Sunday December 01, 2019
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Kaieteur News
Kaieteur M@ilbox
Kaieteur M@ilbox
The Ministry of Education emphatically rejects the hasty conclusions on this issue DEAR EDITOR, The Ministry of Education, has noted with grave concern a number of outrageous statements made regarding an incident that occurred at a City School involving two students and in particular letters published on Saturday November 30, 2019 by Stabroek News under the headline” Ministry of Education and its officials must explore their ignorance of dynamics of gender-based violence” and Kaieteur News “It seems the Ministry of Education thinks this is all “normal” … Apologise to the girl now Minister.” The Ministry of Education emphatically rejects these hasty conclusions contained in the letters and wishes to reassure this nation that the Ministry of Education, immediately intervened and handled the matter to the best of its ability when the matter came to its attention. Many reports made to the public seem to have their genesis in personal opinions, emotions and perspectives on the matter. The Ministry of Education has related information to the media which has in some instances been misquoted whether mistakenly or blatantly. However, the Ministry of
Education wishes to place the matter in its proper perspective, while at the same time recognizing that since the matter involves two minors according to law, the information divulged must not in any way interfere with the privacy of the children and their families. It must be noted that matters of this nature are subjected to confidentiality, privacy and sensitivity. The investigation revealed several social constructs that are at play, including gender, protection of orphans and vulnerable children, bullying, security and safety of students and physical violence. Having met with the student population and teachers of the School on the 28th November 2019. The Education Minister subsequently met individually with students involved and their parents/ guardian to delve deeper into the matter. Based on the information provided, it is quite apparent that both students are in need of counselling support because of their own individual circumstances and the Ministry has committed to providing the same. Both students admitted that their respective actions
would have contributed to the incident and contrary to the claims made in the letters, by Friday, November 29, 2019, the Ministry took a number of actions including: 1. Meeting with the parents and guardian of the children to address the matter 2. Having the students apologise for their behaviour 3. Providing anger management, conflict resolution and other supportive services 4. Reprimanding the students involved in the incident 5. Suspension with counselling and other referral services where applicable Additionally, the students and their parents/guardians have committed to improving their own shortcomings, doing their utmost towards ensuring there will not be a recurrence of any such incident and moving forward in an amicable and peaceful manner. More importantly, the Ministry of Education has committed to providing any and all support that both
parties would need to ensure that their respective commitments are realized. The Ministry wishes to advise all of its stakeholders including the media to engage in responsible reporting since this is an imperative expected from this fraternity. Let us be responsible citizens and work collectively to build a better Guyana. The Ministry of Education condemns in the strongest possible way the unfortunate and unacceptable incident which occurred at the Winfer Gardens Primary School on Wednesday, November 27, 2019 between a teacher and a parent. This matter has been promptly placed for attention and action by the Guyana
Police Force since it is criminal in nature. Several internal approaches including strengthening of security at schools are being adopted by the Ministry in an effort to deal with this matter without prejudicing the ongoing investigations which have been launched by the Guyana Police Force. The Ministry wishes to assure the public that the security and well-being of its teachers and students are of paramount importance. The Ministry in the same vein wishes to remind parents to ensure that they always act responsibly as they are the first role models for their children. Teachers are also reminded to always act in accordance with policies,
rules and due procedures that have been established by the Ministry of Education. The Ministry cannot, and will not tolerate violence in our schools. It is our collective responsibility as Guyanese to ensure that our schools are safe spaces for learning and teaching. The Ministry of Education, therefore, call on all stakeholders including parents, communities and law enforcement agencies to play their roles to ensure that together we raise caring, responsible citizens and that our schools are protected from the social ills that threaten to undermine them. Yours Respectfully The Ministry of Education
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Sunday December 01, 2019
Kaieteur News
Kaieteur M@ilbox
Kaieteur M@ilbox
I applaud this 10-point proposal We need to learn from our the Development of Guyana mistakes before approving any... for DEAR EDITOR, to as the Senate secure their seats through
From page 4 It is Guyana’s oil, not theirs - therefore Guyanese authorities must question and verify their statements. If you have been at a car dealership you may have experienced the salesman trying to buy you lunch. He knows if he can do you a small favour that the likelihood of him gaining a sale will increase significantly. As Wikipedia states,” Reciprocity is not only a strong determining factor of human behaviour; it is a powerful method for gaining one’s compliance with a request. The rule of reciprocity has the power to trigger feelings of indebtedness even when faced with an uninvited favor and irrespective of liking the person who executed the favor.” Exxon is spending money
on University of Guyana and local sporting events. But the money Exxon outlays in these instances are usually just a few million dollars. There have been numerous articles in the press about the tens of billions of US dollars we are being shortchanged on the oil contracts. Exxon is not a charity but a finely tuned business machine, thus we have to question its social motives. Are we accepting trinkets for our ‘black gold’? The social psychology trick that seems to work best is scarcity. We have all fallen for the limited time sale. The salesman knocks on your door pitching a one day special with limited quantity. He may create a sense of urgency by saying if you don’t take the
deal then your neighbour may get the last one. There are now cooling off period laws in America and Europe to prevent their citizens from falling for these urgency trap sales tactics. We likely fell for this scheme when we signed the 2016 Stabroek PSA. These psychology tricks are not new but they work best against the uninitiated. The oil companies appear to be pressuring the government to approve the Payara project. Before we proceed with anymore approvals, we should have a “cool off” period to understand where certain psychology tricks have been used. We need to make a checklist to mitigate these psychology tricks. The oil companies are in a rush to pump oil to pocket their Christmas bonuses but when will we receive ours? If there is one lesson, we should learn from this debacle with the oil contracts, it is that we should take our time to carefully vet future approvals. Darshanand Khusial on behalf of OGGN
Any conversation that seeks to improve our system of governance and create a more inclusive and prosperous environment for the citizens is encouraging. I see such an effort in the address delivered last Thursday by Nicholas Deygoo-Boyer, President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) in marking the organisation’s 130th anniversary. Having read coverage surrounding the presentation, I applaud the 10-point proposal for the Development of Guyana in what the organisation believes “… will address the major structural issues in our economy.” Refer to ‘City Chamber wants single development plan, restoration of PM as head of gov’t’ (29th November online edition). In many respects the 10 points contain elements not unlike that of the Guyana Trades Union Congress’ (GTUC) 19-point agenda presented to the nation, President David Granger and Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo in March of this year. There is conversion of interest to realise a better Guyana which communicates that even in diversity there is commonality. Identifying common ground is a human strength in building synergies which we must capitalise on. The above being said, the opportunity is taken to address the areas on Governance in the presentation as reported1. A “split Parliament system in to a lower and upper house, with the lower house being elected at local government elections.” This is something new. There exists uncertainty how the proposed structure could work in our system of National, Regional and Local Government. At the Legislative level Members, though coming from a single list, are elected under two criterion- i..e the National and Regional components where the latter are the representatives of the respective 10 administrative regions, with two coming from each region. The GTUC has proposed that the Representation of the People Act be amended to allow for such Members to be directly elected from the people in the respective region. In the case of the Caribbean where countries have a lower and upper house, members of the upper house, which is referred
appointment not election. In the United States (U.S) these members are elected. 2. “Limiting Powers of the President to a Constitutional Function such as in Trinidad and Tobago, and placing the executive functions with the Prime Minister.” Unlike Trinidad and Tobago where sovereignty resides in the Crown, in Guyana sovereignty is vested in the people as stipulated by the Constitution. Our Republic is unlike Trinidad and more mirrors a model similar to the U.S where the President is Head of Government and Head of State. The Trinidad model would mean taking away sovereignty from the people and making them subjects of the Crown. The President in Trinidad has non-executive duties as a result of a governance structure where the Crown (i.e. the United Kingdom) is the Head of State and the Prime Minister the Head of Government. Trinidad’s President is the Crown’s local representative and functions on behalf of the Queen. 3. “Changing the structure of Ministries so that the Permanent Secretaries are in charge of operations, and Ministers are in charge of policy and direction.” This structure currently exists. What has been happening is that successive governments, private agencies and citizens have not allowed it to work. On many occasions businesses and citizens entice and encourage politicians to undermine the structure in pursuit of self-interest. What we may need is strong oversight institutions, inclusive of severe penalties, to serve as deterrence to its undermining. There is agreement in improving “ the judicial system through increased training for police prosecutors, and IT system implementation.” On GECOM structure, when it was implemented it was intended to be temporary not permanent; and on term limit for constitutional office holders, such is not beyond review. The media did not elaborate on the other nine points in the proposal and efforts will be made to secure a copy. The fact that Deygoo-Boyer has used the public space to speak to these issues is commendable and he is being encouraged to continue the dialogue. Lincoln Lewis
Sunday December 01, 2019
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Kaieteur News
Kaieteur M@ilbox
Kaieteur M@ilbox
Elections monitoring process should commence long before elections day DEAR EDITOR, The accreditation of overseas and local observers to the upcoming general and regional elections is most reassuring. The Carter Centre in particular has over the years played a pivotal role in the democratization process and expectations are high that it will continue to play that watchdog role in forthcoming elections. The same is also true of the Commonwealth Secretariat, the European
Union, the Organization of American States and the Caricom Secretariat. Elections must not only be free and fair but must also be seen to be free and fair. This is why the elections monitoring process should commence long before elections day and must take into account variables such as campaign financing, the role of the media, in particular the state media in the coverage of elections-related issues, the use of state
resources for electioneering purposes among others. One of the hallmarks of credible elections is the creation of a level playing field so that all parties, both small and large can be provided with an equal chance of succeeding at the polls. We have had some bad experiences in the past where there were instances where the losing party refused to accept the results despite the fact that the elections were
declared credible by observers, both local and foreign. I think that all contesting parties should agree to a signed protocol that once the results of the elections are certified free and fair by the observer groups then it becomes obligatory on the ‘losing’ party or parties to accept the results in good faith. I look forward to a free and fair elections and elections free from fair. Hydar Ally
Republic Bank should compensate customers for time wasted through their faulty service DEAR EDITOR, As a concerned customer of republic bank it is of my strong opinion that the bank compensates customers adequately for time wasted because of their faulty service. Customers in default cannot give excuses to the bank, and banks are not normally lenient in such instances except maybe for
some corporate customers in good standing. It is only logical that Central Bank seeks some sort of monetary related compensation for customers for time wasted due to Republic Bank’s negligence in service. If a survey is done to determine this cost because of time wasted and resources utilized to be
back and forth because of the system backup and faults, it will more than likely be in the millions of dollars. Sorry cannot help at the bank and many customers are turned away daily for miniscule idiocracies by newly trained or inexperienced staff and the bank should not be allowed to only say sorry under such
instances. Central Bank is responsible for indemnifying all banks so that such instances do not occur to the cost of consumers. If they have not done such and are not currently doing so then I recommend the Minister of Finance act immediately in the interest of Guyana. Concerned citizen
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Sunday December 01, 2019
Sunday December 01, 2019
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Kaieteur News
GECOM’s failure to hold elections in 2018 must have repercussions - GCCI By Gary Eleazar The query behind the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) failing to hold an election when called upon—as a result of the successful No Confidence Motion against the government in December 2018—has to be laid at the feet of those in captaincy of the organization such as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Commission. The stinging rebuke of the Commission was had this past week when key members of the domestic business community, met for the Georgetown Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s (GCCI) annual Award Ceremony at the Georgetown, Marriott Hotel. GCCI President, Nicholas Deygoo-Boyer, in addressing the business leaders, pundits, politicians and members of the diplomatic community, juxtaposed the situation with inherent repercussions had the same obtained in the private sector. He recalled for the regional and domestic business leaders that an election that should have happened in March this year, will now take place in March
2020, due to the failure of preparation of the GECOM. According to the GCCI President, “This cannot be overlooked. As leaders in the business world, if any unit we ran failed its mandate, there would have been serious repercussions and investigations launched into why there was a breakdown in the unit not being able to deliver upon its mandated function within the prescribed time.” According to DeygooBoyer, “Given that, the saga on House to House Registration exposed how flawed the current composition of the GECOM Commission is. Guyanese need a better way forward, and not to be held hostage to the battle for power.” Looking forward to the imminent election, the GCCI President said, “We see elections as a chance to have national conversations about who will have the best leadership and policies.” He said too, similarly, GCCI wants to see more diversity and technocrats at the operations level of Government, leaning towards more professional management of the government institutions and
agencies; as well as less of the retribution for supporters of the losing side - the party that wins our winner takes all elections governs all Guyanese not just its supporters. Deygoo-Boyer also used the occasion to call for the establishment of a code of ethics to be adopted by parties contesting the upcoming Regional and General Elections. “We are encouraging a code of ethics for parties contesting the elections in March. We feel that this is necessary given the contentious nature of our elections and the history of appealing to ethno-security fears that has gone on in past elections,” said DeygooBoyer. “The GCCI feels that elections in the future of Guyana should be about principles and visions for developing our country.” GCCI believes, according to Deygoo-Boyer, that “in order to prepare our country for a new era in its history, we need to have a single all encompassing, nationally bought into development plan, not a plan that will be thrown out at successive elections.”
Dem boys seh...
Soulja Bai shift Rusal shaft to Statia Old people got a saying that some people can do as much as dem want but not fuh as long as dem want. Dem farrin company giving Guyana de kak and poor Guyana don’t know wheh it coming from. But de population growing. Dem boys seh de biggest shaft yet to come is from de oil companies. Everybody know ExxonMobil gun give de biggest one because America is a big country. Guyana has been getting a shaft—Rusal shaft—and Rusal is from Russia. Russia is de biggest country on de planet. Dem been shafting people all over de world, not in every country. Dem does choose dem country according to de leaders. Dem boys seh it got to be that de leaders who accept dem got to love shafts. Rusal come to Guyana and is who bring dem? Jagdeo. He come out and Donald continue to tek de shaft. Donald come out and lef de shaft fuh Soulja Bai but he smell de rat. He seh he too old to be shafted suh he put Godfrey, de Statia Man pun dem. He
job is to reduce Rusal shaft. Dem boys seh if Soulja Bai didn’t spot that shaft every man, woman and child would have been churning out pickney all across Guyana. Rusal deh in this country fuh 11 years now. Dem been digging out de bauxite, gold and diamond 24 hours a day. Dem threaten de local workers; treat dem like dogs, underpay dem and still dem seh dem never mek a profit. And all because dem had to pay Guyana 10 per cent of de
profits. Now that de Statia man realize wha going on wid Rusal de company playing dead to see wha funeral dem gun get. Dem boys seh dem gun get a rude awakening. Talk half and look fuh more exposures on dem odda farrin hinvestors.
He said, “This transformative plan must address the structural issues
in our economy that will allow us to be a shining example for our region and for the world
in the case of how small states deal with windfall natural resource exploitation.”
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Sunday December 01, 2019
Kaieteur News
In wake of hundreds of complaints…
NIS promises to boost investigative, other capacities In wake of hundreds of complaints and queries the National Insurance Scheme, (NIS) has promised to boost investigative and customer care capacities of the Scheme. General Manager of NIS, Holly Greaves, spoke to Kaieteur News recently following reports that the Scheme has seen notable complaints particularly as it relates to payments of senior citizens. Greaves noted that NIS is cognizant of the concerns, and has moved to boost the capacity.
“We have a lot of complaints but NIS has been putting systems in place to address the queries and complaints. We have a customer care department, a public relations department, and our investigative unit is also in place. NIS also has a website where people can live chat with a customer service representative and even check on their contributions.” Greaves said however that given the amount of complaints NIS receives on a daily basis the Scheme challenged to address the
concerns as promptly as the costumer may desire. “For instance, NIS has two investigative officers to deal with queries about benefits and pension and the information is not always readily available so that is challenge,” Greaves said in response to concerns over cases recently publicized in the news. She stressed nonetheless that the Scheme continues to work to change the situation. “NIS is aware of the shortcomings and we are working to address them.”
At present (NIS) has 52, 944 pensioners on roll. Of this amount, 39,008 are in receipt of old age pension; this number consisted of 11,736 overseas old age pensioners and 27,272 local old age pensioners. In an interview earlier this year, Greaves noted that 25,590 old age pensioners were in receipt of a minimum pension–$32,100 which represents 50 percent of the minimum wage, as at August, 2019. Giving a breakdown, Greaves had explained that the scheme also comprised of 79,852 short term claims and 2,577 long term claims. “Of the amount received 78,504 or 95.2% were processed and paid. Of the
$1.7 billion budgeted for short term benefits in 2019, the Scheme has already expended $960M. The main contributing factor to this expenditure line is the $391M already spent on Medical Care expenses as at August 2019,” the General Manager said. She related that of significance is the rising cost to the Scheme for some Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as Hypertension, Diabetes mellitus, Cancer, Degenerative Heart Disease and Respiratory Infection. As at August 2019 reimbursement for these five categories totaled $262,663,459, she added. Greaves, nevertheless
NIS’s General Manager, Holly Greaves added, “There is hardly a family, in Guyana which does not have one or more members receiving benefits, usually an aging parent or grandparent. It is evident that the safety net provided by this institution plays an important role in the socioeconomic fabric of our society.” “The challenges we face are real and will not be met easily in a short space in time. But we will continue to reaffirm our commitment to provide the best service to the contributors and pensioners. “We have before us the task to ensure that this institution is not only maintained, but developed to meet the future needs of the society.”
Sunday December 01, 2019
Kaieteur News
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Sunday December 01, 2019
Kaieteur News
Foreign Affairs Director-General, Public Service PS transferred Two senior heads have been transferred in what Government says is a “rebalancing” of two ministries. Transferred effective today is a long-serving Foreign Ministry staffer, Audrey Jardine-Waddell, and Permanent Secretary of the Public Service Ministry, Karen Vansluytman-Corbin. Jardine-Waddell is the current Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the second most powerful position after the Minister, Dr. Karen Cummings. Ms. JardineWaddell was charged with being responsible for the ambassadors of Guyana and the running of the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Yesterday, DirectorGeneral of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, confirmed the moves of the officials. In response to query, he said: “This is a rebalancing of the ministries. Both ministries are with new ministers and there is need to ensure synergy in the ministries.”
Transferred: Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Audrey Jardine-Waddell He did not immediately say where the two officials have been transferred to. Jardine had taken over from Elisabeth Harper who resigned in 2015 to contest the general elections as the Prime Ministerial candidate for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic. Sources indicated that President David Granger has been pushing for modernizing the public service with younger blood with a major
Transferred: Permanent Secretary, Karen Vansluytman-Corbin
reshuffling of the permanent secretaries taking place early in the life of the administration. In May, President Granger swore in Cummings as the new Foreign Affairs Minister. She replaced Carl Greenidge who was forced to resign after an Appeal Court ruling that barred persons with dual citizenships from being Members of Parliament, and by extension, ministers of the government.
Haimraj Rajkumar was also then sworn in as the new Minister of Business while Tabitha Sarabo-Halley was assigned the Minister of Public Service portfolio. The top ministers who had resigned also were Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; Foreign Minister Carl Greenidge; Minister in charge of Public Service, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine and Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin.
Sunday December 01, 2019
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Kaieteur News
Sueria’s ‘Sleepy Diaper’ Christmas Man arrested for playing with gun outside market promotion attracts hundreds Sueria Manufacturing Inc., the Sole Distributor of Sleepy Diapers, launched its first Christmas ‘Sleepy Diaper’ Promotion of $1million CASH on November 10. Sleepy is the number one selling diaper of choice for Mommies and Daddies who look for the BEST, not only in Guyana, but all over the world. The Million-Dollar Baby promotion has raked in hundreds of entries thus far,
with an average of 50 entries per day. It has attracted babies as young as 11 days old, from every corner of Guyana. Details of entries are as follows: Ø Take a creative photo or video of your baby wearing either Sleepy Jeans, Sleepy Training Pants or a Sleepy Sensitive diaper. Ø Submit to our Sleepy South America Facebook Page via box and
we will upload your video or photo for voting. Ø Winner(s) will be selected based on photo or video with most likes of $500,000 CASH and $500,000 cash shares. Promotion will conclude on December 24, 2019 at 10am. For more details on our Sleepy Diaper promotion, kindly contact Sueria Manufacturing at Tel # 2332473.
Man who boasted he cannot be arrested, now on $30,000 bail A businessman who recently boasted that he cannot be arrested by the police has been charged and taken before the courts for assault. He pleaded not guilty and was released on $30,000 bail. Lalta Bisnauth denied the charge which alleged that on November 20, at Bartica, he unlawfully assaulted Randy Peters, a labourer, so as to cause him actual bodily harm. Bisnauth was arraigned before Magistrate Rushell Liverpool. The businessman is to return to court on January 15, 2020.
According to reports, on the day in question, Bisnauth and Peters were at Futus Bar imbibing alcohol. A fight broke out between a friend of Peter’s father and another man. Peters intervened but was approached by the businessman who cuffed him to the face; he sustained minor injuries. A report was made to the police. Based on reports, when police ranks went to arrest the businessman he hurled expletives at them. One of the police ranks used his
mobile phone and recorded Bisnauth saying “he is a bad man and cannot be arrested by the police.” Ranks left but returned the following day at Bisnauth’s home and apprehended him. A friend of the Complainant became outraged after he learnt that Bisnauth was not charged for resisting arrest. However, Regional Commander, Linden lord said that Bisnauth cannot be charged for resisting arrest since his ranks made no attempts to arrest him.
A 34-year-old Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD) resident is now in hot water after he was reportedly caught flaunting his licensed firearm at the Stabroek Market last Friday. The incident occurred around 18:30hrs while
police ranks were carrying out a search at the municipal market. The man reportedly works as a security guard attached to a mining company. He was subsequently arrested by police officers and taken to the Brickdam Police Station where he is in custody assisting with the probe.
Police sources indicated to this publication that prior to this incident, numerous reports were made at a station accusing the security guard of usually playing with the gun at the market place. According to reports he also had in his position sixteen live rounds of ammunition.
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Sunday December 01, 2019
A chosen generation
Minster of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes and Headmistress Sharon Savory with the 2019 graduating class of Vreed-en Hoop Secondary School
Emotions ran high and tears were shed at Vreed-en Hoop Secondary’s 2019 graduation on Thursday. This ceremonial event featured 38 graduates and presented awards to students with astonishing academic and athletic achievements, as well as extraordinary teachers. Vreed-en Hoop Secondary crowned its 2019 valedictorian, Emmanuel Harry, and its second-best graduating student, Devanie Persaud. Emmanuel Harry, 18, a science student, completed seven subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC) exams. Henry explained how he overcame his challenges and how wonderful he felt upon graduating. “One of my challenges was that if I didn’t work hard enough, I would’ve failed so I had to find time within my busy schedule to study to do well.” Harry has applied to do Nursing at a professional level. Devanie Persaud, currently a student at the University of Guyana, was unable to a t t e n d h e r graduation due to exams. H e r m o t h e r, E l i z a b e t h Persaud, who was there on her behalf, shared her pride in her daughter ’s achievements. “I’m a very proud mother of four. Two of my kids are at university. [Devanie] worked very hard and studied very hard,” Persaud said. Devanie is currently studying accounting at the university. Special guest, Minister of Public Telecommunications,
Catherine Hughes, extended her gratitude to the parents, teachers and guardians for their support to the 2019 graduating class. “...They really are the chosen generation. They are growing up and entering the next phase of their [lives] at an awesome time, with so many great things happening in Guyana. “That allows them to do so many things. For example, if they want to be an entrepreneur the internet provides them with a global market to sell their products.” The Minister also highlighted the ongoing transformation in Guyana and the fact that the country will need all her skilled citizens to support this development. “I want to see the petroleum engineers, the IT professionals, the programmers all of those skills that Guyana needs and we want to see them here in the next couple of years.” In her report on the school’s 2019 performance, Deputy Headmistress, Lauren Sinclair, shared the school’s plans for 2020. “It shows the commitment for the past five years. Graduation means they have completely graduated from secondary school life and now they step into the world of work. We are working with [next year’s class] and their SBAs, working towards matriculation. One of our objectives is to have more than 50 percent of our students passing Mathematics and English, and [at least] three other subjects in Grades One to Three.” (DPI)
Valedictorian, Emmanuel Harry from Vreed-en Hoop Secondary receives his award from the Headmistress Ms. Sharon Savory
Sunday December 01, 2019
Terrible week for Republic Bank…
Another employee dies in accident Republic Bank has lost another employee in a matter of days to a road accident. Dead is 26-year old Riley Charles Newton of Ruimzeight, West Coast Demerara (WCD). The motorcar PRR 1703 he was driving ran off the road and turned turtle at Leonora,WCD. The accident occurred at around 04:30 hrs yesterday morning while Riley and friends who were travelling to Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE). Police investigations revealed that the men left Georgetown earlier that night but stopped at a bar on the West Coast Demerara where they were seen imbibing. They then left the bar after midnight for Parika where Riley would drop off his friends. However as they were passing Leonora, Riley reportedly swerved out of a lane, lost control and hit the “parapet” before toppling several times. Riley who died on the spot had to be pulled from the wreckage while his friends were taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital. They were
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Caption: Dead Riley Newton discharged with minor injuries. Riley was also a young father of a onemonth old baby. His death comes exactly six days after David Headley, an employee of Republic Bank was killed in an accident along the East Coast Public Road. Headley too was a young father of a newborn baby.
The Toppled car coming to standstill alongside a parked car. ( Wrecked car photo credited to Guyanese critic)
Man further remanded for rape of girl, 10. A man who is being accused of raping a ten-yearold girl was further remanded to prison on Friday, after the prosecution objected to bail. The accused, Christopher Williams, called Chris, appeared before Magistrate Dylon Bess in the Suddie Magistrate’s Court on Friday to answer to the charge. The court heard that on June 2, 2019, Williams, who is from Good Hope, forcefully engaged in
sexual activities with the girl. Wi l l i a m s had previously answered not guilty to the charge on November 15, 2019, and was remanded to prison. His second application for bail was rejected again Friday. The prosecution objected to bail on the grounds that the victim lives within close proximity to the accused. The Prosecution also noted that due to the seriousness of the offence, bail cannot be granted.
Magistrate Bess after considering both cases further remanded the accused to prison. Williams is expected to make his next appearance on January 10, 2020.
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City Hall to carry out routine checks at the Stabroek Bazaar After seizing dozens of expired goods from vendors at the Stabroek market Last Tuesday, City hall has scheduled market
constables to carry out more seizures until the holiday season is passed. Kaieteur News understands that although the vendors continue to argue about the shelf life of the products the market constables are ordered to seize goods that have passed their expiration date. According to a source, this act of seizing goods from market vendors is not
a regular one, however due to the upcoming season a lot of expires goods such as sweets and chocolates have appeared on the market place. And as result, city constables are scheduled to carry out search and seizures every Saturday at the city market with the aim of seizing more expired goods. So that Guyanese can enjoy a healthy holiday.
Picture of Stabroek bazaar
Citizenship Minister denies plot to register foreigners to vote
Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix during the interview with host, Leonard Gildarie on Wednesday There is no plot to register foreigners in a wholesale manner so that they can vote in the coming general and regional elections. This was the assertion made by Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix, who appeared Wednesday on “The Political Show”, hosted on Kaieteur Radio, 99.1FM and 99.5FM. For several months now, the Opposition has been expressing fears that thousands of migrants may be registered in a plot by the administration, ahead of elections. Pointedly questioned about the issue by host, Leonard Gildarie, Felix made it clear that the figures say differently and any marked difference would be spotted. In 2016, three years ago, 192 foreign nationals were registered as citizens, with a significant number of them through marriages. In 2019, for the first eight months, this was 108. With Guyana heading into what has been described as the mother of all elections, with oil and gas at stake, Felix
insisted that there is no credence to the allegations by the Opposition. Elections are slated for March 2. In fact, the Department of Citizenship has gone public, giving figures of those receiving citizenship, all in the spirit of transparency. He said that the “fertile imaginations” of the Opposition is just a waste of time with the establishment of the department justified a hundredfold. According to Felix, the department will stick by its mandate, within the laws, to protect Guyana and there will be no shifting. The new department was announced in 2015 when President David Granger announced his ministers. The department was placed under the Ministry of the Presidency, after being taken from the portfolio of the Ministry of Public Security. Since then, Felix said in justification of the department, there have been a number of passport offices set up in other areas, including Berbice and Linden.
One is being built in Lethem, Region Nine with others planned in Mahdia, Region Eight and Bartica, Region Seven. The decentralization has been a major plus for the department with lines at the passport offices significantly reduced. In fact, said the minister, in Berbice, about 70 persons visit the office there daily. He acknowledged that the work is far from over but a number of actions have significantly improved the delays. Among the actions are that citizens over 65 don’t have to pay for a passport. There was therefore no plot. Rather, there was a “carefully orchestrated plan” by the Coalition Government to improve services to the people, and when it came to passports, this has been done. Eventually, Felix said, the idea is to have all towns offer essential services thus reducing the crowds to city offices. “That is the only plot… to get services into towns…”
Sunday December 01, 2019
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Kaieteur News
---Hinds’ Sight by Dr. David Hinds---
Nine Times: The PPP’s betrayal of Walter Rodney in life and death The WPA family, especially those who were active during the 1970s and 1980s, has had to endure the constant charge from some detractors of the party that we have betrayed Dr. Walter Rodney. One reads that narrative in the press and hears it in other media almost every day. It comes from a small section of the political class, but it is loud enough for all to hear. The danger of such narratives lies in the fact that we live in an era when nonsense and falsehoods become truth once they are repeated often enough. I have argued elsewhere that the constant scrutiny of the WPA must be seen as part of the process of trying to make sense of our Guyanese and Caribbean post-colonial history. The WPA represents an aspect of that history that is as complex as the society itself. But, in the absence of serious interrogation by our scholars and political commentators, and the c o n c o m i t a n t oversimplification of our history into binaries of us versus them, the construction of narratives about the WPA is left to selfserving partisans. Consequently the society is fed with formulations such as these: “The WPA died when Walter Rodney was assassinated”; “The WPA has betrayed Walter Rodney by joining with the PNC”; “Walter Rodney is turning in his grave”; “The WPA has no political support”; “The WPA is an apologist for the PNC”; “Walter Rodney and WPA were terrorists”; “Walter Rodney killed himself”; and “The WPA is irrelevant.” Depending on which detractor you speak to, you will hear one or more of the above formulations. Not one of them is based on any sound analysis or supported by discernable evidence. Yet, some of them have found their way into the popular consciousness. Never mind a close look at the list would reveal serious contradictions.
The perpetrators don’t seem to be aware of or bothered by the fact that a party that has been dead since 1980 or has no membership and support attracts the most scrutiny. The most aggressive antiWPA attacks have come from the PPP and those associated with the thinking of that party. They are the ones who accuse the WPA of betraying Rodney. But closer examination shows that it is the PPP which has been guilty of the crime for which they seek to crucify the PPP. That party has had a problem with the WPA from the time it emerged as a pressure group in 1974. While the PPP was more preoccupied with International Communism, it was the WPA that carried the burden of leading the charge against the PNC dictatorial regime of the day. While the PPP could not lead a multiethnic movement against the regime of the day, it was the WPA that was able to appeal to constituencies across ethnic lines. The WPA was the alternative not just to the PNC regime of that time, but also to the PPP. The PPP now charges the WPA of being in bed with the PNC or the killers of Rodney. But it is the PPP which has betrayed Rodney in life and in death. It must be remembered that the PPP had also accused the PNC regime of being the killers of the Ballot Box martyrs—the three PPP members who were killed while protecting ballot boxes on polling day in 1973. Yet, the PPP entered into talks with the very PNC in 1976 and declared critical support for that very regime which they claimed killed their members. Further, the PPP proposed a power sharing government with that very PNC and even offered the top spot in that government to the then leader of the PNC, Mr. Forbes Burnham. There was no place for Walter Rodney, who Dr. Jagan and the PPP so loved, and for the WPA in that PPP-PNC National Patriotic Front government. Burnham and the PNC eventually
rubbished the proposal. When in 1979 Walter Rodney and the WPA proposed a Government of National Unity and Reconstruction that excluded the PNC, it was the PPP which said that it couldn’t join such a government, partly because it did not include the PNC. Here was the PPP fighting to include the PNC in a coalition at the height of the PNC dictatorship. Let it be known to all the loud mouths who today wash their mouths on the WPA, that our party never engaged the PNC while that party governed Guyana in an authoritarian manner and engaged in electoral malpractice. That mantle goes to the PPP, who was in bed with the party which they claimed killed the Ballot Box Martyrs. That was the second betrayal and marginalization of Rodney. The third betrayal of Walter Rodney by the PPP was that party’s stubborn refusal to join Walter Rodney on the streets as he led the WPA’s Civil Rebellion against the PNC regime in 1979-80. While the WPA leaders whom they now accuse of betraying Rodney were with him facing the full might of the regime, Dr. Jagan, Mrs. Jagan, and all the other PPP leaders were hiding in Freedom House. They left Rodney, who they so loved, to face the bullets. We, his comrades in the WPA, were there with him. Many of us were mere teenagers. The only PPP leader who dared to stand on the WPA platform during that period was Moses Nagamootoo. Give thanks to Moses. A fourth betrayal of Walter Rodney by the PPP was when its leader, Dr. Jagan, mocked Rodney during the 1980 election. As Elder Kwayana reminded us, speaking at Grove on the East Bank Demerara, he told his audience that Rodney had promised Guyanese a Christmas present with his prediction that the government could fall by
The Baccoo Speaks Madness never seems to end on the roads. The spate of accidents, recently, is just one of the continuing trends. There will be yet another road fatality and this is due to drunk driving. A car would ignore the traffic sign and crash into another. ** The police are at the top of their game, but there are
some idiotic young criminals who believe that they will not be caught. They are going to attack
a shopper after trailing him. The police would be right there to make an arrest. ** There will be a river accident. Two boats will collide in the western part of the country during a night time trip. A larger boat will ride over a small craft crossing the river. People in the vicinity will rush to help the hapless passengers.
December 1979, but they instead got his body on a platter. A fifth betrayal of Rodney occurred five years after he was assassinated, when in 1985 the PPP again entered into secret talks with the PNC to form a Power Sharing government. They did not have the common decency to inform the WPA, their then ally in the anti-dictatorial struggle. Those talks, according to PNC participants, were far advanced, but were scuttled by Desmond Hoyte when he assumed power after Burnham’s sudden death. The sixth betrayal of Rodney occurred after the PPP took power in 1992 on the back of the struggle waged by the WPA. After they did nothing to mount an inquiry into Rodney’s murder during their first two years in office, Rodney’s son, Shaka, came to Guyana and mounted a vigil to force that outcome. Dr Jagan asked him what an inquiry into his father’s death would yield, while Mrs. Jagan told him to go home. There was no inquiry. The seventh and biggest betrayal of Rodney by the PPP was their turning the Rodney legacy into the most corrupt and criminalized government in the history of the Anglophone Caribbean.
The PPP took power in 1992 because the WPA and Rodney led the fight for a return of electoral democracy—they were the chief beneficiaries of that struggle. But instead of expanding democracy, the PPP engineered a return to dictatorial rule that surpassed what the PNC did. There were several high-profile assassinations (the Linden Martyrs, Ronald Waddell and Courtney Crum-Ewing) under their watch, even as they pretended to inquire into Rodney’s assassination. An eighth betrayal of Rodney was the mounting of the Commission of Inquiry into his death for largely partisan advantage. It is now common knowledge that the PPP took advantage of the need for such an inquiry to bolster its electoral chances in 2015. The PPP leaders who testified took the opportunity to score points against the PNC, and to drive a wedge between the partners in APNU. That was a most cynical political act. Finally, the PPP has betrayed Walter Rodney for the last three elections by using his name and his memory for racial reasons. Every election the PPP has sought to inject Rodney’s name as a means of dividing African Guyanese. They
Dr David Hinds know that the African Guyanese community is conflicted about Rodney, and they deliberately try to use his name to get them to abandon the coalition. All the demonization of the WPA is aimed at that outcome. The PPP knows that there is a section of the African Guyanese community that responds to Rodney’s praxis. So, by separating him from the WPA, they hope to draw those voters away from the Coalition. It is the worse form of racial manipulation. And they do it in Rodney’s name. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper) More of Dr. Hinds’ writings and commentaries can be found on his YouTube Channel Hinds’ Sight: Dr. David Hinds’ GuyanaCaribbean Politics and on his w e b s i t e www.guyanacaribbeanpolitics.news. Send comments to dhinds6106@aol.com
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Kaieteur News
Sunday December 01, 2019
Silent killer, pair of scissors By Michael Jordan The detectives smelled the stench of fresh blood almost as soon as they entered the three-bedroom house that was Lot 522 Kuru Kururu, Linden/Soesdyke Highway, on the morning of Tuesday, December 11, 2018. That smell, emanating from a blood-soaked rug by the entrance of one bedroom, hinted to what lay inside that room. The cops entered. A man, shirtless, bloody and wearing rolled-up denim pants, lay on his side on a large bed. His legs were on the body of a half-nude woman, who lay at the other side of the bed, with her legs dangling over the edge. The detectives counted about 30 tiny stab wounds; mainly to the face, neck and chest of the female victim. The same number of tiny punctures dotted the man’s stomach. Some of those wounds, they would later learn, had pierced his heart and lungs. The victims were Alvin Blucher, a 48-year-old farmer, and his 34-year-old reputed wife, Naco Malika Hale, a cook. There was no sign of forced entry to the three-
Alvin Blucher
Naco Malika Hale
bedroom, wooden property, and no sign that intruders had ransacked the home looking for valuables. This led some of the ranks to form a shocking conclusion: Killers and victim were one and the same. Blucher and Hale had inflicted the mortal wounds on each other. The couple had four children, and had lived together for some 14 years. Neighbours reportedly often heard them arguing, however, one of Naco Hale’s relatives said that Hale had never complained of Blucher being physically abusive. But Blucher did seem to
have had a temper. In August 2018, he was charged for allegedly wounding his 13year-old son. It is alleged that the couple had argued about the case the night before the tragedy, since Blucher was due to return to court. The family had then retired to bed on the night of December 10, 2018. The following day, one of the couple’s sons found his parents’ mutilated bodies in their bedroom. His screams reportedly alerted neighbours. That report seemed to fit with the theory that Hale and
Blucher had killed each other. But a few days later, a post mortem indicated that one sharp instrument had caused the fatal injuries. That ‘weapon’ appeared to be a pair of scissors that was found in the bedroom. Investigators also concluded that it was virtually impossible for one mortally wounded partner to have had the strength to wrest the weapon away and stab the attacker multiple times. The crime scene also baffled detectives. There were bloody footprints in the bedroom, and a bloodstained rug at the entrance to the door. However, there was no sign of a blood trail leading to either the front or back door to indicate that an attacker had fled the scene. Hoping for some clarity, I contacted a relative of Naco Malika Hale. I ended up even more baffled than before. I was told that while three of the couple’s four children, aged 13, 12, 10 and six, had their own bedrooms, the sixyear-old son had reportedly slept with his parents that night. It was he, the relative said, who had awoken and seen the bodies. Like his siblings, the sixyear-old had apparently slept soundly through the vicious attack. And so, apparently, had the couple’s closest neighbours, who reportedly said they had heard nothing unusual. “The house is a wooden one and well ventilated,” the relative told me. “You would have heard screams coming from that house.” The relative also said she questioned the children, who all refuted reports that their parents had argued the previous night. They did confirm that they had heard Blucher
apparently coaching Hale on what she should say in his defence when he returned to court for allegedly wounding his eldest son. They had reportedly not heard their mother’s responses. And what about motive? I was told that Blucher had disputes with a number of people, including two individuals over some land he had sold. I was also told that he appeared to be extremely possessive, and would sometimes ‘stalk’ his spouse. “People in the area knew there were issues (between the couple).They were not living happy. I learnt that neighbours would often hear them rowing.” I was told that it was possible for someone to have entered the house through an unsecured window in the eldest son’s bedroom. As to the ‘murder weapon’, the relative said that one of the children had found the pair of scissors, sometime ago. The family had kept it. That bit of information ruled out any notion that someone had sneaked into the house, armed only with a pair of scissors, and murdered Alvin Blucher and Naco Malika Hale. Hale’s relative said the suggestion that Blucher might have planned to kill his spouse, and somehow ended up dead, also does not add up. She told me that Blucher had given his spouse money to purchase items for some of the children to take to school for a Christmas party, that was to have been held on December 12.
“If he had planned to kill her, why would he have gone ahead and given her money to buy those things?” the relative asked, adding that she is anxiously seeking closure. So, as strange as it may seem, is it possible that Blucher and Hale had somehow gotten into an argument that had escalated; that one had stabbed the other some 20 or more times, and the wounded partner had somehow wrested the scissors from the attacker and inflicted similar injuries of their own? Did someone somehow sneak into the house, apparently unarmed, find the pair of scissors, and kill Hale and Blucher? But how would the killer have known exactly which bedroom the couple occupied? Or…did someone, at present unknown, intervene while one partner was attacking the other, wrest the pair of scissors from the attacker, and inflict the deadly wounds on that violent partner? That seems a possible theory, but it leads to a conclusion that I find too terrible to contemplate. If you have any information about this case, you can also contact Kaieteur News at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown location. We can be reached on telephone numbers 2258458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or 225-8473. You need not disclose your identity. You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email address: kamarangnight@gmail.com
The slain couple’s home.
Sunday December 01, 2019
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Kaieteur News
==THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN==
Your obligations are only to those who help you Long before I ever dreamt of getting married and fathering a child, there was a particular guiding principle I had in my life. It protected me. It empowered me. It preserved me. I had to pass it on to my only child. In this life, do not be influenced by people’s criticism, snobbery and alienation. Try to please those that care about you. Try to please those that are responsible for your welfare. Consider the criticism of those whom you depend on and who care about you. The rest of the world can go to hell and put their dislike for you where the monkey put the nuts. I have advised my daughter not for a moment to be bothered at what people say about you. You are bound to end up mentally jaded if you listen to what fools, charlatans and the underdeveloped mind have to say about you. Believe in yourself. Show obligation always to those that you owe a precious debt to. I am satisfied when I leave this world that my only kid will not be burdened by the criticism of the average, uninformed mind. People are essentially flawed and selfish. Why should I be bothered with the man or woman who laughs at my hairstyle or my ragged T-shirt. Do I know them? Do I take my plate to them? I have been in the public eye since my freshman days at UG more than forty five years now. I expected to have vilifications, derogations and
worse thrown at me. I have seen them. I remain unmoved. I will remain unmoved. And I will be who I want to be. This is a world where people will dictate your values for you while contemptuously dismissing those very values in their own existence. It is wise to always remember that humans crave their own selfish needs; that is the law of civilization. Someone will snub you because you are argumentative. But those very people will gladly patronize a commercial company if the prices suit them, while ignoring the horrible industrial violations at the said company. That is how they judge life. If in their monthly expenditure at a particular supermarket, they save a few thousand dollars because of the low prices of the items they buy, why you think they care about child labour at that supermarket? This is the nature of Homo sapiens. Long before Karl Marx popularized the class basis of civilized existence, the ancient Greek philosophers wrote about the ruling classes in society and the moral values dominant classes invented to judge other strata. It was left to the brilliant Italian philosopher, Antonio Gramsci, to add a fantastic dimension to Marxist philosophy. Gramsci coined the term “cultural hegemony” to explain the continuing domination of the ruling classes. Gramsci polemicized that the dominant classes
invented a repertoire of mores, moral values, ethical traits that serve their economic and social interests, and they have succeeded in getting the exploited classes to accept these as the national ethos. Culture then is used to preserve class superiority. I have found out in this country that the wealthy classes that manufacture local products do not themselves buy locally produced food items. A fantastic irony! I keep my emotional rage under control when I am in the line at the supermarkets. Foreign fruits, foreign icecream, foreign confectionary, foreign beverages, foreign spices, foreign everything, are stuffed high in the shopping baskets. You think they will be embarrassed if I should enquire why they are so hooked on foreign items? Do you think they care about if I write in the Freddie Kissoon Column what I saw them buying? I told Adam Harris that I met a prominent citizen outside the “Fix It Hardware Store” on Main Street, who is puzzled why I continue to write for the Kaieteur News. He used moral criteria. I was so disgusted that I related it to Harris what he said. I asked him why I should accept his moral criteria in judging people and places, when I can question his associations the same way he questions mine. Then before we parted I made sure I gave
him the perfect response. I asked him if he thinks resourceful Guyanese will flock to me and offer me endless opportunities if I stop my columns. I can well imagine the faces at the supermarkets and the gas stations; “Suh Freddie yuh stop writing maan, take care.” I believe there are good humans in this world, but I
have my doubts how many such people are in Guyana. Tomorrow I will read nasty things in the newspaper about me. I don’t give a damn and never will. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)
Frederick Kissoon
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Kaieteur News
Sunday December 01, 2019
Remembering Sheila Holder ... Founder, Friend, Gift Eulogy by Chairman Raphael Trotman “Sheila Holder was a giant among women, a phenomenal woman and the matriarch who stood protectively over the AFC, her family. Her death on November 20, 2011 left a void that is not easily filled. The Alliance For Change bears the unmistakable mark of her presence and contributions which we have
enshrined as part of our identity. Looking back, I recall when, early in 2005, Khemraj (Ramjattan) and I encouraged Sheila to join us on our political adventure. We had already made a decision (based on) fate and circumstances that thrust us in a direction that would see us leading thousands of likeminded patriots in transforming the political
landscape in a way that was beyond our wildest imagination. Indeed, what we were attempting had not been done before, and the odds and opponents were certainly stacked against us. We recognised as well, that this was not a job for one or two persons, and that we needed to join forces with at least one other to form a ‘triumvirate’.
Sheila Holder proved to be the best person. She was a natural fit for all that was needed. She had already demonstrated strength, charisma and high intellect while representing the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) in the National Assembly, and in her public appearances and engagements while championing consumerism. Best of all, she was a representative of the WPA, a party that we had tremendous respect for. We considered Sheila to be a high–value political prize and we were determined to convince her to join us. In the discussions that followed with Sheila, surprisingly, there were no ‘hard’ negotiations or any clamouring on her part for personal aggrandizement. Instead, she willingly agreed to come alongside us as an equal, on the basis that we would conduct ourselves as different from the three parties we were coming out of. When she finally said “Yes” our political configuration was complete – three dominant political forces (PNC, PPP and WPA) were now, in a manner of speaking, merged into a single force, a Movement that we called the Alliance For Change. Unintentionally and quite naturally, Sheila evolved into the AFC’s mother figure, a positive force who brought order. She insisted on adherence to the rules and respect for the party’s activities. Much to the chagrin of some other women, she was not shy about saying that she was not a modern day
feminist, and had no intention of pretending to be one. Instead, she espoused strong family and civic values and responsibilities, and brought a no-nonsense approach to ethnic relations within the party and in our public pronouncements. No doubt, her disciplined and wholesome upbringing, and her experiences as an adult woman, gave her the strength and confidence to assume the take-charge-andget-it-done attitude that she brought to the AFC. We needed her to do just that, and she did it with an ease and a grace that were second to none. There were no angry words or hostility where she was concerned, but a firmness and a ‘look’ that let you know that something said or done was inappropriate and would not be condoned. I remember Sheila for many good things. The one which stands out for me is her oft quoted adage: “Nature abhors a vacuum”. The AFC filled a political vacuum that needed to be filled in 2006, and Sheila then filled a vacuum within the AFC that only she could fill. Even now she remains irreplaceable and we miss her daily.” As we enter into another cycle of political uncertainty and confusion, it is the quiet guiding voice of Sheila Holder that we remember as we tread our way forward, carefully and purposefully. There is always going to be a vacuum to be filled, if not by us, then by someone or something else. Let us step into the next exciting challenge with
purpose and a plan as Sheila would have advised us to do. We in the AFC will always be grateful for the gift of Sheila Holder, and for the everlasting structures that she built. The politics of Guyana have been transformed by the contributions of people like her who came, acted and left. Party Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan described her as a “`woman for all seasons”, one of extraordinary strength in politics and social work. In her years as an activist for the WPA and as a Parliamentarian, she demonstrated her understanding of the values of a strong community. Until her passing on 20 November 2011, she let her experience in these two fields of endeavour mould her into a pillar of strength for the AFC. “In Sheila’s death, I have missed probably my greatest friend,” the Chairman said, adding that every day she demonstrated loyalty, affection, dedication and similar characteristics that exemplified true friendship.” The history of political struggle in postindependence Guyana is replete with examples of outstanding women whose courage, tenacity and individuality have made an indelible mark on politics in particular, and on our society in general. Sheila Holder is one such…whose name must be added to the pantheon of the greats. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)
Sunday December 01, 2019
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Kaieteur News
My column
Republic Bank should help advance plastic money When the Central Bank intervened to prevent Scotiabank from selling its shares in Guyana to Republic Bank, some people were of the view that there was too much intervention into private business. There are people who believe that private business should remain private. There is the view that the public has no need to be involved in whatever the private business does. I do not agree, because in the final analysis the public would be affected, sometimes in ways that are unimaginable. The Central Bank concluded that with the acquisition of Scotiabank, Republic Bank would have controlled more than fifty percent of the banking market. That in itself means nothing to the ordinary man, until he realizes that Republic Bank would then be able to control interest rates. It would have meant that people seeking to borrow would have been asked to pay interest rates higher than normal. And the other banking institutions would have followed. Then there would have been the foreign exchange rates. Again Republic Bank would have dictated this, to the extent that goods would cost more. In fact, everything would have become expensive, at a time when workers are complaining that their pay simply cannot suffice. It cannot escape notice that Republic Bank is the largest banking institution in Guyana. When it acquired the Guyana National Cooperative Bank it got a sizeable share of the banking market. A look at the balance sheet would show how powerful this bank is. And it does not take criticisms lightly. Of course, the bank has had its internal problems that impacted some customers. People had money withdrawn from their account without their knowledge. Some found that people did shopping overseas with their account. To its credit, where such cases arise, the bank makes restitution, although a few months ago some people were left on a limb for a while. Today Republic Bank is in the news again. Given its size, its woes could not escape notice. And coming at this
time, the problem has exacerbated. Many entities pay salaries through Republic Bank, so each month, hundreds of workers go there for their pay. These past few weeks, collecting their pay has been a nightmare. The bank was revamping its system, but along the way it has encountered problems. To make matters worse, these problems are occurring at this time of the year when Guyanese go all out to enjoy the Christmas holidays. There are long lines at the bank. It would seem that if someone wants to access pay, that person must take a day off from work, because the lines are long. People talk of seeing long lines stretching outside the bank for at least a block. I am not aware of the extent of the revamp, but I wonder whether it could have been done in stages, perhaps with people working outside normal banking hours. This is the first time I know of a bank actually affecting its customers in such a manner. It would seem that Guyana is destined to have these problems. The development of the oil sector couldn’t happen at a worse time. I am certain Republic Bank is playing an integral role in moving money. It is perhaps the only bank that can effect money transfers to foreign banks. This situation reawakens the issue of getting rid of the scope of using paper money. People with credit cards and debit cards are finding out that they are in a better position to access their money. They can pay accounts. Unfortunately, not too many business places have points of sale. Chequing is a problem, because a person must be known and respected for his cheques to be accepted by some businesses. I happen to visit some major businesses in the United States, and a look at their cash registers reveals a paucity of cash. When criminals attack those establishments they manage to cart of a relatively small amount of cash. Plastic money would reduce the extent of robberies on the streets. Of course, there have been reports of people being abducted and
made to withdraw money from their accounts. Republic Bank has a limit of $90,000 per day for transactions. The good thing is that there are cameras at the automated teller machines, so the identity of people attempting robberies will be revealed. In Guyana there has not been such robberies. At least I am not aware of any. One stumbling block seems to be the inability or the refusal of the commercial banks to make using credit cards or debit cards use standard, across the board.
Recently, some Republic Bank customers found that they could use the ATMs set up by the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry. The problem is that the charges are so different. This needs to be standardized so that no individual is penalized for banking with one bank or the other. Some businesses try to avoid this form of business because they would all be exposed to the Guyana Revenue Authority. They simply want to avoid taxes although they expect a lot
from the state. But this will allow the authorities to trace the movement of money in the system. Money laundering would be managed. Many people are finding it convenient to use the mobile money system to pay certain bills. The lines are being avoided. Of course there is a charge. I would hope that as soon as Republic Bank solves its problems, it may wish to take the leadership role in harmonizing the money market, especially at the level of points of sale.
Adam Harris (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)
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Kaieteur News
Sunday December 01, 2019
No one benefits from a divided populace A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s unity charter is a must read for all Guyanese. The Charter is an aspirational document. The authors, mindful of our quest for national unity, acknowledge that attaining it would not be an easy task; they used words like difficult, uncomfortable and frustrating. However, they made a pledge that APNU would be totally focused and committed to achieving it, but it is the invitation that follows that is worthy of note. It reads; “We ask all who can to join us in this task. If at this time you genuinely feel that you cannot join us, then give us your support. If you cannot even give us your support, we ask at least for your good will and your respect for our commitment.” As we navigate our way in the current political waters, this type of messaging is powerful, because national unity has been an ideal that has eluded us for several generations. The unity charter quite clearly states that the Partnership (APNU) is committed to a government of national unity. The Partnership is cognizant that achieving this goal will be difficult and accepts the challenge. In the words of the charter “it must be done if a government of national unity is to achieve its aims and survive.”
On the 14th February 2015, APNU (a fiveparty Partnership) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) signed the Cummingsburg Accord. The purpose stated - that this accord was to establish the framework within which the signatories undertake the arrangement of the structure and priorities of a new government which will be a government of national unity. This proposed framework is supported and presented to the Guyanese public by a broad -based multi-ethnic Alliance comprising political parties, civil society groups, organisations and individual citizens. This was a second step by APNU towards the achievement of a National Unity Government. Over the past four and a half years the APNU+AFC coalition has lived up to the spirit of the Unity Charter and protected the interest of all Guyanese. There has been no cause for fear by any ethnic group under an APNU +AFC administration. Rather than cause for fear, there has been much hope and balanced development under a government that is committed to national unity. The evidence shows that this coalition government has managed the affairs of state in such a manner so as not to bring the races into collision with one another.
Under this administration law and order has been restored and the public has been assured that every arm of the government will be brought to bear to ensure that all citizens, regardless of ethnicity, are protected. APNU asserts that no one benefits from a divided populace. The parties that came together (APNU+AFC) to contest and win the 2015 General and Regional elections formed a national unity government and started the arduous task of mending a broken nation. The damage done by over fifty years of mistrust and ethnic cleavage cannot be whisked away overnight, it will take time. Enemies of the APNU+AFC coalition would like to see racial animus continue, because they benefit from such an arrangement, but it will not happen. The tide of ideas in Guyanese politics has turned. In the words of His Excellency David Granger, “we are a movement. We are a movement to create a community with a common cause. We are a movement to reaffirm our commitment to confront the challenges facing our nation. We are a movement to establish an equitable society, in a stable political environment with a prosperous economy. We are a movement, most of all, to secure the future of or youth and our children.” The Coalition has worked tirelessly to establish a consultative democracy, where all sectors of the society have a voice in the government. Local government areas and municipalities are once again healthy, and part
of our democratic architecture. Under this new dispensation, Constitutional bodies are functioning and independent. The rights of individuals and communities are now scrupulously protected. As a consequence, the temptation for individuals, groups and even communities to take the law into their own hands has been greatly minimized. This was a major step in bringing the PPP’s orgy of lawlessness to an end. The Unity Charter is recommended reading, especially for those who want to find out more about APNU, or those who do not understand the concept of the Partnership and its goals and objectives. As the document states; “National unity is an imperative in Guyana’s current fragile social and economic circumstances. In a plural society, there is a clear choice between the uplifting benefits of cooperation and the downside of destructive political competition…. the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Let us put an end to divisiveness and fragmentation. Let us restore hope to the unemployed. Let us recover our can-do spirit and create a better life and freedom from want for all Guyanese.” The future is in Coalition governance not political and racial division and PPP one party domination. It’s time for all Guyanese to enjoy the good life. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)
Sunday December 01, 2019
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Kaieteur News
Common Problems of the prostate gland that men should know about By Dr Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine The prostate is a small gland found only in men. It surrounds the tube that carries urine out of the body called the urethra. This gland produces a thick, white fluid that gets mixed with sperm to create semen. It is about the size and shape of a walnut, but tends to get bigger as you get older. Sometimes, the prostate can become swollen or enlarged by the following conditions: · prostate enlargement · prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate) · prostate cancer Today I will discuss these conditions which account for the most common and main problems of the prostate gland. PROSTATE ENLARGEMENT Prostate enlargement is a very common condition associated with aging. More than 1 in 3 of all men over 50 will have
some symptoms of prostate enlargement. It’s not known why the prostate gets bigger as you get older, but it is not caused by cancer and does not increase your risk of developing prostate cancer. An enlarged prostate can put pressure on the urethra, which can affect how you urinate. Signs of an enlarged prostate can include: · difficulty starting or stopping urinating · a weak flow of urine · straining when urinating · feeling like you’re not able to fully empty your bladder · prolonged dribbling after you’ve finished urinating · needing to urinate more frequently or more suddenly · waking up frequently during the night to urinate Simple measures such as reducing the amount you drink (especially tea, coffee and alcohol) before bed can sometimes help control the symptoms. Medication can help reduce the size of your
prostate and relax the muscles of your bladder. In severe cases that do not get better with medication, the inner part of the prostate can be surgically removed. PROSTATITIS Prostatitis is where the prostate gland becomes swollen or inflamed. It’s sometimes caused by a bacterial infection, although more often that not, no infection can be found, and it’s not clear why it happened. Unlike prostate enlargement or prostate cancer – which usually affects older men – prostatitis can develop in men of all ages. However, it’s generally more common in men aged between 30 and 50. Symptoms of prostatitis can include: · pain in the pelvis, genitals, lower back and buttocks · pain when urinating · a frequent need to urinate · difficulty urinating, such
as problems when starting to urinate · pain when ejaculating · pain in the area between the anus and scrotum, which is often made worse by prolonged sitting Prostatitis can be treated using a combination of painkillers and a type of medication called an alphablocker, which can help to relax the muscles of the prostate and bladder neck. Medication that shrinks the prostate gland may also be helpful. Most men will recover within a few weeks or months, although some will continue to have symptoms for longer. PROSTATE CANCER Prostate cancer is ranked as among the most common type of cancer in men, with more than a million new cases every year globally. It’s not clear why it occurs, but your chances of developing prostate cancer increase as you get older. The condition mainly affects men over 65,
although men over 50 are also at risk. The risk of developing prostate cancer is also increased depending on your family history and race. It is more common among men of AfricanCaribbean and African descent than in Asian men. Having a brother or father who developed prostate cancer under the age of 60 seems to increase your risk of developing it, and having a close female relative who developed breast cancer may also increase your risk of prostate cancer The symptoms of prostate cancer can be difficult to distinguish from those of prostate enlargement. They may include: · needing to urinate more frequently, often during the night · needing to rush to the toilet · difficulty in starting to urinate · straining or taking a long time while urinating · weak flow
Dr. Zulfikar Bux · feeling that your bladder has not fully emptied · blood in urine or blood in semen. The outlook for prostate cancer is generally good because, unlike many other types of cancer, it usually progresses very slowly. Many men die with prostate cancer rather than as a result of having it. Prostate cancer therefore does not always need to be treated immediately. Sometimes, it may initially just be monitored and only treated if it gets worse. Now that you are more aware of the common prostate problems, do not hesitate to visit your doctor if you are experiencing symptoms associated with these conditions.
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SUNDAY GUYANA’S OIL DISCOVERIES BRING EXCITEMENT FOR PROSPECTS IN WEST AFRICA – GEOSCIENTIST Since 2015, oil companies operating offshore Guyana have made 16 discoveries which place the country’s estimated recoverable hydrocarbon resources in excess of six billion barrels of oil equivalent. A geoscientist who recently presented at Guyana’s second annual Guyana International Petroleum Business Summit and Exhibition (GIPEX) at the Marriott Hotel, spoke to reporters about the Atlantic Mirror Theory. It’s the assumption that the distribution of natural resources on both sides of the South Atlantic is similar, because the land masses were once joined, millions of years ago. Dr. William Heins is a Geologist and Management Consultant for Getech, a firm that offers geology specific consulting services for governments and companies. He has studied the earth’s history to understand the distribution of resources today. A long time ago, all the earth’s landmass was a supercontinent called Pangaea. Due to plate tectonics, the continents we know today were slowly formed by the breaking up of Pangaea and
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Geoscientist and Management Consultant for Getech, Dr. Williams Heins the drifting of those landmasses for millions of years. Heins explained that originally, there was excitement by oil companies to drill for oil and gas in South America because of the resource pool that was discovered in West Africa. For instance, the Jubilee field was discovered in Ghana in 2007 and touted to be a considerable reserve that generated excitement for prospects in South America. So when Royal Dutch Shell discovered the Zaedyus field in French Guiana in 2011, the first material discovery in South America’s equatorial
margin, “there was a lot of excitement to say that the Jubilee success would be replicated on the South American side,” Heins told reporters on the sidelines of GIPEX. “There was some disappointment when four subsequent wells failed to substantiate a field as big as Jubilee,” he continued. “But then the Guyana success, I think, has flipped the paradigm so that now, it should be the Africans who are excited about the success on the South American side.” He said that, in the old days, while the mirror theory was used to promote South
America following on the coat tails of Africa, the situation now would have companies chasing African success because Guyana has been successful. The theory may be further buttressed by the mirroring of certain other natural resources on both sides of the divide. Heins explained that Ghana and Guyana, though not precisely lining up as mirrors on both sides of the geological divide, do share some similarity in terms of gold reserves. “Ghana is a leading gold producer of Africa and Guyana has demonstrable gold assets as well… They’re at least illustrative that the kinds of resources in the two countries are similar.” This is reflected in the fact that both countries have diamond reserves as well. Even in Liberia, where there are iron resources, Heins said that “that may have something to tell you about iron resources on the South American side.” For the geologist, who has worked with ExxonMobil for almost two decades, it is important to note that the Atlantic Mirror Theory is not an exact science. MONDAY ONE OIL COMPANY USES MORE INTERNET BANDWIDTH THAN ALL OF GUYANAUSED THREE YEARS AGO …AS GTT’S DEMAND GROWS 500% IN TWO YEARS-NEDD The oil and gas industry in Guyana directly uses more internet bandwidth than the entire country used, just three years ago. That’s the startling revelation made recently by Chief Executive Officer (GIPEX) Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), Justin Nedd. In fact just one of the companies is currently utilizing more than the country had used at that time. Nedd gave the disclosure during a press engagement at the conclusion of the recently concluded, Guyana International Petroleum Exhibition and Business Summit (GIPEX) 2019. Venued at the Marriott Hotel, the activity saw in attendance hundreds of oil and gas executives engaging in networking and investment forays and Nedd was asked to provide some insight into the impact the sector has had on GTT’s operation and its ability to absorb the new demands, given the pace with which the industry is being developed. Nedd told media operatives that the company has in
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GTT’s Ceo Justin Nedd fact seen a ballooning of the demand for internet bandwidth—500 per cent in two years. According to the GTT official, he is optimistic that “we haven’t reached full capacity yet,” in reference to the increase in demand for internet bandwidth, as additional companies come on board servicing the oil and gas sector. He noted that with the roll out of fibre optic in previous years, to better service a broader population, the company would have already positioned itself to a point where the oil companies entering the market—such as ExxonMobil and others—are comfortable with the level of service being provided. According to the Company CEO, “what we see is, it’s now developing and I know many of the companies are looking to, once they start producing, (to) look at those production numbers, (and) send them to data centers outside of Guyana, so I don’t think we have reached full capacity yet. However, I do see it coming very fast.” Speaking to imminence of first oil, he noted that “once those things come on stream, you need to transport that data from the rigs to onshore and sometimes further, say to Houston (Texas) and without naming our specific clients, we have seen a steady increase in demand for data from the oil and gas.” Explaining his supposition, Nedd said “…let’s say three, four years ago the entire country used say 10/15 gigs (gigabytes) of data, today I talk to some of the players in the industry and they are asking for 20 gigs—one operator…More than what the country used three years ago.” He told media operatives
“we have seen an exponential growth in the use of data as we roll out more fiber optic service.” Declining to speculate on long term growth in demand using the current trends, Nedd posited “If someone told me three years ago that we would have seen a 500 per cent growth… So 500 percent over the last two years is phenomenal. “ Speaking to the company’s ability to deliver, he said, “…in terms of capacity, we could be 300/400 gigs in the next two years but we are absolutely prepared for it.” Asked to divulge whether there has been any other spike in demand trends from across any other industries discerned, Nedd said, “basically all ships rise with the tide, so to point out a particular sector, that’s tough…I am seeing demand coming from everywhere.” BANK EMPLOYEE DIES AFTER CRASHING INTO BRIDGE A 31 year-old Republic Bank employee was killed at around 05.00 hrs Sunday, after crashing into a bridge near Felicity Embankment, East Coast Demerara. Police identified the victim as David Headly of 370 Powis Close, South Ruimveldt Gardens. Headly, who was employed as a Technical Operator at the Republic Bank, was reportedly driving his vehicle, PRR 2531, at a fast rate of speed at the time of the accident. Headly was driving west along the East Coast Demerara public road when he overtook another car, But he lost control and slammed head-on into a bridge. The driver that Headley had overtaken tried in vain to free the injured man from his (Continued on page 33)
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From page 32 wrecked car. Passersby eventually managed to pull Headley out of his vehicle. He was pronounced dead on arrival the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Traffic Chief Linden Isles told Kaieteur News police are still trying to ascertain what occurred. Headley is survived by his wife and four–month–old daughter. TUESDAY LOCAL BUSINESSES SHOULD BE GIVEN TAX WAIVERS TO COMPETE WITH FOREIGNERS – AFRICA ENERGY CEO Ghanaian businessman, Kwame Jantuah, is the most recent person to join calls for local companies to be given first consideration for duty free waivers which will to help them be more competitive with foreign businesses operating in the local market. Jantuah, CEO Africa Energy Consortium recently made a presentation on local content policies at the Guyana International Petroleum Business Summit and Exhibition (GIPEX) 2019 held at the Marriott Hotel last week. Sharing his views on the
local content, Jantuah noted that the oil and gas industry is big enough to take care of everyone if local content is practised in favour of the people and there is trust, transparency and accountability. Above all, Jantuah stressed the long term national development plan must help increase the country’s revenue equitably. The businessman added, “There should be deliberate action where local companies should be given the first consideration of refusal, duty waivers to help build their capacity…” The Ghanaian businessman’s appeal comes months after Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Godfrey Statia, made a request for local companies being given a fair opportunity to compete alongside foreign enterprises for contracts to supply goods to the oil sector. The Commissioner General revealed that locals will be given tax breaks on those supplies being imported for the industry. BEDRIDDEN MAN TRAVELS MILES
Sebastian Edmund Arriving at the Ogle International Airport
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TO PROVE TO NIS THAT HE’S ALIVE …PLEADS FOR SCHEME TO VISIT REMOTE AREAS A 76-year-old bedridden Sebastian Edmund pleaded with authorities of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) on Monday to visit remote areas. Edmund fell ill a year ago and became confined to a bed and wheelchair. Just to prove that he is alive, he was made to travel miles from Paruima in the Upper Mazaruni to Georgetown with the aid of his nephew. Edmund had authorised his nephew who resides in Aishalton, North Rupununi, to uplift his pension book and monthly pension at the NIS office in Lethem. The man’s nephew told Kaieteur News, Monday, that he has been uplifting his uncle’s pension since 2015 and had only recently renewed the legal P4 form in Lethem. However, on Friday last he visited the Lethem’s NIS office to uplift his uncle’s pension book and was unable to do so. He was told by the supervisor that NIS suspects that his uncle might be dead and will commence an investigation. Edmund’s nephew then argued that his uncle is alive and there is no need for an investigation, but the supervisor responded that Edmund would have to travel to prove that he is alive. The man then requested that a nurse be sent in to visit his uncle and issue the life certificate to avoid the fatigue of air travel for his sick uncle, but that was also denied. Edmund who receives $30,000 monthly from NIS was left with no choice but to pay a return ticket to Georgetown, which costs $50,000 plus hotel fee to receive his life certificate. Edmund arrived on Sunday and was given his life certificate Monday and is scheduled to return to Paruima today. While at the NIS office, Edmund and his nephew pleaded with the authorities to implement a system whereby officials can visit remote areas across Guyana to issue life certificates and if possible make payments. This will greatly assist a number of senior citizens from these areas that suffer from various illnesses and disabilities. Kaieteur News was also told of an old man who rides the dusty Lethem road on his bicycle for four days just to receive his NIS pension. DUO FOUND GUILTY OF KILLING GUARD DURING
2013 ROBBERY AT LETHEM POST OFFICE Alvin Kissoon and Calvin King were on Monday found guilty of the January 2013 murder of security guard, John Friday, who was shot and killed during a robbery at the Lethem Post Office. Kissoon and King had initially denied the charge which alleged that they killed Friday between January 18 and January 19, 2013. The State represented through Prosecutors Abigail Gibbs and Mandel Moore said that the men travelled to Lethem from Georgetown to commit the crime which left Friday dead. Based on previous reports, the men entered the post office where they tied up and physically brutalised two on-duty security officers, including Friday. There, they stole a quantity of cash, phone cards and other articles after breaking into safes using a cutting torch. Other articles linked to the robbery were recovered in their possession. Following the robbery, all police divisions were notified and later that day, police ranks at the Mabura checkpoint stopped and searched a motorcar during which over $4M was found hidden under the rear seat. During their trial, Kissoon and King were represented by lawyers Lyndon Amsterdam and Adrian Thompson, respectively. Justice Sandil Kissoon presided over
Ghanaian businessman, Kwame Jantuah their trial at the High Court in Georgetown. In proving its case, the prosecution called several witnesses, including police ranks and civilians among whom were employees of the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC). In their defence, Alvin Kissoon and King opted to give unsworn testimonies. WEDNESDAY DUTY FREE FUEL… RUSAL SELLS EXCESS ELECTRICITY TO AMERINDIAN VILLAGE AT GPL RATES …GUARANTEED PAYMENT BYDEDUCTING OWED LEASE FEES
AS ‘LIGHT BILL’ Russian-owned and controlled Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BCGI/RUSAL) imports fuel duty free for its operations, which includes generating massive amounts of electricity; it then sells the excess electricity it produces to the Hururu Amerindian Village, but at the same rate as the Guyana Power and Light (GPL). The company has been doing this for almost a decade now with a guaranteed source of payment, using monies it was supposed to pay to the village in the first place. This obtains through a land lease (Continued on page 34)
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From ppage 33 arrangement with the Village Council, together with sale contract for electricity. The Hururu Amerindian Village Council agreed to lease large swaths of land for bauxite mining, transportation and other purposes to the Russian Company for $1.2M each month. The company also inked an agreement in November 2011, to sell the village its excess electricity, but at the same rate that GPL sells its consumers, and with a caveat. The rates would be increased arbitrarily in accordance with any increases GPL makes to its rates. What this led to, is that the company simply deducts the money it is supposed to pay to the Amerindian Village for leasing its land, and instead calls it money now owed to the company, for electricity – essentially, a ‘light bill’ for excess electricity generated by the company for its own operations, using dutyfree fuel. Compounding the situation is the fact that the Amerindian Village is not only being made to pay for the excess electricity through its lease fees—electricity sold at the highest rate in the Caribbean—but they are also responsible for keeping the ‘distribution network path’ or “electrical lines path clear from any obstruction that would make it imposable (sic) for the company personnel or vehicles to traverse.” This means the village, in addition to having its ‘rent owed to it’ deducted as ‘light bill’, is also responsible for clearing the distribution network.
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The agreement also indemnifies the company from any injury or death to any of the villagers using the electricity supplied by RUSAL. The company is currently being investigated by the Guyana Revenue Authority over allegations it is reselling up to a third of the fuel it imports. Independent investigations by this publication have revealed that the company has been in the business of fuel sales from its inception. RUSAL has been granted a waiver of duties as part of an incentive for its investment in Guyana. This means that the 50 per cent tax normally paid to the government on the importation or purchase of the fuel is not being paid by RUSAL. KOSMOS OWNER, POLICE OFFICER KILLED IN HORRIFIC CRASH A horrific crash on the East Coast Demerara public road Tuesday night resulted in the death of two persons. Dead are 37-year-old father of two, Dillon DeRamos, owner of Kosmos Grill & Lounge, located at MovieTowne in Turkeyen, and 35-year-old Senior Superintendent Brian Eastman, Deputy Director of the Police Force’s Special Branch. The men were travelling in a Lexus GX470 SUV (PTT 6775) when the driver (DeRamos) lost control, struck the median, and crashed into the fence of Yokohama Trading Limited at Liliendaal. Police arrived shortly on the scene and assisted in removing the men from the wreckage. Their lifeless bodies were
then transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) where they were pronounced dead. Relatives who were at the hospital broke down into tears as they came to grips with the heart-breaking news. ‘SPOIL CHILD’ SHOT AFTER EVADING POLICE AT ROADBLOCK – UNLICENSED GUN, SEVERAL CELLPHONES FOUND IN CAR Ex-cop Teon “Spoil Child” Allen was shot and injured by police Tuesday afternoon after reportedly trying to evade
a roadblock at Rahaman’s turn, Houston, East Bank Demerara. Kaieteur News understands that two other former policemen – Jason Gonzalves and Shaquille George – were also in the silver grey Toyota Allion motorcar (PWW 6650) with Allen at the time of the shooting. When reporters arrived on the scene, ranks were escorting Allen into a police vehicle. He was bleeding from a wound (said to be a gunshot injury) to his right shoulder. According to police
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sources, the incident occurred at around 4:20pm, just as the afternoon traffic began to build-up. Sources say that Allen and the other suspects were in a heavily-tinted vehicle. Allen was said to be driving. Police reportedly requested him to stop at the roadblock, but he did not and proceeded to fire a shot at the police. According to the source, the police exchanged fire and the men in an attempt to evade the bullets veered off the road and crashed into a nearby fence.
The men immediately surrendered to police and were arrested. Officers along with assistance from the canine unit searched the vehicle and an unlicensed 9mm pistol was recovered along with a quantity of cell phones. Allen has had a long history with police for a number of criminal offences. While he was before the courts for having an illegal AK-47 in his possession, he was arrested and charged for harbouring wanted men, Uree Varswyck and Mark Royden (Continued on page 35)
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From page 34 Williams, who broke out of the Camp Street prison on July 9, during a fire and riot. Just two months ago, he was charged with discharging a firearm with intent to commit murder and released on $50,000 bail. He was also wanted by police in Linden for the attempted murder of Denise Grant and Tiffany McDeth, in Amelia’s Ward, on September 2, 2019. GPL IN RACE AGAINST TIME TO FIND HEAVY FUEL OIL SUPPLIER Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) is scrambling to find a new heavy fuel oil (HFO) supplier as time runs out. The HFO is critical to the running of the major engines of the power company. However, the current supplier, Suriname’s Staatsolie, signaled its intentions to end its supply contract in December. The notification was made around September. In an advertisement Tuesday in Kaieteur News, GPL said it is inviting sealed bids from eligible bidders for the supply and delivery for HFO. Applicants must submit a bid security of $10M with deadline for bids by December 6th. Earlier this month, Guyanese went to bed with shocking news: the stateowned entity was low on Heavy Fuel Oil. Several communities for a number of days had no power as GPL implemented scheduled outages because of the shortfall in generation that was triggered by the shortage. The story that came out pointed to significant mismanagement at GPL over the fuel situation. Persons close to the Board and Management who spoke out, claimed they were ‘left in the dark’. They say that the supply of HFO for the bigger engines of GPL, although currently stabilised, is only temporary. A more medium term arrangement has to be secured. It was explained that GPL struck a deal with Suriname’s Staatsolie for HFO about two years ago. All was going well until around September when the supplier told GPL that it was ending the arrangement, as it could not sustain the 30,000 barrels of HFO every 12 days. The company immediately reduced its supplies after signaling intentions to end by December. Staatsolie did offer GPL another option…pay them US$2 more on every barrel, and it would ship in the HFO from St. Eustatius, an island near to St. Kitts and Nevis. However, for weeks, there was no decision by the GPL
management, including Chief Executive Officer, Albert Gordon. While the shipping allowed GPL up to 17 days of fuel, the shortfall of HFO started to impact the operations of the power company. The supply vessel would visit Kingston and Vreed-enHoop, and even head to Garden of Eden. However, it appears that management never informed the Board of Directors of the fuel shortage situation. GPL was forced to truck fuel from a number of fuel suppliers on the East Bank of Demerara, including Guyana Oil Company and Sol. However, it was not HFO that GPL was acquiring. Rather, it was buying the more expensive Light Fuel Oil. The faster-burning, more expensive fuel was also proving a major logistical problem for GPL – it could not get the fuel fast enough to the power plants. By the time, the trucks were offloaded and reached back to the suppliers on the East Bank, the fuel stock would run low. Crunch time hit earlier this month and Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, learnt of the situation suddenly. “There was deep anger by the Minister over the situation. The Board was not told. Management knew,” a source close to the company had disclosed. GPL had been forced to introduce a number of emergency Caterpillar sets, using the more expensive but accessible diesel, to ease the outages. THURSDAY GCCI and GMSA unaware of members unable to get same tax breaks as foreign companies In the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) signed between Guyana and ExxonMobil, there is a provision which states that subcon-
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tractors and affiliate companies of the American oil giant would benefit from tax breaks on all imports for the oil sector. But this very clause has stirred a debate in the local business community. At the heart of the discourse are claims that the condition only benefits foreign companies. Making these utterances have been the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), and of recent, the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA). But when asked about specific cases where locals have not been able to access the same concessions available to foreign companies, the private sector bodies could not say. Specifically, GMSA President, Clinton Williams, said that he does not have all the information on members who would have been placed at a disadvantage. He said, however, that the Association has already started the process of collecting information in this regard. “…It is a work in progress,” he added. Williams acknowledged that GMSA has not had any discussion with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) on how many locals have been facilitated with tax breaks versus foreign c o m p a n i e s . President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce Industry (GCCI), Nicholas Deygoo, admitted that while he is not au fait with the number of Chamber members who are unable to access tax waivers, he disclosed that a discussion on this and other related matters is expected to take place soon with GRA. Following that meeting, Deygoo, who has been a staunch advocate for a Local Content Policy and accompanying Legislation, committed to questioning his members
on this issue. As for the Private Sector Commission (PSC), its current Chair, Captain Gerry Gouveia, told Kaieteur News that he has not received any complaints on this matter from his m e m b e r s . He noted that the Commission’s mantra has been, and will continue to be, the creation of a policy that puts Guyanese first. RUSAL SELLING ELECTRICITY TO BUSINESSES AT COMMERCIALRATES …COMPANYALSO SELLING ELECTRICITY AT COMMERCIAL RATES TO BUSINESSES — LEWIS Revelation that the Russian-owned Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BCGI) is selling excess electricity generated from its operations, to the Hururu Amerindian Village—at similar rates charged by the Guyana Power and Light (GPL)—has led to even more damning revelations against the company. President of the People’s United and General Workers Union (PUGWU), Lincoln Lewis, on Wednesday told Kaieteur News that the issue of the sale of electricity was raised unsuccessfully with the company officials in the past. He explained that RUSAL is not only selling the excess electricity it produces to nearby villagers, but also to businesses in the locale and is charging commercial rates. According to Lewis, when the matter was raised in the past, the company claimed to be lawfully engaging in the sale of electricity—using the rate it charges. Lewis noted, too, that there are rumours circulating of an imminent layoff planned by RUSAL at the beginning of next month. He told this publication that the company appears to be getting ready to sell of its
heavy-duty equipment, which was imported duty-free. CARTER CENTRE ACCREDITED FOR 2020 ELECTIONS The Carter Centre has been accredited to observe the 2020 elections, an official of the Guyana Elections Commission, (GECOM) confirmed Wednesday. Kaieteur News understands that the Carter Centre team will be in Guyana before and after the elections. Last March, a Carter Centre delegation led by Jason J. Carter, chairman of the Carter Center’s Board of Trustees, was in Guyana and held meeting with key stakeholders to learn about the challenges facing Guyana and to assess whether the Centre could assist Guyanese going forward. BOY, 7, DEAD, FAMILY HOSPITALISED AFTER DRIVER PLOUGHS INTO PEDESTRIANS A seven-year-old boy is dead, his mother, sister and two other persons including another child are hospitalised after a reckless driver ploughed into them while they were standing along the Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice Public Road on Wednesday afternoon. It was a scene of absolute chaos and horror when bodies were seen scattered across the parapet and in the nearby trench. Dead is Nirfan Nezamdeen, a student of the Latchmansingh Primary School, while his mother, Ameena Diaram, is in a critical state at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Kaieteur News understands that little Nezamdeen’s sister was also a victim and is hospitalised while a female adult and two other children were rushed to GPHC as well. Reports are that the driver of the vehicle was speeding when he lost control of his vehicle and smashed into the two adults and four children
who were standing along the roadway awaiting transportation. The car then ended up in a trench but little Nezamdeen was trapped underneath. Public spirited persons rushed over to the scene and immediately rendered assistance. One person was seen in footage removing the seven-year-old’s lifeless body that was tucked under the front bumper of the car. He was still clad in his uniform and carrying his backpack. FRIDAY ONLY ONE LOCAL HAS COME FORWARD FOR TAX BREAKS FOR PETROLEUM INDUSTRY – GRA BOSS -REFUTES CLAIM THAT RAMPS LOGISTICS GETS CONCESSIONS About three months ago, Kaieteur News published an excerpt of an interview with Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Godfrey Statia, who categorically stated that locals will be able to access the same concessions as foreign companies. But since making that declaration, and even informing the business community of same in separate meetings, only one company has stepped forward to access tax breaks on imports for the oil sector. In a recent discourse with this publication, the tax boss said that Mines Services Limited has applied for tax breaks and is now benefitting from this. Statia said, “I have said before that I will not wait around for a Local Content Policy. I have also had meetings with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) and all of them, and every time they would have raised the subject (Continued on page 36)
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From page 35 of local content and the matter that overseas companies have an advantage, I have told them that for consistency purposes, any concession that is granted to international companies for the oil industry would be bestowed upon locals. So far, only one local has come forward…” The tax boss subsequently questioned the noise being raised in some quarters that locals are at a disadvantage, when they are not even coming forward in the first place to access the said concessions. Further to this, the Commissioner General set the record straight on a misconception being peddled that Ramps Logistics is using tax waivers it receives to underbid locals. On the contrary, Statia said that Ramps has not asked GRA for Tax waivers nor has he ever given them any concessions, while noting that ExxonMobil is not the firm’s only client. Furthermore, GRA in a statement to the media yesterday clarified that the agreement between Guyana and ExxonMobil makes allowance for the oil giant’s sub-contractors and affiliates to import, free of duty, VAT or all or any other fees, all equipment and supplies required for petroleum operations, including but not limited to drillships, platforms, vessels, geophysical tools, communications equipment, explosives, radioactive sources, vehicles, oilfield supplies, and lubricants. The revenue body s t r e s s e d , h o w e v e r, t h a t food items, alcoholic beverages and fuel are subject to the appropriate tax, and will be so taxed, regardless of whether the supplier is local or otherwise. It was further stated that if a supplier imports an item for ExxonMobil’s operations, but taxes were still levied, a tax credit would be is-
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sued by the Commissioner General, once it is proven that the item was indeed for the entity’s projects. REPUBLIC BANK APOLOGISES TO CUSTOMERS …TELLS CENTRAL BANK IT HAS SYSTEMS TO HANDLE CHRISTMAS CROWDS, BACKPAY – GOVT. SAYS IT WILL NOT SIT IDLY BY The ongoing situation at Republic Bank is exasperating even the Government, with the financial institution again writing the regulator – Bank of Guyana – to assure it is doing all it can to reduce the long lines. Since earlier this month, the Trinidad-owned bank which has several branches in Guyana and is the biggest in terms of number of customers, has been faced with problems. The bank has started a conversion process to modernize its systems to cater for more online and other similar transactions. However, the process has not gone smoothly, with customers locked out of accounts and many of them claiming that they were unable to access their salaries for days. As a result, the lines have been significant, with customers taking to social media and the letter pages to complain. Republic Bank told the Central Bank (Bank of Guyana) that it was looking to mid-December to iron out the problems. On Thursday, at the Ministry of the Presidency, chief government spokesman, Director-General Joseph Harmon, was clear – government is unwilling to stand idly by. “I am saying to you that we will not sit idly by, and while people are unable to get their salaries…that is wrong. The bank has to do something better than that.” He added, “If the bank has to alter its mechanisms; it has
to put in place some manual facility so that the people can get their money, then they will have to do it”. On Thursday, Republic Bank again wrote a concerned Bank of Guyana. It told the Governor, Dr. Gobind Ganga, that there are four processing options to allow customers access to salaries. To allow legroom, the bank said it has asked employers to submit payrolls three days in advance. “We confirm that we have the capacity to process all monthly and retroactive payments in December and will liaise with our customers to expedite submissions early.” The bank said it is working with customers to use its internet banking service. The bank said it has noted that because account types were changed during the conversion, many customers were choosing wrong account types, which has been voiding transactions and causing backups. It told the Governor that queries are being handled throughout the network and a call centre has been set up specifically to handle the complaints. Meanwhile, in a statement, the bank apologized to its customers. ARCHIVES TO BE OFFICIALLYRENAMEDAFTER WALTER RODNEY There was disapproval a few days ago when the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) learnt that the National Archives no longer held the name of the late Dr. Walter Rodney, a prominent Guyanese historian, political activist and founding member of the WPA. On Thursday, Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon announced that the edifice will be changed back to its original name and the change will be gazetted. Minister Harmon explained to reporters that although the
name was added to the archives, the change was never officially gazetted, an error he blamed on the past administration. “As a temporary measure, the sign which is there, we have taken it down. We will do all that is necessary to ensure that the law is observed, and then we put back the appropriate sign.” Located on Homestretch Avenue, the National Archives was renamed the ‘Walter Rodney Archives’ in 2008, but the name has been removed. Since then, many eyebrows have been raised, as persons questioned why the change was made. . Officials took to social media to express their displeasure at the name change, calling it a ‘blatant disrespect to Dr. Rodney’. However Minister Harmon stated “there is no disrespect to the legacy of Dr. Walter Rodney. These are people who are legends to our own country and therefore there is no disrespect which we will give to anybody.” SATURDAY FORMER JAMAICAN PM TELLS GUYANESE LEADERS… AS ECONOMY IMPROVES, IT IS VITAL LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE NOT DISADVANTAGED The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on Thursday evening hosted regional and domestic business captains, politicians and members of the diplomatic corps. At the function, it doubled down on its call for a restructured approach to fiscal and other investment incentives afforded to the local private sector and a more ‘codified’ level, playing field. This must happen in light of the emerging oil and gas industry and with the proliferation of foreign companies, which have been brought under the microscope. There is also the domestic inability to compete. The growing chorus by sections of the Guyanese business community was echoed by former Jamaican Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller — guest speaker at this year’s GCCI annual Gala and Business Awards Ceremony, held in the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott International Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown, In her keynote address to the business leaders, Simpson-Miller congratulated the 130-year-old organisation for its “role as a pioneering business and commercial development” during that time. The former Jamaican
Sunday December 01, 2019
Prime Minister in acknowledging the emerging oil and gas industry in Guyana warned of the need for structural changes in the manner the economy is managed. “Today, the people of Guyana are again beaming with confidence about the future…I am told that your country appears poised to embark on an exciting path to higher development growth and human development.” This development, she noted, was in part due to foreign and global investments in the economy. Relying on her experience leading Jamaica through its own economic reforms, Simpson-Miller told those in attendance that pursuing the promised oil and gas growth and its promise of development will require major adjustments as a nation. One such component of change required, according to Simpson-Miller, is that of implementing changes to Government procurement legislation to enable local companies, “in particular small business to successfully participate” in bidding for contracts. “As your economy improves, it is vital that local businesses are not disadvantaged by in participating and prospering.” BUSINESS COMMUNITY WANTS CODE OF ETHICS FOR ELECTIONS The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Guyana’s oldest Business Support Organisation has called for the establishment of a code of ethics to be adopted by parties contesting the upcoming Regional and General Elections. The GCCI position was voiced by President Nicholas Deygoo-Boyer during t h e o rg a n i s a t i o n ’s g a l a business award ceremony Thursday evening at the Georgetown Marriott Hotel. “We are encouraging a code of ethics for parties contesting the elections in March…We feel that this is necessary given the contentious nature of our elections and the history of appealing to ethno-security fears that has gone on in past elections,” said Deygoo-Boyer. “The GCCI feels that elections in the future of Guyana should be about principles and visions for developing our country.” He reminded of the African proverb, “When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.” According to DeygooBoyer, “We must push past suffering as the grass in the
fight amongst elephants”. He said, “We see elections as a chance to have national conversations about who will have the best leadership and policies.” The business leader, speaking to a different structure in the system of governance, advocated “more diversity and technocrats at the operations level of Government, leaning towards more professional management of our government institutions and agencies; as well as less of the retribution for supporters of the losing side. “The party that wins our winner takes all elections governs all Guyanese not just its supporters.” GCCI believes, according to Deygoo-Boyer, that “in order to prepare our country for a new era in its history, we need to have a single, all-encompassing, nationallybought-into development plan, not a plan that will be thrown out at successive elections.” He said, “This transformative plan must address the structural issues in our economy that will allow us to be a shining example for our region and for the world in the case of how small states deal with windfall natural resource exploitation.” SECTIONS OF LEGUAN STELLING COLLAPSE Works to repair the dilapidated stelling at Leguan, Essequibo River, are expected to start soon with materials on site. The assurance was given Friday by Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, after news came that sections of the stelling were collapsing. The stelling, deteriorating after years of neglect, is the key entry and exit point to the island for citizens and goods. The ferries have been finding difficulty docking there in recent days because of the conditions. According to Patterson, a team from his Ministry was there recently to inspect how the project was progressing. Since September last year, a contract was awarded to S. Maraj Contracting Services for $413M. It was recently that more than 100 piles were taken to the location, Patterson said Friday. The stelling has been a sore point, especially for Leguan farmers. In January, the Ministry announced that piles from the Leguan Stelling low ramp had broken. A team of Transport and Harbours Department engineers had been dispatched to the location to assess the damage incurred.
Sunday December 01, 2019
Irfaan Ali has found his voice... (From page 39) where either side construe its constituents are adversely affected and the nation’s stability threatened. Some of these are:- the Forbes Burnham/ Cheddi Jagan commitment that realised recognition of GAWU and employment in the public sector for recipients of PPP scholarship; Desmond Hoyte/Cheddi Jagan electoral reform; Janet Jagan/Desmond Hoyte constitutional reform; Bharrat Jagdeo/Desmond Hoyte Agreement; and Jagdeo/Robert Corbin communiqué. The latter two were never honoured by Mr. Jagdeo. Nothing prevents him, were he serious about the welfare of sugar workers, from laying before President Granger issues of concern and hammering out an agreement. He could have done what his predecessors (Opposition Leaders) did, and whereas during his presidency he failed to honour any commitment, there are positive precedents to rely on. People’s suffering/ concern should not present political currency to exploit for self-interest. Unfortunately, Irfaan as a relatively young leader is quite comfortable with the status quo of the opposition. By carrying his leader’s bitter
chalice, he has allowed himself to be wholly restrained, acting only on command. He has passed over the opportunity to say to the leader, who desires total compliance, that he refuses to be chained to a politics of destruction and vindictiveness. He could have asserted himself by making known such conduct carry dire consequences for society, and moreso his generation Approximately two-third of this nation’s population is 40 years and younger. As a Member of Parliament, Ali earns a salary of not less than of 264,500 per month. For the last 11 months, taxpayers paid him a princely sum of approximately three million dollars to go to work, on their behalf, in the Parliament. He has accepted monthly salary and benefits for not working. It must not escape attention or accountability, for it is not for the want of forces in society calling on our politicians to do something about the petroleum sector and sugar, yet the opposition continues to demonstrate it cares not for the people and its constitutional duty. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)
A love story lays bare the soul of humanity (From page 57) wealthy landowner can defy the hooliganism of Thomas Clayson. His son, Hank, a milquetoast, struggles to define himself, to find redemption from his father’s toxicity. Baptiste rescues Aycayia, his valiant effort pays off and seals their love, a love that must outlast the strangulating culture that pervades Black Conch, made arid by broken dreams and exploitation. Cursed is Black Conch, many believe. Expectedly, the love between Baptiste and Aycayia is stonewalled as the halfdead mermaid is nursed to life; a Brobdingnagian effort if there was ever one. Before his eyes, she sheds her scaly corpus, losing her tail in the process, a dramatic metamorphosis, slow and wrenching, messy and mephitic. There is no happy conclusion. The search for the mermaid will continue and her change from mermaid to an indigenous woman of history – “cursed centuries ago by some women, for her beauty,” is ephemeral. Roffey’s work thrives
on a deontological underbelly that unveils our potential for the sacred and the profane. Of the soul of humanity, we learn from Baptiste’s persnickety diary that speaks of his perpetual haunting. His writings of January 2016 prove that much. “I still see her naked body swinging from a vine from that giant tree in the forest. My heart went dead in my chest and I bawl ‘No’ and ran to her.” The Mermaid of Black Conch ends as it began, with the principal actors amid a cacophony of riveting events. And central is B a p t i s t e , Ay c a y i a , a n d Miss Rain. It is a climatic conclusion, a fluid love story that leaves us with our mouths agape. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper) Book: The Mermaid of Black Conch by Monique Roffey ©2020 Monique Roffey Publisher: Peepal Tree Press Ltd ISBN 13: 9781845234577 Availability: Amazon UK Ratings: Recommended
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Pirara Bridge reopen to traffic Rehabilitative works being completed on the Pirara Bridge, Region 9
Less than three weeks after Pirara Bridge - just outside Lethem - was damaged, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure has completed rehabilitative works to restore the structural integrity of the bridge. Yesterday, the bridge accommodated vehicular traffic into the township. This remarkable change of events is possible due to the replacement of the upright piles that support the bridge in addition to horizontal beams. Vehicles will no longer be
subject to traversing along the bypass road that extends over the creek that runs beneath the bridge. The bypass road, while a safe alternative as the emergency work was being conducted, was a challenge for heavy-laden trucks. However, the Public Infrastructure Ministry had positioned equipment to assist any vehicle along the bypass. During the rehabilitation phase, the subject Ministry issued numerous advisories to
motorists and pedestrians that the damaged beam had rendered the Pirara Bridge inaccessible. During that period, the Ministry’s Engineer responsible for Region Nine, Rafael Lewis, told the Department of Public Information that all necessary measures were instituted to ensure the safety of commuters. These measures were inclusive, but not limited to highly visible reflectors and other road safety signs
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Enetworks to air HBO’s The Garage presents Watchmen every Thursday Karaoke Competition Pt. 2 Every Thursday, Enetworks will be showing one of HBO’s latest hit series called Watchmen. For those who are unfamiliar with all things superhero, the Watchmen is an upcoming American superhero drama television series, inspired by some characters from the DC Comics limited series of the same name created by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, created and developed by Damon Lindelof for HBO, with Lindelof serving as executive producer and writer. The series takes place in an alternate contemporary reality in the United States, in which superheroes and masked vigilantes were outlawed due to their violent methods, but some of them gather around to start a revolution while others attempt to stop it. According to Lindelof, the TV series will not be a direct adaptation of the original source material, instead, being “remixed”; aiming to tell an entirely new
Starting November 26, the Garage which is located on Aubrey Barker Road will be hosting its annual karaoke competition with registration fee set at an easy $3000. There will be over one million in cash and prizes to be won along with consolation prizes from sponsors such as Ansa McAL and Hits and Jams Entertainment. You must be over 18 years old to participate and not a professional singer. See you there!
Hits and Jams launches 20th Anniversary Logo & Theme competition
story set in the world where the events of the original storyline took place. The series will also showcase different points of view, with the only characters from the original storyline confirmed to appear in the series being Doctor Manhattan, the former Silk
Spectre, and former hero Ozymandias. The series will also focus on a detective named Angela Abar who becomes a vigilante called Sister Night. (See link for additional info on the show: https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Watchmen_(TV_series)
Sangria Wine Smoothie Made Easy Nothing stirs the soul on a weekend with no work or boss in sight like your beverage of choice while catching up on your favourite shows. At Kaieteur Entertainment, we understand this concept oh so well hence we’re always looking for new recipes to add a bit of spice to your repertoire of delightful mixes. Our recommended drink for you this weekend is the Sangria Wine Smoothie, the base of which is the Carlo Rossi Sangria.
A medium-bodied wine with a whole lot of personality, the Carlo Rossi Sangria is distinguished by its bright fruit flavors and subtle hint of spritz. It also features citrusy notes of orange, lemon and grapefruit that are especially refreshing. This main ingredient for your weekend cocktail can be had directly from Ansa McAL for under $1600 or at popular supermarkets for approximately $2000. See below for more details on how to make this unique
November treat. You can send your comments and photos on how it turned out to Kianawilburg@gmail.com. Do Enjoy! Ingredients 1 cup of Carlo Rossi Sangria 1.5 cups Orange Juice 1 cup frozen red berries 1 cup of ice Rind of 0.5 lemon Rind of 0.5 orange Directions 1. Throw all your ingredients into your blender and blend until smooth. 2. Pour into your Carlo Rossi appropriate glass. 3. Cheers!
Being in existence for more than a decade and taking the position of Guyana’s most established Entertainment Entity, Hits and Jams will be celebrating 20 years in 2020. The aim of the organization over this period of time is to provide high quality entertainment in the form of promotional events; concept parties, concerts, the Miss Jamzone pageants and other social affairs. It is the first entertainment firm to have excelled in the industry, taking entertainment to newer heights and broadening the horizon for upcoming promotional agencies. In addition to this, Hits and Jams is actively involved in operating both television and radio
programming after being granted rights to broadcast in Guyana. The company encourages persons to join the celebration by creating a logo and theme that reflects the company’s goals and objectives. The winner will receive US$500. The competition is open to everyone, with no specific age or nationality requirements. If you are a creative, innovative person then this competition is for you. Interested patrons should email their entries to hitsandjams2020@gmail.com or send it to their office at 206 Lance Gibbs Street. The deadline is December 2.
Magnum Tonic Wine presents Tek Charge Tuesdays at White Castle Fish Shop The Brand Managers for the Magnum Tonic Wine are elated for you to join them for their “Tek Charge Tuesday” event which will be held at the White Castle Fish shop. There will be Magnum specials all night long, the details of which will be provided by the Magnum vixens. Music will be presented by the Determined Family sound system. Be sure to link a crew for this weekly celebration. See you there.
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12 Science-Backed Benefits of Peppermint Tea and Extracts Peppermint (Mentha × piperita) is an aromatic herb in the mint family that is a cross between watermint and spearmint. Native to Europe and Asia, it has been used for thousands of years for its pleasant, minty taste and health benefits. Peppermint is used as a flavoring in breath mints, candies and other foods. Additionally, many people consume peppermint as a refreshing, caffeine-free tea. Peppermint leaves contain several essential oils including menthol, menthone and limonene. Menthol gives peppermint its cooling properties and recognizably minty scent. While peppermint tea is often drunk for its flavor, it may also have several health benefits. The tea itself has rarely been studied scientifically, but peppermint extracts have. Here are 12 science-backed benefits of peppermint tea and extracts. 1. May Ease Digestive Upsets Peppermint may relieve digestive symptoms, such as gas, bloating and indigestion. Animal studies indicate that peppermint relaxes your digestive system and may ease pain. It also prevents smooth muscles from contracting, which could relieve spasms in your gut. A review of nine studies in 926 people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) treated with peppermint oil for at least two weeks concluded that peppermint provided significantly better symptom relief than a placebo. In one study in 72 people with IBS, peppermint oil capsules reduced IBS symptoms by 40% after four weeks, compared to only 24.3% with a placebo. Additionally, in a review of 14 clinical trials in nearly 2,000 children, peppermint reduced the frequency, length and severity of abdominal pain. Furthermore, capsules containing peppermint oil reduced incidence and severity of nausea and vomiting in a study in 200 people undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. While no studies have examined peppermint tea and digestion, it’s possible that the tea could have similar effects. SUMMARY: Peppermint oil has been shown to relax muscles in your
digestive system and improve various digestive symptoms. Therefore, peppermint tea may provide similar benefits. 2. May Help Relieve Tension Headaches and Migraines As peppermint acts as a muscle relaxant and pain reliever, it may diminish certain types of headaches. The menthol in peppermint oil increases blood flow and provides a cooling sensation, possibly easing pain. In one randomized clinical study in 35 people with migraines, peppermint oil applied to the forehead and temples significantly reduced pain after two hours, compared to a placebo oil. In another study in 41 people, peppermint oil applied to the forehead was found to be as effective for headaches as 1,000 mg of acetaminophen. While the aroma of peppermint tea may help relax muscles and improve headache pain, there is no
supporting scientific evidence to confirm this effect. However, applying peppermint oil to your temples may help. 3. May Freshen Your Breath There’s a reason why peppermint is a common flavoring for toothpastes, mouthwashes and chewing gums. In addition to its pleasant smell, peppermint has antibacterial properties that help kill germs that cause dental plaque — which may improve your breath. In one study, people who had undergone spine surgery and had received a rinse made with
peppermint, tea tree and lemon oils experienced improvement in bad breath symptoms, compared to those who did not receive the oils. In another study, schoolgirls given a peppermint mouth rinse experienced an improvement in breath after one week, compared to the control group. While there is no evidence from scientific studies that drinking peppermint tea has the same effect, the compounds in peppermint have been shown to improve breath. 4. May Relieve Clogged Sinuses Peppermint has antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. Because of this, peppermint tea may fight clogged sinuses due to infections, the common cold and allergies. Additionally, research demonstrates that menthol — one of the active compounds in peppermint — improves the perception of airflow in your nasal cavity. Therefore, steam from
compounds in peppermint have been shown to improve symptoms. In one study in 127 women with painful periods, peppermint extract capsules were found to be as effective as a non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug in reducing the intensity and duration of pain. It is possible that peppermint tea could have similar effects. 7. May Fight Bacterial Infections While there are no studies on the antibacterial effects of peppermint tea, peppermint oil has been shown to effectively kill bacteria. In one study, peppermint oil was found to kill and prevent the growth of common food-borne bacteria including E. coli, Listeria and Salmonella in pineapple and mango juices. Peppermint oil also kills several types of bacteria that lead to illnesses in humans, including Staphylococcus and pneumonia-linked bacteria. Additionally, studies indicate that peppermint reduces several types of bacteria commonly found in your mouth. Furthermore, menthol has also demonstrated antibacterial activity. 8. May Improve Your Sleep Peppermint tea is an ideal choice before bed, as it’s naturally caffeinefree. What’s more, peppermint’s capacity as a muscle relaxant may help you relax before bedtime.
peppermint tea may help you feel as though your breathing is easier. Furthermore, warm liquids, such as chicken broth and tea, have been shown to temporarily improve symptoms of sinus congestion, likely due to their vapors. Though peppermint tea has not been studied for its effects on nasal congestion, evidence suggests that it may be helpful. 5. May Improve Energy Peppermint tea may improve energy levels and reduce daytime fatigue. While there are no studies on peppermint tea specifically, research demonstrates that natural compounds in peppermint may have beneficial effects on energy. In one study, 24 healthy young people experienced less fatigue during a cognitive test when given peppermint oil capsules. In another study, peppermint oil aromatherapy was found to reduce the incidence of daytime sleepiness. 6. May Help Relieve Menstrual Cramps Because peppermint acts as a muscle relaxant, it may relieve menstrual cramps. While peppermint tea has not been studied to that effect,
That said, there is not much scientific evidence that peppermint enhances sleep. In one study, peppermint oil lengthened the sleeping time of mice given a sedative. However, another study found that menthol did not have a sedative effect. Therefore, research on peppermint and sleep is mixed. 9. May Aid Weight Loss Peppermint tea is naturally calorie-free and has a pleasantly sweet flavor, which makes it a smart choice when you’re trying to lose weight. However, there is not much research on the effects of peppermint tea on weight. In a small study in 13 healthy people, taking a peppermint oil capsule resulted in reduced appetite compared to not taking peppermint. On the other hand, an animal study showed that mice given peppermint extracts gained more weight than the control group. More research is needed on peppermint and weight loss. 10. May Improve Seasonal Allergies Peppermint contains rosmarinic acid, a plant compound found in
rosemary and plants in the mint family. Rosmarinic acid is linked to reduced symptoms of allergic reactions, such as runny nose, itchy eyes and asthma. In one randomized 21-day study in 29 people with seasonal allergies, those given an oral supplement containing rosmarinic acid had fewer symptoms of itchy nose, itchy eyes and other symptoms than those given a placebo. While it’s unknown whether the amount of rosmarinic acid found in peppermint is enough to affect allergy symptoms, there is some evidence that peppermint may relieve allergies. In a study in rats, peppermint extract reduced allergic symptoms, such as sneezing and itchy nose. 11. May Improve Concentration Drinking peppermint tea may help improve your ability to concentrate and focus. While studies on the effects of peppermint tea on concentration are unavailable, two small studies have researched this beneficial effect of peppermint oil — taken by ingestion or inhalation. In one study, 24 young, healthy people performed significantly better on cognitive tests when they were given peppermint oil capsules. In another study, smelling peppermint oil was found to improve memory and alertness, compared to ylang-ylang, another popular essential oil. 12. Easy to Add to Your Diet Peppermint tea is delicious and easy to add to your diet. You can buy it in tea bags, as loose-leaf tea or simply grow your own peppermint. To make your own peppermint tea: · Bring 2 cups of water to a boil. · Turn off the heat and add a handful of torn peppermint leaves to the water. · Cover and steep for 5 minutes. · Strain the tea and drink. Because peppermint tea is naturally free of caffeine, you can drink it at any time of day. Enjoy it as a post-meal treat to aid digestion, in the afternoon to boost your energy or before bed to help you relax. SUMMARYPeppermint tea is a tasty, calorie- and caffeine-free tea that can be enjoyed at any time of day. The Bottom Line Peppermint tea and the natural compounds found in peppermint leaves may benefit your health in several ways. While research on peppermint tea is limited, several studies outline the benefits of peppermint oil and peppermint extracts. Peppermint may help improve digestion, freshen your breath and improve concentration. Additionally, this mint has antibacterial properties and may improve allergy symptoms, headaches and clogged airways. Peppermint tea is a delicious, naturally sweet, caffeine-free beverage that can safely be consumed at any time of day.
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Teens battle to create best crime reporting app - as Hackathon 2019 kicks off
[Centre] Team leader Mohammed Khan with other members of the Innosys Team Berbice youths hope to bring a new perspective to the software game as this year’s Hackathon officially kicks off. A team of people aged between 16 and 19 years old and representing SkillshareTech are ready to surprise Guyana with their software development. Suraj Jaudoo, representative of SkillshareTech said: “I don’t think they’ve ever seen anything from Berbice yet so they’ll be surprised.” Meanwhile, Davendra Naraine, team leader of IntellectStorm is grateful for such a heavy youth presence. “We come from various backgrounds so we all have unique perspectives on how to solve the problem so we’re going to put that together to give a solution that can be used and can grow,” Naraine explained. Having competed in all the Hackathon competitions to date Narine and his team are of
the view that the event presents a unique opportunity for development. “This is an inspiration for young people across t h e c o u n t r y. I t s h o w s people that it is the people that are young and smart and capable who are [going to] be the ones that can make the difference,” he added. The software development battle is aimed at providing digital solutions to real problems. J u l i u s S i m o n , Te a m leader of Logiq, said his team’s participation is in part “to produce something that is useful and will benefit Guyanese because that’s the whole aim of the competition to create an app that people can use.” Creating an app for reporting crime is the focus o f t h i s y e a r ’s 4 8 - h o u r event. In 2017 Farmer’s App, a project of the Ministry of
Public Telecommunications was developed by Team Innosys, also participating in this year’s competition. “This year’s competition looks to be very tight, there are very good teams in this year’s competition, some very great people that I would like to see bring forward their solutions and also us, and you know for us to win this year’s competition,” Mohamed Khan, Team leader of Innosys said. Hackathon 2019 is being hosted with great focus on safety and security with a special emphasis on Domestic Violence. Kenneth Parris, Team Leader of Nexus Hub/ Version75 Incorporated remarked that youth involvement is paramount to the success of the field. “They’re going to be an integral part, they’re not just here to observe…they’re going to be an integral part of building something that could affect Guyana positively.” (DPI)
Another Team
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Guyana-born mall shooter jailed for life by Canadian court T O R O N T O (Huffingtonpost.ca)— A man who opened fire in the crowded food court of a popular mall in downtown Toronto seven years ago, killing two people, was sentenced to life in prison on Friday. The ruling was delivered in a courtroom about half a kilometre from the site of the attack, that also left six people injured. Christopher Husbands was convicted of manslaughter in the deaths of two young men in the
June 2, 2012, shooting. “He was criminally reckless as to how many totally innocent bystanders could be caught in the line of his fire,” Justice Brian O’Marra said in his decision. “Could this incident have been worse? Yes, it could easily have been three, four, five or more people killed or wounded by his actions.” Husbands was also found guilty earlier this year of five counts of aggravated assault
and one count each of criminal negligence causing bodily harm and reckless discharge of a firearm. For those charges, he was handed seven concurrent sentences, of which he has four years left to serve. He’ll be eligible to apply for parole after serving one-third of that time — sometime in the spring of 2021. In crafting the sentence, O’Marra took Husbands’s background into consideration, noting that the young man —
who was 23 at the time of the attack — had been subjected to racism and poverty growing up first in Guyana and then in a poor neighbourhood of Toronto, where his circumstances led him to get involved with drugs and guns. But in spite of those factors, O’Marra said he believes the prospects for Husbands’ rehabilitation are good, noting the young man had also been involved in “pro-social activity,” including volunteering. This was Husbands’ second trial in connection with the Eaton Centre shooting, after his conviction on second-degree murder charges was overturned on appeal. Husbands admitted at trial that he was the shooter but his lawyers argued he should be found not criminally responsible due to mental
illness. The Crown acknowledged Husbands suffered from PTSD due to a stabbing months earlier but said he was carrying out a vendetta against his attackers. The judge said the two men who were killed were involved in the attack on Husbands. Ahmed Hassan, 24, died on the floor of the mall’s food court and Nixon Nirmalendran, 22, died in hospital nine days later, the judge noted. Six others were hurt, including a 13-year-old boy who was shot in the head and survived, and a pregnant woman who was trampled by fleeing shoppers. O’Marra said it wasn’t clear whether Husbands was sorry for what he did, despite the fact that he apologized in court. “Many years have passed since the deaths and
Life in prison: Christopher Husbands injuries were caused by Christopher Husbands. His professed remorse in 2019 stands in contrast to what he wrote in letters to (a girlfriend) in 2012,” the judge wrote. “His remorse today may be genuine. However, I find based on all of the evidence and information available that his remorse is ambiguous at best.”
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STANDARDS IN FOCUS
Consumer tips for purchasing furniture this Christmas Season Usually, this season presents the opportunity for consumers to purchase new pieces of furniture to add to their décor to enhance their homes. As with all other products, it is important to be knowledgeable about such purchases. The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) is responsible for monitoring the quality of furniture in Guyana, and the Bureau is advocating that consumers, when purchasing furniture, pay careful attention to quality and labelling requirements. Furniture must be of good quality, otherwise their imperfections and defects will quickly show during usage. Further, these products are very expensive and consumers expect that they will get extensive usage from them; so the structural integrity of furniture must be sound to withstand prolong use. The National Standard “Code of Practice for the manufacture of furniture” offers a guide to manufacturers who are desirous of
producing quality pieces. In addition, manufacturers must comply with the National Labelling Standards “Specification for the labelling of commodities – Part 5: labelling of furniture”. Conformance to these standards goes a far way in ensuring that consumers get the furniture they deserve. Based on the standard, the labels of furniture should have the common name or type of item; mark/code to distinguish the manufacturer; the country of origin (for imported furniture) and the predominant material from which the item is made (wood, metal or plastic). Other information, such as the type of finish (lacquer, varnish, paint) and precautionary note for care must also be included on the label. When buying furniture, the following consumer tips can be helpful: · Conduct a simple but detailed check of
Ruimveldt Traffic Department to tackle traffic congestion in La Penitence As part of the festivities for Road Safety Month 2019, Officers from the Ruimveldt Police Station’s Traffic Department are implementing mass education on traffic regulations to businesses and the public in and around the La Penitence area. Speaking with Kaieteur News, Corporal Benjamin Dufu and Constable Edward Lowenfield highlighted several Christmas plans formulated in keeping with the mandate of the Guyana Police Force. According to him, the plans are aimed at reducing traffic congestion as well as addressing various crime aspects. Corporal Dufu said that the ranks of the Traffic Department have been Continued on page 69
Ranks interacting with businesses along La Penitence.
the furniture: When buying wooden furniture, consumers should take a closer look to ensure that the lumber and other materials used in manufacturing are free from rot, insect holes, open knots cracks and other common defects. It is often the practice of some unscrupulous manufacturers to use defective materials and use finishing materials to conceal these defects. Whenever this is done it is the end user/consumer who looses because he/ she has purchased a rapidly deteriorating or easily weakened piece of furniture. · Measure your furniture: Don’t neglect to measure the room ahead of buying to see if your new furniture will fit. You will be amazed at the number of furniture purchases that never make it into a home because the buyer neglected to measure the furniture or forgot to take into account hallways, doors, elevators and stairs. · Understand scale: A sofa that looks just right in the showroom might look too big in your room or not big enough. It is hard to judge when you are looking at a picture or seeing it in a showroom. In addition, measure to make sure that your new piece matches the scale of the furniture you already own. · Avoid paying too much attention to fads: It is best to buy a piece of furniture that you will feel comfortable with for years to come. That goes for color as well as style. Fads can come and go very quickly, so look beyond a
few months of excitement. Instead, buy furniture that truly appeals to you and will look good even years later. · Read the labels: Reading labels that affixed to furniture available for sale is very important. Labels provide useful information on the product and should include information such as the common name of the item, manufacturer’s distinguishing mark/code, type of materials from which the furniture is made and the type of finish used. · After sale services: It is important that you find out whether after sale services are available and who will bear the costs. Ask for a written warranty and secure your receipts for at least one year. · Understand how the furniture will be used: Before you buy furniture, make sure that you know how it will be used, and who will be using it. If you forget to factor in small children, pets, and snacking while watching TV, you could be heading for disaster. Your fabulous cream colored sofa will be no match for grubby hands, or muddy paws. A gorgeous coffee table with a delicate finish will not last too long when you have people putting up their feet on it. For further information on this subject, please contact the Guyana National Bureau of Standards on Telephone Numbers: 2190065, 219-0066 and 219-0069 or visit the GNBS website: www.gnbsgy.org.
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SERVICES
FOR SALE
Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040
1 CAT 215 Excavator, 1 CAT 428 Backhoe, 1 Mack concrete mixer 8 CU YDS. Tel# 275-0367/ 683-7225
ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6006887: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, G R A D U AT I O N , W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Installation, Repairs and parts for AC, Fridge, Washing Machine, Stove etc. Call Nick 630-1600, 6273206 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer-Call: 231-0655; 683-8734. Omar Tow Truck Services- Tow truck. #677-0917 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158
1 Double Steel wheel roller, 19 Wheel Pneumatic roller, 2 Bitumen kettle. Tel# 275-0367/ 683-7225 Copra Meal for sale. Tel# 2235273/223-5274 K9 German Shepherd pups for sale #664-4666 TO LET 1 bedroom apartment for working couple/single person $35,000 monthly, light & water included. 2 months security. Tel#623-0076 LAND FOR SALE Parfaite Harmonie $1.8M, Zeelugt $2M neg Tel# 6976311 Transported land for sale in Rose Hall Town.Call#6031441. Lot 1397 Section A, Block X Great Diamond Housing Scheme (110x62) Tel# 2316344, serious buyer
Mason- Experienced in casting, block work and plastering. Available on call/ Tel# 619-3296/231-2060
Kitty, Georgetown, Double Lot Eccles, Providence, Melanie, Paradise, Soesdyke Linden Highway, Moblissa. Contact Ray’s Realty. #6279685
Need a land surveyor? We do surveys for: Boundaries, Leases, engineering, cadastral, topo etc. Call: 6622677
Farm main road (East Bank) $3.5M, $6.5M Eccles $5M Parfaite Harmonie $1.4M Schnoord (100ftx50ft) $3.6M Tel#648-1635/656-0701
FOR RENT
WANTED
One (2) Bedroom bottom flat.Hadfield St.G/ town.Call#608-0430.
Experienced Waiters, Drivers, Cleaners, Apply at Hack’s Halaal with H/written application, 5 Commerce St
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, G R A D U AT I O N , W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Apt for rent- Parfaite Harmonie #603-3912 3 bedroom semi furnished apt @ Avenue B Diamond, EBD, 2 bedrooms, a/c, parking, hot water shower $100,000. Tel#624-0118
1 Security Guard, Waiter, Waitresses, Servers. Apply at Herdmanston, Anira & Peter Rose Sts, Queenstown Tel#225-0808 Ex-100
3 bedroom semi furnished apt @ Laluni St, Queenstown Georgetown, Parking, Hot water shower, 1 bedroom a/c, US$1000. Tel#624-0118
Contract cars, Trace’s Taxi & Transportation Delivery Service. #219-0400/502-3989/ 680-7482
Two bedroom apartment for rent in Albertown. #698-5800/ 648-1391 Office & Business space, Hadfield, High & Saffon St, Georgetown. Contact Ray’s Realty #627-9685 O C E A N V I E W SUBRYANVILLE TWO STOREY CONCRETE HOUSE, 4 BEDROOMS, 4 BATHS, 3 VERANDAHS, LARGE YARD, FULLY FURNISHED.MUST SEE!! CALL#225-5591/685-8000. One apartment with two rooms for rent at Market Street, Mon Repos, EBD. Tel# 220-7330/614-0005 1 self contain room to rent, South Riumveldt Park $32,000 per month, single male or female. Tel# 688-5296 PROPERTY FOR SALE
3 bedroom flat house at Cornelia Ida, Tiled, Grill, Big Shed - Side & Back $11M #671-2474/661-3659
VEHICLE FOR SALE EDUCATION Care for elderly, care for children. First Aid & CPR. #227-4881 PEN PAL
Allion, Premio, Fieldwagon, Raum, Bluebird, Sienta, Spacio, Rz, 212 Carina, Pitbull bus. #650-7501
Overseas Base Male Indian seek female.Age 30-33.Must be Educated.Call#602-9975.
07 BMW MSport Edition, less than 87,000km, drives great, 2.9M neg, for more information call: 648-6567/ Facebook.com/AriaImports
N. Outar Driving School, Learn to Drive the right way @ Cuffy Square. Affordable package. Call: 644-5166/691-2561/6812808
LEARN TO DRIVE
Minibus driver to work with company #646-8748, Driver for route 42 minibus #6640802 Lorry Driver- Apply in person to R.P’s Enterprise Area K Le Resouvenir ECD. Tel#2202818/3710
Lot 89 Robb Street, Lacytown, Georgetown. Next door to Mike’s Pharmacy.Land size3431.25 Sq.ft. Phone: 617-5323, 666-8052
1 Honda CRV. includes TV, music system, alarm, reverse camera, sproiler, crash bar, Low mileage. PTT Series (First Owner) Contact #6490956
Sunday December 01, 2019
Kaieteur News
Melanie, Enterprise & Enmore ECD, Zeelugt WCD, Campbellville, Kitty, Broad St, Ketley St, Georgetown, Republic Gardens, Craig & Providence. Contact Ray’s Realty #627-9685 1-2 storey house, 3 1/2 bedroom, 2 washroom, 2 verendah, land 120-45, Cummings Lodge 9 ST- Neg. Tel# 686-5180 One 3 Story building at 97 Sugar Cane St, S/Rveldt Gdns. $125,000,000. Tel#674-9905/ 695-1356/225-2971
(1) Sales girl. Tel# 602-3673 We buy land on the Eat Bank, Parfaite Harmonie, West Coast and Bartica, Martyr’s Ville. Tel# 651-1969 1 male sales clerk, 21 - 40 yr, must be living on WBD/WCD Call: 264-2524 8am to 4:30 pm Labourer to work on cash crop farm. Tel# 695-6139/6387420/679-7552 Labourers for wood concession - $5000 per day Call: 630-1831 (2) Waitress & (1) Professional cook, preferably from WCD, to work flexible hours, attrative salary. Tel#689-7481 1 Maid to cook and clean for East Bank area.Call:615-9132. Wanted land to buy anywhere on the East Bank, Parfaite Harmonie or on the West Coast #642-1252 VACANCY Driver/Expediter. Contact#223-5273/223-5274 2 Vacancies- Clerk & Domestic, live-in facilities for Berbicians and Essequibians #219-5354 Experienced cook from the vicinity of ogle, live in female shop attendant (18-25yrs) (Salary starts @ $25,000) #648-7866 Driver, must have sound secondary education, for more information, please call: 223-0090 Accounts Clerk, General Labourers, Security Guards, Handyman. Preferably from EBD. Tel#647-4427 Female Cleaner office & home.Call#642-9823.
VACANCY
CAR RENTAL
PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS FROM $4000 & UP, SUV’S PER DAY- CALL: 656-0087 / 6435122 ,EMAIL:PRO_ A U T O R E N TA L Immediate vacancy exists for @YAHOO.COM male workers to work shift @ Del Ice Co. Call: 231-1408/642- DOLLYS AUTO RENTAL CALL: 225-7126 & 2269191 3693 -DOLLYS AUTO Plumber, must have RENTAL @ YAHOO.COM/ certificates & handyman/ W W W . D O L L Y security guard, fit & healthy, SAUTORENTAL.COM willing to gardening & others. AIDAN’S CAR Tel# 223-4159 RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 1 Live-in Nanny/Female SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD kitchen assistant with experiFOR AIRPORT & FAMILY ence in creole foods and meat OUTINGS, CHEAPEST preparation #675-2550/656RATE . Call: 698-7807 9313 VACANCY One (1) Clerk for TSI Eccles Industrial Site Office. English C a s h i e r s / S u p e r m a r k e t -1, Mathematics-2, helpers at Nirva Quickbooks. Call: 615-9132 Superstore.Apply with Vacancy exist for Experienced Pharmacy assistants to work @ reputable pharmacy in G/ town. Interested persons call # 696-5098 between 8am-4pm
Superbet Cashiers. Tel# 6917123
written application 49 Sherrif Str.Tel#227-5771.
Sunday December 01, 2019
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Kaieteur News
CONSUMER CONCERNS
Commonwealth Youth work week and enrichment of youth programmes By PAT DIAL Between November 4 and November 10, “Commonwealth Youth Work Week” was commemorated in the 53 nations of the Commonwealth under the theme “Youth Work in Action”. The Week was launched by the Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Baroness Scotland, who has West Indian roots. In her brief but comprehensive address titled “Young People need our Support- We must seize this tremendous opportunity” she outlined the national and personal developments which youth work could bring and at the same time mentioned some of the training opportunities which the Commonwealth offers. These offerings include the new Commonwealth Degree and Diploma in Youth Work and the Commonwealth Alliance of Youth Workers Associations (CAYWA) which is an international organization of professional
youth work associations facilitating the crosspollination of ideas and collegial support among the Associations. Over the last several years, Guyana has had a number of valuable youth programes organized by both Government and NGO’s. Such programmes had offerings on Education in various fields, Sport, Technical training in various skills and development of entrepreneurial capabilities and ventures. The latest youth effort is the organization of an NGO named ‘Youth and Oil Association’ which is directed at helping young professionals and entrepreneurs to take advantage of the budding Oil and Gas sector. The media has been giving fairly generous and continuous coverage to these Youth Programmes and it is probably this that has led to the comparatively low-keyed coverage of “Commonwealth Youth Work Week.” It would be in Guyana’s
interest to strengthen its Commonwealth connections since it could result in the development of “special relationships” with several important Commonwealth countries. Such countries could lend international support to Guyana. In this regard, both the media and the Commonwealth desk at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs could be more active. In the majority of developing countries, youth now forms between 60% and 70% of the population. This has made it incumbent that youth development should be a priority both from a national and individual standpoint. Nationally, it would ensure that there would be an efficient and sufficient workforce to successfully man the economy of the next generation and individually, youth programmes are designed to produce wellrounded persons and to help young people to channel their energies and talent in positive directions and be guided towards healthy and
Ruimveldt Traffic Department to tackle... From page 67 conducting numerous talks with businesses as it relates to double parking, diagonal parking and parking on pavements. The plan also entails engaging members of the public with information on the negative impacts of their actions on other road users. He stated that heavy Police presence will be in the La Penitence Market to combat robberies as well as put emphasis on lorry drivers, since the Department intends to meet with them to discuss parking allotment. Additionally, as it draws closer to the Christmas period the Department intends
to designate La Penitence Public Road a o n e - w a y, s t a r t i n g a t I n d e p e n d e n c e Boulevard, only allowing vehicles to proceed south, between the hours of 12:00 pm and 6:00 p.m. in an effort to regulate the influx of persons entering and existing Georgetown. This will be conducted at various intervals and closely monitored by Traffic Ranks. He further encourages the public to report any suspicious behaviour by calling 911 or reporting it to the nearest Police Station. Other departments such as the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have also dispatched patrol within the area.
productive lives. In Guyana we have tended to develop Youth Programmes without full understanding of linkages with the entire span of life. Three or four generations ago, when there were no youth programmes, socialization and the training of youth was done by the family and community. The youth were taught the basics of earning a living and given a religio- ethical grounding. and an indication that his present life was linked to the entire span of life. In all the ancient cultures, the phases of life were precisely articulated. Among the most known in Guyana is the Indian system - the fourfold division of life, which we will give as an example. In the Indian System, the span of life is divided into four segments- the first quarter of life was known as Bhramchari or the time of studentship. During this first segment of life, the young person is educated in the skills he
would require in the rest of life. For instance, he would learn a trade or profession, reading, writing and numbers, given a grounding in ethics and religion - in effect preparing the young student for the next quarter of life the stage of being a householder. In the Householder’s stage, known as gharhastya, the young person would be married, bring up a family earn his livelihood, create his home and other material things and learn something of the Arts. The third segment of life is known as Vanaprasta, when the matured man gives public service however best he can, be as charitable of his time and substance as he is able to afford, and still offers guidance to his grown -up children and grand children. In this stage, the person learns to free his hold of material things or vice versa, the hold of material things on him. He also begins to turn his mind to philosophy and
God. In the fourth or final quarter of life known as Sanyasa, the aging man settles his worldly affairs, prepares for death, and devotes himself to God. These four stages are not mutually exclusive but dovetail into each other. These various youth programmes would be enriched and made more relevant if participants were to realize that their programmes had linkages to the entire stream of life as outlined above in the Four Segments of Life. Though over the years there had been many modern and valuable youth programmes offered or supported by Government and Non Governmental Organizations (NGO;s), there had never been any formal and methodical evaluation of them. This omission needs to be corrected since evaluations would help to better future programmes and increase their impact and success.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday December 01, 2019
Businessman to serve a Signs to be placed on roadways, crossings - Traffic Chief further one-year jail term Three months after being sentenced for trafficking in cocaine, a businessman on Thursday had an additional year added to his record. Fifty-seven-year-old Aundre Singh, who was on trial before Magistrate Rondel Weever in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday decided to change his not guilty plea to guilty and admitted to his charge. The charge had stated that on October 3, 2018, at lot 779 Section B Block X Diamond Housing Scheme, he had 6.6 grams of cocaine in his possession for the purpose of trafficking. The court was told that a search by the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) ranks was conducted at the home of the defendant. This search resulted in the find of 6.6 grams of suspected cocaine. Singh remains in court for two other charges in which it is alleged that on the same day and at the same location the defendant who was not a licensed firearm holder at the time was found in his possession with one revolver and matching ammunition as well as one pistol with matching ammunition.
Jailed: Aundre Singh
On the day in question, the revolver and pistol as well as the corresponding ammunition for each weapon along with a large sum of money discovered. In August, Singh was sentenced for the offence which stated that on October 3, 2018 at the Rupert Craig Highway in the vicinity of the Kitty seawall, between Pere Street and Queen Street, he had 5.582 kilograms of cocaine in his possession for the purpose of trafficking. At the completion of his trial, Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus who
was presiding over the hearing in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts handed down her sentence of 3.5 years. Singh was also charged along with sixty-year-old Clifford Gouveia, a taxi driver, of Lot 14 Little Abary, East Coast Demerara. Gouveia also received the same sentence. Both men had pleaded not guilty. They were, however, found guilty based on the evidence presented by the prosecutor, Narissa Leander. As part from their sentence, they were fined $11,722,200.
Traffic Chief, Linden Isles, told reporters on Thursday that his department will collaborate with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) to place signs on the roadways and at pedestrian crossings. Isles response comes after 11-year-old Adalia George was struck down by a speeding driver while using the pedestrian crossing along the Grove Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD). A video also went viral showing one driver slowing down and allowing George and her siblings to cross. But subsequently, a speeding car in an attempt to overtake the parked car, struck George and narrowly missed her siblings. George who suffered a fractured neck, a broken shoulder blade and other injuries was discharged from the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) last week. The speeding driver was sentenced to pay a fine of $40,000 and will spend the next six months in jail. However, a number ofdrivers have raised an issue about absent road signs which cause such accidents. One driver said that there are many pedestrian crossings around
Traffic chief Speaking with reporters on his visit to the GPHC on Thursday. Georgetown and along the East bank public without road signs. He continued that without these signs it is difficult for one to know that a pedestrian crossing is ahead. The driver said that on numerous occasions he himself had to apply “last minute brakes” at such crossings without these key road signs. Isles recognized that the missing road signs are factual
and even though the traffic department is not responsible for erecting these signs, he promised to work along with MPI to ensure that it is done. The Traffic Chief said little Adalia George although alive will continue to suffer from the trauma and after effects of her injuries. He promised that his department will do everything possible to decrease the number of road accidents that occur.
Sunday December 01, 2019
Kaieteur News
Linden teen stabbed by twin brothers School violence is on the rise with another occurrence being added to the list. In this case, a 15-year-old student was stabbed several times about his body by twin brothers who attend the Linden Foundation Secondary school. According to reports, the incident took place during the lunch break.. Commander of Region Ten, Superintendent Hugh Winter, told Kaieteur News that the twins have been arrested and are assisting with investigations. On Thursday at 11:20am,
the victim was walking along the corridors of the school when he passed and hit one of the brothers with his shoulder. The twins reportedly told police that this was a deliberate move. A fight subsequently ensued and in the heat of the moment, one of the brother’s brandished a pair of scissors and dealt several stab wounds to the victim. The head teacher intervened and immediately rushed the injured student to the nearby medical facility where he was treated and sent home. He is said to be out of
danger. According to the Commander, the fight was fueled by an ongoing feud between the trio. The reason for the feud is unknown. The regional head stated that a file will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecution to determine whether charges will be instituted against the twins. This incident now adds to the long list of violent fights occurring in secondary and primary schools causing many eyebrows to rise. The last incident took place at the Winfer Garden
Secondary school where a parent was filmed beating a female. The video made its rounds on social media with many persons demanding that adequate punishment be meted out against the male student. The second issue occurred at Richard Ishmael Secondary School. It involved a male and female student. It was reported that the fight started because the female was bullying the male student about him being an orphan. Investigations are ongoing.
La Grange smash-up leaves four dead... (From page 63) the driver of the car had just re-fuelled at the gas station. He then turned onto the West Bank Public Road, at the same time that a speeding minibus was heading north on the same roadway. The impact hurled both vehicles into a nearby trench. The driver of the car was left pinned in his mangled vehicle, while a badly injured girl was trapped in the bus. Passersby helped to free them but by then they were both dead. Road Safety Week ended yesterday with at least eleven deaths. The tragedies began when a new father, 31-year-old David Headly, was killed in an early morning accident on Sunday, November 24. Reports are Headly was driving his car, PRR 253, at a fast rate when he slammed into a bridge at Felicity, on the East Coast Demerara public road. Earlier that Sunday, just after midnight, 29-year-old
Police Officer, Carl Roach died after his Ducati motorcycle collided with a car at the corner of Brickdam and Chalmers Place. The impact killed him instantly. The next day, November 25, an Essequibo labourer, 52year-old Raymond Cassal was killed in a hit-and-run accident. Residents had found his body lying on the roadway sporting multiple injuries. The next day, November 26, saw a horrific crash that claimed the lives of businessman Dillon DeRamos and Senior Superintendent Brain Eastman. The SUV the men were travelling in slammed into a concrete fence at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown. The vehicle was wrecked beyond repair. Further up at Bush Lot, West Coast of Berbice, an innocent 7-year-old boy’s life was snuffed out as he stood with his mother and siblings, mere moments after coming from school. Nifran Nazamadeen, his
mother and 8-year-old sister were standing on the parapet when a speeding car into them, killing the young lad instantly. He was still wearing his schoolbag as his body lay trapped under the wrecked car. Then yesterday, 26-year old Riley Charles Newton of Ruimzeight, West Coast Demerara drove off the road and overturned at Leonora, WCD. The accident occurred at around 04:30 hrs yesterday. Riley’s friends who were also injured, were travelling to
Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE). Traffic Chief, Linden Isles said that the traffic department has been playing their part but yet, the recklessness still persists. “We have been doing our part…education, TV programmes, lectures to schools, lectures to drivers, enforcement exercises, but this does not seem to be hitting home with persons. All of the accidents throughout this week, look at them, all were caused by speeding.”
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Nominations Day is January 10, 2020 As Guyana heads closer to March 2020 General and Regional Elections, Nominations Day is scheduled be on the January 10, next year. This is according to an advertisement published by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). According to the advertisement, (GECOM) requests that all political parties desirous of participating in the upcoming Regional and General Elections submit a symbol for approval. Applications for approval of symbols must be submitted to GECOM no later than December 13, 2019 to facilitate timely consideration by the commission and timely response to applicants. The Nominations Day schedule marks Guyana drawing closer to the holding of Regional and General Elections following months of uncertainty after a no- confident vote was successfully toppled the ruling a Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) government back in December 2018. Since then APNU+AFC and the opposition the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) have been in a tug and war over the validity of the no confidence motion. The no-confidence motion has divided the nation with the government insisting that the vote was illegal as the parliamentarian; Charrandass Persaud, was sitting illegal in the National Assembly at that time of the vote. The government took the matter to court. The High Court ruled that no person with dual citizenship can sit in the National Assembly and that the vote was carried, properly. However, the Court of Appeal deemed the vote needed a greater majority. The matter ended in the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) where it was ruled that the motion was valid and elections must be held within three months. Many observers have been calling for a smooth flow in the proceedings leading up to elections particularly the diplomatic community. The diplomats have been nervous over what has been a testing period for Guyana. New US ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, has urged Guyana to have a “peaceful” reaction to the impending ruling at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on the noconfidence vote which triggered early elections.
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Sunday December 01, 2019
Kaieteur News
Sheriff St. /Mandela road project...
Chinese contractors must correct defects highlighted by IDB - Minister Jaipaul Sharma Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI), Jaipaul Sharma, made it clear yesterday that Chinese contractor, Sinohydro Limited, must correct all defects on the Sheriff Street/Mandela Avenue road project. This comes after the government and the contractor arrived at a stalemate over the continuation of works on one of the main road links between the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara. The project was greatly criticized by the public and blasted by MPI for many short comings in relation to health and safety issues as well as traffic management failures. In fact, Sinohydro was warned on numerous occasions to rectify these short comings but had blatantly ignored to do so. This resulted in the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) suspending payments to the contractor who failed to adhere to the warnings. Sinohydro retaliated by laying-off a number of
workers after it claimed that no payments were made to them in three months. Termination letters of shocked employees began surfacing on the internet and Minister David Patterson moved to explain why the payments were suspended. A statement was released by the ministry highlighting the major breaches the company had made. The Ministry had even hinted that it will move forward with the remedial works and deduct the money from the contractor’s pay. The very next day works were halted and workers were seen packing and removing key equipment despite no official word mentioned from government to suspend works. Minister Sharma visited the site on Wednesday to assess the situation and a decision was made that if the contractor wants to suspend any works it must first remedy all the defects since it was already paid to do so. This includes remedying the drainage issues along the project corridor and putting
Minister Jaipaul Sharma and his team on the worksite last Wednesday. all the necessary systems in place for the safety and protection of road users. All this must be done during the period that payment is suspended. Sharma said that even though they are not working, the contract was not officially terminated and Sinohydro will
still have the responsibility to maintain the worksite which no one will pay them for. Sharma then said that it is better for the company to correct these defects which it deemed not important to fix. He said the contract holds
the company responsible to make sure those systems is in place and as a result part of the funding they received is to implement these systems. Sharma said that he will meet with the General Manager of the company on
Monday to discuss the issue because time is running out. The IDB will close off its operations on December 13, next, and if the company does not adhere then the suspension of its payments will continue into 2020.
POLICE FIND CANNABIS IN STOLEN MUSIC SET
A man has been taken into police custody after ranks at the Criminal Investigation Department discovered more than 1200 grams of suspected cannabis hidden inside a large music set. According to information, the suspect of Goed Intent, West Bank Demerara was nabbed at a wharf in Georgetown with a quantity of items suspected to be stolen or unlawfully obtained.
Among those was a large music set. Checks were made and police found cannabis wrapped in parcels. The man is currently assisting with investigations. Meanwhile, two men were also arrested after an intelligence-led operation by ranks of the Police Narcotics Branch at Diamond, East Bank Demerara. Police discovered more than 44kg of suspected cannabis. Both men are being processed for court.
Sunday December 01, 2019
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Kaieteur News
Effective reporting on oil…
ExxonMobil and GPA use joint effort to train media Reporters from the various media houses in Guyana are benefitting from a two-day media training on the oil, gas and energy sector. The media training being held at the conference room of Herdmanston Lodge started yesterday. The training was streamed with a list of objectives in which each journalist would gain knowledge and possess the skills after the course of the training sessions. These objectives include explaining technical industry terms for non-specialist audience, carrying out effective interviews with relative authorities, explaining how oil prices work and the factors that influence oil prices among others. The training hosted by Wesley Gibbings and Lisa Essex enlightened the reporters of the ethics in oil journalism. Gathering, assessing, creating, and presenting news and information on the aspect of crude oil, natural gas and energy, is essentially what ‘oil journalism’ entails. Wesley Gibbings is a founder-member of the
Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM). He was elected president of the regional media body during its biennial general meeting in 2007. The Trinidadian journalist and poet covered Caribbean public affairs for over 30 years. Lisa Essex is an international journalism trainer, editor and writer who works extensively in the developing world. She is the author of several handbooks for the European Journalism Centre. Lisa worked for Reuters for 15 years. She was bureau chief in New York during the attacks on the World Trade Centre. She also worked as a political and financial journalist, radio and television presenter. Prior to that, she worked at Bloomberg Business news and Knight Ridder Financial. Regarding to the ethics of oil journalism, Essex highlighted the importance of avoiding ‘gifts’ when reporting not merely on the oil sector, as this principle advocates for good journalism as a whole. What this means, is that a
Journalists of different media houses engaging in their lunch break from the training session. good journalist would not accept any form of paying off to cast a shadow on significant issues to prevent it from the public eye. To even make her point more resounding, she shared her experience with the journalists present at the training. Wesley Gibbins, in his presentation, encouraged journalists to be sceptical about almost everything. As such, he taught the gathering extensively on verification. In light of this, he educated journalists of getting it right with sources
and ‘problematic social media’ being a hindrance to good journalism. He explained that not having the primary sources or the best sources can result in disinformation and misinformation. He also spoke of transparency as well as propaganda in journalism among many other things. The experts featured the training session with exercises that allowed the journalists to identify common mistakes and provided some alternatives on how to avoid them. They
also provided additional guidance on how to write an energy story. Guyana is steaming ahead in being an oil producing nation. As such, the media will be engaged in countless reports on the oil sector. It is ideal that the media gain the know-how to effectively report on oil, as this will be the future of the country. In this regard, Wesley Gibbins pointed out that Trinidad has been in the oil sector for more than 100 years. Thus, he said, Trinidad has the experience in the oil and energy field.
He added that therefore, Trinidad has the ability to do certain things as it pertains to oil and gas. He furthermore underscored that even reporting on oil needs some extra skills from those who has been in the field for years. The bottom line is that Gibbins indicated to the journalists that reporting should be done in the best way possible so that the common people can understand, since the oil sector is relatively new them as opposed to those who have been living in it for years.
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I’m the more skilled boxer, says Ruiz ahead of Joshua rematch (Reuters) - World heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr said he was the more skilled fighter and Briton Anthony Joshua will have to rethink his strategy in their Dec. 7 title rematch. Mexican-American Ruiz produced one of boxing’s biggest upsets when he dethroned the previously undefeated world champion Joshua with a seventh-round stoppage at New York’s Madison Square Garden in June. Their second WBA, IBF and WBO title showdown — dubbed the ‘Clash on the Dunes’ — takes place in Saudi Arabia after former Olympic champion Joshua triggered a rematch clause
I’m the more skilled boxer, says Ruiz ahead of Joshua rematch.
Sunday December 01, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) New winds will begin to blow away the black clouds that have been hovering over you lately. What more could you want? Today will seem like a walk in the park compared to days past!
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) The last several days have been a bit of an ordeal, so you could be surprised by the brightness of the day ahead. Although you may not be trying to assert yourself any more than usual.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Drop the conclusions you've reached concerning your work at the moment. Like it or not, life is going to throw you a curveball.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You'll enjoy the gentleness and relaxation today offers. You'll be more talkative than usual. This interlude will give you an opportunity to refresh yourself by spending some quality time with family.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) It looks like you're making headway again. Now that you're planning for the future, you could enroll in an educational program or take a trip. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You can look forward to a bright day. What a relief it will be after the tension of the past several days. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) It's a relief when the hostilities subside, isn't it? It has seemed like people have repeatedly slammed doors in your face. But today a visit or encounter will unlock some mysteries for you. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) There's something blossoming inside you today. The heavy pressure of the past several days has ebbed, and you're able to go about your business with a lighter heart. It would be a good idea to pay more attention to your body.
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) This may be a laid-back day for you, but a period of calm will do you a lot of good. You could lounge around in a park and let your imagination go. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Today will be lighthearted and just in time, too. Life was getting serious there for a while. Smile and try to go outside your normal routine. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) It's true that you aren't ten anymore, but who's to say you can't go back to your childhood now and again? Without going so far as to play hopscotch in the street or instigate a food fight in your favorite restaurant. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You may be feeling way too serious at the moment. Whether you know it or not, you're in dire need of cheering up. If someone invites you to a comedy club, go.
‘592 Beer Inter-Village... From page 78 prizes will also be awarded for the Most Valuable Player [MVP] and the Best Goalkeeper. Some of the major sponsors of the tournament include Bakewell Guyana Incorporated, ExxonMobil, and the Colin Talbot Construction Services. Complete Results Game-1 BV-5 vs Annandale-1 BV Scorers Omari Glasgow-34th and 55th Ronnell Gordon-11th Deshane Garnett-56th Junior Alleyne-79th Annandale Scorer Alco Azore-89th Game-2 Victoria-2 vs Friendship-2 Victoria Scorers Kemroy Alfred-5th Cordell Thomas-55th Friendship Scorers Shemar Scott-17th Clive Andries-73rd
and Ruiz said the fans can expect “fireworks” when they slug it out again. “He’s going to try to make adjustments. I don’t know if he wants to exchange punches, but I’d love for him to do that because I’m the more skilled boxer,” Ruiz said in an interview published yesterday by The Telegraph ( h t t p s : / / w w w. t e l e g r a p h . c o . u k / b o x i n g / 2 0 1 9 / 11 / 3 0 / exclusive-andy-ruiz-jrinterview-still-chubby-littlefat-kid). “He’ll try to box me round and use his jab. But for how long? How long can he keep me away from hunting him down? That’s what we’ve been working on most of all right now, heading into the fight. “Fight fans are... going to see a lot of fireworks. If he knocks me down, I’m going
to get up and knock him down. I know he’ll try to do the same if I knock him down. The main thing is to stay focused and disciplined.” Joshua was dropped to the canvas four times in the June bout and Ruiz, who has never been knocked out in his professional career, said that he would look to control the fight and use his speed against his taller opponent. “I want to impose myself in this fight, but I don’t want to overlook him,” Ruiz added. “He’s still a dangerous fighter. I respect him and all the fighters who risk their lives inside the ring. “He’s going to have some tricks up his sleeve and it’s my job to not let that affect me. The main thing is pressure, throw combinations and use my speed. I can’t let him grow balls in there.”
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Regional Multiplex and Recreational Park taking shape in WCB Ongoing development of the Regional Recreation Park at Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice. (Clifford Stanley)
An Artist’s impression of what the Regional Recreational Park at Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice will look like on completion. (Clifford Stanley) DPI, Guyana, -The regional multiplex and recreational park in West Coast Berbice, now under construction is intended to provide a convenient space to for residents of all ages to socialise and engage in physical activity that will foster good personal health and wellness.
The project is a collaboration between the Regional Administration, the Ministry of Communities and the Ministry of Social Cohesion and is being built on 5.4 acres of land at Onverwagt. Regional Executive Officer Ovid Morrison recently disclosed that
features will include a facility for sports and cultural activities by both local and international performers, a walking/ jogging/ athletic track as well as facilities for social events such as family outings, games among others. The overall cost of the project is approximately $148Million.
Turbo Football tournament
Defending Champs survive 11-goal thriller 2018 Champs Northern Rangers came out on top on Friday night against Timehri Panthers in the lone match of the evening in the 2019 Turbo Energy Drink knockout football tournament at the Ministry of Education (MOE) ground at Carifesta Avenue. The defending champions edged Panthers 6-5 in the clash that had 10 different goal scorers.
Scoring for the city side were Tevin Fowler, Tevin Bowen, Colun Clarke and Keith Caines with one goal each, while Wendell St. Hill came to his team’s rescue with two late goals in the 85th and 87th minutes after they were trailing 5-4 with five minutes to go in the match. On target for Timehri were Shannon Samnauth,
O l i v e r D e n n y, J a r e d Walcott, Travis Thornhill and Trek Walcott. The feature match of the evening did not kick off and was rescheduled to a date that will be decided by the organisers. The winning team of the 2019 Turbo Knockout tournament will receive 400,000. Second place will pocket $200,000, while third and fourth will receive $100,000 and $50,000 respectively.
Tevin Fowler, Tevin Bowen, Colin Clarke and Keith Caines and Wendell St. Hill were on target for Northern Rangers in their 6-5 win against Timehri Panthers on Friday night.
According to Morrison, the design of the multiplex and park incorporates elements of a ‘Green Space’ concept such as providing features for relaxation and a refuge from noise. Currently, the drainage system has been installed, the perimeter has so far been fenced with landscaping and
seeding of the surface with a suitable type of grass is currently ongoing. Contracts have also been awarded for the construction of bridges for the two main entrances. Other elements such as shelters, benabs benches, parking lots, trees and vegetation and bleachers are to be established as the
project unfolds. “We aim to provide opportunities for active living and recreation of all residents in a safe, inclusive environment,” the REO said. He added that, while it will not be fully complete, the site is expected to be ready to host the ceremony for the 50th Republic Anniversary celebrations in February 2020.
New Zealand take control of second England test with early wickets WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Tim Southee and Matt Henry removed both England openers as New Zealand reduced the tourists to 39-2 and took control of the second test by the close of play on the second day at Seddon Park in Hamilton yesterday. New Zealand had been dismissed for 375 about an hour after tea and hold a 336run lead heading into the third day of a match that England need to win to level the two-test series. Rory Burns was on 24 at the close of play, having survived two dropped catches, with captain Joe Root on six and looking uncomfortable at the crease as he battles with a precipitous drop in form over the last year. Opening batsman Dom Sibley was trapped in front by Southee for four to leave the tourists 11-1 before Joe Denly (four) was snapped up by wicketkeeper BJ Watling with a superb low catch off Henry to reduce them further to 24-2. England could have been even further in the mire at stumps with Burns dropped on 10 by Ross Taylor at first slip off Henry and again, from a more difficult chance, on 19 by Jeet Raval at midwicket off Southee. England’s pace attack had earlier dragged their side back into the game with a fiery spell of short-pitched bowling at New Zealand’s tail after Stuart Broad had broken a 124-run stand between debutant Daryl Mitchell
Daryl Mitchell plays a shot. (Getty Images) (73) and Watling (55). “When I was sitting on zero I wasn’t that calm,” Mitchell said. “So it was nice to get a run and get started and the more time you spend out there the easier it does get. “But England bowled very well. They were very patient at times and built pressure and asked good questions. “We just had to grind it out for a period there and I was lucky enough to get a few runs.” New Zealand had been well set at 315-5 heading into tea before Broad removed first test man-of-the-match Watling with the penultimate ball before the break. Broad then had Mitchell caught at deep fine leg by Jofra Archer about 20 minutes
after play resumed in the final session. With the hosts’ bowlers prepared to take on the shortpitched deliveries, England quickly wrapped up the innings as mistimed shots from New Zealand’s batsmen ended up in the hands of the boundary fielders. The last five wickets fell for just 60 runs and Broad finished the innings with 473. New Zealand won the first match at Bay Oval in Mt. Maunganui by an innings and 65-runs. Scores: England 39 for 2 (Burns 24*, Root 6*) trail New Zealand 375 (Latham 105, Mitchell 73, Watling 55, Broad 4-73) by 336 runs.
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Warner hits 335, Smith shatters record as Pakistan suffer AFP - An irrepressible David Warner smashed an unbeaten 335 yesterday while Steve Smith became the fastest man to 7,000 Test runs as Australia took control of the day-night second Test against Pakistan. Skipper Tim Paine waved his players back into the pavilion at 589 for three ahead of the second day’s dinner break with Warner on the 10th highest Test score ever, also a personal best. The decision to declare deprived him of a crack at Brian Lara’s all-time high 400 not out, but it proved to be the right one with the Australian bowlers quickly tearing through Pakistan’s hapless top order under the Adelaide Oval lights. They finished in deep trouble at 96 for six with Mitchell Starc grabbing four of them. Babar Azam was not out 43 and Yasir Shah was on four. The visitors, who have lost 13 consecutive Tests in Australia, enjoyed little success in a long day in the
36.
Australia’s Steve Smith became the fastest man to 7,000 Test, shattering a record that had stood since 1946. (AFP/William West) field as they look to avoid a 2-0 series defeat. But they did remove Marnus Labuschagne for 162
in the opening session and also bagged Smith, caught behind by Mohammad Rizwan off Shaheen Afridi for
GIKMAA concludes final Workshop and Exams for 2019 The Guyana International Kyokushinkai Martial Arts Academy (GIKMAA) has just concluded its final workshop and Exams of the year. A total 56 students took part in Martial Arts workshop (25) and Karate Exam (31) under the watchful eyes of Dr. Nazim Yassim. Those moving from one level to the next were from the Enmore, Wales, and Enterprise Dojos. The full the results of the Exam: From 10thKyu White to 9thKyu Yellow Stripe: Jared Jawahir, Joshua Benjamin, Ashton Ragbeer, Tyler Charles, Malcolm Benjamin, and Stephon Richardson. From 9thKyu to 8thKyu
Yellow Belt: Aryan Mangal, Candace Lydia Ramnauth, Joshua Balkran, Alex Alphonso, Tanush Singh, and Narvani Singh. From 8thKyu to 7thKyu Orange Belt: Jonnathan Jawahir and Dion Moore. From 7thKyu to 6thKyu Green Belt: Zaheer Assan, Nicholas Rampersaud, Nirel Ramrattan, Ronald Ramkissoon, and Dharshanie Ahmad (having skip the Orange belt). From 6thKyu to 5thKyu Blue Belt: Totaram Jainarain. From 2ndKyu to 1stKyu Brown Belt: Bhudesh Schilchand and Shakeel Rahat. From 1stKyu to 1st Dan Black Belt:
Parashuram Persaud, Govind Ramkuar, Bisram Ramnarain and Ravi Samaroo. From 1st Dan to 2nd Black Belt: Vikash Samwaru and Umisha Parasram. From 2nd Dan to 3rd Dan Black Belt: Maranda Bennett. From 3rd Dan to 4th Dan Black Belt: Kelvin Walcott and Marcell Lynda Yassim. The students put on an amazing display in their final out door training session in the national park Sunday last, after which they received their certificates. Asshihan Nazim now looks forward to the Yearend Inter-club Bragging Rights Championship, to be held on December 7th at the Enmore Community Centre.
Some members of the Kyokushinkai Guyana Team after receiving their certificates.
In making his runs, Smith — who had a rare failure in the first Test at Brisbane — shattered a record that had stood since 1946. He took a single off Muhammad Musa to reach 7,000 runs in his 126th innings, taking possession of a mark held for 73 years by English great Wally Hammond who reached the milestone in his 131st innings. Smith also moved past legendary countryman Donald Bradman’s 6,996 Test runs to become Australia’s 11th highest scorer. The home team resumed the day at 302 for one with Warner on 166 and Labuschagne 126, with the pair putting on another 67 runs before Pakistan finally got a breakthrough. Skipper Azhar Ali took the new ball and Afridi cleanbowled Labuschagne as he attempted a drive, just as he and Warner appeared set for another long day at the crease.
The 25-year-old, who has come of age during the series, trudged back to the pavilion to a standing ovation after a classy 162, his second century in a row. Their marathon 361-run partnership was a record second-wicket stand for Australia against Pakistan and the highest ever in a pinkball Test. Just minutes later, the explosive Warner completed only the second Test double century of his career. Playing in his 81st Test, he reached 200 with a single from Afridi, having clattered 23 fours along the way. Pakistan thought they finally had him out on 226 when he was caught in the gully off debutant Musa, only for their heads to drop when it was called a no-ball. Warner made them pay, passing his previous highest Test score of 253, set in Perth in 2015, before reaching a triple century off 389 balls to join an elite club. He raced to 335, one more than former captain Mark Taylor’s epic 334 against
Pakistan in 1998 and Donald Bradman’s 334 against England in 1930, before Paine decided to unleash his bowlers, conscious that periodic rain is forecast for the next two days. Exhausted, Warner was given a standing ovation with his knock the second best score ever by an Australian after Matthew Hayden’s 380 against Zimbabwe in 2003. Matthew Wade remained unbeaten on 38. Facing a tough last session under lights, Pakistan’s batsmen quickly caved in. Starc removed Imam-ulHaq, who got a thick edge to Warner on two, before Pat Cummins had Azhar caught for nine. Josh Hazlewood accounted for Shan Masood before Starc nabbed Asad Shafiq, Iftikhar Ahmed and Rizwan cheaply. Scores: Pakistan 6 for 96 (Starc 4-22) trail Australia 3 for 589 dec (Warner 335*, Labuschagne 162) by 493 runs.
Hamilton ends ‘long slog’ for pole in Abu Dhabi AFP - Lewis Hamilton claimed his first pole position in four months with a scorching record lap at the Yas Marina circuit yesterday for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ahead of his Mercedes teammate Valterri Bottas. The recently-crowned champion delivered a late lap in one minute and 34.779 seconds to outpace Bottas, who will start from the back of the grid after collecting penalties for taking new engines. It was a stunning way for Hamilton to finish the ‘qualifying season’ and improved his career record total to 88 poles, five of them in Abu Dhabi, the 21st and final race of the year. It was his first pole since the German Grand Prix in July and his fifth of the year. He is more than 30 clear of his nearest rival Sebastian Vettel on 57. “It’s been such a long slog to try and get this pole position,” admitted Hamilton. “Yesterday was quite wobbly so I had to regroup overnight and come back focussed.” Max Verstappen was third for Red Bull ahead of the two Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel with Alex Albon taking sixth in the second Red Bull. The Dutchman will start today’s season-closer alongside Hamilton on the front row. “As a team it’s been a really
strong day,” said Bottas. “We saw in qualifying that we had good pace and, as I’m going to start last, we’ll take that fighting spirit forward tomorrow.” Verstappen said: “I think today was the best we could do. We all know Mercedes are dominant here, but I think there are a lot of chances in this race.” Lando Norris won his intrateam qualifying battle with McLaren partner Carlos Sainz to take seventh ahead of Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo with Sainz ninth and Nico Hulkenberg, in his final weekend with Renault, 10th. After a hot day, which saw paddock regulars seeking the shade, the Q1 section of qualifying began in cooling conditions with the sun falling with the temperature. The rapidly-changing conditions were a challenge to the teams as they sought to maintain and improve tyre performance. The first outstanding lap came from Verstappen before Hamilton took over with a lap that may have been affected by a lurid spin from Vettel, who somehow managed to turn his Ferrari to face the wrong direction on the start-finish straight. Bottas trimmed his time to beat Hamilton, but his teammate responded in 1:35.851 to stay clear before Albon secured second to split the two Mercedes. The session ended with the exit of Romain Grosjean of Haas, Alfa Romeo’sAntonio Giovinazzi
and Kimi Raikkonen and the two Williams men, George Russell and, in his final Grand Prix, Robert Kubica, the Pole who leaves to be replaced by Canadian Nicholas Latifi next year. - Dramatic backdrop Hamilton was soon on top again in Q2 with a 1:35.634, on mediums, Ferrari staying on softs to take the formative second row behind the two Mercedes and push Verstappen down to fifth. It was no surprise that Red Bull went for softs for their second runs. Leclerc, having switched to mediums, took top spot from Hamilton in 1:35.543 in the final seconds as Hulkenberg snatched 10th to go through to Q3 in his final weekend with Renault. That meant an exit for Racing Point’s Perez, Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly, Lance Stroll in the second Racing Point, Daniil Kvyat in the second Toro Rosso and Haas’s Kevin Magnussen. Hamilton set the pace in Q3 with an early lap in 1:34.828, threetenths beyond the reach of Bottas before Verstappen intervened to split them. Leclerc and Vettel were more than fourtenths adrift in fourth and fifth. By this stage, the floodlights were on and it was dark, conditions that produced a dramatic backdrop to the season’s final laps in a top-ten shootout. Ferrari, not for the first time, sent their men out too late – Vettel just making it, but Leclerc missing out and blaming his team-mate for being slow ahead of him.
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Kaieteur News
DMW Int’l Hockey Festival
Finals to be played today at CASH
Following five days of exciting play, the 15th Diamond Mineral Water (DMW) Indoor International hockey tournament will see the curtains fall this evening with the semifinals and finals in the three divisions set to be completed.
After yesterday’s play, George United of Trinidad &Tobago leads the ExxonMobil Women’s division after winning all four of their group games and they will clash with Saints in the first women’s semifinal today at the Cliff Anderson Sports
Hall (CASH) that is the host venue for the entire event. GBTI Tigers that have a record nine titles in the women’s division, will match skills with their sister side GBTI GCC Spartans in the second semifinal. In the Lucozade veterans’
Action between defending champions Pepsi Hikers (defending) and Trinidad & Tobago Defence Force in the men’s open yesterday.
over35, Defending champions YMCA Old Fort will cross sticks with Bounty GCC Vintage in the first semifinal, while Queen’s Park Cricket Club (QPCC) of T&T will play Fatima in the second semifinal. Defending men’s
champion Pepsi Hikers will play Bounty GCC in the first Diamond Mineral Water semifinal, while QPCC will play Trinidad & Tobago Defence Force. Fans will be licking their lips at the very realistic prospect of having a QPCC versus Hikers final for
Nedd making a mark in debut Super50 By Sean Devers in Trinidad Born on January 10, 2001 in Georgetown, Guyana and West Indies U-19 left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd says he gained mostly experience from playing for the West Indies Emerging Players in the Colonial Medical Super50 Cup tournament here in Trinidad. “Franchise cricket back home isn’t that much competitive. Coming into this tournament and coming up against good batsmen was a bit challenging,” Nedd, the son of former Guyana offspinner Gavin Nedd, explained. After losing to hosts T&T’s Red Force by 10 wickets in their last preliminary game the young West Indians were hoping that the USA would somehow upset Guyana Jaguars in their final game, since that was the only chance for Emerging Players to reach an unexpected final. Following the game from the Hilton Hotel; when USA won in the last over, the youngsters celebrated their good fortune as if they
had won the World Cup. “Losing to Trinidad was tough but we kept on believing that we’ll make it through to the semi-finals. At first we just wanted to perform well and win a few games but as the tournament moved forward we started believing the team gonna upset a lot of big teams,” said Nedd, who has the second lowest economy rate in the tournament behind teammate fellow Guyanese Kevin Sinclair. The young We s t Indians have played spirted team cricket in this tournament and beat Barbados by three wickets in the first semi-finals last Thursday as Nedd and Sinclair shared six wickets between them as debutants, Emerging Players became the first team to qualify for the Final. The 18-year-old Nedd has 10 wickets for 94 runs from 30.3 overs in five matches at an average of 9.40 and an Economy Rate of 3.08, and says it felt great being the first team in the finals. “My main goal was to take
two to three five-wicket hauls in the tournament (but) it didn’t play out the way how I wanted it to, but I’m proud of myself,” the DCC FirstDivision cricketer reflected. Today Nedd, who had a career-best 4-29 in the semis, Sinclair and the tournament’s second leading fast bowler, Bajan Keon Harding (17 wickets), will need be on top of their game with the likes of 29-year-old Kieran Powell, the only batsman with 500 runs in the tournament, in the Leewards Hurricane side. Justin Greaves, Joshua DaSilva,Roland Cato, Kimani Melius and Yannic Cariah will hope to contribute with the bat against pacers Sheeno Berridge (21 wkts) and Quinton Hubert Boatswain (11 wkts). “We’re very confident heading into the final as a young team, we just keep on believing,” said Nedd, whose favourite cricketer is Shakib Al Hassan. Nedd’s next assignment is the Tri-Nation U-19 tournament involving host West Indies, Sri Lanka and England with the home team facing Sri Lanka in the
opening game on Saturday in Antigua. After that, Nedd and fellow Guyanese Kevlon Anderson are a part of the West Indies team which will be one of the sixteen teams participatingthe ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup in South Africa from next January 17 to February 9. This will be the thirteenth edition and the second to be held in South Africa and Nedd is confident of West Indies retaining the Trophy they won in 2016 but lost in 2018 in New Zealand when he was a member of that team. “Yes I am confident in winning the World Cup since the players that have been selected know a lot about each other and everybody understands the role they have to play,” said Nedd, who enjoys getting batsmen LBW and bowled. “I’d consider myself as a bowling all-rounder. In the modern cricket you have to be capable of bringing something else to your game. Yes, I do bat in the nets, batting is something I work on every day,” said Nedd whose aim is to play four-day cricket in the PCL in the not too distant future. When asked who are the main people that have helped his cricket, he said, “Mostly my father and club mates like Chris Barnwell and other senior players around the club.”
the third consecutive year in the men’s final. The winners’ of the respective open finals will pocket us$1000, while the runners up will receive us$500 each. The veterans’ champions will receive us$500.
- Aims to help Windies win U-19 WC and play 1st Class cricket
Ashmead Nedd had career best 4-29 in the Super50 semis at the Oval. Today the talented Guyanese will focus on helping the Emerging Players beat the Leewards in what would be the biggest upset in the history of Regional 50 overs cricket which was first played in 1973 when Barbados beat Clive Lloyd’s Guyana in the final. Combined Colleges & Campuses (CCC) who
defeated Guyana in the last Final in Barbados, is the only non-Nation to win a Championship title. Leewards hunt their eighth title (four of them being shared) including their last title in 2010 when the final against Barbados ended in a tie at Sabina Park in Jamaica with both being bowled out for 139.
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Smalta girls’ peewee football Yarmuk are ISA Islamic School tourney semifinalists decided inter house champs
The victorious Yarmuk House with their accolade.
Play between St. Stephen’s Primary and Redeemer Primary (left). Defending champions West Ruimveldt along with Redeemer, Tucville and North Georgetown Primary will be the four schools heading into the semifinals of the Smalta girls’ under 12a Peewee football tournament after yesterday’s play. The inclement weather over the week had done damage to the Ministry of Education (MOE) ground’s playing surface, but nevertheless, the young ladies persevered to see the quarterfinal round being completed with four nail biting encounters. North Georgetown came up against Smith Memorial in the first encounter of the day, and as the saying goes got a ‘run for their money’, before they could pull off the victory. It was Chance who played hero again for North
Georgetown as she scored the team’s first goal in the 21st minute of play. P r i o r t o C h a n c e ’s equalizer, Smith Memorial’s Fiona Gibbs gave her team the lead when she found the back of the net in the 16th. As Smith mounted a strong defence, they managed to hold out the 1-0 score until Chance joined the scoring party. The 1-1 score at the end of regulation time made way for an extended game, where Chance found the back for the net for a second time in the 30+1 minute. Another close game saw Tucville Primary booking a spot in the semifinal after edging past South Ruimveldt 1-0. Tucville’s Shania Lovell scored the lone goal of the game in the 29th for her team’s victory, the battle
between Redeemer and St. Stephens’ Primary finished with a similar score. Redeemer’s Leanna Hill scored in the 15th for the only and winning goal of the game. Defending champions West Ruimveldt Primary were made to fight for their victory as Timehri held them off for the entirety of regulation and extra time. A goal off the boot of Tyanna G e o r g e g a v e We s t Ruimveldt the advantage in the 8th but their hopes of an easy win were shattered when Timehri’s Rihanna Rhajcoomar leveled the scores in the 18th. Neither side could find the back of the net during extra time, and when it came down to kicks from the penalty mark, West Ruimveldt proved to be the better side, winning 4-3.
Carmel win opening games, Cummings Lodge fight back in latest Windball Cricket - Andrew Samaroo and Josh Alves in impressive opening stand Carmel Secondary School recorded two wins in their opening matches of the AL Sport & Tour Promotions - National Sports Commission best of 3 Windball Cricket tournament against Cummings Lodge Secondary in the A. Munroe organised event played at the Gymnasium. The Carmel Boys opened proceedings and Cummings Lodge batted first and scored 76-3 with Bholanauth Indar 27 and Josh Alves 23. Carmel replied with 80-0 as Jamal Dos Santos slammed 52. In the Girls department: Cummings Lodge made 78-1 with Takeisha Mentore 50. Carmel replied with 821; Aliayha Johnson 48, Donilla Thom 20 and Shania
Andrew Samaroo (right) hit 103 and Josh Alves 53 in a 168 run unbeaten stand. Peters 16 were the top scorers. In Round 2: Males: Cummings Lodge after been invited to bat first scored 168-0, with Andrew Samaroo 103 (13x6) and Josh Alves 53 as they put together an impressive opening stand. Carmel in their turn in the
centre made 90-4; Matthew Layne 38 and Jamal Dos Santos 20. Samaroo returned to take 2 wickets. Among the Girls: Cummings Lodge hit 72-0 with Sarah Amin 42 and Takeisha Mentore 22. Carmel fell short at 67-1; Aliayha Johnson made 24 and Donilla Thom 14.
Y
armuk chalked up 1670 points to emerge champions of the ISA Islamic School inter house athletics championship which was contested recently at the Everest Cricket Club ground. Uhud House took the runner up spot with 1658 points, while Badr House placed third on 1472 and Qadisiyyah House finished fourth on 1341 points. The shot put boys U15 was taken by Umar Abrahim of Yarmuk, while Sameera Hussain of Uhud won the shot put girls U15 ahead of Saalihah Mohamed of Badr and Salmah Ghanie of Qadisiyyah in that order. Arfaan Azeez of Qadisiyah won the shot put boys open, while Mustahpa Kadir of Uhud placed second and Irfan Hack of Uhud finished third. The shot put girls open was taken by Alimah Eastman of Yarmuk,
Mariam Khan of Qadis placed second and Nickelia Gill finished third. Saif Shivrattan of Qadisiyyah won the discus boys U15, while Junaid Barlow of Badr took the runner up spot and Hassan Musab of Uhud placed third. Mustapha Kadir of Uhud won the boys open discuss, Irfan Hack of Uhud placed second and Arfaan Azeez of Qadisiyyah was third. The girls U15 discus was won by Hanifa Ali of Badr ahead of Hussain Sameera of Uhud and Kahlia Farrington of Qadisiyyah respectively. Alimah Eastman of Yarmuk took the top podium spot in the girls open discus, while Mariam Hassan of Badr placed second and Moonisah A. Kadir of Uhud was third. See tomorrow’s edition for results of the track events.
Lloyd Rollins backs Champion of Champions 2 dominoes
L
loyd Rollins has given his backing to Mark Wiltshire for the staging of the Champion of Champions 2 dominoes competition which is set for today at Rona Place, Ogle. At a simple ceremony held at Trophy Stall, Bourda Market, Rollins presented the third place trophy to organiser Wiltshire. Rollins, an ardent domino fan, urged Wiltshire to ensure that the level of discipline is always of a high standard and wished the teams well. He added that he is always happy to be involved in the sport, while Wiltshire expressed gratitude to Rollins for his input. The tournament is only open to teams that won tournaments for the 2019 season, however Wiltshire informed that a number of guest teams will be also accommodated. Entrance fee is $12,000 and at stake are cash prizes, trophies, medals and hampers. Teams are asked to be on time to facilitate a prompt start at 14:00hrs. Teams can call Wiltshire on 659-8672 for registration.
Mark Wiltshire (R) accepts the trophy from Lloyd Rollins.
Kaieteur News
PAGE 82
Sunday December 01, 2019
‘592 Beer Inter-Village Football Festival’ continues today at Buxton Two exciting matches will be staged today when the inaugural ‘592 Beer I n t e r- Vi l l a g e F o o t b a l l
Festival’ continues at the Buxton Community Center ground. The opening match at
19:00hrs will put Brush Dam against Ann’s Grove. In the feature match, Mahaica will engage home side Buxton
from 21:00hrs. Meanwhile, on Thursday at the same venue, BV dismantled Annandale 5-1.
Ronnell Gordon broke the deadlock in favor of BV in the 11th minute through a shot from the top of the box
into the right side. Omari Glasgow made it 2-0 in the 34th minute, rifling a powerful shot into the top right corner from the right side of the penalty area. A penalty conversion into the lower left corner by Deshane Garnett made it 3-0 in the 56th minute. Glasgow then recorded his second in the 59th minute, dribbling an Annandale player while lashing his effort into the top left corner. Junior Alleyne completed the tally for BV in the 79th minute, calmly tucking his effort into the back of net after collecting a right side pass. Annandale would record a consolation goal in the 89th minute as Alco Azore scored to the left corner. A l s o Vi c t o r i a a n d Friendship battled to a 2-2 stalemate in the second match. Kemroy Alfred handed Victoria the surprise lead with a shot from the top of the box into the right side in the fifth minute. Shemar Scott leveled proceedings in the 17th minute, blasting a powerful effort from inside the box which burst through the hands of the goalkeeper and crossed the goal line. H o w e v e r, Vi c t o r i a retook the lead in the 55th minute as Cordell Thomas lashed a powerful shot which rolled under the body of the goalkeeper and into the right side of the net. Friendship would eventually respond in the 73rd minute as Clive Andries scored from the penalty spot. The event features 12 teams battling in an initial group format. Group-A comprises Buxton, Plaisance and Mahaica, with group-B consisting of Friendship, Paradise and Victoria and group-C featuring Brush Dam, Melanie and Ann’s Grove. Group-D comprises Annandale, Golden Grove and Beterverwagting [BV]. The winner of each group alongside the second place finisher will advance to the quarterfinal round. The grand finale is pegged for January 1st. The eventual champion of the event will pocket $300,000 and the championship trophy. On the other hand, the second, third and fourth place finisher will receive $150,000, $100,000 and $75,000 respectively and the corresponding trophy. Similarly, individual (Continued on page 73)
Kaieteur News
Sunday December 01, 2019
Brian Tiwari birthday tournament concludes today at Leonora Track and Field ground Popular businessman Brian Tiwari birth anniversary 9-a-side InterWard football Tournament is set to conclude today, at the Leonora Track & Field Centre, and an exciting evening of football is anticipated as the teams slug it out for the attractive prizes on offer. The tournament, which has been organized by former national coach Lennox Arthur, saw twentyfour teams from all across the country compete for prize monies and trophies worth in excess of $300,000. The winning team will receive $200,000 and the Bradley Gabriel Trophy, while second, third and fourth place finishers will take home $100,000 and the K a n e G a b r i e l Tr o p h y, $60,000 and $40,000 respectively. Arthur offering a brief comment on the businessman said that he has always been forthcoming in his support for sports and has in the past repeatedly reached out to the sport of football. Among the teams that were invited to participate in the tournament were Casa Coima FC out of Venezuela and GT Kanaimas originally out of Kamarang in Region 7. Arthur added that the two teams had expressed an interest in competing in the competition and so far they’ve given a good account of themselves. Among some of the players on show include Jamal Harvey, Trayon Bobb, Delon Lanferman and Tyrone Khan representing their various teams as they all hunt to get into the money round. The fixtures are as follows: Wales vs. Soesdyke Gaza vs. Plaisance Hurry Ate vs. Pouderoyen Den Amstel Kings vs. Timehri Den Amstel vs. Crane West Side Spartans vs. Casa Corina FC These first set of matches will be followed by the quarterfinals, semifinals and then the grand finale. Apart from the expected presence of Tiwari, a number of dignitaries will also be present to celebrate the businessman’s birthday. Action starts at 16:00hrs.
Jamal Harvey
Trayon Bobb
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Delon Lanferman
Tyrone Khan
DMW Int’l Hockey Festival t r o p S
Play between Bounty GCC (possession) and YMCA Old Fort in the Diamond Water men’s open.
Finals to be played today at CASH Australia’s David Warner smashed an unbeaten 335 against Pakistan, the 10th highest score ever in Test cricket. (AFP / William West)
Hamilton celebrates with a selfie. (AFP/ Andrej Isakovic)
’ g o l s g n o ‘l s d n e n o Hamilt for pole in Abu Dhabi
Hamilton takes pole in Abu Dhabi. (AFP/Giuseppe Cacace)
Warner hits 335, Smith shatters record as Pakistan suffer
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