Kaieteur News

Monday December 10, 2018

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Kaieteur News

After three years in office …

APNU+AFC fails to deliver on promise for Investigative Commission on Corruption The APU+AFC Party had promised the nation that within 100 days of being in office, it would have accomplished several things, one of which is the establishment of an Investigative Commission on Corruption. But after being in office for more than three years, the Commission is far from being in place. This point was recently raised by Ram and McRae Chartered Accountants in their comprehensive review of budget 2019. The accounting firm said in its report that when it comes to the issue of corruption, the coalition administration has delivered much less than it has promised. It said that the government’s failure to establish the Investigative Commission on Corruption is an outstanding example of this. Further to this, the accounting firm said that procurement remains another area of serious concern as the Government has failed to make the necessary legislative changes to the Procurement Act to strengthen the role and effectiveness of the Procure-

ment Commission and to remove the overriding influence of Cabinet in the procurement process. With no changes to the legislative framework, Ram and McRae said that the procurement process remains not only suspect, but tainted and facilitative of manipulation and corruption. The accounting firm said, too, that the signs that the Government was not as intent

on dealing with corruption as it had promised were there in the wasteful and unaccounted billion dollar expenditure on the construction of a Stadium at Homestretch Avenue. It said that Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, who was later assigned responsibility for the Project, has not only not been any more successful at providing answers to troubling questions, but has himself, been the subject of attention and investigation in respect of

the feasibility study for the new Demerara Harbour Bridge crossing by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU). The firm noted that this Unit has also received, but is yet to pronounce on a complaint about the handling of the US$18 million Signing Bonus by the Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan. As it relates to the award of security contracts, Ram and McRae opined that abuse still abounds but nothing matches the Saffon Street drug bond deal for daring and lawlessness. The accounting firm said, “Which rational, self-respecting Government will lend money to buy a property and then lease back that property at a shocking rental equivalent that pays back the capital cost of the property in months rather than years? President Granger showed his tolerance for such egregious conduct not by calling in the Audit Office but by setting up a subcommittee of his Cabinet which found among other things, that the general terms of the lease were ‘not altogether unfavourable!”

Man wrongfully imprisoned for armed robbery finally freed Desmond Junior Lewis will have a good Christmas after all. Crime Chief Lyndon Alves confirmed that Lewis was released from the Lusignan Prison on the advice of the Force’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). Police said that the OPR had established that the 36year-old was mistakenly jailed for six-years, in the place of 19-year-old robbery accused Junior Lewis. Mr. Lewis has already served almost two months of the six-year sentence. Information suggests that his family will be taking legal action. The real accused, whose sentence was handed down in his absence, remains at large. Desmond Junior Lewis was jailed on October 18, last, after police arrested him in Sophia during a series of police raids dubbed “Operation Restore Order.” A police release had stated that when profiled, “Lewis was found to have

- but where is the real convict?

FREED: Desmond Junior Lewiss been sentenced in absentia to six years on two counts of armed robbery committed in ‘A’ Division.” Mr. Lewis was reportedly taken straight to prison following his arrest. It appears that no attempt was made to verify that he was the man police wanted. The blunder reportedly came to light after his mother, who was living overseas,

came to Guyana and filed a complaint with the OPR. One of the ranks who had arrested Junior Lewis, the real accused, reportedly confirmed that Desmond Junior Lewis was not Junior Lewis. Junior Lewis, of Pike Street, Kitty, was charged in November 2017 for two armed robberies, which were allegedly committed on a couple who were near the seawall. On November 4, 2017, the unemployed teen robbed Davina Persaud in Kingston, of one Samsung Galaxy mobile phone. On the same date, in Kingston, Junior Lewis allegedly also robbed Vishal Mohan of a Samsung Galaxy mobile phone and $2,000 cash. The teen pleaded not guilty and was remanded. However, police sources said that he subsequently managed to secure bail, but never returned to court to face the charges. He was later jailed in his absence.

Ram and McRae added, “Eventually, the former Health Minister, Dr. George Norton was made the fall guy and simply transferred to another Ministry with all his benefits intact. The Ministry and the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) were again in the news in connection with the purchase of

drugs valued at more than one billion dollars in violation of the Procurement Act…” The accounting firm also expressed concern about the apparent rise in issues of corruption in the regions such as Region Six where there were nine cases where the Bid price was exactly the same as the Contractor’s estimate even though the estimates are not

available to any bidder. And in Region Eight, the Audit Office found that one officer had set up a front company to make supplies to the Region’s School Feeding Programme while in Region Two, the accounting rules were twisted to make capital expenditure out of the current allocation. Ram and McRae also (Continued on page 14)

Ministry of the Presidency condemns fake news on President’s health The Ministry of the Presidency yesterday rejected as ‘malicious and wicked’ the publication of an online article which suggests that President David Granger has throat cancer and cannot speak. Despite the Ministry of the Presidency’s issuing of several press releases and videos of the Head of State on the issue of his health, the online publication, which is notorious for posting fake new, continues to peddle the falsehood via its website and Facebook page with the intent of causing public mischief and panic. “President Granger has been diagnosed with NonHodgkin Lymphoma and not throat cancer as is being suggested by the online media outfit. He is currently being treated in the Republic of Cuba by specialists,” the Min-

President David Granger istry of the Presidency indicated. President Granger and his wife, First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger departed Guyana for Cuba on December 4, 2018 to undergo a second round of treatment at the Centro de Investigaciones Médico

Quirúrgicas (CIMEQ). The Ministry of the Presidency, once again, called on the members of the public not to be duped by the misinformation, falsehoods and distortions consistently published by the online site. “While the Government of Guyana respects the fundamental right of its citizens to freedom of speech, as well as press freedom, it condemns in the strongest possible way, the publishing of misinformation, untruths,” the Ministry of the Presidency stated. Prior to his departure on December 4, the President explained that CIMEQ has drafted a schedule of treatment which will run until May 2019. After his second round of treatment, the President is expected to return to Cuba later this month to begin the third cycle of chemotherapy.

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Kaieteur News

Monday December 10, 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

INAPPROPRIATE COMMENTS The Minister of Public Health who is at the center of a political storm has some explaining to do in regards to her statement that:”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.” Minister Lawrence made the statement following a sound thrashing by the PPP in the Local Government Elections (LGE) in which the PNC acquired only 34 percent of the votes cast, though voter turnout was low. It is a reckless, irresponsible and discriminatory statement which does not bode well for the PNC and the government. Not only is the statement counterproductive, but it flies in the face of national unity which is the task of the Ministry of Social Cohesion. Ms. Lawrence’s statement could erode the trust that the people had for the government, especially IndoGuyanese and Amerindians, and has made them more suspicious of the PNC and its Afro-Guyanese support base. If the Minister was attempting to reassure and mobilize PNC supporters to vote in the 2020 general elections, then there is a better way of doing so. The Minister’s statement is not a new revelation. What Ms. Lawrence said was no different from what is being practiced by the last government and by countries of the Caribbean and those around the world. She may have assumed that the PNC Region Four District Conference where she made the statement as the General Secretary of the party on November 25th was a private affair only for members. But even if that was the case, is the Minister that naïve not to know that smart phones exist? However, Dr. Luncheon made similar remarks that Afro-Guyanese were not qualified to be ambassadors. As a Minister of the government, Ms.Lawrence should know that it is illegal to discriminate against anyone, be it jobs or the awarding of contracts or give preferential treatment to someone. Her remarks cannot be helpful to the PNC or the government and it does not give comfort to the people who felt that the era of tribal politics was a thing of the past. Except for the leader of the AFC and Minister of Natural Resources Rafael Trotman, the rest of the cabinet has remained silent on the issue. However, Opposition leader Bharrat Jagdeo has condemned the statement and said that Ms. Lawrence could be charged for violating the country’s labor laws which decree that no one should be discriminated on the basis of their gender, sexual orientation, race or religion. The PNC has already publicly acknowledged that its defeat at the recently-held LGEwas in part due to the fact that it had lost contact with some of its supporters and others had become disgruntled by the low quality of services they have received. But as a Minister, Ms. Lawrence was appointed to govern in the interest of all and not only her fellow party members or supporters. The Minister has finally acknowledged that what she said was wrong and has apologized, which is a first step. But it should be told that while in office for 28 and 23 years respectively, neither the PNC nor the PPP leadership has fully addressed the racial division in the country. Which is why in the wake of the PNC defeat at the LGE, the Minister had to resort to blunt such divisive remarks in order to appease her supporters. She should have been scolded because people should not be given employment or awarded contracts based on party affiliation, but on their qualifications and ability. It seems that meritocracy is no longer a criteria for employment. In the final analysis, it is unwise for any minister or elected officials to make racially charged statements in our multi-racial country. Her rebellious and imprudent remarks have damaged the credibility of the party and the government and could result in grave consequences for both.

THERE NEEDS BE A NEW CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT DEAR EDITOR, The 2019 Budget debates are now behind us. The debates were for the most part lively and at times heated but in the end they provided an opportunity for the Guyanese people to listen to opposing views from both sides of the political divide. I am subject to correction but I think this is the first budget since the return of democracy in October 1992 in which the House is being bifurcated into two opposing groups, namely the ruling APNU-AFC and the opposition PPP/C. In all previous parliaments there were other parties which at varying periods were represented in parliament by

smaller parties such as the United Force, the WPA, the Guyana Action Party and the Alliance for Change. With the formation of the APNU-AFC coalition prior to the May 2015 elections, all the smaller parliamentary opposition parties have now been subsumed under the broad umbrella of the governing APNU-AFC coalition. One consequence of this development is the tendency at the parliamentary level to see the budget, as it were, in black and white terms. Given the above context, there is hardly room for any intermediate shade. Both sides of the divide are expected to sing from their

respective hymn books. The ruling coalition is expected not only to justify but to glorify every dollar in the Estimates while the opposition party is expected to do the opposite. Herein lies our dilemma. There is no way in which opposing views can be reconciled. For all practical purposes, the government will use its one-seat majority to get its way at the Committee of Supply level. Interrogation of the budgetary estimates at the Sectoral level is reduced to a mere formality. This is why there is need for a new constitutional arrangement which should allow for post-elections alliances, where parties in any

coalition arrangement can be free to maintain their independence even if they become a part of the government. This is the essence of true representative democracy. With General and Regional elections under two years from now, it is highly unlikely that there could be any constitutional reforms along such lines but I believe it is a necessary step in the direction of more accountable and hopefully participatory governance. In this regard, I remain convinced that the current model of ‘winner takes it all’ has been to a large extent counterproductive and not in our best national interest. Hydar Ally

The coalition still to seek justice for the murdered DEAR EDITOR, APNU+AFC Coalition government leaders have not honored their campaign promise to seek justice for hundreds of citizens murdered by the Phantom death squad under the PPP The APNU+AFC Coalition government of Guyana came to power on a platform that included justice for the murder of over 400 young, black men, former minister Sash Shaw, journalist Ronald Waddell, political activist Courtney Crum Ewing and hundreds of others who were brutally killed by PPP operative Roger Khan and his Phantom death squad. Evidence presented in court establishes that Courtney Crum Ewing was allegedly assassinated by a henchman of a then PPP government official, while he was working to get citizens to vote in the 2015 general elections; the very elections which brought the coalition to power. Yet, it pains me that, to date, this criminal has not been brought to justice.

The Phantom death squad, allegedly with the complicity and protection of ministers of the former PPP government, undoubtedly committed genocide in Guyana. They killed over 400 persons, with apparent impunity. These killings have never seen any investigation. The PPP government refused to investigate these serial murders. No one has been held to account. The killers roam society freely, in some cases with a life of luxury. This is crushing to family members of the victims and advocates for human rights and justice in Guyana. Similarly, it should horrify the nation. Victims’ families are revictimized each day when some of these gun touting killers walk into Palm Court and other nightlife establishments flashing and spending their ill-gotten, blood money. Family members remain hopeless as an entire nation, including the new government, turn a blind eye

The United Nations and Human Rights DEAR EDITOR, Sixty-six years ago on December. 10, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the first global expression to protect the rights of everyone worldwide. To commemorate this historic event, each year UNA-Chapters across the world celebrate Human Rights Day by advocating for the protection of equality and human dignity for all. This year’s United Nations theme is Human

Rights 365. As the strongest defender of human rights, the United Nations works every hour of every day to promote justice and support courageous activists around the world. As your Chapter plans your Human Rights Day activities, we encourage you to highlight this important theme and think of ways your Chapter and community can support the work of the United Nations to fight injustice where it exists. Yours Rooplall Dudhnath

to their tragedies; the inhumanity perpetrated against their loved ones. It is contemptible, that some with knowledge of these extrajudicial killings sit in the Parliament today, with the mildest of sanctions. They have raped the Honorable House of its stature and augustness. They are wicked people in high places. The very coalition government leaders who inspired young people with a litany of promises; including the pursuit of justice, have three years into their term, done nothing but continue to deny justice to these families, while they rub shoulders. Their inaction makes them no better than the PPP. It is disrespectful of the families and to voters, and speaks volumes about this government’s “so-called” commitment to human rights and the principle of ‘equal justice under law.’ such inaction is disgraceful and must be condemned. It is horrifying to watch as the coalition government allows Bharrat Jagdeo and his cohorts recast their image into

Mother Theresa’s, control the narrative and lecture the nation on corruption and crime. Some in this coalition administration seem to have forgotten that it is their advocacy on these and other issues that fueled their ascension to office. They have grown so aloof, so disconnected from the people who elected them. They seem oblivious that their alienation is engendering a frightening and dangerous apathy that is eroding confidence and trust in the entire government, and that this apathy will drive them out of government. One would have thought that the devastating turn out at the last LGE would have awakened them from their slumber of indifference, and cause every minister and MP to hit the fields and reconnect with the citizens, to listen to their concerns, do good by them and assure them that the government is back on track with the agenda that fueled their election. But shockingly, most of these leaders slumber on in Continued on page 5

A look at fighting diabetes DEAR EDITOR, The year 2019 is approaching and it is right that Guyana take a serious look at sugar-sweetened beverages from school environments that will reduce non-communicable diseases such as diabetes. I support a less sugar import beverages coming into the country and also local manufacture products. Our Education, Health

and Agriculture Ministries must play their part in Schoolfeeding programme, with Agriculture as a priority in local farmers fruits and vegetables for making different juices. As c u s t o m a r y, whatever is new the reduced sugar-sweetened beverages would not go down well by all but in the future it will be beneficial for healthy living. Respectfully, Parmanand Ram

Monday December 10, 2018

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Kaieteur News

THE VOLDA LAWRENCE APNU/AFC Government and Minister Bulkan putting “the SAGA IN CONTEXT DEAR EDITOR, The recent rumpus over the Volda Lawrence statement,” 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”, should not be treated as the sudden appearance of a UFO or an asteroid striking Guyana. Sadly! All the commentators who came out in support or defense of her statement, only asserted that discrimination of the above propensity went back to the 23 years of the PPP reign. Their justification is that the PPP did in deeds what Volda said in words. I wonder why none of the commentators ventured to say that this form of racial repression or discrimination started early in the previous PNC’s 27 years reign under Burnham. Was this a deliberate ploy not to tarnish the legacy of Burnham with this form of discrimination? Or is the memory of these commentators limited to one generation (25 years)? It is rumoured that Burnham took discrimination to the extravagance of saying that one has to be born as a PNC. I could vividly recall seeking a teaching job after leaving School in the early 1980s. I was told that I have to get a party card, point blank by a guy named Shepard at the Labor exchange at Anna Regina. In those days I was sporting a soft textured afro, being a Guyanese of mixed race; that did not help me. My point here is that while the PPP did it, discrimination along party lines has it genesis in the Burnham PNC era and all the commentators conveniently failed to mention that in their missives. The discrimination in Burnham’s PNC era was so crass that by 1992 the public service could have, conservatively look like 85% Afro

and 15% indo Guyanese. Despite all the hue and cry about discrimination for 23 years of the PPP by the commentators who came in defense of Volda I do not believe the disparity in figures changed beyond 80% Afro and 20% Indo Guyanese in the public service for the 23 years of the PPP and I don’t hear the Indo commentators screaming their lungs out for equity in employment in the public service. Most of the commentators cited the PPP for removing people in top positions in their 23 years. Governments usually want their own trusted people in high places- that is understood. The Coalition in three years has removed a lot of Indo Guyanese from high places too. None of the commentators found it convenient to mention that. I have heard Indo supporters of the PPP accuse the PPP of not doing enough for Indo Guyanese as compared to Afro Guyanese in the form of developmental projects and assistance to communities. The blame game is exhausting! The public service cannot employ everyone. As a result there will be perception of discrimination in employing people for the public service. But! For a minister to publicly express intent to discriminate, takes this concept of Government discrimination to an unprecedented level. Sadly! None of the commentators were willing to acknowledge that. The good book says that a man is not defiled by what goes down to his stomach but by the words that comes out of his mouth. Volda said what she said and apologized to the public but the Dragons that came in her defense continued to spew fire, defiling themselves in the process. I can’t imagine how their continued biased procrastination, belittles them after Volda’s apology. Rudolph Singh

cart in front of the horse”

DEAR EDITOR, The renewal of local democracy was recently concluded on 12 November 2018. There were a number of new additional LAA’s for the local government elections, Caracas/Wyburgs being one of the several new LAA. Unfortunately, after the conclusion of the LGE elections this new LAA remain in the dark on the way forward. The internal elections was held at the Lochaber Primary School impeding on students time because there was no other building to accommodate the councilors. Likewise staff was sent from elsewhere to conduct this internal election. Guyanese are aware that good governance, accountability and transparency are vital for the development of all communities but the Minister of Communities Mr Bulkan imposed a system where there is no preparation to access and implement that system. This is a definite case of “putting the cart in front of the horse”. The New Amsterdam Town Council is being governed by the PNC/R for numerous years. The last two

Rejecting any call for partitioning MY DEAR PARAM & THE EDITOR, I reject any proposal for partitioning Guyana... as vehemently now as when, as a youngster, I did after Eusi Kwayana (formerly Sydney King) first proposed it; for such would sound the death knell of the country. But who am I to speak, you might ask; and where am I located?…. COMFORTABLY OUTSIDE. Anyhow… the thoughts I had in Kwayana’s time are still current… and find repeat expression here. If, regrettably, the country is split into two parts, who is to decide the geography of the separation?… whether straight across from East to West, or right down the middle from North to South ? And who gets the Essequibo and the legacy of tangling with Venezuela?

And who gets the Corentyne, with the legacy of a border squabble with Suriname? My concern is that if Guyana is divided into two parts - one to the “Africans”… and the other to the “Indians” - it would be the beginning of the end for the country. Those who so propose have a blinkered view of the country’s reality and the kaieteuresque fall that the country would suffer…a reversal so significant that all the oil in the world would not provide an economic rescue. Guyana projects itself as being the Land of Six Peoples, but the proposers of separation recognize the existence of only two. Four others, principally the indigenous Indians (or American Indians or Amerindians) seem not to exist in the minds of those

urging a split. Thus, when separation comes - if it does - what option would be offered them ?... Go to which part they wish and thus be even less than second-class citizens from the start? In any case, the Guyana Constitution protects the Amerindian rights to their land in perpetuity. Though one might argue that they can be part of a political half and not lose those constitutional prerogatives. The proposers of separation have a blinkered view of reality, thus their expectation is that the two halves which were once one would proceed peacefully their separate ways, pursue their individual programmes, develop at their own pace, and experience prosperity or

problems within their individual borders… and never the twain shall meet. That is a fallacy. The more likely scenario over time is that the pace of development in one or the other would lead to jealousies, incursions, raids, robberies… and likely, eventually, border skirmishes and clashes. Out of such constant ruckus, one side or the other can eventually militarily control all of Guyana… but the cost in lives and property destroyed would be considerable. If such is what those who now exercise political control over Guyana’s “Africans” and “East Indians” want, then proceed. History will severely judge them. HUBERT WILLIAMS Boston, Massachusetts

elections were no different. Majority seats was garnered by the APNU, the PPP/C and AFC only managed three and one respectively. The NA M&TC also concluded their internal elections where the Mayor and Deputy Mayor were elected. The Municipalities operate under the Municipal and District Councils Act Chapter 28:01. In section 60 it states that Municipalities must maintain standing committees. The most important standing committee is the Finance committee notwithstanding the facts that it ensures proper accountability and transparency which are crucial for the functioning of all Municipality. In chapter 28:01section 62, it also states, “A council may appoint councillors to be the chairman and the vice chairman of a standing committee and continues in section 63, “A committee of a council may include persons who are not councillors but who became of their special skill or experience will, in the opinion of the council, be able to assist in the consideration of the work of the committee. The law also cautioned that “no person other than a councillor shall be a member of either the Finance committees mentioned in schedule 5 or of a committee prescribed by a constitution

order.” Based on the constitution the New Amsterdam Municipality was allowed to elect the chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Finance committee but conveniently used the majority of APNU councillors of the council to exclude councillors from the opposition parties— that is the PPP/C and the AFC. The exclusion of the opposition councillors is a deliberately act to exclude transparency and accountability since this particular council is managed by APNU. It must be noted that even the APNU managed city council of Georgetown included two PPP/C councillors on their Finance committee. Why did the New Amsterdam Mayor and Town Council exclude the PPP/C and AFC councillors on their Finance committee? It is evident that the New Amsterdam Town Council will continue to function without scrutiny, lack of accountability and transparency. We must demand that protection for taxpayers’ monies is paramount. The exclusion of councillors from the opposition on the finance committee is to avoid scrutiny and allow continued misuse of public funds. Zamal Hussain

The coalition still to seek... From page 4 their state of audacious aloofness, seemingly dismissive of the cries and beckons of the masses and the peril they face. Is this how they intend to be re-elected in 2020? Do they seriously expect the people to reelect a government that has systematically alienated them, ignored their cries and dishonored its promises? Unless APNU+AFC coalition government leaders roll up their sleeves and get to work for the people, and not themselves, they will lose the 2020 general elections. They can begin to repair their credibility and restore the confidence of the people by introducing a motion in Parliament calling for the appointment of a Commission of Inquiry into the genocide committed by the PPP and its band of Phantom death squad killers, and move to appoint such a COI. If they cannot achieve this basic function of government - ‘equal justice under law’ – then how can the people further empower them to govern? Rickford Burke

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Kaieteur News

Monday December 10, 2018

WHAT IS REPRESSIVE ABOUT ARRESTING ALI? DEAR EDITOR, Is it wrong or incorrect in procedure, for law enforcement, once they have sufficiently good reason or cause, to go to a suspect’s place of abode, or wherever known to be, at any time that is deemed appropriate and convenient to arrest or apprehend that person for a given matter? More so, can it be described as “repressive” when all the necessary procedures, such as seeking proper legal advice, and its subsequent permission to lay charges in the particular matter, would have been had?

Editor, I am not a legally trained person, nor do I pretend to be knowledgeable in such complex matters; however, my layman’s understanding informs me that agents of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), acted within the confines of their remit when they arrived at the home of former Minister of Housing, Irfaan Ali, and took him into custody at a reported time of 6.30 am. But, if one is to be guided by PPP/C former Education Minister, now Member of Parliament (MP), Priya Manickchand’s recent

parliamentary remarks during the current BUDGET 2019 debate, she referred to Ali’s arrest - as “repressive”. I am not au fait as to why this MP, who has lost all credibility as a representative of the people, due to her scurrilous lie of being assaulted in the National Assembly, would want to describe as “repressive”, police action against her colleague, who is accused of very serious charges against the State. Her statement, though, is not surprising because it follows a particular pattern, epitomized by her deceptive

and dishonest party leader, where his party members charged before the Courts, are claimed to have been “witch hunted”. In fact, editor, we are dealing with a new culture, and understanding evolved by the leaders of this discredited political party, that has given an entirely new cultural interpretation and understanding, to criminal acts committed against the State whereby PPP/C high officials are not to be prosecuted because of who they have been, and of course, their party membership, and even

The will of the people prevailed DEAR EDITOR, The just concluded regional conference of the People’s National Congress Reform, which was held in Linden last Saturday, was very interesting. As a resident who lives in the vicinity close to the Constabulary Hall in which the conference was held, I decided to go and observe the proceedings. Politics, the activities, actions, and policies that are used to gain and hold power in a government or to influence a government are indeed a game of wolf and sheep, the hunter and the prey and such a reality was made very clear that day. Mr. Editor, I listened to some interesting conversations among PNCR comrades and saw some real maneuvering occurring on the floor of one of Linden’s most historic buildings. It was easy to know who the candidates were. All were moving around, courting support for themselves, but

moreover, for the candidates they preferred for chairmanship of the party. The outstanding name frequently tossed around the lips of most of the comrades in the room was that of MP Jermaine Figueira, followed by Mr. Deron Adams and faintly, Denise Belgrave. It was most evident to me, that the majority of the delegates wanted Figueira, and when any ill things were said about him by a comrade, his supporters were quick to defend and dispel those negatives. He was a solid contender indeed and he won, even before the votes were cast. I observed this young, intelligent and very charismatic fellow, as he engaged his fellow party members with such grace and finesse, it was beautiful. Mr. Editor, what was evident and might I add, very disappointing, came from the speakers who presented several reports. All of which lacked substance. Could you

believe a treasurer’s report didn’t speak of money, no figures. Additionally, it was evident that the presenters attempted to influence the delegates to vote a certain way and the shower of praise Minister Valerie Yearwood placed on Mr. Deron Adams, was quite evident where they wanted the delegates to vote. One of the comrades shouted “It’s time for a change; we making our own choice”. Mr. Editor, when the voting for the chairman occurred, the name Figueira punctuated the ears of the listeners. When the last vote was called and the MP got up to walk to the back of the audience, the reaction of the comrades with rejoicing cheers, hugs, handshakes and kisses was amazing. The elections were stalled for about twenty minutes to settle the jubilant crowd. It was quite evidence that he was not just favored by the comrades, despite all efforts

to have a different outcome by several speakers. He is truly loved and respected by the people. The conference not only demonstrated and confirmed that the PNCR party is indeed a democratic party but showed that despite the attempts of some individuals, the power of the people and the desire for change took precedence. Figueira brings a breath of fresh air to the politics and leadership in Region Ten and the kind of people personality and likeability that was lacking in the PNCR leadership in the region for some time. I applaud and thank His Excellency, President David Granger, for giving us this hard working Member of Parliament and now party chairman. This is another good and right decision the leadership of the PNCR has done for the people of Linden and region ten. Yours faithfully, Justice Welcome

because of their race; since Bharrat Jagdeo has also implied the aspect of race as being a reason for their being charged. Manickchand must be reminded how repressive her former government had been when they had the security forces constantly harassing Mark Benschop whom they eventually had charged for treason; Former army lieutenant, Oliver Hinckson, on trumped up sedition and advocating terrorism charges. Then the equally trumped up charges against a former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Major Munroe and his wife, Carol Ann Munroe, and exsoldier Leonard Wharton who were eventually freed. Then there is the execution of outspoken activist, Crum Ewing for which fingers have been pointed at this former government; as well as the death of close to four hundred young African Guyanese; the unleashing of the security forces on the Buxton community, with the purpose of its pacification; and the now infamous disbanded Target Special squad that shot down so many African Guyanese, even when their hands were held high in surrender; the execution by the Target Special squad, on Mandela Avenue, of three young men, although they were made to lie face downwards on the roadway. These were in addition to many other acts that highlighted the desecration of the Rule of Law during the tenure of PPP/C governance. So repressive is the nature of the PPP/C in their understanding of democracy

and freedom of expression, inclusive of the right of expression, that the case of a letter writer, who wrote in the then Guyana Chronicle letters’ column, criticizing a certain cabinet appointment occasioned a response, in which the then Editor-inChief was asked as to the reasons for allowing such a letter comes to mind. The list is legion, of the various examples of repression by Manickchand’s administration. Any honest Guyanese, except those from the PPP/C, and others with a political agenda will testify that no such repression currently exists in this country. It would seem that Manickchand is taking issues with the time of Ali’s arrest. If indeed it is, then one wonders whether she may be inferring that the arresting officers ought to have waited until the MP had taken his breakfast? But that is to make light of a most serious criminality, of which the former cabinet officer is accused. Manickchand should be reminded, that the timing of any police operation is part of a police agency’s special prerogative; as well as, arresting any citizen for any alleged offence, or for enquiries into such is the lawful act of any law enforcement agency, once there is good cause. This action must be carried out, irrespective of who these persons are, or may have been; and irrespective of their race and ethnicity. Regards Dillon Goring

TIGI congratulates the Integrity Commission DEAR EDITOR, TIGI hereby acknowledges the work of the Integrity Commission in publishing the names of the persons in public life who failed to submit their declaration as required by the Integrity Commission Act. We recognise this as a step in the right direction and also wish to congratulate those officials who complied with the requirements. We are encouraged by the public statements of some of those who have been cited for non-compliance and look forward to their satisfaction of that commitment. We call on all Guyanese to support this effort of the Integrity Commission by seeing it as a bright start to holding ourselves – all of us – to account. The call for the activation of the Integrity Commission has been a long-standing demand from TIGI. Once again, we applaud the Commission for the sterling work that it has begun. Transparency Institution Guyana Inc.

Monday December 10, 2018

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GPL lost US$450M in 19 yrs to Several high profile anti-corruption electricity theft, poor networks cases held up by Magistrates Court - Attorney General By Kiana Wilburg

The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is concerned about the billions of dollars in losses being suffered by the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) due to electricity theft and network issues. To underscore the gravity of this matter, the Commission highlighted in its latest report that the entity has lost close to US$450M since its inauguration in 1999. In its report, the Commission said, “System losses continue to be the bane of the company and this phenomenon has continued for the last twenty-five years. There appears no robust programmes on the part of the company to reduce these losses on a sustained basis.” It added, “The gravity of this problem can best be highlighted by noting that from the inception of the company’s inauguration in October 1999 to present, the cost of system losses to the company is calculated to be more than eighty billion dollars or the equivalent of about US$450 million dollars. These losses are ultimately borne by the nation and it could be considered a barrier to national development.” Furthermore, the PUC said that since 2013, GPL had indicated that it would begin a programme to install AMI meters nationwide to replace the current installed electromagnetic meters. The AMI meters are thought not to be susceptible to tampering and it would have significantly reduced commercial losses (one of the components of system losses). In the company’s Development and Expansion plan 2016-2020, the Commission said that the company had projected that at the end of 2017, it would have installed

28,000 AMI meters within their service area. The Commission said, “We are now in 2018, and the programme is yet to commence in a meaningful manner. The management of the company together with the major shareholder is no doubt cognizant of the current prevailing situation and we recommend that some urgency be given to implement a com-

prehensive plan to begin the long journey of having these losses reduced on a sustained basis to acceptable levels.” In addition to the aforementioned, the Commission said that the size of GPL’s liabilities is of concern. The PUC said it believes that the company’s debt is unsustainable and that the company would be unable to service its debts based on its current cash flows and its continual commitments. “We would suggest for the consideration of the relevant parties a restructuring of the company’s balance sheet and that the related party debts which are an astronomic figure be converted into equity; and thereafter the company be allowed to implement its allowable rate of return and the fuel surcharge/ rebate mechanism in accordance with its license,” the Commission noted in its report. FIVE YEAR PLAN The Commission also expressed concern that GPL had

not submitted a copy of its 2017-2021 Development and Expansion Plan as required by Section 38 of the Electricity Sector Reform Act (ESRA). Section 38 3(a) of the ESRA states as follows: “Except as otherwise provided in its licence, every public supplier shall, no later than sixty days prior to the end of each of its financial years, submit seven copies of its annual

development and expansion program and a current version of its five year development and expansion programme, as approved by the governing body of the public supplier to the Commission for approval in accordance with part seven of the Public Utilities Commission Act 1999.” The Commission, therefore, said that it is uncertain of the approved targets the company was mandated to achieve in 2017. The Commission said that whilst it is not authorized to approve the targets to be achieved by the company, it is required to review the performance of those targets and in the event, they are not achieved may require from the utility the reason(s) for its failure and to decide what action, if any, should be taken against the company. The PUC said that it finds this omission by GPL disturbing. The Commission said it points to uncertainty in planning by the company and leaves no approved targets to work with.

Cops appeal for help in finding Kwakwani midwife’s killer Somewhere in Kwakwani, there may be someone who knows the individual who beat and strangled Paulette Wade in her bedroom last October. But detectives appear to have hit a blank wall in their investigation and desperately need the public’s assistance in cracking this case. Online postings on the case indicate that there are residents who could provide vital leads. Investigators had recently detained a resident after receiving information that appeared to implicate him. The suspect’s first name is ‘Delon’, and he lives a short distance from the slain mid-

Paulette Wade wife. However, he has since been released. He was among several who were arrested and

released during the initial stages of the investigation. Police reportedly subsequently received further information and took him back into custody. Investigators have ruled out robbery as a motive for the killing. Reports out of the community suggest that the 37-year-old midwife had received threats from another woman. A woman was among those questioned, while Wade’s reputed husband was also briefly detained. Wade’s six-year-old daughter, who sleeps in the same bedroom, had reportedly awoken in darkness on (Continued on page 19)

The Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) has seen significant improvement in the number of files referred for prosecution for its core function and other financial crimes, according to Attorney General and Minister for Legal Affairs, Basil Williams. Williams indicated there are about 14 files awaiting evidence from State Agencies for criminal charges to be instituted. Further, Williams noted that there are several high profile investigations that have been held up as a result of the Magistrates Court’s refusal to grant Court Orders where there are no pending causes or matters before the Court. This is in pursuant to the Evidence Act Cap. 5:03. “Currently, there are more than 40 files awaiting the decision of the Honourable Chief Justice, Madam Justice Roxanne George with respect to the issue of Misconduct in Public Office. Further, there are about 14 other files awaiting evidence from State Agencies for criminal charges to be instituted,” Williams noted. These high-profile corruption and money-laundering investigations include the ‘Pradoville Two case,’ in which over 12 acres of prime lands were sold to several exministers and state officials during the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) tenure in office. Williams stated that since the amendment to the AntiMoney Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act which made money laundering a hybrid offence, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) during

the period October 2017 to October 2018, submitted 18 referrals to SOCU. This included that of Guyanese Shervington ‘Big Head’ Lovell, who was extradited to the United States on drug trafficking charges after his arrest in Jamaica. According to Williams, the work of SOCU has resulted in several criminal and civil files for prosecution, including one money laundering file referred for prosecution and two civil forfeiture applications to the High Court. Some of the cases referred for prosecution include those related to the Guyana Bank for Trade and Investment (GBTI), Omar Shariff; the former Permanent Secretary of the Office of the President who is being investigated in relation to his acquisition of $20B; and the Guyana Gold Board, Guyana Marketing Corporation. Former senior officials of the PPP administration have also been charged, including former Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, Winston Brassington, Dharamkumar Seeraj, Nigel Dharmlall, Anil Nandlal, and Irfaan Ali. Williams said there are

Attorney General and Minister for Legal Affairs, Basil Williams also 22 other forensic audits/ corruption type investigations involving billions. He also spoke of the misappropriation of the Lotto fund, and several related to the dissipation of billions of Guyana and United States of America currencies overseas. The Attorney General stated that the local authorities are awaiting evidence they requested through Mutual Legal Assistance from overseas jurisdictions. Additionally, he highlighted the $100B money laundering investigation involving Siddiqi Rasul.

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PM not powerless, cannot blame Parliamentary Committee for Constitutional Reform delays Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo is not powerless and therefore cannot blame the Parliamentary Committee for the delays in Constitutional Reform. This is the position held by Former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran. In one of his recent columns on the matter, Ramkarran stated that under the Constitution of Guyana, Nagamootoo as the Leader of Government Business in the National Assembly has the authority to instruct the Attorney General, (AG) Basil Williams to convene a meeting of committee to deal with the Constitutional Reform Commission Bill, which is essential to the process of constitutional reform. Prime Minister Nagamootoo had previously blamed the committee tasked with considering the Bill for the delays. Nagamootoo had stated that the Bill was referred to the Bipartisan Parliamentary Committee two years ago but the Committee has only met once. “They were supposed to look at it and report back to the National Assembly. I don’t know where the Bill is; I have asked the Attorney General and he said that the Committee met once. “I have never heard any calls, not even from the Opposition, for this committee to

- Former Speaker Ralph Ramkarran

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo meet and without the Commission, there can be no Constitutional Reform,” Nagamootoo had said. However, in his opinion piece over the weekend, Ramkarran noted that if a Bill in the PM’s name is before the Standing Committee for Constitutional Reform, and there is a delay in considering it, Nagamootoo cannot pass the buck. “He cannot blame the Committee. As Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business, he has the authority to direct AG Basil Williams to convene a meeting of the Committee to consider the Bill. If he needs help, the Prime Minister can invoke the assistance of the Cabinet or of the President. If the Prime Minis-

ter is unwilling to take such steps, he has to take responsibility, rather than appealing to the public for understanding,” Ramkarran asserted Additionally, the writer reminded that the coalition government’s core manifesto proposals were for constitutional reform. Hence, Ramkarran said that Nagamootoo explanation can be viewed as nothing but an attempt to shelf his responsibility. Although Government has been widely criticized for the delays in bringing about Constitutional Reform, Nagamootoo had blamed the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reform for the holdup. “There is a Standing Committee established under the Constitution. It is a bipartisan committee that has both members of the Government and the Opposition members including the current Attorney General and the former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall. I have asked the government to allocate funds just in case we get the Bill. Last year we gave back about $60M because we did not make any progress on Constitutional Reform. This year I have asked for a reduced sum and I am hoping that we have the bill

passed,” Nagamootoo said. Pursuant to Article 119A of the Constitution, there shall be appointed a Standing Committee for Constitutional Reform in the National Assembly for the purpose of continually reviewing the effectiveness of the working of the Constitution and making periodic reports there on to the National Assembly, with proposal for reform as necessary. The Parliamentary Standing Committee for Constitutional Reform consists of six

members (nominated by the Committee of Selection). Among other duties, the Committee is tasked with the aid of other persons of appropriate expertise on the issue of constitutional reform. In his Budget speech, Minister of Finance Winston Jordan said that Constitutional Reform remains a mandate and promise that the Coalition Government is keen to fulfill, within a system of participatory democracy. “Government remains hopeful that the bi-partisan Standing Committee on Constitutional Reform will con-

clude its review of the Constitutional Reform Consultative Commission Bill, which was referred to it by the National Assembly over a year ago. “Our Government welcomes the constructive scrutiny that the Members of this Committee will no doubt exercise in their rigorous examination of the Bill, as we collectively recognize the need to adapt our Constitution to reflect our evolution as a democracy.” Kaieteur News understands that the Committee has since scheduled another meeting.

Govt. to establish framework to improve implementation of national projects In an effort to ensure the effective implementation of the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP), the Finance Ministry intends to establish a public investment management framework that will streamline and formalize all aspects of the project cycle – from conceptualization, preparation and appraisal, to implementation management and monitoring and, finally, to evaluation and reporting. This was recently revealed by Finance Minister, Winston Jordan. The economist noted that the process will require behavioural changes, especially on the part of technical staff and Heads of Budget Agencies. He said that in early 2019, the Ministry will formalize the project preparation and selection process, which is intended to create a viable project pipeline. Jordan said that $100 million has been budgeted in the Ministry of Finance, to establish a Project Preparation Facility to support this process. Another $100 million has been budgeted in the Ministry of Public Infrastructure to undertake feasibility studies for some major projects. Jordan said, too, that the Ministry of Finance has already begun to implement the overarching public investment management framework with the development of a Project Profile and Concept Note (PPCN) used in the preparation of Budget 2019. He explained that the PPCN is required for all medium-tolarge scale initiatives and

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan serves to ensure that Budget Agencies only approach the Treasury for funding of projects that are fully conceptualized. He said that this includes articulating the potential outcomes an intervention may have on the relevant population and environment, the associated performance indicators, and inter-sectoral linkages. The Finance Minister said that a more effective PSIP, where project conceptualization and selection are derived from a criteria-based approach, will result in more targeted expenditure and interventions, such as constructing farm-to-market access roads, developing business incubators, upgrading our airstrips, and enhancing energy supply, just to name a few. HIGHEST IMPLEMENTATION RATE After months of issues, the Government was finally been able to improve the

implementation rate of its Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP). The Finance Ministry has noted that for the first half of 2018, the PSIP expended $19.0 billion, reflecting a 20.0 percent increase, over the comparable period, in 2017. This represents an overall implementation rate of 31.8 percent of the budgeted allocation of $59.7 billion, the highest halfyear implementation rate in the last five years. While challenges persist within the tender process, the Ministry said that evidence suggests that sensitization clinics, held with Budget Agencies, during 2018, to mainstream procurement planning and assist agencies with the preparation of procurement plans, have positively impacted this half year performance. The Ministry said, too, that there has been a 30.0 percent improvement in the performance of the locallyfunded portfolio, compared to similar period in 2017. Further, the general improvement in turnaround times in the tender process has contributed to improved implementation. As at the half year, more than $23.8 billion of the local PSIP projects were awarded. Further to this, the Finance Ministry said that the implementation rate of the foreign funded portfolio of investments was 25.3 percent of the budgeted sum of $27.3 billion, an improved performance when compared to the $6.5 billion spent in the comparable period, in 2017. Government said that it remains committed to delivering the PSIP, of $59.7 billion, supported by rigorous monitoring of all PSIP projects. In the second half, the Finance Ministry said that greater emphasis will be placed on accelerated implementation of the foreign funded portfolio of projects.

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INGRATITUDE AT THE HILT Guyana can be an ungrateful nation. Nothing better exemplifies Guyana’s ingratitude towards outsiders than the practice of the police in charging persons and hauling them before the Courts for overstaying. Last month, a Cuban national was charged and placed before our Courts for overstaying. He had only been in Guyana for one year and presumably during that period did not apply for an extension of his permit to stay. He was fined $30,000 and most likely deported. In June 2017, a Cuban was charged for overstaying and fined. He had overstayed his two month initial entry. In May 2016, another Cuban national was charged and fined $20,000 for a similar offence. He had been originally been granted a one month stay. He was charged a mere two weeks after the expiration of that period and placed before the Courts. These charges are unnecessary, more so considering the assistance that Cuba has been providing to Guyana over the years. The Cubans deserve to be treated better. If you take a walk down Regent Street any day, you

will find hundreds of Cubans shopping. Cubans are keeping the business sector afloat. Hundreds of Cubans are coming to Guyana each week, to do their medicals for visas to the United States but mainly to do shopping. If they go elsewhere the business activity will be seriously downgraded in Guyana. So brisk are Cuban purchases, that most hardware, clothing and electronic stores on Regent Street, including Chineseowned businesses, have been forced to employ Cubans to help translate for the shop owners and sale staff. The Cubans are generating business for the local commercial sector. Cubans are also generating business for homeowners and hotels. A number of buildings have been converted to apartments in order to cater for the influx of Cubans who pay decent rentals and give no one problems. This is creating investment in the economy and providing income for property owners. Cuban workers have begun to be employed in the construction sector because, as is well known, Guyanese

carpenters usually work from Tuesday to Saturdays. After they are paid on Saturday, it is hard to get them to turn up for work on Mondays. The Cubans are prepared to work every day; they provide good quality work at a reasonable price. They are hardworking and reliable and this is why they are being brought to do jobs in the construction sector. Cubans are working in our hospitals and health clinics. The Cuban government has sent medical teams to Guyana for decades now. Cuba continues to train Guyanese medical students to become doctors, though in smaller numbers than in the past. Right now, the Cuban government is taking care of Guyana’s President who has been diagnosed with a form of cancer. Medical care in Cuba is free and so President Granger’s medical treatment will not cost the taxpayers a cent. In light of all of this, the manner in which the police treat Cubans is inconsiderate. Why is it that Guyana feel that it should be hauling Cubans before our Courts to answer immigration charges for overstaying when illegal Guyanese immigrants can be

found all over the world. These Cubans who are arrested and charged for immigration offenses would have been detained in those stinking lockups at the Police Stations and then subjected to the humiliations of being d r a g g e d i n f r o n t of a magistrate to answer charges. They will then be deported with the risk of never again being able to come back legally to Guyana. This is not the way we should be treating friends. This should not be the way in which Guyanese should be

showing gratitude to the Cubans for all the help they have provided this country over the years. It is ingratitude at its hilt. The Cubans are not engaged in any major underhand activities in Guyana. They are here to work, get their US medicals done, to shop and to provide medical aid to Guyana. When the authorities discover Cubans who have overstayed, they should not be hauling them to the police stations and then to the courts. These Cubans should be provided with an

opportunity to regularize themselves or to depart voluntarily. This can also be done for other foreign nationals who have overstayed. Guyana needs to seriously re-examine its immigration policies and take it out of the hands of the police who have a poor understanding of the importance of immigration and diplomacy.

Monday December 10, 2018

Kaieteur News

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$58M allotted for probation development action plan - Prison overcrowding rate at 209 percent With the ongoing issue of overcrowding at prisons, the Ministry of Legal Affairs has allocated $58M to implement a probation development action plan. This was revealed by Attorney General Basil Williams when the budget debates continued last week Friday. Probation in criminal law in which a criminal offender is supervised for a period, rather than incarcerated. In some jurisdictions, the term probation applies to community sentences, such as suspended sentences. According to Williams, statistics obtained from the Ministry of Social Protection show that only 0.57% of the total prison population was placed on probation for this year. “Our goal is to strengthen the Probation Services Department so that a minimum of 1.05% of the prison population is placed on probation and shifting the focus to the person’s rehabilitative needs,” Wil l i a m s h i g h lighted. He explained that last year, the Government received a US$8 loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to Support the Criminal Justice System (SCJS) in reducing the prison

Overcrowding is one of the reasons that was blamed for the fire which destroyed the Georgetown Prison

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams overcrowding situation and increasing the use of alternative sentencing. The Attorney General said, “Currently, the prison overcrowding rate is 209%. We have experienced the challenges of prison overcrowding in Guyana on multiple occasions. (These include) numerous safety challenges, negative effects on the physical and mental well-being of prisoners and violent incidents.” Williams explained that the support for the Criminal

Justice System program comprises of six interventions which will help in tackling the social phenomenon. These are a Legal Aid intervention, strengthening Probation Services, a restorative justice project, implementing a case management system, technical support to the Law Reform Commission, and strengthening the Judiciary and Prosecutors. According to the Attorney General, “A study completed in 2017 shows that approximately 71% of prisoners did not have legal representation. For those who were able to access representation, only 14% were represented by a Public Defender. The SCJS programme allocated $31M to provide support in various legal aid tasks in prisons and police stations,

such as seeking dismissal of charges, arranging diversion where appropriate, or arguing for bail and generally avoiding procedural delays. We anticipate that at least 20 percent of those accused of minor, non-violent offenses in pre-trial detention will benefit from this intervention.” In his 2017 report, the Auditor General noted that the Support for the Criminal Justice System programme is likely to exceed its intended deadline of August 20, 2022, due to delays in the timely execution of activities, and underspending. The report highlighted that the programme commenced on February 21, 2017—date agreement was signed between Government and IDB—and is to be executed

within five years and six months, bringing it to an end on August 20, 2022. However, the report highlighted that for the period under review US$706,000 was allocated for the period under review of which only US$102,859 were expended on operational activities. “The project is subject to separate reporting and audit and according to the financial statement of the project as at December 31, 2017, the project expended sums totalling US$102,859 for the payment of salary/gratuity, office furniture, office equipment, supplies, and advertisement cost,” the Auditor General Report pointed out. The Auditor General Report highlighted, “It is also noted that the delay in the timely execution of the

program’s activities and spending of 15% of the allocated resources could result in the program not achieving its objectives and an overrun of the life of the program.” Responding, the Ministry of Legal Affairs said that the project commenced in June 2017, and that the programme team and IDB representatives reviewed the results matrices because activities planned for the six months’ period and budgets at US$706,000 were not realistic and needed realignment. “The activities were then adjusted and the budget was revised which will result in the normalization of the programme spending by the end of 2019 and the project life within the stipulated time frame,” the ministry added.

Guyana’s first Cold Case Unit taking shape - will face daunting list of unsolved killings Guyana should have its first Cold Case Unit soon. Kaieteur News understands that work has already started on offices that will accommodate the unit. It will be located at CID Headquarters, Eve Leary. Former Deputy Crime Chief, Senior Superintendent Hugh Jessamy, who had officially retired on October 01, 2017, was sworn in last February to head the Unit. Senior Superintendant Jessamy joined the Guyana Police Force on July 31, 1982. He served in the Court Superintendents’ Office for several years before completing the CID Induction Course and becoming a CID Field Detective. As an Inspector, he served as the Divisional De-

A mini health check is the first step to donating blood

tective Inspector for the Essequibo Coast, and later served as Officer-in-charge of Criminal Investigations in every Division within the Force. He is said to have a reputation for solving a number of high-profile cases. They include the October, 2010 murder of 16-year-old Queen’s College student Neesa Gopaul; who was beaten to death, stuffed in a suitcase and dumped in a remote area up the Soesdyke/Linden Highway; the 2005 killing of boutique owner Mark Gill, whose body, with some 17 stab wounds, was found at his West Coast Demerara residence; and the murder of two children, on the West Coast of Demerara at the hands of their mother. Under former Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, the Force’s Major Crimes Unit in particular had solved a number of cold cases. Notable among them was the murder of Babita Sarjou, whose skeletal remains were found in May, 2016, some six years after she

had vanished. But a daunting list of unsolved murders remains. The more recent ones include the 2009 disappearance and suspected murder of US citizen Kwame Rumel Jobronewet; the Trevor Rose execution; the December 2017 murder of 18-year-old Rainella Benfield, battered to death in a cemetery, and the February 23, 2014, murder of 19-yearold Patricia Young, also found dead in a cemetery, the 2008 execution of Chief Environmental Officer Alicia Foster, and the 2010 murder of trainee teacher Luciana Bhagwandin. Older cases include the 1993 Monica Reece murder; the killing of bank employee Sheema Mangar; the February 2004 killing by robbers of 18year-old Queen’s College student Trevor Fung; the murder of dancer Dolly Baksh and boyfriend, Tejpaul Singh in November 1979 at the Kitty seawalls; and the rape and murder of 14-year-old Sandra Ann Stewart in December 1976.

Retired Senior Superintendant Hugh Jessamy

Monica Reece

Trevor Fung

Alicia Foster

Kwame Rumel Jobronewet

Luciana Bhagwandin

Monday December 10, 2018

Kaieteur News

With the help of the lowly earthworm…

Farmer sees business potential in vermicomposting Several months ago, Rudolph Trotman partnered with the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) to establish a vermicomposting bin as part of a Disaster Risk Reduction project (DRR). The surprising result has inspired him to expand this initiative into a business. Vermicomposting is a biotechnological process whereby earthworms convert waste materials to a nutrient rich material. These earthworms consume organic waste and reduce the volume by 40-60 percent. The California Red worm (Eisenia fetida) was introduced in Guyana and has been used in vermicomposting bins to break down fresh cow manure at NAREI. Having had successful vermicompsting in-house trials, NAREI decided to transfer this technology to the farming community using a demonstration plot. Trotman, President of the Survivors Farmers’ Association, is one of the Number 4 Village, West Coast Berbice farmers to benefit from this climate change adaptation measure project. Between November 2017 and September 2018 NAREI, other agencies under the Min-

A diagram of a vermicomposting bin istry of Agriculture, Guyana Red Cross and an international organization implemented the project. It benefited five communities: Lovely Lass, Now or Never, Number 4 Village and D’ Edward in Region Five and Fyrish, Region Six. The project saw the construction of three vermicomposting bins to provide compost for farmers. This intervention was selected particularly due to its potential to naturally replenish the soil

and nourish the plants, thus reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers. The three concrete bins constructed were each 5ftX 15ft. They comprised four layers of stones, white sand, fresh cow manure and dry grass. They were covered with mesh to prevent penetration of sunlight. Trotman’s bin was supplied with 150 worms. “At first when I started I was worried because I didn’t seeing any worms but man, about eight weeks after I was

surprised to see the amount of worms there…those 150 worms turn into thousands…the multiplication of these worms just amazing and the soil powdery and looks different,” Trotman said. Trotman has shared the benefits of his labour with some members of his group. In addition, to donating the worms and compost to other farmers, he is sharing his experiences. “I believe I am a pro at this now just by looking after these worms everyday…These worms need to be kept cool and the soil moist…So what I did is get branches to avoid the sunlight from penetrating the bins…also when I wet the branches the water that remain on the branches drip for sometime in the bins,” he explained. The farmer noted that the simplicity of this project and the astonishing results have inspired him to conduct it as a business. “I will definitely do vermicomposting as a business…right now I am constructing a pig pen and as soon as I finish I will build some vermicomposting bins…I will sell the worms and the compost,” an optimistic Trotman said.

Volunteers honoured for their services

Front row (second from left) Director of Youth Melissa Carmichael, and Alder Bynoe, Liaison Officer UNFPA and the volunteers Several young volunteers across the country were yesterday honoured for their contributions to helping those in need. The ceremony undertaken by the Ministry of the Presidency, Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport, was held at the Umana Yana, in commemoration of International Volunteer Day (IVD). This year’s theme, “Volunteers build Resilient Communities” focuses on strengthening local ownership and the resilience of the community in the face of natural disasters, economic

stresses and political shocks. The awardees and guests were treated to a cultural show which included dances and spoken word poetry. Delivering the feature address, Alder Bynoe, Liaison Officer, UNFPA told the volunteers, “You help to enhance community knowledge, you allow for resilience in our community as well as for the overall people-centred development which will serve to benefit the development of the nation; it is through your efforts,” Bynoe said. He noted that the acts of volunteerism continue to ad-

dress the inequality gaps existing in society, hence the importance in honouring the contribution of volunteers in the development of their respective communities and the countries. Bynoe cited the example of local volunteers who have sought to reduce the rate of teenage pregnancy, ensure adolescents have access to sexual and reproductive health services as well as raise the awareness of the many challenges faced by young people in the sphere of sexual and reproductive health. A dedicated volunteer himself, Bynoe remarked,

“once you are seriously committed about giving of yourself and serving those in need, that desire to serve never leaves you despite what new professional position you may take on later in life.” Launched in 1985 by the United Nations, International Volunteer Day (IVD) observed on December 5 was designated to celebrate the power and potential of volunteerism. It is viewed as a unique chance for volunteers and organisations to celebrate their efforts, to share their values, and to promote their work among their communities.

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Monday December 10, 2018

GRDB appeals $99M judgment awarded to E’bo rice miller The Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) has appealed a $99M judgment which was granted earlier this year to Essequibo rice miller, Arnold Sankar who had sued the State entity over a breach in an agreement. The lawsuit was filed by Attorney-at-Law Anil Nandlall and Associates on behalf of Arnold Sankar of Arnold Sankar and Sons Rice Mills of Airy Hall Essequibo Coast. According to information, the milling company entered into an agreement with GRDB, which requested the company to purchase as much paddy available on the market at a price between $3,000 and $3,300 per bag. GRDB had allegedly promised and agreed that it would purchase the paddy from the company at a price of US$490 per metric tonne. But GRDB is said to have failed to deliver on its promise, resulting in the milling company filing action in the High Court. In July, 2017, High Court Judge Diane Insanally refused to grant judgment in

favour of $99,670,273 to the milling company after it requested that the matter be struck out on the basis of a late defence filed by lawyers representing the State entity. Sankar, being dissatisfied with the decision appealed to the Full Court of the High Court before Justices Jo-Ann Barlow and Simone MorrisRamlall who ruled that Justice Insanally ought to have awarded judgment at that point as she would have become duty-bound to do. The Full Court granted judgment to Sankar to the tune of $99,670,273, which allegedly amounted to monies he lost as a result of the breach in the paddy supply deal. GRDB was ordered to pay interest at a rate of six percent per annum from November 7, 2016, when the writ was filed, to the date of judgment, which was passed in April, 2018. Further, GRDB was ordered by the Full Court to pay interest at a rate of four percent per annum from the date the judgment was passed until the amount has been fully paid. Sankar also secured

$249, 963 in High Court costs, as well as $50,000 in costs from the Full Court. In its appeal against the Full Court ruling, which was filed last month with the Court of Appeal, GRDB argued that the learned trial judges of the Full Court erred and misdirected themselves in law when they failed to consider that they had no jurisdiction to award judgment for unliquidated damages in favour of Sankar. GRDB is of the view that judgment was granted in favour of Sankar on the basis of a specially endorsed writ, and Justice Insanally acted correctly, lawfully and properly when she declined to award judgment in favour of Sankar. Further, GRDB contends that, “The learned judges of the Full Court erred and misdirected themselves in law when they awarded judgment in favour of the respondent (Sankar) without hearing evidence at trial or otherwise on an unliquidated claim improperly couched in a specially indorsed writ.”

The Rice Board further contends that the judges of the Full Court erred and misdirected themselves in law when they found that Justice Insanally at first instance had no inherent or other jurisdiction or discretion to revisit and set aside/recall her Interlocutory Order made in March 2, 2017 on her own motion during the course of proceedings, and to deem the Affidavit of Defence filed out of time by the Defendants properly filed. Alternately, GRDB argues that the judges of the Full Court erred and misdirected themselves in law when they found that Justice Insanally at first instance wrongly exercised her discretion to revisit and set aside/recall the said Interlocutory Order, and when they set aside that exercise of discretion. GRDB is requesting of the Court of Appeal to reverse and/or set aside the decision by the Full Court, and that the matter be remitted to the High Court for trial of the substantive claim. According to information, at the time of purchasing the

paddy, GRDB provided the milling company with $60M which was handed over to some of the farmers from whom the paddy was purchased under the aforesaid agreement. However, the sum advanced, Sankar claimed, was not enough to pay for the entire paddy purchased. It was revealed that “this was known to the officers of GRDB, who accepted and acknowledged delivery of all paddy purchased by him under this agreement. Pursuant to and as a part performance of the said agreement, the officers of the GRDB requested Sankar fully pay the remainder to the farmers and promised, undertook and agreed to repay them from the proceeds to be received from the sale of the said paddy.” Acting and relying upon the undertaking, Sankar therefore purchased 32,622 bags of paddy, equivalent to 2121 metric tonnes, at the purchase price of $90,749,215. Sankar acting and relying upon the said warranty, guarantee, promise, undertaking

and agreement, applied for and obtained overdraft facilities from the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Limited and from that facility Sankar paid to the unpaid farmers the balance of $30,749,215. In breach of the said agreement, on May 5, 2015, the GRDB only accepted delivery of 813 metric tonnes of paddy, leaving a balance of 1308 metric tonnes of paddy. The value of the 813 metric tonnes of paddy was the sum of $21,447,467.The miller applied for and obtained overdraft facilities from the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Limited and from that facility he paid to the unpaid farmers the balance of $30,749,215. Sankar had sent several requests to the Rice Board to accept delivery of the remaining 1308 metric tonnes of paddy. As a result, the miller was forced to sell the remaining 1308 metric tonnes of paddy to C- Rice Inc. of Water Street, Georgetown, at the price of US$225 per metric tonne because the paddy was on the verge of spoiling.

Writers, artists to receive grants for creative - $20M boost for Pilot National projects in 2019 Creative Industries Development Fund Artists from a range of different fields have not been given the most conducive, local environment to express their creative talents. For many Guyanese creative individuals, art is only a hobby or something they do on the side, instead of a talent they can monetize. Come 2019, Guyanese artists will see the introduction of a pilot project to fund the work of excited, driven individuals with project ideas. The Pilot National Creative Industries Development Fund will be executed by the Department of Culture. The project was added to the Budget 2019 roster and has been allocated $20M. A core objective of the fund is to recognize and reward indi-

viduals and entities involved in creative industry development in Guyana. The categories to which funding will be considered are Dance (Company, Individual), Music (Group/Publisher, Individual), Theatrical Performance (Group, Individual), Film & Animation (Collaborative only), Visual Arts and Photography (Collaboration, Individual), Literary Arts (Publisher, Individual), Fashion (Collaborative, Individual), Creative Spaces and Creative Collaborations. Notably, the fund would not cover projects that focus on cultural heritage preservation, creative arts education, or cultural policy and its derivative measures. To be eligible for funding,

applicants will not be expected to be Guyanese citizens. However, they must have been resident in Guyana for a minimum of two years prior to application. Interested Non Governmental Organisations must be verifiably active in Guyana at least one year prior to application. There will be no age limit, but preference will be given to individuals who are under the age of 35; in the case of NGOs or collaborative ventures, preference will be given to initiatives that involve a majority of participants under the age of 35. It is expected that successful applicants will be ineligible to apply for two funding cycles after receipt of the grant. Obligations included un-

APNU+AFC fails to deliver... (From page 3) reminded of a news item that was carried by this publication a few weeks ago, highlighting the issue of a contractor who was paid a significant sum of money on a contract that had hardly begun. That contractor was also the beneficiary of a similar arrangement in another

Region. Considering the aforementioned, the accounting firm said that t h e f i g h t against poverty and for development goes hand in hand with the fight against corruption since corruption favours individuals with money and connections and those who in one way or the

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other support the winning Party. It stressed that corruption distorts the allocation of economic benefits, deter foreign investment, lower economic growth, bring about a loss of tax revenue, lower the quality of public infrastructure and also affect the composition of government expenditure. Ram and McRae said that the Government has a long way to go if it intends to deliver on the commitment to stamp out corruption.

der agreement to receive such a grant would include availing the applicant to mentorship and capacity building support the fund administration has to offer, the completion of the project within an established timeline, and the returning of an equity contribution to the fund of revenue generated from the marketing of the finished project. These terms are included in the concept note drafted by the Cultural Policy Advisor to the Ministry of Social Cohesion, Ruel Johnson. The matter of whether any of them will undergo variation will depend on the Terms of Reference to be developed by the Ministry of Social Cohesion. In an interview with Kaieteur News, Johnson, said that such a project should benefit Guyana significantly as creative industries are sound pathways for the economic diversification. He said that the development of creative industries also has great potential to foster social cohesion, since creative arts have a very particular and valuable role in transforming how people see each other, across the spectrums of different tribalisms, such as ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation and class. “The fund has the capacity, if managed properly to represent direct investment in people who will be the funda-

mental building blocks of the creative economy. The success of this fund will depend on the recognition and rewarding of individual excellence in creativity and ensuring that the creative sectors in Guyana have groups that can take advantage of its benefits.” Johnson said that his vision for the project is its expansion in 2021, following a presumably successful twoyear run. He said that, to ensure young, Guyanese creative individuals are appreciated, it would be best to enshrine investment in the development of creative industries into law, as has been done by the governments of Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados. Barbados had enshrined an Arts and Sports Promotion Fund (2004-5) into law with amendments as recent as 2008-9, while Trinidad and Tobago has had a Sport and Culture Fund Act since 1988, which was amended in 1993. Guyana had attempted a Sports and Arts Development Fund (SADF), launched in 2007, which was the subject of widespread controversy. The Art Development Fund for the period January 01, 2012 to May 31, 2015 had been subjected to a forensic audit in 2015, revealing troubling disparities and breaches of accounting and asset management procedures. The audit,

Ruel Johnson, Cultural Policy Advisor which was conducted by forensic auditor Lester Bowen, had found that approximately $167M included in allocations by the budgets of 2012-2014 were not accounted for, or more than half of the total expenditure approved by the National Assembly. Recalling this, Johnson has expressed concern that the project, if improperly managed, could see the funds being misappropriated through what he described as a “cesspool of corruption” at the Department of Social Cohesion. Hence, he said that transparency and accountability must be of paramount importance. “We have to ensure that artists are overwhelmingly the primary beneficiaries of the fund. It can’t be for middlemen, administrative workers or incidental service providers. The money has to go directly to the creative project.”

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Agri. Ministry says receipt shows RPA sold failed-germinating seed paddy Rice farmers on the Essequibo Coast are reportedly telling a different story to the one told in Parliament on Thursday last by Rice Producer Association, General Secretary, and PPP Member of Parliament, (MP) Dharamkumar Seeraj in relation to failed-seed paddy. According to a release from the Ministry of Agriculture, Head of the Rice Farmers Association of Region 2, Mr. Nauth Ram, who is also the Agriculture Coordinator for the region, said he is currently making representation for several farmers who were sold seed paddy, more particularly the GRDB 10, by the RPA. He said that contrary to what was related in the National Assembly, it was not the GRDB seed paddy that failed to germinate, but the paddy sold to farmers by the RPA during the last crop. “Farmer Seecharran of Land of Plenty, visited my office and reported that he purchased 63 bags of paddy from the RPA and after sowing he found that none had germinated,” Ram allegedly said. Nath Ram, according to the release, also said the farmer lamented that after he informed the RPA officials of what had happened with the paddy they supplied, they promised to visit his cultivation but never did. “I reported the matter to the Quality Control Manager, Ms. Allison Peters and she intervened, and I was promised by the RPA that someone will visit the farmer. I was also promised that the seed paddy would be replaced but as far as I know the farmer is still waiting,” the release quoted Ram as saying. The Ministry of Agriculture release stated that another farmer, Indarpaul Babulall said he is still awaiting his replacement paddy from the RPA after being promised same since the first crop 2018, “ I bought thirty six bags of paddy from the RPA and I

PPP (MP) Dharamkumar Seeraj set de paddy fah shy and when I ready fah shy me see bout 90 percent ah d paddy nah germinate”. The farmer was quoted as saying that he too had informed the RPA representative about the problem and after they visited his cultivation and examined the failed seeds, promised to replace the paddy for the next crop. Mr. Babulall said he was forced to scramble for seed to sow his land and ended up planting late with dire consequences. “All now I ain’t get back no paddy from the RPA and is hard fuh just leh 160 thousand dollars go down de drain. I really hoping deh either give me back my money or de seed paddy – it ain’t fair to me,” Babulall lamented. On Thursday last, during his presentation in the National Assembly, the RPA General Secretary, in a bid to support his claim that the local rice industry was in trouble, stated that rice farmers in Essequibo had been sold bad paddy by the GRDB causing them to lose millions through failed germination of the GRDB 10 variety. According to the release, a visit to the region on Friday, by a team from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) revealed a different story. The team reportedly could not find any farmer who could corroborate the claims

made by Seeraj. “Farmers were, however, loud in their praise of the work being done in the region by Extension Officers of the GRDB in the provision of quality seed paddy and extension services,” the release said. “In addition , Rice farmers Deoraj Jaikarran of Golden Fleece and Ganesh known as ‘hassa’ both were loud in their praise of the quality of paddy supplied to them by the GRDB. As a matter of fact, ‘hassa’ said he has only had problems with germination this year when he bought paddy from the RPA. He too is still awaiting compensation by way of seed or cash and is contemplating legal action if the RPA officials fail to act.” In an invited comment, General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board, Mr. Nizam Hassan has described the move by the RPA General Secretary as ‘desperate’ and one which only seeks to score cheap political points at the expense of Guyana’s rice farmers. He added that gone are the days when farmers were willing to be mum and suffer losses. He said while there is still a far way to go to ensure that farmers’ livelihood are safeguarded in its entirety, the GRDB has done significant work to ensure that the industry continues to thrive. “We will not sit here and say everything is good and well within the industry, because every day there is changes, of which we have to adapt to. Climate Change is one such. However, the GRDB has and continues to be steadfast, in its efforts at providing a good life for all of our farmers and their families and it continues to show annually in the form of increased production and productivity,” Hassan lamented. The Rice Board is calling for political maturity as the industry remains a major contributor to the country overall GDP.

Cops appeal for help in finding... (From page 7) October 25 to see a man, whom she could not recognize, attacking her mother, who had called out the name ‘Delon.’ The terrified child reportedly remained cowering in the bed and when morning came, saw her mother lying motionless on the floor. S h e t h e n went to a neighbour’s house, and accompanied by a nine-year-

old, informed staffers at the Kwakwani Hospital. A postmortem revealed that Wade was beaten and manually strangled. They established that an intruder could have prised open the victim’s back door. There are suggestions that the killer was familiar with the layout of Wade’s house, since he reportedly switched off all the lights before attacking her in her bedroom. Police are appealing to

anyone with information that could assist in apprehending Wade’s killer to contact them, even if they do so anonymously. Police contact numbers include 444-2222 (Kwakwani); 225-6411, 225-8196, 227-1149, 226-7065, 911 or the nearest police station. Persons can also contact Kaieteur News journalist Michael Jordan anonymously on 645-2447, or kamarangnight@gmail.com.

A receipt for the purchase of the seed paddy

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Monday December 10, 2018

Rebranded ‘Dynamic Airways’ applies to reenter Guyana skies The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority has indicated that Eastern Airways Corporation is seeking to operate a weekly flight between New York and Guyana. Having exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding, Dynamic International Airways LLC had changed its legal name to Eastern Airlines, LLC. According to the GCCA, the date of commencing is December 15 for a period of three years. The GCCA has advertised for members of the public to make representations and objections to Eastern’s application to service Guyana. “Those making representations and/or objections shall state the specific grounds on which such are made and shall specify any desired conditions to the attached to the license if granted,” the GCCA noted. Members of the public have until December 21st to

file with the GCCA. The US Company, Dynamic Airlines pulled out of Guyana late last year after bankruptcy issues, leaving passengers stranded and almost 200 persons jobless. It had amended previously announced plans to offer scheduled service between the United States and China, in favour of flights to South America. In a filing to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) seeking to endorse its claim to substantial fitness, the carrier said it would offer scheduled flights between New York’s JFK airport and Georgetown, Cheddi Jagan in Guyana using its fleet of B767s. Dynamic in a disclosure to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) had said that under its court-approved reorganization plan, it will continue to operate ACMI-type charter flights in a bid to re-

Dynamic International Airways LLC has changed its legal name to Eastern Airlines, LLC. build its financial resources. It said that during its time in bankruptcy protection, it had seen “substantial unmet public/market need for carriers with wide-body convertible aircraft”. All aircraft Dynamic currently operates – one B767200, two -(ER)s, and two B767300(ER)s – are dry leased from various LLCs owned by Woolley. However, the disclo-

sure states that Woolley would have donated these leased aircraft to Dynamic, such that Dynamic will own its entire B767 fleet. The airline has been under US Chapter 11 protection since July 2017. Dynamic Airways operated four years in Guyana before ending its flights last year. Late last September, flights were reportedly de-

creased from five weekly to two. The North-Carolina based carrier, Dynamic Airways transported at least 80,000 passengers to and from Guyana. Currently, the high de-

mand JFK destination is being served by Caribbean Airlines and Fly Jamaica. In Guyana, Dynamic ground handling and other services were done by Roraima Airways.

Night club owner to face riotous and disorderly behaviour charges - following clash with police inspector Night club owner Freeman Fordyce is likely to face two charges this week for his November 3 clash with Police Inspector Prem Narine. This was confirmed by Crime Chief Lyndon Alves. Kaieteur News understands that Fordyce, the proprietor of the Diamond Hotel and Bar, will be charged with riotous behaviour and disorderly behaviour. The charges were reportedly recommended by the Police Legal Advisor. Police had launched an investigation after Fordyce alleged that Narine threatened him with a firearm. Video footage posted online showed Fordyce resisting being searched and then punching Inspector Narine in the face. It is then that the rank drew his firearm. The incident occurred outside of the Diamond Hotel and Bar, located in George Street, Werk-en-Rust. Police subsequently removed a number of women, including Venezuelan nationals, from the premises. Kaieteur News understands that Fordyce was

taken into custody but was released without charges. Police reportedly searched Fordyce’s club while conducting a Trafficking in Persons investigation. This happened after police on the East Coast of Demerara intercepted a businessman who was transporting four Venezuelan women in his vehicle. The women were suspected to have been trafficked. In January, police removed 41 foreign nationals from the same adult entertainment bar. Eight employees were also detained. Fiona Hopkinson and Rodwell Dempster were subsequently charged for Trafficking in Person (TIP). It was alleged that they recruited, transported and harboured five Venezuelans at Diamond Hotel and Bar for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, had said that the raid was part of a crackdown on suspected strip clubs and their associated illegal activities of human trafficking and prostitution.

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Top Democrats say Trump may face impeachment, jail over hush money FOR RENT

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WA S H I N G T O N (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump could face impeachment and jail time if hush money payments reported by his former lawyer are proven to be campaign finance violations, Democratic lawmakers said yesterday. Court filings on Friday in cases that stemmed from a federal probe into Russian activities during the 2016 presidential election pointed to potential problem areas for Trump, including whether he instructed six-figure payments to two women during the campaign to keep quiet about affairs. Federal prosecutors sought prison time for longtime Trump “fixer” Michael Cohen for paying off an adult film star and a former Playboy model at Trump’s behest, evading taxes and lying to Congress about a proposed Trump Organization building in Moscow. If the payments are proven to be felony campaign finance violations, Democratic U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler told CNN those would be grounds for impeachment. “Well, they would be impeachable offences. Whether they are important enough to justify an impeachment is a different question,” said Nadler, who will lead the Judiciary Committee when Democrats take control of the House of Representatives in January. Under U.S. l a w, campaign contributions, defined as things of value given to a campaign to influence an election, must be disclosed. Such payments are also limited to $2,700 per person. The White House did not immediately return a request for comment. Press secretary Sarah Sanders said on Friday that Cohen has lied repeatedly and that the filing was insignificant. Friday’s court filings also revealed new information about contacts between people working for Trump and Russians in

U.S. President Donald Trump the cases of Cohen, Trump’s former longtime personal lawyer, and Paul Manafort, Trump’s shortlived campaign chairman who was convicted in August on tax and bank fraud charges. Special Counsel Robert Mueller said Manafort lied to investigators about his interactions with a Russian tied to Russian intelligence services. Mueller’s office said the lying prompted prosecutors last week to retract a plea agreement with Manafort on two separate conspiracy charges. “I think what these indictments and filings show is that the president was at the centre of a massive fraud - several massive frauds - against the American people,” Nadler told CNN. Mueller is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and whether Trump’s campaign colluded with Moscow to sway the election. Russia denies interfering in the 2016 election and Trump has denied any collusion occurred. The investigation has cast a shadow over Trump’s presidency, with its implication Moscow may have had a hand in his White House victory. The Republican president repeatedly has expressed his impatience with the probe that Mueller took over in March 2017, saying it was politically motivated.

Griffith: Foreign cops to fight crime

Trinidad Express - Commissioner of Police (CoP) Gary Griffith is bringing in foreign officers and other experts to help in the war on crime. It’s been just over 100 days since Griffith took up duties as top cop on August 17. Even though he and the Police Service he’s in charge of have made a number of drug busts and rescued several kidnap victims, the country’s murder toll continues to climb and is nearing 500 as 2018 winds down.

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‘I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe’ - Khashoggi’s last words …Saudis refuse to extradite murder suspects to Turkey (CNN) - “I can’t breathe.” These were the final words uttered by Jamal Khashoggi after he was set upon by a Saudi hit squad at the country’s consulate in Istanbul, according to a source briefed on the investigation into the killing of the Washington Post columnist. The source, who has read a translated transcript of an audio recording of Khashoggi’s painful last moments, said it was clear that the killing on October 2 was no botched rendition attempt, but the execution of a premeditated plan to murder the journalist. During the course of the gruesome scene, the source describes Khashoggi struggling against a group of people determined to kill him. “I can’t breathe,” Khashoggi says. “I can’t breathe.” “I can’t breathe.” The transcript notes the sounds of Khashoggi’s body being dismembered by a saw, as the alleged perpetrators are advised to listen to music to block out the sound. And, according to the source, the transcript suggests that a series of phone calls are made, briefing them on progress. Turkish officials believe the calls were made to senior

figures in Riyadh. Some of the details in the transcript heard by CNN’s source have emerged in previous reports of the recording’s content. But this is the fullest account of the transcript that has so far been published. It is likely to increase pressure on the Trump administration, which has been determined to separate Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman from the murder, and sought to frame the issue as a binary choice between supporting or cutting off a key partner in the Middle East. US President Donald Trump has been at odds with the CIA, which, sources say, has concluded bin Salman personally ordered the killing. The revelations also threaten to undermine a key plank of an initial Saudi explanation for Khashoggi’s death, that it was a rogue operation that went horribly wrong. The original transcript of the audio was prepared by Turkish intelligence services. Turkish officials have never said how they obtained the audio. The transcript would have been translated before it was shared with other intelligence services; CNN’s source read a translated version and has been briefed on the investigation. The office of one US senator,

who has received a briefing on the investigation by CIA Director Gina Haspel, told CNN that the source’s recollections of the transcript are “consistent” with that briefing. CNN asked Saudi officials to comment on the contents of the transcript as described by the source, and to provide comment from those named in it. A Saudi official said: “The relevant Saudi security officials have reviewed the transcript and tape materials through Turkish security channels and nowhere in them is there any reference or indication of a call being made.” “If there is additional information Turkish authorities have that we are unaware of, we would welcome it being officially handed over to us for review, which we have requested numerous times and are still requesting. And, up until now; we have not received anything.” The official did not address the transcript’s characterization of the scene inside the Saudi consulate, nor Khashoggi’s last words. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has ruled out extraditing two former Saudi officials against whom Turkey has issued arrest warrants in connection with the killing of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

“We don’t extradite our citizens,” Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said in a press conference in capital Riyadh on Sunday, when asked for his comments on the Turkish move. Khashoggi, who was a columnist for The Washington Post and a vocal critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was killed inside Riyadh’s consulate in Istanbul in October. A Turkish court on Wednesday issued arrest warrants against former Saudi intelligence chief, Ahmad alAssiri, and former adviser to the royal court, Saud al-Qahtani, at the request of Istanbul’s chief prosecutor. Assiri often sat in during Prince Mohammed’s closed-door meetings with visiting foreign dignitaries and Qahtani was a key counsellor to the crown prince. Both were sacked after Riyadh admitted Khashoggi was killed in its consulate, but the kingdom has repeatedly denied reports that the crown prince is linked to the murder. “The Turkish authorities have not been as forthcoming as we believe they should have been,” said Jubeir, saying Riyadh was presented with information that had already been leaked to the media. “We have asked our friends in

Slain Journalist, Jamal Khashoggi Turkey to provide us with evidence that we can use in a court of law. We have not received it in the manner that it should have been received.” Last month, Saudi prosecutors said they were seeking the death penalty for five of the 11 Saudi nationals indicted for Khashoggi’s murder. US President Donald Trump has refused to call out the Saudi leadership for its alleged involvement in the murder, despite US intelligence agencies reportedly presenting him with evidence of it.

MEN’S FORUM GARNERS LARGE AUDIENCE

Some of the participants.

As part of the government’s effort to address gender-based violence, scores of men from across the country gathered on Thursday last, at the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMRSC), to discuss the ways to

curb violence against women and girls. Held under the theme, “#HearMeToo: Collective Voices Against Gender-Based Violence,” the men ‘s forum was a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Social

Protection, Voices against Violence, the Women’s Gender & Equality Commission and other stakeholders. This event forms part of the ministry’s 16 days of Activism campaign against Gender-Based Violence, which commenced on

November 25 and will conclude on December 10. The campaign is being held in recognition of the need to eliminate violence against women and children. The participants discussed a number of topics including sexual

and reproductive health, genderbased violence, poor health choices, male perpetrators of violence and what defines and determines masculinity. Director of Social Services, Wentworth Tanner, noted that while women and children are often highlighted as the primary victims of gender-based violence, men are affected as well and often are not heard. He said this led to the ministry’s decision to create a forum where the male population has a platform to discuss such issues and gain an understanding as it relates to violence. “Most men do not see themselves as perpetrators, however, due to the fact only a few men participate in such activities many are unaware of what constitutes violence and how to address it. Therefore, the goal of this programme is to help the targeted audience (men) change their mindsets as it relates to violence against women and children,” Tanner explained. Meanwhile, Manager of the Gender Affairs Bureau, Adel Lilly noted that “some offenders are often abused themselves and are unable to express themselves during their childhood.” The Ministry of Social Protection is currently working to introduce more male-related programmes.

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Monday December 10, 2018

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Bikers killed after slamming into jeep near Ogle Access Road

DEAD: Jason Harris

Two persons were killed after the motorcycle on which they were travelling slammed into a jeep near Ogle, East Coast Demerara. Dead are pillion rider Rameshwar Singh, 18, of Lot 6, Area B’ Cummings lodge, East Coast Demerara and 20 year-old Jason Harris of Campbellville, Georgetown. According to information, Harris the owner of motorcycle CJ 6360, and his friend, Singh, slammed into motor jeep PGG 8844, which was proceeding east along the northern carriageway of the East Coast Demerara public road. As the driver of the jeep approached the Ogle

junction, he reportedly signalled that he was about to turn into the Ogle Access road. However, Harris, who was proceeding west along the East Coast Demerara public road, attempted to negotiate a turn and slammed into the jeep. The two friends sustained multiple injuries. They were picked up in an unconscious state and taken to Georgetown Public Hospital where the pillion rider was pronounced dead on arrival. Harris was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, but died hours later.

DEAD: Rameshwar Singh

DEAD: David Aulder The bike and jeep that were involved in the accident.

A breathalyzer test conducted on the driver of the jeep revealed that he had no alcohol in his blood. He is currently assisting police with investigations. Four days ago, David Aulder, another motorcyclist, died after he collided with a minibus on the Non Pariel Public Road, East Coast Demerara. According to information, the minibus

driver was proceeding west along the southern carriageway of the Non Pariel Public Road, while Aulder, a local fashion model, was proceeding north along the Coldigen Access Road, reportedly at a fast rate of speed. It was reported that on approaching the intersection, the motorcyclist failed to stop, turned east and proceeded along the

southern side of Non Pariel Public Road, which is against the one way. Aulder subsequently collided with the minibus. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was pronounced dead on arrival. A breathalyzer test was conducted on the driver of the minibus, and he was found to be over the legal limit.

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Kaieteur News

Guyoil/Tradewind Tankers School League

Annandale Secondary clinch championship

Action between CWSS and Lodge yesterday afternoon at the MOE ground during the final round of play in the Guyoil-Tradewind Tankers league. By Calvin Chapman East Coast Demerara’s Annandale Secondary School will go down in history as the inaugural champions of the 12-team Guyoil/ Tradewind Tankers under18 football league; a competition that came right down to the wire with the victors being decided after yesterday’s final round of play. Heading into yesterday’s 11th round of action, Lodge Secondary led the points table with 27 points, ahead of Annandale by a goal difference of nine, while C h r i s t i a n b u rg/Wi s m a r Secondary School

(CWSS); the other team with a genuine title chance, were third with 26 points. However, the odds were in second place A n n a n d a l e ’s f a v o u r t o clinch the championship because they had to play Q u e e n ’s C o l l e g e ( Q C ) , which had only managed two wins in the competition with one of those victories being a walkover, in their final game while Lodge had to face the unbeaten CWSS. Annandale matched skills with QC yesterday morning during the first game of the final round at the Ministry of Education (MOE) ground on Carifesta

Tyrese Lewis Av e n u e , a n d m a d e n o mistake with a sound 13-2

t h r a s h i n g o f G u y a n a ’s most distinguished Secondary institution with attacking midfielder Omari Glasgow leading the charge with five goals. The result meant that the eventual champions were top of the league and if Lodge were to come away with the championship, they would have needed to beat CWSS by at least a 30 margin. But, in the final match of the day, CWSS remained the only unbeaten team in the tournament after making no mistakes during a comfortable 2-0 victory over Lodge, courtesy of goals from Felix Inniss in the 18th minute

NBA roundup: Celts win by 56, make history with Bulls Daniel Theis scored a career-high 22 points, and the Boston Celtics opened the game with 17 consecutive points while rolling to an easy 133-77 victory over the host Chicago Bulls on Saturday night. It was the Celtics’ largest margin of victory in franchise history. Jaylen Brown scored a team-best 23 points off the bench, and Jayson Tatum made all four 3-point attempts while scoring 18 points as the Celtics won their season-best fifth straight contest. Terry Rozier added 15 points, Kyrie Irving and Semi Ojeleye each scored 13 and Marcus Morris tallied 12 for Boston. Shaquille Harrison scored a career-best 20 points, Zach LaVine added 11 and Cameron Payne had 10 for the Bulls, who have lost eight of their last nine. The franchiseworst 56-point defeat

occurred in Jim Boylen’s third game as coach after replacing the fired Fred Hoiberg. Boston was 22 of 43 from 3-point range as Brown, Ojeleye and Rozier each knocked down three. The Celtics shot 53.8 percent overall. Mavericks 107, Rockets 104 Rookie forward Luka Doncic authored a late-game comeback with an individual scoring surge, and Dallas extended its home-court winning streak to nine games with a victory over Houston. Doncic finished with 21 points and seven rebounds, scoring 11 consecutive points down the stretch after the Rockets secured their largest lead of the game at 102-94. Doncic converted all three of his 3-point attempts plus a driving layup during the outburst, his final trey providing the Mavericks the

lead for good at 105-102 with 57.5 seconds remaining. Rookie point guard Jalen Brunson, making his second career start in place of injured guard Dennis Smith Jr. (wrist), added a late layup while producing 14 points, three assists and three steals. Lakers 111, Grizzlies 88 LeBron James scored 20 points, and Josh Hart and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope each made four 3-pointers as Los Angeles built a big lead early and cruised to a road victory over Memphis. James finished with eight rebounds, nine assists and a thunderous third-period dunk that halted any hopes the Grizzlies might have had about making a big comeback. The Lakers connected on 16 3-pointers. Hawks 106, Nuggets 98 John Collins scored a career-high 30 points and

helped Atlanta break its fourgame losing streak by defeating visiting Denver. Collins was 12-for-20 from the field, including three 3pointers, and added 12 rebounds and five assists. Atlanta’s DeAndre’ Bembry also contributed 18 points and five assists, while Vince Carter added 13 points, including three 3-pointers. Dewayne Dedmon added 11 rebounds. The Nuggets were led by center Nikola Jokic, who had 24 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. Denver also got 17 points and 10 rebounds from Juancho Hernangomez, and Malik Beasley came off the bench to scored 19 points. In other scores: Nets 112, Knicks 104 Pacers 107, Kings 97 Cavaliers 116, Wizards 101 Heat 121, Clippers 98 (Field Level Media)

and the league’s golden boot winner, Tyrese Lewis (16 goals) in the 51st minute. That result meant that CWSS leapfrogged Lodge to finish second in the tournament despite being unbeaten but more importantly, securing their spot alongside Annandale in the upcoming KFC Goodwill football tournament, which will be competed on the 15th, 18th and 22nd of this month. Also featuring in the fourteam competition will be Annai Secondary School of Region nine and Shiva’s Hindu College of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T). Following the presentation of the championship trophy, Glasgow who led Annandale goal scoring in the tournament with 15

successful strikes, expressed delight with his team’s success and noted that he couldn’t have done it without the support of his teammates. “Everyone did their part and we are very happy that our hard work has paid off, we will now be looking to the other KFC tournament where we will have an excellent opportunity to challenge the likes of the extremely talented Shiva team from Trinidad,” Glasgow posited to this publication. The champions will receive $300,000, runners up $200,000, third place $100,000 while fourth place finishers Vergenoegen pocketed $50,000 in the month long league which was also supported by Ansa Mcal through their Icool, Smalta and Lyrix brands.

Omari Glasgow (15 goals) - Annandale Secondary

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Monday December 10, 2018

Guyana moves closer to regaining CBC team title Win 9 bouts on night 3, while T&T victorious in 5

Mark Pierre of Guyana (red) and Bajan Charles Cox go toe to toe in their fight on Saturday night. By Sean Devers After three nights of fistic fury, two times team Champions Guyana moved closer to regaining their CBC boxing title heading into the final night of the 2018 fourth annual Boxing Championships at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall which was scheduled for last night. After Guyana had won in 2015 and 2016, Grenada with 18 Medals, captured the team title last year in St Lucia where Guyana’s four-man team captured three Golds and a Silver. Bantamweight Keevin Allicock, Middleweight Desmond Amsterdam and Colin “Superman” Lewis captured Golds, while Joel “Stone” Williamson managed silver. Trinidad and Tobago, with their largest contingent to the CBC which was first held here in 2015, won five of their nine bouts on Saturday when Guyana won nine of their 15 bouts on night three which ended in the wee hours of yesterday morning. Another poor turn-out saw Amsterdam win in the most dominant manner in the last fight of the third night when Grenada’s Joshua Redhead quit in 2:16 of the first round of their middleweight match-up to register Guyana’s 18th win in this year’s Championships. Amsterdam began aggressively hitting Redhead with crunching body digs as the Grenadian tried in vain to fight back. A hard left to the body resulted in Redhead being given a standing 8 count, while more combinations to

the ‘Kitchen’ caused the Referee to administer another 8 count and after a 1-2 to ribcage Redhead headed to his corning indicating he had had enough punishment for one night. Guyana’s Sheakeal Damon destroyed T&T’s Junior Cornwall with a series of clinical combinations before their Novice Heavyweight clash was stopped in 1:18 in the second round, while St Lucian Lyndel Marcelin showed why he is one of the best welterweight Amateur Boxers in the Caribbean by defeating Phillippe Jean Errin of Guadeloupe when the entertaining contest was stopped in 54 seconds of the third round. In another fight with plenty of punches, Alex Murray, the 26-year-old son of the late Boxing Champion Andrew Murray who was not short of vocal support from his fans, overcame T&T’s Nile Mohammed on points. Results: Youth Flyweight Tarique Hosien (T&T) beat Henry Sylvester (GRE) Youth middle Tyron Thomas (T&T) beat Tyrone Thomas (Guy) Youth Light Welter Christopher Moore (Guy) beat Tyree Haynes-Weeks (Bar) Junior Pin Weight Richard Howard (GUY) beat Orlega Jokhu (T&T) Junior Light Bantam Juan Rodrigues (T&T) beat Francis Sukhu (Guy) Junior Feather Nyrell Hosien (T&T) beat Christopher Romeo (Guy) Junior Light Blessing Waldropt (T&T) beat Mark

Crawford (Guy) Junior Light Welter Emanuel Pompey (Guy) beat Denzel Massy (T&T) Novice Light J Salibur (GUA) beat Delroy Fordyce (Guy) Novice Welter Quincy Boyce (Guy) beat Prince Henry (GRE) Novice Welter Shemar Bertram (STM) beat Lemar

St Lucian Lyndel Marcelin and Phillippe-Jean Errin in action on Saturday night. Tull (Bar) Novice Light Welter Kevin McKenzie (Guy) beat Jamil Joseph (T&T) Novice Heavy Sheakeal Damon (Guy) beat Junior Cornwall (T&T)

Novice Middle Alex Murray (Guy) beat Nile Mohammed (T&T) Welter Lyndel Marcelin (STL) beat Phillippe-Jean Errin (GUA) Youth Light Shaquille

Wright (Guy) beat Raphael Clement (GRE) Light Heavy Mark Pierre (Guy) beat Charles Cox (Bar) Middle Desmond Amsterdam (Guy) beat Joshua Redhead (GRE)

HAMILTON COLLECTS F1 TROPHY AND EAGER FOR MORE ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - Lewis Hamilton looked forward to more success with Mercedes after collecting his fifth Formula One world champion’s trophy at the governing FIA’s gala awards on Friday. Britain’s most successful racing driver, and only the third man to win at least five titles, also won a media vote for personality of the year — denying Red Bull rival Max Verstappen a fourth in a row. “It does feel incredible,” the 33-year-old told the audience gathered in the Grand Hall of the St Petersburg Philarmonia, after FIA president Jean Todt had handed him his trophy. Asked whether matching Michael Schumacher’s record seven championships was his ultimate goal, Hamilton said he had never set that as a target. He made clear, however, that he would be around long enough to give it a try. “I’ve just signed for another two years...so I’m excited about the next couple

Formula One F1 driver Lewis Hamilton arrives to the FIA awards ceremony in St. Petersburg, Russia December 7, 2018. (REUTERS/Anton Vaganov) of years,” said the champion, who won 11 races out of 21 this year. “But right now I’m happy that the racing’s over. “Next year’s going to be so tough, the seasons are getting longer and longer. I don’t know how long I’m going to go, currently two years sounds good for me. “But I still love racing so maybe I’ll be going a lot longer. Who knows?” Hamilton, who said also

that his parents had wanted to be present but had a problem with the Russian visa process, had earlier been a noshow at an official news conference. Mercedes said he had not felt “100 percent”. Ferrari’s runner-up Sebastian Vettel and thirdplaced Finnish team mate Kimi Raikkonen were also on stage, the latter earlier seen brandishing a cigar and

looking like he was enjoying the party. “Kimi has enjoyed tonight a lot,” observed the show presenter. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff was presented with the constructors’ trophy by moustachioed Formula One chief executive Chase Carey — the team’s fifth in a row. Wolff and his team’s nonexecutive chairman Niki Lauda were also recipients of the FIA president’s special award, with the triple world champion absent as he recovers from a lung transplant. “He sends his regards, he is recovering very well,” said Wolff. “Next time he’s going to be here.” Charles Leclerc, Vettel’s team mate at Ferrari next year, was the rookie of the year for the second successive season after winning the Formula Two title in 2017. The Action of the Year, voted by fans worldwide, went to Finnish rally driver Teemu Suninen for a massive slide on his home event.

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Windies slump to defeat in ODI opener

Roston Chase tried to revive the innings, after the top order collapse ©AFP

SCOREBOARD WEST INDIES K Powell c Rubel b Shakib +S Hope c Mehidy b Mashrafe D Bravo c Tamim b Mashrafe M Samuels c Liton b Rubel S Hetmyer b Mehidy *R Powell c Liton b Mashrafe R Chase c Mehidy b Mustafizur K Paul c Mehidy b Mustafizur K Roach not out D Bishoo c & b Mustafizur O Thomas not out Extras (lb3, w2) TOTAL (9 wkts, 50 overs)

10 43 19 25 6 14 32 36 5 0 0 5 195

Fall of wickets: 1-29 (Powell), 2-65(Bravo), 3-78 (Hope), 4-93 (Hetmyer), 5-119 (Powell), 6-127(Samuels), 7-178 (Chase), 8-194 (Paul), 9-195 (Bishoo) Bowling: Mehidy 10-0-30-1, Shakib 10-036-1, Mustafizur 10-0-35-3, Mashrafe 10-030-3 (w1), Rubel 10-0-61-1 (w1) BANGLADESH Tamim Iqbal c Bishoo b Chase 12 Liton Das b Paul 41 Imrul Kayes b Thomas 4 +Mushfiqur Rahim not out 55 Shakib Al Hasan c Hope b Powell 30 Soumya Sarkar c Powell b Chase 19 Mahmudullah Riyad not out 14 Extras (lb6, w13, nb2) 21 TOTAL (5 wkts, 35.1 overs) 196 Did not bat: Mehidy Hasan, *Mashrafe Mortaza, Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain Fall of wickets: 1-37 (Tamim), 2-42 (Imrul), 3-89 (Liton Das), 4-146 (Sakib), 5-175 (Soumya) Bowling: Roach 6-0-35-0 (w5, nb1), Chase 9-1-47-2 (w2), Thomas 5-0-34-1 (w3, nb1), Paul 8-0-37-1 (w3), Bishoo 6.1-0-300, Powell 1-0-7-1. Result: Bangladesh won by five wickets. Series: Bangladesh lead three-match series 1-0. Man-of-the-Match: Mashrafe Mortaza. Toss: West Indies Umpires: Ruchira Palliyaguruge; Sharfuddoula; TV – Aleem Dar.

Bangladesh opened with spin, and stifled the West Indies batsmen at the outset, which led to Kieron Powell falling to Shakib Al Hasan ©AFP DHAKA, Bangladesh, CMC – A change of format made little difference to West Indies’ fortunes as another timid batting display sent them tumbling to a five-wicket defeat in the opening One-Day International here yesterday. Choosing to bat first at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, the visitors stumbled their way to an uncompetitive 195 for nine off their 50 overs, with opener Shai Hope top-scoring with 43. West Indies were at snail’s pace as they crawled to 79 for three at the half-way stage of the innings, and they needed busy knocks from Keemo Paul (36) and Roston Chase (32) down the order to lift the tempo. Seamers Mashrafe Mortaza (3-30) and Mustafizur Rahman (3-35) kept the Windies in check, however, limiting them to their fourth-lowest total against Bangladesh. In reply, Bangladesh overcame the lost of two early wickets to coast to their target in the 36th over, with wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim stroking an unbeaten 55 and Liton Das gathering 41. Having suffered a 2-0 whitewash in the preceding Test series, West Indies are now staring at yet another series defeat, with the second ODI scheduled for Tuesday at the

same venue. Faced with a slow pitch, the Windies openers struggled from the outset, and Hope and Kieran Powell (10) needed 48 deliveries for their 29-run stand. Frustration ultimately led to Powell’s downfall in the eighth over, the left-hander swinging at left-arm spinner Shakib-al-Hasan and holing out to Rubel Hossain running around to cover point. Darren Bravo, playing his first ODI in two years, also found himself bogged down and his 19 came from a painful 51-ball labour at the crease, in a 36-run second wicket stand with Hope which required 76 balls. Similar exasperation was behind Bravo’s demise, drilling Mashrafe to long off where Tamim Iqbal took a stunning diving catch in the 21st over. When Hope, who struck three fours, sliced Mashrafe to point in the 25th over, the Windies were 78 for three and in need of momentum, but five wickets tumbled for 62 runs, to leave the innings in further trouble at 127 for six in the 40th over. Shimron Hetmyer (6) made too much room and lost his leg stump to off-spinner Mehidy Hasan, captain Rovman Powell (14) picked out mid-off with Mashrafe and Marlon Samuels,

whose 25 came from 48 deliveries, holed out to long on with pacer Rubel Hossain. The revival came through Chase and Paul, the pair adding a brisk 51 from 48 deliveries for the seventh wicket, as West Indies gathered 66 runs from the last 10 overs. Paul crunched a four and two sixes in a 28ball cameo while Chase counted a single four and a six off 38 balls. In reply, Bangladesh lost opener Tamim Iqbal cheaply for 12 in the eighth over, and Imrul Kayes followed for four just four balls later in the next over for four, as the innings stuttered to 42 for two in the ninth. However, this was the last sign of any real success for the Windies as the right-handed Mushfiqur took the game away by anchoring three critical partnerships. First, he put on 47 for the third wicket with Das who struck five fours in a 57ball knock, before adding a further 57 for the fourth wicket with Shakib whose 30 came from 26 deliveries. Mushfiqur, who faced 70 balls and counted five fours, posted 29 for the fifth wicket with Soumya Sarkar (19) and eventually struck the winning runs off the first ball of the 36th over when he collected a couple to third man off leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo.

Police march forward in GT Beer, Candy Boss 8-a-side football competition Guyana Police Force football team continued their forward march when play continued in the second annual GT Beer, Candy Boss 8-a-side football competition in Berbice. Police, who are the defending champions, had to work overtime to register a 5-3 win over Hopetown United of West Berbice when play continued on Friday with a double header under lights at the All Saints Scott Church Ground on Princess Elizabeth Road, New Amsterdam. The game was a closely fought affair and could have gone either way with Hopetown opening the scoring as early as the 6th

minute. At half time the score was 4-2 in favour of Police. Finding the back of the net for the Cops were Rawl Kaleb, in the 9th minute; Deon Rodney, in the 13th and 15th minutes; Dexroy Adams, in the 21st minute and Travis James, in the 45th minute. Scoring for Hopetown were Tofa James in the 6th minute, Darrel Douglas in the 24th minute and Kevin Garraway in the 57th minute. In the second game No5 of West Berbice broke the hearts of the Cougars U20 supporters when they defeated them 1-0 on penalty kicks after the game ended 0-0 at the end of the 60 minutes regulation

time. Action was scheduled to continue last evening with another double-header. Game one was scheduled to see Golden Stars taking on Rosignol United with Monedderlust meeting Soccer City in the second encounter. The final is set for January 5, 2019 at the same venue. A number of sponsors are on board with the winning team set to collect $600,000 and trophy, the second placed $300,000 and third place $200,000. There will also incentives of $50,000 each for the MVP, the best goalkeeper, and the most goal scorer. (Samuel Whyte)

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India close in on victory after Australia wobble ADELAIDE (Reuters) Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and paceman Mohammed Shami combined to tear through Australia’s top order and bring India within six wickets of victory on day four of the series-opening test yesterday. Shaun Marsh (31 not out) and Travis Head (11 not out) were left clinging to their wickets after nudging Australia to 104 for four at stumps, after a nerve-jangling final hour at Adelaide Oval. Australia were 219 runs short of their victory target of 323 and will need to defy history to chase down the total. The highest successful run chase at Adelaide Oval was in 1902, when the hosts scored 315 for six to beat England. “We still believe we can win this,” said Australia spinner Nathan Lyon who took 6-122 to help restrict India to 307 in their second innings. “We just need to go out there and enjoy ourselves and really compete hard and fight our backsides off.” Since the second World War, no team has bettered West Indies’ successful fourth innings chase of 239

for five, which defeated Australia by five wickets in 1982 at the venue. India have never won a series-opening test in Australia but Ashwin and Shami set up the platform to break new ground. Ashwin broke the opening partnership of 28 by having Aaron Finch caught for 11. He later returned to take the prized wicket of Usman Khawaja for eight. Shami removed opener Marcus Harris for 26 and number five Peter Handscomb for 14. All of Australia’s batsmen were culpable in their dismissals. Harris, Khawaja and Handscomb all fell to loose shots, while Finch might have saved his wicket had he chosen to review the decision. Ashwin’s ball whistled past his glove on the way to a fielder in close but the technology showed no clear evidence to support Finch’s dismissal. India are in the box seat but also rued blowing a chance to bat Australia right out of the game due to a quick and shambolic collapse after lunch. Having resumed on 260 for five in complete control,

India’s captain Virat Kohli (left) reacts with teammates after the dismissal of Australia’s Peter Handscomb on day four of the first test match between Australia and India at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, Australia, December 9, 2018. (AAP/Dave Hunt/via REUTERS) the tourists lost their last four wickets for four runs in a panicky bout of tail-end slogging. “We were expecting at

least 25 runs from them (the tail) and that is an area where we are continuously looking to improve,” said India batting coach Sanjay Bangar. “We are just hoping the

tail-enders, particularly 9-1011, show a bit more application than they did today.” There was little to fault Cheteshwar Pujara, who

added a 71 to his sparkling 123 which rescued India in the first innings. Ajinkya Rahane’s 70 also ensured Virat Kohli’s team had a decent total to defend. Tim Paine’s Australia will look to Dubai for inspiration, when they salvaged a draw from the first test against Pakistan in October after an epic stonewall. Much is riding on Marsh, the 35-year-old veteran under enormous pressure to keep his place after a run of failures with the bat. Australia will hope the number four can bring his Sheffield Shield form on day five. In the most recent Shield match at Adelaide Oval, he scored an unbeaten 163 as Western Australia chased down 313 in the fourth innings to beat South Australia. Scores: Australia 235 and 4 for 104 (Marsh 31*, Shami 2-15, Ashwin 2-44) need another 219 runs to beat India 250 and 307 (Pujara 71, Rahane 70, Lyon 6-22).

Max Persaud is overall winner at A and R Printery Golf tourney

Jaguars storm to 126 run opening win in Regional Four-Day Championship BRIDGETOWN, Barbados,– Guyana Jaguars stormed to a commanding 126 run victory on the fourth and final day of their day/night first round match in the Regional FourDay Championship yesterday. After closing the third day on 54-2 with 293 to get for a victory, the Windward Islands eventually folded for 222. Alick Athanaze stayed to the end of the innings to be not out on 64, while Dennis Smith made 38 in a stubborn fight back with Athanaze with five wickets down. Taryck Gabriel also made 34. Scores: At the Darren Sammy Cricket Stadium (Gros Islet): Volcanoes lost by 126 runs. GUYANA JAGUARS 224 (Vishaul Singh 75, Romario Shepherd 44; Shane Shillingford 4-59) and 310 for four decl. (Tagenarine Chanderpaul 84 not out, Clinton Pestano 69, Chris Barnwell 61 not out, Leon Johnson 51). WINDWARD ISLANDS VOLCANOES 187 (Delorn Johnson 34 not out, Alick Athanaze 34; Clinton Pestano 446, Veerasammy Permaul 3-2) and 222 (Alick Athanaze 64 not out, Dennis Smith 38, Taryck Gabriel 34).

The respective winners with their prizes. Max Persaud continued to excel as he turned in yet another outstanding performance to emerge as the overall winner when the Lusignan Golf Club hosted the A and R Printery Golf tournament on Saturday last. Persaud shot 81-69 to take the 10-18 Flight which also handed him the best gross overall title. Shanella Webster took the runner up spot in this flight with 86-71. The best net overall title went to Pastor Ragnauth who scored 89-66. His performance handed him the hardware in the 19-28 flight, while Maurice Solomon

placed second with 96-72. Kassim Khan scored 81-73 to win the 0-9 flight ahead of Aleem Hussain who chalked 84-75 to land second spot. Max Persaud said he is delighted with the win which is a result of his commitment. “I cherish this victory because I had to work hard and keep my focus. The competition was of a high level and there was hardly any room for mistakes,” he added. Persaud expressed gratitude to the sponsors and congratulated the other winners.

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Kaieteur News

Balram Narine edges Romello Crawford to win Homeline Anniversary cycle race The up and coming Balram Narine continued his forward move when he won the Homeline Home Furnishing New Amsterdam Branch first anniversary cycle road race. The winning time was 55 minutes. The event, which was organised by the Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC), saw Narine of the FACC calling on his reserve to edge out Romello Crawford in what was a two man duel. The 30 miles event which was open to all Berbice cyclists got underway at 10:00hrs from outside the Homeline New Amsterdam branch at Strand New Amsterdam. The riders then proceeded to Tain University of Guyana Berbice Campus before turning back to finish at its place of origin. Crawford and Narine were at it from the start and broke away from the bunch at the Canje Bridge and never looked back. It was a ding dong battle between the two

top riders both on the up and downward journey as neither cyclist was prepared let up. The duel continued until the end as Narine was able to edge home ahead of Crawford. Jeremiah Joseph finished third with veteran Syborne Fernandes fourth and Steve Bhimsain fifth. The juvenile category was won by Joseph with Bhimsain second and Mario Washington third. Joshua Campbell finished first among the U14 riders with Shazim Yacoob second. The top female rider was Maria Carrington. Some 15 cyclists took part in the race. At the presentation ceremony that followed, coordinator Randolph Roberts used the opportunity to thank the sponsor for coming on board to do something tangible. He also thanked the police for their assistance given during the event. (Samuel Whyte)

Afghanistan suspends officials after women’s football team abuse investigation KABUL (Reuters) A f g h a n i s t a n ’s A t t o r n e y General has suspended the head of the Afghan Football Federation after a probe into allegations of sexual abuse of members of t h e n a t i o n a l w o m e n ’s football team, a spokesman for the attorney general said yesterday. President Ashraf Ghani ordered an investigation after Britain’s Guardian newspaper reported last week that senior figures linked to the Afghan women’s team alleged that some players had been molested by officials from the football federation. Jamshid Rasouli, a spokesman for the attorney general, said the officials had been suspended following a recommendation from the team set up to investigate the incident. According to the Guardian, the alleged abuses took place inside the federation’s headquarters in Afghanistan as well as at a training camp in Jordan last February. Ghani called the allegations “shocking and unacceptable to all Afghans”.

An Afghan official said Keramuddin Keram, the powerful head of the Afghan Football Federation and five others had been suspended but added that the investigation is still ongoing to find more details. Officials representing Keram did not immediately respond to phone calls and text messages seeking comment. The Afghan Football Federation issued a statement, calling the allegations “groundless” and said it would fully cooperate with any probe. When the allegations first surfaced, a spokesman at FIFA, the world football federation, said it had a “zero tolerance” policy on abuse and was looking into the Afghan case. Ranked as one of the most dangerous countries for women, allegations of sexual contact outside marriage can have deadly consequences in Afghanistan. Victims of sexual harassment are often extremely reluctant to come forward for fear that they will be accused of adultery.

Winner Balram Narine receives his trophy as the sponsor organisers and other top cyclists share the moment.

Top swimmers challenge FINA with lawsuit (Reuters) - Three worldclass swimmers have filed a lawsuit in the United States, challenging what they allege is the monopoly world governing body FINA has over the control of international competitions. The lawsuit, brought on behalf of three-times Olympic gold medalist Katinka Hosszu of Hungary and U.S. world champions Tom Shields and Michael Andrew, followed the cancellation of a new professional swimming event scheduled for Dec. 20-21 in Turin. “FINA’s insistence that the world’s best swimmers may compete only on FINA’s terms and its efforts to enforce that rule are nakedly anti-competitive,” said the lawsuit which the trio said was filed “on behalf of elite swimmers around the world”. The Italian federation said FINA had threatened sanctions against those swimmers taking part in the event, which was put together by organizers of the

International Swimming League (ISL). The world governing body, in a statement, said it had taken note of the filings in California. “As world and Olympic champions, the swimmers in question will understand that FINA’s attention is focused

on the 950 swimmers, including two of the athletes in question, from 180 member federations taking part in the 14th World Swimming Championships in Hangzhou,” FINA said. “FINA will nonetheless give the filings our full attention and mount a robust

Katinka Hosszu of Hungary reacts after the200m Individual Medley Women Final - Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Glasgow. (REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth)

defense if required to do so. Meanwhile in Hangzhou, the FINA Athletes Committee will consult with aquatics athletes to continue its work of making sure athlete voices are clearly heard within FINA’s decisionmaking bodies. “FINA remains open to proposals that would enhance - rather than conflict with - current and planned competition calendars, providing further opportunities for aquatics athletes, and ideally in a manner that benefits the whole sport.” The governing body had said in November the Turin meeting did not meet their rules requirements. “The project of the Italian Swimming Federation to organize a swimming competition in Turin at short notice did not meet all the necessary FINA rulebook requirements.” The ISL is proposing to organize meetings outside the control of FINA and pay higher prize money.

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GCC recapture Noble House... From page 33 2-33 supported well. With a lead of 37 Police raced to 70-2 by Lunch from 12.2 over after Reginald Rodrigues (14) was caught behind off the 23-year-old Bailey at 41-1 and Kemol Savory (6) edged AliMohammed to the Keeper on the stroke of Lunch. After the interval Tyndell and Andrew Lyght attacked the bowlers resulting in Captain Khemraj Jaikaran placing seven fielders on the off-side boundary with bowlers bowling wide of off stump to limit the scoring. Lyght (16) was bowled by the lively Bailey, but although wickets were falling at the other end Tyndell kept his onslaught going and was 73 not out with seven fours when the declaration was made leaving GCC to get 103 in 21 overs. Bailey followed up his 6-36 in the first innings with 4-80, while Ali-Mohammed took 2-60 for GCC who were 69-3 when play ended with Ali-Mohammed unbeaten on 27 with two sixes and a four. With him was McAlmont on six. Heyliger finished with 3-17 after removing Deonarine Seegobin (9), Wade (18) and Jaikaran (8). (Sean Devers)

Kaieteur News

Monday December 10, 2018

6th Edition UDFA GT Beer Football launched, President Mitchell thanks Banks DIH Action started last evening

Official launch of GT Beer football 2018 in Linden.

MOM Bernard Bailey had a 10-wkts match haul at Bourda.

Paul Tendell drives Bernard Bailey during his unbeaten 73 yesterday.

Banks DIH continues it branding of the Upper Demerara Football Association’s year-end football spectacle and for this President of the UDFA Terrence Mitchell is more than grateful. Mitchell at the launch Saturday expressed the association’s indebtedness to the beverage distributors as they continue to give support to the development in the mining town. The Linden Branch Supervisor Shawn Grant extended the hope that the tournament will be played not

only for its competitiveness but also a great deal of respect for the rules of the game. Grant’s highlighting of the aspect of discipline set the stage for the UDFA President Te r r e n c e Mitchell to chime in, emphasizing the need for teams to be disciplined as he singled out the Christianburg club Eagles United which recently won the Senior League tournament and was spot on time for the launch yesterday with their full complement of players and officials. Mitchell challenged the

other clubs to set the example of the Eagles Club. The UDFA boss said it was a privilege and joy for us to be here at our 6th edition of the UDFA GT Beer tournament. He added, “I think the idea that we have a running sixth tournament is commendable and I do hope that it continues for a long time to come.” Noting that the tournament was a platform for the players and clubs to showcase what they are made of. He saw the annual tournament as one that one

Some clubs attending the GT Beer launch Saturday.

must build on for the sport. Treasurer of the UDFA Aswatt Barrett opined that, “This tournament is comprehensively structured of promoting the sport and football in all aspects.” He continued, “The UDFA is in partnership with Banks DIH in guaranteeing the success of this tournament.” The tournament started yesterday with the official opening and March past followed by games featuring Eagles United against new club Capital FC and Silver Shattas versus Net Rockers.