Wednesday August 09, 2017
This GuySuCo Director is publicizing his ignorance DEAR EDITOR, I refer to Mr. E.B. John’s letter to print media (Aug. 3rd, 2017) titled “Letter was full of assumptions”. Editor, it is clear that, this GuySuCo Director is bent on either propagandizing subjects or publicizing his ignorance, incompetence & stupidity – words of Anthony Vieira. Based on the questions Mr. John posed I am compelled to provide a response to ensure that this nation is not poisoned with pure nonsense emanating from a high corporate office. Firstly, if Mr. John has a modicum of research skill or simple courtesy to enquire from Estate or Ministry of Agriculture staff, he would learn that the Albion ethanol plant is a joint project involving the Ministry of Agriculture and GuySuCo and funded mainly by InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) through a technical cooperation (TC) to assist Government of Guyana in defining a critical path for the Agro-Energy sector through support of small scale bio-energy demonstration programmes and dissemination of results. In other words, the IDB, in support of Government’s efforts, assessed the project, and approved funding to support
an intended policy position on Agro-Energy. The end-result is a model plant that employs technologies from Brazil and Canada at a cost that was publicized in the media. Apart from achieving each project objective such as flows, ethanol quality, percent fuel blend, blend quality, etc. the plant produced ethanol continuously for GuySuCo’s internal use until mid-2015. In addition to this, it served as a training and investigative ground for a number of University of Guyana students who completed final year research papers for their Bachelor’s Degree programme, doing specific studies in the various processes employed. Mr. John, the Albion ethanol plant became “nonoperational” and is in “nonproduction” mode after mid2015 because GuySuCo’s uniquely incompetent CEO dictated that op e r a tions cease. This is a certain fact. Secondly, the outdated technologies being referred to in sugar factories and the need for replacements are not unique to a sugar factory in Guyana. Typically, the transition of factory from a producer of one type of product to another takes many years and huge capital sums. In our case, that process commenced with
Blairmont facility in the early 2000’s to upgrade it from a raw bulk producer to a direct consumption producer, a process which continued on in the 2008-20011 period at the Enmore facility. In a rather mindboggling way, GuySuCo has chosen to close operations of its most equipped direct consumption factory at end of 2017. This is a certain fact. Thirdly, the Skeldon Factory will always appear as a puzzle to the incompetent. The present CEO of GuySuCo was a Director for the company that designed Skeldon Factory, supervised its construction & testing and final handing over. If it is now a puzzle for him, then, that explains the uniqueness of his incompetence. In any case, he is quite familiar with the Skeldon puzzle. That is a certain fact. Fourthly, to use the Brazil example to seemingly argue a position that ethanol may not be a good option is rather disingenuous. It is simply because Brazil’s industry is equipped with factories capable of directing its juice from sugar to ethanol or vice versa at a moments’ notice depending on market prices. That is a certain fact. Mr. John, can you answer the questions in my previous letter? Sookram Persaud
City Hall’s non-tender awards should be investigated DEAR EDITOR, CITY HALL has awarded non-tender contracts to three new garbage companies. This event should send out alarm bells ringing at all levels of the media. Awarding such contracts is a huge problem for this country. It is a major source of corruption. In every one of these non-tender selections of contractors for whatever services (drug storage bonds, garbage collections, road repairs etc.) the govt. of the day selects their “friends” and favour them with a lucrative contract. No transparency whatsoever! And, in every one of these contracts, the Company pays “kickbacks” (usually a fixed percentage). These kickbacks may end up in the pockets of top folks in the govt. who steer the contracts to their “friends/partners” some of these companies become the financiers for the party’s next elections’ campaign. I can prove my theory easily. Identify the “facilitating Ministers” in the govt. - and look at their assets at the end of 5-years.
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They will all own showpiece million dollar assets and investments. The value of their known assets will have no relationship to their salaries. Some Ministries because of the nature of their portfolios - Natural Resources (contracts to Oil and gold mining, Lumbar Companies); Communications (contracts to laying fiber optic cables, satellite/wireless communications); Works and Hydraulics (contracts to build and repair roads, kokers, stellings) – become facilitating vehicles for the Ministers in charge to become multimillionaires in a very short period of time. An effective Tender Board and United States RICO-type Laws are the only known anti-dote to stop corruption in these areas. A Criminal Investigation Dept. (CID) for white collar crimes practically doesn’t exist in Guyana. (RICO, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act provides for extended criminal penalties that usually lead to confiscations of all the gains from the bribery schemes). Mike Persaud
The Minister said sugar doesn’t have a future DEAR EDITOR, I read through a media report, that embattled Vice President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan is reported to have said, during a visit to the Caricom Cement factory on August 06, 2017, “that sugar doesn’t have a future”. This is a most disingenuous statement from the VP. The reason sugar doesn’t have a future is because of Mr Ramjattan and his Government’s incompetence in managing the affairs of the industry. Several persons and organisations have pointed to the value of the sugar industry in furthering national development and promoting rural social stability. But, for whatever reason, Ramjattan and company are intent on killing the industry and will kill a great part of rural coastal Guyana in the process. The Minister’s statement is poles apart from what he preached during the 2015
Elections Campaign. I recall his lusty serenades about the importance of the sugar industry and more so its workers. He reminded the nation that sugar was “too big to fail” and that the Coalition was going to fix it. Now what do we have - one estate closed, two more slated for closure and another up for sale. Certainly, no one having listened to Mr Ramjattan in 2015 would have imagined this is the fix he and his colleagues had in mind. The report also goes saying that the ‘goodly’ Minister lobbied the cement factory to hire some of the workers who would be displaced when Rose Hall is closed. But this is akin to a two-card con. The workers, who may be employed, would be engaged as labourers. Undoubtedly, their rates-of-pay and benefits would be very dissimilar from what they enjoyed as sugar workers. Furthermore, with excess labour supply in the area, clearly pay rates would be depressed. Patricia Persaud
There has to be a way to attract our folks to agriculture DEAR EDITOR, As a Guyanese with a multi-racial background, I am very familiar with the problems/issues/etc. affecting poor Guyanese of Indian and African descent. As regards our African brothers, they must be reminded that the money used to purchase villages by freed slaves did not come from gold mining, bauxite or government officials but from agriculture which was pursued on a part-time basis on small plots. Imagine what would have emerged if these slaves had pursued farming full time. On the other hand, our East Indian brothers took up the space left by their African brothers who were lured into office jobs, security services, etc. and completely displaced them. The rich East Indians were facilitated by the past government via a policy of h e l p i n g y o u r f a m i l y, relatives and friends first a n d s o i n c r e a s e d t heir stakes in every aspect of the economy and in so doing marginalized the dirt poor East Indians. Likewise, our African leaders facilitated the wholesale marginalization of poor Africans by not taking action to bring improvement
to their lives. All they did, and still do, is making fancy speeches, promising Heaven, etc. especially at election time. There are few role models in agriculture, fishing, construction, business. How else can you explain the situation at Hope Estate where there are one or two African farmers when the PNC was in government and even now? On the other hand, East Indian farmers, many not connected to the estate now control almost all the lands. The poor East Indians descendants of Hope Estate were encouraged to sell their tenanted lands to the rich East Indian farmers via handwritten Affidavits drafted by a Commissioner of Oaths and the transfer facilitated by a priest manager who boasted about looking after money Monday to Saturday and God
on Sundays. APNU government is aware of the situation and has documentary proof but seem not to care at all. Hence, the PPP government leaders are also guilty of marginalizing poor East Indians. The former Chairman of Hope Estate is APNU Coordinator for East Coast and West Berbice. While he is doing an excellent job meeting APNU constituents and other individuals, nothing is being done to solve the problems/ grievances/issues/etc. of African people. African brothers are back to square one, their marginalization facilitated by their leaders and the Community Development dinosaurs of Region 4 and the country, who have hijacked the executive of community development groups and now Continued on page 6
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This is the most progressive... From page 4 changing shapes of technology and new challenges arising there from. At the conception stage, this was taken into consideration and it was felt that the BA and its attending subsidiaries would go through several unavoidable changes during the imminent switch over to digital broadcasting. Therefore, there are many opportunities for adjustments and retuning, the BAB 2017 was not intended to be a one off, once-and-for-all, solution. 4. Even 5 years after the coming into force of the BA 2011 and the existence of the GNBA, broadcasting remains heavily under-regulated and it is high time the government stop paying lip service to sector reforms. The measures employed (in their current form) are both imperative and immediate. 5. Societies with a voluntary PSA system have strong Broadcasters and/or Motion Picture Associations with both hard and soft selfsanctions and selfregulations which Broadcasters generally need to adhere as a condition of their license. As it stands, Guyana has no functioning association of broadcasters which can be referred to in regulations. Therefore, in its place, a definitive written provision needs to be made and not until such time that
broadcasters are able to form themselves into a viable association with written rules for self-regulations will there be need to remove such provisions from the law. In societies with voluntary standards broadcasters must upon application for renewal of license prove that they met the minimum standards for airing PSAs as set out by their own Association. I do not know of any jurisdiction where airing of PSAs is entirely at the whim of individual broadcasters. At the time of assumption of the Chairmanship of GNBA I made available to the public a written vision statement in it is a stated aim to instigate the creation of an Association of Broadcasters. I am deeply aware and appreciative of the pivotal role it should play in regulating broadcasting. As far as I am aware that is still a goal of the GNBA and by extension the Government of Guyana. 6. During the time of crafting the main provisions of the BAB 2017, the prevailing conviction was that the present government is not averse to the idea of the state gradually getting out of the broadcasting business. In the likelihood of this reality it will therefore be untenable that a Government is left without unhindered access to the national airwaves to directly communicate its programs and policies to the
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
general population. 7. After assuming the Chairmanship of the GNBA in 2015, it was found that the Authority was without any documented or Board approved financial regulations, Human Resource policies or any other administrative policies. In fact, the Board did not even have Rules of Procedures, required by law, to govern its own conduct and operation. There were no GNBA sponsored broadcasting codes or guidelines completed or in progress, apart from the Broadcasting Regulations of 2014 governing fee structure there were no other regulations in progress, there were no systematic written policy for judging applicants based on merits and licenses were issued without substantive additional conditions – it was a chaotic no holds barred situation. The broadcasting landscape (and the Authority itself) was being regulated through an I-say-so scheme. At the time of leaving, all the aforementioned things were in an advance stage of preparation due mainly to my initiation. I admit that the current legislative framework is not perfect and needs several rounds of updates but given all the militating circumstances that currently exist, the recent passing of the BAB 2017, and its attending in-progress subsidiaries, is the most progressive and sincere step ever made towards real and impartial regulation of the Broadcasting sector since independence. Leonard Craig
Wednesday August 09, 2017
These mysterious plane crashes in our interior DEAR EDITOR, It’s very strange that, given Guyana’s good aviation record and standards, local aircraft are suddenly crashing. It’s one thing for planes to crash, but the frequency and location where those crashes now occur causes the mind to wonder. Within three weeks of the ill-fated crash of Roraima Airways BrittenNormandy Islander plane, 8RGRA, another plane 8R-GPR, owned by Wing’s Aviation, crashed at Eteringbang. Eteringbang is located less than a mile from Guyana’s western border near Venezuela, in the Essequibo region that is maliciously claimed by the Venezuelans. Eteringabng is the very place where over the years Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Soldiers have reportedly come under repeated provocative crossbordersgun-fire from the Fuerzas Armadas de Venezuela across the border. So now, two Guyanese aircraft have mysteriously (pending the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) investigations), crashed in that very area. Captain Collin Martin, a former GDF officer and one of our young and more experienced pilots, met his sudden demise when the Britten-Normandy Islander plane8R-GRA he was flying crashed at Eteringbang on July 25, 2017. On August 8, 2017, a Cessna airplane 8R-GPR, also crashed at Eteringbang. Fortunately, the young Pilot
There has to be a...
From page 5 micromanage their affairs. Finally, what poor African and East Indians need are not house lots but developed farmlands to prevent the further drift of people moving from agricultural areas to earn nonagricultural incomes. This will be greatly aggravated when APNU give the final rites to the sugar estates which were mutilated by the PPP over the years and are now managed by the same people who dissolved the sugar paradise. What we must realize is that when people move from agricultural areas to earn non-agricultural incomes, the country will be embedded and mired in eternal poverty and destitution. Let us heed the advice of Nation of Islam leader, Hon Louis Farakhan, who makes the point repeatedly that the wealth of the people of the Caribbean lies under their feet. If we fail to do so, we will see more crimes, violence and beggary. Ed Singh
Dominique Waddell, escaped unhurt. What is the probability those aircraft may have been the targets of snipers, or avionic cyber attackers? The Venezuelan government websites were attacked and compromised two (2) days prior to this latest Guyanese aircraft crash near their border. Venezuelan youths sought to disrupt Guyana’s prospects at the recently held international Global Robots Olympics in Washington DC. Venezuelan gangs brutally murdered a group of Guyanese miners just over a month ago. Venezuela has historically been hostile to Guyana, except for a lull under the late President Hugo Chavez. Venezuela continues
to occupy the eastern half of Ankoko, which is territory awarded to Guyana. Venezuela is now experiencing its worst internal instability and deadly conflict in decades. That country’s President Maduro even sought to distract the world from his internal political chaos by re-igniting Venezuela’s claim to our Essequibo over the past two (2) years, even attempting to re-write our maritime zone. Our Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) must diligently, expeditiously and relentlessly investigate these aircraft crashes so very close to our border with Venezuela. Most of all, our government and people must take note! Orette Cutting
A pensioner desperately begs the NIS for his entitlement DEAR EDITOR, I, the undersign hereby implore to your newspaper to permit me space to highlight my plight that I have been enduring from the National Insurance Scheme, the past two years. My name is Shivindra Sahadeo, NIS Number 845712-51 I attained the age of sixty on 16th February 2015 and I filed for my Old Age Benefit and was awarded an Old Age Grant on 28th April 2015. I made enquiries at the National Insurance Office’s Brickdam Pension Enquiry Unit on 28th April 2015 as to why I was awarded an old Age Grant and not an Old Age Pension and I was informed by an officer that some of my contributions were not taken into account to compute my claim since I was contributing to the scheme as a self employed contributor and those contributions were regarded as late paid contributions hence same were not used in computation. Subsequently I filed an Appeal on24th April 2015, to the National Insurance Scheme Board against the decision of the General Manager to award me an Old Age Grant, regardless of the fact that those contributions were paid late, I still endure the hefty interest rate and comply with payments.
I received a letter from the secretary of the National Insurance Scheme Board on the 29th June 20l7 which stated that my matter was brought before the NIS Board and the late paid contributions were waived and same would be used to review my benefit, Mr. Editor, to this date I have made numerous enquiries at the National Insurance Scheme Pension office and it seems like my case have become stagnant since no one can provide a definite answer as to the current status of my claim. I made numerous appeals to the Chairman of the National Insurance S c h e m e , D r. S u r e n d r a Persaud via email highlighting my plight that I am currently enduring to receive my pension however same proved futile. I a m a p e n s i o n e r. I suffered a stroke. Recently bandits broke into my home at the above mentioned address and assaulted me and my wife. It is unfair for me to visit the NIS office every week to find out on the status of my claim since I am immobile. I implore to the relative authorities to address my concern and bring my matter to a closure, since I cannot work relative to my current situation and have no other means to financially support me. Shivindra Sahadeo
Wednesday August 09, 2017
Kaieteur News
Defiant NBS appealing $79M judgment in wrongfully dismissed CEO case
Flabbergasted: Former CEO, Maurice Arjoon
Former Chairman, Dr. Nanda Gopaul
NBS Chairman, Floyd McDonald
DPP, Shalimar Ali-Hack
Mortgage lender, New Building Society (NBS), which late last month was ordered by the High Court to shell out that $70M to its former Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Maurice Arjoon, is refusing to pay up. The entity, through its lawyer, Ashton Chase, has within the last few days, instead, issued a Notice of Appeal, in a move that signaled Arjoon’s battle with that institution is far from over. Nine years have passed since the former CEO, and two of his managers, Kent Vincent and Kissoon Baldeo, were all arrested and charged with stealing over $60M. However, the men were exonerated and an independent Ombudsman investigation raised worrying questions why Arjoon and the managers were ever charged in the first place. Arjoon filed a High Court case seeking damages in excess of $500M and his pension and other benefits. After the matter dragged on for more than six years, Judge Brassington Reynolds in a decision last month awarded $79M in lost pension and other benefits. There were no awards for damages. Arjoon had long claimed that he and his managers were set up and charged, at the direction of former President Bharrat Jagdeo, after he refused to sink almost $2B of NBS money in the construction of the Berbice River Bridge.
The CEO claimed that the lending of NBS money in that manner would have been highly illegal, breaching financial laws. NBS later still went ahead, after the men were sacked, and purchased shares in the Berbice River Bridge. Yesterday, it was clear that the Arjoon family was frustrated by the refusal of NBS to pay the lost pension and benefits. Acknowledging that the mortgage company has signaled its intentions to appeal the judgment, Arjoon and his family in a statement shared on social media, that NBS had provided no acceptable reason why he was dismissed, and no objection on the pension claim, during the High Court case. FLABBERGASTED “I was therefore very
surprised when the judge “awarded” my pension due for the past 10 years and unpaid salary, but none of the $550M in damages and consequently, it is my opinion that I won the battle but NBS won the war.” Arjoon said that he decided to accept the esteemed judge’s ruling and expected that NBS would have done likewise. He “thanked God that this would finally be over and my family and I could finally move on after such an ordeal lasting over a decade.” However, the move by NBS to appeal the pension and other benefits he was entitled to came as a huge surprise. “Now I am extremely flabbergasted that the NBS has appealed the judge’s decision. My pension rights can only be denied if I am involved in fraud, and it was known by the (then) Board, even before I was wrongfully charged with the two managers, that we were never involved in any fraud.” Arjoon pointed out that his innocence was also proven during the NBS internal and external as well as Bank of Guyana investigations since 2007, and subsequently confirmed in court in 2010, and then by the late Ombudsman in 2014. NO FRAUD HERE “A Director (David Yhann) who has since resigned also stated publicly in 2012 in a letter to the media that the board was aware that the two managers and I were not involved in fraud but that it was the DPP (Shalimar AliHack) who said there was compelling evidence (the DPP never provided any during the 4 ½ years in court).” The former executive insisted that the Board of Directors of NBS is also aware that he has an exemplary three decades’ record with the institution with never even a warning letter. “…and I subscribed to a pension scheme for three decades to be paid pension at age 60, yet I was illegally Continued on page 11
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Wednesday August 09, 2017
Body of missing Crabwood Low-graded works on GMC office building… Ex-GM’s former assistant testifies Creek man washes up The search for 52-year-old Karamchand Parbudyal of Grant, 1651 Crabwood Creek came to an abrupt end yesterday when his son-in-law discovered the missing man’s body along the Number 73-74 Foreshore. Tanuja Parbudya, the daughter of the now deceased man, told this publication that her husband, together with other relatives continued the search for her father early yesterday morning. The search lead them to the aforementioned area when a body was spotted. Upon closer inspection by her husband, though swollen and discoloured, the missing man’s body was positively identified. The authorities were informed, and during their inspection of the remains no marks of violence were discovered. The corpse is presently at the Skeldon Public Hospital Mortuary awaiting a Post Mortem. Meanwhile, the three fishermen who were in company of Karamchand Parbudyal when he disappeared have since been released from police custody, as seventy-two hours would have already expired. This was confirmed by Divisional Head Paul Williams. Karamchand Parbudyal commonly called “Dar” ended up missing during a fishing trip with friends in the Corentyne waters on Saturday.
DEAD: Karamchand Parbudyal
The trial of Nizam Hassan and Felecia De SouzaMadramootoo, who are accused of conspiring with others to approve payments for low-standard works on the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) building, continued yesterday before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. Testifying was Ananda Persaud, the former Executive Assistant to Nizam Hassan, an ex-General Manager at GMC. Persaud who now works at the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) showed up in court to testify hours after the Chief Magistrate issued a warrant for her arrest. It is alleged that between October 28, 2010 and April 25, 2012, Hassan and De SouzaMadramootoo conspired with each other to continuously approve payments which were made to contractor of Constantine Engineering and Construction Services Limited, Trinidad and Tobago, for works that were incompetently and incorrectly done with inferior materials to rehabilitate the GMC building; knowing that such works should not have been approved.
CHARGED: Nizam Hassan, Former General Manager of GMC
CHARGED: Felecia De Souza-Madramootoo
Hassan of Good Hope, East Coast Demerara and De Souza-Madramootoo of Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, have both pleaded not guilty to the charge. They are each released on $250,000 bail with instructions to report to the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) until the determination of the matter. They are being represented by Attorneys-atLaw Marcel Bobb and Glenn Hanoman respectively. During her testimony, Persaud told the court that during her tenure at GMC, some of her duties entailed
preparing reports, payment requisitions and scheduling meetings. She said that when requisitions for payment are received they come in the form of invoices, quotations or letters. The witness said that they would then be dispatched to the Admin Office where they are stamped and recorded. According to Persaud, the items are then taken to the Accounts Department for preparation of payment requisitions. After the requisitions are prepared, she related that they are then sent Continued on page 12
Wednesday August 09, 2017
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President orders police promotions halted The Opposition is raising concerns about Government’s interference, after the Police Service Commission was purportedly written to late last month asking that all promotions be halted. The Opposition…the People’s Progressive Party (PPP)…in a statement yesterday disclosed it has come into possession of a letter that was sent to the independent Police Service Commission, which oversees promotions. A copy of the letter, released to the media, indicated that it was prepared
- Opposition says commission’s independence trampled by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon on behalf of President David Granger. In the letter dated July 26, addressed to the commission’s secretary, Marvalyn Stephens, Minister Harmon said that President Granger has “directed that there be no consideration of promotions for members of the Guyana Police Force by the Police Service Commission, until further notice”. The purported letter was
DEM BOYS SEH...
copied to the President. The statement from the Leader of the Opposition noted that the letter is but another “vulgar and authoritarian” attempt by the President to trample upon the independence and functional autonomy of a Constitutional agency. “The President and his Government continue, on a daily basis, to violate the rule of law, assault important democratic institutions and breach, in the most egregious fashion, the Constitution of
Cry fuh yuh own calf and Guyana is a calf
From de time he start he political campaign fuh de presidency, Donald Trump start talking ‘bout putting America first. People couldn’t vex wid him, because is always nice when people put dem country first. But some people does tek this thing too far. ExxonMobil come and dem boys want to know if it gun put America first and lef Guyana like Cinderella - like wha people seh it do wid some other countries. That is why dem boys seh Soulja Bai got to put Guyana first. He is de one controlling wha Guyana gun do when Exxon start to bring up oil and gas. He can’t allow Exxon to do stupidness. After all, everybody know that each cow does cry fuh it own calf. Soulja Bai got to cry fuh Guyana. He Ministers got to cry fuh Guyana too. Dem boys hope that when dem cry is not fuh dem pocket, because some things happening that got dem boys thinking funny things. Dem notice how some people quiet about certain things when it come to Exxon. After all, it was Soulja Bai who start talking ‘bout transparency. When he was getting ready to kick out Jagdeo, he promise that everything
he do gun be made known to de public. Well he still silent on de contract he sign wid Exxon. Everybody want to see it. Even de Chat-3 talking, although when Jagdeo sign de first one, he and all keep it secret. Dem boys want to know why Soulja Bai not releasing de contract. When you tek Exxon track record into consideration, he got to release de contract suh people can’t seh dem get kak. By not releasing de contract, dem boys want to know wha Soulja Bai hiding. It can’t be that Exxon got any secret for him, because he is a man who don’t do nutten wha he can’t do when everybody looking. He not like Jagdeo, who so accustom to hiding everything that at one time people use to call him hide and seek—hide wha he collect and seek more than he pocket can hold. Dem boys want to believe that some people who had early dealings wid Exxon get something to put in dem pockets and that is why dem and all silent. Talk half and mek sure you calf name Guyana.
the Co-operative Republic of Guyana,” the statement from the Leader of the Opposition said. It was pointed out that Article 226(1) of the Constitution clearly states: “In the exercise of its functions under the Constitution a Commission shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority”. The Police Service Commission is one of the commissions to which Article 226(1) makes reference. “By his directions, it is clear that the President Granger demonstrates absolute disrespect and disregard for the letter and spirit of the
Constitution and therefore, continues to contravene its provisions with impunity.” The Opposition made it clear that the nation has already witnessed similar unconstitutional actions by the President and his Government in respect to another significant Constitutional commission the Public Service Commission, whose
chairman, Carvil Duncan, was “hounded and persecuted out of office” because he refused to compromise and sell his integrity and independence and that of the Public Service Commission, to this Government. “We urge the Police Service Commission not to succumb to these unconstitutional and unlawful directives but to continue to discharge its mandate in the manner provided for by the Constitution.”
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Wednesday August 09, 2017
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN...
I find UG Chancellor Harris’ words offensive I don’t want to single out for criticism any diaspora personality who has returned here to work. In two previous columns on the Vice Chancellor of UG, I carefully worded my paragraphs to avoid any personal remarks on him. I have dealt with UG as a microcosm of the larger society, and in another column I looked at the issue of the diaspora. I am not interested in the personality of UG Vice Chancellor Ivelaw Griffith, its Chancellor Professor Nigel Harris, and former UG
academic, Dr. Mark Kirton. This column is about the diaspora as an issue. I would have to make reference to Griffith, Harris and Kirton, but the names are mentioned here only in relevance to the discussion of the issue. I am not opposed to qualified diaspora Guyanese having employment here. I am inflexibly opposed to that process only if we have locals who are eligible. And we have. There is a phrase we use in local lingo, “the trenches.” Locals with the requisite qualifications have been in
the trenches, living here in Guyana the past thirty-five years (35 years is a long time to live in the trenches). The diaspora talents that are back in GT have not even seen the trenches, much less to have stepped in them. It is for this reason I endorse the employment of former soldiers. I did an entire column in support of such employment (see my June 11th article, “Former soldiers and diaspora Guyanese in state employment.”). Many of those soldiers I taught at UG; they stayed in their
country with their university degrees. UG has opened up a Diaspora Engagement Centre, and its acting head is quoted in the newspaper yesterday as saying he would come back to Guyana if the conditions are right. Here is a Freudian admission that things aren’t right in Guyana. But many of us stayed, one of whom is Dr. Mark Kirton, who remained at UG for thirty-two years while others went away and never came back. Things still are not right, but we are still here and have not asked for super salaries. I was educated in a “First World” country so I know about lands. At age sixty-five, what has the developed world to offer some of these diaspora Guyanese? So they kill two mosquitoes with one stone (don’t like the use of the words, birds”). They have nothing to do in the industrial world, but they come back to Guyana at their retirement age and get the jewel and the crown. And our visionless politicians in power are too unconcerned to detect the con. In a polemic on this subject, I find the words of UG Chancellor, Professor
Nigel Harris deeply offensive. Speaking on the coronation of the 10th Vice Chancellor, Ivelaw Griffith, he told his audience that we do not know the personal sacrifice Griffith made to come to Guyana. Let me repeat for the umpteenth time; the emphasis is not the man Griffith, it is the issue. But maybe Harris or Griffith himself can tell us about Griffith’s sacrifice. Dr. Griffith, Dr. Kirton, former Chancellor Carl Singh and I were students at UG at the same time. We all left at the same time for higher degrees in the “First World”. Dr. Griffith didn’t come back until 2016. In an interview with the Stabroek News, he said for the thirty-six years he was abroad he learnt a lot about the world. I would like to go on record as saying for those thirty-six years I have been in Guyana and in the trenches with Kirton, Singh and others, we have learnt a lot about our country, Guyana. Pardon my chauvinism, but I think I am a little expert on Guyana. As for Professor Harris, he left forty years ago and has never returned. He retired as
Frederick Kissoon Vice Chancellor of UWI two years ago and lives outside. These are not personal or personalized statements on any names mentioned here, but the context is germane to the polemic on the diaspora. Harris said that Griffith is back to help with the transformation of Guyana. Harris made no mention that why the university is still standing is that while he and Griffith were working for other universities, some academics, using meagre salaries and working with non-existent resources, kept UG alive. I end with a story about the great basketball player, Stephen Curry. He agreed to take a salary cut so his team could retain some of his colleagues he plays with by making funds available to keep them. I call that nationalism. Our diaspora returnees should emulate Curry.
Wednesday August 09, 2017
Kaieteur News
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GRA officials “sailing” Chief Prison Officer interdicted, as cops step up drug-smuggling probe on Exxon contract Even senior operatives of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) are at a loss when it comes to the contractual arrangement between the Government of Guyana and oil giant ExxonMobil. This leaves the tax authority facing a precarious situation. It is preparing to collect revenues from the looming oil industry, but has no idea of how the revenue will flow. This newspaper understands that some key officials of GRA were recently embarrassed in a meeting the Authority had with ExxonMobil. The officials were essentially sailing. One officer said, “I couldn’t understand the purpose of the meeting, because most of us are not aware of what is going on.” From all indications, it is only the Commissioner-General, Godfrey Statia who has access to the contract, “so he probably knows what is going on, but the rest of us don’t.” One employee explained, “We know that there are a few moles at GRA, so probably that is why they are being so careful with the document.” Another official confirmed this to be the case. The official said that information is leaked even to political parties “but at the end of the day, threy are some people at the entity who need to familiarize themselves with the document.” Employees are contending that Exxon is somehow being given the upper hand when the relevant professionals are not given the opportunity to familiarize
- employees face embarrassment at recent meeting with oil giant themselves with the document. That employee continued, “If this trend continues, the boss will be forced to micromanage. He will have to give orders daily when the unit is step up.” In ExxonMobil’s Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), the company lists GRA as a regulatory body. Exxon said, “The Project is subject to various regulatory requirements as further described in Chapter 3 of the EIA, as well as the conditions established by the Guyana EPA upon issuance of the environmental authorization for the Project, and the conditions of the Petroleum Production Licence and approval of the Project Development Plan by the GGMC. Other Guyana government agencies including, but not limited to, the Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Civil Defense Commission (CDC), and Maritime Administration (MARAD) have regulatory authority over aspects of the Project.” Exxon also listed revenuesharing as a main feature of the Liza Phase one Project. In fact, revenue sharing was listed as one of the main benefits that will be generated to the people of Guyana. Exxon said Guyanese will benefit, “through revenue sharing with the Government
of Guyana, although the details of this revenue sharing is confidential. The type and extent of benefits associated with revenue sharing will depend on how decision makers in government decide to prioritize and allocate funding for future programs.” It was also noted that a “confidential Petroleum Agreement between Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), Hess, Nexen, and the Government of Guyana defines how revenues from the Project are to be shared between the parties. The Government of Guyana would begin receiving oil revenues when oil is produced.” While GRA officials acknowledge that the “confidentiality” aspect of this can be understood, they are contending that “this is supposed to be Guyana’s most confidential agency, we deal with taxes. I think that they can even let employees sign specific confidentiality agreements. But the point is these officers need training, how are the men on the front line going to work if they do not know what they have to do? Dealing with revenue from Exxon is not like dealing the ordinary company, that is why a department has to be set up in the first place. Would the employees manning this department be left in the dark forever?”
Defiant NBS appealing $79M judgment... From page 7 dismissed six months before retirement. My pension rights have therefore been illegally denied from the inception 10 years ago; a blatant violation of the Terminations and Severance Pay Act (TESPA) which is continuing with the non-payment to date!” Arjoon said that his retirement benefits are also due to be paid by NBS as was done with his predecessors, in addition to three months paid retirement leave. However, the officials said NBS failed. “Further. on the morning of June 1, 2007 prior to the charge, the two managers and I were called to a meeting with the board and we were told that the police said they had evidence against us and a commitment was made by the Board to pay our salary and benefits until the conclusion of the case, and to also repay all legal fees incurred. Days later, our salary and benefits were taken away without any reason provided.” The former CEO said that during the High Court trial, it was also proven, without a doubt, that he was illegally dismissed by the then Board, contrary to the stipulations of TESPA, as well as Rule 49 of the NBS Act. “The latter stipulates that the Board must obtain a resolution from the NBS members before I can be dismissed, which was never done. Documented evidence tendered in court revealed all relative withdrawal documents including the Power of Attorney, signatures of Bibi S. Khan etc., were in order, and confirmation that all procedures met.”
Arjoon said that what was even stranger was that despite no fraud being proven, NBS used its monies to pay a member who claimed to have lost monies from an account. “Shouldn’t the NBS stop the continuation of its abuse of power and violation of laws and now abide by the esteemed Judge’s ruling and pay as stipulated?” He said that with the outcome of this case and previously that of the wrongful charge and the Ombudsman’s findings, it is his hope that civil society as well as the Private Sector Commission, the Bankers Association, the Bar Association and other relevant organisations will speak out against the perpetrators of “heinous crimes” against the two former managers, Kent Vincent and Kissoon Baldeo, and himself, in an effort at also ensuring there is never any repetition of injustice and abuse of power. Back in 2007, Arjoon was accused of conspiracy to defraud the NBS of $69M along with Baldeo and Vincent. The latter two said they suffered irreparable harm from the negative publicity and losses of salaries and benefits. At the time of the charges in 2007, chairing the Board of NBS was Dr. Nanda Gopaul. He later became a Permanent Secretary in the Office of the President, under the Jagdeo administration and then the Minister of Labour. Also sitting on the board then was union leader, Seepaul Narine. The NBS board is currently chaired by Floyd McDonald, a former Commissioner of Police.
The Chief Prison Officer who was implicated in a drug-smuggling scandal at the Timehri Prisons has been released from custody. A senior police official said that the rank “has been released into the custody of his organization,” while more work is done on the case. Police are likely to seek further legal advice on the matter shortly. Meanwhile, Deputy Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels revealed that the accused rank has been interdicted from duty, pending the outcome of the investigation. The Chief Prison Officer (whose rank is equivalent to that of police inspector), was detained last Thursday, after it was alleged that he facilitated the smuggling of a quantity of marijuana into the prison. The drug was
concealed among the prisoner’s meals. The accused rank is in his fifties and has some 20 years service. Deputy Director of Prisons Samuels had repeatedly conceded that some of his ranks are in collusion with prisoners, and would face the full brunt of the law if they are caught. Marijuana is said to be a highly valued commodity in the prisons, reportedly selling for as much as three times its street value. Over the years, several prison wardens, including females, have been brought before the courts on allegations of smuggling. The smuggling weapons into the Camp Street Prison resulted in the death of one rank and permanent injury to another during the 2002 jailbreak.
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday August 09, 2017
Nonperforming loans continue to hamper bank lending Lending by banks continues to be hampered due to a high level of nonperforming loans in the system. This is according to the Finance Ministry’s half year report. The document says that commercial banks remained well-capitalized, in the first half of 2017, with a capital adequacy ratio of 26.6 in June 2017, compared to a ratio of 25.8 in June 2016. However, nonperforming loans increased from 11.9 percent in June 2016, to 13.1 percent in June 2017, with 61 percent of this increase concentrated among business enterprises. According to the Bank of Guyana, the exchange rate between the Guyana dollar and United States dollar remained stable in the first half of 2017 at $206.5 per US$1, same as that recorded in June 2016, mainly due to net purchases of foreign exchange to market. Similarly, the Bank of Guyana said that the Guyanese dollar remained stable against the Canadian dollar, Euro, and the Pound Sterling. The apparent stability of the Bank of Guyana’s reported rates masks the reality of a short-lived period of exchange rate instability.
For the first half of 2017, commercial banks’ mid-rate for the United States dollar was 5.3 percent higher than the Bank of Guyana rate. Additionally, commercial banks’ small savings and lending rates reduced in the first half of 2017. The small savings rate was recorded at 1.18 percent in June, 2017 compared to 1.26 in June, 2016 while the weighted average lending rate was 10.34 percent, compared to 10.46 percent in June 2016. Additionally, growth in mortgage lending increased, on average, by 4.5 percent, comparing the first half of 2017 to the same period in 2016. Lending also grew, on average, by 7.4 percent in the services sector during the first six months in 2017 compared to the corresponding period in 2016, but these gains were offset by reductions in lending in the agriculture, manufacturing and mining and quarrying sectors. Notwithstanding the high liquidity in the banking system, the Finance Ministry said that the high level of nonperforming loans combined with apparent risk aversion continues to hamper bank lending.
Ex-GM’s former assistant... From page 8 to the Accounts Department where they are checked by an Accountant. Once checked, they are sent for approval from the General Manager, Persaud stated. On February 8, 2012, Persaud stated that she was on duty at GMC when she was contacted by the then-General Manager, Hassan, who asked her to prepare a requisition for payment for Constantine Engineering. She said that after receiving certain documents, she prepared a payment voucher and signed same before taking it to the Accountant. Persaud disclosed that on June 29, 2016, she was at the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) where she was shown the payment vouchers and requisition with request for payments by Constantine Engineering. She said that she was also showed the recommendation for payment by Mr. Madramootoo and the bill of quantity by Sergeant Frank. Persaud subsequently identified the documents in court after they were tendered by Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield. Also testifying was Dave Hicks, an employee of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority. Charges were recommended against Hassan and other persons, after SOCU completed its report into the investigations of the multimillion-dollar construction of the GMC office building. A forensic audit report submitted by auditor, Saykar Boodhoo, had flagged the construction, citing several worrying things at GMC, an agency of the Ministry of Agriculture.
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SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Eagle’s: Re-gas -$8,000, Washing machine repairs, Gas Stove, Plasma flat Screen, computer repairs & more. Call: 697-2969/646-0966 Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigration Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496/ 662-6045 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 Repairs at low cost: Fridges, air- conditioners, washing machines, TVs, microwaves, freezersCall:629-4946 or 225-4822 TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)
WANTED 1 Accounts Clerk, preferably from E.B.D – 5 subjects CXC minimum @ gtcareers592@gmail.com Experienced roti/puri cook, curry cook and waiters. Apply @ Hack’s Halaal with handwritten application, 5 Commerce Street. (Day Shift only)
WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIALOFFERS! . CALL: 690-6494 AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL: PICKUP,9-11SEATMINIBUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 6987807
FOR SALE
FURNISHED TWO BEDROOMS APARTMENT, SHORT/LONG TERM. CALL: 222-7891/ 609-9202
LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.
1 & 2 Bedroom tiled apartment@ Charlestown, decent working single/ couple -$40,000 & 50,000. Call: 225-1415/601-1585 from 8am-5:30pm (no children) Fully furnished apartment $95,000-$140,000. Call: 6445151 1 Bedroom apartment, single persons only, semifurnished. Call Elsa Reid: 6579372
PROPERTY FOR SALE Mature maid to work 3 Days weekly, must know to cook . Apply with recommendation @ Key Food, Mc Doom Village. One trawler to buy with shrimp / seabob licence. Contact # 609-5123 One Full Time Mechanic. Previous experience would be an asset. Call 626/8698 Canter truck drivers to work on W.C.D -$30,000 weekly. Call: 684-8231 Need experienced garbage drivers & labourers. Call: 6707920 Responsible Hire Car Drivers. Call: 231-7200
Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461 - 7 Bedrooms house on double lot, fenced, private yard in Georgetown. - Executive 4 bedrooms new house in Eccles. Call: 6097766 Property @ 180 Charlotte Street Bourda, 1 building in front & 2 storey house at the back, L 120X B 30- $50M negotiable. Call: 624-7341/ 227-6817/226-5183
Riviera Island: 145 Acres $30M, Tuschen property $5.8M, $6M, $15M, Kasteev Meten-Meer-Zorg5 bedrooms house -$38M Call: 688-0087, 638-8484 SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. -CosmetologyCourses:$120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 647-1773/660-5257 Register Now! Summer Courses in cosmetology & nails 7th -18th August; Cost: $20,000. Limited space available. Call: 618-2417 Nail course, hair course. Call: 697-2733 LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj Building- Call: 644-5166; 6222872; 615-0964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).
Tuschen 2 bedroom flat houses: $10M, land $2M, 3 Storey building @ Crane Public Road -$60M. Call: 6880087,638-8484 Versailes luxury home - $US 500,000, Hague front property - $30M, Tuschen $25M, Canal #2 (15 acres) $9M. Call:688-0087,638-8484 House/land at Durban Street, 3rd house between Victor/John 73X43 -$10.5M Call: 646-9997 EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE OFACADEMIC EXCELLENCE: Registration commenced for I.A.E Secondary school, forms 15, termly fee -$30,000. Call: 683-5742/621-7365
VEHICLE FOR SALE
Cook/ Baker for interior. Applicants must be experienced. Call: 618-2020
2012 Nissan Bluebird: reverse camera, low mileage, unregistered. New model Allion coming -$3.3M negotiable. Call: 655-3400
600 Amps automatic, transfer switches, switch gears, motors. Call: 666-6046 New Housing Developments @ Blankenburg & Schoonord, Houses and lots available. Cash or terms. Contact # 650-0402/ 603-1402
1 Counter clerk, must have a decent handwriting & passes in Maths & English. Send handwritten application to PO BOX 12118
Lawn grass - $1,400, potting soil -$800, Ficus, Exora, Purple Heathers – 4 for $1,000, Palms @ $1,000. Call: 626-1044
Live in or live out babysitter/ domestic. Call: 223-7500 Monday-Saturday 8:154:15pm
Fluffy puppies. Call:6997077/ 619-6086 Fox tail, palm plants (three feet tall) price -$100 (one hundred dollars each). Call: 638-8858 C-T Cummings Engine starter for sale (foreign used). Call: 649-8449/ 615-6683 Pit-bull puppies for sale. Contact Anthony: 611-1161 One LT 15 wood mizer sawmill with Perkins generator. Contact: 689-5059
Must sell! House & land @ Friendship, E.B.D, PR come make an offer. Call: 648-4810 Goat Creek, Riverfront , 75 Acres land -$7M, Lanaballi River Front, 50 Acres -$9M. Diamond -$7.5M Call: 6880087, 638-8484
VACANCY
One data entry clerk, must be computer literate & have passes @ CXC Maths & English. Apply PO BOX12118
Toyota Crown Royal Saloon $3.5M, BMW 316 $2.7M, Toyota Hilux Vigo $4M, Owner leaving country. Call 222-0675, 699-9214
Mature, experienced salesman/driver, able to work flexible hours, apply with reference/police clearance @ Key Food, Mc Doom
CAR RENTAL
DOLLY’SCARRENTAL-CALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM
TO LET
Senior Diesel Mechanic to work in G/Town. Call: 2181455
Live in waitress to work in bar. Call: 604-6606/ 692-4649
PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL:656-0087,6435122 ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM
Wednesday August 09, 2017
Kaieteur News
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Property for rent - 2 storey house at Republic Park, E.B.D - $1200USD. Call 6471773 1 Bedroom apartment, well secured for working couple or single person -$35,000 monthly, light & water included. Call: 638-8858 3 Bedrooms upstairs with toilet and bath, kitchen @ 16 Station Street Kitty. Call: 2255977/673-1872 Two bedroom at self -contained @ Tuschen - $50,000. Call: 6880087/ 633-8484 Rental@Ogle,4Masterbedrooms, luxuryhome-$5,000US.Call:6880087/633-8484 Bottom half for rent @ 258 Section ‘Y’ Block X Grove Diamond, E.B.D. Call: 6944276 or 680-6399
1 live in couple & 2 males to cook @ outdoor grill, driver’s license+, weekend included. Call: 656-9313/675-2550 Grades 5 & 6 teachers, retired teachers are welcome @ Josel Educational Institute, 120 Peter Rose & Laluni Streets, Queenstown. Call: 226-7868/ 678-0652 American Variety Store, 140 Regent & Light Street Georgetown: experienced cashier, apply in person with application. Female & Male fish cleaners @ Shakoor ’s Seafood, Eccles. Call: 233-2546
LAND FOR SALE Land @ No.7 Village W.C.B – 86’X317’, roadside -$34M negotiable. Call:622-6473 (Raj), 648-6873 (Bernard), 661-4604 (Veronica) 26 Happy Acres, East Coast, 5,830sq (53X110), 25 Million, negotiable. Call: 614-4358 2 ½ Acres riverside land, 5 Acres land with 5,000 sq.ft building, Brickery, East Bank Demerara. Call: 653-2477/ 685-6874 La Parfaite Harmonie: $3M, $1.7M, $2.5M, $1.2M, Tuschen house & land -$2.7M, Eccles $6M, Herstelling - $3M. Call: 604-6724/ 686-9608 La Parfaite Harmonie (main road) - $3M, $1.2M, $1.7M, Eccles $6M, Tuschen -$2.5M, Herstelling -$3M. Call: 666-2326 New Hope land - $4M, Enmore- $2M, Moblissa Land - $2M per acre, De Kinderen -$6.5M. Call: 6880087, 638-8484 Land for sale in Tuschen, Phase 1. Call: 679-1096 Land @ Amelia Ward Linden 50"X100". Call: 692-0500
RZ, Pit Bull, 212 Carina, IST, Verossa, Suzuki Vitaera, Premio, Allion, Fielder Wagon, Spacio- Call: 6507501/ 616-2577 Tractor (foreign used) Massey Ferguson -165 -$1.7M, MF-135 - $1M, MF-265 -$1.9M, 165 Loader tractor -$2.2M. Call: 682-5230/ 615-4414 2005 Tacoma from Canada bull bar -$2.3M, Ford F150 sport $1.2M, Ranger sport -$1.4M. Call: 682-5230/ 615-4414 2010 Nissan Juke, PWW series, alarm -$2.9M negotiable. Contact Dewan: 223-1332/6137542,Alok:347-617-7582 (2) 2010 Vitz - $850,000 each, 2010 Suzuki swift & Nissan March - $850,000 each (all unregistered & duties to pay). Call: 649-7771/699-3942 RZ bus, good working condition, 2006 bluebird, 36,000KM, PVV 6406, 2009 unregistered Bluebird, 31,000 KM. Call: 265-2171/ 682-7589 Toyota Premio 2005 with AC, music and alarm, PTT series, price negotiable, good condition. Call: 617-5257/ 6199894 1 RZ minibus, excellent condition. The price is right, one wooden lathe machine. Call: 616-3288/233-0269/6908247 One 2006 Vitz -$1.350M Negotiable –Call: 639-1997
Wednesday August 09, 2017
Fly Jamaica explains irregular operation - says safety is its first priority
Having experienced mechanical and other challenges, Fly Jamaica has, for the past week, been subjected to an irregular operation. However, passengers can expect normalcy by tomorrow [August 10, 2017]. This is according to Fly Jamaica’s Director of Marketing, Ms. Kayla Reece. Reece revealed that on Thursday last [August 3], Fly Jamaica Airways was forced to ground its Boeing 767 prior to departure from Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston. This, according to Reece, stemmed from the development of mechanical problems. “The cockpit crew became aware of a mechanical issue prior to departure…and the aircraft was subsequently grounded,” related Reece. She related that after safely returning to the gate, passengers were fed on board before being transferred to the airline’s Boeing 757 aircraft. But the challenges did not stop there. Reece said that last Thursday’s circumstances were compounded by external factors at the ports from which Fly Jamaica Airways operates in and out of on a daily basis. She revealed in a statement that “an ongoing strike by ground staff of Swissport Canada Handling Inc., Fly Jamaica Airways’ contracted handling company at Pearson International A i r p o r t i n To r o n t o , continues to adversely affect the operations of all airlines they service and have resulted in ramp congestion and significant delays in the offloading of baggage and deplaning of passengers upon arrival at Pearson.” Further she revealed that at the JFK International Airport in New York, prolonged baggage screenings and checks conducted by the US Customs and Border Protection on all flights out of Jamaica and Guyana, added several hours onto the turnaround times, causing
additional delays. “Disruptions to the airline’s scheduled service to and from Toronto are expected to continue to some degree as long as Swissport Canada Handling Inc. continues to strike at Pearson International,” Reece related. But the Director of Marketing has assured that Fly Jamaica Airways’ reservations staff have been working around the clock to ensure all passengers are contacted via telephone with revised flight information. “For updated flight schedule information please visit www.fly-jamaica.com and click on the Customer Advisory: Updated Flight Schedule banner at the top of the page. All flight schedule updates will be published to this page,” Reece informed by way of a statement. She added that, “updates to flight times are constantly being made based on actual operation times and are subject to change after customers have been advised or updates have been published online.” “While these delays to the airline’s services are regrettable, the airline remains committed to making safety its first priority,” stated Reece, who pointed out that Fly Jamaica has also been offering compensation to passengers where necessary. “Fly Jamaica Airways did initially, and very quickly, book as many passengers as possible on other carriers to their final destinations, based on seat availability. Additionally, a number of delayed passengers at the airports received some form of compensation including but not limited to: food vouchers for purchasing meals within the relevant airport terminal, hotel accommodation and transportation vouchers for taxis, based on their individual needs and circumstances.” In light of the disruption of its operation, Reece said that “Fly Jamaica Airways wishes to extend its sincerest apologies to all passengers affected by the irregular operations.”
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Wednesday August 09, 2017
GPSU repeats calls for upgrade of employee status for public school janitors The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) yesterday reiterated calls for the employee status of sweeper/ cleaners, across the country to be upgraded. Sweeper/cleaners are a category of workers employed by the Ministry of Education to maintain a clean and healthy environment in public schools. However, according to officials of the GPSU, the conditions of work for these types of employees are becoming increasingly depressing. The Union has been lobbying for better wages and terms and conditions for hundreds of sweeper/cleaners across the country from as far back as 2003. The Union has made repeated calls for the working conditions of sweepers/cleaners to be regularised and for their salaries to be in keeping with the minimum wage of the Public Service. The Union reported that while the minimum wage for public servants is set at $55,000, per month, sweeper/ cleaners are paid far below the limit. As part of efforts to have the matter addressed, the union yesterday mobilized protest action against the Ministry. As such, a small group of sweeper/cleaners, mostly women, assembled outside the Office of the President to voice their disapproval at the administration. The workers explained that the Ministry had informed them that they will only be paid for one week in August and for two weeks in the month of July. In addition, the Ministry had announced that
it would be cutting back on the already small earnings of the workers. Some workers have described the action of the authorities as sudden and unwarranted. “The Ministry refuses to pay us fully for July and August. Most of us are female and single parents. We have children to send to school. How are we supposed to make it, and school is reopening in September.” “We are saying no money, no work. Come September, school will be reopened but it won’t be clean,” they declared. The janitors explained that the issue has become worse with the Ministry cutting the hours of the work. “Sweeper/cleaners receive anything around $37,000 per month and out of that the Ministry does not pay anything to NIS or nothing. And still they want to cut back on it.” Dawn Gardener a Union representative, further expounded on the point that the workers cannot benefit from the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) even though they are employed by the Government. “We are saying that although these are contract workers, they are supposed to be treated and remunerated in accordance with the laws which represent them.” Meanwhile in a statement to the press, GPSU’s Mortimer Livan explained that a cabinet decision was taken in 2013 to have the wages of the Sweepers/ Cleaners set in accordance with the Minimum Wages
GPSU representatives (sitting at table) met with a group of public school janitors yesterday Order. The decision was taken following representation from GPSU, but was never implemented. “Notwithstanding this, the matter was raised again with the previous administration but to no avail. President David Granger while in opposition supported the call for the workers to be upgraded. Under the new Administration, Livan noted, the matter was raised again with the President. Following a meeting in August 2015, the matter was brought before the thenMinister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence. “At the request of the Junior Minister of Finance, a detailed statement outlying the plight of the Sweepers/ Cleaners was prepared and forwarded to him on December 17, 2015. This statement informed on the Union’s position for these employees to be upgraded.” Among the calls made by the Union was for workers to be employed on the Per-
Linden teen’s body recovered from Demerara River The body of 19-yearo l d E s t h e r We e k e s of Burnham Drive, Silvertown, Wismar, Linden, was yesterday afternoon retrieved from the Demerara River, about quarter of a mile from the spot where she had disappeared three days ago. At the time of the incident she had been in the company of a young relative. Weekes was a former student of the Wismar Christianburg Secondary School. She was the eldest of four children for her mother Teshira Weekes. Yesterday’s discovery was greeted by loud wailing and anguished cries by relatives who had reportedly been scouring the river for her body before the break of dawn. According to reports, Weekes had been cavorting by the Burnham Drive riverside with a younger relative on Sunday last when tragedy struck.
manent Establishment. “They must be paid in keeping with the Public Service Minimum Wage; they must be paid the difference in salary with effect from the introduction of the Minimum Wage from July 01, 2013; they must be granted annual leave retroactive to at least two years; NIS must be paid for these employees and employees’ years of service must be taken into from the date of employment since their services were continuous,” the Union had outlined. In his statement, Livan further stressed that given the repeated calls, one would have expected that the conditions of these workers
would have improved, “but lo and behold, at a meeting with these Sweepers/Cleaners on Friday August 04, 2017 it was learnt that their work hours had been reduced to six hours per day initially, additionally they were informed by their Head Teachers that they would be paid for two weeks in July and one week in August”. Livan noted that the situation is developing further into an economic disaster for the workers and their families “These workers, with no other source of income, are reliant on the already meagre income paid by the government and depend on it being sufficient to meet their very
basic domestic needs. The action taken to reduce their wages is heartless and these decisions are being made without any consideration for the plight already facing them. As was pointed out before, almost all of the sweeper/cleaners are women who manage single income households, facing the same cost of living as a second tier government worker but with less purchasing power.” Condemning what he called the uncaring and unkind posture of the authorities, Livan said that the Union demands that the conditions under which this category of workers toil be remedied forthwith.
Cops nab robbery suspect with unlicensed gun
An intelligence-led operation by ranks of the Guyana Police Force has resulted in
the arrest of a couple in a car with an unlicensed 9mm pistol and seven live matching
rounds. The vehicle, a white Toyota Premio, was parked in front of their Daisy Street, South Ruimveldt residence. Police sources said that the man is 25 and is a suspect in several recent armed robberies. The woman is 22. The vehicle is registered to a Beterverwagting, East Cost Demerara resident. The suspects are being processed for court.
Second pedestrian in Mahaicony crash dies
Dead: Esther Weekes A subsequent search of the area where she was last seen was launched, but this proved futile. Reports indicate that prior to the incident on Sunday,
Weekes was in the company of an aunt and her eleven year old son. Weekes was reportedly warned about going to the river to swim, but she failed to heed the advice.
Lawrence Semple, the second pedestrian who was struck down by a car reportedly driven by a police constable on Sunday, has succumbed. The 43-year-old man died at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) Monday night from injuries he sustained in the accident which occurred around 17:30 hrs on the Catherine Village, Mahaicony Public Road, East Coast Demerara. Semple’s friend, 53-yearold Winston Small, who was also involved in the accident, died at the scene. Both victims are from Calcutta, Mahaicony—a short distance from where they were struck down. Thirteen-year-old Jaden Alleyne of Calcutta,
Mahaicony, was also struck off his bicycle, but he was lucky to escape with minor injuries. The policeman, Jarren Huntley, is still hospitalized at the GPHC. The persons who were in his vehicle, Delroy Hutson, 35; Fitzroy Goodridge, 23 and Odari Reynolds, 23 were all treated and sent away. The Guyana Police Force in a release said that investigations revealed that the vehicle, bearing registration number, PWW 1614, was proceeding east along the northern carriageway of the Public Road while Small, Lawrence and Alleyne were heading in the opposite direction. It was further revealed that the driver reportedly swerved to avoid an uneven patch on the road and first collided
Dead: Lawrence Semple with the teenager after which, he lost control of the car and struck down the two friends. The vehicle then ended up in a church yard. The policeman was reportedly speeding, based on the report traffic ranks received from eyewitnesses. Yesterday, divisional commander, Calvin Brutus and senior officers visited the homes of the two deceased and spent a few minutes with their relatives.
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Int’l media bodies call for delay in assent of Broadcasting Bill Days after the country’s lawmakers in the National Assembly successfully pushed through legislation that was supposed to correct deficiencies in the manner that radio and television stations operate, the administration is under pressure to hold off before signing it into law. Yesterday, two respected world media bodies, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the International Press Institute (IPI), urged that consultations be held soonest, as there are a number of press freedom concerns. The statements of both RSF and IPI would come after the Guyana Press Association (GPA) and local media houses also expressed concerns over the Bill, which has been hailed by the Coalition Government as a campaign promise to correct the controversial doling out of licences by the People Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/ C) government in 2011 to mainly friends and party members. RSF yesterday, in urging President David Granger not to assent to the Broadcasting Bill that was adopted by Guyana’s National Assembly last Friday, wants consultations to be held with broadcasters in order to take into account their recommendations. “The current Bill, which was adopted without such consultation, raises multiple press freedom concerns.” It was pointed out that on Friday, the National Assembly adopted The Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill of 2017, a piece of legislation which has drawn sharp criticism from broadcasters as well as local and regional press groups. President Granger still has to assent to the Bill before it can take effect. RSF noted that according to the government, the new legislation is meant to address the issue of illegal broadcasters who have long been operating without a licence. “Yet the Bill calls for all broadcasters to apply for a licence within 30 days of its entry into force, a time limit that is being criticized by local and regional press freedom groups as too short. Broadcasters found operating without a licence could be fined up to one million Guyanese dollars and sentenced to one year imprisonment.” RSF pointed out that according to local press freedom advocates, these burdensome provisions threaten the existence of many TV and radio stations which have operated without a licence since no renewals were ever issued at the time of their expiration. “Another point of contention is a provision mandating that 60 minutes of “public ser-
President David Granger vice programs” be broadcast on TV and radio stations between the hours of 6am and 10pm free of cost, which has been heavily criticized by the Guyana Press Association (GPA). In a statement issued last week, the GPA argued that this requirement would “disrupt and violate contractual obligations that stations will have with advertisers and program sponsors.” The GPA has also argued that the government’s desire to define the meaning of “public service programs” would limit independence from government interference in private broadcasting. NO CONSULTATIONS “But what is most worrying about the Bill is its process of adoption, which involved no consultations with any broadcasters, even though repeated attempts were made to meet with Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo both leading up to and during parliamentary debate last week.” RSF said that Nagamootoo, who has portfolio responsibilities for broadcasting, claimed that operators were consulted in 2011 when the original Bill was drafted. However, the legislation adopted last Friday involved several amendments for which broadcasters were never given the opportunity to provide their input. “It would appear that the legislative process in Guyana failed to adequately address broadcasters’ concerns regarding a new law that would impact their day-to-day operations and could even threaten their existence,” said Margaux Ewen, Advocacy and Communications Director for RSF’s North America Bureau. “RSF urges President Granger not to assent to this legislation until these concerns can be addressed through meaningful consultation.” In a statement issued Monday, the regional group Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM), called for meetings between
the President and broadcasters and argued “this is the best option to avoid what may be a protracted legal matter that would be unhelpful in achieving the desired objectives of the parties concerned.” Guyana ranks 60th out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2017 World Press Freedom Index. Meanwhile, IPI in its statement, urged government to address serious concerns raised by local media groups over pending amendments to the country’s broadcast law. IPI said that based on its information, the bill grants the state “unwarranted” power to manage the programming of radio and television stations by allocating time slots for public service programming dictated by the government. IPI said it has taken note of a joint statement last week before the bill was passed, where a group of private Guyanese broadcasters called for debate to be deferred, describing the planned public service programme requirement as an “infringement on the freedom to determine broadcast content”. “That view was echoed by the Guyana Press Association (GPA), which told IPI in a statement that it condemned the planned changes and would work with international groups to “convince the government of the need to halt or reverse this process given the severe consequences these amendments pose to freedom of the press and the commercial viability of private radio and television stations”. INDEPENDENCE? IPI Director of Advocacy and Communications Steven M. Ellis urged the Guyanese government to address criticism regarding the amendments before they become law. “We are troubled that this bill appears to have been drafted and passed without time for sufficient consultation with all relevant stakeholders, including Guyana’s private broadcasters and local civil society groups,” Ellis said. “Elements of this legislation – in particular provi-
sions related to the broadcasting of public service content – also raise questions about the government’s commitment to ensuring that Guyanese radio and television stations can operate independently from state and political control. We urge lawmakers to address those questions and revise these amendments as necessary.” Tabled early last week by Prime Minister Nagamootoo, the amendments include a provision requiring private broadcasters to allocate, free of charge, up to 60 minutes of public service programming daily. “While the GPA said it agreed that private broadcasters should play a role during emergencies and disasters, it highlighted the fact that the amendment would give authorities the ability to dictate time slots if they did not agree with the ones allocated by stations. Furthermore, the new legislation leaves the frequency and content of public service announcements to the discretion of the government,” IPI said in its statement. Nagamootoo has defended the Bill, insisting that it did not restrict press freedom, but rather, “lends clar-
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo ity and certainty” to the powers granted to Guyana’s National Broadcasting Authority (NBA), a body established by the Broadcasting Act of 2011. Concerns over broadcasting freedom in Guyana are not new. The Guyanese government exercised a complete radio monopoly until 2011, and under the then PPP/C government, former President Bharrat Jagdeo, days before ending his constitutional two terms in office, awarded several licences to his close
friends, relatives of a senior minister and even to his party. Several prominent media houses, including Kaieteur News were ignored and despite protests and international pressure, similar to now, nothing much has happened since 2011 to correct the situation. IPI said that during a 2013 visit to Guyana, IPI urged the government to ensure that the granting of television and radio licences under the newly introduced Broadcasting Act be conducted in a transparent and impartial manner.
DEMTOCO refutes Public Health Minister’s arguments in support of Tobacco Control Bill Demerara Tobacco Company (DEMTOCO) recently contested some of the arguments put forward by Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence, in support of the Tobacco Control Bill. In a statement to the media yesterday, DEMTOCO sought to clarify that it is not opposed to the industry being regulated, and thus the effort of the company is not to block the passage of the legislation. The company reminded that the Minister has referred to the Bill as “an act to prevent smoking in indoor places and prevent the exposure of citizens to second hand smoke.” DEMTOCO said that it supports this intention. It noted, however, that the Tobacco Control Bill is more than this. Contrary to what the Minister has said regarding Guyana joining other CARCIOM countries such as Jamaica and Trinidad in tobacco control legislation, DEMTOCO highlighted that those countries do not have some of the discriminatory and outright excessive measures introduced and passed in Guyana’s Bill. DEMTOCO pointed out that both Jamaica and Trinidad removed the provision from their Bills, which
included a person’s private home as a work place if that owner were to employ a gardener, a helper, or some other individual assisting around their home. The entity said that those countries viewed the guaranteeing of the right of the privacy of one’s home as a fundamental principle. A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e c o m pany asserted that cont r a r y t o t h e M i n i s t e r ’s previous statements, both countries have specifically included the provision to allow outdoor designated areas. Further, DEMTOCO noted that those countries have removed the reference to workplaces and private residences. Importantly, the company sought to emphasize that neither country has any provision banning the selling of cigarettes in trays or barring its citizens from work-
ing within a government entity before five years have expired, if they worked with any entity or retail establishment within the tobacco industry. DEMTOCO said, “The question therefore, is, why would Guyana want to pass these measures that are highly discriminatory and, which on the face of it, seems contrary to the Labour laws of Guyana.” Furthermore, the company said that it welcomes the call of the Private Sector and other Business Associations for the Government to place the Bill into a Select Committee. DEMTOCO is also calling on the President to intervene, so that the Bill can go before a Committee where it can be reviewed and all the excessive non-specific Tobacco measures highlighted, be removed or amended.
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Wednesday August 09, 2017
Trump warns North Korea will be met with ‘fire and fury’ if threatens U.S. BEDMINSTER, N.J./ BEIJING (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump yesterday warned North Korea it would be met with “fire and
fury” if it threatens the United States, ratcheting up the rhetoric with the nucleararmed nation. Earlier Pyongyang said it
was ready to give Washington a “severe lesson” with its strategic nuclear force in response to any U.S. military action.
Washington has warned it is ready to use force if need be to stop North Korea’s ballistic missile and nuclear programmes but that it pre-
fers global diplomatic action, including sanctions. The consequences of any U.S. strike would potentially be catastrophic not only for North Koreans but also South Korea, Japan and the thousands of U.S. military personnel within range of any North Korean retaliatory strikes. “North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States. They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen,” Trump told reporters at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. The U.N. Security Council unanimously imposed new sanctions on North Korea on Saturday over its continued missile tests, that could slash the reclusive country’s $3 billion annual export revenue by a third. North Korea has made no secret of plans to develop a nuclear-tipped missile able to strike the United States and has ignored international calls to halt its nuclear and missile programmes. It says its intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are a legitimate means of defense against perceived U.S. hostility. It has long accused the United States and South Korea of escalating tensions
by conducting military drills. The United States has remained technically at war with North Korea since the 195053 Korean conflict ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty. The past six decades have been punctuated by periodic rises in antagonism and rhetoric that have always stopped short of a resumption of active hostilities. Tensions have risen since North Korea carried out two nuclear bomb tests last year and two ICBM tests last month. The Trump administration’s attempts to pressure North Korea into abandoning its nuclear and missile ambitions have so far gained little traction. U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has warned of an “effective and overwhelming” response against North Korea if it chose to use nuclear weapons but has said any military solution would be “tragic on an unbelievable scale.” The United States has 28,500 troops in South Korea to guard against the North Korean threat. Japan hosts around 54,000 U.S. military personnel, the U.S. Department of Defense says, and tens of thousands of Americans work in both countries.
Wednesday August 09, 2017
Kaieteur News
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Wednesday August 09, 2017
Wednesday August 09, 2017
Harper wants Warriors to play smart cricket in T&T By Sean Devers in Trinidad in association with Carib Beer, Mings Products & Services, VNet Communications & Rose Hall Youth & Sports Club St Kitts and Nevis Patriots (SKNP) had never beaten Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) in the five-year history of the CPL cricket but after two games over the weekend in Florida, new skipper Chris Gayle had led SKNP the back to back wins against the GAW. Warriors Head Coach, former West Indies offspinner Roger Harper told Kaieteur Sport yesterday from the Hyatt Hotel in Port-of – Spain that his biggest disappointment from the Florida leg of the CLP was the Warriors not coming away with a win.
“We had opportunities but did not make the most of them and did not finish off matches that we should have won,” said the 54-year-old Harper. Harper said he was surprised at the way the pitch played in America. “Yes I was surprised. Last year the pitch was much harder and faster but this year it was slow and hard for shot making. I was also surprised that the crowds were so small since last year we saw large crowds for our games,” the 6ft 5inch Guyanese said. Skipper Martin Guptill missed Sunday’s due to hamstring injury which some suspects he came into the tournament with and Harper informed that the Warriors’ best batsman, especially in the absence of injury Chris Lynn who was replaced by Babar Azam, was working with the phyiso and would have to wait and see if is fit
enough to play on Friday. The Warriors lost in the 2013, 2014 & 2016 finals, while they reached the semi-finals in 2015 and are scheduled to play their third game in the 2017 Tournament on Friday night from 21:00hrs under lights against the Trinbago Knight Riders at the Queen Park Oval. “First of all we have a couple of days to practice and have a look at the conditions and then come up with the best combination. This is an important game and I am looking to the guys to play smart cricket,” Harper concluded. The team’s charted flight was delayed in Florida due to weight issues and arrived here on Monday evening. The South American Franchise was given the day off yesterday and will have their first practice session after lunch today at the Queen’s Park Oval.
Wednesday August 09, 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Your fickle nature may cause jealousy. Try to be tolerant of the moods of those around you.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Try to avoid functions that will bring you in contact with those you find difficult to get along with.
TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) If you can, make phone calls instead of going out. You will have difficulties spreading yourself between your work and your home.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Try to deal with the problems of those less fortunate; however, don't allow them to make unreasonable demands.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You will be able to close any deals successfully. You will have excellent ideas for changing or renovating your home. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Dazzle them with your intellectual conversation. Take time to deal with authority figures or government agencies. You can have quite the romantic adventure if you take time to get to know your mate all over again. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You have the ability to motivate others. You may have to take a short trip to visit someone who hasn't been well. You can meet someone who will become very dear to you if you get out and socialize. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Try not to be too emotional with those around you. You may want to stay in the background today. You can make money if you're willing to push your ideas on those in a position to support your efforts.
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SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Avoid friction with your mate. Remain calm and you'll shine. Passion should be your goal. You must not make unnecessary changes today. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Sports, physical fitness programs, exercise in general will make you feel better and show some pretty quick results. Knowledge can be acquired if you listen. You will meet a person who may turn out to be more than just a friend. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) You can make money if you concentrate on producing services or goods that will make domestic chores easier. Be prepared to take care of the issues at hand. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Assist a relative or good friend by setting of a budget for them. Your partner may be somewhat irritable today. You are best to do something energetic with friends instead.
SVC Mafia, New York Hustlers take honours... (From page 26) out) were the main scorers. In the day’s opening encounter, New York Hustlers humbled Ontario Masters Softball International (OMSI) by nine wickets. OMSI were coming off a huge win over pre tournament favourites Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) in Saturday’s semi-final and were highly favoured to win. Set 99 for victory, after dismissing OMSI for 98 in 19 overs, New York Hustlers galloped to 100 for one in a mere 14 overs with former Guyana Under-19 player Troy Gobin (35 not out) and former Canadian player Desmond Cholmondeley (40 not out) sharing an enterprising second wicket partnership of 75 after captain and former Guyana Under-19 player Shameer Sadloo (five) was dismissed in the sixth over with the score on 25. Earlier, Satrohan
Balkarran was almost unplayable as he ended with the excellent figures of two for three from his four overs, his victims being skipper Shiv Seeram and Sunil Dhaniram (00). OMSI never recovered from this setback as wickets fell at regular intervals. Jess Parasnauth (29) and Terry Mathura (eight) rescued the innings somewhat with a 37run sixth wicket partnership, but once they were dismissed there were no further resistance as Euastace Dodson ran though the tail to finish with four for 10 from two overs. At the presentation ceremony which followed, the victorious team in the Masters category received $2,500 (US) and the winners trophy, while they were also in receipt of an additional $500, compliments of Canadian-based Guyanese Surendra Persaud. Runners-up OMSI collected $300 (US) and trophy.
The Open category saw SVC Mafia receiving $2,000(US) and a trophy, while the runners-up got $200 and a trophy. Beharry was named man-of-the-match for his impressive bowling in the Open final, while Budhu gained the Most Valuable Player award for his nine wickets and scoring 84 runs from four games. Dodson copped the manof-the-match in the Masters division, while Balkarran’s sterling bowling efforts, which saw him bag 10 wickets for 37 runs in five matches, earned him the MVP award. Shiv Seeram, the only player to score a century in the tournament, was awarded for his magnificent undefeated 114. All the trophies and medals were sponsored by Trophy Stall (Guyana) and Toronto and on hand to assist with the presentation were proprietor Ramesh Sunich and daughter Emma.
Hetmyer entertains, Brathwaite fails in... (From page 31) together to add 44 and deny Kent any further success. Hetmyer, who made his Test debut recently against Pakistan, faced just 39 balls and counted seven fours and a six. West Indies will face Derbyshire in their third threeday tour game starting Friday in Derby. The game will be a day/night affair in preparation for the ‘pink ball’ first Test against England at
Edgbaston beginning August 17. Scores: WEST INDIES 265 (Shai Hope 57, Jermaine Blackwood 50, Kyle Hope 36, Alzarri Joseph 31; Charlie Hartley 4-80, Adam Ball 2-27, Adam Riley 2-37) and 132 for four (Shimron Hetmyer 43 not
out, Shai Hope 30, Kieran Powell 23; Charlie Hartley 244). KENT 331 for nine decl. (Sean Dickson 142, Zak Crawley 62, Will Gidman 42, Calum Haggett 29 not out; Alzarri Joseph 4-72, Kraigg Brathwaite 2-22).
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Wednesday August 09, 2017
SVC Mafia, New York Hustlers Four horsemen says take honours in Toronto Cup 2 thanks for support of Emancipation horserace meet
Emma Sunich hands over the Masters trophy to Shameer Sadloo, skipper of New York Hustlers. TORONTO, Canada – SVC Mafia and New York Hustlers emerged winners of Sunday’s Toronto Cup 2 Open and Masters Softball Cricket tournaments respectively which ended at the University of Toronto ground. In the Open category, SVCA Mafia defeated NYSCL All Stars by five
wickets in an all New York affair before a bumper Caribana holiday weekend crowd at the picturesque venue, situated in Scarborough. Batting first, NYSCL were bundled out for a paltry 84 in 19.3 overs with only three players reaching double figures, Jumadeen (15), Nigel Greaves (15) and
former Guyana first class cricketer Damador Daesrath (11). NYSCL started disastrously, losing both openers in the first over, Amar Singh (00) going via the run out route and Vickey Subkaran (one) caught off Sewchand Budhu. They never really recovered as Anil Beharry (two for eight),
Azad Azeez (two for eight) and Budhu (two for 12) were the main wicket takers. SVC Mafia, needing to score just over four runs per over, batted cautiously to secure an easy win with four overs to spare, losing five wickets in the process. Rooplall Singh (18), Sarfraz Esau (15) and Budhu (14 not (Continued on page 25)
The organizing committee of the “Four Horsemen Promotion” group is extending their heartfelt gratitude to all the below sponsors, the members of the public and the various media houses i n G u y a n a w h o contributed in one way or the other in making their one day horse race meet a success. The event was held on Tuesday August 1st (Emancipation day) at the Port Mourant Turf Club, Corentyne Berbice. The members of the management Committee would like to say a big thank y o u t o To p B r a n d z Distributors, Delmur Company Limited, Toolsie Persaud Limited, Assuria I n s u r a n c e C o m p a n y, Cummings Electrical, R.N
Poonai, Fazal Habibulla, S a n k a r A u t o Wo r k s –Valvoline, Fix It Hard Ware, Bothers Incorporated, Poonai Pharmacy and AFF Shipping Agency and the Shocking Vibes Sounds System among others. According to coordinator Colin Elcock, despite the inclement weather, the activity was well organized and incident free. The committee would also like to say a special thanks to outgoing Commander B Division, Assistant Commissioner Ian Amsterdam and Present Commander Assistant Commissioner Paul Williams and ranks of the Guyana Police Force and to all for their support and look forward for their continued patronage in the future.
Wednesday August 09, 2017
Kaieteur News
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Shadab shines against as TKR win second straight P O R T O F S PA I N , Trinidad, CMC – Pakistani Shadab Khan grabbed Manof-the-Match honours for the second straight game as Trinbago Knight Riders beat St Lucia Stars for the second time in four days in the Caribbean Premier League here Monday night. Chasing 119 for victory at Queen’s Park Oval, TKR recovered from a dire position of 75 for six in the 10th over to reach their target
in the 16th, and register a comfortable four-wicket win in the end. Shadab emerged as the unlikely batting hero, stroking an unbeaten 30 off 33 balls with a four and a six in an unbroken seventhwicket stand of 45 with Barbadian Javon Searles who finished on 27 not out off 21 deliveries with two fours and two sixes. Former West Indies offspinner Shane Shillingford had wrecked the top order to
end with four for 24 from four overs, leaving the Stars with a chance to win their first game. TKR were 33 for one in the third over after losing Sunil Narine cheaply for 11 in the second over but Shillingford’s introduction rocked the innings as four wickets tumbled for 19 runs in the space of 21 deliveries. However, Shadab showed his worth with the bat in defying the Stars
Extra Beer/Ballers in the Summer Street Football
Matches continues today at Pouderoyen Tarmac; defending champs sent packing Action in the third edition of the Second Ground Entertainment / Extra Beer Ballers in the Summer Street knock-out football tournament will continue this evening at the Pouderoyen Tarmac, West Bank Demerara with a total of six matches. Among the matches slated from 19:00hrs are Tucville up against Albouystown, Dave and Selena All Stars from Linden taking on Shattaville Gunners and Champion Boys versus Tajos Admiral, Tiger Bay oppose Comfort Ballers, Goal is Money vs ESPN and Sparta Boss in the night capper against Lot 20. In results from Sunday
night at the same venue, defending champions Jetty Gunners were outgunned by Gully Side on sudden death penalty kicks, which means a new champion will be crowned this year. The two sides battled to a 0-0 stalemate in regulation time, Gully Side held their nerves to outshoot Jetty Gunners 2-1 on sudden death penalty kicks. In other results: Showstoppers-2 vs Future Crane-0. Stephon Jupiter7th, Keoma Gravesande13th. Hustlers-1 vs BV-0. Jamal Codrington-12th. Bent Street-0 vs Agricola1. Bilaal Abdul-Jabar-9th. Broad Street-0 vs Back Circle-1. Adrian Aaron-4th.
Samaroo Dam-0 vs Patentia Street Ballers-0. Samaroo Dam won 2-1 on p e n a l t y k i c k s . Harmony Ballers-0 vs Bagotstown Warriors-3. Moses Selman-3rd, Shaquille Albert-7th, Lucort F o r d e - 1 4 t h . Silver Bullets-1 vs North Ruimveldt-0. Jermaine Samuels-4th. Speedboat-0 vs Rising Stars-0. Speedboat won 3-2 on penalty kicks. Sponsors of the tournament are Extra Beer, Extra Juice, Two Brothers Gas Station, West Vibz S p o r t s B a r, F o r r e s t e r Lumber Yard, Wayne Tire Shop, Oswin Jones Auto Imports, National Sports Commission.
attack while Scantlebury flexed his muscle to lash two sixes and a four off the 16th over to end the game swiftly. Earlier, opener Andre Fletcher struck a top score of 40 while captain Darren Sammy chipped in with 25, as Stars mustered a paltry 118 for nine off their 20 overs after being sent in. Kevon Cooper claimed three for 21 and captain and fellow medium pacer Dwayne Bravo, two for 33 but Shadab once again played a key role, producing a stingy spell one of one for 16 from his four overs. Johnson Charles (5) was
plumb lbw to left-arm spinner Khary Pierre in the third over with 10 runs on the board but Fletcher anchored two successive stands – 35 for the second wicket with Pakistan’s Kamran Akmal (17) and 30 for the third with Marlon Samuels (9) to push Stars up to 75 for two. But once Samuels was beaten and bowled by a Narine off-break in the 13 t h over, the innings declined swiftly with seven wickets falling for 41 runs. Fletcher perished in the 16th over after striking three
fours and a six in slow 45ball knock while Sammy produced a cameo, belting two fours and a six off 19 balls, before falling in the final over. TKR had crushed Stars by nine wickets in the tournament opener last Friday in Gros Islet. Scores: STARS 118 for nine off 20 overs (Andre Fletcher 40, Darren Sammy 25; Kevon Cooper 3-21, Dwayne Bravo 2-33). TKR 120 for six off 15.4 overs (Shadab Khan 30 not out, Javon Searles 27 not out; Shane Shillingford 424).
Kaieteur News
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Wednesday August 09, 2017
Head of State set early pace as Queen’s Baton Relay off to fantastic start in Guyana By Franklin Wilson After a total of 37 stops on its way to the 2018 Commonwealth Games to be hosted in the Gold Coast, Guyana became the 38th destination yesterday and given the honour of setting the pace on the first leg was His Excellency, President David Granger. In the cool of the morning at about 08:00hrs, President Granger commenced the first of three days for the relay here in front of State House and minutes later passed the torch to Honourable Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo at the corners of Quamina and Main Streets. Nagamootoo at appreciable pace and in the company of Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) President K. A. Juman Yassin, then handed over the
torch to Chief of Staff, Brigadier Patrick West outside the Bank of Guyana before Minister of Education (ag), Nicolette Henry took over at Quamina and Holmes Street. Maintaining a steady pace, Minister Henry then proceeded to the British High Commission where she handed over to British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn who subsequently passed it on to Guyana’s lone Olympic bronze medalist Michael Parris in front of the GOA Office, Main Street. The final leg in yesterday’s first stage which concluded close to 14:00hrs was jogged by Director of Sport, Christopher Jones in the company of a number of cyclists and this was after a number of associations and federations kept the pace going throughout the morning
Chief of Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Patrick West (right), Guyana’s lone Olympic medalist Michael Parris (left) and GOA’s Juman Yassin leading this group of Army ranks on the 3rd leg of the Relay. in the city. Yassin commented on the first stage which ended at the Square of the Revolution where a simple libation ceremony was held. ”I am very pleased with how it went today; I think it was very successful. We started on time, all the
Young footballers with the torch at the Square of the Revolution.
segments were done and the turnout was excellent. Lots of persons on the road participated. I want to thank President Granger and Prime Minister Nagamootoo and all those who participated, excellent.” Yassin also extended kudos to all the associations
and federation which he said were flawless with their support in making the Queens Baton Relay, a success. ”Kudos to those civic organizations, we had the Speaker of the Parliament, we had the Mayor and other civic persons, Rotary Lions and others.” Yesterday’s afternoon session saw the relay moving to the Leonora Stadium where it was welcome to the sweet sounds of the Tassa Drummers and a masquerade band. Today, the Queen’s Baton Relay will make its way to the Kaieteur Falls before heading to Surama and Annai where it will be greeted with sport and cultural presentations. It will then depart Guyana on
Friday for the Falkland Islands. Yassin summed up that the relay display the unity and diversity and the bonds that binds the nations of the commonwealth where the relay would be held in each of the 70 countries. The Queen’s Baton Relay is a Games tradition that celebrates the Commonwealth’s diversity, inspires community pride and excites people about the world-class festival of sports and culture to come. The Queen’s Baton will arrive on the Gold Coast for the XXI Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony on 4 April 2018, where Her Majesty, or a representative, will remove the message from the Baton and read it aloud to officially open the Games.
Wednesday August 09, 2017
Kaieteur News
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Osmond Cummings fourth Memorial Football Extravaganza
Botofago U18 and U23 outgun Eagles United and Amelia’s Ward Botofago Football Club (BFC) defeated their Under18 and Under-23 counterparts in the Osmond Cummings fourth Memorial football extravaganza Sunday last at the Silvertown All Stars Sports Club Ground. Under the theme, “Unite, Develop and Distribute”, Botofago’s Under 18 got the better of Eagles United FC 20. From the sound of the first whistle Botofago dominated the game with some early shots to the goal; while some went wide of the goal posts, Eagles Keeper made some great saves. Although the game was reduced to one hour because of the inclement weather, Eagles were able to hold their opponents at nil all at half time. Coming back into the game with fire in their eyes Amar Jones booted the first goal in favour of Botofago and soon after Antwaine Gill scored the second before the game ended 2-Nil in favour of Botofago. It was all Botofago again in the Under-23 clash, they won 4-1 against Amelia’s Ward FC. From the onset Botofago were determined to make it a double and showed prowess and dominance. In the 5th minute Botofago went ahead after Tevin Thompson scored their first goal. From then it was a battle for goals but Botofago showed their dominance and two more goals were scored before half time when Wayne Wilson beat the goalkeeper, sending the ball straight to the back of the net; the first half ended 3-Nil in favour of Botofago. At the sound of the whistle for the second half, Kelon Primo of Amelia’s Ward scored taking the score to 3-1, but shortly after Tevin Thompson of Botofago sealed the win by rocking the nets with a right footer from the 18 yards box to make it 41. At the end of the regulation time the score read 4-1 in favour of Botofago FC. The Under-18 team received the winning trophy and replicas. The winning Under-23 team a trophy and replicas. The loosing teams received medals. Emerging as the MVP for the U23 was Te v i n T h o m p s o n o f Botofago, Ojani Whittington was adjudged the best Youth Player, Best defence went to Kendall Lewis of Eagles
DeAndre Cummings (right) presents the winning trophy to Botofago FC U-23 captain Jashawn Moore.
DeAndre Cummings, son of Osmond Cummings, kicks off the ball.
United, Botofago’s Kester Johnson was given the nod for Best goalkeeper and Antwaine Gill received the MVP U18 prize. The teams were met by Nigel ‘Mice’ Cummings and DeAndre Cummings, son of the late Osmond Cummings, who also did the honour of kicking off the ball. Nigel ‘Mice’ Cummings
in his remarks said that he was hoping to have the tournament run as a league this year but there were some hiccups and it didn’t materialize but come 2018 it will be done as a League so all the teams in Linden will benefit. The Acting President of the UDFA sanctioned the league and committed to assist.
Cummings noted that he wants nothing he will provide all the trophies, medals, balls and whatever else is needed. The trophy for the league was on display. Cummings also thanked US based Farlin Da Silva, former footballer and Andrew Porter in assisting with balls and gears for
Botofago FC. Osmond Cummings who was also a dominoes enthusiast had a tournament in his memory played on the same day. Bidders emerged winners with 77 games, WEE second with 76 games and 110 Street in the cellar with 66 games. Bidders received a trophy and
$35,000, second place received $12,000 and a trophy and a trophy and $5,000 went to the third place winner. The Cummings family also fed the children in the community and distributed backpacks with pens, pencils, exercise books and other school stationery. (Jacquey Bourne)
Kaieteur News
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Berbice Bridge Co. is another major sponsor for Guyana Cup horserace Meet
Wednesday August 09, 2017
Regional Under-19 cricket – 3rd day, 4th round
Guyana beat Windwards by an innings & 58 runs BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – Guyana defeated Windward Islands by an innings and 58 runs on the third day of their fourth round clash in the Regional Under-19 Championship at St Paul’s here Tuesday. Scores: WINDWARD ISLANDS 154 (Kimani Melius 77; Ashmead Nedd 5-37) and 97 (Wayne Edward 20; Ashmead Nedd 7-20). GUYANA 309 for nine decl. (Adrian Sukwah 68, Kevelon Anderson 60, Javid Karim 57, Kevin Sinclair 29, Ronaldo Ali Mohammed 29; Lee Louisy 3-72).
Roy Jafferally of the organisers (right), collects the sponsorship from a Representative of the Berbice Bridge Company. The Berbice River Bridge Company has come on board as another one of the major sponsors of the Guyana Cup Horserace Meeting fixed for Sunday at the Rising Sun Turf Club on the West Coast of Berbice. Even as preparations are going at full speed for the event in a few days time, the sponsors also are joining to ensure it continues as a success story. The Berbice Company has stepped up to the plate, joining Banks DIH and Air Services among others as key sponsors of the race meet on Sunday. The 11th edition of the Jumbo Jet Business Enterprise and Stables organised Mega event is expected to be extremely exciting with most of the country’s top racehorses in action on Sunday and fans are expected as is customary to throng the venue for the explosive entertainment that is usually seen at the event. Roy Jafferally of the o rg a n i s i n g C o m m i t t e e recently collected the sponsorship cheque from a Representative of the
Berbice Bridge to signal their major involvement in the event. Jaferally on behalf of the Jumbo Jet Business Enterprise and Stables thanked the Berbice Bridge Company for their support for the event, expressing the desire that this benevolence continues. Several other sponsors are on board, among them are Air Services Limited, Banks DIH, Big G Lumber yard, Caricom Auto Sales, Impressive Signs and Graphics, Soreidom Guyana Inc, Rambrich Service Station, Poonai’s Pharmacy of Rose Hall Town, Rohan Auto Spares, BM Soat Auto Spares, Muneahwar Hardware Store, Hand-inHand Insurance Company, Super Bet, ISG Industrial Supplies of Guyana Inc, D. Telokie & Sons Trucking Service, BM Soat Auto Sales and Anand and Sons Electrical. The B Class event as the main race and is open to all imported and Guyana Bred B class horses and covers a distance of 2000m for a whopping $2M for the
winner with second collecting $1M, third $500,000, fourth $250,000 and fifth $125,000. There is the E & lower 1500m race for all imported and Guyana Bred 3 years and up and those rated E class and lower for a sumptuous $1.2M winner’s purse. The G & Lower Guyana and West Indies Bred racehorses cover 1500m with the winner carting off $700,000, the H3 & lower race for Guyana and West Indies bred horses has a $400,000 pay day over a distance of 1100m, the 2 years old Guyana Bred horses will run over a similar 11 0 0 m d i s t a n c e w i t h $350,000 the purse on offer for the winner, while 3 year old Guyana bred and I1 & Lower class racehorses will look to cash in on the $300,000 first prize over 1100m. The J2 & K & Lower class will be battling for a $250,000 purse, while the L& Lower non-winners will collide for a $200,000 winners take, both events also over 1100m.
Hetmyer entertains, Brathwaite fails in... (From page 31) together to add 44 and deny Kent any further success. Hetmyer, who made his Test debut recently against Pakistan, faced just 39 balls and counted seven fours and a six. West Indies will face Derbyshire in their third three-day tour game starting
Friday in Derby. The game will be a day/night affair in preparation for the ‘pink ball’ first Test against England at Edgbaston beginning August 17. Scores: WEST INDIES 265 (Shai Hope 57, Jermaine Blackwood 50, Kyle Hope 36, Alzarri Joseph 31; Charlie Hartley 4-80, Adam Ball 2-27, Adam Riley 2-37)
and 132 for four (Shimron Hetmyer 43 not out, Shai Hope 30, Kieran Powell 23; Charlie Hartley 2-44). KENT 331 for nine decl. (Sean Dickson 142, Zak Crawley 62, Will Gidman 42, Calum Haggett 29 not out; Alzarri Joseph 4-72, Kraigg Brathwaite 222).
Jamaica beat Leewards by six wickets BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – Jamaica defeated Leeward Islands by six wickets on the final day
of their fourth round match in the Regional Under-19 Championship at Conaree here Tuesday. Scores: LEEWARD ISLANDS 163 (Jamie Cornelius 40, Dimitri Adams 36, Kadeem Henry 31; Brad Barnes 5-37, Kristoph Virgo 3-56) and
126 (Paul Miller 27 not out; Kristoph Virgo 4-40, David Bird 3-21). JAMAICA 219 (Andre McCarty 42, Raewin Senior 38, Dominic Samuels 30, Darren Small 28; Kiam Pemberton 4-28) and 73 for four (Andre McCarty 25; Zawandi White 2-13).
Crossfit 12-12-12 Throwdown – T&T
Mahadeo headlines strong 10-member team
Flashback! Team Guyana in T&T in 2016. G u y a n a ’s l e a d i n g Crossfit athlete who has also excelled at the regional level, Dillon Mahadeo will be leading a strong 10member team including two females to this year’s 2nd annual Crossfit 12-12-12 Throwdown set for this Saturday at the Woodbrook Youth Facility, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. At last year ’s Throwdown, Guyana fielded 8 athletes of which Mahadeo took the bronze medal in the RX (Open)
M e n ’s c a t e g o r y w i t h Angelina DeAbreu taking gold in the Women’s Scaled (Novice) category. This year’s contingent is Mahadeo, Christian McRae, Ian Rogers, Timothy Mc Andrew, Jamie McDonald, King Solomon, Stephen Fraser, Paul Muesa and the two females, Semonica Duke and Christina Rahman. A total of 94 athletes will be seeking to outdo each other from countries including St. Lucia, St
Marten, Barbados, Suriname, U.S.A and the host nation. The majority of team members will be leaving Guyana tomorrow with the others getting into the T&T on Friday. Corporate support for the athletes would have been garnered from Ansa McAl, Fitness Express, King Solomon Shipping, N & K Investments, Genesis Fitness and Caribbean Airlines. (Franklin Wilson)
Wednesday August 09, 2017
Kaieteur News
PAGE 35
CONCACAF U-17 WC qualifiers
Barbados battle Lady Jags today @ Leonora ‘Expecting a great fight come game day’ - Lady Jags Coach Castello
Barbados Head Coach Thomas Jordan left and assistant coach Gabriella Lopez at a briefing yesterday CONCACAF’s Under17 female World Cup qualifiers begin in Guyana today at the Leonora Track and Field Facility football pitch with the first match of Group D. The hosts, Lady Jags will battle Barbados from 5:00pm at the West Side venue to which admission is free.
Speaking to the media yesterday, Coach of the lady Jags Akilah Castello, noted that preparing the Guyana team had its challenges but she expects her side to be competitive. Those challenges included, “A lot of tactical work which the girls would have had to take in a limited time…(and) they
Team Barbados at the Ramada Princess Hotel. have been training so well that we are expecting a great fight come game day,” Castello noted. Despite Guyana not
Hetmyer entertains, Brathwaite fails in rain-hit draw
Twenty-year-old left-hander, Shimron Hetmyer. C A N T E R B U R Y, England, CMC – Rookie left-hander Shimron Hetmyer shone but opener Kraigg Brathwaite suffered his third straight failure as the three-day tour game against Kent finished in a draw here yesterday. Before lightning and bad light ended play abruptly, West Indies were enjoying batting practice and had reached 132 for four at the Kent County Ground. They were slumping at 50 for three before the 20year-old Hetmyer stroked an enterprising unbeaten 43, while Shai Hope got 30 and opener Kieran Powell, 23, to lead the Caribbean side’s revival. Brathwaite, however, fell without scoring to follow up his first innings eight and two in the second innings of the opening tour game against Essex at
Chelmsford. Opener Kieran Powell once again got a start with 23 but failed to carry on. Seamer Charlie Hartley was among the wickets with two for 44 to follow up his first innings four-wicket haul. Batting coach Toby Radford said afterwards the Wi n d i e s b a t s m e n h a d received a good workout during the contest. “Kent bowled in good areas and kept coming at us,” the Englishman said. “They swung it away to the right-handers and whenever we batted in this match there was cloud cover and a little bit of juice around.” Trailing by 66 after Kent declared their first innings on 331 for nine in the final over of the previous day, West Indies were quickly in trouble following an 80-
minute delayed start due to rain when they lost Brathwaite – caught at the wicket off Hartley in the second over with one run scored. With the score on 24, seamer Matt Hunn claimed Kyle Hope also to a catch at the wicket for nine as West Indies slipped further. Shai Hope then anchored two small partnerships to halt the slide, putting on 26 for the third wicket with Powell and a further 38 for the fourth with Hetmyer. The left-handed Powell had faced 59 balls and struck two fours when he too was taken at the wicket this time off left-arm quick Adam Ball and Shai’s innings ended when he was caught at cover off Hartley. Hetmyer and Jermaine Blackwood, who finished unbeaten on 18, then came (Continued on page 30)
having a very good foundation in women’s football, being “behind 2025 years the world standard”, as stated by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Technical Director, Ian Greenwood; the head coach Costello noted pleasure with initial training. “Most of the girls came through the ATCs (Scotia Bank Academy Training centers) and would’ve been exposed to some level of training before the national camps,” Coach Costello further stated. On the other hand, the Barbados team have been
together since they competed at the Under-15 level last year and they definitely will boast more experience and team chemistry than Guyana. Despite this the “Bajans” head coach Thomas Jordan stated that, “There are programmes in Barbados that prepare girls from as young as the Under-13 level for tournaments such as these.” The Cuba team, which arrives tomorrow, August 10th, have been identified as the strongest team in the competition. When quizzed on expectations from the
tournament in which Barbados are not the favourites, their coach Thomas Jordan politely stated, “We are here to win, we will not be intimidated by C u b a . Ye s t h e y ’ r e a powerhouse, yes they’re a good team, we have seen them play before and we have prepared ourselves to compete against them.” However, Coach Thomas will need to get past the Lady Jags first who will have the home advantage come this evening. See below for Guyana’s complete team list and coaching staff.
t r o Sp Head of State set early pace as Queen’s Baton Relay off to fantastic start in Guyana
President Granger passes the torch to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo in the presence of GOA President, K. A Juman Yassin.
SVC Mafia, New York Hustlers take honours in Toronto Cup 2
SVC Mafia’s captain Anil Beharry collects the winning Open trophy from Emma Sunich, daughter of Ramesh Sunich, proprietor of Trophy Stall.
CONCACAF U-17 WC qualifiers
Barbados battle Lady Jags today @ Leonora Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210