Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News

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Sunday December 02, 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

Confined to a classroom Schools are not just a microcosm of society; they mediate it too. They best seek to ameliorate the external pressures on their pupils while equipping them better to understand and handle the world outside – at once sheltering them and broadening their horizons. This is ambitious in any circumstances, and in a divided and unequal society the two ideals can clash outright. Trips that many adults would consider the adventure of a lifetime – a sports tour to Barbados – appear to have become almost routine at some state schools. Parents are being asked for thousands of dollars. Though schools cannot profit from these trips, the companies that arrange them do. Meanwhile, pupils arrive at school hungry because their families can’t afford breakfast. A few years ago routinely schools would go on field trips and outings. These were intended as learning experiences because the children see new sights and gain new experiences. They get a chance to appreciate lifestyles of others. Of course, the poor children are often at a disadvantage, necessitating the involvement of business places and entrepreneurs who could have an attachment to the various schools. In the United Kingdom, the Child Poverty Action Group says nine in every classroom of 30 fall below the poverty line. The disparity is obscene. Introducing a fundraising requirement for students does not help; better-off children tap up richer aunts and neighbours. Probing the rock pools of Scarborough or practicing French on a language exchange can fire children’s passions, boost their skills and open their eyes to life’s possibilities. The Sutton Trust, which focuses on improving social mobility, says educational outings help bright but disadvantaged students to get better A-levels. In this globalised age, there is a good case for international travel, and some parents say they can manage the cost of a school trip abroad more easily than a family holiday. Even in the face of immense and mounting financial pressures, some schools have shown remarkable determination and ingenuity in ensuring that all their pupils are able to take up opportunities that may be truly lifechanging. They should be applauded. Methods such as wholeschool fundraising, with the proceeds pooled, can help to extend opportunities and fuel community spirit. But £3,000 trips cannot be justified when the median income for families with children is just over £30,000. Such initiatives close doors for many pupils. The NASUWT teaching union has warned of parents pulling their children out of GCSEs because of expensive field trips; for other students, these trips confirm their intuition that the world has wonderful things to show – but not to people like them. Even parents who can see that a trip is little more than a jolly may well feel guilt that their child is left behind. The Department for Education’s guidance says schools can charge only for board and lodging if the trip is part of the syllabus, and that students covered by the pupil premium are exempt from these costs. It should also be made clear that voluntary charges are just that. The suspicion is that many schools ignore the advice; and it does not cover the kind of glamorous, far-flung trips becoming increasingly common. Schools cannot be expected to bring together communities single-handed. But the least we should expect is that they do not foster divisions and exclude those who are already disadvantaged.It is a pity that with most of the schools being government-owned there is the likelihood that fewer classrooms would embark on field trips. Many parents cannot afford the cost of these trips. The result is that most children know precious little about their own country. (Adapted from The Guardian)

Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.

Twenty years from now, would we be reflecting on a Guyana that should have been? DEAR EDITOR, Please permit me the space in your column to highlight a disease that has agonized the Guyanese political cognition for far too long. This disease is that of political bias which has pervaded the political landscape. It is positioned above state development, that is, the majority of the citizenry would rather argue about which political party is the ‘’lesser of two evils,’’ instead of what are the more progressive policies for social and economic transformation. The question to be asked is, why are most Guyanese so politically biased to the extent of not seeing further than their biases would allow

them to? It has to do with the political psychology which is deeply embedded in the Guyanese psyche from the 1960s to the present day. Ever since Independence, there is a perception which reigns in our politics. This perception is that if a political party comprises of the majority who look like you and if its leader looks like you, then, naturally they would look out for your needs and be aware of your pleas. But, hasn’t this theory been disproved? I think so! But, yet, most Guyanese continue to live in political oblivion. Politicians, however, are very cognizant of this psychology and they play on it. They go out in

numbers to every depressed community and campaign in every nook and cranny, but when they obtain power, those very communities would be neglected. This has always been the game of politics. This is not a personal attack on any politician or political party. It is simply an illumination of the obvious with intent of inspiring a paradigm shift in the political attitude of Guyanese. If you continue to justify every outrageous action, or every carefree utterance made by government ministers, justifying it with, “but, they are not as bad as the PPP,” then you are exactly why the country

continues to be in disarray. This mentality thickens at every General Election. If Guyanese can’t set aside political biases, party politics and race politics, Guyana and its future will be doomed. When it boils down to what is best for the country, choose that. If the government has done something wrong, it should be accepted and highlighted, not justified. In 20 years from now, it would be disheartening to reflect on a Guyana that could have been but never became and truly sad if the political conversation is still concentrated on PPP vs PNC or PPP vs APNU. Althea Hoodith

Sunday December 02, 2018

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Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Mr. G.K. Lall is telling us to be happily enslaved by this contract DEAR EDITOR, What’s the difference between a traitor and an educated writer, with the writer using his pen to weaken and impoverish his people, under the guise of security and national interest, to justify an oil contract so stupid and filled with incomprehensible nonsense and incomparable exploiting terms? We have quislings among us, whose touchstone is not in the national interest of Guyana, but only to promote self-interest and obtain entitlement to power, status or money. The quisling behaviour is exemplified most fervently in an appalling and disgraceful article, published by Demerara Waves, dated November 19, 2018; where Gabriel Lall also known as GHK Lall, writing like an archangel of ExxonMobil’s Esso, literally says it’s okay to be deprived of what belongs to you.Gabriel entered our mainstream media as a writer seeking betterment of Guyana; who is now using his pen to obfuscate, and enable the exploitation of the Guyanese people, by using pedantic and contriving language. With inane and enchain thinking, Lall surmised that Guyana having over five billion barrels of sweet crude oil, is not the cause for the United States Ambassador to

Guyana, taking the side of Guyana on territorial claims made by Venezuela. The reprehensible and partisan regurgitation by Mr. Lall of the predictable pronouncements that we have heard from Wood McKenzie, ExxonMobil’s Esso for Public Affairs representation, Ms. Kimberly Brassington, Chatham House, British Professor of Economics and Public Policy, Sir Paul Collier, among others, all to buttress a horrifying, unconscionable and unacceptable oil contract. Guyanese must avoid being duped by puppets, parrots and snake oil sellers. The expounder of this rubbish seems to assume that Guyanese will believe the baloney, about us being lucky to have Exxon steal our enormous oil wealth, just because in this year of 2018, the United States has found it convenient to side with Guyana against Venezuela’s absurd claim to 2/3 of Guyana’s terri-

tory. How quickly has Gabriel moltered from being an antianything PPPC to pro-everything PNCR. The absolute and essential issue of our time or sine qua non for Guyanese is not about who wins the 2020 National Election, it is to have a renegotiated and fair contract for our relatively vast oil reserves. The singular focus for the unlocking of our people and country out of poverty, must be a reasonable contract with Esson, Hess and Nexen that will allow Guyanese to live like the citizens in countries that have the highest per capita oil reserves in the world – and not succumb to a colonial type oil contracts. We must be the rich masters controlling our oil resources. What do we have to fear? The agreement with Exxon is far more harmful and odious than all the hogwash claims made by Venezuela to Essequibo. What about the

New River Triangle? Will our new-found partner, side with us against Suriname? ExxonMobil’s Esso “earmarked” Guyana for funds, from our oil wealth in Guyana’s offshore, to supposedly protect us from Venezuela, according to GHK Lall. This is a canard and disingenuous to Guyanese. What is being extolled is a form of gaslighting or mental gymnastics, where down is up and selling your soul or selling out the rights of the masses of Guyanese to our former and extant colonial masters is being deemed logical. Our foremost hero and patriot, Walter Rodney wrote of the colonial beasts in his brilliant, inspired and widely read book: “Groundings with my Brothers”; that spoke to the importance of national solidarity and unity. The great Englishman, Thomas Paine, wrote a pamphlet, called “Common Sense”; Paine’s pamphlet is believed by many

to be the cornerstone that rid America of English rule. Both gentlemen represent the best in all of us. We must find and join this solidarity and unity within us and regardless of political party policy or political party affiliation and ensure our political leaders free Guyana from this slave contract. Fundamentally, Mr. Lall is telling us to be happily enslaved by this contract. We must remove ourselves from under the yoke. Why praise the crumb giver? The 67 % or 56,000 square miles claim on Guyana’s territory by our Venezuelan neighbour to the west and the Surinamese claim of seven or 6,000 square miles claim on of Guyana’s territory should not be used as a bogeyman to deny us a fair share from our oil resources. We must fight on purposefully and with a perseverance that will never allow the current oil contract from a netherworld,

to take away from us, what God, providence, nature and fortune has bestowed upon Guyana. The oil belongs to us. We must strenuously insist on having the contract renegotiated to ensure reasonable terms in the oil contract for Guyanese. Countries such as Ghana, India, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Mexico and Kazakhstan, among others; have contracts with oil companies; and all these countries have conditions and terms that offers significantly more benefits to the country that owns the oil resources compared to ExxonMobil’s Esso totalitarian contract, with Guyana. Guyanese must put aside perceived differences; if only for this single oil contract, due to the enormous positive benefits that awaits every Guyanese and renegotiate for a fair oil contract. Yours Respectfully, Nigel Hinds

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Sunday December 02, 2018

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Security officials with big guns

Concerned Citizens of Ann’s Grove / Two Friends Exposed

DEAR EDITOR, The police have issued a press statement of a visit to a number of private security services in the city on Friday. The police said that the visit was to ensure “strict adherence” to the terms and conditions of their licences and the laws of Guyana. The police said that they found that a number of the services were not adhering to basic safety requirements. The police expressed concerns that heavily-armed personnel were seen in front of businesses and this caused unnecessary panic among shoppers. Personnel were attired in

civilian clothing without logos and authorized uniforms. The personnel and owners were urged to operate in the premises and not outside on the pavement which is for the use of the public. Police said they will be monitoring. I want to applaud the police force for this initiative. It definitely does not send the right message and image when the security officials stand at ready with highpowered weapons. There is another more dangerous take on this issue. When gunmen and bandits come, they exploit weaknesses. They look for what is vis-

ible. When you have personnel in the open, they are in the first line of fire. However, how about the personnel at strategic areas in the premises? There are many ways to beef up security without being visible. We see stores on Regent Street, especially Chinese ones, and the Massy Supermarket, Providence, and even in Diamond, where security officials are posted in front with AR rifles and other weapons. This is a dangerous practice in my view. The police force should continue to monitor this situation.I have overtime raised deep concerns over the situation. Cobeer Persaud

MR. LEROY SMITH MISSED THE BOAT, UNFORTUNATELY DEAR EDITOR, I will close my thoughts on this issue regarding Mr. Leroy Smith with this correspondence on the attacks of the ‘A’ Division and the Commander, Marlon Chapman. The thrust of my observations was on the critical role of the media and what is perceived to be an abuse of the privileges for a media person. I took the liberty of viewing Mr. Smith as a media person. Mr. Smith is supposed to be one of the voices of the people, sitting on the fence with issues and not expected

to take sides. Mr. Smith can paint it anyway he wants, the sustained commentaries on ‘A’ Division within a few days compared to the absence of commentaries on other police divisions (and I am using his arguments), are stark. It can only lead to the conclusion that commentaries are deliberate, designed to sway the persons who read or follow him in forming an impression of a particular division. Now, again, I want to encourage Mr. Smith and any media person who is willing

to pursue the profession, to do so. It is an honorable profession. However, it must not be perceived that we are using those Fourth Estate privileges, and privileges they are, to attack the citizens and institutions in this country. While there is fair comment, I humbly submit that these comments must be fair to all and in good taste. There must be no continual perception that Mr. Smith is on the attack mode. There is a correlation between the time of his arrests and the time of commentaries. What conclusions do one arrive at? I hope he gets the gist or else he would be killing the messenger. Hear the message, Mr. Smith. Yours Respectfully, Mike Singh Sr.

DEAR EDITOR, Kindly allow me to respond to a letter from “Concerned Citizens of Ann’s Grove / Two Friends”, entitled “Using Land for purposes other than intended” that appeared in this newspaper last Tuesday, November 27, 2018. From its very preamble, one may be led to believe that there is a death wave afflicting Ann’s Grove / Two Friends and there is need for mass burials. Thank God that is not the case. What in fact the writers intended was to instigate a village conflict via a ruthless and baseless emotional appeal. I qualified their endeavor as ruthless and baseless due to their astounding omission of one simple fact. That is, “Concerned Citizens of Ann’s Grove” have most conspicuously omitted from the public domain the fact that this land they have written about has been litigated over beginning in 1973 and a final judgement awarded in the highest court of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana to five petitioners in 2006. Further, their attitude of ignoring this High Court order is bolstered by their absurd conviction that our political leaders must also intervene and disregard this fully litigated High Court judgement. The essence of the matter is this. In 1973, in the true spirit of independence from any state design, twelve (12) members of the community, the vast majority of whom were direct descendants of the formerly enslaved of Ann’s Grove / Two Friends, petitioned the court under the legal process of “First Registration”. Sadly, Mr. Burnham did not see this action by these 12 members as politically expedient.

However, being an astute Lawyer himself, the ‘kabaka’ knew the die was cast and he knew legally that move by the twelve members was as good as final unless he got them all to withdraw. A local battle started. Mr. Fraser (Saxa) confronted the ‘Kabaka’ demanding evidence of state ownership of this land only to be jailed under trumped up charges of violating “price control” measures in commerce. Later, members who had planted rice in the fields of the land were summoned to “Court at Belfield” and a signature demanded on certain documents in order to reap their rice, but they still had their rice field destroyed and handed over to Mr. Cecil Ram after signing. Nevertheless, these pressures were only effective in getting seven members to leave the group of 12. After Burnham’s death in 1985, the remaining five resumed the matter and were finally successful in getting judgement in 2006.Now, I must ask, has this so called “Co-op” informed its members of this judgement? I doubt it for one critical reason. That being, Mr. Sertimer when he was alive and his cronies who are still alive would

never want to answer to the people who have built houses that occupy 85% of this land how to get a “Transport”. Further, was it not greed and exploitation when Mr. Sertimer and his cronies “sold” (trespassed legally) and defrauded many villages by accepting their hard- earned monies then only to toss it back when the higher paying “Yankees” came to deal? This very piece of land along with another piece on the public road represents a mere 15 percent of the 65 acres total and by all means must be and will be divided among the legal owners and their key supporters. In fact, had it not been protected rigorously since 2012, would most certainly have been “sold” by Mr. Sertimer and his cronies . Now they are telling of their “noble cause” of a burial ground. I end by saying, should the heirs of the owners and their key supporters not fully exercise their rights then the last thing they have to worry about is a burial ground for their ancestors who fought so hard for over 40 years to directly register this land and not bow to any state design would not want them close by. Quincy Andrews.

The Grove/Diamond Neighbourhood Democratic Council DEAR EDITOR, The Grove/Diamond Neighbourhood Democratic Council’s new members were recently installed, with the Chairperson being a female educator. As a resident and tax payer I would like to suggest the following : (1) Councillors must be disciplined and answerable to the residents. (2) Repair the streets, clean drains, parapets and remove encumbrances. (3) Get the market tarmac active immediately, install lights and remove street vendors. (4) Plants trees on the street parapets to beautify the sections. (5) Train office staff to deal with the public and the word is honesty. (Continued on page 7)

Sunday December 02, 2018

Kaieteur M@ilbox Is ‘the Peeper’ lobbing for his pocket or on a PR mission for the tobacco company? DEAR EDITOR, I take umbrage to a missive by Peeping Tom, “Pesticides, tobacco and social cohesion” in KN, Nov 30th. The Peeper sought to criticize the Govt’s approach on relinquishing the VAT on pesticides and increasing the tax on cigarettes by asserting that pesticides have a more devastating effect on the population, than tobacco. The Peeper failed to give consideration to the fact that cigarette smoking is an act of choice, leading to probably addiction, while the use of pesticides by farmer is an act of necessity. In our seemingly biblical last days scenario, the attack on crops by insects has increased. All Guyanese farmers will attest to this. Given the high price of insecticides, no farmer would use pesticides on their crop unless they are certain that their crop is threatened by insects. The objective is to save their crops and like in any other business, to reduce the cost of production. Alternatively, herbicides are used by farm-

ers to reduce cost too. It is clear, the Peeper has little or no knowledge of farming. While these chemicals may have damaging effects on farmers and the environment due to contact and residual effects respectively, where is the scientific cost effective alternative to replace them? Should a farmer stand and watch his crops being decimated by insects and not use insecticides to save it? The Peeper wrote. “Pesticides are no friends of farmers.”If a product can save your crops from decimation by a swarm of rampaging insects, I think it would be ungrateful not to acknowledge that product as a friend. History is laden with examples where insects had destroyed crops, causing starvation of large populations before the advent of insecticide. The present budgetary move by the government to remove the VAT on pesticides and herbicides would be viewed by farmers as a positive help to reduce their cost

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of production. The Peeper wrote, “More people die each year in Guyana from pesticide and weedicide poisoning each year than from the effects of cigarette smoking.” While that is the truth from a statistical point of viewthe Peeper’s comparative analysis to smoking is flawed and misleading in context. Is the Peeper suggesting that the prevalence of pesticides and weedicides in our domain, the reason for our high suicide rate? Surely! The Peeper should know that the prevalence of suicide in our society has a deeper socio-economic rooting. Moreover, Pesticides/ weedicides are the means, not the cause of suicide. Take the chemicals away and hanging becomes the next means. Do we then ask the Govt to place a high tax on rope? May be the Peeper is a smoker like me-lobbying for his own pocket or on a PR mission for the Tobacco Companies. R. Singh

Kaieteur M@ilbox Georgetown has a new Mayor in the person of Pandit Ubraj Narine DEAR EDITOR, I cannot recall an IndoGuyanese Mayor presiding over the affairs of the City Council and, even though refreshing, one hopes that it is not an optical move on the part of the PNC especially when seen against the background of recent remarks made by PNC Chairman Vo l d a Lawrence. The City of Georgetown is in need of persons who are not only politically committed to the welfare of the citizens of Georgetown but who have management

experience. This, I believe, was lacking in the previous Council, a situation made worse by a Town Clerk that was behaving more as a politician than as a technical and accounting officer of the Council. I think the Council should now look for a new Town Clerk who is technically and professionally sound and who is not politically inclined one way or the other. The recent Commission of Inquiry into the affairs of the Council conducted by retired Justice Cecil Kennard has un-

earthed some unsavoury findings which should not be allowed to repeat itself. Georgetown is not only our capital city but is home to nearly a third of the country’s population. Both the central government and the Council have a duty and responsibility to ensure that it is properly financed and managed. It is a shame that Georgetown is allowed to deteriorate to a point where we are now regarded as a ‘Garbage’ City instead of a Garden City as was formerly the case. Hydar Ally

The Grove/Diamond Neighbourhood ... From page 6 (6) Collect tree trimmings and dis c a r d e d h o u s e hold items, etc from residents at a small fee. ( 7 ) Rent equipment to the residents at a reasonable rate. (8) Employ two Community Policemen to enforce the laws.

Shou l d t h e c o u n c i l w o r k e q u a l w i t h r e s idents, the above put in place and the over twentyone million fraud inves-

tigated, then the Grove/ Diamond N D C will certainly be a place to admire. Yours Respectfully Perrmanand Ram

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Sunday December 02, 2018

Sunday December 02, 2018

Kaieteur News

Sixty percent of women suffer some form of abuse- Help and Shelter Women in Guyana currently exist in a society where more than half of them are faced with abuse, with most of this abuse being perpetrated by men. This is according to representative of Help and Shelter, Danuta Radzik at a recent EU panel discussion. However, it should also be noted that globally, it was estimated that 35 percent of women have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or sexual violence by a non-partner at some point in their lives. Women were identified as the gender that is most disproportionately affected by violence within the home. The female demographic of Guyana currently stands at over 380,000 with a total populace of 782,225. The abuse of women has for years acted as debilitating factor in the social, economical and cultural atmosphere within Guyana as well as the global Diaspora. It has proven to not just damage the lives of its victims but to also inflict crippling effects on a country’s social and economic development. Radzik, in presenting alluded to a statistical representation for the number of women being subjected to abuse, with sixty percent of the female demographic within Guyana experiencing some form of abuse on a daily basis. Radzik attributed these alarming statistics to the normalization of unequal power dynamics between men and women in the country and global community. Inequalities between men and women

were identified as the most persistent pattern in power distribution within the home and the wider community. With all this being said, whilst many persons within society might consider domestic violence to be a random act, it is widely characterized by its systematic and structural format. In fact, the ill that is domestic violence, is built on the edifice of male superiority and female inferiority, geared in the patriarchal control of women, socially ascribed gender roles, and political dominance of men. Radzik said that these forms of violence, whether they are emotional, sexual, psychological or physical, deny women of their constitutionally granted rights. Radzik added that violence against women in any form infringes and violates human rights, wreaking havoc in the lives of so many of its victims. According to global reports, violence perpetrated against women in the home had significant impact on children and teens that grew up in environments charged with tension and fear. Psychological and emotional trauma in children has been linked to abusive home environments or constant exposure to abuse. Children who were exposed to these kinds of behavioral patterns were seen as most likely to experience some sort of domestic violence in adulthood or perpetuate the act themselves. In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) in an analysis report of domestic violence recognized

low economic opportunities and educational opportunities for women as major risk factors for perpetrated violence. The report identified women and children as the most vulnerable groups for the act. WHO asserted that children who grow up seeing their mother threatened, demeaned or physically and sexually assaulted are more likely to perpetuate that very behaviour. Whilst domestic violence cannot be attributed to one single factor, relationship quality and community context all play major roles. Nonetheless, the most consistent marker was shown to be marital conflict or discord within the family; economic conditions also play a major role. It was noted that persons of low economic standing account for the public health burden of violence in most societies. The impact of domestic violence has a reach that extends in a country’s social and economic standing with women. Women may suffer from isolation, inability to work, lack of participation, and limited ability to care for themselves and children. WHO recommends as a deterrent to domestic violence within the region, that certain strategies such as advocacy and non-discriminatory laws in countries like Guyana be implemented. The pervasiveness of domestic violence affects all tiers of society, suppressing the voice of women in a rapidly evolving society.

DEM BOYS SEH

Don’t leh cat eat we dinner Soulja Bai The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today. By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail. Dem boys see so many people during dem life time suffer, and all because dem didn’t heed that saying. Guyana embarking on a new project— oil— and it got to prepare and if we fail to prepare cat gun eat we dinner. Dem boys know people who buy dem house cash and didn’t tek out insurance. De house bun down and dem lef in de street because dem didn’t have any insurance. Dem also got friends who buy car cash. Dem tek out de cheapest insurance because insurance is a must. De car crash or get thief; dem hold dem head and bawl because de insurance dem tek out doesn’t cover no replacement. Suh dem have to suffer yes that happen to plenty people dem boys know. However, dem boys seh when yuh Go to the bank for a loan to buy a house you must have fire and life insurance in case it burn down or yuh drop dead. A loan for a car you must take out life and full coverage insurance in case it crash, get thief or fly away. No bank lends you money without the right kind of insurance that will protect dem

money. Try to refuse de insurances wha de bank demand and see if you gun ever own de front step of de house or de windscreen of a car. Dem boys seh Guyana embarking on de oil road and de Govt must protect we. We must have de right type of insurance. De World Bank seh de Govt must demand that all de oil companies tek out coverage not only fuh oil spill from de tankers, but also from de blow outs from or while dem drilling. Mexico, de USA and other countries find out the hard way when dem had oil spills...Nuff nuff people, by the millions suffer and still suffering to this day. When was time fuh compensate de people de Govt find out that de oil companies didn’t have proper insurance to cover the full impact of de disaster. Dem boys seh de leaders was too excited with de oil cash that dem tek everything fuh granted. De end result? Millions suffering to this day in the neighbourhood, because of the spill. Guyana better make sure it has de right insurance like wha de World Bank demand. Talk half and keep de Shaat Baccoo from signing anything fuh do wid oil, especially Exxon.

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Police warn against guards with big guns

Police Officers interact with the proprietor and security guards of a Georgetown business Heavily armed security personnel in front of businesses can cause unnecessary panic to customers, says the Guyana Police Force (GPF). This statement comes after the force conducted an inspection of private security services operating in and around Georgetown yesterday. The purpose of the exercise was to ensure strict adherence to the terms and condition of their licences and the Laws of Guyana. The team was headed by Senior Superintendent Errol Watts, who is the Second-in-Command of Operations. It was observed that at a number of businesses where private security firms with armed personnel were visited, it was found that these security personnel were not adhering to basic safety requirements and other important

prerequisites governing their existence. “In addition, heavily armed personnel were seen in full view of the public and this can cause unnecessary panic to shoppers. These security personnel were dressed in civilian clothing without having on their Company’s Logo and authorized uniforms,” the GPF said. According to a statement by the GPF, the business owner(s) and the security guards in particular were spoken to and were advised to operate within their respective premises and not the pavement provided for use by the general public. This situation will be monitored closely by the police to ensure adherence and where breaches are found, appropriate sanctions would be applied, the police noted.

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Central Bank staffers threaten strike action

T

he staffers of Cen tral Bank Guyana are alleging unfair treatment and short payment of wages by the bank. The employees are contending that if the issues are not addressed and adequately dealt with they will commence a protest in the streets of Georgetown. This issue was brought to the public’s attention by a letter published in the Kaieteur News, Saturday, December 1 edition titled “Central Bank Staff will reject 2% imposed on them.” The letter stated that in July 2015, the Central Bank allegedly issued a circular stating “the payment of increments based on performance appraisal of staff, will be made effective in 2016 and payment of across the board salary increase by the Government of Guyana will also benefit the staff of the Bank of Guyana”. The writer indicated that in 2015, the staff received an additional 5% increase of $5,000 and thereafter has been receiving 2%. It was also highlighted that by lowering the increase percentage the bank went against the content of the circular.

The management reportedly never communicated to the staff the reason(s) why the across the board increase that was given to public servants would not be paid to them, as was previously offered. The writer also called upon the Minister of Finance to clarify whether the BOG staff are public servants or not. “If we are not public servants then why are we treated like them conveniently?” Staffers queried why they are not allowed to benefit from the across the board increase from Government even though all directives for the staffers allegedly come from the Ministry of Finance. The Government was further questioned, as the letter claimed, that “the Bank staff needs clarification from the government as to why we have been treated unfairly with regards to our increase in salary.” The disgruntled writer expressed frustration. “It has been years now that the Central Bank has taken a downwards approach to staff. Decisions are made without a general consensus as it relates to staff welfare.

“Everything is done using a big stick approach and we the staff are fed-up and frustrated. The staff is being de-motivated by the blatant nepotism showed in the Bank.” The staffers are proposing that “Government wake up and realise that the Central Bank is not being managed properly and only one class of persons are being favoured and benefiting. We want a change in leadership, new vision, new directions and not backward thinking from people who should not be seated at the head.” If the issues within the Bank are not looked into and addressed, the staff members say that they are willing to take the matter to the streets in protest. “If the Government, Minister Jordan, and the Governor do not please our staff and treat us with dignity, we, the Central Bank staff, are prepared to stand in solidarity and protest our rights in the streets of Georgetown, until our needs are adequately and speedily met by the Government to grant our increases, review our salary scale and remove the tax from our vacation allowances.”

Sunday December 02, 2018

Compensation recommended for former Town Clerk, Carol Sooba Former Acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba must be paid all her benefits, which are legally due to her, according to the just concluded Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the operations of City Hall. Sooba’s appointment was revoked by Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, shortly after the Coalition administration came to office in 2015. Sooba provided a written statement to the CoI and claimed that her employment was wrongfully terminated. She also claimed that she should be paid her full benefits and paid until she attains the age of 55, as the Council and Minister made a fatal mistake when they revoked her appointment as Town Clerk. She contended that if the Minister revoked her appointment as Town Clerk, at least she should have stated reasons for the revocation of the appointment. The CoI report stated that having considered the averments contained in the written submission of Sooba, the only rational and logical conclusion arrived at is that she should have resumed duties as the Legal Officer of the Council. Chairman of the CoI, Justice Cecil Kennard, stated in the report, “Having been off the job for more than oneyear reinstatement would be difficult to recommend, in the given circumstance one can only recommend that she be compensated for her wrongful removal from office.” Bulkan in a letter dated July 1, 2015, formally informed Sooba that her services will no longer be needed effective

Former Acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba July 7, 2015. She was replaced by current Town Clerk, Royston King, whom the CoI report recommended should be terminated and face a criminal investigation. While the document to Sooba failed to mention any particular reason for the dismissal, Minister Bulkan had expressed his intention to act on the Council’s no-confidence motion, shortly after taking office. Months before she was fired, Sooba left the Municipality, amidst votes of no– confidence by the Council and cheers from members of the public. She had been sent on administrative leave to facilitate an investigation into alleged misappropriation of the Council’s funds, some of which included waiving of

$27 million in interest for a property in Georgetown without the knowledge and fiat of the duly elected Mayor and City Council; the payment of fees to an Attorney in excess of $1 million, for extraneous matters, not approved by Council. Sooba’s initial appointment as Town Clerk had been fiercely objected to, with critics claiming that she was not qualified for the position. She had been accused of being placed within the Council by the then ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) to hinder the city administration. Sooba is now an appointed member of the Local Government Commission (LGC) which ordered the CoI. It will be up to the LGC to carry out the recommendations of the CoI.

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Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

National Youth Policy languishes Partial road closure blamed for traffic, road chaos at Dept. of Social Cohesion Little to no progress on the enforcement of the Guyana National Youth Policy has caused youth organizations and youth advocates to speak out on concerns that Guyanese youth are being tokenized by politicians and not given a seat at the table. The National Youth Policy (2015) was tabled and adopted by Parliament in 2016. This came after the Education Ministry announced the completion of the policy, which it hoped would pave the way for the prioritisation of the development of the 14-35 age cohort. The policy had set out a wide-reaching framework of plans, including the improvement of the social, emotional and cultural skills of young people, the encouragement of a productive and enterprising youth workforce, the development of quality leadership and market-oriented skills, the encouragement of leadership, participation and representation and the promotion of good health, security and safety. Since then, there has been little word from the government on how the policy is being implemented and on how much progress has been made. The Guyana National Youth Council (GNYC), which recently reconvened operations, has been in constant discourse on the policy since it was posted on Facebook by a Guyanese journalist on November 29. Before then, the policy had not been available online. A statement from GNYC states, “[The Guyana National Youth Policy] is yet to be published as an official document by any government ministry and owned by any public official”. The statement made reference to the Green Paper on Managing Petroleum Revenue and Establishing of a Fiscal Rule and the Sovereign Wealth Fund, which is documented and owned by the Ministry of Finance. The statement further lamented that the Green State Development Strategy is documented and owned by the Ministry of the Presidency. The council posits that “Accountability happens when there is clearly defined ownership of public documents, decisions, policies, strategies and actions.” Interim Chairperson of the council,

Derwayne Wills, said that at the time of its adoption, it was the Ministry of Education that brought the policy to the National Assembly, and was responsible for it. Wills said, “Since then, the youth portfolio has been shifted to the Ministry of the Presidency, Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport. This, however, still does not reflect in the policy.” Last year, President Granger announced that responsibility for the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport would be shifted from the Ministry of Education to the Ministry of Social Cohesion, under the control of George Norton. Wills said that since that shift, the policy has not been owned by any official after Dr. Nicolette Henry. The policy also has not been published by the government, so it is unclear who is responsible for the policy, its execution and the review process that is required, after the shift in responsibility. Page 36 of the unpublished policy states that a five-year National Youth Empowerment Action Plan (NYEAP) should have been established to guide the execution of the policy. However, no such plan was ever published. The plan in question was meant to be formulated and implemented for the period 2016 to 2020. A statement from GNYC reads, “The National Youth Policy of Guyana was approved by the National Assembly in 2016 and is yet to be made public and to reach the hands of the young people in whose names it was crafted to the tune of millions of dollars. In the absence of a public social accountability document, how are youth to hold their government accountable to its own commitment within the context of national and international development goals (SDGs)?”

Congested traffic on the East Coast Demerara road. Vehicular traffic along East Coast Demerara is now a headache. Expansion works have wreaked havoc on the day-to-day traffic in the area. The project, which is being spearheaded by the China Railway First Group Company Limited commenced on August 29, 2017 and is slated to conclude in December, at a cost of US $50.19 million. The scope of the works for the project includes the widening of the existing roadway between Better Hope to Annandale into four lanes and thereafter an upgrade to the existing two-lane road. However, as of now the efficacy of the expansion’s alternative vehicular route is lacking, with Saturday being the most recent of the project’s traffic congestions. According to the Ministry, the expansion currently has specialized professionals

observing and monitoring the works. Nonetheless, the issue of congested traffic due to the project is a recurring one. When asked for a comment on the issue, the manager of the contracting company in charge of the works said that he was not the person to speak on it. Instead the Ministry of Public Infrastructure should be contacted, he said. That Ministry disclosed in recent months that it was working with the contractor to ensure that the Traffic Management and Environmental Plan are adhered to. Kaieteur News understands that Saturday’s congestion lasted for many hours, leaving vehicles stationary along the roadway. Most recently, the Ministry stated that as a solution to the issue more flagmen were being trained to regulate the flow of traffic Continued on page 66

MBS communicated with adviser during Khashoggi killing: WSJ ALJAZEERA: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) sent 11 messages to his closest adviser, who reportedly oversaw the operatives who killed journalist Jamal Khashoggi, in the hours before and after the journalist’s murder on October 2, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The Journal said on Saturday it had reviewed excerpts of an intelligence file that was classified as “highly confidential”, which cites electronic intercepts and other covert information between Prince Mohammed and his aide, Saud al-Qahtani. However, the content of the messages between the two parties is unknown. “To be clear, we lack direct reports that the crown prince issued the order of murder,” the assessment notes, according to the Journal. The assessment reports that Qahtani, who supervised the 15-man team that killed Khashoggi, was also in direct communication with the team’s leader in Istanbul Pompeo: No direct evidence linking MBS to Khashoggi killing US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Saturday he has seen all the intelligence possessed by the United States on the killing of

Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed Bin Salman

Slain journalist, Jamal Khashoggi

Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and repeated that no direct evidence links Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the incident. “I have read every piece of intelligence that is in the possession of United States government,” Pompeo said in an interview with broadcaster CNN in Buenos Aires on the sidelines of the G20 summit. Erdogan: Saudi chief prosecutor has not shared intel with Turkey Turkey has no intention of harming the Saudi royal family, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday, adding that holding those responsible for the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi would also be beneficial for Saudi Arabia. Speaking at a press

conference at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires, Erdogan said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had sent his chief prosecutor to Turkey to investigate the Khashoggi killing, but he had not shared information with Ankara. Erdogan said the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi has been a test for the whole world. Turkey has evidence documenting Khashoggi, a Wa s h i n g t o n Post columnist and a critic of Saudi Arabia’s de-facto ruler, was killed in 7-1/2 minutes, Erdogan said. He said Ankara has shared this evidence with all countries who requested it, including the United States, Britain, Germany and Saudi Arabia.

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Demand comprehensive insurance from all oil companies - World Bank

EPA Head, Dr. Vincent Adams By Kiana Wilburg Oil spills can result in long term damage to a nation. In some cases, the effects are irreversible. Considering this, international bodies have stressed on the need for regulators to ensure oil companies have “comprehensive” insurance that provides coverage for the eventualities that may arise from their operations. One of the many advocates on this matter is the World Bank, one of Guyana’s development partners. According to the organization, it is expected that oil companies take out insurance for their operations in any country. However, the World Bank warned that operators have often sought insurance which only covers certain activities. These may include third party legal liability and control of wells, re-drill, and cleanup of sudden and accidental pollution from a well out of control. It cautioned that industry regulators must ensure that an operator’s insurance covers every possible eventuality since “for some operators, their insurance excludes blowout or subsurface pollution or below-wellhead risk.” The World Bank highlighted that there is insurance that covers a blowout from an oil project. It is referred to as Operators’ Extra Expense (OEE) insurance. The World Bank said that emerging oil producers such as Guyana would want to ensure that this is in place especially when one considers how other nations suffered in the absence of this. In this regard, the financial institution cited the case of the major oil spill which occurred in 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico. The spill led to a loss of 53,000 barrels of oil a day for many weeks. It covered 6,500 square

kilometers and involved five million barrels of oil. The source, the Deepwater Horizon field, was operated by BP under a joint operating agreement with Anadarko Petroleum and Mitsui Oil Corporation. The financial consequence of the spill was more than US$8 billion since the insurance of the operator did not cover pollution following a blowout. ADDRESSED FOR 2020 Guyana currently has no policy that provides guidance on whether oil companies should be allowed to selfinsure or be made to lodge an internationally recognized insurance policy with the relevant authorities. In the absence of clear direction, Head of the

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams, expressed the opinion that there could be varying implications for the sector. During an exclusive interview with this newspaper, the Environmental Engineer insisted that this is an issue which must be addressed before 2020. Dr. Adams said, “I am not sure if we are the only body which must decide on this matter. But I do know that we would have a say in it…Currently, the ExxonMobil-Guyana contract allows the company to selfinsure. This means that the company has given us some assurance that it will handle the liabilities that come with any possible oil spill.” The Engineer added, “Guyana must now decide if this is the route it wants to go for other oil companies. We must also consider the

pros and cons of selfinsurance versus having insurance policies. In the USA, oil companies have to post a bond and provide an insurance policy…They also have to provide other things to the authorities to prove they can cover any liabilities…But in Guyana’s case, we need to decide the way forward. We need to ensure that companies, if they are going to operate here, they can guarantee sufficient coverage.” Dr. Adams noted, however, that this is an issue which must be carefully analyzed. He said that there should be no hasty adoption of mechanisms that exist elsewhere. He said, “I do believe that this is something that needs to be analyzed, it needs to be addressed, it needs to be regulated before 2020. As the lead regulator, I am for the principle that there must be a policy in place that states how we are to address this matter.” The EPA head added, “I wish to state however that we should be cautious. Let us not just adopt willy-nilly, any sort of system or governing policies in other countries. We need to do our own risk analysis and tailor something that fits us.” MAKE IT MANDATORY Founding Director of the Agency for Security, Energy

and the Environment (ASEA), Carlos De Regules has insisted that it would be in Guyana’s interest to make insurance policies mandatory for the oil and gas sector. Regules said, “With self insurance, companies show their own balance sheet as a guarantee and that we (Mexico) will not accept as a valid guarantee. We always insist on having an insurance policy. Self insurance is not good enough. You must show a policy that is in line with international standards…” Stressing the importance of insurance policies, the ASEA Director noted that there is an international law or understanding that you

cannot claim abroad what you do not claim domestically. He said, “If a country expects to demand compensation for an oil spill or accident, it needs to have a domestic framework to show if that happened domestically, they would be claiming response and remediation and that is very important to bear in mind.” The ASEA Director said that setting the appropriate obligations to ensure oil and gas operators are capable of responding in a timely manner to oil spills is hinged on two things: insurance policies and making it mandatory for the operators to have sufficient technical capacity to respond to emergencies. He said that this means the country must have trained personnel, materials and equipment to be deployed within the first hours of an emergency. Regules said, “This is very important; it is a lesson that can be learned from any of the major oil spills that occurred around the world. You can contain a crisis more efficiently when you are prepared. So making those two things, insurance policies and technical capacity, mandatory is the ingredient for preparing for an emergency in this industry…” In sharing a bit of the Mexican experience, the Oil and Gas regulator also said that it would also be important for Guyana to have a robust system in place to review insurance policies. He said, “In Mexico, you must have an insurance policy before a permit is granted. In fact, companies have to comply with our insurance regulations and our SEMS (Safety Environmental Management Systems) Regulations.” The ASEA Director said that the oil operators also have to go through a rigorous Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and provide an appropriate design for their project. He said that once they comply with all those things, and a thorough review is done, then it is a go. VAGUE TERMS In the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) signed between the Government of Guyana and USA oil giant, ExxonMobil, there is no provision covering any adverse impact on fishing

Habits are not the product of one decision — They’re the result of repeated choices that eventually become automatic responses. How can you know your true spiritual condition? By the company you keep and the choices you make. When you’re free to go, where do you choose to go? Whose company do you prefer?

grounds and coastal communities or on neighbouring countries. This alarming observation was first pointed out by Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram, and political Commentator, Ramon Gaskin. The two have been extremely critical of the vague terms in the contract especially as it relates to environmental protection. Ram in his recent writings noted that Article 20.2 of Guyana’s 2016 Oil Agreement deals with Insurance in respect of, but not limited to, assets, pollution, third parties and employees. The Attorney-at-Law pointed out that the Agreement does not require any loss of production insurance as will apply in the case of any major disruption of production or environmental accidents. He said that while this provision is absent from the 2016 Agreement, the 1999

Agreement which was signed by the Jagan administration, allowed for insurance to be taken out by Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited’s affiliate insurance company. Esso is a subsidiary of ExxonMobil. Ram stated, “That requirement has been changed and now allows the Contractor to have the right to self-insure against the risks identified. This is a major concession by (Natural Resources Minister, Raphael) Trotman on an issue that only specialist lawyers know about. What it means in practice is that anyone seeking to make an insurance claim will have to lodge that claim against Esso, CNOOC/ Nexen or Hess, all of which are external companies. Those potential claimants must thank Raphael Trotman for making their chances even more difficult to succeed.”

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Sunday December 02, 2018

Kaieteur News

Authorities seize jewelry,documents from ‘Big Head’ safe box -property restrain, forfeiture proceedings begin against him, ‘Cash Jet’ pilot

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he clampdown on money laundering is being pursued on a number of fronts. Not only are bank accounts being targeted but proceedings have started to seize properties linked to dirty money. On Friday, investigators of the police’s Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), armed with orders, searched a safe deposit box at a city bank and found a quantity of jewelry and critical documents. The safe deposit box was linked to Shervington Lovell called ‘Big Head’, who is being accused of drug trafficking by US authorities. Lovell, part-owner of Tower Suites hotel on Main Street, was busted in Jamaica weeks ago in a sting operation, for alleged drug traffick-

ing conspiracy. He and two accused men, a Venezuelan and a Surinamese, were extradited to the US from Jamaica, on Friday morning, according to a source of the Custom AntiNarcotic Unit (CANU) yesterday. While Lovell is there, the process of going after properties here will not stop. Contacted over the weekend, SOCU’s head , Assistant Police Commissioner, Sydney James, w o u ld only say that restraint and forfeiture proceedings have started in a number of cases, including against Lovell and convicted ‘cash-jet’ pilot, Captain Khamraj Lall. Lall is linked to cash smuggling and conspiracy

to traffic cocaine to the US. In the case of Lovell, he is reportedly linked to a number of hotels, Tower Suites, and one in Berbice. He is said to have other properties which SOCU is looking into. Under anti-money laundering laws, authorities can seize properties that they believed were acquired from illgotten gains. In fact, Lall’s two planes which he operated in Guyana, vehicles, cash at US banks and homes in New Jersey and Florida, are subject to forfeiture proceedings. Lall was a prominent Guyana-born pilot who operated Kaylees Gas Station and a limousine service at Coverden, East Bank Demerara. That property is subject to

The gas station/property at Coverden, East Bank Demerara that is subject to forfeiture proceedings by local authorities.

Extradited to the US: Shervington ‘ Big Head’ Lovell forfeiture proceedings. A hangar that was built by Lall at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport was taken back by Government after there were breaches to the lease agreement. Lall was arrested by Puerto Rican officials a few years ago for transporting more than half of a million US dollars in cash, on one of his planes he was flying. The money was stashed all over the plane.

Convicted: Khamraj Lall

Later, even while he was on trial for the cash smuggling, the US authorities arrested him again for cocaine trafficking conspiracy- he is set to be sentenced next January.On the property at Kaylees, Coverden, a major heavy equipment business has started up by businessman Derrick Jaisingh. It is unclear how the businesses are linked. With regards to Lovell, US court documents named him

and five other persons are accused jointly and singly of cocaine trafficking conspiracy in a place outside the US (Jamaica). US prosecutors also filed firearm and maritime violations charges. Significantly, the US is also going after assets which they believe were linked to the conspiracy. This includes a Gulfstream plane, cash, vehicles and properties.

Teen remanded to prison on attempted murder charge

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teen on Friday found himself be fore Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan after he was charged for an attempted murder. The teen was not required to plead to the indictable charge which alleged that on November 10, 2018 at Hammerhead, Kaneville, Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara, he unlawfully assaulted Brian Sumeer with intent to commit murder. The teen’s attorney, Stanley Moore, in his application for bail, told the court that the assailant is 17 years of age. He resides in Alexander Village with his mother. He had no previous convictions neither does he have any other matters in court.

The attorney pleaded for reasonable bail, which if granted could have conditions attached. However, police prosecutor, Neville Jeffers, objected to bail based on the penalty attached to such offences and the fact that a handgun was used. The Prosecution informed the court that on the day in question, the teen, while armed with a handgun, fired two shots to Sumeer, one to the chest and the other to the auxiliary line. Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan denied bail and instructed that the teen remain on remand until December 18 when he will make his next court appearance.

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PM blames Parliamentary committee for delays in Constitutional Reform

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lthough Govern ment has been widely criticized for the delays in bringing about Constitutional Reform, Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo has said that the blame should not be placed solely at the feet of the administration. In an invited comment on the issue, Nagamootoo told Kaieteur News that the holdup is at the level of the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reform, set up to help guide the process. At this point there is a Standing Committee established under the Constitution. It is a bipartisan committee that has both members of the Government and the Opposition members including the current Attorney General and the former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall. According to the PM, the committee was tasked with considering a Constitutional

Reform Commission Bill which was tabled to set up the Commission to overlook the issues of Constitutional Reform. Nagamootoo said that the Bill was referred to the Parliamentary Committee on the agitation of the opposition. However, this was two years ago and the Committee has only met once. They were supposed to look at it and report back to the National Assembly. I don’t know where the Bill is; I have asked the Attorney General and he said that the Committee met once. “I have never heard any calls, not even from the Opposition, for this committee to meet and without the Commission, there can be no Constitutional Reform.” At this point, the Prime Minister said that he is hopeful that the committee would make serious considerations of the Bill and have it returned

to the National Assembly. “I have asked the government to allocate funds just in case we get the Bill. Last year we gave back about $60M because we did not make any progress on Constitutional Reform. This year I have asked for a reduced sum and I am hoping that we have the bill passed,” he added. Pursuant to Article 119A of the Constitution, there shall be appointed a Standing Committee for Constitutional Reform in the National Assembly for the purpose of continually reviewing the effectiveness of the working of the Constitution and making periodic reports there on to the National Assembly, with proposal for reform as necessary. The Parliamentary Standing Committee for Constitutional Reform consists of six members (nominated by the Committee of Selection).

Kuru Kururu chop attack survivor recuperates at GPHC Four days have passed since Melissa Andrews, 30, of Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke/ Linden Highway was dealt several brutal chops about her body by her then partner Ian English, 39. According to sources, Andrews, who had undergone two surgeries, is now recovering at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). She is responsive and is in a state of recovery after the incident. The woman’s partner committed suicide following the act. Andrews and English had an argument during the course of the day over infidelities in the relationship. A neighbour who was talk-

ing to the couple at the time, witnessed English arming himself with a cutlass. He subsequently used the weapon to inflict several chops about Andrews’s body. Andrews, was admitted to hospital in a critical condition following the incident. When asked about what might have triggered the brutal act, the woman’s sister claimed not to know a reason for the attack. Police investigations revealed that Andrews and English shared a relationship for about four years . That relationship saw the birth of one child. English was later found hanging from a cement sling, 200 feet away from the weapon.

Among other duties, the Committee is tasked with the aid of other persons of appropriate expertise on the issue of constitutional reform. Despite criticisms, the Coalition Government had noted its commitment to bringing about constitution reform. In his Budget speech, Minister of Finance Winston Jordan noted that Constitutional Reform remains a mandate and promise that this Coalition Government is keen to fulfill, within a system of participatory democracy. “Government remains hopeful that the bi-partisan Standing Committee on Constitutional Reform will conclude its review of the Constitutional Reform Consultative Commission Bill, which was referred to it by the National Assembly over a year ago. Our Government welcomes the constructive scrutiny that the Members of this Committee will no doubt exercise in their rigorous exami-

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo nation of the Bill, as we collectively recognize the need to adapt our Constitution to reflect our evolution as a democracy.”Jordan noted that the Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business in the National Assembly has been and will continue to spearhead constitutional reform with the full support of the Government. “We have allocated some resources in Budget 2019 to

mount a survey and an awareness programme, in partnership with University of Guyana and others. The survey will seek to assess the current understanding of constitutional reform by the general populace and their expectations, while the awareness programme will aim to stimulate a grassroots participatory approach to the entire process,” Jordan said.

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Sunday December 02, 2018

Cabinet notes the awarding of 27 multi-million contracts The Cabinet at its sub-committee meeting on Tuesday, November 20 and earlier on November 13, noted the awarding of 27 multi-million contracts by the procurement entities and the National Tender Administration Board (NPTAB). The contracts awarded included the construction of sea and river defenses within coastal areas.

Meanwhile, contacts were awarded for the following projects.

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Scotiabank scoots T

he Minister of Finance and the Governor of the Bank of Guyana are becoming uneasy; they have both expressed concerns over the proposed sale of Scotiabank's local operations to Republic Bank. The Minister of Finance is reported by Oil Now as questioning why Scotiabank should be pulling out of Guyana just as the country is about to emerge as a major oilproducing nation. He seems unable to explain why, given Guyana's projected oil wealth, the bank would wish to exit. Scotiabank obviously does not share the same confidence as the Minister and his cohorts within the government. The “chicken feed” returns which Exxon Mobil and company are giving to Guyana was never going to be an incentive for Scotiabank to stay in what is, internationally, a miniscule market.

It is most instructive that Scotiabank has decided to maintain a presence in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and in the Dominican Republic. But not in the nine other Caribbean territories, including soon-to-be oil rich Guyana. The Governor of the Bank of Guyana has another concern. He is worried about the market dominance, and concomitantly the implications for fair competition, now that Republic Bank is poised to acquire most of the regional assets of Scotiabank. In his estimation, if this acquisition goes through, Republic Bank would become “too big” and control just more than half of the banking sector. Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, is parroting the same concerns about concentration in the financial sector. The Governor had better restrain his comments. He, after all, is the chief regulator

of Guyana's financial sector under the provisions of the Financial Institutions Act, and statements such as the ones he has made can be deemed to be prejudicial to the consideration of any approvals which may be required to cement the sale of Scotiabank's assets to Republic Bank. It is not too clear to this columnist if Republic Bank requires the consent of the Bank of Guyana to acquire the local assets of Scotiabank. The Financial Institutions Act (FIA) requires permission from the Bank of Guyana to enter into a merger or amalgamation with another bank or to transfer the whole or substantial part of its assets in Guyana. Republic Bank is buying out Scotiabank. This is no merger or amalgamation. The FIA was amended earlier this year. However, the amendments are more concerned with recovery, resolution, winding down and liquidation of banks than they

are about acquisitions and market share. But the Governor says that the approval of the BOG is required for the sale of the assets and we shall have to wait and see how this pans out. It is hard to see how such an approval can be denied, given that Republic Bank had no problems acquiring the assets of the Guyana National Cooperative Bank, more than fifteen years ago. The sale of assets, and merger and acquisitions of banks, is par for the course in open-market economies. These are market transactions. The state should limit itself to protecting against certain forms of financial concentration, such as monopolies, but this should not become a pretext to frustrate normal mergers, sales and acquisitions. It is left to be seen whether the local authorities will allow socialist thinking to frustrate what in any free

market jurisdiction would be considered run-of-the mill financial transactions. Fifty-one per cent market share is a not a threatening position in an economy such as Guyana. Guyana needs a large player in its financial sector to drive financial sector growth. The small banks in Guyana really cannot play such a role; they are too miniscule. Guyana needs a large player in the banking sector just as it needed a major hotel brand to boost its hospitality sector. Republic Bank may be just that spark that the financial sector needs at this point in time. Scotiabank has clearly decided that the Caribbean is too small for its global growth strategy. Scotiabank has announced the sale for US$250M of its assets in nine Caribbean countries that it is exiting. This is a miniscule sum in the global financial landscape.

Scotiabank is not prepared to tie up assets in the small markets of the Caribbean. It has placed its sights on four major Latin American economies, namely Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. Its limited presence in the Caribbean will henceforth be dominated by its holdings in the Dominican Republic, and to a lesser extent in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. Not Guyana. The big fallout will be its more than 7,000 employees who will struggle to find similar remunerative jobs within the Caribbean. But that should be the least of worries for the government of Guyana. After all, they placed a similar number of sugar workers on the breadline.

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---Hinds’ Sight by Dr. David Hinds---

Minister Lawrence’s rhetoric is a recipe for losing in 2020

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irst, Minister Lawrence’s com ments must be contextualized. They come in the wake of the massive defeat of the PNC at the Local Government elections, which I have dubbed a mini-general election. The PNC used the APNU label, but it fought the elections as PNC. It got 34% of the vote, the same percentage it got at the 2006 general election—the last time the party contested an election in its own name. In an irony of ironies, the PNC set out to expose the AFC’s electoral weakness but ended up exposing its own severe weakness which is that by itself, it is the second largest electoral party, but it cannot win an election on its own. It is against that background that Minister Lawrence’s comments must be read. She is responding to that embarrassing defeat which they have admitted is largely the result of neglecting their base of mainly African Guyanese poor people and working class. So, she is speaking to that base.

But in the absence of real policy initiatives to pitch to that group, she has to resort to crude clientelism. I read her “PNC friends” to mean African Guyanese. She is a political operative and knows what she is saying. But because the contemporary PNC leadership has never mastered the art of creatively addressing our ethnoracial problem, they have to fall back on this crude narrative that borders on party-racial clientelism. Let’s be clear—Minister Lawrence is addressing a fundamental problem in our political economy—the ethnic imbalance in awarding contracts and the implications for the African Guyanese community. The recent PPP government institutionalized ethnoracial imbalance in procurement, in employment in critical high salaried sectors, in housing and in management of other key socio-economic sectors. The coalition government came to power and did absolutely nothing policy-wise to address that imbalance.

In fact, in sectors such as the public service, education, small business and the armed forces, they did everything to frustrate increase in wages and opportunities. A living-wage policy would have gone a long way towards correcting that imbalance. A small business policy, whereby small business people including vendors have access to capital, would have had the same outcome. So, in the absence of policy, the Minister has to resort to demagoguery and appeal to clientelism. My prediction is that that approach would not fly. African Guyanese would see through opportunism and the PPP and Indian Guyanese would invariably view it as racial favoritism and racial discrimination. The problem with that approach is that it comes across as rank opportunism and crude ethno-racial pandering. It is the same thing with the budget—a lot of little goodies which resemble Christmas presents. What Guyanese of all

The Baccoo Speaks A raid by the Guyana Revenue Authority on an East Coast Demerara location would discover a cache of smuggled goods. The strange thing is that every article would appear to bear the stamp of the GRA. This is going to spark an investigation which will have far-reaching consequences. The police are going to be kept busy. **

The roads are no safer at

this time of the year. Another road accident would be recorded on the eastern corridor. The blame would rest squarely on a crazy driver. ** Another case of child rape would hit the headlines. The perpetrator would be a trusted member of the family. This is just a continuation of a trend that has become endemic.

races need are not small goodies, but real policy initiatives aimed at structurally breaking the back of poverty and a levelling of the playing field in the awarding of contracts and other related economic action for the Amerindian and African Guyanese private sector. The other problem with the Minister’s remarks has to do with naked disregard for the principles of partnership and coalition. The PNC leadership from the President right down has not learned how to balance party loyalty with respect for coalition—they inevitably come down on the side of party hegemony. We hear this repeatedly in the Minister’s speech. If one is not familiar with Guyanese politics, one would assume that it was the PNC that won the election in 2015. Again, in the absence of a strategy and a rhetoric that combines party loyalty with the overriding reality of a coalition government, the Minister resorts to what she knows best—party hegemony. But such rhetoric is counter-productive. Can’t the Minister see that it is the very PNC-centered approach to governance that brought the results down from 51% in 2015

to 34% in 2018? You won as part of a coalition in 2015 and you lost on your own in 2018. What does that tell you? Clearly, it can’t be more of the same. You simply cannot win any election with the traditional PNC base—it is 34% of the electorate. To move from 34% to 51%, you have to do what the Robert Corbin-led PNC did—embrace coalition politics even with arch-enemies and “small parties.” Those small parties have what you don’t have. One would have thought that after the defeat, the PNC would move hastily to resuscitate APNU and to deepen the Coalition outside of Cabinet. In the absence of such common-sense moves, Minister Lawrence touts PNC hegemony as the winning formula for 2020. I can predict now that that is a recipe for losing in 2020. In the final analysis, the Minister’s comments, though understandable, are very disappointing. They are reflective of a failed Coalition which has not responded effectively to the needs of even its own constituency. What is urgently needed is visionary leader-

Dr David Hinds ship at the top, aimed at rekindling the idea and spirit of partnership and coalition, and crafting short and long term policies not to buy votes, but to restore confidence among the population that a postone party democratic Guyana is possible. As reassuring as the Minister’s rhetoric may be to some PNC diehards, it is unhelpful to the electoral success of the partnership and coalition. It does not give comfort to independent African Guyanese, Amerindians and Indian Guyanese. More of Dr. Hinds ‘writings and commentaries can be found on his YouTube Channel Hinds’ Sight: Dr. David Hinds’ Guyana-Caribbean Politics and on his w e b s i t e www.guyanacaribbeanpolitics.news. Send comments to dhinds6106@aol.com

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Kaieteur News

In a dark Kwakwani room

Sunday December 02, 2018

-Can you help the police to catch Paulette Wade’s killer? By Michael Jordan On the night of October 25, 2018, Paulette Wade’s sixyear-old daughter awoke to find the family’s Kwakwani Park, Region Ten home in darkness. Lying next to her three-year old brother and her mother, the child saw her mom, a 37-year-old midwife, struggling with someone, while crying out what sounded like the name “Delon.” It was too dark for Wade’s daughter to identify the attacker, and so terrified was she that the child shut her eyes and remained in bed. At around six-thirty the following day, Paulette Wade’s daughter got up and found her mom lying motionless on the bedroom floor. Wade’s daughter then ran to a neighbour’s house, and accompanied by a nine-yearold friend, went to the Kwakwani Hospital, some 200 metres away and told her mother’s colleagues what she had seen. The hospital staffers returned and found that Wade was indeed dead. While there were a few scratches on her body, police did not suspect foul play, and some speculated that the midwife had suffered an epileptic seizure. That suggestion was quickly dispelled a few days later, when a post mortem revealed that someone had struck Paulette Wade on the head and manually strangled

The scene of the murder her. Police found no sign of forced entry to the house. This seemed to suggest that the midwife had known her killer and had trusted him enough to have let him in at night. And the intruder seemed to have known his way around the house, since he had apparently switched off all the lights before attacking Wade. But the absence of a clear motive baffled detectives. This was clearly not a robbery, since cash, jewellery and other valuables were left untouched. There was also no sign of an attempt at sexual assault. Turning their attention to persons who were close to the victim, they detained the midwife’s reputed husband, who was employed with a

Murdered in her bedroom: Kwakwani midwife, Paulette Wade mining company. They drew a blank there and released him. Detectives also received information which suggested

that the midwife might have been the victim of another woman’s wrath. Persons close to Paulette Wade said that she had seen the photograph of this woman in a phone, and that this woman had sent threats to her. There were suggestions that this woman might have sent someone to injure the midwife. Detectives took the woman into custody, but released her after 72 hours. Still working on the theory that someone was sent to kill Wade, investigators picked up a number of individuals, including some who were named ‘Delon.’ Among them was an individual who had reportedly once done work on Wade’s home. With no breakthrough in sight, ranks from the Force’s Major Crimes Unit joined the investigation. However, while the suspects admitted to knowing Wade, they all denied killing her, and the investigators were forced to release them. But determined to solve the case, detectives again revisited Kwakwani last week. Examining Paulette Wade’s house more closely, they discovered that there was a flaw with the back door, which could have enabled an

Kwakwani residents hold a vigil for Paulette Wade intruder to enter the premises. They also found other clues that have caused them to detain a Kwakwani resident whom they had questioned during the early stages of the investigation. The suspect, whose first name is ‘Delon’, remains in custody. This time around, detectives hope that they will make a breakthrough. Meanwhile, some are convinced that many Kwakwani residents, including some who are urging the police to solve the crime speedily, know more than they are say-

ing. Police are appealing to these individuals to contact them, even if they do so anonymously. If you have any information about this case, you can also contact Kaieteur News at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown location. We can be reached on telephone numbers 225-8458, 2258465, 225-8491 or 2258473. You need not disclose your identity. You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email a d d r e s s : kamarangnight@gmail.com

Sunday December 02, 2018

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Kaieteur News

==THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN==

Bernardo Bertolucci: Existentialist film, existentialist song

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n one of my columns, seven years ago (Sun day, July 17, 2011) captioned, “Bernardo Bertolucci’s “Last Tango in Paris,” I wrote the following; “In 1972, one of cinema’s phenomenal directors, the Italian Bernardo Bertolucci, made a movie with one of cinema’s most talent actors, Marlon Brando. “Last Tango in Paris” was frowned upon by many countries for pornographic content. Bertolucci suffered a harsh fate in Italy. His film was banned, he was put on trial, sentenced to four months (suspended) and had his civil liberties revoked for five years. Today, “Last Tango in Paris” is a joke if one is going to talk about pornographic content in movies, including some of Hollywood blockbusters. Bertolucci had the last laugh. He received the most prestigious award this year at the Cannes Film festival for his creative talent. “Last Tango in Paris” is now regarded as a classic film.” Bernardo Bertolucci is dead. He died last week, surprisingly at the young age of 73. If I had to choose a director of films that I prefer over all others, I would say it is

Bertolucci. Growing up in Georgetown in a Hindu family, children of my age got the best of both worlds. We were introduced to Hindu movies and Indian pop melodies and because I lived in a predominantly Creole community in south Georgetown, ska, reggae, rhythm and blues, soul and disco I soaked in. It was while growing up in Wortmanville I fell in love with one of the most beautiful songs ever done, “Love’s Theme,” the disco melody of Barry White. If I had to choose an English song that I like the best, I believe like most people, it would be impossible to just rattle off your head your number one. But “Love’s Theme” comes very close to being on top of my list. I think your favourite songs and movies are intricately connected to your personal life. My number one Hindu film is “Mera Naam Joker.” It has to do with the same theme of “Last Tango in Paris,” and that is the existentialist life we think we can escape, we cannot. I also liked its maker, Raj Kapoor, as my best Hindi film director. “Mera Naam Joker”

reminds me most vividly of my mom. She convinced me to see the movie, because she thought it was the greatest movie ever. The film holds dear memories for me because I saw it at the Empire Cinema with Boyo Ramsarop, father of wellknown former AFC activist, Gerhard Ramsaroop. Had I not met Boyo, I probably would never have come out of Wortmanvile alive. My number one Hindi song is “”O Mere Dil Ke Chain” from the movie “Mere Jeevan Saathi,” I like that song as any other song from any other language. I saw the movie, didn’t care for it, but that song is just phenomenal, with a phenomenal singer whose saccharine voice is simply superb, Kishore Kumar. I don’t think the Hindi screen could ever find his replacement. But there is a memory behind my love for it too. A group of us went to see it with Boyo at what used to be one of the most famous cinemas in Guyana, whose owner died three weeks ago, “Liberty Cinema,” at the junction of Garnett Street and Vlissengen Road. Days after, one of the group, a best

friend who taught me about the seriousness of life left Guyana, never to return. It was through his influence I studied for my GCE, passed, went into UG and never looked back at my tragic life on D’Urban Street in Wortmanville. If there are two songs I would love to dance with my wife and never come off the dance floor, they are “Love’s Theme” and “O Mere Dil Ke Chain.” It was sad to hear of Bertolucci’s death at just 73. “Last Tango in Paris” is simply the most angst-filled movie I have ever seen. It re-

mains one of the most philosophically pronounced films ever done. It is a brilliant piece of art by an equally brilliant director. T he theme song (a Grammy winner) was composed by the superb Argentine saxophonist, “Gato” Barbieri (I prefer the Marlena Shaw version). If you want to hear a song about the futility of human existence, then listen to that tune. For a commentary on the theme of that theme song, see my column of Sunday, May 11, 2017, titled, “We are nothing but shadow and

Frederick Kissoon mist.” I also like his other philosophical film, “The Dreamers.” Again, the contents are of an existentialist nature. It explores the meaning, if any, of the age of the hippies, an age that I came from.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 02, 2018

$52.2B is a serious investment in our Youth

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udget 2019 made big news through out last week with every media house reporting on the multi-facets, multi-benefits, multi programmes designed to grow the Guyana

economy, a country that hovers on the edge of a fantastic future. One man said that whenever he tries to describe the atmosphere extant in Guyana, the words that come to mind

are, “… Wait for it” with a drumroll. The Budget has done a lot to ramp up that excitement, and the media reportage of the many parts of it, well delivered by the Minister of Fi-

nance, was balanced, except of course for the reports out of the Opposition’s media houses. We suppose that the Opposition is obligated to their supporters to refuse to acknowledge the benefits of the budget. The Opposition Leader’s description of the $300.7B Budget as “visionless and disappointing” fell kind of flat on Tuesday because, as the man in the street believes, the entire budget is full of vision, new programmes and social and economic benefits for every citizen. Over coming weeks when the Budget debates begin, prepare to get really tired of the same old tired lines from the Opposition benches as they attempt to discredit every citizen development programme, even though many of the programmes are already underway. We expect that the Opposition members will shout and stomp, deliberately misrepresent the truth, and throw in some dramatic displays here and there for the benefit of their supporters during the debates. But it will be hard to convince anyone that this budget is not like fishing for snapper in their spawning ground. It’s a budget that prepares Guyana for transformation to a petroleum exporting state. It is preparing Guyana to become the next Kuwait, all new legislation and anticipated investments considered.

Even the Private Sector Commission (PSC) which has in the past, made no secret of its support for the PPP and that party’s alleged past operation of a parallel economy, publicly said that the budget contains some commendable policies and recommendations. The PSC has acknowledged that it contains some of the recommendations the PSC had made to the Budget team during consultations earlier this year, e.g. lowering of the corporate tax to 25 percent, and the social and welfare programmes for citizens. The PSC congratulated the Finance Minister for presenting yet another budget before the end of the current fiscal year. “We are happy too that Budget 2019 (raises) the tax threshold which the commission had proposed for relief of the tax burden upon employees … and for (upgrading) hinterland airstrips. Also gratifying (are) the provisions made for the (disabled), a demographic which is often neglected,” a statement from the PSC read. Many of our own members have said that the most valuable item in Budget 2019 is the $52.2 Billion allocated to the Education Sector. This is a serious investment in youth which augurs well for the development of Guyanese supported by the emerging oil and gas industry. This nation now has a

more compelling obligation to invest heavily in the education of our children from nursery to secondary, through the technical/vocational institutes to university. There is a very real likelihood that many micro to medium scale Guyanese-owned services and manufacturing businesses will emerge in the not-too-distant future to cater to the petroleum industry. The nation has to build its human capacity to support local and foreign investors and their endeavours in the medium to long term. The new measures to be implemented target small, start-up businesses and business expansion in every field including construction, forestry/logging, ICT, food production, tourism and hospitality, as well as evening classes. And for people living with disabilities, the move by the Government to implement tax concessions on private vehicles specially equipped for transporting these persons, and for the purchase of enabled smartphones, is also highly commended. These new measures to accommodate this special group of people will extend to specialized vocational training. The AFC is especially pleased that all of the ministerial portfolios led by the party’s executives have been allocated the sums they need to carry forward the work of the Government. The sum of $38.5 Billion h a s been allocated for infrastructural development; $35.6 Billion to enhance the Safe City and other Security initiatives; $4 Billion to move the myriad programmes to bring Guyanese into the digital age; and $17 Billion for Agriculture. We look forward to the upgrade of the Linden to Lethem and Parika to Bartica corridors, as well as the new four-lane high bridge across the Demerara River. The AFC commends the Finance Ministry for continuing to invest so heavily in education. We applaud the measures and financial support for small business development, the HEYS programme, the Bina Hill Institute for Learning, for forestry development, and protection of the environment in the gold and diamond mining districts in the hinterland. The AFC looks forward to the implementation of every social, economic, educational and youth development programme in Budget 2019.

Sunday December 02, 2018

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Kaieteur News

My column

Volda Lawrence merely made public what others do Volda Lawrence is the Chairperson of the People’s National Congress. She defeated the likes of Joseph Harmon and the incumbent, Basil Williams. That was how she became the news last week. She was addressing a forum of her party at Congress Place. These days the most secret party activity is infiltrated. Someone in the party meeting recorded Volda and made her address public. The nation heard her say that her friends are PNC and the first people she would give a job to would be PNC people. Some immediately interpreted this to mean that she was favouring Black people. Those making the accusation ignored the fact that the People’s National Congress has people of every ethnic group.It is the same with the People’s Progressive Party. The average man when he speaks about the PPP would conclude that the name PPP connotes people of Indian ancestry. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is no secret that people who support the PNC have become disgruntled. Their major grouse is that they have not been given jobs. It is also no secret that these people are threatening to withhold their votes come 2020. The just concluded local government elections featured a low turnout at the polls for the parties that form

the government. Needless to say many interpreted this to mean that come 2020, the PPP would win by a landslide. The leaders of the PNC are saying, “Not so fast.” That is why Volda had to inform her supporters that she was keen to provide jobs for members and supporters of the party. She was speaking frankly to her family. Her speech has gone out to the nation. I was not there, so I cannot comment on the context. I am not even going to analyse her speech. What I do know is that the purists in the society feel that there should be no discrimination when it comes to jobs. Even those who practiced what Volda Lawrence openly spoke about, are saying that she should not be so blunt. I remember directing Dr Roger Luncheon to some of the things his party did. At the time we were talking about what this new government was doing. Dr Luncheon simply said that once there, people should not carp on what happened in the past, because the nation would go nowhere. And he is right. But no one in the country could be that forgiving. When an action is perpetrated over the years it becomes the norm. I felt the action of the PPP, because as both Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar would remind me, I am a dyed-in-the-wool PNC.I have

written time and again about the actions the PPP adopted against me, but I suppose people would say to me that what is past is past. But tell that to the person who experienced the vitimisation on political grounds.Many of the people to whom Volda Lawrence spoke would have experienced the political discrimination. They would contend that they are still jobless, although the government they supported is now in power. Not so long ago, I pointed to the fact that many of the people who want jobs refused certain jobs and demanded those for which they are not qualified. It is a case of wanting a job but not wanting to work.The PPP had a distinct advantage when it came to sharing jobs among supporters. There were those who presented themselves as contractors, although they did not have either experience or equipment. They got contracts, and even though they performed poorly they were compensated. People who appeared to be non-PPP members were largely ignored. Not surprisingly, this trend of favouring party supporters is common worldwide. When the Democrats are in power in the United States, we see the large contributors to the party getting large contracts. We also see Democratic states getting more money than others.

In Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Antigua, this trend is endemic. Guyana is no different. People are now saying that even if Volda Lawrence was prone to supporting her own, she should not have said it openly. But her back is against the wall and she has to appease her supporters.I know the woman. She is going to tough this out, and before long she would not be tainted by any scandal, because she can point fingers of her own. Having said that, I can only point people to the reality of the employment market. People are employed once they are qualified for the job. Bharrat Jagdeo was a known PPP supporter but when he returned from Moscow, he was employed within the State Planning Secretariat.

But as things went, when his party acceded to government, he sent Carol Corbin, his boss, packing. This was a clear case of political discrimination.Forget the Foreign Service. A lot has been said about that. And this brings me to the issue of who is a supporter. How can someone determine who is a party supporter? I suppose even people in the political hierarchy would use the racial consideration. There are many stories of people using the name of a person to determine who he is. Someone seeing the name Cheddi Seepaul would assume that he is of East Indian ancestry. Frank Anthony would at first hint be perceived as someone of African ancestry. Meanwhile, I must not

Adam Harris hide my head in the sand and pretend that Guyana is a normal country. It is sharply divided along racial lines. People who support a political party in the stronghold of another could be tormented. Many are. Some have been beaten and others have actually had their homes torched. Volda Lawrence may have made the front pages, but she is not alone in all this. She has her opposite numbers.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 02, 2018

We have kept, and continue to keep our promises

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rom the fall of the Peoples Progressive Party-PPP- in May 2015, Guyanese have been fed a daily dose of cynicism, criticism, doom and gloom, via its ‘one-man-band’ Bharrat Jagdeo. Daily, the disinformation service disseminates fake news and stirs-up hate, hostility and hopelessness among the gullible. The PPP’s strategy, in or out of government is to deliberately manipulate certain sections of our society to ensure that they remain, distrustful, disrespectful and scared. Thankfully, most Guyanese are committed to working towards and unified Guyana. Thankfully, the APNU+AFC coalition has been making every effort and are committed to working towards a unified Guyana. The government, over the past

three years, has worked assiduously to ensure that Guyanese have a better understanding and appreciation of each other, so as to forge consensus and ultimately, a united and developed Guyana. In 2015, we made several promises to the nation and we have kept and continue to keep those promises. One of the first issues we promised to address was the reduction of the Berbice Bridge toll. On January 1, 2016, the toll was reduced from $2200 to $1900 for passenger cars and buses, along with a 10 percent reduction for all other classes of vehicles. We promised that we would significantly increase the salaries of government workers and civil servants on the traditional payroll. We have kept our promise; over the past three years the minimum wage has rapidly in-

creased by nearly 52 percent from $39,570, in 2015, to $64,200 in 2018. It took the PPP/C administration nine years to move the minimum wage by a similar percentage, or from $26,070, in 2006 to $39,570, in 2015. In the 2019 budget salaries have once again been increased, and the Minister of Finance has assured that all workers can expect salary increases going forward. We promised a phased reduction in the Value Added Tax, and removal of VAT from food and other essential items –that promise has been kept. We promised a significant increase in old age pension. Old age pension has been increased by over 30 percent, from $13,125 to $20,500; just like we promised. We promised a reduction in the President’s pension and other benefits. The seriousness of our commitment to

keeping this promised was evident, as the Former Presidents’ (Benefits and other Facilities) Amendment Act was among the first to be brought to the 11th Parliament, and passed by Members of the National Assembly and assented by President David Granger. There was also the establishment of Passport offices in Berbice, Linden and Essequibo. Gone are the long lines and crowds that gathered daily at the passport office in Georgetown. Under the leadership of the Minister of Citizenship, there are now passport offices in Linden and New Amsterdam. The government will soon establish passport offices in the Pomeroon-Supenaam (Region Two), CuyuniMazaruni (Region Seven) and Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region Nine) Regions by the end of 2019 fis-

cal year. This is in keeping with the Administration’s vision of decentralising vital public services in capital towns. Here again we have kept our promise. We promised to set the date for the early holding of local government elections. In March 2016, less than one year after entering office, local government elections were conducted, after an absence of two decades. This year local elections were held as constitutionally due. We also operationalised as promised, the Local Government Commission Act of 2013. We promised to establish as mandated by the Constitution, the Public Procurement Commission. In October 2016 we kept this promise and Guyana finally, made a major breakthrough with the handling of its state contracts. Implementation of an amended Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act was another promise made and kept. This Act was passed on August 4, 2017 and assented by President Granger on August 22, 2017. We promised the adaption of a long-term sustainable economic development plan to realise the vast potential of this country. The establishment of Guyana’s Green State Development Strategy is meant to be a national development plan, providing long-term vision and guidance for Guyana’s economic, social and environmental development. The Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) will guide Guyana’s economic and sociocultural development over the next 20 years. We promised that we would address the crime situation in Guyana and we have kept that promise. Serious crime continues to be on the decrease, but we will continue to work to provide a safer environment for all, as there is more work to be done. We promised to increase surveillance of our territorial waters to decrease the growing incidents of piracy and armed robbery during the PPP years. We have kept that promise. The PPP failed to encour-

age the greater use of solar and other renewable forms of energy. We promised we would pursue renewables and we have. Mabaruma now has a $264M- 400-kilowatt solar farm. Other solar farms are slated for Lethem in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo); Mahdia in Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) and Bartica in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni). These farms are anticipated to generate 800; 400, and 1.5 kilowatts of electricity respectively. A wind farm is also in the pipeline. We promised Guyanese a good life and we continue to deliver on that promise. The establishment of the four new capital towns have served to decentralise public service to residents in the Regions where those towns are located. We promised to increase access to reliable potable water. Now, for the first time, thousands of residents in all the administrative regions, are able to access potable water in their homes. Many areas have benefited from improved street lighting. Over 10,000 units of LED street lamps valued at US$1,329,984 have replaced current streetlights in several areas, this is an ongoing programme that will deliver improved street lighting to all regions of Guyana. Thousands of residents of the East Bank Berbice will soon be able to travel to their destinations with ease. The APNU+AFC coalition promised the residents that we would build a modern asphalt road and we kept that promise. The $1.2 Billion road rehabilitation project is near completion, after years of neglect by the PPP. The list of accomplishments of this administration will take several columns to document. We continue, despite the disinformation, fake news and the doom and gloom messages from the sidelines, to serve the people of Guyana. We are proud that unlike previous administrations, the APNU+AFC coalition has kept the promises we made to the people of Guyana, and we will continue to work for a better life for all Guyanese.

Sunday December 02, 2018

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Ectopic Pregnancy: There is a high risk of death if its undetected By Dr Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine n ectopic preg nancy is a preg nancy which is not in the normal place (the womb). Ectopic means ‘misplaced’. It occurs in about 11 in 1,000 pregnancies and is one of the leading cause of death in early pregnancy. Although many ectopic pregnancies are now treated without the need for an operation, you should always see a doctor urgently if you think you or someone you know have an ectopic pregnancy. Symptoms include lower abdominal pain which can become severe. A ruptured ectopic pregnancy is lifethreatening, needing emergency surgery. If surgery is not performed, patients will most likely die from internal bleeding. Today we will discuss this increasingly common condition so that expecting mothers and/their friends and family will be able to better look out for it before it’s too late. WHERE DOES AN ECTOPIC PREGNANCY DEVELOP? Most ectopic pregnancies occur when a fertilized egg attaches to the inside lining of a Fallopian tube (a tubal ectopic pregnancy). Rarely, an ectopic pregnancy occurs in other places such as in the ovary, the neck of the womb or inside the abdomen. WHATARE THE PROB-

A

LEMS WITH AN ECTOPIC PREGNANCY? A tubal ectopic pregnancy never survives. Possible outcomes include the following: · The pregnancy often dies after a few days. About half of ectopic pregnancies probably end like this. You may have no symptoms and you may never have known that you were pregnant. · The pregnancy may grow for a while in the narrow Fallopian tube. This can stretch the tube and cause symptoms. This is when an ectopic pregnancy is commonly diagnosed. · The narrow Fallopian tube can only stretch a little. If the pregnancy grows further it will normally rupture the Fallopian tube. This can cause heavy internal bleeding and pain. This is a medical emergency. WHATARE SYMPTOMS OFAN ECTOPIC PREGNANCY? Symptoms typically develop around the sixth week of pregnancy. This is about two weeks after a missed period if you have regular periods. However, symptoms may develop at any time between 4 and 10 weeks of pregnancy. Symptoms include one or more of the following. · Pain on one side of the lower tummy. It may develop sharply, or may slowly get worse over several days. It can become severe. · Vaginal bleeding often occurs but not always.

· Other symptoms may occur such as diarrhoea, feeling faint, or pain on passing stool. · Shoulder-tip pain may develop. · You may feel dizzy or faint. · If the Fallopian tube ruptures and causes internal bleeding, you may develop severe pain or faint. This is an emergency, as the bleeding is heavy. · Sometimes there are no warning symptoms (such as pain) before the tube ruptures. Therefore, collapse due to sudden heavy internal bleeding is occasionally the first sign of an ectopic pregnancy. HOW IS ECTOPIC PREGNANCY CONFIRMED? If you have symptoms that may indicate an ectopic pregnancy you will usually be seen in the hospital immediately. Doctors will order the following · A urine or blood test can confirm that you are pregnant. · An ultrasound scan may confirm an ectopic pregnancy. This is usually an internal (transvaginal) scan which is

not painful and shows good views of the Fallopian tubes. However, the scan may not be clear if the pregnancy is very early. If this is the case, then a repeat scan a few days later is often done. WHATARE THE TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR ECTOPIC PREGNANCY? Treatment will depend on if the pregnancy is ruptured or not. Ruptured ectopic pregnancy Emergency surgery is needed if a Fallopian tube ruptures with heavy bleeding. The main aim is to stop the bleeding. The ruptured Fallopian tube and remnant of the early pregnancy are then removed. The operation is often lifesaving. Early ectopic pregnancy before rupture Ectopic pregnancy is most often diagnosed before rupture. Your doctor will discuss the treatment options with you and, in many cases, you are able to decide which treatment is best for you. These may include the

following: · Surgery. Removal of the tube (partial or whole) and the ectopic pregnancy is most commonly performed by keyhole surgery (a laparoscopic operation). Removal of the Fallopian tube containing the ectopic pregnancy is usually performed if the other tube is healthy. Removal of only a section of the tube with the ectopic pregnancy in it is usually performed if the other tube is already damaged. ·Medical treatment. Medical treatment of ectopic pregnancies is now an option in many cases and avoids the need for surgery. A medicine called methotrexate is often given, usually as an injection. It works by killing the cells of the pregnancy growing in the Fallopian tube. ·Wait and see. Not all ectopic pregnancies are lifethreatening or lead to a risk to the mother. In many cases the ectopic pregnancy resolves by itself with no future problems. The pregnancy often dies in a way similar to a miscar-

Dr Zulfikar Bux riage. A possible option is to see how things go if you have mild or no symptoms. You would need to have treatment if symptoms become worse. You will need close observation by your gynecologist and repeated scans and blood tests to check on how things are developing. What is most important, is that you should look out for signs of an ectopic pregnancy when you or a relative become(s) pregnant. It will help to save a life.

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SUNDAY Book racket mirrors drug procurement scandal… Misplaced records; poor storage; 70 % of payments can’t be verified Campaigning for the 2015 general elections, the Coalition Government had vowed to clamp down on corruption and waste as a result of poor procurement practices as was highly evident under the previous administrations of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C). The biggest procurement scandal dogging the PPP/C was in the field of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies. Two companies, New GPC and Global Healthcare, that had close ties to the PPP/C, received the bulk of the contract, worth billions of dollars annually. Reports of the Auditor General had consistently flagged the procurement, pointing to procurement breaches, non-delivery of drugs and weaknesses in the checks and balances. Fast-forward to 2018; there are indications of significant wrongdoings also in the procurement of books, including textbooks, for the Ministry of Education. According to a Compliance Audit Report on the Procurement of Textbooks by the Ministry of Education, the findings are worrying enough to raise red flags and warrant widespread changes. Not only were textbooks being ordered for Nursery, Primary and Secondary levels, there was evidence of procurement breaches, little evidence that all were supplied; that the suppliers were qualified, and poor record keeping that would have allowed the Book Distribution Unit to determine what was ordered and what was delivered. In short, anything could have happened in that Wild West scenario. The period of review was for the year 2016. The report was tabled, re-

Sunday December 02, 2018

Kaieteur News

cently, by the Ministry of Finance in the National Assembly and it is not flattering for the Ministry of Education. According to Audit Office, the report contains the results of a Compliance Audit of the procurement process including planning, sourcing and contract management of textbooks by the Ministry of Education for the financial year ending 31 December 2016, The audit was carried out as part of an initiative by the Caribbean Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (CAROSAI) some 13 of these audits were simultaneously undertaken. 240M barrels of oil needs to be sold for Exxon to recover $500B investment - Ram After examining the 2017 financial statements of ExxonMobil’s partners (Esso and CNOOC/NEXEN and Hess), Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram, has found that the three-party set up will spend well over $500B up to December 2019. But if the operator is to recover this money, it will take over 240M barrels of oil, taking into account that US$10 (approximately $2,100) is applied to every barrel of oil. In this recent writings, Ram reminded that he had challenged the veracity of ExxonMobil’s pre-2016 precontract cost of US$460 million or approximately $92 billion, which Esso and its two partners had reported to have spent at December 2015. Ram stated that the audited figures of the three companies up to December 2017 showed a total expenditure of $354 billion. Consistent with international accounting standards, referred to as IFRS, Ram said that Esso has set out its capital commitments for the years 2018, 2019, 2020 and thereafter. He stressed that the financial statements of Esso’s partners, CNOOC/ Nexen and Hess, did not include such detailed disclosures.

Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram

The Chartered Accountant stated, “The financial statements for Hess which are stated in United States Dollars – and not in Guyana Dollars as required by law -disclose no commitments, while in the case of CNOOC, the disclosures relate only to commitments after two years. ”Financial statements however, are not required to disclose all projected costs – only those for which the entity has contracted – and therefore actual expenditure could be substantially higher.” He added, “I have therefore done some extrapolation to estimate the total pre-production costs of the three companies to the end of 2019, the year before commencement of oil production by assuming that the same level of expenditure as a percentage of the expenditure to date incurred by Esso will be incurred by the other partners.” ”Recoverable cost of $354.2B at the end of 2017 was derived from the actual expenditure to date as disclosed in the partnering companies’ financial statements. This increases to $504.4 billion at the end of 2019 based on our (limited) estimates.” MONDAY Govt. will allow Bar Association, Media, Transparency Int’l on oversight committee for oil money The Natural Resource Fund Bill which was recently tabled in the National Assembly by Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, paves the way for the creation of a “Public Accountability and Oversight Committee.” This body, which will have representatives from the Media, the Guyana Bar Association and Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. (TIGI), will be responsible for monitoring and evaluating the compliance of the government and other relevant persons when it comes to the principles of transparency, good governance and international best practices, including the Santiago Principles, when using the Natural Resource Fund. It will also be tasked with providing independent assessments on the management of the Fund and the utilization for withdrawals from the Fund. According to the Bill, the Committee is expected to consist of 22 members who are nominated in accordance with Part Three of the Bill and appointed by the President. The Committee will include a representative from civil society organizations and community based orga-

The Auditor General has unearthed what appears to be a racket in the procurement of textbooks at the Ministry of Education nizations, a nominee to represent women with the nominee being nominated by civil society organizations; a nominee of the Bar Association of Guyana; a representative of the Guyana Consumer’s Association; a nominee of the Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a nominee of TIGI; a nominee of the Guyana Press Association; a nominee of most representative associations of trade unions; a nominee of the Private Sector Commission, one from each of the 10 Regional Democratic Councils and a nominee from academia who is nominated by the governing council of the University of Guyana. But the Bill is silent on their being a seat at the Oversight table for a member of the political opposition. Furthermore, the Bill points out that a person shall not be eligible for appointment if he or she is a Parliamentarian, an employee of the Ministry, an employee or owner of an organization which is engaged by the Minister or Governor of the Bank to assist with the management of the Fund; is a member of the Investment Committee established under Section 13 of the Bill or the Macroeconomic Committee that is established under Section 20 of the Bill. Exxon will work with Govt. on review of Development Plan…Liza Phase 2 will be on track – PRO says Although the coalition Government has taken a decision to increase its scrutiny of ExxonMobil’s Field Development Plans (FDP), it will have no impact on plans for the Liza Phase Two project as envisioned by Exxon. Specifically making this

point to Kaieteur News last Sunday was ExxonMobil’s Senior Director of Public and Government Affairs, Deedra Moe. The official said, “We’ve been in close communication with the government about the development plan timing and will continue to work closely with them throughout the review process. We remain on track for first oil from Liza Phase Two in 2022.” Asked if this move by government will delay the company’s investment for Phase Two, Moe said, “We will make our final investment decision following approval of the development plan.” Speaking on the Government’s decision to increase its scrutiny of FDPs was Head of the Energy Department, Dr. Mark Bynoe. The Official said that the Government is interested in ensuring that its approval is premised on the knowledge of experts in the field. ”We are reviewing a FDP for Liza Two…We have been advertising in the local media for some time now for experts in the area of FDP and cost recovery. As I indicated, Government wishes to make decisions based on knowledge…” Dr. Bynoe added, “But there is a lot of misinformation and people not seeking to understand processes…I heard some people complaining about why we are taking so long to review a FDP but these things (review of the FDP and cost recovery audits) are being financed by multinational institutions. They require us to go through a process of Expression of Interest then we shortlist and ask companies to provide technical and financial proposals and so forth. Procurement has a process by which

we follow and if we sole source we are going to be torn to shreds again about why you sole sourced…” The issue of Exxon’s investment in the Liza Phase Two project being delayed by Government’s review process came to light through an article published by Upstream Online. The media outfit said, “ExxonMobil has delayed a final investment decision on the second-phase development of the giant Liza play off Guyana as President David Granger’s government tries to reconcile an aggressive development schedule with domestic complaints about terms granted to the US super major.” It noted that ExxonMobil said in July that it was aiming to sanction the Liza 2 development by the end of this year, chasing first oil by mid2022, but the final investment decision target has slipped back to the first quarter of 2019. Upstream Online attributed this to “industry sources.” Upstream said it understands that the delay actually relates to the first Liza floater, already under construction following a contractual award to SBM Offshore. Ignoring Public Service advice…Ministry of Presidency pays out almost $1.B to contract employees – AG report Despite recommendations of the Public Service Commission (PSC) to minimize the number of staff employed on a contractual basis, the Ministry of Presidency last year, expended over $969 M on payment for 309 contract workers.The information was recorded in the (Continued on page 33)

Sunday December 02, 2018

From page 32 Auditor General Report of 2017. The report noted that an amount of $1.112 B was set to be expended on four employment projects under the Ministry of the Presidency in Regions one, two, five and six. According to the report, of the $1.112 B set to expended on four employment programmes, 87 per cent was spent on contract workers employed under the Ministry of the Presidency. The report further highlighted that last year February a Public Service Commission circular was sent out recommending that all Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Department and Regional Executive Officers submit a list of all officers on contract/gratuity to be appointed on the pensionable establishment. However, as of December 31, 2017, the Ministry still had 309 contract employees on its payroll. In response to the concerns raised, Head of the Budget Agency indicated that the Ministry of Presidency had promised that action will be taken to have eligible contracted employees transferred to the fixed establishment as required. However, due to the expiration of the tenure of the Public Service Commission tenure, the process was put on hold. ”Given that the Commission has been reactivated, the process for transferring the remaining staff will be actively pursued,” the Ministry had said in a response. The Audit Office, therefore, recommended that the Ministry minimize the number of staff being employed on a contractual basis and continues with the process of moving its current eligible employee over to the pensionable establishment in keeping with the instructions. TUESDAY 4.6 percent growth targeted in $300.7B Budget for 2019 A 99-page, five-hour budget speech may have elicited a few yawns in the chambers of the National Assembly, but would have sent quite a few smiles for businesses across the country, after Finance Minister Winston Jordan unveiled a number of tax concessions for businesses. The income tax threshold is expected to rise to $65,000 in what is the largest national budget to date at $300.7B, an increase of 12.6 percent from the 2018 budget. The minister made that and other announcements during his presentation of the 2019 National Budget in the National Assembly on Monday.

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Minister of Finance Winston Jordan arriving at Parliament Building to present Budget 2019. Guyana’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to grow by 4.6 percent, an indication the economy is on the rise, the Finance Minister said. The growth projection is based on the steady growth in the global economy and stable commodity prices. This growth is expected to be reflected in the major sectors. Agriculture, Fishing and Forestry are forecast to grow by 3.9 per cent, sugar production is expected to increase by 15.6 per cent while rice is expected to grow steadily by 2.7 percent in 2019. Gold declaration is expected to increase, with an industry growth projected at 2.5 percent, while bauxite will continue to grow by 8.6 percent. Meanwhile, the mining and quarrying sector is expected to expand by 3.7 per cent. Manufacturing is expected to grow by 4.2 percent, construction by 10.5 percent and services by 3.7 percent. Minister Jordan pointed out that inflation in 2019 is expected to be 2.5 percent, but he cautioned inflationary pressures may arise as Guyana nears oil and gas production. The Minister assured the government will respond with the appropriate measures to stabilise the rate. Meanwhile, overall, the balance of payment is expected to improve substantially to a surplus of US$15M. “Budget is tone-deaf” – Opposition Leader Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has condemned the 2019 budget as “tone-deaf”, and an indication that the Coalition government is being condescending towards the people of Guyana. Jagdeo held a press conference Monday night after

the reading of the budget by Finance Minister Winston Jordan. ”I’m very, very disappointed,” he said, “I had great expectations that this government would have listened to what they heard from people in the local government elections, and the people’s widespread dissatisfaction with their record.” He emphasised that it is a lengthy budget that is filled with repetition. ”It seems as though different people wrote different sections of this budget, and then someone hastily combined all of these sections into what we heard today.” Jagdeo said that the Finance Minister went over the same topics repeatedly, and made an incoherent presentation. ”I thought that, now that the government is faced with a no-confidence motion, it would have heeded the concerns of the people. Jagdeo said that it seems that the Minister read out the entire work programme of the Guyana Revenue Authority, the Central Bank, and the Accountant General’s department. Jagdeo said there are many promises in the budget about massive projects in the future, and that the Minister explained its objectives at great length. However, Jagdeo believes that many of these projects are unlikely to happen, or at least, will not happen for years. He said that the Minister built up the people’s optimism for multiple projects, going on at great lengths, only to say, at the end of his explanations, that the government will conduct a feasibility study in 2019. ”This is not a budget,” he said, “It is sterile and full of platitudes.

A young man takes a photo outside Parliament Building as the Finance Minister unveils the $300B budget.

Man, 36, wrongfully jailed for six years in place of teen bandit with same name – investigation launched What would you do if you found yourself in jail for a crime that you did not commit? That seems to be the fate of 36-year-old Desmond Junior Lewis, who is reportedly serving a six-year sentence for armed robbery in place of a 19-year-old fugitive who bears the same name. Desmond Junior Lewis was jailed on October 18, last, after police arrested him in Sophia during a series of police raids dubbed “Operation Restore Order.” A release issued by the police on October 14 stated that the 36-year-old resident of ‘D,’ Field, Sophia, was one of 31 persons detained for offences, which included armed robbery, possession of stolen articles, and possession and trafficking of narcotics. The release stated that when profiled, “Lewis was found to have been sentenced in absentia to six years on two counts of armed robbery committed in ‘A’ Division.” But it appears that Desmond Junior Lewis is the victim of a terrible police blunder. The real robbery accused is said to be 19-year-old Junior Lewis of Pike Street, Kitty, who was charged in November 2017, for two armed robberies, which were allegedly committed on a couple who were near the seawall. It was alleged that on November 4, 2017, the unemployed teen robbed Davina Persaud in Kingston, of one Samsung Galaxy mobile phone. On the same date, in

Kingston, Junior Lewis allegedly also robbed Vishal Mohan of a Samsung Galaxy mobile phone and $2,000 cash. The teen pleaded not guilty and was remanded. However, police sources said that he subsequently managed to secure bail, but never returned to court to face the charges. He was later jailed in his absence. Kaieteur News understands that the blunder came to light recently, and that the mother of Desmond Junior Lewis, who was living overseas, filed a complaint with the police Office of Professional Responsibility Monday. Sources said that an investigation has confirmed that Desmond Junior Lewis was mistakenly jailed in the place of Junior Lewis. WEDNESDAY Republic Bank “agrees” to take over Scotiabank operations…Not so fastFinance Ministry warns The owners of Trinidadowned Republic Bank is to take over the local operations of Scotiabank, ending what would have been decades of stay for that Canadian banking institution in Guyana. However, the Government of Guyana has cautioned, warning that it has to assess the implications. Scotiabank announced Tuesday that it has entered into an agreement to sell its banking operations in nine non-core markets in the Caribbean (Anguilla, Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Vincent & the Grenadines) to Republic Financial Holdings Limited (‘RFHL’). The agreement is subject

to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. According to its statement, Scotiabank said the agreements are part of its strategy to focus the bank’s efforts on its core markets with significant scale. As part of this strategy, Scotiabank’s subsidiaries in Jamaica (Scotia Group Jamaica Limited, ‘Scotiabank Jamaica’) and Trinidad & Tobago (Scotiabank Trinidad & Tobago Limited, ‘Scotiabank Trinidad & Tobago’) announced that they will enter into a 20-year distribution agreement with Sagicor Financial Corporation Limited (‘Sagicor’) through which an enhanced suite of marketleading insurance products and solutions, underwritten by Sagicor, will be offered to Scotiabank customers in Jamaica and Trinidad& Tobago. As part of this partnership, Scotiabank Jamaica and Scotiabank Trinidad & Tobago have entered into agreements to sell their respective insurance subsidiaries: Scotia Jamaica Life Insurance Company and ScotiaLife Trinidad and Tobago Limited to Sagicor. As Canada’s most international bank, Scotiabank has been operating in Guyana since 1968, with five branches across the country. Scotiabank insisted that the agreements are subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions. Central Bank finds Republic Bank takeover of Scotia worrying…BoG Governor says all implications must be considered before approval Republic Bank’s announcement Tuesday that it (Continued on page 34)

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From page 33 has entered into an agreement to acquire Scotia Bank’s operations in Guyana and eight other Caribbean territories has left officials at Central Bank worried about the troubling ramifications of this move. During an exclusive interview with this newspaper Tues/day, Kaieteur News was informed by several Central Bank officials that Republic Bank cannot purchase Scotia’s banking operations without Central Bank approval. They insisted that this business decision by Republic Bank is one that warrants a thorough due diligence process since the domino effect will be far reaching. Kaieteur News was also informed by Central Bank Executives that Republic Bank has not submitted an application for approval regarding its move to acquire Scotia’s operations here. Up to Tuesday afternoon, Republic Bank only issued the Central Bank with a letter which highlights that its Board has approved the acquisition of Scotia in the Caribbean and Guyana. Contacted for a comment on the matter Tuesday, Central Bank Governor, Dr. Gobind Ganga, said that when Republic Bank makes its application, several processes will have to be implemented to ensure that the financial institution abides by the requirements and criteria set out in the Financial Institutions Act. Increased scrutiny of Development Plans for oil sector a small step in right direction – Ram The decision of the Energy Department to increase its scrutiny of ExxonMobil’s Field Development Plan (FDP) Former Minister of Housing, Mohamed Irfaan Ali

Kaieteur News

for the Liza Phase Two Project marks a small step in the right direction. This was the comment of Chartered Accountant and Attorney-at-Law, Chris Ram. Ram told this newspaper that he welcomes the steps by Government to impose some kind of order in the oil and gas sector and “bring an end to this culture where Exxon could do as it feels.” Be that as it may, the Chartered Accountant who has written extensively about the failings of the government in this sector, expressed concern that at least one of the horses has already bolted and that is the Liza Phase One FDP. He insisted that every effort must be made to rein it in. Ram said, “It must be subject to the same degree of accountability and we need to do the work that we ought to have done. It is not too late. We still have 20 months to go and we have much at stake…But that is not to take away from the fact that I welcome that something is being done by the government. It is a little step in the right direction.” Even though the coalition Government has taken a decision to increase its scrutiny of ExxonMobil’s Field Development Plans it will have no impact on plans for the Liza Phase Two project as envisioned by Exxon. Specifically making this point to Kaieteur News recently was ExxonMobil’s Senior Director of Public and Government Affairs, Deedra Moe. The official said, “We’ve been in close communication with the government about the development plan timing and will continue to work closely with them throughout the review process. We remain on track for first oil from Liza Phase Two in 2022.”

Sunday December 02, 2018

Headquarters

Asked to say if this move by Government will delay the company’s investment for Phase Two, Moe said, “We will make our final investment decision following approval of the development plan.” Speaking on the Government’s decision to increase its scrutiny of FDPs was Head of the Energy Department, Dr. Mark Bynoe. The official said that the Government is interested in ensuring that its approval is premised on the knowledge of experts in the field. THURSDAY Pradoville 2 Housing Scheme… Irfaan Ali arrested, charged with fraudulent disposal of State lands Following his early morning arrest by ranks attached to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), 38-yearold former Minister of Housing, Mohamed Irfaan Ali, of Lot 38 Saray, Leonora, West

Coast Demerara, was on Wednesday hauled before the court where he was slapped with 19 fraud charges. The former minister is accused of defrauding Government of over $174 M, by selling several plots of State lands, below the market value, to former ministers of the then PPP/C government. Ali arrived at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts shortly after 10:40 hrs and made his way to Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan’s courtroom. While there, Ali, who was dressed in a grey suit, opened the gate to the prisoners’ dock where he stood. The Magistrate soon after exiting her chambers spent approximately 45 minutes reading the charges to Ali, who stood smiling. Representing Ali are Attorneys Devindra Kissoon, Anil Nandlall, Priya Manickchand, Jaya Manickchand and Sase Gunraj.

The courtroom was filled with supporters, among them former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds. They were several other officials of the former PPP/C government. Ali was not required to plead to the 19 indictable charges and was released on his own recognizance (self bail). The charges against Ali stated that between the period 2011 and 2015, he conspired with persons unknown to defraud the Government, when he acted recklessly by selling 19 plots of State Lands at Plantation Sparendaam and Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara. The lands which were sold for a mere $39.8M, are valued at $212.4M, according to SOCU. Firemen charged for theft, receiving stolen property from crash– landed Fly Jamaica aircraft Four interdicted ranks of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) who have been implicated in

the theft of valuables from the crash –landed Fly Jamaica aircraft, were Wednesday released on $100,000 bail each, after being charged with theft and receiving stolen articles. These charges come weeks after the Fly Jamaica aircraft crash-landed at the Cheddi International Airport (CJIA). Hauled before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, was Collis Williams, 38, of 14 Coverden, East Bank Demerara. He denied the charge, which stated that on November 2, last at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, East Bank Demerara, he stole two cellular phones valued at $146,000, property of Basil Ferguson. It was further alleged that on the same day and a t t h e s a m e l o c a t i on Aubrey Frank, 30, of Soesdyke Linden Highway; Jamie Kingston, 30, of Lodge Georgetown, and Royden Kennedy, 27, of Timehri, East Bank Demerara, had in (Continued on page 35)

Sunday December 02, 2018

From page 34 their control a quantity of articles including perfumes, laptops, chargers and freshener, all suspected to be stolen or unlawfully obtained. The men denied the allegations after they were read to them in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Williams and Frank were represented by Attorney-atlaw Clyde Forde, who in an application to secure bail for his clients told the court that his clients have been serving members of the Guyana Fire Service for the past eight and four years respectively. Kingston was represented by Attorney-at-law Eusi Anderson who told the court that his client has been a fireman for over 11 years and has never been charged before. Attorney-at-law, George Thomas represented Kennedy, and told the court that his client has been a fireman for the past four years. Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that bail should not be granted to the defendants, citing the serious nature of offence and the circumstance in which the offence was committed. The Magistrate, after listening to both sides, released the men on $100,000 bail each. They were instructed to lodge their passports with the Clerk of Court and report every Friday at the Providence Magistrates’ Courts until the hearing and determination of the trial. Antigua will not give approval for Scotiabank sale – PM Browne The shock announcement that Canadian-owned Scotiabank has signed agreements with Republic Bank, for the latter to buy nine of its operations in the Caribbean, is not going down well. One day after the Government of Guyana warned about the implications, the Prime Minister of Antigua and

Barbuda, Gaston Browne, has advised the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) that his government will not be issuing a vesting order to facilitate the Bank of Nova Scotia’s divestment of its Antigua holdings, as there was no consultation. The Prime Minister Wednesday wrote to Timothy Antoine, the Governor of the ECCB, the entity which has regulatory responsibility for banks operating in Antigua and Barbuda’s banks. In the letter, Prime Minister Browne told the ECCB Governor that, “At no stage was the Government of Antigua and Barbuda consulted by the Bank of Nova Scotia nor was its agreement sought in this matter. The people of Antigua and Barbuda, including many persons holding deposits and other investment instruments with the Bank, learned of this divestment scheme through a media release.” He said that the matter has implications for the integrity of the banking system in Antigua and Barbuda and, indeed, for the stability of the Eastern Caribbean Currency. The PM made it clear that “the Government of Antigua and Barbuda has concluded that the divestment announced by the Bank of Nova

Embattled Town Clerk, Royston King

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Scotia is not in the overall interest of our country and our people”. FRIDAY Criminal charges recommended against top City Hall officials COI to hand over findings next week A report by a Commission of Inquiry into alleged mismanagement by the Georgetown Mayor and City Council is likely to be completed next week. Chief among the recommendations is that some City Hall officials be criminally charged. This is because evidence seen by the Commission seems to suggest that certain high officials misused sums in the performance of their duties, a source told Kaieteur News Thursday. Kaieteur News understands that this recommendation, among others, is contained in a draft report that has been prepared by the Commission, which is chaired by Retired Justice Cecil Kennard. The final draft is likely to be completed early next week. It will be handed over to the Local Government Commission, (LGC), which ordered the CoI after complaints of mismanagement. However, the sources were reluctant to name the officials who the Commission will recommend to face charges. Kaieteur News was told that it will be up to the Local Government Commission, which is headed by Mortimer Mingo, to act on the recommendations. Mingo had told Kaieteur News that mismanagement and corruption were at the top of the agenda of the Commission of Inquiry, (COI) into the operations at City Hall. He had said that the Commission had received numerous complaints of corruption at City Hall for several months. These included complaints against Town Clerk,

Royston King, for mismanagement of funds, and abuse of his authority. ”There are complaints about contracts being awarded to friends and family, that procurement rules being bypassed, failure to remit to the Credit Union contributions deducted from workers’ salaries in keeping with financial regulations and so on,” Mingo had said. Royston King was sent on leave to facilitate the investigation. Jagdeo says.. Republic Bank takeover of Scotia unhealthy, could very well be illegal Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo does not believe that Guyana’s regulators should grant approval for Republic Bank to take over Scotia Bank’s operations here. At a press conference Thursday, Jagdeo said that “this could very well be illegal.” He said, “I remember when I was Minister of Finance, we ensured that in the Financial Institutions Act and other regulatory legislation that we built in safety for concentration. ”And from what I have seen, the figures I have read about is that the merged entity could control more than 50 percent of our total assets in the banking sector and more than 50 percent of total deposits.” The Opposition Leader said that this is unhealthy and therefore, he will support the nation’s regulators in upholding the law to avoid undue concentration in a single entity which puts the entire financial system at risk. Republic Bank’s recent announcement that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Scotia bank’s operations in Guyana and eight other Caribbean territories has left officials at Central Bank worried about the troubling ramifications of this move.

Kaieteur News was informed by several Central Bank officials that Republic Bank cannot purchase Scotia’s banking operations without its approval. They insisted that this business decision by Republic Bank is one that warrants a thorough due diligence process since the domino effect will be far reaching. Kaieteur News was also informed by Central Bank Executives that Republic Bank has not submitted an application for approval regarding its move to acquire Scotia’s operations here. Up to Thursday afternoon, Republic Bank had only issued the Central Bank with a letter which highlights that its Board has approved of the acquisition of Scotia in the Caribbean and Guyana. Central Bank Governor, Dr. Gobind Ganga, said that when Republic Bank makes its application, several processes will have to be implemented to ensure that the financial institution abides by the requirements and criteria set out in the Financial Institutions Act. ‘I will only give jobs to PNC people’ – Min. Lawrence Minister of Public Health and Chairwoman of the People’s National Congress (PNC), Volda Lawrence, is facing public backlash for declaring her intention to give work to only party supporters and friends. The statements attributed to Lawrence were published in a Demerara Waves article on her address during the party’s Region Four District Conference at Congress Place, last weekend. “The only friends I got is PNC so the only people I gon give wuk to is PNC and right now I looking for a doctor who can talk Spanish or Portuguese and ah want one that is PNC,” Lawrence is quoted by the online publication. Lawrence has not denied making the statements pub-

licly and did not address the criticisms she has received as a result of the publication of her statements. Instead, a statement appeared via her official Facebook page Thursday and indicated that she stands by her views on the issue of jobs and unemployment that measures are being put in place for the young and industrious to be afforded the opportunity of becoming self employed or gaining meaningful employment. ”Cde. Lawrence also stands by her views that Comrades must educate and position themselves to be in the 20% bracket that will be afforded Government contracts. Cde. Lawrence also stands by her views that we must become bi-lingual as the world is now smaller and Guyana is fast becoming a haven to people from countries near and far. ”Cde. Lawrence emphasizes that if the Coalition wants to remain in power after 2020 we must take better care of all Guyanese,” the statement highlighted. Lawrence’s statement is interesting since the PNC forms part of the political alliance of A Partnership for National Unity which has a signed agreement with the Alliance For Change (AFC) that forms the current coalition Government. SATURDAY Terminate, begin immediate criminal proceedings against Town Clerk, other city officials – CoI Report …recommends SARA trace and recover assets A probe has found grounds to terminate embattled Town Clerk, Royston King, and institute criminal proceedings against him. The explosive findings are contained in the final report from the Commission of Inquiry into the operations of City Hall. The report was (Continued on page 36)

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From page 35 handed over Friday by Chairman of the CoI, Justice Cecil Kennard (ret’d) to Chairman of the Local Government Commission (LGC), Mortimer Mingo. The report obtained by Kaieteur News indicated that several senior officers be terminated for their poor management of the affairs of the city; and that where irregularities are found, criminal investigation and charges be laid against defaulting officers. In light of the findings, the COI recommends that there be further investigations in the form of a forensic audit to be conducted by the Audit Office of Guyana. The report calls for officers to be disciplined even as that audit is being conducted. The senior officers listed included, King, who was sent on leave to facilitate the CoI. King is cited for gross misconduct, abuse of office, recklessness, dishonesty, conspiracy, and misappropriation of funds. Also listed in the report are Acting Town Clerk, Sharon Harry-Munroe who is cited for dereliction of duty and incompetence; Assistant

Kaieteur News

Town Clerk, Sherry Jerrick for dereliction of duty and incompetence; Internal Auditor, Omodele Umojo-Newton for incompetence and conspiracy; Chief Constable, Andrew Foo for dereliction of duty and incompetence; Human Resources Manager, Paulette Braithwaite for incompetence; City Engineer, Colvern Venture for incompetence and dereliction of duty; and Rashid Kelman for conspiracy. Further, the report noted that City Treasurer, Ron Mc Calmon should proceed on early retirement as he is unwell. Kennard posited that it would only be fair that the COI recommend a detailed forensic audit be done into all transactions between April 1, 2015, and October 31, 2018. “I have found that there is prima facie evidence to support skulduggery. Moreover, where there is evidence of such activities, criminal and or civil proceedings should commence forthwith,” Kennard outlined. As it relates to King, the CoI report stated that while it is ‘the easiest of recommendation to make’, he should be

terminated, and criminal charges should be laid against him in respect of his actions. The report recommends that the State Asset Recovery Agency (SARA) and the Guyana Police Force should lead a joint probe to ascertain the relevant criminal charge(s) to be laid. In the alternative, the report noted that there are civil remedies; the (LGC) can approach the Court to grant orders to trace his assets and at the same time, freeze same. According to the report, the Town Clerk and other of-

ficers including former Mayor, Patricia Chase-Green appeared to have committed the tort of misfeasance and should be dealt with in that context. National Oil Spill plan still stuck in draft stage… Harmon says document being reviewed by Energy Dept. It appears that the Government would not be able to meet its 2018 deadline for the completion of the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan. This was revealed yesterday by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon. The Minister noted that the delay can be attributed to the fact that the document was handed over to the Energy Department. He said that the Department is reviewing the document, using its access to additional capacities and capabilities in that agency. He said, too, that the docu-

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ment is going through several changes. Harmon also noted that the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams has brought on board some important skills, which would be used in the review of such matters. Harmon said, “In a short space of time, we will be able to tell you where that is.” The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is of the firm view that Guyana should have a national oil spill contingency plan in place before oil production commences in 2020. In its special report, the IDB noted that Guyana’s CARICOM sister, Trinidad a n d To b a g o , w h i c h h a s been in the petroleum industry for more than a century, has taken the wise move to safeguard its sector with a national oil spill plan. That plan was updated

and passed by TT’s Cabinet in January 2013. The IDB said that with TT’s new plan, “deep-water drilling operators will now be required to demonstrate accessibility to a containment lap system to arrest a subsea blow out event…” The IDB believes that Guyana can take a page from Trinidad’s book and get its own plan in place soon. It has been almost eight months since the first round of consultations was held on the draft national oil spill plan. The document was submitted to Cabinet but it is still to be made public and finalized. Leading the work on the oil spill plan is the Civil Defence Commission (CDC). Specifically, Captain John R. Flores, Director of Maritime Safety, had organized a small team of locals to draft the document.

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Call made to address ‘unacceptable’ teenage pregnancy rate multi-sectoral national coordinating body to implement and monitor the strategies for adolescents. Similar bodies should also be formed in the Regions which will allow “more community

PAHO/WHO’s Dr. William Adu-Krow The Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation [PAHO/WHO] on Friday handed over the Situational Analysis [SITAN] of Adolescent Health in Guyana and simultaneously voiced a call to reduce its “unacceptable” pregnancy rate. This development was communicated by Dr. William Adu-Krow, PAHO/WHO local representative. “Preliminary figures for 2017 show almost a quarter [24 per cent] of all local pregnancies were among adolescents,” said Dr. Travis Freeman, Adolescent Health Coordinator of the Ministry of Public Health. Dr. Freeman said of the 24 per cent of pregnant adolescents, “only one per cent was under 15 years old.” This pregnancy rate among the under 15 grouping is holding steady since 2011. Persons 10 – 19 years old are defined as adolescents, according to global definition. Adolescents and youths, 10 – 24 years old comprise 33 percent of the Guyanese population. During Friday’s handing over ceremony, Dr. Adu-Krow challenged the Ministry to operationalise the strategies under a two-year plan. “It is time to end talk about adolescents. It’s time to do something,” said Dr. Adu Krow. He said other international agencies such as the United Nations Children’s Fund [UNICEF] and the United Nations Development Programme [UNDP] will help the country “move ahead” with its blueprint for adolescents. “Please come up with a dissemination plan with participation from health sector workers in the [10 Administrative] Regions,” Dr Adu-Krow urged. The strategic plan, ‘Accelerated Action for the Health of Adolescents [AAHA!] is part of the mandate of the National Health Plan designed to respond to national priorities in the health and wellbeing of

youths, using “evidencebased data from national baseline surveys, peereducation activities and youth participation,” the document said. It reminds that the Ministry pioneered a specific programme targeting health issues among Guyanese adolescents and youths with the establishments of ‘The Adolescent and Young Adult Health and Wellness Unit’ to address development needs of young people. “A Strategic Plan with a vision for the health, wellbeing and overall development of adolescents and young adults in Guyana, guided the work of this Unit,” the document said. Dr. Karen Cummings, Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, who accepted the document on the government’s behalf, promised that the evidence contained in the 72-page volume “will help [our] policy making.” In the document, existing gaps have been highlighted which policy measures “will plug”, Dr. Cummings said. The gaps include inadequate financial, human, material and other resources; data collection shortcomings; a shortage in the appropriate mix of skills in the health and education sectors to respond to the needs of the adolescents in the communities countrywide and sustainability of interventions. The SITAN of the local adolescent sector also highlighted insufficient inter and intra-collaboration of ministries and programmes and also calls for strengthening of policies and legislation to govern the operation of the ministries regarding services needed within the sector, as well as special programmes for those with disabilities and chronic conditions. Among its raft of recommendations, the joint PAHO/WHO and Ministry document suggests the need for the establishment of a

and young people involvement.”It wants further narrowing of the gap between the coast and the hinterland for access to universal health coverage and resourcing and

supporting of youth groups and sports organisations which will help “strengthen their advocacy and intervention on adolescent issues”.It calls too for a better data-collection environment

“to ensure that appropriate disaggregated data relevant for adolescent health can be obtained including: age, gender, income level, urban versus rural regions and communities.

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Sunday December 02, 2018

Sunday December 02, 2018

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40 Region Two youths graduate from BIT’s first boat building programme By Kiana Wilburg Forty young men and women recently graduated from the Board of Industrial Training (BIT)’s inaugural boat programme. It was delivered in St. Monica and Kabakaburi in Region Two. BIT’s Chairman, Mr. Clinton Williams noted that this was a significant achievement not only for the Region but for the institution as well. At the well-attended event, Williams said that the use of boats with small engines continues to be the main source of conveyance for many hinterland villages. As such, the BIT Chairman said that this presented key opportunities for training in boat building and small engine repairs in that area. Under the guidance of Social Services Minister, Keith Scott, Williams said that BIT was eager to launch its new initiative for 2018 which focused on boat building. He said that this project was successfully implemented at St. Monica Village. Further to this, Williams said he was happy to learn that the programme saw the women of the graduating class building a boat that will be fully outfitted with an outboard motor

Officials from BIT and the Ministry of Social Protection enjoy a ride in a boat built by Region Two graduates

BIT Chairman, Clinton Williams and given to the village as a gift. He then extended sincere congratulations to the trainees for successfully completing the programme. Williams said, “It is my fervent wish that you will utilize this glorious opportunity by displaying these exposures towards your own development as well as the development of Guyana and in the end, make us all proud.” Williams told this newspa-

per that BIT intends to replicate the project of boat building skills in other regions as well as donate two more completed boats to the communities of Orealla in the Corentyne River and Baracara in the Canje Creek in 2019. Further to this, the Chairman said that BIT will continue to intensify the delivery of technical and vocational skill training with a view to addressing the skill demand

needs not only for the existing, but also the emerging industries, such as Oil and Gas, Clean Energy, Hydro-phonic Farming, Robotics, Agro-processing, among others. NTYPE Turning his attention to the National Training Programme for Youth Empowerment (NTYPE), Williams reminded that it was launched in 2006 with the objective of providing competency-based Technical and Vocational

Education and Training, to fill the dire shortage of entry level technical skills for both the Private and Public Sector. He said that the Current Administration has not only embraced, but expanded the programme. In a sense, Williams said that the programme has always and continues to enjoy bipartisan support. Furthermore, the BIT Chairman said that the NTYPE programmes are being delivered in all of the Re-

gions. He said that the programmes are designed to target vulnerable groups such as school dropouts and youths from depressed communities. Starting with a total of approximately 570 graduates in 2005, Williams said that the programme has grown tremendously over the years to the extent that by the end of 2017, over 20,000 persons in numerous skill sets namely (Continued on page 47)

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Sunday December 02, 2018

100 Guyanese being targeted for pilot risk assessment study -in quest to determine vulnerability to renal failure

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total of 100 indi viduals are being targeted to determine their vulnerability to renal failure. The venture is one that will see the Doobay Medical and Research Centre [DMRC] collaborating with McMaster University’s Population Health Research Institute to conduct a risk factor assessment. This tactical move, according to Dr. Budhendranauth Doobay, Head of DMRC, is designed

to target persons unaware of conditions they have that could contribute to renal failure. “This assessment is to determine whether they [participants] have high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol, and we at the centre will provide this service free of cost to them,” said Dr. Doobay. In fact, he disclosed that participants will be eligible for free medication should the assessment find them to be at risk.

Dr. Budhendranauth Doobay [second from right]; Ms Dipika Desai [third from right] and executive members of the Doobay Medical Centre during Thursday’s press conference. Plans to conduct the survey were announced Thursday at a press conference

held at the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown, which saw the attendance of

other executive members of DMRC and Programme Manager of the Population Health Research Institute, Ms. Dipika Desai. According to Desai, “It is important to study the actual risk factors of what brings people to end stage renal failure.” She pointed out that the research, which is likely to span a period of one year was seen as an important move, since such information is currently lacking in Guyana. “We did a little bit of literature review and we try to understand what we can to see what published research there is about Guyana, but unfortunately we didn’t find much, and so we said that’s what we have to do...build a baseline,” said Desai. The risk assessment targeting the 100 individuals will in fact be a pilot study and, according to Desai, “A lot of large research studies we have done, we start with a pilot study to assess the ability to do the study properly before we start on a wider scale.” Desai revealed too that plans were in place to commence the process this week, since approval has been granted by the Canada-based Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board which covers McMaster University and the Hamilton Health Sciences. The venture has also been endorsed by the local Ministry of Public Health, Desai shared. Tasked with oversight of the research will be Dr. Baldeo Singh, who is currently attached to the Annandale, East Coast Demerara Medical Centre. According to Desai, Dr. Singh, who was trained at McMaster University, has the capability to attend to the participants of the assessment. Other staffers of the Doobay Medical Centre are also being trained to support the process. “In this study we are going to focus more on people

who are not dialysis patients...people who are generally among the healthy population. So anybody from the general population is welcomed to come and get screened,” Desai noted. As part of the screening process, persons will be subjected to some physical measurement, including that of their height, weight, waist and hip, which is essential to determine their belly fat which, Desai said, is the highest risk fat. “We will do blood pressure measurement to get an assessment on what is the level of hypertension in this population and we will do some blood work, and the blood will be analysed at the Doobay Medical Research Centre,” she noted. Once the necessary information is collected, Desai said that it will be used to calculate what is called the Framingham Coronary Heart Disease Risk Score. This score, Desai said, can be used to estimate an individual’s risk of having a heart attack in the near future and is a widely used by the World Health Organisation and many other institutes. “We will then use a defined protocol that was developed with WHO and another study done by the Population Health Research Institute and we are going to use that protocol to try and train the staff members to screen participants and assess their risk as well as recommend treatment options. If medical treatment is required then that medical treatment will be reviewed and approved by a physician,” Desaid explained. She divulged too that the data which will be collected electronically will be managed and monitored from Canada. However, the data will also be shared with the Public Health Ministry so that efforts can be employed to better address the country’s renal failure situation.

Sunday December 02, 2018

Kaieteur News

40 Region Two youths... From page 47 Engineering and Building Trades, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Forestry, Home Economics, Health Services, etc., drawn from across Guyana, would have been trained. He said, “We have also expanded our relationship with the service providers to include five technical Institutes. These include the GuySuCo Training Centre ,Port Mourant, the Forestry Training Centre, and KuruKuru Training Centre. Other recognized Non-Governmental Organizations and Privately Owned Workshops, Garment Construction, Catering and ICT Service Providers continue to significantly expand the range and scope of skills produced.” During the last two years, Williams said that BIT has included the previously under-

utilized Practical Instruction Centres (PIC) at Buxton in Region Four. Additionally, the BIT Chairman noted that 31 persons fro m t h e O r e a l l a / Siparuta Villages in the Corentyne River were trained in Outboard and Small Engine Repairs, a vital vocation for the sustenance and empowerment for the residents of these communities. From the year 2000 to date, the Board of Industrial Training has collaborated in the delivery and certification of approximately 22,000 Occupational Skills across Guyana for which the NTYPE Programmes which amounted to approximately 12,822 Craftsmen. The BIT Chairman acknowledged the contributions of other service providers from within this Region

who have also partnered with the Board in the generation of the TECHVOC skills. They include: R K Computer Institute, Taste of Heaven, Roadside Baptist Skills Centre, Corle’s Engineering Consultancy, Orealla Village Council, Siparuta Village Council, Icua Village Counc i l , H e n r y ’s w o r k s h o p , Winkle Road Workshop and the New Amsterdam Technical Institute. He also thanked institutions such as the Guyana Power and Light, National Insurance Scheme, Ministry of Education and the Guyana Fire Service for their role in providing employment for trainees across the Region. With the aforementioned in mind, Williams said he is assured that the graduates will add to the development of Guyana and in the end, make everyone proud.

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Sunday December 02, 2018

14 Surprising Health Benefits Of Wine http://www.lifehack.org: You pop open the cork after a killer day at the office, and the luscious wine flows in mellow drops into your shiny glass. Then this voice whispers in your ear. “Should I be drinking wine?” You try to make healthy food choices and go to the gym and yoga a few times a week. Are you negating your efforts with a few sips? You know that over-indulging is a health no-no, but what about a glass of wine a few times per week? Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve surely heard of the heart-healthy benefits of red wine. But this is not your big concern; you already exercise and eat pretty well.Prepare to be amazed. More than just being hearthealthy, wine has a slew of surprising health benefits, many of which stem from resveratrol. Some plants make resveratrol to fight off bacteria and fungi, or to withstand a drought or lack of nutrients. Red and purple grapes, blueberries, cranberries, mulberries, peanuts, and pistachios are sources. Resveratrol may be the wonder ingredient re-

sponsible for many of wine’s benefits. Isolating the resveratrol does not yield the same powers, indicating that a constellation of forces act together to protect the body. Most studies focus on the benefits of red wine because white grapes do not contain resveratrol. Prepare to be amazed and relieved. You’re about to learhow your wine-drinking ritual can be a powerful health elixir. Check out the following fourteen benefits of wine that go way beyond heart healthiness. 1. Live longer That’s right. On the island of Ikarios, a recently discovered Blue Zone, people live longer than anywhere else in the world. Daily wine consumption is part of a dietary pattern that encourages long life through eating fewer animal-based foods and eating more plant-based foods. You’ll find the long-lived residents of Crete and Sardinia sipping dark red wine, a part of their anti-aging lifestyle. A 2007 study suggests procyanidins, compounds found in red wine tannins, help promote cardiovascular

health. Wines produced in areas of southwest France and Sardinia, where people tend to live longer, have particularly high concentrations of the compound. Researchers at Harvard Medical School uncovered

ter just 30 minutes of testing, researchers found that participants taking resveratrol had a significant increase in retention of words and showed faster performance in the portion of the brain associated with the formation of new

evidence that resveratrol directly activates a protein that promotes health and longevity in animal models. Resveratrol increases the activity of sirtuins (longevity pathways), a group of genes that protects the body from diseases of aging. 2. Get smarter Resveratrol may help improve short-term memory. Af-

memories, learning, and emotions. 3. Banish breakouts with wine Resveratrol is able to inhibit the growth of acne-causing bacteria longer than benzoyl peroxide. And it works even better when combined with benzoyl peroxide. So far, drinking the antioxidant is the best way to benefit from its properties. Topical application in creams has not been proven as effective – so imbibe your antioxidants in wine, fruits, and veggies rather than buying expensive creams. 4. Wine may beat trips to the gym Would you rather drink wine or slave away at the gym? Scientists at the University of Alberta in Canada found that resveratrol improves heart, brain, and bone function; the same way these parts are improved when you go to the gym. Now imagine the benefits of doing both! 5. Say goodbye to the blues You know wine helps you relax…but depression? Researchers in Spainfound that men and women who drank two to seven glasses of wine per week were less likely to be diagnosed with depression. Even when taking into account lifestyle factors which could influence their findings, the reduced risk held strong. 6. Reduce (not increase) your risk of liver disease This study challenged conventional thinking about alcohol and liver disease. Modest wine consumption, defined as one glass a day, may decrease the prevalence of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). Modest wine drinkers, as compared to teetotalers, cut their risk of NAFLD in half. And compared with wine drinkers, modest beer or liquor drinkers had four times the odds

13 Surprising Uses for Honey http://www.care2.com: It’s often said that the famed ancient beauty Cleopatra would soak in honey and milk baths. Well, whether or not that’s true, it’s certainly not surprising that the story has persisted for so long — honey has a tremendous effect on the skin. And that’s not all — honey is a powerful antiseptic and a fantastic natural sugar substitute. Keep reading for these and more alternative uses for honey. Health

1. Relieve Hangovers. Had a little too much fun last night? A few tablespoons of honey, which is packed with fructose, will help speed up your body’s metabolism of alcohol. 2. Heal Wounds, Cuts, Scrapes & Burns. Don’t reach for the Neosporin the next time you cut or burn yourself — simply apply honey to the affected area. Honey works as a natural antiseptic. 3. Soothe Sore Throats and Coughs. Combine honey with the juice of one lemon and drink. It works like a wonder! 4. Remove Parasites. Hopefully you’ll never have to use this trick, but if you do, combine equal parts honey, vinegar and water and drink. The combination of these three ingredients is the perfect parasite killer.

Beauty 5. Moisturize Dry Skin. Honey is a fantastic moisturizer, especially on dry patches, like your elbows or hands — even your lips! Rub onto your dry, patchy skin and let it sit for about 30 minutes before washing off. Honey also makes a great lip balm! 6. Condition Damaged Hair. Honey is a great natural conditioner. You can simply add a teaspoon of the stuff to your regular shampoo to smooth your damaged locks. You can also combine it with olive oil for a deeper conditioning. Let it soak for 20 minutes with your hair wrapped in a towel before shampooing as usual. 7. Have an Amazing Bath. Relax your body and soak your skin in a soothing bath.

Add 2 tablespoons of honey to 1 cup of hot water and let it dissolve for about 10 minutes. Add 2 or 3 drops of lavender essential oil and add it to your bath. 8. Remove Acne. Stubborn acne can really benefit from a small daily dab of honey. Place a band-aid over the pimple, and take it off 30 minutes later. 9. Give Yourself a Facial. Combine 2 teaspoons of milk with 2 tablespoons of honey. Cover your face with the mixture and let it sit for 10 minutes before washing off. Food 10. Boost Your Energy. Quit turning to coffee for your daily energy boost! Replace your cup of Joe with a cup of tea. Mix in a tablespoon or so of honey. 11. Substitute Honey for Sugar in Baking. For every cup of sugar a recipe calls for, replace it with 3/4 cup of honey. For best results, add 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda and reduce another liquid in your recipe by 1/4 cup. Also, reduce the oven temperature by 25 degrees. 12. Make Almond Milk from Scratch. You’ll find a great recipe here. 13. Make Infused Honeys. Why have plain old regular honey when you can have ginger lime honey or hot pepper honey?

of having suspected NAFLD. 7. Promote healthy eyes Resveratrol stops out-ofcontrol blood vessel growth in the eyes, according to Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. This may help with treatment of diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. Note that these studies were done in mice, so the dose for humans is not yet clear. But this is a great start. 8. Protect your pearly whites Did you know that drinking wine is a little-known way to protect your teeth from bacteria? We mentioned wine’s antimicrobial effects on the skin. Well, it also helps reduce bacteria on our teeth.Using five of the common oral plaque-causing bacteria, scientists noted almost complete degradation of the bacteria after applying the biofilms with red wine. 9. Cut multiple cancer risks Breast Cancer Red grapes are the fruit best able to suppress the activity of aromatase, the enzyme used by breast tumors to produce their own estrogen – this is called an aromatase inhibitor. Red wine may serve as a nutritional aromatase inhibitor, which may ameliorate the elevated breast cancer risk associated with alcohol intake. Note that you can also eat red grapes; those with seeds are especially helpful. Resveratrol is also thought to kill cancer cells by cutting off a pathway that feeds cancer cells. Colon cancer Studies show that moderate consumption of red wine can reduce the risk of colon cancer by 50%. Prostate Cancer Harvard Men’s Health Watch reports that men who drink an average of four to seven glasses of red wine per week have a 52% less chance of being diagnosed with prostate cancer compared to those who don’t drink wine. Red wine appears particularly protective against advanced or aggressive cancers. Doctors speculate that flavonoids and resveratrol contain potent antioxidants and may counterbalance androgens, the male hormones that stimulate the prostate. 10. Stave off those pesky sniffles So maybe grandma’s cold remedy isn’t so strange after all. A study looked at 4,000 faculty members at five universities across Spain. Those who drank wine were less likely to come down with a cold compared to those that drank beer or spirits. Re-

searchers think that the antioxidants help lower inflammation and reduce the symptoms of colds. 11. Lower your c holesterol (without changing your diet) Resveratrol is thought to reduce LDL and increase HDL, meaning that our blood vessels are less likely to be coated with plaque. Even the American Heart Association admits that moderate consumption of any type of alcohol can increase your HDL, or good cholesterol, by about 12%. 12. Reduce the risk of stroke Wine may reduce your risk of ischemic stroke. In analyses adjusted for age, sex, and smoking, intake of wine on a monthly, weekly, or daily basis was associated with a lower risk of stroke compared with no wine intake. The benefits were not seen in beer or hard alcohol consumption. 13. Regulate blood sugar levels without drugs Red wine is abundant in polyphenols. The polyphenols in wine interact with cells involved in the development and storage of fat and the regulation of blood sugar. The amount of polyphenols in a small glass of red wine appears to rival the blood sugar regulating activity of certain diabetes drugs. 14. Slash your diabetes risk Men and women who drink moderately have a 30% lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. This may be due again to resveratrol, which improves sensitivity to insulin. Insulin resistance is the most important critical factor contributing to Type 2 diabetes risk. Don’t make this crucial mistake The monumental mistake people make is trying to buy these benefits in a bottle, rather than looking at how wine can be a part of a healthy lifestyle. We want to bottle it, sell it, and find that magic bullet.Supplements have not proven to have the benefits of simple foods. Nature is complex, and we haven’t figured out how to put that in a bottle (and I hope we don’t). The most important thing you can do is start to look at the big picture. Think of the slow-paced life of the Mediterranean and bring a little bit of that into your life.Take time to prepare a simple meal packed with legumes and fresh vegetables.Savor this meal. Linger at the table with your friends and family.And of course – enjoy a leisurely glass of wine without feeling guilty.

Sunday December 02, 2018

Alec Baldwin Arrested for Alleged Assault

Alec Baldwin was arrested in New York on Friday for alleged assault. The New York Police Department confirmed to E! News the actor was being held in custody for allegedly punching a man over a parking spot. He was held at the 6th precinct until Friday afternoon. According to the authorities, the alleged altercation happened at 1:30 p.m. EST at W 10th Street between University and Broadway. According to WNBC, the victim was taken to Lenox Hill Hospital after complaining of pain. Per the Deputy Commissioner of Public Information, the It’s Complicated star was charged with assault and harassment and was given a desk appearance ticket. His court date is scheduled for later this month. Following the arrest, Baldwin tweeted, “Normally, I would not comment on something as egregiously misstated as today’s story. However, the assertion that I punched anyone over a parking spot is false. I wanted to go on the record stating as much. I realize that it has become a sport to tag people [with] as many negative charges and defaming allegations as possible for the purposes of clickbait entertainment. Fortunately, no matter how reverberating the echoes, it doesn’t make the statements true.” Baldwin’s fame has soared even more over recent years after he started impersonating president Donald Trump on Saturday Night

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Live. The star even received an Emmy for his performance. According to NBC 4 New York, Trump told a group of White House reporters, “I wish him luck” after news of Baldwin’s arrest broke. E! News has reached out to Baldwin’s rep for comments. This isn’t Baldwin’s first run-in with the law. Per NBC 4 New York, the actor was also arrested in 2014 for disorderly conduct. (ww.eonline.com)

Post Malone’s Crocs Sell Out—and Even Madonna Is Trying to Get a Pair Oh my God, Post Malone shoes. The rapper collaborated with Crocs on a new design for its classic clog, the Post Malone x Crocs Dimitri Clog, which was released on the brand’s website on Thursday. The shoes, which retail for $59.99 a pair, are white with a yellow baby devil face design and six custom-designed Jibbitz charms, including recreations of his “Stay Away” tattoo and his Posty Co.™ logo. The collection has already sold out. Well, for mortals, that is. “Omg I love those. How can i get some??” Madonna commented on Malone’s post advertising the line. “@madonna QUEEN, hi! DM us!” Crocs replied. But have no fear—you may be able to get your hands on a pair of Post Malone-inspired Crocs in a few weeks, just in time for the holidays. “More Posty Crocs coming in December!” the brand tweeted. “If you like something, go get it,” Post Malone, a longtime Crocs fan, said in a statement provided by the company earlier this week. “I wear Crocs everywhere from the bar to the stage and I felt it was the perfect collaboration to get together with Crocs and give the fans what they’ve been asking for.” (www.eonline.com)

Channing Tatum Brings Daughter What Really Surprised Robin Wright During House of Cards’ Final Season Everly to Jessie J’s Concert Meet the girlfriend? A day after reuniting with ex Jenna Dewan to take their 5-year-old daughter Everly trick-or-treating for Halloween, the 38-year-old actor brought the child with him to his new flame Jessie J’s concert in Los Angeles on Thursday. Channing was seen carrying his daughter in his arms into the Wiltern Theatre before Jessie, 30, took the stage. Hours earlier, Channing was photographed driving away from the British singer’s Los Angeles home. This past weekend, Channing was also spotted backstage by himself at Jessie’s concert in Houston. A source told E! News at the time, “Channing arrived with Jessie and her team and was placed in a private area before she took the stage. After the concert was over, Jesse and Channing ran out very quickly and were escorted together to her bus.” The two have yet to be photographed together since they began dating. Neither star has commented on the status of their relationship, which E! News learned about in October. Channing and Jenna, 37, announced in April that they had split after nearly nine years of marriage, adding that they were committed to putting the needs of Everly, their

only child, first. In late September, E! News learned that the actors were “causally dating” other people. Three weeks later, a source revealed that Channing was seeing Jessie, who he has known for “a while.” “They’ve been hanging out a lot lately and he’s excited about seeing her,” the source said. “She’s on the road, but he is very interested in getting to know her and doesn’t mind tagging along.” In late October, Jenna officially filed for divorce from Channing, agreeing on joint legal and physical custody of their daughter while requesting child and spousal

support.Days later, E! News learned that the actress is dating herself—she has been seeing Steve Kazee, a 43-yearold former Shameless actor and Tony Award-winning star of the Broadway musical Once, for the past few months. The two were recently spotted getting cozy at a Halloween party. “She has completely moved on from her marriage and is happy to have met someone new,” another source told E! News. “Steve treats her very well and is doing everything right. She’s hopeful about the future, but not getting too far ahead of herself.” (www.eonline.com)

“It’s bittersweet,” Michael Kelly said about the end of House of Cards. The final season of Netflix’s political drama is finally here after many, many headlines, and at a one point an uncertain future. Netflix suspended production on the drama after it cut ties with Kevin Spacey following sexual misconduct allegations. Series star and executive producer Robin Wright lobbied to keep the show going in an effort to protect the 600 jobs associated with the production. “It was a lot to process and be thoughtful about, be very mindful of this incredibly crew and production that’s been with us for six years, dedicated to the show,” Wright told E! News’ Carissa

Culiner about the decision to continue the show. “And to close out the show the way we’d always intended to for the fans.” As for that ending, Kelly and Wright said they’re satisfied with the way the show wraps up. “We’re always striving for that,” Wright said. Wright and Kelly said they didn’t have any input about how Spacey was written out, but they did work with the writers when it came down to the final interactions with their characters, Claire Underwood and Doug Stamper. Throughout the years, the characters have done some pretty awful things, including various murders. However, viewers have yet to see the worst thing Claire Underwood has done.

That comes in the sixth and final season. “I think you’ve yet to see it,” Wright teased. Wright’s spent six seasons in the skin of Claire Underwood and said she still got a “beautiful surprise” this year. “It was decided very last minute, how merciful she can be,” Wright teased. This season “shocks the hell out of you,” Kelly said. “And it just makes you want to click to the next one. It’s that appetite that you just can’t quite fulfill.” Click play on the video above to hear more from Wright and Kelly, including how the characters have changed them. House of Cards’ final season is now streaming. (www.eonline.com)

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1: Why doesn't a woman need a car? A: Because you don't need a car to get from the bedroom to the kitchen. 2.“Hey today was great” “What happened” “I ran into my ex today” “What's so great about that?” “I was in my car” 3. Confucius say, man who runs behind car will get exhausted, but man who runs in front of car will get tired. 4. A guy goes onto a rooftop bar, and is sitting next to a guy who says he's drinking a magical drink. He asks “What's so magical about it?” the guy drives a car and flies it around the rooftop. the other tries, but falls of and dies. The bartender shakes his head, and says. "Y'know, you're a real jerk when you're drunk superman. 5. A police officer writes a ticket for a car not being parked correctly. The driver asks why. When he realizes he is parked poorly, he responds “Oh. I'm terribly sorry. You see, I'm so gay I can't even park straight.” 6. My favorite sex position is the JFK. I splatter all over her while she screams and tries to get out of the car. 7. A man crashed his new expensive car into a tree He now knew how the Mercedes bends 8. What did Jenny get for her birthday after a car accident An amputation 9. I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather, but not like the other passengers in the car with him. 10. What do you take care of after a car crash? The witnesses 11. A family of 3, a dad, a mom, and a 12 year old son are driving in the car when the dad says, “How about we play a little game of two truths and a lie. It'll be fun.” “Ok,” the mom and son reply happily. “Let me start,” says the son. “Ok, go ahead,” replies the mom. “I hate video games, I hate school, and I love junk food,” says the son. “Ooh ooh! You do love junk food, you do hate school, and you don't hate video games.” Says the mom. “Your right!” He replies. “I'll go next,” says the dad. I love your mom, you're adopted, and my dad almost died in WWII.” “Hmm… Your dad did not almost die in WWII, obviously I'm not adopted, and you do love my mom.” Says the son. “The lie isn't that your adopted.” Says the dad. 12. What do you call a Mexican who lost his car? · Carlos. 13. Two police officers crash their car into a tree. After a moment of silence, one of them says, “Wow, that's got to be the fastest we've ever gotten to an accident site.” 14. What's the similarity between women and car parking spaces? The good ones are always taken, and sometimes when nobody's looking, you slip in the disabled one 15. Why did the snail paint a big “S” on his car? Because he wanted people to say look at that S car go when he rolled by. 16. A cop pulls a guy over for suspected drunk driving. The cop opens the door and the driver falls out onto the asphalt. The cop says, “Holy shit, you're so drunk, you can't even walk!” The drunk says, “No shit, that's why I took my car!” 17. What do you call 3 white guys pushing a car up a hill? White Power What do you call 3 black guys pushing a car up a hill? Black Power What do you call 3 Mexicans pushing a car up a hill? Grand Theft Auto 18. what is red, green, lies in a ditch and is covered in cookie crumbs? …a girl scout that got hit by a car 19. When is a car not a car? When it turns into a driveway. 20. Why did the chicken cross the road? Because it was emotionally distressed after a break up and wanted to find some help at his friends pen, in the end he was run over by a car, marking a sad end to what might have been a good chickens life 21. What's the difference between my car and a hooker? I park my car in a garage instead of leaving it on the side of the road. 22. One day a man was fixing a car, an he accidentally got brake oil in his mouth. He was about to spit it out, but then he thought, “hmm, this tastes pretty good!” So he would keep drinking brake oil. But his friends were getting worried about him, and they were like “dude, this can't be healthy.” But he said “Don't worry. I can STOP anytime.” 23. Why did the chicken cross the road? It didn't, I hit it with my car 3 blocks down 24. 3 Drunk men get in a taxi, the driver knew they were drunk so he started the car and turned it off. the first man gave him the money, the second man thanked him but the third man slapped the driver, the driver surprised that he noticed so he askes why and the third man replies with ¨why did you drive so fast.¨

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 02, 2018

Sunday December 02, 2018

Natural remedies for dark underarms 1. Lemon juice and honey mask Each day, rub a slice of lemon onto your underarms before you bath. Lemon is a natural skin lightener, exfoliant, and toner so it leaves your skin feeling smoother and softer. During your bath, mix an equal amount of raw honey and lemon juice. Apply this onto your underarms as a mask and leave on for five minutes. Rinse the paste off and moisturize. 2. Bicarbonate of soda scrub Make a natural skin lightening scrub by mixing one spoon of bicarbonate of soda with one spoon of coconut oil. Gently scrub your underarms and leave the scrub on for 510 minutes before rinsing off. When used over time, bicarbonate of soda exfoliates the skin getting rid of dark patches and body odor. In place of coconut oil you may use fresh lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. 3. Potatoes Thickly slice a potato and rub it directly under your arms daily. Rinse and moisturize afterwards. Potatoes brighten dull skin and improve elasticity. 4. Gram flour mask Make a skin lightening mask or paste by mixing 2 spoons of gram flour, 1 spoon of milk, 1 spoon of lemon juice, and a pinch of turmeric. The paste will appear yellow in colour. Apply on clean dry skin and leave it on for 30 minutes before rinsing. The lemon and milk will work to lighten and brighten the skin. 5. Turmeric mask Mix some turmeric with coconut oil and apply this paste onto clean underarms for 20 minutes. Tissue off then rinse with cool water. Turmeric is rich in antioxidants and draws out impurities while lightening skin discoloration. 6. Aloe vera Apply some aloe vera juice onto freshly shaved underarms to disinfect and to moisturize and heal the skin. It is high in antimicrobial properties and it also encourages skin rejuvenation. Some ladies even use the fresh Aloe Vera gel (slice the leaf to obtain the clear part for use) as a shaving gel. It is slippery and moisturizing therefore ideal for this function. If you prefer to shower in the morning, get in the habit of cleansing your underarms before bed with a warm washcloth. This will remove the layer of deodorant that has been there all day and enable your pores to breathe. This is very important because it is part of our lymphatic system which removes toxins from the body.

SOLUTION TO LAST WEEK’S WORD SEARCH

Kaieteur News

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Sunday December 02, 2018

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Kaieteur News

'Us' versus 'them', constitutional reform & shared... From page 39 respective regions. On the other hand, Central Government wants to determine the agenda of the regions, even when it has little or no political control. This nation has seen where regions are won by the

opposition, resources have been denied the people to develop their communities. Putting all the politicians in the Cabinet will not solve this. Solving this requires respecting the right to selfdetermination, including freedom of association and

A pandit, a pastor and a rotten system From page 44 being rigged to favour a few friends. The townships and RDCs and quite a few Neighbourhood Democratic Councils have wielded political power to enrich the councillors At Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast, a pastor was sworn in as the new mayor. A pandit and a pastor - tantalizing for the editors who would wonder how the opening prayers for the statutory meetings would go. For me, I am more convinced that there is a shift of thinking in our people. There is a very public backlash for actions of politicians at this time. Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence made some unfortunate statements during an internal party meeting. It is a fact that all parties do the same…they pander to their supporters. It so happens this one came out. So we have a pandit and pastor in charge of two key

communities - one in the city and one on the Essequibo coast. My advice to them is to be careful. It goes beyond the warnings of former mayor. Chase-Green who reportedly told Narine to beware of the many “wolves in sheep's clothing”. The new mayors have the responsibilities of turning the city and their communities around. It will take tough, unpopular, nonpartisan decisions at this time. A religious upbringing can only lend to the arsenal of power the mayor possesses. It will be no easy task, Mayors. Your actions will be held to scrutiny. We expect you to take it all in stride and pull out the stops that will reverse the bad taste that has been left in our mouths. Your employer, the people of Guyana, want no excuses. We are tired of them. We want our city and our country to be the best they can possibly be.

From Ruins to

Wholeness

From page 42 Understanding, Determined. Dope – You,' she writes, “What a blessing it is to have crossed our path during this lifetime. What a privilege it is to live you.” And in 'Progress,' she asks, “What does love mean to you?” Philosophically, Castillo explores atonement, gratitude and love of self. “I am love,” she avers. “Unconditional at its purest form. I still love you. But I love me more So-to my favorite broken heart, I am smiling like I have conquered something. Because I have.” In similar vein, she concludes in 'Untitled', “I'm realizing I'm still wealthy in who I am. There's richness in every breath given. You no longer get to do your healing at the

expense of my soul.” R e m a r k a b l y, e v e r y o ff e r i n g i n C a s t i l l o ' s impressive debut follows a clearly defined trajectory toward wholeness. For sure, Castillo is no longer bowed by the harsh terrain she once traversed. Her rebirth inspires. 'This is for You' takes us into the deepest recesses of human despair, but it allows us to revel in the exalted passions that only life can offer. F e e d b a c k : glenvilleashby@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter: @glenvilleashby This Is For You by Angel Castillo © 2018 Angel Castillo Publisher: Lulu Books ISBN 978-0-359-163618 Available at Lulu.com Ratings: Recommended

the electing of one's leaders. In 1999, Guyana went through another constitutional process of reform. It was felt that rampant discrimination in the management of the nation's business and distribution of its resources had come to a head and must be addressed. For several months the input of stakeholders was solicited and received in designing a system of governance that can be more inclusive and relevant to our needs. This is evident in the seminal Article 13, along with others. Ralph Ramkarran, who headed the Constitutional Reform Commission, is one of the leading proponents for reform and change in the governance structure. It would have been expected that as Chairman, he would

have deemed it of import to have the body of work that was developed and placed in the Constitution be implemented through laws and other measures. This commission was not treated with lightly and seen as a landmark project for this nation. The failure by Ralph and other leading operatives - such as Rupert Roopnarine, who was a member, and Moses Nagamootoo, who was politically active - to protect and advance this work, brings into question whether there was ever any seriousness at the beginning, and to what purpose were their roles. How can persons be intimately involved in conceptualising and building structures, and without seeing to the reward of the labour (mental and otherwise) find it more

worthwhile carrying the society down the proverbial rabbit hole. Are we becoming a nation of mice, where characters of national prominence can no longer stand up and defend beliefs embraced, even though these remain relevant and just? The talks about constitutional reform and shared governance are not buttressed by reasoned thinking. This is in large part due to the absence of regard for the instrument, and the recommendations made by the United Nations (UN), whose input was solicited by the Coalition as to how to proceed. Additional to the nonimplementing of the recommendations by the APNU+AFC, there seems to be scant regard for the UN, evident in the disregard for

the advice offered. Two of these are the need for public education on the Constitution and proceeding with reform in a deliberative manner. Article 119A speaks to a Parliamentary Standing Committee for Constitutional Reform which is tasked with engaging in review of the Constitution. Public education will bring grassroots' awareness as to what currently exists and how same can benefit the citizens. Society must decide whether attitudes are being informed by a serious desire to change our way of life in a n o rg a n i s e d m a n n e r, capitalising on the demonisation of the Constitution to play on fears, and/or considered a sexy topic that will garner attention and hold no one accountable.

Sunday December 02, 2018

Lawyers argue severity of sentence, self defence in murder conviction appeal Arguments were raised against the severity of a 57year jail sentence that was imposed on Quaison Jones, who was convicted in 2014 of the murder of fellow fish vendor Marlon Greene. Yesterday, the Court of Appeal began hearing arguments in case. Jones, 61, called ‘Blondie’, a fish vendor, was convicted by a jury for the January 17, 2011 murder of Marlon Greene, which occurred at the Meadow Bank Wharf, Georgetown. According to reports, on the day in question some fish cleaners were attracted by loud hollering and when they ran to the location they allegedly observed Jones cuffing away at Greene. It was reported that a closer look revealed that Jones was armed with a knife, and there were bloodstains on the blade. Greene’s windpipe and jugular vein were severed, according to the Pathologist. His cause of death was given as shock and haemorrhage.Following the sentence and conviction, Jones, through his Attorney, filed an appeal contesting the severity of the sentence and the issue of misdirection by the Trial Judge Navindra Singh, who imposed the jail term.Hearing the appeal on Friday were Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Yonette Cummings-Edwards, and Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory

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Kaieteur News

CONVICTED KILLER: Quaison Jones

MURDERED: Marlon Greene

and Rishi Persaud. Appearing for the State was Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Diane Kaulesar. Attorneys-at-Law Ronald Burch-Smith and Keoma Griffith are representing Jones. During his submissions, Burch-Smith argued that based on the evidence, his client was part of a group of men who had attacked Greene. During the trial none of the witnesses called by the prosecution indicated who was the aggressor. The lawyer further argued that Justice Singh failed to direct the jury to consider self defence, accident or even provocation, when he urged the jury to convict Jones of murder if they found that Greene died as a result of injuries inflicted on him by the convict.Advancing further ar-

guments, Burch-Smith argued that self defence does not always see someone retreating and running away. He said that in criminal law self defense means that a person may use reasonable force in the defence of himself or another.The lawyer told the court that the alleged killing occurred in broad daylight, and he found it strange that only close relatives and friends of the deceased were called as prosecution witnesses. Even after he was convicted, Jones maintained his innocence.Jones at the time of his sentencing had shouted in court, “It wasn’t me”, adding that he never had any problems with Greene. Jones had also denied ever seeing prosecution witness Nicholas Isaacs, who had testified to seeing him stabbing away at Greene.

Mexico’s new President Lopez Obrador promises radical change MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Veteran leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador was sworn in as Mexican president yesterday, promising a radical change of regime in a country struggling with gang violence, chronic poverty and corruption on the doorstep of the United States. Backed by a giant Mexican flag, the 65-year-old took the oath of office in Mexico’s lower house of Congress, saying his administration would overturn what he called the disastrous legacy of decades of “neo-liberal” governments. “Starting now, transformation is under way, ordered and peaceful but at the same time radical, because we will end the corruption and impunity that impede Mexico’s rebirth,” he said. The first leftist to take office in Mexico in a generation also tried to reassure business after markets crashed since the July 1 election on worries about his policies, including the abrupt cancellation of a $13 billion airport project. Lopez Obrador reiterated that investments in the country of 130 million people would be safe, and vowed to respect central bank independence. Saying his government would make savings by stopping losses from the public purse into the “sewer of corruption,” he promised not to raise national debt or taxes.

But in a reference to one of his heroes, the former president Benito Juarez who separated the church and the state in Mexico, Lopez Obrador promised his government would ensure a divide between economic and political power in the country. He said the government of his predecessor Enrique Pena Nieto had caused a plunge in oil output by opening the energy industry in Latin America’s second-largest economy to private investment. Some of the toughest problems Lopez Obrador faces are more severe than when Pena Nieto took office in 2012 vowing to tackle unprecedented violence. Like his predecessor, the new president says security will be his top priority. More than 25,000 murders, a record, were logged in 2017. But over 10,000 were registered between July and October, the bloodiest fourmonth period since modern records began in 1997. Lopez Obrador enters office with more support than

Pena Nieto, according to a Nov. 23-25 survey by polling firm Consulta Mitofsky published on Friday. Reflecting his austere manner, Lopez Obrador arrived at Congress in a modest white Volkswagen sedan with little visible security, in contrast to the opulent lifestyles of his predecessors. In another sign of change, the doors of Pena Nieto’s official Los Pinos residence were thrown open to public visitors on Saturday. Lopez Obrador has said he will save money by living in an apartment in the presidential palace. Pena Nieto returned to Mexico from a G20 summit in Argentina on Saturday morning, on the last official flight for his Boeing Dreamliner presidential plane, which Lopez Obrador is putting up for sale. Caption: Mexico’s new President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador waves while arriving to the Congress for his inauguration, in Mexico City, Mexico December 1, 2018. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso

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Sunday December 02, 2018

Kaieteur News

Prosecutor’s Code should involve widespread consultations – Former AG While a Code for Prosecutors is a necessary and positive development in any legal system, the implementation of such mechanisms should include broad- based consultation especially by members of the legal fraternity. This is the view expressed by former Attorney General, (AG) Anil Nandlall, who lauded the step taken to help provide guidelines to prosecutors acting in their various capacities. The Code which was launched on Tuesday is expected to lend support to the Guyana Police Force (GPF). It is the leading investigative body which works along with other agencies like the Customs

Anti Narcotic Unit (CANU), the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), National Insurance Scheme (NIS), and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), to institute charges. The Code was drafted in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). It sets out the tests that all prosecutors in Guyana will be expected to apply in determining whether criminal charges should be instituted. It is based on the Constitution of Guyana, the Legal Practitioners Act, as well as the 1999 Standard of the International Association of Prosecutors. A similar Code has already been implemented in

the Caribbean Islands of Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, St. Lucia and Dominica. Nandlall said that while such Codes have long been promulgated throughout the Commonwealth and indeed, in the United Kingdom, in many cases, it does not have the force of law. “Such a code lends uniformity and will bring consistency and certainty in the standard used and principles considered when criminal charges are to be instituted. Codes like these have been widely used by courts in determining whether charges which are instituted

Anil Nandlall are lawful and valid and whether the prosecutors’ conduct is unfair, unreasonable, and arbitrary or influenced by irrelevant

Lawyers appeal Magistrate’s decision in Nandlall stolen law books case Lawyers representing former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, have appealed the decision of Magistrate Fabayo Azore to overrule a no submission in a case where he is accused of stealing several law books belonging to the State. In the appeal filed in the High Court, lawyers are contending among other things that the Magistrate erred in law when she overruled the submission of the Applicant’s Attorneys-at-Law that the offence of “Larceny by a Bailee contrary to Section 165 of the Criminal Law Offences Act, Chapter 8:01” is an offence unknown to the Laws of Guyana. The lawyers are arguing, too, that the Magistrate erred in law by failing, refusing or neglecting to give sufficient reason or at all on November 23, 2018, (when she made her decision that the no case submission as required by the Judicial Review Act Chapter 3:06, Laws of Guyana.” “The Learned Magistrate committed an error of law by overruling the submission that the Ministry of Legal Affairs is not a legal entity and has no legal persona and is therefore

incapable of legally owning any property although the Particulars of the Charge allege that the Law Reports in question are the property of the Ministry of Legal Affairs,” the document added. Last week, Nandlall, was told by Magistrate Azore that sufficient evidence was led against him in relation to the alleged theft of 14 Lexis-Nexis Law Reports of the Commonwealth. In the circumstances, he was called upon to lead a defence. It is alleged that Nandlall, between May 18, 2015 and May 29, 2015, being a bailee in the then capacity of Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, fraudulently converted 14 Commonwealth Law Reports valued at $2,313,853, property of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, to his own use and benefit. Nandlall pleaded not guilty to the allegation. He is out on self bail pending the outcome and determination of the trial. Meanwhile the appeal is fixed for December 13, at 4pm before the Chief Justice.

Delay in activities, underspending could see overrun in criminal justice system programme A US$8M ‘Support for the Criminal Justice System Programme’ is likely to exceed its intended deadline due to delays in the timely execution of activities and underspending, says the 2017 Auditor General Report. According to the Auditor General Report, on February 21, 2017, the government and the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) entered into an agreement

which saw the bank lending US$8M, to contribute to the financing and execution of the programme. The Project Execution Plan outlines that total of US$706,000 was allocated for the period under review. Only US$102,859 was expended on operational activities. The programme commenced from the date of the agreement and is to be executed within five years and six months,

Partial road closure... From page 12 while materials were being offloaded on site. They further went on to implement time sensitive periods of offloading of materials to not affect traffic. Seven bridges and 12 culverts will be widened in the four-lane section and two bridges will be reconstructed. The project will also involve the installation of sidewalks, streetlights, traffic signals, road safety signs and markings. The finished surface of the roadway will comprise four inches of asphaltic concrete.

bringing it to an end on August 20, 2022. “The project is subject to separate reporting and audit and according to the financial statement of the project as at December 31, 2017, the project expended sums totalling US$102,859 for the payment of salary/gratuity, office furniture, office equipment, supplies, and advertisement cost.” The Auditor General Report highlighted, “It is also noted that the delay in the timely execution of the programme’s activities and spending of 15% of the allocated resources could result in the programme not achieving its objectives and an overrun of the life of the programme.” Responding the Ministry of Legal Affairs explained that the project commenced in June 2017, and that the programme team and IDB

representatives reviewed the results matrices because activities planned for the six months’ period and budgets at US$706,000 were not realistic and needed realignment. “The activities were then adjusted and the budget was revised. This should result in the normalization of the programme spending by the end of 2019 and the project life within the stipulated time frame,” the Ministry added. The Auditor General’s Report outlined that the objectives of the ‘Support for the Criminal Justice System Programme’ are to contribute to the reduction of high concentration of the prison population, and also to reduce the proportion of inmates who are pre-trial detainees. It is also intended to increase the use of alternative sentencing.

considerations ….” The former AG noted that based upon the information available, there was apparently no consultation with important stakeholders such as the Bar Association. “It is highly likely they did not have any input from the practising bar who are likely to be one of the main utilizers of this code.” Nandlall therefore believes that the document should be made available and circulated among the relevant stakeholders. During the launch on Tuesday, Director of Public Prosecutions,(DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack noted that the launch is the first step towards providing a uniform plan of action for prosecutors. In giving an overview of the Prosecutors’ Code, AliHack explained that it is a booklet containing a set of rules that encapsulates how prosecutors, including police prosecutors, make decisions. She expressed happiness with the launch, pointing out that it is nothing new to prosecutorial bodies, and that some jurisdictions have enacted the legislation. She noted, too, that plans are in the pipeline to have the code supported by further legislation to ensure compliance. The DPP emphasized that the prosecution is an integral

part of the criminal justice system and it must be done in an effective, impartial and fair manner. The Chief Prosecutor cautioned that a decision of whether to prosecute must not be influenced by a person’s race, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, gender, financial circumstances, or political affiliation, or any other personal factor. She stressed that great care must always be taken by those who decide on these issues, “recognizing that incorrect decisions to prosecute may undermine the confidence in the criminal justice systems.” “Accordingly, a decision to prosecute should only be taken after all the evidence and the relevant circumstances have been considered properly. This is done if the investigations are completed timely and legal advice sought before a charge is instituted.” She explained that the early disclosure of statements to defendants will see them pleading guilty to the offence for which they are charged, or to a lesser offence, to bargain for a sentence. This, she noted, will save the court from conducting trials and will also ease the backlog of cases.

Leguan farmer found floating

The body of 69-year-old George Dove who resides at Lot 1 La Bagatelle, Leguan, Essequibo was seen floating at the La Bagatelle foreshore around 06:45 hours Saturday. Police enquiries disclose that on November 20, last, about 10:00 hours, the now deceased man left home for his farm which is located at Parika Backdam where he would normally spend two to three weeks and then return home. On Friday, about 18:30 hours, the deceased was seen by Juliet Augustus, a teacher of La Bagatelle, Leguan, at the Leguan wharf, lying on the ground, apparently highly intoxicated. The woman who knows Dove then offered to take him home but he refused. Augustus then went to the man’s home to inform his wife, Ann Ramroach Singh, who is a Security guard, but the woman wasn’t at home. Reports are that it is a regular habit for Dove to drink alcohol and fall into trenches. The man’s body was

DEAD: George Dove taken to the Leguan Hospital where he was pronounced dead. When the body was fished out of the water abrasions were seen on the head and left side of the body. Investigators suspected that those abrasions occurred while the body was in the water and bracing the rocks. The body is at the Leguan Hospital mortuary awaiting post mortem examination.

Sunday December 02, 2018

Kaieteur News

STANDARDS IN FOCUS

Shopping Tips for the Christmas Season

With less than a month to Christmas Day, the shopping hype has already begun for the holiday season in Georgetown and the other commercial districts across Guyana. Usually this is the time when consumers buy all sorts of items, including gifts for loved ones and items to improve their home decor. Usually, at this time of the year more than any other time, businesses increase their advertising and sales promotion to encourage customers to buy their offerings. Likewise, consumers must be very vigilant in their choices and pay attention to the tips offered by consumer protection bodies such as the GNBS, the CCAC and the CAD via the different media. Consumers are also encouraged to go online for additional information which will guide their specific purchases. From this week to the end of the Christmas season this column will focus extensively on providing tips that will guide consumers towards making informed purchases during the season, especially relating to products monitored by the GNBS. As consumers, spending money in a very smart manner this Christmas season is definitely possible! Shopping for products that are of quality and making comparisons to find the most reasonable prices offered by different businesses are the ways to go. Products that are produced according to or are conforming to the requirements of National or International Standards are usually of good

q u a l i t y. M o s t o f t h e s e products are tested to ensure conformance to specified requirements and carry one or many standards marks, such as: UL, CE, CSA, NOM, CCC. Check the label on that new television, refrigerator, blender or electrical cooker you intend to purchase for any of these standards marks. Prior to shopping, take a moment to carefully understand your expectations of the products you intend to buy. Aspects to be considered should include quality, durability, performance, usefulness, alternatives and price. “Sales” are generally enticing and consumers tend to buy products for which they have no need. Shopping smart takes time, skill and practice. Each of us needs to practice smart shopping to get “A Fair Share in the Market Place”. To get your fair share in the market place try these shopping reminders: · Think before you buy! Ask yourself . . . do I need this item? Will it fit into my budget? Spending only $3000.00 a week on things you don’t need will cost you $156,000.00 in a year. · Check it out! Find out all you can about a product before you buy it. Read about the product. Talk to people who own or know about the product. Ask the salesperson to show you how the product works. See if the product really does what the commercials say it does. Check products for standards marks and other labelling information. · Consider the facts! Think about the facts you

read or are told about the product. Which facts are the most important to you and your family? Remember that companies may not consistently produce the same quality of products so the product you bought last year might have a better quality than the one you intend to buy this year. Smart shoppers consider the facts before they buy. · Compare! Smart shoppers shop around. Visit or call at least three reputable stores to compare the prices of the item, the different models of the item and the return rules of each store. Buy from the store that gives you the most for the m o n e y y o u s p e n d . Yo u must also compare quantity with quality. Ensure that you are given a warranty on item you have selected. · Choose! Be picky! It’s your money. Think about what you are getting for your money. Remember if a product or a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is! · Check expiry dates and bar codes! By doing this you will avoid using products that are unsafe to you and your family. Some businesses may be unscrupulous enough to put items on sale which are about to expire. The Guyana National Bureau of Standards encourages all consumers to always plan your purchases and buy quality products to get the best value for your money. For further information please contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 2190069, 219-0065, 2190062 or visit the GNBS website www.gnbsgy.org.

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TB medications now in supply

From left: Dr. Quacy Grant, Mr. Oneil Atkins and Dr. Eshwar Ghanshiam DIRECTOR of Pharmacy Oneil Atkins on Friday said there is no need to panic following the shortage of one of four medications used to treat drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) patients. “All TB patients would be adequately treated,” Mr. Atkins assured. There was a recent shortage of Ethionamide, part of the cocktail of drugs used to treat those special TB patients. Emergency supplies of this key drug arrived in Guyana late last week and were distributed to patients, Dr. Jeetendra Mohanlall, Manager of the Global Drug Facility confirmed Friday. Explaining the recent shortage, Dr. Mohanlall said the Global Drug Facility is pushing for quality second line medication for Guyana’s TB drug resistant patients. Due to some global challenges the delivery was delayed. The programme had to resort to emergency supplies which arrived beyond the expected time of delivery. The four second line drugs used to treat

these drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) patients are sourced from South Korea, Japan, India and Cyprus, through the Guyana Defence Force ( GDF), Dr. Mohanlall said. He also reiterated that the medicines will be enough to treat “all drug-resistant TB patients for another year”. This is the first time in four years that we “had a brief interruption” of one of the medications for patients, the Global Drug Facility Manager said. According to Mohanlall, the National TB Programme has made great strides in the programmatic management of the multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB). He said there is a dedicated Focal Point Person, Dr. Eshwar Ghanshiam. Guyana has implemented nine of the 10 recommendations by PAHO/WHO’s Green Light Committee given in 2016, he added. He pointed to increased screening in Guyana to identify all possible drug resistant TB patients noting that while there were 150 Continued on page 68

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Sunday December 02, 2018

Kaieteur News

TB medications now in... FOR RENT

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; Graphics design, advertisement, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6006887: We create A/works, logos, business 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 Need a Land surveyor, we do surveys for: Boundaries, Leases, Engineering, Cadastral topo etc. Call: 6622677

FOR SALE Generac Pressure Wash for sale 3100 PSI. Tel#654-5267/ 652-2244/220-4203 One Ford explore sportage jeep, fully loaded $3.7M. Call# 684-4636/676-4810 Four (4) Pure Breed German Shepherd pups, Black & Tan six (6) weeks old. Tele No #650-9998/626-0953 6 week old German Shepherd pup $95,000 neg #682-8600 Business place on 5th St Albertown $30 Million Negotiable. Call: 684-9409 Imported bedroom, Living room, Bathroom: Furniture/ Accessories-Beds, Dressers, Lamps, Carpets, TV Stand etc. Owner leaving #655-3070 Nibbi Furniture, Sculptures, Paintings, Baskets, Ceramics & Local Gift items. Creations Crafts 7A Water Street. #2270472

Eagle’s re-gas AC, Fridge, Washing machine & computer repairs, Gas stove, Plasma flat screen, Electrical installation & more. Call: 6972969/646-0966

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Salon for rental, New Market St, Georgetown, also hair/ nails/barber/massage. Makeup stations for rental #638-1106 1 Apt for rent- Bottom flat for rent, for business. Contact Radica Kassim #264-2639 Lot 7-8 Plantain Walk WBD Two bedroom apt to rent, East Coast Demerara. Tel#675-1510

Newly constructed 2 bedroom apt in a safe and healthy environment. Call: 698-6496/622-6512 Furnished, Air conditioned two bedroom bottom flat, First Phase in South Riumveldt Gardens. Call: 6188436 PROPERTY FOR SALE 3-Bedrooms spacious colonial house @ Versailles Public road. Huge yard, Fruit trees, all amenities, parking. Price Negotiable Tel#6097766/225-8427 Lot 87 Albert St. Albertown, Price $29M #669-8701 1 three bedroom concrete 2 storey at B Field Sophia. $14M Contact #625-9609/ 676-6831 Transported Double lot in Rosehall, opportunity for Duplex Apartments. Call or Whatsapp #346-818-0822 Property located on Stone Ave, section ‘M’ C/Ville. Price $40 Million. Call: 6721920

HEALTH HERBAL REMEDIES: Diabetes, Hypertension, Infertility, Menstrual disorders, Enlarged prostate, Kidney,Gall stones & Arthritis etc. Call Sparman #676-5924 PEN PAL Indian Male from England seeks female Age 29/32 with good personality. Call or Text #690-6639

Live in or live out babysitter/ domestic- Call: 223-7500 Monday to Saturday 8:15am4:15pm Office clerk, Senior/Junior CXC English/Mathematics, Computer knowledge an asset. Call: 223-7500

1 Professional cook, 1 Professional Domestic worker for small family, Ages 30-45 for more info contact #687-1880/ 227-8614

1 & 2 Bedroom apartments, 3 bedroom house. Can be used for storage also ECD. Contact Mr. Khan #695-6550/656-9313 3 bedroom unfurnished house (all bedrooms selfcontained) Hot and cold water. Monthly $160,000. Call: 672-1920

One experienced soup cook. Mon-Sat.Good pay Tel#2256927. Ask for Tonya, serious enquiries only.

Vacancy exist for Experienced Pharmacy assistants to work @ reputable pharmacy in Georgetown. Call: 696-5098/ 628-8811 between 8am-4pm Atlas Security Service IncNow Hiring: Armed Officers, Unarmed Officers, Salary $85,000-$100,000 monthly. Call: 231-4960/653-1265 One female accounts clerk, apply at Alabama Trading 65 Robb Street Bourda Hick’s Ville HotelReceptionist. #231-0951/2277 7 1 4 / 2 2 3 - 3 4 4 8 info@vgiworld.com

2 Grillmen (Driver's license a plus) to grill burgers. 1 live in help from Berbice/Essequibo. Contact X's Grill & Cuisine.#695-6550/656-9313

Need Male and Female to work in the interior $80,000 #674-1767

Security officers wanted age between 30-50. Call: 231-8169 for an arranged interview.

DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL:225-7126/ 2263 6 9 3 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL @YAHOO.COM/ WWW.D OLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM

1 Handyboy/man must be honest- 1 live-in Nanny/Maid living accomodation & meals provided free. #228-5655/6498449 Carpenters and Masons to work in Linden. Tel #602-9469 Private hire car drivers. Tel: 225-3234, 225-9223 Husband & wife to live-in on small Poultry Farm, must know Gardening. Tel#655-4483 Experienced Taxi & Private Drivers #227-0638/622-6413 ENTERTAINMENT

WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIALOFFERS! . CALL: 690-6494

Waiter/Waitress and a Chef, preferably carnegie trained. Call: 225-7933, or visit 173 Sheriff Street.

1 Female domestic worker, preferably live-in, honest and reliable from age 40 and up. Tel#227-2321

One (1) Security Officer #2271717

AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807

General Domestic, must know to cook. Apply KeyFood McDoom EBD.

Logs.

Buying Wamara Whatsapp: 664-5150

CAR RENTAL

PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS FROM $4000 & UP, SUV’S PER DAY- CALL:643-5122/6560087, ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM

One party store attendant. Tel# 691-7123

Vegetarian Garden- Driver/ salesman # 227-7714/223-3448 info@vgiworld.com

Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665/6493750

Toyota Spacio. Tel#639-9553

Diesel Toyota canter truck long base double cab. Working condition. Tel: 6266889

Demerara Bakery Inc. is looking for Distributors, Wholesalers & Retailers. Call us on 266-5847 or email: sales@demerarabakery.com

Mini excavator $8,800 per hour, also Bobcat service available. Tel#623-0290

Allion, Primo, Fielder Wagon, Spacio, Bluebird, 212 Carina, RZ,Pit-bull, Allex, 192 & Canter – Call: 650-7501

Nissan Laurel Executive car, Nissan Pathfinder Jeep, Well kept. Hot Bargains now Call: 660-3415/609-7766

Manager to work at 704 Sport bar, must have experience. Contact #223-5273 /2235274

We buy land in Eccles, Herstelling, Farm, Parfaite Harmonie, Uivlugt, Zeelugt, Providence & Dairy Tel# 6117223/651-1969

1 Bedroom for Rent $25,000. Contact #222-0618/644-2634

2005 Toyota Tacoma Ext cab 4x4 $2.6 Negotiable Tel#6901894

VACANCY

One 2 bedroom apartment located at North East La Penitence. Contact#668-3259/ 621-3762

VEHICLE FOR SALE TO LET

WANTED

Big G Sounds is available for small events. (Wedding, Small BBQ, Birthday parties etc) Contact numbers #661-9931/ 622-5713/672-9293

1 Male cook to work in interior $90,000 monthly. Experienced land dredge workers. Tel: 6298280 Security officers wanted by Security Company for Beterverwagting (BV) location. Call: 672-1920 Male security officers wanted between ages 25-50. Call: 6721920

From page 67 screenings in 2014 this figure jumped to 1,540 in 2017, Mohanlall noted that of the 2015 cohort of drugresistant TB patients, 40 percent successfully completed the two-year treatment. This figure climbed to 60 percent in 2016. The 2017 cohort of DRTB patients are continuing treatment. Other strides in the sector include improving the management of patients. With this accomplishment, “there needs to be more dedicated resources in the Direct Treatment Observe Shortcourse (DOTS) programme to do daily visits to patients,” Mohanlall pointed out. “Even doctors attached to the TB Programme visit patients in their homes with the mobile teams that are established,” he said. He said TB patients generally have socioeconomic challenges and they need psycho-social support in their management. To strengthen his position, the Global Drug Facility Manager is strongly advocating boosting the social protection of these patients which he said, “is in line with the END TB Strategy”. Although Guyana has a 90 percent coverage of DOTS there are still many challenges presented by defaulting patients such as drug addicts, the homeless and the internal migrant population such as miners and loggers. In 2017 it was observed that 20 per cent of the TB patients also habitually abuse drugs and alcohol. “These can be difficult to manage under the DOTS strategy. There are some who need to be in specialised care facilities such as TB Step Down Care Unit set to be commissioned in the first quarter of 2019,” Mohanlall said.

ACCOMMODATION Air conditioned room $3000 daily, Fully furnished apts $6000 daily. Tele#223-0994/ 678-5827

LAND FOR SALE 35 acres land at Yarrowkabra, situated next to the Soesdyke Linden Highway. Tel#261-2553

Secret Villa & Harmony Inn. Fully furnish, air-condition rooms & apartments. 2256337, 668-0306, 218-1400, 6028769, 266-5243-4

Farm (East Bank) $3.2M Eccles $7M Herstelling $4M & $5M Schnoord $2.8M Dairy $1.6M & $2.6M Tel#656-0701/648-1635

FOR SALE/RENT

Transported land 11.6 acres. Lot 15 public road. #2 Village W.C.B. Price $18M. Contact 686-4818, 648-7109

American Pool table. Tel#2770578

Sunday December 02, 2018

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Kaieteur News

CONSUMER CONCERNS

Caribbean Beekeepers Congress and Honey Industry By PAT DIAL Honey as a food and as a substitute for manufactured sugar is in growing demand worldwide. This is partly due to the fact that sugar is now regarded as dangerous to health and consumers are moving away from it. Honey is now generally accepted as a healthier sweetener than sugar. Some weeks ago, this column dealt with the Caribbean Beekeepers Congress; the Congress was held between 19th and 23rd November. The Congress was a success and indeed had many of the features of a seminar. It was opened by the Hon Minister of Agriculture, Mr Noel Holder. There were representatives from Dominica, Jamaica, St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize and Bahamas together with a large Guyanese representation.

In his feature address, Mr Holder indicated that legislation was mooted since it is only by such legislation would the country be able to expand its markets and improve and modernize production. Among the items the Congress addressed were an introductory programme for new beekeepers; fake honey and some of the risks beekeepers could face financially and even socially and how these could be surmounted. There was discussion of inter-Caribbean trade and the acquisition of international markets. Trinidad has banned foreign honey and particularly Guyana honey from its market. This issue could not have been resolved at the Congress though there is some indication that the Trinidad and Tobago government will modernize its legislation. As an example of

how gauchely the Trinidadian legislation works is the case of Laparkan. Laparkan, a Guyanese company was fined US $3000 in 2015 by the Trinidad Customs for trans-shipping honey. Honey is now established worldwide as a valuable health food which could also be used medicinally. It is used in cooking, for making deserts, as a jam, as a sweetener for drinks and even in cocktail mixtures. Medicinally, it is used for treatment of colds, abrasions and skin damage and in cases of serious burns. Of any of the Anglophone Caribbean territories, Guyana has the most possibilities of becoming a world class honey producer and exporter. Its vast forested Interior regions which are sparsely populated could be used as honey farms. The type of honey produced in wilderness

conditions has its own flavor. This was the kind of honey ancient man used and which animals like bears prefer. It is multi-floral and contrasts with much of the honeys produced in the developed world where the hives are moved to farms to pollinate blossoms so that more bountiful harvests could be achieved. It is this movement of hives to specialized farms that allow for the production of certain types of honey such as “orange blossom” or “apple blossom”. Though hives are placed in the vicinity of flower farms, honey from specific types of flowers is unusual. One of the rarest of flower honeys is lotus honey which is pale pink and is produced mostly in India in small quantities. The State should help to stimulate the honey industry by offering it various incentives as well as incentives for new entrants

to the industry. There is need to mount training programs countrywide beginning with the schools. The State should also explore foreign markets since beekeepers, being largely amateurs, usually do not have the knowledge and capability of so doing. Strict quality controls should be established so that beekeepers do not adopt the foreign habit of diluting honey with various substances. It should also be pointed out that the industry could provide employment for thousands and a comfortable living for many families. These topics were touched on during the Congress. One important problem that was not substantively considered is the issue of Africanized bees. These bees have been taking over the hives and beekeepers have to develop new ways of dealing with them. There has been much

scientific research done abroad on these bees but so far no conclusions have been arrived at. The public looks upon these bees as dangerous wasps that have to be eliminated. More education about the bees need to be disseminated so that there would be less fear of them and more capability of dealing with swarms. Probably, exploring an insect repellant which could keep off those bees may be a short term answer. The Africanized bees are now an inescapable and unpleasant component of the honey industry and constructive ways have to be worked out to accommodate them. Caribbean Beekeepers Congresses are useful and their value could be further enhanced if there is a greater scientific input and governmental support and involvement.

CGX Energy, Ministry of Indigenous Peoples partner to... From page 62 broke tradition with the timehonored practice of Geologists naming exploration wells. Instead, the company sought the blessings of the Aleluya Church elders in naming its new well. The exploration well, to be drilled on the company's Corentyne Block, approximately 140 miles offshore Guyana, was named Utaakwaka (New Dawn) in a stirring ceremony at the Umana Yana. Twelve elders and members of the Aleluya Church traveled to Georgetown to bless and name the company's well. Importantly, Church Elders also provided important guidelines to CGX: the company was cautioned to ensure it acted to always protect the environment and to ensure that the original peoples of this land were not forgotten in the development which stems from a successful discovery. The idea to partner with the Akawaios of Amococopai and Phillipai was the brainchild of Professor Suresh Narine, Executive Chairman of CGX Energy Inc. Prof. Narine is well-known in Guyana and wider afield for his partnership with and championship of, Indigenous Peoples and their development. Narine who was himself inducted by the Patamonas of the high Pakaraimas as an honorary Patamona, for his work in Paramakatoi and surrounding communities, focused on growing, valueadding and marketing of

Professor Suresh Narine and Minister of Indigenous Peoples' Affairs, Sydney Allicock with some of the villagers during the handing over of the food items. sundried tomatoes. He is also the Director of Guyana's Institute of Applied Science and Technology. In this role, Prof. Narine has led the development and commercialization of other indigenous products such as Rupununi Essence and Kaieteur Nutraceuticals: Sak. On Friday, CGX Energy Inc., and the Ministry of Indigenous People's Affairs collaborated in a mission to further strengthen the company and the Ministry's relationship with the religious community. A team led by Vice President Sydney Allicock and including Prof. Narine and other members of the Ministry traveled to the villages of Phillipai and Amococopai.

The Vice President presented a new All Terrain Vehicle to the village of Phillipai and led discussions with residents of Amococopai on matters affecting them. It was the Vice President's first visit to the communities. CGX Energy provided approximately 1500 lbs of food items to the village of Amococopai. The items included flour, rice, split peas, chick peas, sausages, oil and salt. The company also provided the villagers with a replacement solar battery for a radio set. The visiting team was greeted by a stirring spiritual ceremony by the members of the Aleluya Church. The visitors were led in a circular path, linked arm in arm by church members who chanted

words of welcome, blessings and invocation in the native Akawaio. First, the circle covered the wide swept patio located on top of the tepui and on which the Church is built. Thereafter, the solemn ceremony of worship and blessings continued inside the Church, culminating with handshakes and hugs between the Church members and members of the visiting delegation. In his greetings to the villagers of Amococopai, Professor Narine thanked them for welcoming him and the delegation to the village and for sharing their blessings and traditions in such an open and loving fashion. The Professor reiterated his own and CGX's

commitment to partnership with the village and asked permission to visit again with his family. Narine told the villagers, “Thank you for the role you have played in maintaining this most special aspect of the Guyanese religious tapestry. Guyana is richer for having you in its borders and as a coast lander, I also thank you for your stewardship of this pristine part of our national patrimony.” Vice President Allicock also thanked the villagers for their welcome and explained that though this is his first visit, he would voluntarily return time and again because of the deep spiritual appeal of the Church and its members. The Vice President then engaged in a discussion

with the villagers on a wide range of matters affecting the villagers and promised to address, in varying degrees, most of the matters raised. The visit concluded in a traditional meal prepared by the villagers being consumed by the delegation together with the members of the village. Copious amount of “Kazak” was brewed by the villagers for the occasion. The meal consisted of the ubiquitous cassava bread with “tuma” and various meats and fish from the local environment. Prof. Narine and Allicock, both unabashed in their admiration for Indigenous cuisine, were loud in their praise of the meal and of the sentiments inherent in breaking bread together.

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Sunday December 02, 2018

Kaieteur News

Woman, 45, dies after failing to use overpass

December which happens to be “Road Safety Month” started with two road fatalities. The first death resulted from an accident that occurred yesterday, on the Danzie Public Road, Mahaicony, around 14:00 hours. A cyclist was killed on the spot after he was hit by a Pick-up. The other occurred on the Bagotstown Public Road, East Bank Demerara, around 19:15 hours, when a 45-yearold woman was crushed by a truck. She too died. Muneshwar Narine, 65, of Supply, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, was struck down by a motor pick-up with registration plates PNN 8778. It was driven by a resident of #53 Village, Corentyne, Berbice. Police in a statement claimed the driver of the pickup was proceeding east along the northern carriageway of the road when the driver alleged that the cyclist who was riding in front of him, suddenly swerved into his path. The cyclist was rushed to the Mahaicony

The dead woman Shondell where she was crushed and the body being taken away from the scene.

Cottage Hospital by ambulance but he was pronounced dead on arrival. The driver was given a breathalyzer test which he subsequently passed. He remains in custody and is assisting police with their investigation. One resident said, “That pick-up had to be going with a lot of speed, because if you see where the man get hit and where he end up, you would

realize it was a hard impact.” The second road fatality involved a woman only identified as Shondell. Her head was crushed on the Bagotstown Public Road after she was run over by a truck laden with rice and heading to Georgetown. When Kaieteur News crime reporter arrived on the scene, the police were wrapping up their investigations while the woman’s body lay

on the roadway covered with a tarpaulin. She was said to have just left a shop on the western side of the East Bank Demerara Public Road when she was crushed by the truck. Some persons who claim to be the woman’s relatives were at the scene. They would only say the woman worked with National Hardware.

The relatives said she had no children. The bread, eggs and sugar on the road beside the woman’s body confirmed that she went to the shop. What was evident ,is that if the woman had used the overpass that Government had built to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars to ensure citizens safety, she would have been alive today. The truck driver claimed he only knew that he hit something after feeling the trucks rear wheel rolling over something. He stopped to investigate and noticed the woman lying

Dead Muneshwar Narine and his crushed bicycle. on the road, seemingly dead, the driver told police.

Regional bodies to benefit from restoration justice programme A five-day regional “train-the-trainer” workshop which commenced on Friday; is based on restorative justice, a programme sponsored by CARICOM and the European Union along with the Sycamore Tree Project.The train-the-trainer workshop is an activity of the 10th European Development Crime and Violence Prevention and Social Project under the Caribbean Forum/European Crime Security Programme. It is aimed at promoting social inclusion and reintegration of offenders into society.On the other hand the Sycamore Tree Project is an in-person restorative justice programme bringing together unrelated victims and offenders to discuss crime and its impact while presenting opportunities for understanding and healing.Caricom’s Assistant Secretary-General, Human and Social Development, Dr. Douglas Slater, stated that “Restorative justice is a response to crime that emphasises healing the wounds of victims, offenders and communities, caused or revealed by criminal behaviour.”

Sunday December 02, 2018

Kaieteur News

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Maintenance worker charged for robbery A 27-year-old maintenance worker was on Friday remanded to prison after he was charged for robbery. Adam Duncan denied the charge that was read to him by Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore in the Georgetown Magistrates Courts. The charge alleged that on November 7, 2018 at Agricola he robbed Sahid Mohamed of one gold chain valued at $250,000 and $120,000 in cash. Police Prosecutor objected to bail for Duncan based on the seriousness of the offence. Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore complied. Duncan is to return to court on the 12 December.

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Sunday December 02, 2018

Hikers versus Queen’s Park final... Boxing still on the ropes after IOC

freezes planning for Tokyo 2020

Fatima's Solomon Gomes pulls off a good save to deny Old Fort's Solomon Eccles during their 3-3 over-35 division draw last night at CASH From page 77 the over-34 veteran division will see local teams GCC Vintage and Old Fort opening the day’s play at

the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) from 11:00hrs before QPCC come against their fellow T&T counterparts in Fatima.

The winners in the male and female divisions will cart off US$100 each, while the runners’ up will pocket US$500.

TOKYO (Reuters) - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) put planning for the Tokyo 2020 boxing tournament on hold yesterday in a move that could see the governing body AIBA frozen out of the Games over a governance dispute. The IOC said in a statement it had also launched an investigation into the International Boxing Association after AIBA submitted a progress report focusing on governance, financial management and sporting integrity. It referred to that enquiry as “the initiation of a proce-

Boxer Floyd Mayweather... Sunday November 25, 2018 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Family members could be upset over different frustrating events in their lives, and these moods could spill over to you. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Unguarded words on the part of a younger person might lead to upset. If the words are directed at you, don't take them seriously. The person doesn't know any better. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Profligate spending over the past week or two may have you feeling less confident about your money situation today, Gemini. Perhaps you've lent some money to a friend and you doubt their ability to repay.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Spiritual and metaphysical studies may take up a lot of your time today. You might want to dig into the world's major religions or try to make it through works about spiritualism or the occult. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You might long for a vacation today, Scorpio, and you could toy with the idea of a journey by air. Your mind may turn to spiritual places such as India, Egypt, Israel, or Ireland. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Someone you've known for a long time may move away or otherwise vanish from your life. He or she may move to a distant state.

CANCER(June21–July22) Your ambition and will to succeed may be at war with your feelings today Perhaps you've been working so hard that you aren't spending enough time with friends and family - and they miss you.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) There might be some tension between you and your romantic partner that might have you feeling a bit depressed. The key to patching this up is honest communication.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Today, Leo, you might uncharacteristically decide to sequester yourself away from the world. Perhaps you're tired or feeling a bit under the weather and only wish to kick back and read a good book.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Today your biorhythms may be a little low, Aquarius, so you aren't likely to be feeling very sociable. You're more likely to want to bury your nose in your projects instead of being your usual outgoing self.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) quarrel over money could interfere with a friendship today, Virgo. Perhaps someone hasn't repaid a loan and the lender now needs it. Perhaps a member of your household is unable to pay their share of the bills.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Today your biorhythms may be a little low, Aquarius, so you aren't likely to be feeling very sociable. You're more likely to want to bury your nose in your projects instead of being your usual outgoing self.

From page 77 in the asset. The SEC issued a warning about promotion of online fundraisers known as initial coin offerings (ICOs) on Nov. 1 last year. “Any celebrity or other individual who promotes a virtual token or coin that is a security must disclose the nature, scope, and amount of compensation received in exchange for the promotion,” the SEC said in a public statement posted on its website. Echoing this sentiment on Thursday, one of the directors of the SEC’s enforcement division, Steven Peikin, said that “social media influencers are often paid promoters, not investment professionals, and the securities they’re touting, regardless of whether they are issued using traditional certificates or on the blockchain, could be frauds.”

South, West, North and... From page 75 2017 MVP Fayon Henry was in her usual clinical mood and she netted a hat-trick in South’s two-goal win, while Shakira Barker added the fourth. West Ruimveldt were not to be left out and they also scored four goals in their quarterfinal against St. Stephen Primary who didn’t have an answer to any of the successful strikes.Ashanna Rajkumar, Teneshia Persaud, Seona France and Rondella Anderson each netted one goal in the commanding win. Meanwhile, Martha Chase bagged a brace in North Georgetown’s last eight win over Tucville and St. Pius beat Genesis Primary 3-0 courtesy of two goals from Christal Archer and one from Ackiela Blake.

dure which can lead to the withdrawal of recognition for AIBA” but said it still hoped boxing would be part of the programme. “The IOC Executive Board makes all efforts to protect the athletes and ensure that a boxing tournament can take place at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 regardless of these measures,” the statement read. The IOC’s Executive Board said planning for the Olympic boxing tournament had been frozen, with immediate effect, and contact suspended between AIBA and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee. “This will also include the freezing of any ticket sales for the boxing competitions or any approval or implementation of the qualification system,” the IOC’s Sports Director Kit McConnell said in To-

kyo yesterday. No deadline was set for further action but any decision to withdraw recognition from an international federation would have to be made at an IOC session. The next one is scheduled for June 2019.McConnell said AIBA had been given adequate time to address the IOC’s concerns.“The timeline from the time we raised these questions is not short in that regard,” he said. “These questions have been on the table throughout the whole of 2018 and tomorrow is December.”AIBA, who did not respond to a Reuters request for comment on Friday, has been in turmoil for years and the IOC has warned the Swiss-based body to sort out its finances and governance, as well as anti-doping issues, or risk missing out on the Tokyo Games.

Sunday December 02, 2018

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Kaieteur News

Region’s 9 Stephen making waves in the Pool

Coach Fraser allowed the Region 9 swimmers use of the pool for practice.

Coleen Stephen collects her Gold Medal. By Sean Devers Region nine swimmer Coleen Stephen grew up in the village of Kardarnaua and started swimming competitively at the age of 10 and this year was her sixth year at the just concluded Nationals Swimming Championships held at the National Aquatic Centre on the East Coast of Demerara. Like most persons from the Hinterland she began

swimming even before she could walk like a duck takes to water. Coleen, who turned 16 in September, made her first trip to Nationals was in 2011 and since then has captured 15 medals. In the 2018 events Coleen won 3 silver, 2 bronze and Golds in the 50 meters and 100 meters in the backstroke events. This was the first time in

her six years of competition that she had secured Gold Medals, making this year her most successful Nationals. Quado Vancooten who was appointed Swimming coach for the Region 9 team for the first time this year, says, Coleen is very talented but like the other hinterland swimmers, lacks the luxury of proper training facilities which has caused her development in

the Pool not to be at the level that it should. “My biggest challenge as Coach is getting the swimmers to have actual pool experience to practice and that is something that is where Minister of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Sports Dr George Norton can help fix that problem for the swimmers, especially those in the indigenous Communities,”

lamented Vancooten. According to Coach Vancooten, his team, which stayed at the National Gymnasium, arrived in the City just two days before the Championships commenced. “We are thankful that Coach Stephanie Fraser who was able to help us to get the pool for about an hour to get the techniques right since the biggest disappointment is the lack of a pool presently in the

entire Region 9,” said Coach Vancooten. Vancooten added that he wants to see the Region 9 swimmers not only win races but hopefully in the not too distant future start winning the entire thing. North Georgetown will continue to dominate since they have access to not only the Pool at the Aquatic Centre but several other pools in the City.

MSC annual football South, West, North and St. Pius make final four to commence on December 26 Smalta girls’ peewee football

Matarkai Sports Committee in collaboration with New Image Barber shop and Platinum General Store will host its 3rd annual five-a-side Floodlights football starting on December 26. Matches will continue on December 27 with the grand finals slated for January 01st, 2019 at the Oronoque Tarmac, Port Kaituma. According to Mr. Sherlon Rodrigues PRO and chairman of MSC, the annual competition will see male teams from Matarkai, Mabaruma and Moruca vying for lots of cash, trophies, medals and individual prizes. All games are scheduled to start at 18:00hours. The defending champions Oronoque young gunners are eager to defend their title, while the chairman revealed that all youths are Quarterfinal action between South Ruimveldt and Enterprise (on the ball) yesterday at the MOE ground. Defending champions South Ruimveldt Primary School continue their impressive showing in this year’s

Smalta girls’ under-11 peewee football tournament after beating Enterprise 4-2 in their quarterfinal clash yesterday

afternoon. At the Ministry of Education (MOE) ground that has become the home of all Petra

Organisation’s competitions each of the quarterfinal fixtures were competed. And, (Continued on page 74)

eagerly looking forward to this annual event which is aimed towards engaging youths in a positive way especially during the festive season. Registration forms are now available and can be uplifted from Mr. Kimtse Castello Barber shop, Mr. Glenroy Hercules New Image Barber shop and Mr. Ronaldo Rodrigues Platinum General store. MSC would like to thank the NDC Matarkai and The Port Kaituma Police Station for approval. MSC is calling on potential sponsors to make contact with Mr. Sherlon Rodrigues, Mr. Glenroy Hercules or Mr. Ronaldo Rodrigues on telephone numbers 668-3657, 682-9813 and 699-8389 in that order to book spots for the event.

PAGE 76

Sunday December 02, 2018

Kaieteur News

EBFA/Ralph Green U-11 League

Grove battle back to earn exciting draw against Agricola; Timehri win big - Top four remains close

Agricola Red Triangle FC Captain Jonathan Andries takes the ball forward against Grove Hi Tech at the Diamond Community Center Ground.

Matthew Murray (left) and Matthew Forte - Mocha Champs FC. Yesterday’s feature match between the top two teams produced an exciting 3-3 draw with Grove Hi Tech battling back from three goals down to earn an equal share of the points which enabled the Grove boys to maintain their slim single digit lead over the Agricola lads who are one/ two at the top. It was day six action in the 3rd Annual East Bank Football Association (EBFA) / Ralph Green sponsored Under-11 League being contested at the Diamond Community Centre Ground, East Bank Demerara. Recording the biggest win on the day was Timehri Panthers which trounced a determined Herstelling Raiders 8-3, while Mocha Champs stormed to the second win in as many matches via a 3-0 margin over Friendship All Stars. Diamond United ensured that they earned an equal share of the points against Diamond Upsetters coming back from a goal down to draw. Swan FC, one of the three teams yet to taste defeat, maintained that record when they earned full points from their neighbours Kuru Kururu Warriors which did not show up. Pocketing full points via the same margin was Samatta Point/Kaneville from Haurarruni Eagles. Both Swan and Samatta Point pocketed their three points along with two goals apiece. By the 10th minute of the main event, Agricola were already 3-0 up against Grove thanks to goals from Mikel Morris in the 2nd, Seon Grant in the 5th and Captain Jonathan Andries with a beautiful left foot shot in the 10th minute. Not deterred or fazed by the Agricola 110m dash out of the blocks, Grove gradually grooved back into contention. On 11 minutes Jevon Pluck did pluck one out of nowhere to narrow the

deficit and just before the halftime break, Jamal Cordis’ strike further reduced the Agricola advantage in the 13th minute. The second half saw some resolute exchanges between the top sides and the only goal that materialized in the half came from Grove through Joshua Fredericks in the 21st minute to tie the score at 3-3 which ended up being the final score. Timehri Panthers, the most offensive team in the league which also have the best goal difference of +26, were in dismissive form in their clash against Herstelling Raiders which, despite the loss fought back admirably. Captain Omar Sam (1st, 10th, 19th) and Keron Williams (4th, 8th, 9th) each led Timehri with a hat-trick each with Shaquelle Caleb (2nd) and Jaden Tasher in the 20th complimenting their teammates. Malcolm Hendricks with a double (13th and 26th) and Seon Carmichael in the 17th netted for Herstelling which put in a spirited performance despite the loss. Mocha Champs, after giving up a number of walk overs have finally found the zest to compete and have recorded their second win in as many matches; a solid 3-0 triumph over Friendship All Stars. Carving out the win was Matthew Murray with a brace in the 9th and 26th minutes, Matthew Forte contributing the other in the 14th minute. And Diamond United came back from trailing Diamond Upsetters to draw yesterday’s opening match. United struck back through Paul McKenzie in the 24th minute, Upsetters had taken the lead in the 10th minute through a Timothy Ageday goal. Matches will continue on Saturday at the same venue; the EBFA will be pushing to conclude the league early during the school holiday period with each team set to play 11 matches.

# 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Latest as at December 1st, 2018 P W L D 7 5 0 2 6 5 0 1 6 5 0 1 6 5 1 0 6 3 2 1 6 3 3 0 6 2 4 0 6 1 3 2 7 1 5 1 6 1 5 0 6 1 5 0 6 1 5 0

Team Grove Hi Tech Agricola Red Triangle Swan FC Timehri Panthers Diamond Upsetters Samatta Point KV Mocha Champs Diamond United Friendship All Stars Kuru Kururu Warriors Hararuni Eagles Herstelling Raiders

GF 22 25 20 33 10 6 12 9 9 3 4 6

GA 6 3 3 7 5 24 8 12 22 17 21 32

GD +16 +22 +17 +26 +5 -18 +4 -4 -13 -14 -17 -26

Points 17 16 16 15 10 9 6 5 4 3 3 3

Mae’s Secondary are NSC Windball champs Winners Mae’s Secondary.

Mae’s Secondary were crowned champions of the NSC /AL Sport & Tour Promotions 27th Annual Christmas Term Secondary School Girls Windball competition which culminated recently at the National Gymnasium. The final points standings are; Mae’s (MSS) 135,

Carmel Secondary (CSS) 133, East Ruimveldt Secondary (ERSS) 91, Central High School (CHS) 54, Queenstown Secondary (QSS) 54 and Tucville Secondary (TSS) 25. Player of the tournament (Bat & Ball) was Afruica Gentle - Mae’s; Outstanding Players -Shania Kingston

(ERSS), Siana Abrams (CSS), Ashanti Browne (CHS), Charmaine Warwick (QSS), Kezian London (TSS) and Chrystal Melville (MSS). In The final round results; East Ruimveldt 109-1, Shekeica Williams 63. Tucville 100-0, K. London 32. Queenstown 86-4, C Warwick 25; Aaliya Johnson

3-28. Carmel 88-0, S. Abrams 52, I Armendo 34. East Ruimveldt 80-5, A. Johnson 3-6. Carmel 86-5, A. Abrams 26. Carmel 162-0, Siana Abrams 90, Indera Armandeo 56.Tucville 152 - 0. Queenstown 76-2, Kellisa Cozier 27. East Ruimveldt 790, S. Williams 48.

Sunday December 02, 2018

David Hunte dominoes tourney set for December 9

David Hunte accepts the cheque from Tiffany Johnson in the presence of from left John Freeman, Ashton Clement and Mark Wiltshire. David Hunte in collaboration with senior organising secretary of the Georgetown Dominoes Association Mark Wiltshire will be hosting a dominoes tournament on December 9 at 6 Middle Street, Pouderoyen. Entrance fee is $12,000 and the winning team will take

PAGE 77

Kaieteur News

home a trophy and $150,000, runner up a trophy and $75,000 and third place $35,000. The MVP will be given $5,000 and double-six time is 13:30hrs. All Season’s Racing Service of Robb Street is the latest entity to support the tournament. The entity’s repre-

sentative Tiffany Johnson, who recently presented a cheque to Hunte, said they are pleased to be part of the tournament and are looking forward to a successful competition. Hunte expressed gratitude to the sponsors which also includes Ravi Variety Store, Ansa McAl and

Spartans. Meanwhile, GDA President Faye Joseph and Wiltshire will be hosting a four-game competition starting at 14:00hrs today at Gaulding Place, South Ruimveldt. Entrance fee is $10,000. Teams can contact Wiltshire on 665-5855 for more information.

DMW Hockey Festival

Hikers versus Queen’s Park final possible

Madholall powers Reliance Hustlers to victory in memorial match

MAN-of-the-match Narindra Madholall receives the trophy from Vijay Deonarine. Former senior Essequibo inter-county batsman Narindra Madholall struck an entertaining, unbeaten 60 to power Reliance Hustlers to a thrilling nine-wicket victory over Richmond Warriors in the final of the annual Shekhar memorial match. The eight-over four-aside one-day competition was recently played at Reliance Committee Development ground, Essequibo as the lefthander hit seven sixes in his 24-ball display. His team reached 85-1 in the eighth over after Richmond Warriors had posted up a challenging 80-6 from the

allotment of eight overs. Earlier in the day, Hustlers got the better of Reliance Sports Club, while Richmond Warriors defeated Fishermen X1 at the same venue. According to the sponsor Vijay Deonarine, the competition will continue to be annual in memory of his child who passed away four years ago just after he was born. Organizer for the day’s event Trevis Simon also spoke at the simple presentation ceremony congratulating the winning combination and thanked Deonarine for his involvement.

Softball action set for Ogle today Ogle Community Centre ground, East Coast Demerara will be hosting a four-team softball competition today starting at 09:30hrs. Regal Masters, Mike’s Wellman, Ariel Masters and

Albion Masters will be battle for supremacy. According to the organisers they are hoping to play four games including the third place play off and the final.

Boxer Floyd Mayweather and ‘DJ Khaled’ charged by SEC over token offerings QPCC Joshua Vieira smashes home a penalty corner during their 6-0 group win over Old Fort last night at CASH. Today’s finals of the Diamond mineral water (DMW) Hockey International Hockey Festival could see last year’s men’s open winners Queen’s Park Cricket Club (QPCC) defending their title against losing finalists and Guyana’s

reigning club champions, Pepsi Hikers. In the first men’s open semifinal at 14:40hrs, QPCC will have a tough game against national runners up, Old Fort Hockey Club (OFHC) that have in their

ranks a few overseas players. Hikers will play a familiar foe in Bounty Georgetown Cricket Club’s (GCC) men’s hockey team at 15:40hrs. On the distaff end, GBTI GCC will play Shandy Carib Magnolia of Trinidad and

Tobago (T&T) in the first women’s semifinal at 12:40hrs, while Ventures (T&T) will match skills with national champions Woodpecker Hikers at 13:40hrs.After four days of entertaining hockey, (Continued on page 74)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. and a music producer known as “DJ Khaled” failed to disclose payments they received for promoting investments in initial coin offerings, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said on Thursday. Neither Mayweather nor Khaled Mohamed Khaled admitted or denied the

regulator ’s charges, but agreed to pay a combined $767,500 in fines and penalties, the SEC said in a statement. Reuters reported this week on the rise in self-proclaimed social media personalities who charge thousands of dollars for positive reviews of cryptocurrencies without disclosing their investments (Continued on page 74)

PAGE 78

Sunday December 02, 2018

Kaieteur News

Spinners batter Windies after Mahmudullah hundred DHAKA, Bangladesh, CMC – Beleaguered West Indies were left needing a miracle to avoid an historic series defeat after yet again failing to survive a trial by spin, as Bangladesh took a stranglehold on the second and final Test after completely dominating the second day here yesterday. Behind Mahmudullah’s career-best 136, captain Shakib-al-Hasan’s 80 and an attacking 54 from Liton Das, Bangladesh piled up a mammoth 508 – their second highest-ever total against West Indies – before the innings folded half-hour after tea at the Shere Bangla National Stadium. Off-spinner Mehidy Hasan then snatched three for 36 while Shakib supported with two for 15 with his leftarm spin, to leave the West Indies innings in strife at 29 for five. It was left to rookie lefthander Shimron Hetmyer with an unbeaten 32 and wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich, on 17 not out, to save West Indies from total embarrassment and guide the innings to the close on 75 for five. The pair have so far added a gutsy 46 in an unbroken sixth wicket stand and with the Windies still trailing by 433 runs, much will lie on their shoulders on Sunday’s day three as the last recognised batsmen. Having suffered at the hands of the Bangladeshi spinners during their first Test defeat in Chittagong last weekend, West Indies fared little better in their attempt at redemption, as they were

once again mesmerised by the slower bowlers. All five dismissals were bowled, marking the first time in 128 years bowlers had achieved the feat. Stand-in captain Kraigg Brathwaite’s wretched run continued when he fell to the sixth ball of the innings, bowled through the gate by Shakib without a run on the board. His left-handed opening partner Kieran Powell survived 15 deliveries before he too followed in similar fashion, bowled between bat and pad by Mehidy for four and Sunil Ambris’s charge at Shakib was as desperate as it was ambitious, and he missed the drive and was also bowled for seven. Three balls later in the next over, Shai Hope’s 30-ball grind over 10 came to an end when he became the fourth bowled victim of the innings by one from Mehidy which crept from back of a length and hit the base of off-stump. When Roston Chase played down the wrong line first ball and lost his offstump to Mehidy, West Indies were falling apart spectacularly. But as they did in the first Test, Hetmyer and Dowrich once again came to the Caribbean side’s rescue, resisting the Bangladeshi spin assault for the remainder of the session. The 21-year-old Hetmyer has so far struck three fours in a typically breezy 43-ball innings while Dowrich has opted for the sheet anchor role in a knock that has lasted 37 balls and included a single

boundary. Hetmyer suffered a scare on 10 when he was adjudged lbw to 17-year-old off-spinner Nayeem Hasan before finding a reprieve courtesy DRS. He carried on seemingly unfazed, however, using his feet to the spinners and finding boundaries down the ground. Earlier, West Indies bowlers toiled in frustration as Bangladesh, starting the day on 259 for five, batted themselves into a near impregnable position. Mahmudullah, unbeaten on 31 at the start, produced a magnificent innings which spanned 6-¼ hours, 242 deliveries and included 10 fours. Pivotally, he stretched his overnight sixth wicket stand with Shakib to 111, keeping West Indies without any early success and seeing Bangladesh past the 300-run mark. The left-handed Shakib played freely after resuming on 55, taking three consecutive boundaries off off-spinner Chase in the morning’s fourth over, before falling three overs later when he edged a loose drive at seamer Kemar Roach (2-61) and was caught at gully. That breakthrough failed to improve the Wi n d i e s f o r t u n e s a s Mahmudullah and Das combined in a 92-run, seventh wicket partnership, which propelled Bangladesh to lunch on 387 for six. Das played with abandon, striking eight fours and a six in a 62-ball cameo, reaching lunch on 53 before finally perishing in the fourth over afterwards, bowled by off-spin-

Kieran Powell fell as the visitors crumbled to spin ©AFP ner Brathwaite (2-57) missing a sweep. While Mehidy followed soon afterwards for 11, caught at the wicket off leftarm spinner Jomel Warrican (2-91), Mahmudullah provided even more pain for the Windies by anchoring a ninth-wicket 56-run with Taijul Islam (26) which pushed Bangladesh up to 471 for eight at tea. Mahmudullah, unbeaten on 75 at lunch, reached his third Test hundred 20 minutes before tea when he cut Chase to the point boundary. He was the last to fall, bowled by a full length delivery from Warrican after being dropped by Hope at slip three balls earlier in the same over.

All set for Race of Champions Horserace Meet today at Port Mourant Many of the country’s leading racehorses will be seeking to make their mark on the inaugural Race of Champions Horserace Meet organised by the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee and fixed for today at the Port Mourant Turf Club in Corentyne, Berbice starting from 12 noon. All races will start on time the organisers have indicated and additional entries will not be accepted on race day today. Gates will be opened at 10:00AM. Trophy Stall, with several locations around the city and a new one coming in Berbice, are on board for the Race of Champions, with Proprietor Ramesh Sunich continuing to support this and other sports. Several trophies for the event among other rewards will be provided by the Trophy Stall. The race schedule for today is: L maiden 12:05pm

I class 12:40pm K class 1:15pm L colts 1:50pm H class 2:25pm J class 3:00pm 2yr class 3:35pm E class 4:10pm C class 5:00pm L fillies 5:20pm The main event will see several key players galloping for the $1M purse. Among them are return clash between Vera’s Finally and Just call me Boss at the only track Vera’s Finally has lost a race in Guyana, while Not This Time, known to cause upsets in big meets, will be throwing down the gauntlet. Fans are in for a treat. Races on the programme will feature: Race 1: 1300M- The first Annual Race of Champions. Purse: $1,937,500 for Colts, Gelding, Fillies & Mares three Years and older.

Race 2: 1500M- F-Class Purse: $ 775,000 for Colts, Gelding, Fillies & Mares three Years and older and is open to all West Indian and Guyana bred horses F & Lower. Race 3: 1300M-H-Class Purse $ 446,500 for Colts, Gelding, Fillies & Mares three Years and older and is open to all West Indian bred horses H& Lower and Guyana bred horses H1 & Lower. Race 4: 1300M-2yrs Old Purse: $533,000 for Colts, Gelding & Fillies 2 Years Old. Horses Bred in Guyana Only. Race 5: 1500M-I Class Purse: $484,000 for Colts, Gelding, Fillies & Mares 3 years and older, Guyana bred horses classified 1& Lower. Also open to H-Class no earner in Guyana. Race 6: 1300M-J Class Purse: $465,000 for Colts, Gelding, Fillies & Mares 3 years and older, Guyana bred horses classified J3 & lower. Race 7: 1300M-K-Class

Purse: $445,500 for Colts, Gelding, Fillies & Mares 3 years and older, Guyana bred horses classified K- class & lower. Race 8: 1500M-L class Purse $387,500 for Colts, Gelding Only. Horses of all ages, Guyana bred horses classified L Class. Open to J3 first time starter and K class horses who have not earned in their first start/last start. Race 9: 1300M-L class Purse $387,500 for Fillies & Mares Only. Horses of all ages, Guyana bred horses classified L Class. Open to J3 first time starter and K class horses who have not earned in their first start/last start. Race 10: 1500M-L class. Purse$ 299,000 for Colts, Gelding, Fillies and Mares. Horses of all ages, Guyana bred horses classified L Class. Open to J3 first time starter and K class horses who have not earned in their first start/ last start.

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 02, 2018

BCB/Berbice Rivers 30-Overs Tournament

PAGE 79

The victorious Imam Bacchus SC team.

Wiruni defeat Sandhills Friendship by four wickets to claim championship - 19th Tournament completed for 2018

Organiser Floyd Benjamin hands over winning trophy to Johnny Sinclair. The Berbice Cricket Board on Thursday last hosted a historic final at the Albion Cricket Ground between Sandhills Friendship Cricket Club and Wiruni Cricket Club in the BCB/Berbice River 30Overs Tournament. The Final was played infront of a sizeable and very vocal crowd. Wiruni Cricket Club defeated Sandhills Friendship Cricket Club by four wickets to spark wild celebrations among their supporters. Sandhills Friendship Cricket Club won the toss and batted first and were bowled out for 125 off 28.2 Overs. Joshua Leacock 29, Leon Swammy 30 and Ryan De Nobrega 17 were the principal scorers. De Nobrega and Leacock put on 40 for the first wicket under cloudy conditions but found it difficult to find the boundaries as the Wiruni players bowled and fielded well. Delroy Osbourne 4 for 34, Selman King 2 for 17 and Samuel Seegolam 2 for 05 were the outstanding bowlers for Wiruni Cricket Club. Needing to score 126 from 30-Overs to lift the Title, Wiruni Cricket Club were indebted to a well placed innings of 31 not from Player of the Final Melroy Da Silva. He received support from Kwesi Sinclair 28 as Wiruni reached 127 for 6 in 18.5 Overs. Medium pacer Leon Swammy 2 for 18 and Joshua Leacock 2 for 26 bowled well in a losing cause. Three teams Wiruni Cricket Club, Sandhills Friendship Cricket Club and Ebini Ranchers Cricket Club took part in the Round Robin

Tournament with Wiruni and Sandhills Friendship going on to the Final. The Tournament was the 19th to be successfully completed by the Berbice Cricket Board for 2018, while several others are slated to be completed by yearend. BCB President Hilbert Foster hailed the level of cricket played by the teams and expressed pleasure at the high standard of discipline, bowling, fielding and the potential of several batsmen. Foster urged teams to always strive for success and committed the Berbice Cricket Board to hosting four major cricket tournaments in 2019 and to assist the clubs in developing themselves. BCB President also extended an invitation to the Berbice River SubAssociation to select a combined team to play a 20/20 match under lights as part of a developmental programme. Foster in his capacity as Secretary/CEO of Guyana’s leading youth club, the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club handed over a complete cricket stumps set and a score book to both teams, while the BCB provided Educational Posters. Captain Joshua Leacock and Johnny Sinclair both hailed the BCB for the outstanding work it was doing to promote the game across the entire Berbice. Leacock expressed gratitude to the Berbice Cricket Board and Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS for the items donated to the Clubs. The Berbice Cricket Board would like to express gratitude to Azad Habibulla of West Coast Berbice for his contribution towards the Tournament.

Imam Bacchus Sports Club claim Central E’bo T20 title

I

mam Bacchus Sports Club defeated Reliance Hustlers by 53 runs to win the final of the Central Essequibo T20 tournament recently at New opportunity Corps ground. Imam Bacchus Sports Club took first strike and managed 105 all out in 15

overs. Latchman Rohit and Yougeshwar Lall made 16 each, while extras contributed 22. Medium pacer Sedeshwar Shivamber grabbed 4-18 and Narendra Madholall had 211. Reliance Hustlers fell for 51 in reply. Rohit

bagged 4-9, Parmesh Parsotam 3-9, Lallbachan Narine 2-10 and Punraj Singh 2-14. The finalists received a trophy each and cash incentives, while Rohit was named man-of-thematch and also collected the trophy for being adjudged the best batsman

in the final. Shivamber took the best bowler prize, while Neiland Cadogan and Travis Simon received the awards for scoring the most runs and taking the most wickets in the competition respectively; Cadogan was named the tournament’s MVP.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 80

Hand-in-hand history of cricket in Guyana (part 2)

Sunday December 02, 2018

Seecharran launches book ‘A stubborn Mediocrity’

By Sean Devers

W

ith plenty of pomp and splendour and with a ‘who’s who’ of cricketing personalities present at the GCC pavilion at the world famous Bourda, the Hand-in-Hand Group of Companies collaborated with historian Clem Seecharan to launch volume two of his 758-page History of cricket in Guyana 18981 9 1 4 ‘‘ A s t u b b o r n Mediocrity’ on Friday night. The venue itself was a shrine of nostalgia and history as West Indies had won its first ever Test at Bourda in 1930 when they beat England by an innings and 89 runs with Guyanese Maurius Fernandes becoming the first West Indian Captain to win a Test match. Members of four-times defending Regional FirstClass Champions Guyana Jaguars squad along with C W I S ec r et a r y a n d a Director of Windies Cricket Inc. Anand Sanasie were present at the oldest Cricket Club in the West Indies. Several Cricket Administrators, former players, the entire Marketing department of Hand-inHand, the media and Cricket Historians Pastor Winston McGowan and Charmayne Walker and Dr Shivnarine Chanderpaul were among the large turn-out in the audience. Those at the head table of

From left Howard Cox, John Carpenter, Ian McDonald, Roger Harper, Lance Gibbs, Dr George Norton & Shanomae Baptiste at the launch. (Sean Devers photo) the well organised Event, where Chairman of the Hand-in-Hand Group of Companies, Director/Fire Manager Howard Cox, former West Indies offspinner Roger Harper, Sports Minister Dr George Norton, the first spinner to claim 300 Test wickets Lance Gibbs and Hand-inHand Sales Manager Shanomae Baptiste who give the vote of thanks. A wide variety of beverages and finger food was severed for those present, while they were provided with entertainment by Steel Pan renditions of various genres of Music including Bollywood’s Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ before and after some inspiring and educational speeches by those at the head table. Cox did a wonderful job as MC, while Carpenter provided the Chairman’s r e m a r k s a n d acknowledgement with the

82-year-old ex West Indies off-spinner and Manager Lance Gibbs was the Guest Speaker.

Author explaining why he named this volume ‘A stubborn Mediocrity’ before he autographed several of his books which were given away to Guests. Seecharan spoke of the challenges of finding information from the early days when doing research and the Malaria epidemic caused by Mosquito bites caused a stagnation of the game in British Guiana in the decade and a half before the great war. Seecharan said it was not easy to explain since GCC was the premier club in the Colony; being founded in 1858 and was an august institution and sole custodian of the game for many decades. “GCC was vibrant in fostering Regional cricket and initiating several contests with English touring teams to the region between 1895 and the Great War, in addition to two West Indies tours of England, 1900 and 1906. Yet Guyana’s cricket was marooned on a plateau of underachievement, despite GCC’s unflagging enterprise in engaging the services of three of the best pioneer pace bowlers in the region; Tom Burton, ‘Float’ Woods and Oliver Layne, all Barbados born, all none White, Guyana’s cricket was stained with a “Stubborn mediocrity” informed Seecharan. According to Seecharan, the GCC remained enmeshed in the race, colour and class assumptions of the age. They were tardy in participating in local club cricket against coloured and black teams in Georgetown. This prolonged stagnation of the colonial game; their own included. Seecharan grew up in East Berbice - Corentyne, and attended the Sheet Anchor Anglican School, the

Berbice Educational Institute, and Queen’s College in Guyana. He studied at McMaster University in Canada, and taught Caribbean Studies at the University of Guyana for some years, before completing his doctorate in History at the University of Warwick in 1990 before joining the staff of the University of North London (now a part of London Metropolitan University), where he was head of Caribbean studies since 1994, and was awarded a professorship in 2002. Seecharan is formally retired, having last taught on the Caribbean Studies programme at London Metropolitan University. He continues educational and advocacy work informally, as in his recent contribution to a discussion on the legacy of former Guyanese Marxist leader Cheddi Jagan, hosted by the Guyanese High Commission in London on March of this year.The 55-year-old Harper, who played 25 Tests and 105 ODIs, provided a detailed and informative account of the career of Gibbs, whom he

described as his idol and a DCC man despite him now residing in Florida as he introduced Gibbs who took 309 Test wickets from 79 Tests and played the first of his three ODIs against England at Leeds in 1973. “He was the first spinner to pass 300 wickets and took 18 five-wicket hauls while conceding his runs at a staggering 1.99 per over. He was left out of the first two Tests in Australia, but he took three wickets in four balls at Sydney and a hattrick in the next Test at Adelaide. The following winter he returned the remarkable figures of 8-38 from 53.3 overs against India in Barbados, all eight wickets coming in a 15-over spell at a cost of just six runs. After his retirement he settled in the USA and was Manager on the 1991 West Indies tour of England,” Harper said of his fellow DCC off-spinner. Gibbs, looking very spritely at 82, informed Seecharan that while he had done a great job with the support of Hand-in-Hand, he left out an important area in

the early devolvement of grass roots cricket in British Guiana. “You left out back yard cricket which unique rules. There was get the ball bowl, out the man bat, which developed all-rounder skills. There was also one tip two tip which produced attacking batting and there was also the rule of six and out. If you hit the ball out of the yard it was a six but you were out, while it taught you to keep the ball on the ground,” said Gibbs, who grew up in Queenstown and began as a leg-spinner. At a time when most young spinners bowl too flat and fast, Gibbs said spin bowling requires discipline, accuracy, intelligence and deceptive flight. Dr Norton spoke on behalf of the Government of Guyana and praised Handin-hand for their sponsorship support and urged more Companies to support Sports, while the National Archives of Guyana, the University of Guyana, the National Library of Guyana and the National Trust of Guyana were also presented with copies of the book.

Dr Shivnarine Chanderpaul (front right) was among the distinguished guest at Friday night’s book launch.

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 02, 2018

PAGE 81

Caribbean Boxing Championships 2018

AIBA 3-star referee Beckles to train novice officials

T

he Caribbean’s highest ranked referee-judge, International Boxing Association (AIBA) threestar ranked James Beckles of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T), is in Guyana to conduct an initial training programme for novice referees and officials visiting for the Caribbean Boxing Championships (CBC), which begins today at the National Resource Center on Woolford Avenue before moving the Andrew ‘Six head’ Lewis gym for practical. Beckles, who is visiting Guyana to do such a programme for the second time this year, explained

during an interview with Kaieteur Sport that the training is vital since it will cover the recently implemented AIBA rules. In addition, the training which is not only subjected to participation from novice officials, will cover topics such as refereeing techniques, ring control, ring management, administering of fouls, along with cautions and warnings. “Some of the techniques will expose them (novice referees and visiting officials for the CBC) to the new evaluation system accepted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) which is completely computerized,” Beckles posited.

The respected official, who recently refereed in the recently concluded A I B A w o m e n ’ s championships in India, further noted that shorter sessions during the tournament will be held to evaluate performances and try to correct any mistakes. The CBC which is being dubbed as ‘Caribbean International Nuff Cuff’ that is being hosted by the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) will punch off from December 6th to 9th at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH). Head of the body, Steven Ninvalle, has shared with Kaieteur that in addition to the already confirmed

Hamilton Green 9-a-side Inter-Ward/ Village KO Cup

Showdown for final berths on today -Den Amstel venue for the action

Trayon Bobb

Jeffrey Perriera

T

he showdown to see who will make it to the finals of this year’s Hamilton Green 9-a-side Inter-Ward/ Village KO Cup will take place today, at the Den Amstel Community Centre ground. In the opening fixture from 17:00hrs, Wales go up against a strong Charlestown unit that will be looking to send a strong statement to all pretenders. In the next game, Sophia take on Sara Lodge and once again the odds must favour the Georgetown-based team, but going into a game overconfident could be a big mistake since on the day anything is possible. Goed Fortuin and Central McKenzie then square off and this clash could be a fascinating contest to watch and perhaps set the tone for the night’s proceedings. Next up will be the encounter between

Delon Lanferman Newtown Kitty and Soesdyke and even though the former is the favourite to progress, Soesdyke are no minnows and will no doubt give a good account of themselves. Pouderoyen and Mahaicony then go toe to toe and this too promises to keep the fans all excited, before U i t v l u g t a n d Ti m e h r i collide. The final game of the night, hosts Den Amstel and Crane match strides and the anticipated noise that will be in the ground could drive

Andrew Murray enough fear into their opponents to keep them nervous throughout the encounter. Mahaica drew the bye. The winning and runnerup teams will receive $400,000 and $200,000 respectively along with trophies, while Highest Goalscorer and Most Valuable Player will collect gifts compliments of China Trading and A.H. & L Kissoon. They will also receive trophies donated by Javon Dazzell. Among the sponsors on board are: Ministry of Citizenship, Courtney Benn Construction Services, Techno Mills, IPA, Alfro Alphonso, Sattaur Gafoor, Ansa McAl, Top Brandz Distributors, MACORP, Starr Computers, Cummings Electrical, Ready Mix, B.K International, New Thriving, e-Networks, NaMilCo, Sleep In, Comfort Sleep and E.C Vieira Investments.

nations set to participate, it has risen to 12, with St. Marten, U.S. Virgin Islands and French Guyana recently confirming. Ninvalle added that he expects Guyana to come out victorious but it will be a very tough competition with the likes of Guadeloupe also competing.Entry for patrons to the venue will cost $500, while ringside will cost $1000 on each match day.

-US Virgin Islands, St. Marten and French Guiana Confirmed

James Beckles (right) and GBA president Steve Ninvalle. (KN file photo)

t r o Sp

Spinners batter Windies after Mahmudullah hundred

Shakib Al Hasan with Mahmudullah for company, the duo added 111 runs for the sixth wicket ©AFP

Left-hander Shimron Hetmyer … leading the Windies fightback.

Hand-in-hand history of cricket in Guyana (part 2)

Seecharran launches book ‘A stubborn Mediocrity’

All set for Race of Champions Horserace Meet today at Port Mourant

Prof Clem Seecharan speaks about his book on Friday night at GCC.

Caribbean Boxing Championships 2018

AIBA 3-star referee Beckles to train novice officials -US Virgin Islands, St. Marten and French Guiana Confirmed

Port Mourant Turf Club was bone dry, as all the favorites from around Guyana had the chance to put in some gallops and test the track this past week.

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