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Thursday August 31, 2017
Kaieteur News
Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
NO ACCOUNTABILITY As Guyanese, we have a very contentious situation that should be addressed by the government through constitutional reform in order to ensure justice is being done fairly to all citizens. In 1924, Lord Chief Justice (Gordon) Hewart of Britain famously noted that “it is not merely of some importance but is of fundamental importance that justice should not only be done but should be manifestly and undoubtedly seen to be done.” This has been a fundamental principle that has been frequently recited since then, but sometimes conveniently eschewed by those with power. If there is one reason to reform the Constitution, it would be ideal for the government to do so to make changes to the functioning of the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Over the years there have been numerous complaints; some public, but others quietly, to reform the office of the DPP in order that justice be manifestly and undoubtedly seen to be done. Presently, if the President and his cabinet conduct the affairs of the State to the displeasure of the electorate, they would likely be banished into the political wasteland as they did on May 11, 2015 with the PPP. Power that is given can also be taken away. There are several other functionaries, legislative, executive or judicial, who can be held accountable or must at least give explanations to either an Auditor General, a Commission of Enquiry or the law courts for decisions made or actions taken by them. But the Constitution gives carte-blanche power to the office of the DPP which accounts to no one in terms of decisions or actions taken. This unconditional power cannot be the best state of affairs in any democracy if transparency and accountability are to be taken seriously. The Constitution authorizes the DPP to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person before any court other than a martial court. The DPP may also take over and continue any such criminal proceedings that may have been instituted by any other person or authority and can discontinue any criminal case at any juncture before judgment is given. This is the power vested in the DPP to the exclusion of any other person or authority. However, this state of affairs is not unique to Guyana. Such a non-existent checks and balances system of this highly important and very powerful office exists in other Caribbean countries. In Jamaica, Section 94 (6) of its Constitution confers similar power on the office of the DPP, where it is not subject to the direction or control of anyone or authority. But like Guyana, questions have been raised by the public about such exclusionary power. While we believe that the office of the DPP should be immune to political or any other societal influence and that such autonomy must be protected, there should be some mechanism in the Constitution that makes it mandatory for a DPP to be held accountable for his/her actions/decisions to the public either by written and/or verbal explanation. The DPP should provide reasons when cases are discontinued without obvious cause to those in the legal profession and to the average citizen. Moreover, the victims of crime should be taken into consideration, but some of us are only concerned when crime affects directly or our immediate kin. But if the sufferer of a rape, robbery or fraud, or the family of a murdered victim discovers that the perpetrator has been freed as a result of a discontinuation of the case or there has been no trial, the family affected deserves to be at least given an explanation. If not, it will be seen by the public that there are two justice systems—one for the rich and powerful and the other for the poor and powerless. As such, there needs to be changes in the office of the DPP because the perception of justice being done is just as important as justice actually being done.
Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email
Job Classification in the Public Service of Guyana DEAR EDITOR, The Guyana Public Service has instituted for more than two decades now, an unchanged Classification of Jobs. Fourteen (14) Grades were established in relation to five ‘classes’ of ‘public servants’. These are assigned as follows: i) Administrative ii) Senior Technical iii) Other Technical & Craft Skilled iv) Clerical and Office
Support v) Semi-skilled Operatives & Unskilled It would require some research to ascertain the factors/criteria used by anonymous compensation management expertise to agree on the categorisation, examples of which will be seen in Tables following. Until then an immediate question on which to ponder, must be how these descrip-
tors could have remained static in the face of the technological advancements which have changed the nature and structure of, functions, and even of the same jobs, moreso in the face of reconstructed ‘Agencies’. A most superficial perusal will reveal such static relationships as exampled in the following: · Technology – Typist/Clerk
TABLE 1 – ADMINISTRATIVE
TABLE 2 – SENIOR TECHNICAL
· Function - Personnel Officer Similar anachronisms are quite likely to be observed by those more familiar with their respective operational areas. Nor is it unlikely that other scrutineers would detect confusion in some of the Job Gradings to be revealed in the aforementioned Tables. In this connection the Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Public Service made the following Continued on page 6
Thursday August 31, 2017
Attitudinal hostility of the sale staff in the fast food business DEAR EDITOR, I read the letter about ‘rough’ service from sales staff in shops ad rather liked the term “attitudinal hostility”. That people accept poor service in food shops is puzzling to me. With so many such shops around, why not just leave and go elsewhere? When I last visited Guyana - a few years ago there were so many food outlets in the city that it was easy to get one’s food somewhere else. To me, the easiest course would be for employers to brief serving staff about what is and what is not allowed. For my part, one such ‘display’ and I would walk away, appetite lost. All the places I visited were clean and well run. I still find it difficult to enjoy a full meal on my own in public. A snack yes; a full meal always in my hotel/guest house room, the best I can recall and recount being in Washington, DC, some years ago, a stone’s throw from the White House. We were “over-nighting,” before our departure for the UK the next day. For dinner arrangements, we were advised to ‘turn to the right for dinner”. Being the only nonwhite in the group, I decided to ‘go left’ instead. I walked
about a block away - and came upon a ‘soul food’ takeaway! From the wall menu, I chose a combination which turned out to be the most beautiful meal I had had during that holiday - fried chicken and ‘fixings’, including ‘dirty rice’, bread roll. a mixed salad, all securely placed on a suitable tray. Not a white face in sight. My companions sniffed as I walked past them, still presumably trying to decide on dinner arrangements. Travel expands the view of life. I learnt how much Americans in general appreciated things British - often observed us in awe. Black and white, we acted together as we did in the UK. This took staff in touring areas by surprise - both in the USA and in the Caribbean. I let the Caribbean guides know that black and white Brits sat together and moved together when occasion called for it. On holiday I had noticed that Americans moved in separate ‘colour’ groups. My happiest recollection was on a boat cruise one night during a visit to Miami, sharing a table with two white Brit. young women. We sat together, chatting, and one of them offered me a taste of her drink! The general reaction from the whites was comical.
We Brits looked at one another. The young women were from the North, so they probably worked among blacks, had several such friends, maybe even ‘dated’ black chaps. If there is one thing I am willing to vouch for among Brits in general is their loathing for American obvious racial prejudice. Holidaying in America, they always hover around me at any sign of awkwardness. At one tourist shop, when the elderly cashier offered me a bundle of worn notes as change, one of them almost torn in half. I handed it back and asked her to let me have a different one. The Brits at the back cheered; she was taken by surprise, probably then realising we were not Yanks. I did not much mind well-worn notes - I used them as ‘tips’. We all still have much to learn. A word on Astor cinema; So lovely to take a trip down memory now and again. We, now part of the diaspora in the UK, often read contributions, pass the word along, compare notes and either laugh or mourn the passing of the things we once enjoyed. I read of the imminent demolition of the Astor cinema, and it brought to mind
my primary school days, in the 1940s, passing it before its opening, on my way home from St. Philips school. There was a flying banner with the name of its first film. As I recall, the film was “Golden Boy”; its second film, I think was “Ganga Din”. The cinema, as I recall, was owned by Mr. Correia, who lived with his family in Fifth Street, Alberttown. He stored his films in a bunker at the back of his house. On two occasions, years apart, fires took place at night, starting in the bunker. On the second occasion, a woman neighbour jumped from a window in trying to escape: she subsequently died. They were a kind family, and neighbourhood school boys were often given free ‘pit’ tickets when business was slow. There was a certain amount of drama attached to the Astor cinema, but it remained a favourite with many. As children, on Holy Thursday, we made a special visit to see a showing of the “Passion Play”, usually around 1.00 pm. Boys from the country would relate the tale afterwards of how “they ‘jucked’ the star boy in his side”! May this cinema’s demise be given the respect and dignity it deserves. Geralda Dennison
The penalty for small amounts of marijuana must be reduced DEAR EDITOR, On the fateful day Wednesday 20th of August 1823 over 200 of our ancestors were massacred at Bachelors Adventure on the East Coast of Demerara, many of those enslaved Africans came from plantations that stretched from Mahaica to Le Ressouvenir on the East Coast of Demerara. The scars of the atrocities committed against our foreparents are very much noticeable unto this day in the community of Bachelors Adventure that was abandoned by the colonial Government as a result of our ancestors’ action against the evil system of slavery. This all changed when the Government of Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham came to power in 1964, our community was inspired by great leadership, we were encouraged to pave our mud dams through self-help labour with material assistance coming from the Government, from our vantage point we watched the Estate communities flourish where dwelled the planter class who stole our back lands after our forefathers would have pooled their resources to purchase villages. The African village movement was born out of the struggle of our ancestors. Our
young people must be taught the characteristics that embodies this noble movement, we must no longer be subjected to racial discrimination that until recent times plagued our communities, we must at all times be prepared to defend the gains of the revolution. We dug the canals and conservancies with our bare hands we are the architects of drainage and irrigation across all Guyana’s coastal region, we erected the sea defences, we were the early educationist and health workers with our traditional knowledge of medicine, we were the midwives and doctors, we excelled in the legal system and opened up the mining industry through pork knocking. The time has come for us to reflect on our past and where we are today, as a people we have become very careless, carefree and uncooperative in our communities with a serious dependency syndrome taking a grip of our young people all waiting for the Government to do everything for them while they are consumed in spree and party while disregarding social, cultural and economic responsibilities. Our young people must take pride in the way they dress or they will always be shut out from the mainstream
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of economic activity in this prosperous nation, we must all become pioneers for Hinterland development, there must be a resurgence of National Service. Parents must be prepared to stand up against these unwelcomed habits of dressing and bleaching our skins which causes skin cancer. Let us remain black and proud we are all blessed. A large percentage of our young people show no respect for elders, there is a moral decay that is eating away at the core of our villages resulting in serious under development. Literate villages and towns will at all
times prosper agriculturally, industrially and commercially. Illiteracy will foster poverty, crime and violence this we must be mindful of, our fore fathers laid down their lives fighting for the liberation of today’s generation, and it is through laying down their lives that the Emancipation of slavery became a reality on the 1st of August 1834. Let not their struggle be in vain; let us rekindle the spirit of the early African village movement which was founded on cooperatives. Let me take time to emphasize the importance of education in empowering in Continued on page 23
The EIA as structured by Exxon is deficient in key areas DEAR EDITOR, At risk of stating the obvious, it is clear that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) structured by Exxon as outlined by the Ministry of Infrastructure is deficient in key areas that protect and reduce the risk for Guyana. A slim chance of a spill needs to be quantified and qualified especially given the experience level of those involved. It appears to be too high of a risk considering the 2% revenue agreement. With no protections in place to compensate those affected by a spill reduces the earnings to be gained by this endeavor in the oil and gas sector. Keeping in mind that there is a high level of risk at the start up of this operation, the elements of 1. detailed response measures with a clear outline of how the EPA and Exxon will conduct repairs and clean up 2. compensation to those affected including neighbouring countries as outlined by the Ministry are not nice to haves, but must haves in the EIA before they go ahead is given in the initial 450,000. These elements and associated costs should also be inclusive of lost income due to the negative impact on the ecotourism industry. All of these costs must be included in all financial models, so as to clearly outline the downside scenario in the event of a spill occurring and oil reaching the coast. This will better inform the government in its decision
making and also better inform the negotiations being undertaken. Any compensation to be gained from an agreement with Exxon should be far above and beyond the cost associated in the event of a spill reaching the coast and must cater for the worst case scenario. If we are to take the weakness of the EIA at face value, it becomes clear that Exxon is not looking after our best interest in this deal and is not seeking a win-win agreement. It would better serve the interests of both parties involved in the negotiations to be focussed on the restructuring of the EIA. Exxon is also developing there alternative energy portfolio and would be negatively impacted in the event of an oil spill. It is very disappointing that Exxon has not taken this opportunity to help Guyana pursue a green economy by aggressively providing environmentally friendly energy alternatives. We know that the wind alternative for Guyana is a strong option off the coast that could provide a surplus of energy for Guyana. This is an important option to pursue, and it will quickly reduce the level of national income spent on the importation of oil for power generation. Exxon is missing their opportunity to help lead the transition to alternative energy sources. We should be partnering with the companies that are serious about increasing the use of alternative energy sources. Jamil Changlee
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Job Classification in the Public Service... From page 4 observations: · Job Classifications cut across almost all Grades. The most alarming are grades under the respective classifications: ‘Administrative’ and ‘Senior Technical’ starting from GS2 and continuing from GS4-GS14 · A Job Classification System cannot be used for positions which do not match in terms of their duties and responsibilities. Instead it is used to: a) group positions that have similar duties and responsibilities, b) require same or similar qualifications, experience and training as relevant.” More specifically the COI speaks to the palpable overlap in Grades. For example examination (though not quite complete) shows the Grades under the following: Administrative Grades 14-02 Senior Technical Grades 13-05 Other Technical& Craft Skilled Grades 08-02 Clerical & Office Support Grades 05-01 Semi-Skilled & Unskilled Grades 05-01 The above classifications are reflected in the sampling of positions in Annexes 1-5 hereto. Annexe 6 shows some comparabilities (?) of Job Grades in the respective Classifications The Report went on to suggest an ‘Adjusted Job Structure’ as a Model, albeit a short-cut to a more compre-
Thursday August 31, 2017
Kaieteur News
hensive Job Evaluation Exercise. It suggested the following reclassification: “Non-Management – Grades 1-5 Supervisory – Grades 6-9 Management – Grades 10-14" The Tables of samples of the current classifications in the 2017 National Estimates would appear to indicate that nothing has changed; arguably because the Report is yet to be read by the sponsors, since no plans have been indicated for the implementation of any of its Recommendations in the immediate future. More topically however, it is interesting to note that the Chief Prison Officer is in Grade 09 under Senior Technical – at the same level as the Community Liaison Officer in the Ministry of Public Security. Meanwhile, it is notable that there are no ‘Senior Technical Officers’ indicated in the Attorney General’s Chambers or in the Office of the Director ofPublic Prosecutions. In each instance the relevant skills fall within the category ‘Administrative’. It would not be unfair to ask for some illumination on what appears to be a diversion (?) perhaps, between the Department of thePublic Service within the Ministry of the Presidency (page 709), and the Public Service Ministry (Public Service Management) on page 721 (Source: Public Service Management). If perchance space cannot accommodate the Tables mentioned at the beginning, then hopefully the Exhibit below of abbreviated comparabilities may titillate interest. Of course all the above excludes the thousands of ‘Contracted Employees’ who pervade a variety of scales. The mystery deepens as to how they are classified, and assigned comparative job values. Who knows? Please see tables below. E.B. John
TABLE 3 – OTHER TECHNICAL & CRAFT SKILLED
TABLE 4 – CLERICAL & OFFICE SUPPORT
TABLE 5 – SEMI-SKILLED OPERATIVES & UNSKILLED
Thursday August 31, 2017
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Still headless after two years…
Granger, Jagdeo to consult on Integrity Commission members - PM
One of the nation’s key constitutional agencies, the Integrity Commission, continues to go headless and remains without a sense of direction under the Granger administration. Speaking with Kaieteur News recently on why this state of affairs continues to exist, Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo said that the matter is now at the level of the President. The First Vice President said that the law requires consultation with the Leader of the Opposition on the appointment of members to the Integrity Commission. “I am not able to say if that has taken place. (But) That is where that is.” Nagamootoo said, however, that he made recommendations to the Head of State regarding the names of the Chairperson and other members. Meanwhile, Executive Member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr. David Hinds is of the view that it is not that the government deliberately does not want this Commission up and running. He believes that at the heart of the issue is the fact that too much of the decision making has been confined to the Cabinet.
“The Government has been quite slow in implementing a lot of these Commissions which it promised during the General and Regional elections. But I don’t think they don’t want to implement it. There is a problem regarding the division of labour. Too much of the governance is confined to the Cabinet and it seems that the Cabinet is overworked.” Dr. Hinds said that what the Government needs to do is spread its work out a bit more. In this regard, he suggested that the Government establish subcommittees to take some of the burden off Cabinet. “From what I know, they want things like the Integrity Commission and other commissions that have not been staffed, to be up and running, but the problem is that the decision making has been too narrow. It needs to be broadened. I think also that the parties which make up the Government need to be much more active in their advisory role.” With this in mind, the WPA Executive Member said that what the Government
Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo
WPA Executive Member, Dr. David Hinds
Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo
needs at this stage, is an audit of what was promised during the elections and how it has delivered in this regard. “What you need is an audit of what was promised and what has been done. And you need a committee that can look at these areas that you have not covered yet. What you need is an advisory body outside of Government. The members of the po-
litical parties can play that role.”While the Integrity Commission remains headless, Dr. Hinds is still of the view that the Government’s slothfulness should not be interpreted as it being malicious. He insisted that the Government got into office to fight corruption. Dr. Hinds opined that the administration is quite aware that a well equipped and staffed Integrity Commission would be cru-
cial to its anti-corruption efforts. The principle behind the declaration of assets to the Integrity Commission by senior public officers is to ensure that they do not acquire large amounts of cash or property without proper justification to the nation. With the Commission not functioning, it is yet to fulfill this fundamental code which led to its creation. This state of affairs was heavily criticized by the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) when it served in the political opposition. It was since last year September, that Minister of State, Joseph Harmon said that the Integrity Commission will soon be able to do more than just collect statements from politicians regarding their ac-
Government, upset gold miners to meet on concerns The Ministry of Natural Resources will be hosting a stakeholder engagement with members of the mining community next week Thursday. This engagement, the ministry disclosed yesterday, is intended to address concerns recently raised by miners about the state of the industry and the means through which these will be satisfactorily addressed by all sides. The Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners’ Association (GGDMA), the Guyana Women Miners’ Organisation (GWMO) and the National Mining Syndicate, representing mining syndicates from across the country, have been invited to the stakeholder engagement. The engagement, the ministry said, is part of its ongoing efforts at public consultation and outreach on a number of natural resources-related issues. The Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) has been calling on Government for engagements, to address a number of burning issues, including roads, cost of fuel and other supplies and taxes. Gold, which has been the biggest foreign currency earner for the country, is set to do well this year again. However, miners last Sat-
urday boycotted the annual Porkknockers Day in Linden. This week, GGDMA said that Government should take fault for what it said are missed opportunities to capitalize on rising gold prices. The association said it made a proposal that would have seen Government earning between 25 to 50 percent tax, once prices hit a certain ceiling. World prices were hovering around US$1,300 per ounce on Monday, a 10month high. GGDMA, which joined a number of other mining organizations in boycotting Porkknockers’ Day, in Linden over the last weekend, dis-
closed that months ago there was a Miners Tax proposal tabled. The tax scale recommended by the GGDMA proposed that under US$1100 per ounce, there should be a 25% tax. Between US$1,100US$1,300, the tax would be 50 percent. GGDMA, comprising large players, disclosed that in May of 2017, it met with the Commissioner-General, Godfrey Statia, and a highlevel team from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). GGDMA has been increasingly vocal in accusing Government of not paying attention to mining, which
last year remained the highest foreign currency earner for Guyana. Miners have also been blaming Government for the state of the hinterland roads, following heavy rains this year.
cumulated wealth. Harmon said that the coalition government was examining the mandate of the Commission with the aim of giving it powers to investigate the truthfulness of such declarations. The Minister asserted that the government was and still is, of the opinion that the Commission does not have enough power to enforce any of its decisions. Harmon had said that for the time being, the Integrity Commission is functioning with a very small staff with a very limited budget. In addition, he had said that proper investigations should be conducted to ascertain how Government Ministers and other public officials acquire their wealth. Under the laws, public officers including the President, Permanent Secretaries, Director of Public Prosecutions, Auditor General, Commissioner of Police, the Army Chief, Heads of the Services Commissions, Foreign Affairs officials, Judges and Magistrates and Department Heads are required to declare their assets. Also required to submit declaration forms of their earnings and gifts received are Regional Executive Officers, the Chief Elections Officer, Mayors, Chairpersons and Chief Executive Officers of state companies, Registrars of Lands and the Commissioner of Guyana Revenue Authority, along with Presidential Advisors, and Heads of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and Guyana Forestry Commission.
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Thursday August 31, 2017
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Exxon top execs meet with Govt...
Granger: All Cabinet decisions will be taken to National Assembly -says relationship with oil company based on accountability, openness President David Granger yesterday morning said that the Government will be working with ExxonMobil to develop a long term relationship, which is founded on transparency, accountability, openness and aligned interests for the good of Guyana. The Head of State made these comments during a meeting with a visiting delegation of ExxonMobil executives at State House to discuss matters related to the status of exploratory and appraisal work in the Stabroek Block as well as the relationship between the Government and the company, the Ministry of the Presidency said in a release. President Granger said that at the end of the process, Guyanese must be able to view the development of a petroleum industry as one that is beneficial to the national interest. “We are at the start of an oil and gas industry and we want to ensure that our people are involved… We are happy with the way things are going so far and we want to assure you of the Government’s commit-
ment to transparency and accountability. We take decisions at the Cabinet level and then those decisions are taken to the National Assembly and we do not see that process changing. All Guyanese must feel involved in the process,” the President assured. Granger noted that it is important that there are regular and accurate announcements on matters pertaining to the development of the sector, adding that Guyanese must be involved, especially in the mainstream opportunities, which are available in the industry. “We have got to keep the public informed to ensure that civil society does not feel that there is some underhand relationship, which is injurious to the country. We want to make the right steps and we are looking to see that the population gets the education they need to participate in this industry. We are looking to ensure that this industry generates employment for our people and, as part of our partnership, I hope that we can have
President David Granger makes a point to Mr. Darren Woods, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ExxonMobil as officials of the Government and ExxonMobil look on. a programme, which can help to educate Guyanese on this industry,” he said. To ensure a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship, the President said that the Government is working to develop the requisite framework and strengthen capacity in areas, which establishes and maintains good governance. Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge also assured the executives of Government’s commitment to the process of building an open and transparent relationship with the corporation. Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, also attended the meeting and echoed the President’s sentiments, stating that the en-
gagement is part of an ongoing dialogue that aims to strengthen the relationship between Guyana and ExxonMobil for the benefit of the Guyanese people. Meanwhile, Darren Woods, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ExxonMobil Corporation, in an invited comment, described the meeting as fruitful, noting that the Government’s commitment to transparency and accountability was discussed in detail. He said that the administration’s commitment is welcomed since the company’s interests and aims are in alignment with this. “I think it is a very productive conversation that we just had. The Government is looking to make sure that we develop the resources and that we do it the right way that can benefit the community and the people of Guyana. We are very committed to that ourselves and we had a
lot of discussions and dialogue to see how best we can do that to benefit ExxonMobil, the Government and the people of Guyana,” he said. Exxon and its partners are preparing for the offshore commencement of production by 2020 with the US company already signing key contracts. The offshore concessions of Exxon is located about a 100 miles offshore Guyana and with the findings, first announced in May 2015 being the first major commercial one for this country. It is estimated, based on current findings, that the Stabroek block has up to 2.8 billion barrels of oil, one of the biggest find in this part of the hemisphere in the last decade. According to the current deal, Guyana is getting two percent royalties and a 50/50 share of the profits, after Exxon would have deducted its expenses and investments return. There have been increasing calls for the agreement to
be made public. However, Government has pointed to confidentiality clauses and noted that the deal was signed more than a decade ago under the PPP/C government. The current administration has managed to get Exxon to raise the royalty from one percent to two percent. Guyana is currently moving to introduce a number of measures and systems to deal with oil production, with high interest in other exploration. According to Woods yesterday, ExxonMobil remains committed to its investments in Guyana and is swiftly moving ahead with its production plans. The meeting was also attended by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; and Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin on the Government’s side. For Exxon, those present were Kimberly Brasington, ExxonMobil’s Guyana Senior Director of Public and Government Affairs; Country Manager and Project Executive, Rod Henson; and Carlton James, Director, Government Relations, Guyana.
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Do not read too much into the West Indies victory In 1976, the West Indies Cricket Team toured England. The English team must have fancied themselves against the tourists who had come off a 5-1 drubbing by the Australians in the tour Down Under. The England captain, the South Africa-born Tony Grieg, was boastful about his team’s prospects. He even went as far as saying that he would make the West Indies grovel. These were words which came back to haunt him. The West Indies demolished England in what was the beginning of their golden run in international cricket. Led by Clive Lloyd, the West Indies won the five-test series 3-0 and also won all three of the one day internationals.
In those days, the West Indies tour lasted for months and required matches against all of the county sides. According to ESPN stats, of the 28 first class matches which were played, the West Indies won 20, drew 6 and only lost two, one of which was to the county champions Middlesex. Tony Grieg’s comment only served to motivate the West Indies players to do well. The West Indies are again touring England. They lost the first Test disastrously in three days. The English media and cricket personnel had a field day. The team was described by one commentator as the worst team he had ever seen in all his years of watching Test cricket. Even some West
Indians chimed in, bemoaning the poor performance of the West Indies team. The West Indies rebounded this week with a hard fought victory on a pitch which was wearing. It was a total team effort by the players who showed great character. It will, however, take more than character for the team to prevent the English from taking the final Test match. The West Indies have a decent side. What they have lacked is consistency, in both batting and bowling. There is need for two tearaway fast bowlers. The West Indies team needs a genuine leg spinner. Devendra Bishoo has changed his bowling style. He should go back to his original style of bowling
Food handlers warned of inspections which are expected in September The second Food Seminar was hosted yesterday at Cara Lodge, Georgetown, by the Ministry of Public Health, Food and Drug Department. The seminar, which aims at sensitizing on their responsibilities for safe food practices, was attended by approximately 35 food handlers. Jewel Sears, Deputy Director of Guyana Analyst (GA)-Food and Drug Department (FDD) said that yesterday’s one day seminar was for food handlers who work in food service establishments. She said, “We are looking at safe food practices in terms of the raw ingredients, their storage and how they are handled prior to cooking”. Yesterday’s session was done because, “We live in a city that we know is affected, which can cause contamination of food. We also know that food comes into the city from other
areas, as well as from other countries and we have to ascertain that our city residents are protected from harm and disease. We also know that food handlers always need to be sensitized as to how to handle food so it is an awareness as well as continuous education for those who have been exposed before”. “We are looking at preparation of cooked dishes since careful preparation will prevent contamination of raw foods which can produce sickness to the consumer, like diarrhea, vomiting and fever,” according to her. In addition to these issues, physical and chemical contaminants were also discussed in the meeting. “Glass and hair and tooth pick and maybe even little pieces of metal can cause medical injury. We are also looking at the prevention of chemical con-
tamination into the food because, also food handlers would handle cleaning compounds so they have to be proper requirements for storage so they will not contaminate the foods with any other chemicals they will use. Food handlers were educated on fire safety requirements from representatives from the Guyana Fire Service, Deon Dylan and Dayne Paul. They were also advised to buy ingredients from credible sources, to have products which are not expired and to purchase foods that are properly labeled, among others. The subject of pest control was expounded on as well as personal hygiene of the handler and cleaning and sanitation of the environment and ingredients. During these sessions, attendees benefitted from informative video Continued on page 21
which enabled him to make a sensational debut in international cricket. The team does not have any great players. None of those in the team are likely to emerge as cricket greats. There is no batsman with the tenacity of Chanderpaul, the devastating shots of Vivian Richards, the power of Clive Lloyd or the strokeplay of a Rohan Kanhai or a Brian Lara. There is no one also in the West Indies who can be said to be destined for greatness. But all is not lost. The West Indies now have a core group of players around which the coaches can work. There is no need to chop and change this team. The players must be given an extended run, because the reserves back in the Caribbean also do not possess anyone who
deserves to be in the side. The coaches should try to work with the present bunch at least over the next five years. They should not disrupt the development of the team by trying to chop and change or to facilitate so-called senior players coming back into the squad. An exception can be made for Darren Bravo who was unfortunately removed in the first place, but it is no use investing in any older players. The present group should be given that security of knowing that they will be around for at least the next five years once they perform consistently. Once they do so, the West Indies should be able to perform well, once they are able to recruit two genuine fast bowlers. Too much should not be
read into West Indies’ victory. The team still has a long way to go. It may still end up losing the rest of its matches. It is a relatively inexperienced team, but the players constitute a core group around which the West Indies can be constituted over the next five years. In the meantime, the WICB can move forward with its development programme.
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Kaieteur News
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
Keeping alive the memories of the Jagdeo/Ramotar cabals Simply unbelievable! There are no words to describe Guyana. A former Trinidadian Minister has been taken to the police station in connection with alleged witness tampering when his party was in government. In Guyana, under the Jagdeo/Ramotar cabals, far more depraved illegalities have taken place and only two former ministers are before the courts - Jennifer Westford and Anil Nandlall. In the industrial world, the CARICOM region, Latin America and elsewhere, former leaders are either in jail, before the courts or are being investigated for illegalities when in office. For fifteen years, Jagdeo and Ramotar have ruled
Guyana where corruption became mountainous, but where is historical justice? Take one example. The Guyana Revenue Authority investigated former Secretary to the Treasury, Nirmal Rekha and the report concluded that Mr. Rehka signed over a hundred duty free letters that were bogus. What is instructive about this bizarre tale was that the accusation was not made by an opposition figure or a PPP detractor. This was an investigation conducted by the Guyana Revenue Authority, one of the most importantly sensitive state institutions in the land. The Secretary to the Treasury is another term for the Permanent Secretary of the
Ministry of Finance. In which part of the world, could such a high level state actor be accused of signing over a hundred illegal duty free concessions and not be investigated when there is a change of government? Surely, there could be mistakes made, but not over a hundred mistakes by the same person. Let’s move to Leslie Ramsammy. The manager of an American electronic stores that sells complex high tech equipment only to governments said that the then Minister of Health, Leslie Ramsammy was the Minister from the Guyana Government that purchased a sophisticated spy instrument. It turned out that the item found its way in the possession of one of the Caribbean’s most notorious drug traffickers, Roger Khan, now in a US federal prison. Enter the realm of nonsense. A man (who this writer thinks should not be taken seriously) accused a businessman of wanting to assassinate the president. The police found the accuser and his story comical and did not proceed with
deep investigation and charges. The government was not satisfied, so it ordered a Commission of Inquiry. Now square this with what a witness, working as an informant for the US government told an American court in the trial of witness tampering by Roger Khan’s lawyer. He said after human rights activist, Ronald Waddell was murdered, the gunmen reported to a Minister in the Jagdeo Government that he named as Leslie Ramsammy. This is the same Ramsammy that writes two letters a week accusing the present administration of authoritarian traits. One letter denounced the government for employing friends and relatives, an art that Ramsammy’s two presidents, Jagdeo and Ramotar perfected. At the time he lost power, President Ramotar’s daughter was General Manager of the Guyana Gold Board and Ramotar’s son was the highly paid head of the E-governance cable which today is beyond salvaging and which has resulted in billions of lost money. The Government wants
Interpol to locate a former assistant general manager of GPL, accused of a $27 milliondollar fraud. But NICIL and the former Finance Minister allegedly
Frederick Kissoon broke every financial law on the statute books. Those who would like to see how backward this country is, should compare NICIL’s action and the behaviour of the former Finance Minister under Jagdeo and Ramotar, with what happened to impeached Brazilian President, Dilma Rousseff. Rousseff was not accused of any corruption charge involving taking money, accepting bribes, using state funds for personal accumulation, having foreign accounts, hav-
ing assets that cannot be accounted for; nothing of the sort. She was accused of violating Brazil’s Fiscal Responsibility Law. Guyana has a similar law. She authorized expenditures without congressional approval. This was the identical charge APNU and AFC made in 2012 against Minister Ashni Singh when APNU and the AFC used their majority in the House to remove certain allocations which Singh still implemented. Belize has a similar situation with what has taken place with regards to Pradoville 2 and the current Belizean government has taken action. The Pradoville 2 saga, had it occurred in most countries of the world, would have resulted in criminal charges. Some depravities in the project were abominable. For example, recipients already had houses when they were given concessions at Pradoville 2. And what did one lot owner do? Build a house on the land and sold it for one million US. Surely, the assets of Guyana should not be dispensed with like that.
Thursday August 31, 2017
PAGE 11
Kaieteur News
Two academic years later... Teachers’ remuneration talks still incomplete Two academic years have passed and the Ministry of Education is yet to conclude a process of negotiation with the Guyana Teachers Union [GTU] for a new remuneration package for public school teachers. The last agreement that the GTU had inked with the Ministry expired in December, 2015. Moreover, the union had presented to the Ministry a new proposal for which negotiations had commenced under former Permanent Secretary, Ms. Delma Nedd. However, with Government’s decision to reshuffle some Permanent Secretaries earlier this year, Nedd was replaced by Mr. Vibert Welch. But according to GTU President, Mr. Mark Lyte, while there were some postponed sessions of the negotiations under Nedd, the situation under Welch has been completely unacceptable. In fact he told this newspaper yesterday that the union is currently “extremely frustrated,” since it has been
unable to meet or even communicate by way of telephone with Welch for several months. “Since March month we have not had discussions...we had written to the Permanent Secretary twice and we called several times but we have gotten nowhere...there has been no formal response regarding the status of our discussions,” lamented the GTU President yesterday. An irked Lyte considered that “school will be reopening on Monday [September 4] and the GTU is not au fait with any plans for meeting in the near future, since nothing formal has emanated from the PS’s office.” The GTU President is however suspicious that there might be ‘more in the mortar than the pestle’. “I think that something is happening above the heads of these individuals [at the Ministry] that seems to be creating the stall of the negotiation. I don’t see why the PS would say in March we would meet in two weeks and it is
GTU President, Mr. Mark Lyte now coming to the end of August and still no talks,” Lyte considered. “We are writing and we can’t get him; when you try to call you are not getting through...from our end we are very concerned that it has been two academic years and
“Class sizes will affect output in terms of performance” – GTU President There is no denying that tactical interventions to address shortcomings in the school system have helped to considerably improve students’ performance. Testimony to this is the deliberate mathematics intervention which was introduced last year by the Education Ministry at the primary school level that helped to realise astounding results. When the results of the 2016 National Grade Six Assessment were released in June, it revealed a 46 percent pass rate as opposed to 14 percent in 2016. It was in fact an elaborate emergency programme that attracted sizeable spending by Government that helped to achieve this improved performance. In light of the fact that the
2017 Caribbean Secondary Education Certification examination did not yield such laudable results, officials of the Ministry of Education have suggested the introduction of a similar intervening programme much like the one introduced to improve the NGSA Mathematics performance. “We are going to mirror some of the things we have done in relation to the National Grade Six Assessment that we saw improvement in, in terms of preparing an action plan to deal definitively with areas of weaknesses,” said Chief Education Officer, Mr. Marcel Hutson. But according to President of the Guyana Teachers Union [GTU], Mr. Mark Lyte, while the NGSA programme
was said to be a Cabinet decision, there has been no indication that the intervention at the secondary level has been similarly sanctioned. In light of this belief, Lyte said that the onus is on the Ministry of Education to involve all key stakeholders, including the union, before proceeding with such a programme. “The union is a key stakeholder and yet we are not called upon to give input. For the NGSA intervention, the Union was involved after the fact and this should not be the case...they said it was Cabinet decision, but I don’t know that an intervention like that for secondary schools is also a Cabinet decision,” asserted Lyte. Continued on page 23
there is literally no agreement in place for our teachers,” Lyte said. The Ministry in September, 2016, paid public school teachers increases of 10 and six percent. But Lyte underscored yesterday that the Ministry had assured the Union that that payment was an interim payment pending the outcome of the continued talks. But a second academic year has come to an end and there seems to be no end in sight when it comes to the negotiation.
In fact Lyte said he is perturbed that there seems to be no consideration for the valiant task that teachers have to educate the nation. “Our teachers have been going without an adequate increase of salaries for two years, without the other nonsalary benefits such as duty free concession. Hinterland and riverine teachers have not been receiving the hard-line allowance that they deserve...our teachers are going without a lot of things that are included in the agreement,” said Lyte. In addition to its non-salary features, the Union’s proposal suggests a 40 percent across the board increase for teachers for last year, a 45 percent increase for this year and 50 percent for the following three years (2018-2020) for all categories of teachers. It also takes into consideration inflation and had made it clear that “should there be inflation higher than the percentage agreed upon, then the teachers/teacher-educators must get the benefit of the difference.” But with no action forthcoming to even adopt an altered version of the agreement, Lyte said that the Union will have no choice than to signal its discontentment by some means of retaliation. However, the form of retaliation that the Union is
likely to embrace will not be the usual industrial action. Lyte confided, “I see a number of activities being affected if we don’t have forward movement in terms of the negotiation. If it means we have to pull back on our involvement in some areas we will, and you know if teachers pull back involvement in activities such as the schools’ championship [sports] and Mashramani activities, they will in no way be a success because we carry those activities.” Moreover, Lyte hinted to the convening of a special general council meeting by the GTU where a formal decision will be made on the tactic that the Union will embrace. But taking action, according to Lyte, will be dependent on the response, or the lack thereof, to yet another letter that was inked and slated to be sent off yesterday to the Permanent Secretary. Copies of the letter are expected to be sent to President David Granger, Minister of State Joseph Harmon and Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry. According to a passionate Lyte, “The letter is just another reminder that we need at least a response on the way forward...our teachers deserve to know where they stand.”
PAGE 12
Thursday August 31, 2017
Kaieteur News
Relocation to Barnwell for Lombard street squatters
Phillip Chase
Deon Bramma The Broad and Lombard Streets squatters yesterday thanked the government for fulfilling its promise of providing better living conditions. The Ministry of Communities’ decision to relocate the squatters to Barnwell, East Bank Demerara (EBD) was the result of a legal action by a land owner and a High Court decision, which led to a sixweek eviction notice. This initiative, which is part of the ministry’s effort to regularise housing, is a collaborative effort between the ministry and Food for the Poor to construct 72 single homes, each costing $1.2M to accommodate the residents. The government will invest $42M on the relocation programme, which will be transferred to Food for the Poor for the construction of the houses to match the amount provided by the agency and $30M for the infrastructure development of the area. Phillip Chase, representative of the Broad and Lombard Streets Squatters, told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that he has been living in the area for 15 years with his wife and children. He noted that he had tried previously to gain the attention of the government to offer some form of assistance to the resi-
dents, especially the children. “We (Broad and Lombard Street squatting area) were not satisfied living in these conditions, so we had approached the previous government to visit the area which they promised that they will visit. They also promise that they will help us (in terms of lands) but they did not fulfill their promise. However, the government has changed and it is not even three years in office (they have developed a plan to relocate us) and we are very thankful for the government for what they are doing for us, especially since they said that there is lot more to be done,” Chase explained. Chase said that he is thankful for the support given by the government and Food for the Poor, in recognising and understanding the need of the residents for a better standard of living. He pointed out that after inviting a number of ministers, they ‘shed tears and said that they will do something for us’. Deon Bramma, a 20-year resident of the squatting area, said she had wanted to apply for a house lot, but certain restrictions prevented her doing so, particularly the number of down payments to be made before one could attain the land.
“When PPP was in power, when you go to housing, first thing they tell you is that you have to come with a $100,000 one time. You can’t come short, you can’t come this you can’t come that, but thank God that APNU win the election and we can get a better deal. We are getting our own house and our own land free of cost; we don’t have to pay for anything for it but build the toilet and everything, and pay our rates and tax and light bill” Anetha Dash told DPI that she has been living in the squatting area for 23 years and decided to apply for a house lot at the Ministry of Housing (now Ministry of Communities) but never received a response. “I applied at the Ministry of Housing since 2002 but they (Ministry of Housing) never contact me and even if they had contact me I would have been unable to afford the price for the land that they were selling, which was $500,000 and other kinds of price at that time,” Dash explained. She noted that she is grateful for the initiative taken by the ministry and Food for the Poor to have the Continued on page 23
GCAA places temporary ban on interior... From page 3 authority.” Field said that the aviation industry is growing very fast. “Where a number of years ago we had 30 or 40 aircraft, now we have about 70 plus aircraft on our register. So this means that the authority will have to increase its capacity in order to maintain the balancing level of surveillance.” Field admitted that the halting of the shuttle operations in the interior will create some hardships for miners and inhabitants. However, he be-
lieves it is a necessary measure until all the relevant documentation can be presented so that the Authority can be assured that air operators are maintaining operation control. Further, he said that when the review process of the procedures is completed and all elements are verified, the ban will be lifted. These elements refer to there being qualified loaders, certified engineers and that dispatchers reside at the various locations. The Director General hopes that the submission of
the procedures is done soon. He warned that any operator that decides to conduct shuttling operations while the ban is enforced will face sanctions. Meanwhile, Field said that the Authority will host a safety symposium within the next two months. He said that this is an item that was held in 2015. He added that the Authority sees the need to host the symposium sometime in October and that the arrangements and preparations have started.
Thursday August 31, 2017
PAGE 21
Kaieteur News
Govt. faces major hurdles in repossessing BK/Baishanlin lands -bank appoints receiver; 100 acres up for sale at Providence
Businessman, Brian Tiwarie
Baishanlin’s principal, Chu Hongbo
A move by the administration to repossess prime lands at Providence, East Bank Demerara, that were in the control of Chinese-owned BaiShanLin, is now in jeopardy, facing even more delays. This is because the 100acres property, owned by Sunset Lakes Inc., located behind the Providence stadium, is now in receivership and is being advertised for sale. The land had been sold in 2014 by Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) to businessman/contractor Brian Tiwarie for development into a gated community. However, eight weeks after securing the lands from CH&PA for US$2.2M (ap-
proximately $440M), Tiwarie, who owned Sunset Lakes, turned around and flipped the company to BaiShanLin for US$8M ($1.6B). BaiShanLin is a Chinese investor that ran into trouble over its operations here and had its forest lands taken away by the Coalition Government. BaiShanLin, now facing financial problems, was unable to pay Tiwarie the US$8M it promised and early last year, the businessman took BaiShanLin to court, asking for his balance of US$4M. Tiwarie also demanded back his company Sunset Lakes and wanted the court to forfeit the US$4M that BaiShanLin had advanced
Food handlers warned of... From page 9 presentations. With sensitization ongoing with food handlers, the deputy director noted that consumers as well are being sensitized via radio and television broadcasts. Dr. Karen Boyle, cofounder and share holder of Eureka Laboratory explained, “The international food trade is a $200 billion dollar a year industry, with billions of tons of food produced, marketed and transported across and within borders. International food trade continues to grow as producers find new and innovative technology and enable greater productivity at cheaper rates. The vision of the Ministry of Public Health is for Guyanese to be among the healthiest in the Caribbean and to achieve this, in addition, for us to boost the quality of our services, we must look at the factors, social and economic which
put our population’s health and safety at risk… there are some 322 standards and guidelines for safe manufacturing and handling of various food products. GD-FDD is charged with the responsibility for the administration and importing of the food and drug act, chapter 34 and three of 1971 and the food and drug regulation of 1977, the main aim being to safeguard the health of the nation”. During a recent meeting with the Mayor of Georgetown, Patricia Green, it was noted that come September, inspections will be carried out to verify that safe food practices are being conducted by those who vend to school children, and the inspectors might even turn up at the home of vendors to ensure that food is prepared under conducive conditions as well as the way it is stored.
All that stands on the 100-acres of prime land at Providence. him. On the lands currently, BaiShanLin had started to build a number of luxury homes, announcing prices upwards of $50M. However, all that remains now is the fence and ghostly, unfinished properties. There has been little works in the last two years. BaiShanLin and its principal, Chu Hongbo, now a Guyanese citizen, is now reportedly concentrating on gold mining. Yesterday, in a full page advertisement in Kaieteur News, the Receiver/Mana g e r, a c c o u n t a n t N i g e l Hinds, announced that he was inviting tenders for local and foreign parties interested in purchasing the 100 acres, either entirely or less. Hinds was reportedly appointed Receiver/Manager after BaiShanLin defaulted in loans it took from a local bank. It was stated that the land is ideal for residential purposes and located less than a mile from the Provi-
dence stadium. Hinds said that while tenders are to be evaluated primarily on price, additional consideration will be paid to the development plans submitted, as well as the capacity of the developer. This latest development would continue to anger persons who have applied for house lots and homes from CH&PA, but are being told there are no lands. There are more than 20,000 applications pending at the CH&PA, with Government announcing plans to build duplexes and apartments for low income families in the short term. Large swaths of lands behind Republic Park and Providence have been sold under questionable circumstance to several private developers who were looking to cash in on the booming housing drive between 2010 and 2014. Many of those parcels have not been developed as the housing market stag-
nated. Many of the developers, some of them businessmen close to the previous administration, were left in financial difficulties. There is evidence that a number of the developers may have illegally sold the lands they have committed to develop, for millions. The evidence that is emerging now speaks of some developers breaching their conditions of sale, by illegally selling off to overseas investors and others. There is no word whether the applicable profit taxes were ever remitted to the Guyana Revenue Authority. Most of the land deals at Providence were birthed in the final days of the last term of former President Bharrat Jagdeo. CH&PA has been promising to go after the private developers for breaching their conditions, including the building of infrastructure like drains and roads. However, more than two
Receiver/Manager, Nigel Hinds years after taking office, there appears to be very little progress made. In the meantime, at C H & PA , t h e r e i s l i t t l e movement also in quickly reducing the number of applications for houselots and homes that are in the system.
PAGE 22
SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. -CosmetologyCourses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 647-1773/660-5257 SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigration Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496/ 662-6045 Computer & Mobile repairs systems upgrade, software installation, website development, mobile unlocking. Beats any price. Call: 647-7622/645-7471 Budhram landscaping services, free advice. Call: 656-1326 Eagle’s: Re-gas –low prices, washing machine repairs, gas stove, plasma flat Screen, computer repairs & more. Call: 697-2969/646-0966 Repairs at low cost: Fridges, air- conditioners, washing machines, TVs, microwaves, freezers- Call:629-4946 or 225-4822
WANTED
Experienced curry cook, roti/ puri cook, cleaners, handy boy. Apply Hack’s Halaal, 5 Commerce Street. Urgently need 1 babysitter ages 35-50 preferably persons out of town. Call or whatsapp: 664-3918 Welder, Arch-Gas to work in workshop on the West Coast on a percentage basis. Call: 684-1247 Need experienced garbage trucks driver & labourers. Call: 670-7920 La Parfaite Harmonie, Zeelugt, Uitvlugt. Call: 681-8746 General Maids to work shifts at Hotel. Apply in person. Call:225-9211 Technicians: refrigeration, washing machine, gas stove/ electronic- Call: 225-4822/ 6294946 Wanted in large quantities. Dried corilla bush. Contact: 665-1397 Female worker wanted sound secondary education, computer literateTel: 622-5518 Urgently need one land to buy in Eccles, Providence, Herstelling, Farm, Zeelugt & Parfaite Harmonie- Call: 6560701, 651-1969
LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj Building- Call: 644-5166; 6222872; 615-0964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).
TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 2257878 (24HRS)
Live in waitress to work in bar. Call: 604-6606/ 692-4649 One sales girl or boy. Call: 673-8574
VACANCY One experienced salesman, apply with written application & recommendation, also one general domestic. Apply @ Keyfood, McDoom Village.
1 Caterpillar skid steer loader, model#:236 B, low hours. Contact: 650-0402\603-1402
Cook/ Baker for interior. Applicants must be experienced. Call: 618-2020
1 -BMW 318 I, never register..!!! $ 2 M. Contact: 650-0402/603-1402
One experienced pharmacy assistant to work in a reputable pharmacy in G/Town (flexible hours). Call: 227-0630
One Raptor Ford 4 DoorContact: 670-7920
Qualified teachers at Alfalah School Barbados for Secondary Level (CXC & CAPE). Email C.V to alfalahbds@hotmail.com Hopetown Gas station: Manager, Accountant. RA Soda Factory, Rosignol: Accountant, checkers, male & female workers. Call: 3302399/ 623-5920/603-0433
Register @ IAE: full-time, afternoon, day/evening CXC/CSEC classes for adults & repeaters: Mathematics & English A. Call: 683-5742/ 6217365 Register your child for after school classes for slow learners in Mathematics, Reading, Phonics, Spelling, etc. Call: 675-4379
5 lots in Blankenburg, back of the gas station @$2.9 M each. Contact: 650-0402\603-1402
Back to school sale! Laptops & Desktop computers from: $45,000 netbooks -$25,000, free games & software. Call FutureTech: 644-6760/ 660-2010 One diesel welder generator in very good condition. Call: 699- 4300/ 228-2734
Experienced Cashier & Salesgirls, apply American Variety Store, 140 Regent & Light Street, Georgetown, serious applicants only One Female Gardner contact 223-5273/74 EXPERIENCED WELDER/ Fabricator, CARPENTER/ MASON, Labourer. Call: 266- 5569 One female tutor/ nanny to teach a 2 years old boy, from 7:30-12:00pm. $65,000 per month- Call: 623-1615 Female accounts clerk 2350yrs. Apply in person @ Alabama Trading 65-66 Robb Street, Bourda.
Mechanic for maintenance & repair of vehicles & equipment. Experience & references required. Call: 6182020,231-2250 Waitress for bar Call: 612-2522 One cosmetologist, must be specialized in nails mostly and cornrows. Call: 6222643,225-8701 1 Hair dresser & 1 nail technician @ Natural Beauty Salon & Spa located @ Grove Market Street, EBD. Call Ms Rashari: 652-5800
FOR RENT
LAND FOR SALE
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620
Herstelling (front), Diamond $3.5M, Eccles, La Parfaite, South, Cummings Lodge, Sophia, Canaan, Nismes, Highway.GME:231-7805/618-7483
Property for rent - 2 storey house at Republic Park, E.B.D$1200US. Call 647-1773 Fully furnished luxury apartment 2 &3 bedrooms, long & short term stay. Call:664-2143 3 Bedrooms house top and bottom flat in a yard - $35,000 monthly at Canal No2 Polder on W.B.D. Call: 613-1860/ 685-9721 MEDIUM SIZE MINING BLOCKS FOR RENTAL. CALL: 669-4149
Property @ 180 Charlotte Street Bourda, 1 building in front & 2 storey house at the back, L 120X B 30- $50M negotiable. Call: 624-7341/ 227-6817/226-5183 House and land available @ La Parfaite Harmonie, Providence, etc, we also assist with financing. Contact Pacific Development: 2236035/ 227-8274 Property 15mins from G/T public road, EBD - $15.5M. Call: 681-1312 1-3 Storey building @ Regent Street 60ftX52ft & 3 bedroom house @ Middle Road La Penetence 56ftX25ft. Call: 653-2477/ 685-6874 Kastev, Meeten Meer Zorg, W.C.D: 3 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, verandah overlooking Atlantic ocean. Owner migrating -$36M, negotiable. Call: 676-7974/ 615-0173 PEN PAL Male looking for female companion age 50-55, must have good personality. Call: 674-2302
Parfaite Harmonie way upfront, over 7 years finished. One concrete fence $1.5M. Already cleaned- Call: 656-0701, 651-1969 Herstelling New Scheme (110ft x 60ft) $4.8M- Call: 6560701, 651-1969 Uitvlugt New Scheme First Street (100ft x 50ft) 20ft reserve. All legal fees paid $3.2M. Already cleaned- Call: 656-0701, 651-1969
Office space for rent @ North & King Streets, Georgetown. Call: 225-4708/ 225-4106 VEHICLE FOR SALE 2015 Ford F150 V6 2.7 litre, twin turbo, 4X4 automatic, fully loaded 34,000 kilometers, excellent conditioner. Call: 610-5370 TO LET Furnished & unfurnished one, two & three bedrooms apartment at Providence and Diamond. Call: 216-2299/ 6721906/ whatsapp: 1-246-833-9739
PROPERTY FOR SALE
Zeelugt - $2.5M, Tuschen $2.5M. Call: 642-1252
Building with three apartments in Diamond ideal for Pastors, Companies or Organization. Call: 680-5944/ 656-4211
ATV Honda Bike for sale, model: 475,450, year: 2006, 2007, 2011, 2002 and 2003. Contact Popie: 699-7420
Vegetarian Gardens: Driver/ Driver Salesman. Call: 2277714/223-3448, email: info@ugiworld.com
Sales girl at D.Singh and Sons- Tel: 226-1316 EDUCATIONAL
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Lawn grass - $1,400, potting soil -$800, Ficus, Exora, Purple Heathers – 4 for $1,000, Palms @ $1,000. Call: 626-1044
1 Diesel mechanic welder to work in the Interior, interested person can contact: 625-5136
Live-in waitress, to work in bar. Walk with ID Card. Contact: 221-2785 MASSAGE Angels Massaging Spa. Come relax and be pampered. Call: 694-9775
Thursday August 31, 2017
Kaieteur News
One bedroom, self-contained apartment with parking facilities, located at Providence East Bank Demerara. Call: 6186207/ 673-1617
CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL:656-0087,6435122 ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM DOLLY’SCARRENTAL-CALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIALOFFERS! . CALL: 690-6494 AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL: PICKUP,9-11 SEATMINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 6987807
Unregistered bluebird 1500cc, 31,000KM, front wheel drive, RZ bus good working condition, owner leaving. Call: 265-0204/2652171/682-7589 One Mitsubishi freighter mignon enclosed canter, 19ft. tray, in excellent condition. Call: 618-6207/ 673-1617 One pit bull minibus, BTT series, in excellent working condition, with alarm, price – $1.8M negotiable. Call: 6259204/691-8272
PEN PAL Male looking for female companionship. Call: 6036300
Thursday August 31, 2017
PAGE 23
Kaieteur News
Linden developing under present council - Mayor Holland Despite the negativity by many Lindeners, Mayor Carwyn Holland said that Linden is developing. During a media conference Tuesday in the board room of the Town Council, Mayor Holland said that he believes that it is the duty of the council to inform the people of Linden about the developments within the township. “We are answerable to the people of Linden, we have to provide answers when necessary; nothing should be hidden under the bed. The people of Linden need to know what is going on.” The Mayor said he is proud of the achievements of the municipality, noting the state in which they had received it . He claimed it was hard work because the last council was faced with a lot of challenges. “Considering the circumstances, we were able to come in and make things better for Linden. Simple things were affecting the
Mayor Carwyn Holland council such as personality clashes. However, I am proud to say that the councilors are happy with the achievements heading into 2018. I am happy o say that staff are now being paid the minimum wage and all those below have been brought up to that from next
month (September) and we want to go further than that to make their lives as comfortable as possible so they can be rewarded for their hard work and efforts.” The Mayor noted that in terms of infrastructure, although they do not have enough money to repair roads
“Class sizes will affect output in terms of... From page 11 Lyte is convinced that the education system could achieve the desired results simply by addressing some existing shortcomings in the system. Chief among these, he noted, is the issue of class sizes. “We have recognised that too large class sizes can affect how our children are taught,” said the GTU President yesterday as he pointed out that the Union has long proposed that “class sizes will affect output in terms of performance.” He noted yesterday that while the Ministry has admitted that class size is an important issue that must be addressed “they have not made any announcement. They will have to issue a circular that will advise on the size of classes; I am not aware
that any circular has been prepared to address this matter even though they have acknowledged that smaller class sizes will enhance students’ performance,” said Lyte “They have not done anything to move forward with that matter. While they have acknowledged that yes, this will help, there is nothing instructing administrators of schools that they should have smaller classes.” General Secretary of the Union, Ms Coretta McDonald, has publicly disclosed that the GTU has over the years been furnished with reports of classes in the public school system having over 55 children at both primary and secondary levels. But McDonald intimated that the situation at the secondary level could be easily appeased as students usually
have periods with different subject teachers. However, at the primary level, she noted that the task could prove to be difficult but not impossible to address, if the goal of the education system is to improve performance. GTU’s comments regarding the need to address class sizes were in fact prompted by surveys it had conducted. “We recognised that large classes are going to create a negative impact in terms of the way in which we deliver in our classrooms,” said McDonald as she pointed out that “when you have to work with children coming from, let’s say three different levels – those who are ready, those who are part ready and those who are not ready – having a class of 45, you know how difficult it would be to deal with those children.”
The penalty for small amounts of marijuana... From page 5 dividuals, building strong families, liberating communities and ensuring a prosperous nation where all can enjoy that good life. We can learn from the developed world with their many institutions of learning that promote Agro industry, information technology and most of all a green economy. The plight of our young people regarding unemployment, poverty and crime must be addressed through Research and Project Implementation at the community level. Sports and cultural activities helps to positively mould the character of young people and eliminate the high incidence of mortality caused
by non communicable diseases, through lack of physical activity at the community level our population is highly obese , we need a body that can adequately ensure that our playfields all across the country are always in good shape, once this happens the residents will ensure there is always organized sports and cultural activities, crime will be at its minimal, there will be better community relationship and residents will look out for one another, our people will slowly and surely get rid of behaviours that promote ethnic divisions. Those new housing schemes that were built under the previous administration are mainly without sports
and cultural facilities, communities need community centres and playfields this is the basis on which progressive communities are built, this is how deviance is addressed among youth. Too many of our young people are ending up in prisons for being in position of small amounts of marijuana, that law which came forcefully into being with the Desmond Hoyte administration has turned innocent young men and women into a life of crime in an overcrowded prison that offers no sound rehabilitation program. I therefore call on the Government to address these punitive measures for small amounts of marijuana. Ras Aaron Blackmam
and the staff does not have the expertise to undertake road projects, one of the things the council does is to lobby for roads and last November/December five roads were done in the town and for this year ten roads were done. “We did not oversee or supervise the project but we played our part by ensuring there is development within our township.” According to Holland, the contract was signed recently to upgrade the landfill site and the Christianburg cemetery was upgraded by paving the walkways between the tombs and the Day Care Centres are also being upgraded.
“We also played a role in the diversification of services such as the Passport Office, the Magisterial District, the Small Business Bureau to have a desk set up at the Council and the Council is in talks to have Birth Certificates processed in Linden. I had a personal involvement.” Chairman of the Environmental and Waste Management Committee Waynewright Bethune noted that a lot of negative things are being peddled in the public that things are not being done. “Over $5M a year is used for maintenance of the Christianburg Cemetery and the council gets less than 20
percent in returns. In terms of Waste Management, we still don’t have the capacity to fully serve the entire town; but there are a couple of things that we are putting in place for the development.” Bethune noted that the Kara Kara dumpsite is being set up at a cost of $18M. It will be completed in two weeks. He also said that the council secured $20M to upgrade the Centennial Arch, which was erected last November for the 100th year of mining Bauxite in Linden. Councillor Devin Sears noted that Linden is on the rise and can be promoted as a tourist destination.
From page 12 residents relocated to healthier living conditions. It was highlighted that the area has approximately 68 adults and 80 children with obvious housing, sanitation, and health problems, as well as limited work opportunities and scant social services. Minister within Ministry of Communities, Valerie Adams-Yearwood, highlighted that though the government and Food for the Poor will be financing the project, the style of the
homes will be readjusted from the Food for the Poor models, with a back patio and a shaded verandah. A plan is also expected to be created for the residents to pay for some of the materials, such as the water meters among other amenities, the
minister said. Ivor Allen has been awarded two contracts for the infrastructural development works (roads, drainage and water) at Barnwell, EBD, which is scheduled to be completed within eight weeks.
Relocation to Barnwell for...
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Thursday August 31, 2017
Kaieteur News
Chinese Fed Up - Investors Want Out Of Monymusk Sugar Deal The Gleaner - Pan Caribbean Sugar Company (PCSC) said earnest efforts are being made to offload Monymusk Sugar Estate to a new operator. It is also adamant that whatever the outcome, the Clarendon-based factory, which racked up more than US$60 million in losses under their management, is not in its future plans. “Our investment in Jamaica has far exceeded our commitment,” Liu Chaoyu, the chief executive officer of PCSC, told The Gleaner.
“Monymusk has the capacity to process about 600,000 tonnes of cane, but every year we have less than 200,000 tonnes. That cannot work.” According to Chaoyu, who spoke through her interpreter Sun Y’ Dan, it is difficult to operate the factory with the myriad problems that exist there. “We cannot run a factory with input so low, plus there is the fallout in sugar prices, continuous drought, illicit cane fires and theft, all contributing to a total loss of
US$60 million,” said Chaoyu. “So in order to prevent the total collapse of Pan Caribbean and to protect the development or survival of Frome, we had to make the painful decision of suspending the operation at Monymusk.” She added, “At the same time, we made it clear to the government our intention of actively seeking potential investors locally or a foreign country to purchase Monymusk or be potential partners. Our choice would be a complete sale.”
Caribbean governments urged to re-think employment skills MEXICO CITY, Mexico - CMC – Despite well-intentioned efforts, many government programmes fail to provide Latin American and Caribbean children and adults with the skills they need to thrive, according to a new study released by the Washington-based InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB). But the study has found that a shift towards evidence-based policies could provide the region with a much-needed skills windfall that boosts productivity and economic growth. It noted that while the region spends on average about the same percentage of gross
domestic product (GDP) on education and skills development as more developed nations, the results fall well short. The average Latin American and Caribbean student is more than one year behind what is expected based on the region’s level of economic development. Only 30 per cent of children in third and fourth grade in Latin America and the Caribbean meet the minimum benchmark for math proficiency, compared to 66 per cent for nations with similar levels of development and 93 per cent in developed nations.
Jamaica, Belize in IDB study on the need for govt. actions to improve workforce MEXICO CITY, Mexico CMC — Despite well-intentioned efforts, many government programmes fail to provide Latin American and Caribbean children and adults with the skills they need to thrive, according to a new study released by the Washington-based Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). But the study has found that a shift towards evidencebased policies could provide the region with a muchneeded skills windfall that boosts productivity and economic growth. It noted that while the region spends on average about the same percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) on education and skills development as more developed nations, the results fall well short. The average Latin American and Caribbean student is more than one year behind what is expected based on the region’s level of economic development. Only 30 per cent of children in third and fourth grade in Latin America and the Caribbean meet the minimum benchmark for math proficiency, compared to 66 per cent for nations with similar levels of development and 93 per cent in developed nations. The two Caribbean Com-
munity (CARICOM) countries included in the study – Jamaica and Belize – spend at least 1.1 per cent and 0.9 per cent of GDP respectively on education, according to the study, titled “Learning Better: Public Policy for Skills Development,” which takes a critical look at government efforts to improve skills acquisition from birth to adulthood. The study identifies certain programmes that are more effective and often cheaper than others. More successful programs include those that improve the quality of interactions at home and at school, provide incentives for young people to stay in school, and help businesses foster a learning environment in the workplace, among others. “A person who has had access to good stimulation in the early years, good quality schools, university and employment in a formal firm has a big leg up on life,” said IDB Vice-President for Sectors and Knowledge, Santiago Levy. “Governments can do a much better job at improving the lives of those that have had none of those advantages. It is a big challenge but with a big pay-off in terms of growth and equity
if we get it right.” To help policymakers identify successful evidencebased skills programs, the IDB launched the novel SkillsBank website (www.iadb.org/ skillsbank) to review and systematize the evidence on how to promote skills at different stages of the life cycle. It presents evidence on programmes that have been effective in promoting skills development in childhood and adolescence in a very accessible format for policy makers. The bank said that skills development in the region is not only low when compared to the rest of the world, but unequal within countries. It noted that in the early years, children from low income families are exposed to fewer words and more negative feedback than their wealthier peers. Parenting programmes have been shown to help the most in closing this gap and they tend to be cheap: gaps in cognitive skills can be cut in half at a cost of about US$600 per child-year. The Latin America and Caribbean region spends about US$80 billion a year on primary education but only 13 rigorous evaluations have been implemented to see if the programmes work.
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Thursday August 31, 2017
Venezuela: New assembly approves treason trials for opposition
The new Venezuelan political body is packed with government supporters. BBC NEWS - Venezuela’s new constituent assembly has unanimously voted to put opposition leaders on trial for treason. The assembly said it would pursue those it accuses of supporting US economic sanctions against the country. Washington approved the measures last week in response to what it called the “dictatorship” of President Nicolás Maduro. President Maduro has accused the US of trying to cripple Venezuela’s economy amid an ongoing economic crisis. US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on 25 August to ban trade in Venezuelan debt or the sale of bonds from its state oil company. His reasons included “se-
rious abuses of human rights” as well as the creation of the “illegitimate” constituent assembly, which the US accuses of usurping the democratically elected parliament. The constituent assembly, which was convened by President Maduro and is made up of government supporters, has been condemned by international leaders as unconstitutional. On Tuesday, members of the assembly unanimously approved a decree calling for the investigation of “traitors” who supported the economic sanctions. During the three-hour session, they took turns denouncing those who have been critical of the government in ever more colourful language. Among those they at-
tacked for allegedly being “engaged in the promotion of these immoral actions against the interests of the Venezuelan people” were not only members of opposition parties but also former supporters of the socialist government. The head of the opposition-controlled parliament, Julio Borges, was named as “one of the real enemies of Venezuela” for asking US bank Goldman Sachs to stop buying Venezuelan bonds. Mr Borges reacted by saying that it was time the government stopped looking for others to blame for Venezuela’s economic and political crisis. “The only one responsible is Maduro and it’s time he takes a look in the mirror and accepts he has ruined Venezuela,” he told reporters.
Anand still in custody: Oppressive says his lawyers ...Opposition members also criticise detention Trinidad Express - Former attorney general Anand Ramlogan SC remained in custody yesterday afternoon, more than a day after a dramatic arrest by a contingent of police officers who swarmed his private home in Palmiste, south Trinidad before daybreak on Tuesday. Ramlogan’s continuing detention for questioning into an investigation related to a report of witness tampering is been criticised by his attorney Pamela Elder SC who told the media yesterday afternoon that she was disappointing that investigators had not made a decision in the case. The detention is also being condemned by several sitting and former Opposition Members of Parliament who called it a deliberate act to distract the country from the political failings of the Gov-
ernment and the failure of the police to protect citizens. Members of the media were told early yesterday that Ramlogan had been charged with multiple offences related to the investigation which dates to 2015 while he was the attorney general in the Peoples Partnership administration. One of his attorneys Gerald Ramdeen said Ramlogan, who was taken from his house and kept at Police Headquarters, Port of Spain, was questioned for 12 hours and gave a 40-page statement. However, the information was later found to be incorrect. Ramdeen said that the police offices had gone to the Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard SC, with the investigation file, and it was up to Gaspard to
recommend what would happen in the case. At around 2p.m. Ramlogan’s attorneys emerged from Police Headquarters and addressed the media. Elder said: “Our client has not been charged. It’s rather disappointing but we are monitoring the situation closely and we would be returning here in about an hour’s time…it is becoming oppressive now because he has been in continuous detention since 6o’clock Tuesday and he has been cooperating fully with the police officers”. She added: “You would appreciate that he was arrested on reasonable suspicion that he committed an offence. This investigation has been going on for two years now so a reasonable expectation is that charges, if charges are to be laid, would already have been laid”.
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Thursday August 31, 2017
Trump says ‘talking not the answer’ on North Korea, Mattis disagrees WASHINGTON/SEOUL (Reuters) - President Donald Trump yesterday said “talking is not the answer” to the tense standoff with North Korea over its nuclear missile development, but his defense chief swiftly asserted that the United States still has diplomatic options. Tr u m p ’s c o m m e n t , coming a day after Pyongyang fired a ballistic missile over Japan that drew U.N. and other international condemnation, renewed his tough rhetoric toward reclusive, nuclear-armed and increasingly isolated North Korea. “The U.S. has been talking to North Korea, and paying them extortion money, for 25 years,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “Talking is not the answer!” When asked by reporters just hours later if the United States was out of diplomatic solutions with North Korea amid rising tensions after a series of missile tests by Pyongyang, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis replied: “No.” “We are never out of diplomatic solutions,” Mattis
said before a meeting with his South Korean counterpart at the Pentagon. “We continue to work together, and the minister and I share a responsibility to provide for the protection of our nations, our populations and our interests.” Trump, who has vowed not to let North Korea develop nuclear missiles that can hit the mainland United States, had said in a statement on Tuesday that “all options are on the table.” North Korea said the launch of an intermediaterange ballistic missile (IRBM) on Tuesday was to counter U.S. and South Korean military drills and was a first step in military action in the Pacific to “containing” the U.S. island territory of Guam. The 15-member U.N. Security Council condemned the firing of the missile over Japan as “outrageous,” and demanded that North Korea halt its weapons program. The U.S.drafted statement, which did not threaten new sanctions on North Korea, urged all nations to implement U.N.
sanctions and said it was of “vital importance” that Pyongyang take immediate, concrete actions to reduce tensions. Trump’s mention of payments to North Korea appeared to be a reference to previous U.S. aid to the country. A U.S. Congressional Research Service report said between 1995 and 2008, the United States provided North Korea with over $1.3 billion in assistance. Slightly more than 50 percent was for food and about 40 percent for energy assistance. The assistance was part of a nuclear deal that North Korea later violated. Since early 2009, the United States has provided virtually no aid to North Korea, though periodically there have been discussions about resuming large-scale food aid. The latest tweet by the Republican U.S. president drew criticism from some quarters in Washington. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy wrote on Twitter: “Bar is high, but this is perhaps the most dangerous, irresponsible tweet of his entire Presidency.
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Georgetown Franchise players in Gibson appointed South Africa head coach Johannesburg, South South Africa for giving me practice session today at Everest Africa, CMC – Former Barthis opportunity and the
The Georgetown Franchise will stage a practice session today at the Everest Cricket Club starting at 15:00hrs. The session will precede their first round match in the GCB/Jaguars 3 Day League, where Georgetown will oppose Upper Demerara/ East Bank Demerara at the Lusignan ground, commencing from 09:30hrs on Saturday. All players in the
Georgetown Franchise squad are required to attend the session, with the exception of those on overseas professional assignments. The Georgetown squad comprises CGI contracted players Leon Johnson, Christopher Barnwell, Ramaal Lewis, Academy player Robin Bacchus, National Under-19 players Raymond Perez and Ashmead Nedd, Paul Wintz, Steven Sankar, Sunil Singh,
Kwamme Crosse, Kellon Carmichael, Dexter Solomon, Qumar Torrington, Gajanan Suknanan, Ovid Richardson, Devon Lord, Joshua Wade, Martin Pestano Bell, Andre Stoll, Bernard Bailey, Cordel Mars, Nkosie Barker, as well as national Under-15 players Marvan Prasad and Anthony Williams. The coaches for the team are Colin Stuart, Winston Smith and Clive Grimmond.
Thursday August 31, 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Get on with business. Praise will be yours if you have been pursuing your goals. Changes to your self image will be to your benefit as long as you don't over pay. TAURUS (Apr. 21- may 21) Your need to obtain additional details will lead you into strange topics of conversation. Help if you can, but more than likely it will be sufficient just to listen. Try to accommodate them without infringing on your own responsibilities. GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Be cautious not to get involved in office chatter that will cause problems for others. Don't overextend yourself in the process. Now is a good time to ask for favors. CANCER (June 22-July 22) Don't overspend or give too freely to others. You will be a bit of a spendthrift today. It won't take much to upset your lover. LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Don't let your partner get you going. You are best to travel or attend lectures or seminars. Professionalism will be of utmost importance. Concentrate on work and on making money. VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Rely on the one you love for support and affection. You may find that getting together with colleagues after hours will be worthwhile.
LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Self-deception about relationships is a problem. Only bite off what you can chew. You may want to try your hand at a little creative writing. Don't let your boss get the better of you. SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Evasion is likely if you aren't direct about your feelings. Be careful what you consume today. Relatives may not be telling you the whole truth about a family situation. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Rewards for past good deeds will highlight your day. Use your quick wit to win points and friends. Go out shopping today. CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Make plans that will take you to exotic destinations. You can make amends by taking them somewhere special. You may find your self a bit frazzled if you allow someone to goad you into an unsavory debate. AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19) Romance may be likely if you travel. A passionate party for two might be just the remedy. If you're feeling uncertain, spend some time alone and reevaluate your motives as well as your needs. PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Someone you care about may not be too well. You will be able to enlist the help of colleagues who believe in your ideas.
b a d o s a n d We s t I n d i e s seamer, Ottis Gibson, was yesterday appointed the new Head Coach of South Africa. The 48-year-old Gibson has penned a twoyear contract which will see him preside over the Proteas until the end of the 2019 Cricket World Cup in England. ”After following a rigorous process, we are delighted to welcome Ottis Gibson as the new head coach for the Proteas,” said Cricket South Africa’s Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat. “His playing and coaching credentials are impressive and that will place the Proteas in good hands as we move towards a big home summer with both India and Australia visiting us. ”Having spent a great part of his playing career in South Africa, Ottis is familiar with our country and that should help him to settle in quickly with our national team.” Gibson is currently the England bowling coach but will be released from his duties following the end of the ongoing three-Test series against West Indies. He took up the role for the second time last year after previously serving in the position between 2007 and 2010. Gibson also served as head coach of West Indies for four years, leading them to the capture of the Twenty20 World Cup in 2012, before being axed in 2014. ”I am delighted to em-
England tour was a... From page 30 The fifteen-year-old Singh, who is currently training with the Cricket Guyana Inc. Academy players, has been included in the East Bank Demerara franchise team for the upcoming local Franchise League. He said that he is looking forward to the tournament and wants to be among the runs for his team. The team was coached by Corey Collymore and Rohan Nurse and Managed by Robert Samuels. Singh expressed gratitude to coaches Clive Grimmond, Michael Hyles Franco, Garvin Nedd, Mark Harper, Claude St. John, his dad Inderjeet Singh, Henry Chase, GCB Territorial Development Officer Colin Stuart and sponsors.
Ottis Gibson bark on this new chapter in my coaching career and I would like to thank Cricket
England and Wales Cricket Board for their understanding of my position,” said Gibson, who played extensively in South Africa for B o r d e r, G a u t e n g a n d Northern Cape during his career. ”I have spent a number of happy times in South Africa as a player and I am now looking forward to return as a coach.” Gibson, a former right-arm fast bowler, played two Tests and 15 One-Day I n t e r n a t i o n a l s f o r We s t Indies between 1995 and 1999. He finished with 659 first class wickets overall.
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Federer survives Tiafoe scare to advance New York (Reuters) World number three Roger Federer survived a first-round scare from Frances Tiafoe before grinding out a 4-6 6-2 6-1 1-6 6-4 victory over the American teenager in front of a raucous crowd at the U.S. Open on Tuesday. Federer looked more relieved than overjoyed when Tiafoe’s forehand found the net on match point to keep his hopes of a 20th grand slam title alive. ”We had a good fight,” Federer said in an on-court interview. “It was exciting and this is why I came to New York, to go through these emotions,” he said with a laugh. The 19-year-old Tiafoe broke Federer in the first game of the match and bellowed out a loud “Come on!” when his forehand winner found the line to capture the opening set. Federer, who has won this year’s Australian Open and Wimbledon since taking a sixmonth break last year, soon found his groove once he broke Tiafoe to take a 3-1 lead in the second set and reeled off nine of the next 10 games. However, his poor form returned in a 23-minute fourth set when his serve and the
Roger Federer
accuracy of his trusty onehanded backhand completely deserted him. Federer said Tiafoe could go on to have a big career. ”He is a great player and has a bright future ahead of him,” he said of the 19-yearold. Despite coming away with the win, the shaky performance raises questions about the health of the 36year-old Swiss, who sat out the Cincinnati Masters earlier this month with back pain.
He acknowledged that he was worried about his back going into the match but said he felt “much, much better”. “This win will give me a lot of confidence,” he said. Due to rain, the speedy 2hour and 35-minute five setter was played under the closed roof of Arthur Ashe Stadium, which amplified the volume of the rowdy crowd. Federer next meets either Slovenian Blaz Kavcic or Russian Mikhail Youzhny.
Maria Sharapova beats Timea Babos to reach third round Maria Sharapova won the US Open as a 19-year-old in 2006
Maria Sharapova relied on her fighting qualities rather than top form to beat Hungary’s Timea Babos at the US Open. The Russian wildcard, playing in her first Grand Slam since completing a doping ban, won 6-7 (4-7) 64 6-1 to reach round three. Babos had two break points to lead by a set and 42 but Sharapova came through in two hours and 20 minutes. “I knew I wanted to get it done and I did,” said Sharapova, who beat world number two Simona Halep in round one. ”I felt like it was a scrappy match but sometimes those days are the best, because you get through and
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give yourself another chance.” Sharapova was given a wildcard into the main draw as she is currently ranked 146th following her 15month doping suspension. The 2006 champion will next face an American, either wildcard Sofia Kenin or qualifier Sachia Vickery. Sharapova, 30, found it hard to rediscover the form she had shown against Halep on Monday, a gripping contest that electrified the night-session crowd. Inspiration was harder to come by on a sultry New York afternoon in the Arthur Ashe Stadium. Both players struggled for consistency, with Babos, ranked
Shakib Al Hasan inspires hosts to historic Test win
Bangladesh’s victorious players celebrated by tearing the stumps out of the ground Bangladesh secured an historic first Test victory over Australia in Mirpur, with Shakib Al Hasan finishing an engrossing match with 10 wickets. Chasing 265 for victory, Steve Smith’s Australia looked set to win on the penultimate day of the first Test after David Warner hit 112. Australia were still favourites at 158-3, but lost their last seven wickets for 73 runs. Bangladesh had failed to win their previous five Tests against Australia. The hosts gained Test status in 2000 and are ninth in the ICC Test rankings - five places
below Australia. Australia lost five wickets in an eventful morning session yesterday before Shakib bowled Glenn Maxwell with the first delivery after the lunch break. Maxwell was Shakib’s 10th wicket of the match, the spinner, 30, having earlier become the fourth bowler to take five wickets in an innings against every Test nation. Pat Cummins scored an unbeaten 33 down the order to inject some drama but it was not enough as Australia were all out for 244. Shakib (5-85) celebrated his 50th Test appearance by scoring
84 in the first innings, a performance worthy of his status as the world’s top-ranked Test all-rounder. The second and final Test in the series starts in Chittagong on 4 September. Australia will be without fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, who suffered a side strain on day three in Dhaka and is set to miss Australia’s limited-overs tour of India. He is the third Australian paceman to be sidelined less than three months before the Ashes series against England, with Mitchell Starc and James Pattinson also injured. (BBCsport)
Froome extends Vuelta lead in high mountains
59th, failing to serve out the first set twice before winning the tie-break. The Hungarian had a golden chance to make a decisive move in game six of the second set but found the net on the first break point, before Sharapova slammed down an ace on the second. Babos would win only two more games as the match quickly raced away from her. ”In the second set I felt like I was physically fresh,” said Sharapova, who finished with 39 winners and 36 unforced errors. “That gave me a lot of confidence. I just wanted to be the fittest player out there in the end, and I was.” (BBCsport)
Madrid (Reuters) - Chris Froome moved closer to winning the Vuelta a Espana title after coming second in the high mountain Stage 11 yesterday and opening up a gap of one minute 19 seconds in the general classification. Colombian Miguel Angel Lopez won the stage, his first victory in a grand tour, to move into the top 10 at the expense of Ireland’s Nicolas Roche, who began the day third overall 36 seconds off the pace but ended it 4:45 behind Froome. The Briton made up time in the grueling stage from Lorca to Calar Alto in Andalusia - which featured 3,490 meters of climbing and finished 2,120 meters above sea level - with a late dash from the back to the front of the chasing pack behind Lopez. Froome beat Dutchman Wilco Kelderman and Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali to finish 14 seconds behind Lopez and take a six second bonus in his bid to become the first rider since 1978 to win La Vuelta and the Tour de France in the same year. Nibali overtook Esteban Chaves as Froome’s nearest challenger and moved into
Chris Froome
second place overall, with the Colombian dropping from 36 seconds behind Froome before the stage to 2:33 adrift in third. ”I’m very happy with the outcome today. I think it was a very selective day for the general classification, and to finish second, I couldn’t have asked for much more than that other than a stage victory,” four-times Tour de France champion Froome told reporters. ”When Lopez went, he was extremely strong and at the top, I figured for me the most impor-
tant thing was going to be to follow Vincenzo and to stay with the real favorites.” Stage winner Lopez added: “It was a very complicated stage with the rain, which made it even more exhausting, but I’m really happy because the team has worked so well through the Vuelta. ”This is a big achievement. In the end we found ourselves with good legs, and I knew a bit of the final part so I was relaxed. I preferred to wait to attack until the last one or one and a half kilometers, which were really hard.”
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Guinness Cage / Three Peat Promotions Indoor Competition
Upsets highlight exciting opening night; Group stage starts tonight It was upset galore on opening night of the inaugural Guinness Cage/Three Peat Promotions Indoor Competition which got started on Tuesday night, at the National Gymnasium. Played before a large crowd that included Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste and Banks DIH Communications Manager Troy Peters, the thirty –two teams that were on show treated the fans to an exciting brand of football with quite a few underdogs registering upsets against some well established teams. Among the early casualties was Sophia who were soundly beaten 3-0 by newcomers MBK All Stars, while Ol Skool Ballers squeezed past Broad Street 2-1 and West Demerara’s Showstoppers edged a strong Tucville unit 1-0. Teams from the Mining Town of Linden found the going tough with Guinness national champions Dave & Celena All Stars losing in a penalty shootout against Pike Street, Sophia, who were returning to competition after a hiatus, while Silver Bullets exited the competition after going down to Tiger Bay 1-2. However, some of the other top teams advancing to the Group stage are Sparta Boss, West Front Road ‘Gold is Money’, Tiger Bay, North Ruimveldt, Albouystown ‘A’ and ‘B’, Hustlers, Future Stars, Back Circle, Champion Boys, Mocha and Leopold Street. Over $800,000 in prize monies and trophies will be
up for grabs with the winner set to receive $400,000 and the championship trophy, while second, third and fourth placed finishers will take home $200,000, $100,000 and $50,000 along with trophies respectively. The other playing dates for the championship are August 31, September 5, 7, 9 with the final set for September 16, at the same venue. Among the other sponsors on board are: Star Party Rentals, Faye Joseph, Claude Geddes Recreational Sports Club, National Sports Commission, Windjammer International Hotel & Cuisine, Woodpecker Trophies & Sport, Y.K Investments & Pawn Shop, Henry Chase, Jai Signs, Trophy Stall of Bourda Market and John Fernandes Ltd. Once again the Organisers are asking all to work together with them to pull off what is already shaping up to be an exciting and successful tournament. The Group stage commences this evening with eight scheduled games, starting at 19:00hrs. The fixtures are as follows: Albouystown-B vs North Ruimveldt-19:00hrs, MBK All-Stars vs Leopold Street-19:30hrs, Hustlers vs Tiger Bay-20:00hrs, Albouystown-A vs Showstoppers-20:30hrs, Gold is Money vs Mocha-21:00hrs, Future Stars vs Pike Street Sophia-21:30hrs, Back Circle vs Champion Boys-22:00hrs, Sparta Boss vs Ol Skool Ballers-22:30hrs. Opening night’s full results are seen below:
Dr Norton intends to resolve cricket elections issues From page 31 give Guyana recognition especially when games are broadcast on TV and I don’t think people will have any problem with the names suggested. I personally endorse Reds Pereira’s name on the Media Centre” said Minister Norton. Dr Norton said as Sports Minister he would work closely with the Director of Sports who has the list of names suggested for the stands. ”We (Dr Norton & Jones) go back a long way. We were in the trenches together…he is my buddy. So I am looking forward to working with him on the matters of concern in the Sports fraternity and see how best they can be fixed. I will get the suggested list of names from him” disclosed Dr Norton. The new Sports Minister promised to try to be accessible to the Media inclusive of those covering Sports.
Action on day one of the Guinness Cage Indoor competition.
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Kaieteur News
VCCTC claim Al Sport and Tour Promotions circle tennis trophy
The victorious Victory Chasers Circle Tennis team.
Victory Chasers Circle Tennis club (VCCTC) of Bagotville, West Bank Demerara won the AL Sport and Tour Promotions female Circle Tennis first place trophy by defeating Banks DIH Sports Club at the Nimes ground. In the match which was played last weekend, Victory Chasers batted first and scored 331-5. Banks DIH SC were restricted to 221-10 in reply, with player of the game Alicia Thornton
hitting 52. Meanwhile, in the mixed team category, Banks DIH Sports Club recorded their first win, turning back the challenges of Victory Chasers CTC which batted first and mustered 96-7 off 40 deliveries. Banks DIH CTC replied with 111-3. These matches were part of the community Uprising Youth Club of Bagotville, day of sports.
Thursday August 31, 2017
Seventh Courts 10k race set for October 1st launched yesterday at Company’s main Branch Courts Guyana Inc. in collaboration with the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) will be hosting the 7th Annual Courts 10K Road Race on the October 1st, 2017. This event which continues to grow and garner support from athletes, gyms and other health enthusiasts from around the country, is now a part of the AAG calendar, being the largest 10K Race in Guyana. In total, Courts Guyana Inc. is investing in excess of $2,000,000 in this year’s race to ensure the success of the event as the company is proud of the growth it has seen throughout the years. The event is opened to runners in the junior, senior and master’s categories for both male and females and Courts will be handing out $1,500,000 in cash, prizes and trophies. Courts Marketing Manager Pernell Cummings, explained during the launch yesterday that in the race’s 7th year, “We’re (Courts Guyana Inc.) very happy to be contributing to athletics in Guyana and also the overall fitness of the Guyanese people.
I must thank the AAG for continuing their partnership with us and for making this event a success.” The race which will be held on Sunday, October 1, will commence at the Courts Main Street Store at 06:00hrs and follow a prescribed route. A 3K event will be held simultaneously for the company’s staff and the first to third place finishers for both male and female will be awarded with cash prizes and trophies. Cleveland Forde and USbased Euleen Josiah-Tanner are the defending male and female champions. Forde clocked 32 minutes 40 seconds (32:40.0) to win last year’s 10K, while Josiah-Tanner ran 40:12.20. Head of the AAG Aubrey Hutson stated during the launch yesterday that, “What we’re (AAG) trying to do is include some of the school athletes who are left out because of the age restriction of the IAAF. This year, we will put athletes between ages 10 – 15 years-old, those preparing for the School’s Championship, to do a ‘Golden Mile’ around Main street where we go up to Lamaha Street and return.”
Skipper Holder, Brathwaite lavish praise on remarkable Hope Leeds, England, CMC – Shai Hope’s astonishing batting at Headingley during the second Test has drawn unreserved praise from West Indies captain Jason Holder and vice Captain Kraigg Brathwaite. Holder and Brathwaite were teammates of Hope at age-group levels in Barbados and also played first class cricket together for Barbados Pride team, and watched him emerge into one of the Caribbean’s leading young players. The 23-year-old Hope announced himself on the world stage with two astounding knocks of 147 and 118 not out to secure one the greatest comeback in sports this century as West Indies stunned England by five wickets on the final day on Tuesday. ”We were underdogs and to come here and perform this way to level the series is truly amazing, and credit must go to this man here, Shai Hope,” Holder said after the victory. “What a performance – peaking at the right time – to put the team on your shoulders and take us to victory. Truly something memorable, truly something to cherish.” He added: “The team is
already looking forward to the decider at Lord’s. For many of us it’s a childhood dream to play a Test match at Lord’s and to come into Lord’s with a chance of winning the series. ”Remember the first press conference we had people asked what are our chances. I gave us the same chances that England probably gave themselves to win the series and that’s what we set out to do. ”It doesn’t always happen that way but the main thing for us is to keep progressing as a side and I think we’re showing that.” Hope shared a record partnership of 246 with Brathwaite in the first innings and another century stand in the second innings. Brathwaite helped to set up the victory with 134 in the first innings and 95 in the second innings. Last year when the Windies beat Pakistan in Sharjah, Brathwaite was again at the helm with scores of 146 not out and 62 not out. ”Shai played really, really well. What was truly remarkable was the fact that he made his first Test century and then converted again in the second innings. We always knew he had it in him to do well at
Hero Shai Hope gets a hug from teammate Kemar Roach. CWI Media
Test level and he proved it in this match,” Brathwaite said. ”We batted well together, we always bat well together, we understand each other and we offer support to each other. What was special about this match was the fact that we got runs, and we were able to help the team to vic-
tory. ”It was a special match for us as a team. The bowlers were magnificent and as batsmen we had to make sure that the hard work paid off. We are very focussed and want to win at Lord’s and take the series. We know it can be done.”
Hope became the first batsman to score two centuries in a first-class match at Headingley – coming in the 534th first-class match at the venue and 76th Test match. He became the third West Indian to achieve the feat of twin tons in a Test in England – the others being the leg-
endary George Headley at Lord’s in 1939, and Gordon Greenidge at Old Trafford in 1976. The chase was also the highest by the Windies in England since the memorable nine-wicket win at Lord’s in 1984 and the victory the first in England since 2000.
Thursday August 31, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Police Youth and Sports Clubs to be revived in Berbice
Space Gym supports Stage of Champions 2
Commander takes hands on posture
Videsh Sookram (left) accepts the cheque from Mucas Matos of Space Gym.
‘B’ Division Commander, Assistant Commissioner Paul Williams presents the school supplies to Colwyn Roberts. Reflecting on his own upbringing and the importance of education coupled with the need to keep the youths gainfully occupied, Commander of the Guyana Police Force ‘B’ Division, Assistant Commissioner Paul Williams along his second in command, Senior Superintendent Edmond Cooper have planned to ensure a number of youths are well equipped to return to school for the new term. Using the various Police Operational Youth Clubs across the county, the youths are expected to be presented with
school kits. Commander Williams recently made a special presentation to 11 year-old Mervin Colwyn Roberts of Glasgow Housing Scheme. The youth who gained 458 marks at the National Grade Six examinations was awarded a place at the Berbice High School. Due to Roberts’ inability to equip himself with the relevant items for his attendance at school, his neighbor, Rural Constable, Janice Carmichael took note and approached Commander Williams to assist, which he readily agreed
to do. Subsequently, a number of items were handed over to Roberts which included school uniforms, footwear, school bag, books and pens. Commander Williams in remarks mentioned the importance of education. Himself, a graduate of the University of Guyana on three occasions and presently reading for a Masters in Criminal Justice and Executive Leadership at a University in the USA, Williams wished Roberts God’s continued blessings and promised to keep following his progress.
The second edition of ‘Stage of Champions’ Bodybuilding, Miss Bikini and Men’s Physique competition which is set for November 18 at Theater Guild in Kingston had gained the support of Space Gym. Managing Director of the Gym, Lucas Matos yesterday presented a cheque to organiser of the event Videsh Sookram who expressed gratitude to him for their support. Athletes from Guyana, St. Maarten (French and Dutch), Trinidad and Tobago, Anguilla, Suriname, Barbados and Curacao will vie for supremacy in the Under-143 lbs, Under154lbs, Under-164lbs, Under-176lbs and over 177lbs categories.
Sookram said that the event is expected to attract 42 athletes and 29 have already confirmed their participation. Sookram informed that registration will be closed on October 15 and interested athletes can contact him on 649 9446 or 662 0389 while email can be sent to stageofchampions@gmail.com. Matos said he is pleased to partner with Sookram for the event and is looking forward to a successful one. At the inaugural competition which was held in 2016, Koese Soese of Suriname emerged as the overall champion; Guyanese Emmerson Campbell captured the Men’s physique and Militia Gilimo of Suriname claimed the Miss Bikini title.
Archer is Club Unity Dominoes King Gibron Archer emerged champion of the Club Unity King Dominoes competition which was contested Tuesday night at Parika Old Road Archer marked 18 games to beat Frederick Charles who took the runner up spot and Kelon Daniels who finished third. Archer took home a trophy and $12,000 while both Charles and Daniels received trophies. The competition was sponsored by Dan’s Snackette of Parika.
Black Water FC to host small goal one-day football tomorrow Exponents of the street version of football will be going at each other for cash and prizes at stake in tomorrow’s Black Water Football Club organised small goal & penalty shootout oneday competition at the East Ruimveldt Tarmac. The competition has attracted teams from Lodge, East Ruimveldt, A, B, C, and D Fields in Sophia along with Meadow Brook. Other interested teams are welcomed to register. This is according to coordinator of the event Johnny ‘Overseas’ Barnwell who is working along with Coachman Troy. The Registration fee for the 7-players-per-team tournament is $4000 and interested teams have until tomorrow at 09:30hrs at the competition venue to signal their intention of participating, kick-off time is 10:00hrs. Trophies up for grabs have been donated by Tent City and Trophy Stall of Bourda Market while the medals have been contributed by the organisers, Coachman Troy and Barnwell.
Gibron Archer accepts his trophy from Denesha Pilgrim of Club Unity.
Johnny ‘Overseas’ Barnwell holding one of the trophies at stake.
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Thursday August 31, 2017
Kaieteur News
Kares Engineering Inc./RHTY&SC/ Patron’s Green Economy Tournament
England tour was a learning experience- Windies U-16 skipper Singh
One of the best ever cricket tournaments - Roy Jaferally ”In my twenty-one years as a softball player, this tournament is without doubt one of the best every while the organising skills of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club is simply unmatched.” Those were words of winning Captain Roy Jaferally at the presentation ceremony of the historic Kares Engineering/RHTY&SC/Patron’s Green Economy softball tournament concluded last Sunday at the Area ‘H’ ground. Jaferally, who copped the man-of-the-finals Award, noted that the tournament was a total success while each of the 18 teams felt comfortable playing in the tournament and stated that it was the first time that he witnessed no form of indiscipline during an entire tournament. Jaferally stated that each of the teams respected the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, its outstanding work and as such cooperated to make the tournament successful. The main objectives of the Patron’s tournament were to honour President David Granger on his 72nd birthday, to educate Berbicians on the impact of Climate Change, to promote the Green Economy effort and the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club Say No/Say Yes Campaign. Minister of State, Joseph Harmon also praised the host club for organising a tournament of the highest standard and noted that it was a fitting honour to President Granger on his birthday. He pledged the Government’s support for the RHTY&SC’s efforts to educate youths on Climate Change and the Green Economy. Sponsor Mahadeo Panchu of KSM Investment expressed his pleasure at being associated with Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation and praised them for brining off a tournament of a high standard. Representative of the title sponsor Kieran Persaud stated that Kares Engineering Inc. was delighted to be part of the
Roy Jaferally receives his prize for hitting the most sixes from Minister Joseph Harmon. tournament to not only honour the Guyanese Leader but to also educate others about Climate Change. Kares Engineering Inc., he stated, is proud of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club organising skills and the fulfillment of each commitment to his Company. Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster spearheaded the organising of the tournament with Vice President Mark Papannah and Assistant Secretary Simon Naidu. Foster noted that the Club’s Cricket Development Committee worked beyond the call of duty to make sure that every angle was covered and described the competition as one of the best ever organised by the Club. Not only was the standard of play very high but there was no form of indiscipline whilst there was huge crowd support at all three rounds of matches. The long serving Secretary/CEO stated that it was a blessing in disguise that the tournament was played using the softball format as it was hugely popular at the grassroots level in Berbice. The club, Foster disclosed hopes to make the event an annual one with the
blessings of President Granger. Over $1.5M in cash prizes and trophies were handed out to the top teams. As part of the tournament, the club and its eight cricket teams shared out $1M worth of school bags and 25 bicycles to less fortunate students and close to $1M worth of cricket balls to fellow cricket clubs across Berbice. The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club is expressing gratitude to the following sponsors for making the tournament a success through their partnerships: Kares Engineering Inc., B.K. International, S. Jagmohan Hardware, V Net Communication, Peter Lewis, KSM Investment, Bakewell, National Sports Commission, Rossignol B u t c h e r y, Bissan Trading, Mohamed Raffik, A. Hamilton, Fyuse Hussain, Fazal Habibulla, J.B. Brothers, Ministry of the Presidency, Farfan & Mendes, Mines Service Ltd, F & H Printery. 4R Bearings, John Fernandes Ltd, Lennox Cush, Ronald Williams, Apex Insurance Brokers, Jumbo Jet, A. Ally & Sons, Amerally Sawmills, Claude Raphael, Ricks & Sari Agro Industries, Regal Enterprise, New India Insurance, J.R Engineering Solutions, Annirud Ramcharitar, Trans Pacific Motor Spares, Greenidge F r i d g e Repairs, Radesh Rameshwar, Safraz Sheriffudeen and Mahadeo Panchu.
Skipper Sachin Singh (left front row) and members of the West Indies U-16 team with former WI opener, Gordon Greenidge. By Zaheer Mohamed West Indies Under-16 Captain Sachin Singh says their recent tour to Borehamwood, England was a learning experience and will serve the players well going forward. Speaking with Kaieteur Sport recently, Singh who was the lone Guyanese on the team stated that he relished the opportunity to lead the region and the players supported him well. The West Indies Under16s won three out of their six 50-over games and were successful in both of their T20 fixtures on the tour which commenced on August 16 and concluded on August 23. Opener Singh accumulated 230 runs in seven innings with his highest being 56 not out versus Hertfordshire in the first T20 game which the West Indies won by nine wickets. Seth Agard of Barbados made 47 not out in the same match. In the second T20 Singh did not bat but his team won by 20 runs after making 150, batting first. Lee Solomon of the Windward Islands struck a half century. In the 50-over matches, Singh’s best scores was 48 versus Ireland’s U15s; his innings handed the regional side a five-wicket victory as they successfully chased 180 at Wormsley Cricket Club. The Demerara Cricket Club player followed up that innings with 46 against East London, leading his team to a four-wicket win after they were set 160. The talented player explained that the players acclimatized quickly and
Sachin Singh plays off the back foot at Queen’s Park Oval during the regional U17 tournament in July. playing as a unit was largely responsible for their success. He added that they had to play the ball late since the conditions there were conducive to swing bowling. Singh said being Captain of the regional side was a challenge and he relished the opportunity. “Being named captain of the team motivated me so I had to be at my best throughout the tour. I saw it as a challenge which I relished and self confidence is important,” he said. The left-hander, who represented Guyana in the regional U-16 tournament
which was played in Trinidad and Tobago in July, stated that the players supported him well and performed when it matter; he singled out Matthew Forde of Barbados for special mention. Singh indicated that former West Indies great Gordon Greenidge visited the team while on tour and that motivated the players. “I learnt a lot from the tour, it is important to learn to play off different surfaces from a young age because this is one of the challenges for batsmen.” (Continued on page 25)
Thursday August 31, 2017
Kaieteur News
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Second Ralph Green/EBFA U-11 League set to kick off tomorrow 2016 champs Agricola and 9 others to contest; branded balls to be used Ralph Green
With a break in the rainy weather which has allowed the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) in conjunction with the Grove/Diamond NDC to carry out remedial works to the Grove Playfield, the association is set to get active once again with the commencement of the 2nd annual Ralph Green sponsored Under-11 League. Consistent rain over the past three months or so curtailed all on-field action which left players and administrators very uneasy as they waited patiently for a break in the weather, which has finally come. The EBFA is very grateful to NDC Chairman Mr. Bharrat Narine and his workers for the continued support they have been giving the body with regards to getting the game restarted on the East Bank. Ten teams including defending champions Agricola Red Triangle will be contesting this second edition of the league
Ralph Green U-11 champions, 2016. which will be bigger and better than the inaugural competition, last year when six teams competed. Each team would be allowed to register 16 players with matches being played for 30 minutes, two equal halves of 15 minutes each. The top four teams would each receive 16 medals, gold, silver, bronze and participatory medals for the 4th placed team. The winning team would receive the Lien Trophy while there would be individual prizes for the Most Valuable Player
(Trophy and Backpack), Best Goalkeeper (Trophy and Backpack), Highest Goal Scorer (Trophy and Backpack), Most Promising Player (Trophy and Backpack) and Most Disciplined Player (Trophy and Backpack). For the first time in any EBFA competition, customized balls would be used bearing the EBFA logo. Only Players born on or after January 1st, 2006 will be eligible to participate in the tournament. Each player from every team would also receive one tee shirt as well as the respective coaches.
Dr Norton intends to resolve cricket elections issues Naming Stadium stands to be re-visited By Sean Devers Minster of Social Cohesion Dr George Norton has been given the added responsibility of Minister of Culture, Youth & Sports with that portfolio officially taking effect from tomorrow when he will move from the Office of the Presidency to Ministry of Sports building on Main Street, Georgetown. Dr Norton began his work as Sports Minister on Tuesday at Eugene F Corriera International Airport at Ogle where he welcomed home Guyana’s double Under-19 Champions along with the Director of Sports Christopher Jones on behalf of the Guyana Government. Speaking with Kaieteur
Sport in his first interview as Sports Minister, Dr Norton said the cricket issues regarding elections will be on the front burner to be resolved as soon as possible. He said he was not aware if former Sports Minister Nicolette Henry had met with Cricket Ombudsman Pastor Winton McGowan as she had promised when the Cricket Stakeholders and representative from the GCB/CGI met with her and Attorney General Basil Williams at his office last month following a protest by the Stakeholders outside his office two days earlier. He promised to find out more on the matter and possibly meet with the two parties since he wants the
elections to be held and have this matter resolved. Sources have indicated that Pastor McGowan had resigned and Norton said if that is so then he would have to find another suitable person to carry out the functions of the Ombudsman. Asked what he thinks about the naming of the Stands at the Providence Stadium, Dr Norton said he is in favor of that being done. ”It’s important to honor our outstanding cricketers at our only International cricket ground and the naming of the Stands will be revisited. I also believe that the names of other Guyanese who have contributed significantly should be on other places of interest so
that people would know who did what for this Country.” During the CPL matches in Barbados and other places air time on International TV was allocated to talk about players whose names are on the stands at their grounds and during the Tri-nation series which was played h e r e , Tr i n i d a d i a n T V Commentator Fazeer Mohammed remarked that Guyana was only place he had seen Stands named, Red, Green and Orange adding that the powers that be maybe do not think that Guyana ever produced an outstanding cricketer. When approached three months after the Coalition Government was voted into power, the Sports Minister said she did not want to spend the rest of her term of office defending the names
Minister Dr George Norton on the Stands but Dr Norton has a different view. ”The naming of the
Stands would honor those players and at the same time (Continued on page 27)
t r o Sp Guinness Cage / Three Peat Promotions Indoor Competition
Upsets highlight exciting opening night; Group stage starts tonight P.27
Action on the opening night of the Guinness Cage competition.
Second Ralph Seventh Courts 10k race set for October 1st launched yesterday at Company’s main Branch Green/EBFA U-11 P.28
League set to P.31 kick off tomorrow 2016 champs Agricola and 9 others to contest; branded balls to be used
Dr Norton intends to resolve cricket elections issues
P.31
Naming Stadium stands to be re-visited
From left, Marketing Manager of Courts Guyana Inc. Pernell Cummings and Head of the AAG Aubrey Hutson at yesterday’s launch.
England tour P.30 was a learning experience- Windies U-16 skipper Singh
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