Saturday August 13, 2016
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Kaieteur News
US fully supports State Asset Recovery concept - Ambassador says legislation will better enable Guyana to fight corruption By Kiana Wilburg Consultations on the draft legislation for the State Asset Recovery Agency (SARA) recently received unequivocal support from several of Guyana’s international partners. Specifically, United States Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway told a gathering on Thursday at the Pegasus Hotel that he is extremely pleased that the nation is taking this important step. In his opening remarks, the diplomat congratulated all those who played a part in getting the Bill to its final stage and expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Office of the Attorney General in hosting the consultations. Regardless of one’s religious or cultural beliefs, the envoy asserted, it is agreed by all that the rule of law is necessary for the prosperity and safety of any nation. With this understanding in mind, he said that the consultation process on the draft legislation is the product of a democratic government. He said that in a society where democracy rules, new laws that are being considered would engage all stakeholders in the process. Holloway said that the United States fully supports the concept of a State Asset Recovery Law, and such a Bill will better enable Guyana to deal with corruption “whether it is by past, current or future perpetrators against the state and its assets.” Once passed by the National Assembly and assented to by the President, the American envoy said that it will take Guyana into the 21st century and place the country in line with international conventions of
USA Ambassador, Perry Holloway which it is a part. The diplomat stressed, however, that one can have the best law in the world, but if it is not enforced or properly implemented then it would ultimately have bad implications for the nation’s prosperity. Head of the State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU), Dr. Clive Thomas, said that he is extremely elated to have reached this stage. He said that a lot of work has been put into the process. He explained that the Bill introduces provisions to combat unlawful conduct and corrupt practices in relation to property and other assets owned by the State, or in which the State has an interest. In this context, the SARU Head said that the Bill provides for the establishment of the State
SARU Head, Dr. Clive Thomas
Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) which has as its primary function, the civil recovery of State property obtained through the unlawful conduct of a public official or other person, or any benefit obtained in connection with that unlawful conduct, by way of civil proceedings taken in the High Court for a civil recovery order. The Bill contains seven parts, one of which makes provision for the establishment of SARA and its Director as a corporation sole, the appointment of a Director, Deputy Director and staff of SARA, and the terms and conditions of their appointment. It also states how SARA will be financed, through a budget approved by the National Assembly, and its transparency obligations, by
requiring the Director to provide a detailed annual plan, and annual report, both of which must be laid before the National Assembly. In addition, SARA staff is required to comply with the Code of Conduct prescribed in the Integrity Commission Act. The draft Bill articulates that SARA’s functions include the investigation, tracing and identification of State property suspected to be the proceeds of unlawful conduct of a public official or other person, or any benefit, directly or indirectly, acquired in connection with that unlawful conduct, and to institute High Court proceedings for the civil recovery of that property. Once the Bill is passed, SARA will be enabled to seek the recovery of such property wherever in the world that
property may be located. The Agency will also be required to raise public awareness on the dangers of corruption and other crime. The Bill expressly states that mutual cooperation between the Director of Public Prosecutions and Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit is a requirement, and the Commissioner of Police must provide such assistance as is requested by the Director. The Director may enter into binding memoranda of understanding with other Government or Public bodies, and is able to collaborate with any State organ, foreign government or international or regional organization, in the recovery of State property. Furthermore, the Bill also provides for the establishment of a Recovery of State Assets fund, into which 25 percent of the value of recovered property will be credited, with the remaining 75 percent credited to the Consolidated Fund. This Fund is intended to make the SARA partially self-funding. Dr. Thomas explained that the Bill allows for the Director to be authorized to use the funds to commence actions under the Act, to make certain payments e.g. to pay experts to assist him in carrying out SARA functions, to fund
training and capacity building or to compensate victims who suffered loss as a result of unlawful conduct. The Bill also sets out in detail, the five Orders available to the Director when undertaking a civil recovery investigation. One of these includes search and seizure warrants which enables an authorized person to enter and search the premises specified in the application for the warrant, and seize and retain any material found there. The Bill also provides for account monitoring orders which requires a specified financial institution to provide account information on a specified account for a specified period, up to 90 days in the manner and at, or by, the times specified in the order. Written comments on the Bill may be submitted to the Chief Parliamentary Counsel at drafting consultations. mla@gmail.com or posted to the Attorney General’s Chambers at Lot 95 Carmichael Street, North Cummingsburg. The Draft Bill is also on the Attorney General’s website at http:// legalaffairs.gov.gy/.
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Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
KEEPING AN EYE ON ZIKA It seems that Guyana and the Caribbean are not catching a break from mosquito-borne diseases. It was not long ago when the Chikungunya virus wreaked havoc on the region, now the Zika virus has arrived. Recent reports suggest that the Zika virus is spreading faster than at first thought. It has already affected several countries in the Caribbean, Latin America and the United States. The United States has waged a war against the Aedes
aegypti mosquito which is known to transmit the Zika virus. Infections are increasing, but many have ignored the advice of health officials not to expose themselves to mosquitoes because they believe the threat is exaggerated. The World Health Organization (WHO) is convinced enough to declare the virus a global pandemic and a public health emergency of international concern. It has called for a coordinated multilateral response from all countries to prevent it from spreading. The WHO has urged pregnant women not to travel to the Caribbean and Latin America and to South Florida. Until recently, little attention was paid to the Zika virus. It may be that the virus had never struck a large population. There is no vaccine against the virus. Efforts to make one have just begun and that normally takes years and costs hundreds of millions. Medical experts have stated that Zika is related to dengue, yellow fever and the West Nile virus. It was discovered in the Zika forest in Uganda in 1947 and is believed to be common across Africa and Asia. Only recently it has been identified as a severe form of microcephaly in northeast Brazil. Microcephaly is linked to unusually small heads and brain damage in babies born to infected mothers, as well as blindness, deafness, seizures and other congenital defects. Zika can cause fever, rash, joint pain, and redness in the whites of the eye. In adults, the virus causes a form of temporary paralysis, called Guillain-Barré syndrome. But most people would not know they have it. About one in five persons will have the symptoms, which include a fever rarely higher than 102 degrees, itchy pink rash, bloodshot eyes, headaches and joint pains and would usually recover within a week. People usually do not get sick enough to go to the hospital, and they very rarely die of the virus. Many might not realize they have been infected. In Guyana, there are a few confirmed cases of the virus. And the lack of immunity against the virus is of great concern to the people, especially pregnant women because the risk of a damaged fetus is too great. Although information about the virus is continuously evolving, the question is how prepared are we to prevent it from spreading. Lest we forget, it was not long ago that Guyana was ill-prepared for the Chikungunya virus which in essence overwhelmed the nation. The people are concerned that the Vector Control Services Unit at the Ministry of Public Health, which is responsible for implementing measures to contain the virus, might not be capable of preventing it from spreading. Their biggest worry, however, remains the damaging effect of the virus on babies developing in the womb. We recently learnt of several pregnant women here being affected. The only known prevention is to cover exposed skin, use insect repellants and keep your surroundings clean. Too many babies with Microcephaly have been born in Brazil and in other countries in Latin America already; thankfully none in Guyana so far. It is a heartrending situation in reality, and we must also consider the likely toll it will take on parents because of inadequate government services.
Saturday August 13, 2016
GECOM replies to Freddie Kissoon DEAR EDITOR, Many have documented that Mr. Frederick Kissoon does not carry out research before making unwarranted, sometimes scandalous, statements about institutions and persons. In a column (dated August 6, 2016) titled “What kind of authority Surajbali has at GECOM” (sic), Mr. Kissoon without ascertaining the facts - jumps to make comment on and support statements that were penned by one Peter Persaud, who himself did not acquaint himself deeply enough about an issue concerning non-payment by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to three per-
sons who claim that monies are owed them by GECOM. The use of common sense might have deterred both gentlemen from making the inaccurate accusation. GECOM, over decades, but especially during the last fifteen years of Periodic Registration Cycles (with the concomitant Residency Verifications) and four Elections would have engaged scores of thousands of temporary staff and service providers. If, suddenly, three persons emerge with the claim that GECOM owes them money (three of over one hundred thousand), that alone should send up the proverbial red flag that any purported non-pay-
ment of owed monies might have very patent and salient reasons, which, by the way, were explained to Mr. Peter Persaud. The payment issue of the three transportation providers in Mabaruma mentioned in the letter written by Mr Peter Persaud August 5, 2016 and in the column written by Frederick Kissoon, August 6, 2016, has been resolved. The Chief Election Officer (CEO) is not only the legal custodian of GECOM’s finances and the Accounting Officer, but his management of GECOM’s finances is monitored by the Commission, the National Assembly’s, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), the Ministry of Fi-
nance and the Office of the Auditor General. The CEO cannot pay out monies without due diligence associated with the payments. Although we may understand Mr. Kissoon’s “deepest emotional rage” at the “social morbidities of this country”, he is well advised to carefully separate glaring parasitic and exploitative practices from those purveyed by genuinely people-friendly organizations such as GECOM. Relative to the “kind of authority” the GECOM Chairman has, Mr. Kissoon might refer to the laws that govern the Chairman and Commission. Tamara Rodney, Public Relations Officer
Stop these attempts to divide Guyanese DEAR EDITOR: It has been quite some time now that I have deliberately sought to stay out of the otherwise venous political limelight of Guyana for the mere fact – it seems to create mostly enemies than friends. However, I felt a deep sense of patriotic responsibility to squarely denounce any acts deliberate or otherwise or vestiges of racism against any sector of our multi ethnic society. The recent utterances by certain elements of the opposition benches whom will know themselves well during a recent visit to the US must be squarely denounced be-
cause it is absolutely imperative that as right thinking human beings and as sons and daughters of this soil that we seek to find consensus and common ground. It matters not what is one’s race, colour, creed, class or sexual orientation. What truly matters is the precious value of life and the sacred thread that bind us all together as human beings. It is therefore incumbent upon all Guyanese irrespective of their kith or kin to see the deep value of President Granger’s call for peace, togetherness, mutual love and respect as well tolerance as we seek to develop Guyana for all and truly achieve the
sacred promise of a better tomorrow for all. A house divided against itself will fall. It is important that all Guyanese to truly understand and appreciate that Guyana is poised for bigger and better things but we need all hands on deck and to stop this incessant infighting because our enemies on both sides of the border will seek to exploit it. If we are to truly realize our full socio-economic potential then we must create an atmosphere where any respectable global investor will find confidence in wanting to invest in Guyana. If we do not seek the much desired change by adopting the historic ex-
amples of Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Mandela, then we are only going to dig a deep pit for ourselves and have no one else to blame. Look no further than Bosnia, Rwanda, Burundi and Afghanistan as living examples of what we can degenerate to. No one is going to want to invest billions in any country where there is no socioeconomic and political stability or better yet social cohesion, so it is time to let go of this mental bondage of ‘Apanjhaat Politics’ and strive for a higher ground in full support of ‘One People, One Nation, One Destiny’. Mike Singh
The 23 year old skullduggeries of City Hall must be exposed DEAR EDITOR, Oh how times have changed! Just over a year ago, when the present Mayor of Georgetown was the Deputy Mayor and the Town Clerk was the Public Relations Officer, they used to grab every opportunity they could to interact with the media, to be seen on television, to appear in the newspapers or on radio almost daily. That was when they had ambitions of higher office, and an agenda of undermining their former bosses. Today with the discovery of four secret bank accounts, with the parking meter scandal and the bankruptcy of the Council, they are dodging, stonewalling and avoiding these same media personnel. What an irony! The parking meter saga particularly, brings to the fore a very serious state of affairs at the Council, and
that is, the venality of its system of awarding contracts . The parking meter deal was attempted since 1996 but which fortunately was thwarted by the then central government and which they then attempted again last year where they were successful in having the Council signed a contract containing certain clauses clauses that in some instances were outside the scope of the Council making it null and void at best, but worse which are brutishly in favour of the contractor. These clauses are considerably to the detriment of the citizenry, and should have every citizen asking what about the many, many other contracts the Council has clandestinely entered into, and which has been kept under wraps? Remember, the parking meter debacle only came to the fore because of the decency and rectitude of the present Deputy Mayor who
expressed his discomfort with this furtive deal. But what about the scores of other contracts and deals that the Council has entered into and to which Duncan or other Councillors and citizens are unaware of? What about the illegal granting off interest waivers to wealthy business persons and other errant home owners worth tens of millions of dollars? What about the rental of portable toilets for millions of dollars or the hiring of one contractor to weed parapets and clean drains for hundreds of millions of dollars without adherence to tender board procedures or national procurement policies? What about the Merriman’s Mall catastrophe where hundreds of millions of dollars are being wasted on unnecessary and silly initiatives all of which were handed to one contractor without a public tender?
What about the rental of a motor car for over a year now that has been placed at the disposal of a senior officer from a relative of that same senior officer? What about the granting of permission to one advertising agency to erect massive billboards all over the city at the exclusion of all the remaining advertising agencies in Georgetown? What about the granting of permission exclusively to one person for the erection and maintenance of bus sheds that allows that person to make millions in advertising? Citizens of Georgetown, a petition should be made urgently to have all of the contracts and deals from the last 23 years made public. If not then, at least they should be presented to all Councillors, who are the elected representatives of the people. It is time for the deep dark secrets of City Hall to come to light. Mark Roopan
Saturday August 13, 2016
The drugs bond contract; conflict of interest DEAR EDITOR, I make reference to an article carried in your August 11 edition captioned “President orders into drugs bond contract”, and wish to point out that the President having appointed two senior Cabinet Ministers and the Prime Minister “to review, examine and report on a contract for the storage of drugs and other medical supplies” is seemingly a clear case of conflict of interest. With what unbiased disposition and independence could these Cabinet Members “review, examine and report” on a highly controversial issue surrounding another Cabinet colleague, the Minister of Health? Reading newspapers’ reports it was
clear that Cabinet Members relentlessly defended the Minister of Health when the matter was debated in Parliament earlier this week. One would have thought, given the publicity and public perception that borders on an obvious opaque contract for the storage of state pharmaceuticals that involved millions of taxpayers’ money, that an independent committee comprising of some of the same ‘forensic auditors’ that were used for recent state audits could have been appointed to “review, examine and report” on the said contract. This would have removed all elements of distrust, bias and gained the confidence of the nation. Editor, my attention was
also drawn to the invited comment by the Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, who stated that he was concerned (most rightfully, I think) about the matter, but when he stressed that “something like that should never be repeated”, it was a most disappointing statement from the Minister responsible for national security. Had he said that something like that should never have happened, it would have been most appropriate in the line of his national responsibility. His statement that ‘it should never be repeated” points to a high degree of condoning, which implies that it is OK now, but don’t do it again. This is the statement from a Cabinet Member. Altaf Mohamed Sayad 23 Bushlot, South Corentyne
City Hall has no secret bank accounts DEAR EDITOR; A statement, in the media, on the financial situation at the Mayor and City Council attributed to Councillor, Mr. Bishram Kuppen attracted the attention of the City’s administration. The statement is wholly inaccurate and appears to have been designed to mislead unsuspecting citizens on the financial affairs of the Georgetown Municipality. Our business, at council, has always been accessible to the general public. However, in the interest of truth, we wish to state the following: 1. Financial reports are submitted to Council at its Statutory Meeting, on a monthly basis; these reports form part of the Statutory Agendas. 2. Council Finance Committee examines all of Council’s financial records and approves all revenues and expenditure. 3. All Councillors have access to financial information through the Council’s Statutory Finance Committee. 4. According to the law, Municipal and Council Act Chapter 28:01. “All moneys received by or on behalf of a council shall be delivered to the treasurer who shall deposit them with a bank approved by resolution of the council. The revenues of a council shall consist of all moneys re-
ceived by way of loan and shall be credited to the general rate fund of the council. All expenditure of a council other than that financed by loan shall be discharged from the general fund. Separate accounts shall be kept of receipts carried to and payments made out of the general rate fund for general purposes and for each special purpose.” Again, “All payments on account of a council shall be made by the treasurer in pursuance of an order signed by two councillors who are members of the Finance Committee and who are authorized by the Finance Committee in that behalf; and all cheques for payment of moneys shall be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by the Clerk or such other local government officer as may be authorized by the council on that behalf” The separate accounts to which the Councillor refers are subsidiary accounts to the general rate fund accounts of the Mayor and City Council, and the status of those are reported on by the City Treasurer, at Council meetings. One of the accounts is the wages and salaries account. In order to pay staff, money is usually transferred from the general funds account to that facility. Other accounts are needed for Solid Waste Management and allied works. But these are all funded by the Council’s general account. Fi-
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nally, we wish to state that the Council could not have secret bank accounts because it does not have money to service such facilities; they would be a waste of time and a burden to the municipality. The Council place great store upon transparency, accountability and service to all the citizens of Georgetown. We understand that these statements have been designed for a specific political purpose; to gather moss to impugn the character and distract from the progressive work of Council. Nevertheless, the question remains how can any bank account be secret if Mr. Bishram Kuppen knows about it? Even so, if he is aware of such secret accounts, at the Mayor and City Council, then it would be good for him to say where these are being held and the account numbers. The Council remains steadfast to its duty to secure the integrity of all local communities and the national capital. Royston King Town Clerk City of Georgetown
Accreditation of Arya Samaj Pandits to perform licensed marriages DEAR EDITOR; Please find below a letter I wrote to President Granger. My organization would like for it to be published in the press. Dear President Granger, I write to seek your intervention regarding above matter. Since October of last year, our organization submitted application for accreditation of our pandits to be licensed to perform marriages under Hindu rites. We have been given the run around although we met all the requirements for such accreditation. The Ministry of Public Security (Home Affairs) initially “misplaced” our application and requested re-submission which we did last
March. The Ministry informed us our applications were in order and fulfilled all the necessary requirements to be granted accreditation. However, the Ministry informed us that the applications for accreditation were turned over to Ministry of Citizenship since April. We have not heard from the Ministry of Citizenship. In the meanwhile, another organization that applied for similar accreditation for their pandits has been granted such status. We seek your kind intervention to expeditiously resolve this matter. You did say if citizens or organizations have complaints about nonperformance of officials or feel there has been unjust actions
by public officials they should seek your assistance; thus, the reason in writing to you directly. Nine months is a very long time to process an application that normally would take weeks if not days. Besides, the Ministry confesses it “lost” the application and should accept responsibility for its carelessness. In light of the fact that our pandits have waited for more than nine months to get accreditation, they should be granted accreditation right away especially that they have been cleared by the police and have met all other requirements. Dr. Vishnu Bandhu President Guyana Central Arya Samaj
Words from the Bible were written by men like us DEAR EDITOR; I would like to respond to the letter supporting the death penalty by one Elder Small in a recent issue. First of all, the writer has used as his main elements for its justification quotations from the Bible, condemning any who has killed another human being, and asking whether anyone who has been murdered does not have rights, as some are claiming for those who have perpetrated these crimes, and that the quotations he uses are directly attributed to our Almighty God. Firstly, I would humbly like to ask how the writer knows that these quotations are really the manifestations of our Creator? Were they not written by men as ourselves? Do we not find in the same Scriptures that God exhorts us to be merciful and forgiving to those who commit the gravest sins, and which also contains quotes that we should
not judge lest we be judged ourselves? Are not the people who urge us to respect the rights of all men in determining how to proceed in cases of murder just as desirous of justice, as all those who would use the name of God to condemn others who were not as fortunate as ourselves to have obtained the proper upbringing and other opportunities in life, and so wrongly used violence to fulfill their needs? Are we not expected to use those innate qualities of conscience, reasoning, mercy and forbearance which the same Almighty God has bestowed on us to deal with any whom we consider have transgressed? Or are we to go against the same
Scriptures that admonish us against practicing “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”? I would like to submit that, as in all instances where we are called to make the laws governing the behaviour of those under our jurisdiction, we need to be proactive and diligently search for the means to foster peacefulness and magnanimity in all our citizens long before they stoop to violence to answer the problems they face. High-handedness and hard-headedness will not help us to do so in the long term, but will only bring us to a level lower than the beasts that use vengeance as their only means of settling any problem. Roy Paul.
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Saturday August 13, 2016
A supporter takes issue with an anti-Burnham letter DEAR EDITOR, Please allow me the space in the letter columns to respond to Mr. GHK Lall’s letter titled “Mr. Burnham trampled on social cohesion, national unity,” This letter appeared in the media as a response to President Granger’s August 8, 2016; letter. There is no need for me to engage in hyperbolic utterances or angst to refute the points of glaring classism, revisionist history, and the unloading of the yoke on one ethnicity’s neck to mend/ bend the social/political divide further. First, I will agree with Mr. Lall that late President Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham was an intellectual giant our country is yet to be blessed with since. He was a great personality, and statesman who is a much maligned one (which Mr. Lall has also contributed to in his missive.). Mr. Burnham was as perfect as we all are, in that his flaws are no greater than the rest of ours, and being Chief Executive of a nation does mean one must be without human flaws and error. With that said, we should not burden his legacy with unaccomplished tasks we think he should have piloted.
Second, this is my first analysis of Mr. Lall’s response to President Granger. In the third paragraph of his missive, Mr. Lall subliminally suggested that Mr. Burnham was at the fore of social disturbances but yet provided no evidence of this. His attempt to link Mr. Burnham to social disturbance born out of a period of ethnic division pioneered by the People Progressive Party and which lead to that body splitting and the birthing the People’s National Congress, has been part of the normative narrative to demonize Mr. Burnham beyond his human frailties. Mr. Burnham’s formation of the PNC out of that split (which included many others of other ethnicities with likewise minds) was in an attempt not to see the ethnicity to which he belonged to and others, become marginalized (as we witnessed for 23 years with the ascension of the PPP/C) but to be addressed. Mr. Burnham recognized that Dr. Jagan had mortally become addicted to the numeric game calculating that because Indo-Guyanese represented a large majority of the citizenry, meant the PPP should win all elections and this is where the claims of “rig-
ging” began. Dr. Jagan and his scion- progenies (to some degree Mr. Lall qualifies) believe in that ethnic equation and felt that all IndoGuyanese would blindly vote ethnically and thus hand them victory eternal. It is the same logic that is applied to today’s politics where the descendants of that silly logic feel they should win every election base on a numeric equation that does not take into consideration the independent thought and will of the individual. This group- think has poisoned our politics and Mr. Burnham, in the mind of many, has been condemned to bear the blame for it when he is not even vaguely responsible. In that same paragraph, Mr. Lall spoke of unbridled hatred that was unleashed on the society at large that rendered Guyana a place of mayhem if we are to believe him. As he put it “The distrust, antagonisms, and in many cases hatreds were all there, be it in the public service, or law enforcement operations, or community relations, or jobs, or business routines, among other things and places. The deep lingering agonies were there, too. All of these sentiments were there
Fog at Timehri Airport caused misery to passengers DEAR EDITOR, Dynamic Airways International Flight 2D401 out of NYs JFK Airport departed over an hour late from its scheduled 1am departure on Friday, August 5, 2016 bound for Cheddi Jagan Airport. The flight circled Cheddi Jagan Airport several times attempting to land but could not because of thick, dense fog covering the entire area. Subsequently, a decision was taken to turn the aircraft around to Trinidad’s Piarco Airport for fear of running low on fuel. Now this is all from passengers’ account I am relaying here. Passengers were reportedly frightened as well as scared. The plane landed at Piarco and passengers had to remain in the aircraft for over 2 hours. Then they were allowed to disembark and stay until after 3 pm in a waiting area. It was antagonizing for my little sister who was on that flight, as I am sure, other passengers. Dynamic reportedly had to wait for pilots from Cheddi Jagan to fly back the aircraft there. After 3pm the aircraft left Trinidad— finally
arriving at Timehri. You would not hear about this or see this on the local news. It is one of many hidden ‘punishment’ stories Guyanese have to go through traveling to and from NY, yet we can’t have betterment in terms of a reliable service with these airlines. They treat us like garbage. What kind of airport is this too, when you have such predicaments with fog that airplanes cannot land and are forced to turn back? You think this nonsense can happen at world class airports? You think Jetblue can turn back from NY JFK because there is fog at JFK? Nonsense! Last week, Delta services encountered a major shutdown in Atlanta, paralyzing all flights in the USA. The CEO went on video and issued a national apology to all passengers. Companies like GTT and such like could learn a thing or two from other corporate companies— like doing the decent and mannerly thing. Leon Suseran
in full undisguised configurations.” I have heard of this narrative of antagonism, hatred, and other unhealthy social evils, always spewed by those with a devise racist agenda, but as a boy growing up in the 1970s and 1980s before emigrating, I never witnessed them. But, Mr. GHK Lall speaks, as if an authority on this supposed ignoble stage of our history. My parents, who have imparted much of their experiences to my siblings and me, never spoke of Guyana in that context Mr. Lall wants us to buy. But I have experienced both the obscene, explicit and equally subtle, suggestive and implicit racism of self proclaimed intellectuals and opinion leaders. I have come to learn that an education is not a sure prophylactic against racism, overt or covert, or otherwise. Third, Mr. Lall’s emotions got the better of him for what
should have been a detail and promising debunking of President Granger, turned into the well test narrative that it is the responsibility of the Afro-Guyanese to build bridges towards peace. This indictment is represented in the following quote “Mr. Burnham did not move assertively and aggressively (as he is wont to do) to diminish and derail a seething situation on either side of the cleavage. By my thinking, he should have reached out commandingly to his supporters first to tone down, to be more inclusive, and to be more nationally minded, instead of the rigid tribalism that became the order of the day. In the same vein, he did very little (other than the sometimes majestic and now famed public utterances) to assuage and overcome the vehement resistance and pervasive reluctance of Indians to meet him halfway, or part of the way for that
matter.” (unquote) Mr. Lall called this the “crux” basically summing up Mr. Burnham’s full life as a failure due to a perceived notion that he had to bend over in all directions to appease a segment of the population that was being breast fed, spoon fed and force feed a narrative of division painting Blacks as nothing more than their mortal enemy and even criminal. His most honest comment in this missive is when he rightfully pointed out that Indians were bitter. He failed to demonstrate that their “bitter” attitude stemmed entirely from the lies peddled by the leaders of the PPP which had them believing that Mr. Burnham represent the embodiment of evil and this can be trickled down the rest of his ethnicity. Tyrone Talbot Editor’s note; because of its length, this letter will conclude in a forthcoming edition
Suggestions for Amerindian heritage month DEAR EDITOR, Please allow my letter to be published in your newspaper, so my contribution to the planning of our Amerindian heritage month programme of activities, can be taken into consideration for the benefit of all my Amerindian brothers and sisters. As we are fast approaching our Amerindian heritage month celebrations, September 2016, there are a number of very important items and topics that can be included in our programme of activities. Apart from the well organised sports and cultural events in Georgetown, some items performed at the various heritage venues country wide, seem to be a bit monotonous, including those on the evening’s agenda at the Sophia exhibition centre. However, in the interim of the bi-annual Miss Amerindian heritage month pageantry, the organisers at the national level can put together an indigenous fashion and designer show in both
the male and female categories, with an introduction of an open poetry and song competition. My suggestions, I think, will be able to showcase and enhance the talents of our indigenous brothers and sisters, and certainly would allow them to be more competitive at the national and international level. Also, a forum should be well organized to high light some of the vital contributions that our fore-parents had made towards crafting this beautiful country of ours. The Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs should engage some of our prominent historians, such as Tota Mangar, Mellissa Ifill and Reginaldo Gomes De Oliveira of the state university of Roriama in Brazil, to be involved in this important exercise. These educators have done some extensive research in our cultural and geopolitical history of the Guian’s. It would be very interesting to have a wide cross section of a Guyanese audience invited to this forum, including the leader of the opposition to listen to some hard facts presented by these distinguished academics. We the Indigenous peoples of this country have thrown down the gauntlet to the very politicians who are under the pretext
of representing us. They have together with some historians peddled half truths and lies about us, where we idly stood by during the colonial and post colonial era of this country. It must be noted that the Indigenous people of this country were taken to Europe and trained as cartographers and when they returned they played an important role in the redoing and re-reading of the entire geography of the Guianas. As a matter of fact, the Indigenous peoples were the first to conduct business in and out of this country, creating an atmosphere for large commercial trading with outsiders. Furthermore, they together with some Creole Blacks accompanied ‘Sir Robert Schomburgk’ on some of his famous expedition and assisted in the demarcation of this country. This coming Amerindian heritage month September 2016, can be the moment of truth for the indigenous people of this country. In fact, it all depends if our leaders are really serious about promoting and securing our rich heritage of this country. Mark Anthony Rodrigues Region 9
Saturday August 13, 2016
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Norton delivers grave blow to Govt.’s accountability image with crookish behaviour - Chartered Accountant The image of a new type of Government that would actually adhere to the principles of accountability and transparency is what the APNU+AFC painted before the citizenry during the May 11, election campaign season. But the recent revelations that the Public Health Minister, Dr. George Norton misled the nation on what appears to be an extremely shady deal has essentially stained the “clean accountability image” of the administration. This is the assertion of Chartered Accountant, Sasenarine Singh. In an interview with this newspaper, the columnist said that the Health Minister has, by his very actions, tainted his reputation beyond repair and has delivered a grave blow to the Government’s image with his crookish behaviour. Singh said that it is unthinkable that Dr. Norton would entrust $25M in tax dollars to a man for his warehouse in Sussex Street and it is not even completed. The Chartered Accountant said that what is even worse is that the contracted company for the drug bond, Linden Holding Incorporated, has no experience in the storage of drugs. Singh said the fact that Norton actually avoided the tendering process and steered the contract into the hands of a particular company, clearly shows that the deal reeks of “a kickback scheme”. He insists that the Public Health Minister simply cannot be trusted anymore if this is the manner in which he chose to operate with the nation’s moneys. Furthermore, the Char-
tered Accountant sought to stress when sole sourcing is actually used in Guyana’s laws. He said, “Article 49 of the Procurement Act (2003) clearly states that the procuring entity may engage in single source procurement (non-competitive) where the services to be procured ‘have a unique qualification’.” Singh said, “What is unique about the Sussex Street so-called drug storage facility? Is it only one of its kind? Does it have any distinctive features that no other pharmaceutical bonds have in Guyana? Is it incomparable in its construct that it is the only facility in Guyana that has secured the blessings of the Ministry of Health?” The Chartered Accountant stressed that the spirit and principles of the procurement law was beyond the shadow of a doubt, violated by the Ministry of Public Health when it decided to procure these services from the owners of Linden Holdings Inc. He insisted that it was a flagrant abuse of the nation’s Procurement laws. It was on Monday that the Public Health Minister was grilled extensively by members of the Opposition over $25M which was taken from the Contingencies Fund. It was revealed the sum was used as part of a security deposit for a warehouse in Sussex Street owned by Linden Holdings Inc. Getting this information out of the Public Health Minister was by no means any easy task. But in the process, the political opposition was able to show that Dr. Norton’s statements were just not add-
ing up. The Opposition was able to reveal that Dr. Norton avoided the tendering process for the warehouse contract. But the Public Health Minister sought to defend the use of sole sourcing a contractor, by stating that the Ministry of Health and the Georgetown Public Hospital were in a hurry to find space to store drugs and ot h e r medical supplies. He insisted that it was an “emergency.” But when checks were made at the Sussex Street location of the bond, not a single medical item was being stored there. In fact, the bond was still under construction. Additionally, Dr. Norton told the House that in the interest of being cost effective, the administration had no choice but to go with Linden Holding Incorporated, as opposed to New GPC. He claimed that Linden Holding Inc. was only going to cost the government $12.5M in rental fees per month while New GPC was charging $19.2M. New GPC subsequently submitted a statement to the media which showed that Dr. Norton’s statements were far from the truth. The company made it clear that it never charged a
Chartered Accountant, Sase Singh
Public Health Minister, Dr. George Norton
rental fee of $19.2M. In fact, it offered its warehouse for the past decade, free of charge. Furthermore, the Public Health Minister failed to answer questions as to who are the principles of the Linden Holding Inc., its date of registration here, who signed the contract with the company on Government’s behalf and when it was signed. Even after these questions were repeated numerous times, he insisted that those details were not available at the time. Also, Dr. Norton was asked to tell the nation why
the Diamond storage facility was not being used to hold the drugs and other medical supplies. This too, he failed to answer in a straightforward manner. Instead, he said that Government hopes it would not have to use the warehouse belonging to the Linden Holding Inc. for too long. What also shocked members of the Opposition was the failure of the Min-
ister of Public Health to commit to presenting the bond contract in the National Assembly. Norton told the House that while Government would be interested in doing so, the disclosure of the contract would be dependent on the other party. He made this comment in spite of the fact that his Government had stated on numerous occasions that contracts should be made public, with the exception of those that deal with national security. Another area on which the Public Health Minister was found producing mixed stories, was when the Opposition Parliamentarians asked him to say if the bond that was procured met international standards. Norton told the House that it complies with the World Health Organization and Pan American Health Organization standards. But when challenged to bring the relevant certificates from the said organizations to the House in order to substantiate his claim, he changed his story and said it was the Ministry of Health that certified the safety of the bond.
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Saturday August 13, 2016
Kaieteur News
Jamaican caught smuggling Ministry looking to improve coke in roll-on deodorant delivery of mental health - court hears
A Jamaican national is scheduled to be sentenced on Monday after he pleaded guilty to a charge of trafficking narcotics. According to the facts provided to the court, Easton Stapleton was caught by Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) ranks attempting to smuggle 526 grams of cocaine out of the country via the Guyana Post Office Corporation, (GPOC) on August 10, last. CANU Prosecutor Konyo Sandiford-Thompson told the court that the drugs were unearthed after ranks searched a box containing roll-on deodorant and a quantity of markers. The drugs were reportedly concealed in the ball-like object atop of the deodorant. Stapleton appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. After pleading guilty to the charge, he told the court that the police offered him a deal in exchange for his cooperation in the investigation. In providing the court with an explanation, Stapleton claimed that he went to the GPOC on instruction to ship the box containing the items via the postal service. When he arrived there, he was informed that he needed a local address to do so. Stapleton said that he left the post office abruptly and tossed the items in a nearby garbage container since he did not have a local address. The man claimed, however,
- Unit refurbished, five psychiatrists onboard
The Ministry of Public Health’s Mental Health Unit
Remanded: Jamaican national Easton Stapleton that he did not get far from the post office as a CANU officer pursued him. Stapleton said that he was questioned and he cooperated with the ranks. The drugs were later discovered. After listening to Stapleton’s explanation, Magistrate Daly was also informed that the investigations in the matter are still ongoing. As such, she remanded Stapleton to prison until Monday when he is expected to be sentenced. Meanwhile, a 22-year-old miner was remanded to prison yesterday for murder. The matter was also presented before Magistrate Daly. According to the charge,
on August 8, last, at Jackass Landing, Puruni River, Mazaruni, Devon Duncan murdered fellow miner Clint Peters during a heated argument. The accused was not required to plead to the indictable charge. Reports indicated that about 19:00h on Monday, Duncan accused Peters of “talking his name” and as a result an argument ensued. During the altercation, Peters is said to have been stabbed multiple times about his body with a knife. He was rushed to the Bartica Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Duncan has been remanded to prison for the murder until September 8.
The level of mental health care offered by the Ministry of Public Health will be improved and the Mental Health Unit will seek to further decentralise its service to the community level. This is according to a report disseminated by the Government Information Agency (GINA). Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings, speaking on the issue of decentralisation said, “The Ministry of Public Health has already commenced a process to conduct a Human Resource (HR) review that will lead to an HR strategic Plan after which the Ministry and its partners will identify, train, and allocate additional resources to boost the mental health services, particularly at the community level.” Minister Cummings also identified the need for a review of the current mental health legislation that does not allow for extensive mental
health care and is outdated. It has also been recognised that persons with mental disorders are more prone to become victims of suicide. Minister Cummings explained that, “Several risk factors contribute to the high suicide rates in Guyana. The most common risk factors identified are acute emotional distress and depression. This factor accounts for 36.6 percent of all cases. The care of the mentally ill is provided under the legislative framework of the Mental Health Ordinance of 1930, which is antiquated and fails to make provision for the protection of the rights of people with mental disorders.” Meanwhile, Director of the Mental Health Unit, Dr. Meenawattie Rajkumar, in an invited telephone comment with GINA, stated that the unit had not been properly structured to cater to mentally ill patients prior to May 2016. Dr. Rajkumar added that the unit can now offer counselling and occupational therapy to these patients in a refurbished environment. She said that the unit is equipped with five psychiatrists, eight
Social Workers and a pharmacy for the patients to have easier access to treatment. The Mental Director also remarked that the aim of the Metal Health Unit is to break the stigma that is attached to mental illness in Guyana. Located at 252 Quamina Street, South Cummingsburg, the unit caters for patients with mental disorders on an out-patient basis. And according to Dr. Rajkumar, the Public Health Ministry intends to upgrade the GPHC’s psychiatric department as a specialised in-patient unit, housing patients according to their level of diagnosis. The organisation of mental health services, beds and professionals in Guyana is currently centralised, responding to persons with mental disorders and concentrating them at the National Psychiatric Hospital at Canje, Berbice and the Georgetown Public Hospital Psychiatric ward. Persons with mental disorders are reported to suffer discrimination in their communities, workplaces, educational institutions, judicial services and the health care system.
Saturday August 13, 2016
The person who owns that property in Sussex Street, which is being rented by the Ministry of Public Health to store medicines, is one lucky fellow. The man should go and buy a lottery ticket. He has landed the deal of a lifetime. It will not get any better in life. He has hit the jackpot and must be congratulated for negotiating such a lucrative arrangement. Imagine that you bought a property for ten million dollars. Imagine that not long after you bought that property, you got a rental contract for the building for five million dollars per month. Imagine that within two months you can pay off for a house you bought. If everyone could obtain such a deal, think about how wonderful life can be. Even if you have to spend a few million dollars to make the place suitable for the tenant, you would do it because within two months, you know that you are going to recover the purchase price of the property. The Ministry of Public
Health has reportedly entered into an agreement to rent a property, recently acquired for twenty-five million dollars. The rent is twelve and a half million dollars per month. Where in the world is a property rented for fifty per cent of its purchase price a mere few months after the purchase? Where? Is this the standard that the new government is setting? This deal has raised eyebrows. It has caused eyeballs to almost pop out of their sockets. It has caused a few heads to be bowed. The matter would never have probably come to light had the deal not first been made public in the parliament. The initial public outcry of the deal - including the coverage of the issue by three of Guyana’s dailies and the harsh criticisms by the opposition - was crushing. The matter naturally came up at Cabinet and a sub-committee was established to report within two days on the matter. With such a narrow
timeline, it would not be surprising if the report essentially rubber stamps the deal. The government could not have been serious about getting to the bottom of this issue when it gave a Cabinet sub-committee a mere two days to examine the issue. What could be examined in such a limited period? The time was too short. The investigation was also ill-conceived. A Cabinet sub-committee is not suited to this task. Cabinet committees are usually established to ensure the implementation of decisions made by Cabinet. Cabinet sub-committees are usually policy-making bodies with some powers of implementation. There is no role for a Cabinet committee or a subcommittee to be an investigative body. This is a novelty. Cabinet cannot investigate itself. The appointment of this sub-committee therefore, constitutes a slap in the face of the Guyanese people. But worst of all were some of the findings of the hurried investigation. It was
Wells built for 25 years only last five - 18 will cost $200M to rectify – GWI The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) is currently in the process of rectifying 18 defective wells located throughout the country. The cost is in excess of $200M. These wells, according to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Richard Van WestCharles, are among those that were drilled and encased with carbon steel casings within the last five years. He opined that the wells should have a life of 25 years, on average, however the agency is encountering these problems just one to two years later. He also pointed out that
the problems being experienced are major challenges and were inherited from the previous GWI administration. One of the problems is the fact that the carbon steel casings were rapidly corroding. Dr. Van West-Charles is of the opinion that the materials purchased were of inferior quality. As if to solidify his claim, he made reference to a well in Fyrish, Berbice - which also consists of carbon steel – that has been serving that community for over 50 years. He said that the rapid breakdown in many cases is due to the high level of acidity in the soil in certain areas
and this, combined with inferior carbon steel, only ‘makes matters worse.’ The GWI boss said that the agency will be looking to re-sleeve the wells with more suitable materials that can withstand the acidity in the soil such as stainless steel or Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). Dr. Van West-Charles pointed out that the wells which have the aforementioned sleeves are withstanding the conditions below the soil’s surface and represent the go-to method for several countries, including neighbouring Suriname. He added that the PVC method is also cheaper.
Dem boys seh...
Don’t tek cock, de bull deh behind Nutten can’t sleep. Every time he close he eye he seeing Jagdeo and de opposition going fuh he head. He was a bright boy in school. And he grow up knowing that people mustn’t lie. He get big and he go to Parliament and he tell dem a cock and bull story. Right away dem boys start to think how much cock and bull story he tell he patients. He is an eye doctor and now dem boys want to know if he ever tell some blind person that he can mek dem see. De people in River View near Bartica wheh he come from seh that he never tell dem no cock
and bull story. So why he do it? He probably think he can cock Jagdeo but one scamp got to know that he can’t pull scamp tricks pun another scamp. Jagdeo know all de scampishness in de world and he is a bigger boy than Nutten so you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Larry is a scamp too and that is how he and Nutten link up. One thing nuff people like is girls and Larry got access to plenty. Now people asking if he hang some gyal in front Nutten eye and force de man to promise some things. Nutten is a married man and he got to know that all that glitters is not gold but
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Kaieteur News
then again, if you can buy cock and bull story then you can buy anything. De only thing is that Nutten pay wid de people money. De result is that dem boys don’t want he to believe that de apology is de be all and end all. Dem know that is because dem got sorry mek li’l boy mash big man toe. Nutten mash plenty people to suh sorry alone can’t wuk. Nobody want tell Soulja Bai wha to do but dem know that he ain’t stupid. Talk half and wait fuh de backlash fuh that cock and bull story that mek Larry get $25 million from Nutten fuh doing nutten.
stated that an examination of the facility showed that the building met the standards of the World Health Organization. Now, is there a certificate of compliance from a certifying office which is attached to the World Health Organization? What is the basis of this conclusion that the building met WHO health standards? The local World Health Organization office must issue a statement as to its involvement, if any, in the certification of the facility. The limited timeframe in which the Cabinet sub-committee had to complete its work would not have allowed it to look into what is the most important issue of this matter: the rental which the government is paying. If there was an urgent need for storage, then why not enter into a deal for a few
months, at a reasonable cost, and then put the matter up for tender? Why not ask the existing suppliers to the Ministry to store the products until it is required by the various health institutions? There were many options open to the Ministry of Public Health. The deal, inclusive of the security deposit, is worth more than one hundred and fifty million dollars per year or six times the price at which the facility was bought earlier this year. The high rental is the reason why there is open tendering. The way to ensure that the government gets the best deal is to have an open-tender. This was not done in this instance. There are people who feel they could have supplied the service for a fraction of the cost being charged. The only way this could be tested
is by open-tendering. This deal needs to be quashed. But then again, we may end up with another approach to parliament to pay the compensation for breach of contract. The government, however, should avoid further criticisms over this affair. The matter has dirtied the image of the government and no 48hour investigation is going to scrub that clean. The matter needs to be fully investigated. The basis of the rental price needs to be explained.
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Kaieteur News
Saturday August 13, 2016
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
I hope President Granger knows charity begins at home A schoolgirl is on workstudy at the Kaieteur News. So she accompanied the journalist that covers the courts. The student was stopped from entering the magistrates’ courts because one of the policemen said her top was too bright. This teenager attends a school which has an approved school uniform. But there is also another point – who determines when a top worn by a human is too loud in its colour? I don’t think society can come out with a definition of what is a shining blouse or colourful shirt. For the sake of argument, let us say that a group of experts on aesthetics can ar-
rive at a decision. Who polices the edict? It has to be the experts themselves. How can you leave it to a young cop just out of high school and who has no exposure to fashion, literature, philosophy, art and aesthetics? These are very complex judgements and it is not easy to arrive at consensus. The most definitive authority on music is the biweekly American magazine, Rolling Stone. It has a list of 500 songs that constitute the best ever made. In that list the Beatles have 23, Mick Jagger -14, Elvis Priestly - 11, Bob Marley - 4, Abba - 1, Michael Jackson - 1, Otis Redding - 1.
Eighteen of those Beatles songs I would never think of including in my list of the best 500 tunes ever made. I would not even consider them. Number 16 on the magazine’s list is the Beatles’ “I Wanna Hold your Hand.” This is an absolutely mediocre song. The same magazine dismissed outright the ability of Celine Dion to sing. They think she is a very poor singer. But when you see their list of best singers you end up laughing. That is how difficult it is to arrive at consensus on aesthetic questions. So what is a loud colour? And can you leave it up to a police trainee to decide? The work-
study student wanted to attend court to listen to the assault trial where Kwame McCoy and others are accused of attacking me. I decided I would take her to court. We approached the young policeman (he seemed to be about twenty-three) who was standing at the door. I asked him why in previous days he refused entry to the student. He denied he did and we went into the court. She wore the same uniform as in the days when she was refused entry. We come now to President Granger. Mr. Granger’s disagreement with the outdated dress code was given maximum publicity in the media. Here is a note sent to me by one of the most prolific professors in economics that write on Third World development, Dr. Jay Mandle. “Your column this morning on the dress
code struck home. My wife Joan was stopped at the security desk when we went to see CY because of a very slight slit on an otherwise long skirt she was wearing. CY had to come to her rescue.” That incident took place at the security hut in the compound of the Office of the President. Professor Mandle has been a life-long friend of Clive Thomas, and went to visit Professor Thomas at his SARU office in the Office of the President. The initials, “CY” in Dr. Mandle’s note to me, referred to Clive Thomas. One would assume the President did the right thing and sent down instructions to the staff at OP about the dress code fiasco. One cannot assume that the security staff at the guard house was familiar with what
Frederick Kissoon President Granger told the media. Suppose they do not know about his rejection of the outdated dress proclamation and they are still rejecting visitors? I honestly think that President Granger should inform them, if he has not done so already. In this country you cannot take anything for granted. I rang the commander of Springlands Police Station, who told me last week that he is aware of the change in policy by the force that there are no longer random traffic stops. One week after telling me that, school teacher Mr. Ashan Bacchus sent three photographs to me, showing where police at Springlands were doing random traffic stops. Two days ago, ranks were doing the same at Leonora. Whether it is dress code or random traffic stop or GPL bills or GWI bills or GTT bills or City Hall intransigence or the ubiquity of containertrucks or Government’s failure to pay citizens it owes, this country pays no attention to the glaring errors that are committed each day against its citizens.
Saturday August 13, 2016
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Kaieteur News
Correcting wrongs of PPP turning out to be very expensive - President Granger - cites $780M Kato School, $350M Hope Canal Bridge By Jarryl Bryan The debacle at Kato Secondary School is one in a series of projects which were undertaken by the previous administration that will have to be corrected by the new one. And according to President David Granger, it is turning out to be a very expensive affair. He related this during the latest edition of the ‘Public Interest’, after being asked about the school. The Region eight school, for which construction started in 2013, cannot be opened to this day because of numerous defects. And over $140M has been quoted by company which reviewed the structure, as the potential cost for repairs. “It shows you the challenges that the present administration is facing,” Granger said. “This administration has been faced with the challenge of correcting a lot of bad work, tolerated by the previous administration. Look at the bridge at Hope. It’s very expensive to correct the wrongdoing of the previous administration.” “There was a big rush to finish the (Kato School) project, prior to May 2015, at any cost, in order to demonstrate that the previous administration was doing so well,” he continued. “It’s quite clear that the work was substandard. It is unsafe to put children in that building. So the government is now faced with the responsibility to do massive work to rectify the faults to make the place safe for use by children.” According to Granger, it’s a burden that Government will have to bear. However, he promised that whatever legal measures can be put in place to recover the excess expenditure from the contractor, Kares Engineering Ltd, will be taken. “But he certainly is not going to be given any more contracts to do that type of work,” he said. “People feel that once you’re dealing with the hinterland, you can do any kind of shoddy work. And nobody will go there to check. Things are different now. You’ve had bad roads, you’ve had bad buildings, and you’ve had bad stellings.” “But in terms of the school, we are concerned about education. We want to see the children in school. And we will do whatever is necessary to rectify the faults in that building, which are massive…and make sure that children can enjoy safe classrooms and security of dormitories.” He noted the importance of children from Kato and surrounding communities, having access to the same stan-
President, David Granger dard of education as what children on the coastland would obtain. The $350M East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) Northern Relief Channel Public Road Bridge at Hope, East Coast Demerara had developed defects just two years after being commissioned. Reports had indicated that both approaches (east and west) had begun to sink causing a “depression” which results in a sudden rise and ending in an abrupt drop. Road users had expressed their concerns, complaining about the potential harm it could cause. In May, National Task Force Secretariat Head, Dr. Sewnauth Punalall had stated that corrective works would commence soon. The bridge is 74.4 metres long and a 47-metre sloped approach on both sides; it has the capacity to accommodate two-lane traffic, with sidewalks on both sides. The bridge was constructed by DIPCON Engi-
neering Company and commenced in 2011. Due to several setbacks, the completion date was rescheduled from July 2013 to end of August of that same year. However, as a consequence of several “setbacks” the completion date was subsequently slated for December 31. The bridge was completed during the first quarter of 2014. The Bridge is one of the three components of the US$15M Hope Canal Project. Kato School, on the other hand, has not been able to open because of several structural defects. A tour facilitated by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, which is working along with the contractor, had revealed problems including cracks throughout the building and unbalanced stairs. Representatives from Rodrigues Architects Ltd, the firm that did a technical audit of the building, had subsequently stated that repairs could cost in excess of $140M. While the company, Kares Engineering, has stated that the defects liability period has expired, supervising consultant Design and Construction Services Limited (DCSL) never even issued a certificate of completion.
The $780M Kato Secondary school
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Kaieteur News
Saturday August 13, 2016
Police ‘B’ Division launches skills training programmes for youths, ranks The Guyana Police Force (GPF) is pushing ahead with its relentless drive to do things differently. The Force has been effectively stepping up its game with involvement in community-related activities and development projects. It has not exhausted its effort in trying to bring change to the community. And according to Divisional Commander of Berbice ‘B’ Division, Assistant Commissioner Ian Amsterdam, the GPF is prepared to do whatever it takes to better the lives of its member and those in the community who they come into contact with. He gave that as one of the reasons why, over the years, the force has been changing strategy and involving the community more in their activities. In doing so they realized that the policemen have to be equipped with the necessary tools and skills to undertake the task. During the week the ‘B’ Division in collaboration with the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) launched a six months skills training program for youths and police in the East Berbice, Region 6. Present at the
head table were Commander Amsterdam, Deputy Commander ‘B’ Division Superintendent Edmond Cooper, Officer in charge of traffic Superintendent Boodnarine Persaud, Community Rel a t i o n s O ff i c e r Wo m a n Inspector Margo Grosvenor, and representative of BIT Richard Maugh. The activity was held at the New Jersey Arya Samaj Humanitarian Mission building at Babu John, Port Mourant, Corentyne. The youths will be trained in six different areas including Motor Vehicle Service and Repairs, Welding and Fabrication, Electrical Installation, Cosmetology and Information Technology. A special course for Heavy Duty Eq u i p m e n t operator and mechanic is being offered exclusively for ranks of ‘B’ Division. Some 60 participants have been enlisted to participate in the programmes which are being funded by the Board of Industrial Training. The objective of the programme is to bring the police force and communities together by providing support to youths
across the region. Amsterdam in speaking at the launching ceremony stated that he is very pleased that a programme of such nature was put together and is being launched in the division. He said t h a t t h e r e a r e plans to launch a similar p r o g r a m m e i n We s t Berbice, Region Five. Plans are also on stream to increase the size of the programmes. The Commander said that “When we look at what is going on with the youths, we know that if we find something for them to do, we can prevent them from getting into a life of crime”. He stated “we also have to cater for our ranks, so we have a special programme exclusively for them.” Also speaking at the ceremony was Technical Director of BIT Richard Maugh. He urged the participants to make full use of the opportunity offered, since it will help them to be self-reliance in their future. He told them that they are fortunate to be given such wonderful o p p o r t u n i t y. T h e y c a n become entrepreneurs and open their own businesses in the future.
Saturday August 13, 2016
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Kaieteur News
China Harbour taken to court over loam dispute China Harbour Engineering Company has been taken to court by Fazal Mohamed, a private citizen, who claims that the company is stealing his loam. The matter was heard by Justice Brassington Reynolds yesterday morning. Mohamed informed the court that he and his brother are the lessees of a parcel of land situated on the Right Bank of the Dakara Creek, Left
Bank of Madewini River, Right Bank of the Demerara River. He said he was leased the land for agricultural purposes. Mohamed said he was issued with a Special Mining Permit issued under Section 63 of the Mining Act.1989 to occupy and mine loam upon the land since June 2004, by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission. He said that he was
occupying and mining loam on the land ever since, and renewed the said Mining Permit every five years hence, in accordance with the terms of the permit. He noted that the construction company is currently engaged in ongoing expansion works at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri. He said that in July, without the consent of him or his brother, 16 lorries
Dredge continues to sit in Mazaruni River
The sunken dredge in the Mazaruni River as of last month One month ago this publication reported on a sunken dredge in the Mazaruni River. According to reports received yesterday the dredge is still sitting in the river and the situation has worsened, since the water level has dropped. A river-taxi driver plying the route said that the present situation has made it harder for boats to navigate the Piereemap Falls area where the dredge is stuck. Due to the lower water
levels more of the dredge is now exposed to persons traversing the waterway, thereby increasing the possibility of an accident occurring. Moreover, it was reported that a drop in the water level would eventually cause a complete blockage of the route. The man said that many persons have been tightlipped about the issue in fear of stepping on the toes of the owner. The dredge belongs to Crown Mining and bears
license number SD 3398. According to reports, the dredge sunk while it was proceeding along the river on its way to Potaro when its base was struck by the rapids of the falls. It was left hanging on its side despite the complaints by boat operators. Just after this newspaper made the issue public, Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, Simona Broomes, initiated a meeting Continued on page 21
owned and operated by China Harbour along with a front-end loader, entered his land Mohamed claimed that the front-end loader excavated loam and loaded into the 16 lorries, which deposited the loam to a site in proximity to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri. He said that he was informed by an employee of China Harbour that the company intends to continue to excavate and remove from loam, “because the Respondent/Defendant is of the view that my brother and I have no rights, title or interest in respect of the said
land. As a result, I gave to a senior functionary of the Respondent/Defendant’s company copies of my documents.” He claimed that China Harbour is insisting that it has a right to excavate and remove loam from the land and has even told him that. Mohamed is seeking damages in excess of $1M for trespass committed. He also sought an injunction restraining China Harbour from taking more loam He said that he and his brother are the owners of substantial movable and immovable properties valued in excess of $200M and asked
that the court granted an injunction so that China Harbour would be barred from further removing loam. However, the injunction was not granted. China Harbour’s counsel contended that the Ministry of Public Works will confirm whether the land belongs to the Mohameds. A request for the excavation to cease while the Ministry “confirms” the Plaintiff’s claim to the land was also refused. The matter was adjourned to August 22, 2016. Leave was granted to China Harbour to file an Affidavit in Answer.
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Saturday August 13, 2016
Kaieteur News
Dipcon gets $446M settlement and AG didn’t know
Dipcon Engineering Services Limited has won a huge settlement against the government of Guyana. Attorney General Basil Williams said that he was not aware of the Court case until after government lost it. Dipcon took the government to court since 2009, during the reign of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government. This was while Charles Ramson was Attorney General.
However, judgment was only handed down last November. The Court awarded US$665,032.17(G$133M) together with US$1,563,368 (G$313M). The first sum was awarded for the “road building and construction works” undertaken by Dipcon. The other sum was for the “increased cost incurred by Dipcon at the request of government.” Further, the government has to pay interest on both
sums. It also has to pay six percent interest per annum from 2009 when the judgment was filed to October 2015 and interest of four percent until the sum is fully paid. In addition, government has been ordered to pay G$1.2M “cost” to Dipcon. Williams did not announce the settlement. In fact, during his last Budget presentation, in February, Williams told the National Assembly that no judgment was granted against the State
during his tenure. He recently told Kaieteur News that he did not know about the matter until after judgment was handed down. He said that the matter was not dealt with by Chambers. The Attorney General explained that his predecessor, Anil Nandlall had a habit of giving government cases out to private firms. Williams said that this was one of the cases. He said that he was only made aware of what happened when the lawyer informed the Ministry of Finance that it has to pay the judgment. “It was only then that the Ministry contacted me.” Williams said that by the time he was made aware of the matter it was too late to file an appeal. However, he indicated that he has since sought to file an out of time appeal. Nandlall was contacted about the allegation that he gave the cases out to a private lawyer instead of allowing the matter to be dealt with by lawyers at the AG’s chambers.
Former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall
Attorney General, Basil Williams
He admitted that that happened and said that the Dipcon case was one which was given to a private firm. However, Nandlall said that the AG’s “excuse” is inexcusable. “It is absolutely irresponsible on the part of the AG not to have acquainted himself with all the matters pending in the court when he assumed Office. Judgment was granted in November, he took office in May. Seven months and he is
still unaware of the existence of the matter? That is the height of irresponsibility if not incompetence.” Nandlall continued, “…and let me say this, I know about this matter and it is important to note that. Thirdly, he never appealed, the Judge granted a stay of execution of six weeks to allow the AG to appeal, but he never did. So now the state may be burdened with a judgment that is unnecessary.”
Foulis man remanded for cocaine in fish
Kapil Haresh Thakuran of Foulis, Enmore, East Coast Demerara, has been remanded to prison on a charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking. According to the facts provided to the court by Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor, Konyo Sandiford–Thompson, Thakuran attempted to ship 88.2 kilograms of cocaine contained in a quantity of seafood via an outgoing flight at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on August 9, last. The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when he appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly at the
Remanded: Kapil Haresh Thakuran Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday. According to the facts provided,
Thakuran attempted to ship, a quantity of fish and shrimp to New York when it was intercepted and checked by CANU officers at CJIA. During the search, CANU officials are said to have unearthed a quantity of small pellets concealed in the backbone of the frozen fish. The items were later tested, proven to be cocaine, and weighed. Thakuran was detained. Attorney Peter Hugh provided legal representation for Thakuran. He asked for a speedy trial and that bail be granted in a reasonable sum. The bail request was denied and the defendant was remanded to prison until August 26.
Saturday August 13, 2016
Kaieteur News
GPHC Board Chairman calls for more professionalism ...as moves are made to improve the institution A call for more professionalism at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation is being made by Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr. Carl ‘Max’ Hanoman. According to Dr. Hanoman, he and other members of the Board have been putting in an enormous amount of work to transform the hospital into an atmosphere that is conducive to the delivery of quality health care. “I spend a lot of time in this hospital...But this thing needs a lot more time than I can give,” Dr. Hanoman said. The members of the Board include Colonel Patrick West; Cleopatra Barkoye; Collette Adams (Deputy Permanent Secretary, Public Health Ministry); Mandy Sukhdeo; Sonya Roopnauth; Kempton Alexander, with Dr. Hanoman sitting at its helm. Dr. Sheik Amir, the hospital’s Director of Medical and Professional Services and Mr. Allan Johnson, the hospital’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, are the Ex-Officio Members. And according to Dr. Hanoman, in the improvement quest, each member of the Board is tasked with putting measures in place that will help to enhance the premier health facility. “My team, we divide our time; we are divided into different areas...we have people looking at dietary, financial issues, heads of Human Resources and buildings and so on. Each member of the Board is
GPHC CEO, Dr. Carl ‘Max’ Hanoman looking at a different area and the job is enormous, but we have been trying to do it,” the Board Chairman said. He, however, noted that “we have taken a lot of beating in the press, but we have done a lot of work...if you go and ask people they will tell you. We are trying to fix things, but there are problems in this hospital,” Dr. Hanoman admitted. He alluded to issues such as dishonesty and pilfering as challenges faced by the institution. “There are a lot of problems, but we are going to do what we must, bit by bit...things have to improve; things have to change and we will give you the change,” the Chairman insisted as he added that, “given the support of the government I will fix things at this hospital...remember I am just the Chairman, and I am not an executive Chairman.” Nevertheless, Dr. Hanoman noted that putting
things in place at the health institution is something that he is dedicated to seeing materialise. A key focus of the Board too, he disclosed, is to address relationships among staff members and that between staffers and patients too. “We need to have friendly nurses and patient relationships and doctor and patient relationships. In fact, I would like to see a team, a family at this hospital, that can deliver loving and tender care,” asserted Dr. Hanoman. Dr. Hanoman said that since he took up the position of Chairman, in March, there have been numerous reports of a lack of teamwork at the institution. In fact, he disclosed that “there is fragmentation of the hospital system...there was poor dialogue within the nurses’ system and doctors”. It was the lack of collaboration between the nurses and doctors that reportedly led to the Director of Nursing Services, Ms. Collene Hicks, being sent on administrative leave to facilitate an investigation into her conduct which was believed to be tantamount to unprofessionalism. According to Dr. Hanoman, a Committee of Inquiry is expected to be established to investigate the allegations. The matter, this publication understands, should have gained the attention of the Board at a meeting earlier this week, but this did not materialise, as there was not a quorum.
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Saturday August 13, 2016
GuySuCo’s pursuance of ‘negative’ culture demotivating workforce – GAWU
President of GAWU (gesturing) along with members of the union and representatives of the workers in the background during the briefing yesterday. The Guyana Agriculture and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) yesterday claimed that the actions of the Guyana Sugar Corporation is demotivating sugar workers. The Union expressed this notion during a press conference hosted at its Headquarters yesterday in Kingston, Georgetown that was also attended by several representatives of sugar workers within the estates. General Secretary of the Union, Seepaul Narine, disclosed that there have been a series of strikes, mostly by field workers attached to the La Bonne Intention (LBI), who have been ‘coerced practically, to be members of the Enmore
Estate workforce’. These strikes occurred on Thursday and yesterday, where workers including cane cutters, shovel men, welders, cane planters and others numbering about 450, demanded that they be allowed to work within the LBI cultivation so that their Union – GAWU - and their shop stewards could address a number of issues with Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). GuySuCo, the workers insisted, must not demand that they work under less favourable conditions as they would be required at Enmore Estate. GAWU President Komal Chand said that a female
worker, Sharon Smith, explained a few days ago that at LBI Estate, a task work is priced at $2,875 and a similar task is priced at $2,675 at Enmore Estate. “Moreover, we cannot be oblivious to the long travelling distance between the two estates that this decision entails. The workers have correctly observed that the 2,700 hectare LBI cultivation remain intact, unlike the LBI operations namely: - the Field Workshop, Mill Dock, Field Lab, Stores, and Administrative Offices which were closed at the end of last month. In other words, their work at LBI has not become redundant,” the Continued on page 23
Two men who were part of a marauding gang that caused terror by perpetrating two brutal murders within seven days, on the West Coast of Berbice, have been committed to stand trial in the next session of the Berbice High Court. During the mayhem, three persons were killed and a house burnt. The men, Rooplall Abrahim, called Vijai, 24, of Bath, West Coast Berbice, and Gocool Madanpaul, 18, called ‘Clown’, of 175 Block ‘B’ Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, appeared before Magistrate Rhondel Weaver at the Fort Wellington Magistrate Court on a joint charge of murder. The case for the prosecution was that Abrahim and Madanpaul, between Sunday, January 3 and Monday, January 4, 2016, at Plantation Hope/ Bath, West Coast Berbice, murdered Anita Baichan “in the course
of a furtherance of arson in relation to a dwelling house”. The men, who were reportedly armed with cutlasses and knives, entered the home and held up Baichan and her son Moshim Khan, 28, and demanded cash and jewellery. After robbing the woman and her son, the men allegedly set the house on fire. The woman tried to escape from the building, but could not, because she had been gagged with duct tape and her hand and feet were bound. The intruders were said to have escaped with over $250,000 and some silver jewellery. Nine witnesses were called during the Preliminary Inquiry (PI), including Bemal Rajkumar, an uncle of the deceased; Azim Jamee, a security guard who was reportedly robbed by the two bandits, and Kumkarran Sookai, a nephew of the deceased.
During the testimony, 37year-old Taramattie Ramdeen, called “Tara”, a domestic worker who resides at 175 Block ‘D’ Plantation Bath, West Coast Berbice, and the mother of Madanpaul, was sentenced to seven days in jail for contempt. It was noted by the Prosecution that while testifying the woman was changing her story drastically. Her testimony differed from the statement she had given the police. While giving evidence she began to behave in a hostile manner and was repeatedly warned by the Magistrate. However, she persisted. During efforts to restrain the woman, one police officer was ‘roughed up’ and a security guard at the court was injured and had to seek medical attention. Attorney at law Murseline Bacchus is appearing for the two accused.
West Berbice murder accused to face judge and jury
Saturday August 13, 2016
Trump backs off ISIS comments; party head appears at rallies in show of unity Reuters - Republican Donald Trump yesterday backed away from comments calling President Barack Obama and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton the founders of the militant group Islamic State, while the Republican Party sought to project unity behind their candidate. A new poll showed Trump, whose unfiltered speaking style has repeatedly landed him in hot water, losing ground in three crucial states ahead of the Nov. 8 general election against Clinton. In a surprise appearance, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, who in private expressed fury over some of Trump’s actions earlier this month, introduced the candidate at a campaign event in Erie, Pennsylvania, and the two hugged onstage.”We’re so honoured to be working with Donald Trump and the campaign,” Priebus told thousands of Trump supporters.
Donald Trump “And don’t believe the garbage you read. Let me tell you something. Donald Trump, the Republican Party, all of you, we’re going to put him in the White House and save this country together.” Republican sources earlier this month said Priebus was furious over Trump’s failure to endorse House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan and his feud with the parents of a Muslim American soldier killed in Iraq. Trump did endorse Ryan a few days later.
Trump brought Priebus on stage later at another rally, in Altoona, Pennsylvania, to thank him for the work he has done as he insisted there is great unity in the party. “I have to say we have great unification,” Trump said. Trump yesterday told the rallies in Altoona and Erie that his remarks earlier this week calling Obama and Clinton the founders of ISIS, as Islamic State is also known, had been sarcastic. “I have been saying because it’s true, but somewhat sarcastically, that he’s the founder of ISIS and she’s a close second,” Trump said in Altoona. Trump first made the unfounded claim on Wednesday and repeated it through the week. Trump claimed sarcasm in July as well after he was heavily criticized for inviting Russia to dig up tens of thousands of “missing” emails from Clinton’s time as U.S. secretary of state.
Foiled attack puts spotlight on Canada PM’s security revamp Reuters - The death of a Canadian supporter of Islamic State who authorities said was preparing an imminent attack has increased calls for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to abandon his plan to scale back a 2015 law that gave increased powers to police and intelligence agents. But those calls are unlikely to translate into widespread public resistance to changing the law, as long as the Liberal government can frame it as a change that protects civil rights, pollsters and political analysts said yesterday. “The Liberals have to try to not fall into the trap of looking like they’re weakening the legislation,” said pollster Nik Nanos. Aaron Driver, 24, was killed by police in a raid on Wednesday in a small Ontario town after authorities received “credible information of a potential terrorist threat.” News of how close Driver
came to carrying out an attack sparked a call from the Conservative opposition and others for police and intelligence officers to have more power to stop would-be attackers. Driver was under a socalled “peace bond” that restricted some of his activities. The conditions of that bond were relaxed in recent months, including a requirement that he wear a monitoring bracelet. “They never should have varied the conditions. The second he took off that bracelet, it was over,” said an RCMP source who declined to be named because the source was not authorized to speak to the media. While Liberals supported the security law drafted by their Conservative predecessors, Trudeau campaigned on a promise to amend parts of it, dubbed C-51, and increase oversight to protect Canadians’ civil liberties such as the right to protest.
“I’m guessing when you’re in opposition you say one thing, and when you are in power you might say something else. Now that the books are open and there are full briefings, they may see things a bit differently,” said Phil Gurski, a risk consultant and former Canadian Security Intelligence Service analyst. But the Liberal government will stick to its plan on the law, said Dan Brien, a spokesman for Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale. One factor that may be motivating the government to stand firm on changing the law is possible legal pressure from liberties groups. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association, which filed a court challenge of C-51 in 2015, is waiting to see what changes the government will make before going ahead with its case, said Sukanya Pillay, executive director and general counsel.
Dredge continues to sit in... From page 13 to prepare to address the problem. Broomes had made the point that the vessel could cost the lives of people using the river. It was expected that the dredge would have been removed within two days. Prior to this publication reporting on the matter, the dredge had been
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Kaieteur News
in that area for over a month. During the meeting with Broomes, Harbour Master Michael Tennet had said that the vessel should not have been anchored in such a dangerous way. He explained that the waterways are supervised by Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) and
consequently water dredges fall under that agency. Broomes had promised to correct the role which MARAD plays in regulating the presence of waterdredges in the river. Currently the entity’s mandate is to promote safety on the nation’s waterways.
Rousseff judgment hearings to start August 25 Brasília (AFP) - The final judgement phase in the impeachment of suspended president Dilma Rousseff will start August 25, just four days after the Rio Olympics end, the Senate news service said yesterday. “The judgement session for Dilma Rousseff will start on the 25th at 9:00 am. The notice has been delivered to Jose Eduardo C a r d o z o , the suspended president’s lawyer,” the offi-
cial news outlet said. Rousseff is accused of breaking budget laws in taking unauthorised government loans to mask the depth of economic difficulties during her 2014 r e - e l e ction. Rousseff, a former leftist guerrilla, says her impeachment is a coup in disguise. The Senate must vote by a two thirds majority at the end of the judgement session, which could take
several days, in order to remove her from office. If that happens, the current interim president Michel Temer will stay on until scheduled elections in 2018. Globo news organisation reports that the actual judgement vote will take place between March 30-31. The president of the Supreme Court, Justice Ricardo Lewandowski, will preside.
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TO LET 2X3 Bedrooms fully furnished luxury apartments for rent (short & long term stay). Call: 665-3505
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& PUBLISHINGINC–TEL:6004212: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Repairs at low cost: Fridges, air- conditioners, washing machines, TVs, microwaves, freezers- Call:6294946 or 225-4822 RAMDASS VISA APPLICATION & immigration services, room A-4, Maraj Building, Georgetown. Call Samantha: 227-0295; 615-9295 Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigrant Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496; 662-6045 Hello the doctor is back! Have your gas stove service and repairs. Call: 601-0595; 220-4073; 220-5785 Jadesco Offers: Architectural designs, 3D modeling, building estimation/ quotation, rehabilitation works & general construction. Call: 612-0468, 629-3605, email: jadesco15@gmail.com Guytec Repairs Services & Spares to washing machines, pressure washer, dryer, stoves, refrigerator, treadmill, vacuum, etc –Call: 680-2377 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158
Saturday August 13, 2016
Kaieteur News
VACANCY One nail Technician- Call: 609-7458 Checkers, labourers, pump attendants & accountants. TI certificate needed (Berbice). Call: 330-2399; 623-5920 One Trainee A.C, Refrigerator, Technician –Call: 231-0655 Sales clerks between 1828yrs, sound secondary education, experienced in sales, send application @ 35 North Road, Georgetown. Call: 225-8831 American Variety Store, 140 Regent & Light Street, Georgetown: 1 experienced cashier, apply in person with written application. 1 Male janitor/cleaner. Apply in person at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling, Stabroek.
One four storey business place located on Robb Street, next to Bourda Market. Call: 623-7731; 629-0636; 645-3489 2 Bedrooms bottom flat furnished with Wi-Fi, etc at Liliendaal E.C.D - $70,000 monthly. Call: 676-6409 1 Newly refurbished, 1 bedroom apartment @ lot 529 Section “B” Block “X” Great Diamond H/Scheme, E.B.DCall: 689-1518 anytime; 2164200 after 19:00 hrs
- Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 647-1773/660-5257
2009 RX8, Allion, Music Bus, Small bus, Motor cycle, Benz. Call: 265-4979
Register now for summer courses in cosmetology and nails between 2nd -25th August – Cost $15,000 Call Abby: 619-7603 Nails & hair station to rent. Call: 689-0888
ACCOMODATION Harmony Inn- furnished apartments and rooms (long term & short term) affordable prices- Call: 668-0306/6947817/ 218-1400
East Ruimveldt corner $15M. East La Penitence $13.7M 2 storey, Aubrey Barker road (corner) $30M- Call Shawn (Broker) 231-2199, 618-7483 2 Storey house & land , 3 bedrooms, size 20x30. 2 inside bathrooms @ Best Village, W.C.D. $15 millionCall: 609-5620, 664-4415
LAND FOR SALE La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.2M & $1.6M with titles, Farm (110ftX55ft) -$3.2M. Call:6585897; 673-2692
House & land 2 storey concrete building (4 bedrooms; 2 self-contained), semi-furnished @ Grove & Diamond N/S. Call: 216-1861, 657-2300, 614-0578 Transported property, 5L Hilux pick-up, 1-complete music set. Call: 265-3586
Full/Part time service staff @ Indian Dining Restaurant, relevant experienced mandatory. Call: 654-7683 LEARN TO DRIVE Learn to drive with Fast Learners Driving School Today. Sign up on Facebook or call 690-6868 C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj BuildingCall: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).
2 Storey wooden & concrete 5 bedrooms, (2 selfcontained), concrete fence & garage. 1 Roadside, 2 storey building @ V/Hoop (ideally business/residence). Call: 614-0107 Lot 764 Sixth St, Plantation Paradise, Dazzle H/Scheme, E.C.D-Call: 255-3437 One 2 storey wooden building, located at 29 Delph Street C/Ville on land size50X115, ideal for business. Call: 616-5084
Repairs to LED, Plasma, LCD and other electronic items. Abdul Electronics. Call: 2250391 East Side Animal Clinic: Vaccination, treatments, surgeries. Lot 147 Section ‘A’ Block ‘Y’, Golden Grove, E.B.D. Call: 592-621-1865, 592651-2245;592-216-4414 MASSAGE Happy Touch Day Spa: Come & Experienced heavens touch, visit us today! –Call: 690-6079
CAR RENTAL DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL. COM Aidan’s Car Rental: 4WD pickup. Call: 698-7807
EDUCATIONAL CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM Low down payment, cheap reates,special offer for the summer. Call: 690-6494
One 2007 Fielder stick gear $2.7M negotiable. One B12 Sunny $300,000- Call: 6165974, 618-8703 AT192, 212, Allion, Premio, Hilux Surf, BRR, RZ & Pitbull, Pajero Junior, Spacio: Cash / terms- Call:680-3154 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154 2008 Toyota Axio -$2.6M, unregistered. Call: 691-7475
Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461
1 Live- in housekeeper (long term employment). Call: 6978797
TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)
VEHICLE FOR SALE
PROPERTY FOR SALE
Maid helper to work for salon/spa. Call: 227-4799/2310734 Kitchen Assistant: 2 males &female, experienced a plus, must be able to work weekends. Call Mr.Khan: 695-6550; 656-9313
SALON
Electronic Course. Starting 9th August. Hands-on training repairing all types of TVs, etc. Call: 226-6551; 225-0391 IAE: Register for full time school (Grades 7-11) CSEC lessons; adults and school leavers CXC classes. Call Mr. Roberts: 683-5742
2005 Tacoma -$2.4M, Massey Tractor from Canada: MF 165 $1.7M, MF 135 $1.2M –MF 265 $2.2M, 165 Loader -$2.3M – Call: 682-5230; 628-9596
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Computer parts; tile cutter; cleaning detergents concentrate and household appliances for sale; price negotiable- Tel: 618-8672 ADORABLE FLUFFY PUPPIES FOR SALE. CALL: 615-0146 Purple Heart: 30X80 -$25,000, 32X80 -$28,000, 34X80 $28,000, 36X80 -$28,000, Free Delivery- Call: 688-9712; 6510717; 671-2490 Crazy Deal! Dell laptops & desktop computers, loaded with lots of games & educational programs from $49,000. FutureTech: 231-2206
2010 Premio -$3.3M, 2010 Noah & Voxy -$2.5M, 2004 Mitsubishi canter 2 ton $2.4M, unregistered & fully loaded. Call: 642-7295
CAT 320 BL excavator, 428 CAT back hoe, CAT930 Front End, 9 Wheeled Pneumatic Roller -Call: 275-0538; 683-7225
3 TON CANTER ENCLOSE AND OPEN BACK WITH 4D ENGINE, PRICE -$3.6M, NEVER REGISTERED – CALL: 617-2891
Double Steel Drum Compactor, CAT 215 Excavator, Leyland DAF55 Truck, 400 GLS, Bitumen Kettle. Call: 275-0538; 683-7225
2009 BELTA -$2.3M, 2011 BLUEBIRD -$2.7M, 2009 IST -$2.7, 2012 RACTIS $2.6M, 2009 ARUIS -$2.5M –CALL: 617-2891 Bargain! White, 2005 Toyota RAV 4 66,000KM, fully loaded, price $2M. Call: 642-6721 One 4 wheel drive, automatic, extra cab, Toyota Hilux, GSS series. Call: 614-0107; 692-8923 Honda Civic M/Car “SS” series -$1.3M, very good condition- Call: 696-2815 One Corolla Feilder Wagon year 2010 - $1.7M. Call: 2254816; 676-6379 FOR SALE
Desks and benches in good condition, ideal for school, privatelessons,etc.Call:683-3887 1-43 Cabin Cruiser, 1-48 Yamaha Outboard engine. Call: 661-6938; 259-3164 One 8" by 6 ft jouter, price $170,000 & drill press -$40,000, 1- Mitsubishi Canter -$1.2M. Call: 618-3359; 662-6326 2 Storey concrete building @ Samatha Point, Grove. Call: 682-1126; 613-7596 Gold & Diamond land @ Potaro Mining District (Kuribrong). Call: 682-1126; 613-7596 Trawler –Call: 682-8724; 6165954
1-Leylad DAF-45 $1.5M, 1-Cat 928F Loader-$6.9M,1-Hyster Forklift-$1.5M, Light Tower$800-000. Contact#650-0402
1 Perkins V8 Turbo Charge 170KVa Generator in working condition, Call 223-7380
1 Play station 3 with accessories -$70,000-$75,000, 1 used wall-divider in good condition. Call: 657-7077
D4H CAT Bulldozer, Mack 8 Cubic Yard, cement mixer truck, all in working order. Call: 275-0538; 683-7225
Pekingese pups mixed with dachshund for sale $20,000. Call: 614-0562
Audi A4-$3.7M, BMW-$2.3M, Ist-$1,895,000,,Fielder$1,895,000, Spacio-$1,995,000. Contact#650-0402
English Made Double Charge Cement Mixer, durable body & attractive price –Call: 6815988; 225-3019 Antique household items, plants, ceiling fan, computer monitors, sauna and much more. Call: 231-1284; 223-9719 TM Bedford Lorry Truck, single axle. Call: 600-7799
Elevator (good condition), Diesel Generator (23KVA, 110/220V). Call: 231-1284; 223-9719 Prime commercial building for sale @ Broad & Charles Streets, Georgetown, 68,000 square feet. Call: 592-231-6694 Continue page 23
Saturday August 13, 2016
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Recent oil find spurs introduction of business incubator - public-private partners ink Guyana recent oil find has provoked interest in many factions, particularly the business community. It is already anticipated that the discovery will result in a number of spin-off businesses being formed. And it is expected that many young entrepreneurs will be taking advantage of this phenomenon. This is according to Patsy Russell, a CUSO International Volunteer, who is coordinating a business incubator initiative that is geared at targeting young entrepreneurs. “We have got to be ready to take advantage of all of that business-flow… entrepreneurship that will be coming, because if we are not ready other people will definitely come in,” Russell recently asserted. In this regard, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between development organization Cuso International, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Small Business Bureau and private enterprise GeoTechVision Guyana, to promote cooperation between the organizations to establish a business incubation centre or business incubator. The four organisations came together last week Thursday to officially get Guyana’s first business incubator off the ground. In an official signing ceremony, Ms. Rajdai Jagarnauth, Permanent Secretary of the Min-
istry of Business; Mr. Vishnu Doerga, President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI); Ms. Valrie Grant, Managing Director of GeoTechVision Guyana and Tariq Williams, Regional Programme Officer for Cuso International, agreed to come together to engage in awareness campaigns, workshops, and competitions to help to get Guyana’s first business incubator started. “I feel very satisfied and pleased that this process is beginning. I would call the signing a beginning of things to come,” said Russell, who is the Coordinator of the initiative through a placement at GCCI. Russell added that she felt a public-private partnership was the best way to establish the incubator, especially as the incubator plans to target young entrepreneurs. “When you do a private [only] incubator in an economy like this— a developing economy with a high level of unemployment, especially among young people, a whole segment of the population is left out and will not be able to partake in this process,” Russell explained. “So by having the private mixed with the public sector as well, more people can be involved in this process of entrepreneurship, and thereby reduce poverty, decrease unemployment,
agreement to collaborate
and pave the road towards economic development in the country.” The GCCI President agreed, “It’s a step closer to creating the environment required to help up and coming businesses to get the support they need.” “In Guyana, for forever, we’ve ended up in a situation where companies had basically to become successful by trial and error,” he said, explaining that many had therefore fallen by the wayside. “It is our intention to have this collaboration raise the level of success that aspiring entrepreneurs are able to achieve.” A business incubator helps to develop start-up businesses and fledging companies by providing them with targeted resources and services. It addresses many of the problems new businesses face, such as unaffordable workspaces, lack of access to finance or appropriate mentoring. Permanent Secretary Jagarnauth said, this initiative was an important one for Guyana. According to Jagarnauth, this move is important because Guyana has a small economy that is now being developed. “A large number of our business persons are very small; also we have youth involved that are now trying to develop their en-
trepreneurial skills. There may be many innovations coming from the youth and we want to give them that start,” Jagarnauth stressed. The signed agreement follows a successful seminar at the beginning of June that saw more than 150 small business owners being sensitized about business incubation from Caribbean and international experts. One of those experts is collaborating partner, GeoTechVision Guyana. Last year, the World Bank Group InfoDev selected GeoTechVision as a business enabler to provide training and mentorship to other Guyanese companies. “Being entrepreneurs ourselves and having gone through an incubator ourselves, we figured that this would be an ideal way to contribute to the ecosystem here in Guyana,” said Grant, GeoTechVision’s Managing Director. She said that being able to work with so many partners on the initiative was special. “We recognize that it takes a village to raise entrepreneurs. We believe in this partnership and in collaborating so that we can inevitably do what we’re supposed to do – help the entrepreneurs.”
From page 22
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Teepee Suites Apartments: Lot 7 Princes Street, Charlestown, Guyana. Call: 592-223-7903/email: teepeesuites@yahoo.com Hair station rental at convenient location, Georgetown, Call: 638-1106, discounts given to newcomers, persons with experienced & clients Apartment for rent in Industry E.C.D- Call: 619-2388 2 &1 Bedrooms to rent student only out of town welcome; WiFi, semi-furnished. Call after 6pm: 668-5880 Three bedrooms and two bedrooms apartments @ Granville Park, E.C.D –Call: 604-0883; 681-3660 Self-contained rooms in Prashad Nagar. Tel: 227-2993 2 Bedrooms house; upper flat with parking & E-networks available, fully grilled @ Section D Non-Pariel E.C.DCall: 678-3073 between 6:008:00pm 3-4 Durban Street Lodge: unfurnished -$40,000 & $80,000 monthly, furnished for visitors US$600 & $US1, 000 monthly (verandahs, parking). Call: 677-6938; 6976421 Bottom flat for business in Robb Street Bourda ,Prime business area. Call: 226-1647
From left: Permanent Secretary Ministry of Business Rajdai Jagarnauth; Tariq Williams, Regional Programme Officer, Cuso International; Valrie Grant, Managing Director, GeoTechVision Guyana; and Vishnu Doerga, President, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, shake hands after signing a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Business Incubation Centre in Guyana (Credit: Cuso International)
GuySuCo’s pursuance of ‘negative’ culture... From page 20 Union stated yesterday. “On the other hand, the field workers of Enmore Estate are objecting to the manner their counterparts at LBI Estate are pushed over to their Estate. They also struck today to register their disagreement. They are
seeking a meeting through their shop stewards and the Union’s Field Officer with the Management of the Estate to have some work issues addressed. The Estate Manager of Enmore Estate informed the Union’s Field Officer, saying GuySuCo already made its
decision. The Manager’s response indicates that the workers would not be granted a forum to represent their issues.” The GAWU President said that the Corporation has made no move to engage the Union, despite several letters that were sent requesting that
the two bodies have dialogue. He added that the industry is at a juncture which requires all stakeholders to work in harmony. The Union concluded that ‘the negative culture being pursued by the Corporation is demotivating to the workforce’.
WANTED Cashier to work in supermarket and one live in domestic to work in Trinidad. Call or text 1868- 683 1528 Buying non-working appliances such as: washing machine, pressure pumps, refrigerator, treadmill, pressure washer. Whatsapp: 661-8802 One experienced cashier apply @ Hack’s Halaal with written application, 5 commerce Street. Experienced female bartender, live in/live out waitress, cooks & bouncers needed @ Eden Bar & Lounge, Garden of EdenCall: 652-0074 Experienced diesel mechanic wanted to work in Georgetown. Call: 227-1717 1 Male cook in the Interior. Call: 678-0565 1 Handyman to work urgently, four days per w e e k w i t h g o o d p a y, between the age of 30 to 40yrs old. Call: 641-3687 One security guard, apply to Millenium Manor Hotel 43 Hadfield Street W/ Rust . Experienced driver to work with a Firm @ G/ Town, able to drive all types of vehicles, ages 30-50. Call: 226-9764 1 Office clerk to work with firm G/town. Must be computer literate & have experienced in office procedures. Call: 226-9768
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Kaieteur News
Saturday August 13, 2016
15 OAS states urge Venezuela to act on recall ‘without delay’ Washington (AFP) - A group of 15 countries called on Venezuela Thursday to act “without delay” to clear the way for an election over whether to recall President Nicolas Maduro from office as a way out of a worsening crisis. The countries, all members of the Organisation of American States, issued the joint statement after the head of Venezuela’s election authority laid out a schedule this week that appears likely to push any recall election into 2017. The timeline is crucial because if the unpopular Maduro is voted out in a recall election after January 10, he would simply yield power to his handpicked vice president. If the recall is held this year and Maduro loses, the constitution calls for new elections in the leftist-ruled South American country. The opposition has been pressing for a recall this year, but the National Electoral Council has slow-rolled a complex petition process that involves gathering and validating millions of signatures before the elections can go ahead. “We call on the Venezuelan authorities to guarantee the exercise of the constitutional rights of the Venezuelan
Nicolas Maduro people and that the remaining steps for the realisation of the presidential recall referendum be pursued clearly, concretely and without delay, and thus contribute to the quick and effective resolution of the current political, economic and social difficulties in the country,” the joint statement said. Signing it were Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the United States and Uruguay. Maduro allies Ecuador and Nicaragua were not on the list. Venezuelan Ambassador Bernardo Alvarez said he was surprised to learn of the joint statement, saying his counterparts were working “be-
hind Venezuela’s back” in what he called an “undiplomatic” act. “There is an obsession with attacking and interfering with Venezuela’s internal affairs,” he said, warning that such meddling, if it happened with all countries at the OAS, would be “opening a very dangerous Pandora’s box.” Meanwhile, Maduro and the opposition-controlled National Assembly have been locked in a paralyzing power struggle. The OAS members signing Thursday’s statement urged the government and the opposition “to hold as soon as possible a frank and effective dialogue, directly or with the support of facilitators” to identify long-lasting solutions to the crisis.
Zika cases now likely in thousands - CMO Trinidad Guardian Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh Thursday said the number of Zika cases they had recorded were inaccurate and there were more than the 247 confirmed cases, with the likelihood that the figure was in the thousands. He was speaking to the media during a mosquito
eradication exercise at Boissierre Village, Maraval. Members of the Insect Vector, Army Rapid Response, Diego Martin Regional Corporation and Zika Task Force were present. The exercise began at the Ellerslie Plaza car park and took the group up Vallot Street, across Harold and down Tapti Road. During the exercise, Deyalsingh visited the home of several residents pointing out places that were potential breeding places for the mosquitoes. He shook his head several times as he walked away from several premises with old abandoned vehicles, rubbish and empty bottles. Deyalsingh said the purpose of the exercise was to demonstrate the fight against the aedes aegypti had not waned. “We are keeping up the fight in St George West, where the bulk of the cases are coming. There are 247
confirmed and 78 pregnant women and 84 in St George West, which is 30 to 40 per cent of the cases. To that end we are stepping up our activities in St George West,” he said. Deyalsingh said the 200-plus cases of Zika were the confirmed cases by blood test and 84 cases were in St George West. Acting Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Clive Tilluckdharry, stood beside Deyalsingh and confirmed when asked whether the figure of people with Zika was numbering in the thousands. “With the rash, fever, headaches is Zika, the number of cases in the thousands, that is Zika,” he said. His advice for couples attempting to have children: “You can get pregnant you know, but take the necessary precautions and keep your environs free of the aedes aegypti. Use be d nets, insect repellent, not all pregnant women with Zika end up with microcephaly.”
Saturday August 13, 2016
Kaieteur News
OAS urges action to guarantee elections in Haiti on October 9 WASHINGTON, USA — The Permanent Council of the Organisation of American States (OAS) Thursday called on all Haitian political and social actors to fully “assume their responsibilities and take all necessary measures to conclude the electoral process by holding free, fair and transparent elections
in October 9”. In a declaration adopted unanimously, the Council called on “appropriate Haitian authorities to take the decisions on provisional governance, in accordance with Article 7 of the February 5th 2016 Accord, so as to promote the holding of general elections at the established dates”.
“That, consistent with the Inter-American Democratic Charter, and at the request of the authorities in Haiti, the Permanent Council will remain seized of the situation for strengthening the electoral institutions and processes in that country,” the declaration concluded. (Caribbean News)
Grenada embarks on national campaign in fight against Zika ST GEORGE’S, Grenada - (CMC) – Grenada which has recorded 58 confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne Zika virus, is staging a two day national clean-up campaign as health authorities move to reduce the number of illnesses associated with the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The Ministry of Health said that while there were 352 suspected cases of Zika, symptoms of other mosquito borne viruses have been reported in every parish of the tri island state.
“It has therefore become absolutely necessary to focus the fight on the Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes the vector for these diseases,” the ministry said in announcing the clean-up activity for August 20 and 21. It said that the activities will take place simultaneously in all parishes throughout Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique beginning 6:00 am (local time) on both days. “This clean-up is part of a continuous campaign against the Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes in Grenada, until
it no longer poses a serious threat to our beautiful nation,” the statement said, noting that while attention has focused on the danger of microcephaly and its effect on un-born babies, “Zika can also cause Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare and sometimes life-threatening condition in which the immune system attacks the nerves of the body causing paralysis”. The ministry said it is collaborating with the National Disaster Management Agency (NaDMA) in organising the two-day event.
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Saturday August 13, 2016
Saturday August 13, 2016
Kaieteur News
Zambia’s president takes narrow early lead in election Reuters - Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu took a narrow early lead over his main challenger in a tight race for the presidency yesterday after the electoral commission delayed results twice and the opposition accused it of fraud. The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) said audits were taking longer than expected partly due to a large voter turnout. It had promised the first results by 1200 GMT and then 1600 GMT. The opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) said that the ECZ was trying to manipulate the results in favour of Lungu’s Patriotic Front (PF) by giving someone unauthorised access to ECZ computers.
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema said an ECZ official had given his identity card to a man so that he had access to ECZ’s IT room and could tamper with results. The ECZ said the intruder had been detained and police were investigating. Data from three constituencies showed Lungu won 17,620 votes in Thursday’s election, against 16,358 for Hichilema. Campaigning had centred on the economy, after months of rising unemployment, mine closures, power shortages and soaring food prices in Africa’s No. 2 copper producer, and supporters of the two main parties clashed in the run up to Thursday’s vote. Hichilema says the president has mismanaged the
economy but Lungu blames weak growth in the major copper producer on plunging commodity prices. Lungu only narrowly won a vote 20 months ago after the death of president Michael Sata. If he fails to win an outright majority this time, he will be forced into a second-round rerun. The ECZ said it had met with political party leaders to address concerns including over the late results, and denied colluding with the ruling party. “It hurts the commission when allegations which are unsubstantiated are made. Don’t set the house on fire,” chairman Esau Chulu said. Final results would now not be ready for late today or early tomorrow as had been expected, he said.
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Kaieteur News
Saturday August 13, 2016
U.S.-backed forces wrest control of Syria’s Manbij from Islamic State Reuters - U.S.-backed forces have seized full control of the northern Syrian city of Manbij near the Turkish border after the last remaining Islamic State fighters, who had been using civilians as human shields, left, a spokesman for the group said yes-
terday. Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) were now sweeping the city after the departure of a last remaining group of militants who had been holed up in the city. They had freed over 2,000 civilian hostages who had been held by the militants, Sharfan
Darwish of the SDF allied Manbij Military Council told Reuters. “The city is now fully under our control but we are undertaking sweeping operations,” Darwish said, adding militant sleeper cells in the city were still a threat. The SDF, with heavy air
support from a U.S.-led coalition, said last week they had taken almost complete control of Manbij, where a small number of IS fighters had been holed up. The SDF’s offensive, which began at the end of May, aims to remove Islamic
State from areas it controls along the Turkish border. The Manbij operation in which U.S. special forces have played a significant role on the ground marks the most ambitious advance by a group allied to Washington in Syria since the United States launched its military campaign against Islamic State two years ago. Manbij’s loss to the militants is a big blow as it is of strategic importance, serving as a conduit for transit of foreign jihadists and provisions coming from the Turkish border. Earlier the alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters grouped in the SDF said Friday’s operation was “the last operation and the last
assault.” Darwish said earlier roughly 100 Islamic State fighters were left in the city centre using civilians as human shields, some of whom were killed trying to flee. Reuters pictures showed residents being released from an Islamic State-held neighbourhood on Friday and being welcomed by SDF forces. Kurdish sources and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors Syria’s five-year-old conflict, later said around 500 cars had left Manbij carrying Islamic State members and civilians. They were heading northeast towards Jarablus, a town under Islamic State control on the Turkish border, the Observatory said.
Decline In CXC Maths Regionally, Says Examinations Council The Gleaner - The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has revealed a significant drop i n t h e p e rformance of students in mathematics at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) level across the region. At a press conference in Anguilla yesterday morning, Registrar at CXC, Glenroy Cumberbatch, said
the region had a 44 per cent pass rate this year compared to 57 per cent in 2015. Meanwhile, there was an improvement in English Language across the region from a pass rate of 60 per cent in 2015 to 67 per cent in 2016. Cumberbatch says a committee has been set up by CXC to look at how to improve passes in English Language and mathematics. (CAPE).
Saturday August 13, 2016
Bovell quits Olympic competition as Caribbean struggle in pool (includes quotes) RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago’s George Bovell made his final Olympic appearance, finishing 27th overall in the men’s 50 metres freestyle here Thursday, as the Caribbean suffered another disappointing day in the pool. The five-time Olympian finished third in heat eight in 22.30 seconds but it was not enough to earn a semi-final spot. Bovell subsequently announced his retirement from Olympic competition, expressing frustration with the International Swimming Federation (FINA). “I came into the Olympics, my first Olympics, believing in the ancient legacy of heroic sporting glory and now I am leaving after my
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Kaieteur News
Trinidadian George Bovell … failed to progress beyond the preliminary round. fifth Olympics seeing it for what it is, sadly a media franchise,” he said The 33-year-old Bovell, a bronze medallist in the 200m individual medley at the Athens Olympics 12 years ago, failed to progress after trailing home China’s Hexin Yu in
22.20 seconds and Poland’s Filip Wypych in (22.23) Bovell did not hide his frustration at at missing out on the semi-finals. “To be honest, I think it was disappointing,” he said. “I think everybody aspires to be in the finals and to be on
Saturday August 13, 2016 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Don't make mountains out of molehills if you want to avoid conflict. Put your energy into moneymaking ventures. Children may cause limitations TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Your desire for excitement and adventure may be expensive. You're likely to encounter new partners if you take short trips. You may find a rare antique today. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Changes regarding your image will bring you greater confidence. You need to get out and be an observer. You can become obsessed with detail and must be sure to divide your time appropriately. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You will be uncertain of your feelings. You may jump from the frying pan into the fire if you make a move today. You haven't been watching your spending habits and you may have been neglecting your duties. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Travel and family gatherings should be in order. You are exceptional at presenting your ideas. Be sure to use your charm and diplomacy when dealing with potential new clients. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Jealous colleagues may try to undermine you. You may have difficulties with in-laws or family members. Limitations with females could lead to unfortunate circumstances.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Don't forget to read the fine print. Travel will initiate new friendships or love connections. Get help setting up a reasonable budget. Look into ways of making extra cash. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You need to spend less time daydreaming and more time accomplishing. Don't get intimately involved with a coworker. New emotional connections can be made through business contacts. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Your charm will attract members of the opposite sex. The experience will be good. When the work is done, they may serve you for a change. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Put your efforts into physical fitness programs or competitive sports. This is a great day to start that new health regimen you've been talking about. You are best not to discuss your personal life with others. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You could be quite erratic regarding your personal relationship. You are best not to retaliate if members of your household are trying to pick a fight. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Today is not the day to try to comer people by giving them ultimatums. Involvement in groups of interest will bring you in touch with important individuals. Channel your efforts into achieving your goals.
the podium. But it is what it is, I didn’t advance to the semi-finals … life goes on.” There was more frustration for the region in 50m freestyle. Vincentian Nikolas Sylvester won heat two in in a time of 25.64 seconds but the time was only good enough to leave him 61stoverall. “[The race] didn’t go as well as I expected time-wise but I’m glad I won my heat and got to represent my country well. It’s ok I guess,” the 16-year-old Sylvester said. Jordan Augier of St Lucia finished fifth in heat six in 23.28 to be 45th overall while Frantz Dorsainvil of Haiti was sixth in the opening heat in a time of 30.86, to be 85th overall. Renzo Tjon-A-Joe of Suriname won heat seven but his time of 22.23 was not enough to see him into the last 16. Guyanese Hannibal Gaskin also experienced disappointment in the men’s 100m butterfly when he finished second in 58.57 seconds in the opening heat, a time that was only good enough to leave him 42nd in the final ranking. The other Caribbean swimmer in competition on Thursday was Joanna Evans of the Bahamas who finished sixth in heat two in a time of 8:42.93. She was 23rd overall. American Katie Ledecky added an Olympic record of 8:12.86 in advancing to the final. She also holds the world record of 8:06.68.
Manuel and...
(From page 27) have been inspirations and mentors to me,” she said. “I think it means a lot, especially what’s going on in the world today with some of the issues with police brutality,” she added. “I think that this win kind of helps bring hope and change to some of the issues that are going on.” There was disappointment for Australia’s Campbell sisters with world champion Bronte finishing fourth and world record holder Cate, leading in world record time at the turn but fading at the finish to sixth. “I’ve always said that I didn’t need a gold medal to have self-worth and I guess that that’s being put to the test at the moment,” said Cate. London Olympic champion Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands finished fifth.
Guyanese runners fail to get past first round Guyanese runners Winston George and Brenessa Thompson failed to advance past the respective 400m and 100m qualifying events at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro last evening.
George finished fifth in his 400m heat, while Thompson managed 8th in her 100m first round heat as the athletics competition got underway yesterday with field and some track events.
Bulls seek semifinal... (From page 26) Dryden the Bulls should get the better of the Flames. However, the absence of Turner and the out of form We l c h a n d D r y d e n should be of concern for the Bulls. But these guys are quality players and should be ready for any challenge the Flames could pose to them tonight and be ready for a return clash against a Royals side which has hit top form in their win against the Bulls. On the other hand, the number one ranked Raiders are likely to face the Kwakwani side which
looked in formidable form as they defeated the Jets and should their form continue they should be too much for the Falcons. The Kwakwani side will have their top players in Dominique Douglas leading their way as he notched up 21 points in that win over the Jets and with Leonard Prmio and Evans Johnson showing good form Kwakwani should prevail against the Flames. In this light the focus will therefore be on the semifinals set for tomorrow where the Raiders and Royals await the results of tonight’s match-ups.
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Kaieteur News
Saturday August 13, 2016
Rage claim Faye Joseph Dominoes title
The victorious Rage team. (File photo) Rage chalked up 81 games to win the final of the Faye Joseph free entry dominoes tournament which was contested on Wednesday night at Gaulding Place, South Ruimveldt. Thunder placed second with 79 games while Gangster finished third on 77. Ron Callendar led Rage with 15 games while Mark We l c h g o t 1 4 . M a r k Rodrigues and Kevin Boston made 14 each for the runner-
up side, while Dereck Collymore and Shellon Collymore marked 14 apiece for Gangster who drew the bye to the final. Rage won the semi final encounter played earlier with 77 games ahead of Thunder on 67 and Amazon Warriors on 50. Shawn Morgan scored 17 and Welch 15 for Rage while Faye Joseph got 15 and Kevin Boston 14 for Thunder.
A m a z o n Wa r r i o r s ’ leading players were Kanhai Samaroo and Trevor Smith with 14 and 13 games respectively. Meanwhile, the Turbo tournament will continue on August 26 and 27 at the National Gymnasium and teams are asked to make contact with Mark Wiltshire on 665 5855, Faye Joseph on 685 1009 or Barbara Marshall on 663 8280.
Mohamed’s Enterprise agrees to upkeep MSC Pavilion Mohamed’s Enterprise of 29 Lombard Street Werk-enRust has agreed to support the development of Linden’s main sporting facility, the Mackenzie Sports Club. Managing Director of Mohamed’s Enterprise, Mr. Nazar Mohamed, yesterday met and had discussions with President of the MSC, Avrey Trim and 1st Vice President Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major at their Lombard location and cemented his intention of assisting the development of sports in the Mining Town. Mohamed Enterprise over the years has given tremendous support to various sporting activities
including the Kashif and Shanghai tournament over most of its 25 years of being staged both in Linden and in the City. Yesterday Mr. Mohamed pledged to cover the cost of painting the MSC Pavilion and to continue its maintenance. Trim and Major in return informed that the club will rename the Pavilion the ‘Mohamed’s Enterprise’ pavilion and will do the necessary branding. Mr. Mohamed acquiesced to the decision as he pledged to the continued development of the facility and sports in the area. He noted that many Lindeners do business
with his business place and apart from that it was part of his company’s effort to support youth and sport development. That aside, Mr. Mohamed informed that he will sponsor a Futsal football tournament in Linden which has been fixed for November. This tournament is expected to attract teams from several other areas outside of Linden including Georgetown. Details will be released at a later date. A f t e r w h i c h M r. Mohamed handed over the sponsorship dollars to Avery Trim for the initial painting of the MSC Pavilion.
3rd Rock Entertainment Open Basketball
Bulls seek semifinal berth against Flames tonight as upstarts Kwakwani face Falcons Reigning champions Half Mile Bulls are expected to win their group stage match when they face the challenge of Block 22 Flames tonight in game one, while wild card entrants Kwakwani, after they beat fourth rated Amelia’s Ward Jets in their first game, should prevail against
Bankers Trust Falcons and reach the final four when the 3rd Rock Entertainment Open Basketball Championship continues at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court. The Bulls come into this game seeking a semifinal’s place after losing their first game against third seed
Victory Valley Royals and must win against Flames to book their place and face Royals in one semifinal tomorrow night. An unlikely win by the Flames could end the reign of the Bulls and with such players like Terron Welch, Michael Turner and Travin (Continued on page 25)
Saturday August 13, 2016
Kaieteur News
PAGE 31
Kumar puts India in Manuel and Oleksiak command against tie for 100m free gold West Indies (Reuters) A devastating spell of swing bowling by Bhuvneshwar Kumar put India in command on the fourth day of the third test against West Indies in St Lucia on Friday. Kumar ripped through the middle order and tail, moving the second new ball both ways through the air and off the seam to pick up five wickets at the Darren Sammy Stadium in Gros Islet. Playing his first test in 19 months, he took five for 33 in 23.4 overs as West Indies lost their last seven wickets for 23 runs to be all out for 225 in the first innings. India then reached 157 for three by the close of play, 285 runs ahead, leaving captain Virat Kohli to ponder the best time to declare on the final day on Saturday. All of Kumar ’s dismissals were achieved with quality deliveries, three caught in the slips, one bowled and one lbw. “That was a spell of consistent, high-quality swing bowling,” said former West Indies player Jeffrey Dujon on television commentary. “He gave all the batsmen trouble, swung it in, swung it out, set up Marlon Samuels beautifully and really didn’t move too much from that tight off-stump line.” Samuels was perhaps Kumar’s most prized scalp, out for 48 when he was beaten by an inswinger that he chopped on to his stumps. One run earlier Jermaine Blackwood was caught at second slip off Kumar for 20. Opener Kraigg Brathwaite top-scored for West Indies with 64. Kohli went cheaply in India’s second innings, trapped lbw by Miguel Cummins for four after making just three in the first knock. Ajinkya Rahane (51) and Rohit Sharma (41) were unbeaten at stumps. India lead the four-test series 1-0.
Virat Kohli lets out a cry of anguish after an appeal is turned down, West Indies v India, 3rd Test, Gros Islet, 4th day, August 12, 2016 ©AFP
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) Canadian Penny Oleksiak and Simone Manuel of the United States were inseparable at the finish and even more united in joy after a stunning 100 meters freestyle dead-heat rewarded both with Olympic gold on Thursday. Both women, one 16 and the other 20 and very much part of a new wave in swimming, touched the wall in 52.70 seconds as the crowd gasped at the times flashing up on the scoreboard. Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom, the Olympic 100m butterfly champion who took the bronze in 52.99, was astonished. “I think that was a big shock for everyone in the final. Everyone had to watch the result many times before we understood what happened ... the biggest surprise so far in this competition,” Sjostrom said. It was the second time the
women’s 100 freestyle had ended in such a fashion — the 1984 Los Angeles Games saw a tie between Americans Nancy Hogshead and Carrie Steinseifer in 55.92. That was the first double gold in Olympic swimming and it came after the timing was reduced from a thousandth of a second to a hundredth following a controversial dead-heat in t h e 1 9 7 2 m e n ’s 4 0 0 individual medley. Then, Sweden’s Gunnar Larsson was awarded the gold ahead of Tim McKee of the U.S. At the 2000 Sydney Games, another 21.98 second dead-heat saw Anthony Ervin of the United States and team mate Gary Hall Jr each awarded the 50m freestyle gold. “It’s amazing to tie for gold. I never thought I’d win. She deserves it as much as me,” said Oleksiak, the first athlete born in the 21st century to claim an Olympic
gold in an individual event. “I’m only 16 so it’s pretty insane to win a gold medal in your first Olympics.” She was only seventh at the turn but powered back on the final 50 meters with a frenzied, head-down final 15 meters to the wall. Oleksiak has now collected four medals from Rio — the most by a Canadian at a summer Games — winning a 4x100 freestyle bronze on the opening day of the competition, followed by a 100 butterfly silver and another bronze in the 4x200 freestyle. AFRICAN-AMERICAN Manuel’s first gold also comes at her first Olympics where she too, as an AfricanAmerican swimmer, also carried a particular resonance. “This medal is not just for me, it’s for some of the African-Americans that have come before me and (Continued on page 25)
Kaieteur News
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Ayana wins stunning gold, denies doping Almaz Ayana (ETH) of Ethiopia poses next to a display with her timing after setting a new world record. (REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson) -
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reeuters) Olympic athletics got off to an astonishing start on Friday when Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana smashed a 23year-old world record to win the greatest-ever women’s 10,000 meters and then had to deny suggestions that her performance was fueled by drugs. The world 5,000 meters champion, running only her second 10,000 meters, ripped the field apart to finish in 29 minutes 17.45 seconds, an incredible 14 seconds inside the previously untouchable 29:31.78 set by China’s Wang Junxia in 1993. Kenya’s world 10,000 meters champion Vivian Cheruiyot took silver and though she was far behind, her time of 29:32.53 was still the third-fastest ever run. Ethiopian Tirunesh Dibaba, the double defending Olympic champion, took bronze. No woman had gone under 30 minutes in the last seven years, but the first four all did on Friday, and even though the field was spread all over the track, the first 13 finishers ran the best time of their lives, including five national records. After a bleak year of doping and corruption controversies it should have been an uplifting start to 10 days of athletics but, such was the magnitude of v i c t o r y, Ay a l a w a s immediately forced to deny using performanceenhancing drugs. “My doping is my training, my doping is Jesus. I am crystal clear,” she said through an interpreter. Sarah Lahti, who
finished 12th in a Swedish record having taken 26 seconds off her own best, q u e s t i o n e d Ay a l a ’ s performance while marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe said in commentary for the BBC: “I’m not sure that I can understand that. “When I saw the world record set in 1993, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. And Ayana has absolutely blitzed that time.” Doping remained on the agenda away from the track too as Bulgarian Silvia Danekova’s positive test for EPO was confirmed. The 33-year-old, who was due to compete in the women’s 3000 meters steeplechase on Monday, denied taking any drugs and blamed her test on her country’s links with Russia. “I feel robbed emotionally,” she said. “But we’re coming from the east, we’re too close to Russia.” Virtually all of Russia’s track and field team have been excluded from the Rio Games following revelations of state-backed doping. Kenya’s sprint coach John Anzrah was told he could face criminal charges after he was sent home for posing as an athlete in a dope test. The country’s athletics manager Michael Rotich has already been sent home but he was suspended by the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF)’s ethics commission on Friday following allegations of corrupt practices surrounding antidoping. OPENING ACTION
The disappointing aspect of the opening morning’s action was the sparse crowd to witness the fireworks. There were only a scattering of fans to see the opening events, men’s discus qualifying and heptathlon hurdles, though the numbers swelled in time for the 10,000 meters. Games spokesman Mario Andrada said that 58 percent of tickets had been sold for the session, though only around 25 percent of seats looked occupied. “ W e a r e n o t disappointed,” he said. “We understand without local heroes and athletes some of the local public takes longer to fall in love with track and field but the fact that they can see Usain Bolt and iconic athletes will help.” Briton Jess Ennis-Hill got off to a good start in the defense of her heptathlon title with an impressive 12.84 seconds 100 meters hurdles on a wet track - blue for the first time at the Olympics. H o w e v e r, s h e w a s outshone by compatriot Katerina JohnsonThompson, who cleared a British high jump record of 1.98 meters to lead after two events. With Dibaba missing out in the 10,000 meters, the way is now clear for Valerie Adams to become the first woman to win three successive athletics golds and she needed only one throw of 19.74 to lead the qualifiers for the shot put final scheduled for later on Friday. The other gold medal up for grabs on day one is in the men’s 20 km walk.
Saturday August 13, 2016
Alpha United lead list of transfers for new SEL season set to kick off in September Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United has signaled their intentions early that they are going full throttle to regain top club status in Guyana following their loss to Slingerz FC in the inaugural Stag Elite League Champion of Champions showdown. Slingerz won the Genesis leg of the league while Alpha prevailed in the Finale but the former won the champion of champion face off to take top club status in Guyana. Not satisfied with not being the #1, Alpha has strengthened their roster by adding 12 new signings as indicated on the list of transfers released by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) for the new season. The GFF in a release said that it has facilitated a total
of 37 transfers (inclusive of 3 international) with Alpha leading the way followed by Fruta Conquerors and Georgetown Football club with 7 and six respectively. The other clubs named taking in new players are Pele Football Club (3), Slingerz Football Club (2), Northern Rangers Football Club (2), while there was one each for Buxton United FC, Riddim Squad FC, Snatchers FC, Stewartville FC and Winners Connection FC. The GFF noted that the tally was finalised at the end of the designated transfer window, which ended on July 31, 2016 and included transfers from the Trinidad a n d To b a g o F o o t b a l l Association and the US Soccer Association.
The international transfers saw Pernell Shultz being loaned to the Alpha United Football Club and Domini G a r n e t t ’s l o a n b e i n g extended for the season, both from Caledonia AIA (Trinidad & Tobago) and Kevin Beaton permanently engaged to the Georgetown Football Club from the Brooklyn Italians Soccer Club. The GFF’s Competition Director, Ian Alves, said the transfer period was incidentfree with the bulk of activity happening in the final week of the transfer window. The GFF’s pre-season transfer period began on June 1, 2016. The next season is scheduled to commence in September 2016. Please find the full list below.
GKC delighted Karate now an Olympic medal sport The Guyana Karate College (GKC) has received with pure delight and gratification, the news that the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has agreed at its 129th IOC session in Rio de Janeiro recently, to allow the martial art of Karate-do as one of five additional sports that will be part of the next Olympics that will be held in Tokyo, Japan in the summer of 2020, a release from the GKC stated. Senior Instructor and Vice President of the GKC Sensei Jeffrey Wong advised that with just four years to go and to prepare for Guyana to be represented at these games, his college intended to spare no effort in preparing to play its part in seeing Guyana represented and putting up an honourable and possibly a medal winning performance in Tokyo, a tall order bearing in m i n d t h a t o n l y approximately 80 martial artists from around the world will qualify to vie for medals in Japan. He underscored the need for instructors and dojos to have the correct technical background and knowledge to prepare their Karatekas for the games. Since its establishment a decade ago, the GKC has done a phenomenal job of
Sensei Jeffrey Wong keeping the Golden Arrowhead flying high bringing in more medals than any other Karate organization in Guyana when they competed at the ISKF and IKD world tournaments both of which were held in Toronto, Canada, at the Pan American Championships, the South American Cup and the Caribbean Karate Championships held in St. Lucia, Barbados and Trinidad. He expressed the belief that the IOC took a historic step in bringing the Games to young martial artists and will allow young Karatekas from around the world the chance of a lifetime to realize their dreams of competing in
the Olympic Games, the world’s greatest sporting stage and to inspire them to achieve their best, both in karate and in life. Media/Public Relations Consultant for the GKC Waynewright Orderson said that officials from the various karate organizations from around the world for decades now have laboured to get karate added to the Olympics, with some martial artists even believing that it would never happen due to the fact that the Olympics already had three striking sports those being Judo, Boxing and Taekwondo and the variation of styles within Karate-do, and so its inclusion was a victory for all of the Karate Senseis, athletes, officials, organizers and volunteers who worked tirelessly for this dream to become a reality. The Guyana Karate College is focusing at the moment on seeing the completion of its new dojo and headquarters in Lilliendaal which is presently under construction, to better accommodate and facilitate training both in the physical and theoretical aspects of karate-do at the highest level for Karatekas from Guyana and beyond, and the hosting of local and international tournaments.
Prime Minister Nagamootoo receives special edition Amazon Warriors bat Guyana’s Prime Minister Moses V. Nagamootoo was Thursday (August 11, 2016) presented with an autographed bat by the Guyana Amazon Warriors’ Manager, Omar Khan. The bat bore the signatures of all the members of the Guyana Amazon Warriors team that featured in the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2016. Khan said it is customary for the team to present senior government officials with special autograph bats as means of saying thank you for the support given to the Amazon Warriors. Upon receiving the memorabilia, Prime Minister Nagamootoo said he was very happy with the team and despite not winning the tournament they gave Guyanese fans lots to be proud of. The Warriors played four matches in Guyana with sold out crowds showing their support for the home team.
Nigel Hinds resigns from National Sports Commission Nigel Hinds resigned yesterday from the National Sports Commission (NSC) with immediate effect after serving just under a year. Hinds is incumbent Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) President. At the time of his resignation yesterday, he was Vice-Chairman of the Commission. Below is the full text of the email sent to Kaieteur Sport.
“I hereby resign with immediate effect from my post as a Commissioner of the National Sports Commission. Many thanks to all those who have supported me during my stint as Commissioner, and those who assisted greatly with sourcing funds that allowed Guyana to host the 2016 CBC U16 Games during our Golden Jubilee Year of Independence”.
Nigel Hinds
Guyana Ladies destroy Bermuda 5-0 Prime Minister Moses V. Nagamootoo (left) collects an autographed Guyana Amazon Warriors bat from team Manager Omar Khan. The Amazon Warriors finished the league stage at the top of the points table with seven victories in 10 matches. The most consistent team then progressed to their third final in four years with a four-wicket victory
over the Jamaica Tallawahs. The Warriors failed to lift their maiden title giving the Tallawahs their second crown becoming the first team to win the championship more than once.
Volleyball resumes in Berbice after a break due to inclement weather Vo l l e y b a l l a c t i o n resumes in Berbice tomorrow, Sunday 14th August, after a break due to the inclement weather as the B e r b i c e Vo l l e y b a l l Association (BVA) season continues. Te a m s a r e b u s y preparing to take to the court for one day competition which is sponsored by the Corriverton Jets Volleyball Club and organized by the BVA. The competition will
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take place at the Skeldon Line Path ground and first serve is expected at 09:00 hrs. A number of teams are expected to participate including seven (male and female) teams from the Orealla/ Siparuta area up the Corentyne River. Among other expected to participate are Rollers, No.52 Survivals, Jets, Tain Humanitarian, Port Mourant Jaguars, PMTC, GTCPM, Three Doors strikers, Black
Bush and Berbice High School. Other teams are also expected to be a part of the competition. A full day of volleyball is anticipated as the teams are expected to compete in the senior male, B division junior and the female categories. Incentives will be presented to the top teams in the various categories and the outstanding individual players. (Samuel Whyte)
Guyana began its bid to retain the Ladies Team Title at the Caribbean Squash Championships at the Queens Park Oval Squash Courts, Trinidad on Thursday Evening. They made a clean sweep of Bermuda winning five matches to nil with two matches won by walkover. Ashley Khalil and the Wiltshire sisters all won very
handily against their opponents. The Veteran’s team also played its second match Thursday only to come up one win short of an upset against the defending Veteran’s team champions. Ramon Chan-A-Sue (40+) and Alwyn Callendar (60+) won for Guyana. Guyana were scheduled to play the
OECS yesterday. The men’s team, without number one player Sunil Seth who is out due to torn ligaments in his ankle, were to begin their quest for the Men’s Team title yesterday when they come up against Jamaica and the Cayman Islands in the evening. Results from Thursday Evening:
NDC overcome Baksh XI
Wolf’s Challenge Cup continues on Sunday The Wolf’s Challenge Softball Cup is set to continue tomorrow with matches at Malteenoes SC a n d G a n d h i Yo u t h Organisation grounds. At MSC, Regal Masters will take on Mike’s Wellman at 10:00hrs, while Albion Masters will face Parika Defenders at 13:00hrs on pitch one.
Floodlights will tackle Fisherman Masters at 10:00hrs, Mike’s Wellwoman will battle Trophy Stall Angels at 13:00hrs and 4R Lioness will challenge Blue Divas at 14:30 hrs on pitch two. At GYO, Superior Woods will match skills with Savage Masters at 1 0 : 0 0 h r s a n d Wo l f ’s
Warriors Masters will play Tropical Springs at 13:00hrs. Meanwhile, Parika Defenders beat Tropical Springs by six wickets in their latest encounter. Batting first, Tropical Springs made 89-9 in 15 overs, while Defenders responded with 90-4 in 13.4 overs. Aftar Khan got 34.
The victorious New Doctors Clinic team. Samuel Whyte New Doctors Clinic (NDC) defeated Nadir Baksh XI by 48 runs in a 10over softball fixture played recently at Everest Cricket Club. Batting first, NDC posted 166 all out in 10 overs
with Kellon Carmichael and Wayne Joseph scoring 27 each. A. Ali and A. Bissoon claimed three wickets apiece. Baksh XI were bowled out for 118 in 9.4 overs in
reply. F. Thomas slammed an even half century while Y. Ali got 27; Marcus Watkins claimed three wickets while Joseph and Gavin Singh had two each.
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Saturday August 13, 2016
Record 120 entries received for $30M Guyana Cup Horse race meet 16 horses to start in feature “A” class event The 10th Annual Guyana Cup Horserace meeting has attracted a record 120 entries. According to the organisers it is the first time that so many horses have been entered for a horserace event in Guyana which is being touted as the biggest and best. Despite the bevy of events for the holiday season the Guyana Cup is turning out to be the event to beat with its colossal $30M at stakes which includes cash, trophies and other memorabilia. Wi t h t h o u s a n d s o f overseas based Guyanese and visitors in the country for the holidays the venue is expected to be packed to capacity. Organized by the Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and racing stables in collaboration with the Port Mourant Turf Club the activity is set for tomorrow at the Port Mourant “Big Yard” Turf Club. Nine races are carded for the day. In an effort to accommodate the large
number of entries the organisers have made a few adjustments to the programme so that all the animals will have an opportunity to participate. The feature A and lower event has some 16 horses entered to compete for the sumptuous $4M and the Guyana Cup Trophy available for the winner from a whopping $8M package over 1800M. The event is expected to be a scorcher with horses such animals as CP Got Even, Score’s Even, Kings Knight, Just Call Me Boss, Princess She Not, Golden Blue Echo, Spit Fire, Plum Plum, Goodwill Boy, Lady Budapest, Climate Change, Blame the Jockey, Jack in My Style, Because I Say So, Bridal Stone Corner and the newly imported Brave Sky out of the USA in the running. The 3 year old co-feature event for West Indies and Guyana bred horses over 7 ½ furlongs will be two events in one. The winner will race
Score’s Even of the Simple Royal Stable during training away with $2M and trophy; however the Guyana bred horses have an opportunity to win $300,000 if they fail to place in the top three as they will also be judged separately. The two year old event remains for Guyana Bred horses for the $400,000 first prize and trophy over 1100M. The E and lower event which goes for 1300M for a take home of $800,000 and trophy. The G1 and Lower and West Indies and Guyana open event is for horses that haven’t started since August 30th 2015. The winning prize is $650,000 and trophy over 1200M. H1 and lower 1200M event for West Indies bred horses that have not started since
Newly imported Brave Sky out f the USA of the Nand Persaud Karibee Rice Stable
August 30th 2015 is for a $400,000 first prize and trophy. The second H class event is for H and lower Guyana Bred and H3 West Indies Bred maiden and 3 years non-earners of over $150,000. The distance is 6furlongs for a winner’s money of $350,000 and trophy. The J class event is now for J2 horses 4 years and over and all L class winners 4 years and over. The first prize is $350,000 and trophy over 6furlongs. The L and lower 1100M event is now for maiden horses over 6 ½ furlongs for a winning purse of $250,000 and trophy. A number of foreign and overseas based jockeys will
be in action with some already in the country. Major sponsors on board for the event include Government of Guyana, Banks DIH Limited, Trophy Stall, Nand Persaud and Company, Digicel, Hand in Hand and the America Promotional group “Live By the Henny” of New York City. Among other animals set to race are Big Man Boss, Captain Crook, Quiet Strom, Cat Messiah, Appealing Harvest, Release the Beast, Plum Plum, Perfect Wind Storm, Keep On Swinging, Wise Secret, Rosetta, Super Bowl, It’s My Turn, It’s My Choice, Cat Messiah, Valtimore, Witchy Poo, Red Rocket, Isn’t She Charming
Firing Line, Super Cat, Royal Jet, Perfect Gold, King Stanley, Awesome Cash, Flash Again, Natural Beauty and Seven Dust. The top Jockey along with the runner up, the top stable and champion trainer will all be presented with trophies and other incentives compliments of the organizers and Trophy Stall. Contact can be made with Chandu Ramkissoon (624-9063, 232-0633), Ramnauth 337-5311 or 6971979 and Sancho 6900569 for any details on the event. Race time is 12:30 hrs. The coordinator is Nasrudeen (Jumbo Jet) Mohamed, Jr. (Samuel Whyte)
Guyana Cup horserace fans asked to note NAMILCO/GFF Thunderbolt Flour Power Nat. U-17 League bridge closing time UDFA matches continues today at Wisburg ground Fans attending tomorrow’s Guyana Cup horserace meeting at the Port Mourant Turf Club must take note of the closing time of the Berbice River Bridge, that’s the word of Organiser Nazrudeen ‘Jumbo Jet’ Mohammed Jnr. He warned horseracing fans heading to the event to ensure that they monitor the closing time of the bridge to ensure they do not miss out on any of the action. Mohammed Jnr.
Disclosed that according to advice from the bridge’s management, the bridge will close between the hours of 1:30pm to 3:00pm. Turfites attending the Guyana Cup must ensure they cross the facility before the scheduled 1:30pm closing or they will have to wait until after 3:00pm and will miss a big part of the action. Horse owners and all others concerned with tomorrow’s race programme are also asked to take note.
Action in the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) leg of the GFF/Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 League is set to continue today at the Wisburg Sec o n d a r y S c h o o l ground with a double header. Milerock and Botofago will face off in the feature match at 15:00hrs with the curtain raiser bringing together High Stars and Netrockers. In the lone match that was played on Wednesday last at the same venue, Eagles United and Amelia’s Ward Panthers battled to a 00 stalemate. The other match that was scheduled between Milerock and Botofago was not played as a result of bad weather.
A section of the damaged Den Amstel Community ground.
West Demerara FA – Damaged Den Amstel ground halts matches Matches at the Den Amstel ground, the hub for the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) had to be halted abruptly due to the field being damaged as a result of a vehicle being driven on it while it was
soft. Persistent rain over the past six weeks or so have rendered many fields in the various associations unplayable but WDFA President Orin Ferrier says he is optimistic that play would resume next weekend. He said that Den Amstel
is their main hub since the grounds at Wales and Goed Fortuin on the West Bank and Uitvlugt on the West Demerara are not in playable conditions. ”We are trying every avenue to have more grounds available to us so that we can have matches being played on a consistent basis,” Ferrier noted. Essequibo Football A s s o c i a t i o n In latest play there, Queenstown and Henrietta United both got walk overs from Good Hope and Super 11, respectively. Matches will not be played in Georgetown, East Coast and East Bank Football Associations this weekend as these associations are working on making their available facilities playable.
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YK Investments Pawn Shop continues Ramdhnai to start 5-year support for Boyce/Jefford Classic VII Badminton Academy next month -Sponsors Male Long Jump Event
Proprietor of YK Investments Pawn Shop, Harry Yenkana (right) hands over the sponsorship to Edison Jefford yesterday at the Regent Street business place. The Boyce & Jefford Track and Field Classic continued to receive support from YK Investments Pawn Shop yesterday when the entity officially handed over its sponsorship to the meet for seven consecutive years, rejoining a group of notable sponsors. Proprietor of YK Investments Pawn Shop, Harry Yenkana said that it is important that the entity
continue to partner with the sports event as it grows into what he described as “a very big sports competition for Linden and all Guyana”. There will be eight international races at this year’s Boyce & Jefford Classic that will attract cash prizes of US$250, US$150 and US$100 for first to third for a total of US$500 or GUY $100,000. YK
Investments sponsored the male Long Jump international event. The International Events include: Males: 200m, 800m, Long Jump and Javelin; Females: 200m, 1500m, Triple Jump and Javelin. A total of GUY $800,000 or US$4000 will be handed out in the eight International Events in addition to a total of $2M to the top four Clubs.
To be a champion in sports you have to have these four factors Dedication, Time, Discipline & Sacrifice and Sunburst National Badminton player Narayan Ramdhnai has mastered all four and was rewarded by signing a five year contract with Shuttlesport Badminton Academy located in Vancouver Canada. The Guyanese will be working towards qualifying for the 2020 Olympics and the Canadian Academy will see him through college and university. “After reaching 53 ranked in the world he was approached by 5 i n t e r n a t i o n a l Universities/Clubs and we favored Shuttlesport which had all the right conditions to take him to his goals in Badminton and his education,” His Coach and Father Gokarn Ramdhnai informed. Narayan takes up this
scholarship in September 2016 where he will attend the Douglas College based in Vancouver and start his training with Shuttlesport Badminton Academy. This achievement did not come overnight as this player started at the age of 4 years old, attend his first international tournament at 6 and continued in an upwards direction winning all his age group tournaments locally. He then moved on to be Guyana’s Junior and Senior Champion and continued to dominate in the Caribbean, Pan American and South America Tournaments and although still a junior player, qualified and played the senior events at the CAC Games 2014 in Veracruz Mexico, the Pan Am Olympic Festival 2014 in Xalapa Mexico & the Pan Am Games 2015 in Toronto Canada.
Narayan Ramdhnai
t r o Sp Kumar puts India in command against West Indies
Mohamed’s Enterprise agrees to upkeep MSC Pavilion
Bhuvneshwar Kumar celebrates the wicket of Marlon Samuels, West Indies v India, 3rd Test, Gros Islet, 4th day, August 12, 2016 ©Associated Press
Manuel and Oleksiak tie for 100m free gold
Managing Director of Mohamed’s Enterprise, Nazar Mohamed (centre) presents the sponsorship to MSC President Avrey Trim in the presence of 1st VP Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major yesterday.
Ayana wins stunning gold, denies doping
Simone Manuel and Penelope Oleksiak celebrate winning joint gold medals and also jointly breaking an Olympic record. (REUTERS/Dominic Ebenbichler)
Guyanese runners fail to get past first round
Almaz Ayana (ETH) of Ethiopia crosses the finish line first to set a new world record. (REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson)
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