Kaieteur News

K

AIETEUR Deputy CJIA NEWS

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

Chief granted

bail on sexual assault charge

Saturday Edition August 24, 2019 - Vol. 13 No. 33

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

Price $80 Deputy CEO of CJIA, Andre Kellman

Online readership yesterday 101,239

With several developments on the horizon...

Guyana must study economic impact of multiple FPSOs

- University of Houston Instructor

City hit by water shortage due to damaged main

Irfaan Ali to face fraud charges Monday - as Appellate Judge refuses to stay proceedings

Orinduik Partners gear up to drill next big target Workers prepare to install a new main

The damaged main

Thief caught on CCTV to spend Christmas in jail Sick man runs away from $2,500 taxi fare, fined $25,000 Govt, Opposition cross swords over present, past public projects

Oil companies should avail themselves to regular scrutiny from local media - Jagdeo

Kaieteur News

PAGE 02

Saturday August 24, 2019

Deputy CJIA Chief granted bail on sexual assault charge

T

he Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Andre Kellman, was yesterday arraigned before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly after he was slapped with a sexual assault charge.

He appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts where the matter was h e a r d i n c a m e r a an d members of the public along with media operators were asked to exit the courtroom

where the matter was being conducted.

A c c o r d i n g t o information, the charge read that on July 30, 2018 at Timehri, East Bank Demerara, he made sexual contact with a woman without her consent.

The 56-year-old Kellman of 67 Craig Street, Campbellville, is being represented by attorney-atlaw Glenn Hanoman. He was released on $70,000 bail and instructed to make his next court appearance on August

29.

The charge was laid against the defendant one week after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) advised the police to do so.

This publication had reported that in June a woman had alleged that she was held and kissed twice in the office of the manager when she visited him last year to seek his help in removing the wheel clamps on her employer's vehicles which was left overnight in the parking lot of the airport.

While in the office, the woman said she was blocked from leaving and kissed twice without her permission. She claimed she did not have that level of relations with the manager. The matter was later reported to the CEO of CJIA with a promise for a probe to be launched.

However, for several months there was no word despite her queries. It was sometime in June that after demanding a response, she was told by an official of the Human Resources

Deputy CEO of CJIA, Andre Kellman

Department that the matter had been resolved. She was not told how. She later complained to the police and the media.

Days later, she was ejected from the airport and had her security passes revoked. Kellman was sent on leave but resumed work after.

The airport's handling of the matter had come under fire with the board of directors later making it clear that it does not tolerate workers' victimisation. The board also said that it has ordered a review and update of CJIA's protocols on how to better deal with issues like this.

Kaieteur News

Saturday August 24, 2019

PAGE 03

With several developments on the horizon...

Guyana must study economic impact of multiple FPSOs

- University of Houston Instructor

By Kiana Wilburg

E

xxonMobil, Hess Corporation and CNOOC/NEXE N have all indicated that the Liza field within the oil-rich Stabroek Block holds the potential for at least five Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units.

These vessels are used for the production and processing of hydrocarbons, as well as for the storage of oil.

Considering the fact that ExxonMobil will soon be moving towards the development of other fields in the Stabroek Block, as well as the significant discovery in the Orinduik Block, analysts are cautioning that there are some FPSO economics involved which must be given due attention.

Specifically making this comment was University of Houston Instructor, Tom Mitro. During an exclusive interview with Kaieteur News, the Petroleum Consultant noted that the government may want to consider whether continuing to develop these offshore fields using separate FPSO configurations, still makes sense.

Mitro said, “FPSO's are self-contained production, storage and export units that do allow a very quick start of a production, but when there are several of them, they tend to be less than cost-efficient, and do not lend themselves to monitoring and control by the government.”

The Consultant, who has over 30 years experience in the industry added, “Now with multiple developments

The FPSO 'Liza Destiny'

University of Houston Instructor, Tom Mitro on the horizon, the government may want to consider the economic and other impacts of requiring a pipeline system to be built take the oil to shore to a common terminal in Guyana for treating and export and possible future connection to domestic pipelines.”

Mitro said that this type of common infrastructure has the potential to reduce overall costs, enable more local content, and also enable future marginal oil discoveries in the region to be more economically viable by utilising existing infrastructure.

He opined that it would also allow for much easier and cheaper government monitoring and auditing of oil measurement and fiscalisation.

Further to this, Mitro said it should be pointed out that these results would not necessarily be automatic, but would have to be studied.

“I would submit that now would be an ideal time to study these options before the government is inundated with a lot more new development plans submitted to it,” the

University Instructor concluded.

FIELD DEVELOPMENT With respect to developments on the block, Hess Corporation recently noted that the second phase of the Liza Field was sanctioned by its other two partners, ExxonMobil and CNOOC/NEXEN, following regulatory approval from the government of Guyana.

Hess noted that Liza Phase Two will utilise the Liza Unity FPSO, which will have the capacity to produce up to 220,000 gross barrels of oil per day. It said that six drill centres are planned with a total of 30 wells, including 15 production wells, nine water injection wells, and six gas injection wells.

The company noted that first oil is expected by mid-

2022 and the development is expected to have a gross capital cost of approximately $6 billion, including a lease capitalisation cost of approximately $1.6 billion for the FPSO, and will develop approximately 600 million barrels of oil.

Excluding pre-sanction and lease costs, the corporation said its net share of development costs is forecast to be approximately $1.6 billion, of which $210 million is included in its 2019 capital and exploratory budget.

Turning its attention to Liza Phase One, Hess noted that this remains on track to achieve first oil by the first

quarter of 2020. It said that Phase One will produce up to 120,000 gross barrels of oil per day at peak rates, utilising the Liza Destiny FPSO, which is expected to arrive offshore Guyana next month.

Further to this, Hess said that planning is underway for a third phase of development at the Payara Field, which is expected to produce between 180,000 and 220,000 gross barrels of oil per day, with first oil as early as 2023.

Reminding of the exploration and appraisal activity on the Stabroek Block in the second quarter of 2019, Hess noted that the

Ye l l o w t a i l - 1 w e l l encountered approximately 292 feet of high-quality oilbearing sandstone reservoir and is located approximately six miles northwest of the Tilapia discovery. As the fifth discovery in the greater Turbot area, it underpins another potential major development hub.

Further, Hess said that the Hammerhead-2 appraisal well, located approximately 0.9 miles from the Hammerhead-1 discovery well, and the Hammerhead-3 appraisal well, located approximately 1 . 9 m i l e s f r o m Hammerhead-1, were both (continued on page 18)

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Kaieteur News

Saturday August 24, 2019

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

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

EDITORIAL

The nakedness of America revealed “‘It feels like being hunted’: Latinos across the US in fear after El Paso massacre” (New York Times, August 6).

Wild animals are subjected to those terrors, not men and women, and because of the colour of their skin and from where they come. But this is the dream, now a real nightmare for so many minorities. A certificate of naturalisation or an American birth certificate could also be passports towards an untimely death certificate.

As Guyanese line up on Duke Street (or less formal alleyways) in the hope of northbound passage, they should listen to a Hispanic pouring out his heartbreak: “Many clients tell me, ‘We’re the new Jews…’ Mr. Aguirre said.

“It’s quite a transition…to being visible in a lethal way.”

The horror is get used to it; it is now in the open, what was long incited in many nuanced fashions.

According to the August 6 article, “There are now about 56.5 million Latinos in the United States, accounting for 18 percent of the population — nearly one in five people in the country. That’s up from 14.8 million in 1980, or just 6.5 percent of the population, according to the Pew Research Center. Nearly two-thirds of Latinos were born in the United States.”

Doesn’t matter, that birthright and its inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, as enshrined in the Declaration of Independence of the United States. Not for the non-white is the message.

It is because those numbers inspire fear and hate. The two are Siamese twins in the poisoned bloodline of accumulated racial anxieties and hatreds. The Caucasian majority is losing its numerical majority: lower birthrate, cosmopolitan lifestyle, the overwhelming tide of migrants, legal and illegal. In a country with a proud gun culture, and egged on by media, religious leaders, extremist political leaders, and far right militias and followers, that is an explosion waiting to happen. After all the rantings, it came to pass.

On the West Coast, in California, Kenia Peralta, 18, followed every news stream about the shooting. It led her to look at herself, at her Hispanic self, and as an American, and ask, “If this is what America is supposed to be, only white, then I guess I am not American,” said Ms. Peralta, whose parents emigrated from El Salvador. Those are the people coming, countless many of them to menace way of life.

To many like Ms. Peralta, the shooting brought home some scorching, piercing realities: this is not about some illegals looking over their shoulders. Rather, it is about the fear and fight for life itself. Another Hispanic completing a Ph.D. at Yale in American Studies, Ms. Cornejo Villavicencio was going out to an evening of dining, when El Paso made the news. “It’s really hard to be alive as an immigrant right now and to not be sick and exhausted,” she said. “It feels like being hunted.”

Factories full of immigrant labour - cheap, industrious, and ever so willing. And by the way, many times illegal: living in dread, identifying with discovery, succumbing to the stigma of deportation, and unraveling all the hard sacrifices made.

Few Guyanese ever talk frankly about those realities.

There are thousands, likely tens of thousands of illegal Guyanese in that precarious boat. After all, those back track escapees and tourist disappearances are in mainly one place: Uncle Sam’s neighbourhood. Those long hours, hard times, fearful existences could be gone in the blink of an eye.

A less benevolent immigration regime; more hardcore officers manning the booths at JFK, the ugliness of jealous, spiteful family, friends, neighbours. For the Guyanese immigrant - whether illegal or legal and unlike the Hispanics - the anxieties are not about a bullet in the body, but of more prosaic concerns such as of acceptance, of belonging, of ever really being in a place that could be called home. This is the new immigrant reality. The nakedness of America shown at the bone.

APNU/AFC GOVT. DOES NOT BELIEVE LOCAL CONTENT IS IMPORTANT DEAR EDITOR, It has been One Thousand Five Hundred and Fifty-Five days since ExxonMobil announced the discovery of Oil in commercial quantities offshore Guyana. The APNU/ AFC has not produced a final Local Content Policy to date, a draft is promised soon. No Local Content Legislation was drafted or introduced by the APNU/AFC in those 1,555 days. For this reason alone, this collection of incompetents known as ‘The Coalition’ should never be reelected, ever.

What exactly is Local Content? And what is it so important to all Guyanese?

Practically, Local Content is the development of local skills, oil and gas technology transfer, and use of local manpower

and local manufacturing; in other words, building a workforce that is skilled and building a competitive supplier base. This is where Guyanese can benefit via the all important jobs and business opportunities that oil brings with exploration and production. Without a Local Content Policy and enabling legislation, Guyanese are fighting for crumbs that fall off the big table.

APNU/AFC does not believe Local Content is important; the task was not treated as Priority One, it was left to Dr. Mark Bynoe, a parttime lecturer at the University of Guyana, with no known experience in the business world. Dr. Bynoe was not furnished with a large budget to hire experts globally, he was given a small budget and

he plunked for Mr. Wilks, a retired oilman and DAI Global, a company already in the employ of ExxonMobil locally.

This level of neglect may not attract a criminal charge, but it should.

Clues as to why Local Content has not garnered the serious attention it deserves are in the actions of the APNU/AFC. The structure of the National Resource Fund as passed (illegally) puts control of revenues in the hands of one man, a politician; whoever is the Minister of Finance would have an unhealthy control over every person associated with the management of these funds.

APNU/AFC has passed legislation that has no effective checks and balances. Given the APNU/ AFC track record of

corruption, incompetence, jet-set lifestyles and incompetence, I cannot envisage a fund that grows.

It will be more like the gold reserves, which have declined from $16.268 billion in June 2015 to $589.3 million today, a decline of 96.4%!

No doubt, Dr. Bynoe will respond to my charges of his incompetence with charts showing how many buckets of local KFC are consumed annually by the oil company.

Dr. Bynoe may also list the all-expenses paid trip to Singapore from ExxonMobil as ‘local content’. The businessmen of Guyana know how badly APNU/AFC has failed them, now, you, the People, can judge for yourselves.

Respectfully Robin Singh

Oil companies are infamous for colluding with governments DEAR EDITOR, It is not a coincidence that the APNU government is grappling to remain in power even if it would cost them the entire country. Empirical evidence has shown that oil wealth is an influential factor that plays a key role in the pursuit of unlimited power by democratic nations.

Incumbents that are autocratic usually use their oil wealth to fortify their grip on power.

Democratic incumbents, on the other hand, are often more inclined to remain in power, precipitating the birth of an authoritarian state.

Take for example the following transition and entrenchment of power by four of the largest oildependent countries following the 2000-8 oil boom:-Azerbaijan: In 2009,

President Ilham Aliyev removed the term limit that would force him to step down; -Nigeria: the 2007 general election that gave the incumbent government an overwhelming victory was one of the most fraudulent in history.

-Iran: The re-election of Iran’s President in June 2009 was plagued with widespread voting irregularities.

-Venezuela: Chávez capitalised on rising oil prices to fund projects that increase his popularity among constituencies including lowincome families and the military.

As it relates to Guyana, it becomes conspicuous that the APNU government has a more sinister and insidious plan. Like Nigeria, their objective is not to have a credible election. And this is

being blatantly displayed on a daily through delaying tactics. In fact, the election body charged with the holding of credible elections seems to be infiltrated and is now part of the plan to confiscate our democracy.

The entire government is so preoccupied with sabotaging the upcoming election that no heed is paid as to how the revenue from our first oil windfall will be invested.

To make matters worse, the long-overdue Local Content Policy (LCP) turned out to be a “cut and paste” piece of ambiguous scrap. But this is no surprise since the LCP was funded by a major oil company.

Going forward, to entrench their grip on power, the strategy would simply be to pacify the citizens through an array of generous offers: tax reduction, cash transfer, etc. Indeed these policies are not incoherent at all, but in the

hands of an aspiring dictator, they are lethal to democracy.

And over the past few decades, history has shown just how effective they are.

Lower tax would definitely be welcoming for the Guyanese populace. The sinister part of this, however, is that the people would become less vigilant and concern as to how the government is spending the nation’s oil wealth.

Hence, it increases the chance of fiscal irregularities: patronage and rent-seeking.

And to make matters worse, oil companies are infamous for colluding with governments; making it extremely difficult to hold governments accountable since there would be no evidence whatsoever as to the exact amount of oil revenue coming in. After all, the “chip doesn’t fall far from the block”.

Kind regards, Roger Samuels

Mayor Ubraj Narine needs a fresh batch of hard working and energetic senior officers DEAR EDITOR, I have no doubt, that the youngest to the oldest citizen and resident of Georgetown must have recognised by now, that Mayor Ubraj Narine has every good intention for our capital, its citizens and visitors.

It is “pellucidly clear” as one of Guyana’s leaders used to say, that he has been working assiduously to improve living conditions in the ‘Garden City’, has opted to remain in town and ‘put his shoulder to the wheel’ rather than traipsing around the

world wasting millions and achieving nothing like his predecessors, has refused to accept a number of the perks and trappings that have been attached to the office he holds, and does not have his head stuck in the clouds, whilst failing to listen to the plight of, and empathising with the ordinary citizen as they encounter so many challenges from day to day.

However, the Mayor has a giant mountain to overcome if his dreams, desires and plans for Georgetown are to be realised. And that problem

has to do with the senior officers that he has inherited from past regimes, many of whom have been cited by the Commission of Inquiry that was launched by the Local Government Commission for gross misconduct, abuse of office, recklessness, dishonesty, conspiracy, and misappropriation of funds.

Unfortunately, with the exception of one, none of the other senior officers had their services terminated for their poor management of the affairs of the city; for the irregularities that were found,

nor has any criminal investigation been launched as recommended nor has any charges been laid against the defaulting officers. In fact, quite ironically a number of these same officers have since been promoted to higher positions or confirmed to function substantively in the positions that they were acting so poorly in. This is just a disaster for Mayor Narine. Nevertheless, as they say here in Guyana, ’Seven years nah too much fuh wash (Continued on page 6)

Saturday August 24, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Surveillance – freedom and privacy when surrendered, are rarely regained DEAR EDITOR, In Guyana’s history thus far, I can’t think of any Minister of Government with responsibility for law and order that has conveyed a commitment to transparency and honest assessment of his/her ministry’s performance than Minister Ramjattan.

Previous ministers with similar responsibilities tended to shy away from the press, issue brief statements when pressed, while struggling to defend initiatives that they were pursuing.

I suspect that it is Ramjattan’s readiness to

share with the press and the nation, his thinking on crime fighting strategies that make it easy for opposition forces to criticize him.

Therefore, it was surprising to find little or no reaction to a comment he made as he outlined some of the initiatives being undertaken by his ministry and the criminal justice agencies that fall under his purview.

The comment I refer to was made when the Minister informed the nation of the focus on establishing surveillance cameras about the city, and the intent of

expanding their use to other parts of the country. Then, conceding that this development will rise to privacy concerns, he said, “If you want to catch criminals, you will have to have some amount of privacy encroached upon.”

This is a blunt, but true observation. While we value both privacy and security, vigorous pursuit of either does undermine the presence of the other. Thus, there are at least two issues that confront citizens.

The first is - what should take precedence - freedom/ privacy or security? When we

Why are we still plagued with power outages on the East Coast of Demerara?

DEAR EDITOR, I write this letter as a concerned and confused citizen. I am a resident on the East Coast of Demerara and like many of my fellow residents have been plagued with blackouts for the majority of this year. I am sure most citizens of Guyana are by now fully aware of how power outage affects one’s family, business and livelihood.

I am confused as to what the government and the Power utility company are doing about this situation.

From the many articles in the media on this subject, these organisations have not seemed to acknowledge the severity of the situation and the impact on the lives of the citizens. This can be attributed to them being oblivious or have turned a blind eye on the power utility needs of the man on the

ground. A specific case in point is the media release (dated July 15th 2019) from the Ministry of Presidency issued by the DirectorGeneral, Joe Harmon, where it stated that GPL is in talks with Banks DIH to supply power to the grid and an agreement with Giftland Mall has been finalised.

A subsequent article in the media on Aug 07th 2019 by the Chairman of the Giftland Group, Roy Beepat, indicated that no agreement is in effect between GPL and his entity as his entity is still awaiting the agreement to be signed by the GPL Board. Mr Beepat also stated in his article that the power is being offered at a price competitive to GPL the current cost of production.

Hence, you can understand my confusion as the man on the ground whose

daily life is affected by these power cuts yet the powers in charge of this does not seem to be in sync and as such how can the people of this country have any confidence that their needs will be looked after?

Whilst I understand there are many details to these agreements this should not be the concern of the citizens and if there is a shortfall of a resource that affects our livelihood and a solution is proposed and acknowledged we at least deserve an explanation as to why it has not materialised to ease the plaguing issue.

Yours sincerely, East Coast of Demerara resident

consider this, we are forced to note that worldwide and at the national level, what takes precedence is decided by the philosophy that guides a specific government.

Communist government chose security over freedom and privacy thus, giving the police great power that led (during the existence of the Soviet Union) to citizens experiencing a high level of protection from violent crimes. In capitalist USA, it is broadly perceived that emphasis was/is on freedom and privacy. The result is the USA experience a relatively higher crime rate.

At the individual level, fear tends to play an important role in influencing the value citizens hold in this matter. In the 1990s with escalation illegal drug use related crimes, Americans demanded that the police” get tough on crime,” and supported laws enacted that undermined individual freedom and privacy.

Then there are interest groups. One recalls that when Ramjattan moved to institute the closure of bars by 2am, religious organisations supported this move thus p l a c i n g s e curity before freedom (I suppose they also saw this curfew as reducing opportunities for citizens engaging in sinful behaviour).

On the other hand, the Private Sector Commission emphatically opposed the 2am closure, since, in their estimation, it would adversely affect businesses. Thus, they were placing a higher value on their ‘freedom’ to enhance

opportunities to make money.

Now, with the planned nationwide use of surveillance cameras coming on stream, this body is loud in its support (at least in principal, for they say they will meet with the minister to see how it will affect business).

The second issue for consideration is - since surveillance cameras do not discriminate, but capture all information in their scope, what safeguards can citizens demand to place some check on government hold on information gathered that are not crime related?

In this regard, I suggest that citizens should do the following: (A) Demand (as was done in the USA) that there is time limit set on how long government could keep such information; (B) That an independent body be created with oversight powers to monitor the storage and eventual destruction of the said information, on the agreed time limit, set for government to dispose of same.

Editor, one hopes that citizens do not take the suggested demands mentioned above lightly.

While it is true that government can easily present a persuasive argument justifying the need of this level of

surveillance. For example, it can cite, Atlanta / Georgia, the city in the USA in which the most surveillance cameras are located. Recently, Atlanta reported a 50% drop in crime and the authorities attribute this to the presence of these cameras.

However, libertarians are concerned about their usage, noting that governments are usually reluctant to give up this level of intrusion into c i t i z e n s ’ p r i v a c y, e v e n when the reason for their initial use has been overcome.

Indeed here in the USA, some of the intrusive laws passed in the wake of 9/11 are still operational, even though there has been no major foreign directed terrorist act in the USA in recent years. Justifying their continued presence, government argues that it is there very presence that deters such acts.

Thus, even if at a particular time we agree that such surveillance is necessary, citizens would do well to demand certain protections before their implementation. Remember freedoms and privacy once surrendered are rarely fully regained.

Faithfully, Claudius Prince

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Kaieteur News

Saturday August 24, 2019

The no-confidence issue is a first for the nation. Guyanese are operating in the dark and must thread the unknown carefully DEAREDITOR, The Constitution of Guyana is clear as to the roles and responsibilities of each actor.

What persons are doing is seeking to misrepresent the Constitution and apply their interpretations of the courts’ rulings as though such represent truth. It is difficult not to conclude that this is a strategy and it is time we ask, to what end and for whose benefit?

The responsibility for the current political environment is not that of the Government or Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), collectively or alone, it is also that of the Opposition.

It is a tripartite responsibility requiring action on the part of

the interim Government, the interim Opposition, and the constitutional independent GECOM. All must be held to the standards as outlined in their constitutional responsibilities and the Caribbean Court of Justice’s (CCJ) ruling on 12th July.

That said, ruling at item 7 expressly states, “Article 106 of the Constitution invests the President and the National Assembly (and implicitly in GECOM), responsibilities that impact on the precise timing of when the elections must be held.”

Three actors have been identified and called into question on this matter. While

identification of all is clear, the call for compliance by the President and GECOM and absolving the National Assembly and the role of the Leader of the Opposition is unacceptable.

Under the CCJ’s ruling, the Opposition has judicial and constitutional responsibilities to discharge.

The National Assembly comprises Members of Parliament (MPs) from both the Government and Opposition, yet we continue to witness letters in the press from Opposition MPs calling on the Government and GECOM to do, but they are yet to communicate to this

The AFC still have political value DEAR EDITOR, Much has been written on the “declining” support of the AFC. I see lots of writings and heard many people said/ say that AFC has lost its support from 2011 and 2015.

That may well be the case.

However, is it the only party that has lost support? Where has the “lost” support gone?

Which parties are the beneficiaries? One can only answer these questions by conducting a scientific survey.

I traveled around the country conducting opinion polls, and I heard repeated expressions of disappointment in the AFC for failing to keep its promises and for not holding the government accountable and for not speaking out against corruption. There were echoes in my ear of political betrayal by the AFC and of failing to attend to the needs of its supporters who gave it 11% support in 2011 that may have increased in 2015.

Nevertheless, AFC supporters and others also

expressed disappointment in the other two parties as well. Publicly, they may condemn the AFC and speak ill of it as indeed some did in private conversations. But in interviews with poll enumerators, they noted that they are not pleased with the alternatives. Therefore, the choice facing AFC supporters (swing voters, in particular) are not many as they complain that the two dominant parties have not made themselves very attractive to swing voters. Not surprisingly, AFC has not been totally blanked by everyone who supported it in 2011 and 2015.

One cannot use the voter support of November 2018 to make an accurate prediction of the support base of the AFC for the general elections.

If the party contests on its own in the general elections, it could do well though it may not repeat its performance in 2011 and 2015. The party did not contest everywhere in 2018. In some seats, its percentage was around 11%

— which is what it received in 2011. Because voter turnout in local elections tends to be very low – just about a third of the general elections turnout – one cannot conclude that AFC is dead. What is interesting is the bulk of those who voted for AFC in 2011 and 2015, did not cast ballots in the local election of November 2018. So one cannot make a conclusion that the disenchanted ‘AFCites’ have gone to one or the other major party. On the coast, some have expressed an interest in ANUG and Fed Up and among Amerindians; some have talked about the LJP. Those who voted for AFC in 2011 and 2015 don’t want any party to win a majority. Some ‘AFCites’ have also stated they don’t want a return of the PPP although they won’t mind if PPP gets a plurality because the other parties could hold it accountable and force it to govern responsibly.

So does the AFC still have political value? The answer is yes. Like the AFC, APNU has also lost support and it cannot win an election on its own though it could win a plurality if it can attract cross over support; APNU supporters have not abandoned it, but without AFC, it is severely weakened. The two parties need one another for political survival and in increasing its chance at government (Continued on page 28)

nation their commitment to honour their responsibilities consistent with Article 106(7) and the ruling.

The National Assembly is too an independent body but there is an absence of interest by the Opposition MPs, who comprise this body, to get their house in order that we can navigate this period in an atmosphere of legal and mutual respect. As they cast aspersions on GECOM and the Government, and call on us to hold them to account this call rings hollow. They too have a role to play and we must hold them accountable in the tripartite arrangement, which they are seeking to make dual.

Further, in keeping with Article 106(6) while the Opposition has called on the government to resign, there appears an unwillingness on their part to forge any intelligent discussion that could realise an indigenous protocol to ensure continuity of government, for there cannot be an absence of government as Article 106(7) intimates. Even the guideline offered by the CCJ at item 8, the Opposition appears disinterest in reviewing.

Refer- http://www.ccj.org/ wp-content/uploads/2019/07/

2019-CCJ-14-AJ.pdf Members of Parliament are being paid to work in the National Assembly. For the eight months of this year, though being in receipt of salary, they have not given a fair’s day work in the Assembly. The no-confidence/ confidence vote was validly passed on December 21, 2018, so ruled the final court of resort, the CCJ, on 18th June 2019. Three months has passed from the time of that vote in dealing with the earliest period when an election should have been held (i.e. by March 2019).

Both the Government and Opposition have utilised the judicial process in their recourse to seeking justice on the vote which went outside of the three months.

No side should be blamed or accused for delaying elections while exhausting their constitutional right to recourse. Respect for the Rule of Law would now see the MPs returning to the Assembly and granting the extension of time consistent with the “or such longer period” as outlined in Article 106(7).

The bullying tactics, overt or covert, we’re witnessing directed towards Justice Claudette Singh SC as to what should be done by GECOM must stop. GECOM

comprises of Commissioners representing both sides of the political divide. As an independent body, it must be allowed to freely discharge its duties, consistent with the Constitution and rulings of the CCJ and recently the High Court.

For whereas GECOM has to do its work to ensure credible election and advice the President as to its readiness when this can be done, in order that he can discharge his responsibility and set a date, no elections can be called without the activation of a vote by the National Assembly to extend the time for calling same. To go down another road constitutes a violation of the Constitution and risk litigation.

The no-confidence issue is a first for the nation. Guyanese are operating in the dark and must thread the unknown carefully.

The Opposition has a role to play, not only in part but in whole, by attending to all matters relating to and depending on this issue. Its leadership has to be much more than creating chaos, disorderliness and disunity, for such stand to further destabilise this country and the institutions of government.

Lincoln Lewis

A most unprofessional car rental service DEAREDITOR, It has been just about a week now since my husband and I experienced what I would want to say is racism without remorse.

Allow me to expound, my husband and I visited a city car rental agency but prior to our visit, we were desperately in need of a vehicle to use as we are a newly married couple and were seeking to visit my in-laws who live out of town.

After desperately trying for hours to acquire a vehicle for our convenience, we decided to try the car rental agency and my husband made the phone call to inquire the rates and so forth. We were told by the male representative that there was a Toyota Allion available and it was agreed then that we would rent same.

My husband and I then enthusiastically made our

way over, we said to ourselves: FINALLY! Upon our arrival, my husband attempted to open the gate at its entrance but what came next was entirely unforeseen. Even before the fingers on the hands of my husband could’ve TOUCHED the gate, he was yelled at!

WHAT YOU WANT? WHO IS YOU? My husband then identified himself as the caller who inquired about the availability of a vehicle and was asked to come in for the Allion.

To our surprise as well as to our dismay, we were then told that “somebody just come and collect it.”

Needless to say, my husband is an Afro-Guyanese and as a result my husband and I were treated as criminals. As I stood there in silence, my heart broke as I witnessed before my

very eyes what by far exceeded unprofessionalism. We were treated with complete disdain and disrespect. My husband and I could’ve also seen there were 3 (three) vehicles on location, including a Toyota Allion but we were not only denied entrance onto the premises but also the use of any of the vehicles clearly available.

And for what reason? Am I to believe that because of the colour of my husband’s skin, we’re unworthy of your business? Where is your humanity?

Is it safe to then conclude that this car rental service only treat those who aren’t of African descent with dignity and respect? Shame on this gentleman and by extension shame on this car rental service.

Yours truly, Disappointed

Mayor Ubraj Narine...

From page 4 speck off ah bird neck’. If I am to give Mayor Narine some advise, it would be that he needs to do like the Greek myth of the Labors of Hercules said, and clean the Augean stables of City Hall.

He needs to get a fresh batch of senior officers that

would be hard working and energetic as h e i s , t h a t would be competent, experienced, honest and share his vision of making Georgetown one of the m o s t dynamic, diverse, modern, clean and green cities on the planet.

Sincerely Mark Roopan

Saturday August 24, 2019

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Berbice fishermen worried as exports struggling, prices fall The Number 66 Fisheries, Corentyne, East Berbice.

There is a call for immediate interventions to have more exporters on board before the fishing industry dwindles away

There are growing concerns among fishermen in Berbice about the drop in the price of fish, particularly Snapper and Trout.

The concerns stem from the recent decrease in the exportation of fish to other countries.

Chairman of the Number 66 Fisheries Co-op, Pameshwar Jainarine told reporters that over the past two weeks there has been a drop in the price for the two main fish (snapper and trout) with snapper dwindling from $400 per lb to $300, while trout went down to $140 per lb from $180.

Jainarine also stated that the “fish glue” price tumbled down from $21,000 to $13,000 per lb with the price likely to drop even lower in the coming weeks. He stressed that such a development is a major concern for the fishing

industry.

Jainarine disclosed that the industry moved from three major exporters of fish to just one within a period of three years.

“The fish is too much, the fish is more being caught than being sold.

For example when the exporter export 20 containers per month, 60 containers fish going by he, so he get a constant backing up, and he reach a stage now that he cannot sell the amount of fish he receiving,” Jainarine said.

According to Jainarine who is also a fisherman, although there are small buyers of the fish from Georgetown, they are not purchasing the snapper and trout, they purchase other types of fish (Banga-mary), “the fish that we dont target”.

He mentioned that the “fish-glue” which is normally

exported to China in large quantities, is now struggling along the export line.

“We were told that there is a problem with the China market because actually all the glue go to China, so we are not making money.

We bringing in the amount of fish, the expense remain, but the money you making, the take home reduce by half.”

Jainarine is contending that because of the sloth in exportation, fishermen are left with crumbs to pocket after they have returned from sea and paid their debts that are normally owed to the co-op.

He is calling for immediate interventions to have more exporters on board before the fishing industry dwindles away.

“We cannot survive on this, we are studying what next to do because we cannot

cut down our cost anymore,” Jainarine stressed.

He added that with the sugar industry being

dissolved and the current problems with the rice industry, more persons have gravitated to fishing.

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Saturday August 24, 2019

GECOM Commissioners to make individual submissions on way forward Another meeting of the Guyana Elections Commission, GECOM has ended with no consensus on the way forward as it relates to the General and Regional Elections.

Government-appointed GECOM Commissioner, Vincent Alexander explained yesterday that the commission is still involved in dialogue over the manner in which to proceed with the elections.

“We are discussing the way forward. We are discussing the usability of House-toHouse registration and we need to ensure that whatever is done is done in a timely matter,” Alexander told media operatives outside GECOM’s Headquarters in Kingston.

Alexander noted, however, that he could not say when the Commission will take a definitive decision on the elections. The Commissioner said that at this point, the GECOM is cautious not to divulge, publicly, too much information on the matters under deliberation.

According to Alexander, given the current political environment, GECOM is sensitive “not to use an approach that would allow politicians to

be rancoured by what we have to say and therefore influence what will happen internally.”

At present, the Commissioner noted too that deliberations on the ruling of Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, as it relates to the House–toHouse registration, is still under consideration of GECOM. He said that as such, by next Tuesday, all Commissioners will have an opportunity to submit proposals on the way forward and how GECOM should respond to the Chief Justice ruling, which includes the issue of Houseto-House Registration.

“All commissioners reserve the right to make their proposals, that is not saying that they will do so…”

As regards the presentations put forward by Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield on possible election scenarios, the Government-appointed Commissioner said that the Commission is yet to examine the matter.

At the last meeting, Lowenfield was expected to provide clarification on his proposals.

Meanwhile, Oppositionnominated Commissioner, Sase Gunraj, who briefly commented on GECOM‘s deliberation, called the debates “an intentional method of delaying the holding of General Elections”.

The Opposition People’s Progressive Party had long held that elections should have been conducted three months after the passage of the December 21, 2018 no confidence motion in keeping with the provisions outlined by the Constitution.

Following yesterday’s meeting; the PPP issued a statement to further emphasise the party’s views on GECOM’s handling of election matters.

The Opposition Party stressed that “another week has passed, but still there is no clarity from GECOM, in respect of a likely date for early elections”.

The Party opined that “while GECOM procrastinates, the nation is becoming more frustrated and more impatient”. The PPP stressed too that the method of House-to-House registration for the creation a new elections data base is deeply

flawed, not only by the sheer speed by which it is being accumulated, but also it is not scrutinized by all the political parties.

According to the Party, the wrong registration form is being used and the exercise is being boycotted by tens of thousands of Guyanese.

“Despite the clear pronouncements from the Chief Justice that elections were constitutionally due since 21st March 2019, and that the house-to-house registration can neither result in the creation of a new National Register of Registrants (NRR) database, nor can it be used to remove the names of persons already registered, the Government-nominated Commissioners continue to irrationally argue at Commission meetings that the data generated by this exercise must be used.”

In fact, the PPP said, the Government Commissioners are arguing for this data to be used to create a second database. “This is clearly illegal.

Duplicate registration is a criminal offence under the National Registration Act. Yet, GECOM is insisting that the house-to-house registra-

The meetings are continuing at GECOM‘s Kingston head office next Tuesday tion exercise continue, which results largely in duplicate registration.”

As such the Party reiterated a call to every Guyanese to boycott the exercise.

“We caution Enumerators to stop threatening Guyanese who are refusing to participate.

We advise the Enumerators that to register a person who is already registered is to aid and abet the commission of a criminal offence, for which they are equally liable as the perpetrators, and that we will report this matter to the Police with a request to institute criminal charges.

We remind GECOM that its actions and inactions continue to violate the Constitution, the Caribbean Court of

Justice (CCJ) Consequential Orders and the recent decision of the Chief Justice. We emphasize that GECOM is violating its constitutional duty to the people of this country and is continuing to squander hundreds of millions of taxpayers’ dollars in an unwarranted house-tohouse exercise.”

The PPP stressed that it will not support any decision or actions of GECOM that will continue to violate our Constitution, disrespect the rulings from our Judiciary and perpetuate an illegal Government in office.

“We again call on GECOM to proceed to hold a cycle of Claims and Objections and to ready the machinery for elections.”

Saturday August 24, 2019

The coming election is not about the future. It is about going backwards to the past: the past when multinational corporations such as Bookers, Reynolds and Alcan took control over Guyana’s natural resources, sugar and bauxite, and creamed off the wealth of the country.

Guyanese can today substitute the names of Bookers, Reynolds and Alcan for Exxon, Hess and Tullow.

All three are oil exploration companies and all three have signed contracts with the government.

These agreements represent the worst ever signed in the history of oil negotiations anywhere.

It is to the utter discredit of the APNU+AFC Government that these deals could have been signed under their tenure, especially when one considers that the Coalition was highly critical of the Marriott Hotel deal signed by the PPPC. The PNCR and the AFC were highly critical of the Marriott Hotel deal. They even picketed the hotel. They protested strongly against the financial structure of the hotel. Yet, the APNU+AFC

Government, in office for more than four years, is yet to disband, sell-off or restructure the financing of the hotel. In fact, it has been showcasing it by the hosting of numerous events. The PPPC has indeed had the last laugh.

The oil deals of 2016, entered into by the APNU+AFC Government, are however no laughing matter.

This newspaper has reported that the deal with Tullow for the Orinduik Block was far worse than that which was signed between the government and ExxonMobil.

The government has not denied a report, which stated that the company is required to pay 1% royalty, which amazingly is subject to cost recovery.

The 2% royalty negotiated with Exxon was bad enough. So what words will be used to describe the 1% royalty subject to cost recovery. This is no laughing matter because Guyanese expect to be able to benefit when oil production begins.

Exxon expects to do so next year with an estimated production of 120,000 barrels per day. At US$55 per barrel and 300 working days per

year, the 2% royalty should yield about US$40M per year.

You think that is money?

That is chicken feed. A bankrupted GuySuCo earned more than that in foreign exchange in 2017.

Now if the US$40M is divided by the 750,000 persons in the country it gives US$53 per person or about $12,000 per year per person which amounts to about a G$1,000 per month. That cannot buy four loaves of bread per month. With Tullow, Guyanese will each get about $500 per month from the royalty, on the assumption that the production on startup is the same as Exxon. If it is lower, Guyanese may have to settle for an egg-ball per month.

I would therefore advise Guyanese to put in their advance orders for three loaves of bread and a bun each month from Bakewell or Quality, or whichever bakery they buy bread from, because that is all you are going to be able to purchase because of these rotten deals which were signed by the APNU+AFC Government.

People will ask, “Well what about the 50/50

Dem boys seh ...

Too much smartness nah good ‘When people think dem smart, bad things does happen to dem. Children does play sick when dem don’t want go to school but as soon as dem hear ‘bout some outing, dem does feel good.

Dem boys seh de odda day, a man claim how he sick; he seh he had malaria. He hire a taxi fuh drop him to hospital in Georgetown.

De taxi driver charge him $2,500. De man agree to pay.

When de taxi meet de Georgetown Hospital, de sick man come out, pick a quarrel and refuse to pay. De same malaria man run away.

But moon does run till day ketch it. De police ketch up wid de malaria man and he end up in court. De man jaw drop when he hear de court fine him $25,000. He coulda pay de fare and be happy.

Anodda one see a Cuban and he decide to rob de man. People always seh not all what does glitter is gold. De Cuban holler and de man get ketch. Now he got to spend Christmas in jail.

But de thing dat mek dem boys shake dem

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head was de thief who fuh some reason, get ketch wid a pensioner’s false teeth.

He go in de lady house and he just pick up wha he coulda put he hand on.

He tek de lady false teeth and dat is how he get ketch.

He go to sell de teeth fuh de piece of gold it got inside but nobody was buying.

It just like de GECOM Meeting wheh de commissioners can’t agree pon nutten. Dem meet Tuesday and de only agreement dem reach was to agree to meet again on Friday.

When dem meet Friday, dem couldn’t agree again. One side seh de Commission should tek de results from de House to House registration and put it in a box. Dem really don’t want to do away wid de old voters’ list.

De odda side don’t agree and seh de people who register should merge wid de old list.

Dem agree to meet again next week.

Talk half and know dat too much smartness nah good.

production sharing?” Well what about it?

With cost recovery capped at 75%, carry over costs to the next month and the lack of ring-fencing, nothing much is going to be left. Whatever is left from the profit oil from one well is going to be absorbed by cost recovery for unproductive wells. And let us not forget that Guyana already owes a huge bill for the exploration works which were taking place prior to the discovery of oil.

The debate, therefore, about what Guyana is going to do with its oil riches should be laid to rest. There is not going to be much to distribute. This is why the government is not being drawn into that proposal by the WPA for cash grants to families. Where is the money

going to come from to finance cash grants?

The money has gone!

And it has not gone to Cove and John. It has gone back legally into the coffers of the multinationals in the oil industry operating in Guyana.

When Guyana nationalised the bauxite industries, it ended up paying compensation to the multinationals, which for years we were told had been exploiting the Guyanese people. The compensation posed such a burden on the economy that it created a debt crisis and enormous hardships fifteen years after nationalisation.

The multinationals in the sugar and bauxite industry had their cake and ate it too.

Guyana has no cake to get from the oil industry. Guyana will get bread and egg ball.

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

L Kaieteur News

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Saturday August 24, 2019

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

What becomes of police ranks guilty of abuse?

Do you know in any country in the world how powerful an ordinary detective or constable in the police force is? If you are heading to the visa interview and you are stopped, do you know the headache that policeman can create for you? If you miss the appointment, there is no guarantee that you will get another one soon. The con-

suls’ book may be filled for that month.

But you can drive away in order not to miss the embassy time, but what happens if you are arrested before you reach the embassy? You will be placed in the lock-up. It is for that reason a police rank that abuses citizens’ rights must be harshly dealt with. I read where Justice Gino Persaud

awarded three Mahaicony residents 8 million dollars over mistreatment by two police ranks.The story is out of a movie. To recap this tale will engender anger in me. I simply read what was published from the court proceedings.

A woman hauled in by these detectives for stealing, told them she gave the money to another lady. Let us call the

victim, ‘Lady Lady’ (LL). She denied that the woman gave her any stolen money. What followed was so bizarre that though I respect Justice Persaud, I thought the award was too small for the trauma these two detectives put the family through.

LL, her husband and her mother-in-law were arrested.

They spent weeks facing interrogation from the two detectives and spent several days, on different occasions within a six-week period, in the lock-ups of different police stations on the East Coast and had their assets impounded.

LL’s husband went to the station on the request of the two detectives, his car was impounded. He had to answer questions as to how he had so many goats and where he got money to buy furniture.

His lawyers described for the court the systematic abuse of the three persons. They were never charged.

All of this happened because a lady said she gave LL some money, which she is accused of stealing from her employer. What if the lady was lying? What if it was a case of malice?

The police, of course, have to do their investigation, but it becomes a nightmare when John tells the police, he gave Mary some jewellery, which he stole from his employer, and because of the accusation Mary’s car is seized and left to rot at the

station. There has to be evidential connection between the car and the jewellery. If the police have no such proof, how can they impound Mary’s car.

What I have described here is just a few notes from the court proceedings. There is much more that will sicken you when you read of the abuse these three persons endured. When I read about this story, two things flew into my mind. It is possible that pressure was being applied so the three persons could do what was expected of them, and since they didn’t do that, they were put through the mill. I hope you read through the lines of what I am referring to here. Secondly, it is possible that these two detectives have done things of this nature several times in their careers?

I am curious to know what became of these two detectives. Were they disciplined?

Are they still on the force?

In Guyana, there is a gargantuan scope for police abuse in the village system.

Seasoned police officers in the villages know the population well. What happened then is a patron-client relation develops. The officers know the rich guys in the village, so they pass money to escape investigation for their crimes.

The officers know the thieves in the village so they share in the booty. The officers know the young ladies, some of whom they sleep with. Some

Frederick Kissoon of these women can get their police boyfriends to harass persons in the village whom they have grievances with.

One of the methods the police should employ to stop these types of criminalities among its ranks is to have quick rotation among the staff. This is not only banal management principles, it is also commonsense. It did not happen under Clement Rohee, who I consider a congenital fool. It is not happening under Ramjattan who I consider a failed politician.

If you go to any police station from Sparendaam right up to Skeldon, all those ranks in the village stations have been there for years.

Such a policy is a recipe for disaster. Villagers will never get justice and villagers will always be at the mercy of corrupt officers. But then again, Guyana will always at the mercy of idiotic rulers.

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

Saturday August 24, 2019

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Saturday August 24, 2019

Berbice businesses push to move Springlands backtrack to Moleson Creek - boat service proprietors, passengers agree

A team of businessmen from the Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce, led by their President Mohindra Persaud yesterday morning visited two locations in Springlands to assess what has been taking place since the Canawaima Ferry Service has been halted.

The visit, Persaud said, was aimed at arriving at a solution for a better service after they received several complaints from travelers over the past two weeks.

“Now that the ferry service is down for the time being, we thought it best with all the complaints of people having to stamp at the immigration office then take a car and come to these exits… its a little time consuming”, the Chamber President said.

According to Persaud, who is also the CEO of Nand Persaud and Company, if there was a ferry service at the Moleson Creek Ferry Stelling with all the necessary services and systems in one place,

Representatives of the Chamber of Commerce inconversation with the proprietor of “Golden Gloves Boating Service”.

Passengers coming in from the Golden Gloves route. then there is no need to have all the services at different locations.

“My thing is that if we have a ferry service in the Moleson area which has all the networking, then you can take these boats from these points of entry and exit and move it to the Moleson area

whether the Canawaima ferry is working or not”, he opined.

Persaud said with such an intervention it will ultimately be more cost effective and manageable “because you can use the resources that are already there at Moleson Stelling rather than having it stagnant there”.

The Moleson Creek Ferry Stelling route is currently out of operation since the Canawaima Ferry developed mechanical issues and shut down a few months ago. That service was the major link for Guyanese leaving for Suriname and Surinamese coming over to Guyana. It allowed for trade between the two countries to flourish while at the same time assisted in tourism.

The businessman and Commerce President underscored that there are currently three active routes, with one being used for trade (heavy cargo) at Line Path.

The Golden Gloves Boating Service and Reno’s Boating Service are the other two.

The proprietors stated

that they have seen an increase in travellers and business at their respective locations and while they have welcomed that development, they are also in support of having operations being done again at Moleson Creek, by having some of their boats working from that route as well.

Persaud reasoned, “think about it, we have practically four exits which includes the Linepath exit which facilitates heavy cargo. Having all the operations in one area then there is 100% control of all the people coming and going, the services and the goods.”

He added that the boat operators have agreed and stated that it would be a good move, since the two wharves

would be at a shorter distance and also safer.

There were complaints that boats were overloaded with passengers, a development that is a cause for concern, Persaud noted.

The Chamber at the conclusion of the visit, told reporters that based on their assessment of what was taking place, the recommendations were made, and as such, they will be moving to have the government involved to listen to their suggestions and if possible, implement.

“Today’s visit we have accomplished a lot, because I want to take our recommendations to the government. We want to be (Continued on page 29)

Saturday August 24, 2019

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France, Britain aim to show unity on Iran as G7 looms BIARRITZ, France (Reuters) - France and Britain aimed on Friday to present a united front on how to deal with Iran, where they have been at odds with the United States, as world powers prepare to discuss tensions on the issue during the G7 leaders summit.

European states have been scrambling to save a 2015 nuclear deal between world powers and Iran since U.S. President Donald Trump pulled out of the accord last year and re-imposed sanctions on Tehran that have crippled its economy.

Trump is due to meet British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the sidelines of the G7 in southwest France, as Britains exit from the European Union nears and Londons European allies watch to see how the Trump-Johnson dynamic plays out.

They are also looking to see if there is any change of course from Britain, notably on Iran. “ We a r e s t r o n g s u p porters of the JCPOA (Iran deal),” said a British diplomatic source in Biarritz.

“We think that it is very

important that Iran doesnt get the nuclear weapons ...

It is important that it continues and I dont think you will find any change in the British government position.”

The source said it was critical that Iran complies fully with the accord, but that while Johnson would listen to the U.S. position there would not be a radical change in approach.

“If the U.S. president has other ideas on how we can achieve that (Iran not getting nuclear weap-

ons), we are very happy to talk about it,” the source said.

European powers party to the deal - France, B r i t a i n a n d G e r m a n y, known as the E3 - have remained united despite pressure from Washington, with Paris leading efforts to defuse tensions as Iran gradually reduces some of its commitments to the accord.

“Great Britain is sticking to its classic European choices ... be it in climate, biodiversity, Iran or defense,” said a French

official in Biarritz. “Its important to keep the E3 together on Iran.”

French President Emmanuel Macron met Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Friday in a closed-door session with the aim of discussing proposals that could ease the crisis, including the idea of reducing some U.S. sanctions or providing Iran with an economic compensation mechanism.

Zarif said the talks had been productive.

“France presented some

suggestions and we presented some suggestions about how to carry out (the nuclear deal) and the steps that both sides need to take,” Zarif was quoted as saying by ILNA news agency.

“Of course it depends on how the European Union can carry out the commitments within (the nuclear deal) and also the commitments that they made after (the nuclear deal) and America s exit,” Zarif said.

Macron is due to discuss his proposals with Trump at the weekend.

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Saturday August 24, 2019

No evidence Venezuelan gold being dumped in Guyana There is no evidence at this time that blood gold from Venezuela is making its way to Guyana.

While for the first half, declarations are up, there are just no such indications, says Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman.

The Minister was being questioned Thursday at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre during a review of the

Ministrys performance for the first half.

In the past days, a report by CNN suggested significant gold being siphoned off and sold overseas.

With trade still ongoing between the two countries and significant number of Venezuelan migrants fleeing to Guyana, there have been questions.

According to the Ministry of Finances halfyear report on the countrys performance, the gold mining subsector is estimated to have expanded by 4.4 percent at the end of the first half of 2019, to reach 300,674 ounces.

“Further growth was curtailed by a shortfall in production by one of the large mining companies whose access to higher grade ore

has been restricted as a result of a wall pit failure in 2018.

Production by the other large company, in the first half of 2019, exceeded the previous years production by 10.1 percent, but fell short of the budgeted amount.”

The report would have been referring to the Canadian-owned AGM Inc., which operates a large-scale camp in Cuyuni, Region 7.

Government is anticipating that activities in the second half of the year, which include underground exploration, could reverse the shortfall.

“The industrys half-year performance also benefitted from a 15.8 percent increase in declarations from small and medium scale miners, who accounted for more than 60 percent of declarations in the

reporting period.”

According to the report, miners responded positively to improved road and weather conditions earlier in the year, while the surge in declarations in the second quarter was largely in response to more favourable international prices.

“This momentum in production is expected to continue into the second half of the year and push annual growth in the subsector to 3.2 percent, greater than the 2.5 percent projected at the time of Budget 2019.”

As of yesterday, world gold prices were just under US$1,530 per ounce.

Venezuela’s porous border with Brazil and Colombia has become the main avenue through which the gold leaves the country.

According to CNN, Venezuela’s gold trail leads all the way up from the jungle to Venezuela’s Central Bank.

“Surrounded by government buildings, it is here where the country’s golden fortune has been amassed. According to a source inside the bank, around 70 tonnes of the valuable mineral remain inside its coffers, the lowest amount in decades,” the report said.

“Forced to provide some relief for a population starving under a crumbling economy, crippled further by US sanctions, which have made trade increasingly difficult, (President Nicolas) Maduro saw in gold the commodity that oil could no longer be increasingly prized, historically stable in value and considerably easier to ship around the world. Gold would allow the regime to suppress some of the country’s needs while allegedly enriching Maduro and winning the military’s favour.”

Saturday August 24, 2019

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Registrar corrects list of non-compliant unions

The Commercial Registry, Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown.

The Registrar of the C o m m e r c i a l R e g i s t r y, Nicole Prince, has made adjustments to a list of workers’ unions which have over the decades failed to file their annual returns over varying periods In an “Erratum” published August 10th in the Official Gazette, the Registrar listed and adjusted seven unions the Guyana Labour Union; Guyana Postal and Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Workers’ Union; National Association of

Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees; the Guyana Public Service Union; Clerical and C o m m e r c i a l Wo r k e r s ’ Union; Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union and the Union of Agriculture and Allied Workers’ Union – as having outstanding annual returns and failing at varying times to pay fees.

In accordance with regulations, unions and associations, regardless of their situations, have to file annual returns with the Registrar.

In recent years, the Registry has been pouring through its records to determine whether the unions and associations were complying.

Many of the largest unions were guilty of missing a few years, a number of them for decades.

With millions of dollars being handled by the unions, the issue of noncompliance has raised questions.

Earlier this month, the c o u n t r y ’s l a rg e s t s u g a r union, the Guyana

Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU), denied it has not been filing its annual returns with the Registrar.

G AW U ’s General Secretary, Seepaul Narine, has written the Registrar of Trade Unions, denying the union has not been submitting annual returns.

GAWU and several other unions were among 260 organisations named by the Registrar.

In fact, scores of the unions and associations had failed to do so for decades.

GAWU, in the original list, was said to owe for

1962-1965, 1967-1969, 1973, 1974, 1976-2010 and 20122018.

In its letter to the Registrar denying it failed to file, GAWU had noted that trade unions are exempted from the payment of tax, but required to file annual returns in accordance with Section 35 of the Trade Unions Act; Chapter 98:03, Laws of Guyana.

GAWU said th a t i t s returns up to 2017 were filed.

Among the unions and organisations also on the list were the Guyana Labour Union; the Forest

Products Association of Guyana; the Guyana Nurses Association and the Guyana Minibus Association.

The others named in the list are the National Mine Workers Union of Guyana, the Federal Management Staff Association, the United Minibus Union, the Guyana Private Trawlers Association, the Guyana Customs House Brokers Association, the National Wo r k e r s U n i o n , t h e General Workers Union and t h e G u y a n a Te a c h e r s ’ Union.

Kaieteur News

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Saturday August 24, 2019

Chief Justice dismisses Shuman's challenge to validity of house-to-house registration order - orders him to pay $400,000 in court costs

C

hief Justice Roxane George yesterday dismissed an application filed by Lenox Shuman, Leader of the Justice and Liberty Party, challenging the validity of a June 11 order signed by then chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Justice James Patterson, for the commencement of house-tohouse registration which was published in the Official Gazette.

Deeming Shuman's

application an abuse of process and without basis, Justice George ordered him to pay $400,000 in court costs, $200,000 each to GECOM and the Attorney General, who were listed as Respondents in the court documents. Shuman, through his lawyer, Sanjeev Datadin had contended that the order was void because the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) invalidated Patterson's unilateral appointment on June 18.

According to the Chief Justice, Patterson's

appointment was made by the President, and at the time the order was made, he (Patterson) was acting within the powers vested in him under Article 161 (2) of the Constitution of Guyana, until it was declared unconstitutional by the regional court. That being said, she held that Patterson had the authority to issue such an order.

In fact, Justice George held that the de facto doctrine applies in this case.

The de facto doctrine is used to characterise an officer, a government, a past action, or state of affairs that must be accepted for all practicable purposes, but is illegal or illegitimate.

Datadin, however, had argued to the contrary. The lawyer had contended that since Patterson's appointment was deemed void by the regional court, everything done under his hand can also be rendered void. Datadin had also

Lenox Shuman argued that the setting of a date for the commencement of house-to-house registration was among other things, unlawful and made in bad faith.

This contention was dismissed by Justice George, who said that Patterson was acting within remit of his constitutional powers.

Furthermore, Shuman's lawyer had argued that the decision by GECOM to conduct house-to-house registration, a process that will run beyond the September 18 timeframe for

Chief Justice Roxane George elections, is totalling unreasonable.

The Chief Justice did not agree. She relied on the judgment of the CCJ in the consolidated NoConfidence Motion appeals, in which the court held that it does not have the authority to fix a date for elections, but rather that it was the role of the political actors, and implicitly, GECOM. Against this backdrop, she refuted the elections timeframe put forward by Datadin.

Referencing a ruling she made in the recent house-to-

house registration challenge by lawyer Christopher Ram, Justice George pointed out that it was not the role of her court to set a date for elections, but rather for the political actors to return to Parliament and activate the extension proviso of Article 106 (7) since the March 21 timeframe for polls has already elapsed.

Shuman had also asked the court to award him costs and any other order, which the court deemed fit, but instead he was ordered to pay.

Kaieteur News

Saturday August 24, 2019

Orinduik Partners gear up to drill next big target

A

fter making its first successful discovery on the Orinduik Block at the Jethro-1 well, Tullow Oil is preparing to hit its next big target called 'Joe' in just a matter of days.

The Joe prospect is considered an Upper Tertiary target in water depths of approximately 650 metres.

Providing this update on the partners' operations was Gil Holzman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Eco Atlantic.

Holzman noted that Eco was able to end its first financial quarter (which ended June 30, 2019) with a very strong balance sheet.

The Eco President said, “It has enabled us to comfortably and successfully drill our first well and announce our first discovery offshore Guyana.

This was the first well of our 2019 drilling program and begins a period of significant exploration activity.”

Holzman added , “The drillship is on its way to our next target in Guyana, Joe-1, where we will, together with our partners Total and Tullow Oil (operator), commence the spudding of our second well in the coming days and expect to have results in second half of September.”

The Eco CEO also said that the year-to-date has been a transformational period for the company. And with a significant oil discovery, a very strong balance sheet and a portfolio rich with prospects and opportunities in both Guyana and Namibia, Eco, he said, looks forward to an exciting future.

ORINDUIK JV PARTNERS In January 2016, Eco signed a Petroleum Agreement and is party to a Petroleum Licence with the Government of Guyana and Tullow Oil for the Orinduik Block offshore Guyana.

Tu l l o w O i l a s t h e Operator of the Block, paid past costs and carried Eco for the first 1000km2 of the

Eco Atlantic CEO, Gil Holzman 2 5 5 0 k m 2 3 D S u r v e y.

Further, Tullow contributed an extensive 2D seismic data set and interpretation.

The Company's 2550 km2 3D seismic survey was completed in September 2017, well within the initial four-year work commitment the Company made for the initial 1000km2.

In September 2017, Eco announced that its subsidiary, Eco Atlantic (Guyana) Inc. entered into an option agreement on its Orinduik Block with Total, a wholly owned subsidiary of Total S.A. Pursuant to the option.

Total paid an option fee of US$1 million to farm-in to the Orinduik Block. An additional payment of US$12,500,000 was made when Total exercised its option to earn 25 percent of Eco's working interest in September 2018.

Following the exercise of the option by Total, the Block's working interests became: Tullow – 60% (Operator), Total – 25% and Eco – 15%. In October, last, the Government approved of the Total farm-in on the Orinduik Block, which has the potential for almost three billion barrels of oil equivalent.

Just a few days ago, however, Total sold 10 percent of its interest in the Orinduik Block to Qatar Petroleum. The government is still to grant approval for this farm-in by Qatar.

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Kaieteur News

Saturday August 24, 2019

Oil companies should avail themselves to regular scrutiny from local media - Jagdeo

O

il companies have a responsibility to answer to the Guyanese people, the sovereigns of the oil they intend to exploit. So they must make themselves available to local media for scrutiny.

That is the opinion of Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo.

During a press conference last Thursday, he noted that ExxonMobil's Senior Vice President in charge of exploration and new ventures, Michael Cousins, at a recent Town Hall meeting on Guyana's Oil and Gas Development in Canada, told the Diaspora that 1,357 Guyanese have already benefitted from jobs.

About this, Jagdeo said “When they do these specific numbers, you know that we're going to probably find, again that the person who sells them bananas at the market is included in this.”

What the Opposition Leader was referring to was an occasion last year, when ExxonMobil, after being challenged to support figures it had provided on its local content contribution, submitted a padded list which included Bourda Market, Haags Bosch Dumpsite, and Shanta's Roti Shop among the companies it has contributed to.

Calls have picked up, recently, for a local content policy – and even legislation – to set targets for oil companies, ensuring that Guyanese are given the opportunity to benefit directly from oil-related operations.

Exxon makes regular claims about its contributions to Guyana and its people, but it

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo is difficult to verify the truth and extent of its claims. Because of this, Jagdeo is adamant that oil companies should allow local media to scrutinise them on a regular basis.

“If you can go to Canada and send your people to speak in Canada… Why can't they come to hold a press conference? Face our local media. It's our oil. It's our country.”

Jagdeo added that ExxonMobil is doing much to “hide” from the media here.

“You can't hold a press conference here and take questions about this, and prove to them that Guyanese are getting all these jobs?

I don't know when last they held a press conference here, if they ever did, to answer all these questions. But they go to Canada to tell a forum there, how many people they're employing. This is disrespect for us. Total disrespect for Guyana!”

Thief caught on CCTV to spend Christmas in jail

Y

esterday during c o u r t proceedings, it was related that after a woman left her home to go to church, a labourer broke into her home and stole a quantity of cash and other items.

That labourer, 42-yearold Jamal David, a resident of Charlestown, G e o rg e t o w n , a p p e a r e d before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts, where the related charge was read to him.

David pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on August 18, last, at Lot 303 Church Street, Georgetown, he broke and entered the dwelling house of Vornel

Franklin and stole $235,000 cash and $147,000 in articles. According to information, on the day in question, Franklin secured her home around 15:00hrs and she then left for church.

When she returned home at 17:00 hrs she noticed her front door was open.

Upon making further checks she discovered that her gym bag, wrist watch, sunglasses, five bottles of perfume, three pairs of fashion earrings and two gold earrings were missing.

The court heard that David had broken into the house, and was leaving, when public-spirited persons saw him in the yard with the items and they apprehended

him. He was subsequently handed over to the police.

The court heard that David was seen on the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras of Franklin's neighbour entering the house and then leaving a few minutes after with the gym bag in his hand.

While in custody, the allegation was put to David and he admitted. He was later charged for the offence.

Police prosecutor Sanj Singh informed the court that the defendant is no stranger to the police and he was charged on many occasions for similar offences, Senior Magistrate Daly then sentenced David to eight months behind bars.

Guyana must study economic...

From page 3 successfully drilled and encountered high quality, oil bearing sandstone reservoir.

Hess said that a successful drill stem test was also performed on Hammerhead-3. The appraisal results will be evaluated for potential future development, the company asserted.

Additionally, it was noted that the Stena Carron drillship is currently drilling a second well at the Ranger discovery, while the Noble Bob Douglas and the Noble Tom Madden

drillships are conducting drilling operations for the Liza Phase One development.

This newspaper understands that the Noble Tom Madden is next expected to drill the Tripletail exploration well, which is in the greater Turbot area, beginning this month.

Hess has also said that the operator, being ExxonMobil's subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), plans to add another drillship, the Noble Don Taylor, in the fourth quarter, bringing the number of drillships offshore Guyana to four.

Saturday August 24, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Saturday August 24, 2019

Former Business Minister heads Small Business Council

D

ominic Gaskin, former Minister of Business, is the new Chair of the Small Business Council.

In an August 24, 2019 edition of The Official

Gazette, Government announced the new board, effective from July 1, 2019 to serve for a period of one year. His appointment is in accordance with a stipulation of the Small

Business Act, that the Chairperson be appointed by the Minister of Business, who is now Haimraj Rajkumar.

Gaskin, after resigning his ministerial post earlier

this year, was appointed Director of Manufacturing and Marketing within the Ministry of Business with responsibility for the enforcement of standards, providing assistance to small

producers and access to markets, particularly Eastern Caribbean markets.

Chief Executive Officer of the Small Business Bureau, Dr. Lowell Porter, is serving on the Commission by virtue of his post, as the law mandates the Head of the Bureau to sit on the council. Entrepreneurs Evie Kanhai-Gurcharan and Dason Anthony were appointed to serve as members, as well.

The other members of the Council will be drawn, one from each of the following institutions: Ministry of Business, Ministry of Finance, Linden Chamber of Commerce, West Berbice Chamber of Commerce, Essequibo Chamber of Commerce, Institute of Private Enterprise Development,

Chairman of the Small Business Council, Dominic Gaskin Guyana Bankers' Association, and the Region 3 Chamber of Commerce.

A representative of a Youth Organisation is also expected to serve as an Observer.

Saturday August 24, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Saturday August 24, 2019

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Saturday August 24, 2019

PAGE 23

Local Content Policy must detail where training funds from oil companies will go - GCCI President

T

he local content policy must detail where training funds from oil companies will go, according to Chairman of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and I n d u s tr y ( G C C I ) , N ich o las Deygoo-Boyer.

He said this during a roundtable discussion of the third draft Local Content Policy, on Wednesday.

In the various contracts, the Operator Oil Companies are expect to give a set amount of money to Government every year, for the training of Guyanese to participate in the oil sector.

It is the view of Attorney-atLaw, Charles Ramson Jr., that Government should invest the funds into the training of local auditors, lawyers and geologists as a priority.

During last Wednesday's forum, Ramson said that the local content policy is an important element to ensure that Guyanese benefit directly from resource exploitation.

Ramson, who has a Master's Degree in Oil and Gas Management, had said that an investment in local geologists to have them specialised in Petroleum Operations would give Government the opportunity to assess for itself, the quality of the oil.

Lawyers who are trained in oil and gas, Ramson said, serve to accurately translate Government's wishes during negotiations with oil companies, to produce robust contracts. Further, the attorney said that such lawyers would be able to identify bottlenecks and loopholes

GCCI President, Nicholas Deygoo-Boyer in Guyana's current Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act, which inhibit the country's ability to get the best value for the resource.

As for auditors, they are extremely important to ensure

Guyana's interests are well served, as there are grave concerns about value leakage in the oil sector.

There are concerns that are important to note, about the amount of money being given to Guyana by oil companies. They have been described as pittances.

As for ExxonMobil's subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), and its two partners on the Stabroek Block, Hess and CNOOC/NEXEN, the government comfortably accepts US$300,000.

But in the case of Liberia, Exxon is required to hand over US$750,000 plus a US$500,000 IT support fee.

In the case of Tullow and its partners on the Orinduik Block, US$25,000 is required as payment per year.

Tullow Oil is not the only

company from which Guyana accepts a pittance when it comes to funds required for the training of locals.

With respect to Repsol which is operating Guyana's Kanuku Block, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) collects US$30,000. In the case of Anadarko which holds the license for the Roraima Block offshore Guyana, the government settled for US$40,000.

In the case of other operators, Guyana collects US$55,000 from Mid-Atlantic Oil and Gas which holds the licence for the Canje block while Ratio Energy and Ratio Guyana provide US$60,000 for the training of locals. CGX which holds the licenses for the Demerara and Corentyne blocks gives US$$100,000 per block annually.

Trans Guyana partners with KLM for new air route to Europe

W

ith the aim of providing t h e i r customers with smoother and more reliable flights to Europe, local airline Trans Guyana Airways in a collaborative effort with KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines), announced that effective from September 1, a new air route to Amsterdam, Holland -- and other parts of Europe, via our eastern neighbour Suriname.

Passengers would still have to book separate flights, but the Trans Guyana Beech 1900D aircraft will be flying from the Eugene F. Correia International Airport to Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport in Suriname. After this they would connect with KLM's flight to Amsterdam International Airport Schiphol – an airport which is rated as the world's 11th busiest airport.

These flights will be done twice weekly - on Sundays and Mondays, at convenient times, with the flight departing from Eugene F. Correia International Airport at 14:00hrs and departing Amsterdam at 11:30hrs.

According to Trans

Guyana's Commercial M a n a g e r, A l e x a n d r a Correia, this new venture would open and broaden Guyana's access to other parts of the globe such as Europe, Asia, China and India.

She went on to say that those passengers who utilise the service would not be required to travel to Suriname with a visa, and after the passengers arrive at that location, they would be hosted in the transit area.

This, according to Correia, would save them time, since they would not have to clear themselves in immigration and customs.

Correia added that this new route will be the fastest connection from Guyana to Amsterdam, with just 12 hours of travelling time.

“We anticipate that the major beneficiaries of this new route will be business people travelling between Europe and Asia, specially India and China, and Guyana. We expect that companies in the oil and gas, construction, mining and other sectors that have significant business interests in Guyana, but are based in Europe and Asia will be just as excited as we are for this

new connection,” the commercial manager expressed.

She also highlighted that the new arrangements will benefit the tourism sector.

“We know this route will open a new and cost-

effective channel into Guyana so that we can share our beautiful country with the world,” Correia stated.

In order to book a ticket on this route, passengers will have to buy their tickets for TGA and KLM separately or

through a travel agent.

Trans Guyana recently launched its online booking portal, so flights can be booked on its website (transguyana.net); KLM tickets can be booked on the airline's website

www.klm.sr.

Manager of KLM Martijn Ten Broecke assured media operatives that the airline's staff will be on the ground to ensure that the passengers enjoy their air travels hassle-free.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 24

Saturday August 24, 2019

Irfaan Ali to face fraud charges Monday, as appellate judge refuses to stay proceedings

F

ormer Housing Minister Irfaan Ali heads to court on Monday to face 19 fraud charges for allegedly selling several acres of state lands way below the market price to several high ranking public officials. Appeal Court Judge Dawn Gregory

yesterday refused to grant a stay of the proceedings before the Magistrates' Courts.

While the Court of Appeal is yet to hear and determine Ali's challenge against High Court Judge Franklin Holder's refusal to grant a stay,

Ali is scheduled to appear at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court on Monday before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Last November, Ali was hauled before the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts where the fraud charges were read to him;

they were indictable and he was not required to enter a plead He was granted self bail.

The charges against Ali stated that between the period 2011 and 2015, he conspired with persons unknown to defraud the Government, when he acted recklessly by selling 19 plots of State Lands at Plantation Sparendaam and Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara. The lands which were sold for $39.8M, are valued at $212.4M, according to SOCU. Ali is accused of 'greatly underselling' the 19 plots of State Lands to former President Bharrat Jagdeo, former Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon; Luncheon's wife, Floreen Ramnaught; and former ministers Priya Manickchand, Dr. Jennifer Westford, Robert Persaud and Clement Rohee, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack; former army chief-of-staff Gary Best, and Fortune Developers Inc. Guyana.

Ali is also accused of selling lands to former General Manager of the Guyana Gold Board and daughter of former President Donald Ramotar, Lisaveta Ramotar; former President of the Private Sector Commission, Ramesh Dookhoo and the son of former Labour Minister Dr. N a n d a G o p a u l , D r.

Ghansham Singh; former Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Chief Executive Officer, Rajendra Singh; and former president of the Caribbean Development

Irfaan Ali

Bank, Dr. Compton Bourne.

He is also accused of selling lands to Former Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission Safraaz Khan; former CEO of Guyana Water Inc, Shaik Baksh; along with George Halla and D a v e N a r i n e .

Charges against Ali were recommended by SOCU after a forensic audit report was conducted.

It was reported that after five months of investigation, SOCU completed its investigation into the allocation of lands at 'Pradoville Two' to Cabinet members of the People's Progressive Party/ Civic Administration and their close associates.

The investigation was part of a larger probe of the financial operations of the Central Housing and

Planning Authority (CHPA), which was conducted by accounting firm Ram & McRae. While the minister has considerable powers under the Housing Act, his role in the issuance of titles was well outside of his functions and powers,” the audit report said.

The report added, “No files were maintained by CHPA for any of the plots allocated by a process that can be described as lacking transparency at best. It was stated that of the 28 lots, totalling 12.1187 acres, only 3.9693 acres remain unallocated.

Over two dozen persons, including former president Jagdeo and some of his former ministers were questioned by SOCU officials in the early stages of the investigations.

Sick man runs away from $2,500 taxi fare, fined $25,000

A

man has moved from being a patient at the hospital to a potential inmate of the prisons after he yesterday admitted to defrauding a taxi driver by not paying the $2500 fare for his transportation. He was fined 10 times the amount, $25,000 or in default is to spend two weeks in prison for the offence.

Antonio Rodrigues appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts where the charge was read to him.

The charge stated that on August 22, 2019 at

Brickdam, Georgetown, Rodrigues incurred a debt of $2,500 from Rahim Samaroo by using the victim's vehicle as transport by means of fraud.

According to the defendant, he suffers from Malaria and he had to get medication. “Your worship, I does suffer from Malaria and I had to get me medication. I was at the Diamond Hospital and I asked him to carry me to town so I can go to Georgetown Hospital.”

“Before we reach, the man start argue with me about that's how people rob he before… saying they gon

pay he when they reach and they don't pay. But your worship I was going to get the money to pay when I reach town,” the defendant added.

However, police prosecutor Christopher Morris, related the facts of the charge which stated that on the day in question, Rodrigues took the vehicle as a taxi to transport him from the Diamond Diagnostic Centre to the Georgetown Public Hospital . Upon reaching his destination, the defendant exited the vehicle and bluntly refused to pay the fare.

Kaieteur News

Saturday August 24, 2019

PAGE 25

City hit by water shortage due to damaged main

Workers prepare to install a new main

R

esidents of Georgetown were forced to endure several hours without potable water on Thursday and yesterday after a Guyana Water Inc. main broke.

According to a brief Guyana

The damaged main Water Inc. online release, the disruption in water supply was due to damage to a 14-inch main in the vicinity of Cemetery Road.

The release stated that GWI tech n ician s w er e “w o r k in g tirelessly around the clock to rectify

the problem within the swiftest possible time�.

The Guyana Fire Service's Georgetown operations were severely affected.

An official said that staffers were forced to access water from

the GWI wells at Sophia, South Ruimveldt, Farm, East Bank Demerara and Melanie, East Coast Demerara.

However, water pressure was back to normal by yesterday afternoon.

An official at Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) said that the services at the institution were not affected.

He explained that the GPHC has several water tanks for such emergencies.

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Kaieteur News

Saturday August 24, 2019

Top Region 10 Grade Six students rewarded

A few of the students who received prizes Fourteen students who performed well at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examinations were rewarded for their hard work.

Of the fourteen, six are from Kwakwani while another six are from Ituni. The other two students are from Kimbia and Aroaima.

The ceremony was held Thursday in Ituni.

All of the children attended schools in Sub District 2 of Region 10 which covers catchment areas in Kwakwani, Ituni and the Berbice River.

Member of Parliament Audwin Rutherford coordinated the activity and also handed over school bags to several youths in the community.

Contributing to the awards were GGMC, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Public Telecommunications, Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Linden Electricity Inc., Kwakwani Utilities Inc. and MP Rutherford. (DPI)

Labourer jailed for chopping man to head with knife A 20-year-old labourer was yesterday hauled before the courts to answer to two charges in which it was alleged that he chopped a man to the head with a knife and escaped police custody.

Noel Seerattan of Ruimveldt Squatting Area was arraigned in the Georgetown Magistrates Courts before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly where the charges were read to him. He was represented by attorneyat-law Dameon Da Silva.

The first charge read that on July 8, 2019 at East La Penitence Police Station while Seerattan was in lawful custody for the criminal offence of wounding, he escaped from custody.

Finally, it was alleged that on the same day at East Ruimveldt Squatting area, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Delson Alphonso.

At first the defendant attempted to plead not guilty to the first charge, however he settled for a guilty plea on both charges.

Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh related the facts of the charge which stated that on the day in question Seerattan was assaulting Delson Alphonsos brother, which caused Alphonso to intervene.

Alphonso was dealt a lash to the right arm with a piece of steel, then Seerattan armed himself with a knife and dealt Alphonso a chop to the left side of his forehead.

Alphonso was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was seen by a doctor and treated. He sus-

Noel Seerattan tained a laceration four centimeters deep which caused permanent disfiguration.

Seerattan was subsequently arrested and charged for the offence.

Attorney for the defence entered a plea of mitigation in which he asked the court for the most lenient sentence to be handed down given that this was the first offence for his client.

However, the prosecution indicated that a strong message should be sent to persons who may think that it is right for them to “just wound someone�.

Magistrate Daly then sentenced the defendant to six months in prison for the wounding charge and ordered that he is to undergo anger management sessions during that time. In relation to the charge of escaping police custody, the matter was adjourned until September 27, given his uncertainty as to how to plea. He is remanded to prison until that time.

Saturday August 24, 2019

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Kaieteur News

50 Guyanese graduate from TOTALTEC Academy A total of 50 Guyanese graduated yesterday at the TOTALTEC International Petroleum and Maritime Academy, Houston, from a rigorous eight-week training course, after which they gained immediate employment within the Oil and Gas Sector and TOTALTECs shore based operations.

From its origins in early

2018, the academy has developed programmes, to international standards, and has trained 250 young Guyanese for critical roles in the Oil and Gas Sector.

A number of workers from various industries including Sugar and Bauxite have transitioned to this sector and whatever skills they may have, were de-

v e l o p e d t h rough intensive and detailed training both theory and practical.

Many of the graduates were previous participants in the companys Technical, Vocational and Education Training (TVET) institutions, which prepared them for work in a challenging new industrial environment.

Students completed nine

courses and covered sixty four modules of Safety and Oil and Gas operation training and had to earn a mandatory pass mark of 85%, with tests being done on a daily basis.

All of the training was provided free of cost to each student as they were placed on full scholarships by TOTALTEC and received a training salary as well.

There were three females among the graduates.

As they were presented with their certificates by the Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman they were encouraged to serve and serve well and to never ever give up.

The graduates gained immediate employment within the company and will

continue to be gainfully employed and have opportunities to acquire higher education as well. All this is in keeping with TOTALTECs vision of having Guyanese included as much as possible, as the companys shore based workforce at the Houston site is 97% Guyanese, according to Lars Mangal, the companys Chairman.

PAGE 28

Kaieteur News

Saturday August 24, 2019

The AFC still have political value From page 6 formation from a disgruntled electorate.

Unlike the other smaller partners in the governing coalition, AFC has lots more political value to APNU. The base support of AFC is still largely Indians (with minimal Amerindians and Mixed) that APNU needs.

In addition, AFC provides a multi-ethnic symbol that is respected and is lacking in all parties. Its leadership (Ramjattan and Nagamootoo) is not tainted with corruption and both are assets to any alliance. And AFC has more support than all the other minor parties combined. One can literally count the support of the WPA and the NDA and the minor parties on the two hands. Only Justice for All has some support in the thousands because it spoke out against corruption and

is a ‘poor people party’. The AFC still attracts support though not the same percentage as in 2015, but all the other traditional parties also lost support. If the party does not contest in 2019, its support may not necessarily go to APNU. If it contests alone, it could retain seats (though not as many as in 2011 but proportionally it could do as well as the APNU as in 2015). In fact, if the party contests alone, it could rehabilitate itself as a party known for its integrity that it was before linking up with APNU in 2015.

Thus, one should not underestimate the AFC strength. The party has not lost all its advantages of 2015. It still has bargaining tools.

Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram

Saturday August 24, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Berbice businesses...

From page 12 knowledgable on what really is taking place and by being on the spot and hearing from passengers, it provides that medium,�

Persaud said.

Hundreds of travellers have been using the once illegal backtrack routes since the ferry service came to a

halt, and while some have said the process of stamping their passports at the Republic Square, Springlands Immigration office is smooth, many have complained that the process is time consuming. Passengers are still hopeful that the ferry service will become a reality once again.

PAGE 30

Saturday August 24, 2019

Kaieteur News

LEGAL NOTICE

SERVICES

FOR SALE

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

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Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535.

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Fish processing workers. Call: 223-5180

1 experienced driver, must have license for car/van/ minibus & motorbus, residing in G/town between ages 24-50 yrs old. #2251429/641-5075

Newly Renovated Apartments for rent at Peter’s Hall. #698-5800/648-1391 3 bedroom House to rent located at 1298 Diamond H/ Scheme EBD. Tel#680-4798 Top Flat of House 2 bedroom for rent. La Grange Public Road. WBD #665-7636/6924108 Self contain rooms for working couple/single person $32,000 monthly, light & water, Lodge.

Call: 623-0076 2 months security.

One Live-in caretaker to care for elderly person in Bel Air. Call: 227-0373 Tailor & Seamstress. Contact #253-3070/601-9855

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Pump attendant & cashier, shift rotated weekly (6am3pm & 3pm-11pm) Shell Service Station Providence EBD. Email: Shellramsburg@gmail.com

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Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb St Bourda

Nursery & Primary Teacher Vacancies- SuitabilityExperienced Teachers.

Students Awaiting entry to Tertiary Institutions.

University Students. Call: 6770296

Cashiers to work at Superbet.

Tel#691-7123

English Tutor. Contact# 2235273/223-5274

VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 Honda CRV. includes TV, music system, alarm, reverse camera, sproiler, crash bar, Low mileage. PTT Series (First Owner) Contact #6490956 1-Tundra $1.8M, 1-Audi Convertible $2.5M Contact#650-0402/603-1402

One bedroom apartment for couples Middle Rd La Penitence for Rent. Call: 686-4564 2 bedroom flat @ 123 Alma Ave, Prashad Nagar. Tel# 2250805/ 627-8125 WANTED 1 Live-in maid. Call: 639-2037

Two Vehicles: 1.Nissan Pathfinder Jeep, 2.Nissan Laurel Sedan-Both in Superb condition. All documents intact, Let’s negotiate #6097766/225-8427 Model M Truck, great condition with winch, fitness etc. $2.7M Neg. #673-4527/ 610-5732

CAR RENTAL

FOR RENT

WANTED Wanted- Salesman, Cashier and Office Clerk. Apply in Person at Lot 10 Vlissengen Road, Survival.

Male & female to work in Factory and 1 Driver. Apply in Person to R.P’s Enterprise ECD. #220-2818

Puri cooks, Kitchen assistant.

Apply: Shanta’s The Puri Shop 225 Camp & New Market Sts. No Phone calls One handyman/yard help to work in Georgetown. Tel# 6751647 (1) Able body Ice machine operator/handy man. Tel# 220-3459/616-2222 Photo/Video Editor, Must be abe to events. Call: 628-8944/ 718-845-2700 or Email: spectrumimaging 32@gmail.com 1 Diesel Mechanic to work in the interior, Interested Persons can make Contact on Tel# 625-5136 between the hours of 8am-4pm

Clerical assistance domestic worker, live-in accomodation for Berbicians and Essequibians. Call between Labourer to work at Sawmill.

8:15-4:15 pm. #219-5354 #619-9143/614-8857

Wanted land to buy- Parfaite One mature General Domestic.

Harmonie, Herstelling, Must be able to cook. Tel#624Providence, Farm, Tuschen, 5058 M-F, 5-7 pm Only Eccles, Uitvlugt, Best Price pay & cash. Call: 666-2326 Land to buy in Parfaite $1.3M Neg. Tel# 687-5873 One cook to work in a bar #679-2612 Preferable from 1 Chainsaw operator for West Bank Demerara. ripping. Tel# 690-3535/6011- Male ablebodied clerk. 3798 Tel#231-2029/616-5954 Wanted One truck, car & van 1 maid needed. Age 30-40. Call: driver at VV&I General Store.

Tel# 223-9677 226-7766

Supervisor to work at 704.

Contact# 223-5273/223-5274 One General Domestic, must be able to prepare vegetarian meal. Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb Street Bourda TRUCK DRIVER. Contact #223-5273/223-5274 Female Cleaner Office & Home. Call: 642-9823 Male Sales Clerk for Harware Store West Bank Demerara #254-0087/647-6075 For Experience Accounts Clerk, must have passes in Maths & English. Apply in person at Alabama Trading 65 Robb St Bourda For Sales Girl. Apply in person at Alabama Trading 65 Robb Street, Bourda Wanted Servicemen to work in Interior. Call: 223-5180 Vacancy for (2) professional and experienced nail technician @ Natural Beauty Salon & Spa. Call: 652-5800 Vacancy for operators to work day & night shift @ Del Ice Company, must be 25 years or older. Training provided. Call: 231-1408/642-9191 Tele-Sales Clerk: Maths & English, Computer Literate, Excel.

DacEasy and advantage. Telles Steel, 74 Hadfield St #226-6771 Salesclerk/Cashier. Submit hand written application to Kards Plus in City Mall. #2271846 Experience an asset.

Handyman (must have experience in landscaping) contact# 223-5273/223-5274

Tutor. Contact# 223-5273/2235274 Cook to work in Charity.

Contact# 654-7162 LEGAL NOTICE IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE OFGUYANA CIVIL JURISDICTION 2019-HC-DEM-CIV-SOC43 BETWEEN SAYED KHAN Claimant -and- 1.

HEMNAJ KISSOON 2.

AMID MOHAMED Defendants Jointly and Severally Notice TO: HEMNAJ KISSOON & MOHAMEDHAMID 295 Area Y Cummings Lodge Georgetown, Demerara Guyana TAKE NOTICE that a Statement of Claim was filed on the 14th day of February, 2019 in the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature of Guyana at Georgetown, Demerara by SAYED KHAN in which the Applicant claims: a.Special damages in the sum of $1,390,000 (one million three hundred and ninety thousand dollars) b.Damages in excess of $100,000 (one hundred thousand dollars) for injury, loss and damage c.sustained, together with pain and suffering endured by the Claimant as a result of the negligent d.driving by the Defendant, the owner of the truck with registration number GSS2848, on the 4th day of August, 2018 on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, in Long Creek, Demerara in the State of Guyana.

c.Costs d.Interest in accordance with Section 12 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Chapter 6:02. e.Such further or other relief which this Honourable Court may deem just in the circumstance of this case.

UPON APPLICATION in person or by letter to Ms. Shellon Boyce, Attorney-atlaw for the Applicant, whose address for service and place of business is at lot 185 Charlotte & King Streets, Georgetown, copies of the Fixed Date Application, filed herein, will be delivered or sent to you.

AND TAKE NOTICE if you desire to defend this action you must forthwith within 28 days after the final publication of this notice, prepare an Affidavit in Defense in Form 10C prescribed in the Civil Procedure Rules 2016, serve it on the applicant’s attorney-atlaw, to Ms. Shellon Boyce whose address for service and place of business is at Lot 185 Charlotte & King Streets, Georgetown, and file it with proof of service at the Registry at Georgetown, Demerara, not later than 4 days before the date fixed for hearing of the application, and you or your attorney-at-law must appear at the hearing.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you fail to file such affidavit and or fail to appear at the hearing, final judgment may be given against you notwithstanding your absence.

AND FUTHER TAKE NOTICE that this matter stand adjourned before the Honourable Madam Justice Damone Younge on 21st day of August, 2019 at 9:00 am.

Dated this 31st day of July 2019

Saturday August 24, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Saturday August 24, 2019

Govt., Opposition cross swords over present, past public projects

T

he Government and the Opposition are at loggerheads over past and present contracts.

In recent days, Member of Parliament, Juan Edghill, the Shadow Minister for Public Infrastructure has been going after Minister David Patterson for feasibility studies for a number of large government projects, worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

However, the Minister has hit back, asking Edghill for his party to produce studies for a number of project done during the administrations of the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

The PPP/Cs 23-year reign ended in 2015 after early election from a prorogued Parliament saw the Coalition Government entering office on a one-seat majority.

The five-year term for the Coalition has been threatened to end prematurely with a crippling noconfidence vote last December which has been dragged through the courts.

According to Edghill recently, in a letter to the editor, he wants the minister to give him details of a planned feasibility study for a 188 MW natural gaspowered plant. These details include total investment cost;

cost of the pipeline from offshore Guyana to bring the gas onshore and which company will be providing the natural gas offshore Guyana.

Edghill, a former Junior Minister of Finance, also wanted to know the cost per kilowatt per hour and the cost saving to the Guyanese consumer. He is also asking for the planned location of the natural gas generators.

The questions would have followed another letter from Edghill asking whether there was a feasibility study.

The MP had also questioned the feasibility study for a new headquarters of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority in Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Specifically, Edghill wanted to know what percentage of funding would have come from GCAA revenues and what percentage from government.

“Will this be a loan or will this be based on expected oil money?”

Edghill also targeted the incomplete US$150M renovations to the Timehri airport and the DUrban Park “fiasco”.“On the DUrban park fiasco, the question is not if you gave what you think the Auditor General required, it is, have you given the AG

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson an account for all the monies expended on this white elephant and is there full accountability and transparency as promised?”

He also questioned spending of the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

In a public Facebook post responding to a previous letter of Edghill on the same issues, the Minister was clear.

He said there were feasibilities studies for the 188MW natural gas plant with funding for the new GCAA headquarters to come from their revenues with support from the Government all to be done via public procurement.The minister said that for the $1B DUrban Park, his ministry had

provided the Auditor General with all requested information relating to the involvement in this project.

“CJIA the cost is the same as per the contract that your Government signed 14 days before the General elections in 2011. Demerara Harbour Bridge Feasibility Study this was fully investigated by SOCU, whose findings were “no misuse of funds, no evidence that a criminal offence was committed and no evidence of any collusion

PPP/C MP Juan Edghill between Lievense CSO and staff of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.”

Patterson also took the opportunity to demand feasibility studies for a number of projects that the PPP/C had done.

These included the CJIA Expansion Project; the Skeldon Sugar Factory; the Fibre Optic Cable to Lethem; the Amaila Fal l s Access Road; the Marriott Hotel; the Pradoville II project; the High Street office

complex; the Berbice River Crossing; the two Chinese ferries; the GPL Vreed-enhoop Power Plant and the submarine cable under the Demerara River.

“There is a saying “You show me yours and I will show you mine” thus I am willing to meet at very short notice, in any public space, to produce my reports, provided of course, you are willing to do likewise and produce the above requested reports....”

Saturday August 24, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Quartararo sets new MotoGP Richard Chin - A life of Squash... track record at Silverstone AFP - French rookie Fabio Quartararo outshone seven-time world champion Marc Marquez by breaking the track record in practice for the British Grand Prix yesterday on a newly laid surface at Silverstone.

Quartararo was quickest in the first session of the day, but the fireworks came in the

afternoon as he posted a new record time of 1min 59.225 secs.

The 20-year-old’s joy seemed short-lived when that time was originally ruled out for exceeding track limits.

However, a photo review after the second session had finished, cleared Quartararo to edge him ahead of Marquez.

Lyles ‘shocked’ by fellow sprinter...

From page 32 meeting in Birmingham, is challenging one of the three alleged “whereabouts” failures in the past 12 months. Athletes who fail to make themselves available for three drug tests are treated the same as athletes who fail a drug test and face an automatic ban.

“I’ve been shocked. You don’t expect anybody to be missing three,” said Lyles ahead of Saturday’s Diamond League meeting in Paris.

“You don’t know why. It could be a multitude of things so I don’t know.”

Any suspension of Coleman would represent another bodyblow against athletics just as the sport attempts to move on from the Russian doping scandal.

Coleman, the world record holder over 60m and world indoor 60m champion, has emerged as the most likely successor to Usain Bolt following the Jamaican sprint king’s retirement in 2017.

Saturday August 24, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) This isn't a good day to get together with your romantic partner, Aries, or even talk on the phone at length. Keep your conversations brief and make arrangements to meet in a few days.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Your four walls could seem to be closing in on you today, Libra. You might feel that you'll go crazy if you don't get out for a while. But responsibilities may keep you indoors anyway.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Some technological gadgets that you make copious use of may go out of whack today, Taurus. This could prove frustrating for you, but don't vent your frustrations on them.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Sudden psychic insights that seem important could come your way today, but you could be confused about their meaning.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) If you're single, you might meet someone new and exciting today.

You might feel this is the perfect partner for you. Be cautious!

This wonderful new person may have money problems or be jealous and possessive.

CANCER(June21–July22) You might have some important work to do at home, Cancer, but unexpected visitors might have other ideas for your day. Don't get angry or frustrated.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Electronic communication could be difficult today. Everything that can go wrong might go wrong - phones, email, copiers.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Money problems may seem to be escalating, and you could be hard-pressed to find a way to deal with them right now.

The situation is temporary.

Put all paperwork aside for now. If you wait a day until you're feeling a little less stressed, you'll be able to get a better handle on the situation

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You and some friends might spontaneously decide to do something adventurous, such as take a trip out of town. This might be fun.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) News of an unexpected career break could come your way, Capricorn. This can be exciting and it should make a big difference in your life.

This time definitely calls for some modesty.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Are you taking a long-distance trip by air? Postpone it if you can. It might end up being slow and tedious. If you must travel, be prepared for delays, lost luggage, or bad weather.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Your subconscious mind is active today, Pisces. You might have psychic insights and some odd dreams. However convoluted they may be, they're trying to tell you something, possibly about your relationship with a friend or love partner.

From page 38 sport, there may be nothing more fulfilling, even sublime, than watching a hapless opponent ensnared in the elegant entrapment between the Scylla of his lob and the Charybdis of his drop. Many have played him at some point over the years.

Whether it was only once or many times, win or lose, close or lop-sided, tournament play or Sunday afternoon run around, only few walk away without the sense that it was a privilege to have shared a court with him: A master of the game, in complete command of his craft.

And it is these talents, passion and dedication which stands Richard as a current top five payer in the world in his age category. We all eagerly await the day in the not too distant future when he brings that elusive world title home.

Yet, perhaps his greatest contributions to Guyana squash are those made off the court. The relationships he has forged and fostered over the years are deep and expansive. As he travels the world perfecting his craft, he is the consummate ambassador for us as a nation within the squash community. As a small country, Guyana is not well known in many circles and sometimes not for the right reasons. However, his ability, by virtue of the skill of his game and the power of his personality, to shape a more favorable impression is truly immeasurable. More locally, as his contemporaries have faded from the sport with time, Richard has become a mentor to the younger generation.

His counsel and friendship to

Dartmouth Dominators...

From page 36 Football Association. Good Hope Football Club it was that took the initial lead on 10 minutes through a Tyrice David strike but their going ahead only woke up the Dartmouth Dominators lads and they were in destructive mood thereafter, banging in five unanswered goals.

Martin Garraway equalised for Dartmouth Dominators in the 25th minute.

Ridely Williams (55), Michael Boston (60), Tyquan Brummell (75) and Kerstyn Gonsalves in the 85th minute scored to consolidate their club’s hold on the match and ensure they walked away with full points.

On Wednesday at the same venue, Henrietta United Football Club trounced FC Castle, 12 – 2.

so many has been valued over the years. He has become a role model for the younger generation on how to comport oneself on and off the court. For those on the national team a generation below him, men and women, he is affectionately referred to as Uncle, Dad or Grandpa, sometimes even Chauffeur or/ and Tour Guide. They say the greatest accomplishment an athlete can have is not the titles or championships won, but the respect and admiration of one’s peers. He is the epitome of this truism.

We are lucky to be able to still enjoy watching him play at this stage of his career, especially at his continued high level of squash. We are thankful for all he has given the game, the country and to us as individuals. As such, if you see him around the courts over the next week or so, please congratulate Richard, or Gibbo, or Champ

or Chinner or Houdini or Uncle or Gramps or whatever moniker he has picked up over the past fifty years and wish the old geezer a Happy Birthday. Maybe even give him some Ben Gay, Rogaine or even Preparation H as a most welcome and much needed present.

And if you get a chance to watch him play, please do.

The court is his easel the racket is his paint brush. Just watch quietly and absorb maybe even marvel – but definitely appreciate an artist at work.

We are all grateful for the past forty years for his contributions, not only to Guyana squash, but to all of us as a squash community, and we look forward to the next forty.

His body of work is not complete, nor has it been fully crafted, but there can be no doubt that it has already been judged.

PAGE 34

Carlos Ramos will not umpire Williams sisters at US Open BBC Sport - Carlos Ramos will not umpire any matches involving Serena or Venus Williams at this year’s US Open, tournament officials have confirmed.

The Portuguese umpire docked Serena Williams a game for verbal abuse in last year’s final against Naomi Osaka.

Williams, 37, called Ramos a “liar” and a “thief” having already received a point penalty for smashing her racquet.

She was also handed a code violation for coaching during the final in New York, which she lost in straight sets.

US Open referee Soeren Friemel says the decision is a good one for the tournament, the players and the umpires.

“We have selected the best officials for the 2019 US Open, and there is some flexibility,” he told reporters

Saturday August 24, 2019

Kaieteur News

at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre at Flushing Meadows “It’s not the first time that we made decisions that is good for the tournament, is good for the players, and is good for the umpires as well to not be on those matches.

“In the end, our goal is to assign the best chair umpire for the right match so in taking all those factors into consideration, the decision was made that he would not do any of the Williams sisters’ matches.”

In heated exchanges in last year’s final, Williams told Ramos “you will never, ever, ever be on another court of mine as long as you live.”

But the US Open says the decision has been taken “collectively,” and not in response to a request from the Williams sisters.

It is not unusual for

umpires to be kept away from players after a contentious match.

The Brazilian Carlos Bernardes did not umpire Rafael Nadal for a significant period after a disagreement about time violations at a tournament in Rio in 2015.

Ramos umpired this year’s Australian Open semifinal between Petra Kvitova and Danielle Collins, but has not yet been given the chance to add to his tally of 10 Grand Slam singles finals.

“Carlos has worked all the other Grand Slams,” Friemel added.

“He has done Davis Cup, Fed Cup, and he’s going to work the Davis Cup final so he’s considered still for all high-profile matches.”

The US Open is the final Grand Slam of the year, and begins in New York on Monday.

Family vacation has Federer ready for U.S. Open charge NEW YORK (Reuters) Roger Federer needed a couple of days to get over his heartbreaking Wimbledon final loss but a family caravan vacation around the Swiss countryside proved the perfect tonic.

Federer, who will chase a record-extending 21st Grand Slam title at the Aug. 26-Sept.

8 U.S. Open in New York, struggled with the five-set defeat to Novak Djokovic for a short time, but could not dwell on the missed opportunity.

“I was setting up tables and organizing my life for my four children, driving around the beautiful countryside in Switzerland,” Federer said on Friday at a U.S. Open Media Day inside Louis Armstrong Stadium.

“Sometimes you have flashbacks, things like, ‘Oh, I could have done that’, ‘should have done that’.

“The next day you’re having a glass of wine with your wife thinking, ‘The semis was pretty good, even the finals was pretty good’. You go in phases.”

Federer produced a vintage display to beat old rival Rafa Nadal in the last four at Wimbledon but in the final he failed to convert two championship points on his own serve in the fifth set against Djokovic.

Since then, Federer has played one U.S. Open tuneup event, where he suffered a shocking and swift thirdround humbling at the hands

Roger Federer (SUI) returns a shot against Juan Ignacio Londero (ARG) during the Western and Southern Open tennis tournament at Lindner Family Tennis Center.

(Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo) of Russian qualifier Andrey Rublev.

Yet despite playing just two hardcourt matches ahead of the year’s final Grand Slam, the 38-year-old Swiss said he is happy with where his game is at and has actually taken positives from his Wimbledon letdown.

“I’ve been playing well.

Playing well in slams recently, which has been great,” said Federer.

“I think also the win over Rafa in the semis was big for me. Also the finals, the way I played that in Wimbledon, is going to give me some extra confidence.”

Federer won five consecutive U.S. Open titles from 2004-2008 but has not

enjoyed much success here recently as he struggled with the heat in a fourth-round loss last year and in 2017 battled back issues during his run to the quarter-finals.

“I’m not putting extra pressure on myself. I know it’s going to be tough,” said Federer, who will face a yetto-be named qualifier in the first round.

“I’m not coming in as the overwhelming favorite like maybe I did back in 2006 or 2007.

I’m very much aware of how I need to approach this tournament mentally.

“It’s going to be a tough tournament to win, no doubt about it. I feel like I’m part of that group who can do it.”

Lyles ‘shocked’ by fellow sprinter Coleman’s missed tests Serena Williams refused to shake hands with umpire Carlos Ramos after last year’s US Open final defeat. (Getty Images)

2019 Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship Qualifying –Group D

Lady Jags hammer St Vincent 6-2 in second outing Grenadines second loss after going down 4-1 to the Bahamas. Host Curacao were to meet the Bahamas in last evening’s second encounter.

Guyana’s final match will be tomorrow from 17:00hrs against the Bahamas and this encounter was most likely to decide the group winner and the young female Jags are expected to goo full throttle for a triumph.

Guyana’s fortunes at the female football development level continued its encouraging results trend when the Under-17 Lady Jags hammered St. Vincent & the Grenadines 6-2 in the opening game of a double header yesterday in the 2019 Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship Qualifying – Group D action.

Playing at the Stadion Ergilio Hato Willemstad,

Curacao the young female Jags put six past their opponents, while only conceding two to mark an emphatic win. Details were not available at press time (more in a subsequent article) but the young lasses followed on the heels of their opening triumph over host nation Curacao, 2-1, thanks to standout Shanic Thornhill, who fired a double.

This was St. Vincent & the

Lyles (L) was “shocked” to hear of Coleman’s (R) missed tests. (AFP/File / Hector Retamal) AFP - Noah Lyles said he was “shocked” by fellow American sprinter Christian Coleman’s three missed drugs test which have left the world championship 100metre favourite facing a possible suspension.

The 22-year-old Lyles, who snatched headlines by running a world-leading 19.50 seconds in the 200 metres at the Lausanne Diamond League event last month, said it was “none of his business” when asked whether or not he

thinks Coleman is a clean athlete.

Britain’s Daily Mail and The Times newspapers reported that Coleman, a late withdrawal from last Sunday’s Diamond League (Continued on page 31)

Saturday August 24, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Australia close to retaining Ashes as England wilt at Headingley

Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne and James Pattinson leave the pitch at the end of play on day two. (Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith) LEEDS, England (Reuters) - Australia closed in on a victory that will see them retain the Ashes after ending an incredible second day of the third test with a lead of 283 runs, having bowled out England for an embarrassing 67 in their first innings yesterday.

Australia were on 171-6 in their second innings at the close at Headingley, with a sizeable advantage after England suffered a humiliating day at the crease with Josh Hazlewood taking five wickets to help skittle out the hosts.

Starting the day chasing Australia’s firstinnings total of 179 and

trailing 1-0 in the fivematch series, England lost cheap wickets and were dismissed for their 12th lowest test innings total ever in glorious sunshine in Leeds.

Joe Denly top scored with a measly 12 runs — the lowest ever highest score for an England batsman in a test innings — with captain Joe Root, on his home ground, falling for his second duck in a row as the hosts’ innings lasted less than 28 overs.

Australia, spearheaded by Steve Smith’s replacement Marnus Labuschagne (53 not out), added to their lead in the evening session, before two late wickets gave England

Australia’s Josh Hazlewood celebrates the wicket of England’s Joe Denly before the decision was overturned following a review. (Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers) some hope of salvaging the test.

As holders, Australia would retain the Ashes with victory as England could only draw the series.

‘MISSED OPPORTUNITY’ “We have missed an opportunity today,” England batting coach Graham Thorpe said. “A couple of good balls got our top six, but there was also some poor shot selection.

“The game is not over from this position, though.”

Out-of-form opener Jason Roy was first to go, flashing at a delivery outside his off stump and edging to the slips for nine — the first of 16 wickets to fall on a remarkable

day.

Things went from bad to worse for England as captain Root edged one to David Warner in the slips.

Rory Burns and England Wo r l d C u p h e r o B e n Stokes both fell cheaply after playing at shots they did not need to, with Denly, who rode his luck during his innings, out for 12 as England went into the lunch break on 54-6.

There was no relenting from Australia. Chris Woakes was out first ball of the afternoon session as Australia made light work of the England tail, with Hazlewood finishing with figures of 5-30 to help ensure

both sides’ first innings lasted just 480 balls combined.

“In the sunshine you think a great batting day, but the first hour was fantastic,” Hazlewood said.

“I cannot remember a day like this. I don’t think many teams are winning if they get 60 or 70 runs.”

Warner was out for a second-ball duck off the bowling of Stuart Broad at the start of the tourists’ second innings.

It was Broad’s 700th wicket across all formats making him only the second England bowler to reach the mark after James Anderson.

Jack Leach struck with this first ball to remove Marcus

Harris for 19, before Usman Khawaja was caught by Roy for 23 following another poor shot.

Root dropped an easy catch to let Labuschagne off the hook, before Stokes came into the attack to dismiss Travis Head for 25 after tea.

Labuschagne remained patient and reached his third successive half c e n t u r y, b e f o r e B r o a d removed Tim Paine for a duck to give England a glimmer of hope.

Scores: Australia 179 and 171 for 6 (Labuschagne 53*, Stokes 2-33, Broad 234) lead England 67 (Denly 12, Hazlewood 5-30) by 283 runs.

Bermuda stun US again to book ticket UAE

Left-arm spinner Delray Rawlins grabbed two wickets for Bermuda.

HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC – Deunte Darrell held his nerve to hit an unbeaten 30 from 23 balls as Bermuda completed a famous double over the United States on Thursday to book their ticket to the final ICC Twenty20 World Cup Qualifier in the United Arab Emirates in October and November.

Playing at White Hill Field, Bermuda followed up Sunday’s six-run win over the US by winning by four wickets with seven balls to spare, to advance to the final qualifier ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup in Australia with two games to spare.

Canada, meanwhile, handed the Cayman Islands their fourth successive defeat in the quadrangular tournament, coasting to an eight-wicket victory in Thursday’s second round opener to also book their

place in the UAE. After winning the toss and sending their opponents in, Bermuda held the US to 141 for nine with Hayden Walsh topscoring with 26 as medium pacer Onias Bascome snapped up three for 32 from four overs.

In reply, Bermuda were given a flying start by Okera Bascome, who smashed four sixes and two fours in his 16ball 35 before he fell in the sixth over to slow left-arm bowler Karima Gore, leaving the hosts 44 for one.

Gore then removed the other opener, captain Terryn Fray, who has had a poor tournament with the bat, for eight and Bermuda suffered a major setback when Sussex all-rounder Delray Rawlins, who earlier took two wickets, was third out for 12 at 69 in the 10th over.

But Malachi Jones, having

been promoted to number three, kept the scoreboard rattling along with 27 off 19 balls.

When Allan Douglas was sixth out at the end of the 17th over, Bermuda still required 25 for victory and the target was further reduced by 10 runs in the 18th over.

Man-of-the-Match Darrell then struck a six and a two and another maximum, after Onias Bascome had given him back the strike with a single off the first ball of Walsh’s over, to see the local side over the line.

New York-born Gore, 21, who has also played for Antigua and Barbuda, was the pick of the US attack with three for five off four overs, accounting for the openers as well as Douglas, while leg-break bowler Timil Patel (219) removed Jones and Rawlins.

In the first game, slow left-

arm bowler Saad Bin Zafar shackled the Cayman batsmen on his way to figures of three for eight from four overs as the Caribbean side struggled to 91 for seven, with Greg Strydom top-scoring with 23.

Cayman then rocked Canada, removing openers Rodrigo Thomas and Rizwan Cheema for ducks without a run on the board as Alessandro Morris and Kervin Ebanks claimed a wicket apiece in the first two overs.

But that was the last success for Cayman as captain Navneet Dhaliwal struck five sixes and three fours in his unbeaten 53, while Nitish Kumar finished not out on 37 off 35 balls with a couple of fours and sixes, as Canada swept to victory with more than seven overs to spare.

PAGE 36

Saturday August 24, 2019

Kaieteur News

2019 Senior CASA Squash Tourney

Guyana Ladies beat Bermuda & T&T 5-nil, set up finals with B’dos today - Men beat B’dos to set final with Jamaica

Bermudian Susie Howells (left) lost to Guyana’s Mary Fung-a-Fat yesterday.

Guyana’s Nicolette Fernandes (right) watches as Bermuda’s Rachel Barnes plays a forehand shot yesterday.

By Sean Devers The penultimate day of the 2019 Senior CASA Squash Championships at the Georgetown Club’s Squash Courts in Guyana yesterday saw a couple of victories for the Guyanese Women and a semi-final win for their Male counterparts.

Both teams have advanced to today’s finals.

The Guyanese Women’s remained unbeaten and plays their final round robin match against Barbados.

Technically a final, the Women’s match between Guyana and Barbados is fixed for 09:00hrs this morning.

The Women beat Bermuda 5-0 and Trinidad & Tobago 5-nil yesterday.

In the morning game, Taylor Fernandes beat Jayne Craig 11-6,11-8,11-5, Nicolette Fernandes beat Rachel

Barnes 11-7,11-3,11-5 and Mary Fung-a-Fat beat Susie Howells 11-7,11-6, 11-3, while Larrissa Wilshire and Ashley DeGroot won by default.

In the veterans, Guyana’s Lydia Fraser beat Bermudian Suzanne Rose, while Denise Jeffery beat Beverly Wilson of T&T. In the afternoon matches Guyana’s Women beat T&T 5-0 with Nicolette Fernandes beating Charlotte Knaggs 11-5,11-4,11-4, Funga-Fat beat Alexandra Yearwood 11-5,11-7, 11-5 Taylor Fernandes beat MariClair Barcant 11-6,11-3, 11-6, Larrissa Wilshire beat Melody Gillezeau 12-10, 11-5,11-7 and Ashly DeGroot beat JaimeLeigh Edghill 11-1, 11-5,11-8.

Last night Guyana Men’s were 3-1 winners against Barbados with the last game still to be contested at press time which was enough to set

up today’s final with Jamaica who won by default against Cayman Islands in the other semi-final. The Men’s final is scheduled for noon today.

Richard Chin beat Shawn Simpson Chin 9-11, 11-8, 115,7-11, 11-4 after losing the first game, Jason Ray Khalil lost 3-1 (7-11,4-11, 11-4, 5-11) to 17-year-old Khamal Cumberbatch in the most exciting match of the night.

Kristian Jeffery beat Bryant Cumberbatch, the older brother of Khamal, in straight games 3-0, while at press time, Shomari Wilshire had beaten Rhett Cumberbatch, another member of the Cumberbatch clan 3-0.

Deje Dias was still to play the last game against Colin Alexander.

Played before a ram packed venue with the smell

Clive “Breezer” Nedd Memorial Masters Tournament tomorrow Come tomorrow at the Georgetown Football Club ground, the Annual Clive “Breezer” Nedd Masters Memorial 20th anniversary football tournament will be contested by eight teams starting at 10:00am.

Also known as the “Caribbean Fox”, Clive Nedd migrated to the U.S.A in the late eighties where he met his untimely death on 22nd August, 1999. Ironically, he died on a football field a sport he grew to love and spent most of his life playing.

His career served the likes of Santos F.C., North East LaPenitence, Guyana and the Caribbean where he

distinguished himself as one of the most accomplished and durable defenders ever to play the game, during the late sixties and through the mideighties. To many, his biggest achievement would have been in 1978 when he was selected to play for the Caribbean All Stars selection in Trinidad & Tobago against New York Cosmos, which included the Great “King Pele”.

His teaming up with his two sons, Shawn and Brentnol who both represented Guyana at youth level to help Santos win the National Senior League Championship in 1985, was a

feat they will be the envy of many footballers. Not only in Guyana but the world at large. His name will surely have a special place in the history of sports in Guyana.

This memorial Masters Tournament has been dormant for several years now, but has resumed this year by Tournament Coordinator Shawn FraserNedd (son of the deceased) with the support of Mr. Lennox Cush (Star Party Rental), Trophy Stall, Beck’s & Sons Lumber yard, Banks DIH, Humphrey Bakery, Clarence Barry and overseas based Gordon “Blacks” Ashford and Junior Walker.

of Bar-B-Q pork and Chicken filling the air, at times 30-shot rallies, precise drop shots and excellent retrievals highlighted the riveting contest between Guyana’s National Champion and 17year-old Bajan Khamal Cumberbatch.

Cumberbatch out ran Khalil and a wonderful exhibition of high quality Squash by both, but urged on the raucous Bajan supporters

the talented Cumberbatch must have felt like he was in Bridgetown and won the first two games.

But Khalil, dripping wet in perspiration, dominated the young boy in another exhilarating game and when Khalil scored consecutive points the Bajan seemed at a psychological disadvantage when under pressure with Khalil winning the third game.

Unlike in the two previous

games when Cumberbatch reentered the Court long before the Guyanese, Khalil was there first back for the start of the fourth game which was another thriller which Cumberbatch, who defiantly looks one for the future, took the game and match as both players got a standing ovation.

The Guyanese, playing in the Veterans division against Bermuda, won 3-2.

Jayne Craig (left) lost to Taylor Fernandes yesterday morning.

Guyanese Richard Chin & 6ft 6ins Bajan Shawn Simpson last night.

Saturday August 24, 2019

PAGE 37

Kaieteur News

Successful Buxton ‘Carl Hooper’ CC Academy ends

Bissoon Singh presents one of the certificates during the closing of the Buxton club’s holiday camp.

The Curtains came down on the Buxton ‘Carl Hooper’ Cricket Club’s 15th annual two-week Cricket Academy on the East Coast yesterday. The Academy which encompassed on and off the field sessions including a trip to places of interest in the City was deemed a success.

Participants listen during the closing of the Buxton Carl Hooper Club holiday camp.

After the Opening Prayer and the National pledge were recited, speeches were done by Bissoon Singh President of the East Coast Cricket Board and Esse Peters President of Buxton Carl Hooper Cricket Club.

Awards were presented for the top student Benicia Daniels,

Runners-up Gary Told, Most improved student Mark Adams and Most disciplined student Kai Bouglous.

Among the sponsors were the NSC, I. Peters, Dwayne Benjamin, Kevon Benjamin, Bissoon Singh and former National youth players Clive Andres.

35 youths graduate from first ever Upper Corentyne/Brian Ramphal Cricket Academy The Upper Corentyne Cricket Association on Wednesday last successfully concluded their first ever Brian Ramphal Cricket Academy at the Scottsburg Cricket Ground in Corriverton.

A total of thirty five youths drawn from Clubs between No. 43 Village to Moleson Creek attended the Academy, which attracted support from overseas based Guyanese Brian Ramphal, the Berbice Cricket Board, Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club and the Corriverton Business Sector.

BCB President Hilbert Foster attended the first day of the Academy and hailed the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association as a role model organisation, which is leading a cricketing revolution in the area. The Upper Corentyne Cricket Association Executives were described as hard working, dedicated, honest and visionary with special mention being made of President Dennis D’Andrade, Vice President Sydney Jackman and Secretary Lakeram Latchman along with Executives Mr. Mentis, Mr. Victor and Mr. Balram. Foster, who was making his 48th visits to the

Sub-association since his election last year, urged the cricketers to take full advantage of the opportunities being presented to them at the Academy.

The Berbice Cricket Board, he stated was investing heavily in youths as it wants to continue the Ancient County’s rich legacy of producing outstanding players. The legacy of John Trim, Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher and others are being kept alive by Devendra Bishoo, Romario Shepherd, Shimron Hetmyer, Kevlon Anderson, Anthony Bramble, Isiah Thorne, Rampersaud Ramnauth, Shemaine Campbelle, Shabika Gajnabi and that the Berbice Cricket Board was planning for the next generation of players. He urged the players to put into practice what they have learnt, to research the history of the Game and to seek advice from the older generation of players. He committed the Berbice Cricket Board and Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS to assisting all of the youths to fulfill their full potentials on the cricket field and in the classroom.

The UCCA Academy Class pose with their Coaches.

Vice President Sydney Jackman, the former Guyana First Class Player hailed the Brian Ramphal Cricket Academy as another red letter day in the history of the Subassociation and hailed the outstanding work of the Foster led Berbice Cricket Board.

Jackman stated that the main objective is to return Upper Corentyne Cricket Association to its former

glory when it won several National Titles in the 1990’s with players like B h i m George. Coaches Leslie Solomon and Delbert Hicks both praised the discipline and positive attitude of the youths. Solomon urged the youths to daily practice and stated that he was delighted that Berbice would once again be playing Two-Days First Division Cricket as it would assist players to be

more focused. Several classroom lectures were done by retired Head Teacher Clement Edwards on Topics such as Drug Abuse, Personal Discipline and the Importance of Education.

Vittori Latchman was named the Overall Best Batsman, Salim Khan the Best Spinner, Trevon Sukhu the best Fast Bowler and Ameer Shaw the Best Wicketkeeper.

Five of the Most Promising

Players also carried home Educational Materials and school bags. Three other players also received water pitchers, compliments of the Rose Hall Town Youth& Sports Club, MS. All of the thirty five players carried home Certificates of Attendance, while the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association also recognised the hard work of the two coaches.

PAGE 38

Saturday August 24, 2019

Kaieteur News

Sharma grabs five wickets as India take control of first Test AFP - A late burst by senior fast bowler Ishant Sharma earned him a five-wicket haul and reduced the West Indies to 189 for eight in reply to India’s first innings total of 297 at the close of the second day of the first Test at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua yesterday.

Ten days away from his 31st birthday, the gangling Sharma ended the day with five for 42 off 12 overs, figures which were enhanced considerably in the final half-hour of a long day when he was singlehandedly responsible for the home side losing three wickets for five runs to tilt a fairly even contest very much in favour of the tourists.

He dismissed Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer and Kemar Roach in the space of 13 deliveries to change the complexion of the West Indies innings from the relative comfort of 174 for five.

Captain Jason Holder will therefore only have Miguel Cummins and last man Shannon Gabriel potentially for company on the third morning with India pressing for what could be a significant first innings advantage.

Sharma and Mohammed Shami were the first to strike at the start of the West Indies innings after lunch, removing openers John Campbell and Kraigg Brathwaite after a deceptively bright start before Ravindra Jadeja added to what was already an excellent day for the allrounder when he claimed the wicket of debutant Shamarh Brooks.

Jadeja had played the key role in extending India’s first innings as they were eventually dismissed on the stroke of lunch, the left-hander playing the dominant role as India added another 94 runs from their overnight position of 203 for six.

- Ideal start He was last out for 58, topedging an attempted pull off Holder to give wicketkeeper Hope his fifth catch of the innings.

Roach was the best of the West Indies bowlers with figures of four

Roston Chase plays one off the back foot, West Indies v India, 1st Test, North Sound, 2nd day, August 23, 2019 © Getty Images for 66 while fellow fast bowler Gabriel claimed three for 71.

It was Roach who gave the West Indies an ideal start to the day when he removed Rishabh Pant for 24.

However any hopes the hosts entertained of quickly polishing off the tourists’ innings were frustrated by Sharma, who defied the West Indies for over an hour in contributing 19 to a 60-run eighth-wicket partnership with Jadeja.

Sharma’s admirable defiance was eventually ended though by a slower delivery from Gabriel and Shami lasted just one delivery, being caught and bowled by Chase. Jadeja was still able to get to the halfcentury mark though, his 11th in Test cricket. His three-hour effort spanned 112 deliveries and was highlighted by six fours and one six.

Campbell stroked a succession

of boundaries at the start of the West Indies reply only to be yorked in the first over from first-change bowler Shami.

B r a t h w a i t e ’s typically phlegmatic occupation of the crease ended when Sharma held on to a catch off his own bowling and Brooks, taking on the challenge of batting at number three in his first Test innings, edged an attempted cut at Jadeja for Ajinkya Rahane to take the comfortable catch on the rebound off wicketkeeper Pant.

More success followed in the final session when Darren Bravo was trapped leg-before by Bumrah, and then after putting on 42 runs for the fifth wicket with Hope, Chase was taken a short midwicket by K.L. Rahul off Sharma in the first over of a new spell for a well played 48.

But it got even better for the

GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power U-17 League – ECPFA

Dartmouth Dominators trounce Good Hope in latest match

Tyquan Brumell (right), Michael Boston, Ridley Williams and Martin Garraway - Dartmouth Dominators.

Five different players inked their names on the score sheet when Dartmouth Dominators defeated Good

Hope 5-1 on Thursday afternoon last at the New Opportunity Corp Ground when the GFF/NAMILCO

Thunderbolt Flour Power U17 League continued in the Essequibo Coast Pomeroon (Continued on page 31)

paceman in the extra period played to make up for time lost through rain on the first day.

He had Hope well caught low down by Pant, then came up with an

even more impressive caught-andbowled to get rid of Hetmyer before having Roach taken by captain Virat Kohli at second slip in the same over.

Golf is back this weekend AR Printery, long time supporters and sponsors of the LGC, has committed to hosting a full weekend of tournament play to welcome back golfers after a few weeks layoff.

Managing Director of the company, Ramroop “Cecil” Jiwanram recently announced his presidential bid to contest the national elections with the Guyana United Democratic (GUD) Party and says that the development of sports is a key factor in Guyana’s growth.

The dynamic print company which is one of the largest in the country, is a staunch supporter of both golf and motor racing and will have their authorized race cars on display at the upcoming Guyana Open scheduled for October 25-27.

Mr. Jiwanram stated, “We are always happy to support

the president of the LGC Aleem Hussain and the club since we count on his support in our other ventures. This year we wanted to do something extra for the LGC and decided that two tournaments was the way to go.”

AR Printery is located in Belair and provides top quality printing and design for every need, no matter how big or small. For more information on their services, feel free to contact them atarprintery@gmail.com or 603-1250.

The tournaments will be two one day individual events starting today from 12:30pm and continuing tomorrow at 8:30am.

Prizes for the top three finishers in the 0-14 and 15-36 categories along with nearest to pin and longest drive will

be awarded on both days.

After a few weeks of nontournament activity, the sponsor hopes that their commitment to the LGC and the game of golf will be met with enthusiasm by the golfers and a large turnout is expected.

Members of the public are invited to show up and be a part of the viewership and learn about the game with lessons and equipment being provided at no cost.

With the Macorp sponsored lighted driving range close to completion, persons of any skill level will be able to participate in the sport as it continues to attract national attention.

For more information on the game, LGC or activities you may visit them at Lusignan Golf Club on Facebook or call 220-5660.

Saturday August 24, 2019

PAGE 39

Kaieteur News

GMR&SC 1320 Heat international drag meet

Over 100 machines registered to compete

The rail car in action last year at the South Dakota Circuit. (Kaieteur Sport photo) The Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club’s (GMR&SC) 2019 International drag race meet speeds off tomorrow at the South Dakota Circuit’s Drag Strip at Timehri and according to news from the executive committee of the club, over 100 participants have already registered for the anticipated showdown.

During a press conference, yesterday, at the club’s office at Thomas Lands and Albert Street, it was revealed that over 75 local cars have been registered along with over 15 local bikes. According to head of the GMR&SC, Rameez Mohamed, a lot more bikes are expected to be registered by the local competitors, while the T&T contingent, whose machines arrived yesterday morning, were in the process of registering up to press time.

Team T&T consists of Sheldon Bissessar and his rail car that will be looking to get revenge against Team Mohamed’s after losing to the black GTR (Goliath) at last year’s international drags. In Trinidad’s camp is also Jagdeo ‘Mad Cow’ Seecharan who will be piloting his R32 Nissan Skyline.

The Trinidadians will provide stern competition for the local bikers with a Kawasaki and a Hyabusa revving to take to the strip.

Current local bikes’ champion, Mark ‘Mad Max’ Menezes, should provide a more than enough challenge for the men from the twin island republic while the bikes’ category is expected to

see a large competition pool.

Team Mohamed’s white GT-R (Godzilla) is in a league of its own, the current strip record holder (8.099s) is anticipated to break into the 7-second barrier. Team Trans Pacific’s Alteeza, T&T’s Rail Car, and S&D Performance’s Caldinas, Supra and RX-7s will have to worry about getting past Goliath first.

Team Mohamed’s driver, Terrence Cox, and the team has been working tirelessly to get the machine race ready and all systems are set for Godzilla to reset the strip record come tomorrow.

Today, fans can flock to the trip to witness the qualifying rounds of the event, free of cost. Today will also serve as the final day for registration.

Tomorrow, action gets underway from 09:00hrs sharp with free runs up to 10:00hrs before the eliminators.

During yesterday’s presser, GMR&SC committee member, Carey Griffith, banged on the importance of safety on the track, stating that, “We are asking spectators not to get too carried away and get too close to the track.

Please follow the advice of the security and Police who will be there. We know alcohol will be on sale there and we are asking patrons to drink responsibly. There will be Police escorts to the city for the travelling fans after the event as well.”

Admission to the venue will cost $2000 for adults and $1000 for children.

- Bet on Team Mohamed’s to deliver

Team Mohamed’s white GTR (Godzilla) currently holds the strip record at 8.099 seconds. (Kaieteur Sport photo)

PAGE 40

Saturday August 24, 2019

Kaieteur News

Richard Chin - A life of Squash In a few weeks’ time, Richard Andrew Chin will be celebrating his 50th birthday and along with that milestone, 40 years of squash service to Guyana and the broader squash community.

Richard was born on September 11, 1969, on what is now considered an inauspicious birthday in US

history. Yet his squash career ultimately began in the most auspicious of ways. As a complete unknown in the inaugural Junior CASA held in St. Vincent in 1981, he won his first junior Caribbean title as a diminutive and unpolished 11-year-old, by beating both vaunted Cyrus brothers, Mark and Paul in

Richard Chin during an International tournament.

the semi-finals and finals respectively in the boys U14 category. In the most dramatic but unusual of contests, Richard won the title over Paul Cyrus 8-10, 9-0, 8-10, 90, 9-7. This win would launch perhaps the greatest junior squash career in Caribbean history to date.

Richard would go on to win every single match he played individual or team leading into his swan song match - the last he would ever play as a junior player - in the finals of the Boys U19 in Guyana in 1988 where he was aiming for his 7th junior title (it would have been 8th had the 1985 event not been cancelled).

While he narrowly fell at that last hurdle, his career as a junior was unprecedented and will unlikely ever be matched, much less surpassed. A legacy cemented by the age when most people are yet to cast their first vote, is a truly remarkable achievement and it was the perfect start in what continues to be a lifetime of contribution to Guyana squash.

Richard service to the National Senior Men’s team also began in St. Vincent in 1984, at the age of 14 and reached his first Men’s finals in Barbados in 1989, losing to the great John McRury of Cayman. As a US citizen by then, and fresh off a remarkable collegiate squash career at Cornell University where he was a four-time First Team All American (he would later be inducted into the Cornell Hall of Fame), Richard moved on to play for the US between 1992 and 2007. For the next fifteen years, he was a reliable member on the men’s team representing the US at the Pan American Games and the World Championships.

He eventually made his much-anticipated return to the Guyana Men’s National team in 2010 where he won the Men’s final over Chris Binne at the age of 41. This match

Richard Chin in action in the 2019 Senior CASA tourney in Guyana last Monday night. had a personal and special significance in his career as it was his first men’s title, won 30 years after his first junior title, and won in the very same country where it all began for him – St. Vincent, and poignantly watched by many of the same people who witnessed his first win in 1981 including several members of the decorated Cyrus family.

Ever since, he has been a loyal servant to the call of national duty. Over the years, to have a consistent number one or someone who, by virtue of their skill, experience and grind, is almost guaranteed to deliver that all important team point is a luxury many teams crave, but few enjoy. And this, all while playing his own unique brand of squash. His style is easy on the eye; text-book strokes, balanced footwork, efficiency of movement, effective shot selection. And oh, add in the purest lob since Peter Nicol.

But he is more than these visual attributes on the court.

Richard plays the game the right way; play hard, play fair, be competitive on every point, and have total respect for the opponent and more importantly for the game.

Moreover, he plays with a true love for the sport. His passion can be seen not only from the way he plays, but in any conversation, you have

with him about the game. This passion is intrinsic to who he is as a squash player. It defines who he is as a competitor. And it humanizes who he is as a person. This passion is contagious to the spectator as we can all identify with it, and more so, with him.

Over the past ten years Richard has increasingly played players half his age, and now, regrettably, and with increasingly regularity, three times his age. . . While the clichés of old versus young, youth versus experience can

tritely describe these encounters, it is the lesson on how this game should be played which he imparts on his younger opponents that bemuses his teammates, flummoxes his opponents and leaves the hungry spectator yearning for more.

The discipline of a good length, the timeliness of a well-executed lob, the precision of the volley drop, the beauty of the attack, the art of the defence all encompasses his game.

Indeed, for any purist of the (Continued on page 31)

Richard Chin after his semi-final loss on Monday Night.

Kaieteur News

Saturday August 24, 2019

Felicien tops colleagues at latest GuyanaNRA Record Shoot Sherwin Felicien

As preparations continue by members of the Guyana National Rifle Association (GuyanaNRA) ahead of this year’s West Indies Fullbore Shooting Council (WIFBSC) Caribbean Championships in the form of Record Shoots, Sherwin Felicien won the latest contested on Sunday last at the Timehri Rifle Ranges.

Shooting just two points off from achieving a perfect day, Felicien shot a possible at the 500 (35.05) yards range; it was one of two possibles for the day. Veteran marksman, Ransford Goodluck shot the other possible on the day at the 300 Name 300 Sherwin Felicien 34.01 Leo Romalho 33.02 Roberto Tewari 34.02 Ransford Goodluck 35.02 Dylan Fields 33.01 Lennox Braithwaite 34.01 Peter Persaud 29.01

yards range, 35.02.

Leo Romalho has continued to turn in consistent performances ending 2nd overall 1ith 116.09, two behind Felicien whose winning aggregate was 118.10; he was off by one at the 300 yards range (34.01) and a similar amount off at the 600 yards range, (49.04).

Roberto Tiwari took the third place overall with a total of 115.04 followed bu Goodluck, Vice Captain Dylan Fields, Lennox Braithwaite and Peter Persaud in that order.

Following are the full results of the shoot: 500 35.05 34.04 33.0 31.02 34.02 34.01 33.02

600 Aggregate 49.04 118.10 49.03 116.09 48.02 115.04 48.04 114.08 46.02 113.05 42.02 110.04 46.02 108.05

GFF to host Extraordinary Congress today

T

he Guyana F o o t b a l l Federation (GFF) will host an Extraordinary Congress today at the National Sports Resource Centre, Woolford Avenue from 10:00hrs.

The main objectives of the Congress are three-fold: to present the 2018 Independent Audited Financial report, to present the investments made in 2018 under the various c a t e g o r i e s : Te c h n i c a l Development, Competition, Capacity Building, etc and to present the 2019 expense budget and forecast for 2020.

According to GFF’s President Wayne Forde, “The extraordinary congress became necessary after the Auditors were unable to

complete their fieldwork in time for the Constitutional Ordinary Congress, which was held On May 25, 2019.”

PAGE 41

Sharma grabs five wickets as India take control of first Test

Ravindra Jadeja fends at a short ball © Associated Press

rt o p S

Ishant Sharma celebrates the dismissal of Shimron Hetmyer. (AFP / Randy Brooks)

GMR&SC 1320 Heat international drag meet

Over 100 machines registered to compete

Mark ‘Mad Max’ Menezes will provide stiff competition in his R1 in the Bikes’ category.

(Kaieteur sport photo) Team T&T and GMR&SC president Rameez Mohamed (back row right) pose for a photo at yesterday’s press conference.

2019 Senior CASA Squash Tourney

Guyana Ladies beat Bermuda & T&T 5-nil, set up finals with B’dos today - Men beat B’dos to set final with Jamaica

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