Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday December 04, 2018

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

EDITORIAL PURSUING A HOLISTIC EDUCATION AGENDA The time has come for the Ministry of Education to pursue a new education agenda that requires new objectives to meet the demands of the 21st century. The education curriculum must be revised in light of the renewed vision for Guyana to achieve sustainable human and social development by 2020. A new education curriculum must seriously take into consideration the socio-economic and environmental dimensions of human development in the country. Education must be an empowering tool in order to enable children and adults to be productive, to engage in life-long learning, to solve problems and to be creative and successful. It should also encourage the citizens to live together with nature in peace and harmony. From this perspective, education should be in sync with the environment, the government’s green agenda and for a better future for Guyana and perhaps the world. In order to meet these objectives, educators and teachers must reorient their thinking. A humanistic approach to education must become the new agenda in Guyana in order for children to embrace the ethical principles that should be the foundation for an integrated approach for organizational growth and development. This type of learning process is needed for the acquisition of relevant knowledge, the development of competencies and for service to the country and to humanity. A humanistic approach will take the debate on education beyond the narrow and outmoded realms of economic development. However, it must emphasize as a central concern, the need for inclusion, one that not only promotes equality of opportunity, but also fairness and equal access to the best schools in the country. Education must not only be about the acquisition of skills, knowledge and competencies, but also about selfrespect and the teaching of the values of society. It should be an imperative for social harmony in our diverse culture. Given the social quagmire that exists in society, educators must recognize that the only way out of this dilemma is to ensure that education should be based on sound ethical values that embrace the principles that transcend the boundaries of religion, ethnicity, status and race. An integrated approach to education is needed to help children understand the country’s social, economic, cultural and civic responsibilities as well as sustainable development and environmental concerns. This implies that the education curriculum must be reorganized to train students in the field of agriculture and not only as lawyers, doctors, engineers, accountants, and bankers. However, this would require a holistic approach to education and learning that goes beyond the traditional notions of cognitive, examinations and affective development. It will also require educators to shift their focus from measurement of learning to more holistic assessment frameworks above and beyond the traditional domains of academia. However, this will not happen if emphasis continues to be placed solely on examinations which are designed for the sole purpose of exclusion and the perpetuation of a class differential. Education should not be equated with the passing of cognitive based exams, but rather from a much broader perspective; one that recognizes that human development which is holistic in nature must be included in a new educational curriculum. A humanistic approach to education seems to be the only way in which schools can prepare our youths to be good, decent human beings and law-abiding citizens. When children are educated and are encouraged to realize their maximum human potential, they will add value to society and to economic and human development of the country. In this way there is no room for the education system to certify persons as failures, since education is important for the future development of the country.

Dangerous deception and rabid misrepresentations debunked DEAR EDITOR, There was a time and up to the period before he ascended to the Presidency, I used to believe that Donald Ramotar was one of the better humans within the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP/C). However, time and events have comprehensively proven me wrong. There are not any excuses, or mitigating factors that are there to contradict or disprove such a view. In fact, it needs no repetition that his presidency saw the continued hand of Bharrat Jagdeo, as the country descended further into the dark chasms of state criminality, unparalleled not only in Guyana’s history, but in the CARICOM membership. His party’s defeat at the 2011 polls, at which it lost its parliamentary majority for the first time in its political existence, signaled the beginning of the end, of his party’s once seemingly invincible hold on political power. The 2015 defeat, caused primarily by his undemocratic action of proroguing parliament - rather than engage the then parliamentary opposition in a no confidence motion vote - signaled his political demise, as far as being an influential party-political grandee. There should have been lessons learnt by this former president and party elder, es-

pecially given the very serious damage that he and his predecessor would have done to this country, particularly with regard to their role of drastically altering its social dynamic during their over two decades reign in office. Therefore, at least for one who would have served at such a level, the least that could have been expected was an honest acceptance as to what occurred during their collective stewardship, and contributions towards avoiding those mistakes again, and advising on the future. But not Donald Ramotar! His very frequent letters have become a politician’s textbook and guide for political deceptions of all kinds, and misleading information, towards creating a more than false impression of the current government and its stewardship. What is so unfortunate is that it has been given a home in sections of the private media, a refuge that continues to facilitate the sanitization of Ramotar and his fellow political cabal. The utterances are politically desperate, and grow frantic by the day, since they are always designed to whip up certain sentiments so as to keep the party faithful in line, as well as to constantly degrade both the current administration’s performance and achievement since taking office in 2015.

I believe in democracy and therefore believe in the right of expression, except that it must be responsible, truthful, and not be twisted for selfish ends as in the missives that Ramotar continues to pen. In the Stabroek News, Ramotar stated what amounted to an understanding that the many criticisms of the then APNU coalition were responsible for the targeting of Chinese businesses by robbers. This is to impute a political hand. This is an egregious assertion that was debunked by law enforcement which concluded Chinese commercial spots were the victims of opportunistic criminals, and not any orchestrated strategy. In fact, Ramotar has a chronic track record of linking the Peoples National Congress Reform (PNCR) to crime and criminals without ever providing any evidence. This brings me to Ramotar’s latest slew of high public mischief, “Guyanese have lost confidence in this govt.” in Stabroek News of November 26, 2018. Again, there are so many distortions, as is expected, in his missive that I have questioned myself as to whether it is worth my good time to respond to all of the dangerous, brazen, offensive and bold deceptions that such a discredited leader and his party

have the temerity to continue unload on this nation. Here are some samples of the principal misrepresentations that Ramotar uttered in that letter. “For the first time we have seen the government boycotting the National Assembly” This is a ludicrous statement, since the government decided that it would request an official postponement for a meeting with all of its MPs. This is quite understandable in the circumstances which gave rise to the request. One is certain that the Clerk of the National Assembly would have communicated with every MP, informing them about the re-scheduling of the House’s sitting. Compare this official and orderly approach by the current government, to the more than shameful and disrespectful manner in which Ramotar as President, treated the then combined opposition MPs when the latter reported to the Assembly for debate on its no confidence motion brought against his government. Ramotar, unknown to the opposition MPs had already prorogued the House, thus avoiding a debate, and a vote. And here is another of Ramotar’s absurd remarks. “In just three years, thousands of jobs have been lost. (Continued on page 6)

APNU+AFC never learned the difference between politics and policy DEAR EDITOR, It cannot have escaped attention that I have been critical of the APNU+AFC’s administration from almost the inception; after reading PNC Chairwoman Volda Lawrence’s recent statements, I took the weekend to examine my own writings for signs that I may be displaying unconscious bias based on my ethnicity. What I was looking for was empirical evidence of bias; suffice to say that I am satisfied to say my writings are based on logic and my penchant for pragmatism. Interestingly, what I found as a byproduct of this introspective was that APNU+AFC relies on anecdotal evidence for its formation of policy and actions, this approach would seem to be the reason for their characteristically incomprehensible decisions. I will offer a few examples to support my theory expressed above. In one of its first acts, APNU+AFC granted its top

brass a hefty 50% salary increase, the reason given by Minister of the Presidency Joe Harmon was that this was done to avoid corrupt practices by ministers of government. What was absent in his explanation was any empirical evidence that this was true. In fact, numerous studies have shown the opposite to be true. “Rather than decrease petty corruption, the salary policy significantly increased the police efforts to collect bribes” (Foltz, J and Opoku-Agyemang K 2015). Logic would dictate that corruption is a character flaw not driven by economics; personal integrity is the solution to greed, not higher salaries. The introduction of a 2 AM curfew ostensibly “in the interest of citizens’ security and safety with the aim of suppressing criminal and other offences.” (Ministry of Public Security) was done without release of a single study or statistic to support the reasoning. Three years on, and no evidence has been pro-

vided for or against the policy, instead we are told it has “support from women’s groups, religious groups and a number of other organizations”. In presenting a $300.7 Billion budget for 2019, one that is double the amount of the largest PPP administration budget, Minister Jordan makes an assumption of increased 9% revenue collection to predict a deficit of $42 Billion. The tax base has shrunk by the loss of 30,000 jobs so far under the APNU+AFC administration. Every single growth prediction by Jordan has failed to materialize to date. Based on this, I would suggest the evidence points to an even larger deficit. We cannot plan for our nation’s future well being by way of political rhetoric. We examine election results by every imaginable voter demographic, have we ever done the same for the taxpayer? Is it not time we examine who pays for the follies of these ever increasing ‘Good Life’ budgets?

The APNU+AFC administration has become a cautionary tale, critical for all Guyanese; that while on opposition benches in parliament , MPs should be doing the work of critical oversight of government policy , action and expenditure, and in so doing learn the business of government and administration. APNU+AFC squandered their time on those benches, choosing instead to make outlandish claims and wild accusations. Given the opportunity to govern, they were bereft of a sensible basis for policy and action. The haphazard, unscientific approach to governance is a direct result of the success they had with their loud lies, they never learned the difference between politics and policy. Monies spent on Commissions of Inquiry would have been better allocated to scientific study for solutions to our problems. Respectfully Robin Singh

Tuesday December 04, 2018

Time for the senior PNC leaders to act DEAR EDITOR, Great, courageous and selfless leaders are those willing to confront the material anxieties of their people as the occasion arises. There is a great anxiety in Guyana as to the good life for the ordinary man as promised by the government. After three and a half years in office, the Government has spent some G$1.1 trillion (G$1,100,000,000,000) in four (4) consecutive budgets since 2015, and it is clear that the benefits are not trickling down to the poor and the working class. Thus, it was not surprising that the results in the 2018 Local Government Elections clearly reflected the people’s disappointment with the PNC-led Coalition. It was an electoral shellacking. Today, the people are faced with a more pressing anxiety. It has been said that the health of any nation’s leader is intricately intertwined with the economic health of that nation. And while we wish His Excellency a swift return to good health, the realities from the last six (6) months have illustrated that the people are being kept in the dark. They are not being told the full truth. It is irresponsible and highly offensive for the PNC-led Coalition government to continue to attempt to play with the p e o p l e ’s i n t e l l i g e n c e . Their public pronouncements over the last six (6) months on how the State’s business is being handled, in light of His Excellency’s health, show little respect and empathy for the people. The people are not fools and they are vexed to their soul to observe the almost Goebbels-like statements of half-truths and quarter-truths originating from the Ministry of the

Presidency. The PNC cannot abscond from its political responsibility to all the people of Guyana. What is critically needed from the PNC now is real leadership. We are therefore speaking directly to the senior leadership of the party in light of His Excellency’s illness and impending absence from Guyana again. The country is in a semi-crisis state with rumours and invective swirling from one end of the pendulum to another. It is time for Ms. Volda Lawrence and Ms. A m n a A l l y, t h e P N C ’s Chairman and General Secretary respectively to end the uncertainty and incessant speculations. What is happening in the Ministry of the Presidency at the highest levels demands a political solution from the PNC, the principal political party in the coalition. For far too long, the party stalwarts have ignored this issue, and it has stymied national development and brought uncertainty and confusion to the country. Guyana cannot advance in such an ad-hoc and confused state. Those at the highest level should reach out to the people so as to understand what is going on in their towns and villages. Those at the highest level should be making the necessary but urgent decisions needed to charter the course for the good life of the people. Politics is not a game and neither is political leadership. It is serious business. The PNC’s leaders need to be visible, and in these times of turmoil and anxiety, the nation needs leaders who are capable of making decisions in order

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to positively reassure the people, especially the youths, that the challenges of the times are being addressed. Only the leaders of the PNC are politically equipped to perform these functions, since they are in Government. They can no longer be in denial and ignore the problems of the d a y, w h i c h r e m a i n u n solved. They must act to fill the political void at the apex of the government. The country cannot be left hanging and no one’s personal interest should come before the country’s interest. That is why we are calling on both Ms. Lawrence and Ms. Ally to step up and solve the leadership problem. To do otherwise would result in a lack of public confidence in the Government. The PNC senior leaders must apprise the nation of their plans for the near future around this important issue of leadership succession. In spite of His Excellency being ill, they must take the bull by the horns and put forth a clear picture of what they intend to do in these tumultuous times. The nation is in pain, our youths are suffering and are crying out for help. This is primarily because the PNC as a party lacks effective leadership to deal with the issues at hand. This must change. It is time for the senior PNC leaders to act and end all speculations. God bless His Excell e n c y, P r e s i d e n t D a v i d Granger and we wish him a swift return to good health and God bless our beloved Guyana. Regards, Dr. Asquith Rose and Sasenarine Singh

More money for drugs, but stock-outs of critical medicines remain chronic DEAR EDITOR, Even as the Minister of Finance boasts about the largest budget ever ($300.7B) and the Minister of Public Health is gleefully bragging about the $35B Ministry of Public Health budget for 2019, chronic medicine shortages continue to impact the lives of people in Guyana. The chronic stock-outs of medicines that have plagued the health sector since 2015 have occurred in spite of increasing budgetary allocations. Each year, there is another record-breaking allocation for medicines and medical supplies. In 2019, the allocation for medicines and medical supplies is about $8B. Each year, the Ministers of Finance and Public Health promise that medicine shortages will be part of the past. But so far, we have only experienced a worsening situation. Last week, the Ministry of Public Health admitted that there is a serious shortage of medicines to treat MDR-TB (Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis). At least up to two weeks ago, there was also a shortage of Efavirenz, a medicine used to treat HIV-positive persons. Unfortunately, these serious stock-out situations have occurred too frequently in Guyana over the last almost four years. Multiple stock-outs like these occurred in 2016, 2017, and now in 2018. Stock-outs

of TB and HIV medicines not only have serious implications for persons living with TB and with HIV, but also increase the risks of transmission for the population at large. Such stock-outs, therefore, represent a public health risk, endangering the lives of thousands of people. MDR-TB is a growing problem in Guyana. MDR-TB is a type of TB that is resistant to the normal medicines that are used to treat TB. It is critical that early diagnosis for MDR-TB is available and that the specialized medicines for MDR-TB are readily available to begin and sustain treatment for all persons with MDR-TB. Continued, uninterrupted treatment for MDR-TB is of life-and-death importance for the patient. But it is also an important public health emergency, since treatment interruptions place more people at risk for MDR-TB and lifethreatening transmissions of a virulent form of TB. Guyana has committed to the global goal of a minimum of 80% cure rate for MDR-Treatment. With stock-outs like these, the goal is not achievable. Already, we have seen Guyana missing its global

commitment of a minimum of 80% treatment success for MDR-TB in 2017. Treatment interruptions due to stockouts represent an important factor in MDR-TB treatment failures. Efavirenz is one of the anti-retroviral treatment (ART) medicines that constitute the HIV treatment cocktail in Guyana and in countries around the world. Stock-outs of Efavirenz mean that there are treatment interruptions. Like MDR-TB medicine stockouts, stock-outs of Efavirenz leave people living with HIV in life-threatening situations and also increase the risk of transmissions of HIV to other people. The present Efavirenz stock-out is just the latest of a consistent stock-out of one or more of the HIV medicines. This seriously impacts on Guyana’s stellar universal treatment successes for HIV and has major implications for Guyana’s commitment to reach the 90-90-90 goals by 2020. The 90-90-90 UNAIDS goals for HIV and AIDS refer to the national commitment to ensure that 90% of all persons living with HIV know their HIV status, 90% of persons living with HIV are receiving (Continued on page 6)

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Tuesday December 04, 2018

“Alarming rise in modern slavery” A drug regime to help stop HIV DEAR EDITOR, I felt like a Rip Van Winkle when, as I was browsing some past magazines from the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development in England, I came across an article titled: “Alarming Rise in Modern Slavery” in the October 2016 issue.: The following are extracts from the article: “ The number of slavery victims helped by the Salvation Army has increased by almost five-fold since 2012….Women were the most likely to be victims, at 62%... The release of the figures

comes as the Government is backing a number of initiatives to eradicate examples of modern slavery…..most notable the Modern Slavery Act which requires employers to publish a slavery and human trafficking statement for each financial year……A government Review published a year after the introduction of the Act found that 289 modern slavery offences were prosecuted in 2015, which showed a 40% rise in victims.” I have so far lived with the conviction that ‘slavery’, like

‘indentureship’ had long disappeared from around the world, let alone the UK, which was once the prime-owner of slaves! To read about current day slavery therein is indeed mind-boggling! And almost unbelievable to read that it is “rising alarmingly”, despite a prohibitive Act. It would be re-assuring to hear from our Ministry of Labour or any other concerned Department that there is no case of slavery in Guyana, let alone “rising cases”! Nowrang Persaud

Urgent intervention needed into Central Bank’s affairs DEAR EDITOR, I refer to the letter published on 2 December 2018 regarding the 2% increase imposed on Central Bank staff. Based on the information presented, it would be grossly unfair to award staff a taxable 2% increase when a ceiling of

a non-taxable 7% was approved by Government in the National Budget. In contrast, the higher echelons at the Bank who are entitled to less than 2% would arbitrarily be capitalizing on their self-gratified 2% increase; albeit at the expense

of the lower category workers. It is high time the Minister of Finance step up and address the concerns of the deprived staffers, especially from being escheated. Yours truly, Observer

Dangerous deception and rabid... From page 4 The biggest blow was on the sugar industry. Working people have fallen into really hard times. Some are facing starvation”. This particular issue of GuySuCo is what would have defined the moral mentality of the PPP/C – as a party that is prepared to deceive on a shameless scale, even to risk the destruction of truth and in the process, induce the worst form of provocation. It is incredulous, and unbelievable that a former president who sat on the Board of GuySuco for close to two decades, and who would have been part and parcel of politically, self-serving deliberations and decisions that would have finally brought this once great national industrial giant to its knees, is now uttering the above. In any other jurisdiction, the then ruling political clique would have been criminally indicted for their role in the destruction of GuySuCo. Any Fifth form economics/business student would have taken similar action as the government’s, in the current case of GuySuCo. Ramotar needs to be reminded that government has finally paid all severance to the sugar workers, which means that he and his party will no longer be able to continue to use those workers mercilessly for narrowly selfish political ends. Just in case Ramotar and his clique are struck by convenient amnesia, there have

been many social amelioration programmes that have been preparing and benefitting sugar communities and their workers for employment and other socio-economic opportunities after sugar. Ramotar must be reminded that no one is starving, since a reported 10,000 workers are still employed. Redundant workers have been and are continuously being re-skilled through the Alternative Livelihood Programme established through the Small Business Bureau and GuySuCo. Others are now employed under various arms of the Ministry of Agriculture. In fact, during the difficulties of the 1980s, it was the same tale of citizens “starving” and “falling down” in the streets of Georgetown that the PPP/ C, ironically in opposition at that time also, had helped to orchestrate. Yet, visitors from the Caribbean, especially, were commenting on the abundance of fresh foods that was dumped daily around the city’s two biggest markets. On the question of thousands of job losses – I wonder where in the national economy this has taken place, since no other sector, apart from sugar, has experienced any such reduction of employment, since 2015. At least, not the 30,000 that another politician has been spouting around. In fact, Jagdeo, Ramotar, and the PPP/C should give an analytical breakdown as to this fig-

ure. In total, 4,283 workers were laid off from the Skeldon, Rose Hall and East Demerara sugar estates. How could such number of jobs have been lost without impacting on the current market e c o n o m y ? F u r t h e r, i t stands to reason that had so many jobs now reported as losses since 2015 been created prior, then there would not have been that reported 45% unemployment rate existing among young Guyanese, long before 2015. Did these pretenders ever create half of the number of jobs that they are now bleating as having been lost. We must now examine another “thousands” figure that Ramotar has put to the number of corrupt instances. This is to supplement Jagdeo’s ridiculous, dishonest and astonishing claim of the coalition government being the most corrupt in the history of the Caribbean. Of course, this is to continue to conjure up the filthy pitch of a country in socio-economic turmoil, in attempts to justify the PPP’s call for a no confidence motion.But this is vintage communist strategy, the Stalinist brand, of which Ramotar would have inculcated very well. Except that it has made him into a disseminator of dangerous political falsehoods. Regards Dillon Goring

Dear Editor, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is medicine that can reduce the chance of getting HIV by more than 90% and can reduce the chances even more when combined with condoms. The medication works by stopping HIV from taking hold and spreading throughout the body if there is exposure to the virus and it has been proven to be safe and effective in high-risk groups all over the world. For the last four years the World Health Organization has been recommending PrEP as an additional HIV prevention choice, but uptake in the Caribbean has been slow, but steadily increasing. Currently Bahamas and Barbados are the only two countries who provide PrEP to persons who meet the criteria for use, but Suriname, St. Lucia, Grenada, Cuba, and Jamaica either provide PrEP to certain populations or have plans to start provision in 2019. Guyana’s Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD Guyana) conducted an assessment on the

knowledge, attitudes and delivery preferences on PrEP among men who have sex with men and transgender persons earlier this year, and from the focus groups held in five regions, it was found that 60% of the participants had never heard of PrEP before. This was especially the case for persons who lived outside of Region Four. Once persons became aware of it however, almost everyone was interested in taking it for their personal protection. This led to the conclusion that there is the need for a lot more education and sensitization on PrEP, especially involving NGOs within this effort, and that the time has come for the provision of PrEP within the Guyanese public healthcare system. Starting PrEP in Guyana will entail the use of a medication that is already present in the country and that is already procured at fairly low cost. Studies in other countries have demonstrated that the savings a country receives from the HIV infections avoided by using PrEP makes it a cost-effective prevention

measure. The theme for this year’s World AIDS Day is “Know your status” which emphasizes HIV testing as a strategy that also empowers people to make choices about HIV prevention, so they can better protect themselves and their sexual partners. Before persons can be placed on PrEP they must know their status because the medication is only for HIVnegative persons. Being on PrEP helps to strengthen the entire HIV care continuum in the country because persons must present for initial and regular testing, increasing engagement with the health service system and also providing opportunities for linking any HIV-positive persons into care and treatment. Know your status so that you can know whether you should be using PrEP as an additional prevention measure to continue to stay HIVnegative. Yours faithfully, Dr. Nastassia Rambarran Dr. Roger Welch and Joel Simpson for SASOD Guyana

Guyana’s greatness will be realised when we accept the diversity in many ways DEAR EDITOR, Thank you for publishing the full page notice on page 11 of the Kaieteur News of December 2 2018 from Ms Phyllis J. Jordan, “Govt accountable to Guyanese not to the CCJ”. It is important that people air their views so that we can understand all the misconceptions and confusions which inform the prejudices which continue to exist. The recent CCJ ruling on cross-dressing challenge did remind the Government of Guyana that they are duty bound to respect the human rights and dignity of all Guyanese, and not just the majority who voted for them. It is surprising that anyone would object to the Government of Guyana’s affirmation of its duty to transgender, gay, lesbian and bisexual citizens. All of the devout Christians, Hindus or Muslims who do not like homosexuality and who voted for either the APNU+AFC coalition or the PPP must have known that both entities promised in their manifestos to not discriminate against any Guyanese because of their sexual orientation. APNU+AFC said that they “recognise that Gender equality is an intrinsic basic human right and are commit-

ted to eradicating all forms of gender bias and gender– based violence. We commit to putting in place measures which will ensure that all vulnerable groups in or society, including women, children, persons with disabilities, rural and indigenous women, youth, the elderly and the sick and those marginalised because of sexual orientation are protected and not discriminated against.” The PPP/C said they were “…building a country in which no one should feel left out from development. We want to give a good life to all

citizens so that they can live with dignity and security. As such, we aim to address the needs and meet the expectations of all our people with particular concern for our children, women, indigenous people, single parents and the vulnerable. We believe that all Guyanese must be free to make choices and must not be discriminated against because of their ethnicity, gender, religion or sexual orientation.” While Ms Jordan might be able to speak for the majority of Christians and Muslims, it (Continued on page 24)

More money for... From page 5 sustained anti-retroviral treatment and 90% of persons on ART have HIV suppression by 2020. Budget 2019 provides almost $8B for medicines and medical supplies. This should be good news. But 2018 was also a year where more than $7B was expended on medicines and medical supplies, yet there were major shortages of medicines and medical supplies. The latest shortages of MDRTB and HIV medicines represent just a tip of the iceberg. Guyana has experienced

stock-outs too often and these stock-outs are not limited to TB and HIV medicines. Since 2015, Guyana has also experienced stock-outs regularly of medicines for malaria, diabetes, blood pressure etc. Guyana has even experienced stock-outs for vaccines. Boasting of large allocations will not solve the problem as long as corrupt, singlesourced procurements continue. Boasting of capital allocations for more warehouse development will not solve the problem. Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

Tuesday December 04, 2018

Visitor arrivals to Guyana increase by 17 percent - Business Minister Business Minister, Dominic Gaskin, revealed yesterday that visitor arrivals to Guyana have been rising steadily over the years with the figures for up to September last showing an increase of 17% over the same period last year. With such good news, the Minister said he is optimistic about the sector’s continued contribution to the economy. Gaskin made these and other comments during his contribution to the budget 2019 debates. While Gaskin was unable to complete his speech within the 35-minute time slot, he did note that the increase in visitor arrivals is “good news for Guyana because visitors bring money into our economy.” The Business Minister said, “Visitors have to eat, sleep and travel around the town or the country and each of these activities costs money and employs Guyanese people. Tourists also shop and enjoy local entertainment. So an additional 30,000 visitors arriving in Guyana this year means that an additional US$15M is circulating in Guyana this year over last year if we are to assume an average spending of around US$500 per visitor.” Gaskin continued, “And if we look at the figures in their totality, tourism will bring in around US$150M this year to be spent in our economy. This does not include airfares or the taxes applied to airfares. These taxes alone will bring in around US$15M this year. So what I am saying is that apart from gold and rice, tourism brings the highest amount of foreign earnings into Guyana’s economy and this amount is growing every year at a handsome rate. So tourism is provid-

Business Minister, Dominic Gaskin ing opportunities for Guyanese, in particular young Guyanese, and will continue to do so in 2019.” The Business Minister added, “Our Government realizes the importance of this sector and its capacity to create and sustain employment. We also recognize the need to develop Guyana’s tourism product to keep up with increasing visitor arrivals, and most of all, we recognize the economic opportunities that tourism can create in traditionally disadvantaged areas such as the hinterland where our indigenous population lives.” Gaskin said it is for this reason there has been a steady increase in the budgetary appropriation for the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) from $123M in 2014 to over $300M in 2019. He reminded that the responsibility for tourism development in Guyana falls under the Ministry of Business and is carried out by the

Department of Tourism and the Guyana Tourism Authority, with the Department being responsible for policy and strategic direction and the Authority responsible for implementation in the areas of marketing, product development and licensing and regulation. Gaskin said, “And just as an aside, when I inherited responsibility for this agency, it had never, I repeat, never since its inception in 2002, presented to the National Assembly, its audited financial statements. “It did not even have audited financial statements for the years 2002 to 2015, and we have had to spend an inordinate amount of time and effort going back and putting this in order, and we anticipate that sometime in 2019, we will finally be up-to-date with the annual reports for all the agencies of the Ministry of Business.” The Business Minister added, “I raise this to illustrate the scant regard that the previous administration gave to accountability and transparency while in government and to say to that political party, that its record speaks volumes, lest we forget. (I also wish to) reassure this house that while we may be spending much more money on tourism than the previous government, we are also ensuring that there is accountability and transparency in the spending of that money.” That said, Gaskin noted that for 2019, the GTA and the Department of Tourism will receive budgetary allocations of $305M and $93M respectively.

Truck driver freed of causing death in Friendship crash One year after a truck driver was charged with causing the death of two brothers in a horrific accident at Friendship, East Bank Demerara, the matter was yesterday dismissed against him by a City Magistrate. It is alleged that Ganesh Ramdass, 27, of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, on October 1, 2016, at Friendship, East Bank Demerara, he drove motor lorry GNN5355, in a manner dangerous to the public causing the death of Jonnel and Phillip Armstrong. Yesterday Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore ruled that the evidence led by the prosecution witnesses was

insufficient. She added that the court did not find sufficient evidence against Ramdass so she upheld the no case submission by the defendant’s attorney, Paul Fung-a-fat. The Magistrate added that after perusing the entirety of the evidence she found no evidence that the defendant was speeding on the day in question. Throughout the trial R a m d a s s ’s l a w y e r h a d always argued that the driver of the Rav4, lost control as he was negotiating a turn and ended up in the path of his client’s truck. Ramdass was out on

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Kaieteur News

$200,000 bail pending the hearing and determination of the trial. According to reports, the two brothers, formerly of Watooka, Linden, and a friend, were heading to Linden in a Toyota Rav4 when they collided with the truck that was heading in the opposite direction. Reports are that the brother behind the wheel of the vehicle was reportedly speeding at the time of the accident. The driver of the truck managed to swerve, but the Rav4 slammed into the side of the truck. The brothers were pronounced dead on arrival at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre.

Passengers frustrated as CAL, airport authorities clash over wrecked Fly Jamaica aircraft Caribbean Airline Limited (CAL) passengers faced more frustrations yesterday as more delays were blamed on an attempt to relocate the crash-landed Fly Jamaica aircraft from the end of the runway at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). Outgoing passengers on flight BWW 526 destined for New York complained that their flight was initially delayed on Sunday. However, when the flight took off yesterday, passengers arrived at Trinidad and Tobago, only to be told that their baggage was still in Guyana. While in Trinidad, the pilot informed the passengers that he was unable to contact the ground handling agent in Guyana. According to one of the passengers, during the ordeal they spent over two hours on the plane. CAL had cancelled flights into Guyana from Trinidad citing concerns with efforts to relocate the Fly Jamaica Boeing 757 aircraft that crashlanded at the airport last month. This prompted the management of CJIA to issue an advisory to the travelling public that the airport was not closed. Passengers related that CAL is contending that the Fly Jamaica aircraft wing which has been elevated by a flotation device has caused some concerns for CAL. However, other airlines continue to utilize the airport as scheduled.

Baggage from flight CAL’s BWW 526 Chief Executive Officer of Fly Jamaica, Captain Paul (Ronald) Reece, confirmed with Kaieteur News that airport officials issued a ‘cease order’ while they were in the process of removing the aircraft on Sunday. He said that he was unclear as to the reasons behind the CJIA decision. Kaieteur News was informed that a team, consisting of insurance personnel, had arrived to assist with relocating the aircraft from the end of the runway where it had stopped

after an emergency landing. The team had started efforts to relocate the plane using flotation devises to a nearby hangar at the airport. According to reports, airport officials intervened to stop the process and police were also called in at one stage. Airport officials continue to be silent on the sitution. Fly Jamaica had said that it is cooperating with authorities to determine the cause of the crash-landing of its Boeing 757 aircraft on November 9, 2018.

Teen assaults Head Teacher, leaves her with split lip, swollen face The police attached to the Fort Wellington Police Station, West Coast Berbice, staged a confrontation between Gangadai Iasacs, the acting Head Teacher of No.5 Primary School and her alleged teenage attacker. Isaacs who was reportedly dealt several cuffs to the face by the teen in the presence of her 11-year-old daughter, five-year-old niece and three-year-old son and hit several times about her body is still fearful since the teen continues to roam the area as is his norm. With her face still swollen on the left side she told reporters at the Central Police Station that on the said day she made the report of the incident, the young man was detained for a short period of time and subsequently released. She stated that she was heading to her mother’s residence in the company of her children and niece on Saturday around 16:30 hrs

when she noticed the teen walking in the opposite direction. “He walked past the two girls since they were walking in front of me. Me and my son were walking at the back. So he walked past them and appeared to heading towards me so I stopped to allow him to pass but he did not pass; he stopped in front of me. “I asked him if he is not seeing where he was going but he did not respond. I then took my son and moved him to the side so the teen could pass. “But then he walked into my son and knocked into him. I turned and said, ’Something definitely wrong with you’. That was when he turned around and give me one push to my stomach.” Isaacs added that she immediately grabbed her son but the teen again allegedly stood in front of her and suddenly “kiss me on my lips”. She retaliated by “spitting

in his face”. This angered him and he subsequently began to rain cuffs to the woman’s face and about her body. Shortly after the ordeal the young man’s mother showed up “but I went to the police station and they came as well”. According to Isaacs, while she was making the report the teen’s mother kept denying that her son ever assaulted her but only told the police that she saw “me spit in his face”. The assaulted woman said that it is not the first time the young man and his family have caused trouble within the community. “Many of the residents have experienced these people and their troubling behaviour”. She disclosed, “These people are troublemakers to the entire community. Recently he choked a guy and when the police came, the police did not arrest him but (Continued on page 12)

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday December 04, 2018

Volda Lawrence apologises for ‘jobs for PNC people’ statement

Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence Following a week of public criticisms, Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, yesterday offered an apology for her controversial statements of offering jobs to only People’s National Congress (PNC) people. Lawrence was approached by reporters during the start of the debate on the 2019 Budget estimates at Parliament Building. She did not respond to questions, but pointed reporters to a statement posted on her official Facebook page. “The rhetoric attributed to me over the last few days, is not reflective of who I am as a person or leader,” the statement noted. Further, she stated, “I have learned that as a leader I must be cognizant of what I say and do, and must not allow emotions or political fervour to get in the way. So to all those whom I have offended in one way or another, I humbly apologize.” The Minister indicated that over the last 30-plus years, she has given service to the people and Guyana. “I have fought for my fellow countrymen and women known and unknown, irrespective of their class, creed or political affiliation. I have fought for freedom, equal rights and justice,” Lawrence stated. Lawrence, the Chairperson of the PNC made the controversial comments while a d d r e s s i n g t h e p a r t y ’s Region Four District Conference at Congress Place on November 24. “The only friends I got is PNC, so the only people I gon give wuk to is PNC and right now, I looking for a doctor who can talk Spanish or Portuguese and ah want one that is PNC,” Lawrence is quoted. The Minister has not denied making the statements publicly and did not address the

criticisms that she received because of the publication of her statements when she issued a previous statement. President of T r a n s p a r e n c y International Guyana Inc (TIGI), Dr. Troy Thomas, who described Lawrence’s comments as very partisan, had told Kaieteur News that an apology would just be the start. He felt that the Minister should go beyond an apology as the comments eroded public confidence in her ability to fairly administer the ministerial portfolio. “If I were in that position, I would say she should discontinue, given her portfolio as a Minister. It would be rather difficult to ask people in the Ministry to have confidence in that whatever policy that they are working on would be u n b i a s e d , ” D r. T h o m a s noted. Harmon on Friday declined to comment on L a w r e n c e ’s c o m m e n t s during his post-Cabinet media briefing. Dr. Thomas said that the PNC, which is the largest party in the Coalition, needs to arrest Lawrence’s behaviour by first distancing the party from her comments and taking decisive action. He said that the Party can’t expect to sweep the issue under the carpet. A c c o r d i n g t o D r. Thomas, apologizing would be a good first step, but more is required because Lawrence is heading a Ministry. Dr. Thomas noted that an apology would signal recognition that something is wrong and then the party has to be clear that the comments are not representative of what they stand for. He believes that the issue will follow the party right into the 2020 elections.

Tuesday December 04, 2018

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Kaieteur News

The Ethnic Relations Commission should audit public service employment The Chairperson of the People’s National Congress Reform and Minister of Health, Volda Lawrence, has apologized for statements she made last week and which have raised a firestorm of criticism, with even some persons calling for her to be removed from office. Volda Lawrence has done the right thing and apologized but the apology has not gone far enough. It still leaves unanswered question as to how a senior leader of the People’s National Congress and one who can possibly become her party’s next leader can make such comments as the one she uttered last week. And secondly if her own statements did not reflect her philosophy then whose philosophy did they reflect – the

government’s? The Minister was quoted as saying “The only friends I got is PNC so the only people I gon give wuk to is PNC and right now I looking for a doctor who can talk Spanish or Portuguese and ah want one that is PNC.” The statement not only has implications for fair and nondiscriminatory employment but, as David Hinds has pointed out it also has implications for ethnic discrimination in employment. The normal response to such controversies is to hold one’s ground, argue that one was misunderstood and taken out of context and have the apologists undertake damage control. Some of this was attempted. Persons, including some within Kaieteur News, had shamelessly tried to justify the offensive state-

ment. They must be feeling quite foolish now that the Minister has come out and apologized. In her apology, the Minister was reported as saying “The rhetoric attributed to me over the last few days, is not reflective of who I am as a person or leader. I have learned that as a leader I must be cognizant of what I say and do, and must not allow emotions or political fervour to get in the way.” But even if it is accepted that the minister got carried away by political fervor, then why were there no objections from the floor? The Minister was speaking at a PNCR District 4 Conference – the largest PNCR District. Why did no one walk out or publicly reprimand the Minister for bringing the party into disrepute by her statements?

Dem boys seh ...

Some people put up sick Xmas 3s Dem boys learn Xmas preparation does begin in November. Late shopping does start December 15. Courts start de Christmas tree light up in November. Marriott follow last week. De tree at Rahaman turn light up last week and get knock down de next day. Dem raise it up back and it look different from all de rest. Drive down to town and you will see anodda tree, this one deh inside de rent a tent compound. Dem boys laugh when dem see de tree. It look like when yuh put a big jersey pun a fine foot tall man. And de jersey end by ee knee. Bank de turn, and you end up at Banks DIH. Dem gat two Christmas tree. One shape like dem foreign girls who come to Guyana and de

odda one look like it got polio. De only thing that come close to looking like Christmas is de decoration around de tree trunks in de Banks yard. Giftland Mall got a tree that some people describe as a beer belly man or a big belly woman. De Waterfalls paper got one too wha de boss man light up. Dem boys shame fuh talk bout it but in fact de tree look like if it got diabetes. Every morning when de staff came in is either some of de leaf fall off or de lights fall deh pun de ground. De Big Market paper got one that tie up wid string and look like it got strokes. City Hall was to put up one but de Clown Clerk carry way de money and de Town Clown get throw out. Ohh Pee put one with-

out lights because some Ministah thief off de lights fuh carry home. Jagdeo got de biggest and brightest Christmas tree. Dem boys ain’t got access to wheh he live but one of he neighbor seh suh. De neighbor seh every night he tun on de whole village does get low voltage. Anodda neighbor seh ee confuse wid Christmas and Diwali. Dem boys seh Nicolette should go home by him and give him a lecture between Christmas and Diwali. De only thing is that she does mix up Diwali wid Phagwah. She like Sam Blinds who wear dhoti to go to an Eid function and he put on an African outfit to go to attend a jhandi. Talk half and ask Soulja Bai to bring a decorator when ee coming back from Cuba.

Is it that the majority of those present supported that position? The present controversy therefore goes beyond the issue about the personal philosophy of the Minister. It is about the quality of governance practised by the PNCR dominated coalition government. The PNCR has long been accused of ethnic discrimination in employment. These charges go way back to the pre-1992 period. There were persons who were hounded out of office under Burnham, bypassed or openly discriminated against. The present coalition government, of which the PNCR is the dominant partner, has been subject to charges of purging the public service, of practising nepotism, sidelining persons for positions, favoring ex-military personnel and having a record of ethnic imbalance in its appointments of senior public officials. There have been a number of charges of Ministers employ-

ing their family and friends and having to send home competent persons to facilitate to do so. There have been charges of politically and ethnically favored appointments. There has been evidence of persons receiving super-salaries for work which can be done for less remuneration. There have been concerns expressed that a number of persons have been handpicked for jobs and that no competitive process was employed to select these persons. The handpicking of persons for jobs discriminates also against supporters of the government because when friends of Ministers are chosen for a job, this disadvantages qualified and able supporters of the PNCR who are not allowed to compete for certain jobs. An audit needs to be undertaken of the present employment practices. The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) should undertake this audit. The ERC should investigate

the persons who have left the government employ since May 2015 to determine whether they were pressured to leave or that they felt uncomfortable. The audit should determine how fair were the employment practices since 2015. In an ethnically polarized society, this has ramifications for race relations - the purview of the ERC. The audit should allow for evidence to be led about nepotism and favoritism in employment. Finally, in the case of persons who feel that they were bypassed for promotion, dismissed or forced to resign, the ERC should undertake to determine whether this involved ethnic discrimination.

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Tuesday December 04, 2018

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

Macron: People will always reject deceitful government Guyana has its Macron. He is Moses Nagamootoo. President Macron of France probably doesn’t know about Nagamootoo in G u y a n a . I f h e did, one doesn’t know if Macron would have walked a different pathway. Nagamootoo proclaimed that he was a thoroughbred and he wrote that he always remembers his father’s advice that thoroughbreds don’t back down; they always run and he is running in Whim as a thoroughbred in the 2018 LGE.

The thoroughbred did run but he came in last. Nagamootoo and his relatives were badly beaten in Whim. So bad were the licks that even the persons who prepared the thoroughbred and dressed them up for the race didn’t vote for them. Nagamootoo’s race collapsed before the bell rang. And the lessons are easy to learn. In politics, you will lose if you look like the people you ousted to enter office. People will vent their anger even more on you than the government you defeated because

they trusted you and you now appear deceitful to them. Macron created history in the world. A man who was never involved in any kind of politics, he was handpicked as economy minister in the previous government of President Hollande. Sensing that like so many other countries, particularly the US and Greece that people were fed up with the failures of the strong, dominant, traditional parties, he decided to run for president. He won becoming the youngest president of France. He formed his own party that secured a parliamentary majority. Macron had it made. He didn’t need to be burdened with a truculent opposition in parliament. Macron came from a strong upper class existence. But that didn’t affect him simply because as in the US, people wanted a new face even if he were a billionaire. They were simply implacable when it came to denouncing the parties that were in power for so long and impoverished them. As he settled into power, Macron became the Alexis Tsipras of Greece. Unlike

Tsipras, Macron is facing violent revolts, that at the time of writing, no one knows if his presidency will survive. After Greece found the austerity measures by the European Central Bank (ECB) and the IMF too horrible to bear, any party that offered an alternative to the supine government of the day, they would welcome. They embraced Tsipras. He became Greece’s youngest Prime Minister. Then Greece under their new radical Prime Minister, looked the identical country during the austerity pressures of the previous government. Tsipras began to accept the same harsh recipes from the IMF and the ECB that he denounced as an opposition parliamentarian that his leftwing Finance Minister resigned and a number of his party’s MPs rebelled. A painful irony descended on Greece. Tsipras’s own parliamentarians didn’t agree to pass his austerity package and he had to rely on the votes of the traditional parties who he denounced for that very same package when they

ruled the country. What Tsipras did is what Trump did also. They saw a chance to become the leader of their country. That was all. They had no intention of changing anything. In Guyana we have our TsiprasMoses Nagamootoo. He saw a chance of toppling the PPP. He did just that and now he does nothing else with his time. Of course he ran in his hometown as a thoroughbred. Macron betrayed the people who voted for him eighteen months ago and now Paris is burning. Scenes of the violence make you feel that if Macron doesn’t fall, his presidency will never recover. One thing is sure – his image and credibility will never recover. Scene of the rebellion on the streets of not only Paris but other parts of France take you back to 1968 when the world looked like it would have another French Revolution. Tsipras and Trump will lose future elections in their respective countries. The writing is on the wall for Trump. He barely increase the number of Republican senators in the midterm elections recently half and he lost the House of Representa-

Frederick Kissoon tives. In some very strong Trumpian parts of the US where Trump was seen as a virtual saviour, his Republican colleague just barely won. That is a harbinger for the future Guyana has its versions of Trump, Tsipras and Macron. There was anger at the results of the 2018 LGE but that anger has a hypocritical derivative. If you remove a group of leaders that behaved terrible when in office, you cannot repeat the same deportment. I went up to a female ANPU+AFC minister and told her it doesn’t look good to have the driver open the car door for you to come out and for you to enter. No female PPP minister did that.

Tuesday December 04, 2018

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

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Tuesday December 04, 2018

Kaieteur News

UG and CAL forge new partnership to bolster research Efforts to bolster research at the University of Guyana (UG) recently were boosted by Caribbean Airlines [CAL] which underwrote attendance by several UG computer scientists at the 2018 Caribbean Academic of Sciences conference, which was held in Jamaica. The four-member team comprised three female computer scientists, some of whom received their first-ever invitations to showcase their research at the prestigious academic gathering. The CAL support follows a meeting between Vice-Chancellor Professor Ivelaw Griffith with Chief Executive Office [CEO] of CAL, Mr. Garvin Madera, and CAL Guyana Country Manager, Mr Carl Stuart, about formalising a partnership between the airline and the university. The meeting was facilitated by UG Education Resource Ambassador Captain Gerry Gouveia, CEO of Roraima Airways. According to Madera, “Caribbean Airlines is happy to support the University of Guyana in facilitating the

travel of four academics to attend the Caribbean Academy of Sciences Conference in Jamaica. As the Region’s leading air carrier, our corporate social responsibility programmes positively impact the communities we serve.” He also noted that “Caribbean Airlines enjoys a legacy of cooperation with the Government and people of Guyana and the Guyanese Diaspora in providing consistent, safe and reliable service. We look forward to building on this relationship in the future.” Vice-Chancellor Griffith remarked, “I’m ecstatic with the reception by CEO Madera of my proposal to establish a broad partnership which will include travel support for staff and students, discount travel for the new petroleum engineering degree programmes being developed with the University of the West Indies and the University of Trinidad and Tobago, and sponsorship and discount travel for the conferences being planned for next

year.” UG and CAL expect to formalise their partnership soon with a formal agreement.

Meanwhile, the ViceChancellor also stated that during 2019, the University

will be hosting the Second Diaspora/Entrepreneurship Conference, the Caribbean

Writers Conference, and a conference on The Guiana Shield.

Provide evidence of $$ spent in More than 20 initiatives in 2018 hinterland communities – PPP MP Budget untouched-Ram&McRae …as Govt. boasts about expenditure in 2019 budget. People’s Progressive Party (PPP) back-bencher, Yvonne Pearson, has labeled Government’s 2019 budget ‘tasteless’ and lacking the ingredients to deliver ‘the good life’ as promised by the Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan. Taking aim at Government expenditure in hinterland communities during the first day of the 2019 budget debate, Pearson challenged Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, to provide evidence to support her statement that 3795 youths were trained and 2054 small businesses were created through the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS). “It makes me wonder if this is part of the $865M that cannot be really accounted for in the Ministry. Honourable Minister, put our mind at ease; we would like the Honourable Minister to give us the information. There must be record to show which

villages and who are those youths. We would like to know,” Pearson stated. The former Toshao said that the Indigenous People must have a planned programme. “We don’t want piecemeal development…Let us see the evidence. Let us have the evidence of what is happening. We have been hearing about the tomato ketchup and the salad dressing. “I am happy to know that we can produce it in our villages, but we want the evidence. When we listen to all these figures that are being spent here, there and everywhere and when we go out there, the evidence is not there,” Pearson noted. She also called for money to be spent on tourism development in hinterland communities since visitors are not coming to Guyana to visit Georgetown. “Special funds must be set aside or else don’t talk tourism. Nobody is coming to see Georgetown. Destination

Guyana! When you look at those brochures; when you look at the tourism guides who do you see? Our Indigenous Peoples. “We are on the forefront and as such we are calling on the Government to make funds available to develop tourism. Destination Guyana is the hinterland and not Georgetown,” Pearson noted. She added, “We are not going to stay at the back and you are saying destination Guyana. I am saying no Sir.” Pearson said Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock, has failed miserably on the Amerindian land titling project. She reminded Allicock that while he was serving as a Toshao he indicated that Amerindian land titling must be seen through Indigenous eyes and not through the eyes of politics. EQUITABLY REPRESENTION During the debate, Minister Garrido-Lowe said that the (Continued on page 23)

While the government and political opposition are engaged in the budget 2019 debates, Ram and McRae Chartered Accountants have highlighted in a comprehensive report that the coalition administration is yet to touch in excess of 20 initiatives outlined in its 2018 budget. The accounting firm said that these include the Investigative Commission on Corruption, Law Revision and Reform; Draft Public Debt Management Bill; Justice Reform; Public Sector Investment Programme and Public Procurement; a National Agricultural census; and the development of a bond market and replacement of the Securities Industry Act. The firm also highlighted that issues including the return to free collective bargaining, campaign financing and constitutional reform which were fundamental policies of the Alliance For Change (AFC), a number two in the Coalition Government, are yet to be properly addressed. Ram and McRae said, “A number of these are indeed important but there ought to be some priority attaching to poli-

cies and their measures.” The company said it would be useful for Cabinet to have someone identify all these un-

finished matters and appoint an Implementation Unit to address them in a systemic and orderly fashion.

Teen assaults Head Teacher, leaves her with split lip, swollen face From page 7 they arrested the guy that he beat up”. Residents in the community stated that “the mother of this child is always making phone calls to higher persons, either in the police force or the government and whenever people would make reports to the station nothing comes of the story. “But they would make trouble and go to the

station and make false allegations about people in the community. Then you would see a whole jeep load of police coming but if they do you something and you go to the station you would have no police showing up”. Kaieteur News understands that the teen would normally walk the streets in the community with “a short pants and a cutlass”, an act that sends fear

into residents. Isaacs said she is experiencing pains in her chest and lower body. She has a swollen lip and left side face. She added that there were no previous grievances with the accused who is still a student of the No.8 Secondary School. Police are investigating. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education said in a statement that it has noted with concern the assault on the acting Head teacher

of the No 5 Primary School, West Coast Berbice. “The MoE in the strongest manner condemns this assault on the teacher and assures that the appropriate actions will be taken with regards to this matter. The Education Ministry has since launched an investigation and the findings of the said investigation will be made available upon its conclusion.”

Tuesday December 04, 2018

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

New discovery pushes oil reserves over 5B barrels Suppliers jostle for jobs as local content forum begins

Part of the crowd at the Marriott Hotel

Local companies are meeting with ExxonMobil and its contractors to talk jobs and opportunities as the countdown continues for first oil in early 2020. Yesterday, scores gathered at the Marriott Hotel, Kingston, as news was announced that a 10th discovery has been made about 200 kilometers offshore, pushing recoverable reserves beyond five billion barrels of oil. This could push production up to 750,000 barrels per day come 2025, authorities said yesterday. While the forum was in the first session, a statement from Government quoted Director, Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe, as saying

that the United States oil giant, ExxonMobil, has made its 10th discovery offshore Guyana, at the Pluma-1 well. “This is great news for Guyana…The country is on the cusp of transformational development for current and future generations and the news of ExxonMobil’s 10th discovery offshore Guyana is expected to facilitate the country’s realisation of substantial social and economic improvements,” said an upbeat Dr. Bynoe. The Pluma-1, which is located some 17 miles (27 kilometers) south of the Turbot1 well and follows previous discoveries on the Stabroek Block, encountered approximately 121 feet (37 meters) of

high-quality, hydrocarbonbearing sandstone. The well was safely drilled to 16,447 feet (5, 013 meters) depth in 3,340 feet (1,018 meters) of water. The Noble Tom Madden drillship began drilling on November 1, 2018. “Guyana is well poised to truly forge ahead in the 21st century. As a petro-development state we will, however, need to strategically invest in a people-centered and balanced manner, where we utilise our non-renewable resources for structural transformation and improving people’s lives in the shortterm, while concomitantly providing the foundation to allow us to transition in the medium- and long-term to a

post carbon economy,” Bynoe noted. The previous recoverable resource estimate on the Stabroek Block was more than four billion barrels. The government statement said that this discovery reinforces the potential of the country being able to produce more than 750,000 barrels of oil daily by 2025 and to the potential for development in the south-east section of the Stabroek Block. The Stabroek Block is 26,800 square kilometers, Dr. Bynoe added. The Noble Tom Madden is expected to begin drilling the Tilapia-1 prospect located some 3.4miles (5.5 kilometers) west of the Longtail-1 well.

An official being welcomed yesterday at the Marriott Hotel, Kingston, for the suppliers’ forum.

ExxonMobil’s Country Manager, Rod Henson

The Stena Carron drillship recently completed operations at Hammerhead-1 and will soon drill its next well following scheduled maintenance. ExxonMobil and its affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited hold 45 per cent interest in the Stabroek Block. Hess Guyana Exploration Limited holds 30 per cent interest and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25 per cent interest. Meanwhile, the Liza Phase 1-Supplier Development Forum at the Marriott allowed debate on the highly controversial local content issue- in layman’s words it is what jobs and opportunities that Guyana is getting. Yesterday’s forum was supposed to allow local companies and partners to mingle with ExxonMobil and its contractors. The contractors included Noble Drilling, TechnipFMC, Saipem, SBM, Schlumberger, Halliburton, and Guyana Shore Base. The suppliers also mak-

ing presentations were Modern Building Solutions, Guysons Oil and Gas, Falcon Logistics and Atlantic Marine Supplies. Today, the booths would be opened, allowing for participants to interact with the contractors and suppliers. According to Joanna Simmons-Homer, of the Department of Energy, with little experience in the oil and gas sector, there will be a few success stories emerging from companies which has grabbed opportunities. The official told the packed Marriott room of private sector officials, and business executives, that the government’s local content policy is nearer to reality with finishing touches being added. Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Desmond Sears, expressed delight that the Centre For Local Business Development has taken the initiative for the forum. The Centre, located in the (Continued on page 23)

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Tuesday December 04, 2018

Kaieteur News

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CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS FROM $4000 & UP, SUV’S PER DAY- CALL:643-5122/6560087, ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL:225-7126/ 2263 6 9 3 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL @YAHOO.COM/ WWW.D OLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807 WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIALOFFERS! . CALL: 690-6494 PEN PAL Indian Male from England seeks female Age 29/32 with good personality. Call or Text #690-6639 FOR SALE/RENT American Pool table. Tel#2770578

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

Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665/6493750 One (1) Security Officer #2271717

Toyota Spacio. Tel#639-9553

Experienced Taxi & Private Drivers #227-0638/622-6413

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

One handyman & one watchman to work in Georgetown. Please call: 2310363 between Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm

Nissan Laurel Executive car, Nissan Pathfinder Jeep, Well kept. Hot Bargains now Call: 660-3415/609-7766 Diesel Toyota canter truck long base double cab. Working condition. Tel: 6266889

VACANCY

35 acres land at Yarrowkabra, situated next to the Soesdyke Linden Highway. Tel#2612553

Paralegal, must have Immigration experience & Excellent communication skills. Please send CV’s to: moses@rambarranlawfirm.com

Transported land 11.6 acres. Lot 15 public road. #2 Village W.C.B. Price $18M. Contact 686-4818, 648-7109 Zeelugt $2.3M Tuschen $2.9M Parfaite Harmonie $2M (fenced) Parfaite Harmonie $1.5M #697-6311, 642-1252

All five of the men on trial in the Adventure Corentyne Robbery/Murder of phone card vendor, Danian Anthony Jagdeo, 36, of Williamsburg Corentyne, have been committed to stand trial for murder. This was at the conclusion of a preliminary inquiry conducted by Magistrate Carlyne Artiga in the Whim Magistrate’s Court. The Prosecutor was Inspector Phillip Sherriff. Jagdeo, called “Damion” a father of four of Lot 12 Section G Williamsburg Village, Corentyne, was shot dead around 15:30hrs on February 5, 2017 while distributing phone cards in Adventure Village, Corentyne, Berbice. Those committed are Mark Dhuman called “Mark”, 22; Abdul Salam Azimullah, called “Sato”, at whose home the gun was found; Shuman Batson, and Satesh Budram, 19; all of Hampshire, and Zaheer Abdulla called “Gold Teeth”, the alleged gun man, of Adelphi East Canje, Attorney at law Mursalene Bacchus representing Dhuman argued that that his client should not be committed for murder. Although it was mentioned that the man had discussed the probability of a robbery with the accused he was absent from the scene and did not know one of the accused was armed with a gun. Bacchus contended that his client should have been charged with conspiracy to steal. He will be moving to the

VACANCY

LAND FOR SALE

Farm (East Bank) $3.2M Eccles $7M Herstelling $4M & $5M Schnoord $2.8M Dairy $1.6M & $2.6M Tel#656-0701/6481635

Five committed to stand trial for Adventure Phone Card vendor robbery murder

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

One party store attendant. Tel# 691-7123 General Domestic, must know to cook. Apply KeyFood McDoom EBD. Waiter/Waitress and a Chef, preferably carnegie trained. Call: 225-7933, or visit 173 Sheriff Street.

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

Vacancy exist for Experienced Pharmacy assistants to work @ reputable pharmacy in Georgetown. Call: 696-5098/ 628-8811 between 8am-4pm

Hick’s Ville HotelReceptionist. #231-0951/2277 7 1 4 / 2 2 3 - 3 4 4 8 info@vgiworld.com

One female accounts clerk, apply at Alabama Trading 65 Robb Street Bourda

Danian Jagdeo deceased high court to have the committal quashed. According to reports the man was in a shop when a suspicious man entered. Jagdeo asked the bar woman if she knew who the individual was and she said no. In a matter of seconds the individual whipped out a gun. The shopkeeper took evasive action as several gun shots rang out. The bandits had reportedly grabbed a bag that Jagdeo had in his possession, It contained a quantity of phone cards and cash and fled. They had reportedly escaped on a black Honda Elite motorcycle with a fake licence plate number (CD 2125). The motorcycle was found abandoned by two persons along the public road of Friendship village, Corentyne. The motor cycle was subsequently identified by a resident who alleged that it was stolen from his yard. The man had reportedly been picked up by a Silver grey Toyota Allian with fake licence plate number PVV 9465. The cops worked diligently throughout the night, following leads and arrested seven persons. A search of one of the suspects’ home had revealed a .32 snub nose revolver and two matching rounds. A quantity of phone cards was also found. The getaway car was also impounded. Among those that were arrested were a youth that was sent to purchase gasoline for the getaway motorcycle and another person who reportedly made the false licence plates. A post-mortem examination on Jagdeo’s body reveled that he died from shock and haemorrhage due to gunshot injuries. Two bullets were extracted from the body.

Tuesday December 04, 2018

Taxi driver charged again for M$$$ robbery Yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, 27-year-old Casey Chapman, a taxi driver, of 77 South Sophia appeared before Magistrate Marissa Mittelholzer and denied the robbery charge. It was alleged that Chapman, on May 27, last, at Tucville, Georgetown, in the company of another, and armed with a gun, robbed Rashee Pasha of one Toyota Premio PPP5358, one LG phone valued $40,000; one gold chain valued $200,000 and $20,000 in cash. Through his attorney, the court learnt that Chapman who has a baby on the way was charged in July for a robbery and was released on $200,000 bail. Just last week he was charged for possession of firearm and ammunition. According to the attorney in an application for bail, Chapman is the sole provider for his mother and grandmother. He further stated that Chapman is always in full view of the public and he does not have any problem with anyone. However, police prosecution objected to bail based on the prevalence of the offence to society and the fact that a gun was used in the act. Moreover, Chapman was positively identified by the virtual complainant. It was also stated that the vehicle was found in his possession when he was arrested. Police prosecution also based its objection on the fact that the offense is of serious nature and Chapman may not be attending court if bail is granted. After listening to the pros-

Further remanded Casey Chapman. ecution Magistrate Marissa Mittelholzer denied bail . She took note of the fact that Chapman has similar matters in court. She ordered him to return to court on January 25, 2019. Chapman, Sheldon Andrews and Adam McDonald, were charged last Friday for a series of firearm, ammunition and armed robbery offences. The first allegation against the men stated that on November 26, last, at High and Princes Streets, while being in the company of each other, they had in their possession one .32 Taurus pistol without being holders of firearm licences. The second charge stated that on the same day and at the same location, the men had in their possession one 9 mm Glock pistol without being holders of firearm licenses. It was further alleged that on the same day and at the same location they had in their possession 12 live

rounds of 9 mm ammunition without being holders of firearm licenses. The last charge against the trio stated that on the same day and at the same location, they had in their possession seven .32 ammunition when they were not licensed firearm holders. Chapman also had an individual charge which alleged that on July 5, 2017, at Grove, Access Road, East Bank Demerara, while being in the company of another and armed with a gun, he robbed Marcia Maria Martin of a cellular phone worth $70,000, four ounces raw gold worth $600,000, some $700,000 in cash and other articles totalling $1.4 M, property of Martin. The men all denied the allegations after they were read to them by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. They were instructed to make their next court appearance on December 12, 2018.

New discovery pushes oil reserves... From page 21 compound of the Institute of Private Enterprise Development, South Road, provides space for local firms to learn about opportunities in the oil and gas sector, strengthen their competitiveness, and prepare to supply the oil and gas sector with various services. This happens through registration, training and other forums. According to Sears, while Guyana welcomes investors, there are rules and ethics that must be adhered to. He too called for a local content policy to be introduced soonest with the time window of grabbing opportunities costing monies. He pointed to deep interest of local businesses in the oil sector with delegations visiting Aberdeen, Scotland and Newfoundland, Canada. Sears noted that the range for services and supplies would be wide— from pumps to tools and boats.

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He urged that a list of supplies be made available so that local businesses can determine if they can get a piece of the pie. The PSC official stressed, too, that Guyana has boasted of a positive growth in the last decade, with agriculture, mining and forestry leading the way. The new entrants must play a role in helping Guyana move to the next level, he urged. Meanwhile, ExxonMobil’s Country Manager, Rod Henson, stressed that local supplies are critical to the oil operations. He insisted that ExxonMobil is bent in honoring the environmental and other commitments. The centre, he says, is helping companies understand the importance of best practices in a high-stakes game. Henson also warned that in a high-stakes game, there

is little room for waste and inefficiency. ExxonMobil, he urged, needs suppliers who meet the required objectives and are prepared to work in what will be a first class industry. A floating platform to store pumped oil for transfer has already been ordered and is to arrive in Guyana for late summer next year. Locals have been hired for the drill ships that ExxonMobil has used and on land, a number of operations have started up in preparation where persons have been employed. However, ExxonMobil is being heavily criticized for its deal with Guyana which included a 50/50 profit on oil and two percent on every barrel sold. However, there has been deep worry about the 50/50 split with ExxonMobil recording a dismal track record of not playing fair with its figures.

Two charged for BMW fraud Two persons were yesterday brought before Magistrate Marissa Mittelholzer to answer a charge of fraud that stated that on November 27, last, at Georgetown with intent to defraud, they obtained from Shaheed Ally a total of $2.2M by falsely pretending that they were in a position to sell him a BMW vehicle. The two men were Julian Falcher and Compton Beckles. Compton Beckles, also known as Jumbie Pumpkin, is a 58-year-old trader of 166 Middle Road, La Penitence. He was represented by Attorney-at-Law Paul Funga-Fat who made an application for reasonable bail. Julian Falcher who is a 38year-old Nurse for seven years at Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) was represented by Attorney-at-law Leslie Benjamin

Charged: Compton Beckles

Charged: Julian Falcher

who also made reasonable application for bail. Both of the defendants

were released on $60,000 bail and ordered to return to court on January 25, 2019.

Duo released on bail on separate robbery charges Titus Daniels of Vryheid’s Lust, and Kevin Benn of Plaisance, were yesterday released on bail after an appearance before Magistrate Marissa Mittelholzer in the Georgetown Magistrates Courts to answer to separate charges for robbery. In the case of Daniels, it was alleged that on Novem-

ber 30, 2018, at Coral Street Georgetown, he stole from the person of Merlin Williams one Samsung Galaxy S7 cell phone valued at $163,000 property of Williams. In Benn’s case, it was alleged that on March 31, 2018, at Regent and Hinck Streets while being armed with a knife, he robbed Navindra

Rampersaud of one Samsung S6 cell phone valued at $78,000. Both men denied the accusations. Magistrate Marissa Mittelholzer released Daniels on $50,000 bail and Benn on $60,000 bail. The matters were adjourned until the 25 January, 2019.

Provide evidence of $$ spent in hinterland communities – PPP MP From page 12 Indigenous Peoples have been equally represented in the Budget with an allocation of about $60M earmarked for projects that create jobs and generate income for residents in several villages including Paruima in Region Seven, Santa Cruz and Tobago Hill in Region One and Maruwanau and Bina Hill in Region Nine. “Since this Government took office, the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs has been focusing on building the capacity of our Indigenous and hinterland people. “Your Government, Mr. Speaker, does not believe in handouts. We believe in empowering people and giving them the economic support required so that they can create successful and meaningful lives for themselves,” Garrido-Lowe stated. She said that an additional $16 Million was allocated for the Cassava Flour Processing Factory in Kwebana; $6Million for the installation of a solar system at the Crab Processing facility at Smith’s Creek; and $15Million for the construction of the ground coffee processing facility in Santa Rosa. The sum of $3M has also been allocated to support the Lapidary project in Region Eight. These funds will be

used to purchase the jewel boxes and bags crafted by the Indigenous people themselves, as well ensure the provision of internet connectivity. Garrido-Lowe also stated that HEYS has provided training to 3,795 youths in 222 villages over the last two years. Some 2,054 small businesses were established by these youths in villages as far as Kakshibai, Tipiru and Achiwib in Region Nine, and Monkey Mountain and Red Creek in Region Eight. The Minister said that $4M will also be spent on the construction of two rest-shelters for the students of Chenapau and Karisparu in Region Eight, who have to walk long distances to attend Secondary School in Paramakatoi. These shelters, Minister Garrido-Lowe explained will provide a respite for the students and their parents, while the Government will review the building of proper roads and bridges so vehicles will be able to traverse these areas. Further, to ensure that Indigenous residents can transact business with ease when in the capital city, the sum of $28Million was apportioned to furnish an extension at the Indigenous Residence at Princes Street, Georgetown.

One committed for murder, two to... From page 20 work place. He was not seen or heard from again. The relatives after not hearing from Ghanie made a missing person's report with the police. The elder Ramsaywack and Sewsankar were subsequently arrested and released. After not getting anywhere, the relatives subsequently launched a search party of their own. A shallow grave with bones was found about 200 yards aback of the home of the ac-

cused in the Number 55 cemetery. The men had confessed during interrogation that they had struck Ghanie on his head rendering him unconscious. They then dragged his body and dumped it in the shallow grave. It was then set afire. The men after checking and found that the body was not destroyed, burnt it again in another shallow grave. They were subsequently rearrested and charged.

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Travis Chase incident…

Injured man discharged from hospital; claims journalist kicked, then shot him One day after a shooting incident which saw 28year-old Jimmy Ramgobin, said to be a substance abuser, being shot in the leg by TV journalist, Travis Chase, the injured man has been discharged from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. Ramgobin, in a report given to police on the 2nd of December, claimed he was, “laying on the parap e t i n D e A b r e u St r e e t (Newtown) when Travis Chase approached and kicked him to his chest area.: He said that he got up and ran away. Chase fired three shots behind him, one of which hit his right foot. Ramgobin is nursing a gunshot wound which he sustained during a confrontation with Chase around 04:00 hrs on Sunday morning. A photo showed what appeared to be a wound to the back of the leg, suggesting he was shot from behind. According to reports, Chase, 30, shot the man who had attacked him. At the time, Ramgobin, who is said to be homeless, had allegedly hurled bottles at Chase. The journalist found him lying in front of his g i r l f r i e n d ’s g a t e w h i l e dropping the woman off. Police in a statement said that when Chase and his girlfriend arrived at her De Abreu Street, Newtown, Georgetown home, he observed Ramgobin in front of the

The gunshot wound that Ramgobin received. yard. Chase exited his vehicle and approached Ramgobin who allegedly began hurling bottles at him from a haversack that he had in his possession. The police statement said that Chase, who is a licensed firearm holder, fired a warning shot at Ramgobin. But Ramgobin refused to stop, and Chase retaliated by firing three more shots, one hitting his attacker to his lower leg. Chase in an invited comment, said he was in fear for his safety, since the man seemed to be in

Guyana’s greatness... From page 6 would be surprising if any Hindu feels that any transgender citizen is deserving of any less rights and dignity. Many Hindus might not know that Lord Rama, in the Ramayana, acknowledges that there are more than male and female in humanity. In the Tulsidas Ramayana, (Sri Ramcharitmanasa), one of the important parts is the dialogue between Lord Rama and Kakbhusundi, where Lord Rama explains about the compassion for devotees. In the Uttarkanda, Doha 87, Lord Rama continues… “..be it man, woman or ‘one lacking the characteristics of both’ or for the matter of that, any living being whatsoever, of the animate or the inanimate world, he who adores Me with all his being, giving up all guile is supremely dear to Me..” Many Hindus would know all genders are equally divine. Guyana’s greatness will be realised when we accept the diversity in many ways including religious beliefs, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender expression and gender identity, and that we work on ways to seek consensus as we realise our differences. We have a lot of restoration work to heal from the violence of the colonisers who created the laws, culture, policies and systems which continue to divide us. Yours sincerely Vidyaratha Kissoon

a rage, after he woke him from his sleep. One of the neighbours recalled hearing crashing sounds around 04:15 hours after which she heard about three explosions. After a photo of Ramgobin wound surfaced which showed the bullet wound at the back of his foot, concerns were raised as to how the incident went down, since most persons are of the assumption that if someone is attacking, it is highly unlikely that they will be shot at any area at the back of their body. But when Kaieteur News reached out to an investigator to explain how such a thing could happen, the source told Kaieteur News, that it is possible since there were more than one shots, it is likely that the man was in the process of retreating while he would have received the wound, the source claim it would have to be confirmed in the completion of the police investigation. When Kaieteur News visited the scene on Sunday, there weren’t any witnesses to verify. Kaieteur News accessed video footage of the victim in front of the house where he was shot just a day before the shooting incident. The man was seen behaving strangely. Police in their initial investigations have been unable to access CCTV footage of the shooting incident, since residents claim that they were not working.

Tuesday December 04, 2018

Internal Auditing In Central Government There are provisions in the various Budget Agencies in Central Government for the establishment and for the operations of internal auditing units (IAU). The Auditor General (AG) who is in effect the external auditor of the public sector had reveal in his 2015 Report that there were 47 internal auditors in 23 Agencies. Of those agencies, Guyana Revenue Authority and the Ministry of Finance comprised 17 and 15 internal auditors respectively. This total of 32 represented 68 percent. Reports have been written over the past two decades, of whom yours truly has been a contributor, for the need for IAUs to be established in major Agencies and for them to be staffed with qualified and experienced auditors. Unfortunate to say, no serious positive action has yet been taken by the relevant authorities. The 2017 AG’s Report to the Speaker of the National Assembly, as in previous Reports, has revealed many adverse findings on the accounts of Ministries, Departments and Regions also referred to as Agencies. Those findings have resulted in the AG issuing two unqualified opinions, six qualified opinions, and two disclaimer opinions, due to the significance of the findings, on the ten Financial Statements as per legal requirement. Taking into consideration the significant number of adverse findings, it is imperative that serious consideration, which is imminent, must be given towards having vibrant IAUs in the major Budget Agencies. Those findings have, among others, highlighted contract awards involving breaching the Procurement Act, shortfalls in Capital Ex-

penditure attributed to low execution rate of foreign funded projects, 323 vacancies in the ten Regions, payment vouchers not presented for audit, and frequent non compliances of the controls, governance and risk systems. Arising from the AG’s audit findings, it can be said that the internal audit function with unqualified and inadequate staff only operates in name and certainly does not provide no added value to the operations of those Agencies at the end of the 2017 financial year. What is being written is nothing new. The IAUs are yet to possess qualified and skilled staff to perform audit engagements which require compliance with the Global Institute of Internal Auditors’ (IIA) International Standards and its Code of Ethics, among others. Hence, their findings and recommendations are not taken seriously by the executive management staff in the Central Government work environment. Internal auditing in the Budget Agencies needs to aggressively be promoted and be implemented. This situation is long overdue and should be given the utmost priority. Serious consideration is required to be given to: 1) determining which Agencies needs IAUs 2) determining the optimum staffing levels in each Agency 3) hiring staff who possess at least the minimum academic and/or professional qualifications, and related work experience 4) having an intensified continuing professional development programs for the auditors following, among others, the IIA’s guidelines and pronouncements. On the latter, it should be

noted that internal auditors are required to be responsible for continuing their education in order to enhance and to maintain their proficiency. They need to be informed on both improvements and current developments in internal auditing standards, ethics, procedures, and techniques. Continuing professional education in internal auditing is acquired through membership of the Global IIA, attendance at conferences, seminars and in-house training programs, and last but by no means least, involvement in audit research projects. On in-house training, it must be related and focused on best practices that currently existing globally. Today’s internal auditors have to keep themselves upto-date on the professional practices and developments of this profession. Further, internal auditors are encouraged to demonstrate their proficiency by acquiring appropriate professional certification, such as the Certified Internal designation, and/or other designations offered by the Global IIA, on internal auditing. That being said, the practice of internal auditing in the Budget Agencies of Central Government is still in its infancy (what a disaster!) stage, and it has been in that state for over two decades. With the adverse findings being revealed in the AG’s Annual Audit Reports, developing and promoting internal auditing is the way forward. In order to meet the goal of attaining a high degree of transparency and accountability, it is imperative that a vibrant internal auditing activity complement that of the external auditor – the AG. Let’s get this activity aggressively moving forward in early 2019. (John Seeram)

Farmer charged for stealing $4M engine from wrecked vessel A farmer who allegedly stole a boat engine worth $4M and one air box worth $1M from a wreck that was stranded on a sand bank was yesterday charged and released on $100,000 bail. Andrew De Freitas, 60, of Covent Garden, Essequibo, appeared before Senior Magistrate Faith McGusty in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where a larceny from vessel charge was read to him. De Freitas denied the charge which stated that between September 14 and November 29 at Tiger Beach, North West District, he stole from a wreck that was stranded on the sand bank, one engine worth $4M and one air box worth $1M property of Simeon Tudor. Attorney-at-Law Everton

Charged: Andrew De Freitas Lammy in a successful bail application, told the court that his client fully cooperated

with the investigators. The lawyer added that his client has never been charge before and will return to court for the trial. Police Prosecutor Shellon Daniels had no objection to bail being granted to De Freitas but asked that conditions be attached. The Prosecutor added that when the defendant was arrested he handed over the stolen articles mention in the charge; hence he was arrested and taken into custody. The Magistrate granted De Freitas bail in the sum of $100,000. He was instructed to make his next court appearance on December 7 when he will appear before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Tuesday December 04, 2018

Kaieteur News

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Tuesday December 04, 2018

Tuesday December 04, 2018

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GPF female team defeat their GDF counterparts in consecutive fitness assessments The women of the Guyana Police Force have been constantly making the organisation proud in their dominance in many areas which is already public knowledge. As the Guyana Association of Women Police celebrates its Sixth Anniversary, last Friday, during the Guyana Defence Force fourth quarterly fitness assessment at Base Camp Stephenson, a female contingent from the Guyana Police Force, emerged first place from among six other female teams, having also won the previous quarterly competition. Friday morning before the commencement of the Obstacles Crossing, the police teams (Females A & and Male

Teams) were privileged to be given a “pep talk” by Police Commissioner Leslie James DSS, DSM, which without a doubt motivated his subordinates to achieve the remarkable feat and at a time when a large contingent of female police officers from the Trinidad &Tobago Police Service, led by Assistant Commissioner Patsy Joseph, is here to celebrate the Police Women Association 6th Anniversary. The teams participated in nine disciplines over a twoday period (Thursday 29th & Friday 30th) and the Female ‘A’ Team under the command of Sergeant 23949 Alita Moore amassed 609 points and dominated in the following areas:

Members of the successful Police team and other ranks and officials including the army take a photo after the presentation. Obstacles crossing - 4:58 seconds with 98 points. Rope climbing - 11:15 seconds with 100 points. Navigation & casevac with 100 points.

Tuesday December 04, 2018 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Connect with the person sitting next to you on the bus, Aries, or the one behind you in line at the store. He or she may have a piece of wisdom to share that will change your life forever. TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Your self-esteem may be challenged by a fast-paced talker or unpleasant situation. Don't accept things as they appear at first glance.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Today is one of those days in which prosperity is much closer than you think, Libra. You will find what you seek, but it's up to you to take the first step to going after it. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Indecision may leave you helpless at a crossroads today. Others around you could be just as undecided regarding their direction.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Jump on board the fast train and see how far it takes you, Gemini. You will be surprised how far you can go with minimal effort.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Latch on to the expansiveness that comes when you connect with others in the social arena, Sagittarius. Communication is a key part of the day.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Flexibility is important today, Cancer. Take the relaxed, laid-back approach. Trying to ram your ideas through isn't the best tactic. Having tunnel vision will restrict you in many ways.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Connect with the stable, grounding energy of the day, Capricorn, but beware that tension may come in the form of fast talk and misguided information. People might be fickle and frantic.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Things coming at you from all sides are forcing you to make a move, Leo. Try not to feel pressured into something you don't want to do. A nervous restlessness is apt to take over your being and urge you to act.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) The expansive feeling you might be experiencing is apt to be squelched today as you get the feeling that you've lost touch with reality. Make sure you connect with real life, and do a bit of planning to balance your whimsical nature.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Lock into the practical, grounding force that is not only realistic but also flexible. Attend to details and organize yourself, Virgo. Be aware that you may need to alter your course in order to fit with the group energy.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Walk to the beat of your own drum, Pisces. If you try to latch on to the glib, fastpaced information of the day, you might lose your voice in the crowd.

Falling plates - with 90 points. Target shoot - with 47 points. Other members of the winning team are: 1) Corporal 21526 Stacy Wilson 2) Lance Corporal 20593 Dellie Williams 3) Constable 22505 Tiffany Carto 4) Constable 21357 Kiticia Pellew 5) Constable 21438 Eva Harry 6) Constable 24094 Luncianna Bernard 7) Constable 24640 Tenisha Isaacs 8) Constable 22506 Onika Eastman. During a familiarization visit to Commissioner James and his Performance Group Team by our visiting Trinidadian Counterparts, the Police Force used the opportunity to recognize and award Sergeant Moore and her teammates, for making the Force proud; the presentation of the trophies was done by the Senior Officers of the T&T Police Service who all wished the recipients well in their future endeavors and also expressed how privileged they felt to do the honours.

Titans Table... From page 28 ‘B’ Class competition. Meanwhile, President of the Titans TTC, Dwain Dick expressed gratitude to the National Sports Commission for their sponsorship and endorsement of the event and all their previous events in the past year. He noted; “It’s our last event for the year, we can say we had a very active year after hosting three tournaments and a summer camp.” He also extended thanks to the Guyana Table Tennis Association for yet again collaborating and working with the Titans TTC. Action will begin at 10:00hrs on both game days.

Australian batsman hits six sixes in over at U-19 C/Ships ESPNcricinfo - A young Australian batsman has hit six sixes in over during a recordbreaking double century at the Cricket Australia Under 19 Male National Championships in Adelaide. Ollie Davies, the New South Wales Metro captain who plays for ManlyWarringah CC in Sydney, smashed 207 off 115 balls in a total of 4 for 406. It was the first double hundred scored in the U-19 one-day male championships and the first in the championships overall since Jason Krejza in 2001-02. It was in the 40th over of

the innings that Davies completed his full set of sixes during a stay that included 17 in total. His second century needed just 39 balls. “I was looking to hit the good balls for one and then anything loose was looking to pounce on and take over the fence,” Davies said. “After the first two sixes I had in the back of my head that I wanted to give it a crack and it paid off at the end. I was just trying to target forward of square and cow corner, getting down on the back leg before it was even bowled and trying to slog sweep.”

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Not sending the wrong message by omitting seamers - Courtney Walsh Mustafizur Rahman bowls in the presence of Courtney Walsh. (AFP)

ESPNcricinfo - Not picking a frontline pace bowler in the Dhaka Test does not signal the end of fast bowling in Bangladesh, bowling coach Courtney Walsh has said. · “It is just one Test match that no fast bowler played,” Walsh said. “This was a Test to try to win the series. For me, it is not sending the wrong message. Tactically we felt it was the best for Bangladesh to win without a fast bowler. It might be the first time one hasn’t played, but the result matters. It is a tremendous feeling to have a series win. I think everything went according to the plans of the coach, captain and the rest of the guys had to win the series,” he said. · This was the first time in their 18-year Test history that Bangladesh went without a pace bowler in their line-up. Although Mustafizur Rahman played in the Chattogram Test, the spinners picked all 40 West Indies wickets - the first time spinners have taken all the wickets in a two-Test series. · Walsh said that this does not send any wrong messages to the pace

bowlers, and that they can look ahead to performing in the limited-overs leg coming up next week. · “There’s a lot of cricket coming up. The ODIs and T20Is will feature fast bowlers. Youngsters will see it and want to play. I think it is the programme that you put in place to encourage youngsters to play, and not just one Test match without a fast bowler.” · Bangladesh’s pace bowlers have failed to impress in the tours of New Zealand, South Africa and West Indies in the last two years, even when the conditions have been in their favour. Their 28 wickets have come at an average of 61.50, compared to the spinners who grabbed 37 wickets at 43.59, having bowled nearly the same number of balls in the three tours. · Walsh said that the major concern has been their inability to take advantage of favourable conditions. “Hopefully when we go to New Zealand [in February next year], the seamers might get a better opportunity. We might get different types of wickets and they should want to grab those opportu-

nities as well. We haven’t grabbed it in any overseas tour, and that to me is a bigger concern. · “No one has put their hand up and said, ‘okay, when I am in Bangladesh I might not play but when I am away, I want to be the first name on the list’. We have had a few injuries but I think we have had enough Tests away from home where bowlers should be ready and be hungry for it.” · Walsh said that among the pace bowlers in action in the last four home Tests, Khaled Ahmed impressed him the most with his attitude. · “I was very impressed with his bowling and attitude in that one Test,” Walsh said. “His attitude has been tremendous. Unfortunately he didn’t get a wicket but he bowled very well. All the guys encouraged him. “I think, just him being around the dressing room, getting the winning feeling, being able to go out and practice, he will improve. I am very happy with the way he is going and once he continues to be consistent, he will be in the thick of things,” said Walsh.

Titans Table Tennis Club to close off 2018 with ‘Play to Conquer’ Junior Tournament The Titans Table Tennis Club will close off its 2018 Calendar of activities with a ‘Play to Conquer’ Junior tournament on December 16 and 17 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH). The top junior athletes are all expected to participate with the exception of Jonathan Van Lange and Krystian Sahadeo who are on

Tuesday December 04, 2018

Kaieteur News

a one month tour of the USA. The likes of Thuraia Thomas, Jasmine Billingy, Kaysan Ninvalle, Jomal Nichols and Isaiah Layne are expected to ‘duke it out’ for top honours across the U-18, U-15, U-13, U-11 and U-9 Categories respectively. Additionally, recreational players of all ages are invited to compete in the (Continued on page 27)

Kaysan Ninvalle

Gayle wins AUD 300,000 in damages in defamation suit ESPNcricinfo - Chris Gayle has been awarded AUD300,000 in damages after he won a defamation case against Fairfax Media in October 2017. The West Indies batsman had been the subject of articles claiming he had exposed himself to a massage therapist in Sydney during the 2015 World Cup. He sued the publishing company and the court found in his favour, but Fairfax Media have again said they will appeal the judgment. The case relates to a January 2016 report in The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times. Leanne Russell, a massage therapist who came to assist the West Indies team at Drummoyne Oval, alleged that she entered the dressing room to look for a towel when Gayle dropped his and said “is this what you’re looking for.” Judge Lucy McCallum, in her verdict last October, said Fairfax had not justified its articles on either the basis of truth or of qualified privilege, which weighs up the public interest value of published information and whether or not the media outlet acted reasonably. On Monday, after finalising the value for damages, McCallum said the allegations “went to the heart of Mr Gayle’s professional life as

A file photo taken on October 25, 2017 shows West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle (L) leaving the New South Wales Supreme Court in Sydney. (Photo: AFP) a batsman”. The player had given evidence to that end during the trial saying it was “the most hurtful thing I’ve actually come across in my entire life”. While the judge found those statements “surprisingly compelling” and “a particular source of hurt for Mr Gayle were the fact that there were calls for him to be banned from international cricket”, she agreed with Fairfax’s submission that they were “not at the most serious end of the spectrum.” A spokesperson for the publishing company reiter-

ated its concerns about the fairness of the trial. “The damages award merely confirms the appalling burden of defamation laws in this country. Fairfax is immediately bringing an appeal.” During the trial, Fairfax had asked Justice McCallum to order a new trial, concerned that the closing statements of Gayle’s barrister, Bruce McClintock, SC had prejudiced the jury against it. However, she said on Monday that she did “not regard there to have been anything improprer in the submissions put by Mr McClintock”.

V and V Variety store backs Hunte Dominoes tournament

V and V Variety Store of 6 Unity Street, La Grange, West Bank Demerara has thrown their support behind David Hunte Dominoes tournament which is set for December 9 at 6 Middle Street, Pouderoyen. Proprietor of the business entity, Anand Bharat, yesterday presented a cheque to Senior Organising Secretary of the Georgetown Dominoes Association Mark Wiltshire at his entity’s location. Bharat, who plays cricket for popular softball team Speedboat, said he is pleased to be associated with the tournament and is looking forward to an exciting and successful one. He wished the teams well, while Wiltshire thanked him for the support. Entrance fee is $12,000 and the winning team will take home a trophy and $150,000, runner up a trophy and $75,000 and third place $35,000. The MVP will be given $5,000 and double-six time is 13:30hrs. Interested teams can contact Wiltshire on 665-5855 for registration. Meanwhile, Mix Up were crowned champions of the Faye

Mark Wiltshire (left) accepts the cheque from Anand Bharat.

Joseph and Wiltshire four-game tournament which ended on Sunday night at her Gaulding Place, South Ruimveldt residence. Mix Up, who drew the bye to the final, chalked up 44 games to beat Thunder with 40 and Phantom on 39 in the final.Ewie Gordon and Wiltshire made 11 and 10 games respectively for the winners, while Sky Taylor and Faye Joseph scored 11 and nine in that order for the runner up side. Rawl Peters marked 11 and Rawle Cameron made nine

for Phantom. Phantom won the semi final encounter against Thunder and All Season’s Racing Service. Phantom managed 43 games with Rawl Peters scoring 11 and Tyrone Ambrose nine. Thunder got 39; Ricardo Khan made 11 and Faye Joseph nine, while All Season’s Racing Service mustered 33. Dane Bynoe got 11 and Ronald Beharry 10. Mix Up pocketed $45,000 while Thunder received $25,000 and Phantom $15,000.

Tuesday December 04, 2018

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NBA roundup: Jordan lifts Mavs over Clippers DeAndre Jordan torched his former team for 16 points and a season-high 23 rebounds Sunday, and Dennis Smith Jr., who had a front tooth knocked out in the third quarter, came up with a gamesaving block to allow host Dallas Mavericks to earn their seventh consecutive home victory, 114-110 over the Los Angeles Clippers. Jordan was pivotal in the victory, scoring on a late tipin and then tipping and stealing a Lou Williams pass attempt with 19 seconds to go and Dallas trying to hold onto a 111-110 lead. After the Mavericks went ahead 112-110, the Clippers called timeout and went inside to Tobias Harris. However, Smith blocked the shot and then made two free throws at the other end to seal the victory. Smith amassed nine points, five assists, two steals and two blocks. Dallas got huge contributions from Harrison Barnes, who finished with a game-high 30 points and nine rebounds, and reserve J.J. Barea finished with a season-high 24 points, four assists and five rebounds. Montrezl Harrell led Los Angeles with 23

Dallas Mavericks center DeAndre Jordan (6) grabs a rebound in front of LA Clippers center Marcin Gortat (13) during the second half at the American Airlines Center. (Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports) points while Williams and Danilo Gallinari had 21 apiece. Lakers 120, Suns 96 Kyle Kuzma had 23 points and eight rebounds to lead Los Angeles past the visiting Suns. The Lakers ran their winning streak to three and climbed a season-high five

games above .500. LeBron James had 22 points, six rebounds and eight assists and Brandon Ingram had 15 points for the Lakers. Richaun Holmes scored a season-high 15 points off the bench, and Deandre Ayton finished with 10 points and 10

rebounds for the Suns, who have lost five in a row. 76ers 103, Grizzlies 95 Jimmy Butler hit two free throws with 1:31 remaining and a jumper 41 seconds later to stave off a Memphis rally, helping host Philadelphia hang on for a win.

Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid recorded doubledoubles for the 76ers, who completed a 3-0 homestand with their fourth straight win. Butler finished with 21 points and JJ Redick a team-high 24 for the 76ers. Mike Conley had a teamhigh 21 points and five assists for the Grizzlies, who have lost four of their last five games. Pelicans 119, Hornets 109 Anthony Davis had 36 points, 19 rebounds and eight assists, and visiting New Orleans handled Charlotte. Jrue Holiday added 19 points, and Nikola Mirotic scored 16 for the Pelicans. New Orleans won for just the second time in seven games while the Hornets lost for the fourth time in six games. Frank Kaminsky had 19 points to lead a strong effort from the Hornets’ bench, which had a combined 67 points. Spurs 131, Trail Blazers 118 DeMar DeRozan scored a season-high 36 points — including 15 straight in the third quarter — and LaMarcus Aldridge added 29 points on 11-of-15 shooting from the

floor as host San Antonio Spurs defeated Portland. The Spurs snapped a twogame losing streak while the Blazers lost for the fifth time in six games. Rudy Gay added 18 points for San Antonio, with Patty Mills scoring 15. Damian Lillard led all scorers with 37 points and added 10 assists for Portland, while CJ McCollum added 24 points. Heat 102, Jazz 100 Dwyane Wade made two free throws with 3.2 seconds left, and Miami defeated visiting Utah when Jazz star Donovan Mitchell saw his 3point attempt from the left elbow bounce in and out. On the winning play, Wade drove to his right in a tie game and drew a foul on Jazz 7-foot-1 center Rudy Gobert, who went for the block. Mitchell scored 18 points, but he finished the game shooting just 8 of 24 from the floor. He also missed six of his seven 3-point tries. Miami’s Hassan Whiteside had a monster game: 23 points, 20 rebounds and three blocks. It was his 11th career 20-20 game and his third this season. (Field Level Media)

NFL roundup: Chargers overtake Steelers Rookie Michael Badgley kicked a 29-yard field goal with no time left Sunday night to give the visiting Los Angeles Chargers a 33-30 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. At the game’s end, Badgley missed a 39-yard attempt and had a 34-yard try blocked, both with no time left, but the Steelers were offside both times. The Chargers (9-3) erased a 16-point halftime deficit to win for the eighth time in nine games. The Steelers (7-4-1) have lost two straight following a six-game win streak. Philip Rivers threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns for the Chargers. Ben Roethlisberger passed for 281 yards for Pittsburgh, with scoring passes to Antonio Brown (10 catches, 154 yards) and Jaylen Samuels, and James Conner ran for two touchdowns before leaving in the fourth quarter with a lower right leg injury. Cardinals 20, Packers 17 Green Bay’s home loss to Arizona cost coach Mike McCarthy his job. The Packers (4-7-1) fell at Lambeau Field despite being 14-point favorites over the Cardinals (3-9). Josh Rosen led the Cardinals to the go-ahead field goal, a 44-yarder by Zane Gonzalez, with 1:41 remaining.

San Diego Chargers kicker Michael Badgley (4) is congratulated after kicking the game-winning field goal to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 33-30 at Heinz Field. (Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports) On third-and-23 earlier in the drive, Rosen scrambled to his right and found timeless veteran Larry Fitzgerald, who made a diving, 32-yard reception. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers subsequently converted a fourth-and-5 with a 7-yard pass to Jimmy Graham, moved the chains with a completion to Robert Tonyan and gained 11 on a scramble. That got the Packers into

field-goal range, but Mason Crosby was wide right from 49 yards out as time expired. Rams 30, Lions 16 Todd Gurley rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns as Los Angeles clinched the NFC West title by pulling away from host Detroit. Jared Goff completed 17 of 33 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown for the Rams (111) while getting picked off

once. Robert Woods caught five passes for 67 yards and a score. Matthew Stafford completed 20 of 33 passes for 245 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Lions (4-8). Patriots 24, Vikings 10 Tom Brady threw for 311 yards and the tiebreaking touchdown as New England retained the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoff picture by sub-

duing Minnesota in Foxborough, Mass. Brady, who completed 24 of 32 passes, found Josh Gordon over the middle for a 24yard scoring strike with 35 seconds left in the third quarter that made it 17-10. James Develin added his second short scoring run on the next drive for the Patriots (9-3), going 2 yards with 10:54 remaining in the game to set the final margin.

Kirk Cousins completed 32 of 44 passes but for just 201 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for Minnesota (6-5-1). Texans 29, Browns 13 Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked five field goals, and host Houston converted all three Baker Mayfield interceptions into points in a victory over Cleveland. The Texans (9-3) extended their franchise-best winning streak to nine games by capitalizing on the Browns’ errorprone rookie quarterback. By the time Mayfield engineered a 75-yard touchdown drive to open the second half, the Browns (4-7-1) trailed 23-0. Deshaun Watson completed his opening 11 pass attempts as Houston scored to conclude its first two possessions. Watson passed for 224 yards but was sacked four times. Mayfield opened the second half 10 of 10 for 219 yards and finished 29 of 43 for 397 passing yards and a touchdown pass. In other scores: Giants 30, Bears 27 (OT) Seahawks 43, 49ers 16 Buccaneers 24, Panthers 17 Chiefs 40, Raiders 33 Ravens 26, Falcons 16 Titans 26, Jets 22 Dolphins 21, Bills 17 Broncos 24, Bengals 10 Jaguars 6, Colts 0 (Field Level Media)

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday December 04, 2018

Series defeat leaves Windies Sierra Leone’s disqualification from Nations Cup boosts Kenya, Ghana point away from ninth

West Indies … have slipped further in the ICC Test rankings. LONDON, CMC – West Indies’ historic series defeat last weekend has left them a single ratings point from joining Bangladesh in ninth spot, in the International Cricket Council Test team rankings. In the latest numbers announced Monday, West Indies were still eighth but lost six points to slip to 70 ratings points. Bangladesh are ninth on 69 after picking up eight points. India remain number one ahead of their much anticipated series with Australia starting Wednesday in Adelaide. The Caribbean side’s misfortune in the latest rankings stems from their 2-0 whitewash at the hands of the Tigers – their first-ever on Bangladeshi soil. They lost the first Test in Chittagong by 64 runs before suffering a humiliating innings and 184-run defeat in Dhaka inside three days last weekend. The latest rankings news

comes as a huge blow to the Windies, especially on the heels of decent results in the Test format earlier this year. West Indies drew 1-1 with Sri Lanka in a three-Test series in the Caribbean and trounced Bangladesh 2-0 in the subsequent two-match series. And while they suffered a setback last month with comprehensive defeats in both Tests on the tour of India, they were expected to overcome Bangladesh w h o h a d n e v e r b e fore beaten a full-strength Windies side. The Windies decline in Tests has been a steady one, having lost 11 of 19 matches, won six and drawn two, inside the last two years. Significantly, their fortunes in the Test arena mirrors those in the one-day and T20 formats. Windies lie ninth in ODIs, only above minnows Afghanistan who are already hovering dangerously, only five points behind in 10th.

Their lowly ranking saw them being forced to play an ICC qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe earlier this year alongside the likes of Scotland, United Arab Emirates and Papua New Guinea in order to book their spot at the 50-overs World Cup in England next year. They have managed just five wins in 28 ODIs over the last two years and are without a series win in four years. West Indies have also struggled in the shortest format ever since winning their second T20 World Cup two years ago in India, losing 13 of 21 matches to slump to seventh in the rankings. Latest ICC Test rankings 1 India 116 2 South Africa 108 3 England 106 4 New Zealand 102 5 Australia 102 6 Sri Lanka 97 7 Pakistan 95 8 West Indies 70 (-6) 9 Bangladesh 69 (+8) 10 Zimbabwe 13

Johnson’s return to Windies team... From page 33 series in 2015; a period which coincided with the controversial sacking of Guyanese Shiv Chanderpaul. The stats of the Jaguars’ Skipper are not a true reflection of his ability; he has only converted five of his 38 First Class scores of 50-plus into hundreds and his return to Windies team is in his own hands and he needs to let his bat do the taking. Guyanese Vishaul Singh

has also not been given a fair run and while he might be a bit uncomfortable to the short balls, the batsmen in Bangladesh with the exception of Shimron Hetymer and Shane Dowrich, are at sea to quality spin bowling. Jaguars’ Head Coach Esuan Crandon is the most successful Coach in Regional First-Class cricket and it is time for him to be included in the Barbadian dominated Windies Coaching staff.

Chairman of selectors Courtney Brown’s team is embarrassing West Indian fans and its time for him to go, while the Foreign Coaches are doing nothing for the team and there are enough great former players who understand the West Indian culture and are good enough be appointed Head Coach by CWI. It is said that bad things continue to happen when good people do nothing.

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - Sierra Leone have been disqualified from the preliminaries for the 2019 African Nations Cup finals, confirming places for Kenya and Ghana at the continental championship next June-July. Sierra Leone’s fate was decided by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Monday after the nation was suspended by FIFA over government interference in football in October. That meant that the Leone Stars were unable to fulfill their last three qualification matches, and have now officially been withdrawn from the preliminaries by CAF and their previous two results annulled. Kenya, who will make a first Nations Cup finals appearance since 2004, head the revised three-team qualification pool with seven points, followed by Ghana who are a single point behind. With the top two sides advancing to the expanded 24-team finals, Ethiopia are a distant third with a one point from four games and no more fixtures to play. FIFA’s decision to ban Si-

The snow-covered landscape is reflected in a logo in front of FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, January 10, 2017. (REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann) erra Leone came after it wrote to the African country’s sports minister expressing “grave concern” about the removal of SLFA president Isha Johansen and general secretary Christopher Kamara. The Anti-Corruption Commission in the country had followed through on a threat to raid the SLFA amid allegations of match-fixing involving the national team, and barred Johansen and Kamara from the offices. FIFA are also looking at matches as far back as a World Cup qualifier against South

Africa in 2008 as part of their own investigation into the match-fixing allegations. Both Johansen and Kamara deny any wrongdoing. The host nation for the Nations Cup next year will be decided by Dec. 31 after CAF stripped Cameroon of the tournament after concerns over the slow pace of preparations. Morocco and South Africa are the likely replacements for what will be the fourth successive Nations Cup to have a change of host.

IAAF to vote on Tuesday on whether to reinstate Russia MONACO (Reuters) Russia’s athletics federation will learn today whether its ban for widespread doping, in place for the last three years, will be lifted by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The IAAF’s Council will vote on Russia’s status after hearing a report and recommendation by its task force on the sporting power’s progress in meeting conditions laid down for reinstatement. A 1300GMT press conference has been scheduled in Monaco to announce the decision, with the feeling around the Principality seeming to be that the suspension may remain in place. The Russian federation (RUSAF) was banned by the IAAF in November 2015 after a World Anti-Doping Agency- (WADA) commissioned report revealed widespread doping in the country. Since then some individual Russian athletes, however, have been allowed to compete internationally as neutrals provided they met certain criteria that showed they had operated in a dopefree environment. The IAAF’s Russia task force head Rune Andersen

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) headquarters in Monaco, January 14, 2016. (REUTERS/Eric Gaillard) said in July that RUSAF had made significant but not complete progress in meeting the reinstatement requirements and the ban would remain in place until at least December. To be reinstated, the IAAF has said Russia must acknowledge findings of the WA D A - c o m m i s s i o n e d McLaren report that doping in the country was statesponsored and also provide access to the data from testing of samples at the Russia Anti-Doping Agency’s (RUSADA) Moscow laboratory from 2011-2015. Russia has accepted there was extensive doping in the country, but its authorities have continued to deny any of it was state sponsored. The International Olympic

Committee (IOC) and WADA have both reinstated Russia. WADA’s controversial reinstatement in September this year was on the condition Russia recognize the findings of its report and allow access to RUSADA’s stored urine samples. Failure to provide access to the full data from the Moscow lab by Dec. 31 could lead to another suspension, WADA warned. There are indications the IAAF council could continue its ban while it awaits WADA’s access to the relevant data. Also hovering in the background is RUSAF’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to have the ban lifted.

Tuesday December 04, 2018

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Kaieteur News

GAPLF Senior Nationals 2018 – Staggering 28 Records Set

Vijai Rahim and Runica White powers to Overall Championship Honours By Franklin Wilson The 2018 season of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) wrapped up in grand style on Sunday afternoon last when Runica White, a Buddys Gym member became the first woman to Squat over 400-pounds without the aid of equipment and a staggering 28 records broken on the day at Saints Stanislaus College Auditorium. White, competing in the Junior Classic and Open Classic 84+kg Classes not only inked her name in the books in that regard but also set five (5) records including four (4) in the Junior Classic division. Her day did not end there as she also copped the Best Overall Female Lifter award which carried with it a trophy and a $50,000 cheque, compliments of the Ministry of Social Cohesion, Department of Culture, Youth and Sport. In the battle of the strongmen, the man from the East, Hardcore Gym member, Vijai Rahim (74kg OpenEquipped) emerged as the Best Overall athlete, a total of 20 males taking to the platform while there were six females on show. Like White, Rahim was rewarded with a trophy and a $50,000 cheque from the Ministry of Social Cohesion, Department of Culture Youth and Sport. The small but appreciative band of fans on hand included former President of Guyana Donald Ramotar, former GAPLF President Peter Green, Director of Sport Christopher Jones and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Presidency Department of Social Cohesion, Culture Youth and Sport, Melissa Tucker-Grimes. The day started off with Space Gym’s Junica Pluck competing in the 63kg Open

Equipped Category lifting her way to four new records in the Squat (135.5kg), Bench Press (68.0kg), Deadlift (133.0kg) and Total (336.5kg). White powered to respective Squat (182.5kg), Bench

Press (75.0kg), Deadlift (196.0kg) and Total (453.5kg) records in the Junior Classic 84+ and Open Classic 84+kg Squat record of 453.5kg. Following is the list of the other record achievers at

Vijai Rahim receives his cheque from Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Presidency Department of Social Cohesion, Culture Youth and Sport, Melissa Tucker-Grimes.

Sunday’s event: Lisa Oudit (Buddys Gym), Open Classic 84kg Class, Deadlift (151.0kg) and Total (336.0kg). Natoya Robinson (Buddys Gym), Open Classic

84+kg Class, Bench (93.0kg) and Deadlift (200.0kg). Blossom Babb (Tower Gym), Open Classic 84kg Class, Bench Press (65.0kg). Ramzam Mohamed (HardCore Gym), Junior Equipped 120kg

Noel Cummings powering to a new Master 4 Classic 66kg Class Deadlift record of 170.0kg.

Class, Squat (285.0kg), Deadlift (245.0kg) and Total (672.5kg). Bjorn Williams (GAPLF), Open Classic 105kg Class, Bench (150.0kg) and Total (635.0kg). Frank Tucker (Kingsrow Barbel Club), Master 3 Equipped 105kg Class, Deadlift (205.0kg). Joseph Stoll (Buddys Gym), Master 2 Classic 105kg Class, Deadlift (200.0kg). Carlos Petterson (Home Gym), Open Equipped 93kg Class, Squat (320.0kg) and Total (810.0kg). Vijai Rahim (Hardcore Gym), Open Equipped 74kg Class, Bench (172.5kg) and Deadlift (297.5kg). Noel Cummings (Buddys Gym), Master 4 Classic 66kg Class, Squat (130.5kg) and Deadlift (170.0kg). Franklyn Brisport-Luke (GAPLF), Master 2 Classic 66kg Class, Squat (132.5kg). Hardcore Gym emerged as the Top Gym and received a trophy. The full list of results follows:

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GMRSC Endurance meet final round... The final round of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) 2018 Endurance Series will boost off this Sunday at the South Dakota Circuit, Timehri, from 13:00hrs with Team Wreckers and their drivers Anand Ramchand and Adrian Fernandes will be looking to close off the season on a high after already clinching the overall title. There will be 4 classes in which the drivers will be able to compete in, namely: 0 – 1500 cc; 1501 – 1600 cc; 1601 – 2000 cc; 2001 cc & over (unlimited). The overall championship is currently being led by the duo of Adrian Fernandes and Anand Ramchand who completed a total of 83 laps in round one of the championship which took place earlier this year on January 27th before winning round two on August 6th. Round two was shortened from three to two hours and Fernandes completed a total of 84 laps in the 1600CC

Tuesday December 04, 2018

Team Wreckers set to clinch title

class, driving the Gillette sponsored Toyota Levin, going one better than he did in January and two laps better than his nearest rival, Sean Bacchus on the day.In the 01500cc class, Roshan Ali and Shahabudin Roshandin are the defending champions after out racing the Nexus team of Haniff Mohamed and Raymond Seebarran who completed one lap less. The 1501-1600cc was won by Team Wreckers’ Fernandes and Ramchand who were the overall winners. In the 16012000cc class, Rameez Mohamed was the only driver to finish the race with 32 laps, also resetting the lap record with a time 1 minute 19.086 seconds.Meanwhile, the unlimited class was won by Romeo Singh who completed 57 laps. The event which is being sponsored by Special Auto, B.M. Soat, Tropical Shipping, Hand-in-Hand Insurance, R. Kissoon Contracting, Jumbo Jet and Ansa Mcal will be free to the public.

Team Wreckers’ Adrian Fernandes (center) and Anand Ramchand (right) pose with Harichand Ramchand after a victory at the South Dakota Circuit. (file photo/GT Ridez)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday December 04, 2018

PAGE 31

Education Department Region Four Johnson’s return and School honours Gold Medallist to Windies team is in his hands

C

ompany Road Primary came alive yesterday when its student, nine year old Akella Dover was given a surprised hero’s welcome by her teachers and the Regional Education Department of Region Four. The occasion which was a red carpet affair for Akella and her parents were as a result of her exceptional performance at the just concluded National Schools Athletic and Track and Field Championships held at the Lenora Track. Akella, running in the Under Ten category, convincingly won her four races, which were the 100, 200, 400 and 1000 meters thus capturing the Champion Girl title in that category. The young lady who was greeted with screams, shouts and applause from teachers and students were evidently taken aback by the event which included champagne and a number of gifts. Her father, Michael Dover said that his daughter’s discipline and determination is the primary reasons for her success. He pointed out that he and her mother Carol Adams supports the young athlete in many ways and remains committed to her talent which they said was discovered since she was in nursery school. “When Akella was in nursery school her teacher told us that this child can really run and that we should support her. We decided to do that and she has been training very day as she recognises that hard work will pay of,” he said. Her father disclosed that her regiment included going to school and after school attending lessons after which she would go to training thus returning home very late many nights. “Sometimes she would reach home from Georgetown after training

- Bat has to do the talking with big scores this season

REDO Harvey presenting a gift basket to Akella Dover in the presence of Nursery Officer, Ms Shemline Baston, parents of the Akella and the Head teacher. until 10.30 pm and next day she returned to do the same thing but she understands that if she will do well that she needs to train every single day and that is what we have been instilling in her so as parents we are very proud of what she and her coach have done because I can tell you that this is just the start as I see my baby going very far,” he boasted. Head teacher of the school, Ms. Arita StephenMcKenzie was almost emotional as she expressed congratulations and thanked the petite nine year old for what she said, letting people know that talent abounds at Company Road Primary. She thanked the parents for providing the environment and support so that the young lady can excel at the championships urging them to continue giving their support in every way possible. “We at Company Road Primary are exceptionally happy as we are very impressed and overwhelmed by the performance of Akella. We are confident that she will continue to excel and that is why we are proud to say thank you to her and her parents because they have once again highlighted

that this school possess some great talent and come next year I am confident that this young lady would increase the gold medal tally,” she confidently said. Meanwhile, Regional Education Officer (REDO), M s T i f f a n y Favourite–Harvey said that she is still very elated over the energized and electrifying performance of the young lady who left many in awe with her performances. She said that the region is very proud that young Dover represented very well and for this region the region feels indebted in making a meaningful contribution to her for her stellar performance. As such, she was presented with a significant financial contribution towards her educational pursuits, while her school presented her with a similar contribution for her to spend during the Christmas holidays. The REDO also announced that Dover will also receive a major book award which will see her having monies to purchase several books, while she was also presented with a trophy on behalf of the Region. “Performances like these tells a great story as it shows

that irrespective of who you are anyone can do great things, all you need to do is to believe in yourself and to work very hard towards achieving it, whether it’s athletics, cricket, football, academics you name it, you can do well once you are determine and decides that you will work diligently and sincerely towards your goals so I want to see more Akella Dovers coming out of this school. Next year when I return I must see more Akella Dovers being honoured because you have decided that you will work equally hard and be dedicated to whatever you choose to do as you all can do great things because in each of you there is greatness,” she assured the very attentive students. After the presentation of trophies, gift basket and monetary awards young Akella Dover along with her parents, REDO and teachers of the school took a toast in recognition of her performance. The REDO also made a disclosure that a large poster of the young lady’s achievement would be erected within the school compound to serve as motivation for other students.

Latif, Alexander guide Farm to victory Richard Latif struck a robust 92, while Michael Alexander grabbed four wickets to lead Farm to a 137-run victory over Bayrock when the East Bank Demerara Cricket Association Neville Sarjoo Memorial 50-over tournament continued recently at Laluni. In a match which was reduced to 20-over due to rain, Farm posted a challenging 201 all out in 19.2 overs after they

decided to bat. Latif struck two fours and 13 sixes in his innings, while Ricky Debydial contributed 25 with three fours and one six; D. Williams grabbed 3-9 and J. Craig 2-32. Bayrock were bowled out for 64 in 12.2 overs in reply. Martin Belle (12) and Williams (10) were the only batsmen that reached double figures as Alexander finished with 4-15 and Chien Gittens 2-10.

Richard Latif

Says Sean Devers At 31, Leon Johnson will know that time is running out on his hopes off adding to the nine Test matches he has played. The Guyanese lefthander from GCC, the oldest Cricket club in the West Indies, has led Guyana to every First Class title since Barbados won its last one in 2014 and with four consecutive titles to his name he is widely regarded as the best Captain in the Region. But the former West Indies U-19 Captain will also know that while he is the best candidate for the job as

Braithwaite as Captain but of reproducing the form he showed in the 2016 Regional season. Johnson lasted played Test cricket in November 2016, scored the most runs (807) from 10 matches with an average of 57.6 with two centuries and five fifties in the 2016 domestic season. Johnson made 165, his highest score last season and got a brilliant hundred on the last day of Guyana’s final practice match last week and if he can get hundreds in Guyana’s two matches (in St Lucia and Antigua) before the break for Christmas and

Eyes on prize! An outstanding season could put Leon Johnson back in Windies colours.

Windies Captain, he must first earn his place in the team with plenty of runs in the 2018/2019 Regional FirstClass which bowls off on Thursday. Kraigg Braithwaite has lost all four of the Test matches since he took over the Captaincy from fellow Bajan Jason Holder who lost 15 off the 27 Tests he has been leading West Indies since 2015. Braithwaith’s batting Average has dipped to 35.22 and he has not passed 13 in his last his four matches; against India and Bangladesh. Under the combination of Holder and Braithwaite, Windies have only won seven matches and two series (against Zimbabwe & Bangladesh) in 12 series and four years. As Johnson gets ready to play his 100th First Class match since making his debut in 2004 against the Leewards at Enmore on Thursday in St Lucia, he will not be only thinking of replacing

follow that up with a good performance in Guyana’s first game in 2019 in Barbados, he will enhance is chances of forcing his way back into Windies colours for series against England, especially with the mediocre performances of those in the team presently. Leon Johnson First Class Captaincy record: Debut 2013 v Windwards in St Vincent, 42 matches, 28 wins, 5 losses, 8 draws and 1 Tie. Johnson, a number four batsman for Guyana, scored 66 and 41 on his Test debut in 2014 against Bangladesh in the unaccustomed position of opener, a position he was again asked to bat in when he made one and 12 in his last Test against Pakistan. On the 2014-15 South Africa tour Johnson averaged 33.60 - only Marlon Samuels and Kraigg Brathwaite were better but he was surprisingly left out for the England home series and was not selected for the Australia or Sri Lanka (Continued on page 28)

t r o Sp GAPLF Senior Nationals 2018 – Staggering 28 Records Set

Vijai Rahim and Runica White powers to Overall Championship Honours

Power Ladies! From left, Runica White (2018 Overall winner), Natoya Robinson, Junica Pluck, Lisa Oudit, Grace Babb and Blossom Babb.

Meet the King and Queen of Powerlifting in Guyana, Vijai Rahim and Runica White.

Education Department Region Four and School honours Gold Medallist

Akella Dover being presented with a trophy in recognition of her impressive performance at the Schools Championships. Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.