Kaieteur News

K

Officers to Sunday Edition be stationed on FPSOs 24/7

AIETEUR NEWS

Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

December 08, 2019

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

Price $140

- As cable being laid to monitor oil meters - GRA Boss

Online readership yesterday 103,945

Transparency body unhappy Head with nature of Exxon's of- GYEITI, payments to Guyana Dr. Jadoopat An open Letter to President David Granger

e t a c o l e t r s o e t W g n h i t k r e o e N s o . t t v Go uelans z e n e V Conditions under which they live at Grove E.B.D.

100 mining I'm not a Lindo Creek blocks for smuggler massacre lottery in - 'Jinga' Harry family still Mahdia tells K/News in the dark

Dear President Granger, You were kind enough to release the various oil contracts that Guyana signed but were kept secret. We applaud your courage in doing so because we are aware of the resistance you faced within your government, in making these contracts public.

It is important to note that contract disclosure is not an unusual practice. In fact, there are thousands of Production Sharing Agreements (PSA) which are in the open for examination.

Your decision to make the oil contracts public is therefore in keeping with this international practice and represents an important first step in ensuring public scrutiny of this critical industry.

The Liza 1 and Liza 2 Field Development Plans have been submitted to your government and a bill to the tune of US$10B is forthcoming.

These plans have not been made public even though it is Guyana which will have to shoulder the projected US$10 Billion which will be reclaimed as development costs.

Mr. President, the public should be able to scrutinise the US$10 Billion field development costs in the same way as it was able to examine the Production Sharing Agreement.

It is only by dissecting these costs that the public will be satisfied that the nation is not being defrauded. It is understandable that the field development plans would contain proprietary and other sensitive information. We see no reason, however, why a redacted version of the field developments plans should not be made public, inclusive of the inventory of the projected US$10 Billion costs.

This is necessary to ensure that the country is not being shortchanged as has been the experience with other investors operating in the bauxite, forestry and gold mining sectors.

Mr. President, we are therefore calling on you to make public, as soon as possible, a sanitised version of the Liza 1 and Liza 2 Field Development Plans.

Kaieteur News

Bosai visits Rusal, workers' union demand explanation

PAGE 02

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 08, 2019

Sunday December 08, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 03

Bosai representatives visit Rusal…

Workers, union demand explanations Rusal/BCGI equipment parked in Canje, Berbice after GRA stepped in

Union leader, Lincoln Lewis

T

he workers and the union for the B a u x i t e Company of Guyana Inc. (BCGI) are asking for explanations after a visit by representatives of Chineseowned Bosai Minerals.

The visit happened on Friday at a number of BCGI mining locations in the Upper Berbice River area, Region Ten. It came at a time when the Russian-controlled company is facing pressure from all around after accusations of a number of breaches with its investments.

It is also currently locked in a standoff with the 300plus workers for increased salaries with the matter likely headed for arbitration.

There have been increasing rumours of BCGI, a company owned 90 percent by Rusal, the second largest bauxite company in the world, wanting to leave.

An attempt to sell off hundreds of millions of dollars worth in heavy duty trucks and other equipment have been blocked by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), after the pieces landed at a Canje, Berbice location weeks ago.

On Friday, workers disclosed that a number of Bosai vehicles were seen traversing the area.

“They were in the Aroaima area where workers

live, and in the mines area in Kurubuka. They management did not tell us anything and we are not sure what is going on,” a workers' representative told this newspaper.

Bosai is the Chinesecontrolled company running the bauxite operations in Linden, Region Ten. Workers said that they believe something is afoot.

“There is only one reason a competitor of a Russian company – the Chinese-would come to our operations. We have not heard Government say anything and Rusal has not said a thing to us.”

It was the same thing being said by Lincoln Lewis.

A Bosai vehicle in one of the Rusal/BCGI sites yesterday He is the General Secretary of the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU).

“I have received word that Bosai representatives

are in the area. In light of this, I am asking the company and Government to

tell us what is happening.

The workers at least deserve that respect. Is Rusal looking

for a buyer? Can they do that? Or should the facilities which belong to the people of Guyana be returned to them for them to decide?

There can't be other arrangements being contemplated by Rusal (continued on page 14)

PAGE 04

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 08, 2019

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 Hypocrisy is a national past-time Amidst the electoral sparring, there is this constant ingredient, now such a vital aspect, an entrenched feature, of Guyana. In the matter of responsibility for, and failure in the deaths of men hailed as political martyrs, there is hypocrisy, taken to incredible heights, of leading men dancing around truth. What was true long ago, and recently, is reborn again in the armour of continuing deceptions and careful tiptoeing around that which continues to be distanced from, to haunt, and to be disputed.

As much as those matter, the concentration, today, is not about who have blood on their hands, or who have used bombings and arsons and murders as rallying political causes celebre, but which then petered out in the convenient obscurity of yet more Guyanese criminal (political) mysteries.

Rather, today is about how we make the biggest fools of ourselves at the highest levels in this society, through ongoing hypocrisies.

When citizens of character are alive and doing well, we can scarcely say anything good about them. Yet, when citizens pass on from natural causes-especially, not so clean or commendable ones—there is rushing from across the political spectrum to outdo the other, through the most blatant of hypocrisies, be it a brother comrade, a police officer, a jurist, or a public servant.

Instead of keeping mouth shut solemnly, there is painting with the brightest, nicest sheen through the uninterrupted falsehoods that saturate this land.

The Romans left us a phrase that glitters: de mortuis, nil nisi bonum, which translates splendidly into the English equivalent that is: of the dead speak no ill. Our living leaders and practitioners of their own patented impiousness and deceits have made this into an art form with rhetorical flourishes that merely compound our local miseries.

It is the death of truth, when evidenced in hypocrisies of the highest order and at the highest levels, which drags along the rest of this society into the graveyard of moral and ethical desolation now so heavily inhabited, for man died the other day-a ranking man-and a show occurred.

This is what happens when local political leaders take to the podium, and whose followers slavishly imitate. During the lifetimes of foes, they question, then condemn, and last crucify. But they reserve the best for last -they cry.

They—leaders and followers—cry the loudest, mourn the longest, and grieve the deepest, through the tributes that pour perennially from lips mummified with the waxiness of the worst putridity imaginable. They do it over corruption, over the memories of men (from all walks) who helped in the plundering of this country, over who is responsible for the way we are.

There is not a single word that speaks to, even hints of, the human frailties of those, who had died by their orders, at their hands, through their orchestration, or the underhanded official existences lived. There is not one even a hair of a phrase that strays out of place.

At this, we have become so good, that we may now be unequalled. The internal resentments have been schooled by the fiercest of disciplined approaches: say only the positive, since none can dare challenge openly. It is better to let the competition tie itself into knots, in vain efforts at untangling the webs weaved, those deceptive webs now made perfect.

This is not of men like Rodney alone, or Crum-Ewing, or Sawh or Rose Hall or those at the hands of this domestic terrorist or that one. It is not about who were freelancing marauders or conscientious crime fighters or mercenary freedom fighters or simply regular convenient circumstantial criminals or, for at the pinnacle of the pyramid, there are the cerebral conspirators in their crooked corners.

It is of that and all of them, at the core, and then so much more than the aggregation of all of those. It is of the stories

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

If RUSAL claims they are not making a profit, why after over ten years are they still here?

Dear Editor, Monday, 9th December will mark a decade of the Russian-controlled Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI) not wanting to deal with the Guyana Bauxite & General Workers Union (GB&GWU) and we will not relent. On 20th March, after an almost six week strike, the management signed Terms of Resumption with the Union. It took the workers approximately nine (9) years, three (3) months, and twenty-eight (28) days

for management to recognise their Union, but management continues to engage in dilatory tactics not to pay them. They are not negotiating in good faith, so the struggle continues.

The Coalition Government is commended for putting a stop to what RUSAL/BCGI was doing. Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally dealt with the matter decisively, compared to Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir, under the Bharrat Jagdeo government, who joined forces with the foreign

that we craft and perfect, and then sell either to a disbelieving or gullible national constituency of houses burned down, those run out of town, those that run the business of this town, and those grounded into silence.

Thus, we lie, we deny, and we die daily in some form, many times hourly from what sprawls in the disreputable and dishonoring. Those at the heights, and their armies of sycophants, are comfortable speaking well of the dead, their sanctimonious tributes that serve the moment.

In the interests of decency, such blatant hypocrisies are not challenged by contemporaries, for it is simply not done by the decent, no matter how roiled.

On the other hand, in this country, this land of the living

ownership against the workers of Guyana, ignoring their pleas and legitimacy of their struggle.

This is Jagdeo who shamelessly wants to surface again even though he remains a polarising figure.

He has demonstrated the mindset, the capacity for vindictiveness, demonisation, marginalisation and destruction of the people of this country. Hiding behind a surrogate does not make Mr. Jagdeo more acceptable (Continued on page 6)

dead, there is neither interest nor intent to speak well of the living, nor what they can do, are doing, to make this a better place to live for the warring tribes, a cleaner place for the children to follow.

There is no mileage in such, neither advantage nor return or comfort for the political clans. Those who are determined to blot out of the past, to not learn from the mistakes are doomed to repeat them.

This is the dead end where Guyana finds itself, which promises to remain so indefinitely.

This publication is disturbed by this, and now asks: these scars on the nation’s conscience and honour should matter, but why don’t they?

Sunday December 08, 2019

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Kaieteur M@ilbox

TIGI is unfit to pronounce on lack of transparency and corruptibility in Guyana DEAR EDITOR, Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc. (TIGI) personifies everything that is so tragic, sickening and morally backward about this country.

I am addressing this evaluation here to the countless young people of Guyana who have to stay and live here and are looking for a meaning future in this land in which they have to carry on their existence. These young people deserve to be led by people who have at least some independence of mind and oper-

ate with encouraging courage.

In its response to two letters I wrote about it, TIGI published its reaction in KN on Saturday. But there are no signatures, just the name “TIGI Board” at the bottom of the letter. That is a glaring Freudian act designed to hide identities. TIGI should be transparent and publish its board members.

These nameless people think I should offer an apology to them because I published the wrong issue about

Lindo Creek families still waiting to hear CoI report DEAR EDITOR, During the latter part of President David Granger’s oneon-one interview with Stan Gouveia on Thursday, he made a statement in relation to the Commission of Inquiries (CoIs) of the deaths and massacres during the 2002-2008 period, when over 400 citizens were killed.

You implicitly stated that nearly all of the CoIs could not have been completed because of a lack of evidence and witnesses not coming forward to testify.

In the case of the Lindo Creek CoI, which was completed over a year ago, this was not the case.

We are confident that a successful CoI was completed and the report and recommendations were submitted to your office.

About four months ago, a meeting was hurriedly convened by the Attorney General to address the recommendations of the CoI. This was a complete sham and a waste of time and a full blown insult to all the relatives present at the meeting.

We were so embarrassed when no one knew of any or had seen a published report of the CoI but was asked to comment on same.

For the past three months, Mr. President, efforts were made to your office to have an audience with you but there was and still is a royal runaround to effect same.

Now that you have made a public statement, I think we can have a happy Christmas by you ensuring that a copy of the CoI report is made public to us.

Yours respectfully Families of the Lindo Creek Victims

its disagreement with Donald Rodney. I have been a social activist my entire life and a media operative for 31 years.

During those years, I have apologised literally countless times. I will not do so to TIGI. I do not see that organisation as an entity that is principled and open.

I regard it as an opportunistic organisation that is unfit to pronounce on lack of transparency and the presence of corruptibility in Guyana.

Here is my point by point exposure of the double standards of TIGI; 1. No rejection from TIGI so far that one of its directors said that he only reads one newspaper. Where does he get his knowledge of Guyana to do TIGI’s work?

2. TIGI repeats in every response (including its Friday missive) to me dating back to May 2019 that TIGI could not and cannot comment on what takes place at UG because conflict of interest will arise because its head, Dr. Troy Thomas works at UG. No adjective is more fitting than “asinine” to describe this attitude.

UG is a seminal institution. If there are public reports of lack of transparency, TIGI has a moral duty to investigate and the commonsensical thing for Thomas to do is to publicly state that he will not be part of the process because

of his status at UG. He never did that during the three years of Ivelaw Grifith’s tenure.

TIGI has not commented even using one line of what took place at UG. 3. Here is graphic stupidity on the part of the board of TIGI. In its letter on me, it says Thomas has recused himself and was not part of the composition. So why did he not recuse himself since 2016 when UG was being exposed by the two unions and Chris Ram wrote in the press about being stymied in attempting to do his audit work at UG? In 2016, Griffith did a curious thing. What did Griffith do that TIGI was silent on?

4. Every young person reading TIGI’s letter should be revolted at the following words of TIGI; “In the simple world of Freddie Kissoon, TIGI does investigations.

Transparency International of which we are an affiliate does not do investigations.

TIGI would enquire into a matter. That is different… Investigations are generally the purview of investigative journalists.”

What pathetic nonsense is this? This is a bizarre definition of the word and process of “investigation.”

Every credible organisation does investigation. It is a basic requirement of life. The Bar Association, the Trade Union Congress, SASOD, Private Sector Association, Guyana Council of Churches will investigate once a matter involving their constituencies are involved.

Is TIGI telling this nation that if businessmen’s goods are being seized on the wharves, the PSC will not investigate if there is a report in the newspaper, only when someone comes to make a claim?

We are told that “TIGI would inquire into a matter.”

So after enquiring, the process stops there? And why enquiring is not part of the process of investigating?

5. If Thomas cannot comment on reprehensible governance at UG involving lack of transparency because he works at UG, an attitude repeated by TIGI in the letter under question here, then can TIGI please solve the contra-

diction that he spent an hour with Chris Ram on public television critically commenting on bad governance at UG. 6. TIGI wrote; “We are glad that Freddie Kissoon, as he says, recognises the work we are doing.”

I have taken that back. I no longer feel that way. TIGI’s countless pronouncements on lack of transparency in Guyana should be questioned. Did it ever do any investigations before it arrived at all those conclusions?

Sincerely, Frederick Kissoon

PAGE 6

Sunday December 08, 2019

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Kaieteur M@ilbox

We need to get back to basics

What will be the fate of the Chateau Margot ‘monument’?

Dear Editor, It hurt me to the core when I read of the rape of a six year old boy in his school’s toilet, by pupils who are a few years older than him.

Imagine the pain that this child was forced to endure! Imagine the agony of his parents as they seek to come to grips with the violation of their child in the “safety” of his school!

Then there’s the ripple effect as other parents, fearing for their children’s safety, congregate outside the school, seeking assurance that their children are safe.

This case is just one more negative scenario that has been exposed. We have been hearing more and more of bullyism, drug use, sexual experimentation etc. in our schools.

Where did we go wrong? Can we blame the internet for all of society’s ills? We cannot merely sit and wring our hands and ask ‘What is the world coming to...?’ We must find solutions on different fronts! I believe that firstly, we must instill moral values in our children at home, so that they can act responsibly and humanely, standing tall and unshakeable in a world of shifting standards. We may need to arrange parenting seminars for parents, who themselves may need help! Secondly, because children spend more waking hours at school than at home, our teachers must be equipped to encourage and guide our children in the

way of truth and help to shape their behaviour in a positive way. Thirdly, we need National leaders who will stand resolutely against anything, anyone, or any system that seeks to tamper with or distort this God ordained (not man -made) foundation of our world - the family and family- oriented values! Also, we must be our brothers’(and sisters’) keepers. We have to look out for each other and lend a helping hand if or when the occasion demands it.Religious education, which benefited all of us who were privileged to experience this system (regardless of our religious persuasion) was taken out of the school system. Now we have become more “enlightened” and accommodating, as such, we and our children are reaping the rewards of rejecting absolutes right or wrong, true or false!

I propose that at least once weekly, there be a general assembly in every school, and for just about ten minutes or so, students be given a talk on moral issues, for, if we lose our children, we lose ourselves, we lose our nation, we lose our world!

There is hope! Let us get back to basics!

Our Nation will prosper, our children, the wave of the future, will flourish, as we see beyond oil and other forms of material prosperity and embrace tried and tested values!

Claudia Heywood

DEAR EDITOR, Like many who have lived a long time in the unique and peaceful village of Chateau Margot, on the East Coast of Demerara, I have developed a love for the historic chimney that the French built during colonial days.

I share the views made by Mrs. Persaud’s letter which read “A few weeks ago, residents walking past the Chimney site saw, to their dismay, neatly lettered sign boards attached to both gates of the enclosed area. One read

“NADIA GARDENS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT INC, Chateau Margot ‘’. The name of the administrator is given and his phone numbers.

And the other, on the locked gate leading directly to the Chimney proclaims “Private Property, Trespassers will be prosecuted. No animals allowed. Animals will be impounded as per law WARNING: THIS COMPOUND IS SPRAYED WITH POISONS. They are (Continued on page 7)

If RUSAL claims they are not making...

From page 4 or less feared. The people of Guyana, in particular the families in the communities of Region 10/Linden must remember. Today he talks about inclusionary democracy when he made every effort to undermine the trade union movement and exclude groups from meaningful participation in society, bringing a dark cloud of fear over the

land.

When the Union sought to include Mr. Jagdeo in a national call to protect the sovereignty of this nation and the workers and communities of Region Ten, he remained silent, ignoring the plight of the people. He is still being given the opportunity to redeem himself and let history record him on the right side of justice for the Guyanese worker.

And whereas collectively, the PPP can be held to account it was President Donald Ramotar who sought to distinguish himself a bit by trying to bring resolution to the impasse. Through his Minister of Labour Dr. Nanda Gopaul compulsory arbitration was instituted in 2012.

But this was stalled and after a while, it became evident there was a hidden hand in the political hierarchy that wanted the Russians to run wild.

Evidently, this was no ordinary industrial battle; it was a politically orchestrated one that the Union found itself in.

Workers are called on not to forget and not to rest. The struggle we endure might be long and tiresome, but we are encouraged because joy will certainly come to those who remain resilient in purpose.

Ours is a battle to be won not lost because it is just and right.

RUSAL has been playing the Opposition card to escalate an environment of tension. When called on by the

Union, as per the Collective Labour Agreement, to proceed to conciliation, and if possible, arbitration, management has taken the position that it doesn t want a third party to be involved in the matter. The management insisted the workers cannot be paid an increase because the company is not making money, then proceeded to give the impression the company is packing up to leave.

After months of grandstanding, it began stripping operations on Thursday.

If RUSAL claims it is not making a profit, and given it has no commitment to the people of Guyana, why after over ten years, it is still here.

Is there another purpose to RUSALs presence in Guyana? Meanwhile, workers claimed that they are hearing the rumour of BOSAI moving in. There is a video evidence of this company making a visit and examining the operation at the Aroaima location, which heightens suspicion the Russians might be planning some selling out to BOSAI. Given the backdrop of this struggle, the government is being called on to resolve the grievances before election by putting systems in place to activate voluntary arbitration consistent with the Grievance Procedure. Ten years, of which the government has had almost five, is too long. Its a shame.

Lincoln Lewis General Secretary GB&GWU

Sunday December 08, 2019

PAGE 7

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Kaieteur M@ilbox

The lives of the ordinary mean THE DISDAIN FOR CUSTOMERS nothing to politicians unless they CONTINUES AT REPUBLIC BANK DEAR EDITOR, quired to cover or report on, teller because the Bank’s to start caring by now.

The letters to in the news, as demanded by management continues to ofthere are things I want to say want your votes nowYoubut see, the Editor column offer a the ethics of the profession, fer two tellers while there is it would appear as if I am condemnDEAR EDITOR, People are inboxing and calling with alarming frequency asking why I am not saying much on what is happening with our politics in Guyana. Elections are right around the corner and people primary in the diaspora want information from this source. The thing is, I may not be saying much at the moment but my ears remain close to the ground. My focus hasn’t shifted but my heart is heavy. Twenty plus years, I have been involved and thought I would have seen it all but increasingly there is the realisation that I may have seen nothing at all.

Where in this world any civilised people will accept as norm the drink driving culture that is contributing to the road accidents resulting in fatalities almost on a daily basis and the responsible authorities do not realise that they should be acting with the urgency required to bolster public trust in this regard.

Such accidents bring great pain, shock and horror to families of victims. You would think that social media, our newspapers, radio and television would be screaming with scenes of a national clampdown the curse of drink driving. But no, and why?

Because we have never embraced the culture of valuing human life. There is the boasting of how many new roads are being built and it is certainly been on front burner of the news because a very crucial election is brewing. You would think politicians should begin

ing the government and giving the opposition ammunition to gain grounds because that is how we think even to this day. You know Mr. Jagdeo was on radio recently and uttered that even those who were supporters of the government four years ago cannot wait for election in March 2020 to kick out this government.

The Minister of Education recently issued an edict banning secondary schools’ Christmas parties. She should go a bit further and ban Christmas. She could be one of those Jagdeo was referring to when he said many cannot wait for elections to see the back of the Coalition. Who in their right mind will ban school Christmas party and do not believe that young people will not retaliate in banning the party that has deprived them of fun experiences that they will remember for the rest of their life?

I dislike Mr. Jagdeo but I believe a lot of things he said on radio. I know most of the ruling politicians in Guyana. Only two of them have ever uttered a word to me in the four plus years they have been in power. The majority of our local politicians do not speak to me or the ordinary people of Region 10.

We are our own worst enemy. Oh, and please do not expect a national clampdown down on drunk driving. The life of the ordinary means nothing to politicians unless they want your votes.

Norman K. Browne

channel to the citizenry to express their views on profound issues relevant to society, from politics to sports, arts, culture and a chance for individuals to express their personal grievance on situations where they felt they were or are treated unjustly by Governing authority or public and private institutions. The latter category (the aggrieved) often receive redress or solidarity after their stories are published in the letters column. With the amount of falsehood (lies, deception, exaggerating, etc) that emanates from politicians and authorities in general, which the regular journalists are re-

readers generally gravitate to the letters column. I am convinced that the letters column is the most read column in the papers - save except, for probably bankers.

Despite so many letters being written in the papers by disgruntled customers of Republic Bank, nothing has been done by the Bank’s management to ease the agony of its customers who are forced to spend hours standing in a line to get a transaction done.

I was at the Diamond branch on Friday 6th December from 1.10 pm. I counted 25 persons ahead of me and it took me two hours to get to a

counter place for five. During those two agonising hours, occasionally I would look back at the faces in the line. I saw no smiling faces, the countenances on the faces were reminiscent of scenes from a refugee camp or a funeral. It seems the letters column has failed to inspire the management or owners of the bank to employ more tellers to serve customers expeditiously.

I wonder if this is their mode of action in other countries or is this an extension of disdain meted out to Guyanese when they travel to the Bank’s Country of origin.

Rudolph Singh

What will be the fate of the...

From page 6 dangerous to animals. For information call the Administrator …”

Several resident also do share their concern about that notice on the front large iron gate.

We therefore respectfully ask those in authority to make known publicly what would

be the fate of that historic monument. Is it still owned by our Government, or is it in the hands of a private citizen? And if it is in the hands of private citizen, what would be the fate of that local, national and even international monument?

Yours respectfully Rooplall Dudhnath

PAGE 8

Kaieteur News

Map of discoveries made on Stabroek Bloc, offshore Guyana (Hess Corporation)

Sunday December 08, 2019

Guyana’s light, sweet oil will be priced against North Sea benchmark Over six billion barrels of oil equivalent have been discovered in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana. This oil will be priced against an oil price benchmark that is based on oil from the North Sea basin, a prolific hydrocarbon province located in Northwestern Europe.

This is so because the oil found on the Stabroek Block is characteristically similar to North Sea Crude.

This was stated during a workshop recently hosted by ExxonMobil and the Guyana Press Association (GPA), to train local media operatives on reporting on the Petroleum sector.

Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) is the lead operator.

It has a 45 percent working interest, while Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd has 30 percent interest and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited has 25 percent interest.

The price of a barrel of North Sea crude is calculated based on a competitive set of crudes extracted from fields in the North Sea. Typically, oil in the West is compared against two major benchmarks, North Sea Brent and West Texas Intermediate. These are needed by producers and traders because crude oil has differing

quality and availability.

West Texas Intermediate comes from onshore US oilfields.

Both of the benchmarks are based on light and sweet oil, meaning that they have low density and relatively low sulphur content.

While West Texas Intermediate is slightly lighter and sweeter than North Sea Brent, an advantage to the latter is that it is extracted offshore and is therefore easier to transport, while West Texas Intermediates onshore location makes transportation more costly. North Sea Brents location therefore makes it easier for its producers to meet rising demand.

North Sea Brent is the leading global price benchmark for Atlantic Basin oils, and its price is higher than West Texas Intermediate. It should be noted that oil prices are affected by many variables, such as political uncertainty. The difference between Brent and West Texas Intermediate could widen or shrink due with those variables.

Other benchmarks used by other jurisdictions include Dubai Crude, OPEC Reference Basket used by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and Nigerian Forcados.

Sunday December 08, 2019

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

Transparency body unhappy with nature of Exxon’s payments to Guyana -Head of GYEITI Dr. Jadoopat

By Gary Eleazar

T

he Guyana Chapter of the Extractive In dustries Transparency (GYEITI) is unaware of a special account that was prepared for the receipt of payments from Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (Ltd) and its joint venture partners for the rental charges for the Stabroek Block.

This was confirmed in an invited comment by Dr. Rudy Jadoopat, GYEITI’s Executive Director. Dr. Jadoopat said that the body is worried about the state of affairs and has in fact recommended to the authorities that the reporting structure for entities such as ExxonMobil Guyana has to be changed.

Dr. Jadoopat was asked to weigh in on the fact that a special account had been created by the administration for the payment of rental fees.

He said while the body is aware of payments generally made by the oil major to the Guyana government, the manner in which the information is received leaves much to be desired.

It was pointed out figures are not disaggregated.

As such, GYEITI is unable to say what payments are made in relation to what or where it went. In fact, Dr. Jadoopat was at the time of the interview unaware that Exxon’s rental fees were being paid to a special account.

He said, “This is information that has to be in the public, so that the public can be able to publicly discuss how to spend public resources.”

Under the PSA inked with CGX Energy Inc, an oil operator in Guyana in February 2013, that company

would pay to the regulating body—the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC)—an annual rental of US$100,000 for its contract area.

Ratio Energy Ltd which inked its PSA with Government in April 2015, also agreed to pay a rental fee of US$200,000 annually for its contract area.

That rental is being paid, according to the PSA, to the GGMC. The same obtains for Tullow and Eco Atlantic, a joint venture.

That Joint Venture inked a PSA on January 14, 2016, and agreed to pay US$40,000 annually for its contract area.

ExxonMobil Guyana— EEPGL and its partners Hess Corporation and CNOOC— was charged a higher rental of US$1M for its contract area which runs the length of Guyana’s coast with the Atlantic Ocean—bordered

by Venezuela to the West and Suriname to the East.

That PSA however, dictates that the payment be made directly into accounts controlled by the Government of Guyana, and that the “Contractor (ExxonMobil Guyana) shall verify such bank accounts and the Minister agrees to cooperate, assist and provide the Contractor with any information it requires to conduct such verification.”

The definitions in Article I of the PSA defines Government as the “government and its ministries and agencies.”

Each of the other PSAs identifies GGMC as the body to conduct verifications or provide account information.

Then Minister with responsibility for the Energy Sector, Raphael Trotman, in an

invited comment had said the reason for the change in arrangements had to do with the fact that it was a new regime in the way business was being conducted.

GGMC Commissioner, Newell Dennison, told Kaieteur News that rentals from all of the oil companies are indeed paid to the GGMC. He told Kaieteur News that GGMC in its expenditure of its resources does not differentiate between its sources of income but rather all revenue streams are accounted for and consolidated.

As such, he could not say what, if any, specific programmes were funded using the revenues earned from its offshore rental.

The payment by the ExxonMobil and other oil companies with concessions in Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is money paid to Guyana separate from royalty and profit oil to be earned from its offshore operations.

Companies are also required to pay to the Ministry an annual amount to be used for Corporate Social Projects (CSP) payments.

Government is yet to say what this has b e e n e a r marked for specifically.

ExxonMobil in its PSA had also committed to providing the Ministry of the Presidency (MotP) with US$300,000 each calendar year, for the Department of Energy (DoE).

Department of Energy Director, Dr. Mark Bynoe, had confirmed the existence of the money and payments made and that it was still to be utilized.Under Article 28 of the PSA which deals with Social Responsibility and Protection of the Environment, “The Contactor shall directly fund” the

Dem boys seh...

A male nurse play a woman When people believe too much in demself, it does often end up causing embarrassment. Now Volda, who is de Minister of Health, got to deal wid a male nurse who is more woman than man. And she got to deal wid anodda nurse who love to peep in odda women underwear.

A story got two sides and often dem boys does like to hear from de odda side but dis time dem got to go wid wha a lady seh.

Some nurse who dem boys suspect is a big woman had a li’l embarrassing situation. She probably forget to walk wid back up support when she lef home so when she got a visitor, she was

unprepared. She didn’t want to report to de male nurse who is more woman than man.

De woman tell de man dat she got a visitor and dat she didn’t want to come. He decide to visit de nurse then he check to see if she mess up she skirt. Dem boys know dat such a behavior is harassment and he should lose he wuk fuh dat. De nurse should even press legal action.

De story she, de male nurse who is more a woman send a nurse to get some protection fuh de odda nurse. But is dis nurse who aggravate de situation. She had to peep inside de odda woman underwear.

Dem boys seh sometimes

people does only got mouth to eat. Dem don’t know why dis matter ain’t reach de union or de Minister. It reach de CEO and he didn’t tek it fuh nutten which is a bad thing.

He claim dat if a woman peep anodda woman is nutten extraordinary.

Dem boys she, he got a wife and daughters and wha he don’t want happen to dem, he mustn’t encourage.

Dem boys waiting to see how far dis story will go because it not only sickening, it reduce a human being to an animal.

Talk half and watch how you joining de nursing profession.

amount of US$300,000 per calendar year with any funded but unspent portion of the amount being carried over to ensuing years.

Article 28.7 of the PSA stipulates that the Minister and the contractor shall meet annually to agree which projects shall be funded in a year.Asked to provide an update on the state of the account, the Energy Department Head said he would be unable to, since this was an account set up by the Ministry.

GYEITI Executive Director, Dr. Rudy Jadoopat

UG advertises for New Vice-Chancellor and Principal Mere weeks after the University of Guyana appointed a new Chancellor, the Administration is currently embarking on advertising for a replacement Vice-Chancellor and Principal following Prof.

Ivelaw Griffith’s disinterest in having his contract renewed.

According to a statement released on June 17, 2019 by the University’s Administration, “The University Council accepted his withdrawal and hereby notifies the public that as of June 14, 2019, Professor Griffith, who is at present on terminal leave, shall cease to be Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana.”

According to a release by

the university, a decision in accordance with the terms and conditions of his contract, Prof. Griffith was sent on terminal leave. Earlier, the Ministry of Education requested a forensic audit into the university’s spending.

This request came after numerous protests in the face of claims of ‘misappropriation’ of UG funds.

Professor Griffith was appointed the 10th Principal and Vice Chancellor of UG in June 2016.

Ahead of assuming the UG Vice Chancellor position, Professor Griffith served as Executive-in-Residence at The University at Albany, State University of New York,

and the Ninth President of Fort Valley State University in Georgia, where he led the right-sizing of the educational and economic enterprise, focusing on growing enrollment, enhancing the academic profile, controlling spending, launching Honours and Undergraduate Research programmes, and initiating a feasibility study to establish a School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation.The new Chancellor, Prof. Edward Greene, former UN Special Envoy and CARICOM Deputy Secretary General, Greene was appointed during this year’s Convocation on November 16, 2019.

PAGE 10

Kaieteur News

Over 550 seniors recognised Hundreds of senior citizens being treated

Over 550 senior citizens were yesterday recognised for their sterling contributions to Guyana.

The event which was a collaboration between the Guyana Womens Leadership Institute and the Ministry of Social Protection was hosted for the second successive year.

Chairman of the Guyana Womens leadership Institute, Dr. Mavis Benn, told DPI, “…Many of them have made valuable contributions to this society of ours. After all, we are working on their experience and their labour. So, we feel those who are left … this is one way in which we can give to society by recognising these seniors.”

Last years event catered for 400 persons.

However, due to the demand and the turn out this year, Dr. Benn said 2020s target will be 700 persons.The seniors were transported to the auditorium of the National Gymnasium where they were entertained with the beautiful sound of steel pan music, jive to the sounds of local calypsonian Michelle “Big Red” King and other performers and listened to stirring words of poetry.

The elders were also strutted their stuff in dancing and singing competitions and prizes were also awarded to the best-dressed male and female.

They were also presented with food hampers among other tokens of appreciation.

(DPI)

Sunday December 08, 2019

Officers to be stationed on FPSOS 24/7

By Kiana Wilburg The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) will have a permanent presence on the Liza Destiny, the countrys first Floating Production Storage and Operating (FPSO) vessel, for the purpose of ensuring that there are accurate measurements of oil that will be extracted and sold from the Stabroek Block.

This is according to GRAs Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia.

He made this disclosure during an appearance on Kaieteur Radios, Guyanas Oil and You. There, he was asked if Customs officers will be permanently stationed on the FPSO since the technology needed to facilitate remote readings would not be available anytime soon.

Statia said it is because of the technology not present at this time that the authority officially deemed the FPSO a sufferance wharf.

This, he said, gives the officers the power to police the vessel at any time.

The tax boss said, “It is envisaged that each lift will be witnessed by designated Customs officers who will act on behalf of the revenue authority with specific remits.

The Crude Lifting Agreement provides for dispute settle-

- as cable being laid for oil meters - GRA Boss

GRA Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia ment as regards the readings and actual volumes lifted.”

Statia further stated that the corroboration of information by a third party independent surveyor will provide yet another source of determination of accuracy of meter readings.

The GRA Commissioner General was also keen to note that the monitoring and calibration of the meters is the designated function of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) while the retention of the readings

based on a custody transfer ticket and Bill Laden will be that of the revenue authority.

Statia also disclosed that a fibre optic cable is being laid to support the technology that would be needed to support oil metering.

He said that the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) which is 80 percent owned by the USAs ATN International, is part of the process.

The tax Chief said, “Even when fibre optic capacity is developed by the Lifting Coordinator and the fiscal meter reading information can be sent to portals onshore, GRA will still have an interest in witnessing the lifting processes.

“In fact, we reserve the right to remain onboard in keeping with the Customs Act having designated the FPSO a sufferance wharf and warehouse for accounting and other purposes.”

He reminded that this will allow for permanent stationing of staff on the FPSO and for the contractor to provide for transportation to and from the FPSO on a continual basis.

Sunday December 08, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Sunday December 08, 2019

Kaieteur News

Venezuelans will not be allowed to live under illegal circumstances ...Govt. seeking to relocate migrants to North West Recently, scores of Venezuelan migrants were discovered living under inhumane conditions along the East Bank Demerara “River Dam”.

The Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix, and the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) had ventured out to assess the living conditions of the migrant community.

Food Hampers and cleaning supplies were distributed to the migrants and it was discovered that they had joined local squatters along the “River Dam”.

In recognising that squatting is an illegal act, Felix said in a radio interview that such illegal practice will not be supported by his government.

As a result of this discovery and the inhumane conditions under which the Venezuelans are living, the Minister said that his government has identified a place to relocate the migrants permanently.

Felix said that the place identified is Papaya located outside Matthew’s Ridge Region One North West District (NWD).

Papaya was a former National Service Training Centre.

The Minister said that some works will have to be done on the former training centre in order for it to become a “migrant centre” for the Venezuelans.

Felix continued, “While systems are being put in place, Guyana cannot encourage the Venezuelan migrants to feel comfortable under illegal circumstances.”

Minister Felix handing over a hamper to one of the Venezuelan Migrant

A view of Matthew’s Ridge

“Shacks” erected by the Venezuelan Migrants along the River Dam

Sunday December 08, 2019

PAGE 13

Kaieteur News

NICIL/SPU monitoring assets and properties to thwart scammers In his continued effort to closely monitor assets and properties of his agency, Chief Executive Officer acting of National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited/ Special Purpose Unit (NICIL/ SPU), Colvin Heath-London, recently paid a visit to Kwakwani.

During the visit, which was a reported success, Heath-London held several discussions with residents and staffers. His intent was to forge a closer relationship with a number of the residents through community-oriented projects and programmes.

He revealed to residents that his agency has taken the responsibility for the current rehabilitation work ongoing at the sports club. He also sought to reinforce his agency’s determination to continue to forge collaborative relationships with residents.

He disclosed that during his visit, he was able to better gauge the number of properties and buildings owned by NICIL/SPU, while at the same time review those that are be-

ing rented and or leased.

“This was a very important visit as it allowed us at NICIL/SPU to know what is happening, thus being more effective in monitoring our assets and properties. We have recognised that a number of scammers continue to devise ways of seeking to exploit unsuspecting persons.

“As such, we have been examining and visiting assets and properties that we have throughout Guyana. We have a significant number of properties and I have personally endeavoured to visit them all,” he said.

Heath-London in giving an assessment of his visit to Kwakwani said that the discussion held that there was very healthy and fruitful, noting that a number of ideas and suggestions were put forward by residents in an attempt to further develop and improve their community.

Heath-London said that NICIL/SPU is very committed to supporting communities, stressing that they intend to demonstrate its commitment to the communities through

supporting a number of initiatives.

Meanwhile, several residents expressed their gratitude for the visit noting that it augurs well for the continued development of Kwakwani. It was noted that with very limited opportunities available especially for youths within the community they are seeking NICIL/SPU’s continued support to offset the enhancement and repairs of a number of important properties, thus being able to create a platform and or opportunities for residents.

Region Ten Vice Chairman, Elroy Adolph, who hails from Kwakwani said that he is very impressed and pleased with the visit of Heath-London.

He said that it certainly will help in NICIL/SPU developing a closer and stronger relationship with residents. He urged the CEO to continue in this trend declaring that Kwakwani needs all the support and help that it can get so as to further enhance the community and ultimately its residents. Adolph commended the forthcoming support from

Regional contractors sought for Sea and River Defence Works The Ministry of Public Infrastructure has invited contractors from across the region to submit bids for the reconstruction and upgrade of the Sea and River Defences at Sisters Village and nearby Lonsdale, East Bank Berbice.

The project is being financed through a US$25M loan from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

According to the Ministry, the project is being implemented through its Works Services Group (WSG) which has already contracted Consultants to assist with the timely delivery of the project.

Outlined in the scope of

works for the project is the realignment of river defences, excavating clay from very soft to liquid, constructing river defences, enlargement and heightening of existing river embankment and upgrading accesses to site.

The Government of Guyana intends to apply a portion of the proceeds of this financing to eligible payments under this contract.

Payments by the CDB will only be made at the request of the government and upon approval, will be subjected to the terms and conditions of the Financing Agreement.

The Financing Agreement prohibits withdrawal from the Financing Account for the purpose of any payment to persons or entities, or for any import of goods, if such payment or import.

To the knowledge of the CDB, is prohibited by a decision of the United Nations Security Council taken under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations.

No party other than the GoG shall derive any rights from the Financing Agreement or have any claim to the proceeds of the Financing.

Eligible bidders must be citizens of countries that are members of the CDB.

NICIL/SPU. “More and more, we are seeing that Mr. Colvin HeathLondon is a man who gets things done and more importantly he finds solution, thus he is an action man as we are

tired of talkers as action is what residents look forward to and therefore as the Regional Vice Chairman and more so a Kwakwani resident, I would like to express my since thanks and gratitude to him and his

team,” Adolph said.

The Regional VC declared too that he is pleased that NICIL/SPU has been visiting communities to better examine and assess its properties and assets.

PAGE 14

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 08, 2019

Health and safety inspectors trained for offshore oil operations The Ministry of Social Protection ‘s Labour Department has taken steps to ensure that its Health and Safety (HSE) officers are equipped with the necessary tools to carry out work on the offshore oil operations.

This week, Trinidad-based company HHSL Safety Systems Limited, had the opportunity of conducting training for HSE Inspectors from the Guyana Social Protection Ministry, the equivalent of our OSH Authority.

The aim of the T-BOSIET is to introduce delegates to the specific safety issues and regimes relevant to offshore installations, and to equip them with the basic emergency response knowledge and skills for travelling to and

from offshore installations by helicopter in a tropical environment.

And the Compressed Air Emergency Breathing System (CA-EBS) and appropriate practical emergency response actions to take should the requirement for emergency deployment arise.

The objectives of the TBOSIET training is to help the OSH staff is identify the generic hazards which are specific to offshore oil and gas installations, potential risks associated with those hazards, and how controls are put in place to eliminate or reduce risks; identify key offshore related safety regulations.

The training covers basic safety management concepts and demonstrates, in a (Continued on page 63 )

Neville Nichols and Roydon Croal, senior HSE Inspectors attached to the Ministry during the training.

$431M four-door sluice at D’Edward nears completion

Completed main structure of the 4-door sluice at D’Edward, West Coast Berbice The four-door sluice which is expected to be a game-changer for drainage of agricultural and residential lands at D Edward, West Coast Berbice (WCB) is 80 percent complete.

The sluice will provide drainage to over 16,000 acres of low lying agricultural and residential lands between the Berbice and Abary Rivers.

This will provide farmers with a sense of security on the outcome of their crop cultivation and livestock rearing in an area historically prone to flooding during inclement weather.

The sluice is located a few hundred feet west of the Berbice River Bridge and is being constructed by Courtney Benn Construction Services Limited. E&A Consultants Incorporated is supervising the works.

Work on the sluice which will be managed by the Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary/ Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) commenced in late 2017.

This followed the release of the funds by the government through the Ministry of Agriculture to relieve the effects of inundation on the

WCB and open up additional lands in the area for agriculture.

Site foreman attached to the CBCSL, Rishie Humphrey, told DPI that the 80 percent that has been completed comprises the main structure. He described the remaining 20 percent as “fineries” such as installation of the four doors, sea defence revetments, inlet and outlet channels and erosion protection features.

Humphrey said that the CBCSL is working every day to ensure the sluice is completed and handed over to the MMA/ADA by year-end.

Workers, union demand explanations clared losses.

From page 3 which we know nothing of.”

Rusal came here in the mid-2000s and took over the bauxite operations in Aroaima. It later opened the Kurubuka mines, located along the Berbice River.

It was handed duty free concessions on fuel, equipment and vehicles and tax holidays.

For that, Guyana has received zero dividends for all the 10-plus years, BCGI de-

The company is also accused of abusing the duty free concessions on fuel and selling same to third parties.

Residents and persons in the area told of being sold electricity with rates as high as those of the state-owned Guyana Power and Light Inc., despite the fuel being dutyfree.

Over the years, Rusal/ BCGI has been clashing with workers, firing over 50 of them in 2009 after a strike for better

conditions.

Earlier this year, the operations shut down for a month after workers demanded more pay.

The workers blocked the Berbice River for weeks before Government stepped in a brokered an uneasy peace.

Recently wage talks broke down with a signal for arbitration.However, the union and workers said they have not received word on the way forward.

Sunday December 08, 2019

PAGE 15

Kaieteur News

Lindo Creek massacre families still in dark Families of the slain miners of Lindo Creek are again appealing to President David Granger to bring closure to the traumatic episode.

Eight miners were slaughtered back in 2008 at a camp at Lindo Creek, located up the Berbice River.

There were suspicions that army ranks were involved.

A Commission of Inquiry (CoI) led by retired Justice Donald Trotman submitted a report to President David Granger last year August. It recommended, among other things, that families be compensated.

Earlier this year, the families met with the Attorney General Chambers.

However, it appears more than a decade later, the closure that the families of the eight men were looking for will not happen soon.

The situation is angering the families with a scathing Letter to the Editor sent to Kaieteur News yesterday.

The statement pointed to last weeks radio interview between President David Granger and Stan Gouveia.

During that interview, the families said, President Granger made reference to the CoI of the deaths and massacres during the 2002-2008 during which over 400 citizens were killed.

“You intimated that nearly all of the CoIs could not have been completed because of a lack of evidence and witnesses not coming forward to testify. In the case of the Lindo Creek CoI which was completed over a year ago, this was not the case.

“We are confident that a successful CoI was completed and the report and rec-

President David Granger (right) receiving the report from retired Justice Donald Trotman in August last year. ommendations were submitted to your office,” the letter pointed out.

The families made it clear that they are not happy with the stance of government.

“About four months ago, a meeting was hurriedly convened by the Attorney General to address the recommendations of the CoI. This was a complete sham and a waste of time and a full blown insult to all the relatives present at the meeting. We were so embarrassed when no one knew of any or seen a published report of the CoI but was asked comment on same.”

The families said that there was a royal runaround when they tried to see President Granger.

“Now that you would have made a public statement, I think we can have a happy Christmas by you ensuring that a copy of the CoI report is made public to us,” the statement said.

It was only in late 2012, four years after they were killed, that the charred remains of the miners were laid

to rest the Le Repentir Cemetery.

The remains of Dax Arokium, his uncle Cedric Arokium, Compton Speirs, Horace Drakes, Clifton Wong, Lancelot Lee, Bonny Harry and Nigel Torres were packed into three coffins and laid to rest in three separate graves in the cemetery.This was after spending in excess of $40M (or $700,000 per month) to store the remains until the DNA tests that were being conducted in Jamaica were completed.

On June 21, 2008, dredge owner Leonard Arokium discovered the charred remains of eight of his employees in a burnt-out camp at Lindo Creek, Berbice River.

There was controversy over who actually killed the miners, with the owner of the camp and the security forces coming up with different theories.Arokium claimed that he had received a phone call from a woman who told him that “some soldiers” had shot and killed his men and burnt their bodies.

Families are appealing President David Granger to release the CoI report of the Lindo Creek massacre to them.

Le Repentir Cemetery is the final resting place for the remains of the Lindo Creek massacre victims.

The Joint Services categorically denied the claims made by the dredge owner that soldiers committed the brutal crime.

Police had blamed the attack on Rondell Fineman

Rawlins and his gang, whom they said they had encountered during a confrontation at Christmas Falls a few weeks prior to the gruesome discovery.

Rawlins and members of

his gang were subsequently hunted down and killed.

The matter died until the family petitioned the Coalition Government of Granger with the CoI under retired Justice Donald Trotman ordered.

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 08, 2019

“I’m not a smuggler” - ‘Jinga Harry’ tells K/News

Late last month, an officer of the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) was shot in a stakeout at Bee Hive, East Coast Demerara.

It was a joint operation involving the enforcement arm of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), CANU ranks and the police.

The authorities were acting on intelligence that a smuggling operation was supposed to take place.

After an exchange of gunshots, GRA seized a boat and engine. The boat was carrying a large quantity of smuggled beers, high-end liquor and chicken.

The items were believed smuggled from neighbouring Suriname. No one was arrested. The joint team believed that someone was shot though.

The authorities immediately launched an operation.

There were raids to the home of Mahaica River-side home of Harrylall Jinga Motilall.

Since then, 13 engines and a small vessel were seized. Also taken away were Ipads, cash and documents.

Motilall, who has been targeted by GRA for alleged smuggling over the years, is defiant.

“Im not a smuggler. I am

being targeted,” the Mahaica man insisted during a recent visit to Kaieteur News.

He said that there has been a systematic attack on his home over the years by GRAs enforcement officers. It has left him in ill-health.

Motilall said that shortly after the Bee Hive incident, GRA targeted his home yet again.

Nobody was at home, he said, when the authorities broke into his home and carted off cash, Ipads, documents and even colognes.

Motilall claimed that years ago, he was an importer of goods from Suriname, and owner of a fishing fleet and a trucking service.

He said that now almost all of his businesses have now fallen.

He says that today he has a fleet of boats, belonging to a private owner. The vessel does regular fishing.

He is currently trying to obtain a licence to import fuel.

Motilall clarified that while he has been tagged with Jinga, that name really belongs to his father.

Motilall claimed that the harassment from Customs started 30 years ago with a named official from the enforcement arm regularly demanding money from him.

He said that the harassment eventually forced the closure of his import business.

However, the harassment never stopped and from time to time, GRA would descend on his place and seize veh i c l e s .

A few years ago, the businessman said that he was jailed in his absence for discharging a loaded firearm. He served some time and was released. He denied that he was involved in any shooting.

He also stated that no firearm was found on him.

He said he went abroad, with the permission of the Chief Justice (ag) at the time, Yonette Cummings, to do his heart surgery.

On the day that he was at the doctor in 2016, he was unknowingly charged.

When he returned, he was taken into custody and jailed.

Motilall believed that he was targeted and somebody was ordering his victimisation.

Motilall claimed that he is currently unemployed and relies on finance from his wife and son in the US. Additionally, he gets finance from his wharf, aback of his Mahaica home for which he charges a fee.

He said he was in town when he was called by a

The Mahaica home of the Motilall family.

neighbour last month and informed that police and Customs Officers had surrounded his house.

The law officials entered his yard by breaking a fence and cutting the padlock.

He stated that they stayed at his premises the entire day, searching.

He went back home in the evening to find US$7000, colognes and paperwork missing.

Motilall said that he was at home the next day when GRA officials returned.

The businessman complained that a few months ago, he went to Skeldon and GRA officials seized US$15,000 from him. The money was not returned. The money was to conduct busi-

ness.

He said that the money was not returned even though he provided documents to show where the money came from.

On numerous occasions, cars and even minibuses were seized. The police even seized his firearm because he had too many rounds.

“I am not a smuggler and I have not done anything illegal. I have to take injections in my eyes. I cant see properly. How am I smuggling? I had nothing to do with that Bee Hive incident.”

According to the Motilall family, the GRA and other officials are entering and breaking their home without court o r d e r s .

The family has now retained

Harrylall Jinga Motilall a lawyer to retrieve the seized items.

This past week, two family members were arrested and held for 72 hours and released without charges.

Three days ago, the family claimed that GRA enforcement officials came and seized two boat engines that were purchased from Courts.

Although the family produced documents, the engines were taken away.

The family said that they have not ruled out a lawsuit against GRA.

Sunday December 08, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

Kaieteur News

PAGE 18

Sunday December 08, 2019

Adel's Rainforest Resort:

An outside view of Adel's Resort at Akawini Creek

Discover a hidden paradise within the Pomeroon

By Shikema Dey

G

uyana is a tropical haven, filled with hidden gems in the nooks and crannies of the lush forested land. So when the busy city life gets too much; the noise, the crowds, the same old places, the familiar things, I would advise you to take a trip.

Head to the Charity wharf and board the speedboat. Sit and let the warm rays of the sun envelope you while splashes Proprietress of Adel's, Ms. Zena Stoll

of the cool Pomeroon River hit your face. Bask in the picturesque scenes as you glide across the water; how the greenery blends perfectly with the black tint of the river and the inviting smiles of the villagers who always raise their hands in a friendly wave. After 45 minutes, you'll arrive.

We l c o m e t o A d e l ' s Rainforest Resort Peace and tranquility are just two words that come to mind when describing Adel's. Located at Akawini Creek, in the Pomeroon

River, Adel's rests perfectly on a 58.2-acre stretch of land surrounded by nothing but untouched forest in the heart of the Amerindian Reservation district.

Adel's is 15 minutes from the Atlantic Ocean and just a mere eight-hour boat ride f r o m Ve n e z u e l a . T h e landscape ranges for miles changing from lush rainforest and open savannah to fertile agricultural lands.

The ambience at the resort is unmatched; in the mornings, wake up to the

sweet sounds of birds chirping at your window, while the parrots chatter and baboons howl in the high The foyer area at Adel's

trees.

When night falls, listen to the croak of the frogs and occasionally the hum of a

boat engine as villagers pass by. The cuisine is nothing short of a traditional (continued on page 64)

Two young boys passing the resort in their speedboat

Sunday December 08, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 08, 2019

Kaieteur News

Divya Yabindranauth

Sunday December 08, 2019

Meet the dazzling Miss Divya Yabindranauth. Divya is an aspiring model and humanitarian. One of her favourite quotes is, “Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.�

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

PAGE 22

Sunday December 08, 2019

A new lease on life for two renal failure patients through ‘paired exchange' A

By Sharmain Grainger

death sentence can come in several forms.

Often it presents in the form of a medical diagnosis with little or no chance of the diagnosed beating the odds.

But the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation [GPHC] has been on a deliberate mission to change this dilemma for persons diagnosed with renal failure.

Renal failure is a condition where a person's kidneys fail to a point that they are unable to filter waste products from the blood.

There has been an increase in the number of renal failure cases in this part of the world, a condition that has been linked to diabetes and hypertension.

In fact, according to Kidney Transplant and Vascular Surgeon at the GPHC, Dr. Kishore Persaud, “while the true incidence of renal failure in Guyana is not known, the general incidence of renal failure in some countries is about 15 percent of the population.”

He noted that due to the evident high prevalence of diabetes and hypertension here, the cases of renal failure have been on the increase. “We have over 150 patients actually accessing dialysis right now,” said Dr. Persaud.

The form of dialysis offered at the GPHC sees

patients being hooked up to a machine which filters and purifies their blood, since their kidneys are unable to do this. This service is offered at no cost to patients. However, they are only eligible for a period of free dialysis at the GPHC, after which they must access this service at other facilities that are privately operated.

The service at this point attracts a cost which can at times be more than some patients can afford.

“Dialysis is expensive, it can cost some of them [patients] about $30,000 – $45,000 on a weekly basis,” said Dr. Persaud, as he underscored that accessing dialysis could weigh heavily on a patient's pocket. What is also noticeable, Dr. Persaud said, is that only few patients live longer than five years after commencing dialysis.

LACK OF LEGISLATION Moreover, he noted that while renal failure can be treated to a point through dialysis, it is certainly not the best option if someone is to maintain a good quality of life and remain a productive citizen.

Transplant, according to Dr. Persaud, will always be the better option for renal failure patients. Of those currently accessing dialysis, Dr. Persaud said about 75 of them are in dire need of a kidney transplant. The sad

part about this state of affairs is that several of them do not have a donor to facilitate this process.

“Some of them do not have any family member who could donate to them, either because they are not compatible or a family member may not be willing to donate,” said Dr. Persaud.

But this could become a thing of the past if legislation is in place to enable cadaveric transplant.

A c c o r d i n g t o D r.

Persaud, the Public Health Ministry is currently in talks with the Pan American

cadaveric transplants to become a reality. This means that instead of the kidney coming from a living donor for transplant, it could come from a deceased [cadaver] donor.

“The benefit of transplant is tremendous, because even with dialysis these patients will suffer on a daily basis, not only financially, but they will continue to live a poor quality of life. Some of them are always sick and they just go for dialysis, and they are completely dependent on their families,” said Dr.

Kidney Transplant and Vascular Surgeon, Dr. Kishore Persaud

The recipients Michael Totaram and Malika Dey flanked by their donors Clayton Allen [left] and Mark Nelson

Health Organisation on the way forward to put legislation in place to allow

Dr. Persaud and team

Persaud.

The pressure to care for these patients is also great on

the public hospital since, according to Dr. Persaud, those who are unable to access dialysis privately are subjected to constant readmission at the GPHC. “Some of them have to get blood transfusion, and the medication to keep them alive is expensive...but with transplant these patients don't need dialysis, they don't need blood transfusion and they require less medication; and they can work, help to provide for their family, pay their taxes, and help contribute to the e c o n o m y, ” a d d e d D r.

Persaud.

KIDNEY TRANSPLANT As such, he emphasised that while dialysis may help a patient to hang on to life, it certainly cannot compare to a kidney transplant.

In was in recognition of this state of affairs, that the GPHC in late 2014 decided to introduce a Kidney Transplant Programme which has developed into a full-fledged Transplant and

Vascular Surgery Department, headed by Dr. Persaud. In fact, Guyana is perhaps only one of two countries in the Caribbean that has a stable transplant department.

The department, which is endorsed by the Ministry of Public Health, offers both emergency and elective surgeries, free of cost to patients. The only cost filtered down to patients is that of cross-matching tests between donor and recipient, which is done in the United States.

However, often patients are able to access financial support from the Public Health Ministry. “All other tests are done at the Georgetown Hospital free of cost and the surgery is done free of cost too, and that is done effectively right here...that actually is a plus for our country,” said Dr. Persaud, as he underscored the benefits of transplant surgery for renal failure patients.

A product of the University of Guyana [UG], Dr. Persaud gained his training in Surgery through the GPHC, after which he completed his Transplant and Vascular Fellowship at the University of Calgary in Canada.

To d a t e , a b o u t 2 6 transplants have been conducted, and Dr. Persaud disclosed that of these there have only been two deaths.

“Our outcome has been comparable to the first world. We have had zero donor mortality since this programme started, and we keep track of all of our patients...they are able to become productive citizens.

Ninety-five percent of our transplant patients are back at work and are providing for their families, they hardly ever get admitted back to the (continued on page 45)

Sunday December 08, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 23

Beware of falsehoods and their accompanying narratives!

T

he British Guiana Colonization Scheme was never realized. There was never a plan to turn British Guiana into a colony of India. The claims made in this regard are inaccurate, and result from an absence of rigour in historical research.

The contention that the “scheme” still influences attitudes in Guyana is premised on a falsehood which is not supported by historical evidence.

The public should also disabuse itself of the concerns that the “scheme” has been downplayed from Guyana's history books. This latter suggestion is a conspiracy theory without a conspiracy.

The end of Indian indentured immigration in 1917 created anxieties within sections of the planter class and emerging merchant and professional classes of British Guiana. They were fearful that with continued repatriation of Indians to India, the colony could face a shortage of labour.

As such, consideration was given to encouraging a new scheme to replace the loss of labour from the end of indentured immigration and the continuing return of Indian immigrants to India.

It was out of this fear of the loss of an assured labour force for the plantations, that a proposal emerged for the establishment of a British Guiana Colonization Scheme to attract labourers to the colony.

There was never any plan to turn British Guiana into a sub-colony of India, which had at that time not even gained its Independence.

The main proposal envisaged immigration not just from India, but also from Africa, Portugal and the British West Indies. And, as pointed out by Juanita De Barros – in her book “Reproducing the British Caribbean: Sex, Gender and Population and Population Politics after Slavery” – it enjoyed support from the

colony's growing merchant and professional classes.

Among those who were said to have supported the need for such a scheme were the likes of E. A. Luckhoo, (Indian), mayor of New Amsterdam; P.N Browne (African), lawyer; J. V Evan Wong (Chinese), miner; Francis Dias (Portuguese), former mayor of Georgetown.

The emerging labour movement was represented in the discussions on the proposal by Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow (African), trade unionist.

The Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) and the Negro Progress Convention both pressed for immigration to include persons from Africa and the British West Indies.

The British Guiana Colonization Scheme was an economic immigration scheme.

The use of the word 'colonization' in the name, was a ruse used to disguise the scheme, so as to overcome the ban on Indian immigration.

When a delegation from British Guiana went to India to make a case for the scheme, the Indian government was under no delusion that the proposal before it, represented an attempt to recommence Indian immigration.

India did not act hastily.

It dispatched a team to British Guiana to investigate conditions and to advise it on the scheme's suitability. The deputation confronted two proposals when it arrived in British Guiana.

The first was known as the Nunan-Luckhoo proposal, and the other was from the Governor. The team was told, in no uncertain manner, that the NunanLuckhoo proposal was unacceptable and should be considered unofficial and in no way binding on the government of British Guiana.

However, the architects of the Nunan-Luckhoo

proposal were adamant that their proposal was official, and that it had been endorsed by the Combined Court, and had been presented to the Secretary of State to the Colonies, Lord Milner, who was the one who had suggested that it be represented to India. This evidence was not contradicted by two of the persons who had opposed the scheme in the Combined Court.

The team considered both proposals. It entertained submissions from interested parties.

A delegation from the British Guiana Farmers' Conference and Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow endorsed the view that the scheme, as proposed, was essentially a labour scheme and not a colonization scheme.

And even Luckhoo and the Indian community in

British Guiana were in unison that no such scheme should commence prior to 1930.

The British Guiana Colonization Scheme never got off the ground. The fears of a labour shortage never materialized. The sugar industry survived and “fed us all.”

Guyanese must be mindful of the dangers of narratives which emerge from falsehoods. Even

falsehoods which are the product of ignorance run the risk of stoking ethnic fears which can be massaged for selfish gains during the silly season.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 24

Sunday December 08, 2019

Foreign and local investment:

fairness for all

By Sir Ronald Sanders

T

here has always been tension b e t w e e n encouraging foreign investment and promoting local entrepreneurship. In many countries, local businesses are expected to pay a range of domestic taxes while governments exempt foreign investors from obligation for the same taxes in order to attract their money, knowledge and, in some cases their technological skills.

Where foreign investors do bring their own money, have greater knowledge and possess technological skills, granting them tax holidays for prescribed periods of time is utterly fair.

But granting such tax holidays on a perennial basis, as many investors have come to expect in small countries, is unfair and the practice should be reexamined.

The purpose of granting a tax holiday is three-fold: to provide an investor with a fair return on investment, to allow a business to establish, and to transfer technological skills to the local population.

H o w e v e r, u n l e s s t h e business model is flawed and its success is predicated on a subsidy from the government (which is what continuous tax waivers would be), the investment

should be reviewed.

An example of how tax holidays could be justified is coming into sharp focus in relation to the 'Blue Economy' – a short-hand term for developing the resources of the sea which form part of the territory or the exclusive economic zone of a country.

In Guyana, for instance, where large reserves of oil and gas have been discovered within the country's territorial waters, those resources would have remained in the sea-bed for centuries longer than they already have, if investors with the money, knowledge and technological skills had not sought to develop them.

And, Guyana would not today be looking forward to the immediate financial gains and long-term economic benefits that are expected to result from the investment.

The benefits of this investment in Guyana is worth the government entering fair, co-operative and predictable arrangements with the investors. All sides would be rewarded, particularly if Guyanese companies participate in the industry through the provision of goods and services, and Guyanese are trained to assume positions in all aspects of the business.

H o w e v e r, i n o t h e r

instances where investors, local and foreign, enter a market in competition with existing businesses, they should not expect, or be granted, any tax or other concessions that are not enjoyed by the current operators.

Investors, entering an industry where other companies are already established, bring no new knowledge or skills. If they choose to compete with new money, they should do so on terms no better than those applicable to established businesses.

Should they be granted additional concessions, existing business would rightly demand a level playing field.

They will demand the same concessions, resulting in government giving away much needed revenues. In the end, government's revenues suffer and so too does human and economic development on which government must spend.

The tourism industry, in all its aspects, has become an area where governments grant tax concessions that should be significantly reduced. After more than 50 years of existence, tourism is a mature industry in the region.

Governments should not still be granting decades of tax concessions to hotels – established or new - nor

should they be accepting the minimalist passenger head tax that cruise ship companies pay to many of them.

Cost-benefit analyses that have been conducted of the cruise industry, have revealed that far greater benefits are reaped by the cruise ship companies than accrue to the government and the country. This reality is especially glaring when consideration is given to the cost to governments of building, maintaining and expanding port facilities, and complying with e n v i r o n m e n t a l requirements.

Each of the governments in the Caribbean is trapped by the other in relation to tax and other concessions in the t o u r i s m i n d u s t r y.

Governments have been unable to fashion a common approach to the fees that they should charge cruise ships.

They have also not been able to agree a regime for tax concessions to the hotel and yachting businesses.

They hurt themselves still further by competing with each other to lure business by lowering their fees for cruise tourism, and by granting bigger tax concessions to hoteliers and yachting companies.

It should be noted that some hotels and yacht businesses pay their taxes.

They should be used as the

example for others.

It is fair enough that the cruise ship companies, the hotel owners and the yacht companies should earn profits. After all, they are putting their money into a business which employs people, buys goods and services, and trains employees.

Additionally, their investors are entitled to a return on their money.

However, the return should be fair and equitable on all sides.

To get there, governments in the region should first agree on minimum standards beyond which none of them will fall.

F u r t h e r, t h e y s h o u l d establish machinery for enforcing the minimum standards with penalties if they themselves break it. A gentleman's agreement will not do; such agreements are respected more in breach than in compliance.

Perhaps a law, justiciable under the Caribbean Court of Justice, is required under the terms of the CARICOM Treaty. One thing is for sure, if the business continues as is now usual, the Caribbean will be consigned to the role of hewers of wood and carriers of water; a seat at the feasting table will evade the region.

Wrapped up in all this is the refrain that to question the terms of foreign

Sir Ronald Sanders investment is somehow to be “hostile to foreign investment”. That refrain is short-sighted.

It is an excuse for those who would do nothing to remedy inequities or to balance relationships more fairly. Every investor, local or foreign, deserves fairness, cooperation and the right to benefit from their investment. So, too, does a country and its people.

That is why governments and investors should seek to maximise fairness and proportionality in the arrangements they make.

(The writer is Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States and the Organization of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and at Massey College in the University of To r o n t o . T h e v i e w s expressed are entirely his own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper) Responses and previous c o m m e n t a r i e s : www.sirronaldsanders.com

Sunday December 08, 2019

PAGE 25

Kaieteur News

---Hinds’ Sight by Dr. David Hinds---

It’s not about Race or the Lesser Evil: It is about the promise of Transformation In his November 24, 2019 column in the Kaieteur News, Freddie Kissoon wrote on the topic “Lesser of two evils.” Here is a quotation from that column: “Recently, two African Guyanese known for their adumbration of African culture and the need for a strong African presence in Guyana’s economy wrote that they support the present government over the PPP in the forthcoming election because it is the lesser of two evils. They are Dr. Kean Gibson and Dr. David Hinds” A quick perusal of my two columns on the matter shows that I never used that characterization to describe my electoral support for the Coalition.

I deliberately avoided it, because I know that is not what I am doing.

It was Mr. Timothy Jonas who, in a response to my initial column, said my stance was akin to supporting the lesser of two evils. I replied to Mr. Jonas by questioning his characterization. The headline of my reply was” The lesser of two evils? I stand by my choice.” The question mark in the headline clearly suggests that I question Mr. Jonas’ characterization.

Yet Freddie puts those words in my mouth—he said Dr. Gibson and I wrote that we are supporting the lesser of two evils. Had Freddie like Mr. Jonas said that he interprets my stance as support for the lesser of two evils, I would have no quarrel with him. He is free to interpret my position. But to falsely say what he wants me to say is unacceptable.

There is a reason Freddie wants me to say that I am supporting the lesser of two evils—he lets the cat out of the bag when he says Dr. Gibson and I are two African Guyanese “known for their adumbration of African culture and the need for a strong African presence in Guyana’s economy.”

He doesn’t say it, but it can be easily inferred that he is suggesting that our support for the Coalition is based

on race. This is a very popular view among Indian Guyanese commentators and politicians, and is picked up by sections of the wider Indian Guyanese community. It is the basis for a lot of the criticism that is heaped on the WPA for its membership of the Coalition. And it is used partly to scare African Guyanese critics of the PNC away from the Coalition.

The problem seems to be this—while scholars and activists of other ethnic groups can afford to ignore or downplay race and racism, Blacks cannot. The question of race is central to Black people’s experience. From the middle passage to the present, we have had to confront the reality and consequences of racism, a socio-economic and political construct which was created to justify our enslavement. So, no serious Black scholar or leader can avoid addressing that phenomenon.

Of course, there are some who have avoided it. But I have decided that I would confront race and racism as an active part of my scholarship and activism. I make no apologies for doing what I consider to be part of my responsibility to Black people.

Unfortunately, many Indian Guyanese have not taken the time to try to understand why Black scholars and leaders have a duty to centralize our racial experience. They don’t fully appreciate what it is for a people to be permanently involved in reclaiming their history, identity and culture—their humanity—and the role that those of us in whom they have invested must play in that process. Yes, there are some Black leaders who play around with and manipulate race for cheap political ends. But to lump all of us in that basket is the unkindest cut.

Despite my commitment to Black Uplift and liberation, my political choices have not been driven solely by race. I grew up in a home where the head of the household, my Aunty Cecelia, a regular village woman, had sided with Bro Eusi Kwayana when he

broke with Burnham in 1971.

When I asked her why she didn’t choose Burnham, she answered in typical Buxton black-pudding woman fashion, “Nah because he Black and powerful and can talk nice, mean dat he always right.

He can’t be wrong and strong.”

That powerful piece of philosophical advice has guided me to this day.

It guided my activism against the Black-led PNC regime. I was part of a cadre of proud Black people concerned about and committed to the liberation of Black people, but prepared to confront a Black government because we felt it had lost its way. Led by Kwayana’s example, we continued to do our Black Power work even as we struggled against a Black government.

We stood with Jagan against Burnham. Was that racially driven? Was it the lesser of two evils? Was it a betrayal of Walter Rodney’s Black Nationalism and Pan Africanism as articulated in his “Groundings with my Brothers,” and for which he was expelled from Jamaica?

No, it was a principled decision, aimed at what we saw as struggling to ensure freedom for all races.

To this day we are scorned by some Black people in high and low places who have never forgiven us for undermining the Burnhamite government. It is something we have to live with. I hope younger people who are searching for ways to overcome our racial divide can see our example as a potent way to beat back racism.

Multiracialism is not just about African and Indian Guyanese coming together, it is also about standing up to wrongs by the leaders and followers of your own race groups.

This brings me to my support for the Coalition at the 2020 elections. I supported the APNU in 2011 and the Coalition in 2015. I was part of the WPA leadership that together with Robert Corbin and a section of the PNC leadership

The Baccoo Speaks This is the season when crazy things happen. Who would believe that a young robber would dare to make an attack in broad daylight and in the presence of a crowd? This is what will happen during the coming days.

The attacker would manage to escape but not for long. Public spirited citizens would capture and beat him. **

The road accidents are not yet over. An inattentive driver would crash into another vehicle. There will be

injuries but no fatalities, largely because one driver would be travelling slowly and would attempt to take evasive action. ** Another fire would break out at a residence. Again, the cause would be carelessness.

The destruction would be horrendous. More people would be displaced at this time of the year when everything is about family.

conceived and birthed APNU. It was at one level a difficult decision, as we were entering into a partnership with partisan enemies. But at another level, it was a principled decision driven by the inhumanity of the PPP regime. The PPP, like the PNC before it, had closed the door on democratic transformation. We were not alone—many Indian Guyanese felt the same way as they showed at the 2011 and 2015 elections.

When the Coalition attained power in 2015, I applied the same standards to them as I did in relation to the previous governments. In fact, I held them to an even higher standard because unlike the PNC and the PPP regimes, this was a Coalition government—a plural government.

They made some of the same mistakes as the previous government and some new ones, but they have not

crossed the line of political brutality and barbarism. I have concluded that this has to do with the multiparty nature of the government.

I have no doubt in my mind that had this been a oneparty government, Guyana would be sliding right back to where we were in 2015. There has been a qualitative shift towards a more humanistic form of governance by this government, which I think is the basis for socio-economic and political transformation.

Not anywhere near perfect, but much better than before.

And so, I declare that my support for its return to power has to do with the Coalition’s promise of transformation. I am supporting a Coalition, however lopsided and imperfect, over a stubborn oneparty arrangement that is still bent on domination.

Even as recently as this past week, the PPP has said that it has no interest in power

Dr David Hinds sharing. My choice has nothing to do with race. In fact, I would not be true to Black uplift and liberation if I encourage Black People to vote for the Coalition because it is black dominated. I would be dishonouring the example of my Aunty Cecelia.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper) More of Dr. Hinds’ writings and commentaries can be found on his YouTube Channel Hinds’ Sight: Dr. David Hinds’ Guyana-Caribbean Politics and on his website www.guyanacaribbeanpolitics.news.

Send comments to dhinds6106@aol.com

PAGE 26

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 08, 2019

The abduction of Anita Persaud

By Michael Jordan

A

nita Persaud stepped out of her parents home at Good Faith, Mahaicony, at around 18.15 hrs on Sunday, August 19, 2001. The pretty 18-year-old was dressed in a pair of white pants and a green blouse.

At the time, only her father, Ramesh Persaud, and a friend were at home, but the men were reportedly fixing an outboard engine in the backyard. Mr. Persaud, a fisherman, would later say that he assumed that Anita was going to meet her mother at a wedding house, two properties away from his.

But when his wife came home later that night, she told her husband that Anita had asked to go to the cinema, located a corner away from her home. Thinking that Anita

was indeed at the cinema and knowing that she had her own keys to the house, the family retired to bed.

When the parents awoke the following morning, they observed that Anitas bedroom door was shut. They assumed that she was still sleeping, so no one bothered

to check on her. But when 09:00 hrs came and Anita failed to surface, her mother decided to check in the bedroom. She was surprised to find it empty.

The wedding had continued into the next day, and the parents decided to ask some of the guests whether their

daughter had passed by. But none of them had seen Anita.

However, the Persauds eldest son told his mother that one of his friends had reportedly seen his sister walking on the Mahaicony Public Road with a boy the night before. Mrs. Persaud eventually made a report at the Mahaicony Police Station.

The police enquired whether the teen had a boyfriend.

Mrs. Persaud explained that Anita was planning to get married in 2002. She believed that the police suspected that the teen might have run off with her fiancé. But that theory did not appear to be plausible, since the fiancé was living overseas.

Mrs. Persaud was returning home from the police station when she observed a familiar object on the road. It was a shoe. In fact, the shoe looked like one that Anita wore.

Mrs. Persaud picked up the shoe and took it home.

She was talking with her husband about Anitas possible whereabouts when she remembered the shoe. She then returned to the police station with it.

But yet, the police and everyone else still seemed to believe that the missing girl had run away with a lover.

Anitas mother then travelled to her sisters home at

Corentyne, Berbice, in the hope that Anita might have gone there. To her disappointment, the sister had no information about Anita.

On Tuesday, August 21, 2001, Mrs. Persaud sent her eldest son to question the friend who claimed to have seen Anita walking with a boy.

But shortly after, Mrs. Persauds son came running towards her. Breathless, the son pointed to the canal in front of the familys home.

“Body…floating…” he eventually gasped.

The family members immediately rushed to the canal.

Lying face down in the water with a rope around her neck, and clad only in her white pants, was Anita Persaud.

During an autopsy, a pathologist reportedly found traces of mud in the victims lungs.

This suggested that Anita was still alive when she was dumped in the canal.

Shortly after the post mortem, police detained four suspects. Among them were two brothers who were convicted twice for rape, only to be freed on appeal. But the suspects were all released after they were reportedly able to account for their whereabouts on the night that Anita was slain.

The police also detained Anitas parents and the friend who was reportedly repairing the boat engine with Mr. Persaud when his daughter left home.

While Mrs. Persaud was released the following day, her husband and his friend were kept in custody for three days before being released.

To the familys frustration, no one else has ever been ar-

rested.

But what do the parents believe happened on that fateful night?

Their theory is that a gang abducted Anita, took her out of the area, then brought her back and dumped her, still alive, in the canal near her home. But what is left unanswered is why would this gang have taken the risk of transporting their victim back to the scene from where she was abducted?

As for the young man who had claimed to have seen Anita walking with a boy on the night she was killed, he reportedly later told the family that he had made the story up as a joke.

At Mrs. Persauds request, Anita was buried near a tree in the familys backyard.

“She hadnt a chance to live a full life, because some selfish person or persons took her away from us,” Mr. Persaud told Kaieteur News, some years ago.

“The thought that these persons have not been brought to justice rips at our hearts each day. That is what we have been feeling and may have to live with for the rest of our lives. But I know that there is a God, and whoever killed our daughter will come to justice some day.”

If you have any information about this or any other unusual case, please contact Kaieteur News at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown office. Our numbers are 2258458, 22-58465, 22-58482 and 22-58491.

You need not disclose your identity. You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email address: kamarangnight@gmail.com

Sunday December 08, 2019

PAGE 27

Kaieteur News

==THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN==

Ingram, Bertolucci, Barbieri, philosophy and existentialism One literally cannot cope with the volume of news out there in the world. You are bound to miss out on many things. I read voraciously, but still didnt know that three persons that hold memories for me had died. They are Bernardo Bertolucci, Gato Barbieri and James Ingram.

James Ingram was not one of my favourite rhythm and blues singers. But I enjoyed his music. He had a voice that reminded me of the great Sam Cooke. But he had a longer reach than Cooke. I always remember Ingram because he sang a love song that graphically describes my marriage.

Once I hear the name James Ingram, I think of that song and my love for my wife.

Titled, “How Do You Keep the Music Playing,” it is a philosophical rendition on the purpose and power of enduring love. It is about ones feeling for the woman whom you love and the love she reciprocates.

Here are the lyrics of one of the greatest love songs ever composed that cut across borders and cultures: How do you keep the music playing?

How do you make it last?

How do you keep the song from fading

Too fast?

How do you lose yourself to someone And never lose your way?

How do you not run out of new things To say?

And since you know we’re always changing How can it be the same?

And tell me how year after year You’re sure your heart won’t fall apart Each time you hear her name?

I know the way I feel for you is now or never The more I love, the more that I’m afraid That in your eyes I may not see forever, forever If we can be the best of lovers Yet be the best of friends If we can try with every day to make it better as it grows With any luck than I suppose The music never ends.”

Then there are Bertolucci and Barbieri. I have seen a lot of Indian and English language movies but Bertolucci, the Italian, remains the best director ever to do films. The Americans will extol the talent of Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and other Americans, but they do not possess

the deep philosophical approaches and the philosophical themes Bertolucci invested into his movies.

For me, his masterpiece was the greatest existentialist film ever made, “Last Tango in Paris.” The film moves subtly between themes that could be deceiving. One is inclined to think it is a study of the Freudian sexual drives inherent in Homo sapiens. But “Last Tango in Paris” is essentially about the purpose of human existence and the inner pessimism that permeates humans from cradle to grave.

If ever a director showed a finished movie to a musician and asked him/her to compose the theme song, I do not think any example could surpass what the Argentine saxophonist did for “Last Tango in Paris.” I think “Circle of Life” by Elton John for the animated film “Lion King” comes close. John really excelled in that song. It remains my favourite Elton John tune and one of my cherished philosophical pop songs. But “Circle of Life” is not a comment on existentialist life. It is a song about hope, optimism, purpose and love.

The theme from “Last Tango in Paris” explores the

question if humans have any purpose and query their very reason for living. If you are the philosophical type then I suggest you watch “Last Tango in Paris”, listen to the theme song, and digest the lyrics of the James Ingram song, which is in fact a duet with Patti Austin.

Here are the lyrics from the love song of “Last Tango in Paris.”

“We don’t exist We are nothing but shadow and mist In the mirror we look as we pass No reflections revealed in the glass Don’t you know that the blood in your veins Is as lifeless as yesterday’s rain It’s a game where we come

to conceal The confusion we feel As long as we’re nameless Our bodies are blameless You cried when we kissed It was nothing but shadow and mist Two illusions who touch in a trance Making love not by choice, but by chance To a theme we tore from their past To a tango we swore was their last We are shadows of dance As long as we’re nameless Our bodies are blameless You cried when we kissed It was nothing but shadow and mist Two illusions who touch in a trance Making love not by choice,

Frederick Kissoon but by chance To a theme that we tore from their past To a tango we swore was their last We are shadows of dance.”

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)

PAGE 28

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 08, 2019

Guyana’s constitution is a living document ... it is not immutable

By Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education recently hosted a debating competition among secondary school students on the subject of the Guyana Constitution.

It was the first time that copies of the Constitution were distributed to secondary schools, as well as to Toshaos in our indigenous peoples’ communities. This is an ongoing exercise in constitutional education that was piloted by OPM’s Governance Department, with support from the Rights of the Child Commission, United

Nations organisations such as the UNDP and UNICEF, and The Carter Centre.

The young debaters were drawn from 15 secondary schools in each of our 10 administrative regions.

EXCHANGE OF IDEAS I was able to re-live the excitement of the early 1970s.

Then, I had led a powerful team from West Berbice into the Patrick Dargan Debating Competition, on whether nationalisation of the “commanding heights of our economy” was a suitable policy for our newly independent state. I can still remember our fierce encounter with the team headed by young and articulate Robert Corbin

at the Maha Sabha Secondary School in Georgetown.

It didn’t matter who won the debate. It was an exchange of ideas, an examination of the pros and cons of the path chosen for the development of our young nation. As young people, we felt strongly that we had a point of view that we wanted to share.

At that time, just a few years following our Independence in 1966, the dominant thinking had favoured radical nationalism, with nationalization of the bauxite and sugar industries high on the cards.

That was expected, since both of the entrenched political parties and their leaders,

Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham, had opted for a socialist orientation of our country. That was later written into the 1980 Republican Constitution.

That same charged atmosphere was very evident recently in the recording studio during the finals of the 2019 debate between the Diamond Secondary and McKenzie High Schools. The moot elicited responses as to whether humanitarian intervention undermines national sovereignty.

HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTION Our Constitution came into the discussion, since it provides that sovereignty belongs to the people, and that Guyana is a sovereign, indivisible state.

Debaters argued that no organisation or foreign state, under cover of “humanitarian intervention,” should use “aid” to undermine a sovereign government. There was a counter argument that humanitarian assistance, once given under mutual agreements, should be welcomed.

Both sides, the Proposition and the Opposition, agreed that the genocide in Rwanda (1994) which claimed the lives of over a million people, could have been avoided had there been timely humanitarian intervention. This premise has been accepted all over the world.

Under Guyana’s Constitution, our children and peoples are guaranteed the right to life, education and to work, among other inalienable rights. During the debate, the students posited that these

guarantees could be used as a guide for other civilized countries of the world. They also recognised that we must have a changing constitution which reflects new realities in the world, which would in turn strengthen the safeguards for human rights.

I did take the opportunity to point out at the debate final, that Guyana’s Constitution is a living document. It is not immutable, that it should indeed reflect changes in the society and in the wider world; it must be subjected to periodic critical reviews, and opened to the citizens for constructive recommendations for change.

NATIONWIDE CONSULTATION Constitutional reform cannot be an academic exercise or a bureaucratic escapade.

The process must start with consultation and consensus.

Recently, former Chairman of the Constitution Reform Commission and now leader of a new political party, Ralph Ramkarran, tried to pick a row with me that assumed that I had failed to effect constitutional reform. I should confirm here that as Prime Minister, I did table in the National Assembly, a Bill to set up a Consultative Constitutional Reform Commission.

After its first reading, the Bill was, by consent of the parliamentary parties, sent to the House’s bi-partisan committee that was established to deal with such matters.

The committee did not conclude its examination of the Bill. The facts will show that the APNU+AFC Government did take the initiative,

however, there is no evidence that the opposition wants to review or reform the Constitution.

With a Parliamentary structure that requires any major reform to secure the support of two-thirds of all elected members of the National Assembly, it stands to reason that major reforms would not take place until the government and the opposition fully buy in to the process and the recommendations. So, more meaningful efforts to amend Guyana’s Constitution will have to await the outcome of the March 2020 elections.

BROADER INCLUSION By taking arguments for Constitutional relevance and reform to the bright young minds of our children, we have begun to promote a new awareness among our citizens, and started meaningful discussion. What is very clear, even among our youngsters, is that they understand that we all should work towards strengthening the laws of the land, and stop blaming the Constitution for the political fissures and ethnic polarisation in our society.

As this awareness grows among our young, I am confident that the major players would be encouraged to amend the constitution, strengthen our democracy and fortify national sovereignty with the inclusion of citizens everywhere.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)

Sunday December 08, 2019

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

My column

All politicians do is criticize even actions that they condoned

I

t does not escape no tice that the only po litical dialogue is about criticism and condemnation. Not that this is anything new.

Some time back, I did write that civil behaviour is something absent from the current crop of politicians. In days gone by there was rhetoric, but in their social moments they enjoyed each other’s company.

Today it is about us and them. No matter the good one side does, the other would find faults. Recently there was an announcement of a pay hike for public servants. The recipients were happy, but the politicians came up with the idea that the pay hike was illegal.

Many other issues were illegal, but the silence that followed was deafening. It was illegal to secretly sell the shares the country had in Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company. But that did not stop the sale. The local workers actually petitioned to buy those shares, but they were ignored.

It was illegal to divert state funds to construct what almost became a private facility—the Marriott. Rather than address the illegality, the nation heard about the need for a five-star hotel, because Guyana did not have space.

At the same time, the present beneficiaries claimed that the construction was a waste of money, that it was denying local investors in the hotel industry an opportunity to capitalize on their investment.

All the talk and cross talk about the hotel is now history. The idea that the hotel would be a white elephant is now a distant memory, because the hotel is making money to clear its indebtedness, pay the staff, and entertain visitors to the country.

Last week, the Education Ministry announced a ban on school Christmas parties. The noise was overwhelming.

Even among reporters there was talk that the Ministry had gone too far. I supported the ban for a series of reasons.

Many of these parties degenerated into clashes.

People who were no longer students and who had taken to the streets would turn up.

There would be fights. There were also rapes, because alcohol was sneaked into the parties.

Some of the men, because they were no longer boys, would spike drinks and unwitting girls would be almost helpless after drinking the spiked drink.

There have been many such incidents, but some did not make public notice, either because of the embarrassment or because the schools wanted to protect their reputation.

Many of us have seen the end-of-year fights at the car parks. People who were no longer returning to school, moved to settle old scores with unmatched violence.

One critic said that the schools should increase their supervision of these parties.

Assuming that this is done, it would be a case of perhaps thirty of forty teachers trying to keep an eye on eight hundred children.

I remember when not so long ago there was a sex scandal in a school where all the teachers were present. The children simply found a lonely place that was not patrolled. The fall out was severe. The names of the children were all but kept out of the press, but the country knew who they were.

There was another case where some twins were involved in a scandal. Things reached the stage where the United States embassy revoked visas.

I don’t recall people apportioning blame on any school or Minister. It was seen as a case of children capitalizing on any loophole that existed and there were many.

In fact, there are so many that children no longer fall through the cracks. They fall into chasms, with the result that the criminals are so young. It is not that attempts were not made to supervise them.

Minister of Education Dr. Nicolette Henry, in the wake of a fight at a city school, was said to remark that fights do occur in schools. And she is right, except that there was always condign action.

When I was at school many decades ago there was a fight that my class mates who are all over the world would remember. My school was an all-boys affair back then. It was during a break and two ‘big’ boys got into fisticuffs. It was a bloody affair.

One boy ended up in hospital with a nervous breakdown. The other was suspended.

It was during the tenure of one of the critics against the ban of the Christmas parties that a schoolgirl killed a parent in the school compound. Don’t tell me that there was no supervision.

My grandson, as a student of another city school, was stabbed by a girl for no apparent reason. I went to the school and the head teacher in the presence of the girl’s mother said that she would suspend the girl. That girl later went on to kill her stepfather one afternoon in Plaisance.

Teachers already have their hands full. They too have families. They could do without trying to avoid fights and other untoward behaviour at Christmas parties. And if they happen to become too involved in separating fights they could attract

hostility from parents.

A few weeks ago there were reports of a parent going to a city school and beating a teacher. This was not the first time that such a thing has happened.

At another city school there was a boy who went to Tiger Bay and brought friends to fight a teacher who had disciplined him in school.

Back then, again when I was at school, there were house parties.

There were ten houses, and each had a party. Supervision was at a premium, but that didn’t stop boys from

smuggling alcohol into the school and having a drink.

I remember one boy getting drunk, perhaps from a swig. The teachers never found out who brought the alcohol.

Perhaps those desirous of having a Christmas party could consult their teachers, pool their resources, and have a small but tidy affair. If the Education Ministry feels that schools should not be the venue, then there are many other locations, not least among them the places where so many children go for private lessons.

Adam Harris (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)

PAGE 30

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 08, 2019

Iwokrama and the Green State Development Strategy (Excerpts from an address by HE David Granger) The Green State Development Strategy: Vision 2040 is the country’s roadmap towards transitioning towards a ‘green state’.

The ‘Strategy’ aligns economic development with safeguarding the environment. It is a model which aims at protecting the environment and preventing damage and degradation while promoting economic development.

The ‘Strategy’ aims at an inclusive, low-carbon path of sustainable development, inter alia.

It will enhance the nation’s hard-earned and welldeserved reputation for environmental stewardship.

The ‘Strategy’ recognizes that our country is about to become a petroleum-producing state. This will be the most transformative economic development in the country’s history one that will boost economic growth and provide increased resources for national development.

Petroleum is ephemeral…the environment

is eternal…extinction is forever. The environment is essential to earth’s existence and will remain so long after oil reserves have been exhausted. Guyana plans to utilize the revenue from petroleum production to advance its ‘green’ development agenda, inter alia.

Environmental conservation and protection are key elements of this agenda.

The ‘green state’ will preserve and extend the country’s Protected Areas System which includes Iwokrama and the Konashen Protected Area – the latter encompassing some 7,000 km2 – and which has been accredited to the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy.

IWOKRAMA COVENANT Guyana, committed a forested area of 371,000 hectares as a model for conservation and sustainable forest management. It was an ambitious and audacious initiative by a small state in response to a global threat.

The Iwokrama covenant was sealed on 9th November 1995 with the signing of the

Agreement between the Government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and the Commonwealth Secretariat for the establishment of the Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development.

The “Agreement” represented a partnership between Guyana, the Commonwealth and the global community aimed at: …undertaking research, training and the development of technologies which will promote the conservation and the sustainable and equitable use of tropical rain forests in a manner that will lead to lasting ecological, economic and social benefits to the people of Guyana and to the world in general.

Iwokrama was a bellwether of environmental programmes. It represented a model of how the Declaration’s objectives could be fulfilled through international cooperation.

That model required the mobilization of adequate assets to ensure that the objectives of the Agreement, bring-

ing Iwokrama into being, could be realized.

International crises – the financial crisis in Asia of 1997; the global financial crisis of 2007; the food crisis beginning in 2008; and the energy crisis of the early years of this decade – diverted donor preferences and priorities away from supporting major environmental initiatives such as Iwokrama.

The Centre, as a result, has been unable to access adequate assets to execute its mission fully.

The Centre is here to stay, however, and remains relevant to the national responses to local and global environmental threats: · it is part of the solution to the adverse effects of climate change – such as the extreme weather; rising sea levels; precipitous levels of biodiversity loss and diminishing freshwater supplies – to which the world is seeking solutions; · it is immense, impressive, irreplaceable; it provides priceless environmental and ecological services to the earth and remains vital to the protection of the world’s biodiversity, fresh air and freshwater supplies; · it is central to Guyana’s transition to becoming a ‘green’ state and is part of the Guiana heartland – the ‘green heart’ – the country’s rich natural capital and a cradle and conservatory of thousands of species of biodiversity, some of which are among the rarest in the world.

NEW COVENANT Iwokrama must change to survive; it can no longer subsist under the old covenant which played a pivotal role over the past 30 years.

The Centre is part of the national patrimony and Guyanese, first and foremost, must bear greatest responsibility for the Centre’s future development, without cutting the umbilical cord of international cooperation.

Dinosaurs became extinct because they could not adapt to change.

If organisms cannot change they cannot survive.

Change is imperative and indispensable for improvement.

Iwokrama will not survive unless it adapts to the challenges imposed by climate change.

Change is taking place at a rapid pace and is improving our knowledge of the environment. Institutions which do not prepare for the continuous changes in the environment will become irrelevant.

Iwokrama will not be al-

lowed to become a lifeless monument or museum or, worse, a timber grant or gold mine. Iwokrama will not be allowed to become an environmental ‘theme park’ or the ‘playground’ for celebrities.

A new covenant will be crafted to ensure Iwokrama’s survival and success, in perpetuity. The new covenant will be functional rather than ornamental.

Iwokrama, under the new covenant, will be about education rather than entertainment and research rather than recreation. The Centre must become a schoolhouse for students aiming to study the sciences – biology, botany and zoology – inter alia.

Iwokrama, with its rich biodiversity, is pivotal to positioning our economy onto a green growth pathway. It is our key to protecting our environmental patrimony.

The pursuit of sustainable development cannot be achieved unless there is an unobstructed obligation to the protection of our biodiversity.

Iwokrama, with yet undiscovered and unexploited resources, is essential to our economic existence.

Iwokrama can teach the world lessons on biodiversity. Sanctuaries for the conservation and preservation of our rich flora and fauna will be established.

I iterate my Government’s intention, with the support of international partners, to make Iwokrama into a worldclass institute for biodiversity research – an academy of excellence to serve the educational needs of our students for generations to come.

Iwokrama will be the home of an International Institute for Biodiversity to support its educational efforts.

The Institute will allow students and researchers from the Continent, the Caribbean and the rest of the world to come to Iwokrama to study its biodiversity and to increase knowledge and understanding of our vital ecosystems.

Iwokrama is part of our patrimony.

It is central and integral to Guyana’s green development strategy. It will reinforce its emphasis by being a Centre of excellence in education in biodiversity.

One of the most depressing experiences I have had was to visit the University of Guyana’s Centre for the Study of Biological Diversity (in October, 2016).

I was almost moved to tears by the state of that institution. I saw a cemetery rather than a laboratory of

biodiversity. It was a disservice to our nation to have allowed such neglect of an institution established to preserve the country’s biodiversity.

Iwokrama will not suffer that fate. The new covenant to be unveiled, during our Decade of Development: 2020-2029, envisages Iwokrama as a ‘living’ repository of the country’s unsurpassable biodiversity.

Iwokrama will become the home of all of Guyana rich and diverse flora and fauna.

Government will establish, at Iwokrama, a worldclass centre of excellence for students and researchers interested in increasing their knowledge of our essential ecosystems.

The ‘Decade’ will also witness Guyana’s honouring its commitments to: · place an additional two million hectares under conservation, in accordance with our nationally-determined commitments under the Paris Agreement; · pursue measures to preserve our biodiversity and ecosystem services and to proscribe the exportation of wildlife; and · promulgate policies aimed at ensuring low rates of deforestation, improved timber-monitoring, a high level of timber legality and greater value-added activities in the forestry sector to augment carbon storage in longuse wood products and promote low emission, low-carbon development of the country’s natural resources.

Guyana has been a trailblazer in global environmental protection.

Iwokrama has demonstrated how small states can punch above their weight in offering solutions to global environmental problems.

A new era is about to dawn for Iwokrama. It will be developed into a biodiversity conservatory and a schoolhouse for studying ecosystem services.

I congratulate the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development on this important milestone – the 30th anniversary of the pledge of the concession.

I wish the Centre continued success and pledge my Government’s continued support for the refashioning of a new covenant which will ensure that Iwokrama remains for perpetuity.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)

Sunday December 08, 2019

PAGE 31

Kaieteur News

Peripheral artery disease: The leg pain that you need to know about

By Dr Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a condition that can cause leg pain that gets worse with activity. Muscle pain that gets worse with activity and better with rest is called “claudication.”

PAD affects the blood vessels (called arteries) that bring blood to the legs. PAD can also cause wounds to heal more slowly than usual.

Today we will focus mainly on the leg pains associated with PAD, as it is often a complaint that patients are often baffled by.

Normally, blood flows easily through arteries to all parts of the body. But sometimes, fatty clumps called “plaque” build up inside the walls of arteries. Plaque can cause arteries to become narrow or blocked. This prevents blood from flowing normally.

When muscles do not get enough blood, symptoms can occur.

Some people have a greater chance of getting PAD, such as those who:

– – – – sure

Smoke Have diabetes Have high cholesterol Have high blood pres-

WHATARE THE SYMPTOMS OF PAD? PAD often causes pain in the back of the lower leg. The pain usually gets worse with walking or other exercise, and gets better with rest. PAD can also cause pain in the buttocks, thighs, or sometimes in the feet. People who have leg pain can have other symptoms, too, such as: – Trouble walking up stairs – Trouble getting an erection (in men) or trouble with sexual arousal (in women) Symptoms of claudication can be mild or severe, depending on: – Which arteries are affected – How narrow the arteries are – How much activity a person does People with PAD often realize they have the condition when they have ulcers developing on their legs or poorly healing wounds. They are

also at higher risk of having heart attacks and strokes because of similar blockages in the arteries of their brain and heart.

IS THEREA TEST FOR PAD? Yes. Your doctor can do different tests to find out if you have PAD, and to check how severe it is. He or she might: – Take the blood pressure in your arm and lower leg (just above the ankle) at rest and right after exercise, and compare them – Take the blood pressure in other places in your leg (like the thigh) – Order a blood vessel imaging test such as an ultrasound, which can show pictures of your leg arteries HOW CAN I HELP TREAT MY PAD? To help treat your PAD and prevent it from getting worse, you can: – Stop smoking – Get your diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol under control (if you have these conditions) – Walk – Doctors recommend that most people with

PAD walk every day. Ask your doctor or nurse how best to begin a walking program.

WHAT OTHER TREATMENTS MIGHT I HAVE? Along with a walking program and getting medical conditions under control, some people are also treated with medicines.

The medicines used to treat PAD can reduce symptoms, increase blood flow to the legs, and help people walk farther without pain.

If you still have severe symptoms after trying medicines, your doctor will talk with you about the possibility of having surgery or a procedure to increase blood flow to your legs and feet. Your treatment options might include: – Angioplasty or stenting – During angioplasty or stenting, the doctor sends a thin tube with a balloon at the end of it to the part of the artery that is blocked. Then the doctor inflates the balloon to open the blockage. Often the doctor props open the artery using a tiny mesh tube called a stent, which stays in the

body.

– Bypass surgery – During bypass surgery, the doctor removes a piece of blood vessel (vein) from another part of the body.

Then he or she reattaches that piece of blood vessel (called a vein graft) above and below the area that is clogged.

This re-routes blood around the clog, and allows it to get to the part of the leg that was not getting enough blood. Sometimes instead of taking a graft from another part of the body, the doctor can use a man-made graft.

WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT THE DIFFERENT PROCEDURES? Angioplasty and stenting are used to treat one or two blocked areas that are short.

Surgery works best to treat many or longer blocked areas.

People who have the fewest

Dr Zulfikar Bux long-term problems after bypass surgery include those who are younger than 70, do not have diabetes, and do not have PAD below the knee.

If you suspect that you have PAD, then quitting smoking, eating healthy, exercising and treating your blood pressure or cholesterol levels will help to decrease your symptoms. The earlier you act, the lesser the likelihood of having complications in your legs later in life.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 34

Sunday December 08, 2019

COUNTRYMAN

- Stories about life in m and out of Guyana, fro ve a Guyanese perspecti

Iwokrama, and venerable to vulgar in four days A

By Dennis Nichols

country's worth is evaluated in many ways.

Generally, progress (mainly economic) is measured by G D P a n d employment/unemployment figures. Who cares about bountiful resources and touted potential?

Unmaximized like ours.

Well, many do, and I am one, regardless of the swinging pendulum gauge that can shift our dial from venerable to vulgar in a matter of days, or even hours.

On the social and political fronts, things don't look good, but are looking up. Despite poor mismanagement in national affairs over the years, we always had our natural resources, and still do. Oil is our latest boon. But before

oil; before gold, diamonds, and bauxite; before rice, sugar, and timber, we had our land.

A few days ago, I reflected on the beauty and wonder of our relatively unsoiled rainforests as Iwokrama celebrated the 30th anniversary of a pledge made by then President Desmond Hoyte to 'gift the international community' with over 371,000 hectares of our country's heartland.

Some of our government leaders' initiatives come across as dull and uninspiring. That one was visionary.

The late president did so at the 1989 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, when C o m m o n w e a l t h governments issued the Langkawi Declaration on the

Environment which focused on environmental problems including the greenhouse effect, land degradation, and species extinction. Mr. Hoyte must have felt more than a smidgen of pride that poor Guyana could at least take some credit for minimal input into that global headache.

S o , o n M o n d a y, I watched, and listened, as conservationist and Director, Resource Management and Training at Iwokrama, Dr. Raquel Thomas-Caesar, spoke with journalist Leonard Gildarie about the zone that is one of Guyana's five Protected Areas overseen by the Protected Areas Commission (PAC), the Board of which she chairs.

The nearly one millionacre forest spread, (A Macushi place of refuge)

shares its protected area status with four others locally – Shell Beach, Kaieteur National Park, the Kanuku Mountains, and Konashen, home to the WaiWai tribal nation. Globally, they share that honour with more than 200,000 other terrestrial and marine protected areas, recognized as 'major tools in conserving species and ecosystems.'

With folksy competence, D r. T h o m a s - C a e s a r presented an overview of the Iwokrama conservation programme including a brief history of the Guyana Shield and Amazonia, both of which encompass Guyana, and exhibit a huge range in biodiversity for which this part of South America has become famous.

Dr. Thomas-Caesar's knowledge of conservation, her passion, and love for country are evident. Every Guyanese should watch the presentation. She shares with many nature lovers an awareness that much of our country's greatest treasures and truest charms lie far

from the madding city crowds.

My heart swelled. I have always loved our hinterland even before my first posting as a schoolteacher on the Aruka River in the North West District 43 years ago.

There's just something about ancient forests and highlands, rivers and waterfalls, animals and vegetation, that resonates deep within me, maybe triggered by some primordial gene.

That was the venerable; now for the vulgar. I know Guyana, and I know my people. In the ebb and flow of humans interacting with other humans in a country like ours, stuff can, and will, happen, suddenly, and sometimes frighteningly.

Americans say 'sh*t happens'. And although some of it may be 'good s*it', much of it stinks.

Like many others, I saw the first video posts of two young women 'expressing' themselves at a rural police station on Tuesday. A police report said they were being

Dennis Nichols booked following a minor road accident involving a car driven by the younger of the two. Both were subsequently charged with several offences including d i s o r d e r l y b e h a v i o u r, resisting arrest, and assault of a police officer.

A number of police officers appeared to have been the target of some sassy words that quickly became disrespectful; then obscene, and bigoted. The police appeared to show admirable restraint when things got physical, although some viewers suggest that the girls were also physically assaulted by at least one female rank.

Many feel that the police have brought such disrespect (continued on page 52)

Sunday December 08, 2019

PAGE 35

Kaieteur News

Government must put out industrial fires

T

he issue of workers' welfare continues to be a concern for organised labour. The time has come for corrective action, not only because freedom of association and collective bargaining (CB) are constitutionally guaranteed and deemed human rights by international institutions.

Foreign companies, with the support of elected officials, are making their eyes pass us.

Historically the state productive sector - i.e. bauxite and sugar which were nationalised in the 1970s - was treated equally whenever the issue of remuneration of workers was addressed. During the Forbes Burnham administration, whenever authorisation was given for the increase of wages and salaries, both industries benefitted.

Post-1985, whatever attempts were made to address improved working conditions, through the process of CB, the benefits were applied to both. In 1988, the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers' Union (GB&GWU), and Guyana M i n e Wo r k e r s ' U n i o n (GMWU) negotiated with the management of GUYMINE tax-free pay for hours work in excess of eight and, all hours worked on Saturday and Sunday, which is called premium hours.

The Structural Adjustment Programme, instituted in 1989 under the Desmond Hoyte administration (1985-1992), saw both industries being identified for privatisation.

The reasons were the decline in production levels and restructuring of the economy. In 1992, with the change of government, the act of pursuing privatisation in bauxite was intensified, while for sugar it was no longer the same.

Immediately on the privatisation of bauxite, which occurred during the B h a r r a t J a g d e o administration, the tax-free benefit was taken away from bauxite workers, even as same remained for sugar.

Though the GB&GWU protested the government's discrimination and continued the struggle to reinstate what bauxite workers fought for, the benefit was not returned

until 2017 under the coalition administration.

Coming on the heels of this discriminatory act was that government's embrace of RusAL/Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BCGI) transgressing the rights of workers, violating the country's laws and threatening our sovereignty.

T h e J a g d e o Government/Russian collusion was becoming evident. It is the belief that the worse crime any leader can do is collude with foreign forces and operate against its own national interest and citizens.

On 22nd November 2009, BCGI workers took strike action in resistance to the imposition of wages and salaries, which saw 57 fired.

The Jagdeo regime rather than seeking to restore normalcy at the workplace by establishing conciliatory proceeding, saw Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir giving public support to the e m p l o y e r a n d simultaneously chastising the GB&GWU. When called on to act, his response was, “And perhaps…we should let this festive season of goodwill take its course and hopefully both parties will exercise more generosity towards each other."

The Donald Ramotar government tried to move the process forward between the Union and management when Minister of Labour Dr. Nanda Gopaul on 29th February 2012 imposed compulsory arbitration.

However, this was stalled, and after a while it became evident there was a hidden hand in the political hierarchy that wanted the Russians to run wild.

Earlier this year (15th February) bauxite workers had cause to take strike action against the imposition of a one percent pay increase. The management retaliated by firing 61. The Union called on the government, opposition and all Guyanese to condemn the threat to our sovereignty and the transgressing of workers' rights. Whereas others spoke out and gave solidarity, the Opposition Leader remained mum.

That strike lasted for one month and four days, ending on the 20th March with the s i g n i n g o f Te r m s o f Resumption. It took the workers of BCGI

approximately nine (9) years, three (3) months, and twenty-eight (28) days for management to recognise their Union, but management continues to engage in dilatory tactics not to pay them. They are not negotiating in good faith, so the struggle continues.

These wrongs while partially resolved by the coalition, cannot be seen as

the end to the responsibility of this government. There is still much more work to be done to bring about a harmonious industrial climate.

H a v i n g b e e n disappointed for the 12 years of Jagdeo presidency, workers are counting on the coalition to do a better job at addressing the industrial environment. Compared to

Jagdeo, Ramotar made a little more effort, as notable in the case of BCGI, though his effort was immobilised by his predecessor and clan.

Workers are relying on the coalition to make sure the management of GuySuCo sits at the table and engages in CB with the sugar unions.

Note is taken of Minister of Finance Winston Jordan's statement where reportedly

he “stressed that the union must sit with management to come up with a deal for satisfactory pay packages” (SN-Dec 6th: 'Granger, Jagdeo differ on way ahead for sugar').

This must move from ministerial words to management's action. At the table it will be determined, through the process of (continued on page 44)

PAGE 36

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 08, 2019

Sunday December 08, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 37

Kaieteur News

PAGE 38

K O

BO

Book: My New Normal: Reflections of a Stroke Survivor Author: Hilary Wehby Critic: Glenville Ashby, PhD 'My New Normal: Reflections of a Stroke Survivor' relives the transformative experience of Hilary Wehby. It is a stark reminder of our vulnerability. Its message is daunting but hopeful. Life's vicissitudes assail us at moments unexpected, moments that leave us scrambling for a foolproof response.

We react, only to play catch up. Little do we know, that at the apogee of success, brimming with hubris, that fate steps in.

Sunday December 08, 2019

A Journey of Despair, Courage and Triumph

We can only pray to God for relief, hopeful that our supplication will fall on captive ears. It is belief that sustains us.

Imagined or real, we surrender our burdens to a Higher Power. And like Biblical Job, we must believe that our anguish is a test, a probationary challenge for a greater good.

Our belief our only defence against capitulation.

Vividly, Wehby recounts that fateful day: “November 11, 2015, started out as any ordinary day in a fairly ordered life...I set about preparing to go off to work, reminding myself, as I dressed, that mine was a totally comfortable existence.”

But self-assurance and aplomb were dealt a decisive blow. A bright day grew dark. Wehby suffered a stroke. The rhythm of a charmed life was broken.

She pens, “I had an ischemic stroke in the right hemisphere of my brain. The entire left side of my body was severely affected, but I have discovered that a stroke does not mean that you have to give up on living, even if the brain attack leaves you barely alive and breathing.”

She adds, “The

experience really brought me face-to-face with the saying: 'once a man-twice a child' and knocked right out of me, any trace of selfsatisfaction and pride that I may have harbored.”

Wehby reflects on the perennial questions pondered by the wise ones of yore, the avatars that promoted silence, filial piety and aesthetics.

Wehby echoes these sentiments.

In her ordeal, Wehby embraces life. She is more reflective and attuned to the subtleties of daily living, hitherto, ignored.

Never will she convince naysayers that God was instrumental in her recovery, but hard-pressed they are to ignore her belief in Isaiah 38:17 – “Surely, it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish.”

In the vein of Victor Frankl, a valiant Wehby emerges to accept a Herculean challenge. At the crossroads, one chooses.

U nlike others , she is decisive.

A life of meaning she envisions. It is a catalytic moment, her metanoia. Of the purpose for her suffering, she well understands.

“One of the things I have come to appreciate is the gift of quiet, unhurried moments...I have learned that giving your loved ones the gift of unhurried moments of your time. When you are one hundred percent

“present” and in no way distracted, is indeed a precious and priceless gift.

“I learned for sure that we really are not indispensable. Valued and loved perhaps - at work, by our family and friends perhaps, but indispensable?

NO! Even if we have flirted with the idea that we are, it's just not true.

And yes, our desk will be occupied the next day, with love no doubt, but the show will go on.”

Wehby was more than physically stricken. She was left searching for answers. “I even went as far as questioning whether my God had abandoned me, or simply didn't care.

At other times, I feared that God was angry with me for something I had done or left undone.”

Although these thoughts proved ephemeral, they spurred a deep philosophical enquiry into 'meaning and truth.'

Physically, the road to recovery was expectedly foreboding. But more so were the psychological hurdles. “There were times when I felt terrified, as I pondered my future. What kind of mother, wife, and daughter would I be in this condition? What do persons using a bedpan, and needing strong orderlies to move around, do for the rest of their life. This was scary stuff.”

She details the arduous

task ahead, “One of the first things I had to deal with was learning to look to the left again. Since I had a “leftside-neglect” my brain didn't remember I had a left side...Early on, I used to force myself to keep my head turned completely to the left, so as to provide constant feedback to my brain from the left side, such as when I was being driven or pushed in a wheel chair at the mall.

Sometimes I had to ask visitors to sit on my left side to engage that side.”

Authentic and richly presented, My New Normal is a quintessential statement on faith, courage and gratitude. It avers that we are part of a whole, a gestalt that heals the mind, body and

spirit. It is a bold, uncompromising narrative that is timely and equally compelling.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper) F e e d b a c k : glenvilleashby@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter@glenvilleashby My New Normal by Hilary Wehby Copyright (C) 2019 by Bala Press Bala Press, Kingston, Jamaica ISBN: 978-976-957222-5 Ratings: Highly recommended

Sunday December 08, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 39

Kaieteur News

THE

PAGE 40

Sunday December 08, 2019

STORY WITHIN THE

What happened in a police outpost

By Leonard Gildarie

T

he life of the reporter has e v o l v e d considerably. Social media and other online activities have brought news literally to the fingertips. News is breaking all the time, with every citizen with a smart phone and internet a reporter.

Part of the duties of a reporter is scanning social media to remain aware of what is trending.

During the week, Facebook especially was abuzz with videos of two sisters in a Berbice police outpost. I initially viewed the videos and smiled. Two women allegedly caught drinking and misbehaving.

However, what has evolved is deeply worrying and Guyana should be ashamed. I took a second and third look at the three videos and the story that emerged is not funny, by any means.

The two sisters are before the courts now, slapped with several charges.

One is accused of damaging the cell phone of a policeman while the other is charged with dangerous driving resulting in an accident; failing to stop after an accident, failure to report the accident, resisting arrest, disorderly behaviour and assaulting a female Constable at the Rose Hall Town outpost.

Quite a long read.

One of the sisters claimed she was assaulted by a police rank in the outpost.

Police had issued a swift statement the night the video went viral. We will not discuss the details of what happened at the outpost. The world has seen it. In any case, the matters are before the court.

In fact, I am told, more than 750,000 views were generated from the videos.

However, we cannot leave the other matters alone.

Guyana gleefully zeroed in on the women and laughed. I received a number of calls…some persons found it funny. A few others were angry.

Me…I am not happy with how the situation went downhill. The motto of the Guyana Police Force is 'Service and Protection'.

Do we really understand what that means? My father was a policeman killed in the line of duty. I grew up understanding what it meant.

We s e e p h o t o s o f policemen tying the shoelaces of children or leading them across the road.

It is how I believe it should be.

In a police outpost earlier this week, three videos purportedly taken by a police rank were uploaded to social media. Within hours of the three videos making it online and going viral, police announced charges for the sisters.

The police statement was devoid of mention of any investigations of those videos. Is there any interest who made them? For what purpose (s)? Is it standard operating procedure of police to video suspects who are sitting on the bench or waiting to be processed? If so, for what purpose (s)?

If the answer is no, what then was the purpose of those uploads?

One should ask the Commander of Berbice, Calvin Brutus, whether an investigation has been launched. Mr. Brutus, I am told, is a straight-up commander.

The police force is filled with decent men and women.

I know. I speak with them often. The Commissioner, Leslie James, is a disciplined, steady individual. I spoke to Deputy Commissioner, Maxine Graham, for the first time a few days ago. She was performing the duties of Commissioner Leslie James.

She is respectful.

Assistant Commissioner Clifton Hicken is another senior cop whom I have engaged – he strikes me as capable.

There are many ranks who are similarly inclined and I deeply respect their work under conditions that are not friendly and many times hostile. There are many rogue elements too.

I believe that the police force, the Guyana Power and Light Inc. and the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company, top the list as the entities with the most criticisms from citizens.

The fact is that under no

Leonard Gildarie circumstances should the police tolerate disrespect of the force, as was seen in the videos. The behaviour was unacceptable.

However, I am interested also in the trigger leading up to the time when the videos were made. What transpired that led to the women behaving in that manner?

If it is standard operation procedure now, the police should make it clear.

I am sure the lawyers would have a field day when it comes to the rights of persons accused of a crime and have not been proven to have done same - for videos to be made in the station and uploaded without permission of those accused.

There are a number of other factors in the case that should worry.

For example, one of the women is a said to be a popular Berbice singer at the mandirs. In fact, she is sought after at events. She was the centre of news where a pandit is being accused of rape. Fast-forward to this past week, Guyana went on a bashing spree on what is clearly one woman who needs counseling.

I fail to hear the voices of our Hindu leaders. I fail to hear statements from our women's groups.

Churches, Mandirs and Mosques are not once-aweek events. There is supposed to be a safety net for members.

As a developing nation, our maturity and adherence to rules and laws will be what distinguishes us from the rest of the pack.

We gleefully rubbed our hands in delight at the antics of the two women. We did not pause and wonder about their mental state and capacity. Our politicians and women's rights groups kept silent.

Again, I insist, there can be no excuse for the behaviour as depicted in those videos. The police must also be continued to be reminded that their oath is to serve and protect.

There will be no middle ground. It is simple…I…we need the police force to up its (continued on page 52)

PAGE 44

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 08, 2019

Amazing Benefits Of Soursop For Skin, Hair, And Health Also known as graviola, soursop (Annona muricata) is a large prickly, heart shaped green colored fruit growing in tropical regions.

It is covered with ridges on the outside and has a soft juicy flesh inside. It resembles a custard apple and is dark green when raw. As it ripens, it becomes slightly soft and light green externally. Thus, this fruit is closely related to custard apple and cherimoyas in terms of appearance and flavor. Its white pulpy flesh contains small shiny black inedible seeds and has a sweet, acidic taste.

Seedless varieties of soursop are rarely available and generally have a fibrous flesh.

Due to its creamy texture, it is often used in beverages, ice creams, and other sweet foods.

The skin of the fruit is inedible, but the white fleshy part is quite nutritious. The seeds should never be eaten as they are toxic in nature.

The tips of the prickles of ripe soursop fruit break off easily. Under-ripe fruits can be stored in the dark until they ripen fully.

Soursop contains numerous phytonutrients that can fight disease-causing cells and even certain kinds of tumors. These phytonutrients contain antioxidant properties that enhance the overall health. They help fight cancer, enhance eye health, and treat a range of infections.

Health Benefits Of Soursop Now, let’s take a closer look at some of the many soursop benefits. know closely what is soursop good for.

1. Soursop Fights Cancer Though there haven’t been any direct studies on humans, soursop extracts were found to kill certain types of breast and liver cancer cells.

According to one study, the soursop plant is a proven cancer remedy for most types of the disease. Though the tests haven’t been conducted on humans yet, the possibilities are promising.

In another Indian study conducted on various cell lines, soursop or graviola leaves showed 80% cell inhibition. The acetogenins in soursop inhibit the harmful compounds in cancer cells.

Soursop extract had also inhibited the survival and metabolism of pancreatic cancer cells – and this indicates potential success in curing the lethal disease.

What possibly makes acetogenins unique is their ability to selectively destroy the cancer cells, without harming the healthy ones.

2. Improves Eye Health We have seen soursop is

replete with antioxidants.

These antioxidants, especially vitamins C and E, zinc, and beta-carotene, have been found to decrease the risk of eye disease. The antioxidants also reduce oxidative stress, which can otherwise cause cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.

3. Helps Fight Inflammation In a Brazilian study, inflammation caused by snakebite was found to improve with the administration of soursop leave and juice. However, the components of soursop might also slightly aggravate the ill effects of snake venom – hence, we need more research in this aspect.

Research in South America and tropical Africa had emphasized on the antiinflammatory properties of the roots, barks, and leaves of the soursop tree. The ability to treat inflammation is good in soursop, and it can be used for relieving arthritis.

In addition to the anti-inflammatory effect, soursop is also known for its analgesic effects .

4. Helps Treat Infections Soursop can treat infections caused by bacteria and parasites, one of those being leishmaniasis, a disease caused by parasites that are transmitted through the bites of sand fleas.

The leaves of the soursop tree are also used to treat a wide range of infections.

5. Soursop Aids Diabetes Treatment According to a Nigerian study, soursop possesses anti-diabetic properties. The two groups of rats tested in the study had a significant difference in their blood glucose concentrations, with the group treated by soursop having lower concentrations than the other.

The soursop leaf aqueous extract was found to inhibit (and even prevent) the hepatic oxidative damage caused in diabetes patients.

6. Boosts Kidney And Liver Health As per one Malaysian study, soursop extract was found to be safe in rats that were being treated for kidney and liver ailments. Similar observations could be observed in humans as well.

According to another Indian study, the acetogenins in soursop can kill the malignant cells of 12 types of cancer, with liver cancer being one of them.

7. Improves Respiratory Health One Nigerian study states the efficacy of soursop leaves in treating respiratory conditions like asthma.

8. Helps Relieve Stress

As per a report by the University of Connecticut, soursop can be used extensively for the treatment of stress and other issues like depression.

9. Enhances Gastrointestinal Health Soursop is also found to have antiulcer properties. The fruit suppresses oxidative damage and preserves the mucus of the gastric wall. The significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the fruit can help improve gastrointestinal health.

that the intake of soursop can enhance immunity. This can be attributed to the bioactive compounds in the fruit. Oral intake of soursop leaf extracts was found to reduce edema in rat paws, which is usually caused due to a weak immune system. The study concludes by stating that soursop leaf extract has the potential to stimulate immunity, and hence can be used in the treatment of immunocompromised patients. Soursop can also be made a part of the diet to improve the overall lifestyle

In one Brazilian study, the anthelmintic (the ability to kill parasites) properties of soursop leaf extract were studied.

They studied the effects of a parasitic worm that caused gastrointestinal issues in sheep.

The objective of the study was to inspect the effects of soursop towards the eggs and adult forms of the parasite.

The study concluded that soursop is a natural anthelmintic, and since it could kill the parasites in sheep that caused them gastrointestinal issues, it might have similar effects in humans.

More research is going on, though.

As per another report, excessive doses of oral iron can lead to gastrointestinal issues. Though soursop is a source of iron, the mineral content in the fruit is not as much as other ingredients – hence, it is unlikely to cause gastrointestinal distress.

The same fact, again, could work for the benefit of the individual. For instance, an individual suffering from iron deficiency can be susceptible to anemia, which is known to cause dysfunction of the gastrointestinal system. Though soursop is not an excellent source of iron, it does contain iron – and hence can be a healthy addition to an iron-rich diet to combat anemia (and the resultant gastrointestinal problems.

10. Boosts The Immune System A Korean study states

quality.

The juice of the soursop fruit was found to provide more micronutrients than its pulp.

But the pulp has more amount of vitamin A than the juice. Soursop is also rich in ascorbic acid (vitamin C) that strengthens and boosts the immune system. Beta-carotene, the precursor of vitamin A, also contributes to an enhanced immune system.

Another report published in a journal by The University of West Indies talks about a study where patients with different forms of cancer were given different foods, soursop being one of them.

The objective of the experiment, as stated in the report, was to enhance the immune system of the patients.

11. Relieves Pain (Works As An Analgesic) According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, soursop can work as an analgesic. The mice used in the study were made to writhe, post which the soursop extract was induced in them.

The experiment produced desirable results.

12. Soursop Treats Fever The soursop fruit has been traditionally used to treat fever.

In Africa, a decoction of soursop leaves is used to control feverish symptoms and convulsive seizures. In fact, the larvae of the Aedes aegypti mosquito (which transmit dengue fever), showed great vulnerability towards soursop extract .

As per an Indian study, the soursop fruit and its juice

can not only treat fever, but also act as an astringent for diarrhea and dysentery (27).

The fruit can help treat fever in children as well; soursop is widely used for this purpose in Africa.

13. Treats Diarrhea All parts of the soursop tree are used as medicine for an array of ailments. And diarrhea is one of them.

14. Aids In The Treatment Of Hypertension Soursop has been used in folklore for treating hypertension. This can be attributed to the antioxidant potential of phenols in the fruit, according to a Nigerian study.

As per an Indonesian study report, soursop contains good nutrients that can help lower blood pressure levels in human adults.

15. Helps Treat Rheumatism According to studies, the internal administration of soursop leaf decoction was found to exhibit anti-rheumatic properties.

And the leaves, when cooked and topically applied, helped ease rheumatism and abscesses.

In Africa, the unripe fruit of soursop is used to treat rheumatism and arthritic pain.

Even the mashed leaves of the soursop tree are used as a poultice to treat rheumatism.

Soursop also contains anthocyanins, tannins, and alkaloids that exhibit antirheumatic effects.

16. Improves Skin And Hair Healthave As per a report published in the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the extract of soursop leaves can help prevent skin papilloma, a disease that causes tumor eruptions on the skin.

In fact, soursop is so good for the skin that the leaves of the plant are used for calming the skin of babies.

Certain sources also suggest soursop paste can work wonders for hair – by treating dandruff and itching, and strengthening hair as well.

But we need more research on this.

So, now you know what the benefits of soursop are.

And now, we proceed to something as important – the nutritional profile.

Soursop Nutrition Facts Check out here what are the soursop nutritional benefits in detail.

Soursop contains abundant amounts of vitamin C and several B vitamins like thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin as well as minerals like calcium, phosphorus and a small amount of iron. The fruit comprises of 67.5% pulp, 20% fruit skin, 8.5% fruit seeds and 4% core pieces. Know about nutritional benefits of soursop fruit.

Soursop Side Effects · Eye Inflammation The seeds and bark of the soursop tree are considered toxic. They contain potentially poisonous compounds like anonaine, hydrocyanic acid, and muricine. These can cause eye inflammation. · Issues With Pregnancy And Breastfeeding Pregnant women are advised against consuming this fruit. This is because the high energy in the cells of the developing fetus can trigger the fruit’s toxic activity – potentially harming the baby and the mother, with the baby at a greater risk.

Using soursop while pregnant or breastfeeding is unsafe. So, stay away from it. ·Drastic Weight Loss As per a study, consuming soursop had resulted in drastic weight loss in the mice that were involved in the experiment. Similar effects can be observed in humans. Hence, consult your doctor if you are planning to take soursop for any issue specifically related to your bodyweight. · Parkinsons Disease As per one French study, consuming soursop can result in the development of Parkinson’s disease.

All this, only if you consume soursop in excess. Otherwise, it works great. And you can use it in some awesome recipes too.

Government must put out ...

From page 35 negotiating, what can and cannot happen. Any failure or undermining of the process will be interpreted as an act of bad faith by either party.

Whereas Jagdeo once threatened GAWU with de-recognition when the Union was agitating for increased wages and improve working conditions, should the coalition not make sure GuySuCo honour CB, it could be interpreted as equalising the playing field with the Jagdeo administration.

This will not only create fodder for the Opposition Leader, but raise concerns by other workers how they too are likely to be treated. It is time to put out the industrial fires.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)

Sunday December 08, 2019

PAGE 45

Kaieteur News

Editorial

Sangria Wine Smoothie Made Easy Nothing stirs the soul on a weekend with no work or boss in sight like your beverage of choice while catching up on your favourite shows.

At Kaieteur Entertainment, we understand this concept oh so well hence were always looking for new recipes to add a bit of spice to your repertoire of delightful mixes. Our recommended drink for you this weekend is the Sangria Wine Smoothie, the base of which is the Carlo Rossi Sangria.

A medium-bodied wine with a whole lot of personality, the Carlo Rossi Sangria is distinguished by its bright fruit flavors and subtle hint of spritz. It also features citrusy notes of orange, lemon and grapefruit that are especially refreshing.

This main ingredient for your weekend cocktail can be had directly from Ansa McAL for under $1600 or at popular supermarkets for approximately $2000.

See below for more details on how to make this unique November treat. You can send your comments and photos on how it turned out to Kianawilburg@gmail.com.

Do Enjoy!

Ingredients 1 cup of Carlo Rossi Sangria 1.5 cups Orange Juice

Mango Lane, East Ruimveldt was a buzz on Sunday December 1, 2019 as Empire Media Inc. launched Armageddon Clash 2020.

Giving remarks on behalf of EMI and Coordinator for Armageddon Clash 2020, Keston Tyrell, stated that Empire Media Inc. was excited to host the biggest Clash in the world. It will be held on January 25, 2020 at the National Park tarmac.

He noted that the large attendance at its Clashes is testimony to the transformation that had taken place in the industry. He added that Armageddon 2020 was dubbed the War of all Wars because of the calibre of sounds that will be participating. Mr. Tyrell explained that the Clash will feature six champion Sounds, in one night on one stage competing for $1Million.

Competing will be Notori-

ous International Sound - Armageddon 2018 & 2019 Champion; Dynamq Sound (from South Sudan Africa) - 2018 US Rumble and 2019 War in the East Champion; Trinity Sound - Destination Badda Dan Guyana Champion; Kanabis Sound (from Antigua) - Pain & Sorrow 2019 Champion; Exodus Nuclear Turbo Sounds of Steel Champion and Firehouse Int - Art of War 2019 Champion According to Mr Tyrell, Empire Media Inc. was pleased to have on board again the Guyana Beverages Inc., whose Turbo Brand will be the official Energy Drink of Armageddon Clash 2020.

He remarked that EMI sees it as a good move and thanked them for their partnership.

Speaking on behalf of the Guyana Beverages Inc., Brand Manager Mr. Raymond Govinda, stated that the company recognized the impor-

Celebrating three years of success!!!

1 cup frozen red berries 1 cup of ice Rind of 0.5 lemon Rind of 0.5 orange Directions 1. Throw all your ingredients into your blender and blend until smooth.

2. Pour into your Carlo Rossi appropriate glass.

3. Cheers!

Armageddon Clash 2020 launched

tance of supporting cultural values within Guyana and providing a platform for local talents to grow and develop.

He noted that Armageddon provides the perfect platform for this to happen and to further the growth of the brand among the audience.

Other businesses that have committed to sponsoring the event thus far includes- 6Vibes, Coles Screen Printing and Maad 97.5 FM. Armageddon Clash 2020 goes down on January 25, 2020 at the National Park tarmac.

Tickets for the Clash will go on sale soon. Early bird tickets cost $1,500 and if you buy two (2) you will get 1 free (while stocks last).

Empire Media Inc. can be reached on Instagram and Facebook using the business name, on whatsapp at 862-2330494, email on empiremediainc1@gmail.com or you can call 680-6720.

Enetworks to air HBOs Watchmen every Thursday Every Thursday, Enetworks will be showing one of HBOs latest hit series called Watchmen. For those who are unfamiliar with all things superhero, the Watchmen is an upcoming American superhero drama television series, inspired by some characters from the DC Comics limited series of the same name created by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, created and developed by Damon Lindelof for HBO, with Lindelof serving as executive producer and writer.The series takes place in an alternate contemporary reality in the United States, in which superheroes and masked vigilantes were outlawed due to their violent methods, but some of them gather around to start a revolution while

others attempt to stop it.According to Lindelof, the TV series will not be a direct adaptation of the original source material, instead, being “remixed”; aiming to tell an entirely new story set in the world where the events of the original storyline took place.

The series will also showcase different points of view, with the only characters from the original storyline confirmed to appear in the series being Doctor Manhattan, the former Silk Spectre, and former hero Ozymandias.

The series will also focus on a detective named Angela Abar who becomes a vigilante called Sister Night. (See link for additional info on the show: https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Watchmen_(TV_series)

By Latoya “Lashes Boss” Zephyr After surmounting every challenge that came along away, it is with great honour that I disclose that Lashes by Toya recently celebrated its third anniversary. Yes Ladies and Gentlemen, it has been quite a journey and its success would not have been possible without you, my faithful clients and supporters.

In honour of what I deem to be an esteemed occasion, I am launching three products that I have carefully packaged and designed in an effort to make the lash experience a revitalizing one as well as healthy and glamourous for my clients.

The package includes a Lash Bath Foaming Cleanser, the Lash Brush and a Spoolie. It will be offered to my clients for the Christmas season as a demonstration of my appreciation for the continued support Lashes

By Toya has received over the

years. Plans for its retail are still in the pipeline.

Until next time guys, Seasons Greetings and stay tuned for more update !

Have a great weekend!

A new lease on life for two renal failure patients...

From page 22 hospital,” he revealed.

With kidney transplant, a renal failure patient's life expectancy rate could increase to about 15 to 25 years or even more, “depending on how well you take care of your kidney and the follow-up care,” Dr. Persaud shared.

His efforts to bring patients back from the brink of death are backed by a Registrar, four General Medical Officers, a Social Worker, a dietician and a pharmacist. This team, Dr. Persaud said, “allows us to provide holistic care to these patients.”

PAIRED EXCHANGE But in order to ensure that a greater cross-section of renal failure patients can access a life-saving kidney transplant surgery, the GPHC has introduced a paired exchange initiative.

The initiative, though not novel, was first introduced at the GPHC last year, and is one which sees kidney failure patients exchanging donors, once they are found to be a suitable match. This approach is one that has been adopted in a number of first world countries, since it has been found that although the relatives of some patients are willing to donate a kidney to their loved ones, they are sometimes found to be incompatible. Explaining the compatibility of patients, Dr. Persaud said that “a compatible donor is somebody whose blood group and tissues match the patient. If they are not compatible, their body will reject

that kidney, and they will lose it right on the operating table or shortly after...”

The first set of renal patients to benefit from the paired exchange method last year were 30-year-old Ravi Narine of Enmore, East Coast Demerara, who was awaiting a transplant for two years, and 58-year-old Freddie Budhoo of Berbice, who was in waiting for about one year.

Although Budhoo's wife, Kumarie, was found to be a suitable donor, a number of Narine's family members, including his brother Ghansham, were found to be incompatible, and therefore could not donate to him [Narine]. However, once the paired exchange method was adopted allowing for the patients to find suitable donors.

“It was fortunate that they were both compatible,” said Dr. Persaud. The most recent round of paired exchange transplants occurred in September last, and benefiting on this occasion were 24-yearold Michael Totaram of McDoom, East Bank Demerara, and 24-year-old

Malika Dey of Hadfield Street, Georgetown. Neither of them had family members who were suitable donors. However, Totaram's friend Clayton Allen, who was willing to donate his kidney to him, was cross-matched with Dey, and Dey's father, 49-year-old Mark Nelson, was cross matched with Totaram.

After a period of anxiety, they were all elated when the cross-matching results returned clearing the way for the transplant surgeries. Both Totaram and Dey and their donors have recovered well, and have already started to return to their normal lives.

“I never lost hope...I had faith right through...I cried sometimes yes, but my family used to give me words of encouragement, so I couldn't give up...I prayed a lot,” said Dey, of her journey with renal failure.Totaram who expressed satisfaction that post-surgery he can return to his normal self, said “I encourage anyone who can donate to a renal failure patient, please do so, because you will be saving a life.”

Magnum Tonic Wine presents Tek Charge Tuesdays at White Castle Fish Shop The Brand Managers for the Magnum Tonic Wine are elated for you to join them for their “Tek Charge Tuesday” event which will be held at the White Castle Fish shop. There will be Magnum specials all night long, the details of which will be provided by the Magnum vixens. Music will be presented by the Determined Family sound system. Be sure to link a crew for this weekly celebration. See you there.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 46

The Cactus

by O. Henry The most notable thing about Time is that it is so purely relative. A large amount of reminiscence is, by common consent, conceded to the drowning man; and it is not past belief that one may review an entire courtship while removing one’s gloves.

That is what Trysdale was doing, standing by a table in his bachelor apartments. On the table stood a singular-looking green plant in a red earthen jar.

The plant was one of the species of cacti, and was provided with long, tentacular leaves that perpetually swayed with the slightest breeze with a peculiar beckoning motion.

Trysdale’s friend, the brother of the bride, stood at a sideboard complaining at being allowed to drink alone. Both men were in evening dress.

White favors like stars upon their coats shone through the gloom of the apartment.

As he slowly unbuttoned his gloves, there passed through Trysdale’s mind a swift, scarifying retrospect of the last few hours. It seemed that in his nostrils was still the scent of the flowers that had been banked in odorous masses about the church, and in his ears the lowpitched hum of a thousand well-bred voices, the rustle of crisp garments, and, most insistently recurring, the drawling words of the minister irrevocably binding her to another.

From this last hopeless point of view he still strove, as if it had become a habit of his mind, to reach some conjecture as to why and how he had lost her. Shaken rudely by the uncompromising fact, he had suddenly found himself confronted by a thing he had never before faced —his own innermost, unmitigated, arid unbedecked self. He saw all the garbs of pretence and egoism that he had worn now turn to rags of folly. He shuddered at the thought that to others, before now, the garments of his soul must have appeared sorry and threadbare. Vanity and conceit? These were the joints in his armor. And how free from either she had always been—But why— As she had slowly moved up the aisle toward the altar he had felt an unworthy, sullen exultation that had served to support him. He had told himself that her paleness was from thoughts of another than the man to whom she was about to give herself. But even that poor consolation had been wrenched from him. For, when he saw that swift, limpid, upward look that she gave the man when he took her hand, he knew himself to be forgotten.

Once that same look had been raised to him, and he had gauged its meaning. Indeed, his conceit had crumbled; its last prop was gone. Why had it ended thus? There had been no quarrel between them,

nothing— For the thousandth time he remarshalled in his mind the events of those last few days before the tide had so suddenly turned.

She had always insisted upon placing him upon a pedestal, and he had accepted her homage with royal grandeur. It had been a very sweet incense that she had burned before him; so modest (he told himself); so childlike and worshipful, and (he would once have sworn) so sincere.

She had invested him with an almost supernatural number of high attributes and excellencies and talents, and he had absorbed the oblation as a desert drinks the rain that can coax from it no promise of blossom or fruit.

A s Tr y s d a l e g r i m l y wrenched apart the seam of his last glove, the crowning instance of his fatuous and tardily mourned egoism came vividly back to him. The scene was the night when he had asked her to come up on his pedestal with him and share his greatness.

He could not, now, for the pain of it, allow his mind to dwell upon the memory of her convincing beauty that night—the careless wave of her hair, the tenderness and virginal charm of her looks and words.

But they had been enough, and they had brought him to speak.

During their conversation she had said: “And Captain Carruthers tells me that you speak the Spanish language like a native.

Why have you hidden this accomplishment from me? Is there anything you do not know?”

Now, Carruthers was an idiot. No doubt he (Trysdale) had been guilty (he sometimes did such things) of airing at the club some old, canting Castilian proverb dug from the hotchpotch at the back of dictionaries. Carruthers, who was one of his incontinent admirers, was the very man to have magnified this exhibition of doubtful erudition.

But, alas! the incense of her admiration had been so sweet and flattering. He allowed the imputation to pass without denial. Without protest, he allowed her to twine about his brow this spurious bay of Spanish scholarship. He let it grace his conquering head, and, among its soft convolutions, he did not feel the prick of the thorn that was to pierce him later.

How glad, how shy, how tremulous she was! How she fluttered like a snared bird when he laid his mightiness at her feet! He could have sworn, and he could swear now, that unmistakable consent was in her eyes, but, coyly, she would give him no direct answer. “I will send you my answer tomorrow,” she said; and he, the indulgent, confident victor, smilingly granted the delay. The

next day he waited, impatient, in his rooms for the word. At noon her groom came to the door and left the strange cactus in the red earthen jar. There was no note, no message, merely a tag upon the plant bearing a barbarous foreign or botanical name. He waited until night, but her answer did not come. His large pride and hurt vanity kept him from seeking her. Two evenings later they met at a dinner. Their greetings were conventional, but she looked at him, breathless, wondering, eager. He was courteous, adamant, waiting her explanation. With womanly swiftness she took her cue from his manner, and turned to snow and ice. Thus, and wider from this on, they had drifted apart.

Where was his fault? Who had been to blame? Humbled now, he sought the answer amid the ruins of his self-conceit. If— The voice of the other man in the room, querulously intruding upon his thoughts, aroused him.

“I say, Trysdale, what the deuce is the matter with you?

You look unhappy as if you yourself had been married instead of having acted merely as an accomplice. Look at me, another accessory, come two thousand miles on a garlicky, cockroachy banana steamer all the way from South America to connive at the sacrifice—please to observe how lightly my guilt rests upon my shoulders. Only little sister I had, too, and now she’s gone. Come now! take something to ease your conscience.”

“I don’t drink just now, thanks,” said Trysdale.

“Your brandy,” resumed the other, coming over and joining him, “is abominable. Run down to see me some time at Punta Redonda, and try some of our stuff that old Garcia smuggles in. It’s worth the, trip. Hallo! here’s an old acquaintance.

Wherever did you rake up this cactus, Trysdale?”

“A present,” said Trysdale, “from a friend. Know the species?”

“Very well. It’s a tropical concern. See hundreds of ‘em around Punta every day. Here’s the name on this tag tied to it.

Know any Spanish, Trysdale?”

“No,” said Trysdale, with the bitter wraith of a smile—”Is it Spanish?”

“Yes. The natives imagine the leaves are reaching out and beckoning to you. They call it by this name—Ventomarme.

Name means in English, ‘Come and take me.’”

Sunday December 08, 2019

Junior page You will need: ·Circular wreath form – cut from recycled cereal box or a paper plate ·Lots and LOTS of green tissue paper squares ·White glue ·Paint brush ·Pencil with eraser Use the paintbrush to ·Embellishments – pom poms, sequins, etc. (optional) spread a small amount of ·Ribbon or string for hanging white glue on to a section of the wreath (work on about 1/6 of the wreath at a time).

Use the eraser end of the pencil to shape each square of tissue paper as shown.

squares on to the wreath form, and continue to work section by section until the entire wreath form is full and covered.

Use the eraser to help you place your tissue paper

Add optional embellishments pom poms

Work together Enjoy together

make great holly berries, sequins and glitter add sparkle, and large buttons make nice “ornaments.”

Add a ribbon for hanging, and the wreath is ready to be displayed or gifted!

FUN WITH POETRY

We are all looking forward to the holidays, When we will have so many things to enjoy Shopping and visiting, eating and drinking, As well as playing with our nice toys.

We know that we get the most fun, When all in our family join in the celebration, So we need to work together to ensure That we all help in the preparations.

There will first be cleaning of our home and yard, And then much fixing and decorating; When we willingly join in all this work, We are sure to develop this Christmas feeling.

So let us remember the truth of the season The more we work together, the more we will enjoy, And do our part to make it bright, So our family gets the most happiness and joy.

Masyu The finished puzzle will contain a loop made of horizontal/vertical line segments that connects all the white and black circles. The line going thru a white circle must be straight. However, there must be at least one corner made on the dot immediate preceding or immediately following the white circle (or on both dots).

The line going thru a black circle must turn a corner on the black circle. Both of the lines emanating from this corner need to go straight through the next dot before making any more turns.

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 08, 2019

Adopt the Spirit of the coming season throughout the coming year As we move towards the celebration of one of the greatest holidays in our calendar, we must take some time apart from the actual physical preparations to think about the real message of this event, and try to learn from the lessons this can send to us.

We can readily do so when we check the greetings that are sent around both personally and in the various media. Some of these are: “Blessings to you”; Wishing you Peace now and forever”; “My love I send to you”; “May you be Happy during this season and throughout the New Year”; “Joy at Christmas”; “Peace and Goodwill

toward all men”.

You can see that these express wishes for others in an unselfish manner, and this can readily be seen as so different from how people many times behave towards one another during the rest of the year. If we can only try to adopt this manner as the way we would normally treat others throughout the year, then we can see how much better our own situation can be, as well as that of the associations we have around us, as well as the whole world.

Just as every other activity needs special time and attention to obtain maximum results, inculcating in

ourselves an attitude of loving kindness to everyone should be dealt with by the same effort. Try to set aside some special time when you are alone and doing nothing else to meditate on this.

It will help if you imagine yourself in situations where you are being loving to others, and make a special effort to incorporate this as one of your normal qualities.

Try this throughout the holidays, and determine to do the same in the year after, and you will reap immense benefits, not only about how you feel about yourself, but from the beneficial responses you will get from others whose lives you will touch.

PAGE 47

If we could hold hands together (by Yip Me Ling, Sonia Richmond and Heerawattie Teajman) If we could hold hands together, and let hope lie with us, We can march into the future on the right side, For, if I can see hope, why cant you?

If we could hold hands together, and be like sisters and brothers, As one people, one nation with one destiny, We can show the world our beauty and our pride In our country to many waters and peoples.

If we could hold hands together, and reach ever higher towards the sky, We will walk into the future with our heads held high.

Both you and I will become stronger, If you could hold my hand, and I hold yours, Whether dark or white, yellow or brown.

We can show the world our beauty and power, So let us be one, and just for one moment of our lives, We can show them we are the best, And march into the future on the bright side.

Acting with loving kindness, especially at times when you feel maligned, will get you untold rewards in how others will respond to you.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

Solutions to last week’s

kidoku

BRIDGES Connect these islands with bridges until each island can be reached from any other island, and each island has as many outgoing bridges as its number. You may only connect islands vertically or horizontally and bridges may not cross. There may be one or two bridges connecting pairs of islands, but no more than two. Each puzzle has a unique solution that can be found without making guesses.

Goodluck!

KRYPTO INKIES

PAGE 48

How to Remove Dark Spots on Face and Neck 1. Aloe Vera Gel Apply aloe vera juice or natural aloe vera gel directly to the dark spots for 30 minutes in the morning and evening.

Rinse with lukewarm water and finish off with your favorite serum and moisturizer.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar Mix equal quantities of apple cider vinegar and water in a bowl. Stir well and apply on the dark spots.

You can also trying mix a few drops of lemon juice with the vinegar.

Another recipe is to combine 3 tablespoon of orange juice and ½ tablespoon of vinegar.

Rinse with lukewarm water and finish off with your favorite serum and moisturizer.

3. Buttermilk Apply buttermilk to dark spots and leave on for 15-20 minutes.

Rinse with lukewarm water and finish off with your favorite serum and moisturizer.

If you have oily skin or suffering from acne add a little lemon or lime juice.

Rinse with lukewarm water and finish off with your favorite serum and moisturizer.

4. Castor Oil Rub a little oil with Qtip on the dark spots in the morning and in the evening.

5. Horseradish Apply horseradish paste on the skin for 15 minutes.

Rinse with lukewarm water and finish off with your favorite serum and moisturizer.

Repeat 2 to 3 times a week.

If you want a more aggressive remedy combine one piece of grated horseradish 4-5 inches long and ½ a cup of apple cider vinegar in a glass jar. Mix well and leave for 2 weeks, shaking the mixture once a day. After two weeks, apply to your dark spots three times a day for one month. Place in the refrigerator.

6. Hydrogen Peroxide Combine 1 teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide and 1 teaspoon of milk in a glass bowl.

Dip cotton pad or Q-tip in the bowl and apply to dark spots.

Leave on for 15 minutes.

Rinse with lukewarm water and finish off with your favorite serum and moisturizer.

7. Garbanzo Beans Combine a can of mashed chickpeas and 1/3 of water.

Apply paste to dark spots.

Rinse with lukewarm water and finish off with your favorite serum and moisturizer.

Repeat daily.

8. Lemons Cut a slice of lemon and gently apply on the affected area for 10 minutes, morning and evening.

If you have sensitive skin combine 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of water or rose water in a glass bowl.

Dip your cotton pad and apply it to the skin.

Rinse with lukewarm water and finish off with your favorite serum and moisturizer.

You’ll see a difference in lightness within two months.

9. Papaya Peel and remove the seeds from a green papaya.

Next, use a blender or food processor until it forms into a paste.Leave on your face and neck for 20-30 minutes in the morning and before going to bed.

Rinse with lukewarm water and finish off with your favorite serum and moisturizer.

Alternatively we also recommend Pure Fiji’s Exfoliating Scrub to refresh and brighten your delicate facial skin with the freshest of tropical ingredients. This gentle and natural scrub eases away impurities, removes dead skin cells and unblocks pores with the power of Pineapple and Papaya enzymes. Then vitamin-rich coconut crème nourishes newly revealed skin for a brighter and younger looking complexion. Can be used on acne prone skin.

10. Parsley Combine 1 cup chopped parsley, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, and 1 tablespoon yogurt in a glass bowl.

Mix well.Apply mask to face, neck and chest for 15 minutes then rinse.

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 08, 2019

Sunday December 08, 2019

A guy goes in for a job interview and sits down with the boss.

The boss asks him, “What do you think is your worst quality?”

The man says “I’m probably too honest.”

The boss says, “That’s not a bad thing, I think being honest is a good quality.”

The man replies, “I don’t care about what you think!”

My memory has gotten so bad it has actually caused me to lose my job. I’m still employed. I just can’t remember where.

Some people say the glass is half full. Some people say the glass is half empty. Engineers say the glass is twice as big as necessary.

I asked the corporate wellness officer, “Can you teach me yoga?” He said, “How flexible are you?” I said, “I can’t make Tuesdays.”

My boss says I have a preoccupation with vengeance.

We’ll see about that.

The reason we “nod off to sleep” is so it looks like we’re just emphatically agreeing with everything when we’re in a boring meeting.

When an employment application asks who is to be notified in case of emergency, I always write, “A very good doctor”.

Team work is important; it helps to put the blame on someone else.

I’m great at multitasking. I can waste time, be unproductive, and procrastinate all at once.

Nothing ruins a Friday more than an understanding that today is Tuesday.

I can’t believe I got fired from the calendar factory. All I did was take a day off.

I always tell new hires, don’t think of me as your boss, think of me as a friend who can fire you.

My resumé is just a list of things I hope you never ask me to do.

The proper way to use a stress ball is to throw it at the last person to upset you.

There is a new trend in our office; everyone is putting names on their food. I saw it today, while I was eating a sandwich named Kevin.

My annual performance review says I lack “passion and intensity.” I guess management hasn’t seen me alone with a Big Mac. I get plenty of exercise – jumping to conclusions, pushing my luck, and dodging deadlines.

How do construction workers party? They raise the roof.

If every day is a gift, I’d like a receipt for Monday. I want to exchange it for another Friday.

Feeling stressed out? Make a nice cup of hot tea and then spill it in the lap of whoever’s bugging you.

I use artificial sweetener at work. I add it to everything I say to my boss.

A clean desk is a sign of a cluttered desk drawer.

The only thing worse than seeing something done wrong is seeing it done slowly.

If at first you don’t succeed, redefine success.

Give me ambiguity or give me something else.

We have enough youth. How about a fountain of “Smart”?

I started out with nothing and I still have most of it.

The boss frowns on anyone yelling: “Hey Weirdo!” He says too many people look up from their work.

Things really haven’t gotten worse. We’ve just improved our inter-departmental communication skills.

Anything that could possibly go wrong often does – as well as a thing or two that couldn’t possibly.

If it wasn’t for the last minute, nothing would get done.

If our boss makes a mistake, it is our mistake.

A diplomat is someone who can tell you to go to hell in such a way that you will look forward to the trip.

To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.

A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station…

I like work. It fascinates me. I sit and look at it for hours.

I’m out of bed and dressed. What more do you want?

Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted.

To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.

To err is human, to blame it on someone else shows management potential.

A man can do more than he thinks he can, but he usually does less than he thinks he does.I don’t work well under pressure… or any other circumstance.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 49

PAGE 50

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 08, 2019

Sunday December 08, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 51

Kaieteur News

PAGE 52

Sunday December 08, 2019

Immigration Questions & Answers

By Attorney Gail S. Seeram

T

hrough this “Question & Answer” column, our goal is to answer your immigration questions. We appreciate your comments and questions. If you have a question that you would like answered in this column, p l e a s e e m a i l : Gail@GailLaw.com.

Question #1: I lost my certificate of naturalization,

do I need to reapply for one or will my U.S. passport be enough to prove that I am a U.S. citizen?

Answer #1: The certificate of naturalization and certificate of citizenship is primary proof that you are a U.S. citizen. The U.S. passport is second proof. I advise you to file Form N565 to replace your certificate of naturalization.

The filing fee is US $345.00.

Note, you should get a safe deposit box at the bank and

keep items like your passport, birth certificate and certificate of naturalization safely stored.

Question #2: My lawful permanent resident spouse filed a petition for me, can I still apply for a visitor visa?

Answer #3: Yes, you can apply but since you have an intent to live in the U.S., this may impact your approval for the visitor visa.

Remember, to obtain a visitor visa, you must show strong ties to your native

country and also that you have no intent to reside or overstay to live in the U.S. Question #3: Why was my tourist visa revoked?

Answer #3: There can be several reasons why the U.S. Embassy revoked your visa.

Some reasons may be that you failed to meet the requirements for the visa, maybe you overstayed in the U.S. with your visa or maybe you made a fraudulent misrepresentation to the U.S. Embassy.

I would

advise you to see an explanation from the U.S. Embassy, though one if not legally required.

Question #4: I'm a lawful permanent resident, can I apply for my fiancé?

A n s w e r # 4 : Unfortunately, the answer is no. Only a U.S. citizen can apply for a fiancé visa. A fiancé visa is not available for a lawful permanent resident.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the

Gail S. Seeram author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper) Attorney Gail Seeram, LL.M., J.D., BBA call | text 407-292-7730

Iwokrama, and venerable to vulgar in four days From page 34 from the public on themselves through corrupt practices. Nevertheless, it was a shocking display by young women who seemed to feel entitled enough to drop the names of a Minister and a senior police officer, in a veiled threat to have some ranks disciplined. Let's see how this plays out.

Then on Friday morning, I read this jaw-dropping caption “Six-year-old boy allegedly sodomized in school's bathroom.” Now before I, or anyone else, rush to judgement, take note of the word 'allegedly' in the headline, and that no details have been given so far.

Facebook broke the story Thursday evening. The police are investigating, and the Ministry of Education is asking the media not to indulge in sensationalizing the matter. Rightly so.

But the trend of violence in our schools is a growing, and worrying, one. That's putting it mildly. Fighting and bullying have been with our schools for ages, but the kind of blatant and wanton violence we are beginning to see now in institutions of l e a r n i n g is something teachers, parents, the Ministry of Education, and the Police Force need to get a firm handle on. Like yesterday.

The situation is a scary one, especially for female teachers. (By the way it would be interesting to know how many male teachers are left in our schools; my grandson doubted I was a teacher since 'boys don't teach') They may actually need some kind of specialized training in dealing with potentially violent children, including how to defend themselves and protect their charges. This is no joke.

Finally, an outside-ofGuyana shocker. Sexual assaults are among the most prevalent of all crimes g l o b a l l y. R a p e k e e p s t r e n d i n g d a i l y. N o w, according to several reports, an Indian filmmaker is suggesting that his government legalize 'rape without violence' and that women should carry condoms, and 'cooperate' with rapists to avoid getting murdered. What!?

Truth may indeed be stranger than fiction! I think I'll take a trip to the hinterland, and indulge in both. Possibly the retelling of an Iwokrama Macushi legend.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)

What happened in a police outpost From page 40 game and be professional.

By the same token, our religious bodies need to be prodded into action, to awaken from the slumber they have fallen into. Theirs is also a social responsibility.

I see two women, could be my sisters, who are calling for help.

I see two women who are a reflection of the mindset of

a large portion of our society.

It is a fact. There are two or three of four sides to every story. As of now, the conclusions are that as a people, as good people, we dropped the ball on this one, badly. That is not who we are.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 08, 2019

PAGE 53

Illustrations for Guyanese novel, “Kamarang”, to be featured in US art exhibition Three of Bascom's illustrations for the novel 'Kamarang'

O

riginal book illustrations in the form of acrylic paintings by Guyanese writer and artist, Harold A. Bascom (commissioned by Guyanese journalist/writer, Michael Jordan for his supernatural novel, “Kamarang”), will be displayed at the “Black Brick Road Art Show” on December 15, 2019, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., at the DSW Studio, 2964 South Rainbow Drive, Suite #316, Decatur,

GA 30034. (For more information about the exhibition, please visit, www.eventbrite.com) Bascom's illustrations, which will be featured in the new edition of the supernatural novel “Kamarang, (to be back on bookshelves on December 13) will be among a number of paintings by the four-time winner of the Guyana Prize for Literature, who currently lives in the USA where he continues to write, paint, and work as a writer's coach and

freelance book editor.

The exhibition features 40 pieces of art in acrylics, oil, as well as pen and ink drawings. There will be performances by young musicians for the total enhancement of the showing.

The “Black Brick Road Art Show” explores a small group of themes, including the perils of shared spaces between humankind and nature; life in the inner cities of the USA; folklore figures of Guyana, South America; nudity as repression; illustrations for the Michael Jordan novel, “Kamarang”; and the beauty of black, natural hair.

One clear goal in this show is to give viewers a deeper understanding of each piece through conducted art tours of the exhibits.

Harold A. Bascom is a playwright, novelist, and artist based in Loganville, Georgia. He is a retired book illustrator of supplementary readers with the Ministry of Education, here in Guyana, where he also had an illustrious theatrical career as a producer/director and playwright.

He has had solo exhibitions in libraries in Gwinnett County, Georgia, while continuing to write

plays set in Guyana where he continues to be recognized as a writer and prize-winning playwright.

Damali Bascom, a collage artist, collaborates with her father, Harold Bascom, in the collection entitled “The Natural Hair Journey Series.” It is a bold group of portraits of beautiful black females adorned with natural hair made from surprisingly (continued on page 54)

Harold A. Bascom

Kaieteur News

PAGE 54

Sunday December 08, 2019

New York-based Guyanese campaigns for New York City Council seat in Brooklyn

N

ew York-based Guyanese, D i m p l e Willabus, is taking her advocacy for youth development and community service another step further with a campaign for New York City Council.

The coverage area in Southern Brooklyn's Council District 46 is home to thousands of Guyanese.

However, while many Guyanese reside in there, the district is very diverse.

The campaign is set to

host a launch and fundraiser on Thursday, December 12 at 6:30 pm at the Rishavena Center, 2260 Flatbush Ave. Brooklyn NY. This event will give residents a firsthand opportunity to hear Willabus' plans for the district and engage in a community meet and greet, while fundraising for the campaign.

According to her website, Willabus migrated from Guyana and made Brooklyn her home since 2003.

Ever since then, she has observed the development in various neighbourhoods, but also witnessed instances where citizens have been excluded from the same level of opportunity, because they were not part of the “social elite.”

Willabus is committed to addressing the needs of the community and all of its members. According to her website, she is focused on ensuring that all groups have an opportunity to become empowered and contributing

members of our society.

While education has been a hallmark of her agenda, she is well aware that resources and services must be available to a wider array of the community and the greater diaspora, who call Brooklyn home.

Her passion for community service is premised on a desire to ensure that the disenfranchised, the foreignborn, and the overlooked, all receive the access and opportunity promised to

New York-based Guyanese, Dimple Willabus

them by virtue of being in our community.

Willabus has noted that “youth and senior services, small business development, transportation alternatives and quality of life improvement programs are all paramount to her agenda for improving our community!

“It's time for our community to have a leader who will listen to the voices

of the people, before they “speak for the people.”

Willabus went on to emphasize her campaign's platform on various subject areas, “We will reclaim our community by putting people first, increasing educational funding, creating better youth & senior services, improving social programs and creating economic growth through (continued on page 64)

Illustrations for Guyanese novel, “Kamarang”, to be...

From page 53 unique materials.

In a statement, Bascom said that whenever he creates—be it a pen and ink drawing, a painting, a short s t o r y, o r a d r a m a t i c play—the result is ever linked to his consciousness evolved from a convergence of influences that are domestic, spiritual, social, economic, and geo-political.

He further said that in his art, his goal is often to express things that move

him as an avid observer of the human condition, and to illustrate the wonder he feels for nature and humankind's interaction with it.

The “Black Brick Road Art Show” is sure to excite the gallery visitors with the depth of his interpretive pieces, many of which are dark and deep, out of which visitors are likely to emerge more enlightened than they came. Guyanese residents in the USA are encouraged to see it.

Brownstone Madonna

Sunday December 08, 2019

The

Kaieteur News

PAGE 55

Rhea

g .. n i t s. s Greater e re r te atu (Rhea americana) n I re measure 127 to 140 cm (50 to can weigh up to 40 kg (88 lb), C

T

he greater rhea ( R h e a americana) is a species of flightless bird native to eastern South America. Other names for the greater rhea include the grey, common, or American rhea; ñandú (Guaraní and Spanish) or ema (Portuguese).

One of two species in the genus Rhea, in the family Rheidae, the greater rhea is native to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

It inhabits a variety of open areas, such as grasslands, savannah or grassy wetlands. Weighing 20–27 kilograms (44–60 lb), the greater rhea is the largest bird in South America.

In the wild, the greater rhea has a life expectancy of 10.5 years. It is also notable for its reproductive habits, and for the fact that a population has established itself in Northern Germany in recent years.

The adults have an average weight of 20–27 kg (44–60 lb) and often

55 in) long from beak to tail; they usually stand about 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) tall, with a typical range of 1.4 to 1.7 m (4 ft 7 in to 5 ft 7 in), to the top of the head. The males are generally bigger than the females.

Despite the delineation of this species as the "greater rhea" versus the lesser rhea, some data on body masses indicates that both species average about 23 kg (51 lb) in weight, but even at mass parity that greater species appears larger and is taller due to its longer legs and neck, whereas the lesser rhea is more compact and more so resembles an outsized, longnecked turkey in build.

Elsewhere, the lesser rhea has been cited with a lower average weight of 16 kg (35 lb).

In some areas, male greater rheas weights of up to 35 kg (77 lb) are not uncommon and even females of up to 30 kg (66 lb) have been weighed, both weights higher than the maximum known mass for the lesser rhea. Large males

stand nearly 1.83 m (6.0 ft) tall and measure over 150 cm (59 in) long, although this is uncommon.

The head and bill are fairly small, the latter measuring 8–10.4 cm (3.1–4.1 in) in length. The legs are long, with the tarsus measuring between 33.5 and 37 cm (13.2 and 14.6 in), and strong and have 22 horizontal plates on the front of the tarsus. They have three toes, and the hind toe is absent. The wings of the American rhea are rather long; the birds use them during running to maintain balance during tight turns, and also during courtship displays.

Greater rheas have a fluffy, tattered-looking plumage that is grey or brown, with high individual variation. The head, neck, rump, and thighs are feathered. In general, males are darker than females.

E v e n i n t h e wild—particularly in Argentina—leucistic individuals (with white body plumage and blue eyes) as

well as albinos occur.

Hatchling greater rheas are grey with dark lengthwise stripes.

The natural predators of adult greater rheas are limited to the cougar (Puma concolor), which are found in most areas inhabited by greater rheas and are certain to be their leading predator, and the jaguar (Panthera onca), which are found with greater rheas and opportunistically hunt them in the Paraguayan chaco, central Bolivia and the Brazilian cerrado.

Feral dogs are known to

kill younger birds, and the southern caracara (Caracara plancus) is suspected to prey on hatchlings. Armadillos sometimes feed on greater rhea eggs; nests have been found which had been undermined by a six-banded armadillo (Euphractus sexcinctus) or a big hairy armadillo (Chaetophractus villosus) and the rhea eggs were broken apart.

Predation on young rheas has also been reportedly committed by greater grisons (Galictis vittata).

Captive-bred greater rheas exhibit significant

ecological naïvete. This fearlessness renders them highly vulnerable to predators if the birds are released into the wild in reintroduction projects.

Classical conditioning of greater rhea juveniles against predator models can prevent this to some degree, but the personality type of the birds – whether they are bold or shy – influences the success of such training.

In 2006, a protocol was established for training greater rheas to avoid wouldbe predators, and for (continued on page 62)

PAGE 56

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 08, 2019

Continuous training for Health Services Dept. staffers - Region Four RHO

R

egion Four Health Officer, D r. Q u i n c y Jones, has declared that there would be continuous training for his health staff in a bid to ensure that the service they provide is improved.

Dr. Jones made this commitment recently when the region held a one-day 'Effective Communication' workshop for several of its new employees along with several others from various levels within the Health Several participants of the recent workshop pose for a photo Services Department.

Even as he underscored the importance of effective communication, he said, “Training will continue as a priority within the Region Four Health Services as we are determined to ensure that the level and standard of the services that we offer are at a very high level.

The public expects the best and to ensure that we continue to offer them that quality service we must ensure that our staff are continuously trained, and this is what we will continue to do,” Dr. Jones committed.

He continued, “Region Four Health Services Department continues to attend to a significant number of persons. To ensure that they can assist in providing quality services, we have sought to have the training workshop.

“Whether it's our handymen, nurses, clerks, doctors or just about anyone working at any of our health facilities, they should be able to communicate effectively so as to ensure that the needs of the general public are effectively met.”

Dr. Jones disclosed that for 2019, there have been several training workshops covering a wide area, noting that whatever the needs are for staff enhancement and development the required and requisite training would be provided.

“Training was one of our core priorities for 2019 and thus far, we have delivered a significant number of training throughout the year and as the Regional Health Officer, I can commit to saying that training will continue even into the New Year,” he assured.

Dr. Jones pointed out that it is crucial that staff coming into the Regional Health Services Department can better understand their importance in a professional environment so that they can better serve the public.

He stressed the need for t h e c o n t i n u e d communication workshop, stating that the first service that is delivered to the public is communication and as such all employees irrespective of their level should be able to communicate effectively and efficiently.

The one-day training catered for 60 staffers representing both the East Bank and East Coast Demerara corridors.

“We are continuously looking at ways and means of improving staff efficiency, thus better being able to deliver their tasks and responsibilities at the highest level,” he said.

He said that his department has been going through several changes as it seeks to better enhance the services that it offers.

Dr. Jones said after the workshop that he is pleased with the response garnered from participants, adding that with the level of enthusiasm shown the Region Four Health Services Department is poised for improvement.

“Capacity training and building will continue to be a priority and while we looked at effective communication, we will continue to find avenues to ensure that all employees can benefit significantly from continuous training so as to better serve the public,” he reiterated.

Sunday December 08, 2019

100 mining blocks for lottery in Mahdia Mahdia Mining Station

Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) will be hosting a lottery at 11:00hrs on December 11, 2019 in the township of Mahdia, at Mahdia Mining Station.

The lottery will see the Commission handing out 100 prospecting permits for medium scale properties. It has already held a series of lotteries throughout the year, to stay true to its commitment to ensure there is a fair distribution of mining concessions.

An advert in the local newspapers states that interested participants are to register to participate, with a non-refundable participation fee of $5,000. Registration at the Commissions Brickdam office will close on Tuesday, December 10, 2019 at 15:30hrs, while registration will be facilitated at the venue of the lottery from 8:00hrs to 10:00hrs before the lottery starts.

The GGMCs Land Management Division at Brickdam, as well as the Mahdia Mining Station, has registration forms.

Persons who are not residents of Guyana will be disqualified, the Commission is keen

PAGE 57

Kaieteur News

to note. Current holders of mining properties will not be permitted to participate in the lottery, and participants are only allowed to make one application each.

It is also important to note that persons who are successfully allotted blocks during the lottery must file an application for the block

by February 14, 2020. Failure to do so would result in an abandonment of the block award.

GGMC is advising persons to consult the maps which are on display at the GGMC Head Office and the Mahdia Mining Station to find out which blocks are available for allocation, and their particulars. Those maps cost $3,000 per sheet.

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman recently issued mining regulations retroactive to January 1, 2019, which detail the rights of persons to take part in such block allocation processes. Those interested in perusing those regulations may visit this recently filed document at The Official Gazette: https:/ /officialgazette.gov.gy/images/gazette2019/ novofficial_gazettes_30NOVEMBER2019.pdf

Shuman claims PPP/C wanted to meet with him through a back door for coalition agreement In a recent press conference Presidential Candidate Mr. Lennox Shuman of the Liberty and Justice Party was asked, “Why did you not have a meeting with the Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) on coalescing, even though you met with all the presidential candidate of all the political parties?”

He responded that a formal letter was sent to request a meeting but the PPP/C did not respond. Shuman then claimed that officials were sent by the PPP/C to negotiate with the Liberty and Justice Party through a back door, secretly.

He said that his party then refused the proposal since it was not made publicly on their agreement.

He further stated as the former Vice Chair of The National Toshaos Council, many of the chiefs, many of the Toshaos who visited the Ministry of Amerindian Peoples Affairs during the PPPs tenure were cursed, chased out, and verbally abused by the then Perma-

nent Secretary, Nigel Dharamlall.

They were even approached with bribes to cast their ballots for the PPP/C, Shuman added.

In a letter to the editor in another section of the press, Nigel Dharamalall responded during his tenure, which ended in May 2015, anyone who worked with him can attest to the immediate attention he gave to any visiting Toshao or village representative to his office.

During his time in office, Shuman was not a Chief or Toshao. As a matter of fact, Nigel Dharamlall first met Shuman in 2016; as such, Shumans utterance is a figment of his devious imagination, the former Permanent Secretary said.

This publication made attempts to contact General Secretary of the PPP/C; Bharrat Jagdeo to confirm Shumans claims however up to press time, he was unreachable.

UNAMCO road to close for three days The Ministry of Public Infrastructure in collaboration with the Guyana Forestry Commission yesterday announced that the UNAMCO road will be closed to vehicular traffic from tomorrow to Wednesday, December 11, 2019.

“This closure is to facilitate the dismantling of the bridge crossing at Paidaka, 47 Km UNAMCO Road to construct a new and improved bridge,” the commission said yesterday.

The stakeholders that will be affected include Rong-An Inc, UBFAPA Small Loggers, Ituni Small Loggers, Aroaima Small Loggers, Mahase and AMACO Inc.

PAGE 58

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 08, 2019

IS GUYANA, DESTINED FOR WEAK GOVERNMENT?-PART 11

By Donald Ramotar The idea of changing the electoral system to PR arose for the first time after the victory of the PPP in the 1957 General Elections. At first, it was rejected by almost all.

It was mooted by Anthony Tasker who was then a nominated member of the Legislative Council. Tasker later became the head of Bookers operations in British Guiana. As a representative of Bookers, he had every reason to keep the society divided.

The British rejected it then, they felt that it was not the best form of representation. Burnham also showed scant attention to it at that time. It was raised at the 1960 Independence talks, but did not find much support. It is clear that the British had not yet considered it.

However, after the victory of the PPP in the 1961 General

Elections, the call became persistent. Burnham fell in line after the British, having been pushed by the Kennedy Administration, finally gave in to the demand for Proportional Representation as the way to change the government in British Guiana.

The records now released from the Foreign Office in London, show that they had decided to impose that system on the colony after President Kennedy’s visit to the UK in 1963.

While in the late 1950s and 1960s, the British supported Burnham instead of Jagan, and actually installed him, they did not totally trust him.

Recall in Arthur Slazenger’s book John F Kennedy 1000 days in the White House, he said that he had agreed with the British assessment of Burnham as being an opportunist, racist and demagogue intent only on personal power.

That is why they wanted to keep him on a leash, to have him depending on them by forcing him into a coalition arrangement. That British plan did not envisage the rigging of elections.

Burnham having assessed the international situation, felt confident that he could ditch his coalition partner and the British and Americans would not do anything about it because the alternative was the incorruptible, principled Cheddi Jagan and the PPP as the alternative.

He was right. Neither the US nor the UK tried to stop him from carrying out some of the most massively rigged elections in the world. Instead, they continued to finance him. At the same time with their silence, he was able to maintain a façade of democracy.

The rigging of elections and the growing dictatorial

rule prevented the growth of many political parties, as PR characteristically encourages.

This was seen very early on in the period of the PNC in power. Just before the elections of 1968, the PNC got rid of the United Force from the Coalition. By the time the UF withdrew from the coalition it could not bring down the government because the PNC had managed to control the majority of votes in the Parliament.

They did that by massive bribery and the encouragement of corruption of the Ministers of government, particularly those ministers from the United Force. The case of Mohamed Kassim the then Minister of Works in the coalition government is a classic example.

Mr. Kassim was from the UF. His Party leader Mr. Peter D’Aguiar who was then the Minister of Finance reported to the Parliament that Kassim could not account for five million dollars. He strongly suggested that the money was stolen. Mr. Burnham, the Prime Minister promptly got up and said that he had authorised the spending. Kassim immediately crossed the floor and joined the PNC. That is how the PNC got its first majority in the National Assembly. Before that, some PPP parliamentarians

were also bought over by the PNC through a combination of pressures and enticements.

Having seen all of that manoeuvring, people knew that the PNC was about to rig the elections of 1968. As a result, no new party emerged.

Only four parties contested those elections. They were the PPP, PNC, UF and GUMP, a fall from seven in 1964.

In 1973, elections again saw only four parties contesting. They were PPP, PNC, Liberator Party and a new party, the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM).

The Liberator Party was a fusion of the UF and a group called ‘Liberator’. It was headed by Dr. Gunraj Kumar, a prominent and popular medical doctor. The PDM was led

by Llewellyn John, a former Minister of Home Affairs in the PNC/UF Coalition. He was key in the rigging of the 1968 elections. He fell out with the PNC and created his own Party.

In 1980, the contesting parties fell to three, the PPP, PNC and the UF. This was a demonstration that the situation was seen as hopeless by many who probably wanted to contest.

We began to see a change in the 1985 General elections.

By that time Forbes Burnham had died. His successor,

Desmond Hoyte, began to make some reforms, which gave the hope to some that the elections would have been free and fair.

The reforms included some relaxation on the press.

In that period the Stabroek News was born. He also abolished Overseas voting a method used extensively by the Burnham-led PNC to rig elections.

As a result, seven parties contested the poll. They were PPP, PNC, UF, Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Democratic Labour Movement (DLM), National Democratic Front (NDF) and People’s Democratic Movement (PDM). However, the hopes were all dashed. Desmond Hoyte’s PNC massively rigged the 1985 elections. It was the worst rigged elections in our history.

That defeat did not daunt the participants, they began to advocate even more vigorously for a return to Democracy. The opposition parties divided to unite into The Patriotic Coalition for Democracy (PCD). The PCD was formed to pressure the government for real changes. It was making important gains.

The Guyanese people’s resistance increased greatly.

In the meantime, the (Continued on page 60)

Sunday December 08, 2019

PAGE 59

Kaieteur News

STANDARDS IN FOCUS

CONSUMERS! - WARRANTIES ARE IMPORTANT When purchasing, many consumers usually make decisions on the product they intend to buy based on affordability, price, brand, performance and quality. In addition to these, it is also imperative that consumers find out just who will accept responsibility if items they purchased become defective, through no fault of theirs.

Therefore, when shopping this Christmas, it is critical to ensure that written warranties or guarantees are provided to you for certain products.

For products such as electrical appliances and cellular phones, if warranties/guarantees are not offered, it is the responsibility of you, as a consumer, to demand that businesses issue such documents to you at the time of purchase.

If it is an imported product you are buying, it is likely that the manufacturer from the country of origin has provided a warranty on his/her product, which local suppliers must pass on to you.

A warranty is a promise by the manufacturer that he/she will accept responsibility for defects, and liability for repairing or replacing an item sold which is not of merchantable quality. A guarantee is an assurance that the goods or service is of a specified quality and durability.

More specifically, a warranty is a written guarantee given by the manufacturer or supplier to the purchaser undertaking to repair or replace the good or goods if not working properly.

Warranties are of two types, written or implicit. A written warranty is one, which the purchaser collects on his purchase. Meanwhile, an implicit warranty is not written but by law, the supplier must provide an automatic warranty for six months with a

supply of parts and labour without charge.

The Consumer Affairs Act No. 13 of 2011 refers to the provision of warranties to consumer at the time of purchase. Warranties / guarantees must contain the following information: ? Name and address of the guarantor, ? The duration of the warranty (6 months, 1 year, etc.), ? What exactly the warranty covers (whether the whole product or part), and ? The warranty performance (whether the item would be repaired, replaced or the cost will be refunded).

As you engage in shopping for the holidays, pay attention to the details of the warranty and or guarantee offered to you, especially if you are purchasing items such as electrical appliances, computers, furniture, generators, motor vehicles, cell phones, etc.

If the business establishment from which you would like to make a purchase does not provide a warranty/guarantee or you are not satisfied with the details and conditions stipulated in the document, be sure to find another business to make your purchases.

You can also report your case to the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission.

Because warranty agreements vary, it is advisable that suppliers take some time to outline or explain to their customers the content of such agreements. This will help consumers to understand the

coverage offered and avoid difficulties in the event the item becomes defective and there is need to seek redress.

Finally, it is the practice for

some businesses to charge a fee for extended warranties.

Providing extended warranties at a cost should be optional to consumers, and

should be an addition to the actual warranty, which should be provided with the sale of the product.

For further information

please contact the GNBS on Tel: 219-0062, 219-0065, 2190066, 219-0069 or visit the GNBS website: www.gnbsgy.org

PAGE 60

Sunday December 08, 2019

Kaieteur News

IS GUYANA, DESTINED...

SERVICES

FOR SALE

Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040

1 CAT 215 Excavator, 1 CAT 428 Backhoe, 1 Mack concrete mixer 8 CU YDS. Tel# 275-0367/ 683-7225

ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6006887: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

1 Double Steel wheel roller, 19 Wheel Pneumatic roller, 2 Bitumen kettle. Tel# 275-0367/ 683-7225 1 Lathe - 2'’, 1 Mill- never used in Guyana. Call: 261-5401/6802095

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, G R A D U AT I O N , W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

Used parts from CAT 320L Excavator, 4 Rams, Hydraulic Pumps, H Iron, Arm Stick, Computer box. Call: 683-2641

Installation, Repairs and parts for AC, Fridge, Washing Machine, Stove etc. Call Nick 630-1600, 6273206

LAND FOR SALE

We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer-Call: 231-0655; 683-8734. Omar Tow Truck Service #677-0917 Need a land surveyor? We do surveys for: Boundaries, Leases, engineering, cadastral, topo etc. Call: 6622677 Mason- Experienced in casting, block work and plastering. Available on call/ Tel# 619-3296/231-2060 PEN PAL Overseas Base Male Indian seek female.Age 30-33.Must be Educated.Call#602-9975.

FOR SALE/RENT American Pool Tables. Tel #651-9039/277-0578 PROPERTY FOR SALE

K9 German Shepherd pups for sale #664-4666

Parfaite Harmonie $1.8M, Zeelugt $2M neg Tel# 6976311 Parfaite Harmonie $1.2M Farm (East Bank) Main road $7.5M & $4M New Schnoord (100ft x 50ft) $3.8M Tel# 651-1969 Transported land for sale in Rose Hall Town.Call#6031441.

Two bedroom apartment for rent in Albertown. #698-5800/ 648-1391

American Variety Store, 140 Regent & Light StreetWanted Salesgirl, apply in person with written application

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, G R A D U AT I O N , W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Apartments for rent at Nandy Park. #641-3318 One Kitchen/Canteen at Land of Canaan #668-0306 $20,000 monthly, suitable for catering/ preparing guest meals Office & Business space, Hadfield, High & Saffon St, Georgetown. Contact Ray’s Realty #627-9685 Waston’s Apartment- 2 bedroom unfurnished apartment, it’s located in Gordon Street, Kitty. Asking price is $90,000 #675-2413 for more information Waston’s Apartment - fully furnished apartment for overseas guest. Call: 675-2413 for more information One studio apt to rent $8,000 per week, Breda St. #693-9999 VEHICLE FOR SALE

480 acres of Transported Water Front Land, situated at Hogg Island. Contact # 6174004 Lot 1397 Section A, Block X Great Diamond Housing Scheme (110x62) Tel# 2316345, serious buyer

One Ipsum, Good condition, $900,000 neg. #689-5103

Kitty, Georgetown, Double Lot Eccles, Providence, Melanie, Paradise, Soesdyke Linden Highway, Moblissa.

Contact Ray’s Realty. #6279685 FOR RENT

Lot 89 Robb Street, Lacytown, Georgetown. Next door to Mike’s Pharmacy.Land size- 3431.25 Sq.ft. Phone: 617-5323, 6668052 One 3 Story building at 97 Sugar Cane St, S/Rveldt Gdns. $125,000,000. Tel#6749905/695-1356/225-2971

One apartment with two rooms for rent at Market Street, Mon Repos, EBD. Tel# 220-7330/614-0005

Melanie, Enterprise & Enmore ECD, Zeelugt WCD, Campbellville, Kitty, Broad St, Ketley St, Georgetown, Republic Gardens, Craig & Providence. Contact Ray’s Realty #627-9685

WANTED

1 Honda CRV. includes TV, music system, alarm, reverse camera, sproiler, crash bar, Low mileage. PTT Series (First Owner) Contact #6490956

O C E A N V I E W SUBRYANVILLE TWO STOREY CONCRETE HOUSE, 4 BEDROOMS, 4 BATHS, 3 VERANDAHS, LARGE YARD, FULLY FURNISHED.MUST SEE!!

CALL#225-5591/685-8000.

Property for sale- 12 Wellers Delight WCD 36 by 72. #2690231

FOR RENT

One fully equipped Restaurant & Bar, Breda St $200,000 per month. #6939999

Kitchen Assistants, apply at Shanta’s Puri Shop, 225 Camp St. Tel#672-4170 Wanted 1 Office/Personnel assistant at People’s Choice Office, 3 CXC subjects. Tel# 679-9449 or whatsapp #6143895 Bus drivers #44 route, truck/ canter driver Tel#698-7807/ 225-3234 Wash Boys needed 18 Handbury Ave (Nandy Park) #233-5227/682-1616 Commerical supervisor to work in Georgetown, must have a valid drivers’ licence.

Call: 227-1717, andre@cevons.com Labourer to work on cash crop farm. Tel# 695-6139/6387420/679-7552 1 Vaquero to work on ranch and look after cows. Tel#6199143/614-8857 Jet and Marack men to work on land dredge in Interior. Tel# 672-3359 Business location suitable for small restaurant. Call: 6103988

1- Pearl Nissan Bluebird Slyphy. Excellent Condition, low mileage, first owner, accident free. Price $2.3M Negotiable. Tel# 628-8799 07 BMW MSport Edition, less than 87,000km, drives great, 2.9M neg, for more information call: 648-6567/ Facebook.com/AriaImports Red CRV- 2007 model. Contact 666-7895 2011 Nissan Note 1500cc imported Eco mode for gas saving. (wine red) Alloy rims.

Contact #623-5752 TO LET Rooms tolet, 1 bedroom- 3 bedroom, working people: $30,000,$32,000,$35,000, $55,000 monthly, 2 month security. Call: 623-0076 WANTED

3 bedroom semi furnished apt @ Laluni St, Queenstown Georgetown, Parking, Hot water shower, 1 bedroom a/c, US$1200. Tel#624-0118

Contract cars needed and motorcyclists to do deliveries, must have own motorcycle.

Call: 227-4885 / 699-6152

Wanted land to buy anywhere on the East Bank, Parfaite Harmonie or on the West Coast #642-1252

CAR RENTAL DOLLYS AUTO RENTAL CALL: 225-7126 & 2263693 -DOLLYS AUTO RENTAL @ YAHOO.COM/ W W W . D O L L Y SAUTORENTAL.COM PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS FROM $4000 & UP, SUV’S PER DAY- CALL: 656-0087 / 6435122 ,EMAIL:PRO_ A U T O R E N T A L @YAHOO.COM AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807

(From page 58) international situation had undergone some great changes as well. The cold war had ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The combination of a united opposition at home and a new international situation in which the threat of “communism” was removed, created favourable conditions for change in Guyana.

The Republic Day message by President George Bush to Desmond Hoyte in 1991 clearly signaled that the US position on the toleration of rigged elections in Guyana had come to an end. That gave great hope to the democratic forces that the people’s vote would finally be counted.

As a result, eleven parties contested the 1992 General Elections in which the PPP/ Civic emerged victorious, despite many predictions that it could not win 50% of the votes. Indeed, it won 53.45%.

Since then the number of parties contesting the elections were more or less constant. What has been changing is the fact that some parties have been combining be-

fore the elections. We have seen GAP/WPA, GAP/ROAR and later APNU in which some seven parties have combined.

This year we have seen a massive jump in the number of political parties on the scene. Many parties are emerging representing smaller and smaller group interest.

In an atmosphere of the possibility of free elections many are staking claims. To get into the National Assembly a party only needs approximately five thousand votes. However, that one or two seats can give that party much greater bargaining power than its popular vote.

This would be so in a situation where no party or combination of parties gets fifty-one percent of the votes.

With Free and Fair elections, the second objective of the then colonial power when Proportional Representation was imposed began to become a reality. That is to have “weak” coalition governments in Guyana.

No doubt some, particularly leaders of the smaller parties, would see this as a good thing. However, it could be the worst thing that can happen to our country, with the exception of rigged elections and undemocratic governments. Weak governments create instability and are a big obstacle to progress.

Remember that we will in the immediate future be an oil producing country. We will VACANCY have to deal with very power2 Vacancies- Clerk & ful international companies Domestic, live-in facilities for with revenues bigger than the Berbicians and Essequibians Caribbean states combined. #219-5354 That group would have the resources to finance parties Driver, must have sound and ensure that the major secondary education, for companies have the power more information, please call: because of the parties they 223-0090 could control.

Weak governments and Female Cleaner office & undemocratic regimes can home.Call#642-9823. turn our country into a playLooking for a job & ground and our people playeducational services? things in the hands of mighty Contact The Job Centre 43 transnational companies.

Croal & Alexander Street or More than fifty years later, we see the contours of weak pupcall 684-3757/600-8457 pet government in Guyana.

Truck & Hauler drivers, The best way forward is Excavator operators, to have strong, democratic adEngineers, Labourers, ministration that seeks to Security & Procurement build consensus to deal with Officers Accounts & international capital and to Marketing Clerk. Apply @ give Guyana and its people the chungsvacancy@yahoo.com best conditions for socio-economic progress.

Salesgirl needed (mature Those who advocate conpreferable) store at Gafoors stitutional reform should conMc Doom. Tel# 638-1106 sider reviewing the electoral Cashier/Waitress, Assistant system specifically, joining cook. Call: 225-7933 or visit with the rest of the Caribbean 172 Sheriff Street, next door to and return to the First Past the Post (Constituency) System Survival as it is the best system to enC a s h i e r s / S u p e r m a r k e t sure strong governments.

History and experience helpers, apply in person with written application @ Nirva have shown that only the Superstore, 49 Sheriff & Craig People’s Progressive Party/ Civic has the capacity to St. Tel# 227-5771 stand-up for the good of the One Experienced teacher who whole nation. will love to read and teach a 4 A strong PPP/Civic is inyr old boy. Call: 623-1615 dispensable for our nation.

Sunday December 08, 2019

PAGE 61

Kaieteur News

CONSUMER CONCERNS

DDL PIONEERS WELCOME GUYANESE ENTRY INTO OIL AND GAS SECTOR

BY PAT DIAL Demerara Distillers Ltd (DDL) has earned for itself the reputation of quietly pioneering new industries, helping in import substitution, earning much needed foreign exchange and providing employment for hundreds.

Among the industries which DDL had conceptualised and created are paper recycling done today by Caribbean Containers Ltd to produce cardboard boxes used by manufacturers; production of genuine fermented vinegar which replaced the diluted acetic acid passed off as vinegar; dry ice for the fishing industry; yeast; Co2 gas used in the aerated drinks industry; a rum-based fruit cake mix which is widely used by pastry makers, both locally and abroad and so on.

Whatever goods and services DDL produces have the reputation of being of the highest quality and world class and the Company was among the first in Guyana to achieve ISO ratings. A good example of the quality of products DDL offers is its El Dorado Rums.

These rums are universally acknowledged to be the best rums in the world and have consistently won every notable international prize.

The El Dorado rums are an achievement of both national and historical importance:

They have won for Guyana the same flavour of prestige which Scotland enjoys as the producer of whiskeys and they are the culmination of the perfection of rum which rum producers have been striving to achieve for over 300 years.

The creativity and remarkable success which DDL has achieved was not adventitious but is attributed to Dr. Yesu Persaud and his successor, Mr. Komal Samaroo, two unique CEOs and leaders.

Both leaders have been supported by a staff who are known Caribbean-wide as high-level performers.

It was therefore no surprise when it was recently announced that DDL would be entering the Oil and Gas Sector through its newly formed subsidiary, Demerara Offshore Inc. Oil and Gas is a distinctly new industry in Guyana and indeed, there are comparatively few countries in the world where the industry exists.

DDL, accordingly, in its well known and well-tried style, did not enter the Industry precipitately but did so after thorough research into the various aspects of the Industry, built up international industrial contacts and cultivated relationships with world leading products, finally entering into partnership with Caribbean Welding Supplies Ltd (CWSL), a Trinidad-based company very

experienced in the Oil and Gas industry.

Actually, it was the DDL subsidiary Demerara Contractors and Engineering Ltd (DCEL) and Trinidad's CWSL which partnered in the joint venture to create Demerara Offshore Incorporated.

At the launching of Demerara Offshore Inc, DDL detailed the main activities of the Company: "Demerara Offshore Inc will be providing a wide range of services to the Oil and Gas Sector, that includes the development of a world class shore based facility, welding and fabrication, electrical, mechanical, instrumentation, blasting and painting, specialized coating, nondestructive testing and inspection, valve repairs, pressure testing, waste management and disposal, catering, equipment rental and human resource development".

The services which Demerara Offshore are offering are not only comprehensive but more competitive than foreign-based companies could offer.

Mr. Komal Samaroo, as Chairman of both DDL and Demerara Offshore Inc, visualised the national and patriotic benefit which DOI could bring by earning foreign exchange for the nation, by "nativising" the Oil and Gas Sector and by training a large number of Guyanese in the technology and other needs of the Oil and Gas Sector.

In Mr. Samaroo's words, "We hope we can add to the local content of the Oil and Gas Sector through the various contracts we will be entering into and through the development of the human skills in the country to meet the standards required by the Industry … Demerara Offshore will bring real value added opportunities to Guyanese and the Guyana economy.

“Through our partnerships with companies providing world-leading products and services, Demerara Offshore will leverage substantial knowledge and expertise to develop the Guyanese capacity".

Mr. Nigel Bennett, the

CEO of CWSL, in his remarks at the launching of Demerara Offshore Inc was congratulatory to DDL and looked forward to the Industry being ‘Guyanized’.

Mr. Bennett remarked, "In Trinidad and Tobago, given our long industrial and Oil experience, we have a lot to offer Guyana as our CARICOM family.

We are delighted to support our lead partner DDL. This is an initiative for Guyana's development and DDL has a long history of serving this country . . . The efforts of Demerara Offshore will allow for the development of both the technologies and the human resources required for the development of the

Guyana Oil and Gas Industry.

It is important that Guyanese themselves are trained and prepared to take the Sector forward with Guyanese character".

We are confident that Demerara Offshore would be a catalyst for other Guyanese companies to enter the Oil and Gas Sector and they could now do so more quickly since Demerara Offshore would have provided them with the organizational template for such new companies.

The Guyanese business and entrepreneurial community should not allow the opportunities offered by the Oil and Gas Sector to slip out of their hands to foreign based companies.

PAGE 62

Berbice Bar Association donates to ruptured brain aneurysm patient The Berbice Bar Association (BBA) on Thursday made a monetary donation to brain aneurysm patient, Ravina Austin. Austin, a mother of four is now one step closer to reaching a mountainous target of $6.4M to undergo the surgery in Guyana.

Her condition which has rendered her helpless, came unexpectedly when she was on an outing at the Berbice Expo and Trade Fair earlier this year. She collapsed at the event. In light of her condition and need for monetary assistance, the BBA managed to gather some funds to hand over to her.President of the BBA, Attorney-at-law Horatio Edmonson, stated that since hearing about her condition,

members got busy contacting other members to step forward and assist. He added that thus far, some members made contributions while others have promised to do so.

“Even though it is at short notice, we were able to put together some money. We thought rather than wait after the holidays until everything comes in, we would have go ahead and let you know that we are serious about the contribution,” he said.

Edmonson noted that the woman’s situation caught his interest since he would have recently gone through a craniotomy. He added that the donation by the Bar Association is just a start but hopes to do more in the near future.

Sunday December 08, 2019

Kaieteur News

Austin, her husband (behind) and members of the Berbice Bar Association He expressed hope that the operation will be a success.

Austin, after receiving the cheque, Ms. Austin tearfully expressed her gratitude for that which was given and spoke of the difficulties she currently endures since her

untimely medical issue. She said she was very thankful.

Austin currently has a ruptured brain aneurysm and was examined by Neorologist

Amarnauth Dhuki. He will be executing the emergency surgery at the NeuroSpine Services Inc, a private facility.

Persons interested in as-

sisting can contact Austin on telephone number: 670 0345 or donate to her Republic Bank account. The account number is 962352050698.

The Greater Rhea

From page 55 identifying the most cautious animals for release. The greater rhea is considered a Near Threatened species according to the IUCN, and they have a decreasing range of about 6,540,000 square kilometres (2,530,000 sq mi).

The species is believed to be declining due to increased hunting and the conversion of central South American grasslands to farmland and ranchland.

The populations of Argentina and Uruguay are most seriously affected by the decline. Farmers sometimes consider the greater rhea pests, because they will eat broad-leaved

crop plants, such as cabbage, chard and bok choy. Where they occur as pests, farmers tend to hunt and kill greater rheas. The burning of crops in South America has also contributed to their decline. International trade in wildcaught greater rheas is restricted as per CITES Appendix II. The rheas in Germany are legally protected in a similar way to native species.

In its new home, the greater rhea is considered generally beneficial as its browsing helps maintain the habitat diversity of the sparsely populated grasslands bordering the Schaalsee biosphere reserve.

[Source: Wikipedia]

Sunday December 08, 2019

PAGE 63

Kaieteur News

Ramps Logistics spread Christmas cheers to Orphanages Tamika Marshall performing

Santa and his elves

“The Christmas season is right around the corner and we want everybody to have the Christmas spirit and today’s event is to make sure that children in the orphanages can play and

Children enjoying pony riding

It was all fun and games yesterday at the National Park as Ramps Logistics, El Dorado Offshore, and Orbis Caribbean hosted its second annual Christmas treat for children at the orphanages.

The event attracted over 500 children and was held under the theme “Santa’s WorkShop”. The children were treated to toys and snacks along with photo shoot with Santa Claus.

There were 14 booths at the event that allowed the children to do face painting, craft making, pony riding, and balloon blowing amongst others.

Performing at the event was local music sensation, Tamika Marshall.

The children were greeted with warm smiles by staffers; there were lots to eat and drink, fun games and a chance to win multiple prizes.

The orphanages that participate in the event are Bosco Boys’ homes, St. Ann’s Orphanage, Sophia care centre, Joshua House Children Centre and Shaheed boys and girls Orphanage.

In an interview, Ramps Logistics media Coordinator, Rhea Ramkhelawan said the event is aimed at giving back to the society.

Health and safety inspectors...

From page 14 simulated environment, how safety equipment and procedures can be used in preparing for, and during helicopter emergencies – with particular focus on escaping from a helicopter following ditching.

The CA-EBS ID training is to ensure that the delegate gains the required knowledge and understanding of the particular hazards and properties of a Compressed Air Emergency Breathing System (CAEBS) and appropriate practical emergency response actions to take should the requirement for emergency deployment arise.

Neville Nichols and Roydon Croal, senior HSE Inspectors attached to the Ministry, attended training

from December2 and successfully completed the programme, which now allows them to be eligible to board a helicopter to go Offshore to the Liza Destiny FPSO. Both delegates were very impressed with the quality of the training and professionalism displayed by our staff.

The training resulted in an immediate request to train additional persons early in the New Year.HHSL Safety Systems Limited is the only OPITO training provider in Trinidad approved to conduct Compressed Air Emergency Breathing System Initial Deployment (CA-EBS ID) Training which is a requirement for flying Offshore Guyana, and will soon be a requirement for Trinidad Offshore operations.

have a fun time too.”

“The event was planned

by Ramps Logistic staff with the aim of reaching as many children as possible. Last year’s event was nice; but this year I am impressed.

“It melts my heart to see the not too fortunate children enjoying a good time and we know for sure that next year will be bigger,” Rhea Ramkhelawan continued.

The event was jointly

brought to reality with the help of Nalco Champion, Giftland, Guyana Beverage Inc, Palm Court, Williams Transportation, Blue Waters, Sheriff Security, GTT, and Radio Sensation DJ Casual.

PAGE 64

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 08, 2019

Govt. Rejects Call For Styrofoam Ban Delay Discover a hidden paradise within...

The Gleaner - The Government says it will proceed with implementing the ban on locally manufactured and distributed Styrofoam products used in the food and beverage industry, which takes effect on January 1, 2020.

This follows the implementation of phase one of the ban on the importation of the items, which took effect on January 1 this year.

In light of concerns regarding the availability of suitable alternatives in the local market and requests for a delay in the implementation of the second phase of the ban, policymakers engaged indus-

try stakeholders including the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association, the Small Business Association of Jamaica and individual private sector companies, as well as the relevant public sector entities to consider the concerns.

Daryl Vaz, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation with responsibility for Land, Environment, Climate Change and Investments, noted that policymakers deliberated on the recommendations put forward by each stakeholder group, keenly considering the

availability of suitable alternatives.

But, Vaz says the policymaker’s assessment determined that with the increasing availability of viable alternatives, the Government is convinced that the timely implementation of this second phase will continue to improve the lives of all Jamaicans as well as safeguard public health and the environment.

Vaz explained that the decision to continue was strengthened by the successful implementation of the first phase of the ban.

From page 18 Guyanese menu. Wake up to a spread of steaming pepper pot and tuma pot, warm cassava bread and 'float bake' and a wide array of fruits grown right at the resort or indulge in a healthy cup of sorrel tea.

For dinner, enjoy a scrumptious plate of fried fish and 'metemgee' washed down with a cool glass of coconut water. Organically grown vegetables, free-range chickens and eggs boost the resorts health and eco conscious lifestyle.

This nature-lovers paradise is abundant with exotic wildlife and a variety of tropical flowering plants, vines and trees. This is Adel's.

Why Adel's Resort The resort was named after the late Adel Stoll and pays homage to a true Guyanese who raised 12 children by selling locally grown produce and homemade sweets to take care of her family.

The resort is now run by her granddaughter, Zena Stoll, who makes it her duty to keep the family heritage alive.

After several years, the land was left untouched, the resort run down and unkempt, much to Zena's dismay.

The woman decided to return from the US and breathe life into the land, reclaiming her family history and giving Guyanese a slice of paradise in their own back yard.

What to expect Adel's is laden with a wide range of fruit trees - papaw, star apple, mango, guava, lemons, lime and coconut. According to Zena, these all play a key role in making Adel's the paradise that it is known to be. The resort has three buildings, each one self-contained, with the middle building being the meet-and-greet lounge, relaxation, reading, and dining area.

Guests who arrive at the resort are given a glass of cold

coconut water a hot or cold rag, depending on how the weather goes.

Recreational activities are in abundance. You could take a few hours to relax in the foyer and read a book or two.

On a hot day, dive into the creek or dip your toes into the refreshingly cold waters.

For the more adventurous, enjoy canoeing on the Pomeroon River or take a few hours to go fishing and let your mind melt away.

Depending on the time of day, you can have the opportunity of seeing the Scarlet Ibis and White Egrets nesting. Adel's also facilitates tours to the Amerindian rese r v a t i o n s o f Wa k a p a o , Moruca, and Akawini.

So whenever the city gets a bit too much, a bit too crowded, come spend some time at Adel's Rainforest Resort. Let it nourish your body and mind. Enjoy the clean air, peace and tranquility. Adel's Rainforest Resort awaits you.

New York-based Guyanese campaigns for...

From page 54 small business development.�

Willabus is a wife and mother of three who stays true to her virtues of hard work, compassion and family values, which were instilled in her at an early age through a Guyanese upbringing which plays an important role in how she views community work.

This community advocate holds a Master's Degree in Media Studies from Brooklyn College and a Bachelor's Degree in Broadcast Journalism.

Her experience in that field dates back 24 years to Guyana where she was well known as Dimple Singh for hosting the pioneer TV program 'Rhythm Nation.�

The Rhythm Nation Entertainment brand partners with CEO's, organizations, entrepreneurs and various government entities, to grow their personal and professional brands and to maximize their effectiveness within their selected industry.

Willabus also has nearly

25 years in the media, marketing, and entertainment industry providing her professional expertise to a wide array of organizations and brands.

Willabus achieved success by teaming with various business and professional entities, including: Light Switch Learning, Justice Clothing, Sussman Publishing, Investors Bank, as well as, numerous entertainment industry professionals and elected officials.

Sunday December 08, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 65

PAGE 66

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 08, 2019

Sunday December 08, 2019

PAGE 67

Kaieteur News

Bank of Baroda must bridge technology divide between parent company and local operations Central Bank Governor

By Kemol King The Bank of Baroda has been charged by Central Bank Governor, Gobind Ganga, to bridge the technological divide between the Banks operations here in Guyana and its Indian headquarters. He made this charge, during a customer meeting, held by Baroda at the Georgetown Club, on Friday evening.

The bank, which has been operating in Guyana for decades, has been a commendable force in the financial market in its earlier decades here, according to Ganga.

“Baroda is not just the little Bank.”

For it to remain a force, the Governor posited that it will have to start doing more.

He said that a recent visit to Barodas headquarters in India opened his eyes to the impressively modern technologies offered by the Bank to its clients there, and the disparity in what is provided here.

He explained that the technologies used in India allow the Bank to give its customers better ease of banking.

“You can take your pass book and just throw it into a machine without even looking at the page, and you can pick

it up at the other end, all updated… The machine does everything.”

“An account can be opened with an Ipad anywhere in the country. There is total financial inclusion.

You could go to the ATM and do whatever business you want. You could use your phone, ask for a certain amount of cash, then you will be told to drop in at this bank in the next 10 minutes to take your cash away.”

“Those are what we were able to observe in India. So what happens in Guyana?” the Governor asked.

He said that he was astounded that customers in India are so well tended to, “but we [Guyana] havent had the kind of services out of Baroda.”

Dr. Ganga and Finance Minister Winston Jordan are both supportive of Baroda being a proactive bank in this country.

“We want to see it grow and offer the kind of services that are being offered in India.”

Dr. Ganga said that where expansion and modernisation are concerned, Baroda will benefit.

First Oil is just days away,

and Dr. Ganga is sure that the revenues accrued from that sector will be a catalyst for that growth.

The Governor said that, in India, he learnt that the Central Bank of India has been very instrumental in the facilitation of the provision of services by banks across the vast expanse of India. He said that the Bank of Guyana wants to have a similar harmonious relationship with Baroda, and help it to expand.

Dr. Gangas delegation was received by the Central Bank India, who reportedly gave assurance that it will help, as one aspect of the banks role is ensuring that services are provided for the Indian Diaspora.

Guyana already has the regulation and legislation necessary to modernise the banking system, Dr. Ganga told the gathering, for the provision of better services for big customers as well as smaller retail customers.

He said that there will be policies in place to ensure growth and stability of the financial system.

The Bank of Baroda had made an announcement that it intended to sell off its local operations, but then reneged

Baroda’s customers at Friday’s Meeting on that decision just a few months ago.

The Banks Directors told its customers on Friday that it is “here to stay!”

Dr. Ganga said that its Indian Director told him the bank is committed to Guyana.

It was relayed to the audience that it intends to move its headquarters, and open several branches across the country.

Guyana is awaiting Barodas strategic plan, which will detail its plan to revolutionise its operations.

Governor, Bank of Guyana, Gobind Ganga

PAGE 68

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 08, 2019

Sunday December 08, 2019

India’s NBA trailblazer Satnam Singh fails dope test AFP - Satnam Singh, the first Indian to be drafted into the NBA, has been provisionally suspended by India’s anti-doping agency after failing a drugs test last month.

Singh, who joined the Dallas Mavericks in 2015, failed an out-of-competition test last month and was handed a temporary ban on November 19, according to the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) newsletter.

The banned substance that was been detected in Singh’s sample was not confirmed.

The 23-year-old Singh, standing 7 feet 2 inches (2.18 meters) tall, has denied the charge through a statement yesterday, asserting he is “clean”.

“Mr. (Satnam Singh)

PAGE 69

Kaieteur News

Satnam Singh (R) failed a drugs test last month. (AFP/File/Adek Berry) Bhamara is disputing the said charge and has requested a hearing before the NADA Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) in order to put forth his case,” the statement

said.

“Mr. Bhamara would like to state that he was and remains a clean competitor and has always played basketball fairly.”

Sunday December 08, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You might be more energetic than you've felt in a long time. It's the perfect day to get busy with tasks, projects, and housework. You'll breeze through most things in no time and enjoy them.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) If only more days could be this easy. The energy from the aspects is revitalizing, allowing you to get a lot accomplished.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Today will start off with an energy boost for you. Seize the opportunity to make the most of this by getting those major projects and chores handled. It isn't every day that you feel this good.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Today the cosmic conditions are great for peak physical and mental energy.

You'll be able to take on almost anything.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Expect to enjoy today.

You're in great shape and operating at peak performance.

These are excellent conditions for working or creating.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) The energy today means you'll feel on top of the world. Given your usual hardworking nature, you may need to keep an eye out for exhaustion. While the extra strength, health, and mental sharpness give you tremendous support to get a lot done.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You're off to an excellent start. If you've felt a little weary lately, this will change. Added mental and physical strength is available to you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You might feel like you have more energy today than you usually do.

Whether the tasks ahead require physical strength or mental acuity, approach them with confidence.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Expect to start your day with renewed strength and energy.

Almost everything on your to-do list will fall into place.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) ToThis will be one of those days when you're glad to get up. The energy is exceptionally positive. You'll probably feel energetic, confident, and ready to get down to work on your projects.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) It's going to be a great day to get things done. Cosmic conditions will have you feeling energetic and raring to go. If there's a list of things to do waiting for you, grab it and get going.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) This will be an excellent day to start some of the projects you've held back for some time. You'll likely feel more physical and mental energy than you've experienced lately.

Singh, who did not play an NBA game, went on to play in the National Basketball League of Canada after signing a deal with St John’s Edge in September 2018.

He has represented India at the Asian Championships, 2018 Commonwealth Games and the 2019 World Cup Qualifiers.

There is also a Netflix documentary ‘One in a Billion’ which charts Singh’s remarkable journey from a remote Punjab village to the Mavericks.

Ex-skipper Smith set to become South Africa...

From page 66 presidents of the 14 provincial affiliates – “to continue to guide us through this period and turn it around.”

The press conference came after a tumultuous week during which five leading journalists had their accreditation withdrawn, a major sponsor announced it would not renew its agreement with CSA and chief executive Thabang Moroe was suspended on charges of misconduct.

Nenzani said a lack of trust in Moroe by Smith was a factor in negotiations which have been conducted sporadically over a period of three months.

Several prominent individuals, as well as the Gauteng cricket board and

the SA Cricketers’ Association, called for the board to stand down but Nenzani said the issue had not been raised at a meeting of the members’ council which started late on Friday and continued until the early Saturday.

He brushed off the resignations of three of the board’s five independent directors.

“We thank them for their service and will engage in a process to fill the vacancies,” he said.

Nenzani said the respected Jacques Faul, the chief executive of the Northerns cricket union and a former acting chief executive of SA, had agreed to again become the acting chief executive with immediate effect.

PAGE 70

Sunday December 08, 2019

Kaieteur News

Smalta girls’ peewee football tourney

Sweet revenge for North Georgetown

MVP Martha Chance (left) of North Georgetown in action during last night’s final against West Ruimveldt.

A brace from tournament MVP and highest goal scorer Martha Chance was enough to see 2018 runners-up North Georgetown beat 2018 Champions West Ruimveldt 2-1 in the final of the 2019 Smalta girls’ peewee football tournament which was played last evening at the Ministry of Education (MOE) ground on Carifesta Avenue.

Chance’s opening goal in the 11th minute set her aside from the rest of the players on the field, dribbling two defenders before putting her shot high in the right corner, far out of the reach of the goalkeeper.

The North Georgetown bench was in uproar after the goal, but their lead was shortlived.

Danella Lewis’ 15th minute shot which flew past the keeper meant that the scores were back level as the

West Supporters streamed onto the field in celebration of their players.

Visibly upset at the equalizer, North Georgetown led by Chance begun bombarding the opposition with shots from all distances of the field but to no avail.

Eventually, the half ended and even before the commencement of the second half, the North Georgetown side was back on the field, sitting in their playing positions. Chance was the point of their attack, often times shooting just steps into the opposition half.

On every attempt, she tested the goalkeeper’s skill, inching closer and closer to the goal that seemed inevitable.

Chance’s second goal, which was her 22nd

successful strike of the tournament, was a curling free kick just tall enough to clear the heads of the defenders but producing enough dip into the goal which sent the crowd wild.

In addition to the championship trophy, North Georgetown received $100,000 towards a project of the school’s choice, while West Ruimveldt pocketed $50,000.

In the third place playoff, Tucville beat Redeemer 3-2 via kicks from the penalty mark. Tucville received $30,000, while Redeemer got $20,000.

Smith’s Memorial finished fifth, St Stephens finished sixth, Timehri Primary finished seventh and South Ruimveldt finished eighth.

Ex-skipper Smith set to become South Africa director of cricket

Graeme Smith made 117 Test appearances for South Africa before retiring in 2014. (AFP/File/Alexander Joe) AFP - Former Test captain Graeme Smith is set to become Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) director of cricket, the governing body’s president Chris Nenzani announced yesterday.

Nenzani added at a press conference he had spoken to 38-year-old Smith earlier in the day.

“I am happy to announce that we have engaged Graeme Smith and I am confirming that by next week Wednesday all of the negotiations around the contract terms that need to take place would have been concluded,” said Nenzani,

speaking after a special board meeting of CSA, following a week of crisis for the organisation.

If Smith agrees to take the job he will have just over two weeks to put a selection panel and coaching staff in place before the first of four Tests against England, starting in Centurion on December 26.

Despite calls for the resignation of Nenzani and the entire board, Nenzani said the board had been mandated by the organisation’s members’ council – made up of (Continued on page 65)

Sunday December 08, 2019

PAGE 71

Kaieteur News

GFF-Always Championship Cup 2019

Fruta Conquerors and Lady Panthers flay opponents; two more matches on today

Shavey Reuben - Lady Panther FC The clash of the GFFAlways Championship Cup 2019 will be today from 13:00hrs hours when the two undefeated sides face off in what is anticipated to be an exciting showdown.

Fruta Conquerors and Lady Panthers who both brushed aside their opponents yesterday at the GFF National Training Centre at Providence will clash today in a match that is anticipated to be an intense affair.

Conquerors have scored a total of 18 goals in two matches, thumping Santos 10-0 and yesterday they arrested the Guyana Police Force 8-0. Lady Panthers on the other hand have netted a total of eight (8) goals in their two wins s o f a r, d e f e a t i n g t h e Guyana Police Force 3-0 and yesterday they romped to a 5-0 triumph over Foxy Ladies.

While Fruta Conquerors boasts a formidable side, Lady Panthers have shown that they will be a force to reckon with and would be led by the championship’s joint leading goal scorer, Shavey Reuben who has six to date; scoring all five in her team’s 5-0 win over Foxy Ladies yesterday.

Conquerors’ Tiandi Smith also has six goals to her account so far and would no doubt be seeking to further increase that tally against the Panthers today.

Conquerors’ Lakesha Pearson and Abiosi Heywood both with four goals each will form potent support for Smith in their quest for their third win in

Tiandi Smith (right), Shamya Daniels, Lakeisha Pearson, Abiosi Heywood and Jimmaica Hunte – Fruta Conquerors FC. as many matches.

The feature match today will see Santos and the Guyana Police Force going for their first win after one and three matches respectively from 15:30hrs.

Foxy Ladies won their opening match last week 20 against the Guyana Police Force.

Meanwhile, yesterday,

Night two C’bean Boxing C/Ships in Trinidad

Another disappointing night for Guyana despite Alesha Jackman’s successful debut Guyana’s endured another disappointing night on Friday when night two of the National Cycling Velodrome in Couva, the 2019 Caribbean Boxing Championships commenced the evening in Central Trinidad despite Alesha Jackman’s success in her overseas debut.

Darren France lost to Daniel Sylvester of Grenada, while Richard Howard lost theTrinidadian Hosein Nyrell in what was deemed by the Guyana a blatant home town verdict.

“We protested that fight as it was the most blatant robbery ever seen. I had to lodge US$1000 in order for the protest to proceed.

If we lose the protest the money gone,” lamented an angry Steve Ninvalle, President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA).

The Howard, Nyrell fight was being reviewed yesterday evening.

In the lone success story of another night with controversial decisions was the encounter between Alesha Jackman and T&T’s Elias Sharika in the Youth Women’s Novices division.

The skilful Alesha, representing the 83,000 square Miles of Guyana and the Forgotten Youths Foundation in the heart of Albouystown, showcased her talent with a scintillating display in her overseas debut.

One of two females in the Guyana team; the other being her older sibling Abiola,

Alesha Jackman Alesha came out with all guns blazing and stopped a stunned Sharika in the first with a flurry of punches in bunches.

Efforts to contact GBA Technical Director Terrence Poole and Manager of the team in Trinidad for a comment on the protest, proved futile.

The action was set continue last night.

(Sean Devers)

the Fruta ladies continued to show that they are arguably the best female side in Guyana following in the footsteps of their male counterparts, the GFF Elite League champions.

They took care of business against one of the new kids on the block, Guyana Police Force, 8-0.

Tiandi Smith led the goal account with a Helmet-trick in

the 5th, 11, 22nd and 48th minutes in another dominating performance for the Tucville based side.

Her tally was complimented by goals from Shamya Daniels (15th), Lakeisha Pearson (31st), Jimmaica Hunte from the penalty spot (36th) and Abiosi Heywood in the 55th minute.

In the opening match

yesterday, it was the Shavey Reuben show. The #16 player was in ripping form as she single handedly mesmerized the Foxy Ladies defence netting all five goals.

Goalkeeper Leiona Douglas was beaten in the 15th, 17th, 40th, 45th and 51st minutes. No doubt, Reuben would love to increase her personal tally today and lead her team to another win.

592 Beer Inter-Village Football C/Ship’ resumes tonight at Golden Grove All roads will lead to the Golden Grove ground this evening when the inaugural ‘592 Beer InterVi l l a g e Football Championship’ resumes with a pivotal doubleheader from 19:00hrs tonight. The opening game of the night will pit Friendship against unbeaten Paradise in what promises to be keenly contested affair.

Friendship will be desperate for a positive result following a drawn outcome in their previous outing. On the other hand, Paradise, who are considered the dark horse of the tournament, will be aiming to seal their place in the elimination round following an easy win over Victoria in their previous fixture.

Meanwhile, the feature clash of the night will pit Annandale against Golden Grove from 21:00hrs. Both teams will be desperate for a positive result following respective losses in their opening matches.

According to an official release from the coordinators, “The tournament has re-ignited the respective traditional rivalries amongst the East Coast Demerara communities. We thank the fans for their unwavering support in making the event successful and we anticipate further support as the even enters the knockout round. Thrilling football highlighted the event from the inception and we anticipate further excitement as it nears the eventual conclusion. We must also applaud the players from the competing teams who have displayed tremendous spirit and willingness to make the tournament a success and who have competed fiercely but admirably while representing their respective communities.”

The event features 12 teams battling in an initial group format. Group-A comprises Buxton, Plaisance and Mahaica, with group-B consisting of

Friendship, Paradise and Vi c t o r i a a n d g r o u p - C featuring Brush Dam, Melanie and Ann’s Grove.

Group-D comprises Annandale, Golden Grove and Beterverwagting [BV].

The winner of each group alongside the second place finisher will advance to the quarterfinal round.

The grand finale is pegged for January 1st. The eventual champion of the event will pocket $300,000 and the championship trophy.

On the other hand, the second, third and fourth place finisher will receive $150,000, $100,000 and $75,000 respectively and the corresponding t r o p h y. S i m i l a r l y, individual prizes will also be awarded for the Most Valuable Player [MVP] and the Best Goalkeeper.

Some of the major sponsors of the tournament include Bakewell Guyana Incorporated, ExxonMobil, a n d t h e C o l i n Ta l b o t Construction Services.

PAGE 72

Sunday December 08, 2019

Kaieteur News

Banks DIH 15/15 Softball Cricket League in Berbice Joshua takes back heavyweight titles on unanimous points decision Final showdown on today at Albion Community Center - Trophy Stall adds weight to competition with additional sponsorship

Anthony Joshua celebrates winning his rematch against Andy Ruiz Jr. with the IBF, WBA, WBO & IBO World Heavyweight Titles. (Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge) DIRIYAH, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) Britain’s Anthony Joshua beat Andy Ruiz Jr on a unanimous points decision in Saudi Arabia today to seize back the heavyweight world championship belts he lost to his Mexican-American opponent in a shock upset last June.

The ‘Clash on the Dunes’ in Diriyah was for the IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO titles and Joshua dictated the pace from the start with a measured approach that showed he had learned from the mistakes of the past.

Going into the 12th and final round, Ruiz needed a knockout to pull off another upset but it never came. The judges scored the fight 118-110, 118-110 and 119-109 to the 30-year-old Briton.

“It was his night, man,” said Ruiz as his sixmonth reign came to an end, calling also for a third encounter that Joshua seemed to welcome.

“If you heard, we’re going to do it a third,” said the taller and more athletic Briton.

California-based Ruiz had stopped the previously undefeated champion in the seventh round at New York’s Madison Square Garden last June. Joshua described that shock defeat, to a flabby-looking opponent drafted in as a late

replacement, as no more than a ‘minor setback’ and he was happy to make light of it again in victory.

“Man, the first time was so nice, I had to do it twice,” he told the crowd. “I’m used to knocking guys out but last time I realised ‘hang on a minute, I hurt the man and I got caught coming in’.

I gave the man his credit. I said to myself I’m going to correct myself and come again.”

Another loss in the early hours of today would have sent the 2012 Olympic super-heavyweight champion’s career into freefall, with some saying already after the last fight that the Briton was finished. He had shown with his preparations, however, that he meant business — stepping into the ring lighter than ever and giving away more than three stones to Ruiz who had weighed in considerably heavier than in their first showdown.

“You know the saying ‘Stay hungry, stay humble’,” said Joshua. “I’m humble in defeat and I’m going to remain humble in victory.”

Ruiz said he would do it differently next time. “I think I didn’t prepare it how I should have. I gained too much weight but I don’t want to give no excuses. He won, he boxed me around. If we do the third, I’m going to get in the best shape of my life.”

Anasha of the Trophy Stall displays some of the trophies presented from the company for the competition.

The Trophy Stall Guyana Limited has added some weight to the Banks DIH Limited 15/15 Softball Cricket League for teams in East Berbice. All systems are in place and all is set for the final showdown today with the quarterfinals, semifinals and final at the Albion Community Development Center Ground, Albion Corentyne, Berbice.

With the final set to be played under floodlights an

Hamilton and MotoGP great Rossi preparing for ride swap (Reuters) - Six times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton and MotoGP great Va l e n t i n o R o s s i a r e preparing for a ride swap in Spain tomorrow, with the Briton “super excited” at the prospect.

Hamilton, who collected his F1 champion’s trophy at an FIA gala in Paris on F r i d a y, w i l l h e a d t o Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit for the closed event organised by mutual sponsor Monster.

“I think me and @LewisHamilton will have some fun soon,” Rossi teased on his Instagram

feed next to a picture of him sitting in a Mercedes F1 car.

The 40-year-old Italian, a nine times world champion with seven of those coming in the top MotoGP class, will drive a 2017 Mercedes while Hamilton gets to ride Rossi’s Yamaha.

Rossi has driven a Formula One car before, several times with Ferrari between 2004 and 2010 when there was speculation he could follow in the tracks of the late Britons John Surtees and Mike Hailwood and switch from two wheels to four.

Four times 500cc world champion Surtees remains the only man to win the Formula One title (in 1964)

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton celebrates with a trophy after winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race. (REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed) as well as top motorcycling honours.

Hamilton is also a keen motorcycle rider, riding to some European tracks and testing a Ya m a h a superbike but never a MotoGP machine.

“I’m super excited about it,” the 34-year-old told

reporters last month.

“Just being on the same track at the same time as Valentino is going to be very, very surreal, and a real honour, because he’s such an icon in the sport, and he’s done so much.

It’ll be cool to see him in my car as well.”

action pack day is anticipated. According to the organisers any one of the teams can win the competition as they are all ready to go. The teams were hard at practice throughout the week with most playing warm up and friendly games against other opponents and are fancying themselves to take home the coveted prizes on offer.

With over $700,000 in cash, trophies and other incentives up for grabs during the competition compliments of Banks DIH Limited, a scintillating day’s activity is anticipated as the best eight softball teams are set to go at each other.

The Trophy Stall will be sponsoring some trophies for outstanding performances on the day.

Zone A is made up of teams from East and West Canje, East Coast and East Bank Berbice and New Amsterdam. Zone B teams are from Corentyne. The teams that qualified from Zone A are Grill Master, Chase XI, Betsy Ground United and Young Strikers.

The Zone B qualifiers are Port Mourant United, Regal XI, Franchise and Turbo United.

The quarterfinals matches will see a team from Zone A playing a team from zone B. Semi Final one will be between the winner of match number one and match two.

Semifinal number two will see the winner of match

three playing the winner of match number four.

The Fixture is as follows – Quarterfinal No 1 will be between Port Mourant United against Yo u n g St r i k e r s .

Quarterfinal number two will be between Regal XI and Betsy Ground United.

Quarterfinal No 3 will see Franchise XI taking on Chase XI. Quarter Final No 4 will see Turbo United matching skills will Grill Master.

The tournament is being coordinated by Omeshwar Sirikishun. The winning team will collect $150, 000 trophies and other incentives, second place $100,000, third $75,000 and fourth $25,000.

There will be other incentives for outstanding individual players.

Banks DIH Berbice Branch Manager Reginald Matthews and Sales Manager Nandram Basdeo among other staff will be on hand to bowl the first ball and participate in the day’s activities and assist with the prize distribution ceremony at the end of the competition.

There will be special giveaways through the day’s activities. Patrons will be able to win special Banks DIH caps, pens, keys rings and other souvenirs. There will be a well-stocked bar and games and other family fun activities for children and adults including the bouncy Castel and Trampoline among others.

PAGE 73

Sunday December 08, 2019

Over 50 horses registered as KMTC gears for exciting Boxing Day meet

O

ver 50 horses have been registered for the m u c h anticipated Kennard M e m o r i a l Tu r f C l u b (KMTC) Boxing Day meet which is set for Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice.

According to Chairman of the KMTC Justice Cecil Kennard (retired), the facility is in fine shape following some renovation and fans can expect some exciting action; among the horses set to battle are; Lucky Star, Big Man Boss, Goodwill Boys and Vera Sinelly.

Entries will be closed on December 15.

Seven events have been carded for the day with the feature race being the Metro Million Mile which is open to all horses, with the winner taking home $1,000,000, runner up $500,000, third place $250,000 and fourth place $125,000.

Other events listed are LNon Earner for a distance of five furlongs and carries a top prize of $130,000 and the runner up $65,000. H and Lower for seven furs and fetches a winning purse of

$250,000 with the runner up $125,000. Two-year old Maiden for a distance of six furs will see the champion pocketing $200,000 and the runner up $100,000. L-Non Winner for a winning purse of $150,000 and second place $75,000; J and K Lower which will see the winner receiving $200,000 and the runner up $100,000, and L-Open in which the winner will take home $170,000 and second place $85,000.

The races will be run under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority and no late entries will be accepted. Kennard has expressed gratitude to the sponsors.

Among them are New Building Society, Patsan Trading, Hand-in-Hand, Torginol, Metro, DDL, Ansa Mc Al, Silvie’s, Country Pride Enterprise, Dalip Trading, P and P Insurance Brokers, Republic Bank, Mohamed’s Enterprise, P o o n a i ’s P h a r m a c y, Chatterpaul Deo, Horse Shoe Racing Service, Goodwood Racing Service, Rohan Auto Spares, R. Singh

MYO/Trophy Stall T10 softball continues today The Muslim Youth Organisation/Trophy Stall T/10 Inter-Jamaat Softball competition will continue today at MYO ground, Woolford Avenue with four matches.

At 09:00hrs Muslim Youth Organisation will face LBI B; at 11:00hrs LBI B will play New Amsterdam; at 13:00hrs New Amsterdam will take on LBI A and at 15:00hrs New Amsterdam will play Diamond New Scheme.

Teams are asked to be on time to facilitate a prompt start.

a n d S o n s , K h a n a i ’s Electrical Agency, Optique

Vision Clear, Bishundial Rice Mill, Ariel Enterprise,

R o h a n O u d i t , M i k e ’s Pharmacy, Courts’ Guyana

Inc, KSM Investment and D. Gobin Agri Spares.

PAGE 74

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 08, 2019

Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association sending Under-15 Team to Florida

A happy bunch of players pose for the camera after an intense practice session at New Trafford. From left standing: Premkumar Permaul, Zachary Jodha, Jonathan VanLange, Mavendra Dindial, Reyad Hussain, Nityanand Mathura, Gabriel Rookhum, and Alvin Mohabir. Stooping from left: Nicholas Shiopersad, Romeo Deonarain, Dave Mohabir, Arun Gainda, John PerSaud, Stephon Sankar and Ravindra Singh.

Traditionally known for organising softball cricket in and out of Guyana, the GFSCA have put together an under-15 team for the first time to participate at the annual Cricket Council United States of America Open Youth Tournament to be held from December 20 to 23, 2019 at the ICC approved Central Broward Regional Park, Lauderhill, Florida.

Since its inception, this tournament has grown from strength to strength and now is in its 11th year for senior teams and its third year for youths. The management of the GFSCA has started preparation with several practice sessions at New Trafford, Dennis Street, Georgetown.

As the weather permits, more sessions will be held at grounds in and around Georgetown. Two T20 practice matches will be held on December 17, 2019 vs Berbice powerhouse youth team Blairmont. Several more should be played in Georgetown prior to this, weather permitting.

The GFSCA Under-15 Youths will be lead by Transport Sports Club and national youth player Alvin Mohabir. The team also consists of West Indies U n d e r- 1 5 b a t t i n g s t a r Mavendra Dindial, National

youth all rounder Zachary Jodha V/Capt, Jonathan VanLange and Demerara Under-15 opener Romeo Deonarain.

The management of the team is boosted by former We s t I n d i e s C a p t a i n , Ramnaresh Sarwan as Manager and former national player, youth coach and senior selector, Hubern Evans as the coach.

The full team reads: Alvin Mohabir, Nicholas Shiopersad, Gabriel Rookhum, Arun Gainda, Zachary Jodah, Romeo Deonarain, Nityanand Mathura, John Persaud, Mavendra Dindial, Jonathan VanLange, Dave Mohabir, Ravindra Singh, Stephon Sankar and Premkumar Permaul. Ramnaresh Sarwan Manager, Hubern Evans Coach, Ricky Deonarain Assistant Manager, Davanand Mohabir Physio and Lalta Gainda, Technical Analyst.

Official sponsors for the Guyana Floodlights Youth team are: Survival Group of Companies, Ramchand Auto Spares, Rubis Guyana, Tropical Spring Waters, Ariel Enterprise, Trophy Stall, 4R, Nauth Motor Spares, Mike’s Pharmacy, Motor Trend, Rohan Auto Spares, Steve Jewellery, WJ Enterprise and Clear Waters.

GFF President invited to FIFA Head Office in Zurich for important meetings President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Mr. Wayne Forde is traveling to FIFA Headquarters for a series of meetings with the Director of Member Association, Mr. Veron Mosenga-Omba, the FIFA General Secretary and other top officials.

The meetings which will take place between December 9th – 11th, will focus on the following areas: F I FA G r e e n B u i l d i n g Initiative – Forward in sustainability. The FIFA Forward programme will now include in its regulations, sustainable

energy engineering concepts and building codes for all infrastructure projects being funded through the FIFA Forward programme.

The GFF President will participate in a series of think tanks sessions aimed at developing these new regulations.

President Forde will also be discussing the GFF’s strategic priorities for Competitions, Capacity Building and Infrastructure Development.

The Governance, Control and Regulation of the Game locally will also be discussed during the President’s visit.

Sunday December 08, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 75

Guyana beat Grenada 90-73 on night one of Goodwill B/Ball C/Ships

By Sean Devers Watched a disappointing turnout, hosts Guyana defeated Grenada 90-73 on the opening night of the Goodwill Basketball tournament at the Cliff Anderson National Sportshall on Friday evening.

At half-time Guyana had registered a 20-point advantage with the scoreboard reading Guyana 48, Grenada 28.

Ray Victor (39), Terron Welch (19) and Travis Belgrave (18) scored the bulk of the points for Guyana, while Andrew James (17) and Jonathon Williams (15) were the leading scorers for the team from the Spice Isle. Greg St John and Elmond Williams also notched double digit points for the visitors.

The best period for the visitors was in the third q u a r t e r. Wi t h G u y a n a leading 60-40 the Grenadians reduced the lead to two points with James scoring two three-pointers, while they netted a few layups before the young local side rebounded to dominate the final quarter for their comfortable win.

Grenada’s Head Coach Naka Joseph explained that l a s t y e a r ’s C a r i b b e a n Basketball Championships where they finished sixth was the first time in 28 years that Grenada had participated in a Regional tournament.

“Playing here will test our player’s ability as your boys play at a higher level than we are used to back home. This is a personal experience that the players can learn from ….the different tactics and styles of the various players. That is something you cannot C o a c h . T h a t ’s w h y tournaments like this are important for the development of Basketball in the smaller Islands,” the Head Coach said.

Coach Joseph called for more ‘friendly’ tournaments which will help to develop the players and provide them with exposure and

experience.

Now that it’s known what they are up against, Coach Joseph expects to see some level of improvement in the next two games against a team which only recently opposed Colombia.

“In any sport, the more games you play your game should improve. The more you play the more experienced you become and experience brings confidence which is an important aspect to being successful. So it’s important for the bigger Islands like Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad to host more regional tournaments,” Joseph stressed.

“I wouldn’t say that Basketball is big in Grenada but the game is played at schools which have outdoor courts. We also play in the Windward Islands tournaments and we have a few Professionals who were granted scholarships,” Joseph informed.

He added that funding for overseas trips and internal development programmes is an issue with Track and Field and Boxing getting the bulk of the funding from the Olympic Association and Government.

Coach Joseph suggested that corporate entities like Exxon Mobil should step up to help fund sporting bodies in Countries in which they operate.

Senior Grenadian Baller, Greg St John, one of seven players who played against Guyana last year June in Suriname, also said tours like this was a good thing.

“This the first time we have played on a hardwood Court since in Grenada we don’t have indoor facilities….what we have is a covered court with plastic tiles so playing on a wood floor was a new experience for the guys,” the dreadlocked St John said.

St John is among the Basketball players with the experience of travelling to overseas tournaments since his club team, Sparklers, has played in Suriname,

Barbados, St Vincent and Trinidad for tournaments held by those territories.

Joseph is the Coach of Sparklers which is one of about ten Basketball clubs on the 134.6 Square-mile Island.

The team departs Guyana on Monday but although Joseph noted that his charges are here to focus on Basketball they took some time off on Friday to tour Banks DIH to see how Banks Beer, the national Beer of Guyana, is made.

Ray Victor

Terron Welch

Travis Belgrave

Smalta girls’ peewee football tourney

rt Spo

Champions! North Georgetown pose with sponsors, organisers and parents following their triumph in the Smalta girls’ peewee football tourney.

Sweet revenge for North Georgetown GFF-Always Championship Cup 2019

Fruta Conquerors and Lady Panthers flay opponents; two more matches on today

Lady Panthers’ Shavey Reuben (#16) about to score another goal against Foxy Ladies yesterday at the GFF National Training Centre.

Guyana beat Grenada Another disappointing night 90-73 on night one of for Guyana despite Alesha Goodwill B/Ball C/Ships Jackman’s successful debut Night two C’bean Boxing C/Ships in Trinidad

Joshua takes back heavyweight titles on unanimous points decision 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.