Kaieteur News
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Sunday December 09, 2018
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
NEW BEGINNING AT CITY HALL
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ast week the 30 councillors from the City of Georgetown, 21 of whom are members of A Partner-ship for National Unity (APNU), elected Pandit Ubraj Narine as the new Mayor of the city of Georgetown. The election of Pandit Narine to replace the former Mayor Patricia Chase-Green was a mere formality as he received unanimous support from his fellow APNU councilors. Narine who was not well-known before, won the Local Government Election (LGE) for Constituency One, which includes Kingston East and West, Thomas Lands, Non Pareil Park, Cummingsburg, Alberttown and Queenstown, had campaigned under the banner of (APNU). His election came after a fierce battle between the PPP and APNU for the 15 constituencies in the city of Georgetown, which in recent times has recorded its lowest voter turnout of 28.3 percent. With the election of a new Mayor, the residents of Georgetown can now breathe a sigh of relief because it ended two turbulent years of the Chase-Green city administration. This was accused of being riddled with corruption. It had flagrantly violated the rule of law and sunk the City to its lowest level. Not only was the last city government inept, but it also mismanaged the city funds to the point where it did not have the resources to pay city employees or its garbage disposal contractors. These are some of the findings by the Commission of Inquiry (COI) launched by the government to investigate wrongdoings at City Hall. Conducted by Justice Cecil Kennard, the COI unearthed several unsavory findings such as the misuse of the city funds, illegal appropriation and sale of city lands and numerous corrupt practices. The COI concluded that that the former Mayor and Town Clerk were greedy, selfish and corrupt and had put their personal interest ahead of the City’s interest. The COI conclusion was frank and forthright. It recommended the dismissal of the Town Clerk who is on leave and other senior City functionaries and that criminal charges be filed against them. However, most of the COI findings are not new, much of it had already been known by the public and the government, whose failure to act earlier had crippled the city financially and politically. Many believe that Pandit Narine’s election came at a crucial time when the City is in dire need of a mayor who is committed to improving the wellbeing of the residents, restore order and rebuilt the city’s image and end corruption, which is prevalent in all city departments. After all, Georgetown is not only the largest city in the country, it is the nation’s capital and financial centre and is home to more than one-quarter of the country’s population of roughly 745,000. It is also the seat of the government where thousands of people from all walks of life at home and abroad, including visitors would come to either conduct business, work, sight-seeing or party. It is a bustling city that needs a Mayor who is professional and who has some management skills and ability to effectively manage its affairs of the city. These changes will not happen overnight, they will take time, but it is the responsibility of the new Mayor’s administration to reverse the trend and turn the city around. Given the present poor state of the city, it will be no easy task for the Mayor. He will have to make tough, unpopular and non-partisan decisions. It is therefore crucial for the Mayor to put in place a competent and qualified municipal civil service to manage the affairs of the city. Sadly, he is not an executive mayor.
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.
This document is an odious bundling of innocents with their murderers DEAR EDITOR, Following my letter of 25th November in which I asked for an independent investigation of the narrative of the ‘execution of 400 Black men’, I was sent the original document, in which the claim was made by the People’s National Congress Party. After reading the document, I can safely say that no one currently making that claim has read this document, for far from being a list of black men killed extra-judicially, this was a call for inquiry into various cases of alleged human rights abuse over a 17 year span (1993-2009). Editor, there are a handful of names on this list that would warrant a commission of inquiry, principal among these would be Ronald
Waddell, Sash Sawh and Yohance Douglas; the rest of the document is an odious bundling of innocents and police officers with the very people who murdered them. How can I describe the revulsion that I experienced to see the names of the Lusignan massacre victims, men, women and children brutally murdered in their own homes, included on this list next to notorious murderers such as Shawn Brown, Troy Dick , Jermaine ‘Skinny’ Charles and Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rawlins, the very men who murdered them? How do the families of the 35 policemen included on this list feel about them being named alongside the men who brutally murdered them? I am horrified that someone
equated the lives of victims with the perpetrators of their demise without a thought of the additional hurt this would cause their families. The intellectual authors of this document were strangely silent after there was a change in Administration in 2015. H.E Granger referred to ‘troubles’ to describe an era that included massacres, violent warfare between rival criminal gangs commonly referred to as the ‘Fineman gang’ and ‘phantom squad’. Leader of the Opposition, Former President Bharrat Jagdeo welcomed an inquiry into the ‘troubles.’ “Let’s have the mother of all inquiries”, he said in 2005 and repeated in 2016, and alluded to political control of the Fineman and other criminal
gangs. President Granger named the massacres that occurred in Kitty, Lamaha Gardens, Bourda (2002) Buxton-Friendship, Prashad Nagar (2003), AgricolaEccles, La Bonne Intention, Bagotstown-Eccles, Black Bush Polder(2006) Bartica, and Lusignan (2008) as incidents for which there has been no resolution and which require investigation during the ‘troubles.’ Interestingly, the only incident of this period that has been subject of an inquiry is the Lindo Creek massacre; the one atrocity denied by the Fineman gang. This massacre occurred during the period when the Fineman gang was on the run in that geographical area and was apportioned the blame. (Continued on page 7)
Sunday December 09, 2018
Kaieteur M@ilbox We may not be a developed country, but does that mean we can’t be clean? DEAR EDITOR, Kindly permit me to talk about the garbage crisis facing our country. I am baffled as to why our politicians continue to ignore this problem. I traverse the East Bank Demerara to Georgetown route daily, and everywhere I look there are piles of garbage and the roads are littered with sand, dirt and gravel. Let’s start with the roads on the embankment. Every day trucks traverse carrying construction materials. Any person traversing these roadways can attest to the amount of sand and gravel on it, and every day the pile is growing larger. The sidewalks are much worse and look as if they haven’t been cleaned in years. It’s ironic as I have seen street sweepers in the area but it appears that they’re not doing anything. The garbage problem is much worse. In this instance, I don’t put the blame fully on the government as this problem is largely as a result of citizens dumping their waste without any regard for the environment. These vendors that are springing up next to our roadways dump their garbage as they see fit, and since the authorities don’t do anything about it, they continue with the same habits. I’ve witnessed taxi drivers and vendors plying their trade at the Mocha road entrance dump their garbage into the adjacent canal. Is it difficult for a group of adults to come to a consensus that garbage cans are needed and to pool resources to purchase them. Apparently, it’s inconvenient to do so and much easier to just dump the garbage. What are the authorities doing? Who is monitoring these vendors plying their trade to ensure that they are complying with policies? In developed
countries, a licence is required before a person can vend and they are obligated to meet strict requirements set by the council but I guess Guyana is a free for all. Now we get to Georgetown. At every corner, every crack and crevice, every lot there is garbage. There is garbage in front of businesses, which is completely absurd. How could any respectable business be okay with garbage surrounding it? There are many abandoned lots, which have become mini landfills. Not only is this an eyesore, it’s also a health hazard as it becomes a breeding ground for vermin. The bus parks are always filthy and some stink of urine and other foul odours. I don’t understand how vendors can ply their trade in such a state and how consumers can purchase food in such an environment. The NDC is a failed system and can never fulfill its mandate because of blatant corruption and incompetence. NDCs are also not self sufficient and this is because most of their funding comes from subventions from central government. They are always ‘crying broke’ and most citizens have realized this, that’s why they didn’t turn up to vote. Why vote for a system that never has funds to accomplish anything? Until property rates are charged and paid, the local government system will never fulfill its mandate. Nevertheless, the government has a duty to ensure this country is clean and should spare no expense to do so. Citizens also need to take responsibility and dispose of their garbage more responsibly. I would be ashamed to bring foreigners into this country and have them witness all this filth. We may not be a developed coun-
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try but does that mean we can’t be clean? Do we need oil revenues to keep out country clean? Do our politicians not look outside the windows of their luxury vehicles and see the state of this country or are their windows so heavily tinted that they are unable to? Here are a few suggestions to help alleviate the problem: 1) More garbage cans placed around the capital city and all other municipalities, and should be emptied every day. 2) All NDCs should have their own garbage trucks and street sweeping equipment. 3) Punish or fine vendors, homeowners, businesses who do not dispose of their garbage responsibly. 4) Non-violent offenders should be made to help clean up the garbage. 5) Lots that are unoccupied should be properly fenced to avoid trespassers dumping garbage Maintenance is key while it is tedious it is necessary for a clean Guyana. Michael Fraser
Kaieteur M@ilbox Police will be challenged to enforce the noise nuisance law among colleagues who own minibuses DEAR EDITOR, Police will be challenged to enforce the noise nuisance law among colleagues who own minibusesAfter a recent investment of Seven million ($7,000,000.00) Guyanese taxpayers’ dollars to purchase Law Enforcement Sound Level Meters, the Police must now aggressively monitor both police-owned and civilian owned “boom buses”, and other perpetrators of Noise Nuisance offences, so that every Guyanese can enjoy our constitutional right to personal liberty, public safety and good health. The Government recently armed the Police with sound meters capable of recording and storing up to 8000 noise level readings. These are date-stamped and are admissible evidence in a court of law in pursuit of convictions of Noise Offenders. The potential for abuse of this new weapon by the police exists, and strict Police Departmental accountability regulations must be enforced
to ensure that the people’s right to use legal levels of sound is not encroached. But perhaps an even greater challenge will be for the Police to enforce the law among its own ranks who are the owners and/or operators of minibuses. A noise nuisance hotline must be set up with immediate effect to cater for the expected hike in Noise Offences during the Christmas Season.The suffering of the elderly, the sick, the student burning the midnight oil and the hardworking citizen seeking much-needed rest must come to an end now! Entertainment Providers and Operators of Sound Systems must enjoy their right to satisfactorily serve their clients,
especially when in pursuit of their honest livelihood. However, the right of any citizen stops where that of another starts. The duty of the Government is to protect both.We call on all law-abiding citizens, the Police and those entrusted with leadership of this great country to ensure the longevity of public order, public safety, public morality and public health as some of the Constitutional enshrined rights of every Guyanese Citizen. Excessively loud noises are not just unhealthy, and uncomfortable, they are illegal. Yours respectfully, Phyllis J. Jordan Caretaker-Councillor – Constituency 4
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Sunday December 09, 2018
Kaieteur News
Kaieteur M@ilbox
Kaieteur M@ilbox
I have always suspected that this CoI was pure political mischief DEAR EDITOR, So, the Kennard Commission of Inquiry-CoI Report (I will show it is a Comedy of Errors - CoE) is now prime news (leaked to the press; how and why is anyone’s guess). While the public awaits a formal announcement, both the Guyana Chronicle and Kaieteur News Sunday, November 2, 2018 editions published highlights. As I read the Guyana Chronicle and Kaieteur News reports humour turned to unprintable exclamations of disgust and outrage when I read this passage in the Guyana Chronicle: “Justice Kennard also recommended that a detailed forensic audit be done into all transactions between April 1, 2015 and October 31, 2018”. My unprintable exclamation happened because effectively and substantially, by this studied time limit, the period of the PPP/C foisted on de facto Town Clerk, Carol Sooba (from July 24, 2012 to July 14, 2015) was to be exempted (except for the final four months out of her three years) from this “detailed forensic audit”. I (and many others) have always suspected that this CoI is, despite the denials, pure political mischief. The evidence is now in. I turn to a brief review of this CoI and its report (in the interest of full disclosure, I represented Town Clerk, Royston King at the CoI limited to the two days when in obedience to a summons he appeared under protest). FIRST error: this CoI was, ab initio (i.e. from the very beginning) a NULLITY (i.e. with-
out any effect or validity whatsoever in law), being ultra vires, the Local Government Commission Act, 2013. I have consistently raised and argued this preliminary point in Mr. King’s Affidavit, my oral submissions before the CoI, and in my written closing submission/address. My argument is unassailable. Nullity has no degrees; it is incurable. It would be a very bold Judge who would give judicial imprimatur to this CoI. Besides, this CoI is a flagrant usurpation by the Local Government Commission of the MINISTER’s power under the Eight Schedule of the Municipal and District Councils Act, Cap 28:01 (M&DCA). The report is equally a nullity. SECOND, (assuming, without conceding, I am wrong on the nullity point) the error of the CoI’s application of, and reliance on, the irrelevant and inapplicable Public Corporations Act, Cap 19:05 and Companies Act, Cap 89:01.Quoting from Kaieteur News article, [“Former Mayor was fed information on Town Clerk’s corrupt dealings- CoI report”], the Learned Chairman’s position is that there is “… a strict duty on the Councillors and Officers of the Council to act in accordance with the provisions of the Public Corporations Act 19:05 and the Companies Act, Cap 89:01 … In respect of the Companies Act, Kennard noted the Town Clerk and Mayor are bound to follow the provision of Section 59...” I submit that this is HERESAY. This irrelevancy raises serious concerns about the effi-
ciency capacities of the CoI, the Georgetown City Council is neither in fact, or in law, a public corporation, or company for the purposes, and within the purview, of the Public Corporations Act and Companies Act respectively. It is ELECTED. It is a “body politic and corporate” (Section 3 of M&DCA), but it is SUI GENERIS (inter alia - it has no shareholding, no directorship, no secretary, it is not registrable under the Companies Act; it is not a separate and distinct person from the Mayor and Councillors; it sues and can be sued only in the name of the Town Clerk). The Mayor, Town Clerk (and all other Local Government Officers) are creatures of the M&DCA (not the Public Corporations Act or Companies Act) and they derive their powers, functions and duties from it, and it is the M&DCA interpretation, and the limitations of its own wording on those functions, powers and duties, that matters. But a true interpretation of those provisions would vindicate and absolve the Town Clerk; so the CoI disregards them. What the readers need to know (given a discerned disposition to accuse the TC of wrongs is how extensive and far reaching are the powers given to a Town Clerk by Parliament. So, far reaching are these powers that the Town Clerk is made the de facto lawyer of all the other officers; and they are all bound by his/ her interpretation of the M&DCA as to their powers/ functions. The Town Clerk is for all practical purposes and
intent a one-man management. This management omnipotence was solidified in 2013 (during the tenure of the PPP/Cs Carol Sooba) by the Municipal And District Councils (Amendment) Act, 2013 which inserted Section 8A(g). So, in terms of the M&DCA, it is difficult to establish that a Town Clerk has acted without statutory authority. And if he has acted within his statutory authority, no CoI can find any blame or wrong in him – case law affirms this. So to circumvent this statutory bulwark, the CoI resorts to the Companies Act and Public Corporation Act! THIRD, on the evidence of the Guyana Chronicle and Kaieteur News reports, the CoI appears (in its dispensation to criminalize certain local government officers) to have also conveniently ignored and disregarded the detailed and comprehensive remedial provisions in the Municipal and District Councils Act regarding the council’s officers acting contrary to law in regards to the Council’s finances and other assets, and their recovery [Sections 177 to 201 (inclusive), “disallowance” and “surcharge” by the Auditor, are expressly provided for]. Why then have the Learned Chairman’s recommendations not focused on this statutory regime)? Let that statutory process take its course. Is there condescension, in the Report, to particulars of any kind (not just some easy-to- make generalizations of “skullduggery”, “corruption”, “misfeasance” etc.) to show how criminality might have happened? Surely, criminal and civil proceedings would only be merited, where at least the officers can be shown to have acted “contrary to law” or
with “negligence or misconduct” within Section 186 of the Municipal and District Councils Act. So I ask this question, Has not the CoI erred in law by preempting and usurping the statutory jurisdiction of the statutory auditor under Sections 177 to 201 of the M&DCA? I submit it has, in its purported findings and recommendation that criminal and civil proceedings should happen. There is not, as there should be, before the CoI any audited evidential basis for this recommendation. Indeed, that whole system of statutory audit to which Parliament has subjected the City Council, is a most emphatic protest and objection to the CoI’s extravagant nonsense, with a tendency to sensationalize, about criminal proceedings, in the absence of audit. What if the audit proves otherwise? It is conceivable, that an audit will show that there was no bad faith / mala fides, even if on one possible view, there was mismanagement, of a non-criminal character. FOURTH, the two most prominent and specified Terms of Reference (as published in the official Gazette), are (i) the no-confidence motion against the Town Clerk (ii) the lease by the Town Clerk of the Sussex Street Wharf facilities claimed by N.I.C.I. L. Those two ToRs were the crux and gravamen of the CoI, hence the CoIs fixation. Yet no highlights have been published about those two ToRs. Is it that in the face of the insurmountable and unassailable arguments made by Mr. King’s lawyer, they died their natural inevitable deaths. The point is this: those two Terms of Reference generated and excited the highest public interest (in any event at the level of the LGC. Who can forget the much publicized “shut up” outburst to the Mayor. So, if Mr. King has been absolved and vindicated in respect of those two ToRs, fairness and elementary justice demands
that this be reported to the Local Government Commission with equal fervor, as the condemnation of him. It is a miscarriage of justice, and accordingly an error for Mr. King’s innocence or no-fault in respect of those two ToRs to be hushed-up by the CoI. FIFTH, the Local Government Commission in its Terms of Reference about the Sussex Street Wharf facility (disputed) property ownership matter, must have appreciated that it involved some determination of disputed ownership, and so appears to have assumed, and arrogated to itself, a constitutional jurisdiction or power to vest and confer on a CoI the constitutional and statutory powers enjoyed only by sitting Judges of the Supreme Court of Judicature to hear and determine issues of disputed legal ownership of land, of this type, in this country. This jurisdictional disability of both the Local Government Commission and the Commission of Inquiry, is trite and elementary. This CoI (assuming, without conceding it is valid) is not a “Court or Tribunal” within Article 144(8) of the Constitution. A more disreputable error that it is difficult to conceive; as it calls into question not only the motives of the LGC, but the evenhandedness of an acquiescing CoI. I end with this: out of nothing can come nothing (ex nihilo nihil fit); the case law including the well known local Court of Appeal case of Barnwell,and the Privy Council decision of Ratnagopal (on point about CoI and which I copiously cited to the CoI) is very, very clear about this. Accordingly any recommendation based on a CoI that is a nullity, is, ipso facto, equally null and void. I could have told more, I am out of space. Mr. King has a legitimate expectation that his administrative leave be rescinded forthwith. Yours Maxwell. E. Edwards
Sunday December 09, 2018
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Kaieteur M@ilbox
Kaieteur M@ilbox
Govt. should wait until these corrupt officials are kicked out before bailing out City Hall
Talking about crime in isolation is futile
DEAR EDITOR, Once again the central government, like ‘A gallant knight in shining armour, has ridden in very chivalrously and saved the fair maidens at City Hall’, with another huge bailout. And maybe they had no choice, as the garbage was piling up all over the city, the workers have still not been paid for the month of November and Council’s other creditors are shouting for relief. But this recurring pattern has become all too familiar, the Council rakes in tens upon tens of millions of dollars monthly from shipping containers, ratepayers, stallholders, vendors, hairdressers, barbers, eating
houses, slaughterers, etc., etc. and then fritters it away on expensive overseas trips, on paying for bodyguards, chauffeurs, personal assistants, anniversary celebrations and nineteen different allowances for the fat cats. They choose not to pay their employees’ salaries, pensions or gratuities, do not pay the contractors, nor the Guyana Revenue Authority, nor the National Insurance Scheme, nor the labour or credit unions. They choose not to pay their water rates nor electricity charges. They take goods from every conceivable source and refuse to pay. Why don’t they give the pink slips to the more than two hundred friends,
relatives and church pals that they employed recently and who caused the top heavy payroll. Why do they do this? Because they know that the central government will rush and settle their liabilities. “It’s like calling in the cavalry”. But one would have thought with the recent findings of the Commission of Inquiry, a most damning report, that central government would have at the very least waited until the Council’s books were audited and until the immoral Councillors and officers had left before giving the city a red cent. It amounts to throwing our money into a black hole! Sincerely Shanta Singh
This document is an odious... From page 4 This COI raised more questions than answers. Was vindication of the Fineman gang the objective? Why were none of the other massacres not subject of inquiry? Did H.E Granger know the answer before he asked the Lindo Creek question? For that is the logical conclusion for his selective approach. Despite wide circulation to International organizations such as the United Nations, this dossier never compelled any recipient to begin an inquiry, partly because it is a poorly compiled document, which does not survive a cursory examination. For example, among those listed are two GDF officers, Lt. Colonels Ross and Narine who died of
heart attacks, 26 unidentified males including ‘gunmen’, many who were killed by bandits during robberies and bandits killed in Police/Bandit shootouts such as Chowtee, Eddo, Bully, et al. The list contains a significant number of Indo-Guyanese and other ethnicities so as to render the ‘400 black men’ claim meaningless. There are also names repeated so as to bolster the figures.Editor, in researching this claim of 400, I have come to the conclusion that Guyana is in need of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission as done in South Africa postapartheid. The mandate of that commission was to bear witness to record and in some cases grant amnesty to the perpe-
trators of crimes relating to human rights violations, as well as offering reparation and rehabilitation to the victims. Unless Guyana engages in a similar exercise, our nation will forever be vulnerable to those willing to tell big bold lies such as contained in the dossier of the 400. Let us always seek truth regardless of the consequence “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” John 8:32 (King James Bible). Respectfully Robin Singh
DEAR EDITOR, Much has been said about fighting crime in Guyana but whatever strategy the government employs the situation will reach Nash equilibrium- a stable state of a system involving the interaction of different participants, in which no participant can gain by a unilateral change of strategy if the strategies of the others remain unchanged. This means it will become ineffective. It might work for about two years but the criminals will adapt. It is mathematical. The government is a finite player trying to decrease crime for political gain while the criminal are infinite players playing to continue their way of life. Whenever a finite player goes up against an infinite player, the finite player eventually loses like the United States (finite player) and Vietnam (infinite player). The present situation in Guyana leaves the poor to struggle to survive. Many take to crime
because the education system seems difficult, uncertain and irrelevant. No successful democratic country can thrive without a welfare system. US, Europe, and India, all have a robust welfare system- without it, their crime problems would be far worse than Guyana. Social protection (welfare) is only a bridge to creating a just society. Schools that have students from low socioeconomic status need excess funding and programmes. How could Guyana be asking for reparations when it treats certain classes if its own citizens like they have little value? Finally, the ideology of taking care of others to make a better self must be adapted. Martin Luther King said “Live as brothers or perish as fools”. This unjust system that we live in needs to be gradually improved. Tackling about crime in isolation is futile! Yours truly, Brian Ellis PLummer
Freudian Slip or Amateur Politician DEAR EDITOR, The recent spotlight on Volda Lawrence’s foot in the mouth speeches were either Freudian slips or a sign of an immature politician. I am of the opinion that the Minister is an immature politician; moreover, one that lacks the traditional traits of a PNCR chairman. I have come to the conclusion that she is trying too hard to exhibit the kind of demagoguery that seems to have made a recent come back at the PNC. For this reason, she is having growing pains in becoming a true Guyanese “politician” , one who is always party centric as opposed to what her conscience wants her to be, a leader of the people. The old dogma of the PNC is in need of
major revision. Any revision needs to be built from the ground up, as opposed to being an antithesis of the PPP. The Minister can learn from her younger leaders such as those mayors and local government elected officials. For instance , the definition of a job is so loose that a person residing in Brooklyn, New York can be working for the Ministry of Telecommunications via a third party vendor. Moreover, he or she could be from Bangladesh. The notion of lines through party connection is a quaint conception. What party members need is leadership for the next phase of Guyana’s transformation that includes in immigrants from its neighbours. Keith Bernard
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Sunday December 09, 2018
Magistrates prepare for Christmas disputes As the Christmas season is here some feel a joy while some feel a fear towards persons who use this festive time to quench their thirst for criminal activities. The impact that crime has is a bitter taste in the mouth of persons who are affected and persons looking not to be become a victim. Crime has an effect that not only affects one per-
son but the nation as a whole; emotionally and financially. As the police force prepares for persons with no regard for the law, the magistrates are also making preparations for these activities. The magistrates who are in place to help upkeep the law and ensure justice is served have set themselves for the per-
sons coming before them. Police had reported that there have been a four percent increase in robberies with viol e n c e a n d a 22% increase in robberies where no instruments were used by the perpetrators. On the other hand, there has been a decrease in robbery under arms by three percent and robbery under arms where instru-
ments other than firearms were used by 20%. There was also a decrease in break and enter and larceny by 11%, burglary by 9%, robbery with aggravation by 36% and larceny from the person by 13%. The courts have also recorded well over 400
cases where persons are threatened, verbally abused and assaulted. While serious attention will be given to hear these cases, the magistrates will be listening to ensure that the facts presented by the police prosecutors have been proven; justice is served
to a victim and society. M o r e o v e r, t h e y w i l l ensure that the accused learn from their mistake. The sentences will make them an example to others to deter them from thinking to commit the very act not only during the Christmas season but in the future.
Illegal immigrant arrested with unlicensed gun, ammo in Cuyuni
A Joint Services patrol (Guyana Police Force and Guyana Defence Force), under the command of an army captain, has arrested a 29year-old Spanish-speaking illegal immigrant. The arrest occurred Friday around 21:00hrs. The man had an unlicensed 9mm pistol, two magazines and 15 rounds of live ammunition, police said yesterday. The arrest was effected at the Eteringbang Landing on the Cuyuni River.
The seized marijuana and ammo The 29-year-old illegal immigrant, believed to be from Venezuela, is being processed for court. Meanwhile, the police also said that ranks in ‘F’ Division yesterday morning, about 06:30hrs, stopped and
searched a motor lorry at Seven Miles Potaro and found concealed 393 grams of cannabis and 100 live rounds of 9mm ammunition. Two persons have been detained and are assisting with the investigation.
Sunday December 09, 2018
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Contracts under $30M set aside for small businesses from next year By Kiana Wilburg From January 2019, small businesses will be able to benefit from all contracts under $30M. This was recently announced by Business Minister, Dominic Gaskin. The Alliance For Change (AFC) Parliamentarian said that this is part of the Small Business Procurement Programme which is aimed at creating more opportunities for small businesses. This move by the Minister is part of efforts to comply with the nation’s laws, which state that small businesses should have access to at least 20 percent of Government projects. Specifically, Section 11 (1) of the Small Business 2004 Act says, states that “The government shall use its best endeavours to ensure that at least twenty percent of the procurement of goods and services required annually by the government is obtained from small businesses.” Gaskin noted that contracts will be granted to businesses provided that they have the capacity to execute the works needed. “The Government is aware that there are many ar-
eas in which this set aside (of $30M) will have to be waived because there are no small business suppliers in certain fields. Government is also aware that the even if all the procurements less than $30M were to go to small businesses, it still may not amount to 20% of total procurement.” The Business Minister added, “This programme is so important that it must begin and we must start collecting the data to show what percentage of Government procurement is going to small businesses so that we can make annual adjustments going forward until we hit the 20% target provided for in the Small Business Act of 2004.” Gaskin said that capacity building is a very important component of the programme and the Small Business Bureau will be supporting businesses in this regard. He said that the creation of a framework for sub-contracting to small businesses by the prime contractor is also being worked on. If this can be achieved without clashing with the nation’s procurement laws and other best practices, then
Dem boys seh...
Oil coming and Guyana going - nowhere It is better to fail doing de right thing than to succeed doing de wrong thing. Dem boys had a neighbor once who had nine kids, seven boys and two girls. De two girls were de only people working to feed de house. All seven of de boys always in trouble. When dem not in trouble, dem smoking weed and watching TV all day. Make a mistake and leave li’l cash in yuh vanity draw, it gone. When dem get home in de afternoon, there is little or no food fuh dem. And dey are de breadwinners. When de two girls complain, de parents, both mudda and fadda on de boys side. It became so overbearing dat de two girls walk out and start a life by demself. Not long after, both parents on de road begging, and de rest of dem thieving. Dis happens when yuh don’t tek care of de goose dat lays de egg. Guyana finds itself in dat same boat today. Imagine de army get de same amount of money like de whole police force. Both ah dem get US$65 million. De police got to get vehicles, pay overtime, and maintain all dem police station across de country. Dem have to travel to all dem gold and timber areas to maintain law and order. Dem boys want to know what de army gon do with all dat money except buy beef, eggs, chickens, lamb, pork, you name it. All dem boys see dem does do when de day come is cook, eat, play domino and sleep all day. Dem even buying cassava pone and cheese cake. And if you shaking your head with dat, hear dis...Exxon seh by de last quarter of next year, dem ready to start bring up oil and Guyana ain’t even got a ballahoo fuh sail outside deh. Guyana yet to put systems in place to protect dat two pint oil de country expect from Exxon, daily. Local content policy, strong taxation laws, national oil spill response plans; all dese things needed. Govt agencies still weak as a 90-year-old. It don’t have no petroleum commission in place. And most of all, Guyana still to verify de pre contract cost. Dis is like a girl about to get her baby but she have no provision in place—no baby clothes, no pampers, no milk, no nightie, no towel, no nutten to go hospital. De girl couldn’t get dese things because she didn’t spend de money wisely. De gov’t doing de same thing. Imagine it give de Energy Dept a few pennies to protect a $4 billion project. Is de Energy Dept wha got to mek sure all de systems in place to protect de two pint oil Guyana will be getting daily. Talk half and de coalition must stop being penny wise and pound foolish.
it would be something that will be considered to improve procurement opportunities for small businesses, he added. SBB REPORT The latest report of the Small Business Bureau (SSB), which was laid in the National Assembly last July, also called for more Government contracts to go to small businesses. The Bureau pointed out that the Procurement Act
(2003) provides for this. In fact, it met with representatives of the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Business, the Small Business Council and other stakeholders to implement the provisions set forth in the Act. However, the report noted that there are concerns relating to some contrasts between the Procurement Act (2003) and the Small Business Act (2004), which will require constitutional amendments.
SBB has to ensure a guarantee and commitment of 20% Government procurement from small businesses. “Nevertheless, discussions will continue to ensure the smooth implementation of the Procurement Act, which will provide an opportunity for small businesses to be guaranteed, access to government contracts. “While work is being done on the development of the Small Business Procure-
ment Policy, the Small Business Bureau encourages, ministries, and other government agencies to buy from small businesses,” the report noted. Further, the report highlighted that entrepreneurs in Guyana can be classified as necessity entrepreneurs, that is, individuals that are pushed into entrepreneurship because they have no better alternatives for work, reflecting the scarcity of decent wage-
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Kaieteur News
Sunday December 09, 2018
Town Clerk fails to justify lease of Govt. reserve Embattled Town Clerk, Royston King, has not provided a promised response to the Commission of Inquiry on the lease of a portion of Government reserve along Aubrey Barker Road, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown. King when he appeared before the CoI into the management of City Hall, had promised to make a written submission on the deal, which came to light in late October when documents surfaced with payments made directly to him for the property. The CoI final report notes that King did not provide the information as he promised. King had admitted knowing the owners of a mining company, who claim to have made payments directly to him to lease the land in question. Chairman of the CoI, Retired Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Cecil Kennard, had asked King during his appearance if he
Town Clerk, Royston King knew the names Ingrid and Brian Chase. King in his response stated that the names ‘ring a bell.’ Kennard indicated to King that he was inquiring about the matter since a copy of a letter and other supporting documents from the Chases addressed to City Mayor Patricia Chase-Green was sent to
the CoI. “Mr. Chairman, could I ask to perhaps do something in writing to you on that particular matter? I am now briefing myself on that particular issue,” King had stated. King has been implicated in a highly suspicious deal where he reportedly collected $6.8M from Brian and Ingrid Chase Mining and Trucking for the sale of lands identified as Government reserve. King is accused of diverting the monies from the land deal through his Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) and then attempting to cover his tracks by issuing a backdated lease for the property when he became Town Clerk. The land is located along Aubrey Barker Road, North Ruimveldt. Payment started in 2013 while King was serving as the Public Relations Officer of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC). A document titled ‘License to Occupy Council Reserve Opposite Lot 1579-1580 Aubrey Barker Road North Ruimveldt – Guyana’ carries King’s sig-
nature as Town Clerk. In July 2015, King was a p p o i n t e d To w n C l e r k . However, the first line of the lease document, which carries King’s signature as Town Clerk states, ‘that the Licence is made and entered into on this day of 24th July, 2012’. The agreement appears to ha v e b e e n s t r u c k based on a payment of $1.8M, which was made through the city’s treasury department on February 22, 2017. King, who was sent on administrative leave to facilitate the CoI, has dodged numerous allegations of corrupt dealings involving taxpayer funds. This latest information spotlights a transaction that started about two years prior to King’s a p p o i n t m e n t a s To w n Clerk. He reportedly accepted over 15 payments in cheques and cash totalling $6.8M from the mining company. Kaieteur News is in receipt of copies of the cheques and payment vouchers from the mining company, which indicate that King used the NGO,
Environmental Community Health Organisation (ECHO), to secure the payments. Before his appointment as Town Clerk, King identified himself as the Executive Director of ECHO, writing letters to the media and leading protests calling for transparency and accountability in the extractive sector. The owners of the mining company are contending that they knew and trusted King, who identified himself as the head of ECHO. Further, the owners indicated that King identified himself as the owner of the land, and they entered into an agreement to buy the strip of land for $7M. The payments for the transactions reportedly started on April 15, 2013, with a cash payment of $200,000 – said to be legal fees. The payments continued in May 2013 with a Scotiabank cheque from the mining company issued to ECHO in the amount of $300,000. By the end of November 2013, there were seven subsequent pay-
ments by cheque made out directly to ECHO. Among them was a $700,000 transaction and two $500,000 payments. According to records, the mining company had prepared a cheque dated December 5, 2013 in the name of ECHO. However, the NGO’s name was scratched from that cheque and replaced by the name ‘Royston King’. The payment voucher indicates that the cheque was paid to ‘Royston King for ECHO’ and bears King’s signature as uplifting the payment. This was the first time in the transaction that K i n g ’s n a m e a p p e a r s among the cheques. The company executives have stated that they were told to make the payment in ECHO’s name, but when King became Town Clerk, they were told to make those payments directly to him. According to company executives, they started work on the land, but were stopped by the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission. The agency has since identified itself as the owner of the property.
Sunday December 09, 2018
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Sunday December 09, 2018
Sunday December 09, 2018
Kaieteur News
Chancellor scolds lawyer for ill-preparedness Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Yonette CummingsEdwards refused to grant a request for an immediate adjournment made by Attorneyat-Law Adrian Thompson. Thompson indicated that he was not fully prepared to present arguments in a matter. Last week, the Court of Appeal commenced hearing arguments in the case of the State vs William Johnson who was found guilty by a jury in 2015 of wounding his wife, Lilawattie Dass, in January 2013. He was sentenced to 25 years in jail for the crime by a High Court Judge. However, before the Chancellor, and Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud could have commenced hearing the arguments, Thompson who is representing Johnson, requested an adjournment. Thompson's reason was that he only received his client's record of appeal last month, and that he was out of the jurisdiction for a week. But Thompson's basis did not sit too well with the Chancellor who responded, "That has nothing to do with this court." He then went on to explain that he was only contacted recently by Johnson's family, and that he is still doing research in relation to the case. Further, Thompson ex-
Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Yonette Cummings-Edwards.
Attorney-at-Law Adrian Thompson
plained given that Johnson was convicted and sentenced at the High Court in Essequibo, he had to make contact with the man's previous lawyer. This reasoning, too, was not accepted by the Chancellor who told him, "This is not Bail Court where you come in and ask for an adjournment. We have thousands of matters waiting for hearing and we will not condone this." "I only came back last week," Thompson pleaded. Again, Justice CummingsEdwards told the lawyer that his personal affairs have nothing to do with the court. "This is not the Magistrates’ Court. This is the Appellate Court," the senior Judge reminded Thompson, before advising him that he should have put measures in
place to facilitate his time away. According to Justice Cummings-Edwards, it is protocol that lawyers appearing before the court file skeletal arguments four days before a matter is fixed for hearing. "We have received nothing (from you)," the Chancellor pointed out to Thompson. Nevertheless, he indicated that he would be better able to assist the court if he gets to compile same. He was however, ordered by the Chancellor to commence arguments in the case, using whatever authorities he had at his disposal at the time. Thompson complied, after which the Chancellor instructed that he file skeletal arguments by the end of this week. The case has been adjourned until January 20, 2019, for continuation.
Holloway recommends…
Closer ties between political parties; better planning for future
Former US ambassador speaking with media workers on Tuesday, at the embassy. Former US ambassador, Perry Holloway, believes that the only way Guyana can develop faster is through closer working ties between Government and the Opposition. In one of his last sit down meetings with media workers last week, before departing Guyana yesterday, the diplomat was asked about three pieces of advice, he would give to the country’s decision makers. He believed that there should be closer relationship between the administration and the opposition. “...Work more together because you don’t know who will be in power in 2020; it could be one side or the other. The last elections was only won by 5,000 votes give or take...so work more together,” the ambassador said. The diplomat also urged Guyana to start planning long term. He noted that the planning should not be short-terms of “two, three” years but rather for the next “10, 20, 30” years. Another area that Guyana should concen-
trate on is the young generation. “And you have to prepare the youth. This is a country where 50 percent of the population is under the age of 26. They are the future leaders... the future everything...the future journalist... the future everything of Guyana and if you are not providing them the education, the training and preparation they need, then it’s not going to work out so well.” The ambassador would not be drawn into backing a model of governance for Guyana. However, he did acknowledge that shared governance decreases the opposition-type behaviour. At the end of the day, the model will depend on what the people of Guyana want, he said. In a shift leading up to the 2015 general elections, which was held thanks to a prorogation of Parliament by the Donald Ramotar, the ABC countries (US, Britain and Canada) were vocal urging local government elections, constitutional reforms and other changes.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday December 09, 2018
SARA breaches law, fails to have annual plan, Code of Practice tabled …Ram &McRae says Agency should be scrapped altogether By Kiana Wilburg The State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) appears to be in breach of the law which says that it must have tabled in the National Assembly, its annual plan and Code of Practice. This was recently pointed out by Ram and McRae Chartered Accountants. In its comprehensive review of budget 2019, the firm pointed out that SARA is budgeted to receive $285 million, an increase of $25 million or 9.6%, from the $260 million it received in 2018. Considering the substantial funds it is about to receive, Ram and McRae believes that the Agency should at least adhere to its reporting requirements. “Like many other public bodies, SARA appears to have breached the law in respect of the duty to have its annual plan tabled in the National Assembly and the prerequisite steps to lay a Code of Practice and to have its re-
port filed in the National Assembly.” The firm is of the view that the Agency has clearly failed to live up to the hype and fanfare, which accompanied its establishment when it was expected to recover several billions of dollars of state assets each year. It noted in its report that the Government may wish to consider scrapping the Agency altogether and assigning its functions and responsibilities to the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) of the Guyana Police Force. SARA’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Aubrey HeathRetemyer, asked to respond to Ram and McRae’s criticisms, opted not to. He said that the legal firm of one of the accountants, Christopher Ram, has a Constitutional challenge against SARA. The SARA CEO said, “The matter is still in Court. Based on this and the question you asked, any response may be considered prejudicial
SARA CEO, Aubrey Heath-Retemyer
Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram
or sub-judice hence, no comment.” 2018 PERFORMANCE During his contribution to the 2019 budget debates, Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General, Basil Williams, spoke to the performance of SARA for 2018.
He noted that the Agency has been working on 25 cases referred to it by the Police Legal Advisor, among others. Williams said that at present, the Agency has five cases, which are 90 percent complete and are only held up because requests for informa-
tion have not yet been fulfilled. He said that several agencies are still going through mountains of old documents to find the relevant pieces of information, which are needed to wrap up cases. In addition, he said that there are another 12 cases with a possible recovery value of over $2B that are about 70 percent complete. He said that SARA, working with NICIL, was able to have three pieces of Government property repossessed from delinquent leasees. Two of these properties are again on the market and interested parties are prepared to pay 300% - 400% more than the previous tenants. The third piece of property was sold to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) for $60M. Williams said that SARA working alongside the various agencies, which have the responsibility for lands, was able to provide information, which led to several actions such as the Guyana Forestry Commission repossessing approximately 2,000,000 acres of Forestry lands and the Lands and Survey Department reclaiming approximately 80 house lots. SARA, working with Ministries and Regions, led to improved inventories of equipment and the repossession and reallocation of more than 30 buildings across the country. The Minister said that the Agency working with
the Ministry of Legal Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Affairs is seeking to recover revenue loss through gold shipments leaving Guyana. He said that there have been several cases where an amount declared at Cheddi Jagan International Airport was vastly different to what was declared at J.F.K. in New York. SARA is also seeking cooperation with Brazil to identify and if possible recover gold held in Brazil due to illegal activities by Guyanese smugglers. The Attorney General said, “Since corruption is at the root cause of Government property being stolen, the less the nation loses, the less the need to recover. Hence SARA has made meaningful contributions to the anti-corruption efforts.” Further to this, Williams said that available figures as cited in a series of articles written 2012-2014 show the Government of Guyana losing billions per annum in Procurement Fraud. “Tens of billions was lost in Illicit Capital Flight and tens of billions of dollars due to the activities of the underground economy. While the analysts in SARA are still working to obtain current figures using three International Indices as references, we have moved several points in the right direction,” the Minister said.
Behind the mask of a magistrate The perception of a magistrate can be far from the truth. Generally, a magistrate is viewed as a beast sitting on its throne. A person who finds himself before a magistrate is often scared. For one, he expects the magistrate to find against him. A magistrate is an official who acts as a judge in a law court, which deals with minor crimes and disputes. He or she may hold preliminary hearings for more serious cases. The magistrate is often the first person you come into contact with when you find yourself entangled in the criminal justice system. You’re arrested, charged and prepared to make your first appearance before the magistrate. What many would be surprised to know is that magistrates do have a human side to them. While they may appear all stern and unmoveable, behind their eyes, they look at ensuring justice is served to a victim. According to one magistrate, “I feel a joy when I can have persons come before me as bitter enemies for an offence committed and I listen
to them as they explain what the other may have done. In the end, they air their views, apologize to each other and both leave with a smile. It is in that moment that I know I would have aided in ridding society of a lesser hate.” That beast sitting on their throne is most likely to come into a courtroom with a smile on his face. Magistrates often share advice, childhood memories and if you are lucky, you may get in on hearing one of them crack a joke in the courtroom. They open doors for persons to explain themselves and prepare for retribution. They have common hobbies and activities. One magistrate stated, “When I leave the courtroom, everything about court stays there. I’m open to everyone; I find time to relax with and take in the little things around me.” Magistrates come across people from all walks of life. In a hope of making a difference in someone’s life, they would even learn from persons coming before them things that make them better individuals and aid them in their service to the people.
Sunday December 09, 2018
Kaieteur News
Works to $455M Leguan Ferry Terminal to commence in 2019
A section of the damaged Leguan Stelling Rehabilitative works to the Leguan Ferry Terminal is slated to commence in 2019. In a statement, this week, the Public Infrastructure Ministry noted that the project is in keeping with its national commitments. According to the Ministry, residents and visitors to Leguan are being assured that during the construction period of the project, there will be no change to the existing vessel schedules. “At this time, all arrangements are therefore being finalised by the Ministry to ensure that there are no disruptions to the current operations at Leguan and to further facilitate a smooth construction period for the provision of this new stelling. Earlier this year, Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) Chief Mechanical Engineer, Dwayne Griffith, had explained that the project is public tender. According to Griffith, the engineer’s estimated cost for the rehabilitation of the stelling
is $455M. Once the project has been awarded, Griffith noted that it will take approximately eight months to be completed. The rehabilitation of the ferry terminal is coupled with the recently rehabilitated M.B Sandaka, which traverses the Parika – Leguan route. The vessel was outfitted with two new engines and also received a facelift. The rehabilitation of the ferry terminal is another major project of the T&HD under the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. The Bartica Stelling is currently being rehabilitated at $240M. Other stellings to be rehabilitated are Parika, Vreed-en-Hoop and Stabroek. Last July, the Ministry announced that the dilapidated stelling was on the list for pending rehabilitative works. Then in September, Government revealed that a contract, to the tune of $413.2 million, was awarded to Maraj Contracting Services.
36 persons arrested in Cummingsburg -Kingston search operations Police ranks yesterday arrested 36 persons in several cordon and search operations conducted in North Cummingsburg and Kingston. The 36 persons were detained in relation to several offences. Among tghe detainees were ten foreign nationals (eight women and two men), initially suspected to be undocumented but since confirmed to be documented by ranks of Criminal Investigation Department Head Quarters. The foreign nationals have since been handed over the Trafficking in Person (TIP) department. Up to press time, this publication was unable to clarify whether they have been released. Also among the persons arrested was a Rosemary Lane resident who was found to be in possession of 88 grams of cannabis packaged in small-sized ziploc bags. Additionally, two motorcycles and a flat screen television suspected to have
Cannabis seized
been stolen or unlawfully obtained have been confiscated. The search and cordon operations were spearheaded
by two senior Superintendents supported by 108 ranks. They lasted for over three hours.
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Attorney General appeals for Opposition support for local Law School Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, has said Government is still pursuing the establishment of a law school, locally. He said that Government will continue pressing the Council of Legal Education (CLE), the Bar Association, the Judiciary, the Department of Law at the University of Guyana and the Opposition for their support of the establishment of the law school. “The effect of their support would remove the discriminatory quota of 25 Guyanese law students annually to the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS), thereby removing the hardships suffered by Guyanese students,” Williams said during the budget debate on Friday. Guyana is still hoping that the CLE will grant permission for the establishment of the Joseph Haynes Law School (JHLS). Despite Government’s pronouncements of having the school in place, earlier this year, the school was subjected to another shifting of the CLE’s position to deny its establishment. Williams had previously accused former Attorney General and Opposition Member of Parliament, Anil Nandlall, of attempts to block the process of establishing the law school when he was contacted by CLE Chairman and Trinidadian Attorney Reginald Armour, SC. Nandlall who previously served on the CLE dismissed the claims. Armour had disclosed that the paperwork submitted for the law school came up short.
According to Armour, Guyana provided the CLE with a feasibility study for the proposed law school, on July 4, 2018. The CLE’s sub-committee has since looked at the study and prepared a report. The CLE is concerned about three things. The Chairman disclosed that the feasibility was not treaty-compliant – it does not fit within the treaty under which the CLE operates. Armour said that the feasibility study does not satisfy the quality assurance that is required. And there is also need to see a curriculum. The official said that the discussions will be held with Government on a timetable on the proposed law school. Williams had said that the details that are required are “not a big deal”. In fact, the curriculum that will be used is that of the Hugh Wooding Law School. Williams said that the Government will be responding and engaging with the CLE on the issues. Government has earmarked a spot in the University of Guyana campus for the building of the school. Currently, students have to travel abroad, to Trinidad and other territories, to complete their studies. President David Granger has called on the CLE to find new ways to improve the delivery of affordable legal education across the region.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday December 09, 2018
Jared Khushner coached Saudi Crown Prince on ‘how to weather the storm’ after Khashoggi’s murder DAILYMAIL UK - Jared Kushner advised Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to resolve his conflicts in the Middle East and avoid further embarrassments, after the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, it has been claimed. The New York Times reports that a source from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia claimed they spoke on the phone after news emerged of the journalist’s October 2 death inside the KSA Istanbul embassy. The White House only recognizes one official talk between the pair after Khashoggi’s killing – an October 10 chat where national security adviser, John R. Bolton, took part and American ‘asked for more details and for the Saudi government to be transparent in the investigation process’. White House officials declined to comment specifically on one-on-one communication between the prince and Trump’s adviser
Trump’s Adviser, Jared Khushner and Crown Prince, MBS after the death of Khashoggi. A spokesperson said in a statement, ‘Jared has always meticulously followed protocols and guidelines regarding the relationship with MBS and all of the other foreign officials with whom he interacts.’ However, it was alleged the duo enjoyed multiple
unofficial phone calls and eventually started speaking on a first name basis and even text each other via Whatsapp. The Times says three former White House officials and two people briefed by the Saudi royal court participated in their report that claims their friendship got so concerning the National Security Council
staff members were strictly reinstated to listen in on all calls. According to Hezbelloh sympathizing Lebanese newspaper, Al Akhbar, which shared email and text message communications with them, it was part of a string of talks in a friendship orchestrated by the Saudis to gain favour from Donald
Trump. As the US President’s adviser, Kushner was reportedly regarded as an easy way in for the Middle Eastern royal who was yet to oust his cousin, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, and take on the prominent position in 2017. The report states that the Saudis initiated a plan before Trump was elected and even offered help in the lead-up to him being voted into power. A slide presentation viewed by the Times showed communication where a member of the Saudi delegation reported after a trip to the US in November 2016. ‘The inner circle is predominantly deal makers who lack familiarity with political customs and deep institutions, and they support Jared Kushner,’ it reads. The Times said several Americans involved confirmed the conversation topics. Playing off Kushner’s lack of knowledge about the Middle East, Lebanese Ameri-
can real estate investor Tom Barrack is said to have had email communication in May 2016 with the Emirati ambassador in Washington, excitedly talking about how easily influenced he is. ‘You will love him and he agrees with our agenda!’ Mr. Barrack wrote to Youssef Otaiba. The response he later received was, ‘Thanks to you, I am in constant contact with Jared and that has been extremely helpful.’ The United Arab Emirates is said to have also been pushing for Salman to become the top prince and carry out many of the duties reserved for his aging father King Salman. Kushner ended up meeting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed of Abu Dhabi, UAE during his unannounced visit to New York to discuss the IsraelPalestine conflict. According to the Times, Zayed had his ear and showed his keenness on Salman becoming the leader.
Sunday December 09, 2018
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Kaieteur News
---Hinds’ Sight by Dr. David Hinds---
PPP is not an option, but a lost Coalition isn’t an automatic alternative So, Minister Lawrence has apologized for words “attributed” to her. I am not sure whether she meant the words that she uttered or that she was hinting that she was misquoted. But the fact is that she apologized to those who felt hurt by her words. This is the problem with our politicians—they find it difficult to admit errors. The fact is that the Minister offered a feeble admission that what she said was out of order. Perhaps she realized that she has embarrassed a lot of government supporters. But consistent with the cynical side of our political culture, many supporters endorsed the Minister’s statements and saw absolutely nothing wrong with them. But as soon as she “apologized” – something they had urged her not to do, they pivoted and heaped praise on her for having the courage to admit an error. Well she “apologized” not because of the cheers of her supporters, but because some of us had the courage to tell her that she was wrong. And trust me, she did not apologize because the PPP said she was wrong, but because some on her side of the political fence and some independents said she was out of order. If she had followed the counsel of her supporters, she would have gone to the Square of the Revolution and repeated the speech. This is precisely one of the main reasons why our politics can be so frustrating. Supporters on both sides of the
ethno-political divide take an uncritical stance towards the actions of their leaders. Those who today sing all praises to this government were just a few months ago very critical of the previous government for the very things they now view as acceptable. The problem is that in the process they diminish themselves and help to consolidate a sense of infallibility in their leaders. Others have downplayed the seriousness of what the Minister said and meant, because the other side does it and because clientelism has always been part of our politics. Such people prolong the normalization of bad politics. When do we muster the courage to say something is wrong and should be discontinued? I was appalled at the extent to which PPP supporters went along with, excused or remained silent about the PPP’s excesses. Whether they realized it or not, in the process they diminished Guyana and ultimately contributed to making Guyana a worse place than during the bad old PNC days. I am amazed that many of these people continue to hold up those bad PNC days as the lowest point of our very lowly political state. It doesn’t occur to them that their hatred of the PNC and the bad PNC days, was used as the mask to expand and extend the authoritarian state they vowed to dismantle. It was my biggest lesson from the PPP period in gov-
ernment—how governments and parties could subtly, and no so subtly, use the promise of returning democracy to mask their dictatorial agenda and how party supporters’ insecurity, fear and drive for revenge become props in that process. I, therefore, vowed that the current government should not be allowed the same luxury. In that regard, I have turned my face away from uncritical support. Of course, there is a price to be paid, and I am paying that price. As an African Guyanese and an Africanist, I should not be critical of the government in public or be critical of it at all. I get daily advice to do as the East Indians did — “David, did you see the Indians criticize the PPP when it was in government?” I resist such urgings, I know it is the norm, but it is a norm that I reject, and would like to render it less normative. PPP supporters are united in their belief that persons like myself are racist—after all, I do not hide my sense of Blackness and Black Pride, and I wear African clothes after Emancipation Day. You see, we don’t make a distinction between racial pride and racism—once you proclaim cultural pride, you are racist to the other side, and even some of your own ethnic group. But to the diehard government supporters, I am more than racist—I won’t repeat the nastiness that is heaped on me by government sup-
porters. My crime is straightforward—I dare to say that this government is wrong. Mind you, these very people heaped praise on me whenever I lambasted the PPP — “you now making sense David, I don’t agree with everything you write, but on this one I am with you.” I often shake my head and wonder what a place to be. I know some of these people know better, but others have surrendered to the logic of our ethno-political logic. “What power sharing you talking ‘bout David, can you share power with devils?” I know the origins of such political instincts; at a certain level I sympathize with it. But I refuse to be part of it. I am not spending my time lambasting Jagdeo and the PPP just for the sake of doing it. I am not making excuses for this government’s errors because I don’t want to sound like the PPP. I am not allowing African solidarity to determine my support for the government or lack of support for the PPP. I am not advising Black people to be uncritical of their government simply because Indians did it. I come from that Black tradition that wants Black people to use their blackness in positive ways. In the end Guyana is diminished by blind political
loyalty. Minister Lawrence heaped scorn on those party councilors who don’t toe the party line—she is obviously against independent thought and action. When the party gives a directive, you follow or face the consequences. That kind of political culture is inimical to democracy. No wonder many of our younger party members are so uninformed—they are dissuaded from embracing critical analysis and independent action and they in turn accept such orthodoxy as normative. It is why the PNC has a hard time functioning in a coalition. Coalition politics are inimical to the “follow the leader” syndrome. And even if you try, you look stupid. It is why it should not be surprising that the party preaches coalition building while undermining the coalition. Just listen to Minister Lawrence and it becomes clear that she is not thinking coalition; she is thinking party. For me, the story is clear—I did not fight party paramountcy to then turn around and help resuscitate it in the name of coalition loyalty. The coalition has my qualified support now, but it has to earn my support in 2020. The PPP is not an option for me, but a coalition that has lost is way is not an automatic
Dr David Hinds alternative. I am not supporting that kind of politics articulated by Minister Lawrence— It’s not my cup of tea. A month ago we, of the Kaiso tradition, said farewell to Shadow, the bassman. Within a month of his passing, fellow kaiso legends Defosto Himself, Lord Superior and Composer have all gone back to the ancestors. As my Congo Brethren and Sistren from Annandale South Congo Pasture used to chant: “Congo Creolie/One b One, See them a go way/One b One. And a Congo boy from Buxton-Annandale-Congo Pature, Bevon Currie has also gone home. Farewell Countryman—you were a true activist with a conscience and a vision. They don’t make them like you no more. More of Dr. H i n ds ‘wri ting s and comme ntarie s can be found on his Y ouTube Channel Hinds’ Sigh : Dr.Da vid Hinds’ Guyana -Carib bean Po litics and o n h is website www.g u y a n ac a r ib b e a n po li ti c s. ne w s. Se nd com me nts to dhind s61 06 @ aol. com
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Kaieteur News
IS THERE A STALKER OF ELDERLY MEN? By Michael Jordan If the man I spoke to a few years ago is correct, then there is someone out there who is stalking elderly men who live alone and killing them. The man to whom I spoke believes that he has met this slippery individual before, and that he unwittingly helped a killer to escape death row once. My informant believes that the man went on to kill again—and this time around, the victim was this informant’s own brother. On Monday, January 12, 2004, the body of 55-year-old Social Impact Amelioration Programme (SIMAP) Executive Secretary, Lennox Stewart, was found in his Lot 112 Duncan Street, Newtown home. He was lying face-down
Hector Fitzroy Marshall and his feet were bound with masking tape. A post mortem would later reveal that he was struck on the head with a blunt object and death was due to cerebral haemorrhage. Stewart had lived alone and whoever had killed him had also ransacked his home and made off with a laptop
computer and other valuables. Neighbours told investigators that they had seen individuals transporting articles from the slain man’s home to a taxi. The eyewitnesses alleged that a male relative of Stewart’s was driving the car. Detectives subsequently detained a man who was allegedly seen putting a suitcase into the vehicle. But their prime suspect turned out to be 22-year-old man, who was allegedly found with a cellular phone and other items belonging to Stewart. Although the suspect insisted that Stewart had given him the items, he was eventually charged with Stewart’s murder. It would take some three years for the trial to begin. During the High Court
trial, prosecution witness Ronald Barkie testified that he saw a tall, dark-skinned man at the home carrying away things belonging to Stewart on the day that the SIMAP official’s body was found. However, this description of the alleged robber did not fit the accused. The defence, led by Legal Aid Counsel Gary Best and Nigel Hawke, presented evidence to show that some of the items that the accused was found with had not belonged to the victim. Defence attorney Best submitted that the prosecution had not made out a case against the accused. In March 2007, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards ruled that the State had not made out a case against the accused. He was a free man. But before freeing him, the judge told him that if he had indeed murdered Stewart, he would have to live with the guilt for the rest of his life. According to her, every case has a silent witness who some refer to as “God” or the “Creator”. She said He sees everything and only He knows what happened in the case. And that should have been the last time that the public heard about the accused. But then, some four years later, another pensioner died. On January 19, 2011, a woman sent her son to check on her elderly next-door neighbour, 64-year-old Hector Fitzroy Marshall, who lived at Lot 362 Powis Close, South Ruimveldt. She had become worried after she had not seen him sitting at his usual spot on his verandah. Mr. Marshall had also not answered her calls. A few minutes later, the woman’s son came running back to his mother. He claimed that Mr. Marshall was dead. A close relative of Mr. Marshall recalled hurrying to the home and finding the elderly pensioner gagged and “tied up like a ‘guana” in a back bedroom of his home. According to reports, the pensioner’s hands were bound behind his back with strips of cloth. His legs were also bound with strips of cloth, while another
strip of cloth was strapped around his neck. Death was due to strangulation. Marshall was a former Personnel Officer of the Ministries of Information and Foreign Affairs. He was also a Programme Director of the Institute of Adult and Continuing Education. Like Lennox Stewart, the slain SIMAP Executive Secretary, Marshall had lived alone. The close relative who visited the scene suspects that the killer entered the pensioner’s home after removing some window panes. He believes that Mr. Marshall was out at the time and that the killer secreted himself in the house and waited for his victim to return. Marshall’s home was completely ransacked, clearly pointing to robbery as a motive. According to reports, the retired public servant had told close relatives that he had allowed his pension to accumulate over a four-year period. He’d planned to use this money to repair his house. But shortly before his death, Hector Marshall had collected his pension, including cheques from the National Insurance Scheme and from the post office. Detectives began to focus their attention on a 29-year-old man who sometimes did oddjobs for Mr. Marshall. It was the same man who was charged and later freed for Lennox Stewart’s murder. They located him several days after Mr. Marshall’s body was found. Detectives alleged that the suspect’s fingerprints were found on a gift box in the slain pensioner’s house. Mr. Marshall’s relative insists that the suspect was never allowed into the pensioner’s house. Again, the man was charged for murder; and again, the case reached the High Court. But in July 2013, after a trial that lasted a little
over a week, a 12-member jury returned with a verdict of not guilty. He had once again walked out of the High Court a free man. Hector Marshall’s relative blames ‘sloppy’ work by the police for causing the accused to be freed. “The police case was sloppy; that why he was able to walk out of court,” he said. ”They made elementary mistakes; there was sloppy presentation of evidence.” For instance, he said that the police failed to produce the music box, which allegedly had the fingerprints of the accused. He also claimed that on occasions, the police failed to turn up in court. “At one time the police weren’t showing up, and one rank told me that I have to search for the police for them to give evidence. It was a sloppy investigation and the judge had no option than to direct the jury in a certain way. I was in the court every day, and the prosecutors did their best, but the prosecutors have to work with what they have.” To add the proverbial salt into the wound, the relative claims that he had assisted the accused in hiring attorneys for his first murder trial. “I feel terrible about that. He came out and quite possibly did the same thing.” If you have any information about any other unusual case, please contact Kaieteur News at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown location. We can be reached on telephone numbers 2258458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or 225-8473. You need not disclose your identity. You can also contact Michael Jordan on 6452447, or via his email add r e s s : kamarangnight@gmail.com
The Baccoo Speaks Waking up every morning can be a most joyful experience. It can make people want to do extraordinary things, and that is going to be the case of a young motorcyclist. He would be so excited that he would weave in and out of traffic with little care for his own safety. That is how he will crash into an oncoming car with fatal consequences. This would push the road fatalities for the city to a near
record figure. ** This is the time when people add fixtures to their already overladen power supply. The result would be a
fire in a housing scheme that would put a damper on the Christmas spirit for one family. It will also threaten some neighbours who have been stretching their resources to be happy for the season. ** There will be another river disaster in the western part of the country. A vessel travelling from neighbouring Venezuela would encounter another in the waterways. There would be casualties.\
Sunday December 09, 2018
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Kaieteur News
Yesu Persaud, Forbes Burnham and me There are times when blackouts come at Turkeyen, where I live, in the evenings when you are on the computer. You don’t feel sleepy, so there are only two options. You can turn on your batteryoperated CD player and listen to music. Or use your battery-charged lamp and read a book. Aubrey Baptiste from one of Guyana’s longest surviving small busin e s s e s , “ M a t t ’s R e c o r d Bar,” recently sent me, from Florida, the latest cover of the great Burt Bacharach love songs done by an artist named, Steve Tyrell. The album features two fabulous covers by the inimitable lady of soul, Patti Austin. After listening to the songs in the dark, I turned on the lamp and went to my library to see what I should read again. I chose to reread an intrigui n g s e c t i o n o f Ye s u Persaud’s autobiography, “Reaching for the Stars.” Yesu celebrated his 90th birthday recently. The sec-
ond part of his autobiography should be out next year. The country’s young generation (outgoing US ambassador says half of Guyana’s population is under 26) will have a portrait of what Guyana was like before they were born, on reading Yesu’s autobiography. Yesu is one of the persons I admire intensely in my life. If I ever had a genuine friend that I know likes me and would not let me down, it is Yesu Persaud. He remains and always will be, one of my heroes. That night when blackout came, my eyes just went immediately to his autobiography. It is one of the best memoirs I have ever read. I am simply fascinated by chapters 7 and 8. They are a compellingly lucid account of one of the most crucial moments in contemporary Guyanese history. There were some fascinating lines in those two chapters which young researchers will find rich in
their revelations. When I was young, I was fed a diet of Burnham versus Jagan the good guy; Cheddi versus the bad guy, LFSB. All of that vanished completely from my mind as I became a teenager and began to read books, some of which I stole from the National Library and the Michael Forde Bookshop where I worked as a sixteen—year-old. But the complete picture was overturned when I became a UG student and met the really big, powerful players in Guyana from across class lines and the race divide. I got to know Opposition Leader Cheddi Jagan very well. I never met Prime Minister Burnham, though when as PM, he sent to call me for what I will never know. I think it had to do with the accolade of acquiring the President’s Medal as the best graduating student at UG. I will always remember the night. I was by myself having a sundae at a Banks
DIH outlet named Idiho (still has that name) below the famous Demico building on Brickdam. One of the PM’s assistants that I knew from my UG days, Vincent Britton, drove up. I can vividly recall the colour of that car. It was olive green and it was the model that many of the PNC ministers drove – the Mitsubishi Lancer. Vincent had a most likeable personality. I w a s w i t h t h e W PA a t t h a t time, but strangely I got along with many top PNC apparatchiks who were fellow students at UG, a friendship that has fondly lasted up to this day. The memories of some of them will remain etched in my soul forever. Vincent told me Mr. Burnham would like to see me. Obviously at that time
(the turbulent seventies) I was no fan of Burnham. Young, silly, adventurous and full of misplaced bravado, I told Vincent to tell Burnham to “eff off.” I don’t know if Vincent conveyed the exact exclamation, but Burnham hated me since that time in 1978. And he did things to hurt me, my wife and mother. Anyway, sorry for this long digression; back to Yesu. Even though I will never, as a human rights activist reconcile myself with Burnham, as an academic, I will continue to acknowledge him as one of the most visionary and transformative leaders the post-colonial world has produced. That section in Yesu’s autobiography on Burnham just touched some nerve in my academic mind when I first read it, and continues to enthrall me
Frederick Kissoon about Burnham. On page 213, Yesu describes the harassment he received from PNC big boys after the nationalization of the sugar industry. One day Burnham sent to call him and told him to ignore them; that they only want to impress their leader, but he has no time for sycophants. If only our other presidents used to think like that, Guyana would have been a better country.
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Sunday December 09, 2018
Thankfully, we have a true Government for the people Phase one of the annual Budget debates ended in the National Assembly on Friday with the Coalition Government dominating the proceedings with posit i v i t y. Speaker after speaker laid out a raft of very effective, irrefutable accomplishments their ministries and agencies chalked up in this year alone, and the plans and programmes that are already on stream for 2019. It is impressive, to say the least. Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson, stood tall. He calmly reminded the Opposition that all their party could be credited for in 23 years is converting the first section
of the East Bank Public Road up to Diamond into a four-lane highway. That begs the question – what prevented the previous Government from constructing a new road instead that would definitely ease the nerve wracking, hours-long, decades-old traffic congestion that commuters on both sides of the Demerara endure every single day. It is now left to the David Granger administration to correct this almost criminal failure. Those officials had a predilection for slap-on repairs. They had no will to build new structures, although the skills were there. One investigator pointed out that millions of the people’s dollars, which
the PPP used to allocate for repairs and infrastructural extensions really provided great opportunities to cream off the top. Come 2019, this Coalition Government is going to build that East Bank to East Coast link, from Diamond to Ogle. It will have several connecting spurs (total length 9.62 km) at Aubrey Barker Road, Haags Bosch, Mocha Arcadia and Diamond Access roads. The overriding objective is to free up movement, on the East Bank road and at both ends of the Harbour Bridge. The road link will benefit citizens all across this country, people travelling along the coast from
Berbice through to Linden and into the hinterland regions where most mineral mining and logging take place. The proposed East Bank/East Coast link will be convenient for arrivals and departures from both international airports, and it will definitely shorten travel time. Minister Patterson gave the assurance that design work will begin early in 2019. Imagine what the city and its environs would look like when these projects are finished - properly aligned highways; a new multi-lane fixed bridge across the Demerara River; asphalted internal streets laid out in a box configuration; street signs and markings; manicured parapets with flowering trees. We dare say that there is not one citizen who does not want the capital to have its old name, The Garden City, back. When we go east (as the drone flies in this technological age), the controversial Berbice Bridge will still add to the pleasing aesthetics, which Government is determined to build and sustain, despite the ugliness that surrounds the facility. Up to this year, the managers of the Bridge tried to whip up controversy, using the travelling public as pawns, bait. Thankfully, we have a true Government for the people. It has no interest in sidelining anyone or any group, no matter what their political preferences are. When the bridge company first flexed its muscles in 2015 and introduced ridiculously high tolls, Government introduced river taxis
and free passage for students, which are still in effect. Take note that the BBCI is receiving the revenue that they had anticipated from the toll increases because Government is paying the difference between the previous toll and lower rates that were negotiated. This is to avoid any hardships on commuters in Berbice. This year the bridge company climbed its high horse again and announced another raft of ridiculously high tolls to be instituted from 12 November, Local Government Election day. Again the Coalition immediately instituted measures to ensure that people were not manipulated in the BBCI’s venal schemes to collect more money. Government took temporary possession of the Bridge and is executing its promise to carry out all maintenance on the bridge and pontoons, and sustain the tolls. Mind you, ALL of the revenue from tolls collected during this period until the bridge is handed back to the BBCI, will be given over to the BBCI without prejudice. This matter is another example of the stark differences between the two parties. One is hell bent on acquiring as much money and property as it could (and damn how the public feels about it); the other is determined to make life and living as easy as possible for Guyanese while they ready the country for change, for growth. One other example is the raw determination of the Pub-
lic Telecommunications Minister, Cathy Hughes, to ensure that as many of our citizens as possible, reaching into the valleys of the Pakaraima Mountains, have access to the worldwide web (Internet), and to equal quality education, health, and access to public services. The Ministry is providing computer literacy training even for children as young as nine years. It is working closely with the Education Ministry to include Robotics, Animation and Artificial Intelligence in the curriculum in schools from primary to university; and with the Public Health Ministry to bring telemedicine (the ability to consult with health professionals remotely via the internet) to our inland regions and the hinterland. Minister Hughes made a poignant statement recently that partly exposes the PPP’s attempts to engineer the failure of the Coalition. The PPP’s oldest gambit is economic licks, meaning that their supporters contract their business, earn less revenue, pay less taxes that could hamper development, then scream dramatically that the Government is anti-private sector. Minister Hughes said, “If the Opposition is interested in truly representing its constituency, they should return to the Parliamentary Committees; they refuse to participate in, take up the seats on the state boards that they refuse to occupy. Talk is always cheap and easy. It is easy to criticize but much harder to do the work. Theatrical outbursts are easy to perform, but where does that leave us, any of us? ‘An eye for an eye’ makes us all blind!”
Sunday December 09, 2018
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Kaieteur News
My column
No more guns and dolls but a frightening addiction Christmas is coming and with it all the things that people would want for their homes. There are going to be blinds, the new furniture, the paint jobs, and of course the things parents would want to give their children. Many, many years ago, boys wanted the cap guns and the girls wanted dolls. It meant that selecting toys for the children was an easy job for most parents. Nearly every Guyanese girl got a light-complexioned baby with blue eyes and all the features of the Europeans. Of course the girls did not care. They had their baby to play with. They did not see colour. Many enjoyed combing the hair, if the doll had any, because some came with the hair sculpted on the head. Then things changed. Politicians intervened and suddenly Black children having White dolls was not the way to go. The view was that children should be made to realize the truth about themselves. So it was that the dark-skinned dolls became the norm for dark-skinned children. But I wondered whether the children ever noticed the difference. Today we talk about racism without realizing that we taught our children about race. Indeed, the children saw the differences, but there was no more than a passing glance, especially if they attended the same school. Last week during an interview with outgoing American Ambassador, Perry Holloway, I heard the Ambassador say that
the various ethnic differences only became manifest at election time. Suddenly the racial lines are drawn and people view each other with some measure of hostility. Ambassador Holloway said that as soon as the elections are over and the results are declared, the people revert to what they are—Guyanese—sharing the space and the facilities. I once saw an experiment conducted on television—it might have been 60 Minutes. The conclusion was that children were hotwired to gravitate toward their own. The test was rather simple. Dolls or puppets were placed near the very small children who then proceeded to the doll they preferred. But the experiment also showed that there were other factors that determined the choice. The most pleasant got the most attraction, regardless of the colour. Children who grew up in mixed households also did not harbour any racial feelings toward their siblings. Anyhow, dolls have all but disappeared from the shelves. Parents simply do not have the urge to buy them. The guns are another story. They too have disappeared. As a boy when we played with them we simply reenacted what we saw in the movies. Of course we had been brainwashed by these movies. The good guys were always white and the bad guys were always black. So when we played unconsciously, there were those of us who saw ourselves as Roy
Rogers and the Buffalo Bill. We emulated John Wayne. We were the good guys. The situation changed in Guyana when the gun actually became a real object. We began killing each other. The authorities then implored parents not to give their sons guns at Christmas.Agun as a Christmas present is no more. Yet I believe that something worse has replaced the guns and the dolls. Electronics. I spoke about this before and I must do so again. Parents are going to present their children—at least those who could afford—with X-Boxes and smart phones. This has been the case for a while now. In increasing numbers, I see children with their noses buried in the phones almost all the time. You can’t get children to go out to do physical exercises. A few parents get their children to join clubs to play cricket or football. But most are happy to just know that their children are indoors. “They can’t get into trouble if they stay home,” parents would say. However, social contact has been drastically reduced. I see friends walking the streets, each absorbed by something on the phone and pretty much minding his or her own business. In the process, some have walked into traffic. I have a grandson who, once he has nothing more to do, would spend all his time on the phone. I have found
him sleeping and the phone would be going on about some cartoon character or some wrestling action. Even in my workplace I see young people fully engrossed in Facebook and Twitter and whatever else. But most of these people never try to use the phone to do their research. There was a time when the office hosted Christmas parties for the staff. These are no longer being held because, I firmly believe, that the young people would prefer to spend their time on the phone, texting or chatting with others. I understand that this is not unique to Guyana. I hear parents complaining that even at meal time they can’t get their children to put the phone down. Yet come Christmas, parents would be doling out phones as presents. The excuse would be that they always want to be in contact with their children. Yet none of these parents would buy what some call ‘mango pelters”. No child would be caught dead with one of them.
They don’t want to talk when they can text or send videos. And some of us have seen the videos, sometimes with disgust. There was the newspaper report of the boy who killed his mother because she dared to take away his phone. Things have reached frightening proportions. We embraced the technology without examining the consequences. Now that the situation has got out of hand we are helpless to control it. When I visited the United States and travelled on the subway, I was always amazed at people sitting in their own world. Each had his ears plugged with an earphone. Back then they listened to music from whatever was playing it, sometimes a tape recorder. Some buried their heads in the newspapers. Now there is the ubiquitous phone. Old neighbours would chat with each other, but for the greater part the carriage would be extremely quiet, each passenger lost in his own world. There is an advertisement
Adam Harris A. A. featuring a family without WiFi. Every member almost goes mad. They could not play family games or read something, so addicted are they to the technology. Guyana is almost the same. The children in the remote areas who do not have Wi-Fi don’t know how lucky they are, but that would change sooner rather than later. So here comes Christmas. No dolls and guns, but the phone that is going to heighten the addiction.
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Sunday December 09, 2018
Why would the PPP vow to scrap such a positive initiative? The Peoples Progressive Party – PPP - has vowed to scrap the Green State Development Strategy-GSDS. However, your government’s vision for Guyana’s development and the means through which we shall achieve this objective is clear. The State’s principal objective is to secure the “good life” for all. This “good life” entails providing every citizen with opportunities to be the best he or she can be. The “good life” is about securing sustained economic prosperity, ensuring citizen’s access to quality public services, and promoting social cohesion. The “good life” involves eliminating extreme poverty
and removing social, ethnic and geographic inequalities. The ultimate indicators of the good life are happy communities, happy households and happy people. Your government has chosen a ‘green’ pathway to guide it towards achieving the “good life”. A ‘green’ pathway allows us to benefit from our country’s abundant natural resources. A ‘green’ development trajectory will ensure a diversified and resilient economy, promote sustainable development, good governance and protect the environment while generating wealth and employment. The Government acknowledges that economic
development must not be at the expense of our environment. We believe that resource extraction must be guided by evidence-based sustainability guidelines, in keeping with our green state principles. This would ensure that our natural resources receive protection for future generations, and that we maximise social benefits for workers and local communities. The Strategy has as one of its goals, a transition to 100 percent renewable energy. This is achievable, because Guyana’s natural resources offer up diverse renewable energy sources in hydropower, solar, wind and
biofuels. The strategy considers and puts emphasis on the balance between the three dimensions of sustainable development: Economic, Social and Environmental to ensure comprehensive implementation of the 2030 Agenda, and Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs. i) Social cohesion and inclusion: human rights, multiethnicity and gender equality, non-discrimination and protection of vulnerable and marginalized population groups. ii) Well-being, education and quality of life: moral fabric, improving quality of living for all Guyanese, promoting sustainable lifestyles and protection of the environment. iii) Sustainable use of biodiversity and increased resource efficiency: acknowledging the role that nature plays in Guyana’s economic and social structure, and decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation. iv) Decarbonisation and climate resilience: aiming for a transition to a 100% renewable country by 2025. v) Sustainable finance: redirecting and mobilising investments to sustainable infrastructure and green economic sectors. vi) Good governance; ensuring transparency and sharing services and decisionmaking to the population; engaging civil society and creating a space for citizen participation. Some of the national goals include, establishing a sovereign wealth fund prior to oil production. Developing a neutral trade balance on imported fossil fuels and oil exports by 2030. Agriculture: stabilising sugar and rice production, and increasing value-added processing of these commodities. Ensuring food security by prioritising national demand. Guyana’s 2017-2021 Strategic Plan for Social Cohesion, envisions that by 2021, persons belonging to different race groups, unemployed youth, low-wage workers in mining, agriculture, forestry
or fishing, domestic workers, small business operators, tradesmen and women, casual workers, persons with disabilities, and other minority and excluded groups and communities should feel less economically unequal, to others. The hardships and discrimination they may experience will be dissipate. The GSDS will put significant emphasis on ensuring the full delivery of a modernised energy sector, with an increased mix of clean and renewable resources. The government is currently developing a long-term energy plan for the transition to increased use of renewables, together with GSDS building upon and integrating this plan. To meet these goals, and achieve the desired transformation, the GSDS will emphasise four core strategic areas: 1- Achieving a transition to 100% renewable energy in the power sector; 2-Achieving affordable, reliable and clean energy services or all; 3- Ensuring security and quality of energy for business growth; and 4- Increasing energy efficiency. Guyana is committed to a set of energy-related international and national targets based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The goals most related to energy transformation are; the removal of import duty and tax barriers on the importation of renewable energy equipment, compact fluorescent lamps and LED lamps will incentivise and motivate energy efficient behaviour. Conduct energy audits and replace inefficient lighting at public, residential and commercial buildings to reduce energy consumption; Public education and awareness programmes to provide consumers with information and tools to reduce energy consumption and expenditure; Implement building codes and net-metering of residential renewable power; Seek to construct and/or promote the
construction of small hydro systems at suitable locations such as MocoMoco, Kato and Tumatumari; Power all of the six newly established townships, starting with Bartica, using renewable energy sources. Work closely with farmers in agricultural areas across Guyana to encourage the use of biodigesters to reduce waste, produce biogas and provide affordable, healthy and efficient cooking means in the household. Reducing dependence on fossil fuels for energy generation, achieving close to 100% renewables by 2025 through a diversified renewable energy infrastructure including biomass, solar, wind and hydropower. Commitment to providing energy access to all Guyanese. The Green State Development Strategy - Vision 2040 will guide national development policies for the next 20 years. The vision for Guyana ‘s development is one that is inclusive and prosperous and provides a good quality of life for all its citizens, based on sound education and social protection, low carbon and resilient development, providing new economic opportunities, justice and political empowerment. The green state agenda will vastly improve the quality of life for all within the principles of a green economy. Economic growth characterised by low emissions; efficient use of natural resources; decent jobs and rising incomes sustained over generations; and a cohesive society: one that promotes equitable access to economic opportunities, recognises the strength of its cultural diversity and demonstrates tolerance among ethnic groups. All of the goals listed above are rational, lofty and extremely essential for a sustainable development strategy for Guyana’s development, however, under their governance, the PPP has vowed to scrap the Green State Development Strategy. According to the PPP’s General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo, “That (the GSDS) is a political initiative of Granger…. In all likelihood we will scrap it as soon as we get into office, because it makes no sense.” These remarks exemplify the visionless leadership that was practiced for 23 years by the PPP and rejected by Guyanese in 2015. With such utterances Jagdeo can look forward to many more years on the opposition bench.
Sunday December 09, 2018
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Gastroenteritis: The unpleasant bout of vomiting and diarrhea By Dr Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine Gastroenteritis is an infection of the gut with viruses, bacteria or other microbes. These infections irritate the gut, causing you to vomit and have diarrhea. While it is very uncomfortable, gastroenteritis is often self-limiting. However, it can be life-threatening, especially in children and the elderly, if early treatment is not initiated. Today, we will shed some light on this common condition to help you effectively manage it if you are affected by it in the future. WHATARE SOME SYMPTOMS OF GASTROENTERITIS? The main symptoms of gastroenteritis are: · sudden, watery diarrhea · feeling sick · vomiting, which can be projectile · a mild fever Some people also have other symptoms, such as a loss of appetite, an upset stomach, aching limbs and headaches. The symptoms usually appear up to a day after becoming infected. They typically last less than a week, but can sometimes last longer. WHEN SHOULD I SEEK MEDICALADVICE? Seek medical advice in any of the following situations, or if any other symptoms occur that you are concerned about: · If you suspect that
you are becoming lacking in fluid in the body (dehydrated). · If you are vomiting a lot and unable to keep fluids down. · If you have blood in your diarrhea. · If you have severe abdominal pain. · If you have severe symptoms, or if you feel that your condition is getting worse. · If you have a persisting high temperature (fever). · If your symptoms are not settling - for example, vomiting for more than 1-2 days, or diarrhea that does not start to settle after 3-4 days. ·Infections caught abroad. · If you are elderly or have an underlying health problem such as diabetes, epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney disease or HIV infection. · If you are pregnant. · Children that are not tolerating the episode well WHAT OPTIONS ARE THERE FORTREATMENT OF GASTROENTERITIS? Symptoms often settle within a few days or so, as your immune system usually clears the infection. Occasionally, admission to hospital is needed if symptoms are severe, or if complications develop. The following are commonly advised until symptoms ease. Fluids - have lots to drink If you suspect that you are dehydrated, you should
contact a doctor. · As a rough guide, drink at least 200 mls after each bout of diarrhea. Children should drink to quench their thirst. · This extra fluid is in addition to what you would normally drink. For example, an adult will normally drink about two liters a day but more in hot countries. The above advice of 200 mls after each bout of diarrhea is in addition to this usual amount that you would drink. · If you vomited, wait 5-10 minutes and then start drinking again but more slowly. For example, a sip every 2-3 minutes but making sure that your total intake is as described above. · You will need to drink even more if you are dehydrated. A doctor will advise on how much to drink if you are dehydrated. For most adults, fluids
drunk to keep hydrated should mainly be water. It is best not to have drinks that contain a lot of sugar as they can sometimes make diarrhea worse. Rehydration drinks are recommended for children, people who are frail, or over the age of 60, or who have underlying health problems. They are made from sachets that you can buy from pharmacies EATAS NORMALLY AS POSSIBLE It used to be advised to not eat for a while if you had gastroenteritis. However, now it is advised to eat small, light meals if you can. Be guided by your appetite. You may not feel like food and most adults can do without food for a few days. Eat as soon as you are able - but don’t stop drinking. If you do feel like eating, avoid fatty,
spicy or heavy food at first. Plain foods such as whole meal bread and rice are good foods to try eating first. MEDICATIO1N A n t i d i a r r h e a l medicines are not usually necessary. They only mask the problem and can make it worse. Avoid them and only use them if they were prescribed by a doctor. You can also use a pain or fever reducer such as paracetamol (panadol) or tylenolol. Most of the times the gastroenteritis is caused by a virus and you do not need antibiotics. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics if he/she thinks that it is caused by a bacterium. Do not self-prescribe antibiotics as you may be causing more harm than good. CAN GASTROENTERITIS BE PREVENTED?
Dr. Zulfikar Bux Proper storage, preparation and cooking of food and good hygiene help to prevent gastroenteritis. In particular, always wash your hands: · After you go to the toilet. · Before you touch food. · Between handling raw meat and food ready to be eaten. (There may be some germs on raw meat.) · After gardening. · After playing with pets. The simple measure of washing hands regularly and properly is known to make a big difference to the chance of developing gastroenteritis.
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SUNDAY Demand comprehensive insurance from all oil companies - World Bank Oil spills can result in long term damage to a nation. In some cases, the effects are irreversible. Considering this, international bodies have stressed on the need for regulators to ensure oil companies have “comprehensive” insurance that provides coverage for the eventualities that may arise from their operations. One of the many advocates on this matter is the World Bank, one of Guyana’s development partners. According to the organization, it is expected that oil companies take out insurance for their operations in any country. However, the World Bank warned that operators have often sought insurance which only covers certain activities. These may include third party legal liability and control of wells, re-drill, and cleanup of sudden and accidental pollution from a well out of control. It cautioned that industry regulators must ensure that an operator’s insurance covers every possible eventuality since “for some operators, their insurance excludes blowout or subsurface pollution or below-wellhead risk.” The World Bank highlighted that there is insurance that covers a blowout from an oil project. It is referred to as Operators’ Extra Expense (OEE) insurance. The World Bank said that emerging oil producers such as Guyana would want to ensure that this is in place especially when one considers how other nations suffered in the absence of this. In this regard, the financial institution cited the case of the major oil spill which occurred in 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico. The spill led to a loss of 53,000 barrels of oil a day for many weeks. It covered 6,500 square kilometers and involved five million barrels of oil. The source, the Deepwater Horizon field, was operated by BP under a joint operating agreement with Anadarko Petroleum and Mitsui Oil Corporation. Govt. seeks to recover millions from contractor for failed Supply Health Centre Project The Ministry of Communities has advised that Region Four Democratic Council (RDC) seeks to recover millions of dollars paid to a contractor for the construction of the Supply Health Centre, East Bank of Demerara.
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The project was previously halted by Region Four’s Regional Executive Officer (REO), Pauline Lucas, after it was discovered that the contractor – Navin and Sons – cast the foundation of the building without removing a tree stump. The REO has since moved to terminate the contract. “I wrote to [the contractor] outlining the results of the recent tests that were done and indicated to him that he would have to redo the foundation at his own cost. However, he indicated to me that in his view nothing was wrong with the foundation and therefore he saw no need for the foundation having to be redone,” Lucas told a recent meeting of the RDC. It was noted that the Auditor General’s office also conducted a test on the foundation which revealed similar findings of the region. She disclosed that based on the recommendations of the Senior Engineer and the Auditor General’s office that the contract should be terminated. She further stated that she wrote the Ministry outlining the issues and sought advice on the way forward. “As such, the Ministry wrote me and accepted my recommendation of terminating the contractor with the contractor being tasked with repaying the region,” Lucas stated. The contractor is said to have received about $18M on the project which was inked for $30.1M. However, Councilor Mazarool Majeed, who sits on the government side queried as to what would become of the foundation if it is to be redone. REO Lucas noted that it would be part of the Region’s letter to the defaulting contractor to bear the cost of dismantling the column and foundation. MONDAY ‘Hiring of only PNC Members’…Statement erodes public confidence in Min. Lawrence – TIGI President …Says Govt. cannot remain silent Following her controversial declaration to hire only People’s National Congress (PNC) members, there are calls for Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence to offer a public apology. President of Transparency International Guyana Inc (TIGI), Dr. Troy Thomas described Lawrence’s comments as very partisan. “If I were in that position, I would say she should discontinue, given her portfolio as a Minister. It would be
Aviation officials examining the Fly Jamaica aircraft after the crash
rather difficult to ask people in the Ministry to have confidence in that whatever policy that they are working on would be unbiased,” Dr. Thomas noted. Lawrence, the Chairperson of the PNC made the controversial comments while addressing the party’s Region Four District Conference at Congress Place. “The only friends I got is PNC, so the only people I gon give wuk to is PNC and right now, I looking for a doctor who can talk Spanish or Portuguese and ah want one that is PNC,” Lawrence is quoted. The Minister has not denied making the statements publicly and did not address the criticisms that she received because of the publication of her statements. Dr. Thomas stated that such comments are not expected to be heard from public officials because when they go into office, they are governing for all Guyanese. “They are handling resources that belong to the people. You can’t be talking about giving opportunities to people only from your party. We should have absolutely no tolerance of that and I believe that the party itself should want to discipline any of their Ministers who behave like that. It is a complete betrayal of the trust as citizens,” Dr. Thomas said. He stated that there is no evidence to suggest that Lawrence’s statement is racial, but at the same time, he is not saying that it isn’t. “It is definitely not the
kind of thing that you want to hear from any public official,” Dr. Thomas noted. CJIA halts removal of crashed Fly Jamaica aircraft Officials of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Sunday issued a cease order, preventing the removal of the Fly Jamaica Boeing 757 aircraft that crash-landed at the airport last month. Chief Executive Officer of Fly Jamaica, Captain Paul Reece confirmed with Kaieteur News that airport officials issued the ‘cease order’ while they were in the process of removing the aircraft. He said that he was unclear as to the reasons behind the CJIA decision. Kaieteur News was informed that a team, consisting of insurance personnel, had arrived to assist with relocating the aircraft from the end of the runway where it had stopped after an emergency landing. The team had started efforts to relocate the plane using flotation devises to a nearby hangar at the airport. According to reports, airport officials intervened to stop the process and police were also called in at one stage. Airport officials were contacted, but could not be reached for comment. Fly Jamaica had said that it is cooperating with authorities to determine the cause of the crash-landing of its Boeing 757 aircraft on Novem-
ber 9, 2018. The Fly Jamaica flight OJ256 departed CJIA for Toronto, Canada. About 15 minutes into the flight, passengers recalled that the pilot reported that the aircraft was experiencing problems with its hydraulic system and needed to return to CJIA. According to flight maps, the airplane circled before attempting to land. There were 128 persons onboard, including 86-yearold Rookhia Kalloo, who died shortly after the incident. There has been no determination on whether her demise was in anyway related. Journalist shoots man in leg during confrontation Twenty-eight-year-old Jimmy Ramgobin is nursing a gunshot wound to his lower leg, which he sustained during a confrontation with popular TV journalist, Travis Chase around 04:00 hrs Sunday. According to reports, Chase, 30, shot the man who had attacked him. At the time, Ramgobin, who is said to be homeless, had allegedly hurled bottles at Chase, after the journalist found him lying in front of his girlfriend’s gate while dropping the woman off. Police in a statement said that when Chase and his girlfriend arrived at her De Abreu Street, Newtown, Georgetown home, he observed Ramgobin in front of the yard. Chase exited his vehicle
and approached Ramgobin who allegedly began hurling bottles at him from a haversack that he had in his possession. Chase, who is a licensed firearm holder, fired a warning shot at Ramgobin. But Ramgobin refused to stop, and Chase retaliated by firing three more shots, one hitting his attacker to his lower leg. Chase in an invited comment, said he was in fear for his safety, since the man seemed to be in a rage, after he woke the man from his sleep. One of the neighbours recalled hearing crashing sounds around 04:15 hours after which she heard about three explosions. The resident said she later learnt that Ramgobin, a substance abuser from the neighbourhood, had thrown bricks and bottles at a man who later shot him. The injured Ramgobin is currently a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), police said. Investigators have obtained statements from Chase and his firearm along with four spent shells has been lodged. TUESDAY New discovery pushes oil reserves over 5B barrels. ..Suppliers jostle for jobs as local content forum begins Local companies are meeting with ExxonMobil and its (Continued on page 33)
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From page 34 contractors to talk jobs and opportunities as the countdown continues for first oil in early 2020. Monday, scores gathered at the Marriott Hotel, Kingston, as news was announced that a 10th discovery has been made about 200 kilometers offshore, pushing recoverable reserves beyond five billion barrels of oil. This could push production up to 750,000 barrels per day come 2025, authorities said Monday. While the forum was in the first session, a statement from Government quoted Director, Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe, as saying that the United States oil giant, ExxonMobil, has made its 10th discovery offshore Guyana, at the Pluma-1 well. “This is great news for Guyana…The country is on the cusp of transformational development for current and future generations and the news of ExxonMobil’s 10th discovery offshore Guyana is expected to facilitate the country’s realisation of substantial social and economic improvements,” said an upbeat Dr. Bynoe. The Pluma-1, which is located some 17 miles (27 kilometers) south of the Turbot1 well and follows previous discoveries on the Stabroek Block, encountered approximately 121 feet (37 meters) of high-quality, hydrocarbonbearing sandstone. The well was safely drilled to 16,447 feet (5, 013 meters) depth in 3,340 feet (1,018 meters) of water. The Noble Tom Madden drillship began drilling on November 1, 2018. “Guyana is well poised to truly forge ahead in the 21st century. As a petro-development state we will, however, need to strategically invest in a people-centered and bal-
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The location where the incident occurred anced manner, where we utilise our non-renewable resources for structural transformation and improving people’s lives in the shortterm, while concomitantly providing the foundation to allow us to transition in the medium- and long-term to a post carbon economy,” Bynoe noted. The previous recoverable resource estimate on the Stabroek Block was more than four billion barrels. US$150M and counting at CJIA…Contract says: Six large screen TVs cost $80M As scrutiny of the 2011 contract for the Timehri airport expansion contract continues, it is throwing up some surprising costs that taxpayers will have to be saddled
Part of the crowd at the Marriott Hotel
with. For example, the US$150M would have been outfitted with some 36 of the 46-inch screen monitors for the Flight Information Display System. No big problem. However, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), in the 2011 contract and the then Government of the day, under Bharrat Jagdeo, agreed that the price for each would be a whopping US$6,548.90 each ($1,310,000). Some US$235,760.40 ($47,152,080) would have set aside for those 36 of the 46-inche TVs. It did not end there. There were 12 of the 52inch monitors needed. Each was US$9,824.43 (almost $2M). The amount set aside for those 12 LCD displays were US$117,893.16 ($23,578,632).
The airport also needed six of the “large scale display screen (LCD) 4*82”. Each was a whopping US$65,493.30 ($13.1M). That cost for those 82inches were US$392,959.80 ($80M). Volda Lawrence apologises for ‘jobs for PNC people’ statement Following a week of public criticisms, Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, Monday offered an apology for her controversial statements of offering jobs to only People’s National Congress (PNC) people. Lawrence was approached by reporters during the start of the debate on the 2019 Budget estimates at Parliament Building. She did not respond to questions, but
pointed reporters to a statement posted on her official Facebook page. “The rhetoric attributed to me over the last few days, is not reflective of who I am as a person or leader,” the statement noted. Further, she stated, “I have learned that as a leader I must be cognizant of what I say and do, and must not allow emotions or political fervour to get in the way. So to all those whom I have offended in one way or another, I humbly apologize.” The Minister indicated that over the last 30-plus years, she has given service to the people and Guyana. “I have fought for my fellow countrymen and women known and unknown, irrespective of their class, creed or political affiliation. I have fought for freedom, equal
rights and justice,” Lawrence stated. Lawrence, the Chairperson of the PNC made the controversial comments while addressing the party’s Region Four District Conference at Congress Place on November 24. “The only friends I got is PNC, so the only people I gon give wuk to is PNC and right now, I looking for a doctor who can talk Spanish or Portuguese and ah want one that is PNC,” Lawrence is quoted. The Minister has not denied making the statements publicly and did not address the criticisms that she received because of the publication of her statements when she issued a previous statement. President of Transparency International Guyana (Continued on page 34)
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From page 33 Inc (TIGI), Dr. Troy Thomas, who described Lawrence’s comments as very partisan, had told Kaieteur News that an apology would just be the start. WEDNESDAY $345M in drugs, medical supplies paid for, but undelivered in past three years - Dr. Anthony rips Govt. on procurement in health sector Opposition front-bencher, Dr. Frank Anthony Monday chastised Government on its management record of the health sector, pointing to several instances of procurement breaches in the supply of drugs and medical supplies. During his contribution to the 2019 budget debate, Dr. Anthony highlighted that $345M in drugs and medical supplies were paid for by the Government in the past three years that have not been supplied. Dr. Anthony indicated that between 2015 and 2017, the government expended vast sums of monies to buy drugs and medical supplies. He indicated that many of these contracts were made as an ‘emergency purchase’, so that the delivery was time bound to fix the shortages in the public health system. “It is therefore unbelievable to learn that more than $345.4M was paid for drugs and medical supplies from 2015 to 2017 that were not delivered and were still outstanding,” Dr. Anthony stated.Pointing to findings from the Auditor General (AG)’s report, Dr. Anthony shared that in 2015, 144.6M was still to be delivered; 2016, $67.7M; and in 2017, $133M.“Can somebody explain what is going on in the Ministry of Public Health? We await the verdict of how much more drugs is outstanding for 2018. This situation is hurting the patients,” Dr. Anthony stated. For 2017 and 2018, the AG’s report identified the suppliers who are still to deliver as per contract as New GPC, USAID Global Health Chain, PAHO, Massy Gas Products, Caribbean Medical Suppliers and Royal Emporium. The AG had also pointed to outstanding deliveries between 2011 and 2014, the period when Dr. Anthony and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) controlled Government. In 2011, it was $7.3M; 2013, 58.5M; and 2014, $8.9M. This was not highlighted by Dr. Anthony in his budget presentation. Exxon’s 10th oil discovery makes contract
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with Guyana more disgusting – Chris Ram While some government officials are rejoicing over the 10th oil discovery by American oil giant, ExxonMobil, there are some concerned Guyanese who feel they have been plunged into a deeper state of worry for the nation’s future. One such person is Chartered Accountant and anticorruption advocate, Christopher Ram. During an interview with this newspaper last night, the columnist said that every time a discovery is announced, it emphasizes how absurd and irresponsible the signing of the June 2016 agreement was. Ram said, “It also means that we become increasingly reliant, if not dependable on Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited and its two partners, Hess and Nexen, for our future economic development. Indeed, our future is practically in their hands now. It also demonstrates the absurdity of the massive number of blocks given to them, far in excess of what the Petroleum and Exploration Act envisaged and treated as the maximum normal number of blocks.” The Chartered Accountant continued, “Now what is frightening is that while all of this is happening, Guyana is completely unprepared at the governmental level to deal with something of this magnitude. It is insane that 5 billion barrels of petroleum perhaps is now in the hands of a Department of Energy with a negligible number of staff and very little support facilities.” The columnist added, “The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Occupational Health and Safety (bodies), the Oil Spill Preparation Plan, the statutory framework, and the human resources, are all wholly inadequate and understaffed, even as there is an absence of regulatory legislation…At some point, we also have to say that even the President’s illness and unavailability has exacerbated an already bad situation.” Exxon continues to use its own definition of local content …But remains ready to support any possible changes in Guyana’s policy In the absence of a Local Content Policy, USA oil giant ExxonMobil, will continue to use its own definitions and terms to guide its reporting to the Coalition government on its use of local content. Confirming this during an exclusive interview Tuesday was head of Exxon’s Public Relations and Government
An official being welcomed at the Marriott Hotel, Kingston, for the suppliers’ forum. Affairs Department, Deedra Moe. She noted that the company has been up to date with its reports to the government, which have to be submitted at midyear and the end of year. Further to this, Moe was asked to say if the company has sought to reassess the way in which it reports on local content given the outrage that was sparked by the contents of its first report. Moe, however, answered in the negative, while noting that Exxon sees local content as the hiring of a company with at least 51 percent ownership by locals. She said that the company does not look at the size of the contract it awards to company A as opposed to company B. Even if company A benefits from a substantial sum while company B does not, “it is all considered local content for us, because the transaction would not have occurred if we were not there,” Moe said. In addition to this, the Exxon official said that the company remains committed to working with the government on its efforts to create a policy. She said that Exxon will support and respect the provisions and requirements of the final document. It was in June of this year that ExxonMobil provided the Government of Guyana with a list of companies that it used as part of its local content obligations in the first quarter of 2018. But the list of “registered companies” is padded with the names of 41 individuals; these include Dennis Charran, Mokesh Daby, Colin Daniels, Colvin Lockhart, Kembleton Clyne, Kurt Branker, Ramesh Seebarran, Ganesh Ajodha, Gary De Jesus, and Stan Gouveia. It also duplicates the name of Ram and McRae, an accounting firm. It is listed as
Ram & Mcrae and three spaces later in the document as Rams and McRae. THURSDAY Opposition spent over US$600M on failed projects, without studies – Minister Patterson Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, has chastised the Parliamentary Opposition for spending over US$600Million of taxpayers’ monies on failed projects including the Amaila Falls Hydro-Project and the Linden/Lethem and Sheriff Street/Mandela Avenue road upgrades. The Minister was at the time addressing the National Assembly during the 2019 budget debate. He used the opportunity to refute claims by Opposition members that his ministry has been conducting several irrelevant studies. Minister Patterson clarified that in the case of the Amaila Falls Hydro-Project, a sum of US$45M was spent on the project which did not come to fruition. He rubbished the entire project noting that after extensive investigation the right procedures were not followed.”I checked my entire ministry and there was no evaluation report, when we checked with NPTAB [National Procurement and Tender Administration Board] no evaluation report. We even checked the consultant; there was none. “I sent my staff to the archives and I found the advertisement for the project and discovered that it was awarded to NICIL [National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited]. So, it went straight from NICIL to Cabinet. They wrote their own specification, did no
evaluation report, went straight to Cabinet and awarded a contract and ended up paying US$45Million.” As it relates to the Linden/ Lethem Road, Minister Patterson explained that five feasibility studies were done between 1989 and 2008, but yet no work was done on the road. However, through the APNU-AFC government, a UK-CIF grant was presented for review studies and construction of Linden to Mabura Road and the Kurupukari Bridge. The Water Front Development Project has been awarded to Mott Mc Donald. Opposition MP blasts Govt over contract workers Opposition Member of Parliament, (MP) Indranie Chandarpal, has criticized the coalition Government over a failure to act on its own recommendations. In her contribution to the 2019 budget debates, Chandarpal highlighted the issue of hiring contract workers.Alluding to information in the 2017 Audit General Report ,Chandarpal had noted that despite recommendations of the Public Service Commission (PSC) to minimize the number of staff employed on a contractual basis, the Government continues to hire workers on contract. According to Chandarpal, as a result, employment costs from the year 2014 -2018 increased to some $28 .9 B or by 68 percent.Of that figure, the Opposition MP noted that a notable percentage has been expended on contract workers.She said that while in Opposition, the coalition Government had been heavily critical of the presence of these classes of workers and had promised to cut out the practice of having contracted
employees. However based on the AG report 2017, Chandarpal said the government has failed to act on its own advice. The reports outlines that Ministry of Presidency, expended over $969 M on payment for over 309 contract workers for last year, alone. Further, Chandarpal expressed concerns at the overall lack of action in regards to recommendations in the AG report. She noted that “Of 602 recommendation made in 2016 AG report— only 30% were partially implemented. Seventy percent was not implemented.” Quoting from the report, Chandarpal noted that the AG observed the lack action of the various budget agencies. In many instances recommendations are not implemented. As a result, each year weaknesses and issues continue to impact negatively in level of governance with regards to accountability mechanism….” she added. According to the information recorded in the Auditor General Report of 2017 an amount of $1.112 B was set to be expended on four employment projects under the Ministry of the Presidency in Regions One, Two, Five and Six. CGX inks Joint Venture with Frontera Energy …To accelerate operations near Exxon’s Stabroek Block Local oil and gas exploration company, CGX Energy Inc., has inked an agreement with its major shareholder, Frontera Energy Corporation (FEC), to pursue Joint Ventures (JVs) in both its Corentyne and Demerara offshore blocks. This news was jointly released on Tuesday by both (Continued on page 35)
Sunday December 09, 2018
From page 34 companies which are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange. In a move which is being seen as one of the most successful comebacks in the business, CGX announced that the JV sets it firmly on the path to restructure and address its debt and recapitalize so as to accelerate its drilling programmes on its Corentyne and Demerara offshore exploration blocks. The agreement comes at a time when USA oil giant, ExxonMobil recently announced that its discovered reserves in the basin are now more than five billion barrels as a result of its latest discovery, the Pluma-1 well, being approximately two miles from CGX’s Corentyne block. Against this backdrop, a recapitalized CGX Energy will proceed to drill offshore Guyana in the near term, providing more exploration activity in the basin, diversifying the commercial interests in the sector, and inserting a Guyanese-led exploration competitor into the basin. Importantly, the proposed joint venture which must be approved by the Government of Guyana before it can be finalized, establishes CGX as the operator of the company’s planned wells with technical assistance being provided by its proposed partner, Frontera. This means that CGX will be able to continue its industry-leading approach to the engagement of local content in the pursuit of its exploration activities. FRIDAY Bank of Baroda selling its operations in Guyana Weeks after a shock announcement that the Canadian-controlled Bank of Nova Scotia is in talks with Republic Bank to sell its local operations, there is more worrisome news again for the financial sector. Bank of Baroda has signaled intentions to sell-off its local operations. Local banking authorities were said to be studying the developments. According to a Request for Proposal (RFP), the Mumbai, India-headquartered bank said that it was seeking investment bankers for the sale/disinvestment of Bank of Baroda’s entire 100 percent stake in the Bank of Baroda (Guyana) Inc.(BOBGI) operations. Things are expected to move quickly, as the documents said that the last date and time for submission of the Technical and Financial Proposal is by December 27th. The proposals will be opened the same day in In-
dia. According to the bid documents, “The Bank wished to invite proposals from interested empanelled “Investment Bankers” for the purpose of finding buyers for Bank of Baroda’s 100 % stake in BOBGI. This will be based on and subject to the conditions included in this document, the Non-Disclosure Agreement, and any other related documents to be issued/ signed off by the bank in this regard. (See link https:// www.bankofbaroda.com/ writereaddata/Portal/Tender/ 1357_1/1_RFP-Guyana.pdf) . The move to sellout will stagger the administration, which recently said it is mystified by Scotiabank’s move to sell to Trinidad-owned Republic Bank, especially in light of the emerging oil and gas sector.Guyana is expected to begin production in early 2020 with significant cash inflows expected.Bank of Baroda (BoB) has two branches in Guyana – one located on the Avenue of the Republic in Georgetown, and Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.Bank of Baroda controls about three percent of the banking market shares in Guyana. In all, the bank has 5,500 branches worldwide with 69 million customers.Bank of Baroda, according to reports, wants to focus on four overseas territories — the US, the UK, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Singapore. IDB approves US$11.6M loan for Guyana’s energy sector With Government facing
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harsh criticisms over its oil deal with US-owned ExxonMobil, moves are underway to prevent a replay. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is taking a leading role in helping Guyana transform its governance approach when it comes to the energy sector. According to the IDB, Guyana has been approved for a loan of US$11.6M which will, among other things, pay for drafting a model contract for future Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs). Under the 2016 agreement with ExxonMobil, the Coalition Government signed for a two percent royalty and questionable 50/50 share on every barrel of oil. However, Guyana’s share of the 50/50 is dependent on ExxonMobil recovering it expenses first. Commentators say that based o n E x x o n M o b i l ’s t r a c k record, Guyana will be left with little. The Government of Guyana says that it will be strengthening its newly established Department of Energy to handle these and other issues. The IDB says that the loan will prepare Guyana for its transition towards becoming a major oil and gas producing state. “Relying upon a $11.64M policy-based loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), this project is designed to support the strengthening and the sustainability of the energy sector in Guyana by contributing to the institutional development of oil and gas governance and the development of cleaner energy sources for
electricity generation,” IDB explained Thursday. “One trillion spent and nothing to show!” – Gail Teixeira says Govt. ‘hard ears’ When the financial books, of the Coalition government, come to a close for 2018, it would have expended one trillion Guyana dollars. But what does it have to show for this in three years? ‘Nothing,’ was the response offered by Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira when she posed the question to her colleagues Thursday in the National Assembly. Speaking on the fourth day of the budget debates, Teixeira said, “We are going through budget 2019 and we are hearing about all the interesting things to come, but I have some simple issues to raise. This is the fifth budget of this government and when it is approved, the total will be $1.3 trillion dollars… But what would we have benefitted from a trillion dollars in a short period of three and a half years?” The politician said that the citizenry has never seen this kind of money being spent in such a short space of time. ”Where is the proof of the pudding? Where do we see the progress and the transformational projects? What is there to show for this spending, to show that we are going forward?” Teixeira noted that the Government has landed itself in this position because it has refused to listen to the people. She said, “Ministers have been ‘hard ears’ when it comes
to the concerns of not only us, but the business community, the trade union movement, and you have been ‘hard ears’ to respond to what they have said. You come into the House with this bullyism and big ‘bradaar’ behaviour that accounts to no one but you…” On this note, the Opposition Chief Whip reminded of the concerns raised by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which was disappointed in the government’s refusal to reduce the Excise tax on fuel for 2019. Teixeira sided with the Chamber, while reminding that it was the very APNU+AFC Government, which told the House that the Guyana Power and Light had made a profit, yet the benefits are not passed on the public. SATURDAY No doom and gloom exist in banking sector …Jordan highlights glowing performance of other banks …Says Govt. knew since April of Baroda’s intention to exit market Contrary to the views of the political opposition, Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, made it pellucid during his wrap up of the 2019 budget debates that Bank of Baroda’s decision to sell its operations here is no indication that the nation’s banking sector or its economy as a whole, is in trouble. Minister Jordan told the National Assembly Friday night that since April, the government was aware of
Bank of Baroda’s decision. He stressed that it did not come as a surprise to the government or industry regulators when it was officially announced two days ago that the India-led bank wanted to cut its losses. The Finance Minister said, “We knew of this since April and it was signaled to us since then that they were going to do that. We tried to persuade them that doing business here is good but alas, the local office wasn’t able to persuade the headquarters (in India). In fact, I understand that the people at the local office didn’t know of the decision…” Jordan added, “It is important to understand that this is happening generally around the world. These banks consider doing business in these states as not profitable anymore, because the risks have increased dramatically. They have to conform with a number of regulations relating to anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism…” The Finance Minister said that the Indian Bank is not only selling off its operations in Guyana, but it has also done so in Trinidad and New Zealand. The Minister said, “This is a fact of life. Scotiabank is the same thing; they are not only pulling out on operations here but in other territories…What we have to do is see what opportunities exist in these challenges…” Jordan noted that Guyana is poised to receive a tremendous amount of wealth from its oil sector. On that note he said, “Let’s be blunt, with five (Continued on page 36)
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From page 35 billion and counting barrels of oil… who is pulling out and for what reason? Who is not willing to take a risk with five billion barrels of oil?” The Minister then proceeded to note the performance of other financial institutions within the banking sector as proof that the picture of ‘doom and gloom’ is nothing but a delusion. Referencing some of the headlines in the daily newspapers, Jordan noted that Republic Bank’s profits are up by 14.4 percent for 2018, Demerara Bank recorded $2B in profits and Citizens Bank recorded a 51.6 percent increase in after tax profits. With this in mind, the Finance Minister said that comments which suggest that Guyana’s banking sector and the economy at large are in trouble can only be seen as wicked. No increase in deportations or reductions in visa issuing - US Ambassador The US has not reduced the number of non-immigrant visas issued to Guyanese nor has it adopted policies that have led to many being deported back here. This is according to outgoing US ambassador, Perry Holloway, who has ended his tour, heading into retirement. The diplomat left Saturday after overseeing a key period of transition in which one of the US’ biggest companies, ExxonMobil, is set to start oil production offshore Guyana in 2020.
Kaieteur News
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday at the Duke and Young Street embassy, Holloway in responding to questions on perceptions that the number of visitors’ visas for Guyana has been reduced, said he has seen no evidence of this. He said also that there has not been an increase in deportations. While a plane may come every few months with varying number of persons who committed crimes in the US and are being sent back, the yearly average has not seen much change. In fact, there has been quite a “few Guyanese” granted visas. While not giving figures, the official who has been here since 2015, noted that in fact at the beginning of the Donald Trump administration, in 2016, a record number of visas were issued. Holloway said that there have been no orders to change the policy or evidence of a perceptible shift. On the issue of immigrant visasthousands of Guyanese live in especially the New York area- those have been going up and there is no drop in that. A visa is a travel document, affixed to a passport, granting citizens from foreign countries permission to enter the United States for a certain purpose, whether it’s a business trip, a family vacation or a student exchange program. Unlike passports, visas are issued by the country a traveler is intending to visit. A visa, approved by a consular officer in the traveler’s home country, does
not guarantee admission to the United States. Officials from Customs and Border Protection (CBP), on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), may deny a traveler permission to enter the United States for a variety of reasons, even if the individual has a valid visa. According to figures of immigrant and non-immigrant visas issued at embassies for immediate relatives, it was 236,526 for 2018 so far as compared to 254,430 in 2017. For this year, over 9.6M visitors’ visas were issued as compared to the 10.3M of last year. According to figures released by the US, the number of immigrant visas issued to Guyanese this year is almost 7,700. Govt. ruined Guyana’s int’l reputation with oil contract – Jagdeo says in House … even as MPs walk out for entire speech
US Ambassador, Perry Holloway
The government’s handling of negotiations with Exxon Mobil constitutes a situation that has ruined Guyana’s international reputation, said Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, Friday. He was making his presentation on the 2019 budget, at Parliament.
Jagdeo said that the people of Guyana have been badly served by the government through negotiations that display incompetence, which he believes damages Guyana’s prospects for economic growth. He noted that though they continuously referred to the looming prospect of first oil, none of the government speakers addressed the oil contract with ExxonMobil in their budget speeches. The former president stated that Exxon is a multinational corporation that has a revenue base of about $400B, while Guyana is a small country with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of just over $3B. This, he believes, should have urged the government of Guyana to pursue the best legal, financial and technical advice, because “[Exxon] has the best lawyers and technical people.” He said that they didn’t deliver on that expectation, thereby, putting the people of Guyana at risk. He said that in their reluctance to mention the lopsided contract, the government continues to recite the successes of ExxonMobil worldwide. But they are unwilling to come clean to the Guyanese people about how they are going to benefit from the proceeds of oil.
Sunday December 09, 2018
All government MPs walked out of the chamber as soon as the Speaker of the House announced that Jagdeo would be delivering his budget speech. Brazilian remanded for trafficking Venezuelans A Brazilian who has been living in Guyana for the past 11 years was on Friday remanded to prison after she was slapped with two trafficking in persons charges and two charges for harbouring of Venezuelans for means of labour exploitation Thirty-two-year-old, Christine Rodriguez, who is the owner of the Ola Hotel which is located at Charlotte Street, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. It is alleged that between November 4 and November 28, last, at Ola Hotel Charlotte Street, Georgetown, while being an employer of two Venezuelans for the purpose of trafficking she knowingly confiscated immigration documents belonging to the women. She pleaded not guilty to the charges. It was further alleged that during the same period, Rodriguez engaged in trafficking of persons by
harboring two Venezuelans by means of abuse of position, she hired the Venezuelans for means of labour exploitation. She was not required to plead to the indictable charge after it was read to her. Attorney-at-Law Siand Dhurjon in an application to secure bail for his client, told the court that Rodriguez has been living in Guyana for the past 11 years and she is married to a Guyanese. The lawyer told the court that if bail is granted to his client she will return to court since she has assets in Guyana. Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield objected to bail being granted to Rodriguez citing that she is a flight risk. Facts presented by the Prosecutor stated that Rodriguez hired the women to cook at her hotel and they were being paid $12,000 weekly. However, when the women requested their travel document, the woman refused to hand it over to them. Hence, they went and reported the matter. The Magistrate after listening to the Prosecutor remanded Rodriguez to prison. The mother of one was instructed to make her next court appearance on January 3, 2019.
Sunday December 09, 2018
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The Salvation Army in... From page 38 disclosed that the Rehabilitation Centre opened its doors to alcohol and drug addicts in August 1996, and encompasses several aspects of rehabilitation and readjustment, including a halfway house where ‘patients’ are monitored for their readiness to go back into society. In first outlining the general scope of the Salvation Army’s operations in Guyana, Major Thibaud explained that there are nine units, (churches) from Bartica to New Amsterdam, which collectively minister to members even as they contribute meaningfully to the greater society. Among their outreach efforts are a senior citizens’ home in Wortmanville, an over-60 club, and several youth outreach groups.It is clear that the organization’s spiritual and practical aspects complement each other, for example when Major Thibaud spoke of schoolchildren and elderly persons receiving a hot meal every day, groceries being distributed to the elderly at least once a month, and clothing/ footwear, (sometimes including entire wedding suits) given to those in need. According to Sookraj, the rehabilitation of drug addicts involves a six-month, 12-step detoxification regimen of which abstinence is a major component, in addition to assertive skills training and anger management. Other core elements are classroom education and counselling. Despite these interventions, there are still some relapses, but the overall success rate hovers between 50 and 70 percent. He added that the addictions are mainly to alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine, but there are also cases of cross-addiction. Over the years the programme, facilitated by experienced counsellors, has
benefitted hundreds of men, and there are plans to develop a similar programme for women which could be in operation by next year. It also offers counselling to young men, including schoolchildren, from as young as 12 years old. Upon successfully completing the 6-month intervention, clients are transferred to the halfway house for three months where the goal is to prepare them for reintegration into family and society so they can once again become ‘socially acceptable’ and productive citizens. To this end, the Salvation Army may assist them in getting back on their feet by helping them recover, or apply for, documents like birth certificates and identification cards which may have been lost or discarded, and facilitating employment by liaising with employers. As spirituality is also part of the overall rehabilitation effort, clients are expected to attend church every Sunday. Two spiritual counsellors help guide them in this crucial aspect. The above is not a fully comprehensive representation of the Salvation Army’s operations globally or locally, but it should be enough to encourage us in rededicating our support, particularly for its social outreach efforts. Our destitute population seems to be growing, especially in urban areas. (Walk the length of Regent Street any night after 7 p.m. and see for yourself) The organization is doing its part to mitigate their all-too-visible suffering. There are still 15 days left for the Christmas kettle to come to a boil, on Christmas Eve. The Salvation Army has demonstrated that it possesses both a spiritual and a social conscience. We Guyanese are not bereft of either. The poor, the homeless, and the addicted are members of an extended family called Guyanese, who are worth fighting for. Join the army - or at least support it.
The Caribbean... From page 24 the Economy “to advise member states on a Growth Agenda for the Community”, the declaration indicates that “full free movement of people” has, once again, risen to a priority of government action, even though there is an ominous reference to “those member states so willing”, suggesting that not all have come to terms with the limitations on employment, investment and growth in which smallness entraps them. What the declaration says the Governments have agreed to do are small steps; some may not be achieved, but it is crucially important to this region of small, vulnerable states that the governments have returned, in any measure, to an agenda of regional integration which,
they say, they are committed to advance at the national level. The countries of CARICOM need integration in today’s hostile world more than ever before. The dark clouds that threaten ravaging storms are not only about Climate Change. There is more besides. (The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organisation 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 Toronto. The views expressed are his own). Responses and previous c o m m e n t a r i e s : www.sirronaldsanders.com
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584 graduate at GTI’s 67th convocation
Chairman of the GTI/GITC Board of Governors, Mr. Vincent Alexander The Mechanical Department of the Government Technical Institute is this year’s most outstanding division of the institution for 2018. This was declared this week by Principal, Mrs. Renita Crandon-Duncan, when the institution conducted its 67th
convocation and prize-giving ceremony at the National Cultural Centre. During the presentation of her report, CrandonDuncan said that the Mechanical Department gained a 92 percent pass rate, while the Business Department was judged the
GTI Principal, Mrs. Renita Crandon-Duncan most improved department for the year 2018, as there was a vast improvement in their performances. In total, 584 vibrant students graduated from the institution surrounded by friends, colleagues, lecturers, parents, guardians, relatives and well-wishers.
According to CrandonDuncan, the total percentage pass rate for 2018 is 77 percent, a one per cent increase from 2017’s 76 percent and a 12 percent increase from 2016’s percentage pass rate of 65 percent. She said that two students of the GTI have received National Awards at the Guyana Technical Education Examination among the Technical Institutes for outstanding performances. Those students were Ms. Aaliyah Noble who completed the Ordinary Diploma in Commerce programme and Mr. Shurlun Tudor who completed the Technician Diploma in Building and Civil Engineering. Further, the Principal said that the fifth batch of Level one and two trainees in Competency Based Education (CBE) programmes graduated. As such, those trainees are now deemed competent after demonstrating their proficiency in the respective units. She said that 282 of these trainees were assessed and each will be awarded by the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) with the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ).
Valedictorian, Mr. Shurlun Tudor receiving one of his prizes from Director of NCERD, Mrs. Jennifer Cumberbatch The Principal added that through the industrial attachment programme, during the months of June and July of this year, 85 companies welcomed staff and students into their spaces and exposed them to the rudiments of industry practices. Mrs. Crandon explained that staffers continue to benefit from training opportunities and healthy relationships have continued with industry partners. Delivering the feature address was the Director of the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), Mrs. Jennifer Cumberbatch. She told the graduates that they are the generation that will take the technology of today into new dimensions while solving environmental problems. She advised them that their contributions to society will be determined by how they follow their dreams. She challenged the graduates to follow their quest for knowledge and reminded them that education does not stop after their graduation. The graduates were
encouraged to reach beyond existing boundaries, “You can do anything that you put your mind to do.” Chairman of the Government Technical Institute and Guyana Industrial Training Centre Board of Governors, Mr. Vincent Alexander, reminded the students that the GTI should also be seen as a ‘finishing’ school. He said that during their tenure at the institution they would have undergone a process of refinement. He told the students that not only can they now display their certification, but they can also showcase their maturity when they become part of the global job market and employed in various industries. Noting that the country is on the cusp of becoming an oil and gas producing nation, Mr. Alexander urged the students to take advantage of the new sector to develop Guyana. However, he advised that the development which is pursued must be done in a sustainable manner which (Continued on page 49)
Graduates at the 67th Convocation and Prize Giving Ceremony
Sunday December 09, 2018
Remittances to the C’bean projected to reach new record in 2018 Mahmoud Mohieldin
WASHINGTON, United States - CMC — The World Bank says remittances to lowand middle-income countries, including those in the Caribbean, grew rapidly and are projected to reach a new record in 2018. The latest edition of the Washington-based financial institution’s Migration and Development Brief, notes that remittance flows into Latin America and the Caribbean grew by about 9.3 per cent in 2018 to reach US$87 billion. “The strong growth in 2018 was driven mainly by the strong US economy and labour market, where the majority of the region’s migrants reside. Improving fundamentals were also seen in Spain, the second largest host of migrants from the region,” the World Bank added. In its report, the Washington-based financial institution said intra-regional migration also contributed to the rise in remittances. But it said remittance growth for the region is ex-
pected to slow down to 3.8 per cent in 2019. The report estimates that officially recorded remittances to developing countries will increase by 10.8 per cent to reach US$528 billion in 2018. It said this new record level follows robust growth of 7.8 per cent in 2017. Global remittances, which include flows to high-income countries, are projected to grow by 10.3 per cent to US$689 billion, the report says. The World Bank said remittance flows rose in all regions, most notably in Europe and Central Asia (20 per cent) and South Asia (13.5 per cent), followed by Sub-Saharan Africa (9.8 per cent), Latin America and the Caribbean (9.3 per cent), the Middle East and North Africa (9.1 per cent), and East Asia and the Pacific (6.6 per cent). The report states growth was driven by a stronger economy and employment situation in the United States and a rebound in outward
flows from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the Russian Federation. “Even with technological advances, remittances fees remain too high, double the SDG target of three per cent,” said Mahmoud Mohieldin, Senior Vice President for the 2030 Development Agenda, United Nations Relations and Partnerships at the World Bank. “Opening up markets to competition and promoting the use of low-cost technologies will ease the burden on poorer customers,” he added. The report said no solutions are “yet in sight for practices that drive up costs, such as de-risking action of banks, which lead to closure of bank accounts of remittance service providers.” It said “another persistent factor” that keeps fees high is the exclusive partnership between national post office systems and any single money transfer operator, “as it allows the operator to charge higher fees to poorer customers dependent on post offices.”
GuySuCo, Crime and Minister... From page 39 which elicited outcries from many quarters and has resulted in an apology from her. This issue needs to be examined beyond what was said and done. Lawrence’s call is grounded in the view of party members and supporters who feel they have been discriminated against and marginalised by the PPP/ C government, starting from October 1992. None can deny the policy of the PPP/C when it came to office in systematically removing African career public servants from the state sector and other state-owned agencies. The hammer was felt in the Foreign Service, state-owned media, Customs and Excise, Guyana Electricity Corporation, state-owned banks, etc. Some of these cases were litigated in the Court.
In the area of the awarding of state contracts, there were also cries of being discriminated against, and some could have only secured work as sub-contractors. The fact that these charges of discrimination exist, it was expected that the discussions would have been around putting measures in place to address them, regardless of which side it came from. There are claims that since 2015 East Indians are being discriminated against by the coalition government. Some have provided what they claim to be evidence. We are also dealing with those who are justified in being concerned about such practice, yet they turned a blind eye or ignored same under the PPP/C, on the pretext that groups were discriminated against during
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the PNC (1964-1992), even as PNC supporters also claim to being discriminated against during the PPP (1953-1964). Each era has its allegations and there are stories to be told. Talks about discrimination, in favour of or against, in the absence of facilitating frank and honest conversations, followed by systems and programmes to bring about equity, mean society has lost another opportunity to deal with the issue frontally. The presence of any law to guard against discrimination in the absence of laws and programmes to ensure parity in society, only result in hindering progress and entrenching discrimination. Development and racial equity require foremost society being honest with itself.
Four Guyanese plead guilty to cocaine possession in USVI ST. CROIX, USVI - United States Attorney, Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced on December 3, 2018, that Mohamed Hoseain, age 70, and Richard La Cruz, age 51, both of Guyana, pleaded guilty on November 28, 2018, in federal court to possession of cocaine on board a vessel. Attorney Shappert further announced that Neville Jeffrey, age 66, and Mark Anthony Williams, age 32, also of Guyana, pleaded guilty on November 29, 2018 and December 3, 2018 respectively, in Federal Court to the same offense. According to plea agreements filed with the court, the United States Coast Guard, Cutter Napier, on February 16, 2017, intercepted a suspicious vessel in a joint operation with the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard approximately seventy nautical miles north of Paramaribo, Suriname, in international waters. The vessel, later identified as the ‘Lady Michelle’, was located in a known drug trafficking route and registered with St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The U.S. Coast Guard boarded the vessel, pursuant to a bilateral agreement between the United States and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Bales of cocaine They discovered 185 bales containing numerous rectangular shaped packages of cocaine in the vessel’s fish hold, weighing 3,769 kilo-
Mohamed Hoseain grams. The drugs had a street value in the U.S. Virgin Islands of approximately 71 million dollars. Hoseain was identified as the captain and claimed that they were in search of a missing vessel for two months. La Cruz was identified as the engineer and Jeffrey and Williams as crew members. Hoseain, La Cruz, Jeffrey and Williams face up to life imprisonment for the offense
and a fine of up to $10,000,000. Sentencing dates for Hoseain and La Cruz have been set for March 28, 2019 and March 29, 2019 respectively; and for Jeffrey and Williams, April 3, 2019. The case was investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard, the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Adm i n i s t r a t i o n . (www.virginislandsnewsonline.com)
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Sunday December 09, 2018
Kaieteur News
Contraband continues to leak into N/A prison Police and prison officers yesterday searched the New Amsterdam prison, between 06:30 and 09:30hrs, and found a quantity of contraband. The haul included 14 cell
phones, five improvised weapons, 22 lighters, a quantity of wires, 12 chargers, 11 earpieces, two makeshift weapons, two SIM cards, one watch, and 12 grams of cannabis.
Wales estate sugar workers receive final severance
The scene at Wales Estate, West Bank, on Friday
=Over 300 retrenched workers from the Wales Estate on Friday turned out to receive the last of their severance payments following the court ruling on December 5, 2018. Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder during his 2019 Budget presentation had explained that the monies for the payment were secured and GuySuCo is fully prepared to commence payments once Justice Sandil Kissoon made his ruling. High Court Judge, Justice Kissoon ruled that the workers are to be paid interest in
addition to their severance. On Friday morning the retrenched workers gathered at the estate’s pay office to collect their benefits. The Department of Public Information (DPI) spoke with some of them who expressed their satisfaction with receiving their payment. Andrew George told the DPI that he “felt good” having received his payments. After working on the estate for thirteen years, Satrohan Singh remarked that he is “glad to know that I’m taking home what I have been working for all these years.”
Another worker Alvin Bradford remarked he is happy to receive his payments and thanked the administration. “I am so relieved because we waited so long for this moment and today is the day for us. I thank President Granger and Prime Minister Nagamootoo for what they did for us today, I’m grateful for it on behalf of myself and all the other cane harvesters.” Payments was scheduled to continue yesterday from 9am to 4pm at the Wales Estate Pay Office, on the West Bank of Demerara.
Sunday December 09, 2018
Kaieteur News
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Man jailed 25 years for wounding wife says sentence too harsh - Appeals sentence and conviction A man who was jailed 25 years over wounding his wife has argued that the sentence imposed on him by Justice Navindra Singh at the High Court in Essequibo, is too severe. Through his Attorney-atLaw Adrian Thompson, William Johnson has appealed the conviction and sentence. In 2015, Johnson was handed the custodial sentence after a jury found him guilty of the crime. On January 20, 2013, in the county of Essequibo, Johnson wounded his wife, Lilawattie Dass, with intent to maim, disable or cause her grievous bodily harm. He was initially indicted for attempted murder; however the jury found him guilty on the lesser offence. It was reported that in December 2012, Johnson torched the woman’s home then went into hiding. When he emerged, he abducted Dass, who was 32 years of age at the time, and took her in the Queenstown, Essequibo Backlands, where he stabbed her about her body. According to reports, Dass who had been living with Johnson for about five months was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Dass had told this publication that she had gone outside to use a washroom which is situated on the bottom flat of her stepmother’s home, when Johnson, who was armed with a knife and cutlass, confronted her. Dass said that she attempted to run away, but Johnson overpowered her and she was
forced to accompany him to the Queenstown backlands. Fortunately, police had received a report about the abduction, and ranks from a mobile unit cordoned off the area where she was being held. It is alleged that the suspect stabbed Dass when he realized that the police were closing in on him. According to Dass, Johnson cautioned the police not to come close, but the ranks issued a warning to him. Dass said she then managed to push Johnson aside and run to the ranks. Johnson was then apprehended. Hearing the appeal last week was Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justices of Appeal Rishi Persaud and Dawn Gregory. Addressing the issue of severity of sentence, Thompson argued that the trial judge failed to asked Johnson or his lawyer if they had anything to say in mitigation after the verdict was announced. Thompson disclosed that his client was sentenced “immediately after.” It is Thompson’s contention that a lesser sentence could have been imposed if the trial judge had inquired about a plea in mitigation. “One of the reasons why the sentence is so high is because no mitigation factors were considered,” Thompson submitted. According to the lawyer, the trial judge failed to disclose in his written judgment whether the sentence was imposed based on the kind of weapon (a knife) used during the commissioning of the of-
fence. Thompson said, “In this case we don’t know whether the judge had a starting point. He (the judge) just had down the sentence like that.” It was put to Thompson by the Chancellor that it is the duty of defence counsel to make a request to mitigate on behalf of his client. Responding, Thompson submitted that the trial judge should have inquired in that regard. Appearing for the prosecution is Senior State Counsel Mercedes Glasford. The case was adjourned until January 20, 2019 for continuation.
584 graduate at GTI’s 67th convocation... From page 46 takes Guyana into consideration beyond the oil and gas moment it is about to experience. Having the honour of delivering the Charge to the graduates was Training Manager of Demerara Distillers Ltd., Mr. Floyd Scott. He congratulated the students and told them that they have weathered the storm and made the sacrifices to be successful today. He said that they are the fertile minds of Guyana that have the responsibility of working to improve conditions within society. Mr. Scott urged the graduates to adopt and adapt
to values, dispositions and predispositions that are acceptable for a quality life. He urged them to become leaders and to keep in contact with their alma mater. The graduates were further advised to keep a clear vision of their purpose in life and set realistic goals. The 2018 Valedictorian, Mr. Shurlun Tudor, with a touching and inspiring address, told his colleagues that they must think about how far they would have come individually, and as a class. He asked them to think about how they supported and encouraged each other during sports and the fun
class experiences. “Those moments taught me that it is not just about keeping your head in the books or phone, but taking some time to enjoy life while we study.” He thanked the parents, relatives, friends and staff of the GTI for their support to the student body during their journey. He urged his colleagues to follow their dreams and to do what makes them happy. He said, “Strive to become the best version of yourself, fly through the turbulence, and live life intentionally, because you are a warrior, be phenomenal or be forgotten.”
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Sunday December 09, 2018
The health risks of being a night owl Most individuals fit one of two chronotypes: We are morning people or evening people. Either we prefer to stay up late — and are referred to as night owls — or we rise earlier and go to bed earlier. These patterns in circadian preferences are, to a certain extent, written in our genes. Over the years, the medical community has debated the health impacts associated with each chronotype, and the findings have not always been conclusive. To develop a clearer picture, a group of scientists from a number of institutions have conducted the most extensive review of relevant research to date. Their findings were published recently in the journal Advances in Nutrition. The scientists were especially interested in understanding the relationship between circadian rhythms and eating patterns — called chrono-nutrition — and overall cardiometabolic health. Because modern life is often hectic, eating and sleeping patterns may frequently be disturbed. Exposure to artificial light sources can also misalign our circadian patterns. These disruptions can alter cyclical metabolic processes, such as glucose con-
trol, lipid metabolism, and blood pressure. Scientists are working to determine the long-term health effects of these changes. Because this area of study is in its infancy, the authors of the recent review delved into previous studies, hoping to identify patterns in results. The team found that individuals who went to bed later tended to have less healthful eating patterns. For instance, they generally ate later in the day, at less regular times, and they consumed more alcohol, sugar, and caffeinated products than earlier risers. Night owls were also more likely to skip breakfast. In addition, night owls were likelier to consume fewer vegetables and grains. They also ate less often but had bigger meals. This eating pattern may explain the finding that night owls had an increased risk of heart diseaseand metabolic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes. In fact, one study showed that night owls were 2.5 times more likely to have type 2 diabetes than early risers. The leader of the study, Suzana Almoosawi, Ph.D., a research fellow at Northumbria University in the United Kingdom, explains that “In adulthood, being an
evening chronotype is associated with greater risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, and this may be potentially due to the poorer eating behavior and diet of people with evening chronotype.” According to the researchers, being a night owl can even affect the way a person manages their diabetes: “Our review also found that people who have a poorer control of their diabetes are more likely to be evening types,” says Almoosawi. The body’s circadian fluctuations in glucose metabolism may mediate the link with type 2 diabetes. Throughout the day, glucose levels decline, and by the evening they
are at their lowest point. However, because night owls eat later in the day, glucose levels spike just before bedtime. This goes against the body’s regular biological processes, and so it could impact metabolism. The review uncovered some other interesting findings. Perhaps unsurprisingly, children were much more likely to be early risers, including 90 percent of 2-yearolds and 58 percent of 6-yearolds. As people enter old age, they are more likely to revert to their early-rising preferences of youth. Although this type of study is still in the initial
stages, and much more research is needed, the findings to date may have huge implications for public health. “Scientific evidence is providing increasing insight into the relationship between your chronotype, diet, and cardiometabolic health.” Karagounis continues, “Further research on the best methods to assess an individual’s chronotype and how this may affect their long-term cardiometabolic health can potentially guide the development of health promotion strategies aimed at preventing and treating chronic diseases based on an individual’s chronotype.” The review also high-
lights gaps in our understanding. For instance, the existing body of literature does not provide much information about why our circadian rhythms and eating patterns shift throughout our lifespans. Though scientists are still unsure why our preferences morph as we age, modern living may drive this pattern, at least in part. As children, we are more likely to rise early, but as we become embedded in society, we are more likely to develop into night owls. In older age, as we pull back from society’s cut and thrust, we tend to go back to rising early. It will take far more research to determine whether this pendulum swing in chronotype results from social pressures — such as school and work start times — or whether it is triggered by hormonal changes, for example. However, it seems that the adverse health effects of being a night owl may predominantly revolve around dietary habits that are, for the most part, modifiable. For instance, by eating more healthfully, not skipping breakfast, and drinking less alcohol, a person may be able to avoid some of the risks. ( h t t p s : / / www.medicalnewstoday.com/ articles/323866.php)
How to increase your metabolism A person’s metabolism is the rate at which their body burns calories for energy. The speed of metabolism depends on a variety of factors, including age, sex, body fat, muscle mass, activity level, and genetics. While a person has no control over the genetic aspects of their metabolism, there are some ways to help speed up the rate at which the body processes calories. In this article, learn nine ways to increase metabolism. 1. Eating at regular times The body relies on balance and regularity. Eating at consistent times may help maintain metabolic balance. Otherwise, if a person eats a lot, then goes for long periods without eating, the body may burn calories more slowly and store more fat cells. By eating at regular times, a person can reduce this tendency. Ideally, a person should
eat several small meals or snacks about 3 or 4 hours apart. 2. Eating enough calories Some people skip meals as a way to lose weight. However, this can negatively impact metabolism. Eating meals that are not filling can have the same effect. Eating too few calories can cause a person’s metabolism to slow down so the body can conserve energy. Adult women need between 1,600 and 2,400 calories a day, depending on their physical activity levels, and men need between 2,000 and 3,000. 3. Drinking green tea While studies have not conclusively proven it, some research indicates that green tea extract may play a role in promoting fat metabolism. Green tea can be a good alternative to sugary juices, and drinking it can help ensure that a person is getting enough water during the day. While the metabolic
benefits are not certain, 1– 2 cups a day can be a healthful addition to a balanced diet. 4. Doing resistance training Strength training helps build muscle, which may increase metabolism. Muscle mass has a higher metabolic rate than fat, which means that muscle mass requires more energy to preserve. A person’s body naturally loses muscle as they age. Regular resistance training can help counteract this effect. Resistance training may involve lifting weights and doing exercises that use the weight of the body or resistance bands to build muscle. 5. Drinking enough water Staying hydrated is essential for the body to function at its best. Water is necessary for optimal metabolism, and it may help a person lose weight. One study found that adding 1.5 liters of water to the usual daily consumption
of water reduced the average weight and body mass index in a group of overweight women aged 18–23. 6. Reducing stress Stress affects hormone levels, and it can cause the body to produce more cortisol than usual. Cortisol is a hormone that helps regulate appetite. In 2011, researchers found abnormal cortisol levels in people experiencing disordered eating. Disordered eating, including dietary restraint and certain weight concerns, may lead to unhealthful eating patterns, which can disrupt metabolism. Stress is also closely related to the quality of sleep, which can influence metabolism. 7. Trying high-intensity workouts Like strength training, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can increase metabolism. A person may benefit from adding elements of both to a workout. HIIT is an alter-
native to steady cardio. Running, swimming, or cycling at a continuous rate are examples of steady cardio. Instead, it may help to try a routine that involves alternating periods of higher-intensity and lower-intensity exercise. This might involve sprinting for 1 minute then walking for 2 minutes or switching between short bursts of jumping jacks and walking recovery periods. 8. Getting plenty of sleep When a person gets too little sleep, the body releases a hormone, ghrelin, which can make a person feel hungry. It also releases less leptin, a hormone that helps a person feel full. Getting enough sleep can help ensure that these hormones remain balanced. This can prevent a person from overeating. While the right amount of sleep varies among individuals, research suggests that adults need at least 7–8 hours per night. 9. Getting enough B vita-
mins Bananas are a good source of B vitamins. B vitamins play an essential role in the metabolic rate. Some key B vitamins include B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), and B6 (pyridoxine). B vitamins are in many foods, including: · bananas · baked potatoes · eggs · orange juice · peanut butter · peas · spinach · whole-grain foods Takeaway A person can increase their metabolism by making healthful changes to their diet and lifestyle. From reducing stress to incorporating strength training and HIIT into a workout, there are several ways to help boost metabolism. It is always best to speak to a doctor before adjusting the diet or making changes to an exercise routine. (https:/ www.medicalnewstoday.com/ articles/323328.php?sr)
Sunday December 09, 2018
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Kaieteur News
Inside Kevin Hart’s Whirlwind 48 Hours as Oscars Host and What He’s Learned From the Continued Controversy “I’m at a place in my life where I feel like I have a target on my back and because of that I should make smart decisions, and recently I didn’t.” At the time, Kevin Hart was referencing reports that he had cheated on his thenpregnant wife Eniko Parrish, admitting to making “a bad error in judgment” after he said someone had threatened to expose his wrongdoings if he didn’t agree to pay up, essentially extorting him for his poor behavior. But he just as easily could have been referencing the nearly decade-old offensive tweets—and his stubborn refusal to re-apologize for his old thoughts, how ever many times it took for everyone to get that he truly was a changed man—that led to him losing a long-dreamt of
Oscar hosting gig that he had held for just 48 hours. Hart, as he’s said more than a few times across the course of his two-decade career, has never claimed to be the guy with the wholesome, squeaky-clean, mistake-free image. Rather, he’s built his livelihood—climbing up from his days being booed off comedy house stages to landing a spot on the upper half of Forbes’ 2018 list of top 100 celebrity earners—on his willingness to be open about past screw-ups, the mistakes he made as he toiled to climb the Hollywood ladder. And, along the way, the 39-year-old, whose Kevin Hart: The Irresponsible Tour was 2018’s biggest comedy show, learned a bit about what it takes to maintain that marketability. “I’m at a point now where I’ve grown tremen-
dously as a man. I’m smarter. I’m more educated in the realm of business and what goes into the entertainment,” Hart told Esquire in 2016. “That’s what I think people don’t understand—that term ‘show business’ is real. It’s a business and the more that you develop and the more that you learn it, the more powerful you have the potential of becoming. I’m learning it inside and out, and hopefully putting myself in a position to become a force to be reckoned with for quite some time.” But it’s hard to see this latest move as anything but a misstep. When Hart was announced Tuesday as the host of next February’s Academy Awards, he seemed like the perfect fit. He had instant name recognition, his resume now bursting with movies, TV shows, comedy specials and
Ariana Grande Hid a Sweet Tribute in Her Ode to Pete Davidson Before Ariana Grande and Pete Davidsoncalled it quits, the singer wrote a song for the Saturday Night Live star and snuck in a sweet, secret tribute. A fan listening to the track, which is also called “Pete Davidson,” recently noticed the Grammy nominee repeatedly used the guitar chords B, A and E throughout the song—spelling out the word “bae.” Of course, fans shouldn’t be too surprised by Grande’s hidden message. After all, she’s been known to leave Easter eggs throughout her music videos. For instance, many social media users thought Grande teased the names of the songs from next album in her “Breathin” and “Thank U, Next” videos. She even gave a subtle shout-out to Davidson in the latter video by having one of the actors wear a badge featuring the letters BDE, which likely referenced Davidson’s “big dick energy” claim. Still, Grande won’t be calling her former fiancé “bae” anytime soon. After getting engaged over the summer, the two called it off in October. While there’s been some post-breakup drama, including Davidson spoofing their split on SNL and blocking Grande on Instagram, the two ultimately wish each other well. During a “Weekend Update” segment, the comedian called his ex a “wonderful, strong person” and said he wished her “all the happiness
producing credits, was funny enough to spice up a presentation that has been lagging in the ratings in recent years and yet was not so edgy to turn off a certain type of audience. Then the Internet did its thing. By Thursday, one investigative Twitter user had uncovered a 2011 missive in which the father of daughter Heaven, 13, and sons Hendrix, 11, and Kenzo, 12 months, wrote, “Yo if my son comes home & try’s 2 play with my daughters doll house I’m going 2 break it over his head & say n my voice ‘stop that’s gay,’” prompting another to search for every time the comic used offensive, homophobic terms. The list wasn’t short. His thoughts weren’t a one-off either, he’d discussed the issue at length in his 2010 comedy special Seriously Funny. “One of my biggest fears is my son growing up and being gay. That’s a fear. Keep in mind, I’m not homophobic....Be happy. Do what you want to do. But me, as a heterosexual male, if I can prevent my son from being gay, I will.” It’s a bit, he admitted to Rolling Stone in 2015, that he wouldn’t trot out today, mostly because he feels it takes too much explaining for people to get what he was trying to say. “It’s about my fear. I’m thinking about what I did as a dad, did I do something wrong, and if I did, what was it? Not that I’m not gonna love my
son or think about him any differently. The funny thing within that joke is it’s me getting mad at my son because of my own insecurities — I panicked. It has nothing to do with him, it’s about me,” he noted. “That’s the difference between bringing a joke across that’s well thought-out and saying something just to ruffle feathers.” Still, he continued, he wouldn’t try it now “because when I said it, the times weren’t as sensitive as they are now. I think we love to make big deals out of things that aren’t necessarily big deals, because we can. These
things become public spectacles. So why set yourself up for failure?” Which is what he must have been thinking when he tried to quietly delete that and other distasteful messages, a tactic that doesn’t work so well after they’ve been outed. So he took a different stab, stressing to his nearly 35 million followers how much he’s lived and learned in the seven years since he thought that joke would fly. “If you want to search my history or past and anger yourselves with what u find that is fine with me.
Miley Cyrus’ Brother Trace Cyrus Gets Engaged
in the world.” Similarly, Grande claimed she would “always have irrevocable love for him” in a post asking her followers to stop cyberbullying him. It looks like Davidson is getting back into the dating game, too. However, the only relationship Grande is interested in for now is the one she has with herself.
“I look forward to hopefully learning to give some of the love and forgiveness that I have given away so frivolously and easily to men in the past to myself this year,” she said at Billboard’s 2018 Women in Music Awards. (https://www.eonline.com/ news/994431/ariana-grandehid-a-sweet-tribute-in-herode-to-pete-davidson)
Another member of the Cyrus family is getting hitched! Days after Miley Cyrus’ little brother Braison Cyrus popped the question to his longtime girlfriend, older bro Trace Cyrusdid the same. The 29-year-old pop rocker (who rose to fame as the front man of early 2000s band Metro Station) announced his engagement to fellow singer Taylor Sanders on Instagram. “Well... it’s official! SHE SAID YES!” Trace captioned a video of his future wife holding back happy tears after the proposal. “We’re getting married! I will love you FOREVER!!!” He also shared another video of Taylor showing off her dazzling diamond ring, saying, “Alright, it’s not a secret anymore. We’re engaged! I love you.” He added in the caption,
“I still can’t believe @taylorlaurensanders is about to be my wife! You’re me best friend boo.” Trace and Taylor first began documenting their romance on social media in February of this year, and often keep their hundreds of thousands of followers up to date on their many musical collaborations. The musician famously dated former Disney Channel star Brenda Song off and on for seven years. This past Valentine’s Day, Trace chronicled their split in an emotional song simply titled “Brenda.” “I wrote this song last year in Nashville after Brenda and I broke up,” he shared on social media at the time. “Her and I have both moved on and I’m extremely happy for her. She inspired me to write
countless songs and was such an important part of my life. I will always cherish songs I have like this one to remind me of our crazy 7 years together.” Meanwhile, Taylor couldn’t be more excited to be embraced by the famous Cyrus fam with open arms. As she gushed on Instagram, “I can’t believe I get to marry my bestest friend. We’ve been inseparable since day one and now it gets to be that way forever. Ilove you so much @tracecyrus and you mean the world to me and I’ve been waiting on you forever! You’re my dream man and AHHHHHH I still can’t believe it. You’re amaxing. I can’t wait to make babies with you...” (https:// www.eonline.com/news/ 994501/miley-cyrus-brothertrace-cyrus-gets-engaged)
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1 Q: Why did the can crusher quit his job? A: Because it was soda pressing. 2. 2. How is Christmas like your job? You do all the work and the fat guy in the suit gets all the credit. 3. 3. An organization is like a tree full of monkeys, all on different limbs at different levels. The monkeys on top look down and see a tree full of smiling faces. The monkeys on the bottom look up and see nothing but ass****. 4. A doctor reaches into his smock to get a pen to write a prescription and pulls out a rectal thermometer. "Oh, damn it," he proclaims, "Some asshole has my pen!" 5. Two factory workers are talking. The woman says, "I can make the boss give me the day off." The man replies, "And how would you do that?" The woman says, "Just wait and see." She then hangs upside down from the ceiling. The boss comes in and says, "What are you doing?" The woman replies, "I'm a light bulb." The boss then says, "You've been working so much that you've gone crazy. I think you need to take the day off." The man starts to follow her and the boss says, "Where are you going?" The man says, "I'm going home, too. I can't work in the dark." 6. A thief stuck a pistol in a man's ribs and said, "Give me your money." The gentleman, shocked by the sudden attack, said, "You cannot do this, I'm a congressman!" The thief replied, "In that case, give me MY money!" 7. Three doctors are discussing which types of patients they prefer. Doctor Watson says, ''I prefer librarians. All their organs are alphabetized.'' Doctor Fitzpatrick says, ''I prefer mathematicians. All their organs are numbered.'' Doctor Ahn says, ''I prefer lawyers. They're gutless, heartless, brainless, spineless, and their heads and rear-ends are interchangeable.'' 8. A lawyer is standing in a long line at the box office. Suddenly, he feels a pair of hands kneading his shoulders, back, and neck. The lawyer turns around. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" "I'm a chiropractor, and I'm just keeping in practice while I'm waiting in line." "Well, I'm a lawyer, but you don't see me screwing the guy in front of me, do you?" 9. "What do you want to be when you grow up?" "A doctor." "And why's that?" "Because it's the only profession where you can tell women to take off their clothes and then stick their husbands with the bill." 10. As a group of soldiers stood in formation at an Army Base, the Drill Sergeant said, "All right! All you idiots fall out." As the rest of the squad wandered away, one soldier remained at attention. The Drill Instructor walked over until he was eye to eye with him, and then raised a single eyebrow. The soldier smiled and said, "Sure was a lot of 'em, huh, sir?" 11. A man was walking down the street and saw a sign in a store window that said "Help Wanted," so the man ran in the store and yelled out, "What's wrong?!" 12. What did the psychiatrist say when a man wearing nothing but saran wrap walked in to the office? I can clearly see "you're" nuts.... 13. What do you call a lawyer who doesn't know the law? A judge. 14. A scientist and a philosopher are being chased by a hungry lion. The scientist makes some quick calculations and says, “It's no good trying to outrun it. It's catching up!” The philosopher keeps a little ahead and replies, “I'm not trying to outrun the lion, I'm trying to outrun you!” 15. What do your boss and a slinky have in common? They're both fun to watch tumble down the stairs. 16. Being an astronaut is funny. It's the only job where you get fired before you start work. 17. I love pressing F5. It is so refreshing. 18. Q: What's the difference between a genealogist and a gynecologist? A: The genealogist checks the family tree and the gynecologist checks the family bush. 19. Why won't sharks attack lawyers? Professional courtesy. 2.0 Why was the lawyer skimming the Bible right before he died? He was looking for loopholes!
Kaieteur News
Sunday December 09, 2018
Sunday December 09, 2018
How to Get Rid of Blackheads on Your Nose 1. Wash your face at least twice a day. This seems like basic advice, but cleansing can go a long way to help prevent dirt and oil from accumulating in your pores. Rinse skin in the morning to get rid of any bacteria that might have transferred to your skin from your pillowcase. You'll need to cleanse again at night to get rid of the makeup and dirt that coats skin throughout the day. If you work out, a third cleanse is required. It seems like overkill, but you want to remove any sweat and oil from the face to avoid clogging pores. 2. Clean out dirty pores with a strip. Yes, Wong stands by the effectiveness of pore strips to get rid of blackheads quick. But keep in mind, these are for newer breakouts. “Pore strips only really work for blackheads that haven't been in pores for a long period of time,” she says. Pore strips are like a band-aid, using adhesive to rip away dead skin cells and dirt. However, it's only a temporary fix. 3. Exfoliate two times a week to dissolve dead skin. Dead skin is one of the many things that can clog your pores. Wong recommends a vigilant exfoliation routine using a wash cloth (beginner), a mild enzyme cleanser (intermediate), or aglycolic peel (advanced). Plan to scrub two times a week. Some derms even say you can go up to three times a week if you have oily skin that is prone to blackheads. Just make sure to moisturize after every exfoliating session. “You have to moisturize because exfoliant tends to be very drying to skin,” Wong explains. “If your skin is really dry, your oil production overcompensates, creating more oil and more blackheads.” 4. Use a clay mask or overnight treatment. A clay mask will pull out all the dirt from your skin. You can apply for 15 minutes and rinse, or you can use it as a spot treatment overnight. “When you're sleeping, your pores are open, and at night, there are dirt and germs in the air," says Wong. If your skin produces lots of oil, you can put the clay mask on your nose or T-zone to specifically target blackheads in that area. Charcoal masks are another alternative to clay. Choose a formula that has clay and plenty of moisturizing ingredients. 5. Get extractions from a professional. While it's possible to pop whiteheads at home, it's best to see a professional every four to six weeks to get rid of blackheads. The small hardened dots are typically too tiny to get with just your fingers.Estheticians like Wong use a small tool during a facial to squeeze out the dirt from the pores without breaking the skin.
SOLUTION TO LAST WEEK’S WORD SEARCH
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Kaieteur News
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Jimmy Scarecrow's Christmas
together. "Well?" said she. "Did Santa Claus bring the Scarecrow any Christmas present?" "No, of course he didn't." "Why not?" by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman "Because he's a Scarecrow. Don't ask silly questions." Jimmy Scarecrow led a sad "I wouldn't like to be treated life in the winter. Jimmy's so, if I was a Scarecrow," greatest grief was his lack of said Betsey, but her Aunt occupation. He liked to be Hannah did not hear her. She useful, and in winter he was was busy cutting a triangular snip out of the round piece of absolutely of no use at all. pink silk so the piece of red He wondered how many such miserable winters he silk could be featherwould have to endure. He stitched into it.It was was a young Scarecrow, and snowing hard out of doors, this was his first one. He was and the north wind blew. The strongly made, and although Scarecrow's poor old coat his wooden joints creaked a got whiter and whiter with little when the wind blew he snow. Sometimes he almost did not grow in the least vanished in the thick white rickety. Every morning, storm. Aunt Hannah worked when the wintry sun peered until the middle of the like a hard yellow eye across afternoon on her crazy quilt. the dry corn-stubble, Jimmy Then she got up and spread it felt sad, but at Christmas out over the sofa with an air of pride. time his heart nearly broke. On Christmas Eve Santa "There," said she, "that's Claus came in his sledge done, and that makes the heaped high with presents, eighth. I've got one for every urging his team of reindeer bed in the house, and I've across the field. He was on given four away. I'd give this his way to the farmhouse away if I knew of anybody where Betsey lived with her that wanted it." Aunt Hannah put on her Aunt Hannah. Betsey was a very good little hood and shawl, and drew girl with very smooth yellow some blue yarn stockings on curls, and she had a great over her shoes, and set out many presents. Santa Claus through the snow to carry a had a large wax doll-baby slice of plum-pudding to her for her on his arm, tucked up sister Susan, who lived against the fur collar of his down the road. Half an hour coat. He was afraid to trust it after Aunt Hannah had gone in the pack, lest it get broken. Betsey put her little red W h e n p o o r J i m m y plaid shawl over her head, Scarecrow saw Santa Claus and ran across the field to his heart gave a great leap. Jimmy Scarecrow. She "Santa Claus! Here I am!" he carried her new doll-baby cried out, but Santa Claus smuggled up under her shawl. did not hear him. "Santa Claus, please give me " W i s h y o u M e r r y a little present. I was good all Christmas!" she said to summer and kept the crows Jimmy Scarecrow. out of the corn," pleaded the "Wish you the same," said poor Scarecrow in his Jimmy, but his voice was choking voice, but Santa choked with sobs, and was Claus passed by with a also muffled, for his old hat merry halloo and a great had slipped down to his chin. Betsey looked clamour of bells. pitifully at the old hat Then Jimmy Scarecrow fringed with icicles, like stood in the corn-stubble and shook with sobs until his frozen tears, and the old joints creaked. "I am of no snow-laden coat. "I've use in the world, and brought you a Christmas everybody has forgotten present," said she, and with me," he moaned. But he was that she tucked her dollbaby inside Jimmy mistaken. The next morning Betsey sat Scarecrow's coat, sticking at the window holding her its tiny feet into a pocket. Christmas doll-baby, and "Thank you," said Jimmy she looked out at Jimmy Scarecrow faintly. Scarecrow standing alone in "You're welcome," said she. the field amidst the corn- "Keep her under your overcoat, so the snow won't stubble. "Aunt Hannah?" said she. wet her, and she won't catch Aunt Hannah was making a cold, she's delicate." crazy patchwork quilt, and "Yes, I will," said Jimmy she frowned hard at a Scarecrow, and he tried triangular piece of red silk hard to bring one of his stiff, and circular piece of pink, outstretched arms around to wondering how to fit them clasp the doll-baby.
Envy Defeated
"Don't you feel cold in that old summer coat?" asked Betsey. "If I bad a little exercise, I should be warm," he replied. But he shivered, and the wind whistled through his rags. "You wait a minute," said Betsey, and was off across the field. Jimmy Scarecrow stood in the corn-stubble, with the doll-baby under his coat and waited, and soon Betsey was back again with Aunt Hannah's crazy quilt trailing in the snow behind her. "Here," said she, "here is something to keep you warm," and she folded the crazy quilt around the Scarecrow and pinned it. "Aunt Hannah wants to give it away if anybody wants it," she explained. "She's got so many crazy quilts in the house now she doesn't know what to do with them. Goodbye—be sure you keep the doll-baby covered up." And with that she ran across the field, and left Jimmy Scarecrow alone with the crazy quilt and the dollbaby. The bright flash of colours under Jimmy's hat-brim dazzled his eyes, and he felt a little alarmed. "I hope this quilt is harmless if it IS crazy," he said. But the quilt was warm, and he dismissed (Continued on next edition)
Sunday December 09, 2018
Junior page
Elf Party Hat Materials:
¡Printer, Scissors, X-acto knife
Instructions: Step 1: Print and cut out the party hat along the dashed lines. Step 2: Cut a slit along the straight dashed line using the knife. (Be careful) Step 3: Fold the outside tab along the thin grey line. Step 4: Insert the tab into the slit. Step 5: Use tape or glue to secure the tab from the inside of the hat. Step 6: Cut out the elf ears along the dashed lines. Step 7: Color the back of the elf ears. Step 8: Fold the elf ear tabs and glue or tape to the hat. Step 9: Use ribbon, string or clips to secure the hat to the wearer's head.
Use this link to print the coloured hat:
https://ideas.staticsfly.com/ideas/wp- content/uploads/2018/10/elf-hat.pdf
FUN WITH POETRY
Cuddles
Cuddles is my pet cat, She is cuddly, white and fat; She'd rather lie and sleep all day, But despite all these troubles, I still love my Cuddles; Instead of going out to play. She is my true best friend, And we'll be together to the end. My mother says she is lazy, My father feels she's just crazy, She is my true best friend, My brother thinks she's too ugly, And we'll be together to the end. But my sister also thinks she is
by Uncle Roy
Christmas Words Scramble Games Unscramble the letters below to reveal Christmas words.
Kaieteur News
Sunday December 09, 2018
Enrich your life by inculcating proper values Apart from the principles which must be adopted to make your life proceed in the right manner, you need to inculcate the values necessary for proper living. As a young person, at the brink of the period when what you do will affect your entire future, you have to decide in good time the values which will direct how you will conduct yourself, and deal with the persons and things around, so that you are prepared mentally, psychologically, spiritually and even physically, to withstand the pressures that you will meet that will be acting against your own ambitions in your achieving the things you want to do, and the person you want to be. Values are what we believe in, the things we stand for and against, the things that give direction and meaning to our lives. They represent the very essence of what is most important in life. When you identify them, you begin to
reconnect with yourself in a deep and meaningful way. Life starts to make sense as a direction begins to reveal itself . You feel a sense of realignment that helps you to see where you should be mostly spending your precious time and energy. As you continue to explore your inner self, clarifying your values can help you to understand yourself on a much deeper, more spiritual level. Without this direction in your life at the outset of your gaining some sort of independence from your parents and the other guides in your life, you will find yourself as in a boat without a rudder to guide it, and drifting through life subject to all the dangers which the world will undoubtedly thrust in your way. These are some of the key values which you would do well to emulate and practise: Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude, Justice, which, along with Faith, Hope and
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Values determine Destiny by Mahatma Gandhi Keep your thoughts positive, Because your thoughts determine your words; Keep your words positive, Charity, have been termed the Cardinal Virtues. Among others added by religious and other groups are: Courage, Wisdom, Generosity, Respect for others, Courtesy, Openmindedness, Self-control, Love, Appreciation, Service, Excellence, Potential, Patience, Persistence and Decisiveness. Take a positive step NOW to determine this value system which in your situation will be able to guide you through all the difficulties you are likely to encounter on your way. Resolve in your mind to constantly work on your own personality to adopt those qualities, and make it a habit to display them in your speech, your thoughts and your actions.
Because your words determine your behaviours; Keep your behaviours positive, Because your behaviours determine your habits; Keep your habits positive, Because your habits determine your values; Keep your values positive, Because your values determine your destiny.
We human beings are fortunate that the Almighty has made us able to fulfil our own destiny by making positive efforts to determine what we need to direct us into doing what is the right course to follow. THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
Solutions to last week’s
Christmas Word Search
Christmas blanks
Using a pen or pencil and set the timer to 3 minutes or 5 minutes. You will have to make unique words with each letter for each category within the assigned time. Score one point for each answer you get. A score of: 55 is very good; 60 is excellent! You can also play with others. Players can take turns reading their lists. Cross out any answers that matched another player’s. Players score one point for each answer not crossed out.
You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen,Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen,But do you recall The most famous reindeer of allRudolph the Red-Nosed ReindeerHad a very shiny nose And if you ever saw it You would even say it glowsAll of the other reindeer Used to laugh and call him namesThey never let poor RudolphJoin in any reindeer games Then one foggy Christmas Eve,Santa came to say, Rudolph with your nose so bright,Won't you guide my sleigh tonightThen how all the reindeer loved him,As they shouted out with glee,Rudolph the red-nose ReindeerYou'll go down in history
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Kaieteur News
Sunday December 09, 2018
Sunday December 09, 2018
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Kaieteur News
The importance of safety can never be overemphasized - ACEO tells graduating students By Enid Joaquin. Assistant Chief Education Officer (Technical), Patrick Chinedu, told the graduating students of the Linden Technical Institute, on Friday, that with the emerging oil and gas sector, now more than ever, the importance of safety can never be overemphasized. Chinedu was at the time delivering the feature address at the graduation exercises held on Friday. One hundred and fifty students from LTI graduated from the “Retool” Programme, at LICHAS. Among those in attendance were Canadian High Commissioner Lillian Chattergee, lecturers, Education Officials, parents, Regional Officials, and officials from Guyana Goldfields. Earlier, the Occupational Health and Safety Laboratory was commissioned at LTI. The OHS Laboratory will facilitate practical training programmes for both instructors and students. The objective of its establishment is to improve job readiness for students of LTI, through the development of good workplace safety habits and practices. The programme involved the integration of safety awareness training into technical, vocational,
and business. Students were exposed to good safety practices such as using personal protective equipment like safety boots, and coveralls. The OHS programme was piloted at LTI with funding from Guyana Goldfields. It received technical assistance from CUSO International, with support from the Ministry of Education and the Council for Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Speaking on the importance of educating s t u d e n t s i n t h e area of Occupational Health and Safety, Chinedu said that training, would be provided for two staff members from LTI at the first degree level. He further detailed that at the beginning of the new year, six staff members from Technical Institutes across the country - two from each, would receive training in the heavy duty equipment maintenance programme, in other to replicate the programme at those institutions. In addition, 15 teachers from TVET institutions and secondary schools would also be offered the CQV Level three programme in occupational Health and Safety. This would be made possible through part funding from the organization of
American States (OAS.) This programme comes at a time when Guyana is poised to take its rightful place in the Global village. The Development of Human Capital, known to be the main ingredient for socio economic development, is exactly what this programme is doing.”Chinedu emphasized. He made reference to the Chinese, who overtook other world economies through a commitment to the development of China’s human capital. Quoting Nelson Mandela,Chinedu noted, “No country can truly develop unless its citizens are educated.” He alluded to transnational companies that are now coming to Guyana, because of the emerging oil and gas sector. He said that now more than ever, the importance of safety can never be overemphasized! “Be the Agent of Cultural Change! When it comes to working safely, Prepare and Prevent...Don’t repair and repent!” Chinedu exhorted. Chinedu further exhorted the students to recognize the importance of the Safety Laboratory. “As the first recipients of this generous gesture, the gratitude you can show to the partners, especially -Guyana Gold Fields, for their dedication and interest is the impact
you make after this graduation today -not just to yourself, but to the community at large, and that expectation is, “Be the Agent of Cultural Change, when it comes to working safely.” Programme advisor and trainer, Marshall Denham, in his overview, said that Guyana Goldfields is extremely committed to health and safety in the work place, and likes to hire people from LTI whom they found to be good electricians and mechanics. “However, when we got them up to the mines, we realized that the only thing that they were lacking, was a safety culture or awareness. They might forget to wear safety glasses when they are grinding something, or forget to wear their safety boots.” Denham said that it was recognized that this was a problem. “So we looked for partners to work with, to implement this retool programme.” He added that Guyana Goldfields subsequently partnered with CUSO International, a Canadian aid agency that works around
the world, and the Ministry of Education. Denham posited that the idea for the Health and Safety programme is to prepare students for the workplace. Canadian High Commisioner Lilian Chattergee congratulated the students. She said that young people represent a generation of true global citizens, helped by a world that is networked and connected like never before. “We continue to partner with organizations such as CUSO Interna-
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tional, to deliver programmes such as technical and vocational skills training, entrepreneurship training, career guidance and business incubators, which target youths as key beneficiaries.” Chattergee said that currently, there are over 20 CUSO volunteers in seven regions in Guyana. She thanked Guyana Goldfields, and CUSO International, both Canadian Companies, along with the Ministry of Education for piloting the Occupational Health and Safety Programme at LTI.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday December 09, 2018
Prosecution's star witness testifies at Schenectady contract-killing trial SCHENECTADY, NY (Times Union) – Brandi Moore recalled thinking of visiting Brooklyn and shopping in Manhattan when her then-boyfriend, Joevany "Moon" Luna, told her in 2016 that he was going to New York. "Who wouldn't want to go to New York?" Moore, a star prosecution witness from Delaware, declared Friday at the murder trial of Tarchand Lall. Lall is accused of paying Luna $10,000 to kill 49-yearold Charles "Chuck" Dembrosky in November outside his Campbell Avenue home on the morning of Nov. 19, 2016. Lall wanted to collect on a $150,000 life insurance policy that he had taken out on Dembrosky who was fatally shot. Prosecutors contend Lall, who is 54, and a contractor from Guyana, had money problems. He is charged with firstdegree murder, conspiracy, weapons possession, life settlement fraud and criminal solicitation. If convicted of the top charge, he faces life in prison without parole. On Friday, Moore testified that she soon found out Luna was actually headed to upstate New York to carry out a hit on someone who had supposedly killed a young boy and his father. "He told me he was going to New York to kill somebody," Moore responded to a question from prosecutor Pete Willis. "It was kind of like our relationship wasn't the same anymore." Moore said Luna, 43, called her to say that he arrived safely but was agitated that his buddies drank and smoked marijuana on the trip to the Electric City and weren't taking the job seriously. The next time she heard from him was around 5 a.m. the next day of Nov. 19 when he turned up at her home in Wilmington, Delaware. "He said he ran up to the guy, killed him, and came home to me," said Moore. She said Luna then smashed the gun into pieces and soaked it in bleach. Lall's attorney, Cheryl Coleman, tried to raise inconsistencies in statements that Moore ostensibly gave at various times to police investigators and the grand jury and what she was now telling jurors. On cross-examination, Coleman locked horns with the feisty Moore. She accused
Accused: Tarchand Lall Moore of tampering with evidence when she gave Luna the bleach. "No, I did not because he did not tell me what he was going to do with the bleach," said Moore. Coleman pressed Moore about her earlier testimony about $700 that she picked up for Luna at WalMart before he traveled to Schenectady and the rest of the cash that he received after returning to Wilmington from Schenectady. "He got the $700 before and the rest of the money afterwards," Moore responded in a raised voice. Coleman challenged Moore on the reason she broke up with Luna, contending it was because of his infidelity. In a firm voice, Moore, a mother of two, asserted that she ended her relationship with Luna on New Year's Eve of 2016 because he kept dealing drugs even after promising her he would stop. Earlier Friday, State Police Investigator Andrew Behrens testified about the extensive analysis of Luna, Lall and Kyshaan Moore's phone records that tracked them and their interactions along the Thruway into and out of Schenectady. The digital trail contained footage from surveillance cameras in Schenectady, including around Lall's Mount Pleasant home and from a licence-plate reader that Coleman argued strenuously are only located in Orange and Ulster counties and not in Albany or Schenectady counties. Lall and Moore, who is not related to Brandi Moore, are serving time in prison for their conviction earlier this year for felonies in their role in the murder-for-hire plot. Testimony before Schenectady County Judge Matthew Sypnewski is expected to continue next week.
Sunday December 09, 2018
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Kaieteur News
STANDARDS IN FOCUS
Shopping furniture this Christmas Season Usually, this season presents the opportunity for consumers to purchase new pieces of furniture to add to their décor to enhance their homes. As with all other products, it is important to be knowledgeable about such purchases. The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) is responsible for monitoring the quality of furniture in Guyana, and the Bureau is advocating that consumers, when purchasing furniture, pay careful attention to quality and labelling requirements. Furniture must be of good quality, otherwise their imperfections and defects will quickly show during usage. Further, these products are very expensive and consumers expect that they will get extensive usage from them; so the structural integrity of furniture must be sound to withstand prolong use. The National Standard “Code of Practice for the manufacture of furniture” of-
fers a guide to manufacturers who are desirous of producing quality pieces. In addition, manufacturers must comply with the National Labelling Standards “Specification for the labelling of commodities – Part 5: labelling of furniture”. Conformance to these standards goes a far way in ensuring that consumers get the furniture they deserve. When buying furniture, the following consumer tips can also be helpful: • Conduct a simple but detailed check of the furniture: When buying wooden furniture, consumers should take a closer look to ensure that the lumber and other materials used in manufacturing are free from rot, insect holes, open knots cracks and other common defects. It is often the practice of some unscrupulous manufacturers to use defective materials and use finishing materials to conceal these defects. Whenever this is done it is the end user/consumer who loses because he/
she has purchased a rapidly deteriorating or easily weakened piece of furniture. • Measure your furniture: Don't neglect to measure the room ahead of buying to see if your new furniture will fit. You will be amazed at the number of furniture purchases that never make it into a home because the buyer neglected
to measure the furniture or forgot to take into account hallways, doors, elevators and stairs. • Understand scale: A sofa that looks just right in the showroom might look too big in your room or not big enough. It is hard to judge when you are looking at a picture or seeing it in a show-
room. In addition, measure to make sure that your new piece matches the scale of the furniture you already own. • Avoid paying too much attention to fads: It is best to buy a piece of furniture that you will feel comfortable with for years to come. That goes for color as well as style. Fads can come and go very quickly,
so look beyond a few months of excitement. Instead, buy furniture that truly appeals to you and will look good even years later. • Read the labels: Reading labels that are affixed to furniture available for sale is very important. Labels provide useful information on the (Continued on page 69)
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Sunday December 09, 2018
Kaieteur News
"Kevin" on trial for 2015 murder of "Sugar Cake" FOR RENT
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisement, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6006887: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Eagle’s re-gas AC, Fridge, Washing machine & computer repairs, Gas stove, Plasma flat screen, Electrical installation & more. Call: 6972969/646-0966 Installations, Repairs and parts for AC, Fridge, Washing machine, Stove etc call Nick 627-3206, 630-1600 HOUSE PLAN DRAWING OR IF YOU NEED A ESTIMATE. #216-0671/ 692-8464/622-0267 FB K . L A K E R A M CONSTRUCTION
FOR SALE Generac Pressure Wash for sale 3100 PSI. Tel#654-5267/ 652-2244/220-4203 One Ford explore sportage jeep, fully loaded $3.7M. Call# 684-4636/676-4810 Bourda Green Market Stall. Call: 610-0227, 219-3435 ONE DESKTOP COMPUTER COMPLETE WITH PRINTER NO REASONABLE OFFER REFUSE. #692-8464/6220267 Empty 20lbs Shell/Tex bottle also Acetylene & Oxygen 5 Leyland DAF Flatbed lorry, owner migrating, #228-5655/ 649-8449 Four (4) Pure breed German Shepherd (Black & Tan) Seven (7) weeks old. Tel#650-9998/ 626-0953 1 Double Bunk, 10 Speed Bicycle, 1 LG Refrigerator, 1 Set chairs. #222-0618/6442634 Nibbi Furniture, Sculptures, Paintings, Baskets, Ceramics & Local Gift items. Creations Crafts 7A Water Street. #2270472
Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158
VEHICLE FOR SALE
Wanted personnel for sanding and lacquering floor. Tel#227-1830
2005 Toyota Tacoma Ext cab 4x4 $2.6 Negotiable Tel#6901894
Business apartment on ground floor 70 Quamina Street. $50,000 monthly Negotiable. Phone: 225-6741 One bedroom studio apartment, Parfaite Harmonie $22,000 monthly #694-7817/ 668-0306 Furnished, Air conditioned two bedroom bottom flat, First Phase in South Riumveldt Gardens. Call: 6188436 FOR SALE/RENT American Pool Tel#277-0578
table.
Salon for rental, New Market St, Georgetown, also hair/ nails/barber/massage. Makeup stations for rental #638-1106 1 Apt for rent- Bottom flat for rent, for business. Contact Radica Kassim #264-2639 Lot 7-8 Plantain Walk WBD Mini excavator $8,800 per hour, also Bobcat service available. Tel#623-0290 (1) 4 Bedroom upper flat, fully grilled in first st Herstelling. Contact #265-3844/662-2687 2 Bedroom apartments, 3 bedroom house, 2 living rooms ECD. Contact Mr. Khan #695-6550/656-9313 LAND FOR SALE
1 2005 Toyota Tundra GLL Series, brand new paint job, price $2.5 Neg Tel#661-9447 ACCOMMODATION Secret Villa & Harmony Inn. Fully furnish, air-condition rooms & apartments. 2256337, 668-0306, 218-1400, 6028769, 266-5243-4 HEALTH HERBAL REMEDIES: Diabetes, Hypertension, Infertility, Menstrual disorders, Enlarged prostate, Kidney,Gall stones & Arthritis etc. Call Sparman #676-5924
Demerara Bakery Inc. is looking for Distributors, Wholesalers & Retailers. Call us on 266-5847 or email: sales@demerarabakery.com We buy land in Eccles, Herstelling, Farm, Parfaite Harmonie, Uivlugt, Zeelugt, Providence & Dairy Tel# 6117223/651-1969 Buying Wamara Whatsapp: 664-5150
Logs.
Experienced Taxi & Private Drivers #227-0638/622-6413 1 General Domestic, must know how to cook. Please call: 225-3832 between the hours 8:30am-4:00pm Couple or male to live & work on fruit farm, must know to operate weeding machine #697-8928 Seamstress and Tailor. Contact: 684-1345 Monday to Saturday 9am to 4pm
Farm (East Bank) $3.2M Eccles $7M Herstelling $4M & $5M Schnoord $2.8M Dairy $1.6M & $2.6M Tel#656-0701/6481635
1 Handyboy/man must be honest- 1 live-in Nanny/Maid living accomodation & meals provided free. #228-5655/6498449
Transported land 11.6 acres. Lot 15 public road. #2 Village W.C.B. Price $18M. Contact 686-4818, 648-7109
Wanted Porter to work on water truck for Nimbus Waters Tel#231-7002/622-0445 79 Albert & Laluni Sts, Queenstown.
Zeelugt $2.3M Tuschen $2.9M Parfaite Harmonie $2M (fenced) Parfaite Harmonie $1.5M #697-6311, 642-1252 Diamond New Scheme, 5th Avenue Double lot (Million Dollar area) $9.2M. Tel#6039700
Need a Land surveyor, we do surveys for: Boundaries, Leases, Engineering, Cadastral topo etc. Call: 6622677
TO LET
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620
WANTED
Experienced salesgirl at American Variety Store Guyana 140 Regent & Light St Bourda, Georgetown One housekeeper for The Millenium Manor Hotel, Apply in person with application, 43 Hadfield & Camp St One female domestic to work in Trinidad Age 25-35 yrs. Phone#1868-386-5302
CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS FROM $4000 & UP, SUV’S PER DAY- CALL:643-5122/6560087, ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL:225-7126/ 2263 6 9 3 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL @YAHOO.COM/ WWW.D OLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM LEARN TO DRIVE N. Outar Driving School, Learn to Drive the right way. Affordable package. Call: 6445166/691-2561
Security to work in the interior- Contact #223-7165 PROPERTY FOR SALE 22 Hill St, Alboystown $7.5M Negotiable. Contact Shirley McCalmont #718-345-1416 Royston #516-853-4213/6835664/677-9938 Lot 87 Albert St. Albertown, Price $29M #669-8701 3 storyed commercial buliding for sale in Diamond. Contact owners on #676-8129/6438348 House for rent at Kuru Kuru, Soesdyke Highway #691-8420
The murder trial of Phileman Budhoo, called “Kevin”, 22, of No. 63 Village Corentyne, Berbice, is continuing in the Berbice High Court before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and a mixed jury. Budhoo is accused of murdering Mohamed Fizal Mahmood Baksh, called ‘Sugar Cake’, a money changer, of No. 63 Village Corentyne, Berbice between December 21 and December 24, 2015 at the No. 63 Beach, Corentyne, Berbice. The accused is being represented by attorneys-at-law Arudranauth Gossai and Mursalene Bacchus in association with attorney-at-law, and Surihya Sabsook. Attorney-at-law Mandel Moore is appearing for the state. In his caution statement, Budhoo said that “about 08:00 hrs on Monday, 21st December 2015, I called Sugar Cake and tell he that some people want do business , let him go to No. 64 Health Centre dam, a gon be waiting deh. He agreed and ah pick he up and drive down No. 63 Beach and a tell he we got to take a back track. “I stop by the Obeah Church and then we walk. Ah show he a house with the back door lock. Ah tell he the people live there and we got
VACANCY Paralegal, must have Immigration experience & Excellent communication skills. Please send CV’s to: moses@rambarranlawfirm.com Inventory clerk/Store keeper 5 Subjects including Maths & English, Computer literate, send application to operations@cevons.com / call #227-1717 Male & Female security officers wanted by superior security, age range 25-50. Call: 672-1920 A. Wahab Trading. Wanted sales man with van licence & experienced sales girl #2274861/627-5726/227-6659 American Home & Beauty Center: Sales girl, Bond Clerk # 592-692-9979 Urgent 1 assistant Cook 1 Domestic. Contact X’s Grill & Cuisine.#695-6550/656-9313 ENTERTAINMENT Big G Sounds is available for small events. (Wedding, Small BBQ, Birthday parties etc) Contact numbers #661-9931/ 622-5713/672-9293
Murder accused: Phileman Budhoo to go back by the front. We walk and a pick up a piece of wood and lash he pon he left side foot. He fall down, then a lash he two time pon he head. He nah get up back. “I tek out money from all four pockets, which was $600,000. I then return the car. I go to Parsram Travel service and buy a ticket to Trinidad for $66,000. Me buy two pants and a shirt. I catch a car to Berbice Bridge and then go to Republic Bank Rosignol and deposit $488,000. I go by the airport and catch a plane next day and went to Trinidad. “I carry he by the No. 63 Beach because I did want money and the only way, ah had to kill he . A sorry fu wah me do”. The prosecution called a number of witnesses, including Government Pathologist Dr. Vivekanand Brijmohan, who gave the cause of death as shock and haemorrhage due to a fractured skull. In an unsworn statement from the dock, Budhoo told the court that he had rented a car to go and buy goods to take to his sister. He subsequently bought a plane ticket to Trinidad and went to the airport and flew out the next day to spend the Christmas holiday. When he returned the car, he hadn’t any large sum of money. Whilst in Trinidad, he was informed by his relatives that the police were looking for him for a murder. He subsequently returned to Guyana and was arrested by the police from his lawyer’s office. He was questioned and beaten to sign a statement. He hadn’t a problem with “Sugar Cake” and didn’t see him on that day. The prosecution is contending that the accused made arrangements with Baksh about some financial transaction to be done with some other persons. He subsequently took Baksh to the No. 63 Beach where he robbed and killed him. Baksh’s body was discovered in a bushy section of the No. 63 Village, Corentyne foreshore, three days after he was reported missing. The accused had reportedly fled the country. Police had found a wristwatch, a calculator, a phone and a piece of wood among other things nearby.
Sunday December 09, 2018
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Kaieteur News
CONSUMER CONCERNS
ALERTING CONSUMERS TO SOME PITFALLS By PAT DIAL Last week, it was reported in the press that the Pesticide Division of the Ministry of Agriculture had seized over 300 Kg of mosquito coils manufactured by Zenden. This was the second seizure that the division had made of the same brand of coils. These mosquito coils were manufactured in China and were smuggled into the country, very likely from Suriname. These coils are very dangerous to health and could cause cancer, and heart and lung diseases, which could be terminal. There are other brands of China-made mosquito coils and insecticides on the local market, which are equally harmful to health. The main governmental agencies, which are responsible for tracking down, seizing and destroying such harmful food, drugs and other goods such as substandard cellular phones are the Food and Drugs Department, the Pesticides Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Guyana National Bureau of Standards. Each of these agencies has its own peculiar activities, which differ from each other and should not be confused. The Bureau of Standards, for example, has been dealing with cellular phones, which are passed off to the public as new but which are really second-hand or have forged brand names. Cellular phones are outside the remit of both the Food and Drugs Department and the Pesticides Division. Now that the holiday season is with us, there seems to have been a marked increase in smuggled goods on the market. Most of these smuggled goods are harmful to health in a variety of ways but they are usually attrac-
tively packaged and inviting to the consumer. It would be impossible to mention all these goods but we would mention some of them so that consumers would be alerted to be on guard and the enforcing authorities would be reminded of their remit. Unfortunately, the enforcing authorities are always short of enough inspectors who would be able to remove from the market, toxic food and drugs and other harmful goods. In any case, if inspectors work in areas such as the crowded markets, they would require police protection since in such places; they are often subjected to verbal and physical abuse and attacks. The police usually find it difficult to mobilize the extra manpower especially during the holiday season. At risk to themselves, the inspectors valiantly go about their duties. As mentioned above, we will mention some of the harmful goods, which are widely available. Soft drinks usually have a shelf-life of three months and many foreign imported soft drinks are sold to unsuspecting customers after expiry dates. Sometimes the drinks may be so dated that they have to be sold at knockdown prices without the consumer knowing why the prices had been lowered. Recently, one of the members of our Association saw the Jamaican drink, I-Cool, being sold at less than half the price; on careful examination of the bottle, he found that he drink had long expired. Many foreign imported "energy drinks" have had harmful effects on those who have consumed them. Not only many mosquito coils on the market are dangerous to health, but liquid insecticides as well. These insecticides are usually in aerosol containers and are
perfumed so that one could comfortably inhale them without being conscious of the poisons one is ingesting. These East-Asian perfumed insecticides have far higher levels of poison than Western-produced insecticides, which are safer and always carry a slightly unpleasant smell to alert users to their toxic nature. Another product on the local market of which consumers need to be aware is the large variety of attractively packaged low quality cosmetics. The perfumes in these products disappear in a short time and some of these cosmetics harm the skin. Many of the lipsticks, for example, have a high mercury content and with use peel the thin skin from the lips, leaving the lips looking raw and whitish. In addition, there are sweets and biscuits imported from Latin American countries such as Colombia. These confections are of low quality and poor standard and are usually cheaper than their Caribbean and Western-produced equivalents. Actually, some of the products made in the Caribbean such as the crackers made by Banks DIH or the rums produced by Demerara Distillers or the sweets and spices produced by Edward Beharry Co. are world class. Potted foods should also be bought after some examination for production and expiry dates, the contents of the tin as stated on the label and the brand name and country of origin. It is safer to buy a well-known brand name. Country of origin is also a useful to buying. For example, the USA is one of the world's greatest peanut producers and its peanut butter is acceptable worldwide. Some years ago, a peanut butter known as Peter Han, imported
Shopping furniture... (From page 67) product and should include information such as the common name of the item, manufacturer’s distinguishing mark/code, type of materials from which the furniture is made and the type of finish used. • After sale services: It is important that you find out whether after sale services are available and who will bear the costs. Ask for a written warranty and secure your receipts for at least one year. • Understand how the furniture will be used: Before you buy furniture, make sure that you know how it will be used, and who will be using it. If you forget to factor in
small children, pets, and snacking while watching TV, you could be heading for disaster. Your fabulous cream coloured sofa will be no match for grubby hands, or muddy paws. A gorgeous coffee table with a delicate finish will not last too long when you have
people putting up their feet on it. For further information on this subject, please contact the Guyana National Bureau of Standards on Telephone Numbers: 219-0065, 219-0066 and 219-0069 or visit the GNBS website: www.gnbsgy.org.
from China was widely distributed. The Peter Han brand was meant to closely imitate the labelling and name of Peter Pan, a well-known American brand, and was able to capture a large part of the market until it was found that it was toxic and banned from Guyana. Consumers should be aware of the breads and pastries being sold locally. Many bakers put far too much sugar in their breads and pastries and many who use such breads are unwittingly exac-
erbating their diabetic condition. It is ripe for the Food and Drugs Department to intervene and have the catering industry produce breads with internationally accepted quantities of sugar in their bread mixtures. Matches and cigarettes are smuggled into the country. These matches are not safety matches and could lead to burns. The illegally imported cigarettes are of lower quality than Demtoco's imports. For those who still use cigarettes, the smuggled cigarettes are even more harmful
than Demtoco's. In any case, cigarettes and tobacco products are very dangerous to health and the Guyana Consumers Association has been advising consumers to keep away from all tobacco products. Consumers are therefore enjoined to always inspect the expiry dates of their purchases, buying reputable brand names, examine the quantities since many packaging could give the impression that one is buying a larger quantity and country of origin of purchases.
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Kaieteur News
Govt MPs should leave their ivory towers to see how Guyanese are fairing – Komal Chand Member of the Opposition, Komal Chand, has said that the government has taken certain measures that prevent its members from being able to understand the living conditions of regular Guyanese. Chand stated that the measures proposed by the government’s 2019 budget are anti-working cla s s policies, and that they expose the APNU/AFC Coalition’s lack of concern for poor people. The increase in the tax threshold, he explained, is negligible compared to the fact that the government had promised an increase of the threshold to $100,000 per month. He said that it would account for about $47 extra per day for persons earning the minimum wage; that it can’t account for much, especially in the face of the minibus fares. The gover n m e n t h a d announced increases for public servants, ranging from 0.5 percent for persons earning over $1M to as high as seven percent for persons earning under $100,000. This accompanies the lifting of the income tax threshold to $780,000.
Minister Jordan had touted this as a 30 percent increase, which would see approximately $805M being returned to taxpayers. Chand said that the government has not been making enough of the necessary consultations with respective unions for public servant salary increases. He stated, “Collective bargaining is not an option. It is an obligation. Today, the government’s commitment to that obligation rings hallow.” Minister Jordan had said that consultations with unions would precede further attempts to increase public servants’ wages in 2019. Jordan stated that the government intends to develop a multiyear salary package that improves workers’ income over a defined period. Also to be done are negotiations on improving allowances in the public service with the Guyana Public Service Union. The pension increase is also not enough to make a dent for the benefit of the elderly, stated Chand. He said that the $1000 increase in the pension would only provide an extra $33 per day for pensioners.
The increase proposed by Min i s t e r J o r d a n i s from $19,500 of the minimum basic pension to $20,500. Jordan had also proposed to increase Public Assistance from $8000 to $9000. Chand stated that the g o v e r n m e n t ’s t a x c o n cessions make it seem as though the government is moving back and forth, since they introduced and increased certain tax measures and are now decreasing or removing measures, yet still incurring a net increase in taxes since the APNU/AFC Coalition took office. The government’s tax reform measures include the waiving of duties and VAT on certain new equipment, exemptions of hybrid and electric vehicles, relief from customs duty to import cars with 2000 cc in wattage, etc. The minister had said that the total tax relief to b e i m p o s e d w o u l d s ee $3.5B in tax revenue being returned to the people. He said that, since the government has come into office, it has spent $1.72 trillion, but that this spending has not yielded enough results for the working class.
Sunday December 09, 2018
Opposition MPs labels Social Cohesion a mockery - Say no evidence of fruitfulness under budgetary allocation People’s Progressive Party, (PPP) Members of Parliament, Allister Charlie and Yvonne Pearson, have been critical about the Ministry of Social Cohesion. During the 2019 Budget debates, Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr George Norton was heavily criticized for what the Opposition Parliamentarians termed “unfruitful” expenditure under the budgetary allocation. In his presentation, Charlie told the House that the 2019 Budget is riddled with programmes projected for wanton wastage and extravagant spending. The Parliamentarian said that there has been no evidence of profitability under the expenditure for the Ministry of Social Cohesion. Under Budget 2019, the Ministry of Social Cohesion is slated to collect $480 million. The sum is basically to help the Ministry conduct outreaches and events, such as Social Cohesion Week, Harmony Village and intervillage activities.
However, the Opposition has been vocal in their criticism over how the Department is being managed. The PPP MPs like Charlie have been questioning the spending. “What has been the direct result of the expenditure under your Department?” Charlie asked Norton during the Budget debates. “Have sportsmen and women been able to convert their participation in athletics to make a comfortable living and a meaningful contribution to the country?” “The answer is a blatant no,” he added. Sports success is more than recreation facilities and buildings; it is about participation in world-class sport. Three and a half years, this government, which criticized the PPP still has no developmental strategy.
“You are just contributing to wastage. Throwing more money at the problem but there’s no strategy. The allocation must enable citizens to contribute to their own development and on a national scale,” Charlie added His colleague Yvonne Pearson also criticised the Government’s side for making a mockery of Social Cohesion. She referenced the controversial remarks made by Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence, in which she declared her preference for giving jobs to fellow party members. Such remarks are not what is expected from Social Cohesion. She noted that Minister Norton, in his efforts at bringing the nation together, must start with (Continued on page 72)
GWI water pump failure leaves Charity residents without water for days Residents of Charity on the Essequibo Coast continue to bemoan the poor services offered by Guyana Water Inc. [GWI], after being left without potable water for a number of days. Residents who live within the Charity Housing Scheme, on the Essequibo Coast, are at present without potable water after three days. Charity is a port of entry located in the north/west end on the Essequibo Coast. With a population of some 6000 residents along with the establishment of new prime businesses, the community is quickly thriving commercially. A number of residents were forced to take alternative measures to obtain potable water. Those who could not afford on the other hand, were
left no choice but to use the canal for bathing and washing, while others waited on the rain. Residents are also claiming that to date, the Guyana Water Inc. has not issued any statement on the issue, stating why there is the unavailability of water. When contacted, GWI explained that the company in Charity had developed a major problem with the submersible pump. The company further indicated that its engineers are working around the clock to restore the operation. GWI said that while they are hoping that the pump will be running at a normal state very soon, another pump in Walton Hall will be interconnected to serve Charity.
Teen granted bail on simple larceny charge. A worker of Oasis Car Wash found himself before the court to answer to a charge of simple larceny after he allegedly snatched a woman’s phone. John Glen, 19, made an appearance on Friday before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to his charge. Glen pleaded not guilty to the charge, which alleged that on December 5, 2018, at Regent and Camp Streets he stole one Apple Rose Gold
Iphone 8 plus valued at $200,000 property of Shemika Khan. Police prosecutor Gordon Mansfield had no objections to bail being granted to Glen, because the item was recovered on his person a few minutes after the incident took place and was lodged at the police station. Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan then granted bail to Glen to the tune of $20,000 and instructed that he return to court on December 21, 2018
Sunday December 09, 2018
Kaieteur News
Opposition on a campaign of ironies and contradictions – Ronald Bulkan The Opposition’s strategy to win over supporters for their criticisms of the APNU/ AFC Coalition Government and its budget constitutes a series of ironies and contradictions, according to Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan. He said that in their criticism of the budget as “tonedeaf”, the Opposition MPs are deliberately attempting to undermine the empowerment of the various local government constituencies. He referred to the campaigns held during the recent Local Government Elections, when the PPP/C promised “No new taxes”, and questioned where the money would come from to work towards “better infrastructure including: Roads, drainage, bridges, and maintenance of recreation facilities, etc,” which were also heavily touted by the PPP/C leading up to LGE. The Minister asked, “How much [more] divorced from reality can we get? Every citizen of this land is aware that the major constraint to councils delivering quality services is the limited resources at their disposal.” Bulkan stated that prior to the Local Government Elections and the convening of a council to deliberate on the community interests and priorities, the candidates were emphatic that they will not be doing certain projects because they are in receipt of instructions from the PPP/C leadership at Robb Street “not to exercise their constitutional right to autonomy and to develop their own programmes.” He stated that the difference between the APNU/AFC Coalition and the PPP/C is that his government is not inclined to instruct duly elected representatives of communities. He further stated that the PPP/C campaign promises of “Citizen Participation”, “Greater Accountability” and “Community Involvement” were very ironic, coming from a party that oversaw the nonholding of Local Government Elections for 22 years.
Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan. Bulkan said that the budget provides a total of $39.322 billion for Capital Expenditures for the regions, representing an increase of approximately of 16 percent on the 2018 allocation. He explained that there have been increases for every region and in every sector i.e. public health, education, infrastructure, public infrastructure, agriculture and administration. He further stated that the regional Agricultural Programme is of particular significance, and is new to regions. He said that it will stimulate agricultural production, aquaculture and job creation. He also made specific reference to the Plans of Action for Regional Development (PARDs) which are for grassroots, consultative-led regional development, with interests accounted for by regional democratic councils. According to Bulkan, the provisions included in the Municipal and District Councils (Amendment) Act No. 15 of 2013 and the Local Government (Amendment) Act No. 5 of 2015 reduce the minister’s role, allowing for greater management of Local Democratic Organs (LDOs) by the elected representatives. As a result of these provisions, municipal councils are no longer required to submit their annual budget (income and expenditure) for ministerial approval.
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For first time, prosecutors connect Trump to a federal crime WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department says that President Donald Trump directed illegal payments to buy the silence of two women whose claims of extramarital affairs threatened his presidential campaign, the first time prosecutors have connected Trump to a federal crime. In a court filing , prosecutors said former Trump lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen arranged the secret payments at the height of the 2016 campaign “in coordination with and at the direction of” Trump. Cohen has previously said Trump was involved in the hush-money scheme, but court documents filed ahead of Cohen’s sentencing made clear prosecutors believe Cohen’s claim. The filing stopped short of accusing the president of committing a crime. Whether a president can be prosecuted while in office remains a matter of legal dispute. But there’s no ambiguity in Friday’s filing that prosecutors believe Cohen’s act was criminal and Trump was directly involved, a remarkable
disclosure with potential political and legal ramifications for a president dogged by investigations. The payments are likely to become a target for House Democrats gearing up to investigate the president next year. It’s unclear whether Trump faces legal jeopardy over his role. Federal law requires that any payments made “for the purposes of influencing” an election must be reported in campaign finance disclosures. The court filing Friday makes clear that the payments were made to benefit Trump politically. In August, Cohen pleaded guilty to eight criminal charges, including campaign finance violations, and detailed an illegal operation to stifle sex stories and distribute hush money to buy the silence of porn actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who had both claimed they had affairs with Trump. Trump has denied having an affair. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, was paid $130,000 as part of a nondisclosure agreement signed
days before the 2016 election and is currently suing to dissolve that contract. Trump denied in April that he knew anything about Cohen’s payments to Daniels, though the explanations from the president and his attorney, Rudy Giuliani, have shifted multiple times since then. Another attorney for the president, Jay Sekulow, did not immediately return a call for comment. Trump, in a morning tweet yesterday, said: “AFTER TWO YEARS AND MILLIONS OF PAGES OF DOCUMENTS (and a cost of over $30,000,000), NO COLLUSION! In August 2016, the National Enquirer’s parent company reached a $150,000 deal to pay McDougal for her story of a 2006 affair, which it never published, a tabloid practice known as catch and kill. In 2015, the company’s chairman met with Cohen and Trump and “offered help with negative stories” about Trump’s relationships with women by buying the rights
President Donald Trump to the stories, prosecutors said. After McDougal contacted the Enquirer, the chairman of its parent company, American Media Inc., contacted Cohen about the story.
After Cohen promised the company would be reimbursed, the Enquirer paid McDougal $150,000, according to court documents. An audio recording re-
leased by Cohen in July appeared to capture Trump and Cohen discussing buying the rights to McDougal’s story from the Enquirer’s parent company. Trump’s lawyers have said the payments were never made. Legal experts have said the issue of whether Trump violated the law would come down to whether Trump tried to influence the election and whether he knew it was legally improper. Former Sen. John Edwards, who sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008, was indicted in 2011 in connection with payments made on his behalf by a wealthy campaign donor to keep Edwards’ mistress quiet, which prosecutors argued amounted to illegal campaign contributions. Edwards argued the payments were meant to keep his wife from learning about the affair — not to protect his campaign — and were therefore not political donations. A jury acquitted the North Carolina Democrat of one charge and deadlocked on the rest in 2012. The Justice Department did not retry the case
Opposition MPs labels Social... From page 70 the Government. Over the past year, Minister Norton noted that there were a number of training sessions and workshops on Social Cohesion. More than 4000 persons across the country benefitted from the sessions.
Under his department, Dr Norton noted that there were also several cultural and sports and youth activities geared towards achieving the mandate over Social Cohesion. In his Budget Presentation, Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan noted
that the administration had long recognised the less-thansatisfactory state of affairs with respect to cultural and ethnic tension in this land of six peoples. This is why we have continually supported a national drive for improved social cohesion and relations amongst our citizens. It is incumbent on us to lead the way towards realising a society that is more cohesive, inclusive, empathetic and respectful. We need to stop bombarding our people with constant negativity. In 2019, we have budgeted over $480 million for the Department of Social Cohesion to conduct outreaches and events, including social cohesion week, harmony village and inter-village activities. According to Jordan, the training will also be undertaken in mediation, conflict management and peace building. These activities exclude those that will be implemented by the Ethnic Relations Commission. “However, we must recognize that no government can advance a nation‘s socio-cultural state on its own, it requires the will and support of the people. Our political and community leaders, and private sector and civil society must take deliberate steps to ensure that ethnic and cultural tensions do not rend our nation asunder,” Jordan said.
Sunday December 09, 2018
Kaieteur News
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Work begins on Burnham Park Synthetic Track in New Amsterdam Berbice
Excavation work ongoing at the Burnham Park.
P
hase three of the Construction of the Synthetic Track which entails ground preparations at the famous Burnham Park has finally
begun. The contract which has been awarded to BK International was scheduled to commence a few weeks ago, but was delayed. With phases one and two
which consisted of preliminary works, surveys and the tendering process being out of the way, phase three which covers a major part of the work is on the way.
Subday December 09, 2018, ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Bring things back into balance, Aries. You've probably been so focused on yourself that you've completely forgotten about others. TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) This is a good day to look at the big picture and discuss your ideas with others, Taurus. As you walk down the street, make sure you pay attention to what's going on around you. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You will be in an excellent mood, Gemini, and find your positive attitude amplified as you come into contact with more and more people. The one thing to watch out for today is laziness. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Speak your mind clearly, Cancer. Other people aren't mind readers like you are. If you keep waiting for someone to figure out what you're thinking, it will be a long time before the truth comes out. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You can soar to great heights on a moment's notice today, Leo. There's a fastpaced, socially minded quality to the day that will encourage people to share more of themselves with others. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Try to see the positive in people, Virgo. Relax and don't get so worked up over your internal drama. You're the one responsible for creating this turmoil. Find comfort in a creative project.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You should find that the adventurous side of you has the support of your emotions, Libra. These two parts of your spirit are working in harmony to help you stretch beyond your limits. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Dress in your very best today, Scorpio. Feel free to kick up your heels and take on the town. This is a great time to go out with friends, socialize, and have a fabulous time. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) ou will find that the more peaceful and understanding you are today, Sagittarius, the better off you will be in general. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Make sure you leave things in better condition than you found them, Capricorn. This is a good time to tidy your personal space and the environment. This is also a great time to do some shopping for yourself. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) This is one of those days in which it's easier to be yourself, Aquarius. Don't feel like you need to change your personality to fit a situation. You naturally add an important dynamic to the group. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Communication is a key part of the day, Pisces. You will find that a great deal of information is available to you when you ask for it.
Consultancy works were undertaken by consultants from the BSW Regapaul Company from Germany. BK International was awarded $141 Million to do the work which should take three to six months to be completed. This third phase is expected to involve demarcation, land clearing, laying of drainage pipes, inner and outer track works and asphalting. A lone Hymac was in place doing excavation work in the areas which is proposed to house the main track. Minister of Social Cohesion George Norton had said that he was pleased that the work is heading in the right direction. The Minister is of the view that once the tracks are available, Guyana should be able to produce the next
Usain Bolt and its first Olympic Gold Medal. He had stated that Guyana can only unearth world champions if the necessary facilities are in place. When completed the tracks will be 400M in dimension and outfitted with eight-lanes. It is expected to be similar to the dimensions of the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, Germany. It will also have all facilities to host International Track and Field
events. A full size football field will be constructed on the inside of the track, while efforts will be made to construct other games areas, stands and other necessities according to the availability of space and funds. The project is being funded by the Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Social Cohesion, Culture Youth and Sports and The Ministry of Education.
GMRSC’s Endurance series final round on Today The Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) will host its third and final Endurance Race meet of the year today at the South Dakota Circuit, Timehri.
The meet which is fast becoming an extreme fascination to Guyanese motor sports fans, will test the racers stamina, deftness and consistency. This aspect of motor racing (endurance), is the form of motorsport which is meant to test the durability of equipment and endurance of participants. Teams of two drivers attempt to cover a large distance in a single event, with participants given a break with the ability to change during the race. The pair of Anand Ramchand and Adrian Fernandes has shown that they are a formidable pair after winning the two previous meets of 2018 but today they will have to prove their machine’s worth with a full field of participants expected to take to the Timehri circuit. The event which is being sponsored by Special Auto, B.M. Soat, Tropical Shipping, Hand-in-Hand Insurance, R. Kissoon Contracting, Jumbo Jet and Ansa Mcal will be free to the public.
Dinar Trading in support of K&S organised GFF... From page 77 of Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major. Apart from main sponsor Exxon Mobil, Mohamed’s Enterprise is also on board with the event, it was disclosed.The tournament is expected to see the involvement of overseas teams Morvant Caledonia United of Trinidad and Tobago, a Soa Paulo selection from Brazil and ZV All-Stars of Suriname; while the local teams include East Coast All-Stars, Linden All-Stars, Georgetown AllStars and West Demerara AllStars.The winning team will pocket $1.2 million, while the losing finalist will receive half that amount. Third and fourth place finishers will pocket $300,000 and $100,000 respectively.
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Concacaf Nations League
Guyana’s chances of qualifying for CONCACAF Gold Cup increases
G
eorgetown-: Guyana’s chances of qualifying for the Concacaf Gold Cup has been given a boost owing to a favourable response from the Concacaf Disciplinary Committee to sanction the Barbados Football Association (BFA) for fielding ineligible players in the match against Guyana on September 6,2018. This decision has resulted in Guyana being awarded the three points, which puts Guyana in eight position with six points. According to the Concacaf release issued yesterday: “After due examination of the evidence, the Committee determined that the Barbados Football Association infringed the applicable articles of the Tournament Regulations and the Regulations Governing the
Application of the FIFA Statuses in relation to the eligibility of players to play for representative teams by fielding ineligible players Hallam Hope and Kystian Pearce. In accordance with articles 55 and 31 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the BFA is considered to have lost the match against Guyana by a score of 3 – 0.” In an invited comment, Head Coach Michael Johnson said it is a great position for the preservation of the integrity of the sport: “We acknowledge the strength and conviction of the governing bodies to uphold the integrity and the honesty to which the game demands. We now look forward to the game in March, which should be a wonderful celebration for the country as we strive to make history. Simple win and we are there in the Gold Cup.”
Technical Director, Ian Greenwood, endorsed the sentiments of the Head Coach: “We can now create history with an extremely talented group of players, our destiny is now our own hands.It’s very simple, we beat Belize in March and we qualify for Guyana’s first ever Gold Cup!” While Guyana’s last qualifier against Belize is scheduled for Saturday, March 23 in Guyana, the country has had a favourable display in the CNL with an original 2 – 2 draw against Barbados, a win against Turks and Caicos by a 8 – 0 margin and a defeat against French Guiana by 2 – 1. Guyana is now placed behind Curacao, Haiti, Canada, Cuba, Jamaica, Martinique and Bermuda; the top 10 teams will qualify for the Gold Cup.
Sunday December 09, 2018
GGDMA backs swimmer Menezes for Suriname swim meet The Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) has lent their support to Jonte Menezes of Sea Otters Swim Academy who will be taking part in the Suriname End of the Year Swim Meet on December 15 and 16. Administrative Manager of the GGDMA Avalon Jagnandan handed a cheque to the young swimmer at a simple ceremony held recently. Jagnandan said they are happy to support Menezes and wished her well, while Menezes thanked them for the assistance. She expressed confidence of doing well at the meet adding that she is training five times per week. The swimmer said the support has helped to motivate her. Guyana will be represented by five clubs at the meet namely Sea Otters, Dolphin, Silver Shark, Dorado and Orca of Linden. Among the swimmers that
Administrative Manager of the GGDMA Mr. Avalon Jagnandan hands over sponsorship cheque to young Ms. Jonte Menezes in the presence of her mother Ms. Reena Charles. will represent Sea Otters Swim academy are Andrea Persaud, Wilmont Garrett, Mario Ramkhellawan, Marious
Ramkhellawan, Krish Ramkhellawan, Sherifa Lewis, Jaleel Anderson and Nikita Peters.
wise for the losing finalist and it carries a prize of $200,000 and a trophy. The Highest Goalscorer and Most Valuable Player will collect gifts compliments of China Trading and A.H. & L Kissoon.Among the other sponsors on board are: Courtney Benn Construction Services, Techno Mills, IPA, Alfro Alphonso, Sattaur Gafoor, Ansa McAl, Top Brandz Distributors, MACORP, Starr Computers, Cummings Electrical, Ready Mix, B.K International, New Thriving, E-Networks, NaMilCo, Sleep In, Comfort
Sleep and E.C Vieira Investments. Meanwhile, before that there will be three winner-take-all exhibition matches that will see the winning teams receive $25,000 and a trophy. In the fixtures: Pouderoyen go up against Lilliendaal for cash and trophy sponsored by Director of Sport Christopher Jones, before Goed Fortuin tackle Timehri.The Den Amstel versus Soesdyke affair for cash and trophy sponsored by MACORP will be played just before the final. Kick off time is 17:00hrs.
Leroy Cort continues to Top goalscorer race could craft ... impress on U.S. Circuit
Last weekend, overseas based Guyanese motor racer, Leroy Cort, who competes in the superbike division, performed creditably with two impressive podium finishes in the regional finals of the Championship Cup Series (CCS) at the Homestead Speedway in Florida, United States. In a correspondence Cort shared with Kaieteur Sport, the talented rider posited, “I secured a second and a third in the Heavyweights Class and was able to clinch the titles in the Heavyweight Supersport and Superbike class which is restricted to motorcycles up to 750cc. I was also able to finish ninth in the overall points, among 120 competitors.” Cort explained that the real challenge during the meet was the fact that temperatures during the weekend were varying from 30 to nearly 88 degrees but he stayed hydrated and maintained his energy throughout the day with the heavy workload of five completed races in which he finished 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th, along with a DNF. “It is always a great feeling to see West Indians at these events, I was garaged with racer Ian Beam from the Virgin Islands and Lloyd Palmer from Jamaica who also managed podiums all weekend in every race they entered. These racers were unaware of the racing in the Car-
Plans to contest CMRC in 2019 Leroy Cort
ibbean and plan to take a trip to Guyana in November of 2019, for the Caribbean Motor Racing Championships (CMRC) final leg,” Cort gleefully shared. Among Cort’s plans for the 2019 motor racing season is competing at the Guyana’s South Dakota Circuit as well. “I was lucky to find a sponsor willing to purchase a motorcycle to be based in
Guyana this coming year. This will ensure I make the CMRC tour as well as the local GMRSC (Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club) events in Guyana and still be able to ride here in the USA for the Loudon Road Racing Series Championship”, Cort also mention that everywhere he goes, he flies the flag of his homeland, Guyana which he is proud to represent.
From page 79 solid performances from players such as Seon Barrett, Marvin Sullivan, Orlanzo Thurman and Emanuel Atkins, while Mahaica’s chances of progressing will depend heavily on Holder’s heroics along with support from Michael Amsterdam, Kurt Roberts, Quincy Holder, Ewart Abel and Troy Morris. Charlestown then collide with Mahaicony and with Cozier’s focus centered on improving his goal tally, the opposition could be in for a tough time. He will have in support Devon Charles, Kareem Knights and Curtez Kellman. Mahaicony’s ambition of advancing will depend on players such as Ruel Chester, Kenroy D’Aguiar, Jason Wronge and Mark Roberts. Uitvlugt and Crane then square off for a semi-final spot and this game apart from seeking a place in the next phase also have bragging rights as an inspiration. Uitvlugt’s most popular ball weaver Trayon Bobb will be eager to bring glory to his supporters and his hunt will be aided by the likes of Seon Bobb, Keon Duke and Daniel Floy. Crane will look to players such as Kwesi Henry, Jamal Mounter, Taylor Wharton and Oswin Boyce to instigate an upset. The Ministry of Citizenship has sponsored the first prize of $400,000 and the winning trophy, while John Fernandes Ltd has done like-
Entertaining action... From page 77 as he moved forward against the tired looking Grenadian. But Andall fought back and Farley, urged on by the raucous fans in the stands, took a straight right to his face which stopped him in his tracks. But Farley took his punches like a man and launched a brutal attack with shots to body and head to win on points. The welterweight match between Grenada’s Vesprey and Bajan Edmond had the crowd on its feet as the Grenadian threw the harder punches as the boxers traded shots at close range. Vesprey backed up the Bajan with a three-punch combination but he retaliated with an uppercut to end the first round. In the second round blows were exchanged on the inside and heads clashed re-
sulting in Edmond sustaining a cut above his left eye and the injury was treated by the ring doctor. When the battle resumed Vesprey charged the Bajan and scored with a left jab followed by a right to the head but Vesprey countered with an upper-cut. The final round saw the fighters unleashing a flurry of punches in bunches but neither of them were about to quit and a left to the face of Andall caused another stoppage as the cut reopened. Although the boxers were showing signs of exhaustion the intensity was maintained with the Bajan scoring the cleaner punches in the dying stages of the round to win on points. The Championships concludes this evening from 18:00hrs.
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Entertaining action highlights CBC Night two Allicock, Niles, Farley, McKenzie gives Guyana wins
Colin ‘Superman’ Lewis misses a big swing in his loss against T&T’s Micheal Alexander.
Grenadian Rufus Vesprey misses a left cross against Bajan Jamel Edmond. St Lucian Arthur Both fighters were in atFriday morning. By Sean Devers With pulsating Soca and Langalier, who had a couple tacking mode with the south Wins from Keevin Reggie music emanating from of standing 8 counts, gained paw Amsterdam flicking right Allicock, Emmerson Farley, the sound system and with a points verdict over Bajan jabs at Lewis’ head and Lewis Aston Niles and Kevin Reds Perriera performing du- Shakaun Lashley in their McKenzie kept the Golden ties as fight announcer, middleweight bout, much to Arrow Head flying high on Guadeloupe’s Steeven Denoe the disapproval of the small Night two of the Caribbean swung with wild shots and crowd before Shevon Lewis Boxing Championships at the employed ‘holding’ tactics of Grenada stopped T&T’s Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on and lost on points in a Light Nigel Paul in 2:57 in the first Friday night. Welter to Bajan Justin round of their Super Heavyweight bout. Another disappointing Edwards. The Novices Light Heavyturn-out which included DiBarbadian Lamer Tull hurt rector of Sport Christopher Dominican Royle Williams be- weight fight was won by Jones, watched Colin ‘Super- fore the Referee stopped the Guyanese Niles after his conman’ Lewis loose the only fight in the third round in their test against T&T’s Karrie fight by a Guyanese on a night Novice Welterweight bout, John was stopped in 1:38 in which produced entertaining Deion Pruitt of the USVI beat the second round. The Light Welterweight action. Grenadian Timon Gilbert in a between The night began with Light Heavy battle, Bajan bout Sean Griffith beating Julius Jamel Edmond defeated ‘Superman’Lewis and T&T’s Kesney in a local match-up Rufus Vesprey from Grenada Micheal Amsterdam saw before the Referee stopped in an entertaining Welter- shots galore from every angle the Novice Light Welter- weight contest, while but Lewis did not fight a tacweight clash between Grenadian Darlel Sylvester tical fight and began lunging McKenzie and Dominican failed to capitalise on his and missing big swings as if Nathaniel Joseph in round reach advantage and lost to Amsterdam was using counter-attacking with digs to two after the Dominica con- Trini Andrew Fermín in their ‘Kryptonite’ to nullify the body as they fought toe Superman’s power. to toe and traded blows. tingent only arrived here early Heavyweight fight. It was an untidy fight as both boxers got themselves in ungainly positions and at one stage Lewis picked up Amsterdam off his feet in wrestling fashion. Amsterdam back peddled and It is that time of year again where turfites 7609, Fazal Habibulla 657-7010 and Campton danced out of range forcing in the ancient county of Berbice will be antici- Sancho 602-1567 for entry and any other inLewis to lean forward and pating the annual Kennard’s Memorial Turf formation. miss some big shots as the Club (KMTC) Christmas horserace meet which In the C Class and lower race which will be will see over $3million in cash prizes up for competed over a distance of one mile, the top pair continued to go after each other with Amsterdam gaingrabs. finisher will ride away with $800,000, second ing a points decision. Set for Boxing Day at Bush Lot Corentyne, $400,000, third $200,000 and fourth $98,000. Despite not using more the provisional programme has listed seven The H1 and Lower race along with the 3jabs Allicock completely domiraces for the meet with the C Class and lower year-old and over races will see attractive top nated T&T’s Anthony Joseph event being the feature race with a total cash purses of $250,000 and $240,000 respectively. with lightning fast four-punch pot of $1.6 million dollars on offer. Meanwhile, the 2-years-old Guyana bred Entries for the event close next Sunday, (maiden) which will be raced over a distance combinations in their bantamDecember 16th and all the races will be run of five furlongs will see the winner galloping weight contest but the Trini fought back with shots of his under the rule of the Guyana Horse Racing away with $200,000. own. But although the skilful Authority. Contact can be made with Niketa The other races and first place cash prizes Ross 662-4668, Isaac Dallo 689-0629, Ivan are as follow, the L-open: $140,000, L-non win- Allicock was hit on a few occasions, most of Joseph’s Dipnarine 331-0316, Justice Kennard 623- ners: $120,000 and L-non earners $100,000.
Entries for Kennard Boxing Day horserace meet close next Sunday
Emmerson Farley left penetrates the guards of Grenadian Andy Andall with a hard left hand. punches were not effective. Watched by his aunt who travelled from Carnival Country for the Championships,
burly Farley, a member of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), arrived in the ring to chats of ‘Farley, Farley, Farley’ and the
Keevin Alicock made a Flamboyant entry with his entourage. Joseph was ‘bullied’ by the 19-year-old Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) pugilist, who won Silver at the Commonwealth Youth games last year and Gold at the Caribbean Boxing Championships. Joseph found himself on the ropes as the stylish Allicock backed him up with upper-cuts and a series of shots to body as the Guyanese demonstrated excellent use of the ring. Joseph put up a brave resistance but was no match for the Caribbean’s best teenage boxer who arrived at the ring in flamboyant fashion accompanied by his entourage carrying a huge Guyana flag. Another action-packed bout was the Novice Super Heavyweight fight between crowd favourite Farley and Grenada’s Andy Andall. The
gathering of less than 400 sounded like 10,000 as their voices could be heard all the way to Camp Ayangana. The Grenadian came out throwing bombs at the Solider but Farley showed good defence and most of Andall’s thunderous punches were taken on the glove and shoulder of Farley. Andall continued to be aggressive in the second stanza; throwing right hooks to the head and digs to the body but Farley then upped the tempo and both boxers connected to each other with powerful shots in the fast paced contest. In the final round it seemed that Andall had punched out most of his energy and Farley was now on the attack with telling blows (Contiinued on page 75)
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Windies confirmed to play in Ireland DUBLIN, Ireland, CMC – West Indies have been confirmed to play in Ireland next Summer, as part of a major international men’s schedule in which 16 international fixtures will be played around Ireland in 2019. The Caribbean team will also compete in a One-Day International tri-series with Ireland in Bangladesh. The Windies’ last tour of Ireland was in 2017, however, a scheduled match at Stormont was abandoned without a ball being bowled. The first match against the West Indies will bowl off on 5 May at Clontarf, just two days after the much-anticipated one-day international against England, which takes place in Malahide on 3 May. Ireland will face the West Indies again on May 11 in Malahide, with two games against Bangladesh either side of that match.
The top two sides in the ODI tri-series will then play the final on 17 May. Zimbabwe and Afghanistan are the other two top-tier sides carded to play next summer as Ireland play two ODIs against the Asian side before taking on the Chevrons in three ODIs and three T20 internationals. Ireland’s highest profile match next summer will be played at Lord’s, where England host the first ever Test match between the two nations.“While 2018 was a breakthrough year in many ways for Irish cricket, 2019 is set to be another momentous year for our sport,” said Chief Executive of Cricket Ireland, Warren Deutrom. “In all, we will be hosting eight matches in Dublin and eight matches across Northern Ireland. The venues have been chosen to spread the fixture load across our four in-
ternational-rated grounds – with five matches at Malahide, three at Clontarf, five at Stormont and three at Bready. “This rotation of matches will also maximise our ability to play on new pitches in most matches. The fact though that we do not have enough international standard pitches to
provide a new one for every match will give a sense of why
West Indies have been confirmed to play in Ireland next summer.
the Board was keen to see a fifth international cricket
ground constructed at Abbotstown.” Deutrom said.
Smalta girls’ peewee football West and North to clash in final
BCB/RHTYSC/Busta Champion of Champions 40-Overs Tourney bowls off today
T
he record breaking Berbice Cricket Season continues to expand even as the year 2018 comes to an end. The very vibrant Berbice Cricket Board has to date successfully completed a record twenty two cricket tournaments, while the New Building Society 40-Overs, 2019 Under-15, Mogu Mogu Region 5, Upper Corentyne Under-19, Ivan Madray 100 Balls are currently in progress. The Board today would start its 28th Cricket Tournament for the year, with the launching of the BCB/RHTYSC Champion of Champions 40-Overs Tournament. The fifteenth Edition of the Tournament would be contested by eight teams. The top eight teams were selected based on their performances in 2018 and they are West Berbice Cricket Association, Blairmont Community Centre Cricket Club, Tucber Park Cricket Club, Rose Hall Canje Cricket Club, Young Warriors Cricket Club, Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets Cricket Team, Albion Community Centre Cricket Club and Port Mourant Cricket Club. Upper Corentyne was originally chosen but was eventually left out as the Berbice Cricket Board strives to complete the New Building Society Second Division in the sub-association. They were replaced by the Rose Hall Canje Cricket Club. The Guyana Beverage Company is sponsoring the tournament under its Busta brand and has been doing so
since 2004. Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS has organised the tournament over the years and this year has joined forces with the Berbice Cricket Board to host the prestigious tournament. Over the years the tournament has developed into Berbice most popular cricket tournament and has played a major role in the development of players like Devendra Bishoo, Brandon Bess, Veerasammy Permaul, Assad Fudadin, Royston Crandon, Narsingh Deonarine, Romario Shepherd and Keon Joseph among others. The opening round of matches today would see: Albion Cricket Club vs West Berbice Cricket Club @ Albion Young Warriors Cricket Club vs Port Mourant Cricket club @ Port Mourant Tucber Park Cricket Club vs Blairmont Com Centre @ Cumberland Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets vs Upper Corentyne Cricket Club @ Area ‘H’ Ground Albion Com Centre would be spearheaded by Jonathan Foo, Sharaz Ramcharran, Kandasammy Surujnarine and Adrian Sukhwa, while West Berbice would depend heavily on Arthley Bailey, Keith Fraser, Sherwin McPherson and Steffan Adams. Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets challenge would be led by skipper Shawn Pereira, Kevin Sinclair,
Eon Hooper, Sylus Tyndall, Junior Sinclair and Keith Simpson against Rose Hall Canje Team spearheaded by Ameer Rahaman, Mark Sampson, Martin Singh, Sasenarine Sukhu and Isaiah Thorne. On paper the Young Warriors Cricket Club and Port Mourant Cricket Club match would be a thriller with Young Warriors Cricket Club having players like Alex Algoo, Vishal Mohabir, Linden Austin, Trevlon Stanislaus, Suresh Dhanai and Seon Hetmyer, older brother of Shimron Hetmyer. Port Mourant Cricket Club challenge against Young Warriors would be led by Joshua Ramsammy, Loyydel Lewis, Samuel Kistasammy, Dimitri Cameron and Kellon Carmichael. The final match should also produce good cricket with Garfield Benjamin, Nial Smith, Leon Swammy, Mark Barker, Clifton Lindie and Kewsi Mickle appearing for Tucber Park against Blairmont which would feature Javed Karim, Kevin Jawahir, Seon Glasgow, Nigel Deodat and Fawaz Gafoor. All of the matches bowl off at 09.35 hours sharp. The Berbice Cricket Board and Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS would like to express profound gratitude to the Management and Staff of the Guyana Beverage Company for their continued support of Berbice Cricket. Special mention must be made of long serving General Manager Robert Selman.
Semifinal action between finalists North Georgetown (left) and 2017 champions South Ruimveldt yesterday at the MOE ground. Both semifinals of the Smalta under-12 girls’ football tournament were contested yesterday at the Ministry of Education (MOE) and at the end of the day’s play, North Georgetown and West Ruimveldt came out victorious in each match. In the feature match at the Carifesta Avenue venue, North needled defending champions South Ruimveldt via a tame Christal Archer shot which was handled poorly by Ruimveldt’s custodian in the 21st minute of the match. North held on to that one goal lead and snuffed out all attacking threats from South Ruimveldt’s skipper and leading goal scorer Fayan Henry, who was isolated at the top. With that result, it means that a new champion will be crowned and that West Ruimveldt girls’ coach, Jamal Pedro, noted that his side will be looking to go one better than the boys team that had lost in the final last month to St. Pius. West Ruimveldt didn’t had a easy going against St. Pius girls who ensured that the match had to be decided via kicks from the penalty mark. Seona France had given the finalists an early lead with a successful strike in the 5th minute but Christal Archer levelled up just before halftime. However, West held their nerve to win the shootout 3-2.
Seona France - West Ruimveldt The tournament will come to a close next week Sunday and the full fixtures for the day’s play are as follows: 7th place 14:00hrs Tucville vs Genesis 5th place 14:00hrs Enterprise vs St Stephen 3rd place 14:50hrs St Pius vs South 1st place 15:45hrs West Ruimveldt vs North Georgetown
Kaieteur News
Sunday December 09, 2018
PAGE 79
Dinar Trading in support of K&S organised GFF Exxon Futsal Festival Dinar Trading of Lamaha Street yesterday threw their support behind the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and Kashif and Shanghai organised inaugural ExxonMobil-sponsored International Futsal Festival. The tournament will be played December 27-30 and is expected to be staged at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall pending approval. Iqbal Hussain, Managing Director of Dinar Trading, expressed full confidence in the organising ability of the K&S duo (Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major and Kashif Muhammad) and said he felt
obligated to support them. He informed that the company had supported the organisation in the past and even though business is not as bright as it should be, the company must lend whatever assistance it can. Hussain said it felt right to support the efforts of the K&S and the GFF as they seek to provide meaningful avenues for young men to channel their energies and the level of experience and ability that come to the sport at this time with the inclusion of K&S is noteworthy. Meanwhile, GFF
GFF President Wayne Forde (2nd right) receives the sponsorship from Clifton Singh in the presence of (from left) Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major, Vishal Rampersaud and Duncan Fraser. President Wayne Forde was sponsorship and expressed to assist and give back to partnerships with all stake on hand to receive the pleasure at the gesture of youths in this time when we holders to successfully grow Dinar Trading and noted that celebrate the festive season, the sport of football. Employees of Dinar he will pursue a meaningful giving them an opportunity p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h t h e to display their skills. The Trading including Vishal company for the good of the GFF boss was upbeat about Rampersaud, Clifton Singh world’s most popular game. the upcoming event and the and Duncan Fraser assisted Forde noted that he was very involvement of the Kashif in presenting the cheque to e n c o u r a g e d b y t h e and Shanghai organisation Wayne Forde in the presence (Continued on page 75) willingness of Dinar Trading and the hope of similar
Hamilton Green 9-a-side Inter-Ward/ Village KO Cup
Top goalscorer race could craft exciting conclusion -Holder leads Schultz and Cozier
BCB congratulates Umroa and Anderson on West Indies Under-19 Training Call up
Anthony Sancho The race to see who will secure the top goalscorer prize is well and truly on and the leaders quest for the coveted reward could make t o d a y ’s m a t c h e s v e r y exciting as the curtains come d o w n o n t h i s y e a r ’s Hamilton Green 9-a-side Inter-Ward/ Village KO Cup, at the Den Amstel Community Centre ground. M a h a i c a ’s Q u i n c y Holder is in pole position with three goals and he is closely followed by Pernell Schultz and Jamal Cozier of Newtown Kitty and Charlestown respectively, each having two. Holder has been in prime form, but could find the almost impregnable Central McKenzie defence too rock solid to breach, while his closest rivals Schultz and Cozier are in with an excellent chance to level or even surpass him. Irrespective of whoever gets the important accolade many believe that today’s round of matches could very well determine the outcome of this race. In the fixtures: Sophia
Gregory Richardson
Delon Lanferman
Kevin Umroa
Jamaal Harvey tackle Newtown Kitty in what is anticipated to be a scorching affair to set the tone for the rest of the evening.Ernie, Peter and Simon Smith along with Jason Clarke will lead Sophia’s charge for a final four spot, while Newtown Kitty’s pursuit of victory will be spearheaded by Schultz, Anthony Sancho, Steffon Reynolds and Simeon Moore. The Mahaica versus
Trayon Bobb Central McKenzie encounter according to coordinator Lennox Arthur is tentative since the latter is scheduled to play in their yearend competition in the Mining Town of Linden. He said they were locked in discussions with the Upper Demerara Football Association to gain approval to travel to West Demerara for the game. They will be looking for (Continued on page 76)
The President and Members of the Berbice Cricket Board is extending congratulations to Kevlon Anderson of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS and Kevin Umroa of the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club on their selection to the training camp of the West Indies Under-19 Team. Anderson and Umroa are two of Berbice most promising talents and we wish to tell them that the entire county is very proud of them, a release from the board stated.Over the years, Berbice has produced numerous junior players for the West Indies including Andre Percival, Assad Fudadin, Narsingh Deonarine, Hemnarine Chattergoon, Gajanand Singh, Richard Ramdeen, Mahendra Nagamootoo and the two players are following in their footsteps. Anderson is without doubt the most promising youth batsman in Guyana and the Berbice Cricket Board is confident that the Camp would assist him to develop further.
Kevlon Anderson Umroa is the latest of promising spinners to emerge from the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club and with proper guidance he would go on to be the next Devendra Bishoo and Veerasammy Permaul. Both players are going to the Camp after participating in a packed Berbice Cricket season where a record 22 tournaments have been completed out of 28 tournaments started. They are fully prepared and the Berbice Cricket Board would like to reassure them that we would continue to invest heavily into their careers along with every junior Berbice player, the release noted. With the World Cup a little way off, the Berbice Cricket Board would ensure that players like Junior Sinclair, Alex Algoo, Nigel Deodat and Seon Glasgow are properly developed to join them in the Camp. No stone shall be left unturned as we strive to return Berbice Cricket to its rightful place in West Indies Cricket, the release concluded.
Kaieteur News
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EBFA/Ralph Green U-11 League Day eight of the 3rd Annual East Bank Football Association (EBFA) / Ralph Green sponsored Under-11 League being played at the Diamond Community Center Ground saw the top four teams recording wins to maintain their respective positions. Grove Hi Tech took care of business against Kuru K u r u r u Wa r r i o r s 4 - 0 , Agricola Red Triangle trounced Diamond Upsetters 5-0, Swan FC edged Mocha Champs in a thrilling 3-2 c l a s h , w h i l e Ti m e h r i Panthers were triumphant by a 4 - 0 m a rg i n a g a i n s t Diamond United. Herstelling Raiders pocketed full points via the walk over route as a result of Hauraruni’s failure to show up, while Friendship All Stars and Samatta Point/Kaneville played to a 0 - 0 s t a l e m a t e . Grove cantered to their win on the back of a double from Jevon Pluck who scored in the 5th and 22nd minutes. There was one each for Jamal Cordis in the 2nd minute and Joshua Fredericks in the 9th minute. Defending champions Agricola who have been keeping an eye on leaders Grove secured their sixth win in seven matches thanks
Sunday December 09, 2018
Another flawless day for the front runners;top four remain unchanged Rivalry in yesterday’s match between Agricola Red Triangle and Diamond Upsetters at the Diamond Community Center Ground.
Narine who found the back of the nets in the 28th minute. Agricola’s opening goal in the 8th minute was an own goal that came from Safaraz Russell. Swan almost squandered a 30 half time scoreline as they narrowly staved off a spirited second half rally from Mocha Champs to earn full points, 3-2. Anderson Webber in the 3rd minute, Valintino Andrews (10th) and an own goal off the boot of Jihean Lewis saw Swan going into the break comfortably placed. However, the second half saw Mocha Champs in a
Following is the latest Points Standings # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Team Grove Hi Tech Agricola Red Triangle Swan FC Timehri Panthers Diamond Upsetters Samatta Point KV Mocha Champs Herstelling Raiders Diamond United Friendship All Stars Kuru Kururu Warriors Hararuni Eagles
Omar Sam (right) and Jadon Ceres - Timehri Panthers. in part to Captain Jonathan blazing mood as they fired in m i n u t e . Andries who netted a brace two unanswered goals from But even as Mocha were in a in the 9th and 29th minutes. Matthew Forte in the 22nd dominant mood, time was He was supported by Mekel minute and Lewis who against them and the final Morris (16th) and Brandon redeemed himself in the 28th whistle came with the score
P 8 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 8 7 7
W 6 6 6 6 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 1
L 0 0 0 1 3 3 5 5 4 5 6 6
D 2 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 2 2 0 0
GF 26 30 23 37 10 6 14 8 9 9 3 4
GA 6 3 5 7 10 24 11 32 16 22 21 23
GD +20 +27 +18 +30 0 -18 +3 -24 -7 -13 -19 -19
Points 20 19 19 18 10 10 6 6 5 5 3 3
Jamal Cordis (left), Jevon Pluck and Joshua Frederick- Grove Hi Tech. r o v e . United, 4-0; the other goal 3-2 in favour of Swan which G recorded their sixth win A hat-trick off the boot of was scored by Jaden Ceres in which also kept their Omar Sam in the 7th, 12th t h e 1 9 t h m i n u t e . unbeaten record intact and 29th minutes guided Matches will continue on similarly to Agricola and Timehri past Diamond Saturday at the same venue.
Kaieteur News
Sunday December 09, 2018
PAGE 81
Noble House Seafoods two-day 2nd division final
Bailey’s 6-36 gives GCC control on opening day Jason Heyliger hits through the off-side during his top score for Police at Bourda yesterday.
Vishual Jaigobin is beaten by Bernard Bailey who finished with 6-36 for GCC at Bourda yesterday.
By Sean Devers n a flat track and slow outfield at B o u r d a yesterday 23-year-old pacer Bernard Bailey’s 6-36 put GCC in control over police on the opening day of their Noble House Seafoods twoday second division cricket final. In bright sunshine, Police, the 2014 Champions, lost wickets at regular intervals and were dismissed for 107 with Jason Heyliger hitting three fours in a topscore of 32. Only Paul Tendell who made 23 with a couple of boundaries, Trevor Benn whose 17 included a six and a four and Andrew Lyght 10 with two fours, reached double figures for Police. Bailey got support from Renaldo Ali-Mohammed (230) and Timothy McAlmont (2-22) for GCC who ended the day on 80-3 with AliMohamed on 16 and McAlmont on two.
O
GCC, winners of the inaugural Tournament in 2010, were kept in shackles by the Cops before Skipper Keston Hardcourt broke the painfully slow opening stand when he bowled GCC’s Captain Khemraj Jaikaran (3) at 7-1 in the eight over. The left-handed Deonarine Seegobin flicked Hardcourt for the first boundary of the innings in the 10th over and along Anssuega Rodrigues batted solidly against controlled bowling but struggled to score freely. The very vocal Benn was introduced and eased the pressure with short pitched bowling on a surface on which ‘length’ bowling was required. Seegobin pivoted and pulled Benn, who was a member of Guyana’s FirstClass squad but failed to play a match, for four as his introduction coincided with an increase in the scoring rate.
Rodrigues (16) was caught and bowled by Heyliger at 51-2 just before the close and with Seegobin eight short of a fifty he was run out to leave the home team on 78-3. McAlmont joined AliMohammed and together they took their team to the close without further loss with 28 needed to get for first innings points. Earlier, Ali-Mohammed removed Reginald Rodrigues (0) and Kemol Savory (0) to leave the Cops on 4-2 and when Bailey took a stupendous return catch as Lyght drove powerfully, Police were 19-3. Heyliger and Tendell carried to score to 48 with positive stroke-play before Bailey bowled Tendell. Off-spinner McAlmont struck twice in two balls to leave Police on the ropes at 62-6. He first had Pernell London (3) brilliantly caught at short extra cover by little Zakary Jodah before bowling Hardcourt for a first ball duck. Bailey took the next four wickets as he trapped Benn, back in cricket after a lengthy break, LBW after being sweetly cover driven for four. Eon Rogueries (0) was struck in front and lingered at the crease questioning the Umpires’ verdict, while Heyliger was taken at point at 102-9 and the impressive Bailey, who represented Suriname in ICC’s division 5 cricket, polished off the innings by sending Hemchand Persuad’s stumps for a walk. Today’s final day action is scheduled to commence at 10:30hrs.
Paul Tendell drives Bernard Bailey during his 23 for Police at Bourda yesterday.
GCCs Deonarine Seegobin punches past cover for four.
t r o Sp
Entertaining action highlights CBC Night two Allicock, Niles, Farley, McKenzie gives Guyana wins P. 77
Keevin Alicock lands a crunching left to face of T&T’s Anthony Joseph on Friday night. (Sean Devers photos)
Smalta girls’ peewee football
West and North to clash in final P. 78
Play between West Ruimveldt and St. Pius (on the ball).
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