Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News

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Saturday December 17, 2016

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

EDITORIAL

KEEP HOPE ALIVE Guyana is a religious nation with over 60 percent Christians, 28 percent Hindus and seven percent Muslims. Guyanese everywhere are very hopeful, therefore, that 2017 will have less crime, less traffic fatalities, unity among the political leaders and be a better and prosperous year for all. Hope is optimism that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes in one’s life. It is a positively powerful emotion in the human experience. From the beginning of time, hope has always been a crucial factor in delivering positive outcomes, especially in circumstances of great adversity and challenge. Hope is like banking and believing in the future.We must keep hope alive For more than a decade, many Guyanese have found themselves in dire circumstances during the reign of the previous administration. And there seemed to be no way out. During the difficult periods experienced by many Guyanese during the colonial era, our political leaders preached powerful messages of hope, directed primarily at the oppressed and despair. Conscious of the obstacles they faced in their struggle to end colonialism and provide a better life for all, hope came their way on May 26, 1966 when Guyana gained its independence from Britain. It was a triumphant moment for those who had believed in hope and kept it alive. The lesson from this experience is hope is a demonstration of abiding faith in the possibilities of the future, despite the challenges of the present. It has the ability to help people believe that they could achieve things faster and easier, thus enhancing their chances of success. As the nation celebrated its 50th Independence anniversary, many Guyanese were deeply worried about their future. Economic and other challenges inherited from the last government have resulted in lost opportunities for many, and some have turned to crime as a means of survival. Understandably, hope had diminished among them. It is therefore appropriate that we choose hope to uplift the nation in the new-year. Hope has guided us in the past and it will definitely continue to guide us in the future. Hope is known to have power, and if we acknowledge and embrace the power of hope, we can overcome our problems . It has enabled us to set new goals and pursue them with vigor and determination. But as Guyanese, we tend to be negative at times about the future, especially when life seems dismal. It is probably because of our well-known tendency to complain endlessly about problems instead of trying to solve them. Studies have shown that to be a people of hope requires the adoption of a more positive mind-set, particularly when dealing with individual, community and national problems. Guyanese have always had hope, because a lack of hope would be a rejection of the Guyanese spirit which was a defining characteristic of our parents and grandparents. Not only did Guyanese hope, they also helped overcome the struggles of colonialism. They laid the foundation for a good life in an independent Guyana. While it was appropriate for us to use the Golden Jubilee of Independence to remember the past and to celebrate our achievements, it is also imperative that we use this special and cherished occasion to pay tribute to those who have fought tirelessly and made sacrifices for independence. It is an opportunity for introspection. Such soulsearching is important because it could help to rekindle hope, create new plans, organize our personal and national priorities and recommit ourselves to build a better Guyana with renewed purpose in pursuit of the future which we aspire. We did it in the past, with hope we can do it again. Keep hope alive

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

Commissioner of Police versus the Assistant Commissioner Dear Editor; When will the policy makers, the movers and shakers of the Guyana Police Force stop the legal and political morass that is presently existing in the Force between Seelall Persaud Commissioner of Police and David Ramnarine, Assistant Commissioner of Police? When will those in authority cease their unholy procrastination and take swift, certain and appropriate action to correct the existing sad state of affairs? Are they waiting for auntie to cough? A few months ago the Commissioner proceeded on one hundred days leave. In his absence David Ramnarine was given the task to perform the duties of commissioner. On the return of the top cop, he attempted to vitiate several actions taken by Ramnarine while he was on leave. He wrote a memo to his Staff Officer and copied to Ramnarine instructing her to rescind the promotion of several subordinate officers that the acting Commissioner had a p p r o v e d . T h e Commissioner stated that Ramnarine was not given the instrument to perform the duties of commissioner as set out in the Constitution of

Guyana. Hence, his actions were unconstitutional. He cited several sections in the Constitution to support his case. On the other hand, Ramnarine in an opposing response to his superior quoted some areas of the supreme law and posited reasons to justify the elevation of the ranks. He concluded that his actions were well within the ambit of the Constitution and the laws of Guyana. The Commissioner has since withdrawn his order to abbreviate the upward mobility of the policemen. A Guyana Government news release stated that the promotions will stand. However, the lights are still on. The music at the party continues to play even louder. The interpersonal relationship between the two top gunners of the GPF is extremely strained if not acrimonious. It is affecting the morale of some members of the Force including senior officers and ranks and at the bottom of the ladder. Some are quietly complaining. A retired superintendent whom I know well but will remained nameless, wrote a letter to Kaieteur News. He referred to me as a constitutional expert and

asked for my comments on the issue. Let me be pellucid. I am no constitutional expert nor a religious leader or a pope. I have a good relationship with God. On occasions he will give me inspirations in matters relating to law enforcement which I would share with the public and the police, special thanks to the generosity of Kaieteur News and Stabroek News. I read the Constitution several times. I received legal opinions on the issues. There are diverse views. I also perused some documents on the much f o rg o t t e n D o c t r i n e o f Necessity which might be useful in the present circumstances. Someone said that the law is an ass. As a former senior member of the Force and a victim of an armed robbery at my home l have an abiding interest in the operations of the number one law enforcement agency in Guyana, the GPF. I want the police to deliver the highest quality of service to the citizens they swore to serve and protect. I did not intend to comment on the issues with the Commissioner and his deputy as I feared that I would have opened a can of worms and that time would have healed the wounds.

Apparently the wounds are now infected. Serious disagreement between the two top men in the Force in relation to major administrative and operational issues is active. They were leaked to the social and mainstream media and elsewhere. Those issues if not nipped in the bud would have the potentials to deface the image of the Force, erode its public confidence and cause some amount of disunity among the policemen at the senior and junior levels of the Force. The matters were expected to be internal ones but are now open for public consumption. Concerned citizens in a recent letter to the editor of Kaieteur News under the caption, “Things not right in the Guyana Police Force,” hinted that there are serious communication and other problems with those at the apex of management in GPF. This has forced me to break my silence. I discovered that there are more questions than answers and the more I find o u t t h e l e s s I k n o w. Whenever things are not going right in an organisation like the police force, changes or reform will take place. If the (Continued on page 5)

Saturday December 17, 2016

The APNU+AFC has not kept their campaign promises DEAR EDITOR; The recent budget that was passed by the APNU/ AFC Coalition is a disaster for our nation. This budget doesn’t increase the salaries of the public and private sector employees. This was promised by this coalition government. They said in their manifesto that they will raise the salaries of workers by 20%; unfortunately they raised their own salaries by 50% and they are exempted from taxes thus live free on tax payers’ money. They said they are the change but what are we changed from? It seems to me that we have changed from bad to worse. This reminds me of George Orwell book Animal Farm with the slogan: ‘’All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.’’ It’s very sad that this new government failed this entire nation from all their promises. They failed to create new jobs for our graduates. More and more crime is on the rise since this new administration took office. More and more educated people are fired from their jobs all because of nepotism. The closure of the Wales Sugar Estate now and all others is very imminent. This will bring economic disaster upon our nation. President Granger said: ‘’Sugar is too big to fail,’’ but his government has continued to fail the people of Guyana not only in sugar but in all other aspects of administration. By not creating jobs and a better salary for our people, it means more and more migration and an empty Guyana by the time we have a next election or a selection in 2020. Guyanese have be-

come a nomadic people always on the move just like vagrants. Our erudite Finance Minister, the Hon. Winston Jordon said the VAT is slashed to 14%; that’s 2% reduction but we now have to pay VAT on electricity, water and Internet bills. This is like digging a hole to fill a hole. I wonder if he really knows what he is doing or is he just guessing his way in economics and mathematics. His figures for the budget are abysmally dismal and ridiculous. Let me examine the services we are having from GPL, GWI, and GTT to refute taxes on these enormous bills. He also claims that not many people are paying over $10,000 on GPL bills so those who pay under $10,000 GPL bill will not pay VAT; that is not true. Every day our citizens flock all the GPL offices like flies around a night light to query their exorbitant GPL bills that amount into thousands. What makes it worse is the constant amount of long hours of blackouts we are faced with, yet GPL never reduced their charge on consumers or refund them monies on their bills. So why must we pay VAT on GPL bills for a service we are not having? Last Wednesday night I went to church, suddenly a blackout came that lasted for 7 hours; only six people came to church because of the blackout. I couldn’t see to start my generator so we just prayed and went home. GPL has been a complete embarrassment in this day and age. Why are we still in blackouts? Something is definitely wrong with our past and present administra-

tion. After 50 years of independence we are still living in darkness. Now I come to the GWI. The water we get is just a few hours and it’s unfit for drinking even washing; it’s filled with green substances and other elements that make unfit for human consumption. Besides that the water pressure can’t fill a bucket a foot height so we have to pump it into black tanks. So we pay a double bill, one for GWI and a next one for electricity for pumping. The water is gone just a few hours so those who work early cannot return at 7 PM to get GWI water for a bath. So why pay taxes on water we don’t get twenty four hours a day? When there is a blackout we don’t get water because it works with electricity. How sweet! The internet service offered by GTT is the slowest and worst in the entire Caribbean and they get away with murder. We pay for a service that’s just a waste of time and money. It is extremely slow. Now GTT asking for money for the phone they used to give customers for free. When you call them for a service they always on voice mail and they take months before they come. They are never efficient to fix your phone lines and internet problems but efficient in sending you an invoice for payment. So why pay VAT on phone and internet bills for a very in-efficient service. This new budget with all its taxation will kill the poor man. Also the rich will be forced to raise their commodities in their stores to regain the enormous taxes they are paying. If this (Continued on page 6)

Commissioner of Police versus the... From page 4 Commissioner felt that the actions of Ramnarine were unlawful why not deal with the issues holistically? Why be selective? Why reject only the promotions? Why not reinstate the ranks Ramnarine dismissed? Why not terminate the services of over two hundred plus applicants that Ramnarine approved enlisted and were

sworn as members of the Force? If you cannot promote can you hire or fire? Why not retrieve from the ranks the large amount of money that Ramnarine awarded them for outstanding performance? Why not revoke the firearms licenses approved by Ramnarine including those for CANU, the Special Constabulary, serving

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and former members of the Force? Why allow juniors to investigate seniors in relation to disciplinary matters? Could the issues and concerns have been dealt with differently? Could there have been some amount of thinking outside of the box as it relates to the letter and spirit of the law. Clinton Conway Assistant Commissioner of Police (rtd)

Guyanese will have to support an independent party DEAR EDITOR; The circus surrounding the just concluded budget debates provide another proof of the utter disdain and callous contempt the two major parties have for the people of this country. Both the PPP/C and the PNC/Coalition know full well that no matter their audacity, they will be supported by their pledged followers. R a t i o n a l i t y , commonsense, fair play or objectivity does not matter. The politicians know that they just have to throw out red-meat or put up their smoke screens and whatsoever they do and say will find support among the divided and confused masses. The Guyanese public has long been relegated to the status of political guinea pigs. Both the PPP and the PNC take us for granted. Imagine that for some 50 years, every budget that is proposed has always engendered the ire of the opposition. Every budget is picked apart and reconstituted by the opposing party, in a one-ups-man attempt to suggest to their party supporters that they really care about the damage and hardships the ensuing budget will cause. But if that is really the case – if the opposition really thinks that the Government of the day is brutish and uncaring – how is it that no opposition has ever accepted the offer to sit in a pre-budget consultation? How is it that neither the PNC nor the PPP has ever accepted the overture to sit down with the opposing team and craft a budget in the national interest of the Guyanese people? The answer is clear. It is called positioning. These career Guyanese politicians do not function as patriots; rather, they are selfish and petty. The successive opposition parties know that if they sit with the Government and craft a budget of consensus, the Government of the day would get the praise. And the small

mindedness of the Guyanese politicians would not allow them to relinquish such accolades. Never mind that they can argue that they too deserve some of the praise. So what we have, is 50 years of budgets that are crafted with the sole desires of the ruling Governments, where the only beneficiaries are the families, cronies, and best friends of the Government . The successive budgets are designed to assist the ruling Government in siphoning off funds to assist those constituencies they have pre selected to benefit. I am asking the Guyanese citizens to note carefully that Guyana is the most backwards of all the Caribbean countries. We are also the worse as it pertains to health care, workers pay, infrastructure developments, sports and culture. Does any G u y a n e s e think that our stagnated growth and developmental retardation is accidental? Do you really believe that we Guyanese are the dumbest, laziest and most uneducated in the region? The answers to both of those questions are “NO!” So why then are we the furthest behind in the region? The debate around the latest budget is a prime example of an answer to that question. For 50 years our politicians (from both the PNC and the PPP), have done wrong by us. They have acted

and continue to act, with purely selfish motives. They continue to sell out the country to a select few, while the masses are left with virtually nothing to show for the sale. It is with these realities in mind that I am suggesting that there needs to be a counter balance of power in the Parliament . Whenever these two parties are given full reign, they take advantage of the poor and the working class of Guyana. Guyanese will have to support another, independent, party to sit in Parliament who will mitigate on behalf of those who are always left with the dirty end of the stick. If we do what we have done over the last 50 years, we will get what we have gotten over the last 50 years. It is inevitable that we shift away from party voting and vote with the interest of Guyana at heart. It might be an experiment in the unknown but the Guyanese populace has no other option than to divide their votes in order to stem the tide of these runaway governments. Our children and grand children will thank us for putting country first. Dr. Vishnu Bandhu

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Saturday December 17, 2016

My 2015 euphoria is fading and sadly so President Granger made promises he DEAR EDITOR; I must say that since May 2015 I have been holding my breath, waiting for that moment that I could say Guyana is on the move! Sadly, I must say this waiting is frustrating me. Here is why it’s frustrating. In 2015, the ‘Vote like a Boss’ fever was so high, I caught it. So convinced I was that I was doing the right thing that I was on top of the world when the results came out, so hopeful, so excited! Then it started. $221B to spend in less than half a year! I thought this was it, time to plain off. But I am still wondering, what happened to all the money? Why wasn’t Guyana transformed? Never had I imagined that the Ministers of my Government would give themselves a 50% pay hike. But I stayed quiet, because public servants pay had not been raised as yet, when it did, I choked. I believe any caring politician should seek to satisfy their people first before they satisfy themselves. But this was a blatant reverse and a show of “Let’s look after ourselves first before thinking about our people”. Then came the Jubilee celebration, I must say the

fanfare was exciting. I have never felt so patriotic in my life. But for me, there has to be more than just celebration. I was quietly listening to both the critics, and the Government’s attempts to justify this major activity, including the construction of the mighty D’urban Park. I was impressed with the prospect of the boost that the economy was projected to undergo. The $150M seemed meager to the returns. But within the same y e a r, I ’ m r e a d i n g t h a t there’s a foreign currency shortage. I was also expecting that with all the returns from Jubilee, public servants would again take home a nice bonus as they did last year, instead it is halved. There’s also the Commissions of Inquiry. Why hasn’t anyone been charged with the supposed crimes they have committed? Am I to conclude that SARU and SOCU are incompetent? Because I can’t see that the Government was/ is crying foul and yet no one has been prosecuted. What about the CIO into the Public Service? Wasn’t that supposed to also influence how workers are remunerated? Instead the government imposed an increase that seemed not to take

into consideration anything that came out of the COI. Finally there’s Budget 2017. Mr. President and Mr. Finance Minister, as a citizen who helped to put you there, I must say I am not impressed. I have listened to your call of not paying attention to the Nay-Sayers and prophets of doom on the budget. But I must say after following the budget closely, it appears that someone did not get their logics correct. One example, the Minister indicated that only about 20% of the users of GPL’s energy will be paying the 14% VAT. How can he say such a thing? It’s the large scale farmers and manufacturers and service providers who will be mostly affected. Aren’t they the ones who provide the goods and services to the people? Wouldn’t they have to increase their manufacturing cost? We all will be affected. But as I said, I am still holding my breath. I will ignore, well not fully since I’ve become a skeptic, the prophets of doom. I hope that 2017 brings great things. I hope I can stop holding my breath and breathe with ease. I will let you know in December 2017. W. Moore

The APNU+AFC has not kept... From page 5 APNU/Coalition stated in their manifesto and in their campaign that they can do better than the former government, then they need to de-

liver to our Guyanese people. They themselves ought to pay taxes because real leadership is leading others by example. Are we a democratic nation or a so-

cialist state where all our earnings and resources go back to the state just like Cuba? It’s time the voice of our people be heard and a new vision of young brilliant minds lead this nation in the next elections. May God open our eyes from spiritual darkness into his marvelous light. Rev.Gideon Cecil

has not kept DEAR EDITOR; It is rather unfortunate and extremely sad that the head of state would stoop so low to viciously attack and criticize his supporters in the Diaspora at a ceremony in Buxton last Sunday the very supporters who made sacrifices to help him get elected. This is nothing new. As always, the Head of State is very crafty in misleading the public. He did so on numerous occasions, namely over the controversial trip to China, the drug bond scandal, the D’Urban Park project, the audit reports and the several Commissions of Inquiry (CoI), among others. During the election, he promised that his government would prosecute those found culpable of corruption, but after spending more than $250 million of the taxpayers’ money on audits and SARU, no one has been charged. In July, the Head of State established a CoI to investigate the deaths of Antonio and Joshua George who died in a fire at the government drop-in centre for abused children on Hadfield Street. Again, he promised to discipline those found guilty of dereliction of duty. The CoI report found dereliction of duty among senior members of the Ministry of Social Services, yet no one was disciplined. Again, words were not matched with action. So rather than telling the members of the Diaspora to stop writing, the head of state should match his words with action. He has not only aban-

doned the youths who voted overwhelmingly for him, but he also told them to become entrepreneurs while he employed hundreds of pensioners and retired military personnel. The youths do not have jobs, so where will they get the money to invest? His refusal to respond to the resolution sent to him over a month ago from several groups in Richmond Hill, Queens and in Brooklyn is not only ungrateful and callous, but is also insensitive. He has shown total contempt for the Diaspora which is a clear reflection of political immaturity, lack of ideological foundation and the inability to communicate with the public. No mature and sensible political leader would insult his/ her supporters in the Diaspora or anywhere else. Only amateurish and elitist leaders would do such a thing. The Head of State should take a page out of the books of Forbes Burnham, Cheddi Jagan, Desmond Hoyte and even Bharrat Jagdeo, who have always heaped praise on and respected their supporters in the Diaspora and elsewhere. Not only did the Head of State launch his political campaign in the diaspora but he also begged its members for money to finance the 2011 and 2015 election campaigns. In light of this, the Head of State made promises which he has not fulfilled. Neither has he thanked his supporters in the Diaspora for their support. Instead, he chose to meet with a few elitist Guyanese at a US$500.00 a plate dinner, at the prestigious Sheraton Hotel in mid-town Manhattan, who did not raise a finger to obtain funds or mobilize support for him during the campaign.

It was an elitist gathering. Before telling the members of the Diaspora to stop writing and invest in Guyana, the Head of State should first clean up the mess at the Ministry of Business which takes over a year to issue a business permit. Let it be known that no smart investor would invest in a country with constant power blackouts, frequent water shortages, a high crime rate, rampant corruption and a government that is arrogant and highly incompetent. In the last eighteen months, conditions in the country have worsened to the point where visitors would be risking their lives visiting it, much less to invest. The promise of good governance has turned out to be no governance and an exchange, instead of change. Elites tend to insult and mistreat their supporters and then ask favours of them, such as to invest in the country. The Diaspora has lost confidence and trust in the government and many have already disassociated themselves from it. They are young and therefore time is on their side. Let it be known that members of the Diaspora are not disposable human beings who can be used and abused as was the case in the last election. They have rejected the wishy-washy statement from a ceremonial leader who has lost his way. Today the poor in the country are experiencing more hardship than at any time before this, which is making the PPP very attractive. The shellacking of the coalition government by the PPP in the local government election is a classic example. Asquith Rose

Saturday December 17, 2016

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Demerara Bridge minibus tolls to remain same; other categories raised - taxpayers can no longer foot the bill Government has defended the raising of tolls on the Demerara Harbour Bridge, yesterday stressing that it will do away with the need for Government help and make the structure self-reliant. Effective January 1, toll for almost all levels of vehicles will be raised by least $100 except for the tolls of minibuses; these will remain the same. During a press conference at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Kingston, both Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson, and the bridges General Manager, Rawlston Adams disclosed expenses continue to outstrip revenues. It was explained that since its construction in the late 70’s, the Demerara Harbour Bridge has served as a crucial link between the eastern and western sections of the country. For thousands of Guyanese, the Harbour Bridge is a daily fixture, serving as the main access point for work, school, and commercial activity. Over the years, the traffic on the Demerara Harbour Bridge has signifi-

cantly increased, particularly among certain types of vehicles such as private cars, minibuses, and motor lorries. According to the officials, in January 2009, for example, there were approximately 74,000 trips made by private cars. In January 2010, this number rose to 86,338 and, by August of this year, there were approximately 163,000 trips made by private cars. For minibuses, the figure stood at 39,000 in January 2010. In July 2016, the figure was 44,000 for minibuses. Meanwhile, motor lorries with two axles moved from 10,000 trips in January 2010 to 12,000 trips in August 2016. The officials said that outside of these vehicle types, there has generally been an increase in the bridge traffic. “Increased traffic means increased congestion; increased damage and wear and tear; and, ultimately, increased expenditure to conduct repair works.” It was disclosed that from 2008 through 2016, DHBC made an average income of $489M each year. For the same period, the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation expended an average of

$910M each year across both its current and capital expenditures. Without these annual subventions, DHBC would be operating at a drastic shortfall and would be unable to sustain its capital projects, Minister Ferguson said. According to the officials, this is where the toll increases come in. “It must be noted that there was no increase in toll for minibuses, since more often than not, the pressures are transferred to the members of the public when bus operators experience any increase in expenditure. “Schoolchildren, the elderly, and those in difficult financial situations were considered when the decision was made to not increase the toll for minibuses.” The officials pointed out that in 2008, there would have been toll increases for two classifications- for private cars— the toll rose from $50 to $100 while for private fourwheel drives, the toll moved from $50 to $200. However, the tolls for the other classifications remained unchanged. Meanwhile, based on current traffic trends, it is projected that the DHBC will

Minister Ferguson and DHBC General Manager, Rawlston Adams, during yesterday’s press briefing. make $550M at the end of this year with the current toll structure in place. Its expenditure – both current and capital – will stand at a projected $600M. The projected revenue for 2017 – with the new toll structure in place and based on the same amount of traffic – would lead to an income of $861M. “The significant increase in income is important for two

reasons: not only would DHBC have more funds to dedicate towards its operations, but the need for Government subvention would be negated. In other words, the

Corporation would be totally self-reliant,” Minister Ferguson said yesterday. They said that some persons might question why the Corporation should stop receiving Government subvention. “After all, it is the taxpayers’ monies and DHBC provides a service to the taxpayers. However, we must consider that not every taxpayer is a user of the Demerara Harbour Bridge. It is necessary, therefore, to transfer this responsibility from the Government and to allow our taxpayers’ monies to go towards other sectors such as education and health. The toll increases allow for this.” According to Minister Ferguson, things have changed. “More persons are now able to afford vehicles and businesses, now more than (Continued on page 11)

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Saturday December 17, 2016

Venezuela barges into Mercosur meeting after being ejected Argentina (breitbart.com) -Venezuelan foreign minister, Delcy Rodríguez, broke through a barrage of police and economic officials in Buenos Aires, Argentina, earlier this week in an attempt to storm into a meeting of the South American trade bloc Mercosur, which has suspended Venezuela’s membership due to its repeated violations of human rights. Mercosur, now led by Argentina, agreed to suspend Venezuela from the group because the socialist government had “not adopted all the membership rules and treaties it had promised,” according to one Brazilian official. At the time, Rodríguez issued a statement saying, “Venezuela does not recognize this null and void action sustained by the law of the

Venezuela Foreign Minister, Delcy Rodríguez jungle of some officials who are destroying Mercosur.” On Wednesday, Rodríguez’s challenge was put to the test. The foreign

minister barreled through a barrage of police, reporters, and fellow dignitaries to enter the chamber in which the meeting was being held. “If they close the door to us we will, as our president [Nicolás] Maduro has said, go through the window,” she told reporters, insisting that, because Venezuela held Mercosur presidency before being ejected, its representative

“does not need an invitation.” Argentine law enforcement clearly disagreed, ejecting Rodríguez from the meeting, now postponed. Venezuela’s leader Nicolás Maduro, currently in Cuba, claimed on Thursday that Argentine police had fractured Rodríguez’s collarbone and that police had also injured Rodríguez’s Bolivian counterpart David Cochehuanca. Maduro added that police had “hurled [Rodríguez] to the floor.” “We have lodged an energetic and total protest against the cowardice of the Argentine government against this dignified young lady who represents the voice of the people of Simón Bolívar,” Maduro said, according to Venezuelan state television. Argentina was not the only nation to protest Rodríguez’s transgression, however. Her Uruguayan counterpart, Rodolfo Nin Novoa, called her entry into the meeting “a grave act, above all from the point of view of Argentine-Venezuelan relations.” He defended Venezuela’s suspension from the trade bloc: “Treaties have obligations and rights. Venezuela enjoyed all the rights without committing to the obligations.”

Relations between Argentina and Venezuela rapidly deteriorated following the election of conservative, profreedom president Mauricio Macri in late 2015, following twelve years of left-wing Kirchner rule — first under late president Nestor Kirchner and, then, under his wife Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. Fernández de Kirchner’s foreign policy was especially favorable to the oppressive socialist and communist governments of the Western Hemisphere, including Cuba and Venezuela, and rogue regimes such as those of Iran and Russia. Among the first things Macri did as president was to warn Venezuela that it would be expelled from Mercosur if it did not release its political prisoners and cease using state violence against peaceful protesters. “There cannot be room among Mercosur states for political persecution for ideological reasons, nor for the illegitimate deprivation of liberty of those who think differently,” he told his counterparts at a Mercosur meeting last year. He noted that the Mercosur charter allowed for suspension, sanctioning, or expulsion of a nation should it “break the democratic or-

der.” At the time, Rodríguez condemned Macri as “defending political violence” and claimed all imprisoned political prisoners were violent criminals, a claim many major human rights NGOs have flatly rejected. From a family known for its involvement in Venezuelan socialists movements, Rodríguez is known to be a lover of designer fashion, particularly Valentino shoes, according to the Argentine newspaper La Nación. In both her previous Communications Minister (press secretary) job and as Foreign Minister now, she has toed the party line on all of Maduro’s most controversial foreign policy views. Rodríguez has described the Islamic theocracy of Iran as a “friendly brother nation” while justifying socialist aggression towards Guyana by claiming the small South American nation was “exhibiting a dangerous and provocative policy against the Bolivarian Venezuela of peace, supported by the imperialist powers.” Rodríguez was also first in line to explain Venezuela’s ejection of international election observers in 2015, claiming the nonpartisan delegation had been “disrespectful” without elaborating.

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No different from the PPPC Both the APNU and the AFC were strongly opposed to the Cabinet of the PPPC government granting no-objections on contracts. This is the reason why the APNU+AFC demanded, when in opposition, that the PPPC appoint the Public Procurement Commission. The Public Procurement Act is crystal clear as to what happens when the Public Procurement Commission is established. It states that contracts above fifteen million dollars are subject to review by Cabinet but that once the Public Procurement Commission is established that threshold will be increased so as to phase out the involvement of Cabinet and promote decentralization. The Procurement Act goes on to state that with the appointment of the Public Procurement Commission,

the role of Cabinet will cease. The APNU+AFC had campaigned on the basis that the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission would make Cabinet no- objection redundant. This was the expectation which the coalition created in the minds of the Guyanese people. The establishment of the Public Procurement Commission would spell the end of Cabinet review of contracts. This is what the coalition believing. There was no talking about phasing out Cabinet review or weaning the Cabinet off of any such reviews. There was talk about ending the involvement of Cabinet in the award of government contracts. The coalition was so serious about ending the involvement of Cabinet in the review of contracts that it

promised that within its first one hundred days in office it would establish the Public Procurement Commission. The coalition was trying to woo the electorate to vote for them. It conveniently ignored the fact that it alone could not appoint a public procurement commission. It needed the support of the PPPC. In fact, it is the Public Accounts Committee which makes the nominations to the parliament. The Public Accounts Committee is chaired by the opposition and a qualified majority of the parliament was needed to approve the nominees. The APNU+AFC surely could not have been so delusional as to believe that it could have achieved that majority in the elections. But that is politicians for you. They promise you the

Dem boys seh... De criminals must rob Rum Jattan and See-all Guyana got some sleepy police. Dem sleep till dem getting fat. And dem boys seh dem sure that all de police still sleeping because of de robberies that going on. Rum Jattan mek big talk about putting a lid pun crime. He plan woulda wuk if he did get some old lady and give dem a piece of wood to walk de streets. Instead, he put nuff police pun de road and de crime get wuss. Nuff people get dem December salary and dem boys read somewhere, “Blessed are those who spend their entire December salary in December for they shall know de true meaning of endurance in January.” But you have those who didn’t get to spend it because they were robbed of it at de car parks, pun de road,

from de three-card people. These are de people who got to cuss Rum Jattan and Seeall. Things meet de stage wheh de criminals robbing all de people who waiting fuh transportation at de park and people just watching and doing nutten. Even police watching and doing nutten. De three - c a r d people actually tekking money out of people hand and putting it pun bet. When dem done rob de person dem slapping de people behind dem head. Dem boys seh that dem never see nutten so. Rum Jattan promise to bring out de soldiers fuh joint patrol. De soldiers disappear and de couple police who trying getting cuss every day. People calling de police station and no police coming.

De criminals get so bold that de other day one of dem rob some people and when he pass by de police roadblock he lef a raise wid de police. De situation sickening and all this happen because Soulja Bai open he mouth and tell de police that dem mustn’t rough dem criminal. From de time he seh suh all dem li’l boys who just lef school go out and collect guns and rob people. Even one of dem who get bail fuh attempted murder tun round and rob another man. Nuff people gun get a rough Christmas because of de young criminals. And Rum Jattan and Seeall ain’t doing nutten. Talk half and hope that de criminals rob de two of dem.

world when they are in opposition but when they get into power, it is a different story. It was a different story despite the PAC appointing the nominees. The approval by parliament was assured. Yet it took some time between the selections by the PAC and the approval of the House. Then it took some more delays between the approval of the House and the actual appointment of Commissioners. This fueled speculation that the government was trying to review as many contracts as they could and pass many more others before the Commission came into being.

Now we are learning that Cabinet is still granting its noobjection to contracts. This should not be happening and is in violation of the law. The Tender Board Administration should not be entertaining any Cabinet no-objection to contracts by government. Nothing really would have changed in relation to procurement if the coalition continues along this misguided path. They would have been no different from the PPPC is they continue to be involved in granting noobjections to contracts. The PPC should not allow this sort of behaviour. It is not

consistent with the law. The involvement of Cabinet is supposed to cease with the appointment of the PPC. Government still controls the process because it controls the Tender Board. The obsession with lording over statutory bodies is becoming quite noxious.

PAGE 10

Saturday December 17, 2016

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

Sugar workers’ bizarre choice Komal Chand, was elected President of GAWU, last September, making him one of the world’s longest serving trade unionists at the helm of any union. Mr. Chand has chalked up more than thirty-five years at the top of the GAWU pyramid. Do readers realize that almost half the population of this country wasn’t born when this man assumed the leadership of the sugar union? The Komal Chand saga makes for interesting reading and it brings into focus how responsible are sugar workers that want the State to subsidize the sugar industry by a dozens of billions of dollars each year. So our tax dollars go to subsidizing sugar workers who display no responsibil-

ity to the people of Guyana who fund them. Is this how they pay back the people of Guyana by voting to be their leader, a man who had 35 years in the industry most of which were spent in the Parliament of Guyana as a member of the PPP. First question – w h a t h a s M r. C h a n d achieved for sugar workers in the 23 years he sat as a Member of Parliament for the ruling PPP? The Skeldon factory to date remains the largest state investment in the history of this country. Today Skeldon is a failure. But Mr. Chand never apologized for this gargantuan mistake of his government. On the contrary, he blames the APNU-AFC for failing sugar. Sugar failed under Mr. Chand’s party. And

while sugar was falling down, Mr. Chand was representing the interests of the ruling party in Parliament. This brings us to the second question. Why would a trade union want to belong to a political party? It is an old conflict of interest. Which comes first – your party or your union? Matters take on an unholy turn when that party gets into office. Which comes first – your union or your government? Sugar workers may appear funny in the eyes of the analyst. While sugar was dying, sugar workers never rebelled against their union leadership, on the contrary, throughout the PPP’s 23 years, they voted for this man to be their union head. It is my opinion that this

is irresponsibility. How can you as the workers of an industry put their faith for 23 years in a leader who shares his duties inside the walls of a contradiction – he serves his government and party and trade unionist interests at the same time. Such a process is not scientifically possible or politically achievable. This irresponsibility has a dimension to it that is indicative of political sadism. Why would workers vote for such a leader? So are sugar workers saying to the Guyanese nation that we must be sensitive about their plight and support a yearly subsidy to the industry to keep them afloat while at the same time they continue to place

their trust in a leader that failed them? Against this background, my choice will be to remove the subsidy and let the industry be diversified. There is a plethora of frameworks available for the alternative to sugar, many of which can be found in the letter pages of this newspaper for the past year. GAWU wants the sugar industry to be saved so the union can be saved in the process and Chand could deepen his permanent leadership. The PPP wants the sugar industry to be preserved so that the PPP could preserve its traditional constituency, a constituency that originally brought invincibility and omnipotence to Cheddi Jagan and his party more than sixty years ago. What is playing out here is incomprehensible politics that has no parallel in the world. The PPP wants to keep the sugar industry alive against the brutal reality that the era of sugar is dead and gone. And it wants this type of arrangement so that a huge, hard core section of the PPP anatomy could remain in intact. But where in the world

Frederick Kissoon would you find a ruling party or a government practising such suicidal generosity? You just have to take a look at the herculean stables of miasma that Georgetown lived in to see that such suicidal generosity will never come into existence. The PPP accepted that a thriving, elegant, clean, green Georgetown would benefit the PNC because there is where the PNC has its support while the PPP get no meaningful succor from Georgetown. So it starved Georgetown and kept it filthy. The PPP regime felt UG lecturers were anti-PPP so it ran UG into the ground. If the government bankrolls the sugar industry, the PPP stays alive. Why would the PNC and the AFC want to give taxpayers money to the sugar industry so Mr. Chand can lead GAWU forever?

Saturday December 17, 2016

Kaieteur News

2012 hotel murder….

Date set for disclosure of statements The case for which the Manager of the Double Day Hotel in Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, Bhojnauth Bhola, and his employee, Leyland Johnson, are charged with 20year-old mechanic, Sadeek Juman’s murder, is set for reports on the file and disclosures of statements. The matter came up for hearing yesterday at the Vreed -En-Hoop Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Rochell Liverpool. It has been adjourned to January 7, 2017 for reports. The charge was read to the duo by Magistrate

Liverpool earlier this month. The men were not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that between Sunday November 18, 2012 and Monday November 19, 2012, they murdered Juman at the establishment. The murder charge would come days after the duo and another individual were arrested in connection with the matter. According to media reports, Juman who resided at Blankenburg, West Coast Demerara, was found dead in a pool at (Continued on page 21)

Murdered: Sadeek Juman

Demerara Bridge minibus tolls to... From page 7 ever, are using the Bridge to transport their goods and services. Our world is developing and with development comes increased traffic each year, which makes it even more expensive to maintain the operations of the Harbour Bridge. It is therefore necessary that the toll structure reflects the development we see in our society.” According to Adams, with regard to marine traffic, trawlers are currently charged $15,000 while the larger ocean-going vessels $50,000. Currently, the bridge has in placed a restriction of four vessels per day for the number of marine vessels. This is due to the large amount of vehicular traffic and to need to ease congestion on the bridge. “Over the years, operational costs have

significantly increased. Meanwhile, Government subvention covers capital costs. Therefore, operational costs must still be covered by DHBC. The projected increase in income will allow DHBC to better cover these rising costs,” Adams explained. The General Manager admitted that while the increases, when described as percentages, sound high, the actual figures must be taken into account. He indicated that other factors, such as the fact that the tolls have not been increased for many categories for decades and the cost of tolls around the world, must be taken into account. The bridge also faces another major expense in electricity with almost $2.2M being burned on the eastern side with almost $800,000 monthly on the western end.

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Kaieteur News

Saturday December 17, 2016

Comfort Sleep fetes children at annual Christmas Party Hundreds of children in New Amsterdam, Malgre Tout, West Bank Demerara, and Ruimveldt Children’s Home Georgetown had a blast at Christmas parties held in their honour last weekend by Comfort Sleep, Guyana’s Leading producers of Quality Foam, Mattresses and Pillows. For the children who are beneficiaries of

Comfort Sleep’s School Feeding Programmes in Regions Three, Four and Six, that’s literally where the Christmas fun began, and even if they don’t attend another party for the season, they will be satisfied in the knowledge that they had great excitement at Comfort Sleep’s Annual Christmas Party where it was ‘fun non-stop’.

The first party was held at Comfort Sleep Factory for the Kids from Ruimveldt Children’s Home on Friday December 9. The second party was at Malgre Tout, Region Three, on Saturday December 10, while the third was at New Amsterdam, Region Six, the following day, Sunday December 11. At Malgre Tout, close to 300 children were

feted. They were selected from Malgre Tout Primary, La Parfaite Harmonie Primary, La Grange Primary, and Bagotville Primary. Meanwhile, in Berbice, some 150 children came from Edinburgh Primary School and Friends Primary School, East Bank Berbice. There were 22 children from the (Continued on page 23)

Saturday December 17, 2016

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

GRA unveils aggressive plan to tackle tax dodgers -$2B in taxes lost annually from alcohol, cigarette smuggling -32,000 businesses active but not registered As the debate on taxes and collections continues, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has announced a rash of measures to improve tax collections next year. The idea is to collect billions of dollars from smugglers and other tax dodgers, including businesses, say Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia. Speaking yesterday at a press conference at GRA’s Camp Street headquarters Statia said that since taking up the post in July on a twoyear contract, he and his team have been meeting with stakeholders, and with departmental heads now authorized to speak on their respective responsibilities. There have been a number of changes in the critical areas, including Customs, based on meetings with businesses and assessments of GRA’s branches. The idea is to reduce congestion at the head office. The regional branches are now equipped to handle simpler transactions. Statia admitted that the GRA computer system, Total

Revenue Integrated Processing System (TRIPS), has been experiencing problems. There are plans in place to stop it from “tripping”. By end of April, the authority is hoping to make changes to TRIPS to what is known as ASYCUDA (Automated System for Customs Data), a special Customs programme that is in use in over 90 countries. It will not only reduce downtime in processing at wharves but allow for better information sharing with the entity. Statia explained that GRA has been paying close attention to smuggling which siphons off billions of dollars annually in revenues. For example, there is a huge smuggling racket involving alcohol and cigarettes. Guyana loses an estimated $2B annually in taxes, he s a i d . GRA is working with Canadian Bank Note, which specializes in security measures to implement a stamp system that will allow enforcement officials to make

(l-r), Lancelot Wills, Deputy Commissioner of Customs Excise and Trade Operations; Commissioner-General, Godfrey Statia and Deputy Commissioner-General, Hema Khan. inspections and determine right away whether taxes have been paid. The stamps will be affixed to the products imported into the country at the time of clearance. The CommissionerGeneral said that fuel smuggling is also engaging the authority’s attention. Fuel Smuggling Recent checks were made by a GRA team at Eteringbang, Region Seven which borders with

Venezuela. The cheap fuel there is being capitalized on by smugglers who fail to pay up to $20M in taxes weekly in that area alone. The same situation seems to prevail at Morawhanna, which is a popular area of sourcing illegal fuel for gold mining. Statia announced plans to deploy GRA officials to the area to collect the taxes. The idea is to establish a presence there to minimize

Guyana-Venezuela territorial issue

Good Offices process to continue another year -if no solution, matter will be handed to Int’l Court Guyana will have to wait another year before it could take Venezuela to the International Court of Justice over a border controversy that has heated up within the last 18 months. Following a number of aggressive moves by Venezuela, Guyana complained to several world leaders and countries, including to outgoing Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban KiMoon. Last year October in New York, at the United Nations headquarters, the UN chief, who is due to step down in a matter of days, brought both President David Granger and Venezuela’s leader, Nicolas Maduro, together in an effort to find a solution to the brewing situation. Venezuela, last year May, revived a simmering claim to mineral-rich Essequibo, Guyana’s largest county. Venezuela’s aggression would have come days after Guyana voted in a new Government in early general elections and about the same time that US-owned Exxon-Mobil announced that it struck oil in Guyana’s waters. Venezuela also claimed those waters. In the ensuing row, Venezuela ended an oil-for-rice deal, made under the Petro-

(l-r)- Venezuela’s leader, Nicolas Maduro, UN’s Chief, Ban Ki-moon and President David Granger. Caribe arrangements, with Guyana. Venezuela is now facing severe internal turmoil. Observers believe that Maduro is using the border controversy to divert attention from current situation. Yesterday, the Office of the Spokesperson of the United Nations SecretaryGeneral issued a release on the decision of the SecretaryGeneral on the Guyana and Venezuela border controversy. In essence, the statement said that the UN will give the Good Offices Process a try for another year and then if the two countries fail to agree on

a solution, the matter will go to the International Court of Justice. President Granger, a historian, has made it clear that Guyana will settle for nothing less a juridical settlement- in the international court- once and for all. He had insisted that the Good Offices Process has failed to make progress over the last 25 years. Meanwhile, yesterday, Government issued a statement on the UN decision saying it has accepted it. “The Secretary General of the United Nations acting under the 1966 Geneva Agree-

ment has informed the President of his decision to give the ‘good offices’ process one last period of twelve months, that is to the end of 2017. If, at the end of that period, the Secretary-General concludes that significant progress has not been made towards arriving at a full agreement for the solution of the controversy, he will choose the International Court of Justice as the next means of settlement, unless the Governments of G u y a n a a n d Ve n e z u e l a jointly request that he refrain from doing so.”

smuggling and widen the tax base and reduce the burden on a few who do pay. According to the official, the problems of collecting a fair share of payments of taxes could also be blamed on businesses colluding with some of GRA “unscrupulous” officers. Statia sounded a clear warning of tough actions to reduce the corruption. Tax evasion, he complained, is estimated at between 30-40 percent. It appears that GRA will be paying less attention next year on the current taxpayers. “We have to reduce our emphasis on people that we see…people that are in plain sight, people… that are the employees…versus the businesses that accumulate wealth that pay little or no taxes.” Next year, to tackle the tax dodgers, GRA is planning to establish a Large Taxpayers Unit that will focus on compliance, enforcement, review and other things. With 80 percent of the taxes coming from 20 percent of the businesses, the possibilities of collections takes even more significance, the official said. “We could dedicate the rest of the team on what has fallen through,” Statia

disclosed. Another major problem affecting GRA is the fact that the current TRIPS system is not efficient with information sharing between key departments not happening as it should. Also at the press conference yesterday were GRA’s Deputy Commissioner-General, Hema Khan and Lancelot Wills, Deputy Commissioner of Customs Excise and Trade Operations. Statia also note that GRA has found evidence of many businesses are without licences although they are operating. Many of them claim to be out of business or have offices elsewhere. The current TRIPS systems make it difficult to deal with these and GRA has to manually handle the incidents. Not registered The CommissionerGeneral said that close to 32,000 businesses are “nonregistered” but are active. It is the plan to issue provisional registrations to these with a mandatory deadline for the businesses to get themselves in order. Another measure that GRA has taken on to reduce Customs delays, is the establishment of a postclearance unit to have audits done after the goods are released from the w h a r v e s . A number of businesses who seems to be in collusion with Customs officers are objecting to this process, Statia revealed. The official made it clear that GRA is focus on its mandate- the collection of taxes in a fair manner. He noted that tax collection is a social contract with GRA the entity to implement the contract. The official also appealed for taxpayers to raise concerns whenever issues occur. GRA is open to listening, he stressed.

Date set for disclosure... From page 11 the hotel. Reports further stated that Juman had visited the premises the previous day, in th e c o m p a n y o f friends. It was alleged that an altercation occurred between him and a group of men. A post mortem showed that his death was d u e t o d r o wning, compounded by blunt trauma to

the head. The 29-year-old hotel manager, a hotel driver, also 29, and 25-year-old Johnson were taken into custody last week. Fareeda Juman, the slain carpenter’s mother, had relentlessly pressed the police to solve the case. The prosecutor is Inspector Sherwin Matthews.

PAGE 22

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Kaieteur News

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VACANCY

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CAR RENTAL

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Saturday December 17, 2016

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Saturday December 17, 2016

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

Combating Financial Intelligence crimes

Comfort Sleep fetes children...

Sensitization heightens chances of conviction – SOCU HEAD Head of the Special Organized Crime Unit, (SOCU), Sydney James, has expressed optimism that the state will secure more convictions under the recently implemented Anti-Money Laundering Legislation. Assistant Commissioner James pointed to a recent conviction for the nondeclaration of currency. “There was a court matter over the non-declaration of currencies. I think in that case, the magistrate had awarded that the money be confiscated. We anticipate further successes in conviction for such crimes,” he said. At present, the SOCU Head said that the unit is managing a number of investigations of Financial Intelligence Crimes. These include, several gold and diamond smuggling investigations, investigations into NICIL, the Guyana Marketing Corporation, (GMC), the 2007 World Cup Cricket probe and the Pradoville 2 land acquisition. Some of the investigations have resulted in persons being charged and placed before the court. But the SOCU head still feels that there is need for more sensitization as it relates to combating money laundering activities. He therefore shares the view that further training should be offered to Magistrate, Prosecutors, Judges and officials of the Legal Affairs Ministry on the topic. “There is need for more sensitization as it relates to combating money laundering activities for the entire regime, in general. I think that once there is sensitization, there will be greater convictions,” James opined. Having exited the watch list of the global Anti-money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism compliance process of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), earlier this year, Guyana must now produce more convictions to show sufficient progress on effectiveness. After returning from his visit to Paris, Attorney-General, (AG) Basil Williams noted, “Guyana cannot be complacent as the fourth

SOCU Head: Sydney James round mutual evaluation beckons. The test there is whether Guyana would have shown “sufficient progress on effectiveness, for example having more convictions for offences of money laundering, terrorist financing and the purloining of state assets.” Asked how equipped is the government to go after persons suspected of money laundering based on the new development, Williams said that the first Anti-money laundering legislation was passed in 2000 but no one was ever investigated or charged. ”Between 2000 and the time we took office no one was ever prosecuted for any money laundering offence in Guyana. It is only when we took office that people were

not just investigated but they were also charged and taken to court.” The administration came to office in May 11, 2015. Williams said that a lot of those cases have not resulted in convictions. He said that in some situations money as well as gold bars were returned to the person being prosecuted. However, he explained that this will not be sufficient in the fourth round. ”In the fourth round, we will have to show effectiveness and that we are making sufficient progress, in other words, convictions. We can’t tell them we charged 100 people and we don’t have convictions.” He said that Guyana needs to do work in this regard because if initial investigation is done and this area is missing, the country can return to the ICRG review process. He stressed that what is important hereinafter is a large degree of selfassessment. ”We have to start ensuring that all of these legal framework and regulatory framework are effectively addressed in the fourth round. By the time 2020 we must be able to show regular convictions for money laundering offences.” The AG said that the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) has been doing a lot of work. He said that the matter of state assets has been added to anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism process.

A Christmas meal is served. From page 12 Ruimveldt Children Home. The kids had their fill, with Christmas music, lots to eat and drink – lunch, snacks, ice cream. And of course jolly old Santa Claus asserted a dominant presence, distributing gifts and painstakingly ensuring that every little girl and boy received a toy – regardless of what their behaviour was like throughout the year. The children also received clothing and footwear. The distribution of hot meals three days each week to these schools is facilitated and supervised by the par-

ishes of Malgre Tout and Church of the Ascension, Berbice, with the help of retired teachers, while cooking materials are provided by Managing Director of Comfort Sleep, Mr. Dennis Charran. This serving of hot nutritious meals for the less fortunate children is now into its tenth year, and is the brain child of Mr. Dennis Charran. Meanwhile, the party usually held at the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre for children there, will not be held this year, due to logistical issues. Instead, Comfort Sleep made a monetary donation to

the centre. The mattress company has had a longstanding and ongoing relationship with the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre. Comfort Sleep has been hosting such parties in the respective regions for the last 13 years, bringing joy to the hearts of little children who would otherwise probably not have a fun time to look forward to for the Christmas holidays. The feeding programmes and the Christmas parties are the brainchild of Comfort Sleep’s Managing Director, Mr. Dennis Charran who has a close affinity for little children.

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Qualfon’s contractor shot during robbery

Kaieteur News

-Believed to have been trailed from bank A 42-year-old man was robbed of $4M and shot to both legs around 15:00 hrs yesterday shortly after he arrived at his Lot 75 Prince William Street, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home. He had earlier made a withdrawal from a city bank. Up to press time, Kenneth Earl, was being treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). He is in a stable condition. The father of four is contracted by Qualfon to provide transportation services to the company’s employees. At the time of the robbery, he had

withdrawn money to pay the other drivers who work with him. According to information received, just as Earl entered his yard with another individual, two gunmen ran into the yard behind them and opened fire at the duo before grabbing the bag containing the cash. The father of four was shot to both legs while the individual who was with him escaped without any injuries. Investigators believed that the man was followed from the bank. No one has been arrested as yet.

Kenneth Earl

Don’t grant bail to repeat offenders - Ramjattan -says legal principles exist to keep some accused remanded

There are legal principles governing bail and Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan hopes that magistrates would not grant bail to some offenders. The Public Security Ministry was responding yesterday to questions about the prevalence of suspects who are being released on bail, even while they are before the courts for other serious offences such as armed robbery, and even attempted murder. Individuals like the youth who was apprehended for the robbery outside the Hotel Tower should remain on remand, Ramjattan said. The youth, Curtis Vasconcellos, was shot to the neck and right arm in June 2015, allegedly after shooting a businessman in the arm during a robbery attempt. He was charged with attempted murder, but was recently granted bail in the High Court. It is while he was on bail that Vasconcellos and another suspect allegedly

robbed the Hotel Tower employee. “It is very difficult…we have in the constitution what we call the presumption (of innocence). Your lawyer goes there and makes a case (that) this man is innocent, I want him to have bail, (but) those who have committed one offence, and clearly there is evidence of it, and committed again, like these two fellows in front of Hotel Tower, certainly, they should not get bail. There are the legal principles governing bail, which would tell a magistrate not to grant bail, and I hope that the magistrates are going to not grant bail to some of these people,” Ramjattan said. “In my view, fellows like that, the legal principles state very clearly you must not grant bail, because of the nature of the offender, he having being charged with all these offences and now being caught, literally red handed,” added Ramjattan, who has served as both prosecutor and defence counsel. “But of course there are

cases where the discretion of one magistrate is vastly different from the discretion of another. There will be errors. It is the collision course of the rights of the accused, as against rights of the people… That is now the judgement call of a magistrate. If the magistrate then, hearing the prosecutor pleading that this man must not go on bail and still grants bail, there is nothing that a minister should do, because we will interfere in another branch of government.” He conceded that the presence of repeat offenders for serious crimes on the streets is presenting further challenges to the police. “It is also making the fear in the land a little more, because people are saying that ‘the fellow get bail, he could come and attack me next morning’.” “He could even attack the magistrate, like how they attack the land court judge, So they too must feel compelled that this fellow must go in there (jail).”

C’bean countries co-sponsor OAS declaration on migration WASHINGTON (CMC) – Guyana and Belize have co-sponsored an Organisation of American States (OAS) declaration that expresses the commitment of the member states to continue “to protect the safety, dignity, human r ights, and fundamental freedoms of all migrants…” The declaration, which was adopted by acclamation by the OAS Permanent Council on Thursday, noted that the commitment must be

made regardless of the migratory status of the migrants as well as “addressing the special needs of migrants in situations of vulnerability”. The declaration was also co-sponsored by delegations from Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico. The OAS said the declaration entitled the “InterAmerican Cooperation to address the Challenges and Opportunities of Migration,” also condemns “acts and

manifestations of racism, discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance against migrants”. In addition, the OAS said the declaration expresses its commitment “to combat migrant smuggling and trafficking in migrants.” Likewise, the document affirms the commitment of countries to “continue taking joint steps to reduce and eliminate the causes and factors that give rise to irregular migration.

Saturday December 17, 2016

EU, Brazil join possible financiers for Guyana/Suriname Bridge A few years ago, talks started between South American neighbours, Guyana and Suriname, for the construction of a bridge across the Corentyne River in Berbice to increased trade. The bridge is expected to facilitate other mutual developmental initiatives. In 2014, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, the then Foreign Affairs Minister under the previous regime – the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), had stated that the financial affairs of the project were being negotiated between the Suriname and China. She had pointed out, also, that the money would come from the US$3 billion in loans to 10 Caribbean nations – including Guyana – that was announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping some time during that period. In turn, Guyana’s obligation was to construct an approach road to the bridge. The idea for the bridge

was developed by former President Bharrat Jagdeo and Surinamese President Desire’ Bouterse, when the latter visited Guyana in September 2010. Following yesterday’s discussions held at the Marriott Hotel, Kingston, Georgetown, between Bouterse and President David Granger, the duo held a press conference yesterday where the issue of the bridge came up. Bouterse said that the European Union (EU) and Brazil have both expressed their willingness to fund the construction of the bridge. He stated that both Guyana and Suriname are still interested in the bridge and added that the countries would first have to decide on where the western end of the bridge would be located. There is no conflict between the two countries over the bridge. In 2013, the Suriname Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with

the China Railway Construction Company for the construction of the bridge. It received a no objection from the former Government of Guyana. However, he stated that more is yet to be done while pointing out that the design has already been made as well as studies “made and paid for”. Meanwhile, President Granger stated that Guyana’s emerging oil and gas sector had inevitably come up in the meeting. He noted that the matter was discussed during their previous engagement earlier this year and stated that since Suriname has an oil a n d g a s s e c t o r, h e i s confident that Guyana can rely on Suriname in the future, for their expertise and advice. Bouterse had also received an update on the process toward the resolution of the Guyana/Venezuela Controversy.

Obama points finger at Putin for cyber attacks on U.S. election (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama yesterday strongly suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally oversaw the computer hacks of Democratic Party emails that American intelligence officials say were aimed at helping Republican Donald Trump win the Nov. 8 election. At a pre-Christmas press conference, Obama leveled a fierce attack against Russia, calling it a smaller and weaker country than the United States that “does not produce anything that others want to buy, except oil and gas and arms.” His remark underscored what Obama called the “sadly deteriorated” relationship between Washington and Moscow, which are also at odds over the civil war in Syria. Asked whether Putin was personally involved in the hacks, Obama said: “This happened at the highest levels of the Russian government” and that “not much happens in Russia without Vladimir Putin.” But Obama fell short of directly blaming Putin and added that he also wanted to give U.S. intelligence officials more time to produce a report that is due before he leaves office on Jan. 20 and Trump is sworn in as his successor. He said: “The intelligence I’ve seen gives me great confidence that the Russians carried out this hack; the hack of the DNC (Democratic Na-

U.S. President Barack Obama participates in his last news conference of the year at the White House before leaving for his annual Hawaiian Christmas holiday in Washington, U.S., yesterday. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst tional Committee) and the hack of John Podesta,” who was the top campaign aide to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Obama said he warned Putin in September to stop meddling in American political campaigns, telling his Russian counterpart to “cut it out” during a face-to-face encounter in China at a G20 meeting. Russia has denied U.S. accusations that it hacked Democrats’ emails, news coverage of which distracted from Clinton’s campaign arguments and forced DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz to resign in the summer. The emails contained embarrassing tidbits, including exchanges between top aides

to Clinton who were shocked about the extent of her use of a private server to write emails while secretary of state. Two senior government officials told Reuters that the FBI backs the CIA’s view that Russia indeed intervened to help Trump win the presidential election. CHINAAND SYRIA Russia was not the only difficult foreign policy issue Obama addressed before departing on the final vacation of his presidency to Hawaii. While he said it was fine for Trump to take another look at the United States’ “one-China policy” toward Taiwan, he warned that a change in U.S. diplomatic stance would lead to consequences from Beijing.

Saturday December 17, 2016

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Kaieteur News

Saturday December 17, 2016

China seizes U.S. underwater drone in South China Sea

The USNS Bowditch, an oceanographic survey ship, is seen in this undated U.S. Navy handout photo. (Photo: U.S. Navy via REUTERS) (Reuters) - A Chinese warship has seized an underwater drone deployed by a U.S. oceanographic vessel in the South China Sea, triggering a formal diplomatic protest and a demand for its return, U.S. officials told Reuters yesterday. The drone was taken on Thursday, the first seizure of its kind in recent memory, about 50 nautical miles northwest of Subic Bay off the Philippines just as the USNS Bowditch was about to retrieve the unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), officials said. “The UUV was lawfully conducting a military survey in the waters of the South China Sea,” one official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “It’s a sovereign immune vessel, clearly marked in English not to be removed from the water - that it was U.S. property,” the official said. The Pentagon confirmed the incident at a news briefing and said the drone used commercially available technology and sold for about $150,000. Still, the Pentagon viewed China’s seizure seriously since it had effectively taken U.S. military property. “It is ours, and it is clearly marked as ours and we would like it back. And we would like this not to happen again,” Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis said. Senator Ben Cardin, the top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called the seizure “a remarkably brazen violation of international law.” U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus cited a “growing China” as one of the reasons that the Navy needed to expand its fleet to 355 ships, including 12 carriers, 104 large surface combatants, 38 amphibious ships and 66 submarines. The seizure will add to concerns about China’s in-

creased military presence and aggressive posture in the disputed South China Sea, including its militarization of maritime outposts. It coincided with saberrattling from Chinese state media and some in its military establishment after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump cast doubt on whether Washington would stick to its nearly four-decades-old policy of recognizing that Taiwan is part of “one China.” President Barack Obama said yesterday it was appropriate for Trump to take a fresh look at U.S. policy toward Taiwan, but he cautioned the idea that Taiwan is part of one China is central to China’s view of itself as a nation. “If you are going to upend this understanding, you have to have thought through whatever the consequences are,” Obama told a news conference, noting Beijing’s reaction could be “very significant.” A U.S. research group this week said new satellite imagery indicated China has installed weapons, including anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems, on all seven artificial islands it has built in the South China Sea. Mira Rapp-Hooper, a senior fellow in the Asia-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, said China would have a hard time explaining its actions. “This move, if accurately reported, is highly escalatory, and it is hard to see how Beijing will justify it legally,” Rapp-Hooper said. SNATCHED AWAY The drone was part of an unclassified program to collect oceanographic data including salinity, temperature and clarity of the water, the U.S. official added. The data can help inform U.S. military sonar data since such factors affect sound. The USNS Bowditch, a U.S. Navy ship crewed by ci-

vilians that carries out oceanographic work, had already retrieved one of two of its drones, known as ocean gliders, when a Chinese Navy Dalang 3 class vessel took the second one. Officials said the Bowditch was only 500 metres (yards) from the drone and, observing the Chinese intercede, used bridge-tobridge communications to demand it be returned. The Chinese ship acknowledged the communication but did not respond to the Bowditch’s demands, the Pentagon’s Davis said. “The only thing they said after they were sailing off into the distance was: “we are returning to normal operations,” Davis said. The United States issued the formal demarche, as such protests are known, through diplomatic channels and included a demand that China immediately return the drone. The Chinese acknowledged it but have not responded, officials said. The seizure happened a day after China’s ambassador to the United States said Beijing would never bargain with Washington over issues involving its national sovereignty or territorial integrity. “Basic norms of international relations should be observed, not ignored, certainly not be seen as something you can trade off,” Ambassador Cui Tiankai, speaking to executives of top U.S. companies, said on Wednesday. He did not specifically mention Taiwan, or Trump’s decision to accept a telephone call from Taiwan’s president on Dec. 2. The call was the first such contact with Taiwan by a U.S. president-elect or president since President Jimmy Carter switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 1979, acknowledging Taiwan as part of “one China.”

Saturday December 17, 2016

Kaieteur News

ILO reports sharp increase in unemployment in Latin America and the Caribbean BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – The unemployment rate in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) reached 8.1 per cent in 2016, the highest level in a decade, amid an economic contraction that has also affected the quality of employment, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has said. In its annual report on the region’s labour market, the ILO noted that the rate is 1.5 percentage points higher than in 2015, when it stood at 6.6 per cent, and it means that an estimated five million people joined the ranks of the unemployed. It said the unemployment figure now stands at 25 million workers. The report titled “2016 Labour Overview of Latin America and the Caribbean,” notes that the labour scenario in the region worsened in 2016. “There has been a sharp increase in unemployment, informality is increasing and the quality of employment has deteriorated,” said the ILO Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, José Manuel Salazar. He said that by the end of the year, there was “a worrisome series of setbacks and negative impacts in multiple indicators. “Although there are significant differences between countries and subregions, on average for the region this is the worst year in a decade, in terms of both economic growth and the unemployment rate”, the ILO Regional Director warned, adding “the economic contraction reduced job creation”. He said of particular concern is that if forecasts of slow growth for 2017 hold true, unemployment will increase again next year to 8.4 per cent. The ILO report notes that the increase in unemployment comes as an economic contraction of -0.6 per cent or -0.9 per cent is projected by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) respectively, for 2016. The average economic growth rate for the region reflects diverse situations, the report notes, because Central America, the Caribbean and Mexico are seeing positive economic growth rates, while there is a contraction in South America, especially in Brazil,

ILO Regional Director, José Manuel Salazar where nearly 40 per cent of the region’s economically active population lives, and which has a strong impact on the average for South America and the region as a whole. The ILO notes that although unemployment rates also reflect diverse national situations, in 2016 “a region-wide phenomenon was detected”, as the rate increased in 13 of the 19 countries with data available as of the third quarter of the year. The increase in unemployment affected women more than men. The increase in women’s unemployment was 1.9 percentage points, raising the rate to 9.8 per cent, nearly in double digits for the first time in a decade. In the case of young people, the ILO Regional Director said the increase of nearly three percentage points is “of extreme concern”. He said that increase raised the youth unemployment rate to 18.3 per cent, the highest in a decade. The unemployment for young people is 3.1 times that of adults over age 25. The report also includes the most recent informality data. In 2015, a slight increase was seen, from 46.5 to 46.8 per cent in informal employment. The report warns that this trend toward greater informality continued in 2016. “We estimate that some 134 million workers are in informal employment, a persistent phenomenon in our region, which poses a major challenge for policy makers”, said Juan Chacaltana, ILO regional specialist on employment, who coordinated the preparation

of this 2016 Labour Overview. In the report, the ILO says that other indicators of deterioration in the quality of employment are the decrease in registered employment, which dropped by -0.7 percentage points in 2016, and the increase of 0.5 percentage points in self-employment “associated with lowerquality working conditions”. The report also notes that real average wages in the region decreased by -1.3 per cent in 2015. According to data available for eight countries as of the third quarter of 2016, that trend could continue this year, as there are indications of a decrease in wages in the registered or formal sector. Meanwhile, real minimum wages increased by an average of 4.4 per cent. In 14 of the 16 countries with information as of the third quarter of 2016, an increase was seen as a result of efforts to raise minimum wages above the inflation rate. Indicators collected in 2016 show that “in the past two years, there has been a reversal in some of the labour-related progress achieved in the region in the previous decade”, Salazar said. “Although with different combinations and degrees of urgency, the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean face a dual challenge: on the one hand to design short-term responses to mitigate the negative social and labour impacts of the deceleration and return to a growth path, and on the other to take action to address the structural problems of low productivity and the lack of productive diversification”, Salazar said.

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Kaieteur News

Saturday December 17, 2016

Saturday December 17, 2016

Letter to the Sports Editor

Turn of things in Guyana’s Sports Dear Mr. Editor, I must say it was a wonderful sign to see what was featured in the Kaieteur News in the sports section, 37 athletes shortlisted for training camp, is to say that there is a turn of things in Guyana. I am not going to celebrate yet because I had so many heartbreaks too many times before but once again great work. It must be noted that these talented youths life must not go to waste and for this same reason over the past 7 years I have spent over $21Million dollars (GY) centered around track and field, while I am not looking for the fame and saying I am the one to do this and that but to finally see some changes and the light at the end of the tunnel. During the day I received almost 100 Whatsapp

messages about the article in the Newspaper that I couldn’t resist writing about it with the hope of it being published. To say the least, I am the only organizer who is hosting a race without the need for a profit or any monetary gains in any shape or form, while that is so, I must congratulate my many sponsors who came on board and who continue to support me and the kids of this of this great Nation Guyana. With Christmas in the air and two elections in a few weeks for the GOA & AAG Presidents I hope that Mr. Juman Yassin do Guyana the right thing step down and don’t contest the next election that would be a merry, merry Christmas for Guyana and Sports in a whole. While I don’t want to influence any election it would also be a

shame on all the heads of the various sporting bodies to sit down and vote him in again all because they are all friends now, who is suffering Guyana. So with that being said Guyana could never move forward with Yassin there he is old and have no real ideas, had I been available in Guyana I would definitely be the one to challenge Mr. Yassin because I know with my knowledge we as a Nation would all move forward and with my success it would definitely transform Guyana into a power house Nation, something I can deliver without any doubt. I welcome the fact that a list was developed and by no means I am critical in anyway but keep the pressure on and make sure the list become official on a yearly basis. Andy Medas King.

Saturday December 17, 2016 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Partnerships will be successful. Find an outlet for any mounting frustration. Consider a creative hobby. You may want to make plans to take a vacation together. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Over spending or unexpected bills could set you back. Don't overspend on luxury items. Try not to be overly generous. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You will feel the limitations if you have been overdoing it. You are best to keep your cash in a safe place. You'd be wise to control your spending so your debts don't get out of hand. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You will meet a person who may turn out to be more than just a friend. You need to fulfill your needs and present your talents. Put your thoughts into some trendy new ideas. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Don't take advantage of your expense account. Don't overspend on luxury items. You may have more people on your domestic scene than anticipated. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Your domestic scene could continue to be in an uproar today. Your charm will attract someone special. Be prudent and don't be led down the garden path.

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Kaieteur News

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You can spend a passionate evening with someone you cherish if you make your plans early. Opportunities for travel and communication are evident. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Don't allow your lover to take advantage of your good nature. Entertainment should include your whole family. You will have the ability to capture the interest of others. SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Your emotional state will vacillate You may want to get involved in some kind of creative group. Direct your energy into physical exertion. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Try to channel your energy into professional endeavors. You just hate waste, and when someone else costs you dearly you see red. Voice your opinions and contribute to the debate. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) INew romantic partners may attend a function that puts you in the limelight. You need to look into new philosophies. Uncertainties are still prevailing. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Relax and enjoy what you've accomplished when you're finished. Get into fitness programs to keep in shape. Your ambitious mood may not go over well with loved ones. It will be all around you.

Warriors defeat Knicks with... (From page 29) finale Saturday night in Denver. Kristaps Porzingis, who had totaled 60 points and 20 rebounds in his previous two games, had only eight points and five rebounds in 34 minutes against the Warriors. The Warriors assisted on all 26 of their first-half baskets en route to a 59-45 advantage, then busted the game wide open 14-point run that opened an 83-58 late with

Red Force shot... (From page 28) Gudakesh Motie to the square leg boundary. Primus, who batted 65 balls, 71 minutes and reached the boundary seven times, was caught and bowled by Permaul, one of five bowlers with 300 Regional First-Class wickets, on the stroke of Tea at 117-7. After the break, Katwaroo (24) dumped Motie for a couple of boundaries in the same over before he was trapped lbw by Permaul, who removed Marlon Richards (4) nine runs later at 159-9. Motie finished off the innings by getting rid of Khary Pierre (17) to give the Jaguars three bowling in addition another point for their pacers taking five wickets. Play will start at 09:00hrs today to make up for time lost yesterday.

3:21 remaining in the third period. Four different Warriors had baskets and four had assists in the run, which featured a dunk and layup by McGee, 3-pointers by Thompson and Curry, and a three-point play by Thompson. McGee’s previous scoring high this season had been 11. He made eight of his 10 shots. The Warriors hit 45 of their 96 shots, while New York was held to 41.3 percent from the field. Brandon Jennings, start-

ing in place of Rose, added 10 points for the Knicks. Willy Hernangomez and Joakim Noah had 10 rebounds apiece. The Knicks hung around early, down just 42-37 at the midpoint of the second quarter, thanks in large part to Curry’s scoreless first 18 1/2 minutes. But once the twotime Most Valuable Player got involved, the game quickly got one-sided. Curry’s first basket, a 3pointer at the 5:34 mark of the second period, began a 17-8 burst. Curry added a second 3-pointer before period’s end.

League, players reach... (From page 31) touches. Recent reports have said features of the new deal include a more detailed domestic-violence policy, tweaks to the drug-testing procedure and a shortened preseason that offers flexibility with regular season scheduling and could lead to more days off between games. The negotiations were in stark contrast to 2011 when talks collapsed, triggering the lockout and tit-for-tat antitrust legal action that ulti-

mately cost both sides millions of dollars. The agreement comes with the NBA at an all-time high in terms of popularity and both sides fully aware that another work stoppage would not have benefited anyone. Earlier this year Forbes said the average NBA team’s value rose to $1.25 billion, a jump of 13 percent from the prior year that was driven primarily by media and sponsorship deals being renewed at double or even quadruple the previous amounts.

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Australia seamers put Pakistan on the ropes

Josh Hazlewood struck twice in two balls, Australia v Pakistan, 1st Test, Brisbane, 2nd day, ©AFP (Reuters) A rampaging Australian pace attack took control of the first day-night test in Brisbane, leaving Pakistan reeling at 97 for eight at the close of day two yesterday, still 133 runs short of avoiding the followon. On a manic day of pink ball cricket, 15 wickets tumbled at the Gabba but rookie batsman Peter Handscomb stood firm to score a maiden century in his second test and drove Australia to an imposing first innings total of 429. “Obviously a great day for the team,” said Handscomb after his superb knock of 105. “The bowlers have been great. I think tomorrow is about getting those first two wickets as quickly and cheaply as we can.” Pakistan wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed showed defiance wanting in his team mates to be unbeaten on 31 at stumps, with tail-ender Mohammad Amir eight not out. Bruised after an opening day in which Australia piled on 288-3, Pakistan’s seamers battled hard to drag their side into the game, but their

batting team mates froze in the flood-lights of the final session. Having moved to 43-1 after a cautious first hour, Pakistan lost five for 13 in a hurry as Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Jackson Bird combined in a devastating pace assault. Hazlewood and Starc had three wickets apiece, with Bird grabbing two for a miserly seven runs from his nine overs. Starc struck first in the fifth over to remove Azhar Ali for five when the opener edged a lead-footed drive to the slips where Usman Khawaja dived forward and to his left to take a fine, low catch. Number three batsman Babar Azam and opener Sami Aslam dug in for an hour before Hazlewood had Babar caught behind for 19. Younus Khan was caught behind for a duck off Hazlewood and captain Misbah-ul-Haq (4) and Ashad Shafiq (2) joined him in the dressing room shortly after. Wahab Riaz and Yasir Shah managed only one run apiece before Sarfraz and Amir showed fight in their

late 30-run stand. Although Wahab and Amir earlier finished with four wickets apiece to limit Australia to 429, it was another poor day in the field for Pakistan, with two dropped catches. Handscomb, however, needed no reprieves in his determined 240-ball knock. Sharing in a 172-run partnership with captain Steve Smith, the 25-year-old rookie’s innings was all the more impressive as wickets tumbled around him. He hammered legspinner Yasir Shah over the long-on boundary for six to move to 97, then completed his ton in style, smashing a square drive off seamer Amir for four. He was bowled after tea by Wahab, chopping onto his stumps, but Pakistan were further frustrated by a feisty 10th wicket stand of 49 runs between Nathan Lyon (29) and Bird (19 not out). Scores: Pakistan 8 for 97 (Sarfraz 31*, Hazlewood 3-19, Starc 3-45, Bird 2-7) trail Australia 429 (Smith 130, Handscomb 105, Renshaw 71, Wahab 4-89, Amir 4-97) by 332 runs.

City vs Berbice double header... (From page 30) Demerara’s Golden Stars on Wednesday night last at the Golden Grove ground, East

Coast Demerara. The home side’s quest for victory will be centered around Akeem Bollers, Dane Johnson, Devon James, Adrian B e s s , A l w i n Reynolds, Ron Wilson, Edmar Semple, Kevin D e y, X a v i e r F r a s e r , Meeshak Lopez, Derrick Ta y l o r, L a m a r R e i d , Xavier Johnson, Jarrel Rajgopaul, Roger Crandon, Aquel Henry,

Avion Kendall, Mustapha Nicholson, Trevon Hazel, Andre Charles, Jason DeJonge and Herman Denny. Meanwhile, the GFC ground will host tomorrow’s double header which will see Santos opposing Herstelling Raiders from 18:30hrs to be followed by a clash between Western Tigers and Flamingo.

Saturday December 17, 2016

Kharag Family and Metro throws support behind KMTC Boxing Day Meet The Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) of Bush Lot, Farm Corentyne Berbice has for the umpteenth time garnered the support of the Kharag family through the Metro Office and Computer Supplies for their Boxing Day horserace meet (Monday 26th ) which will be held at Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice starting from 12:00 hrs. The company has committed $1.2M and the first place trophy for the feature B and Lower event. Seven races are carded for the day with prize monies topping the $5.5M mark which includes cash, trophies and other incentives. The feature event will be

for animals classified B and lower for a winning purse of $1.2M and trophy over nine furlongs. The event for E and lower animals has a winning purse of $500,000 and trophy with the distance being six furlongs. The winner of the H and lower event gets $250,000 and trophy in the seven furlongs race. There is a race for 2years-old Guyana Bred animals with the winner set to collect $220,000 and trophy over six furlongs. The J1 and Lower first prize is pegged at $180,000 and trophy also over six furlongs. Animals classified K and lower will be running over 6

furlongs with the winner set to take home $150,000 and trophy. The final event is for the L class non winners over five furlongs with the winner set to gallop away with $130,000 and trophy. Contact can be made with Secretary Niketa Ross on telephone number 6624668 or Roopnarine Matadial (Shine 325-3192, Ivan Dipnarine on 3310316, Justice Cecil Kennard on 623-7609, 225-4818 or 226-1399, Fazal Habibulla on 6577010 , Dennis Deroop on 640-6396‘ or Compton Sancho on 602-1567 for entry and other details. (Samuel Whyte)

3rd Annual Smalta Girls Pee Wee Schools Football Competition

Today’s St. Angela’s and W/Ruimveldt final is a must see -S/ Ruimveldt, St. Pius battle for third place St. Angela’s have set themselves a glorious opportunity to claim both the Girls and Boys titles at the Pee Wee level in the same calendar year if they defeat West Ruimveldt in today’s final of the 3rd Annual Smalta Girls Schools Football Competition, at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue. On the other hand, the consistent West Ruimveldt will have the chance to capture their first title at this level should they be able to get past a tough and disciplined St. Angela’s side. In t h e p l a y o ff f o r third place, South Ruimveldt will oppose St. Pius and this encounter promises to provide sizzling action for the anticipated large crowd that is expected to converge at the venue. In the feature clash, St. Angela’s have already shown that they are a steely unit and one just have to look back at their extra time performance against South Ruimveldt,

coming from behind as well to qualify for the championship game to understand their toughness. Once again the spearhead of their attack Nikasie St. Jules will be aiming to duplicate her semi-final display, while support should come from Carlotta Ross, who scored in the previous game as well. Equally, West Ruimveldt is loaded with firepower and their chances of securing victory will depend heavily on how well players the calibre of Shaqwana Wright, Priscilla Edwards and Gabriella McGarrell perform. The two teams are evenly matched and a terrific

encounter is in the making. In the preceding encounter, choosing a winner is also proving to be a difficult task with both South Ruimveldt and St. Pius losing close battles in their previous games and must be thinking of ending the tournament on a high note for the earlier disappointment. St. Pius holds the edge over their opponents, having escaped with a narrow 32 victory earlier in the competition with Karen Jupiter and Kerry Boyce, being the goalscorers. However, Donna Lowe is also in tremendous goalscoring form and she could have a say too. However, this is a different stage and occasion and with the stakes much higher, anything can happen. The prolific Raven Jacobs will no doubt be asked to lead their attack, but much more support is needed to deny St. Pius victory. The Ministries of Public Health and Education are also on board.

Kaieteur News

Saturday December 17, 2016

Sawpit SC, Zeeburg secure final berths Sawpit SC and Zeeburg have secured their places in the final of the West Demerara Cricket Association T20 tournament after recording victories in their respective semi final games played recently. At Belle Vue, Sawpit SC defeated Rising Stars by nine wickets in a game that was reduced to 10 overs due to rain. Rising Stars took first strike and managed 94-7 with Marvin Cheong scoring 29; Zaheer Khan had 2-14. Sawpit SC responded with 95-1 in 7.2 overs. Zafar Khan struck 39; Cheong took 2-13. At Joe Vieira Park, Zeeburg overcame MetenMeer- Zorg by four wickets. Meten-Meer-Zorg took first turn at the crease and were bowled out for 105 in 19.1

Amrit Rai overs. Zaheer Haniff made 30 while Mahendra Nandkishore got 22. T. Mohamed picked up 3-10 and Richie Looknauth 2-20.

Zeeburg replied with 109-6 in 15 overs. Amrit Rai struck 39; Anil Sookdeo captured 312. Meanwhile, Team B beat Team A by eight runs in a 50over trial game held recently at Canal Number Two to select West Demerara 50over franchise team. Team B batted first and made 179 all out in 32 overs. Yestesh Dhanpaul hit 58, while Malcolm Hubbard got 53 as Marvin Cheong c l a i m e d 4 - 3 0 a n d V. Jadunauth 2-10. Team A responded with 171 all out in 39.3 overs. Balbinder Shivpersaud made 25; Richie Looknauth got 24 and Deoram Chanderbir 19. S. Khan snared 4-40 and A. Safraz 2-5. (Zaheer Mohamed)

FIFA panel upholds one-year ban on ex-German FA head Niersbach (Reuters) FIFA officials have rejected an appeal by former German Football Association (DFB) president Wo l f g a n g N i e r s b a c h , thereby maintaining a oneyear ban on him imposed in July. The German has responded by stepping down from all his football roles. He also said he would not take his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, putting an end to his career as an administrator. Niersbach was suspended by world soccer’s ruling body for failing to report potential misconduct surrounding the award of 2006 World Cup hosting rights to Germany. “The Appeals Committee determined that a one-year ban from taking part in any footballrelated activity at national and international level was adequate in this case,” the FIFA committee said in a statement on Friday. “In consequence Mr Niersbach’s ban for a period of one year is maintained as from 25 July 2016.” The Appeals Committee said he had violated articles related to disclosure, cooperation and conflict of interest. Niersbach, who sat on the FIFA Council and is also a member of the executive committee of European soccer’s governing body UEFA, though currently

Wolfgang Niersbach walks out of the stage during the Extraordinary FIFA Congress in Zurich, Switzerland February 26, 2016. (REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo) suspended, resigned as DFB president in November 2015. “His personal decision ... to accept the consequences of misconduct in the past deserves recognition and respect,” the DFB said. Current president Reinhard Grindel will now campaign for a position on U E FA’ s e x e c u t i v e committee, the DFB added. Niersbach was unable to explain a 6.7 million euros ($7.4 million) payment from G e r m a n Wo r l d C u p organizers to FIFA. A report in May from the investigatory chamber of FIFA’s ethics committee, an independent body, found Niersbach had violated its ethics code. The German repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and

lodged an appeal. He is also under investigation by Frankfurt prosecutors for suspected tax evasion over that specific payment to FIFA. A DFB-commissioned report revealed in March that while there was no evidence of Germany paying FIFA members in return for their votes, payments were made to at least one former FIFA official through a web of accounts involving several other firms or individuals, including Franz Beckenbauer. World Cup-winning player and coach Beckenbauer, who headed the 2006 hosting bid, admitted making mistakes but denied any wrongdoing over the tournament in Germany.

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Hope, Chase brave showers to ease Pride worries – 1st day, 5th round ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC –Shai Hope and Roston Chase dodged the showers to bring stability to Barbados Pride after they ran into early trouble against Windward Islands Volcanoes in the WICB Regional 4-Day Tournament yesterday here. Hope was not out on 34 and Chase was not out on 28, as the Pride reached 101 for three in their first innings at the close on the rain-hit first day of their fifth round match, after they were sent in to bat on a hard, true Windsor Park pitch. The pair of West Indies batsman shared 56 – unbroken – for the fourth wicket, after the Pride stumbled to 45 for three about an hour after the start which was delayed by 3 ¼ hours, due to the weather, which also brought the close about an hour earlier than scheduled. After the delayed start, the Pride suffered an early setback, when Mervin Matthew bowled Anthony Alleyne, the most prolific batsman this season, for his second duck in as many innings in the third over. Omar Phillips got the

scoreboard moving with Hope with little trouble before he pulled a short delivery from Kenroy Peters straight to the mid-wicket fielder and Shamarh Brooks was caught at leg-slip for one off Liam Sebastien, topedging an ill-advised sweep seven balls later. For the remainder of the period before tea, Hope and Chase defied the Volcanoes attack to ease the tension in the Pride dressing room and continued to repel the challenge after the break before the rain came to cut short the day on which only 34.2 overs were possible. Hope however, was fortunate on 11, when he turned a ball from offspin bowler Liam Sebastien, the Volcanoes captain, and short leg fielder Tarryck Gabriel dropped the ball while trying to celebrate. Chase too, had a close shave, when he was still in single figures and played back and across to a

delivery from debutant left-arm chinaman bowler A u d y A l e x a n d e r, b u t umpire Jonathan Blades gave him the benefit of the doubt. Pride made two changes from the previous match, bringing Omar Phillips and clubmate Kenroy Williams into their final 11 in place of the resting Kraigg Brathwaite and out-offavour fast-medium bowler Justin Greaves. Volcanoes made three changes with Roland Cato, Audy Alexander and Kenroy Peters replacing the out-offavour Jerlani Robinson, i n j u r e d S h a n e Shillingford and surprise omission Delorn Johnson. Pride were third in the standings on 43.2 points – eight points more than fifthplaced Volcanoes. Scores: PRIDE 101 for three (Shai Hope 34 not out, Roston Chase 28 not out, Omar Phillips 28) vs VOLCANOES.

Kaieteur News

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Red Force shot out for 162 on truncated day Jaguars 9-0 in reply

Saturday December 17, 2016

Letter to the Sports Editor

Pilgrim attempts to defend the indefensible Dear Editor,

Shemron Hetymer grimaces in pain as a powerful back foot punch from top scorer Roshon Primus off Motie connects with his leg at Providence yesterday. (Sean Devers photo) By Sean Devers On a truncated opening day of the fifth and final round in the Digicel Regional four-day tournament before Christmas between Guyana Jaguars and T&T Red Force, 27 year-old left-arm spinner Ve e r a s a m m y P e r m a u l , bagged 4-31 after left-arm seamer Raymon Reifer (332) and medium pacer Chris Barnwell (2-20) had made early inroads as the Red Force were dismissed for 162 yesterday at Providence. With lights being used for this format for the first

time in Guyana in two years, only 21-year-old Bajan Roshon Primus, who equaled his previous best of 42 that he made against his countrymen, offered resistance on a slow track as no other batsman reached 20. By the close, the Jaguars, needing to bat 11 overs, were nine without loss after a third shower stopped play with 8.5 overs to be bowled. Rajendra Chandrika (8) and Shemron Hetymer (0) were the not out batsmen. Overnight rain caused a 70-minute delay and the Red Force elected to bat before

the team’s best batsman, Bajan Kyle Hope (15) was bowled by one that straightened and kept low after 48 minutes of play in overcast conditions when the score was 28-1. Without addition to the score, Imran Khan (7) was caught by Vishaul Singh at forward square trying to work Barnwell off his legs. With 23-year-old lefthander Isaiah Rajah, in his third game at this level and the more experienced Jason Mohammed at the crease, another heavy shower chased the players off the field nine minutes before Lunch interval and an early Lunch was taken. After 84 minutes were lost in the afternoon session, play resumed at 13:45hrs, Reifer struck in consecutive deliverers when he induced Mohammed (7) to nick a catch to Bramble and had Skipper Yannic Cariah lbw first ball as the Red Force stumbled to 37-4 to the delight of the three spectators in the stands. Rajah hit Barnwell for four and along his Captain Yannick Ottley embarked on ‘operation rebuild’ under cloudy skies before Rajah (12) recklessly tried to pull Barnwell on a low track and was bowled to leave the score on 63-4. Ottley (15) and Primus added 33 for sixth wicket with the latter doing the bulk of the scoring but just when a nice little partnership was building Ottley was removed by Permaul at 96-6. Steven Katwaroo joined the burly Primus and got going with a neat clip off his pads for four off Permaul before Primus swept (Continued on page 25)

It is rare that we dedicate time t o r e s p o n d t o phantom authors like R. Pilgrim, whose letter: “The Kaieteur Sport agenda on Juman Yassin”, was carried in the sports pages of this newspaper on Wednesday, December 15, 2016. We referred to this individual as a ‘phantom’ contributor because a first name was not provided to enable us to establish an identity for the individual, and any track record he/she may have had of contributing to our letter pages. We have never seen this individual contribute to these pages before, which leaves us to believe that he/she was perhaps invented for the mischievous purpose of attempting to undermine our outstanding investigative and incisive work on the marathon run of K. A. Juman Yassin as President of The Guyana Olympic Association (GOA). For new readers, Yassin has been at the helm of that organisation for 20-plus years. We do not usually dignify such writers as Pilgrim with responses for the sole reason that they are not brave enough to disclose their identities, but yet seeks the attention journalism generates as the Fourth Estate. In Pilgrim’s case, it is a pitiable defence of the indefensible, which is simply that the 20-plus years of Yassin has not propelled the development of sports in

Guyana; that the 20-plus years of Yassin has not given Guyana any Olympic medals; that the 20-plus years of Yassin has failed to support athletes tangibly outside of the IOC Elite Athlete Grant; that we do not know who were/are the beneficiaries of this grant; that we do not know how much has been expended to-date on the GOA Headquarters etc. This list could go on, but due consideration must be given to space. Those were facts that took us in many different directions, and it is unfortunate that Pilgrim could not comprehend those directions, but rather saw “the same old lame story every few days”. What Pilgrim failed to provide in his letter is a comprehensive comparative analysis of the articles to show readers where we were repetitive apart from background details when necessary. Such an analysis would have strengthened his/her argument, but instead we are forced to respond to an emotional rant that used the chilling imagery of slavery: “lynch mob”, which was completely out of context. Unfortunately, Pilgrim’s letter found space in the nation’s leading newspaper one that prides itself in being a pioneer in investigative work. This fact about Kaieteur News nullifies Pilgrim’s weak assertion that because other media houses have not followed suit to put the microscope on the tenure of Ya s s i n , w e w e r e / a r e

ineffective. Pilgrim in his attempt to discredit our work tried to hoodwink this nation when he stated that no other media house had taken umbrage with Yassin’s unproductive reign. This is simply false since at least three other media entities had carried stories on the issue. This reply only comes in wake of Pilgrim’s direct attack on the Kaieteur Sports Department in his letter - one that should have, under normal circumstances, elicited an Editor’s note. However, we would like to challenge Pilgrim in his/her next contribution to inform readers of some of the major achievements of Yassin and thus offer more justification for his/her so far stifled defence of the incumbent GOA President. For now, what we have from Pilgrim is a barefaced attack on Kaieteur Sports Department for its outstanding insightful investigative work leading up to the Elections of a major sports organisation in Guyana - a normal practice in any other part of the world. Pilgrim must be reminded that it was Andrew Jennings, one of the world’s foremost investigative sports journalists whose body of work pertaining to the a t r o c i t i e s o f F I FA , initiated the downfall of t h e p r e v i o u s l y i n d o m i t a b l e F I FA hierarchy, including Sepp Blatter, Jack Warner and Jeffrey Webb et al. For Pilgrim’s edification, he could research the inspiring work of Jennings. Respectfully, Edison Jefford and Rawle Welch

DCC congratulates Dowlin In a release the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) has offered congratulations to Travis Dowlin on his appointment as a WICB selector. Here is the full text of the release: “It is with a feeling of consummate joy that the President, Executive and Members of the Demerara Cricket Club ( D C C ) e x p r e s s congratulations to Travis Dowlin on his preferment as a Selector of the West

Indies Cricket Board. Travis served as a Captain of the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), Guyana and West Indies ‘A’ Team on tour to Bangladesh just before his retirement. He also represented West Indies at Te s t l e v e l , O n e D a y Internationals and in T20 format, and will no doubt use the experience gained his selectorial role. For our part, it is all the more gratifying when one

consi d e r s t h a t t h e Demerara Cricket Club ( D C C ) w a s t h e foundation of his Cricketing nurture and as fellow members of his “alma mater” we feel a distinct sense of pride, honour and achievement of one of its protégés. We l l d o n e ‘ Tr a v i s Dowlin’ you continue to make Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) and all Guyana proud in this new career path.”

Saturday December 17, 2016

Kaieteur News

Warriors defeat Knicks with teamwork (The Sports Xchange) The Golden State Warriors passed circles around the N e w Yo r k K n i c k s o n Thursday night, assisting on their first 36 baskets over 35 minutes in a 103-90 victory over the undermanned Eastern Conference squad. Klay Thompson had a game-high 25 points and JaVale McGee dropped in 17 in a rare start, helping Golden State improve to 7-0 against Eastern teams this season with a fifth straight win over the Knicks. The Warriors recorded assists on every basket until the string broken late in the third period by a driving hoop by reserve guard Ian Clark. The 41 total assists gave Golden State (23-4) at least 30 in 19 of their 27 games this season. No other NBA team has reached 30 more than four times. The Warriors topped 40 assists three times this season, becoming the first team to do so since the 199697 Chicago Bulls. Kevin Durant (eight), Stephen Curry (eight) and Draymond Green (seven) led the assist barrage against the Knicks team that was without Carmelo Anthony (bruised right shoulder) and Derrick Rose (sore lower back). Durant nearly recorded a

Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) shoots the basketball against New York Knicks guard Brandon Jennings (3) . (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports) triple-double with 15 points and a game-high 14 rebounds to go with his eight assists. G r e e n g r a b b e d 11 rebounds and totaled only five points. Curry finished with a season-low eight points, but found time for 10 rebounds. Reserves Justin Holiday (15) and Ron Baker (careerhigh 13) were the leading scorers for the Knicks (1412), who fell to 2-2 on a fivegame Western swing that began with a pair of wins. Anthony and Rose are both questionable for the trip (Continued on page 25)

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Kaieteur News

Saturday December 17, 2016

STAG Nations CUP KO Football

City vs Berbice double header showdown set for #5 ground tonight A section of the crowd enjoying football at the #5 ground.

Day three action of the STAG Nations Cup knockout football championship, which features teams from five associations affiliated to the Guyana Football Federation, is set for the #5 ground, West Coast Berbice tonight when round-of-16 actions starts in earnest with quarter final places at stake. It will be a battle between teams from the City who will be going all out to turn back the challenge of the host teams when they face off from 19:00hrs with a match between Cougars and Riddim Squad. The main event brings together Police who will be seeking to arrest their opponents, Rosignol United. Both home teams and the fans will be coming out to ensure that they send their City opponents packing form the competition but the battle has to be won on the field of play. Police have been turning heads ever since returning to competitive football in Georgetown and will fancy their chances of arresting

Rosignol in tonight’s feature match. Rosignol will depend on the likes of Shaimar Arrindell, Darren Charles, Calvin McKenzie, Akeem Rigby, Jason Scott, Mark Wronge, Shane Gangoo, Tevin McKenzie, Desmond Weeks, Keenon Rajgopaul, Keon Rose, Cornel Taylor, Orin Nedd, Lawrence Nedd, Randy Arrindell, Mark M o n t g o m e r y, O s w i n Carmichael, Joshua Fordyce, Curtis Carmichael, Shamar Richmond, Curtis Moore and Odari Chan to deliver a win for them. The opening match will see the East Bank based city team, Riddim Squad throwing down the gauntlet to Cougars in what is anticipated to be a keen contest. The Hope brothers will lead the charge for Riddim Squad, a side that has been among the best in the GFA. Berbice’ Cougars will have a point to prove and would want to emulate fellow Berbice side, New Amsterdam United which knocked out East (Continued on page 26)

Kaieteur News

Saturday December 17, 2016

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Rohan Auto Spares supports KMTC XMAS meet Rohan Auto Spares of 843 Good Hope, Mahaicony and No. 64 Village, Corentyne, Berbice has thrown their support behind the Kennard Memorial Turf Club for the staging of its XMAS race meet. Proprietor of the entity Rohan Booj-Raj presented a

trophy and an undisclosed sum of cash for the feature B and Lower event to KMTC Chairman Cecil Kennard at his office in Brickdam yesterday. Mr. Booj-Raj said that he presented the trophy in memory of his late son Rovin Booj-Raj who passed

away on December 26, 2005. He added that he is happy to support the event and wished the jockeys well. Chairman of the KMTC Cecil Kennard thanked BoojRaj and family for his support and spoke about the importance of sponsorship in

Chairman of the KMTC Cecil Kennard (2nd from right) accepts the trophy and from Rohan Booj-Raj (2nd from left) in the presence of Zulika Booj-Raj (center) and children of the late Rovin, Sherisa Booj-Raj (right) and Avanindra Booj-Raj.

League, players reach tentative new labour agreement (Reuters) The National Basketball Association (NBA) and union representing its players have reached a tentative deal on a new collective bargaining agreement, the two sides said on Wednesday. In order to give each side enough time to review the deal, the NBA and NBA Players Association agreed to extend its mutual deadline to opt out of the existing CBA, which was Thursday at 11:59 p.m. ET (0459 GMT), to Jan. 13. Specific terms of the tentative labour deal will be made available at a later date, the two sides said in a joint statement. Had either side opted out of the current 10-year agreement and failed to reach a new deal by July 1 the league would have faced its first work stoppage since a five-month lockout cut short the 2011-12 season. The league and union had made significant progress on the main points of contention and the only remaining work over the last few weeks dealt mostly with the finishing (Continued on page 25)

sports. He added that Entries will be closed on Sunday and turfites can expect an action packed day since the track is in good shape. The event will be held on December 26 at Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne. The winner of the B and Lower race

which covers a distance of 9 furs will take home a trophy and $1,200,000, the runner up $600,000, third place $300,000, fourth place $150,000 and fifth $128,000. The races will be run under the rules of the KMTC and owners of horses must

pay at least $5,000 for each horse at the time of entry. Entries can be made with Roopnarine Matadial of Ivan Dipnarine on 331-0316, Mr. Kennard on 623-7609, 225 4818, Fazal Habibulla on 657 7010 or Dennis Deroop on 640 6396. (Zaheer Mohamed)

t r o Sp

Red Force shot out for 162 on truncated day Jaguars 9-0 in reply

Raymon Reifer is elated as he bowled fellow Bajan Kyle Hope at Providence yesterday. (Photos by Sean Devers)

3rd Annual Smalta Girls Pee Wee Schools Football Competition

Today’s St. Angela’s and W/Ruimveldt final is a must see

-S/ Ruimveldt, St. Pius battle for third place

Part of the action in this year’s Smalta Girls Pee Wee Schools Football Competition Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210