Kaieteur News

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Tuesday August 21, 2018

Kaieteur News

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

THE DEATH OF AN ICONIC DIPLOMAT Leaders around the world were shocked at the death of former United Nations (UN) Secretary-General and Nobel Laureate, Kofi Annan after a short illness. He was 80 years old. Annan is survived by his wife, three children and two siblings. The late Kofi Annan was one of the world’s most celebrated, consummate and graceful international diplomats who rose through the ranks at the UN and became the first black person from Sub-Saharan Africa to be elected to the Secretary-General of the world’s foremost international organization.Tributes poured in from a number of former and present world leaders including former President Barack Obama who said: “Kofi Annan was a diplomat and humanitarian who embodied the mission of the United Nations like few others. His integrity, persistence, optimism, and sense of our common humanity always informed his outreach to the community of nations.” Twice married, Annan was born into an aristocrat family in the city of Kumasi in what was then the Gold Coast but in 1957, became Ghana, the first African country to achieve independence from Britain. A graduate in economics from Macalester College in Geneva and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mr. Annan spent most of his working life in the corridors and conference rooms of the UN. His first appointment was at the UN World Health Organization in Geneva in 1962 and then in Ethiopia with the U.N. Economic Commission for Africa before returning to the UN European headquarters. In the 1970s, Annan returned to the UN headquarters in New York in senior human resources and budgetary positions, and, in the early 1990s, was appointed as deputy and then as head of UN peacekeeping operations around the world. The soft-spoken diplomat became the seventh Secretary-General of the UN and served for two consecutive terms from Jan. 1, 1997 to Dec. 31, 2006, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001. He was the first SecretaryGeneral to be chosen from the international civil servants who make up the UN bureaucracy. During his tenure as head of the UN, Annan projected himself and the organization as the world’s conscience and moral arbiter despite some bloody battles that left indelible stains on the UN record as peacekeeper An emblem as much of the UN’s success in peacekeeping, Annan was credited with revitalizing the traditional peace and humanitarian intervention process of the organization. He also persuaded the United States not to withhold financial support to the UN because of the profound misgivings about the organization voiced by some conservative members of Congress. The Secretary-General also championed efforts to try to end the protracted conflicts in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. His grandest success, included the reforming of the UN bureaucracy; reducing HIV, especially in Africa; and the launching of the UN Global Compact Initiative to encourage businesses worldwide to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies to protect the environment, labour, and human rights. His tenure as Secretary General was one of the most turbulent periods since the founding of the UN in 1945.The leadership of the world’s foremost diplomat saw the rise of Islamic militancy worldwide, the destruction of the twintowers in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington by Al Qaeda in 2001 and the United States invasion of Iraq in 2003, which he called illegal. Annan was hamstrung by the inherent flaw of his position, other than persuasion, he was a figure of moral authority who was bereft of the means to enforce the high standards he articulated.Despite these setbacks, Annan commanded the world stage with ease in his impeccably tailored suits, goatee beard and slight physique—attributes that made him a global voice. He seemed to radiate an aura of probity and authority. In addition to his charm, there was the authority that came from experience. Few people have spent as much time as Annan negotiating tables with thugs, warlords and dictators. He was the world’s emissary to the dark side.

WPA: Why no serious discussions on the oil cash to citizens? Dear Editor, The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) notes the flurry of responses in the media to its proposal to use part of Guyana’s imminent oil revenues as cash transfers to households. While we welcome the public commentary, we are somewhat disappointed that there has not been any attempt at serious discussion of the proposal. Very few of the responses have sought to discuss its merits and demerits within the context and in the spirit in which it was made. To the contrary, most of them have come in the form of unrelated criticisms of the WPA and attacks on the ability and capacity of average Guyanese to manage money. WPA calls for an informed, rational and serious discussion on what is to be done with the expected oil revenues. Such a discussion should involve Guyanese in

their communities and at their workplaces and should be grounded in a desire to lift the standard of living of all, but most importantly the poor and the powerless. WPA is the least bothered about criticisms of and attacks on the party—that is to be expected in a political culture that privileges invective over reason. This will not be the last instance of the messenger being assassinated as a substitute for informed debate and discussion. In his haste to attack the WPA, one government minister went as far as denigrating “intellectuals” and “bright people” at a moment when the president is urging the youth to go to school and in a week when the country welcomes the CSEC and CAPE exam results. WPA takes this opportunity to reiterate its commitment to an educated citizenry and feels honoured to be a party that is an example

of and an inspiration for intellectualism and education excellence. Our party has never been in the business of hiring ‘ghost-writers’ to craft our releases and letters to the press. Any statement appearing over the name of the WPA or its leaders comes from self- generated ideas and written by the authors themselves. We know who the ghost-writers are, and we urge them to stop hiding behind the gullible and come out into the open in their own image and name. The same minister launched an attack on WPA co-leaders, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine and Professor Clive Thomas and in the process sought to hold the WPA responsible for what he sees as the shortcomings of the government. He joins PPP leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, in labeling the cash-transfer proposal a gimmick aimed at getting votes. We wonder which party or coalition of

parties he thinks will benefit from this so-called gimmick? WPA is forced to invoke the old saying— “if you have nothing proper to say, shut your mouth.” WPA will resist the temptation to pronounce on that minister’s performance in his portfolio for fear of being unable to find anything substantive to evaluate. But for now, we wish to express our unswerving support for the way Roopnaraine and Thomas have discharged their duties in pursuit of implementing government policy in the areas of state which fall under their watch. While our leaders are not beyond criticism, WPA makes a distinction between honest, constructive criticism and nasty politicking. The attacks on the capacity of Guyanese to judiciously manage money is grounded in a sub-culture of conscious and unconscious social bigotry which has long (Continued on page 6)

I support Guyana’s participation in the Silk Belt Road Initiative Dear Editor, I compliment the Chinese on their longstanding support of Guyana and I believe the Government’s signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China within the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative is the dawn of a progressive new era of relations between the two nations. It is clear to me that Guyana needs to develop its infrastructure, especially roads and bridges that link the mineral-rich areas with the city, and we simply do not have the funds, expertise and experience to do this alone. It is good that Guyana can turn to a powerful friend like China to get help with key national development projects. What I like about China is that their support for Guyana has been consistent throughout the years and has spanned many government administrations. Space does not permit me to cover all their positive interventions, but off the top of my head I can recall the valuable contributions of Chinese medical brigades to our health sector and several donations of much-needed equipment to hospitals. I remember in 2013 China gave Guyana US$8.16M in grant aid. That is a lot of money and it has grown since then. I also recall with

respect and gratitude how they helped us to acquire marine vessels for plying the Essequibo River between Parika and Supenaam. They also assisted with the construction of the Guyana International Conference Centre and funded multiple scholarships and training and capacity building in a wide variety of areas. Furthermore, they provided millions of dollars in equipment and vehicles for the Guyana Police Force. That is why I extend blessings and praises to the Chinese for making Guyana a partner in the billion-dollar Silk Road Initiative. I am pleased that the first funds are earmarked to upgrade the road from Linden to Lethem, which is often in a deplorable condition with maintenance costs running into tens of millions of dollars annually. It makes good sense to me that, instead of constantly spending this kind of money in a losing battle to keep the road in good order, Guyana may be able to get funding to fix and strengthen the road by activating a solid relationship with China that is based on over four decades of goodwill and cooperation between our nations. Some countries are saying that partnering with China in the Silk Road Economic Belt initiative has left them up to their ears in debt. I do not see Guyana going along that

route. My advice to Government is: instead of taking out loans, try to utilise the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) system for this project with China and give the Chinese a 20-year reprieve on taxes. This would mean we would not become saddled with debt. After a few decades, the road will be transferred to the government and people of Guyana. If we play our cards right, we will have millions of dollars in oil wealth pouring in, so by then we will be able to afford the maintenance costs. The Linden to Lethem road must also have a modern technological system for tolls for those using the road, including loggers, miners and others. People will not mind paying a toll since the money will be used to upkeep the roadway. Some of the money could also be used for other roads and highways- for example a new express toll road linking the Mahaica area to the airport. I remember the late Hugh Desmond Hoyte, in his vision with the reform component of the PNC, had shown how such a project could have been done if the party was elected to govern. My advice to this Government is to relive that vision of my hero, the late President Hugh Desmond Hoyte. By giving my support to this project, I am not saying we should just accept any offer we get from the interna-

tional donor community of powerful nations who have their own agendas. I am saying that with our upcoming oil revenue we will have greater capacity to meet our repayment commitments for essential development projects, so we can go after more external funding. We don’t know what the future holds, so we have to be cautious, but I believe that we can be optimistic about the returns from signing the Silk Belt Road Initiative with China. I believe we have learned a lot from tough lessons in the recent past concerning deals with international partners to be able to assess and monitor a new project of this nature. I feel a sense of pride to know that Guyana is the first country in South America and the first English-speaking Caribbean country to sign such a treaty with China because it shows that we have insight and vision. I believe both nations realise that it is in their interest to make this venture a showpiece for the world and Guyana should press for funding of other important projects under this initiative. Kudos to Guyana and China for maintaining their mutually beneficial relationship and securing the basis of an exciting way forward for the well-being of both nations. Roshan Khan Snr

Tuesday August 21, 2018

The deceptive picture of oil painted Minister Gaskin Dear Editor, I write this letter because I cannot let deception veiled in questionable objectivity sit quietly. In recent letters to Kaieteur News and to Stabroek News, both dated August 17, 2018, Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, declares that, “The public deserves a more complete picture.” The picture he is referring to is the total revenue that Guyana will receive from the Petroleum Agreement annually, which the Government has projected to be US$1B. To paint this picture, he first takes the following scenario proposed by Mr. Nigel Hinds as his muse: “Considering that US$1B requires revenue of US$50B, when selling 500,000 barrels per day in 2025 as projected by Exxon’s Esso, then computing at US$70 per barrel, using a 360-day year, Exxon’s Esso claims revenue subject to royalty less than or equal to US$12.6B, on which the crumbly 2% royalty

amounts to US$252M.” Then, with the pen as his brush, Minister Gaskin attempts to complete the picture by accounting for the 50/50 profit-sharing component of the oil revenues, extrapolating that Guyana would receive US$1.752 Billion rather than US$252M. Unfortunately, in addition to adopting a cost per barrel much higher than projected, his extrapolation assumes that ExxonMobil will not grossly take advantage of our lack of expertise by reporting deflated profits from which we take our 50%. Considering the 2% royalty that ExxonMobil has subjugated us to, his assumption is obviously foolish. From the debunking of this assumption, the profitsharing component is rendered as trivial as the US$18M signing bonus and other scraps that Minister Gaskin failed to mention. Thus, the picture he paints for the public is in fact not complete; 50% of zeros still

zero. However, whether complete or incomplete, there is something fundamentally wrong with this picture. And therein lies the heart of the deception we must unveil. Even if we assume that US$1B is available to be given annually from oil sales directly to the Guyanese people, is that all we are worth for our country’s outstanding wealth of oil? While Guyana has signed to earn 2% royalty, a percentage far below the normal touchstone, Ghana earns 10% royalty and Texas earns 25% royalty. We are being exploited. We are being robbed. Minister Gaskin distracts us from our worth, to save face. My Guyanese brothers and sisters, we must paint a new picture that reflects what we truly deserve. We must wield our brushes and our voices, dipping into the red, black, golden, white, and green of our flag and what those colours mean. Nicel Mohamed-Hinds

Our people continue to be manipulated by foreign forces Dear Editor, In admonishing Professor Clive Thomas and the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) on the issue of cash transfers to the poorer sectors of our society, Junior Minister of Finance, and leader of Justice For All party, Jaipaul Sharma, said that the “previous PPP/C government mismanaged our country’s natural resources and allowed foreign institutions and forces to misguide and manipulate our economic policies and programmes by adopting foreign ideologies”. First of all, Jaipaul Sharma should be bold enough to identify those “foreign institutions and forces” by name, as well as the “foreign ideologies”, and secondly, be honest enough to admit that his own governing coalition APNU+AFC is doing exactly the same thing.

The foreign institutions and forces he refers to are the ABC countries and foreign corporations and the foreign ideology is of course neoliberal capitalism. Organization for the Victory of the People support cash transfers to the people as part of a larger programme of economic empowerment and democratization of the economy. However, we know that economic justice on this scale can never become a reality under the current neocolonial arrangement that imprisons this government, as it did the previous one. The truth is both the PPP and APNU+AFC governments, controlled and manipulated as they are by external forces and foreign ideologies, are unable to do anything but betray the people of Guyana which is

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exactly what both have done. The people of Guyana have given both governing bodies a fair chance and are waking up to the fact that neither can deliver what the people want and need, precisely because they are not in control and not able to act in the best interests of their own people. Everything has its time. Once the people decide that these parties are over – they are over and that time is near. The victory of the people is inevitable. Gerald A. Perreira Organization for the Victory of the People (OVP)

My little tribute to Kofi Anan Dear Editor, Please allow me to share my little tribute from my little corner of the world, Guyana, to a ‘big’ man who graced the ‘big’ world stage and did so successfully. I met the late Kofi Anan in April, 2017 at a United Nations event in Geneva. I got close enough to ask him one question I have always wanted to ask five of my favourite people of which he was one. The others are former President of the United States, Barack Obama; Pilot Chesley Sullenberger, the pilot that landed the aircraft in the Hudson River in January of 2009- the other two are now deceasedNelson Mandela and Maya Angelou. As I got close enough to

Kofi Anan, I said: “Mr. Anan, I have always wanted to ask you one question- how did you do it? How did you make it?” He looked straight at me, then looked down at the floor and paused for a moment and then responded: “How did I make it? Persistence…you have to be persistent!” I guess he paused and looked at the floor because he understood that my question was loaded. I have the photographs of that moment on the wall in my office and earlier in this year, I was having a challenge and one of my colleagues in an attempt to convince me to take a certain course of action, looked at the photograph on the wall and said: “Audreyanna, remember what Kofi Anan said to

you…you have to be persistent.” Those words were very powerful and I took my colleague’s advice and persevered. I share this very personal story to make two points: onemy memory of Kofi Anan and the second, to share these very powerful words with every person who is experiencing both the opportunities and challenges or ebb and flow of this awesome journey called ‘life’. I hope that as they journey, they would remember Kofi Anan’s words to me…”you have to be p e r s i s t e n t ” . That is the only way you will make it. May his soul rest in peace! Audreyanna Thomas

This Kato police station rank has to be transferred Dear Editor, Information has reached us that the residents of Kato village in Region 8 (PotaroSiparuni) are going through very rough times because their cassava and mixed farms currently being destroyed by cattle owned by an alleged drugs dealer. The residents claim that when complaints are made to the owner of the cattle, he does nothing, but only offer excuses. Kato residents also claim that their village council has advised the cattle owner to remove his cattle from the village’s farming areas and put them on the savannah areas, which are good pastures for his cows, but he refuses. To compound matters, when villagers report their problem to the Kato Police Station, nothing happens. An official at the police stations is close relations to the cattle owner.

The Kato residents are calling on the Ministers of Indigenous Peoples Affairs and Communities for their intervention to bring relief to their cattle-related problem, which is affecting their livelihood. They are also calling on the ‘F’ Division Commander and the Commissioner of Police to remove the police rank of the Kato Police Station since he is not responding to the reports

Corruption benefits the rich and powerful at the expense of the poor. Say no to it.

made by the Kato village farmers. There is a clear conflict of interest situation here. Peter Persaud

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Anamayah: There is alcohol in Parliament’s MP lounge Dear Editor, The comments made by Minister Cathy Hughes necessitate a response, given that she makes three completely erroneous claims, in attempting to respond to criticisms about spending under the APNU+AFC Coalition Government – criticisms that were voiced by the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, in response to questions from the local media corps at his last news conference. Firstly, the Minister distorts an issue that dealt with the spending under the budget head ‘dietary’ at the Parliament Office by attempting to make the issue about meals provided to Parliamentarians, Parliament staff and others present during sittings of the House. The problematic issue is not about spending on meals; rather it is about the spending on alcohol during the sittings. Secondly, she is quoted by the Department of Public Information (DPI) as saying that: “I don’t know which lounge Mr. Jagdeo goes into, but the lounge I go into…that lounge does not have alcohol. There’s a range of teas, coffee, milo and there’s two sets of juices and there’s water.” The reality, as known by all Parliamentarians, as well as Parliament staff – but unconfirmed by the members of the media who are not allowed in the Parliament lounge

– is that at sittings ofAdrian the National Assembly, Anamayah, since the APNU+AFC office, MPCoalition for thetook People’s there is a plethoraProgressive of alcoholic beverages being Party/Civic served in the lounge. Minister Hughes only has to go back to a recent ‘drinking spree’ at Parliament office, where staffers of the Parliament Officer were made to remain on duty to accommodate a ‘session’ that went into the wee hours of the morning. Thirdly, Minister Hughes claims that Parliament usually concludes at 22:00hours, but during budget debates, the sessions can run until 03:00hours. I challenge the Minister to point to the last time this happened- that under the APNU+AFC Coalition Government sittings that ran into the morning hours, to ensure the completion of substantial work to benefit Guyanese people, have become a thing of the past? I find it strange that the Minister would talk about the “height of fake news”. The fact is, and remains, that the primary objection about spending by the Parliament Office relates to the use of taxpayers’ monies to fund ‘drinking bills’ and this was a position made clear in response to queries from the media local corps on the use of taxpayers’ dollars.

City defaulters could help garbage situation in barter arrangement Dear Editor, As the city of Georgetown celebrates its 175th Anniversary, greetings are extended to the Mayor, City Councillors, and general staff. We are all aware of ongoing challenges faced by the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown (M&CC), but that is not the focus of this writing. What I would like to suggest are two probabilities for relief to the Council particularly by entities who have outstanding rates and other forms of indebtedness to the Council.

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Of course, what I’m about to suggest will require structured management and accountability to avert possible abuse or corruption. The M&CC’s massive cleanup in observance of this special anniversary began last week; with parapets being weeded, the clearing of vegetation from drains, and desilting of canals within some wards and extensions of the city. However, the waste from these exercises were left piled on the sides of some roads. As I write, this is the current situation along Dennis Street and some sections of

Pattensen and South Turkeyen. My suggestion is for Council to consider having those defaulting tax payers, particularly businesses, assist in the removal of the piled refuge under some sort of bartered arrangement. Some of these businesses, while lamenting their inability to pay outstanding taxes, may have the resources or alternate means to support the council. Another observation is the absence of signs reflecting road names, in several sections of the city. Some roads have lost their initial name signs over the years, while others seem to have never been officially named. Some rate-indebted businesses could be approached to stand the cost of placing or replacing road name signs. They could also subscribe to adopt certain unkempt streets by providing maintenance, under council’s supervision and assessment, as a deductible in lieu of owed taxes. Such an approach would improve aesthetics of the city; reduce disposal and maintenance costs to the M&CC, while offsetting their bad debts. We m u s t f i n d w a y s , whether established or innovative, to improve conditions in this city. Orette Cutting

Chinese money and labour: A win-win for them Dear Editor, Thank you much for allowing me space in your excellent paper Kaieteur News to add my take of this slippery slope known as the Belt and Road Initiative, funded by China. Let me first say your reporting on this initiative and the oil contract with Exxon Mobil is indeed first world investigative journalism, and deserves the highest praise and recognition. As you so rightly pointed out, the Chinese have become the world’s latest international economic predator. (My characterization) They are using their money and technical know-how to gobble up more and more countries, trapping them in an endless vortex of dependence and economic enslavement.

The examples around the world are a testament to the Greek gifts dressed u p i n C h i n a ’s g o o d intentions, leaving those countries, accepting their money, trapped and for all intents and purposes tied to them for years to come with no conceivable way out of their money pit. Guyana has already experienced how technically unsound their assistance can be- the Marriott Hotel; Skeldon sugar factory and the Cheddi Jagan Airport upgrade. A major portion of their work leaves a lot to be desired, downright substandard and in addition, most of the works are being done by Chinese labour effectively shutting out local participation. For them, it’s a win-win exercise.

Guyana with its coming oil bounty will find itself squarely in China’s sights and even from my limited training in economics, having worked in the U.S civil service at the Bureau of Labor Statistics for 11 years, it is clear that Guyana will not be able to avoid the economic and financial pitfalls of this Belt and Road Initiative. We a r e s i m p l y n o t equipped enough to avoid this economic noose. China holds all of the cards in this game, they have become adept at playing. I personally believe that their plan is all about conquestthey are accomplishing with their money what America did and still doing to a lesser extent with their guns and bombs. Be very afraid, Guyana. Claudeston Massiah

WPA: Why no serious discussions... From page 4 been part of our elite national outlook. Guyanese elites are masters of the rhetoric of empathy for the underprivileged, but when it comes to serious policy that involves the masses being in control of their destiny, that empathy gives way to doubt, cynicism and bigotry. WPA condemns in the strongest terms this naked disrespect for most of our citizens. We urge those who are economically better off and are in positions of privilege to remember that their “success” did not come from some inherent genius, but from the sacrifices of those whose abilities they now doubt. WPA notes the use of terms such as “handouts,” “free money” and “dependency” as part of the dismissal of our proposal. We wonder whether these overnight economic theorists realize the anti-black and brown racist origins of those terms. Further, how can people’s own money be given to them as handouts and free money—isn’t the coming oil and gas money theirs too? Clearly, if one follows the logic of these commentators, the coming wealth do not belong to ordinary Guyanese. Everyone now discovers the virtue of spending state money on social programmes and seems to suggest that the WPA is oblivious to this. We are not amused at the attempts to lecture Professor Thomas and the WPA on the virtues of social policy. We invite these fly-by-

night economic theorists to examine every WPA policy statement from the birth of our party in 1974, every WPA election manifesto from 1985 and the two manifestos of the APNU and APNU+AFC with which the WPA was integrally involved in crafting and they will see that our party has long made spending on social programmes central planks of national development. WPA did not wait on oil wealth to urge spending on education and health care and other aspects of our social infrastructure. To those who feel that Dr. Thomas has not thought through the proposal or has no policy statement, we can only sympathise with their selective reading. We reiterate that no public person in Guyana has written more on oil and gas policy and has documented ideas in that regard than Professor Thomas. His weekly column in the Stabroek News is available to them and his full presentation at Buxton is available to all. It is an indictment of the state of our national discourse when supposedly serious people rely on newspaper headlines and sound-bites or isolate parts of a comprehensive statement to make definitive pronouncements on matters of national interest. WPA will not be deterred by the skeptics, bigots and naysayers on this matter of direct empowerment of the Guyanese people, particularly the poor. We are prepared to fight the privileged and the anti-poor

advocates. We are prepared to fight the PPP and the Coalition if they place themselves on the wrong side of this issue. WPA salutes those who have sought to bring reason to their examination of the proposal and we urge others of that ilk to lift their voices in defense of reason and the right of all Guyanese to directly benefit from our common blessings. WPA’s proposal is the first serious intervention by a political party on how ordinary Guyanese should fit into the larger plans for oil and gas wealth from the standpoint of policy. When all the braying and shouting is over, it is the Guyanese people who should have the last say. WPA is taking this matter to those who are most affected by it and if needs be, we will make it a defining issue at the 2020 election. We warn that those who seek to play political games on this issue would reap the bitter consequences. WPA welcomes the AFC’s public support of cash-transfers and we urge other serious political parties to embrace the idea. On this and other related matters, Guyanese can be assured that they have a loyal ally in the WPA. Unlike others, the WPA is not shy of raising the expectations of the masses of people; it is their wealth and they should have expectations about how it would be distributed. Tabitha Sarabo-Halley for WPA

Tuesday August 21, 2018

Development, production phases for oil pose serious tax risks for Revenue Authority - IMF The exploration, development and production phases of petroleum extraction constitute potential tax risks for the revenue administration. This salient point was outlined to the government in a report that was prepared by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). According to the document seen by Kaieteur News, the IMF indicated to the government that very large investments are made upfront in the exploration and development phase before the government may collect direct revenues from the production phase. The Fund said that the exploration and development phase will typically cover a time span of five or more years, and expenditures incurred during this period will be deductible against future income. The Fund said therefore, that the tax administration department of Guyana needs to closely monitor and audit all costs from the start of the exploration and development phases. The Fund said that a failure to ensure proper monitoring would lead to significant tax leakages for the country. In addition to this, the Fund said that the transition from the exploration phase to the development phase would be a particular challenge for the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) which has no petroleum experience. As for development expenses, the IMF said that these are extremely large compared to any industrial investment, especially in a small country like Guyana. The Fund said that typically, goods and services of a very

specialized nature are needed and in a short period. “For example, ExxonMobil estimates that the cost to develop phase 1 of the Liza field to start production in 2020 is likely to be around US$4.4 billion. Development expenditures represent costs of a different nature than the expenditure in the exploration phase, and a large inflow of new international sub-contractors will enter the country during this phase.” The Fund said, “It can be difficult for the tax administration to scale-up the capacity to meet this challenge regarding the influx of sub-contractors, since this is not primarily a matter of the number of staff, but more the particular skills necessary to tax the petroleum sector. Moreover, oil companies may also compete with the tax administration for experts with the same professional skills (e.g. accountants,

auditors, economists, lawyers) during the development phase.” At present, the Fund noted that two ministries are responsible for administering petroleum revenues. According to the Production Sharing Agreement (GRA) Guyana has with ExxonMobil, the Minister responsible for petroleum is administering the petroleum agreement, while the Guyana Revenue Authority is responsible for general tax administration. The Fund warned that fragmented organizational arrangements for the administration of petroleum revenues could create some challenges that must be addressed. In order to establish an efficient and effective administration of petroleum revenues, the Fund emphasized that close cooperation and coordination between the different government agencies is required.

Brickdam cop says gun went missing after left in police vehicle Cornell Paul, 21, a Constable attached to Impact Base at the Brickdam Police Station, was yesterday charged and released on $150,000 bail for allegedly stealing a gun from the Force. Paul, of 2434 Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo, denied the charge which stated that on February 3, last, at Impact Base, Brickdam Police Station, he stole one .38 special revolver worth $175,000, six .38 ammunition worth $750 and one holster worth $60,000. He appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Attorney-at-Law Paul Fung-a-Fat in a successful

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Cornell Paul attempt to secure bail for his client stated that on February 3, last, his client was on duty at the Brickdam Police Station, when he booked out the firearm and the other

articles mentioned in the charge. The lawyer added that his client placed the articles in a vehicle, but soon after left the vehicle to collect something in his room. Fung-a-Fat added that when his client returned to the vehicle, he observed the articles missing, and he immediately reported the matter to the Sergeant-incharge at the station. The lawyer argued that there were six other officers in the vehicle when the incident occurred and anyone could have removed the articles. He added that as such, his client should not have been criminally charged; instead, the matter should have been dealt (Continued on page 10)

Interdicted cop disarmed by wife during domestic dispute …admits to owning illegal weapon An interdicted Cadet Officer of the Guyana Police Force, who in May of this year had a criminal charge discharged against him after he compensated his victim, was detained yesterday morning in connection with several alleged offences stemming from a domestic dispute. While a police statement did not immediately name him, officials identified the man as Franz Paul. Paul was accused of shooting a teen in the mouth, and in May of this year agreed to settle that controversial matter for $2M. Wi t h regard to yesterday’s incident, police said that the officer’s reputed wife alleged that following a misunderstanding between them about 05:15hrs, the man drew a loaded handgun and threatened to shoot her. Paul, whose fate of being reinstated lies in the hands of the Police Service Commission, which was recently sworn-in, reportedly had the gun taken away by his wife. According to the police, “…in the ensuing process, she managed to disarm him; immediately thereafter she handed over the firearm to a neighbour who promptly went to the nearby Ruimveldt Police Station, reported the matter and handed over a .32 pistol with thirteen (13) live rounds, one of which was found in its breech.” Paul was arrested at the Georgetown Public Hospital after he went there to seek medical attention to an injured right hand. Police found his hand in a plaster cast. He told investigators that during the fracas, he struck the hand to a concrete wall. He also admitted ownership of the illegal firearm with ammunition. “The incident occurred at Second Street, Alexander Village and the officer in question, is presently not on actual duty as the decision of his re-instatement rests solely with the Police Service Commission,” the police statement disclosed. In May, at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, Alex Griffith, who was just 15 years old when he was shot in the mouth by Paul, was compensated with $2M, nearly four years after the incident occurred. Paul offered to pay off Griffith resulting in the charges being withdrawn by the Director of Public (Continued on page 22)

In trouble again: Interdicted Cadet Officer, Franz Paul

The seized gun that the interdicted cop allegedly pulled on his wife.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday August 21, 2018

Former student on trial in Berbice for wedding house manslaughter A former student who was committed to stand trial for murder following a Preliminary Inquiry and had his committal reduced to manslaughter is now on trial in the High Court. The reduction of his charge came through a direction given by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Davenand Dhandhari, 20, of Lot 27 Betsy Ground, East Canje, Berbice, was charged w i t h m u r d e r i n g Omesh Seelall, called “Rovin” and “Short Neck”, 21, a labourer of Betsy Ground, East Canje, Berbice. The incident that led to Seelall’s demise is alleged to have occurred on Sunday, September 17, 2016, at Betsy Ground, East Canje, Berbice. Seelall died five days later, on 22nd September, at the Georgetown Hos-

pital. The accused who was an ‘A’ level student at the time he allegedly committed the crime is on trial in the Berbice High Court before Justice Jo Ann Barlow and a mixed J u r y. A t t o r n e y - a t - l a w Tuanna Hardy is presenting the Prosecution’s case while prominent attorney Murseline Bacchus is representing the accused. The prosecution has so far called five witnesses including three police officers - Police Detective Sergeant Lawrence Thomas, D e t e c tive Sergeant Moriah, and Detective Corporal Crandon. Chandwantie Shiamsunder and Sadwantie Baljit were the other two individuals taking the stand. The men were reportedly among a crowd of p e r s o ns at a wedding house when Seelall was re-

portedly floored after being struck with a piece of 2x4 piece of wood from a dray cart. He was immediately rendered unconscious. Seelall was reportedly picked up and rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he received emergency treatment, before being transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital in a critical condition. He was hooked up on a respirator and died five days later without regaining consciousness. The police had retrieved the piece of wood reportedly used in the attack. The accused was committed following a preliminary Inquiry held by Magistrate Mauricia Mittleholzer at the Reliance and Albion Magistrates’ Courts. The case was prosecuted by Special Prosecu-

Dead: Omesh Seelall tor, Attorney at law, George Thomas, who was retained by the family. Three men were initially held for the crime, but Dhandhari alone was charged following investigations.

Davenand Dhandhari

“Pay qualified nurses their salaries” – GPSU Vice President “We see no reason why arrangements should not be put in place to pay qualified nurses their salaries immediately after they have started working,” says Dawn Gardener, First Vice President of the Guyana Public Service Union [GPSU]. Gardener ’s disclosure comes in the wake of recent developments which saw graduate nurses waiting for a protracted period before they were paid their salaries. “It took several months and some amount of intervention before they received their first salary [and] the Guyana Public Service Union was unhappy over that,” said Gardener. This is in light of the fact, Gardener added, that “it is tough enough given the meagreness of the salary in the first place and the many demands that our nurses face.” As she highlighted the salary plight of the nurses, Gardener disclosed that the financial challenges have been known to emerge even before the nurses reach the graduation stage. “It is my understanding that there is a special challenge associated with training to become a nurse in Guyana. There is the very small stipend and the difficulties associated with resources for training,” Gardener shared. “My own view is that quite apart from the training from which our nurses benefit, there is something about what I would call the ‘culture of service’ that nurses bring to the profession. Nurses bring more than just skills; nurses bring caring, nurses bring warmth [and] nurses bring attributes that cannot be taught in a

GPSU First Vice President, Dawn Gardener

classroom...they must be cultivated in a caring culture and an environment of warmth and feeling,” Gardener asserted. Gardener’s remarks were forthcoming yesterday during the opening ceremony of a Global Guyanese Nurses Reunion conference at the Kingston, Georgetown Pegasus Hotel. The conference is among the activities to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Guyana Nurses Association [GNA]. Even as she shared the union’s view that the national health system is not fully equipped to meet the overall national need, Gardener added, “We believe too that those who are in charge of the system are not always sensitive to the challenge that nurses face.” But this does not obtain elsewhere in the world where the profession is highly respected, Gardener noted. Given the high regard that the nursing profession at-

tracts overseas, Gardener disclosed that “just recently we had been hearing of nurses from the Caribbean leaving to work outside of the region.” But this should not be the case since, according to the First Vice President, “nurses are amongst those categories of workers who have always worked tirelessly for the benefit of the profession and of the country’s public servants as a whole.” As such she noted, “We are aware that it requires a special commitment, a special caring for the welfare of people to enter into the profession of nursing...” “Frankly, it is impossible to put a monetary value on warmth, caring and a sense of responsibility. In that sense, you as nurses give more than your time; you give yourselves, you give your hearts, you give your lives,” Gardener told the gathering of nurses.

Tuesday August 21, 2018

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

The invisible hand An ‘invisible hand’ was at work during the elections for the post of Chairperson of the Peoples National Congress Reform (PNCR). That hand dictated the outcome of the election for the post of Chairperson and Vice Chairpersons of the party. The contest for Chair-

person was seen as a twoway race between the two male contenders, Basil Williams and Joseph Harmon. Both were front-runners for the post. They ended up losing to someone who was not given much hope of a victory. Joseph Harmon was seen as an obvious shoo- in. He is,

after all, the second most powerful person within the government and given the PNCR’s political culture, it was hardly unlikely that the party would have bypassed such a powerful person in favour of the other two candidates. But the Congress did.

Dem boys seh ...

Volda mek Li’l Joe get headache and Basil cry Counting votes in Guyana does always tek long. Imagine it tek hours to count less than 1,000 votes in Congress Place. Dem boys want to know if de people was learning to count like dem ABC children. Dem probably had to get match sticks to help dem. Dem boys seh that in dem odda country de people would hold elections and count dem votes then declare de results before Sophia coulda count less than 1,000 votes. But something happen that mek dem boys realize that women powerful in any party. Of course, dem odda party don’t allow dem women to talk. Gail, Indra

and Vindya is women who strong and can talk to anybody, but dem had to know dem place. None of dem could hope to lead dem party because dem man is bully. But de Sophia party got women in de top position. Dem boys did warn Li’l Joe that dem women gun beat him, but he was pompous. He believe that he control dem. When Volda beat him he tek two Advil because he get a sudden headache. He didn’t realize that Sandra is a smart politician and she can exert influence among dem women. Dem boys believe that she campaign fuh Volda wid support from Amna. Soulja Bai sit down and believe that

he boys coulda win without any problem. He had to use he shirt to dry Li’l Joe eye and blow Basil nose. He didn’t want any dye to stain he shirt when it come to Basil. But dem had something else. Reporters is people who does want go home from wuk as soon as de sun go down. You can’t get dem out dem house if something happen before bird wife wake. But dem stay till Volda win and most of dem was women. As soon as de results come out dem run to Volda. “How you win?” “Wha you gun do?” “You did frighten Joe and Basil?” Talk half and listen to de answer to dem question next time.

Yet another child rapist awaits sentencing Yet another child rapist has been found guilty. This time it is 25-year-old Rowland Sam who was convicted of the crime yesterday by a 12-member mixed jury at the High Court in Georgetown. Sam was on trial before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry in the Sexual Offences Courts. Based on the evidence presented in the trial, the jurors were convinced that Sam sexually penetrated a seven-year-old girl between January 1 and 31, 2015, in the county

of Demerara. The guilty verdict was in the proportion 10-2. Sam who was represented by Attorneyat-Law Clyde Forde was remanded to prison until September 5, when he will be sentenced, following the presentation of a probation report. The now convicted rapist was represented by Attorney-at-Law Clyde Forde, while the case for the State was presented by Prosecutors Lisa Cave and Orinthia Schmidt.

APOLOGY/CORRECTION Volda Lawrence is not PNCR’s first woman chairperson In yesterday’s edition, it was stated that Ms. Volda Lawrence is the first woman to be elected as the Chairperson of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR). She is not. The first female Chairperson was Ms. Winifred Gaskin. We sincerely apologise for this mistake.

The ‘invisible hand’ was influential in depriving Harmon and his team of a victory. This was a clear case of history repeating itself. It is not the first time that this has happened. In prior years, when Vincent Alexander and later Aubrey Norton challenged for leadership, the ‘invisible hand’ had intervened. There were serious concerns in both of those elections about the integrity of the delegates’ list. There was no vote–rigging this time around. What prevented Joseph Harmon from being elected Chairman was not the manipulation of the vote, but influence-peddling. The results suggest that the old guard was behind the ‘invisible hand’ which did the influencing. The old guard decided who they wanted as part of the succession plan of the party and they used their influence to ensure that they got the votes they needed for this outcome. There is no changing of the guard within the PNCR. There is no new guard. The old guard still reigns supreme. The final outcome of the Central Executive will test this posi-

tion. The motivation for the ‘invisible hand’ was fear that the party was being militarized. The old guard was determined to ensure that the party did not fall capture to the new military elite which had penetrated the party. The ‘invisible hand’ was there to prevent the party from falling into the hands of certain persons whom the old guard had serious problems with. Confirmation that an ‘invisible hand’ was at work in the elections was evident by the election of the Vice Chairpersons of the party. The old guard ensured that George Norton was reelected as Vice Chairperson. The invisible hand also had a hand in the election of Annette Ferguson. The signs, therefore, are that the old guard is attempting to wrest the party from possible domination from the military elite which had gained a stranglehold within the party and which had been responsible for managing and directing APNU’s campaigns in 2015. The old guard has decided that this cannot go further and that the party cannot be allowed to fall into the wrong hands. There were newcom-

ers who believed that their positions in government would have allowed them influence within the party. But this did not happen and, as is now obvious, their efforts floundered. The old guard still has great influence over the delegates and they used this influence to ensure that certain persons would not be elected. This was an election about the closing of ranks by the old guard who determined that they needed to secure certain positions in the executive of the party. They succeeded in having George Norton reelected and in blocking the election of Aubrey Norton who was part of the Harmon team. Annette Ferguson’s election had nothing to do with youth. She was seen as the best option to prevent Norton from being elected. The young people of the party have nothing to celebrate. The old guard still runs things within the PNCR.

PAGE 10

Tuesday August 21, 2018

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

Counting 829 votes in the 21st century Anyone who believes oil money under Guyana’s political competitors – PPP and APNU+AFC – will usher in a modern Guyana, has to be either mentally challenged, insanely biased or deliberately selfdeceiving, after seeing what happened at the PNC Congress on Sunday. A total of 829 persons cast their votes for different executive positions. The process began on Sunday afternoon. By the stroke of midnight, the results were not known. At the time of writing (Monday morning at 8 a.m.), the results for the executive positions were not yet determined. 829 ballots to choose positions on a party executive cannot be a process longer than half an hour - if that long. The number of 829 is by global

standards a very small item. If you use technology, then computer tabulation would have given you the results perhaps in fifteen minutes. If you get credible people to take out the ballots from the boxes, then have a name-calling process, with others counting, then that process cannot take more than forty minutes. The president of the country who may want to lead Guyana until 2025 had these words to say about the fiasco – “slow and difficult.” These are the words of the man in charge of the country, and who may want to lead it again after 2020. If his party took almost twelve hours to determine the results of 829 ballots, in all fairness it

opens him up to questions about the competence of administering an entire country; not to even mention that this is the 21st century. President Granger doesn’t strike me as someone who has an embracing emotion about explaining his actions and policies. I doubt whether he would feel he has the obligation to explain to the nation why he described the situation as slow and difficult. I am not a computer expert and have no experience in tabulating votes in any situation, whether in a business entity, a school competition, trade union election etc., but this I know – in the 21st century with both technology and counting hands available, it is virtually impossible to take twelve hours to count

Brickdam cop says gun went... From page 7 with departmentally. Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers made no objection to bail being granted to the defendant, but asked that conditions be attached. The Magistrate after listening to the Prosecutor, instructed Paul to report every Friday at the Brickdam Police Station until the completion of the trial. The matter was adjourned until August 24.

the votes of 829 delegates. I am typing this article and as I go along, I still cannot come to grips with the crude reality that the PNCR took more than twelve hours to determine how 829 persons voted. It is a surreal country we live in. Thousands of bigoted White snobs from the developed world will come from top newspapers and eminent international organizations to Guyana, look at us, run us down wrongf u l l y, a s t h e N e w Yo r k Times’ Clifford Krauss did, but still we do not have the capacity to prove them wrong. It is as if we are genetically incapable of bringing Guyana into the future. We all should be worried at what happened with that voting process involving 829 persons. This wasn’t a foul-up by some fly-by-night political party. This wasn’t a bottomhouse affair by some tiny political entity that knows nothing about holding a party congress. It was an operation conducted by the most

powerful people in government. The leader of the party that held that congressional election is the president of the country. The person who is now second in charge of that party could likely be the president of the republic in four years’ time. These are the people that were part of a machinery in the 21st century where the results of the ballots of 829 delegates took over twelve hours to be ascertained. What worries me about Guyana’s leaders stretching way, way back since I was young, is their priorities. In my last Sunday column, I mentioned the incident in which a minister came out of his party office to see my dog and looked up the road at a number of reconditioned vehicles on the parapet and yelled out, “I will move them.” That same man is responsible for street lights on the major highways of Guyana and all those highways haven’t got functioning bulbs. I live on the Railway Embankment and from

Frederick Kissoon Sheriff Street to Giftland, there is not one bulb. This gentleman sees it as a priority to move the vehicles of a second hand car business. I doubt whether one percent of Guyana’s population finds that a priority. So our powerful, pompous leaders took time to make sure David Hinds and Lincoln Lewis are removed as columnists from the Chronicle, but they cannot run an election where a mere 829 persons have to vote. The president said the operation at Congress Place on Sunday afternoon was slow and difficult. What else is slow and difficult in this wasteland named Guyana?

Tuesday August 21, 2018

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Kaieteur News

Govt. resorts to violating Constitution to secure win at upcoming LGE - PPP claims The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is claiming that the Government, through Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, has resorted to a “blatant” violation of the Constitution “in an effort to defeat us at the November 12, Local Government Elections (LGE)”. The PPP said this yesterday at a press conference held at Freedom House. At that forum, PPP Executive Secretary, Zulfikar Mustapha said that the PPP is vigorously preparing for LGE, but is being frustrated by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and by Government itself. Mustapha noted that Minister Bulkan’s issuance of the Municipal and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (Participating Local Authorities) Order # 19 of 2018 is one such form of frustration. Mustapha said that in the Order, Minister Bulkan gave the name of each loc a l a u t h o r i t y, t h e t o t a l number of seats, the number of Councilors with respect to the “proportional representation component, and the number of Constituencies and Councilors in respect of the “first past the post component”. The Executive Secretary said that by way of this Order, Bulkan announced the creation of one new township and eight new Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, and an increase of nine Local Authority Areas (LAAs) bringing the total LAAs to 80. Mustapha said that this created some confusion, as Orders #16 and 17 of 2018 created the Aranaputa/Upper Buro-Buro Neighbourhood and the Annai Neighbourhood, but Order #19 only included the Aranaputa/Upper Buro-Buro NDC. “Most interesting in the list of the 80 LAAs identified in Order #19, the PPP discovered that the Minister reduced the number of Constituencies by 16 Constituencies in 14 existing LAAs, thereby making them the subject of re-designation with proposed redemarcation by GECOM,” said Mustapha. He said that subsequently, as a result of the changes uncovered in this Order, a meeting between a delegation from PPP and the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield was held on July 30, 2018. Mustapha said that Lowenfield was “amenable” during the meeting

From left: PPP Executive Secretary, Zulfikar Mustapha with Executive Member, Gail Teixeira and Neendkumar. to the PPP proposing alternatives to the Constituencies identified in each of the 14 LAAs contained in the specific Order. Mustapha said that having considered the proposal from Lowenfield, the PPP made several observations, which he sought to make public. Mustapha declared, “Minister Bulkan has failed to observe the Constitutional Provisions enshrined in Article 13 of the Guyana Constitution which mandates “providing increasing opportunities for the participation of the citizens, and their organizations in the management and decision-making processes of the State, with particular emphasis on those areas that directly affect their well-being”. Also, Mustapha said that the PPP observed that no consultations were held regarding the Minister’s intentions of reducing the number of 16 Constituencies with the elected representatives of the residents of those 14 LAAs, nor with the residents of those Constituencies. “The Party considers this a major travesty,” said Mustapha. F u r t h e r, Mustapha pointed out that having closely examined the specific Constituencies which have been reduced and which will now have to be absorbed or merged into other Constituencies, the Party is of the firm opinion that the proposed changes, would give an electoral advantage to the governing APNU as opposed to the other contestants in those LAAs. Mustapha said, “It must be noted that as of today, August 20th, 2018, more than two months since the Order was gazetted by Minister Bulkan, the Minister has failed to inform the public as to what were the reasons for the selection of those specific 16 Constituencies in the 14

existing LAAs.” Also, Mustapha noted that GECOM has not informed the PPP as to what are the specific re-demarcations in the Constituencies in the identified 14 LAAs. “As such, the PPP is at a great disadvantage. This is causing serious delays in commencing and finalizing the identification of Candidates and Backers for the 2018 LGE as the geographic identity of the proposed Constituents remains unknown.” Mustapha pointed out that the Bi-partisan Task Force on Local Government Reform (2002-2008) –in developing a hybrid local government electoral system with 50% seats for proportional representation and 50% for first past the post seats—understood the importance of the principle of parity in the number of voters in each Constituency and between each constituency for the first past the post seats. In fact, the objective of parity in the number of voters in each Constituency was inculcated into the construction of the Constituencies in each LAA after the enactment of the Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Act of 2009. He said that the PPP has also understood and accepted that principle of parity in the number of voters that informed the decision about demarcation of boundaries in LAAs that were observed in the 2016 Local Government Elections. H o w e v e r, Mustapha said, “This recent Order of Minister Bulkan seems to disregard entirely the principle of parity and, in some cases, the size of the number of voters in one Constituency may vary as much as 6 to 10 times larger or smaller in comparison with other Constituencies in the same LAA. Thus, the intentions

of the Minister are very suspect.” Mustapha further stated that the PPP has noted that some of the proposed Constituencies in an identified LAA for change are not adjacent, according to the previous demarcation used in 2016. He said that this has caused the PPP to assume “that some particular principle, other than numbers, appears to be at work and operating. In one of the 14 LAAs proposed to be altered, as

many as three Constituencies have been identified for fusion.” He continued, “In some areas identified for the creation of new LAAs, demarcations of the boundaries of many of the new LAAs and the Constituencies within those new LAAs have not been formally provided.” Mustapha said that it appears that the size of the population in a significant number of these newlycreated LAAs, in particular new Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, are so small that it will cause tremendous difficulties with providing each Constituent Candidates with sufficient sponsors as well as Candidates and sponsors for the Proportional Representation list in accordance with the statutes.” As if the list of concerns does not end, Mustapha said that the PPP has repeatedly pointed out since June of this year that the proposed creation of the Annai Neighbourhood Council,

which would include several titled Amerindian communities as set by Order, was unlawful, and in violation of the 2006 amendment to the Local Democratic Organs Act which excluded “any council established under the Amerindian Act 2006” Mustapha then said that the PPP has noted the fact that Minister Bulkan was “forced” to accept the exclusion of Micobie and Campbelltown titled Amerindian communities from the new township of Mahdia. “In the former case, the two communities refused to be part of the new township. It is understood that the Minister has received similar such correspondence from the villages in the proposed Annai Council. However, the Minister has not to date retracted the Order establishing the Annai Council.” Mustapha said that as a result of all that he has stated, the PPP took a decision to write Lowenfield expressing its observations and concerns. The PPP, according to Mustapha, also asked (Continued on page 22)

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Tuesday August 21, 2018

Kaieteur News

Three-estate GuySuCo to barely scrape past 100,000 tonnes - minimal losses at Uitvlugt after turbine problem

The three-estate Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is likely to barely scrape past the 100,000-tonne mark for this year, if the corporation has its way. And there is nothing much to smile about. Some 68,045 tonnes will be produced this second crop - Albion Estate - 38,160, Blairmont - 19,105 and Uitvlugt for 10,780, the corporation said in a statement. Set a target of less than 120,000 for the year, the figures have been adjusted as the realities on the ground step in. For the first crop, the industry recorded 34,450 tonnes, short of the original target by 1,655 tonnes. Those production figures would come as the country for the first time in decades had to do without four estates Skeldon, Rose Hall, Enmore and Wales- which were closed in the last 18 months, making redundant about 4,300 workers. The falling figures would be more than worrying, as during the first crop of last year, GuySuCo staggered short of the 74,000 tonnes target by almost 25,000 tonnes.

The Uitvlugt factory is back in operation after a major problem with its knife turbine, GuySuCo says. GuySuCo is badly in need of cash, which the Government says it doesn’t have. The government was forced to negotiate a US$30B bond facility, using Republic Bank earlier this year. However, Government is unwilling to release the monies to pay the debts of GuySuCo which is in the billions. They say the

monies are for general operations and retooling. There have been several offers for the four closed estates and for the entire industry, but Government says it will not be rushed. The sugar industry has been draining the public coffers of billions of dollars annually in bailouts, producing

at three times what it was selling for. Yesterday, in the statement also, GuySuCo dismissed reports of a major catastrophic at the Uitvlugt estate, West Coast Demerara. There were reported technical issues with the factory after a knife turbine encountered problems. There were accusations of neglect, but a statement of GuySuCo did not immediately explain yesterday. There were also reports of significant cane losses. Again, GuySuCo did not quantify the losses of cane or sugar. The corporation said that the Uitvlugt factory resumed operation on Sunday after experiencing technical difficulties over a week ago.

“The factory at the Uitvlugt Estate was due to commence grinding on 11 August, when the heavy duty knife turbine developed significant technical problems which forced the delay of start for the second crop at that estate.” The corporation said its engineers and technicians have been working continuously to ensure that the downtime for the factory was minimal. “Hence, the damaged parts for the turbine, knife shaft and knives were sourced and re p l a c e d speedily.” Reportedly, the damaged items were sourced from other closed estates. “The Corporation’s en-

gineers have assured that all of the necessary safety checks have been carried out on the turbine as recommended by the manufacturer and as stated in the operations and maintenance manual. The factory has since been handed over for grinding operation to recommence.” GuySuCo explained that while some losses were incurred as a result of staling of canes which were burnt at the time of the incident, it should be noted that the losses are minimal. With “good attendance and a focused management and staff”, the estate is set to achieve its second crop target, of 10,780 tonnes, GuySuCo assured.

Overall CSEC pass rate highest in three years The 2018 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination results recorded the highest overall pass percentage in three years. According to the Ministry of Education’s statistics, 12,269 candidates were registered as compared to last year’s 12,684. An analysis of the 2018 results reveals a 69.1 percent in Grades One to Three overall passes in General and Technical proficiencies. This marks a 5.3 percent increase in overall passes compared to last year’s 63.8 percent. Over the years, there has been a constant increase in passes in English Language and Mathematics. In 2015, English Language recorded an overall pass percentage of 49.36 percent, but this has increased over the years to 63.39 percent in 2016, 63.8

percent in 2017 and then 67.14 percent in 2018. However, the improvements in Mathematics have been less conclusive. In 2015, Mathematics recorded an overall pass rate of 45.07 percent but declined in 2016 when a 38.37 percent overall pass was recorded. In 2017, the pass percentage remained stagnant at 39.23 percent. The pass rate increased in 2018 to 43.39 percent. There have also been significant improvements in other subject areas such as Caribbean History, Geography and Foreign Languages. 2015 recorded a 59.7 percent and 53.59 percent in Caribbean History and Geography, respectively. The numbers increased to 66.04 percent and 61.9 percent in 2016. Caribbean History recorded 71.72 percent in 2017

while Geography declined to 56.73 percent. 2018 recorded a dramatic increase in the overall passes for Geography with 72.19 percent while the overall passes for Caribbean History remained stagnant at 71.94 percent. Spanish and French have seen significant improvements over the last few years. Spanish, which recorded a 60.51 percent overall pass in 2015, increased to 66.33 percent in 2016 but declined in 2017 when it recorded an overall pass percentage of 58.08 percent. In 2018, it increased to 71.94 percent overall passes. French has seen improvements in its overall pass rates. In 2017, the foreign language recorded its highest overall pass percentage in the last three years at 80%. In 2015, it recorded 54.96 percent and in 2018 was 79.86 percent.

Tuesday August 21, 2018

Kaieteur News

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Tuesday August 21, 2018

Kaieteur News

Govt. resorts to violating Constitution to...

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curity mark are being used by the APNU operatives from the 2016 elections,” said Mustapha. He added that the PPP remains convinced that these developments point to gerrymandering of the boundaries of the Constituencies in 14 LAAs “and the attempt to increase the APNU’s balance of votes through the creation of 10 new LAAs. Unfortunately, after the LGE, many of these new LAAs will be severely challenged to be sustainable due to the small size of the population and limited resources available within these areas. The government is clearly unconcerned about the post-election consequences to these communities and is focused on their overriding objective to ensure they aren’t slaughtered in the 2018 LGE as they were in the 2016 LGE; thus this expediency trumps all other concerns of the people.”

Interdicted cop disarmed... From page 7 Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack. The trial had been in its final stages when the parties agreed to a settlement. In fact, Police Prosecutor Sergeant Dominic Bess had closed the case for the state and Paul told the court his side of the story, by among other things, calling his parents, sister and a pathologist to testify on his behalf. According to the testimony in court, Paul’s sister was robbed on April 30, 2014, in the East La Penitence area, while on her way home from UG. Griffith was later arrested by a party of policemen headed by Paul. It was during the process that the Cadet Officer allegedly discharged a loaded firearm in the teen’s mouth.

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From page 11 when these will be remedied. He said too that the PPP, having considered “the consequences and implications, has decided to not submit any alternative to what was outlined in the Ministerial Order # 19 of 2018”. Mustapha said that that the PPP suggested to Lowenfield the need for security markers to be placed on all requisite forms to be used as part of the process for the upcoming election. “This, the Party strongly believes, would help to safeguard the integrity of the process. However, it was astonished to learn that the GECOM Commissioners, appointed by the People’s National Congress (PNC), vehemently opposed this suggestion. This has obviously raised concerns causing the PPP to question whether forms without any se-

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Tuesday August 21, 2018

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Kaieteur News

Pregnant New Zealand politician Woman rescued 10 hours bicycled to hospital to give birth after falling off cruise ship New Zealand (ABC news)- This supermom, who happens to be a New Zealand politician, decided to kick start her baby’s birth in the bike lane on Sunday. Women’s minister Julie Anne Genter announced that she took herself by bicycle to be induced. She’d reached the 42-week mark of her pregnancy. “Beautiful Sunday morning for a bike ride, to the hospital, for an induction to finally have this baby,” she captioned the photo of herself with baby bump standing beside a bike. Genter, 38, has served as the 15th Minister for Women since October 2017. She was born in Rochester, Minnesota, and grew up in Los Angeles, California, according to The New Zealand Herald. In regards to safe pregnancy exercise, the APA writes: “If you participated in a regular exercise activity prior to becoming pregnant, it is probably fine to continue to participate during your pregnancy. There are many exercises that are safe to do during your pregnancy, but it is important not to overdo it and to use caution.” Before beginning any exercises, Mayo Clinic says that pregnant women should make sure they have their health care provider’s OK. The American Pregnancy Association lists spin class as a pregnancy workout option, but notes that station-

Kay Longstaff sits with members of the Croatian Coast Guard.

Women’s minister Julie Anne Genter said she took herself to hospital to be induced. ary bikes are safer than regular bicycles, which come with risks like possibly hitting a bump or falling off the bike. In a comment on her post, Genter said that her bike was an e-bike, meaning it was an electric-powered bicycle. She also noted that the trip to the hospital was “mostly downhill,” and that she “should have cycled more” in prior weeks to get the labor going. In regards to safe pregnancy exercise, the APA writes: “If you participated in a regular exercise activity prior to becoming pregnant, it is probably fine to continue to participate during your pregnancy. There are many exercises that are safe to do during your pregnancy, but it

is important not to overdo it and to use caution.” Before beginning any exercises, Mayo Clinic says that pregnant women should make sure they have their health care provider’s OK. The American Pregnancy Association lists spin class as a pregnancy workout option, but notes that stationary bikes are safer than regular bicycles, which come with risks like possibly hitting a bump or falling off the bike. In a comment on her post, Genter said that her bike was an e-bike, meaning it was an electric-powered bicycle. She also noted that the trip to the hospital was “mostly downhill,” and that she “should have cycled more” in prior weeks to get the labor going.

Australian PM clings to power after winning leadership contest SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull survived a leadership challenge by Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton on Tuesday, a government official said, but the narrow margin of his win did little to dampen speculation about his future.Turnbull defeated Dutton in the vote for the leadership of the Liberal Party, the senior party in the center-right government coalition, by 48 votes to 35, chief government whip Nola Marino told reporters. It came after a sharp fall in opinion poll ratings and talk of an imminent challenge, which in turn has raised the possibility of an early election. Turnbull must return to the polls by May 2019 and could break the impasse by calling an early election. However, a state election in the state of Victoria sched-

uled for late November is seen limiting Turnbull to dates before the end of October if he intended to hold a national poll this year. “He’s always got that in his back pocket. If it looks like there’s another attempt to dislodge him, he could try to lock his leadership in by taking the coalition to an election,” said Nick Economou, senior lecturer in politics at Monash University in Melbourne. A spokesman for Turnbull declined to comment on the prospect of an early election. Turnbull declared the leadership of the government open earlier on Tuesday amid a backbench uprising as opinion polls showed the government on course for a heavy election defeat by the opposition Labor party. His position remains in jeopardy despite surviving Dutton’s leadership chal-

lenge, stoking expectations of further political instability in a country that has seen six different leaders since 2009. “We’ve seen it so often in Australian politics - this twostage act play in removing a prime minister - and, given how close the vote was, there’s definitely more to come,” said Haydon Manning, a political science professor at Flinders University in South Australia state. Turnbull came to power in a party-room coup in September 2015 when he ousted former prime minister Tony Abbott, who also survived an internal leadership contest before his eventual defeat. Turnbull, a social liberal and multi-millionaire former merchant banker, rode an early wave of popular support but his standing with Australia’s electorate has diminished significantly.

(CNN)A British woman was saved by the Croatian Coast Guard after spending what she said was close to 10 hours treading water overnight in the Adriatic Sea after falling off a cruise ship. Kay Longstaff spoke to Croatian news outlet HRT shortly after arriving back on land. “I fell off the back of the Norwegian Star,” said the woman, who lives in Spain, according to her Twitter account. “I was in the water for 10 hours, so these wonderful guys rescued me. I’m very lucky to be alive.” Longstaff, 46, was then led by medical personnel to an ambulance. Lovro Oreškoviæ, the captain of the ship that rescued her, told local media that

it was a “miracle” that she survived. “On the cruise liner they thought she didn’t survive,” Oreškoviæ said. “She is clearly fit. She told us she does yoga, and that as she floated in the sea she sang the whole time so that her body temperature wouldn’t fall, and to stay awake.” “We have saved a human life and nothing else compares to it,” he said in a later statement. According to a statement from the Croatian Coast Guard, the search for Longstaff began at 2:17 a.m. local time Sunday after they were alerted by the ship’s captain that there was a person overboard. Other ships in the area were notified about the emer-

gency, and passenger ships Zadar and Celebrity Constellation took part in the search. The Norwegian Star ship also took part in the search, the statement said. A patrol boat and an airplane also were part of the rescue effort, according to the Croatian Ministry of Defense. The Coast Guard later learned that Longstaff fell from the ship at 11:45 p.m. local time Saturday, according to CCTV footage reviewed by the crew of the Norwegian Star, the statement said. Longstaff was spotted in the sea — around 0.8 miles from the site of the incident — at about 9:40 a.m. Sunday by the crew of a Coast Guard patrol boat and brought on board, according to the Coast Guard.

Britain presses for more EU sanctions against Russia LONDON (Reuters) - Britain on Tuesday will call for the European Union to increase sanctions against Russia, saying the bloc had to stand “shoulder to shoulder” with the United States, which hit Moscow with new economic curbs this month. Britain’s foreign minister, Jeremy Hunt, will say that Russian President Vladimir Putin has made the world “a more dangerous place”, and that after a chemical weapons attack in England, the EU should apply more pressure to ensure Russia sticks to international rules. “Today the United Kingdom asks its allies to go further by calling on the European Union to ensure its sanctions against Russia are comprehensive, and that we truly stand shoulder to shoulder with the US,” Hunt will tell an audience in Washington in his first major speech since his appointment in July. “That means calling out and responding to transgres-

sions with one voice whenever and wherever they occur, from the streets of Salisbury to the fate of Crimea.” Britain, the EU, and the United States blame Russia for a nerve agent attack against a Russian double agent in the English city of Salisbury earlier this year. The Kremlin denies involvement. Earlier this month the United States, citing the Salisbury incident, imposed sanctions against Russia covering national-security related goods. It has promised more hard-hitting measures unless Russia gave “reliable assurances” it would no longer use chemical weapons. The sanctions sparked a sell-off across Russian markets, and pushed up the country’s cost of borrowing with both likely to worsen if the second wave of measure is enacted. Britain is preparing to leave the EU next year, but its sanctions policy is currently determined in Brussels. The

EU recently agreed to renew sanctions against Russia relating to its annexation of Crimea and activity in the region. But, the EU has not imposed sanctions related to Salisbury, although it strongly condemned Moscow and joined international action to expel Russian officials. Its measures against Russia include finance restrictions and arms exports. Hunt, who took over from Boris Johnson as Britain’s foreign minister in July, will meet U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other U.S. officials on Wednesday, and address the United Nations Security Council on Thursday. His speech later on Tuesday will also outline other threats that Britain sees to the global order, including telling China that “with economic power comes political responsibility”, and criticizing their inaction over Crimea and chemical weapons.

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Tuesday August 21, 2018

Kaieteur News

Ecuador shuts its border to Venezuelan refugees amid historic exodus TULCAN, Ecuador — Denny Gudiña spent seven days riding 25 different freight trucks to cross Colombia. He walked through the rain, slept by the highway and rode in an uncovered cargo bed through the frigid Andean highlands at night. He ate nothing but the crackers he carried and the food donations from generous Colombians who knew about the rampant hunger and misery he fled in his native Venezuela. On Sunday he arrived on foot at the Ecuadoran b o r d e r, o n l y t o f i n d i t c l o s e d t o Ve n e z u e l a n s without passports and crowded with hundreds of other migrants who had found their trips suddenly blocked. More than 2 million Venezuelans have fled their country since 2014, according to U.N. figures, as an economic crisis intensifies in the oil-rich nation. Many have streamed through neighboring Colombia to countries such as Ecuador and Peru. But some South American countries say they are increasingly unable

Venezuelan migrants walk Monday toward the Rumichaca International Bridge in Ipiales, Colombia, on the border with Ecuador. (Luis Robayo/AFP/Getty Images) to cope with the crush of migrants. Ecuador last weekend imposed new rules blocking entry to Venezuelan migrants who have no passports or only a few months left on their documents. “How demoralizing,” Gudiña said. “So much time traveling here to arrive, and

they tell us no.”Peru last week also announced it would soon require arriving Venezuelans to have passports, rather than just national ID cards. Meanwhile, Brazil deployed more military forces to its northern border after citizens there burned a Venezuelan

migrant encampment on Saturday. “The capacity of the region is overwhelmed,” said Yukiko Iriyama, a representative for the U.N. refu-gee agency in Colombia. “The magnitude of the situation really requires a regional comprehensive approach.”

At the Rumichaca international bridge, one of several connecting Colombia and Ecuador, more than 4,000 Venezuelans were crossing daily by late July, according to Colombia’s m i g r a t i o n a u t h o r i t y, a steep increase over previous months.

Last week, Ecuador declared a “state of emergency” due to the volume of migration and imposed the new passport rule. Ve n e z u e l a n s o f t e n l a c k such documents, because they can face months of delays and have to pay hundreds of dollars to get passports from their increasingly dysfunctional government. “Everything has its limit,” Ecuadoran President Lenín Moreno told local media on Saturday. Ecuador ’s public defender challenged the decision, with a court ruling pending, and special exceptions were made for children. But crowds accumulated at the border crossing Sunday and Monday as Venezuelans continued to arrive by bus or on foot. Even before the new passport rule was announced, the Ecuadoran government and international organizations had installed field medical facilities, portable bathrooms and tent shelters at the border crossing.

Tuesday August 21, 2018

Regional 50-overs U-19 cricket Guyana, who surrendered their three-day title last week to finish third, followed-up their first round win against Canada by beating Jamaica by five wickets at Cumberland in St Vincent yesterday for consecutive wins in the Regional 50-overs U-19 tournament. The defending Champions, responding to Jamaica’s 166 all out in 48.3 overs, reached 170-5 off 353 overs with West Indies U16 Captain Sachin Singh (32), Kevin Sinclair (31 not out), Windies U-19 allrounder Bhaskar Yadram (25) and Kevlon Anderson

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Kaieteur News

Guyana beat Jamaica by 5-Wkts for 2nd win (25) all getting starts without going to register fifties. Roberto Simpson had 342 for Jamaica who were led by 79 from Carlos Browne but nobody else offered meaningful support as pacer Yadram captured 4-19 and Essequibian fast bowler Joshua Jones taking 3-38. Guyana drew the bye in Sunday’s second round. Scores in the other matches: At Cumberland: Guyana beat Jamaica by five wickets. JAMAICA 166 off 48.3 overs (Carlos Brown 79;

Tuesday August 21, 2018 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) If certain projects or tasks have seemed difficult for you to finish, today's energy will give you the zip you need, Aries. The energy indicates that things will go well for you once you get started. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) You might feel more energetic than you have in a long time, Taurus. A powerful energy that increases your mental acuity and physical strength can really help you finish anything that's pending. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) If there's something you've wanted to take on, today's the day. There's an increase in your physical and mental strength. CANCER (June 21–July 22) If you've been feeling sluggish lately, this will be a welcome day for you, Cancer. You'll feel a surge in energy that greatly increases your creativity and physical strength. Seize the opportunity to be outside for sports or a walk.

W I N D WA R D ISLANDS 153 off 43.4 overs (Lincoln Durand 43, Jeron Noel 30; Matthew Forde 538, Nyeem Young 3-46). BARBADOS 156 for three from 34 overs (Shian Brathwaite 73 not out, Antonio Morris 24 not out, Mekhail Marshall 24; Jeron Noel 2-24).

B h a s k a r Ya d r a m 4 - 1 9 , Joshua Jones 3-38). GUYANA 170 for five off 35.3 overs (Sachin Singh 32, Kevin Sinclair 31 not out, Bhaskar Yadram 25, Kevelon Anderson 25; Roberto Simpson 3-42). At Sion Hill: Leewards beat Canada by eight wickets. LEEWARDS ISLANDS 59 off 25.4 overs (Jemuel Cabey 3-7, Zawandi White 2-1, Kian Pemberton 2-18). CANADA 63 for two off 26.3 overs (Uri Smith 26 not out). At Arnos Vale Stadium: Barbados beat Windwards by seven wickets.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Today's energy can have you feeling ready for anything, Libra. Given your more radical approach, you may need to keep in check. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Today might be a good day to take a second shot at something that didn't work out the first time, Scorpio. Falling flat on your face can damage your self-esteem and confidence. SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Your ability to find innovative approaches to things may serve you well today. Strong energy and mental acuity continue today, and you'll find that most things come easily. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) If long-overdue work has piled up, Capricorn, today is the day to dig in. This is especially so for things you weren't able to handle yesterday. Fortunately, you have added strength and mental acuity.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Leo, if there's something interesting that you've wanted to try, this is a great day for it. Adventure brings excitement, creative flow, and energy, which are essential to you. You're highly artistic.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Don't worry about being productive today, Aquarius. You might still accomplish more than you have in a long time. The cosmic energy indicates that if you didn't get everything done that you wanted to yesterday, you're sure to do it today.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) With today's energy, you can take steps toward getting things in order, Virgo. Tackle desk drawers, closets, storage rooms, or filing cabinets. When you create order, you gain a sense of peace and personal control.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Expect an added boost of physical energy today, Pisces. It's an excellent day to clean out closets. Exercise like yoga or walking will be most enjoyable. It could also prove to be well worth your while to look at your goals.

Rose Hall Town...

First Class player Bhaskar Yadram made 25 & took 4-19 against Jamaica yesterday.

From page 30 Jeremy Sandia 2 for 25 were the main wicket takers for Rose Hall Town Bakewell. The home team lost skipper Chanderpaul Govinda, run out for 00 in the first over. The inform Jonathan De Veira 40, Vikash Subramanie 19, Angelino Ramdihal 13 and Jonathan Rampersaud 23 not out batted well to guide the defending champion into another finals.

Moore (boys)... From page 29 of the first round against Guyanese Anylais Trellis in their female Flyweight battle, while Jermaine Williams beat fellow Guyanese Jevon Thomas in a Middleweight contest. Guyana Aleshia Jackman, in her first ‘big’ fight, was too good for T&T’s Alica King, while Francis Shukhu of Guyana defeated T&T’s Tarique Hosein in a fight in which both boxers seemed reluctant to throw punches. In the last fight of an entertaining night, Guyana’s Christopher Moore won by TKO in 1:35 seconds of round one. A minute’s silence was observed for former Guyana light Heavyweight boxer Alfred Thomas who was laid to rest on Sunday, while Kester Harding spoke about domestic violence.

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Tuesday August 21, 2018

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Najam Sethi quits as PCB chairman, Ehsan Mani set to replace him ESPNcricinfo - Najam Sethi’s departure from his role as PCB chairman is confirmed after he formally submitted his resignation yesterday. Minutes later, the prime minister of Pakistan Imran Khan tweeted that he had nominated former ICC president Ehsan Mani as the new chairman of the board. There had been intense speculation surrounding Sethi’s future in the PCB ever since Imran was elected Pakistan’s prime minister; the former Pakistan captain and Sethi had a famously poor relationship. With the prime minister allowed - according to the PCB constitution - to change the PCB chairman if he so desired, it seemed unlikely Sethi would be able to stay on beyond Imran formally taking charge. Along with his resignation letter, Sethi tweeted that he had been “waiting for the new Prime Minister to take oath” before deciding to hand in his resignation - which Imran did on Saturday. Sethi was appointed PCB chairman for his last, unbroken stint in 2017, but had previously served as PCB chairman in 2013 and 2014. That was a period marred by a power struggle between him and former PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf; the pair swapped positions several

Ehsan Mani delivers his address. (Getty Images) times before Sethi finally consolidated his control at the helm of the PCB. Addressing his resignation letter directly to the prime minister, Sethi said, “You have said on many occasions you have a vision for Pakistan cricket. Therefore, it is only proper that you should assume charge and responsibility for assembling a management team for PCB that enjoys your full confidence and trust.” Sethi pointed out he had been appointed the PCB chairman unanimously in 2017 for a three-year term following elections last year, and that he believed he had “served the

cause of cricket diligently”. The inevitability of Sethi’s resignation has its roots in politics rather than cricket. Sethi was appointed caretaker chief minister of Punjab, the stronghold of Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N party, Imran’s main political rival and the winner of the 2013 parliamentary elections. Imran repeatedly accused Sethi of unjustly helping Sharif win the elections that year. In 2014, Sethi was nominated to the PCB board of governors by Sharif, approved by the ICC and the Supreme Court of Pakistan. But it was widely believed that if Imran ever was to come to

Mickey Arthur in conversation with PSL chief Najam Sethi. (PSL) power, Sethi’s days at the PCB would be numbered. It was telling that Imran didn’t so much as thank Sethi for his time as chairman, instead focusing on the “vast and valuable experience” Mani would bring to the job. While Sethi only formally became PCB chairman in 2017, he was de facto the most influential man in the organisation for much of his predecessor Shaharyar Khan’s tenure, where he served as the head of the PCB executive committee. Most visibly, he was the chairman of the Pakistan Super League, Pakistan’s international T20 franchise competition. It is

arguably what he’ll most prominently be remembered for, particularly since the competition is also viewed as the gateway towards the return of international cricket to Pakistan. The 2017 PSL final was held in Lahore, and the 18 months since have seen a trickle of matches played in Pakistan’s two major cities, Lahore and Karachi. With the PSL not a separate entity to the PCB - that idea was floated but ultimately never came to fruition - Sethi will play no further part in that competition either. Mani’s appointment is contingent on an election process - but that is merely a

formality. As a fierce critic of the finance and governance draft proposal put forward by Australia, England and India at the ICC in 2014, which later came to be known as the Big Three reform, he won fans in many of the other countries, particularly Pakistan, who held out against the reforms longer than any of the other seven Full Member boards. He has built much goodwill in Pakistan over the years, especially in 2009 when he accused the BCCI of trying to isolate Pakistan when the Indian board rejected Pakistan’s proposal to host their share of matches at neutral venues.

Guyana Embassy to Brazil supports Golden Jaguars Train & Play camp in Rio

Jevon Rodrigues takes a pic with players and staff.

The Guyana Embassy to Brazil has been providing moral support to the players, management and staff of the Golden Jaguars who are currently on a historic “Train and Play” Camp taking place in Rio de Janeiro. Recently, the First Secretary Jevon Rodrigues, representing Guyana’s Ambassador George Talbot, traveled from the

Brasilia located Embassy to Rio and spent two days interacting with players and staff. At a simple function, Rodrigues conveyed the Ambassador’s best wishes to the team, informing them that Ambassador Talbot is an ardent Golden Jaguars’ fan and he wanted the team to be aware of that fact, “This encampment is historic as it is

happening in a year when Guyana and Brazil are celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations. Events to celebrate this milestone would be taking place in Brazil and Guyana. I would like to wish the team and management, on behalf of Ambassador Talbot, the very best going forward and encourage you to be the best, work hard and the good

results will follow.” Rodrigues, a qualified former coach who once briefly served as the President for the West Demerara Football Association, also complimented the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) for the initiative of having the camp in Brazil, which can only boost the sport in Guyana. He also disclosed that an anni-

versary symposium would have already been done at the University of Brasilia and Roraima, while there would be an exchange of cultural troupes between the two neighbours: “Later in the year we should issue some stamps to commemorate the event so I think a team coming here at this time is very significant. It may have taken us 50 years

to bring a squad to Brazil but I think our development is getting closer to the level that Brazil is. My word to the players is, remain committed, remain disciplined and doors will open for you. I am excited about the new management and coach; the atmosphere is just positive and I really admire that. I know that we are going to go places.”

Tuesday August 21, 2018

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Kaieteur News

England face record target on TKR snatch last-ball win to final two days against India break Tallawahs hearts

Javon Searles celebrates after hitting the winning runs off the last ball for Trinbago Knight Riders on Sunday night.

Virat Kohli ended with 103 and walked off to big cheers from the crowd ©Getty Images NOTTINGHAM, England (Reuters) - England will have to set a record for the highest successful fourth-innings chase if they are to win the third test against India after the dominant tourists declared at 352 for seven with Virat Kohli making 103 yesterday. England’s opening pair of Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings survived a tricky nine overs before the close of play, reaching 23 without loss. That means Joe Root’s side require another 498 runs to win over the final two days of play and history suggests that is highly unlikely. Only four teams have scored more than 400 to win a test, West Indies’ 418 to beat Australia in 2003 being the highest. The highest fourth-

innings winning test total at Trent Bridge is 284 by England against New Zealand in 2004.Having started the third day on 124 for two, India were barely troubled through two and a half sessions of steady, if unspectacular, accumulation under grey skies. After a fruitless morning session for England’s bowling attack, Cheteshwar Pujara, who had been dropped in the morning on 40, was caught at first slip by Cook off the bowling of Ben Stokes for 72, ending his partnership with Kohli at 113. Skipper Kohli, who was out for 97 in the first innings, took few risks during his patient knock which finally came to an end after 197 balls when he was trapped lbw by seamer Chris Woakes.

Hardik Pandya was unbeaten on 52 when Kohli finally decided to declare and let his bowlers give Cook and Jennings an uncomfortable mini-session. England, who lead the five-test series 2-0, suffered a blow during the morning when wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow had to leave the ground with what turned out to be a fractured finger. Bairstow, a key part of the home team’s batting line-up, was hit on the end of the middle finger by a James Anderson delivery but is expected to bat in their second innings. Scores: England 161 and 23 for 0 need 498 runs to beat India 329 and 352 for 7 dec (Kohli 103, Pujara 72, Pandya 52*).

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida, CMC – Barbadian Javon Searles held his nerve to smash a boundary off the final ball of the match as Trinbago Knight Riders pulled off a sensational fourwicket victory over Jamaica Tallawahs in the Caribbean Premier League here Sunday night. Half-centuries from Colin Munro (67) and Darren Bravo (50) had put the reigning champions on course to overhaul their target of 183 at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium but they still started the final over requiring seven runs for victory. Fast bowler Oshane Thomas kept Searles scoreless from the first ball and a bungled paddle sweep off the next ball resulted in a leg bye, which got captain Dwayne Bravo (36) on strike. However, Thomas then struck what seemed the crucial blow when he had Dwayne Bravo caught on the ropes at deep point by Kennar Lewis off the third delivery. Searles missed the fourth ball and Thomas then bowled a wide to reduce the target to five runs from the last two

balls. When Searles and Denesh Ramdin scampered two to long off, it left TKR requiring three runs from the final ball. Thomas then chose the wrong time to bowl his worst delivery of the over and Searles crashed the wide length ball through cover point to break the Tallawahs hearts.The defeat for the home side was their second on the trot at the venue and it saw them slip to third in the standings on six points, behind the top placed Guyana Amazon Warriors and the second placed TKR only on net run rate. Earlier, opener Glenn Phillips struck 80 from 55 balls while David Miller hit an unbeaten 72 from 34 balls as Tallawahs tallied 182 for five off their 20 overs. Sent in, Tallawahs were stumbling on 47 for three in the ninth over, undermined by Man-of-the-Match leftarm spinner Khary Pierre, who took two of the wickets to fall to end with three for 19 from his four overs. But Phillips smashed three fours and five sixes, putting on 112 for the fourth wicket with Miller, who belted

five fours and sixes, as they turned the innings around. In reply, TKR were in strife at 28 for three in the sixth over, losing the key wicket of Brendon McCullum for eight, caught by Steven Taylor running back from point off Thomas (2-29). Munro and Darren Bravo then combined in the key stand, putting on 107 for the fourth wicket to haul TKR back into contention. The left-handed Munro stroked four fours and sixes off 51 deliveries while Bravo, also a left-hander, notched five sixes in his 35-ball knock. When left-arm seamer Imad Wasim hit the base of Bravo stumps in the 17th over, TKR still needed 48 runs from 22 balls, but the older Bravo arrived to lash five sixes in a stunning 11-ball cameo before Searles staged his lastover heroics. Scores: TALLAWAHS 182 for five off 20 overs (Glenn Phillips 80, David Miller 72 not out; Khary Pierre 2-19). TKR 184 for six off 20 overs (Colin Munro 67, Darren Bravo 50, Dwayne Bravo 36; Imad Wasim 2-17, Oshane Thomas 2-29).

Osmond Cummings Memorial U-20 Football Tournament

Botofago and Milerock to face off in finals on Sunday

Man down: Jonny Bairstow clutches his left hand after being struck by a wobbly delivery ©Getty Images

In the second semi final game played last Saturday at the Wisburg ground, Milerock FC defeated Amelia’s Ward in the penalty shoot out to occupy the next spot in the finals set to be played Sunday, August 26th at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground. At the sound of the whistle both teams seemed determined to win, missing some goals but both teams defence was good as the first half ended nil all. The second half began with Amelia’s Ward showing aggressiveness and saved a

couple of goals Milerock attempted to score. It was evident that each team wanted to be a winner however, at the end of regulation time both teams were without a goal. After the penalty shootout Milerock won 4 goals to 2 but Amelia’s Ward argued that Milerock did not follow the rules of the tournament and the constitution of the UDFA. If that can be proven then the team will be disqualified and Amelia’s Ward will oppose Botofago instead. The finals will be played on Sunday August 26th at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground. Kick off time will be 17:00 hrs. (Jacquey Bourne)

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BCB/Mike’s Pharmacy Under-15 Cricket Tournament

Rampersaud, De Veira hit centuries - Farfan & Mendes joins Albion, Blairmont and Tucber Park in semifinals Rose Hall Town Farfan & Mendes Ltd, the defending Berbice Champion on Friday became the fourth team to reach the semifinals of the Berbice Mike’s Pharmacy Under-15, 50-Overs Knockout Tournament. Albion had earlier defeated Achievers Cricket Club, Blairmont squeezed past No. 73 Cricket Club by 3 runs, while Tucber Park Cricket Club had beaten Rose Hall Canje to advance. Rose Hall Town Farfan & Mendes arguably the strongest team in the tournament crushed No. 19 Kendall’s Union by a huge margin of 392 runs at the Area ‘H’ Ground. No. 19 Kendall’s Union, won the toss and to the surprise of everyone in the venue decided to ask Rose Hall Town to take first strike.

Jonathan De Veira who scored a century in the first round versus Blairmont ‘B’ and Angelino Ramdihal added 188 for the first wicket, before Ramdihal was caught at the wicket for 52 in the 23rd over. De Veira went on to score a superb 110 from 70 balls with fifteen delightful boundaries. National Player Jonathan Rampersaud then blasted a blistering 110 not out from 45 balls with twelve boundaries and five huge sixes as the home team amassed a mammoth 445 for 4 off their allotted 50-Overs. Reyad Rahaman 56 (9x4), Shivnarine Ramnarine 32 and Farouk Mohamed 35 not out also batted well for the Rose Hall Team. G. Harris was the best bowler for Kendall’s Union with 2 wickets for 43 runs,

while S. Singh took 1 for 72 as all the bowlers struggled against the powerful home team batting side which had also scored 366 for 6 in an earlier match. Needing to score 446 to win from 50-Overs, the visitors were bowled out for 53 in seventeen Overs as extras top scored with 22. National Under-15 player Jeremy Sandia took 3 wickets for 18 runs, while Matthew Pattaya 2 for 10, Shivnarine Ramnarine 2 for 14 and Arshad Bhemikhan 3 for 1 also bowled well. Rose Hall Town Farfan & Mendes Under-15 Team would clash with Blairmont Cricket Club in the semifinals at the Area ‘H’ Ground, while Albion Cricket Club would play Tucber Park Cricket Club at the Albion Ground.

Flying Ace Cycle Club Emancipation road race pushed back to Sunday The Emancipation cycle road race organised by the Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC) of Berbice which was scheduled for last weekend has been pushed back to this Sunday, August 26, due to unforeseen circumstances. The event which is for cyclists of the FACC only is a 10 laps, 40-miler around the town of New Amsterdam. The race is expected to pedal off at 13:00hrs from Rainbow Bar on Republic

Road continue north, turn left into Vryheid Road, left into Main Road, proceed through Stanleytown, turn left into Tacama Turn and back into Republic Road. That sequence will continue ten times before finishing at the point of origin at Rainbow Bar. There will be prizes for the first five finishers; the first three 12-14 riders, while there will be 10 prime point prizes up for grabs.

The BMX riders and the oldest riders on show are expected to feature and be rewarded. Among the sponsors on board so far are the Regional Democratic Council, Fix It Electronics, Ferdinand Contracting Services and Businessman Alfred Petti of New Amsterdam. The coordinator is Randolph Roberts. (Samuel Whyte)

Biles wins fifth all-around title at U.S. Champs (Reuters) - Olympic champion Simone Biles won her fifth all-around title at the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Championships in Boston on Sunday. Biles’s total of 119.850 gave her a 6.55-point margin of victory over nearest challenger and reigning world champion Morgan Hurd (113.300). Riley McCusker (112.750), Grace McCallum (111.650) and Shilese Jones (109.850) rounded out the top five. The stellar showing from Biles, who won four gold medals at the Rio Games, comes less than a month into her return to competition after an almost two-year break. The 21-year-old is among more than 100 gymnasts who say they were abused by former Gymnas-

Tuesday August 21, 2018

Kaieteur News

CAREBACO International Under-19 Junior Championships 2018

Priyanna Ramdhani captures both Singles and Doubles crowns

BWF Carebaco International Girls Doubles Champions Priyanna Ramdhani and Chequeda DeBoulet of Trinidad & Tobago (centre) at the presentation. She turned in an impressive display and Priyanna Ramdhani is now t h e B a d m i n t o n Wo r l d Federation CAREBACO Under-19 Junior Champion 2018 when she won both the Girls Singles & Girls Doubles Finals Sunday evening in front of a large crowd. The Caribbean International & Regional Junior & Senior Badminton Championships is currently taking place in Paramaribo Suriname (August 16-29) at the Ring Sports Center in Ringweg Noord Paramaribo Suriname. This is the first time a Guyanese player have ever

won this International Championship and the Guyana Badminton Association is extremely happy that Priyanna made history being only 16 years old and have two more years in this Event. The evening started out for the Guyanese players with the Girls Singles finals where Priyanna defeated the NO. 1 Seeded player in the tournament Chequeda De Boulet of Trinidad & Tobago: 21-10, 21-4 to take the BWF CAREBACO 2018 Girls Singles Championship. She then went on later in the evening playing in the Girl Doubles Finals with Chequeda DeBoulet of Tr i n i d a d & To b a g o t o

defeat the Top Suriname Pair of Imani Mangroe & Faith Sariman: 21-13, 21-17. The GBA is extremely delighted with our results in the BWF Under-19 Championships and congratulate the payers that represented us and played their utmost best. The BWF CAREBACO Senior International Championships which will also be held in Suriname starts today August 21th and the players taking part are: Narayan Ramdhani Jonathan Mangra Darrell Carpenay Akili Haynes Tyrese Jeffrey Priyanna Ramdhani

Simone Biles competes on vault at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., August 19, 2018. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder) tics USA team doctor Larry Nassar. Nassar received a prison sentence of up to

175 years after pleading guilty to criminal sexual conduct.

BWF CAREBACO International Champion 2018 Priyanna Ramdhani.

Tuesday August 21, 2018

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Kaieteur News

C’bean School boys & Girls C/Ships

Moore (boys) & McFarlane (girls) adjudged best boxers as Guyana retains title

T&T’s Coach Ria Ramnarine (left) presents the Best female Boxer trophy to Jamaican Britney McFarlane. (Sean Devers photo) By Sean Devers For the third night in a row the three-night third annual Caribbean School boys and Girls Boxing Championships began close to two hours late and for the third year in a row Guyana emerged Champions. When this year’s Championships concluded on Sunday night at the National Gymnasium, Guyana’s Leon Moore and Jamaican Britney McFarlane were adjudged Best Boxer for Boys and Girls respectively. On a night which saw the largest turn out, 12 bouts were carded but the Exhibition bout between Theresa Johnson and Malika Pierre was called off but the atmosphere created by the vocal crowd was much better than other nights. The action began with a

30-33KG local school boys match-up in which Mosses Crawford got the better of Hazel Adams before the International bouts commenced with the female contest between 16-year-old Jamaican Britney McFarlane and 16year-old McKenzie Secondary school student Akea Lamazon. Lamazon, whose first fight after a year’s break from Boxing to focus on her CXC exams was in the National School boy and Girls Championship at the Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis Gym in Albouystown earlier this month, exchanged punches with the lass from Reggae Country who was eventually adjudged the best female school girl Boxer in the Caribbean.

The young ladies traded shots throughout the fight with both boxers showing aggression and confidence and at the end of the first round McFarlane seemed slightly ahead. The action intensified in the second round as the Guyanese counter punched with some good body blows as McFarlane employed left jabs to good effect but Lamazon appeared to land the bigger shots. Both fighters increased the tempo as both girls looked in danger of running out of gas in the final round. McFarlane was caught with a straight right and she was given a standing eight count but retaliated with shots of her own and at the end of a keenly fought battle

T&T’s Abdul Taylor was knocked out by a brutal Upper cut by Guyanese Richard Howard. (Sean Devers photo)

Best male Boxer Guyanese Leon Moore collects his trophy from Pepsi Marketing Rep Sherrese Leander. (Sean Devers photo) that could have gone either way, McFarlane was given the nod. In the Light Bantam Weight encounter which followed, the highly skilful Leon Moore enhanced his growing reputation with a devastating display of clean punching against Jamaican Ashwaney Lawes who started confidently in the first half of the opening round with some nice jabs which kept his man away. But Moore, the son of former PABA’s Super Bantamweight Champions Leon ‘Hurry-up’ Moore, fighting out of an orthodox stance, unlike his dad who was a South paw, scored with punches in bunches and Lawes was given a standing eight-count towards the end

of the first round of three. Moore was all over his man at the start of round two with a barrage of vicious combinations and another eight count was administered to the Jamaican. A succession of powerful shots to the body backed up Lawes on the ropes forcing Referee Richard Braithwaite to step in to stop the fight in 1:07 seconds of the penultimate round to save Lawes from further punishment from the murderous onslaught. Shemar Morrison beat Jamal Mercier in a local battle, while in the International Junior Light Flyweight bout, Guyana’s Richard Howard knocked out the nibble T&T’s Abdul Taylor with a thunderous upper cut to his chin to

send him sprawling to the canvas with 10 seconds left in a fight that the Trini seemed to be leading by making Morrison miss most of his shots. Ring doctors Shawn Legall and the daughter of Olympic Bronze Medallist (Guyana’s only medal) Mike Parris, revived Taylor to the applause of the partisan crowd. In a Lightweight matchup, T&T’s Blessing Waldropt, who toned down his antics from the second night, got the judges verdict against Guyana’s Mark Crawford despite being hurt in the final round when he got a standing eight count. Faith Ramnauth of T&T won by TKO in 1:36 seconds (Continued on page 25)

Guyana’s Leon Moore showed why he is the Caribbean’s best School boy Boxer with the clinical destruction of Jamaican Ashwaney Lawes. (Sean Devers photo)

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Tuesday August 21, 2018

Kaieteur News

Young ‘Golden Jaguars’ Dundas and Parks relishing opportunities

Kevin Dundas. They consider themselves privileged to be part of this historical “Train And Play” Camp that has been organized by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) for the core of its young players and some senior players ahead of what is anticipated to be an intense four-year cycle of foundation football. The 22-year-old duo of Defenders, Kevin Dundas who plays with Den Amstel Football Club and St. Ignatius Football Club’s Franklyn Parks, have both expressed delight at being chosen to be part of what they have described as the commencement of a journey of a lifetime. Dundas, who commenced his playing career in his home village team Den Amstel on the West Coast of Demerara, has also plied his trade with Buxton United FC for two years and the Guyana Defence Force for one year before returning to his village team. Speaking with GFF Media, Dundas said he feels blessed to have been given this chance since he has been working hard over the years and would be grabbing this

Franklyn Parks. first-time chance with hands and feet: “To get this opportunity, I am really grateful to God and my coaches for creating the pathway for this so that I can become a better player and improve. So it’s a really great opportunity to learn and go forward in the game. The coaches here have widened my horizons on how football is structured and the way forward with the game.” Having been called to a number of trials before, Dundas revealed that this is his first tour and it couldn’t come at a better time since it has boosted his morale and passion for the game: “Most of the time I am working and not selected; you feel like you not really going anywhere, so this is a major boost to my game and I’m learning something new every day from the coaches as they are very experienced and this is the way forward.” With the ultimate aim of Guyana qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and along the way, qualification for the CONCACAF Gold Cup next year, Dundas is confident that he would be one of the main pillars in the team.

Franklyn Parks stretching.

Parks, who has come from a football family, saw his other brothers play the game – Terrence, Brandon, Peter, Anthony and Daxton – so, as he puts it, it’s in his DNA. He started playing the game at age 10 in his home village of St. Ignatius, in the Rupununi. Like Dundas, Parks said he feels privileged to be part of the “Train and Play” Camp and so far is comfortable with the way things have been progressing. “I’ve been learning new things, training with new drills now as well as different levels of intensity.” The young midfielder also disclosed that he has been learning to focus more on his aim as a player and to set goals: “I see myself being a part of the GFF long term programme because I am a person who pushes to be successful.” He further noted that this exposure would motivate his fellow villagers to believe that they too can do it. “It would show them more that we can come out here to take ourselves to a different level, we can perform and get better and play our part in developing the game nationally.”

Rotary’s differently able persons’ day of sports set for next month The Rotary Club of Georgetown is working assiduously to make next month’s Day of Sports for persons with disabilities a success. Under the theme ‘Be the Inspiration’, the one-day event is scheduled for September 23rd at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground with a total of 30 events which will be competed amongst 20 rehabilitation centers. Although there have been 20 registered rehab centers, former President of the Georgetown Rotary and coordinator of the event, Affeeze Khan, called for all persons with disabilities to come out and participate, whether or not they are a part of the rehab center. Each participant will receive a prize, while the first to third place finishers will receive special awards. The list of events which gets underway from 08:00hrs have been released by Rotary Club and is as follows: 1) 25m assisted walk Open (use of walking aid) 2) 25m limited mobility walk Open 3) 50m dash boys 8-11 (Intellectual Disability) 4) 50m dash girls 8-11 (Intellectual Disability) 5) 50m dash boys 12-16 (Intellectual Disability) 6) 50m dash girls 12-16 (Intel-

lectual Disability) 7) 50m dash boys Open (Intellectual Disability) 8) 50m dash girls Open (Intellectual Disability) 9) 80m dash boys 8-11 (hearing impaired) 10) 80m dash girls 8-11 (hearing impaired) 11) 80m dash boys 12-16 (hearing impaired) 12) 80m dash boys 12-16 (hearing impaired) 13) 80m dash girls Open (hearing impaired) 14) 80m dash girls Open (hearing impaired) 15) 80m dash boys 16-21 (visually impaired) 16) 80m dash girls 16-21 (visually impaired) 17) 80m dash boys Open (visually impaired) 18) 80m dash girls Open (visually impaired 19) 50m wheelchair under 16 20) 50m wheelchair open 21) 50m wheelchair assisted 22) egg and spoon race males 23) egg and spoon race female 24) 80m walk (single leg amputee) 25) Late for school male (visually impaired) [pants with belt, tee shirt, footwear with laces and socks] 26) Late for school female (visually impaired) [skirt, tee shirt, boots with laces and socks] 27) Musical chairs 28) 80m teachers race male 29) 80m teachers race female

30) Rotarian Race Male / Female Meanwhile the clubs already confirmed to participate include the following: 1) East Bank Special Needs School 2) Lion’s School for Children with Special Needs 3) Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre 4) Guyana Society for the Blind 5) Linden Centre for the Handicapped 6) St. Roses Visually Impaired Unit 7) David Rose School for the Handicapped 8) Guyana Association for the Visually Impaired 9) Arch Achievers 10) Open Doors Centre 11) Differently Abled Athletic Club 12) Region # 2 Community based rehab center (CBR) 13) Region #3 CBR 14) East Bank CBR 15) East Coast CBR 16) West Coast Berbice CBR 17) East Berbice CBR 18) Ruimveldt Parent Support Group 19) Achilles Track Club of Guyana 20) Kuru Kuru CBR Persons desirous of participating in the event, which is free of cost, can contact Rotarians Arianne Mangar on 696-5987 or Affeeze Khan on 624-0041.

BCB/Ramnaresh Sarwan Under-17 Knockout Tournament

Rose Hall Town Bakewell reach final with wins over Port Mourant and Rose Hall Canje Defending Berbice Under17 Cricket Champions, Rose Hall Town Bakewell are one step closer to defending their title after reaching the finals of the 2018 Berbice Cricket Board Under-17 Inter-club Tournament. The Team defeated Rose Hall Canje in the opening round before easing pass Arch rivals Port Mourant in the Playoff. The winner of the Port Mourant Cricket Club and Rose Hall Town Bakewell match then drew a BYE into the finals. On Wednesday at Rose Hall Canje, played with sheer determination until their experienced opponents were able to pull ahead with a fine bowling effort spearheaded by Guyana youth spinners Jonathan Rampersaud and Jeremy Sandia. Rose Hall Town Bakewell batting first were soon in trouble as Guyana Under-15 pacer Isaiah Thorne claimed Vikash

Subramaine LBW for naught without a run on the board. Jonathan Rampersaud and fellow national Under-15 player Jonathan Rampersaud and fellow national Under-15 player Mahendra Gopilall both made 28 and with support from Lucas Arthur 14, Tyrese Sealey 19 and Angelino Ramdihal 13, rallied the home team to 133 all out in 30.2 Overs. Bowling for Rose Hall Canje, Isaiah Thorne 3 for 27, Richardo Ramdehol 3 for 24 and Bhaskar Dhanai 2 for 31 bowled well. In response, the determined and highly discipline Rose Hall Canje Cricket Team were given a solid 49 run opening partnership by Ramdehol and Avishkar Persaud before Ramdehol was dismissed for 19 by left arm spinner Jeremy Sandia. Rose Hall Canje Cricket Team then lost their nine remaining wickets for 51 runs despite

resistance from Persaud 16, Jaron France 12 and Isaiah Thorne 11. Jeremy Sandia 3 for 18, Matthew Pattaya 2 for 19 and Jonathan Rampersaud 2 for 20 were the principal wicket takers for Rose Hall Town Bakewell. In the playoffs on Thursday, Port Mourant batted first after winning the toss. They were given a steady but slow start of 36 from 20 Overs by openers Rampertab Ramnauth and Fordeen Khan. Ramnauth was dismissed, caught at the wicket by Chanderpaul Govindan off Matthew Pattaya for 07 from 42 balls. Port Mourant Cricket Club were eventually bowled out for 111 in the 48th Over as Fordeen Khan 16, Dave Ramgoolam 16, Mark Romaldo 14 batted well in the middle. Thirteen years old Matthew Pattaya 3 for 23, Tyrese Sealey 3 for 25 and (Continued on page 25)