Monday April 23, 2018
The genius of William Shakespeare DEAR EDITOR, As we Celebrate April as World Poetry Month and the Birth Anniversary of the Illustrious William Shakespeare on April 23. I wish to contemplate on the life and legacy of William Shakespeare on the thesis below: SHAKESPEARE’S legacy to mankind is rich indeed. His gifts to the English Language exceed those of all other poets put together. He has put words and phrases into men’s mouths for all time. He was the greatest word creator the world has ever known. He remains the unchallenged champion in the whole field of English Literature. He possessed great insight into the heart and soul of men. No writer has excelled like him in portraying the inner personality of the characters he created. He was equally skilled in creating men and women characters. William Shakespeare, for all his fame and literary pursuits, remains a mysterious figure with regards to personal history. Many critics and literary scholars have asked the questions: Who was Shakespeare? Where did he get his knowledge into human nature? William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-Upon-Avon on April 23, 1564. Church records from Holy Trinity Church indicated that he was baptized there on April 26, 1564. He was married to Anne Hathaway on November 28, 1582. William was 18 at the time, and Annie was 26 – and pregnant. Their first daughter Susanna was born on May 26, 1583. The couple later had twins Hamnet and Judith, born February 2, 1585 and christened at Holy Trinity. Hamnet died in childhood at age 11, on August 11, 1596. There are great many spurious accounts about Shakespeare’s childhood years, especially regarding his education. Many of his contemporaries believed that he attended the free grammar school in Stratford, which at the time had a reputation to rival Eton or Oxford University, but there are no records to prove this claim. The literary scholarship and merits of his works indicated that he was widely read in classics as well as Greek and Roman history. What is certain is that Shakespeare never proceeded to University schooling, which has stirred great many debates in academic circles
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concerning the authorship of his works. These debates were in demand by academics because Shakespeare lacked a university education in the formal sense. Some scholars claimed that Sir Francis Bacon, Christopher Marlowe, Edward De Vere, and Shakespeare’s close friend Ben Johnson were responsible for his writings. These claims were curious speculations to discredit the immortal works of a true God gifted genius. When the literature written by Bacon, Johnson, De Vere, and Marlowe were compared to those of Shakespeare’s, it was by far more inferior to what Shakespeare had written. It was more than ridiculous for men who attended universities to turn over their works to Shakespeare for correction and improvement, whom they referred to as an unschooled man. It is mind boggling that this same unschooled man became the Shah Rukh Khan of his age acting his own plays in the Globe Theatre and plays written by many of his Oxford educated friends. If he did not write his plays, then it was highly impossible for him to act those plays and to recite those long arduous passages written in blank verse from his memory. Shakespeare started his literary career as any educated young man might have begun by adapting for his purposes the models prescribed by the fashion of
his time, the Latin authors familiar to him from his schooling. He needed no hidden hand to be his ‘Ghost Writer’. He was and is still the most quoted and unsurpassed genius of his day to this day. Shakespeare has touched, not only the stuff that men are made of. He has touched the mind of God as it is reflected in Holy Scripture. Behind much of his deepest works lie the profound insights of the Biblical Revelation. He was a man who had drunk deeply at the wells of Holy Scripture. The Book of Common Prayer (of 1559) and the works of Ovid were the three books by which the developing mind of Shakespeare as a boy and as a young man was nourished. It is more than a mere knowledge of the facts and personalities of the Bible that has given life to his work. In his own words, he said: ‘‘What a piece of work is a man! How infinite in faculties!...in action, how like an angel! In apprehension, how like a god! The beauty of the world, and the paragon of animals!’’ (From Hamlet, Prince of Denmark) Where did he get this quotation from? Is it from nature or from his creative genius? It is based on the Biblical insight from the eight Psalms in the Bible, which are as follows: What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the Son of man, that thou visitest him? Continued on page 6
Hardships after closure... From page 4 happening with the closed sugar estates. Some of the oil revenue, when it comes, should be used to help to keep the sugar industry alive until we diversify or partner with others to improve and expand our agricultural sector. Then we could come out of sugar production smoothly by using a very methodical and wise approach. Roshan Khan Snr.
Who will pay Guyana to keep its oil in the ground? DEAR EDITOR, Mr Changalee’s suggestion that Guyana could be paid to keep its oil in the ground is an excellent ideal for a country that aims to achieve a green revolution. However, I have some questions for Mr Changalee that I would like him to answer. Who would set up the US$100 billion fund -
Guyana? Perhaps, Guyana in conjunction with the UN? Where would the money come from? That sum isn’t exactly chicken feed. Have you any suggestions as to who or which organizations would be likely to contribute? How do we protect such a fund, and the annual income from its investment, from
rapacious politicians? Even if you think the present lot are above reproach (which I do not), this is a long-term investment extending over several changes of government. Remember we are now listed among the most corrupt of countries. Pat Robinson Commissiong
GHK Lall must answer some questions about Freddie Kissoon DEAR EDITOR, I am at a loss to understand a certain line in Mr. GHK Lall’s reply to your columnist, Frederick Kissoon. Before I go into my details, I would like to know what GHK stands for. Why Mr. Lall doesn’t sign his first name. Secondly, is there a fall out between GHK Lall and Mr. Glen Lall, the publisher of the Kaieteur News? I am assuming that they are related and there was some quarrel. Would the newspaper like to shed some light here? Mr. Lall wrote; “I seem to recall dismissing the writer a while back.” I am an avid reader of your newspaper from my home in London. I have been reading your newspaper since it came online and I cannot recall a denunciation by Mr. Lall of Kissoon. Of course, Mr. Kissoon is denounced by so many persons that by now he must be immune to his accusers. I am curious to know why Mr. Lall dismissed Freddie. I don’t agree with lots of the views and opinion of Freddie Kissoon. Freddie is the type that one day you read him and you wonder where he got the outlandish thoughts from to have put them into his column. Then on another day, he is a philosophical dreamer that
makes you sad about Guyana’s uncaring attitude towards its people. All in all, I like Freddie. I don’t know who wouldn’t because despite the constant bickering about so many things about Guyana, he is a crusader for freedom, the kind that has changed the world for the better. Here in London, he would have been honoured for his work a long time ago. I can tell you his name comes up all the time when we, Guyanese, meet each other at social gatherings. So many persons would love to meet him. I left Guyana a long time ago and it still bothers me why Guyana has one Freddie Kissoon only. You mean to tell me that Guyana has not one other person that feels the need to highlight all the wrong things that takes place in the country? You read the Freddie Kissoon Column and you think that either Freddie Kissoon is a devil inventing and imagining things or Guyana is sinking. Please tell me Mr. Editor, which is the true picture? Do you have a mischievous writer that is selling your newspaper or you have an educated man whose pursuit is to change his country? If what Freddie Kissoon writes
about is reality, then why is there only one Freddie Kissoon? One final observation, a friend came back after visiting her homeland, Guyana and told me that Guyana’s zoo in terrible shape. Mr. Editor, I have fond memories as a little girl going to the zoo. I came from Bel Air Park which was not far from the Botanical Gardens and many times on the weekend, my parents would take us to the zoo. I was small back then (I don’t know if it has been greatly expanded) but at that time, the zoo was worth visiting. I hope they do something about it; I hope Mr. Granger will. From the view I have in London, Mr. Granger seems like a man who cares about his country. I would urge him to look into the complaints about the zoo. Priya Persaud London, England
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Kaieteur News
BUSH TRAIL AT TRIUMPH FRONT LANDS DEAR EDITOR, Incessant noise nuisance from Mon Repos North, a neighbouring village, flooding of yards and street when it rains, poor telephone service, or pile drivingcollapsing homes, more? Yes! A semi-circle road way, Dasrat Street, measuring some 600 metres, is now known as The Bush Trail running through a coastal village of Triumph Front Lands, and under the duty of the BV/Triumph Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC). Access to the Bush Trail is through two points from a (BV/Triumph) main road, running perpendicular to it, all akin to a protractor shape, the latter under the responsibility of the Region Four Regional Democratic Council (RDC). With a seemingly complicit and hopeless NDC not to be outdone, the RDC
last week took the prize for relegating citizens to this community to animals by paving a part of the Bush Trail, and earlier paving part of BV/Triumph Main Road, leaving disjointed sections impassable at times, reminiscent of the Kurupukari to Lethem trail when it rains. Back in 2011, prior to national elections as is customary, the NDC apparently tried to deal with this 600 metres of Bush Trail by solidly paving ¼ of it, while the remaining ¾ was done using chip seal technology that promptly returned it to its glorious Bush Trail status within six months. Not to be left behind, the Region 4 RDC in late 2014, prior to national elections, began work on its BV/ Triumph main road. Something went wrong (as usual), and another trail was
established. Having tried and failed to fix its own road (BV/Triumph) main road prior to the 2015 elections, the Region 4 RDC in late 2016 made its grand entrance again by supremely paving ¾ of the their road but only as far as the entrance to its regional staff compound, which houses its entire team of SIX (6) staffers including the Regional Engineer who perhaps drive heavy duty trucks to work. How different is this Regional Administration from the colonial masters who lived it up in the Guysuco estate compounds? The remaining ¼ section, which connects to the Bush Trail at the other end remains undone and what villagers and factory owners thought would have been a lifesaver, turned out to be more mud and slush. This unfinished ¼ also continues to hinder access to the longest barely surviving Marvex (Bleach) factory at the BV Industrial Site, and has restrained the new Gafoors Complex the option of building its added entrance. It was too much for the RDC to think of ancillary benefits. And if you think we are done, the best is yet to come! Arise the East Coast Public Road project in 2017. The Chinese contractor decided to use the recently part completed BV/Triumph main road to drive 20-plus ton trucks to access lands directly adjacent to the seawall to dump unusable material dug from the road area. So up comes the Region 4 RDC who now decides that it will facilitate such access by building a new wooden access bridge connecting the very BV/Triumph main ‘road’ and the incomplete ¼ track to
a Seawall Trail. The Chinese were now carrying out Central government’s mandate and so are more important than measly residents and factory owners needing a basic road. When the bridge was completed, the Chinese contractors discovered the bridge clearly could not accommodate its huge trucks, so they added another bridge atop of the RDC’s bridge! You read correctly, atop! The Chinese trucks made a mess of both the ¾ completed road and the ¼ incomplete track. The poor Marvex factory and residents were forced to detour using the entire section of the Bush Trail due to the mess and damage. Few persons ventured to the seawall for Easter due to the decrepit state of the road. The story continues! Last week, the Region 4 RDC ‘magnanimously’ decided to turn attention to our Bush Trail! Hip Hip! It began laying a first class road but only to our utter amazement for 1/3 of the Bush Trail (about 225 metres), which when it reached the Pearly Gates of the RDC’s back entrance the road stopped. But consideration was then given to stretch it another 10 metres to cover the detour for a Muslin burial ground (the dead being more important than the living). The RDC then on top of that added a further 10 metres to reach the entrance of a now so-called prominent villager, for this King to drive his chariot through. He is the Chairman of the Board for two controversial entities, BV Police Station and Hope Estate, and was granted several acres of land in Triumph Front Lands by a still surviving former Prime
Minister in 1991 on the premise these lands were for charitable community purposes, but are now being sold commercially. It would be worth noting this paved 1/3 of road, save for one crater, was always in far better condition than the now remaining 2/3 Bush Trail. You may recall, this remaining Bush Trail was also the subject of 100 foot piles dragged through it for pile driving last year! It would be dastardly to think this latest 1/3 section of road was done because it runs through a small area which was a former PNC housing scheme back in the mid-1970s, while the Bush Trail passes through an area developed by
a private entrepreneur in the late 1970s! Mind you, residents worked like donkeys for years filling potholes with any available material, despite being ratepayers, and nationally, taxpayers. Even today, a tourist residing in the community is filling his builder’s waste into the craters on the Bush Trail. To sum up, we now have two sections of Bush Trails neatly separating the first class roads. Progress never ceases in this part of the world! I guess the trick here is to bring Eco-tourism like Hinterland conditions to the coast, where access is cheaper! M.L.
The genius of William... From page 5 For thou hast made him a little lower than angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet, All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the seas. O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth. (Authorized King James Bible Psalms 8:4-9) What I have quoted here is a very profound biblical insight in reference to the works of Shakespeare. It is believed that over two thousand of Shakespeare’s quotations are in direct reference to the Bible. How deep a Christian Shakespeare was, we will never know but his Will as well as his Sonnets reflected a strong belief in Jesus Christ – also his epitaph written by him. Good friend for Jesus sake forbeare, To dig the dust enclosed here. Blessed be the man that spares these stones, And cursed be he that moves my bones.’ William Shakespeare was inspired by greater souls than himself to write. His death was that of a mystery; he died on the 23rd of April 1616, at age 52. His day of death was the day of his birth, announcing to the world a great soul had departed. His incredible body of work will never again be equaled in Western Civilization. His immortal, unsurpassed poetry and plays have endured for 454 years. His works will remain a classic in the annals of literary history. Whoever the real Shakespeare was, his life and character were where dreams were made on. Rev. Gideon Cecil
Monday April 23, 2018
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ExxonMobil pledges to come clean on payments to Guyana Govt. - GY-EITI Head By Kiana Wilburg USA oil conglomerate, ExxonMobil has a documented history of failing to reveal information on payments it makes to governments around the world. But it has committed to come clean on payments to Guyana’s Administration. This pledge was made by the USA Company to Head of the Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GYEITI), Dr. Rudy Jadoopat. In an interview with Kaieteur News, the Head of the EITI local chapter said that he is aware of the challenges other nations have faced in trying to access information about payments made to governments. He said that ExxonMobil was approached on the matter and the entity gave all assurances that there would be full compliance. Jadoopat said, “They promised that there would be no obstacles and we are looking forward to cooperation from the company.” CASE OF NIGERIA The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), an international body that requires disclosures on moneys governments receive from extractive sector appears to be of little help to Nigeria. At least this is the case when it comes to payments made to the Government by USA oil giant ExxonMobil.
EITI Head, Dr. Rudy Jadoopat As a company based in the U.S., ExxonMobil is not required to release a Paymentto-Government report. However, it is clear from analyzing disclosures from other oil and gas companies engaged in consortia with ExxonMobil that the company makes significant payments to Nigerian government entities. This is according to the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI). Assuming payments are made proportionally to the company’s equity share, NRGI said in one of its reports that one can estimate that in 2016, the company paid USD$39 million in taxes and royalties for the Usan project and between USD $212 and $223 million in taxes and production entitlements for the Bonga project. The transparency group said that these sizable revenues cover only two projects
in which ExxonMobil has an interest, but point to the company’s significant role as a source of government revenue. It noted that ExxonMobil, through its Nigerian subsidiary Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPN), also has several operations for which this type of estimation is not possible. The Institute said that while the company is under no obligation to release a Payments to Government report, it is clear that if it did so voluntarily, Nigerian citizens would be better equipped to hold the government accountable for the natural resource revenues it receives. NRGI also stated that ExxonMobil declined when, as part of the research process for its briefing, it asked the company to voluntarily report 2016 payment data for Nigeria in line with data disclosed by other companies covered in this document. Guyana is the latest of the EITI. The Government is convinced that ExxonMobil would respect the disclosure rules of EITI and corporate with Guyana in this regard. REMOVALFROM EITI The refusal of USA oil giants, ExxonMobil and Chevron to disclose their tax payments in the USA has resulted in civil society groups calling for their immediate removal from the Board of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).
The civil society organizations made these sentiments pellucid in a letter to EITI Chairman Fredrik Reinfeldt. In the letter, it was explained that ExxonMobil and Chevron were members of the US-EITI Multi-Stakeholder Group from its creation in December 2011 to its disbandment in November 2017. Both companies are members of the EITI International Board’s industry constituency and have served in that role, with a few brief exceptions, since its creation in 2003. It was further noted that from its founding, the EITI and its Standard have required comprehensive disclosure of material payments from companies to governments, including taxes. In fact, no EITI implementation has ever excluded the disclosure of tax payments. However, in the US-EITI report issued in 2016, only 12 of the 38 eligible companies disclosed their taxes. In the US-EITI report issued in 2015, 12 of the 41 eligible companies disclosed their taxes. ExxonMobil and Chevron were among the companies that refused to disclose their tax payments in both cases. The civil society groups said that in during the December 2015 US-EITI MSG Meeting, an ExxonMobil representative provided the following explanation of his company’s decision not to disclose taxes through the US-EITI process: “… Knowing that income tax
Eion Greaves Appreciation concert set for National Cultural Centre For over thirty-five years, the work of Psalmist Eion Greaves, has impacted the local gospel music scene and touched the lives of listeners in Guyana, Barbados, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Curacao, Jamaica, Antigua, and the USA among other places. On Saturday April 28, artistes and fans from all across Guyana will gather at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) to pay tribute to the man, whose music and ministry is said to have played an instrumen t a l r o l e i n transforming gospel music, locally. The singer, who gained popularity locally with hit tunes, “I Have a Plan” and “Restoration” is said to have paved the way for a new genre of music to local gospel arena. Although he has been living in the USA since 1998, Greaves continues to contribute to the upliftment of local
talents, particularly on the gospel frontier. The singer has visited Guyana on several occasions, working in the areas of music production. His recent project is the formation of a band titled “The Synergistics”— which is a combination of singers and musicians from various ministries /churches. Throughout his career, the distinguished artiste has been the recipient of a number of accolades--the most recent is the Gospel International Award during the nation’s 50th Independence Anniversary. This week‘s upcoming event is said to be another way of showing appreciation for Greaves’ dedication to music. The “Eion Greaves Appreciation Concert” is a celebration of the musician’s pioneering and legacy. Speaking to Kaieteur News about the upcoming event, Greaves noted that a
Psalmist Eion Greaves group of his friends and supporters decided to hold the concert to pay tribute to his work in Ministry. “This is just their way of saying, thank you. The concert is organised and sponsored by Royalty Empire, Den’s Trading, and the Hope is Rising Movement, among others.”
Greaves explained that the concert is setting a premise for things to come. “This is the first appreciation concert of its kind and I am a forerunner… It certainly will not be the last show since we already have artistes lined up for next year’s event.” According to Greaves, the night is expected to be one of elegance. “We have a list of excellent singers lined up, Saiku Andrews will be there, Samuel Medas , Cherlyn Maloney, Mariam Corlette Williams , Reverend Shawn Sobers among a number of other special guests and invitees. The show starts at 8:30 pm sharp and we are expecting a packed house.” Tickets to the Eion Greaves Appreciation Concert are still on sale and are available at the Kester ‘D’ Music Shop on Charlotte Street and the National Cultural Centre.
reporting will soon be required under Section 1504 of the Dodd-Frank Act, companies may have chosen to wait until that rule was finalized and the requirements clearer. (ExxonMobil representative) added that many of these companies have exercised leadership in EITI around the world, and are very committed to USEITI and to tax reporting, but are awaiting the finalization of the SEC’s rulemaking.” In spite of ExxonMobil’s response, the groups noted that a May 2017 Interior Department Inspector General assessment of US-EITI points out that tax data can actually be disclosed. They also noted that Dallas-based Kosmos Energy has voluntarily disclosed its U.S. tax payments for years, and BHP Billiton, one of the largest mining companies in the world, voluntarily disclosed its tax payments to the U.S. government before it was required to do so by the EU Directives. The civil society groups
noted, “This issue could have been avoided if there was a standard that required companies to practise what they preach and disclose their payments fully as a condition of being an EITI supporting company or EITI Board member. In the absence of this, and in light of the ongoing circumstances outlined, we recommend strongly that these companies be removed from the EITI Board for violating the EITI Code of Conduct, as well as the spirit of EITI, thus endangering the EITI Standard.” The letter sent to the EITI Chairman received the blessings of Danielle Brian, USEITI Co-Chairman and Betsy Taylor, Executive Director of Livelihoods Knowledge Exchange Network (LiKEN) and US-EITI Representative among others. (To read more on this issue, follow the link: http://www.pwypusa.org/ pwyp-news/civil-society-organizations-call-onexxonmobil-and-chevron-tobe-removed-from-the-eitiboard/).
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Blueprint being developed for Riverfront Boardwalk at Wismar - Minister Brooomes By Enid Joaquin
Minister within the Ministry of National Resources Simona Broomes is seeking to develop a blueprint for the proposed boardwalk for Wismar, that President David Granger alluded to during his visit to Victory Valley recently. She made this disclosure last Wednesday while visiting several areas in Linden including the Dorfolk Home at Retrieve, the Victory Valley Community, Amelia’s Ward and the Wismar Market. The Minister who was accompanied by two engineers, said that the blueprint would be used to immediately put into action the charge given by the President, which is to develop the riverfront. She added that there would be consultation with major stakeholders, such as the Linden Mayor and Town Council, the Regional Democratic Council and residents who would be given the opportunity to make suggestions on the proposed development. President Granger during his address at the commissioning of the Victory Valley play-park had pointed out that all the towns across Guyana are situated on Riverfronts, and that all need to be developed. He alluded to Bartica which has already established a boardwalk adorning its waterfront. These developments, the President said, would aid in the beautification and aes-
thetic appeal of the towns and thus boost their tourism and economic potential. ÀPNU Member of Parliament Jermaine Figuiera said that the developmental project will positively enhance not only the riverfront, but will inject new life on the Wismar shore and would impact economic activity in the nearby Wismar Market. Mayor Wanneka Arrindel also commended those who were behind the project while pointing out that it is time that Wismar benefit from such initiatives. The proposed boardwalk is expected to encompass the area designated for the Mahdia/Lethem Bus Park and would extend towards the old steamer Stelling. According to Minister Broomes, similar developments are also slated for the Mackenzie shore. While this would mark the first major development of the riverfront involving the Wismar shore, the riverfront at Mackenzie had seen some development through a joint venture between the Linden Economic Advancement Programme (LEAP) and the Linden municipality. Dubbed the River Front (enhancement) project, it was conceptualized and designed by popular Linden engineer and environmentalist Samuel Wright. Several persons had envisioned such an undertak-
ing, but it was Wright who would present his proposal to LEAP for consideration and approval. Its establishment ostensibly cost LEAP $18M. Minister Broomes also toured the Wismar Market, where she interacted with stall holders, who highlighted some of the issues facing them. The Minister used the opportunity to highlight several developmental initiatives for the facility, including, the addition of another floor, that would cater for new businesses to be established. She also spoke of Government’s commitment to developing Region Ten. “I want to take this opportunity and say to the entire Region Ten that we will be coming around to look at all the areas, because some persons might say this is going on there and this is not happening there. But if we go to an area, we look at the needs and we hear the concerns of residents, we try to ensure that that area is covered, that we respond and we hold ourselves accountable and deliver to that community and we move to another community.” The Minister said that several communities across Region Ten are currently being looked at. She later distributed sporting equipment and farming implements to residents in the Victory Valley and Amelia’s ward communities.
After two years…
Law Reform Commission still in limbo Two years after legislation was passed for the work of the Law Reform Commission (LRC) to be established, that Commission is still to get off the ground. The LRC is mandated to essentially reform and upgrade all possible legislation in Guyana to ensure that they are in line with international best practices. Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams told reporters recently that in addition to securing a building for the LRC to operate from, efforts are underway to have the staff in place. The Legal Affairs Minister noted that so far an interviewing panel has commenced work to employ suitable candidates to sit on the commission. Kaieteur News understands that the panel has a group of distinguished persons under consideration. These include senior counsel, retired jurists and lawyers. Section three of the Law
Monday April 23, 2018
Kaieteur News
Reform Commission Act, stipulates that the LRC shall consist of no less than three, or more than seven members that shall be appointed by the President, acting after consultation with the Minister. With this in mind, the Legal Affairs Ministry has been inviting suitably qualified candidates to apply for the position of law reform commissioners. According to advertisements earlier this year, “interested persons should first and foremost be competent to carry out the required duties.” “Suitably qualified candidates should hold or have held a judicial office; experience as an attorney for 10 years or have experience as a Lecturer of the Law at a University for at least 10 years.” The LRC Act outlines that the mandate of the Commission, to be carried out by its members, includes keeping under review the laws of Guyana, with a view to its systematic development and reform, including in particular,
the modification of any branch of the law, the reduction of the number of the separate enactments and generally, the simplification and modernization of the law. The Bill to facilitate the establishment of the Commission was passed in the National Assembly in 2015. However, it was not supported by the parliamentary opposition. The opposition’s disapproval was on the ground that the Law Reform Commission Bill directs the President, in consultation with the Attorney-General, to appoint members of the commission. The PPP/C had recommended that instead of going down this route, the members of the commission should be chosen by the Association of Legal Professionals, University of Guyana, Private Sector Commission, the religious community, the labour unions, Human Rights groups and the political opposition.
Huge dip in gold reserves points to Govt.’s “spend and borrow” mentality By Kiana Wilburg Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram is concerned at what he described as government’s “spend, spend, spend, borrow, borrow, borrow” mindset. He says that this is reflected in the management of the nation’s resources such as gold. The Chartered Accountant said he is left to worry about what this would mean for Guyana’s coming oil wealth. In this regard, the Chartered Accountant referenced a recent statement by Bank of Guyana, which spoke to the use of the nation’s gold reserves. Ram noted that available figures show that last year, the gold reserve was at $4.8B, but up to April 11, 2018, the reserve was $1.9B. This shows a significant decline in the gold reserves. There were criticism about the decline in reserves in the media but Bank of Guyana was not happy with it. In a missive to the media, Bank of Guyana explained that it trades gold and replenishes the stock based on market opportunities. It stressed that gold is not managed as an exclusive reserve asset for holding, but as part of a portfolio of assets. It said that gold may be sold for a number of reasons; including maximizing profits, rebalancing of the portfolio, meeting liquidity needs, or optimizing opportunities in other asset classes. It said that with the price of gold as high as USD1,364.00 recently, the
…Ram says at this rate, no amount of legislation would protect oil moneys
Bank of Guyana, Governor, Dr. Gobind Ganga
Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram
Bank has been trading gold as any Bank worth its salt will do. Central Bank stressed that dips in the reserves therefore, reflect strategic trading rather than any involuntary disposal of gold. ‘SPEND AND BORROW’ MINDSET In an interview with Kaieteur News, Ram said that he has to disagree with Central Bank’s statement that the disposal of the gold between last year and now was part of some rebalancing exercise. The Chartered Accountant said, “I am not sure how a balancing can result in a significant overall reduction. I would expect a rebalancing to be reflected in a change in the constituent parts, not in the overall pool. This is all part of their culture of ‘spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow’ which seems to char-
acterize the financial administration of the country.” The Attorney-at-law said that in terms of the spending, one needs to link it to revenues from oil “because if that is the mindset that drives the management of the economy, then no amount of legislation about sovereign wealth fund is going to protect us.” Ram added, “I would strongly recommend to the Governor of the Bank of Guyana, Dr. Gobind Ganga that he should stick to the mandate of the Bank as set out in the Bank of Guyana Act; that is, to be guided in all its actions by the objective of fostering domestic price stability through the promotion of stable credit and exchange conditions, as well as sound financial intermediation conducive to the growth of the economy of Guyana.”
Not a single contingency request made last year - Finance Minister …says Govt. has done far more for transparency and accountability than PPP There has not been a single request by government agencies to use the nation’s emergency fund also known as the Contingency Fund. This was revealed recently by Finance Minister, Winston Jordan. The economist noted that in all his life, working in the area of finance, he cannot recall there ever being such an occurrence. He said that this can be credited to the Government’s prudent management of the nation’s finances, contrary to what critics have been saying. On this note, the Finance Minister was reminded of comments by some local commentators that the government is yet to secure an effec-
Finance Minister, Winston Jordan tive system for the accountability of public funds. In this regard, the Minister disagreed, stating cat-
egorically that the government has done more for transparency and accountability in less than five years than the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has done in 23 years. The Finance Minister said, “Look how many things we have done such as the forensic audit reports. We have been trying to get annual reports in order which were several years behind, our outcome statements that we are bringing out are on time, our public debt figures are in check…” He reiterated, “We have done far more for effective public accountability than the PPP.” (KIANA WILBURG)
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Kaieteur News
The human resource void in local democracy Three layers of local government represent a burden on the country’s slender human resource base. The political parties are well aware that finding sufficient, competent persons to populate the government, the Regional Democratic Councils and the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils represent a challenge. The political parties end up scraping the bottom of their barrels in order to find such quality persons to fill the many layers of our local government. After creaming off the best for the Parliament and the Government, there is not much left in the tank for populating the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils. The main political parties lack the depth of talent that is required to ensure that the Local Government gets the
best that it deserves. The political parties end up having to place persons, who have had no experience at all in administration, to become councillors in the both the Regional Democratic Councils and the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils. They do end up finding some good persons. But in the end they have to find others who are really not the sort of material that one would expect to find within these representative organs. It is a two-fold human resource challenge. Firstly, there is a shortage of qualified persons within the country. This has to do with the migration of skills, which has denuded this country of talent from since before Independence. The best move away, leaving the country with a critical shortage of skills and
talents. It is for this reason that persons have to be pulled out of retirement to help fill positions within representative local government organs. The second part of the problem concerns the political parties. They struggle to find sufficient numbers of capable persons to occupy all three layers of government. The ugly politics of Guyana is a major deterrent to persons wanting to become involved in politics. Persons who may be willing to serve their communities do not wish to become associated with the politics of political parties. A culture of suppressing independent thinking by the political parties also discourages persons from becoming involved. The domination of the main political parties by a cabal of veteran politicians
DEM BOYS SEH
Exxon show how it vex wid de Waterfalls paper
People does show dem anger in many ways. Sometimes people does stop talking to you. Nuff married men know bout dat. When a wife vex after she done talk all she talk, she does stop talking to you. Sometimes, she don’t even cook fuh yuh and when night come, she does even be more spiteful. Politicians stay de same way. Dem does use dem power to punish you. Some of dem does go to you wuk place and tell de people to knock you off and if de people refuse, dem does try to punish de people. If is a private business place, all of a sudden de tax people does visit de wuk place regularly. Goods dat come pun de wharf does get hold up. People can’t get dem pension wha dem wuk for; and if dem got children, de children does get spite. Dem boys know nuff case of de children not getting scholarships. Sometimes, dem don’t even get jobs. Just last week, dem boys at de Waterfalls paper know dat Exxon vex wid dem. De oil company decide to tek some reporters to see wha happening pun de oil ship wha deh in de drill zone. It decide to invite some reporters but it didn’t announce it. Somebody just call de reporters dat dem does talk to and carry dem pun de ship. Dem boys hear bout de trip but dem never even see de invitation. Of course de trip come off. It didn’t matter to dem boys because dem know
dat if de oil company vex wid dem is dem face dem vex wid. But wha got dem thinking is how de government get tie up in de story. De government help pay fuh de trip and nobody didn’t even call or
seh nutten. Imagine de oil company refuse to invite de biggest paper in de country. Talk half and just know dat dem boys don’t care. Dem gon always talk!
compounds the lack of attraction for persons to become involved in local democracy. Political polarizations makes the problem worse. At the last Local Government Elections held in 2016, the population rejected independent groups, which contested for positions within municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils. The zero sum game supported by the population of Guyana means that they see a victory for the PPPC as a defeat of the APNU and vice versa. This leads to the marginalization of small political parties and independent groups, as was evident in the last Local Government Elections. A long-term solution
requires two approaches. The first is constitutional reform, which should be directed at reducing the number of layers of Local Government, and the second involves creating political space for non-parties to contest local government polls. Constitutional change is needed to revamp our Local Government system to allow for less layers. Guyana’s small society means that finding sufficient persons to fill these positions will always be problematic. It also needs to be asked whether there is a need to have both a regional system of administration and so many Neighbourhoods Democratic Councils. Other countries have done away with the archaic idea of village councils and have
implemented instead a system of boroughs. Secondly, there is a need to insist on making the Local Government system more democratic by ensuring that there is space for small parties and individuals. Some concession has to be made to allow for representation outside of the main political parties. Unless these changes are engineered, Guyana’s Local Government system will continue to be the victim of political seizure by the main political parties, to the detriment of local democracy and local communities.
Monday April 23, 2018
Kaieteur News
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Monday April 23, 2018
Kaieteur News
ExxonMobil gets one of the largest oil blocks in the world from Guyana, only has to give up 20 % in 7 yrs By Abena RockcliffeCampbell The Stabroek Block offshore Guyana is one of the largest in the world. In fact, the biggest discovery of oil in 2015 came out of a well in this block which measures 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres). Yet, the relinquishment provisions governing the use of this block are minimal. This was pointed out by Oil and Gas Consultant, Charles Ramson during a recent interview with this newspaper. The former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament said that with such a large block, no right-thinking negotiator for Guyana would have called for such minimal relinquishment provisions. In Oil and Gas, the term relinquishment refers to the return of part or all of a lease
- Ramson
Attorney-at-law and Oil and Gas Consultant, Charles Ramson or concession. Relinquishment is required so that an oil company can move from one phase in its work schedule to the next. Very often, when areas are relinquished, host governments seek to market the area to other companies.
Ramson, an attorney-atlaw, noted that the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) that Guyana signed with ExxonMobil in 2016 only requires the oil company to relinquish 20 percent of its huge block after the first renewal period (which adds up to seven years). The Consultant said that Exxon’s total area in Guyana’s waters is equivalent to about 2,000 leases in the US sector of the Gulf of Mexico, “So you get an understanding of just how huge is this block. But that is on the international stage; let us look at what other companies were given here in Guyana.” Ramson noted that CGX’s was given 4000 square kilometers and Eco-Atlantic— which has partnered with
Tullow—was given 1801 square kilometers. Ramson said that no other company has had such favourable provisions when it comes to relinquishment in Guyana. The former MP said that the CGX contract is much more aggressive on the relinquishment of acreage relative to the ExxonMobil Contract. He said that the CGX contract compels relinquishment of 15 percent of acreage (excluding discoveries) within the first four years while the ExxonMobil contract does not compel any relinquishment of acreage until seven years later. Further, the PSA that government signed with Eco-Atlantic allows the company control over 1801 square kilometers. That company, even with that small area, has to give up 20 percent of its block in seven years.
Often, relinquishment provisions are linked to the work plan put forward by the specific company. Ramson noted that ExxonMobil has been given a long exploration period (10 years) and has committed to a light work commitment—one well in year one to four, and one additional well in each of the subsequent three year extension options. The other companies— Eco-Atlantic and CGX—committed to very similar work programmes. Ramson said that it is very important that host governments be prudent in the drafting of relinquishment provisions “because you do not want a company hoarding an area, when the country can gain revenues if that very area is utilized.” The consultant noted that ExxonMobil is not required to
give up an area where oil has been discovered in commercial quantities “and that has proven to be very common around the world.” However, “One company can find oil where another company missed it. Sometimes, you only have to shift to the right, or left or even go a little deeper.” Therefore, ExxonMobil should have been made to give up areas where oil has not been discovered much earlier that the contract stipulates, Ramson stated. The Consultant said that all in all, ExxonMobil’s relinquishment provisions represent yet another flaw in the 2016 PSA. “This is hugely significant because this gives ExxonMobil control over a larger area for a longer period at a time when the clock on oil being the dominant source of energy is ticking.”
U.S. report knocks criminal justice system over human rights abuses The Georgetown Magistrates’ Court
The United States (U.S.) Department of State has taken note of allegations that prison officials mistreated inmates as well as claims that police abused suspects and detainees. In its Human Rights Report that reviewed events in Guyana last year, the State
Department detailed challenges that continue to confront the criminal justice system. “Delays, inefficiencies, and alleged corruption in the magistrates’ court system affected citizens’ ability to seek timely remedies in civil matters, and there was a large
backlog of civil cases,” the report stated. It pointed out that prison and jail conditions, particularly in police holding cells, were reportedly harsh and potentially life threatening due to gross overcrowding, physical abuse, and inadequate sanitary conditions
and medical care. The report stated that prisoners often circumvented procedures for submitting complaints of inhumane conditions or mistreatment by passing letters addressed to government officials through family members. Overcrowding, the report found, was in large part due to a backlog of pretrial detainees, who constituted approximately 30% of the total prison population. The report quoted the Guyana Prison Service as having 2,004 prisoners in five facilities with a combined design capacity of 1,179. As of July, a total of 1,018 prisoners were in Georgetown’s Camp Street Prison, designed to hold 550 inmates. The State Department also noted that prisons were moved from Camp Street
Prison to Lusignan Prison after they rioted and started multiple fires that destroyed the prison. Prisoners reported unsanitary conditions and a lack of potable water. Prisoners, according to the U.S. Report, also complained of lengthy confinement in their cells with limited opportunities for sunlight. An arrest requires a warrant issued by a court official unless an officer who witnesses a crime believes there is good cause to suspect a crime or a breach of the peace has been or will be committed. The law requires that a person arrested cannot be held for more than 72 hours unless brought before a court to be charged. Authorities generally observed this requirement. Bail was generally available except in cases of capital offenses and narcotics traf-
ficking. The U.S. noted that authorities occasionally did not fully respect these rights of criminal detainees to prompt access to a lawyer of their choice and to family members. “Police routinely required permission from the senior investigating officer, who was seldom on the premises, before permitting counsel access to a client,” the report stated. Lengthy pretrial detention remained a problem, due primarily to judicial inefficiency, staff shortages, and cumbersome legal procedures. “The average length of pretrial detention was three years for those awaiting trial at a magistrates’ court or in the High Court. This was often beyond the maximum possible sentence for the crime for which they were charged,” the U.S. stated.
Monday April 23, 2018
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Kaieteur News
Status report forthcoming on Budget Transparency Action Plan …Finance Minister says several successes achieved in this regard
Finance Minister, Winston Jordan By Kiana Wilburg Finance Minister Winston Jordan confronted last week, concerns that the government is yet to properly implement its Budget Transparency Action Plan (BTAP). In an interview with Kaieteur News, the economist noted that the action plan is well on its way to being implemented. He said that the government has achieved several successes where this is concerned but a status report would be forthcoming. His comments come in wake of criticisms by
Chartered Accountant and former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran. The anticorruption advocate noted that it was some two years ago, that the Government, through the Ministry of Finance, developed a Budget Transparency Action Plan which was intended to aid in the process of public accountability. Goolsarran noted however that even this has not been enough to help the Coalition Administration develop an effective system where public funds can be properly accounted for and insulated from various forms of abuse. He said that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) should impress upon the administration, the importance of having all actions contained in the BTAP undertaken, especially
as they relate to the accountability timeframe. Until this is achieved, coupled with appropriate sanctions for violations, Goolsarran said, “we would be unable to assure ourselves that a strong and effective system of public accountability is in place to safeguard public funds and other resources of the State.” BUDGET TRANSPARENCY ACTION PLAN According to Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, the Budget Transparency Action Plan is one that seeks to strengthen more than 10 areas of national accountability. These include public procurement, consultations on the budget and training of budget staff. High up on the action plan is to ensure that there are consultations with key stakeholders on proposals to
Suspected killer of paralysed Guyanese seen on video near home New York (New York Daily News)- The killer of a retired city bus driver may have been caught on camera, police said Friday. Otis James was found stabbed to death in his Brooklyn apartment. He may have been murdered over money he had in his home, authorities said. Surveillance video released by the NYPD on Friday shows a man in a light colored sweatshirt and gray sweats strolling around a corner near the Bushwick crime scene. James, who was paralyzed from the waist down, was found dead, sprawled out on the floor of his first floor apartment on Central Ave. at about 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
KILLED: Guyanese, Otis James James’ wife and daughter discovered him when they returned from work, police said.
A knife was found near his body. “The guy was stabbed 10 plus times,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea said Wednesday. “There are allegations that there was money in the house. That’s an avenue that they are exploring.” James joined the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in 2005. Assigned to the Flatbush Depot, he drove a bus around Brooklyn until about 2015, when he was shot during a robbery while on vacation in Guyana, colleagues said. After being hospitalized for months, he was allowed to retire on a federal disability pension in May, authorities said.
Police are searching for the man (pictured suspected in the stabbing death of MTA bus driver Otis James, in his Brooklyn home. (NYPD)
be included in the National Budget. Jordan said these stakeholders would include the political Opposition, the Private Sector Commission (PSC), the Trade Union Congress, and relevant civil society organizations. The Finance Minister had said that this is being done to promote a participatory approach in budget preparation; to secure ownership of the outcome from key stakeholders; and to ensure greater transparency in the crafting of the National Budget. He had recalled that prior to 2015; there was little or no consultation with the political Opposition. He said that this resulted in three consecutive years of stalemate, “budget cuts”, unauthorized expenditure, and judicial intervention. In the preparation of the
2015 Budget and others that followed, Jordan said that attempts were made to consult with the political Opposition while in respect of the private sector and other stakeholders, there were detailed consultations. The Minister of Finance nevertheless indicated a desire for on-going dialogue in the future instead of a oncea-year consultation. With the action plan serving as a guide, Jordan said that he and his team will strive to release the outcome of budget consultations to the public via press briefings and related press statements and on the Ministry of Finance’s website, prior to the presentation of budgets to the National Assembly. Furthermore, the action plan also seeks to incorporate a strengthened programme budgeting framework in the National Budget. Jordan
Chartered Accountant, Anand Goolsarran explained that this will provide for greater accountability for outputs, outcomes and impacts. He noted that despite the efforts made to embed programme budgeting as evidenced by the compilation of Volumes One and Two of the Estimates to the National Assembly, statements of impact and indicators of achievement are not specific and quantifiable to facilitate ex post evaluation. Jordan had said that he is confident that the action plan in this regard will strengthen Continued on page 22
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Monday April 23, 2018
Kaieteur News
Death toll rises in fifth day of Nicaragua protests against govt.
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MANAGUA (Reuters) - Anti-government protests in Nicaragua entered a fifth day yesterday as the death toll from the violence rose and looting was reported in some areas, aggravating the crisis around longstanding President Daniel Ortega. The Red Cross said at least seven people had died and hundreds had been injured in the demonstrations, while a local human rights organisation said it had registered 25 deaths. The protests began on Wednesday over plans to increase worker contributions to social security and lower pensions, and some stores in Managua were looted over the weekend, Reuters witnesses said. Late on Saturday, local media said a reporter was shot and killed during a live broadcast from Bluefields, a town on the Caribbean coast hit by the unrest. Graphic footage of the incident soon spread onto local and social media. The police crackdown on demonstrators and curbs on some media in the past few days have fueled broader criticism of Ortega, who has gradually tightened his hold on the country’s institutions since he returned to power over 11 years ago. The U.S. State Department yesterday called for “broadbased dialogue” to end the dispute and “restore respect” for human rights, urging the government to let the media operate freely.
Status report forthcoming... From page 21 the programme of the budgeting system and utilize performance reports within an enhanced Monitoring and Evaluation environment; including measurable indicators that are quantifiable and specific. The Finance Minster said that effective from the fiscal year 2018, in respect of all Ministries, Departments and Regions; the National Budget will provide specific details regarding the quantification of outputs, outcome, impacts and indicators of
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achievement. The Budget Transparency Action Plan also takes into account, the need to provide specialized training for key staff of budget agencies. The Finance Minister said that this will enable staff to become more proficient in preparing programme budgets. He noted that over the years, limited training has been provided to budget agency staff on programme budgeting. As such, he asserted that trained staff will facilitate the preparation of programme budgets and budget agency performance reports. The Finance Minister also stated that the action plan will serve to ensure the that the budget is approved before start of the fiscal year, and information on it will be disseminated as widely as possible via the media and on Government websites. A comprehensive procurement plan by budget agencies in support of the National Budget is also addressed by the action plan. Jordan said that this initiative was incorporated into the programme to ensure that each budget agency plans its procurement activities well in advance and executes them in accordance with an approved plan. With approximately 70 percent of the National Budget devoted to public procurement, the Finance Minister emphasized that there is need for a more effective system of procurement management. With procurement plans in place, Jordan said that suppliers of goods and services, and the execution of works will be in a better position to plan the offer of their services to the Government. In this way, the economist insists that better quality of goods/services and works will be offered.
Monday April 23, 2018
Kaieteur News
Political parties deeply divided over new house-to-house registration The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has rejected calls for house-to-house verification, which came from the governing A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC). If the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) undertakes house-to-house registration, it could likely delay the holding of Local Government Elections (LGE), which is scheduled by the end of this year. The PPP described as desperate, the call by General Secretary of the People’s National Congress (PNC), Amna Ally. “Having ignored our calls, the PNC, having completed almost three years in government, is now making calls for a new house-tohouse registration,” the PPP stated. The opposition reminded that after the 2015 General and Regional Elections, it called not only for a new house-tohouse registration, but for electronic voting utilizing enhanced biometrics with a paper-ballot trail which could be audited. The PPP suggested that the call from the government may be linked to the poor voter registration turn out thus far. “After the completion of two cycles of continuous registration and two periods of claims and objections, the PNC has discovered the harsh reality that its supporters are not heeding their calls to register. This reluctance to engage in the process, is as a result of the despondency precipitated from the economic hardships that the PNC government continue to stack on the backs of Guyanese,” the PPP stated. The Opposition noted that house-to-house registration is a meticulous process that necessitates a protracted time period for its completion and accuracy.
Government Chief Whip, Amna Ally
Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira
“Therefore, having realized that its support is diminishing, this desperate call for a new house-to-house registration by the PNC three years hence, can only be seen as a deliberate attempt to postpone or even derail Local Gove r n m e n t E l e c t i o n s (LGE) scheduled for later this year and General and Regional Elections constitutionally due in 2020,” the PPP stated. One of the tasks undertaken by GECOM and stakeholders is to cleanse the list of deceased persons, based upon information generated by the General Registrar’s Office (GRO), which is responsible for the issuance of Certificates of Death. The PPP stated that names cannot be removed from the list on the ground that persons are dead, unless confirmation is received from the GRO. According to the PPP, GECOM issued five lists of persons who have died between December 2015, and March 2016. One of the lists is of persons who have died, but whose names are not on the List of Registered Electors. The PPP said it conducted a review of the list and to their
surprise, discovered a significant number of names, which are in fact on the List of Registered Electors. “This list is, therefore, not accurate. As a result, the names of deceased persons will continue to be on the List of Registered Electors,” the PPP stated. In the circumstances, the PPP called upon GECOM to exercise greater care and due diligence in their attempts to sanitise the list. According to the PPP, the removal of names of persons who have died, from the List of Registered Electors is a responsibility of GECOM and is guided by strict laws and rules. The party explained that only on the basis of a certified list of persons who have died, issued by the GRO, can GECOM remove a person’s name. Ally stated that the Coalition believes in having a sanitized and realistic list of electors, but it noted that the PPP continues to live in the past and reminisces of their ‘ungodly acts in the electoral process’. “It is my recommendation for GECOM to now have a ‘house-to-house’ registration so that they can bring home the bacon for the PPP,” Ally stated.
Jamaica to establish Micro Stock Exchange KINGSTON, Jamaica - CMC – Industry Minister Audley Shaw has announced plans for the establishment a Micro Stock Exchange that will allow micro, small and medium-size enterprises (MSMEs) to obtain funds to support their growth and expansion. Speaking at the recent launch of Expo Jamaica 2018 at the National Indoor Sports Centre in the Corporate Area, Shaw explained that the Micro Stock Exchange will target companies for capitalisation between J$5 million and J$50 million. “We are operating in a time of derisking. The time for informality in our economy is passed; we have to encourage all of our business people (to) get formal. The Micro Stock Exchange will offer yet another opportunity to become formal,” he said. Shaw, who is also the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, said the Jamaica Stock Exchange
has been given instructions “to do the necessary work” to advance the establishment. He noted that the proposed Micro Stock Exchange follows on the continued success of the Junior Stock Exchange, which was established by him in 2009, when he was the Minister of Finance. “The basis of the Junior Stock Exchange was to lighten the requirements for access and the Junior Stock Exchange by any standard of measure has been successful,” he said. Expo Jamaica is being held under the theme: ‘Advancing Breakthroughs’, the expo is being hosted by the newly formed Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association, in collaboration with JAMPRO. The Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association is a merger of Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association (JMA) and the Jamaica Exporters’ Association (JEA).
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Monday April 23, 2018
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Venezuelan nationals deported, concerned over asylum seekers Venezuelan military plane to transport nationals deported from Trinidad and Tobago.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC – At least 82 Venezuelan nationals were deported to their homeland on Saturday amid concerns that among them were people seeking asylum in Trinidad and Tobago. The Ministry of National Security in a statement issued late Saturday night said that 82 Venezuelan nationals including 29 women “were voluntarily repatriated…to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela with the assistance of the Ambassador of Venezuela to Trinidad and Tobago, Her Excellency Coromoto Godoy”. It said that the government here had held discussions with the Venezuelan ambassador on April 18 to discuss arrangements for the “Venezuelan nationals who were being housed at the Immigration Detention Centre, Aripo, back to their homeland. “At that meeting, Her Excellency offered to provide transportation by both and sea and air to ensure the successful repatriation of the Venezuelan nationals,” and during that meeting the diplomat had requested that the nationals being held at the detention centre “to process their travel documents. “This exercise was completed on the evening of Friday 20th April, 2018 where some 82 Venezuelan nationals were processed with the appropriate travel documents.” “It is to be noted that all 82 nationals volunteered to be
repatriated and were placed on the aircraft provided by the Venezuelan Government. “It is also important to indicate that the Venezuelan Ambassador, Her Excellency Mrs. Coromoto Godoy was on site to observe the proceedings. Chief Immigration Officer, Mrs. Charmaine Ghandi-Andrews was also present to oversee the voluntary repatriation of the nationals,” the Ministry of National Security said. But the Living Water Community( LWC), a religious based organisation that works with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), said that it had received reports of Venezuelans being deported. “At this point we are unclear if this deportation extends to asylum-seekers duly registered with the UN Refugee agency (UNHCR) as such, or who have expressed a desire to seek asylum. “We await confirmation on this. The guidance note from UNHCR on the outflow of Venezuelans advises that states apply a protectionoriented response in dealing with Venezuelans in a way that reflects an understanding of protection as a humanitarian and nonpolitical act, and as an act of solidarity with the people of Venezuela. “It asks that states find ways to facilitate access to their territory, award official documentation, grant access to basic rights and very importantly, apply a nonreturn principle to Venezuela,” according to Rochelle Nakhid, the
When we pause and experience silence, we discover answers that activity does not have time to reveal. During your day, take threeminute “vacations”. Relax and re-energise. Take time out to feel the peace of silence.
coordinator at the LWC. “Pope Francis also asks us to find ways to welcome, protect, promote and integrate refugees, to acknowledge their rights and dignity as human beings, as persons forced to leave their homes, and as persons in great need of our protection. “ In its statement, the Ministry of National Security said that the Venezuelans who were being sent home comprise “nationals who would have breached this country’s immigration laws and those who have served time in the prisons and were awaiting deportation on the completion of their sentences” It said these were the people placed on board the military aircraft from Venezuela noting “additionally over the last two weeks members of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, as well as Immigration Officers, have made several raids on the southern parts of the country at which time they detained a number of Venezuelan nationals who were in the country illegally. “These Venezuelan nationals were also allowed to leave the country for their homeland with no charges laid against them” Earlier this month, Gandhi-Andrews, told a select Joint Committee of Parliament that an estimated 2,000 Venezuelans have applied for asylum here in recent months. The committee was told that in 2015, there were 29 male Venezuelan detainees, but one year later the figure had risen to 125 including 97 females. Last year, there were 45 men and 82 women. She said that on a weekly basis, between 150 to 200 Venezuelans come here by sea, some of them, illegally.
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Trump’s travel ban faces U.S. IMF unveils new corruption policy for member states Supreme Court showdown WA S H I N G T O N (Reuters) - The first big showdown at the U.S. Supreme Court over President Donald Trump’s immigration policies is set for Wednesday when the justices hear a challenge to the lawfulness of his travel ban targeting people from several Muslim-majority countries. The case represents a test of the limits of presidential power. Trump’s policy announced in September, blocks entry into the United States of most people from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen. Chad previously was on the list but Trump lifted those restrictions on April 10. The high court has never decided the legal merits of the travel ban or any other major Trump immigration policy, including his move to rescind protections for young immigrants sometimes called Dreamers brought into the United States illegally as children. It has previously acted on Trump requests to undo lower court orders blocking those two policies, siding with him on the travel ban and opposing him on the Dreamers. Trump’s immigration policies - also including actions taken against states and cities that protect illegal immigrants, intensified deportation efforts and limits on legal immigration - have been among his most contentious. The conservativemajority Supreme Court is
President Donald Trump due to hear arguments on Wednesday on the third version of a travel ban policy Trump first sought to implement a week after taking office in January 2017, and issue a ruling by the end of June. The lead challenger is the state of Hawaii, which argues the ban violates federal immigration law and the U.S. Constitution’s prohibition on the government favouring one religion over another. “Right now, the travel ban is keeping families apart. It is degrading our values by subjecting a specific set of people to be denigrated and marginalized,” Hawaii Lieutenant Governor Doug Chin said in an interview. The Supreme Court on Dec. 4 signalled it may lean towards backing Trump when it granted the administration’s request to let the ban go into
full effect while legal challenges played out. In another immigrationrelated case, the justices on April 17 invalidated a provision in a U.S. law requiring deportation of immigrants convicted of certain crimes of violence. Trump’s administration and the prior Obama administration had defended the provision. Trump has said the travel ban is needed to protect the United States from terrorism by Islamic militants. Just before the latest ban was announced, Trump wrote on Twitter that the restrictions “should be far larger, tougher and more specific - but stupidly that would not be politically correct!” The challengers have argued the policy was motivated by Trump’s enmity towards Muslims, pressing that point in lower courts with some success by citing statements he made as a candidate and as president. As a candidate, Trump promised “a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States.” The Justice Department argues Trump’s statements as a candidate carry no weight because he was not yet president. The policy’s challengers also point to views he has expressed as president, including his retweets in November of anti-Muslim videos posted by a far-right British political figure.
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The International Monetary Fund will systematically address corruption and its impact on economic growth with all its member countries under new guidelines launched yesterday. The stricter new policy also aims to tackle how rich countries contribute to corruption in the developing world by failing to prevent bribery and money laundering or by allowing anonymous corporate ownership. “We know that corruption hurts the poor, hinders economic opportunity and social mobility, undermines trust in institutions and causes social cohesion to unravel,” IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said in a statement. “We have now adopted a framework for enhanced engagement on governance and corruption that aims for a more systematic, evenhanded, effective and candid engagement with member countries.” Corruption and poor governance sap economic growth and exacerbate inequality, according to the IMF, and the new policy framework attempts to ensure the institution will hold all members to the same standards — something the fund said it had not always done. The new policy comes as Ukrainian authorities work to
Christine Lagarde implement stringent new anticorruption reforms at the behest of the IMF, which has held up the latest installment of a US$17.5 billion aid package. The revised good governance guidelines, which take effect on July 1, follow a recent review of the IMF’s 20year-old policy framework which concluded the fund had sometimes employed euphemisms when discussing corruption in member states — leaving local officials unclear about IMF concerns. And IMF analysis sometimes failed to apply the same standards evenly to all members. Under the new guidelines approved by the IMF board on April 6, the fund will discuss good governance concerns in all annual economic reviews of member countries. IMF officials however say
they do not expect the policy will lead to more stringent conditions on loans, which go to a minority of the fund’s 189 members and which already include anti-corruption provisions. The fund also will rely on the findings of outside transparency campaigners who have criticised the existence of tax and corporate havens in advanced economies as a conduit for illicit financial flows to and from poorer countries. However, the IMF will not investigate specific instances of corruption. Rather, it will focus on the strength of key economic institutions: fiscal and central bank governance, market regulation, the rule of law and policies on money laundering and countering terrorism financing. IMF analysis suggests falling 25 notches on a corruption index could shave as much as 0.5 percentage points off a country’s annual growth — amounting to tremendous economic losses over multiple years. In unveiling the new policy on Sunday at the close of the IMF-World Bank spring meetings, Lagarde said the fund’s board supported a “more intrusive” approach to member state evaluations. “Because it is a macroeconomic issue, the IMF is really perfectly legitimate in acting, especially when we have a programme in a country,” she said.
G7 foreign ministers seek to put pressure on Russia, Iran at Toronto summit TORONTO (Reuters) - Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations yesterday discussed ways to pressure Russia on conflicts in Syria and Ukraine, which have badly tarnished Moscow’s ties with the West. It is the first high-level meeting of the allies since the United States, France and Britain launched 105 missiles targeting chemical weapons facilities in Syria in retaliation for a suspected poison gas attack on April 7. The United States said its priorities also included Iran’s “malign” regional activities and ending North Korea’s nuclear programmes. The Western countries blame Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who is backed by Iran and Russia, for an attack that thrust Syria’s seven-year-old conflict into the forefront of global concern. The Syrian government and its Russian ally deny involvement or using poison gas on April 7. The foreign ministers’ talks, due to end late today, will help prepare for a G7 leaders’ summit in Canada in early June. The G7 comprises the
United States, Britain, Canada, Germany, France, Italy and Japan. The group last week condemned what it said was a Russian nerve agent attack in Britain. A senior official from one G7 nation said ministers were deeply worried about what the group saw as a pattern of Russia misbehaviour going back years. Russia denies any involvement in the nerve attack on British soil in March. Western nations have imposed a wide array of sanctions against Russia in recent years after it annexed Crimea, supported militants operating in eastern Ukraine and backed Syria’s Assad. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin took part in some of the Toronto sessions. He held a meeting with acting U.S. Secretary of State John Sullivan on Saturday during which the United States pledged its backing for Kiev but urged it to implement economic reforms, a U.S. representative said. The ministers will not discuss further punitive measures against Moscow because Britain, France, Germany and Italy are members of the 28-nation European Union,
which must agree collectively on what steps to take, said two diplomats briefed on the meeting.The U.S. official said the allies would also discuss developments with European partners France, Germany and Britain on updating a nuclear deal between Iran and six major powers. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday Iran’s atomic agency was ready with “expected and unexpected” reactions if the United States pulls out of the 2015 deal, which was signed in Vienna. “A lot of the priority topics for us today include the way forward in Syria, Iran’s malign activities in the region,” the U.S. official said. U.S. President Donald Trump has called the 2015 Iran pact one of the worst agreements ever negotiated and will decide by May 12 whether to restore U.S. economic sanctions on Tehran, which would be a severe blow to the pact. “Our aim is to create conditions so the Vienna nuclear agreement is upheld and the United States stays,” German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told reporters.
The ministers will also touch on North Korea’s nuclear programs as Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un prepare to meet in late May
or early June. Pyongyang said on Saturday it would suspend nuclear and missile tests and scrap its nuclear test site.
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Thousands of Zimbabwe nurses call off strike
People cast their letters of complaint to Zimbabwe deputy President Chiwenga among nurses who had gathered at Unity Square in Harare. HARARE, Zimbabwe (AFP) — Thousands of Zimbabwe nurses who were sacked after they went on strike for better wages have been told to return to work by their union, in a bid to allow fresh negotiations with the government. Some 15,000 nurses fighting for better work conditions walked out of public hospital wards last Monday, paralysing major hospitals resulting in patients being turned away. Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, dismissed them a day after, accusing them of being “politically motivated.” “To pave way for re-opening of negotiations and protection of our workers we have decided to call off the industrial action,” the Zimbabwe Nurses Association said in a statement Saturday night, urging all nurses to report for duty by today. The nurses said their strike had been politicised, but gave no details. “It is highly regrettable that our cause of collective job action has been highly politicised,” said the statement. The nurses are demanding better wages
and are complaining about lack of basics in government hospitals, including drugs. After sacking the striking nurses, the government resorted to hiring unemployed nurses and recalling those who have retired to fill the vacant posts. The nurses on Friday filed an urgent application in court seeking to have their dismissals nullified. They asked the High Court to “restrain and interdict” the government “from terminating the services of some striking nurses and to stop the government from recruiting new staff”, according to a statement from the country’s human rights lawyers. The court ruling is yet to be handed down. The dismissal of the nurses was seen as a hardline response by the country’s new leadership to growing labour unrest. After Robert Mugabe’s 37-year rule, Emmerson Mnangagwa took over, vowing to revive the country’s moribund economy and attract foreign investment to fund better public services.
Canada to host the world’s female foreign ministers
TORONTO, Canada (AFP) — Canada will host the world’s small but growing band of female foreign ministers for talks ahead of this year’s UN General Assembly, Canada’s Chrystia Freeland announced yesterday. Freeland opened a meeting in Toronto of G7 foreign ministers with a session, co-hosted by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini, dedicated to her women counterparts. Alongside the male chief diplomats from most of the G7 major industrialized powers, were female ministers from Ghana, Ecuador, Panama, Jamaica, Guatemala and Colombia. Freeland said she and Mogherini had decided to host talks on September 21 and 22 ahead of UNGA just for these “inspiring” female foreign ministers. “We are sure that such an initiative will give rise to some very constructive discussions,” she said. Mogherini explicitly linked the planned meeting to the subsequent UN event and added: “We believe that is going to be a very important way to open the doorway for understanding.” Freeland also noted that Japan’s Foreign
Monday April 23, 2018
Kaieteur News
Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland speaks at the G7 Foregin Ministers’ meeting in Toronto, Ontario, yesterday. Minister Taro Kono had had dinner with the female envoys the night before. “All of us women foreign ministers said we are often in meetings where we are the only woman, and so Taro got a little bit what it was like,” she joked, thanking him.
Regional migration needs adoption of agreements on building rightsbased governance – ECLAC SANTIAGO - CMC – Authorities and experts attending the second meeting of the United Nations’ Forum of the Countries on Sustainable Development say the situation of global and regional migration requires the urgent adoption of agreements aimed at building a governance based on rights. The briefing on regional progress regarding the global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration was led by Alicia Bárcena, ECLAC’s executive secretary; Ambassador Juan José Gómez Camacho, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations and cofacilitator of the consultations and intergovernmental negotiations of the global compact on migration; and Bettina Etter, on behalf of Ambassador Jürg Lauber, the Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations, who was also cofacilitator. During her address on Friday, Bárcena underscored that, for Latin America and the Caribbean, the issue of migration requires the urgent adoption of agreements. She specified that, according to the latest censuses, more than 30 million people in the region
Alicia Bárcena live outside their countries of birth, a figure that represents 4 percent of the total population of Latin America and the Caribbean. “We know that on a global level migration is a big problem, but, on a regional level as well, it requires the urgent adoption of agreements aimed at building a governance based on rights, which is born from a political conversation centered on evidence and technical analyses, and that moves away from the beliefs and prejudices that have been so harmful,” Bárcena said. She added that the majority of migrants from the region reside in the United
States and noted that there are 11.3 per cent of migrants in an “irregular or unauthorized situation.” “The trio of migration calls to us, the idea of the protection of migrant workers, the eradication of human trafficking and the reduction in the costs of transferring remittances are very clear objectives in the 2030 Agenda,” Bárcena said. “This is an issue of common good that collaborates on the reduction of inequality and asymmetries.” Gómez Camacho said that “the global compact must become a kind of backbone of migration, because its main objective is to provide governance, and it is totally linked to economic and social development and to our capacity to advance on reducing inequalities.” He said that the global compact is not only in line with the UN’s 2030 Agenda but that migration is also a great contributor to sustainable development. “Migration, being a small part of the global population, contributes to 9 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which is to say, nearly US$7 trillion dollars per year produced directly by global migration,” Gómez Camacho said.
BPO stakeholders encourged to plan forward
KINGSTON, Jamaica - CMC – Stakeholders in the Business Process Outsourcing sector (BPO) have been urged to come together and plan the way forward for an industry that is rapidly growing. This was the plea made by Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, Fayval Williams as she addressed an Outsource2Jamaica Symposium and Expo at the western city of Montego Bay recently. Williams said the sector has been expanding and impacting Jamaicans at all levels. “We can all see the industry developing island wide. It’s no longer just in Kingston and St James but also in other parishes. That is growth we can all be excited about,” she stated. The BPO sector is one of the fastest growing industries, which has contributed in excess of US$400 million to Jamaica’s economy, and has exponential multiplier effects with other sectors, such as security, transportation, retail, food and beverage, insurance, financial and others. For her part, President of Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) Diane Edwards said Jamaica’s rising profile as the ideal Caribbean destination for the BPO sector, is a result of years of partnerships and developments. “Outsourcing continues to grow far beyond estimates, as the industry experiences
a boom in new projects and expansions,” she noted. Meanwhile, Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Karl Samuda said the industry represents the fastest growing sector in the Jamaican economy, accounting for over 26,000 jobs and projecting to add at least another 5,000 by 2019. “At the end of 2017, following the rapid expansion of the sector, revenues climbed to an excess of US$400 million. These impressive statistics represent an industry that is keen to engage our Jamaican youth and provide a stable source of income to many Jamaican families,” he stated. At the event, four awards were handed out for outstanding contributions to the BPO sector over the years. Tech Company Conduit Jamaica, received the BPO Economic Impact Award; while former Technology Minister, Phillip Paulwell, received the award for outstanding work in the development of the BPO sector. In addition, businessman Gordon Marzouca, received the Pioneer Award in private sector development; while Former Prime Minister Edward Seaga received the Pioneer Award in Outsourcing. The Outsource2Jamaica Symposium and Expo was put on by the Business Process Industry Association of Jamaica (BPIAJ) and its members and partners, including JAMPRO.
Monday April 23, 2018
Kaieteur News
India’s Modi to visit China this week as rapprochement gathers pace
Narendra Modi
Xi Jinping
BEIJING (Reuters) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit China this week for an informal meeting with President Xi Jinping, as efforts at rapprochement gather pace following a testing year in ties between the two giant neighbours. The Chinese government’s top diplomat, State Councillor Wang Yi, said the two would meet on Friday and Saturday in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. “Our common interests far outweigh our differences. The two countries have no choice other than pursuing everlasting friendship, mutually beneficial cooperation and common development,” Wang told reporters after meeting Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj in Beijing. “The summit will go a long way towards deepening the mutual trust between the two great neighbours,” he added. “We will make sure that the informal summit will be a complete success and a new
milestone in the history of China-India relations.” Modi has sought to re-set ties after disputes over issues including their disputed border with Tibet and other issues. The discussion with Wang was to prepare for the informal summit, Swaraj said. “It will be an important occasion for them (Modi and Xi) to exchange views on bilateral and international matters, from an overarching and long-term perspective with the objective of enhancing mutual communication,” Swaraj said. The Asian giants were locked in a 73-day military stand-off in a remote, highaltitude stretch of that boundary last year. At one point, soldiers from the two sides threw stones and punches. The confrontation between the nuclear-armed powers in the Himalayas underscored Indian alarm at China’s expanding security and economic links in South Asia. China’s ambitious Belt
and Road initiative of transport and energy links bypasses India, apart from a corner of the disputed Kashmir region, also claimed by Pakistan, but involves India’s neighbors Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Maldives.Modi’s previously unannounced Wuhan trip is even more unusual in that he will visit China again in June for a summit in Qingdao of the China and Russia-led security grouping, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, which India joined last year. It is almost unheard of for foreign leaders to visit China twice in such close succession. Xi is also extending Modi the rare honor of a meeting outside of Beijing, which almost never happens unless there is a multilateral summit taking place. Modi’s nationalist government has reversed course on its relationship with Beijing apparently after realizing its hard line on China was not working. Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, who lives in India and who China considers a dangerous separatist, is also facing the cold shoulder. In March, India issued an unprecedented ban on Tibetans holding a rally with the Dalai Lama in New Delhi to mark the 60th anniversary of the start of the failed uprising against Chinese rule. Other areas of disagreement remain however between Beijing and New Delhi. China has blocked India’s membership of a nuclear cartel and it has also been blocking U.N. sanctions against a Pakistan-based militant leader blamed for attacks on India.
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Ricky Rubio’s triple-double sparks Utah Jazz to 2-1 series lead against OKC Thunder SALT LAKE CITY — Nearly a decade has passed since a young Carmelo Anthony last battled the Utah Jazz in a postseason series, but the 33-year-old veteran already knew what to expect entering Salt Lake City this past weekend. With the City Edition court, uniforms and T-shirts on display for Game 3, the atmosphere was electric on Saturday at Vivint Arena as the Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder returned to Utah for the first-round duel. “It’s like a college game, like a college atmosphere,” Anthony described Vivint Arena, formerly known as EnergySolutions Arena. “I think that’s what makes that place so unique. I enjoy playing there. I think those games are fun. We will enjoy these next two games.” Anthony certainly had the experience, previously falling 4-2 to the Jazz in the first round as a member of the Denver Nuggets in 2010, but it was Utah guard Ricky Rubio who stole the show in his first home playoff game. Chants of “RUBIO! RUBIO! RUBIO!” showered the arena as the Spanish guard went on a tear midway
through the second quarter with eight consecutive points — even stopping to lift his arms to stir up the crowd at one point after being fouled on a 3-point shot. He went for 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists in the opening half to spark the Jazz to a 115-102 win against OKC. Rubio would end with 26 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists on the night, including a 3pointer to beat the third quarter buzzer. “Game 1 wasn’t what I expected as far as me shooting the ball, and I wanted to get better and get some extra work and build confidence,” said Rubio, who put in extra work on his shot entering Game 2. Rubio’s triple-double was the first in a postseason since John Stockton on April 28, 2001, at Dallas — and the third in franchise history, joining Stockton and Rickey Green. In fact, no Jazz player has even posted a triple-double in the regular season since Carlos Boozer in 2008. “Having my name next to his name is an honor,” Rubio said of Stockton. “I dont know what else to say. It’s huge. I have huge respect for him and
playing here he was great because I know how important a point guard he is for this franchise and I feel great.” Rubio exited the game to loud cheers with 2:18 remaining in regulation as the sellout crowd stood to their feet. After leading by as many as eight in the opening quarter, the Jazz trailed OKC 30-22 after the first 12 minutes. Russell Westbrook went 2 for 6 from the field for six points, five assists and three rebounds, but the Thunder shot 61.1 percent from the field as a team while going 60 percent from beyond the arc. Utah fell behind by as many as 12 early in the second quarter but closed the half on a 30-14 run once Steven Adams hit the bench with his third foul, on Rudy Gobert at 9:20. The Jazz outscored the Thunder 36-23 in the second quarter to enter halftime with a 58-53 lead. Even with star rookie Donovan Mitchell picking up his fourth foul at 6:22 in the third, Westbrook struggled with seven of his eight turnovers entering the fourth. Rubio’s buzzer-beating trey at the end of the third lifted Utah
Utah Jazz guard Ricky Rubio (3) fights for the ball with Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George (13). (Adam Fondren, Deseret News)
to a 14-point lead as fans continued to chant Rubio’s name after the big shot. OKC opened the fourth on a 9-2 run, trimming the lead to 91-84 led by Paul George even as things got chippy with him and Royce O’Neale when they were hit with double
technical fouls at 10:55. However, the Jazz stormed back to win the game by 13 points. Mitchell ended with 22 points, 11 rebounds and two steals in 34 minutes, describing his first home playoff experience as the “loudest crowd I’ve ever played in front of.” Joe Ingles would also knock down five 3-pointers with 21 points and four assists while Rudy Gobert logged 18 points and 12
rebounds. Westbrook went 5-for17 from the field with 14 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. Paul George added 23 points and Anthony finished with 14 points and four rebounds. Anthony knew how the atmosphere would be for Game 3, but the Thunder couldn’t keep up as Game 4 is set for today at 8:30 p.m. with “white out” Tshirts in place for fans to keep the momentum going.
Manu Ginobili leads Spurs over Warriors NBC Sports - Although the San Antonio Spurs were outmatched against the Golden State Warriors, Manu Ginobili was an integral part of the Spurs staving off elimination against the reigning champs yesterday. San Antonio beat the Warriors, 103-90, to put the series at 3-1. The 40-year-old wingman scored 10 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter in San Antonio as Ettore Messina logged a playoff win at the helm of the team. Gregg Popovich, who sadly lost his wife this past week, did not coach. Ginobili was 5-of-10 off the bench, adding five assists and three rebounds in the win. LaMarcus Aldridge led all Spurs scorers with 22, notching a double-double with 10 rebounds. Meanwhile, the only Warriors player to score more than 12 points was Kevin Durant, who rose above all scorers with 34 points to go
Manu Ginobili with 13 rebounds. Klay Thompson shot an embarrassing 25 percent from the field, scoring just 12 points. Ginobili put the dagger on the Warriors with 90 seconds to go, hitting a spinning flip shot over Draymond Green to give San Antonio a 10-point lead. The series heads back to Oakland for Game 5 with the Spurs trailing, 3-1.
Monday April 23, 2018
Kaieteur News
Mo Farah sets British record in hottest London Marathon
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Khan beats Lo Greco in 39 seconds on British return
Kipchoge and Cheruiyot win Associated Press LONDON – The hottestever London Marathon featured a Kenyan double as Eliud Kipchoge swept to a third victory in front of Buckingham Palace joining Vivian Cheruiyot who won the w o m e n ’s race yesterday. The 33-year-old Kipchoge ran the 26.2-mile (42.2kilometer) course in 2 hours, 4 minutes, 27 seconds to add to the Olympic champion’s wins in the British capital in 2015 and 2016. “I ran a really beautiful race,” he said. Tola Shura Kitata of Ethiopia was second, followed by Mo Farah, who set a British record 2:06:21 in front of his home fans who lined the streets in temperatures that reached 73.8 degrees (23.2 Celsius)
near the finish. While the race began in the southeast London district of Blackheath, the official starter for the men’s race was more than 30 miles (48 kilometer) to the west of the British capital. Queen Elizabeth II pushed the start button in front of Windsor Castle. The race ended in front of the monarch’s London residence – Buckingham Palace. Cheruiyot, the Olympic 5,000-meter champion, crossed the line in 2:18:31 seconds to win at her second attempt. Fellow Kenyan, Brigid Kosgei, was 1 minute, 42 seconds further back and Tadelech Bekele of Ethiopia was third. There was a home success with David Weir winning the men’s wheelchair
Mo Farah poses with HRH Prince Harry following his victory in the London Marathon. (Photo: Justin Setterfield) race for an eighth time after a sprint finish. The 38-year-old Weir clocked 1:31:15 to beat Marcel Hug of Switzerland into second place, while Daniel Romanchuk of the United States was third.
Madison de Rozario of Australia won the women’s wheelchair race for the first time ahead of four-time champion Tatyana McFadden, whose fellow American, Susannah Scaroni, was third.
Motorcycling: Marquez wins in Texas for sixth year in a row AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Honda’s reigning MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez ran away with the Grand Prix of the Americas for the sixth year in a row yesterday to take his first victory of the season in dominant fashion. The 25-year-old Spaniard was handed a three-place grid penalty in qualifying and started fourth, but seized the lead on the opening lap before disappearing into the distance at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas (COTA). It was the four-times MotoGP champion’s 10th successive win in the United States in the top category, with the others coming at Laguna Seca and Indianapolis. “My strategy was just start, push and that’s it,” said Marquez, who shrugged off boos from the crowd reacting to a champion whose on-track clashes with rivals have been a talking point of the season. “I didn’t have confidence to battle so I was pushing
Marc Marquez (Reuters)
from the beginning and just
go away, open the gap...in Spain they will be happy.” Maverick Vinales, who started on pole for Yamaha, finished second and 3.560 seconds behind his compatriot, while Italian Andrea Iannone was third in his first podium with Suzuki. Andrea Dovizioso finished fifth for Ducati and regained the championship lead with 46 points after three races, the
Italian now one clear of Marquez with Vinales third on 41. Britain’s Cal Crutchlow, who had led the standings after winning in Argentina, crashed his LCR Honda with 12 laps to go and failed to score after rejoining in 22nd place and finishing 19th. Marquez had a lonely race, challenged only briefly by Iannone before pulling clear to live up to his fame as “King of COTA”, and that will have come as a relief for both him and Honda. He had been nearly eight seconds clear with a lap to go before easing up at the end. “It’s quite noisy, eh? But it’s funny. Don’t worry,” he said of the crowd’s reaction. In Argentina, he and Italian great Valentino Rossi collided — with the Yamaha rider accusing the champion of “destroying” MotoGP by what he considered dangerous behavior on track. “I’m scared on the track when I’m with Marquez,” Rossi had said. Marquez did himself no favors in Saturday’s qualifying either, crashing before returning on a spare bike and then picking up the grid penalty for blocking Vinales who was on a hot lap. Spaniard Dani Pedrosa finished seventh for Honda, two weeks after fracturing his wrist and undergoing surgery.
High about that!: Amir Khan celebrates his 39-second win on Saturday. (AFP Photo/OLI SCARFF) Liverpool (AFP) - Amir Khan’s first bout in a British ring for five years saw him knock out Canada’s Phil Lo Greco in a mere 39 seconds on Saturday. The 31-year-old British boxer had not fought anywhere for two years since being beaten by Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in Las Vegas in May 2016. And the 2004 Olympic silver medallist wasted little time in sending Lo Greco tumbling with a quick one-two punch combination inside the opening 30 seconds. Khan then pinned Lo Greco to the ropes before the superwelterweight contest ended moments after it had started. Victory left Khan on course for his long-awaited showdown with British rival Kell Brook, who was among those watching at ringside on Saturday. “I have been out the ring for two years but I was still in the gym working hard, I have never taken a day off. I wanted to prove a point coming back — I was trained to fight for 12 rounds, I had to make some changes and Phil lo Greco is a dangerous opponent,” Khan told the BBC. “Enjoy my victory. Khan’s back. I was a little nervous, but I am back with a big bang. I want to become a world champion this year or next year.” Khan, however, added: “I want to fight the best guys. If it means going up a division I will.” As for a bout with Brook, Khan, most famous recently for his ‘jungle’ appearance in the British television show ‘I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here’, said: “That fight is something I am not rushing and not running away from. I will fight Kell Brook and beat Kell Brook. Kell Brook has been living off my name for a long time. I am a stronger fighter, a better fighter. “I’m not a fighter to run away.” But an unimpressed Brook said: “He doesn’t want the fight, he just ran off. “Amir, all the fans want the fight, I want the fight, he can go in the jungle and chase stars but when he gets in there with me, I’ll make him see stars.”
Archer, Gowtham hand... From page 30 looked doable again. It still needed some runs from the other end and a little more luck, and both arrived in the next over. Bumrah’s control deserted him, and Archer and Gowtham each picked up slapped fours off wide long-hops. Then Gowtham smeared one past square leg off the inside edge to pick up four more. Eighteen came off the over, leaving only 10 to get off the last six balls. And Gowtham did it, ending the match with a six. Scores: Rajasthan Royals 168 for 7 (Samson 52, Stokes 40, Gowtham 33*, Hardik 2-25, Bumrah 2-28) beat Mumbai Indians 167 for 7 (Suryakumar 72, Kishan 58, Archer 3-22, Kulkarni 2-32) by three wickets.
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Archer, Gowtham hand Mumbai another final-over defeat
Jofra Archer took a three-for on IPL debut ©BCCI
ESPNcricinfo - At the player auction in January, Rajasthan Royals spent INR 7.2 crore (USD 1.1 million approx) on Jofra Archer and INR 6.2 crore (USD 9,70,000 approx.) on K Gowtham. That’s a lot of cash to splash on two uncapped players. Given his IPL exploits, the bidding war for Archer wasn’t a surprise; Gowtham, a solid, late-blooming offspinning allrounder at first-class level, wasn’t as much of a known quantity in T20 cricket. Yesterday both announced themselves in the IPL with performances that swung an exceedingly tight game. First up, Archer, returning from a side strain and making his IPL debut, bowled with effortless pace and grabbed 3 for 22, all three of his wickets coming in a 19th over that sucked all momentum out of Mumbai Indians’ innings and helped restrict them to 167. Then Gowtham, coming in at No. 8 with Royals needing 43 off 17 balls, clattered
an unbeaten 11-ball 33 to win it with two balls to spare. For the fourth time in five games this season, Mumbai suffered a final-over loss. The seeds of the defeat, however, were sown much earlier, in the last five overs of their own innings, in which they only managed 32 for 5 after a second-wicket stand of 129 between Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan, off only 82 balls, had set them up for a total of 180 at least. Right decision, wrong result? In the 21st match of this IPL season, Rohit Sharma became only the second captain to choose to bat first. He felt the large boundaries at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium could aid the team defending a total. Though he ended up on the losing side, the events of the match showed there was logic behind his
Americans Gatlin, Bowie take headlines with impressive wins Grenadian Bralon Taplin
ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Reigning World champion American Justin Gatlin opened his 100 metres season with a victory at the Grenada Invitational on Saturday, making up for his absence last year because of injury. The 36-year-old was timed at 10.05 seconds in winning the marquee event at the Kirani James Stadium, with fellow Americans Isiah Young (10.11) and Mike Rodgers (11.16) taking the lesser positions. Gatlin had been expected to headline the inaugural meet here in the scenic Grenada
capital but pulled out with injury. Running out of lane three, he was unable to separate himself from the field over the first 50 metres but once he was into the drive phase, he eased ahead to beat fast-finishing Young to the line. Gatlin produced a major upset last year at the World Championships in London when he beat legendary Jamaican Usain Bolt to win the 100m title. His counterpart Tori Bowie, the reigning World champion, was also in winning form as she raced to victory in the women’s 100m, crossing the line in 22.75. The United States also took honours in the men’s 200 metres when former World and Olympic 400m champion LaShawn Merritt claimed victory in a time of 20.57. Trentavis Friday, also of the US, was second in 20.91 while the Dominican Republic Yancarlos Martinez took third in 20.93. Merritt, in lane five, had competition over the first 80 metres as Friday, next to him in lane four, along with Trinidadian Emmanuel Callender and Guyanese Winston George on the outside, all ran strong curves. Once in the stretch, however, Merritt pulled away from the field to take a comfortable win. There was a clean sweep of the distance hurdles for Jamaica as Andre Clarke won the men’s event in 49.09 seconds and Yanique HayeSmith captured the women’s race in 56.38. Hometown favourite Bralon Taplin, who finished fifth at the Commonwealth Games in Australia earlier this month, snatched the men’s 400 metres in a time of 45.29, with Luguelin Santon of the Dominican Republic taking second spot in 45.66.
decision. There were 29 twos and only ten sixes in the match, and Mumbai hit seven of those sixes. A team being so far ahead on the six count generally doesn’t lose; Mumbai, however, didn’t make that advantage count. Mumbai disintegrate As it happened, that fearsome middle order managed a combined 32 off 29 balls. Royals’ other bowlers played some part, varying their pace and forcing the batsmen to try and muscle the ball to the long boundaries, and there was one needless run-out, which took out Rohit Sharma, but the chief architect of Mumbai’s slide was Archer. He showed no aftereffects of his side strain, pushing the speedgun needle towards the 150kph mark on multiple occasions, giving his bowling attack a dimension it had sorely missed in previous games. Two of his wickets came via the fast and full route, Hardik Pandya and Mitchell McClenaghan bowled off successive balls, and the other by means of a change-up, in this case a knuckleball that Krunal Pandya miscued to long-on. A neck-and-neck fight There was only one six in the first 17.4 overs of Royals’ chase, this despite Ben Stokes, one of the cleanest strikers around, and Sanju Samson, a man who had struck 10 sixes in an innings just over a week ago, batting through a significant chunk of that time. This was down to some good bowling from Mumbai, and also the sheer size difference between the outfields of Jaipur and Bengaluru. Samson had to do a lot of running this time, only hitting four fours in his 39-ball 52. The required rate inched slowly upwards, and when Samson holed out off a Jasprit Bumrah slower ball in the 17th over, Mumbai were perhaps favourites for the first time since the three-quarters mark of their innings. Bumrah produced a fast nip-backer to bowl Jos Buttler off the next ball, and Royals were 125 for 5, needing 43 from 21 balls. Three successive dots from Bumrah to Archer made it 43 off 18.
Royals found an unlikely hero in Gowtham, whose unbeaten 11-ball 33 helped consign Mumbai to another last-over loss ©BCCI Gowtham seals the deal Heinrich Klaasen fell off the first ball of the 18th over, to Mustafizur Rahman, bringing Gowtham to the crease. The third ball he faced was a length ball, on middle stump or thereabouts, and he was perfectly placed, with front leg out of the way, to heave it over long-on. Going hard at the next one, wide of his off stump, he picked up an edged four, and suddenly the equation Continued on page 29
Keys sends U.S. into second straight Fed Cup final (Reuters) - Madison Keys battled past Pauline Parmentier of France 7-6(4) 64 to lead the U.S. into their second consecutive Fed Cup final in Aix-en-Provence yesterday. Keys, who was named as a late replacement for CoCo Vandeweghe, rallied back from 4-1 down to claim the opening set before a decisive break in the ninth game of the second ensured the victory. Keys’ victory handed the defending champions an unassailable 3-1 lead over France in the semi-final tie before the hosts won the dead doubles rubber. The French pair of Amandine Hesse and Kristina Mladenovic edged Vandeweghe and Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-4 3-6 10-6. Earlier in the day, U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens thrashed Mladenovic 6-2 6-0 to collect her second singles victory
Madison Keys returns volley to Agnieszka Radwanska. (Alastair Grant AP) this weekend. Stephens was aided by 25 unforced errors from world number 20 Mladenovic, whose touch eluded her far too often in the match. “That was a really good one. You never anticipate a scoreline like the way it
turned out but it was really solid,” Stephens said. The Americans extended their winning record to 12-2 against the French. They will defend their title on Nov. 10-11 against the Czech Republic, who reached the final by defeating Germany 4-1 in Stuttgart.
Monday April 23, 2018
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Team Mohamed’s Nissan GTR Even modest Nadal impressed Goliath is the King of the Strip by record 31st Masters title
Team Mohamed’s and their Nissan GTR ‘Goliath’ answered all doubters and maintained their excellence on the race track after making light work of their closest rivals when the ‘King of the Strip’ (KOTS) 2 drag race meet concluded yesterday at the South Dakota Circuit. Overcast conditions didn’t bother the feature local showdown between Shawn Persaud’s Toyota Caldina and the holder of the Strip record, Team Mohamed’s Goliath. That anticipated race wasn’t even close as the Goliath (7.63 seconds) finished the drag more than a second faster than the Caldina (8.72 seconds). In the biggest race of the day, Team Mohamed’s answered the million dollar question while erasing all doubts about who is the King of the Strip; no, Sheldon Bissessar ’s rail car cannot defeat the Goliath. In that race that had the hundreds of spectators on their feet, pressed against the race-strip’s fence, the Goliath lowered the strip record once again to 7.52 seconds while the rail car finished a tenth of a second slower, in a time of 7.62 seconds. A spokesperson for Team Mohamed’s,
elated that the race group who has been making light work of all competitors for a while now, will happily wear it’s crown as being ‘King of the Strip’. “Let them talk now”, was the sentiment of the spokesperson after the convincing victories yesterday at the Timehri race track. It was Sheldon Bissessar’s rail car’s first time in Guyana, and only the second time that such a machine graced the shores of the ‘Land of many waters’. The Trinidadians will be happy to leave with a moral victory after the rail car exercised its power following a wobbly start, to defeat Persuad’s Toyota, in an exhibition race. The KOTS 2 that was organised by the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMRSC) was a success which featured competitors from Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago going head to head against the local dragsters; which accounted for over 60 entries. Tropical shipping, Stag Beer, JAPARTS, B.M. SOAT Auto Sales, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Trans Pacific Motor Sales and Spares, Prem’s Electrical, Del Ice Co, Crystal Ice House and Enetworks were the sponsors. (Calvin Chapman)
Hope says preparation already underway for SL series BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Elegant stroke-maker Shai Hope says West Indies have already trained their sights on the Sri Lanka Test series, as they target success in the threeTest rubber in June. The 24-year-old has been among several Windies cricketers who have been preparing for the upcoming series which will see matches at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad, the Daren Sammy Stadium in St Lucia and Kensington Oval here – which will be an historic first day/night Test in the Caribbean. “Everyone has their eyes on the Sri Lanka series. It is something big for us as individuals and as a team,” the Barbadian told reporters here. “We haven’t played Test cricket for quite a while. Our last Test was in New Zealand in December so we want to get back out there and get back in the groove.” West Indies suffered a disappointing whitewash on that tour of New Zealand, losing the opening Test in Wellington by an innings and 67 runs and the second in Hamilton by 240 runs – both inside four days. The series was a culmination of three consecutive away tours, following on from trips to England and Zimbabwe, and the contest against Sri Lanka represents a welcome chance to play on home soil again.
West Indies batting star Shai Hope. Hope said the players were taking nothing for granted, and were ironing out any issues well in advance to ensure they were well prepared. “We have been working, preparing for the series. The work never stops,” stressed Hope, who recently won the prestigious Wisden Cricketerof-the-Year award. “You have to stay fit and keep fit and get ready for whatever cricket is on the horizon. The key to my preparations is to identify the areas where I need to improve and work to get better.” The Windies are yet to name a squad for the series but once selected, the players are expected to assemble for a training camp to intensify preparation for the tour. Hope is famous for his
superb match-winning batting display against England in the second Test at Headingley last year. He made 147 and 118 not out as the West Indies won by five wickets to stun the cricket world, especially after losing the first Test at Edgbaston by an innings and 209 runs inside three days. Hope’s feat marked the first time in 127 years that a batsman made twin centuries in a first-class match at the ground. West Indies last hosted Sri Lanka back in 2008, when the series ended 1-1. Sri Lanka won the first Test in Guyana and Windies captured the second in Trinidad. The Asian side have toured the Caribbean three times, winning one, losing three and drawing two of the six Tests played.
MONACO (AP) — Usually modest about his achievements, Rafael Nadal allowed himself a moment to appreciate his record 31st Masters title yesterday. Nadal was at his dominant best against Kei Nishikori, beating him 6-3, 62 in the Monte Carlo Masters final to become the first man in the Open era to win the same title 11 times. ‘’It’s unbelievable,’’ Nadal said, pausing to take it in. ‘’It’s something difficult to imagine.’’ A 10th win in 12 matches against Nishikori wasn’t, however, even when the Japanese player broke him for a 2-1 lead early on. Nadal moved one ahead of rival Novak Djokovic for career Masters titles. Nadal’s first Monte Carlo title came as a scraggly-haired 18-year-old in 2005. But Nadal had already burst onto the scene in astonishing fashion at this sun-soaked Mediterranean venue two years earlier, beating French Open champion Albert Costa in the second round. It was the start of a remarkable ascendancy for Nadal in becoming the best clay-court player of all time, underlined by more than 50 titles on his favorite surface and including 10 French Opens, both of them records. The fire still burns as strongly for Nadal. ‘’These kind of things not going to happen forever. So (I) just try to play with the full passion and with the full energy and concentration, full love for the sport until I can,’’ the 31-year-old Nadal said. ‘’I know the day to say goodbye is closer than 10 years ago.’’ Given how easily he won this tournament, without dropping a set, that parting moment seems a long way off yet. His level of perfection is something for others to worry about. After his semifinal, he rushed to an outside practice court to perfect his forehand. ‘’I was just looking to relax,’’ Nadal said. ‘’To hit some balls hard and to move the arm without nerves.’’ Nadal’s win also ensured the Spaniard keeps his top ranking ahead of Roger Federer, as well as taking him to 76 career titles. ‘’To put another trophy in my museum, in my academy, is going to be something great,’’ Nadal said. ‘’This is one of the most important ones in terms of (my) personal feeling.’’ Nishikori was chasing a first Masters title, but the
Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates winning the men’s singles final match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament with trophy after beating Japan’s Kei Nishikori in two sets. Japanese player took 11 minutes to hold for 1-1. ‘’I knew it was going to be tough,’’ said Nishikori, who complained of tiredness. ‘’My legs were very heavy today, playing three sets (for) three days in a row (before the final). It wasn’t easy physically.’’ Nadal won on his first match point with a stinging backhand winner, thrust both hands into the air and then jogged over to offer Nishikori a sympathetic hug. Nishikori is still working his way back to form and full fitness, after missing the 2017 U.S. Open and this year’s Australian Open because of a torn tendon in his right wrist. ‘’It was a great week for me, I had an injury and couldn’t play for a long time,’’ said Nishikori, who is ranked
36. He can take encouragement from beating Tomas Berdych - the 2015 runner-up here - and Australian Open runner-up Marin Cilic on the way to the final. Nadal has not dropped a set in seven matches since coming back from a recurrence of a right hip injury that forced him to abandon during the fifth set of his Australian Open quarterfinal against Cilic. The injury relapse subsequently forced him out of the Mexico Open and Masters tournaments at Indian Wells and Miami, but Nadal appears to be back to his ruthless and rapid best on clay. Now he has his sights firmly set on an 11th title at Barcelona next week, and then an 11th French Open title at Roland Garros.
Kvitova outplays Kerber to send Czechs into Fed Cup final (Reuters) - Petra Kvitova put Czech Republic into the Fed Cup final with a convincing victory over Angelique Kerber of Germany that gave the 10-time champions an insurmountable 3-1 lead in the tie in Stuttgart yesterday. Kvitova, twice Wimbledon champion, struck 24 winners in a 6-2 6-2 victory over Kerber as the Czechs booked their place in the final for the sixth time in eight years. “I knew I had to start very strong today and continue that throughout the game,” the 28-year-old said after recording her 30th Fed Cup victory. “From the beginning of the match I knew I had all the weapons.” Earlier in the day, German number one Julia Goerges had dragged her country back into the tie with a 6-4 6-2 win over Karolina Pliskova. Goerges needed only 27 minutes to claim the opening set before she took advantage of the first two break opportunities in the second to clinch the victory in under an hour. But former world number one Kerber struggled to cope with Kvitova’s powerful groundstrokes and was broken five times as the Czechs returned to the final after a one-year absence. The Czechs are undefeated in their previous five final appearances and will face either France or the U.S. in the final on Nov. 10-11.
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GSM contributes to Table Tennis Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiyot wins but Development in Guyana Paula Radcliffe keeps world record Sponsors National Junior Table Tennis Talent Terrence Rausch
Mr. Kevin Piepgrass President GSM (R) makes the sponsorship contribution to National Junior Table Tennis Player Terrence Rausch (centre) in the presence of GTTA President Godfrey Munroe. Guyana Strategic Metals (GSM) Inc. has been the latest company to contribute to the development of table tennis in Guyana. The Metal company a few days back, made a cash donation to National Junior Table Tennis Player Terrence Rausch in the presence of President of Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), Godfrey Munroe at the Company’s Charlotte Street Main Headquarters. The donation formed the company’s sponsorship to assist young table tennis Talent Terrence Rausch in his development efforts. Kevin Piepgrass, President of GSM, speaking at the simple handing over ceremony said that his company is thrilled to be partnering with the GTTA to foster development of the sports in Guyana.
“On behalf of Guyana Strategic Metal Inc. and Greenpower Energy Inc. we are pleased to support the Guyana Table Tennis Association,” and more particularly one of its young outstanding talents Messrs. Terrence Rausche in the development of his talents helping him to realize his potential, Piepgrass noted. He added: “We hope this encourages further investment in young Guyanese athletes in the future.” According to Piepgrass, GSM and Greenpower Energy (ASX:GPP) are joint venture partners and are currently exploring for Lithium, Tantalum and Rare Earth Elements in the Morabisi area since early 2017. GSM are continuing efforts based on the large lithium rich area discovered last year.
FIFA and CONCACAF notified of... From page 34 doing it this time around is that the GFF will establish nine regional offices because we want the association to work out of that office along with the technical staff that has been seconded to those associations to work out of those offices also. We recognise this as our role.” Forde lamented the fact that many officials have taken on the responsibility of serving but have been very dormant and in some cases, over two years to the extent that they have not been even running off competitions that are being funded by the federation along with material support. “This is inexcusable in my opinion, like myself, I think we all have to go before our membership at some point in time and open up our report card and hopefully the members would make decisions on how they feel an executive body would have performed. At some point I would have to do the same and I hope that when I open up my report card it would be to the satisfaction of the members and they’ll hand me another mandate to volunteer 14-hours a day, 8-days a week in the service of football.” When asked to point out those MA’s that are not up to scratch, this was Forde’s response: “I would say that those of us who pay attention to football would not need the president to highlight where we would have been falling down. I think football has maintained a certain rhythm in terms of its operations over the years; we expect a lot from Georgetown, Linden, East Bank and East Coast and those have been some of the
strongest members. If one or two of these members are not performing it is easy to see, so that is as close as I would get to identifying any specific members.” In relation to the Georgetown Football Association, Forde informed that his executive would have engaged the association at several levels including face to face interaction where the federation’s sentiments were laid bare on the table. “We have undertaken some procedural programmes to streamline the situation in Georgetown and we expect that in a matter of weeks we would have this situation, regularised.” Suspension of Exco Member, Keith Ojeer The GFF would have disclosed via another newspaper that it had commenced an investigation in an allegation of inappropriate behavior by Executive Member Keith Ojeer. Forde indicated that it is not appropriate for him to speculate on the issue since it is being dealt with. “What I might add is that the executive committee of the GFF holds itself to high standards; we believe that we are the standard bearers of the fraternity and we expect from each other that we would respect the rules of the game and if anyone, including, I appears not to be following those rules, then within our internal governance structure we would deal with it. If you take a very good look at the composition of my executive body you would know that we would not turn a blind eye to anything that we think can tarnish the reputation of the sport.”
Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiyot ran her first marathon in London last year and finished fourth. (Getty Images) BBC Sport - Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiyot won the 2018 London Marathon but Paula Radcliffe’s ‘mixed-gender’ race world record remained intact. Cheruiyot, 34, crossed the finish line in an personal best two hours, 18 minutes and 31 seconds. That was more than three minutes slower than the 2:15:25 four-time British Olympian Radcliffe ran in 2003. Mary Keitany and Tirunesh Dibaba had been looking to break Radcliffe’s record but both faded. Olympic 5,000m champion Cheruiyot ran her first marathon in London last year and finished fourth overall before winning in Frankfurt in October. Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei (2:20:13) finished second, with Ethiopia’s Tadelech Bekele (2:21:30) third. Keitany had been on course to break Radcliffe’s record but eventually finished fifth (2:24:27) having lost the lead she had held from the start with around five miles remaining. Great Britain’s Lily Partridge (2:29:24) claimed a personal best to finish eighth, with team-mate Tracy Barlow (2:32:09) ninth. How the race was won and lost Keitany had made her intentions clear before the race by running with male pacemakers in an attempt to overhaul Radcliffe’s record. And everything looked in control through 10km before Keitany began to pull slightly clear of Dibaba at nine and a half miles, half a minute quicker than Radcliffe. Keitany’s problems emerged with around 10 miles to go and she eventually fell 14 seconds behind the world record pace after 18 miles.
Dibaba’s struggles were even more severe - on a warm day in the capital - as she dropped down to a walking pace at 30km around Canary Wharf. Cheruiyot moved up into second place and within sight of Keitany through 21 miles before claiming the race lead and pulling away from Keitany. It marked a perfectly judged race plan for Cheruiyot who seemingly grew stronger in the closing stages as her rivals faded, with Dibaba unable to finish. Radcliffe record will be ‘fairly difficult’ to beat Cheruiyot was pleased with her win just 12 months after her marathon debut, but having seen Keitany and Dibaba falter in their bids to break Radcliffe’s record, feels the mark will be “fairly difficult” to beat. “The reason it was so good for me today was because I started slowly; I didn’t go with the faster group because the faster group was quicker than I was at the start. “I didn’t want to race against anybody, I wanted to race alone. So I raced like that. “When I was in the 5K I saw Dibaba, and I had enough energy that I thought ‘I’m going to get her’. After that, I saw Mary, and I got her, and I thought ‘yes, today I am going to be a winner of the London Marathon’ and I’m so happy.” Making her London Marathon debut, Partridge was also pleased to finish just her second race over the distance in three attempts. “I wanted a top 10 finish and I got that but I missed the time I wanted. It gives me something to build on for the rest of the year so I am pleased,” she told BBC Sport.
Lily Partridge finished second in the women’s half marathon during the inaugural The Big Half festival in London in March. (Getty Images)