Kaieteur News

Sunday August 06, 2017

Kaieteur M@ilbox Food for the Buxton gunmen and Ms. Bone DEAR EDITOR, I did an opinion piece apart from my daily column for Monday, July 24, 2017 titled “Why did Buxton reject the 2017 prison escapees?” After publication, that is the very day, the editor, Adam Harris received several calls. People would call the editors; they never call me and I think I and readers know why. One call originated from a cultural organization that took objection to the following words in the article; “Food at a certain cultural organization was cooked in Georgetown for the gunmen and sent up to the home of a certain lady in Buxton.” It is unbelievable (but this is Guyana) that a cultural organization would call Harris suggesting that it points to them. That is the barest of description that has not even an inch of flesh on it. There are more than forty cultural organizations in Guyana of which a dozen of them are always in the news. Why would one of them call to say the article refers to them? Which among three hundred lawyers in this country would say it points to them if the following words appear; “There is a lawyer in Guyana that doesn’t pay NIS.” For the record, I stand by what I wrote. I had information from persons that were involved including the lady that distributed the food. People call Harris and I think out of concern that the paper is not sued, he wants to pacify those who may very well have something to hide. I don’t blame Harris. Why waste time with these kinds of people. Then Ms. Bonita Bone, common-law wife of Ronald Waddell, complained. I got it wrong about where Waddell was buried. He

was cremated but I wrote he was buried at the back of Buxton. I mixed up the body being taken to what is commonly referred to as the “Gulf” way down at the back of Buxton. I regret the mistake and sorry to have offended Ms. Bone’s sentiments. Ms. Bone registered her complaint and asserted that I was motivated by malice. I am not going to dwell on the feelings of Ms. Bone. It is pure human nature for people to deny the questionable things their loved ones were involved in. More importantly, history is constantly unearthing facts about people that not even their close family members including wives knew about. Let me be brave enough to tell Ms. Bone at the expense of being called malicious, I know what I know about Waddell that she may not know. And I know that because it is my job to know it. It is a fact that during the funeral procession in Buxton, Waddell’s body was taken at the back of Buxton to the “Gulf,” at which point mourners and journalists were asked not to proceed. Maybe Ms. Bone was not there or maybe she was. A minister got in touch with Harris too over the article which stated that two Cabinet Ministers in the current government had contacts with certain members of the gang in Buxton during the Buxton-based conspiracy. I regret the shape of those words and withdraw them and I apologize. But in my investigations, I came upon evidence that two high profile opposition politicians back then had contacts with the gunmen. I stand by that. In his response to the call from the Minister, Harris quotes me as

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saying that such an accusation was made by the then President Jagdeo. What Mr. Jagdeo said and what Harris should have researched is the fact that Jagdeo told the nation in the media that he had a tape that reveals that high level opposition figures were in Buxton at the time. Harris can still ask Jagdeo if he said that. After receiving these calls, Harris and I had some disagreements. Harris said to me he knew what went on in Buxton. He said he even spoke with some of the gunmen. I then asked Harris why he thinks he is the only one that knew what went on in Buxton during those years, 20022006. In his response to these callers, Harris wrote the next day, the following words; “We regret that what was published yesterday would end up in the archives and would serve to mislead some researchers.” Harris didn’t tell readers what is it that would mislead researchers – my article on what happened in Buxton in 2002-2006 or the denials of those who want their denials to go on record. Fortunately, my article is now part of the archives and so is this letter. Researchers if they know their job will know how to separate facts from Alternative facts. Frederick Kissoon

Kaieteur M@ilbox Guyana; dwindling population, increasing garage DEAR EDITOR, The Guyana Government is finding it necessary to create three or more garbage dump sites, around the country. What at first is surprising; Guyana has a dwindling population, yet the volume of garbage is significantly increasing. This situation took my mind back to the time when I first started teaching in South Florida. On my first day at school, students would ask me what I thought of Florida, as kids would do. I mentioned how flat it was and they would respond that I ought to go see Trash Mountain. It was the highest part of South Florida, they said. I took their advice, one day, and drove north on Dixie Highway, looking on my left as I was instructed, until I came to this very high mound of garbage. Over a hundred feet high! It was called Trash Mountain, and locals – with tongue firmly in cheek- would tell you that it was a natural wonder of the world. Some twenty-five years later, Florida is probably now inundated with trash mountains, I’m sure, while surrounded on three sides by water. Which brings me to the topic of ‘trash mountains’, in Guyana. Guyana’s ground

water is as deep as the digging big toe, of a twelve-year old boy, which means decomposing organic and inorganic material would not have to travel very deep, to enter the ground water. This means very harmful environmental consequences are going to be felt, in far less time, than Global Warming, even though our former President Bharat Jagdeo, possibly in a fit of environmental giddiness, blamed the rainstorms of 2005, on that mercurial phenomenon, and became the environmental doyen ofUN Ambassador Ban Ki Moon. (I wonder whatever happened to the results of that environmental plenary session, which Dr. Jagdeo chaired, some two years ago).

I have noticed that the present APNU/AFC Government is planning to spend resources in preparation for the incoming ‘holocaust’ that is predicted by many scientist, even though its initial consequences may not affect Guyana. I would strongly like to suggest that some of those monies be diverted to, or funds be allocated for creating complete recycling plants, which would also create many jobs, as well as preserving a healthy environment. The picture below is a more complex but highly efficient approach to eliminating garbage. Albert R. Cumberbatch, Ph. D. (Author/Environmentalist

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Sunday August 06, 2017

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Changing the Game in America by all Tremendous more needs to be done for do that either. How could you the present presidency. means necessary live peacefully knowing that The famous Ethiopian sports in Guyana you are a dream killer? This DEAR EDITOR, has and will continue to use novelist and playwright Abe The world knows that President Trump has never been in elected political office, is a rank outsider coming from the private sector business world. However, from this viewpoint it is blatantly apparent that Donald Trump has failed to come to grips with the reality that he is the Leader of the free world, Commander-inChief of the US Armed Forces, Chief Executive of the federal government, and de facto head of the Republican Party. Better put Every day under Trump’s leadership the rules keep changing. Unless and until Blacks in America become more organized and unified ,and train the young especially the youth in the way they should go, by getting engaged politically, socially and economically, we will continue playing by the rules of someone else’s game, as opposed to creating rules to a game that is in our overall best interest. He who is currently in control in America, and is accustomed to being in control

tactics, as well as make up rules as he goes along, in order to remain in control until he is stopped— rules that will ultimately prove disastrous for Blacks at large. Historian and civil rights activist W.E.B Du Bois is quoted as once having said; “a system cannot fail those it was never built to protect.” In retrospect if we stopped and carefully glance at the Constitution of the United States, which includes the 3/5ths Compromise, it is clear that Black people did not originate any of these laws or make up any of the rules that have historically disenfranchised African Americans in this country. To compound matters when it comes to being Black in America, all one has to do is review history and it will almost instantaneously be revealed that Black folks have consistently been on the receiving end of systematic oppression and have been placed on the wrong side of law-making since inception. Nothing new is taking place or will take place under

Gubegna has to his credit the following quote: “Every day in Africa a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows that it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn’t matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle. When the sun comes up, you better be running.” Shift country and scenario and every day that Black folks wake up in America, they realize that they have to work harder; react differently; smile more; arrive earlier; avoid conflict more; and give more than everyone else in order to play the game that has been laid out. The sad reality is that Black people have not yet figured out how to play the game, and are not paying attention to the rule changes. Success of sorts has evaded us. Let us seize the opportunity during this presidency to bring about a game change. By educating and Continued on page 7

The GGCI with this behavior has shown its true colours DEAR EDITOR, It is with much disgust and regret that I highlight a grave misgiving that was perpetuated by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This institution launched a magazine some weeks ago. It was about oil. In that document, a message by the GCCI President precedes the mes-

sage of our President, David Granger. But I have to ask the following: Would the institution have done the same had Bharrat Jagdeo been the President? Would it really dare to insult Jagdeo in that manner? Why does the President of GCCI believe his “message” is so important that it must be featured before the

Head of State’s? Editor, regardless of one’s beliefs, respect for our leaders, a sense of decency and professionalism must be allowed to prevail. This behaviour by GCCI not only delivers a jab to their integrity but signals to onlookers like me, once again, the true colours of this organization. Vishnu Chimtamani

DEAR EDITOR, In the last 16months, Guyana basketball has hosted the Caribbean Basketball Confederation Under 16 Championships for men and women. Our men finished as the second-best Under 16 team in the Caribbean, earning themselves a place in the Centro-basketball Under 17 championships 2017. Recent successes in basketball also included; the National Under 15 men’s team competing in Centro-basketball 2016, the national senior men, with a majority of players under age 23, competing in a tri-nation tournament in Jamaica, and just recently the national under 17 men despite tough circumstances, competing at the Centro basketball championship held in the Dominican Republic. Despite all these notable efforts, for those who do not know, basketball does not get a single dollar from its international parent body. Even if it did, that could not have sustained this level of activity which is necessary for the development of our players and the game over the long term. I cannot speak for the NF officially, but from the little that I do know, the GABF, and particularly Nigel Hinds, its president, have been left severely indebted from these efforts. This is despite the support received from the Government of Guyana, the National Sports Commission and generous sponsorship towards the hosting of the Caribbean Basketball Confederation

Championships 2017. The fundamental problem with basketball and sports in Guyana in general is funding. Accountable administration and adequate facilities are equally important issues as well. But the problem of funding has ensured a crippling effect to developing a sustainable progressive framework for the game to flourish. The GABF, as admirable as their effort has been over the course of these 16 months, is simply being asked and expected to do too much on its own. It is like being asked to make “bricks from straws” an impossible task. I told Nigel Hinds privately, which I will now say publicly, as admirable as his effort is, it is not right that he should carry this personal cost. It is just not sustainable. Nigel and I have had our differences, but the commitment and focus given to creating opportunities and providing exposure for youth players by his administration, is greatly appreciated, especially by those of us who are involved at the youth and school levels. A very important aspect of youth development has been answered by this federation- exposure to international competition. So, the President of the National Federation deserves a great deal of credit for this amount of heavy lifting. I do hope that some amount of his personal financial debt could be recovered even at this stage. The most difficult part for me personally as a sports administrator in Guyana is the conflict in answering the questions many of our young aspiring student athletes have: how can they get from where they are to the next level? Sometimes, I counsel myself that the best thing to do is to discourage these young people from pursuing what often turns out to be a deadend street. But then I cannot

then lends itself to the dilemma we find ourselves in: conflicted between a rock and hard place. One wonders now in light of these circumstances, what else could sports administrators do to penetrate the shortsightedness that is restricting Guyana sports potential? In the just concluded Centrobasketball Under 17 championships, 16-year-old Kevon Wiggins led all scorers with an average of 25.2 points; quite remarkable, for the little lad from Berbice. Kevon, shortly after the 2016 CBC Championships, migrated to the United States where he attends the Evander Child’s Campus in Bronx, NY, and plays on the school’s basketball team. Kevon’s all-round skills set in just a year has improved considerably and he is the same talented and motivated youth that left Guyana a year ago, with the aspiration of pursuing his dream as a pro basketball player. The difference in the last year has to do with the environment. Kevon went into an environment that believed in his ability to succeed and gave hope to the idea that if he works hard enough he would gain a scholarship to go on to college in order to pursue his life-long dream. He is well on his way in doing exactly that, and the entire basketball fraternity is cheering him on. But what about all the other boys and girls from Berbice to Kwakwani with those same aspirations? What about their dreams? What do we say to them? My hope is that basketball, and grass-root sport in general would be viewed as a national collaboration between Association, Government, Sponsors, Community and participants all working toward one end: to create opportunities and to maximize the potential of Guyana’s youth. This is my prayer for sports in Guyana. Chris Bowman

Sunday August 06, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Jagdeo lost a great opportunity to move The national discourse cannot afford to all Guyanese) could have sat this country forward ignore large scale emigration around and allowed the monDEAR EDITOR, Bharrat Jagdeo, the current leader of the People’s Progressive Party is doing everything in his power to become president of Guyana again and in his desperate effort to get back into Government House he is bringing his party to the end of its political life. Remember when he burst onto the scene back in the ‘90’s with all the ambition and promise that young politicians bring to electorates everywhere and the enthusiasm that he generated throughout the country and among Guyanese living outside the country for a chance to move our beloved country forward and in the right direction? Well he had that opportunity and what an opportunity it was! When you look at political opportunities that were squandered, his was, by any measure, the most colossal waste of political capital anywhere. Elementary to politics is the art of keeping disillusionment from creeping into the psyche of the people and Jagdeo failed miserably at that. His fatal combination of elements included greed, his natural thirst for unlimited power, the influence that totalitarianism

played in his formative political life (his Russian experience), his willingness to govern and operate extra-judicially, his underlying, anti-nationalistic belief that race politics could keep him in power because of local demographics, and many other deadly attributes that have no place in progressive politics. He was suddenly and surprisingly confronted with the chaos that that combination brought and the dread that Guyanese everywhere began to feel. Hence their disillusionment with him and the PPP. Because of him, the PPP as a political party has lost its way, and that all began, much to Jagdeo’s credit, when the party not only sanctioned, but stood idly by and allowed Janet Jagan to become president of Guyana, an act for which the PPP might never be politically forgiven, and we all know why. But that was all part of Jagdeo’s master plan and now the onus is left on his party to acknowledge that national blunder and at least atone or apologise to all Guyanese for that embarrassing, disrespectful moment in our history. The PPP must also explain to all Guyana how it (as a political party purporting to represent

strous Roger Khan, the lawless NICIL, the hydro fiasco atAmaila and the many other embarrassments that are all in the public record to be wrought upon this nation under the Jagdeo administration. It is time for the People’s Progressive Party to do some serious stock-taking to determine whether it wants to get back on track or whether it can go on disappointing this country like it has done it the recent past. Jagdeo’s quest to regain control is the party’s only obstacle. Guyanese are much smarter and a lot more well-informed than the old school of thought suggests, and we too want to feel proud of our political leaders. And whether the PPP believes it or not, we all love excellence, we all admire and are inspired by political and personal integrity. Spiteful politics, vindictiveness, race politics, bullyism, intimidation, corruption, greed, must now be frowned upon if there is any hope for the PPP to be of political significance again and, of course something has to be done about Jagdeo. He has become a real burden for the party to continue to struggle under. Guyanese nationalist

Changing the Game in America by all means... From page 6 empowering Black youth, the game can change. There is a widely accepted African proverb that I believe is more relevant today than ever before. It states, “It takes a whole village to raise a child.” This means in basic language that the responsibility of raising a child is not just an individual effort; rather, it is a community effort that shifts the responsibility of raising a child from an individual to a much larger family where everyone participates, especially the older children, aunts and uncles, grandparents, and even cousins. It is imperative that Black youth be given the tools, knowledge and resources they need to deal with the real issues in today’s America. Again I do not want to be the harbinger of doom or the portender of gloom, but again I say that laws are coming down that will affect Blacks in ways never before seen or experienced. Far too many Black youth have had to find an identity to call their own. Black youth have been seeking answers as to who they are, and what their God-given purpose is, which is why many Black youth have created and joined gangs; embraced the drug culture; created the hip-hop culture; and want to be athletes and entertainers, as opposed

to becoming lawyers, doctors, politicians, ministers or community activists. Blacks are now tasked with the collective responsibility of taking the necessary steps in ensuring that the community has a solid village where Black youth can grow and thrive. It is the job and responsibility of the collective Black community to properly guide Black youth in their village. Black people must take full responsibility for the Black youth in their own village and

dedicate themselves to educating, equipping and empowering them until they see the change they want to see in this country – politically, socially, educationally and economically even under the most notable President of all times. While President Trump is having his political heyday, Blacks should be able to proudly say as in the words of the song made famous by Ole Blue Eyes—we did it our way. Yvonne Sam

DEAR EDITOR, My letter last week (Our falling population: Shouldn’t we be concerned about this? – KN July 30) highlighted the issue of Guyana’s stagnant population growth indicated by recent national census reports. This population stagnation and, in particular, its link to excessively high emigration rates over recent decades are fundamental features of Guyana’s post-Independence past. It is, I believe, an issue we must confront and try to understand as we try to turn a corner and fashion a better future for the citizens of this country. The numbers are startling, but to understand the scale of the human loss the country has suffered, you have to go beyond the numbers, and address causes and motivations. As I showed last week, the Guyana population declined by 12,611 in the 32 years from 1980 to 2012, but to get a realistic sense of the loss we have to take into account the dynamic nature of the population. Assuming a rate of natural increase (births minus deaths) of 1.5 percent per year, the haemorrhage of persons leaving the country since 1980 is over 450 thousand, roughly 60 percent of the 1980 population. These are conservative estimates, all things considered, so the actual outflow could be considerably higher. It goes without saying that emigration on this scale is not normal. With all the jingoistic declarations of love and praise for the country, the reality is that for a high proportion of the population, their leading am-

bition is to get out of the country. This is not because people don’t love their country. It speaks to the failure of the country, blessed with so many resources and educated people, to fulfil the aspirations of its citizens and inspire confidence that this place will be as good as any for the future of your children. People have been justly concerned about the lack of job opportunities for young people, threats to personal and property safety, inadequate health care (for those who can’t fly their relatives out when a crisis hits), a pervasive sense of corruption, and a general indifference to the conditions of ordinary people. Perhaps most disturbing is a constant undercurrent of political and social instability linked to distorted institutions that few are satisfied with, but all seem powerless to address. The main target of immigrants has been the USA and Canada which, it seems, have played a duplicitous role in the process. Rather than showing greater commitment to helping the country overcome its fundamental challenges so that Guyanese people could feel more confident making the choice to stay

home and build, they have taken to the sidelines attracting our people with their skills and talents, while focusing on opportunities here for their interests. But our people have gone everywhere, not just to the USA, UK, and Canada. All our neighbours – from Trinidad and Tobago to Jamaica, from Aruba to St. Martin, Suriname, French Guiana, you name the place – have sizable Guyanese immigrants. And our people have contributed in every field you can imagine (and some you can’t) – professionals of every kind, financial, commercial and manufacturing business, academics, teachers, nurses, sugar workers, domestic servants – wherever there is work, there is a Guyanese who can do it. While our country has been stagnating and struggling for decades, we have been helping to lift other countries substantially. And why is that? Clearly, the answer is that other countries have offered better life prospects and better rewards for our work. As we look to the future, the national discourse cannot afford to ignore this fundamental national experience – large scale emigration. Desmond Thomas, PhD

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Sunday August 06, 2017

Kaieteur News

K/News staffer bribery case…

PCA makes recommendation but cops fail to uplift file Is the Guyana Police Force really serious about ending corruption within its ranks? This is the question relatives of the late Kaieteur News staffer, Harry Brijmohan are asking. Brijmohan had accused five ranks of demanding $5000 bribe from him on August 17, last after he was stopped at Red Road, Providence, East Bank Demerara, for riding without a helmet. It will soon be a year and there is no information about charges for the ranks involved. The 27-year-old died in an accident at Eccles, EBD, three months after the report was made. After much back and forth in this case, a staffer from the Police Complaints Authority confirmed last month that the Chairman of the body, Justice Cecil Kennard had made his recommendation and that the file only has to be uplifted. The file is among a number of other files that have to be collected by the ranks at the Criminal Investigation Unit (CID). However, when contact was made again on Friday, it was revealed that

Brijmohan’s file is still at Kennard’s office—waiting to be uplifted. “If Kennard made his recommendations a month now, then why can’t the ranks pick up the file? They’re talking about eliminating corruption from the force and it will soon be a year and these ranks have not been charged as yet,” said one of the dead man’s relatives. The file was sent to the Chairman since March 21, last. It is unclear why the police are taking so long on this case, since all evidence, including video footage supporting Brijmohan’s allegation, had been presented to the investigating ranks. Kaieteur News was informed that once the file reaches CID, ranks there will have to make contact with the complainant, Harry Brijmohan, to discuss disciplinary action but in this case, investigators will have to meet with his fiancée, Zena Henry, to talk about the outcome. This newspaper was informed that the Police’s Office of Professional Respon-

sibility (OPR) had recommended criminal charges against the ranks. A source at OPR had indicated that even though Brijmohan passed away, the ranks can still be charged and placed before the court. Giving details of the allegation, Brijmohan had indicated that the ranks searched him, demanded his documents, and then informed him that they had to charge him and place him before the court, despite his offence being one that required him being given a ticket. He was told that he could have only made a phone call after 72 hours “One of them tell me that I should have ride away; that his gun rusty because long he ain’t use it,” Brijmohan had recounted. The Kaieteur News staffer was only allowed to continue his journey home when the policemen demanded that he give them $5000. When Brijmohan’s experience with the lawmen made the news and OPR launched an investigation, the five policemen in question all denied ever seeing or stopping the motorcyclist—although they admitted that they were indeed patrolling in the area on

that day. However, video footage later surfaced, contradicting the denial by the cops. The footage showed Brijmohan sitting in the tray of an unmarked vehicle (with his motorcycle), as it drove along the road that leads to Providence New Scheme, East Bank Demerara, between 15:20 hours and 15:35 hrs. The footage was handed over to the detectives who were working on the case. Before Brijmohan died, he had made contact with ranks investigating the case almost daily, but never got any positive response.

Harry Brijmohan

The Baccoo Speaks An argument is going to turn deadly when two men fail to settle a dispute over money. One of them would have promised to repay a loan but he would renege on his promise. His partner would become very angry and would resort to violence that would leave him seriously injured. He would succumb to his injuries. ** A fire is going to destroy a business place in the coming days. Workers would see smoke coming from a room and would

raise an alarm. By the time help could arrive the fire would have spread and would cause severe damage to property. ** Robberies are on the decline but every so often a group of young men would become desperate. And since guns are common things these days they would stage an attack. Two of them would be left at the scene because of community response and rapid police action.

Sunday August 06, 2017

Dem boys seh...

Ah Minister deh in de oil company pocket A blind man once asked God, “Can there be anything worse than losing yuh eyesight?” He replied, “Yes my son, losing yuh vision!” After reading that, dem boys laugh and seh some Guyanese politicians have lost both eyesight and vision. Just look at the way dem handling the oil company that deh in Guyana. That company has a track record that every country dem been in, dem lie to de people and cut deals with government officials that rob de country and its people. Dem eventually leff countries oil-less, the government powerless and the people penni-less. Dem boys want Soulja Bai to know that dem peep a Minister email in which de oil company tell him that de kinda exposure de Waterfalls paper ah do, does only happen after dem leff de country, not before. Just that one line mek all de hair pon Dem Boys head stand up. Dem boys seh it speaks volumes about whose interest that Minister has at heart. Imagine he is one of Soulja Bai gatekeepers, negotiators and deal makers between Guyana and the oil company. Dem boys conclude definitively, that the only way a company can talk to the gatekeeper or negotiator in that manner is that they already have dem in their pockets. Just read back those words and what it says about the people who negotiating on behalf of the Guyanese people. It is frightening. It is even more frightening when de government can issue a licence to the oil company when it failed to accept liability in case of an oil spill. This is a basic requirement around the world for all oil companies. Now that dem give away de licence without ensuring Guyana and its neighbours are protected, Dem boys want to know who will foot the bill in the case of a disaster or an oil spill. Will it be Soulja Bai, Jagdeo, or the same minister that receive that email? Dem boys want Soulja Bai and all Guyana to know that this is a company that has walked away without looking back at anything or anyone after it would have caused the world’s worst oil spills. Talk half and watch how politicians endangering a country and its people.

Kaieteur News

GUYANA DODGED A... (From page 3) the People’s Progressive Party/Civic. It was proposed to be constructed at the mouth of the Berbice River. But there was much objection and the project was stalled. In 2015, just before General and Regional elections, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic administration announced that a feasibility study for the project was underway. Just like the port in Sri Lanka, India has an interest in having a port in Guyana. Do the two countries see something our politicians do not see? Interestingly, President David Granger is on record saying that Guyana may still go ahead with the harbour as soon as funding becomes available. RECAP Two weeks ago, this newspaper focused on the glaring similarities between the China- built and inflated Sri Lanka Airport and the ongoing CJIA modernization project. Sri Lanka had been tricked by China into building a second international airport. Sri Lanka was told that it would serve as a hub for Asian airlines and would generate much revenue for the island. Much to that nation’s dismay, the airport has become nothing but a liability. It has been labeled the world’s emptiest airport. It cannot even sustain itself, the staff has nothing to do and Sri Lanka is

left with a big debt to service. The building of the airport has been labeled by Forbes Magazine as a highly corrupt venture. Guyana has been fed a similar story. Guyana was told by none other than former President Bharrat Jagdeo that a bigger airport will serve as a hub for Africa. China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) the same company that built Sri Lanka’s airport - is doing our upgrade. Sri Lanka’s funding for the project came as a loan from China, so did Guyana’s. Would Guyana’s new airport become the hub that China and Jagdeo promised to increase revenue in order to service the loan or will it suffer the same fate as Sri Lanka’s? To be continued…

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Minister Trotman meets with lumber yard and hardware reps - Focuses on impact of large quantities of imported pine wood On Friday last, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman met with several lumber yard and hardware representatives to discuss the reduction in importation of foreign pine wood which is in demand, particularly the United States. A release from the ministry indicated that, “This meeting was part of the Ministry’s ongoing consultations with stakeholders on the impact of large quantities of imported pine wood on the local timber industry.” The local hardware dealer and lumber suppliers explained the challenges they face upon supplying “quality local lumber for their customers” during the gathering. Local lumber not being correctly ‘kiln-dried’ was among the challenges as well as “uncertainty of supply”. Although workers expressed their Continued on page 61

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Sunday August 06, 2017

Kaieteur News

Babita Sarjou murder PI…

Brazilian doctor to continue testifying as Magistrate overrules defence’s objections Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan has ruled that Brazilian doctor Renato Teodoro Ferreira Paranaibo is competent to continue testify as an expert in the preliminary inquiry into the murder of Babita Sarjou which is ongoing in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The doctor testifies via Skype video call from his homeland. Last Friday, the Chief Magistrate said that based on the doctor’s experience and qualifications, he is capable of testifying as an expert witness in relation to DNA tests he conducted on Sarjou’s skeletal remains which were dug up from a grave behind her ex-husband’s yard. Shardanand Naraine, the exhusband and Darrel Ponton are currently on remand for the capital offence. Earlier on in the preliminary inquiry, Attorneys-at-Law Ronald Trotman and Hubert Rodney who are representing the murder accused had raised

MURDER ACCUSED: Darrel Ponton

MURDER ACCUSED: Shardanand Naraine

objections to the doctor testifying citing that that he is not a Guyanese and the fact that his first language was not English. The lawyers had also raised the issue of the doctor not residing in Guyana and that the court does not have jurisdiction to allow his testimony. Further, the lawyers pointed out that the doctor’s qualifications and DNA test results were in Portuguese. Their objections were however overruled by the Chief

Magistrate. She ruled that the court has jurisdiction to take the doctor’s evidence. Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield on Friday presented the court with certified English copies of the doctor’s qualifications and DNA test results. The preliminary inquiry continues on Wednesday when the Doctor, the final witness for the prosecution, will continue testifying.

Sunday August 06, 2017

Kaieteur News

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ExxonMobil makes no financial commitment to deal with responsibilities of possible oil spill …yet granted Environmental Permit ExxonMobil is known to be associated with some of the world’s most horrific oil spills. One good example is what happened in Alaska, United States. In 1989, the oil tanker Exxon Valdez slammed into a reef and spilled more than 11 million gallons of crude oil into the cold, clear waters of Alaska. Those waters, referred to as ‘Prince William Sound’ were deemed one of the “last best places” on Earth. The oil charged through Prince William Sound and out into the Gulf of Alaska. The damage spread more than 1,300 miles of some

operations heading into full swing, Guyana is now at risk of having to face the consequences of an oil spill. It was earlier reported that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) accepted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) from the oil giant. An EIA evaluates the likely environmental impacts of a proposed project or development, taking into account inter-related socioeconomic, cultural and human-health impacts, both beneficial and adverse. But ExxonMobil’s EIA leaves much to be desired. According to the source

There is a possibility that neighbouring countries, when environmental damage occurs, can move against Guyana. If the burden is left to bear by Guyana, the country may have to pay damages equivalent to years of oil revenues. ExxonMobil’s EIA also offers no compensation to fishermen and other Guyanese who are most likely to be affected in the case of an oil spill. of the most remote, wild shorelines in America. The amount of oil spilled can fill 125 Olympic size swimming pools. Four deaths were directly associated with clean up efforts. Although this happened 28 years ago, The Valdez area in Alaska has not recovered to date. The coastal ecosystem is said to be permanently damaged. There are still pools of oil sitting in some parts of the beaches. This oil is still toxic and still hurting the ecosystem near the shore. With ExxonMobil’s

document, ExxonMobil has little or no plans in place to deal with any financial eventuality of an oil spill. Exxon claims that the possibility of an oil spill is not very high. However, it said that there is a 10 percent chance that in the event of a spill, oil will reach the coast of Guyana where 90 percent of its population sits. ExxonMobil inferred that because of the purported ‘slim’ chance of an oil spill, detailed response measures are not needed. However, with a two percent possibility of occurring, the practice

around the world is that oil companies are made to cater in detail for disasters. And indeed, the impact of an oil spill will be major for Guyana and its neighbours. There is also nothing in the EIA that speaks to how Guyana’s neighbours will be compensated. What was clear is that ExxonMobil did not (continued on page 18)

Unidentified protesters in Homer, Alaska expressed their opinions of Exxon in 1989. (Photo by Doug Loshbaugh)

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FINANCIAL LITERACY:

Teenagers and Money Management Teenagers’ lack of readiness to manage money The U.S. President’s Advisory Council on Financial Literacy, set up to assist the American people in understanding financial matters and making informed financial decisions, and thereby contribute to financial stability stated that,

“By almost any measure, today’s schoolchildren are ill equipped to understand personal finance and make their way in the modern world. Their rising debt and debt problems, along with their poor inclination to save, substantiate what the test scores show, most students still graduate from

high school without any formal classroom education in personal finance.” It is my understanding that the same is true for Guyanese students. So, the question is, “How to help teenagers manage their money?” Well, the literature indicates that teachers and parents both play an important role in shaping

children’s financial behaviour and attitude towards money. However, as was discussed in an earlier article, in many schools financial literacy studies are lacking in the curriculum, so many teenagers rely on their parents to set the right example when it comes to managing finances. It is not easy to talk to teenagers about money. A review of the literature determined that there are three areas where parents can help their children navigate the “tricky waters of personal finance.” 1. Give teenagers financial responsibility– Money Advice Service of the United Kingdom found that, “Just over half of 15-17-year olds who receive money on an ad-hoc basis keep track of their income and spending. Whereas almost two in three of those who receive a regular, fixed sum are aware of their financial incomings and outgoings.” So, providing teenagers with a regular, set amount of money and the responsibility for paying for something they want, gives them their first opportunity to practice how to stay within a budget. Part of the teaching of teenagers how to manage their finances must include setting a monthly budget. Parents must be strict with the money they give them and not bailing them out if they overspend. In fact, some

experts suggested that, “Sharing your tales of woe can be a good way to highlight the dangers of poor money management.” 2. Set the right example – But parents must set the right example and teach teenagers the various benefits of budgeting and saving. A review of the literature determined that when it comes to managing finances, many teenagers mimic their parents’ behaviour. One way of setting the right example is by including your teenagers in some of your financial decisions, this teaches them how to develop budgets. Another valuable lesson is teaching your teenagers how to develop a “saving habit.” Learning about the importance of saving and buying things which you can afford is a very important part of adult life. 3. Help them manage their first wage –For teenagers, an exciting time is earning that first paycheck. But that first paycheck can also come with a lot of confusion, especially when it isn’t as big as your teen expected, so says Erin Lowry of H&R Block – Dollars and Sense. Therefore, parents must explain to their teenagers, gross income vs. net income. Gross is the amount earned based on your salary and the hours worked. Net is the actual take-home pay after

A mini health check is the first step to donating blood

Dr. Terence Smith, Deputy Governor, Bank of Guyana taxes and other deductions. This is a great opportunity to put aside some time and talk to your teenagers about the importance of saving. This can be as simple as deciding to put aside a certain sum each month, or if they have a set goal, helping them make sure they reach it. It’s never too early to start teaching your teenagers critical money management skills. Both teachers and parents must explain to teenagers that having a budget is a necessary part of responsible money management. Your teen can use paper, pencil and calculator or Microsoft Excel to create a budget. Some experts suggest that, “The best method is one that your teen is most enthusiastic about: you want to make the budget process as fun as possible so that your child has the motivation to stick with it over the long term.” Next week we will discuss the seven principles of the millionaire next door. Thanks for all your comments and support. As usual, please send your comments or questions to deputygovernor@ bankofguyana.org.gy

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NGO supports Education Ministry’s focus on entrepreneurial skills for youths Come Alive Network Incorporated (CANI), a nongovernmental organization, yesterday held its fourth annual Youth Conference at the Pegasus Hotel under the theme ‘Empower Youth’. Managing Director of CANI, Kadeem Gordon said that the event was very important to the organization as it served as an opportunity to truly reach out to Guyanese youths. He told the media, “This is a vision that we would have had for approximately four years ago, whereby we would’ve wanted to provide the platform for young people to meet their representatives and also to enable them to benefit from a number of training sessions that we would usually have in the organization. We also wanted to provide the platform for us to be able to hear from them, they can even question the representatives. More so it’s a developmental activity”. Gordon stated that the one day conference accommodated youths from regions two, four, five, six, eight and 10, who would have registered both on-line and in

person on the day of the event. He noted that the conference last year saw speakers like First lady Mrs. Sandra Granger and Chief Justice (ag) Roxanne George. This year the Pioneering Empowerment Panel included ICT engineer Rosanna Ferreira, Director of Right Media Dr. Rosh Khan, Joanann Edghill-Stuart of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Dason Anthony, Business owner and Attorney at Law, Mandel More. The session was also attended by the Director of Youth, Melissa Carmichael among many other imperative speakers. He stated that the event was organized with the theme in mind, so young people will be able to hear success stories. During the session, an inspirational spoken word was done by Renata Burnette and was followed by Attorney at Law, Asif HoseinShah, a Trinidadian, who told his success story and how he was constantly discouraged at some of the most critical points of his life. He shared that the difficulties he faced had however, empowered him

to deal with the hurt he felt during his father’s several heart attacks and his sister’s death fight. Meanwhile, the Director of Youth during her address stated that over 2000 youths were engaged in projects. She also noted that approximately 400 students graduated from the Kuru-Kuru Training Centre and Sophia Training Centre among others. “We had a total of 1666 students between the ages of 10-35 who participated in events.” According to Carmichael, the Ministry wants to ensure activities and whatever is done, is done with youths in mind. As it relates to projections, she said the Ministry realizes the need for entrepreneurial skills to be taught as well as assisting young people in choosing the correct careers as well as making good decisions. She said, “Currently we are hosting camps in every region except Regions Nine and One (which is because these regions had specially requested these programmes).” Approximately 343 young people are benefitting from these camps and will be able to apply the acquired skills and

Director of Youth Melissa Carmichael delivering her remarks knowledge in business management and other areas. More projections include implementation of a number of skills training exercises to promote a “green economy” in the coming year. Yesterday’s session proceeded until midday and was followed by a break out session whereby the members of the conference were taken on field trips to the Carnegie School of Home Economics, Department of

Environment and St. Joseph High School. The Conference had approximately 300 youths between the ages of 14 and 30. Attendees were not charged a registration fee, since Gordon noted that the event was fully sponsored by Maggies, Sterling, Courts, Spicy Dish, Bettencourt’s, Star Party Rentals, Caribbean Containers, Pegasus Hotel

and the National Sports Commission (NSC). According to the Director, throughout the years they have had “tremendous turnouts” and it is because of this they did prior registration so as to help resolve the crowd and waiting time attached. The chairpersons of the conference were Mr. Patrick Huntley and Ms. Crystal Barclay.

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2017 growth rate revised downward …as sugar, forestry, mining and light manufacturing sectors contract By Kiana Wilburg Finance Minister Winston Jordan had initially projected for the economy to reach a 3.8 percent growth rate for 2017. But circumstances beyond his control have left him and his ministry with no choice but to reduce this projection to 3.1 percent. This was revealed in his Ministry’s mid-year report on the economy. The revision of the 2017 growth rate is due to the overall growth performance of various sectors in conjunction with the expected impact of declining sugar production. Like the sugar sector,

The forestry industry contracted by 18.2% in the first half of 2017, compared to the same period last year.

renewed, with two of those concessions accounting for almost thirty percent of total production. In addition to this, the Ministry said that markets in China for species such as Wamara have reduced significantly. During the second half of 2017, it was noted that forestry production is expected to rise as a result of a reallocation of 54 State Forest Authorizations (small forest concessions) covering 206,000 hectares made in March. The Finance Ministry said that the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) will continue to work closely with the

Mining and quarrying contracted by 4.0%

rainfall and the switching to lower grade material by one of the producers, to facilitate remedial work at the higher yielding mine, affected production for the large companies. Despite the slight decline in the first half of 2017, the Finance Ministry said that the overall production is still expected to surpass its 2016 level, with the industry expected to grow by 1.7 percent. BAUXITE

there were other sectors which contracted for the first half of the year. According to the midyear report the forestry industry, for example, contracted by 18.2 percent in the first six months of this year, compared to the same period in 2016. The Finance Ministry said that the declining production within the forestry industry was due to structural changes in the industry. It said that several large concessions have not been

Ministries of Business and Foreign Affairs, and the private sector, to address the United Kingdom’s ban on Guyana’s non-certified greenheart logs. The GFC is also expected to engage with community forestry operators to address challenges of access to export markets in order to enhance export opportunities and stimulate production. MININGAND QUARRYING

According to the Ministry of Finance, the mining and quarrying sector contracted by 4.0 percent, during the first half of the year. In fact, Gold production fell by 1.7 percent to 317,096 ounces, compared to the same period in 2016. Of the total gold declared, 65.7 percent came from small and medium-sized miners and dealers whose declarations were above projections while the two large gold companies were below projections. It was noted that heavy

The Ministry of Finance noted that the bauxite industry declined by 11.5 percent, as a result of reduced production of higher valued grades. It said that this was due to poor weather combined with mechanical issues at one of the mines. However, the Ministry said that the production of metal grade bauxite (MAZ) increased by 97,016 tonnes or 21.3 percent. Additionally, the favourable international price for aluminum in 2017 is ex-

pected to boost output of bauxite during the second half of the year. Furthermore, the Ministry said that the other mining and quarrying industry contracted by 13.1 percent, in the first half of 2017 in comparison to a positive growth of 13.9 percent in the same period last year. The Ministry said that this decline is driven by a reduction in the production of diamonds, sand, and stone. It said that declining Continued on page 27

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== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==

Bees and jungles: My country 14 years ago In 2003, I went to La Grange cemetery. It was the burial of my wife’s uncle. I was deeply disgusted at the site and sight of what was before me. This was not a burial ground. This was an abandoned piece of land overrun by jungle. You just could not get to the burial plot. It was a forest. To think that people’s loved ones are resting there and when one goes there to contemplate, one cannot be near the final resting place of their spouse or parent or child. I was so angry that I commented on this insult to the people of La Grange in one of my columns, back then. On Thursday, fourteen years after my first visit to La Grange cemetery, I was back there. This time, it was the wife of the man laid there in 2003. After 14 years, the La Grange cemetery is in a more squalid state; completely taken over by jungle and forest. It was absolutely useless requesting that the wife be put down beside her husband.

There was no way one could have located his tomb in that hell hole. What happened in my country 14 years ago to cause this cemetery to deteriorate so badly? The answer should be obvious. If the country doesn’t move, then it recedes back in time to primitive eras. There is no space to walk between tombs in the cemetery. There are tiny drains that separate sections of the ground, but there is no plank to cross these drains to get to the burial plots. It is the rainy season and everything was muddy. If there is no plank to cross over these drains, how can you lift the coffin over them? It is risky business, because you can slip. Obviously the women with heels couldn’t make it. A rotten piece of wood, about two feet in length and four inches in width, was located to make the crossing. But not for the women. Every man held his wife’s hand to negotiate over the rotten wood. The female pastor to conduct the service decided that

she was not going to the spot, because it is under a tree and a swarm of bees could be disturbed. Those who were related to the deceased decided bees or no bees they had to bury the dead. La Grange cemetery has to be one of the smallest burial grounds in the entire world; it caters only for residents there. Why has such a small ground been allowed to become a virtual jungle? Is there an answer? Are there answers to why Guyana is going back in time when life was primitive? What lacerates your psyche is that the NDC that controls La Grange was a part of the then-ruling PPP since God knows when. Why therefore could the central government not have landscaped that place? Of course, I have only seen La Grange ground, maybe this is the pattern throughout the entire country. But there is more bad news. In the local government elections last year, the PPP won the La Grange NDC. If the PPP was in power for

2017 growth rate revised... From page 25 diamond production was attributed to falling global prices and possible substitution by some miners into the gold industry as a result of the favourable prices of gold. MANUFACTURING As for the manufacturing sector, the Finance Ministry said that this sector recovered in the first half of 2017, growing by 9.9 percent following a decline of 14.1 percent in the corresponding period in 2016. The Ministry said that this was mainly due to expan-

sion in the rice sector. It noted, however, both sugar and light manufacturing declined in the first half of 2017. Be that as it may, the Ministry pointed out that products, such as beer and stout, showed positive growth, in the first half of the year. FINANCE /INSURANCE INDUSTRY With the exception of the financial and insurance industry, the Finance Ministry said that all of the services industries expanded in the

first half of 2017. Improved performance occurred in the electricity and water industry, which grew by 3.6 percent. Additionally, it was pointed out that the construction industry expanded by 2.1 percent. Furthermore, it was noted that the transportation and storage industry also improved, growing by 2.5 percent as a result of an increase in land and air transportation. However, the financial industry contracted due to an increase in nonperforming loans along with stringent measures to reduce money laundering.

twenty-three years and couldn’t rehabilitate the site, then it is logical to assume that place will sink into the bowels of the jungle I saw on Thursday last. People reading these thoughts of mine here would say that those horrible conditions only affect the people of La Grange, but that there are fault lines all over Guyana that kill the spirit of this nation, not only a village on the West Bank of Demerara. They are right. What are the answers? Who has them? Nietzsche’s Übermensch. I live on the Railway Embankment next to the Caricom Secretariat. That

is the road I travel on to get to the inner city each day. I saw when they installed traffic signals at the hectic junction of the embankment and Conversation Tree Road. That was months ago. Since then those lights have constantly malfunctioned and are out of order at present, and have been so the past week. What is wrong with this country that brand new traffic lights cannot work? I will leave you with a little story that occurred at the fund-raising brunch of the Burnham Institute held on Caricom Day at the Spicy Dish Restaurant on David Street

Frederick Kissoon and Vlissengen Road. One of the most high profile expatriates who returned to work with the new government came up to the table that Dr. David Hinds and I were seated at to say hello. During our conversation, he said; “Man I can’t understand why simple things like traffic lights don’t work here.”

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PRESS FREEDOM IN A FREE LAND By Hon. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo It sounds like an understatement, but Guyana today does enjoy a free press. Media ownership is mostly private and far outstrips and outweighs the limited control of state radio and television (NCN) and newspaper (Chronicle). Guyana’s field of media is open and wide. They are robust and vibrant, and enjoy the fullest rights to exist and function unfettered by state censorship, restrictions

and politico-financial pressures or demands. Guyana’s media have the right to self-censor, especially lewd and distasteful content, politics or other kinds of material that their own audiences find objectionable. Generally, private media in Guyana is encouraged to change or pull content, or shift their leaning/ slant purely based on the increase or decrease in advertising, or on receipt of infor-

mation indicating that their support base is diminishing. These freedoms did not come easily. The media fought for their rights to operate freely without the conditions that used to exist from the 1980’s through to 2015, with the exception of brief spells under the Presidencies of Hugh Desmond Hoyte and Cheddi B. Jagan. Those Journalists and programme producers who are still here could tell a few sordid tales of state manipulation otherwise

known as ‘party paramountcy’. Fast forward to the turn of this Century. The fourth estate was under threat of becoming a political football for the PPP, the party which, when in power, left no illusions of its intention to control and manipulate the media, both state- and privatelyowned. ADETERMINED FRATERNITY The media, it turned out, was peopled by journalists and media house owners who dug their heels in and refused to be intimidated or dominated, even when they were banned from State House, hollered at, cursed out, called names like weasel and crab, and worst of all, charged and falsely imprisoned. In the seven years that he led this nation, from 1985 to 1992, President Desmond Hoyte allowed private media to grow. He removed the restrictions that had been imposed on the private press such as denial of access to newsprint and printing equipment, and delays in issuance of import licences. Dr. Cheddi Jagan (19921997) continued this process when he became President. It must be noted that he was a real doctor, not an honorary one. He studied and worked in the USA under extremely hard conditions for his degree in Dental Surgery (DDS). Though he made efforts to restore professional ethics in the state media at least, government’s relationship with the privately-owned media, especially the Stabroek News, was still unfriendly. It was wrong and inexcusable, especially during the Jagdeo stint, to label the private press ‘anti-national’. OBSCENE OBSESSION Under the Jagdeo presidency, (1999 to 2011) the PPP had an obscene obsession with using the state information apparatus to attack political opponents. Independent newspapers were branded “anti-government” and denied state advertise-

ments. That was a declaration of economic war against the private press. The intention was to starve them of financial resources, strangle them to their knees, and force their compliance. This was clear violation of the Chapultepec Declaration for Freedom of Speech/Expression, to which Guyana was a willing signatory. In that era too, journalists were punished publicly. One fearless man was expelled and banned from presidential news conferences, and called a carrion crow. Worse still, a popular newspaper columnist was doused with human excrement. Other outspoken critics were hounded out of the country; one was executed mafia-style, and others (including a whole media house) received naked and vulgar threats. Now Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo who had by then parted ways with the PPP, was referred to as an “intellectual jackass.” TOTALITARIAN IMPULSE Like a macabre stageshow, the nation witnessed in horror a ‘buse-down of the US Ambassador during a reception at his home no less, while the PPP disdainfully referred to the diplomatic community as ‘meddlers’. Children did not escape. A young man was arrested by police, accused of ‘flipping the bird’ while Jagdeo was passing by. In the interior, a young Amerindian teacher was beaten up at Aishalton be-

cause he dared to disagree with something that was said during a campaign rally. The acts committed by the previous government against the citizens of Guyana were so past the pale that the nation remained aghast. Some were learning to avoid being knocked sideways by the constant assault on our sensibilities, but we were being pushed towards a precipice. The incidents that did the most damage were the charges and imprisonment of a few citizens for treason and other ‘crimes against the state’. Before proceeding farther let me say that treason is the most serious capital offence in most countries, and is almost always punishable by death. It is extreme and final if proven. Ex-GDF officer, Oliver Hinckson, was charged in 2009 for ‘advocating a terrorist act against his country’. Then political activist, Mark Benschop, was slapped with a Treason indictment in 2010 for leading a protest. This was followed with incarceration of a couple, army officer Major Bruce Munroe and his wife Carol. Of course these people were all acquitted in the courts … eventually, and Benschop was reluctantly released after spending much of five years in solitary confinement. These incidents characterised the evolving nature of the state then, and they led to the heartless shooting of three protesters at Linden in 2012. Guyana had become a (state-sanctioned) criminal State that had to be stopped! So, today, when we say that the media are free, it should be absorbed with the full weight of international press freedom. This APNU+AFC Coalition has always been determined to remove the hood of contamination from our media, to restore the rights of our Fourth Estate, and relegate political interference to the garbage heap.

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(Remarks by HE David Granger at the Opening Ceremony of the Upper Demerara Magistrates’ District on August 3, 2017) Access to justice is the foundation of a democratic nation and the hallmark of modern civilisation. The Cooperative Republic of Guyana is a law-based state. One of the principles enshrined in our ‘Constitution’ is equality before the law. The Constitution, at Article 149 (D)(1), provides that: “…The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or equal protection and benefit of the law.” Equality before the law is the essential element of justice. It ensures that all citizens enjoy “…equal protection and benefit of the law.” Equality before the law can thrive only where there is access to the law. The absence of such access deprives citizens of “…equal protection and benefit of the law.” Many residents in rural regions and the hinterland face everyday challenges to which they seek remedies. Residents – including victims of domestic abuse trapped in loveless relationships with their abusers; mothers denied access to their children because they cannot take their husbands and children-fathers to court a hundred

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Access to justice

President Granger addressing the Opening Ceremony of the Upper Demerara Magistrates’ District

kilometres away; small miners and businessmen facing bankruptcy because they cannot reach the court to claim unpaid debts or wages – should not be ignored. Access to justice, is a precondition for the “…equal protection and benefit of the law.” It is a principle of the rule of law. The law should be a great leveler. It should not be a weapon for the strong

and powerful against the poor, weak and vulnerable. It emphasises citizens’ basic human right to have legal recourse and redress for wrongs committed against them and their property and for the preservation of public order. Access to justice: provides legal recourse that is accessible and affordable;

protects citizens against deprivation of their property and violation of their rights; safeguards human security by ensuring that persons who are threats to the public are subject to legally enforceable sanctions; and, deepens citizens’ sense of belonging to a society in which justice can be secured. An accessible justice system is essential to human safety, to public security and to a strong economy. Cohesive societies rely on public confidence that the courts will enforce their rights and their trust in the rule of law. When trust fails, the rule of the law falters. MAGISTRATES’ COURTS Magistrates’ courts constitute the first tier of Guyana’s justice system. Magistrates’ courts are often described as ‘inferior’ courts, but their “inferiority” is by rank and not importance. Magistrates’ courts are the main and, often, the most frequented interface between citizens and the justice system. Citizens look to magistrates’ courts for access to justice and for the efficacious and efficient discharge of justice. Magistrates’ courts serve as an important link between citizens and the judiciary through the services they provide in the jurisdiction of the courts as prescribed and delimited by statute. Magistrates’ courts shelter citizens’ persons and their property and help to preserve public order. They protect citizens against:

offences against their persons such as assault, battery, the ill-treatment, neglect or abandonment of children and unlawful wounding; offences against property and the rights of property, such as willful trespass; injury to animals and plants and other property; offences against public order such as public terror, disorderly conduct, riotous behaviour and breach of the peace; and offences such as corruption, embezzlement, false pretence, forgery fraudulent misappropriation, larceny and receiving stolen property. Magistrates’ courts hear claims, also, to determine cases relating to possession and rental of premises, for the recovery of petty debts and the maintenance and support of children and women. Magistrates’ courts are expected to dispense justice to citizens in a fair and swift manner in accordance with the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana which provides, at Article 144(1): If any person is charged with a criminal offence then, unless the charge is withdrawn, the case shall be afforded a fair hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial court established by law. Confidence in the magistrates’ courts will enhance the overall administration of justice in the country and foster social cohesion. Citizens’ assessment of the justice system is shaped by their experience at the level of the magistrate’s courts. That experience can be enhanced by

an unblemished and ‘un-bribable’ magistracy. The Annual Report of the Supreme Court of Judicature for 2015 observed that, for five districts, 39,700 cases were filed in 2015 and, for seven districts, more than 21,000 criminal, civil and maintenance cases remained outstanding. The Annual Report notes that some magistrates are manning as many as three courts per week. It called for a review of the authorised strength of the magistracy since the workload is becoming “voluminous”. The Executive branch supports the appointment of persons as magistrates who evince the qualities of ‘integrity, impartiality and independence’, in other words, ‘fit and proper’ persons. Such magistrates will help to reduce the number of incomplete cases, to provide a higher quality of service to citizens and to ensure a more efficient magistracy. The establishment of the Upper Demerara Magisterial District is an initiative of the Judicial Branch. It is not an instruction of the Executive Branch. The establishment of Guyana’s tenth magisterial district, therefore, is a manifestation that judicial independence exists in the state of Guyana. The Summary Jurisdiction (Magistrates) Act of the Laws of Guyana provides for the establishment of new magisterial districts. The Act empowers the Chancellor of the Judiciary to: - divide Guyana, or any portion thereof, into magisterial districts…; - constitute, in any part of Guyana, a magisterial district or districts…; - distinguish the districts by name and number…; and - vary the limits of any district. The Executive Branch supports the establishment of the Upper Demerara Magisterial District because it enhances access to justice. This Magisterial District will ensure the easier access to legal services and the speedier dispensation of justice. It will encourage improvement in the administration of justice. The State accepts its obligation to the people. It provides, already, a sound primary education to children; it offers social security to senior citizens and others; it provides primary health care to the poor and needy; it ensures human safety to everyone and it protects its nationals at home and abroad. The State, also, must ensure access to justice – the right of every person to be heard in a court of summary jurisdiction – Continued on page 31

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Facts about minimizing your risks of acquiring type 2 diabetes By Dr. Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine Diabetes is classified into two types. Type 2 diabetes is the more common of the two types and tends to occur during the earlier phases of adulthood. In general, people with diabetes either have a total lack of insulin (type 1 diabetes) or they have too little insulin or cannot use insulin effectively (type 2 diabetes). Type 2 diabetes is more related to lifestyle factors and one can minimize their risk of acquiring it by making the correct choices. HOW CAN TYPE 2 DIABETES BE PREVENTED? Studies show that people who are at risk can prevent type 2 diabetes by: * Losing weight (if they are overweight) * Being active * Improving the way they eat * Taking certain medicines (most often 1 called metformin) There’s some evidence that quitting smoking also lowers the risk of developing

type 2 diabetes, but scientists need to do more studies to be sure. Even so, there are plenty of good reasons to quit. Quitting smoking lowers your risk of stroke, heart disease, and lots of other problems. WHAT INCREASES MY RISK FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES? There are a few factors that can increase your risk of diabetes, including: *Being overweight or obese, especially if you carry your extra weight in your belly (as opposed to in your hips, thighs, and butt) *Not doing enough physical activity *Smoking *Having a family history of diabetes *Having diabetes during pregnancy, called “gestational diabetes” (if you are a woman) ARE THERE TESTS THAT CAN FIND PEOPLE WHO ARE AT RISK? Yes. There are 3 different tests that can help doctors tell whether a person might develop type 2 diabetes. All 3 tests measure blood sugar in

different ways. “Blood glucose” is another name for blood sugar. Even though these tests can help predict diabetes, they are not appropriate for everyone. Your doctor will decide if one of these tests is right for you. Often, people who get tested are overweight and have another risk factor for diabetes. Examples of risk factors include having a history of diabetes during pregnancy or a family history of diabetes. If a blood test shows that a person’s blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes, doctors call it “pre-diabetes.” People with pre-diabetes are at high risk of developing diabetes. *Fasting glucose test – This test measures your blood sugar when you have not had anything to eat or drink (except water) for 8 hours. People with prediabetes have a fasting glucose between 100 and 125. *Glucose tolerance test – For this test you do not eat or drink anything for 8 to 12 hours. But then, as part of the test, you have a sugary drink. Two hours later, a doctor or nurse takes a blood sample to

Access to justice From page 30 as a basic right and a key entitlement of the ‘good life’. Access to justice, including ease of access, is every citizen’s legitimate expectation. Residents of their home regions should not have to travel long distances to access public services, including legal services in other Regions. Access to justice in the Upper Demerara-Berbice Region must take account of Guyana’s peculiar demography and geography. This Region is almost as large as Swaziland. It straddles our three great rivers – Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo. It is, apart from Linden Town, made up of several, small, scattered communities with poor roadways. Access to justice is difficult to achieve for the majority of the Region’s fifty thousand residents. The establishment of the magisterial district is of transcendental signifi-

cance for public administration. The State has taken one small step, today, to abandon the archaic colonial system of counties which existed from time immemorial and to adopt a rational system of regional administration. This country is made up of ten administrative Regions. The Government, in 2016, created three new ‘capital towns’ in the hinterland – at Bartica, Lethem and Mabaruma and one will soon be established at Mahdia – to ensure that each hinterland Region will be able to enhance the delivery of public services and to improve access to justice to its residents. The various divisions of the Guyana Police Force, also, soon will conform to the Regional system so that every Regional Democratic Council will have its own Police Division. The Judicial system we expect, will consider modifying its structure to conform

to administrative reality. This Magisterial District will remove the need for residents of Linden, Ituni and Kwakwani to travel to Vreeden-Hoop in the Essequibo Islands-West Demerara Region and to New Amsterdam in the East Berbice-Corentyne Region to obtain the services provided by the magistracy. This Magisterial district allows, also, for residents of Linden, Ituni and Kwakwani to benefit from similar legal services to those available in other districts. This Magisterial District brings the administration of justice closer to the people. It is aimed at timelier and less costly justice. It makes justice more accessible for this Region’s residents. This is a model which can be replicated in each of Guyana’s ten administrative Regions. If citizens cannot come to the court, the court must come to the citizen.

see how high your blood sugar got. People with prediabetes have glucose tolerance results between 140 and 199. *Hemoglobin A1C test (also called HbA1C or A1C) – For this test it does not matter whether you eat beforehand. It is a blood test that shows what your average blood sugar level has been for the past 2 to 3 months. People with pre-diabetes have A1C levels between 5.7 and 6.4. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I HAVE PRE-DIABETES? If you have pre-diabetes, make lifestyle changes to reduce the chance that you will get full-blown diabetes. Here’s what you should do: *Lose weight – Losing 5 to 10 percent of your body weight can lower your risk a lot. If you weigh 200 pounds,

that means you should lose 10 to 20 pounds. If you weigh 150 pounds, that means you should lose 7 to 15 pounds. *Eat right – Choose a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products, but low in meats, sweets, and refined grains. Stay away from sweet drinks, like soda and juice. *Be active for 30 minutes a day – You don’t have to go to the gym or break a sweat to get a benefit. Walking, gardening, and dancing are all activities that can help. *Quit smoking – If you smoke, ask your doctor for advice on how to quit. People are much more likely to succeed if they have help and get medicines to help them quit. If your doctor prescribed any medicines, take them every day, as directed. That goes for medicines to prevent

Dr. Zulfikar Bux diabetes, and for ones to lower blood pressure or cholesterol. People with pre-diabetes have a higher-than-average risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other problems, so those medicines are important. Do all that you can to minimize your chances of getting diabetes. Once you get it there is no turning back.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday August 06, 2017

SUNDAY NICIL TOO BROKE TO GO AFTER DEBTORS – OFFICIAL SAYS GUYOIL IS THE ONLY COMPANY HOLDING THINGS TOGETHER The National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) has found itself in a rather worrying state of affairs. The entity which was once used as a parallel treasury is now owed millions of dollars by various companies and state agencies. And that’s not the worst part. NICIL is actually too broke to even go after all of its debtors. This was recently explained to Kaieteur News by NICIL Head, Horace James. The official explained that NICIL is unable to go after its debtors as its investments in the Berbice Bridge and the Marriott Hotel “do not bring in a cent.” He said that the Guyana Oil Company (GuyOil) is the only company which has been submitting substantial dividends. James said that GuyOil is the only company that is holding things together. The NICIL officer said, “As it stands, NICIL is in need of liquid cash. The main reason affecting our cash position is all our investments have been tied up in the Marriott. Also, we have a lot of nonpaying people that we now have in court.” James said that some of the debtors include Caricom Insurance -$121M; Hong Kong Golden Te l e c o m C o m p a n y - U S $ 5 M ; BaiShanLin -$25M, Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) -$17M and Sithe Global- $151M. The NICIL Head complained that the total money owed by all of its debtors is $1.7B. He added, “The reality is that NICIL does not have money to

go after its debtors. So our biggest concern is going behind our debtors. But remember, it is an expensive thing.” Last year, NICIL’s Chairman, Dr. Maurice Odle, bemoaned the fact that under the previous administration, the entity was run with little to no transparency and accountability for investment decisions. He also spoke against the way in which taxpayers were kept in the dark about the happenings of the state-owned company.In the forensic audit report which was prepared by Chartered Accountant, Anand Goolsarran, it was recommended that the entity be closed down and a small department opened under the Ministry of Finance, if Government deems it necessary. It was explained that the rea-

son for such a recommendation was premised on the fact that NICIL was initially established for the purpose of privatization of state assets. That was done in two phases in the 1990s. Since that phase ended years ago, the report recommends that there is no need for NICIL to remain a company. It says that it should be liquidated and Government should make moves to establish a department to manage the assets being held by the company. Finance Minister Winston Jordan said, however, that he is not inclined to go this route, and has since made it clear that the entity is necessary. MAN SLITS 17-YEAR-OLD WIFE’S THROAT The life of a 17-year-old of No.2 Village East Canje woman was cut short by her common law husband after a heated argument that ended in her throat being slit by the 25-year-old man. The dead teen has been identified as Rosanna Lakhpal. The suspect who is currently on the run has been identified as Ryan Singh, 25, an unemployed man. Reports are that the couple was arguing when the fight turned physical. Nadira Persaud, a domestic worker who lives a street away, told this publication that the teen would babysit her ten and twoyear-old when she leaves for work. She said that some time after noon, Rosanna went to her house to pick up the children. “She come by me and me husband see a mark on she hand and he ask she wa happen deh. She seh how couple day now the mark deh down deh and then she collect dem chiren and she leff.” According to the woman not long after her 10-year-old showed up at her place of employment

with the baby in arms telling her that the couple was fighting and they were told by Ryan Singh to exit the yard. “She come and seh how Ryan and Rosanna fighting. I tell she hold on li’l bit. Me boss lady tell me go see wa happen.” The woman recounted that upon her arrival at Rosanna’s home her ten-year-old daughter refused to enter the home since she was afraid that the couple was still fighting. “When I reach deh it had clothes burning at the back and me daughter didn’t want go in so I go in with her and the baby because I had a bag fuh collect. “I deh calling for Rosanna and me nah hear nothing. Then I call me (Raki) brother on the phone and when he come he ask me wa happen and I tell he I meet the door open and that I calling and nobody answering”, Persaud explained. At that point they both decided to enter the home and called out for the teen, but again no answer. They were in the upper flat of the two storied concrete building, she said, when they decided to check in the lower flat where the teen lived with her common law husband. It was then that they discovered young Rosanna’s body lying on the floor in the hall of the apartment covered with sheets. RANKS FORCED TO QUELL RIOT AT LUSIGNAN PRISON …16 INMATES SHOT, FOUR OTHERS INJURED Sixteen prisoners were shot, and four others injured when security personnel were forced to quell a riot at the Lusignan Prison, during which inmates fought each other and also attacked wardens. A Department of Public Information (DPI) release said that

three of the shot prisoners, and two who suffered injuries as a result of fights, were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation for treatment. The others were being treated on site at the Lusignan Prison Infirmary. According to the release, none of those who were shot are, at this time, deemed to be in a life-threatening condition. A senior prison official disclosed that the armed ranks used pellets and rubber bullets to quell the disturbance. ”They were fighting among themselves and attacking and hurling missiles at officers who were conducting security search. We gave repeated instructions on the public address system for them to desist, but they were bent on being riotous.” The official blamed the disturbance on “a few of the inmates who were bent on being disruptive.” The DPI release stated that Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels, confirmed that at approximately 16:20hrs Sunday, inmates at the holding area of the Lusignan Prison were involved “in a series of assaults and aggressive conduct which resulted in extreme disorder and threatened their own safety, that of the joint services team providing security and could have escalated further and compromise the integrity of the facility.” As a last resort the use of force, including firearms, was required to restore order and maintain the integrity of the holding facility. ”Sixteen prisoners were shot and suffered minor gunshot injuries and another four suffered injuries as a result of fights among themselves. There were no deaths or escapes. ”The Guyana Prison Service (Continued on page 41)

Sunday August 06, 2017

Kaieteur News

(From page 32) regrets that this course of action had to be taken but was left with no other option given the extreme disorder which broke out in the holding area and the refusal of the prisoners to heed the commands of the officers to desist.” MONDAY LUSIGNAN ESCAPEE ‘EL SINKIE’ KILLED IN HIGH-NOON SHOOTOUT – FUGITIVE KERRY CROMWELL SURRENDERS HOURSAFTER Lusignan escapee Clive Forde was shot dead Sunday during a high-noon gun battle with police, that transformed East La Penitence, Greater Georgetown, into a war-zone with the sound of high-powered weapons and the air filled with gunsmoke. When t h e g u n f i r e f i n a l l y stopped and the smoke cleared, the bullet-riddled body of the 2015 murder accused known as “El Sinkie,” lay sprawled in a yard next to a latrine with a 9mm pistol next to him. The drama, which began with a 10-minute chase, played out a few houses away from the East La Penitence Market. As Forde and police ranks escaped gunfire, children and adults had to run for cover, some even diving into nearby drains. According to reports, the police received information that the wanted man was spotted walking on Laing Avenue Sunday and immediately responded. As the patrol approached, Forde allegedly whipped out a handgun and opened fire at the ranks. He reportedly then fled, with the ranks in hot pursuit, until he was cornered in a yard and riddled. ”I deh in me house and I hear something like gunshots but I say mussy is them bikes meking them sounds, but when I peep out I see a man in a blue short pants with a big gun running,” a woman who resides next to the scene said. The woman said she and her children threw themselves on the floor and stayed there until the gunfire ended. Kaieteur News was informed that the wanted man was opening fire on the cops as he fled. His body was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. Divisional Commander, Marlon Chapman stated that no one has been arrested for harbouring Forde, while adding that the investigation is still ongoing. Forde was the son of 54-yearold Gladstone Taylor who was executed in Adelaide and Sussex Streets on April 01, 2016. Forde, himself was charged for murder. He was the second person charged for the September 04, 2015 killing of Senasie Lewis, who was gunned down outside the Ghetto Flex night spot in Albouystown,

Georgetown. FUGITIVE SURRENDERSAT BRICKDAM POLICE STATION Mere hours after fellow escapee Clive Forde was slain in a shootout with the police, murder accused Kerry Cromwell, among 13 who escaped from the Lusignan Prison, surrendered to police at the Brickdam Police Station. Acting Commissioner of Police David Ramnarine disclosed that Cromwell’s mother had been in contact with a senior government official and advised of her son’s whereabouts, and the family’s willingness to turn him in. Cromwell’s relatives escorted him to the Brickdam Police Station where he was placed under arrest. Cromwell, 24, and 12 others, had crawled to freedom from the Lusignan Prison holding area through a tunnel they had dug near a latrine. They were being kept there following the July 9 Camp Street jailbreak, in which inmates killed a prison warden and torched the facility. Cromwell is charged with the March 21, 2016 murder of Linden bus driver Alvin Lorrimer, who was shot dead while standing near his bus at the Linden bus park. During Cromwell’s first court appearance the court was told that he was positively identified as the shooter. But Cromwell claimed that he was arrested while reporting to the Brickdam Police Station in relation to another charge. The murder accused was previously charged for possession of narcotics and was sentenced to community service. He has also been charged in connection with several robbery under-arms. In December 2015, Cromwell was placed before the court for allegedly robbing Deon Hilkin of a quantity of articles while he was armed with a broken bottle. He was also charged for stabbing Hilkin, assaulting a police officer and escaping from lawful custody.

TUESDAY APPEAL COURT ORDER HALTS MAGISTRATE FROM CONTINUING WITH DR. WESTFORD TRIAL Appeal Court Judge, Justice Dawn Gregory, has granted an order staying Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore from continuing with the trial of Former Minister of Public Service, Dr. Jennifer Westford, and Ms. Margaret Cummings who are charged in relation to eight state vehicles, for which they allegedly forged d o c u m e n t s a n d a t t e m p t ed to transfer to persons. In August, 2015, the former minister was placed on a total of $800,000 bail after she pleaded not guilty to the charges which alleged that between July 17, 2014 and June 23, 2015, she attempted to transfer eight state vehicles to four persons. Cummings was also slapped with four counts of forgery which alleged that she forged documents for the purchase of the eight motor vehicles. She has been released on a total of $1.2M bail. Kaieteur News understands that the order, which seeks to examine an amnesty for the vehicles announced by Minister of State Joseph Harmon, was granted last week Wednesday. The order also prevents the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Police from prosecuting Westford and Cummings until the outcome of the Court of Appeal proceedings. This newspaper was reliably informed that the Court of Appeal found that there were some debatable issues as it relates to the amnesty. Senior Magistrate Azore will apply the Appeal Court order on August 7. TOP COP DENIES ORDERING RELEASE OF SUSPECT INVOLVED IN ALLEGED PLOT TO KILL GRANGER

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Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud, has categorically denied that he instructed ranks to release the man accused of plotting to kill President David Granger. Persaud was called to testify before the Commission of Inquiry, (COI) established to investigate the plot to kill Granger, Monday. The plot had detailed a bounty of $7M for someone to kill President Granger some time in 2015. Andriff Gillard, who filed the report, had claimed that he went to borrow $6M from a businessman, said to be gold miner. Instead, the businessman offered $7M for the assassination. Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, Paul Slowe, is heading the inquiry to investigate and review the full range of the actions and responses by the Guyana Police Force to the report of the assassination plot. On Friday, Acting Commissioner of Police David Ramnarine, told the Commission that he believed that investigations were not properly done. Ramnarine had told Commissioner Slowe, that the only time he was updated on the status of the investigation into the matter was when he spoke with Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum during a cell phone conversation they had on March 30. Ramnarine said the Crime Chief informed him that he instructed that Nizam Khan, who allegedly attempted to recruit someone to kill the President, be released on bail during the probe which featured

ranks from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters and the Special Branch Unit. According to Ramnarine, he was not consulted about releasing Khan on bail but if he had, he would have objected. The COI heard that Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud, who was on leave at the time, ordered through the Crime Chief the release of Nizam Khan, the accused plotter; his brother Imran Khan and the accuser Andriff Gillard. ”We incarcerate persons for 72 hours for far, far less serious offences or allegations,” he told the COI. Monday, Police Commissioner Persaud however said that he did not order the release of the businessman allegedly involved in the plot. He said that he only offered his opinion based on the investigation at that stage. ”I read in the press that he (Ramnarine) said that persons for lesser offences are placed in custody for 72 hours. That is a huge lack of conceptual skills. The issue of bail is not premised only on the gravity of offence. There are a number of other issues. ANOTHER PRISON ESCAPEE NABBED, COUPLE IN CUSTODY Prison escapee, Shawn Harris, called “Shawny” was caught Monday hiding out in a house at Mocha, East Bank Demerara (EBD). Residents in the area informed the police and Harris was arrested around 07:20 hours Monday. A man and his wife who reside in the upper flat of the property were taken into police custody. Harris was charged in 2016 for allegedly staging a daylight robbery at the Bank of Baroda branch (Continued on page 42)

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(From page 41) in Montrose, East Coast Demerara (ECD). AESHWAR DEONARINE SUES K/NEWS, MINISTER ATTERSON FOR $1B Aeshwar Deonarine who was accused of stealing $27 million from the Guyana Power Light (GPL) has filed a billion-dollar lawsuit against Kaieteur News and Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson. He is claiming that the reports injured his character and reputation, leaving him liable to public ridicule. Deonarine, the former Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the power company was charged for simple larceny in January 2016 after it was alleged that he transferred $27M to his personal bank accounts from the PetroCaribe funds. The charges were withdrawn against him by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in April. A warrant was issued for his arrest by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. It was reported that Deonarine fled to Canada. In the legal document, which was filed by on behalf of Deonarine by Attorney-at-Law Murseline Bacchus in the High Court, Glenn Lall, Publisher of Kaieteur News; and Adam Harris, Editor-in-Chief of Kaieteur News, were named as the third and fourth defendants respectively. The second and fifth named defendants are listed as National Media and Publishing Company Limited and Kaieteur News respectively. Deonarine is contending that in a November 11, 2015 issue of Kaieteur News the defendants falsely and malicious printed and published an article “Government makes no effort to recover $27M from former GPL Deputy CEO.” The document said that by publishing the article the whole world

Kaieteur News

understood that Deonarine had stolen $27M from GPL, or at least took the sum to which he was not entitled from GPL and had committed a criminal offence, and as such, sues the defendants jointly for damages to the tune of $1B, with costs. The article, the document said, highlighted that Deonarine had reportedly signed off on payments to himself totalling $27M. Duncan who was a former Director at GPL received $948,000. ”The discoveries of the suspicious monetary transfers were made by independent auditors who were probing the PetroCaribe Fund, which held proceeds of oil shipments taken from neighbouring Venezuela. Some of the monies were used to buy Wartsila engines for GPL among other things.” The monies represented back pay the men felt they deserved, the document said was published. It went on to say that Kaieteur News published that Deonarine, who had been responsible for administration had reportedly wanted to receive the same level of pay as the then Deputy CEO (Technical), Colin Welch, but his approaches to the Board of Directors were rebuffed. WEDNESDAY GIFTING OF LAND TO FOREIGN COMPANY WAS ‘UNUSUALBEHAVIOUR’ – NICIL HEAD The gifting of a plot of land by the former regime to China Railway Guyana Incorporated can be described at best, as “unusual behaviour.” This is according to NICIL’s Head, Horace James. He was at the time being questioned on why NICIL, which is said to be broke, cares not to lift a finger to reclaim the gifted land.

The issue was also flagged by Chartered Accountant, Anand Goolsarran, in his forensic audit report on NICIL. In the report, Goolsarran said that the land which was gifted to China Railway was initially GuySuCo’s. Kaieteur News had previously reported that GuySuCo was ordered to halt developmental negotiations because former President, Bharrat Jagdeo, had “other plans” for the land. The land was gifted to the PPP government and it was subsequently gifted to NICIL. NICIL then disposed of the land to three companies, National Hardware, Multi Cinema Guyana and China Railway. National Hardware and Multi Cinema secured sweetheart deals. National Hardware got 104 acres at $4.9M per acre while, Multi Cinemas Guyana secured 10.002 acres at $16M per acre. Both companies got good deals as another company was made to pay $32M per acre. Nevertheless, China Railway got an acre for free. Records referred to in Goolsarran’s report indicated that NICIL gifted the land to China Railway the very day that Government gifted the land to NICIL. James confirmed that indeed, NICIL is interested in the land. He said, however, that they have made no effort to recover it since it was done through a Cabinet decision, which from all indications, appears to be done in a proper manner. The NICIL Head said, “We do want it (the land) but it was Cabinet that made the decision to gift the land. I know the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) and the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU) are looking at the file.” Be that as it may, James said that he is unaware of any other instance where NICIL’s property was gifted to a “foreign” company. “It is unusual,” James emphasized. He explained that a case can be made out for gifting NICIL lands to the Ministry of Business, for example, so that it can conduct certain projects but “certainly not to a foreign company.” The matter was one which was first brought to the attention of the media by the Alliance for Change (AFC). Based on a publication of the Official Gazette, the party found that one acre of land at Plantation Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara, as shown on a plan by D. Ramkarran, a sworn land surveyor and dated June 18, 2013 and signed by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh on April 4, 2014, was transferred to NICIL. NICIL then transferred it to China Railway Guyana Incorporated. There was no cost attached to the land transfer. Local critics have since noted that moves should be made for the land to be repossessed. There have also been calls for sanctions to be imposed against those involved in the illicit transaction. Goolsarran’s report says that Sub lot AA at Plantation Turkeyen was East Coast Demerara trans-

Sunday August 06, 2017

ferred as a gift via order No.16 2014 the same day that it was vested in NICIL via order No. 15/2014. Both orders were signed by the then Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh. THURSDAY FULLINT’LACCREDITATION RESTORED TO UG’S MEDICAL PROGRAMME Full international accreditation for the next four years has been granted to the University of Guyana [UG’]s School of Medicine. This development, which became official last week, was confirmed Wednesday by Vice Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Griffith. Professor Griffith said that although full accreditation has been granted, it is however with some conditions. He said too, that the University will shortly issue a statement on the newest accreditation development. Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Dr. Emanuel Cummings, directed this publication to the Vice Chancellor. “He is the fittest person to comment on this.” Regaining the accreditation was something that the University’s Vice Chancellor had identified as a top priority. This publication understands that the accreditation body, the Jamaica-based Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education, Medi-

cine and other Health Professions [CAAM-HP], granted accreditation to UG because of the tireless efforts that were engaged to put recommended measures in place. The body, it was revealed, in making its reaccreditation decision had in fact given keen recognition to the outstanding leadership of the University’s Vice Chancellor in the quest to put certain measures in place. Also taken into consideration were the efforts of key officers, including the Director of the School of Medicine and the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, in this regard. But it wasn’t only the “highly motivated and committed faculty” that contributed to the CAAM-HP decision but also the “enthusiastic, motivated and high quality students.” Added to this, CAAM-HP’s decision took into consideration the work undertaken by the curriculum team to develop a new 2017 curriculum which this publication understands is likely to be up for revision in 2021. CAAM-HP is the legally constituted body established in 2003 under the aegis of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), empowered to determine and prescribe standards and to accredit programmes of medical, dental, veterinary and other (Continued on page 43)

Sunday August 06, 2017

(From page 42) health professions on behalf of the contracting parties in CARICOM. The acquisition of accreditation is therefore dependent on an institution’s adherence to certain stipulated standards. This translated to the School of Medicine working towards achieving some 140-plus standards established by CAAM-HP. The standards are divided into several areas including infrastructure, educational resources, faculty and the curriculum itself, and several others. In essence, the accreditation body, this publication was informed, was able to address a gamut of concerns raised by CAAM-HP in its report of 2013. Based on information out of CAAM-HP, accreditation for the UG medical programme was revoked because there were no progress reports forthcoming from the tertiary institution for the years 2014 and 2015. $$B IN REVENUE CAN BE LOST IF TOBACCO BILL BECOMES LAW – DEMTOCO It would be sensible for the Government to press the pause button on the Tobacco Control Bill and consider the far reaching implications for its Treasury. Should it become law, the Bill could actually put the Government’s $4B collection in taxes in jeopardy, according to officials attached to the Demerara Tobacco Company Limited (DEMTOCO). The company held a press conference Wednesday at the Cara Lodge Hotel to appeal to the government to send the Bill to a Special Select Committee.

Kaieteur News

DEMTOCO officials said that the Special Select Committee would give them and other stakeholders, a chance to explain their concerns regarding the Bill, including the domino effect it would have on the company, Guyanese retailers and even the national purse. Speaking specifically to the issue were DEMTOCO’s Managing Director, Mrs Maurlain Kirton and D E M TO C O D i r e c t o r, R a o u l Glynn. Kirton explained that the Bill, in its current form, would affect revenue for the government. She stressed however that while the Bill may intend to deter the consumption of smoking in certain places, it does not mean that utilization would reduce. The Managing Director said that

this is based on her company’s experience in other countries like Suriname, Jamaica and Trinidad. Kirton said that a Bill that is so “harsh in measures” will have the shock effect. But consumption would only move in a different direction. The official said that it would move from the consumption of the legitimate product to smuggled contraband. Kirton said that this would obviously lead to the evasion of taxes. The DEMTOCO Director said, “Our position is that while we say we need to be regulated, regulate it in such a way that you will still be able to extract the revenue. Sometimes we are chastised for saying we are one of the top five companies. But last year we paid $4B in total taxes. That is a fact, not a feeling.” Kirton continued, “So if for whatever reason the Bill goes through as is…somewhere you start to lose that $4B you receive as a government. And we all live here. We understand that revenue is really what keeps your economy buoyant. And so what will happen is that consumption will move from the legal company to the underground (activities)…” Furthermore, the officials were asked to provide an estimate of what could be the possible reduction of taxes paid to the Government based on trends in other countries. FRIDAY WASTE DISPOSAL CREW SMUGGLE GANJA, CIGARETTES TO LUSIGNAN PRISON -WEAPONS, CELL PHONES, TATTOO MACHINES UNEARTHEDAT NAAND TIMEHRI PRISONS The disposal crew outside the Lusignan Prison was reportedly there to pick up human waste. But police suspected that something stank about the whole affair. The ranks quickly discovered that the crew was also attempting to smuggle prohibited items to the inmates.

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At around 10:45 hrs, police, acting on information, conducted a search of the Cevon’s Waste Management truck, just before it entered the “Old Compound” of the Lusignan Prison. They unearthed a haversack containing over 860 grammes of cannabis and two cartons of cigarettes. “The driver and two porters, one being a female were searched and 24 grams of cannabis were found in the driver’s pants pocket,” a police release stated. The driver, a 25 year-old man, of Middle Walk, Buxton, East Coast Demerara, along with the porters – a 26-year-old male from Russell Street, Charlestown, Georgetown and a 32year-old female of ‘C’ Field Reserve, Sophia, are in custody assisting with the investigation. Director of Prisons Gladstone Samuels said that it is possible that the same waste disposal crew might have smuggled items into the prison on previous occasions. Investigations are underway to ascertain if this is the case. Responding to the discovery and others, Samuels said: “I am not surprised, because we still have corrupt people in the system. You put systems in place and they are now using civilians.” Random searches Thursday at Lusignan, New Amsterdam and Timehri Prisons revealed that despite heightened security following July’s devastating fire, the murder of a warden and two massive prison breaks, civilians and corrupt staffers are still finding ways to smuggle prohibited items to inmates. Thursday, police and prison ranks found several improvised weapons at the Lusignan holding area. Between 10.30 hrs and 13.30 hrs Thursday, a snap prison search in two dormitories, two landings cells at the New Amsterdam Prisons unearthed eight cellular phones, three cell phone batteries, three ear phones and a cell phone display, five cell phone chargers, 16 cigarette lighters, two tattoo machines, five impro-

vised weapons, 20 packs of cigarettes and three grammes of cannabis. HOUSE APPROVES $116M TO OPERATIONALIZE SARA The National Assembly Thursday passed a total of $116M that will be used to operationalize the State Asset Recovery Agency (SARA). This sum was approved via a supplementary provision requested by the Ministry of Legal Affairs in the Financial Paper No.2 of 2017. The total sum was separated into three parts. Based on the remarks given under Current Estimates, $89,897,285 will go towards providing for the establishment of SARA which will be equipped with five Managerial Staff, 13 technical staff, 12 supervisory and clerical staff, and 16 services and related staff. Additionally, $13M was approved under Capital Estimates to purchase two vehicles, since the agency does not have any vehicles presently. A further $13,424,000 was approved to purchase furnishing and equipment for a building that is to be rented to house the Agency. The furnishing and equipment includes furniture, a television, a refrigerator, a photocopier, a projector, a server and water dispenser. Currently, SARA is operating out of the Ministry of the Presidency, and does not have its own office. Despite all these provisions being approved, it was not done without with questions being posed by members of the parliamentary opposition. Former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall had questioned what authority the Minister of Legal Affairs had to request funds for SARA. He argued that the SARA Act does not specify the subject Minister for SARA. After much back and forth between Nandlall and the Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams, the Minister said that in Section 2 of (Continued on page 44)

PAGE 44

(From page 43) the SARA Act that deals with definitions, states that the Legal Affairs Minister is indeed the subject Minister for SARA. Williams was also asked to inform the National Assembly about the organisational structure of SARA. He said that based on the Act, the Parliamentary Appointments Committee is to appoint a Director and Deputy Director within four months of the Agency coming into effect. SARA was officially established on May 4, 2017. As such, since the four month timespan has not elapsed, the present Director and Deputy Director will continue to occupy those positions. Further, Opposition Member, Juan Edghill asked the question as to how there can be a supplementary provision for the agency where there was no provision in the original budget for 2017. Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan explained that the Financial Paper containing the supplementary provision is acting as an amendment to the original budget. ”It doesn’t have to have a pre-

Kaieteur News

vious budget line item. That is the reason why we have brought a supplementary paper to avoid any doubt and supplementary papers, up to five of them, can be brought in a year, amending budgets, adding to budgets, subtracting to budgets and can be scrutinised.” Meanwhile, Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira raised the point that Section 14 of the SARA Act speaks of ‘The Recovery of State Assets Fund”. According to the Act, the purpose of the Fund is to receive credits from Civil Recovery Orders and payments made or debts recovered in relation to Civil Recovery Orders under the Act. SATURDAY BROADCASTING (AMENDMENT) BILL PASSED – CHANGES WILL LIMIT UNCAPPED POWERS OF ‘JAGDEO ACT’ – PM The National Assembly, following an extensive debate on Friday in Parliament, passed the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2017. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo said that the amendments will in no way impair the media or prove to be a bur-

den on broadcasters. He said that the amendments will serve to clarify the law and create a freer environment in which broadcasters can operate. Nagamootoo noted, in particular, that the Bill will limit the wide and sweeping powers of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority. He said that mischief is being peddled that the contents of the Amendment Bill will threaten freedom of the press. Nagamootoo described the original Broadcasting Act as the ‘Jagdeo Act’ which former President Bharrat Jagdeo assented to in 2011. Further, the Prime Minister said that the Bill seeks to define public service broadcast and puts a limit on the percentage that the 2011 Bill left open ended. He said that the definition in the Bill of what public service broadcast meant was necessary, as it differentiates party propaganda and government information. Nagamootoo said that, “This government is committed to respecting the tax payers’ wishes that they be informed (on) what is being done with their monies.” COI INTOALLEGED ASSASSINATION PLOT… RAMNARINE DENIES USURPING POWERS OF TOP COP Assistant Commissioner of Police, David Ramnarine has denied the suggestion that he usurped the powers of the Commissioner of Police, in order to take over the role and functions of the office of the Top Cop. Ramnarine was at the time responding to questions at the Commission of Inquiry into the alleged plot to kill President David Granger. The plot had detailed a bounty of $7M for someone to kill President Granger some time in 2015. Andriff Gillard, who filed the report, had claimed that he went to borrow $6M from a businessman, Nizam Khan, said to be gold miner. Instead, the businessman offered him $7M to carry out an assassination. Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, Paul Slowe, is heading the inquiry to investigate and review the

Sunday August 06, 2017

full range of the actions and responses by the Guyana Police Force to the report of the assassination plot. Assistant Commissioner Ramnarine was recalled to the stand at the behest of Attorney for the Police Commissioner, Glenn Hanoman. On July 28, last, Ramnarine told the Commission that he believed that investigations were not properly done. He had told Commissioner Slowe, that the only time he was updated on the status of the investigation into the matter was when he spoke with Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum during a cell phone conversation they had on March 30. During his examination of the Assistant Commissioner on Friday, Attorney Hanoman therefore suggested that Ramnarine had made the statement because he held malice against the Police Commissioner, Seelall Persaud and Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum. The Assistant Commissioner dismissed the statement, calling it “absolutely untrue”. Ramnarine admitted, however, that he had been the subject of an investigation of how he had granted 113 firearm licences. The Commissioner of Police had sent the file to the Office of Professional Responsibility, after allegations surfaced that Ramnarine had been making millions of dollars daily from the sale of firearm licences. The Assistant Commissioner said, however, that this was not enough for him to hold malice against the Top Cop and other ranks of the force “Maybe I was upset and maybe surprised, and probably disappointed, but I am a professional. I believe in discharging my duties when I would have acted as Commissioner in keeping with the Constitution in relation to the Police.” MURDERACCUSED SHOT DEADAFTER STARTING UNRESTAT TIMEHRI PRISON – REPORTEDLY TRIED TO ESCAPE, IGNORED REPEATED WARNINGS TO HALT A 24-year-old remand prisoner was shot dead at around 17.00 hrs

Friday, shortly after instigating a violent clash between himself and other inmates at the Timehri penitentiary. Winston Hinds, called “Town Man,” of Blue Berry Hill, Wismar, was shot in the stomach by a prison officer. He was pronounced dead at the East Bank Demerara Regional Hospital. Deputy Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels told Kaieteur News that based on information he received, Hinds and another prison had started a ruckus between other inmates in one of the dormitories. They were then transferred to another dormitory, where they began to break up beds and assault other inmates. He said that some of the prisoners had to receive medical treatment. Kaieteur News was told that shortly after, Hinds darted past a prison officer and “in a split second” fled into the compound. It was there that he was shot. Samuels said that the rank who shot Hinds “is assisting the police with their investigations.” A Department of Public Information (DPI) release stated that the murder accused had repeatedly ignored all warnings issued by prison officers. According to the release, several prisoners, who were armed with improvised weapons, were involved in “a serious physical altercation.” “Prison officers attempted to restore order by breaking up the violent fracas. During this process, Hinds fled into the prison yard in an attempted bid to escape. Clear and repeated efforts were issued for Hinds to desist, but he refused in every instance and continued running,” the release added. “Prison officers were left with no option but to curtail his escape bid. This necessitated the use of live rounds as a last resort, after every option had failed. “Hinds was struck by a single round and was taken to the East Bank Demerara Hospital Complex, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. “ The release stated that the slain prisoner’s next of kin was informed and the police are conducting an investigation.

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Kaieteur News

Problems plague hospital, school and police station at Matthew’s Ridge It would be ideal that a respectable level of government services are provided in remote areas, for the simple reason that it would be difficult for persons in those areas to access services in the urban centres. However, for whatever reason, adequate attention is simply not being directed towards fixing the many problems which affect the Pakera/Matthew’s Ridge District Hospital, the Matthew’s Ridge Primary School and the community’s police station. Matthew’s Ridge is a small community located in Region one (Barima-Waini). Based on reports received by this newspaper, the only good story about the state of the hospital is that it is not short of drugs. However, there is a considerable lack of other resources such as equipment and staff. Currently, there is a shortage of nurses at the hospital and there is no clerk. This apparently causes the small cadre of nurses to perform the duties of a clerk in addition to their responsibilities. The hospital is the central health facility in a community where the majority of residents are involved in mining and other stressful jobs. As such, persons visit the institution with a number of physical injuries. Compounding the issue is that there is no X-Ray department. Hence, if patients want to know whether they would have broken, fractured or dislocated a limb, they have to be flown out of Matthew’s Ridge, which costs at least $20,000. Information reaching this newspaper is that the malaria department at the hospital is also struggling. As it relates to transportation, there is no All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) at the hospital. This is disappointing, since ATVs are one of the best forms of transportation to be used in the hilly, alluvial soil conditions. Apparently, the one bike which was used by the hospital was stolen and sold for parts as some of these are presently lodged at the police station. Added to that, there is a Toyota Cruiser that is parked in the compound of the hospital, but it has several mechanical problems preventing it from being used. A report was made to the Regional Administrative body concerning the vehicle, but no meaningful action has been taken. According to information received, due to the condition

The Pakera/Matthew’s Ridge District Hospital patients’ blood level. In addition, there is no ultrasound machine at the hospital. This would be important, especially for pregnant women. Based on reports received, hospital staffers have difficulty knowing how far advanced women are in their pregnancy. Further, there is no driver at the hospital nor is there a

The view from behind the police station: A police officer sleeps in a room immediately behind this wall of the roadways, when patients are being transported to the hospital, some would arrive with additional injuries than they initially had. With

the lack of a vehicle, assistance needs to be sought from private individuals that own such vehicles to move patients

around. The hospital does not even have a laboratory to conduct blood testing for renal failure or to record

maintenance officer or pharmacist. Moreover, as it relates to staffing, Community Health Workers (CHWs) who are mandated to visit homes to check on; due to the staff shortage, the CHWs have to fill-in and assist the nurses, which is outside of their job description. Further, information (continued on page 58)

PAGE 58

Sunday August 06, 2017

Kaieteur News

Cevons, Puran Brothers withdraw services over $300M owed by Council In a joint statement released last evening, Cevons Waste Management and Puran Brothers, the two principal waste disposal entities contracted to the Georgetown Municipality, indicated that they are withdrawing their services with effect from today, “in protest over the absence of progress in our efforts to secure payment, of amounts totaling in excess of three hundred million dollars owing to us by the Georgetown City Council”. The companies said that their decision to “communicate this information directly to the

citizens and institutions in and around the capital who will be affected by any suspension of waste disposal services” derives from their awareness of the likely implications of such action. “Indeed, it is our wish that a change in the circumstances that led to our decision to withdraw our services in the first place can come about quickly, thereby significantly minimizing the impact of the action that has been taken. Citizens will be aware that the two companies returned to work on Wednesday, 12th July, 2017 following four days of an earlier suspension of service beginning on tth July,

2017. Our return to work was contingent on an understanding reached with the Municipality that a meeting would be held shortly thereafter to discuss the execution of plans to make a payment to the service providers. Up to this time and notwithstanding assurances given us by Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan that the way had been cleared for such a meeting, the Municipality has shown no inclination to meet with us.”

The companies revealed that City Hall’s outstanding debts to them date back as far as 2015. “Additionally, City Hall continues to commit itself to an unreasonable time frame for the full and final settlement of these debts. Engagements between City Hall and ourselves as have taken place have been characterized by insensitivity, disrespect for the two companies and a shocking level of brazenness. “As has already been

mentioned City Hall also appears to have no difficulty in giving commitments to make payments then cynically evading those commitments when the time comes to honor them. A point has been reached where we have no faith in their promises. Indeed, we doubt that they have the will to settle their debts to us any time soon.” “Mindful as we are of the importance of both the health of the population and the environmental bona fides of our country we have formally

notified His Excellency the President of our decision. We wish to communicate to affected citizens our profound regret over the present situation. We have no wish to be seen as holding our capital to ransom. It is our hope that City Hall will act in a manner that will minimize the difficulties that are bound to arise in this difficult situation. We intend to keep citizens abreast of the situation as it unfolds,” the statement concluded.

Problems plague hospital, school and ... The Matthew’s Ridge Primary School

From page 57 suggests that the living conditions for some staff at the hospital are appalling. Buildings are reportedly being taken over by termites (wood ants). There is also a plumbing problem as well as a security concern, since

some of the doors are not up to standard. There is one functioning toilet in the entire hospital. Meanwhile, the conditions at the Matthew’s Ridge Police Station are certainly not of the best. This relates to the living conditions as well. Apparently there were two buildings that were being used as living quarters, but they fell and were never rebuilt. As such, it is reported

that the police officers have to use the little space within the station building to accommodate themselves. Concerning the Matthew’s Ridge Primary School, Kaieteur News understands that from September 2017, the building would not be able to accommodate the Grade seven children (primary top). The school caters to approximately over 350 students in both the primary and secondary departments.

However, a large amount of the students do not attend school. According to information, there is a plan to utilise the old post office building that would be refurbished to accommodate these classes. Additionally, one of the sanitary blocks needs to be rehabilitated. It was reported also that some sections of the Primary School are infested with termites, including the office of the Head Mistress.

Sunday August 06, 2017

By Dr. Neromini Fagu It is a common sight to see displays of wooden toothpicks on tables at home and in restaurants. For many West Indians, it is simply part of the dining experience. A lot of people tend to use a toothpick after every meal to rid their mouth of excess food particles that may be stuck between their teeth. No doubt keeping your teeth clean of food debris is important to better oral health, but some people feel incomplete if they do not end a meal without using a toothpick. No one can dispute that a toothpick can be a most effective tool to succeed where your tongue and fingers fail. Yes, a toothpick may significantly benefit you in crunch time when access to dental floss is not available. And let’s face it, it is more discreet manoeuvring a toothpick than using a piece of floss at the table. Some people have mastered the art of using a toothpick in public without little attention to the fact that they are busily trying to get that pesky piece of chicken from between their teeth. The humble toothpick we have come to know today was

Kaieteur News

THE POST-MEAL RITUAL OF THE TOOTHPICK

patented by American Charles Forster in the mid19th Century. During a trip to Brazil, he noticed the locals using toothpicks. When he returned to America, he developed the machinery to

manufacture the toothpick from local softwoods. He devised creative marketing strategies to get his products to the consumers, even hiring men from Harvard to demand toothpicks after eating their meals in restaurants. There are certain pitfalls of using toothpicks, made of wood or other materials, as a choice of food removal tool, and you may want to reassess your selection.Since toothpicks are limited in their ability to reach between your teeth, when used excessively

STANDARDS IN FOCUS

or improperly, they may result in negative consequences to both your teeth and gums. Some of these include: · Lacerating the Gums: This can happen if toothpicks are used frequently or vigorously. · Damaging Tooth Enamel: Especially if one

chews on the toothpick. · Creating Spaces: Constant pressure on the gums between the teeth. · Chipping Veneers and Bondings: Dental restorations can also fracture because of toothpick use. · Damaging Tooth Roots: Especially if there is existing gum recession. There are alternatives to the use of toothpicks for cleaning your teeth. These include the conventional dental floss, dental floss sticks and interdental brushes. Although dental

Bed and Breakfast standard supports good and affordable local accommodation Bed and breakfast accommodation providers have a lot to gain from the implementation of the Bed and Breakfast standard, as they work to satisfy the accommodation needs of many foreigners visiting Guyana for their summer vacation. Homeowners implementing the requirements of this National Standard can also benefit from significant business opportunities and revenues throughout the year, especially from those seeking the most affordable means of accommodation. The Bed and Breakfast standard specifies the minimum requirements for bed and breakfast facilities operating in Guyana and was formulated to improve the quality of services offered by local providers of such accommodation. Minimum requirements for three categories of facilities, A, B and C category are contained in the standard. For bread and breakfast facilities to be considered as Category A, they must include selfcontained double or single bedroom accommodation with an air condition unit, television and other basic amenities including telephone, access to a mini refrigerator and comfortable functioning furniture, in a quiet and attractive setting. In addition, the standard states that private access to rooms is preferable and hot water, hot and cold shower, fresh clean linens and breakfast shall be provided. Lunch, dinner or any other meals could be arranged on request at an additional cost. Requirements for facilities falling

under Categories B and C are similar to Category A with a few exclusions in descending order. Therefore, meeting the requirements for these categories will be easier for the homeowner, and at the same time, the basic expectations of visitors will be met. The standard also addresses minimum requirements for rooms, which include sufficient size for freedom of movement, privacy, requirements for beds and sheet coverings and other furniture requirements. Electrical installation, fire safety, hygiene and pest control are also addressed by the standard. The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) provides guidance and monitoring of facilities endeavouring to meet the requirements outlined in this national standard. The Authority promotes facilities, which are registered and inspected according to the available requirements. Providing quality service and comfortable accommodation to all categories of tourists and other visitors to our country must remain on the front burner to encourage revisits. Adhering to the requirements of the Bed and breakfast facilities standard would certainly support entrepreneurs and operators in the tourism industry as they strive to improve their services and meet the accommodation needs of visitors. For further information on this subject, contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 219-0065 or 219-0064 or visit the GNBS website: www.gnbsgy.org

floss is generally more effective than toothpicks, it can also damage your teeth and gums if not used properly. For proper use of dental floss you should wrap each end of a length of floss around your index fingers, and use your thumbs for leverage as you carefully manoeuvre the floss between your teeth. The floss should be angled around the side of one tooth forming a C-shape and gently moved up and down.This movement should be repeated with the other tooth. Remember to use a

different part of the floss as you move from tooth to tooth. If you must use a wooden toothpick, there are a few points to consider. Don’t be forceful with the toothpick and be discreet, preferably using it in a private place like the restroom. Avoid retaining the toothpick in your mouth after use. It is not cool walking around with it sticking out of your mouth and you run the risk of accidentally swallowing it. For safety and hygiene purposes it is best to use individually prewrapped toothpicks.

PAGE 59

Dr. Neromini Fagu For more information contact OMNI DENTAL at 295 Quamina Street, Georgetown Tel: 227-0025, Parika Tel: 260-3133 or send emails to nerominifagu@hotmail.com.

PAGE 60

LAND FOR SALE Land @ No.7 Village W.C.B – 86’X317’, roadside -$34M negotiable. Call:622-6473 (Raj), 648-6873 (Bernard), 661-4604 (Veronica) 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. Eagle’s: Re-gas -$8,000, Washing machine repairs, Gas Stove, Plasma flat Screen, computer repairs & more. Call: 697-2969/646-0966 Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigration Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496/ 662-6045 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 Are you troubling with back problems, headaches or joint pains, stress, depression? For therapy call: 231-1284 Vehicle servicing and repair weekdays and weekends @ Reliable Automotive Service. Call: 658-3251 or reliableautomotiveservice @gmail.com.Pickup Available Building Contractor: estimates, house plan to be drawn. Call: 216-0671/6928464/622-0267/ FB:K.Lakeram Construction.

WANTED 1 Accounts Clerk, preferably from E.B.D – 5 subjects CXC minimum @ gtcareers592@gmail.com Experienced roti/puri cook, curry cook and waiters. Apply @ Hack’s Halaal with handwritten application, 5 Commerce Street. (Day Shift only) Senior Diesel Mechanic to work in G/Town. Call: 2181455 Mature, experienced salesman/driver, able to work flexible hours, apply with reference/police clearance @ Key Food, Mc Doom Mature maid to work 3 Days weekly, must know to cook . Apply with recommendation @ Key Food, Mc Doom Village. Contract cars for taxi service -$15,000, $18,000 & $21,000 weekly, according to conditions, also drivers. Call: 683-6645 Ron’s Real Estate seriously pays cash for residential house lots in Eccles, Herstelling, Providence, other areas. Call: 656-0701/ 651-1969 Small live in family – duties: husband (driving/ mechanical) & wife (domestic). Call: 227-1830 One trawler to buy with shrimp / seabob licence. Contact # 609-5123 One Full Time Mechanic. Previous experience would be an asset. Call 626/8698

SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. -CosmetologyCourses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 647-1773/660-5257 Register Now! Summer Courses in cosmetology & nails 7th -18th August; Cost: $20,000. Limited space available. Call: 618-2417

LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj BuildingCall: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).

Prime land to build that dream home. Not far from Princess, New Thriving, Massy, HJ water world $13M neg- Call: 669-8397 26 Happy Acres, East Coast, 5,830sq (53X110), 25 Million, negotiable. Call: 614-4358 Land for sale @ Uitvlugt New Scheme, 50X100 feet, 20 feet reserved -$2.6M. Call: 6585897/ 673-2692

Nail course, hair course. Call: 697-2733 PEN PAL You deserve a relationship filled with love & excitement. Call Harmony Singles: 6262629/676-6312

VEHICLE FOR SALE

PROPERTY FOR SALE

VACANCY

2012 Nissan Bluebird: reverse camera, low mileage, unregistered. New model Allion coming -$3.3M negotiable. Call: 655-3400

Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461

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

- 7 Bedrooms house on double lot, fenced, private yard in Georgetown. - Executive 4 bedrooms new house in Eccles. Call: 6097766

One data entry clerk, must be computer literate & have passes @ CXC Maths & English. Apply PO BOX12118

RZ, Pit Bull, 212 Carina, IST, Verossa, Suzuki Vitaera, Premio, Allion, Fielder Wagon, Spacio- Call: 6507501/ 616-2577 Tractor (foreign used) Massey Ferguson -165 -$1.7M, MF-135 - $1M, MF-265 -$1.9M, 165 Loader tractor -$2.2M. Call: 6825230/ 615-4414

La Parfaite Harmonie (front part) - $1.8M. Call: 656-0701/ 651-1969

2005 Tacoma from Canada bull bar -$2.3M, Ford F150 sport -$1.2M, Ranger sport $1.4M. Call: 682-5230/ 6154414

Uitvlugt New Scheme (100ftX50ft) -$2.8M, First Street (20 feet Reserve). Call: 656-0701/651-1969

Toyota Premio 2005 with AC, music and alarm, PTT series, price negotiable, good condition. Call: 617-5257/ 6199894

Farm (East Bank next to Herstelling, New Scheme), (100ftX50ft) - $2.8M. Call: 667-1960/ 611-7223

C-T Cummings Engine starter for sale (foreign used). Call: 649-8449/ 615-6683

Herstelling New Scheme, 110ftX60ftmain road, foundation with 15 columns, deal -$5.5M. Call:667-1960/611-7223

One pit bull minibus, BTT series, in excellent working condition, with alarm, price – $1.8M negotiable. Call: 625-9204/691-8272/6181828

Amelia’s Ward Linden, concrete fencing, 100X50ft, not too far from police outpost, deal -$2.5M. Call: 656-0701/ 651-1969

(2) 2010 Vitz - $850,000 each, 2010 Suzuki swift & Nissan March - $850,000 each (all unregistered & duties to pay). Call: 649-7771/699-3942

La Parfaite Harmonie: $3M, $1.7M, $2.5M, $1.2M, Tuschen house & land -$2.7M, Eccles $6M, Herstelling - $3M. Call: 604-6724/ 686-9608

LAND FOR SALE 2 Acres of transported land for sale at Independence Street La Grange, W.B.D, price negotiable. Call: 6211223 or 690-1491

La Parfaite Harmonie (main road) - $3M, $1.2M, $1.7M, Eccles $6M, Tuschen -$2.5M, Herstelling -$3M. Call: 666-2326

Titled land: E.B.D River @ Loo Creek, Linden Highway, 85.6 Acres, water source, farm land, etc. Call: 625-8589/6880882/518-859-5313 W.B.D Schoonord -$3M, Uitvlugt 50X100 -$2.8M, La Parfaite 50X100 & foundation -$3.5M, $1.5M, $1.6M, Coglan Dam, Nimes -$2.5M. Call: 231-2199/618-7483 E.B.D: Diamond, Farm -$4.5M, Providence 50X185, land of Canaan cleared land -$6.5M acre, Republic Park -$15M. Call: 231-7805/ 618-7483 La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.5M (front part), 1 concrete fence, already cleaned, legal fees paid. Call: 656-0701/ 651-1969

Transported 2 story with shop ideal for business, E.B.D Soesdyke, Public Road. Call: 625-8589/ 688-0882/518-8595313 2 Story property 5 bedrooms for sale, in central Georgetown$18M negotiable. Call: 689-5830 87 ‘E’ Albert Street Alberttown, price -$35M, negotiable. Call: 669-8701 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 Must sell! House & land @ Friendship, E.B.D, PR come make an offer. Call: 648-4810

CAR RENTAL DOLLY’SCARRENTAL-CALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL:656-0087,6435122 ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL @YAHOO.COM WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIALOFFERS! . CALL: 690-6494 AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL: PICKUP,9-11SEATMINIBUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILYOUTINGS,CHEAPEST RATE.Call:698-7807

1 Counter clerk, must have a decent handwriting & passes in Maths & English. Send handwritten application to PO BOX 12118 CANTER DRIVER/ SALESMAN, MINIMUM 3 YEARS DRIVING EXPERIENCE, FACTORY ASSISTANT 266 4427 Live in or live out babysitter/ domestic. Call: 223-7500 Monday-Saturday 8:15-4:15pm Farm workers, live in can be arranged.Call:661-1585/617-2032 Driver with minibus licence and mechanic experience living in G/Town to work with company. Call: 664-0802 Teacher for theory & practical of carpentry, masonry & plumbing programmes @ Vocational Centre. Send application PO Box10461 by August 19, 2017 1 live in couple & 2 males to cook @ outdoor grill, driver’s license+, weekend included. Call: 656-9313/675-2550

2010 Nissan Juke, PWW series, alarm -$3.2M negotiable. Contact Dewan: 223-1332/6137542,Alok:347-617-7582

2 ½ Acres riverside land, 5 Acres land with 5,000 sq.ft building, Brickery, East Bank Demerara. Call: 653-2477/ 685-6874

Land at Tuschen Housing Scheme, near school, 3 minutes away from main road. Call: 261-2988

Mason, experienced and reliable, available for casting block work and plastering. Call: 619-3296 Computer & mobile repairs system upgrade, software installation, unlocking devices (beat any prices). Tech Titan: 647-7622

Sunday August 06, 2017

Kaieteur News

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. 600 Amps automatic, transfer switches, switch gears, motors. Call: 666-6046

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Sunday August 06, 2017

Kaieteur News

Anti-Money Laundering supervisors appointed for high-risk entities - Finance Ministry In an effort to enhance the integrity and stability of the local financial sector, the Government has taken further steps to strengthen the nation’s AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) regime. This was noticeable, particularly in the first half of the year. In fact, the Finance Ministry in its mid-year report said that during the month of April, the country’s first AML/CFT National Risk Assessment (NRA), as mandated by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Revised Recommendations, was completed. The Ministry said that this allowed for the identification and better understanding of the risks to which Guyana is exposed. The National Risk Assessment was conducted by officials from public and private sector agencies, with technical and financial assistance from the

World Bank and the InterAmerican Development Bank. According to the Ministry, the findings of the National Risk Assessment formed the basis for the preparation of a National Risk-Based Action Plan for AML/CFT. This is expected to facilitate the adoption of a risk-based approach to the allocation of resources and the implementation of policy measures to prevent and mitigate money laundering and terrorist financing. The Finance Ministry said, “The supervisory regime for AML/CFT was enhanced by the appointment of AML/ CFT Supervisors for some reporting entities identified as high-risk entities, but which were never assigned an AML/CFT Supervisor”. Several Bank of Guyana officials confirmed that some of these “high-risk” entities relate to the real estate industry, car dealerships and

betting places. During a National Risk Assessment workshop which was held a few months ago, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams had stressed that it is not enough that Guyana is armed with the relevant laws to detect and prevent money laundering and terrorist financing. According to Williams, an AML/CFT framework will demand convictions. This is an area in which Guyana has been lacking, and Williams is determined to change this state of affairs. Williams said that the NRA is a good starting point in the journey towards an efficient and effective AML/ CFT regime. “The National Risk Assessment therefore serves as a yardstick from which to measure Guyana’s progress as well as the weaknesses in our regime; and being

equipped with this knowledge, we will be able to know where we have to go if we are to reach our desired goal,” expressed the Minister. Williams also stated that by completing a NRA, it places Guyana in the company of countries like the USA, UK and Canada who have all found the NRA process to be an effective tool in addressing the defects in their AML/CFT regime. The Attorney General noted that this process is pivotal to the further development of Guyana’s regime as it puts the nation in a better position to successfully improve on its existing framework. Through the NRA, Williams stated that the authorities of the day will be able to prioritize and focus on the most crucial areas and strategically allocate resources to strengthen these areas. He noted that the NRA supports the policy-making process by enabling the Government and

other relevant bodies to address the loopholes in the regime and to plug those holes. Furthermore, the Minister said that the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing is an undertaking that requires the coordinated and dedicated efforts of all stakeholders including policy makers, law enforcement, private sector and financial institutions. He noted that Guyana already has laws to detect and prevent money laundering and terrorist financing. While the relevant laws are important, the Minister of LegalAffairs said that it is equally important that stakeholders understand the

money laundering and terrorist financing threats, risks and vulnerabilities that the nation faces. Williams asserted that identifying, assessing and understanding the risks of money laundering will undoubtedly put Guyana in a better position to mitigate those threats and vulnerabilities by implementing the necessary measures. The Attorney General said that this is an essential part of the development and implementation of any country’s AML/CFT regime. Without going through this process, Williams remarked that Guyana would be operating in a vacuum which is counterproductive.

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Kaieteur News

Venezuela pro-government assembly fires dissident prosecutor …Mercosur suspends Venezuela, urges immediate transition

Former Bahamas Labour Minister on Bribery Charges NASSAU, The Bahamas – A third member of the former Perry Christie-led Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) administration has been hauled before the law courts on a string of bribery charges.

using his influence to approve outstanding payments owed to Ash by the Government. In relation to the extortion charges, Gibson is accused of demanding $610,000 from

The case was adjourned until October 3, but prior to that Gibson will return to court in September for a constitutional challenge to the Bail Act, his attorney Wayne Munroe QC told reporters.

Venezuela’s chief prosecutor Luisa Ortega Diaz speaks to the press during a flash visit to the Public prosecutor’s office in Caracas, Venezuela, yesterday. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

CARACAS (Reuters) Venezuela’s new pro-government constituent assembly yesterday removed dissident state prosecutor Luisa Ortega from her job, in what critics called a blatant affront to democracy. Since the opposition started a round of protests in April, Ortega has become President Nicolas Maduro’s main challenger from within the ruling socialist movement, accusing him of human rights abuses. The new constituent assembly, which Ortega said was fraudulently elected last weekend, unanimously decided to remove her in its first session yesterday. Earlier in the day, security forces had taken up position in front of her office, blocking Ortega from entering the building. She left on a motor bike amid the chaos.

The constituent assembly replaced Ortega with human rights ombudsman Tarek Saab, a government ally whom the opposition says has turned a blind eye to state abuses. The new legislative body has no checks on its powers, and critics say the decision to remove Ortega is an ominous sign of a swerve by Maduro into full-blown dictatorship. Maduro says the U.S. “empire” is waging economic war on Venezuela and refuses to allow humanitarian aid to enter the country. He says the new assembly is the only way to unify Venezuela into a peaceful, prosperous socialist state. Former Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez, a hard-line Maduro loyalist, was named president of the new assembly.

Meanwhile, South American trade bloc Mercosur suspended Venezuela indefinitely yesterday, adding to international pressure on President Nicolas Maduro to dismantle a newly created legislative superbody and restore democracy. Foreign ministers of Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil announced the decision in Sao Paulo, urging Maduro to release prisoners and immediately start a political transition. “We are saying: Stop with this! Enough with the deaths, enough with the repression. It is not possible to inflict such torture to the people,” Brazilian Foreign Minister Aloysio Ferreira said after the meeting. Mercosur has no provision for expulsion. It had suspended Venezuela temporarily in December for not

Former Minister of Labour and National Insurance Shane Gibsdon outside court. (Photo Credit: Tribune)

Former Labour and National Insurance Minister Shane Gibson was Friday slapped with one count of misconduct in public office, 16 counts of bribery, two counts of conspiracy to commit bribery, two counts of conspiracy to commit extortion and 15 counts of extortion. It is alleged that between January 2 and April 30 this year, Gibson accepted $610,000 in bribes from private citizen Jonathan Ash for

Ash between February 7, 2017 and March 30. The conspiracy to commit extortion allegedly occurred between the same dates. In one conspiracy charge, he is accused of conspiring with another person to demand $250,000 from Ash. The second conspiracy count alleges that Gibson and another person received $250,000 from Ash. Gibson was not required to plead to the charges. He was granted bail of $40,000 with two sureties.

Finance Minister: No money owed to Permell

Jamaica Govt. Puts Cap on Cell Phone Expenses for Ministers KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Government has approved an interim policy for the use of mobile telephones, which places a cap of J$40,000 (US$313) on all telephone expenses by Ministers and Ministers of State. Minister of Information Senator Ruel Reid said that’s the amount that will be paid for direct expenses of the Ministry to which each Minister is assigned. He said it was arrived at based on a survey of voice, data, and roaming charges. “Having done the survey (we felt) that certainly $40,000 was a reasonable amount and, by consensus, the Cabinet reviewed the proposal and we agreed on that,” he noted. If a cell phone bill comes

in higher than the stipulated amount, an explanation would have to be provided to the Permanent Secretary. “Unless there is justification for any amount above, that would have to be agreed to by the Permanent Secretary, and the Minister would be responsible for paying the amounts in excess of the $40,000”, Reid added. He said consideration is being given t o “ s o m e amount of retroactivity of the policy to about January this year, so if there are any breaches above that, then (arrangements) would have to be made by the respective Ministers for them to pay from their salaries or other arrangements made for them to defray those expenses.”

Senator Reid urged officials to act responsibly and be disciplined in managing their telephone bills when they are in Jamaica and when travelling abroad. The interim policy follows the review of communication costs and high cellular phone bills being incurred for roaming and data charges. Prime Minister Andrew Holness, had directed the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service to review and report on the respective policies for the provision of communication services, including cell phones, in the various Ministries, on the heels of a whopping J$8 million (US$62,612) bill racked up by Minister of Finance Audley Shaw. (Caribbean360)

Last month, former Environment and Housing Minister Kenred Dorsett was charged with using his former ministerial position to extort and solicit $120,000 in bribes from the same Ash at the centre of Gibson’s charges. Former PLP Senator Frank Smith has also been slapped with 15 criminal charges relating to solicitation of $$65,000 in bribes from a woman he is said to have assisted in getting a contract. (Caribbean360)

Peter Permell

Trinidad Guardian - Finance Minister Colm Imbert has advised that chairman of the Clico Policyholders Group Peter Permell has no contractual relationship with Clico and is owned no money. In a press release issued weekend, Imbert stated that he has taken note of a statement made by Permell yesterday that he was still a Clico policyholder and he wants the balance of the money due to him from Clico. In response to Permell’s

comments, Imbert said that the ministry’s records would show that on May 22, 2012, Permell accepted the former Government’s offer for the purchase of his Clico policies by virtue of Deeds of Assignment and Declarations of Trust in respect of two Executive Flexible Premium Annuities (EFPA) with Clico. Based on Permell’s acceptance, Imbert said he received the sum of $75,000 in cash for each policy, with the rest being paid in bonds.

“Further, in May 2012, in full and final settlement, Permell also relinquished all claims to these policies and signed a clear and unequivocal waiver of all future claims against Clico with respect to these policies,” Imbert stated. As a result, Imbert has been advised that Permell no longer has any contractual relationship with Clico, and, contrary to his assertions, there is no balance of money due to him from Clico whatsoever. Permell in an interview on Thursday said Imbert’s claim that he was not a policyholder was incorrect. “He’s either misinformed or doesn’t know what ‘cashed in’ means in the insurance context. There is a policy with my name on it either at Clico or the Finance Ministry,” Permell said. He also rejected a statement made by Imbert that he was a “mouthpiece” for CL Financial shareholders.

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My column

The complaints and ‘Aesh’ Deonarine There has been a lot of complaining these past few days, not that there has not been a lot in the past. In fact, for as long as the coalition government has been in office there have been complaints. There were complaints about the state of the economy, complaints about the spate of criminal activity, about the dismissal of people from the public service who had thrived in a society where corruption was rampant, complaints about the parking meters, complaints about taxation of tuition fees and more recently, complaints about the non-existence of the entertainment complex inside the Marriott Hotel. The crime situation was inherited. When this was pointed out to the complaining politicians, the answer was that the coalition had proclaimed that it had a solution. It would seem that the coalition had a solution,

because criminal activity is markedly down. Indeed there are a few gunpoint robberies with attacks levelled at people who live outside the capital, but the perpetrators are being caught more readily than they ever were in the not too distant past. Drug smugglers are being apprehended in larger numbers because they have become desperate. It is not easy sitting on a pile of cocaine and not being able to shift it to parts unknown. It is also not easy being accustomed to spending money as though there was no tomorrow, then suddenly finding it difficult to have the huge piles passing through the fingers. But those things are now on the backburner, because there is a fuss about the recently passed tobacco legislation. Last week I spoke a bit about this new piece of legislation and actually supported it. The parliamentary opposition was very vocal in its condemnation of the legislation. The major issue was that the government would not be able to enforce a lot of what

would soon become law. The loudest noise came from the tobacco company, and one does not need a lesson in commonsense to understand why. There was the contention that Guyana was throwing away money. The tobacco company claimed that it paid either four billion dollars or seven billion dollars in taxes to the government. I could not see the non-payment of taxes, since cigarettes would still be sold. The argument that cigarettes would be smuggled into Guyana in greater quantities could not hold water for me, because right now cigarette smuggling is big business and the government is not collecting one cent of taxes from that source. The Minister of Public Health argued that the cost of treating the tobaccorelated ailments far exceeded what the government collected in revenue from the tobacco company. It came as no surprise that the bulk of the population is in support of the legislation. The most strident noise is now coming from the people

who created the radio frequency mess in the first place—the political opposition. In 2011, just before he demitted office, President Bharrat Jagdeo allocated a large number of radio frequencies as part of his plan to liberalise radio. Liberalising radio is one thing; doing so when he had promised to halt any further distribution of frequencies is another. In the end, nearly two dozen radio frequencies were distributed. The recipients were mainly friends, family, and the political party he headed. Two nights ago I was admonished about repeating the comment that these new radio frequencies were distributed to Jagdeo’s friends and family. My publisher, Glenn Lall said that to use that statement would be playing into Jagdeo’s hands. The former president would point to people like Eddy Grant and say that he is certainly no family, and not a friend. That was supposed to be the diversion from the truth. Then there was the

argument that press freedom would be threatened, because the government would most likely silence some of the broadcasters. Of interest was that the focus was not on the radio licences that Jagdeo issued, but on television and cable. Months after he promised no new television licences, Jagdeo rushed to grant licences to no fewer than six television stations. More were to follow. He shut down a radio station operated by Tony Vieira and seized the equipment. Chandra Narine Sharma fared the worst. He had paid his light bills and his television broadcast licence fee, but Jagdeo swooped down on him with a vengeance to seize his broadcast equipment. This was preceded by a disconnection crew from Guyana Power and Light, although Sharma did not owe anybody. Jagdeo was angry over a comment Sharma made during one of his programmes. That was a direct attack on press freedom. Then with some support

Adam Harris from the Guyana Press Association, there was an attack on the clause which stipulated that broadcasters are mandated to allocate a combined total of sixty minutes for public interest programmes. The contention is that public interest programmes would be political propaganda. Immediately I remembered the hue and cry about the powers of the president when Jagdeo’s party was in opposition. There was a promise to limit those powers, because it represented a dangerous thing. The party got into office, and the idea of restricting those powers was shunned. To this day, twenty-five years later, there has been no move in this direction. I am once more hearing murmurs about constitutional reform. I am also making one more observation. I remember on Monday, August 3, 2015, I was on a Fly Jamaica flight heading to Canada. I happened to see Aeshwar Deonarine board the plane with his wife and two children. I knew that he was wanted for questioning about some money he reportedly got a member of the GPL Board to pay him. I edited the ensuing stories, right up to the charge and its subsequent withdrawal, because the state wanted to proceed against the Board member. Lo and behold, ‘Aesh’ Deonarine has caused his lawyer to serve legal notice seeking one billion dollars. That is a lot of money, perhaps needed to live in Queens, New York, where he now lives having crossed the border from Canada. He would have to come to Guyana if he is serious about that lawsuit and like many others, I would be waiting to see him in court. That may never happen, but as someone said, he is perhaps hoping that the People’s Progressive Party would win the elections and pardon him. Only then will he come home to press his defamation suit. Of course, no ‘Aesh’ in Guyana, no court case on his behalf. But right now, having spoken with Glenn Lall, we are prepared to pay him, but he must come to Guyana before the end of the year.

Sunday August 06, 2017

Kaieteur News

U.N. council bans key North Korea exports over missile tests UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council unanimously imposed new sanctions on North Korea yesterday that could slash by a third the Asian state’s $3 billion annual export revenue

close. The North Korean threat has not left us, it is rapidly growing more dangerous,” U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told the council. “Further action is required. The United States is

Nikki Haley

over Pyongyang’s two July intercontinental ballistic missile tests. The U.S.-drafted resolution bans North Korean exports of coal, iron, iron ore, lead, lead ore and seafood. It also prohibits countries from increasing the current numbers of North Korean labourers working abroad, bans new joint ventures with North Korea and any new investment in current joint ventures. “We should not fool ourselves into thinking we have solved the problem. Not even

taking and will continue to take prudent defensive measures to protect ourselves and our allies,” she said, adding that Washington would continue annual joint military exercises with South Korea. North Korea has accused the United States and South Korea of escalating tensions by conducting military drills. North Korean ally China and Russia both slammed the U.S. deployment of the THAAD anti-missile defence system in South Korea. China called for a halt to the deployment and for any equipment

already in place to be dismantled. “The deployment of the THAAD system will not bring a solution to the issue of (North Korea’s) nuclear testing and missile launches,” China’s U.N. Ambassador Liu Jieyi told the Security Council after the vote. Liu also urged North Korea to “cease taking actions that might further escalate tensions.” Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said he hoped recent remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson “were sincere - that the U.S. is not seeking to dismantle the existing (North Korea) situation or to forcibly unite the peninsula or to militarily intervene in the country.” While the Security Council has been divided on how to deal with other international crises like Syria, the 15member body has remained relatively united on North Korea. Still, negotiating new measures typically takes months, not weeks. North Korea has been under U.N. sanctions since 2006 over its ballistic missile and nuclear programmes and the Security Council has now ratcheted up the measures in response to five nuclear weapons tests and four longrange missile launches.

Iran’s Rouhani, embarking on second term, accuses Trump over nuclear deal LONDON (Reuters) - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who was sworn-in for a second term yesterday, has accused the United States of trying to undermine Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers, telling President Donald Trump that it will be his political suicide. Rouhani, who was decisively re-elected in May after promising to open Iran to the world, took the oath of office before parliament in Tehran in the presence of foreign dig-

nitaries including senior European figures. “The U.S. lack of commitment to implementation of the nuclear deal ... proved it to be an unreliable partner to the world and even to its longtime allies,” Rouhani said in a ceremony broadcast live on state television. The deal he championed with the United States and five other major powers in 2015 led to the lifting of most sanctions against Iran in return for curbs on its nuclear

UK ready to pay up to 40 billion euros to leave EU - Sunday Telegraph LONDON (Reuters) Britain is ready to pay up to 40 billion euros (36.12 billion pounds) as part of a deal to leave the European Union, the Sunday Telegraph newspaper reported late yesterday, citing three unnamed government sources. The newspaper said Britain was only prepared to pay the sum as part of a wider deal that included a trade agreement with the EU. “We know (the EU’s) position is 60 billion euros, but

the actual bottom line is 50 billion euros. Ours is closer to 30 billion euros but the actual landing zone is 40 billion euros, even if the public and politicians are not all there yet,” the newspaper quoted “a senior Whitehall source” as saying. The British government ministry in charge of EU negotiations declined to comment on the report. Britain has previously said it will pay any outstanding liabilities, but has not given a figure.

programme. Rouhani has intensified efforts to protect the deal - the biggest achievement of his first term - against Washington’s return to an aggressive Iran policy. In comments aimed at Trump, Rouhani said: “Those who want to tear up the nuclear deal should know that they will be ripping up their own political life.” The U.S. Senate voted in late July to impose new sanctions on Iran over its missiles programme and human rights issues. “Iran would not be the first to pull out of the nuclear deal, but it will not remain silent about the U.S. repeated violations of the accord,” Rouhani said. In a meeting with European foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini in Tehran in advance of the ceremony, Rouhani said the U.S. stance could hamper implementation of the nuclear deal. Praising the presence of senior European dignitaries at the ceremony, Rouhani said it showed Europe was determined to expand ties with Tehran.

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Rwanda’s Kagame wins third presidential term by a landslide KIGALI (Reuters) - Incumbent leader Paul Kagame swept to a landslide victory in Rwanda’s presidential election, securing a third term in office and extending his 17 years in power, final results showed yesterday. Kagame has won international praise for presiding over a peaceful and rapid economic recovery in Rwanda since the 1994 genocide, when an estimated 800,000 people Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed. But he has also faced mounting criticism for what human rights groups say are widespread abuses, a muzzling of independent media, and suppression of political

opposition. The 59-year-old former guerrilla leader had secured 98.63 percent of Friday’s vote, according to a final tally released by the National Electoral Commission yesterday. The board said turnout topped 96.42 percent in the country of 12 million people, in an election that fielded only a single opposition candidate, Frank Habineza, and an independent. Addressing supporters early yesterday, Kagame said he would work to sustain economic growth. “This is another seven years to take care of issues that affect Rwandans and ensure that we become real

Rwandans who are (economically) developing,” he said in a speech broadcast live on television. “What I saw during campaigns is that the decision to continue to lead you drew criticism mainly by foreigners but this proves that the referendum was for real purpose.” Under his rule, some dissidents were killed after fleeing abroad, in cases that remain unsolved. The government denies any involvement. Kagame, a commander who led Tutsi rebel forces into Rwanda to end the 1994 genocide, banned the use of tribal terms after becoming president.

Turkey warns new military moves in Syria imminent ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey’s president reiterated yesterday that new crossborder operations into Syria are in the works as the country boosts its military presence along the border against threats from Kurdish militants in war-torn Syria. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey is determined to launch “new moves” akin to its foray into northern Syria last August. “It’s clear that the situation in Syria goes beyond a war on a terror organization,” Erdogan said, referring to the Islamic State group, and alluding to Kurdish aspirations for statehood. He was addressing a large crowd at a stadium opening in eastern Malatya province, and slammed the U.S.-led campaign against IS in Syria. Turkey has been vehemently opposed to the presence of the People’s Protection Units, or YPG, in northern Syria. The Syrian Kurdish militants are a key U.S. ally in the fight against IS in Syria, and the ongoing campaign to

Recep Tayyip Erdogan

retake the extremist group’s de-facto capital of Raqqa. But Turkey, a NATO member, considers the YPG to be a terror group and an extension of Kurdish militants that have waged a three-decadeslong insurgency inside its borders. The country fears that the Syrian Kurds will attempt to link its semi-autonomous regions in northern Syria, which Erdogan calls a “terror entity project” that

threatens his country. In last year’s cross-border operation dubbed Euphrates Shield, Turkey-backed Syrian opposition groups and the Turkish military cleared an area in northern Syria of IS and prevented the YPG from conjoining its territories. In late April, Turkey began relocating military units to Sanliurfa province across from another YPG-controlled area.

India’s Naidu elected vice president in another boost for Modi NEW DELHI (Reuters) India’s ruling party candidate M. Venkaiah Naidu was elected vice president in a parliamentary vote yesterday, enabling the party to boost its political standing in his southern home region where it lacks a broad support base. Naidu, 68, from the state of Andhra Pradesh and a former president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), defeated opposition nominee Gopalkrishna Gandhi, grandson of independence hero Mahatma Gandhi, by a wide margin. The position of vice presi-

dent, like that of president, is largely ceremonial under India’s constitution, in which the prime minister and his cabinet colleagues wield executive power. However, the vice president is also the speaker of the Rajya Sabha, or upper house of parliament, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling coalition lacks a majority and has faced problems in passing legislation. Naidu’s victory in the vote by both houses was a foregone conclusion because of the BJP’s commanding ma-

jority in the 545-member lower house, which more than makes up for its weakness in the upper house. Recently elected President Ram Nath Kovind and Naidu were both associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, or National Volunteer Corps, the ideological fountainhead of Hindu groups, early in their political careers. Kovind, backed by the ruling Hindu nationalist right, easily won India’s presidential election last month, tightening its hold on positions of power.

Sunday August 06, 2017

St Kitts Opposition questions appointment of J’can as national security advisor BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) — Opposition Leader Dr Denzil Douglas says the appointment of a former senior Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) official as national security advisor could lead to the politicising of the local security forces. Douglas, speaking on a radio programme here, said Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris has abrogated the responsibilities of the police commissioner and the defence force commander through the appointment of Major General Stewart Saunders as national security adviser. “The prime minister, in responding to people’s concerns with regard to Major General Stewart Saunders of the Jamaica Defence Force being appointed as national security adviser, said in the National Assembly that Saunders will not be a part of the police force and security forces generally and will not give any directive or any instruction to the commissioner of police (COP) or the commander of the Defence Force. “What Timothy Harris said to us in parliament and to the nation is that the major general will advise Harris and then, on advising Harris, Harris will then direct the commissioner of police and the commander of the defence force. “In other words, Harris has abrogated the responsibilities of the commissioner and the commander through a national security advisor; that is what we have been saying all along. The police have been politicised,” Douglas told radio listeners. He said the prime minister, through the appointment, was now not trusting the judgement of the Police High Command, and that the appointment has “undermined the leadership of the Royal St Christopher and Nevis Police Force”.

Kaieteur News

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Thompson easily into 100 Van Niekerk begins meters semi-finals double-bid at a canter LONDON (Reuters) Wa y d e v a n N i e k e r k safely negotiated the first stage of his attempted 400 metres/200 meters World Championships double yesterday when he cruised through his opening heat in his favored one-lap event. The world and Olympic champion and world record holder unsurprisingly did the minimum required to finish the 400m in 45.27 seconds and was given a terrific reception by a crowd

of over 50,000 - a completely unprecedented number for a morning session of a world championships. T h e S o u t h A f r i c a n ’s chief rivals also had few problems advancing to today’s semi-finals ahead of the final on Tuesday night. Fred Kerley, the American who has raced more than 40 times this season but has only been a professional for a matter of weeks, started closing down and

looking around after 300 meters and still clocked an impressive 44.92. Compatriot and former world and Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt also went through safely. B o t s w a n a ’s Isaac Makwala was the fastest qualifier in 44.55, while compatriot Thebe Baboloki (44.82) could also be in the mix. Long-striding Steven Gardiner of the Bahamas also looked supremely untroubled in clocking 44.75.

Sunday August 06, 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) You must not let others talk you into doing things that will probably limit you financially at a later date. You can stabilize your financial situation if you make property investments. If you can't get away, make plans to do something special with friends or relatives. TAURUS (Apr. 21- may 21) Try not to spend too much on children or entertainment. They won't get away with it. You can anger others quickly today. Avoid overspending on items for your home. GEMINI (May 22-June 21) You can prosper if you invest in property or mutual funds. Opportunities for romance will develop through group endeavors; however, the association isn't likely to last. Don't let your anger consume you and don't allow important matters go unattended to. CANCER (June 22-July 22) Make the necessary changes that will enable you to advance financially. Your ideas will be well received. Professionalism will be of utmost importance. LEO (July 23-Aug 22) This could be the cause of a dispute that may result in estrangement. Don't take advantage of your expense account. Your passionate nature may make you jealous if your mate has been too busy to take care of your needs. VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Don't be too eager to spend money that you really don't have. Don't press your luck with your loved ones. Favors

will be offered readily. LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) It's a good time to make changes to your living quarters that will give you more space. Be honest with yourself before getting involved with someone who is likely to lead you on. Don't share your dilemma with those you work with. SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Instant romance could be yours if you go out with friends. There'll be difficulties if you spend too much. Lend an ear to children; it can make a difference. SAGIT. (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Work hard on improving your living quarters. If you can, try to work out of your home today. You may find that romance will unfold through business connections. CAPRI .(Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Try to curb your habits, or you could find yourself in an awkward financial position. Problems with relatives and friends could surface. Go out with friends or family. AQUAR. (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19) Do not overspend on entertainment. You could find that children will be a handful. Resist secret affairs that could be detrimental to your reputation. Invest wisely. Your personal life could have you tied up in knots. PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Refrain from using the highway as a racetrack. This will not be the best day to initiate change. Be careful when dealing with loved ones.

LONDON (Reuters) Olympic champion Elaine Thompson ignored a cloudburst to easily win her opening heat in the women’s 100 meters at the World Championships yesterday. The Jamaican could afford to ease up near the line as she finished in 11.05 seconds while her main rivals also comfortably survived the first stage in front of a crowd of over 50,000. American Tori Bowie, silver medalist behind Thompson in Rio last year, won her heat in exactly the same time. Dafne Schippers, who unlike Thompson will run in both the 100 and 200 meters, started her bid for a double by finishing second in her heat in 11.08 seconds behind Ivorian Marie-Josee Ta Lou, still good enough to qualify

Elaine Thompson (facebook) comfortably. Gina Lueckenkemper produced the most impressive performance as she won the

first heat in a personal of best of 10.95 seconds, becoming the first German to break 11 seconds since Katrin Krabbe at the 1991 World Championships. “It was amazing and I am absolutely speechless after that race,” said the 20-yearold. “It was a dream to run sub-11 inside this stadium at these championships. This just feels so, so good.” It was a mixed day for Germany, however, as her compatriot Tatjana Pinto falsestarted in her heat and become the only athlete to be disqualified. Britain’s Desiree Henry, who as a 16-year-old was one of the torchbearers at the London Olympics five years ago, also qualified after finishing fourth in her heat.

Knight Riders thrash Stars in opening... (From page 68) were 56 for 3. Things only got worse for St Lucia from there as the Knight Riders squeezed them in the middle overs with the spin of Sunil Narine and Shadab Khan and the variations of Dwayne Bravo. On Hero CPL debut the 18year old Pakistani leg-spinner Shadab took 2 for 15 in an assured performance. Shadab dismissed Fletcher—who got bogged down—for 27, and Jesse Ryder—who struggled to get going—for 18. When Dwayne Bravo bowled Rakheem Cornwall with a magical slower ball, the Stars hopes of making a competitive total went with him. Although some powerful late hitting from Kyle Mayers and Jerome Taylor lifted the Stars to 132 for 9, only one score lower than that had ever been defended in the Hero CPL. The Stars were given hope that they could pull off an improbable win when Sunil Narine was bowled for a golden duck by Taylor with the sixth ball of the innings but Brendon McCullum and Colin Munro doused the flames of a fiery opening spell. After a tight first three overs the Knight Riders broke free in the fourth over, bowled by debutant Obed McCoy and hardly looked back. Munro in particular quickly sussed the pace of the pitch and propelled the Knight Riders to 57 for 1 at the end of the Powerplay. Once the field had dropped back McCullum matched Munro blow-for-blow. Munro reached his fifty off 25 balls and McCullum reached his off

24, hitting boundaries on both sides of the ground. Munro sealed the victory with his third six. TKR’s innings run rate of 12.84 runs per over is a record in the Hero CPL. These two teams next play tomorrow when they face each other again, this

time at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad. Scores: Trinbago Knight Riders 137-1 (Munro 66*, McCullum 58*, Taylor 1 for 22) beat St Lucia Stars 132-9 (Fletcher 26, Mayers 23, Shadab 2 for 15, Bravo 2 for 23) by 9 wickets with 56 balls to spare.

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Kaieteur Sports Week in Review Each host nation except Trinidad and St Lucia (who will have 5) will have four games and the Warriors will come up against the Trinbago Knight Riders on Saturday August 19 from 12:30hrs, Barbados Tridents on Sunday August 20 before their final game in Guyana is set for Tuesday August 22 when the face-off with the St Lucia stars from 18:00hrs. Khan encouraged fans to enjoy Corona Beer but reminded them to drink responsibly.

SPORTS WEEK IN REVIEW Over the past week there were several developments in the local world of sports despite the inclement weather affecting many events. Among the highlights were the recapturing of the Digicel Schools Football title by Chase Academy, Guyana being edged out by the USA South in the RAN 15’s championship, basketball with the attendance of US coaches to run a clinic here, hockey laying a plastic tile covering on the Sports Hall floor for their tournament and the promise that the Digicel Schools football will continue but with some changes.

HARPER SAYS HE WILL FOCUS ON EACH MATCH AS WARRIORS HUNT FIRST CPL TITLE

USA SOUTH EDGE GUYANA TO CLAIM RAN 15’S TITLE The United States of America South withstood the challenges of a determined Guyana team to win the final of the RAN tournament 23-19 at the National Park. Played on a soggy ground in front of a colourful crowd, USA South opened their account in the 17th minute when Zach Miller scored a penalty. Hein Erasmus stretched the visitors advantage10 minutes later with the first try of the contest as they took an 8-0 lead. USA South strategised well in the first half and increased their lead further minutes before the interval as flanker Wayne Chermerly ran some 30 meters down the left for another try. Trailing 13-0 at half time, Guyana looked more aggressive in the second half, however their opponents extended their lead when Miller anchored his second penalty 20 minutes into the second half leaving the score 16-0. Urged on by their vociferous fans, Guyana fought back well and Patrick King gave them much to cheer about when he scored a try from center field 10 minutes later. Godfrey Broomes then made no mistake with the conversion as the host chalked up seven points. The Americans overlapped well and Jordan Gunderson and Miller put them further ahead in the 73rd minute (23-7) with a try and a conversion respectively. However, the Guyanese didn’t give up and Osei McKenzie gave them hope with a try, leaving the score 23-12. Guyana continued to improve as the game progressed, but Lancelot Adonis missed a th conversion in the 77 minute before McKenzie got in another try in the 80th leaving the score at 23-17. With time quickly running out, Godfrey Broomes closed the gap further with a conversion, but the visitors managed to hold on for the win. CHASE ACADEMY REPEAT AS CHAMPS, DOWN ANNAI 6-2; WARAMADONG END 3RD A Stephon Reynolds hat-trick

Digicel CEO Gregory Dean presenting the first place cheque to Chase Academy Captain, Jeremy Garrett. and a double from Nicholas McArthur was the foundation that led to Chase Academy retaining championship honours for the second consecutive year as the best in the Digicel Schools’ Football Championships which ended last evening at the Leonora Track and Field Facility, Leonora, West Coast Demerara. It was a fitting end to the 2017 edition and even as many were speculating that this may be the last year of the championships, Digicel CEO Gregory Dean, one of the many dignitaries attending, informed the media that the tournament is here to stay. Witnessed by over three thousand fans which included Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock, Minister in the Ministry of Communities Dawn Hastings-Williams, Guyana Football federation President Wayne Forde, Director of Sport Christopher Jones and Digicel Head of Marketing Ms Jacqueline James among others, Chase steamrollered first timers Annai 62, while Waramadong’s DC Caesar Fox exacted revenge over Christianburg after six years, beating them 3-1 to claim the third place. Chase were very dominant and compact in winning the top prize of One Million Dollars that will go towards a school project; they took the attack to Annai from the first whistle with the latter having no real response. Annai did not leave the arena a dejected unit as they collected the second place cheque for $700,000 from Digicel’s Head of Marketing Ms Jacqueline James as well as two of the three prestigious awards, MVP (Sherral Daniels) and Highest Goal Scorer, Naidson Daniels who

ended with 11-goals. Waramadong’s DC Caesar Fox, third place winners via a 3-1 scoreline over Christianburg, got their goals from their most prolific scorer, Reon McNaughton in the 11th minute, Whitaker Paul in the 25th and Kevin Hasting in the 43rd minute. Christianburg got their consolation goal from Darwin Adolphous in the 67th minute. Waramadong collected the third place cheque of $400,000 from Minister in the Ministry of Communities Dawn HastingsWilliams, while the 4th prize of $350,000 went to Christianburg. GUYANA CAN BE ASSURED DSFC WILL CONTINUE – CEO DEAN MANAGEMENT CHANGES IMMINENT Following another successful Digicel Schools’ Football Championships (DSFC), Guyana can be assured that the championships, the biggest at the school level in Guyana’s history, will continue. This is the assurance given by Chief Executive Officer of Digicel, Gregory Dean who spoke with the media following the final which saw Chase Academy successfully retaining the title for the second year in a row with a 6-2 blanking of first timers to the final, Annai. There would have been rumors that this was the final year for the competition but Dean dispelled those rumors stating that the tournament will continue but there will certainly be changes as regards the administration of the championship which would have been done by Digicel staff in the 7year history of the competition.

”Just to be clear, there is no issue with us continuing with the tournament, I think we’ve been honest that we can’t do the tournament the way we’ve been doing it, we just don’t have the staff; staff doesn’t have the time to run the tournament the way it’s been running for the past seven years. We just need to change the way we’ve been doing the tournament but we don’t have any issue with continuing the tournament.” He underscored the fact that it would have been very challenging for his staff to be going into the various regions to run the tournament and still have their Digicel jobs to do. CORONA GETS ‘POURING RIGHTS’ FOR BEER IN GUYANA LEG OF CPL Wayne James, the CEO of Top Brandz, the exclusive distributer of Corona Beer in Guyana, renewed his company’s partnership with the Guyana Amazon Warriors for the fifth year. Corona Beer has once again been awarded exclusive pouring rights for Beer for the Warriors during the Guyana leg of the 2017 CPL. James said his company is again pleased to have their Beer at the biggest party in sport, while the CPL is in Guyana and hopes the anticipated capacity crown have a rollicking time and celebrate with a Corona Beer, while the Warriors Manager, Trinidadian Omar Khan, informed only Corona Beer can be sold in the Stadium when Guyana play Jamaica Tallawahs from 18:00hrs in their first game on home soil on August 17 and their three other games here.

Following the one-week camp here for the Guyana Amazon Warriors, Head Coach Roger Harper informed that under the circumstances he was satisfied with the camp and the three practice games. “I am satisfied. We leave for Florida…, will have two days of practice there,” said the 54 year-old former West Indies off-spinner. Harper said that the Warriors are focusing on the first match and each game after that so as to qualify for the playoff stage. “When we get to the final we will focus on that game. We start any competition with the aim of winning it. We have reached the final on three occasions but did not play like the Warriors’ who played in the rest of the tournament,” informed Harper. Guptill, who has played 177 t20 games including 61 at International level where he has scored one ton and 10 fifties, spoke about team spirit and his own form. “Team spirit is high and we are depending on everyone to play their part during the competition. I was happy to spend some time in the middle today but I don’t judge my form on practice matches on pitches like this one here in Guyana. We should have good pitches when we get to Florida and performances in the actual tournament is what matters,” Guptill said. TOP PERFORMANCES ANTICIPATED IN BOYCE/JEFFORD INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S 1500M Guyana’s middle distance queens will be tested against defending champion, Grenada’s, Kenisha Pascal this weekend at the Boyce and Jefford Track and Field Classic VIII, which is set to begin at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground, Linden on Saturday. Pascal had never won before storming to victory in the International Women’s 1500m ahead of an impressive field last year. The path to victory does not seem clear cut in the 2017 edition (Continued on page 67)

Sunday August 06, 2017

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Kaieteur Sports Week in Review (From page 66) for the defending champion, Pascal. The race will be a muchanticipated rematch for Guyana’s phenom, Joanna Archer, who is just coming off an 800m win at the Aliann Pompey Invitational. Archer placed second to Pascal last year and the lanky athlete is unhappy about that result. Archer will be aiming for a better showing against her Grenadian rival. In addition to Archer and Pascal, Trinidad and Tobago’s Joanna Rogers returns for the Women’s 1500m. Rogers was third in the race last year. Jenella Jonas holds the 1500m meet record of 5:02.00 done in 2011. However, Pascal has already run under five minutes this year with a best of 4:47.09 at the Whitsuntide Games. A reproduction of that performance from Pascal will put the local ladies under tremendous pressure. Apart from the three favourites in the event, strong challenges will come from Police’s Aaliyah Moore and Kezra Murray. Veteran athletes, Guyana Defence Force’s, Ashanti Scott and Cassie Kirton cannot be ruled out from the local challengers. Defence Force’s Leyanna Charles is also registered to compete in what is an impressive field of athletes. USA SPORTS ENVOY CONDUCTS BASKETBALL CLINIC IN GUYANA A two-day Basketball Clinic for 50 young aspiring Guyanese, conducted by American Coach Elvis Valcarcel and Associate Coach Agnus Berenato along with NBA representative Allison Feaster concluded at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. The programme, facilitated by United States Embassy here, commenced on Wednesday with a Coaches Clinic and visits by the US Sports Envoy to Sports Minister Nicolette Henry at the her Office and Director of Sports Christopher Jones at the National Sports Commission (NSC). Charge’ d’ Affairs Terry SteersGonzalez greeted the youngsters, Jones, other sports officials and the Media on behalf of Ambassador Holloway who is on vacation. Steers-Gonzalez thanked Minister Henry and the NSC for allowing the use of the Sports Hall for the Clinic. The American official said the American Embassy is pleased to be able to make this event possible. Director of Sports, Chris Jones thanked the US Embassy for organising the Clinic which is good for Guyana, United States relationships. Jones said that now that the door is open he hopes he could knock on that door for other such programmes in 2018 and beyond.

The National U-17 Lady Jags The all-day clinic saw the Coaches teaching youngsters who travelled from Berbice, Linden and Essequibo for the Clinic at which the fundamentals of the sport were taught. HOCKEY BOARD LAYS MULTI-PURPOSE PLASTIC TILE SURFACE AT SPORTS HALL TO ALSO BENEFIT BASKETBALL AND FUTSAL With the permission of the Ministry of Sport, the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) has imported an Indoor Plastic Tile Floor similar to what is used in North America for almost all Indoor Sports. The floor was laid in the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) on Tu e s d a y A u g u s t 1 s t , l a s t The floor is suitable for basketball and many other sports and solves the hockey problem of the an uneven wood surface. The floor is movable, so it can be picked up at any time if the need arise. This much needed development has come at an opportune time as Guyana will be hosting for the first time, the Pan American Hockey Championships form October 14. The tournament, called the Indoor Pan American Cup, will feature two simultaneous competitions for Men and Women and serves as the Pan American Continental Qualifier for FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup, scheduled for February 2018 in Berlin, Germany. Director of Sport Christopher Jones reiterated the multi-purpose use of the surface which will be utilized by hockey and basketball. However, he noted that once the Guyana Basketball Federation confirms that the surface is accurate enough for their use, then it will remain at the CASH permanently.

shattered records at the Caribbean, Pan Am and FESUPO levels at the 16th NAPF and 32nd FESUPO Equipped Championships in Orlando, USA earlier this month, attention is not focused on a higher competition. The same team members that inked their names into the powerlifting history books are aiming to conqueror the world again but this time at the Commonwealth Championships set for September 10-17 in Potchefstroom, South Africa. Records were set by Carlos Petterson, Demetri Chan, Romario Gonsalves, ‘Big’ John Edwards, Nairianjan Singh, Andrea Smith and Britny Mack. Petterson is the current Commonwealth Junior Raw/Classic 93kg Class champion and Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation PRO Dr. Osmond Mack has informed that Petterson broke the Deadlift record three times in Orlando, his first attempt at 300kg second was 317.6kg and 330.0kg respectively. Mack posited that the team for the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships in South Africa will again showcase Guyana and

make the nation proud with a close eye on setting new records. Faced with a budget of over 9 Million dollars to make the team’s trip a reality, the GAPF is seeking the support of the all Guyana to ensure the team travels. Donations can be deposited at Republic Bank A/C #655-219-4 or contact can be made with federation Treasurer, Andrew Austin. LADY JAGS GETTING READY FOR CONCACAF CARIBBEAN FEMALE U17 QUALIFIERS Guyana’s Under-17 Lady Jags will take center stage Wednesday evening from 17:00hrs at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora when they take on Barbados in the first match of Group D play in the CONCACAF Caribbean Female U 1 7 Q u a l i f i e r s . The Guyana Football Federation’s Technical Staff would have been putting in the necessary work to get the young ladies in prime shape for the matches that will also see them taking on Cuba in the three days of qualifying. The young Guyanese lasses

will take on Barbados next Wednesday from 17:00hrs and will close out their quest to advance further in the competition when they match skills with Cuba on Sunday August 13, next at the same venue. On Friday, August 11, Barbados and Cuba will go head to head. Just a single overseas player is in the line-up which features players from Kwakwani, Lethem Orealla, West Coast Demerara and Georgetown. The GFF had announced that International Goalkeeping Coach, Hope Clarke will be joining the Guyana T e c h n i c a l S t a f f . Head Coach is Akilah Castello and the team is back in camp from August 1st ahead of this week’s matches having already benefitted from a two-week encampment, last month. Group D Match Schedule GAME 1: Wed, 9th Aug - Guyana v s B a r b a d o s GAME 2: Fri, 11th Aug B a r b a d o s v s C u b a GAME 3: Sun, 13th Aug - Guyana – C u b a ADMISSION: FREE GAME TIME: 17:00hrs VENUE: National Track and Field Centre, Leonora

POWERLIFTERS AIMING TO RAISE OVER $9M FOR COMMONWEALTH GAMES Following their historic performances when they collected a combined 33-medals inclusive of 19 gold 9 silver 5 bronze and

From left, Allison Feaster, Christopher Jones, Terry Steers-Gonzalez, Agnus Berenato and Elvis Valcarcel with the participants yesterday at the Sports Hall.

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Kaieteur News

2017 HERO CARIBBEAN PREMIER LEAGUE

Sunday August 06, 2017

Massy / Seven Seas 14th National Park Cycle Meet

Knight Riders thrash Leal powers to feature win; Stars in opening fixture Duguid takes juvenile contest

Shadab Khan took 2-15 (CPL)

CPL - A fantastic bowling performance by t h e Tr i n b a g o K n i g h t Riders set up a convincing nine wicket victory over St Lucia Stars in the

opening match of the 2017 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) at the Darren Sammy Stadium in St Lucia Friday night. After winning the toss

and electing to field first the Knight Riders restricted the Stars to 132 for 9 before chasing the runs in 10.4 overs for the loss of the just one wicket. The St Lucia innings was given a good start by Andre Fletcher who cut Khary Pierre for three consecutive fours in the second over, but the opening partnership was broken in that same over when Fletcher’s partner Johnson Charles was caught at backward point looking to hit a fourth boundary off the left arm spinner. Neither Kamran Akmal—run out for 5 by a direct hit from Sunil Narine, or Marlon Samuels—caught on the off side boundary for 13, could inject the St Lucia Stars innings with impetus. After seven overs they (Continued on page 65)

Raul Leal cantered to victory in the school boys and invitational 35-lap feature race in One Hour 17 Minutes 56.94 Seconds yesterday when the 14th edition of the Massy / Seven Seas National Park Cycle Meet was held. In recording victory, Leal bettered last year’s time of 1hr 18m 15.26s that was achieved by Michael Anthony. Trailing Leal to the line to close out the top six positions were Jamal John, Shaquel Agard, Alanzo Ambrose Deeraj Garbarran and Paul De Nobrega. John captured four of the eight sprint prizes with two going to Garbarran and one each to Ambrose and De Nobrega. The juvenile 10-lap

Raul Leal being rewarded by Ms. Nirvana Thakur Product Specialist, Massey Distribution. contes t, w hich s aw a winning time of 23 Minutes 11 Seconds recorded by Nigel Duguid, saw last year’s winner, Briton John having to settle for the runner-up position with Marcus Keiler taking the final podium spot. Prior to the presentation, M s . N i r v a n a T h a k u r,

Products Specialist attached to Massy Distribution extended appreciation to the cyclists for their commitment and dedication to the sport. She promised their continued support to race organiser, Hassan Mohamed. (F. Wilson)

Gatlin steals Bolt’s thunder to win gold in 100m World Championship final Jamaican bows out with bronze finish in last individual race Daily Mail - A terrible silence met the end of the men’s 100m final in the London Stadium last night. Not only was Usain Bolt, the great hero of the sport, denied victory in his final individual race, but it was won by two time drugs cheat Justin Gatlin. Athletics’ worst nightmare had just unfolded in front of a watching world. The fans who had packed into the stadium to savour every last moment of this race, hoping for one last signature Bolt moment of celebration, one final flourish, one last waltz, watched in stunned amazement as Gatlin dipped for the line a fraction of a second ahead. Bolt was third, beaten to the silver medal by the young American Christian Coleman. In the shocked aftermath of the race, everyone seemed to try to pretend that Bolt had won. Gatlin was booed and it was Bolt who was interviewed trackside and told that the whole stadium loved him. Two years ago, it was said that Bolt had saved the sport when he beat Gatlin a t t h e W o r l d Championships. So what must the sport think now? The crowed kept being told that Bolt was the saviour of the sport but this was the worst possible outcome for a

saviour. Not just to be beaten in a major final for the first time in ten years but to lose to Gatlin, the American who symbolises everything that is wrong with it. Bolt had been beaten in the third 100m semi-final of the evening a couple of hours earlier, losing to the young American, Christian Coleman, by one hundredths of a second after another poor start. It was the first time he had been beaten for four years and the first time he had ever been beaten in the semi-finals of a major championships but no one really believed the result would be repeated in the final. This was the moment that athletics has been dreading. Not because Bolt lost but because it was the moment when the sport can no longer shelter beneath his wings, the moment when the camouflage of the greatest showman it has ever had, is taken away and the sport has to be judged without him. For all the reforming efforts of Lord Coe, athletics is still not a pretty sight. Events last night were speckled with competitors called ‘authorised neutrals’, innocent refugees from Russia’s state-sponsored doping programme that has led to the country’s ongoing suspension.

The label makes them sound like extras from Blade Runner. The crowd here also witnessed another absurdly dominant run by Olympic women’s 10,000m gold medallist Almaz Ayana. It was met with a strange mixture of giddy awe, disbelief and downright cynicism. This is athletics’ cursed hinterland, a place where even Bolt’s greatness cannot reach. Colin Jackson pointed out last week that athletics existed before Bolt. Well, yes, but it was not morally bankrupt in the minds of the public before Bolt. It is now. Bolt was all that stood between athletics and the abyss. This is the record that we look back on now: eight gold medals at the Olympic Games in Beijing, London and Rio de Janeiro, 11 World Championship golds and world records in the 100m and 200m that look as though they will take a long time to be beaten. When he burst into the world’s wider consciousness before those Beijing Olympics, the ebullience of his character was a glorious contrast to the orchestrated order of those Games in the beautiful Bird’s Nest. And in the next nine years, his star shone more and more brightly.

Guyana Hockey Board submits proposal to construct astro-turf facility Requests permission to use land west of CASH Two years ago the presidents of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Leandro Negre and the Pan American Hockey Federation, Alberto ‘Coco’ Budeisky paid courtesy calls on the Guyana Olympic Association and the Ministry of Sport along with Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) representatives, seeking to ensure Guyana came in line with other federations around the world to have an artificial pitch for the sport by pledging substantial funding for such, once land is provided. Now, plans for Guyana to have its very first astro-turf hockey facility are moving along as the Guyana Hockey Board has submitted a proposal to the National Sports Commission to use the vacant plot of land west of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall to house the facility. That proposal will be subsequently forwarded to

the Minister of State Joseph Harmon who will have final meetings with Hockey board officials. Director of the National Sports Commission, Chris Jones, is confident of a successful meeting, “They (Guyana Hockey Board) have indicated that once land is acquired, their parent bodies (International Hockey Federation and Pan American Hockey Federation) are prepared to fund the project and I can’t see us as a Sports Commission and as a Government not grasping this opportunity.” In addition of providing a year-round, all-weather practice surface, the facility will expose players to artificial turf conditions that will better prepare them for international tournaments overseas. GHB head Phillip Fernandes, speaking to Kaieteur News, further

stated some of the immediate benefits of having the proposed plot of land on Homestretch avenue approved for hockey development, which will help offset some fixed costs, “Being near to the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall affords us (the GHB) the use of a parking lot and the use of dressing rooms which will save us some initial costs,” Fernandes stated. The facility will cost around US$100,000 150,000 excluding preparatory works on the land if the proposal is successful. Fernandes stated that the pledge from hockey parent bodies, the FIH and PAHF will be around US$50,000 – 60,000, leaving the GHB to acquire the remaining funds through corporate sponsorship with proposed sales of billboard advertisement as one means.

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Kaieteur News

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Extra Beer/Ballers in the Summer Street Football kicks off tonight @ Pouderoyen Tarmac The third edition of the S e c o n d G r o u n d Entertainment / Extra Beer Ballers in the Summer Street knock-out football tournament is set to kick off this evening at the Pouderoyen Tarmac with fourteen (14) matches. Teams are battling for a first prize of $400,000, second is $150,000 with $75,000 and $50,000 set

aside for third and fourth places. Following tonight’s action, matches will continue on August 9th, 11 t h , 1 3 t h a n d 1 8 t h , r e s p e c t i v e l y . A total of 32 teams, the best in this format of the game in Guyana, are contesting for the top accolades including one Trip Motor Cycle. Fans can also look forward to lots

USA based Timothy Kumar battles tonight in GABBFF Mr. Guyana Seniors

Timothy Kumar USA based Under-145lb b o d y b u i l d e r Ti m o t h y Kumar has expressed confidence of doing well when the Guyana Amateur Body Building and Fitness Federation (GABBFF) stages its Mr. Guyana Seniors Championships tonight at the Marriott Hotel, Kingston, Georgetown. Representing Total Fitness Gym, Kumar informed that

he would be bringing the best package one will see on stage tonight, promising to put on a show that his rivals and fans will remember. Tonight’s proceedings will get underway at 19:00hrs and the GABBFF is aiming for a sellout crowd, the capacity being 560. Weighin time for the athletes is between 09:00hrs and 13:00hrs.

of Extra Beer giveaways during the course of the tournament. Sponsors of the

tournament are Extra Beer, Extra Juice, Two Brothers Gas Station, West Vibz S p o r t s B a r, F o r r e s t e r

Lumber Yard, Wayne Tire Shop, Oswin Jones Auto Imports, National Sports Commission.

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Sunday August 06, 2017

Kaieteur News

Petra/Corona Beer Invitational Football tournament

Beacons, Pele and Northern Rangers enjoy exciting wins at GFC ground

Stephon Hussain Play in the Petra Organization organized Top Brandz Corona Beer Invitational Football Tournament continued at the Georgetown Football Club ground with a triple header on Friday despite the inclement weather that day. Beacons Football club were unbothered by the elements as they put 7 goals past Black Pearl in the first of three matches on that match day. Darien Dickson along with Quason McAulay scored a brace each in the

Beacons and Black Pearl battle during their match which Beacons won comfortably. emphatic win. Darien Dickson started the rout with Beacon’s first goal in the 17th minute and he completed his brace in the 50th minute. McAulay goals came in the 26th and 47th minute. Kimba Braithwaite 29th minute, Patrick Joseph, 76th minute and Keifer Brandt 81st minute all contributed a goal each to the Beacons victory. Game-2 This match was another one sided affair as Pele defeated Flamingo 5-0. Pele produced numerous

dangerous moves through counterattacks and predominantly build-up p l a y s a n d F l a m i n g o ’s defence finally gave-in during the 27th minute of play when 17-year old Queen’s College student, Stephon Hussain scored the first of his brace. Despite his youth, the wide attacking midfielder played maturely completed his brace in the75th minute. Thairys Payne had doubled Pele’s lead in the 34th minute with his solitary goal, while Dorwin George

Action in the match between Northern Rangers and Santos. 71st and Mark Jhalu 76th got past the hapless Flamingo goalkeeper to complete the rout. Stephon Hussain, speaking to Kaieteur News after the win, expressed delight with the win and current team chemistry, “Everything is coming together for the team, we’re happy with the result and we just want to take it one win at a time as we continue to improve.” Game -3 The third and final game of the night between Santos and Northern Rangers didn’t

follow the pattern of the previous two matches. Northern Rangers won that game 3-1. Santos would have definitely been disappointed after allowing Rangers back into the game after leading 1-0 up to the 73rd of the 90minute match after Kacy John had given the losers the lead since the 22nd minute. However, three late goals including an own goal gave the more hungry Northern Rangers the win. Quincy Madramooto led the fight back when he netted

in the 74th minute and former national youth cricketer, Steven Sankar, gave rangers the lead in the 85th minute, while Santos conceded the own goal during stoppage time. The tournament continues today with three matches at the Georgetown Football Club ground from 5 pm. Riddim Squad opens proceedings against East Veldt, while following at 7:00pm Western Tigers challenge Camptown and in the nightcap at 9:00pm Police tangle with GFC.

Buddy’s Gym backs the National Men and Women Hockey teams Pledges 6 months free membership as they prep for Pan Am cups

Representative of Buddy’s gym hands over a symbolic key chain to GHB head Phillip Fernandes to confirm the agreement. On October 14th 2017, Guyana will embark on hosting its first ever Pan American level hockey championships. The tournament, called the Indoor Pan American Cups, will feature two simultaneous competitions for men and women and serves as the Pan American Continental Qualifier for FIH Indoor Hockey World Cups scheduled for February 2018 in Berlin, Germany. As the local male and

female teams’ preparations heighten to compete at this event, Buddy’s Gym has partnered with the Guyana Hockey Board, granting them free membership for six months at the Sheriff Street establishment. Head of the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB), Phillip Fernandes, explained that this is a very important occurrence for Guyana’s National hockey teams, “In the past we’ve tried our best to prepare teams with what limited resources we had but

Members of the male and female national hockey teams at Buddy’s gym on Saturday. still encountered some challenges.” Fernandes further stated during a media brief at the gym on Saturday that preparing a top hockey team is more than just ‘technical and tactical training but also psychological competence,

speed, endurance and strength training.’ The partnership with Buddy’s gym has now granted the GHB the opportunity to prepare the endurance and strength aspect of the national teams’ game. Coach of the men’s team,

Dwayne Scott, expressed the same gratitude as Fernandes, “We’re very appreciative to Buddy’s gym, and it will definitely help us prepare physically (for the Pan American cup)”. Guyana has competed on three occasions in this

competition, resulting in a 4th place finish in 2005, fifth place in 2010 and their best showing, 3rd place in the last competition held in 2014 in Montevideo, Uruguay; coach Scott is looking to go one medal better in 2017.

Sunday August 06, 2017

Kaieteur News

PAGE 75

Gayle’s SKNP beat Warriors for first Hero CPL t20 cricket time by 4 wkts despite 60 from Walton By Sean Devers in Florida In association with Carib Beer Vnet Communications, Ming’s Services & Products & Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club In an atmosphere less riveting than last year, a less than capacity crowd turned out on an extremely hot and humid day for the opening game here in Florida between the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) and the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots (SKNP) and when the dust had settled SKNP had emerged victorious by four wickets yesterday. A 51-ball 60 with three fours and two sixes from Jamaican Keeper Chadwick Walton was the bright spot for the Warriors as only Skipper Martin Guptill (23) and Babar Azam (21) of the others reached double figures as the Guyanese Franchise limped to 123-7 off 20 overs. Left-arm pacer Sheldon Cotterell finished with 2-18 including a last over maiden, while Hasan Ali had 2-19 for SKNP who reached 124-6 from 19 overs. Carlos Braithwaite who hammered 31 from 19 balls with three sixes and two fours and Jonathan Carter unbeaten on 29 from 30 saw the SKNP home as Jacobs (2-23) and Rayed Emrit (214) were the main wicket takers for the Warriors who suffered their first ever loss to SKNP. SKNP won the toss and invited the Warriors to bat first on a flat track under a blue sky. Guptill clipped the first ball of the game from Jamaican Cotterell for four and hit him for six over midwicket before Braithwaite at mid-off put down a regulation catch to let off Walton in Samuel Badree’s first over and the second of the match. Braithwaite floored another catch, this time off the bowling of Cotterell to let off Guptill who then hit Badree over the head of midoff and back past the bowler for boundaries. But Badree, a S c h o o l Te a c h e r i n Trinidad, taught Guptill a lesson when the Warriors Captain was bowled for 23 from 14 balls with three fours and a six in the fourth over with the score on 31-1. Azam joined Walton who swept Badree for four but the run rate dropped

Chadwick Walton, who top scored with 60 for Warriors, is about to be dropped off Samuel Badree in Florida yesterday. (Sean Devers photo) when the pair joined forces as Azam struggled to score freely and took 30 balls for his 21 with just a single boundary before he was removed by Braithwaite at 72-3 in 12.4 overs. Jason Mohammed (4) was then caught behind by Devon Thomas seven runs and eight balls later as the Warriors continued to score at pedestrian pace on the lush green outfield as Hassan Ali, who also got rid of home boy Steven Taylor (7), struck twice in the space of 12 runs as the Warriors slipped to 954 in the 17th over. Walton finally changed gear and brought up the hundred with a boundary which took him in the forties but he raced to fifty with a couple of sixes off Badree before being taken on the boundary in the final over, while Kemo Paul (6) was stupendously caught by a diving Carter running in from deep mid-wicket as Cotterell struck at 122-6. Sohail Tanvir (0) was t h e n r u n o u t o ff t h e penultimate ball as Cotterell who rebounded from his first two overs conceding 18 runs to finish with a maiden. SKNP began their reply the left-handed pair off Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis and Tanvir, the Warriors’ leading wicket-taker last year, conceding just two in the opening over. Jacobs trapped Lewis (1) LBW with his first ball, while new batsman Mohammed Hafeez pounced on a short wide ball and smashed the off-spinner delightfully past point for four. Tanvir produced a short one which kicked and beat Gayle outside his off stump as the Jamaican, built like a heavyweight Boxer, got

going with a flicked boundary off Tanvir. Gayle clobbered Jacobs over long-off for six and was already beginning to look ominous, while Hafeez cut Jacobs as elegantly as former We s t I n d i e s b a t s m a n Lawrence Rowe who lives here in Florida. With the cheerleaders dancing to pulsating music in sweltering heat, Emrit struck a crucial blow when Gayle miss-hit him and was caught at mid-on at 26-2 and the Warriors fans in the stands danced to the roll of Tasa drums and waved the Golden Arrow Head lustily as Emrit finished with a maiden wicket. Just when Hafeez was being to flow, Emrit struck again by removing him at 35-3 in the seventh over before Rashid Khan was introduced in the sixth. Brandon King survived a confident stumping appeal but swept Khan for six, two balls later before substitute Assad Fudadin, at long-on dropped him off Jacobs. Left-arm spinner Ve e r a s a m m y P e r m a u l replaced Khan from the northern end and with his nemesis Gayle out of the way, his first over cost six runs. Thomas (4) was needlessly run out by a direct hit by Khan and King was bowled by the frugal Jacobs as SKNP slipped to 57-5 in the 11th over. Braithwaite got going with a huge six off Permaul before his Red bat flayed the Berbician for two more sixes to take the score to 88-5 in the 14th over. Braithwaite, famous for his four consecutive sixes in the t20 World Cup, smashed Emrit for six and four off

Chris Gayle strokes Sohail Tanvir to mid-off yesterday. (Sean Devers photo) successive balls but Tanvir returned and got rid of the West Indies t20 Captain at 106-6. Khan’s over cost six runs

and with 10 needed from 12 balls Jonathan Carter stroked Tanvir for four and the match was over with an over to spare. Guptill conceded

that the batting let the team down while saying the pitch was a bit slower than was expected. “You can hardly get ideal conditions everywhere you go, St Kitts bowled well. Our top four is settled for now and we are likely to stick to it again tomorrow,” said Guptill. Scores: St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots 124-6 (Brathwaite 31, Carter 29*, Emrit 2 for 14, Jacobs 2-23) beat Guyana Amazon Warriors 123-7 (Walton 60, Cottrell 2 for 18, Ali 2 for 19) by 4 wickets with 6 balls to spare. Today’s Fixtures: St Kitts & Nevis Patriots v Guyana Amazon Warriors (11am), Lauderhill Jamaica Tallawahs v Barbados Tridents (3pm),

High level CARICOM boxing meeting for Guyana - Ninvalle

Ching Kwo Wu

Steve Ninvalle

Boxing Administrators from CARICOM are scheduled to gather in Guyana between September 9th and 10th to focus on the region’s way forward in relation to the recent troubles in world governing body AIBA. The upcoming meeting was called by AIBA Executive Committee member and president of the Guyana Boxing Association, Steve Ninvalle, following his return from an Executive Committee Meeting in Moscow. Ninvalle said that next month’s discussions will focus on a united regional approach leading up to an Extra Ordinary Congress in D u b a i i n N o v e m b e r. “Caribbean presidents and administrators will be meeting in Guyana to come up with a regional stance on how to approach the unrest

that has gripped AIBA. We think that this is apposite and gives credence to our motto of One Voice, One Goal, One Caribbean,” Ninvalle said. AIBA has been rocked recently by allegations of financial mismanagement and several Executive Committee members have signed a document calling for the president Dr. Ching Kwo Wu to step down. At the upcoming Extra Ordinary Congress in Dubai, national federations will vote on whether to have Wu removed from the helm. Since the EC meeting in M o s c o w, a n I n t e r i m Management Committee headed by Italian Franco Falcinelli has claimed to be running the affairs of AIBA but this has been refuted by Wu who has put in motion a legal challenge. To d a t e , A n g u i l l a ,

Franco Falcinelli Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica, Suriname, St Lucia, St. Martin and Trinidad have confirmed being here for the meeting. “August 8th is the deadline for confirmation and it is my belief that we will have at least 15 territories being represented. We are a region with voting power and the intention it to use that for the betterment of boxing in the Caribbean,” Ninvalle explained. Meanwhile, the GBA boss disclosed he is currently discussing with his Caribbean counterparts the possibility of having Dr. Wu and Falcinelli or their representatives here for the meeting. “The rationale behind that proposition is that we would get to hear both sides which would aid in our decision making.”

t r o Sp Gatlin steals Bolt’s thunder to win gold in 100m World Championship final Jamaican bows out with bronze finish in last individual race

The Jamaican produced his trademark celebration for his army of supporters on the track despite finishing in third place. (Andy Hooper/Daily Mail)

Bolt was denied gold in the men’s 100m World Championship final in his last race but Gatlin bowed down to him at the end. (Andy Hooper/Daily Mail)

Guyana Hockey Board submits proposal to construct astro-turf facility Requests permission to use land west of CASH

Hero CPL t20 cricket

Gayle’s SKNP beat Warriors for first time by 4 wkts despite 60 from Walton

Plans of the proposed Hockey facility to be constructed near the Sports Hall once approval is given. Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210