Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News

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Saturday December 03, 2016

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

END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN Last November 25, Guyana joined the rest of the world to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. This observation was launched on December 17, 1999 by the United Nations General Assembly in honour of and tribute to the three Mirabal Sisters and activists, Patricia, Maria and Antonia, who it was alleged were brutally assassinated in the Dominican Republic on November 25, 1960 by operatives of the Rafael Trujillo government. November 25 is to support survivors of domestic and sexual violence and to raise public awareness of violence against women which is a violation of human rights. Women around the world have joined with governments and organizations to mark the occasion with 16 days of Activism (November 25 through December 10) to highlight violence against women and gender bias under the theme “Orange the World: Raise Money to End Violence against Women and Girls.” The goal is to educate the public and galvanize international support and action to end the pandemic of violence against women. It is also to remind governments and the public of their obligations and responsibility to ensure that every woman and every girl in every country live in a society free of violence and fear. This is their fundamental right. In Guyana men should heed this advice because physical, sexual and emotional violence against women has become an epidemic. It has been this way for some time and it seems that there is no end to this scourge. It is a consequence of discrimination against women not only by men but also in law and in practice. There are, too, the persisting inequalities between men and women. Some men believe that women are the property of men and it is their inherent right and entitlement to abuse them. Guyana like many other countries, including the United States, are male chauvinistic societies. It is a very grim situation. In every country, one out of three women are either beaten, abused, assaulted, tortured, raped, trafficked or sexually exploited. Globally, 47 percent of murders of women are committed by a partner, compared to less than six percent of murders of men. Fifty percent of the victims of forced labour are women and 98 percent of women are the casualties of sexual exploitation. According to the United Nations, about 70 percent of women will experience violence in their lifetimes. And those between the ages of 15 and 44 years are more at risk of being raped and beaten my men than to have cancer or be involved in car accidents or being infected with malaria. Despite a lack of data, this seems to be true for Guyana based on media reports of violence against women. Studies have shown that when women are free from violence and have the power to make their own choices, poverty can be reduced, families and communities grow stronger, peaceful and secure, children are better protected and their chances of a better education and a good life become more viable, societal values flourish and opportunities for civic and political engagement based on inclusivity are increased. Therefore, ending violence against women is not only a legal obligation and a moral imperative, but also a sound investment. This is true for all countries; yet, women still face multiple forms of discrimination and are undervalued and underutilized, violated and sexually and physically abused by men. The government must demonstrate that it would no longer tolerate violence against women and girls in homes, at work and in public spaces. The government must also ensure that all necessary resources are deployed and investments made to secure an “Orange World” and a future free from violence against women and girls. It is our inescapable duty to end violence against women.

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.

APNU+AFC HAS ABANDONED SUGAR WORKERS Dear Editor; Sugar workers have been abandoned by APNU+AFC. As sugar workers dangle on a string, those who vigorously proclaimed themselves champions of sugar workers, people like Moses Nagamootoo and Ramjattan, are deafeningly silent. Their silence is acquiescence to the vicious assault on sugar workers. As they enjoy the trappings of exalted positions, like Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security, because of the votes of some sugar workers seduced by their holy talk. Nagamootoo and APNU+AFC have reprehensively betrayed the workers. In 2015 and 2016, APNU+AFC/GUYSUCO imposed an unconscionable wage freeze on sugar workers with a zero offer and no discussion. They will no doubt claim they consulted with workers when they informed the unions in writing indicating talks are unnecessary since GUYSUCO is not in a position to grant an increase of wages. This does not constitute fair wage negotiations. APNU+AFC, for its part has resoundingly ignored the plea of sugar workers, the same sugar workers they depended on for votes to get them into government in 2015. APNU+AFC’s zero wage

increases for 2015 and 2016 represent the first time since 1983 that sugar workers did not get a wage increase. Indeed, since 1940, sugar workers have had a zero wage increase only five times - 1979, 1982, 1983 (under the PNC) and now in 2015 and 2016 (under APNU+AFC). This same APNU+AFC prior to the May 2015 elections went around the sugar belt promising sugar workers they would grant them a 20% annual wage increase were they in government. APNU+AFC got their wish when some sugar workers believed the lies they peddled and voted for them. Without the votes of some sugar workers, APNU+AFC would have been in opposition again. The rewards for the sugar workers have been absolute betrayal and abandonment. From 1992 to 2015, sugar workers negotiated a wage increase every year, in good years and bad years, with an annual average increase of 9.6% for 23 years. In the last five years with various challenges and an uphill battle to maintain production near target, the sugar workers were still able to negotiate wage increases of between 3.5% to 8%. Today, workers are at the mercy of APNU+AFC who view them through a different lens. Contrast zero increases

for sugar workers with 50 to 75% increases for Ministers, 610% increases for public servants for 2015 and 2016 and 26% minimum wage increase in the private sector for 2016 and a scandalous story of sugar workers abandonment is exposed. Compounding the abandonment of sugar workers is that both weekly and annual production incentives, benefits workers are entitled to since 1976, have been eroded by APNU+AFC/GUYSUCO for 2 0 1 5 a n d 2 0 1 6 . Wi t h production of more than 230,000 tons in 2015, sugar workers should have received 7 to 8 days API payment. They received only 2.5 days with an unfair arbitrary formula, moving from about 35,000 tons for a day’s bonus pay to almost 90,000 tons. Similar adjustments made it impossible for workers to earn WPI. The 2015 API is the lowest, together with API for 1984 and 1985, since the API agreement was signed in 1976. In the 1980s, API for the decade averaged 4.5 days pay annually under the PNC, in the 1990s, 18.3 days under the PPP, from 2001 to 2010, API averaged 13.5 days and between 2011 and 2014, the average was 6.4 days. Suddenly it has dropped to just 2 days under APNU+AFC. We

suspect 2016 will be zero. The lead politicians in fooling sugar workers were Nagamootoo and Ramjattan. They had good back-ups in people like Charandass, the APNU+AFC MP from Region 6 and Abel Seetaram from Region 5. Granger himself told the sugar workers not to worry; sugar is too important and too big to fail. Now Granger has announced that his government is unwilling to continue supporting GUYSUCO. For Granger, Nagamootoo, Ramjattan and their colleagues in APNU+AFC sugar workers are merely pawns in a game that politicians play. But sugar workers have noticed that Nagamootoo and Ramjattan and their supporting team are missing in action. While freezing sugar workers wages, simultaneously, GUYSUCO and APNU+AFC found money to pay expensive consultants for a Wales Rice Study, Aquaculture Study, Skeldon Rice Study. They contracted a firm from the US, and people like Harold Davis, Earl John, Joe Alfred, Tony Vierra, Fritz Mc Clean, and other OLD PNC hacks who were with the H a r o l d D a v i s S n r. administration. Will they reveal the cost of these consultancies and studies, like the $450M rice pilot in Wales? Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

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In support of the 2017 Budget Marijuana has very harmful effects DEAR EDITOR; Please permit me a small space in your newspaper to express my congratulations to the Minister of Finance for coming up with such a progressive budget in such a timely manner. The government has spent much time telling us that they intend to pursue a green path of development; I believe this is timely considering the fact of climate change about which I am very concerned, being a resident of coastal Georgetown. Editor, to be honest, I am usually skeptical of promises made by politicians. After watching the livestream of the Minister’s budget speech, and hearing the remarks about the green

economy, I went to the Ministry’s website and actually read the remarks. Section 4.14 of the budget says; “Additionally, under the renewable energy programme, in 2017, we will install the first ever solar farm, on a large scale, in Mabaruma. A sum of $264 million has been budgeted for this exciting event. When operational, the 400 kilowatt solar farm will afford an additional 17 hours of electricity to the 3,000 residents of Mabaruma. Furthermore, our Government has also advanced the pursuit of additional solar farms with a capacity of 800 kilowatts at Lethem, 400 kilowatts at Mahdia, and 1.5 megawatts at

Bartica. To complement public sector investment, the Government will be granting a one-off tax holiday of two years for corporation tax to importers of items for wind and solar energy investments, and for investors in water treatment, waste disposal, and recycling facilities. These interventions, when finalised, will significantly improve the lives of our people, especially in the hinterland, by incentivising behavioural change, boosting investor confidence, and ensuring energy reliability.” (end of quote) Editor, I am happy to see my government putting our money where it should go. Anthony James-Christian

The reasons for the systemic and endemic road carnage DEAR EDITOR; Mr. David Granger! Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan! You have to start taking away people’s Drivers Licenses! The carnage on the roadways continues to mount. And there seems to be no abatement in sight. Many folks, especially visitors, returning Guyanese, or those from the rural areas, are morbidly afraid to drive on our roads. There is this sick and deadly notion that “If you can drive in Guyana, you can drive anywhere else in the world”. Given the prevalence of accidents and deaths on our roadways, the United Republican Party (URP) would like to proffer a few suggestions. For starters, we think that the police are still inclined to taking bribes from errant motorists and there is no end in sight for this behavior. This is learnt behavior. The current administration has been paying themselves some $300,000 extra per month. And their argument is that if they don’t pay themselves this exorbitant amount of money, they are likely to thief. So this additional hundreds of thousands of dollars is to reduce their likelihood of stealing. The police officers (and the criminals, which matter we will address at another time), understand EXACTLY what the politicians mean. What the Granger administration means, is that if you are not properly awarded for your honest labor, it is likely that you will steal. So what we are seeing on the roadways is a

largely lawless driving population, propelled and empowered by the notion that all it takes to continue is a bribe to any police who intercepts them. And the police will take the bribe because the unethical precedent for subsidizing one’s income has been set by the new administration. The URP would like to make the following recommendations in an effort to reduce traffic accidents. We are suggesting that a Drivers License point-system be immediately introduced. This is standard in all developed countries. The process is simple and effective. All Drivers’ Licenses are assigned 100 points. Comparatively, all traffic violations are assigned a negative (minus) point value. For instance, 1. Driving past pedestrians while they are on the pedestrian crossing, – minus 30 points 2. Blowing your horn in a quiet zone, – minus 10 points 3. Driving while above the alcohol limit, – minus 70 points 4. Driving through a red light, – minus 30 points 5. Speeding in a congested area, – minus 20 points 6. Causing an accident while over the alcohol limit, – minus 80 points, etc. Additionally, there should be cases where the law allows for a person’s license to be suspended or indeed, forfeited, for certain kinds of traffic violations, such as causing death while over the alcohol limit. Also, the Drivers’

Licenses of repeat violators of the traffic laws should be suspended or forfeited. Of course, a precipitous monetary penalty is attached to all the violations. If the Honorable Minister Ramjattan and the Granger administration are indeed concerned about the loss of life and limb on the Guyana roadways, we should see the immediate implementation of some form of these suggestions. What the URP and every Guyanese citizen know, however, is that we will not see any swift implementation of any drastic, commonsensical approach to road safety because many of the mini buses (whose drivers are some of the worst perpetrators of road accidents), are owned by commissioned military officers and politicians, or people with political contacts. Police officers also depend on “bribes” to supplement their income. These are primarily the reasons for the systemic and endemic lawless road-culture. However, if the (Continued on page 6)

DEAREDITOR; Please be kind enough to publish this brief letter regarding the health risks as well as medicinal use of marijuana. Cannabis sativa, the marijuana plant contains the chemical tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It is approved for use in manufacturing nabilole and dronabilol, two drugs administered to patients to relieve vomiting and nausea when taking chemotherapy. It is used to stimulate appetite, especially in patients with aids. It relieves severe pain and spasticity (pull of muscles or altered skeletal muscle performance) when the muscles become over tight and rigid. It treats glaucoma and reduces pressure in the eye. However it is critical to note that this drug must be administered by a physician when used for these or any other ailments. The chemical THC in marijuana affects a person in several ways. The use of marijuana alters the senses. This manifests itself as seeing brighter colors, incorrect sense of time, changes in mood, impaired body movement, difficulty with thinking and problem-solving and impaired memory. How is marijuana related

to mental illness? It increases the risks of psychosis which is a disease in which people lose touch with reality. When this happens they experience delusions, hallucinations (visions) and paranoia (overly fearful about nothing). They even suffer from schizophrenia. The latter is a mental disorder characterized by abnormal social behavior and a failure to understand what is real. Common symptoms include false beliefs, unclear or confused thinking, hearing voices, and lack of motivation, reduced social engagement and reduced emotional expression. How is marijuana related to lung disease? It is associated with a number of lung problems such as inflammation of the air ways, chronic bronchitis, increased risk of pneumonia and respiratory infections. It may also contribute to lung cancer. How is marijuana related to heart disease? People who use marijuana have changes in their blood vessels as well as increased heart beats which increase the risks of heart attack and stroke. The bloodstream of marijuana smokers is less able to carry oxygen. This in turn affects the heart.

How does marijuana affect fertility? It affects both men and women. In the case of women it disrupts their menstrual cycle. In the case of men it decreases the amount of seminal fluid. It causes the sperm to behave abnormally. It lowers the sperm count. Studies show that the repeated use of marijuana is associated with significantly lower concentrations of the reproductive hormones in both male and female (testosterone in men and dehydroepiandrosterone in women). The active ingredient THC makes its way into the reproductive tract of women and reduces sperm mobility thus decreasing the chances of fertilization. From the above it is clear that apart from the medical use of marijuana this drug should not be consumed. Research has shown that 50% of persons who consume marijuana on a daily basis grow into addicts. It is a mind-controlling drug and its effects are seen 30-60 minutes after consumption. It is also known to be a gateway drug which means that it leads consumers to harder drugs. Sewnauth Punalall ThD

Things not right in the Guyana Police Forceairport and during his stay in DEAR EDITOR; We write out of an abundance of concern for what is going on in and what passes for the Guyana Police Force today. Almost everyone knows of the recent murder of the carpenter on the Corentyne and the allegations of police corruption that were made in relation to that senseless incident. Now we are told that the commander of the Berbice Division is being replaced by a senior officer when it is known, that very senior police officer operated as escort for wanted man, Brian Bisram from and to the

this country. We are afraid that moves are already underway that will impact on the case if or when those accused are ever tried. Editor, you might recall a few months ago when a very senior officer’s vehicle was seen being filled up with gas from the police fuel depot in Berbice. It was not surprising that nothing came out of that matter because he is favoured by a certain senior minister of the government. We would like someone to tell us what message these incidents are sending to the rank and file. Almost every

day we read of one rank or another being ensnared in corrupt practices. We are definitely not comfortable with the decisions of the Commissioner. Imagine that there is no oral communication between a very high functionary of the force and the man immediately below him. There is no discussion on policy’ just arbitrary decisions communicated in writing. This is a ridiculous state of affairs that President Granger needs to stop because it doesn’t look as if the relevant Cabinet ministers have the will to make their presence felt. Concerned Citizens

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An attempt to invade a person’s private bank account DEAR EDITOR; The pronouncement by the Finance Minister in his budget speech that the Income Tax Act will be revised to authorize the GRA to “garnish” funds from bank accounts held by tax payers who have outstanding tax arrears has caused great anxiety and concerns both to the business community as well as the ordinary citizen. You will recall that earlier this year, the Government passed a law that allows the GRA to go into a person’s bank account without notifying that person and without providing any reasons. Now again, we see another attempt to invade the privacy of persons’ bank accounts by this Government. These signals drive fear in the minds of every single Guyanese. It also does not inspire the confidence of the business community both locally and internationally. No one will ever be comfortable with the tax authorities having power to raid

their bank accounts with no reason given. It simply smacks of authoritarianism and interference with property rights which are protected by the constitution. After all, money is property. What is of greater concern is the intention to “garnish” people’s accounts and to seize there from, monies and to apply those monies to liquidate outstanding taxes. In my humble view, this is not only a misuse and abuse of garnishment but it is also draconian. Garnishment is a proceeding whereby a person’s property or credits in the possession or under the control of another, are applied to the former’s debt to a third person. Simply put, if A owes B and C owes A, B can garnish the money which C owes to A from C, in satisfaction of the debt which A owes to B. Clearly this is not what the Minister is speaking about. The Minister is speaking about a situation where if A owes taxes to GRA, GRA will

have a right to go into A’s bank account and take money there from in satisfaction of the taxes which are owed. This is not and has nothing to do with garnishing. This is simply the seizing of monies in satisfaction of taxes owed without due process. Significantly, garnishee is a court driven process where all the parties concerned are legally represented or, at least given the opportunity to retain counsel and are afforded a fair and adequate hearing before a Judge. These important safeguards and fundamental aspects of due process are conspicuously absent from the Minister’s formulation. I presume that a Bill will have to be tabled in the National Assembly conferring this power upon the GRA. Unless this Bill meets the litmus test of constitutionality, fairness and due process, it will be vehemently opposed by the PPP in the National Assembly. Anil Nandlall

WPA mourns the passing of Fidel Castro At this moment of grief, WPA joins the Cuban People, the Cuban Communist Party, the Government and the world in mourning the passing of comrade Fidel Castro, Commander In Chief of the Cuban revolution for more than five decades. The passing of this iconic Caribbean, Latin American and international hero is a moment for reflection. The poor and powerless of the world have lost a champion of their cause. Castro and the Cuban Revolution have fought tirelessly for the primacy of human development over capitalist profits, poverty, inequality of income and wealth. In good and bad times Cuban commitment and spirit of international solidarity never wavered and remained the bedrock of that country’s foreign

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policy. Cuban aid to nation states in the areas of education, health care, engineering, sports and science – speaks volumes. The excellent work by Cuba’s international volunteer brigades in hurricane hit Haiti is but one recent testimony of the revolutionary spirit imbedded in the nation by Castro leadership. The role played by President Fidel Castro, the Cuban Armed Forces and the people in the defeat of apartheid South Africa‘s m i l i t a r y aggression i n Angola, has cemented Castro and the Cuban Revolution in the history of that continent and its people. WPA, unlike the two main political forces in Guyana, did not have party to party relations with the Communist Party of Cuba, but we developed a close rela-

tionship with the Cuban government and its people. As Caribbean peoples we are proud of Cuba being one of us. Like many Guyanese our members benefited from Cuban medical aid, and for this we thank Cuba. Our party remembered the principled stand taken by President Fidel Castro, the Communist Party and government in condemning the assassination of Walter Rodney, in spite of its highly valued relations with the Burnham government and the PNC. The Cuban people’s loss of their great Revolutionary leader and comrade is also a loss to all progressive and peace loving peoples. Castro and the Cuban revolution will live on. WPA joins in saluting this great son of the Caribbean. Desmond Trotman Working People’s Alliance

US Government can access a tax defaulter’s bank account DEAR EDITOR; Kindly permit me a few lines to comment on one aspect of the recently presented national budget for 2017. That one aspect is the announcement of the intent to amend the law to provide for the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to access the bank accounts of defaulting tax payers for the purpose of retrieving outstanding payments. While this announcement quite rightly has attracted much attention, to put it mildly, from various sections of the population, I am of the view that this measure is not as draconian as it appears if the process leading to the GRA accessing one’s bank account is fully explained. In

vince the competent authority (in this case the GRA) of one’s inability to make the agreed payments, that action such as salary garnishment and access to bank accounts for retrieving payment, is reverted to. I am not sure exactly what process/methodology would apply in Guyana under the new law but I would want to think that no government would resort to freezing bank accounts of defaulting tax payers until and unless all other options for retrieving outstanding taxes had been exhausted. If this is the case then the government, through the GRA needs to fully explain this to the nation. Wesley Kirton

Guyana is a dysfunctional society DEAR EDITOR, I read Laurie Greenidge’s recent letter, in the Stabroek News captioned “Neighbor burns garbage under my bedroom window” with outrage after learning of such bellicose residents in his community. Mr Greenidge’s ordeal can only be described in the context of dysfunction which saturates this country and cripples every aspect of it. Dysfunction upends lives, drives emigration and anchors us into poverty. No doubt Mr Greenidge’s letter resonates widely. I too can relate to Mr Greenidge’s experience. Although, I no longer live in this country I still have memories of my

dysfunctional neighbours who dumped garbage on my parapet, blared loud music from the wee hours, damaged my property, burglarized my home and pumped a bullet in a family member. They even conspired in cover up attempts and labeled me as evil when I mobilized the police. What dysfunction! Like any Guyanese, my unfortunate experience pushes me to rethink my future here in this country. Even against such a dysfunctional backdrop Government turns a blind eye and advocates for overseas based Guyanese to relocate here. Where is the logic? Government lacks common sense and it is precisely why

this country racks up five decades of failure. How can anyone live here or raise children here amid such bloated dysfunction? Obviously, they can’t. It is worth noting that nearly every dysfunctional problem which pollutes this nation including crime, robbery, domestic abuse, harassment, racism, corruption, abusive minibus operators and so on are tied to one common root cause – a lack of education. It seems that Guyanese for the most part can’t differentiate right from wrong and are in dire need of guidance. To ameliorate this problem Government desperately needs to infuse education. Annie Baliram

Accusation of party bias in the construction of a road in BV DEAR EDITOR; In the BV/Triumph area, Surat Drive Road running southward from the East Coast Public road is being reconstructed as it is in a deplorable state. The contract was awarded to Shereaz Bacchus General Contractors

The reasons for the systemic and endemic... From page 5 Drivers’ License point-system is implemented and drivers become aware that they can lose their driving privileges, some of them will begin to drive with that realization in mind. And while some police officers will accept bribes and allow some drivers to flaunt the laws, there are other officers (thank God!), who will issue the citations and the deadly driving culture will gradually

the United States the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the equivalent of the GRA, does have the authority to garnish salaries and to access bank accounts. But as I understand it, such action is only resorted to after several other processes and options have been exhausted, including acceptance by the taxpayer that the outstanding amounts are indeed accurate. In such cases the taxpayer, on advising of his or her inability to pay the full amount owed, has an opportunity to enter into a payment plan. It is only after wanton neglect in meeting the payments under that plan, and insufficient evidence to con-

change for the better. Notwithstanding our limited resources, the United Republican Party stands ready to assist the administration in the implementation of this worthwhile, commonsensical concept. We are offering our support in an effort of helping to save the lives of our fellow Guyanese and to assist in making driving on the Guyana roads more tolerable. Dr. Vishnu Bandhu Leader, URP

(SBGC). The issue is that the contractor says he signed a contract that only covers for part of this road specifically south from the Railway Line to Market Street. The remaining block from Market Street to Ramjohn Street and an additional 600 feet to meet the last house is not included. As a result, 60 households with over 30 vehicles and an active Temple will be affected. I enquired via phone call to the NDC on November 24th at 08:59 hours pertaining to the construction of Surat Drive road where the secretary (Michelle) confirms the road is to be constructed up to the last house in the street which extends about 600 feet past Ramjohn Street. I also requested a call from the Chairman (Brother Osama) as I was informed he is not in and will return a call to me later in the day. To date I have not received a call from the Chairman. I went ahead and called

again only to find out the same “the road is to be constructed to the last house” from Michelle. I still requested that the chairman return a call and provided my number once more. I then spoke with the workers of SBGC where they maintained that they are only responsible for building up to Market Street. Under any other contract prior to now this last part of the street has never been disregarded. At this point it is not too late to change the contract to facilitate the rest of the street. I am pleading with the necessary authorities to look into this situation and have it corrected. Most of the residents affected feel it may be a decision based on party politics and they are being discriminated. I am utterly disappointed at the misconduct of the BV / Triumph NDC when it comes to the manner in which works are being conducted. Christopher Singh

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Dishonest Accounting/Engineering officers must be removed -PAC By: Kiana Wilburg It appears that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has had it with the “dishonest behaviour” of some accounting officers within the system. It is recommending that such elements must be removed. The PAC is the standing committee that exercises supervisory oversight of the functioning of the Audit Office. The Committee exercises powers in keeping with the Evidence Act, Chapter 1:08, which allows for the summoning of witnesses to give evidence and/or provide documents to it. It also has penalties for non-compliance without proper reason. According to the Committee, the culture where certain officials believe that it is simply acceptable to engage in unbecoming financial practices must come to an end. Over the years, the PAC said that it has examined the Auditor General’s report only to find that the same financial transgressions are being repeated year after year. To bring an end to this behaviour, the members have since put forward a number of recommendations. These are before the National Assembly.

Among its many recommendations, the PAC is calling for the Finance Secretary to be empowered to surcharge defaulting accounting officers. It is also suggesting that Accounting officers and or engineering staff that knowingly wait until the end of December to sign off on incomplete projects, be removed from the system. The PAC said that it is against this practice which it considers to be “dishonest and not in keeping with the nation’s financial rules and regulations.” Additionally, the Committee said that over the years, there have been a number of challenges regarding Budget Agencies. The Committee observed that across budget agencies, Accounting Officers and/or engineering staff appear to persistently sign off on incomplete projects. It said that Accounting Officers were found in many instances, not implementing appropriate measures to avoid the recurrence of overpayment. Compounding the situation is the fact that Government Agencies seemed reluctant to use the performancebased gratuity (specifically the withholding of increments) of Accounting Offic-

ers as a means of promoting efficiency. Additionally, the Committee said that the recycling of Accounting Officers who had been cited for inefficiency from one agency to another remains an irritant. The PAC said that it has also observed that in numerous cases, Performance Bonds and Insurance were seldom utilized as surety by Ministries/Regions against shoddy and incomplete work done by contractors. In this regard as well, it found that there is a lack of clearly defined policies as it relates to invoking the Insurance and Performance bonds at the appropriate time. The PAC noted, too, that Log Books not being properly maintained continues to be a perennial problem across Ministries/Departments/Regions. Furthermore, the PAC has found that the Auditor General’s Engineering Department appears overstretched, given the number of expected interventions and

the increase in capital works across agencies. The PAC said that another frustrating challenge is the fact that Accounting Officers when challenged regarding the comments in the Auditor General’s reports for signing off on incomplete projects, are in the habit of behaving as though the contractors are automatically and legally liable for rectifying the defects. The Committee said that a significant number of issues appearing before it are as a result of failure to put in place appropriate or timely policies and/or remedies. One such example it cited, was the unclear arrangements for the writing off of losses, which keeps recurring as queries annually. The PAC also expressed its dissatisfaction with the fact that budget agencies are taking on the average, one year (minimal), to rectify queries highlighted in the Auditor General’s Report. It stressed that in no uncertain terms, changes have to be made in this regard.

PAC Chairman, Irfaan Ali

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Govt. to begin receiving overpayments to contractors for ECD Highway Both the 2014 and 2015 audit reports prepared by Auditor General of Guyana, Deodat Sharma, revealed a number of overpayments made to contractors for works done on the East Coast Demerara Highway under the People’s Progressive Party Civic government. Questions had arisen as to when these overpayments will be recovered. According to Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, this process will begin in the New Year. He said that one of the contractors is presently in receivership. Patterson said that based on this situation,

the contractor’s indebtedness has been forwarded to the Attorney-General’s chambers. He did not specify which of the contractors this was. Patterson said that the other contractor will be repaying amounts by installments and this is to begin in 2017. The 2014 audit had identified two companies which were overpaid large sums of money for works done during the highway expansion and improvement project. In the 2014 report, Courtney Benn Contracting Services and Compustruct Engineering Inc. were identified. Courtney Benn was con-

tracted Lot three which is the stretch of road from La Bonne Intention to Beterverwagting. The contract sum was $349M and payments made at the time of the report totalled $278M. At the time of the physical verification, the value of work done was $157M which represented an excess of $120M in overpayments. Compustruct was contracted Lot four which is the area between Beterverwagting and Triumph. That contract sum was $322M and total payments made at the time of the report totalled $209M. At the time of the physical verification, the

work done was valued at $76M. There was an overpayment of $132M. In the 2015 report, overpayment was recorded for Lot one of the project which began at Better Hope and ended at Montrose village. A contract valued $468M was awarded for preparatory works. There was no mention in the report as to who the contractor was. As of September, the audit stated that there was no evidence to confirm that the Ministry was able to recover the sum of $81M which is the contractor’s indebtedness.

Recently, the new administration signed a line of credit with the China Exim Bank to finance the further expansion of the roadway. As a result of this arrangement there will be a US$46M financial injection. The total length of road to be rehabilitated is some 17 kilometres. The four-lane widening will be a total of 7,400 metres and the two lane upgrade will be a total length of 9,598 metres. The project will entail the widening and improvement of a section of the main thoroughfare between Better Hope and Belfield villages.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson

Woman refuses to testify against husband over death threats It is alleged that on November 24, last, at Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Gregory Anthony, used threatening behaviour and abusive language against his wife, Clare Thomas. Anthony pleaded guilty to the charge after it was read to him by Magistrate Madan Kissoon at a sitting of the Night Court in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Police Prosecutor Kerry Bostwick stated that on the day in question the defendant who resides at Public Road Agricola with his wife, went home around 21:00 hrs under the influence of alcohol and called out for his wife who was at the time at the neighbour. The Virtual Complainant did not go close to her husband since she was afraid of him. The defendant then began to use abusive

language toward his wife and threatened to kill her. As a result, the matter was reported to the Ruimveldt Police Station, an investigation was carried out and the defendant was arrested and charged. Anthony explained to the Court that he was under the influence of alcohol and that he was annoyed when he reached home and his wife was not there. Her absence caused the outburst, he said. After Anthony had finished, his wife told the Court that she did not wish to proceed any further with the matter, and will not be giving any evidence against her husband because they live together and are happily married for 23 years.

Proposed tax formula guarantees increased take-home pay for all - GRA The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is assuring taxpayers that the proposed formula for calculation of income tax for all categories of persons announced in the 2017 Budget guarantees more take home pay for each category

of persons - whether low, medium or high income. According to GRA yesterday, Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, who presented the budget last Monday had announced that the rate of Income Tax will be de-

termined in proportion to the individual’s gross earnings. Since the budget, citizens have expressed alarm that from indications certain tier of workers would be taking home less. GRA, however, (Continued on page 23)

Saturday December 03, 2016

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Kaieteur News

The new tax measures should be frozen for two months The private sector is reaping what it has sown. The private sector in Guyana has a history of nestling under the bosoms of governments. They have been taken for granted. They have been taken for a ride. Governments have no respect for them. The government, each year, gives the private sector a few goodies to keep it happy and then leaves business to grovel at the feet of the bureaucracy for additional benefits. The private sector has no teeth. It is toothless. It has no

bite. The government feels free to do as it pleases with the propertied class in this country because they know that the private sector will roll over and take whatever the government dishes out to them. The private sector has been stunned by the 2017 Budget. They are justifiably concerned about its impact on prices, on competitiveness of their industries and eventually on their profitability. But what can they do? The options of the private sector are limited. They are

afraid – have always been afraid – of facing down the government. This is the Christmas Season, their prime sales period, and they are not likely to want to take any action such as protesting by closing their businesses for a few days at a time as is being done by their counterparts in Venezuela. The private sector strength is in lobbying. They are good at that. They peddle their influence in the watering holes, private cocktails and social functions. They may be attempting to do that

Dem boys seh... People show off dem bad manners Some people ain’t got manners. Normally, when a stranger visiting, people does put on dem best manners. Dem does even try to talk proppa. Dem boys see women talking wid dem mouth close and when dem walking dem cut dem step in half because dem want to look decent. Dem can’t afford fuh de stranger see how dem wobbling at de back or how much dem shaking. Dem was de good days. Nowadays people don’t care bout being mannerly. De prince land in Guyana and is de same time dem gunmen mekking a hustle pun a payroll. Two of dem size up Vieira payroll so when de collectors going back to de wuk place dem mek dem tackle. One of

dem ride up and shoot de guard. Right away one of de guard shoot back. Whether he knock de man or de bullet pass close to him dem boys don’t know. What dem know is that de gunman drop he gun and plenty ammunition and run like if de devil been behind him. Right now de police checking pun a bank manager in connection wid an armed robbery. Is long now dem boys suspect that people inside de bank does set up nuff of dem robberies. Somebody tun up to draw some money and de manager in de bank does place a call to ee friends on de outside. He does describe wha de man wearing and how much money de man got. Dem boys hear de police ketch one of

dem gunmen and de man squeal. He name somebody from a certain bank. De police didn’t waste time; dem move in and arrest de man. And that happen when de prince come. Nobody ain’t got time. Long ago when de prince grandmother come to this country, people put on a sport that last one whole week. When he grandfather come he was so frighten that he never lef de airport. He father was a different story. He find chocolate. Now de prince come and de High Commission ain’t even try to mek de youngster visit a night club. But then again, is a different time when people ain’t got manners. Talk half and don’t wait fuh people get manners.

right now. Christmas is the time of numerous parties. The private sector however is short of time to lobby. The Budget debates will be wrapped up quicker that you can shout “VAT!” The government wants to get the Budget and its controversies out of the way as quickly as possible. Time is not on the side of the private sector to force any revision of the Budget. Governments, in any event, are not keen to make themselves look silly by reviewing Budget proposals which were presented. There is not much chance of the government changing its mind at this stage. The APNU+AFC has not been under any pressure at all. It is not worried about public opinion. It survived unscathed the removal of vendors from the Stabroek Square. It survived the postponement of Mashramani to May. It avoided any fallout from a poorly executed 50th anniversary celebrations. It has lost no sleep over what the opposition says are at least twenty five major scandals since the government came to power. The government is not going to be moved by any protests over its Budget. It is not going to entertain any claims for a review of

the measures in the Budget. The private sector, therefore, has to come up with a new strategy to press the government on its Budget for 2017. The private sector should consider a powerful lobby which simply asks the government to freeze all the new tax measures for two months—that is until February, so that the private sector can come up with proposals that would allow the government to meet its revenue targets. A suspension for two months of the tax measures will allow also for a study to be undertaken of the likely impact of the tax measures. The government should con-

sent to this freeze on the measures. The government, in so doing, will not lose face nor will such a freeze mean a reversal of the Budget measures. It gives the private sector a chance to come up with alternatives. It also allows for an assessment of the impact of the measures.

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Kaieteur News

Saturday December 03, 2016

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

For the PPP some Guyanese are lower animals? Maybe you are not familiar with the name Hydar Ally the way you are with Anil Nandlall . But Mr. Ally is a long serving apparatchik of the PPP. He held some very important positions in the 23-yearold government of the PPP beginning in 1992 when Dr. Jagan became President. Since the PPP lost power in May 2015, Mr. Ally has been writing letters to every daily newspaper. There are times in this newspaper when he would publish two letters a week. In the ocean of letters printed so far, Mr. Ally has not devoted even a single line to a mistake or a violation or an egregious wrong or an act of victimization in the entire 23 years of the exercise of state

power. The next frequent letter writer is Anil Nandlall. He may be running neck and neck with Ally for frequent appearance in the newspapers. Coming up right behind is former President Donald Ramotar. He is in front of Clement Rohee who just penned a letter using poetic lyrics about sadness that awaits Guyana in the lust for power by ruling politicians. Obviously Rohee doesn’t count his fellow dinosaurs that ruled Guyana for 23 years as ever being driven by the lust for power as if during that time I lived in Timbuktu. The infamous Jagdeo does not send letters to the newspapers; he holds weekly press conferences in which amnesia and fictions domi-

nate. He cannot remember the depraved policies he implemented when he was in power. For example, he didn’t know about the NIS investment in the construction of the Berbice Bridge. One acknowledges that he/she is a complete jackass if one believes that Jagdeo didn’t know that when he was President. In fact, it was Jagdeo who authorized the NIS investment. This column here is the beginning of a series which will not be structured in sequential order; I will do them from time to time. I will pull from current history, acts of vicious nastiness by the PPP Government, going way back from President Jagan and ending with the ignominious loss of power by Donald Ramotar. My memory falls on young, bright attorney Gino Persaud. I taught Gino at UG and it was clear to me that he would turn out to be an excellent practitioner of law.

Gino Persaud’s only crime against President Ramotar was that he became the head of Transparency Institute of Guyana. Gino was offered a job by a foreign company, Credit Bureau, that was opening up a business here. Credit Bureau made a vital error. It should have received its license approval before it employed Gino Persaud as its CEO. Instead it sent Gino to Slovakia and Holland to receive training. The Ramotar Government then told Credit Bureau, it would not grant a license to a foreign company with an antigovernment CEO. That was the end of Gino Persaud’s stint with Credit Bureau. Next on the list is Ms. Gail Teixeira. I saw Ms. Texieira shove a list in front the face of Vice Chancellor of UG, Lawrence Carrrington. With her Canadian accent, she told Carrington, I want the contract of these four lecturers to be terminated. Sitting next to

Carrington was the then head of the Caribbean Development Bank and Chancellor of UG, Compton Bourne. Bourne looked at Carrington, Carrington looked at Bourne, and Carrington simply collected the list. Then came the voice of the then Permanent Secretary of the Education Ministry, Phulander Khandai. Using grammar that was atrocious, he told Carrington, the termination should be done the next day. Next is Genevieve WhyteNedd, then Chief Education Officer (CEO). Priya Manichand, as Education Minister, refused to confirm her. No reason was given. As she neared retirement, her benefits would suffer because she would end her stint without being substantial CEO. Ms. Whyte-Nedd was not that lucky. One hopes this woman is given justice and her full benefits are paid to her. Next is Ingrid Griffith of the GRA. She

Frederick Kissoon acted as Trade Commissioner (in charge of customs and excise; operation on the wharves) on two occasions totaling three years. When it was time to find a Trade Commissioner, the Jagdeo Government brought a retired army officer, Chabilal Ramsarup, and offered him the job though he had nil experience in Customs operations. I have cited just four examples of the depraved attitudes of the PPP Government. Today, these very vultured politicians who sit in the opposition are the biggest voices and the largest writers of newspaper letters condemning what they describe as victimizations and violations of the government. Maybe the PPP victims deserved what they got; they were lower animals.

Saturday December 03, 2016

Kaieteur News

Guyana deemed very progressive for implementing Medical Termination Act Guyana has been deemed very progressive for implementing an Act that governs the medical termination of pregnancy. The move has been lauded when consideration is given to the fact that Guyana has been proactive when compared to other territories in South America and the Caribbean. This observation was recently made by Dr. Janie Pak, the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Global Health Fellow attached to the WONDOOR Programme. This programme has been lending support to the Maternity Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). According to Dr. Pak, “Guyana has the most liberal laws that enable us to provide a safe termination of pregnancy service to women.” Dr. Pak has been here since earlier this year and is expected to continue to lend her support until 2018 to advance an Obstetrics and Gynaecology Residency programme. According to the Dr. Pak, while Guyana’s move to implement its Medical Termination Act has not caused a decrease in the number of abortions, it has, however, catered to a reduction in the deaths related to septic abortion. She disclosed that it has long been observed that the more restrictive laws are, the more unwanted deaths are likely to occur. Moves have also been made, Dr. Pak said, to promote the Family Planning Clinic at the GPHC. This, she related, has been realising success. “We have not only been providing in-depth contraceptive counselling so that women can choose a method but they are also able to plan their family size and be empowered in that way.” Part of the programme entails the offering of safe termination of pregnancy should anything untoward happen and a woman is not able to give birth to her baby. Although the Medical

Termination of Pregnancy Act was brought into being since 1995, under the tenure of then Minister of Health, Gail Teixeira, it has been one fraught with controversy, with some persons advocating for the provision of the service and others opposing it. However, the Act was not fully implemented until 2014 under the tenure of Minister Bheri Ramsaran. Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, had told this publication that the implementation was running smoothly at several public health facilities. He, however, noted that “we didn’t make an announcement, deliberately, because we didn’t want to stigmatise any institution or health professionals, because in some countries there are designated abortion clinics and we don’t want to go there.” He pointed out that this has seen the Ministry being able to “institute the full law, which means that women seeking a termination of pregnancy, not related to medical conditions, incest or rape, can by choice come to one of the clinics to access the service.” Ahead of being afforded the service, Dr. Persaud explained that women are provided with pre-termination counselling. This, he noted, is in keeping with the Act which requires that a 48-hour period be given to patients to consider whether they still desire to proceed with the procedure. And according to Dr. Persaud too, “if they wish or wish not to discuss with their partner that’s fine; the law does not mandate them to do that. It is fully the woman’s right; she has the time to consider based on the counselling session whether she would like to go ahead and there are also options that will be given to her.” ”The law says that options should be described to the pregnant woman, one of

which would be to go through with the pregnancy and maybe adoption options and so on, and then of course detailing the termination process itself which can have consequences.” He noted, however, that there may be instances when some women may not opt to voluntarily have an abortion, but are instead forced to do so for various reasons which could range from migration to marital issues. The importance of counselling cannot be understated as part of the process, said Dr. Persaud. “Counselling gives enough room for people to consider all the factors and to make informed decisions in the end.” Once a woman has carefully considered the possible options, she can then return to an approved health centre that is certified by the Chief Medical Officer to have the procedure done. On completion of the procedure, patients are then subjected to post-termination counselling which, according to Dr. Persaud, “include the provision of contraceptives so that they do not use termination as a form of contraceptive…this is to ensure that the next time around they would use an approved non-termination technique.” According to Dr. Pak, she has been able to observe that there has been an over 90 percent contraceptive uptake after an initial medical termination of pregnancy procedure. The Health Ministry, according to Dr. Persaud, has been working to ensure that all those tasked with conducting the procedure are properly trained and licensed and that “we are using recommended safe measures for termination.” In order to conduct a medical termination of pregnancy, practitioners must be so certified, which means that merely having a licence to practise as a doctor is not sufficient certification, Dr. Persaud disclosed.

PAGE 11

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Kaieteur News

PEPFAR and UNAIDS discuss AIDS-free framework with Minister

The super fast-track framework for ending AIDS in children, adolescents, and young women by 2020 was the topic of discussion on Thursday when Public Health Minister, Dr. George Norton, met with representatives of UNAIDS and PEPFAR. UNAIDS Country Director, Dr. Martin Oditt, and PEPFAR Coordinator of the Caribbean Regional Programme, Dr. Jennifer Walsh, were able to meet with the Public Minister in his Brickdam office to discuss the framework. The framework, referred to as “Start Free. Stay Free. AIDS Free”, sets ambitious targets that are critical to reaching both the 90-90-90 targets and supporting countries to control, and ultimately end their AIDS epidemics. Among those targets are reaching and sustaining 95 percent of pregnant women living with HIV with lifelong HIV treatment by 2018 and reducing the number of new HIV infections among adolescents and young women to less than 100,000 by 2020. The UNAIDS AND PEPFAR representatives met with Minister Norton to discuss the adaptation of the framework to the national

From left to right - UNAIDS Country Director, Dr. Martin Oditt; PEPFAR Coordinator of the Caribbean Regional Programme, Dr. Jennifer Walsh, and Public Health Minister, Dr. George Norton. context with a focus on key actions needed in Guyana. This was done in order to help the framework partners ensure that their actions and investments are aligned with the country needs and priorities in order to accelerate action and achieve results. Minister Norton said that he is in full agreement with the

framework, since it has been proven to be effective. He pointed out that the Ministry of Public Health will support the implementation of the framework so that every child starts life HIV-free, adolescent girls and young women remain HIV-free and every child, adolescent and adult is

given treatment as soon as they are diagnosed with HIV. The Public Health Minister acknowledged that the framework is going to cost the government more, but it has no intention of shying away from its responsibility of ensuring that the 90-90-90 target is met.

Saturday December 03, 2016

Punitive budgetary measures will contribute to expansion of underground economy - PSC By Abena RockcliffeCampbell “Stricter the government, wiser the population” is what Executive Member of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Ramesh Persaud, reminded the media as he spoke about the many punitive measures proposed in Budget 2017. This was at a press conference the commission held on Thursday. Persaud said, “I am not sure why we continuously think that punitive measures will enhance the tax net and bring more people on board. The more punishment you put, the harder it is to have people in the informal sector become formal. (Certain punitive measures) will contribute to the expansion of an underground economy.” Persaud said that he is struggling to see the wisdom behind Government’s proposal to implement a plethora of punitive measures in one go. He zeroed in on the measures in relation to record keeping. During the delivery of his Budget Speech, Minister Winston Jordan, said that the penalties for failing to keep proper books and records are lenient. He said that as a result, many taxpayers, particularly the self-employed taxpayers, fail to keep proper books and records. Jordan then announced that the penalties will be increased to $200,000 or five percent of the tax assessed, whichever is greater. He said too that taxpayers fail to present books, records and other information in a timely manner. He told the National Assembly that audits are greatly affected by the lack of evidence to justify disclosures in financial statements. Jordan then proposed to increase the fine to $200,000 and/or six months imprisonment. At Thursday’s press con-

PSC Executive Member, Ramesh Persaud ference, Persaud pointed out that the proposed penalties are not to be implemented on corporations alone but everyone who has even the smallest of businesses. Noting the penalty of fine or jail time, Persaud questioned, “Can you imagine if an audit is being done on Stabroek Market, Bourda Market or on minibus operators how much $200,000 we will collect or how much space we will have to find in the prison? Persaud said that the PSC agrees that businesses must maintain records, “but what about the small business, the vendors; are we going to force all to hire accountants to do their records?” The PSC member said that big business will be fine. “We have nothing to worry about, we will present our audited accounts, and we will have our books in order. Our concern is about the farmers and the vendors.” Persaud continued, “I do not know whether that will contribute to people being excited to come into the formal system or if it will further contribute to the expansion of the underground economy…You know the old saying the stricter the government the wiser the population.”

Saturday December 03, 2016

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Kaieteur News

New Cardiac Intensive Care Unit opens at GPHC

In the quest to advance the delivery of cardiac care at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), a new Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) was yesterday commissioned during a simple ceremony. And according to Head of Cardiology and Resident Cardiologist at the Caribbean Heart Institute (CHI), Dr. Mahendra Carpen, “Today, we can boast that no citizen will be denied cardiac care because of their economic limitation and no citizen should have their dignity shaken when confronted with a sick family member.” Dr. Carpen described yesterday’s ceremony as a celebration of yet another step in the continuing journey towards excellence in health care particularly in cardiovascular health. Cardiovascular disease, according to Dr. Carpen, remains the leading cause of death in the world but is more pronounced in the developing world. Even as he pointed out that the gap, quality and standard of care between nations is significant, the Cardiologist observed that from time immemorial the cost of advanced cardiac care has been prohibitive and only accessible to the privileged. “In the early to mid-2000s it cost our country about US$500,000 to send 10 patients overseas for treatment. Today we can appropriately and adequately treat about 100 patients for about the same amount right here at home,” related Dr. Carpen. But there hasn’t only been a distinction in the delivery of cardiac care between nations as according to Dr. Carpen there has even existed a glaring gap between the public and private sectors. This gap, the Cardiologist said, has been wide. He, however, asserted yesterday that “today we announce major steps in bridging that gap and make a bid for the public sector to become the standard bearer and

- to ensure no patient is denied cardiac care leader in the provision of tertiary cardiac care.” “We have arrived at this point through the joint efforts and tremendous contributions of our friends and allies,” said the Cardiologist as he disclosed that a Cardiac Services Committee was established and sanctioned by the Ministry of Public Health with full commitment and support of the Ministers of Public Health – doctors George Norton and Karen Cummings. The Committee, Dr. Carpen said, was tasked with developing the blueprint for cardiac care at the Georgetown Public Hospital and did so by devising a multi-faceted approach involving education and research, infrastructural development, non-invasive care and invasive care strategies. But even as he questioned how we produce optimal results without sacrificing quality in the context of our social economical realities, Dr. Carpen revealed that education as well as non-invasive care and infrastructural development were led by Professors Wayne Warnica and Debra Isaacs of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute, University of Calgary in Canada. Dr. Warnica yesterday committed continued support to the cardiac care advancement at the GPHC “until you tell us you don’t need us anymore.” Critical support was also forthcoming from the administrators of the GPHC, its nursing services and the Institute of Health Science Education. With this support, cardiac care here in Guyana has advanced considerably. This has allowed even for CHI, which is housed at the GPHC and introduced as a publicprivate partnership, to offer invasive care. This latest development, Dr. Carpen said, was realised after a landmark agreement

Minister George Norton and Professor Wayne Warnica unveil the plaque

Health officials during a tour of the new intensive care unit yesterday was reached between CHI, the Ministry of Public Health and the GPHC. While CHI has been attending to the needs of the adults with cardiac issues, the International Children Heart Foundation has been lending its services to the GPHC to attend to children with heart diseases. According to Dr. Carpen, “It has been my honour to be a part of all of this, to work with a team of amazing and dedicated professionals to get this done.” All functions of the unit will be managed by Dr. Carpen. Speaking at yesterday’s ceremony, Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton, noted that the new Cardiac Intensive Care Unit was brought into being through an initiative called the Guyana Programme to Advance Cardiac Care (GPACC). He disclosed that Government’s involvement in this venture is essential since the GPACC programme is one that aims to significantly improve provisions of patient care and enhance academic

medical activities through educational research and clinical initiatives. He disclosed that it was because of deliberate and strategic collaborations that a Cardiac ICU, complete with eight monitored-patient beds and five step-down beds, is not in place. The monitoredpatient beds have the capacity to monitor rhythm, blood pressure, oxygen saturation and for invasive and pulmonary artery monitoring.

The Canada-based support through GPACC catered to the structural, functional and educational support which entailed the contribution of US$300,000 towards equipping the unit. In lauding the support that was forthcoming to bring the unit to fruition, Minister Norton noted that “This unit will allow us to take cardiac care to another level.” Also lauding the support and the eventual realisation

of the unit were GPHC’s Chief Executive Officer (ag), Dr. Sheik Amir, and Director of the Institute of Health Science Education, Dr. Madan Rambarran, who reflected on the evolution of cardiac care at the GPHC. Following the official commissioning ceremony, a plaque was unveiled by Minister Norton and Professor Warnica after which a tour of the new facility was conducted.

DNA tests back from overseas lab

Skeletal remains positively ID’d as Babita Sarjou’s Champa Seonarine can now give her daughter a decent burial. That’s because Crime Chief Wendell Blan h u m y e s t e r d a y r e ceived DNA results that confirmed that the skeletal remains that his ranks dug up from a Seaforth Street, Campbellville backyard seven months ago, are those of Babita Sarjou.Blanhum declined to identify the laboratory that had conducted the tests. He had initially told the media that the samples would have been sent to a Trinidad forensic laboratory. Police will now hand the remains over to the slain woman’s relatives. That family member is likely to be Babita’s mother, Champa Seonarine. She had agonized over the length of time it was taking for the results to return.“I just want to bury my child,” she had told Kaieteur News last May. “I want to give her a proper funeral and I want to have a wake for her so that her soul can finally rest in peace,” the woman

Dead Babita Sarjou said. I already know that is my daughter because I identified her clothing and shoes. When they washed the mud from the clothing, I could have identified it.”Babita Sarjou vanished on the Diwali Night of November 4, 2010, after leaving her mother’s home at Timehri, EastBank Demerara.On May 22, six years later, investigators dug up the skeletal remains of a

female, believed to be Babita Sarjou, a mother of one, in a three-foot-deep grave. Detectives first unearthed a skull, then several bones, a pair of high-heeled shoes, a brassiere, and bits of clothing from the same spot. Sarjou’s estranged partner, 38-year-old Sharadananda Narine, called “Anand”, and his accomplice, Darel Pronton, are currently before the court for the murder.

PAGE 22

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Saturday December 03, 2016

Kaieteur News

CAR RENTAL DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MIN BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPOTR & FAMILY OUTING, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807

Land at Tuschen -$2.5M, La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.4M, $1.2M, Zeelugt, Herstelling, All price reduced & terms available. Call: 604-6724 38X120 FT land in Independence St. La Grange -$8M negotiable. Call: 6847853/619-2388 18,000 Sq.Ft suitable for warehouse or bond at Eorl’s Court, LBI, E.C.D. Call: 626-7127

WANTED 1 Female shop assistant to work in the interior, salary depends on experienced. Call: 678-0565

VEHICLE FOR SALE Bluebird for sale 2011 model, dark interior, reverse camera $2.7M negotiable, preorder any vehicle Call: 655-3400

Experienced cahiers, curry cooks, cleaners. Apply @ Hack’s Halaal with written application, 5 Commerce Street.

2009 NOAH & VOXY $2.6M IN ‘G’ SERIES, 3 TON OPEN BACK CANTER -$3.6M. CALL: 617-2891

Couple to work on farm @ Yarrowkabra, ages 35-45yrs, must be experienced in farming. Call: 642-9191/ 2311408 8am-2pm

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: SIENTA -$2.3M, RAUM $2.3M, RACTIS -$2.3M, FIELDER -$2.6M, NEVER R E G I S T E R VEHICLE.CALL: 617-2891

6 Waitresses to work in Mahdia; attractive salary. Call:601-1479 after 11am or whatsapp. One male to work on chicken farm interior, must have knowledge of chicken rearing. Call: 680-2702 Experienced female shop worker, domestic and handyman for the interior. Call: 231-0363 Experienced domestic worker must know to cook for G/ town location. Call: 231-0363 Roti/Puri maker, male & female. Apply at Shanta’s , 225 Camp Street. Two female to work shift system. Call: 231-6293

Toyota Spacio (2003) 16" Mags, flair Kit, remote start, alarm, black interior, HID lights, PNN. Price $1.650M. Call: 619-1047 One Freightliner truck and trailer. Call: 615-0887 Honda Civic (04) stick shift from Singapore. Rims, deck. In immaculate condition $1.150M negotiable- call: 618-4257 1 Toyota Allion PVV series: TV Camera, HID, lights, alarm & remote start $2.2M negotiable Call: 649-0956 Red Toyota Beigo, lady driven excellent condition, low mileage, price negotiable. Call: 628-0723/ 668-2407/ 660-6774

FULL TIME WAITER/ WAITRESS AT AAGMAN RESTAURANT, SHERIFF STREET. EXPERIENCED PREFERRED.CALL:219-0158

1 –CF DAF twin steer in excellent working condition. Call: 649-8449/ 615-6683/ 2285655

One maid; one baby sitter. Attractive salary. Call 696-9386 One salesgirl and one kitchen assistant to work in restaurant in Mahdia. Call: 684-1718

Almera Nissan Car- 1295 CC Engine, mileage 116, 400km $775,000 negotiable, very good working condition. Call: 616-1598 PROPERTY FOR SALE

General domestic to cook, clean, wash & Iron. Call: 6992067

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

Receptionist, bartenders, handyman. Apply in person @ 12 Henry Street, Werk-enRust. Call: 223-6284

Two buildings on lot at180 Charolotte Street Bourda (W30XL120). (Price negotiable). Call:624-7341/ 227-6817/226-5183

Security officers wanted, 8 hours & 12 hours shifts, remuneration $3,000 daily, base on qualifications. TIN/ ID/NIS needed. Call: 2316052/40 Handyman to work 3 days per week. Call: 641-3687/226-9337.

Vreed-en-Hoop -$27M, La Parfaite Harmonie -$4.5M & $18M, Second Bridge Herstelling -$4M, Parika $45M. (Terms Available). Call: 604-6724/ 673-6300

Security checker, must have a motorcycle. Call: 641-3687/ 226-933 1 Male cook to work in Interior -$100,000 monthly, workers on land dredge. Call: 694-2310 1 Porter to work in shop in the Interior. Call: 678-0565 TO LET Apartment in Eccles 2 bedrooms, furnished & unfurnished short & long term-$60,000 per month-Call: 225-3234

House & land for sale at Good Hope Public Road, East Bank Essequibo. Call: 689-0785, 660-2504, 671-5095 TO LET Fully furnished vacation home with all amenities Call during working hours 227-1218 Two bedrooms apartment at Eccles East Bank Demerara. Call:676-7634 Two bedrooms house, tiled kitchen, bathroom, parking, overhead tank. Call Joy: 6499059/ 621-1088

Saturday December 03, 2016

Proposed tax formula guarantees... From page 8 explained yesterday that it was stipulated that a monthly gross income of $180,000 or less will be taxed at the rate of 28% with a proposed threshold of $60,000 while monthly earnings above $180,000 will be taxed at two rates of 28% and 40% for every dollar of chargeable income. “However, it is important to note that the threshold for a person earning more than $180,000 will be one-third (?) of their gross salary. Notwithstanding this, such individuals will attract the 28% Income Tax

rate on the first $120,000 of their chargeable income and 40% Income tax rate on every dollar of chargeable income above $120,000.” GRA said it is urging persons not to be despondent since according to the calculations based on the proposed formula, all categories of individuals will be taking home higher net salaries or income in 2017, which will be more than they would have taken home in 2016 based on the current rate of 30%. GRA provided the following tax computations on incomes are provided as follows:

* $60,000 Monthly Salary – Net salary increase by 0.88%.

* $180,000 Monthly Salary – Net salary increase by 2.73%.

* $300,000 Monthly Salary – Net salary increase by 4.13%.

GRA also reminded that in the process of ascertain i n g t h e c h a r g e a b l e i n c o m e o f employees, National Insurance Scheme (NIS) contributions must

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Kaieteur News

be treated as a 5.6 % deduction of the gross salary with $11,200 being the maximum NIS deduction for salaries $200,000 and above.

Accused to lead defence in murder of Brazilian miner Justice James BovellDrakes has granted adjournment for murder accused Mark Thompson to lead a defence in the matter of the unlawful killing of Brazilian miner, Jose Rodriguez De Olivieira, for which he is on trial Thompson allegedly murdered De Olivieira on August 7, 2010 at Aranka Backdam, Cuyuni River. Reports indicated that the two men had apparently been drinking together at their mining camp when the disagreement occurred. De Olivieria allegedly attacked Thompson with a cutlass but was overpowered. Thompson reportedly relieved De Olivieira of the cutlass and hacked him to death as he lay on the ground. He was subsequently detained and charged for the crime. Thompson is currently facing a trial before Judge and Jury at the High Court in Georgetown. He is being represented by Attorneys-atlaw, Peter Hugh and Latchmie Rahamat. Yesterday, the Judge overruled a no case submission by the defence following a Voir Dire, (trial within a trial in the absence of the jury.) However before the accused could be called upon to lead a defence his attorney, (Latchmie Rahamat) requested time, for him to do so. Judge Bovell-Drakes therefore granted an adjournment in the matter until December 6. Last week, State Prosecutor Tamieka Clarke, called among a number of other witnesses, former Police Sergeant Wilfred Murray to the stand. Murray recalled travelling to (Melodina) at Aranka, Cuyuni River to in-

vestigate a murder which was reportedly committed there in August 2010. The former policeman said that he was attached to the Bartica Police Station at the time. He stated that during the said investigation, he questioned several persons about the incident and they pointed out the accused, Mark Thompson. The ex-cop also recalled viewing the body of the deceased (De Olivieira). It was on a tarpaulin and had what appeared to be blood on it. The body, Murray told the court, was examined in the presence of Corporal Lowe, who had accompanied him to the crime scene. Additionally Murray told the court that photographic exposures were taken of the body and further investigations were conducted at the

scene before the accused was detained and taken to the Bartica Police Station. Shortly after their arrival at Bartica on August 9, 2010, the policeman said that they (the ranks) proceeded to take statements from the accused, regarding the incident. He told the court that Thompson’s rights were read to him before the statement was taken. The witness recalled that the accused had elected Corporal Lowe to write his statement for him. During that time, Murray noted that no bribe, inducement or force was used on the accused in order that he might give a statement to the ranks. The witness told the court that the statement was later read over to the accused before he affixed his signature to it.

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Kaieteur News

Saturday December 03, 2016

Corriverton Mayor Bandit wounds guard, loses gun in bungled payroll heist gets the boot -Gangadin refused to vote to elect deputy mayor

The much anticipated Corriverton Mayor and Town Council’s Internal Elections yesterday ended with the current Mayor, Mr. Ganesh Gangadin, losing his mayoral seat to his only contender Mr. Krishnand Jaichand, the former Deputy Mayor. The elections saw 15 councillors voting for the person of their choice with Jaichand copping nine (9) votes and Gangadin six (6). Contesting for the Deputy Mayor position was Mr. Sheik Mahmood, proprietor of Royal Graphics, and Mr. J. Gamandi, proprietor of Gamandi’s Hardware. Gamandi received nine (9) votes whilst Mahmood managed five (5). Gangadin was nominated by one councillor for the Deputy Mayor position but he declined. He also declined to place his vote during the election for a Deputy Mayor. The Proceedings commenced promptly at 10:00 and lasted less than 30 minutes within a calm atmosphere. After the results were announced the Mayor-elect in a brief address asked for cooperation and promised to continue along the same path of continued development for the benefit of the

Ganesh Gangadin, councillors at corriverton township. The Deputy Mayor-elect also asked that the same attitude portrayed during the past seven months be continued and not to let the change thwart the manner in which they work; which is for the good of the township of Corriverton. Ousted Mayor, Ganesh Gangadin, said that “despite the result I am proud of the accomplishments I’ve made. I have left an impeccable track record and have garnered great admiration and respect from the people of Corriverton”. The councillors on both sides pledged their co-opera-

tion to the new Mayor elect and Deputy Mayor respectively. Last Thursday saw an unexpected tie with Gangadin copping seven (7) votes and Jaichand the same number. One of the councillors was absent during last week’s proceeding leaving a 14member council to vote. The councillor that was absent during last week’s proceedings was present yesterday pushing the number to fifteen councillors placing their votes. Regional Vice Chairman, Dennis Deroop, was accused by councillors of intervening in the voting process by persuading one councillor to vote for Gangadin, hence the tie (7-7). The councillor was said to be a major supporter of Jaichand but was somehow convinced by Deroop to vote for Gangadin. Eight of nine municipalities have thus far submitted their dates for the internal elections. Anna Regina held its elections on Tuesday with Mayor Rabindranauth Mohan and Deputy Mayor Darshan Persaud being reelected to their substantive positions. Lethem held its elections on Thursday to be followed by Rose Hall which will hold its own on December 7 and Linden on December 8. New Amsterdam and Mabaruma have scheduled theirs for December 14 and Bartica for December 15. The annual elections are held for the purpose of electing a mayor and deputy mayor of the various municipalities in keeping with chapter 28:01 of the Municipal and District Council Act. Eight of the nine municipalities have also submitted their approved budget to the Ministry of Communities. The Mayoral Elections are slated to be completed by December 16, 2016. (Malisa Playter Harry)

Police are hunting for a gunman who dropped his firearm after shooting a 52-yearold security guard in the leg, during a foiled attack yesterday. The guard, Lionel Nixon, was on a vehicle that was carrying an E.C Vieira payroll. He was shot in the upper left leg during the attack, which occurred at around 13.50 hrs near Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara public road. But the gunman dropped a 9mm Beretta pistol and fled after another security guard, who was also driving, returned fire. The police stated that the employees were heading to Houston in slow-moving traffic when a gunman approached security guard Lionel Nixon, who was in the front passenger seat, and dis-

The dropped Beretta pistol (bandit’s gun) charged a round at him. The bullet shattered the front wind screen and struck Nixon. The driver, who was armed with a licensed handgun, shot at the bandit, who immediately dropped his 9mm Beretta pistol with 16 live

matching rounds and fled in a northerly direction on a waiting CG motor cycle. Nixon was admitted to a private hospital. Police recovered the bandit’s firearm and a spent shell.

Unidentified female crushed at Eccles in Freak Accident

The unidentified woman lying face down on the road shortly after the accident. Police have launched an investigation into a road fatality which resulted in the death of an unidentified woman at Eccles around noon hours yesterday. Reports indicate t h a t t h e woman was crushed by a truck that was proceeding along the Haag Bosch Access Road at Eccles East Bank Demerara.

The truck, GPP1637 was said to be heading out of the Haag Bosch area when it crushed her on the spot. Kaieteur News understands that the woman was hit by the tray of the truck first before it ran over her. An eyewitness recounted that the driver of the truck had stopped at a nearby shop to make a purchase be-

fore the incident occurred. The victim is said to have suffered from severe injuries to her legs and chest cavity. No one in the area could identify her. Shortly after the accident, the woman’s body was taken to a funeral home in the city. The driver and the truck are at the Providence Police Station.

The truck which was involved in the accident

The driver of the vehicle GPP1637, following the accident yesterday.

Saturday December 03, 2016

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Saturday December 03, 2016

Gambians celebrate after voting out ‘billion year’ leader

Supporters of president-elect Adama Barrow celebrate Barrow’s election victory in Banjul, Gambia, yesterday. REUTERS/Thierry Gouegnon (Reuters) – Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh, who once vowed to rule the tiny West African nation for “a billion years”, said he had accepted his shock election defeat yesterday, 22 years after seizing power in a coup. Voting against Jammeh was a rare show of defiance against a leader who has ruled by decree and who rights groups say crushes dissent by imprisoning and torturing opponents. In an address broadcast by Gambian state-owned radio last evening, Jammeh said he would not contest the poll results showing opposition candidate Adama Barrow had won, which had been announced earlier in the day. “If (Barrow) wants to work with us also, I have no problem with that. I will help him work towards the transition,” Jammeh said, before later saying that he planned to move to his farm after leaving office following a handover in January. Celebrations erupted in the streets of Banjul, a normally sleepy seaside capital whose white beaches lined with palm trees are a draw for European tourists, when the results were announced. Gambians shouted: “We are free. We won’t be slaves of anyone.” Some waved the Gambian flag and opposition party signs. Official results from the electoral commission head gave Barrow, a real estate developer who once worked as a security guard at retailer Argos in London, 45.5 percent of the vote against Jammeh’s 36.7 percent. A peaceful handover of power in Gambia would be a welcome surprise for African democracy at a time when many of the continent’s leaders have been rigging polls, fiddling with constitutions to extend their terms in office

and cracking down on peaceful protest. “African heads of state if they are defeated should take the example of Jammeh by leaving office honorably,” said teacher Lamin Joof, celebrating in Banjul. But his concession is unlikely to have a ripple effect across Africa since Gambia, a sliver of land along the banks of a river on its west coast with few natural resources and little trade or diplomatic presence, has always been an outlier. Jammeh only this week said that his “presidency and power are in the hands of Allah and only Allah can take it from me”. “I never in my dreams believed he would concede. It almost feels to good to be true,” said Ramzia Diab, an opposition member who fled to Senegal after getting death threats. HERBAL CURES Jammeh’s eccentricities have often made headlines. He once said he had invented a herbal cure for AIDS that only works on Thursdays. Once every year he also invited a few hundred women to the grounds of State House, where he personally administered another herbal cure he had concocted for infertility. He arrested hundreds on suspicion of being witches or wizards and threatened to decapitate gay people. Jammeh’s supporters deny abuses and he has often criticized Western powers for meddling in African affairs. The vote was marked by a blackout of the internet and international calls. Land borders were sealed. European Union observers were barred, though some African Union observers came. The tourist flights that bring Gambia’s main source of foreign exchange continued uninterrupted.

“Our resort teams in Gambia tell us that the situation is normal and that customers continue to enjoy their holidays,” a spokesman for Thomas Cook, which organizes regular scheduled flights, said by email. He said the travel agent had 6,500 customers flying from Britain before end of the year. Barrow somehow managed to unite and galvanize Gambia’s opposition for the first time since Jammeh took power in the country of 1.8 million people. He has promised to revive the economy, one of the region’s poorest performers that pushes thousands of Gambians to flee to Europe in search of a better life. Barrow has also pledged to end human rights abuses and to step down after three years as a boost to democracy. It is unclear whether Jammeh, if he steps down, will insist on some kind of immunity for alleged abuses under his rule. Gambia withdrew from the International Criminal Court last month, branding it the “Infamous Caucasian Court”. Karamba Touray, a spokesman for Barrow’s UPD, said he would “stop plans to leave the ICC and ask to rejoin the Commonwealth immediately”. He also said he would annul Jammeh’s declaration of Gambia as an Islamic republic in December last year. “He wants Gambia to remain a secular state and respect the rights of all the people,” Touray said of a country that is predominantly Muslim but has a small Christian minority. Small protests in Banjul in April led to dozens of arrests, including that of the leader of the main UDP opposition party, Ousainu Darboe. Two UDP members later died in custody.

Saturday December 03, 2016

Kaieteur News

$$M training centre for Caribbean Maritime Institute

The Caribbean Maritime Institute KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – The Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) yesterday launched the construction of its multimillion-dollar Festo Authorised and Certified Training (FACT) Centre for specialised engineers. The centre, which is slated to become operational in September 2017, will be the first of its kind in the Englishspeaking Caribbean and will offer world-class training and certification in robotics, mechatronics and automotive engineering. Earlier this week, the CMI received a grant of J$402 million (One Jamaica dollar =US$.0.008 cents) from the PetroCaribe Development Fund for the establishment of the centre that will be the fourth school of the CMI. Transport and Mining Minister Mike Henry, said the facility will advance skills development in the country and add to the Government’s growth agenda. “We are now going to be in a position to train and cer-

tify students for high-tech jobs in production (sectors) such as bottling companies and the automotive and biomedical industries,” he said in a speech delivered by Chief Technical Director in the Ministry, Dr. Janine Dawkins. CMI executive director, Dr. Fritz Pinnock, said the establishment of the centre will bolster the Institute’s capabilities to deliver international certification in mechatronics and automation to meet the changing needs of the engineering industry. “This will create certification and training for the new type of engineer, which is now being demanded,” he said, adding that significant opportunities exist within the sector. According to the CMI officials, 4,307 Festo job openings exist in Singapore alone, with salary starting at US$5,000 per month. He said interests and requests have already been expressed by local and overseas players for training and certi-

fication in the specified areas. PetroCaribe Development Fund, chief executive office, Dr. Wesley Hughes, said the project represents an investment in technological advancement, which augurs well for the continued development of the country. “PetroCaribe, as a fund, has to be strategic in its investment and we have put a lot of money into this project, which is going to be the largest single discrete grant project that we have invested in,” he said, adding that the Fund also invests in areas of social development. He noted that the project will assist in “giving young people a future in a critical area”, which will, over time, transform lives and the society. The establishment of the training centre is being undertaken in partnership with Festo Didactic, a world-leading company in the field of industrial automation and mechatronics, as well as other local stakeholders.

COCAINE LINK IN US$2M PORT FIND FBI nabs Trinis in high seas drug bust Two Trinidad and Tobago nationals are behind bars in Florida, USA, on charges of intention to distribute cocaine after the United States-based Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) cracked what it says is a drug- and money-laundering ring with ties to a Trinidadian contractor. Sources in Trinidad and Tobago intelligence agencies and customs officials have confirmed the FBI’s drug seizure is linked to the US$2 million found concealed in plyboard shipped to this country last month. Neil Jason Merritt of Santa Cruz and Beon “Bobby” Phillip of Petit Valley were on board a yacht called Buff in the Caribbean Sea bound for Florida, allegedly with an

estimated 150 kilogrammes of cocaine. The drugs had an estimated street value of US$5 million (about TT$34 million). On July 1, US Coast Guard and Navy officers intercepted the yacht and arrested Merritt and Phillip. A third Trinidadian who was loading the cocaine into a dinghy has been cooperating with the FBI. US law enforcement called the sting “Operation Unified Resolve” following a twoweek investigation. Public information officer for the FBI’s Tampa, Florida division, Andrea Aprea, responded to e-mails from the Express last week confirming the arrests, saying Merritt and Phillip were “arrested on

July 1, 2016 aboard a sailing vessel in the Eastern Caribbean. They were indicted July 12 in the US District Court Middle District of Florida on two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. They are currently being held at the Pinellas County Jail.” They are awaiting trial. They face between 15 to 25 years in jail under Florida State law if found guilty. Asked further for information about the drug seizure, Aprea indicated only: “It is an ongoing investigation.” She said she was barred from divulging further information. The Express, however, understands US authorities are seeking assistance from local law enforcement as part of a “wider investigation”.

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Saturday December 03, 2016

Saturday December 03, 2016

Samuels, Russell, Bravo all shine but Gayle fizzles Dhaka, Bangladesh, CMC – Marlon Samuels struck his second straight half-century and third in four innings to fire Comilla Victorians to their third straight victory in the Bangladesh Premier League here yesterday. Set 142 for victory at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Victorians chased down their target to beat Khulna Titans by five wickets, with the right-handed Samuels spearheading the effort with an unbeaten 69 from 57 deliveries. The West Indies batsman, who stroked eight fours, put on 49 for the second wicket with Imrul Kayes (20) and a further 42 in an unbroken sixth wicket stand

with Liton Das, who made an 11-ball 24 not out. Samuels now has 304 runs at an average of 76. Earlier, Titans tallied 141 for six after being sent in, with captain Mahmudullah stroking an unbeaten 40 from 38 balls. In the night cap game, superstar Chris Gayle failed but his West Indies teammates Andre Russell and Dwayne Bravo both shone, as Dhaka Dynamites whipped Chittagong Vikings by six wickets. ent in, Vikings could only muster 134 for six off 20 overs, with opener and captain Tamim Iqbal top-scoring with 74 off 59 deliveries. His partner Gayle made just one before he was knocked over by

fellow Jamaican Russell, caught at cover in the fourth over. Russell was brilliant, taking one for 24 from his four overs. It was Man-of-the-Match Bravo who took the bowling honours, however, grabbing three for 27 off four overs to hurt the innings. In reply, Dynamites motored to victory in the penultimate over, with Russell arriving late to blast an unbeaten 31 from just 18 deliveries. The right-hander struck a four and three sixes as he put on a match-winning 52 for the fifth wicket with Alauddin Babu who made 33 not out. Dynamites lead the standings with 16 points, four clear of Vikings in second.

Saturday December 03, 2016 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) The planetary energies today are emphasizing family. This may be a good time to do some research, delving more deeply into your roots. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Your hard work is finally paying off. You can expect to receive acknowledgement and advancement, along with a possible salary increase or substantial bonus. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) This is a day for good news, particularly regarding the home. It's likely that some positive changes are occurring or are about to occur. You may be considering a move or a major renovation. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Good news from distant lands could have you feeling good about your life and eagerly anticipating the future. Your thinking is sharp and clear. This is a good day to make plans, particularly if they involve travel or education. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) When you give your imagination free rein, you have a creative way of expressing yourself. Today you might feel like doing some public speaking or creative writing. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Your mental acuity is high today. A recent innovation of yours could bring you some much-deserved recognition.

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Kaieteur News

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Today you'll feel inspired to express yourself in fun, creative ways. Don't be afraid to let loose with your wild sense of humor. You could play a prank on a friend that makes him or her laugh and creates good feelings. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Expect a visitor to put you in touch with people who could make a real difference in your life. Changes are manifesting more quickly than you realize. SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Today's celestial configuration may leave you feeling more spiritually inclined than usual. As your thoughts turn to more positive horizons, you'll be optimistic about your future and the future of humanity. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) This is bound to be an interesting day as you meet some new people who have fascinating ideas about esoteric subjects. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) It's time to admit that your hectic lifestyle is catching up with you. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Your inbox is probably crammed with party invitations. There's no such thing as a simple RSVP for you. Every call to accept or decline results in a lengthy conversation as you catch up with relatives and old friends.

Tiger roars back with bogeyfree 65 in the Bahamas Tiger Woods, in his second round of competitive golf since returning from a chronic back injury that kept him out for almost 16 months, shot a flawless seven-under 65 at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas yesterday. Fourteen-times major winner Woods, who teed off alone after partner Justin Rose of Britain pulled out of the 18-man tournament with a bad back, was three-under on the front nine and fourunder on the homeward stretch. The former world number one, host of the unofficial PGA Tour event that has no cut, was within inches of an ace at the par-three 12th hole

Young Windies... From page 30 Super50 which runs from January 24 to February 18 in Antigua and Barbados. Titleholders Trinidad & Tobago Red Force, Leeward Islands Hurricanes, Windward Islands Volcanoes and visiting English County, Kent Spitfires, have also been installed in Group A. Group B, meanwhile, comprises last year losing finalists Barbados Pride, Guyana Jaguars, Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners, Jamaica Scorpions and ICC Americas. The tournament will serve as a part of the build-up for the Under19s as they ready themselves for the defence of their ICC Youth World Cup title captured earlier this year in Bangladesh. However, Lewis said the Super50 was only a smart part of the intended preparation for the squad. “A comprehensive programme has been developed for the 2018 World Cup preparation which started with the regional Under-17 and 19 tournaments over the summer,” the former West Indies player said. ”The 23-month programme will include a mini-series with New Zealand (three-match series) in January 2017, just before the World Cup.” SQUAD – Keagan Simmonds, Kirstan Kallicharan, Cephas Cooper, Navin Bidaisee, Matthew Patrick, Te-Shawn Alleyne, Johann Jeremiah, Emmanuel Stewart, Johnnel Eugene, Daneal Dupigny, Alick Athanaze, Jerellius Louis, Javier Spence, Kian Pemberton, Joshua Persaud, Bhaskar Yadram, Jeavor Royal.

After going one over in his first round, Woods hit seven birdies during his second 18 holes

at the exclusive Albany course. The 40-year-old American also made a strong start to the opening round on Thursday when he was fourunder through eight holes. He held a brief share of the lead at that point but ended up with a one-over 73 after double-bogeying two of the last three holes. Woods, now ranked 898th in the world, was

tied for 10th position at the end of his round, six behind leader JB Holmes of the U.S. who had played 10 holes. ”Yesterday I had it going and lost it. Today was different,” Woods said. “It feels good. I played the middle of the round better, kept the momentum going and moved myself up the board.” (Reuters)

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Saturday December 03, 2016

Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Futsal Competition

Exciting action highlights final round of KO phase; round robin phase commences tonight

Part of the action that featured Back Circle versus East Front Road. The final night of the knockout phase of the Georgetown Zone of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Futsal Competition produced another round of exciting action on Thursday evening, at the Demerara Park, opposite Thirst Park. Once again a large crowd came out to watch the street phenomenon that saw four games being decided by penalty shootouts with Up Like 7, Albouystown ‘A’, North East La Penitence and West Back Road, the teams surviving the ordeal at the expense of Alexander Village, Upsetters, Island All Stars and Albouystown ‘B’ respectively. Inaugural champion Back Circle that has the distinction of representing Guyana twice at the

Caribbean Tournament scraped past East Front Road 1-0 through a Jermin Beckles strike after seven minutes. Meanwhile, the start of the round robin phase will commence tonight with eight more matches slated to be staged at Burnham Court, Parade ground. The night’s full results are seen below: Game-1: Up Like-7 vs Alexander Village. Up Like7 won 3-2 on sudden death kicks. Up Like-7 Scorers Mark Carrega-7th, Dwayne Lowe-18th. Alexander Village Scorers - Gerald King-3rd, Kevin Gordon20th. Game-2: North Ruimveldt-1 vs Jamoon Drive-0. Nkosie Barker2 6 t h . Game-3: Albouystown-A-0

vs Upsetters-0. Albouystown-A won 2-0 on p e n a l t y k i c k s . Game-4: Broad Street Bullies-3 vs Howes StreetA-0. Lennox Cort-6th, Rocky Gravesande-7th, Devon Johnson-17th. Game-5: North East La Penitence-0 vs Island AllStars-B-0. North East won 20 on penalty kicks. Game-6: Albouystown-B-0 vs West Back Road-0. West Back Road won 2-1 on sudden death kicks. Game-7: West Front Road-1 vs Stevedore Ballers-2. Stevedore Ballers Scorers Dorwin Filter-17th, Keifer Brandt-28th. West Front Road Scorer, Michael P e d r o - 2 8 t h . Game-8: Back Circle-1 vs East Front Road-0, Jermin Beckles-7th.

Regal Sport T20 semis set for tomorrow The semi finals of the Regal Sport T20 softball tournament have been set for tomorrow at the Demerara Cricket Club. On pitch one at 12:00hrs,

Ariel Masters will play Mike’s Wellman and at 15:00hrs Speed Boat will challenge the winner of Ariel and Pigeon XI which will be contested at

09:30hrs. On pitch two at 10:00hrs Regal Masters will take on Albion, at 14:00hrs Regal All Stars will battle Herstelling.

Kaieteur News

Saturday December 03, 2016

WBCA commences preparation for 50over league tomorrow T h e We s t B e r b i c e Cricket Association will commence preparations for the upcoming GCB 50-over Franchise League with a practice match tomorrow at the Bush Lot. The game will begin at 09:30hrs and the following players are asked to be at the venue; Krishundat Ramoo, Sherwyn Mc Pherson, Steffon Adams, Raffael Estraido, Andrew Dutchin, Wa q ar H as s an , K e v i n Jawahir, Rennision

Mitchell, Keyron Fraser, Rendell Bobb, Keith Fraser, Parmamand Ramdhan, Cladius Fraser, Brandon Bess, Glenroy Fraser, Quacey Mc Pherson, Arthley Bailey, Avishkar Sewkarran, Brentnol Woolford, Leon Andrews, Collis Butts, Wendell Fordyce, Brain Nurse, Jauid Saywack, Akeem Miller and Kris Ramnarine. Players failing to attend will not be considered for selection.

Cooper reported for suspect action

Kevon Cooper Dhaka, Bangladesh, CMC – Trinidadian all-rounder Kevon Cooper has found himself in trouble over his action again, after being reported for a suspect bowling action during the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League. The 27-year-old, who bowls right-arm seam, has a history of issues with his action and was also reported during the Pakistan Super League earlier this year and in the Indian Premier League two years ago. In 2011, Cooper was also reported while playing in the Caribbean Twenty20. Cooper joins left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny who was also reported for having a suspect action and the BPL Technical Committee Chairman, Jalal Yunus, said the cases of both players were being dealt with. ”Sunny was reported once, in their (Rangpur Riders) last g a m e [ o n N o v e m b e r 2 8 ] , ” Yu n u s s a i d . ”The next step would be for the BCB’s bowling action review committee to analyse video footage of the delivery, which we will do soon after the end of the tournament. We h a v e s e n t C o o p e r ’s f o o t a g e t o t h e W I C B . ” Cooper, who has played just two first class games for Trinidad and Tobago, has mainly plied his trade on the global T20 circuit. He has played seven of Titans’ 10 games but has had little success with bat or ball. Overall, he has taken 175 wickets in 148 T20s and scored just over 600 runs. Yunus said in the future the BPL would be taking a closer look at foreign players who had a history of suspect actions. “In the next BPL, we hope to do the video analysis of suspected bowling action during the tournament itself,” he noted. ”We will also have to be aware of foreign players who have been reported previously, so that we can inform our franchises beforehand. We don’t want to have such bowlers in future tournaments.” Cooper is one of a plethora of West Indian players currently plying their trade in the BPL.

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Controversy brews as GCF reportedly dissolved Joseph Britton claims 4 (d) of GCF constitution breached By Sean Devers The Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) is in turmoil following the dissolving of the federation which has been replaced by an Interim Management Committee (IMC) following concerns by some of the cyclists and their clubs. During an Extraordinary General Meeting at Olympic House on Wednesday last 9 of 11 clubs (Team Coco’s and W S United were absent) voted on the motion that the GCF be dissolved and replaced by an IMC. The IMC will run the affairs o f t h e s p o r t including amending the constitution which a c c o r d i n g t o Vi c e President of Carlton Wheelers Cycling Club Malcolm Sonaram, is flawed in some areas. According to Sonaram, the constitution allows for an Extraordinary General Meeting to be held to replace the GCF with an IMC until the matters and issues are ‘sorted out’ once clubs are dissatisfied with the level of administration and other indiscretions perpetrated by the present GCF. ‘The COUNCIL may call an Extraordinary General Meeting whenever they may think fit. Notice in writing of the objections of such meeting and of the time and place fixed for holding of same shall be given by the Secretary to each member and member club at least seven (7) days previous thereto, except in the cases of emergency when the Council may authorize shorter notice be given’, states 4 (d) of the GCF constitution. Assistant Racing Secretary of the GCF and Secretary of Carlton Wheelers Cycle Club, Joseph Britton argues that nowhere in the GCF constitution states that members can dissolve the federation, which he claims can only be done by the General Council. ”They have breached the constitution on at least two

Hassan Mohamed accounts. The members after holding a meeting must write the secretary outlining their grievances and intention to hold a vote of noconfidence. The Secretary is the only one authorized to inform the members of a meeting and only the General Council has the constitutional power to call such a meeting. Britton claims he was not informed about the meeting and stated that Andrew Arjoon, who proposed the vote, resigned his position as G C F ’s S e c o n d Vi c e President at the last General Council meeting before this issue was raised. Arjoon’s proposal was seconded by Sonaram. Sonaram insists that the IMC is legal since all nine of the clubs present voted in favor of the decision to dissolve the GCF and will try to solve the problems and hold Elections next year. The next AGM and Elections is set for March 2018. Among the concerns of the nine clubs was that President of the GCF Horace Burrows lives and works in the USA but when asked why did the members vote for someone who resided overseas?, Sonaram said that during the Election period Burrows made all sorts of promises. ”One of the things that I am actually looking forward to is working with the clubs. I want to work with every club and not to be biased; I want to make sure that every club does its duty in taking a

Andrew Arjoon part of the federation and doing what they are supposed to do.” Burrows had stated on being elected GCF President last year. He said that being resident in the USA would not affect his effectiveness as President since he is home for four to five times yearly spending over one month on each occasion. Arjoon claims those promises have not been kept. Immediate past Secretary Gemma Williams, who volunteered to assist new Secretary Maria Leung, was the person who sent out the information about the meeting which was allegedly called by former Cyclist Linden Dowridge. Leung stated that she never knew about the meeting until she saw the story on Facebook while Wi l l i a m s d e c l i n e d t o comment on the matter. Head of the GCF Racing Committee Hassan Mohamed said he thought the 11 clubs should have written to Burrows asking him to resign because he was not doing a good job for the federation since he was living in the USA and should have not been elected in the first place. The veteran cycling official, who is a member of the Carlton Wheelers Cycle Club, said that Britton was aware of the meeting. When contacted for a comment on the matter, President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) K. A Juman Yassin said he

did not have a copy of the GCF constitution so he could not say if they should have had a no-confidence vote or had the power to dissolve the GCF. A source indicated that the GOA head was present at Wednesday’s meeting but Yassin said he was at Olympic House for the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) Elections. ”I was not at the cycling federation meeting and I left before the meeting started. I was not there in any advisory capacity. I spoke briefly with some of the guys before leaving,” Yassin stated, when asked if as a former Magistrate he offered any legal advice. When asked what are his thoughts on the way forward, the long severing GOA boss said first of all a letter informing the GOA of the names of the two persons who will be allowed to vote at the GOA Elections must be sent. ”We will have to look at their constitution and see what it says but we don’t interfere with the way associations or federations are run. The GCF has been one of the delinquent ones in that they often fail to attend GOA meetings. We hold meetings every month and the GCF has not attended four meetings for the year,” Yassin disclosed.

Kaieteur News

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Saturday December 03, 2016

Rosberg stuns Formula One with retirement bombshell Nico Rosberg stunned Formula One yesterday with the shock announcement that he was retiring only days after achieving a lifetime ambition by winning his first world championship with Mercedes. ”From the moment when the destiny of the title was in my own hands, the big pressure started and I began to think about ending my racing career if I became world champion,” the German said in a statement. ”On Sunday morning in Abu Dhabi, I knew that it could be my last race and that feeling cleared my head before the start. I wanted to enjoy every part of the experience, knowing it might be the last time,” the 31-year-old added. The driver, who had given no previous indication of his intentions, said he had made the decision the day after the title race. Rosberg, who was due to attend the governing FIA’s gala prizegiving in Vienna later yesterday along with team mate and triple world champion Lewis Hamilton, did not say what he planned to do next. He will leave with a

record of 23 wins in 206 races - putting him equal 12th on the all-time lists with Brazilian triple champion Nelson Piquet - and as only the second son of a champion to take the title. His Finnish father Keke was champion with Williams in 1982. Nico Rosberg was also the first German driver to win the Formula One title with a German car and team, and now becomes the first champion to walk away without defending the title since Frenchman Alain Prost in 1993. ”Since 25 years in racing, it has been my dream, my ‘one thing’ to become F o r m u l a O n e Wo r l d Champion. Through the hard work, the pain, the sacrifices, this has been my target. And now I’ve made it,” he said. ”I have climbed my mountain, I am on the peak, so this feels right. My strongest emotion right now is deep gratitude to everybody who supported me to make that dream happen.” HAMILTON RIVALRY Rosberg’s battles with Hamilton, his boyhood friend and rival in karting, have lit up the last couple of seasons -

Rosberg announced his retirement at an event in Vienna on Friday (yesterday). and provided plenty of headlines - and he said that too had taken its toll. ”This season, I tell you, it was so damn tough,” said the man who also partnered seven-times champion Michael Schumacher, and beat him, in his early career at Mercedes. I pushed like crazy in every area after the disappointments of the last two years; they fuelled my motivation to levels I had never experienced before.

And of course that had an impact on the ones I love too.” The Monaco-based German married his childhood sweetheart Vivian in 2014 and they had a daughter last year. A devoted family man, Rosberg said his wife was the first person to know his decision. He acknowledged that his retirement had put his “racing family” in a difficult position, although Hamilton will now be an even stronger favourite to win his fourth

title next season. Rivals also will see a dream vacancy that every driver on the starting grid would jump at if given the chance, Mercedes being the most dominant team in the sport with 19 wins in 21 races this season. Mercedes have won the drivers’ and constructors’ titles for the past three years in a row and will start next season, despite significant rule changes, as favourites again. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff hailed a “brave

move” and said it was “testament to the strength of his character”. ”The clarity of his judgement meant I accepted his decision straight away when he told me,” added the A u s t r i a n . Wo l f f s a i d Mercedes would take time to evaluate their options and they will probably need it, given that the top drivers are already signed up by rivals. One who is still available is reserve driver Pascal We h r l e i n , w h o h a s impressed at tail-enders Manor. The 22-year-old, who holds joint Mauritian and German nationality, was passed over, however, when Mercedes-powered Force India went looking for a replacement from the Mercedes stable for Nico Hulkenberg. Frenchman Esteban Ocon, 20, who is also a Mercedes-contracted driver, was chosen instead with Wolff describing him at the time as boasting the most impressive track record in junior formulae. T h a t , h o w e v e r, i s unlikely to stop others from thumbing through their contracts to see whether they can engineer a move. (Reuters)

Copa Sudamericana holders Santa Fe sends replica trophy to club Pele send message to Chapecoense Chapecoense have received a replica Copa Sudamericana trophy from the current holders as the club comes to terms with the devastating plane crash which killed 19 of their players. Santa Fe reached out to Chape on Thursday in a show of solidarity with the tragic Brazilian outfit, who also lost many of their backroom staff and journalists connected with the club when the flight went down in Colombia. In a social media post, Bogota-based Santa Fe called Chapecoense ‘eternal champions’. They wrote: ‘Seek the same dream, this cup is also yours.’ Meanwhile, Brazilian football legend Pele has

Santa Fe tweeted a picture of the replica trophy they have sent to Chapecoense

Club officials and the board of directors could be seen among the people paying tribute.

added his voice to the thousands who have sent messages of sympathy and support to Chape in the wake of the disaster. ’It is a sad moment,’ he told ESPN Brazil. ‘It makes us sad and makes Brazil sad.

‘I ask God to give the families strength to get through this suffering as fast as possible. There are many accidents here on Earth. It is sad because they are our brothers. ’We must pray and be a

positive force for the families who are suffering. For us Brazilians, it is very difficult.’ On Thursday afternoon, members of the Chapecoense board of directors visited coffins containing the bodies of

those who passed away at the San Vicente funeral h o m e . The board members could be seen walking between the coffins as they took stock of the impact of the tragic air disaster.

A white sheet placed on each coffin featured the club’s logo and the phrase ‘Campeones para sempre’, which translates as ‘Champions forever’. (MailOnline)

Saturday December 03, 2016

Usain Bolt wins IAAF World Athlete of the Year award for a record sixth time Ni n e - t i m e O l y m p i c champion Usain Bolt has won the IAAF male A t h l e t e o f t h e Ye a r award for a record sixth time. Eth i o p i a ’s A l m a z Ayana, who broke the 10,000m world record by over 14 seconds in winning Olympic gold in Rio this summer, won the female award. Bolt, 30, sealed the ‘triple triple’ in Rio, winning his third Olympic title in each of the 100m, 200m and 4x100m. “It’s definitely a big deal,” said the Jamaican of the award he also won in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013. Bolt will retire next year, following the 2017 World Athletics Championships in London. He added: “When you get to be athlete of the year it means that all the hard work has paid off, so if I can win it for a sixth year

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Kaieteur News

Usain Bolt and Almaz Ayana pick up their awards from Prince Albert of Monaco (far left) and IAAF president Lord Sebastian Coe (far right) means as much as the first one.” Ay a n a , m e a n w h i l e , broke a record set 23 years earlier when she clocked 29 minutes 17.45 seconds in Rio. The 25-year-old also won 5,000m bronze, and won the Diamond

Race. Canada’s Andre de Grasse, the 22-year-old who won 200m silver and 100m bronze in Rio, was named male rising star, while Olympic heptathlon champion Nafissatou Thiam, 22, won the female award.

Harry Marra won the IAAF Coaching A c h i e v e m e n t Aw a r d after guiding Ashton Eaton to a second Olympic decathlon gold and Brianne Theisen Eaton to heptathlon bronze. (BBCsport)

GFF offers condolence to Brazil’s Football Federation The President of the Guyana Football Federation Inc. (GFF), on behalf of the football fraternity in Guyana, sent a letter of condolence to President Del Nero Marco Polo of the Confederacao Brasileira de Futbol (CBF) expressing his profound sadness about the untimely death of members of the Chapecoense Football Team. The letter, in part, read: “I’m aware that the Chapecoense Football Team was on its way to Columbia to fulfill a lifetime dream of playing on the Copa Sudamericana Finals, unfortunately this dream did

not materialize. The Guyana Football Federation Inc. (GFF) hereby expresses its grief and shock while remaining in solidarity with the CBF during this period of sadness. On behalf of the GFF and the entire football fraternity, please accept my deepest sy m p a t h y a n d blessings of strength during this challenging period.” Seventy-one (71) persons, including nineteen players and coaching staff, died in a plane crash as they approached Medellin, Colombia on Monday, 28th November, 2016. There were six survivors, including three players.

Kaieteur News

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Saturday December 03, 2016

Blairmont Cricket Club Guyanese Blyden voted receive uniforms for U-17 team best batsman for Evergreen SC of Trinidad

The uniforms being handed over to the team.

Travis Blyden (right) accepts one of the prizes from the Marketing manager of the Rahamut’s Group of Companies Russell Ramlogan. Guyanese Travis Blyden was voted the best batsman for Rahamut’s Evergreen SC 50-over and T20 teams when the club held its annual awards ceremony recently in Trinidad and Tobago. Blyden who plays for local side Guyana Defence Force also received an award for being nominated as one of the five cricketers of the year. Rahamut’s Evergreen participates in the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board South Championship leagues. Bylden’s highest score in the 50-over format was 85 and 45 in the T20, his efforts helped his team to third place in the 50-over competition but they fell just

short of the quarterfinals in the T20s. Only recently Blyden was rewarded for having the second best bowling average and scoring an unbeaten 127 for Pioneer CC in the New York Metropolitan Cricket League. The all-rounder has since returned home and is hoping for a call up to one of the teams in the upcoming GCB 50-over franchise league. Speaking with Kaieteur Sport he said that playing overseas has helped him to improve and he relished the experience of playing on different surfaces. ”The experience was great since I got the opportunity to play among

some past and present first class players from various countries. t helped me to up my game somewhat because the competition for places in the teams is high so you have to be on par all the time,” Blyden added. ”I learnt a lot from those players, I observed how they go about with their preparation and see what they do differently and following some of their methods helped me to be successful”, he said. Blyden expressed gratitude to the Almighty and stated that he aims of get closer to the Guyana national team. (Zaheer Mohamed)

The Blairmont Cricket Club (BCC) of West Bank Berbice has received a set of uniforms to be used by its Under-17 team for competitions in Berbice. The uniforms were donated by Bel Air Farm Equipment and Supply located at Cotton Tree Village, West Coast Berbice. Speaking at the simple handing over ceremony which was held at the Blairmont Estate Community Center were Arshad and Tia Waheed, the owners of entity. They both

advised the youths to stay in school, stay away from alcohol, drugs and other illicit activities and most of all to be God fearing. In response Captain Javid Karim expressed appreciation to the donors for their support and assistance and pledged to make the best use of the gifts. Meanwhile, Blairmont U17 team has advanced to the quarter finals of the Berbice Cricket Board competition for this age group. Two years ago, the said

team had made it to the final of the U15 tournament. The team is made up of a number of national and inter-county players including Javid Karim, Seon Glasgow Jr, Nigel Deodat, Marvan Prashad, Andre Bissiondyial, Fawaz Gafoor. Other promising junior players include Keyon Gangoo, Dindinauth Persaud, Brian Moses, Daniel Moses, Farook S u b h a n , J a d e n Tr o t z , Gourav Nourangalall, Talim Inshan, Azad Ishawak and Saheed Khan among others.

Young Windies open Super50, World Cup preparation

West Indies Under-19s … captured the ICC Youth World Cup in Bangladesh earlier this year. St John’s, Antigua, CMC – West Indies Under-19s will gather in Grenada next week to begin preparation for the Regional Super50 which bowls off next January. A 2 0 - m e m b e r preliminary squad will undergo training from December 9-20, and will also receive physical

assessment along with life skill sessions and mental preparation. A management team, led by Head Coach Graeme West and comprising Dwain Gill, Anthony Gray, Khevyn Williams and Zephyrinus Nicholas, will oversee the camp. “This initial camp is to prepare a team for the

Regional Super50 as was done the last two years and we will also have a pretournament camp for the final team [from] January 17-21,” said West Indies Cricket Board project officer, Rawl Lewis. The Under-19s will do battle in Group A of the Continued on page 25

Kaieteur News

Saturday December 03, 2016

Flying Ace Cycle Club honours outstanding cyclists To stage final race on calendar tomorrow

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3rd Annual Smalta Girls Schools Football Tournament

Champs aiming to make it two in a row; winless teams looking for points

The outstanding cyclists’ displaying their trophies and medals won at Nationals. Regarded as one of the top clubs in Guyana, the executives of the Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC) of Berbice continue to employ initiatives to retain that noteworthy tab when they acknowledged the efforts of two of their members for t h e i r s t e r l i n g accomplishments at the just concluded National Schools’ Athletics, Cycling and Swimming Championships. Female cyclists, Shemika Teixeira and Whitney Poyer along with their male counterpart, Balram Narine, were also rewarded for their sterling e f f o r t s a s t h e FA C C continues to encourage their athletes to greatness. All told, Teixeira competed in 4 races, one road race and three around the Park,

winning all of them in immaculate fashion. Her outstanding performance was instrumental in District 6 (Corentyne) retaining the cycling championship title and she was later adjudged champion cyclist. Poyer and her male counterpart, Narine, were unable to complete their respective races after sustaining injuries when they fell from their machines. Poyer had clinched 2 gold medals in earlier races while Narine had also won his previous race before the accident forced him to retire for the d a y . In a show of benevolence, love and concern, executives of the club made a special presentation of a brand new riding uniform to Narine

whose outfit was destroyed when he fell. Meanwhile, the FACC will stage its final cycling event in collaboration with the Guyana Police Force, tomorrow which is only open to cyclists of the club. Participants will ride off f r o m Ta c a m a Tu r n Stanleytown; proceed to Rose Hall Town Arch on the Corentyne before retracing their wheels for the finish at Main and Alexander Street, New Amsterdam. Prizes will be awarded to the first three juveniles and the first Under-14 finisher while there will be six sprint prizes on offer. Trophies are donated by Senior Superintendent Kevin Adonis, Superintendent Budnarine Persaud and businessman Sherwin Ford.

Guyana Boxing Association re-elects President

GBA President Steve Ninvalle (2nd left) flanked by from left, Ursula Paris (wife of Guyana’s lone Olympic Medalist MIchael Parris), TV Sport Personality Mark Young and Boxing Coach Gregory Cort before the 100-walk commenced in Berbice. Steve Ninvalle was reelected President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) when the association held its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday last at the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) headquarters, Kingston, Georgetown. Ninvalle was elected unopposed as were the six other members of his executive. The three elected Vice Presidents are Maurice

Rajkumar, Carl Graham and Gordon Nedd. Sean Richmond retained his place as Secretary and Dexter Patterson as Treasurer. The n e w A s s i s t a n t Secretary/Treasurer is Stacy Correia. The president thanked affiliates for their confidence in his leadership and declared that the development of the sport’s nursery will be the focus for the next four years.

However, he noted that the executive’s immediate task is getting a team to Barbados to participate in the Caribbean Development Tournament. Ninvalle immediately a f t e r a p p o i n t e d Vi c e President Rajkumar to head the Fund Raising Committee. The GBA yesterday commenced a 100 mile walk from Berbice to Georgetown in order to raise funds for the Barbados trip.

Part of the action on the first day of competition in this year’s 3rd Annual Smalta Girls Schools Football Tournament. Defending champion St. Stephen’s will look to make it two wins from as many matches when they square off against St. Margaret’s in one of two opening games today as play in the 3rd Annual Smalta Girls Schools F o o t b a l l To u r n a m e n t resumes, at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue. In last week’s fixture against Redeemer, they were led to victory through a lone goal off the boots of Odelli Straughn. However, St. Margaret’s, who started with a walkover win against Tucville, will be aiming for another positive as well so it sets up nicely for an interesting affair. North Georgetown, who registered the most lop-sided victory on the first day, drubbing Smith Memorial 40 will no doubt be eager to continue on that path in their c l a s h a g a i n s t Wi n f e r Gardens. Alicia James will once

again be called upon to lead the c h a r g e f o r f u l l points. Winfer Gardens lost their previous encounter against West Ruimveldt and will have to step up their game to b e a t a s t rong North Georgetown unit.

The tournament which is also being supported by the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Education will run until December 17. Play in the competition continues tomorrow, at the same venue.

t r o Sp Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Futsal Competition

Exciting action highlights final round of KO phase; round robin phase commences tonight

Players battle for possession of the ball during one of the encounters on Thursday, at Demerara Park.

Controversy brews as GCF reportedly dissolved Joseph Britton claims 4 (d) of GCF constitution breached

Joseph Britton

Horace Burrowes

Usain Bolt wins IAAF World Athlete of the Year award for a record sixth time

K.A Juman Yassin

Guyanese Blyden voted best batsman for Evergreen SC of Trinidad

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