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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 OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE There is much excitement in the country of this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination, as teachers and parents celebrate the outstanding performances of students. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to every student and to all involved in the preparations of the students for the exams. All Guyanese should be proud of the success of the students, especially 16-year-old Michael Bhopaul of Queens College who obtained 24 grade ones in the CSEC exams and several other students. The success of the students should be celebrated by all, especially after several years of disastrous results in mathematics and science. This year’s results have shown some major improvements with an overall pass rate of 63.8 percent in grades one to three compared to less than 50 percent last year and previous years. This year’s results also reflect outstanding performances by students in several subject areas including Chemistry and Industrial Technology, among others. While Mathematics and Agriculture Science have reflected a slight improvement this year, there are eleven subject areas with a lower percentage of passes compared to last year’s performance. They include English, Biology, Physics, Social Studies and many other non-science subjects, which suggest that much more needed to be done in order to improve the pass rate in the sciences. It must be emphasized that the students have made their schools and country proud by their exemplary performance, now it is up to their parents to make sure that they further their education Given the overall performance in this year’s CSEC examination, no one should be blamed for those whose performance were below par, because our educational system that was inherited from Britain is too ineffective to transition and educate our youths. It is based on standardized tests which rank and compare students. Our educators ought to know that the prominence of tests as an integral part of our school system shows there is something fundamentally wrong with it. It perpetuates the culture whereby students who are categorized as bright are often given special treatment, and those who are viewed as being “dunce” are oftentimes ignored by some teachers, thus making it difficult for them to improve. It is baffling that after more than 50 years of political independence, how little has changed in the education system. And while our students are beating the odds and are performing well, it is time for the Ministry of Education to make real changes to the education system in order for it to become relevant to the needs of the country and the modern era. While there have been some improvements to the education system, they have fallen short of the requirements to help students when they leave high school. Fewer than 50 percent of students will achieve the minimum standards to matriculate into university. Without the ability of students to master the higher orders of cognitive functioning, we will not be able to achieve some of the lofty national development goals we have set for ourselves. From the time children enter the school system, their creativity and sense of innovation are discouraged; they are made to simply absorb and regurgitate information. This is how they are being tested and the test scores are used to rank or segregate them to perpetuate the social status quo. Our school curriculum must be focused on human development, the needs of the country and to produce graduates who can add value to society. It must provide them with the skills, knowledge and competencies to navigate an uncertain future. It should foster in all students the strong sense of justice, the supremacy of human rights and social responsibility to create a better Guyana. Our education should be no different from other countries.
Sunday August 27, 2017
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Chris Ram and Ramon Gaskin have insulted Guyanese Dear Editor, Wednesday August 23rd, I sat and encouraged my family to listen to a Plain Talk discussion hosted by Christopher Ram that included Ramon Gaskin. I know both men at an informal level, Gaskin and I have once before discussed WW2 and the crucial Russian Involvement. What intrigued me was the dishonesty of some aspects of the programme that were said from a position, construing with an air of certainty aspects of the present Guyana condition. Gaskin was the protagonist, while Ram the antagonist. The script was closed to external interference thus they held a fixed uninterrupted dialogue, there were no balances intended to enlighten the TV audience. The economy and the legitimate question of employment and earning power of Guyanese were where it began, this was however a lure, as no creative contribution came from Gaskin, the left wing protagonist of radical socialism as to the development of a pressure group to address the imbalances that affected current employment. For example; A- Legislation to determine our dismal construction industry, with bogus contractors, and low interest financing to support
standard work, extended to low income home buyers. B- Legislation to ensure that the private security sector pays its employees properly and offer them real legal human benefits. C- That promoters and entertainment houses follow a legal framework, which prohibits them from robbing talents. DThat the cottage industries, cultural industries, artisans etc. Be subject to serious programmes of training, soft loans with directives at replacing the inferior merchandise dumped on our market. Instead Rambo Gaskin wants to start another small party. That skit is overworked and in my home we found it disappointing. EThere was no reference made to the fact that we have lost thousands of jobs over the past thirty years to modernisation, to computers, modern shipping the stevedores are gone, to new methods of construction, to the loss of the Bauxite market at Linden, and the marginalisation of small pork knockers. Then to the monster of money laundering and the influx of illegal drug money that have through money washing saturation of cheap goods have wiped out cottage Industries like seamstresses and tailors. Inflating real estate values, impoverishing thousands, but was
encouraged through indifference by the PPP. F- Then to crime, and the inference that the president is ‘soft’ on crime, what does that translate to, more extrajudicial killings. Isn’t it obvious that most of the contract killers created by this society were one time members of this or that legal police ‘Death Squad’? Isn’t it a first that recently prisoners surrendered their illegal weapons and apologised to the authorities;, nor was the reference made that drug addiction has fuelled our crime rate? How many addicts are responsible for murders or were recruited for that purpose? The evidence is there, also, that Lawyers and Accounts do make a lot of money from the main narco- players. G- The statement by Gaskin that because of coming Oil Dollars the government will give up on Sugar and Rice is political mischief. It echoes Jagdeo, but only recently Gaskin called for the immediate closure of designated Sugar factories, he said that “Government cannot continue with its billions a month programme, but it must have plans for the people who will lose their jobs.” That was commendable though in the article he didn’t suggest how they should be redeployed. (Continued on page 5)
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The amendments to the broadcast law reflect societal consensus DEAR EDITOR, In my previous letter, I ended it by stating I will clarify on the issue of consultations. I am doing so now 1. I wish to state from the outset that I am not aware of any consultations held on the specific text of the BA 2017 after they were drafted. However, the fact that they were being developed has been it the media and public domain (ad nauseum) for well over a year and members of the public (including some prominent citizens) took the opportunity to offer suggestions during that period. One such person is Mr. Mark Benschop who offered suggestions for revised fees structure and small community based broadcasting stations. Mr. Dean and Mr. Kelly of Digicel Caribbean and Digicel Guyana voluntarily visited the Authority to offer suggestions with respect to content copyright protection for Broadcasters who purchase exclusive rights to certain programs.
2. I maintain that prior to the drafting of the Bill wide consultations were held with the majority of known stakeholders. Please allow me to provide a brief highlight of some pertinent contributions: a. In a meeting with Ms. Bibi Shadick she gave strong opinions with respect to fees, it was her expressed opinion that the annual base fee of $2.5M is reasonable and she does not support a downward review and those who cannot afford it should seek to get out of the business. b. At the meeting between myself and the pair of Shadick and Nandlall, Mr. Nandlall was very verbose about maintaining the annual licensing regime, he offered several convincing arguments for not handing out multi-year licenses.On the other hand, Ms. Beverly Harper and team from Ansa McAl/Guardian Media advocated for multiyear licenses. c. Mr. Anand Persaud of NTN and Ms. Sheliza khan of
Stabroek News Inc. pleaded for regulations to prevent other stations from showing content to which they held exclusive broadcasting rights. Mr. Rudy Grant of Ring Bang Radio offered many insights on legal regimes for music copyrights with respect to Broadcasting and the pay per play concept. d. Mr. Bobby Ramroop of TVG/RGI didn’t like the idea of zoning, he espoused the view that multiple zones and multiple channels are unnecessary because the Guyanese population is too small for such regime. He also opined that the Authority can issue one frequency per a video/ sound stream and that the holder of the frequency has to work out his technical salvation to get his sound to the greatest number of people.On the other hand, Mr. CN Sharma of CNS 6 and Mr. Alfro Alfonso of Pinacle Radio supported the idea of having zones, they remonstrated against been kept to a certain
geographic range while others were freely allowed to penetrate their signals to far flung areas, it was their belief that zoning regulations would solve this issue. e. Ms. Blackman of HBTV 9, Mr. Christe of LRTV 10, Mr. Rambarran of DTV 8 and several other Broadcasters advocated for fee reduction based on maximum captive audience. Mr. Max McKay of WRHM 7 asked that the laws requiring two separate licensing fees (one for spectrum at NFMU and one for rights to Broadcast at GNBA) be reviewed for numerous reasons, he offered. f. Ms. Carolyn Walcott of UG, Dr. Paloma Mohamed Martin and Mr. Robert Forrester all made suggestions for regulating community broadcasting (to aid the resurrection of UG broadcasting service among other things), insights with regards to the implementation of media codes and aspects of selfregulation through a repre-
Chris Ram and Ramon Gaskin have insulted... From page 4 The last insult was when Ram asked Gaskin if he can identify anything good about the current administration, he shrugged his shoulders and indicated... “Nothing” How could that be? When a PPP Minister had predicted an epidemic in a Georgetown that I wrote letters about complaining about the stench of human filth on Merriman’s mall, when friends living on Hadfield Street protested the dumping of rubbish in the
night by trucks that were identified coming from out of Town, Georgetown is now transformed, Durban Park is a development, the rain floods are handled better, roads look better, we know where our tax dollars are been spent, the PPP extended a Billion dollars to fix G/T and nothing happened, we agree that the City Council is still tremendously dysfunctional, that there are also misfits in the coalition, but far less than the past ad-
ministration. There are evident encouraging and easily recognizable physical and attitude changes in Guyana today. I belong to an organisation [ACDA] that have always advocated a national power sharing Government, this coalition is what we lobbied for, that we must be active to ensure its success in the national interest is a citizens’ right that we will not surrender, we will make public noise when necessary,
from the Plain-Talk discussion one would believe that people in this country are either born PNC, PPP or UF, this is stupid and unscientific nor is it a cultural fact,. Thus, we also have to be active with our ‘Opinion Shapers’ to remind you fellows, that we are not animate play-doh. Not most of us at least. Barrington Braithwaite
sentative a body similar to GMPA. g. The Inter Religious Organisation and non-affiliated religious bodies had formal sessions at the AC Convention Center. They made contributions that included issues concerning rating and filtering of contents to protect children and basic guidelines for content that is morally sound. h. Mr. RrawleFergeson of HJ Radio/TV and Mrs. Molly Hassan of NCN advocated for rules governing local content to encourage greater access to the airwaves by home bred producers. i. Cable operators were almost unanimous in their call for broadcasting zones and rules preventing one player from achieving near monopo-
listic dominance. They specifically argued that the BA 2011 prevents one entity from dominating any broadcasting sector and that cable broadcasting was a distinct broadcasting sector and rules should be put in place to manage this development. They further argued that they were deliberately hampered in their quest to grow while certain entities were given unbridled opportunities to grow; they made regulatory proposals to remedy and prevent this happening in the future. 3. There were many persons who wrote in the opinion columns of several dailies to offer suggestions on regulatory framework, these were meticulously cut out and bound by the GNBA. (Continued on page 6)
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The 2015 suicide rate reduction for Guyana is factual DEAR EDITOR, The Caribbean Voice wonders why Ms. Annie Balliram (whose letter was recently published in the local media) is casting doubt on the 2015 suicide rate for Guyana, which shows a reduction from 44.2 to 30.6 per 1000,000, and not all or any other previous rates. After all it is the same global organization, WHO, that has been putting out these rates annually using the same yardsticks, processes and methodologies et al. According to Ms. Balliram, “a significant reduction in suicide can come about only by addressing the abnormally high levels of stress arising out of the catastrophic social, economic and political conditions. Stress mechanistically drives suicide directly or indirectly by disrupting brain functions, thereby unleashing mental illness (e.g. depression, schizophrenia, etc.) or
substance abuse (e.g. alcoholism), or both. Stress basically hijacks the brain in eliciting suicidal behaviours.” This limited characterization by Ms. Balliram runs counter to the complete picture which, in the context of Guyana, indicates the following: Prone to copycatting, a practice referred to as the Werther Effect, suicide ideation is the result of depression and/or anxiety triggered by helplessness, hopelessness, powerlessness and loneliness. These triggers are catalyzed by low levels of self-acceptance and/or feelings of inadequacy/low self esteem, as a result of abusive and dysfunctional relationships; lack of empathetic communication, teenage affairs and pregnancy; rape and incest; an inability to deal with problems (lack of coping skills) and/or unbearable pain – physical or emotional –
poverty, unemployment and substance abuse (and to a significantly lesser degree psychosis, bipolar disorder and some other mental illnesses). Ms. Balliram also stated, “a robust reduction in the suicide rate can come about only by eliminating the primary triggers of suicide, together with making available meaningful therapeutic interventions (counselling, community support, reducing access to pesticides, etc.).” Actually, if the triggers are eliminated then so is suicide, an ideal to which all prevention organizations and activists aspire. Meanwhile, if Ms. Balliram had taken the time to get the facts, rather than merely speculate, she would have learnt about the work done by NGOs like The Caribbean Voice. For example in August alone: three mental health outreaches and three
The hectic travel schedule of City Hall so frequently overseas when be used to pay the Council’s Fantastic 4 ing Georgetown is beset by so many overdraft at the bank, the DEAR EDITOR, It seems as though each and every time I have reason to visit the CBJ International Airport either to travel in or out of Guyana or to receive or to send off relatives or friends, I always observe one or more of City Hall’s Fantastic Four members either travelling out to, or arriving from some overseas destination. It is always quite a spectacle, with their entourages including security detail, chauffeurs and other underlings following the ‘Queen of the City’ who parades in her customary loud costume bling, and the ‘King of the City’ strutting around with his inflated ego. The question to be asked is how is it that these municipal officials have the time to be jaunt-
problems? Should they not be spending their time with their boots on the ground in the various wards of the city solving the garbage crises, the drainage problems, fixing the pot holes in the roads, eradicating the mosquito infestation, repairing and replacing the defective street lights etc.? And should they not be reporting to the citizenry the purpose of these visits and the results and or benefits to the city and its inhabitants. Or do they feel no sense of accountability or answerability. But the biggest question is how could the city afford all of the hotel accommodation, meals and out of pocket allowances that are doled out each time these persons proceed on these junkets. Should this money not
more than 300 million owed to the garbage contractors, the money owed to the GPL, GWI, GRA and NIS? In this era of lightening speed internet, online shopping, teleconferencing, social media etc it is time that these municipal junkets be brought to an end, and the money wasted on them be used to buy brush cutters to weed the parapets, to procure captive bolt pistols to humanely slaughter the animals, to purchase proper uniforms for the Constabulary, garbage trucks, material to fix broken bridges around the city etc. It is time that the squander mania at City Hall be brought to an immediate end. Let us have the long outstanding audit. James Mc Onnell
workshops in three different regions, costing over $150,000, two feature articles and six letters in the local media based on researched data, suicide prevention messages daily on radio and TV in all three counties, extensive - tens of thousands of views and thousands of interactions - social media information dissemination and advocacy, twelve counseling cases handled, and a number of meetings to explore collaboration and plan upcoming activism), Thee are the following; Monique’s Helping Hands, Guyana Foundation, the Mibicuri Community Developers, the Counseling Center at Corriverton established by ex-magistrate, Krishnadat Persaud, the St. Francis Community Developers, Prevention of Teen Suicide (POTS), Help & Shelter, Red Thread, Crossroads Counseling & Mental Health Services and a host of others who give their time, efforts, skills and resources, many on a voluntary and all on an ongoing basis, to address all the triggers, their causes and results, suicide ideation and suicide. The work of these suicide prevention entities is holistic, comprising counseling and follow up, training of first responders and gatekeepers (to foster the community support through proactive interventions and follow up), information dissemination and awareness building (including safe use
and storage of pesticides), advocacy and lobbying (that led to the establishment of the suicide helpline and that is focusing on a range of other measures, including counselors in schools), a lot of it through stakeholders’ collaboration. In effect, interventions are neither a ‘band aid’ approach nor are they ‘mariginal’ and certainly do not result in merely ‘transient gains’. As well, tens of thousands of counseling sessions have been done over the years with no suicide relapse recorded, although there has been/is a some resistance to counseling because of stigmas and misconceptions attached. Furthermore, some NGOs and various government ministries and agencies also focus directly on skills building such as self-esteem, coping strategies, job training, relationship needs, or indirectly by collaboration with entities that offer such skills building – various ministries, the police force, the First Lady’s Office, businesses and other stakeholders. While we agree that a lot more needs to be done, we are confident that, in total, the impact of the work of these NGOs and activists, combined with the incremental work done by government, especially by the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs in the hinterland areas and the Ministry of Health through the mhGAP training and other measures, would certainly justify the suicide
rate reduction from 44.2 to 30.6 per 100,000. Besides, both a content analysis of the media and empirical and anecdotal data garnered by The Caribbean Voice and other stakeholders do actually support this level of reduction. The Caribbean Voice does agree with Ms. Balliram that genetics has a role in suicide. However, that is still to be clearly defined. Besides, there are differences regarding this in the scientific world with some dubbing it a controversial issue, stating that because of the complexity of suicide, more studies, data and replication are needed. In effect, the tests to identify potential risks in order to develop treatment modalities are still a long way off and thus cannot impact suicide prevention anywhere in the world, anytime soon. Meanwhile we are happy that Ms. Balliran has taken such a keen interest in suicide prevention in Guyana. Now The Caribbean Voice invites her to walk with us on this journey to save lives and empower people so her passion can take concrete manifestation and so that she would become aware of the reality on the ground and not ignore, disregard and/or negate the tremendous work of suicide prevention organizations and activists, which will not only continue but expand in time. Annan Boodram Caribbean Voice
The amendments to the broadcast... From page 5 Numerous other persons offered their opinions through various other mediums including respected Charted Accountant Mr. Nizam Ali who offered comments on financial regulations, Mr. Michael Forde offered suggestions about transmission properties and their relation to defined zones. I regret that the Authority wasn’t able to meet with the principals of the National Commission on Disability to take on board suggestions to regulate broadcasting to facilitate better access to broadcasting services by persons with disabilities.
4. I wish to reiterate that all television Broadcasters were invited to a group consultation at the GNBA and held discussions with the entire Board; matters relating to regulatory reforms were discussed. All of the consultative engagements outlined above combined to play a major role in shaping the 2017 Amendments. Some may wish to argue (and they have that right) that another round of consultations should have been held with the specific text of the amendments before going to parliament, this type of argument is purely one of personal preference and procedural semantics. It is however, a gross misrepresentation of the facts in a way that has caused public mischief and unnecessary international alarm to hold out that no consultations were
held. This sort of behavior is highly suspect in light of the fact that Guyanese from all walks of life were able to make unrestrained comments about upgrades to the regulatory framework. The PPP as a party represented by 32 MPs had its day in parliament, there is also a guaranteed seat on the GNBA Board where the party can ably consult with and make representations on behalf of its constituencies. The party failed to take up this seat for more than a year in a pledge of noncooperation perhaps as part of a larger plan to destabilize the entire national regulatory apparatus no doubt to stymie efforts at ushering good governance. Though not perfect, the Amendments are a fair reflection of the views of the majority of stakeholders. Leonard Craig
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Public Utilities Commission needs to Education in Guyana; an Inclusive by GPL. I don’t know what pronot to do so. Schools and districts have a tory actions by teachers in regulate GPL chooses Even within the strictures portion fuel use bears now to the framework ‘zero-rejection’ policy when it mainstream education. GuidDEAR EDITOR, There are those who might say that valuing the GPL for rate making purposes would be an exercise in futility since the company is essentially owned by the Government of Guyana. Making rates is an exercise in fairness to all the competing interests in the industry. Additionally, it is a cardinal principle of rate-making that both the utility and the consumers should have rate certainty. Annual rate making does not provide that certainty. Normally, rates are made to cover three to five years with triggers to protect both the utility and consumers in the event of unforeseen movements in the rate making critical variables. Further, rate making begins with being able decide on the relevance and cost of the utility’s expansion plans. Normally the utility is required to present its Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and Least Cost Expansion Plan (PCEP) to the regulator for discussion, ventilation and approval. In some countries, however, the approval of such expansion plans falls within the portfolio of the Minister with responsibility for the sector. Guyana’s falls within this latter category. Unlike Guyana, however, in every such country I am aware of the regulator acts as advisor to the Minister who does not act without the advice of the regulator. This is simply because there is a recognition that the Minister’s office is not staffed with the regulatory capacity as the regulator office. In this connection, the Office of Utility Regulations (OUR)of Jamaica, the National Utilities Regulatory Commission (NURC) of St. Lucia and the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) of Grenada are a few regulatory bodies that come to mind. They all advise their Ministers on the appropriateness and least cost option of their utilities expansion plans. Here in Guyana the PUC has no such role and can only approve GPL’s budget if the Minister
the PUC finds itself because of ESRA, there are regulatory issues it could embark on to protect the interests of consumers and other stakeholders. It is responsible for reviewing and approving the quality of service standards imposed by the ESRA once a year. Those standards are made up of issues that can be monitored, not just reported on, throughout the year. For example, GPL reports on the frequency and duration of blackouts in their System Average interruption Index (SAIFI) and System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) report. This reporting does not prevent the PUC from ordering the GPL to report outages or blackout affecting a predetermined number of households immediately as they occur. This report can also say the cause of the interruption and how soon the area is expected to be powered up again. Such a matter can be easily dealt with through an order of the Commission. While on this let me point that throughout the Caribbean Quality of Service Standards (QSS) are set by the regulator through an order. There is a reason for this. These standards are not seen as static but can be changed with competence and efficiency. If reviewed by the regulator and found to be in need of revision, they can easily be changed by a regulatory order. Because they are embedded in the ESRA in Guyana, changes to them can only be made by amending the law which entails going through the legislation process. Even so, during the annual review of these standards, the PUC can determine the continued relevance of them and make representation for changes where necessary. The PUC could also have been monitoring the use of fuel
overall cost of generation, but I am aware that at one time it stood at approximately 65% of the overall cost. The cost of fuel used form part of the rates consumers of electricity have to pay. Because of that, close attention should be paid to how it is used with the intention of minimizing the cost to the consumers. The PUC could have ordered the GPL to provide it with a schedule of the efficiencies of its generators, whether done by heat rate or otherwise. Armed with this schedule, it could then have ordered GPL to provide it with daily reports on how its generators were dispatched or brought online so that comparisons could have been made to ensure that the most efficient generators were dispatched first and the less efficient only when needed. Such comparisons would give the regulator some idea of the fuel used for the total reported generation. Combined with these could have been monthly usage reports showing the opening balances, purchases and closing balances along with copies of the orders and invoices to support the purchases. These could have been followed up with periodical fuel audits. The use of fuel and its cost to the consumer is too important to be ignored by the regulator. Lance McCaskey
DEAR EDITOR, All education system needs an inclusive framework which guides inclusive practices and polices. Guyana’s mainstream education system is no exception. It too needs a guiding inclusive framework. Loreman (2009) provides a synthesis of the features of inclusive education evident in a variety of sources situated firmly in this key features category. Loreman (2009) provides a synthesis of the features of inclusive education which can provide the learning opportunities learners with Special Education Needs (SEN) and/or disabilities need to fully achieve the desired outcomes of the individual and the society. Therefore, when learners with Special Education Needs (SEN) and/or disabilities share the same mainstream primary education system, habitus becomes unified and the power in society would have similar influence on both the learners with Special Education Needs (SEN) and/or disabilities and the general average population of learners. This will be evident in their achievements. These features of Loreman (2009) synthesis include: · All children attend their neighbourhood school.
comes to registering and teaching children in their region. · All children are welcomed and valued. · All children learn in regular, heterogeneous classrooms with same-age peers. · All children follow substantively similar programs of study, with curriculum that can be adapted and modified if needed. · Modes of instruction are varied and responsive to the needs of all. · All children contribute to regular school and classroom learning activities and events. · All children are supported to make friends and to be socially successful with their peers. · Adequate resources and staff training are provided within the school and district to support inclusion (Loreman, 2009, p. 43). Having an inclusive framework which guides inclusive practices and polices within Guyana’s mainstream education will help to minimize unintentional discrimina-
ing principles are key in a nested learning system like our mainstream education system. This guiding inclusive framework will then transcend from the mainstream education system into the society. Once the society starts thinking inclusively, there will be unison of practice in society and at school. Guyana’s inclusive framework needs to be written in collaboration after intense deliberation with all stakeholders. However, key in this deliberation are the SEN specialists in the Ministry of Education, the mainstream teachers and the learners with a Special Education Need and/or disabilities. All need to be aware of the implications for Guyana’s mainstream education system from not having its own inclusive framework. Inclusive Education is context bounded and the context of education in Guyana is different from any other mainstream education system. Lidon Lashley B.Ed., M.Ed., M.A.SEN
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Local Content Policy…
No sanctions for noncompliance by companies at this time - Trotman By Kiana Wilburg Countries across the world have experienced various challenges as it relates to the implementation of their respective Local Content Policies. One of the main hurdles, is getting oil and gas companies to comply. Nations have found that the “encouraging” nature of the policy is what is often responsible for noncompliance. This has led many territories to strengthen their Local Content Policy by including sanctions for nonconformity. The Government of Guyana has already received several submissions on the draft Local Content Policy. But according to Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, the inclusion of sanctions for noncompliance into the policy is not on the table at this time. In an interview with Kaieteur News, Trotman reminded that the Government has retained the services of Mr. Anthony Paul, a United Nations Expert who also authored the Local Content Policy for Ghana.
Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman The Natural Resources Minister said, “And so it was his (Anthony Paul’s) idea that, you start with a working draft and as the feedback comes in, it can be strengthened. It was also his recommendation and that of other experts that you don’t start your legislation with sanctions because your industry is growing. So as it grows, you implement or enact laws for that but in the beginning, sanctions could act as kind of a disincentive.”
Trotman continued, “So we are looking at best practices elsewhere. The working draft is of course being refined. In fact, Mr. Paul is due to meet with the private sector to take into account different comments for its improvements. So what we have is a working draft, we have to look not only at the lessons learn in Equatorial Guinea but also in Brazil.” The Minister added, “In the case of Brazil, it is referred to being a country with too many sanctions which in fact hurt its industry. Trinidad for example has no laws, but it has a policy…So we have been looking at a number of countries to see what would be the best fit for Guyana in terms of our own capacity and development.” As it relates to strengthening the draft policy, Trotman said that there have been a number of recommendations to close loopholes as it relates to favouritism, political interference and procurement fraud.
Sunday August 27, 2017
Chinese logger, local sawmillers awarded half of Barama’s concession Following Barama Company Limited’s relinquishing of its 1.6 million hectare forest concession in October 2016, the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) has awarded two lots totaling over 800,000 hectares of that concession to R.L. Sukhram and Sons Sawmill and RongAn Inc. According to the Ministry of Natural Resources yesterday, along with the GFC, it has taken the decision to divide the former Barama Company Limited concession into four parcels, each of approximately 400,000 hectares. The Ministry advertised two of those parcels as State Forest Exploratory Permits, which meant that there is a three-year process of assessment prior to commercial full scale harvesting. The third parcel was identified for conservation and research, while the fourth was identified for small concession allocation of areas 20,000 acres and less. Parcel 1 is a forest area of size 417,809.23 hectares and is located in the Essequibo region (North West, Mazaruni Potaro District). Parcel 2 is a forest area of size 432,262.59 hectares and is located in the Essequibo region (North West, Mazaruni Potaro District). The concessions are located in Northwest Guyana in Region 1 in the BarimaWaini, and Region 7 in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni subregions. The concession areas both have a high occurrence of a number of high-value commercial timber species, including Baromalli, Greenheart, Purpleheart, Mora, Wallaba, Crabwood and Kabukalli, among others. Parcels 1 and 2 were opened for Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for the period
ending February 10, 2017. These were advertised in the local media as well as in the international publications ‘Development Business’ and ‘The Economist’ and placed on several websites. Ten submissions were made at this deadline, some for both parcels while others were for one or the other. These firms were invited to submit State Forest Exploratory Permit (SFEP) applications, pay the nonrefundable fee, and complete a Business Plan Summary by April 28, 2017. At the deadline of April 28, 2017, five applications were received from the following entities: • Chemtech (Trinidadian firm) for Parcel 1 • R.L. Sukhram and Sons Sawmill for Parcel 2 • Rong-An Inc. for both Parcels 1 and 2 • Forlene and Sons for Parcel 2 • ACE Resources
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(Canadian firm) for both parcels Following the receipt of applications, the Technical Sub Committee of the GFC Board of Directors conducted a full review of each application. The review of the Technical Sub Committee concluded that Parcel 1 should be issued to Rong-An Inc., and for Parcel 2 to be issued to R.L. Sukhram and Sons Sawmill for a three-year period commencing July 2017 to July 2020. Following this process, a recommendation was made to the full Board of Directors at the 129th Meeting held on June 27, 2017 approved for Parcel 1 to be allocated to Rong-An Inc., and for Parcel 2 to be allocated to R. L. Sukhram and Sons. This decision was approved by the full Board and has been implemented by the GFC. “It is expected that the awarding of the two parcels will result in benefits to the forestry sector over the
course of the full operationalizing of the utilization/harvesting plan for the concession.” These include a total investment of US$9.5 million by 2020, a total of 524 new jobs when the operations are at full scale, an increase of national production level by at least 189,000 m3 annually, an increase in export revenue by at least US$7 million, and an increase in harvesting of Lesser Used Species from the current 10-15 percent to at least 25 percent of total production,” the Ministry said. The Natural Resources Ministry congratulated the two entities for successfully competing for the concessions and urges that they carry out their operations “in a manner that is compliant with the GFC Code of Practice and other laws and regulations, respectful of the environment and beneficial to the People of Guyana”.
Dem boys seh...
Is everybody want justice Every day somebody does seh, “If was me...” A man walk down de road and he see another man snatch a lady gold chain. De lady husband was nearby and he tackle de man who snatch de chain, but he get a cuff. Another man standing nearby, before he help, announce, “If was me…” That was when a lady ask him wha he woulda do. And that is often de case when people ain’t involve. But let de same thing happen to dem and is a different story. De same man who see de robbery is a hire car driver. A lady hire him to carry she to Kingston. De lady tell him wheh to stop and he pull up. De next thing he know is a man come up to him and tell him get out de car. He didn’t have to seh “If was me…” because was he and he ain’t do nutten. Instead, he go to Eve Leary to report how he car get thief. De police ask him to identify de man who tek de car and he couldn’t. Dem ask him to identify de lady and he seh he can’t remember wha she look like. Is when he come out de station that he realize is de same woman who ask him wha he woulda do when he see de man who snatch de lady chain. Dem boys seh things like that does happen when people decide to stand aside and bluff. De people in North Ruimveldt don’t bluff. Dem ketch two thieves and beat dem fuh a song. De surprising thing was when de parents of de two who get de licking go to de police and seh dem want justice. Is Mitta Sharma start this thing ‘bout justice. He was always calling fuh justice till everybody want justice. Even de thief want justice after he get a cut tail. One man get shoot after he thief and he dead. He mother tell de press how de penalty fuh thiefing is not death and she want justice. Is a strange life. Talk half and watch how you begging fuh justice.
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Sunday August 27, 2017
Kaieteur News
Two children rushed to GPHC for medical attention ...as Public Health Ministry conducts medical outreach at Kuru Kururu At least two children were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation [GPHC] yesterday during the height of a medical outreach at the Kuru Kururu Centre for Skills Training and Information Technology on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway. The medical outreach is one that was spearheaded by the Ministry of Public Health. According to information that was confirmed by the Ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Terrence Esseboom, two young girls who were among the massive turnout of residents, who sought medical attention during the outreach, were rushed to the GPHC. One of the girls, a 10-yearold was rushed to the hospital in an anaemic and dehydrated state. Accompanied by her grandmother, she was taken by ambulance to the premier public health institution in the capital city. Also rushed to the same hospital was a 13year-old girl who was examined by medical experts at the outreach and was found to be suffering from severe chest pains. “Because she was breathing heavily and had chest pains this girl was also rushed
to the Georgetown Hospital so that she could be better monitored,” said Esseboom, when asked to comment on reports of the medical emergencies. This publication understands that the conditions of the girls may have been detected in the ‘nick of time’ giving health experts the opportunity to help safeguard their wellbeing. The outreach at Kuru Kururu yesterday came as part of monthly outreaches conducted by the Public Health Ministry. Among the departments of the Ministry that usually participate in such outreaches are: the Health Promotion Unit, Dental Department, Veterinary Control Department, Food Policy Department the Chronic Diseases Unit, National Aids Programme Secretariat [NAPS] and Visual Inspection with Ascetic Acid Unit [VIA]. Also participating in the outreach yesterday was the Child Care and Protection Agency of the Ministry of Social Protection and Banks DIH. The Ministry’s outreaches in this regard have been gaining immense support from other organisations including Food For the Poor
One of the young girls being rushed to the GPHC by ambulance yesterday. Guyana and the Hope For the Nation Foundation. “We do these outreaches quite regularly, but it doesn’t always get the attention of the media,” said Esseboom as he commented yesterday. The outreaches are being conducted even as the Ministry of Public Health is giving especially serious attention to the issue of chronic non communicable diseases [NCDs]. NCDs, according to the Coordinator of the Ministry’s
Chronic Diseases Department, Dr. Kavita Singh, account for 70 percent of the country’s premature mortality. Premature mortality, Dr. Singh explained, is the death of persons before the age of 70. “That means that a lot of us will not live to that fruitful, ripe age of 70; seeing our grandchildren, or great grandchildren run around, because NCDs kill us before we get to that age,” Dr. Singh had posited during a health forum. The NCDs situation, she said, is compounded by an already shortened life expectancy age which is 63 for males and 67 for females. “There are a lot of factors that are striking at our premature mortality but at the end of it, it is usually NCDs accounting for 70 percent of all those who die before the age of 70,” the Chronic Diseases Coordinator asserted.
Sunday August 27, 2017
Kaieteur News
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Sunday August 27, 2017
Kaieteur News
Mystery plane and airstrip probe…
Businessman who allegedly hired contractor detained Police appear to now know one of the key figures behind the operation of the mystery aircraft that was found at Santa Fe. A senior official confirmed that investigators have detained a businessman, who allegedly hired a contractor to set up an airstrip in the area where the plane was discovered. “Two individuals are in custody. One of them allegedly contracted the other to prepare the airstrip with a grader to facilitate the landing of the aircraft,” the offi-
cial said. “Both of them are businessmen and owners of heavy-duty machinery. They were flown out of Lethem Thursday to CID Headquarters, Eve Leary, where they are both being interviewed.” Police have seized equipment belonging to both men, who are from Lethem.” The court has cleared the way for the police to further detain the contractor, who was arrested shortly after the discovery was made. International law enforcement agen-
cies are assisting in the investigation. It is alleged that the contractor used his front-end loader to build an illegal airstrip about 10 miles from Santa Fe. It is believed that the plane, said to be Brazilian-registered, and the airstrip, were being used for illegal activities. The plane was seized after police and other security officials journeyed to the area amid reports of strange flights. They had discovered illegal fuel and other items near a makeshift airstrip days earlier. A number of men were seen running away from the aircraft when the officials descended upon the area. During a recent visit to Lethem, President David Granger urged security officials to pull out all stops to ensure that the sovereignty of the country and its borders are protected. The Guyana Defence Force recently participated in the two-week-long Field Tactical Exercise, which President David Granger said, aimed to reaffirm that the Force is always ready to fulfill its mission to protect Guyana’s territorial integrity and is in a state of preparedness for any security threat.
Sunday August 27, 2017
Kaieteur News
China’s modus operandi around the world mirrors events in Guyana - Part 5
Overpopulation, want of more resources, fuel desire for land in overseas territories China’s obsession with getting its hands on valued commodities in vulnerable and underdeveloped countries is still under the microscope in this week’s article. Daily, China’s insatiable appetite for valuable commodities is highlighted in its modus operandi. Its favourite targets include land, gold, diamond, timber and oil. The world power’s penchant for land is today’s focus An environmental research paper written by J.W Seaquist, Emma Li Johansson and Kimberly Nicholas highlights the fact that China is the world’s number one country for taking ownership of land outside its jurisdiction. China exercises ownership of land in 33 of 195 countries. Land is generally valued in any country. However there are three main reasons why land acquisition has become so important to China. These reasons are: China’s growing population, the need for food security, and its thirst for land rich in valuable natural resources. Let us examine these three reasons. POPULATION China has close to 1.4 billion people. The country has been deemed so over populated that its authorities, since 1979, imposed a one child policy. The policy began to phase out in 2015 and has
since been reconsidered to two children per family. Because of overpopulation, and in some cases, because of business, Chinese nationals have begun to spread out. Some countries are used as a hub for Chinese nationals. However, if they spot good opportunities they may opt to spend a little more time there. Most countries have a Chinese diaspora. Born and bred citizens of Sri Lanka are beginning to complain. The Colombo Port City in Sri Lanka is actually being referred to as China City because of the population of Chinese in that country. The City is said to be 585,000 acres https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=PrAf_LVtbaI. FOOD Further, China’s economic ambitions have forced it to seek land outside of its territory in order to sustain its food security. China has approximately 20 per cent of the world’s population and only seven per cent of arable land. With its expanding industries, the country is running out of available land for agricultural purposes. According to the Financial Times, Chinese companies are encouraged to buy farmland abroad, particularly in Africa and South America to boost its food security. By the end of 2014, Chinese investors attained
File Photo: An overhead shot of the housing land owned by BaiShanLin. 240,000 hectares of farmland in Africa. Countries which experienced some of the largest investments were Mozambique, Cameroon and Ethiopia. It was also reported that China purchased a significant amount of farmland in the Congo. Outside of Africa, in 2013, China leased three million hectares of land in Ukraine at a cost of £1.7 billion. This agreement is valid for 50 years. The land is supposed to be used for growing crops and rearing pigs. Additionally, as of October 2015, Chinese company Shanghai Pengxin Group bought a total of 29 farms through local subsidiaries in New Zealand. However, the New Zealand government became concerned about the landgrabbing and rejected the company’s bid to purchase another farm at a cost £36M which measured 13,800 hectares. NATURALRESOURCES While land in itself is a major resource, there are plots that can also be rich with other resources; land with thick vegetation (timber), land rich in gold and diamond and land that covers oil, has always been China’s preference. China is in love with accumulating resource rich lands. While greater focus will be placed on the country’s appetite for gold, timber and Continued on page 63
Farmland in Crimea, Ukraine, a portion of the 11,500 square miles recently bought by the Chinese government. (Photo by thisisbossi/Flickr)
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Sunday August 27, 2017
Kaieteur News
FINANCIAL LITERACY:
Secrets of the Minds of Millionaires
CREATINGTHE MINDSET OFAMILLIONAIRE As we continue to promote awareness of the importance of financial education and literacy we must be reminded that, personal financial management is the roadmap to maintaining and sustaining your wealth. This fact remains consistent whether you are just starting your career with a new job or you have been managing your own finances for many years. I have observed this idea or concept of managing personal finances during my
worldwide travels as an official of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (Central Bank of the United States). A key element of your personal financial management roadmap must be your mindset. The good thing is that there are strategies to help you think like a wealthy person. Thinking like a millionaire will serve you well in life. What is a more accurate statement is that, “learning to be in control of yourself, increase your knowledge and develop what it takes to earn wealth is not easily
earned, and not easily kept up, unless you plan to do it.” You have to take the steps to make it happen and to maintain it. In this article, we will discuss the mindset that leads to financial success and how the rich manage their finances. THE MINDSETTHAT LEADS TO FINANCIAL SUCCESS The bottom line is that wealth actually comes from wisdom including your mindset and decision making abilities. Developing a mindset that uses strategic
thinking is the only way you will maintain your wealth successfully. According to the literature, “the most difficult part of creating the mindset of a millionaire is selfexamination.” It requires deep introspection and a selfanalysis that necessitates that you write things down to ponder. Take a look at your skills, the way you work and those characteristics and skills that will assist in your goals. Be honest. Think also about comments others have made to you over the years but be careful. In general, we must be careful in assessing how others see us, negatively or positively. In addition, examine your work ethic and the way you spend money. With respect to work, do you slide when you can, or do you satisfy all requirements expected of you? With respect to money, are you aware where yours goes and are you disciplined at saving, as well as are you honest about how much money you spend wastefully? What about your values and do you say one thing and then act differently? Do you say that you value saving, but spend excessively? Looking at all these aspects will help clear the mind for successful, strategic thinking. Finally, assess what you do not know that you do not know. The research literature indicates that, “of all the things there are in the world to know, we actually know very little, and we have no clue about things we have no knowledge of. We close ourselves off to improvement and learning, because we think we have enough.” HOW THE RICH MANAGES THEIR FINANCES The mindsets of millionaires are permanently open to opportunities, knowledge, people and ideas.
In the book, The Millionaire Next Door, William Danko and Thomas Stanley express the main premise that, “people who look rich may not actually be rich; they overspend – often on symbols of wealth – but actually have modest portfolios and, sometimes, big debts.” On the other hand, actual millionaires tend to live in m i d d l e - i n c o m e neighbourhoods, drive economical cars, wear simple watches, and buy suits off the rack. Please note that the research for the book was performed by surveying people in “so-called upscale neighbourhoods” across the United States. Let the key concepts be your take away from this article. So let us discuss lessons in wealth building from the millionaires next door. The following are four of the main financial concepts that the millionaires seem to share: 1. Most of the millionaires are frugal – In addition, instead of buying expensive things that are seldom used, they rent as needed. It seems that the millionaires see things differently. Their goal is to become financially independent. The millionaires enjoy what money will buy but they do not flaunt their money. However, they spend very carefully and with an appreciation of the value of what they purchase. Amassing large sums of money is not gathered by paycheques alone. It is attained by being economical with the paycheque and with wise investing. In fact, the millionaires seem to agree that if you manage your money effectively, it can support you and your family for a lifetime. 2. Millionaires work with a budget – The majority of millionaires have a budget. They spend a lot of time budgeting and they are willing to spend it. In fact,
Dr. Terence Smith, Deputy Governor, Bank of Guyana “prodigious accumulators of wealth spend nearly twice as many hours per month planning their investments as under accumulators of wealth.” According to Danko and Stanley, “a strong positive correlation between investment planning and wealth accumulation” exists with the millionaires. 3. Millionaires own their own home – Most millionaires own their own home. According to The Millionaire Next Door, half of millionaires have lived in the same house for more than 20 years. Nothing has a greater impact on your wealth and consumption than your choice of house and neighbourhood. If you live in a high-priced home in an exclusive community, you will spend more than you should and your ability to save and build wealth will become compromised, many people living in million dollar homes are not millionaires. 4. The majority of millionaires own their cars – The majority of millionaires own their cars, rather than lease. Approximately a quarter have a current model, but another quarter drive a car that is four years old or older. More than a third tends to buy used cars. According to “Stop Acting Rich”, the most popular carmaker among millionaires is Toyota. The research indicates that nonmillionaires buy eighty-six percent of “prestige/luxury” cars such as BMWs and Mercedes. In conclusion, please remember, developing a mindset that can lead you forward to financial success is the only way you will be able to earn wealth without inheriting it. Create a mindset that will truly make strategic decisions that leads to financial success. Wealth is not the same as income. If you have a good income and spend it all, you are not getting any wealthier. Wealth is what you accumulate, not what you spend. Next week we will discuss more of King Solomon’s money principles (Part 2). Thanks for all your comments and support. As usual, please send your comments or questions to deputygovernor@ bankofguyana.org.gy
Sunday August 27, 2017
Kaieteur News
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Sunday August 27, 2017
Sunday August 27, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Students’ ability to matriculate is key focus of Ministry – Education officials Students will not be permitted to write many subjects if they do not have the ability to matriculate. This assertion was recently amplified by Chief Education Officer [CEO], Mr. Marcel Hutson, when the results of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate [CSEC] examination were released. Hutson posited that “if we allow our children to write [many subjects], particularly in our junior secondary schools, it will affect their performance and we don’t want their performance to be affected.” In fact, the CEO noted that the Ministry does not intend to spread its resources thin at the expense of students not being able to matriculate. Over the years, a number of students have been writing in excess of 11 subjects. In fact this year’s national top performer, Michael Bhopaul of Queen’s College, achieved the phenomenal feat of passing 25 subjects, of which he secured 21 distinctions. Although a circular was disseminated throughout secondary schools that limited the number of subjects students will be able to write, at the senior and junior secondary schools, Hutson explained that the Ministry has also made provision for exceptional students. Based on the circular that was distributed, students of senior secondary schools would be limited to 10 subjects and those of junior secondary schools will be limited
Chief Education Officer, Mr. Marcel Hutson. to six. Since alternative provisions are made for exceptional students, Hutson assured that students who are capable will still be allowed to write as many subjects as they like. In an interview with this publication, Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry, explained further that students will be allowed to write as many additional subjects as they like, based on the recommendation coming from individual schools. “If your school recommends that you do so many subjects, then so be it. They make their recommendations based on performance... so based on your performance they can even recommend you to do 30 something [subjects] or based on your performance they could recommend that you do five. That has always been the case and will remain the case,” said Minister Henry, even as she asserted that the school system is always required to
work with rules and regulations. Moreover, the Minister amplified that the focus of her Ministry is more on quality of performance and not on the quantity of subjects written. “The number of subjects...this can get you some attention, [but] it is not our primary focus. Our focus is to ensure that students in the secondary schools are able to matriculate, and that is, to pass Mathematics and English,” Minister Henry emphasised. In recognition of deficiencies and lapses in the system, the Minister added, “we have to ensure we take responsibility and implement systems that can better allow our students to matriculate.” In this regard, moves are being made by the education system to address the weaknesses in the system. In fact, Hutson revealed that the Ministry’s intent is to pay particularly close attention to
The Baccoo Speaks Another criminal band will attack a home in the eastern part of the country with some success. The homeowners would recognize one of the attackers and this would prove crucial to the police. There is going to be an arrest not long after. ** Quick thinking would avert disaster when a fire would start in a kitchen. The homeowner would actually
forget a pan on the fire and a fire would start. The saving grace would be that the home
is made of a fire-resistant material and there would be water around. ** The media would reveal an act of dishonesty in a government department. The officer would be in the habit of interfering with the cheques for old age pensioners. The auditors would discover the discrepancies and he police would be called in.
Minister of Education, Ms. Nicolette Henry. the lower performing schools. “What we want to see is all of our children matriculate. If you do not pass Mathematics and English you will find yourself in difficulty in terms of matriculating. That is why we have
emphasised to some degree that our teachers pay keen attention to children who need the extra attention in terms of remediation. In terms of staffing, also, we have been looking seriously at how we can have some of our top teachers, who have been do-
ing exceedingly well, placed in those schools, because at the end of the day these are all our children and we have to do everything that is necessary, everything that is in our power to ensure that we lift the standards of those schools,” Hutson said. Efforts to improve the performance at schools nationally will entail improved management and supervision, according to Hutson, who also disclosed that the Ministry has been ensuring that teachers are able to benefit from continuous professional development sessions. “We have a number of teachers from those schools, who are coming to the National Centre for Educational Research Development [NCERD] so that they can be impacted in a positive way, and so that they can in turn impact change at the secondary level,” the CEO asserted.
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Sunday August 27, 2017
Kaieteur News
Ship of Secrets By Michael Jordan If you were to visit Bartica, you would see an ancient, half-sunken vessel jutting out of the river, in the vicinity of Triangular Street. It was a ship of secrets, some say; a haven for rapists and lost drug addicts. The rotting remnants of that ‘steamer’ also hold the secret of a dark deed that four drunken, drug-crazed men allegedly committed 21 years ago. The person at the centre of this diabolical act was 38year-old Jean Khan, a quiet, easy-going individual who lived at Carabeese Hill, Bartica. She was childless, and worked as a cook at the popular Harbour Cove Hotel in First Avenue. This meant that she sometimes worked at night, and, though the community was relatively crimefree, some of her relatives were concerned about her safety on the ‘graveyard shift.’ Indeed, one night, when Jean was heading home to the family’s former residence on Fifth Avenue, a group of men had tried to accost her. She had barely managed to escape to the safety of her home. According to relatives, Jean would have another en-
counter with these same men, but with tragic consequences this time. On Sunday, June 9th, 1996, Jean slept at her boyfriend’s home in Third Avenue. She returned home the following day, then headed for work at the Harbour Cove Hotel. She worked until 9:00 pm, but stayed on at the hotel with friends. It is alleged that during
the night, Jean was joined at the hotel bar by four men whom she knew. Some reports suggest that two of the men were her former boyfriends. According to reports, Jean eventually became intoxicated as the men plied her with liquor. Eventually, she left with one of the men, who had a bicycle. It is said that by then, she was so intoxicated that she twice tumbled off her companion’s bicycle.
A relative of Jean Khan said that sometime that night, one of her sons, who was eleven at the time, spotted four men near the riverside. The men appeared to be searching for a bunch of keys, and made remarks about ‘enjoying themselves.’ At around 8:30a.m the following day, some residents who were bathing at the riverside were shocked to see the battered body of a woman lying on the old, half-sunken ‘steamer’. They were even more shocked when they realized that the dead woman was the hotel cook, Jean Khan. The victim was still
dressed in the black skirt and white blouse that she had worn the night before, but was barefooted. Someone had clubbed her in the head, knocking out some of her teeth in the process. An autopsy would later reveal that her neck was also broken, although it was believed that this occurred when Jean’s killers threw her corpse onto the vessel. Detectives who scoured the scene located the victim’s underwear, slippers and umbrella in a clump of bushes nearby. They also found liquor bottles and a drinking glass, which were checked for fingerprints. Detectives eventually arrived from Georgetown to assist in the murder investigation. The investigators were informed about the drinking spree the previous night at the hotel. They also received reports that persons had seen Jean Khan arguing with the man who had carried her on his bicycle. The detectives soon rounded up the four men with whom Khan was seen drinking the previous night. It was alleged that the four suspects were habitual drug users. During their investigations, detectives even ar-
rested a suspect in the 1991 murder of a sex worker, and it appeared that the suspect might be linked to Jean Khan’s death. However, after weeks of investigation, those leads petered out and all the suspects were eventually released. No one else was ever arrested, despite promises of a reward by the Bartica business community. A female relative of Jean Khan is convinced that these are the men who killed her sibling. She alleged that some of the men had even attacked a detective who came from Georgetown to investigate the case. But according to her, fate has not been kind to the suspects. Two of them have since died, while the other two became drug addicts. . But still, after over two decades, no one really knows for sure who lured Jean Khan to the sinking ship of secrets so long ago. If you have any further information on this incident or any other interesting case please write to us or contact us by phone on 22-58465, 2258491 or 22-58458. You can also contact Michael Jordan via his email address: mjdragon@hotmail.com
Sunday August 27, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Freddie kissoon column
You cannot and will not win in this country When a country is blighted and has gone far beyond the boundary of irrationality and nihilism, the affliction permeates the entire country, not just the political and social hierarchy. The psychic disease overcomes the entire society taking in all classes, all types. Political and legal leadership make decisions that affect the formal and personal life of the citizenry. We tend then to direct our anger at such sections and we find such compartments of society wanting. But it affects the entire society, not just the entire polity. Something happened to this country a long time ago that has rendered the action, character, personality and ontology of its people, illogical, exasperating, inexplicable, inscrutable and selfdestructive. I saw the coolant dripping from the top of the radiator cork on Friday morning as I was about to drive off with my dog to the National Park for my matutinal exercises. I figured out that since it would take less than five minutes to get a cork on Sheriff Street, I would buy one, and after the radiator cooled down while I was exercising, I would change it. I went to one of the longest serving auto-spares shops in Guyana. Here is how the con-
versation went; “I need a radiator cork for my car.” “What car do you have?” I told him I have a Toyota Rav 4, the older model. He said; “All Toyotas carry the same cork.” This did not make sense to me. I just instantly didn’t feel comfortable with that, so I said; “are you sure?” to which he answered in the affirmative. There were two attendants and from patronizing that place, I knew them a long time, so I figured they must know their thing. But there was this nagging doubt. He brought the cork in a plastic folder and please believe me when I said three times, I repeat, three times before I paid and walked away; “are you sure this one will work?” He insisted it would. I had a long walk and a long run with my dog, pulled up the bonnet to change the cork; it would not fit. My guess if I fastened it on the radiator mouth and drive from the National Park to Sheriff Street back to the shop to show him what type of cork I used, my car would not overheat. I told him he sold me the wrong stuff and I showed him my old cork. “Oh, you need the regular one,” he exclaimed. Anger descended over my entire physical and
mental being. I spouted out; “man, I asked you three times if that will work, all you had to do is tell me and show me the other type you had.” He gave me the regular one, came out of the shop and placed it on my radiator. If my car had overheated with my dog inside, it would have been due to a silly man who in seconds could have showed me or told me he had two types of radiator corks. I believe very deeply in my soul that such an encounter would never have taken place in another country, even with a semi-literate
attendant. Only in Guyana man, only in Guyana. On Thursday afternoon, I called the National Library. I asked the voice on the other line, if the library officials had seen that there is a ruptured pipe under the road right in front the library’s entrance and if they had informed GWI. She said she didn’t know about it. I told her it is on Church Street right in front the entrance. “Maybe it is water from the canal,” she uttered. I said; “but the road is way above the canal.” I had no time for her, so I
called the water waste section of GWI.After describing what I had seen the past month, the lady said she would pass on the information. Then she asked for my name and number. That stumped me. My daughter and wife were right there when I made the call, and they couldn’t understand why she wanted my name and number. I simply said; “lady, I am a public-spirited citizen telling you about water wastage, just get your people to look into it, forget about my name and number,” and I hung up the phone. Those two incidents are just a drop in the ocean of encoun-
Frederick Kissoon ters I have in this country. Like the day I spent the entire morning looking for the lost dog of my daughter’s friend in South Ruimveldt, and it was the wrong place the caller said she saw the dog. Only in Guyana, man!
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Sunday August 27, 2017
Kaieteur News
Development of Leguan without political strings By Imran Khan, Director of Public Information It was way back in the 1980’s and I was only a young boy at the time, but I remember the day well - one does not readily relinquish certain memories. It was a blustery Saturday morning during the August school holidays. My grandfather was going to make a business trip to the ‘big island’ in the ‘big river’, and he took along a cousin and I on what was then the big-
gest adventure of our young lives. We left our home in the village of Vergenoegen and headed to Parika, East Bank Essequibo where we boarded the early morning ferry to the sprawling island of Leguan. For years we had yearned to visit that large island. In the afternoons, us boys, after seawall cricket was wrapped up, would sit on the Vergenoegen foreshore and gaze in wonder at this green expanse of land sitting majestically in the
grand Essequibo River. As the sun set, it would fade into the darkness with only the flicker of a few lamps visible until it emerged again at morning light. The tales of the ‘big island’ were tall and engrossing. Men from our village would speak of the thrills of catching bundaree crabs at Dauntless, Leguan’s outermost point where the Atlantic Ocean waters mingle with the Essequibo flow. Stories of the large size and quantity of crabs fascinated us boys. Through the
years, Leguan remained embedded in our minds as a place of mystery and appeal. We all longed to visit. We had even contemplated swimming across the river at low tide, but good sense prevailed. The Essequibo River is rough. And so, on this particular Saturday morning, Uncle Hassan and his two grandsons were on our way. On arrival, however, the lustre and mystique of the island diminished somewhat. Our hosts met us at the stelling with a muddy tractor, our mode of transportation for the day visit. The tractor made practical sense in view of the bad condition of the roads which were more akin to dams. There were craters the size of small houses, and substantial breakages/holes which the tractor operator manoeuvred around most skillfully. 30 YEARS OF NEGLECT In 2016 it was almost 30 years since my first visit when I had encountered all those challenging conditions of life and living in Leguan. Whatever the reason(s) for the neglect of this charming rural community, the PPP government, from 1992 and throughout the ensuing 23 years, did little to improve living conditions for the residents. They did patch bits and pieces of road over the last two decades - a mile here, two miles there, in total three or four bits on an island with about 17 miles of road. Residents had felt neglected for many, many years by the absence of proper infrastructure. They complained about shoddy and sub-standard road work that deteriorated quickly. This badly affected their ability to work efficiently, and their children to travel to school without mishap. In 2016 the metamorphosis of the island began. A massive
road surfacing project got underway utilizing the Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s mobile asphalt plant. By the end of the year with round-the-clock work, about 50% of the former loam and mud roads were completely paved to bring relief to years of suffering. The road project continued this year and will not end until all roads are upgraded. With new roads, taxi drivers can now drive around without fear of undue wear and tear on their vehicles; schoolchildren can ride comfortably to school on their bicycles, and farmers can now move with ease to and from their farms and to transport their produce to the Enterprise stelling destined for the bustling Parika Market, the West Coast Demerara, Georgetown and East Coast Demerara markets as well. TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES In addition to the obvious benefits, asphalted roads in Leguan now allow the island to develop tourism opportunities that will create related jobs and additional economic activities. Guyanese and overseas visitors would be more inclined to visit. The improvement of transportation services will also benefit restaurants, bars and shops even across the river. Demand for cash crops is likely to increase as the demand for indigenous cooked and processed foods picks up alongside arrival of more visitors. DEVELOPMENT WITHOUTPOLITICAL STRINGS There is also a political dimension to this development which cannot be ignored. It is general knowledge that the people of Leguan voted resoundingly for the PPP in the
Imran Khan
2015 General and Regional Elections. There were eight polling stations on the island, each one recording landslide numbers for the PPP as has been the pattern since before Independence. This situation, as with the rest of Guyana, is of little consequence when it comes to people development in this great land of ours. Alongside the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, national programmes designed by the Ministries of Public Telecommunications, Public Health, Education, Sports and Culture, along with the STEM programme and other youth initiatives will reach Leguan shortly. Leguan is no longer being neglected, as our Coalition Government has vowed that our people must never again be persecuted through neglect of services and infrastructure because of how they choose to vote. The thrust of the AFC and our partners in the Coalition Government is “Development without political strings”. We all embrace a mindset that national development is for every citizen, not some. National development will not be tied to political support. A new day is upon us, and it has been 30 years or so in the making. I look forward to visiting Leguan again to see with mine own eyes how far along the island has come.
Sunday August 27, 2017
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Kaieteur News
My column
Damned if you do; damned if you don’t Some people in society are often caught in a situation where they are damned if they do and damned if they don’t, none more so than the government. The law enforcement officers are criticized when they allow prisoners to move around without handcuffs. I have been to the courts and I have seen potentially dangerous prisoners walking around without handcuffs and sometimes without shackles on their feet. Immediately people, spurred by the media, raised a hue and cry. Pretty soon, most prisoners were shackled, although many women were not. I remember when Major Bruce Munroe, his wife, Carol Ann and Leonard Wharton, were arrested and charged with treason. From the inception we knew that the charges would not stand, that there was simply no evidence. I was at the court when they were taking Carol Ann Munroe back to the holding area of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. They had her feet in shackles. There was Ms Munroe walking down the concrete stairs of Court One with these shackles on her feet and handcuffs. There is no need to talk about the unbalanced state of such a person. The advice is that anyone climbing up or
down a stairway should hold the rails. Carol Munroe could not, but to make it worse, the people escorting her did not hold her and she almost slipped on one occasion. I was angry and actually asked one of the escorts to hold her. On another occasion, a prisoner hurled a bottle of water at a reporter who was attempting to take his photograph. He was handcuffed to another prisoner, so that one of his hands was free. There were numerous cases of the police attempting to avoid being overly aggressive and coming in for flak. So there it was, they played by the book to handcuff a 94-year-old man who is before the courts charged with forging a land title. Most people do not live to that age, and most of them who do are not even mobile or senile, but this man was. The shock was that the police saw it fit to have him handcuffed at the court. I can only assume that whoever did was playing by the rules that apply under such conditions. However, there are now the criticisms. To my mind, laws are just what they are, but they are not written in stone. Man was never made for the law; therefore the decision to
handcuff a 94-year-old man could not have been a specific law. It could not have been written in stone. Surely the authorities did not expect this man to escape from custody. There will be some fallout but nothing significant, because we are a people who fuss for a while. The late Dr Cheddi Jagan described us as a nine-day wonder. We are impressed and angered by something for no more than nine days. Then we forget. The extent of our protests is a clear indication of that nature. Society can be fickle. I remember when crime threatened to get out of han d . There was a group of policemen who took on the criminals with a violence that was unprecedented. Guns had just become the weapon of choice for the criminals and the police responded in kind. Criminals were killed and pretty soon society began to protest at the extent of the killings. The 2002 jailbreak came and gun crimes moved to another level. Even more people died and society continued to voice its abhorrence. A new police commissioner, Winston Felix, came on the scene and he put a lid on police excesses. A man, Solomon Blackman, who was a former policeman walked into the Brickdam Police Station, disarmed a guard
and killed some policemen. Felix was reported to instruct his ranks not to kill Blackman. In the end, Blackman went to prison and killed a prisoner. He did not live long after because the prisoners retaliated. Soon the police were fighting for their lives and society remained silent, scared at the level of violence, and perhaps pondered their criticisms of the police. When the violence became too much, the very society called on the police to react. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t. But what about a middle road? Society has no middle ground. There was an attempt at a bank robbery; the police shot one of the bandits and placed him in their vehicle. The people who gathered around screamed at the victim demanding that he remove his hands and allow the onlookers to see his face. “Y’all don’t want wuk.”
There was no sympathy. Another was caught in a stall across the road and a voice could be heard telling the police not to kill him. This was because there were people who still believed that life is sacred. These same people would catch a thief and beat him to within an inch of his life. I have seen criminals who expressed joy at the sight of a policeman. The government is often caught in this boat. Suddenly people who were silent have become vocal. ExxonMobil found oil in places where others searched, largely because of the technology. There was the euphoria, but then came the various pieces of advice to the government. There was even talk that it would have been wise for the government to let the oil remain where it is. Such is the nature of society. So we are back where we started—the handcuffing of a 94-year-old man. One can
Adam Harris only suggest that it is a matter of commonsense and reasoning. People go to jail for the crimes they commit. A man cons some young girls a few months after he is released from prison for a similar crime. A magistrate sentences him to jail and here she applies the law. She sentences him to a period of imprisonment on each charge then orders that they run consecutively. Society applauds. Other convicts would have served concurrent sentences and society would have remained apathetic.
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Sunday August 27, 2017
Kaieteur News
Organise and Mobilise, Don’t Agonise By David A. Granger PART 2 FIVE-POINT PROGRAMME The Government of Guyana will work with nongovernmental organisations which represent people of African Descent – during the remaining years of the International Decade. I commit the Government which I lead to the fulfilment of the programme in five main areas. There are 10 areas in the international programme, but I have extracted five. The first is expiation or what some people call an apology. Expiation: It is a hard thing to apologize. They [Europeans] have apologized to the Jews for the holocaust, but this is a hard thing and the Caribbean Governments are insisting on an apology, because a crime was committed, and they must say that they are sorry. As you know, a National Reparations Committee was established in Guyana in February of 2014. This was in response to a mandate given seven months earlier by the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community at the 34th Regular Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community. The Heads, also in March 2014 in
International Year for People of African Descent St. Vincent, accepted a 10point Draft Regional Strategic Operational Plan for a Caribbean Reparatory Justice Programme (CRJP). The Plan of Action, inter alia, must demand an apology for slavery and the payment of reparations. I want you to remember these dates and documents, because we must not sleep walk into the future without understanding that we must follow a plan and I feel it is part of the task today of this Cuffy 250 forum to work with that plan and not abandon that plan. Twenty months have passed; we only have another 100 months for this decade. We have to make this decade work for people of African descent. Education: The foreparents of present-day African-Guyanese had the vision, after Emancipation, to recognize that education was the means to lift them and their children out of the morass of poverty and economic exclusion. Education remains the way out of poverty and inequality. The right to free primary education – protected under our ‘Constitution’ – does not prevent more than
4,000 Guyanese children from dropping-out of school each year. We have to take responsibility because nobody else will. This is what the boats, bicycles, and buses are all about. It is about getting children to school and keeping them in school. Just as our illiterate fore-parents 178 years ago, saw the benefits of education, we their educated descendants, can do no better than to ensure that every single child goes to school and stay in school. Equality: Ethnic discrimination and lack of equal access to public services contribute to inequality. People of African Descent, in the past, have alleged acts of discrimination in both the public and private sectors and there was evidence that there was discrimination. We must now correct that situation because discrimination against anyone promotes insecurity and social exclusion and that could lead to disorder. The Plan of Action must give the assurance that no group or community would be disenfranchised or pre-
vented from accessing public services. People of African Descent must be assured that they would not be discriminated against and hindered in accessing public services – including housing, education, health, utilities and most important their land rights. Economy: The village movement began at least in November 1839, a little more than a year after Emancipation. Those early villages and the impact that they had on Guyanese society must be imprinted on our psyche. I have seen writings by East Indian writers 100 years ago, encouraging Indians to do like the Africans and buy land and establish villages. So it [is clear that the Village Movement] made an impact. The villages were cradles not only of a free economy which gave rise to village markets but they were also the cradle of local democracy which allowed villagers to run their own communities. The villages are important because most Africans live there. Many people believe the myth that Africans are city-dwellers. It is true that they may form the majority of the population in Georgetown, New Amsterdam and Linden but the majority of Africans live in the countryside. The villages, as I said, are the cradle of democracy and the cradle of the local economy and it is right that Cuffy 250 should focus on what has been happening in the villages. The hurdles that had to be overcome were daunting and the legislative barriers and the aggression, particularly from what was then called the Court of Policy which is now the equivalent of the National Assembly, did tremendous damage to the villages. The villages were the home of our households,
homes of our schools, homes of our churches, homes of our farms. We have to walk on two legs improving not only at the economy, but also improving the way those villages are governed. The villages gave dignity to the freed Africans coming out of the indescribable circumstances of enslavement. The plan of action which I challenge you to contemplate today should aim at revitalizing village economies. The thrifty fore-parents of African-Guyanese accumulated their limited resources after Emancipation and bought lands on which were established propriety and communal villages. It is the intention of this Government to establish a Lands Commission in order to rectify the anomalies and resolve the controversies w h i c h u p t o n o w, s u rrounds thousands of hectares of communal lands which were purchased in the post-Emancipation Village Movement. Employment: The problem of unemployment is one that is of serious concern to People of African Descent. The government is aware of the plight faced by many school-leavers to find jobs. The Plan of Action must aim at reducing the high incidence of unemployment in the economy and aim at creating an entrepreneurship programme to assist young Guyanese to establish and manage their businesses. TIME TO ORGANIZE, TIME TO MOBILISE Guyana has to plan seriously for the next 100 months of the Decade for People of African Descent. I iterate that twenty months of the ‘International Decade’ have elapsed already. This is the time to organize. This is the time to mobilise and not to agonize interminably about the condition in which we
President, David Granger find ourselves as a nation. This is the time to organize and mobilise so that at the end of the decade, the Government and the Guyanese people can report confidently they have achieved the objectives of the United Nations International Decade for people of African Descent. Consult among yourselves how best the African Guyanese organizations in Guyana can be mobilized to achieve specific measureable targets month after month, year after year in the fulfillment and achievement of those objectives. Guyanese recall that, over the past 25 years, there has been a remarkable revival of social consciousness. Several African-Guyanese organisations — the African Cultural Development Association (ACDA); African Heritage Foundation (AHP); African Welfare Convention (AWC); All African-Guyanese Council (AAGC); Forum for the Liberation of AfricanGuyanese (FLAG); National Emancipation Trust (NET); Movement for Economic Empowerment (MEE); Pan-African Movement (PAM); ‘Revival of Awareness and Promotion of African Culture (RAPAC); for example — have been established. I ask that some forum be created, so that nobody could be left out, everyone could be involved and consulted if we are to achieve the objectives of this international decade. My brothers and sisters, This is the time to organize, the time to mobilize. We are obliged not only to look back at the contributions of those who helped to build Guyana but also to look forward to the type of country we wish to bequeath to our children and grandchildren. All Guyanese are entitled to share equitably in the patrimony of this great country.
Sunday August 27, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Bloating and Gas: Uncomfortable and unsuspecting cause of belly pains By Dr Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine Belching or passing gas (flatus) is natural and common. Excessive belching or flatus, accompanied by bloating, pain or distention of your belly, can occasionally interfere with daily activities or cause embarrassment. But these signs and symptoms usually don’t represent any serious underlying condition and are often decreased with simple lifestyle measures. Today we will discuss this very common and uncomfortable problem. WHAT CAUSES GAS? Causes of gas include: - Swallowing air, often while eating, drinking, or smoking. Swallowed air usually comes back out as a burp. - Eating certain foods, such as beans, broccoli, fruit, wheat, potatoes, corn, and noodles. Bacteria in the intestines digest parts of these foods and spit out gas. - Trouble digesting certain foods, such as wheat or dairy products - Conditions that harm the digestive system WHAT CAUSES BLOATING? The colon has a lot of bends in it. When air gets trapped in these bends, you might feel cramps or sharp
pains. This pain is common in the middle and top of the belly on either side. HOW MUCH GAS IS NORMAL? Most people pass gas 14 to 23 times each day. Burping, before and after meals, is also common. Gas bothers some people more than others. WHY DOES MY GAS SMELL? Most of the gas that comes out of your anus has no smell. But some of it contains a substance called sulfur. Sulfur smells bad to most people. IS THEREANYTHING I CAN DO ON MY OWN TO GET RID OF GAS AND BLOATING? You might feel better if you: - Cut down on certain foods. Write down what you eat so you can figure out which foods are causing your gas. Everyone’s body is different. Common causes of gas are: •Milk and dairy products •Beans •Some vegetables, such as cabbage, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, broccoli, potatoes, and corn •Some whole grains, such as wheat •Most types of fruit •Artificial sweeteners •Soda and other fizzy drinks •Chewing gum
- Take medicines that contain simethicone (sample brand names: Maalox AntiGas, Mylanta Gas, Gas-X, or Phazyme). You can get these at a drug store. Simethicone breaks up gas bubbles in your intestines. - Take a product called Beano before eating gascausing vegetables and fruits. This can help your body digest beans and some vegetables. - Take a medicine called bismuth subsalicylate (brand name: Pepto-Bismol). This can help make gas smell less bad. SHOULD I SEE A DOCTOR? See your doctor if you also have any of these symptoms: - Diarrhea that lasts longer than 5 days - Unexplained weight loss - Belly pain - Blood in bowel movements - Loss of appetite - Unexplained fever - Throwing up for longer than 2 days (48 hours) ARE THERE TESTS I SHOULD HAVE? Your doctor will decide which tests you should have based on your age, other symptoms, and individual situation. There are lots of tests, but you might not need any. HOW IS GAS AND BLOATING TREATED?
That depends on what is causing your gas and bloating. Treatments can include: - Changing what you eat and drink - Changing how you eat and drink. Eating more slowly can help with burping. - Using supplements to help you digest dairy products - Taking medicines that you can buy at a drug store - Taking medicines that your doctor prescribes CAN GAS BE PREVENTED?
· You can reduce your chances of getting gas again by: - Staying away from foods and drinks that cause gas for you - Taking Beano when you eat beans and some vegetables - Taking supplements that help you digest dairy, if that is your problem - Eating more slowly If you are sensitive to certain foods that may cause your gas and bloating, then minimize their use. Most often it has to do with what you
Dr. Zulfikar Bux take in and how you do it. If your gas continues after controlling your intake, then visit your doctor to make sure there is not an underlying condition causing your gas and bloating.
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SUNDAY OVER 50 COUNTRIES DISCLOSE OILAND GAS CONTRACTS TO CITIZENS …BUTAPNU+AFC GOVT. CONTINUES TO HIDE EXXON’S In the interest of transparency and accountability— a principle that the APNU+AFC Government campaigned on— over 50 countries around the world engage in the practice of making oil and gas contracts open to the citizenry for scrutiny. This is according to Openoil.net. These contracts are also available for download on that website. Openoil has one of the world’s first comprehensive archive lists of oil contracts. These are pulled from states such as Mexico, Angola, Chad, Guatemala, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Syria, and Ukraine. USA oil giant, ExxonMobil has operations in all of the mentioned countries in which disclosure of contracts is practiced. Officials, who support the Openoil webpage, categorically believe that all contracts which govern publicly owned natural resources and the livelihoods of people should be placed into the open for all to access and examine. But this is not the case at the moment in Guyana. For 23 years under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), the media, and the citizenry by extension, have not had access to a single major developmental contract. Some of these contracts in question involve the Sanata Complex deal, Baishanlin Forest Development, Vaitarna Holdings Private Inc., the Marriott Hotel and the Berbice Bridge. A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), while in opposition, spoke against the fact that these contracts had been kept from public scrutiny for years. But now that the coalition is in office, it sings a different tune. AFC Government officials say that the contracts cannot be released because contained in them, are strict nondisclosure clauses which were signed onto by the PPP. It insists that these obviously have to be adhered to. Meanwhile, APNU Government officers say that all contracts should be released once they do not infringe upon security issues. Specifically uttering such sentiments was President David Granger during a previous interview with this newspaper. The Government’s recent actions, however, have led some critics to believe that it is walking in the same footsteps of its predecessor when it comes to the release of contracts. When it comes to the contract between the Government and Exxon Mobil, the Government is adamant that it will not be making it public at this time. One of its reasons for taking such a position is the fact that there are non-disclosure elements in the Petroleum Exploration and Produc-
Kaieteur News
Sunday August 27, 2017
tion Act. Be that as it may, the Opposition has spoken against this posture taken by the Government. CHINA’S MODUS OPERANDI AROUND THE WORLD MIRRORS EVENTS IN GUYANA —PART 4 AN INSATIABLE APPETITE FOR VALUABLE COMMODITIES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Over the past few weeks, Kaieteur News has magnified several developments of China in Sri Lanka and compared those to similar events in Guyana. The focus is now being widened. From here on, we will examine China’s obsession with getting its hands on valued commodities in vulnerable and underdeveloped countries. These commodities range from land, gold, diamond, timber, oil and even telecommunications. The telecommunication business is rated as one of the most lucrative around the world. For many years, Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) was the only telecoms provider in Guyana. The company’s profits were celebrated. In local parlance, ‘GTT made a killing’. Even after Digicel joined the market, GTT continued to record good profits and continues to do so onto this day. That is why many are still at a loss, trying to figure out why the Government of Guyana opted to sell its 20 percent share in the company in the first place. It was in 2012 that the National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL) sold the Government’s investment in GTT to Hong Kong Golden Telecom Company (HKGT), a Chinese company. The entire deal is smeared in controversy with conflicting stories being bandied around about the initial arrangement. The shares, which generated billions of dollars over the years for the Guyana government, were sold for US$30M of which the sum of US$25M was received. The balance, US$5M, was to be paid within two years. The money remains outstanding. The Chinese company does not want to clear the debt in full, because it has not been given two seats on GTT’s board. Kaieteur News understands that the Purchase Agreement between the Chinese company and Guyana was framed in such a manner that in the event of any legal issue, Guyana or HKGT would have to petition the United Kingdom courts. China has been trying to get its hands on telecommunications in many countries, so much so that the country has several telecom providers. China’s two telecom giants ZTE and Huawei began actively pursuing equipment supply and network rollout projects for both fixed and wireless services in Nigeria since 2010. This was just after China sweetened Nigeria with some loans. Now, those two giants are major
players in Nigeria and sure enough, Nigeria is encountering problems with the companies. Nigeria now claims that ZTE owes it millions of US dollars. While Nigeria and Guyana’s stories are similar, it is also very different. At least in Nigeria, the Chinese came from scratch, but Guyana gave up a lucrative arrangement. Guyanese observers are still wondering, what really motivated the sale of GTT’s shares. They are not buying the story that government sold out profit-making shares to invest in the Marriott Hotel which itself was a mystery from the beginning. That hotel also involves China. ”There must have been a backdoor deal,” critics have asserted. A FEW CRIMINALS HOLDING GUYANABACK; I AM GOINGTO FIND THEM – PRES. GRANGER – TOUTS RETURN OF PEOPLE’S MILITIA DURING LETHEM VISIT President David Granger underscored the importance of strong security presence along Guyana’s borders as well as the various ports of entry; noting that porous borders create avenues for pirates, people traffickers and smugglers to perpetrate crimes that thwart efforts at public safety and societal stability. ”Drug gangs will come into our country; illegal migrants will come into our country. These elements are not friendly to us. They will jeopardise the safety of your own women and children and of your own communities. They will bring guns, violence and drugs into our society, they will change our way of life and that is why border security is so important to protect our way of life,” the Head of State said in his remarks to security forces and other stakeholders
of the Takutu-Upper Essequibo Region (Region Nine). This visit comes on the heels of the discovery of an abandoned twinengine Beechcraft aircraft on an illegal airstrip in the region last week Sunday. ”I take security very seriously because without security, this country cannot develop. There are few individuals, who are holding this country back. The bulk of the people want this country to move forward. We are not a criminal nation but they are a few criminal people, who are holding us back and I am going to find them and put them away, because they are holding back the development of a great people, a great region and a great nation,” he said. Outlining his policy for Total National Defence (TND), the President told ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) at Base Camp Kanuku in Lethem to remain vigilant at all times so that they can prevent intrusion into the country’s air and land space by foreign elements. According to the Ministry of the Presidency, he also made it clear that every section of society has a role to play in matters of safety and security and added that the re-establishment of the Guyana People’s Militia (GPM) is in keeping with that vision. Moreover, he informed that every region will have a component of the GPM, which will be capable of rendering both military and civil services. Additionally, each region will have its own police division, which will be better able to secure the capital towns that have been created. MONDAY LOCAL CONTENT POLICY…FEW MEASURES IN PLACE TO GUARD AGAINST CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN OIL SECTOR Guyana’s draft Local Content Policy has very few measures to safeguard against favouritism and
conflict of interest in the oil and gas sector. This Policy is intended to make certain that Guyanese benefit from the oil sector. This can be done through ensuring the use of local supplies by US oil giant, Exxon Mobil, as well as making sure that the company trains and employs Guyanese. The draft policy is currently in circulation where a number of submissions have been made thus far. This is according to Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman. Transparency International cautions that several nations have been made to suffer the consequences due to grievous oversights in the Local Content Policies. The anti-corruption watchdog has pointed out that politicians and decision-makers are usually very close to the economic elite, and in several cases are the main beneficiaries of local content requirements. As such, local content rules end up benefiting and generating revenues for government-affiliated individuals, failing to achieve some of their objectives such as promoting enterprise development and the broader sustainable development of the country. Transparency International said that there are several examples of conflict of interest and favouritism in the design and implementation of local content policies. The international body pointed out that this has been the case in Nigeria, where local content may easily be used by the political and economic elite to extract rents, as well as in Uganda, where close ties between senior public officials and the private sector may distort the policy-making process and the award of licences and other local content benefits. Transparency International said that studies have shown that local policies and resources are often (Continued on page 41)
Sunday August 27, 2017
(From page 32) directed to groups based on their affiliation, ethnicity and loyalty to the president. It went on to state that similarly, Angola’s local content policy has been considered highly vulnerable to exploitation by public officials and their close allies in the private sector. The global watchdog said that investigations conducted by Angolan organizations and the US government have raised questions regarding contracts awarded to companies belonging to Angolan decision-makers. According to the investigations, in compliance with the local content law that requires international companies to partner with local companies to be able to operate in Angola, an American company entered into a consortium with two Angolan companies to participate in oil blocks. However, it turned out that the real owners of one of these local companies were the former chairman and CEO of Sonangol, the Angolan state-owned oil company (responsible for the agreement with the American company), and a minister of state. GUYANESE SHOULD NOT SETTLE TO BE COOKS AND CLEANERS OF ITS OIL INDUSTRY – FORMER PETROTRIN CHAIRMAN Former Chairman of the successful Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago (Petrotrin), Donald Baldeosingh feels that there is no need for Guyana to try and reinvent the wheel. He said that Guyana has many examples to look at and learn from in order to make the best of its oil resource. Baldeosingh thinks his home country, Trinidad and Tobago, is a good place for Guyana to learn from. The former Petrotrin Chairman said that there are many areas where Guyana can learn from Trinidad, “you guys can see what worked and what didn’t.” From the outset, the former Chairman sought to make it clear, “I am not selling Trinidad services here, I am selling Trinidad’s ideas and experience.” He said that one key area where Guyana can learn from Trinidad is in the development of its nationals. “We sent a lot of people out on scholarships.” Baldeosingh said that ExxonMobil, the same oil giant that is now operating in Guyana also operated in Trinidad and assisted in scholarships. He said that the first petroleum engineer who was trained in Trinidad was sponsored. That scholarship was funded by the Southern Basin Consortium of which ExxonMobil was a partner. Baldeosingh said that strategic picking of locals to send on scholarships for specialized areas should be happening now. ”A good quality workforce development audit or survey should be done to identify who is available to
Kaieteur News
work in the industry. ”Guyana does not want to be the cooks and cleaners of its oil industry. It wants to be its technicians, technologists and engineers; it wants to be side by side with the overseas people who are coming into the industry.” He said that in order for Guyana to make that kind of contribution to its own industry, the country has to “get into training in a very strategic and immediate way. That is one of the reasons we are promoting this MBA in oil and gas,” The MBA programme to which Baldeosingh referred is one that may soon be offered by School of the Nations. That institution has partnered with the University of Bradford in England to offer some progammes here. The process is nearing completion with all relevant areas covered on the Nations and Bradford side. All that is left is for Nations to complete the process with the local National Accreditation Council (NAC). Indeed, many of the jobs that Guyanese currently hold in the developing oil industry are menial. These are mostly able bodies on a drill ship offshore. TUESDAY PATTERSON CLAIMS OIL EXPERTS “LECTURING” TO GUYANAHAVE HIDDEN AGENDA …AS AFC CALLS FOR “BALANCED” REPORTS Sections of the media have been churning out solid and accurate information on the history of ExxonMobil. Also, a great deal of focus has been placed on issues that are common in oil-rich countries that Guyana needs to guard against. Politicians, both in government and opposition, have differing views on the role being playing by the media in an attempt to help shape the developing oil industry. Some feel as though Kaieteur News, in particular, is unjust in highlighting the history of ExxonMobil, while others feel that it is absolutely necessary to do so.
Recently, the Alliance For Change (AFC) hosted a press conference, and the panel was made up of five AFC representatives – Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson; Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan; Minister of Public Telecommunication, Cathy Hughes; Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin and General Secretary Marlon Williams. Patterson forms part of a Cabinet sub-committee to look at matters relating to the oil industry. That committee is referred to as the quintet plus one. He suggested that most of the so-called experts who are “lecturing” to Guyana have ulterior motives. He told media operatives that it is now a “norm” for foreigners to come to Guyana, create a problem, then turn up at his office with a proposal to solve it. Patterson said, “An individual turns up in Guyana, holds a press conference on oil and gas, and preaches gloom and doom. As soon as he comes to Guyana, he is deemed an expert, because we do not have any experts.” Patterson continued, “So he comes to Guyana he says chicken licken the sky is going to fall and things like that. Our media, without interrogating the background, takes it.” He said that some of these, “experts” are politicians who were voted out in their own country and they now come to say what is wrong with Guyana’s industry.
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“The very next day, after saying to Guyana gloom and doom, they ring my ministry to make an appointment and say, ‘I have a solution to the problem I told the media about yesterday.’” Patterson stressed “That is what is becoming the norm… an expert gives a lecture and the very next day he calls to speak to the Minister of Natural Resources or Public Infrastructure to offer a solution to the gloom he prophesied the day before. You can see the sort of jeopardy we face.” CDC REPORTS WIDESPREAD DAMAGE AT JAWALLAAFTER DEADLY FREAK STORM – EMERGENCY SUPPLIES, ENGINEERS RUSHED IN The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has released images which show widespread damage in the wake of the deadly freak storm on August 18 which left a pregnant mother dead. Jawalla, a Region Seven hinterland community in the Cuyuni/Mazaruni area, will be receiving emergency supplies, with a team from CDC arriving in the area Monday. According to the Ministry of the Presidency, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, who has responsibility for the CDC and the coordination of disaster relief efforts, said that “the Government and people of Guyana stand ready to lend support”. The ministry confirmed the de-
struction of several homes and buildings as a result of the freak storm. Twenty-nine-year-old Marsha Jordan, a mother of two, who was pregnant with her third child, lost her life. ”Damage to property included the total destruction of four homes and the partial destruction of another five homes, the roof of the Community Centre and two buildings of the Village Council Office. The water tanks and water trestle of the nursery school were also damaged, while the washroom facilities of the primary and nursery schools have been destroyed,” the ministry disclosed in a statement of the damage. Minister Harmon, in an invited comment, said that he has been briefed by acting Director General of the CDC, Major Kester Craig on the situation in the Region, and said that the Government is committed to its responsibility to provide support and disaster relief to affected residents. REGION 9 CONTRACTOR ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH ILLEGALAIRSTRIP, PLANE FIND A Region Nine contractor was Monday arrested by police, as investigations continue into the discovery of a Beechcraft twin-engine aircraft two Sundays ago. According to sources, the (Continued on page 42)
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(From page 41) contractor reportedly used his frontend loader to build an illegal airstrip about 10 miles from Santa Fe. While investigators have not confirmed, it is believed that the plane, said to be a Brazilian-registered one, and the airstrip, were being used for illegal activities. Government officials confirmed that the plane, which has since been handed over to the army to secure it, had landed at the Region Nine location illegally. Police reportedly also Monday seized the front-end loader. Government is taking the matter seriously, with President David Granger briefed last week Tuesday at the weekly Cabinet meeting. The matter is being treated as a national security issue.
Alyssa Nurse (13 Ones), Vishal Jack (12 Ones, 4 twos), Amisha Mohanlall (12 Ones, 3 twos), Diego Barnett (12 Ones, 2 twos), Leonardo Gobin (12 Ones,2 twos). However, they were not alone as the performing realm was infiltrated by students of the privately operated Saraswati Vidya Niketan in Region Three [Keshini Digamber (16 Ones, 1 three), Shontel Archer (15 Ones, 3 twos 1 three), Sabreena Mohamed (12 Ones, 3 twos) and Reanna Ramdeo (12 Ones, 2 twos)]; Region Two’s Anna Regina Secondary [Nicholas Headley (15 Ones, 2 twos), Zulfikar Baksh (14 Ones, 2 twos), Shaveshwar Deonarine (13 Ones, 4 twos)]; students of the Region Six Tagore High [Kameela Parsudial (13 Ones, 2 twos), Puran Subramanie (13 Ones, 1 two) and Tejmily Persaud (12 Ones 1 two)]; students of the privately operated Marian Academy [Farah Chin (12 Ones, 1 two) and Mickelly Rahaman (12 Ones, 1 two)] and Nusaibah Hussain (12 Ones, 4 twos, 2 threes) of ISA Islamic in East Street, Georgetown.
WEDNESDAY GRA BUSTS RACKET TO RESELL SEIZED SMUGGLED CHICKEN A racket to resell seized smuggled chicken has been busted, with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) announcing moves to acquire its own cold storage. This followed recent action by GRA’s Law Enforcement and Investigation Division (LEID), which aided in the removal of a large quantity of seized foreign chicken from two separate cold storage facilities in the Berbice area, after it was discovered that the commodities were being unlawfully disposed of. GRA, the country’s premier revenue collection agency, disclosed that due to a number of operations, it managed to seize an aggregate 268 boxes and two packs of chicken, weighing approximately 10,720 lbs. The authority said that it handed over the seized chicken to the Ministry of Public Health for appropriate use, under the instruction of the Commissioner-General, Godfrey S t a t i a , However, it appeared that the custodians of the seized chicken had different ideas for the chicken. They were in the process of getting rid of it, when GRA’s enforcement officials came knocking. The treatment of the seized chicken has upset GRA. ”The GRA in its future efforts to minimize recurrences of this nature and to avert the likelihood of smuggled chicken re-entering the market, will be donating such seizures for utilization by the appropriate ministries and other state agencies, rather than offering them for sale to the general public.” The authority also disclosed that it is in the process of procuring and establishing cold storage facilities in its warehouses in Berbice and Georgetown. With regards to the seized chicken, the agency disclosed that enforcement activities over the past week led to the seizure of 190 boxes and one pack of chicken from one of the locations in Corentyne, Berbice. In another operation, 52 boxes and one pack were seized from another facility at Annandale, East Coast of
THURSDAY GBTI AFTER-TAX PROFITS DROP BY $358M IN FIRST HALF OF YEAR
Demerara. ”Two individuals were arrested in connection with the act and placed on station bail. It is believed that they were trying to dispose of a total of 375 boxes, weighing approximately 15,000 lbs of chicken.” GRA also said that it conducted other exercises simultaneously at Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice and Bourda Market leading to the discovery of more irregularities in the sale of un-customed chicken, prompting the seizures and accompanying legal action. GUYANA’S OIL & GAS INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO EXPAND… UK COMPANY GOESAFTER “OIL COMPARABLE TO THE WORLD-CLASS REGIONAL DISCOVERIES” Some economists are actually saying that Guyana is well on its way to becoming the economic hub of the Caribbean. This sort of optimism is being energized mostly by the rapid expansion of the country’s oil and gas industry. While all the focus seems to be on ExxonMobil, there are other companies in the shadows that are doing tangible work. Recently, United Kingdom (UK) High Commissioner, Greg Quinn said that many English companies
have been showing interest in Guyana. He said that ever since it has been confirmed that Guyana indeed has oil, “the interest from UK companies has gone through the roof.” Quinn said that new companies have been coming to Guyana almost every week. He said that a lot of these are service companies. Further, he said that Tullow Oil “has started to ramp up activities – doing seismic surveys, and there are a bunch of other new companies not just in the oil and gas sector. People are thinking once the money starts to come in and people have more disposal income, other areas will be lucrative as well. Tullow Oil is a multinational oil and gas exploration company founded in Tullow, Ireland with its headquarters in London, United Kingdom. Kaieteur News has done some research which highlighted Tullow’s ambitious schedule to begin drilling for oil by next year. With this sort of schedule, Tullow may start oil production not so long after ExxonMobil’s 2020 slate. Tullow is working along with Eco Atlantic. Eco Atlantic (Guyana) Inc holds a 40% Working Interest in Orinduik, and Tullow, the Operator, holds the remaining 60%. Just as Quinn indicated, the company is presently carrying out seis-
mic surveys. Explorers use seismic surveys to produce detailed images of local geology to determine the location and size of possible oil and gas reservoirs. Sound waves are bounced off underground rock formations and the waves that reflect back to the surface are captured by recording sensors for later analysis. 2017 CSEC RESULTS…QC’S MICHAEL BHOPAUL SHINES IN TOP PERFORMERS’ ROW Michael Bhopaul of Queen’s College [QC] was Tuesday recognised as the student with the highest number of grade one passes, when Minister of Education, Ms. Nicolette Henry, officially announced the results of the 2017 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate [CSEC] examination. Bhopaul, according to the Minister of Education, secured a total of 24 grade ones [with 21 distinctions] and one grade two. But he wasn’t the only QC student in the spotlight Tuesday. Among the others recognised for their outstanding performances were: Rawleeta Barrow (19 Ones), Roshawn Cummings (16 Ones), Jelena Arjune (14 Ones, 4 twos), Sydney Fraser (13 Ones, 3 twos), Cheri Frank (13 Ones, 2 twos), Jeevan Dalip (13 Ones, 1 two), Stephen Lewis (13 Ones, 1 two),
The Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) has recorded a whopping $358M drop in its AfterTax profit for the first half of 2017, when compared to the same period last year. In addition to a reduction in performance, the bank had to deal with fluctuations in foreign currency and a $956M bank fraud that is still before the court. This was disclosed in the Chairman’s report. According to Chairman of the GBTI Board, Robin Stoby, for the first six months of the year, the bank and its subsidiary recorded an AfterTax profit of $603M. This represents a 37 per cent reduction ($358M) from the $961M AfterTax profit that was recorded for the same period last year. The Chairman’s report noted that the local economy experienced significant disruptions in the first quarter of the year due to cyclical fluctuations in the foreign currency market. However, Stoby said that the Bank is happy to report that it has been able to resume significant Correspondent Banking Relationships which has relieved the pressure on the delivery of foreign exchange supplies. Back in 2016, GBTI, in its half year report had said that it, along with other banks in the Caribbean and Latin America, were facing the prospects of losing correspondent banking relationships with prime banks of the United States of America. This was termed ‘de-risking’. The Bank of America had cut ties with Guyanese banks in August of last year. Governor of the Central Bank had said that the effects of Bank of America’s withdrawal would (Continued on page 43)
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(From page 42) be negligible and that other banks will take up the slack. Moreover, Stoby said that crime continues to affect the struggling economic growth as well as the investment climate. Further, it was reported by the Chairman that local banks are faced with rising levels of non-performing loans and slower credit with growth in private sector lending only growing sluggishly, on average, by two per cent from the first half of 2016 to the first half of 2017. The report said that economic growth in the first half of 2017 rose by a modest 2.2 per cent, compared to a two per cent growth recorded in the first half of 2016. Stoby said that growth was recorded in the agriculture, fishing, forestry, manufacturing, construction and services sector. However, the Board Chairman said that rice exports continue to be problematic. EXPOSURE OF EXXONMOBIL’S PAST NECESSARY TO KEEP PUBLIC ENGAGEDAND POLITICIANS HONEST – TROTMAN The revelations of ExxonMobil’s not so flattering past by the local media will serve to keep the public in-the-know and the politicians on their toes. Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman made this observation, among others, during an interview with Kaieteur News. “I understand this is a time of great excitement and a time of great anguish and we have never come to face with this at any point in our lives. It is good for us to pay attention to what this company has done elsewhere and how it behaves elsewhere.” He added, “It is good because for me. It keeps the public engaged and the politicians on point and honest. It is important for us to know what they have done abroad and the
Kaieteur News
company needs to know that the citizenry is watching and the politicians need to be sharp and honest in their dealings with the company.” BUSINESSMAN CHARGED FOR USING LICENSED GUN TO SHOOTALLEGED BANDIT A businessman who allegedly used his licensed firearm to shoot an alleged thief who attempted to snatch his gold chain was on Wednesday ordered to post $50,000 bail by City Magistrate Annette Singh when he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. Forty-three-year-old Lloyd Thomas denied that allegation which read that on August 17 at Grandsand Hill Road, Campbellville Street, Grove, East Bank Demerara, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Anthony Rogers with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm. The businessman was represented by Attorney-at-law Mark Conway who in his application to secure bail for his client, told the court that his client was standing in front of his home when the virtual complainant drove up in a car and attempted to snatch his client’s gold chain which is worth over $500,000. The lawyer also said that his client and the virtual complainant got into a scuffle and it was then that his client who is a licenced firearm holder, discharged a round at the victim. The lawyer alleged that the victim was charged in 2016 for breaking into his client’s home. Police Prosecutor Simone Payne had no objection to bail being granted to the defendant but told the court that the file was sent to Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) who advised that the defendant be charged for the lesser count of wounding. The Prosecutor also told the court that the police file is still incomplete and the investigation is still ongo-
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ing. Condition of the bail is that the defendant report to the Timehri Police Station every Friday until the completion of the trial. The defendant will make his next court appearance on October 19 at the Providence Magistrates’ Courts. FRIDAY PROCUREMENT PROCEDURES NOT FOLLOWED IN INSURANCE DEAL FOR MINISTERS – RAMSAMMY The administration has reportedly entered a deal with an insurance company for health coverage but there is no evidence that proper procurement procedures were followed. The hefty insurance package, the first of its kind to reduce pressure on taxpayers, is reportedly costing Guyana almost $40M, but did not publicly go out to tender. The issue is now being raised by former Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy. He was also a former Health Minister also under previous administrations of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic. According to Ramsammy Thursday, sometime earlier this year, the coalition A Partnership For National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government signed an agreement with a regional insurance company which has opened offices here. The deal was struck after an announcement by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, in June that Government is moving to secure insurance for ministers and senior officials. A number of government officials, including ministers had sought treatment abroad, but it is by no means cheap. Ramsammy, naming the company, which is headquartered in a neighbouring country, claimed that the agreement is worth just over $38M annually and will earn about $155M by 2020, for the company. ”It is the first time ever that Ministers will have health coverage which I assume will be sought outside the country. It is a transaction that the government has entered into secretly,” Ramsammy said in a statement. ”There was no advertisement, no indication that they were interested in obtaining health insurance for ministers and their families. I am not aware that any discussion occurred with any of the insurance companies based in Guyana.” The former Health Minister made it clear that he is not opposed to the Government covering costs of medical care for its ministers by obtaining health insurance coverage. ”But it is important that such transactions be in the public domain. Earlier this year, Minister (Joseph) Harmon insisted that government pays no bills for ministers’ foreign health care. This was not the truth. It was a
deliberate misinformation.” CHARITY MARKETING CENTRE ON VERGE OF COLLAPSE INTO POMEROON RIVER Vendors operating at the Charity Marketing Centre are now in fear as the 38-year-old structure is on the verge of collapsing into the Pomeroon River. The facility, which is being supported by wooden piles, is in visibly bad shape, as it has sunken at least three feet. At present the structure is being supported by piles that have deteriorated extensively. The majority of the other piles no longer provide such support due to their complete deterioration. The sinking area poses a threat to the safety of vendors and other persons residing in the centre. This publication had the opportunity to speak with several persons vending and shopping at the loca-
tion and they admitted to being quite tense. ”I’m selling here on a daily basis, and I always gotta be fearful. I think that one day this thing will collapse and we gon drown with it. We come out here to offload our produce, but at the same time we gotta be extra cautious, because from how things looking, this marketing centre could collapse,” said one vend o r ”I think it’s sad that the authorities would wait until the situation gets to this point before they do anything, these people need to regularly check up on these structures,” a shopper opined. Those were just some of the comments from persons using the facility. The Charity Urasara Neighborhood Democratic Council (NDC) has appealed to the Regional Executive Officer to pay keen attention to (Continued on page 44)
Dr. Leslie Ramsammy.
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(From page 43) the rapid sinking of the Northern and Southern side of the Marketing Centre, in an effort to avoid “a catastrophic occurrence”. The NDC believes that if urgent emphasis is placed on the severity of the situation, the marketing centre could be saved from collapsing into the Pomeroon River. In order to slow the pace of sinking, the NDC has advised, and reinforced its will to keep all vehicles from traversing the immediate area. This comes as an additional setback to commercial activities as persons would need to drive their lorries onto
Kaieteur News
the structure, in order to receive produce from the boats of local farmers. SATURDAY MINISTERS PAYING HALF OF HEALTH INSURANCE - FINANCE MINISTER DEFENDS DEAL, RUBBISHES RAMSAMMY’S CLAIMS Senior Government officials, who are now benefitting from health insurance, are paying half the costs, Finance Minister, Winston Jordan says. The minister was responding yesterday to an article in Kaieteur
News headlined “Procurement procedures not followed in insurance deal for ministers - Dr. Leslie Ramsammy”. Ramsammy claimed that the administration, following an announcement in June, did not advertise for insurance companies to submit bids to have ministers and senior Government officials be insured, in case of medical illness and other health issues. The contract, to the tune of $38M, went to an insurance company which has offices here but is headquartered in a neighbouring country. By 2020, Ramsammy said, the insurance company would be col-
Sunday August 27, 2017
lecting in excess of $150M representing payments for the coverage of the insurance. Ramsammy is a former Health Minister. However, according to Minister Jordan, regarding the insurance for ministers, Minister of State Joseph Harmon would be a more appropriate person to speak on how the insurance company was selected. “Suffice it to say, here, that the Government is meeting 50 percent of the monthly premiums. The other 50 percent is borne by the insuree.” Minister Jordan disagreed with Ramsammy’s claims that current ministers benefitted from a large salary increase of “‘up to 100%”’ almost immediately upon assuming office in May 2015. “This is a blatant falsehood, one of which Kaieteur News is aware; yet, it was printed with not even an Editor’s Note. As all the public knows, the salary of the Prime Minister, Vice Presidents, Senior Ministers, Junior Ministers, Speaker of the National Assembly, Leader of the Opposition, and other Members of Parliament were increased by varying percentages - from 5%, in the case of the Prime Minister to 50%, in the cases of Senior Ministers, Speaker of the National Assembly and Leader of the Opposition.” Jordan noted that Ramsammy went further in another falsehood. “He is also quoted as saying, “They benefitted from a further increase in 2016 and 2017 ...” Again, Editor, this is another falsehood. Since the salary increase of 2015, none of the categories of Parliamentarians mentioned above have been granted any further salary increases. As such, Ministers and the other categories are receiving the same salary today that they were receiving in September 2015.” ARMY IN MAJOR EXERCISE ON BORDER SECURITY Commander-in-Chief, President
David Granger, on Friday morning, congratulated the troops of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), who participated in the two week-long Field Tactical Exercise ‘IRONWEED’. The President noted that the exercise served to reaffirm and reassure the Defence Board and the people of Guyana, that the Force is always ready to fulfill its mission to protect Guyana’s territorial integrity and is in a state of preparedness for any security threat, which may arise, even as Government continues to make significant investments in re-equipping the force, the Ministry of the Presidency said in a statement. In addition to this Exercise, the Force is currently engaged in two major operations; ‘Operation Clean sweep’, which is aimed at recapturing the four prison escapees still on the run and ‘Operation AXEL’, which is focused on border deployment and protection. The Head of State made these comments after witnessing the ‘final attack’, along with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Carl Greenidge, Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon, Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Mrs. Dawn Hastings-Williams, Chief of Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Patrick West and other senior officers at the Colonel John Clarke Military School (CJCMS), Tacama, Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice (Region Ten). The exercise commenced on August 11, with the final contingent of troops moving into the Exercise Area located in the jungle and savannahs of Tacama, East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six). The Exercise is designed to assess the GDF troops in Close Country Warfare (CCW) and Open Country Warfare (OCW) simulations of battle.
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EPA tested after neighbours challenge Prospect auto workshop The administration is getting tougher on noise nuisance and other environment issues, with a number of cases currently engaging a special task force that has started meeting. Coordinated by the Ministry of Public Security, and involving a number of ministries and agencies, the task force has not ruled out recommending filing charges and even seizing of music systems as part of the efforts to sound a serious warning to defaulters. One of the cases currently engaging the entity is an automobile spray shop at Prospect, East Bank Demerara. Following a complaint, the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a Prohibition Notice to the owner of the shop in November 2013. However, it appeared that notice went unheeded. The owner continued operating his workshop. EPA, via its director, Indarjit Ramdass, went to court in August 2014 before Judge William Ramlal, where the agency was successful in receiving an order enforcing the prohibition. However, the workshop continued operating. Earlier this month, angry neighbours - 14 of them signed a petition, dispatching it to the Department of Environment, attention - Director
Ndibi Schwiers. What they claimed indicated a clear breakdown of the system and raises questions about EPA’s capacity to monitor. According to the neighbours, the spray paint shop has been in existence over 15 years with the Prospect owner and workers doing nothing to contain the fumes of the paint. Some of the activities even take place in the street. Neighbours said family members suffered terribly, particularly those suffering from asthmatic conditions. They were never told that a court order was issued in January 2015 to the business-
Neighbours are clashing with the owner of a Prospect E.B.D. auto workshop, who is seeking a permit to carry out operations. man. Despite the order, the man continued his operations until December 2015 when neighbours, armed with copies of the court order, informed him of the implications of ignoring it. While the owner at first eased up his activities, the preparation of cars for spraying continued. As a matter of fact, neighbours in their letter to the Department of Environment, said that vehicles were last sprayed last July. The shop has now built an enclosure and has applied for
permission from EPA to conduct spray painting operations. According to the petitioners, the approval should not be granted. The reasons are simple. The area has at least three schools, including a nursery nearby. The neighbours said that regulations make it clear that any such operations should be located in a commercial or industrial area. According to recent regulations, any new automobile spray painting shops should maintain buffer area of at least 50 metres from the nearest residence.
Because a court order had prohibited the workshop from operation, the neighbours argued that any application to EPA will have to be considered new. Therefore, it will be impossible for EPA to grant any approval. Neighbours also claimed that the workshop is located less than 50 feet from the nearest residence. In addition, they argued that the man’s track record of disregarding orders and having scant regard for nearby residents is testimony that the application to EPA should be rejected.
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Kaieteur News
Business Minister stresses importance of regional expositions …as 13th edition of Berbice event launched increase in visitors to Berbice is very, very visible around the time of the expo, it helps with the economy on the Corentyne,” Haralsingh stated. He also pointed out that more events of a similar nature need to be held in Berbice, so as to attract persons from other parts of the country, as
Members and Executives of the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce and Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin (sitting, centre) at the launching of the Berbice Expo and Trade Fair. By Malisa Playter Harry Berbicians will be treated to four days of entertainment and display of local and international products in October with another presentation of the Berbice Expo and Trade Fair. The expo, in its 13th year, was officially launched on Wednesday evening under the theme ‘Ensuring Food Security and Economic Growth through Agricultural Development’. At the launching ceremony held at the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce building in Rose Hall Town, Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, in brief remarks, stressed on the importance of regional expositions. He is of the firm belief that with regional expositions, greater economic opportunities and avenues are provided. He opined that with Business and Government in collaboration it is “always a good thing, it builds investors’ confidence… and the relationship between the government and private sector needs to continue”. Gaskin , touching on developments within the oil and gas sector, stated that while oil will be beneficial to Guyana’s economy, it is also important that the country does not solely depend on that alone, making reference to the sugar industry when Guyana was dependent on that particular commodity as the only medium to sustainable development within the country. “GuySuCo is not the answer to Guyana’s economic development. We want to survive as an economy and become a competitive local economy, which I think we have the potential to become. We must be able to have a diverse portfolio of export industries”, the Minister emphasised. In addition, he posited that the government will work with private enterprises to ensure that there are options and opportunities for
economic advancement other than sugar. “While there are concerns about the future of GuySuCo, I’m saying to you, there are other options”, said Gaskin. The Minister also mentioned other projects in the pipeline that will add to the economic advancement of the country, including the introduction of a agroprocessing and food festival called “Uncapped”. This, he noted, will be a collaboration between the Manufacturing and Services Association and the Ministry of Business. The aim of the project, he explained, will be to “bring together producers and processors, products and buyers, in order to boost awareness and consumption of what we produce locally”. The Ministry of Business will also be embarking on another major event called the ‘Guyana Trade and Investment Exhibition’ “This is the kind of event we want to be holding, and this is one of the reasons why we have no Guy Expo this year. It’s a business to business event and is designed to bring together local producers and foreign buyers,” Gaskin explained. This will take shape in April of next year. He said the ministry will have to identify local businesses that are “expo ready” and work with them to prepare them to network with overseas buyers. “We thought that this type of event would be better for our economic transformation that we would like to happen in Guyana. This is how Guyana is going to become strong and our industries are going to become better,” Gaskin asserted. Meanwhile President of the Central Corentyne Chambers of Commerce and businessman, Mohamed Raffik, during his presentation, stated that the chamber is looking at and placing much emphasis on the region’s vast agricultural potential. He stressed that
while the country is likely to have oil in year 2020, “the nation must not only depend solely on the discovery on oil, but must continue to place emphasis on continuously developing the agriculture sector in the country”. Raffik underscored that the main crops such as rice and sugar have not been doing well, hence it is necessary to look at other ways to ensure that the region’s agricultural abilities are taken advantage of. He said with the exception of Black Bush Polder, there has been no other new major “agricultural scheme in Berbice. “We can grow citrus, we can grow other crops, we can have much more lands for cattle rearing and other livestock rearing etc.” Raffik said that while the chamber would be willing to offer support, they cannot do it by themselves, and as such, government’s assistance is important and necessary. The chamber president explained that last year an average of 20,000 persons attended the Berbice Expo and Trade Fair over the fournight period. “Businessmen and women are encouraged to acknowledge and understand a trade fair of such a magnitude can benefit them and come up with innovative ways to market their products. We are calling on all the business owners in Berbice and corporate Guyana to come and join us and let us make this expo one that you can market yourselves a bit more aggressively.” Indranauth Haralsingh, Director of Guyana Tourism Authority, during his address called for a “dedicated location” to host the annual exposition and trade fair, with years of success under the Chambers belt in hosting the event. “It is only fair that a dedicated piece of land be designated for this purpose”, he stressed. “This expo is a major event. It promotes, in a large way, domestic tourism. The
well as overseas investors, to come and invest within the region. Meanwhile, Regional Chairman of Region Six, David Armogan took the opportunity to highlight the plight persons are currently experiencing with the closure of several sugar estates and soon to be closed estates in
Berbice. “Our businesses in Region Six have declined by over 25% in terms of sales, and we have seen many businesses laying off workers.” He stressed that once the Rose Hall Estate is officially closed, “the region will have Continued on page 61
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SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. -CosmetologyCourses:$120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 647-1773/660-5257 SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyanapassport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigration Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496/ 662-6045 Computer & Mobile repairs systems upgrade, software installation, website development, mobile unlocking. Beats any price. Call: 647-7622/645-7471
WANTED 1 Accounts Clerk, preferably from E.B.D – 5 subjects CXC minimum @ gtcareers592@gmail.com 1 Diesel mechanic welder to work in the Interior, interested person can contact: 625-5136 Experienced waitress 1825yrs, live in domestic must know to cook, salary starts $20,000 weekly. Call: 610-3974 Female worker wanted that finished CXC 2017. Call: 6225518 One live in domestic, Salary: $70,000. Tel#: 677-4328. Weekends off. 1 - Canter driver. Call: 6292912 Plumber for Jacuzzi, tiler, joiner, carpenter for wooden steps. Call: 625-3705 1 Live in domestics, must know to cook. Call: 661-8673; 674-1767
Budhram landscaping services, free advice. Call: 656-1326
Experienced curry cook, roti/ puri cook, cleaners, handy boy. Apply Hack’s Halaal, 5 Commerce Street.
Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158
We buy your land and sell your property in Eccles, Providence, Herstelling & Farm. Call: 656-0701/ 651-1969
Eagle’s: Re-gas –low prices, washing machine repairs, gas stove, plasma flat Screen, computer repairs & more. Call: 697-2969/646-0966 Building Contractor: estimates, house plan to be drawn. Call: 216-0671/6928464/622-0267/ FB:K.Lakeram Construction. Mason, experienced and reliable, available for casting block work and plastering. Call: 619-3296
Urgently need 1 babysitter ages 35-50 preferably persons out of town. Call or whatsapp: 664-3918 Two female workers to work shift system, age 25-45. Call: 231-6293 Kitchen help, counter person. Apply at Shanta’s, 225 Camp & New Market Streets. Welder, Arch-Gas to work in workshop on the West Coast on a percentage basis. Call: 684-1247 Need experienced garbage trucks driver & labourers. Call: 670-7920 La Parfaite Harmonie, Zeelugt, Uitvlugt. Call: 681-8746
LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj Building- Call: 644-5166; 6222872; 615-0964; 689-5997 (affordable packages). B&C Driving School: pickupdrop off. Call: 231-8719/6806826
Sunday August 27, 2017
Kaieteur News
6X6 Loging trucks to hall logs from Upper Demerara to East Bank Demerara. Call: 656-8754 or 218-3399 LIVE IN BABYSITTING WORK, GOOD SALARY. CALL: 699-4669 Live in couple from countryside preferably, duties- husband: driver/ mechanic/welding, wife – domestic. Call: 227-1830
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Lawn grass - $1,400, potting soil -$800, Ficus, Exora, Purple Heathers – 4 for $1,000, Palms @ $1,000. Call: 626-1044
TO LET Fully furnished apartment $95,000-$140,000.Call:644-5151
5 lots in Blankenburg, back of the gas station @$2.9 M each. Contact: 650-0402\6031402
Furnished & unfurnished one, two & three bedrooms apartment at Providence and Diamond. Call: 216-2299/ 6721906/ whatsapp: 1-246-833-9739
Two (2) Caterpillar 324DL Excavators. In good working condition. Call: 600-3304, 600-3306/7/8
Two 3 Bedrooms unfurnished apartment to let in Diamond $70,000.Call:685-8470/660-7013
Caterpillar, Model: D6M, In good working condition. Price: G$10,000,000 negotiable. Call: 600-3304, 600-3306/7/8
One bedroom, self-contained apartment with parking facilities, located at Providence East Bank Demerara. Call: 6186207/ 673-1617 KITTY APARTMENTS: UNFURNISHED GRILLED, 2-BR, NEW, GRANITE, SECURE -$80,000 MONTHLY, NO AGENTS. CALL: 641-4035 Studio apartment @ Durban/ Haley -$30,000 monthly/ 3 months advance, single person. Call: 600-0036/ 691-3999
All sizes of solar panels, batteries & inverters. Come & check us out @ Boodhoo’s General Store. Contact: 2604115\260-4018 \650-0402 1 Caterpillar skid steer loader, model#:236 B, low hours. Contact: 650-0402\603-1402 1 -BMW 318 I, never register..!!! $ 2 M. Contact: 650-0402/603-1402 Great Deals on video games & all gaming consoles. PC, video games & repairs – Call: 672-2566; 265-3231
LAND FOR SALE Herstelling (front), Diamond -$3.5M, Eccles, La Parfaite, South, Cummings Lodge, Sophia, Canaan, Nismes, Highway. GME: 231-7805/ 618-7483
PROPERTY FOR SALE Property @ 180 Charlotte Street Bourda, 1 building in front & 2 storey house at the back, L 120X B 30- $50M negotiable. Call: 624-7341/ 227-6817/226-5183
La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.4M, $1.9M, $3M, $2M, Eccles $6M, Herstelling -$3.M, $2.5M, Tuschen -$2M, Vreeden-Hoop -$50M. Call: 6046724/ 686-9608
Lot 22 Dowding Street, Kitty, G/ Town, 100 Granville Park B.V, E.C.D.Call:619-4152or227-1905
La Parfaite Harmonie - $1.3M, $2.5M, $3.5M, $1.6M, Herstelling - $2.2M, Tuschen -$2.5M, La Parfaite Harmonie, main road (50X100). Call: 666-2326 Tuschen house & land - $2.7M, $5M, La Parfaite Hamronie $3.5M, $1.4M, Vreed-en-Hoop house & land -$50M. Call: 6046724/ 686-9608 La Parfaite Harmonie, way upfront over 7yrs finished, one concrete fence - $1.5M, already cleaned. Call: 6560701/ 651-1969 Herstelling New Scheme 4th Bridge (100ftX50ft) -$3.5M. Call: 656-0701/ 651-1969 Uitvlugt New Scheme, First Street (100ftX50ft), 20ft Reserve, all legal fees paid $2.8M, already cleaned. Call: 656-0701/ 651-1969 Zeelugt - $2.5M, Tuschen $2.5M. Call: 642-1252 35 Acres located in Port Kaituma. Call: 619-5173
1 Dump canter, 1 Model ‘M’ Truck with winch, 1 TL 500 flatbed truck. Call: 629-2912 CAR RENTAL DOLLY’SCARRENTAL-CALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM
1.5 Acres riverside land with house (road to river). Call: 629-2912 One Raptor Ford 4 DoorContact: 670-7920
PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL:656-0087,6435122 ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM
1 Samsung washing machine, late model, transparent top, excellent condition. Call: 226-2234
WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIALOFFERS! . CALL: 690-6494
Computer, printer. Call: 6874970
AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL: PICKUP,9-11SEATMINIBUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILYOUTINGS,CHEAPEST RATE.Call:698-7807 TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 2257878 (24HRS) WANTED Skilled Lathe operator, good rates available for qualified applicant. Call: 227-1830 General Maids to work shifts at Hotel. Apply in person. Call:225-9211
2 Elite Motorcycles from Canada. Call: 687-3936
R o x i e ’s F a s h i o n ! S a l e ! U n i f o r m s f o r N u r s e r y, Primary & Secondary. Lot 301 Church Street, South Cummingsburg.
FOR SALE
Fluffy puppies (Tibetan Terriers) 6 weeks old, dewormed. Call: 668-9021
One 3 bedroom property with bond, big land space for building house, poultry rearing, farming, etc. Call: 627-5607 House and land available @ La Parfaite Harmonie, Providence, etc, we also assist with financing. Contact Pacific Development: 2236035/ 227-8274 Property @ lot 89 Robb Street Lacytown, Georgetown next door to Mike’s Pharmacy, size 3431.25 sq.ft. Call: 6175323 or 666-8052 Property 15mins from G/T public road, EBD - $15.5M. Call: 681-1312 1-3 Storey building @ Regent Street 60ftX52ft & 3 bedroom house @ Middle Road La Penetence 56ftX25ft. Call: 653-2477/ 685-6874 87 ‘E’ Albert Street Alberttown, price -$35M, negotiable. Call: 669-8701 Lot 11 Middleton Street Campbellville, Georgetown, Guyana. Contact owner: 240605-8877 (USA) No Agents!
Back to school sale! Laptops & Desktop computers from: $45,000 netbooks -$25,000, free games & software. Call FutureTech: 644-6760/ 660-2010 1-330 CAT Hydraulic Pump, 1-6 core radiator 36"X36".1 1200-24 grader tyre. Call Patricia: 648-4352/ 669-6343 1 Set 5 hole land crusier rims 16", 1 -5 hole 16 land crusiser rims + tyre, 1 set 17" Tacoma rims + tyres. CallPatricia:648-4352/669-6343 Gold and Diamond, work ground available @ Ekereou, Berbice River. Call: 600-0036/ 691-3999
2003 Toyota Tundra (black) price -$2.5M. Call: 619-5173 serious inquiries only Property @237 Grove Housing Scheme, E.B.D. Call: 619-5173 serious inquiries only 1 Mile Port Kaituma Land. Call: 619-5173 serious inquiries only
Kastev, Meeten Meer Zorg, W.C.D: 3 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, verandah overlooking Atlantic ocean. Owner migrating -$36M, negotiable.Call:676-7974/615-0173
EDUCATIONAL Register @ IAE: full-time, afternoon, day/evening CXC/ CSEC classes for adults & repeaters: Mathematics & English A. Call: 683-5742/ 6217365 Lessons: Mathematics & English, Wednesday & Fridays, 3 Students per session -$1,000 per hour. Call: 659-8401 Lessons: Mathematics, English ‘A’, Social-Studies, Accounts, OfficeAdministration, SBA’s, only four students to a class. Call: 610-6087
TOURS Holiday weekend tour trip to Surinam: Eid Ul Adha, August 31st – Sept 3rd, book early. Call: 665-5171/ 639-2663/ 658-3758/ 223-7589
MASSAGE Angels Massaging Spa. Come relax and be pampered. Call: 694-9775 Continued on Page 61
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CONSUMER CONCERNS
IMPLEMENTATION OF TOBACCO ACT SHOULD NOT BE DELAYED By PAT DIAL
In the last week there arose two important consumer concerns which required us to revisit them. The first was the Tobacco Legislation and the other was the Parking Meters. In this offering, we will look again at the Tobacco Legislation. We would again like to emphasize that the Tobacco Control Bill 2017 which Parliament recently passed is among the most important pieces of Legislation which the Guyana Parliament has passed in the last 30 years. It offers protection to the Health of a sizable portion of the population; with a healthier population, economic productivity of the country would increase; it would save the Government billions of dollars which would have been expended on the care of thousands of victims of tobacco-related diseases; and it would place Guyana among the progressive and respected nations of the world which have effective tobacco control legislation. At one of the Annual General Meetings of the Demerara Tobacco Company (DEMTOCO) chaired by the then Regional Director of British American Tobacco Co, (BAT) Madame Amanda Cavill de Zavaley, a shareholder asked how she would deal with the growing anti-tobacco sentiment in Guyana and the threat of strong tobacco control legislation. She confidently replied that DEMTOCO’s parent company, BAT operated in several countries where such problems had arisen and was well-prepared to meet such eventualities. Now that the eventualities have indeed arisen, DEMTOCO’s effort at delaying the Act from coming into force by demanding that it be thrown over to a Joint Select Committee of Parliament, is probably an element of the preparation Madame de Zavaley spoke about If that were to happen, the
Bill would be likely to be subsumed by the other business of Parliament and die, as had happened to a similar Bill under the watch of Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy. And it would have to be tabled again and years would have passed by. Another element in the armoury of DEMTOCO against the Legislation seems to be to virulently criticize influential personages who are advocating the Legislation such as the WHO/PAHO representative and even the Government of Guyana itself as being undemocratic. DEMTOCO’s objection to the Act as Parliament passed it rests on seven grounds. From the consumer perspective, those grounds are neither cohesive nor cogent enough to warrant delay in enforcing the Legislation. And in any case, if rectification is necessary, this could be achieved by Regulations, Licensing procedures and Interpretation. As an illustration, we will consider at random some of the seven objections made by DEMTOCO and their relation to Regulation, Licensing and Interpretation: DEMTOCO objects to the requirement that anyone who may wish to apply for a Government job should disclose whether he/she was employed in the Tobacco Industry within the last five years of the application. DEMTOCO thinks that such a requirement could apply to persons who may have worked at supermarkets and gas stations which sold cigarettes. The general tenor of the Act refers to those persons who are applying for senior or important Government jobs and not to messengers or gardeners. And further, supermarkets and gas stations could never be considered branches of the Tobacco Industry. In any case, the Act in no way indicates that persons who had been employed in the Tobacco Industry would
have been debarred or precluded from Government employment. DEMTOCO thinks that the term “workplace” in the Act could be interpreted to include private homes if such homes employ a gardener or housekeeper. We consider this rather far-fetched, since it is unthinkable that any administrator or Court would regard a private home as a “workplace” simply because of the employment of domestic help. DEMTOCO is of the view that the ban on smoking in bars, hotels and restaurants gravely discriminates against smokers. DEMTOCO advocates that the Legislation be amended to make provision for the establishment of OUTDOOR smoking areas in such restaurants, hotels and bars. This objection could be addressed during the licensing of such establishments by using similar criteria to the requirement that all restaurants must have restrooms with toilets. In any case, competition would force those which do not have outdoor smoking facilities to provide them. DEMTOCO seems to be of opinion that the majority of cigarettes sold in Guyana are in single sticks, but there is no country in the world where the majority of cigarettes sold are by single sticks. DEMTOCO’s assertion is therefore open to question. The confining of sales to packets of 20 would certainly help in the curtailment in the use of cigarettes and it would be quite easy to identify those who sell single sticks in contravention of the Law. All of DEMTOCO’s objections could be taken on board and satisfied when the Act comes into force. There is thus no need to suspend or delay implementation. It is preferable to begin making Guyana a healthier country than to delay this process to solve six or seven considerations of
Business Minister stresses importance... From page 59 less income in Berbice’s economy, which is not a good sign”. He called on government to use better judgement and delay the closure of the Rose Hall Estate. “As much as we are going into an exposition and trade fair, there is need for expansion in the business sector; there is need for more employment and this can only come when our confidence begins to grow and businesses should begin to gain”. Armogan reminded the gathering that the Berbice Expo and Trade Fair is a much anticipated occasion. “It is perhaps the single largest event that
is taking place on an annual basis in this region”. He then congratulated the chambers for upholding the commitment they’ve shown over the years to host such an affair. The Berbice Expo and Trade Fair 2017 will be held at the Albion Sports Complex from Friday October, 6 to Monday October, 9. Stage, sound and lights will be provided by Crown Vibes Sound Company. Tickets to enter the expo will cost $500 for adults and $300 for children. Security, which will be headed by the Commander of ‘B’ Division Paul Williams, is promised to be at its highest level.
comparatively minor importance. DEMTOCO has written H.E. President David Granger asking him to delay the implementation of the Tobacco Control Act until its seven objections are addressed. The Guyana Consumers Association, on its part, would have written the Hon. Minister of Public Health expressing its support for the quick implementation of the Act. Before we end this article, we think it apposite to say a word on the “Tobacco Industry”. The Demerara Tobacco Co. (DEMTOCO) has been generally termed the “Tobacco Industry”. DEMTOCO at one time produced its cigarettes in Guyana and was even beginning to cultivate its tobacco on a plantation basis at Laluni. Some years ago, it closed its factory and abandoned its tobacco cultivation and became a mere distributor agent for its parent company’s cigarettes.
From Page 60
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Property for rent - 2 storey house at Republic Park, E.B.D$1200US. Call 647-1773 Fully furnished luxury apartment 2 &3 bedrooms, long & short term stay. Call:664-2143
Accounts Clerk for Eccles Area, knowledge of VAT, QuickBooks and Payroll. Call: 614-4358
1 Split 2 bedrooms house and a garage @ Cemetery Road Lodge, $50,000 security & 2 months advance. Call: 233-5805
Male security guard, female room attendant 30yrs & older @ 233 South Road Lacytown. 225-0198
Apartment in Eccles. Call: 6932832
Chef and Assistant cook preferably Carnegie trained. Call: 225-7933 or visit 173 Sheriff Street.
3 Bedrooms house top and bottom flat in a yard - $35,000 monthly at Canal No2 Polder on W.B.D. Call: 613-1860/ 685-9721 MEDIUM SIZE MINING BLOCKS FOR RENTAL. CALL: 669-4149
VEHICLE FOR SALE
Upper flat house in Diamond New Scheme - $35,000. Call: 265-4867
2015 Ford F150 V6 2.7 litre, twin turbo, 4X4 automatic, fully loaded 34,000 kilometers, excellent conditioner. Call: 610-5370
77 Light Street Alberttown: short stay, modern 1 bedroom apartment: A/C, hot water, kitchen, internet. Call: 268723-5999/ 592-683-7928/ addunidrakes@yahoo.com
Toyota Avensis, PJJ, genuine low mileage (less than 19,000 miles); perfect condition - $2M. Call: 225-6701/ 225-8451/ 6248657/623-5114
Building with three apartments in Diamond ideal for Pastors, Companies or Organization. Call: 680-5944/ 656-4211
Honda 4X4 CRV, PSS (less than 5000 miles) almost brand new $9M. Call: 225-6701/ 225-8451/ 624-8657/623-5114
Office space for rent @ North & King Streets, Georgetown. Call: 225-4708/ 225-4106
Mercedez Benz 350 SEL, PEE, perfect condition (stick shift), below 30,000 miles - $2M. Call: 225-6701/ 225-8451/ 6248657/623-5114 1 Canter, case skid steer tracker. Call: 686-4354/ 615-7842
Bottom flat for rent @ 977 Enmore Hope, E.C.D Call: 6649261/265-0912 Concrete 2546 sq.ft two flat office building for rental in Kingstown. Call: 226-3862 EXT 203
One Leyland DAF55, dump truck. Call: 621-4740 Unregistered bluebird 1500cc, 31,000KM, front wheel drive, RZ bus good working condition, owner leaving. Call: 265-0204/ 265-2171/682-7589 One Mitsubishi freighter mignon enclosed canter, 19ft. tray, in excellent condition. Call: 618-6207/ 673-1617 One pit bull minibus, BTT series, in excellent working condition, with alarm, price – $1.8M negotiable. Call: 6259204/691-8272
VACANCY One experienced salesman, apply with written application & recommendation, also one general domestic. Apply @ Keyfood, McDoom Village.
Cook/ Baker for interior. Applicants must be experienced. Call: 618-2020 One experienced pharmacy assistant to work in a reputable pharmacy in G/ Town (flexible hours). Call: 227-0630 Attractive waitress & female bartender. Apply in person with written application: Chestor’s, New Road, W.C.D Porters to work in Alleyway. Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb Street Bourda. 1 Farm worker, 1 Security. Call: 265-3586 Qualified teachers at Alfalah School Barbados for Secondary Level (CXC & CAPE). Email C.V to alfalahbds@hotmail.com Hopetown Gas station: Manager, Accountant. RA Soda Factory, Rosignol: Accountant, checkers, male & female workers. Call: 3302399/ 623-5920/603-0433 One cleaner for 3 days per week, age 25-45. Kindly call: 225-8066 Vegetarian Gardens: Driver/ Driver Salesman. Call: 2277714/223-3448, email: info@ugiworld.com
VACANCY PERSON FOR OFFICE WORK, 9AM-5PM, G/ TOWN AREA, GOOD SALARY, NO EXPERIENCED NEEDED. CALL: 641-4035/ 223-2540 EXPERIENCED WELDER/ Fabricator, CARPENTER/ MASON, Labourer. Call: 2665569
Experienced Cashier & Salesgirls, apply American Variety Store, 140 Regent & Light Street, Georgetown, serious applicants only One Female Gardner contact 223-5273/74 One experienced legal computer clerk. Call: 6247087/ 226-4283/258-0213/ email:husainsaphier@ yahoo.com
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BIT makes noteworthy strides in empowering youths nationwide From page 53 Cosmetology, and Computer Skills Training. Additionally, 31 persons from the Orealla/Siparuta Villages in the Corentyne River were trained in Outboard and Small Engine Repairs, which is a vital vocation for the sustenance and empowerment for the residents of these communities. During this year, Williams said, emphasis will continue to be placed on vulnerable groups such as school dropouts, youths from depressed communities, single parents and the differentlyable. Notwithstanding this, he said that BIT intends to foster closer collaboration with the Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency (CRMA) and the Council for Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in order to obtain credible labour market data and information by use of labour market intelligence statistics. He said that this would be done so as to determine realistic demand and by extension, offer continuous career guidance to all potential trainees. The BIT Chairman said that this process would also allow the agency to structure programmes which will have maximum impact on the unemployed and/or under employed and therefore positively impact on government's empowerment objective. He noted too that plans are
in the pipeline to improve BIT's collaboration and better coordination among the formal and non-formal training institutions in order to reduce the high level of duplication in the delivery of many occupational skills training programmes, while at the same time, increase the focus on employment generation. “With this in mind, I must say that I am pleased to reveal that since the introduction of our Heavy Equipment Operator Training Programme in 2010, we have been recording 100% employment of all the 567 graduates (for which 23 were trained this year for Region Eight in Mahdia) from these our signature programmes across the country, from 2014 to date. “We shall strive to come up with innovative mechanisms to influence more involvement and support from the local private sector in providing more in-plant facilities and facilitators as well as hands-on approaches on determination of course content and curricula for our respective training programmes. This intervention is absolutely necessary if we are to generate skills sets that are consistently technologically relevant, and hence, adequately meet the expectations of the constantly changing workforce. As regards quality and reliability, Williams
said that BIT will establish a closer collaboration with the TVET Council towards the progressive implementation of competenc- based and entrepreneurial skills training with the ultimate goal of ensuring that all graduates are certified with the recognized National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) and ultimately with the Regional Caricom Vocational Qualification (CVQ). With regards to chartering the way forward, Williams said that BIT intends to ensure that there is continuous improvement of its Technical Vocational Programmes by reviewing and prioritizing the several core elements. These include alignment with Guyana's Development Strategy; improvement in Governance arrangements; the placement of more emphasis on employer engagements; increased funding and incentives systems; reconfiguration of curriculum design and delivery systems and reviewing and improving assessment mechanisms in order to ensure quality assurance and accreditation. They also include ensuring marketable certification and/or further progression not excluding the achievement of local National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) and/or ultimately Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ).
Williams said that this exercise will ensure the skills generated are sought after not only locally, but regionally and internationally. The BIT Chairman noted that the ultimate goals of these programmes are not only geared towards positively impacting on increased employment generation, entrepreneurship and empowerment, but also by exten-
sion, should be viewed as vital socioeconomic interventions as it relates to poverty alleviation and crime prevention. As a consequence, Williams said that BIT believes that it is sufficiently poised to make a tangible contribution to the current administration's programmes and policies which are aimed at providing a good life for all the people
of Guyana. Williams also recognized the tremendous support and guidance BIT has received from Ministers Amna Ali and Keith Scott, which he said can best be described as “meaningful consultation and maximum participation in the conceptualization and delivery of BIT's training programmes”.
Overpopulation, want of more... From page 13 oil in other articles, consider this a preview. China’s access to the natural resources of countries has been made relatively easy through a strategy it developed which has become so popular it has attracted its own name—‘The Angola Model.’ The strategy got its name since it was first executed in Angola. It has since been used on many countries in the African continent. The ‘Angola Model’ is the process where Chinese financing is given to countries. These loan agreements are associated with acquiring the country’s natural resources. Acquiring natural resources translates to exercising control over land rich in commodities such as gold, oil and timber. Many of the African countries where China has a strong presence usually find it difficult to access funding from the international market. Since China provides loans at low interest rates, Africa’s vulnerable nations gravitate to accessing Chinese financing. China grants loans to these countries that rely heavily on their natural resources as
collateral. In Guyana Here in Guyana, we have had our own share of experiences with Chinese occupation of prime land for housing, farming and for the taking of our resources. Baishanlin Forest Developers Inc., as a prime example, is linked to the government of China, since China Longjiang Forest Industry (group), which has a 55 per cent hold on Baishanlin, is owned by the State. Baishanlin and other Chinese companies were given massive logging concessions covering almost 1,000,000 hectares (3,681 sq. mi) which is about 4.5 per cent of Guyana (More on this in articles to come). The Central Housing and Planning Authority has filed legal action against Baishanlin. The Authority is seeking to reclaim just about 100 acres of land currently in the hands of the company. This is so, since the company has failed to live up to the terms and conditions contained within the agreement of sale which calls for the development of the land.
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Mitchell gives HDC applicants hope for 2020…
8,000 home delivery plan Trinidad Guardian - By the end of December, the Government’s accelerated housing programme is set to deliver and allocate 700 homes to citizens across the country. These homes are part of approximately 8,000 units which Housing Minister Randall Mitchell says Government plans to deliver by 2020 as it ignites previously stalled housing sites in Vieux Fort, St James; Real Springs, Valsayn and Bon Air North, Arouca, as well as continuing construction on existing developments at 23 sites across the country. These 23 sites are expected to yield approximately 4,500 homes, while 20 sites in the planning stages will yield
the additional units. In total, the Housing Development Corporation is spending $2.4 billion to complete work on all 23 active sites. Friday, Mitchell, along with HDC chairman Newman George and managing director Brent Lyons toured five sites with members of the media. The five sites, one in St James and the others along the East West Corridor, included Trestrail, D’abadie, and HDC’s latest development, River Runs Through, Arima, are expected to yield housing units in phases for up to 700 families before the end of 2017. In 2016, Mitchell had promised 1,200 housing units would be completed in
that year. Friday’s tour began at Vieux Fort, where Mitchell and the HDC officials toured completed rental units in Block A, 44 of which are expected to be completed, delivered and allocated by the end of September. The other three blocks, B, C, and D, are expected to be completed by August, 2018 to provide homes for an additional 93 families. In Real Spring, Valsayn, the stark grey concrete of unfinished buildings, stood a few hundred metres away from model town-house and single family units. Mitchell said the ministry was committed to restarting abandoned projects.
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Hundreds of thousands march in Barcelona to show unity after Islamist attacks B A R C E L O N A (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands marched in Barcelona in a show of unity yesterday evening amid chants of ‘I am not afraid’ after two Islamist m i l i t a n t a t t a c ks in the Spanish region of Catalonia last week left 15 dead. The march was led by shopkeepers and residents of the city’s wellknown Las Ramblas boulevard, where a van ploughed into pedestrians on Aug. 17, killing 13 and injuring over a hundred. The crowd applauded representatives of the police, fire services and medical professions who also led the march. Spain’s King Felipe, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and the head of Catalonia’s regional government Carles Puigdemont, dressed in dark suits, walked in the throng as people cheered and bore red,
yellow and white roses t h e c o l o u r s o f S p a i n ’s second-biggest city. “We a r e h e r e t o s a y we’re not afraid, we are united and we want peace,” said 59-year-old pensioner Vi c t o r i a Padilla as she marched. Slogans carried by marchers read “The best answer: peace” and “No to Islamophobia”. Police estimated the march at half a million people. Members of Spain’s Islamic community marched alongside the King and Prime Minister Rajoy, including women wearing hijabs. Speakers gave readings next to a floral display with the words ‘Barcelona’ and ‘I am not afraid’ in different languages including Arabic. “We have to know how to speak to each other and understand others. Ev-
eryone has to learn how to be more human,” said demonstrator Juan Ripoll, 63. In the run up to the protest, Barcelona mayor Ada Colau called for a massive turnout after
what she called a “tough, painful week” which saw two deadly Islamist militant attacks in as many days and an extensive manhunt for those responsible. I n a d d ition to the 13
killed by the van, two others were killed during the driver’s getaway and in a separate car and knife attack in the Catalan coastal resort of Cambrils. Of the 12 suspects linked to the attacks, six were shot
dead by police and two died in an explosion before the van rampage. Two are in custody on charges of murder and membership of a terrorist organization, a n d t w o have been freed on certain conditions.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday August 27, 2017
Sunday August 27, 2017
Kaieteur News
Hamilton Green Cup football re-starts on Wednesday in Linden Action in the Hamilton Green Cup football tournament has been scheduled to re-commence on Wednesday with a double header at the MSC ground in the Mining To w n o f L i n d e n a s t h e teams battle for the winner’s prize of $500,000. The runners-up will take home $250,000 while the third and fourth placed teams will collect $150,000 and $100,000 respectively. Silver Shatters will depend on goalkeeper Kellon Major, Strikers Robin Adams and Damion Williams along
with mid-fielders Michael Wi l s o n and Dexter Garraway as the face-off with Plaisance who have in their line-up defense player Travis Simion, forward Vincent Thomas and Keon Lyte, O’Neil Clark and Akeem Thomas in midfield; game time is 19:00hrs. The 21:00hrs feature game will see Eagles United battling Kuru Kururu Warriors with a lot expected from Kellon Primo, Benny Neblit and Romain Adams in the Eagles team while Cordel Johnson, Michael
Charles and Kester Fraser could be key to Kuru K u r u r u ’s success. The action is scheduled to continue on Friday at the same venue when Winners Connection play Riddim Squad in the 19:00hrs game before Milerock oppose GDF from 21:00hrs. The competition will s w i t c h t o t h e Vi c t o r i a ground on the East Coast next Sunday where another double header is fixed with Mahaica playing Santos and Ann’s Grove battling Bakewell Buxton.
Wu to send rep to Georgetown meeting –Ninvalle (From page 70) financial mismanagement a n d s e v e r a l E x e c u ti v e Committee members have signed a document calling for President Wu to step down. At the upcoming Extra Ordinary Congress scheduled for Dubai in November, national federations will vote on whether to have Wu removed from the
helm. Since an Executive Committee meeting last month in Moscow, an Interim Management Committee headed by Italian Franco Falcinelli has claimed to be running the affairs of AIBA but this has been refuted by Wu who has put in motion a legal challenge. Ninvalle said that so far
he has received no response from Falcinelli or the AMBC about attendance at the meeting in Georgetown. To d a t e , A n g u i l l a , Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica, Suriname, St Lucia, St. M a r t i n a n d T rinidad and Tobago have confirmed being here for the meeting.
Sunday August 27, 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You may need to take the day off to replenish your soul, Aries. You've been working exceptionally hard lately. While your output is impressive, it's coming at a high personal cost. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Pay attention to your dreams today, Taurus. They're likely to be interesting! If possible, write down your impressions the moment you wake up. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You may feel great about yourself, Gemini. It's no mystery why. You're looking better than you have in months. People are responding to you very favorably. CANCER (June 21–July 22) This may not be the most energetic day, Cancer. You've been working hard lately and your body needs time to refuel. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Take care that you don't spend beyond your means, Leo. There's no doubt about it - you like to shop! VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Today is a good day to join a group that shares your interests, Virgo. You will find comfort in numbers, as well as some real intellectual stimulation that comes from discovering new things with like-minded people.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You have a sharp, inquisitive mind, Libra. Today you're likely to put it to good use exploring some arcane fields. It's likely your chief area of interest is scientific. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) The astral configuration indicates that you can expect a financial windfall of some sort, Scorpio! This is great, but don't celebrate just yet. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Love and romance are in the air, Sagittarius. The flame is going to be turned up a bit in an existing relationship. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) You have a creative soul, Capricorn, and today it's working overtime. You can't stop all sorts of imaginative ideas. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) If you've been feeling like you want to do more to help the world, Aquarius, today is the day to put those thoughts into action. There is a lot you can do locally. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) If you've had a longstanding interest in film or photography, today is a good day to explore that interest further, Pisces. You will likely receive an opportunity to learn some of the intricacies of the craft. Who knows?
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GCC/Igloo Hockey Festival underway... (From page 72) defeated GCC Thunder 5-1. Game 2 - Under-10 Mixed: GCC Hurricanes defeated Hikers 2-0. Game 3 – Under-14 Girls: Saints Challengers defeated GCC Marian 9-2. Game 4 – Under-14 Boys: Saints Scorpions defeated Hikers 6-0. Game 5 – Under-10 Mixed: Thunder defeated Hikers 60.
Game 6 – Under-10 Mixed: Hurricanes vs. Bolts 3-1. Game 7 – Under-14 Girls: GCC Warriors vs. Saints Sensations 5-3. Game 8 – Under-14 Boys: Saints Scorchers defeated Old Fort Arrows 8-2. Game 9 – Under- 10 Mixed Final: Hurricanes defeated Thunder 2-0. Game 10 – Under-14 Girls: Marian defeated Sensations 5-2.
Game 11- Under-14 Boys: Hikers defeated GCC Gladiators 4-1. Game 12 – Under-14 Boys Saints Scorpions defeated Saints Scorchers 11-4. Game 13 – Under-14 Girls: Challengers defeated Warriors 6-5. Game 14 – Under- 21 Girls: GCC Spartans defeated Old Fort Lady Bugs 12-2. The tournament will conclude today with matches.
Raiders, Bulls & Jets victorious; matches... (From page 68) who had 2 4 g a m e h i g h points. Performing well for the Jets were Emmanuel Archibald who netted 19 points, Akini Wilson 12 and Donnel Benjamin 10. Linden champions Retrieve Raiders earning a 65-60 win over Bankers Trust Falcons with Duel Montrose contributing 21 points, Shamar
Anderson 12 and Coel Winter 8. Shawn Tim led the scoring for the Falcons with 11. And the red-hot Victory Valley Royals hammered Christianburg Pistons 15131, Harold Adams poured in a tournament high 46 points, Orlando Glasgow 3 3 , C h r i s Wi l l i a m s 2 7 , Linnel Warden and Yannick Tappin had 12 each. For the
Pistons D. Benjamin got 10 points. In other results, Amelia’s Ward Jets gained a 64-41victory against Block 22 Flames with the improving Akini Wilson scoring 23 points while Joel Webster got 16 and Donnel Benjamin 15. Selwyn Henry had 15 for the Flames. The top four clubs will advance to the semifinals.
UG Trojans flawless on... (From page 72) We d n e s d a y w i t h a double header at the C l i ff A n d e r s o n S p o r t s Hall. The first will begin at
18:30hrs, an Under-23 clash between Eagles and Kobras while the second will see Sonics opposing Trojans in a first division encounter at 20:30hrs.
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Kaieteur News
Kaieteur Sports Week in Review SPORTS WEEK IN REVIEW 17 INTERNATIONAL WRESTLING SUPERSTARS TO CLASH AT “THUNDA IN GUYANA” ON SEPT 2ND Great news for wrestling fans as MAXIMUM SPORTS COMBAT & STRENGTH presentsTHUNDA IN GUYANA, a mega event that will see 17 international Wrestling Superstars clash in Guyana. The event is will get underway on Saturday, September 2nd, from 7:00pm at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. M A X I M U M S P O RT S COMBAT & STRENGTH is a popular, one-hour “live” TV Sports show, aired Fridays at 9pm on NCN TV, hosted by Max Massiah. According to Massiah, “Thunda in Guyana promises to be a spectacular night of family entertainment. The card comprises of 9 males & 8 females, 75% of which are current or former Champions, from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Canada, and across the United States of America.” LINDEN ATHLETES PRESENTED WITH FUNDS RAISED AT KARES BOYCE/JEFFORD CLASSIC VIII The Kares Engineering Inc. Boyce and Jefford Track and Field Classic VIII yesterday handed over an undisclosed sum of cash to three of Linden and Guyana’s top athletes that it had raised at the eight edition of its athletics meet at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) Ground, Linden. The signature track and field event in Linden had opened the fund with a lucrative first financial donation; following that pioneering initiative, several individuals, groups and businesses present at the meet made pledges that were accumulated and divided among the three athletes. Those who benefitted from the funds included multiple CARIFTA Games medalist, Chantoba Bright, World Junior silver medalist, Daniel Williams and Guyana’s first sprint gold medalist at the CARIFTA Games, Compton Caesar. It was not the first time that the Boyce/Jefford Committee enacted such an initiative. In 2014, the group did the same thing for middle distance phenom, Cassey George. The idea is that the funds will directly impact the development of the athletes. ESSEQUIBO TABLE TENNIS SUB-COMMITTEE HOST FIRST COMPETITION IN 20 YEARS The Essequibo Table Tennis Sub-Committee Region Two, recently hosted its first table tennis competition after a prolonged period of 20 years. The Event’s Organizers Debra Daniels and Nathan Persaud, said that the aim of the event was to promote awareness
Guyana Senior Squash team
of table tennis. The five category event, which was held at the Anna Regina Secondary, kicked off with the under 13 events; the under 15, 17, 21 and open categories, were launched as the day progressed. The competition saw competitive young men, who seemed to have had their “heads in the game” in keen battles. Competitors were awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each category. Though the turnout was not as anticipated, Organisers are optimistic that the next competition would yield better spectatorship. Organizer Debra Daniels noted, “We’re still a young committee so we didn’t get a response as intended, we’re still calling on the support of all other stakeholders in the community.” The Essequibo Table Tennis sub-committee was established in October of 2015. The committee is now geared at promoting table tennis throughout the Essequibo Coast, through training and organized competitions. LAS LEONAS (THE LIONESSES) COMING FOR PAN AM HOCKEY C/SHIPS GLORY When they arrive in Guyana to participate in the Pan American Indoor Championships two-time women’s champions Argentina will be among the favourites to win the title. The championships which commences on October 14, at the refurbished Cliff Anderson Sports Hall will see Argentina also known as (Las Leonas or the Lionesses) join another two-time champion Canada, USA, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Barbados, Mexico and host Guyana as the participants in the women’s category. Argentina the country that has produced eight-time world player of the year Luciana Aymar, dubbed the Maradona of hockey and someone who is recognised the world over as one of the greatest female players ever, will no doubt be aiming to capture the title and qualify for the FIH Indoor Hockey
World Cups scheduled for February 2018 in Berlin, Germany. ENGLAND ROUT WINDIES IN JUST THREE DAYS IN DAY-NIGHT TEST Stuart Broad hogged the limelight in the dark as England routed a hopelessly outclassed West Indies in the landmark daynight test match at Edgbaston, wrapping up victory by an innings a n d 2 0 9 r u n s y e s t e r d a y. Broad became the second most prolific wicket taker in English test history, taking his 384th scalp on a remarkable day for the home attack as they shared around 19 wickets to put the visitors’ callow batting lineup to the sword. The paceman went past Ian Botham’s haul of 383 wickets while ripping the heart out of the visitors’ second innings to move to second on the England all-time list behind his strike partner James Anderson, who also enjoyed a big day. Watching in the Sky Sports commentary box amid an excited full-house enjoying the conclusion to the first day-night test to be staged in England, Botham e n t h u s e d : “ I t ’s f a n t a s t i c . On a cold, damp day, England had been, first, inspired by Anderson and Toby Roland-Jones as they forced the Windies to follow on, bowling them out for 168 by early in the post-lunch session in response to England’s mammoth 514 for eight declared. Anderson had led the charge with three wickets and a run-out. Then with the floodlights on and the pink ball wobbling around, Captain Joe Root naturally invited the Windies to endure further nightmares. This time Anderson and Roland-Jones, who had also taken two first-innings wickets, soon struck again before Broad stole the show as the Windies once more crumbled, this time being bowled out for 137. GUYANA SWEEP MEN’S, WOMEN’S TITLES AT XXV SENIOR CARIBBEAN
SQUASH C/SHIPS Guyana re-asserted their dominance of Caribbean Squash when they claimed both the Men’s and Women’s Team Titles at the National Squash Center in St. Vincent. The women, playing a virtual final against Barbados, claimed wins at the bottom of the order by Victoria Arjoon, Larissa Wiltshire andTaylor Fernandes to clinch the title. The only two loses coming at the hand of Caribbean Champion Meagan Best and runner up Karen Meakins. The Men’s team worked a little harder for their victory, as they got off to a fast start at the bottom of the lineup, with wins from Jason Ray Khalil and Nyron Joseph. Jamaica was able to pull back two wins, with victories from Caribbean Men’s Champion Chris Binnie and Bruce B u r r o w s . H o w e v e r, 4 6 y e a r veteran, Richard Chin playing number three on the team, came on and clinically dispatched Julian Morrison in three games to help Guyana clinch its second title of the afternoon. However, Guyana lost the overall title on count back after finishing tied with Barbados with 24 points. (They won by 13 wins…mostly won in the Vets division). EXTRA BEER/BALLERS IN THE SUMMER STREET FOOTBALL…FUTURE STARS NEEDLE BACK CIRCLE, CLAIM CHAMPIONSHIP Future Stars needled Back Circle early Sunday morning to win the final of the Second Ground Entertainment / Extra Beer / Ballers in the Summer Street knock-out football tournament. In lifting the top prize of $400,000, Future Stars had earlier blanked another talented team, ESPN 4-0 in their semi final on account of a brace of goals each off the boot of Akeemo Anthony (7th, 24th) and Jamal Cozier (12th, 28th). In the final which served up a fierce battle with Back Circle,
Future Stars’ agility and ability to be very quick on the ball and letting off shots made the difference as Jamal Cozier’s 18th minute dagger was all that was needed to seal the top prize and improve the status of the champs as the club to beat. Back Circle did put up a good fight in the final but had to settle for the runner-up prize of $150,000. Back Circle’s semi final clash with Tiger Bay saw them taming the Tiger 2-0. After failing at the semi finals hurdle, ESPN and Tiger Bay had to settle for a date in the third place match. The Tigers were led to the third prize of $75,000 thanks to the diminutive Deon Alfred who fired in both goals in the 2-0 win. ESPN pocketed the fourth prize of $50,000. The top three clubs also received trophies. Future Stars’ Jamal Cozier was named the Most Valuable Player of the competition. KRYSTIAN SAHADEO QUALIFIES FOR ITTF WORLD HOPES TRAINING AND SELECTION CAMP National 11years and under player Krystian Sahadeo performed outstandingly at the ITTF Caribbean Hopes Table Tennis Training and selection camp, winning selection to participate in the ITTF Continental LatinAmerican World Hopes training and selection camp. The training camp held from the 14th -19th August (prior to the 2017 Caribbean Min and Pre Cadet Table tennis championships) was first for the Caribbean region and was conducted under the auspices of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Ta b l e Te n n i s Federation, Latin American Table Tennis Union and the Jamaica Table Tennis Association for the 11 years and under participants. The camp is used to select the best two (2) 11 years and under Boys and Girls from the participating countries at the 2017 edition of the Caribbean championships to participate in the ITTF Continental Latin American World Hopes Training and selection Camp scheduled for Asuncion Paraguay 18th -23rd September 2017. They will compete among the best players from South America, Central America and the Caribbean for possible qualification as a World Hopes prospect. DIGICEL HOSTS SECOND PHASE OF BIG BROTHER CLINIC AT THE MARRIOTT Students from Diamond Special Needs School of East Bank Demerara were given the opportunity to interact with players from the Guyana Amazon Warriors when Digicel hosted the second phase of the Caribbean PremierLeague Big Brother Clinic at the Marriott. The students were given a few lessons on some of the basics of the (Continued on page 67)
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Kaieteur Sports Week in Review (From page 66) game like gripping the ball and bat, and even had the opportunity to test their skills in an indoor game with some of the players. D i g i c e l G u y a n a , Communications Manager Vidya Sanichara expressed gratitude to The Marriott for partnering with them. She said it’s a wonderful gesture to give the students an opportunity to meet with the players, adding that special needs are close to their hearts and they have been supporting them for some time. Fast bowler Rayad Emrit said they are excited to be among the children once again especially after winning on Sunday night. Teacher Tricia Michael lauded Digicel for giving the students the opportunity to meet with the players since some of them are interested in the game. GOKARN RAMDHANI ELECTED TO REGIONAL BADMINTON VP POST President of the Guyana Badminton Association (GBA), Gokarn Ramdhani, has been electedas Vice President of the Caribbean Regional Badminton Confederation (CAREBACO) for the next two years 2017-2019 at the AGM held Saturday 19th of August 2017 at the National Racket Centre in Tacarigua, Trinidad. Gokarn Ramdhani, who is serving as Manager/Head Coach of the 9-Member team that won 8Medals (3-Gold, 2-Silvers & 3 Bronze) at the just concluded CAREBACO Junior Championships, is very happy that Guyana can once again be on the Executive Board of CAREBACO. After Serving for 4-years as General Secretary, he was moved up to Vice President with votes from all present without any objections. GUYANA UNDER-15 FOOTBALL TEAM RETURNS FROM CONCACAF BOYS’ CHAMPIONSHIP The Golden Jaguars Under-15 football team returned to Guyana yesterday after a creditable performance in the CONCACAF Under-15 boys’ championship that was competed at the IMG Academy i n F l o r i d a , U S A . The team competed in the developmental arm of the tournament and was placed in Group F among St. Lucia, Suriname, and St. Kitts and Nevis. They finished second in the group and played Puerto Rico in the first knockout round which they lost 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw following full time. Coach of the team, Bryan Joseph, summed up the team’s campaign as positive, “I’m very excited and pleased to inform that the Guyana under-15 team played well… All our matches played were very competitive, we created a lot of chances and the experience was good for all (the players), both on and off the field. The lads would’ve
Future Stars Captain Keron Solomon receives the winning trophy from Organiser Collin Henry. seen the likes of Mexico and Jamaica play and they have an idea of what levels they can attain in football.” In the recent tournament, Guyana managed to score first in all four of the matches played. HERO CPL CRICKET…WARRIORS KEEP SEMI-FINAL HOPES ALIVE WITH EMPHATIC 7-WKT WIN OVER STARS It is said that when night falls the stars come out to shine but last night at Providence the Guyana Amazon Warriors ensured that the St Lucia Stars failed to spark when they kept semi-final hopes alive with a seven-wicket win to move to six points from eight games in this year’s Hero CPL T20 cricket tournament with Tridents and Tallawahs still to play. The 32-year Jesse Ryder scored a 30-ball 29 with three fours but only controversially sacked Captain Daren Sammy (19), Johnson Charles (15) and Sunil Ambris (15*) reached double figures as the Stars reached 100-7 off 20 overs. Rashid Khan (2-19), Rayed E m r i t ( 2 - 2 6 ) , Ve e r a s a m m y Permaul (1-16), Sohail Tanvir (022) and Steven Jacobs (0-16) were all economical for the Warriors who replied with 101-3 in 14.4 overs. Pinch hitter and Man-of-Match Tanvir, who blasted 38 from29 balls with five fours and a six and Jason Mohammed, who reached the boundary thrice and cleared in twice in his 35-ball unbeaten 42, added 51 for the third wicket. UDFA GT BEER $M INTER ASSOCIATION SUPER CUP FOOTBALL UPPER DEMERARA STOP EAST COAST 3-1 Essequibo/ Pomeroon landed themselves a semifinal’s berth in the Upper Demerara Football
Association (UDFA) run ‘Sunday Night Super Cup’ inter association football tournament after dismissing the challenge of East Bank 5-1, as Upper Demerara topped Group A to also advance with a 3-1 thumping of East Coast as the finals of group play games concluded at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground last Sunday night. Upper Demerara were able to maintain their unblemished record after three from three as they took the lead against East Coast in the 15th minute a Jashawn Moore goal. But the East Coast side recovered to knot the scores before half time through a goal by Malcolm Wilson in the 37th minute. After the break Upper Demerara would retake the lead thanks to a Shane Luckie strike in the 67th minute. Kellon Primo continued his fine form when he tucked in his team’s third goal in the 73rd minute and that would be the final score 31 in the second game of the night. INAUGURAL GUINNESS CAGE / THREE PROMOTIONS INDOOR FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT LAUNCHED The highly anticipated inaugural Guinness Cage / Three Peat Promotions Indoor Football Competition was officially launched Wednesday, during a simple ceremony that was conducted at the Windjammer International Hotel & Cuisine, Queen Street, Kitty. Among those in attendance at the occasion were members of the Organising Committee, Administrative Manager of the National Sports Commission (NSC) Gervy C. Harry, Referees Co-ordinator Wayne Griffith and representatives of the participating teams. Harry in his insightful remarks called on the organisers, spectators
and the competing teams to display good discipline throughout the tournament, informing that the NSC will not tolerate any act that runs counter to the contractual agreement and therefore sanctions can be enforced for any c o n t r a v e n t i o n . Representative of Three Peat Promotions Rawle Welch speaking at the Launch said, “The tournament was conceptualized months earlier between myself and colleagues and it was readily accepted following our proposal to Banks DIH Limited. We are very pleased to have such a large company like Banks DIH Limited on board, especially under its Guinness brand.”The event, which will last for the duration of eight nights, features 32 teams from several regions battling for over $800,000 in cash and prizes.The winning team will cart off $400,000 and the championship trophy, while the runner-up, third and fourth placed teams will receive $200,000, $100,000 and $50,000 respectively and the
corresponding trophies. REGIONAL UNDER-19 ONE-DAY CHAMPIONSHIP – 4TH ROUND YADRAM, PEREZ, ANDERSON LEAD GUYANA TO ANOTHER TRIUMPH B h a s k a r Ya d r a m 6 - 1 6 , Raymond Perez 52 not out and Kevelon Anderson 51 not out were the men on song as Guyana defeated the Leeward Islands by eight wickets in their fourth round match the Regional Under-19 OneDay Championship. Yadram was impressive with the ball as Guyana restricted the Leewards to 116 off 45.3 overs, while Perez and Anderson made easy work of chasing the required total. DINDYAL’S TON LEADS AURORA KNIGHTRIDERS TO VICTORY OVER HIBERNIA LIONS IN 2ND T20 A magnificent century by left handed opener Deoraj Dindyal helped Aurora Knightriders to take a 2-0 lead over Hibernia Lions in the 3 match series played last Sunday at the Hibernia Cricket ground. Knightriders were invited to bat on a friendly batting wicket and compiled a commanding 246-7 in their allotted overs. Man-of-theMatch Dindyal, stroked an eye catching 102 (10×4 8×6) while Ravi Beharry made 46 (7×4 1×6) and Saieef Ally 33 (1×4 3×6), the main contributors. Bowling for Hibernia, Ramdhanie Samaroo claimed 2-24 and Ramnarine Raghoobar 2-35; there was a wicket each for G. Ramdhanie, D. Mohan and M. Ramnauth. Hibernia Lions’ response was nothing short of entertainment as the game went down to the ‘wire’. Ameer Mohamed slammed an aggressive 112 (2×4 14×6) but in a losing cause as the Lions fell short after being bowled out for 233 off 19.2 overs. D. Mohan contributed 25 (2×4) and Chandie Ramnauth with 18. Extras made a healthy contribution of 38.
Bhaskar Yadram
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Guyana sweep Suriname to retain Male Inter Guiana Games Volleyball title G u y a n a ’s U n d e r- 1 8 volleyball players swept hosts Suriname 2-0 to retain their Inter Guiana Games championship at the Ismay Van Wilgen Sports Hall.
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Kaieteur News
In yesterday’s second match, the Guyanese under the technical leadership of National Coach Levi Nedd defeated the host nation 2522, 25-20, 25-21.
In the first match on Friday, Guyana won 25-17, 25-22, 25-16. Outstanding for Guyana were Renaldo Bobb, Omari Joseph and Hellond Singh.
Guyana trash Trinidad and Tobago by eight wickets Defending champions Guyana defeated Trinidad and Tobago by eight wickets when the CWI Regional U19 50-over tournament continued on yesterday in St. Kitts. Trinidad and Tobago struggled against a formidable Guyana bowling attack and were bowled out for 110 in 35.4 overs after they were inserted at Conaree. Pacer Ronaldo Ali Mohamed and Bhaskar Yadram made early inroads
to reduce Trinidad and Tobago to 23-3; they never recovered despite 48 from Kirstan Kallicharan and 23 from Cephas Cooper. Yadram picked up 3-19, Keshram Seyhodan 2-4, Ashmead Nedd 2-23 and Richie Looknauth 2-27. Opener Raymond Perez’ fine form in the tournament continued as he struck an unbeaten 47 from 69 balls with five fours and one six to lead Guyana to 111-2 in 21.5 overs in
Raymond Perez reply. Joshua Persaud made 44 from 45 balls including five fours and two sixes while Kevlon Anderson remained unbeaten on 13.
Raiders, Bulls & Jets victorious; matches continue tonight Tw o r e s c h e d u l e d matches would be contested this evening when the Mackenzie Sports Club / Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) Open League continues at the Mackenzie Sports Club, Hard Court .Bouncing off at
18:30hrs, Block 22 Flames and Retrieve Raiders will face off while the feature clash from 20:30hrs will see Christianurg Pistons facing Bankers Trust Falcons, both teams go after their first win. In latest play on Wednesday last, Bulls recorded a 70-68 win over
Jets to maintain their unblemished record in this seven club championship. Swing man Michael Turner and power forward Travin Dryden returned to have 18 and 10 points respectively to support leading scorer Terron Welch (Continued on page 65)
Brathwaite, Hope punish England as Windies flourish Leeds, England, CMC – Opener Kraigg Brathwaite carved out his sixth Test hundred while immensely talented stroke-maker Shai Hope gathered his first, as West Indies dominated England to take a surprise advantage on the second day of the second Test at Headingley here yesterday. Under heavy criticism following a heavy innings defeat inside three days last weekend, the Caribbean side responded strongly by piling up 329 for five in their first innings at the close – a lead of 71 heading into Sunday’s third day. At the heart of the Windies enterprise were Brathwaite and Hope who combined prudence and aggression to subdue England’s much-vaunted seam attack. Hope was unbeaten on 147 at the close, an innings that has so far consumed six hours flat and lasted 252 balls, with 23 boundaries. The knock was also the highest individual score by a West Indies batsman in a Test in England in 22 years. He was partnered by Jermaine Blackwood who has already stroked four boundaries in a 23-ball 21. Brathwaite, meanwhile, gathered 134 – a knock that included 17 fours and two sixes, and came from 249 deliveries in six hours and 20 minutes at the crease. Together, he and Hope put on a superb 246 for the fourth wicket – the highest stand by
the Windies in England in just over three decades – which pulled West Indies around from danger at 35 for three and saw them dominate the second session without losing a wicket. Resuming the day on 19 for one, England threatened a repeat of the opening Test at Edgbaston when seamer Jimmy Anderson removed nightwatchman Devendra Bishoo in the fifth over of the day for one and then followed up by knocking over new batsman Kyle Hope for three. Bishoo failed to add to his overnight score, wafting at a wide one and nicking a catch behind while Kyle Hope was well caught by captain Joe Root diving low to his left at second slip. H o w e v e r, a n y h o p e s England had of another collapse were soon dashed as Brathwaite and Hope played positively to take the Caribbean side to lunch on 109 for three. Brathwaite, on 13 at the start, survived his share of anxious moments. On 35, he was given out LBW to seamer Stuart Broad only to be reprieved on review because of an inside edge. And on 46, he was again adjudged lbw only for reviews to show the impact outside the line. Brathwaite then released the tension by clearing the leg-side ropes off the very next delivery to raise his half-century, to be unbeaten
on 63 at lunch with Shai Hope on 33. West Indies added a further 97 runs in the next session, with Brathwaite cruising to triple figures in style. He moved into the 90s with back-toback off-side boundaries off seamer Ben Stokes before lifting part-time off-spinner Tom Westley for a straight six off the penultimate delivery before tea, to reach his landmark. Shai Hope, meanwhile, looked in fine touch, moving into the 40s with a couple of boundaries off Anderson in the second over after lunch before reaching his halfcentury in the next over with a straight-driven four off seamer Chris Woakes. On 85 at tea with the Windies on 206, Shai eased into the 90s with a delight cover drive for four off off-spinner Moeen Ali before stylishly pulling Stokes to the square boundary in the next over to move to 99. A single to long leg off the next delivery brought him his maiden hundred in his 12 Test. The pair frustrated England for the next hour before Brathwaite finally perished in the third over following the drinks break, bowled by Broad as he prodded forward. There was no joy for new batsman Roston Chase as he lasted 20 balls in scoring five before fending one from Stokes that bounced, to Alastair Cook at first slip.
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Banks 5-a-side Inter Department football kicks off on Tuesday The Banks Beer Cup 5-aside round-robin inter department football competition in set to commence on Tuesday at Thirst Park with eight teams battling in two groups. Preliminary matches will be of 15 minutes duration after which the top two teams in each group will qualify for the semi finals. In the opening fixtures, Beer Plant will take on Trisco, Berbice will face Sales, Sales will play Beer Plant,
Trisco versus Sales, Berbice challenging Beer Plant and Trisco matching skills with Berbice in group A. In group B, Stores will take on Water Plant, Demico House will entertain C Service, Water Plant will play Demico House, Stores will entertain C Service, Water Plant facing C Service and Demico House battling Stores. The finals will be played on September 8 at the said venue.
Meanwhile, Wholesale Liquor Store won the latest round of dominoes played on Friday night at Banks DIH Sports Club. Wholesale Liquor Store marked 85 games while Sales finished second on 68 followed by Berbice branch on 62. The semi final will be played tomorrow where Water Plant, Sales and Stores will battle for supremacy. Wholesale Liquor Store drew the bye to the final.
Berbice Chess Association established
Kriskal Persaud (left) and Frankie Farley focuses during a game at the Launch of the Berbice Chess The game of chess is expected to receive a boost in Berbice with the recent election of office bearers for the Berbice Chess Association (BCA). Tasked with spreading and managing the sport in the ancient county, the meeting to establish the association was held at the University of Guyana, Berbice Campus, Ta i n , C o r e n t y n e . Long serving advocate Krishnanand Raghunandan who over the years has been championing the cause of the sport was elected to serve as President. Steve Leung is Vice President with the Secretary being Jaysheer Carpen and Dane G r i m m o n d , Tr e a s u r e r. Executive members are Kriskal, Winston Profitt and Walter Singh. The establishment of the BCA is the culmination of regular annually held chess activities in Berbice that began in 2007 when a number of secondary schools were presented with chess sets from the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sports. Port Mourant Secondary, however, received chess sets compliments of Raghunandan and the New Amsterdam Rotary Club. In 2008, a chess club was launched at the school guided by Raghunandan, and Mr. Irshaad Mohammed of the Guyana Chess F e d e r a t i o n . Also in 2008 (December), a total of 10 secondary school
students participated in the National Schools Chess Championship in Georgetown. Ever since, Raghunandan has been taking students from Berbice to compete in the national tournament. A Berbice inter school tournament as well as the formation of a club at the University of Guyana Berbice Campus were started in 2010. The sport was introduced by the BCA President to the village of Orella-Siparuta in March 2012, Rai Sharma, a trainer, also made that trip. Amerindian students from that village are now regular participants in the Berbice Inter School championship. Raghunandan in brief remarks said that the new body will be aiming to sensitise persons about the sport across Berbice, moreso
in schools with the help of the Ministry of Education. Guyana Chess Federation members, Frankie Farley and Errol Tiwari were among those present and conducted the elections.
Players in action in the dominoes competition on Friday night.
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Kaieteur News
Wu to send rep to Georgetown meeting –Ninvalle
William Louis Marie
President of AIBA Dr. Ching Kuo-Wu will be represented at a meeting of Caribbean boxing administrators in Guyana on September 10. Wu recently wrote to President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) and AIBA Executive Committee Member Steve Ninvalle informing that AIBA Executive Director William LouisMarie will represent him at the meeting since he (Wu) is unavailable because of
another meeting in Peru at the same time. Wu was invited to the meeting here by the GBA President Ninvalle to clarify the ongoing impasse that has hit the world governing body of boxing. Ninvalle’s letter to Wu stated: “Dear Dr. Wu, Presidents and their representatives of the English speaking Caribbean Countries and Dutch Speaking Suriname will gather in Georgetown, Guyana on September 10, 2017 to discuss the issues surrounding AIBA presently. AIBA is being invited to send a representative to Guyana to share and present its views and or recommendations on the present situation in AIBA. Please note that an invitation is also being extended to the Interim Management Committee and AMBC to do the same, as our membership has mandated that all sides of this impasse be allowed to present to our National federations, their versions of a situation where we have received mixed and
confusing signals and communication.” In the response seen by Kaieteur Sport the AIBA President Wu thanked Ninvalle for the invitation and assured that his Executive Director will be present. ”Thank you for informing me of the meeting among Caribbean National Federations in Georgetown and their interest in listening to a presentation by AIBA on the current situation. I would very much like to meet Presidents and other friends in the region and share with you the truth about what is going on with AIBA. However, I will be attending an IOC session in Lima, Peru in the same period and hence not able to pay a visit to Georgetown this time. AIBA Executive Director Mr. William LouisMarie will represent AIBA. He will give a candid and thorough report and discuss with you,” the response from Wu stated. AIBA has been rocked recently by allegations of (Continued on page 65)
Sunday August 27, 2017
ECB 40-Over Festival Simbu, Adams propels Leguan into final, EB E’bo prevail on better net run rate
M.O.M Kemol Savory accepts his prize from Keith Stephney Paul Simbu grabbed five wickets while Ricardo Adams struck an unbeaten half century as Leguan defeated North Essequibo by six wickets in their semi final to book a place in the final of the Busta / Essequibo Cricket Board 40-over Festival, today.
East B a n k E s s e q u i b o have also qualified for the final with a better net run rate after rain put a n e n d t o their contest again South Essequibo at Tuschen ground, yesterday. At the Imam Bacchus ground in Affiance, North Essequibo batted first and was bowled out for 145 in 34.4 overs. Av e n a s h P e r s a u d scored 35 while Vishwanauth Lall made 27 and Keisho Rooplall 22. Simbu finished with 5-20, taking the man-of-thematch award. Adams then fashioned an unbeaten 50 as Leguan responded with 147-4 in 32 overs. Adams struck four fours and one six and got support from Mark Williams 36 and Tulsieram Premnauth 34 not out. Uvindra Balgobin had 220. In the next semi final, East Bank Essequibo batted first and posted 155-6 off their reduced quota of 23 overs due to rain. Royan Fredericks slammed five fours in scoring 47 while man-of-the-match Kemol Savory smashed five sixes in a rapid 43 and Kevon Boodie 30 with two sixes. R. Gurdeen claimed 228, medium pacer Neilan Cadogan 2-32 and Vijay Surujpaul 2-39. South Essequibo were 51-4 in 9.3 overs in reply when rain prevented further play. Gurdeen and Surujpaul were unbeaten on 15 and 12 respectively while Ravi Beharry made 14. Leguan will meet East Bank Essequibo from 09:30hrs today at Imam Bacchus SC ground in the final.
Sunday August 27, 2017
Kaieteur News
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Warriors get wonderful welcome in Essequibo By Sean Devers The Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) received a wonderful welcome when the Reyad Emrit led team visited the Essequibo Coast yesterday to interact with the fans at the New Opportunity Corp (NOC), Imam Bacchus Supermarket before paying a visit to the Busta Cricket Festival game at the Imam Bacchus ground. After arriving at the Supernaam Warf in a Jet Boat in torrential rain, the Warriors and their support staff first visited the NOC where they were welcomed by the Administrator Mark Dover and an excited group of male and female residents at the correctional i n s t i t u t i o n . The Warriors, on behalf of their title sponsor GTT, donated balls, bats, pads and gloves to the children while GTT’s PRO Alison Parker said that the premier land line provider in Guyana has always supported sports giving as an example, Warriors batsman Assad Fudadin’s endorsement even before he played International cricket; Parker
Warriors off-spinner Steven Jacobs talks to the Kids of the NOC about the importance of Education in turning their lives around yesterday.
thanked the NOC for facilitating the team’s visit. Warriors’ off-spinner Steve Jacobs shared with the youngsters, who had gone a bit astray in life, the importance of Education as a tool to be successful adding that is never too late be a s u c c e s s s t o r y. ”I came from humble beginnings but I used Education and Sport to help me in my life and there is no reason why any of you can’t do the same” said the dread-
locked former West Indies U - 1 9 C a p t a i n . Jacobs told the youths that after finishing Secondary school in Guyana he attended the UWI in Barbados while working hard on his cricket and is now making a living from the sport. He added that once they work hard on anything they could be successful while urging them to be obedient to those in charge of t h e m . Warriors Manager Omar
Khan thanked GTT for the experience of visiting the NOC and introduced each Warrior player while head Coach Roger Harper give a very motivating speech and reminded the group of young people they could become anything they wanted to be once they follow rules, listen to the advice of those in charge and develop the desire to work hard and do the right things. Emirt, also spoke yesterday and along with Parker,
handed over the gear to Dover. The players had an enjoyable time with kids while leg-spinner Khan, was hit for a Hero Maximum by one of boys, something the lad will surly remember for the rest of his life. The players signed autographs and took photos with the kids who are in the facility due to them going down the wrong path in life but seemed very receptive to all that was said. Jamaican Chadwick Walton competed
with two of the youngsters, who sang some of Jamaica’s dancehall artistes songs as a group of girls with lots of ‘swag’ joined in and outdid their male counterparts. The visited ended with Parker promising to try to get a cricket Coach to work with those interested in that sport after she was asked for this to be done by a youth who knew most of the Warriors p l a y e r s f r o m T V. The Warriors then received a raucous welcome when they turned up at the Imam Bacchus Supermarket and Restaurant where they had lunch before spending a short time at the Imam Bacchus ground, which impressed the players. Their last stop in Region two was a visit to Dr Ramroop property in Essequibo before returning to their City Hotel. On six points from eight games, the Warriors will leave for Barbados today where they face the Tridents on Tuesday in a must win game and hope the Tridents lose at least two of their last four games. They also must win their final game on Friday in Jamaica to qualify for the semi-finals.
Campton and Rangers win 2-0. Guinness Cage / Three Peat Promotions Indoor Competition 16 games to highlight Tuesday’s action; Teams, Riddim Squad and Pele draw
GPF, fans commended for patience, understanding
Sunil Logan (left) and Stephon Reynolds - Northern Rangers FC Final round-robin matches in the Corona invitational football tournament got underway at the Georgetown Football ground on Friday evening with three clashes. Northern Rangers continued their unbeaten run with a comfortable 2-0 victory over a disorganised Flamingo team in the second match of the evening. Stephon Reynolds put the Rangers ahead early in the 5th minute of the game. Rangers which topped their group along with Western Tigers are the only unbeaten teams in the tournament. Rangers solidified their chances of remaining
unbeaten as well as winning the match when Sunil Logan doubled their lead with a composed finish in the 29th minute. The first match of the night which Camptown won 2-0 was in similar fashion to Northern Rangers’ victory in that both goals were scored early. Okeri Codrington put the winners ahead in the 3rd minute which placed tremendous pressure on Black Pearl FC as their miserable run of form was sustained as they suffered their third loss whilst conceding 19 goals in the p r o c e s s . C a m p t o w n ’s second and final goal was scored by Ozelea Small in
the 27th minute. The final match of the night was a stalemate between Pele FC and Riddim squad. The goalless draw did not produce many chances as both teams saw most of their attacking ploys broken down in the final third. The Corona invitational football tournament will continue tomorrow with three more matches at the same venue. The first match at 17:00hrs will see Santos taking on Eastveldt followed by a match-up between home team GFC and Beacon. Feature play will be between the unbeaten Western Tigers and Police at 21:00hrs.
Following the forced postponement of the first round of matches in the Guinness Cage / Three Peat Promotions Indoor Competition on Thursday night, the Organisers have rescheduled those games for Tuesday night, at the National Gymnasium. According to the Organisers, the opening round which was affected by a prolonged blackout in the neighbouring c o m m u n i t y, Tu e s d a y ’s knockout action will see sixteen games being played thereby prompting an early start. Over $800,000 in prize monies and trophies will be up for grabs with the winner set to receive $400,000 and the championship trophy, while second, third and fourth placed finishers will take home $200,000, $100,000 and $50,000 along with trophies respectively. The other playing dates for the championship are
August 29 and 31, September 2, 5, 7, 9 with the final set for September 16, at the same venue. Meanwhile, the Organisers are extending commendation to all the teams, ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and fans who showed up at the venue on Thursday and exhibited a high quality of patience and understanding are therefore asking all to work together with them to pull off what is anticipated to be an exciting and successful tournament. Due to the amount of games to be played, the Organisers have reduced the allotted time for matches to fifteen minutes. Teams are being urged to be on time for a prompt start. Among the other sponsors on board are: Star Party Rentals, Faye Joseph, Claude Geddes Recreational Sports Club, National Sports Commission, Windjammer
International H otel & C u i s i n e , Wo o d p e c k e r Trophies & Sport. Fixtures for Tuesday: Sophia vs MBK All-Stars19:00hrs, Broad Street vs Old School Ballers-19:15hrs, Tucville vs Showstoppers19:30hrs, Dave and Celena vs Pike Street Sophia-19:45hrs, Tiger Bay vs Silver Bullets20:00hrs, West Back Road vs Albouystown-B-20:15hrs, Leopold Street vs Plaisance20:30hrs, North Ruimveldt vs Melanie-20:45hrs, Bent Street vs Hustlers-21:00hrs, North East La Penitence vs Mocha21:15hrs, Champion Boys vs Channel-9 Warriors-21:30hrs, Albouystown-A vs Alexander Village-21:45hrs, Gold is Money vs Campbellville22:00hrs, Future Stars vs Agricola Gas Team-22:15hrs, Back Circle vs New Market Street-22:30hrs, Sparta vs Vryheid’s Lust-22:45hrs.
t r o Sp
Brathwaite, Hope punish England as Windies flourish
Shai Hope celebrates his maiden Test hundred. ©Getty Images
Kraigg Brathwaite celebrates a brilliant Test century. ©Getty Images
GCC/Igloo Hockey Festival UG Trojans flawless on the night GABA/Banks DIH B’ball League underway at GCC ground
Action between UG Trojans (Red) and Plaisance Guardians on Thursday night.
Minsodia Culpepper (white) of Old Fort Lady Bugs battle a GCC player to keep possession. The second GCC/Igloo Hockey Festival commenced yesterday at the Georgetown Cricket Club artificial turf with matches from the Under10 to Under-21 age groups. The two-day tournament
which is being played on a miniature artificial hockey surface with rebound boundaries around the perimeter began at 10:00hrs yesterday and was scheduled to conclude at 22:00hrs last
night. Up to press time, 14 of the scheduled 28 matches for the day were played. Below are the results of those games. Game 1 - Under-10 Mixed: GCC Lightning Bolts (Continued on page 65)
The University of Guyana Trojans’ good form continued on Thursday night when the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association/Banks D I H / M a l t a Supreme/Rainforest Wa t e r / P o w e r a d e tournament continued. Two matches were scheduled for the night; the first game pegged the Trojans against Plaisance
Guardians in the Under-23 division and the Trojans blew out Guardians 86-50, a demoralizing 36 points defeat. Sherland Gillis led the Trojans charge with a game high 29 points. Darroll Willams (15 points) and Jonathan Browne (14 points) assisted the cause well. Guardians’ Jared Sears led his team scoring with 11 points in their
miserable outing. The high-spirited Trojans were scheduled to clash with Knights in the second and final match but were awarded a walkover victory after the opposition didn’t show up for the match. The games that were scheduled for this weekend have been cancelled and play will continue on (Continued on page 65)
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