board launches Sindh welcome on arrival 2018 Mike’s Pharmacy Inter-Club KARACHI, Pakistan, CMC – The main group o f We s t I n d i e s p l a y e r s and officials touched down here late last night for the historic threem a t c h Tw e n t y 2 0 s e r i e s against Pakistan, with the remainder of the squad scheduled to arrive early today. Eleven players were part of the contingent which arrived at the Jinnah International Airport at 9:30 pm (12:30 pm), and were greeted by Sindh Sports Minister Sardar Bux Mahar. Stand-in captain Jason Mohammed was among the 11 which were presented
with the traditional Ajrak’, a specially designed, colourful shawl peculiar to the Sindh province in southeast Pakistan. Afterwards, the squad were whisked off their hotel under tight security.They are not expected to hold any media conferences or practice sessions before the opening game. West Indies will clash with Pakistan in the opening T20 International today at the National Stadium here beginning at 8 pm (11 am Eastern Caribbean time). Matches will also be played on Monday and
Tuesday at the same venue, representing the first time in nine years a major Test-playing side has engaged in a bilateral tour of the country. The Windies are a dep l e t e d s q u a d , h o w e v e r, after several leading players – including regular captain Carlos Brathwaite – opted not to travel due to security concerns. In 2009, a Sri Lanka team bus was attacked by militants, leaving several players injured and members of the security forces dead. Since then, Pakistan have played all home series in United Arab Emirates.
Under-15 Tournament
Two off to Trinidad in Pan American Draughts trials and Goodwill games The National Draughts Association would be sending a two-man team to Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday April 5th to participate in the Pan American Draught trials and Goodwill games. While other players are eager to go, funding remained a major setback for the association. President of the Association Mr. Jiaram and Vice President Mr. Paul D’Anjou met with the Minister and two other senior officials of the Ministry of Social Cohesion in February to seek assistance for air fares for six players but this proved futile. The two players on tour Jiaram and Khemraj Pooranmall were able to secure their own funding through sponsors. Noble House Seafoods, Lexus Machining and Diamond / Grove NDC were the main sponsors for Jiaram, while P&P Brokers and Nalico / Nafico sponsored Pooranmall. Other smaller contributions came from Rubis Bel Air, Brans Security Service, Ahmad Hydraulics Bagotstown and the National Insurance Scheme. Hand in Hand Insurance donated knapsacks with water bottles and sun
Wayne Jones (centre) of Mike’s Pharmacy hands over sponsorship to BCB President Hilbert Foster, while the Company CEO Lakhram Singh looks on.
Jiaram (left), and Khemraj Pooranmall will travel to T&T for the event. glasses. The two players would also be in competition with several clubs in Trinidad for four days which would add to their experience. The tour is the first invitational Goodwill games between the two countries. Jiaram is the holder of the current National ‘A’ class title, while Pooranmall whom did not
contest competitions last year had that title on several occasions. The President of the local Association is expected to meet with the executives of the Trinidad Draughts Federation to discuss a return match here in Guyana in keeping with Sports in Tourism. Guyana’s last international game was with Nickerie, Suriname where Guyana emerged winners.
For the first time in several years, Under-15 Cricketers in the Ancient County of Berbice would be able to play against each other at the Inter-Club level. This was made possible as the Berbice Cricket Board on Tuesday last, launched an Under-15 Inter-Club Tournament with sponsorship from Mike’s Pharmacy of Georgetown. The Tournament would bowl off in about three weeks and would be for players born on or after the 1st September, 2003, is expected to be completed in about two months barring the rainy season. President of the Berbice Cricket Board Hilbert Foster stated that on his election on the 18th February, 2018, he committed his Board to organising cricket at every level and less than two months afterwards the Berbice Cricket Board has been able to secure sponsorship at the Under-15, Under-17, Under-19, Under-21, Second Division, Internal Zone and Female level. Major sponsorships for the Intermediate and First Division would be unveiled shortly. The Under-15 level, Foster noted is long overdue as currently Berbice Players are representing Guyana at the Under-15 level despite not playing for their Clubs at that level. The Under-15 Tournament would also enable the Berbice Cricket Board Se-
lectors to identify players for next year’s Under-15 and Under-17 Inter-County Tournaments. Promising players would also be selected to be a part of the Berbice Cricket Board 2018 Cricket Academy and a county wide Coaching Programme. The Under-15 Tournament, which is expected to a t t r a c t o v e r 2 0 Te a m s , would serve as a feeder for the Under-17 level and also for the upcoming InterSecondary School Tournament. Foster disclosed that among the teams expected to play are Bush Lot, Blairmont, Young Warriors. Young Achievers, Rose Hall Canje, Tucber Park, Albion, Rose Hall Town Farfan & Mendes, Port Mourant, Kendall’s Union, No. 73 and Tamarind Root. Players the caliber of Zeynul R a m s a m m y, J o n a t h a n R a m s a m m y, Isaiah Thorne, Jeremy Sandia, Tomani Caesar, Mahendra Gopilall would be involved in the Tournament. Foster expressed gratitude to the Management and Staff of Mike’s Pharmacy for their investment into Berbice Cricket and expressed confidence that the relationship would not only be fruitful but would be a long term one. The Berbice Cricket Board he stated would work very hard to develop long term and
solid relationships with each of its sponsors as sponsorship is the foundation to having cricket played. He reassured the Company that the Tournament would be well organised and would achieve all of its objectives. CEO of Mike’s Pharmacy, Mr. Lakhram Singh expressed pleasure at becoming an official sponsor of the Berbice Cricket Board as he is very impressed with its work. He also stated that investing in Cricket at the junior level is very important as it helps to identify promising talents at a young age. L i k e F o s t e r, h e e x pressed confidence that the relationship would be a long term one and urged the Berbice Cricket Board to maintain the high bar it has set itself. Singh, also disclosed that outstanding players in the tournament would receive cricket gears (batting gloves and pads), while members of the two finalists would be uniformed with White Polo T/Shirts from his Company under the Wellman’s brand. Among the awards to be shared out would be Best Batsman, Best Bowler, Most Promising Player and Man of the Finals. Teams interested in being a part of the Mike’s Pharmacy Under-15 Tournament can contact Foster on 337-4562 or Secretary Robby Saywack on 660-0049 or 2320255.