Thursday April 13, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Guyanese/US diaspora celebrate Not in agreement with the format of the lands commission Rights of Indigenous Peoples DEAR EDITOR, and justifiable reasons to would be constituted. Independence once again I am cognizant of the fact (UNDRIP), through the On behalf of the geo- have consideration of DEAR EDITOR, Our committee has made history! Last year, we mobilized thousands of Guyanese from every demographic, for the successful and historic New York Golden Jubilee celebration. Moreover, our multiethnic, multi-cultural committee of 163 members, from 25 organizations in 9 States, is unprecedented in its diversity. We will continue to build on this inclusiveness to help create the harmonious Guyanese society we all desire. This year, we can do it again! Our committee’s 51st Independence anniversary celebration is from Independence Day, May 26 to June 11, 2017. The theme is “Celebrate Guyana – Reflect our Journey” Our celebration will be inclusive. Commemorative events will be hosted in the major Guyanese communities to engender greater camaraderie amongst us and greater participation by all. We therefore invite you to the Flag Raising Ceremony on Independence Day, May 26, 2017 (A.M) in Manhattan. Cocktail Reception & Awards Ceremony on May 26, in Queens (P.M). There will be an Interfaith Service on Sunday, May 28, Brooklyn; Cricket competition on June 4, in Queens; soccer tournament on June 10 (A.M), in Brooklyn; Independence festival on June 10 (P.M.), in Brooklyn; a Mashramani Parade on Sunday, June 11, on Church Ave., Brooklyn.
The Unity Concert will immediately follow the parade on June 11, 2017, (tentatively) at last year’s venue - South Shore High School Park, Brooklyn. Guyana’s Head of State, President David Granger, ministers of the Guyana government, as well as US Federal, State and local elected officials and others are among our invited guests. We will continually update you about our celebration through our w e b s i t e : www.celebrateguyanainnyc.com, as well as via our various promotions. Please spread the word about our 51st Independence Anniversary celebration in New York City from May 26, 2017 to June 11, 2017. Share this information with your email contacts and on social media. We celebrate our nation’s 51st Independence anniversary with the unswerving belief that unity is the cardinal pillar of a cohesive nation. We must therefore eschew divisions and, with beaming national pride, demonstrate oneness as a people. Our Committee’s foremost objective is fostering unity among and between Guyanese of all races, class and creed. We are not infallible. There will be challenges to our mission to engender harmony, but we pledge to join all like-minded Guyanese to toil unceasingly in the vineyard of national cohesion. Let’s celebrate together as “One People, One Nation, One Destiny!” Rickford Burke
Why no permission yet for the wind turbine? DEAR EDITOR, I refer to your report “$1B wind-powered hotel opens doors in Corriverton.” With respect, your headline needed fine tuning in that the hotel is NOT a wind-powered hotel. Quote “The government wants us to go green and clean; we are the first persons to get a wind turbine. Over a year now we are not getting any response or approval to have it running.” So there as per your article, the wind turbine is not yet operational! More importantly, I was somewhat annoyed to read that a year has passed by and the government cannot give approval for the wind turbine to be operational. Is this a hand-down from the PPP government? Everybody then knew that once the palms are greased, it’s hunky-
dory smooth sailing. My tentacles are aroused and I have my own opinion as to what is happening, so much so that I would not be surprised that I have the right opinion when all is completed and everyone is happy. What’s that? ‘Those who do not remember the past are bound to repeat it.” Carl Veecock Ontario Canada
graphic constituency that I represent in the National Assembly of Guyana, and all concerned Indigenous citizens across this country, inclusive of the National Toshaos Council (NTC), I hereby express my concerns with the stance taken by former executive member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Vincent Alexander, who posits that there should not be a separate commission to examine the issue of Amerindian land rights, as opposed to merging the inquiry into Amerindian land rights and African land rights together. We, the first people of Guyana fear that the Government plans to deal with the Amerindians as though we are imponderables who stand in the way of the upward mobility of their traditional support base, and the rhetoric being expounded by Eric Phillips and Tacuma Ogunsye of ACDA, and others of their ilk seem to support this perception. Alexander has adumbrated the government’s position that Amerindian land rights and African land rights should not be dealt with, one extraneous to the other and argues that there is adequate
Amerindian and African land rights be addressed by one commission. As an Indigenous representative of my people I also noted that, speaking recently at a Carter Centre/ British High Commissioner-organised forum on constitutional reform, held at the University of Guyana (UG), Alexander asserted “We have to have a holistic and integrated approach to the resolution of sectoral or communal problems. I don’t think the nation could have a discussion about Amerindian land outside a discussion about lands period.” However, I stand firm, in my capacity, with the National Toshaos Council (NTC), which is resolutely rejecting the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry that considers African and Amerindian land rights together. We will not cooperate with that process because it compromises Amerindian rights that have already been established. I, like the NTC, am adamantly demanding that President David Granger stand true to his promise that he made in 2015 - that a “Hinterland and Indigenous People Lands Commission”
that the terms of reference of the Commission of Inquiry were only published on March 11, 2017, one day after six of the seven commissioners were sworn in. This signifies government’s intention not to consult with the NTC and any other Amerindian rightsbased organization, which is denying the fundamental rights of our community to be consulted on matters that impact our basic constitutional and human rights. The composition of the Commission is also a vital concern, because we are convinced that the Commission will comprise of members who would be more inclined to favour the government’s positions. Throughout history there have been dispossessed peoples all over the world; but none so inhuman and unjust as the injustices meted out to the indigenous peoples everywhere through annexation of ancestral lands by conquistadores and other colonials, as well as currentday land-grabbers. In Guyana, while there was an attempt to rectify this iniquity by the British Colonials through the United Nations Declaration on the
Amerindian Act 6 of 2006, the guaranteed rights to traditional indigenous peoples land ownership that were enshrined by the Amerindian Act 6 of 2006 are once again under threat by the current Coalition government. We are justifiably fearful of returning to the past where the first peoples of this land languished in obscurity, separate and unprovided for. We were denuded of large tracts of land rich with minerals to give to the elitists elsewhere. Historically, Amerindians roamed the forested lands freely and maintained the pristineness of forest reserves, thereby sustaining the environment that propelled the creation of the REDD-Plus initiative, Quoting from the website: “REDD is described in paragraph 70 of the AWG/LCA outcome: “Encourages developing country parties to contribute to mitigation actions in the forest sector by undertaking the following activities, as deemed appropriate by each Party and in accordance with their respective capabilities and national circumstances: (a) Reducing emissions from deforestation; Continued on page 6
Targeting the wrong people to collect taxes DEAR EDITOR, We are truly experiencing a nauseating rigmarole with public and private education together with the issue of VAT on,private education. As the present situation gets more intriguing and ridiculous, we are kind of confused about our schools’ curricula and delivery aspects. However, we tend to agree that ‘informal education, a curriculum is the planned interaction of pupils with instructional content, materials, resources, and processes for evaluating the attainment of educational objectives’. From our own experiences as parents and guardians, we are baffled that in the public schools, pupils who have reached Grades 6+ cannot recognize words, much less read. Added to this undesirable situation, in Mathemathics
some cannot count, add, subtract, etc. In Science and other subject areas, it is even more pathetic. The present adverse situation is more common in our public school system. We have tried phonics to remedy the situation, exposing older students whose lips have all become lazy and tongues that are tight after years of little use. In other subject areas, we have spent a lot of time and effort, employing retired teachers to salvage the boat with little or no relief. Our education personnel have all pontificated on these matters but we are getting nowhere. Then comes the proliferation of private schools which are making inroads to address the unhealthy situations. Most of the students who attend these private schools come
from families who have lost confidence in the public school system and are now being hammered and insulted further by VAT on private education. What the private schools are achieving is the realization that the schools’ curricula exist in the experiences of the children while in the public schools, the curricula exist in books. Private schools teach each child so the child experiences the learning and internalizes the concepts taught. In the public schools, teachers preach just like they are in church, children are not meaningfully occupied, teachers are on Facebook and the internet most of the time. These teachers only teach after school at their extra-lessons and parents and guardians become the milking cows who give tax-free dollars to
these teachers. To compound the situation, the education officials are not au fait with what is happening in the field since all they demand is the production of reports which gather dust on the shelves of the Ministry of Education. They do not walk the talk or manage by wandering around, and are paid to warm their seats in the offices. If these public schools are not paying their taxes, then what is the GRA and National Accreditation Council doing? They take action against these schools rather than burdening the people with VAT on education. Are our administrators so backward that they are targeting the wrong people for the failure to pay taxes? Or is this an easier way to shylock some more flesh from citizens? Ed Singh
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How to win or lose the 2020 national elections DEAR EDITOR, History has a way of repeating itself and if not interrogated and exposed can cause the people to be conned more than once. I am observing a theme being peddled in the local press that “the government is being asked to do what the previous government did not do”. But isn’t that what the dollar a year PPP propagandists were doing in 1993? Making this exact statement? So why this repeat of history in 2017 only this time the PNC propagandist are being paid handsomely ”million dollar month” salaries with perks to write these comprehensively dotish letters? Let me be absolutely clear, any government that frames its public policies exclusively on what the previous government did in the past will see limited SUCCESS and will swiftly lose elections. To win elections you have to constantly answer this question with positive results – What have I done for the people lately?
Harping about what the PNC did for 28 years and what the PPP did for 23 years is the position of the weak who only used it to fool a nation. But the Guyanese people are battle hardened. They have been fooled by the PNC and PPP for some 50 years, who do we think they will now listen to. PNC propagandist like Eric Phillips today who is only interested in preserving this FAT salary bequeathed to them by President Granger. Today, we have a battlehardened electorate who are more concerned with the answer to that question – you have collected my tax money, so what have you done for me lately in return? If the answer is that the government Ministers have set aside some G$1 billion for executive travel, lodging, and meals, but have nothing for the poor people, then that is a wrong answer. It should be more along the line, we have spent G$1 billion in developing a program to transform single unemployed mothers from house mothers to part-time
entrepreneurs. Answers, like we have provided 2,000 new jobs for the youths in this field and that field, is more of what the people are looking for. So the political winner of the 2020 elections shall be the one who can prove with evidence what they have done for the people at the bottom of the economic ladder? The PNC does have an advantage – they got 3 years to do something tangibly for the people at the bottom of the economic ladder. So rather than paying political propagandist, use that same money to employ program managers who can conceive and deliver on human development programs that will transform lives and make a difference. The era of bogus messaging from bogus minds is over. What the PNC led Granger government does over the next 3 years can result in the PNC being out of power for the next 20 years, because from what I am observing, Bharrat Jagdeo is preparing himself to lead the nation out of this dismal era
and to deliver for the people promptly after the 2020 elections. I have heard him saying he will roll back all the VAT imposition on education, health, electricity, and water. I heard him saying he will put back in place the “Because we Care Grant” of G$10,000 to mothers with children in school. I heard him saying he shall re-employ the 1,500 Amerindian leaders to continue to drive the human development process in the hinterlands. I heard him say he will complete an Oil refinery, a sugar refinery, an ethanol plant, a deep water harbor, a road to Lethem and the Amaila Falls Hydro by 2025 once he comes into power in 2020. From his record, once he runs a lean and clean government, Bharrat Jagdeo can do it. If he gets rid of all the dead weights like Ramotar and Rohee, I believe he can do it. I believe him because if we look at his track record, he wasn’t that bad. Ryan Basdeo
A guideline for the Hon. Minister of Business DEAR EDITOR, The recent article, “No guidelines in place to avoid abuse - Gaskin” (see KN of 2017-04-10), illustrates a lot of the problems that the Coalition Government has gotten itself and Guyana into with the fantasies it promulgated to the public about billions of dollars of corruption in the way Guyana had been grown and developed and jobs created during the twenty-three years of PPP/C in office. Minister Gaskin recognizes an important role for “Public-Private-Partnerships” but laments that there are no guidelines to avoid
Thursday April 13, 2017
Kaieteur News
abuse. Were it not for he and his government’s propaganda abuse of the PPP/C administration he might have recognized guidelines, concerns and achievements in three PP-P projects, the fully completed Berbice River Bridge, the not fully complete Marriot Hotel, and the ready-to-go Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project which they vetoed. If the Minister and his colleagues were to give themselves to earnest study rather than having their imaginations run amok in fantasies of corruption they could learn a lot including the important es-
sential role of the much aligned Mr. W. Brassington and PU/NICIL in the growth and development which we managed to achieve. PU/NICIL continually sought to find ways to put together old, unused, no longer profitable Government owned properties and other resources (including people -released past employees) with other, nongovernment resources money, new technologies and capabilities, expert and experienced persons, markets - to create a new enterprise that has a great likelihood to pay its way.
Yes, not everything turns out right/successful. Indeed I read that it would be a good score when 10 out of every 100 projects initially, earnestly pursued, studied, reappraised and reconsidered in stages, in greater and greater depth, to eventual implementation, were to be successful. Yes, knowledge of what we should know is never complete, we try to minimize personal judgments, in any case no one knows how things would be in the future. Minister Gaskin and his colleagues have tied their own hands in their fantasy charges of billions of dollars of annual corruption against us, PPP/C. There is an old Guyanese proverb that says, “Little pig ask mama pig how come she mouth so long - mama pig replied, you will find out”. Minister Gaskin and his colleagues are finding out that they could get little done without opening themselves to the same fantasy charges with which they have been smearing us. They have paralyzed themselves, the private sector - local, diaspora and foreign, and our economy. It is for them to free themselves and our economy and in doing so ensure that there are no actions that present real charges of corruption. They have not been doing so well. Samuel A. A. Hinds Former Prime Minister and Former President
Not in agreement with the... From page 5 (b) Reducing emissions from forest degradation; (c) Conservation of forest carbon stocks; (d) Sustainable management of forest; (e) Enhancement of forest carbon stocks;” According to a blurb on the REDD, or reduced emissions from deforestation and forest degradation website, the basic concept of REDD is that governments, companies or forest owners in the South should be rewarded for keeping their forests instead of cutting them down. Apart from being Guyana’s first people, Guyana’s indigenous peoples have been, for centuries, guardians of Guyana’s hinterland forest lands, so we are the people responsible for those extant prerequisites listed in Paragraph 70. In the laws of the land, uncontested tenure of a property for in excess of seven years guarantees rights to ownership; thus, apart from the Amerindian Act 6 of 2006 the Amerindians are – constitutionally and by tradition owners of Guyana’s forested lands. The formulation of the LCDS and consequential pact with Norway would not have been possible if the Amerindians had denuded
the forests, as intruders are now doing. United Nations “has adopted” the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We, Guyana’s first peoples are urging the international community – even if through the UN to intercede on our behalf and uphold our rights as chartered by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and outlined in the Amerindian Act 6 of 2006. Notice should also be taken that, if government has its way, paragraph 70 of the AWG/LCA outcome for REDD would be under threat, as would any other potential rewards from Norway or other countries for our conservation of forest carbon stocks and other listed prerequisites, because, while the Amerindian way conserves, the way of the intruders destroys. The world should take cognisance of the latent threat against Guyana’s indigenous peoples and consequently our traditional way of life because rainforests are the lungs of the world and the invasion by hordes of outsiders would eventually depreciate, instead of enhancing the sustainability of forest carbon stocks. Alister Charlie MP Region 9
Relations between Russia... From page 4 are eagerly taken up by the media. We wonder how much longer our American colleagues will rely on fake photo reports when taking decisions that can affect the lives of people in Syria. We hope to learn what the United States will do in Libya, which has been split by NATO’s military intervention, just as Iraq. What plans do our American colleagues have for Yemen, where US weapons are used to bomb cities, killing civilians and aggravating the humanitarian catastrophe? We hope that the United States will not refuse to attend international consultations on Afghanistan, the next round of which will be held in Moscow on April 14. These consultations aim to help launch the process of national reconciliation in that long-suffering country, as we told our American partners more than once. We are gravely concerned about Washington’s plans regarding North Korea, considering hints about the unilateral use of a military scenario. We need to understand how this relates to the collective commitments to denuclearise the Korean Peninsula, which have been sealed in UN Security Council resolutions. But above all we hope that the United States will use
its influence on Kiev to neutralise the revenge-seeking sentiments of the Ukrainian party of war. Washington can also encourage the Kiev government to faithfully comply with its obligations under the Minsk Agreements. These agreements are the only way to settle a conflict that was provoked by radical nationalists’ intention to forcibly Ukrainianise all spheres of life in this multi-ethnic country. We expect to hear US views on the entire range of issues pertaining to strategic security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic region. As for bilateral agenda, the long list of irritants crated by Washington has not become shorter yet. Since nothing is being done to settle the problems in bilateral relations, we will have to take reciprocal measures. Overall, we hope that the US Secretary of State will share with us Washington’s views on all issues of mutual concern. We are ready for any turn of events. However, we would prefer our interaction to help reduce rather than aggravate international tensions. We are not set for confrontation but for constructive cooperation and hope that this is what our American partners want, too. Aleksei Illiuviev Press Attache Russian Embassy in Guyana
Thursday April 13, 2017
Strong AML regime will protect Guyana from severity of de-risking practice-Finance Minister Guyana would be in a firm position to protect itself from the severity of de-risking practice once it has a strong Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) regime in place, said Finance Minister, Winston Jordan. The economist, addressing the opening ceremony of the final workshop of Guyana’s first National Risk Assessment (NRA) at the Marriott Hotel, yesterday, said that this workshop will enable policymakers to better identify and understand the money laundering and terrorist financing threats that Guyana faces. They will also identify vulnerabilities across all sectors of the economy. Mr Jordan said that heightened prudential standards have caused international banking institutions to prevent reputational risks and avoid penalties by reducing or severing their relationships with jurisdictions that are perceived to be high risk, due to inadequate AML/CFT regimes. Jordan said that many developing countries, including those in the Caribbean are adversely affected by this derisking practice. He said, “Some of our local financial institutions either have completely lost or have reduced relationships with their correspondent banks. This development creates difficulties, including higher cost for individuals and businesses involved in the trade of goods and services, including remittances.” With this as his premise, the Finance Minister contended that an efficient AML regime will protect Guyana from the harshness of the derisking practice and sustain the level of development in the county. Furthermore, the Finance Minister commented that given Guyana’s geographic location, porous borders, and the cash-based nature of the economy, these factors make it vulnerable to money laun-
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Finance Minister, Winston Jordan dering/ terrorist financing activities. Jordan said that Guyana’s dependence on international trade in goods, services and financial transactions increases the country exposure to illicit activities. The Finance Minister said that recent reports emanating from both the United Nations General Assembly and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) have acknowledged that money laundering is now shifting from financial transactions to more trade- related activities. “As the Minister of Finance, I am very cognizant of the catastrophic macroeconomic effects that ML/TF can have on our country, if left unnoticed and unattended. I am aware that it can impair the integrity and stability of the domestic financial system, the current and capital accounts of the balance of payments, and reduce legitimate financial inflows entering the country,” Jordan expressed. He added, “These predicate offences also have the potential to drastically reduce the government’s actual revenue collection. In addition to its impact on corruption and engendering a lack of confidence in the economy, money laundering can also negatively affect investment and, ultimately, distort economic growth. “And so, it is to safeguard against these eventualities, that the Government of the Guyana has been making stringent efforts to
strengthen the country’s AML/CFT regime, through appropriate enactments and amendments to the relevant laws.” Furthermore, the Finance Minister said that Guyana is committed to maintaining an effective AML/CFT regime that gives priority to effective supervision and enforcement of the laws. Jordan said that even though Guyana has made significant progress over the last two years in enhancing its AML/CFT regime, and has effectively implemented many global standards, the Government will continue to be vigilant. The Finance Minister said that the government will move with alacrity to enact the relevant legislation to address new threats and vulnerabilities. “And so, now that the NRA working group has completed a comprehensive analysis of Guyana’s AML/ CFT risks, the National Action Plan that is prepared by the team will not only satisfy FATF’s recommendation 1, which stipulates that countries must identify, assess and understand their ML/TF risks, and apply combating measures using a risk- based approach, but it will also form the basis for the efficient allocation of the country’s scarce financial resources,” the Finance Minister expressed. Jordan said that Guyana is on a mission to enhance financial inclusion to promote poverty reduction and national development. The economist also expressed his satisfaction having learned that financial inclusion was aptly addressed during the NRA exercise. He said that the Government wants to ensure that regulations do not unintentionally exclude businesses and individuals from the formal financial system, but instead, measures can be relaxed when financial products are not considered high risk.
Cash-jet local operations continue unhindered - SOCU reportedly probing local properties Embattled Guyanese born pilot, Khamraj Lall, may be facing legal worries in the US but it appears that his local businesses are fully on stream and running. He has reportedly over the past year acquired hundreds of millions of dollars in heavy duty equipments and appears to be involved in the transportation and mining business. Overhead shots of the Kaylees Service Station, Coverden, East Bank Demerara, which he owns, were sent to Kaieteur News this week. They indicated the presence of several heavy duty trucks and equipment. Some of the vehicles are reportedly being used at a number of mining areas, Kaieteur News was told. Although the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) has declined to admit it, sources have indicated that the entity has been quietly investigating Lall and his properties here. That would be significant as the US authorities have reportedly moved to seize properties, including homes, two planes and bank accounts, of the pilot in that country. This was after he pleaded guilty to attempting to smuggle more than US$600,000 in cash, believed to be from illegal proceeds, to Guyana in late 2014. Lall became known to Guyana in a major way after Puerto Rican security officials boarded his plane, during a fuel stop, and during a search found several packets of cash hidden around the plane. It sparked court cases which now span three US ju-
Unhindered: Khamraj Lall risdictions- Puerto Rico, New Jersey and New York. Following his arrest and charges in Puerto Rico, Lall found himself in more trouble in July 2015 when he was arrested in New Jersey and accused by prosecutors of conspiring to bring five kilos of cocaine aboard his plane from Guyana to the US. Shortly before those cocaine charges, the businessman who is well known in Guyana, had pleaded guilty to cash smuggling charges in a deal with US prosecutors and was out on bail awaiting sentencing. The coke charges carry a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life and a US$10,000,000 fine. Lall’s drug arrest was connected to that of nine other defendants in February 2015 in the US where prosecutors said they have broken a ring. The cocaine-related charge had meant that Lall violated his bail in the bulk cash smuggling by participating in another crime. In a plea deal submitted for the cash smuggling
charges, Lall agreed for the US$620,588 along with the 1988 Israel fixed wing multiengine aircraft bearing Registration N822Ql and used in the crime, to be forfeited. Authorities have also moved to seize another plane he owns along with properties. Under the deal with the US Government, Lall pleaded guilty to one count – of concealing more than US$10,000 in his plane and attempting to transfer it outside of the US to Guyana. He would have been facing up to five years on a number of charges if he had opted for a trial and found guilty, according to court documents. Lall, who had operated from a private hangar at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and controlled KayLees Gas Station at Coverden, East Bank Demerara, has also agreed that other assets may be subject to forfeiture as there is still a pending civil matter for assets seizure in New Jersey, where he has homes, vehicles, cash and other properties. As part of his filings, Lall, who had his licences revoked, submitted a waiver of right to trial by jury. Lall is also facing a civil matter, with the US Government going after luxury vehicles, another plane, more than US$400,000 cash lying in several frozen bank accounts as well as at least three properties. A hangar that was controlled and built by Lall at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport has since been taken back by the administration after the latter said that the lease agreement had expired.
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Recovery of state assets will require High Court order – AG Williams The State Assets Recovery Bill 2017 will be read for the second time in the National Assembly today. According to Attorney General, Basil Williams, one important aspect of the Bill is that before assets are recovered, there needs to be a High Court order. Williams made this clear at a media briefing yesterday in the conference room of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Carmichael Street. He was in the presence of Head of the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU), Professor Clive Thomas, Legal Adviser, Brian Horne and the Chief Executive Officer of SARU, Aubrey Retemyer. The Minister said that the Bill is intended to give effect to the recommendations contained in the 2003 United Nations Convention against Corruption which Guyana ratified in 2008. “To put it concisely there is nothing about the presumption of innocence being eroded and all these contentions. This process, though driven by the director and staff of SARU, requires the invention of the High Court of the Supreme Court of this country before they could give effect to the results of its investigation into whether the property is state property or its desire to institute proceedings for civil recovery orders.” He said that the Court will be the final determinant whether an investigation and any orders made pursuant to that investigation or any proceeding instituted to recover state property. He said, “It is strictly a civil recovery proceeding and not criminal. In other words there is a proceeding in which
no one will be arrested, no one will be charged, no one will be prosecuted, nor are there any questions under this Act that anyone could be given a custodial sentence. There is nothing criminal about the provisions of this Bill.” Explaining further, the Minister said that the Act will deal strictly with acts against property. He said that the provisions address state property obtained by the unlawful conduct of public officials or any other person. He emphasised that the route to regain stolen assets will be based on a civil recovery proceedings. When the Bill is passed in the Assembly, it will become the State Assets Recovery Act and SARU will become SARA, State Asset Recovery Agency. Williams explained that the Act will not be pursuing matters using the criminal standard. Williams said that Appeals are allowed on decisions of the court as is common in any other area of the law. He added that no proceedings to recover property will be effected if the property is below $10M. In the final analysis, Williams said that if there is a bona fide purchaser for value of the stolen property, that person will be protected. The Attorney General said that the Court has the power not to issue any orders depending on the circumstances of each case. “It is a court driven process under this Bill.” Delivering remarks also was Professor Thomas who said that it is clear that there are certain people in the public making mischief concerning the Bill giving the impres-
Professor Clive Thomas
SARU CEO, Aubrey Retemyer
sion that SARU will be empowered to go after people. He said that once public property has been misappropriated his agency can investigate the matter. “We don’t have to prove the crime. We just have to say that the Bill is linked to the crime that was committed.” Thomas stressed that the issue of a person’s constitutional rights to property will be protected 100 per cent by
his agency. However, he said that no one should have a constitutional right to stolen property. He said that there appears to be confusion on this very issue in the media. “There is no constitutional right to stolen property. Further, I will say to you that this kind of legislation is very modern and involves concepts that we’re not accustomed to dealing with traditionally
Thomas explained that the Bill seeks to satisfy a provision of the UN Convention which deals with non-conviction civil recovery of stolen assets. It is in this area which SARU will concentrate its efforts. Similar to Williams, Thomas said that the court has the final say whether a particular property ought to be returned to the state. According to the CEO of SARU, Aubrey Retemyer, a great deal of diligent work went into preparing the Bill to ensure that everything is done within the power of the state to ensure that assets stolen from the state are recovered. He said that for many years now, efforts have been made to arrest corruption by dealing with the individuals personally. “He or she might be charged and sentenced but very little emphasis had been placed on recovery. In the case of Guyana, we have been focusing on recovery because it is linked to development and it is the expectation of the people of this country that the assets gen-
erated by the state should be used in the interest of our development.” He said that the work which will be done by SARU is no vendetta against anyone but is rather a natural course of action in response to the country losing vast sums of money over the years. According to Retemyer, based on figures which have been public for quite some time, Guyana has lost about $28B to $35B through procurement fraud; $90B through illicit capital flight and $188B from the underground economy per year. When asked how soon SARU will begin working after the Bill is passed; Retemyer said work can begin as soon as the next day. When asked about whether specific individuals holding state property have been identified, Retemyer refused to comment. However, he said that instances identified in the forensic audits whereby state property was misappropriated will inform a great degree of their investigations.
Cop recalls visiting Club Privilege to acquire CCTV footage of shooting incident Police Corporal Gary Gordon recounted that it was until the importance of obtaining video surveillance from Club Privilege was explained that General Manager, Keisha Phillips, made contact with a technician who possessed the password to the system. Corporal Gordon who has been deemed an expert in Forensic Video Analysis gave evidence in the trial of Club Privilege Manager, Andre Rochford, Phillips and another staffer who are accused of tampering with surveillance footage of a shooting incident that occurred at the Club. Rochford, 43, of 28 Victoria Street, Arouca,
Trinidad and Tobago; Phillips, of Republic Park, East Bank Demerara; and technician, Ronald O’Brien of D’Urban Street, Werk-enRust have pleaded not guilty to the charge and are out on $700,000 bail each. Particulars of the charge against them alleges that on January 9, at Main Street, Georgetown, they willfully attempted to obstruct the course of justice, by deleting Close Circuit Television (CCTV) footage depicting a shooting incident, which took place on that same day. Corporal Gordon, who is attached to the Intelligence Unit at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID)
Headquarters, Eve Leary recounted visiting the Night Club located at 74-75 Main Streets, Georgetown on January 9. Upon his arrival, he said that he met with Corporal Eastman and Sergeant Williams, both crime scene detectives. The police witness told the court that he and the other police ranks explained to Rochford that they were there to conduct investigation in relation to a report of a shooting incident. Corporal Gordon said that Rochford led them to his office where he told them that he would have to seek permission to gain access to the video surveillance room. According to the witness, Rochford escorted him and the other police ranks to the Restaurant Area where they were introduced to Phillips and again explained the rea-
son for their visit and the urgency in acquiring the footage. Corporal Gordon said that he requested to gain access to the video surveillance room and Phillips informed him that she would like to have her technician present since she did not possess the password to gain access to the footage. “Sergeant Williams again explained the importance of gaining access to the surveillance room. The number three defendant (Phillips) stated that she will have to get on to the technician and began calling him.” Corporal Gordon continued, “She (Phillips) made contact with someone and related to us (police ranks) that the technician will be back after 4pm.” He recalled that the crime scene investigators visited Continued on page 23
Thursday April 13, 2017
PAGE 9
Kaieteur News
The State must act in a lawful manner One of the fears paralyzing the economy of Guyana is the possibility of Guyana reverting back to the discredited policies of the former PNC regime. One of the reasons why it is believed there is capital flight is because of the fear of Guyana returning to an all-powerful State which can be used to violate the rights of Guyanese. There are anxieties that Guyana may be reversing in terms of democratic governance by the use and abuse of State agencies to harass citizen. The state has to remain lawful. The actions of State agents must be in conformity with the law. The State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU) recently, in the company of at least one other government agency, descended on an NDC edu-
cational facility in Enmore and seized some computers on the pretext that the computers were about to be sold to someone else. Prima facie this has all the hallmarks of abuse. The SARU is yet to establish the legal basis upon which it seized the equipment and the legal authority under which it has acted. It has not indicated how it came to the conclusion that the computers were the property of the state. Assuming for the sake of argument that the computers were on loan and were indeed to be illegally sold, one would have thought that the better thing for SARU to do would have been to allow the transaction to go through and then arrest the relevant parties. But SARU made the arrest before the alleged offence was said
to have been committed. If the items were donated to the NDC on the condition that they should not be disposed or sold without the consent of the State, this still does not give SARU the right to seize the item. If the NDC was about to breach the terms of any agreement which it may have had with the government, then it is for the government to take civil action, not to and seize property. If the State donates an item to a NGO, the item rightly belongs to the NGO. I do not know if the NGO is supposed to keep it indefinitely simply because it was a donation. If the item is outdated or not working, then by all right it should either be disposed of or sold. But it seems as if the government is implying that
Dem boys seh...
Jagdeo set-up SARU; now SARU up-set ee Today Parliament meeting to debate and pass de SARU Bill. This Bill is not new. This govt can’t tek credit fuh it because it was initiated by de one and only, crook of de century, Jagdeo. Since 2008 he go to de UN and to de World Bank and sign an agreement to tackle or deal wid corruption. He had one understanding of dealing wid corruption but de foreign people had another. De foreign people talk about seizing all de thiefing money, property and goods. Jagdeo think he coulda tek de taxpayer money as though is he own. He didn’t only tek money; he tek de ordinary people. De law wasn’t in place when he do to others wha SARU will now do after de law pass today. He write all de banks to get every piece of information pun people who was opposed to him, including de Waterfalls boss man. De boss man seh how Jagdeo wanted to know if he, de boss man, was a crook like he, de Jagdeo. He soon find out that de boss man was de complete opposite. Well he set-up SARU and now SARU up-
set ee. Dem boys can’t understand how he can cuss SARU when is he start it up. It had to be that at de time his hand wasn’t so sticky and de cookie was small. Times change. De cookie jar tun a silo. He and his whole cabinet live inside. Now SARU want find all de rice wha disappear from de silo. He cuss poor Clivie and all because Clive write and tell him and his kavakamites to bring back all de paddy and de shells of de paddy back in de silo. Dem boys seh is de same thing he do to de third term. He and ee party agree and then he sign that no president should run fuh a third term. This is de same man who cussing de constitution. He tell Babbie, ee best friend if school can got three term a year, wha mek he can’t serve three term. Dem boys seh he will serve three terms and more but not as president. He will serve many terms peeping through iron bars at Mazaruni. Talk half and watch how Jagdeo dog bite him.
if something is given to you by either the government or an international organization that it has a lien on those items. If this is the case then there is a serious problem which needs to be brought to the attention of international organizations which support local organizations and communities. The government must demonstrate that it has a lawful claim on the items. Otherwise its recent actions constitute an abuse of power and a deprivation of private property. The second disturbing incident concerned the charges made by hire car drivers in Berbice who are claiming that the police have been stopping them in front of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) office in Berbice and demanding their drivers’ licenses. This is being done not to ensure that they are licensed to
drive. It is being done to ensure that the NIS can register them as self-employed persons. It is most interesting that this campaign, if indeed it is true, is taking place in Berbice. The Police have no role in helping the NIS to register persons. The police are concerned with protection – protection of the person and protection of property. The refusal of someone to register for NIS has to be prosecuted by the NIS. It is not for the police to be demanding the drivers’ licenses so as to facilitate the work of the NIS. If this is true, it is an abuse by the police which should be internationalized. The NIS should use other methods to help to ensure that all selfemployed persons are registered The NIS has no powers to stop vehicle on the roads and the police should not be stop-
ping vehicles on the road to facilitate the NIS registering self-employed persons. The role of the police, if they must lend support to the NIS, would be to ensure that in any NIS operations the peace is not breached. The Commissioner should investigate the charges made by the hire care drivers from Berbice. If true, this is totally unacceptable behavior. If true its raises the threat of the State being used to harass citizens. If the state degenerates into extreme lawlessness then who knows, one day agents of the State may feel they can walk into your home and do what they want with your wife and girl children.
PAGE 10
Thursday April 13, 2017
Kaieteur News
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
From Benn to Patterson: The dead country Last Monday, my wife and I were cleaning her mother’s place at the junction of Hadfield Street and Louisa Row when we saw a violent commotion one corner north of us. That would be Brummel Place (Louisa Row becomes Brummel Place when it crosses over north of Hadfield Street.) As a curious media operative, I left the house and went to see what was happening. A nasty fight was in progress. This is what happened. A
Canter truck driver going north on Brummel Place at the junction with Brickdam where the traffic lights are, suddenly stepped on the brakes and the car at the back touched the rear of the pick-up. The fight began when the driver of the car slapped the Canter truck owner accusing him of careless driving.(there was no damage; I saw that for myself). The car driver demanded money for a non-existent damage and when the Canter owner accused him of extortion he slapped him. The
father of the Canter-truck owner was enraged and cuffed the car driver in his face and as the say in street lingo, “pashway” was on its way.” Race came into the picture because an AFC activist by the name of Albert Cromwell, drove up with his motorcycle and started to accuse the son of the Caner truck driver of being a coolie racist. I went up to Cromwell, told him he was not there from the start of the incident and that he should desist because after all he is a representative of the AFC who sits in the leadership of the AFC’s Region Four executive. He agreed to stay quiet. By this time there were exchanges of who was a coolie racist and who was a black
racist in the crowd. The UN’s UNICEF head office is right at the junction (eastern half) and the staff
Frederick Kissoon was watching. An African security guard of the Bapitist Church which is right on the corner (western half) and two African men jumped in to the argument telling the crowd that the Indian Canter truck driver was in the right because he had to brakes up to save a motorcyclist who was going east on Brickdam. A policeman came up and they explained to him what happened. Now here is the reason for the accident which the policeman, the Canter truck driver, the car driver, Albert Cromwell
and the crowds did not know. Only one person in that crowd knew what was the real cause of the accident; me. And that is because I am a Wortmanvile boy with my wife’s property one block away so I know the area well. Here is the story. For almost a year now the stop signal to go north and to go south for drivers on Brummel Place has been stuck in a 10 minute mode. The lights need recalibrating. It means when you are on Brummel Place, you believe the red light is not working after you would have waited for about five minutes. In the meantime traffic going east and west on Brickdam has the green light. Drivers then, thinking that the red is faulty, go through it thereby clashing with drivers on Brickdam. This is what happened with the Canter truck. Over the past year, I saw hundreds of drivers going through the red light which is working but it lasts for ten minutes. You would think that in the 21st century, the Ministry of Public Works under Robeson Benn and now Public Infrastructure under David
Patterson would have a maintenance section where a few employees would drive around Georgetown and see which signals are not working, which street lights are not working, which main arteries have huge pot holes. That faulty red signal has been there almost a year now and no one at the Public Infrastructure Ministry knows about it. The situation was the same under “Bruk Up” Benn. Just suppose that fight had ended in death, it would have been due to the incompetence of post-colonial leaders who after fifty years of Independence cannot lead a country and will never learn how to. I leave you with a column I wrote fifteen years ago. I taught at the Berbice Campus of UG for one year in 2000. As you drive into the ferry, you have to wait until all cars are on board so you have time to gaze. I looked at one of the pillars holding up the stelling; wood-ants were eating it. On my last day, one year after I first saw them, the wood-ants were still feasting. Where was the maintenance crew; there was none.
Thursday April 13, 2017
PAGE 11
Kaieteur News
Mandela Avenue/Sheriff Street expansion project…
Sudden cancellation of tender opening sparks concerns from bidders The decision to extend the tender submission deadline of one of the largest projects for this year has sparked concerns from bidders. Tenders were scheduled to be opened for the multi-billion-dollar Sheriff Street/ Mandela Avenue Enhancement Project (Lots Six to Seven) on Tuesday at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB). However, at the last minute, the opening was cancelled. Representatives of bidders who reportedly worked around the clock to finish the tender documents, were waiting for the documents to be opened publicly. It was only when representatives of the respective companies arrived at the NPTAB to witness the opening that they were informed of the extension. It was revealed that the submission date was extended to May 2 of this year. Bidders, who asked not to be named, said that they only learnt of the cancellation after their representatives con-
tacted them. An email informing the bidders of the cancellation was sent after the announcement was made at the Main Street office of the NPTAB. Contractors subsequently began contacting Kaieteur News raising concerns; questioning the reason for the extension and whether it was done within the confines of the procurement laws. Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson,
who was present at a stakeholder consultation exercise in Georgetown yesterday, said that he does not have all the facts at hand and could not definitively state why the deadline was extended. He referred this publication to the Permanent Secretary (Acting), Geoffrey Vaughn. Efforts to contact Vaughn yesterday were futile. Multiple calls to his cellular phone went unanswered. However, former Auditor General (AG) and Chartered Accountant, Anand Goolsarran explained that the situation was highly unusual – based on what he was told. The former AG noted that according to Section 35(2), of the Procurement Act, if a procuring entity issues clarification or modification of the tender documents, or if a meeting is held with suppliers or contractors, it shall, prior to the deadline, extend the deadline as necessary to allow all bidders enough time to submit their tenders based on the clarification/modification, or the results of the meeting. Goolsarran noted, also,
re-orient our employers making them more responsive towards these employees and eventually removing any form of stigma and discrimination that may exist in the workplace.” Nine out of 10 persons with mental health illness have experienced some form of stigma and discrimination. This state of affairs has re-
sulted in many patients opting to not seek medical attention until their condition becomes severe. “I understand your fear about this particular disease and the likely pain you might experience because of stigma and discrimination. I know the temptation many of us experience to hide our family Continued on page 24
Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson
Govt. crafts vigorous screening plan to combat mental illness In its fervent quest to combat the scourge of mental illness, Government has crafted a plan that will see more vigorous screening to identify potential mental health and substance abuse patients. Policies, programmes and interventions in this regard will be data-driven to help reshape public perception and behaviour towards people with mental health challenges. This disclosure was recently vocalized by Minister of Public Health, Ms. Volda Lawrence, who pointed out that “these will also help to
that in accordance with Section 35(3), prior to the deadline for submission of tenders, the procuring entity may – at its absolute discretion – extend the deadline based on documentary evidence that a supplier or contractor was prevented from meeting the deadline by factors beyond his/her control. It is still unclear whether all contractors who were supplied bid documents were notified of the extension. Further, it is unclear whether it was a unilateral decision to extend the deadline at the time of opening of the tenders without regard to the consider-
ations provided for by law. Goolsarran noted that if this is so, then the Procurement Act has been breached and would be appropriate for the works to be re-tendered. The Sheriff Street– Mandela Avenue Project is being funded by the InterAmerican Development Bank. The contract was signed on March 15, 2013. The scope of works for the Sheriff Street into Mandela Avenue road corridor includes asphaltic pavement, road safety, upgrading traffic intersection signals at each of the major road junctions, and traffic and drainage improve-
ment works. There is also expected to be structural works to bridges, culverts and other supporting infrastructure. Pavement works will include the construction of a two-lane roadway with a median partitioning the two lanes along Sheriff Street. The first section of Mandela Avenue will involve expansion from a two-lane to a four-lane roadway with a median in the centre, while the second section will consist of three lanes. Contracts in the sum of $50,095,649 were awarded to local companies for the relocation of utilities.
PAGE 12
Thursday April 13, 2017
Kaieteur News
Effective AML framework will demand convictions - AG -Calls for sharing of information among agencies It is not enough that Guyana is armed with the relevant laws to detect and prevent money laundering and terrorist financing. According to Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, an effective Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework will demand convictions. This is an area in which Guyana has been lacking and Williams is determined to change this state of affairs. He made this remark, yesterday, at the National Risk Assessment (NRA) workshop which was held at the Marriott Hotel. At the workshop which is expected to conclude today, Williams said that the NRA is a good starting point in the journey towards an efficient and effective AML/CFT regime. “The National Risk Assessment therefore serves as a yardstick from which to measure Guyana’s progress as well as the weaknesses in our regime; and being equipped with this knowledge, we will be able to know where we have to go if we are to reach our desired goal,” expressed the Minister. Williams also stated that a completed NRA places Guyana in the company of countries like the USA, UK and Canada who have all found the NRA process to be an effective tool in address-
Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams ing the defects in their AML/ CFT regime. The Attorney General noted that this process is pivotal to the further development of Guyana’s regime as it puts the nation in a better position to successfully improve on its existing framework. Through the NRA, Williams stated that the authorities of the day will be able to prioritize and focus on the most crucial areas and strategically allocate resources to strengthen these areas. He noted that the NRA supports the policy making process by enabling the Government and other relevant bodies to address the loopholes in the regime and to plug those holes. The Minister said that the fight against money launder-
ing and terrorist financing is an undertaking that requires the coordinated and dedicated efforts of all stakeholders including policy makers, law enforcement, private sector and financial institutions. He noted that Guyana already has laws to detect and prevent money laundering and terrorist financing. While the relevant laws are important, the Minister of Legal Affairs said that it is equally important that stakeholders understand the money laundering and terrorist financing threats, risks and vulnerabilities that the nation faces. Williams asserted that identifying, assessing and understanding the risks of money laundering will undoubtedly put Guyana in a better position to mitigate those threats and vulnerabilities by implementing the necessary measures. The Attorney General said that this is an essential part of the development and implementation of any country’s AML/CFT regime. Without going through this process, Williams remarked that Guyana would be operating in a vacuum which is counterproductive. EFFECTIVENESS The Attorney General commented that the recent amendments to the AML/CFT Act, which addressed deficiencies in the law, saw Guyana being rated compliant with the Financial Action Task Continued on page 23
Anna Regina power plant to be set up by third quarter A new generation unit for the Guyana Power and Light’s station at Anna Regina (GPL) is expected to arrive before the end of 2017, Generation Engineer for Region Two, Lindsey Shepherd, said. In an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), Shepherd explained that there are currently two generation sets in the region- one at Anna Regina which houses three units and a temporary set at Fairfield, with two units. Shepherd further explained that the plants are aged, existing beyond their life span of 20 years. The official said that electricity distribution in the region can be challenging sometimes, especially when the power company would have to manufacture parts for the plants in the event of disruptions. “The new plan is to build a new plant that should be commissioned around the last quarter of this year. We already procured the units;
it’s just a matter of actual construction. That plant will supply the entire coast, (and) eliminate the need for the two plants,” Shepherd explained. The Generation Engineer noted that Government is moving apace to have it in the region as soon as possible. He said the delay is due to the change of supply of units from Wartsila to the Power Producer and Distribution Incorporated (PPDI). Towards the end of last year, Anna Regina experienced long hours of blackout when two of the three generating units were unavailable due to unexpected mechanical failures. One of the two units was operating at reduced capacity. GPL subsequently managed to undertake urgent repairs on one unit with reduced capacity and has been able to increase capacity to meet peak demand. However, it was decided that the aged units needed to be replaced as soon as possible to better serve the region.
Generation Engineer, Region Two, Lindsey Shepherd Shepherd said when the power plant is provided before year-end, the power company would be in a better position to distribute electricity in the region. Meanwhile, communities including Charity and Suddie are among the list of communities soon to benefit from electricity distribution. Shepherd said within another year those areas will be linked to the grid.
Thursday April 13, 2017
PAGE 21
Kaieteur News
SUV with false number plates seized from gold dealer’s home - former CJ Chang comes out of retirement to prosecute $950M bank fraud The troubles of Bartica gold dealer, Saddiqi ‘Bobby’ Rasul yesterday continued with enforcement officials of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) seizing a high-end Toyota Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) from his city home. According to officials, the dark-colored, heavily tinted Toyota Hilux was picked up from Rasul’s Prashad Nagar residence shortly after 13:00hrs. The 2013 vehicle is believed to have been imported from Brazil earlier this year but it was never declared to Customs. There was no evidence that taxes or duties were paid. Affixed to it were plates bearing the numbers PKK1996. The vehicle does not appear in GRA’s records. The PKK series is one issued about a decade ago. It would have been impossible for a 2013 vehicle to be registered with a PKK number. Enforcement officials were seen at Rasul’s residence before leaving with the vehicle to the GRA headquarters on Camp Street. The vehicle was one used by Rasul’s in his gold dealing operations. Rasul is under fire from several Government agencies
The seized Toyota SUV in GRA’s compound, Camp Street, yesterday. for his gold dealing activities. In a meteoric rise over six months, he became one of the leading gold dealers for the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) last year. His activities came crashing down, spectacularly, about two weeks ago after the Bartica branch of the Guyana Bank For Trade and Industry (GBTI) discovered that cheques totalling over $950M that were deposited to his account had bounced. However, by then, he had collected that amount using a number of his employees who presented several cheques. It is believed that a bank official did not follow internal procedures to ensure that
Rasul’s accounts at Citizens Bank had the necessary funds before the payments were authorized. Rasul was arrested and later slapped with several fraud charges before he appeared in court and was placed on $3M bail. The female bank manager who was sent home was also arrested and is said to be cooperating with police investigators who are trying to determine whether she was complicit in Rasul dealings. Yesterday, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum disclosed that the bank manager is cooperating with police. He also disclosed that former Chief Justice (ag), Ian Chang, who retired earlier this
year, will take over the prosecution of the fraud cases against Rasul from the police. This was after he applied for a fiat (permission or order) from the Director of Public Prosecutions to conduct the prosecution. Rasul is also under investigations by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), an arm of the police, for alleged money laundering activities. It is believed that Rasul allegedly used his companies- SSS Minerals Trading Enterprises, which is licensed to deal gold, and R Mining Inc. to evade paying a two percent tax. Under regulations, mining companies are only obligated
Special Prosecutor: Former CJ, Ian Chang
More troubles: Saddiqi ‘Bobby’ Rasul in court last week.
to pay a five percent royalty. They don’t have to pay the two-percent taxes for GRA upfront. Based on GGB records, between September and November 2016, Rasul allegedly passed off over $4.7B worth in gold that he said was mined. However, insiders say that the amounts were too large and could not be mined gold. Rather, it is believed that the gold was what was purchased from miners and then passed through R. Mining to GGB to make it appear as mined gold. Why that did not raise any red flags from GGB and
the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission is what SOCU will be trying to find out. The Ministry of Natural Resources has also announced that it has mandated the new Board of Directors of GGB to examine whether there was any collusion. Police have raided the business and homes of Rasul in the city, Bartica in Region Seven and Charity, Essequibo Coast. However, they recovered only little cash. The bulk of the $850M withdrawn from GBTI is still missing.
PAGE 22
WANTED Straight stitch/over edge machine operators/labourer. Call: 222-2541 8:00am-4:00pm (Mon-Fri)
SERVICES
VEHICLE FOR SALE
One male or female to look after layer birds in Interior. Call: 668-6421
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620
Allion, Primo, Fielder Wagon, Spacio, Bluebird, 212 Carina, NZE, Honda CRV, Toyota IST, RZ & Pit-bull – Call: 650-7501
One female domestic worker to work in Trinidad. between ages of 25-35. Call 1868- 6831528
Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana p assport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: 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: 225-6496/ 662-6045 Eagle’s: Re-gas -$8,000, Washing machine repairs, Gas Stove, Plasma flat Screen computer repairs & more. Call: 697-2969/646-0966 Floor sanding & Lacquering, house plans, estimate & painting, boat for Santa Mission. Call: 650-4362 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158
Toyota Pickup (Tacoma) 2002 /4 wheel drive Manual 4 cylinder - $3M negotiableCall: 649-7771/ 690-7155 Toyota Spacio, fully loaded, big music, leather interior, alarm -$1.6M. Call: 689-7701/ 666-7823 (owner migrating) Not working vehicles for sale, 1 small bus, 1 canter, 2 cars, 2 motor bikes, 1 bobcat. Call: 227-4377/624-6013 1 Toyota Vigo, with 3 RZ engines - $2M. Call: 698-7807 Fully loaded Ford explore sport truck, excellent condition, 22" rims, surrender sound system, DVD head rest. Call: 627-7718
Males between 25-45yrs to work as operator @ Ice Factory in Rosignol. Call: 6183800 between 8am-5pm. Live in domestic must know to cook Indian dishes 25-40yrs, live in or live out waitress 18-25yrs from E.C.D – Call: 698-7172 Land to buy La Parfaite Harmonie, Herstelling, Eccles, Uitvlugt, Tuschen or anywhere. Call: 666-2326 1 Handyman to work @ the Kalyan Mall & Shopping Plaza, 162-163 Lamaha Street, Cummingsburg, Georgetown. Call: 227-6681/655-9187/6273390/647-0933
Experienced curry cooks, puri cook, waiters & cleaners. Apply Hacks Halaal, 5 Commerce Street, Day Shift Only. SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 6471773/660-5257
MASSAGE Angels Massaging Spa. Come relax and be pampered. Call: 694-9775
CAR RENTAL CAR RENTAL
PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 677-7827, 6435122 ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM
DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM
AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL: PICKUP, 9-11 SEAT MIN BUS, GOOD FORAIRPOTR & FAMILY OUTING, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807
WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP REATES,SPECIALOFFERS FOR THE SEASON. CALL: 690-6494
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Complete game shop equipment. Call Leon: 2318424 or 610-0808 1 Complete Sawmill at Ya r r o w k a b r a Linden Soesdyke Highway and 1 F66 – Clarke, Ranger Skidder. Call: 609-8041/ 6441190
Two general workers to work shift system. Call: 218-1400 Experienced Cashier, Apply at Hacks Halaal Restaurant, with written application, 5 Commerce Street.
FULL TIME WAITER/ WAITRESS TO WORK AT AAGMAN RESTURANT, SHERIFF STREET, EXPERIENCEDPREFERRED. CALL: 219-0161/219-0158 Customer Service Representative. Call: 645-0110 Plumber/ Mason for septic tank repairs. Call: 223-6147 or 669- 7064 Driver for water truck, preferably on the E.B.D- Call/ Whatsapp: 682-1048 Workers needed for interior. Call: 674-1767
PROPERTY FOR SALE
VACANCY
Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461
Office Clerk (senior/junior) with CXC English/ Mathematics, computer knowledge an asset. Call: 223-7500
House & Land available for sale. Contact Pacific Development Inc @ Lot 3 Church Street, G/Town. Call: 223-6035/227-8274 Newly built @ Craig E.B.D land 91X50, house 40X28, 3 rooms, 1 self-contained$23M. Call: 718-213-6496/ 617-7691
Design & Make Aluminum windows, doors, stainless rails, showcases, rolling shutters, make & install automatic doors. Call: 2336818/677-5599/659-9999 1 White Passo, PSS, 1 -2 door sankey cooler, 1 -280 Sthil slasher, 1 queen size bed & spring fill mattress, all brand new. Call: 602-3000/ 690-1038 1 (3) Ton Enclose canter $1,050,000. Call: 254-0401
1 Experienced general domestic to work in G/town, must know to cook Indian dishes. Call: 656-6388
We are buying land in Eccles, Herstelling, Farm, La Parfaite Harmonie, Zeelugt, Melanie (East Coast). Call: 233-3006/ 658-5897/651-1969 TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)
Thursday April 13, 2017
Kaieteur News
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 2 Bedroom Executive furnished Apartment in residential Area, close to Ogle Airport with all modern amenities.Call:622-5725/6641070 Bottom flat house @ 25 North Road & Oronoque Street, fully furnished/ air condition/ residence /business.Call: 226-7012 Well maintained self contained 2 bedroom apartments @ William Street, Campbellville -$45,000. Call: 226-6787 Two bedroom apartment with toilet & bath. Contact Nas: 220-6799/ 603-9547 Upper flat for rent 3 bedrooms in Atlantic Gardens- Call: 2274377/227-0613/624-6013
One female shop assistant to work in the Interior, age 2345. Contact: 668-6421
Space for rent @ Vreed-en Hoop Junction, lessons place, church, storage bond, office, others -$20,000 monthly. Call: 603-6400
One nail technician at West Shore Plaza, 15 Public Road Ruimzeight. Call: 269-1524/ 656-3561
Upper flat 2 bedroom apartment in Eccles -$60,000. Call: 233-2082/663-1109
Trainee A.C, Refrigerator, Technician –Call: 231-0655 Room attendant, male security age 30-55, 233 South Road, Lacytown. Call: 225-0198 Experienced carpenters – apply in person to Alabama Trading Georgetown, Ferry Stelling Stabroek.
WANTED Live in waitress, domestic & supervisor 18-45yrs, salary starts -$80,000 monthly, boarding & lodging free (Bar & Grocery). Call: 610-3974 House and land to buy on the East Coast, good condition, from $4M-$6M- Call: 669-8802 Business opportunities needed to invest in Gold trade in Interior. Call: 658-7553
FOR RENT
Live in or live out babysitter/ domestic –Call: 223-7500. Monday-Saturday 8:154:15pm
One cashier, Attractive salary. Phone 696-9386. Or send application by WhatsApp and SMS
General Domestic to work 3 days per week, wash & clean. Apply in person @ Alabama Trading, 65 Robb Street, Bourda. Looking for experienced all round IT specialist. Send CV to jobs@ express truckingcorp.com or call 2276025. Accounts Clerk for Eccles, Industrial Site area knowledge of NIS, PAYE, VAT, Quickbooks. Call: 6144358 Experienced female Accounts Clerk, apply in person to Alabama Trading, 65-66 Robb Street Bourda.
Maid required for domestic work and cooking. Call: 6588669.
TO LET LAND FOR SALE Transported land for sale size 37X270 @ Coglan Dam, Vreed-en-Hoop, W.B.D. Call: 650-5644/677-9938 La Parfaite Harmonie $1.2M, $1.4M, $1.6M, Tuschen Phase II $1.3M, $2M, Uitvlugt -$2M, Herstelling -$3.5M .Call: 6046724 La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.4M, $1.6M, $1.8M, Tuschen Phase II - $1.3M, Uitvlugt $2M, V/Hoop -$27M. Call: 666-2326 Farm (East Bank) $3M, La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.6M, Uitvlugt -$2.6M, Providence -$5M, Bartica - $3M. Call:2333006; 658-5897; 651-1969 TOURS Rodeo, Lethem Rodeo, Brazil, Falls and sightseeing, April 13- 17th. Call: 665-5171, 639-2663, 2237589,658-3758,673-2348
4 AC Rooms/2 large hall with 1 extra room, suitable for business/ offices @ 21 Seaforth St. Campbellville, Georgetown. Call: 226-1877, 624-7436, 654-9350 Fully furnished vacation home with all amenities Call during working hours 227-1218 2 & 3 Bedrooms, fully furnished luxury apartments, long and short term rental. Call: 665-3505/ 655-6270
LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj Building- Call: 644-5166; 6222872; 615-0964; 689-5997 (affordable packages). Continued on page 23
Thursday April 13, 2017
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Effective AML framework will demand... From page 12 Force (FATF)’s Action Plan. Williams said that Guyana has existed the FATF monitoring and the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF)’s third round of Mutual Evaluations. Furthermore, Williams said that this significant progress has been recognized by the US Department of Treasury and more recently, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which has commended Guyana’s efforts. The AG said that the IMF, while recognizing Guyana’s progress also said that the country “should continue to strengthen its Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism Framework in line with international standards.” Williams said that he shared the sentiments of the IMF especially since the fourth round of Mutual Evaluations by the CFATF in 2022 will test the effectiveness of Guyana’s AML/ CFT regime. The Minister of Legal Affairs said that using a data driven process to examine and reform every aspect of Guyana’s AML/CFT framework is most critical to ensuring Guyana’s effectiveness. “Already, we have shown that we have the necessary legislative and supervisor framework in place. However, effectiveness requires much more. According to FATF , a country’s efforts in developing sound laws and regulations and implementing and enforcing them should focus on one goal, that is the high level objective of an effective AML/CFT framework,” commented Williams. He continued, “The High Level objective says that ‘financial systems and the broader economy are protected from the threats of money laundering and the financing of terrorism and proliferation, thereby strengthening financial sector integrity and contributing to safety and security.”
The Minister of Legal Affairs added, “To achieve this high level objective, the FATF has identified 11 key goals that an effective AML/ CFT framework should achieve.” Williams said that these key goals or “immediate outcomes” are what the FATF will assess Guyana’s efforts against; ultimately determining whether the nation’s AML/CFT regime is effective. The 11 key goals include having financial intelligence and other relevant information being appropriately used by competent authorities for money laundering and terrorist financing investigations; confiscation of proceeds and instruments of crimes; and for supervisors to appropriately supervise, monitor and regulate financial institutions and Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBP) for compliance with AML/CFT requirements commensurate with their risks. WAY FORWARD According to the Legal Affairs Minister, there is much work to be done to realize the 11 immediate outcomes. Williams said, “We need to pool our collective ideas and formulate strategies to strengthen our sectors using the NRA and other international standards as a guide. In some instances, we have to go back to the drawing board and in others, we can build and improve on the architecture we already have in place.” The politician also stressed that there must be effective information sharing as this facilitates the detection and prevention of terrorist financing and money laundering and must be central to Guyana’s regime. He said, “Effectiveness relies on the right information being shared and acted upon. Information and evidence must be shared between entities like the Guyana Police Force, Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), the Special Organized Crime
From page 8 the club area but because of the lighting conditions much work was not done. He added that after placing several phone calls the general manager was given a password. Police Prosecutor, Shawn Gonsalves, had told the court that Corporal Gordon went to Club Privilege on the day in question and spoke with Rochford and Phillips. Gonsalves said that the police rank requested to have CCTV footage from the night club and were told by the two that they were not able to hand it over. According to the prosecutor, Rochford and Phillips told Corporal Gordon that only the technician could grant them their request.
The court was told by Gonsalves that the police rank left and went back to the club later in the day to view the CCTV footage and it was discovered that some of it had been deleted. The trial continues on April 27, before City Magistrate Judy Latchman. Former murder accused Leon ‘Whistle’ Duncan of Festival City, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown has been charged in relation to the shooting. It is alleged that on January 8, at Main Street, Georgetown, he discharged a loaded firearm at Seon Nedd, with intent to maim, disable, disfigure or cause him grievous bodily harm. Duncan remains on remand.
Unit (SOCU), the State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU), the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and financial institutions.” The Parliamentarian said that this can be done through the formulation of Memorandums of Understanding. He said that this type of cooperation and collaboration is needed as money laundering and terrorist financing activities are becoming more sophisticated and difficult to detect. Williams continued, “This means that regulatory authorities and enforcement bodies must be able to coordinate and cooperate effectively. This type of engagement should not only be at the national level but we must engage in mutual legal assistance with other countries.” The Attorney General added that effectiveness also demands that Guyana secures convictions and confiscate the proceeds of crimes. In this regard, he said there will be need to train the police, members of the judiciary , state counsel at both the DPP and AG’s Chambers, financial analysts and other personnel to enable them to effectively investigate and prosecute money laundering and terrorists financing offenses. “We will also have to focus on capacity building, especially for agencies like SOCU and the FIU that are currently understaffed so that they can competently execute their mandate...,” the Attorney General expressed. The Minister insisted that strengthening the AML/CFT regime will help Guyana to reduce corruption, strengthen the economy, safeguard the integrity of financial institutions and create a favourable environment for investors. He said it will show the international community that Guyana is serious about combating money laundering and terrorist financing.
Cop recalls visiting...
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EDUCATIONAL French Classes: 276B Peter Rose Street, Monday-Friday open from 1-5pm, www.alliancefrancaiseguyana. com. Tel: 226-1882 Classes for slow learners in Reading, Spelling, Mathematics, and much more for children all ages. Call: 675-4379
Post office staffers testify as drug smuggling trial continues The trial of convicted drug trafficker, Dennis Albert Jones, who is accused of attempting to smuggle 22 pounds of cocaine through the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) continued yesterday in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. It is alleged that on January 20, last, at the GPOC, Jones, 63, of Caneview Avenue, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown had 10.618 kilogrammes of cocaine in his possession for the purpose of trafficking. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge and is on remand. According to reports, the convict was arrested shortly after he attempted to ship cocaine in baking powder and Banko wine to Toronto, Canada. Ranks from the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) intercepted a box containing the prohibited substance. CANU Prosecutor, Konyo Sandiford, called Deoraj Gobidand, a staffer of 28 years at the GPOC to testify. Gobidand recalled that on January 18, last, he was performing duties at the Acceptance Office Parcel Branch at the post office. This section, he explained, deals with bulky packages that have to be examined by CANU and Customs. The witness recounted that Jones visited the post
office around 07:55hrs and requested for a box to be posted via “express” services. “There were three of us in the room—myself, a customs officer and a CANU officer. I asked Mr. Jones for his proof of address and identification card which he gave to me along with a brown cartoon box.” When asked by Prosecutor Sandiford if he knew Jones, Gobidand replied in the affirmative and told the court that the man would usually visit the post office to transact business. The witness explained that the box weighed 12.2 kilograms. The staffer said, “I calculated the price for the weight of the box which was $30,500 for shipping. I collected the money and documented it on a form.” Gobidand went on to say that the box was handed over to the CANU and Customs officers for examination. He said that he was then given directives from the officers to seal the box and wrap it entirely with transparent scotch tape. The witness recounted that he documented the transaction in his ledger and affixed the appropriate postage value stamp on the box which was addressed to Michelle Wilson of Toronto, Canada. According to the witness, neither he nor anyone in his presence tampered with the contents of the box. Also testifying was
Avinash Patterson, the Operations Manager at the GPOC. During the first court hearing, Prosecutor Sandiford had contended that there was overwhelming evidence against Jones, who was sentenced to four years imprisonment in 2012 for trafficking some cocaine in soap powder. Based on reports, Jones was busted after he attempted to ship the cocaine to an African state. The prosecutor had disclosed that there was video surveillance footage from the GPOC and that when police ranks went to Jones’s home to arrest him he was found hiding in the ceiling. Reports also indicate that Jones was deported from the United States of America for drug trafficking. Jones is also facing forgery charges, whereby it is alleged that between September 1 and 30, 2016, with intent to defraud; he forged a Republic of Guyana identification card in the name of Josiah Jones, purporting to show that same was issued by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). The police prosecutor is contending that the identification card was found in Jones’s home and that he confessed to forging the document. It was also noted by the prosecutor that GECOM has no records of issuing that identification card.
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Govt. crafts vigorous screening plan... Venezuelan leader makes surprise visit to From page 11 members away from the glare of an unfriendly environment because of the stigma, we will have to endure if we take our family or friend for treatment at a mental health facility,” said Minister Lawrence. The issue of stigma and discrimination, the Minister believes, is one that stems, not necessarily from malice or a desire to be unkind, but to communication barriers. She asserted that “this challenge must be eliminated especially if it exists among those in the public health sector.” Her remarks came even as World Health Day 2017 [April 7] was commemorated. World Health Day this year focused on depression and the need for persons to be encouraged to ‘talk’ about the disease. “Guyanese must muster the courage to talk openly about this rather than whisper in secret about the challenges faced by our relatives and friends. Let me be candid with you: Mental illnesses are very common and mental illnesses can be treated,” asserted Minister Lawrence. However, each year, on a global scale, approxi-
mately 15 to 20 percent of a population will suffer some form of mental illness. Using this international figure, Minister Lawrence said that it can be estimated that in Guyana’s current population that between some 112,500 to 150,000 persons are likely to suffer from some form of depression. Globally, too, one out of every five children or adolescent, that is 20 percent, has a mental health issues. “Clearly, one is not too young or too old to have a mental health problem,” said Minister Lawrence. “A patient with a mental-health problem is not insane or mad. This misunderstanding has made life even more difficult for patients and those who endeavour to help them.” Even as she reiterated the need for a conscious effort to be made to make things easier for its mental health patients and their support system, Minister Lawrence questioned, “Why should their families and caregivers too face unjust treatment because of members of our society? The time has come for us to break the silence about the inhumane treatment of our mental health patients and their care-givers.” She added, “We need to
begin talking openly about illnesses such as depression because this form of mental ailment affects our ability at home, at work and in our learning institutions.” Since mental health problems do not have to be permanent, Minister Lawrence said, “You can recover and live a full and productive life once you are treated.” According to the Minister, the time is opportune for us to “grasp the opportunity to be educated about mental health challenges and the complications faced by our patients. From today, let us speak with each other and let us emphasize with one another in the common struggle to celebrate the humanity of our mentalhealth patients. They deserve it.” S h e c o n t i n u e d , “ We can ill-afford our patients losing hope; we can ill-afford our care-givers becoming discouraged in the middle of the race; and most importantly, we can illafford our public health practitioners becoming disillusioned in their efforts to nurse our mentalhealth patients back to perfect health.”
OECS summit KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent (CMC) – Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro arrived on a surprise visit for talks with leaders of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) who were resuming their 64th summit here yesterday. Maduro was treated to a red carpet welcome when he landed at the Argyle International Airport, which was built with support from the South American nation. His visit comes less than two months after he was originally scheduled to attend the ceremonial opening of the multi-million dollar airport. He was met on arrival here by Foreign Affairs, Sir Louis Straker and Ve n e z u e l a n d i p l o m a t s based here. Kingstown and
Caracas have maintained and deepened their ties and the island is one of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries that have benefited from Venezuela’s PetroCaribe, an initiative aimed at providing oil at a cheaper price to several countries.. Under PetroCaribe, participating nations can import fuel from Venezuela under preferential payment arrangements. Participating nations say the imitative have been an important social buffered amidst harsher economic realities after the global financial crisis of 2008. Maduro, who was in Cuba attending the Political Council of the Bolivarian Alliance for the People of Our AmericaTrade Treaty of the People
(ALBA-TCP), earlier this week, is expected to meet with the leaders of the OECS sub-region who are meeting here under the chairmanship of the St. Kitts-Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris. The OECS Commission in announcing the continuation of the summit here gave no indication that Maduro, who is facing tremendous opposition at home over his government policies, would meet with the leaders. It said the summit here would be to conclude discussions on health insurance; strategic options for diplomatic representation; greater participation of non- independent member states; agriculture and support services (regional transport); the blue economy; and climate change and sustainable land management.
Enmore liquor shop murder Accused lashed victim about the body rendering him unconscious – eyewitness account An eyewitness account has revealed that accused murderer, Deosaran Bisnauth, used a piece of wood and dealt the victim, Robert Mangal, called “Trevor”, lashes about the body before he collapsed to
the ground unconscious. This account was given by Karran Bharrat Chatergoon, called Manoj. The witness was called to the stand by State Prosecutors, Tuanna Hardy and Siand Dhurjon. Chatergoon recalled that the victim had taken him to a shop in the area to drink. The man recalled that
they purchased half bottle of liquor and some cigarettes from the shop. After he c o l l e c t e d t h e l i q u o r, Chatergoon said he heard the accused arguing with his friend, Mangal. The witness said that at the time, Mangal was unarmed but Bisnauth picked up a piece of wood and dealt (Continued on page 25)
Thursday April 13, 2017
Enmore liquor shop murder From page 24 the man about three lashes across his back after which, Mangal fell, facedown to the ground. The witness told the court that he quickly left the shop with his liquor in hand. Questioned, why he did not intervene, the witness said that he didn’t want to get lashes too. “I go to the shop to drink. So when I see dat I pick up my liquor and go (along) me way,” Chatergoon added in response to questions by the Judge. The witnesses also faced questions from Defence Counsel Bernard De Santos but he maintained his testimony. Under questioning, the witnesses repeatedly told the court that Mangal was unarmed. The accused had claimed that Mangal attacked him with an object (a bottle) and he picked up the wood and lashed him in defence. Mangal was allegedly murdered on July 6, 2013, at Enmore, East Coast Demerara. Bisnauth called “Strokes Mouth” was subsequently identified and arrested for the murder. According to the facts presented by the State, the two people were said to have been imbibing at a shop in Enmore, when the incident occurred. Bisnauth’s trial commenced before Justice Navindra Singh and a 12-member mixed jury at the Georgetown High Court on
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Deosaran Bisnauth called “Strokes Mouth” Monday. Earlier in the trial, shop owner, Daiwattie Guyadeen, testified that she was in her shop when two men entered. She said that she knew one of them as Manoj. The other was a stranger. According to the woman, the men purchased a half bottle of rum and some cigarettes. The witness recalled that one of the men asked her to call a taxi. She said that she remained behind the counter of the shop and obliged the request of the customer. According to Guyadeen, the men joined the
other customers and started to drink at the shop. The woman said that some time after that she heard a ruckus outside. Guyadeen told the court that she ventured to the bridge of her property; there she noticed that a crowd had gathered. “When I go, I see the person that asked me to call the taxi, lying on the ground … I get frightened and run back inside because I is a pressure case…” Guyadeen’s testimony was followed by the evidence of witnesses including Police Detective, Paul Tirat. Tirat testified to conducting investigations into the matter. Tirat said that sometime after the incident, the accused was arrested for a crime. According to the officer the allegation put to the accused is that on July 6, 2013, he lashed Robert Mangal, called Trevor, causing him to receive injuries and to become hospitalised. After the allegation was put to Bisnauth, Tirat recalled that the accused replied “Officer he (Mangal) run me with a bottle and I lash he to defend myself. “ The policeman also recalled that a caution statement was taken from the accused in the presence of his (Bisnauth’s) mother and other police officers. The trial is scheduled to continue at 9:00 am today.
Kimberley process review due to increase in diamond production – Minister Trotman The government has initiated the re v i e w o f Guyana’s Kimberly Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) because of the spike in diamond production, Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman has disclosed. He made the statements during his ministry’s recent outreach in Region Ten. While briefing residents in Kwakwani and Ituni on the work that the Ministry of Natural Resources is currently engaged in, Minister Trotman touched on the KPCS review. “We have seen a spike in our diamond production which makes us feel good; we just have to make sure that we are not processing somebody else’s diamonds from someplace else,” Minister Trotman said. In 2016, royalty from diamonds exceeded the budgeted amount of $24.0M for the period January to October 2016. For last year, 109,651 metric carats of diamonds were declared which earned the government $73,277,347 in fees and royalties. In February, Cabinet approved the request for the expertise of a legal consultant to review the KPCS used
Diamond production has increased with authorities moving to tighten up to ensure dirty diamonds are not mingling with local ones. for certifying diamonds. The KPCS was launched in 2003 in a bid to clean up the international diamond
trade after it was recognised that diamonds were being used to finance wars and terrorism.
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Thursday April 13, 2017
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Hamilton wants real Bahrain battle with Vettel MANAMA (Reuters) Lewis Hamilton is keeping his fingers crossed that he and Ferrari rival Sebastian Vettel can have a proper battle in Bahrain on Sunday after last year’s race did neither of them any favours. Vettel, now joint leader of the Formula One championship with Mercedes’s Hamilton after two races, was unable to start the 2016 grand prix at Sakhir due to an engine failure on the formation lap. The German, who had qualified third behind the then-dominant Mercedes drivers, has been alongside Hamilton on the front row so far this year. “It (the title battle) is going to go right down to the end of the season, and I hope
there’s nothing mechanical that will come in between our sheer battle through ability,” said Hamilton after winning in China last weekend. “I really, really hope it’s just an out and out fight through stubbornness, through mental stability, through fitness, composure...,” he added. Ve t t e l , a f o u r t i m e s world champion with Red Bull, and triple champion Hamilton have 43 points apiece after one victory and second place each. Unless both draw a blank, the deadlock must be broken on Sunday at a desert circuit where both are two times winners and returning in rather better mood than they left last year.
There is a real sense of anticipation about the emerging scrap between two great rivals with a huge determination to win and no less mutual respect of each other’s talents and achievements. “He is at his best and he is phenomenally quick,” Hamilton said of Australian Grand Prix winner Vettel. “Ferrari are at their best in years. We’re at our best as a team, and I feel like I’m at my best. “The ultimate fighter always wants to go up against the best battle he can have because then when you come out on top, it’s so much more satisfying. I love this fight.” UNHAPPY MEMORIES L a s t y e a r ’s r a c e i n
Thursday April 13, 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Follow your gut feeling regarding your business ventures. Emotionally, things may not run so smoothly. Take the day to relax and pamper yourself.
LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Money problems will be difficult to deal with if you have a partner. Travel could turn out to be more exciting than you imagined. Look into some personal changes.
AURUS (Apr. 21- may 21) You will gain new friends if you get involved in environmental issues. Strengthen your position among your peers.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Your position may be in question if you haven't been pulling your weight. Help elders with their concerns.
GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Your ability to dazzle others with your unique and innovative ideas will attract attention. You may find out that someone has not been completely honest with you. CANCER (June 22-July 22) Be cautious while traveling to foreign countries. You will be prone to carelessness that could result in accidents. LEO (July 23-Aug 22) This is not the best time to take a risk, to gamble or spend money you really can't afford to part with. Your contributions will be valued and helpful. VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Deep discussions may only lead to friction. Your concern with older family members and those less fortunate than yourself will only add to your attractiveness.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) You may find your mate somewhat perturbed. Don't be a pest or a troublemaker today. CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) You can write beautiful love letters today. Stop telling others about your problems. Things are looking good for you, so open your eyes and get to it. AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19) Don't even bother trying to get their approval on the things you want to do. Social functions will bring you in touch with new lovers. PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Your personal partner may be less than willing to accommodate you today. Friends or groups that you're affiliated with may want you to contribute more cash than you can really afford.
Bahrain does not hold great memories for either of the current Mercedes drivers, either. Hamilton made a slow start from pole and collided on the first lap with the Williams of Valtteri Bottas, his new team mate this season, who was punished by stewards for his move. Bottas, who has replaced last year’s winner and retired world champion Nico Rosberg, will not want reminding of that as he seeks to move on from a spin behind the safety car that cost him points in China.
Florida to... From page 29 hours - the weekend matches in 2016 began at 12pm and 4pm local time ostensibly in an effort to better capitalise on TV audiences in the Asian subcontinent where the first game would air at 7.30 pm in India and 7pm in Pakistan. This would be similar to the 10am start that the IndiaWest Indies T20I series in Lauderhill followed. Earlier, ESPNcricinfo had reported that CPL officials had asked Broward County Parks for two sets of week-long time frames to be blocked off in August for possible use for the tournament. The matches in 2016, played in July, were the first revenue-generating cricket to come to the ground in four years and increased interest in the India-West Indies T20I match in the following month.
Mercedes should be favorites, after winning the last three races at Sakhir, but Ferrari are sharp on strategy and have shown they flourish in hotter conditions. “I think they will be very, very quick in the next race but there’s a lot of straights there as well and we’ve obviously got, I think, still the strongest power unit on the grid,” commented Hamilton. “So I think that will come into play, for sure.” The race will also see the return of Sauber’s Pasc a l We h r l e i n , w h o h a s
missed two races due to fitness issues, and of former commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone, attending a race for the first time since his ouster by Liberty Media. The 86-year-old Briton told Reuters that a Vettel v Hamilton battle was winwin for the sport. “They are both good friends of mine so I don’t care who wins. It would be nice to see Ferrari win... I’d like to see Sebastian win, But it would also be nice to see Lewis put another notch on his gun,” he said.
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GCB squad for Women’s Super50 named N&M Trucking Service joins Banks DIH, The Guyana selectors have named the 14- teams. Guyana squad: Melaine Henry Trophy Stall for Guyana Cup Fever meet member squad to represent the country in St. (Wicket-keeper), June Ogle, Shemaine Vincent and the Grenadines from Sunday to Monday May 1 in the West Indies Cricket Board’s Women’s Super50 competition. Guyana face the Windward Islands on April 20, Trinidad and Tobago on April 22, Barbados on April 24, Leeward Islands on April 26 and Jamaica on April 28. The final is slated for Sunday April 30 between the two top
Campbelle (Vice-captain), Katana Mentore, Shabika Gajnabi, Heema Singh, Tremayne Smartt (Captain), Akaze Thompson, Plaffiana Millington, Subrina Munroe, Erva Giddings, Mandy Mangru, Lashuna Toussaint and Kaysia Shultz. The Manager is Carol Nurse and Coach is Andre Percival.
Entries were expected to be closed yesterday the N&M Trucking Service of West Berbice has come forward with massive sponsorship for the seventh annual Guyana Cup Fever Horserace meet. With only a few days remaining before race date the excitement has built to fever pitch for the Mega event slated for this Sunday, 16th April (Easter Sunday) at the Port Mourant (Big Yard) Turf Club, Port Mourant Corentyne, Berbice. The meet which will be held in collaboration with the Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and Racing stables has so far attracted 75 entries. The N&M Trucking Service has so far joined other major sponsors in Banks DIH Limited, Trophy Stall of Bourda Market, The Shariff Business Enterprise, the Jumbo Jet Business Conglomerate and Friends in inking their name to the prestigious event. The lineup for the feature B1 and lower event is almost complete for the $1M first prize and trophy compliments of Banks DIH Limited. The lineup includes the best of the best in horseracing in Guyana at the moment with the likes of the much vaunted Princess She Not, the fearsome CP Got Even, the inform trio of Lady Budapest, Brave Sky and Golden Blue Echo, the dependable Just Call Me Boss, Spit Fire, Jack In My Style,
Angela Jeenarine of the organising committee receives the sponsorship from Shavanand Ghansham of the N&M Trucking Service. Keep on Swinging, Climate Change and the returning Kazi Azaria as they look to steal the show in the 1900M event. The other events on the days card are the –event for E3 and lower West Indies bred non earners for 2016 and 2017 and E3 US and Canadian bred non earners for 2016 and 2017 over 1200M. The 4-year-old West Indies bred and G3 and lower event over 1200M which incidentally the distance for all the other events. The race for animals classified H3 and lower. The event
Foreign Affairs ministry dominoes set for today The Foreign Affairs Ministry will be hosting a four – game knock out dominoes competition today at the Ministry of Agriculture canteen starting at 16:00hrs. Entrance fee is $2,000 per teams. Among the teams slated to take part are Guyoil, GNBS, T and HD, Noble House Sea Foods, Office of the Presidency, PSM, GGMC, Police and NDIA. Contact can be made with James Lewis on 666-5857 for more information.
for 3 years old Guyana bred and horses classified ‘I’ 1 and lower. The race for Guyana bred three years old maiden horses. There is the event for animals classified J2 and K and the L and lower event. Among other top runners set to give turfites their Easter Weekend treat and their money’s worth are - Release the Beast, Unsettled, Goodwill Boy, Light UP Canada, Spit Fire, Red and Lovely and Its My Choice, Super Bowl, Cat Messiah, Settling Star, Sweet Return, Isn’t She Charming, Firing Line, Big Man Boss, Goodwill Boy, Amazing Run, Light UP Canada, Witchie Poo, Campador, Red and Lovely and Its My Choice, T and T, Slim Shady, Bird Man, Chelsea, Puppy Tail, Party Time, Flow Jo, Mary Ann, Miss Olympic, Prince Saria, Miss Angelie, The Rock, King Stanley, Supreme Cat, Royal Paymaster, Crown Prince, Natural Beauty, Awesome Cash, Secret Escape, Little, De Rocket and Amazon Warrior among others. A number of added attractions and giveaways and incentives including free kites will be given away on race day. Free programmes will be made available to patrons and fans, while Banks DIH Limited will be having on the spot promotions. Contact can be made with Chandu Ramkissoon (6249063 or 232-0633), Romel Jagroop (624-1798) and Irshad Mohammed on 664-1650 for any details. Race time is 12:30hrs. (Samuel Whyte)
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Mark Singh presents Carib Foods hamper to winner - GCB 75th Anniversary Raffle The Guyana Cricket Board recently announced the launching of its grand fund raising 75th Anniversary Raffle in aid of youth and female cricket development. There was a SPECIAL D R AW I N G d u r i n g t h e 3rd ODI between the WI and Pakistan on Tuesday, April 11th 2017 at the Guyana National Stadium ground. CARIB FOODS, the premier quality food supermarket in
Guyana, located on Croal St, Stabroek, Georgetown and TRANSGUYANA AIRWAYS, another top aviation company, were the sponsors for this special drawing where very attractive prizes were won. Carib Food donated 5 large food hampers whilst Trans Guyana Airways sponsored a weekend trip for 2 to their fabulous Baganara Resort. The winning ticket numbers are: Food hampers: Ticket
#9895 was won by Anil Persaud from Enmore, East Coast Demerara. Mr. Mark Singh, Managing Director of Carib Foods was on hand at the Stadium to present this prize to Anil Persaud. Other Food hamper winners were: Ticket # 11614, Ticket #0481, Ticket #0293, Ticket#9835. The winning Ticket holder for the Baganara weekend Trip was Ticket #11858. Persons can make contact with the GCB O f f i c e i n R e g e n t Road Bourda to claim
Petra Organisation/GT Beer Futsal Competition
Exciting climax beckons Saturday - Organisers commend fans good behaviour By Rawle Welch The highly popular Petra Organisation/GT Beer Futsal Competition heads for an exciting climax on Saturday when beaten finalist of the inaugural event, Sparta Boss, seek redemption against the upset-minded Back Circle side. The venue is the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue and another large turnout is anticipated to bring the curtains down on what has truly been a well executed tournament to date which has prompted the Organisers to commend the fans for their good behaviour. However, before the final, the third place playoff between dethroned champion Bent Street and Sophia could set the tone for a fascinating night of action. In the feature c l a s h , Sparta Boss, definitely the steadiest team in the shorter version of the game will look to expunge the bad memories suffered earlier in the competition when they lost to Back Circle by a 2-3 margin. They looked impressive in their semi-final game against Sophia, winning 4-1 with Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson, Devon Millington, Cleon Forrester, Sheldon Shepherd, Eusi Phillips, Solomon Austin and Denis Edwards, the key to their chances of winning. Richardson and Millington have been the main architects of Sparta’s success along with Shepherd and with the form they are in it will be interesting to see what strategy Back Circle will employ to stop their raids on goal. On the other hand, Back Circle’s defensive proficiency is second to none in the competition and if there is any team that could deny the of-
fensive juggernauts it is them. Back Circle have also shown offensive capabilities as well with Stephon McLean, Selwyn Williams, Akeemo Anthony, Sylvester Richardson, Curtez Kellman and Keron Joshua, all capable of turning a game on its head. The one assurance is that the game will provide end to end action from the onset, but the outcome hangs in the balance. The preceding encounter between Bent Street and Sophia is also proving difficult to choose a winner. In terms of lineup, Bent Street have a star-studded one with players the calibre of Konata Manning, Colin Nelson, Dwight Peters, Anthony Abrams, Joshua Browne, Okanie Fraser and William Europe, all excellent players in this format as well. However, whether or not they could stay with the pace of a fit Sophia unit
will be the test that they will have to survive. Dwayne Lowe, Akeem Jaikissoon, Desmond Cottam, Shem Arthur, Sheik Kamal Orlando Jordan, Simon Emmanuel and Joshua Kamal have played as a team and could be a handful for even as strong a side as Bent Street. The winning team will receive $400,000 and the championship trophy, while the runner-up, third and fourth places teams collect $200,000, $100,000 and $50,000 respectively. T h e M o s t Va l u a b l e Player (MVP) of the championship will pocket $50,000 and a trophy, while the Highest Goal Scorer and Best Goalkeeper will walkway with $25,000 each and the respective accolades. The other sponsors on board are NaMilCo and Star Party Rentals.
their prizes. Raffle tickets are on sale from several GCB officials and staff. The attractive prizes at stake are: · 1st Prize- One Motor Car · 2nd Prize-One JIALING Motor Cycle- Donated by JIALING- AUTOMOBILE POWER PRODUCTS. · 3rd Prize-One 60" T VDonated by READYMIX CONCRETE LTD · 4th Prize-*One Return Airfare to New YorkDonated by DYNAMIC AIRWAYS · 5th Prize-One Gold Necklace- Donated by STEVE’S JEWELLRY · 6th Prize-Return trip for 2 to Kaieteur FallsDonated by RORAIMA AIRWAYS · 7th Prize- One Acer Laptop computerDonated by SBR ENTERPRISES · 8th Prize-Day Trip for 2 to Arrowpoint ResortDonated by ARROWPOINT TOURS
Mark Singh, Managing Director of Carib Foods, presents the hamper to Anil Persaud on Tuesday.
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Thursday April 13, 2017
Kaieteur News
EDFA Senior League 2016/17
Buxton and Golden Stars battle to draw; Ann’s Grove by WO from BAPSC The winning streak of Buxton Stars was halted when they were held to a 2-2 draw by Golden Stars as rivalry in the East Demerara Football Association 2016/17 Senior League continued at the Golden Grove ground, East Coast Demerara on Sunday afternoon last. Five minutes into the match, Golden Stars took the lead on account of a Samall Woodman goal, an advantage that they held on to until the second half when Buxton Stars’ Dennis Fordyce neutralized that advantage to level proceedings at 1-1. The confident Buxton side that is the hottest team in the league this season would take the lead for the first time in the match on nine minutes after equalising through a Shamar Scott goal. The table leaders were in line to take yet another victory but added on time worked in favour of Golden Stars as they earned an equal share of the points when Rundell Liverpool delivered a dagger on 99 minutes. The other scheduled
Samall Woodman (left) and Rundell Liverpool - Golden Stars FC match did not come off since Bachelors Adventure/Paradise Sports Club failed to
show up for their match with Ann’s Grove which was given the walk over.
New exciting breed of karters taking sport by storm A new and exciting breed of karters is taking the sport of motor racing by storm and they could safely stake claim to being responsible for the growing popularity of one segment of the sport which is karting. The newly-refurbished karting track at the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) has been teeming with activity since the young cadre of racers came on the scene. First, they are very young, some as young as six years, and these recent additions to the sport are all very enthusiastic and learning fast, the skills that could see them emerge as the
stars of the future. Of course, most of the young racers come with the sport in their bloodstream with either fathers or other family members, being involved in the sport at some time so the fascination and gravitation towards the activity is clear to see. Karting as we know is usually the route first taken when someone wants to become involved in motor racing with a prime example being Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton, who was a former karting champion as well. It is where the whole process begins and the abundance of talent and skill
that has been on display since the Georgetown Grand Prix and Rental Cup Competition got started is a stunning manifestation of what the future holds for the sport locally. Karting can also help improve your race craft and skills and there is little doubt that the next generation of racers will be even more fascinating to watch than those that preceded them. The advantage they have is that their skills are being honed earlier and in the approved manner with expert advice available all around. The enthralling duel that unfolded in the recently staged Georgetown Grand Prix between Mikhail Persaud and Elan Rahaman bore testimony of what we could expect going forward, while the courageous exploits of Paige Mendonca, Jeremy Ten Pow, John Phang, and Nathan Rahaman, just to name a few, cannot be over emphasised. The large crowd that has been witnessing the events is ample evidence that this segment of the sport has taken off and adds a wonderful dimension to motor racing. Then add the participation of competitors from Canada, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados and you see where the Organisers are heading which is a positive sign for the sport.
Thursday April 13, 2017
Kaieteur News
Scott’s Jewellery offers support to Boyce and Jefford Relay Festival
Page 31
Jaguars odds-on bets for title ahead of final round
Guyana Jaguars … leading the standings heading into final round.
Sales Representative at Scott’s Jewellery, which is located on the corner of Charlotte and Orange Walk Streets, Akash Budhoo (right) hands over sponsorshipto Chairman of Boyce and Jefford Committee, Colin Boyce yesterday as Kavita Singh (left) and Savita Budhoo share the moment. Scott’s Jewellery and Variety Store continued a tradition yesterday when it sponsored the Boyce and Jefford Relay Festival and Family Fun Day, scheduled for April 30 at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary. Scott’s Jewellery has been an established sponsor of the Boyce/Jefford Track and Field Classic and is now a sponsor of the o rg a n i s a t i o n ’s s e c o n d signature event, which will offer athletes cash prizes as an incentive to participation. “This contribution means that we are keeping our commitment to this organisation from last year
to help them continue to organise and develop the sport,” a representative from Scott’s Jewellery, Akash Budhoo said following the presentation. Chairman of the Management Committee for the Boyce and Jefford Relay Festival, Colin Boyce, thanked the entity for their contribution, indicating that plans to host this year’s event are well on track. Boyce committed to continued growth. The relays this year include the 4x100 (Male and Female); 4x400 (Male and Female); 4x200m Mixed Relay; 4x400m Mixed
Relay; Sprint Medley Females (100m,100m, 200m, 400m); Sprint Medley Males (100m, 200m, 400m, 800m); Distance Medley Females (2400m) (400m, 600m, 600m, 800m) and the Distance Medley Males (2800m) (400m, 600m, 600m, 1200m). Cash Prizes of $25,000; $15,000 and $10,000 will be awarded to teams finishing first to third in the relay events for total prize money of $500,000 to be handed out in 10 races. In addition, the event this year will include football, softball cricket, cycling and dominoes competitions.
Florida to host four 2017 CPL matches ESPNcricinfo - Four Caribbean Premier League games will be played in the USA this year, as Florida’s Central Broward Regional Park has been approved by the ICC to host the T20 league’s matches. The stadium in Lauderhill, which remains the USA’s only ground to have ODI and T20I certification by the ICC, will host two matches fewer than last year’s tally of six. CPL officials announced the development after receiving permission from the ICC - who is the approving authority, while USACA remains suspended
- to host the event in Lauderhill. The 2017 edition of the tournament will be held from August 4 to September 10. A source at the Central Broward Regional Park has told ESPNcricinfo that the CPL has reserved Saturday, August 5, and Sunday, August 6, to play two double-headers beginning at 10am and 2pm each day. However, after the Thursday and Friday matches in 2016 struggled to break 50% capacity, with 10,000 tickets allowed for each game, there are no matches scheduled for weekdays this time around. In contrast, the two
weekend double-headers that followed on July 30 and 31 were played in front of virtual sellout crowds as an overwhelming number of out of town fans came to Lauderhill, particularly from New York and Toronto. The stadium source also told ESPNcricinfo that only four CPL teams will be coming to Florida this summer, rather than all six as was the case last year. It is as yet unknown which two teams will skip the USA leg. The time slots for the Saturday and Sunday double-headers have also been pushed forward by two (Continued on page 25)
ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Guyana Jaguars are now the heavy favourites to win a hat-trick of titles in the Regional four-day championship, after maintaining their lead at the top of the standings despite sitting out the ninth round of matches. The two-time defending champions have remained four points ahead of closest challenger Barbados Pride, who suffered a stunning 130-run defeat to perennial archrivals Trinidad and Tobago Red Force inside three days at Kensington Oval last weekend. Jaguars are 109.8 points with Pride still second
on 105.2. Jaguars’ ninth round fixture against Leeward Islands Hurricanes had to be rescheduled from last weekend, to accommodate the threematch one-day series between West Indies and Pakistan in Georgetown. The game will now be played from April 21-24 at the Guyana National Stadium, following the completion of the final round of games next weekend. In that final round, Jaguars clash with a r e j u v e n a t e d Wi n d w a r d Islands Volcanoes who have now won their last two games on the trot to move up to
fourth on 92.8 points. Jamaica Scorpions, meanwhile, saw their title chances slip in the last round when they produced a limp performance against Volcanoes to lose by eight wickets in Kingstown. They lie third on 98.6 points with a difficult assignment against Pride in the final round. Red Force, who started the last round last in the standings, revived themselves with a resounding victory over Pride are now fifth on 82 points. They clash with Hurricanes at Warner Park, with their opponents now last on 66.4 points.
Highlights of Tuesday’s NBA games (The Sports Xchange) Highlights of Tuesday’s National Basketball Association games: Hawks 103, Hornets 76 The Atlanta Hawks, behind center Dwight Howard’s 53rd doubledouble, secured fifth place in the Eastern Conference with a 103-76 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday. Howard scored 19 points on 7-for-9 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds as the Hawks extended their winning streak to four games. It was the first time in four tries that Atlanta defeated Charlotte, and the result guaranteed the Hawks would finish fifth and open the playoffs against the fourth-place Washington Wizards. The Hawks also received 10 points and seven rebounds from Paul Millsap
and 10 points from Ersan Ilyasova. Atlanta rested its regulars in the fourth quarter, but every active player scored. T h u n d e r 1 0 0 , Timberwolves 98 Victor Oladipo scored 20 points, including the gamewinning jumper with six seconds left, as Oklahoma City held off Minnesota. Domantas Sabonis had 19 points as six players scored in double figures for the short-handed Thunder, who were without star guard Russell Westbrook as he missed his first game of the season to rest. Oklahoma City is the No. 6 seed in the West. Kyle Singler tied a season high with 11 points, and Norris Cole had 12 points off the bench for the Thunder, who were also without Andre Roberson (rest), Taj Gibson (rest) and
Doug McDermott (knee soreness). Nuggets 109, Mavericks 91 Gary Harris scored 20 points to lead Denver over Dallas in a game that former Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo watched from the bench in a Mavericks uniform. The Nuggets had four others score in double figures — Mason Plumlee (16), Malik Beasley (16), Juan Hernangomez (14) and Jamal Murray (10). Murray added 10 rebounds for Denver, which was eliminated from playoff contention Sunday. Dallas was without Harrison Barnes, Wesley Matthews and Seth Curry, while the Nuggets didn’t suit up Danilo Gallinari, Emmanuel Mudiay, Kenneth Faried, Will Barton and Jameer Nelson.
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Kaieteur News
Thursday April 13, 2017
Hooper appoints fresh faces to new Georgetown basketball Executive
FRESH APPROACH! New GABA President, Adrian Hooper (centre) poses with some members of the new Executive, from left Kester Gomes, Seraiah Clarke, Natasha Narine and Rawle Toney yesterday.
Woopecker Products Women’s First Division League
Gordon’s four-goal spree leads Pizza Hut GCC to win
A breath of fresh air swept over the basketball landscape in Georgetown yesterday when Adrian Hooper, the new G e o rg e t o w n A m a t e u r Basketball Association (GABA) President, appointed the new Executive that will serve for the next two years.
A constitutional change only allowed Clubs to elect Hooper as President last Sunday. Following his election, Hooper had five days to name an Executive. Instead of going back to the old status quo with the same old faces dominating the sport, Hooper went for a fresh approach with a total
transformational approach. A computer technician by profession, Hooper, who is the Coach of Eagles Basketball Club went in an unconventional direction and appointed new faces to his Executive. He said that he’s happy to present the group to the public following last weekend’s elections. Jonathan DeGroot and Kester Gomes were identified as First and Second Vice Presidents in that order, while Nadine Luthers-Williams will serve as Secretary. Natasha Narine was named as his Treasurer with former national player, Seraiah Clarke Assistant Secretary/Treasurer. Rawle Toney is the Public Relations Officer (PRO). Hooper indicated that the group will meet shortly where they will collectively work on immediately taking basketball to the next level in Georgetown.
Former Rio mayor probed for bribery in Olympics contracts
Aliyah Gordon
Rio de Janeiro’s Mayor Eduardo Paes poses with an Olympic flag at his office after an interview with Reuters, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil August 4, 2015. (REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes/File Photo) National player Aliyah Gordon continued her goalscoring form when she slammed in four goals in Pizza Hut GCC’s 7-0 triumph over GCC Spartans as play in this year ’s Wo o p e c k e r P r o d u c t s Women’s First Division League resumed on Monday, at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground. Gordon netted in the 40th, 54th, 57th and 58th minutes to lead the rout of the young Spartans unit.
Supporting Gordon’s efforts were Tricia Fiedtkou, who scored in the 9th, while Marzana Fiedtkou 24th and Kerensa Fernandes 28th completed their tally. They led 3-0 at the break. Gordon now leads the goals aggregate with six from two matches, while her teammate Sonia Jardine is second on five. Tricia Fiedtkou 9th minute FG (Pizza Hut) MarzanaFiedtkou 24th minute PC (Pizza Hut)
Kerensa Fernandes 28th minute (Pizza Hut) Aliyah Gordon 40th minute FG (Pizza Hut) Aliyah Gordon 54th minute FG (Pizza Hut) Aliyah Gordon 57th minute PC (Pizza Hut) Aliyah Gordon 58th minute FG (Pizza Hut) Meanwhile, play in the Farfan & Mendes Men’s First Division Competition continues next Friday with Bounty GCC facing Pepsi Hikers.
BRASILIA (Reuters) Brazil’s Supreme Court has opened an investigation into former Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes, who is accused of taking millions of dollars in bribes for contracts related to last year’s Olympic Games, court documents showed yesterday. The accusations came from plea bargain testimony by former executives at engineering group Odebrecht SA [ODBES.UL] that the court plans to release yesterday after Justice Edson Fachin opened cases against nearly 100 politicians on Tuesday. One executive testified and provided corroborating documents to show Paes solicited payments of more than 15 million reais ($4.8 million) in 2012 in return
for Olympic contracts, according to the court. A media representative for Paes called the accusations “absurd” and said he had never accepted any kind of compensation for public works while in office. In December, Paes called off plans to teach at Columbia University after a state court froze his assets in a case investigating whether he improperly waived an environmental fee for construction of an Olympic golf course, an allegation he denied. Last month, police arrested two officials in the Rio state government accused of taking bribes in return for a contract to build a new subway for the 2016 Olympics. ($1 = 3.14 reais)
Thursday April 13, 2017
Kaieteur News
Page 33
Athletics team depart for CARIFTA Games
Guyana’s CARIFTA Games team takes a photo opportunity at CJIA with athletics association President, Aubrey Hutson (right) before departure yesterday. Guyana’s representative team for the 2017 Flow CARIFTA Games departed yesterday afternoon for Curacao, where they will compete against the Caribbean’s best youth and junior athletes over this weekend with the hope of climbing the podium. The contingent assembled at the National
Gymnasium just before travelling to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) for departure. The team included: Under 18 Girls: Kenisha Phillips (100m, 200m); Claudrice McCoy (1500m); Chantona Bright (High, Long, Triple Jump);
Onasha Rogers (100m); Tremaine Browne (Long, Triple Jump). Under-20 Girl: Natricia Hooper (Triple Jump, 400m). Under-18 Boys: Daniel Williams (200m, High Jump) and Tarique Boyle (High Jump). Under-20 Boys: Compton Ceasar
(200m); Anfernee Headecker (800m, 1500m); Samuel Lynch (800m); Matthew McKenzie (5000m). Johnny Gravesande (Upper Demerara) and Moses Pantlitz (CWSS) were named as the Coaches, while Yvonne October was named as Team Manager.
NSC on board Super 4 Massive Easter Sunday Football Committed to working with communities towards the enhancement and development of sports across the spectrum, the National Sports Commission (NSC) has once again proven that they are going to also walk the walk. Earlier this week, the NSC through Director of Sport Christopher Jones acquiesced to a request by the organisers of the Super 4 Massive Easter Sunday Football Fiesta that will feature the top four teams affiliated to the West Demerara Football Association. Jones and team, under the commission’s ‘Light it Up’ initiative will be providing lights for what is anticipated to be an exciting evening of football. ”The NSC is happy to be once empowering and driving development by creating the avenue for our
athletes to be involved in high level competition. I am aware of the level of competiveness among the West Dem. teams so we are happy to see this level of rivalry continue, thus our contribution.” Jones also noted that he was impressed with the fact that the Super 4 Massive group, Alex Greene a former junior national player, Akantunde Rudder aka Rigget, Roger Miller and Miles Miller, all former residents of Den Amstel have come together to give back not only to the c o m m u n i t y, b u t t h e association. ”It is always good to see when former players and villagers see the need to give back to the sport and community which made them successful. The fact that these four young men have taken up this challenge is commendable. I wish the
competing teams best of luck and urge their supporters to come out in their numbers on Sunday to cheer them on.” Coordinator of Sunday’s activity, Franklin Wilson, expressed thanks on behalf of the organisers to Jones and the NSC for their partnership in the venture. Following the draw on Sunday last, Pouderoyen and Eagles United of Stewartville will square off in the first semi final which would be played for two
halves of 20 minutes each before two more rivals, home team Den Amstel and Uitvlugt Warriors battle for a place in the final. The respective semi final winners will clash in the final which would be preceded by the third place match between the semi final losers. The winning team will walk away with $100,000; losing finalist $50,000 while the winner of the third place match will earn $20,000.
DoS Christopher Jones hands over sponsorship cheque to Coordinator Franklin Wilson.
rt o p S Petra Organisation/GT Beer Futsal Competition
Exciting climax beckons Saturday
Taylor ends brief retirement from Tests
- Organisers commend fans good behaviour
Fast bowler Jerome Taylor.
Part of the action in this year’s Petra Organisation/GT Beer Futsal Competition.
New exciting breed of karters taking sport by storm
Junior karters seen in action at the last Georgetown Grand Prix.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Fast bowler Jerome Taylor has made an abrupt about-turn and come out of retirement from Test cricket, only ten months after quitting the longest format. The West Indies Cricket Board said yesterday the 32year-old Taylor had indicated that he was again available for selection, after stepping aside from Tests last July. Having played three first class matches for his native Jamaica Scorpions in recent weeks, Taylor could now find himself in contention for a Test spot in the upcoming three-match series against Pakistan. “I believe I still have a lot of cricket left in me and I know I can still offer a lot to West Indies cricket in the Test arena,” he said. “If selected, I will look to put my best foot forward and give my all for the team. We have some young players in the group at the moment and I believe with my experience, I can add to the team going forward.” Taylor had abruptly called time on his Test career ahead of the four-Test series against India last year, but remained available for selection in the shorter formats. He subsequently turned out for the Windies in the three-match Twenty20 series against Pakistan in United Arab Emirates last year when the Caribbean side suffered an embarrassing whitewash. Taylor was among the leading wicket-takers in the Regiona Super50 earlier this year with 16 scalps, including a superb five-wicket haul against Guyana Jaguars at Kensington Oval. Chief selector Courtney Browne welcomed Taylor’s latest decision, saying the Jamaican’s experience would be a welcome boost to the current selection pool. “It is good to see that Jerome has decided to come out of retirement and make himself available for Tests once again,” Browne said. “When you look at the volume of cricket we have this year, we will need to look at all the resources we have available, and having someone of his ability and experience adds value to our player pool.” Taylor has played 46 Tests and taken 130 wickets at an average of 34. He has made a single Test century – 106 against New Zealand in Dunedin nine years ago.
NSC on board Super 4 Massive Easter Sunday Football
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