Kaieteur News

K

AIETEUR NEWS

Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

Woman 60, perishes as

Sunday Edition August 04, 2019 Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

Price $140

mining pit caves in

Online readership yesterday 116,488

Investigations reveal…

Busloads of Haitians head to Lethem daily

Haitians on their way to Lethem Thursday (See story and link for video on page 10)

Woman runs into Police bullet Stabroek Block discoveries robber after late narrowly misses spark re-sequencing of CGX work programme night latrine visit - man caught, gets sound thrashing

sleeping child

for Corentyne Block

Int'l experts to assist Guyana with review of ExxonMobil deal - Dr. Bynoe p. 8

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Kaieteur News

Sunday August 04, 2019

Kaieteur News

Sunday August 04, 2019

PAGE 03

Cash-strapped Forestry Commission's Board, reps to meet Trotman tomorrow

M

inister of N a t u r a l Resources, Raphael Trotman, is set to meet with the Board and workers' representatives of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) tomorrow to discuss pay and other issues.

The Commission has been struggling to pay salaries with Government ordering an assessment earlier this year of the operations to determine the way forward.

The Commission, which regulates the forestry sector, has been calling for financial assistance, after facing falling revenues and more monitoring responsibilities.

Last week, a letter surfaced from a staffer outlining difficulties facing the commission with staffers complaining bitterly of paying mortgages late and unable to pay bills.

It was announced by Trotman on Friday that GFC's sister entity, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, will benefit from salary increases because of their performance.

Contacted yesterday on the situation at GFC, Trotman explained that what would have happened was that the GGMC workers wrote asking to be able to benefit from the government's increase, which came in at the beginning of the year.

The Ministry of Finance said yes.

“I thought it was an increase but it is really them benefitting them the government's increase to public servants…I had to get permission. I couldn't just apply for them. So as far as Forestry is concerned, however, they have met some challenges.”

He disclosed that he will be

meeting with members of the Board, union and workers reps and other unions tomorrow to look at how the entity can be assisted.

“Forestry has found itself in a bit of a situation- caught between two worlds. On one hand, it is being more stringent on conservation. We took back all the lands from Bai Shan Lin. By taking back those lands, it had an impact.

The impact of course is revenue.

“We also set aside two million hectares of forest for conservation because the President (David Granger) has made a pledge. So that means that there's less forest for conservation and more work.”

According to Trotman, another problem was that there is a slowdown in the Asian market, further exacerbating the cash situation of GFC. “GFC had advanced

$600M into NICIL to buy that building that is the old radio station (on High Street). So having advancing that $600M, it damaged the Forestry Commission. The Commission was made to cough up monies that it never got back, that it never got any compensation for,” Trotman explained.

The Minister disclosed that the developments had all combined to put a strain on GFC. “We actually applied for a part of the Norway fund.

Because the work is done by the Forestry Commission to ensure that our cut for the year is below the agreement with Norway and we have been getting high marks for our works.

We believe that some of the monies that were paid over, a percentage of it should come to the Forestry Commission.”

New Indian High Commissioner to assume duties on August 13

I

ndia (Deccan Herakl)- Dr. K. J. Srinivasa, a 2002 batch Indian Foreign Service officer from Karnataka, has been appointed as the new High Commissioner of India to Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua & Barbuda, and Anguilla.

He will also be the Permanent Representative to Caribbean Community (Caricom) group of nations.

Srinivasa completed his finished his early education in Dharwad and Chitradurga before completing MBBS in Mysuru in 2000.

He is fluent in four languages and can speak three more. Srinivasa has served in Indian Diplomatic Missions in Madrid, Lima and San Francisco.

He was the regional passport officer

New Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. K. J. Srinivasa

in Bengaluru for three years from 2010 and implemented passport seva project.

Before his latest appointment, he was the Consul General of India to Johannesburg from October 2016 until 12 July 2019. Speaking to DH, he said he will take charge at the Indian office on Georgetown, Guyana, on August 13.

"India has historical link with many of the Caricom nations.

They have very large Indian diaspora. Caricom is also important due to the economic interests.

The focus will be on promoting the interests of both parties for mutual benefit," he said.

He will replace High Commissioner, V. Mahalingam, who ended his tour recently.

Food for thought

Control Your Temper (Anger)

T

here once was a little boy who had a very bad temper.

His father decided to hand him a bag of nails and said that every time the boy lost his temper, he had to hammer a nail into the fence.

On the first day, the boy hammered 37 nails into that fence.

The boy gradually began to control his temper over the next few weeks, and the number of nails he was hammering into the fence slowly decreased.

He discovered it was easier to control

his temper than to hammer those nails into the fence.

Finally, the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He told his father the news and the father suggested that the boy should now pull out a nail every day he kept his temper under control.

The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. “you have done well, my son, but

look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won’t matter how many times you say I’m sorry, the wound is still there.”

Moral of the story: Control your anger, and don’t say things to people in the heat of the moment, that you may later regret. Some things in life, you are unable to take back.

According to Trotman, the GFC has evolved into more of a forestry regulator and a conserver of forest- less of commercial activity and more of an oversight body.”

T h e M i n i s t e r acknowledged that despite the challenges, forestry has been doing an excellent job and this needs to be celebrated as well.

Yesterday, Chair of the GFC, Jocelyn Dow, confirmed that a meeting is set for tomorrow.

She said that a statement will come after.

Forestry had been a big earner for the economy with a 2010 deal with Norway for US$250M bringing tougher scrutiny for the sector.

Caretaker dies more than two weeks after reportedly being burnt by employer - Family accuses police of trying to cover up story and taking bribe

A

fter enduring pain and suffering for more than two week in both the New Amsterdam and Georgetown Hospitals, the sorry tale of Paul Deo Persaud of 298, No. 2 Public Road, East Canje Berbice has come to an end.

He was reportedly burnt by his employer more than two weeks ago.

Persaud who worked and lived in a shack in the backyard of his employer at No. 2 Village was reportedly burnt on July 1, last, by his employed following a misunderstanding.

The man was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital, but was subsequently transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital suffering from first degree burns about his body. The matter was first reported and the employer was arrested but he was subsequently released without being charged.

The police viewed CCTV cameras placed around the

house and according to information, the cameras showed the men heading towards the back of the house.

However, subsequent viewing of the footage did not show scenes for that particular day, even as residents around are saying that they were aware that Persaud was beaten on that date. Persaud subsequently died on July 20, last and his employer was rearrested and released again.

However, relatives are contending that since then nothing has been told to them.

The Sergeant who investigated the matter is now out of the country.

They are calling for justice; they want a thorough investigation to be done.

Relatives state that they understand that a lot of money was paid to quiet the matter.

They are prepared to get an audience with the Commissioner of Police and the Minister of National Security to get justice.

Kaieteur News

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Sunday August 04, 2019

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

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

EDITORIAL

Why and Where?

As headlined by KN, with supporting pictures, and follow-up coverage, thousands of Haitians are present in Guyana. That much has not been disputed by anyone in authority with any degree of energy and volume; that is telling. That alone brings to this question, which are really several under a single tent: why are they here; where are they; and how many are still around?

The first thing that should be said is that Haitians are part of the Caricom bloc and are entitled to participate in regional free-movement arrangements. Still the timing of their arrivals raises eyebrows in a sensitive racially-driven political environment, particularly since the total is over 8,000 with more on the way.

It could be routine and innocent; except that this is Guyana, and in a foaming election time, nothing is quite so simple.

It could be posited that an oil boom is in the making, but that balloon is still to be blown. Locals themselves are not experiencing any substantial involvement, other than for scraps, in terms of the Golden Fleece: jobs; and, they are not in transit visa applicants, like the Cubans.

In addition, though Guyana can claim to be a few steps up the ladder when the woes of Haiti is discussed, its citizens were not coming here before in equivalent numbers, so why now?On cue, the reverberations from vigilant opposition quarters have been rapid. Careful listening hears that mischief is in the making; things not adding up, something is wrong and that these arrivals call for watchful eyes, an investigation. Stated differently, “tings na regulah”!

Because if the usual and draining human pursuits of a job, and an improved quality of living, can be reasonably questioned, if not ruled out, then what is left?

Now, in view of the peculiar timing of the rolling influx of Haitians, which just happened to be a closely guarded secret for over seven months in this leaky society, suspicions are not ungrounded. In fact, they flare, relative to numbers, parallels (if any), and their feared contributions in a looming elections season.

Somebody is sure to scream, “Foul!” And now with KN’s untimely and inconvenient revelations, with specifics attached, the air grows thick and heavy.

To blow on the embers of escalating suspicions, the government has trotted out what can be best described as impotent, unhelpful, and unconvincing. Details are murky as to the whereabouts of 8,000 plus foreigners, since very little is being said publicly. The best that could have been drummed up was the possibility of the Haitians capitalizing on ‘back-track’ opportunities, which only opens many sluices of speculations on an already flooded and soggy situation. Back-track pathways are going to require restoration, given the onslaught of so many rushing, pounding feet. Separately, 8,000 largely non-English speaking outsiders will take a lot of hiding, and skilled covert ops.

Obviously, a spirited and well-managed start was made at Timehri, complete with ushers, handlers, transporters anddare it be said-safe houses. Wherever they are, and the mortgage money can be confidently wagered, they are not heading to Suriname or Caracas.

So, the first two questions linger: why and where?

Rather regrettably, there is a third and final inquiry, as to how many are still actually here in this swelling, piercing elections season. It is similarly unknown. That has been the public admission of officialdom. A speculating citizenry watches (half of the divide only); while an increasingly agitated opposition pays keen attention.

This much cannot be dismissed, 8,000 strangers could come in very handy: icebreaker, tiebreaker, and a backbreaker of a game changer. For 8,000 adults in Guyana at this witching hour is the equivalent of a horse. It could make a political kingdom come. There is one problem with a possible Trojan Horse crammed with Haitians: not a secret anymore, even though it is within the city gates. The last question is only human: to what purpose will they be put?

Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.

The nation deserves an explanation of this anomaly to allay fears of mistrust in the judiciary Dear Editor, In a Press Release by the Supreme Court of Judicature P r o t o c o l a n d Communication Unit dated 24th July, which was carried in various sections of the media, it is stated at item “4”, The Honourable Chief Justice (ag) stated that the consequential orders of the Caribbean Court of Justice indicate that elections be held by September 18, 2019, or such longer period as the National Assembly determines.”

Eleven days later in her Court, presiding over the case brought before her, Kaieteur News, 3rd August 2019, in an article titled ‘Election date long goneChief Justice,’ it is stated

that, “Based on her understanding of the judgment and consequential orders by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Chief Justice Roxanne George yesterday said that the date for general and regional elections, March 21, has long gone.

In fact, Justice George noted that ‘we’ are supposedly in a period of an extension for the timeframe for holding elections, but that extension has not been agreed on.

‘We are still waiting on the National Assembly to meet,’ Justice George said as she commenced hearing arguments in application filed by Attorney-at-law Christopher Ram.”

Evidently, there are two conflicting positions as to t h e C h i e f J u s t i c e ’s expressed understanding and statement, from the ruling and consequential orders of the CCJ, as to the minimum timeframe elections should be held.

This has serious implications for the society and could lead to widespread misunderstanding, confusion and judgment on matters of important national interest.

The initial take away from the society that the election should be held by 18th September has created confusion in the system and lends justification to mistrust and open attack on GECOM by politicians,

surrogates and sections of the media for acting in breach of the law by not obeying the CCJ’s rulings, and the attempt to disenfranchise thousands of Guyanese.

This also says to us as a nation that we have to be vigilant for it is information that informs beliefs, actions and in this instance, the accuracy of the CCJ’s ruling and entitlement of all Guyanese to credible justice.

The nation and all concerned deserve an explanation of this anomaly in order to allay fears of mistrust in the judiciary upon which we depend to help us out of the current political dilemma we face.

Lincoln Lewis.

Sunday August 04, 2019

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Kaieteur News

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Apologies to the Haitians

Praying and hoping for a better Guyana

DEAR EDITOR So a nation that has one of the highest migration rates in the world is complaining about fellow Caribbean brothers and sisters passing through our country on their way to better their lives?

All of a sudden, all the folks who have relatives who went back track to the States, to Suriname, to Brazil are horrified by the arrival of around 8,000 Haitians or what is less than 5% of passengers for that time period?

Never mind as citizens of a

Caricom member state, they are allowed an automatic six month visa. What exactly is the problem here? These poor folks are hurting no one.

As for the Guyana Times, it is disgraceful story of some mythical public health threat these visitors could bring by sharing “communicable and non-communicable diseases” is one of the most racist articles ever to sully that paper’s pages.

Jagdeo of course is jumping all over the issue with wild conspiracy theories of Hai-

tians being registered to vote but he cannot provide one shred of evidence. If this is a taste of the election campaign to come then heaven help us because he is leading his PPP/C supporters into a really paranoid place.

May I on behalf of the majority of Guyanese, apologise to the Haitians passing through and wish them thoughts and prayers in their efforts to improve their lives.

Yours sincerely Albert Russell

EMPLOYER’S FAILURE TO REMIT CONTRIBUTIONS DOES NOT HINDER EMPLOYEE’S BENEFITS Dear Editor, I read with sadness of the plight of a GuySuCo employee unable to receive much needed sickness benefit from the NIS. Unfortunately, this was not an isolated case of an employee losing out on NIS benefit because of the failure of the employer to pay over deducted contributions – in this case GuySuCo. In this regard, our experience is that GuySuCo is not the only such employer.

The letter suggests that like many others, this particular employee has been wrongly advised that as a result of the employer’s failure to remit NIS contributions is grounds for depriving her of her benefits. For the sake of clarity, I will quote directly from the Na-

tional Insurance and Social Security Act Cap. 36:01, Regulation 6 of the National Insurance and Social Security (Contributions) Regulations, which states as follows: “Where a contribution payable by an employer in respect or on behalf of an insured person is paid after the due date or is not paid, and the delay or failure in making payment thereof is shown to the satisfaction of the Board not to have been with the consent or connivance of, or attributable to any negligence on the part of the insured person, the contribution shall, for the purpose of any right to benefit (emphasis added), be treated as paid on the due date.”

We have been engaged

in a number of matters, including some that reached and been decided by the Courts, which establish clearly that in the absence of any collusion on the part of the employee with the employer to deprive the Scheme of contributions, the NIS must recognise those contributions.

Finally, to echo the sentiments expressed by the GuySuCo employee, we have noticed a reasonableness and willingness at the level of the Board and senior management of the NIS to treat workers more humanely and to settle issues.

Those efforts must be stepped up and should take place at all levels of the NIS since we believe that the officer who dealt with the (Continued on page 6)

Dear Editor, Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them…William Shakespeare.

And so it is with Guyana’s President David Granger, a man who idolises former President Forbes Burnham and by doing so he has turned his house into a Burnham museum.

To be candid, Mr. Granger never expected to become Guyana’s President so the crown thrust upon his head is causing him immeasurable migraines.

Following the death of President Hoyte and the ‘resignation’ of the PNCR leader Mr. Robert Corbin, the PNC was in dire need of a leader who could defeat the PPP and President Granger did. Some believed that this is also true of the PPP, which entrusted its leadership to Mr. Bharat Jagdeo, thanks to Mrs. Janet Jagan. But Jagdeo was ill-prepared to lead the party.

The same can be said of Mr. Donald Ramotar who was catapulted into the leadership by Jagdeo.

Many believed that these three leaders never had any leadership skills and that is why the country is still faced with so many problems.

On Wednesday, 25th July, 2019, the Head of State declared in his usual bravado style that the courts cannot tell GECOM when elections must be held.

The all too familiar

internecine play-outs from both parties have added fuel to the perpetual fire.

Now the President, and by extension, his advisors are either reckless or retarded for the simple reason that both him and the opposition leader have fought tooth and nail for months before finally appointing a GECOM Chair on July 26, 2019. At last, they have upheld the CCJ ruling by appointing retired Justice Claudette Singh Chairwoman of GECOM. It was a consensual appointment.

That said, Guyana now finds itself in political crisis as to whether or not GECOM should conduct house-tohouse registration, which is scheduled to finish by October 20, 2019.

In legal perspective, if a person does not comply with a court order that person faces ‘contempt of court’ charges.

The President has blatantly violated the CCJ orders to dissolve parliament and hold elections in the stipulated time frame of 3 months.

The Coalition Government should have shifted into caretaker status as indicated in Article 106 (6) of the Constitution, but it has not. It is sad that this government, which was elected to uphold the rule of law is flouting it.

Finally, the much touted quality of credibility attributed to the President needs to be re-evaluated. Credibility is not confined only to leadership qualities or to a person’s integrity; rather, it embraces meticulous and rational decisions and adherence to promises and the rule of law.

This credibility that many believe that Mr. Granger seem to have has been diminishing over the years due to his actions or lack thereof and the numerous glimpses and stories that have been told of him.

I, like many other patriotic Guyanese, are disappointed with the government as well Mr. Granger.

I am praying and hoping for better days and a prosperous Guyana.

Leyland Chitlall Roopnaraine

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Sunday August 04, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Until we secure genuine constitutional reform, we must find ways for the PPP and PNC to work for us

PPP’s old tricks of inciting fear and to exercise their right to stronger economy so every choose who governs them. Guyanese has access to mistrust At all costs, the process well-paying and skilled

DEAR EDITOR, The letter I penned in the Sunday Kaieteur News of 28th July, 2019, ‘The AFC has squandered its opportunity’, has elicited some responses and I’d appreciate an opportunity to respond and add some additional context to the positions I’ve adopted.

I believe that our recent history points to the need for meaningful constitutional reform to ensure that the ‘winner’ in our multi ethnic society does not ‘take all’.

Until there is meaningful constitutional reform however, our choices remain between the PPP and PNC. The AFC was an anomaly that could have been something lasting or at a minimum, a catalyst for significant change. Unfortunately, in the end, all we saw were mirrors of what we tried to run from. A most painful experience for those of us who expected a different outcome even though the AFC’s beginnings mirrored that of the PPP/PNC – the very definition of insanity, according to Einstein. That failure will have a lasting, negative impact on small parties.

Until we secure genuine constitutional reform, we must therefore find ways for the PPP and PNC to work for us. For me, it is ensuring periodic, sufficient times in the opposition and government. It is now too soon for the PPP to come back, as it must find its way back to its

roots first. The only party capable of ensuring that is the PNC. The Coalition (AFC included) has achieved a lot within the past four years for which we cannot deny it credit. It is my view that that was largely hinged on the support base being more critical and ready to hold the Coalition accountable. Despite attrition largely because of the AFC, that support base remains more mixed in terms of ethnicities, and has the most mixed ethnicities too - something the PPP must ponder on and address while in opposition.

Very critically, and why I am arguing for the space allotted to the AFC be reduced, the PNC in the absence of constitutional reform, is the party most inclined to reach out to others and give them real power.

Hence, it is my hope that new people be given a chance and that they do not squander their opportunity.

To those seeking to invoke my father’s name: Boyo Ramsaroop (1938 – 2010) began with the PPP at a young age, from its very formation in 1947. Growing up, he sought to give me balance, educating me on atrocities committed in the name of the PPP and putting me on his shoulders to listen to Dr. Walter Rodney. For all of his life he harboured fervent hopes for a return of 1953, the pinnacle of unity in Guyana. He never hated

the PNC and enjoyed a good relationship with President Hoyte. Though he would often remind him that he was a staunch Jaganite, even when he was given the Medal of Service. We campaigned, the entire Ramsaroop family, with all our resources for the PPP up until the 2001 elections. That was unconditional. In 2006, my father finally left the PPP and joined the AFC. I am not looking for a job from President Granger. I now live in Berlin, Germany and I hold dual citizenship.

My support is as an ordinary citizen. I consider both Grangers as friends, beyond any politics but I am not a member of the PNC and I have not joined any other party after resigning from the AFC in 2014 - a political party that I helped to found in 2005. Prior to 2005, I was a member of the PPP - ever since as a child, from 1976 with the “Pioneers”. Similar to my support for the PPP prior to 2005 and my support for the AFC between 2005 and 2014, my current support for President Granger and the Coalition is unconditional, just as it was in 2015.I acknowledge Freddie Kissoon’s vehement disagreement with my stance.

My feelings for Freddie however remain unchanged; he has been a dear family friend for as long as I can remember and he has made huge, selfless contributions for our country.

Finally, I’d like to acknowledge that the AFC and other notable persons were very much at my wife’s funeral and in the rain too. I had singled out the presence of the PPP and PNC to highlight our common humanity in spite of more than a half century of ethnic polarisation, to urge peace, and as a tribute to my father.

Yours faithfully, Gerhard Ramsaroop

DEAR EDITOR, And so it begins, the old political games of the past have once again reared their ugly heads. Violence and intimidation that we expected to be confined to the dustbin of history are now, once again, part of our democracy.

This past week, reports of GECOM officials being attacked and harassed during their work in house-tohouse registration has shocked the nation. There’s even been instances of dogs being set upon these poor souls.

What has driven these ordinary folks to display such levels of aggression towards those who want to ensure that they have their democratic right to vote?

Well, it is the misrepresentation of this process by the PPP, who claim that it is “illegal” and part of some broader conspiracy of electoral fraud. They are inciting fear and mistrust among the public, making them believe that this process is somehow to their detriment.

The ongoing registration exercise has been a normal part of the democratic process. It is to ensure that those who have turned 18 since the last election are able to exercise their right to vote, and those who are not eligible, including individuals who have sadly passed away or who have emigrated, are not on the electoral roll.

The PPP wants to partake in an election with a list that is not sanitised. This exposes our elections to potentially massive voter fraud.

They have also shown a blatant disregard for young Guyanese voters. By demanding to use the current list, they are preventing thousands of young people from voting. Democracy is vital to a healthy society, it is important that we must guarantee that every man and woman should be able

must move forward with a list that is both clean and credible. The worrying attempts

by Irfaan Ali and his PPP party to shut down the only route to a trustworthy election should raise concerns with the public, businesses and international observers.

But it is their willingness to sow division and mistrust along racial lines is a cynical tactic that they’ve used before. They present a position of us versus them, as though it is not possible for a government to be for all Guyanese, playing on the emotions of fear and mistrust.

The previous PPP government used this tactic repeatedly to help benefit themselves and their cronies. Playing on racial division to distract the electorate from the real issues at hand.

Under the previous 23 years of PPP government, we saw our infrastructure crumble, our education system collapse, and crime spiral out of control. The economy was stagnating and there were little opportunities for ordinary Guyanese, with tens of thousands emigrating each year.

Finally, we have a government that is not just working for itself but working for all of Guyana. They have confronted the long-running problems of ethnic division through innovative programmes, provided public services across the country, and continue to build a

jobs.

Maybe this comes with a coalition government, one that must work together across party lines, and thus collaborate in order to get things done.

To create a nation that works for us all, we must be given our opportunity to have our say. For voting is the one thing that ensures that the next government must listen to, not just one group or one community, but all Guyanese.

The absence of a sanitised list would mean a return to cronyism, deceitful tactics, and “backhanders” that defrauded the public and the country of funds and value for more than two decades. This would not only undermine the long-term business and investment case for Guyana, but makes any argument for the creation of jobs nothing more than rhetoric.

Never before have the risks been so high, particularly as we move forward to first oil production in Guyana.

Never before has the requirement for a credible election been so pressing.

Guyana needs to move forward with a government which has demonstrated, since 2015, a capacity to provide a level of development for all Guyanese, not a government that can be born out of trickery and dishonesty.

Donald Ainsworth

Employer’s failure to...

From page 5 letter writer may simply not be aware of recent developments, including decisions of the Court. No worker, in times of sickness or during their old age should ever be denied their lawful benefits because of the unlawful conduct of their employers, and in some cases the poor recordkeeping of the NIS. Christopher Thompson Attorney-at-law Christopher Ram and Associates Attorneys-at-law

Sunday August 04, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Massive turn out for the Berbice Association Emancipation Celebrations A massive turnout of people from all walks of life attended the Emancipation Day event held on August 1, last, at the Union No. 53, Sports Complex, Corentyne Berbice. The occasion was the 181st anniversary of Emancipation.

The Event was organised by the Berbice Association of African Groups (BAAG) in collaboration with the Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport.

Chief Celebrant was President David Granger, who was also inducted as the patron of the Emancipation festival in Guyana. President Granger was credited for restoring pride to the African community.

The President, in his speech to the thousands, declared a National Decade of Development as he emphasised education as the key to development.

He said that Emancipation Day is the single most important day in human history. It is one of the reasons why The United Nations (UN) declared International Decade of People of African Descent (IDPAD), to acknowledge the plight of Africans who were victims of the “greatest crime against humanity.”

He said that beginning next year until 2029 will be the

National Decade of Development for Guyanese. This will increase emphasis on public education.

One of the aims of the IDPAD is for quality education to be made accessible in areas where persons of African descent live, particularly in rural and vulnerable communities.

“Education is what opened the door to all Guyanese to become the best that they can be. African Guyanese who took hold of education were able to contribute more and more to the

development of this country.

“The enslaved Africans in Berbice and Demerara and Essequibo never accepted their enslavement, they rebelled and fought against enslavements and in so doing, Berbice hold a proud an unsurpassable place in the achievement of Emancipation.”He said his government is committed to safeguarding the legacy of Africans, particularly to ensure that the objectives of the IDPAD are met.

Free education is an entitlement mandated by the

Constitution, which states that ‘every citizen has the right to free education’ from nursery to university.

The expected proceeds of the petroleum revenues will see the restoration of free

Region Two NGSA top performers awarded

A number of pupils living on the Essequibo Coast were awarded last Wednesday, for their outstanding performances at the recent National Grade Six Assessment [NGSA].

A total of twenty-eight pupils from eight primary schools on the Coast were awarded with bag packs through a collaborative initiative between the Ministry of Business and the Ministry of Education. Region Two was placed on the map this year when eleven-year-old Venisha Lall from the CV. Nunes Primary, tied for first position in the country with 532 marks.

Apart from securing the top spot in the country, the CV Nunes Primary secured the top three positions in the region.

The Huis’t Dieren Primary secured the fourth position in the region with 522 marks, while the Suddie Primary came in fifth with 518 marks. Present at the award ceremony on last Wednes-

day was the Minister of Business, the Honourable Haimraj Rajkumar. Minister Rajkumar, when delivering the feature address, commended the pupils for their outstanding achievements, noting that they had done their region proud.

The Minister encouraged the pupils to continue their hard work. “You would’ve work hard during your time at Primary School and your teachers would’ve worked hard with you to ensure that you were successful. “Being successful at the end of the assessment doesn’t bring an end to the hard work at school; it now begins because education at secondary level is even more challenging.”Also attending the ceremony last Wednesday were Regional Education Officer Ms. Nicholla Matthews, along with other key officials from the Region Two Department of Education.

education in accordance with the Constitution, according to President Granger.

“Petroleum is not to enrich a few; it is to educate the many, he said to loud applause.“There is no better way to spend our petroleum resources than to ensure that Guyana becomes a nation of educated people, the best in the English speaking Caribbean,” the President noted.

The parade began at No. 51 Village and the President was escorted to the venue by the majorettes and a mixture

of drums.

There was a wide array of African songs, dances, skits, drumming, poems, food, clothing, drinks, and fashion displays.

There were also presentations from the Amerindian Groups and Tassa Drumming.

Among those present at the event were First Lady Sandra Granger, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Mrs. Nagamootoo, Ministers: Basil Williams, Amna Ally, Dr. George Norton and Dr. Karen Cummings.

PAGE 8

PPP reiterates it will not vote to extend election deadline

T

he People’s Pro gressive Party (PPP) in statement yesterday said that it will not go back to Parliament, “pursuant to Article 106(7) of the Constitution, to support any extension of the time for the holding of General and Regional Elections.”

The party’s statement comes on the heels of a statement by Minister of Social Cohesion, George Norton, that Government is considering going back to Parliament.

Attorney General, Basil Williams, also recently stated that he hopes the Opposition would have a change of heart, as an extension to the deadline would be the only opportunity to ensure Guyana is not

Sunday August 04, 2019

Kaieteur News

left in a Constitutional crisis.

The Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, has said time and time again that no extension would be granted.

Based on her understanding of the judgment and consequential orders by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Chief Justice Roxane George yesterday said that the date for general and regional elections, March 21, has long gone.

During a hearing of arguments on Friday last, in an application for a Conservatory Order against Houseto-House registration by Attorney-at-law Christopher Ram, George noted that “we” are supposedly in a period of an extension for the timeframe for holding elections, but that extension

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo has not been agreed on.

“We are still waiting on the National Assembly to meet,” she stated.

Int’l experts to assist Guyana with review of ExxonMobil’s deal –Dr. Bynoe ExxonMobil’s Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) for the Stabroek Block comes up for renewal next year October and Energy Department Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe, has assured that Guyana will have the requisite help to assist it when that time comes.

The official disclosed this following queries from Kaieteur News about the need for a specialist team, especially when one considers the weaknesses of the current PSA. In this regard, Dr. Bynoe articulated that the Department is quite aware that it does not have all the resources contained therein. “And so whatever we do as we have been on record as saying, we seek to hire in third parties to assist us as we build up that national capacity and that modus operandi is not likely to change,” the Energy Department Head added.

Since the release of the Guyana-ExxonMobil contract, many industry analysts have said that there are numerous weaknesses, which Guyana should address at the earliest opportunity, with the renewal period for the deal being one of them.

The paltry two percent royalty is just one of the many provisions considered by industry analysts to be abnormal and in urgent need of regularisation.

Specifically, University of Houston Instructor, Tom Mitro, recently pointed out to absurd provisions which allow expatriates and sub-contractors’ salaries or income to not be subject to tax. The Petroleum Consultant noted that

Energy Department Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe under Section 15.12 of the PSA, expatriates’ salaries are not subject to Income tax if they don’t spend more than 183 days in a country.

Mitro said that this is an old trick in the book as the company simply gets many expatriates to be in rotation to avoid going over the 183 days.

The Consultant stressed that most countries have plugged this tax avoidance loophole that companies have been abusing while noting that Guyana should too in all of the existing PSAs. With respect to subcontractors’ income, Mitro highlighted that Section 15.10 of the PSA allows for it to be exempted from Corporate Income tax during the exploration period. The Consultant categorically stated that this is somewhat bizarre and

should be corrected in Guyana’s model PSA. Mitro had also told Kaieteur News that many countries have recognised how much they are losing in this regard and are already imposing the tax. He recommended that Guyana does the same.

Other issues Mitro said must be corrected include paying the contractor’s income tax out of the country’s share of profits, rectifying the unusually large size of the blocks, upgrading the work obligations contractors have to meet as licensed holders, increasing the size of signing bonuses, implementing ringfencing provisions to prevent costs of unsuccessful wells being carried over to that of successful wells, removing clauses which allow insurance premiums to be recoverable, and removing the troubling provision that allows the operators to fully recover interest and financing costs.

Sunday August 04, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Two year old gets the gets gift of life…

Successful brain surgery completed on Baby Akeelah For a first- time mother, the experience of having a baby girl is indescribable. The new feeling of life taking from inside her, the physical and emotional changes, and the anticipation of bringing forth a new life is astonishing.

And Phyziena Etwaroo, 24, experienced what we would call a typical ninemonth labour process. She took her prescribed multivitamins and adopted healthy practices during her pregnancy.

On July 31, 2017, she gave birth to a baby girl named Akeelah.

The first couple of months of Baby Akeelah’s life went smoothly. There were no signs of any sort of sicknesses. She visited the clinic when she was supposed to, was fed the right supplements, and lived the life of a happy baby.

But then 11 months later into her life, things took a drastic change.

In June 2018, Etwaroo observed that Akeelah began experiencing fevers with very high temperatures. At first, the mother thought that her baby

was just experiencing the cold and flu.

For the first night, Etwaroo explained that she would bathe her baby, soak her and feed her some Panadol syrup to relieve the pain.

After realising that her baby’s condition only worsened, she decided to rush her baby to the Suddie Hospital the following day. At that medical institution, the doctors examined Akeelah and disclosed to her mother that she had a throat infection.

The doctors prescribed antibiotics for the baby and sent both of them home.

A few days after that first doctor’s visit, the child appeared to be normal, but still, she seemed not to be at her full potential, and so her mother decided to take her back to the hospital.

The doctors told the young mother to continue the treatment and so again, she and her sick child were sent back home.

Etwaroo complained that Akeelah would wake her up at obscene hours, crying and seemingly in pain. For the

third time the mother took her child to the Suddie Hospital where her baby was given an injection. Etwaroo said that after that day, and possibly because of the injection, Akeelah refused to breastfeed any longer.

Baby Akeelah was then transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at that medical institution as her condition worsened.

The following day she was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where she remained under observation for an entire month.

Etwaroo was advised by the medical operatives to get a computed tomography (CT) scan done. This would assist the doctors in finding out if Akeelah had any disorders or unhealthy conditions.

After that scan was completed, the mother added that her child “came out like a vegetable.” Baby Akeelah could not execute basic motor skills and experienced constant seizures daily.

In March, the GPHC diagnosed the baby with bilateral subdural effusion post men-

Melinda Janki, an international lawyer on conservation, made it clear at one of her press conferences and public lectures recently, that she has no political affiliation.

Neither is she connected to any political party in Guyana.

She said that she is upset about what her homeland is getting for its oil and that she merely wanted to educate the public about what’s happening.

Janki then went on to question whether Guyana

getting a fair deal for its oil?

Replying to her own question Janki said the short answer is no, that it’s basically a deal of free oil and free gas for the oil companies.

“The money side is bad enough but if you look at this deal from the perspective of the global economy or the environment or the law, you get the same answer. This is a bad deal for Guyana and if it’s a bad deal then it can’t be a fair deal.”“A deal that is not fair can never be good for the

Guyanese people and is it a gross give away of the country’s wealth. The oil belongs to the people of Guyana and they don’t have to share it with anybody.

“In fact, the government is giving the oil companies 87.5% of the oil as the country is only getting 12.5% of its own oil when it’s being brought up,” Janki said.

“The deal is grossly unfair to Guyana as a sovereign state and it’s grossly unfair to the Guyanese people.”

‘I have no political affiliation in Guyana’-- says Melinda Janki

Dem boys seh ...

Blame all you actions on climate change Global warming affecting dis part of de world. Dem boys didn’t know it until dem tek a good look around. De heat from de global warming mess up people brains suh dem can’t think.

Dis thing did happen before. Some people from de cooler part of de world went to Africa and India wheh it very hot.

Dat is how dem bring de people to Guyana and when scientists examine Guyanese, dem finding dat de people not too bright.

Dis is de only country dat growing plantain and selling it overseas and buying foreign plantain chips. It use to buy rice crispies from dem country dat don’t even know wha rice look like.

People talking ‘bout de oil deal wha Guyana sign wid Exxon. Is a bad deal but what else people can expect from people in these conditions of global warming? Trinidad didn’t do much better. Dem get de few cents and dem sport. Dem had a good sport and nuff sport. De money drying up.

De same global warming mek people in

de Caribbean importing more food than they growing; although dem got more than enough land. Dem leaders brains ain’t wukking good, suh dem got dem people eating sardines and potatoes before dem eat fresh fish and local ground provisions.

Why else people gon lef dis warm climate and go to a place wheh it so cold dat dem have to wear some thick winter coat, bleed through dem nose and go out whether dem want to or not.

Dem boys was watching cricket Saturday when dem see de real effects of global warming.

West Indies in de first instance can’t play de long game. De climate change stop dem from thinking too long.

De young cricketers from India and de old ones beat de young West Indies and de old ones.Dem boys find out dat parts of India cool. De thing is dat de beating getting worse and de players ain’t shame.

It got to be dat de climate change getting worse.Talk half and don’t question climate change.

ingitis—this had led to the collection and build up of fluids in the subdural space of the brain after the baby experienced brain infection.

They had also determined that she had severe brain abnormality, which had caused the motor skills impediment, and a chronic neurological disorder.

Time was not on Baby Akeelah’s side, as surgery needed to be done as soon as possible to remove the fluids from her brain.

The surgery was set for July 29, and Guyana’s lone neurosurgeon, Doctor Amarnauth Dukhi opted to perform the surgery—free of cost after it was brought to his attention.

(Continued on page 69)

Baby Akeelah as she sleeps

PAGE 10

Sunday August 04, 2019

Kaieteur News

Investigations reveal…

Busloads of Haitians head to Lethem daily A significant number of the 8,600-plus Haitians who arrived in Guyana during the last seven months would have made their way to Lethem, a Region Nine town that borders neighbouring Brazil, investigations by Kaieteur News have found.

It would make a strong case that a large, wellorganised human smuggling ring that has its tentacles stretching from Haiti, to

It left the Red Caps and drivers out of pocket.

Under the regulations, visitors to Guyana must present a return ticket.

The Haitians were no exception. Never mind that the return tickets to Guyana cost over US$1,300.

The Haitians willingly gave up their return tickets after arriving in Guyana.

Beginning January, the Haitians started to arrive, more than 50 on average per

The Haitians at the CJIA earlier last week.

Guyana, Brazil and likely Suriname, was involved.

Facilitating the process in Guyana were Immigrations officers, police, taxi and bus drivers, hotels, airline employees and others.

The scheme fell apart recently when Red Caps and taxi drivers at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) raised questions about the no-show of the Haitians on departing flights.

“We spent money to get to work because we understand that there were flights going out and people were booked on them,” one Red Cap worker explained

flight.

At the CJIA, picking them up would be persons who are armed with photos in their phones.

Among the coordinators were Haitians and locals.

The Haitians, including women and children, are taken by minibuses to city hotels and private residences.

They would later be picked up by minibuses of the various transportation services, located in the city.

Sometimes five or six minibuses of passengers would leave Georgetown for Lethem.

It appeared no one was

pass the Kurupukari checkpoint, it was all smooth sailing.

The sometimes 15-hour drive was no big deal.

For the transportation services that work the Lethem route, the business of fetching Haitians has been a boon.

“There is not much else going now. I want to a piece...if I get it, I will take it,” one bus driver said.

At Lethem, the Haitians are not being stopped by Immigrations or Customs.

“They come here legally so (there is) nothing much we can do,” an Immigration official explained.

For several hours, the Haitians would stay at two well-known locations, including a bar.

Lethem residents and others that do business there told Kaieteur News, last week, that the Haitians would disappear suddenly.

“We can only guess they gone over to Brazil, via Bom Fin and the Takutu Bridge.

You would see groups of them gathered at the Federal checkpoint on Brazil side ever so often,” a Lethem businessman said.

Lethem, too, is glad for the business. Scores of Cubans in recent months have been using Guyana to make it to Brazil.

Planes Too “We are also seeing Haitians using the planes from Ogle Airport to come too.

This is in addition to the daily buses.”

The influx of the Haitians has kick-started a debate.

There is sympathy on one side for the Haitians whose country next the Dominican Republic has been ravaged by hurricanes and earthquakes.

Guyana, based on a government order earlier this year, is one of the few Caribbean countries to reach out a hand to Haitians, allowing for professionals and other skilled workers to come.

They would automatically receive a six-month stay.

CJIA. There have been criticisms from a few that the issue of the Haitians is one of racism.

There was little comment on the impact on national security and of the human smuggling side.

Last week, Minister with Responsibilities for Citizenship, Winston Felix, was convinced that Guyana

A group of Haitians on the Linden/Lethem trail recently.

“In so far as the offence of trafficking in persons is concerned, the APNU/AFC Coalition Government is concerned—that offence is treated with intolerance and anyone found committing it and any suspicion of its occurrence will be investigated with a view to prosecuting those found culpable regardless of their

Haitians in Lethem, on their way to Bom Fim, across the Takutu Bridge.

is being used as a stepping stone by the Haitians for greener pastures.

He also said that the situation was being blown out of proportion by the Opposition which is targeting Haitians unfairly. “(The issue of) Haitians arriving in Guyana is always blown out of proportion by certain elements in the political Opposition.

nationality.”

Felix, a former Commissioner of Police, was critical about what he described as the readiness of the Opposition to target Haitians arriving in Guyana. “…And consequently they seek to mislead the public with broad and generally false allegations that seek to tarnish the good name of the Department of

A group of Haitians waiting for pickup at a Lethem bus stop.

recently.

However, consistently, barely one Haitian would turn up. That sparked suspicions.

paying attention.

The Haitians had arrived legally in Guyana.

All along the Lethem trail,

However, it appeared that the system of vetting who is a professional or skilled worker has been abused at the

Citizenship. However, they have never been able to unearth one iota of evidence to support their spurious allegations. I suspect that this is another of their acts.”

The Opposition has been insisting that from all indications it is likely there is human smuggling involved and also levels of collusion involved in registering voters

A group waiting to be processed at the Brazilian border area of Bom Fim.

using the Haitians.

However, Minister Felix was clear about Government’s position.

“Let me reiterate Government’s firm and settled position on CARICOM nationals arriving In Guyana.

Apart from our laws which would restrict entry of anyone to Guyana, all CARICOM nationals arriving (Continued on page 13)

Sunday August 04, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

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Kaieteur News

Woman runs into robber after late night latrine visit …man caught, gets sound thrashing

Nabbed/ Thrashed: The captured man

A man who allegedly attempted to rob a family in Vilvoorden on the Essequibo Coast, got a sound thrashing from residents of the said community, before being handed over to police.

According to information sourced by this publication, the accused, who was later identified as Yamrick Duncan, was caught attempting to jump the fence of prominent Businessman, Zahid Sabar.

The man, who is believed to be a resident of Wales, West Bank Demerara, was seen some time around 01:00hrs yesterday, by a housewife who lives behind Sabar’s premises.

Based on reports, the woman was returning to her house from her latrine, when she saw the man attempting to scale the businessman’s side fence.

The woman said that the man failed to jump the fence, since the watch dogs guarding Sabar ’s home rushed towards him.

The targeted business place

Kaieteur News understands that at some point the suspect made eye contact with her and rushed towards her.

The woman, who was at home alone at the time, secured herself in her house and alerted neighbours who were at home. At that point neighbours and the businessman came out and gave chase. They eventually apprehended the man.

Sabar told this publication yesterday, “We had to run him and chase he through the rice

field and eventually we ketch with he. The man apparently know me because he said, ‘Muslim don’t do meh nothing.’ Them bai put a trashing on he and during that time, he said that he from Wales and that he two friends left he and a boat deh waiting for them.”

Sabar’s neighbour claimed that the suspect ran to her with something in his hand that appeared to have been a gun. A search was conducted by the party of villagers, but no firearm was retrieved.

There was, however, a mask that was located.

Sometime last April, Sabar and his entire family were held at gunpoint by five gunmen who were demanding some $20 million.Villagers said that they were appreciative of the police response time yesterday morning, which they described as being prompt. The man was taken into custody assisting with investigations. Residents told this publication that they are eagerly awaiting the investigation results.

Over 150 GWI Workers to Get House Lots

Scenes from the activity.

(PC GWI Facebook Page)

Over 150 workers of Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) were shortlisted to be interviewed for house lots. They were part of the first batch of persons shortlisted.

The interview process was conducted over a three-day period last month, at the GWI Shelterbelt compound.

Discussions are ongoing between the

GWI and the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) to identify and develop a housing scheme for the staffers of the former.This is to encourage an improved state of the welfare of its staff as well as to promote staff cohesion. Employees are excited about the initiative and are looking forward to its establishment.

Sunday August 04, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Police bullet narrowly misses 6 year-old son Andre Anand, a father, of 25 James and Hill Streets, Albouystown, Georgetown is accusing police ranks of acting irresponsibly when they reportedly discharged rounds in the neighbourhood.

One of those rounds, he said, pierced a window and wall, narrowly missing his sixyear-old son who was sleeping on a bed in the bedroom of his home, yesterday.

The man said his son Nathan Anand was with him on a bed in the home around 14:10 hrs and subsequently fell asleep soon after. He said he rolled away from the child and must have dozed off too, since he was jerked out of his slumber around 14:40 hrs by a loud sound that sounded like an explosion.

He said his son was up also with a terrified look on his face, and was staring in the direction of the louvres that were just a few inches

Andre Anand claims that police ranks narrowly missed shooting his 6 year-old son while chasing a criminal in Albouystown yesterday. above the bed on which they were sleeping.

The man said that his son was lying close to the window. The very angry father said that he noticed that one of the window panes

had been pierced (though and through) as well as a section of the wooden wall, just above where his son had been lying.

He said he went downstairs, and on enquiring

Man damages grandfather’s appliances over negative energy Nicholas Phillips, 25, is now awaiting sentencing after he admitting to damaging household articles amounting to $682,000, belonging to his grandfather, because of the alleged ‘negative energy’ in the home.

It was alleged that on July 25, 2019 at Prashad Nagar, Georgetown, he unlawfully and maliciously damaged a quantity of household appliances, property of Melville Yearwood.

Also, on that same day and at that same location, he made use of abusive language towards Denise Yearwood. He denied this charge.

The young man who hails from Prashad Nagar was arraigned on Friday last before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Police Prosecutor Traceyann Gittens stated that on the day in question, Phillips came home and was asked why he left the house without informing someone.

Phillips reportedly became annoyed and headed to his room where he damaged the appliances. The matter was reported, which led to an investigation and Phillips was subsequently arrested and charged.

According to Phillips, “The negative energy in that house cause me to leave for a few days to cool my head. I went home the day and this woman started arguing with me so I get frustrated and damage the TV, the computer and possibly the printer. I don’t know about the rest.”

After listening to both sides, the magistrate remanded Phillips to prison until August 5 when she will sentence him based

on the value of the articles he pleaded guilty to damaging. However, she granted him $10,000 bail in relating to the charge of abusive language.

From page 10 in Guyana are granted six months to remain in the country, with the possibility of extension.

“I am checking on the veracity of the statement that three busloads of Haitians have arrived in Guyana.”According to the Minister, his enquiry has suggested that Haitians arrived in this country regularly. Elsewhere “We have found that their intention is to get to relatives in Suriname, Cayenne, Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela. We have traced legal departures but there are a number we cannot account for, and those we suspect left illegally (backtrack). We have not found

evidence of trafficking in Haitians.

Venezuelans are the subjects of that offence as the prosecution of current cases suggest.”Yesterday, despite the public scrutiny, four busloads of Haitians arrived in Lethem. Some 50 more are expected to arrive on a Copa flight this afternoon, from Panama.The Opposition has asked for an investigation. Since January, only 13 Haitians have returned home, less than one percent.

In the last three days, 221 arrived but none left.See video link of a group of Haitians on the Linden/Lethem trail recently. https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxiMJ5nhJ3E

Nicholas Phillips

Busloads of Haitians head to Lethem...

The window and wall that the bullet allegedly penetrated when the shots were fired. from the neighbours, was told that police patrol ranks a short while before, were chasing a known thief in the neighbourhood and fired several shots in the air. He said one rank reportedly fired shots after the fleeing criminal when the man failed to halt after the warning shots were fired.

Residents spoken to in the area yesterday also supported this story.

“I am so mad right now…Look what could have happened if that bullet had hit my son. The police need to act more responsibly. Many of them are too trigger happy and never stop to think about the safety of innocent

persons.”

The man said he attempted to make a report on the matter at the Ruimveldt Police Station yesterday, and a female rank joked about the entire issue, asking if he was sure it was the police that shot at his house or was it residents from within his neighbourhood.

PAGE 14

Resident alleges beating, harassment by businessman - accuses police of collusion in corrupting justice Latchman Chetram, 26, of 105, Bel Vue, West Bank Demerara, is accusing police from two West Bank Demerara Police Stations of colluding with a popular businessman to obstruct justice after he was reportedly beaten about the body by the man with a cutlass recently.

Chetram told this newspaper that the daughter of his attacker has a serious crush on him and has been peddling stories about the two of them being together.

He said he is not attracted to the girl and upon telling her this, she began claiming that he was harassing her.

He said this information must have gotten to the businessman’s hearing, which would have prompted the attack on his person.

Chetram related that on Monday night, he came home after consuming alcohol and began venting his disgust over what the young girl had allegedly done.

The young man said on Tuesday, he returned home from his job at Banks DIH, Thirst Park, and was walking in a side street that led to his home when the man attacked him.

He said that the man began to lash him about the body viciously with a cutlass although he begged for mercy. He said that the man then instructed him to get on his knees and beg for mercy, to which he complied.

He said when he thought this course of action would have quelled the man’s anger, it instead proved otherwise as the man began to hit him in his face with the fist.

Sunday August 04, 2019

Kaieteur News

Latchman Chetram displays the abrasions about his body as a result of the alleged beating He said when he managed to escape from the man and ran home, he was told by his parents that, the businessman had been to the home and was ranting, insinuating that he has a licensed firearm and that the young boy will soon disappear.

Chetram said on Tuesday evening, they reported the matter to the Wales Police Station and officers there took photographs of the injuries, which he received as a result of the beating.

He said that they

promised to arrest the attacker. He said, however, that later in the day, the matter was then transferred to the La Grange Police Station, where ranks there took a statement from him and placed him to wait on a bench for hours with claims that they were making contact with his attacker.

He said that he was made to wait for over five hours and still his attacker did not show up. He said police ranks told him to return at 5:00 pm the same day, so that they could have a confrontation between the two men to see if they can come to an amicable settlement.

Chetram said his attacker never showed up, and he was again asked to visit the La Grange Police Station, the next day. Still his attacker was a no show. He said he however overheard a rank there in conversation with his (Continued on page 15)

American Chambers of Commerce to discuss implication of CCJ consequential orders for business in Guyana American Chamber of C o m m e r c e (AMCHAM) Guyana will be hosting a forum tomorrow to discuss the implication of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) consequential orders for business in Guyana.

Fixed for the Marriott Hotel, the meeting seeks to explore the implications of those consequential orders that stemmed from the successful passage of a NoConfidence Motion against government on the night of December 21, 2018 in the National Assembly.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams; former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall and former Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran will address the forum.

About three weeks after the Chief Justices ruled that the No-Confidence Motion was properly passed against government; the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) had said that its members reported a significant drop in business amid the current political climate.

A few days after the CCJ rulings, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) contends that Guyana has been forced to stand in wait, its economy, investment and the business of the country made to s u ff e r, w h i l e a g e n e r a l environment of uncertainty prevails across the country.

Among other things, the PSC said it wished to remind the President that the CCJ in its declaration and orders stated that “upon the passage of the motion of No Confidence in the government” on December 21, 2018 “that clear provisions of Article 106 immediately become engaged”, that is, that “the Cabinet, including the President, shall resign if the government is defeated”.

“It is totally

unacceptable, therefore, to the Commission that the President has refused to honour the Constitution in announcing that the Cabinet shall continue to function.”

It is the Private Sectors view that the President, by his behaviour, has put at risk all private sector entities and other organisations made subject to contracts and any other action authorized by the Cabinet, by presuming them to be legal.

“The Private Sector Commission has, therefore, advised its members to seek legal advice in this regard,” the statement added.

The PSC had also called on the President and Leader of the Opposition to uphold the rule of law as urged by the international c o m m u n i t y. T h e P S C , therefore, contended that Guyana has been forced to stand in waiting, its economy, investment and the business of the country made to suffer, while a general environment of u n c e r t a i n t y p r e v a i l s across the country.

As it is, Government and Opposition are still at loggerhead over when elections should be held.

The CCJ had emphasized that elections were due

since March 21.

The Opposition is pushing for elections to be held on or before September 18, which it says is in keeping with the Constitution and the rulings of the CCJ. Government, on the other hand, is maintaining that a new voters list has to be created in order to conduct free, fair and credible elections. In this regard, GECOM has embarked on its house-to-house registration exercise, which commenced on July 20, and could run for 90 days.

The Opposition has mounted a court challenge to the unconstitutionality of the registration process, which it says will collude with the September 18 timeframe for elections. In fact, the Opposition is contending that the houseto-house registration is a deliberate attempt to prolong elections, which defeats the purpose of the No-Confidence Motion for early elections.

Governments position is that the situation at hand has nothing to do with the fact that a No-Confidence Motion was successfully passed, but what GECOM considers best for conducting free, fair and credible electionsand that is conducting the houseto-house registration exercise. As a matter of fact, the Government insists that there is nothing in the CCJs ruling which suggest that elections must be held by September 18.

Attorney General Basil Williams in his submissions in response to the challenge to the house-to-house registration process acknowledged that the date for elections has already passed and it is now strictly within the remit and province of the National Assembly to extend the time for the holding, and not for the court to intervene.

Sunday August 04, 2019

PAGE 15

Kaieteur News

Duo charged for attempting to break into store Resident alleges...

Two repeat offenders were yesterday hauled before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly in the Georgetown Magistrates Court where they were charged for attempting to break into a store.

Marvin Blackman, 28, a fish cleaner of Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara; and Steve Singh, 27, a fisherman of Lot 9 Riverview, Ruimveldt, both pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them.

It was alleged that between July 29 and July 30, last, at Regent Road, Bourda, Georgetown, they attempted to break into the business place of Harrilall Narine.

The number one defendant, Blackman, was represented by attorney-at-law George Thomas, while his co-accused was not represented.

No objections were made for bail to be granted to the men; however, a request was made by police prosecutor Richard Harris to have conditions to be attached to the bail based on the fact that the men are known to the court having been charge with similar matters before.

Magistrate Daly then upheld the submission made by the prosecutor

Steve Singh

Marvin Blackman

and granted bail to the men to the tune of $10,000 each under the condition that they report to the police station nearest to their place of abode until the completion of the present matter before the court.

Blackman, who is a c o u r t r e g u l a r, w a s r e manded in August 2017 on charges of illegal possession of a Glock semi automatic pistol and eight live rounds of 9mm ammunition.

The then 25-year-old was at the time out on bail in connection with a spate of robberies.

In 2016, Blackman was charged along with two

others, for allegedly robbing Shane Robin, Supervisor at Wild Caught Fresh Fish Depot, at gunpoint.

They are accused of robbing Robin of $60,000, and stealing a quantity of fish valued $1.5 million, from Leonard Jettoo at Meadow Bank.

It was also alleged that on August 15, 2017, with intent to commit murder or cause grievous bodily harm, Blackman discharged a loaded firearm at Carl Welshman. It was further alleged that on that same day whilst in the company of others and armed with a gun, he robbed Welshman of a cell phone valued $50,000 and

other items worth $175,000.

Further, it is alleged that in November of that same year, while in the company of others and armed with a gun, he robbed Danny Singh of $45,000 and other items all worth $50,000.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, Blackman was charged with robbing Bramanand Chetram of $500,000 among other items all worth $3,019,000 property of Bibi Shaffaur.

It is also alleged that on the same day, he robbed Parmanand Chetram of a cellular phone and other items all totalling $14,000 while in the company of others and armed with a gun. He was remanded on the charges, but was again granted bail.

In 2018, while on bail, Blackman was again before the court.

This time, he was accused of robbing a woman who was held up with a toy gun. The victim was allegedly trailed from a commercial bank at Diamond Housing Scheme, to a shop in the same community. She was relieved of $50,000.

Singh was sentenced in 2017 for robbing an East Bank Demerara business of just over $20M in cash and articles.

From page 14 attacker more than once on his cellular phone, and it was also the said rank who kept suggesting to him that he and the businessman meet and trash out their issues.

The injured man who suffered abrasions about the body is angry that the police will try to influence him to settle a matter against his wishes. He is accusing ranks of being in collusion with the businessman to write off the matter. He said his attacker is very wealthy and is known to settle matter by way of cash whenever he creates a problem in the village.

Up to press time yesterday, the La Grange Police Station had still not made contact with the young man, according to

40

his parents.

C h e t r a m ’s mother reported that the businessman has been boasting in the village that ‘he is a boss’, hinting that they can take the matter to court if they wished.

When the La Grange Police Station was c o n t a c t e d y e s t e r d a y, a male rank said he was not at liberty to speak on the matter but directed the call to a senior male rank who was very rude. He retorted that the police needed to be left to deal with matters that needed time to be dealt with.

When the rank was asked if the businessman has been contacted or arrested, he bluntly refused to comment on the matter, saying such information is confidential.

PAGE 16

Sunday August 04, 2019

Kaieteur News

Marine Training Centre to provide international standard training for oil and gas locally After six years of successfully providing International standard training in Angola, Operatec Marine & Industrial Training Centre is now bringing its services to Guyana for persons working on, or planning to work offshore.

Operatec Marine & Industrial Training Centre was created and launched in Luanda, Angola in 2013, with the objective to provide HSE and Technical training for the Oil & Gas Industry. Among its mandate also is to develop competency in emergency response skills for employees to handle dangerous situations both on-board offshore and onshore hazardous work environments onshore.

OMITC is a new segment of Operatec group and it was founded in 2013 to provide HSE and Technical training for the Oil & Gas segment.

The strategy is by way of supporting manpower activities with a continuous competency and skills development of their valuable work force. The centre also develops training based on the Company’s Safety Standards and Operations. The local training base is located at 156 Charlotte Street, Lacytown,

From left are Operatec Marine & Industrial Training Centre’s Business Development Manager, Lester Woolward, and Safety Training Supervisor, Milton Figueiredo, who are here in Guyana to conduct training.

G e o r g e t o w n (www.operatec.gy) The entity is offering several training courses.

Amongst them is the introductory training programme which is designed to introduce the fundamental safety

elements to persons new to the oil and gas industry, giving an appreciation of the potential hazards and controls they may encounter on and offshore.

Course Contents include in depth training in the areas

of Introduction to the Hazardous Environment, Working Safely, Risk Assessment , Permit to Work, Manual Handling, Controlling the use of Hazardous Substances, Working at Heights, and Mechanical Lifting.

No prior skills are required for participation in this programme. Written tests are conducted to show delegates’ understanding of subject content.

Courses will include Fire Fighting Training & Self Rescue Awareness (based on OPITO standards) which aims to introduce delegates to the specific safety issues and regimes relevant to initial fire

response an on/offshore installations.

Delegates will undertake instruction and gain knowledge in the subject areas of Introduction, Triangle of Combustion, Methods of Extinction and how Fire Spreads, Classification of Fire Gas Detectors, Correct use of hand held portable fire extinguishers and which ones to use for different classes of fires.

Self-rescue technique with a smoke hood from areas where visibility is reduced due to smoke is another category in this area of training.

The Hydrogen Sulphide/ SCBA Awareness course is aimed at introducing participants to the specific safety issues and regimes relevant to initial fire response on/offshore installations.

Trainees will also be taught the Types of detector equipment, Types of respiratory equipment, and how to Pre-use checks of personal detection devices and EBA. The ‘Lock Out Tag Out’ (LOTO) course is a training programme based on OSHA Standards to define concepts, actions and responsibilities for energy sources lock, ensuring that in carrying out work with machinery, equipment and facilities, they are fully de-energized, regulate use, and guard multiple use of keys that would restrict access in some specific operations, such as machine settings, and manoeuvres in high voltage cubicles.

Course Contents entail Objectives of LOTO and How the LOTO is generated, Us-

ing a LOTO and why important is Personnel roles and Responsibility under LOTO and disciplinary action. The Confined Space Awareness Course is set to create awareness of hazards, precautions, and the regulations associated with confined spaces; it will be especially helpful for those workers whose jobs are related to permit required confined spaces.

Another available course is dubbed ‘Dangerous Good Awareness’, which is designed to provide delegates with a general awareness and insight into the roles and responsibilities of being able to recognize the UN classification system, and accident and incident procedures, as stated in the course content.

The Fire Watch Awareness Course is necessary since Workers assigned as fire watch are the first line of defense in protecting other workers and property from harm during hot work.

Hot work includes any activity involving welding, burning, grinding or use of power-actuated tools or similar fire-or spark producing operations. Participants will be trained on, Legal requirement, Responsibilities and duties of a fire watcher, to know what is meant by the term Hot Work, Safe Systems of Work, Being aware of the actions to be taken prior to work commencing, and to have an understanding of the variations of fire permits.

Of importance also in this course are subject areas of Gas Testing, and Training to handle the fire extinguisher.

Indigenous pensioner “Mamai Lucille” driven out of home by miners A photo of the destroyed farm

A pensioner of Karisparu Village in Region Eight, Mamai Lucille Williams, has reportedly been victimised by miners, and driven out of her home.

According to a letter dated November 18, 2018 from the Karisparu Village Council, three policemen (names not given); a Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) officer, Kimpton Fortune; and a miner named Andrew

Stanislaus, chopped down her house post, threw her belongings out of her house, and destroyed her farm.

They were reportedly given instructions to do so by the claim holders, P.V. Nicholson and R.P. Remy.

The Karisparu Village Council is requesting that GGMC cease the miners permit (Continued on page 71)

Sunday August 04, 2019

PAGE 17

Kaieteur News

Stabroek Block discoveries spark re-sequencing of CGX work programme for Corentyne Block

By Kiana Wilburg

I

nitially, CGX Resources Inc. (CRI) was scheduled to drill one exploration well on the Corentyne Block. After this, the Canadian based operator would have proceeded with seismic processing.

But following two major oil discoveries by ExxonMobil on the northern edge of the Stabroek Block which kisses the corners of CGX's Corentyne Block, some resequencing of the latter's work programme has been done.

It was only yesterday that CGX Energy Inc., the parent company of CGX Resources Inc., made the announcement that it will pursue a re-sequenced programme.

CGX explained that last February, it had intended to use US$11.2 million from a rights offering to drill the Utakwaaka well

by November 27, 2019. Kaieteur News understands that this well would have been drilled almost in the middle of the Corentyne Block.

The firm noted however that the new programme which received Government's approval, will instead, utilise the US$11.2M to complete a seismic survey at the northern region of the Corentyne Block by November 27, 2019.

Professor Suresh Narine The balance of funds would be used for the company's resequenced exploration well to be drilled by November 27, 2020 on the Corentyne Block.

CGX said that this resequencing will not change the company's overall work commitment on the Corentyne Block, and may also involve other related projects, but should better position it in the long-term.

CGX said that the benefit of the re-sequenced work programme, which allows seismic assessment to be conducted over the northern region of the Corentyne Block before drilling of an exploration well, is that it will allow the company to gain a more complete

Map showing the location of CGX's Corentyne Block and the proximity of two ExxonMobil discoveries technical understanding of the Corentyne Block and in particular, its northern sector.

The Company further stated,

“Given recent large discoveries in an adjacent block, which provides a strong indication that hydrocarbons have migrated into the northern

region of the Corentyne Block, this seismic assessment will allow CRI to more comprehensively evaluate (continued on page 70)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 18

Sunday August 04, 2019

“There's no secret ingredient to a long life” - says Sister Agnes who turns 104 today

By Trishan Craig “There's no secret ingredient to a long life; it is all in your mind,” says Sister Agnes Clarke of 149 Lodge Housing Scheme, Georgetown. She is celebrating 104 years of life today.

Sitting in her bedroom in a pretty purple, cotton dress, the very humble and open

woman was more than eager to share what she remembers about her life. Despite having a challenge of hearing clearly and a shortage in memory, Sister Agnes had much to share.

Agnes Iris Clarke was born on August 4, 1915 in the village of Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara. She is the eldest of 10 children and has since outlived her siblings

who according to her, died young. She never married, however, she has twin daughters and a son along with many grandchildren.

Education was a challenge in her home because of financial issues.

“I attended the Lodge School, then the Ketley Primary School. For a secondary education, I went to Robert Hart School but I

had a lot of moving around in school and I eventually had to leave because of financial issues.”

She later moved to Georgetown after quitting school to start up her own family. She would still return to Den Amstel to visit her parents and siblings.

Nevertheless, she favoured her moments in school. She recounted that

Sister Agnes Clarke she had to catch the steamer to reach to school once she lived across the river. On one occasion, she fell into the water as she was attempting to exit the boat.

“I nearly drowned but somebody jumped in and save me. I guess it is true when they say if you're not supposed to die a certain way, it won't happen.”

She added that her father spent almost the whole week away from home and would only return on weekends.

However, her mother played a major role ensuring that she and her siblings studied their schoolwork.

Growing up, Sister Agnes loved to climb trees and play all sorts of games in her neighbourhood.

“Nobody could have beat me to climb up a tree or run. I was always climbing a tree, except the tall ones.”

“One time I tried to climb a tall tree and it was nice going up but when time reach to come down, I didn't know how to. Steady people used to tell me to stop climbing but I always up in a tree.”

According to the centenarian, she had many brothers so they played cricket a lot. When her father returned home, it was a jolly time in the neighbourhood for the kids because he would always return with goodies for them.

She stated that her father had a 'bow foot' so if they were playing in the streets when he comes home they would run to him and pass through his legs. “My father was a friend to almost all the children around him because he would bring back things for us and we liked running through his foot like an

arch.” Finding a job back then was a challenge said Sister Agnes. Starting out, she had to do domestic work for private individuals.

Although she was the eldest sibling and her mother took them to the markets to sell provisions, Ms. Clarke learnt sewing from a seamstress in her area and she took up the profession.

“When my younger siblings got old enough to go with my mother to the markets, I decided to look for another source of income. I got a job at the clothing factory where I sewed for them.”

“When my twin got big, it was difficult to find footwear for both of them so I used to sew a top for a shoe and then take it to the shoeman to find a bottom. You better believe it, soon after that the shoe-man started using that remedy in his business.”

As a result of Ms. Clarke having trouble walking since a year ago, she spends most of her time in her bedroom and another room in the upper flat of her home.

Apart from visits by friends and family daily, she has a number of books around her bed, which she reads to occupy her time.

Family members assist her to move to other parts of the house when necessary.

She mentioned, “I don't feel a certain way because I outlived my generation but what I can say is that it is not easy especially how I can't walk for long periods as compared to before.”

To d a y f r i e n d s a n d brethren from her church will gather along with family members to celebrate the life of Sister Agnes.

Sunday August 04, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Mission Chapel Congregational Church celebrates 200 years this month

Sunday August 04, 2019 The Mission Chapel Congregational Church in New Amsterdam

A proud symbol of African history

T

he Mission Chapel Congregational Church, situated at Main and Chapel Streets, New Amsterdam, is one of Guyana's oldest churches, which is situated at Chapel Street, New Amsterdam Berbice, the Church is celebrating its 200th anniversary this month.

A special week of activities from Sunday August 11 in observance of the historic occasion has been organised. A special service has been planned for Sunday and President David Granger has been invited.

The story of Mission Chapel ties in with the significance of Guyana Emancipation celebration

by African Slaves.

The man credited with the founding of the church, is English Missionary, Reverend John Wray.

Reverend Wray whose arrival to Guyana marked the beginning of Congregationalism, landed in Demerara on Saturday, February 6, 1808. He first established Bethel

Chapel on Post's Estate and started a successful mission among the slaves.

In those days, the planters were reluctant to let the slaves receive religious education, because they feared that the slaves would become wise and rebel. Towards the end of 1812, in the then separate Colony of Berbice, a number of estates belonging to the English Crown the slaves on these estates were known as “Crown Slaves�.

Their conditions were horrible with no clothing and the most miserable huts to dwell in.

In 1813, Rev Wray established the Orange Chapel Church at Sandvoort. Wray continued his work among the enslaved population and began holding services in temporary buildings. He made several attempts to secure permanent accommodation, but his efforts were thwarted by the owners.

In 1818, he purchased Lot 12 of the first empolder of the town of

New Amsterdam and commenced holding services under a tamarind tree. The purchase transaction was completed on December 31, 1818 and work on a permanent building started. The first Mission Chapel was completed and consecrated in February 1819.

During 1822, the Mission Chapel Congregational School was built and the church was enlarged.

In August 1823, both Church and School were destroyed as a result of arson.

A second Mission Chapel building was completed and rededicated on June 12, 1825. The building eventually became too small.

The foundation of the third and present Mission Chapel was laid in 1841 during the ministry of the Rev Ebenezer Davies, the son-in-law of Rev Wray. The church was designated a monument in 1966.

The church comes alive during August when its anniversary is usually celebrated. The pastor is

Rev Tyrone Sulker with assistance f r o m R e v e r e n d Wi n i f r e d Haywood, the current Mayor of New Amsterdam.

The church has several ministries including a Diaconate, a Sunday school, Women's Union, Prayer Group, Youth Fellowship, etc.

The members are on a mission to preserve the church and ensure the survival of the physical structure.

The Mission Chapel Church, a church rich in its history, was a place of refuge and worship for the African ancestors during a time of oppression. (Samuel Whyte)

Kaieteur News

Shonella

Sunday August 04, 2019

This week’s beauty is one of the stunning models attached to Image Model Management who goes by the name Shonella. Her make-up was done by the Glam Squad Alana Desouza while her jewellery was provided by Kraftia’s. Her photograph was taken by the talented Devon Melville Derail Photography.

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

PAGE 22

Sunday August 04, 2019

Blazing a life-saving trail,

Dr. Azim Gangji is a ‘Special Person’

By Sharmain Grainger

W

hat started out as a routine visit by a medical practitioner to volunteer his expertise to this developing country some nine years ago, has since morphed into a lifesaving quest with no end in sight. At the centre of this endeavour is Dr. Azim G a n g j i , a Tr a n s p l a n t Physician, Academic Clinician, and Professor of Medicine at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada.

Through an invitation from Guyana-born Vascular Surgeon, Dr. Budhendra D o o b a y, w h o h i m s e l f offered his services for many years at McMaster too, Dr. Gangji made the journey to these shores to help set up a dialysis unit at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation [GPHC] back in

2010. It was while sharing his expertise there that he came across a man who Dr. Gangji recalled was in a “profound state of kidney failure”.

The young man, in his

way that this young man was even going to see his children grow into their teenage years. In fact, within days he could've been added to the country's renal failure mortality statistics.

“

You cannot say you are successful if you lose your patient within 10 years… we haven't been successful in that case. If a person dies within two years, we have failed. If the kidney is maintained beyond 10 years then it is a win, and if it is maintained for 15 years, then we can say, we have hit the standard.

early 20s, was already a family man, with two young children, but after observing his advanced state of kidney failure, it was clear to the physician that the future was not promising. There was no

”

“I could not offer him anything because of his advanced renal failure, all I could have told him was to get your life sorted out, because you may not be around much longer…that

With his ever-supportive wife

was the worse feeling ever,” Dr. Gangji recounted during an interview.

MORAL RESPONSIBILITY The interaction with that young man has remained etched in Dr. Gangji's mind, so much so that he wanted to give even more support to Guyana. This, of course, has duly earned him the privilege of being named our 'Special Person' this week.

With the blessings of his wife Shellina, and children Shyanna and Aidan who he oftentimes leave behind in Canada to come to Guyana, Dr. Gangji was able to become one of the key players who helped to set up the Annandale, East Coast Demerara-based Doobay Dialysis Centre, as an addition to the service offered at the GPHC. The East Coast facility has since developed into the Doobay Medical and Research Centre [DMRC] which offers so much more than dialysis, and Dr. Gangji's sees his unwavering support as his moral responsibility as a learnt physician, to help ensure that, as far as possible, people do not die prematurely.

Reflecting on the days before the Annandale Dialysis Centre really took off, Dr. Gangji recalled that patients were dying from acute kidney failure, a situation that should have never obtained. In fact, he revealed that depending on the type of disease a person is

Dr. Azim Gangji is a 'Special Person' inflicted with that causes them to develop renal failure, treatment could ensure that the symptoms are essentially reversed.

“They just need about eight to 10 weeks of support and they can recover, and it is only after they don't recover during this period that the condition becomes chronic and they have to start d i a l y s i s , ” D r. G a n g j i explained.

Although the lives of many patients have been prolonged through dialysis, which is offered at a very subsidized cost at DMRC, the brilliant physician had long recognised that this simply wasn't enough. He spoke of this even as he considered how the life of one of the Centre's patients was snuffed out recently after being on dialysis for the past nine years.

STRATEGIC COLLABORATION It was his acquaintance with such eventualities that caused him to support the DMRC's move to forge a strategic collaboration to

ramp up the treatment support for renal failure patients.

B a s e d o n American/Canadian/Europe an statistics which Dr. Gangji is privy to, about 40 percent of patients on dialysis survive a mere three to four years after they start this renal replacement therapy, and many do not even enjoy a good quality of life, since they are prone to infections and a gamut of complications that can lead to their premature demise.

There is no cure for renal failure, which in simple terms occurs when the kidneys become damaged and fail to perform their designated functions to filter the blood, remove waste, control the body's fluid balance, and keep the right level of electrolytes. Once a patient develops chronic renal failure, one of their first options for survival is dialysis, which, Dr. Gangji asserted, is only a short-term renal replacement therapy.

The form of dialysis that is common in this part of the (continued on page 59)

Guys time!

Kaieteur News

Sunday August 04, 2019

PAGE 23

Guyana went the full nine yards T

he worry about the Haitians is not so much about them coming, as their unexplained disappearance.

In other words, this is an immigration problem for which the relevant authorities have to be held accountable.

Haitians have been finding their way to the Caribbean, Latin America and North America. Haitians are moving into the Caribbean. They are moving also to Suriname, Guyana, Brazil and Chile. They are also travelling in large numbers to Mexico.

There are some 60,000 Haitians living in Brazil and those that go there require visas. With a far-right government in place, Brazil is likely to reduce the number of Haitians entering that country. As such, Haitians who are in that country illegally are likely to move to Guyana.

There is also a large Haitian community in Venezuela. And many of them are moving out of that country. Thousands are likely to come to Guyana

from that country.

Haitians have been backtracking from Suriname to Guyana. In September 2016, five Haitians nationals were arrested by the police for illegally entering Guyana from Suriname.

Guyana can also expect a flood of Haitians from other Caribbean states. Last year, Barbados joined Guyana in agreeing to a no visa policy for Haitians. This was after Caricom took a decision that Haitians, as citizens of a member state of the community, were entitled to 'no visa entry' into Caribbean states.

Guyana should take note of what has happened to Barbados. The government soon found that Haitians began to descend on Barbados in droves.

Barbados has two weekly flights out of Panama and what happened was that Haitians were filling those flights and arriving in Barbados. The situation reached a stage whereby the Barbados government has had to reverse its no visa policy towards Haitians.

Jamaica took a more

cautious approach. It decided to remove the visa requirement only for businesspersons from Haiti as well as those persons who have US, Canadian or Schengen visas.

Guyana, however, went the full nine yards. It liberalised travel from Haiti, granting an automatic six months stay for nationals from Haiti. And have Haitians been coming.

Thousands of Haitians have been coming to Guyana in recent times. No one knows to where the majority of them are disappearing.

This is a matter for which the immigration authorities must be held accountable.

It is unacceptable for any government to explain the missing Haitians by saying that they are seeking greener pastures. The laws of Guyana require that a person must leave Guyana, by air or by sea through an existing port. In relation to persons leaving by land, the Immigration Act requires that the person present himself or herself to an immigration officer.

The fact that thousands

of Haitians have been leaving Guyana without immigration controls should be a source of grave concern.

The police have been hauling persons before our Courts for entering Guyana illegally. Persons have been charged and deported for entering by land and not reporting to an immigration officer. Persons have been charged and deported for overstaying their entry.

It is mind-boggling that for a year now, Haitians have been coming in large numbers to Guyana and this has not raised red flags among our normally overzealous immigration authorities.

It is therefore worrying that the government seems

unperturbed by the fact that many Haitians are leaving without presenting themselves to immigration authorities. But are they really leaving? Are they victims of human t r a ff i c k i n g ? A n d w h o exactly is behind the movement of large number of Haitians?

Haitians have become the victims of immigration scams. Last January, 15 of them were left stranded in Barbados, after being told by crooks in Haiti that they could pay between US$2500 and US$3000 in order to remain and work in Barbados. When they arrived, they discovered that they were conned.

Most people seek

greener pastures. But, except for Mexico, most people do not go to other people's countries legally and then leave illegally.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 24

Sunday August 04, 2019

BREXIT's effect on Caribbean tourism

By Sir Ronald Sanders

C

aribbean persons interacting with British tourists, apart from the super-rich, should be mindful that if these visitors appear reluctant to part with their money, or demand better value, it's because they're spending a much-devalued UK currency.

In the first week since Boris Johnson took the reins of the British government on July 24, the pound dropped 1.3% against the US dollar, bringing its value to US$1.22. In July alone, the sterling lost 4.3% of its worth, making it the worst performing major currency in the world.

Fortunately for Caribbean countries whose tourism industry is reliant on British visitors, holidays for

this summer and the winter of 2019-2020 have already been booked and paid.

Therefore, there is unlikely to be a major decline in numbers for these periods.

However, there will be an immediate drop in the amount of money that is spent.

Traditionally, UK and European visitors spend a longer time on vacation and spend more than tourists from the US and Canada.

But, with the value of their money reduced, British visitors will spend less this summer and next winter.

This will have an impact on all Caribbean countries, particularly those that have a great dependence on UK holidaymakers.

This situation is a direct result of the uncertainty that surrounds Britain and the other 27 nations of the European Union (EU)

reaching a mutually satisfactory deal on BREXIT - the UK's divorce from the EU - by the deadline of October 31.

The prospect of such a deal has grown more remote since Mr. Johnson became Prime Minister. He has made it clear that he expects the EU negotiators to compromise. If they don't, he will take Britain out of the EU with no deal on crossborder access for goods, services and people, and no settled arrangements for how Britain will meet costs arising from treaty obligations. The latter costs have been estimated at £39 billion.

H o w e v e r, t h e E U negotiators have shown no sign of relenting from the deal they settled with Johnson's predecessor, Theresa May, that the UK

parliament rejected for varying reasons, including a “back stop” on the border between Ireland (a EU member) and Northern Ireland (part of the UK).

The back stop is meant to make sure that the Irish border remains open whatever the outcome of the negotiations between the UK and the EU over their future relationship. The hard line Brexiteers, including Johnson, want the back stop scrapped, for fear that it could become legally permanent.

Representatives of several sectors of the UK economy have expressed alarm at the prospect of no deal with the EU. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has warned that neither the UK nor the EU is ready for a no-deal BREXIT on 31 October.

"Although businesses have already spent billions on contingency planning for no deal, they remain hampered by unclear advice, timelines, cost and complexity," the CBI says.

Without a deal, Britain would have to trade with the E U o n Wo r l d T r a d e Organisation terms, making its exports and imports more costly.

The UK would render itself distinctively uncompetitive with the EU and others, including the US and China, that are concluding trade deals with other nations.

T h i s nervousness over no deal has shown itself in the currency markets in Britain. The pound has plunged to its lowest value since the 1980s. British middle-class consumers are certainly concerned about the increase in costs of holidays, but, more broadly, the entire population is troubled by the increase in their cost of living. The costs of imported goods will rise, as will the price of British manufactured goods and agricultural production that are reliant on imported inputs.

Of course, the British tourist industry should benefit. The greater value of every major currency against the pound would make it cheaper for persons worldwide to visit Britain.

But increased tourism earnings might not be enough to compensate for higher costs generally, including for hotels and restaurants. After all, travel and tourism contribute only 11 % of Britain's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Tourism planners in several Caribbean countries have been aware of the adverse impact of a looming and actual BREXIT. In Antigua and Barbuda, for instance, while the numbers of UK visitors increased in 2018 over 2017, the percentage of total tourists declined from 28.59% to

Sir Ronald Sanders 26.52%.

This BREXITinduced decline has led Caribbean countries to increase their marketing efforts in other countries, particularly the US. The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Minister, Charles Fernandez has initiated a strategy with the hotels on the island to settle arrangements with US carriers and tour operators to boost the numbers of US visitors to compensate for any further decline in UK tourists arising from a “no deal” BREXIT. A more intensive approach to getting tourists from other markets is also required by those Caribbean countries where UK tourists comprise the largest single number of visitors. But, since almost all their economies have a high reliance on tourism, they should also maintain an active marketing presence in the UK which, even after BREXIT, will still be among the top 10 economies in the world.

The World Data Atlas shows eight Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries among the fifteen (continued on page 57)

Sunday August 04, 2019

PAGE 25

Kaieteur News

---Hinds’ Sight by Dr. David Hinds---

Thoughts on Oil and Gas Vision, Irfaan Ali and Power Sharing Today, I want to address three related issues.

First, I wish to argue that although ethnicity remains the overriding motivation for choosing who governs, there is likely to be a slight but significant difference in the upcoming election. The big difference that would be forced on political parties is this: they would have to convince a small but important segment of the population that they are worthy of their vote.

The coming Oil and Gas economy compels the parties to put a vision before the voters—people want to know how they would benefit from the expected wealth.

In my interaction I have encountered a group of mainly young people across social class, gender, and to a lesser extent, ethnicity, who are so alienated from the political parties, they are threatening not to vote at the next election. Their main complaint is that the political parties when in office have not implemented large overarching policies that have had the effect of improving their material circumstances.

Though most of them acknowledge some general improvements under the Coalition, they think these have not been enough. In light of the above, I think both the PPP and the Coalition have to work harder than usual for those extra votes they would need to secure a majority.

They have to do more retail politics by meeting people in

small groups and reason with them rather than just talk at them.

The big question for both political forces is this: Convince us why we should give our vote to you in light of your failure to bring about big transformation of the political economy. It follows, therefore, that appeal to the ethnic fears will not automatically work among this group of voters.

My sense is that the parties would have to tell them of their vision for the coming oil and gas economy, and how the various sections of the population fit into that vision. This means that for the first time in Guyana, policy would play an important role in the elections, largely because of the imminent oil and gas economy. The parties run the risk of losing important votes if they ignore that reality.

In relation to Oil and Gas, there have been suggestions from the Coalition about using the wealth to improve infrastructure and education, and also the setting up of the Sovereign Wealth Fund. The other side has criticised the contract and flayed the Coalition for a lack of vision.

The truth is that neither side has presented a clear comprehensive plan. The WPA has introduced the issue of Cash Transfers to households, which has been very popular among the poorer sections of the society, but the two major forces have yet to address it in a frontal manner. The side that

advances a more comprehensive plan that speak to the varied needs of the people would convince more of the skeptical voters.

Now to the persistent question of a Government of National Unity. Some political forces, especially those around ANUG, continue to argue for power sharing as the solution to our political stalemate. I still believe that is the correct path in the long run. But while I do not think power sharing between the PPP and the Coalition parties is not unattainable, it has become more difficult.

I don’t think the PPP is interested in that option, largely because that party feels that it could win the next election by a wide margin, and because its leadership is generally steeped in the politics of domination. I think they have historically been more resistant to shared governance, given the majority or large minority Indian Guyanese vote.

The PNC is more open to Shared Governance, as is evident by its membership of APNU and the APNU+AFC Coalition. But even then, the PNC approaches the idea of Shared Governance in practice from the standpoint of Big-Party domination. In other words, it wants Shared Governance in principle, but undermines it in practice.

This attitude of the PPP and PNC makes it very difficult to sustain any Shared Governance experiment.

I don’t see in the short

The Baccoo Speaks A motorcyclist is going to be weaving in and out of traffic oblivious to the construction work going on in the city.

The darkness and the traffic would not help him. He is going to crash.

The authorities are going to describe the accident as senseless, especially in light of all the warnings. ** A homeowner is going to return suddenly to find

someone moving things out of his home.

He is going to raise an alarm and his neighbours would react.

The perpetrator would be

someone from the neighbourhood. He would be caught and beaten. ** A raid by the police or at least a drug enforcement agency would uncover a large quantity of cocaine.

They had been looking at the residence for some time.

The homeowner is going to contend that he was unaware of the illegal substance. It will be a large bust.

run how the two parties can function in the same government. One expects gridlock in all forms of government, including in Power Sharing ones. But if the PPP and PNC are in the same government there would be super-gridlock, because their relations are governed by zero-sum politics, with little room for consensus.

Having said the above, my sense is that there is now added pressure on the Coalition to demonstrate that power sharing. After all, that is the basis on which it won in 2015. But it is no secret that this is one area of weakness in its performance over the last four years.

I think there is still the perception and reality that the Coalition is the better option, simply because it is a coming together of several parties.

But for it to be a clincher at the coming election, there must be a commitment to improved management of the Coalition, to the satisfaction of all its member parties.

The last related issue I want to address is the controversy surrounding the PPP’s presidential candidate.

Is he strong enough? Is he a liability to the PPP? Even without the problems

surrounding his academic qualifications and the Pradoville issue, Ali is an unattractive candidate. He just does not fit the profile of the maximum leader.

So, he is bothersome for the PPP. That is why Jagdeo is giving him as much cover.

But I suspect that there are forces outside of the PPP who have insisted on his candidacy in exchange for campaign donations.

He is not really the PPP’s first choice; his candidacy is imposed on the PPP from outside. It’s hard to see how a Nandlall or Frank Anthony, who are superior candidates, would be enthusiastic about him on the campaign trail I think despite his problems, Irfaan Ali is not totally seen as damaged goods; certainly not to the PPP’s base. However, his candidacy weakens the PPP’s ability to reach across the divide, and he introduces some degree of uncertainty among the party’s soft voters.

But by the time we get to the election, the party’s top and second level leadership would rally around him, and this would put pressure among the skeptics among the base to do likewise. We live in an era in which political

Dr David Hinds morality is very low on the requirements for top leadership.

The Coalition should target him for special criticisms, but they would have to find a way to tailor that message to potential PPP voters.

That message cannot be framed in ridicule—that is for the Coalition’s base. Rather, it would have to appeal to the conscience of the voters.

Ridicule would be seen in ethnic terms, and that would have the opposite effect. His candidacy may yet prove to be the perfect gift to the Coalition.

More of Dr. Hinds’ writings and commentaries can be found on his YouTube Channel Hinds’ Sight: Dr. David Hinds’ GuyanaCaribbean Politics and on his w e b s i t e www.guyanacaribbeanpolitics.news.

Send comments to dhinds6106@aol.com

PAGE 26

Sunday August 04, 2019

Kaieteur News

ACP/EU Post Cotonou Negotiations: Slowed Pace

By Elizabeth Morgan KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC Feature) – The European Union (EU) Parliament approved Ursula von der Leyen, former German Defence Minister, as the new Commission President. Attention is now on nominating and approving the Commissioners.

The 27 nominees have to be approved by the EU Parliament in October. On July 22, Boris Johnson became leader of the Conservative Party and later Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (UK/Britain).

While the EU and Britain have been engrossed in selecting new political leadership, in Brussels, African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) and EU senior officials were continuing the post Cotonou negotiations as expected. Reports indicated that steady progress was being made on the ACP/EU foundation agreement.

There are, however, only about three settled areas. Inclusive sustainable economic growth and development and migration and mobility are sensitive areas now being negotiated.

Negotiations have still not commenced in several areas including the important one of development support. The EU wants to change the donor/ recipient relationship to one of partners.

The Union’s new long term budget for 2021-2027, not yet approved, is critical to these discussions. They are still expecting the budget to be approved by the European Council in October or December 2019.

At the political level, for the Caribbean ACP Forum (CARIFORUM), Guyana and Jamaica, you may recall, are the lead negotiators.

With the unsettled political situation in Guyana, Carl Greenidge, who now holds the title Foreign Secretary, will continue to be engaged in the post Cotonou negotiations. General elections are due in Guyana.

CARIFORUM has established a Regional Technical Advisory Group to support its negotiators.

On the CARIFORUM/ EU post Cotonou Regional Protocol, I understand that outlines were recently exchanged by the parties. So the regional negotiations have not fully commenced.

The negotiations on the foundation and regional agreements should be on parallel tracks.

One should not outpace the other.

My impression is that the Caribbean side is concerned about the slow pace of the

negotiations.

I believe that they have been affected by the political transition in the EU. In addition, the Caribbean may also be concerned that the EU is according less priority to their issues as its focus is on Africa.

The ACP/EU lead negotiators, Robert Dussey and Neven Mimica, should have had another stocktaking meeting in July before the summer break. I understand that this meeting was postponed.

It will most likely be held in September or October before Commissioner Mimica demits office.

As I indicated before, October will be a busy month in which a meeting of the ACP/ EU Trade Ministers Committee is usually held in Brussels; Brexit should happen following an EU Summit; and along with others, the new EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development should be approved by the EU Parliament.

I do not see the postCotonou negotiations resuming fully at the political level until after November 1 when the new EU Commissioners take office and the situation with Brexit is known.

The 110th ACP Council Meeting is scheduled to be held in November/December and could be an opportunity for ACP Ministers to meet new EU Commissioners.

In my previous article, I also mentioned that the negotiations would be extended and that transition measures were being put in place to roll-over the existing Cotonou Partnership Agreement after February 2020 when it expires as the new agreement would not be in place.

With all that is happening in the EU internally and with Britain and Brexit, I would not be surprised if the post-Cotonou negotiations were to continue up to May 2020 when the 111th ACP Council and 45th Joint ACP/EU Council of Ministers meetings should be held. Recall too that the ACP will have a new Secretary General on 1st March 2020.

So we will see how the negotiations unfold when work resumes in Brussels in about the second week of September.

(Eliza b e t h M o r g a n , who writes for CMC, is a specialist in international trade policy and international politics. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)

Sunday August 04, 2019

PAGE 27

Kaieteur News

==THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN==

Sadness the morning after T

wo weeks ago, I had a tiny argument with former generalsecretary of the AFC, Marlon Williams.

The theme of that disagreement I have faced every moment of my life since December 21, 2018, when I supported the yes vote of my good friend, Charrandass Persaud in the no-confidence motion (NCM).

Marlon, in response to my ongoing criticism of the APNU+AFC government, exclaimed that my stance is inexplicable, because if the PPP gets back in power, within weeks, their leaders will seek to oppress me.

One AFC youth activist ran down the railway embankment road where the AFC has its head office shouting to the top of his lungs that the PPP threw dirty things on Freddie, yet Freddie wants them back in power. This theme will visit me over and over until the results of the next election.

I have done several columns as to why I supported what Charran did.

Here is yet another article that explains my position.

I did not support the NCM because Charran is my friend.

I did not support the NCM because I want the PPP back in office. I will not vote for the PPP. I endorsed Charran’s action because I want to see a government that does not possess winner-take-all hegemony. A majority win for the PPP gives Guyana the same type of governance as the PPP displayed for 23 years. A majority win for APNU+AFC gives Guyana another winnertake-all regime.

I embraced Charran’s vote because for three years, six months, with eyes wide open, I saw that the 2015 election result did not change the type of governance we had under the PPP. Charran’s yes vote opened up endless possibilities of having a government, after new elections, that will have its power tamed, because it will be a minority authority.

For this, I thank Charran.

You have your right to see it another way.

I see a minority government coming, and that regime will be forced to make concessions that will be positive in terms of the reshaping of how governance is used.

The Guyanese people

must never forget it was a minority presidency that eventually led to the victory of APNU+AFC. The 2015 dispensation took on a winner-take-all formula, and as a result Charran intervened.

I guess this will not be the last time before the next election that I will adumbrate the reasons for my acceptance of the NCM. Now let’s return to the constant theme in my life since the NCM. I agreed with Marlon that if the PPP wins again, I could be a victim of repression.

But I asked Marlon a question that he didn’t answer, and there were many mutual friends witnessing the argument.

Why am I supposed to silence my pen and voice over terrible governance because if I don’t the PPP will get back in office? I told Marlon then I become a prisoner - not through the coercion of another hand, but through my own sycophancy.

Well let me tell Marlon and so many others that I am told criticise me on their Facebook pages (I don’t have a Facebook account) - not this citizen. Not now, not ever.

Below are two more of the millions of reasons why I thank Charran for what he has done.

The morning after the Thursday holiday (Friday), I left early for the seawall to walk my dog.

I noticed that many of the vending structures were gone and in place was a sign that prohibits vending. Even Robeson Benn with all his arrogance never moved seawall vendors from that particular spot.

And who moved them?

Minister David Patterson, who just bought the latest Land Cruiser model. In a conversation, the offspring of a senior minister in the presence of political aide to Minister Ramjattan, Dianne Rajkumar; Ogle airport engi-

neer, Raymond Persaud; AFC youth activist, Arnold Suhkraj and small businessman Timol Huggins, said with GRA duty, he estimates the Land Cruiser to be about 60 million. Of course duty would be waived.

The item is the minister’s personal vehicle.

After leaving the seawall, I visited Bounty Supermarket in Kitty. Opposite Bounty is the post office.

The first of the month is when our over- 65 seniors go to collect their pension.

The APNU+AFC government tore down the old twostorey post office and replaced it with a structure, sixty feet by seventy feet.

This in my opinion is a large dog kennel. I watched as a deluge of pensioners had no place to sit.

Frederick Kissoon On South Road, the government rents a three-level building for millions monthly to house the gaming authority. If I was younger, I would have started a revolution in Guyana. But anyway, thank you Charran. You will always be my friend.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)

PAGE 28

Sunday August 04, 2019

Kaieteur News

Celebrate freedom by strengthening our Entrepreneurial spirit The Alliance For Change takes this splendid opportunity to link with all Guyana, and celebrate as one, the Emancipation of our African foreparents 181 years ago. The passage of the Abolition Act in 1833 and the eventual freeing of enslaved

people around 1838 was the final episode in that chapter that has smeared the history of this world. Slavery has been designated one of the most heinous acts of domination and exploitation of man by man.

The enslavement of 12.5

Millions of human beings over 400 years, began with the forced extraction of African peoples from their homeland – a whole continent. These people were captured, tortured, transported in sardine can-like conditions through the Middle Passage

(Africa to North and South America and the Caribbean, with one trip lasting for several months), then sold like cattle to be bound, beaten and otherwise assaulted, scarred, children taken away, re-sold, killed for learning to read, and forced to work for no wages for the rest of their lives.

This is why we celebrate Emancipation every year.

In the words of Guyana’s best renowned historian, Dr. Winston McGowan: “The overwhelming majority of slaves never accepted the system of slavery with equanimity.

They accommodated it or adjusted to it when they felt they had to, and resisted it when they had the opportunities to do so”.

It is the same spirit that lives in the breasts of descendants, generation through generation. This is the spirit that marks the path we walk, run, and overcome.

This is the spirit that must revive: that need for entrepreneurship.

According to Dr. McGowan: “By 1800 Berbice and Demerara-Essequibo, whose economic growth had long been stifled, had become the second largest producer of sugar in the British West Indies; the largest producer of cotton in the British Empire; and the greatest producer of raw cotton in the entire world”. While all of these industries have waned in this brave new world of high technology, Guyanese now have brand new frontiers to learn from, to earn from, and to educate our children to move on forward.

Wherever we go and whatever we do is on the immense contributions made to this nation by our foreparents - African slaves and every grouping of indentured labour that came to these shores. The slaves first built our major canals and punt trenches with bare

hands in the broiling equatorial sun, and in pelting rain. We can picture them knee-deep then shoulderdeep in the hard-packed mud of the Vlissengen Road Canal, Church St, Waterloo St, Carmichael St, Camp St, Sussex St. and Lamaha St. canals, whips on their backs.

But they prevailed with a certain pride in accomplishment.

Many believe that it was the entrepreneurial spirit that lived and breathed in those newly freed Afro-Guyanese in 1838 that spurred them towards their new beginnings. On 7 November 1839, 78 freed men and 5 freed women from 5 East Coast plantations – Ann’s Grove, Dochfour, Enmore, Hope and Paradise – walked 18 miles to Georgetown, pushing a wheel barrow of coins amounting to 10,000 Guilders, their savings that were hidden in the earth.

Within 15 days, they paid another 20,000 Guilders to the owners of Plantation Northbrook, a former cotton plantation measuring 500 acres, and they renamed it Victoria Village. This was the first piece of real estate in British Guiana to be owned by free slaves.

COURAGE, FORTITUDE AND MARTYRDOM The Constitution of Guyana pays homage to the “indomitable spirit and unconquerable will” of our African forefathers who, “by their sacrifices, their blood and their labour” bequeathed to us this dear land. It salutes those “immortal leaders who, in the vanguard of battle, kept aloft the banner of freedom by the example of their courage, their fortitude and their martyrdom”.

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, in his Emancipation message this year said: “I ask that our people of African origin continue to forge alongside every other Guyanese, a common identity, and

strengthen our resolve to keep on building a strong and united Guyana”.

He said, “I exhort you to guard our freedom, to protect the gains of our historic and contemporary struggles, to keep alive the dreams of our ancestors for the good life. I ask you to ensure that our Nation remains in safe hands by keeping your full confidence in David Arthur Granger as President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana”.

FREE EDUCATION TO BE RESTORED The world today is powered by Technology, and Guyana is in no position to continue to stroll into this 21st Century. Speed is the key – to install infrastructure everywhere in the country (satellite dishes, LTE networks, fibre optic networks) that connects to every community and village; ensure that every child has access to the Internet; and to encourage young and old to learn things digital, e.g. animation, music, gaming, robotics and software creation like graphic and website design.

From the day that this Coalition Government took office, President Granger made a public promise to open every door and corridor leading to the restoration of free education for Guyanese children. Well, he has done it.

Last week, in observance of the 181st anniversary of Emancipation, the President announced that free Education with be reinstituted shortly in keeping with our Constitution (Article 27) which says that Education should be delivered free of charge.President Granger said, “Emancipation means i n d e p e n d e n c e …

Emancipation means Education”. It was education that unlocked opportunities which freed African descendants from their cycle of inter-generational poverty.

Guyana has declared the decade 2020 to 2029 as the decade for the development of all citizens. It is meant to protect citizens’ entitlement to Free Education from Nursery to University.

Guyanese, we have yet another mandate, i.e. to never again accept inequality, inhumanity or racism in our lives. Guyana’s future is too bright to allow selfish people to squander it!

Happy 181st Emancipation Anniversary!

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)

Sunday August 04, 2019

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

My column

The talk is about oil and the Haitians In recent times attention has been divided on the happenings in the oil industry and on the impending elections.

An immigration issue is impacting the conversation about the elections.

A report that Haitians are coming to Guyana in large numbers has fuelled the conversation that the government is bringing the Haitians to pad the voters’ list. Indeed the records show that the Haitians are coming in large numbers, but so too are the Cubans.

The difference is that more of the Cubans are returning. The conclusion is that they come either to shop or to uplift visas from the United States embassy.

The Haitians are coming on return tickets, but there is no evidence that they are leaving. The conclusion arrived at by the armchair politicians is that the Cubans are in Guyana, particularly in the city. However, such numbers cannot hide in the city, simply because of the language difference.

If the Haitians are Englishspeaking, then there would be the accent that would differentiate them from Guyanese. I have not encountered any Haitian in the city, and many people would make the same comment.

Then there is the puzzle of a people leaving their country simply to vote in a Guyana election. For starters, this is a costly exercise, unless the Guyana Government is spending a lot of money to bring in these people, and more money to accommodate them.

What the news reports have sparked are comments about racism. I try to avoid comments about racism, since it is viewed in some quarters that my comments reflect the views of the newspaper. I do not understand that determination, especially when I support my arguments by facts.

Perhaps I am not supposed to make my views public. Perhaps I should not hold any political views. Having said that, though, I must say that some make the point that people of every race group come to Guyana for a variety of reasons.

We have the Chinese coming in large numbers and not leaving. But the people of Guyana do not see the Chinese having an impact on the elections, since they are believed to remain neutral.

I remember when large numbers of Indians came to Guyana for the construction of the National Stadium at Providence. Again, there was talk that the then government was bringing Indians to pad the voters’ list. That was not the case.

We know that the Haitians are a migratory people,

largely because of their desire to escape the harsh conditions in their country.

Scarcely a day goes by without reports of Haitians trying to enter the United States via Miami using some dangerous methods.

The truth which has been acknowledged by many is that the Haitians are using Guyana as a springboard to neighbouring countries. And there is evidence.

For example, they have been spotted crossing into Suriname, and in Lethem. Observers see them walking across into Brazil at nights, checking with the federal authorities there.

The fact that Guyana is being touted as an oil-producing nation would attract immigrants. Guyanese themselves know that they have left this country in droves for the United States and Canada in search of a better life. Many went to Trinidad and not a few went to Venezuela. As a matter of fact, many of those who lived in Venezuela are coming home. There was a claim that Venezuelans were being registered. It turned out that while the people may have sounded like Venezuelans, they were Guyanese.

Meanwhile, ExxonMobil has increased its determination of Guyana’s oil reserves.

At one time, Guyana’s reserves in the Stabroek block were put at five billion barrels.

Now that estimate has gone up to six billion barrels.

At the same time ExxonMobil is making money even before it brings up its first barrel. It reported that for the second quarter it earned US$3.1 billion. That has put Guyana in the position of holding some lottery numbers which it played repeatedly but

failed to win the jackpot.

It gave those numbers to ExxonMobil and that company won the bonanza.

Guyana is getting some money from all that is going on but nothing close to what is being harvested by the investors. And this is getting some locals annoyed.

The truth is that when Exxon came others were leaving. They were convinced that Guyana was barren. Shell, one of the companies that was here, actually sold its share in the Stabroek block for one dollar. I can imagine the fallout. People were sacked for throwing away a goldmine.

At the same time the locals are cashing in. House prices are going through the roof because the oil people want homes. They are going to be here for the long haul.

Waterfront properties are being sold or rented for a fortune. People are getting richer.

From my vantage point I also see some of that money trickling into the economy. Roads are being built and others have been upgraded.

The road upgrades had already begun, but information from the Guyana Revenue Authority is reporting increased revenue collection with a large portion coming from the oil sector. I can understand that there would be less borrowing to undertake infrastructure development.

But this is not to say that the oil money has fuelled the infrastructure development.

Oil training classes are being opened and students are joining. The students could be among the money earners in the not too distance future. Yet the education system is not producing enough academics to take advantage

of the situation.

These classes were initiated by private people.

Ramps, a Trinidad company, was among the first. Only recently Exxon began to fund some training, largely on-thejob training.

The Haitians are not known to be qualified in oil and gas, so those who are coming are not expected to

grab jobs in the oil sector unless those are the lower paying jobs.So the conversation in the coming days will be focused on the oil sector and the Haitians coming to Guyana and disappearing.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)

Adam Harris

PAGE 30

Sunday August 04, 2019

Kaieteur News

Free education from nursery to university will be a game changer

I

n a few months Guyana will be a pe troleum-producing country. This will have a transformative effect on all of our lives. However, the question being asked by the average Guyanese is; what does all of this mean and how will I benefit?

First, don’t be fooled by the preachers of ‘doom and gloom’, the future outlook for Guyana is bright.

With world class amounts of oil and gas to be extracted from our Exclusive Economic Zone – EEZ - Guyana is poised for an economic takeoff.

In an address to the National Assembly on October 18, 2018 President David Granger was correct when he said that oil production will be the most transformative economic development in our history. With production just months away, the APNU +AFC government has taken steps to ensure that the revenues accrued from this sector will not be squandered but, instead, will be invested strategically in building hu-

man and institutional capacity, our infrastructural deficit, and providing economic security for future generations.

Speaking to a massive crowd of more than five thousand Guyanese assembled at Union Village on the Corentyne on August 1, 2019; President Granger iterated that priority will be given to investments in our human capital, especially our public education system.

The President said; “We have a plan which will ensure that the forthcoming decade will be a “decade of development” for all Guyanese that will place emphasis on education: Every citizen has a right to education.

This is a basic entitlement of all children. Free education is an entitlement mandated by our Constitution [Article 27] which states: “Every citizen has the right to free education from nursery to university ….”

The President went on to say that our expected petroleum revenues will help us to restore free education in ac-

cordance with the injunction of our Constitution at the primary, secondary and university levels.

There are those who are so dishonest that they peddle misinformation meant to distort and downplay the bright future that lies ahead. Make no mistake, Guyana today is a country whose economic prospects are bright.

A field of unprecedented opportunities lies before us.

The opportunities for engineers to build the roads and bridges to open up our vast hinterland, linking our country east and west and to develop schemes to exploit our hydro-electric potential; the opportunity for geologists to develop our bauxite, manganese, diamond, gold, and quarrying resources; the opportunity for biologists, botanists, zoologists and agriculturists to expand food production; the opportunity to improve Information Communication Technologies – ICT and human learning; the opportunity for manufacturers, shippers, builders to drive our economy forward at a faster

rate.

These opportunities can only be achieved by people with a first-class education.

These opportunities can only be achieved by the creation of an ‘education nation’.

In his address on Emancipation Day, President Granger’s announcement that our expected oil revenues would help to restore free education from nursery to university was prescient, for he knows and he has acknowledged on several occasions that education is an entitlement. Free education from nursery to university will be a game changer.

As part of his vision for the education transformation after first oil, the President laid out the following vision; In every village, there must be a school.

The ‘Decade of development’ will ensure that there is at least one primary school in every village.

East Berbice-Corentyne, with a population of 110,000 persons, has 135 villages but only 53 primary schools with 11,000 students.

In every school, there must be a place for every child. Every Guyanese child must have easy access to school by road or river.

The Public Education Transportation Service (PETS) (known as the 3Bs initiative) was also launched four years ago. Our expected petroleum revenues will extend and expand it. Twentynine buses, twelve boats and more than 1,400 bicycles have been distributed so far under PETS, to make it easier for children to attend school.

In every school, science, technology, engineering and mathematics must be taught.

The Public Education system will continue to equip students for the knowledgebased societies of the future.

It will expand the National Endowment for Science and Technology (NEST) which, over the past four years, has been providing grants for the improvement of school’s science laboratories.

The ‘Decade’ will expand the Guyana Youth Corps to ensure that boys and girls who leave school without

matriculating – from the coastland and hinterland – are given an opportunity to be trained to re-enter the world of work.

The APNU+AFC government is creating a 21st century nation. Our education policy aims at providing Guyanese with the knowledge, skills and values to become productive citizens in the economy of the future.

We will build an education nation . We will use or revenues from the petroleum sector to bring our people together in a knowledge society. We will use our resources to repel the dark forces of poverty, hatred and oppression that threaten to pull us apart.

Ours will be an education nation, where intelligence prevails over ignorance, cooperation over confrontation and national integration over communal disintegration.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)

Sunday August 04, 2019

PAGE 31

Kaieteur News

Concussion: The unnoticed head injury that can cause long term disability

By Dr Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine A concussion is an injury to the brain that results in temporary loss of normal brain function. It is usually caused by a blow to the head. In many cases, there are no external signs of head trauma.

Many people assume that concussions involve a loss of consciousness, but that is not true. In many cases, a person with a concussion never loses consciousness.

People with concussions often cannot remember what happened immediately before or after the injury and may act confused. A concussion can affect memory, judgment, reflexes, speech, balance and muscle coordination. Repeated concussions can cause serious brain damage.

Today we will discuss this condition so that you can

understand when its best to seek help.

WHAT ARE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF A CONCUSSION? Signs of a concussion usually appear within a few minutes or hours of a head injury. They may not be obvious for a few days, so it’s important to look out for any problems in the days following a head injury.

Symptoms include: · A headache that doesn’t go away or isn’t relieved with painkillers · Dizziness · Feeling sick or vomiting · Memory loss – you may not remember what happened before or after the injury · Clumsiness or trouble with balance · Unusual behaviour – you may become irritated easily or have sudden mood swings · Feeling stunned, dazed

or confused · Changes in your vision – such as blurred vision or double vision · Being knocked out or struggling to stay awake Concussion can be harder to spot in babies and young children. One of the main things to look for is a change in their normal behaviour after a head injury, such as crying a lot, a change in their feeding or sleeping habits, or a loss of interest in people or objects.

WHAT CAN INDICATE MORE SERIOUS HEAD INJURY? The following are signs and symptoms of a more serious head injury: · Changes in your behaviour, such as becoming more irritable · Been drinking alcohol or taking recreational drugs · Numbness or weakness in part of your body

· Clear fluid coming from their ears or nose · Bleeding from their ears or bruising behind one or both ears · A black eye with no obvious damage around the eyes ·A fit (seizure) A doctor will assess you to determine if your head injury is more serious and you need further testing to rule out this out.

RECOVERING FROM A CONCUSSION If you’re diagnosed with concussion in hospital, you’ll be able to go home when any serious brain injury has been ruled out and you’re starting to feel better. Most people feel back to normal within a few days or weeks of going home.

But some people, especially children, can take longer to recover. In some people, concussion symptoms can last a few months or more. This is

known as post-concussion syndrome.

Possible post-concussion symptoms include: · Headaches · Dizziness · Problems with memory or concentration · Unsteadiness · Depression, anxiety and changes in behavior See your doctor if you still have symptoms after 3 months. They may be able to recommend treatments for some of the symptoms, or they may refer you to a specialist.

ARE THERE WAYS TO PREVENT A CONCUSSION? There’s no guaranteed way to prevent concussion, but there are some simple things you can do that may reduce your risk of a head injury.

These include: · Wearing the recom-

Dr Zulfikar Bux mended equipment when taking part in a contact sport, such as rugby or boxing · Making sure any contact sport you or your child are taking part in is supervised by a properly qualified and trained person · Wearing a seatbelt when driving · Wearing a helmet when riding a motorcycle or bicycle or batting (hardball)It’s important to avoid head injuries, as repeated concussions or blows to the head have been linked to serious problems associated with chronic brain damage.

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SUNDAY EXXONMOBIL CONTRIBUTES ANNUALLY TO LIBERIA’S DECOMMISSIONING FUND, BUT GUYANA LEFT EXPOSED Decommissioning is considered one of the most crucial aspects of an oil project. It involves safe well plugging, platform removals, pipeline and power cable extractions as well as secure site clearance.

All of this takes place when a project is nearing its end. It is an expensive process that runs into billions of dollars.

But if it is not managed properly, and the right contractual provisions and policies are not in place, countries could be left to stand this cost.

As a safeguard against this, oil producing nations have moved in the direction of establishing funds to which the oil company or operator makes payments. When the time for decommissioning or abandonment comes, the countries use that Fund to handle the associated expenses.

In the case of Liberia, the country ensured that ExxonMobil signed onto such an agreement.

In fact, a 2013 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) it has with Exxon expressly states that when each oil field has reached 50% of its productive capacity, which, for the sake of clarity means that 50% of the estimated recoverable Petroleum has been produced from such Field, the Contractor shall submit a revised Abandonment or Decommissioning Plan along with a budget for same to be approved by the government.

Within 90 days of said approval, an Abandonment Fund would be established.

It is held in an interest-bearing escrow account with an escrow agent approved by Liberia’s Ministry of Finance.

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Kaieteur News

The PSA states, too, that the account shall be established at an international bank of good financial standing.

The same Abandonment Fund, the PSA notes, shall receive the funds for all fields.

Importantly, the PSA states that any portion of the Abandonment Fund not required for or used, the Plan shall be transferred to benefit the State. If Liberia finds that the Abandonment Fund is insufficient to complete the approved Abandonment Plan, Exxon is also required to pay all additional costs needed.

In Guyana’s case, however, the PSA signed with Exxon for the Stabroek Block makes no provision for such a Fund, much less the foregoing provisions.

GAWU, GPSU, GLU, NAACIE, CCWUAMONG 260 ENTITIES WHICH FOR DECADES FAILED TO FILE TAX RETURNS Scores of active trade unions have breached their obligations, failing to file their annual tax returns. In fact, according to a notice filed in the Official Gazette on Saturday July 27, the country’s biggest unions and associations have been guilty of the practice.

The notice to the trade unions was signed by Registrar of Trade Unions, Nicole Prince, and included 260 unions and associations.

Shockingly, despite handling tens of millions of dollars in dues, it appeared that the entities, many of them well known and in the news often, were not keen on ensuring they comply with regulations by filing their annual returns with the Registrar.

For example, the Guyana Labour Union had outstanding returns for 1960, 1964, 1972-1978, 1983-1985, 1987-1988 and for the years between 2000-2017.

The Guyana Postal & Telecommunication Workers Union had no returns for the years 1939-1959, 1970-1973,

1977-1978, 1981-1988, 19922007 and 2017.

The Forest Products Association of Guyana, which is a grouping of mainly large loggers, between 19452018, failed to file their returns, the notice from the Registrar said.

The National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE), one of the sugar unions, appeared not be paying attention to its obligations as well.

It had returns that were not filed for the period 19471969 and 1978-2018.

The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), the largest union for government workers, was guilty with outstanding returns not filed for 1949-1972, 1975-1995, 1997-2000, 2003-2009 and 2012-2017.

The Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU) was also in the mix.

It owed returns for almost all the years from the period 1951-1959, 1962 and 19692018. Shockingly also included in the list is the Guyana Agriculture & Workers Union (GAWU).

GAWU is the largest sugar union with members also in a number of other sectors, including forestry.

During the 2000s, it was reportedly collecting tens of millions of dollars annually in union dues. It owed for 19621965, 1967-1969, 1973, 1974, 1976-2010 and 2012-2018.

They were others too which were not complying were the Guyana Nurses Association which since 1972 has also failed to file its returns.

MECHANIC GUNNED DOWN IN GUYHOC HOME Popular mechanic, Reginald Atherly, was shot dead at around 04.00 hrs on Saturday July 27, allegedly after confronting two masked bandits who had broken into his Lot G 26 Guyhoc Park home.

Atherly, 44, called ‘Diesel Boss’, was shot in the head

and right side, reportedly during a struggle with one of the intruders.

The father of six died near his front door. According to the dead man’s wife, there was no demand for cash or valuables.

There have been reports that $110,000 went missing from the residence.

From all indications, the gunmen entered the one-flat premises after removing the panes from a southern window. They somehow managed to squeeze between the wooden bars that were erected there.

The intruders were described as slim in stature, and are believed to have been extremely young.

Roxanne Crawford, Atherly’s reputed wife, and the couple’s nine-year-old daughter were the only other occupants at the time of the attack. A dazed-looking and tearful Roxanne Crawford said the family was asleep in their bedroom, when the bandits struck.

She recalled awakening after hearing voices somewhere outside the house. She assumed that persons were walking in the alleyway in her yard.

When she opened her eyes, she saw two masked, “thin built” men in black clothing standing by her bed and pointing guns at the family. “When I see them, I started to scream,” Ms. Crawford said. According to the reputed wife, Atherly also scrambled up, and ran out of the bedroom. The woman said she then woke her daughter and told her to hide under the bed, and she too, ran outside.

MONDAY CHATHAM HOUSE ADVISOR SAYS…MODEL PSA SHOULD HAVE TIGHT COST RECOVERY PROVISIONS, SANCTIONS, REQUIRE FUTURE CONTRACTS BE SUBJECT TO NEW LAWS While

the

Energy

Department is still to release the new model Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) it has been working on for the last few months, Chatham House Advisor and Local Content Expert, Anthony Paul believes that there are at least 12 key elements which must be included in that document to safeguard Guyana from significant revenue leakage and abuse.

These fundamental provisions Paul recommended are contained in a report he wrote on the request of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). That international organization had commissioned this report for the Government. It was handed over to the administration in 2016.

The Principal Consultant of the Association of Caribbean Energy Specialists Ltd. said that Guyana can readily, and should require in its new model PSA, that all contracts be subject to new laws and regulations and not immune to ring fencing provisions which allow costs from unsuccessful wells to be offset against those that are.

Further to this, Paul recommended that Guyana needs tighter cost recovery provisions. In this regard, he said that Guyana needs to determine what can be recoverable and nonrecoverable based on international best practices.

Along these lines, he said that there should be transfer pricing controls and suitable sanctions included in the model PSA. Paul also said that Guyana’s model PSA needs to have stronger local content and capacity development requirements, and if possible, have it attached as a caveat for being able to keep the exploration or production license.

Furthermore, the Consultant emphatically stated that Guyana’s model PSA needs to have clear rules on the disclosure of the beneficial owners for oil companies involved, capital

More than 200 entities, including unions have been failing to file their annual returns, according to a notice in the Official Gazette.

gains tax, methods to be used for the accounting of all expenditure and where documents should be held, as well as the international benchmarking costs that would be used.

TRAINING FUND FROM OIL COMPANIES…PRIORITISE TRAINING FOR AUDITORS, LAWYERS AND GEOLOGISTS – RAMSON JR. Government should invest some of the funds it acquires from the oil sector on the training of local auditors, lawyers and geologists a priority This is the view of Attorney-at-Law and Oil and Gas academic, Charles Ramson Jr. who says that this money would come from funds that are set aside for training purposes.

For instance, in the Stabroek Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with ExxonMobil subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), and its partners, “the Contractor shall pay to a Government account for the Ministry responsible for Petroleum the amount of three hundred thousand United States dollars (US$300,000)” for training purposes.

Ramson, who has a Master’s Degree in Oil and Gas Management, said that an investment in local geologists to have them specialised in Petroleum Operations would give Government the opportunity to assess for itself, the quality of the oil. Petroleum geologists could interpret seismic information, locate the prospect area, and determine its viability through the appraisal process.

He said that, every time a discovery is made, the oil companies are brought back to the negotiating table.

That’s where the lawyers come in.

Lawyers who are trained (Continued on page 33)

Sunday August 04, 2019

From page 32 in oil and gas, Ramson said, serve to accurately translate Government’s wishes during negotiations with oil companies, to produce robust contracts. Further, the attorney said that such lawyers would be able to identify bottlenecks and loopholes in Guyana’s current Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act, which inhibit the country’s ability to get the best value for the resource.

As for auditors, they are extremely important to ensure Guyana’s interests are well served. The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is conducting an international search for oil and gas experts as the agency prepares for first oil next year. Guyana also expects to receive assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

GUNNING DOWN OF GUYHOC MECHANIC… DEPORTEE AMONG TWO HELD A deportee is said to be among two persons in custody as police continue to investigate Saturday’s baffling pre-dawn gunning down of Guyhoc Park mechanic Reginald Atherly.

Kaieteur News understands that the deportee, who drives a vehicle, was arrested near Atherly’s home on Saturday.

Another man was reportedly also detained.

Several youths, including some who work at the slain man’s establishment, were also questioned. Their hands were also reportedly swapped for traces of gunpowder residue. However, it is unclear whether police have been able to link anyone to the killing.

They are reportedly preparing to check security cameras in the area.

Atherly, 44, also known as ‘Diesel Boss’, was shot dead at around 04.00 hrs two Saturdays ago, allegedly after confronting two masked men who had broken into his Lot G 26 Guyhoc Park home.

He was shot in the head and right side, reportedly during a struggle with one of the intruders.

TUESDAY ‘IRON LADY’ CLAUDETTE SINGH TAKES CONTROL OF GECOM -SAYS PRIORITY IS FREE, FAIR AND TRANSPARENT ELECTIONS -VOWS TO ACT ACCORDING TO LAW The administration has expressed confidence in Justice (Ret’d) Claudette

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Singh, 72, who was Monday sworn in as the new chair for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). In a packed room at the Ministry of the Presidency, Singh, who was the police’s legal advisor, swore to perform her duties in accordance with the laws.

It will be a key moment as Guyana prepares for early elections brought on by a shocking no-confidence vote on December 21which was deemed carried by the courts and which triggered the fall of the Coalition Government which was not expecting elections until next year.

Just over a month ago, Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson, resigned from GECOM as the chair after the Caribbean Court of Justice found that his appointment in 2017 by President David Granger was flawed.

President David Granger, who swore in Justice Singh, a Senior Counsel, who has over 40 years in the legal world of Guyana, has said he is depending on a new chairperson to update him on GECOM’s readiness for elections so he can announce a date. The Opposition has been insisting that elections are due by September, in keeping with the laws.

However, GECOM has started house-to-house registrations to sanitise a list that they say has thousands of incorrect entries.

The Opposition, however, has stressed that the issues can be fixed with a simply claims and objections period. Justice Singh would have her work cut out. She would have to pronounce on GECOM’s stance on the ongoing house-to-house registrations.

After her swearing in, she pointed out to reporters that both the President and the Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, had reposed their confidence in her and “ask me for the sake of” the country to accept the nomination.

HOME OWNERS LOOSE DOGS ON GECOM STAFF DURING HOUSE-TOHOUSE REGISTRATION More than a week after

h o u s e - t o - h o u s e registrations commenced, enumerators of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) are complaining of difficulties. In fact, there are complaints that a number of homeowners let their dogs loose when the enumerators came calling.

Speaking to reporters Monday at the Ministry of the Presidency, GECOM’s Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, said that staffers were also told they are participating in an illegal exercise and would not be paid.

Lowenfield made it clear that staffers and enumerators will be paid as monies have been budgeted for house-tohouse registrations.

He insisted that prospective registrants must be aware that the registrations are legal.

On the issue of houseto-house registration, the CEO said he w i l l a w a i t directions from the newly constituted commission.

Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh was Monday sworn in as the new chair after Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson resigned over a month ago, following a court ruling that his 2017 unilateral appointment by President David Granger was flawed.

Wi t h t h e P r e s i d e n t awaiting GECOM to advise him on the readiness for early elections brought on by the shock December 21 no-confidence vote by the Opposition that saw the government falling, there have been questions about the house-to-house registration that GECOM commenced across the country without a chair in place. GECOM staffers themselves h ave complained that in some areas, more than 25 percent of homes are not cooperating.

THE ORINDUIK BLOCK… QATAR’S BUY-IN TO TOTAL’S SHARE NOT A DONE DEAL–ENERGY DEPT. HEAD Qatar, the most affluent country in the world, has Guyana’s oil rich basin on its radar. Monday, international media reports emerged saying that the state-owned Qatar Petroleum (QP) Company has bought 40 percent of the interest that French Oil Major, Total, has in the Orinduik Block.

But at his press conference, Monday, Energy Department Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe said that this is not a done deal.

Dr. Bynoe said, “We have received a transaction letter from Total which the government is currently studying but until such time, we (need to) understand the full implications, because this is not a normal farm-in that we would have seen. And we are not about to pronounce thereon.”

The Energy Department Head added, “What we are finding is QP is seeking to buy into the Total Guyana agreement but we can’t go further because it is early; we are in discussions with the co-ventures so we can have greater clarity.”

In addition to getting a piece of the action in the Orinduik block, www.offshoreenergytoday.com reported Monday that Qatar Petroleum also wants 40% of Total’s existing 25% participating interest in the neighbouring Kanuku block.

Repsol is the operator of the Kanuku block with a 37.5% stake, with Tullow Oil holding the remaining 37.5% interest.

The Orinduik block sits 120 kilometers offshore Guyana. It has a total area of about 1,800 square kilometers, with water depths ranging from 70 metres to 1,400 meters.

WEDNESDAY IS GUYANAAGATEWAY FOR HAITIANS?… 8,600 ENTER IN LAST 7 MONTHS – collusion, coordinated ‘secret’ operations at CJIA as passengers whisked to city hideouts Questions are being raised now, with troubling news that thousands of Haitians entered the country over the past few months with little evidence that they have left.

This has triggered grave concerns as to why there has been no or little action by the authorities.

From accounts of various sources, the arrival of the Haitians started to escalate earlier this year.

According to figures acquired by Kaieteur News, in January, 952 passengers arrived from Haiti. From February to July, it was 673, 345, 1321, 2010, 1749 and 1552 respectively.

This is just over 8,600 Haitians who arrived in the last seven months. They all arrived on flights of the Panamanian-owned Copa Airlines. Haiti, a FrenchCreolese speaking country of 10 million, shares its land mass with the Dominican Republic. It has been ravaged with hurricanes and earthquakes, with CARICOM member states understandably softening their stance on the beleaguered citizens.

However, Guyana has not officially announced that it has taken a policy to grant citizenship to Haitians, similar to what is happening in Region One with Venezuelan migrants.

Tuesday at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, at Timehri, the Copa Airlines flight arrived shortly before 2pm. The passengers had travelled from Haiti, stopped

over in Panama, before flying to Guyana.

Under arrangements, Guyana can grant them an automatic six-month stay.In front of Arrivals area, three uniformed police ranks were present. There were persons speaking Spanish and French-Creolese waiting with families.In total, over 40 Haitians arrived on that Copa flight.

Airport officials said that the Copa flights have been coming daily with over 50 Haitians on average arriving.

Copa conducts up to six flights to Guyana weekly.

Persons who spoke French-Creolese, and who appeared to be Haitians, were approaching the passengers who came off the flights.

They were armed with photos of the passengers in their phones. The passengers were then whisked away to minibuses in the parking area.

There were children and women included.

At the airport, drivers and others were not too keen to talk about the situation. They did say that the “organisers” had connections, as they had contacts with the “people” inside the Arrivals area.

FAMILIES CONTINUE TO ABANDON ELDERLY RELATIVES AT G/TOWN HOSPITAL Thoughts of abandonment and loneliness constantly haunt Peter Henry, a 58-year-old man, who has been a patient of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for over a month.

From all appearances, Henry has been abandoned by his relatives.

He was taken to GPHC, last month, to be treated.

Henry was supposed to spend a few days in the facility under observation for a medical condition, but weeks after he was (Continued on page 34)

PAGE 34

From page 33 discharged, he remains there.

There are also no visits from relatives for Henry, leading hospital staffers to conclude that he has been abandoned. The father of three has been in the hospital for the past six weeks. Feeble, he lies on a bed, and frequently sulks.

“The last time I see me children was when they bring me to the hospital. The only people I does see now is the nurses,” he reflected.

Henry is not the only patient of GPHC who is facing such a predicament.

Over the past few years, the institution has been plagued by a rise in the number of abandoned patients.

Social workers spoke to Kaieteur News about the growing issue and how it has negatively impacted the smooth functioning of the hospital’s capacity to cater to the large influx of people seeking medical attention there. Clayton Newman, a social worker attached to GPHC, told this publication that the hospital has been constantly appealing to relatives to come and reclaim their abandoned loved ones.

Newman explained that, “There has been an increase of patients who have been neglected at the GPHC, especially at the male ward.

What we found in the past was generally that these elderly patients were dehydrated and malnourished. When patients are old, nobody wants to take care of them, and in most cases persons of age are neglected at home.

THURSDAY OUT OF 8,600 HAITIANS, ONLY 13 LEFT GUYANA LEGALLY – GUYANA IS BEING USED AS STEPPING STONE – MINISTER FELIX There are more details coming out now with regards to how Guyana has been dealing with the arrivals of foreign nationals.

In the case of the Haitians, from January to July, more than 8,600 of them arrived.

Shockingly, there is little evidence of where they went.

In fact, between that seven-month period, only 13 of them left Guyana, according to departure figures seen by Kaieteur News.

Those startling figures would come one day after reports of a huge ring involved to bring in nationals of that country into Guyana.

The Haitians, on average of about 50 of them daily, have been arriving here via Copa Airlines, a Panamanian-

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Kaieteur News

registered service which flies also to Haiti.

There are little indications of what the situation is…human smuggling, trafficking or something else.

Minister with Responsibilities for Citizenship, Winston Felix, was clear this week about what is happening. Guyana is being used as a stepping stone by the Haitians for greener pastures.

He also said that the situation was being blown out of proportion by the Opposition which is targeting Haitians unfairly.

JAN FEB MAR APRIL MAY JUNE JULY Arrived 952 673 345 1321 2010 1749 1552 Departed 2 3 1 4 1 1 1 “Haitians arriving in Guyana is always blown out of proportion by certain elements in the political Opposition.

“In so far as the offence of trafficking in persons is concerned, the APNU/AFC Coalition Government is concerned–that offence is treated with intolerance and anyone found committing it and any suspicion of its occurrence will be

investigated with a view to prosecuting those found culpable regardless of their nationality.”

NEW GECOM CHAIR HOLDS SEPARATE MEETINGS WITH COMMISSIONERS – DISCUSSIONS OF HOUSE-TO-HOUSE REGISTRATION, ELECTIONS TOPAGENDA The People’s Progressive Party nominated Commissioners officially registered their concerns with newly appointed Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, Justice Claudette Singh, Wednesday. This was the first official meeting between the new chair and both opposition and government nominated commissioners.

Speaking to the media outside the GECOM head office in Kingston, Commissioners from both sides described the interaction with the new chair as cordial. The party representatives held separate discussions with Justice Singh.

While the government appointed Commissioners Vincent Alexander and Charles Corbin declined to offer insight about their discussions, their view that a clean and sanitized list must be used for the elections will not change.

The Commissioners believe it is the best option for elections.

“That will not change. It was decided unanimously some time ago that this was the best option for the elections. We believe that the list needs to be sanitized before elections and house to house registration is the best way of doing so.”

Opposition commissioner and attorney –at- law, Sase Gunraj, said that the discussions centered on holding of general and regional elections and matters related to house registration and the claims and objections period.

Gunraj noted further that his side was able to make a presentation to which the chairman was very receptive.

“The issues that were discussed are related to all the matters that are in the public domain … The holding of

general elections which are constitutionally due; the issue of house to house registration was definitely raised Gunraj noted that the purpose of the meeting was for the new chair to familiarize herself with the operations of the commission.

“It was a very cordial meeting the chairman was very receptive and respectful of the views presented to her.

“We raised the issue of claims and objections period which should be happening and I am satisfied that we presented our case on factors against the conduct of house to house registration. We look forward to having meaningful deliberations with all sides present when that time comes,” he added.

The court action which was filed to block house-to house registration also came up for discussion.

“The issue of the pending court action came up for discussion and concerns were noted.”

The opposition is party to matters before the Court seeking to the house -to house registration process.

The application filed in the

High Court on behalf of Attorney-at-Law Christopher Ram is insisting that general and regional elections be held on or before September 18.

ALLEGED COVER-UP OF GANG RAPES

BY POLICE… POLICEWOMAN FORGED VICTIMS’ SIGNATURES – HANDWRITING EXPERT CONFIRMS The office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is in possession of a damning report that implicates at least four police ranks in the covering up of a series of gang rapes by a policeman’s son and others.

Kaieteur News understands that the report was handed over to the DPP’s office Wednesday.

The report is said to include statements from a handwriting expert, who concluded that a female lance corporal (since retired), forged the signatures of three of the victims.

The same rank is also accused of altering the young women’s statements to (Continued on page 35)

Sunday August 04, 2019

From page 34 suggest that they had not identified their attackers. The victims had positively identified their attackers.

Two of the policewomen were attached to the Forces’ Sexual Offences Units.

Kaieteur News understands that some of the police ranks who were involved in aspects of the investigation claimed that their statements were switched.

The police expert reportedly verified that the handwriting in the altered statements matched samples of the female lance corporal’s handwriting.

A policeman who is related to one of the suspects is also accused of paying one of the victims $200,000 to settle the matter. The female lance corporal from the sex crime unit is said to have acted as the go-between in handing over the ‘hush money.’

It is also alleged that one of the implicated policemen made a false statement in which he gave one of the suspects an alibi.

However, that statement contradicted another that the same rank entered into the station diary.

FRIDAY GUYANAIS INDEEDA GATEWAY…. 99 % CONFIRM RETURN TICKETS BUT NEVER SHOWED UPAT CJIA -83 ARRIVE THURSDAY; 94 MORE DUE FRIDAY There are more details

emerging about the entry of Haitians into Guyana in the past seven months – all pointing to a well-coordinated scheme which involves key stakeholders at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

In recent days, based on complaints, it was discovered that in the last seven months, more than 8,600 Haitians arrived in Guyana via Timehri airport, the country’s main entry point.

During the same period, shockingly, only 13 went back.

It is now being discovered that during the period, as part of the requirements, the Haitians are supposed to enter Guyana with return tickets to their home country. However, while many of them confirmed to return on flights, they were no-shows for the Copa Airlines desks at CJIA when it came to time to check in. It would suggest a deliberate attempt to fool the country’s systems, with implications for national security as well.

In fact, for this week alone, just two persons went back.

On Thursday, 25th July, 18 persons confirmed intentions to return home. On the Copa flight, no one turned up. The next day, 78 persons were scheduled. Only one person went back. On Tuesday, 30th July, 87 Haitians who came to Guyana booked to return home – one went back.

There was none leaving Thursday.

However, 83 Haitians entered Guyana Thursday. No one booked to leave.

At the airport, reporters

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saw the persons had different minibuses to pick up the passengers. There were also a number of different persons who were dealing with the arriving passengers, which again included women and children.

Thursday, the persons were on high alert. From the police, to Immigration Officers, and taxi drivers, there was anger that attention was brought on the arrivals

of the Haitians. “Is a hustle we deh pon. Why people trying to shock we out? You gon give we money or wuk now?” a taxi driver asked. He refused to explain where the Haitians were going or why so many were coming in.

STABROEK BLOCK GROSS RECOVERABLE RESERVE NOW AT 6 BILLION BARRELS The estimate of gross

recoverable reserve of the Stabroek Block has now moved up to over six billion barrels, says Hess Corporation. This was noted during the firm’s earnings call which revealed details of its 2019 second quarter results.

According to the American company which has a 30 percent stake in the Stabroek Block, the oilrich offshore concession continues to see multibillion barrels of additional exploration potential. Significantly, it noted that the upgraded esti m a t e s h o w s t h a t Hess’ portfolio is on track to generate industry leading cash flow growth and increasing returns to shareholders.

Wi t h r e s p e c t t o developments on the block, Hess noted that the second phase of the Liza Field was sanctioned by its other two partners, ExxonMobil and CNOOC/NEXEN, following regulatory approval from the government of Guyana.

Hess noted that Liza Phase Two will utilise the Liza Unity FPSO, which will have the capacity to produce up to 220,000 gross barrels

of oil per day. It said that six drill centres are planned with a total of 30 wells, including 15 production wells, nine water injection wells, and six gas injection wells.

The company noted that first oil is expected by mid-2022 and the development is expected to have a gross capital cost of approximately $6 billion, including a lease capitalisation cost of approximately $1.6 billion for the FPSO, and will develop approximately 600 million barrels of oil.

Excluding pre-sanction and lease costs, the corporation said its net share of development costs is forecast to be approximately $1.6 billion, of which $210 million is included in its 2019 capital and exploratory budget.

Turning its attention to Liza Phase One, Hess noted that this remains on track to achieve first oil by the first quarter of 2020. It said that Phase One will produce up to 120,000 gross barrels of oil per day at peak rates, utilizing the Liza Destiny FPSO, which is expected to arrive offshore Guyana in September 2019.

Further to this, Hess said that planning is underway for a third phase of development (Continued on page 36)

PAGE 36

From page 35 at the Payara Field, which is expected to produce between 180,000 and 220,000 gross barrels of oil per day with first oil as early as 2023.

IMMIGRATION DEPT. MUST BE INVESTIGATED – JAGDEO The Immigration Department of the Ministry of Citizenship must face a fullfledged investigation, according to People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo.

He made this demand after Kaieteur News revealed that 8,600 Haitian Nationals entered Guyana for 2019, so far. According to figures this publication acquired, in January, 952 passengers arrived from Haiti. From February to July, it was 673, 345, 1321, 2010, 1749 and 1552 respectively.

They all arrived on flights of the Panamanian-owned

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Kaieteur News

Copa Airlines.

Jagdeo, during a press conference Wednesday, provided further statistics for previous years.

“In 2013, 188 persons came and 99 departed. In 2014, 227 came, 113 departed. In 2015, 770 came, 136 departed.

In 2016, 722 came, 451 departed. In 2017, 3515 came, 291 departed. Up to April 30th of 2018, we had 1238 that came and 85 that departed so far,” he said of Haitian Nationals.

The figures raise grave concerns about just where these persons are going.

Holding up a copy of Kaieteur News, Jagdeo exclaimed, “This headline today is a shocking one!

“It is unbelievable that these numbers could come in, and that the government is not involved.”

He noted that Haitians, as CARICOM nationals, are eligible to come to Guyana and stay for six months, but only as visitors.

In this regard, he said, “you still have to prove where

you’re going, and stuff like that. You’re eligible. All CARICOM nationals are eligible, but not to work.”

He said that too many people are coming in, and not leaving after six months.

Therefore, he has concluded that they are not regular visitors. If they have come to work, Jagdeo said it is necessary for them to be granted work permits and TIN certificates. He contends that they are being helped by the government.

SATURDAY EXXONMOBIL THRILLED WITH US$3.1B SECOND QUARTER EARNINGS ExxonMobil Corporation revealed Friday that it earned US$3.1 billion or $0.73 per share assuming dilution for the second quarter (Q) of 2019.

It noted via its Q2 2019 ExxonMobil Corp Earnings Call, that earnings included a favorable identified item of

about US$500 million, or $0.12 per share assuming dilution, reflecting the impact of a tax rate change in Alberta, Canada.

Further, it was noted that capital and exploration expenditures were $8.1 billion, up 22 percent from the prior year, reflecting key investments in the Permian Basin.

ExxonMobil stated that oil-equivalent production was 3.9 million barrels per day, up seven percent from the second quarter of 2018. It said that liquids production increased eight percent driven by Permian Basin growth and reduced downtime, with limited impact from entitlement effects and divestments.

It also disclosed that natural gas volumes increased five percent, excluding entitlement effects and divestments.

Commenting on the performance, ExxonMobil’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Darren Woods, said, “We continue to make significant progress toward delivering our long-term growth plans.

Our new U.S. Gulf Coast steam cracker is exceeding design capacity by 10 percent, less than a year after startup.”

Woods added, “Our upstream liquids production increased by eight percent from last year, driven by growth in the Permian Basin. We are preparing to startup the Liza Phase One development in Guyana, where the estimated recoverable resource increased to more than six billion oil-equivalent barrels.”

GUYANAIS INDEEDA GATEWAY FOR HAITIANS… 221 ARRIVE IN 3 DAYS, NONE LEFT The influx of Haitians, without any clear actions from the Coalition Government,

continued Friday with 94 of the nationals arriving via the Copa Airline flight. As of Friday, there has not been an official statement from the Government since Kaieteur News broke the story earlier this week.

Since January, more than 8,600 of the citizens of that country have been coming to Guyana.

While there have been tickets confirmed for the Haitians to return home, more than 99 percent were noshows for the Copa flights which connect through Panama to Haiti.

From all indications the door has been thrown wide open with Haitians and locals both working together to pick up the arriving passengers.

Government has not said it has taken a policy to accept all Haitians. Most of Guyana is in the dark to what is happening.

Haiti has been ravaged by a number of natural disasters which led to CARICOM countries, including Guyana, relaxing immigration regulations to allow skilled Haitian workers and other professionals to enter CARICOM. The nationals are allowed an automatic six months on entry to Guyana.

Reportedly, a special desk has been set up at the Arrivals area at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

The Haitians are being collected by persons who have their photos in their phones.

They are clandestinely then taken to various spots around the city and later moved.

There are no explanations for what exactly is happening to them afterwards. Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix earlier this week said that the majority of the Haitians leave Guyana for Suriname, Brazil and French Guiana.

From all indications, the arrival of the Haitians and their subsequent movement from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) came with the collusion of airport staffers including Immigration officers, taxi drivers, and even police ranks stationed there.

TRIPLETAIL, TWO OTHER PROSPECTS TO BE DRILLED ON STABROEK BLOCK THIS YEAR Even with a sizeable oil recoverable resource underpinning the Liza and Turbot Complex, the Stabroek Block operators have three other prospects in their sights for drilling this year. Making this disclosure recently was Hess Corporation’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Greg Hill. He was at the time responding to questions from participants during his firm’s second quarter earnings call.

During that discourse, Hill said that the one can expect three or potentially four additional wells being drilled this year starting with Tripletail first and then two or three other prospects along that southeastern seaboard of the block.

The COO said, “…As we look forward between now and the end of the year, we are going to do some more exploration drilling really along that northeastern part of the Stabroek Block between Turbot or southeastern block between Turbot and Liza.” Hill said that these drilling prospects are being better defined in development studies.

Further, Hill noted that the Liza Complex is expected to be a multi-FPSO kind of situation given the amount of volume discovered.

The COO was also questioned about the Hammerhead well results.

This well was first drilled on August 30, last, and it marked ExxonMobil’s ninth discovery offshore Guyana.

Exxon had said that Hammerhead-1 encountered approximately 197 feet (60 meters) of high-quality, oilbearing sandstone reservoir.

It said that the well was safely drilled to 13,862 feet (4,225 meters) depth in 3,773 feet (1,150 meters) of water and is located approximately 13 miles (21 kilometers) southwest of the Liza-1 well.

In providing some details on the appraisals of the Hammerhead-1 and other related wells, Hill said, “The Hammerhead well results for both Hammerhead-2 and Hammerhead-3 really demonstrated three things: first of all, both had high-quality reservoirs…Hammerhead-3 showed very good mobility.

Sunday August 04, 2019

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Sunday August 04, 2019

COUNTRYMAN

- Stories about life in m and out of Guyana, fro ve a Guyanese perspecti

With Miriam Makeba on Emancipation Day

By Dennis Nichols

T

he big day has come and gone – the one that our president aptly termed 'the single most important day in Guyanese history'.

I cannot begin to fathom

what it must have felt like for my enslaved great-greatgrand whoever to hear on that day in 1838, the emancipation gospel of chains, whips, souldestroying labour, and family-rending ploys soon becoming things of the past.

But the past has a way of coming back to haunt those who forget, and we humans are prone to that very human trait. Commemorating it once every year, though fitting, isn't enough.

Last week's story suggested that 'lighter

measures of injustice' are still being meted out to the descendants of African slaves in this country. One may find this unavoidably evident on the streets of our capital city. It's not an uplifting sight.

On Thursday, I stayed home and chose to celebrate the emancipation holiday in reflection – with Miriam Makeba, one of Africa's proudest and most 'vocal' daughters, and in her own inimitable style, a fighter for her country and continent's liberation.

The internet may not seem the most suitable alternative to the National Park, but it had to suffice.

Had I gone out, I would no doubt have seen folks in their kente prints, wraparounds, robes, head ties, dashikis, sandals; natural hairdos, and ethnic accessories.

I would have heard and felt the drum beat of Africa, sampled its transplanted cuisine, and experienced the palpable kinship no Middle Passage trauma could erase.

Fine! I love those things. But

then isn't that simply token identification for many of us? A passing nod to a brief season of remembrance?

Furthermore, I guess I would have seen also the North American copycats – the bleachers and weavers, the brand name tops and skinny jeans, the slick fades and fake braids, all amidst the hype and hypocrisy surrounding 181 years of socalled freedom, but in which black skin is still a badge of shame for some.

Maybe I'm growing too cynical, but I chose to stay home and channel the spirit of Mama Africa via the internet, to listen to her songs and speeches, from the overtly political to the gently whimsical. It was a day wellspent, and I didn't miss the streets of Georgetown.

Maybe I should have gone though, if only to not see (on a holiday) young black men at store fronts toting heavy loads under scorching skies, or sporting huge guns, commando-style, guarding the interests of foreign entrepreneurs on

Dennis Nichols Regent Street and beyond.

But still I would have seen around the Bourda Market Square, older men and women sprawled or slouched in various stages of physical or mental debility. It would've spoiled the emancipation vibe. So, I forced myself to stay at home.

August 1 is no ordinary day for us here in Guyana.(Additionally for me, on this day 29 years ago, I lost a sister, 'emancipated' as it were, from life, and an illness that had all but shattered her vivacity) For all of us, the day should serve as a reminder of what was, what is, and what can be if we learn history's lessons, (continued on page 58)

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Kaieteur News

Demanding racial respect and dignity is not racism

R

ace must be confronted, head on. It must no longer be seen as the elephant in the room that no one wants to have honest, open and frank discussion on. Each group has its story and experiences to share, and we must be allowed to do so.

As an African, in this period as we commemorate 181 years since the end of chattel slavery - a brutish system that subjected my ancestors to the worst form of injustices inflicted by one race against another - it is not happenstance I am here, but by the determination of my forebears to fight the abominable system and overcome.

As heir of my ancestors' sacrifices and indomitable spirit, I bring to theirs and my experiences the innate desire to be treated with dignity and respect. What I desire for myself is too desired for others, for where mine are threatened, they pose a threat to that of all others.

We as Guyanese have the ability to overcome, but it requires of us drawing on our resilience to move forward, recognising that though we are of different groups, we are of common experiences and have a shared destiny. So today, I speak to the recent experiences of the African community.

In the immediate post1992 National and Regional Elections, there was an onslaught carried out by the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government against African career public servants and operatives in state entities.

The services of those workers were terminated, not because of poor performance, but based on perceived support for the People's National Congress (PNC), given their identity and the fact that that party's base is drawn primarily from the African community. At the national level, investments via budgetary allocation/spending were also tilted in a manner that gave credence to economic and others forms of marginalisation.

The national census requires of us the identification of race as part of its clusters in calculating data of the various demographics in the society.

This data should not only be

used for accumulation or seen as assessment of electoral value - which in our society is seen as a factor in determining which party/group is likely to win or lose election. Data on race must be used to play a fundamental role in informing effective and efficient planning at all tiers of government.

The United Nations (UN) acknowledges race as an important characteristic of human existence. This body seeks to promote racial equality, as adumbrated in its Human Rights Declaration, by removing all forms of barriers/discrimination that would hinder same.

Given our historical experiences of racial conflicts, as a member of the UN it is not unreasonable to expect Guyana's adoption of these declarations will see efforts at creating policies, programmes and laws, where race is considered a premier developmental factor in national planning.

The demand for racial respect and dignity is not racism. Racism speaks to the enactment of polices, programmes, laws and other acts designed to deprive a person or group its deserving respect and dignity as an equal participating member of society. Being Guyanese is not a race but a nationality - the country/geographic space within which one is born or has adopted as his/her land of citizenship.

Having pride in one's ancestral lineage(s) does not prevent sharing similar pride in where one is born. As a man of African descent born in Guyana, I proudly identify as African Guyanese.

Identifying the physical characteristics/heritage of my ancestry does not diminish or obliterate the land my ancestors happened to move to, be it voluntarily or not.

I draw strength from both experiences and can learn to avoid the pitfalls that had befallen both. I am who I am from both experiences, and would want to be treated with dignity and respect, notwithstanding such experiences.

Racial equality will remain elusive when we ignore the fundamental factors to achieving it. For instance, based on statistical data, racial groups are seen as predisposed to certain

health challenges, given lifestyle in diet, genetic make-up, etc.

You cannot properly plan to ensure these persons have access to quality healthcare care - preventative and curative - ignoring the issue of race. We talk about tackling poverty, but how can this be tackled effectively, through the allocation of resources and

the creation of institutions, ignoring the pockets of poverty, some of which are race-specific and locationdriven.

We must return to the early days of national planning for development where racial pride was encouraged and promoted at the national and local levels.

Let us not take for granted, as a newly

independent nation, the structures put in place to decriminalise religious beliefs/practices and placing them on the national calendar.

Let us not take for granted an indigenous education system that sought to reverse racial animosity by creating the space and opportunity to get to know each other better, to see

diversity as a strength and unifier, and the importance of respecting same as integral to peaceful coexistence.

It is not by accident that earlier planners of this nation's development promoted pride in Guyana being a land of six peoples and having a motto “One People, One Nation, One (continued on page 61)

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Sunday August 04, 2019

K The Spoken Word O

BO

Book: Notes from a Love Bird Author: Meeka Nyota Critic: Glenville Ashby, PhD

M

eeka Nyota sets the tone f o r t h e indefatigable 'Notes from a Love Bird' with a driving homage to her muse, her creative and mystifying inner voice. Her muse transforms

Comes Alive

banality to insightfulness, even reshaping personalities and destinies.

In 'Habakkuk', arguably the most imaginative and compelling of her writings, the transcendence of Nyota's poetry is clearly defined.

Words are not mere words culled from the consciousness.

They are intuitively spewed from an incomprehensible source. Like the prophetsage Habakkuk, Nyota's fire rages from origins unknown.

She reveres what he

represents. “What I receive didn't cost a dime,” she pens.

“It was given from the soul, I think of you when the thought for a great poem evokes. I think of you with every stroke. Not by chance but with purpose you came into my life ignited a flame.

Natalie no more, Meeka Nyota mi name.”

In the eponymous 'Notes from a Love Bird,' she rhetorically questions the nature of love. With vivid imagery, she describes the feeling as “the sweetest song, the kind when nature offers demonstration especially when birds and flowers get along, the buzzing of

honeybees,” and “a symphony that needs no introduction.”

Nyota writes with resounding passion. She is consumed by the divinity of love. She transmutes the carnal into the sublime. Like the alchemist that changes lead into gold, Nyota strives for love's perfection.

Mindful she is, though, that her quest could be catastrophic. In 'My Mother's Final Lesson,' she recalls this caution.

Embedded in her bosom, Nyota, in turn must counsel her daughter to never allow another to usurp her individuality. “My child,”

she intones, “I share with you today the last words my mother shared with me, never waste your life with a man who brings you misery, always strive for the best you can be.”

Throughout, there is the collocation of love and nature.

In 'Love Smart,' she writes, “There are many varieties of love, shape, size, colours just like animals and unknown species of herbs and flowers, there are many varieties waiting to be discovered...”

And in 'Full Submission,' she pours out her deepest feelings, describing the length she will undergo to quench her desires. Again, nature is ever present - “I want to climb the tallest mountain, swim in the deepest sea, go into the garden and pick you an apple from that tree. But that still wouldn't express how much I love you.”

But this endearing poet is never aimlessly accommodating. She can be resilient, steely, impervious and mindful of the disappointments that beset relationships. We witness this strength in Arguing With A Wall - “I dream for us yet you make me feel unhappy and magnetically small constantly singing the blues...Is it because I don't massage your ego, is it because I'm not carefree enough because I'd rather take care of my child, my home and other more important stuff. Is it because I act mean, act tuff, royal flush, don't call no bluffs, strictly conscious. I am that diamond rougher than rough.”

In her later offerings, Nyota seamlessly veers into

mysticism, adding diversity to her overall presentation. It is a well-timed transition away from her perfervid yearnings. In the 'Moon and I,' she reaches out to the celestial, raising her vibratory connections toward the Divine. She soars spiritually, guided by the stars and planets “to the things we cannot see with our eyes,” but “know that all is aligned,” that “true power resides in the mind.”

In 'Sacred,' she dabbles in the esoteric attributes of love. A partner unconstrained by the world makes her whole. His wisdom must shine through - “Knowledge must be his favourite food, he must have a revolutionary attitude organic and pure...he must have water to replenish my Nile, put my family first he must that that the womb is sacred not just fertile.”

She closes assertively, “The Universe knows all I have to give, I wish to revel in the positive, Brave as a lion, Kemetic as the phoenix, humble warrior, link me if you read this.”

'Notes from a Love Bird' delivers a passionate statement on the complexity of love, a complexity that has befuddled the wisest among us.

F e e d b a c k : glenvilleashby@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter@glenvilleashby Copyright (c) 2018 Meeka Nyota ISBN 9789769638700 Available at Amazon Ratings: Recommended (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)

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THE

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Sunday August 04, 2019

STORY The racists and WITHIN THE

the Haitians

By Leonard Gildarie

T

his past week, Guyana sat up and read with alarm, a situation at the Timehri airport that should have all Guyana deeply worried. It has made a mockery of our national security, smacks of money laundering, and exposes the feebleness of our systems.

I watched with shock, too, as a number of commentators - a number of them I considered intelligent - without any scientific knowledge, dangerously interjected the race card and argued about xenophobia and the intolerance for Haitians.

It was clear they had no idea what they were talking about or they were deliberately covering up a situation.

We have to put things into perspective here, while at the same time warn our administrators about the dangers of unbridled control at our border points. For myself, I have never allowed race to enter my mind.

My eldest son, almost 18, was born in St. Maarten. His mother is African Guyanese.

I love my son and would protect him with my life. I have no tolerance for racists.

There is no space for racists in Guyana and anyone who spews such nonsense clearly has no place in society.

From a Kaieteur News perspective, I am not aware of Glenn Lall or Adam Harris harbouring any agenda when it comes to race. It simply would not be allowed by the s t a ff e r s . I t w o u l d b e preposterous to even harbour such thoughts.

Our very constitution at Kaieteur News has been one of the collective‌we consult on stories. They are discussed and fleshed out.

The arguments could be brutal at times.

I will repeat myself. In the past we have gone up against PPP. We have taken them to task and have continued to do so.

The Dem Boys Seh column has been unflinchingly brutal on all aspects of Guyana.

We have taken on this administration so many times, because such is expected from the country's leading newspaper, and by extension any media house that is self-respecting and understands its role.

While in power, the PPP, as expected, was under scrutiny. It is expected. We were vilified as being proOpposition. We continue to hear the same accusation by the administration.

There is no agenda of Kaieteur News on Haitians.

Our agenda is the news.

With respect to the Haitians, it is clear cut what transpired.

Since January, 8,600 of those nationals came to Guyana. Some 99 percent of them did not leave although booking their tickets. They just did not show up for their return flights.

The airline, strangely, apparently never complained. There is a very clear security issue here.

There is no country in the world which will allow that number of foreign nationals into the country in droves and turn a blind eye when they are not leaving.

The Minister of

Leonard Gildarie Citizenship, Winston Felix, made it clear that from investigations, the Haitians are leaving for greener pastures, using Guyana as a stepping stone. There are many questions.

At the airport, from the newspaper reports, it appeared that everyone knew what was happening. It was not a case where Haitians were coming here and staying. A few may have.

However, the majority of them are leaving. It appears that the Haitians were recruited in their home country, suggesting that a system existed there where people became aware.

In Guyana, an entire organisation existed which included drivers, vehicles, people at the airport, and accommodation in Lethem, Region 9 and elsewhere.

At the airport, reportedly, a special desk was set up to accommodate the Haitians.

In the investigations of the Kaieteur News, it can be concluded that Haitians coming here are indeed using Guyana as a stepping stone.

So what is the problem?

There are lots of problems here. This administration has made it clear that it has not brought, and did not contemplate bringing foreign nationals to this country to register them for votes.

I believe them. The logistics of housing so many people and keeping it a secret would be a gigantic task in such a small society like Guyana. It would come out (continued on page 57)

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Mahdia Hospital closer to establishing Cancer Treatment Centre- nurses trained, Cryo-therapy machine acquired The Public Health Ministry On Friday handed over a cryotherapy machine to the staff of the Mahdia District Hospital

The machine is used to treat early signs of cervical cancer and other abnormalities. Cryotherapy, also known as cryosurgery,

has been widely accepted as a practical and effective method of treating precancerous cervical lesions worldwide. Extreme cold is

applied to the lesion using a cryoprobe (an extremely cold probe) to freeze the lesion.

This machine is one of several others which were

purchased by the Maternal and Child Health Programme of the Ministry of Public Health. The purchase was made after a needsassessment was conducted for this particular service in several regions.

Midwife Malinda Haramottoo and Registered Nurse, Wendy John were trained to operate this machine and also to render VIA services in the region.

This is all part of a plan to establish a VIA unit followed by a cancer treatment centre at the hospital, that will cater

to the needs of women in other parts of the region.

Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence who visited the hospital to hand over the equipment, highlighted the significance and importance of having such service available in the PotaroSiparuni Region. “Small though it may appear, this kit is priceless. Because of this little machine, we are going to be able to save many lives…

We want the women in this region to be healthy… We want to identify their issues at the earliest stage.” (DPI)

El Paso, Micobie, and Tumatumari residents to benefits from rehab of access roads Minister of Public Infrastructure, Hon. David Patterson made this announcement during a community meeting at El Paso, Region 8.

“The good news is that the regional engineer just informed me that the tender for that road goes out next week under our maintenance budget,” Minister Patterson said. Minister of Public Infrastructure, Hon. David Patterson engaging a student of El Paso Primary School The contract for the maintenance of the five-mile stretch of road is expected to take about three weeks to go through the tender process before a contract can be officially rewarded for work to begin. The road will be extended from the Brian Sucre Junction in Mahdia for three miles and includes another two miles of rehabilitative works from the Micobie junction to El Paso.

The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) is also partnering with the ministry to carry out the rehabilitation of the road. The maintenance contract is expected to provide better access to several villages in the Potaro-Siparuni Region.

Addressing the residents, Minister Patterson also engaged them on matters relating to electricity and their

water woes. He also spoke of other projects to benefit the residents, including the Tumatumari Hydropower plant.

The Tumatumari Hydropower Station was the first hydropower station to be constructed on the Potaro River. The plant was constructed in 1957 by the British Goldfields Limited and operated until 1959 when mining operations ceased. In 1969, the then government recommissioned the station where the power was transmitted to serve the Guyana National Service camps at Tumatumari and Konawaruk.

The development included an embankment dam, a concrete overflow dam, and a two-unit powerhouse with an installed capacity of 1500 kw, using 2 X 750 kw Francis turbines.

The Public Infrastructure Minister assured residents that the government will be actively looking into revamping the hydro backing energy plant that will see electricity transmission throughout Tumatumari/El Paso and Mahdia.

El Paso is a village in the Potaro-Siparuni Region of Guyana, to the west of Tumatumari Landing. There are approximately 40 households in this village.

(DPI)

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“Govt has done a lot for Mahdia, roads better than ever” taxi driver The roads in the mining town of Mahdia, in PotaroSiparuni, are now way better than it was under the previous administration.

This is according to taxi d r i v e r, A s h t o n F r a s i e r, whose family’s wellbeing depends on him plying his daily trade.

Frasier commended the Coalition administration during a public meeting on Friday afternoon, at Brian Sucre Junction, (Kanawaruk Junction) in Mahdia.

“I must say this government has done a lot for Mahdia, especially the roads, they are much better n o w, ” Frasier told government ministers at a community meeting on Friday.

Raphael Trotman, Minister of Natural Resources, and Ronald Bulkan, Minister of Communities, were in the

village to engage residents of the mining community following the ‘Government Comes To You’outreach.

Frasier was supported by a miner, Denise Hinds, who also applauded the government for the work done in the region thus far.

She took the opportunity to raise the issue of the need for better telecommunications services in her region. “We have limited internet access… If we have a tower that would go a long way…

This is very important for us to get,” she proposed.

Among the other issues raised were ownership of mining lands and a mining lottery for Mahdia, similar to what the ministry has started in other regions. In this regard, Minister Trotman told residents that he would return to their region at the end of August to celebrate mining week

Miners listening attentively to Ministers Hon. Raphael Trotman and Hon. Ronald Bulkan at a public meeting at Kanawaruk Tumatumari Junction, Region 8 and conduct the exercise.

“I believe it is the

government’s duty and its commitment to making that possible for them [miners].

If they chose to mine, well then we have to ensure that the environment is an enabling one for them by

giving them lawful access to land,” Minister Trotman explained. He also took time to visit a nearby plot of land at Brian Sucre Junction where plans are afoot for a recreational ground for the

community.

Government took its services to the people of Mahdia on Friday, August 2, an initiative which was welcomed by the residents.

(DPI)

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Sunday August 04, 2019

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EXPOSING THOSE MYTHS ABOUT LASH EXTENSONS

Wherever there are facts, there are bound to be myths. And this week, Guyana’s Cocoa Goddess, Latoya “Lashes Boss” Zephyr, is here to break down a few of those myths with Kaieteur Entertainment.

1) LASH EXTENSIONS DAMAGE YOUR NATURAL LASHES: This is totally inaccurate ladies. If your lashes are applied too close or directly into your lash follicles and eyelids, then sure, there will be some damage to your natural lashes the Lashes Boss explained.

However, with a professional lash technician at your service, Zephyr says your natural lashes will continue its normal growth cycle.

2) YOU CAN PICK THEM OFF WHEN YOU’RE READY: Here is one fundamental thing the Lashes Boss wants you ladies to take away—THERE IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FAKE LASHES AND LASH EXTENSIONS! With the former, Zephyr says you can peel it right off but with the latter; pulling them out by yourself can cause nothing but damage to your lash follicles. Once that occurs, Zephyr says no hair will grow. If you want them removed, it is advised that you visit a professional technician such as the Lashes Boss herself, to get it done the right way.

3) APPLICATION IS PAINFUL: According to Zephyr, there are many beauty trends and their accompanying processes which may be painful to apply, but this is not the case with lash extensions. Zephyr who is passionate about women empowerment notes that the application process is actually quite relaxing.

In fact, some people are so comfortable during a lash extension application that they slip into a wondrous nap or listen to music while the Lashes Boss works her magic.

4) AFTER STOPPING LASH EXTENSION, YOUR NATURAL LASHES WILL BE THINNNER OR SHORTER. Zephyr told Kaieteur Entertainment that based on her research and experience; nothing could be further from the truth. Citing notes from Board Certified cosmetologist of Los Angeles , C.A., Arianna Montazem, Zephyr said that lash extensions do not have this effect. But once they are removed or the client desists from same, Zephyr said it gives the illusion that your natural lashes are shorter or not as full.

The Lashes Boss said she has had this very

SIX EASY, DELICIOUS COCKTAILS TO MAKE WITH DEWAR’S BLENDED SCOTCH Dewar’s blended Scotch comes in several incarnations with the “White Label,” “12year,” and “18-year” being among the most popular. As is true of most things spirited, it’s best to let price point determine whether you want to tip your Scotch into a cocktail shaker rather than enjoying it neat or on the rocks.

Latoya “Lashes Boss” Zephyr experience with some of her clients after they had their lashes removed.

5) YOU MUST TAKE BREAKS. According to Zephyr, the idea of giving your natural lashes time or room to breathe is merely a myth. She categorically states that your natural lashes are not even aware that the extensions are being applied to them hence they will grow and shed as per normal. Be that as it may, Zephyr notes that it is up to the client to decide if they want to take a break.

Now that clients and potentials clienteles are well au-fait with the myths of lash extensions, there is only one thing left to do—Book your lash extension appointment with the lovely Lashesbytoya for that luscious, natural look.

As a parting piece of advice until next week, the Lashes Boss says, “As a woman, pampering yourself brings you one step closer to loving yourself.”

For more information, be sure to contact the Lashes Boss at 6708031. You can also follow her page on Instagram @LashesByToya.

Wine of the week Gen 5 Merlot 2016: A blend of powerful aromas and dark juices The Gen5 Merlot 2016 is sure to hypnotize you with its powerful aromas of ripe dark fruit. It carries a smooth and spicy taste with the dark juicy fruit of plum and blackberry wrapped up in a pleasant, silky texture.

The dry finish features more of the same.

At-home Entertainment Tips!!!

This special selection can be found at the Wine Vault at the Marriott Hotel, as well as all leading bars and restaurants.

The Gen 5 which hails from California, pairs well with tomato-based pastas, roasted meats, grapes, and parmesan cheese.

And it’s fair to say that the cheaper Dewar’s options are best suited to heavyhanded cocktails with robust contrasting flavors such as blackberry or citrus. But if you are looking to make entertaining your guests at home this weekend a bit more flavourful, then see below for a few cocktails that are easy to make using the Dewar Blended Scotch which is distributed

by Ansa McAL. Enjoy!

1) BLOOD AND SAND Invented in London in the early 20th century, this sweet, citrus-y drink is somewhat reminiscent of a Rob Roy— and quite a way to get a hit of Vitamin C!Ingredients:1 oz fresh-squeezed orange juice ¾ ounce sweet Vermouth 1 oz Dewar’s White Label 3/4 cherry heering Method:Add all ingredients to cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds, until very cold. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, and serve neat, garnished with a cherry.

2)WHISKEY HIGHBALL This is how the classic highball is made at Star Bar, the famous whiskey bar in Japan, elevated thanks to little touches such as mineral water (not sparkling) and a super-cold serving vessel.

Ingredients: 1 ½ parts Dewar’s White Label 3 parts sparkling mineral water such as Mountain Valley Lemon peel, to garnish Method: Take a chilled highball glass from the freezer, and fill with ice. Stir well, and strain off any excess water. Add Scotch, and top with sparkling water. Stir well, and garnish with lemon peel.

3) WHISKEY AND COCONUT Set aside your pre-conceived notions of Scotch being best paired with soda or gingerale; on the Caribbean coast of South America, it’s very popular spun with coconut water. (And yes, it works!)

Ingredients: 1 ½ parts Dewar’s 12-Year 3 parts coconut water Lime wedge, to garnish Method:

Fill a highball glass with ice, add Scotch, and top with coconut water. Stir briefly, and garnish with lime.

4) DRAMBLE This drink is a riff on one made by late London bartender Dick Bradsell, whose gin and blackberry “Bramble” cocktail became a much-loved drink among cocktail enthusiasts.

Ingredients: 2 parts Dewar’s 12-Year 1 part freshly squeezed lemon juice T! part simple syrup Blackberry liqueur Blackberry or other fresh berry, to garnish Method: Combine Scotch, lemon juice, and sugar syrup in a rocks glass. Stir, fill with crushed ice, and drizzle a little blackberry liqueur on the ice.

Garnish with berry, and serve.

5) BOBBY BURNS Herbaceous and warming, this nigh-forgotten classic is ideal for chilly autumn and winter evenings.

Ingredients: 2 parts Dewar’s 12-Year 1 part Martini & Rossi sweet vermouth 1 barspoon of Bénédictine Orange peel, to garnish Method: Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass, and add ice.

Stir well, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with orange peel.

6) Penicillin Sam Ross debuted this riff on a whiskey sour at revolutionary Manhattan speakeasy Milk & Honey in 2005, and it has gone on to be a favorite among craft bartenders nationwide. (Ross went on to open the excellent watering hole Attaboy, also in New York City.)

Ingredients: 3D4 oz. Honey-Ginger Syrup (see below) 2 oz. blended Scotch, such as Dewar’s 12-Year 3D4 oz. fresh lemon juice 1 1D2 oz. Islay single-malt Scotch Candied ginger, to garnish (optional) Method: Make honey-ginger syrup: Combine honey, ginger, and 1 cup water in a 2quart saucepan over high heat; boil.

Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 5 minutes.

Chill overnight, then strain, discarding solids.

Combine blended Scotch, lemon juice, and syrup in a cocktail shaker filled with ice; shake vigorously and strain into a rocks glass with one large ice cube.

Top with single-malt Scotch and garnish with candied ginger, if desired. (https:/ /www.travelandleisure.com/ food-drink/cocktails-spirits/ dewars-scotch-cocktail-recipes)

Sunday August 04, 2019

PAGE 51

Kaieteur News

5 Wonderful Benefits Of Cucumber Cucumber is a fruit from the Cucurbitaceae family.

Scientifically known as Cucumis sativus, it belongs to the same family as zucchini, watermelon, pumpkin, and other types of summer squash. The plant where cucumber grows is a creeping vine that develops these cylindrical, edible fruits throughout the year.

Different varieties of cucumber are grown in different regions of the world. Cucumbers, typically eaten fresh, are called slicing cucumbers.

Gherkin cucumbers are specially produced to make pickles (also known as pickled cucumbers). These are much smaller in size than the slicing ones. Slicing cucumbers are available throughout the year, but they are at their best between May and July.

About Cucumber Cucumbers originated in India almost 10,000 years ago, but are now cultivated in many countries. Different varieties of cucumbers are traded in the international market and you will find them in abundance all year long.

In the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Greece, and Rome, the cucumber was very popular, and its uses were not limited to just being food. It was also praised for its beneficial effects on the skin. Louis XIV cherished cucumbers greatly and the process of cultivating them in greenhouses was invented during his time to make sure he was able to have a steady supply of the enjoyable fruit during any season.

The American colonists also took this variety of crunchy and healthy squash to the United States.

It is still unknown when cucumbers began to be used for pickling, but researchers have speculated that the gherkin variety of cucumber was developed from a native African plant. Spain was one of the countries, during ancient times, that started pickling cucumbers since Roman emperors imported them from this Mediterranean country.

Features and Varieties of Cucumbers You are probably familiar with the phrase “cool as a cucumber”, which speaks directly to the soothing and cooling nature that cucumbers have when eaten. These fruits are grown mainly to be eaten fresh, and in India, you will often find sliced cucumbers being sold on sunny afternoons. They are usually cylindrical in shape and vary in length from about six to nine inches. However, the size of cucumbers varies according to a variety of cultivating factors as well.

The skin of the cucum-

bers can vary in color from green to white, and sometimes it may be smooth or ridged depending on the variety. Inside the cucumber skin, you will find pale green flesh that is thick yet aqueous and crispy at the same time. The interior core of cucumber has numerous, edible fleshy seeds.Many cucumber varieties are also grown in greenhouses; they are seedless with thinner skin and a longer length, usually between 12 and 20 inches. Often known as “burpless”, this variety of cucumber is bought by a majority, since it is easier to digest than the other kinds of cucumbers.

Nutrition Facts Cucumbers are rich in various nutrients, vitamins, minerals, energy, and water. According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, cucumbers are a good source of potassium, phosphorus, vitamin C, and vitamin K. [1] They also provide small amounts of iron, sodium, and Bvitamins(riboflavin, niacin, and vitamin B-6).

Health Benefits of Cucumbers While the health benefits of cucumber are not widely known in many cultures. The taste of fresh cucumber is somewhat bland in comparison with other squashes, the thirst quenching and the cooling qualities of this squash are truly refreshing. It’s also important to remember that proper seasoning of cucumbers with herbs and spices can make it a great addition to many meals and snacks.

Cucumber benefits are many, and range from preventing acidity to keeping the skin well-toned.

Skin Care Cucumber is rich in silica, which is an essential component that aids in developing strong and healthy connective tissues in the muscles, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and bones. Doctors often recommend cucumber juice because of the silica content for healthier and brighter skin.

Additionally, research in the journal Nutrition Review [2] highlights the importance of fluids and hydration for the skin health. Cucumber’s high water content makes it naturally hydrating. Ascorbic and caffeic acid are the two vital compounds in cucumbers that help prevent water loss from the body.

The extract of cucumbers is often used topically for treating various types of skin ailments like sunburn and under-eye swelling. They may also be recommended to assist in the treatment of other skin ailments like psoriasis, eczema, and acne. These are

some of the reasons why cucumbers are applied topically for various skin problems.

Prevent Constipation & Kidney Stones Cucumbers are a perfect blend of both fiber and water.

Therefore, they help to protect your body from constipation and kidney stones.

[3]Regularly enjoying a cucumber rich salad is a great way to increase fiber intake.

Cucumber is also a good source of vitamin C, silica, potassium, and magnesium; all of which have their own health benefits. Cucumber skin contains high levels of vitamin A, so you will gain more of this nutrient if you eat the entire thing without removing the skin.

Control Blood Pressure The studies done at DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet was developed based upon research from the United States National Institute of Health as a method to help lower blood pressure. It found that consuming foods high in magnesium, potassium, and fiber were key. Those eating a diet rich in these complexes, along with the other foods like seafood, low-fat dairy items, lean meat, and poultry, saw their blood pressure drop.

Cucumber, therefore, contributes to healthy regulation of blood pressure and contributes to the proper structure of connective tissues in our body, including those in the muscles, bones, ligaments, cartilage, and tendons.

Manage Diabetes An animal study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology sheds light on the anti-hyperglycemic effect of cucumber. [4] Cucumbers have been used for assistance with glucose control in diabetic patients.

They possess a hormone required by the beta cells during insulin production. The presence of carbohydrates and their impact on the body is measured by the glycemic index (GI). Glycemic Index measures how carbohydrates contribute to raising glucose (or blood sugar) levels. Every food item contains essential nutrients in different percentages. The glycemic index (GI) of cucumbers is actually zero, meaning that it is a good choice for diabetic patient and, thus, can help keep the glucose level in check. Nowadays, most commercial stores have cucumber supplements as spiny sea cucumber extract powder, thought to be effective in combating the effects of diabetes.

Provide Antioxidant Power Cucumbers can often act as antioxidants when con-

sumed along with processed foods and high sugar foods.

As per a study published in The Journal of Nutrition, Health, and Aging, monthlong consumption of cucumber powder shows improvement in the body’s antioxidant activities. [5] Other Benefits Cucumbers are low in acidity, meaning they can be tolerated by those with gastric sensitivities. Cucumbers also help normalize body temperature during summer given their high water content. Cucumber juice is a diuretic, so it may contribute to decreasing the likelihood of developing is able to prevent kidney stones too.

Cucumber FAQs How to buy cucumbers?

Cucumbers are very sensitive to heat, so aim to select the ones which are displayed in the refrigerated cases in the stores. Squeeze them for firmness (they should be) and check that the color is a bright medium to dark green. Avoid the yellow, puffy cucumbers that have water-soaked areas or wrinkled tips. You will find fewer seeds in the thinner cucumbers.

How to store cucumbers?

Storing cucumbers in the refrigerator will help retain their freshness for a longer time. If the entire fruit is not used in one meal, then wrap the remainder tightly in plastic or place it in a closed container so that it does not dry out. Try to eat cucumbers within one or two days of buying them or else they will become limp, especially if

kept for more than a week.

How to cut and eat cucumbers?

Cucumbers can be cut into various shapes and sizes; they can be sliced, diced or cut into sticks. Cucumber seeds are edible and nutritious, but some people prefer not to eat them. For those that wish to avoid the seeds, can cut cucumbers lengthwise, and use the tip of a spoon to gently scoop the seeds.

Cucumbers are commonly used in a number of recipes.

You can use half-inch thick cucumber slices and serve them with chopped vegetablesalads. Cut cucumbers into a dice shape, mix

them with sugar snap peas, mint leaves, and pour rice wine vinaigrette into the mixture.

You can also make an excellent purée with cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers, and onions. Add salt and pepper for some extra flavor. Cucumbers give a fresh taste to tuna fish or chicken salad preparations. They can be eaten alone in their sliced form or with sprinkled salt and pepper. No matter how you eat cucumbers, you are sure to get a whole lot of nutrition from these truly “cool” foods. ( h t t p s : / / www.organicfacts.net/healthbenefits/vegetable/ cucumber.html?utm_source=onesignal01Aug2019)

Sunday August 04, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 52

very shy, not fond of being seen.She flew right by a planet, that was frozen icy cold.And then she saw a planet that was made of jewels and gold!

She had started to notice that each planet seemed brighter than the last.

They were all so different and all so pretty. supplies if you will color in the It became hard for her to decide where to go What you need: o our paper cat craft template template next. If each planet she visited was more o paper – white printer paper if you o scissors beautiful than the one before it, then how could will color it in and additional color she decide which way to go next, and how could o glue papers if you'll be using the she decide where to stay. o Additional decorations always template as a stencil So she continued traveling, afraid to miss a welcome: glitter, pipe cleaners for o printer single planet. whiskers… o markers or other coloring Eventually she came upon the big blue planet that she had once circled, but she found Step by Step Instructions 2 that is was not the same. It was shining in a way 1 Print out the paper cat craft that it never had before. It was more blue than it template (you can grab it by printing the had ever been, and certainly more beautiful. image via the link). If you will be This made her stop for a moment. coloring the template, we recommend “I do not know where I should go next” she you color it first. said out loud. “Each direction is filled with Cut out all the template parts. wonderful planets. And I cannot stop, knowing *If using as the stencil, trace around the 4 3 that the next planet will be even more beautiful parts on colored paper and cut the parts out.* if I continue on. Even my big blue planet has Take the head part and apply glue on the grown more beautiful every day in my field marked with “glue”. absence.”The big blue planet overheard this.

Roll and glue together. Allow the glue to dry.

“Can you not see why I am brighter?” it asked.

Junior page

CAT CRAFT

by Daniel Errico When the universe was young the sky was filled with planets, and stars, and stardust, and many many rocks. One of these rocks was a bit more special than the rest. She was unlike any that came before her.

She was a kind and happy rock, who always floated near a big blue planet.

Sometimes when the light hit her surface, she would glow a brilliant green. At times like those, she almost didn’t look like a rock at all.

As the sky moved from day to day, and week to week, the rock would see planets far off in the distance.

She would wonder what it would be like to go to them. Week after week and month after month she would wonder. Until one day she decided to go find out. The rock had never gone anywhere before and wasn’t sure how to go about it.

She started to rock back and forth.Then she started to spin. Soon enough, she was flying through the sky.

As she left, clouds swirled on the big blue planet. For it was sad to see her go, and when planets cry there is a rain storm.

At first the rock was not good at moving.

She would spin too far to the right or too far to the left. Slowly she learned how to travel whichever direction she liked, and she enjoyed exploring space.

She saw a planet filled with water, with not a speck of land.Then found a planet all dried up, with beaches made of sand.She swore she met a planet who looked suspiciously like her.

And then she saw a planet that was, well… she wasn’t sure. One planet she discovered, had grown forests made of green.Another one was

5 “You are the brightest planet I have ever seen,” she said, “but I do not know why you glow brighter today than you did when I left you.”“You have brightened me,” it said.

“But I am just a rock” she replied.

“You are no longer just a rock like the day you left me,” said the big blue planet. “You have grown bold and bright. Now you are a shooting star, and you are the reason that I shine. And while you are worrying about which direction to go, all of the planets in space are hoping that you will come their way to brighten them.”

And so the shooting star, who was no longer just a rock, finally understood. It did not matter where she went, the light was her own.

So the rock sat there for a moment, by the bright blue planet and wondered.

“Should I keep traveling, or should I fly around the big blue planet and grow brighter with it each day.”

She thought, until she knew exactly what to do.

7

9

There is a cross marked with dash lines on the head part. Cut along the dashed lines.

Glue on the ears on the head (fold along the dashed lines).

Glue them on the dashed lines squares on the head.

Take the body part and make a cone out of it.

Apply glue on the area marked with “glue”, roll together in a cone and allow the glue to set.

Apply glue on the head area, on the dashed cross area.

Place the head on the cone and push it down – the glue will set it in place.

Now it’s time to do some cat decorating!

Stick the cat tail on the back of your cone cat.

6

8

And the little legs!

All done! You have made a wonderful cat paper craft! I hope you will enjoy using our paper cat craft 10 template over and over again, creating all kinds of wonderful cats. link:https://www.easypeasyandf 11 un.com/paper-cat-craft-template/

12 13

14

FUN WITH POETRY

Do it with a smile At times when I have to deal with others, Like a sister, teacher or friend, I find the way how I look to them Does make a lot of difference.

It made me wonder why this was so, Until I asked them to tell me why; They told me that most times I look too serious, When they would feel better if I smile.

Dot to Dot

So I now try to become more cheerful, Whenever I have to speak with others; And I now find that just a smile (BY UNCLE ROY) At every time can do wonders.

Sunday August 04, 2019

Kaieteur News

Make a sincere effort to

become a friendlier person

A

s we said last week, your success in developing your personal relationships will depend largely on whether the people you associate with feel that you are always willing to be a friend.

It will therefore be desirable to positively utilise some amount of your time and energy to make the effort to cultivate and maintain friendliness with them.

Here are some further tips you can use in this endeavour:1. Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.

When you speak a person’s name in any conversation with them, they are assured that you are speaking on a personal level to them particularly.

This will automatically make them feel valued and willing to reciprocate and make the effort at being friendly.

2. Be a good listener.

Encourage others to talk about themselves, about their own feelings, problems they now face, and their ambitions long and shortterm. When you pay keen attention to their words, you will also find that you can read more than they express in the tone of their voice, the gestures they make with their hands and other body parts, and their facial movements.

3. Talk in terms of the other person’s interests. You can take some time to learn about the things they are interested in, and frame parts of your conversation around these.

This goes a long way towards making them feel you are genuinely concerned about them, and increase the chances of a good relationship developing.

4. Make the other person feel important Although you will want to help the other person to rid themselves of their negative actions and qualities, you will need to place more emphasis on their good features, which will help them to feel they are worthy. You may also try to show them how they can improve further in these, as long as this is always positive.

Whatever you do in this effort at being friendly and helpful, always be sincere, positive and be seen as willing to develop your relationship further.

PAGE 53

A Listening Friend Tonight you came in answer to my unspoken prayer, When I needed someone to say what I needed to hear; You were a symbol, a bomb to break the steel, Then you were my rescue, the aid to help me heal.

Tonight you spoke the words, everything I knew, But they were too far down for me to make them come through; I understood clearly for the first time: You are a listening friend, and one of a chosen kind; Thank you for tearing down the walls I built so high, You showed me that there still is sun on the other side; You must know that I shall always hold you dear, For you listened and helped me find an answer to my every prayer.

Showing your willingness to be friendly with others will break down any barriers between you and them.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK TELL IT TO UNCLE ROY Please always remember that Uncle Roy is always ready and willing to assist with any problems with which you may be faced. Just connect by my email at uncleroy1992@yahoo.com and I will respond promptly.

Solutions to last week’s

Sudoku

Crossword puzzle

PAGE 54

4 Tips for Caring for Color Treated Natural Hair

#1 Never apply to dry, damaged hair I know I should be discussing after care, but, I must mention that you should never color your hair if it is dry, damaged, suffering from breakage or split ends. Color will only increase these issues and will lead to severe damage. #2 Increase deep conditioning After every color, I always provide the client with a deep conditioner.

This will help replenish any protein or keratin lost during the coloring phase. I suggest mixing a protein conditioner and a moisturizing conditioner, applying and sitting under the dryer.

The moisturizing conditioner will keep hair from feeling hard or dry after the use of protein ( protein treatments can leave hair feeling dry or brittle depending on brand). If after applying color, hair feels weak, apply deep conditioner once a week until condition improves. #3 Increase the amount of times you moisturize your hair If you are accustom to moisturizing your hair once every 3 days, then increase to once a day. If you are use to once a day, then bump it up to twice a day.

Increasing your moisture will ensure that your hair doesn’t dry out and remains balanced. Increasing is to be done if the hair appears drier than usual. Proceed with the increase until hair porosity has return to normal/balanced.

Once balanced, return to your original regimen to ensure that you do not over-condition or over-moisturize; this will lead to mushy hair and breakage. #4 Use Fillers if necessary Sometimes, immediately after a color service, the hair will feel rough due to holes in the strand or raised cuticles from being over-processed. If this happens, you can attempt to use a semipermanent or demipermanent (typically darker; not blonde or gold) color as a filler – which can help equalize porosity.

There are also protein fillers on the market (for those not wanting to change the color) that fill the holes created from the depletion of natural protein and keratin during the coloring process. **NOTE:: This is a temporary fix, and will have to be reapplied as hair begins to show signs of distress. https://www.naturalhairrules.com/caring-color-treatednatural-hair/

SOLUTION TO LAST WEEK’S WORD SEARCH

Kaieteur News

Sunday August 04, 2019

Kaieteur News

Sunday August 04, 2019

country profile El Salvador, the most densely-populated state on the mainland of the Americas, is a small and highlyindustrialised country.

In the 1980s, El Salvador was ravaged by a bitter civil war stoked by gross inequality between the overwhelming majority of the population and a small and wealthy elite that left around 70,000 people dead.

A United Nationsbrokered peace agreement ended the civil war in 1992, ushering in important political reforms, but the country still suffers from the legacy of a divided society.

Violent “mara” street gangs have left El Salvador with one of the world’s highest murder rates.

President: Salvador Sanchez Ceren

A former rebel leader, Salvador Sanchez Ceren, won the presidential run-off of March 2014 by a narrow margin.

As presidential candidate of the left-wing Farabundo Marti Liberation Front (FMLN), he beat Norman Quijano of the conservative Arena party by less than a quarter of a percentage point, becoming the first former guerrilla to lead the Central American country.

In his inauguration speech, he promised to fight corruption and violence, and “to serve as president of all Salvadoreans”.

MEDIA Press freedom is guaranteed under the constitution and there is a lively media scene.

The broadcast media are privately owned and in the hands of a small group of business interests.

A chronology of key events 1524 - Spanish adventurer Pedro de Alvarado conquers El Salvador.

1540 - Indigenous resistance finally crushed and El Salvador becomes a Spanish colony.

Civil war Wall in San Salvador commemorating those killed in the Salvadoran civil warImage copyrightAFP Image caption Tens of thousands died in the brutal 1979-1992 war between left-wing rebels and the government A ever-growing memorial wall lists those identified as being among the estimated 70,000 civil war victims US role in Salvador’s brutal war 1821 - El Salvador gains

independence from Spain.

Conflict ensues over territory’s incorporation into Mexican empire under Creole general Agustin de Iturbide.

1823 - El Salvador becomes part of the United Provinces of Central America, which also includes Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

Independence 1840 - El Salvador becomes fully independent following the dissolution of the United Provinces of Central America.

1859-63 - President Gerardo Barrios introduces coffee growing.

1932 - Some 30,000 people are killed during the suppression of a peasant uprising led by Agustine Farabundo Marti.

Civil war 1961 - Right-wing National Conciliation Party (PCN) comes to power after a military coup.

1969 - El Salvador attacks and fights a brief war with Honduras following the eviction of thousands of Salvadoran illegal immigrants from Honduras.

Romero assassination El Salvadorans commemorate the 31st anniversary of the 1980 assassination of human rights campaign and archbishop of San Salvador, Oscar Romero, on 24 March 2011Image copyrightAFP Champion of the poor: A right-wing death squad killed Archbishop Oscar Romero in 1980 El Salvador remembers Archbishop Romero 1977 - Guerrilla activities by the left-wing Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) intensify amid reports of increased human rights violations by government troops and death squads; General Carlos Romero elected president.

1979-81 - Around 30,000 people are killed by armybacked right-wing death squads.

1979 - General Romero ousted in coup by reformist officers who install a militarycivilian junta, but this fails to curb army-backed political violence.

1980 - Archbishop of San Salvador and human rights campaigner Oscar Romero assassinated; Jose Napoleon Duarte becomes first civilian president since 1931.

1981 - France and Mexico recognise the FMLN as legitimate political force; US continues to assist El Salvadoran government whose army continues to back right-wing death squads.

1982 - Extreme right-wing National Republican Alliance (Arena) wins parliamentary elections marked by violence.

1984 - Duarte wins presidential election.

PAGE 55

El Salvador

1986 - Duarte begins quest for negotiated settlement with FMLN. 1989 - FMLN attacks intensify; another Arena candidate, Alfredo Cristiani, voted president in elections widely believed to have been rigged.

Peace and natural disasters 1991 - FMLN recognised as political party; government and FMLN sign UNsponsored peace accord.

2001 earthquakes

leader Schafik Handal, as she pays homage during a special ceremony at the N a t i o n a l University in San Salvador 27 J a n u a r y 2006.Image copyrightAFP Te n s o f thousands attended the funeral of iconic FMLN guerrilla leader Schafik Handal in 2006 El Salvador buries

At least 1,000 people died and tens of thousands were left homeless by two massive quakes in 2001 Salvador struggles with quake aftermath 2001: Earthquake devastates Salvador 1993 - Government declares amnesty for those implicated by UN-sponsored commission in human rights atrocities.

1994 - Arena candidate Armando Calderon Sol elected president.

1997 - FMLN makes progress in parliamentary elections; leftist Hector Silva elected mayor of San Salvador.

1999 - Arena candidate Francisco Flores beats former guerrilla Facundo Guardado in presidential election.

2001 January, February Massive earthquakes kill 1,200 people and render another one million homeless.

2002 July - US court holds two retired, US-based Salvadoran army generals responsible for civil war atrocities, orders them to compensate victims who brought case.

2003 August - 360 Salvadoran troops despatched to Iraq.

2003 December - El Salvador - along with Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala - agrees on a freetrade agreement with the US. The government ratifies the pact in December 2004.

Saca presidency 2004 March - Arena candidate Tony Saca wins presidential elections.

Handal death A supporter raises her fist in front of a portrait of the Farabundo Marti for National Liberation Front (FMLN)

revolutionary 2005 March - OAS human rights court votes to re-open an investigation into the 1981 massacre of hundreds of peasant farmers in the village of El Mozote, regarded as one of the worst atrocities of the civil war.

2005 October - Thousands flee as the Ilamatepec volcano, also known as Santa Ana, erupts. Days later scores of people are killed as Tropical Storm Stan sweeps through.

2006 March - El Salvador is the first Central American country to implement a regional free trade agreement with the US. 2006 April - El Salvador and neighbouring Honduras inaugurate their newlydefined border. The countries fought over the disputed

400 judges hold a street protest over corruption allegations made against four of their colleagues.

2009 January - Former FMLN rebel movement emerges as largest party in parliamentary elections, although short of a majority.

Seen as preparation for presidential election in March.

2009 February - Ruling party Arena wins largest number of places in local elections despite polls favouring the opposition FMLN. Funes elected Gangs Members of the Mara 18 gang disguise their identities at a police station in Ilopnago (2007)Image copyrightAFP Gangs - known as “Maras” - fuel El Salvador’s high murder rate First emerged in the US in the 1980s Spread to Central America as gang members were deported“Mara Salvatrucha” and “18th Street” (or “Mara 18”)are the most notorious In pictures: Life inside an El Salvador jail Are Mexican drugs cartels eyeing El Salvador?

2009 March - Former Marxist rebel Mauricio Funes of the FMLN party wins presidential elections, marking the first time in two decades that a leftist president has been voted in.

2009 June - Mauricio Funes sworn in as president.

2011 October - Torrential rains cause flooding across Central America, killing several people in El Salvador.

2011 December Government apologises for civil war massacre of more than 1,000 poeple in the town of El Mozote.

2012 March - Funes government suffers setback in parliamentary polls which give the right-wing a narrow victory.

2012 December - Human Rights Court for the Americas finds El Salvador guilty over the civil war massacre at El Mozote in 1981.

2013 April - A year-long truce between street gangs has saved the lives of thousands, the government says.

2014 March - VicePresident Sanchez Ceren scores narrow win over conservative candidate Norman Quijano in presidential election. He takes office in June as the first former left-wing rebel to become president.

2014 June - The US boosts aid and speeds up deportations to cope with the growing number of migrants from Central America. El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala are to receive millions of dollars to combat gang violence and help citizens repatriated from the US. 2014 September - Former president Francisco Flores is placed under arrest after he hands himself in to the

Guerrillas surrendered their weapons after a protracted civil war

frontier in 1969.

2007 January - 21 inmates are killed in a riot at a maximum-security prison west of the capital.

2007 February - Three members of the governing Arena party are murdered in Guatemala. There are suspicions that an organised crime syndicate is behind the killings.El Salvador’s position on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” makes it prone to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes 2008 January - More than

Restores diplomatic relations with Cuba.

2009 November - More than 140 people are killed and thousands left homeless in mudslides and floods.

2010 June - Fourteen people killed in two attacks by suspected gang members on public buses in capital, San Salvador, on the same day.

2011 September - US adds El Salvador and Belize to its list of countries considered major producers or transit routes for illegal drugs.

authorities over charges of misappropriating funds from Taiwan during his 1999-2004 term in office. He denies the charges, which he says are politically motivated.

2015 May - Murdered Archbishop Oscar Romero is beatified, after Pope Francis approved his status as martyr in January.

2017 January - Police say the country has gone 24 hours without any murders - a rare occurrence in a nation plagued by gang warfare.

PAGE 56

Continued from last edition 42. I don't work well under pressure… or any other circumstance.

43. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

44. I thought I wanted a career, turns out I just wanted paychecks 45. Some people are like Slinkies … not really good for anything, but you can't help smiling when you see one tumble down the stairs.

46. A work week is so rough that after Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF. 47. I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.

48. Laugh at your problems, everybody else does.

49. Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.

50. He who smiles in a crisis has found someone to blame.

51. Some cause happiness wherever they go. Others whenever they go.

52. Worrying works! 90% of the things I worry about never happen.

53. I couldn't work today because of an eye problem. I just can't see myself working today.

54. When in doubt, mumble.

55. You're never too old to learn something stupid.

56. When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water.

57.When it comes to work, change is inevitable, except from the vending machine.

58. If you keep your feet firmly on the ground, you'll have trouble putting on your pants.

59. Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

60. Keep the dream alive: hit the snooze button.

61. If you can stay calm while all around you is chaos, then you probably haven't completely understood the situation.

62. Hard work never killed anyone, but why take the chance?

63. I have all the money I'll ever need – if I die by 4:00 p.m. today.

64. The right to be heard does not automatically include the right to be taken seriously.

65. Archaeologist: someone whose career lies in ruins.

66. The probability of someone watching you is proportional to the stupidity of your action.

67. It matters not whether you win or lose: what matters is whether I win or lose.

68. If you can't convince them, confuse them.

69. Progress is made by lazy people looking for an easier way to do things.

70. I don't have a solution, but I do admire the problem.

71. People tend to make rules for others and exceptions for themselves.

72. Stress is when you wake up screaming and you realize you haven't fallen asleep yet.

73. Sometimes the best helping hand you can give is a good, firm push.

74. Drink coffee! Do stupid things faster with more energy!

75. I don't mind coming to work, it's the 8-hour wait to go home I can't stand.

76. A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.

77. The trouble with being punctual is that nobody's there to appreciate it.

78. Just about the time when you think you can make ends meet, somebody moves the ends.

79. My biggest professional ambition is to get a desk where no one can see my computer monitor but me.

80. A committee is twelve men doing the work of one.

81. If everything seems to be coming your way, you're probably in the wrong lane.

82. It's not how good your work is, it's how well you explain it.

83. Efficiency is a highly developed form of laziness.

84. The farther away the future is, the better it looks.

85.Some of us learn from the mistakes of others; the rest of us have to be the others.

86. Discretion is being able to raise your eyebrow instead of your voice.

87. I pretend to work as long as they pretend to pay me.

88. I like my job only marginally more than I like being homeless.

89. The trouble with doing something right the first time is that nobody appreciates how difficult it was.

90. The human brain is a wonderful thing. It starts working the moment you are born, and never stops until you stand up to speak in public.

Kaieteur News

Sunday August 04, 2019

Sunday August 04, 2019

Kaieteur News

The racists and the Haitians From page 44 sooner or later.

So if it was not that case, why did we turn a blind eye?

There is lots of money involved in people smuggling. Guyanese have been welcomed all across the world, including from Ve n e z u e l a . We h a v e thousands also living in Trinidad, Suriname, Antigua, St. Maarten, Barbados, the US and Canada and the UK. I would welcome the Haitians and Cubans and Venezuelans and others to Guyana with open arms, if my Government says it has a policy. It is the same way we welcome the Venezuelans in Region One. However, we do not have a policy of integrating Haitians wholesale into Guyana.

What we have is an open door policy to use Guyana as a stepping stone for smuggling the Haitians.

It is in essence a moneymaking scheme for a few.

There are strong suggestions, too, that the Cubans would have also been smuggled to Brazil.

Like I said, there are many questions. Clearly, a smuggling ring has actively been in place for several months now.

Money is being made.

Even if the Haitians pay US$1,000 for passing

through Guyana, that would amount to US$8.6M (or $1.6B) in fees for the smugglers. That is not chump change.

There is another aspect, while many minibus operators, hotels, and private home owners are benefitting, there is a bilateral side of things for Guyana. When the Brazilian and Surinamese governments find out that the Government of Guyana turned a blind eye to allow thousands of migrants in or through their country, what do you believe would be the response?

There is a money laundering worry; there is a diplomatic risk and more importantly to me, the security risks, along with the threats to our sovereignty. So the big question therefore has to be how is it that race became an issue.

We will also have to talk about whether we allow the current situation to continue and determine, in keeping with calls, if our systems were abused.

Protecting our country and asking hard questions does not necessarily mean that there is a selfish agenda.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)

BREXIT's effect on Caribbean tourism From page 24 countries in the world whose GDP are significantly reliant on travel and tourism receipts. St Kitts-Nevis tops the list at number 4 in the world, followed by Grenada (5), St Vincent and the Grenadines (8), Antigua and Barbuda (10), St Lucia (11), Bahamas (12), Barbados (14) and Jamaica (15).

G i v e n t h i s r e a l i t y, however smaller the number of UK tourists might become over the next few years as Britain comes to grips with being outside the EU with or without a deal, Caribbean countries should strive, in their own interest, to retain a share of it. In the short-term, Caribbean governments and hoteliers should create a plan to keep the region attractive to UK visitors, including ways in which they can incentivise their visits.

The longer-term solution rests with the UK government and parliament, both of which should recognise that, stripped of all

emotional considerations, the British economy cannot recover and prosper in splendid isolation from its closest neighbours and, presently, its biggest trading partner – the EU. Britain can retain sovereignty over its affairs, but settling the EU relationship on predictable terms is crucial to progressing anything else.

(The writer is Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States and the Organisation of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and at Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are entirely his own) Responses and previous c o m m e n t a r i e s : www.sirronaldsanders.com (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)

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Kaieteur News

Sunday August 04, 2019

With Miriam Makeba on Emancipation Day From page 38 especially the one telling us that true freedom; real freedom, is rooted in a willingness to chart our own paths, for our own welfare as individuals, and as a nation.

That's why the day is a national holiday. But back to Miriam Makeba.

Born near Johannesburg, South Africa in 1932, Makeba grew into adulthood as apartheid was being institutionalized there.

She overcame breast and cervical cancer before the age of 30, and by then had already established herself as a singer and actress.

International fame took her to New York and London where she met the JamaicanAmerican entertainer and human rights activist, Harry Belafonte, who helped mentor her, and with whom she later recorded several duets.

M a n y o f h e r performances gradually took on a political, anti-apartheid tone, and when in 1960 following the Sharpeville massacre in which two members of her family were killed, she tried to return home, it was discovered that her South African passport had been cancelled, and she was in exile.

However, her fame grew, especially in the US, where by the mid-sixties two of her songs had gained great popularity. Incidentally, both of them, 'Pata pata' and 'Oongqothwane' (The Click song) were very popular here in Guyana in the late sixties.

So I listened to her songs and her speeches. They included a 1969 interview in Finland when, in response to a speculative question about the future of South African Whites post-apartheid, she said, “It's something that we don't worry about; all we are worried about is to fight and liberate ourselves.

What will happen after that will depend on the invaders. They could have come to our country and lived side by side with us; we didn't mind that. In fact, when they came, we said, 'Come in, sit down', and they sat down and said, 'Get out!', and now it will be up to them …”

I then imagined what the Arawak, Inca, and other New World natives must have originally thought of the Europeans, and wondered at the presumption of it all.

But it was the songs and performances I enjoyed most, including her collaboration with other musician-activists like Harry

Belafonte, Hugh Masekela, and Nina Simone.

The day being what it was, I was drawn to the more militant ones like 'Piece of ground' which reflects on the white man's usurpation in 'God's own country', the discovery of gold, the exploitation of black labour, and the black man's demand for his own piece of land.

Then it was 'Soweto blues' recalling the other notorious massacre following the Soweto To w n s h i p s t u d e n t demonstration in which hundreds of protesters were reportedly shot and killed by police, including dozens of schoolchildren.

But it wasn't all morbid as I waxed nostalgic with 'Pata pata', 'The Click song', and 'Malaika', the lighthearted romance of 'Meet me at the river', the haunting 'Suliram',the bluesy gospel touch a la Mahalia Jackson in 'When I've passed on', and a dozen others. Then it was 'A Luta continua' as she touched on Samora Machel and FRELIMO; Nelson and Winnie Mandela, the ANC, and more.

I closed off the session with a repeat of 'Piece of Ground'. And I thought about what our foreparents did in pooling their resources to establish the village movement in Guyana. I thought of Victoria and Lichfield; Queenstown and Dartmouth, and how some of the youths in those villages appear to be mocking both their ancestors' incessant toil and subsequent freedom from it.

I remember thinking how easy it had been for me to identify coastal African villages by the relatively dilapidated condition of their buildings and infrastructure.

And I thought again of those black men (and women) on our city streets, toiling for pittance, while others waited on food box handouts, clinging to survival.

Another Emancipation Day is less than 12 months away. Next year promises to be an unforgettable one, as oil and politics either clash or cohere.

And when August 1 rolls round in 2020, we may find that emancipation is an even bigger myth than some of us thought, or that it is finally and irrevocably manifesting its true meaning – for all Guyanese.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)

Sunday August 04, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Blazing a life-saving trail,

Dr. Azim Gangji

A father to a beautiful daughter

is a ‘Special Person’ From page 22 world is haemodialysis, where the blood is pumped out of the patient's body into a machine, which is essentially an artificial kidney, through which it is filtered and returned to the body.

Another form of dialysis, which Dr. Gangji said the DMRC is hoping to soon introduce, is peritoneal dialysis, which allows a patient's abdomen to act as a natural filter. But, according to the physician, given the fact that dialysis cannot fully replace the functions of the kidneys, the best possible option for a renal failure patient is a transplant.

It is for this reason, DMRC has reached out to the Ministry of Public Health and the GPHC to introduce w h a t D r. G a n g j i h a s described as a safe method of kidney transplant.

Human beings are born with two kidneys and medical experts have found that persons can survive normally with a single working kidney. Moreover, a kidney transplant is a surgical procedure whereby a kidney is removed from a suitably matched donor and placed into a renal failure patient.

Kidney transplants are nothing new to Guyana, as a number of these have been done over the years.

However, the safe method referenced by the physician is a kidney transplant done laparoscopically.

This procedure is touted as one that caters to swifter recovery of both recipient and donor, and entails the surgeon making three or four small incisions in the lower abdomen to remove and insert the kidney. “In

Canada, we do things laparoscopically, and this allows the donors and recipients to recover much faster…so that's the goal, but if we are not allowed to do that here, we will use other ways of doing the transplant,” said Dr. Gangji.

SYSTEMS IN PLACE Discussions with Brigadier George Lewis, Chief Executive Officer of the GPHC, have reportedly been favourable, as were interactions with Public Health Minister, Ms. Volda Lawrence, who Dr. Gangji said has been supportive in promising access to medication for patients. This is particularly important, since this service is expected to be offered at no cost to patients.

To f a c i l i t a t e t h e

A morally responsible physician

transplants, Dr. Gangji said that “we will bring our own team down” whose efforts will be complemented by a number of doctors from the GPHC who were long in training at McMaster University to aid the process.

These trained and certified doctors, Dr. Gangji said, will support the follow-up care of patients, which, he explained, is especially crucial. “We have a very strong clinic structure developed at DMRC, so we have the technology and strong follow-up that mimics the way we do things back in Canada,” he added.

While the transplants are not slated to occur for another few months, plans for its initiation have been set in motion, since the cross-matching process for nine patients have

commenced, in what Dr. Gangji described as a sophisticated lab, that has been added at the DMRC. Cross matching is a process of testing the blood and tissues of the donors and recipients to ensure their compatibility for transplantation. The samples, he disclosed, will be sent to Canada where they will be scrutinised by a Committee, which after careful analysis, will determine which pairs are compatible enough for surgery.

Turning his attention to the importance of having in place a local lab, Dr. Gangji said, “it allows us to do a number of specialised lab tests, and you need that specialised lab testing to be able to actually do transplants, because we need to know the drugs levels [of patients]…because if you have under-dosing, it can lead to rejection, if you overdose, it can lead to drug toxicity and those drugs levels have to be measured quite often,” said Dr. Gangji.

MEASURING SUCCESS He noted too that while some people are convinced

that the surgery is the most difficult part of transplantation, this might not be the case, since it is the immunosuppressant that is the most difficult part for patients over time.

Immunosuppressants are anti-rejection drugs that forced the immune system to not view the new organ as an intruder.

But even with the recovery of patients, complete with suppressed immune system, this does not mean that a transplantation team can boast of success.

“You cannot say you are successful if you lose your patient within 10 years… we haven't been successful in that case. If a person dies within two years, we have failed. If the kidney is maintained beyond 10 years then it is a win, and if it is maintained for 15 years, then we can say we have hit the standard,” Dr. Gangji further underscored.

He added, “It is a tricky process, because there is need for expensive drugs and we have to make sure the patients are taking theirs. So patients have to be educated to know that they take their medication at the right time, and we have to follow drugs

levels to make sure that we don't cause any harm,” the physician further explained.

Even as he stressed the importance of closely monitoring post-transplant patients, Dr. Gangji noted that they are still very much at risk of increased infections.

He, moreover, added, “we have to constantly monitor…this means we have to have a system that can actually handle that...so simply doing a transplant and walking away isn't the answer; you are going to need a close collaborative system with a lot of professionals who have experience in this area and a working lab…it is a big team effort to provide patients optimal care, and we can offer that.”

Even as reactive measures are being advanced to combat renal failure, Dr. Gangji shared his conviction that prevention through awareness must continually be emphasised.

He has been enforcing that here by educating both patients and medical practitioners, even as he supports the DMRC's vision to expand its live-saving drive.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 60

Sunday August 04, 2019

“Expedited Removal” -

No Judge

By Attorney Gail S. Seeram

T

he Department of H o m e l a n d Security (DHS) has announced that it would vastly expand “expedited removal,” a provision of the law that permits the agency to rapidly deport certain individuals without an opportunity to see an immigration judge.

Under the expansion, DHS can rapidly deport

undocumented immigrants in the United States who crossed the border without a visa and have not resided in the United States for at least two years. This amounts to a nationwide “send them back” immigration policy.

Individuals who are subject to expedited removal don't get a chance to go in front of an immigration judge to argue against their deportation.

Instead, the decision about whether some can and

should be deported under expedited removal is made by a single immigration enforcement officer, with the only review coming from the officer's supervisor.

Courts are generally prohibited from reviewing a deportation order done through expedited removal (except in very narrow circumstances) and only asylum seekers have a path to avoid expedited removal.

Previously, expedited removal applied only to

those encountered within 100 miles of the border and within 14 days of entering the United States. Customs and Border Protection officers were the ones making decisions about whether people qualified for expedited removal.

However, under the expansion, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) also would be able to carry out expedited removal determinations inside the United States.

As a result of this new expansion, ICE officers also would act as both judge and jury. A single officer and supervisor could determine whether individuals with significant ties to the United States should go through expedited removal and be deported without judicial review.

The new policy went into effect on Tuesday, July 23.

An estimated 300,000 people in the United States could now be at risk of arrest and deportation without the opportunity to see a judge.

That doesn't even consider people who may be erroneously placed in expedited removal proceedings. Individuals will have the burden of proving to ICE they have resided in the United States for two or more years.

Because expedited removal generally does not involve the safeguard of j u d i c i a l r e v i e w, l e g a l immigrants and even U.S. citizens will be at much greater risk of wrongful deportation.

Because ICE is casting its net wider, it's more likely than ever that citizens will face arrests. And with expanded expedited removal taking away judicial review in some cases, the odds that a mistaken arrest could lead to a wrongful deportation will be even higher.

Under the current system, those who arrive at the border are generally subject to expedited removal. This permits the government to deport them without due process.

But if a person expresses a fear of returning to their home country or asks for

Gail S. Seeram asylum, they are then referred to an asylum officer.

If the asylum officer determines that a person has a credible fear of persecution, they are taken out of the expedited removal process and allowed to apply for asylum in immigration court. If the officer determines otherwise, the person is subject to rapid deportation.

N o w, i n d i v i d u a l s throughout the United States could be put through this process. No one should get ripped from their home without the chance to go in front of a judge and argue why they should be allowed to stay.

The American Immigration Council and the ACLU have already announced that they will sue to stop the expansion.

Attorney Gail Seeram, LL.M., J.D., BBA call | text | whatsApp 407-292-7730 e m a i l : Gail@GailLaw.com l i v e c h a t : www.GailLaw.com Download FREE App: Gail Law Copyright © Law Offices of Gail S. Seeram, 2019. All Rights Reserved.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)

Sunday August 04, 2019

g .. n i t s. s re ure e t t In rea C

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Kaieteur News

Crayfish

C

rayfish, also k n o w n a s c r a w f i s h , crawdads, freshwater lobsters, mountain lobsters, mudbugs, or yabbies are freshwater crustaceans resembling small lobsters (to which they are related).

Taxonomically, they are members of the superfamilies Astacoidea and Parastacoidea. They breathe through feather-like gills. Some species are found in brooks and streams where fresh water is running, while others thrive in swamps, ditches, and paddy fields.

Most crayfish cannot tolerate polluted water, although some species such as Procambarus clarkii are hardier. Crayfish feed on animals and plants, either living or decomposing, and detritus.

The name "crayfish" comes from the Old French word escrevisse (Modern French écrevisse). The word has been modified to "crayfish" by association with "fish" (folk etymology).

The largely American variant "crawfish" is similarly derived.

The study of crayfish is called astacology.

The body of a decapod crustacean, such as a crab, lobster, or prawn (shrimp), is made up of twenty body segments grouped into two

main body parts, the cephalothorax and the abdomen. Each segment may possess one pair of appendages, although in various groups these may be reduced or missing. On average, crayfish grow to 17.5 centimetres (6.9 in) in length, but some grow larger.

Walking legs have a small claw at the end.

There are three families of crayfish, two in the Northern Hemisphere and one in the Southern Hemisphere. The Southern Hemisphere (Gondwanadistributed) family Parastacidae, with 14 extant genera and two extinct genera, live in South America, Madagascar and Australasia. They are distinguished by the absence of the first pair of pleopods.

The greatest diversity of crayfish species is found in southeastern North America, with over 330 species in nine genera, all in the family Cambaridae. A further genus of astacid crayfish is found in the Pacific Northwest and the headwaters of some rivers east of the Continental Divide. Many crayfish are also found in lowland areas where the water is abundant in calcium, and oxygen rises from underground springs.

Crayfish are preyed upon by a variety of ray-finned fishes, and are commonly

From page 39 Destiny.” Recognising and securing this oneness is meant to ensure that the diversity amongst our people is being harnessed as one consolidated unit. And this is best understood in the UN declaration, notedly Articles 1 and 2, which speak to the fact that all are born free and equal in dignity and rights, entitled to the rights and freedoms in the declaration, and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Ignoring race as a factor in planning can realise lopsided development and exacerbate racial tension and division. This also creates the perception that one's interest can only be addressed when his/her race holds political office.

On the other hand, it becomes problematic when some seek to hold the group accountable to ensure the delivery of good governance, whether you voted for them or not.

Persons have become victims to racial fear,

preferring to stay silent in the midst of wrongdoing, rather than hold their own to account, be they in Government or Opposition.

We are nurturing a society that opens itself for the extremists and unscrupulous among us to rise to and hold office merely by virtue of racial identity, not by valuing universally acceptable principles of good governance. We need to emancipate ourselves from this stranglehold.

We have to continue the building and strengthening of all groups. Groups need to engage each other, share their experiences and seek to participate in conversation and decision-making, guided

by Article 13 of the Guyana Constitution, which speaks to an “inclusionary d e m o c r a c y. ” T h i s i s f u n d a m e n t a l t o emancipation and the attaining of racial equality.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)

Demanding racial...

used as bait, either live or with only the tail meat. They are a popular bait for catching catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass, perch, pike and muskie.

When using live crayfish as bait, anglers prefer to hook them between the eyes, piercing through their hard, pointed beak which causes them no harm; therefore, they remain more active.

When using crayfish as bait, it is important to fish in the same environment where they were caught. An Illinois State University report that focused on studies conducted on the Fox River and Des Plaines River watershed stated that rusty crayfish, initially caught as bait in a different environment, were dumped into the water and "outcompeted the native clearwater crayfish. Other studies confirmed that transporting crayfish to

different environments have led to various ecological problems, including the elimination of native s p e c i e s . Tr a n s p o r t i n g crayfishes as live bait has also contributed to the spread of zebra mussels in various waterways throughout Europe and North America, as they are known to attach themselves to exoskeleton of crayfishes.

Crayfish are kept as pets in freshwater aquariums, typically with bluegill or bass, rather than goldfish or tropical or subtropical fish.

They prefer foods like shrimp pellets or various vegetables, but will also eat tropical fish food, regular fish food, algae wafers, and small fish that can be captured with their claws. As omnivores, crayfish will eat

almost anything; therefore, they may explore the edibility of aquarium plants in a fish tank. However, most species of dwarf crayfish, s u c h a s C a m b a re l l u s patzcuarensis, will not destructively dig or eat live aquarium plants. They are also relatively nonaggressive and can be kept safely with dwarf shrimp.

[Source: Wikipedia]

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Kaieteur News

Sunday August 04, 2019

Director of Youth sent on leave, police called in

T

he Director of Yo u t h a t t h e Ministry of the Presidency's Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport, Melissa Carmichael, has been sent on administrative leave, following a request made to the Public Service Commission (PSC) that she be removed from the post.

In a statement published on August 2, last, the Department stated that Carmichael was sent on leave as a legitimate step in an ongoing investigation.

It stated that, as part of the process, the PSC instructed that Permanent Secretary, Ms. Melissa Tucker, engage the Guyana Police Force in an attempt to bring resolve to the matter.

The statement was made in response to a call for an investigation by political commentator, Rickford Burke, following allegations made that the Permanent Secretary, Melissa Tucker, engaged in abuse of power and corruption.

Earlier this year, Tucker wrote the Guyana Public Service Commission (PSC)

Director of Youth, Melissa Carmichael requesting Carmichael's removal from her post, Burke said.

The reason for her request, according to Burke, is an ethical private business arrangement between Carmichael and another staff of the department. He alleged that Tucker inserted herself into a private matter.

The PS also reportedly wrote the police requesting an investigation of Carmichael, which bore no

result of a crime.

He accused Tucker of lying to the PSC and falsifying records to create an impression that she previously sent Carmichael several prior warning letters on the issue.

The Department's response stated that the directive to send Carmichael on leave was a result of months of discussions between it and the PSC, and (continued on page 70)

Sunday August 04, 2019

Fifty-three graduate from Guyana Foundation skills training programme

Kaieteur News

Participants of the Tie Dye Course

Participants of the Cosmetology Course

F

ifty-three women graduated from the Guyana Sunrise Centre last Thursday, having completed skills training programme in cosmetology, catering and tie dying.

The Guyana Foundation Sunrise Centre is a non-governmental and non-profit organisation that is maintained by donations from Guyana and around the world.

Last Thursday's graduation marks the fourth for Centre since its establishment.

According to the Centre Manager, Ms. Minawattie, the courses catered for women living between Charity and Pomona on the Essequibo Coast, the remote Amerindian Village of Mashabo and the Wakenaam Island.

The fabric design programme, she said, commenced in February 2019 in Mashabo and was facilitated by Ms. Abeola Garraway with sixteen participants.

The catering class, which was supported by fifteen women from Wakenaam, was facilitated every Saturday by Ms. Glynis Streete at Arthurville Primary School in Wakenaam.

On the Essequibo Coast, the cosmetology class was facilitated by Ms. Jem Britton and supported by a total of 22 females.

In 2013, the Guyana foundation opened its doors to the people of Region Two in an effort to improve the lives of the less fortunate in various communities, while at the same time reducing the suicide rate on the Essequibo Coast.

In accomplishing its objective, the centre continues to offer a number of skills training programmes aimed at women empowerment.

Other activities include after-school programmes, counselling, mental health presentations, summer classes, sensitisation programmes through community outreaches, community projects, and in the evening, the hosting of kids Christmas social.

PAGE 63

Participants of the Catering Course

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Kaieteur News

Sunday August 04, 2019

Sunday August 04, 2019

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Kaieteur News

STANDARDS IN FOCUS

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE FOOD SAFETY STANDARD

T

he International Organisation for Standardisation sets out the requirements for a Food Safety Management System in the standard: ‘Food safety management systems – Requirements for any organisation in the food chain (ISO 22000:2018).

Local food producers, manufacturers and other food establishments can demonstrate their ability to produce quality, safe foods by making a committed effort to implement the requirements of this international standard.

The standard gives food entities, regardless of their size, guidelines on what they need to do to demonstrate their ability to control food safety hazards. The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), under its Consultancy Services, is capable of working with entities desirous of implementing the standard.

There is overwhelming evidence that ISO 22000 has achieved the goal of being used by firms at all levels of the food chain, from the field to the table, since these are either operators directly involved in the production, processing, marketing, and final sale of food products, or related sub-contractors.

The benefits to be derived by food entities implementing ISO 22000 standard are numerous. By implementing the standard, entities present a

positive image towards food safety and reduce the risk of providing unsafe food to your customers, thereby, reducing food safety complaints.

Certification to the standard increases the acceptance of products on the local and international markets and reduces the incidence of product recall and litigation.

It also increases awareness on food safety and food safety related areas and identifies, and controls biological, chemical and physical hazards.

Further, with the standard, producers become more knowledgeable of product characteristics to enhance the safety of their products.

The ISO 22000 Standard can be applied to Organisations directly and indirectly as long as they are within the food chain. It can influence many of our local stakeholders including those within Fisheries, Dairies, Producers, Harvesters, Farmers, Producers of ingredients, Food manufacturers of snacks, bread, cereal, beverages, canned and frozen food, Retailers, Food services, Catering services, Organisations providing cleaning and sanitation services, Transportation, Storage, Distribution services.

The GNBS encourages businesses within the local food sector to consider the

implementation of the ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System to ensure end

users safety at the time of consumption.

For further information,

please contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: (592)219-0069, (592)219-

0065, (592)219-0062 or visit the GNBS Website: www. gnbsgy.org

Kaieteur News

PAGE 66

Sunday August 04, 2019

Perth Village a quiet location where simplicity is the norm

FOCUS

By Alex Wayne This particular morning I was in a hurry to get things done, so here I was rushing around in the city with little time to spare. I knew I was looking dreadful, so despite my hectic schedule, I stole a little time to visit my barber.

I was not one bit pleased that he had an early customer there already.

Luckily, the man just needed a trim and in a matter of minutes, the job was completed. As soon as my barber was finished with me, I rushed off to the East Coast Demerara Bus Park. I was

instead.

T h e country breeze was certainly refreshing, and soon caused me to doze off, lulled by the steady humming of the car engine and light conversation of the other passengers.

The little sleep gained during the car ride was certainly good and I was very refreshed when we rolled into the Central Mahaicony Market Square, en route to Perth Village.

P e r t h Vi l l a g e i s a populated place in MahaicaBerbice District with the terrain elevation above sea level recorded as one metre.

Touching down…

years, is now I set eyes on you again … Is what breeze blow you into this place?

Yuh turn a big bai now.

Seeing you pon television in advertisement, and reading your articles in the Kaieteur News. You have really done Mahaicony proud.

“I would read your stories and tell my friends what good friends we were in school days. And how our friendship blossomed during our school days after a vicious fight where you almost pulled out my braids by the roots…

“Ha ha ha ha ha… Bai look come sit down on this bench leh we catch up fuh old times’ sake.”

We chatted about a lot of things thereafter. Afiya introduced me to her beaming husband who seemed excited to be drawn

Folks at the N. Singh Sawmill and Lumberyard ensure they service their machinery to be able to meet customer’s demands. fortunate to catch a hire car that was heading in my direction.

I had bought a box of chicken chowmein, but I am always embarrassed to eat in moving vehicles, so I tried to ignore the growling in my stomach.

After a while, I relaxed a little on the issue when I noticed a couple in the back seat munching some fish and chips.

With my mind at ease, I delved in to the contents of my lunch box with relish, savouring the rich spoonfuls of tasty Creole country flavour in every bite. I would have loved to wash down the meal with some freshly brewed cherry juice, but I had to settle for an ice-cold bottle of Aqua Mist water

To get to Perth Village, one has to use the access road that runs east of the Mahaicony Public Road intersection and travel some 4.1 miles before arriving at that destination. Just as I was wondering how exactly I was going to get there, the air was rent by a shrill shriek, followed by peals of joyous laughter.

I spun around and instantly recognised my secondary school classmate, Afiya Sealey, running towards me with arms wide open. She is quite a talented and educated woman but she had settled years ago for the position of a vegetable vendor, which she says brings her great satisfaction.

“Alex!!! Alex!!! Is it really you? After all these

into the conversation. She told the tale of the making and development of her much thriving business at the Central Mahaicony Market Square.

“Boy, I am still here trading my vegetables, fruits and ground provision and as you can see I have extended my stall because business is mostly booming, but bai Alex, I have done more. You know I was always a great cook, and while I don’t focus on the pastries much these days, I make the best chicken foot and cow face souse around here.

The boys does flock my stall from all corners on Saturdays for the rich ‘mannish wata’ I make to perfection. I hope you ain’t forgetting yuh roots and

“Jovial vendor, Afiya Sealey, rocks dem right and keep them coming with the fresh fruits and vegetables, ‘mannish water’ that the countryside men crave for.”

forget ‘bout dese things.”

Things get challenging from time to time, but I have always learnt that life is what you make it. I have worked hard to fend for my family and it has worked out for me.

And my husband is a great help. He operates his hire car in and around the district, and it does bring in a much needed fast dollar. I know yuh gone need a taxi to drive you around the village, suh don’t think yuh tekking anybody else. Yuh got tuh give he de wuk, right Alex?”

When it was time to leave, her very polite spouse ensured that I was well settled in before beginning the journey to Perth Village.

I was shocked at the state of the road. I reminisced on the fact that the road seemed to be in the same state like when I was a young boy.

Commenting on the state of things in Mahaicony, my driver told a vivid tale of how the bad roads were affecting drivers and residents.

“The Mahaicony roads have been a bad state for

many years now. Until now after all these years, government still cannot fix an important road like the Burma Access Road, and the Perth Village Road is no exception.

“Villagers are complaining for a decade now about the huge potholes on the road, which creates even more problems in the rainy season. Our vehicles are being damaged every day, and parts for cars are very expensive these days.

“This entire area needs a facelift. Look at the bushes all around us so close to the road corners. Some of the trenches are overgrown with grass and weeds. But someone needs to do something about our roads in Perth Villlage.

“Not because we are in the backlands of Mahaicony, we should be treated like the land of the forgotten. We are taxpayers and our efforts, too, create a form of contribution to the development of this country.

We deserve to be treated

Villagers said they have been complaining of bad roads for decades now.

like the other citizens who enjoy luxuries that we have not seen as yet.”

Interacting with residents As the car churned its way down sharp turns and bends in the Perth Village access road, the rain suddenly came down, the oversized drops sounding like hailstones on the roof of the vehicle.

My driver surely meant well when he rolled up his car windows and attempted to turn on the air conditioning in the car. I was startled out of my wits at the deafening sound coming from the air conditioning fixture in the car.

It sounded like a helicopter in take-off mode and certainly drowned any attempt of conversation of any sort in the vehicle. My ears were ringing by the time the rain eased up and we arrived in Perth Village.

Our first stop was at the N. Singh Sawmill and Lumber Yard where (Continued on page 67)

Kaieteur News

Sunday August 04, 2019

Perth Village From page 66 S u p e r v i s o r, R o n a l d Bahachu, received us with much warmth and pleasantries. He took us through the operations of the facility explaining that it provided much needed employment for at least ten employees.

“This sawmill and lumber yard is a small investment that has been around for over twelve years now. It offers an honest dollar for about ten employees, some of whom reside right here in Perth Village.

“We have been doing well so far despite challenges, but our biggest setback is when our machinery fails us. What I have learnt over the years is that machinery, too, just like the human body, needs to be handled and treated well, needs servicing and professional management for them to give lasting years

see you losing hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue.”

“We sell our finished product here in the village, but also have external markets that make large purchases by the way of a ‘pre-ordering arrangement’.

It is our intention to soon expand and maybe in years to come attempt to target an international market.”

Yo u n g s p o r t s m a n , Benjamin Stewart, was very adamant in his opinion that there is urgent need for a proper ball field or recreational fun park for youths in the village.

“Perth Village is always ignored when it comes to many things that are important to the livelihood of residents. In years gone by, we were suffering from inadequate drainage and irrigation and that situation has not been yet resolved.

“This village has a large number of talented sports-

“We are still waiting for the playfield that has been promised to us for several months now, but that area is just fenced up with zinc sheets and the relative authorities are not making an effort to complete the project.

With little scope for entertainment, villagers are contented to gather around on weekends to enjoy beers and good conversations.

of service.

If you don’t take care of your production machinery, then they can give you some unpleasant surprises that can

oriented youths but we are not able to develop and excel as expected because there is no proper training or recreational facilities.

“ We n e e d t o b e respected, and to be allowed to enjoy the luxuries of life too as it was intended.”

Perth Village of old

PAGE 67 The thriving new Park Square Resort at Central Mahaicony, attracts residents of Perth Village and other locations.

Perth Village has not changed much over the years. Save for the few rather outstanding buildings that have replaced the customary cottage houses, the village still has not shed its old world aura.

To shed light on its semblance in years gone by was elderly resident Pamela Schultz.

“As a little girl, Perth Vi l l a g e w a s m o s t l y wasteland, very swampy in some areas, with some locations looking rather desolate. There were just a few small houses, very far apart in some cases and there was no school or really any shops at that time.

“I can remember we used trench water sometimes for cooking, or maybe travel great distances to get potable water for household uses. In those days, we used the flambeau (lamps made from bottle) to get light by nights and we never had the luxury of nightclubs until many years after when the Burial Society Hall was built and was later used also for a few parties and special functions.

Farming was always a big thing in this village, and with the rich soil we have here, it soon became a haven

for rice cultivation, also ground provision. That sort of practice has lived with us and as you can see, there are quite a few rice farmers still in the village.

“Despite all the constraints we faced, residents here were always contented and learnt to be humble and find positive ways to co-exist with more developed locations.”

Today, the village looks quite attractive with the spanking rice mill, ‘Trans Rice Milling Complex’, which is rather an old rice mill that was bought over by Trans Pacific Auto Sales and renovated to offer jobs for villagers.

While youths from the village attends the Mahaicony Secondary and Primary Schools, some 4.1 miles away, the younger at heart enjoys the luxury of a $25M nursery school that was made possible by the Guyanese Government in 2017.

Before time the nursery school was being housed in the lower flat of the Perth Burial Society building and the pupils and staff had been enduring inconveniences at this location especially in the aftermath of social events

held in the upper flat of the building.

Entertainment and Employment The village does not offer much scope for entertainment, and persons desiring some frolic and fun most times have to wait for social events at the Perth Burial Society Hall, or travel to distant villages. However, just recently villagers have been heading every weekend to the Park Square Resort in Farm, Mahaicony where they can enjoy delectable fast food choices and beverages, have family picnics, and swim in the rather large pool.

While many are still farmers, there are quite a few shop owners, while many are employed at the Trans Rice Milling Complex.

Others are teachers and administrative staff in offices outside the village, while a few are still holding to their traditional professionals of porkknockers’ in the hinterland areas.

Next Sunday our reporter will take you on quite a joy ride as he visits and unfurls the hidden mysteries of Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara.

PAGE 68

Kaieteur News

Sunday August 04, 2019

Sunday August 04, 2019

PAGE 69

Kaieteur News

CONSUMER CONCERNS STANDARDS IN FOCUS

EMANCIPATION DAY - A TIME OF CELEBRATION AND REFLECTION PAT DIAL On 1st August, we celebrated Emancipation Day which is among the three oldest public holidays in Guyana.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was celebrated for an entire week with much emotion and verve.

There were a number of customs which were part of the celebrations.

For instance, early in the morning on Emancipation Day, in the villages, young people would go from house to house waking up all sleepers and calling them out to celebrate. African drums reverberated from the earliest dawn to next day since in all the villages there were groups which maintained the rich traditions of African drumming.

And all families prepared cook-ups, cassava and pumpkin pones and conkey as well as as various delightful drinks such as mauby, pine drink, sorrel, jamoon wine and rice wine. Everyone kept open house and visited each other’s homes and enjoyed the hospitality and good fellowship which was everywhere offered.

During Emancipation Week, all grudges and quarrels were forgotten and everyone became a celebrant. Towards the end of the 19th century, the custom of having fairs grew up. String bands from various villages performed, accompanied by drummers and there was much public dancing.

There were attendances at the various churches, particularly at the Congregational Churches since Congregationalism, even before Emancipation, was engaged in African education and nurturing freedom.

Many of these old customs of Emancipation Week are worthy of revival since they were enjoyable in themselves and reminded Guyanese of their historical past and their cultural roots.

African drumming, dress, musical traditions, and cuisine, some of which was brought from Africa, some of which evolved during the time of slavery, could all go towards enriching Guyanese Culture.

Church attendance and belief in God were long associated with familial strengthening, social discipline and above all, Education. This commitment to Education which the freedmen and their immediate descendants stoutly maintained produced scholars of the highest order and the teachers for the National Educational System which was established by Law in the 1870s.

One or two organisations, the main one being ACDA led

by Dr Eric Phillips, have been working very hard to maintain

African traditions but the main responsibility for this should be assumed by the village leaders, as used to be the case with strengthening of Education being a priority.

Today, parents are focusing on the large urban schools like Queen’s College but greater stress need to be given to the village or large country schools which have been rivaling the urban schools in their CXC results.

The Internet and ICT in general have leveled the playing field between urban and country schools and the village schools should take advantage of it.

Emancipation Week has rightly been a time of celebration and rejoicing but as importantly, it should be a time of stock-taking and reflection for all Guyanese and particularly the descendants of the freedmen This stock taking should engender a number of positive commitments which should lead the community forward into greater prosperity to the benefit of the entire country.

In the first place, since Independence in the 1960’s, all Guyanese had been overtaken by an unhealthy obsession with politics. Politics and the personalities of political leaders had distracted all Guyanese, in varying degrees, from full focus on the realities of their social and economic development. This affected, also, the descendants of the freedmen.

Though citizens should have some concern with politics, their priority should be on achieving their own social and economic development, which they could do only by their own efforts.

Then there is Education.

The villages which were founded by the freedmen and their immediate descendants were once dynamos of learning and despite limited facilities, they produced scholars of the first order as well as professionals like doctors, lawyers, accountants and of course teachers.

The best Guyanese tradesmen - carpenters, joiners, electricians, mechanics, tailors, coopers and so on— came from these villages. The leaders of these villages must once again stress the importance of Education.

Parents must insist that their children attend school with full regularity and they

should always encourage them to strive for excellence.

In particular, they must master ICT as the modern world now revolves around Information Technology.

Education will bring about a better life, open the doors to numerous opportunities and upward social mobility.

In the early villages, most villagers were agriculturists and had farms, which produced most of the ground provisions, plantains, vegetables, fruits and livestock such as chickens, which were sold in the markets. Even professionals had farms.

Their produce helped to provide the country’s food security, provided their own food and earned them an income. Agriculture must be revived in these villages and they should venture more into rice farming. Agriculture is today more attractive than in the 19th and early 20th centuries since there is the availability of agricultural machines and scientific methods.

The economic and social benefits of such return to the land would be immeasurable.

The entrepreneurial spirit and culture had always been present - witness the emergence of vendors and importers of scarce goods during the 1970’s and 1980’s - but they need to be carefully renurtured. Saving, capital accumulation for investment is the key to successful business ventures. The freedmen carefully saved the meager wages they earned during the Apprenticeship System and sales from the Sunday markets.

They knew that saving was the postponement of today’s gratification for tomorrow’s betterment. They were able to accumulate capital and when the opportunity came, they bought the abandoned sugar estates and became landed proprietors and founded villages. The descendants of the freedmen must once again recapture the culture of saving and investment.

The entrepreneurial culture is the key to the generation of wealth and will eclipse the culture of wholesale consumption which results in always being on the margins of poverty.

Though we have almost exceeded the space allotted to this article, there is one final

Successful brain surgery...

From page 9 Dr. Duhki was able to reduce the accumulated brain fluids by 40ml, which resulted in the baby having fewer seizures.

The baby’s mother was told that meningitis takes time to cure, so it would take some time for Akeelah’s full recovery.

She would also need lots of therapy.

Akeelah’s mother was ecstatic when she spoke to Kaieteur News yesterday. She was beyond happy and grateful, and thanked all of the persons who helped her baby to see another day. Baby Akeelah was discharged from the GPHC yesterday.

commitment we must mention.

Our freed forefathers were God-fearing and went to church regularly which cultivated a strong moral discipline, improved their knowl-

edge of writing and speaking English by their continuous reading of the Bible and was the basis of their entrepreneurial culture since “God did not wish the failures of the

Earth in Heaven”.

The descendants of the freedmen need to again involve themselves in religion and regularly going to church.

PAGE 70

Sunday August 04, 2019

Kaieteur News

Woman, 60, perishes as mining pit caves in Stabroek Block discoveries spark...

A 60-year-old woman reportedly perished Friday when a mining pit in the Locus Backdam collapsed, trapping her beneath mud and water for a considerable period. Sources said that 60year-old Retta Samuels, of One Mile Arakaka, North West District, Region One was liming in the company of friends at a mining pit owned by a 45-year-old gold miner when the incident occurred.

Reports suggest that the gold miner was ‘washing down’ his four-inch land dredge when the earth seemed to open, sucking in water and great mounds of mud and the now deceased woman with it.

Sources said her horrified screams rent the air as she went

under. It was quite some time before public spirited citizens managed to locate her body beneath the debris.

Police sources revealed that the incident occurred between 15:30hrs and 16:00hrs . It is said she was found motionless and rushed to the Arakaka Health Centre where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

The body is presently at the Arakaka Health Centre Mortuary and arrangements are being made for it to be transported to the Port Kaituma Hospital Mortuary for a post mortem examination.

Last November, a 48-yearold woman perished. That woman was Elaine Figueira also of Arakaka, North West district.

It was reported that the woman collected her sister’s battelle and cutlass and headed for a mining pit at Red Road Arakaka.

It is alleged that Figueira then entered a mining pit and was digging when a section of the pit collapsed and pinned her. She was pulled out from the pit by her daughter and taken to the Pakera Health Centre. She was pronounced dead on arrival.

At the end of October 2018, the Ministry of Natural Resources revealed that Region Eight had recorded 14 mining deaths for the year, most of them occurring at Mahdia.

The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission later launched a crackdown on illegal and unsafe operations.

Indigenous pensioner “Mamai Lucille”...

From page 16 immediately, until the matter is resolved. The letter was signed by the village Toshao, Eugene Johnson.

The story was also brought to light by the North Pakaraimas District Council. Sherry Ann Balkaran, the Secretary of the Council, in a video published in February said that during a statutory council meeting, they discussed an issue relating to their “great grandmother” Mamai Lucille Williams of Karsiparu Village, whose house was reportedly destroyed by miners.

“Her fruits trees were cut down. Her cassava plants were destroyed, giving her no choice but to move away from her home,” Balkaran said.

“I am kindly asking that Mamai, whose name is Lucille Williams, be given justice. It is a grave violation of human rights. How can one do that to

an indigenous woman who was born and grown here?” Jimmy James, the Assistant Secretary of the council, said that hes surprised because this matter was raised with the Minister of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, and no response has been given yet.

He said that some wardens from GGMC had gone into the area before, telling the pensioner to remove from the area. He said that they have no right to tell her to do so, since shed been living there all her life.

The Chairman of the Council, Clifton Pereira, said that he was very disturbed to hear what had been done to Mamai Lucille, and that action must be taken immediately to provide justice.

Kaieteur News has informed Commissioner of GGMC, Newell Dennison, about the matter.

From page 17 the hydrocarbon potential of the Corentyne Block and help it assess whether it first drills the Utakwaaka well or another well located in the northern region of the block.”

While it did not state any specifics, the only discoveries made to date offshore Guyana are in the Stabroek Block. A perusal of the locations of the Exxon discoveries to date shows that the Pluma and Haimara-1 wells sit right at the edge of the Stabroek Block which also faces the northern border of the Corentyne Block.

The Pluma-1 well, which was discovered in December 2018, encountered approximately 121 feet (37 meters) of high-quality hydrocarbonbearing sandstone reservoir.

Pluma-1 reached a depth of 16,447 feet (5,013 meters) in 3,340 feet (1,018 meters) of water. Wood MacKenzie's preliminary estimate for the Pluma-1 well is that it holds at least 300M barrels of oil equivalent.

Discovered in January, the Haimara-1 well encountered approximately 207 feet (63 meters) of high quality, gas condensate bearing sandstone reservoir. The well was drilled to a depth of 18,289 feet (5,575 meters) in 4,590 feet (1,399 meters) of water. It is located approximately 19 miles (31 kilometers) east of the Pluma-1 well and is a potential new area for development.

Rystad Energy recently noted that Haimara is part of trio oil field that potentially holds 800M barrels of oil equivalent reserves.

CGX noted that the re-sequenced programme may mean that certain prior agreements that it entered into may need to be revised while noting that this is expected to be in its best interests.

ADDITIONAL PLANS It was also noted that CRI

and its joint venture partner, Frontera Energy, plan to commence a new commitment well in the Demerara Block in 2020 that was not initially planned to occur until February 2021.

Kaieteur News understands that it should occur either immediately before or after the commitment well is drilled in the Corentyne Block. Kaieteur News also understands that this approach may also result in significant cost savings for the company.

Furthermore, the company will, through its wholly owned subsidiary Grand Canal Industrial Estates, also begin civil works in 2019 on its Deep Water Port at Crab Island in the Berbice River so that it can stage its exploration wells in 2020 from its Deep Water Port.

Professor Suresh Narine, Executive Chairman and Executive Director of CRI said that the partners are focused on maximising the partnership's chances of exploration success while increasing efficiencies, ensuring safety and managing costs.

Professor Narine said that the re-sequenced work programme establishes the right chronology of actions to allow these guiding principles to be realised. Furthermore, the Executive Chairman asserted that it allows CGX to maximise its local content engagement through the operationalisation of its Deep Water Port at Crab Island at the mouth of the Berbice River.

FINANCIAL POSITION Along with its re-sequenced work programme, CGX provided an update on its financial position, specifically disclosing details from its unaudited consolidated financial statements for the second quarter of 2019, together with its Management, Discussion and Analysis - Quarterly Highlights.

CGX reminded that on May 3, 2019, the Government approved the farm-in joint venture agreements ('JOAs') covering two shallow water offshore Petroleum Prospecting Licences in Guyana, in the Corentyne and Demerara blocks, between CRI and Frontera Energy Guyana Corporation (FEGC).

CGX said that the JOAs provided for a transfer of a 33.333% interest in both the Corentyne and Demerara Petroleum Prospecting Licences and Petroleum Agreements in exchange for a US$33,333,000 signing bonus.

Under the JOAs, FEGC will pay one-third of the applicable costs plus an additional 8.333% of the company's direct drilling costs for the initial exploratory commitment wells in the two blocks subject to certain thresholds.

Further, on May 28, 2019, CGX noted that the transfers of the 33.333% interest in both the Corentyne and Demerara Prospecting Licenses were completed. It said that the transfers were effective on May 20, 2019. As a result, on May 28, 2019, CGX said that the Company received US$8,500,851, being the net of the US$33,333,000 signing bonus due from FEGC, less the amount of US$24,832,149 of the outstanding debt owed to FEGC by the Company.

For the six-month period ended June 30, 2019, the company said it improved its working capital deficiency by $56,525,771 and recorded cash on hand as at June 30, 2019 of $22,574,722.

It also said that it incurred net exploration and evaluation expenditures of $5,256,609 during the six-month period ended June 30, 2019 primarily due to activities being undertaken to satisfy work commitments under CRI's Corentyne Block Petroleum Agreement.

Director of Youth sent on leave...

From page 62 that the Youth Director was afforded due process to the fullest extent of the public service rules and regulations.

“Detailed correspondence as well as other evidence provided led to the Commission's recommendations. To suggest otherwise is to impugn both the competence and integrity of the Commission.”

The Department was mum on additional details about why Carmichael was facing an investigation. It only said “The matter concerning Ms. Carmichael is an ongoing issue and as such the Department will refrain from further commentary.”

Burke's response to the statement was swift. He claimed he recently spoke

with Carmichael, who provided information that was contrary to the Department's claim that she was afforded due process.

“I spoke with Ms. Carmichael today after the Minister's post. She reaffirmed that not only was she never afforded a hearing, but was never provided documentation on the allegations against her,” Burke stated.

He said that she is unaware of the reason for her suspension, and that an attorney with whom she consulted confirmed that she never received a prior warning or reprimand, as stated by the Department's release.

“Ms. Carmichael also confirmed that after she emailed PS Tucker complaining that the PS's ha-

rassment and mistreatment has affected her health, caused her to have a miscarriage and was affecting her work performance, she was marched into a meeting with Minister Norton and PS Tucker.

“In that meeting, the PS demanded an apology. Ms. Carmichael stated that when she informed both officers that her attorney advised her to request that the PS put the said demand for an apology in writing, the meeting ended.”

Burke challenged Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton, to release the public records proving that Carmichael received and signed for any discipl inary letter, as he contends that disciplinary letters must be signed for by the receiver.

Sunday August 04, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 71

PAGE 72

Sunday August 04, 2019

Kaieteur News

It is now for Parliament to determine the period for the holding of elections -Attorney General tells Chief Justice It is clear that date for holding general and regional elections in Guyana after the successful passage of the NoConfidence Motion has already passed. Since this is the case, it is now strictly within the remit and province of the National Assembly to extend the time for the holding elections based on the language of Article 106 (7) of the Constitution, and not for the court to address such matters.

This is according to Attorney General Basil Williams in his response to an application filed by Attorney-at-law Christopher Ram who is asking the court issue and order compelling the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to hold elections on or before September 18.

Ram also wants the court to order GECOM stop its house-to-house registration process which is in violation of Articles 106 (6) and 106 (7) of the Constitution and the rulings of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

Given that the CCJ ruled that the No-Confidence Motion was properly carried with a majority of 33 of the 65 seats of the National Assembly on the night of December 21, 2018, the provisions of Articles 106 (7) were triggered for elections to be held by March 21.

That Article reads, “Notwithstanding its defeat, the government shall remain in office and shall hold an elec-

tion within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election.”

Against this backdrop, Williams noted that the CCJ made it clear that article 106 (7) also envisages the constitutional players extending the time for the holding of elections.

Williams, in his affidavit in defence said, “Credible elections could not be held on or before 21st March, 2019 as this was logistically impossible.” Among other things, Williams reminded that since 2014, the Commission had made it known that it would take approximately six months from the time of notification of an election to prepare for and hold credible elections.

Williams further said that, “the Judiciary is not competent to address matters of policy and politics and it is not within the remit of the Court to compel the Constitutional players, in particular GECOM, to fix a date that elections be held on or before September 18, 2019.”

Williams stated, “I am advised my Attorneys-at-law and verily believe that the House to House registration process is not in violation of Articles 106(6) and 106(7) of

Attorney General Basil Williams the Constitution as the final court, the CCJ has pronounced on this matter when it made its consequential orders.”

The CCJ, he said, declared, “Article 106 of the Constitution invests in the President and the National Assembly (and implicitly in GECOM), responsibilities that impact on the precise timing of the elections which must be held.

It would not therefore be right for the Court, by the issuance of coercive orders or detailed directives, to presume to instruct these bodies on how they must act and thereby preempt the performance by them of their constitutional responsibilities.

It is not, for example, the role of the Court to establish a date on or by which the elections must be held, or to

lay down timelines and deadlines that, in principle, are the preserve of political actors guided by constitutional imperatives.”

The Attorney General submitted that even assuming but not admitting that September 18 is the date for election, the timeline is impossible as retired Judge Claudette Singh has just been appointed the

Chairman of GECOM and would now be required to meet with all commissioners and thereafter advise the President as to the readiness of the commission to hold elections. He said that it only after GECOM gives advice on its readiness for elections can the President prorogue Parliament.

“I am advised by my Attorneys-at-law and verily believe that the Applicant (Ram) has not established any evidence on the facts to substantiate the assertion that the House to House registration exercise has breached Articles 161(a) and 162 of the Constitution of Guyana and the National Registration Act CAP 19:08. However, the evidence before the Court is to the contrary that the House to House registration process is in accordance with the Constitution and the National Registration Act,” Williams noted.

According to Williams, more than 70,000 people have been registered to date under

the house-to-house registration process and it is anticipated that another 70,000 could be added by the end of next week, which bring it to a total of 140,000.

The Attorney General told the court, “A decision was taken by the commission over 10 years ago that house-tohouse registration was necessary for ensuring compliance with the commission’s mandate under Article 162 of the Constitution, namely to issue all such instructions and take such action as appears to it necessary or expedient to ensure impartiality, fairness and compliance with the provisions of the Constitution or of any Act of Parliament on the part of persons exercising powers or performing duties connected with or relating to the conduct of registration of electors and the conduct of elections of members of the National Assembly.”

Moreover, he said that Section Nine of the (Continued on page 73)

Sunday August 04, 2019

PAGE 73

Kaieteur News

It is now for Parliament...

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EDUCATION Care for elderly, care for children. First Aid & CPR. #227-4881

LAND FOR SALE 1 Honda CRV. includes TV, music system, alarm, reverse camera, sproiler, crash bar, Low mileage. PTT Series (First Owner) Contact #6490956 New model Sylphy, driven by lady. #614-9742

Transported land 11.6 acres, Lot 15 Public road #2 Village W.C. B/ce 5 mins from B/ce Bridge. Contact# 686-4818/ 648-7109 Parafaite Harmonie, Eccles, Uivlugt, Tuschen, Covent Garden, Herstelling, Diamond, Providence, Zeelugt. Tel# 6683043

Pick up Truck from Canada extra cab, 2005 Tacoma $1.750M, Ford F150 Sport $1.2M, Ford Ranger sport $1.1M, 682-5230/615-4414.

Parfaite Harmonie $1.5M, Parfaite Harmonie transferable $2.2M, Tuschen Phase II $1.5M, Providence, Farm. Call: 666-2326

Tractor Massey Ferguson (foreign used) MF165$1.5M, MF135 $1M, MF265 $1.7M, MF165 Loader tractor $2.1M Vreed-en-hoop.Call:682-5230/ 615-4414.

Farm (East Bank) Main road $7.5M and $3M Schnoord $3.6M Parfaite Harmonie $1.4M Dairy with fence $2M. Tel#611-7223/651-1969

Pearl white Toyota Runx. Lady Driven, very good condition.

Tel#676-9562

Rooms @ 47 Pere St Kitty. Tel# 611-2250/654-4403, affordable price, flexible duration, accessible to road/ supermarket, secured environment.

Land to buy in Parafaite Harmonie, Eccles, Uitvlugt, Tuschen,Covent Garden, Herstelling, Diamond, Providence & Zeelugt.

Tel#668-3043 Wanted land in parfaite or anywhere on the West Coast.

Tel# 697-6311 Couple(boat captain & housekeeper/cook) for Essequibo River Resort. Tel# 226-0240 We buy land and pay cash for Residential Houselots. No games. Tel#656-0701

2 bedroom botom flat apt with Private bathroom, La Grange, Independence St, WBD. Call: 663-1280

Do you need a home lesson tutor for Mathematics, Biology, Physics and/or Chemistry? Contact# 611-2250 VEHICLE FOR SALE

Lot 4633 Rasville, Roxanne Burnham Gardens, for further information. Contact Wayne on #618-5305/223-5050

One heavy duty mechanic to work in the interior, must have drivers licence. Contact# 6802702

Eccles (Single & Double lots) , Providence EBD, Enterprise & Paradise ECD Contact Ray’s Realty #627-9685

1-two bedroom semi furnished apartment in Campbellville, suitable for students studying. For more information. Call: 666-3213/ 668-0450 One Apartment for rent, First Street, Market. Mon Repos, E.B.Dem Tel#602-4105/2207330 Office & Business space to rent, High street, Georgetown.

Contact Ray’s Realty #6279685 1 Kitchen to rent in Albertown. Tel#618-3575

CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS FROM $4000 & UP, SUV’S PER DAY- CALL: 656-0087 / 6435122 ,EMAIL:PRO_ A U T O R E N T A L @YAHOO.COM DOLLYS AUTO RENTAL CALL: 225-7126 & 2263693 -DOLLYS AUTO RENTAL @ YAHOO.COM/ W W W . D O L L Y SAUTORENTAL.COM

WANTED

LEARN TO DRIVE

Cow hands to work at Houston Estate Cattle Farm. for further information call: 227-5468/624-2920

N. Outar Driving School, Learn to Drive the right way @ Cuffy Square. Affordable package. Call: 644-5166/6912561

Labourers for wood concession - $5000 per day Call: 618-0487 One Cashier, One cleaner.

Call: 623-5255 One full time nanny/maid from the East Bank area, household duties included.

Call: 624-3202 One (1) Male able bodied clerk. Contact# 231-2029/6165954

VACANCY Operator (Electrical & Mechanical Knowledge an asset), Labourer. Apply with handwritten application, Police Clearance. Wieting & Richter Ltd 10-13 Water St, G/ town 1 experienced driver, must have license for car/van/ minibus & motorbus, residing in G/town between ages 2450 yrs old. #225-1429/641-5075

Cat 740 Truck Drivers for interior. Tel#223-7165 Exc/Bulldozer operators for interior. Tel#223-7165 Accounts Clerk with payroll experience. Tel#223-7165 Security supervisor & personnel for interior & G/ town locations. Tel#223-7165 1 Bin repair technician, 1 tyre repair technician. Call #2271717 Industrial Sales Representative, 5 Subject CXC Age 25+ Experience in Sales, must own vehicle, email r e s u m e : vacancy@josarltd.com

From page 11 Representation of the People’s Act Chapter 1:03 requires a submission of lists from the Political Parties at least 32 days before the election date.

According to Section 9 of the Act, “Notices must be published in the Official Gazette 32 days before elections whereby a list of candidates may be submitted to the Chief Elections Officer and Section 10 prescribes that the Chief Elections Officer in accordance with Section Nine of the Act shall receive the list of candidates and no list shall be received at any other time and place.”

Having taken into consideration these and other circumstances, the Attorney General is therefore urging the court to refrain from granting the orders being sought by Ram. The matter comes up for another hearing tomorrow at 09:00hrs before Chief Justice Roxane George at the High Court in Demerara.

Vacancy exist for a Spanish PROPERTY FOR SALE Teacher- must be able to teach (2 & 7) years old. Call: 600-6887 House and land available at for more information Parfaite, Tuschen, Diamond etc.

Contact Pacific Pump attendant & cashier, Development Inc. 223-6035/ shift rotated weekly (6am-3pm 604-4909 & 3pm-11pm) Shell Service Station Providence EBD. (1) 3 bedroom house located E m a i l : at Stewartville. Tel#625-3299/ 268-3129 Shellramsburg@gmail.com One experienced salesman, must be able to write bills neatly, taking stock. Apply @ Keyfood Trading McDoom Village.

1 flat concrete house located at Tuschen. $3.5 neg Tel# 6976311

Newly constructed 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom, house Vacancy for experienced and overlooking the sea for sale, safe Truck Driver double axle ECD#675-1510/613-7964 and twinsteer def lock. Tel# Sale of Lot 87 Albert St, 649-8888 Albertown Cottage. Land and 1 female to live-in with elderly Property 80x20. Tel#669-8701 female: cooking, cleaning chores as part of the job. Property for sale- 3 bedroom Tel#626-8055 concrete house, Diamond EBD. Contact# 699-2060 Waitress,Cook,Cleaner,Bond Clerk,Welder/Fabricator, Modern (2) storey concrete O p e r a t o r , home & business, Parika, EBE Labourer,Security,Driver. Contact Ray’s Realty #627Contact Info: 9685 chungsvacancy@gmail.com Modern 3 bedroom house, Vacancy exist for a Full time/ business area below & bond Part time teacher, must be able behind, Ketley Street, to teach (2 & 7) years old. Call: Georgetown. Ray’s Realty 600-6887 for more information #627-9685 One concrete 2 storey 3 Cook/Manager to work in bedroom Modern home, Charity. Contact# 654-7162 Melanie (public road) ECD Contact Ray’s Realty #627Lorry Driver & Porters for 9685 futher information. Contact NS Trucking: 216-3152/501- Elegant 2 story concrete 2537/617-5632 property (grilled), perfect for living & business, Parika.

Trained & experienced Contact Ray’s Realty #627primary school teachers, 9685 kindly send application to: homes in dukeedwardsanglicanschool Desirable @gmail.com/ 144 Ornoque & Campbellville and Bel Air Lance Gibb St, Queenstown. Georgetown. Contact Ray’s Realty. #627-9685 Tel# 223-0211

PAGE 74

Kaieteur News

Sunday August 04, 2019

Sunday August 04, 2019

PAGE 75

Kaieteur News

Messi banned for three months after CONMEBOL ‘corruption’ outburst ASUNCION, Paraguay (AFP) — Argentina star Lionel Messi was banned from playing for his national team for three months and fined $50,000 on Friday by CONMEBOL after he heavily criticized the South American football governing body during the Copa America.

The 32-year-old Barcelona forward had accused CONMEBOL of “corruption” after he was sent off against Chile during the third-place playoff during the tournament in Brazil, which ended last month.

Messi was angered by two incidents during the June-July Copa hosted by bitter rivals Brazil.

Argentina were denied two penalty claims in their 2-0 semi-final defeat to the hosts, after which Messi claimed Brazil were “managing a lot in CONMEBOL these days.”

And when he was harshly dismissed in the next game, which Argentina went on to win 2-1, he couldn’t contain his anger.

“Corruption and the referees are preventing people from enjoying the football and they’re ruining it a bit,” Messi said.

He was given his marching orders after a first-half scuffle with Chile captain Gary Medel in which television pictures suggested he’d done little

wrong.

The CONMEBOL statement on its website didn’t specify why Messi was being punished but said it was related to articles 7.1 and 7.2 of its disciplinary regulations.

One such clause refers to “offensive, insulting behaviour or making defamatory protests of any kind.”

Another clause mentions “breaching the decisions, directives or orders of the judicial bodies.”

The ban means only that Messi will miss a handful of friendly matches a s A rg e n t i n a ’s n e x t competitive fixture is not

Sunday August 04, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Be the star of your own movie and proud of the role you play. You might find yourself taking on many different characters, depending on your mood of the hour.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Take a break from your daily routine and get off the treadmill today, Taurus. The world will turn without you for one day, so tune out for a while.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Things are flowing your way, Gemini, and you should find a great deal of pleasure in the company of others.

There may be an element of fantasy about the day that causes you to lose track of time and space.

CANCER(June21–July22) Don't try to nail down any answers today, Cancer, because you will probably end up feeling frustrated. The less you try to force your will on others, the more you will find that things just automatically go your way.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) It may feel like something has suddenly clicked into place for you today, Libra, because you've found the missing piece of a puzzle you've been working on.

The answers may be subtle, but they're there.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Things may seem surreal today, so don't take other people's chatter too seriously. This is a day to reach out and touch someone, so pick up the phone.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You may find it hard to take a realistic approach to your emotions today. A sensitive issue may pull on you, leaving you feeling like you're out in left field in the way you relate to others.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Question the validity of anything you come in conflict with today.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Let your childlike side come out and play today, Leo. Your dreams are in full force, so let them lead the way.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Today is a great day for you.

You should enjoy a great deal of playful conversation. Fantasy is likely to play a big role in events, and you may daydream as you walk down the street.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Take a break from the routine and get off the beaten path, Virgo. This is a day to forge ahead with ideas and dreams rather than commitments and answers. Question things and debate the facts. Have fun whatever you do.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) There may be a rather confusing element to the day, Pisces. You feel tempted to act, but some of the pieces seem to be missing. It could be hard to make a decision, since you don't have the whole picture in front of you.

until the South American qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar begin in March.

H o w e v e r, h e h a s already received a onegame ban from CONMEBOL for his red card against Chile meaning he’ll miss the first of those.

Argentina have two friendlies lined up in the United States in September against Chile and Mexico and another in October away to Germany.

Messi would miss all three of those but be free to play for his country again in November.

Score’s Even set to...

From page 78 line from start to finish, will be of 880 and 660 yards.

The feature event will be for horses classified E and lower over 4 furlongs for a winning purse of $300,000 and trophy, has the likes of Score’s Even, Golden Dancer, Golden Blue Echo and Honey flow.

There is an event for 2 year old animals for a winning take of $150,000 and trophy over 660 yards.

The other events are for animals classified J and lower, K and lower, while there are three L class races, one for male horses and another for female animals, while there is for non-earners from the other two L class races.

Champion jockey, trainer and stable will all be rewarded with trophies and other incentives, compliments of the Trophy Stall. Interested persons can make contact with Mohini on 600-4728 or Amanda on 618-5966 for more information. Coordinator is Mohendra “Mohin” Persaud.

Youth Enhancement 10/10 cricket second edition set for today...

From page 78 Council] Counselor is to do something about the situation because too many youth and adults have idle time and we have so many abandoned playgrounds all over. So, I want to invest my time into the Number 56 Village Community Ground as a start.”

He added that at the first edition of the competition in May, several villagers have been asking for a repeat and also the business community has contacted him indicating their intention to support similar initiatives.

“They have been encouraging me to continue with my drive and they are willing to sponsor trophies and so on to ensure that the

idea grows and becomes successful,” Harbhajan explained.

The sponsors include Gobin Harbhajan and family (USA), D. Shaw and family, Chino and Daughter Supermarket among others.

“We have many NGOs in Guyana that just sit back waiting for something to happen. With the high suicide rate and prevalence of illegal drugs I believe my idea will make a huge impact in ensuring that youths make wise use of their spare time.

Admission to today’s event is free. The first game is expected to bowl off at 10:00hrs.

The competition will be played on a knock out basis.

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Sunday August 04, 2019

Kaieteur News

Verstappen ends pole wait with a first in Hungary BUDAPEST (Reuters) Red Bull’s Max Verstappen celebrated a long-overdue first Formula One pole position at the Hungarian Grand Prix yesterday, with championship leader Lewis Hamilton qualifying third for Mercedes.

Instead of Hamilton taking a record-equalling seventh pole in Hungary, and 88th of his career, the Dutch 21-yearold wrote his name in the record books as the sport’s 100th driver to secure a pole.

“This feels good, this feels really good,” he shouted over the team radio after a roar had gone up from his massed supporters.

Finland’s Valtteri Bottas, 41 points behind Hamilton after 11 of 21 races, qualified alongside Verstappen on the front row of the grid.

After stepping out of the car, Verstappen said: “It’s incredible. This one was still missing. The car felt good all weekend and you know it’s always going to be hard in qualifying but we managed to do it.

“For me, today was an

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix at Hungaroring. (REUTERS/Lisi Niesner) important one, a very nice one and a great one for the team.”

The youngster has already savoured seven career victories, including two in the last three races, and the pole came in his 93rd grand prix.

Already the only Dutch driver ever to win a championship grand prix, he became the first to take a pole, which was also a first for a

Honda-powered car since Australia 2006 with Britain’s now-retired Jenson Button.

HEIRAPPARENT The battle had looked like being one between Hamilton and Verstappen, increasingly considered the heir apparent to the five times world champion, from final practice when the Briton was just 0.013 quicker.

Verstappen was on top in the first phase, with Hamilton

second, and the positions were reversed in the second stage.

The top 10 shootout then saw Bottas strike when it mattered, the Finn determined to pull out all the stops with his future at the team still undecided amid talk of Verstappen possibly taking his place in 2020.

It was close, but Verstappen’s final flying lap of one minute 14.572 seconds

was enough to beat Bottas by 0.018 — a difference that translates into a mere 1.06 metres over the twisting 4.38km track.

Hamilton’s best effort was a 1:14.769.

“It’s an incredible feeling to get your first pole so I’m really happy for him,” said Britain’s reigning champion, who won in Hungary last year from pole.

“I’m always up for a fight.

It’s a long way down to Turn One so it should be interesting. It’s not the easiest place to overtake here but I hope we can give them a run for their money.”

VERY LUCKY Charles Leclerc was the quicker of the two Ferrari drivers in fourth place, despite smashing backwards into the tyre wall during the first phase and damaging his car’s rear wing, forcing a quick change.

“I’ve been very lucky to go again and I have to thank the team for what they did,” said the 21-yearold Monegasque, who crashed out of last

weekend’s German Grand Prix while challenging for the lead.

“It was a completely unnecessary mistake at that moment in quali, and that’s two mistakes in two Grand Prix races.”

Team mate Sebastian Vettel will line up fifth, with Red Bull’s Pierre Gasly sixth and McLaren’s Lando Norris the best of the rest in seventh and just ahead of Spanish team mate Carlos Sainz.

Further back there were e n c o u r a g ing signs of progress at struggling Williams, who had British rookie George Russell in 16th and ahead of both Racing Point cars and Australian Daniel Ricciardo’s Renault.

“Prior to this weekend, I don’t think we could even have dreamed of qualifying off the back row on merit, but I feel like w e ’ v e r e a l l y turned a page,” said Russell. Team mate Robert Kubica, enjoying the support of a sizeable Polish contingent, will start at the back of the grid.

Marquez equals Doohan’s Easwaran, Anmolpreet hand MotoGP pole record at Czech GP Windies A series defeat (Reuters) - Honda’s MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez took a tire gamble in drying conditions and equaled Australian Mick Doohan’s record of 58 top class pole positions at the Czech Grand Prix in Brno yesterday.

The Spaniard, on slick tires after earlier rain, lapped with a best time of two

minutes 02.753 seconds — 2.524 quicker than Australian Jack Miller who qualified second for the non-works Pramac Ducati team.

Miller crashed at the wet and slippery final turn after his quickest effort.

Marquez’s hefty pole margin was the biggest of the five times world champion’s MotoGP career so far.

French rider Johann Zarco, who came through first qualifying and unlike others stayed o n w e t t i r e s throughout the main session, took his KTM team’s first front row slot in third place.

Marquez has a 58 point lead over Ducati’s Italian Andrea Dovizioso, who will start fourth, in the standings.

Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez and Aprilia Racing Team Gresini’s Andrea Iannone during practice for the Czech Republic Grand Prix. (REUTERS/David W Cerny)

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Abhimanyu Easwaran and Anmolpreet Singh carved out unbeaten half-centuries as India A marched to a dominant sevenwicket victory over West Indies A here yesterday, to capture the second four-day “Test” and take a winning 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Resuming the final day at Queen’s Park Oval on 185 for three in search of 278 for victory, the visitors reached their target about 45 minutes after lunch, without losing a wicket.

Easwaran finished on 58 not out and Anmolpreet, 51 not out, the pair sharing in an unbroken fourth wicket stand worth exactly 100.

Fast bowler Chemar Holder failed to add to his tally, finishing with two for 51.

Starting the day on 16, Easwaran faced 134 balls in just short of 2-¾ hours at the crease and struck seven fours while Anmolpreet, resuming on four, counted eight fours in an 81-ball knock that lasted just shy of two hours.

Requiring a further 93 runs for victory at the start, Easwaran and Anmolpreet batting with little alarm, carrying their side safely to lunch on 245 without further loss.

Unbeaten on 47 at the break, Easwaran reached his

Abhimanyu Easwaran (left) and Anmolpreet Singh during their 100-run stand. fifty in the second over following the resumption with a couple off captain Kraigg Brathwaite’s unpracticed offspin.

Anmolpreet, on 30 not out at lunch, followed his teammate five overs later when he completed his landmark with a single to cover off left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, with four runs needed for victory.

The final four-day “Test” bowls off Tuesday at the Brian Lara Stadium here.

Scores: WEST INDIES A 318 (Montcin Hodge 65, Rahkeem Cornwall 56 not out,

Shamarh Brooks 53, Kraigg Brathwaite 36, Shane Dowrich 36, Raymon Reifer 27; Mohammed Siraj 3-63, Mayank Markande 3-79) and 149 (Sunil Ambris 71, Jermaine Blackwood 31; Krishnappa Gowtham 5-17, Sandeep Warrier 3-43).

INDIA A 190 (Shivam Dube 79, Priyank Panchal 58; Chemar Holder 5-54, Romario Shepherd 3-29, Raymon Reifer 2-42) and 281 for three (Mayank Agarwal 81, Priyank Panchal 68, Abhimanyu Easwaran 62 not out, Anmolpreet Singh 51 not out; Chemar Holder 2-51).

Sunday August 04, 2019

PAGE 77

Kaieteur News

Pritipaul Singh and Builder’s Lumber Yard supports GCOS

Dorsel Black of Builders Lumber Yard (left) presents Leslie Black with a sponsorship cheque for the GCOS raffle.

The Guyana Committee of Service’s (GCOS) whose mandate is to support sportsmen and sportswomen and the performing arts in Guyana, has recently benefitted from the support of Builders’ Lumber Yard and

Pritipaul Singh Investments who both made contributions towards the committee’s yearly grand raffle that will be drawn on August 31st..

The first prize of the raffle is $1million, 2nd prize one motorcycle, 3rd one refrigerator, 4th a 32-inch

Television and 5th a microwave. The cost of a raffle ticket is just $500.

According to GCOS committee member, Leslie Black, the proceeds of the raffle all goes towards the GCOS mandate, like their Athletics summer camp.

Pritipaul Singh Jr. (right) presents Leslie Black with a microwave.

The GCOS third annual Athletics summer camp is currently underway simultaneously in Berbice, Bartica and Linden is underway.

The committee are facilitating the respective coaches at the training

camps in addition to providing meals and gear so the budding athletes will be able to train hassle free and be engaged in meaningful activity during the July-August vacation.

The camps will run up until the 23rd of August

and to conclude the event, the GCOS will run off their highly anticipated summer camp 5k run which will be contested from the under10 to seniors’ categories that is scheduled for the National Park on Sunday, August 25th.

New Era Ent. /Mohamed’s Regal Masters, Mike’s Wellman to battle for Royston Ramsarran trophy Enterprise futsal continues today Arguably the two most accomplished softball masters teams in Guyana, Regal Masters and Wellman Masters will once again go at it this time for the Royston Ramsarran trophy at the GNIC Sports Club ground from 10:00h today (Sunday August 4).

The 20 overs per side match is organized to honour Ramsarran, the former longstanding Organizing Secretary of the Guyana Softball Cricket Association (GSCA).

In his hay days at the GSCA, Ramsarran organized lots of tournaments and brought to the fore many talented players who are now masters of the beautiful game.

Ramsarran currently lives in the United States of America and is on vacation in Guyana so players from both teams will be rolling back the years in a festive atmosphere to honour the stalwart.

Regal Masters will include; Mahendra Hardyal, David Harper, Mohendra

Arjune, Ramesh Narine, Eric Thomas, Eon Abel, Parsram Persaud, Fazleen Mohammed, Saheed Mohamed, Gamal Abdel Seenjan and Lynden Lyght.

Mike’s Wellman will see players like Lakeram ‘Mike’ Singh, Lloyd Ruplall, Wayne Jones, Greg DeFranca, Bhimsain Seeraj and Eon Lovell taking the field.

Trophies to remember the special occasion are being donated by Trophy Stall of Bourda Market in Georgetown.

Regal Masters Germans (on attack) against Haynes Hitters during their match.

Play in the sixth annual New Era Entertainment (NEE)/Mohamed’s Enterprise futsal tournament continues tonight at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) basketball hard court from 7:00pm.

The opening encounter will see Red Line against Royal Warriors followed by North East versus LA Ballers, We s t Side Connections tangle with Capital Striker, West Side Ballers challenge Hard Knocks, capital Storm oppose Trend Setters and

Quiet Storm take on Dave and Celina All Stars.

Over $2million in cash and prizes will be up for grabs by the respective top performers and the tournament that has three teams invited from region four will follow a group round-robin/knockout format.

There are a total of four groups with the top two teams from each group advancing to the quarterfinals.

The curtains will fall on the event on August 17th

when the winning team will pocket $600,000, second place $250,000 and teams finishing third and fourth will take home $100,000 and $55,000 respectively.

In latest play Achievers beat West Side Connection 65, NK Ballers edged Trend Setter 2-1, Ward Knocks got the better of North East 65, Silver Bullets defeated Red Line 3-0, German’s United overcame Haynes Hitters 5-1 and NK Ballers got full points from Dave and Celina All Stars via a walkover.

PAGE 78

Sunday August 04, 2019

Kaieteur News

Windies thwarted by batting in opening defeat FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida, CMC – World champions West Indies were left to rue another dismal batting effort as they slipped to a four-wicket defeat to India in the opening Twenty20 International of the three-match series here yesterday.

In a scrappy, low-scoring affair on a two-paced pitch at the Central Broward County Stadium, West Indies could only muster a paltry 95 for nine off their 20 overs – their fifth lowest total in the shortest format – punctuated with 79 dot balls.

Veteran Kieron Pollard top-scored with a run-a-ball 49 while Nicholas Pooran sparkled briefly in a 16-ball 20 but no other West Indies batsman reached double figures.

Man-of-the-Match Navdeep Saini bowled brilliantly on debut to claim three for 17 while fellow seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar supported with two for 17.

In reply, India were forced to labour, losing wickets at regular intervals before reaching their modest target in the 18th over with 16 balls remaining.

Rohit Sharma top-scored with 24 at the top of the order while captain Virat Kohli and Manish Pandey both scored 19 but failed to carry on.

Off-spinner Sunil Narine, in his first outing for West Indies in nearly two years, was superb in taking two for 14 from his four overs while seamers Sheldon Cottrell (2-20) and Keemo Paul (2-23) finished with two wickets apiece.

Not for the first time, West Indies found themselves hampered by a lack of enterprise from their batsmen and eventually needed Pollard’s experience to dig them out of a hole at 33 for five in the sixth over, after Saini helped rip through the top order.

Left-hander John Campbell, playing in only his

Kieron Pollard top-scored for West Indies with a run-a-ball 49. second T20 International, perished without scoring to the second ball of the contest when he picked out Krunal Pandya on the ropes at midwicket with off-spinner Washington Sundar.

And his opening partner Evin Lewis followed in the next over also without scoring, bowled missing a heave at a slower one from seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Tottering on eight for two, Pooran counter-attacked with a four and two cleanly struck sixes, as he looked to transfer pressure back to India.

However, he had just cleared the straight boundary with Saini two balls earlier when he attempted another big leg side shot but succeeded only in top-edging a catch to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant in the fifth over.

Left-hander Shimron Hetmyer lasted one delivery, chopping on a defensive stroke to Saini and when Rovman Powell (4) edged a drive at a wide one from leftarm seamer Khaleel Ahmed, West Indies were in strife at 33 for five.

Pollard and captain Carlos Brathwaite (9) then came together to add 34 for the sixth wicket – the best stand of the

innings – but the partnership was a slow one needing 50 balls and West Indies were labouring on 45 for five at the half-way point.

In his first T20 International in nine months, Pollard played sensibly, striking two fours and four sixes. He started slowly, gathering just four runs from his first 17 balls before getting his first boundary by edging left-arm spinner Pandya to third man.

He then hammered sixes off left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, Krunal and Saini, as he attempted to raise the run rate.

Brathwaite, who faced 24 balls without hitting a single boundary, perished in the 15th over when he slapped a return catch to Pandya and Sunil Narine followed for two in the next over, pulling Jadeja into the deep where Khaleel snared a great running catch.

Keemo Paul chanced his hand and fell to the first ball of the penultimate over for three and Pollard, seemingly set for his third T20 International half-century but first in seven years, departed in the final over when he missed an ordinary thighhigh full toss and was

Cummings Lodge, East Ruimveldt win ExxonMobil/Petra Organisation...

From page 77 Dawson shots were kept out for Carmel.

Martinez was named the MVP and also collected the award for scoring the most goals (12), while Simeon Allicock was named the best goal-keeper.

East Ruimveldt Secondary won the female final against New Campbellville Secondary 1-0 courtesy of an own goal by Imani Maxwell in the 41st minute. Carlita

Ross of Charlestown Secondary with six goals took the award for the highest goal scorer with, while the most valuable player accolade went to Sherry Rodrigues of East Ruimveldt.

Dolphin Secondary beat Queenstown Secondary 1-0 to win the third place game in the male division.

Nicholas Tappin netted in the first minute of added time.

adjudged lbw to Saini courtesy of DRS. India were set back early in their chase when left-armer Cottrell trapped Shikhar Dhawan lbw for one in the second over with the score on four but Rohit and Kohli steadied the innings in a 28run, second wicket stand.

However, Narine struck twice in the seventh over, having Rohit caught at long on by Pollard and then removing Pant first ball, taken at deep square by Cottrell.

Kohli and Pandey quelled the Windies’ hopes in a 32run, fourth wicket stand which appeared to put the visitors on the path to a comfortable victory. But India stumbled yet again, two wickets falling in the space of 14 balls with just five runs added, to leave them struggling on 69 for five in the 14th over.

Pandey missed a heave at Paul and lost his off-stump while Kohli top-edged a pull at Cottrell and was taken at

Navdeep Saini makes it two wickets in two balls on international debut © Associated mid-wicket.

Again with hope renewed, West Indies pressed for more wickets but got only Pandya’s for 12 as India limped home.

Scores: WEST INDIES 95 for nine off 20 overs (Kieron Pollard 49,

Nicholas Pooran 20; Navdeep Saini 3-17, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 217).INDIA 98 for six off 17.2 overs (Rohit Sharma 24; Sunil Narine 2-14, Sheldon Cottrell 2-20, Keemo Paul 223).

All set for KMTC’s Emancipation Horserace Meet today Over 45 horses have been entered for t h e K e n n a r d ’s M e m o r i a l Tu r f C l u b Emancipation Horserace Meet set for today at the Club’s race track, Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne Berbice.

The feature event will be for horses classified C and lower over one-mile and will see the winner receiving a top prize of $700,000 and trophy. Among those entered to compete are Settling Star, Golden Blue Echo, Lucky Star, Chamalee, Golden Dancer and Star.

The H and lower 7 furlongs event for WI bred non-winners & Guyana bred Open over 7 furlongs has a winning prize of $240,000 and trophy.

In the In the 2 years old Guyana bred 5 Furlongs event the winner will receive $200,000 and trophy.

There is an event for animals classified J and K and lower over 7 furlongs for a first prize of $180,000 and trophy.

The L class Open event over 5 miles the winner is set to receive $160,000 and trophy.

In winner of the L-non winners event for 2018 and 2019 will get a top prize of $140,000 and trophy.

The final event will be for L-non-earners and will see the winner taking home $120,000 and trophy.

Among other horses set to compete are Desert Storm, Stolen Diamond, Grey Boy, Kentucky Woman, Golden Dancer, Silence and Things, Campador and Miss Olympic among others. Over $3.5M in cash trophies and other incentives are up for grabs.

Race time is 13:00 hrs.

Kaieteur News

Sunday August 04, 2019

PAGE 79

Port Mourant Turf Club Centenary horserace meet successfully held

Connections of Justify the heat receives their winnings for the Two years Guyana Bred event.

The 4-Horse Man Promotion Group successfully held their Port Mourant Centenary Horserace meet at the Port Mourant Turf Club (PMTC), B i g Ya r d , C o r e n t y n e , Berbice.

The event which was organised in collaboration with the Ryan Crawford M e m o r i a l Tu r f C l u b (RCMTC) was held on Thursday, Emancipation Day. At the end of the day it was Cherish Me of the McWatt Stable with Colin Ross in the saddle that did the trick as it sprinted away from the field to the take the feature 1300M race for animals classified 3 years old Guyana-bred with a winning purse of $300,000 and Banks DIH Trophy at stake.

The Republican, Awesome Banner and TP

The Heat, winner of the L1 and lower race at the presentation of prizes.

Silver and Things winner of the Open race at the prize giving ceremony.

360 rounded out the money.

Silver and Things of the Cheffoon Stable with the wily Ross in the stirrups shone brightly to take the

Open 1300M race and the $220,000 winners money and trophy from Not this Time, Red Rocket and Kentucky Woman.

Justify The Heat ridden

by Kevin Paul burnt up the field as it won the two-yearold Guyana-bred 1000M event and $220,000 and a

trophy from Sunday Silence, Joyful Love and Body Guard.

Colin Ross was again in winners’ row as he piloted Song Bird of the Hope Stable to victory in the event for animals classified J, K2 and lower. The winner received $180,000 and trophy. The others that placed were Perfection, The Republican and Cherish Me. The L class open race saw Delilah with Randolph Richmond on its back winning from Touch De Cash, The Rock and Flo Joe. The undocumented two year old Guyana Bred animals had their opportunity to perform with Ross riding King to the throne ahead of Uprising Star, Flash The Cash and Princess Emma.

The Heat with Kevin Paul won the L1 and lower race from Touch the Cash,

Delilah and Stolen Diamond.

The racetrack was in excellent shape and all seven races were held with over $5M in cash and trophies and other incentives given out.

The champion jockey on show was Colin Ross. He and other outstanding performers received incentives from the organisers.

Apart for being staged in the Centenary anniversary of the PMTC the event was also held in memory of the achievements of the late Attorney at Law and Senior Counsel, Marcel Crawford for the enormous amount of work he did at the PMTC during his lifetime.

Over 50 horses took part in the day’s activity which was incident free.

The event was coordinated by Veteran horse race stalwart, Colin Elcock. (Samuel Whyte)

Cummings Lodge, East Ruimveldt win ExxonMobil/Petra Organisation U-14 football titles

By Zaheer Mohamed Cummings Lodge Secondary and East Ruimveldt Secondary were crowned male and female champions respectively of the ExxonMobil/ Petra Organisation schools’ U14 football tournament which concluded yesterday at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue.

In an exciting male final, Cummings Lodge edged Carmel Secondary 5-4 on penalties after the teams were locked at 2-2 following 50 minutes of regulation time and 12 minutes of extra time.

Both teams failed to find

the back of the net in the first half with shots going wide of goal. Cummings Lodge went ahead in the 30th minute when Carmel defender Nephi Allicock handled the ball inside the area and Captain Jitzah Martinez made no mistake from the spot. Ian Daniels drew Carmel Secondary level in the 43rd minute as he fired his shot home after winning the ball from outside the area. The remaining regulation time couldn’t separate the teams and the match went into extra time.

Martinez was again on target eight minutes into extra time when he worked

his way inside the area and sent his powerful shot into the roof of the net. Daniels found the equaliser two minutes later from inside the box and the outcome had to be decided by spot kicks.

Martinez, goal-keeper Mark Conyers, Raovin Henry, Elijah Mendonca and Daniel Murray converted, while Lewis Larson and Shiloh Adams were denied for Cummings Lodge.

Ian Daniels, goal-keeper Simon Allicock, Shem James and Nephi Allicock found the back of the net, while Matthew Layne, Joshua Cozier and Alwin (Continued on page 76)

Action between Cummings Lodge Secondary and Carmel Secondary.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 80

Sunday August 04, 2019

SandPipers Cricket Club to stage Jason DeFlorimonte memorial T10 Tapeball Cricket tourney Football set for today at GYO - Trophy Stall sponsors winner’s trophy, MVP prize

Owner of Trophy Stall Ramesh Sunich hands over the Winner’s Trophy to Mrs Zandra Perriera at Everest yesterday.

Trophy Stall proprietor Ramesh Sunich (center) hands over the trophies to the organisers of the event.

The SandPipers Cricket Club will stage its Annual Soesdyke Premier League (SPL) T10 Tapeball Cricket Tournament on August 11, 12, 18, 25 & 31.

The Venues are the Soesdyke Community Centre Ground, Latchman Sandroad, Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara and Airport Cricket Ground, Timehri, East Bank Demerara.

A total of 12 teams will be participating in this tournament.

Among them are: Sandpipers A, Sandpipers B, Eccles All Stars, Kuru Kururu XI, Sarah Johannah, Redbull xi, Uprisng CC, Laluni CC, Village Ram, FarmTrack XI, Rising Star Cricket Club and Airport XI. This tournament will be played on a round robin basis for the first round and the top 8 teams will qualify for the knockout stages; quarter finals, semifinals and finals. The semi finals and final will be played under floodlights. All games will begin at 9:30am

except for semifinals and finals.

Teams will be battling for attractive prizes.

First Prize $100,000 + Trophy Second Prize $50,000 + Trophy Third Prize $25,000 + Trophy Leading Wicket taker $15,000 + Trophy Leading Runs Scorer $15,000 + Trophy Man of the Match (Final) $10,000 + Trophy The event has been sponsored by: Trophy Stall, Regal Stationary and Computer Centre, Singh’s Transportation Service and Equipment Rentals, C. Deokie and Sons General Contracting Services, Camille’s Academy, B & R Investment, Rubis Gas station (Soesdyke), Bashier & Sons and Sandpipers Cricket Club.

Just recently Ramesh Sunich of the Trophy Stall presented trophies for the event to officials of the SandPipers Cricket Club for the staging of the event.

Trophy Stall has sponsored the Champion’s trophy and the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the inaugural Jason DeFlorimonte memorial Seven-a side Football tournament which is set for today at GYO from 09:00hrs.

The tournament, which involves four teams, is organised by family of the late Jason DeFlorimonte including his sister Zandra, now married to the renowned Guyanese Cricket Commentator ‘Reds Perriera and has travelled from St Lucia where she now lives to h e l p a r r a n g e t o d a y ’s celebration of Jason’s life.

Just 30-years old, Jason, who has three children aged

The late Jason DeFlorimonte

11,6 & 5, was fatally shot by on August 4 last year by the owner of the Tourist Villa Hotel in Fifth Avenue, Subryanville, Kitty.

The Hotel owner is a licensed firearm holder and shot four times after an argument between the two.

De Florimonte, who

resided next door to the Hotel, died a few feet from his front gate.

Today’s tournament will involve teams from four Wards and will have two semi-finals and one winner.

Admission is free and teams don’t have to pay any entrance fee. (Sean Devers)

Youth Enhancement 10/10 cricket Score’s Even set to make return at Nand second edition set for today Persaud Sprint Classic on August 11th The second edition of the youth enhancement 10/10 Cricket tournament is set for today at the Number 56 Vi l l a g e [ C o r e n t y n e ] Community Ground.

Eight teams are set to compete in the tournament which was first held in May. Guyana Police Force (B Division), Unstoppable, Grill Master X1, Number 57 Village, Number 71 Village, Number 53-Union, Number 59 Village and Number 55 Vi l l a g e a r e t h e s i d e s involved.

Organizer Gobin Harbhajan, who is the Prime M i n i s t e r ’s R e g i o n a l Representative, said the idea is not just to play a cricket match, but to support youth enhancement in the community.

Giving a background of the initiative, he said that

- Over 35 entered, more sponsors on board

The organisers display some of the trophies on offer for the event. moving around he has heard of a number of young people committing suicide and encounter a number of them with idle time, hence, get themselves involved in alcohol drinking and illegal drugs use.

“Making a start and

taking the lead will help the youths to use their spare time to do something constructive,” he said.

“My objective is as the PM [Prime Minister] Regional Rep. and RDC [Regional Democratic (Continued on page 73)

With less than a week to go before race day preparations are in full swing for the much anticipated Nand Persaud Sprint Classic Horserace Meet. The event is being promoted by the Company Sky Plus Incorporated Promotion Group.

Slated for Sunday August 11th at the Company’s racing facility, No36 Village, Macedonia Estate, Corentyne, Berbice, the event is expected to see the return of once dominant Score Even to the race track.

So far major sponsors are Ansa Mc Al Group of Companies through its Stag Beer Brand, Trophy Stall, Prem’s Electrical, 4R Bearings and Belts, Jumbo Jet Auto Sales, NTN Television Station, Rice farmers S. Jagmohan, Dhaniram Persaud and P. Misir, along with a number of subsidiaries of the Nand Persaud Group Company Limited and the NPG Packaging and Plastics INC. The seven-race card, dubbed the “Nand Persaud Karibee Sprint Classic” has over $4M in cash, trophies and other incentives up for grabs. The races, which will be run in a straight (Continued on page 73)

Score’s Even

Kaieteur News

Sunday August 04, 2019

PAGE 81

Pan Am games 2019

Archibald using event as stepping stone for World C/ship - Edghill in action tomorrow

Chelsea Edghill (left) practicing with Rheann Chung of Trinidad & Tobago yesterday at the Videna Sports Center in Lima, Peru.

By Calvin Chapman in Peru

T

he track and field athletes will be in action from

Tuesday.

The contingent has been shortened once again with national 400m record holder Winston George choosing to opt out due a groin injury.

The other track and field athletes that have missed the event due the injuries are Akeem Fraser (100m) and national Javelin record holder; Leslain Baird.

Aliyah Abrams, Brenessa Thompson and Emmanuel Archibald who

have all qualified for the World Championship in September will be joined by Jenea McCammon who will arrive on competition day.

Coach of the Track and Field contingent, Julian Edmonds, explained that it is disappointing that Guyana is missing some athletes due to injury but the current lot is on the top of their game.

Archibald, who reset the national long jump record twice this year with a top distance of 8.12m, has entered this competition ranked 12th and he shared with Kaieteur Sport prior to his first training session yesterday that he will be

Emmanuel Archibald going through some hurdles drills yesterday at the Videna Training Center in Lima, Peru.

using this competition as a stepping stone to the World Championships later in the year.

Archibald further shared with this publication that his current aim is to make the 8.22m qualifying distance f o r t h e 2 0 2 0 To k y o Olympics.

In other news, the table tennis pair of Chelsea Edghill and her coach Idi Lewis have arrived in Lima and they will be in action tomorrow with a tough opponent in Colombia’s Paola Medina in the women’s singles first round.

Edghill, who recently secured a professional contract with Portugal’s

second division outfit, Lusitania de Lourosa FC, is not fazed by Medina despite the Colombian plays professionally in Spain.

Speaking with Kaieteur Sport, Edghill explained that, “First, I’m excited to be here, and for the match I’m excited to play and see how much I have improved. I really hope the hard work I have been putting in pays off.”

She further noted that, “All matches mean the same, all matches are important.

Defeating Medina and getting to the next round is my priority right now.”

Coach Lewis is confident going forward, he shared

Idi Lewis that, “We played Paola (Medina) before so I believe we have a good chance to come out with a win.”

Lewis expects Edghill to do well and he noted that a win for his athlete, who recently went pro, will augur well for her career in

Coach Julian Edmonds the future since Medina, her opponent, is well known as a top competitor.

The women’s singles table tennis first round is set hit off tomorrow from 13:30hrs (Guyana time) at the Videna Sports Center in Lima.

Champion of Champions Domino competition set for today at Turning Point Organizer Dion Carter (left) collects a sponsorship cheque from Stag Beer’s Brand Manager Nigel Worrell as Mark ‘Jumbie’ Wiltshire looks on.

T

he Turning Point Sports Club will be the battlefield when over 20 teams clash in the Champion of Champions Domino competition for prizes in excess of $400,000.

The competition, which is organized by Mark ‘Jumbie’ Wiltshire and Dion Carter, will be played in three rounds of aggregate points followed by a sudden death round.

Thus far the qualifying teams include Gold is

Money, Spartans, Mix Up, Phantom, All Season Angels, Providence Sports Club, All Season and All Season Punters.

The winning team will pocket $200,000 and a trophy, while the runners-up will receive $100,000 and a trophy as well. The third place finishers will walk away with $50,000 and a trophy while fourth place will receive $20,000.

The MVP will pocket $10,000 and a cellphone for

his/her efforts, while the best female player will win $20,000 and a voucher.

The entrance fee is $15,000 per team and each team will be given a case of Stag Beer upon entry.

The sponsors onboard a r e S t a g B e e r , R RT Enterprise, iBet Supreme, Industrial Safety Supplies Inc, Magnum Tonic Wine, New Nigel’s Supermarket, G Bacchus, McBeth NY and Hilary Davidson Designs & Technologies.

Members of the victorious Cummings Lodge team with Minister of Social Cohesion with responsibility for sport Dr. George Norton (left) and Deedra Moe (right) Exxon Mobil Government and Corporate affairs official.

t r o Sp

Cummings Lodge, East Ruimveldt win ExxonMobil/Petra Organisation U-14 football titles

Deedra Moe presents the winning trophy to members of the East Ruimveldt Secondary school team.

Windies thwarted by batting in opening defeat Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.