Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday August 29, 2017

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

Knowing what is permissible The anger that people feel at being robbed or violated is understandable. People feel violated when they lose something forcibly. It is not simply the loss. It is the indignity and injustice of someone unlawfully depriving you of what you own. It amounts to an act of violation; this triggers the anger and the hurt. Most citizens can empathise with such feelings and abhor criminal behaviour. This explains why, very often, whenever a criminal is caught, in a community, there is hardly any sympathy for that criminal. An offence against one member of the community is often viewed as an assault against the entire community, leading to the exaction of justice and retribution. Many thieves have received a severe thrashing at the hands of members of the community, outraged over the violation of their community. Often, it is the arrival of the police that saves the criminals from further punishment. There has been, over the years, a moral acceptance of these forms of justice. There are hardly any voices of dissent raised over these beatings, and even the police have been known not to vigorously pursue charges against those who are involved in beating criminals caught stealing in neighbourhoods. Beating criminals is, however, at odds with the law, which provides for penalties for all forms of assault, even assault of the most depraved of criminals. A respect for human rights also shows no discrimination between the guilty and innocent. The exaction of justice is thus best left to the law enforcement and judicial authorities. Persons guilty of crimes should be placed before the courts and be allowed to face the consequences. Citizens should not take the law into their own hands. Unfortunately, in the case of people caught stealing within communities, this principle is often observed in the breach, to the extent that most citizens now feel that there is nothing wrong with them giving a thrashing to someone caught stealing from one of their members. In most cases, the outcome of these exchanges is not too serious, and thus the authorities have generally turned a blind eye, since they, too, understand what it feels like to be unlawfully deprived of what you own. There is also a general dislike and disdain for criminals, who are not viewed with much sympathy. The police, therefore, hardly press charges against the person(s) involved in the beating of criminals. There are times, however, when the punishment exacted goes too far. In one case many years ago, a thief was tied to a lamp post and beaten to death. No charges were laid against anyone, thereby further reinforcing the view that citizens are free to beat criminals caught committing crimes in their neighbourhoods. Many young people have grown up with the belief that, so long as a person has been caught committing a criminal offence, there is nothing wrong with beating that person to a pulp. This is what many persons of the present generation have grown up to believe, a belief that has been reinforced by the sanction that the public gives to such actions, and the blind eye that is turned by the authorities whenever criminals are at the receiving end. Ignorance, they say, is no excuse for breaking the law; but more important than that is breaking the ignorance of the law. All citizens should know what is permissible and what is not. It is time that the public is sensitised and re-oriented as to the approved methods of dealing with persons caught committing criminal acts in communities. Otherwise, we will end up in a situation where innocent citizens who feel that they are serving the interest of justice within their communities find themselves facing the wrath of the law, instead of being praised for ensuring that their communities are kept safely.

Is there cronyism and favoritism in the Ministry of the Presidency? DEAR EDITOR, The Ministry of the Presidency recently advertised for a junior communication officer, on its website. But what about other communication officers employed within the press division of that Ministry? Were those positions advertised or were persons handpicked? Was it pure coincidence that two

of the communications officers employed just happened to be the close personal friends of a senior officer in the press division? Was it also a coincidence that another employee just happened to be the fiancé of the hairdresser of a senior officer in the said division? R. Johnson

Comparing some visionary mayors with Georgetown’s mayor DEAR EDITOR, Since 2004, the international World Mayor Project which has been founded and run by the London-based City Mayors Foundation, has as its aim the raising of the profile of mayors globally, who have made significant contributions to cities nationally and internationally. Municipal leaders are nominated because of their general qualities such as honesty, management abilities, financial acumen, social, economic and environmental awareness etc., and one wonders whether the Mayor of our capital city Georgetown could be nominated despite her dismal performance and low rate of achievements since ascending to that position in early 2016? Indeed whilst Mayors like Lovely Warren of Rochester New York is inviting business owners in her city to access

financial assistance in order to grow or improve their business, our Mayor on the contrary, is taxing businesses into insolvency with initiatives such as the container tax and now a special refuse collection and disposal fee. Whilst Philippine Mayor of the city of Cagayan de Oro has launched an e-payment system, allowing residents and businesses to pay their bills, such as business permits, property rates, traffic citations, market stall rentals, sales taxes, transfer taxes, and city building fees through the Globe-Cash Mobile Services and by dialing *137# on their phones, our Mayor is instead demanding that citizens trudge down to City Hall to read the parking meter review and pay all municipal fees. Whilst the role for mayors, city managers, city council members and other municipal officials is to help in shap-

ing and supporting entrepreneurial communities, in Georgetown our municipal leaders have instead been chasing vendors all over the place, and rolling out parking meters which severely affected businesses in the city. In many cities around the world Mayors have been doing their part. The Mayor of San Antonio recently opened Cafe Commerce, an entrepreneurship center housed in the central library, to bring together various resources for new and young companies. In places such as Reno, the Mayor has been opening up public spaces or using public rhetoric to promote entrepreneurship programs such as 1 Million Cups. Unfortunately, in Georgetown the only thing our Mayor can proudly point to is the opening up of 57 Dog Food Stands that have popped up everywhere in the city, a public health and food

handling nightmare. But seriously, when her two terms are up, the maximum allowed under the law, one wonders what achievements our Mayor will be able to point to? Tons of overseas trips? Rampant nepotism and cronyism with the hiring of relatives to jobs within the Council and the granting of contracts to them also? An empty and bankrupt City Treasury? A city that is filling up again everywhere with garbage? Or as she said in the media ‘garbages’? Ramshackle municipal offices and buildings, late payments to workers? A city swimming in debt with large sums owed to contractors and every conceivable agency? Quite frankly, under this Mayorship, Georgetown has become a failed city, for which there are no accolades or awards. Sean Levius

Shameful how we remain silent on rights violations in Guyana DEAREDITOR, Note is taken that the government is moving to commission four broadcasting stations in four Amerindian communities. While this development is welcome I cannot help but take note that it comes with blatant disregard for and denial of the freedoms of others, specifically the people of Linden/Region 10 who should have had their television station returned consistent with the 2012 Agreement signed with Central Government. It seems as though the attacks against this community continue under this government. It was one thing under the PPP/C, marginalisation, class and ethnic discrimination and we assumed that government was vindictive because Linden was the stronghold of the opposition. Lindeners by their actions have historically demonstrated that they are prepared to hold any government, be it the party it supports or others, accountable for their development. From what is taking place it is evident the political leadership is out to punish some and expect them to grovel and compromise for their rights as others are made to feel that such will be assured just because of who they are.

Linden voted overwhelmingly and given this government the privilege to sit in office. These voters not only stood strong behind the coalition but their votes made a difference. This government is demonstrating a level of pettiness and vindictiveness that is a handover from the struggle the community had with the major political party in the coalition configuration and it must stop. Moses Nagamootoo who expressed concerns along his political journey as a journalist and advocate for freedom of the press, as minister responsible for broadcasting, is now turning a blind eye to state of press freedom in Linden, and is in the forefront of carrying out the wicked and vindictive policy of deprivation. His hero Cheddie Jagan would be turning in his grave. There is no reason to continue the PPP hatred for Linden and Lindeners. The bauxite workers who were denied justice under the PPP continue to have justice denied under the coalition government they voted overwhelmingly for. This writer along with the Guyana Trades Union Congress have also found them-

selves incurring this government’s wrath for daring to publicly advocate for the working class to good governance, respect for their rights and the rule of law. This government’s actions are demonstration to tell this nation, communities and people what will happen to them if they oppose: you will forever be denied investment of your tax dollars, your rights and freedoms, you will be made to suffer in the efforts to bring you to your knees, economically, politically and otherwise. Africans, civic, rights minded individuals and orgainsations as well as the independent media fraternity must speak out and help to bring an end against this injustice to the Linden community or any community that faces similar fate. Society needs divergent views, pressure groups that will press government for advancement and development. People must be able to freely express their views and desires assured that they will not be victimized for them. This is the development Guyana needs and what is happening now is not progressiveness. History has taught all peoples nothing sub-

stantial to improve their condition of living and advance their rights came without struggle, and in some instance loss of lives. I have rage about this blatant discrimination to Linden/ Region 10 and efforts to break the back of resistance when only through such measures society has achieved. In this Emancipation Month Africans must once again find their resolve and take pride in remembering and upholding the legacy of the struggles of their ancestors for freedoms, rights and equality, and seriously safeguarding the progress gained. The people of Guyana who fought against systems of slavery and indenture-ship must not be cowered into fighting other systems, groups and individuals who seek to suppress further freedoms. Shame on David Granger, shame on the APNU+ AFC government, shame on Moses Nagamootoo, shame on those who remain silent in society in the presence of the continuation of injustice committed against the people of Guyana. Shame! Lincoln Lewis

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Kaieteur News

A nationalist the APNU+AFC leadership refuses to befriend DEAR EDITOR, I write to address two trending and topical issues to which I feel the need to offer my unbridled opinion. I have noticed that disparaging remarks have recently surfaced on Facebook and in the opinion columns of some dailies regarding my friendship with Freddie Kissoon. Editor, I do not possess the skills of prose, poetry or rhyme nor do I possess the innate techniques required to combine melody, rhythm and harmony to compose a syncopating ode of description befitting our friendship. Therefore, in response I wish to declare in simple tones that I am proud to be a friend of Freddie’s. I have found Freddie to be sincere about his love for his country and his desire to see all citizens share its fruits. He

has a genuine desire to see a Guyana where government governs in the best interest of the masses and not in favor of a few. He eschews racism and discrimination. He has a genuine hatred for corruption, nepotism, tribalism and the plunder of our resources to benefit a small circle of friends. In this regard, I can see why Freddie is repulsed by the modus operandi of the PPP. It is a Party which has for a very long time embodied these nationblighting attributes. I suspect that Freddie has come to accept the inevitabilities that come with advancing age and it has served to intensify his desire to witness in his life time a Guyana where social services are designed to benefit the masses in the most efficient ways, a Guyana

where the best education, security, infrastructure and health care are not enjoyed only by the rich and a Guyana where human rights cannot be bought with money. Freddie is an independent thinker who cannot be held ransomed because of his ideas, he speaks up not only for himself but for those made voiceless due to circumstance. These traits I consider positive and praise worthy. To Freddie, even though you have become the man many love to hate and a pariah in the eyes of those who seek to plunder this nation, I am proud to be your friend and if I attract similar odium for associating with you it’s a road I’m not unprepared to trod. I believe Freddie is a strong bridge between the masses and the ruling political class

The rule of law is not functioning properly in Guyana DEAR EDITOR, Last year a woman who, according to reports, is a firstgeneration immigrant from Guyana, challenged the British Government about the legal validity of its intention to proceed with withdrawing from the European Union (Brexit) without putting it to a vote in Parliament. The matter went all the way to the High Court in January this year and it was ruled that she, Gina Miller, was right: Brexit had to be approved by Parliament. In March, it was ratified when the Lords voted in favour. Here was a perfect example of that which is the foundation of a democratic system: Rule of law, under which everyone can expect to be treated fairly and even the Government is prevented from ignoring it to force through its programme. The people of Guyana deserve the same robust adherence to the rule of law by everyone, including the various departments that are delegated the tasks of implementing programmes of the Government of the Republic. As a son of Guyana, I have longed for the authorities to embrace the rule of law and encompass that which will present a just and therefore better future for its citizens. Sadly, my experience in seeking information from Guyana Land & Surveys Commission leaves me feeling that I have encountered a system of ‘Rule by Law’. Future generations are unlikely to think fondly of most of the past 51 years, where those who chose to abuse the authority entrusted in them applied rule by law

and treated the masses as subjects to be used and abused. As I understand it, ‘Rule of Law’ is enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Guyana and in my humble opinion, the distinction between the two rules is simplified thus: 1. Rule of Law - The behaviour of all, including those who rule, is expected to be bound within legal standards. It implies impartiality and its application is predictable. 2. Rule by Law - The use of the law to rule. This allows anyone in authority to believe themselves to be acting within the law of the land to delay, ignore or reject perfectly legitimate claims. This, of course, goes hand in hand with corruption. An example would be the laws of Hitler’s Germany, which were neither fair nor predictable. Having read the letter by Colin Conway, Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police KN: 26th May 2017 - I realise that the situation I find myself in is as frustrating as that in which he and his friend are/ were involved. Both cases demonstrate that an individual with authority in Guyana can delay or ignore responding to a request for that which the applicant is entitled to, thereby forcing him/her to incur unnecessary costs. Nonetheless, it is my belief that the current administration is best placed to put an end to that which will only prevent citizens of Guyana from realising their true potential. I left Guyana in1965, as a 15 year old, to reside with my parents and sister, June, in England and, like many, I re-

joiced when Mr Granger became President in 2015 and hoped that the bad practices of past governments would be banished and replaced with the rule of law. However, after trying for nearly a year to obtain documents from Guyana Land & Surveys Commission, I find that they seem to be a law unto themselves and I am surprised at the difficulties I have encountered. In my opinion, a photographed Affidavit, dated 14th Feb 1993, purporting to have been sworn by my father is unacceptable - a proper copy of the original is required. I believe there has been a plot involving my siblings to overturn our father’s wish now that he is dead, yet I have been denied that which will clarify the situation: clear copies of the Affidavit and the Lease that are held by GL&SC. Sometime in the early 1980’s, my father decided to transfer to me and my siblings a plot of land comprising 4.24 acres in Bartica and, as it was leased, he expected us to eventually buy the Lease. At that time, he had hoped to leave it as part of his legacy for us to use if we found it necessary. However, my sister made it clear to me and our father that she did not want any part of the land: she did not want to share with our half- brother and half- sisters. Our father was badly hurt but he acquiesced and excluded her from the Affidavit transferring the Lease, which he notarised at the Guyana High Commission in London. I know, because I drove my father there and saw him do so! I sent copies to (Continued on page 6)

in whom the current government can have a formidable ally but sadly, the relationship with him is being badly mishandled. With regard the recent tantrum we have seen from Ms. Bibi Shadick, she opposes the text of the Broadcasting Amendments of 2017 and in so doing she makes one fundamental point which I wish to address. She claims, inter alia, that her appointment to the GNBA was delayed by about two months to allow the current Board to complete the amendments in her absence. The recommendations for amendments were completed prior to the life of the current Board but due to the inquiry, it was agreed that all such matters be placed on hold to give the Post-Inquiry Board an opportunity to review it. The members of the current Board are sufficiently independent people with the ability to make informed judgments, the law does not cater for minority reports save and except an accurate record in the Minutes of the delibera-

tions, as such, a decision of the Board is just that, it is highly unethical for one to disclaim a decision of the Board to which he/she is a member. Further, Ms. Shadick should know that the GNBA is not responsible for making laws and it can only advise or recommend measures to the government, therefore it is not a plausible explanation for any delays in the receipt of her instrument of appointment. Those recommendations (up to the point where they were inherited by the current board) were being drafted over a period of more than 6 months, the PPP had ample time to name its nominee to the Board, it did not, as such they failed to represent their constituencies and have now morphed into Chicken Licken who shouted throughout the farm that the sky is falling. I did not know that the Leader of the Opposition had recommended Ms. Bibi Shadick to sit on the current GNBA Board. Had the President or Prime Minister sought my opinion I

would have said in no uncertain terms that the President should have refused to appoint Ms. Shadick and ask that another name be submitted. The simple reason is that there is severe conflict of interest with respect to her candidacy, so much so that it violates the Broadcasting Act 2011. Ms. Shadick served as chairman of the regulatory agency (GNBA), mere weeks after serving in that capacity she was represented a client (Freedom Radio) as an administrator. Mere moments after serving (or perhaps still serving) as a representative of the said client she has been appointed to sit as a Regulator. The lines of her relationship between the Regulator and the Regulated are sufficiently blurred to create doubts about her judgement. The Broadcasting Act deems such conflict as misconduct, in light of this fact it is my settled determination that the President should forthwith revoke the appointment of Ms. Shadick. Leonard Craig

Every reason to believe the crime wave will become worse DEAR EDITOR, The daily scandals and controversies which have enveloped the Coalition Government, have distracted public attention away from the crime wave, that continues to reek havoc on law abiding citizens of this land. The Guyana Police Force (GPF) seems to have stopped issuing its traditional monthly bulletin of crimes committed throughout the country. My information is that the last of such bulletin was issued in April 2017. This is another example of crucial information being kept away from the public. Public security and the reduction of crime were huge platform promises of the APNU/AFC during the 2015 elections campaign. The population drank deeply of this cool -aid. After all, their Presidential Candidate was supposed to be an experienced security expert and their list of candidates for those elections comprised of dozens of highly decorated soldiers and ex-Police Officers, including a Police C o m m i s s i o n e r. M o s t o f them are now in the Government, holding different portfolios. The nation was met with its first shock on the incompetence and illpreparedness of this Government on the issue of crime and security when just after a few

months in office, the President instructed the Public Security Minister and the Commissioner of Police to craft a crime-fighting plan. Only then, the nation realized that the promises made during the elections campaign of the existence of such a plan was a manifest falsehood. The crime wave has continued unabated over the past two years. To this devastating phenomenon, one must add the two worst disasters at Georgetown Prisons ever witnessed in a prison system in the Caribbean; the President’s insistence on continuing to pardon criminals convicted of violent crimes; the release by Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, of dozens of prisoners convicted of violent crimes long before the end of their sentences, after the last prison fire; a declining economy; no new jobs being created nor any job creating

initiative being pursued by the Government; no new investments in two and a half years; widespread dismissal in the public sector on alleged discriminatory grounds coupled with widespread dismissals in the private sector because of contractions in the economy. Against such a backdrop, there is every likelihood that the crime wave will continue to soar. Not surprisingly, last week, an online international website listed Guyana amongst the top 10 most dangerous countries in the world. The Public Security Minister continues to operate as though he is in a trance with no indication that now, or in the near future, can he competently tackle this cancer of criminality, ripping away at the fabric of our society. At the level of the Government, the position is no different, as there does not seem to be (Continued on page 6)

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The City Council can save money by curtailing its extravagant spending DEAR EDITOR, After reading a letter captioned ‘The M&CC cannot hire contractors it cannot afford’ written by t h e To w n C l e r k o f Georgetown who has assumed the title of Municipal Clerk, one which he has created and assumed in what appears to be an effort to convey esteem but which lacks legal standing, I felt compelled to highlight a number of inconsistencies contained therein. Beginning with the title of the letter, there is a considerable conflict with that caption and what obtains at the Georgetown Municipality, as there are lots of things that are done at that City Council that they simply cannot afford but they continue doing nonetheless. These include frequent extravagant travel around the world by the ‘Fabulous Four’ and their cohorts, use and abuse of luxury sports utility vehicles by the ‘Bigwigs’ and their families, superfluous staffers attending to these persons including bodyguards, personal assistants, secretarial staff, chauffeurs, static security at their residences etc. But getting into the content of this long winded epistle, I would like to debunk the claim that ‘Historically, the council has always struggled for money’. This is just simply

not true. If one were to do research in the archives, one would see that beginning with the Mayorship of John Croal all the way to the 1980’s under the astute, honest and accomplished stewardship of Town Clerks E. A. Adams and Elmo Mayers, and City Treasurers Cyril Ramalho and Patrick Robinson, the Georgetown Municipality was a financially solvent and economically viable institution. It carried out administrative and financial best practices that caused the ‘Garden City’ to be the envy of the Caribbean. The economic malfeasance and administrative irresponsib i l i t y w e s e e n o w, a n d which is being alluded to in the letter, is of more recent vintage He speaks contemptuously of the council needing to pay in excess of $50M per month to contactors to haul and dispose of the city’s waste, which incidentally is a vital public health service, but conveniently fails to mention that the City pays more than twice of that, each month, to underwrite its bloated and top heavy payroll of the Council that is stuffed with friends, church pals and family members of the Big Enchiladas at City Hall, who do little or nothing all day long.

He continues whining about revenue shortfalls, but one has to wonder if he has ever heard of the concept of fiscal restraint to facilitate economic growth at the council, and responsible spending to balance their secret budget that is never made available to the citizenry. The ultimate irony of the letter is when he says ‘The reality is that the council cannot hire contractors it cannot afford’. Does this include the son of one of the political leaders in the council that gets contracts to clean the cemetery and other places without bidding? Does it include the gentleman who is well known to be a good friend of a senior administ r a t i v e o f f i c e r a nd who moved from being a money lender and puri vendor to becoming one of the biggest contractors in the city? Does it include the contractor that builds presidential parks, and stables on the mall or bridges around the city without adhering to tender board procedures? He ends the letter with a sarcastic joke that will crack all citizens up when he says that ‘The council takes its responsibility seriously. It will not compromise the health and well-being of its citizens’. Is this gentleman living in Georgetown or in Diamond? Deodarie Putulall

The rule of law is not functioning... From page 5 GL&SC in Bartica, my halfbrother and half-sisters in the USA and half-sister in Guyana. They all confirmed receiving it, and some years later I felt it necessary to warn the authorities in Bartica that June might try to acquire the land by devious means. Our father passed away in 1998 and my sister and her husband went to Guyana in 2012 where they met a Senior Land Administration Officer – Region 7, who signed a letter “Re: Your Application to

Tuesday August 29, 2017

Kaieteur News

Lease State Land, Lot 22 Bartica, Potaro Road” and included her as a Lessee. She showed me a copy when she returned and I reminded her that our father had excluded her. She then asked for me to give Power of Attorney to our relatives in Bartica. I could not understand why as they had permission to utilise the land, so I refused. Over the next 3 years she kept asking until I told her to get them to call me. In November 2015, I had a call from a woman in Guyana

who claimed to be my eldest sister’s daughter. After she correctly answered a few searching questions she told me the reason for her call. Apparently, moves were afoot to wrest land from our family and she wanted me to give her Power of Attorney but I refused. I told her I would contact Guyana Land & surveys Commission to find out what was going on. I don’t want to make this letter too long to bore readers, so more terrible descriptions about the state of the rule of law in Guyana will follow soon. Nolan Griffith.

Wrong-doing taking place at the Suriname Embassy DEAR EDITOR, I wish to bring not only to your attention but to the attention of the Foreign Affairs Minister and also the general public about a breach of service that was offered by the staff of the Suriname Embassy located in Queenstown. My sister who does not wish her name to be in the newspapers engaged the service offered by the said Embassy to obtain a copy of a birth certificate for a senior relative who was born there but lived here in Guyana for a number of years and was married to a Guyanese. She was told that the cost would be $6.000 and that it would take six months before she can obtain the copy of

the birth certificate. The money was paid and six months came and went. Two visits on different occasions after the time expired and she was told that they would make inquiries and call her. She finally decided to ask for a refund for the fee paid for it has now over one year since she applied for the said document. When she visited there a few days ago, she met and talked with a male staff that had promised to call her on one of her previous visits but did not do so. To her surprise when she asked for the refund he boldly told her that is why we tell people to go to Suriname to get the document themselves and that they can-

not refund money yet these people took a fee for the service offered when she went there to inquire how the document can be obtained with the help of the Embassy. My sister has a receipt. Editor I am quite sure this is not an isolated incident and before anyone else falls victim to this nonsense that is being carried out there, I am making this public so that no one else would be made to lose $6.000 dollars for a ghost service. A report was made to the Albert town Police Station but she was told it was a private matter. I am asking the Foreign Affairs Minister to investigate this non-existent service being offered there. Aggrieved citizen

Every reason to believe the crime... From page 5 a comprehensive crime fighting strategy being pursued. In the face of such intransigence and inaction, the criminals are becoming bolder and more brazen. The Minister of Public Security has systematically dismantled a vibrant network of community policing with no substitute to fill that void. R e s i d e n t s i n communities, who communally rise up and capture and beat an occasional bandit, are themselves treated like bandits and charged by the Police. This is as a result of the President’s condemnation of such reaction by the citizens. While the President may be correct in principle, the residents have been quick to complain that they do not see the same swift condemnation from the President when the criminals rob and plunder them. In a society so infested with criminality, one would expect that the Government of the day would be throwing all its weight and as much support and resources as possible, to its premiere crime fighting institution, in this case the Guyana Police Force (GPF). Not so with the Coalition Government. There is, arguably, a systematic orchestrated strategy to demoralize the upper echelons of the GPF. This became visible

several months ago when one sensed the unnecessary strife created between the Commissioner of Police and the next in line. The picture became clearer when a wholly unnecessary Commission of Inquiry (COI) was established to inquire into whether an alleged plot to assassinate the President was properly investigated by the GPF. A close associate of the Government was appointed as the single Commissioner. From the inception of the inquiry, his bias became both apparent and formidable. The COI was clearly intended to publicly embarrass a few identified top ranking officers of the Force. Throughout the inquiry, they were pitted against each other for the public’s consumption. In the end, the Force was eventually embarrassed, its professional image further tarnished and the targeted officers humiliated. This must have resulted in a hemorrhaging of public confidence in the Force and a loss of morale for its members. The matter is compounded by the President issuing unconstitutional directives to the Police Service Commission (PSC) restraining them from proceeding to deal with promotions in the Force. The attempt by the Minister of State, a lawyer, to justify the President’s erosion of the independence with which the Constitution clothes the PSC, was simply clumsy. It does not appear that the Government views the rate of criminality in this land as a

serious priority. In my view, it accords a greater priority to subjecting its political rivals to criminal investigations. So the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), rather than using its resources, time and personnel to investigate genuine cases of money laundering and drugs trafficking, is unleashed, on an almost full time-basis, upon Opposition Members of Parliament and supporters of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). In the same vein, the Government has established the dubious State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA), a controversial Bill, to govern its operations. Expectedly, this Bill is now the subject of a legal challenge in the High Court, on the grounds of u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i t y. Again, the Government’s focus with SARA seems to be the investigation of the past Government. $113 million was just released by the National Assembly for the operations of SARA. SARA appears to have no other mandate. The Director of SARA is being paid $1.3 million and the Legal Advisor $1.4 million. Both of these salaries are higher than that of the Commissioner of Police. The salary of the receptionist is $120,000. This is higher than the salary of a Sergeant in the Guyana Police Force. These realities graphically illustrate the priorities of this Government. Anil Nandlall

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Trial of convicted drug trafficker…

Magistrate to rule on admissibility of caution statement Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan is set to rule on the admissibility of an alleged caution statement given to Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) officers by convicted drug trafficker, Dennis Jones, who is on trial again for attempting to smuggle cocaine through the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC). The ruling is scheduled to be made on September 5. This date was announced by the Chief Magistrate yesterday after CANU Prosecutor Konyo Sandiford made closing submissions at the end of the Voir Dire (trial within a trial). The Voir Dire was done to determine the circumstances under which the alleged caution statement was given to CANU officers, and whether or not it will be admitted to form part of the prosecution’s evidence. Jones, 63, of 239 Caneview

Avenue, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, is on trial for allegedly attempting to smuggle 22 pounds of cocaine out of Guyana in Banko wine and baking powder via the GPOC. It is alleged that on January 20, at the GPOC, Jones had 10.618 kilogrammes of cocaine in his possession for the purpose of trafficking. The defendant, who is on remand, is being represented by Attorney-at-Law Eusi Anderson. According to reports, Jones was arrested shortly after he attempted to ship cocaine in baking powder and Banko wine to Toronto, Canada. Ranks from CANU intercepted a box containing the prohibited substance. In addition, Jones is also facing forgery charges, whereby it is alleged that between September 1 and 30, 2016, with intent to defraud,

he forged a Republic of Guyana identification card in the name of Josiah Jones, purporting to show that same was issued by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). He is presently on trial for that offence before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore. The police prosecutor is contending that the identification card was found in Jones’s home and that he confessed to forging the document. It was also noted by the prosecutor that GECOM has no records of issuing that identification

card. Based on reports, Dennis Jones was deported from the USA for a drug trafficking offence. In 2012, Jones was sentenced to four years in jail after pleading guilty to attempting to ship 300 kilogrammes of cocaine in a container of soap powder to the Republic of Niger in Africa. Jones was arrested on November 29, 2012 after attempting to ship the narcotics from the John Fernandes Limited terminal at Mandela Avenue,

Georgetown. Back then, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) had said that the drug had an estimated street value of US$10M. During that arraignment, the court was told that Jones was an exporter, and that he had turned up at the terminal to ship a 20-foot container of Breeze brand soap powder. But during an examination of the shipment, it was discovered that several packets which had the brand label were packed with cocaine concealed in a transparent plastic within.

REMANDED: Dennis Jones

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Tuesday August 29, 2017

$1.4B in state contracts approved Cabinet at its Sub-Committee on Tuesday, August 22, 2017 noted the award of 28 multi-million-dollar contracts by the procurement entities and the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board(NPTAB):

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Capitalism cannot exist where there is socialist thinking Guyanese had a taste of socialism. It was a bitter taste, but some people still pretend that it was sweet. The Declaration of Sophia marked the beginning of the worst political experiment in the entire Western Hemisphere. It reduced an already poor nation to a nation of paupers. Persons who were never accustomed to drinking sugar water for tea were forced to do so. Those who initiated that crazy experiment of cooperative socialism did not appreciate the impact of European hegemony on our society. The values which emerged during the long period of Dutch and English rule had conditioned Guyanese into accepting a different kind of outlook on life. Guyanese do not want everyone to be equal. Guyanese have been nurtured to believe that inequality motivates people to do better. European hegemony had conditioned Guyanese to reject State control and to accept private enterprise. Any attempt at socialism was therefore bound to fail, because it was not part of the people’s value systems. The leaders of Guyana were socialist, not the people. People wanted to

be rich, not equal. Socialism has had a negative impact. It has created confusion in the minds of Guyanese. They want money, but yet they view those with money with envy. Socialism has caused persons to be envious of those who do well, so much so that today when some see others doing well, they accuse them of doing underhand business. Socialism has also poisoned economic thinking, by encouraging greater pressures on the propertied class. Yet, it is this very class which is expected to create wealth. How can the private sector create wealth when there is this bias against them, both in the minds of the underperformers in society and within official policy? If you have money or people believe that you have money, there are many people in this country who want to speculate on how you got your money. Some of them also want to tell you how to spend your own money. But what is even more sickening is official policy towards the rich. Instead of encouraging the creation of wealth, official policy is to try to place greater pressures on the rich. Take, for example, capi-

tal gains tax. This tax should be struck off the books. Why should persons be taxed because they are making a profit on a transaction? If Guyana wants to develop a capitalist country, then you cannot be having taxes which effectively penalize persons for making profits. Such a tax can cause underthe-table transactions which take place to avoid paying those heavy taxes. We are placing taxes on profit-making when we should be giving a discount on those taxes for reinvestment purposes. Unless tax rebates are given for reinvestment, people will continue to ship their money out of the country. The lack of reinvestment concessions encourages capital flight. Then there is municipal policy. The most overtaxed is the business community.

Businesses pay an average of ten times more rates and taxes per year than what is paid by residential properties. This adds to the pressures on the business community. The situation would not have been as bad if in return for these progressive taxes, greater efforts were made to curb unfair competition. For every store on Regent Street and on Water Street south of Robb Street, there are three vendors. You have more persons selling outside of the stores than you have stores. Do these persons pay their fair share of taxes? Do they have to pay overheads, staff and for licenses, No, they do not. Yet, they are crippling the retail market. The vendors also generate a tremendous amount of garbage. It took one mayor an eternity to recog-

nize how much garbage was generated by vendors, but this did not stop that Mayor from still seeing the problem of vending as a ‘complex’ one. The latest blow to the business community is that they are being burdened with a special tax for garbage collection. No one has questioned whether the Minister of Communities has approved of this heavy fee for garbage collection. It reflects socialist thinking – pressure the business class because they generate more garbage. Do they? Guyana has to decide whether it wants socialism or capitalism. It cannot have both. If it wants an open market system where you can buy what you want and not have to wait on Knowledge Sharing Institutes to sell you a pound of sugar, then there is need

to rethink the whole approach to private sector development. The private sector must pay their fair share of taxes, but they must not be crucified with excessive taxes. Unfair competition provided by vendors must be discontinued. And the tax system must encourage the making of money and its reinvestment. Otherwise, the profits will continue to be exported overseas, legally, and it will end up building America, Canada and England, rather than Guyana.

Regional experts convene in Barbados to review measures to end AIDS

Dem boys seh ... Lolo Feel gun find out wha wickedness does cause Some people never lef Guyana, but everybody will lef and dem don’t have a choice. De trip gun be free and de people don’t have to worry about booking a seat. Everybody will have one because de reservation is confirmed. No ganging up at any airport because de flight will always be on time. Luggage will be de good deeds people do and humanity will be de passport. Love will be de visa and everybody will travel business class. But some people will be in pain when dem about to board de flight because dem have bad mind. Dem boys know plenty who don’t have no good deeds. One of dem chalking up bad deeds all de time, suh he gun have problems boarding de flight. Nobody will turn him away but he got to punish. Lolo Feel is one of dem who chalking up bad deeds because he mind bad. Imagine he trying to spite de Waterfalls paper because dem boys talk bout de bad things he and he kavakamites do. He so spiteful that he think he can shut down de Waterfalls

paper. He trying wha Jagdeo try. He trying to withhold ads. This is de man who sit down and watch how GECOM buy some bogus radio fuh millions of dollars. He didn’t stop there. He spend pun batteries and de money coulda buy a whole generator. Then he start to open a dentistry. He buy pliers but de money he spend coulda buy pliers, Novocain—that is de thing some people does call cocaine fuh you mouth— and couple hundred dentist chair. But dem boys seh that ee wickedness can never hurt de Waterfalls paper. Dem boys can teach him about wickedness. Dem boys know how wicked dem can be in GECOM. Imagine dem send Vishnu pun leave and when he come back he couldn’t get into he office. Dem change de locks. Well Lolo Feel mightn’t only get lockout. He might get lockup. Karma is a bitch and dem boys believe in karma. Wha go round does come round. Talk half and wait fuh you karma.

From left: CCAS Public Relations Officer, Andre Greenidge; John Hopkins University researcher Deanna Kerrigan; UNAIDS Latin America and Caribbean Director César Núñez; CCAS Chairman Clive Landis, Caribbean Med Labs Foundation Director Valerie Wilson, Professor Brendan Bain. Front: CCAS President Vera Layne. Eliminating the AIDS epidemic is within reach. This assertion was yesterday amplified by Professor Clive Landis at the opening ceremony of the Caribbean Cytometry and Analytical Society’s [CCAS] expert summit. “We know we are on the brink of being able to eliminate the AIDS epidemic,” said Professor Landis who serves as the CCAS Chairperson. Professor Landis amplified during his

deliberations that there still exists a gap between what the HIV experts know and what the public knows. He observed, “The public is still terrified of this disease and sees it as a death sentence. We have to challenge misconceptions and the fear that is driving stigmatizing attitudes of people with HIV.” “Fear and stigma rule hearts and minds, blocking people from learning their status and blocking them from getting and staying on treatment. If we recast the

public health message and give people clear information, attitudes can turn around,” Professor Landis asserted. The summit, which is being held under the theme “From Care to Cure – Shifting the HIV Paradigm”, commenced yesterday at the Almond Beach Resort in Speightstown, Barbados and is slated to culminate on Thursday. CCAS is a registered HIV Charity, comprising volunteers from the University of the West Indies,

the Barbados Ministry of Health and the private sector. The mandate of the CCAS is to train and educate healthcare providers for improved diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of HIV and AIDS in the Caribbean region by removing technical and social barriers to care. CCAS’s annual HIV/AIDS regional workshop rotates through the region and has trained more than 1,250 HIV/AIDS specialists from over (Continued on page 12)

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Tuesday August 29, 2017

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

Backward Guyana and what it does to poor people I hear it quite often from people; “Freddie you write on too much negatives about Guyana.” And each time my reply would be the same; “You write about these things so Guyana can change for the better.” Before he left for his teaching job back in the US, David Hinds and I had lunch, and he did bring up the subject that people would tell him I write too much negative things. David said his response would always be; “But isn’t he writing about what takes place in Guyana?”

So yesterday, I had a conversation with someone close, and she brought up the negative writings. I told her that last Thursday, I reported a leaking pipe under the road on Church Street outside the National Library, and I advised her to go back at that spot one month from now and that pipe would still be running and that part of the road would still be sinking. This is the reason for the constant lamentations, because you write in the hope that your country will improve, but that becomes a

mirage. I have seen unchanging things in my lifetime in this land that I honestly believe modern society will not see in another country on the globe. So you have to keep writing, and you hope one day these negative things will disappear from this land. Because of that conversation I had yesterday, I will offer you examples of bizarre, unchanging life in Guyana. The Office of Professional Responsibility contacted the publisher of this newspaper, Mr. Glenn Lall, directly, to in-

Three Region Nine children rescued from abusive home Officers of the Childcare Protection Agency (CPA) yesterday rescued three children from a home in Quarrie, a satellite of St. Ignatius Village, Region Nine. The officers acted on reports made by village leaders, including school teachers, who claim the children may have been sexually abused by their father. The children, two girls ages 12 and eight, and one boy, age eight, were taken from the home where they

resided with their 49-year-old father. According to those who have reported the case, the father had allegedly sexually abused two of his older girl children, now aged 20 and 14. The two older siblings have since relocated. Meanwhile, CPA officers took the other three children to the Lethem Police station to assist with investigations. Thus far, the children told the police that they have been

abused physically, however, they did not testify to being sexually abused. The father continues to be questioned by police while investigations are ongoing. Meanwhile, the CPA is urging citizens countrywide to report any suspected case of child abuse whether physical, emotional or sexual. The agency assures that all information will be treated with strict confidence.

form him that it sent a rank to Kaieteur News to take a statement from me on random traffic stops that I witnessed, but no statement was forthcoming. In front of the seniors at Kaieteur News, Mr. Lall told me it was unfair to knock the police in my columns and when the police are ready to act I am not cooperating. I submitted the statement. That was the second one in a year. Two months ago, the same police office contacted my home for me to submit a statement on random stops that I saw by Parliament Building, and that I wrote about. That means in the space of two years I gave three statements. Last week I saw random stops by Parliament Building and I wrote about it again, making it about ten columns that I mentioned routine stops by traffic ranks. What changes in this country? What you are about to read in the lines below was the feature of an entire column four years ago; nothing has changed since. One day I was in the bank, and the thought just occurred to me to inquire if NIS was dutifully sending in my pension cheques. I was

told that for five months no cheques came from the NIS. The same day I flew to the NIS. The explanation was that the pension official had rejected my referee - that is the person who has to sign your form to verify you are still alive. My referee was one of the most known UG academics in Guyana and a highly qualified man. NIS told me that the pension official stuck with what was printed on the form – only eight categories of persons in Guyana can sign the form. The list is: Justice of the Peace, minister of religion, medical doctor, head teacher, superintendent of police, senior public servant, bank manager, president of a trade union. Do you see how backward this country is? Only a medical doctor. Not a doctor in engineering or biology. A lawyer, businessman, journalist cannot sign. The list is the same for UG, minus senior public servant and president of a trade union. It is the same for passport applicants. This is what we have inherited from the colonials, and fifty-one years after Independence we have kept

Frederick Kissoon these nonsensical things. The situation remains the same for pensioners in the public service too. And when you write about these backward morbidities, people tell you that you are too negative. Think of the problems poor people have in finding persons in those eight categories. Why can’t a poor cleaner who worked thirty years for her well-known employer ask him/her to sign her NIS form? Just imagine; if I didn’t make an inquiry at the bank, I would not have been receiving my NIS pension. So I write too much about the wrong things in my country, eh? But to what extent have these wrong things disappeared? I write what I believe in, and I believe with flowing oil money in 2022, the traffic signals would still not work.

Tuesday August 29, 2017

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Kaieteur News

President pledges support for ongoing educational programmes ....as local Diocese celebrates 175th anniversary President David Granger on Sunday pledged the Government’s support for ongoing educational programmes being implemented by the Diocese of Guyana, even as he noted that religious organisations can play an integral role in the development of communities and by extension, the country. Therefore, the State looks to them for partnership in the eradication of poverty, the fostering of social cohesion and the creation of a better life for all Guyanese. The President made these remarks at a special church service held at the Christ Church Parish on Waterloo Street to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the establishment of the Diocese of Guyana. He said that the Diocese has been making strides in education since its establishment and this coincides with his goal of improving access to education for all the children of Guyana. “The Diocese, through the foresight of our first Bishop, established Queen’s College as early as 1844 and, later, the correctly-named Bishops’ High School, both of which still reflect the high standards set by their Anglican founders. The Diocese can be assured of my Government’s support for the Church’s educational efforts, as I have supported Hindu and Islamic

President David Granger, First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Carl Greenidge during the church service Sunday. schools, through the National Endowment for Science and Technology (NEST),” he said. President Granger said that the Diocese has always played a role in the promotion of peace, assisting the poor and impoverished and bringing people of different backgrounds together. “The Diocese came into existence on August 24, 1842 with the consecration of Right Reverend William Austin as the first Bishop of Guiana…

The Diocese deserves our gratitude for its service to women, youth, the poor and needy. We applaud the episcopacy, clergy and laity for the propagation of the Gospel in Guyana… The State looks forward to working with the ‘Diocese’ towards making Guyana a better place and to providing a good life for all in the years ahead,” the President said. The Head of State noted

that the Diocese occupies a prominent place and plays a pivotal role in public and private life, as he noted that Anglicans constitute almost seven percent of Guyana’s population. Anglicanism, he said, has transcended race, class and creed and has deep roots in almost all communities, with churches in every hinterland and coastland region, pioneering missions among Africans, Amerindians, Chinese and East Indians.

“Growing up in Essequibo, Berbice and Demerara, I never had to travel more than 30 minutes from my home to reach an Anglican Church, so ubiquitous were they then. The Diocese of Guyana is home to some of Guyana’s most historic churches – the most spectacular of which, the Cathedral of St George, adorns our $100 currency note. The Diocese has been the spiritual home of my own

family for over a century. I was baptised here 72 years ago, confirmed, and married here 47 years ago and still worship here. My father, born 111 years ago, and my children worshipped here. My grandchildren were baptised here,” President Granger reflected. First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger and acting Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Carl Greenidge also attended the service.

Upgrade of E.C.D Highway commences today Works to expand and upgrade sections of the East Coast Demerara highway is scheduled to begin today. According to information provided by Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Desilon Daniels, the highway will be widened from Better Hope to Annandale, whereby the existing two-lane highway will be transformed into a fourlane thoroughfare. However, from Annandale to Belfield, the two-lane roadway will be upgraded as it relates to the extension and reconstruction of bridges and the improvement of the drainage system. The project will also entail the installation of traffic signals and signs, road markings, sidewalks and street lighting. Additional information on the programme for the project indicates that the civil works will also include the placement and compaction of sub base and base layers with white sand and white sand clay and paving with asphaltic concrete. The project is being funded by the government of Guyana and the Export-Import

Bank of China through a line of credit. A framework agreement was signed last November at the Ministry of Finance by the Minister, Winston Jordan and the former Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Zhang Limin. This was to formalise the US$46M financial injection into the project. The company that was awarded the contract is China Railway First Group Company Limited. Work was scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2017 and be completed in December of 2018. However, there was a lengthy delay in the processing of the loan agreement. It is expected that the project will take two years to be completed. Initially, work on the highway project began in 2011 and was fully funded by the government of Guyana, whereby $2.7B was spent. However, the contract with the China Railway First Group Company Limited was signed in August 2014. During the 2017 budget presentation, it was noted that $1.4B was budgeted for works for this year. Of that

A view of a portion of the ECD Highway that will be expanded at Beterverwagting

amount, $1.350B would come from the Chinese line of credit and $50M from the Guyana government. For the work to be under-

taken, utilities belonging to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and the Guyana Telephone and Tele-

graph Company (GTT) will be relocated, but within close proximity to the construction. The total length of road to be rehabilitated is 17

kilometres. The four-lane widening will be a total of 7,400 metres and the two-lane upgrade will be a total length of 9,598 metres.

PAGE 12

Iin less than 24 hours Three persons are now dead following separate road accidents— at Better Hope, East Coast Demerara on Sunday night; at Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara, early yesterday morning, and at Airy Hall, Mahaicony, in midafternoon. Feroze Khan of Yarrowkabra, Soesdyke/Linden Highway was killed around 04:25 hrs yesterday after he allegedly turned in the path of an oncoming vehicle at Land of Canaan. The driver, who is in police custody, alleged that he was proceeding north along the western carriageway in motor vehicle, HC 8204, when Khan, who was heading in the opposite direction made a Uturn into his path. The 50-year-old victim, who was driving motor vehicle, PGG 8696 was taken out of his vehicle in an unconscious state and rushed to the Diamond Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. A breathalyzer test was administered to the driver and no trace of alcohol was detected. Meanwhile, around 23:15 hrs on Sunday, 27-year-old motorcyclist Cleon Perreira of 119 Middle Walk, Buxton, East Coast Demerara, lost his life in an accident on the Bet-

Tuesday August 29, 2017

Kaieteur News

Three killed in separate accidents

Dead: Arnold Tinnis called ‘Neville Dead: Cleon Perreira ter Hope Public Road. According to information received, a vehicle driven by a 19-year-old turned in the path of Perreira, a Buxton, ECD resident, killing him on the spot. The police said that the teen was proceeding west along the southern carriageway of the Public Road when he suddenly turned into the path of the victim who was proceeding in the opposite direction. As a result of the crash, the cyclist fell onto the road surface and sustained injuries. He was taken to the

The motorbike Cleon Perreira was riding at the time of the accident GPHC in an unconscious state where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The teen was tested but no alcohol was detected. Meanwhile, another biker perished around 14:30hrs at Airy Hall, Mahaicony, after his

motorcycle collided with a truck. The deceased has been identified as 48-year-old West Ruimveldt resident Arnold Tinnis, called ‘Neville’. A statement from the police revealed that Tinnis, a

Mechanic by profession, was proceeding at a fast rate, west along the southern carriageway of East Coast Public Road at Airy Hall, Mahaicony, on motor cycle CJ 2623, in a group of seven other bikers. It is alleged that while negoti-

ating a turn, Tinnis ended up in the path of motor lorry, GMM 5689, which was proceeding in the opposite direction, and collided with the vehicle. Thereafter, the lorry collided with another biker, Eze Powley, also a Mechanic, of John Street, Campbellville. Tinnis and Powley were rushed to the Mahaicony Hospital, where Dennis was pronounced dead on arrival. The driver of the lorry who resides at De Hoop, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, is presently in custody assisting with the investigation. The bikers were reportedly on their way back from an annual ride to Suriname.

Regional experts convene in Barbados... From page 9 20 countries. The regional and international HIV experts who are currently attending the summit have been tasked with developing strategies to engage the Caribbean on the ‘treatment as prevention’ approach to HIV care, which will put the region on track to end the AIDS epidemic. According to UNAIDS, “treatment as prevention” is an approach to HIV treatment which forms the basis of a global commitment to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. It is hinged on the finding that diagnosing and treating people early and lowering the level of the virus in their blood to undetectable levels [viral suppression] virtually eliminates the risk that they will transmit HIV to other people. As such, HIV treatment best practices now calls for people to start treatment immediately after being diagnosed, regardless of how far the illness has progressed. Treating people living with HIV fully so that they achieve viral suppression not only keeps them healthy, but dramatically reduces their infectiousness, UNAIDS has amplified. UNAIDS Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Dr. César Núñez,

noted that through the 2016 Political Declaration on ending AIDS, United Nations members states have agreed to adopt a fast-track strategy that involves increasing prevention, testing and treatment services while working to eliminate stigma and discrimination. Central to this goal are the 90-90-90 treatment targets, that is, 90 percent of people living with HIV knowing their status, 90 percent of diagnosed people on treatment and 90 percent of people on treatment with an undetectable viral load. However, countries’ ability to achieve these targets will depend on the success of their work with partners including civil society to remove barriers to ensure that no one is left behind. “People continue to get diagnosed late or die due to AIDS-related causes when testing and treatment services are available. Our reality is that the potential impact of game-changing scientific advances is being undermined by ignorance, fear, shame, prejudice and exclusion,” Dr. Núñez said. Dr. Núñez has moreover called for partnerships to conduct more research on Caribbean HIV epidemics including epidemiological surveillance, zero-prevalence

and key population studies. This, he said, would help countries better respond to the unique characteristics of their epidemics. He further called for strategies to address the specific vulnerabilities of young people, men, women, migrants, men who have sex with men, sex workers, transgender people, people who use drugs, prisoners and homeless people. Distinguished Speaker of the opening ceremony yesterday, Dr. Deanna Kerrigan of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, shared the findings of a study involving female sex workers living with HIV in the Dominican Republic. Dr. Kerrigan noted that stigma and discrimination, violence and substance abuse negatively impacted the sex workers’ treatment outcomes. However, these challenges could be addressed through a multifaceted approach that combined psycho-social support, activities that encouraged solidarity and supportive government policies, she explained. Moreover, over the next few days the “Care to Cure” summit will explore other strategies to maximize the impact of HIV treatment, particularly among key populations.

Kaieteur News

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Tuesday August 29, 2017

Despite shortcomings, investment in education yielding results - Education Minister “Not one dollar is lost that we have invested in education; not because we didn't get 100 percent passes it means money was lost.” This was the passionate assertion of Minister of Education, Ms. Nicolette Henry, as she commented on the performance of students at the 2017 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate [CSEC] examination. According to the Minister, “even though we didn't get 100 percent passes, I think that the students that wrote would have learnt something, and the teachers would have learnt something that they can do to improve performances moving forward.” A s s u c h , s h e emphasized, “we just couldn't look at it in the context of if someone does not pass it was not a good use of government's funds. I believe it was a good use; I believe that students, though not reflected in grades, would have learnt something that would prepare them for life.” A total of 12,684 candidates wrote the 2017 CSEC. This year those who made up the top one percent were only drawn from Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, 10 and Georgetown. Of the 13 top performers in Region Two, eight were from the Anna Regina Multilateral School, one was from Cotton Field Secondary and four were from Abram Zuil Secondary. In Region Three, the 20 top performers were from Zeeburg Secondary [one], West Demerara Secondary

[four] and the Saraswati Vidya Niketan [15]. The 17 Region Four top performers were from Presidents College [seven], Hope Secondary [three], the Hindu College [two], Apex Academy [three], Camille's Institute [one] and the Diamond Secondary School [one]. The three top

performing realm this year was a student from the C h r i s t i a n b u r g / Wi s m a r Secondary School. However, the majority [93] of the top performers this year were in fact from Georgetown [District 11]. This translated to 11 from The Bishops' High, three from Central High, one from

measure up when compared to last year's performances. These subjects are Biology, English A, English B, G e o g r a p h y, I n t e g r a t e d Science, Physics, Social Studies, Spanish, Visual Arts, Human and Social Biology and Additional Mathematics. In this regard, Minister

leadership that we are practicing in this dispensation is one of collaboration, one of collectivity, and one where persons will recognise the importance of service.” “We have had situations where a consciousness has been raised, and we will continue to raise that

in which the Ministry hopes to see improved performances at future sittings of CSEC are Mathematics and English. Even as she considered the need for improved performances in these areas, the Minister highlighted that “we have not launched specific interventions to deal with either English or Mathematics [in addition to others] in 2017 or 2016 [but] given these results, we will definitely have to focus on those areas, to ensure that we are getting the best results for the amount of dollars that we are investing.” While there were some laudable improvements in some subject areas, the results of the 2017 sitting of CSEC revealed that there are 11 subject areas in which the performances did not

Henry underscored “we have a lot of work to do. There is still a lot of work to do in most of the subject areas, and as a Ministry, we recognise that, and we have to work towards ensuring that is reflected moving forward in the years to come, so we can see an upward movement, particularly in the areas of Mathematics and English, which seem to be going in the wrong direction at this point in time.” But the Ministry is already on course to addressing its shortcomings, even without additional spending. This is according to Chief Education Officer, Mr. Marcel Hutson. Hutson revealed that at the Ministry, “We have a core team, what we call the Education Systems Committee, and the

consciousness that our teachers can impact the system...voluntarily. They [teachers] have asked to go to certain places because they want to make a d i ff e r e n c e , ” t h e C E O revealed. For example, teachers have voluntarily asked to serve in riverain communities, a development which he said, Education Officers, Deputy Chiefs and others within the system can attest to. “There are people who actually wanted to go and serve, because of the whole vision and notion of service,” said Hutson, as he added “I am not going to be practicing any big stick policy. I believe if you actually get people to buy-in to the vision, you will get the response that you want.”

Education officials flanked by some of the 2017 CSEC top performers. performers for Region Five were from Rosignol Secondary [two] and Guyana Private [one]. In Region Six, the 17 top performers were from Berbice High [four], J. C. Chandisingh [one], Corentyne Comprehensive [one], New Amsterdam Multilateral School [four], Skeldon Line Path Secondary [three] and Tagore High [four]. The single Region 10 candidate who made it into the top

Brickdam Secondary, 41 from Queen's College, one from St. Joseph High, 11 from St. Rose's High, nine from St. Stanislaus College, five from Mae's Secondary, two from Marian Academy and one from the ISA Islamic School. Even as she stressed, “there is still a lot of work to do...to reduce the disparity and increase our percentage,” Minister Henry admitted that the money allocated to the Ministry

CPGs exposed to personal development ... From page 19 is an organization that focuses on the development of youths with a view of impacting positively on communities, and in so doing, help to reduce crime and violence. As such, Erskine expressed SSYDR's desire of collaborating with Community Policing to help reduce such unwelcome behaviour among youths within the various communities. He however stated that working with youths alone would not solve the problem, but rather, family interventions were also in

should in fact cater to improved performances across the board. “I believe we can make better use of the money that is assigned to the Ministry of Education, and it must be reflected in the number of passes and the percentage by extension,” she added. Among the subject areas

the blueprint. Ending the day's proceedings and the training session altogether was Mr. Griffith, with a presentation on 'Leadership and Teamwork'. He touched on several topics including differentiating between leadership and management, problem solving, characteristics of great leaders, self-worth, among other related subject areas. However, he lamented on the need for integrity from leaders within the Division since, according to him, this is somewhat lacking, based on his

experience with some groups within the Division. Additionally, he expressed that most times the strength of a group is determined, directly or indirectly, by how it is being led. When the curtains officially came down on the training programme, Griffith said, “The Division was satisfied with the turnout from the standpoint that the training conducted was that of a 'trainer of trainers', and as such it is our hope and desire that the persons who attended will impart what they would have ingested from the training sessions to their various Groups.”

Govt. orders more inspections of domestic ... From page 17 Norman Islander aircraft he was attempting to land at the Eteringbang airstrip, nose-dived into thick vegetation, a short distance from the runway. The 40-year-old pilot, who was at the time was also flying solo, was shutting fuel for miners when his plane crashed. Earlier this month, Captain Dominic Waddell of Wing's Aviation survived a plane crash at Eteringbang; just days after Captain

Martin lost his life. He was on a shuttling mission in the area when his plane went down. And, in December 2014, an ASL aircraft disappeared in the jungle shortly after taking off for Karisparu, in the PotaroSiparuni. Pilot Nicky Persaud, 27, and cargo-handler David Bisnauth 51, were on a shuttling mission on the Britten Norman Islander (8R-GHE) when it vanished with both men.

Tuesday August 29, 2017

Kaieteur News

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Lawn grass - $1,400, potting soil -$800, Ficus, Exora, Purple Heathers – 4 for $1,000, Palms @ $1,000. Call: 626-1044

1 Diesel mechanic welder to work in the Interior, interested person can contact: 625-5136

5 lots in Blankenburg, back of the gas station @$2.9 M each. Contact: 650-0402\603-1402

Female worker wanted that finished CXC 2017. Call: 6225518 1Canter driver. Call: 629-2912

VACANCY One experienced salesman, apply with written application & recommendation, also one general domestic. Apply @ Keyfood, McDoom Village.

1 Live in domestics, must know to cook. Call: 661-8673; 674-1767

Male security guard, female room attendant 30yrs & older @ 233 South Road Lacytown. 225-0198

Experienced curry cook, roti/ puri cook, cleaners, handy boy. Apply Hack’s Halaal, 5 Commerce Street.

Chef and Assistant cook preferably Carnegie trained. Call: 225-7933 or visit 173 Sheriff Street.

Urgently need 1 babysitter ages 35-50 preferably persons out of town. Call or whatsapp: 664-3918

Cook/ Baker for interior. Applicants must be experienced. Call: 618-2020

Two female workers to work shift system, age 25-45. Call: 231-6293 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 General Maids to work shifts at Hotel. Apply in person. Call:225-9211 Technicians: refrigeration, washing machine, gas stove/ electronic- Call: 225-4822/ 6294946

One experienced pharmacy assistant to work in a reputable pharmacy in G/ Town (flexible hours). Call: 227-0630 Porters to work in Alleyway. Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb Street Bourda. 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 Vegetarian Gardens: Driver/ Driver Salesman. Call: 2277714/223-3448, email: info@ugiworld.com

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 1 Dump canter, 1 Model ‘M’ Truck with winch, 1 TL 500 flatbed truck. Call: 629-2912 1.5 Acres riverside land with house (road to river). Call: 629-2912 One Raptor Ford 4 DoorContact: 670-7920 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 -120024 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. Call Patricia: 6484352/ 669-6343

Experienced Cashier & Salesgirls, apply American Variety Store, 140 Regent & Light Street, Georgetown, serious applicants only 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

B&C Driving School: pickupdrop off. Call: 231-8719/6806826

TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 2257878 (24HRS)

Tuesday August 29, 2017

Kaieteur News

One Female Gardner contact 223-5273/74 EXPERIENCED WELDER/ Fabricator, CARPENTER/ MASON, Labourer. Call: 266- 5569 One female tutor/ nanny to teach a 2 years old boy, from 7:30-12:00pm. $65,000 per month- Call: 623-1615

EDUCATIONAL Register @ IAE: full-time, afternoon, day/evening CXC/ CSEC classes for adults & repeaters:Mathematics & English A. Call: 683-5742/621-7365

Female accounts clerk 2350yrs. Apply in person @ Alabama Trading 65-66 Robb Street, Bourda. Sales girl at D.Singh and Sons- Tel: 226-1316

LAND FOR SALE Herstelling (front), Diamond $3.5M, Eccles, La Parfaite, South, Cummings Lodge, Sophia, Canaan, Nismes, Highway.GME:231-7805/618-7483 Zeelugt - $2.5M, Tuschen $2.5M. Call: 642-1252

TO LET Fully furnished apartment $95,000-$140,000.Call:644-5151 Furnished & unfurnished one, two & three bedrooms apartment at Providence and Diamond. Call: 216-2299/ 6721906/ whatsapp: 1-246-833-9739 One bedroom, self-contained apartment with parking facilities, located at Providence East Bank Demerara. Call: 6186207/ 673-1617

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 Kastev, Meeten Meer Zorg, W.C.D: 3 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, verandah overlooking Atlantic ocean. Owner migrating -$36M, negotiable.Call:676-7974/615-0173 One 3 bedroom property with bond, big land space for building house, poultry rearing, farming, etc. Call: 627-5607

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 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

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

MEDIUM SIZE MINING BLOCKS FOR RENTAL. CALL: 669-4149 Upper flat house in Diamond New Scheme - $35,000. Call: 265-4867 Building with three apartments in Diamond ideal for Pastors, Companies or Organization. Call: 680-5944/ 656-4211 Office space for rent @ North & King Streets, Georgetown. Call: 225-4708/ 225-4106 2 Bedrooms downstairs apartment @ Bagotstown Old Road, E.B.D. $40,000 monthlyCall: 652-1234

VEHICLE FOR SALE 2015 Ford F150 V6 2.7 litre, twin turbo, 4X4 automatic, fully loaded 34,000 kilometers, excellent conditioner. Call: 610-5370 1 Canter, case skid steer tracker. Call: 686-4354/ 615-7842 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

CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL:656-0087,6435122 ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM DOLLY’SCARRENTAL-CALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM

MASSAGE Angels Massaging Spa. Come relax and be pampered. Call: 694-9775

PROPERTY FOR SALE

WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIALOFFERS! . CALL: 690-6494

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 CAR RENTAL AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL: PICKUP,9-11SEATMINIBUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 6987807

Tuesday August 29, 2017

Struggling economy leaves Guyanese stuck in survival mode – Opposition MP The dismal performance of the economy at the end of the half year has left Guyanese who were promised “the good life”, stuck in survival mode. This is the opinion of Opposition Member, Juan Edghill. Speaking with Kaieteur News recently, Edghill commented that there is no real excitement that is driving investment in Guyana. “We are just in survival mode,” he stressed. The former Junior Finance Minister said that the lack of an economic plan has basically left the government dutifully collecting taxes. Edghill said that once the Government has essentially turned into a tax collector and not a stimulator of business, then there will continue to be gloomy economic performance. Edghill said that given the rate at which the economy is going, it is no wonder why Guyanese are losing hope in the Government on a daily basis. “The real issue here is a lack of a proper policy. When I commented on the foreign reserves before, which show a decline, I said that it is not a big case of worry right now. However, if it continues to slip, we will have to start implementing currency control mechanisms as it relates to imports, and that is returning to the past…This would mean that we won’t have enough to cover what we are importing and that could just

create a situation of panic.” “There is a great need for a viable economic plan to be put to the people of Guyana. A yearly budget is supposed to be a financial plan that gives you a sense of understanding as to where you are taking the country. But what we had in the budgets for 2015, 2016 and 2017 was massive numbers, all void of a policy framework.” The Opposition Member said that what is being reported now is under performance, under implementation, and low levels of spending under the APNU+AFC Government. He said that Guyanese were promised the good life, but daily, they are realizing that they are stuck in survival mode. SUGAR In reviewing the performance of the economy at the end of mid-year, the Finance Ministry identified a number of risks which can undermine the business climate and the overall economy for 2017 if left unchecked. Among those risks identified were the state of the sugar industry and the underwhelming performance of the public sector investment programme. The Finance Ministry said that one untenable risk is that of management of the production of sugar which continues to be plagued by inefficient cost structures, weather and labour relations. The Ministry said that the cost structure of the industry continues to be misaligned

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and the discussions on restructuring and diversification are yet to yield benefits to the corporation’s bottom line. Once again, the $9 billion allocation to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has continued to crowd out needed expenditure in other sectors. The Finance Ministry said that the related shortfall in production will continue to hamper growth, constrain export earnings and impact the fiscal deficit. GuySuCo has signaled that during the second half of the year, funds will be secured from sales of molasses and sugar and sale of land. In recognition of the need to arrest the unsustainable position of the company, a decision to privatize the Skeldon plant and estate was taken. Since then, Government has proposed with Parliament approving, $130 million for the creation of a Special Purposes Unit to deal with the valuation and sale of related assets. In addition, the diversification of less productive estates is intended to provide alternative employment opportunities for workers in the industry. INVESTMENT PROGRAMME Another hurdle on the domestic front, as identified by the Finance Ministry, has been the underwhelming pace of implementation of the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP). According to officials within the Ministry, this was

underpinned by poor management of the public sector investment programme across almost all sectors, a limited pool of qualified contractors, dearth of procurement planning, and a lack of accountability of supervising consultants, among other factors. The slow pace of implementation was reviewed at the level of Cabinet at the half year and it is anticipated that this level of engagement with Heads of Budget Agencies will occur at least quarterly in light of the chronic institutional weaknesses that prevail. According to the Ministry, many Heads of Budget Agencies continue to be weak in demonstrated capacities and the reviews at Cabinet level will determine how to fill existing capacity gaps. Additionally, developing public sector capacity to spend effectively has been placed at the forefront of reform agenda for public financial management and by the end of 2017, the department of public service is expected to establish planning units in all key sector ministries. Further, in September, Government will undertake a Public Investment Management Assessment that will evaluate the design and effectiveness of institutions that shape investment planning, allocating investment to the most productive sectors and implementing investment. The results of this assessment will help to drive additional reforms going forward.

Laing Avenue duo charged for stealing car parts Two men, both from Laing Avenue, were yesterday ordered to post $100,000 bail each, after pleading not guilty to a simple larceny charge. David George, 18, and Seon Nedd, 27, of 199 Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt, appeared before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. It is alleged that on August 15 at Lot 65 East Ruimveldt, they stole from motor car PSS 5322, one engine valued $150,000, four car shocks valued $40,000 and one air conditioner valued $60,000 - all property of Jermaine Davidson. Police Prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves had no objection to bail being granted to the duo.

However the prosecutor told the court that on the day in question the victim drove his vehicle and parked it at home, with the articles mentioned in the charge after it was involved in an accident. The court heard that on August 16, Davidson a check on his vehicle and observed the items missing. The matter was reported and the two men were arrested and taken to the station. Prosecutor Gonsalves told the court that Nedd took the police to his home and handed over the engine, the air conditioner and one of the shocks. The two men will make their next court appearance on September 15.

Miner remanded on wounding charge Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan remanded a 37-year-old miner to prison yesterday on a wounding charge after he appeared before her in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The man, Alex Bovell of Mabaruma Settlement, Region One pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on August 24, at St. Elizabeth Backdam, Potaro River, he unlawfully and maliciously inflicted grievous bodily harm upon Clive Hope. The unrepresented man was ordered to return to court on September 18, for statements. Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore told the court that on the day in question, there was a misunderstanding between the two parties during which Bovell picked up a piece of wood and dealt Hope several lashes to the head and about the body. Prosecutor Moore said that after committing the act, Bovell made good his escape, but was later arrested by police. According to the prosecutor, Hope, who sustained a fractured skull, is still a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital. In his address to the court, Bovell claimed that Hope always takes “advantage” of him. Prosecutor Moore opposed bail for the defendant citing the extent of the injuries the victim received and also the seriousness of the offence. These objections were upheld by the Chief Magistrate.

Welfare Dept. presents students with school supplies in Region Three

The Schools’ Welfare Department in Region Three yesterday donated 20 backpacks along with stationery supplies in anticipation of the new school year. It was done in keeping of the Department’s commitment to ensure all school children attain fundamental school supplies. The idea was birthed after ‘Truancy Campaigns’ were held in the Region. It was discovered during the campaign that students’ attendance was being affected as a result of several issues, inclusive of financial constraints. Education Officer, Devendra Persaud, highlighted that the contribution is just the first phase, as the Department is expecting an additional 1000 backpacks before the reopening of school. It was on this note that he advocated for parents to ensure their children attend school regularly and punctually so as to better benefit from a “quality education”. Senior Schools Welfare Officer, Azharuddin Zahur during his remarks, instructed

Officials pose with some of the beneficiaries that every child must be in school and urged the Schools’ Welfare Department to ensure that the laws are being adhered to.

He warned parents that noncompliance with these laws could result in court action being taken against them.

Student attendance, which is a basic step for securing good grades, was elaborated upon, and led to Zahur highlighting that the

responsibility for this issue is not only that of the Welfare Department but all Guyanese as well. Yesterday’s event was

made possible with support from Republic Bank, Triple A Supermarket, June Charles and Family and Andrew Singh.

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Tuesday August 29, 2017

North Korea fires missile over Japan in aggressive test SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea fired a ballistic missile from its capital Pyongyang that flew over

Japan before plunging into the northern Pacific Ocean, officials said Tuesday, an aggressive test-flight over the terri-

tory of a close U.S. ally that sends a clear message of defiance as Washington and Seoul conduct war games

nearby. Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile traveled around 2,700 kilometers (1,677

miles) and reached a maximum height of 550 kilometers (341 miles) as it flew over the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. The launch, which appears to be the first to cross over Japan since 2009, will rattle a region worried that each new missile test puts the North a step closer toward its goal of an arsenal of nuclear missiles that can reliably target the United States. It appeared to be the North’s longest-ever missile test, but South Korean officials couldn’t immediately confirm. North Korean missile launches have been happening at an unusually fast pace this year, and some analysts believe the North could have viable long-range nuclear missiles before the end of President Donald Trump’s first term in early 2021. The South Korean military said it is analyzing the launch with the United States and has strengthened its monitoring and preparation in case of further actions from North Korea. Analysts speculate the North may have tested a new intermediate-range missile that Pyongyang recently threatened to fire toward the U.S. territory of Guam, which hosts a major military base. This missile landed nowhere near Guam, which is about

2,500 kilometers (1,550 miles) south of Tokyo, but the length of Tuesday’s launch may have been designed for the North to show it could follow through on its threat. Seoul says the missile was launched from Sunan, which is where Pyongyang’s international airport is, opening the possibility that North Korea launched a road-mobile missile from an airport runway. North Korea will no doubt be watching the world’s reaction to see if it can use Tuesday’s flight over Japan as a precedent for future launches. Japanese officials said there was no damage to ships or anything else reported. Japan’s NHK TV said the missile separated into three parts. “We will do our utmost to protect people’s lives,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters. “This reckless act of launching a missile that flies over our country is an unprecedented, serious and important threat.” Tuesday’s launch comes days after the North fired what was assessed as three shortrange ballistic missiles into the sea and a month after its second flight test of an intercontinental ballistic missile, which analysts say could reach deep into the U.S. mainland when perfected.

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Kaieteur News

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Trini’s PM rescinds appointment of newly appointed Public Utilities Minister

Robert La Hunte (left) and Prime Minister Rowley soon after he was sworn in last Thursday. Trinidad (CMC) – Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley Monday said he had asked President Anthony Carmona to revoke the appointment of the new Public Utilities Minister, Robert La Hunte, less than 72 hours after he was appointed to the post.

Le Hunte was sworn into o ff i c e l a s t T h u r s d a y, replacing Rowley who had held on to the position after he had dismissed attorney Marlene McDonald for a second time in 16months earlier this year. In a brief statement, the Office of the Prime Minister

noted that it had come to the attention of Prime Minister Rowley that La Hunte, a former banker in Ghana, was also a citizen of that African country. “Accordingly he is not qualified under section 42 (1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to be a appointed as a Senator. Accordingly, the Honourable Prime Minister has so informed the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago,” the statement said. It said that “Le Hunte will be rectifying his position and once this is done Prime Minister will appoint him as a Senator and as Minister of Public Utilities. “Under these circumstances, until the matter is rectified, the Honourable Prime Minister will assume the portfolio of Minister of Public Utilities. It is expected that this situation will be rectified by Friday 1 September, 2017.”

Legal battle begins to extradite radical Jamaican Muslim cleric Jamaica (CMC) – The legal battle has started to extradite Jamaican-born radical cleric, Trevor William Forrest, who has been indicted in the United States on charges that he used his public profile and personal network to recruit and provide support to those seeking to commit acts of violence and terrorism. Forrest, 53, also known as “Shaikh Abdullah Faisal” and “Shaikh Faisal, was remanded into custody until September 11 when he appeared at the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Monday. His lawyers have already indicated that they intend to file an application for bail on behalf of their client , since the disclosure of documents will be made on October 27 when the cleric is due back in court. Last Friday, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., and New York City Police Commissioner James O’Neill said Forrest used his network to aid the Islamic State. They said Faisal had been indictment with soliciting or providing support for an act of terrorism in the first degree as a crime of terrorism and

Fate in limbo: Trevor William Forrest other charges. The indictment follows a yearlong investigation by the New York Police Department (NYPD) Intelligence Bureau and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office’s Counter Terrorism Programme, which was created in June 2015 to identify and pursue investigative leads related to home-grown terror plots, extremist activities and terror-financing. “Shaikh Faisal has dedicated his life to terror recruitment. Through his lectures, website and videos, he incites untold numbers of people around the world to take up the cause of jihad,” Vance said. “As is alleged in this case, he provided material support to the Islamic State by facilitating the passage

of a self-described ISIS sympathizer from New York to Syria,” he added. A charismatic leader, Vance said Faisal’s rhetoric has been cited by several convicted or suspected terrorists in New York, London and beyond. Since 2014, Faisal, who was previously convicted in the United Kingdom of crimes related to inciting murder and using racially charged, hateful rhetoric in furtherance of terrorist ideologies, has publicly supported a terrorist organization known as the Islamic State, also known as “ISIS” or “ISIL”, and “called for the establishment of an Islamic caliphate through violent acts encouraged by the defendant’s online lectures and militant propaganda,” the indictment noted.

Tuesday August 29, 2017

Guatemala president holds back in push to expel U.N. graft head

A demonstrator reacts during a protest against Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales in Guatemala City, Guatemala, August 28, 2017. REUTERS/Luis Echeverria GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) - Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales on Monday held back on his decision to expel the head of a United Nations-backed antigraft unit who is investigating the leader’s campaign financing following a court ruling, criticism and protests. Morales on Sunday declared Ivan Velasquez, head of the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG), “persona non grata” and ordered him to leave the Central American country immediately. Hours later, the nation’s top court suspended the decision. After two days of protests in the capital and criticism from the United States and European Union, there were signs Morales could backtrack on his initial insistence that he had the authority to expel Velasquez. Morales did not withdraw his declaration that Velasquez was persona non grata in Guatemala, and the president appeared to be waiting for a final decision from the court in the coming

d a y s a f t e r S u n d a y ’s provisional ruling. Morales said on Monday on his official Facebook page that he would be “respectful of the decisions of the courts.” His government could ask for a public audience before the court and seek a new vote, which he lost 3-2 in Sunday’s vote. If Morales ignored the court, he could be found in contempt and risk losing his job, according to constitutional experts consulted by Reuters. “Bring Jimmy Morales to justice!,” hundreds of students chanted in unison as they marched towards the presidential palace in downtown Guatemala City on Monday. Ve l a s q u e z , w h o previously investigated drug cartels and paramilitary groups in his homeland Colombia, was declared “persona non grata” days after the CICIG said Morales should be investigated over alleged illicit funding in his election run. With powers to prepare crime and corruption cases, the CICIG was in 2015

instrumental in removing from office former Guatemalan president Otto Perez after identifying him as a key player in an alleged multi-million-dollar corruption racket. The CICIG has been strongly backed by western powers. U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala Todd Robinson told Reuters that Morales was putting at risk U.S. aid to fight poverty and crime in the poor Central American country, which has seen a surge of illegal migration to the United States in recent years. “There will probably be consequences from the p r e s i d e n t ’s d e c i s i o n , ” Robinson said. The European Union said the decision to declare Velasquez persona non grata put at great risk the work initiated by the CICIG on strengthening the rule of law in Guatemala. Morales, a former comedian, won election in late 2015 after riding a wave of public discontent over the corruption scandals that brought down his predecessor Perez.

Barbados implements fee on foreign credit cards payments Barbados (CMC) – The Central Bank of Barbados (CBB) Monday said that a two per cent fee on foreign purchases and payments made using credit, debit and travel cards goes into effect from Friday, September 1. It said the Foreign Exchange Fee (FXF) is applicable to purchases made while overseas, as well as to

items purchased from companies outside of Barbados. But it noted if the transactions are cancelled, the fee is refundable. The CBB said that the fee will be calculated on the Barbados value of the transaction using the exchange rate on the date that the transaction was processed, not on the date

that the bill is paid and will be applied even if customers choose to be billed in Barbados dollars (One Barbados dollar=US$0.50 cents).. “This is because whether the transaction charge is executed in Barbadian or foreign currency, it is ultimately settled using foreign currency,” the CBB said in a statement.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday August 29, 2017

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Harvey’s death toll climbs to 6 in Texas amid ‘epic and catastrophic’ flooding Texas (Yahoo)- The death toll has climbed to six in Texas amid the “epic and catastrophic” flooding left behind in the southeast part of the state from Hurricane Harvey. On Monday evening, Houston’s Mayor Sylvester Turner confirmed three deaths in Houston. Three other stormrelated deaths occurred in La Marque, East Montgomery County and the coastal city of Rockport. Houston, the country’s fourth largest city, has been inundated with flooding as result of Harvey, which made landfall late Friday as a Category 4 hurricane and lingered as a tropical storm over the weekend. The National Weather Service deemed the deadly flooding, which forced evacuations and wiped out homes, “epic and catastrophic.” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has activated the entire Texas National Guard. The

Residents of Texas are taking stock and trying to absorb record flooding brought by Hurricane Harvey. David J. Phillip/AP

Houston Police Daryl Hudeck carries Catherine Pham and her 13-month-old son Aiden . (David J. Phillip/AP) total number of guardsmen available to the state is roughly 12,000, and all of them will be used in support of recovery efforts in southeast Texas, according to Abbott. “These guys have saved our lives,” one woman rescued by Texas National Guard soldiers said in a video by Staff Sgt. Tim Pruitt. Her husband and dogs were also rescued. “We’ve been in water all day,

actually since last night, and we didn’t think help was coming. ... Thank you so much.” Abbott told ABC News’ “Good Morning America” on Monday that he expects the aftermath of Harvey to be “horrific,” leaving a mess that will “take years” to rebuild. A B C N e w s meteorologists anticipate that more rain will fall this week.

Nigeria seizes $21m linked to former oil minister Nigeria (AlJazeera)- A Nigerian court has seized $21m from bank accounts linked to Diezani AlisonMadueke, a former oil minister who faces corruption allegations. Abdulazeez Anka, federal high court judge, ordered on Monday the immediate forfeiture of the sum allegedly held in local bank accounts by AlisonMadueke, who was once one of Africa’s most prominent female politicians. Nigeria’s anti-graft Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which accuses Alison-Madueke of corruption, argued in the Lagos court that she had illicitly laundered the funds with the help of top oil officials. Since leaving office in 2015, Alison-Madueke has been implicated in bribery, fraud, misuse of public funds and money laundering cases in Nigeria, Britain, Italy and the United States. Alison-Madueke - the former president of the global oil cartel OPEC, and the first woman to hold the

Former oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke post - has always denied the allegations which involve billions of dollars syphoned from oil deals and state accounts. M o n d a y ’s r u l i n g followed two applications by the EFCC which earlier this month successfully seized properties worth $44m that Alison-Madueke allegedly purchased with the proceeds of corruption. The court had also ordered an interim forfeiture of 56 houses linked to the former minister valued at $9m. Nigeria is reeling from a series of corruption scandals by top officials.

Earlier in April, the EFCC uncovered $43m worth of cash during an apartment raid in Lagos. After the discovery, N i g e r i a ’s N a t i o n a l Intelligence Agency (NIA) claimed the money belonged to the organisation, prompting President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend its head, Ayodele Oke Also suspended and under investigation is Lawal Babachir, Buhari’s secretary and longtime ally, following his indictment by the legislature for an alleged 200 million naira ($635,000) scam.

As of mid-Monday, ABC News meteorologists said radar shows heavy rain bands remaining near Houston and moving across southern Louisiana. A tornado watch is in effect from east of Houston to New Orleans. A B C N e w s meteorologists say about 20 to 40 inches of rain has already fallen in the Houston area. As of mid-Monday, the highest rain was 39.72

inches near Dayton, Texas. Rainfall totals could reach 50 inches by the end of the week. Houston Mayor S y l v e s t e r Tu r n e r s a i d Monday that rescues were officials’ No. 1 priority. As of mid-Monday, Harris County Sheriff ’s deputies have conducted more than 2,000 high-water rescues. The city’s police chief, Art Acevedo, said 2,000

residents of Houston have been rescued so far and that 185 “critical” rescue requests were still pending as of Monday morning. Acevedo said on “GMA” Monday that those in distress should exercise patience as they wait for help. “Just hunker down, hold tight — we hear you, we feel you. Believe me,” Acevedo told “GMA.” “But when you think about just the numbers that we’ve been dealing with, we have to do it safely. We want to make sure that when we get you, we get you out safely and we don’t hurt you or you get hurt during the rescue operation.” Capt. Kevin Oditt of the Coast Guard, which has per f o r m e d m o r e t h a n 2,000 rescues by air and water, said, “Our crews have been operating nonstop.” “This is an all-hands-ondeck event bringing crews from all over the nation to help with our response,” Oditt said.

Indian and China agree on Doklam troop ‘disengagement’ Indian (AlJazeera)India and China have agreed on an “expeditious disengagement” of troops at a disputed border area in the Himalayas, where their soldiers have been locked in standoff for more than two months, according to India’s foreign ministry. The decision comes in the run-up to a summit of the BRICS nations - a grouping that also includes Brazil, Russia and South Africa - in China early next month, which Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister, is expected to attend. “In recent weeks, India and China have maintained diplomatic communication in respect of the incident at Doklam,” India’s ministry of foreign affairs said on Monday, referring to the area in the Himalayas close to the borders of China, India and Bhutan. “On this basis, expeditious disengagement of border personnel at the face-off site at Doklam has been agreed to and is ongoing.” China said Indian troops had withdrawn from the remote area in the eastern Himalayas. Hua Chunying,

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, said Chinese troops would continue to patrol the Doklam region. “China will continue to exercise sovereignty rights to protect territorial sovereignty in accordance with the rules of the historical boundary,” she said. Speaking from China’s capital, Beijing, Al Jazeera’s Adrian Brown said that the “high-stakes, high-altitude problem” was over for now. “This dispute has been going on for 55 years but China is making it clear that it is not giving up its historical claims,” he said. “It says it wants to work with India to maintain peace but it said India must respect China’s historical borders.” Chinese and Indian troops have been confronting each other at the Doklam plateau near the borders of India, its ally Bhutan and China, in the most serious and prolonged standoff in decades along their disputed Himalayan border. India says the dispute erupted after India objected to the Chinese building a

road through the mountainous area. India said it sent its troops because Chinese military activity there was a threat to the security of its own northeast region. Small incursions and troop standoffs are common along other parts of the contested 3,500km frontier, but the recent impasse was marked by its length and the failure of talks to resolve the dispute, raising fears of a wider escalation as the two Asian giants compete for influence. The Nathu La Pass, on the frontier between the Indian state of Sikkim and Chinese-controlled Tibet, was the site of a fierce border clash between Chinese and Indian troops in 1962. Shekhar Gupta, Indian political commentator, said there was too much at stake for the two countries to fight over a small piece of territory. “Hopefully, Doklam is a new chapter in India-China relations. Too much at stake for both big powers to let legacy real-estate issues linger,” he said in a Twitter post.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday August 29, 2017

Tuesday August 29, 2017

CAS dismisses Chinese weightlifters’ appeals Reuters - The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed the appeals filed by two Chinese women weightlifters who were stripped of the gold medals they won at the 2008 Beijing Olympics after failing doping tests conducted eight years later. In January, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ordered Cao Lei (75kg)

and Liu Chunhong (69kg) to return their medals from the Beijing Games after retests of samples tested positive for prohibited substances. The athletes tested positive for banned human growth hormones along with compatriot Chen Xiexia, who won gold in the 48kg category in Beijing and was also disqualified

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Kaieteur News

Savory’s innings crafts East Bank...

by the IOC. CAS said in a statement on Monday that it had upheld the IOC’s decision against the two athletes. ”As a consequence the athletes are disqualified from the events in which they participated: Chunhong Liu – Women’s 69kg (gold medal), and Lei Cao – Women’s 75kg (gold medal),” CAS said.

Konta falls as Krunic delivers first... (From page 26) to adapt to Jankovic’s counter-punching style but eventually wore down the 2008 runner-up to set up a meeting with France’s Alize Cornet. ”She did just a great job, mentally, because from what I heard it was not even sure that she could play tennis again,” said Cornet, a 6-4 6-4

winner over Britain’s Heather Watson. “I’m really happy for her because she is a very nice person and there are not so many of them on the tour.” Kvitova, who had nearly four hours of surgery on her left hand and returned to competition at this year’s French Open, won a first set that featured three breaks of serve as both players struggled to find

their range in Louis Armstrong Stadium. She rallied back from 2-0 down in the second set but dropped serve again in the seventh game. However, Kvitova regained her composure to win four consecutive games and secured the win on her first match point with a sizzling forehand winner down the line.

Tuesday August 29, 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Your emotions will be touched off concerning recent encounters with your lover. You can bet that situations will get out of hand if you allow others to interfere. TAURUS (Apr. 21- may 21) Consider starting a small business on the side. Look for a marketable gimmick. Travel will turn out to be far more exciting than you imagined. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You can get good solid advice from relatives or close friends you trust. Try not to be overbearing where family is concerned. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Unique forms of entertainment could capture your attention and bring about a romantic interest. Older family members will make demands on your time. Remember; talk to them, not at them. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Raise your self esteem and your confidence if you want to get back into the mainstream again. Make a point of working on yourself. You will have to watch out for minor health problems related to stress. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Don't rely on others to do your work. You can handle situations that require contact with institutions or large corporations. Find out more,

if you want to start your own business. LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Do not overexpand if you have your own business. Sit tight. Problems with fire, gas, or oil may cause disruptions and annoyances. Electrical problems may be an issue. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Rewards for past good deeds will highlight your day. You may have difficulties with someone close to you. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Avoid conflicts with in-laws or other family members. You can easily wrap up overdue personal legal matters that have caused problems for you. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Self-improvement projects will payoff in more ways than one. Read between the lines when signing contracts. Uncertainties about your home may cause tension. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Your ideas will be well received. Get involved in groups that can offer intellectual stimulation. Your mind will be on matters that deal with secret affairs. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Inharmonious situations at home may be extremely upsetting for you today. You can make financial gains if you are prepared to take a risk.

Runner-up Busta ECB 40-Over Festival team (From page 31) 18 from the final over. They managed 12 as Leguan ended on 174-9. Khan was unbeaten on 20 and Simbu on five. Fredericks and Persaud claimed two wickets each while there was one apiece for Benn, Heyliger, Johnson

It’s do or die... (From page 30) and will spearhead the pace attack with support from Emrit and Paul with the lively Keon Joseph or Roshan Primus possibly replacing Steven Jacobs. Leg-spinner Rashid Khan has not been at his best in this CPL but is capable of spinning his magic at anytime and could be Tridents’ biggest threat tonight. Left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul could share the new ball with Tanvir. Tridents have included 30-year-old Eoin Morgan who led England to the final of the World T20 in April 2016 where they lost to West Indies in Kolkata. ”If we are to claim our second CPL title, we need proven match-winners. We have that in Eoin, who is not only one of the best whiteball batsmen in the world but also a fantastic presence – both on and off the field.” said Robin Singh, the Barbados Head Coach. Morgan, Smith, Kane Williamson, Skipper Kieron Pollard, Keeper Nicholas Pooran, West Indies U-19 all rounder Shamar Springer and Imran Khan could lead the batting. Wayne Parnell and Ravi Rampaul could share the new ball with pace support from Springer and Pollard with Akeal Hosein, Damion Jacobs and Khan doing the spinning.

and Shafeek. Savory and Adams were named playersof-the-match for their respective teams while Vijay Surujpaul of South Essequibo and Paul Simbu were rewarded for their outstanding performances in the preliminary round matches. East Bank Essequibo collected a trophy and $75,000

while Leguan took home a trophy and $25,000. President of ECB Fizul Bacchus expressed gratitude to the Guyana Beverage Co. Inc. and Imam Bacchus and Sons for their support. Managing Director of Guyana Beverage Co. Inc Robert Selman congratulated both teams on an outstanding performance.

Kaieteur News

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Tuesday August 29, 2017

Cilic wins Tennys match Jamaica signs Fudadin to reach second round for PCL and Super50 Venus Williams is making her 19th appearance at the US Open - more than any other current player

New York (Reuters) Croatia’s Marin Cilic started strong and hung on to win his first match since his emotional defeat in the Wimbledon final, besting American Tennys Sandgren 6-4 6-3 3-6 6-3 yesterday to reach the second round of the U.S. Open. The 2014 U.S. Open champion moved well throughout the nearly threehour match and appeared unhindered by the adductor injury and foot blisters that ailed him during his straight sets loss to Roger Federer at the All England Club. ”I feel just a little bit rusty,” fifth seed Cilic said in an on-court interview after the match. “I need a few matches to get in the rhythm. I was hitting some good

shots and then making some unforced errors.” Cilic ended with 57 unforced errors, many coming from his wobbly forehand, compared to 55 winners. Sandgren, playing in just his second main draw of a grand slam, was composed throughout the match but appeared to tire as the match wore on. The 26-year-old American was ultimately unable to overcome the early deficit and Cilic’s powerful serve and punishing g r o u n d s t r o k e s . ”Tennys was fighting quite hard even after I was up two sets to love. The fourth set was a battle, especially the game at 4-3.” Sandgren sent a shot wide to hand Cilic a

break and end the over 10minute game. Cilic cracked his 11th ace to win the match in the next game and punch his ticket to the second round. Next up for Cilic in the second round is German Florian Mayer, a 7-5 0-6 6-3 6-4 winner over Brazil’s Rogerio Dutra Silva. Meanwhile, Two-time champion Venus Williams was pushed all the way by world number 135 Viktoria Kuzmova before reaching the second round of the US Open. The 37-year-old American took her second match point on teenager Kuzmova’s serve to win 6-3 3-6 6-2. Williams has seven Grand Slam singles titles, while Kuzmova was making her main-draw debut at tour level. Meantime, two-time finalist Caroline Wozniacki beat Mihaela Buzarnescu 61 7-5 to reach round two. The Dane will face Russian Ekaterina Makarova next. ”I didn’t do a lot wrong, she just just stepped it up,” said Williams, who is aiming for her first major since 2008 and plays France’s Oceane Dodin tomorrow.

Konta falls as Krunic delivers first U.S. Open shock New York (Reuters) Serbian Aleksandra Krunic produced the first shock of the U.S. Open as she rallied past British seventh seed Johanna Konta 4-6 6-3 6-4 yesterday to advance to the second round of the season’s final grand slam. After first round losses in her last two visits to Flushing Meadows, Krunic had looked poised for another early exit after Konta claimed a tight opening set. But the 78th ranked Serb, who beat Petra Kvitova en route to reaching the last 16 in 2014, dug in to level the match. In the decisive set it was Krunic who held her nerve as she finished off Konta on her second match point when the Briton sent her return long and wide. “I feel amazing, happy the way I played the way I fought,” said Krunic during her on court postmatch interview.” I had to be at my best from the first point. ”Today it was all about intensity. I am proud of myself, I was tactically able

Aleksandra Krunic to do the things I had in my head.” It was a stunningly quick end for Wimbledon semi-finalist Konta, who had been expected to be among the title contenders after reaching the fourth round here for the last two years. KVITOVA ENJOYING RETURN TO NORMALCY IN NEW YORK Petra Kvitova has yet to return to her best level, but at least being on a tennis court is starting to feel normal to the Czech eight months after

she suffered careerthreatening injuries when she was stabbed by an intruder in her home. The twice Wimbledon champion, who missed five months of action after being stabbed in her playing hand last December, scraped into the second round of the U.S. Open by beating former world number one Jelena Jankovic of Serbia 7-5 7-5 yesterday. ”Things like seeing other players, seeing coaches, being on the tennis court, practicing with other girls, that feels more normal than before, for sure,” the 13th seed told reporters. “For me, like, warmups before the matches or matches are already normal, I have to say. But on the other hand, it’s still very special and I’m still very grateful for it. “Yeah, few things are more normal than before, but few are still a little bit different.” The Czech, in search of top form after a mediocre build-up to the year’s final grand slam, struggled (Continued on page 25)

Focused on helping Warriors qualify for CLP play-offs By Sean Devers Assad Fudadin is focused on playing a meaningful role tonight in getting the Guyana Amazon Warriors one step closer to qualifying for the 2017 Hero CPL T20 Playoffs when they face the Tridents in Barbados. Fudadin explained that could not accept the Cricket Guyana Inc (CGI) contract because he had signed to represent the Jamaica Franchise in the Reginald four-day First-Class tournament which starts on October 26 and the Regional Super50. ”My main focus right now is helping the Warriors to win our last two games to qualify for the playoffs in Trinidad. If you have a solid technique in Test cricket you don’t have to change that to be successful in the shorter version. What you need to change is your mindset and take a few more risks, find the gaps and face fewer dot balls,” Fudadin opined. ”Yes I have signed a contract to play for Jamaica and I will give a hundred percent effort on and off the field for my new team but I also wish the Jaguars all the best for the coming season” said Fudadin. Fudadin is set to become the third Guyanese to play for a Jamaican Franchise following fellow Berbician Jonathon Foo and DCC Trevon Griffith who are members of the Jamaica Tallawahs which has already qualified for the CPL semifinals. Born in August 1985, Fudadin is one of 18 players from the Ancient County to play at the highest level and the 31 year-old became the only member of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club to play Test Cricket when he made his debut against England in Birmingham on June 7, 2012. But after playing the last of his three Tests in August 2012, the solid left-hander has not played another Test match. After a good Regional season Fudadin was picked for the 2014/2015 Test series in South Africa but suffered an injury which ruled him out of that series. ”When I broke my finger while doing fielding drills on

Assad Fudadin the morning of the first Test (Dec 17, 2014) in South Africa, I would have liked to play since I had a chance of doing well against world quality bowlers and secure a permanent place on the West Indies team” Fudadin r e f l e c t e d . After being selected and not having the opportunity to perform due to injury, Fudadin was unfairly dropped for the next series despite the fact that he never failed in South Africa and that seems to still bother him. ”I would not say I am disappointed because I believe that everything happens for a reason and God is in control of what happens to everyone” Fudadin added. The experienced Fudadin has one Test Fifty and six centuries and 21 half-centuries from 86 First-Class matches since making his FirstClass debut for West Indies ‘B’ against Kenya in 2004. Fudadin was Guyana’s leading scorer in the 2010 Regional First-Class Tournament, which earned him selection on the West Indies A side which toured England in 2010 earning him a developmental contract from the WICB before scoring three consecutive fifties and a ton to help the Guyana Jaguars to their third

consecutive First-Class title this year. However, strangely, Fudadin was not selected for the Four-day matches on the West Indies ‘A’ team tour to Sri Lanka last September. “I aim to have a good season with Jamaica and get back into the West Indies team” informed Fudadin. A lot has changed in the life of Fudadin since his entertaining 55 helped the West Indies beat Pakistan to win the 2000 Under-15 World Cup. Since then he has matured as an individual and cricketer, is married to Akeema and has an eightyear-old son. But most noticeable, he now sports a flowing beard which he says is for him to be physically identified as a Muslim. But he was quick to add that while he wants people know he is a Muslim by his looks it is more important to show the character of someone who is very serious about his Islamic faith. His new focus has not only affected his life in a positive way but also rubbed off on his cricket career. He began growing his beard in July of 2013 after returning from Bangladesh with the West Indies team the year before.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday August 29, 2017

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RHTYSC/Kares Engineering Inc. Patron’s Tournament

Grill Master of Canje crowned champions A brilliant all-round performance by skipper Roy Jaferally on Sunday led his team, Grill Master to championship honours in the Kares Engineering Inc.,/RHTY&SC/Patron’s Green Economy Softball tournament. Playing in front of a massive and colourful crowd at the Area ‘H’ ground, Grill Master of Canje crushed Prophecy Boys of Port Mourant by 131 runs to take home the first prize of $500,000 and the beautiful Green Economy Trophy donated by Kares Engineering Inc., and the Ministry of the Presidency, respectively. The tournament was organised by the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS, in honour of its Patron on his 72nd birthday and was geared towards educating the public about the effects of Climate Change whilst

promoting the Green Economy Programme. Play was delayed by one hour due to heavy overnight rain but once play started, it was a day of nonstop action with a high level of discipline. In the semifinals, Grill Master easily disposed of Jai Hind of Albion by 9 wickets while Prophecy Boys defeated Hard Knock of Manchester by 79 runs. Batting in the first semifinal, Jai Hind Cricket Club was restricted to 68 for 9 off their allotted 10-overs while the eventual champion replied with 70 for 1 from 6overs. Vishal Phillips top scored with 45 which included five h u g e s i x e s . Prophecy Boys blasted themselves 140 for 5 off their 10-overs versus Hard Knock, A. Marimuthu led with 55 while Mavindranauth Ramnauth supported with an

impressive 44. Bowling for Hard Knock, Shane Cameron claimed 3 for 12 from his two overs. Hard Knock in response were bowled out for 61 off 8.3 overs, losing by 79 runs. Jason Glasgow was the only batsman to offer any resistance to the Prophecy Boys bowlers. Madhan Budhram and Davendra Itwaru both claimed 3 wickets for 12 and 17 runs, respectively. In the third place playoff, Hard Knock defeated Jai Hind by 17 runs. Batting first after losing the toss, Hard Knock was indebted to Jason Glasgow 34, Delroy George 27 and Eldeen Mendonca 21 as they blasted their team to 141 for 4 off their allotted 12-0vers. Ishwar Harilall took 2 for 21 for Jai Hind. Needing to score 142 to claim the $100,000 third

Roy Jaferally receives the winning trophy and cash prize from Minister Joseph Harmon and Satyna Kishun of Kares Engineering. place prize, Jai Hind was restricted to 124 for 9 as Hard Knock fielded and bowled well. Adrian Singh led the way with 30 while Ishwar Harilall and Joshua Rangasammy supported with 21 runs, apiece. R. Ross

Guyana beat Windwards for 4th successive 50 over title; Dethroned Leewards for 15th 3-day title Guyana yesterday achieved the ‘double’ when they beat the Windward Islands by six runs in the final round of the Regional 50-over U-19 tournament in St Kitts & Nevis to take the 2017 Championship after dethroning the Leeward Islands in the three-day format which began in 1976, to capture their 15th title. T h e 5 0 - o v e r s tournament was inaugurated in 1998 in T&T as a replacement for the washed out three-day competition and this was Guyana’s fourth 50-overs title in a row since they dethroned 2013 champs, Windwards in 2014 at home when their 50-over Championship winning streak began under Skipper Brian Sattaur. Sattaur became the first Guyana Captain to win both three-day and one-day titles in the same year and is now joined by this year’s skipper Renaldo Ali Mohammed as they both bettered Steven Jacobs, who led Guyana to the three-day title in 2007 in St. Kitts before losing to Jamaica in the 50-over final at Warner Park the same year. At Warner Park, Guyana

Renaldo Ali Mohammed was spearheaded by a 91-run opening stand between the tournament’s leading run scorer Raymond Perez (77) and Joshua Persaud (40) as they were dismissed off the last ball of their 50 overs for 217. Dillon Douglas (3-32), Jahseon Alexander (2-24) and Alick Athanaze (2-43) were the main wicket takers for the Windwards, bowled out for 211 in 49.4 overs despite a 99-run second wicket stand between Wayne Edwards (43) and Emmanuel Stewart (40). Off-spinner Richie Looknauth (3-31) and West

Raymond Perez Indies U-19 all-rounder Baskar Yadram continued to impress with the ball by taking 2-35 opening the bowling. Perez’ fine form continued with his well calculated innings while Persaud dominated the opening partnership before he fell to Douglas after facing 55 balls and reaching the boundary six times. Douglas struck twice in the space of 14 runs when he removed Yadram (12) and Kevin Sinclair (8) and when Ali Mohammed was run out for two, Guyana had slipped to 124-4 in 30.2 overs.

Jahseon Alexander removed Perez, who faced 117 balls with four fours and a six at 153-4 after the flamboyant DCC righthander and Ramnarine Chetura (19) had added 32. Alexander struck again when he got rid of Kelvin Anderson (1) at 156-6. Javid Karim hit a cameo 25 with two fours while Looknauth weighed in with a quick 13 to get their team past 200. When the Islanders began their chase on another day blessed with glorious sunshine, St Lucian Kimani Melius (14) who scored over 400 runs in the three-day format, was taken by Sinclair off Yadram at 18-1. But after second wicket revival from Edwards and Stewart only Athanaze (25) and Daneal Dupigny (23) offered resistance as the 2013 one-day Champions pushed the game into the final over. Meanwhile, in the other games yesterday Trinidad a n d To b a g o t r o u n c e d Jamaica by six wickets to finish second while Barbados got the better of the Leeward Islands by five wickets.

took 3 for 31 runs to lead the Hard Knock bowling. The Final was a T20 affair and the large crowd was surprised when Prophecy Boys won the toss and surprisingly opted to field first. The powerful Grill Master batting line up took full advantage of batting first and blasted their way to an impressive 271 for 6; skipper Roy Jaferally top scoring with 65 (7x6) while David Looknauth 55, Vishal Phillips 48 and Kevin Gangaram 34 not out offered vital support. Arjune Marimootoo was the only bowler to escape with decent bowling figures, 4 for 32 from 4-overs. Prophecy Boys in return disappointed their supporters as they were dismissed for 141 in 16.3overs. Michael Romalho 38, Madhan Budhan 28 and Navindranauth Ramnauth 20 were the principal scorers as Roy Jaferally completed a fine all round performance with 4 for 27 while Keon Sinclair took 2 for 21. At the presentation ceremony RHTYSC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster described the tournament as a massive success and a perfect tribute to President David Granger on his 72nd Birthday. The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, he stated worked overtime to organise a tournament of the highest standard and praised the numerous sponsors especially Radesh Rameshwar of Kares Engineering, Mahadeo Panchu of KSM Investment, Brian Tiwari of B.K. International, Sharaz Sheriffudeen of V Net Communication, S. Jagmohan Construction,

Peter Lewis of Associated Construction, Fyuse Hussain, Annirud Ramcharitar and Bakewell among others for their support. Minister of State, Joseph Harmon who represented President David Granger congratulated the club for honouring its Patron with a well organised event. The Minister also spoke broadly on the impact of Climate Change and the reasons why the Government was striving to establish a Green Economy. Minister Harmon urged the club to maintain its outstanding work and committed the Government to assisting with programmes associated with Climate Change. Panchu and Kishore Persaud of Kares Engineering spoke of being proud to be associated with the Patron’s Green Economy tournament. Both pledged their Companies’ assistance in the future to the club as they were highly impressed by its work and organising skills. The winning team apart from the $500 000.00 first prize collected $105,000 from Peter Lewis for boundaries struck during their innings while Roy Jaferally took home $50,000 for being man-of-the-finals. Prophecy Boys received $300,000 and trophy for the 2nd prize, Hard Knock took home $100,000 and a trophy while Jai Hind pocketed $50,000 for the 4th prize. The tournament, Foster proudly stated was the biggest of its kind for any sport in the Ancient County and expressed gratitude to the media and fans for their support.

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Tuesday August 29, 2017

Aurora Knightriders sweep T20 series against Hibernia Lions An incisive spell of fast bowling from man-of-thematch Saieef Ally guided Aurora Knightriders a comfortable six-wicket victory over Hibernia Lions which also saw them wrapping up the three-match T20 series 3-0 on Sunday last at the Hibernia Cricket ground. Played under a blue sky in a party atmosphere, the Lions were invited to bat on a flat track. They put together a respectable 173 all out in 17.3 overs with Skipper Chandrika Gobin leading the way with a well composed 48 (2x4 4x6), Gangabeharry Ramdhanie 30 (2x4 2x6) and Ameer Mohamed 21 (1x4 2x6), the other contributors. Bowling for the Knightriders, Captain Saieef Ally grabbed 4 for 21, Garfield Phillips 3 for 32, Reshad Ally 2 for 18 and Timore Gafoor had 1 or 16. Chasing a challenging total of 174 to win, Knightriders, already winning the series by talking the first two

The successful Aurora Knightriders Cricket Club Team display their prizes. matches went about another victory in blistering fashion. They rattled up 174 for 4 in 16.1 overs led by Ravi Beharry with a

swashbuckling 72 (8x4 3x6), Quacy Reedon 34 (3x4 2x6), Anand Manniram 25 (2x4 1x6) with Timore Gafoor unbeaten on 15 when victory was achieved.

DovendrTeh wicket takers for the Lions in a losing cause were Mohan with 2 for 27 while Ramdhanie Samaroo and Gangabeharry Ramdhanie

took one wicket each. Aurora Knightriders collected the winning trophy while the runner-up trophy went to Hibernia Lions. Ravi Beharry was

awarded the trophy for the batsman with the most runs (188) while Saieef Ally received the trophy for the bowler with the most wickets, 10.

Guinness Cage/Three Peat Promotions Indoor Competition

Fans to get 16 games for the price of one tonight; riveting action predicted If there was ever a reason to be at the National G y m n a s i u m , t o n i g h t ’s opening of the inaugural Guinness Cage / Three Peat Promotions Indoor Competition is the perfect motivation to be there. Following the forced postponement of the previously scheduled opening last Thursday, the Organisers have decided to give back to the fans for their patience and understanding and have planned sixteen matches for tonight’s round of action which commences at 19:00hrs. All thirty-two teams will be in action this evening with the winners set to move forward to the round robin stage, while the losers go home. Among the top teams slated to take to the court this evening are the upcoming Future Stars who has become a fan favourite, Guyana’s most successful futsal team Sparta Boss who has a lot to prove following some lacklustre performances, West Front Road ‘Gold is Money, a team that has looked a rejuvenated and in fine form and national Guinness champions Dave & Celena All Stars. These teams are among

the early favourites to win the tournament, but teams such as Albouystown ‘A’, We s t D e m e r a r a ’s Showstoppers, Champion Boys from Agricola, Tiger Bay, Broad Street, Silver Bullets from the Mining Town of Linden, Sophia and Back Circe are all teams capable of turning all the early predictions on its head. These teams are very experienced in this format and ignoring their chances of winning the coveted prize could prove to be disastrous. This is the first time that fans will get to see non-stop action with the ball being deemed dead only behind the goal line. It is usually breathtaking stuff with end to end action and fitness will be tested to the maximum. According to the Organisers, teams’ substitutes will have to be at the same skill and fitness levels for them to survive what is predicted to be a grueling competition with the right of being crowned inaugural champions a top priority. Speaking with Sparta Boss’s Eusi Phillips recently, he disclosed the team has been undergoing rigorous

Futsal action at the Gymnasium in a recent tournament. preparations as they seek to reclaim glory and their monarchy. ”We’ve not been doing well recently, having exited the last three tournaments before the championship game, but we know that we are capable of beating all these teams and we aim to get back to winning ways,” he said. Meanwhile, West Front Road, winners of the last indoor tournament are in good form and word from the team indicates that they intend to continue on the path of success. Future Stars has been around for a short time even though they are stacked with players who’ve played for different teams, but their chemistry and skill level has

made them a dangerous unit to go up against and have already beaten some of the top teams in the format. There is no doubt the tournament will provide exciting action and fans will be in for a treat over the eight scheduled playing days. 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 31, September 2, 5, 7, 9 with the final set for

September 16, at the same venue. Among the other sponsors on board are: Star Party Rentals, Faye Joseph, Claude Geddes Recreational Sports Club, National Sports Commission, Windjammer International Hotel & C u i s i n e , Wo o d p e c k e r Trophies & Sport, Y.K Investments & Pawn Shop, Henry Chase, Jai Signs, Trophy Stall of Bourda Market and John Fernandes Ltd. Once again the Organisers are asking all to work together with them to pull off what is expected to be an exciting a n d s u c c e s s f u l tournament. F o l l o w i n g a re t h e fixtures: Sophia vs MBK All-Stars-19:00hrs; Broad

Street vs Old School Ballers1 9 : 1 5 h r s ; Tu c v i l l e v s Showstoppers-19:30hrs; Dave and Celena vs Pike Street Sophia-19:45hrs; Tiger Bay vs Silver Bullets20:00hrs; West Back Road vs Albouystown-B20:15hrs; Leopold Street vs Plaisance-20:30hrs; North Ruimveldt vs Melanie20:45hrs; Bent Street vs Hustlers-21:00hrs; North East La Penitence vs Mocha21:15hrs; Champion Boys vs C h a n n e l - 9 Wa r r i o r s 21:30hrs; Albouystown-A vs Alexander Village-21:45hrs; Gold is Money vs Campbellville-22:00hrs; Future Stars vs Agricola Gas Team-22:15hrs; Back Circle vs New Market Street22:30hrs; Sparta Boss vs Vryheid’s Lust-22:45hrs.

Tuesday August 29, 2017

Kaieteur News

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GCC/Igloo Hockey Festival

Old Fort Men and GCC Ladies win Open Categories The Old Fort Hockey Club which has been going through a rebuilding process, showed signs of a promising future after copping the Men’s Open and Boys Under-17 titles on Sunday, the final day of the GCC/Igloo Hockey Festival. The two-day competition which was competed at the Georgetown Cricket Club miniature turf saw Old Fort competing in three male finals, the Under-17, Open and Under-21 division which they lost to GCC. The host club GCC which has the most extensive youth programme from Under-10 upwards, won 6 of the 9 categories contested, Old Fort won two while Saints HC took one victory. Saints Hockey Club put in their most impressive performance to date as the young club secured the top spot in the Under-14 boys division and made appearances in 3 of the 9 finals. Old Fort Damn displayed an impressive performance of hockey to win their first Open men’s division title in some time while the Pizza Hut GCC ladies continue to be the dominant team in the women’s division. Old Fort Damn then dispatched the mighty Pepsi Hikers 6 – 5, spearheaded with three goals from striker John Abrams in their semi-final clash; entered as favourites for the Men’s Open division title against Saints HC. Saints had edged indoor champions Bounty GCC in a penalty shootout in their semifinal match. Old Fort defeated Saints 6-3 in the Open final. It took Old Fort’s Ascofu Simon 5 minutes to score his first of a hat-trick, supported with two field goals each from Jason DeSantos and Jason Clarke along with a penalty from John Abrams to carry Old Fort to a final tally of six goals. National midfielder Hilton Chester who proved to be one of the best penalty takers on Sunday, made a valiant effort to keep his side in contention with two penalty conversions. Despite the exploits of the diminutive Chester and a field goal by teammate Kwesi Lewis, the young Saints team couldn’t deny Old Fort the 6-3 victory and the men’s Open title match. The women’s Open final got off to a promising start with just a minute into play when underdogs, Woodpecker Hikers received a penalty against favourites Pizza Hut GCC. GCC’s Goalkeeper Briawna Gordon ensured that her side didn’t concede from the penalty and the eventual champions slowly tightened their grip as the match progressed. A hat-trick from national midfielder Trisha Woodroffe and a solitary strike from Sandy Roopnarine placed the game beyond the reach of the Hikers in the 4-1 result. Hikers’ midfielder Latacia Chung scored their lone goal through a penalty rebound. GCC Spartans’ Abosaide Cadogan ended as the highest female scorer with 21 goals.

Open Champions Old Fort Damn (Red) against Hikers in the 1st semifinal

Men’s Champs - Old Fort Damn

Ladies champs - Pizza Hut GCC

Kaieteur News

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Tuesday August 29, 2017

Windies victory hopes take a beating as England rebound

Roston Chase ©Getty Images

Leeds, England, CMC – A day which began with an abundance of hope for West Indies ended in frustration as the tourists were left facing a massive task to win the second Test after England put themselves in the ascendancy with a dominant batting display at Headingley here yesterday. At the close of the penultimate day of the contest, West Indies were five without loss in their second innings, still requiring a further 317 runs on today’s last day to win a Test in England for the first time in 17 years. England had earlier flaunted their muscle to convert their overnight 171 for three into 490 for eight declared in their second innings, in the process turning the game on its head

and putting the Caribbean side under pressure for the first time in the match. Moeen Ali top-scored with 84, leading five players with half-centuries as captain Joe Root (72), Chris Woakes (61 not out), Dawid Malan (61) and Ben Stokes (58) all got stuck into the Windies attack in conditions that offered little to the bowlers. Part-time off-spinner Roston Chase grabbed three wickets in the second session to be the best bowler with three for 86 while seamers Jason Holder (2-95) and Shannon Gabriel (2125) toiled with little success. The Windies’ frustration began in the morning session when they managed to get only one wicket – that of R o o t ’s – a s E n g l a n d

Moeen Ali’s thrilling counterattack put England into control at Headingley ©Getty Images marched to 251 for four at lunch. Resuming on 45, Root completed his second half-century of the match in the first over of the day with a streaky boundary through the cordon off seamer Kemar Roach. He extended his fourth wicket stand with Malan to 118 before steering a short ball from Gabriel to Shai Hope at gully, nearly an hour into the day’s play, after facing 111 balls and stroking 15 fours. Malan, dropped on 32 on the stroke of drinks after wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich and Kieran Powell at first slip made a hash of an opportunity off Holder, then combined in a 91-run stand with Stokes which broke West Indies’ resistance. The left-handed Malan faced 186 balls and counted seven

fours while Stokes, also a left-hander, struck 11 fours in a 108-ball knock. They had put England in control an hour after tea when Chase finally got the breakthrough in the first over following the drinks break, having Stokes holing out on the ropes at wide long-off to Kraigg Brathwaite. West Indies then enjoyed their best period of the day as they claimed three wickets for 24 runs to pull back E n g l a n d ’s m o m e n t u m . Malan was bowled by Chase as he pushed down the wrong line and four overs l a t e r, J o n n y B a i r s t o w bungled a reverse sweep and dragged on to Chase for 18. The clatter of wickets left England on 357 for seven at tea – a lead of 188 runs – but West Indies’ hopes of limiting the hosts’ advantage

were blown when Ali and Woakes put on 117 for the eighth wicket to control the final session. The left-handed Ali played freely to gather 11 boundaries off a mere 93 deliveries while Woakes hit seven fours in a knock lasting 104 balls. West Indies were virtually

out of ideas when Ali gifted his wicket by holing out in the deep off leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo. Even then there was no reprieve, however, as Woakes added a further 46 in an unbroken ninth wicket partnership with Stuart Broad (14 not out), to further damage the Windies hopes.

It’s do or die tonight for the Warriors against Tridents in their backyard

By Sean Devers When the bell rings at 18:00hrs this evening at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, the atmosphere should be tremendous as three-times finalists Guyana Amazon Warriors and 2014 Champions Barbados Tridents go head-to-head in what should be an epic battle in the Hero CPL T20 cricket tournament. An anticipated capacity crowd, expected to include thousands of Guyanese living in Barbados could witness a pulsating contest on what should be a hard bouncy track and fast

outfield in a do or die encounter that the Warriors must win to stay in contention for the play-off. While the Warriors are on six points, one place on the points table above Tridents who are on four points, the Tridents have four games to play while the Warriors have just two remaining, as they battle for the last remaining semi-final spot. Even if the Warriors beat Tridents tonight and win their last game in Jamaica on Friday they will have to depend on Patriots, Knight Riders or Stars to beat

Tridents, who must lose twice for the Warriors to qualify. But all of those permutations mean nothing if Tridents, which lost by four wickets with five balls to spare when the sides last met at Providence, win tonight. Head Coach Roger Harper wants his chargers the focus on tonight’s game, play smart cricket and don’t think too far ahead. When these two teams last played at Providence, Dwayne Smith’s fourth CPL ton went in vain as a masterful 57-ball 92 from Chadwick Walton rallied the Warriors to 160-4 in reply to Tridents 159-4. But although Sohail Tanvir (16) added 48 with Walton for the first wicket, only Martin Guptill with a pedestrian-paced 27 reached double figures. Guptill has

Captains, Reyad Emrit (left) and Keiron Pollard (center) sharing a light moment at yesterday’s press conference ahead of today’s match. returned to New Zealand due to his father’s ill heath and has been replaced by fellow New Zealander 36-year-old wicket-keeper/ batsman Luke Ronchi who joined the team in Barbados. Reyad Emrit led Guyana to last year’s final and has taken over as Captain. Conditions in Barbados will

different from those at Providence and the Tridents, who beat the Warriors on the D/L system in the 2014 final, could find the track at home more helpful to their pacers. Walton is among the top run scorers this year and a lot will depend on him and pinch hitter Tanvir in the

power-play overs while Jason Mohammed, Gajanand S ingh, A s s ad Fudadin, Ronchi, K emo P aul and Emirt w ill also be depended on for runs. Tanvir is again the Warriors leading wickettaker (Continued on page 25)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday August 29, 2017

PAGE 35

Busta ECB 40-Over Festival

Savory’s innings crafts East Bank Essequibo third title triumph

The victorious East Bank Essequibo team with representatives of the sponsor and ECB. By Zaheer Mohamed in Essequibo Kemol Savory struck a fine half century as East Bank Essequibo trounced Leguan by six runs to win the Busta / Essequibo Cricket Board first division 40-Over Festival on Sunday at the Imam Bacchus Sports Club ground, Affiance, Essequibo Coast. Savory’s feat overshadowed a fine allround performance by Leguan skipper Ricardo Adams, to hand East Bank Essequibo their third Busta title. The game was reduced to 30 overs following a late start due to the soggy state of the bowler’s run up at both ends caused by overnight rain. East Bank Essequibo was inserted on a hard surface and opener Kevon Boodie struck the first ball of the innings from pacer Kevin Gordon to the long-on boundary, but Gordon provided Leguan with the breakthrough two balls later when he uprooted the stumps of Royan Fredericks (00) as East Bank Essequibo lost their first wicket with the score on five. Batting at three, Savory cut Gordon for four but was dropped at slip off the very next delivery; wicket-keeper Mark Williams put him down off spinner Aseeb Khan before he smashed the said bowler over mid-wicket for six. Khan then bowled Boodie for 12 with the score on 39-2. Savory and Jason Heyliger then consolidated to stabilise the innings with level-headed batting. Savory took boundaries off Khan and Gordon while Heyliger pulled Paul Simbu

to the mid-wicket fence as they continued to accumulate runs on both sides of the wicket. Left arm spinner Ricardo Adams then trapped Heyliger lbw for 22 off 46 balls before Savory smashed Khan over cover for six to bring up his fifty off 53 balls. The left-handed Savory continued to accumulate runs untroubled and smashed Khan for a six and a four before he was lbw to Adams for 73 with the score on 131-4; he struck five fours and two sixes. Adams then had Dexter George (00) caught at the wicket and trapped Trevor Benn (00) lbw to achieve his hat-trick in his final over; he bagged 4-28 off six overs. Sheldon Alexander slammed Tulsieram Premnauth for consecutive sixes, glanced Seenarine Oudit for a four and struck him for six before he was caught at long-on off the final delivery of the innings for 46 off 44 balls. Ryan Hercules was not out on 12 as East Bank Essequibo finished on 180-7. Leguan’s reply got off to a bad start when Mark Williams was run out without scoring. Williams played medium-pacer Javed Shafeek to point and took off for a single, the throw came into wicket-keeper Kemol Savory who fumbled giving f e l l o w o p e n e r Huckumchand Savitir enough time to complete the run. Even though Williams ended up at the non-striker’s end and lost his footing, Savitir refused to run. Arjune Ajmal was then bowled playing back to Shafeek as Leguan lost two wickets without a run on the board.

However Savitir hit Benn and Shafeek for fours before he attempted a wild swipe off Benn and lost his stumps for 11 with the score on 23. Skipper Ricardo Adams cut the lively Benn to point but Heyliger failed to hold on to a difficult chance and the ball went into the thirdman boundary. Adams top edged a hook off the next ball to the fine-leg boundary before pulling Benn to the mid-wicket fence in his following over as he added

77 in 10 overs with Tulsieram Premnauth to steady the chase. Premnauth took consecutive boundaries off Benn while the left-handed Adams hit Stephon Johnson for four through mid-wicket and soon brought up his fifty with a double off Fredericks. Adams was then stumped o ff l e f t a r m spinner Hemchand Persaud for 52 which contained four fours and one six off 57 balls.

Leguan then lost Brian Hubbert and Zahir Razack, both without scoring off Fredericks as they slipped 103-6. Premnauth struck Persaud for six and smashed Fredericks for four as he continued to take the fight to the opposition. But East Bank struck in quick succession removing Seenrine Oudit (05) and Gordon (01) leaving the score at 127-8. Premnauth then smashed Fredericks for consecutive sixes to keep his

team in hunt and soon reached his fifty. East Bank Essequibo bowlers managed to restrict the scoring somewhat, but in an attempt to increase the scoring, Premnauth was bowled by Stephon Johnson for 69; he faced 59 balls and hit six fours and three sixes. Leguan lost Gordon (01) and Oudit (05) in quick succession leaving Khan and Paul Simbu to get (Continued on page 25)

Guyana represented for first time at IPSC XV111 World Shoot in France

Harold ‘Top Gun’ Hopkinson shooting for glory H a r o l d ‘ To p G u n ’ Hopkinson aka ‘Hoppy’ has become the first Guyana to compete at the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) World Shoot which is currently underway in France. Hopkinson, who is the Regional Director of IPSC (Guyana) which falls under the Guyana National Rifle Shooting Association, has been very active this year attending a number of IPSC sanctioned shoots, he recently returned from competing in Grenada where he excelled. Some 1600 competitors from 140 countries including fellow Caribbean nations, Barbados and Jamaica are competing in France. Hopkinson attended the IPSC General Assembly which was held on Saturday last where members elected a new President, Russian Vitaly Kryuchin who was one of three candidates

Harold ‘Top Gun’ Hopkinson in France sporting the Golden Arrowhead. contesting for the post. Hopkinson informed that he would be shooting in the Super Senior category in the Open Division, the F1 of practical shooting sports. He noted that his new gun, a Akai Custom Gun, made by Shay Horowitz of Miami, is making a power factor of

176, 16 over the needed 160. ”This custom made pistol can shoot both IPSC and USPSA. Going up against 1600 participants is going to be fun and I will try to enjoy the competition whilst eyeing glory for Guyana. I would like to express gratitude to

the Commissioners of Police, Mr. Seelall Persaud as well as Assistant Commissioner Mr. David R a m n a r i n e a n d Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority, Mr. Godfrey Statia for their collective assistance.”

t r o Sp Guyana beat Windwards for 4th successive 50 over title; Dethroned Leewards for 15th 3-day title

The victorious Guyana U-19s after winning the Regional 50-over U-19 tournament in St Kitts & Nevis yesterday.

RHTYSC/Kares Engineering Inc. Patron’s Tournament

Grill Master of Canje crowned champions

The Grill Master team poses with Minister Joseph Harmon and ponsors of the Tournament.

It’s do or die tonight for the Warriors against Tridents in their backyard Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210