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AIETEUR NEWS

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Thursday Edition August 29, 2019 - Vol. 12 No. 35 Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

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Online readership yesterday 103,483

House to House registration deadline...

GECOM field staff to 'double up' for remaining days National Printers Music legend, Johnny projected to end Braff, dies at 82 year in deficit - invested million$ more on stock paper; owed by several entities

Private sector lending fastest in three years - number of agri. loans fall - Half Year Report

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Challenge oil companies on effects of operations - University of on country's climate change plans Houston Instructor

CDC taps into free oil spill response training from Houston-based firm

Kaieteur News

PAGE 02

Thursday August 29, 2019

Pomeroon teacher is CPCE's top performer

A

teisha Brandt of Region Two has topped the country at the level of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) this year.

The 19-year-old, who passed with distinction by virtue of her straight A's performance, told this publication that she was exhilarated when she heard the news that she not only topped her class, but the country as well.

However, her performance comes as no surprise. Brandt, who hails from Grant Apple Dale Lower Pomeroon, has a top

performing track record. She attended Marlborough Primary School, where she was the top student at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA).

She later attended the Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary School and there she secured the 8th position in the country at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) level with 15 grade ones and two grade two passes.

Brandt, who is now a teacher at the Marlborough Primary School in the lower

Pomeroon, said that teaching wasn't exactly her first choice; nevertheless the profession is one that she loves and enjoys. “Teaching was my only option after I finished secondary school because I couldn't afford to attend university to pursue my dream career which is psychology.

I pursued many avenues to gain a scholarship but they all led to dead ends. Today, I do enjoy teaching because even though I am the teacher, I still learn many of life's most important lessons from those innocent minds I

teach,” she admitted.

For most teachers in the Pomeroon, attending CPCE is often described as a challenge. This is primarily due to the distance they have to travel.

For Brandt the experience was similar.

According to the top p e r f o r m e r, “ a t t e n d i n g College from the Pomeroon was quite challenging. Not only was transportation and the cost the main factors which contributed to these challenges, but it was often fatiguing because of the distance as well as the fact

Top CPCE performer, Ateisha Brandt

that I had to teach and attend College at the same time. But these (challenges) together helped me to grow and become the person I am today.”

M o r e i m p o r t a n t l y, Brandt said that she was able to face her challenges with prayers, adding, “Prayers played a very vital part in my road to success...”

She proudly went on to share that “it is through our difficult times that God gets closer to us and helps us to realize his purpose for us. So I can give all thanks to Almighty God for his grace and everlasting mercies” “Also, I wish to acknowledge the constant source of emotional support which I received from my family, close friends and some of the supportive staff of the Marlborough Primary School,” she added.

According to Brandt, the support she received from the former head teacher of Marlborough Primary, as well as the Head of Centre and lecturers (CPCE), also played a vital part in leading to her success.

Kaieteur News

Thursday August 29, 2019

PAGE 03

Cops seek help to catch House- to- House registration deadline…

GECOM field staff to 'double up' alleged wife-killer

P

olice are seeking help from the public to locate Clive Wilson, also known as “Boyzie,” who allegedly murdered his reputed wife, Shemain Frank, last Sunday at Victoria Village, East Coast Demerara.

A bulletin issued yesterday gave Wilson's age as 37 and his last known addresses as Lot 37 North Haslington, E.C.D, and 'B' Starlite Street, Montrose E.C.D. A n y o n e w i t h

work for remaining days

information that may lead to his arrest can contact the police on telephone numbers 226-6978, 225-8196, 2262870, 226-7065, 227-1149, 226-7065, 911 or the nearest police station.

All information will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Wilson allegedly sneaked into the Lot 317 Victoria Village, home of his reputed wife, Shemain Frank, 28, at around 03:30 hrs last Sunday.

He allegedly entered

Murdered: Shemain Frank

T

Wanted: Frank Clive Wilson her room and stabbed her as she lay in bed.

She succumbed shortly after.

According to reports, Wilson has been continuously accusing his spouse of having an affair.

One of the slain woman's sisters said that Shemain had suffered years of physical abuse.

The victim had allegedly made several previous reports to the police. She had moved out of the house that the couple shared after one recent incident.

The couple have three children, two girls aged six and two, and a boy.

he Guyana E l e c t i o n s Commission (GECOM) has issued an advisory calling on all its field staff, enumerators, clerks, Assistant Registration Officers to work full time to complete the remaining days of the House-to-House registration which is slated to end on Saturday, August 31.

GECOM 's Public Relation Officer, Yolanda Ward noted in a statement that in light of GECOM's decision to conclude the House-to-House Registration exercise on August 31, 2019, field staff, Assistant Registration Officers (AROs), clerks, enumerators will be working from 10:00hrs - 19:00hrs daily for the remaining days.

GECOM's field staff are usually required to work for at least four hours on week days and from 9:00- 4:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

The statement comes following a decision by GECOM to stop the House-

to-House registration.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Commission noted that it acknowledged that the no confidence motion passed in the National Assembly on December 21, 2018 triggered a number of legal challenges in the local Courts and concluded with a ruling by the Caribbean Court of Justice.

Cognizant of all that has transpired over the past months, GECOM has an obligation to produce a credible Official List of Electors (OLE) in the first instance and ultimately credible elections within the shortest possible time.

After considerable deliberations at the Commission on the way forward regarding the conduct of General and Regional Elections, Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission, Justice Claudette Singh, instructed the following that House-to-House Registration must be brought

to an end; the data garnered from that registration exercise must be merged with the existing National Register of Registrants Database (NRRDB) and the Commission will move to an extensive Claims and Objections Exercise (C&O) before extracting the Preliminary List of Electors (PLE).

Meanwhile, GECOM said that it will continue to further deliberate on other matters of importance for the holding of General and Regional Elections within the shortest possible time and its Secretariat will continue to implement a number of operation activities, in particular training of polling day staff and procurement of nonsensitive materials.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday August 29, 2019

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

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

EDITORIAL

The sublime and the sorrowful First, there was Ben Stokes on Sunday at Headingley in an Ashes life-and-death duel. He seems to relish putting on a magnificent spectacle on Sundays. The superlatives are not enough to describe his exploits and fireworks, his daring and dazzle; and calm demeanour and defensiveness of mind in the cauldron of expectations. That was Ben Stokes in majestic display.

And then there was the West Indies; the whole team: fragile, many times feeble, too often unwilling to buckle down to the demands of challenge and crisis.

When a cause looked all but foregone, there was Ben Stokes like Publius Horatius Cocles at the Pons Sublicius (Lord Macaulay’s Horatio at the Bridge) taking the fight to the adversary in parts of raw aggression mixed in with resolute watchfulness.

This task can be accomplished; a duty done today, and which will live for the ages through which men will speak with awe and a glow at which the memory of rare heroism and an indomitable spirit reigned. In faraway Leeds, thus a Sunday afternoon, once again, and with the compliments of Stokes, rang with thunder from the lighting streaks that was his bat wielded like a club, then a shield, last a spear. It was a spear in the heart of the Aussies, who took the fight all the way to the end. That is, until they wilted.

In contrast, the West Indies team, all of it, didn’t so much as even put up the dignity of respectable resistance; stirring and rearguard resistance. They succumbed and surrendered, one after another. The talent is there, the skills are there; advantage of home and crowd and the familiar are all there. So what is the problem? Any brutal and unsparing post mortem has to start at one place: there is an incredible lack of temperament. The kind of temperament that ushers in a well-placed regard for what the territory demands, what is at stake, and what has to be the mindset and approach and effort.

One more time: mindset, approach, and effort required by the occasion at hand. There is pride on the line; personal, team, and regional honour and standing on the line. And all of which demands the single-minded focus on the objective, that unmoving residence in a zone of unconsciousness that blocks out the distractions and the ordinary; and that unswerving commitment to scale the horizon. It was a horizon that proved too far, too unreachable for a team still too transformed and consumed by the thrill and thump of the lash and flash. That would be the shorter, more accelerating, forms of the game. It could be argued that the so-called white ball format is more suited to the West Indian outlook and the intents brought to the field of play.

Whether accurate or otherwise, this was the fact and circumstance: last Sunday’s encounter was not a single day undertaking; nor the adrenaline rush of the still shorter version of two (20 overs) sessions and the bright artificial lights of night.

No! Sunday was not any of that; merely the grind and glory of still the most prestigious strain of the cricketing game: Test cricket.

Test cricket with five days of play and the not so glamorous ordeals of grafting and building; of less about individual hastening and more of team binding and what leads to dignifying, if only for the concerted and sustained effort. Of course, all of this thinks of the position of the team, the reading of the clock, and story of the scoreboard. Somebody has to hold the fort; stand against the rushing tide that threatens to overwhelm and humiliate.

Ben Stokes rose to the occasion, one that looked impossible and unreachable; if not unmanageable. Except, tell that to lesser mortals, weaker men, but not to him. He was unmoved by cheers and personal milestones: the man was so obsessed with the charge before him, that he did an unheard of thing: he did not return the salutes of a rapturous, worshipful home crowd on reaching his century. The job was still not done, there was still a way to go past the fire of Hazelwood and the guile of Lyons. He did not fail. Such is the stuff of immortality.

On the other hand, the West Indies crumbled without so much as a whimper: a collapse of spine and mind; a startling unreadiness to confront and try (simply try) to overpower the opposition raging with swing and zing before each who trundled to the crease, and then slunk away from it in ignominy.

The road to glory goes through the gates of the five-day game. It is time that reality takes hold. There is urgent need to recalibrate mind, if not priority, on what this region requires to be the best of the best. On a Sunday in Antigua, the West Indies were nowhere close to even aspiring to something as such.

The GECOM Chair has not failed Guyana with her shrewd judgment DEAR EDITOR, At its statutory meeting of 27th August, after listening to deliberations on both sides, decisions were taken on how the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) will proceed in fulfilling its mandate to hold General and Regional Elections. In the Chair, Justice Claudette Singh’s deliberation two critical elements were outlined “credible elections” and that said elections must be held in the “shortest possible time” These statements are consistent with the 12th July Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and 14th August acting Chief Justice’s rulings.

Justice Singh SC further stated the measures taken to achieve both “credible” and “early elections” are: 1) reduction of time originally allotted for National Registration; 2) there will being a “merg[ing]” of the “data garnered from [the present] registration exercise…with the existing National Register of Registrants Database;” 3) “all arrangements for publication of a credible Preliminary List of Electors…” will be put in place; and 4) an “extensive Claim and Objections

exercise” which will follow the above.

Since Justice Singh was appointed 29th July, this is her first detailed directive on how GECOM will proceed.

We can be assured this followed an in-depth assessment of the body’s role and responsibility to navigate this period of electoral demand and need.

The Chair has not failed Guyana with her shrewd judgment and it is evident at the statutory meeting the opportunities were given for all sides to be heard and a consensus followed.

Notwithstanding this, once again, despite the credibility and professionalism that Justice Singh brings to GECOM and the transparency of the process, the nation is faced with and about to be bombarded with a plethora of misinformation as to her ruling and its implications for the Guyanese electorate. This is being done at the behest of some politicians and their surrogates. It is unacceptable and must be stopped.

We are already beginning to see a repeat of the malicious distortion of the CCJ and other rulings that has

thrown this society in confusion. Instead of seeking primary-sourced information, many acquire their knowledge and understanding of what is happening from opinion leaders of their preference.

Many of these are driven by agendas to serve one or the other political master and not the common good.

Justice Singh has set a tone and standard worthy of emulation by the interim Government and the interim Opposition. She has done what this nation has not seen in recent times, outside of the court of law, which is, arrived at a conclusion/decision that demonstrates that in a situation of different perspectives there can be consensus, with both parties receiving some degree of satisfaction.

This nation is reminded and called to take note that whereas the interim Opposition, led by Mr. Jagdeo and aided by surrogates, who take every opportunity to attack and throw aspersions and besmirch the character of the Chair of GECOM and other government institutions which are legally engaged in conducting their duties, its

Members are failing to fulfill their constitutional role in the National Assembly, for which they are still receiving a monthly salary. This is almost the equivalency of workers being on strike but receiving full pay, a situation no other worker in Guyana can enjoy for such length of period without being fired.

GECOM has brought to our awareness and consciousness that compromise is not a bad word. It is a significant aspect of decision-making and conflict resolution. Having achieved that at this level, what is necessary now is for the parties and their agents to act in good faith and respect each other’s rights and gains coming out of this process. This is necessary for this country of ours to move forward as a unitary force.

It is time for Mr. Jagdeo to stop fueling the media drama and antics and return to work and recognise that this nation’s differences can be settled in the National Assembly, including the management of our natural resources, and not in constant brawl and display of the vernacular.

Lincoln Lewis.

Justice Claudette Singh must be commended for doing the right thing DEAR EDITOR, The Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Retired Justice Claudette Singh, must be commended for doing the right thing, namely, to bring an end to the house-tohouse registration which was unilaterally taken by the previous GECOM Chair.

The decision to halt the house-to-house registration on August 31st is a step in the right direction and signals a new dispensation in

the decision-making process at GECOM, which in the past months was not only adversarial, but highly skewed in favour of the Executive.

In so doing, she has already signalled GECOM’s readiness to hold elections within the shortest possible time. It is now for her to formally indicate that information to President David Granger to allow him to announce a date for elections.

My only concern is the decision taken to merge the

data obtained from the houseto-house registration exercise with that of the existing National Register of Registrants. This will only serve to complicate the verification process, given the fact that the main opposition party, the PPP, was not involved in the registration process.

One possible way out is for the two sets of data to be disaggregated and an immediate verification process put in place

involving both the PPP/C and APNU-AFC. This could form the basis for the statutory Claims and Objections exercise, which should be completed no later than the end of September to facilitate credible elections in October.

Time is of the essence.

I am certain this fact is fully appreciated by the GECOM Chairman and all those who cherish the ideals of a lawgoverned society.

Hydar Ally

The database needs to be trashed and GECOM needs to be sued by taxpayers for such recklessness Dear Editor, GECOM has recently announced that it plans to halt the House-to-House (H-tH) registration effective August 31, 2019 and then merge the data collected from this exercise with an existing database.

In other words, GECOM is telling us that it will move ahead with the next phase of the H-t-H registration process which is data processing.

Editor, data processing takes

a lot of time. And this means that GECOM will continue to ignore the constitutional requirements triggered by the No Confidence Motion (NCM) and that the elections will be further pushed way past 2020. This is unreasonable and unacceptable in a democracy.

Also, the data collected under the current H-t-H exercise are obviously compromised, contaminated and biased, because they have not been

collected under the right conditions.

Editor, Guyanese can clearly remember how GECOM recklessly omitted the PPP/C scrutineers from the H-t-H registration exercise and how this exercise was given the green light from the unconstitutionally and unilaterally appointed GECOM chairman, Mr. Patterson.

Mr James Patterson should have never been given a chance to function at GECOM, much less to be the one to activate the H-tH registration exercise. Editor,

remember this man came to GECOM via a unilateral appointment by Mr. Granger.

These issues are fundamental considerations in avoiding an uncontaminated and unbiased database. Editor, there is no way that this database can be used for fair elections. Only a fraudster or a mad man will use it. The database needs to be trashed and GECOM needs to be sued by taxpayers for such recklessness.

Sincerely, Annie Baliram (Ph.D)

Thursday August 29, 2019

Ignoring the illegitimacy of the NCM poses a risk to our democracy DEAR EDITOR, I wish to respond to Christopher Ram in his letter in SN of 28th August, where he calls on “the citizens of Guyana to ensure that Guyana’s democracy does not slip by a single day longer”, moreover “even if it means having to pay costs for our efforts to protect not only the Constitution but democracy.”

Here is what Ram is (deliberately?) missing. In the minds of many Guyanese, their democratic right was wantonly violated by the treachery of one man, Charrandass Persaud. The results of the 2015 election, with the defeat of the PPP after 23 years, clearly demonstrated where the desire and will of the majority

of the people resided. So, for many Guyanese, the NCM is not a matter of legalities only.

It is a matter of democratic acceptability and legitimacy.

And the 2018 NCM lacks those qualities outright.

In protecting our democracy, the legitimacy (acceptance by the people) of our constitution and the structures, processes, and institutions it establishes is critical.

Without this social contract, proper interpretations of the constitution mean little. So, for Ram and others to call on us to protect our democracy and constitution (given how the NCM was passed) is simplistic, dangerous and, probably, deceitful. Too many view the NCM as illegitimate

(the act of one man, acting secretly and deviously). For them, the coalition government was democratically elected and therefore properly in place.

Ignoring the illegitimacy of the NCM (and how it has violently nullified the collective will of the people) poses a great risk to our democracy.

Those who therefore narrowly focus on the legalities of Article 106 and the rulings of the courts are burying their heads in the sand and are doing a disservice to our young democracy. The discussion needs to return to what Charrandass has done to our democratic soul.

Yours faithfully, Sherwood Lowe

Mediocre leadership DEAR EDITOR, History is being created in Guyana as the nation continues to bear the agonies of a successful no-confidence motion. With elections approaching, the electorate is faced with uncertainty and the Devil’s alternative in the choice between a president who has been in office for four pitiful years and has done little to improve the lives of the populace while the other aspirant presently faces 19 charges of fraud, misuse of his office as a minister, and other allegations with the possibility of more charges.

Guyana is faced with a bleak and disconcerting future, regardless of who becomes the President .

Neither of the two presidential candidates has a vision, the fortitude nor a pragmatic plan to create jobs, reduce crime and corruption and move the country forward. As leaders, their records lack accomplishments in terms of good governance, accountability and transparency. While both are deemed qualified to be presidents, many believe that there are more qualified individuals who could lead Guyana to prosperity. Such poor leadership is evidence as to why the country’s development continues to be smothered. It is no wonder, therefore, why so many of our citizens, especially graduates from the University of Guyana, leave for better shores.

Irfan Ali trumpets his achievements in providing potable water for many sections in Guyana, however, the ugly, lopsided and ubiquitous phenomenon of black tanks on trestles and roof-tops throughout the country is a clear indication of the plight of the country’s water supply system.

Inexplicably, the Land of many waters is now importing bottled water from a wide range of countries as far away as North America. What a shame!

One candidate touts his qualifications, which he believes makes him qualified to become President, yet when queried he cannot provide answers about his qualifications to the media.

Both Presidential candidates are considered by the public to be poor and inarticulate speakers. Neither has a free and harmonious flow of words which proves that they do not have the oratorical skills and ability to unite and motivate the nation to prosperity. Simply put, their diction is pitiable. This has placed them in stark contrast to their mentors and founding leaders of their respective parties.

Since the death of Dr. Cheddi Jagan more than two decades ago, mediocre

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Kaieteur News

leadership has proliferated in the PPP which climaxed during the presidency of Janet Jagan, who functioned as though she was still in opposition. And to make matters worse, the crown she placed on Bharrat Jagdeo’s head was too heavy and got too small for him to carry as president. Not to mention his successor, Donald Ramotar, who fumbled in the wilderness to create an impact.

Meanwhile, President Granger’s much tossed around hyperbole to wipe out corruption is like the Loch Ness Monster: many have heard about it; some have even claimed to have witnessed it surfacing…but the world is yet to see it!

Finally, in the 2015 general and regional campaign, an-allinclusive governance was proclaimed by the coalition.

Four years in office, nothing of the sort has been achieved.

Low production and the closing of four sugar estates are instructive of the government’s vision for economic prosperity in the country. The nation can no longer tolerate this kind of political mediocrity, especially at the presidential level.

Leyland Chitlall Roopnaraine

Transportation nonsense in Canal # 2 polder DEAR EDITOR, One might want to argue that tran s p o r t a t i o n i s a hassle in whichever location they may be living.

However I wish to bring to light the transportation problems facing residents in Canal # 2 polder.

Firstly the public buses, whose job was to commit to the transportation of civilians, stop working at 6:00pm.

Now it’s not my job to force to people to work, however it just takes a little humanity to work beyond that normal call of duty same as the 42 bus drivers, and same as the 32 bus drivers, same as the Wales

buses.

Seems as though they become incapacitated after six o’clock.

However I will not squander on insolence and will move forward with the matter at hand.

At the Stanleytown junction there is an informal car park where cars carry on business through short drops.

Now between the hours of 6:00am and 6:00pm the normal fare would be $100.

H o w e v e r, d u e t o whatever “jumbie” comes out as soon as 6:00pm approaches, the fare is launched to $200. I wonder

Accept responsibility, Traffic Chief!

DEAR EDITOR, The return of lawlessness and other forms of degenerate behaviour at the Stabroek Market area is being attributed to supervisory ranks ‘not performing to expectations.

Really! This is what citizens are expected to accept? The Traffic Chief would do better to accept responsibility and where he has failed, instead of passing the buck...’is not me is them’.

Shamshun Mohamed

if the drivers are charging for their lack of eyesight?

Apart from that ridiculous effort in raising the fare, the persons living b e y o n d t h e B e l l e We s t Bridge, commonly referred to as “Polder Bottom” suffer the most because after 8:00pm every single car driver sees past that bridge as Hell.

The price for going b e y o n d t h e B e l l e We s t Bridge jumps to an alarming $500-$800.

Now let me just interject to remind you that the distance to the end of “Polder Bottom” (10.8km) is the same the distance to the end of the Belle West Housing Scheme.

Now other places might have transportation problems far worse than this, but standing two hours on a road to get a vehicle to go past the Belle West Bridge while Belle West scheme vehicles leave you there, is enough reason for a say in the matter.

Yours Respectfully, Ganesh Persaud

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Kaieteur News

Amateur night is over, Mr. Ali… Time for the Professionals DEAR EDITOR, In an attempt to bolster his economic credentials, the People’s Progressive Party’s Presidential Candidate, Mr. Irfaan Ali, has shared his views on this year’s Mid-Year Report. However, upon reading his analysis of this report, The Guyana Business Council believes that Mr. Ali’s time is better spent doing something he is more familiar with.

Monetary Fund (IMF) described Guyana’s mediumterm economic prospects as favourable, its public finances as improved and its economy as broad-based. The last two mid-year economic performance of 4.5% and 4.0%, respectively, has been the strongest since 2011.

Therefore, it perplexes The Guyana Business Council that Mr. Ali would claim that Guyana’s economy is

Mr. Ali stated that over the last five years (2015 to 2019) the country’s mid-year economy has underperformed. However, how can the current administration, which was elected in mid-2015, be responsible for the performance of the economy in the first half of that same year?

Therefore, it is sophomoric for Mr. Ali to attribute the 2015 mid-year economic performance to the policies of the current administration. The reality is that the last four mid-year reports (2016 to 2019) describe an economy that grew by an average of 3.25% compared to a mid-year average of 2.65% from 2012 to 2015.

Furthermore, in June of this year, The International

underperforming.

Mr. Ali has attributed the “poor performance” of the economy in the first half of 2019 to a “notable contraction” in sugar, livestock, fishing, bauxite and other mining items.

Indeed, Mr. Ali correctly highlights that these subsectors have weakened during the first half of 2019.

In fact, in the first-half of 2019, these five subsectors contracted -5.3%.

Most of this economic weakness occurred in the livestock subsector, owing to a shortage of chickens and in the fishing subsector, where the sargassum seaweeds have negatively impacted the fishing industry. These subsectors are important to the economic viability of many Guyanese and they continue to play a pivotal role

in Guyana’s development.

However, it is professional malpractice for Mr. Ali to focus on the struggles of five subsectors that collectively contribute less than 10% of the nation’s economic activity but ignore the successes of the five main drivers of the nation’s economy. These five subsectors: wholesale & retail trade, construction, transportation & storage, gold, and information & communication, collectively contribute close to 53% of Guyana’s economic activity and during the first-half of 2019, averaged a robust 5.5% GDP growth rate.

BALANCE OF PAYMENTS Mr. Ali accurately points out that during the first-half of 2019, the current account deficit increased 50% to US$866.8M compared to the same period last year.

However, Mr. Ali neglects to focus on the underlying reasons for this increase and how it would impact the economy.

The significant increase in the current account deficit is attributed to a 41% increase in non-fuel & lubricants imports. Without obtaining the details of Guyana’s imported goods and services, The Guyana Business Council cannot determine if the significant increase in imports is a sign of economic strength or competitive weakness.

For instance, if the lion’s share of the increase in imports came from products that compete with domestic products, this is a clear sign of competitive weakness.

Alternatively, if most of the increase came from products such as construction and mining equipment, that contribute to the economic development of Guyana, this is a clear sign of economic strength.

In the first-half of 2019, the capital account surplus increased 66% to US$795.2M, owing to a 67% net increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) compared to the first-half of 2018.

Remarkably, net foreign direct investment totaled US$803.5M, the largest

amount ever recorded during any six-month period. While, Mr. Ali is busy crying wolf, the international investors are busy investing in the Guyanese economy.

FISCAL POSITION Guyana has a strong fiscal position. According to the IMF’s 2019 outlook, Guyana is the 4th least indebted CARICOM nation and the multilateral organization anticipates that the country’s Debt to GDP ratio will continue to decrease, owing to the country’s exponential GDP growth rate and its declining sovereign obligations.

CONCLUSION The Guyana Business Council has full confidence in Guyana’s economy and it is our duty to enlighten Guyanese on the true nature of our economy. No politician, sitting or in the opposition, who truly cares about our country should gaslight the Guyanese people by painting an untrue picture of gloom and doom. The Guyanese people deserve better. They need accurate information to help them make the intelligent financial decisions, so that they can position themselves to capitalize on our nation’s economic boom.

We implore our fellow Guyanese to don’t blindly listen to what our politicians are feeding us, but do your own research, look at the changes occurring in front of your eyes.

Ask yourself, why are so many foreigners suddenly attracted to Guyana? Why are companies such as MovieTowne and Giftland setting-up shop? Why is Pegasus Hotel expanding?

Why are international airlines clamouring to establish a route to Guyana? Why are our ports the busiest that it has ever been?

These activities do not reflect an anemic economy, but rather, one that is on the verge of a sustained economic boom.

Rennie Parris, CFA President of The Guyana Business Council Yonnick David Vice-President of The Guyana Business Council

Thursday August 29, 2019

Focus on how Guyana is being short changed, rather than on Jagdeo DEAR EDITOR, There are far more important issues for the country to ponder than to focus on any party’s internal politics on candidate selection and/or Gecom and/ or to take a pot shot at Bharrat Jagdeo (see missives in KN on Aug 28). Letters are misdirected.

The country’s natural resources (oil and gas) have been contracted away virtually for free. That should be our main complaint. If we focus on getting a fair share of revenues from our oil and gas, we would become a Dubai or Singapore or Hong Kong or Taiwan. This should be the focus of the peoples’ attention and of opinion polls (Cadres, NACTA, TRPI, etc.) . How does the nation feel about their resources being given away with virtually miniscule benefits to the country? The people are not pleased with the contracts as NACTA opinion polls I conducted in 2018 and 2019 revealed. They know a bad contract when they see it.

Thank you KN for focusing on how Guyana is being short changed on oil revenues.

The economy has not been doing well. People have been suffering in all communities because money is not circulating to improve lives. There are complaints everywhere. Voters would hold responsible those who negotiated this terrible contract. We are getting 2% royalty from one oil company and 1% royalty from another.

And who knows what amount from another oil company!

Bad news on how Guyana is short changed keeps coming in.

Worse, these royalties are deducted as expenses in the overall cost of operations – giving new meaning to the term royalty as used in study of the subject of economics (one of my fields of studies in post-graduate studies). So in effect, the country gets less than 2% and 1% respectively. In addition, Guyana pays for the all costs of operations of drilling and recovery of the oil before obtaining the 2% and 1%

royalties which makes the royalty payments a mere fraction of those original contracted amounts. When all is said and done, the country gets virtually nothing – certainly not the full 2% and 1%. Other countries get between 10 and 20% royalties for natural resources before expenses are deducted.

Guyana is not getting a fair share of its patrimony. Some say Guyana is being robbed blindfolded. And commentators are focusing on a Presidential candidate, Gecom, and Jagdeo.

Mr. GHK Lall noted that the PPP Presidential candidate was selected in a democratic vote of the party’s Central Committee. “It is a settled matter”. Mr. Cyril Walker commented on the powers of Gecom – it can engage in house-to-house registration and it can discontinue the process, etc. No argument there!

Gecom is a constitutional body. No court will intervene in Gecom’s work as long as all eligible voters are on the list, and it is preparing for free and fair elections. Gecom is an independent agency, even though its members are appointed by political parties and may take sides.

On influence of former President and now Opposition Leader Jagdeo, in my latest NACTA polling in early July and early August, as indeed also found in February andApril 2019, Jagdeo remains the most popular political leader in the country. He does have “god-like” influence in the PPP base as GHK Lall surmised. He also has cross racial appeal as I found.

If Jagdeo were on the ballot, he would easily win the coming election. But he can’t run for President. So instead of focusing on certain matters we can’t change, why not focus on how we can enrich the country by seeking to renegotiate the oil contracts. If the royalties can be 10% or even half of that, Guyana will be wealthy. The country can become a Dubai or Singapore by getting its fair share in line with what other countries get in royalties. Everyone can become a millionaire in US dollar value.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

It is an individual’s right to shape parts of his/ an identity. Shaping of partially shaped from birth. It is for me to develop parts of my her identity forge one’s identity is a long drawn out up to the individual to decide identity. It is only recently that I DEAREDITOR, From her letter “Guyana’s long term security and prosperity is predicted on its diverse peoples building selfconfidence within their groups” (SN, 28th August 2019) Joan Cambridge seems to want the State to help African Guyanese

process that is never complete.

It is an individual’s right to choose (hence, shape) parts of his/her identity, while we are born with other parts of our identity.

The idea that the State should shape a person’s identity is deeply flawed. Your identity is

which part of his/her identity that he/she wishes to express or suppress at any given time. The State should play no part in this.

As an example: I am Indian Guyanese who is Christian, who listens to Western music and looks at Movies from the West.

There was limited opportunity

have started listening to music out of Guyana. I’ll decide what music to listen to, The State will not determine what music I listen to. When a person abrogates responsibility to the State, it tends to disempower people.

Yours Faithfully Sean Ori

Thursday August 29, 2019

Nandlall seeks court order for President, Cabinet to resign Former Attorney General Anil Nandall now wants the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) declared caretaker government vacate office. In fact, Nandlall has moved to the High Court where he is seeking an order compelling Cabinet, including the President resign as government was defeated on the successful passage of a No-Confidence Motion on December 21, 2018 in the National Assembly.

By way of a Fixed Date Application (FDA) filed on Monday, Nandlall said that further or in the alternative he is seeking a Mandatory Order compelling the Cabinet, including the President to give effect to the resignation of the Cabinet, including the President, which occurred by operation of law, consequent upon the government being defeated by the No-Confidence Motion pursuant to Article 106(6) of the Constitution of Guyana.

Further in the alternative, he is seeking a Conservatory Order or an order restraining the Cabinet, inclusive of the President, from meeting, making decisions as, or performing the functions of Cabinet, consequent upon the Government being defeated by the vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of no- confidence on the 21st day of December, 2018, in accordance with and pursuant to Article 106(6) of the Constitution of Guyana.

He is also asking for such further orders that the court deems fit and costs. Nandlalls application is based on the NoConfidence Motion that was tabled by Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo which was successfully passed by a vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly, and in consequence thereof, Resolution 101 was issued by the Clerk of the National Assembly, certifying that the said vote was lawfully and properly passed.

In court documents, Nandlall has specifically referred to Article 106 (6) and 106 (7) of the Constitution of Guyana. According to Article 106 (7)), “The Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by a vote of majority of all the elected members of the Na-

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Kaieteur News

President David Granger

Former Attorney General: Anil Nandlall

tional Assembly.”

Article 106(7) adds, “Notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election.”

Nandlall argues that nine months has already elapsed since the Cabinet, inclusive of the President, has failed, and or neglected, and or omitted, to resign in accordance with the unambiguous prescription and mandate of Article 106(6) of the Constitution, the Supreme Law of Guyana. Chief Justice Roxane George is still to fix a date for hearing the application which was filed on Monday.

According to Nandlall, he intends to use the following as documentary evidence at the hearing: an affidavit sworn to by him, a copy of letter dated 20th July, 2019, addressed to President David Granger and signed by the Leader of the Opposition; a copy of letter dated 5th August, 2019, addressed to the Leader of the Opposition and signed by President David Granger; and copies of articles from national newspapers, enjoying daily circulation within Guyana and other media outlets, capturing and reporting that the Cabinet, inclusive of the President, will not resign.

Despite accepting that gov-

ernment can only conduct routine functions given its interim status, the President has insisted as well as several ministers have insisted that Cabinet will continue to function. Acting on advice from Attorney General Basil Williams, President Granger had advised Jagdeo that neither himself nor the Cabinet will be resigning and that the constitution provides that a President and Government remain in office until such time that a new President is sworn in. This was shortly after Jagdeo wrote to the President with several requests, one being that Cabinet, including the President resign in keeping with the key aspects of the June 12 Consequential Order of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) which was rendered given the courts ruling in the consolidated NoConfidence Motion appeals.

In its Consequential Order, the CCJ held that the National Assembly properly passed a motion of No Confidence in the Government on 21 December 2018; (f) upon the passage of this motion of no confidence in the government, the clear provisions of Article 106 immediately became engaged.

CDC taps into free oil spill response training from Houston-based firm The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) recently benefitted from a short but critical oil spill response training programme from Apache Corporation. Apache is a Houston based multinational with operations in the UK, Egypt and Suriname. During an exclusive interview, CDC Head, Colonel Kester Craig told Kaieteur News that this training was provided free of cost.

The official said that a team fromApache was in Guyana since Wednesday with the training coming to a conclusion yesterday. He also noted that a few weeks back, a team from CDC had visited the Apache operations in Suriname to get a firsthand look of their set up and response systems there. Colonel Craig added, “From the recently completed training session, I got a better understanding of their response system and capabilities and it was an excellent networking opportunity for our team.”

In the meantime, Colonel Craig noted that work will continue ahead on the completion of the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan which is already 90 percent complete.

Colonel Craig had said during a previous interview that the most important part of developing any disaster oil spill plan is the planning process. “So one of the first things you do is to identify a team...We developed this process whereby we identify a team and go through the process weekly with the members. So from February to July last, we met almost every Tuesday and worked on that.

We went through every single step of the plan. And we did it that way so that each agency can understand what their role is….” The official had explained that the team consists of the CDC, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission

CDC Head, Colonel Kester Craig (GGMC), the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Coast Guards, Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) and the Department of Energy.

Colonel Craig had also explained that GGMC will be tasked

with offshore monitoring while GEA will monitor onshore facilities such as the shore bases. He explained that the EPA will be in charge of identifying sensitive areas that are likely to be affected while being part of the national assessment team. The Coast Guards will be tasked with deploying booms and other response materials. MARAD will be working with the vessels while the Department of Energy will function as the main liaison for the operators.

The CDC head further stated that the responsibilities will continue to be tweaked where necessary as they approach the completion of the document.

When the plan is finished, Craig said that other stakeholders would be brought in for consultations such as the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture, the oil companies, the Protected Areas Commission, the Guyana Revenue Authority, Customs, Immigration, the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Fire Service and the Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society.

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Thursday August 29, 2019

Kaieteur News

National Printers projected to end year in deficit - invested million$ more on stock paper; owed by several entities As state auditors continued their probe in the multi-million dollar orders for exercise books at the Guyana National Printers Limited (GNPL), there are indications that the state-owned entity is still far from being out of the woods.

It is owed millions of dollars by customers and it is projected that its financial situation would worsen come year end.

According to the Government’s half year report, GNPL recorded a deficit of $21.5M, compared to a deficit of $55.2M in the same period in 2018.

“Total revenues reached $275.9 million, an increase of $75.5 million over the corresponding period in 2018, but 94.2 percent of the budgeted amount. The latter resulted from several entities not honouring their debts in a timely manner.”

GNPL’s total expenditures for the period under review amounted to $293.8M, an increase of $87.7M, due to additional purchases of paper stock, as well as repairs and maintenance of the equipment used to produce exercise books.

The equipment has been delivering blows to the company with a number of issues, including electrical since a number of additional pieces were

President David Granger during his visit to GNPL, La Penitence back in 2016 purchased as part of a modernization plan.

The Finance Ministry said that it is expected that the entity will face a cash deficit of $80.5M

at the end of 2019, a worsening from a cash surplus of $40M forecasted at the time of Budget 2019.

GNPL, an 80-year-old state

company, fell on hard times over the decades.

In 2016, during a visit, President David Granger committed resources to modernise its press. What was not said was that the GNPL would be competing directly with local private printers.

In recent years, there has been increasing awareness over how tax dollars are being spent and that there are proper procurement procedures being followed.

However, still, there have been emerging cases where ingenious ways have been

found to beat the system.

State auditors stepped in earlier this year after damning indications contained in reports

by Kaieteur News pointed to procurement breaches.

The probe would also include the procurement and distribution of textbooks.

As part of the focus, the audits will also seek to determine whether the textbooks being ordered by the government from local and overseas printers, are relevant to the curriculum.

This would be important as over time, there have been growing complaints by parents

of students receiving books not needed for the subjects.

Parents are forced to fork out thousands of dollars to buy the ones that are needed.

The Audit Office, over four months ago, descended on the La Penitence operations of the state-owned GNPL. They also have been carrying out work at the Book Distribution Unit of the Ministry of Education.

This was after news reports from local printers who said they were sidelined by the GNPL, which had the contracts with exercise books for the Ministry of Education, and was placing orders to a Trinidad company.

The local printers claimed that the prices paid by the GNPL were above what they could produce the exercise books for.

In any case, the printers were also unhappy that the printing of the books were not in keeping with proper procurement standards.

In a paid advertisement, the GNPL distanced itself from a published photo of an exercise book order from Trinidad. GNPL claimed that orders made to Trinidad, came directly from the Ministry of Education.

However, this would conflict with the Ministry, which said that it had contracted only GNPL to print exercise books and textbooks in Guyana.

The GNPL advertisement would have raised deep questions about which one of the state entities was telling the truth or whether there was a cover-up of some sort.

There is hundreds of millions of dollars involved. This year alone almost $600M has been set aside for printing of textbooks and exercise books.

If not re-routed, GWI pipelines will stall road works - Contractors, Residents claim The residents of Calcutta as well as the contractors working on the road leading up to the seaside are severely frustrated with the snail’s pace that Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) is moving to reroute some pipelines.

The pipelines are currently in the path of the road contractors and according to them it is obstructing them, as they cannot bulldoze the entire thoroughfare to level it. They are also unable to layer the sand as the heavy machinery will damage the lines. The road has been in a state for quite some time and now that it is finally being fixed residents are anxious. The contractors said that they have contacted

the utility company several times and the response has been they will address the matter in three to five business days. However two weeks have since passed with GWI technicians making no appearance. The contractors said that they contacted GWI again last week only to receive an identical response.

“We call them and they keep saying today, tomorrow.

If they don’t come and move the pipelines we can’t go down till at the back there,” one contractor explained.

He went on to say that the people living there will continue to suffer because the other road used to access the area is even worse than the

one they are working on and when it rains it is a disaster and almost impassable for vehicles.

“We really need this road and if the people go down there and break up the pipe we ain’t gun get water. We calling on water company how long now; they keep coming and they can’t reach yet,” a resident lamented.

While waiting on GWI, the contractors have been working and have completed a reasonable stretch of road.

However , GWI’s non –compliance, they fear, will stall its completion. Efforts to contact the entity for comments on the issue yesterday were futile.

Thursday August 29, 2019

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Kaieteur News

The political parties lack depth in their leadership and talent The main political parties, the PPPC and the PNCR, have always lacked depth in their leadership. After the demise of their founding leaders, Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham, this came back to haunt them. They have assumed power at various times and found themselves not equipped to deal with it.

The present bunch of Ministers of the APNU+AFC is perhaps the weakest ministerial team ever fielded by the PNCR. The President does not have a strong supporting cast and this has been responsible for the mediocre performance of his government. His Ministers have let him down badly. Some are out of their depth.

Many are more form than substance. Quite a few are past their best. And most simply do not have what it takes to become Ministers.

This lack of talent has been as a result of the division of the spoils of elections. This process results in the sharing out of ministerial and political positions to party activists. But many of these persons have never run anything in their life, have never

achieved much in life and therefore cannot be expected to be responsible for large bureaucracies.

Politicians are not always suited to ministerial responsibility. This is a problem not just here in Guyana alone but everywhere in the developing world where the We s t m i n s t e r s y s t e m i s found in developing countries. And this failure on the part of ministers to adapt to public administration has resulted in many of them failing at their jobs.

There are persons who should not be working within the government who are working there and doing so only because of their political connections or relationship to certain politicians. And when one considers that the political parties lack depth in terms of talented people, it shows the dangers of political appointees.

The blame for failed policies and failure to implement polices cannot, however, be always laid at the doorstep of Ministers. One of the chronic problems facing the public administration system in Guyana is the lack of the right

skills – not the lack of skills but the lack of the right skills.

The APNU+AFC has found itself in a most embarrassing situation with respect to its Public Sector Investment Programme. In May of this year the Minister of Finance was reported as saying there were challenges in the implementation of the PSIP. This is a problem which has historically faced PNCR governments and it may have something to do with the politicization of technical positions within the government. Many of the persons who are entrusted with executing government policies have never built even a dog pen. They have little or no hands-on-experience in project management.

It’s for this reason that the government should recruit private sector personnel who have the experience to do the job.

But given the high levels of cronyism and nepotism within governments, it is hard to expect the government to go searching for the right skills when political lackeys are always knocking at their offices begging for jobs and bad-mouthing incumbents.

Dem boys seh...

You can’t please everybody In this world you can’t please everybody. Some people didn’t want de house to house registration suh de GECOM chairman stop de registration. De lady know that people shouldn’t waste their time suh she decide that all who get register will be added to de old list.

Of course if dem name already pun de list then it will be deleted. But now people complaining how by adding de names who register de old list would be corrupted. Dem boys can’t understand that.

This is de age of computer suh anything that duplicated could be easily found and erased. And in any case people can’t vote twice unless dem register in different districts. And is

people from every political party get registered.

Nearly three thousand people register. Some of dem actually come back home to live since de last registration.

And of course, nuff people move out. Some of dem dead.

Ever since Steve was Chairman, he claim that he got problems removing dead people from de list. That ain’t change because de registrar don’t feed information to GECOM. And even if de registrar provide de information GECOM still got to remove those names.

De next thing dem boys expect is that people gun find fault wid de new list because some of de new people who come back home shouldn’t come back because dem live

overseas all dem years.

Of course, dem have people who believe that dem should complain bout everything. Dem 1boys expect to hear some complaint about de snacks that GECOM serving. Dem might also complain bout de meeting because a woman is de chairman.

Some of dem already saying that dem sorry Steve resign because he wasn’t serious like this lady. She hear all de talk and de complaints suh she mekking she own decisions. All who don’t want to vote can sit down and hold dem head because de chairman gun mek de decision fuh dem.

Talk half and don’t try to please everybody.

Trying to contact driver whose car was struck near Peter’s Hall At around 23.00 hrs on Tuesday night, the driver of a grey pickup, GNN 9943, was observed driving at a fast rate, and in an erratic manner, while heading south on the East Bank Demerara Public Road, near

Peter’s Hall. He then struck a grey-coloured car in the vicinity of the Peter’s Hall Masjid, but did not stop. A Kaieteur News vehicle attempted to pursue the culprit, but the driver managed to elude us.

We are attempting to contact the driver of the car that was struck. He or she can contact Mr. Glenn Lall, publisher of the Kaieteur News, on phone number +592 624 6456.

The government should not be searching within the political parties for persons to run ministries and departments and agencies. The government needs less partisan appointments and more political appointments.

The next elections therefore have to be about both political parties, the PPPC and the PNCR blooding talent. It has to be about including persons with the aptitude and

experience to be able to implement as PSIP which is going to be multiple times larger than the present PSIP. Those persons cannot be found within the political parties. The political parties do not have the talent.

Those who control the two main political parties are however not interested in searching for this talent because this always comes with the risk of leadership chal-

lenges. Guyanese will therefore have to settle for the square pegs in the round holes.

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

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Thursday August 29, 2019

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

Met a stranger with a modestly uneasy tone I went home and told my wife about this stranger who approached me on Tuesday and what he said. She asked what his tone was like. I told her not friendly, not unfriendly. Now that I am writing about him, I would say his tone was modestly uneasy. He was not rude, but he was not ready to cheer me on.

I was coming out of the DSL supermarket at the junction of Railway Embankment and Sheriff Street. As I exited the door, I saw this gentleman emerge from a vehicle that looked expensive. East Indian with graying hair like mine, about my age, but a few inches taller than me, he said without even an infinitesimal smile, “Freddie I never met you, but I always said if I ever did I would ask you something that I am curious about.” I re-

acted; “And what would that be?” He responded; “From the way you write, you come across as knowledgeable about Guyanese politics, how come you couldn’t see through Ramjattan and Trotman?”

Our conversation was fleeting, because there was no answer to his question. I smiled and said, “Man, you never know people you think you know, but I do have my regrets.”

With those words, I politely walked toward my car, and he went his way without saying anything. I don’t know if down the years I will remember his face, but he asked a question that countless persons have put to me since the AFC came to power in 2015, but they never put it the way he did – how come I couldn’t

see what Khemraj Ramjattan and Raphael Trotman were like?

You honestly cannot see the true nature of humans until they have power. I am going to vote for Lenox Shuman’s Liberal and Justice Party. I want to deny most emphatically, majority rule by the PPP or APNU+AFC. I don’t know anything about the life and times of Lenox Shuman. I am voting for him to topple majority rule, just like how my buddy friend, Charrandass Persaud, voted to topple the APNU+AFC regime.

Suppose Shuman joins a minority government and gives them majority status? I don’t know that. I cannot deny him my vote because he is a bad man. I have no evidence that he is a bad man.

He may turn out to be a terrible politician. But at this moment, I cannot withhold my vote from him. People get into power and they change. I was an emaciated, starving guy from south Georgetown when I met Clive Thomas at an organization formed in Tiger Bay, named Movement Against Oppression (MAO deliberate acronym after the name of the Chinese revolutionary leader, Mao Tse Tung).

I became closer to Clive Thomas when I entered UG and joined the WPA. I was even a research assistant to Thomas. I came to admire Thomas throughout my life. His party came to power and I anticipated the radical economist I knew since the seventies would revolutionize postPPP governance in my country.

Thomas is a shameless apologist for neo-liberal policies of the government. I don’t admire him anymore (more on him and Rupert Roopnaraine in another column).

I chose to support the AFC

over the PPP and PNC because their credentials were impressive. Both Ramjattan and Trotman rebelled and rejected the old culture of both parties. The AFC was not grounded in ethnic politics and appealed to the imagination of the Guyanese people.

I was oppressed terribly by the PPP cabals; they even dragged my wife into their den of victimization.

I knew there were things I didn’t like in the AFC. It had a shameless elitist middle class leadership. But I saw the bigger picture. The AFC took me on an atavistic journey back in time with the WPA. The WPA in the seventies had a shameless, elitist middle class leadership never seen before in Guyana, maybe with the exception of the League of Coloured People. But I was concerned with the bigger picture – revolutionary politics against a post-colonial autocracy.

I would not have joined the WPA if Burnham wasn’t so authoritarian. He and he alone decided what was best

Frederick Kissoon for Guyana. Burnham victimized me and my wife. Entry into the WPA was a logical choice.

Jagdeo and Ramotar victimized me and my wife. Entry into the AFC was a logical choice.

The AFC got into power and the masks fell from the faces of Ramjattan and Trotman, and David Patterson that was a personal friend. I couldn’t see the deadly instincts in these men before 2015. I wished I had. But life goes on.

It must.

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

Music legend, Johnny Braff, dies at 82 A musical sensation and pioneer to the music industry in Guyana, Johnny Braff, died yesterday morning around 04:00 hrs at the Palms Geriatric Home.

Braff. 82, was a resident of the institution for several months after being transferred from the Night Shelter, a decision that he often times didnt seem too pleased about.

STOP THE MUSIC… IT BURNS INSIDE… If you dont know those lines, if you dont know that song, you wouldve missed out on one of the big hits of the 60s and early 70s, when Braff was belting out love songs that made him both a household name and symbol in his homeland and abroad.

Braff shot to fame in the late 1960s and 1970s when he opened local shows for American artistes, on many occasions outshining the main act.

He recorded several hit songs locally and had them redone in the United States and Curacao, where they became more popular.

“It burns inside”, which begins with the catch phrase “Stop the Music, it burns inside”, was Braffs most popular song as he sang about holding on to love and never letting it go.

His real name was Johnny Critchlow, and he was born on July 3, 1937- the second to last of 14 children, living in Station Street, Kitty. But the large family was never in danger of starving.

From an early age, young Johnny showed an interest in

The Legend: Johnny Braff at his 82nd birthday celebrations music- entertaining and annoying his family by blowing on a comb wrapped in paper.

One of his first jobs was at the famous Tangs Bakery, but he learned plumbing as a trade at Barry Massay in Queenstown.

He eventually became an A-class plumber, working in Mackenzie, Region10, for a number of years.

He got in the habit of singing at his workplace and hadnt it been for a challenge from a colleague, the world might never have heard about Johnny Braff.

At around 19 years of age, he went on to form a singing group called The Heartbreakers with local musicians Michael Bacchus, Dennis Coxwell, Cecil Whitehead, and Compton Edwards.

It was while performing at the Carib Hotel that the Guyanese group out-danced the legendary American

singer Chubby Checker, who had popularized the dance known as the twist.

That event made the headlines in the dailies. By then, the group was earning about $30.00 for each performance.

His big break came during a performance to a packed audience at the Astor Cinema.

It was then that he first performed his compositions It Burns Inside, and A Shower of Tears, two of his first major hits.

In that audience was local businessman and producer Vivian Lee. Lee was so impressed that he met with him afterwards and suggested that Critchlow record his two songs.

He would subsequently record It Burns Inside at Radio Demerara, before re-recording it in the US. A few of his other hits, including A Shower of Tears, (Continued on page 21)

Thursday August 29, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Thursday August 29, 2019

Guyanese should be a little more accommodating to migrants – Foreign Affairs Minister Minister of Foreign Affairs, Karen Cummings is encouraging Guyanese to be a little more accommodating when it comes to dealing with the migrant situation in the country.

Commenting on the topic recently, Minister Cummings noted that given that Guyana’s population stands just below one million people, there is capacity to accommodate more people.

“We need to share the pie,” Minister Cummings said.

She alluded specifically to the era when Guyana was known as the bread basket of the Caribbean.

“We had all kinds of people coming here to look for work and so on…in this time we can probably use the skills some of these people possess. For instance, the Venezuelans can possibly help to build our capacity in oil and gas.”

She noted that the Foreign Ministry is always looking for avenues on how Guyana can capitalize on developing its skills particularly for the emerging sector. “This is possibly one of the ways we can do

Venezuelan migrants in Region 1 so.”

According to Minister Cummings, a recent visit to the region revealed some of the conditions which Venezuelans fleeing their country are faced with.

“They are basically struggling to rebuild their lives. I recently visited

some of the settlements in the region and distributed food and other items to help support the Venezuelans. As you know, there are a number programmes on to support those persons. There are schools which help to cater to the influx of Venezuelan mi-

grant children and so forth.”

The Minister stressed that the hardships Venezuelans face are universal.

“Guyanese experiencing hardships have left these shores in search of a better life, elsewhere and so we have to show a little bit more hospitality to those seeking refuge here at this time. They are struggling to rebuild their lives after fleeing economic hardships in their country and

maybe one day they will hopefully be able to return to their country.”

As of February 2019 the Immigration Department recorded a total number of documented Venezuelan migrants to be at 5,123.

It is believed to be over 6,000 now.

At that time, the International Organisation of Migration (IOM) announced that it will be rolling out a pilot sustainable livelihood programme at

Yarakita and White Water, Region One. This initiative will benefit both the local residents as well as the migrant population; providing them with tangible and technical agricultural support so that they can become self-sufficient. This project is being funded by the Australian Government.

The IOM had reached out to organisations such as the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and t h e N a t i o n a l To s h a o s Council (NTC) to finalise the details pertaining to implementation.

With regard to finding housing for the migrants, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and the IOM has engaged the Catholic Church and Guyana Relief Council to find alternative accommodation for those persons.

Additionally, the Ministry of Social Protection was engaged to ensure that returning Guyanese are registered at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) so that they can be issued national identification cards, which will enable them to benefit from public assistance, once the relevant criteria are met.

Kaieteur News

Thursday August 29, 2019

PAGE 13

Private sector lending fastest in three years

L

ending to the private sector for the first half of the year was the fastest in the last three years.

According to the Ministry of Finance's halfyear report, there was a decline in the first six months of lending to the agriculture sector.

There were also more loans for the purchase of vehicles, the report said.

At the end of the first half of 2019, net domestic credit of the banking system grew by 14.1 percent over the same period last year, to $33.4 billion, supported by an expansion in both private and public sector credit.

“Total credit to the private sector increased by 5.7 percent to $238.8 billion over the review period, faster than the past three years. This was supported by an expansion in loans and advances to individuals and businesses, except for businesses in the agriculture sector,” the report disclosed.

The Ministry explained that the decline in this sector, of 2.1 percent, to $13.1 billion resulted mainly from a contraction in lending for sugarcane and livestock production of 35.4 percent and 19.8 percent, to $0.9 billion and $1.4 billion, respectively.

However, in contrast, credit to all other sectors recorded growth.

“Credit to the mining and quarrying, manufacturing,

- number of agri loans fall - Half Year Report and services sectors increased by 6 percent, 0.5 percent, and 7.2 percent, to $5.2 billion, $26.1 billion, and $70.5 billion, respectively. The increase in the mining and quarry sector was attributed solely to growth in lending to industries outside of the bauxite sub-sector, whereas the expansion in the manufacturing sector resulted from mixed outturns in the subcategories.”

Significantly, there was a sizeable increase of $1.4 billion and $0.5 billion in the beverages, food and tobacco, and other construction and engineering sub-categories, which the Ministry explained was partially offset by a notable decline of $1.2 billion and $0.5 billion in lending to the other manufacturing and rice milling industries, respectively.

“The outturn in lending to the services subcategories, on the other hand, was mostly positive, with major contributors such as the “other services”, distribution, entertainment and catering, and education subcategories increasing by $2.2 billion, $1.7 billion, $0.8 billion and $0.7 billion, respectively.”

One area that would be speaking of confidence

would be lending to households.

This area recorded robust growth of 13.5 percent, to reach $32 billion - stronger than the past two years, and was supported by an increase in loans and advances for all purposes, with the exception of other durable goods and travel.

“Moreover, lending for housing, motor cars and other purposes expanded by $1.4 billion, $1.3 billion and $1.1 billion, respectively. Of the other major categories of credit, which include real estate mortgages, credit instruments and “other credit”, only the former two increased, by 5.7 percent and 2.8 percent, to $84.5 billion and $3.1 billion, respectively.”

As expected, there was an expansion in real estate mortgages, which surpassed the half-year growth rate in each of the past three years, resulting from an increase in lending of 5 percent and 14.7 percent for private dwellings, and industrial and commercial properties, respectively. “Further, growth in credit instruments was solely supported by increased lending for credit cards, while the decline in the “other credit” category of 8.5 percent to $4.1 billion, resulted from a contraction of 8.4 percent and 10.7

Police Detective charged for beating man in burial ground, granted bail

A

Guyana Police Detective yesterday stood in the prisoners' dock, where he was made to answer to an inflicting bodily harm charge.

Thirty-two-year-old Colwin Major, a resident of La Bonne Intention East Coast Demerara, appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts where the charge was read to him.

The charge stated that on May 4, 2019, at Le Repentir Cemetery, he unlawfully and maliciously inflicted grievous bodily harm to Warren Duke. Major who holds the rank of Lance Corporal, pleaded not guilty to the charge which was read to him by Senior Magistrate Daly.

Police Prosecutor Richard Harris made no objections to bail being granted to Major, but he asked that he stay away from the victim until the completion of trial.

The detective was represented by Attorney-at-law Adrian Thompson, who stated in his bail application for his client, that he should be released on a reasonable amount of bail as he is a serving member of the Guyana Police Force.

According to information, on the day in question the Detective and the victim had a heated argument, which caused the Detective

Colwin Major to arm himself with an object which he used to inflict harm to the victim.

The matter was then reported and an investigation was launched. Major was subsequently arrested and charge for the offence, but he was later released on Station bail.

Major was then granted bail in the sum of $40,000, by Senior Magistrate Daly after she listened to the facts of the charge. He is expected to make his next court appearance on September 28, 2019.

There has been marked improvement in the lending sector, according to the Ministry of Finance percent in securities, and shares and other equity, respectively.”

Total liquid assets of the commercial banks expanded by 6.2 percent to $127.7 billion.

Total reserves deposited

with the Bank of Guyana were $75.3 billion, 0.7 percent higher than the level at the end of June 2018.

“The required statutory reserves of the commercial banks were $48.2 billion at the end of June 2019,

creating an excess over the minimum requirement of $27.1 billion.” The news of the performance would not be totally unexpected with increased activities in the oil and gas arena ahead of first oil.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Thursday August 29, 2019

Food and Drugs Dept. finds fake drugs at nine premises - police called in to help find distributor

By Trishan Craig

T

he Guyana Police Force (GPF) has been called in to assist the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) in its quest to locate a distributor who is manufacturing and selling a number of pharmaceuticals under conditions that are not authorized.

This development comes two weeks after a complaint was lodged with the GAFDD in relation to the issue at hand resulting in the launch of what has been described as a “prioritized investigation”.

During a sweep of the markets in and around Georgetown, health inspectors located a number of substandard/falsified (SF) medications at local pharmacies at the root of the investigation.

A c c o r d i n g t o information released by the GA-FDD, inspectors visited 16 pharmacies on August 22, 2019 and August 23, 2019.

The SF drugs were found at nine of the locations and these products were seized and removed from the retailed premises.

At the locations a total of 17 boxes of a medication labeled “chanca piedra phosmovite”, sold at an

average price of $3,500, which claims to treat gall and kidney stones, clean the liver and the urinary tract were found.

Also found were 28 boxes of a product named “Fungabort”, sold at an average price of $1,000, which claims to be effective in the treatment of nail fungus. In addition, a sum of 23 boxes of “Phosferine”, sold at an average price of $3,000, were also seized and removed from premises.

In the case of some of the d r u g s f o u n d , a manufacturer's address stated as “Mainland Labs in Canada” and “Phosferine Health Care Co., Toronto Canada” was not established in the database of the Food and Drugs Department.

Further efforts to verify the stated address on the labels of other products failed to find any authentic evidence, the Department reported.

Added to this, the drugs found in the pharmacies had their barcodes scanned and none were found to be in the Department's systems.

Aside from the forgoing, the Department found it necessary to seek the assistance of the Police Force since the retailers had no paperwork which trace back to the distributor or manufacturer of the products.

The Department strongly highlighted that it is a clear breach of the Consumer Affairs Act Section 18: 1-3.

It is also a breach of the Food and Drugs Act, Part VI, Chapter 21 which speaks to adequate record keeping for traceability purposes particularly for the sale of medication for patient use.

The Food and Drugs Department is therefore advising all pharmacies to immediately desist from the practice of purchasing and retailing medication to be used by patients from walkin-salesmen (suitcase traders) who refuse to provide invoices or adequate receipt or other records for traceability purposes.

In an interview with this publication, Food and Drugs Director, Mr Marlan Cole, said that a country-wide sweep will be done to see if the illegal items are being retailed at locations other than the ones reported.

Details of the countrywide exercise are likely to be released by next month, he said.

The Department, he said, is currently in a position to aggressively implement measures to protect consumers from the associated dangers of SF medications.

To aid its investigations, the Department examined the

Some of the SF medications found products individually and the batch numbers and tried to trace these back to the facility where they were manufactured. If that cannot be traced it will confirm the allegation of the item being processed locally.

With the next step being for them to locate the distributor, the Director speculated that such a person operating illegally may be

found operating a mini-lab in his or her home, photocopying some labels, buying bottles from another country which is similar to the ones used in Guyana which are then pasted on to labels before distributing them for sale.

According to Cole, if the distributor is found to be operating under illegal circumstances legal actions

will be taken for him to be prosecuted. Currently the punishment for such acts incur a fine of up $30,000 along with six months' imprisonment.

Kaieteur News had reported that ingredients used, in some of the products, could be detrimental to end users.

This is according to a source familiar with the state of affairs.

Information provided to this publication reveal that one of the products sold is made with 'Caustic Soda' better known as Sodium Hydroxide which is broken down as an ingredient of one the products.

Wikipedia says, “Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye and caustic soda, is an inorganic compound. It is a highly caustic base and alkali that decomposes proteins at ordinary ambient temperatures and may cause severe chemical burns.”

Furthermore, another website, ThoughtCo, stated, “Caustic soda is not sold in bulk and in some cases it has been removed from the market because of being used as an ingredient to make illegal drugs.”

Thursday August 29, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

Kaieteur News

PAGE 16

Thursday August 29, 2019

TV, radio programme hosts should be properly trained - GNBA C

iting poor administration, lack of familiarity with guidelines and laws governing broadcasting, among the reasons why licensed radio and television broadcasters commit a list of infractions, the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA')s Special Investigative Committee (SIC) has pointed to the need for training, particularly for persons who host call-in programmes.

GNBA Board and SIC member, Aretha Campbell, told the media operatives at a stakeholders meeting on Tuesday, that the team found the infringements were due to “In some cases, poor administration of the television or radio stations such as the failure to review a movie or song before playing it on air.”

A section of the representatives of radio and television stations at the GNBA's stakeholder engagement

She said that GNBA's investigative committee also observed, “In other cases, there is a failure to play the content outside the prime-

time period. It is also observed that many programme hosts need to be trained especially those who host call-in programmes.”

According to Campbell, SIC's work had uncovered a pattern of infractions committed by broadcasters in the various categories.

With regards to television broadcast, the most common and prevalent infractions include controversial, character attacking programmes; imbalanced news reportage; movies with profanity or other inappropriate content; failure to include the required advisory before and after certain advertisement.

As it relates to radio broadcast, music with profanity; music with lewd lyrics played during prime time; controversial, character attacking programmes; failure to include the required advisory before and after

certain advertisements were most common.

Campbell noted, nonetheless, that generally, when licensed broadcasters meet with SIC, most of them are pointed to their obligations under the legislation as well the broadcasting guidelines.

“Oftentimes, licensed broadcasters would acknowledge and admit to the alleged infractions and would usually undertake to do better and to put mechanisms in place to avoid a repeat of said infraction. Licensed broadcasters also take the opportunity to share issues they faced within the sector and would sometimes share ideas for the betterment of the sector.”

The GNBA official said,

however, there are situations where a licensed broadcaster would have disagreed that an infraction occurred which would often result in the matter being placed before the Board.

“There have been a few occasions where an alleged infraction submitted to SIC for investigation was found not to be an infraction. These are recommended to the Board for withdrawal,” she said.

Given the mandate it has, Campbell said that SIC has m a d e a l i s t o f recommendations to assist licensed broadcasters in becoming au fait with the legislation and the broadcasting guidelines.

Among them, she said that the team has recommended that licensed broadcasters create their own rules/procedures for self monitoring which align with the broadcasting guidelines and continue to train staff so as to be compliant with their contractual obligations.

“SIC wishes to remind Licensed Broadcasters that you were granted a licence and it is your responsibility to ensure that the conditions of said licence are not breached.

It is essential that you put systems in place to ensure compliance,” Campbell added.

Earlier this year, the GNBA had announced that over 150 broadcast infringements were committed within the space of five months. Of the 19 registered television stations, and 20 registered radio stations, the GNBA recorded 39 infringements in January, 40 in February, 49 in March, 22 in April, and at least 16 were recorded in May of this year.

Thursday August 29, 2019

Kaieteur News

Guyanese drug convicts head home

Rohan Shastri Rambarran (left) and Lemme Michael Campbell (2nd left) leaving the Supreme Court in the company of immigration officers

B

a r b a d o s (Barbados Today) - The Court of Appeal yesterday varied the sentences of two Guyanese drug convicts and sentenced them to time served.

The order handed down

by Chief Justice Sir Marston Gibson saw Lemme Michael Campbell and Rohan Shastri Rambarran walking out of the Whitepark Road, Supreme Court complex, accompanied by three immigration officials and an official from the Guyana

Consulate yesterday afternoon.

The two men were convicted in June 2009, along with four others, for importation, possession and trafficking of 91.3 kilos of cannabis and 119.4 kilos of cocaine which were contained in logs on November 29, 2005.

They were sentenced in December 2009 – Rambarran to 25 years for trafficking cannabis and 30 years for trafficking cocaine; while Campbell received 25 years for trafficking cocaine

and 20 years for cannabis trafficking. Those sentences were being served concurrently.

Their attorneys appealed the convictions and sentences back in 2010 and the matter was heard in 2014.

That 94-page decision was handed down yesterday even though the island's final court, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), had ordered back in 2016 that appeal decisions be expedited.

The duo's four coaccused have already served their sentences and released.

PAGE 17

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Kaieteur News

Thursday August 29, 2019

Thursday August 29, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

Roofing sheets, cleaning supplies handed over to Linden storm victims

O

n Tuesday e v e n i n g , Minister of State, Dawn HastingsWilliams, travelled to several communities in Upper Demerara-Berbice (Region 10), where she handed over building and cleaning supplies to residents who were severely affected by a freak storm last week.

The storm resulted in several residents losing sections of their roofs, fences and walls while others were affected by flooding.

The communities that were most severely affected w e r e We s t Wa t o o k a , McKenzie Central, Blue Berry Hill Squatting Area, Silver City, Silver Town, One Mile and Victory Valley.

Approximately 25 families were affected and among the affected facilities were the Silver Town Community Centre, the McKenzie High School, LICHAS Hall and the EGovernance Tower at Blue Berry Hill Squatting Area.

Based on a needs assessment conducted by the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) in conjunction with the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) on Saturday, August 24, 2019, items such as zinc sheets with screws and cleaning agents were requested.

The Minister of State said that as soon as the request was received, it was forwarded to the CDC for procurement. She noted that

Houses that were damaged in wake of the freak storm

the procurement was made possible Tuesday and as such, she thought it was fitting to venture to the communities to immediately hand over the necessary supplies.

“We are here to distribute some items in way of responding to a call we received, more specifically on Friday, when a freak storm passed through the area and resulted in some roofs and zinc sheets being blown off, and the lives of the people were affected.

As a caring government, we have responded and so we are here to deliver to the people because we believe that this will bring [relief] in some way to them. As a caring government, we will always respond to the calls that we receive from our citizens irrespective of where they live,” she said.

Chairman of the RDC, Mr. Renis Morian said that

while he is happy that government has responded, he is even more pleased that it has provided the items that the residents and Region requested. As a matter of fact, he noted that most of the zinc sheets which were blown off were held together with nails for decades.

However, the CDC was requested to provide zinc sheets with screws to prevent a reoccurrence and this was done.

“I have to thank the government and the CDC and also the residents for cooperating and helping each other.

This is a powerful expression of the confidence the people have in the government to come to their rescue when things go bad.

Based on what has happened, we would have shared with the government the needs of the people and these things were purchased.

Minister of State, Mrs. Dawn Hastings- Williams hands over zinc sheets and other items to Silver Town resident, Mr. Compton Fraser who lost his entire roof.

We asked for screws and not nails and they delivered,” he said.

In an invited comment, Compton Fraser, a resident of Silver Town, said he is happy to receive the assistance from the government through the CDC since he lost his entire roof during the storm. “I feel happy that they have responded promptly and this shows some good signs that we are in a cooperative mode,” he said.

Ingrid Thomas, a resident of Blue Berry Squatting Area echoed these sentiments. “I feel good because I have gotten some relief. My roof area from the kitchen to the bedroom was blown off, so this is good,” she said.

In addition to the cleaning and building supplies, the National Frequency Management Unit of the Ministry of Public Telecommunication is working to ensure that the

damaged tower is fully operational in the shortest possible time, since it provides internet access to the communities.

Supplies were also handed over to the region to facilitate repairs to the Silver Town Community Centre.

Minister HastingsWilliams was accompanied

by Director General of the CDC, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig and Senior Response Officer, Captain Salim October. (MoTP)

Flood prone communities being monitored

by Region Two Administration A key pump that was recently serviced to improve drainage in Charity

F

ollowing severe flooding in Charity last week, the Regional Administration of Region Two is closely monitoring the operations of its drainage and irrigation structures.

A regional team including the Regional Executive Officer (REO), Mr. Denis Jaikaran, and Regional Engineer, Mr. Kawan Suchit, recently visited the area.

During the visit the team examined the Charity drainage structures and pumps at various locations.

Last week Wednesday, both the commercial and residential environs in Charity were submerged under great volumes of water.

This publication understands that Charity is quite vulnerable to flooding due to the rising level of the Pomeroon River, and poor drainage infrastructure.

The buildup of garbage in the main drainage trenches has been identified as the primary factor that contributed to the recent flooding.

In addition, the sluices within the community were not opened on time, which resulted in severe flooding within a short time span.

In an effort to prevent a repeat of the situation, the REO said that regional officials will monitor the water levels and open the drainage structures on time to maximize drainage.

The pump at the Charity

cemetery was also serviced and put into action since it will tremendously improve drainage within the Squatting area. Suchit, the Regional engineer, noted that with the inclement weather pattern, more rain is inevitable.

The regional team underlined the fact that the regional administration is prepared and ready to mitigate the threat of flooding across the Pomeroon/Supenaam region.

In this regard it was revealed that all drainage pumps and sea and river sluices are in operation.

It was pointed out too that there must first be proper drainage, if the region is to effectively battle

against flooding.

But in order to see the desired results, REO

Jaikaran has appealed to residents and market vendors to make use of

garbage bins and avoid disposing of garbage in the Region's waterways.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Thursday August 29, 2019

India to offer full scholarships Truck driver jailed 7 months for to young Guyanese - to lend advice on garbage death of Guysuco superintendent

T

Indian High Commissioner to Guyana Dr. K.J. Srinivasa [centre] sharing a light moment with Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine and Deputy Mayor Alfred Mentor

T

he Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. K. J. Srinivasa, yesterday paid a courtesy call to Georgetown Mayor, Ubraj Narine, at his office. During that visit, several areas of interest were discussed. Among these was the granting of scholarships to Guyanese. In an invited comment, Dr. Srinivasa said the aim is to build the skills of young people in Guyana.

He explained that as part of the International Cooperation Programme, there is ITEC, (the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme) through which short course fully-funded scholarships are given to young students and graduates in various fields.

“I was just discussing with the Mayor that we are ready to extend that cooperation and we are trying to increase the slots for Guyana,” the Indian High Commissioner stated.

Scholarships will also be given for cultural aspects where interested persons will go to India to learn about their heritage and culture.

D r. S r i n i v a s a a l s o

indicated that the Commission will help the city of Georgetown beautify the area around the Mahatma Gandhi statue since this year will be the 150th year of his birth. Garbage disposal is another area of interest that will see support offered to the city, with plans to adopt a similar system to one of the cities in India.

Additionally, the Indian High Commissioner said he intends to strengthen the bilateral ties between India and Guyana and to work with the CARICOM Secretariat to strengthen the relationship with the Caribbean community and India.

Also present during the courtesy call was DeputyMayor Alfred Mentore.

he truck driver, who was earlier found guilty on a charge of causing death by dangerous driving, when he reversed and killed a G u y s u c o F i e l d Superintendent has been sentenced to a mere seven months in jail.

Mohandass Meenkum called “Marvin”, 36, of Betsy Ground, East Canje, Berbice, appeared before Magistrate Renita Singh in the Reliance Magistrate's Court. After a lengthy trial he was found guilty and a probation report was ordered.

On September 21, 2018, Meenkum reversed motor canter GWW 1831 out of his yard on to the Betsy Ground Public Road. In the process he crashed into 52-year-old Rajendranauth Haralsingh, called “Jerry” of 28 Reliance Abandon, East Canje, Berbice, thus causing his death.

During the trial P r o s e c u t o r Wo m a n Inspector Althea Solomon argued that the actions of Meenkum caused the death of Haralsingh. She noted that on the day in question he did

Jailed: Mohandass Meenkum

Killed GuySuCo supervisor: Rajendranauth not observe the Five C's, and Haralsingh did not take due care and consideration when he reversed his canter in a dangerous manner on to the Betsy Ground public road.

Thus crashing into Haralsingh, who was passing at the time on his motorcycle.

Haralsingh, a father of two, was attached to the Special Purpose Unit (SPU) of the Rose Hall Estate. He had just finished supervising workers in the backdam and was heading home around 12:30 hours on motorcycle CF 1615 when he was struck by the canter. He was picked

up and rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he succumbed.

A post mortem examination conducted on the body gave the cause of death as shock and haemorrhage due to multiple injuries.

Meenkum was represented by attorney-atlaw Ramesh Rajkumar.

Magistrate Singh had told the accused that it was his actions on the day that caused a dangerous situation by reversing on to the main road.

Contractor ordered to correct East Berbice work

A

contractor who was caught d o i n g substandard work in the East Bank, Berbice area has been ordered to correct it.

Contractor Anirudh Ramcharitar was hired to construct a culvert at Macaw, East Bank Berbice.

As part of the work, the contractor was supposed to backfill the area with a combination of 40/60 sand/reefsand mix.

Instead, he was accused by residents of using mud.

Residents spotted when the contractor was doing the “substandard work” and immediately informed

Member of Parliament, Reynard Ward, who also happens to live in the area.

MP Ward immediately visited the area and inspected the project with a number of NDC councilors and residents. A number of problems were found and the contractor was requested to halt the work and correct the faults immediately.

However, the workers refused to stop and continued to work.

Ward reportedly then contacted the Regional Engineer and NDC councilors and residents revisited the area where they confirmed the problems.

The Regional Engineer in company MP Ward and others at the work site as the engineer orders the contractor to correct the problems The engineer reportedly asked the contractor to be present and upon checking it

was revealed that mud was used to backfill the area, instead of the sand/reef sand

mix. The contractor was reportedly ordered to redo the work.

The scene at the work site at Macaw

Thursday August 29, 2019

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

Guyana needs to toughen up!!

Challenge oil companies on effects of operations on country’s climate change plans - University of Houston Instructor

By Kiana Wilburg Considering Guyana’s vulnerability to the vagaries of climate change, University of Houston Instructor, Tom Mitro, firmly asserts that the nation’s policy leaders need to toughen up and challenge oil companies to state how their operations will have an effect on the country’s climate change plans. Equally important to this equation he said, is for the leaders of the day to demand answers on what these operators will do to mitigate the impending risks of their projects.

The Oil Consultant said, “I’m no climate change expert but I do know that at some point, climate agreements between countries will likely limit carbon emissions. In fact, there has been a lot of discussion about ‘stranded assets’ which refer to refineries, pipelines or oil fields that will be required to be shut down or to operate at lower capacity in order to meet carbon emission goals.”

Under this type of scenario, Mitro explained that decisions to shut down assets

may be based on a variety of factors such as crude oil gravity, energy-efficiency of operations, gas flaring, methane leak controls, energy used in transportation, plans for using carbon-capture technology, or a range of other factors.

The Oil Consultant said, “...Certainly, the ability to politically influence decisions will also play a big part. Nonetheless, any operator in Guyana should be asked what their plans are to minimize the risks that the Guyana offshore fields can end up being and what among those assets could end up becoming ‘stranded’ in the future.”

Further to this, Mitro noted that it might be appropriate to ask these questions at the time of submission of the Development Plan. He said that this is the stage when decisions will be taken about plant design affecting energy efficiency, flaring, control of leaks and emissions and carbon capture.

If any company takes the position that climate change regulations will not come into

University of Houston Instructor, Tom Mitro play or that compliance will not be important, Mitro cautioned that such a firm is less likely to build those issues into their engineering designs.

The official warned that this can have the potential to increase the risk of climate change actions thereby negatively affecting Guyana in the future.

OFFICE OF CLIMATE CHANGE With respect to Guyana’s climate change efforts to date, the Office of Climate Change (OCC) has often times re-

Music legend, Johnny Braff, dies at 82 From page 10 Same Time Same Place and Anything You can Do were recorded in the US and in Curacao.

At the peak of his career, the songs of the now-rechristened Johnny Braff were played almost daily on the radio.

Braff signed a contract with Vivian Lee, which allowed him to perform in America.

He also sang with Percy Sledge in Barbados.

Sadly, a scheduled tour with legendary soul singer Otis Redding never came off after the American and his band died in a plane crash.

Johnny Braff then signed a six-year con-

tract to sing on a Yugoslavian cruise ship, earning US$5,000 a month.

Of course, there were his female fans. At the peak of his fame, Johnny Braff claims to have fathered at least 27 children in at least 10 countries.

Braff has received several awards for his contribution to music, including the Guyana Folk Festival 2002 Wordsworth McAndrew Award.

In July, Braff celebrated his 82nd birthday and was feted by the Ministry of Social Protection at a special concert held in his honour. Back in May of this year, he was awarded a national award, the Medal of Service, by President David Granger.

minded that the nation established a commitment to work towards the reduction of the negative impacts of climate change by becoming a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1992, then ratifying the Convention on November 17, 1994 and acceding to same in 2003.

In fact, the OCC noted on its website that the country has taken proactive steps to support the implementation of the Convention. It said that the establishment of its office in 2009 is part of this process.

Furthermore, it was stated by the OCC that Guyana prepared its Initial and Second National Communication to the UNFCCC in 2002 and 2012 respectively. Kaieteur News understands that the preparation of the Third National Communication has been initiated too. The OCC explained that these reports provide a general status of key aspects related to climate change in Guyana including: an inventory of Greenhouse Gas (GhG), climate change vulnerability

assessments, programmes containing measures to facilitate adequate adaptation and mitigation to climate change, an analysis of measures for GhG abatement and information related to the implementation of the UNFCCC. In addition to this, Kaieteur News understands that several other key studies, research and plans were prepared to address specific areas related to climate change.

In this regard, the OCC explained that many sectors in the country have already begun to integrate policies, legislations and programmes in line with addressing climate change. Some also have developed specific climate change initiatives. Additionally, the OCC said that Guyana works along with many countries, institutes and groups to support capacity building for adaptation and mitigation to climate change. It also noted that Guyana has made considerable progress internationally in negotiating its position on climate change through the UN and other major pro-

cesses. In fact, Guyana has played a key role in the UNFCCC negotiations on REDD+, as well as in the interim REDD+ Partnerships.

According to the OCC, the country also works along with negotiating groups such as the Coalition for Rainforest Nations and the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).

It noted, however, that the most significant step taken to address climate change in Guyana is the development and implementation of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) which was launched in June 2009. The Strategy outlines Guyana’s approach to promoting economic development while at the same time addressing the issues associated with climate change. It articulates the country’s vision to transition towards a low carbon, green economy and provides the overarching framework for achieving Guyana’s long-term developmental goals, using nationally appropriate green growth strategies to achieve this transition.

PAGE 22

Thursday August 29, 2019

Kaieteur News

Guyana leads region in occupational standards for mines supervision

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Two Storey house and land, Lot 3 Durban Street, Prime Business Spot $40M negotiable. Phone # 625-1505 Whatsapp #625-1505

Clerical assistance domestic worker, live-in accomodation for Berbicians and Essequibians. Call between 8:15-4:15 pm. #219-5354

3 bedroom (2) storey concrete house, located at Uitvlugt Ocean View WCD Contact# 277-3837

1 maid needed. Age 30-40. Call: 226-7766

TO LET 2 room bottom flat apartment to let, 575 Block X Diamond 3 bedroom single house, Craig EBD. #623-1562

One cook to work in a bar #679-2612 Preferable from West Bank Demerara.

English Tutor. Contact# 2235273/223-5274 Supervisor to work at 704.

Contact# 223-5273/223-5274 TRUCK DRIVER. Contact #223-5273/223-5274 Female Cleaner Office & Home. Call: 642-9823 Vacancy for (2) professional and experienced nail technician @ Natural Beauty Salon & Spa. Call: 652-5800

(2) Bedroom top flat, with parking area, Bagotstown Old road EBD. $60,000. #652-1234

Mining engineering/ operations manager for Cuyuni area. Requirements: Academic qualifications & 5 years relevant experience in Mining. Call: 223-5180

1 bedroom apartment at Aubrey Barker Road and Congress Drive, South Riumveldt. #699-6544

Lucky Me, Lucky You, seeks Sales Representatives to sell tickets in their respective region. #660-0275/624-3501

WANTED

Lorry Driver with Sales Experience, submit application to NS Trucking, 257 Block X Section A Diamond EBD. Tel# 617-5632/501-2537

1 Live-in maid. Call: 639-2037

CAR RENTAL

- Mining Week attendees hear

FOR RENT

Photo/Video Editor, Must be abe to events. Call: 628-8944/ 718-845-2700 or Email: spectrumimaging 32@gmail.com 1 Diesel Mechanic to work in the interior, Interested Persons can make Contact on Tel# 625-5136 between the hours of 8am-4pm

Salesclerk/Cashier. Submit hand written application to Kards Plus in City Mall. #2271846 Experience an asset.

2 Experienced Pastry Maker, 1 Experienced Driver/Salesman, 1 Vehicle Porter @ Humphrey38 Ketley Street Charlestown. #225-7864/227-8607

Fish processing workers. Call: 223-5180

Salesgirl & Porters. Apply to Best Buy Food Supplies, Lot 1E Middleton & Dennis St, 1 Certified & experienced Campbellville with written costmetologist, must be able application to work unsupervised & fast paced salon. Tel#615-9328/ One experienced Cashier to 626-6450 work at a reputable company.

Contact# 672-4695 or send CV Front Desk Receptionist, must to: eonbollers@gmail.com be able to work o/night shifts.

Apply: General Manager One Male Janitor. Apply in Herdmanston Lodge, Peter person at Alabama Trading. 65 Rose & Anira Sts Robb St Bourda 1 Canter driver. Age 35 and over. Preferably from Diamond/Grove. Contact# 644-5957

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

Seamstress. Contact: 6911918. Monday to Saturday 9am to 4pm

Cook to work in Charity.

Contact# 654-7162

1 working female to share apartment. Tel# 661-0799

(1) Able body Ice machine operator/handy man. Tel# 220-3459/616-2222

One person to work two weeks from 26 to Sept 7 as One shop assistant to work Kitchen assistant. #226-2320 from 6-2 from 16th Sept to 5 Oct 2019. 193 Charlotte Street 1 General Domestic at 12 Henry Street. #225-9211 L/Town #226-2320

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TVET Director, Floyd Scott.

Director of the Council of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Floyd Scott said Guyana has an opportunity to lead the region and set the benchmark in the area of occupational standards for mines supervision.

Addressing the participants of review workshop of the draft occupational standards for mines supervision yesterday morning, Scott noted that there are no regional standards that speak to the sector in terms of code and practice. As such, Guyana is leading the Caribbean region in this regard.

The review of the occupational standards brought the curtains down on the Ministry of Natural Resources’ Mining Week activities held at the Pegasus Hotel, Kingston Georgetown.

According to Scott, with the right skills, workers can become actors of the economic transformation rather than victims.

“Hence TVET as a transformational vehicle for national development and global competitiveness. It ensures development that VACANCY Tutor. Contact# 223-5273/2235274 Male Office Clerk. Age 17-25 Please send CV’s to: lakram@rambaire.com 1 experienced driver, must have license for car/van/ minibus & motorbus, residing in G/town between ages 24-50 yrs old. #2251429/641-5075 Vacancy exist for a Full time/ Part time teacher, must be able to teach (2 & 7) years old. Call: 600-6887 for more information

meet s t h e n e e d s o f t h e present generation without compromising the ability of the future generation to meet their own needs.”

He said the unit ensures the continual improvement of every sector and driving change to lead the region and even exceed global practices.

The focus is on training for employment with an emphasis on maintenance on standards quality in the delivery in the occupational safety.

Commissioner of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Newell Dennison said the day’s engagement was another important stepping stone to the outcomes of improving standards in the way mining is conducted.

“The necessary steps of stakeholder meetings, sensitisations and knowledge sharing cannot be overlooked if the desired outcome will be achieved, where the length and breadth of the mining landscapes fully aligned and responsive to the way every practical measure that standards are promoted and employed,” he told the audience.

The concept, Dennison said is about improvement and benchmarking to what is internationally viable, and sustainably recognised, and where the mining landscape is concerned, especially in the area of health and safety.

There should be no stone unturned and that every possible thing be done for those areas in the mining sector. He noted: “we must recognise that for the mining sector, we can only be engaging these operation issues for the greater good.”

Thursday August 29, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Hotel Owner and Alleged Hitman’s PI… Encouraging signs in Aurora underground mining Five more witnesses testify After securing clearance from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Guyana Goldfields Incorporated, the Canadian-owner of Aurora Gold Mines, has begun what is being described as successful underground explorations at its North-West Mazaruni location.

Following a tour of the mine earlier on Tuesday, August 27, Senior Vice-President, Strategy and Corporate Affairs, Perry Holloway told the Department of Public Information (DPI), that the EPA’s clearance gives the company up to 2,500 metres of underground exploration, plus test mining for 300,000 tons of ore.

“We have started and have gone down a couple of hundred meters; maybe three or four hundred metres right now. Everything so far is going great, the rocks are cool, some people thought it would be hot, there is

v e r y l i t t l e w a t e r, s o m e people thought there would be a lot of water as we are very close to the Cuyuni River, none of that is true.”

Holloway said side drilling would begin soon to determine where and how much gold was at the location.

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, during the tour, said he was happy with the current progress reports from the company.

He had previously visited the camp with a South African delegation back in March this year before exploration began.

“This is historic for Guyana. We have had underground mining in Guyana before, I’m not saying this is the first, but certainly it is the only company doing it right now,” Minister Trotman stated.

Adding that this was a great opportunity for Guyanese to see and un-

derstand the functions of an underground mine.

The Natural Resources Minister also stated that he was especially pleased to know that the company got its exploration clearance from both the GGMC and EPA. “I’m happy to see that issues and some challenges with GGMC and EPA have been resolved and the company has been able to start the exploratory aspect of the digging and hopefully things progressed and a full mining permit will be given by both the GGMC and EPA,” he said.

Aurora Gold Mines is one of the largest gold mines in Guyana and the world, with an estimated reserve of 6.54 million ounces of gold.

With respect to the underground mining exploration, $5Billion (US$25M) is expected from the first three years of exploration.

(DPI)

Continuing with the preliminary inquiry into the matter of Mark Grimmond and Chatterpaul Singh who were charged with conspiracy to commit murder on Dwayne Grant a businessman, the duo on Tuesday stood in the pri s o n e r s ’ dock and listened to five other witnesses testify.

Both accused are out on bail. Grimmond was represented by Attorneyat-law Bernard DaSilva while Singh was unrepresented.

D u r i n g T u e s d a y ’s proceedings which was c onducted before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, the five other witnesses stood in the witness box, and under oath they testified.

On the previous court appearance a series of screenshots, videos and audio were shown to the court by a witness.

The evidence extracted from Singh’s phone is said

to be a conversation between the two accused.

The preliminary inquiry is ongoing and the two accused are expected to make their next court appearance soon.

The accused were not required to plea to the indictable charge which stated that between April 1, 2018 and June 7, 2019, in Georgetown, they conspired with each other and persons unknown to murder Dwayne Grant, a businessman from Lethem.

According to the facts of the charge, Grant received certain information that the men were plotting to kill him and he reported it to the police.

The police ranks acting on the report went to a hotel where they made contact with Singh.

Singh was arrested and at that point in time he was reportedly found with a firearm. In a detailed conversation with the police, Singh admitted that he was contracted by Grimmond to kill Grant.

Grimmond was subsequently arrested and the allegation of conspiracy to commit murder was put to him.

A conversation, between the two accused were obtained by the police. Based on advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) the charge was instituted.

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Thursday August 29, 2019

Kaieteur News

Trump Administration Ends Protection For Migrants’ Medical Care Dismaying immigrants and advocates, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has sent out letters saying the agency will no longer consider most deferrals of deportation for people with serious medical conditions, documents show.

The agency is now saying those decisions will be made by another agency: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

That was not made clear to Boston-area immigrants who received the denial letters last week. Advocates said they received no formal announcement of a change in policy.

The small program, known as “medical deferred action,” allows people to remain in the U.S. for two-year periods if they can prove extreme medical need. Many of the people affected by the policy change came to the U.S. through a visa or other permitted status, and are requesting to stay beyond those terms to receive medical treatment.

Hours after this story was published Monday, a USCIS spokeswoman responded to several requests for clarification about the policy shift to say that “medical deferred action requests are now submitted to ICE for consideration.”

This shift in policy has not been announced publicly by the government, and immigration advocates and attorneys question why this new process wasn’t mentioned in the denial letters.

In response to a WBUR request for details, a spokesman for ICE sent this statement late Tuesday morning: “As with any

request for deferred action, ICE reviews each case on its own merits and exercises appropriate discretion after reviewing all the facts involved.”

Anthony Marino, director of legal services for the Irish International Immigrant Center, explained that up until now, federal immigration officials would routinely permit eligible sick people to stay in the country under this program. But last week, five of his clients — who he says would have typically qualified — received what appeared to be template denial letters with the exact same language.

“The denials say specifically that the immigration service is just no longer considering deferring action at all in these cases, which would be a first in decades,” he said.

Marino added many of the affected clients at the center are families whose children have cancer, cystic fibrosis, HIV, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and epilepsy.

According to the apparent form letters, USCIS field offices “no longer consider deferred action requests, except those made according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) policies for certain military members, enlistees, and their families.”

The dated letters notified families they must leave the country within 33 days of the government’s writing.

Otherwise, they face removal and exclusion from the U.S. for several years. Legal advocates across the country have reported clients receiving similar denial letters.

“This attack on children and their families is inhumane and unjust,” said Ronnie

Millar, executive director of IIIC, in a press release. “These families are all here receiving treatment that is unavailable in their home countries, and our government has issued them a death sentence.”

In a statement, Marilu Cabrera, a public affairs officer with USCIS, confirmed that field offices will no longer consider nonmilitary requests for deferred action and will instead direct resources to administering “our nation’s lawful immigration system.”

The statement went on to say that this reallocation of resources does not affect Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or other deferred action requests processed at USCIS service centers.

The IIIC held a noon news conference Monday about the government’s decision, at which some affected families were in attendance.

One of the center’s clients, 16-year-old Jonathan Sanchez, has a pending request with USCIS and fears his request will be denied given the procedural change.

Sanchez, who was born in Honduras, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis as a baby, after his parents sent blood samples to the U.S. His father, Gary Sanchez, told WBUR he already lost a daughter to the disease 18 years ago.

“Before my son, we had a daughter with cystic fibrosis, but she died in our country, since, in our country, there are no medical specialists or centers specialized in cystic fibrosis,” he said.

The Sanchez family entered the U.S. on tourist visas in 2016 and was first able to extend. But the treatment was longer than the six-month

A copy of a letter the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service sent to immigrants saying the agency will no longer consider most deferrals of deportation for people with serious medical conditions.

Courtesy of Irish International Immigrant Center extension so the family applied for medical deferred action in November. Now, the teen said he is feeling stressed and scared he might need to leave the U.S. “If they deny the program, then I need to go back to my country, and I’ll probably die because in my country, there’s no treatment for [cystic fibrosis],” Sanchez said, crying and trying to catch his breath. “Doctors don’t e v e n k n o w w h a t ’s t h e disease. The only ones who can help me are here in the United States.”

Massachusetts Sen. Edward Markey, a Democrat, was among advocates and politicians the center asked to address reporters at the news conference. (Boston Mayor Marty Walsh was also invited to speak but could not attend the news conference.

Instead, he issued a statement and tweeted a strong rebuke of the government’s denials.)

Markey sharply criticized the Trump administration’s move, repeatedly calling it “inhumane” and saying it is an attempt to “terrorize sick

kids with cancer who are literally fighting for their lives.”

“It is unconscionable. It is wrong. And we are here to say that we will fight,” Markey said. “We have gathered many times in the last 2 1/2 years since Donald Trump was inaugurated — many times, these same groups have come together.

We have now reached the bottom, though — the most inhumane of all of Donald Trump’s policies are the ones we are here to speak about today.”

British PM to suspend parliament before Brexit, opposition denounces ‘coup’ LONDON (Reuters) Prime Minister Boris Johnson will suspend Britain’s parliament for more than a month before Brexit, enraging opponents and raising the stakes in the country’s most serious political crisis in decades.

Cheered on by U.S President Donald Trump, Johnson launched his boldest move yet to take the country out of the European Union by Oct. 31 with or without a divorce deal, by setting a new date for a state opening of parliament.

Known as the Queen’s Speech, the formal event will be held on Oct. 14 and be preceded by a suspension of the House of Commons, meaning parliament will not sit between mid-September

and mid-October.

The move, which had to be approved by Queen Elizabeth, limits the time opponents have to derail a disorderly Brexit, but also increases the chance that Johnson could face a vote of no-confidence in his government, and possibly an election.

It also risks dragging the 93-year-old, politically neutral queen into the dispute. So incensed were leaders of the opposition parties by Johnson’s plan that several have written to the monarch asking for a meeting to express their concern.

The queen acts on the advice of her prime minister.

Her office declined to comment. Her speech at the opening of parliament is

written by the government, outlining its plans for legislation.

“There will be ample time in parliament for MPs (members of parliament) to debate the EU, to debate Brexit and all the other issues, ample time,” Johnson told reporters.

Asked if he was trying to block MPs from delaying Britain’s EU departure, he replied: “That is completely untrue.”

While suspending parliament ahead of a Queen’s Speech is the historical norm in Britain, the decision to limit parliamentary scrutiny weeks before the country’s most contentious policy decision in decades prompted an immediate outcry.

“Make no mistake, this is a very British coup,” John

McDonnell, the second most powerful man in the opposition Labour Party, said.

More than half a million people signed an online petition to object and the pound fell sharply.

The Church of England said a chaotic Brexit would hurt the poor and further damage a fractured nation.

But Johnson’s gamble was welcomed by Brexiteers, including Trump, an early backer of Britain’s departure from the EU, who said “Boris is exactly what the U.K. has been looking for, & will prove to be ‘a great one!’ Love U.K.” A spokeswoman for the European Commission, when asked about the British suspension of parliament, said it was a matter for Britain to answer.

UNCHARTED TERRITORY More than three years after the United Kingdom voted 52% to 48% to quit the European Union, it is still unclear on what terms the bloc’s second largest economy will leave the club it joined in 1973.

With just 65 days until exit day, parliamentarians are battling to prevent the prime minister from steering the country out of the EU without a transition deal, pitching one of Europe’s most stable countries into uncharted territory.

On Tuesday, the leaders of Britain’s opposition parties had agreed to seek to use parliamentary procedure to force Johnson to ask Brussels for a delay to Brexit beyond Oct. 31. They may now try to bring him down.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he would call a no-confidence vote when the time was right.

With Johnson holding a working majority of just one seat in the 650-seat parliament, members of his party who oppose a no-deal Brexit will have to decide where their loyalties lie.

Parliament returns from its summer break on Sept. 3 before typically breaking up two weeks later to allow political parties to hold their annual conferences.

Returning again on Oct. 14 would leave just over two weeks until Britain is due to quit the EU on Oct. 31.

Those lawmakers opposed to a no-deal Brexit will likely have to make their move next week if they are to avoid running out of time.

Thursday August 29, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Thursday August 29, 2019

Thursday August 29, 2019

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Windies erred in excluding Cornwall, Bravo... Federer finishes strong to see off Dzumhur...

From page back page the unpracticed off-spin of John Campbell and Kraigg Brathwaite was also required for 13 overs combined during India’s second innings of 343 for seven declared.

The 56-year-old Gray, a former chairman of selectors in Trinidad and Tobago, argued that if a fourth seamer had been necessary, the place should have gone to uncapped Barbadian Chemar Holder who picked up 15 wickets in the three-match fourday “Test” series against India A earlier this month.

“When you don’t have Cummins bowling enough overs and not impacting where penetration is concerned, you’re going to have a problem with the team and Roach and Shannon Gabriel

will have to bowl more overs in that regard,” Gray pointed out.

“I think we should have gone with at least Cornwall but if we had to go with an additional fast bowler, I think that Chemar Holder should have played. The way West Indies cricket has gone we’ve got to think outside of the box and not be stereotypical in your selections.

“As somebody who has done well against India A recently, I saw him at the Queen’s Park Oval and I was very impressed with him.

“We needed an impact bowler in addition to the two other bowlers because when we did so well against England [earlier this year], we had Alzarri Joseph and what you also had was a captain

(Jason Holder) who ran in. So what you had were four impact bowlers in that series and hence the reason the result was the way it was.”

With West Indies trailing 1-0 in the two-match series and needing a positive result in the Sabina Park Test starting Friday in Kingston in order to level the series, Gray said Cornwall needed to be handed his debut while outof-form left-hander Darren Bravo had to be dropped.

“You always have to look at the pitch but Cornwall has to come in because … a lot of those guys would not have faced a guy who is six [feet], five-and-a-half [inches], bowling at a high action – he’s a different type of off-break bowler,” explained Gray.

“He’s the tallest off-break

Tuesday August 29, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) There's a great wind under your wings today, Aries, and you may find the day's energy quite transforming. You now have the opportunity to make great strides in whatever you wish to accomplish.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Don't deny your emotions today, Libra. They will be of great use to you.

There's an intensity about your feelings that's helping you stay strong in just about every situation.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Try not to weigh everything down. Don't pick things apart to the point that all that's left are the tiny details of the situation, Taurus.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Indecisiveness may plague you today, Scorpio. Be careful that you don't avoid doing something simply because you don't know which way to go.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) As you work to keep things in balance today, remember that one of the key things is to have fun. Happiness is an extremely important element of the cosmic equation, especially on a day like this.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Don't get too emotional about a situation today. You could feel a sinking feeling, but if you go that route you may end up in a pit of emotional quicksand that's hard to escape.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) This is a terrific day for you, Leo. You should easily feel its power coming together in an upbeat, positive way.

Others are apt to fall into place by your side as they realize the wisdom in your way of doing things.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Your normal steady pace usually wins the race, Virgo, but today you might need to take some shortcuts. Jump on opportunities that seem to come out of nowhere, but don't feel like you need to commit to anything now.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Take things to the limit today, and then go beyond.

This is one of those days in which people may go to extremes, especially emotionally.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Stop your pondering over something and do it. This is a day to be spontaneous and adventurous.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) This may be a climactic day for you, Aquarius, especially when it comes to your emotions. You could find that people try to wield some sort of power over you. Maybe they're trying to throw their weight around to get you to do something.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Instead of turning all your burning questions inward today.

Engage in discussions and extend your queries to the group.

You may usually try to solve all the world's problems on your own, but once in a while you should stop and consider other points of view in order to enrich your perspective.

bowler in the world at the moment so we have to play him.”

He added: “Somebody has to come in for Bravo because I don’t think he’s confident at all. I don’t think he’s there. I would give him a rest.”

Gray contended his fellow Trinidadian had not been managed well in the lead-up to the series.

“We cannot have Bravo practicing at home and there are A-team games [ongoing].

He’s struggling and he didn’t play in the A-team games,” Gray maintained.

“That’s foolishness, absolute nonsense. We have to put these guys in situations where they will improve.”

Dominion Enterprise...

From page 29 achievers among the group are:Ike Crawford 503, St. Joseph’s High Tarique Browne 489. BHS Anthony LaRose 455 NAMS Adon Smith 444 JC Chandisingh L. Munroe of ANBAL said, “We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks Dominion Enterprise for this kind gesture and are looking forward to more of these in the future.”

From page 27 things again. You hope for a better outcome.

“I don’t think there is per se a secret to a good start other than warming up well, being well-prepared mentally.

Not underestimating your opponent. I did all of that.

You know me, I will always do that. “So when it happens like this back-to-back

matches it’s just a bit frustrating more than anything, especially when the level is that low and there is that many errors and the energy is not there.

“I can only do better, which is a great thing moving forward.” Federer will look to get off to a better start when he faces either Lucas Pouille or Dan Evans for a place in the round of 16.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday August 29, 2019

BCB/Trophy Stall Under-13 Tournament

Defending Champs Port Mourant KO as Albion CC, RHT Poonai Pharmacy take first innings

Winning RHT Poonai Pharmacy Under-13 Team.

The Berbice Cricket Board 2019 Cricket Season finally restarted on Saturday last after four months break due to the rainy season. Two matches were played in the BCB/Trophy Stall Under-13 Tournament. Defending Champion Port Mourant Cricket Club were knocked out after losing First Innings points to Berbice power houses Albion Community Centre and Rose Hall Town Poonai Pharmacy Teams.

The Tournament was being played as part of a comprehensive Youth

Development Programme by the Berbice Cricket Board and seven teams are participating.

Blairmont Community Centre, Achievers Cricket Club, Rose Hall Canje Cricket Club are in Zone A, while Albion Community Centre, Port Mourant Cricket Club and Rose Hall Town Poonai Pharmacy are in Zone B. Tucber Park Cricket Club and No. 19 Kendall’s Union Cricket Club informed the Berbice Cricket Board that they were unable to field teams.

At the Port Mourant Ground, Albion Community Centre obtained First Innings from their arch rivals. Batting first, Port Mourant Cricket Board were bowled out for 36 with Afraz Budhoo 3 for 12, Retish Nathoor 3 for 5 and Nathaniel Chinapen 2 for 10 being the destroyers for Albion. The visitors in reply were indebted to a healthy contribution of 22 extras as they reached 48 all out in 25.4 overs. Yoganand Mohan took 4 wickets for 21 runs, while A. Bharrat 2 for 4 and G. Seonshanni 2 for 7. Port Mourant batting a second time with a deficit of 12 runs were dismissed for 48 from 22 overs with Rampersaud Ramnauth, the younger brother of West Indies Under15 player Rampertab Ramnauth topscoring with 24, while R. Bharrat scored 10.

Retish Nathoor 3 for 17 and

Devin Lalbeharri 4 for 13 bowled well for Albion.

Needing to score 37 for an outright victory, Albion Community Centre ended on 11 for 2 as Rampersaud Ramnauth and Vishal Williams took a wicket apiece for Port Mourant Cricket Club.

On Sunday at the Area ‘H’ Ground, Rose Hall Town Poonai Pharmacy amassed 114 all out in 38.3 overs with Raphael Fraser 33, Tyrell Hutson 16, Deeraj Ramjit 14 and Tyrone Smartt 14 being the principal scorers. Basil Ali 4 for 14, Yoganand Mohan 2 for 27 were Port Mourant Cricket Club’s best bowlers.

The defending Champion had to get First Innings points to stay in the Competition but were kept in check by the disciplined RHT Poonai Pharmacy bowling attack, to be bowled out for 81 in 33.3 overs. Vishal Williams 26, Rampersaud Ramnauth 13 and Ganesh Seosohar 10 were the batsmen to reach double figures. Deeraj Ramjit 4 for 16, Khemraj Tika 2 for 25 and Zakir Mohamed 2 for 08 were the best bowlers for RHT Poonai Pharmacy. Batting a second time, the home team reached 42 for 2 from 18 overs with Tyrell Hutson 12 and Tyrese Smartt 18 not out reaching double figures.

Ramnauth took both wickets to fall.

Nishikori fends off spirited Klahn to advance NEW YORK (Reuters) Japan’s Kei Nishikori fended off Bradley Klahn 6-2 4-6 6-3 7-5 in the U.S. Open second round yesterday as the 2014 Flushing Meadows runnerup continued his bid for a first Grand Slam title.

What appeared at the outset to be a routine match for the seventh-seeded Japanese turned into a surprise challenge from American Klahn.

After a tepid start, Klahn won all his first serve points in the second set and saved three of the four break point opportunities against him.

Nishikori, who reached the semi-finals last year and in 2016, broke Klahn to take the third set, switching the momentum back in his favour and dominating the longer rallies.

Inconsistency ultimately proved Klahn’s downfall as the 29-year-old committed 62

unforced errors in the match, 30 more than his opponent. “(In the) second and fourth sets... I didn’t play aggressive as like the first or third sets. That cost me a set,” said Nishikori.

“He served pretty fast and accurate, too. And also (his) second serve, he hits big. I think he has a great serve for his height. He’s not the biggest guy on the tour.

But I think he has great serve.”

Nishikori, who had rued his lack of playing time after his first-round opponent was forced to retire, was joined by his usual crowd of excitable fans, shielded from the soggy conditions under Louis Armstrong’s retractable roof.

He will face either 31stseeded Cristian Garin of Chile or Australia’s Alex de Minaur in the third round.

Thursday August 29, 2019

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Kaieteur News

BCB pays tribute to former President D. Somwaru - Albion Open defeat Chesney by six wickets to lift Somwaru Tribute Trophy “Since I was elected president of the Berbice Cricket Board, I have worked very hard to heal wounds, to build bridges of friendship and to create an atmosphere of unity in Berbice Cricket.

Every one of us must sing from the same Hymnal and there must be “us” no “them”.

Mr. Somwaru has been an outstanding servant of Berbice Cricket and today he has been honoured as such”.

Those were the words of BCB President Hilbert Foster at a special Presentation Ceremony for his predecessor Mr. D. Somwaru at the Chesney Cricket Ground.

Foster defeated Somwaru on the 18th F e b r u a r y, 2 0 1 8 b y t w o votes at a High Court ordered Election to become President of the Board.

Since then, Foster has reached out to the majority of those who had voted against him. Some of them are now actively involved

in his administration, while others are very cooperative in getting work of the Board done. Foster had stated on numerous occasions that his Roman Catholic belief does not allow him to hold ill will against anyone and that he wanted to have all hands on deck to develop Berbice Cricket. He described the former BCB President as a close friend for close to three decades and despite a few moments of disagreements, that friendship is still strong today.

The BCB President o rg a n i s e d a F o u r Team Tournament at Somwaru home Ground, Chesney as part of the Board’s Tribute to Heroes Programme.

In the first round of matches, Chesney Cricket C l u b d e f e a t e d To o p o o Cricket Club, while Albion Open Cricket Club got passed Jai Hind Cricket Club by 3 runs. The Final

was played on Sunday last with Albion Open Cricket Club defeating the favourite Chesney Cricket Club by six wickets to win their first ever BCB To u r n a m e n t .

Playing infront of a fair size crowd, Chesney were restricted to 111 all out from their twenty overs with Safraz Khan top-scoring with 27 not out. Z. Zakeer was the chief destroyer with 5 for 10. In response, Albion Open reached 112 for 4 from 17.5 overs as Chesney Cricket Club bowled and fielded poorly. P. Baldeo stroked an aggressive 54, which included three sixes and four boundaries. Andy Naidu supported with 24 as the pair added a crucial 75 runs for the second wicket.

Baldeo was named Man of the Final and received a special gift and trophy.

Albion Open Cricket Club carried home the Winner Trophy, a box of cricket balls, while both teams

Gauff erases deficits to win US Open debut NEW YORK (AP) — Here’s how new all of this is to Coco Gauff: She didn’t quite realize she only has to play every other day at the U.S. Open.

“I’m still used to playing juniors,” the American said with a chuckle, “so I forgot about the day off.”

She’s still just 15. She’s competing in just her second Grand Slam tournament. And yet she’s definitely showing she can perform like someone much older and more experienced.

With her parents jumping out of their front-row seats over and over again, and a raucous partisan crowd backing her at Louis Armstrong Stadium, Gauff trailed by a set and a break, then again by a break in the third set, before coming up big down the stretch to get past Anastasia Potapova of Russia 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 in her debut at Flushing Meadows.

“Honestly, I mean, I really don’t remember the match too well,” Gauff said, “because everything is still a blur.”

Here is what is clear: She displayed the same sort of gumption she did while saving match points in a Centre Court comeback at Wimbledon during her captivating run to the fourth round there last month.

Gauff simply does not

give in or give up.

As strong as her serve and other strokes are, she’s already showing an ability to make adjustments during a match and figure out ways to win, time and again. Gauff was ranked 313th when she got a wild-card invitation into qualifying at Wimbledon, then became the youngest player in history to make it through those preliminary rounds at that prestigious tournament.

After beating Venus Williams in the first round, then a 2017 Wimbledon semifinalist in the second, Gauff got to Week 2 before her surprising showing there ended with a loss to eventual champion Simona Halep.

It was enough to persuade the U.S. Tennis Association to provide a wild card into its event, a special entry she needed because her ranking is 140th.

Four top-10 men’s seeds all tumbled out: No. 4 Dominic Thiem, No. 8 Stefanos Tsitipas, No. 9 Karen Khachanov and No. 10 Roberto Bautista Agut. The biggest beneficiary could be three-time champion Rafael Nadal, the No. 2 seed, who found no such trouble, easily putting together a 6-3, 6-2, 62 victory at night over John Millman.The last match of the schedule didn’t begin until after 11 p.m. and ended after

1 a.m. Wednesday, with the volatile Nick Kyrgios delighting the crowd with some trick shots — one particularly outrageous onthe-run passing shot forehand ‘tweener landed in the net, alas, but a full-sprint, slide-into-the-doubles-alley forehand winner was celebrated with a dance — while beating Steve Johnson 6-3, 7-6 (1), 6-4.

In women’s action, 2017 U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens was stunned 6-3, 64 by Anna Kalinskaya, a 20year-old Russian qualifier ranked 127th.

Stephens, an American seeded 11th, finished with 33 unforced errors, more than twice as many as Kalinskaya, who had been 0-5 at Slams and 0-4 against top-20 opponents.

“I was playing one good point, one bad point, one good point,” Stephens said.

“The inconsistency doesn’t help me at all.”

Svetlana Kuznetsova, the 2004 champion, and two-time finalist Viktoria Azarenka also lost at night. Earlier, defending champion and No. 1 seed Naomi Osaka dropped her first five games against 84th-ranked Anna Blinkova, wasted a match point in the second set, then finally put together a 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-2 victory.

Former BCB President D. Somwaru (back row centre) poses with the winning Albion Open Cricket Team. received large amount of educational materials to be distributed to students in their Villages. Albion Open also benefitted from a donation of a five gallons water pitcher. The Berbice Cricket Board presented two special gifts to its former President along with a framed Certificate of Excellence.

Foster called on Somwaru to share his vast experiences with the younger generation of cricket administrators and wished him good health in the future.

Somwaru in an invited comment expressed his appreciation to the Berbice Cricket Board and Foster for the welcomed gesture. He

wished the Board more successes in the future and joined Foster in urging all cricket leaders to work together as a collective unit.

All of the trophies and prizes for the Tournament were sponsored by the Berbice Cricket Board and the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS.

Federer finishes strong to see off Dzumhur NEW YORK (Reuters) Roger Federer overcame his second consecutive sluggish start to defeat Bosnian Damir Dzumhur 3-6 6-2 6-3 6-4 yesterday and advance to the U.S. Open third round.

World number 99 Dzumhur broke the five-times champion in his first two service games and raced out to a 4-0 lead before many in the crowd had found their seats at Arthur Ashe Stadium, which had its retractable roof closed due to rain.

Despite some shaky serving, the 27-year-old Dzumhur took the first set thanks to 17 unforced errors from the Swiss.

The tide shifted in the first game of the second set, however, when Federer saved a break point at 30-40 following a wild rally during which both players race from corner to corner before Dzumhur sent a forehand into the net.

From there Federer’s superior serving carried the day as he finished with 16 aces to the Sarajevo native’s two and thumped a rocket that Dzumhur could not return on match point to clinch victory.

Federer, however, has looked vulnerable at the

Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts after defeating Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia and Herzegovina (not pictured) in the second round on day three of the 2019 U.S. Open.

(Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports) tournament.

He dropped the opening set of his first-round match against qualifier Sumit Nagal and while he may get away with slow starts in the early rounds, he will need to be more consistent if he hopes to win a record-extending 21st Grand Slam title.

“I have been in that

position many times where you go through a little phase where you don’t start so well and everybody asks you right away, ‘What are you going to do?’,” he told reporters.

“You’re like, I don’t know.

Just go back to the drawing board. Just do the same (Continued on page 25)

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Thursday August 29, 2019

Kaieteur News

Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and team presents sports gear to No72 Sports Club

GFF successfully hosts Extraordinary Congress - Clean Audit Report presented The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) successfully hosted an Extraordinary Congress last Saturday at the National Sports Resource Centre, Woolford Avenue from 10:00hrs.

The Congress saw the circulation and approval of an unqualified or clean audited financial report in accordance with the Constitutional timeline, which is one of the responsibilities of the Congress.

“The GFF’s Executive Committee is committed to transparency and good

Governance and thus, in keeping with the Constitution, each member of the GFF was given the opportunity to honour their constitutional responsibility and obligation to scrutinize the Audited financial report and raise their concerns at the Congress,” said GFF’s President, Wayne Forde, in an invited comment.

The audited financial report will be published on the GFF’s website and shared with sponsors, partners, Government of Guyana and other key stakeholders.

Minister Ramjattan presents some of the sports gear to members of the NO72 Sports Club.

Minister of National Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, whilst on a recent visit to his home town area on the Upper Corentyne, Berbice, presented thousands of dollars worth of sports gear to members of the No 72 Sports Club, Corentyne.

The minister who is a well-known attorney at law was once a prominent fixture in the sporting arena in those areas, especially in the field of cricket.

The minister and a team that included Member of Parliament Reynard Ward were on a visit to the Upper Corentyne area. Minister Ramjattan in handing over the gear and equipment, cautioned the members to be disciplined and take good care of the items. He urged them to help push sports and community and recreational activities in the area so that youths and others can be gainfully occupied.

The members expressed gratitude on behalf of residents of the community and promised to make full use of the items donated.

They thanked the Minister for remembering them and their continued support and look forward to a continuous and lengthy relationship.

Among the items handed over were cricket bats, gloves, Footballs among other gear.

(Samuel Whyte)

Puran Bros set to clean up at golf tournament Puran Bros Inc. Inaugural golf tournament is set for Saturday August 31 at 12:30 pm and promises to be a magnificent event as all eyes and support of the company will be with new LGC member Satish Puran, Director of the Top Mix Cement division as he plays in his first ever tournament.

At their newly remodeled headquarters building on the West Coast of Demerara, President of the LGC Aleem Hussain receiv e d t h e sponsorship check from executive administrative assistant Sarah Dass and Director of the Top Mix C e m e n t d i v i s i o n S a tish Puran.

Mr. Hussain expressed his appreciation to the company for their support and said he was encouraged by the level of development and expansion by the company over past few years and looked forward to a longterm relationship.

Puran Bros has been a supporter of golf and sports for many years in Guyana and as their personal growth as a company continues, so does their involvement in local activities.

Known for their waste removal services, the company has expanded their

President of the LGC Aleem Hussain receives the sponsorship check from Executive Administrative Assistant Sarah Dass and Director of the Top Mix Cement division Satish Puran. operations to include tyre recycling, paper shredding, party supplies, equipment rental, tree trimming, Cement supply, road sweeping, and septic tank removal, amongst many other services.

In operation since 1987 and with more than 300 employees in the company, odds are that almost every household in the city uses one of the services provided

by Puran Bros on a regular basis.

This week’s tournament will feature players of every category as trophies will be awarded to the top two players in three categories -

0-10; 11-19 and 20-36 along with prizes for longest drive and nearest to the pin.

Satish Puran described his excitement as a new golfer stating, “The experience of making a great shot is incomparable to almost any other feeling in the world, and the precision and dedication it takes to succeed at golf can be transferred to the business environment.”

Members of the public and business partners and employees of Puran Bros are all invited to come share in the fun and excitement of the game and the ambience of the Lusignan Golf Course.

President Forde addresses GFF’s Extra Ordinary Congress.

Some participants at the GFF’s Extra Ordinary Congress.

Insurance Institute of Guyana tapeball tourney set for Saturday at GNIC SC The Insurance Institute of Guyana will be staging a five-over 7-a-side knock out tapeball competition on Saturday at the GNIC SC starting at 11:00hrs.

The Institute, which is an arm of the Insurance Association of Guyana, is responsible for training and education in the industry and according to its President Anil Singh, this activity will be attended by members of the various insurance companies and its employees, he said that the purpose of this event is to bring the people together.

Eight teams have so far registered; Hand in Hand, Assuira, Diamond, GTM NAFICO, GCIS, Demerara Mutual and Caricom Insurance.

Singh said that the brokers including APEX, MP, P and P, IBGL and Abdool and Abdool will team up with the Insurance companies to form the various teams.

Trophies donated by the companies will be at stake and the top four teams from the preliminary round games will contest the semi finals.

Other events are carded for day such as sack race,

while there will also be entertainment for the children.

Singh said that this is the first time the institute, which is located at North Road and King Street, is engaging in such an activity and they are all excited.

He pointed out that the Institute encourages people to study and to some extent provide materials for them to do so, adding that there is a social activity committee on the institute that is responsible for events; this committee he said comprises members of the various insurance companies.

Thursday August 29, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Blairmont Community Centre annual Cricket Club camp ends The Blairmont Community Centre Cricket Club (BCCCC) successful completed their annual cricket camp on Saturday which was held under the theme “Options for Youths”.

The camp, which was held at the Club’s venue, Blairmont, West Bank Berbice, commenced on Monday 12 August and was held over a two weeks period.

Some 52 youngsters between the ages of 11-16 years attended the camp which has been an annual affair for the past nine years.

According to coordinator Shabeer Baksh, one of the main aims of the annual event is the improvement of the club membership and creating a foundation to improve the basic skills of the attendees.

While some of the youngsters were new to the sport some came with natural talent.

The camp focused on basics skills in cricket including batting, bowling, fielding and wicket-keeping along with aspects of being a positive individual.

Topics covered include time management, leadership, the importance of education, discipline, alcohol, drug abuse and various social ills that is pervading the society.

Among coaches involved in the camp were former Guyana and West Indies pacer Colin Stuart, senior Academy coach Michael

Participants being taken through a session on swimming at the Blair Estate swimming pool.

Hyles and Berbice senior Coach Winston Smith.

Dr Zulificar Bux, a former Berbice U15 player, graced the occasion and spoke to the attendees on sports, health and education.

He encouraged those in attendance to find the right balance of living, about setting goals, working hard, working smart, being honest and staying humble.

President of the Berbice Cricket Board Hilbert Foster also attended and encouraged the youths to say no to drugs and yes to education.

President of the BCCCC Mohamed Hussain reminded the youngsters of the opportunities that have been offered to them and their need

to continue practicing.

The BCCC U15 and 16 teams are expected to undertake a two day visit to Georgetown to engage in some cricket matches.

A presentation ceremony was held at the Roy Frederick’s Pavilion of the Blairmont Community Center.

All the participants were presented with a Compact Disc of coaching, batting and bowling, gifts and trophies and a certificate of participation.

The items were donated by the BCCC, Berbice Cricket Board, Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, Seon Glasgow Jr, Republic Bank and the New Building Society. (Samuel Whyte)

Hero Motocorp extends title sponsorship of Caribbean Premier League for three years The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is delighted to announce that Hero MotorCorp Limited have agreed to extend their title sponsorship of the tournament for another three years.

The extension of the partnership means Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters will continue their title sponsorship of the Hero Caribbean Premier League until the 2022 season.

The New Delhi (India) headquartered Hero MotoCorp has been the title sponsor of the Twenty20 cricket league in the Caribbean – popularly called the ‘Biggest Party in Sport’ since 2015.

Hero MotoCorp has long been a key partner of marquee sporting events - including cricket, soccer, field hockey and golf, in India and across

the globe, and the extension of their partnership with the Hero CPL further cements their association with worldclass sport. It also demonstrates the value that Hero CPL is delivering across the globe for the league’s partners and is a further endorsement of the international standing of the tournament in commercial as well as cricketing terms.

Announcing this here yesterday, Mr. Richard Bevan, Chairman of Hero CPL, said “Hero & CPL have become synonymous in every cricket fan’s vocabulary and we are delighted to join hands with the World’s pre-eminent twowheel automobile company for three more years.

It’s true to say that the Hero CPL wouldn’t be the magical event that it is without Hero’s now long and ongoing support.

On behalf of the League and our millions of fans, I

would like to extend our thanks and gratitude for this continued commitment to the Biggest Party in Sport.”

Dr. Pawan Munjal, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hero MotoCorp said: “Hero is pleased to continue its association with one of the world’s most popular and respected T20 franchise tournaments.

Having been associated with the Hero CPL from its inception, it is immensely satisfying to see how the tournament has grown and revitalised cricket in the Caribbean.

The Hero CPL has been an outstanding launch pad for budding cricketers who are now competing around the world.

The extension of our title sponsorship of the Hero CPL is yet another example of our long-term commitment to the promotion of sports around the globe.”

An outdoor session with coaches’ Former West Indies player Colin Stuart and Michael Hyles.

Dominion Enterprise supports Berbice students

Students with their well packed bags after the presentation.

Dominion Enterprise Managing Director (DE MD) Former National Table Tennis Player Dwayne Munroe, for the very first time has extended their generosity to Berbice, in collaboration with ANBAL Dance School, in donating school supplies to a group of children, mainly those who were successful in Grade Six exams.

A simple ceremony was held at ANBAL in which

Director H. Munroe encouraged the children to study and work hard to become successful, be good role models and make their family proud. She also mentioned that they were all excited and nervous as they prepare for the new school term at their new schools.

In an telephone conversation with DE MD he echoed the same sentiment, and is very pleased to assist

the group from Berbice, he also mentioned that he could recall his school days, as soon as school closed he used to head to Berbice for holiday, doing this gesture took him way back.

He also promised that come next year students can look forward to yet another donation in an effort to assist with their educational development. The top (Continued on page 25)

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Thursday August 29, 2019

Kaieteur News

Bishoo and Bramble on board as BCB starts 80th Anniversary Celebration - Foster launches Celebration in Upper Corentyne

Devendra Bishoo hands over Television Set to BCB Public Relations Officer Simon Naidu.

The Berbice Cricket Board month long celebration of its 80th Anniversary was last Friday launched in the Upper Corentyne SubAssociation. President Hilbert Foster on his 49th visit to the area since his election last year, launched the celebration by donating a $20,000 bicycle

to eleven years old Alina Sinclair, a promising junior Female Cricketer from the Upper Corentyne area.

Foster stated that the celebration would be held under the Theme “Reflection of a rich legacy - 80 not out” and the majority of the activities would focus on educating youths on the History of Berbice Cricket and

in making positive differences in the lives of less fortunate cricketers and clubs.

The hardworking President stated that there are many youths who have great cricketing skills but are unable to fulfill them due to extreme poverty and as such that Berbice Cricket Board would work along with them to make

C6 claim Wiltshire mid-year dominoes tourney C6 chalked up 78 games to win the final of the Mark Wiltshire mid-year dominoes tournament which concluded on Monday night last at Dynasty.

Brian Edwards led C6 challenge with 17 games, while Anand Marks contributed 16.

Gangster took the runner up spot with 71 games, while OPKO placed third on 69.

Shellon Collymore and Stephon Collymore marked 17 games each for the runner up side, while Richard Mittleholzer and Carla Forde scored 17 and 15 games respectively for OPKO. Gangster won the semi final encounter with 72 games ahead of OPKO with 66 and Spartons on 61. Shellon Collymore and Sevens Collymore scored 15 games each for Gangster, while Mittleholzer made 17 and Leroy Hack scored 16 for OPKO. Martin Permaul scored the maximum 18 games while Tyrone Ambrose made 15 for Spartons.

The winning team collected a trophy and $90,000, the runner up a trophy and $50,000 and third

BCB President Hilbert Foster Launched the 80th Anniversary Celebration by donating bicycle to Alina Sinclair. sure that no one is left behind. He advised Ms. Sinclair to take proper care of the bicycle and to stay in school to complete her educational background.

For 2019, Foster has assisted dozens of junior cricketers with cycles as part of a countywide campaign to assist them to get to school and cricket practice in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, West Indies Players Devendra Bishoo and Anthony Bramble have contributed financially towards the upgrading of the BCB Cheddi Jagan Street, New Amsterdam based office.

The restoration of the office is one of the main projects for the 80th Anniversary and Foster is personally spearheading it.

The office would be upgraded with the floor tiled, the roof sealed and new

furniture, equipment installed.

The office currently leaves much to be desired and Foster stated that its restoration when completed would result in better services to the general public and cricketers.

The Berbice Cricket Board is also working to become self reliance in an effort to reduce operating cost.

Among the items the Board is working on are covers for pitches, computer, printing machine, large water container, television set, Sound System and water dispenser among others.

On Friday last, Bishoo, the leading wicket taker at the Test level for any Berbician, handed over a 32 inches Television Set to BCB Public Relations Officer Simon Naidu, while West Indies 20/ 20 Selectee Anthony Bramble donated a $30,000 Water

Dispenser to the Project. A Popular Berbice Attorney-atLaw also donated a Mobile Water Cart to the Berbice Cricket Board. The cart would be used at the BCB Finals to provide refreshments for players.

The Board has not received any financial Subvention/Stipend from the Guyana Cricket Board for over a decade and Foster stated it has been a miracle, that Berbice Cricket has not only survived but excelled at all levels.

He expressed gratitude to both Bishoo and Bramble for their assistance. He praised the support the Berbice Cricket Board has received from ninety nine percent of Berbice Clubs and Players.

Both Bishoo and Bramble both stated that they were very delighted to assist Berbice Cricket.

Nigel Hikel (left) accepts one of the trophies from Stafford Waldron of RDC Region six. place $20,000.

Meanwhile, Wiltshire and Nigel Hikel will be hosting a tournament on Sunday at Nigel’s Place 219 Drive Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice.

Entrance fee is $12,000 and the winning team will take

home a trophy and $175,000, runner up a trophy and $75,000 and third place $35,000.

Double-six time is 14:30hrs and all GNDA rules will be in effect. Teams can call Wiltshire on 659-8672 or Hikel on 611-4886 for registration.

Anthony Bramble hands over donation to BCB President Hilbert Foster.

Thursday August 29, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Windies erred in excluding Cornwall, Bravo needs axe: Gray BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Former West Indies fast bowler Tony Gray has slammed the exclusion of off-spinning all-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall from the opening Test in Antigua and believes the subsequent lack of another impact bowler was one of the reasons behind the home side’s heavy defeat last Sunday.

West Indies left out Cornwall from the final XI and included seamer Miguel Cummins after fast bowling all-rounder Keemo Paul was ruled out with injury.

However, Cummins proved woefully ineffective, sending down 20 lacklustre overs in the match without taking a wicket, as West Indies slid to a crushing 318run defeat inside four days.

Gray, who played five Tests and 25 one-dayers for West Indies between 1986 and 1991, said Cornwall offered a great alternative, especially with his height and past success against batsmen from the subcontinent.

“We have to look first at the selection of the team. If we’re picking Rahkeem Cornwall [in the squad] with

rt o p S

West Indies all-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall goes through catching practice ahead of the first Test in Antigua last week.

the history that he has behind him – doing well in regional cricket, very good bowling average and we know that he can bat, and also doing well on the A-team tours – you have to pick him [in the final XI] in that sort of situation,” Gray told the Mason and Guest radio programme here Tuesday.

“You don’t have a Michael Holding or a late

Malcolm Marshall to have in your bowling unit. You have two strike bowlers in Shannon Gabriel and [Kemar] Roach who performed tremendously well in that game but when you don’t have an additional impact bowler, what you’re doing is putting pressure on the whole team and it’s going to have a domino effect in different ways.

“[Roston] Chase had to bowl a lot of overs, he’s had to use up concentration levels to get wickets because he’s there mainly as a batsman.”

Chase, a part-time offspinner, sent down 54 overs in the match and with the pitch at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground flattening out into a good batting track, (Continued on page 25)

Federer finishes strong Gauff erases deficits to see off to win US Open debut Dzumhur

Coco Gauff, of the United States, reacts after defeating Anastasia Potapova, of Russia, during the first round of the US Open tennis tournament Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019, in New York.

(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Roger Federer of Switzerland hits the ball to Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia and Herzegovina (not pictured) in the second round on day three of the 2019 U.S. Open. (Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports) Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.