Kaieteur News

PAGE 4

Kaieteur News

Thursday August 23, 2018

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

THE PNCR CONGRESS

T

he PNCR Congress began with pomp and fanfare last Friday and ended with Volda Lawrence being greeted with screams and thunderous applause from the delegates when it was announced that she had won the chairmanship of the party. A former Vice-Chairperson of the party and the Chairperson of the National Congress of Women, the women’s arm of the PNCR, Lawrence soared to victory, despite being the underdog in a three-person race. With massive support from the female delegates who were about 55 percent of the total delegates at the Congress, Lawrence’s victory is seen as a stunning defeat for Basil Williams, who served two terms as chairman, and for the powerful Joseph Harmon. President David Granger was unopposed as party leader. As one insider put it: “Volda won the hearts of the delegates and party supporters, many of whom were women, who were more (in number) than men at the Congress, because she has very good standing among women, particularly given that she heads the women’s arm.” Additionally, Annette Ferguson defeated eight persons for the Vice-Chairmanship of the party. The victory of the two women is being construed as an end to male dominance of the party’s hierarchy. None of the results were contested. In a show of party unity following her victory, Miss Lawrence was flanked by President David Granger, her opponents, her colleagues and delegates. She however played down the importance of the Chairmanship by saying that all positions in the party are important. While it is believed that the Chairman of the party will automatically become the leader should the leader step down or is no longer able to serve due to illhealth or other unforeseen circumstances, this would not be the case. The truth is the PNCR constitution has made it clear that in such a scenario, the chairman, in this case, Lawrence, would only be the leader for a 90-day period, after which a special congress will be held to determine the leader. Before the tension of Sunday’s election, there was the opening ceremony of the three-day Congress at which the leader of the party, President Granger, assured the nation that the coalition government will not be intoxicated by oil. Although the nation is aware of the government’s inexperience and inadequate human resources to manage the oil industry, yet the president is convinced that the government will manage the oil industry in a responsible manner for the benefit of present and future generations. However, during his one-hour speech, he did not provide any details about the government’s preparations for oil or what it intends to do with the oil revenue. With the establishment of the Department of Energy on August 1, under his direct authority within the Ministry of the Presidency, the President opined that the government has been prudently laying the groundwork for the petroleum sector to be managed in accordance with international best practices. All that said, it is believed that this year’s congress, which was attended by supporters from across the country as well as from the diaspora, political partners of the coalition government, and the diplomatic corps, would be the last such gathering before two significant events in 2020—the commencement of the pumping of oil in commercial quantities and the next general elections. Very interesting times lie ahead.

An open letter to the visiting US Congressmen DEAR EDITOR, I welcome you to Guyana on behalf of all Guyanese who fought to bring free and fair elections to my country. Their heroic and united struggle culminated in the dawn of a new era in 1992 when the PPP/C defeated the PNC, who misruled our country for more than three decades. We are deeply grateful to your colleagues, both Republican and Democratic Congressmen and Senators who, in the run-up to the ‘92 elections, gave their full support to the Guyanese people’s long struggle for a return to democracy and good governance in our country. Our country, is on the cusp of what could possibly be its second economic revolution after centuries of dominance by king sugar, which was introduced by the British in the colonial period but which industry is now practically dead in the water as a result of the maladministration of the governing APNU+AFC. Thousands of sugar workers have been thrown onto the breadline. In my country, the ruling elite, soon after its assumption to office in May 2015, began to trample on our Constitution. Ministers of government consistently seek to direct and/or interfere in the work of constitutional bodies, the military and the law enforcement agencies. Appointments to Constitutional bodies are violated in the breach. A most recent case was the appointment of a Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission without due regard to the bipartisan agreed

Carter Center formula which was constitutionalized. This matter is currently before the court. A ruling is due shortly. The ruling Coalition Government has replaced many qualified civilian professionals in state and government entities with military personnel. In light of these unwelcome developments, the Guyanese people are fearful that the governing Coalition is preparing the ground for fraudulent elections to maintain themselves in offices contrary to the will of the majority of the electorate. Local government elections will take place in our country before the end of the year. Your arrival in our country will coincide with advanced preparations for, and possibly, the beginning of the campaigns by the respective contesting political parties. Already, there are allegations of the illegal gerrymandering of the boundaries of Local Authority Areas to either narrow the margin of losses by the ruling APNU or to give the ruling party an outright majority at the conclusion of those elections. Serious disagreements have surfaced between the Coalition partners resulting in them going separately to the elections. How the partnership will face the next general elections is an internal one to them. The perpetuation of fraud during the imminent Local Government Elections may very well be a dress rehearsal for the coming General and Regional Elections Constitutionally due in 2020. The fear of rigged elections real or imagined, and the

concomitant political instability in the country that can jeopardize U. S. foreign investments in my country are factors your delegation should take into consideration in preparation for your conversations with the President of Guyana. It is in the context of this backdrop that the Guyanese oil and gas industries are high on the national agenda. I have no doubt that this matter is equally high on your agenda for your meetings with a wide range of Guyanese stakeholders. By now, members of your delegation would have been briefed to the effect that there is much debate among stakeholders in our country on this matter. The key question attracting the attention of the overwhelming majority of Guyanese is whether our people will benefit in any significant way from the revenues that will flow from the production oil and gas. Doubts created by a hostile media, as well as by number of critics, cynics and pessimists have not helped alleviate these concerns. Nor has ExxonMobil, the principal investor in the sector whose public relations as a good corporate citizen has been most unhelpful, if not lacking to say the least. In the meanwhile, President Granger has publicly proposed that government and opposition enter into talks about the environment, oil and gas and security. Thus far, the parliamentary opposition has limited its response stating that the matter is to be discussed by the Opposition People’s Progressive Party. I have to assume, that the

three areas proposed by President Granger coincide with the interests of ExxonMobil. ExxonMobil investment interests no doubt coincide with the interests of the United States insofar as its overseas investors are concerned. In this regard, the security of ExxonMobil’s infrastructure, property and personnel would be of critical importance to all the parties concerned especially in the context of the advisories issued by the US authorities with respect to the public safety and security situation obtaining in our country. Your visit therefore comes at a very important juncture of our country’s socio-political and economic development. It is necessary during your visit that you meet not only with government and the political Opposition but with non-governmental organizations, trade unions, the business community and with as many representatives of civil society and as possible not excluding the media. It is my hope that your esteemed delegation will not be assuaged by government propaganda nor its assurances. Especially in light of the reality that my country is currently gripped by economic malaise, financial and administrative incompetence, corruption from top to bottom, victimization, and racial and political discrimination. More importantly, the Guyanese people expect that in the course of your conversations with President Granger and his Ministers that you will emphasize the (Continued on page 5)

GUYANA LACKS CODE OF DRESS AND SPEECH DEAR EDITOR, People generally go to work in Guyana in a wide range of totally unfit clothes. The Public Service, with its nubilous standards, stands out conspicuously in this regard. Apart from ill-fitting clothing worn by women in particular, some ludicrous colours and jeans dot the workplace while Tee shirts and tank tops proliferate. Faces are often times unrecognizable, with poor choice of make-up, seemingly daubed in a hurry to get to work. Perhaps the talented Joel Gansham could offer a few tips. The time has long gone for a social policy to streamline a professional choice of wear for the public servant, a sector of Guyana’s workforce bent on a minimum of achievement for a maximum of pay, leave and other benefits. The

wide spectrum of 21st century clothing worn is rather more in line to compete with fellow workers and as a seemingly (unconscious) expression of low self-esteem, ranging from politely conservative to downright comical. If you cannot see exposed beauty – if there is any — then you can see exposed bodies. Women strive to out-dress their teenage daughters and in the process end up highlighting their cracks, crevices, fault lines and revealing storage places that compel dress designers to rethink stitching patterns. No wonder many end up looking like a pumpkin on a pair of chopsticks. A poor choice of footwear is open front sandals and flipflops. The simple reason that the streets of Guyana are rough and insanitary allowing for toe stumping and disease (people spit and animals mess

on the streets). The grey /brown discolouration of toenails is most likely the result of fungus developing under the nails. Oftentimes peoples’ feet are dirty at the end of the day and this is taken into the home. But another parallel workplace code awaits addressing: Speaking to the public. A code of communications is desperately needed in a phenomenon that is as horrific as it is widespread. The Ministries, NIS offices and police officers are distressing examples of untrained personnel with poor etiquette. In Guyanese lingo: they behave like pigs, bark like dogs and are eager to shove their little authority down your throat. This sordid facet of interaction permeates the entire country; with public servants radiating

the aura that they are doing you a favour, rather than doing the job the government spends more than 200 billion dollars annually. Nail polishing, chewing gum, smoking, personal cell phone usage, improperly eating at the desk are a few examples of a society struggling for an acceptable standard of performance. As a former St. Stanislaus College teacher, these occurrences were non-existent! The country needs training officers in the field of Customer relations, which is presently lopsided or non-existent, while complaints against unmannerly employees, for the most part, fall on deaf ears. You are what you eat; you are what you wear; you are what you speak. Leyland Chitlall Roopnaraine Queens. New York

Thursday August 23, 2018

HATS AND CAPS DEAR EDITOR, Hats and caps are staying on in more places these days. Have the do’s and don’ts of headwear devolved to meet the expectations of an all-casual, all-the-time generation? I am penning this inquiry in the sincere hope that male readers would respond thereby updating me as to current social mores and etiquette pertinent to the vexing practice of wearing hats and caps indoors. What is the contemporary etiquette in men’s headwear, as nowadays there does not appear to be much order when it comes to hats and caps. Knowingly, the world has gone casual over time, but have we gone too casual bordering on to disrespect. Throughout the course of history, hats identified social standing and removing a hat was a gesture of respect. Men removed their hats as soon as they crossed the threshold of a house or public building, and always in the presence of a lady. There were rules to follow and if you did not then people knew immediately you were not an upstanding member of society. On the other hand, ladies were completely exempted from “hat rules” wearing them whenever and wherever they wished, removing it only if it obstructed someone’s view. It seemed like a good practical policy back then, so why is it still not? Hats are no longer the essential article of clothing as they were formerly, but are still worn for fashion and function by both sexes. Nevertheless, knowing when to remove a hat is as equally important as wearing the right hat for the occasion. Basically put, hats come with a complex etiquette. Have you noticed how often men, both old and young alike, wear their hats (including baseball caps) indoors, while dining, even at functions, seemingly unconcerned about the old sartorial practice of removing hats once indoors. I was told way back when a hat was indicative of someone being in transit. Hence, wearing a hat inside showed that you did not plan on stay-

ing, or have not the slightest desire to be there, somewhat similar to wearing a coat in a place where you do not want to be so that you can get out of there faster. Undoubtedly, hat etiquette has disappeared in this new millennium. Gone, perhaps never to return are the days when a man learned the art of doffing his hat, slightly lifting the hat off his forehead when greeting a woman. Tipping of the hat is a conventional gesture of politeness, and this custom shares the same origin as military saluting, which came from the raising of the face visors of medieval Knights to show goodwill. Knights would be considered aggressive or unfriendly if they did not show their smiling face to the public, so in order to give everyone a look at their heroic grin, the visor would be lifted. Times have changed and wellintentioned rules have become relaxed and abandoned altogether, however I will never accept that just because a good custom has been cast aside, one should give up on restoring it. A few members of the opposing or opposite sex have bombarded me with the question, why should a man be bareheaded while a woman may wear a hat? The changed attitudes around gender roles and the casualization of dress need to be carefully considered in responding to sartorial rules. I was raised in the era when the No Hats Inside rule was strictly enforced and now it is so entrenched in my psyche, that when someone contravenes this etiquette guideline, it feels and look so wrong — like snow in summer. I have raised my children with the same guidelines, and they know that they and their friends must never wear hats or caps indoors. Rules aside, it is my firmly held belief that there is a psychological notion of taking a hat off indoors to bear oneself truthfully or equally to others in the room - no obstruction to eye contact. Guys, before you commence putting heads together towards capping a concerted response, please note that while the hat storm rages there are exception to the

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

“hats off indoors” rule –It is not necessary for a man to remove his hat in places where he does not seat himself, such as grocery stores, shops or markets. Individuals with certain health conditions, which result in hair loss, or require having their head covered, are not expected to remove a hat. The pervasive lack of respect for protocol is also evident in schools and learning institutions. The standards for dress, behaviour, consideration and just plain common courtesies have corroded in the elementary grades. This corrosion of standards was agonizingly painful to me when I recently attended a school function. I could not believe how many men, young and old alike were wearing baseball caps. Call me mean, petty or just plain chew me out but baseball caps are for baseball games and other sporting events. They do not belong at school performances. Attention should be drawn to standards of dress that adults and children alike should know and observe. My take is that too many people in positions of change miss the opportunity to teach acceptable standards of public decorum to students or adults. Sad but true, there was a time when almost everyone knew the rules governing hats. The hat renaissance is creating a predicament of men and boys who grew up without being taught and learning hat wearing etiquette from their fathers. Yes, entire generations have come of age with little understanding of proper hat protocol. While more casual rules are being followed today, it is appalling older folks who remember traditional customs, and for those who honor the tradition of hat removal, wearing a hat indoors is viewed as disrespectful. Societal standards for etiquette have grown too lax, with manners, civility and respect for decorum all values of the past. In place of standards, anything goes. Hats off! I remain an advocate for a more civilized directive. Yours sincerely Y. Sam

Naipaul’s sharp gaze was equally cast, wherever he went DEAR EDITOR, The curmudgeon-y old West Indian known as V.S. Naipaul died last week. I suppose that description could be applicable to many of my acquaintances, including my own father. When first we landed in Miami in the late 70’s, my siblings and I were exposed to the writings of Naipaul and Selvon and a few others who my father felt we needed to read to ensure we didn’t forget our roots in the West Indies. Although I later read a number of his novels, “Miguel Street” remains my bittersweet favourite and “ A m o n g the Believers” caused me to question the undeniably negative influence of Arab “culture” on a religion that spans every corner of the globe. One that rejected monarchies, encouraging instead a type of benevolent socialist egalitarianism while embracing the Abrahamic traditions and prophets of older, established religions. The West Indian in Naipaul probably died a long time ago. His prolific erudition and claims of being a travel writer aside, the incisive sarcasm inherent in his writing speak of a mind that queried, questioned and eventually dissected everything and everyone. To describe him as a ‘selfhating Trinidadian’ might be too mild. That intellectual tension must have weighed on him; knowing that there existed a seemingly buffoon-esqueness of one’s homeland versus the more ‘serious’ nations of the world. As a born Guyanese, I suppose in my older years I can relate to this, as I often wonder why we do not take ourselves more seriously. Why is it that those who do take themselves seriously are usually the ones preaching about some worshipfulness or the other? The pretensions we take for granted as ‘civilizing’ disappear when we look at our country’s statistics on crime, suicide, road violence, domestic abuse, rape, gender inequality, etc.

The list goes on. I wonder if Naipaul, in his time, also looked at these rampant ‘uncivilized’ tendencies about the region he was from, or whatever it was that ran contrary to the social evolution of his homeland’s society; i.e., the caste system. I remember well his tome “India: A Wounded Civilization” as my father spoke about it constantly. He argued with West Indian friends about it, especially noted Trinidadian agronomist, Dr. Earl Chandool. The plight and position of the descendants of those that came from India was a peculiar one. Not “Indian” exactly (we spoke no subcontinent languages), we aped what was to be found in the pirated Indian movies found in the region, adopting a sort of stylized “Indian-ness” that was neither stylish nor truly “Indian”. Accepting that we are “West Indian” and not “Indian” is truly difficult. It feels like one is rejecting one’s ancestors, but the truth is: I, like my parents and children, and Naipaul; we have never had to leave India. But, we have always remained West Indian, no matter where we went. And

a significant set of our ancestors remain ‘Indian’ no matter what we culturally evolve to become. This is what I most gleaned from reading Naipaul, from the droll tragedy that is “Miguel Street” to the weirdness of the “Suffrage of Elvira”. West Indians remain a betwixt people. We remain a squabbling bunch, and Naipaul (clearly) never thought we would go much beyond that. The funny thing is, West Indians are over-achieving all throughout the world, including Sir Vidya. We are a brilliant people, a Creole mixture of cultures that has proven to be enduring, beautiful, querulous and intellectual. When we choose to be... Sir Vidya put us all on the map, and for that I am personally grateful. His brutal, scathing view of us is possibly the most honest one we know, from one that knew us well. While I much prefer the imaginative creativity of our local boy, Wilson Harris, I remain in awe of a writer whose sharp gaze was equally cast, wherever he went. RIP, Sir V. Sincerely, Scheherazade Ishoof Khan Caps, Hats & Etiquette

An open letter to the ... From page 4 importance you attach to free and fair elections and your disdain for fraudulent electoral practices from beginning to end. An independent Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission and its machinery; a clean, credible and verifiable voters list; counting of votes at the place of poll; no overseas voting save for home-based staff at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; no postal voting nor abuse of proxy voting and accreditation of overseas and local observers are the critical elements that would ensure free and fair elections in Guyana. I wish your esteemed delegation a successful stay in our beautiful country and I sincerely hope your delegation would enjoy our Guyanese hospitality. Yours sincerely , Clement J. Rohee

PAGE 6

Kaieteur News

Why is it necessary for ExxonMobil to throw its weight and dollars around in this manner? DEAR EDITOR, As a Guyanese citizen, I have tried to ignore the whole Oil and Gas scenario and leave it to the politicians to manage. But they do not seem to be doing very well at all. I am not sure why I expected them to do well, considering the record of Guyanese politicians. The consequence of leaving things to the politicians is that ExxonMobil seems to be bulldozing the country. They are everywhere. Why is it necessary for this company to throw its weight and dollars around in this manner? I know there is a concept of corporate responsibility but what is happening in Guyana is too much too soon. Now the whole country is aware that money has been thrown at Conservation International.

This is unpardonable and reeks of corruption. Is ExxonMobil going to go after the Church next? Can all of us be bought? Why does ExxonMobil need to buy everyone and every organisation? They are like a giant octopus sitting on us and spreading its big fat tentacles across the land. The only reason for a corporation to behave in this manner is that they want to control people, organisations and ultimately, the government. And this is a very bad start, because, at its core, it is an attack on sovereignty. What they should be doing is very simple: negotiating a fair deal with the Guyanese people through the Guyana Government.I think it is time that we Guyanese wake up and start paying attention because if this trend continues, then it is the people of

this country who will ultimately suffer since a giant corporation will wish to protect its interests by influencing elections and interfering in domestic politics. This doomsday scenario can be avoided by strong political leadership. Guyanese should be in control of this process of managing our oil and gas resources. Alas, it is becoming clear that our Government, weak on strategic planning and policy formulation from the start, lacks the intellect, the confidence and resourcefulness to effectively negotiate with this corporation or to prepare an adequate policy and management framework. All indications are that the government is allowing ExxonMobil to influence its policy formulation. Why can’t we get anything right? Where is the principled leadership in this country? Why are we failing so miserably in Guyana? Is it corruption or incompetence or both? Concerned Citizen.

Thursday August 23, 2018

Jailed Lula’s Brazil presidential poll lead increases Rio de Janeiro (AFP) Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva may be incarcerated and potentially prevented from standing in October’s presidential election but the leftist leader’s advantage in polls continues to grow. Figures published by pollsters Datafolha yesterday showed the former president’s share of the vote has risen to 39 percent from 30 last month. It means he now has more than double the number of his nearest challenger, right wing candidate Jair Bolsonaro, who is up to 19 percent from 17 last month. None of the other 11 registered candidates polled double figures in the sample of almost 8,500 people asked who they intended to vote for in the October 7 election. The figures were in line

with other polling organizations that gave Lula a 37 percent share earlier this week. The 72-year-old leader of the Workers’ Party (PT) is aiming for a third term in the top job having led Brazil from 2003 to 2010. But Lula could be barred from running as he serves a 12-year sentence for corruption.Last week, Brazil’s Attorney General Raquel Dodge asked the country’s top court for electoral matters to invalidate Lula’s candidacy. But the United Nations Human Rights Committee ruled that he cannot be disqualified “until his appeals before the courts have been completed in fair judicial proceedings.” Brazil is technically obliged to abide by the

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva committee’s findings. In Brazil’s presidential election system, the top two candidates from the first round head to a second round run-off, with Datafolha putting Lula ahead of Bolsonaro by 52 to 32 in that vote.

Private sector group wants an end to breaches of confidentiality CASTRIES, ST. LUCIA CMC – The St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture (SLCCA) s warning both private and public sector workers of engaging in breaching confidentiality, which it said is hurting the country. SLCCA executive director Brian Louisy said he was urging the political parties here to speak out against the practice, which he said is hurting the economic interest of the country. “We are concerned about frequent breaches of confidentiality in the public service

and private sector, as this practice could inevitably result in harm to this country’s economic interests,” Louisy wrote in the latest issue of ‘ED’s Perspective’, the official publication of the private sector group. He descri b e d c o n f i dentiality breaches as ‘a disturbing issue’ within the public and p r i v a t e s e c t o r, n o t i n g t h a t “ employees are now flippantly “leaking” documents of a private nature regularly without concern for the ramifications.

“The impact on business people’s confidence, both foreign and local, as to respect of privacy when doing business in Saint Lucia is now real. “Will my competitor soon know my every business detail once I do business with the government of St. Lucia? Will my personal and business banking information make its way to social media?” Louisy asked. He said leaders in the country need to speak out and bring this practice to a stop, “or we will all pay the price”.

Thursday August 23, 2018

Kaieteur News

PAGE 7

Lab tests reveal high mercury levels in some GTT employees Alarming levels of mercury have been detected in blood samples of a number of Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) employees. The employees are from the company’s Lot 79 Brickdam Head Office, which is located in close proximity to the Guyana Gold Board (GGB), where some employees were recently found to be suffering from high levels of mercury. The tests were conducted through Eureka Medical Laboratory and the results were returned some two weeks ago, sources within the company revealed. Kaieteur News understands that suspicion of mercury poisoning surfaced just over two months ago, when a female employee complained of feeling ‘weak’ and ‘drained’ all the time. The employee then underwent several tests without doctors unearthing the source of her ailment. Eventually, a physician suggested that the employee be tested for poisoning. The tests revealed alarming traces of mercury in blood samples she provided. The GTT staffer was immediately placed on a treatment regimen. Another employee who fell ill also had alarming levels of mercury. GTT has since had eight other staffers tested for suspected mercury poisoning. The employees were chosen randomly from areas through-

out the 79 Brickdam location. Kaieteur News understands that although Eureka returned the results two weeks ago, it was not until some employees made several inquiries that GTT released their results to them. Following queries earlier in the week by Kaieteur News, GTT confirmed that some of its employees were found to have suspected mercury poisoning. “Early August we received a medical report from an employee which indicated levels of mercury in their system,” an official stated. “GTT commissioned a random sample testing of members of staff after receiving this report and there were mixed results. “Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Public Health and Ministry of Social Protection (Department of Labour) were made aware of this situation. “GTT, through its company’s medical plan, continue to provide assistance to employees. The health of our team is of paramount importance, and we will continue to keep them updated as new information becomes available.” Several staffers of GGB and from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission at the Brickdam compound were sent home earlier this year after tests found that they had high mercury levels. At a press conference in April, Minister of Natural Re-

Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company’s 79 Brickdam, Georgetown Office sources Raphael Trotman said that of the 130 staff between the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and the Gold Board, 60 showed signs of above normal levels of mercury. But he said that this might not be related to the gold board operations as persons who eat a lot of fish tend to have a higher level of mercury in their body. The government had suspended mercury-burning activities, hired an overseas expert and conducted tests. It was also decided to move the GGB headquarters from Brickdam to Crown Street.

Union decries silence on Rusal’s task force - questions several “illegal” workplace polls A union is questioning a number of workplace polls that were conducted by a regulator that was deemed by the courts to be operating illegally. The union is demanding an update of the task force established by Government for bauxite workers of Rusal, for the Upper Berbice operations. President of the National Mine Workers’ Union of Guyana (NMWUG), Sherwyn Downer, yesterday disclosed that while he is welcoming the announcement of the Ministry of Social Protection on an appointed chairperson - Justice (Ret’d) Claudette La Bennett for the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board (TUR&CB) - there are more questions than answers. “I am speaking in light of a judge’s ruling on November 11th 2017 which states that the TUR&CB appointed for the period 2015-2017 was operating illegally for the past two years. As a result of that court ruling, by extension

National Mine Workers’ Union President, Sherwyn Downer there are serious questions with respect to all the workplace polls conducted by the said board and other business of the board,” Downer said. He pointed to one of those

workplace elections on October 3rd, 2017 elections at the now sanction-hit Bauxite Company of Guyana/Rusal. The Bauxite and General Workers Union (BGWU) and the NMWUG were the two unions. According to Downer, BGWU was returned under questionable circumstances. ”We also have another issue. After the announcement of sanctions on Rusal a few months ago, the Guyana government announced a task force to look into workers’ interests. Since May, the task force visited the workers at Rusal locations and made many promises.” The US and other nations have slapped sanctions on Russian officials, including the principals that own Rusal. The sanctions halted business with the US and Rusal’s products, effectively affecting Guyana. Rusal’s shippers, Oldendorff Carriers, had announced a pullout. According to the (Continued on page 11)

PAGE 8

Thursday August 23, 2018

Kaieteur News

Guard brutally kills partner, then walks to police station Shanece Lawrence’s body being removed from the scene

Yvonne Morris, the suspect’s aunt, speaks to the media

Thirty-four-year-old security guard Jermaine Bristol walked into the East La Penitence Police Station shortly after 11.00 hrs yesterday and calmly reported that he had just murdered his reputed wife. Shanece Lawrence, 24, was cornered and brutally stabbed to death in her apartment, located at Lot 272 Freeman Street, East La Penitence, just a few yards away from the station where Bristol surrendered. Detectives found the

woman’s body lying in a pool of blood. She had been stabbed several times. A knife was still stuck in her neck. Kaieteur News understands that the victim was alone when the attack occurred. The couple’s next door neighbours said they did not hear any unusual sounds. Residents were only alerted to the tragedy when the alleged killer spoke to some neighbours while he was heading to the station. After the body was removed, police escorted a

weeping and handcuffed Bristol from the station at East La Penitence to Brickdam. When Kaieteur News arrived on the scene, word of what transpired was just getting around, and residents expressed shock at what had occurred. “Only yesterday the man (Bristol) asked me if everything was okay. He is normally a very quiet person,” one next door neighbour reflected. Bristol’s mother and the

slain woman’s mother and brother were among those who rushed to the scene as the news spread. At one point, the suspect’s mother approached the slain woman’s mother and loud wails erupted. The mother of the alleged killer could be heard saying she was sorry. Shanece Lawrence’s

mother eventually collapsed and had to be carried away. But relatives on both sides seemed at a loss as to what could have triggered the murderous attack. Yvonne Morris, an aunt of the alleged killer, said the two were having some problems recently, after being in a relationship for some five years. However, she said they had appeared to be working things out, since they had gone to church together last Sunday. She also recalled that the young woman was at her

house around 10:30 hrs yesterday enquiring about her nephew. She said that the young woman then went back to the home she once shared with Bristol. Mrs. Morris said she was surprised to learn of her demise. Saying that she never knew her nephew to be a violent person, the aunt, who lives a few houses away, said that Bristol had visited her yesterday morning and asked what she was cooking. He had then asked her to leave some food for him.

The suspect, Jermaine Bristol, cries as he climbs into the tray of the police vehicle

The mother of the alleged killer breaks down on hearing the news

Thursday August 23, 2018

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

Some strange developments Some of the most interesting tidbits in newspapers are actually found not in the news section, but in the advertisements. You would be surprised at the gems which local advertisements churn out. There were some very interesting ads in yesterday’s edition. The first was one from the newly-formed Department of Energy which falls within the Ministry of the Presidency. It invites applications for the positions of an Office Manager, a Confidential Secretary/Administrative Assistant and Procurement Officer and an Accountant. It is the latter two positions which raise eyebrows. Why would there be a need for a Procurement Officer as well as an

Accounting Officer when both of these positions, within any Ministry, are usually headed by the Permanent Secretary. There is absolutely no need for a Procurement Officer. All Procurement should be undertaken by the Ministry proper and not by the Department of Energy. It is important those persons entrusted to manage the Department of Energy appreciate that it is not a semiautonomous or autonomous agency, and therefore matters relating to its accounts and procurement fall within the ambit of the Permanent Secretary, who is accountable to the National Assembly. This is a bad start for the Department of Energy. The quicker these anomalies are remedied the better. The Department cannot operate as

autonomous, because it is not a subvention agency. The second advertisement of interest was placed by the Rose Hall Town Council. The Council is advertising for a Town Clerk. It is hoped that no pressure will be brought to bear on the Council for doing so and that no attempt, unlike in the past, will be put on the Council to impose its own Town Clerk on the Council. Earlier this year, the said Council was forced to rescind an appointment upon protest by the Local Government Commission, who, while delegating such powers to the Council, wanted to be advised in advance of the vacancies which were available. Too many statutory bodies are concerned with appointments, dismissals and transfers and delegating their

Dem boys seh ...

Earthquake mek people get wrong paper De earthquake happen two days ago. Yesterday people still get de shock and it happen when dem buy de Waterfalls paper. Dem see a front page that print more than a year ago. De thing is that when dem buy de paper dem didn’t even look at de date. Dem had an earthquake de day before, and nobody see a headline yesterday wid de earthquake, but dem didn’t stop to check. People call everybody. When dem try to call de Waterfalls paper and dem didn’t reach de people who does control de paper distribution is then dem realize that yesterday was a holiday. One

woman even call de police to report how de Waterfalls paper rob she. De boss man was out of de country and people call him too. De man promise to do something, but dem boys know that he had to wait till he go home. But dem boys know wha happen. When de earthquake strike people run. De people who does put de newspaper together run more fast and more far than anybody. Even de people who does operate de press run. Some never come back. Dem excuse was that dem nerves been pun edge suh dem had to tek a drink and one thing lead to

another. De novice was de people who stay back to help de boss and dem odda senior people. When de boss ask if anybody can finish de wuk dem same novice put up dem hand. Well dem boys never see so much confusion. De correct paper deh online but is nah wha dem sell de people. De front page talk bout story that wasn’t in de paper. And all because of de earthquake. But dem boys sorry fuh somebody, because de Waterfalls boss man don’t like mistakes. Talk half and watch fuh de coming paper.

authority, and in so doing may be delegating more than just powers. They may also be undermining the sort of controls which are required to ensure fair employment practices. It is time for the Public Service Commission, for example, to be totally in charge of all interviews and shortlisting of persons for appointments within the Public Service. Attendance at the Public Service Staff Training College on the basis of recruitment by line Ministries should be discontinued. All advertisements for public service vacancies should be placed by the Commission, who should undertake their own interviews and placements. A great many persons have been handpicked for jobs

within Ministries and then recommended for substantive appointments within the public service without there being a competitive process. This is an unacceptable practice which should be reversed by service commissions. The third advertisement concerns a vacancy for a Deputy Regional Executive Officer (Planning) for eight regions. The two regions over which the officer has no role are Demerara-Mahaica and Upper Essequibo-Upper Takutu. It is a little bizarre that the most populated region and the least populated region are the two which are excluded from the job description of this Deputy Regional Executive Officer. Since this is a local government position, it needs

to be queried whether the Local Government Commission has approved of this appointment, which is a departure from what the government has been proposing. The government has been speaking about greater autonomy for local government, yet here is a Deputy Regional Executive Officer who is most likely not going to have reporting duties to any Regional Chairman, but most likely to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communities.

PAGE 10

Thursday August 23, 2018

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

Was Volda Lawrence’s victory justified? The answer for me is yes. I would like to think I know some of the PNC delegates from my long years of activism, but I didn’t speak to them before the congress. If I had, I would have advised them to vote for Volda Lawrence, and not Basil Williams or Joe Harmon. And that is because Williams and Harmon have made unacceptable decisions that I find unpalatable in the menu of working class politics that I have been fed on all my life. Lawrence is a big wig in the PNC, but my study of the government since 2015 leads me to the conclusion that Guyana is governed by presidential and cabinet deliberations, and not through party input. I believe the PNC does not shape policies for the ad-

ministration. It is done at the level of the presidency and cabinet. Dr. David Hinds is a key member of the WPA, which is part of the government, and he has written several pieces in which he stated the WPA’s input in policymaking is non-existent, because APNU does not shape the emanations of the administration. The emanations come from the presidency and cabinet. In order words, Hinds has informed us that Guyana does not have party government the way we see it in a country like the UK. A g a i n s t H i n d s ’s a d umbration, I would think Lawrence has a lighter hand in general policymaking than Williams and Harmon. The four important

shapers of governmental directions as far as I see are the president, Harmon, Winston Jordan and Williams. Amna Ally is a Minister and the PNC’s General Secretary, but I do not think she has an input into the more formidable roads that have been chosen. And she wouldn’t , i f y o u a c c e p t Hinds’ contention that the PNC doesn’t decide where Guyana is going – the president and an inner cabinet are the main players. I believe it is this scenario that led to the victory of Lawrence and the strong showing of a maverick like Aubrey Norton. Here are some of the decisions that are simply unacceptable in any country. The fact that a p a r t y l i k e t h e W PA i s

content to remain silent about them, shows that party’s widening depravi t y. T h e A P N U + A F C ’s position is that the state will not contest litigation against certain business entities that have sued the government, but will settle because it is the A G ’s p o s i t i o n t h a t t h e state would lose. Billions have been paid out because of this esoteric attitude. I am convinced Joe Harmon as a lawyer and minister of the presidency was p a r t o f that conclusion. I should have embarrassed both Williams and Harmon by a direct appeal to the delegates to urge both Williams and Harmon to compensate me for the termination of my UG contract which the Ombudsman has ruled as illegal. I am about to sue the state, so I would e x p e c t Wi l l i a m s a n d Harmon to call me to decide on quantum. The penalty changes for possession of small quantities of marijuana demonstrated the opportunistic politics of Williams and Harmon. Lawrence is smarter than both of her

two contenders; that is why she beat them so badly. She stayed silent on the issue when AFC parliamentarian Michael Carrington was publicly accusing the PNC of not wanting the amendment. Harmon first showed his hand and unfortunately didn’t understand the law. When the farmer was jailed for having eight grams six weeks ago, he publicly said that the law is the law and the magistrate had to so rule. That is not correct. Harmon is a lawyer, so he cannot be excused. The law allows for special circumstances. If the farmer has small children to feed and he is the income earner of the family, then a jail term was not mandatory. Williams went further t h a n H a r m o n. H e s a i d changing the anti-narcotic law should entail a referendum. When I criticized that eerie statement of his, he met me at the birthnight celebrat i o n o f B e r t Wi l k i n s o n and told me that I wouldn’t understand him because I am not a lawyer. I remind readers that

Frederick Kissoon the PNC leadership made an election campaign promise to remove that internecine clause of the l a w. I s h a r e d t h e c a m paign platform with Williams at two public meetings and the issue was ventilated. Is it possible that some of the delegates had young sons who are in jail for marijuana possession? Finally, the chairman of Chronicle Board is Geeta Chandan who is an employee in Harmon’s ministry. One night, Geeta told me she was going all-out the next day to confront the editor for removing David Hinds and Lincoln Lewis because his reasons were flawed. She didn’t. I know who stopped her.

Thursday August 23, 2018

100 percent pass rate in e-tested subjects – Assistant Exam Superintendent Although electronic-testing [e-testing] was introduced by the Caribbean Examinations Council [CXC] early last year, Guyana only opted to embrace the feature this year. In fact, according to Assistant Superintendent of Examination, Ms. Dawn Griffith, while e-testing was not adopted for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate [CSEC] examination it was only taken advantage of at the level of the Caribbean Advance Proficiency Examination [CAPE]. However, only two subject areas saw the use of e-testing, Griffith disclosed. These areas included Digital Media Units One and Two, and Animation and Gaming Unit One, and Griffith disclosed “those areas all recorded a 100 percent pass rate.” The decision to introduce e-testing came as part of CXC’s effort to embrace the evolution of Information Technology. The introduction of e-testing last year saw the participation of some 500 candidates from seven territories - Anguilla, Cayman Island, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat and St. Lucia. The e-testing format is one that allows candidates to make use of a computer or an equivalent device to partici-

pate fully in the Paper One or multiple choice segment of the examinations which CXC had regarded as successful since its introductory attempt. Speaking of the success of the venture, CXC Registrar, Mr. Glenroy Cumberbatch, had said that that the initiative has been found to be very favourable to the majority. “It has been a very successful venture and I want to thank all those members of staff and all the other people who made a contribution in this historical moment in CXC. We tried and were successful in offering examinations electronically in January 2017,” Cumberbatch said. In its quest to have e-testing as its strategic direction by 2020, Cumberbatch had said that CXC decided to look at all of the strategic plans of the various Education Ministries across the Region, and found that included in those plans were moves to include Information Technology more in the teaching/learning and assessment of students. “We had to close the circle...it is not easy for children to take part in activities in one way and then do the examinations in a totally different way. If Information Technology is to be used for teaching and for learning,

then it should also be used for testing,” Cumberbatch asserted. CXC moreover decided to embrace the added benefits of e-testing. Some of these benefits, according to Cumberbatch, included the fact that children could take advantage of their long acquired Information Technology skills. “We set out to do that and we got added benefits of etesting, and included in some of those benefits is that students have all the skills that are needed. Should they just use it for social media or for sending messages to one another and so on, or should they also use them for the learning assessment?” He continued, “We concluded it would be very good for them to use them for educational sessions as well, and hence we embarked on this effort to provide electronic testing to students from the Region.” As such, when the examining body conducted its examination last year it was essentially able to continue its journey in having innovative systems added to its examinations. “We began as an innovative institution and we will continue to be very innovative,” the Registrar assured.

Dem. Bridge $148M contract award…

Teixeira red flags possible political interference in police probe “I noticed they have informed the Minister of Public Security (Khemraj Ramjattan) of the investigation. I do not know what the reason is for this,” said People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s Gail Teixeira, on Monday during a press conference held at Freedom House. She was at the time responding to questions about the probe she asked the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) to conduct into “corrupt” practices in relation to the award of a $148M contract for a feasibility study on the new Demerara River Bridge Earlier this month, Teixeira wrote Head of SOCU, Sydney James informing him of a report by the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) which found that the Minis-

PAGE 11

Kaieteur News

Gail Teixeira try of Public Infrastructure violated procurement laws. Teixeira asked that an investigation be launched. The Unit, which focuses on white collar crime, promptly responded to Teixeira by way of letter say-

ing that “the matter is now engaging the attention of the Guyana Police Force.” SOCU also told Teixeira that the Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan along with acting Commissioner of Police, David Ramnarine and the police’s legal advisor have been apprised of her request for a probe. Teixeira said that she was happy with the prompt response, but expressed concerns tha t h e r c o m plaint was sent to Ramjattan. She stressed, “I find it unusual that the request was also sent to the Minister of Public Security. Usually, investigations of this nature are not forwarded to a Minister; it goes through an investigative process…”

Leakages in the gold industry…

GRA nets close to $3B from tax-evading landlords For years, persons who own several land titles in the gold industry have been renting their lands to miners, while failing to pay a cent on their taxable income. But this irregular practice has finally come to an end. According to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), landlordism is an area that has been slipping under the radar while the nation has been losing billions of dollars in taxes. In fact, careful attention to this area for less than a year saw the authority raking in close to $3B. Speaking with Kaieteur News on the matter, GRA’s Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia said, “In the gold industry there is rampant landlordism and there are different types of income that you would have to look at. This would include income from the sale of gold, income from landlords and other sources of income these miners and land owners may have.” Statia continued, “So when you are looking at a miner, for example, you have to look at all their other sources of income, because they transfer, they shift around expenses from one

GRA Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia business to the next…As for the landlords, you always have to be on the lookout. Moneys they (landlords) get from renting their mining lands are supposed to be taxed at 30 percent while miners’ income is taxed at two percent.” The tax chief added, “We started looking at this in late 2016 early 2017. They were slipping under the radar, no-

body was looking at it. People believe that in the gold industry, people (miners) just pay their two percent and they are done… so landlords were just getting away while we were losing billions. From 2017 to now we have collected billions, almost $3 billion.” The Commissioner General said that this is an area the authority will continue to pursue aggressively.

Govt.'s engagement with Exxon... From page 2 were not adding up. Ram in his writings noted that ExxonMobil is represented by three companies as the contractor for the Stabroek Block: Esso, CNOOC and Hess. Using the financial statements of Esso and CNOOC, the only ones which were publicly available, he pointed out a few important things. Ram highlighted, for example, that the combined expenditure of Esso and CNOOC at December 31, 2015 was $26B with reported losses of $21B, giving a total of $47B. In United States Dollars, using a $200 rate, Ram said that this gives a total US$245 million, well short of the US$460 million that the Government accepted in the Agreement with ExxonMobil. To make up the total of US$460 million, Ram said that Hess alone would have had to spend, in contract costs, some US$215 million or approximately $46B, which he opined would defy logic. When Hess finally

and belatedly filed its audited financial statements with the Commercial Registry, the numbers fell far short, validating Ram's worst fears. Ram's recommendation that the only satisfactory and acceptable resolution of this matter is a special audit, independently

undertaken, has been ignored by the Granger Administration. In an indirect response to Ram and others, Finance Minister Winston Jordan related that Guyana does not have the technical competence to carry out such an audit.

PAGE 12

Kaieteur News

Impartial oversight body needed for redrawing of local area boundaries – Dr. Anthony With Local Government Elections (LGE) set for November 12, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Member of Parliament, Dr. Frank Anthony, is urging the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to urgently address the numerous concerns surrounding the redrawing of local area boundaries. The PPP has met with GECOM and their appointed Commissioners have tried to get the issues resolved, but to no avail. D r. A n t h o n y t o l d Kaieteur News that GECOM must establish an impartial oversight body to oversee the redrawing of the boundaries within the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and publish the criteria for boundary apportionment to be used. “Analysing the limited available information, one can readily conclude that many of the proposed boundary changes are in favour of the ruling party. If this is indeed the case, then GECOM is no longer an impartial arbiter of the elections, and this can have severe consequences in undermining our fragile electoral system,”

He stated that in the int e r e s t o f t r a n s p a r e n c y, GECOM should publish the process that would be used in the reconfiguration of the boundaries within the NDCs and allow for meaningful consultation with residents and other stakeholders on the proposed boundary changes. “If implemented, these simple measures can go a long way in preventing manipulation of the process and restoring some confidence in GECOM. For the sake of local democracy, I do hope that good sense can p r e v a i l , ” D r. A n t h o n y stated. He opined that the Government, through Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan, is seeking to interfere in the election process. Based on the order made by the Minister on June 7, Dr. Anthony stated that the Government has reduced the allocation of the seats to several existing NDCs. In Region 2, Dr. Anthony noted that the redrawn boundaries will see Evergreen/Paradise being decreased from 18 to 16 seats; Aberdeen/ Zorg en Vlygt from 18 to 16 seats; Good

PPP MP, Dr. Frank Anthony Hope/Pomona from 18 to 16 seats. Dr. Anthony noted that similar scenarios obtain for Regions 3, 4, 5 and 6. According to Dr. Anthony, to give effect to the Bulkan’s instructions, GECOM is using section 38a (5) of the Act which states that “the Elections Commission may by order combine or subdivide one or more electoral divisions to form a constituency for the purpose of electing members of that Local Authority.”

“Using these broad guidelines, GECOM has commenced a process of reconfiguring the boundaries within the NDCs. From the feedback that I have received, it seems that the residents of the affected NDCs were not consulted by GECOM on any proposed changes to constituency boundaries. The public is unaware of the process and criteria that GECOM intends to use in carrying out these ministerial instructions,” Dr. Anthony noted. He pointed out that in all of the affected NDCs it is alleged that GECOM has already made decisions on how these boundaries will be reconfigured. According to Dr. Ant h o n y, t h e s e p r o p o s a l s have not been formally disseminated to communities, neither have residents and stakeholders been afforded an opportunity to scrutinise them. “ To m a k e m a t t e r s worse, the maps and constituencies boundaries mounted by GECOM for the 2016 Local Government elections are still on display in the affected NDCs,” Dr. Anthony noted.

Thursday August 23, 2018

Union decries silence on Rusal’s task force - questions several “illegal” workplace polls From page 7 union official, the workers were only visited on Thursday, August 9th, by union leader, and a member of the task force, Lincoln Lewis. Downer said workers are claiming that they were told that the task force was not receiving funding for its work. ”Whether this is true or not about funding, the National Mine Workers’ Union continues to take note of the lies to the workers at Rusal.” The union leader also called on Government to fast track a duly constituted T U R & C B . ”NMWUG mourns the death of the union board and calls for the establishing of a Labour Court. Our union is also calling on the Government to clarify whether the issue of funding for the government-appointed task force is true or not.” Downer noted that since 2009, the workers at Rusal have been without a

union, as they remain voiceless and powerless to bring about changes that are urgently needed, including in the working conditions. He pointed out that the recent announcement by Finance Minister Winston Jordan that bauxite has recorded its highest production and has improved since 2013, should raise questions about where are the corresponding success stories of the bauxite workers. “This is unfair and it’s not right for the workers to be without a union or union representation. The absence of the subject Minister with responsibility for Labour, Social Protection Minister, Keith Scott, on the task force, does not escape the eyes of our union. We h o p e t h a t a n explanation will be forthcoming for his absence on the allimportant governmentappointed task force.”

Thursday August 23, 2018

Kaieteur News

PAGE 21

PAGE 22

Thursday August 23, 2018

Kaieteur News

One year after Lethem fatal accident…

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK;Guyanapassport application. G r a p h i c s design, advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6006887: We create A/works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. 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, freezers,sale of ac’s tel:6294946,225-4822 Installations, Repairs and parts for AC, Fridge, Washing machine, Stove etc call Nick 627-3206, 630-1600

FOR SALE Generac Pressure Wash for sale 3100 PSI. Tel#654-5267/ 652-2244/220-4203 CAT 320 DL, 2 complete 6'’ land dredge, 2 Perkins engine, MWM 6'’ Cylinder, Miller, Kubota, Boats , Yamaha. Call: 613-5062 $22M Foreign used GE stainless steel French door refrigerator $140,000 commercial gas deep fryer $125,000 #2201716 192 Car. Contact Albert #6880814 Used zinc sheets. Contact 697-0471, 227-0207, 227-4339, 227-8772

TAXI SERVICE West Dem Cabs 24 Hrs Goed Fortuin WBD Tel#253-3600/ 696-6709 Parfaite Harmonie #656-3872/694-3110

FOR RENT

WANTED

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620

1 Air compressor 5HP 3 Phase 230/220 volts. Call: 628-1486/698-1134.

2 Two bedroom apartment with AC, ceiling fans, grilled and 24-7 water system & parking. Herstelling. Tel# 265-2171, 676-5824, 601-0223 PROPERTY FOR SALE House lots for salePayments as low as 10k monthly. Easy loan approval. Contact #622-1957,2336997,600-8457 Newly Built 30x39 concrete immaculate property WCD, pay $2.7 Million to owner, $80,000 monthly to bank #220-1716 Commercial Land at EBD Friendship Craig Busbee Dam, Ideal for Wharfs. Houselots at Farm & Eccles #672-0416, 226-6568

Live in or live out babysitter/ domestic- Call: 223-7500 Monday to Saturday 8:15am4:15pm 1 Male to look after layer birds in the interior. #688-9450 Live in waitress to work in bar. Call: 692-4649 Contract cars: Contact City Taxi Service, 8 Vlissengen Rd. Phone : 696-0404/226-1081 Experienced, mannerly, caring female 45-55 yrs to care for elderly female, 3 nights & Saturday daytime weekly. Call: 624-0239 8am-5pm Experienced cook to work on fish & chips truck. Regent and Wellington St. Call: 615-2100 9:00-5:00 One Live-in domestic must know to cook indian dishes 25-50 yrs, Salary $20,000 wkly. #610-5043

Lot 15 Public road #2 Vill. WCB 3 House Lots. Rice Cultivation 49ftx10,314ft length. Price $18M. Contact# 648-7109/686-4818

We buy land with title & irrevocable power anywhere. Cash. Tel# 648-1635

40x25 ft 2 storey concrete property in Mon Repos. Fully furnished. Price Negotiable Tel#679-0558,220-0852

1 Experienced domestic from Georgetown. Age 35 to 50 years old. Tel# 683-3360

Lot 89 Robb Street, Lacytown, Georgetown. Next door to Mike’s Pharmacy. Phone: 617-5323, 666-8052

1 Male to assemble baby things. Experienced. 3 days a week. $3000 per day. Tel# 683-3360 VACANCY Looking for honest and reliable person for household cleaning. Age 40-50. Tucville area. Tel#231-4933

CAR RENTAL SALON September Cosmetology Courses $40,000 Nail Technology $25,000 Advance Make-up $15,000, All products provided. Abby #614-6749 TOLET Rooms in Albertown. 2253234, 225-9223 Student accommodations available in Goedverwagting, E.C.D. 6 minutes from UG. Private bedroom. Phone: 2226004 after 5pm

DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL:225-7126/ 2263 6 9 3 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL @YAHOO.COM/ WWW.D OLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS FROM $4000 & UP, SUV’S PER DAY- CALL:643-5122/ 6 5 6 - 0 0 8 7 , ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807 WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAPRATES, SPECIAL OFFERS! . CALL: 690-6494

LAND FOR SALE Prime residential lot at 2nd bridge Herstelling, new lobby set, air condition unit & Honda pump. $5.5M Tel#656-0701

PEN PAL Loving, Protective & Generous man seeks special friend, 36 or under, whatsapp me with picture today # 1246-835-6908

VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 Tundra $800,000. Contact #650-0402/603-1402 2011 Ford Raptor fully loaded, 6.2 litres 4x4 excellent condition blue #610-5370 Bubble back Toyota Tundra V8 4x4 in immaculate condition 22'’ crom rim etc. $2.1M #220-1716 EDUCATION IAE- Register for full time school (Grade 7-11) Lessons, Day & Evening CSEC adult classes. Call/Whatsapp #683-5742 Study in Canada/US 100% acceptance MicroGraphics #264-3057 2019 Processing now. CXC 2018 Computer deal 9 course Diploma $40,000 4 Course Computerized Accounting MicroGraphics Vreed-en-hoop #264-3057

Experienced female Accounts clerk, must have passes in English & Maths, Apply at Alabama Trading 65 Robb St, Bourda Jos-el Educational Institute seeks 1 grade 5 teacher Experienced, 1 year 1 Nursery Teacher Abeka trained. Phone#226-7868 Vacancy exist for two experienced pastry makers. Apply @ Humphrey’s Bakery & Farm Products Ltd. 38 Ketley St Charlestown. Tel# 225-7864/227-8607 Driver for Route 42 Minibus #664-0802 Cook/Baker for interior location. Must know to cook & bake a wide variety. Call R&V Mining 618-2020 Supervisor, Room attendant 30-50 yrs, 233 South Road, Lacytown. Tel#225-0198

Truck driver faces causing death charge More than a year after a 27-year-old man lost his life after he reportedly fell from a truck in which he was being transported, the driver of the truck has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving. The driver was released on $50,000 bail last Friday when he appeared before a Magistrate in the Lethem Magistrate’s Court where he pleaded not guilty to the charge. Dinesh Ramcharran was pronounced dead on arrival at the Lethem Hospital after he reportedly fell from a truck on May 14, 2017. According to information, the driver of motor lorry GTT 8398 was proceeding north along centre of Kumu trail with Ramcharran seated near to a door. It is alleged that on the way back to Lethem from Kumu Falls, the driver

VACANCY Manager to work at Xenon Hotel in Charity. Call#2235273/74 Driver/Expediter. Call: 2235273/74 Carpenter & Mason to do Maintenance work at Adamantium Holdings. Call: 223-5273/74 Experienced washbay staff. #646-8748 1 Female tutor to teach 3 year old boy 12:00-5:30 Mon-Sat Apply Alabama Trading For sales girl. Apply at Alabama Trading 65 Robb St Bourda Fantastic Job Opportunities. Architects, Engineers, Draftsmen, Construction workers. CXC Graduates. Email Experience & Q u a l i f i c a t i o n s guyanajobs@yahoo.com Tel# 656-0075 Salesmen - Age 18-40 knowledge in stocktaking & salesmanship, apply with written application KeyFood McDoom Village. Experienced Pharmacy assistants to work @ Reputable pharmacy in G/ town. Interested persons call #227-0630/628-8811 between 8am-4pm

Dead: Dinesh Ramcharran stopped at a creek to take a swim. He then called out for Ramcharran and was informed that he had climbed from inside the vehicle sometime back and had been sitting on top of the truck, but was not there when they arrived. The truck driver then headed back down the trail in search of Ramcharran. About one mile down the trail he found Ramcharran lying motionless in the centre of the trail with what appeared to be blood running from his nose.

Thursday August 23, 2018

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

As December liberalization looms…

Govt. conducts valuation of telecoms spectrum Government has engaged overseas experts to determine how it will allocate the very limited spectrum available for new companies entering the telecoms business. It may mean that new telephone companies may have to pay big, in keeping with international trends. The frequencies are critical to the rollout of services like mobile phones, but with a number of competitors interested in the market, the premiums on these have taken new meaning. Some countries have gone the route of inviting bids for various frequencies, making tens of millions of dollars. In the past, close friends of the previous administration of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic benefitted from frequencies in anticipation of the liberalization of the sector. In so doing, Guyana benefitted little from the allocation process. The Coalition Government has been under pressure to place a value on the frequencies that are available. The Guyana Telephone

GTT says it is ready to liberalize the sector

Minister Hughes is insistent on a year-end deadline for telecoms liberalization

GTT’s CEO Justin Nedd

and Telegraph Company (GTT) has been clamouring for more frequencies to roll out more services and stay ahead of the game. On Tuesday, Minister of Public Telecommunication, Cathy Hughes, disclosed that the Government of Guyana is anxious to get the process of liberalization over and done with. She is sticking with the adjusted deadline of

December month-end. “I have said it will be completed by then, given the progress we are making,” she said in response to questions posed by Kaieteur News. She disclosed that her ministry had hosted a consultant here last week who spoke with stakeholders on spectrum. “And we are getting advice on how it will be allocated and the pricing policy we should adopt.

In three weeks we will have a report on the findings for us to consider,” she said. Government and GTT, controlled by US-owned ATN, are in negotiation to break the landline and international calls monopoly of the company. There have been delays.

More than 6,000 ‘Blaze’ customers hooked up as landline interest wanes - Berbice, Linden targeted for improved service in next 12 months With almost US$20M spent, and 6,000 new fibre optic customers installed in the past year, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraphic (GTT) is emphatic about its readiness to deal with competition that is yapping at its heels. The US-owned company would know about challenges. It is up there with the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) as the companies facing among the highest number of complaints by consumers. But the company, with 200,000-plus customers and 700 employees, has been working round the week to roll out its Blaze service, built from a fibre optic system, to citizens who are clamouring for high-speed internet. The race would be on to improve services dramatically as Guyana moves to a December deadline when it breaks the landline and international monopoly that the company held for the last 27 years. The company has been facing criticisms for its seeming sloth in the rollout of services, including landlines and internet services. It was ordered last year by the regulator- the Public Utilities Commission- to install at

least 350 new landlines every quarter. This condition was made after it was approved increased rates for the landlinewhat it says is an unprofitable part of its business. On Tuesday, GTT’s chief, Justin Nedd, made it clear that the company is aware of its responsibility and stands ready for the scrutiny. There has been steady progress, with customer service and experience taken to a whole new level. Not only are applications now allowed online, but there are chat features using social media that have been introduced to assist customers. GTT said that is introducing at least 1,000 new customers for internet weekly over the last 12 months, across the Georgetown area. Nedd disclosed that “happy customers” have been targeted for new services in areas like La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, and the Eccles Young Professional Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara where high quality internet has been taken. Soon, the Blaze service will be taken to Tuschen and Parika, East Bank Essequibo, and New Herstelling and Perseverance on the East Bank

Demerara. Within the next 12-18 months, Berbice and Linden, where the complaints have been coming from too, will be tackled. GTT recently visited Berbice looking at introducing services in key areas like Skeldon and Number 76 Village, Corentyne, and New Amsterdam, East Bank Berbice. According to Nedd, the reality there is a changing shift, based on the statistics. People are more interested in internet. Even though the regulator has ordered 350 new landlines every quarter, there are indications that many of those are being given back by customers who prefer internet connectivity. Indeed, it could be because the Blaze service, in addition to offering internet service, also has telephone service assigned, along with a number of TV channels. According to GTT, for the first half of the year its service was connected 98 percent of the times compared to about 90 percent a year ago. For GTT, the biggest seller has been its Blaze service with 4,000 applications pending.

It has been strain on technicians who have been working “round the clock”, the CEO said. About 120 new connections are being done daily with each installation about two to four hours each. The results for GTT have been excellent. Between January to June of this year, Nedd said, the internet traffic growth has grown 13 percent with the situation expected to be busier in coming months. In fact, the demand for internet has seen a 35 percent growth in the use of such popular websites like Facebook and Netflix and of course, Google. Internet growth stands at a 15 percent compound annual growth in the last five years, Nedd also disclosed. With regards to the price, Nedd boasted that GTT is cheaper in terms of megabit per second by 93 percent as compared to its competitor. This comes at a time when GTT is saddled with a 45 percent statutory tax rate compared to the 27.5 percent of Digicel, its competitor. According to Nedd, GTT and its team are not perfect, but staffers are working hard. “GTT is around to stay,” Nedd stressed.

GTT’s competitor, Irishowned Digicel, has already signaled an interest in landing a submarine fibre cable and expanding its services. A number of other companies are interested too. On Tuesday, during a press conference hosted by GTT, the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Justin Nedd, insisted that monopoly of GTT is only on paper. Acknowledging that liberalization will bring a gamut of new competitors and services, Nedd said that while his company has the monopoly on paper in relation to international calls and data, it is not the only one offering such service. He admitted that the landline, which is unprofitable, is the only area which GTT has some level of monopoly. The CEO argued that GTT already operates in a “competitive space”. He noted that liberalization would only level the playing field when all players operate equally in terms of the conditions - like the 45 percent tax that GTT pays and other regulatory rules. However, the CEO was boastful in fancying his company’s stay at the top with an “awesome” team. With regards to engagements with the Government, he said that

negotiations centred on the exclusive licence and what GTT would likely have to relinquish. GTT is disputing that it owes almost US$40M in outstanding taxes, and is in talks with the Guyana Revenue Authority. Government last sat with GTT in December 2016 with the two sides exchanging documents. However, Nedd was reluctant to commit to the year-end promise, pointing reporters instead to the ministry. He said that “on paper”, GTT is ready to liberalize the sector, with requested information supplied already to Government. He said that matter is a “complex” one, with resources of GTT dedicated to make liberalization happen. The move to open up the telecoms sector had started in late 2000s with the Bharrat Jagdeo administration selling out its 20 percent stake of the people of Guyana in GTT to a questionable Hong Kong investor for US$30M. Jagdeo’s government then issued a number of licences with frequencies. However, the Coalition Government in entering office in May 2015 has been looking at the process with the new telecoms laws passed in July 2016 to open the market.

PAGE 24

Trump, White House deny wrongdoing after Cohen plea deal WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House pushed back forcefully yesterday against suggestions that a plea deal struck by President Donald Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen implicated Trump in a crime. “As the president has said, we’ve stated many times, he did nothing wrong. There are no charges against him,” press secretary Sarah Sanders said at a White House briefing. “Just because Michael Cohen made a plea deal doesn’t mean that that implicates the president on anything.” Cohen on Tuesday pleaded guilty to eight criminal charges of tax evasion, bank fraud and campaign finance violations. He told a federal court in Manhattan that Trump directed him to arrange payments ahead of the 2016 presidential election to silence two women who said they had affairs with Trump. In the wake of the Cohen’s plea, Senate Democrats yes-

Thursday August 23, 2018

Kaieteur News

terday demanded that upcoming confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh be delayed, with some calling Trump an “coconspirator.” Earlier, the president lashed out at Cohen in a Twitter post by saying the campaign finance violations Cohen pleaded guilty to in federal court in New York were not a crime - even though prosecutors and Cohen agreed that they were. Trump made the claim without offering any evidence. At the same time, Trump on Twitter praised former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who was convicted on Tuesday of multiple counts of fraud, as a “brave man” for not cooperating with federal authorities. Fox News released excerpts of an interview conducted with Trump yesterday in which the president said he knew of the payments made by Cohen “later on” but did not elaborate. After first denying that he

knew anything about Cohen’s actions, Trump earlier this year acknowledged he reimbursed Cohen for payments he made in late 2016 to Stormy Daniels, an adult-film actress whose real name is Stephanie Clifford. Daniels has alleged she had a relationship with Trump. In July, CNN released an audio recording reportedly made by Cohen that features the lawyer and Trump in September 2016 discussing whether to buy the rights to the story of Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model who also has alleged an affair with Trump. The president has insisted he paid Cohen out of personal funds and that the payments were not intended to benefit his campaign but to resolve a personal matter. “They weren’t taken out of campaign finance. That’s a big thing,” Trump said in the Fox interview. “They didn’t come out of the campaign; they came from me.”

Iran threatens to hit U.S., Israel after Trump aide warns of ‘maximum pressure’ LONDON/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Iran warned yesterday it would hit U.S. and Israeli targets if it were attacked by the United States after President Donald Trump’s security adviser said Washington would exert maximum pressure on Tehran going beyond economic sanctions. A U.S.-Iranian war of words has escalated since Trump withdrew Washington from the world powers’ nuclear deal with Iran in May, blasting it as flawed and reimposing sanctions to choke Iran’s economy and force it to renegotiate or change direction. The U.S. turnaround, which scrapped a wary detente between Iran and the United States after decades of hostility, has drawn defiance from Tehran despite renewed unrest over economic privations, and has unnerved other big powers where businesses

John Bolton have been debating whether to divest from Iran. U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton told Reuters the return of U.S. sanctions was having a strong effect on Iran’s economy and popular opin-

ion. “There should not be any doubt that the United States wants this resolved peacefully, but we are fully prepared for any contingency that Iran creates,” Bolton said during a visit to Israel, Iran’s enemy in the Middle East. U.S. sanctions dusted off this month targeted Iran’s car industry, trade in gold and other precious metals, and purchases of U.S. dollars crucial to international financing and investment and trade relations. Farther-reaching sanctions are to follow in November on Iran’s banking sector and oil exports. European powers have been scrambling to ensure Iran secures enough economic benefits to persuade it to stay in the deal. This has proven difficult, with many European firms keen to avoid financial penalties by the Trump administration.

Thursday August 23, 2018

PAGE 25

Kaieteur News

Fifa corruption: Brazil’s Jose UEFA forging ahead with plans to Maria Marin jailed for four years increase value of women’s football BBC Sport - A former head of Brazil’s football association has been jailed for four years for corruption. Jose Maria Marin, 86, was one of seven Fifa officials arrested at a hotel in Zurich in May 2015. He was convicted of accepting bribes from sports marketing companies in exchange for contracts to broadcast tournaments such as the Copa America. In addition, Marin was fined $1.2m (£920,000) and ordered to forfeit $3.34m (£2.59m). He was sentenced in a Brooklyn federal court by judge Pamela Chen and he is the first official to be sentenced as part of an American investigation into corruption at Fifa. Marin, a former governor of Sao Paulo, was last year found guilty of six of the seven counts against him, relating to money laundering and wire fraud conspiracy. He was convicted alongside Juan Angel Napout, who led South America’s football governing body Conmebol. He will be sentenced at a later date.

Jose Maria Marin was the head of the Brazilian federation between 2012 and 2015. (Getty Images) Peru’s Manuel Burga was cleared of taking bribes by a jury in the USA. Marin’s lawyers say he will appeal against the sentence.

Thursday August 23, 2018 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Take hold of this day as if it's your own and use it to grow your dreams, Aries. You'll find a great deal of power and dynamism in the air urging you to take the adventurous route. TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) There's a fiery tone to the day that can't be ignored, Taurus. You may find that adjustments need to be made in your own plan of attack in order to get on the same page with other people. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) There's an extra spark in your eye that people won't be able to ignore. Today's a good day to get your point across, because you'll find people more open and receptive to new things than usual. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Take yourself on a mental adventure today in which you explore new aspects of your world. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Today is your day, Leo, so live it up! If it seems like things have been rather intense lately, don't worry, they're apt to lighten up quite a bit today. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Be careful that you aren't acting in a way that you dislike in others, Virgo. Yo u c o u l d f i n d t h a t you're slowly taking on the traits of the people you despise.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) The day's general mood should fit quite well with your agenda, Libra. There's no need to fixate on the negative.Keep things light and upbeat and worry about the consequences later. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Mars squares Uranus on August 1. Watch your temper, and don't let anyone push any of your buttons (they may try). SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) The sun squares Jupiter on August 6. If your generous impulses are overlooked or misunderstood, let it go. Let the August 11 new moon and solar eclipse widen your world. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) A major challenge or lurking problem could arrive with the new moon and solar eclipse of August 11, but don't fret. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) The solar eclipse and new moon on August 11 could enliven an exciting romantic relationship. Not everyone may approve - and will say so - but listen to your own heart and head. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Daily life could get complicated by the August 11 new moon and solar eclipse, but it will be all little things.Any bumps in the road will be from pebbles, not boulders, and will go away on their own.

LONDON (Reuters) The Women’s Champions League is beginning to step out of the shadow of its male counterpart with the ultimate aim of being as much of a must-see and commerciallyattractive event, a UEFA official told Reuters Tuesday. This season’s final in Budapest will be the first time the showpiece, in its current format, will be held in a different city to the men’s Champions League final. The decision was taken to allow the pinnacle of women’s club football in Europe to have its own spotlight and not be overshadowed by the men’s edition, which is one of the most viewed annual TV events in the world, surpassing the Super Bowl. The sponsorship and broadcast rights to the women’s final are currently sold by UEFA, with the previous rounds being managed by the clubs themselves.

However, Kayleigh Grieve, marketing manager for women’s football at European soccer’s governing body, said the ultimate aim was to partcentralise the rights selling process to give the game the platform it deserves. “We’re looking at that first step of bringing centralisation back to the quarter-finals to final and hope that may shape up the process,” Grieve said on the sidelines of the Leaders XX Think Tank, held at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge stadium. “But certainly broadcast will help us build more of the story of the Champions League because now putting it in a city is one thing, but we essentially drop in a match a year and try and grow an audience for it and we’ve not really told them anything about the lead up to that and built the interest and built the heroes of the matches, built the star players...

“We essentially want to get in a position where we can do that and that people at least recognise some of the names of the players and some of the clubs.” UNIQUE SPONSORS The 2018 final was held in Kiev’s Valeriy Lobanovskyi Dynamo Stadium, where Olympique Lyonnais beat VfL Wolfsburg 4-1 to win their third successive Champions League title - two days before Real Madrid achieved that feat in the men’s edition. The match attendance, however, was 14,237, the lowest for the women’s final for four years. With a bigger push from sponsors specifically invested in women’s football, Grieve believed that number could see a big increase. “It’s just about making sure we present the competition as a strong product and bring in unique sponsors to the women’s side,” she said.

Hamilton leads F1 back from ... From page 27 four-times winner at Spa, including Ferrari’s most recent victory at the long, sweeping high-speed circuit that represents one of the greatest challenges for any racing driver. Raikkonen’s future is also in the spotlight after a summer flurry of driver moves, including double world champion Fernando Alonso’s decision to leave Formula One at the end of the year. Sauber ’s Monegasque rookie Charles Leclerc is strongly tipped to step up to Ferrari but Raikkonen could still find a home elsewhere. Despite the August factory shutdowns, the break was less of a lull than usual with Australian Daniel Ricciardo triggering a shockwave with his decision to leave Red Bull for Renault in 2019.That was followed by Spaniard Carlos Sainz switching from Renault to McLaren, following that team’s Alonso announcement, and Red Bull confirming Pierre Gasly this week as Ricciardo’s successor.The situation at Force India, who will come out of administration after a takeover led by the billionaire father of Williams’ Canadian driver Lance Stroll, means the driver merry-go-round has some spinning to do yet. One of those who could feature in that is McLaren’s teenage British reserve Lando Norris, who will be making his Friday practice debut in Alonso’s car before returning to his Formula Two duties.

PAGE 26

Kaieteur News

Spanish players indignant over plans to stage matches in U.S MADRID (Reuters) Spanish footballers are surprised and indignant that an agreement to stage regular season La Liga matches in the United States has been made without their consent, their union said yesterday. La Liga’s organising body announced last week in partnership with multinational media, sports and entertainment group Relevent that it plans to hold Spanish top flight games in the U.S. in the future. La Liga has not yet given details on when the first game across the Atlantic would take place, how many games per season would be involved, how they would be selected or whether it would compensate the loss of home advantage for teams involved. In response, the Spanish Footballers Union (AFE) said

it was holding a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the issue and added to the criticism which it made at the time of the announcement. The AFE said that “captains and players” from La Liga sides would participate. “The AFE and the players do not understand unilateral decisions,” said a statement published on Wednesday. It said the players were “surprised and indignant that their views were not taken into account in an agreement which affects them directly.” “La Liga is distancing the fans from the players, which damages the spectacle and the essence of football,” it added. “The players again feel they are marginalized from decision-making (even though) they are the fundamental actors and their opin-

ions are essential for the growth of Spanish football.” “The players demand that our opinions be heard and taken into account in any future negotiation or decision by La Liga which affects them.”The AFE also demanded “balance and common sense” in decision-making and complained about the kickoff times for some La Liga games this season. “The players are again being punished by the kickoff times of certain matches, which can damage their health because of the weather conditions or the lack of recovery time,” it said. “The AFE points out that certain kick-off times can be harmful for everyone who is involved in the spectacle — players, fans, and referees, whose health can be endangered.”

Pollard holds out hope despite Stars continued slump GROS ISLET, St Lucia, – St Lucia Stars skipper Kieron Pollard has lamented Tuesday night’s disastrous display against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots but has held out hope his side can still turn around their failing campaign. Sent in at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground, the hosts were bowled out for 69 inside 13 overs – the third lowest-ever total in Caribbean Premier League – and Patriots wasted little time in chasing down their target off eight overs to complete an uncomplicated seven-wicket victory. Ironically, the loss came on the heels of their first win in 15 matches last Friday when they amassed a CPL-record 226 to brush aside Barbados Tridents, but Pollard felt those heroics may have played in role in Tuesday’s limp performance. “Everything [went wrong] from the start. People expected a continuation [from the Tridents game] and I guess we went out and batted like we were continuing batting from the last game,” Pollard said afterwards. “I was having a small conversation with some guys in the dressing room and I was telling them in this sort of scenario in cricket we start zero for zero – we don’t start with what transpired in the last game.” He continued: “I think that is exactly what happened and none of us as senior batsmen or batsmen as a whole decided to bat a couple overs to see if we could scrape to a 120, 130 and put up a fight and I think that was the most disappointing part – that no one after seeing what had transpired in front of them, took that initiative to hang in there and see what we could get instead of getting bowled out for 69.” The defeat was the Stars’ fifth in six outings and it left them languishing bottom of the standings on two points, facing a must-win situation in their remaining games in order to reach the playoffs. They host Guyana Amazon Warriors on Friday night and Jamaica Tallawahs 24 hours later, before ending their preliminary round campaign with two road games. Pollard said the attitude and approach of

Thursday August 23, 2018

Joseph in training squad for Leewards Test fast bowler tournament Alzarri Joseph. ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Test star Alzarri Joseph heads a 23-man training squad named by the Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association for the upcoming Leeward Islands championship starting next month. The 21-year-old fast bowler is currently representing St Kitts and Nevis in the ongoing Caribbean Premier League, which wraps up with the final on September 16 in Trinidad and Tobago. Joseph only returned to international cricket in June following a layoff to recover from a stress fracture of the back sustained on the tour of New Zealand last December. He subsequently played two One-Day Internationals against Bangladesh last month in Guyana with little success. A member of the title-winning West Indies Under-19 World Cup side two years ago, Joseph has gone on to play six Tests and 16 ODIs. He will be joined in the

training squad by Windies A team star, Rahkeem Cornwall, who is also campaiging in the CPL for St Lucia Stars. SQUAD – Alzarri Joseph, Tyrone Williams Jr., Orlando Peters, Kofie James, Avier Christian, Karima Gore, Michael Dover, Rahkeem

Cornwall, Kadeem Henry, Elroy Francis Jr., Javier Spencer, Stanny Simon, Kenny Sutton, Deran Benta, Taiem Tonge, Jamaual Fernandez, Damian Lowenfield, Shavon Moore, Orandel Boston, Cleton Payne, Uri Smith, Kenrick Scott and Nino Henry.

Archer helps Sussex to massive win over Rampaul’s Derbyshire

St Lucia Stars skipper Kieron Pollard … hopeful of a turnaround. the players to the remaining games would be critical to the outcome. “[We can expect] obviously an improved performance from this. I told the guys and I have stressed about complacency in the dressing room,” Pollard said. “We wanted to get that monkey off our backs in terms of winning one game but that wasn’t the be-all and end-all of it. It was a situation where we should have come out here and tried to capitalise on that momentum so I think it is back to square one where we have to fight and I’m sure the attitudes are going to be different.” He added: “We are in a position where we have to win our next four games – we have two home games and then we have two games on the road so a much improved performance is needed. “I think the guys, we’ve been doing well and when you look at it, it’s two games where we’ve actually been outplayed and which is Trinidad (Trinbago Knight Riders) and this one [against Patriots] so the fight needs to come back, and we need to get that belief and continue and see what transpires. “Cricket is a funny game as we’ve all seen so it’s about regrouping and coming back better.”

LONDON, CMC – Barbadian speedster Jofra Archer moved his wickets tally for the season to 21 from just four matches, after taking two scalps on the final day here yesterday to help propel Sussex to a comprehensive 243-run victory over Derbyshire. The 23-year-old, who has been a revelation for Sussex, finished with two for 21 from 15.2 overs as the visitors faltered for 161 in their second innings in pursuit of 405 runs for victory in their County Championship Division Two contest. Left-arm spinner Danny Briggs was the leading bowler with three for 41 while Archer ’s new-ball partner, right-armer Ollie Robinson, picked up two for 36. Resuming the day on six without loss, Derbyshire got a top score of 40 from opener Ben Slater while Anuj Dal hit 25 on first class debut and Alex Hughes, 20. Slater and captain Billy Goldleman (14) extended their opening stand to 58 to give Derbyshire hope of saving the contest at Hove. But once the partnership was broken, the innings quickly came apart, with eight wickets falling for 103 runs.

Barbadian fast bowler Jofra Archer. West Indies fast bowler Ravi Rampaul did not bat due to injury. Last season, Archer was the leading bowler for Sussex with 61 wickets but his participation has been limited this season due to his Indian Premier League commitments. At the Rose Bowl, exB a r b a d o s a n d We s t Indies fast bowler Fidel Edwards could only manage one wicket but Kraigg

B r a t h w a i t e ’ s Nottinghamshire still collapsed to a 270-run defeat at the h a n d s o f H a m p shire. Resuming the day on 128 for four, Notts were dismissed for 277 in their second innings, well short of their improbable target of 511. Edwards took six wickets in the first innings to hand Hampshire the early initiative in the contest.

Thursday August 23, 2018

PAGE 27

Kaieteur News

India call up Prithvi Shaw, Hanuma Vihari for last two Tests in England ESPNcricinfo - Batsmen Prithvi Shaw and Hanuma Vihari have been called up to India’s Test squad for the final two matches in England. Opening batsman M Vijay, who was out for a pair at Lord’s and then dropped from the XI at Trent Bridge, and left-arm wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav, whose selection in the second Test had raised eyebrows, have been dropped. It is understood that Vijay’s poor form - six singledigit scores in his last 11 innings - has prompted the team management to think about grooming a younger opener. At 34, Vijay’s international future now looks uncertain. Kuldeep has been sent back home to play for the India A team in two four-day matches against Australia A in Visakhapatnam. The decision is believed to be made because of the conditions in England, where one spinner in the XI has usually sufficed. India coach Ravi Shastri told the media at the end of the Trent Bridge Test that offspinner R Ashwin, who was suffering from a hip injury, would be fit in time for the next Test in Southampton starting August 30. There is also left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja in the squad. “Ashwin will be okay,”

Hanuma Vihari (BCCI) Prithvi Shaw (PTI)

Shastri said. “The fact that he bowled 20-25 overs clearly suggests it [the hip injury] is not that bad. This break will be ideal for him. If there was a Test match starting in three days’ time, then it would have been a problem.”The 18-year old Shaw captained India to the Under-19 World Cup title in February and has since been part of India’s A teams. He also has an IPL contract with Delhi Daredevils. Vihari, meanwhile, has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket, and the 24-year old averages 59.79 from 63 firstclass matches. No one currently playing first-class

cricket has a has a better average.Both men are in good form as well, having each struck centuries against South Africa A in Bengaluru at the start of August. They were also part of the A team in England last month, when Shaw was especially effective as an opening batsman, scoring 188 in a four-day game against West Indies A. That is his highest score - he has seven centuries in all - in 14 first-class games since making his debut for Mumbai in January 2017. Vihari began his career with Hyderabad but has now moved to Andhra, a team he now captains. Among

Hamilton leads F1 back from a busy August break S P A FRANCORCHAMPS (Reuters) - Lewis Hamilton has reasons to be cheerful as Formula One regroups in Belgium with plenty of developments to digest after an August break punctuated by headline-grabbing moves and announcements. Spa has been good to the Mercedes man in recent years and last season the Briton took a record pole position before celebrating a win that set him on a run of success that culminated in a fourth title. This time he returns with a 24-point lead over Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, compared to a 14-point deficit last time around. Even if the weekend turns out to be cold and wet, as is so often the case at the historic track in the Ardennes forests, Hamilton’s spirits are unlikely to be dampened after a refreshing few weeks away. “The second half (of the season) is always exciting, it’s always intense, particularly when we go to the long hauls,” Hamilton said after winning in Hungary at the end of July. “The second half is usu-

his 5142 runs are 15 hundreds and 24 fifties, including a highest score of 302 not out.

There was no place in the squad for Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who was ruled out of

selection for the first three Tests with a lower-back issue, which he aggravated while playing the third ODI against England. He has been back in India since, undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. BCCI’s release announcing the squad did not contain any updates on the fast bowler’s fitness. India squad: Virat Kohli (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Karun Nair, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hanuma Vihari India A squad for four-day matches against Australia A: Shreyas Iyer (capt), Mayank Agarwal, R Samarth, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Ankit Bawne, Shubman Gill, KS Bharat (wk), Shahbaz Nadeem, Kuldeep Yadav, K Gowtham, Rajneesh Gurbani, Navdeep Saini, Ankit Rajpoot, Mohammed Siraj

BWF CAREBACO International Senior Championships 2018 underway The BWF CAREBACO International Senior Championships 2018 opened Tuesday at the Ring Sports Center in Paramaribo Suriname after the official opening ceremony with the presence of the Suriname Olympic Association President and the Director of Sports along with other members of the sports affiliates.Guyanese players experienced favourable results. The Results of the Opening matches are:Men Singles Round-1 Narayan Ramdhani (GUY) defeated Amir Mahabir of Trinidad: 21-6, 21-2 Jonathan Mangra (GUY) defeated Denzel Sweet of Suriname: 21-11, 21-10 Darrell Carpenay (GUY) defeated Jai Luo of Suriname: 21-13, 19-21, 21-13

Akili Haynes (GUY) lost to Mitchel Wongsodikromo of Suriname: 21-8, 21-6 Tyrese Jeffrey (GUY) lost to Kevin Yao Lin Zou of Suriname: 21-9, 21-11 Men Singles Round-2 Narayan Ramdhani (GUY) defeated Jonathan Mangra of Guyana: 21-17, 21-11 Darell Carpenay (GUY) lost to Gilmar Jones of Suriname: 21-7, 21-6 Ladies Singles Round-1 Priyanna Ramdhani (GUY) defeated Imani Mangroe of Suriname: 18-21, 21-7, 21-13 Mixed Doubles Round-1 Narayan Ramdhani & Priyanna Ramdhani (GUY) defeated Gilmar Jones & Rugshaar Ishaak of Suriname: 24-22, 11-21, 17-21. The tournament is continuing.

Ex-France forward Henry to become Bordeaux coach - RMC Sport TV Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton celebrates on the podium after winning the race. (REUTERS/Lisi Niesner) ally ... it gets a bit better on our side,” With nine races to go, the championship could still swing either way and Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff is making no predictions. “If this season has taught us one thing, it’s that there are no clear favourites for specific tracks anymore and that it’s not always the fastest car that wins,” he said in a team preview for Sunday’s race.

“Instead, the competitive balance seems to swing back and forth from circuit to circuit. What is clear is that our competitors are pushing extremely hard and put up a very tough fight.” Ferrari will also fancy their chances, with their car showing plenty of pace and Kimi Raikkonen standing on the brink of a milestone 100th podium after finishing in the top three in his last five races. The 38-year-old Finn is a (Continued on page 25)

PARIS (Reuters) - Former France forward Thierry Henry, has agreed to become coach of FC Girondins de Bordeaux, broadcaster RMC Sport reported yesterday, citing sources close to the Ligue 1 club.Henry, who enjoyed a stellar club career with Arsenal and Barcelona, had been assistant coach for the Belgian national team.He replaces former Uruguay international Gus Poyet at the helm of the Ligue 1 side. Poyet had been suspended last week for his comments on the club’s transfer dealings after the sale of striker Gaetan Laborde to Montpellier.RMC Sport said the club’s prospective new American owners, who agreed to buy Bordeaux from M6 at the end of July, still needed to validate the agreement. Henry, France’s record goalscorer, would join Patrick Vieira as the latest member of the national team’s 1998 World Cup winning squad to manage in the country’s top flight after he joined Nice this season.Bordeaux has won the French league title six times with the last championship coming in 2009 under the leadership

Belgium assistant coach Thierry Henry(REUTERS/ Sergio Perez)

of another 1998 World Cup winner, Laurent Blanc.

PAGE 28

Kaieteur News

Thursday August 23, 2018

Boys’ Mini and Pre Cadet Team depart for GFF Elite League Season III Three draws in last four Santo Domingo matches at Leonora

The male team pose for a photo at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) with officials before departing to the airport. The male team of Guyana’s Mini and Pre Cadet table tennis contingent departed Tuesday afternoon for the Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic where they will participate in the Caribbean Championship. National coach Linden Johnson had noted that preparations for the team were adequate for the team of young table tennis players who will battle in the competition which will run from Au-

gust 26 – 31. The 17 players have been training twice a day, five days a week and once on Saturday under the tutelage of a battery of coaches including Colin France, Michael Kellman, Candacy McKenzie, Chelsea Edgehill, and Sidney Christoff. The male team is being led by Caribbean Cadet champion Kaysan Ninvalle and 2017 ITTF Caribbean World Hopes qualifier selectee, Krystian

Sahadeo, in the boys’ under13 category, where there is also Jonathan van Lange and Christopher Barrow. In the Girls’ 13-and-under category, there is Nkechi McCrae; 2016 Caribbean bronze medallist Thuraia Thomas, along with Tatyanna Mohamed and Roseanna Sanders. The Boys’ 11 years-andunder category includes the talented Dhanesh Persaud, Colin Wong, Alexander

MP Jermaine Figuiera aids Guinness Cage Street-ball Championship

M

ember of Parliament Jermaine Figuiera gave some sponsorship assistance to the Guinness Cage Street-ball Championship. He presented several balls to tournament coordinators Three Peat Promotions on Tuesday. Figuiera committed himself to sports development especially at the community and grass-root levels, noting that such initiatives foster social cohesion in an ethnically diverse nation as Guyana. “I will also be providing a pair of football turfs for the Most Valuable Player [MVP] of the tournament. Incentives such as this is good for improving the overall quality of event, as it awards talent and skill,” he pointed out. The 24-team tournament has reached its round of 16 stage and will continue Saturday at the Haslington Tarmac, followed by the quarterfinals. Among the entities in support of the tournament are: Banks DIH under its Guinness and Power Wine brands, Clarks footwear giants Chetsons, E- Networks Inc., KSM Investments, Yhip’s Bakery, Brass Aluminum & Cast Iron Foundry (BACIF), Ray’s Auto Sales, Y.K. Investments, Trophy Stall, Express Shipping, Woodpecker Products, National Sports Commission, ‘C’ Division of the Guyana Police Force, Jai Signs & Auto Designs, Gaming Authority, Julius Variety Store and C & C Prestigious Styles. Round of 16 Matches Saturday (1)- Hustlers vs. North East La Penitence19:00hrs (2)- Broad Street vs. Alexander Village19:20hrs (3)- Tiger Bay vs. Avocado Ballers-19:40hrs (4)- Leopold Street vs. Albouystown-

Action continues Saturday

Member of Parliament Jermaine Figuiera 20:00hrs (5)- Sparta Boss vs. Back Circle-20:20hrs (6)- Ol Skool Ballers vs. BV-B-20:40hrs (7)- Blazers vs. Vryheid’s Lust-21:00hrs (8)- Uprising vs. Plaisance-21:20hrs Quarterfinal Matches (9)-Winner of 1 vs. Winner of 2-22:00hrs (10)-Winner of 3 vs. Winner of 5-22:20hrs (11)-Winner of 4 vs. Winner of 6-22:40hrs (12)-Winner of 7 vs. Winner of 8-23:00hrs

DeAbreu and Malachi Moore. The Girls’ 11-and-under category includes new and emerging talents – Jasmine Bilingi, Akera Watson, Rachel Sanders, Daji Dots and Samara Sukhai.

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Elite League continued on Tuesday night, after Sunday’s matches were rescheduled from the National Track and Field Facility (NTFC) to the Number 5 ground in West Coast Berbice, with two matches which both ended in draws. In the first match, Milerock Football Club (FC) settled with a 1-1 draw against the struggling Ann’s Grove FC. Maxton Adams had fired the East Coast Demerara based Ann’s Grove ahead during the first half (25th minute) but the bottom half dwelling club couldn’t hold on for a win as Milerock’s Rawle Gittens equalised in the 79th minute. In the final game of the double header on Friday last, Ann’s Grove also played to a draw after scoring a late 88th minute goal through Steven Francis to cancel Quinsi Holder’s 13th minute strike for Victoria Kings, to salvage a point in an overall disappointing display. In the feature game on Tuesday, New Amsterdam United FC and Cougars FC played to a goalless draw. It was an average game for New Amsterdam after they had defeated Buxton United 2-1 on Friday at the same venue. In Friday’s win Jamal McAlmont and Kevin Cottoy scored for the Berbice club after Paul Kingston had placed Buxton ahead in the third minute of that game. The league will take a one-week break to facilitate the Guyana versus Barbados under-17 international friendly which will be played at the stadium, and it will continue on Friday August 31 with another double header at the NTFC.

Woods confident of getting the ‘job done’ soon on PGA Tour

(Reuters) - Dustin Johnson is defending champion at the Northern Trust tournament, but all eyes will be on Tiger Woods when the PGA Tour’s FedExCup playoffs begin in New Jersey today. Woods is in the playoffs for the first time since 2013, when he was crowned champion of the season-long points race. With his debilitating back problem now seemingly behind him, he has almost recaptured the form of his halcyon days, with only a victory missing from his 2018 resume. “I feel like my next wins are coming soon. How soon I don’t know but I’m putting myself there in tournaments now,” the 42-year-old told reporters on Tuesday at Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus. “I’ve done it two of the last three tournaments I’ve played and they were big events, so I’m not that far away from getting it done. “I think if I keep giving myself opportunities, I’ll get the job done.” Woods was a contender in the final two majors of the season, the British Open and PGA Championship, charging up the Sunday leaderboard before falling short. He has been stuck on 14 major victories for more than a decade, his quest to surpass Jack Nicklaus (18) as the sport’s most prolific major winner looking increasingly out of reach.

Tiger Woods hits his tee shot on the 17th hole during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Bellerive Country Club. (Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports) More realistic is the record for PGA Tour victories, 82 held by the late Sam Snead. Woods has 79 career wins, 65 away from the majors. “In order to get to Jack’s ultimate 18, I’ve got to pass Sam’s, and I want to make that happen,” he said. “I’m close.” Woods has tweaked his driver this week, adding one degree of loft in an effort to find more fairways. He hit several wild tee shots in the final round at the PGA Championship in a closing 64. He enters the four-event playoffs 20th in the rankings, assured of playing in the first three tournaments. The top 125 are eligible for

the Northern Trust, while only 100 will advance to next week’s Dell Championship near Boston. Seventy will proceed to the BMW Championship near Philadelphia, before the 30-man season-ending Tour Championship in Atlanta. Xander Schauffele is the overall FedExCup champion. He starts the playoffs ranked 28th, while Johnson is ranked number one ahead of Justin Thomas and Brooks Koepka. Four eligible players are not teeing off this week, notably former world number one Rory McIlroy, who is resting, and Rickie Fowler, who has a partially torn abdomen muscle.

Thursday August 23, 2018

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

BV/Triumph 8th of May Movement Emancipation Cohesion Junior Shield (U20)

Mahaicony and BV to clash in Final, Tucville battle Mahaica for 3rd Place

A

s the BV/Triumph 8th of May M o v e m e n t Emancipation Cohesion Football League, which is mainly sponsored by GLDA/ NAREI and ROCK, concluded its semi-final stage on Sunday evening last, Mahaicony and BV emerged victorious to set up an anticipated exciting Junior Shield Finals. This final is scheduled to be played from 17:00 hours on Saturday at the BV Playground, which is situated on Republic Road, Beterverwagting. Losing Semi-finalists, Tucville and Mahaica, will clash in the third placed play-offs from 15:00 hours on the said venue and date of the Junior Shield finals. Urged on my supporters of both sides, Tucville and Mahaicony battled each other over 70 minutes of intense action. Both teams seemingly keen on registering a place in the finals, realized an apparent lift in standard as they contested fiercely, much to the appreciation the spectators. With half time fast approaching, and the scores still 0-0, it would be the talented Mahaicony striker, Jason Wrong, who left booted a goal, with two

(Left) Nigel Mansfield and Jason Wrong. minutes remaining to half time that would dent the ambitions of previously unbeaten Tucville. During the second half, Tucville tried courageously to capitalize on the minimum opportunities afforded them by Mahaicony, in an effort to equalize, but the country team had other plans, as midfielder Nigel Mansfield made his way through the defence to create a stunning right footer which eluded the grasp of Tucville’s goalkeeper to his left, and put Mahaicony up 2-0 in the 50th minute. In the end, the two goals proved too much for the previously

highly appraised Tucville as the referee’s whistle drew the curtains on Tucville’ 2018 challenge for the Gold Crown Trophy. Mahaicony won 2-0. In the second Junior Shield (U20) semi-final match, BV eventually hammered Mahaica, 5-1, having previously playing out a 1-1 draw. The efforts of Mahaica’ Kelvin James who scored in the 16th minute of the match, and BV’s Ian Dooker, who scored in the final and 35thminute of the first half set up an interesting second segment. Mahaica, having defeated BV, in the final preliminary round 1-0, must

Serena tops Forbes list of highest paid female athletes

(Reuters) - Serena Williams was the highest paid female athlete for a third consecutive year in 2018, according to an annual list published by Forbes on Tuesday that was dominated by tennis players. Williams, who returned to competition in March after giving birth last September, earned $62,000 in winnings over the past year but received $18.1 million from an endorsement portfolio unmatched among women in sports, Forbes said. Williams, who will try to equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 grand slam titles when she competes at the Aug. 27-Sept. 9 U.S. Open in New York, earned twice as much off the court as any other female athlete, according to Forbes. Dane Caroline Wozniacki, who captured her maiden grand slam title at this year’s Australian Open, was second on the list with combined earnings of ($13 million) while

Serena Williams of the U.S. in action at Wimbledon, London, Britain - July 14, 2018. (REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo) reigning U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens ($11.2 million) was third.Spaniard Garbine Muguruza ($11 million) and Russian Maria Sharapova ($10.5 million) rounded out the top five. Indian badminton player P.V. Sindhu ($8.5 million) and retired race car driver Danica Patrick ($7.5 million) were the only non-tennis players to

crack the top 10, filling up the seventh and ninth spots, respectively. In June, Forbes issued a ranking of the world’s 100 highest-paid athletes and it did not feature a woman. Serena Williams, who was the only woman on the list the previous year, dropped out of the chart while taking time off to have a baby.

Left) Ian Dooker, (centre) Omari Glasgow and Tyrese Dennis. have had high hopes, and may have been envisioning a repeat of success when they entered extra time, but BV’s striker Omari Glasgow had other plans, and whipped out

three special tactful plays, to hand BV a hat-trick off his boots, in the 71st, 73rd and 80th minutes of the match. Thereafter, it would just take BV’s Tyrese Dennis’ goal,

scored in the 78th minute to send the Mahaica players and their support into a state of despair. BV won 5-1, to set up a Mahaicony versus BV Finals.

Arjune, Shaw and Reis triumph in Crown Mining’s Annual Golf Tournament Munaf Arjune, who has been in the Winners Row several times in the past 3 months, continued his good performance by taking away 1st in the ‘A’ or champion s h i p flight from the other veterans in that group, in the exciting Crown Mining Tournament yesterday at the Lusignan Golf Course. Teeing off excitedly at about 9:30am the golfers were determined to excel in this thrilling Flights Tournament. The Flights Tournament allows golfers to emerge as winners in their Flight, when they would not normally score wins in the Medal Play format. Veteran Clifford Reis, for example, who has won his Flight for the second time in 2 months, expressed his delight and preference for the Flights system that allowed him to excel in his group. For this CMS Tournament the 1st and 2nd Net places were awarded prizes in each Flight. The Championship Flight saw keen contest between Munaf, Nazeem and Avinash (the reigning Guyana Open champion), but the scores declared 1st Munaf Arjune 73/8; 2nd Nazeem Haniff 74/7; and 3rdwould have been Avinash Persaud 75/3. In the ‘B’ or 10 – 18 handicap Flight, Club Treasurer Aasrodeen Shaw carted off the trophy with an emphatic win over the competitors.

Winners of the ‘B’ Flight were: 1stAasrodeen Shaw 67/16 and 2nd Bridgelall Harry69/18. Since the competition in this Flight was so keen, honorable mention is given to Lekhnarine Shivraj 70/17; Roy Cummings 71/13; Ayube Subhan 72/17; Lakeram Ramsundar 73/13 and Patrick Prashad 74/10. In the ‘C’ or 19 – 28 handicap Flight, veteran Clifford Reis was the undisputed winner. Scores were: 1st Clifford Reis 72/ 2 6 a n d 2 n d Guillermo Escarraga (winner of last Saturday’s Hospitality Tournament). Mark Lashley placed 3rd with 80/ 24. The fascinating brand new Parsun Outboard Engine was not won, but Roy Cummings defied CMS Executive Max Persaud’s dare and won the Longest Drive competition with an approximately 288 ft drive. Nearest to The Pin (some 3 ft,) was won by Bholawram Deo. Avinash Persaud won the Best Gross prize with a score of 78. CMS Managing Director Patanjalee ‘Pur’ Persaud participated, but with the mental demands for ensuring the day’s Tournament was a great one, he could not deliver his normal good performance, (as may well have also been the case with Max Persaud.) However ‘Pur’ expressed extreme gratitude for the golfers being present in such good numbers to sup-

port their sponsorship, and looked forward to CMS continuing to contribute to the development of the Club. Crown Mining Supplies of Address: 9 North Road, Bourda, Georgetown, Phone: 592-227-0001/0002, Website: www.crownmining.com, is the leading supplier in Guyana of high quality gold and diamond mining equipment, spare parts and supplies and is the sole distributor of the international Parsun outdoor motors. Crown Mining is a caring business and several new businesses have gotten their start through their help. In fact, the company can help anyone interested in starting a mining business to do so for less than a million dollars. The public is kindly reminded that the LGC is located within 20 minutes from Georgetown, turning off just before the Lusignan Community Centre, about 1 km off the East Coast Main Road and over the Railwayembankment. The Club is open daily for play, and golf clubs, caddies and coaches are available on request and prearrangement. The LGC is also offering FREE lessons and equipment to play during training, for anyone who wishes to learn the game. For further details or queries or for a tour of the facilities please call 220-5660, visit Facebook lusignangolfclub, or visit the Club between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

PAGE 30

Thursday August 23, 2018

Kaieteur News

“Where you come from does not determine where you end up”

Devers tell participants at Buxton Cricket Camp

Devers with some of the Buxton Cricket Camp participants.

W

ith the Buxton Cricket Camp winding down to its conclusion tomorrow, former Berbice Senior InterCounty off-spinner Sean Devers spent Tuesday with the youngsters at their Camp on the East Coast of Demerara. Devers, a non-practicing Coach, international Cricket Commentator and Sports Journalist, told the youngsters that he grew in West Ruimveldt which was described as

a ghetto by some but added that where a person comes from does not determine where they end up. He also told the gathering that showing respect to others and being a team player who is not selfish goes a long way in determining how successful a person is on and off the field. “I urge you stay in school since a good education is important for life after cricket even if you become a star in cricket. Most of you would

Sean Devers conducts a catching session at the Buxton Cricket Camp.

know of Clive Andries or Shaka as he is known by here. He has represented Guyana in both cricket and football but did not forsake his studies and attended President’s College,” Devers said.Devers who played t h r e e years for Guyana at U-19 level and was in the 1998 Guyana First-Class squad said that in order for anyone to gain success in whatever they do they have to put in the hard work.

“I never stopped playing cricket for studies nor did I stop studies for cricket. But I had to make sacrifices and be prepared to study in the nights if you wanted go to practice in the afternoons. And because I took in my education I can still make a living from cricket and tour with the team despite not playing at the International level, because of my Media work. The only place you will see success

before work is in the dictionary,” Devers noted. After talking to the youngsters Devers took them through some warm up and catching drills before conducting a match simulation drill on the pitch. The Cricket Camp was described as a success, by Buxton CC’s President Essie Peters, adding that the youths learnt a lot over the couple of weeks and thanked Devers for his contribution.

India wrap up third test win to set up close series finale

England’s Jos Buttler in action. (Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs) NOTTINGHAM, England (Reuters) - India wrapped up victory in the third test against England yesterday picking up the final wicket needed to secure a 203 run victory at Trent Bridge. The victory narrows England’s lead in the fivetest series to 2-1 ahead of next Thursday’s fourth test at Southampton. India needed just 17 balls to get the final wicket with off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin removing James Anderson who gloved a catch to Ajinkya Rahane.

England ended their second innings 317 all out after Jos Buttler’s maiden test century on Tuesday provided some cheer in what was a poor batting display against fine Indian seam bowling. It was an excellent allround performance from India as they bounced back in some style from defeats in the opening two tests. Skipper Virat Kohli was named man of the match after knocks of 97 and 103 for the tourists. “The victory was much needed and to have a performance that was so clinical is

pleasing for me as captain and the management. All in all it was the complete test match for us,” said Kohli. “There was no need to change anything. At Birmingham it was close. As a batting group we spoke that if we step up we will definitely be on top. “That is what we did. We dominated this game because we got runs on the board. The bowling group was eager to take those 20 wickets again. It was about the batsmen, what could we do to give them that cushion.” India’s seam attack de-

India’s Jasprit Bumrah celebrates the wicket of England’s Chris Woakes. (Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs) serves plenty of credit, though, with Hardik Pandya taking five wickets in the first innings and Jasprit Bumrah doing the same when England batted again. While England retain the advantage in the series, their top order batting was a major disappointment and the only aspect to provide skipper Joe Root with any satisfaction was the 169 run partnership on Tuesday between Buttler and Ben Stokes. “That partnership from Jos and Ben is a real lesson to our team on how to play test cricket. They adapted to

the situation and built the partnership looking very clear on how they were going to score the runs. We need to make sure when we turn up to Southampton we score 400 or more in the first innings,” said Root. England coach Trevor Bayliss said the first innings collapse to 161 all out was the decisive aspect in the test and urged his batsmen to be wiser with their shot selection. “ We o b v i o u s l y l o s t that game on day two with the way we batted but I’m very happy with the way the

guys applied themselves in that partnership yesterday (Tuesday),” he said. “We hope that partnership will be the catalyst for going forward. The guys we have in the team go hard at the ball, constantly we are working on that, you can still play shots with good footwork but it’s about playing the situation.” Scores: India 329 & 3527 dec: Kohli 103, Pujara 72, Rashid 3-101; England 161 & 317: Buttler 106, Stokes 62, Bumrah 5-85. Result: India win by 203 runs.

Kaieteur News

Thursday August 23, 2018

PAGE 31

Guyana secures 47 medals in Suriname

T

he Guyana Mixed Martial Arts K a r a t e Association was invited at the Kyokushin Kai International tournament held in Suriname and turned in very good performances, securing a total of 47medals in the process. They claimed 17 golds, 16 silver and 14 bronze medals. Master Lloyd Ramnarine, head of the organisation, expressed congratulations to all the students who did Guyana proud and encourage them to continue to train hard and work hard towards their goals. He also thanked all the persons that helped sponsor him and his team. Among them are: JCB in Eccles, National Horse Racing C o m p a n y, H o w a r d

restaurant and bar, bike shop and cycle parts and DDL for donating beverages. The next event the organisation is targeting is scheduled for May 2019, an international tournament to be held in Atlantic City, New Jersey by the NAFMA. Persons willing to sponsor the GMMAKA team to the event can contact Master Lloyd Ramnarine on 6986727.Anyone wishing to join any of the branches can also contact him at the Iron Fist Martial Arts Academy at the New Grove/Diamond primary school, the Canadian School Of Arts And Science in Third Avenue Diamond Housing Scheme, Invisible Kicks Martial Arts Academy in La Parfait Harmony and the Vreed-En-Hoop Primary Martial Arts Academy.

The Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Karate Association successful team to Suriname.

Stars fall to fifth defeat as Patriots dominate G R O S I S L E T, S t Lucia, CMC – St Lucia Stars crashed to an embarrassing seven-wicket defeat to St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, after they were dismissed for the third lowest-ever total in Caribbean Premier League history here Tuesday night. Just five days after amassing a record 226 against Barbados Tridents, Stars slumped to a new low, bowled out for 69 in the 13th over after being asked to bat first at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground. Qais Ahmad, batting at number six, struck 24 from 18 balls with a brace of fours and sixes but only one other batsman – Australian opener David Warner with 14 – managed to scrape into double figures. Stars were undone by Man-of-the-Match left-arm speedster Sheldon Cottrell who claimed three for 14 while 18-year-old Nepalese leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane (2-13) and Afghanistan off-spinner Mahmudullah (2-20) supported with two wickets apiece. In reply, the visitors required just eight overs to reach their target, with Devon Thomas, promoted to open instead of Chris Gayle, smashing an unbeaten 38 off 21 deliveries with five fours and a six. He put on 30 for the first wicket with the badly out of form Evin Lewis who managed 13 before topedging a short one from

Trans Pacific readily backs Sunday’s drag meet GMRSC’s KOT3

O

Man-of-the-Match Sheldon Cottrell. seamer Mitchell McClenaghan to mid-on, and then added a further 30 for the second wicket with Brandon King (17). The defeat for the Stars was their fifth in six outings and it left them bottom of the six-team standings on two points, with just four matches remaining. Patriots, meanwhile, notched their second win in four matches and lie fourth on four points. Andre Fletcher perished to the fourth ball of the match for eight with as many runs on the board, nudging a low full toss back to Cottrell and his dismissal sparked a slide as Stars slumped to 24 for four in the fifth over. Cottrell also got the

prized wicket of captain Kieron Pollard, fourth out, deceived and caught by Lewis at cover for four. Qais Ahmad and Warner staged the best stand of the innings when they added 25 for the fifth wicket, to offer hope of a better total. But Warner sliced a Lamichhane googly and was caught by Ben Cutting running in from deep point in the ninth over, triggering a terminal decline as six wickets fell for 20 runs in the space of 24 deliveries. Scores: STARS 69 off 12.3 overs (Qais Ahmad 24; Sheldon Cottrell 3-14, Sandeep Lamichhane 2-13, Mahmudullah 2-20). PATRIOTS 70 for three (Devon Thomas 38 not out).

ne of Guyana’s leading Auto Sales and Spare parts retailer, Trans Pacific, has readily thrown its support behind the motor racing community once again as they recently confirmed their sponsorship of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMRSC) King of the Strip (KOTS) three. At Trans Pacific Auto Sales, Lusignan Office, Proprietor Sahadeo Ramsewack handed over his sponsorship cheque to GMRSC’s representative, Balram Ramdeo. Ramdeo, who is also Ramsewack’s mechanic, thanked his boss on behalf of the GMRSC for his generous contribution. While being a patron, Ramsewack will also be looking to prove his machine’s power when Raj Panday takes to the drag strip this Sunday in his Toyota Alteeza which is the current nine-second class champion. Earlier in the month, Panday was abuzz due to the fact that the strip has now been equipped with a launch pad and he explained that, “It’s going to help us put down a lot more power while giving us more control. Overall it will improve drag time and I expect the strip record to be crushed come next week Sunday.” He further boasted that the only vehicles that he is wary of include Team

Sahadeo Ramsewack (right) hands over his company’s, Trans Pacific, sponsorship cheque to GMRSC’s representative, Balram Ramdeo M o h a m e d ’s G T R t h a t currently holds the strip record and Jeremy Rooks of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T), Nissan Laurel ‘Tweety Too’. The KOTS 3 will race off this Sunday from 09:00hrs and admission to the venue will cost $1000 for adults

and $500 for children. The sponsors for KOTS 3 i n c l u d e M o h a m e d ’s Enterprise, Ansa Mcal, B.M. Soat, ExxonMobil, Tropical Shipping, Del Ice Company, Japarts, Palm Court and Trans Pacific Auto Sales and Spares.

rt o p S

Arjune, Shaw and Reis triumph in Crown Mining’s Annual Golf Tournament P. 29

This group picture shows winners, players, and members and family of the Crown Mining Supplies company after the presentation.

BWF CAREBACO International Senior India wrap up third test win to setup close series finale Championships 2018 underway P. 27

P. 30

Fifa corruption: Brazil’s Jose Maria Marin jailed for four years

P. 25

Serena tops Forbes list of highest paid female athletes Stars fall to fifth defeat as Patriots dominate P. 25

P. 31

Trans Pacific readily backs P. 31 Sunday’s drag meet GMRSC’s KOT3

The Guyana CAREBACO International Senior Team take time out for a photo.

Guyana secures 47 medals in Suriname

P. 28

Boys’ Mini and Pre Cadet Team depart for Santo Domingo

P. 28

Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.