Sunday April 22, 2018
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Kaieteur News
Kaieteur M@ilbox
Kaieteur M@ilbox
This Government is ignoring the plight of the Marudi Small Miners DEAR EDITOR, Mr. Hamilton Green, a reputable son of Guyana expressed his support and concern about the situation at Marudi in a publication in the Kaieteur News on April 18, 2018. On behalf of the small miners of the Rupununi Miners Association (RMA) and their respective families, and all others that are directly or indirectly dependent on earning their daily bread from their work at Marudi; we thank you very much from the bottom of our hearts for recognizing our efforts and sacrifices made in reclaiming what is rightfully ours. Thank you very much Mr.Hamilton Green. It is amazing and it is a great shame that this community has been neglected by the Government, who promised change for the betterment for all of the people of this country but the authority that promised our community a “good life” disregards the basic necessities. The clarity of Mr. Green in contrast with the blindness of the sectorial authorities shows failure or the lack of interest within the Government. This lack of interest or failure on the part of the Government is evident, when the Minister of State, Mr. Harmon stated in a recent newspaper publication, that our problem at Marudi was a “sectoral problem” just two single
words but he did not give any solutions to deal with our crisis. We do agree with him it is a sectoral problem, identifying the problem without proposing solutions does not change the state of affairs in Marudi. We have been trying for years to get this situation resolved through the relevant “sector”; Ministry of Natural Resources and Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, but up to this day and date, there has not been anything significant that was done for us the small miners of the RMA. The Minister of Natural
Resources met with the President of the RMA, and told him to submit an official proposal at his Ministry. We elaborated a fair proposal, submitted that proposal and we have requested a meeting with the Minister. He promised that he would meet with our President to discuss the details, terms and conditions of the proposal once submitted. Our President had been waiting for over one month in Georgetown, staying in a hotel and generating expense in food, accommodation, transportation etc. Subsequently, we were made to understand
Jagdeo should stop... From page 4 opposition – yet retained until the end came in 2015 – Mr.Jagdeo should allow the courts to independently and properly determine the charges according to the due process of law. It should serve the Leader of the Opposition well to remember that both the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption (IACAC) were ratified by the
PPP in 2003 and 2000 respectively. The incumbent coalition Government is merely taking proactive steps in conformity with international Conventions and current worldwide anti-corruption sentiment – effectively running with the baton that the PPP Government took in hand but stood still on the track holding, whilst marking time as corruption in our country thrived in high and low places. QC Old Boy
that we should talk to Ms. Watson; we all were shocked when we were informed that Ms.Watson said that she would not submit our proposal to the Minister because “that is bad for business”. No further explanation was provided. It is very disappointing also that the sector that is supposed to take care of this “sectoral problem” is not doing anything in favor of the small miners of Rupununi. The awaited meeting was finally held on April 10, 2018, we were informed that the Minister was in the building at the very hour of the meeting, but he did not even make an appearance. Our President has since returned to the Rupununi, but
according to what he has informed us, he has not achieved anything in our favor. We are not against foreigners investing in Guyana, but Romanex has been for decades now in Guyana, their licence to work at Marudi has been suspended by the previous Government. “How” and “why” has their license been renewed, and not only renewed, but under what circumstance, how and why their licence has been renewed in the middle of an ongoing dispute? We need definitive answers! Romanex had abandoned the Marudi area after they had failed to find any gold, and when the small miners found gold, and then they suddenly
rushed back to claim the area that they had given up. Up to this day and date Romanex does not possess one single piece of equipment, not even a small dredge or a small crusher? They have never done any mining; they have never brought any benefit to Rupununi, then why is it so difficult for the Government to resolve this situation without beating around the bush? There are two (2) mountains there that have stone gold which we can work with our crushers. Give us one of the mountains and give Romanex the other mountain or has someone had their tail tied by Romanex? Concerned Citizen.
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Sunday April 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
Kaieteur M@ilbox
Kaieteur M@ilbox
City Hall and the sad state of the Stabroek Market DEAR EDITOR, It just takes a casual glance at Georgetown’s iconic landmark the Stabroek Market in its current sorry state, to realize that it mirrors completely the hopeless state of the administration of the Georgetown Municipality.
At the highest point of this historic structure is a weather vane, wind vane, or weathercock which ever you want to call it, and which was put there for showing the citizens the direction and speed of the wind. This does not work. Look-
ing up at the legendary clock so strategically placed in our nation’s capital, and built somewhere between 1880 and 1881, one can see each dial telling a different time, which of course is because the clock is defective and has been so for decades, due to the Council failing to maintain it. More egregious is that more than two years ago, the Council begged a foreign mission and obtained full funding to have the clocks rehabilitated and returned to working order. Regrettably having received this money they have failed to fix the clock, giving the flimsy excuse that tower housing the clock needs to be repaired first before the clock could be rehabilitated Did they not know this before obtaining funds to repair the clock? And why with the passage of more than two years, this modest tower but historical masterpiece could not be
repaired? To add insult to injury, they have haphazardly hung a string of lights to further deface the structure and highlight at night, the fact that the clocks are not working. The City Council should be ashamed of itself. Going around to the back of Stabroek Market, one is confronted with the broken down wharf that has collapsed several years ago, and for which the Council has failed to even attempt repairs. Instead they have had a grand plan drawn up for a fancy edifice to be put up, using the central government’s sources of funding which really means the VAT and other taxes you and I have to pay to the state. Could the Council say what it is doing with all of the stall rents, vendors’ fees and other municipal taxes that they collect that should be used to maintain municipal markets?
I hope it is not wasted on foreign trips. Then there is the act of cultural barbarism, impropriety and venality where the Council’s administration has allowed a vendor to build a two storied structure that adjoins the north eastern side of the Stabroek Market structure. This ugly projection which incidentally does not have the approval of the Council, nor the National Trust, blemishes significantly this heritage structure and severely hampers the natural airflow of the market. Why does the Ministry of Communities , the Council, the National Trust of Guyana or the Guyana Historical and Research Society not awaken from their slumber, and correct this savagery? Venturing inside this dark, dank, rat infested municipal market more often than not, one is either molested by some urchins who will attempt to sell you stolen items, or al-
ternately try to choke and rob you right under the noses of some unconcerned city constables. But that aside, one is confronted with a most cluttered, untidy and chaotic market that now houses more than a thousand business persons. Long ago stalls were arranged in neat rows with wide passages that allowed the fire tender to drive all the way from the front to the back of the market in the event of a conflagration. Today not even the fire hose could be stretched from the front to the back of the market. How could we the citizens expect our City Council to manage our capital city when they cannot even manage a simple municipal market. How could we expect Georgetown to advance with such corrupt, incompetent and desperate persons at the helm? Jermain Johnson
Sunday April 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
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Sunday April 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
Widespread public perception of corruption involving officials at all levels -U.S Report
A
new report released by the United States Department of State has pointed to widespread public perception of corruption. The annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, which i s t h e department’s most-read publication by far, noted that while the law in Guyana provides for criminal penalties for corruption by officials, and the government generally implemented the law effectively. “There were isolated reports of government corruption during the year, and administration officials responded to the reports. There remained a widespread public perception of
corruption involving officials at all levels, including the police and the judiciary,” according to the report released last week.As it relates to financial disclosure, the report acknowledged that although the law requires public officials to declare their assets to an integrity commission, the commission had not been constituted by the end of 2017. The Commission had lapsed in 2012 under the Donald Ramotar presidency. The members of the Commission were sworn in February. The members are attorney Kumar Doraisami, the committee’s chairman; attorney Thandi McAllister; attorney Rosemary BenjaminNoble and Pandit Rabindranauth Persaud.
According to the U.S , the law sets out both criminal and administrative sanctions for nondisclosure. If a person fails to file a dec laration, that fact can be published in the daily newspapers and the official gazette. Failure to comply with the law can lead to a summary conviction, fines, and imprisonment for six to 12 months. If property is not disclosed as required, the magistrate convicting the defendant must order the defendant to make a full disclosure within a set time. The U.S noted that there were no such publication or convictions occurred during the first nine months of 2017. The Commission was established to scrutinize public
officers to ensure that they do not use their officers for financial gain. Under the law, public officers including the President, Permanent Secretaries, Director of Public Prosecutions, Auditor General, Commissioner of Police, the Army Chief, Heads of the Service Commissions, Foreign Affairs officials, Judges and Magistrates and Department Heads are required to declare their assets to the commission. Also required to submit declaration forms of their earnings and gifts received are Regional Executive Officers, the Chief Elections Officer, Mayors, Chairpersons and Chief Executive Officers of state companies,
Registrars of Lands and the Commissioner-General of Guyana Revenue Authority, along with Presidential Advisors, and Heads of the Gu y a n a G e o l o g y a n d Mines Commission and Guyana Forestry Commission.In response to the report, Prime Minister M o s e s N a g a m o t too described the report as a balanced one that recognises Guyana as an open and free country, that has distanced itself, since 2015, from blatant human rights violations including extra-judicial killings and wanton official corruption.He stated that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration had been cited in previous reports for
“pervasive corruption” and under it, Guyana slumped to the lowest level of the world corruption perception index. “No wonder, then, that the current Re p o r t a l luded that there remained that widespread public perception, though recognising that the new government has effectively implemented criminal laws against corrupt practices. “Our Government would take a deep look at the Report though as a first reaction, it does appear that Guyana has stepped forward into the sunlight of better human right practices, since elections were last held in 2015,” Nagamottoo outlined.
Free tax ride for Exxon’s foreign sub-contractors operating in Guyana By Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell ExxonMobil and its affiliates are not the only ones getting a free tax ride in Guyana. All other foreign companies (sub-contractors) employed by ExxonMobil are enjoying similar luxuries. This free ride was secured under the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) that Guyana signed with ExxonMobil. This fact was highlighted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in a 2017 report it handed to the government titled, “A Reform Agenda for Petroleum Taxation and Revenue Management.”IMF noted that the PSA that ExxonMobil has with Guyana provides for “broad tax exemptions for
subcontractors.”Some of these foreign subcontractors operating in Guyana are Bristow Group Inc, Nobel Oil Group and SBM Offshore. IMF noted that Article 15:10 states that withholding tax on payments made by the contractor to sub-contractors or affiliated companies do not apply during the exploration period. Moreover, the IMF noted that Article 21 says that subcontractors engaged in petroleum operations are exempt from Value Added Tax (VAT) and import duties on imports of equipment and supplies required for petroleum operations. Interestingly this provision is only for the benefit of foreign contractors. The only tax that foreign sub contractors employed by ExxonMobil will have to pay
is excise tax. The companies only have to pay that tax on fuel imports at a rate of 10 percent. However, locals have to pay 50 percent excise tax on fuel. https://www.export.gov/ article?id=Guyana-ImportTariffs IMF said that Guyana forego revenue with such “generous” provisions. The Fund said, “In addition to the forgone revenue, this (the exemptions) introduces administrative complexities and risks of tax evasion. Finally, interest and dividend payments from affiliated companies’ or non-resident sub-contractors’ branch in Guyana to its foreign or head office or to affiliated companies are exempt from withholding taxes.”
Sunday April 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
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Dem boys seh... Trio to go on trial next month over illegal Lisa got some expensive holes wha Soulja Bai gat fuh plug De mouth is muzzled by the hand that feeds it. De Private law that change wouldn’t affect de oil company. Commission, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and That mean that Guyana gun have two set of laws—one aircraft landing at Lethem Sector Industry, Guyana Manufacturing Services Association, de fuh Guyanese and one fuh Exxon.
T
he three men, who were charged last year for allegedly facilitating the illegal landing of an aircraft at Lethem, are expected to go on trial from May 18, before Magistrate Alan Wilson at the Lethem Magistrate’s Courts. The prime suspect 44year-old Hutshan Ramsingh, called Seon Singh, a businessman of Tabatinga Lethem; Nathan Hamilton, 21, of Lot 107 Beverley Hills Drive, Lethem; and Wazim King, 37, also of Lethem, have denied the charge which alleges that between August 10, 2017 and August 13, 2017 at Mandacoro Island Savannah, Santa Fe, Lethem, they conspired with persons known and unknown to facilitate the illegal landing of an aircraft suspected to be involved in trafficking in narcotics and firearm, in an unauthorized port of entry. Ramsingh was remanded to prison after his first appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on December 18, 2017. However, two weeks later he was released on $1M bail by Justice Brassington Reynolds before whom his Attorneys-at-Law renewed a bail petition. According to reports, the illegal aircraft and airstrip were discovered on August 13, 2017 about 10 miles from Santa Fe. Kaieteur News understands that the airstrip which was discovered previously was destroyed by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). Hamilton and King, who at the time were employees of Ramsingh, were allegedly hired and paid to rehabilitate the illegal airstrip. It is believed that the plane, said to be a Brazilian-registered one, and the airstrip, were being used for illegal activities. The plane has a similar registration number to an
aircraft owned by a bank in neighbouring Brazil. Last October, Minister of State Joseph Harmon revealed that persons from Brazil claimed that the aircraft was stolen. The plane was handed over to the army and police had reportedly seized the front end loader. Ranks from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, confiscated two passports belonging to a Colombian and a Brazilian that were found on the illegal Beechcraft twinengine plane. It is believed that the travel documents belong to two of the persons who managed to escape when police and others were closing in. A quantity of dry rations, medical supplies, clothing, footwear, two hand-held radios, flashlights, cellular phones were also found during initial inspection.
fisheries association, de coop societies and all dem organizations quiet when it come to dem oil companies. Dem boys always depend pun de Man above to guide dem steps, direct dem thoughts and bridle dem tongue so dem don’t offend too many people. Everybody want to know what was going through dem people mind when sign dem oil contracts. De more you dig into de oil contract de more sick one gets as a Guyanese. Dem dig 17 holes in Lisa 1. When dem ready to pull out from Lisa Guyana got pay US$200 M to plug she up. Dem boys hear dem got to dig 40 holes in Lisa 2 and if Lisa 1 cost US$200 M fuh plug de Man above got to help Guyana fuh plug back Lisa 2. Fuh explore Lisa 1 de oil company shy a bill fuh US$460M fuh Soulja Bai pay. On to this day dem can’t show Guyana how dem arrive at that US$460M. De contract got Stability Clause which dem boys seh is more a strangulation clause. It strangling Guyana fuh de next 40 years. Yes—40 years. Please don’t worry wid dem fools who seh we gun review de contract after four years. Dem boys careful wid de word review and negotiate.Review mean you can look at de contract but can’t change nutten. Got it Soulja Bai? De contract seh that even if Guyana change de
Hear this!! Guyana can only check de books once a year and it got to tell dem in advance that we coming fuh check de books. That is wha dem fools sign on to. We also agree that if anybody sue Exxon, Guyana got to pay de lawyer fees. If there is an oil spill and Trinidad or any country get affected, Guyana got to foot de bill. Yes!! Me and you and all dem cane cutter, got to pay that bill. If de oil company hire foreign sub contractors dem don’t have to pay taxes. But if de hire a local company like Banks DIH and DDL, Geddes Brass Aluminium and IEL, dem got to pay all de taxes you can think of. Dem boys want to know who in dem right senses would sign on to something like that. It got to be that dem get more than feed. All this going on and all de big organization including Guyana Human Rights Association, Guyana Women Miners organization, dem private sector organization very quiet. Is wha de oil company feed dem? Food or something else. How dem boys can forget Mitta Sharma who always seh, “Is a shad, shad shishuashion Guyana deh in.” Talk half and hope people give some medicine to dem people who suppose to be representing Guyana suh if dem can’t talk at least dem can do something else.
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Sunday April 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
Bank of Guyana should publish findings about suspicious behaviour of banks it regulates - Ram By Kiana Wilburg
C
hartered Accoun tant and Attorneyat-Law, Christopher Ram, insists that as part of its stewardship, the Bank of Guyana should publish its findings and concerns about the banks it regulates. In fact, the lawyer stated that citizens have a right to know this information. He made this and other comments in wake of an article that was carried by Kaieteur News recently. That news item highlighted the fact that Central Bank has never produced a report about the suspicious behaviour of banks operating here. Many readers are unaware of the strategy and regulatory
failures, governance and control issues, and instances of financial misconduct and political interference in the banking sector. Ram believes that a change in this regard is certainly needed and would definitely aid in improving Guyana’s international reputation. The Chartered Accountant said, “Anything that helps Guyana to strengthen regulation will ultimately enhance its international credit rating, lower borrowing costs and increase our reputation as a responsible player in the regional financial architecture. The report on the behaviour and culture of banks here would indeed
Central Bank Governor, Dr. Gobind Ganga
Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram
work to our benefit. It would be welcomed.” Ram asserted, “Also, all citizens have a right to know these things. I am not sure about Central Bank’s legal
obligation to produce such a report however; I do believe that Central Bank should be reporting, as part of its stewardship, its findings and concerns about the entities it regulates.” He added, “But this is also required of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). What is that institution doing about these things as well? We need to know and they also have to be held accountable.” CENTRAL BANK’S PERSPECTIVE Kaieteur News was able to confirm with Central Bank Governor, Dr. Gobind Ganga who is currently in Washington D.C, that the institution has never produced a report on the conduct of banks here. Kaieteur News informed the Central Bank head that
there are several countries in which the Central Bank has made efforts to carry out assessments on the behaviour and culture of banks and produced the findings in a detailed report. Dr. Ganga said, “No. We would have done a report on the financial sector…and so that was done by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in 2015/ 2016. We are implementing the recommendations as you would have seen. There were recommendations with the National Payment System, deposit insurance, consumer protection etc. We are working on all of that.” Dr. Ganga also acknowledged that while Guyana has not undertaken to produce a report on the behaviour of banks here, there are several Central Banks around the world which have done assessments and produced reports. He said, “With us, we are trying to put legislative systems in place to make our financial system more efficient and more effective.” Pressed to say if Bank of Guyana is even desirous of conducting an assessment of the behaviour of banks in Guyana, Dr, Ganga said, “Well, let me say this, we would have done various pieces of that with respect to why they are charging different fees. “We did surveys on correspondent banking and the effects of different technologies. We would have done it, I suppose, in a segmented way.”
Even though Ganga said this would have been done in a “segmented” way, there is not a single report on the findings Central Bank made on the matters he outlined. BEHAVIOURAUDITS Central Banks in several countries around the world have moved in the direction of conducting audits on the behaviour of banks. According to the Bank of England for example, there is a need to conduct such audits to guard against inappropriate behaviour in the banking sector. In fact, the Bank of England has been undertaking in-depth behavioral reviews of their local banks for more than five years, all in an effort to identify those with a high behavioral risk profile. (https:/ /www.libf.ac.uk/news-and-insights/news/detail/2016/04/ 06/behavioural-risk-andbanking-the-dutch-centralbank-approach) The Central Banks of nations like Ireland were also quick to undertake behavioral audits of local banks in the face of scandals on errant lending practices. (https:// www.irishtimes.com/business/financial-services/central-bank-to-assess-cultureand-behaviour-in-banksfrom-april-1.3383228) The African nation of Kenya is very stern when it comes to the management of its banking sector while managing the behavioral trends of its members. It has produced several reports in this regard. (https:// www.centralbank.go.ke/reports/bank-supervision-andbanking-sector-reports/)
Sunday April 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
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Sunday April 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
Man arrested with $1.5M in fuel marker The Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) is currently investigating how more than a million dollars worth of fuel marker ended up in the hands of an outsider. The man was detained on Thursday. He is reportedly implicating at least three other staffers from GEA’s marking section, Kaieteur News was told. One of the staffers implicated was under investigation over a year ago after being suspected of pilfering the marker. Despite glaring evidence of his alleged wrongdoings and recommendations for his dismissal, he was kept employed in the marking section.
- 3 GEA staffers implicated The marker that was found in possession of the man was valued in excess of $1.5M and is said to be a weekly supply given to him by the GEA staff. The marker is a special chemical used by GEA staffers to tagged fuel entering Guyana and for which taxes have been paid. However, over the years,
GEA has been fighting corruption within with some staffers accused of selling the marker. In one case, the container where the marker was stored was broken into and a quantity was stolen. The use of illegally acquired markers could cause the state to use millions of dollars in taxes.
Sunday April 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
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Sunday April 22, 2018
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Kaieteur News
---Hinds’ Sight by Dr. David Hinds---
Ethno-Racial Rebellion and Party Politics in Guyana: A Caution to the Coalition
M
y last column ad dressed the link age between ethno-racialism and democracy. I argued that democracy in Guyana is constantly undermined by our ethnic problem, which unfortunately manifests itself in racial terms. Our two ethnic groups behave as historical enemies with a long history of antagonism, which is most pronounced at the level of politics and economics. But make no mistake, that economic and political competition is a consequence of a larger problem that has over the decades been nurtured and exploited, first by the colonial power and later by our post-independence leaderships. However, it is not entirely true to argue, as many people do, that the problem lies with the politicians; that were it not for politics our major ethnic groups would live in harmony. Leaders exploit what is al-
ready alive among the people—the leaders arise from the ranks of the people and often articulate the silent and not so silent ethnic insecurities and fears of the people. It is for that reason that we have not been able to “solve” our racial problems. In fact, part of our difficulty in Guyana is that some wellmeaning “non-racial” people set out to solve the problem, only to be frustrated when the people ignore their reasoning. Today I want to posit that despite our rigid ethno-racialism, the two ethnic groups have from time to time rebelled against their ethnic parties when those parties went too far down the road of authoritarianism while in Government, and when they failed to be militant enough while in opposition. We have seen that in the cases of the WPA in the 1970s and 1980s and the AFC over the last decade. Both parties evolved within the context of runaway
authoritarianism by the PNC and PPP respectively. The WPA case is unique, in that important sections of both ethnic groups rebelled simultaneously and the WPA, representing the fusion of time, place, personality and politics, was able to tap into that rebellion which almost toppled the status-quo. The WPA had the capacity to capture the energies of the moment, and took it as far as it could, in the face of extreme State and Party repression. The other uniqueness of the WPA’s case is that the rebellion was not electoral, as was the case with the AFC. Hence the question— how would the WPA have performed electorally in free and fair elections at the height of its popularity in the late 1970s to about mid to late 1980s? What we do know is that in 1992 it was roundly rejected by the very masses who had rallied under the party’s “multiracial banner.”
The Baccoo Speaks Last week was what I warned about. There was the domestic killing. Then there was the nonsense on the road. The situation got even worse when it was reported that the madness on the road was sponsored by the very people who are to protect the road user. The situation does not get any better because another senseless driver is going to cause an accident that would hurt an innocent
road user. ** A group of bandits would try to rob a business establishment. They would,
however, get a shock when the police appear out of nowhere. The courts are going to be full of robbers. Sadly, many of them would get bail and return to the streets to continue their merry way. ** The authorities are going to uncover a fraud in a government department. An employee would pocket cheques destined for other people.
The lesson from the WPA case is that in ethnically divided societies like Guyana, moments of ethnic rebellion are temporary. The WPA may have made the fatal mistake of believing that its multi-racial following was permanent; that it had taken Guyana to a post-racial place. Note, the WPA’s entry into the political arena occurred within the context of heightened authoritarianism by the then PNC government which, as it turned out, mistakenly thought that its lock on African Guyanese loyalty was permanent. Hence it was shocked when the WPA quickly developed a strong following among the African Guyanese masses and within key state institutions like the military and public service. Some Burnhamist loyalists to this day hate the WPA for undermining a “Black Government.” What they fail to realize is that the WPA was both a product and a catalyst for an ethnic rebellion within the African Guyanese community that resulted from the over-reach of a government they voted for. The WPA was able to merge that African
Guyanese rebellion with a similar Indian Guyanese rebellion against the PPP for being too soft on the PNC regime. It is that merger that makes the WPA stand out in the trajectory of Guyanese post-colonial politics. History would repeat itself three decades later when sections of African Guyanese rebelled against the PNC and voted for the AFC in 2006. Unlike the WPA case, there was not a simultaneous rebellion among Indian Guyanese. This latter occurred in 2011, by which time the African Guyanese rebels had returned to the ethnic fold with the PNC being part of APNU partnership. Like the PNC in the 1970s, the PPP was shocked that Indian Guyanese had rebelled—it obviously thought that that group’s loyalty was permanent. I have penned today’s column as a caution to the Coalition Government to pay attention to history and sociology of ethnicity in Guyana. The AFC and its Coalition partners may be in for a shock if they believe that the multiethnic vote of 2011 and 2015 is permanent. And the PNC
Dr David Hinds may be in for a bigger shock if it interprets African Guyanese ethno-racial identification with the government as guaranteed electoral support in 2020. The Burnham government was much more grounded in the African Guyanese ethnic consciousness, yet significant sections rebelled against it. This government is not as authoritarian as the Burnham government was, but there are growing signs that it is cut from the same cloth. More of Dr. Hinds ‘writings and commentaries can be found on his YouTube Channel Hinds’ Sight: Dr. David Hinds’ Guyana-Caribbean Politics and on his website www.guyanacaribbeanpolitics.news. Send comments to dhinds6106@aol.com
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By Michael Jordan
M
arva Usher was a very worried woman. Her son, 25-year-old taxi driver Edward Whinfield, had visited her in late December 2009 for a family ‘get together’. He had left at around 22:00 hrs for home. Since then, no one had seen or heard from him. His brother, Jermaine Whinfield, had gone to Edward’s Blue Berry Hill home on January 1, 2010, to collect his brother’s car, but there was no sign of Edward or the car. Later that day, someone
Sunday April 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
told Jermaine that they had seen the vehicle near Bamboo Turn, a bushy area in Wisroc. Fearing the worst, Jermaine Whinfield and other relatives, travelled to the area. The car was indeed there, and so was Edward. He was lying face down on the ground. He was shirtless and barefoot, and someone had bashed in the back of his skull. The taxi driver’s beigecoloured Toyota AT192 was a few yards away. The speakers and a Discman were missing, as well as the victim’s mobile phones. The back seat of the vehicle was blood-
stained. A search of the slain man’s home revealed a bloodsoaked mattress. There was also a blood trail from the bedroom to the hallway Jermaine’s relatives concluded that the persons who killed Edward Whinfield bludgeoned him in his home and then took the dead man in his own car to Bamboo Turn, some six miles away. And Jermaine Whinfield believes that he knows why his brother was slain. In early December, two guntoting men had held up the staff at the Wismar Post Of-
Edward Whinfield fice and made off with $7M. Police received word that Whinfield had driven the getaway car. He was detained briefly, but the investigators were unable to find any evi-
dence linking him to the robbery, But the suspicion is that Whinfield was indeed the getaway driver. It is believed that someone in the gang stole a portion of the loot. Suspicion is believed to have fallen on Whinfield and this may have led to the gang murdering him. Acting on this information, police arrested an ex-cop, a doctor’s son, his girlfriend, and her mother. The ex-policeman and the physician’s son were all associates of the slain man. According to reports, the former cop was implicated before in criminal activities at Linden, including the gangrape of a young woman from the bauxite community. The girlfriend of the physician’s son was employed at the Wismar Post
Office and was among the staff members who were detained after the robbery occurred. However, police were forced to release the suspects after failing to link them to Edward Whinfield’s murder. To date, police still don’t know who killed the young taxi driver and dumped him at Bamboo Turn. If you have any information about other unusual cases, please contact Kaieteur News at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown location. We can be reached on telephone numbers 225-8465, 225-8491 or 225-8473. You need not disclose your identity. You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email a d d r e s s mjdragon@hotmail.com or kamarangnight@gmail.com
Sunday April 22, 2018
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Kaieteur News
==THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN==
This country is destroying its citizens
I
parked my car and was about to enter one of the subsidiaries in DDL’s supermarket chain named Distribution Services Limited (DSL) on Sheriff Street. This middle-aged gentleman called out to me. It was the usual story – the pain, stress and cruelty that people endure living in this impossible country. His son went to the West Demerara hospital with intense pain in his head. He was simply given an injection and sent away. He went home and died three hours later. The dead man’s father is a well-known teacher at a top private secondary school. I called his home to get more details. The wife answered. She asked me not to publish the story. The daughter came on the phone and said, “Mr. Kissoon, you can never win with these hospitals, so don’t do the story. So I am prevented from naming the father, his dead son, the eminent foreign in-
vestor he worked with, the date it occurred at the West Demerara Hospital and the doctor who behaved so recklessly unprofessional. I tried to persuade the daughter to let me run the story by telling her that even in the 20th century, there wasn’t a hospital that would treat a patient like this, in that you just don’t send patients away with a pain injection; further tests must be done. If the hospital didn’t have machines and lab testing facilities, then there was the referral system. The doctor did not refer the young man to the Georgetown Hospital. People are dying in this country quite often from incompetent doctors, and there is absolutely no concern shown by the citizens of this nation. Last week, at the New Amsterdam hospital, a patient with intense pain in his abdomen was sent away after being told he had “wind.” The man had a serious stomach rupture. Protestors
are continuing their demonstration outside the hospital in Linden where a mother died after childbirth. What happened to the inquiry into the incident where a 10 year-old was kicked in her stomach, went to the Georgetown Hospital, was treated and sent away without in-depth tests and died the next day? The post mortem revealed the girl had a ruptured stomach and was bleeding internally. In every instance, the victim was from the lower income strata. If that father did not approach me outside the supermarket, readers would not have known how senseless his son’s death was. But more importantly, do we know how many more deaths like that are occurring each day throughout Guyana? Several times in these columns I have remarked on the incompetence of a substantial number of Cuban-trained doctors. How in the 21st century, could a 10 year-old en-
ter a hospital crying out for pain in the stomach, and the doctor not order tests and Xrays? How in the 21st century, could a young man enter a hospital with agonizing pain in his head, be given a pain injection, and sent away without a scan? How can an entire country with a government accept this barbarity and do absolutely nothing? Of course the problem did not originate with the present crop of jokers that rule this country. It goes back to the president that citizens cynically referred to as the ‘champion of the dirt’. Pick up the newspaper and everyday there is a comment about Exxon. But there are no comments on the treatment of poor people at staterun medical institutions.
People die like swatted flies at these institutions, and all you read about in our newspapers is Exxon, Exxon, Exxon. Even if as a citizen you do not approve of the Exxon contract, aren’t there dangerous and tragic things going on in this land that should cause you to voice an opinion? What kind of humans live in this country, that no tragic event stirs their emotions? What more of a circus do you want than in Guyana, where a bank sends you a formal letter by post, you take that very letter to the bank and the teller asks you for the envelope and if you do not have it, then you cannot be served? Do you have in this world a more sickening nation? You are in possession of the letter they posted to you, but they
Frederick Kissoon want to see the envelope. Even the world’s most brilliant mind cannot fathom the meaning of the envelope. What accounts for the emergence of a nationality named Guyanese, where absolutely no cruel manifestation of human brutality and human suffering meets with even a tiny amount of concern? I will not allow anyone that I care about to be treated by these kinds of doctors.
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A week ago on Monday, citizens of Georgetown woke up to a flooded City after a night of heavy rainfall. Commuters heading to work had a hard time of it, slogging through ankle- and calf-deep water. It was painfully slow going for drivers of cars, carts and motorcycles. The heavy rains came at a time when the tides were so high, that the network of kokers and floodgates that ordinarily protect the City from inundation by the mighty Atlantic simply could not be opened. The water had nowhere to go, so it accumulated everywhere lower than 6 inches. And so, every district in this section of the flood basin stretching from the Kingston seawall to Alexander Village/West Ruimveldt in the south and North Ruimveldt in the east, was flooded for several hours.Caught off guard by the overnight deluge, citizens complained especially about the conditions they had move through to get to work and school. Some of the criticism, rather nasty and short-
Sunday April 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
sighted, came from a particular section of our hyper-sensitive society. Before addressing the citizens’ not unwarranted comments, let’s first point out that the City Council, under several mayors and town clerks, has failed the citizenry big time, and all we could do in the past was to bear witness to Georgetown’s slow descent into squalidness that got progressively worse from around 1998 to 2015. But let’s take a step back just four years from today. Stabroek Market and its environs became infamous for its mountains of rotting, stinking, worm-infested garbage and filth, a haven for rats, flies and diseases. The same conditions existed on lower Brickdam and Hadfield St., all around the central fire station and the Stabroek Wharf, every heap standing like a sentinel, weeks and months at a time.Along the length of Regent St. were ever-present piles of commercial waste on the pavements, in drains and along the parapets on both sides of the road from the Vendors’ Arcade to
the Georgetown Zoo. On Robb St. there was much of the same, but with rotten callaloo, fruits, pumpkin, pepper, ‘provisions’, cabbage and a virtual cornucopia of unsold vegetables, just thrown into the drains or piled up at the roadside for weeks/ months at a time. Now consider the fact that before the PPP’s onslaught on the city, refuse in the commercial districts was cleared daily. The city’s canals, trenches and drains were heavily silted, with Styrofoam and plastic floating and mixed in with wild grasses of all types. There were a pitiful few public facilities for garbage disposal, and it had become a culture almost for the general surroundings around eating houses to be littered with food and drink containers. Unfortunately for the citizenry, neither the Jagdeo nor Ramotar regimes (1999 – 2015) cared about the city, and they never failed to make it plain. In fact, they didn’t even bother to conceal their reasons for this wanton disregard. The Garden City, for more than 2 decades earned
and kept its infamous acronym, the Garbage City. Remember Guyana’s liberation from that callous regime in 2015. With it came some fresh air. The spirited clean-up campaign led by the new Public Infrastructure Ministry was supported wholeheartedly by a brigade of private and corporate citizens. It was a clear demonstration of our people’s desperation to retrieve the former face of the city. Citizens and the business community led a massive clean-up and repair project targeting the colonial era drainage system (90% of citizens had never seen it), parapets, roadways, the city’s markets, government buildings, culverts, trenches and every single piece of infrastructure. Nothing was left untouched. Householders, owners and staff of large and small companies, dealers in heavy duty equipment and retailers of shoes and electronics, came out voluntarily in astounding numbers to sweep, clean, scrub, rake, desilt drains, re-surface roads and pathways, and generally clean up the smelly capital city that had lost its character under tons and tons of muck and waste. One special sight to behold was the staff of Gizmos and Gadgets, clad in gloves
and rubber boots, pushing wheelbarrows, spading up dirt and refuse, and weeding the avenue separating Waterloo St. While Gizmos was doing their thing, the Infrastructure Ministry was cleaning the deeper drainage canals, sewers blocked for at least 20 years were cleared; they were repairing and building new kokers, and encouraging certain business owners who had used their connections with the crooked PPP regime to build illegal structures over sewage and drainage installations, to remove them and allow waste water to flow unimpeded towards the Demerara river.Despite last Monday morning’s flood, one thing remains clear - the work done (and still in progress) by a clear-sighted President Granger and Cabinet continues to build this nation, but in truth, City Hall does not deserve many kudos for developing and carrying out a plan to sustain that massive 2015 citizens project. There is good news though. M&CC is currently carrying out a large clean-up project in the southern city wards including La Penitence and Laing Avenue. The project includes the entire Le Repentir Cemetery stretching from Werk-en-rust to Mandela Avenue. The Ruimveldt
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wards at the eastern end of the city should also be included, and the people in these communities have an opportunity to earn some wages on the side if they agree to lend some muscle to the clean-up. So is it safe to surmise that the complaints we listened to on the way to work last Monday were made because we are now accustomed to no flooding? Did Monday’s flood conditions catch us by surprise because we hadn’t seen flooding in the last three years despite many seasons of rainfall? Have some of us really forgotten what we used to endure during the reign of the four presidents before H.E. David Granger took that oath? And have we paid attention to the reports from around the world in the past two weeks, of unseasonal rains, flooding, mud slides, tornados and other dramatic weather-related events? We really should be, because Climate change is no myth. The people responsible for draining the City and coast would do well to implement that plan now that the lovely blue skies we enjoyed in recent weeks begin to disappear, replaced by heavy cumulus clouds which are surely ushering in our MayJune rainy season.
Sunday April 22, 2018
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Kaieteur News
My column
Power is something that must be controlled. In countries where an individual enjoys unbridled power, then that person does things that would see him being deemed a dictator. The world has its share of dictators. There are people in positions of power in every sphere of national life, but many of them recognize that power is not to be abused. Just recently we were regaled by accusations of sexual harassment by people who were in positions of power. William ‘Bill’ Cosby is before the courts for using his position to have sex with many women, many of them without their consent. There was the Hollywood big wig, Harvey Weinstein, who caused a whole new movement to be fashioned. He had a field day with many women, to the point that he was fired. In Guyana, politicians and judicial officers enjoy power—immense power. Because of this power, some of them have been able to enrich themselves beyond their wildest dreams. There was one magistrate who had touts operating outside the court. The person being prosecuted would meet with the tout who in turn would send a signal to the magistrate. More often than not the prosecuted gets a sentence that is far from commensurate with the crime. Sometimes cases are dismissed, leaving the
plaintiff bewildered. But not in all cases is the power used to enrich the person on the bench. Sometimes this power leads to excesses in the dispensation of justice. I happened upon a case that ended this week with a driver, Owen Greene, being sentenced to one month jail for declining to pay compensation to the plaintiff. He was charged with careless driving, a charge that does not attract a jail sentence. The evidence was that the defendant was driving a truck along the East Bank Demerara Public Road heading to the city. A woman identified as Larissa McDonald was heading in the same direction. One report suggested that the woman overtook the truck then there was a collision.I am not at liberty to suggest that the woman caused it, even though she cut in front of the truck. In the end the matter reached the magistrate’s court. The truck driver was charged because he struck the vehicle in front of him. When I spoke with him he said that he could not afford to be heading to court as often as he would be required to, so he opted to plead guilty. The magistrate, to his credit, asked for an explanation and when he got it, he changed the plea to not guilty. This was some time last year. The case ended on Tuesday when the magistrate said that he found the defen-
dant guilty. The law stipulates that on conviction, the defendant is liable to a fine of no less than $25,000 and no more than $40,000. That was understood, but the magistrate decided to extrapolate. He decided to add a jail term to a conviction that carried none. Greene told me that after the accident, he suggested to Ms. McDonald that he repair her vehicle. The magistrate intervened and suggested that no such thing should happen. Greene suggested that his insurance should take control of the situation. He went so far as to encourage Ms. McDonald to ensure the maximum claim from his insurance. As was expected, his insurance company compensated the woman. So there they were in court and the magistrate asked Greene whether he was prepared to compensate the woman. I would expect that to have the insurance company compensate the woman then ask the defendant to compensate her is double jeopardy. It is not within the remit of the magistrate to demand compensation. The plaintiff could make an application to the court, but it is not for the magistrate to suggest any such thing.Power does strange things to people. It makes them believe that they can distort the rules and apply their distortion according to
their whims and fancy. Last December he threatened one Leroy Bagot with jail if he did not compensate the plaintiff. Who gave him that right? Bagot was as scared of jail as most people are that he paid the compensation. So there is Greene in court trying to explain that his insurance company compensated the woman and that he should not. Using his immense power, the magistrate told him that failure to pay the compensation would land him in jail. So Greene was sent to jail on a conviction that did not carry a term of imprisonment. He has appealed, but while that was happening his wife panicked and raced to pay the compensation demanded by the court. So Greene goes to court for refusing to pay the compensation, however Ms. McDonald gets the compensation anyhow. Greene was now going to serve a jail term despite paying the compensation. Had the situation not been
so serious it would have been comedic. The situation does not end there. Greene appealed and the person to grant the appeal was the very magistrate who sent him to jail. This magistrate then fixes bail pending appeal. I am a law-abiding citizen, but in some cases I have to comment on the actions of those entrusted with the interpretation of the law. I remember doing so when Justice B.S. Roy granted an ex parte injunction against a car dealer when the man was within the precincts of the court. The next thing I knew was a clerk of Justice Roy’s court calling to inform me that the judge wanted to see me. I thought that it was a social call, so I turned up to meet the judge. No sooner had I entered the court than the court was called into session and I was told that I was on contempt charges. I was lured to the court by deception. I faced the trial knowing that there are no appeals
Adam Harris against contempt charges and that the judge was the sole arbiter. I was sure I was heading to jail. It turned out otherwise because my lawyer agreed that I write an apology. The irony was that I was not allowed to report on what transpired during the trial. Such is power.I also remember the same judge inviting Freddie Kissoon to meet with him but given my experience, Kissoon never appeared, so he faced no charge. Will this magistrate invite me for my comments of his handling of the case? I think not.
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uyana is pursuing a model of devel opment aimed at becoming a green state. Education at all levels of society will be necessary if we are to achieve this goal. It is an established fact that the power of the classroom can reach beyond its doors, to address the issues concerning society in general, thus green classrooms and green schools will have to be established. Presently our classrooms and our schools are far from being ‘green’. Our schools were not designed with environmental awareness in mind. Considering the transformation that will be necessary might seem daunting for administrators in the education sector, but it will be necessary. Minds will have to be converted; buildings will have to be changed, all towards making our schools more environmentally friendly.
Sunday April 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
Historical energy sources like fossil fuels are limited, they also contribute to global warming when their waste products are burned. Guyana is ideally placed geographically, we enjoy an average of 12 hours of daylight all year round. The sun provides clean, infinite energy that technology now allows us to harness. In an ideal world, installing solar panels at a school is hugely beneficial. Though it does require initial funds, improvements in technology have driven down the cost of solar installation, but for us it will be a worthwhile investment. While outfitting a school with efficient solar panels seems like a costly endeavour, there is a range of easy, quick ways to utilize solar energy in the classroom to improve the environment, such as:Letting in more sunlight:
In green construction circles, a practice called ‘daylighting’ is used, which installs properly designed windows and skylights to increase natural light. One of the simplest ways to use solar energy is by allowing sunlight into the classroom. Not only is it a free way to keep the class well lit, but studies have also shown that greater sunlight in the classroom improves student performance and health. With increased natural sunlight in a room, many classrooms will not require overhead lighting to see during lessons. Teachers can also be encouraged to incorporate solar energy in lesson plans. There are many sites online that can serve as resources for solar energy teaching material. While passing this information onto students may not diminish a school or
classroom’s carbon footprint, it helps create students who will be more conscious of their energy usage both at home and in the future. Encourage Classroom recycling efforts: Recycling is one of the most popular approaches towards embracing a greener classroom and/or school. Classroom recycling can be as passive as having a separate recycling bin in the classroom, or as active as learning more about the process to implement schoolwide changes or visiting a recycling centre if one exists in the country. No matter how small the action, recycling is an essential part of maintaining the environment and teachers must first start by explaining its importance to students. Without a fundamental grasp of the purpose and necessity of recycling, much of the benefit of passing on the practice is lost. Teachers must therefore educate themselves on the value of recycling before embarking on a school recycling project. Not all students will find recycling particularly interesting, at first. As is often the case in school, the activity will most likely need to be enhanced in order to appeal to students. Start by encouraging stu-
dents to bring in recyclables and keep track of totals. Hold competitions, both within the class and between classes. Start a school Garden: School gardens provide an enjoyable and unique way to get students physically engaged in their lessons and to teach them an environmentally beneficial skill set. A school garden is more than just seeds and soil; it becomes a part of the community. And most importantly, such a project teaches students valuable lessons related to the environment and leading a more sustainable life. Start a composting project: Gardening and composting tend to go handin-hand, especially in conjunction with school garden projects, and according to most experts, gardening without composting only teaches half the lesson. Composting is the process of transforming organic matter, which decomposes to create an organic, nutrient-rich fertilizer or additive to soils. Involving a simple yet detailed and potentially lengthy process, younger students learn many valuable lessons centred on science and the environment. Older students are able to conduct research that involves concepts of biology,
chemistry, and physics. In the end, students participate in a process that incorporates the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling the solid waste they produce. Teach the value of water conservation: Over 97% of the Earth’s water supply is ocean salt water, unusable to humans; another 2% is also unusable, captured in the ice caps and glaciers. This means that only 1% of the world’s water supply is accessible, and with the world’s ever-increasing population, water conservation has become a crucial part of environmental literacy. Teacher and school administrators can monitor school water usage, oversee water pipe maintenance, and institute policies that encourage conservation. Teachers can also play a significant role in instilling the importance of water conservation to their students. Educators have several avenues to consider when promoting responsible waterrelated behaviours that reach beyond the classroom. For starters, incorporating the education of water conservation and the consequences of overuse into the curriculum can be an extremely effective method, and there are plenty of water education materials available to teachers.
Sunday April 22, 2018
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Kaieteur News
Misconceptions about the Emergency Room By Dr Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine mergency rooms have been known to be one of the most effective fields of medicine in resource utilization. They are able to tap into all of a hospital’s resources in one place and can do in hours what otherwise would take days if a patient was sent from office to office for testing, specialty expertise and pharmacy. As efficient as emergency rooms are, they do tend to occasionally experience negative publicity. Negative publicity in the emergency setting is an expected part of the practice and can be used constructively to improve the efficiency of function of the system. However, there are instances where the public view of an emergency room is unwarranted, and creates unnecessary fear and anxiety in the population. Misconceptions or false statements about emergency rooms and its staff are of no benefit to system in general. It is therefore important that we highlight three common misconceptions about the emergency room in an effort
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to appease some of the anxiety created about emergency room care. Myth: If you want to die you should go to the emergency room This is a common utterance by some in society. Patients that come to the emergency room are generally very sick or injured, and even terminally ill at times. These patients sometimes wait too late to come or are sometimes neglected and brought at inopportune times to the emergency department. The emergency room staff is tasked with the difficult situation of battling to save most these patients on a daily basis. The reality is we can never be a hundred percent successful. It is often said that we will fight for a hundred lives and lose one in the process. No one will ever hear of the ninety-nine saved, but we will be chastised for the one that died. Maybe it was a rare human error or it was that patients’ time, the reality is that we are looked at as a failure based on that one patient. Myth: The Emergency room will fix all of my problems Everyone is entitled to a courteous visit to the emer-
gency room just as you are entitled to a courteous visit to a bank. If you order a pan of pizza at a bank, you can’t have it, no matter how upsetting this may be or how much you may want it. A 2012 study published in Journal of the American Medical Association showed that higher patient satisfaction scores are associated with higher health care costs and higher death rates. Patients frequently enter the emergency department expecting antibiotics for the common cold or a CAT scan of the head. They equate patient satisfaction with “customer satisfaction.” While it’s very trendy to say so, patients are not exactly customers. Physicians have a trustee role to maintain, as most of us know what can harm humans, and are ethically and legally bound not to administer it. In many emergency departments, you may be able to demand more tests, but you should know that receiving them may not always be in your best interest. We probably won’t be able to diagnose a skin rash that’s been present for three years, nor we may not be able tell you exactly why your toe hurts if it’s not broken.
The emergency room is designed to identify and treat time-sensitive, life-threatening conditions. Myth: I will be seen quicker if I go to the emergency room This is not always true. Patients are seen according to their level of urgency and not necessarily by the time of their presentation. A patient that comes in with a heart attack will always be seen before a patient who was waiting to be seen for his knee pains. There will always be critically sick or injured patients, and these patients will always have to be given priority. The reality is average
emergency patient wait times can vary from about two to eight hours depending on the country. That’s a long time, especially if you compare that to other care options like health centres, where the average wait time rarely exceeds two hours. As emergency physicians we see daily what others get to experience maybe once in their life. I have seen lives lost in moments of agony but have also seen life snatched from the jaws of death. Fighting to save a life against the odds with the expectation of success is what we do. These constant life-sav-
Dr. Zulfikar Bux ing acts that do occur are for the medical staff to experience, and out of respect for our patients, it will not be heard in public ears. In Emergency medicine what we do matters, and what matters is what we will always do.
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Sunday April 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
SUNDAY Oil companies rob Trinidad US$200M annually through devious tax loopholes…Guyana may be walking the same road It is by no mistake that major oil giants like ExxonMobil, Chevron and Tullow Oil establish subsidiaries in Caribbean territories which have been classified as tax havens. In a study at that was done by an international organization called Publish What You Pay (PWYP), it was noted that these companies seek such territories in order to engage in devious tax avoidance schemes. In fact, the anticorruption agency stressed that the main purpose of these subsidiaries being planted in Caribbean countries is to secure “treaty benefits” that would otherwise be unavailable to them. In its special report, PWYP explained that the CARICOM Treaty allows the “free movement” of money, goods and services. International oil companies in the islands make billions of dollars in profits and are able to transfer their moneys from the island that it is earned in, to its subsidiary in another, before making its way to the oil company’s international headquarters. By doing so, the oil company avoids paying taxes on its profits to the host country. PYYP notes that oil companies over the years have been abusing the CARICOM Treaty for years. PWYP noted that Trinidad and Tobago provides a clear example of the challenges in this regard. It said, “Petroleum companies producing in Trinidad and Tobago with headquarters in the United States and Canada have established subsidiaries in neighbouring countries covered by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Tax Treaty (e.g. Barbados, Saint Kitts and Nevis), thereby avoiding withholding tax on both dividends and interest. As a result, Trinidad loses an estimated $200 million per year.” The organization noted that there are other nations, which are also aware of the risks such treaties bring. In this regard, it noted that Indonesia cancelled a treaty with Mauritius in 2004 over allegations of abuse and tax avoidance. India is currently in the process of renegotiating its tax treaty with Mauritius for similar reasons. The anticorruption agency emphasized that it seems obvious that oil companies create subsidiaries with the sole intent of securing treaty benefits that would otherwise be unavailable to them. GUYANA’S PREDICAMENT There are concerns that Guyana may find itself in the same situation that its CARICOM sister, Trinidad, is in. ExxonMobil is represented by three other oil companies in its Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with Guyana. They are Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, Hess Guyana Exploration Limited and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited. These companies are registered
Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman at the same office here: Lot 62 Hadfield and Cross Streets. But they are incorporated in different parts of the Caribbean. Esso is incorporated in the Bahamas, CNOOC in Barbados and Hess in the Cayman Islands. The Bahamas, Barbados and Cayman Islands are notorious for being tax havens; territories with an extremely low rate of tax or sometimes none at all while offering some degree of secrecy. More Ex-Ministers heading to court – more than 25 cases of lands, properties sold below market prices Days after two powerful officials of the previous administration were slapped with fraud-related charges regarding the sale of state lands on East Coast Demerara, it is being confirmed that a few more will be appearing before city courts. Last week, officials of the police’s Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) filed charges in a city’s Magistrate Court against former Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, and ex-chief of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Winston Brassington. The charges relate to the sale of lands to MovieTowne, Scady Business Corporation and National Hardware. Prosecutors are arguing that the lands were deliberately sold way below the market value, causing a loss to the people of Guyana. Over the weekend, officials said that, there are about 25 similar cases where lands and properties were disposed of below market prices. The names of five other exministers were said to be among those to be charged. While Kaieteur News was unable to make contact with SOCU’s head, Sydney James, for confirmation, sources said that the cases will include properties sold to a number of prominent businessmen, including at least two in the Kingston area. With regards to the impending charges for the ex-ministers, it is likely that these are linked to Pradoville Two estate at Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara.
MONDAY Guyana lacks laws to govern electronic payment services– Bank of Guyana Report While there are specific legal provisions for international remittance services, there are no statutory or regulatory provisions to govern a range of other payment services and payment mechanisms in Guyana. This was outlined in a critical report that looks at the implementation of the National Payment System Plan which was prepared by the World Bank in partnership with the Bank of Guyana. In that report, the Central Bank notes that there are no statutory provisions on electronic transactions, including the electronic processing of cheques and the use of truncated or electronic cheques. The Bank said, too, that there are no provisions on credit transfers, either paper-based or electronic, or on electronic debit transfers. It outlined that no secondary measures exist on cards, either credit or debit, or on e-money instruments. Apart from the specific provisions on international remittances, Bank of Guyana officials said that the law is silent on whether nonbanks are allowed to offer other payment services. In the absence of such provisions, the officials said that the provision of domestic remittances and bill payment services by Money Transfer Agents (MTA) falls completely outside legal and regulatory framework, and thus, outside the reach of Bank of Guyana oversight. Finance Minister, Winston Jordan officially launched the implementation plan for the National Payment System (NPS) last week. The economist announced that the plan and its execution will be led by the Bank of Guyana. According to the document, the Bank recognizes that Guyana’s National Payments System falls short of meeting the needs of the economy and financial markets for efficient, safe and sound means to conduct transactions and transfer funds. To overcome these shortfalls,
Finance Minister Winston Jordan the Central Bank is undertaking the leadership role in a comprehensive and strategic modernization of Guyana’s NPS. With the active participations and cooperation of all NPS stakeholders, the Bank intends to undertake a comprehensive initiative to modernize the NPS and advance the use of electronic payments. It was further noted that the broad purpose of the NPS Plan is to state an agreed vision and strategies by all stakeholders in a broadened context based on the findings and conclusions of the Bank and World Bank diagnostics. Trotman warns of attempts to compromise gold board systems Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman has called on senior officials of the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) to conduct better surveillance of the gold sector. While welcoming the re-appointment of the GGB board on Friday, Trotman underscored the importance for staff to remain vigilant. ”I am imploring the board to conduct better surveillance both within the board and outside to ensure that its system remains current, remains modern, remains secure and that includes from your personnel to your computer systems because these will be under tests and there will be attempts to compromise them on a daily basis so I ask you to pay keen attention to that,” Trotman stated. The board members will serve for one year from March 1, 2018 to February 28, 2019. The returning Chairman is Gabriel ‘GHK’ Lall with the Vice Chair being Dela Britton. The other members are John Yates; the General Manager of the GGB, Eondrene Thompson; Legal Officer of the GGB, Stacey Weever; a representative of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), Andron Alphonso, and a representative of the Bank of Guyana. According to Trotman, the reappointment of the members who served last year is a sign that the Government is comfortable and confident in their work.
”I ask that you continue to do your work as is expected according to law and understand that gold continues to be the main pillar until the arrival of oil, upon which this economy rests and so to whom much is given much is expected,” Trotman stated. The role of the board members over the next year will be crucial as the industry moves to enforce stricter rules in order to remain complaint under international antimoney laundering laws. Failure to comply could result in the industry being blacklisted as was the case when the United States decided to ban the import of catfish from Guyana. ”If we don’t play along, in the language that all Guyanese can understand, gold is not Catfish. Gold does not have the wriggle room. We do not have that luxury to afford sanction of a ban on our shipments of gold, on our exports. We cannot afford it, the country cannot afford it. Our dealers cannot afford it…our country cannot afford it,” Lall has explained. The introduction of the AntiMoney Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML-CFT) regime, has been meeting some resistance. According to Lall, there is no “wriggle room” if Guyana intends to continue trading in gold. TUESDAY Guyana commits to paying ExxonMobil’s loan interest irrespective of source of funds– IMF highlights “generous” provision as potential risk for reduced profits for nation The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has noted that Guyana’s generosity to oil giant ExxonMobil creates perfect conditions for the company to engage in actions that can result in the country securing even smaller revenues than that which is expected. Guyana has committed to paying all the interest on loans secured to fund operations at the Stabroek Block. The block is currently worth (Continued on page 32)
Sunday April 22, 2018
From page 32 over US$320B.The 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) that Guyana signed with ExxonMobil has made such “generous” provisions. The agreement states that ExxonMobil will be able to recover the cost of “interest, expenses and related fees incurred on loans raised by parties comprising the contractor for petroleum operations and other financing cost provided that such expenses, fees and costs are consistent with market rates.” The provision is very broad and covers any cost that ExxonMobil may incur for petroleum operations and even “other financing.” IMF thinks that this provision can prove to be disadvantageous to Guyana. The international body said that the treatment of interest expenses in the ExxonMobil/Guyana contract appears to be generous. The fund said that the treatment of interest expense is important because “excessive or abusive use of debt can have a detrimental impact on the amount of profit oil to be shared between the government and the contractor. The mission understands that in Guyana’s PSAs interest expenses, irrespective of the source of financing, are permitted to be recovered provided that such expenses are consistent with market rates.” Moreover, IMF noted that interest payments are exempt from withholding taxes, providing yet another incentive for contractors to finance their costs with debt. Further, IMF said that it is quite common to have limitations on interest deductibility. Some countries disallow interest expenses or limit the amount of debt permitted for cost recovery purposes through caps on debt to equity ratios or earning stripping rules.
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Kaieteur News
The international body said that other countries may prescribe that interest may be deductible only on borrowing to fund development costs or a maximum percentage of such costs. IMF pointed to Uganda’s model PSA, which allows interest on loans (from any source) to finance development operations only up to 50 percent of the total financing requirement. Interest on loans to finance exploration is not allowed. ”Such a restriction could be supplemented with regulations or guidance defining the financing requirement as the cumulative negative cash flow, including tax paid but excluding other disallowed costs. The mission understands that in Guyana, it is common to exempt petroleum and mining companies from withholding tax on interest payments. Therefore, limiting the amount of debt for cost recovery purposes or disallowing interest expense altogether in PSAs may be appropriate. In many cases, oil companies, which form a consortium for a project would borrow from their parents companies. And there are innumerable case studies which show that it is in these instances, corruption takes place. Marriott was on verge of being seized by bank – Finance Minister Government has admitted that it almost lost the Marriott Hotel last year after the facility was unable to make payments for its loans. By stepping in, taking over the loans, the Ministry of Finance managed to renegotiate the interest rates downwards, reducing it from 8.65 percent to 6.28 percent. The Minister was last week speaking about developments under his Ministry. It would be the first time that the Administration has
Marriott Hotel was almost seized last year really been so blunt about the hotel, commissioned shortly before the May 2015 general elections by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic government, under the world-renowned brand. It was supposed to be a flagship project that brought jobs and quality rooms to Guyana. However, the construction of the hotel and how it was configured placed the project under a shroud. The hotel, with its casino and recreation centre still to be built and made operational, is unable to make enough monies with the banks, led by Republic Bank Trinidad, warning management that the payments were due with interest mounting last year. Jordan explained that it is a fact that for commercial purposes market rates of interest are the norms. There could be cases of “sub-market” rates but this is
The mangled car
given to Government, which has to relend to company in question at market rates. In the case of Marriott, the big hurdle was the payments. Government has been toying with placing the Kingston hotel on the market but it is worried about the price. On paper, almost US$80M has been spent for acquiring lands, development, along with the hotel proper. In fact, Jordan is on records saying it is a wasted project that Guyanese taxpayers’ have been saddled to repay. Atlantic Hotel Inc. (AHI), a company that is owned by Government, has no money to repay the loans that it took from Republic Bank Limited (RBL), forcing the Administration to step in or face the loans being called in. The RBL loans were in excess of US$27M, it was reported. Opened in early 2015, the 197-room hotel ran into early problems, not making enough money to repay the almost US$27M-plus syndicated loan it took from Republic Bank. In fact, without the adjoining annex being completed and converted into a casino to an independent operator, the hotel will never realize a profit, even if all the rooms are filled. Last year, up to June, the payments due to Republic Bank were a staggering US$2.356M. Operating under tight checks and balances, the Coalition Government was unable to come up with the money in a hurry. Payments semi-annually now have been brought down from US$1.750M every
six months to US$899,000, or almost half. By 2030, the Atlantic Hotel Inc. (AHI), the special company, which owns the facilities, has to repay the US$26.970M it owes to the bank.
feel sleepy and dozed off, he seh he stop at Number 19 road and tell dem that he feel sleepy and he seh, he wash he face and dem tell he fuh continue drive dat it get lil bit more fun reach home.” WEDNESDAY
Woman killed after car returning from CJIA slams into lorry A hire car driver is currently in police custody assisting with investigations after the vehicle he was driving, HC 2217 and transporting a family of three, slammed into a parked lorry along the Number 58 Public Road just minutes after 7:00 am Monday. The accident resulted in a fatality and caused the other occupants to nurse injuries about their bodies, the driver was unscathed. Dead is Soorojnie Surjraj, of Lot 13 Section A Grant 1305 Crabwood Creek, Upper Corentyne, Berbice. Her daughter Bumika Sukhra is currently at the Skeldon Hospital nursing injuries while mother of the deceased, Raywattie Chanchal sustained a broken leg and has since been transferred to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital from the Skeldon Hospital. An eyewitness told this publication that she was standing along the road when she noticed the car heading East slowly, then she saw the car suddenly “swoop in and hit the truck at the back and all meh hear is boom and dem start scream in the car.” She disclosed that she immediately ran out together with other residents to assist. According to her, the driver of the vehicle told them that, “he
Govt. ignores IMF’s advice to close fiscal loopholes in existing oil contracts The Government of Guyana has chosen to ignore a prudent recommendation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that would secure greater revenues for Guyana from its oil resource. The IMF told government to close fiscal loopholes in existing Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs) that may be a source of base erosion and profit-shifting activities. The Fund advised the government that this should be done in consultation with oil companies that have already entered into an agreement with Guyana. This recommendation was made in a November 2017 report that the IMF handed to the government. The report details the findings of an IMF team that perused the PSA Guyana signed with ExxonMobil in 2016. The IMF reported that the ExxonMobil PSA has the lowest Average Effective Tax Rate (AETR) of all the fiscal regimes evaluated. The Fund said this result confirms that the terms offered in the agreement are generous to the investor, “but were probably required to attract investment at a time in which little was known about the geological prospects of (Continued on page 34)
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Sunday April 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
From page 33 the country. Moreover, some of the countries with the highest AETRs in the sample, such as Norway and Trinidad and Tobago, are mature and well-established producers that have had the opportunity to fine tune their fiscal regimes over time.” The IMF recommended that Guyana move in the direction of those countries that have fine tuned their fiscal regimes. The Fund said that Guyana’s tax framework needs to be improved. While the government reportedly has intentions to review Guyana’s tax framework, it remains firm that it will not be troubling the ExxonMobil contract. Local critics of the ExxonMobil contract have called for a full-blown renegotiation of the contract. But the IMF did not advocate for such a course of action to be taken. The Fund only wants government to close the fiscal loopholes that could reduce Guyana’s share of profit oil. But the APNU+AFC government, which has been deemed “generous” to ExxonMobil, decided against closing these loopholes. Several officials said that the government has absolutely no intention troubling the ExxonMobil contract. These officials include Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin; Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan; Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon. In fact, Harmon told the media that the government is just looking forward, and will try to have a better financial regime reflected in future contracts. The ExxonMobil PSA has provisions that can allow the companies to pass on the cost of unsuccessful wells to those that have proven quantities of commercial oil. This and other provisions will reduce government’s share of cost oil. Six men busted at road block with guns…One jailed, others remanded One of the six men who police nabbed in a stolen car at a roadblock
at Grove Public Road, East Bank Demerara, was Tuesday jailed for a total of eight years on charges of illegal firearm and ammunition possession. The man, 30-year-old Steve Hercules of 2-3 Sisters Village, West Bank Demerara, was arraigned before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Providence Magistrates’ Courts on four charges each of illegal possession of arms and ammo respectively. Hercules admitted that on April 10, at Grove, East Bank Demerara, he had a Glock 9mm pistol with serial number FKA 452 and 11 rounds; one black Glock 9MM pistol with serial number filed off and 11 rounds; a Beretta pistol with serial number PY 1467150 and 11 rounds, and a Taurus pistol with serial number filed off and six rounds, in his possession, when he was not the holder of a firearm licence. Magistrate Scarce sentenced Hercules to serve a term of four years imprisonment on each of the four ammunition charges. The prison terms will run concurrently. Hercules was further sentenced to serve a term of four years imprisonment on each of the firearm charges which will run concurrently. Together, the prison terms imposed for the illegal firearm and ammunition charges will run consecutively. This means that Hercules will serve a term of imprisonment of eight years and pay a fine of $800,000. In his address to the court, Hercules claimed that he was paid $50,000 to transport his accomplices and the illegal weapons. Meanwhile, his alleged accomplices Renard Khan, 31, of Lot 147 Cooper Street, Albouystown; Edward Skeete, called ‘Pretty Boy’, 30, of Lot 309 Independence Boulevard; Marvin Blackman, 27, of South Ruimveldt; Mark Prince, called ‘Fineman’, 39, of Lot 52 Parfait Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, and Nabadinghi Gobin, called ‘Dangles’, 33, of Lot 181 Charlotte Street, Bourda, were slapped with the same charges of illegal posses-
NABBED: Marvin Blackman
NABBED: Renard Khan
NABBED: Mark Prince
NABBED: Nabadinghi Gobin
NABBED: Edward Skeete
NABBED: Steve Hercules
sion of firearm and ammunition. Each of them pleaded not guilty to each of the charges. In addition, the five men were charged jointly for conspiring with Hercules to change the licence plate of motorcar PVV 6204 to HC 4543. They all denied the allegation and were instructed to return to court on April 20, when they are expected to face additional charges. Hercules was charged alone with fraudulently imitating identification mark PVV 6204 on a registered motor vehicle. To this charge he
The men sheid their faces while being escorted from the courthouse
pleaded not guilty. THURSDAY Massive fraud at driver’s licence exams -four cops under scrutiny Call in an exorcist. Better yet, call in a whole team. That’s because over 100 ‘ghosts’ appeared to have turned up, two Thursdays ago, to write the theoretical driver’s licence exams at the Felix Austin Police College. At least, that may be one way of explaining how invigilators overseeing the exams collected 207 test papers at the end of the day, when only 106 individuals sat the test. The real explanation is that despite measures introduced two years ago, there was massive fraud, apparently facilitated by some corrupt police ranks, who are now under scrutiny. A release issued Wednesday by the Force’s Public Relations Department stated that the Head of the Guyana Police Force’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) is conducting an investigation into “seemingly massive irregularities” in the Guyana Police Force learner-drivers theoretical examination which took place on Thursday April 12, 2018 at the Felix Austin Police College, Georgetown. ”This investigation is as a result of a report made by the Guyana Police Force Chaplain to the Commissioner of Police (ag.) that at the conclusion of this examination, his colleague Pastors who invigilated the examination reported the following:One hundred and seventy four
persons were registered to write the examination but 106 persons presented themselves on the day in question. However, 207 scripts were received at the conclusion of the examination, and 155 of the 207 scripts were completed.” According to the release, initial enquiries revealed that a Senior Subordinate Officer and three junior ranks were mandated to oversee the theoretical examination in collaboration with two pastors from the COPS and Faith Community Network partnership. However, the Senior Subordinate Officer “left the examination venue shortly after the examination commenced and did not return.” ”Further…a Junior Subordinate Officer who ought not to have been at the examination venue, presented himself, spent some time and left.” The release also stated that the three Constables left the examination venue prior to the counting of the examination scripts by members of the COPS and Faith Community Network after the conclusion of the examination. ”Only the members of the COPS and Faith community Network, the two pastors, were left in possession of the completed examination papers. Cost of sending remittances to Guyana among world’s highest– Central Bank Report Remittances play an important role in Guyana’s economy. In fact, 2015 figures show that cross-border (Continued on page 35)
Sunday April 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
From page 34 remittances to Guyana were equivalent to 9.3 percent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, a crucial report by Central Bank notes that the cost of sending remittances to Guyana is unusually high, especially for Latin America. Officials of the Bank said that the average cost of an inbound remittance from the United States to Guyana was 8.7 percent in the second quarter of 2016. They said that this is well above the Latin American average of 6.0 percent and the global average of 7.6 percent for the same period. Central Bank said, too, that the lack of competition in the remittance market is believed to be one of the factors contributing to both the high cost and limited access of remittance services. Furthermore, the Bank noted that two large regional remittance companies dominate the market: Massy and Grace Kennedy. The Bank said that each functions as an exclusive super-agent of a major international Money Transfer Organization (MTO). Likewise, the Bank said that each operates in Guyana through a network of around 50 exclusive subagents. It said, “Massy and Grace Kennedy provide their agents with the equipment they need to conduct remittance transactions. The agents provide the liquidity, upfront, to conduct cash-in and cash-out remittance transactions for their customers.” ”The sub-agents are reimbursed, typically on a daily basis, by the super-agent with whom they work. Both Massy and Grace Kennedy conduct unannounced visits
People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Thursday filed private criminal charges in the Magistrates’ Courts against Government Ministers Volda Lawrence and George Norton. The two ministers are charged separately with “misconduct in public office contrary to the common law”. According to court filings, Norton, in June 2016, while serving as Minister of Public Health, authorized the rental of a Sussex Street, Albouystown property for the purposes of a drug bond, from Linden Holdings Incorporated, for $12.5M per month. Norton had come under immense public pressure and was part of a Cabinet reshuffle that saw him being reassigned to the post of Minister of Social Cohesion, and subsequently received the additional appointment as Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport.Lawrence, who assumed the Public Health Minister post, is accused of the unapproved single-sourcing of $605.9M in drugs and medical supplies from Ansa McAl Trading Ltd. for the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) between January and February, 2017. The charges were filed exactly one week after the identical charge was filed by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) against top PPP officials, Dr. Ashni Singh, former Minister of Finance, and Mr. Winston Brassington, the former head of National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL). Shortly after 9 a.m. PPP Parliamentarian, Anil Nandlall, who filed the charges, appeared at court’s office accompanied by his colleagues Juan Edghill and Vickram Bharrat. The charge against Lawrence is filed in
Killed: Darmattie Persaud to their agent locations to monitor operations and performance.” The Bank said that these two dominant firms, along with three other entities, are licensed as Money Transfer Agents (MTA) by the Bank of Guyana under the MTA Act. Central Bank noted that the MTA licence only covers the provision of crossborder transfers. Other services provided by the MTAs, i.e., domestic remittance and bill payment services, are not covered by the MTA Act or any other legal provisions. Be that as it may, the Bank said that the provision of these other payment services is neither legal nor illegal. The report by the Bank goes on to state that physical access to remittance services is relatively limited, and remittances remain almost exclusively cash-based. FRIDAY PPP MPs file private criminal charges against Govt. ministers…but Harmon assures former high-ranking officials will be brought to justice Parliamentarians of the
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PPP Parliamentarians Anil Nandlall (L), Vickram Bharrat (C) and Juan Edghill outside the Magistrates’ Courts office after filing private criminal charges against the two govt. ministers. Edghill’s name, while the Norton charge is filed in Bharrat’s name. Attorney Euclin Gomes is expected to prosecute the case along with Nandlall. Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan issued summons for Norton and Lawrence to appear before her when the case is scheduled to be heard on April 24. Nandlall stated that over the past three years, the opposition has been publicly calling on the Guyana Police Force (GPF), SOCU and the State Asset Recovery Agency (SARA), to investigate the massive incidence of corruption taking place at the level of the Government. Bank of Guyana never produced report on suspicious behaviour of local banks Not a single year goes by without numerous reports
The home the couple shared until a few weeks ago
being made public on the lawlessness, trends and culture of corruption that is entrenched within various government institutions in Guyana. But how much is actually known about the behaviour of banks operating here? Do you know, for example, which banks have been more prone to financial misconduct in the last five years and what Central Bank has done in this regard? Many readers would be left wondering about this “unknown,” since Bank of Guyana has never produced a report that speaks to the strategy and regulatory failures, governance and control issues, and instances of financial misconduct and political interference in the banking sector. This was confirmed Thursday during an interview with Central Bank governor, Dr. Gobind Ganga, who is currently in Washington D.C. Kaieteur News informed the Central Bank head that there are several countries in which the Central Bank has made efforts to carry out assessments on the behaviour and culture of banks and produced the findings in a detailed report. He was asked to say if Bank of Guyana has ever done something similar. Dr. Ganga said, “No. We would have done a report on the financial sector…and so that was done by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in 2015/ 2016. We are implementing the recommendations as you would have seen. There were recommendations with the National Payment System, deposit insurance, consumer protection etc. We are working on all of that.” Dr. Ganga also acknowledged that while Guyana has
not undertaken to produce a report on the behaviour of banks here, there are several Central Banks around the world which have done assessments and produced reports. He said, “With us, we are trying to put legislative systems in place to make our financial system more efficient and more effective.” Pressed to say if Bank of Guyana is even desirous of conducting an assessment of the behaviour of banks in Guyana, Dr. Ganga said “Well, let me say this, we would have done various pieces of that with respect to why they are charging different fees. We did surveys on correspondent banking and the effects of different technologies. We would have done it, I suppose, in a segmented way.” Even though Ganga said this would have been done in a “segmented” way, there is not a single report on the findings Central Bank made on the matters, he outlined. Reputed husband murders Mahaica mom of two, kills self Less than three weeks after a woman was murdered in bright daylight in the street, another startling episode has occurred, this time in a different part of the country. Early Thursday morning, 23-year-old housewife and mother of two, Darmattie Persaud called Kalvina, of Belmonte, Mahaica, was brutally murdered by her reputed husband in front of her children, ages seven and five. The incident occurred in Belmonte, shortly before eight o’clock The suspect, 43-year-old Bishwanie Maraj also of Belmonte, became enraged (Continued on page 36)
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Sunday April 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
From page 35 after the woman ran away from his abusive behaviour several weeks ago and was staying with her sister. After committing the act, he ingested a poisonous substance and rushed back in his house. The police however arrived promptly, removed him from the building, and took him to the hospital where he succumbed several hours later. SATURDAY SARA working on 10 major cases to send verseas The State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) will begin recovery proceedings for 10 cases later this year. Director of SARA, Dr. Clive Thomas, told local media that the agency is in the process of reviewing “well over 50 to 60” cases for the recovery of state assets. “Beginning at the start of the third quarter, we are hoping to focus on about 10,” Dr. Thomas noted. The SARA head was speaking following the commencement of a walk against corruption organised by the agency on Friday. Dr. Thomas noted that SARA had committed to begin court actions by the fourth quarter of this year. However, he explained the 10 cases will have an early start since it is likely these proceedings for these cases will be in foreign jurisdictions. “We are hoping to focus on about 10 because part of the international commitment we have depends on the value of the cases and we have to meet a certain target value. They have to be above a cer-
Participants of the corruption march on Friday 20 April, on Camp Street tain figure for the cases to proceed overseas; to make it worthwhile for the agencies to proceed with the cases.” The State Assets Recovery Act of 2017 makes provision for SARA to pursue international cases valued more than $10M, Dr. Thomas noted. “So, we have to get cases that will at least be asking the courts overseas to deal with at least US$10M.” The cases that are being reviewed by SARA are based on complaints and referrals. “There is no single case that we have ever pursued that has not been referred to us either by another criminal agency … or a government department,” Dr. Thomas
noted. The Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP)’s Office and the Guyana Police Force were identified by Dr. Thomas, as agencies that have made referrals to SARA for it recover state assets. British envoy lauds Guyana’s corruption fight, urges…No impunity for corrupt officials Despite the Opposition’s description of corruption being the worst in the country’s history, Britain believes that strides are being made in the
fight in Guyana. Calling for everyone to make it their business to stamp out corruption, British High Commissioner, Greg Quinn, was Friday among several top officials who are pushing for the issue to take frontburner. The calls were made shortly before a symbolic walk in the afternoon sun along the Camp Street avenue. It was boycotted by the Opposition, with just under 100 persons turning up. Quinn’s comments on the improvements of Guyana would come as the Opposition- the People’s Progressive Party (PPP)— has been painting a bleak picture of corrup-
tion under the Coalition almost three years in office. This would come, also, after a number of ex-ministers of the PPP, have been slapped with fraud related charges. The PPP lost the 2015 elections after a series of scandals, including procurement and alleged theft of state assets Others are set to be charged shortly for the questionable sale of a state lands and properties to themselves and close friends. The Opposition boycotted the corruption walk, organised by the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA), making it clear that it cannot condone a number
A youth leader during a presentation before the corruption walk on Friday 20 April
of instances that manifested under this Coalition Government. The instances include the questionable rental of an Albouystown property from a business to store drugs and hundreds of millions of dollars spent on the purchase of pharmaceuticals by the Health Ministry. The Coalition, under President David Granger, campaigned for the May 2015 elections insisting that it will pull out the stops to stamp out corruption. However, there has been growing impatience in the success rate. On Friday, the British High Commissioner, vowing continued support for the corruption fight, noted that corruption matters as it erodes the fabric of society and undermines people’s trust in the systems of society and the institutions of society. “It is an obstacle to democracy and rule of law.” It also depletes national wealth and degrades the national environment. In the midst of all of this, it must be noted that progress is being made here in Guyana in the corruption fight, based on the scores of the performance indexes. However, he warned, while things are getting better, it is doing so “slowly”. With Guyana still below the score of 50, Quinn said that it is an issue that has to be tackled. “So there can be no impunity for those who are corrupt regardless of where you are. Regardless of who you are, everyone must act within and be subjected to the laws of the land.”
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Sunday April 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
What to eat and avoid on a low-fiber diet
Fiber is a substance in plant-based foods that remains undigested as it passes through the small intestine. A low-fiber diet contains foods that are easily digested and absorbed. Following a low-fiber diet (also called a low residue diet) reduces the amount of undigested food moving through the small intestine, which reduces stool size and frequency. This is particularly important for people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who are experiencing a flare-up. People preparing for a colonoscopy may also need to follow a low-fiber diet, depending on their doctor’s recommendations. With careful planning, it is still possible to get all the essential nutrients from a variety of low-fiber foods. In this article, we look at what foods to include and those to avoid when following a low-fiber diet. Most adults need fiberrich foods to keep their digestive system healthy. However, a high-fiber diet is unsuitable for some people who have specific conditions so a lowfiber diet may be a better option. Conditions that may require a person to eat a lowfiber diet include: · a flare-up of IBD, including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and diverticulitis · an obstruction to part of the bowel · before or after bowel
surgery A low-fiber diet can reduce the risk of the bowel becoming obstructed, or if the bowel is obstructed, it can reduce symptoms such as bloating or pain. Foods to avoid on a lowfiber diet: · Breakfast cereals, including muesli, bran flakes, puffed wheat, shredded wheat, porridge, granola, or cereals with added dried fruits. · Whole-wheat bread, seeded loaves, and bread with added fruit, nuts, or seeds. · All vegetable skins, peels, and seeds, including potato skins. · Whole-wheat or brown pasta or grains, including brown or wild rice, bulgar wheat, quinoa, and couscous. · Cakes or pastries with nuts, fruits, or seeds, including fig rolls, flapjacks, and fruit scones. · Fruits with seeds and peels still attached, including raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, blackcurrants, passion fruit, kiwi, oranges, coconut, and fresh figs.
· All dried fruit, such as figs, prunes, dates, and raisins. · Any raw, uncooked vegetables. · Pulses, such as lentils, baked beans, kidney beans, and chickpeas. · Seeds, such as pumpkin, sunflower, and flaxseeds. · Nuts, including walnuts, brazil nuts, almonds, cashews, and crunchy peanut butter. · Tough or fatty meat. · Fish with bones and the skin still on. · Caffeinated drinks, including coffee, black tea, and cola. · Chunky soups. Proper nutrition is crucial for the best management of IBD and other conditions that affect the bowel. Some people only follow a low-fiber diet for short periods, while others may use it as a long-term strategy. Even if just following the diet for a for a short time, it is still important to try and eat a variety of foods. The following foods may be included as part of a lowfiber diet, depending on individual symptoms and tolerance: · low-fiber breakfast cereals, such as cornflakes and puffed rice · gluten-containing products made from white flour, such as pita bread, naan bread, wraps, noodles, pasta, crumpets, and cream crackers · gluten-free, starchy foods, such as white rice, rice cakes, and crackers · cooked potatoes with skins removed · small amounts of fruits with pits and skin removed, such as ripe banana, melons, and tinned fruit · smooth fruit juice · smooth peanut butter · vegetables without peel, seeds, or stalks · sieved soups or broths · smooth tomato sauce · dairy products in small amounts, only if they do not cause additional symptoms · meat, fish, poached eggs, and tofu (https:// www.medicalnewstoday.com/ articles/321548.php)
Sunday April 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
Prince Charles Named Commonwealth Leader After Queen Elizabeth II’s Endorsement Prince Charles has been named Commonwealth Leader after being endorsed by his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. According to reports, the decision to approve Charles for the position was made by leaders Friday at Windsor Castle. Queen Elizabeth II said on Thursday she hopes her son and heir Prince Charles will succeed her as leader of the Commonwealth. The 91-year-old monarch made her comments at the formal opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which took place in Buckingham Palace. The queen has led the Commonwealth, an alliance of 53 member states that are mostly former territories of the British Empire, such as India, Canada and Australia, since she began her reign of the United Kingdom in 1952. Her role there, like her one at home, is mostly symbolic. “It is my sincere wish that the Commonwealth will continue to offer stability and continuity for future generations and will decide that one day, the Prince of Wales should carry on the important work started by my father in 1949,” she said at the meeting. “By continuing to treasure and reinvigorate our associations and activities, I believe we will secure a safer, more prosperous and sustainable world for those who follow us.”Charles, 69, said in his own speech, “For my part, the Commonwealth has been a fundamental feature of my life for as long as I can remember, beginning with my first visit to Malta when I was just 5 years old.” “And so, ladies and gentlemen, I pray that this Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting will not
only revitalize the bonds between our countries, but will also give the Commonwealth a renewed relevance to all citizens, finding practical solutions to their problems and giving life to their aspirations,” he continued. “By doing so, the Commonwealth can be a cornerstone for the lives of future generations, just as it has been for so many of us.”Charles’ bid to one day assume the queen’s Commonwealth role is due to be discussed at a private Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting retreat at Windsor Castle on Friday, The Telegraph reported. The British government has said it would support Charles to succeed the queen as leader of the Commonwealth if it was discussed at
the leaders’ summit on Friday, while any decision would be taken by consensus, The New York Times reported. Days before the summit, Jeremy Corbyn, leader of Britain’s opposition Labour party, told the BBC, “The Queen clearly is personally very committed to the Commonwealth but after her, maybe it’s a time to say, ‘Well actually the Commonwealth should decide who its own president is on a rotational basis.” Charles’ youngest son Prince Harry was recently appointed a Commonwealth youth ambassador. http:// www.eonline.com/news/ 928609/queen-elizabeth-ii-reveals-wish-for-princecharles-to-lead-the-commonwealth)
Kerry Washington on How Scandal’s Olivia Pope Changed Her When you’ve played a character as iconic as Olivia Pope for seven seasons, she’s bound to rub off on you. Kerry Washington said she’s been changed by Scandal’s Gladiator in white. “I think playing Olivia has really taught me a lot about resilience and about strength, about courage. I think her fearlessness has really helped me to face a lot of adventures in life that I’m not sure I would have otherwise,” Washington told E! News. Series creator Shonda Rhimes has been changed too, but by working with Washington. “It’s funny. We were just
talking about something and I just leaned over and I said to her, ‘You have no idea how much I’ve learned from you.’ She looked at me like I was crazy,” Rhimes told us. “And it’s interesting because we had such a close relationship that I’m not even sure I can enumerate all the things that I learned from her…I think I would still be a very introverted, shy person if it weren’t for Kerry. She’s helped me come out of my shell in many, many ways,” Rhimes continued. Scandal wrapped up its seven-season run with Olivia Pope getting a happy ending…of sorts. She was fi-
nally free of Washington, DC and politics to do whatever she may like…and it was left vague like that. The series ended with two young African-American girls looking at a portrait of Olivia Pope in the National Portrait Gallery. Was it for Olivia Pope’s past actions, or future…as president? What does it mean? That’s a secret Rhimes will likely never tell. However, Washington said, “You know what? If Shonda Rhimes is satisfied, I’m satisfied.” Watch the video above to hear more from Washington, including if she got any of Olivia Pope’s bags.www.eonline.com.
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Kaieteur News
At 104, Helena McAllister still runs the... (From page 20) movement assisted the family onwards. HELENA WEDS Helena met Hilton McAllister, who would later become her husband, at church. She added that she and her husband were both from poor family backgrounds and that “I felt that if someone wanted to marry me, I needed to be independent”. They tied the knot in the 1940s. Her husband was the founder of Mac’s Secretarial School at the above mentioned address. The educational institution for which her husband was the headmaster churned out well rounded students for decades. The late Desmond Hoyte was Assistant Principal at the school before he became the country’s president. Both Helena and her husband held posts at separate medical institutions before joining the teaching profession. Their children later joined the teaching staff. Due to various reasons, the family was forced to close the school in 2001. Helena writes in her biography, “Some parents were not paying fees. Hilton (her husband) decided not to pursue the parents and closed the school instead.” The senior McAllister was described by his widow as an incredible individual who worked around the clock to support his family. Helena also writes that sometime after 1956, her son Godfrey who was then four years of age, became very ill with a stomach problem. “Godfrey was always inquisitive. He was four years old and would reach up onto a table, steal tomatoes and eat them. It seems he ate so many that they destroyed the lining of his stomach. All we knew is that Godfrey could no longer keep down his food. I took Godfrey to the out-patient department at the Georgetown Hospital, and then to other private doctors, and they all said they could do nothing for him and he was given up to die.” The centenarian further writes that her husband, who was at the time in Barbados,
was notified of his son’s condition and soon after travelled to Guyana. “He (her husband) picked up his son from the hospital bed; ignored the doctor’s protest that he could not take his son away from the hospital until the child is discharged; stormed through the door and took his son home.” Helena said that her son had become so ill that he looked like a skeleton and that his father used “nature cure” techniques to restore the young child to health. According to Helena, “Godfrey recovered and went to a private school where he took the Common Entrance Exam and got a scholarship to go to Queen’s College.” Her husband lost his vision to glaucoma at age 96 and passed away in 2008. ADVICE At 104, Helena is still thriving. She is still active in church and has been successfully managing the family business. She was featured in the Guinness Book of Records at age 102, for being the world’s oldest managing director. And whether for business or pleasure, she stays in touch with her contacts around the world via Skype, email and occasionally from her Android phone. She expressed that she has been privileged to live a long life and has learnt some wisdom along the way which she is willing to share. Helena advises to “train your children in the way they should go and be an example to them in your walk, talk and so on”. She underscores that one must be loving and firm, humble, honest and contented. She further encourages others to “read the Bible and serve the Lord”. Although she has never been bestowed with a National Award of any kind, this centenarian has been the personification of the accomplished and virtuous woman. When asked if she had a best friend, Helena replied, “The only best friend I have is Jesus. He is my best friend, because He is always there for me. But don’t get me wrong, I do have some very good friends.”
Sunday April 22, 2018
Sunday April 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
WHAT DOES NEARSIGHTED MEAN? The medical term for nearsightedness is myopia. When you are myopic, you can see things close up (near) better that you can see things far away.
WHAT DOES FARSIGHTED MEAN? The medical term for farsightedness is hyperopia. When you are hyperopic, the light rays focus behind the retina. This can happen
If you are myopic or nearsighted, the light focuses in front of the retina. This can happen if either the cornea ( the front surface) or lens has too much power, or if the eyeball is slightly shorter than normal.
if either the cornea or lens has too little power, or if the eyeball is slightly longer than normal. WILL WEARING GLASSES MAKE MY EYES BETTER? No, glasses do not make your eyes better.
Glasses just help you to see better. Some people mistakenly believe that wearing glasses will make their eyes improve, and they are surprised when they find out this is not the case. As you can see from the diagrams above, people who are nearsighted or farsighted don’t see clearly because the parts of the eye that focus the light don’t work as well as they should. Either the cornea is too steep or too flat,
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or the eyeball is too short or too long. Wearing corrective lenses just change the direction of the light and help you to see better. But the glasses cannot make the parts of the eye that aren’t shaped right change shape, so you will always need glasses to see better. For more information , or if you wish to suggest a question, please contact Dr. Karen Persram at 295 Quamina Street, Georgetown. Tel: 225-0605, or send emails to drkpoffice@gmail.com.
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Sunday April 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
Pensioner fatally struck down in Sophia
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK;Guyanapassport application. G r a p h i c s design, advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6004212: We create A/works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Installations, Repairs and parts for AC, Fridge, Washing machine, Stove etc call Nick 627-3206, 630-1600 Budram’s Landscaping Services. Free advice, Free designs, Free after care follow up Tel#626-1044 Personal stylist- Need help in recreating your look? Whether hair,makeup or shopping for special outfits Call: 650-6713 USA Graduate. Hair, Waxing, Eyebrow threading & Colour. 39 Greenwich park, Public road EBE. Tel: 661-0019 Customized Salon Furniture, Kitchen cupboards, Drawface, Cabinets, Doors etc. 39 Greenwich Park Public road EBE. #661-0019 Samuel Williams, Justice of the Peace & Commissioner of Oaths to AffidavitsConsultants. Canal No.1 Polder WBD Tel: 693-3979 Mason available all casting, blockwork and plastering. Reliable, reasonable and quality work offered. Call: 619-3296 Need help with research, editing, univeristy papers, resume? Call: 663-4654
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Cottage house, 2 bedroom, living room, kitchen, dining room located @ Fourth St Pearl, EBD Tel# 219-5462, 625-3981 Unregistered DAF trucks: Dump trucks, Flatbed, Flatbed with crane & hauler, Foden 6x4 Dump truck. Call: 659-3100 New triangle truck tyres, front & all-wheel drive, size 295/ 80R22.5 Call: 647-2022 1-woodmizer resaw HR120 (Kohler engine) 1-resaw blade shapener for 1 ¼” blade. Contact: 218-3399 Organic potting soil $700 Supari palm, Foxtail, Sugarcane palm @ $1000 Ashoka trees, Crotoons. Tel#626-1044 8 Lots with model house Ulverston, Corentyne. Double lot with shed Rosehall near market #680-6577 1-620-240 Foreign used DAF engines Hepicycle & axle for 60 DAF Lorries & many other parts going cheap, owner migrating #649-8449/228-5655 Fridge and freezers for sale #671-3004 Yamaha outboard motor 200,9.9, control box, power steering & other parts, all foreign use. Call: 672-5830 Lot 646 ‘8’ Cummings Lodge ECD. 1-2 storey 2 bedroom, wood & concrete house. House: 30x30 Land: 50x120. Price$ $19M Tel#619-0673
FOR RENT
WANTED
VACANCY
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620
Buying Wamara,Tonka Bean,Mora Fresh logs. Contact Tel or Whatsapp #664-5150
One office clerk, must be computer literate. Call: 6144358
Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665
Inventory clerk, Tool room clerk, Female cleaner Call: 2332745
(1) 2 bedroom apt for rent @ Peter’s Hall. Contact: 2239677/698-5800 Room to rent & (2) bedroom fully furnished @ Providence & Tel#660-7716/617-2666/ 682-6238 Business place to rent in Georgetown 7x14 $80,000 monthly. Call: 687-3017 2 bedroom furnished apartment near UG & Teacher’s Training College $50,000 #685-9127 Gold mining land. Please call: 672-5830 3 bedroom house, Central New Amsterdam Tel# 6257554/692-8466 Apartment to rent from 1st May 2018, all utlities West Minister Bus route. Sunday 22nd 2018 674-5779 Bottom flat apartment to rent, Eccles Public Road, East Bank Demerara $53,000. Tel#664-3012/671-0930 1 bedroom apartment, Kitchen, Bathroom, living room, newly decorated, no children under 10, for 1-2 persons #218-1552 2 bedroom apartment, living room, bathroom, huge kitchen diner, newly decorated, No children under 10 #218-1552 LAND FOR SALE Prime land to build that dream home. Not far from Princess, New Thriving, Massy, HJ water world $13M neg- Call: 669-8397 Providence $4M Farm (East Bank) $7M & $3.5M Parafaite Harmonie $1.6M Schnoord $2.8M Uivlugt $3.2M Tel# 656-1345 Land at Tuschen Housing Scheme, near school, 3 minutes away from main road. Call: 407-491-2026 or email: gzplayter@aol.com Large size land for sale, The Cuyuni mining district. Call: 663-4654
EDUCATION Jos-el Educational Institute Solicits: Day care, Nursery, Primary G1/G5 Business teachers. Call: 226-7794/6780652 Home Nursing ClassesMonday & Tuesday to 18:30 hrs. Call St John Assosciation- #225-9082 Classes now starting.
DRESSMAKING Classes in Designing/Sewing as a hobby or career. Canadian trained teacher. Call: 676-6312 PEN PAL You deserve a relationship filled with love and compassion. Call Harmony Singles #676-6312 FOR SALE/RENT American Pool Table Tel#277-0578
Wanted experience hire car driver at Ramada Princess hotel, Providence. Contact: 616-5419/265-7076 One experience cook for a residence. Call Tel#677-8236 between 9am - 4pm Drivers, dispatcher, contract cars #231-0002/231-0316 Live-in Domestic, must know to cook Indian dishes 25-40 years. Salary $20,000 weekly. #610-3974 Hire car owners to work at GR taxi (lots of work available). Contact Ganesh: 614-6202
Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $90,000 Nail Technician Course: $35,000. Call: 647-1773/688-0009
Administrative clerk must have driver’s license. email: info@cevons.com Chef and Assistant cookPreferably Carnegie tranied. Call 225-7933, or visit 173 Sheriff street. Desk staff, Room attendant, temporary washer, ages 25-45 years old. 233 South road #225-0198 HOUSEKEEPER/ DOMESTIC TO WORK NIGHT/DAY AT AAGMAN RESTAURANT, SHERIFF STREET. CONTACT: 2190158 ON WEEKDAYS BETWEEN 9AM-5PM
VEHICLE FOR SALE One Mitsubishi canter, Excellent condition, long base, engine #4D335A2F3513 $2,000,000 neg. Call: 698-8820 (1) 2006 Toyota Premio, Excellent condition, very low mileage. Call: 698-1134 1 Suzuki Escudo, Immaculate condition, fully powered bluetooth, reverse camera, mag rims. Tel#691-1876
Articulated dump truck & excavator operators,cook & cleaner for interior location. Call: 618-2020 Experienced male sales attendant, stocktaking knowledge, computer literate, excellent service attitude, able bodied. Key Food McDoom Village. (1) Manager to work on a farm in Pomeroon. Accomodation provided, Agricultural background is an asset. Contact: 500-5923 1 night security Tel# 618-3575
(1) One Lexus RX300 (1) One Nissan Cefiro for sale Tel# 227-4357/612-0005
Male & Female porters, Apply in person: Weiting & Richter, Water street, Georgetown.
One RZ minibus, good condition -$750,000 and 1 Nissan Bluebird 2009 series. Call: 601-0223
One experienced legal computer clerk. Call: 624-7087/ 226-4283/258-0213/ email: husainsaphier@yahoo.com
Nissan Laurel Classic Car and Nissan Pathfinder JeepSuperb condition, Great deals. Call : 660-3415/225-8427
PROPERTY FOR SALE
1- TwinsteerDoubleaxle Leyland DAF 4- LeylandDAF Flatbed tray 30ft 10- Guysuco Lorries 1 DAF engine. owner migrating #228-5655, 6498449 Bluebird in excellent condition $1.7M #646-8748
SALON
SECURITY GUARDS with personal firearm. Call: 2664427
TOLET Single room for male/female @11 Charles Street, Charlestown, not self contained and furnished Call: 223-4060
Lot 15 Public road #2 Village. West Coast Berbice. 49ft by 10,314ft. $18M. Contact:6487109/686-4818 Diamond EBD 2 storey concrete, 6 bedrooms, hot/ cold, secured parking, ready to move in. Price negotiable. Call: 693-4890/692-5014 Located at 70 Belfield Housing Scheme ECD, Transported land 2 story concrete building. Contact Number:675-3395 New building with two apartment downstairs for sale.10 minutes from Georgetown .Call:675-1510/ 613-7964
Seventy-two-year-old Mohan Ramkellowan of South Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown, was on Friday last killed in an accident while he was riding his pedal cycle along Dennis Street, Sophia. According to information, Ramkellowan and the driver of the motor car which struck him were proceeding west along Dennis Street, Sophia when the accident occurred at around 19:30hrs. Information reaching this publication alleges that Ramkellowan rode into the path of the motor car causing a collision. He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The driver, a 52-yearold resident of Sophia, is in custody assisting with investigation.
CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR R E N TA L : S U V F O R RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL:6435122/656-0087, ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807 WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIALOFFERS! . CALL: 690-6494
TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 2257878 (24HRS) PROPERTY FOR SALE Lovely property for business, Rusell Street, Charlestown. 3 lots together, Contact Ray’s Realty #627-9685 Gorgeous 2 storey home, Enterprise C East Coast Demerara 3 BR’s $32M neg. Contact Ray’s Realty #6279685 Paradise ECD Dazell Housing Scheme. Land 150x60. Contact Ray’s Realty. #627-9685
Sunday April 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
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STANDARDS IN FOCUS
Trade Perspective and Importance of the WTO TBT Enquiry Point It’s been more than 23 years since the establishment of the World Trade Organisation -Technical Barriers to Trade (WTO-TBT) Agreement. This agreement is one of the most important agreements established under the WTO and today, and it creates the need for the establishment of WTO Enquiry Points in countries around the world including Guyana. Small developing countries like ours are tasked with ensuring trade policies are coordinated with policies in other areas such as health, environment and consumer protection so that measures put in place are necessary for the health and safety of consumers and not to easily cloak a protectionist intent. This is one of several reasons that Guyana remains committed to the multilateral trading system and the rules under the TBT Agreement which provide a single undertaking to which all WTO members subscribe. It also creates a degree of accountability and transparency to which governments have submitted their regulatory regimes. This Agreement provides a framework to align our regulations with
legitimate policy objectives. The launch of the WTO Enquiry Point at the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) on April 9, 2018 is the operationalization of the notification that was made to the WTO on March 15, 2010 of our obligations under Articles 10.1 and 10.3 of that Agreement. The Enquiry Point will help Guyana to implement recommendations of its last WTO Trade Policy Review in 2015 that Guyana would participate more fully in the multilateral trading system if it expanded its economic infrastructure, and further strengthened governance and the regulatory environment. In the broader scheme of things, Guyana’s TBT Enquiry Point fits into the Government of Guyana policy of economic diplomacy. It serves as an economic instrument in the conduct of relations at the bilateral, regional and multilateral levels. The Enquiry Point will be a mechanism for addressing matters of everyday commercial and social significance. The Enquiry Point will also serve as an interface on a huge range of issues which are very important for both citizens and
consumers. And not only at the local level but also internationally where investors, entrepreneurs and other private sector actors can gain access to information on Guyana’s regulatory system to learn more about the over 500 national standards and 22 technical regulations that are in place. One of the first tasks for the Enquiry Point will be to notify our outstanding technical regulations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in its capacity as the WTO Notification Authority, will collaborate with the GNBS to fulfill our WTO obligations. The Enquiry Point presents a significant opportunity for the Private Sector to be engaged in shaping the regulatory landscape of Guyana. By being involved in the processes, the Enquiry Point enables the views of small and large firms to be heard about the effects that proposed standards, both local and international, might have on their businesses. It is businesses that will drive economic growth and development, and therefore, the private sector is encouraged to be active in aiding the enquiry point in its pre-emptive
function in providing guidance on measures that are being taken. This will require the private sector to have the infrastructure to identify, inventorize and report market barriers to our exports but also to be able to address similar situations when complaints are made against us. This will complement efforts at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other government agencies to monitor, manage and make representation at the national, regional and multilateral levels, for good regulatory practices and market conditions that we desire to see. Finally, as we grapple with more and more non-tariff measures, the role of the Enquiry Point and the TBT Agreement will be more important than ever. It is for key stakeholders in Guyana to support the work of the Enquiry Point and to build on this excellent initiative. Partial Message by Sherwyn Naughton, Senior Foreign Service Officer 1, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For further information, please contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 219-0065, 219-0066 or visit the GNBS website: www.gnbsgy.org
Sunday April 22, 2018
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Kaieteur News
Agri Minister has no authority to name GuySuCo board Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, has no legal authority to appoint members of the Board of Directors of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). This is according to legal opinions by a number of lawyers. The minister’s authority or legal standing to appoint a new board is contingent upon the Government holding more than 51% of the shares of the company. In fact, according to Section 8 of GuySuCo’s Articles of Association: “For such time as the Government of Guyana shall hold more than fifty-one per centum of the shares of the company, the Chairman and the Vice Chairman and all of the Directors shall be appointed by the Government and such power shall be exercised in that behalf by the Minister of Agriculture…” However, Government no longer holds the shares of GuySuCo. The Government transferred all of its shares in GuySuCo to the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), another state-owned company on 12th January, 2018. NICIL is now the owner and majority shareholder of GuySuCo, and therefore has
- lawyers warn of political interferance The Skeldon factory which was closed by GuySuCo because of poor performance and numerous technical issues.
No legal basis: Agri Minister, Noel Holder. the authority to remove the (old) Board of GuySuCo, which it did at a special meeting held on February 14, 2018, where it resolved that the Board of GuySuCo shall come to an end and a new board appointed, according to a legal opinion of a law chambers. It was pointed out that it would be improper in law for the Minister of Agriculture to appoint a new board or remove the current board. Any such act or appointment can be challenged and set aside. This could be viewed as direct political interference of the kind the industry does not need at this juncture, one law
chamber said. The issue of a new board has been dominating the news recently on GuySuCo, which up to a year ago controlled the sugar industry. However, four estates – Skeldon, Rose Hall, Enmore and Wales- are now no longer under GuySuCo and are up for divestment and privatization. Since the transfer of the shares, there have reportedly been a tug of war in the coalition over the control of GuySuCo with the Ministry
of Agriculture insisting that it should have it. In fact, a new board was appointed in March by NICIL, as the shareholder, naming Colvin Heath-London as chairman. A number of business persons were also appointed. The names of the new board have also been filed in accordance to the law with the business registry, cementing the new board. Dilemma It would leave the
administration in a dilemma to now revoke the appointment of the old board and name a new one.The Ministry of Agriculture is one of the portfolios in the hands of the Alliance For Change, the smaller of the two factions that make up the Coalition Government. To compound matters on the current board, recently Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, said that there is no new chairman of the GuySuCo board and that the
life of the old board under Professor Clive Thomas ends this month. After NICIL acquired Guysuco’s shares, , by resolution dated February 14, 2018, it declared “that the life of the current Board of Directors of Guysuco is hereby brought to an end immediately and a new Board of Directors be appointed.” The resolution then listed the new directors, and named Health-London as Chairman. “That resolution flatly (Continued on page 72)
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Sunday April 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
Agri Minister has no authority to name GuySuCo ... From page 11 contradicts what Minister Jordan has stated, and as a matter of law the GuyCuCo board has been brought to an end by shareholder resolution. As of the date of that resolution, the then current GuySuCo Board was no longer, and a new board was appointed. Since new board members have already been given their
offer letters, it’s a done deal.” Another lawyer made it clear that Jordan’s comments that there is no new board can easily be construed to indicate that there is gross state interference with the autonomy of NICIL. “Not only is this influence undesirable, since the purpose of a board is to function free from political interference, but in light of
recent allegations of misconduct in public office against former cabinet members, the Government needs to tread cautiously here.” That lawyer added, “It is accepted that the closure of the estates is largely seen as a mistake, a n d M i n i s t e r Jordan recently admitted that the subvention received from Government should have been spent
differently. I would be cautious in now taking another step to unwind the new elected board of GuySuCo and remove members who are largely seen as fiercely competent and independent. Not would that be unlawful, but there could be other consequences.” GuySuCo is cashstrapped requiring almost $32B in bailouts from Government in the last three years. Old Board Despite those monies, the Thomas-led board was unable to reverse the downward spiral, leaving the industry tottering on one of the worse performances in decades last year. Recently, Minister Jordan said he believed that those billions of dollars in bailout monies to GuySuCo could have been spent on retooling
the industry instead of largely paying salaries and paying off for supplies. The administration was unhappy with the previous board after three estatesSkeldon, Rose Hall and Enmore were closed within days of each other, sending thousands of workers home. Meanwhile, the procedures for naming a new board are laid out in the Ram and McRae Companies Act Handbook. It explained that first directors are named at the time of filing of the Articles, usually by themselves as incorporators, and a statement containing their nam e s , p a r t i c u l a r s a n d consent must accompany the application for incorporation. Otherwise, directors may only be appointed by ordinary resolution passed
at a general meeting of the company, and in respect of public companies, for a period not exceeding five years but subject to reappointment on any number of occasions for the same period. Any provision in the Articles of the company relating to the appointment of directors is void unless it is in accordance with the Act. The Act provides that subject to the articles of by-laws, a maximum of one t h i r d o f t h e b o a r d of directors may be appointed by third parties (nonmembers) such as debenture holders. However, no automatic reappointment will take place if an ordinary resolution is passed at a general meeting not to fill any vacant directorhip, or if a resolution for the re-appointment of the
Sunday April 22, 2018
Opposition party… PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC – The main opposition United National Congress (UNC) says it will not participate in the parliamentary probe to determine whether or not the British based political consulting firm, Cambridge Analytica (CA), had undertaken a project in Trinidad and Tobago involving harvesting the data of this country’s population “The government’s move to refer the Cambridge Analytica matter to National Security Joint Select Committee is nothing more than a political witch hunt, and the United National Congress will not subject itself to the Attorney General’s political “pappy show,” the UNC said in a statement.Last month, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi told Parliament that whistle-blower, Christopher Wylie, had told United Kingdom lawmakers that the company, which combines data mining, data brokerage, and data analysis with strategic communication for the electoral process, had under-
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Kaieteur News
To blank parliamentary investigation into British political consulting firm
taken work here in 2013 under the former People’s Partnership administration headed by former prime minister Kamla Persad Bissessar. Al-Rawi said he it was therefore “incumbent upon the Office of the Attorney General …to cause an audit of all government ministries, statutory authorities, state enterprises and the National Security Council to see whether any contract was established, whether any payments were made and whether any services were rendered by …Cambridge Analytica, Aggregate IQ (AIQ) and the Strategic Communications Laboratory (SCL) Group”. The alleged acts committed by Cambridge Analytica and its affiliates…potentially constitute breaches of the laws of Trinidad and Tobago,” Al-Rawi said. Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley earlier this month said he will ask Parliament to debate the activities of the British firm and that the parliamentary debate will be held “at the earliest opportunity.
Kamla Persad Bissessar
Faris Al-Rawi
He said it will also form the basis of a Joint Select Committee meeting to be chaired by the Minister in the Office of the Attorney General, Fitzgerald Hinds. The probe has been wel-
comed by the Congress of the People (COP), which formed part of the coalition government that was headed by Persad Bissessar.But in its statement, the UNC the move by the government “is yet
another attempt …to name and shame members of the former administration based on faulty evidence and, by making wild and reckless statements in the public domain….The UNC is on the public record as having welcomed a lawful, independent and transparent investigation by the competent lawful authorities, into the alleged activities of Cambridge Analytica, Aggregate IQ and the Strategic Communication Laboratories Group and their affiliated companies in Trinidad and Tobago.“We support an investigation by the Commissioner of Police, the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the Integrity Commission, who are the appropriate persons to conduct investigations into allega-
tions of breaches of the law,” the party said, repeating its earlier position that “it had no involvement, contract, or dealings with Cambridge Analytica, Aggregate IQ, or the Strategic Communication Laboratories Group or their affiliates for the purpose of data mining as has been alleged.“We state categorically that the JSC on National Security is not the appropriate body to examine this matter. Joint Select Committees (JSCs) of the Parliament are a creation of the Constitution. They are created to provide independent mechanisms to ensure that the actions of *State entities *are transparent, accountable and accord with the highest standards of good governance,” the UNC added.
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Sunday April 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
OAS, US LGBTI Chamber of Commerce collaborate...
Data on sexual orientation in the Caribbean WASHINGTON - CMC – The Organization of American States (OAS) says it has signed a cooperation agreement with the United Sates LGBTI Chamber of Commerce to develop a data research project on sexual orientation and gender identity in Latin America and the Caribbean. The OAS said the project, “Generating the EvidenceBase: Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity (SOGI) & Social Inclusion and Economic Development,” seeks to develop analytical work in the Latin American and Caribbean context “to measure the rights and inclusion of LGBTI people and their impact on economic development and the private sector. OAS Secretary General, Luis Almagro, said, through the Inter-American Convention against All Forms of Dis-
crimination and Intolerance, the OAS supports member states, as well as key LGBTI human rights organizations, “to improve advocacy and collaborative work with public stakeholders. “We must be aware of the need to have societies that are more inclusive and respectful of diversity, in which the right to non-discrimination is felt in people’s day to day lives and is recognized by all,” he said. President of the US LGBTI Chamber of Commerce, Justin G. Nelson, explained how the lack of data on LGBTI contributions to economy and social welfare affects decision making. “We are not talking a small population or small economics contribution, people at the very baseline must understand that we are economic contributors and that
Luis Almagro we all do better when opportunities are afforded to us,” he said. The OAS said the agreement will also seek to identify governmental counterparts “to champion the process of turning analysis and recommendations into public policies that are more inclusive and respectful of diversity.”
US concerned about slow pace of criminal judicial proceedings in T&T WASHINGTON - CMC – The United States says while Trinidad and Tobago took steps to punish security force members and other officials charged with killings or other abuse, open-ended investigations and the generally slow pace of criminal judicial proceedings created a climate of impunity. In its 2017 Country Reports on Human Rights Practice” released on Friday, the US Department of State said the most significant human rights issues included police and prison officials’ mistreatment of detainees; refoulement of refugees due to poor training of officials; official corruption and laws that criminalize same-sex sexual activity, although such laws were not enforced during the year.Washington also said that there is the continued criminalization of the status or conduct of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons. According to the report there were no reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings.According to official figures, police shot and killed 33 people through September 26, more than double the 16 persons police shot and killed in 2016. Officials from the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) reported receiving more cases of police killings of mentally challenged persons than in previous years; the police killed three mentally challenged persons for the year.
Analysts speculated that police shootings had increased in tandem with the rise in violent crime committed by an increasingly well-armed criminal element. Police acknowledged the shooting deaths. “There were occasional discrepancies between the official reporting and the claims made by witnesses regarding who fired the first shot and whether the officers fired in self-defense,” the report noted. It said convicted inmates constituted approximately 37 per cent of the country’s prison population, while the others were in pre-trial status, according to figures from 2016, the most recent data available. “Most prisons suffered from extreme overcrowding, while the maximum-security prison was not at full capacity. Observers often described the Port of Spain Prison, the remand prison, and the immigration detention center as having particularly poor conditions and severe overcrowding, with as many as nine prisoners kept in cells of 80 square feet.” The report indicated that the Port of Spain Prison, designed to hold 250 inmates, held 610, and the remand prison, designed to hold 655 inmates, held 1,071, according to figures from 2016, the most recent data available. By contrast, the maximum-security prison held inmates in threeperson cells, each with a toilet and shower. The remand section of the
Port of Spain Prison had particularly poor lighting, ventilation, and sanitation facilities, the report added. In August the minister of national security announced that the Cabinet approved TT$53.6 million (US$7.9 million) to upgrade the remand section of the Golden Grove Prison, which would enable prisoners to use toilets and not pails. It said although conditions at the women’s prison were better than those in the Port of Spain Prison, the women’s facility occasionally became overcrowded, since it held both women on remand and those serving prison sentences. “The daily average female prison population was 130 in facilities with a maximum capacity of 158, according to figures from 2016, the most recent data available. Since there was no female youth facility, authorities placed some underage female prisoners in a segregated wing of the women’s prison and returned others to their families. “Authorities held a daily average of 10 female juveniles at the women’s prison in 2016, the most recent year for which data was available. Observers raised concerns that the prison held young girls who had not committed any offense but who were merely in state custody.” The report said that the government also operated the Immigration Detention Center to house irregular immigrants waiting to be deported.
Sunday April 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
Govt. gives commitment to dealing with fake goods KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – The Jamaica government says it remains in protecting consumers from the influx of substandard goods in the marketplace. Newly appointed Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Audley Shaw, said that while it is estimated that 80 per cent of global trade is affected by standards and technical regulations, Jamaica still has to be alert in order to ensure that “ our local market is not being abused by the importation of illicit goods” that fall way below international standards. “In fact, about a week ago, our local police authorities seized a considerable amount of goods from stores in the Corporate Area that were in fact illegal imports that were below standard and were forged in terms of the authenticity of the brand names and so on,” Shaw said, adding “we have to take it seriously”. Shaw, addressing delegates to the 2018 Pan American Standards Commission (COPANT) General Assembly, said that the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) has been facilitating the development and adoption of standards to meet market needs and requirements in order to effectively compete and trade globally.
Audley Shaw He noted that from April 2017 to March 2018, the BSJ facilitated the publication of 125 standards that address the needs of industry, regulators, consumers and other stakeholder groups. He said that 54 per cent of the published standards were adopted from regional and international standards, and will enable businesses to become more competitive, facilitating trade and export. “We must therefore ensure that we continue to build a culture of quality, which sees standards becoming a part of our everyday life and, over time, we will readily implement regional and international standards in our public and private sectors,” he added. Shaw said that the government is committed to the
strengthening of Jamaica’s national quality infrastructure, citing among other things, the revision of the National Quality Policy in 2017. He noted that the policy, which was first issued in 2001, affirms the Government’s commitment to strengthening the national framework for the development of a sustainable standards-led, market-driven economy supported by a culture of quality in order to achieve global competitiveness and consumer protection. “Consumers are demanding better quality goods and services. Changes in consumer behaviour, the availability of new technologies and shifts in buying power are reshaping the industry’s supply chain. We must ensure that quality standards are used to meet consumer demand and promote customer satisfaction.” Shaw said that as industry changes, standards must also evolve to meet global demands. “This means, therefore, that standards must be embedded in new process areas to meet expectations of consumers, industries and trading partners. This will certainly have implications for the way we operate in the future,” he told delegates.
Cuba reiterates support for CARICOM BELMOPAN, Belize (CMC) — The Cuban Ambassador to Belize, Lissette Perez, says Havana will continue its cooperation programmes with Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries as it embarks upon a new era in the election of 57-year-old Miguel Díaz-Canel as the new head of state. Díaz-Canel was sworn in as the new president of the communist country earlier this week, replacing Raúl Castro who decided to bring to an end the Castro family’s decades-long rule on the island.In his inaugural
speech, Díaz-Canel said that his mandate was “to ensure the continuity of the Cuban revolution at a key historic moment” and assured the members of the National Assembly that “the revolution continues its course”. Perez said that “solidarity with others” has always been part of the principle of the Cuban Revolution. “The welfare of our neighbours is also to share what we have with others, this is the spirit among Cubans but we also try to educate our young generation in this spirit, to share what we have
with others because this is the only solution for the world. And that is why we will continue our programme for cooperation with the region that for us CARICOM members are our priority for cooperation because it is our area. “We share the Caribbean Sea, we have a lot of similarities, a lot of challenges and together we have to face these challenges. That is why we have to continue to offer our expertise, our scholarships, area of medicines, cooperation in same sectors and others.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday April 22, 2018
Authorities decide to close Gold Board lab
The Ministry of Natural Resources has announced a decision to shut down Guyana Gold Board’s lab where burning of the amalgam is done. On Friday, the Ministry convened a special meeting with officials of the Gold Board and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission to discuss the threat of mercury emissions from the lab and the closure of the facility. Dr. David Singh, head of the recently appointed Review Commit-
tee was also in attendance of the meeting. The three bodies decided to have the lab moved within the shortest possible time so as to safeguard the health of workers of the GGMC and Gold Board. The Ministry said that Dr. Singh shared his expert knowledge and recommended the best steps to be taken to ensure success and a smooth transition of operations.The intention of the Ministry of Natural
Resources is to have the laboratory moved then the administrative offices of the Board thereafter. In the coming days suitable sites will be scouted for both short and long term solutions.The Ministry said, “All parties recognised the critical contribution of gold to the Guyana economy, and by extension, the Guyana Gold Board, and in that regard, resolved to cooperate to ensure the minimal disruption of operations.”
Sunday April 22, 2018
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Kaieteur News
Action gets underway from... From page 82 Prizes: $50,000 (winner) and $25,000 (second place) + Champion and Runner-Up Trophy will be awarded in the football.Apart from the relay action and the oneday knockout football competition, there will be the usual Domino Competition and in excess of 20 teams will be competing for the total prize purse of over $350,000. The winners will pocket $200,000 while second finishers will receive $100,000 and $60,000 will go to the third place team with the MVP walking away with $10,000. Te a m s f r o m B e r b i c e , Essequibo and Soesdyke will be competing; interested persons can contact Jumbie Wiltshire for more details on 665-5855.
Eight athletics clubs had already committed to registration in the relay competition, including Pol i c e P r o g r e s s i v e Yo u t h Club, Guyana Defence Force, Mercury Fast Laners, Upper Demerara (Linden), Super Upcoming Runners, Flames Athletics Club (Hopetown, Berbice), Region Five Education Department (Berbice) and The University of Guyana. The Relay Events are: 4x100 Females; 4x100 Males; 4x400 Females; 4x400 Males; 4x200 Mixed Relay; 4x400 Mixed Relay; Sprint Medley Females (100m,100m, 200m, 400m); Sprint Medley Males (100m, 200m, 400m, 800m); Distance Medley Females ( 2400metres ) (400m, 600m, 600m, 800m); Distance Medley Males
(2800metres) (400m, 600m, 600m, 1200m); Distance 4X800 Male and Female Relay. Cash Prizes of $25,000; $20,000 and $15,000 will be awarded to teams finishing first to third. Total prize money of $720,000 will be handed out in the Relay Events. In the cycling contest being sponsored by former national, Jude Bentley who has indicated that all cyclists desirous of competing are encouraged to participate once they are in possession of the required gear, bicycle and helmet. The cash prize breakdown of that competition will be as follows, 1st to 3rd, $25,000; $15,000 and $10,000 Meanwhile, in the softball Cricket Contest, Tro-
Sunday April 22, 2018 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Communication with friends and partners should be clear, open, honest, and supportive today, Aries. Camaraderie flows freely, and affection is shown without restraint or overkill.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Love and romance take top priority with you today, Libra. You might be feeling a little insecure about the stability of your current relationship, but you're wasting your energy.
TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Have you been reading about how a positive mental outlook creates a healthy body and a happy life, Taurus? If so, you might just find that this attitude brings results.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) If you play your cards right, Scorpio, you just might be able to turn what you're picking up psychically into an exalted creative effort.
GEMINI(May 21–June 20) Research that you've been doing for a particular project may finally be completed. Now you're ready to finish your work.
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Expect to exchange a lot of phone calls and emails with friends today, Sagittarius. Communication with others is your top priority. You have a lot of news to deliver and you'll receive a lot in return.
CANCER (June 21–July 22) Dreams and visions about your family paint a rosy picture of your future. These dreams could well be prophetic, but don't jump to that conclusion without first analyzing the symbols
CAPRI (Dec.22–Jan.19) Financial good fortune continues, Capricorn, although old habits are hard to break and you might have difficulty adjusting to it.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Tonight you might decide to attend a social gathering held in your community that involves a lot of people who are into psychic or spiritual matters, Leo.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Are you going on a trip or possibly moving, Aquarius? Is education involved in some way? Whatever your reasons for going away, you're going to gain whatever you hope for - and more.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) If you've been uncertain about the possibility of a raise in your salary, Virgo, today you could finally be told for certain that it's coming. This is definitely cause for celebration.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You tend to be intuitive by nature, Pisces, but today you could receive psychic impressions by the dozen. You might even experience visions or hear voices.
phy Stall Masters will play United States Embassy Foreign Service Association in a male showdown, while Trophy Stall Angels take on Mike’s Wellwoman in the female contest. They will be competing for $50,000 (winner) and $25,000 (second place) + Champion and Runner-Up Trophy. There will be Novelty events for participating patrons and Kids Zone featuring bouncy castles, trampolines, face painting and many more attractions. Four lucky patrons will go home with four impressive prizes including a microwave, $20,000 cash and the largest family will win a ‘Household Hamper’ including Ariel Soap Powder, Swinger Matches, Rage Insecticide, Hefty Garbage Bags, Trin Chloro Bleach and Squeezy compliments of Ansa McAl. Ganesh Parts, National Sports Commission, K&B Mining, R&D Engineering, C&L Construction, Trail Boss Interior Trucking and Secur i t y S e r vice, Antarctic Maintenance and Repairs, Romano Builders, Starr Party Rentals, Jude Cycle Shop, Stag Beer, Heineken and I Cool Water are the sponsors of the event.
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Sunday April 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
GAPLF steps up Mexico preparations with Bench Press Fundraiser at... From page 80 I once again call on Government and Cooperate
Guyana to support this team which puts Guyana on the map, give this Country glory when we do well. A letter has been sent to the NSC with the full budget and are waiting on a response,� said GAPLF President Ed Caesar. The next fundraiser is set
for the Fitness Xpress on Sherriff Street on April 28 from 11:00hrs, while the Federation’s next event is scheduled for May 13 at the St Stanislaus College from 08:30hrs. The bench press is an upper body strength training exercise that
consists of pressing a weight upwards from a supine position. The exercise works the pectoralis major as well as supporting chest, arm, and shoulder muscles such as the anterior deltoids, serratus a n t e r i o r, coracobrachialis, scapulae
fixers, trapezii, and the triceps. A barbell is used to hold the weights.It is also used extensively in w e i g h t training, bodybuilding, and other types of training to develop the chest muscles. The person performing the exercise lies on their
back on a bench with a weight grasped in both hands. They push the weight upwards until their arms are extended, not allowing the elbows to lock. They then lower the weight to chest level. This is one repetition (rep). (Sean Devers)
Sunday April 22, 2018
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Kaieteur News
Road to Mecca V at CASH
Royals are the first team to score 100 points as Eagles end miserable campaign - Semifinals bounce off tonight Linden’s Victory Valley Royals thumped Eagles Basketball Club 100-59 in their final group, roundrobin game to finish Group B second behind Kobras and solidified themselves a place in tonight’s anticipated semifinals of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation’s (GABF) National Club Championships that is dubbed ‘Road to Mecca V’, at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH). In the feature match, Half Mile Bulls handed debutants Canje Knights another loss with an ordinary 54-49 win. During the Bulls’ triumph, Terron Welch continued his good form and sunk a gamehigh 31 points, which will majorly help his chances of emerging as the player with the most points scored in the tournament despite failing to help earn his team a berth in the knockout stages. Gledwin Cort (14) and Steve Roopnarine (13)
were among the points once again for Knights. Meanwhile, Royals who finished second in ‘Road to Mecca IV’ will be joined by two-time defending champions Bounty Colts, Dyna’s Ravens (fourth place 2017) and Kobras (third place2017); the same four teams that emerged from last season’s group stage. Orlon Glasgow netted 25 points, while Daniel Lee contributed a valuable 16 points to ensure their team, Royals, win and move a step closer at to the $600,000 championship cash prize. Travis Belgrave top scored with a meager 16 points which didn’t receive much support from his team mates. Skipper of Eagles, Kevin Higgins’ failed to score a field goal in his terrible three-point performance. The half-time shows for both matches on Friday were captivating with fans competing in a three-point
shootout during the first for a cash prize of $20,000 which was donated by patron, Marlon Roberts. Daniel Lee of Linden won that contest.The second game’s half time show had six random fans attempting to score from the half way mark for the grand prize of an IPhone X smart phone. Unfortunately, the challenge proved too difficult and no one was able to win the prize which was sponsored by the GABF. Tonight’s semifinals will see Ravens versus Kobras at 19:00hrs, while Colts will battle Royals in the feature game at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. The half-time show tonight will include performances from the GABF’s cheerleaders and a threepoint contest which will afford fans to win up to $20,000 cash, sponsored by Saratu Phillips. In addition to the prize money that will account
Guyana Boxing team finally home after being stranded Enroute from Australia The Guyana boxing team to the Commonwealth Games arrived home yesterday morning after a five-day journey from Australia. The return trip home saw the team being stranded in China for a day because of arrangement issues, and spending three days in Holland. Both light welterweight Colin ‘Superman’ Lewis and flyweight ‘Lightning’ Keevin Allicock reached the round of 16 at the Games with the former dropping a dubious split decision to a South African in his last match. GBA president Steve Ninvalle yesterday said he was proud of the boxers’ performance and reiterated that they can stand against any in
Team coach Sebert Blake (centre) is flanked by Colin Lewis (left) and Keevin Allicock. the world. The team was
coached by Sebert Blake.
Timehri crowned champs after... From page 81 also extended gratitude to the Guyana Football Federation under whose auspices the Intra Association league is being administered. Local representative for the Pele Alumuni Corporation David Gomes in feature remarks extended congratulations to the champion team, runners-up Kuru Kururu Warriors and all the other teams for making the tournament a reality.Gomes, himself a former player, gave the players, parents and spectators a brief overview of the Pele Alumini Corporation and the work they have been doing over the years to empower young people. ”I would like to encourage you to keep aiming high, be disciplined and more importantly, ensure that you work assiduously towards
obtaining a solid education. This would ensure that you take care of you in the coming years of your life.”Trophies, medals and one set of complete uniform were presented to the top two teams by Gomes on behalf of the sponsor. Backpacks containing educational and personal supplies were also presented to the top eight goal scorers, while the top two received trophies and a football each. Those players were Shoran James (19) Herstelling Raiders, Ishmael Pulsarran (17) Timehri Panthers, Brian Lambert (14) Agricola Red Triangle, Tyrone Burnette (8) Soesdyke Falcons, Kevin Scott (8) Kuru Kururu Warriors, Azeem Calistro (8) Swan FC, Kevin Daniels (7) Swan FC and Solomon Austin (7) Herstelling Raiders.
$400,000 and $200,000 for the 2nd and 3rd finishers respectively, individual prizes totaling $200,000
each will be received by the t o u r n a m e n t ’s M V P, t h e player scoring the most points, the player with the
most rebounds and the most improved player. Admission to the CASH is $1000 tonight.
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NK Ballers inflict 6-1 mauling on Team... From page 83 too will have a say in the eventual outcome of the tournament.They defeated Quiet Storm and High Rollers respectively, while Assassa Ballers, Wisroc and Cherokee Park were also victorious on the night.Once again another packed crowd turned up at the venue to witness what has undoubtedly become the most popular street-styled competition. Action in the tournament returns to the Mackenzie Market Tarmac
Sunday April 22, 2018
Kaieteur News
this evening with another six matches scheduled to be played. Among the teams slated to be in action are defending champs Dave & Celina All Stars, Amelia’s Ward Russians, Hard Knocks and Silver Bullets. Kick-off time is 20:00hrs. Complete Results Guinness Goal-(GG)-2 Goals Game-1 Young Kings-1 vs Assassa Ballers-2 Game-2
Next Level-0 vs Wisroc-1 Game-3 Cherokee Park-2 vs Big Guns-1 Game-4 Team 25-1 vs NK Ballers6 Game-5 Swag Entertainment-1 vs Quiet Storm-0 Game-6 April 22nd-Mackenzie Bus Park Tarmac Team 25 vs Assassa Ballers-19:30hrs Silver Bullets vs Next Level-20:00hrs Dave and Celina’s vs Amazings-20:30hrs Cherokee Park vs Quiet Storm-21:00hrs High Rollers vs Wisroc21:30hrs Amelia’s Ward Russians vs Hard-Knocks-22:00hrs
GAPLF steps up Mexico preparations with Bench Press Fundraiser at Club 704 The Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) in collaboration with Club 704 and Banks DIH’s Guinness held a Bench Press competition as it’s first of several fundraisers to off-set the cost of sending a 15-member Guyana team to the 16th Annual IPF/ NAPF NorthAmerican Regional Powerlifting Championships. The Championships will be held from August 1 to August 4 at the Sevilla Palace Hotel along Reforma Avenue in Mexico City, Mexico. Yesterday’s Event was held at Club 704’s Sky Lounge at Lamaha and Albert streets in Georgetown with a Bench Press competition which attracted a fair attendance despite the adverse weather
conditions. The public, especially Females were encouraged to attend yesterday’s event for a fee of $1,000 and had the option of registering for the Bench Press competition free of charge.There were three categories (Light, Medium and Heavy weights) and competitors were asked to ‘weight in’ before the competition to identify their weight categories. The good size gathering included many females and saw Mark Pertab and John Edwards tie on points with Pertab winning the tie breaker with the winning Bench Pressing 10 reps of 314 pounds in a contest to who would have the most reps.
Notoya Robinson won the women’s category with Jacky Toney being the only other competitor. “ We had a good turn-out for our first fundraiser despite the rain but (GAPLF) always encourage females to lift weights since it is healthy for them and I am a bit disappointed that only two females competed today (yesterday), while we had 14 males,” informed the Federation’s PRO Runita White.The cost for the team’s travels is over $ 7million and sponsorship letters have already been sent out. “We got 32 medals for Guyana recently in a tournament in Florida and I (Continued on page 78)
Kaieteur News
Sunday April 22, 2018
PAGE 81
GFF/Pele Alumini Frank Watson U15 League – East Bank FA
Timehri crowned champs after draw with Mocha; Shoran James ends with 19 goals Timehri Panthers FC, which will hold elections today to install a new executive, were yesterday officially crowned the
Pos 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Team P Timehri 11 Kuru Kururu 11 Swan FC 11 Agricola 11 Grove 11 Diamond Upsetters11 Herstelling Raiders 11 Mocha 11 Friendship 11 Samatta Point/KV 11 Soesdyke 11 Diamond United 11
inaugural champions of the East Bank Football Association leg of the GFF/Pele Alumini Frank Wa t s o n U 1 5 I n t r a
W 9 7 7 6 5 4 4 3 4 3 3 0
Final Points Standings L D F 1 1 49 2 2 22 3 1 26 4 1 24 2 4 12 5 2 16 5 2 33 4 4 22 7 0 12 5 3 15 7 1 17 11 0 2
Association League. In the final match of the league which had kicked off on January 20th last, Mocha Champs handed the champs
A 9 12 9 10 11 14 35 11 19 29 22 79
GD +40 +10 +17 +14 +1 -1 -2 +11 -7 -14 -5 -77
Pts 28 23 22 19 19 14 14 13 12 12 9 0
their first draw of the competition which attracted 12-teams. Timehri’s most prolific scorer, Ishmael Pulsarran, who ended his campaign on 17 goals, two less than overall goals scorer, Shoran James of Herstelling Raiders (19), had handed his team the lead in the 37th minute of a keen contest. But, Mocha Champs which got into their stride in
the latter stages of the league, kept taking the attack to the home team and were rewarded with the neutralising goal in the 54th minute compliments of a Shamel Alleyne strike. The exchanges continued at both ends until the final whistle sounded to bring an end to what has been described as a very successful league which provided well over one
hundred players the opportunity to showcase their skills and abilities over a three month period. EBFA President Franklin Wilson, at the presentation ceremony which followed the match, expressed gratitude to sponsors Pele Alumuni Corporation for their continued investment in youth development through this league.Wilson (Continued on page 79)
Kaieteur News
PAGE 82
Sunday April 22, 2018
GMRSC’s “King of the Strip 2” drag Action gets underway from 10:30hrs race meet at South Dakota Circuit today Boyce/Jefford Relay Festival and Family Fun Day
today at Police Sports Club ground The annual Boyce and Jefford Relay Festival and Family Fun day will kick off tomorrow morning as early as 10:30hrs when the top local street football teams will
compete in a small goal competition at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary.Among the teams competing will be Future Stars, West Front Road ‘Gold is Money’, Alexander
Village, YMCA, Albouystown ‘A’, California Square, Bent Street, Power Producers Distributors, Police and Agricola Champion Boys. Cash (Continued on page 77)
All systems are in place for the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club’s (GMRSC) second drag race meet of the year, the ‘King of the Strip 2’ meet which will see local, Surinamese and Trinidadian dragtsers going head to head at the South Dakota Circuit today.Over 60 entries have been registered for today’s event and it was noted that the final figure could be significantly higher as entries were coming in quickly up to press time, from a representative of the GMRSC. The unlimited class has been building up a hype with an anticipated showdown between Team Mohamed’s Goliath Nissan GT-R (7.5 seconds strip record) and Shawn
Persaud’s Godzilla Toyota Caldina (8.33 second, third fastest strip time) with the T&T’s Rohan Deosaran’s rail car looking to make a big upset in its debut at the Timehri race track.For patrons who are desirous of witnessing the heated races at South Dakota on Sunday, entrance fees are $1000 for adults, $500 for children. The rent-a-tent VIP will be available for $3000. The event is sponsored by Tropical Shipping, Stag Beer, JAPARTS, B.M. SOAT Auto Sales, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Trans Pacific Motor Sales and Spares, Prem’s Electrical, Enetworks DEL Ice Co and Crystal Ice House.
Kaieteur News
Sunday April 22, 2018
Attention focuses on Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Committee “Triple Crown” second leg Attention will now be focused on the second leg of the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Committee first Triple Crown horseracing championships set for next Sunday April 29th at the Port Mourant Turf Club in Corentyne Berbice. Over $20million in cash prizes are up for grabs in the event with attractive prizes also available for fans who participate in the grand raffle set to be drawn on the final day of the Triple Crown, May 27th at Port Mourant. Any information on the event can be sourced by contacting: Chandu Ramkissoon: 624-9063/6089063/232-0633; Alan Podmore: 232-9115/ 6191909 and Nikita Ross: 6624668. Turfites that turned out for the first leg are expected out in their numbers as they wonder if any of the horses will capture the Triple Crown. One racehorse in line to stake a claim is She is a Princess who won the L class maiden
event, beating Something Special, Gold Again and Delisa. Fans are wondering if the speedy horse can do it for a second and third time. In a week’s time the outcome will be revealed if she makes it number two. The winners of the Triple Crown is set to collect up to a half million bonus for their exploits. The events for Sunday’s meet will see: C-Class and Lower - $1 million, F class and Lower/E- Class Nonearners/Last Start - $400,000, 3-year-old Guyana Bred $350,000, H1 and Lower $300,000, J/K & Lower $240,000, K Class Non earner last start -$230,000 and L & Lower - $200,0000. Meanwhile, the final leg will have the slightly bigger 1st prizes which are as follows: C-Class and Lower $1.2 million, F class and Lower/E- Class Nonearners/Last Start - $500,000, 3-year-old Guyana Bred $400,000, H1 and Lower -
$350,000, J/K & Lower $240,000, K Class Non earner last start -$200,000 and L & Lower - $150,0000.Lucky patrons will get the chance to be involved in a raffle which offers very attractive prizes with the winner of the main prize driving away with a 2011 Nissan Tida sedan car. The other prizes on offer are a 125 motor cycle, Samsung 40" Smart TV, 2-samsaung cell phones, a stove, microwave and a Refrigerator.
PAGE 83
Linden Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Competition
NK Ballers inflict 6-1 mauling on Team 25 -Action returns to Mackenzie Market Square tonight Pre tournament favourites NK Ballers underlined their billing as the team to beat following an emphatic 6-1 mauling of former champions Team 25 as play in the Linden segment of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Competition continued on Friday at the Silver City Hardcourts.
Comprising players from last year’s champion Dave & Celina All Stars, the starstudded lineup was led to victory through Guinness Goals from Kenard Simon and Keon Sears, who netted in the 18th and 20th minutes respectively, while Jermaine Grandison in the 12th and Donovan Francis’ 9th completed their tally.
Teon Stewart’s 3rd minute strike had given Team 25 the initial lead, before NK Ballers went on a rampage to boost their installment as strong contenders to win the title. Two other teams Swag Entertainment and Silver Bullets were also in winners’ row and many feel that they (Continued on page 80)
rt o p S GFF/Pele Alumini Frank Watson U15 League – East Bank FA
P. 81
Timehri crowned champs after draw with Mocha; Shoran James ends with 19 goals
Timehri Panthers Captain Prince Forde is all smiles as he receives uniforms from Pele Alimini Corp. Rep., David Gomes.
GAPLF steps up Mexico preparations P. 80 GMRSC’s “King of the Strip 2” drag race with Bench Press Fundraiser at Club 704 meet at South Dakota Circuit today P. 82
Rohan Deosaran’s fine tuning works on his rail car yesterday, to ensure all systems are go for today’s showdown.
Guinness rep Tony Ramcharan is flanked by female winner Natoya Robinson and Male winner Mark Pertab after presenting the prizes.
Boyce/Jefford Relay Festival and Family Fun Day P. 82
Road to Mecca V at CASH
Royals are the first team to score Action gets underway from 10:30hrs 100 points as Eagles end miserable campaign
today at Police Sports Club ground
- Semifinals bounce off tonight
P. 79
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