Kaieteur News

PAGE 4

Kaieteur News

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

EDITORIAL

CHANGING OUR ELITIST SCHOOL SYSTEM There is the notion that education is being shamelessly exploited by some at the detriment of many, especially the poorer in society. Most persons are unaware of the different ways this is taking place at both the primary and secondary levels of our public schools. It begins with the choice of schools and is baffling that there is a firmly entrenched perception that certain schools are good and others are bad. It is a dangerous idea that has become ingrained in the psyche of Guyanese. All the public schools should be considered good schools, and if they are not, then why have governments allowed their existence. A school is perceived to be either good or bad when parents have to make choices for their children after the Grade Six results are published. For many of them, a good school has to do with desirability which is influenced by reputation, the quality of teaching and the overall academic performance of students. In the past, students who were deemed to be bright or were from wealthy parents with status were placed at the two best schools in the country, the all-male Queen’s College or Bishops’ High School which was for female students only at the time. Even though this has changed, the message which was subtly sent out was that these were good schools because they catered to the successful students and those with status in society. Other schools were considered average because they took in the ‘not-so-sharp’ students whose parents had little or no status in society. Of course, there were exemptions, but this was the general thought. Today, the Ministry of Education allocates students to all schools based on their performance in examinations, but parents continue to seek transfers from the Ministry for their children to attend the ‘better’ schools. The primary reason is that parents still believe that the schools assigned to their children are not good enough. The truth is there are good and better schools, not bad ones. But the fact is we have inherited an elitist education system from British colonialism with little or no change made to it. The Ministry of Education has essentially reinforced this elitist system every year by parading before the nation the top performers of examinations who invariably go to the best schools. These students are praised and held in high esteem by the Ministry as examples of success, and this is reinforced by the media with their performance, names, pictures and schools in full glare. It would be difficult to shift from this tradition, but probably the Ministry should seriously consider stopping the cycle. It should reform and modernize the education system to rid it of any sense of elitism and re-educate the people so that they can understand that educational success is not uniform but varies in accordance with individual ability. Which means that if students attend a certain school and become first-rate carpenters or plumbers, their success should be seen and celebrated in the same way as students who went to an elite school and become a lawyer or a doctor. This distinction in our educational system should end. Schools should enhance the lives of students to develop a cultural identity and acquire a set of skills and information that will enable them to establish a rewarding career. They should help to shape their lives into becoming good and productive citizens of society, promote economic growth, the welfare of the country and preserve its dominant culture. The challenge, however, lies in our educators reforming and modernizing the education system to get rid of exclusivity in order to meet the needs of every student.

Thursday February 01, 2018

POLICE ADMINISTRATION POST 2015: WHERE IS THE CHANGE? DEAR EDITOR, As a citizen, I automatically have rights endowed on me by our constitution - one of these is to be protected and served by the enshrined GUYANA POLICE FORCE (Police) and the judicial system. Regrettably, however, it is apparent that my right to protection and due process has been treated with contempt largely by the police and to some extent by the court. To illustrate this disregard of constitutional rights, I would like to make public an ongoing personal experience involving the court, the B.V. Police Station, the Guyana Police Force C.Division, the Guyana Police Force B.Division and (Mr. Tarrachand Brijlall) owner of TB Construction whom the government continues to contract. The issue I am bringing to the forefront is an ongoing debacle which began in November 2014. This matter embodies disregard for decency by the businessman in question and trampling of my constitutional rights by the very people and systems entrusted to uphold its integrity. It has been three years and I am still stuck in the reality of having nothing substantial done on this matter which has affected both my livelihood and my ability to do business.

I was well aware of, and somewhat resigned to accepting the incompetence and red-tape associated with the previous (PPP) administration’s reactive management approach, and the fact that capacity and the will to make the difference were lacking in the policy makers and top officials. However, I am deeply disappointed by the continuance of indecisive action displayed by the current administration. My frustration stems from the fact that there seems to be an entrenched dissonance between the judicial system and the police force. I must say that I would have been less inclined to come forward with this article, if this were an isolated incident. I can say with no uncertainty, that my experience is symptomatic of a wider systemic malfunction which is both a drag to societal improvement and a burden to the common man. This ordeal started in November 2014. I filed a report in court against Mr. Brijlall of Mon-Repos Pasture, East Coast Demerara, for his failure to pay the sum of $1,434,000 as agreed beforehand for work which I completed. I was hired as a subcontractor to work on a Ministry Of Health Project in 2013. This project involved renovating Doctors’ Quarters in

the Port Mourant Hospital Compound, Corentyne, Berbice. The finished structure is evidence of work completed in accordance with the contractor agreement but I was never paid for the work done. I was forced to file this suit as it became increasingly clear, after multiple attempts to collect payment, that Mr. Brijlall was fully intent on defrauding me of my earnings. Consequently, it was necessary for me to hire an attorney in an effort to obtain my earnings. To further convey how frustrating this process is, I will share the following: · To date, I have spent $390.000 in attorney fees, court costs and travel expenses. I would like to point out that based on how this process has gone so far, I can expect to spend more. There have been six warrants issued for Mr. Brijlall’s arrest (October 2, 2015; November 20, 2015; December 4, 2015; February 19, 2016. And the 11th of July 2017, Yet he continues to disregard the court with impunity and proceed with business unencumbered by his track record of failure to fulfill his legally binding agreement. The only times he was arrested were when I showed up in person with warrants in hand as The BV Police Department consistently claimed that they have received none of

the warrants which were issued by three sitting judges in the New Amsterdam High Court. ·After each of the six warrants was issued, I would make repeated trips to the New Amsterdam Police Station to inquire about the status of due process. I would estimate that I made at least 10 Trips, each at additional expenses , and loss of time and income ·Mr. Brijlall was arrested trice only when I showed up with warrant in hand at my own expense ad insentience. However, in two of these instances he was released without bail or explanation. On one of the two arrests, he was placed in a police vehicle to be transported to the New Amsterdam prison where he never arrived. The other time he arrived and justice was served. I have been attending the New Amsterdam High Court for the past three years. To date I have attended 36 sittings whilst Mr. Brijlall only attended three In addition, the Police in New Amsterdam would advise that I return to check for the status of warrants on many occasions that it became impossible to pursue. With the limited details presented above, and I can assure you there is much more, it is clear to see that we (Continued on page 6)

JUDGE ARIF BULKAN’S ALREADY ILLEGAL “APPOINTMENT” CREATES A BAD PRECEDENT DEAR EDITOR, On the 17th of January 2018, Dr. Arif Bulkan was appointed by President David Granger as a temporary Justice of Appeal, albeit without the necessary recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), which expired on the 30th September 2017, or the consideration of more experienced lawyers. Legally, with all due respect to the suitability of his investiture, or lack thereof, his selection is null and void, because the required advice of the Commission is lacking. Moreover, even assuming that the expired JSC were to somehow claim he was “retroactively approved,” a recommendation of such dubious character cannot be binding on its successor, just as how the future agenda of a former president are not binding on his successors. The relevant minutes of the JSC must therefore be made public-— assuming they exist-—especially given the magnitude of this national, legal issue. A dissatis-

fied litigant, or anyone interested in the rule of law and due process, can raise a meritorious argument that Judge Bulkan’s decisions are illegal, void and of no binding effect-a huge waste of taxpayer’s funds, and an unneeded blight on the Judiciary of Guyana. Article 128 (1) of Guyana’s highest law mandates that Dr. Bulkan could only have been properly appointed, whether temporary, permanent or acting, by the President, but who must act in accordance with the advice of the Judicial Service Commission. The President has therefore acted ultra vires, unilaterally, whimsically, capriciously, and/or beyond his powers and prerogatives enshrined in Guyana’s foremost law-the Constitution. Why a temporary appointment anyway? Was this done to solely enhance Bulkan’s resume, and not benefit Guyanese in any tangible way? Indeed, this precedent may lead to further erosions of the rule of law and the trou-

bling widening of the already unseemly magnitude of the President’s powers, not befitting the checks and balances required in maintaining a democracy, especially at a time when the key appointments of the Chancellor and the Chief Justice are under intense scrutiny. It can also open the door for the present and future Presidents to unlawfully ignore and/or bypass the consent of the Opposition Leader in illegally and strategically filling these positions to secure favorable rulings in appellate cases via expeditious, unilateral political appointments to the highest Court of the land. Valid questions have been raised concerning Bulkan’s lack of practical experience and competence at the defense bar, especially in civil law, which comprises at least 75% of the appellate issues an Appellate Judge will be confronted with. Moreover, it is the nepotism and disqualifying disability of being the brother of the influential Cabinet Minister,

Mr. Ronald Bulkan M.P. Minister of Communities, which creates an alarming and unwaiveable conflict of interest that will always raise the inevitable criticism that his future rulings were not biased in favor of the regime that appointed him. The appearance of justice will be irretrievably compromised. Laurie Ganpat EDITOR’S NOTE: When this accusation was first made in these columns, immediately the Judicial Service Commission responded that had the individual made a check with the Secretary of the Commission, he would have learnt that the appointment was legal. The comment is equally apt here. Justice Bulkan’s appointment was made by the Judicial Service Commission before its life ended on September 30, 2017. At issue was the fact that Justice Bulkan was in Trinidad so his actually swearing in had to await his arrival IN Guyana.

Thursday February 01, 2018

Remove the crime habitat and win the fight DEAR EDITOR, There is a concept called the Fire Triangle - Without sufficient heat, a fire cannot continue. Without fuel, a fire will stop. Without sufficient oxygen, a fire cannot begin, and it cannot continue. Therefore, oxygen, fuel and heat must come into play for a fire to start or continue. Correspondingly, there is what Cohen and Felson’s Routine Activities Theory described as The Crime Tria n g l e . Wi t h o u t a n o f fender, the crime will not occur; without a victim, the crime cannot occur. Without a location for the offender and victim to come into contact with each other or sufficient proximity the crime cannot occur. According to Ralph B. Taylor the Crime Triangle is a model that illustrates how three elements —motivated suspect, suitable victim and adequate location are required for a crime to occur. He argues that crime

is presumed amenable to suppression if any of the three legs of the triangle is removed or neutralised. In the crime triangle, location is a critical element. However, many law enforcement agencies pay most focus on the criminals and to a lesser extent the victims, while the location is almost left untouched. At some locations issues may arise be it political, economical, social, technological, legal or environmental which may greatly contribute to crime. Unless they are effectively addressed crime will flourish. As the police dismantle one gang others will emerge because issues in the environment which are conducive to crime and criminal behaviour are not sufficiently dealt with. This is because the root cause of crime is neglected.There is another crime triangle presently in place comprising of the government, the police and the community. The Government input in-

Region Two is responsible for the Charity wharf DEAR EDITOR, Reference is made to recent articles published in the media on the Charity Wharf and its current state of disrepair. In one article, published in the January 20, 2018 edition of Kaieteur News, under the headline, “Vendors refuse to evacuate unsafe Charity Wharf”, the residents are cited as calling upon myself and a technical team from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure to offer an explanation on the state of the wharf and any planned works. Furthermore, the Regional Vice Chairperson, Juliet Coonjah, is reported as saying that “the Ministry of Public Infrastructure was made aware of the issue since August 2017” but “to date there has been no information from the Ministry as regards to the Wharf.” However, I must highlight that the responsibility for the operation and maintenance of

the wharf currently does not rest with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure but rather with the Region Two Administration. The wharf has never been the responsibility of the Ministry. Therefore, the Ministry is, regrettably, not in the position to answer questions on the operations and repairs of the wharf. We also wish to remind the Regional Administration that the responsibility of accommodating and/or relocating the vendors, if necessary, rests with them. Nonetheless, the Ministry is willing to offer its technical assistance, where possible, to the Regional Administration if they so desire, particularly in the interest of the safety and well-being of the vendors situated at the wharf. Yours faithfully, Hon. David Patterson, M.P. Minister of Public Infrastructure

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

cludes providing resources and the establishment of several government ministries and departments to focus on the communities to make them safer and to promote a better life for all. These ministries and departments are doing a good job in patches but there is the need for them to strive for excellence at all times. The honeymoon is over. It is time for delivery. On the other hand the police have been involved in many community-oriented problem solving activities in a large number of communities to reduce crime and the fear of crime. Senior Superintendent Stephen Mansell has been carrying the gold medal for police community activities. Like the legendary Olympics and World Games gold medalist Usain Bolt, Mansell has quietly slipped away into retirement. He is seeking a new career. Thank you Stephen Mansell for a job well done. Hope that the police will find a way to utilised his knowledge and skills and that others will pick up from where he left off. Also in progress is the reform of the Guyana Police Force. I am not aware what form it will take. The British security expert has submitted his report on reform. It is not yet public knowledge. Bladen (1998) suggests another way to deal with the significance of location - “The hunt and the habitat,” he explains, “I can’t think of two special interest groups more philosophically opposed to each other than the hunters and animal rights activists, yet, there are two things they agree upon: the species will

survive the hunt; it will not survive the loss of its habitat... “ If the ultimate goal is to eliminate the criminal species forever, surely the best way to do that is to eliminate the habitat that spawns and sustains the species. Structured as it is, the criminal justice system puts 95 percent of its resources into the hunt while the habitat is left almost untouched. We cannot win working that way, because the habitat never stops supplying new customers for the hunt. “ According to Karen Hess and Christine Orthmann (2012) another way of viewing location as an element of crime causation is to consider incivilities, or signs of disorder. Wilson and Kelling’s “broken window” theory suggest that incivilities lead to higher crime rates, victimization rates and residents’ perception of the fear of crime. The challenges faced by the police are many. They defy any one-shot solution. However, involvement between the government, the police and members of the communities in dealing with the root causes of crime is an effective tool to promote crime reduction and reduce the fear of crime. It calls for a great amount of cooperation and coordination among the stakeholders. The strategy will be fruitful. There must however be sustainability. Clinton Conway Assistant Commissioner of Police (retired)

Removing the layers from the great America DEAR SIR, I’m the least of all persons that wasn’t infuriated by the comment emanating from the United States 45 th democratically elected President, Donald Trump, referring to Haitian and African Countries as “shitholes”. Definitely, I’m not surprised since within his campaign speeches, Trump, had vowed to make “America, great again”. But in reality he simply meant “white again” Today, the U.S.A stands out as the world’s only empire. The bastion of democracy and freedom of speech; despite the fact, it can be hate-filled and create further ethnic divisions and mistrust. But like all empires before her that fell, America’s turn is coming. “Babylon, the great, thou has fallen” fulfilling God’s prophecy. By her own hands she will self destruct, expedited by Trump, the world’s shortest reigning empire. Sir, with all due respect to Trump, his campaign theme, white supremacy, racial overtones, racial slurs, mudslinging and possible lynching’s can all be expected, in due course. That the world’s greatest superpower as World police, largest economy, military might and an uncompromising bully is unmatched, in the following— largest consumer of illicit drugs, genetically modified foods and medications; military hard and software; weapons of mass

destruction and drug cheats, in sports with the late:Flo Jo, Lance Armstrong and Justin Gatlin to name a few. Least, before I forget there is the exportation of germicidal warfare, as diseases and viruses “for trials by error, in shithole African countries, along with Haiti”. What does make America, not a “shithole” country, but a “hellhole”?AIDS, Cholera, Ebola Virus and Herpes are just a few that readily come to mind. Consider the abolition of slavery, with freed slaves being transported back to an African landmass now named Liberia! Additionally, there was the pilferage of “art and craft from Haiti, on a daily basis amounting to US$1 million. The “white supremacists” of the USA, have even resorted to religion to sow ethnic fear and division. Evangelist John Hagee discriminates against Islam and Muslims. Previously, a preacher had burned the Koran. But America of all countries is indebted to Black Muslims, who toiled laboriously to make it the great nation, it is today. A timely reminder, “drug trafficking by the CIA, funded the Contras against FARC, in Colombia, a few decades ago. Is there any international organization that is invited to monitor national elections, in America and subsequentely declare it as being free and fair, devoid of racial overtones with no evidence of ballot paper tampering? (Continued on page 6)

PAGE 6

Kaieteur News

POLICE ADMINISTRATION POST... From page 4 are dealing with a broken system. There is a glaring disconnect between the judicial system and the personnel paid to enforce the law. While it is apparent that the court, in this instance, was fulfilling its obligation to ‘right the wrong’ by taking the initial steps of justice, the supporting arm of the law (the police force) has neglected its duty, thereby rendering judicial findings insignificant. I cannot help but wonder if corruption has become so entrenched that competent, well-intentioned, politician in power such as the Minister of Public Security, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, is practically incapable of making the difference. While it is true that ineptitude and corruption continues to plague our police force, the degree to which this is prevalent in both the B.V. Police Station, the Guyana Police force C.Division, the Guyana Police Force B.Division New Amsterdam is mind boggling. There seems to be little or no accountability or respect

for the law by the officials entrusted with upholding it. These police departments seem unable or unwilling to self-police themselves in a manner consistent with their duty and there seems to be no oversight and no one to hold them responsible. As a citizen, in addition to my frustrations, I have grave concerns and some troubling questions. How can society feel secure under a broken system plagued by corruption, and enforced by unethical and uncaring officials? What good is the court authority, when its enforcement is at the discretion of the police force? Do we really have a constitution if the judge’s orders can be trampled on and ignored without consequence? Are some people (like Mr. Brijlall) simply above the law? How can we allow ourselves to crumble in this conundrum and just how do we get out? What do we do with the inherited brokenness from the previous administration? Did we just change the personnel but retained the problems? I believe I am faced with a few options- none of which

is as good as the one I have taken in seeking to make this matter publicized. I firmly believe awareness is an agent of change and the way to bring awareness is to make my voice heard. I further believe it is the duty of every citizen to raise their voice as well. Let it be known to all of Guyana, that the B.V. Police Station, the Guyana Police force C.Division, the Guyana Police Force B.Division if not in part -then in totality, are examples of what is wrong in our country. I submit to you that we cannot allow police officers like these to continue in this downward spiral while we sit by feeling powerless and disenchanted. We cannot allow people like Mr. Brijlall to continue receiving large contracts from Government ministries even though he is known to be irresponsible, fraudulent and deceptive. Something has to be done! I am still owed and this is my last resort. We are about to find out if our caring Government cares. Yours Truly Joseph Baichu

A most dishonest lawyer DEAR EDITOR, I will like to publish a story with evidence of one property having two transports processed through one lawyer. This lawyer took money from me and gave me my transport through the legal process.To my knowing there is another transport that came after mine through prescriptive rights

on the said property. When I confronted the lawyer he said that it was the judge’s mistake and chased me out of his office. I think the public should be aware of such a legal practitioner who displays gross misconduct and malpractice A. Singh

Thursday February 01, 2018

Dr di J agan Dr.. Ched Cheddi Ja li ved w ha eac hed liv wha hatt he pr preac eached DEAR SIR, Dr. Cheddi Jagan was known to be a man of the people. When he was declared the winner of the Central Demerara constituency in the 1947 general election, he said, ‘’We, the people, have won.” Forty-five years later, on October 9, 1992 after his historic victory in the elections of October 5, 1992, he once again said that the Guyanese people had won.It is important to recall that in 1948 after the shooting of the Enmore Martyrs, he pledged to dedicate his entire life to fight against exploitation and bondage. In the election of 1953, after struggling for and attaining universal adult suffrage his party, the PPP, won an overwhelming victory winning 18 out of 24 seats. That was an expression of national, racial, ethnic and working class unity.After Guyana attained independence in 1966, he wrote in his book “The West on Trial” the following: “The struggle will be long and hard; sacrifices there will be many, but time and history is on our side and win we shall.” The results of the October 5, 1992 elections had vindicated what was said in 1966 despite the fact that there were many who had literally written him off after some twenty-eight years in the political wilderness. The PPP went into the 1992 elections with the slogan “ Time to Change: Time to Rebuild.” The long awaited

Removing the layers from the great ... From page 5 What of a former Democrat presidential candidate a few years ago, who many persons thought they were voting for but it ended up as their vote going to the Republican. In actuality why does the might of America, intervene into the political affairs of “shithole” countries and

install governments of their choice; embracing dictatorships? In the words of the late legendary, King of Reggae, Bob Marley, and Steel Pulse from their respective songs. “Africa unite, were moving right out of Babylon. I curse the day, they made us slaves, and how can we sing the Lord’s song

in a strange land; liberation through democracy, one God, one Aim, one Destiny”. Persons of African ancestry must reject skin bleaching, same sex marriage and homosexuality which were never known before in shithole countries, in “Africa”. Why must one defy the symbol of creation “the potter moulding clay” and straighten one’s nose to look white? Meanwhile in Guyana, another shithole country, the concept of divide and rule, ethnic insecurity, racial overtones and discrimination must

cease forthwith. In “unity there is strength” and we must all strive collectively to accomplish, becoming each other’s keeper, irrespective of race, colour or creed. After 51 years of (In)dependence must ethnicity along political lines remain the “thin line between love and hate”? Would an Indo Guyanese Muslim or Christian, refuse to subscribe to the respective religious teaching, if the laypersons respectively are Afro Guyanese, or vice-versa? Yours truly, Samora N’ Komo.

change has finally arrived and it was time to start the rebuilding process. Dr. Jagan realized that the rebuilding process would require the efforts of all Guyanese regardless of race, religion or political affiliation. I thought of reproducing what was said by Dr. Jagan during his swearing in ceremony on October 9, 1992. “In this exciting adventure, I expect the fullest cooperation not only of our many friendly countries and our overseas brothers and sisters, but also the progressively minded personalities and organizations, investors, experts and advisors. “We do so without rancor, without recrimination, without victimization, without in any way trying to cast blame. In this regard, I hope to develop a constructive relationship with Mr. Desmond Hoyte and the leadership of all parties in order to deepen our democratic process and accelerate our economic development.” Regrettably, such sentiments were not reciprocal by the political opposition led by Desmond Hoyte. After dismissing the PPP victory as temporary and short-lived, Hoyte went on to dedicate his entire life to get Dr. Jagan out of power. Several street protests and disturbances took place to bring the government to its knees. The PPP was never interested in settling political scores or opening old wounds as seem to be the case of the current APNUAFC administration. Despite the several injustices meted out to him in the past, Dr. Jagan never sought revenge. In April 1990, in his presence in the city of New York, the famous adviser to President John F Kennedy, Arthur Schensiger, who was instrumental in putting Burnham in power admitted that US policy towards Guyana was flawed and that he was sorry for what he had done thirty years ago and that a ‘great injustice was done to Dr. Jagan.’ Even among Caribbean leaders, Dr. Jagan was given the cold shoulders during the dark days of rigged elections and authoritarian rule. There were no alternative

in Guyana, some remarked. Others took the position that better rigged elections than no elections. In other words, even if Dr. Jagan and the PPP would win a free and fair election, it was better with Hoyte in power even through rigged elections. The tide changed when in February 1990, President George Bush in a Republic Day Message to President Hoyte said that he hoped that the upcoming elections would be held according to the norms of democracy cherished by the peoples of the USA and Guyana.By the end of 1990, things began to move swiftly in favour of democracy and democratic renewal. The United States, through the Carter Centre and other western powers began to play a bigger role in the democratization processes. President Carter visited the country and met with key stakeholders including President Hoyte and the political opposition. Based on discussions with the political opposition, a menu of measures were put to Hoyte by President Carter. Among these were a new voters list, an end to overseas vote, a new and independent elections commission and last but by no means least the counting of votes at the place of poll. Hoyte resisted the counting of votes at the place of poll which he des c r i b e d a s a ‘ l o gistical nightmare.’ However, after much arm-twisting and threats of withdrawal of US and western donor support to the country, Hoyte reluctantly agreed to electoral reforms including the counting of votes at the place of poll.As predicted, the October 5 1992 elections saw an end to undemocratic rule and ushered in the dawn of a new day. Dr. Jagan was sworn in as the first democratically Executive President in post-colonial Guyana. The PPP and its Civic partner continued to win all subsequent elections until May 2015 when the APNUAFC coalition assumed office in highly questionable elections. Hydar Ally

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Thursday February 01, 2018

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

The crime plague 2002-2006: Revelations that will kill PPP leaders

M

r. Jagdeo has gone on the offensive with the announcement that there will be a judicial inquiry into the crime vortex that almost drowned society between the years 2002 - when the infamous jail break took place - and 2006 when it abated. Mr. Jagdeo for the past three days has accused big wigs in the then-opposition PNC of having connections to the mayhem that emanated from Buxton. M r. J a g d e o c a n n o t comprehend what a judicial inquiry is. If he knows, then he will understand that he cannot go on the witness stand and say, “I don't know,” when the evidence will be there to contradict him. In such a situation, a

charge of perjury can be instituted. In a judicial inquiry, the commissioners have judge-like authority. When the process begins, it will shock the entire world. PPP leaders in that period are forgetting two factors. Captain David Clarke, who was based in Buxton as part of security logistics, was arrested for drug trafficking. After his plea bargaining and cooperation, he was given refugee status and allowed to stay in the US. What did he tell the US authorities? Roger Khan also copped a plea bargain. Here is where Jagdeo is going to find himself in volcanic lava. There is material out there that the commission will want to access. Roger

Khan has said that when the American Regional S e c u r i t y O ff i c e r, M r. Stephen Lesniak was kidnapped, he met with Embassy officials to help in the release of Lesniak. So Khan was a major player at the time, yet all PPP leaders at the time, are on record as saying they never met Khan. Then there is the statement from the general manager of the store where the spy equipment was bought, which Khan had in his possession when he was arrested on the Good Hope public road. The spy equipment by US laws is only sold directly to governments. There is a paper trail that showed it was Minister Leslie Ramsammy that facilitated the purchase.

Ramsammy has denied it. If Ramsammy is telling the truth, why did the manager name him, a person who was the Minister of Health at the time and not a minister connected to state security? W h a t w i l l t h e commissioners say to Ramsammy if he is supplied with the proof? There are the requests from the US Government not to confirm Henry Greene as Commissioner of Police. You have to be a jackass to assume that the US government was lying on Greene, had nothing on Green, and just didn't want him to be the head of the police force. President Jagdeo declined the suggestion of the US and appointed Greene. There is material out there that quotes Robert Simels, Khan's lawyer, as saying that it was Greene who bugged Commissioner Winston Felix's office when Felix was on leave. That bugging resulted in an embarrassing conversation the Commissioner had with others. The paper trail on the role of the Jagdeo government in the crime

vortex in those years is going to embarrass the hierarchy of the PPP leadership. Mr. Jagdeo is forgetting that the head of the army and the head of the police and the chief of the army at the time were in possession of information that can seriously implicate many PPP ministers. Mr. Jagdeo is pointing to senior opposition figures that were connected to the Buxton conspirators. Be that as it may, the political authorities cannot be that stupid to hold a commission without any proof of the involvement of the then-government. My thinking is that the then-big wigs in office feel that the most incriminating evidence will not be available to the commission – Clarke's confession statement, Khan's cooperation and Simels' testimony. If the Commission fails to secure those documents, then PPP leaders will walk free. There will be substantial proof pointing to Khan's penetration of Jagdeo's government and Khan's role i n Wa d d e l l ' s m u r d e r ;

Frederick Kissoon information that most media operatives have. But if there is no material on the cooperation with American authorities by Clarke and Khan, the commission's work will be inelegantly incomplete. The release of the relevant documents by US authorities on the testimony of Clarke and Khan is a delicate matter that will involve complex negotiations. T h e G u y a n a Government has the skills to pursue those discussions. I doubt the US will be disinterested. Too many people lost their lives, state security was compromised by the acceptance of drug traffickers into the workings of the police force, senior government ministers were participants in a labyrinthine conspiracy of death and violence, and Guyana had experienced a hell no West Indian society ever endured. The US government should release the papers.

Thursday February 01, 2018

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Thursday February 01, 2018

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

Needs of newly-diagnosed diabetics amplified at GDA training seminar The GDA seminar in session

W

i t h a n ultimate intent to educate newly-diagnosed diabetics about their condition, proper eating habits, use of medicine and how to guard against complications, the Guyana Diabetic Association [GDA] on Tuesday commenced a two-day lay training seminar. At the event held at the K i t t y, G e o rg e t o w n Windjammer Hotel, the primary targets were nonmedical individuals who, according to President of the GDA, Ms. Glynis Beaton, are being prepared to not only educate newlydiagnosed patients, but also to gain the capacity to sensitise the wider community about the disease. Among the participants in attendance were a number of board members of the GDA and some of the commissioners from the recently established N a t i o n a l N o n Communicable Diseases Commission, members of the Young Leaders in Diabetes [the youth arm of t h e G D A ] , a n d representatives of the Ministry of Public Health's Chronic Diseases Unit, who were also tasked with m o n i t o r i n g t h e teaching/learning process and offering input. “Our goal at the end of the day is to explain to

newly-diagnosed diabetics about the disease, including sharing with them the minimum knowledge about complications,” Beaton said of the training seminar. As part of the training, participants were exposed to the basic information about diabetes so that they can gain a better understanding of the disease before proceeding to enlighten others. They were moreover engaged in a role play exercise which was designed to help them utilise their newly acquired knowledge in much the way they would when dealing with a newly diagnosed diabetic. Since diet and exercise are both important aspects of a diabetic's life, part of the training saw the participants being informed of meal planning and ways in which patients can be motivated to exercise. Beaton said that with the knowledge gained, “I am expecting my [GDA] board members... at every board meeting, one of them will present information on diabetes, and that is how they will give back. The Young Leaders will do the same with their type ones [diabetics] and also through exhibitions and outreaches,” said Beaton of the participants. The training represents an outcome of the International Diabetic Federation [IDF] conference

held last year in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Among those who attended the conference was Beaton, who holds the position of IDF chairperson. She is in fact the first Guyanese to hold the prestigious post. Coming out from that conference which focused a great deal on the importance of education in the fight against diabetes, Beaton told this publication that moves will be made to recruit even more persons to aid the process of educating the

nation. A move in this direction, Beaton said, will translate to the hosting of a two-day layeducator training programme. The training, she said, is designed to ensure that persons be exposed to a simplified version of diabetes information, so that they can help take awareness to the public on a wider scale. On the sidelines of the training programme, Beaton told this publication that an important approach to dealing with a newly-

diagnosed patient is to offer counselling services. “For newly diagnosed patients you must have some counselling, because remember this is a shock,” said Beaton, even as she continued to explain that “it isn't only the patient who will need counselling, but also the patient's family, too, who will have to work with them and be their support system.” This is particularly important, Beaton said, since diabetes “is a hard disease to comprehend... it affects the entire body and while some

of us may not know it, it is important to give that newly diagnosed patient some counselling to be able to cope, because now that you have it you have to be able to accept that you have to live with it.” Diabetes is often referred to by medical practitioners as diabetes mellitus, which describes a group of metabolic diseases in which the person has high blood glucose [sugar], either because insulin production is inadequate or because the body's cells do not respond properly to insulin, or both.

PAGE 22

Thursday February 01, 2018

Kaieteur News

Sugar estate communities targeted for Gatekeepers'...

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK;Guyanapassport application. G r a p h i c s design, advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6004212: We create A/works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY- $19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-2274754. A 140 Toyota Corona manual black wheel drive, carburetor 3A engine. Good working condition. Price negotiable. #677-9077 or 651-6425 All size solar pannel & batteries lowest price guarantee. check us out @ Boodhoo’s General store @ Parika EBE.

1 long base canter, 4 ton GRR series, hydraulic tray lift, price 2.6million and 1 canter driver We repair fridge, freezer, AC, needed. #609-1040 washer, dryer-Call: 231-0655; 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL 450 4matic SUV, like brand new, 683-8734. Omar under 20,000 miles. Call: 674Repairs at affordable prices: 1781. Serious inquires only. fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, 20 acres of farm with bearing microwaves & freezer-Call: citrus, coconut & avocado 610-5846 or 661-8158 trees. Location: Linden Highway, contact #655-7933

FOR RENT

WANTED

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620

Salesman, good verbal/ excellent attitude, knowledge in stocktaking, computer literate & team player. Keyfood McDoom.

Space for rent at Ashmin’s Building- suitable for salon or office- Call today! 683-7954 Fully furnished apartment two & one bedrooms in Providence, East Bank, Tel: 672-1906/216-2299/682-6238 2 & 3 bedroom fully furnished luxury apartments to rent, long & short term. #666-7820, 6911432 Business place/Store for rent, located at Grove EBD.Contact 684-6331 2 Bedroom downstairs at 33B Anira St. Queenstown Georgetown $50,000/month contact Ramesh # 613-4375 , 617-6599 Honest individuals wiil be considered. 2 bedroom downstairs house 613 East Front road. G/Town 43,000 a month. Contact: 6521234

One residential houselot (East Bank) Brand new air condition unit, brand new rattan 4 piece set $3.6M. Tel: 656-0701/6117223 CAR RENTAL DOLLY’SCARRENTAL-CALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM PROGRESSIVE CAR R E N TA L : S U V F O R RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL:6435122/656-0087, ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM

VEHICLE FOR SALE F150 late model GSS series no problem lifted suspension for $2.4 million on best offer, excellent condition. Contact:695-7676/676-3612 EDUCATION The Jo-sel Educational Institute needs a full time maths teacher. For more information, call: 226-7794/ 226-7868

AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807

CXC adults classes (Business & Science subjects) Form 1-5 lessons, Grade 2-6 lessons (slow learners, personal tutor) #690-5008,618-0649

WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIAL OFFERS! . CALL: 690-6494

Lessons: Phonics, Reading & Writing for Kindergarten, grades 1-5 Mathematics & English. Lessons for form 1-5. Call: 690-9378 Register your child for after school classes for slow learners in Mathematics, Reading, Phonics, Spelling, etc. Call: 675-4379

TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 2257878 (24HRS)

LAND FOR SALE Uivlugt (100ft x 50ft) $3M Parafaite Harmonie $1.5M Herstelling $2M Farm $3M Eccles $7M. Tel# 651-1969/ 656-0701

Nissan Pathfinder Jeep 4WD Excellent condition $1.4M negotiable. Call: 609-7766/2258427 Allion, Primo, Fielder Wagon, Spacio, Bluebird, 212 Carina, NZE, Honda CRV, Toyota IST, RZ & Pit-bull – Call: 650-7501

Experienced curry cook, counter servers, drivers. Apply Hack’s Halaal, 5 Commerce St.

From page 9 session, Hussain said, is slated for Saturday [February 3] in Rose Hall, Berbice. This session, he informed, will be done in collaboration with the Guyana Sugar Corporation, which will provide the training facilities. Through its ongoing efforts to reach persons, Hussain said that the Caribbean Voice has been able to

Wanted in large quantities: moringa, corolla bush, soursop leaves(dried). Contact: 665-1397 1 Porter to work on vehicle in the interior 18-25 years old #699-4718 WANTED FULLTIME/PART TIME WAITER/WAITRESS TO WORK AT AAGMAN RESTAURANT, SHERIFF STREET. CALL;219-0158 Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665 We would like to buy 20 ft & 40ft containers. Contact: 6876072 1-Serviceman/mechanic 2Skidder/loader operator 3Tree fellers. Contact: 656-8754 Wanted experience hire car taxi driver at Ramada Princess Hotel. Tel: 265-7076. Cell: 6165419 We are interested in buying large quantities of used zinc # 687-6072 Urgently need one houselot to buy in Eccles and Herstelling. Tel: 611-7223/ 6560701 Needed bartender/cocktail mixer & waitress, preferably from W.C.D or W.B.D. Tel: 6829457 Counter persons, Puri/Rotimakers. Apply @ Shantas 225 Camp St. (1) Manager to work @ Hotel/ Club on Essequibo coast, previous hotel management an asset. Contact: 500-5923, 676-8764/646-3675 WANTED FULLTIME/ PART TIME: MALE KITCHEN ASSISTANT TO WORK AT AAGMAN RESTAURANT, SHERIFF STREET CALL: 219-0158/219-0161 WANTED SECURITY GUARD TO WORK AT AAGMAN RESTAURANT, SHERIFF STREET. REFERENCES REQUIRED. CALL: 219-0158/219-0161

VACANCY 1 female from Georgetown, age 18-25 to work from 3-9 pm. Apply to Tea shop @ 193 Charlotte & Wellington Streets. Contact: 226-2320 Vacancy exists for 1 experienced pharmacy technician to work part time @ a reputable pharmacy Georgetown- Call: 227-0630 Security guard, Pastry maker, Cashier. Persons can submit applications to Beacon Cafe (127 Quamina & Carmichael St) Tel: 225-9409/691-6348 Needed porter boys at Stretch your dollar store/good salary, Robb Street #223-5897 Driver from Age 22 and above, must have police clearance, for more info, call: 223-0090 House keeper(good cook) wanted. Live-in if possible. Windsor Estates East Bank. Contact: 673-6050 Nanny to teach and take care of a 2 year old girl. Campbellville area. Contact: 673-6050 Cook/Baker & Excavator operator for interior location. must be experienced. Call: 618-2020 Backhoe operator, woodmizer moulder and edger operator, experience logging truck driver, call Richard: 609-7675/ 674-1705/233-2614 PROPERTY FOR SALE Lot 15 Public Road, #2 Village, W.C.B. 49ft x 10,314ft $22M Negotiable Contact 648-7109/686-4818 Property located in secure and residential Ixora Avenue, Block AA Eccles EBD. $36M. Tel: 233-2793, 615-8502

SALON

LEARN TO DRIVE

Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. -CosmetologyCourses: $90,000 Nail Technician Course: $35,000. Call: 647-1773/688-0009 TOLET

Ultraviolet Driving School is offering a 6 days driving lesson for $7,500. Come and enjoy it! Call 602-2583

Newly built @ Craig E.B.D land size 91x50 feet; house 40x28, 3 rooms, 1 self contained. Call: 718-213-6496/ 617-7691

C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj Building- Call: 644-5166; 6222872; 615-0964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).

House and land available @ La Parfaite Harmonie, Providence, Etc. Financing assistance available. Contact Pacific Development: 2236035/ 604-4909

One business space, located at 177 Charlotte & Alexander St. Kindly call: 644-3555,6893462, . Serious enquiries only.

reach and counsel in excess of 300 people. And according to him, in addition to reaching some individuals in person, others are reached by means of telephone and even Facebook. Detecting those who may be in need of counselling, Hussain said, could be as simple as recognising a change in behaviour. Just recently the Caribbean Voice was able to reach out to more than 100 teachers from schools across Canje, Berbice. According to Hussain, reaching out to the teachers was a deliberate tactic. He revealed that because of what is occurring in the sugar industry, there have been signs of schoolchildren being affected by the spin-off effects of some workers being severed from sugar estates. Hussain said that while the Caribbean Voice was initially aiming to train students how to cope, it was General Secretary of the Guyana Teachers' Union [GTU], Coretta McDonald, who decided that a more strategic approach would be to reach to teachers instead, so that they can be the first responders. It is anticipated that this move will not only reach the students and pupils, but their parents as well. According to Hussain, the efforts engaged by Caribbean Voice do not have a racial or political agenda. “We are not going into the estates to tell people about what whoever did, and who got them severed. We are going into the sugar estates and these areas to do what is called trainer of trainers,” he asserted.

QC NY Alumni Assoc. to host... From page 18 school's calendar and a “critical part of our students' development.” This year's conference is being held in cooperation with the Ministry of Education. Associated costs are being met by members and supporters of QCAANY, with corporate sponsorships from Metallica Commodities Corp, Camex Limited, Banks DIH, and Maggie's Snackette, and Noble House Seafoods. QCAANY was formed on August 21, 1991. The NYbased non-profit's stated purposes include the provision of financial and other forms of material assistance to the school and to associate with any non-profit organization involved in assisting Guyanese in Guyana and elsewhere. To learn more, interested persons can email QCAANY at nychapter@qcguyanaalumny.org and visit the organization on the web at www.qcguyanaalumny.org

PAGE 24

Kaieteur News

North Korea to parade dozens of long-range missiles before Winter Olympics Seoul, South Korea (CNN) North Korea is planning to show off dozens of longrange missiles at a February 8 parade, the day before the Winter Olympics is set to begin in South Korea, two diplomatic sources with deep knowledge of North Korea’s intentions told CNN Wednesday. The display of “hundreds” of missiles and rockets would be an attempt “to scare the hell out of the Americans,” one of the sources said. The parade is expected to include dozens of intercontinental-range Hwasong-15 missiles, which the North Koreans test-fired for the first time in late November, the sources said. They also didn’t rule out a missile test “in the near fu-

ture” to send a strong message to American forces currently deployed in the region. The news comes after US President Donald Trump delivered his first State of the Union speech, during which he criticized the Kim Jong Un regime’s human rights abuses and “reckless pursuit” of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles that could soon threaten the US homeland. In his address, Trump highlighted personal stories of victims of the Kim regime, inviting as guests North Korean defector Ji Seong-ho and the parents of Otto Warmbier, who died shortly after returning from North Korea where he spent 17 months in captivity.The inter-Korean talks which led to the North’s decision to participate in the Winter OIympics had been

hailed as a breakthrough that could ease escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. However, the process has not been smooth. On Monday, North Korea said it canceled a joint cultural performance that was to be held in advance of the Olympics in response to unflattering coverage by South Korean media. According to a statement from South Korea’s Unification Ministry, the North Koreans pulled out because “South Korean media continue to insult North Korea’s genuine measures regarding the PyeongChang Olympics and take issues with its domestic festival.” The sources that spoke to CNN said that other planned events could be canceled.

Train carrying U.S. Republican lawmakers hits truck in Virginia, one dead CROZET, Va. (Reuters) An Amtrak passenger train carrying Republican members of the U.S. Congress from Washington to a retreat in West Virginia slammed into a garbage truck on Wednesday at a rural Virginia road crossing, killing one person on the truck, authorities said. No serious injuries were reported among the lawmakers or their staff on the train, the U.S. Department of Transportation said. There was one death and one serious injury among those on the truck, it added. Amtrak said two crew members and three train passengers were hospitalized with minor injuries after the crash in Crozet, Virginia. One of those, Representative Jason Lewis of Minnesota, was examined for a possible con-

cussion. “I‘m fine compared to, tragically, the truck drivers, and thankful for the prompt action of our doctors and first responders. My thoughts are with the family of the driver who passed away,” Lewis told Reuters. The train was taking lawmakers to an annual retreat being held this year in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, just west of the Virginia state line. Amtrak said the collision occurred at 11:20 a.m. in Crozet, a tiny town between the college town of Charlottesville, Virginia, and White Sulphur Springs. U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, a doctor, said he and other lawmakers who are physicians tended to the injured until emergency personnel arrived.

The truck was on the tracks at a crossing when the crash occurred, Amtrak said. Video from the scene showed the battered truck afterward, with trash strewn around it. “We were going along the Virginia countryside at pretty good speed,” Senator Jeff Flake said in comments released by his office. “All of a sudden, we felt an impact and obviously heard a pretty loud noise. Most of us were thrown a bit in our seats and those of us who were standing were really thrown.” Spouses and children of some lawmakers were aboard, lawmakers said. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan was on the train, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was not, lawmakers said.

U.S. public health chief quits over financial conflicts (Reuters) - The head of the leading U.S. public health agency has resigned because of financial conflicts of interest that documents showed included purchases of tobacco and healthcare stocks while in office. Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, held “certain complex financial interests” that she could not sell in time, forcing her to recuse herself from many public health duties, a Department of Health and Human Services statement said on Wednesday. A physician and former commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health, Fitzgerald is the second high-profile health official in the year-old Republican Trump administration to leave over financial and ethical questions. She leaves as the country is dealing with

its worst flu season in years. Dr. Anne Schuchat, CDC principal deputy director with 30 years at the agency, will take over until a new director is named, the CDC said in a statement. Schuchat is a former acting CDC director. Politico reported on Tuesday that Fitzgerald had traded in tobacco and healthcare stocks a month after Congress confirmed her appointment by Trump in July. Her financial disclosure report, released by Politico, showed she made purchases last August in shares of Japan Tobacco Inc (2914.T), Merck & Co Inc (MRK.N), Humana Inc (HUM.N) as well as ADRs of German drugmaker Bayer AG (BAYGn.DE). The White House declined comment and referred questions to the Health and Human Services Department.

Thursday February 01, 2018

Officials: US missile defense test failed in Hawaii Washington (CNN) The US conducted an unsuccessful missile defense test on Wednesday, as a missile launched from land failed to intercept an incoming target launched from an aircraft in Hawaii, according to several administration officials. The Pentagon is not publicly acknowledging the failure of a key ballistic missile defense test and the officials told CNN that the decision to remain silent is due, in part, to sensitivities surrounding North Korea’s participation in the upcoming Olympic Games and continuing tensions with leader Kim Jong Un. US Department of De-

fense officials are trying to determine what went wrong, but so far all the Pentagon will officially say is that a test took place. “The Missile Defense Agency and U.S. Navy sailors manning the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense Test Complex (AAMDTC) conducted a live-fire missile flight test using a StandardMissile (SM)-3 Block IIA missile launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kauai, Hawaii, Wednesday morning,” Defense spokesman Mark Wright said. While the missile is still in development, it represents a key advancement in US de-

fense capabilities as it is designed to eventually intercept the type of intercontinental range missile that North Korea has vowed to launch against the US. For now, the missile is used to target intermediate range missiles from adversaries and is a key element of US missile defenses in the Pacific region. Wednesday’s trial was also, in part, an effort to test new defense concepts as the missile was launched from the shore rather than the Navy Aegis warships that have carried earlier versions of the projectile for several years.

NASA makes contact with satellite lost in space 13 years ago (Yahoo) Proving that things tend to turn up when you least expect them, NASA has just rediscovered a satellite it lost in space more than a decade ago. The Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE) was launched in 2000 to create the first comprehensive images of atmospheric plasma. It completed its initial mission in 2002, but failed to make contact again on a routine pass by the Earth in 2005. Scientists hoped an eclipse in 2007 would kickstart a reboot, but when it didn’t the mission was declared over, and IMAGE was expected to spend the rest of its days floating peacefully through the universe. Earlier this month, however, an amateur astronomer spotted it in the skies.

It’s taken NASA a couple of weeks to confirm that the mysterious observation was indeed IMAGE, because the types of hardware and operating systems used in the satellite no longer exist. Other systems have been updated several versions beyond what they were at the time, requiring significant reverse-engineering. But after some tinkering, the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab in Laurel, Maryland, successfully collected telemetry data from the satellite, confirming its ID. The team will now spend the coming weeks analyzing data from the satellite to learn more about the state of the spacecraft, and maybe a little about what it’s been up to all these years.

Crackdown on US$ blackmarket Trinidad Express - In his first in-depth interview as new president of the Bankers Association of Trinidad and Tobago (BATT), Republic Financial Holdings Ltd Managing director, Nigel Baptiste, called on the authorities to deal with a long-standing illegality: the US dollar (USD) black market. The country’s foreign exchange (forex) crisis, technically described as ‘tightness’, has been ongoing for the last four years, with successive governments failing to solve. Boss at the country’s largest bank by assets, Baptiste answered a wide range of questions at Republic Bank’s head office on Park Street in Port of Spain last week. He said he feared the ongoing dispute between the Caribbean Nitrogen Company (CNC) and the state-owned National Gas Company (NGC) could be a watershed moment for Trinidad and Tobago, called on the authorities to address the worsening US-dollar crisis, and acknowledged that evolution of the banking sector is undeniable.

Nigel Baptiste

Kaieteur News

Thursday February 01, 2018

PM: Balance Needed In How INDECOM Operates The Gleaner - Prime Minister Andrew Holness has given the clearest indication that lawmakers would be taking steps to tweak the law governing the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM). He was responding to concerns raised by Leader of the Opposition Dr Peter Phillips Tuesday in the House of Representatives in relation to the disarming of the police by the oversight body in the full view of the public. Holness said his administration was of the view that there needs to be balance in how INDECOM operates. While urging members of the security forces to obey the law, Phillips also urged the oversight body to be mindful of the circumstances in which the police operate.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness

The world’s tallest man meets the world’s shortest woman

(Yahoo) Two Guinness World Record holders finally had a chance to meet in real life. On Friday, the world’s tallest man, Sultan Kosen, met the world’s shortest woman, Jyoti Amge,in Cairo, Egypt. Photos of the duo’s trip to the great pyramids have since gone viral. Kosen, who stands at a sturdy 8 feet 3 inches tall, hails from Turkey from Kurdish background. The 35-yearold’s height has been attributed to a condition called ac-

romegaly, a tumor affecting his pituitary gland. Though he’s undergone many surgeries in attempt to remove the tumor, it couldn’t be entirely removed. According to reports, he ‘stopped’ growing in 2012, but still suffers from spinal deformities and requires crutches to walk. India’s Amge measures at 2 feet 6 inches and weighs just 11 pounds due to a type of dwarfism called achondroplasia. The 24-year-old has been cast in a handful of appear-

ances and shows, including “American Horror Story.” According to the photos, Amge has to be carried to move around. The duo was invited to visit Egypt by the Egyptian Tourism Board in attempt to revive the country’s struggling tourist industry. Kosen and Amge are just some of the notable figures in the most recent months to pay a visit for the campaign, others being Will Smith and Kourtney Kardashian.

PAGE 25

PAGE 26

Kaieteur News

Thursday February 01, 2018

Lula leads Brazil polls despite graft conviction Rio de Janeiro (AFP) Brazil’s fiery left-wing former president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, retains a strong lead ahead of presidential elections despite his conviction on graft charges, according to an opinion poll yesterday. An appeals court last week upheld a money laundering and corruption conviction against Lula and imposed a more than 12 year prison sentence. The sentence means that the Workers’ Party founder and icon of the Latin American left has few avenues left to being allowed to run in October’s election. Even with the scandal, Lula remains a clear frontrunner, the respected Datafolha pollsters found in the first survey taken since the appeals court decision. The deeply unpopular president, Michel Temer, has

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said that he won’t run for the office. In the poll, published by Folha de S. Paulo newspaper, Lula would get between 34 and 37 percent of votes in a first round on October 7. This is easily ahead of right-wing candidate Jair

Bolsonaro, who polls with 16 to 18 percent, according to Datafolha. A crowded field is disputing third place in the poll, including environmentalist Marina Silva, leftist Ciro Gomes, and Sao Paulo Governor Geraldo Alckmin, from the establishment centre-right party PSDB. In a second round on October 28 — if Lula were allowed to run — the former president would easily defeat Bolsonaro by 49 to 32 percent, Datafolha found. If Lula were absent, Bolsonaro would lose easily to Silva in the runoff round, Datafolha said, while losing by just two percentage points against Alckmin. The poll was carried out this week with 2,826 respondents and a two percentage point margin of error.

New programme to accelerate trade between Martinique and OECS states CASTRIES, St. Lucia - CMC – The Chamber of Commerce of Martinique, the OECS Commission and the Caribbean Export Development Agency have partnered to launch the Trade Enhancement in the Eastern Caribbean Project (TEECA). According to a statement from the Castries based OECS Commission, the programme is tailored for Martinique based companies ready to export to Eastern Caribbean markets. The official launch of the TEECA project yesterday was devised by the Chamber of Commerce of Martinique and targets companies ready to export for the first time to Eastern Caribbean countries. Traditionally, mainland France has been the first export destination, however opportunities offered in OECS Member States have to be taken into account. The statement notes that in order to start trading with Eastern Caribbean countries, entrepreneurs need to understand the markets, the legal environment and meet potential busi-

ness partners. “Hence, the INTERREG Caraïbe programme TEECA aims at fostering mutual knowledge and regional trade as well as strengthening companies competitiveness toward international markets through integration and most of all through an innovative process.” The programme is tailored for businesses with limited export experience. “Entrepreneurs participating in the TEECA project will benefit from a two year individual and group coaching programme to ensure their products and services are export ready,” it noted.(The TEECA Project is coordinated by the Chamber of Commerce of Martinique and co-funded by INTERREG Caraïbes under the FEDER (European Regional Development Fund). The project is also based upon the strong partnership between the OECS Commission and the Caribbean Export Development Agency.

Aquaculture proposed as solution to food security in St. Kitts Nevis BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - CMC – The Department of Marine Resources says it is taking a closer look at aquaculture as a possible solution to food security in the federation.During a national consultation on the aquaculture sector held on Tuesday, various experts in the field had a detailed discussion with community stakeholders on the benefits of pursuing aquaculture.The one day session gave an overview of aquaculture, a SWOT analysis of the project, demonstrations and the costs associated with undertaking the project.According to Aquaculture Review Specialist, Dr. Leighton Naraine, the

Dr. Leighton Naraine project is set to “increase farm production, reap economic benefits, provide alternative employment opportunities and incomes in the Eastern Caribbean small island states

and contribute to food security and food import reduction.”He explained that presently there is a high level of importing of seafood from other Caribbean islands and internationally into the federation, which leads to the higher cost of goods and the reliance on imported goods versus local production. He stated that many countries have recently been turning to aquaculture as a means of sustainability. Hydroponics expert, Stuart LaPlace, noted that while the initial cost may be high, the machinery has the potential to reap substantial profits overtime.

Kaieteur News

Thursday February 01, 2018

Female judges hail outgoing Chief Justice

Outgoing Chief Justice, Zaila McCalla (left), accepts a citation from Puisne Judge and Assistant Secretary of the Jamaica Association of Women Judges (JAWJ), Justice Carol Edwards. (Photo: JIS) KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Female judges from Jamaica and the wider Caribbean have heaped praises on retiring Chief Justice, Justice Zaila McCalla, for her 40 years of stalwart service to the justice sector and her work to modernise the judicial system. Members of the Jamaica Association of Women Judges (JAWJ) in a citation saluted her as “a true role model and a female icon in the annals of the history of the judiciary of Jamaica”. “Through sheer determination, drive and enthusiasm, she has enshrined a legacy of continued legal education and other beneficial opportunities for the judiciary in Jamaica. She has done much to ensure that the predominantly female judiciary benefits from the global expertise and collective mission of likeminded persons,” it read. The citation was presented by Puisne Judge and Assistant Secretary to the JAWJ, Justice Carol Edwards, during a ceremony hosted by the group at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel last Friday. McCalla was also applauded for her contribution to the empowerment of female judges and was recognised as

a staunch advocate for human rights, women’s and children’s rights. “As a female Chief Justice, she has given the justice system a warmer, softer, more effective and accessible human face. Through her sound judgement and fervent commitment to ensuring justice for all Jamaicans, she continues to inspire and guide the Association towards the goal of providing equal rights and equal opportunities for all the men and women who interface with the judicial system,” the citation said. McCalla, in her response, thanked the association for the acknowledgement, noting that she was moved by the warm words. “I am greatly inspired by the commitment, dedication and hard work of judges and court staff. You are the ones who have inspired me to make whatever contribution I have made in respect of the advancement of justice in our country,” she said. The Caribbean Association of Women Judges (CAWJ) also extended commendations to the Chief Justice. In a statement read by Vice President of CAWJ, Justice

Yonette Cummings, McCalla was hailed for “a legacy that will continue to be a beacon” to members of the regional and international judiciary. “The CAWJ salutes Justice Zaila McCalla for her sterling contribution to local and regional jurisprudence and wishes her a retirement that sees her many attributes being put to use in yet further exciting endeavours,” she said. Justice Cummings further read tributes from the Guyana Association of Women Judges and the Judiciary of Guyana. McCalla was lauded for her role in helping to develop the Children’s Court in Guyana and the Dear Children’s Court in Trinidad and Tobago. Chief Justice McCalla has had an extensive legal career in the public service, having been called to the Jamaican Bar in 1976. She served as Deputy Clerk of Court until 1977 when she was promoted to Clerk of Courts, a post she served in until 1980. She then served as Crown Counsel in the Department of Public Prosecutions, and was promoted in 1985 to Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions.

Customs ‘yellow’ form now in electronic format

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) is advising travellers that effective today, it will be automating its processes, which require the use of the C27 form, also known as the Unaccompanied Baggage Declaration or, ‘yellow’ form. “This will allow for more efficient processing of passengers who have unaccompanied baggage. As at this date, hard copies of the ‘yellow form’ will no longer be issued to passengers,” informed the JCA in a release yesterday.“Notwithstanding this procedural change, the agency wishes to further advise that adult passengers 18 years

and older, will still receive their US$500 duty free allowance on personal and household effects, not for resale or commercial use. “This change does not affect how Customs deals with the application and validity of this allowance.” The JCA noted that passengers with unaccompanied baggage should indicate this to the customs officer, prior to the examination of their luggage. The agency also said passengers should present their passport/receipt received from the Kiosk in the Immigration Hall at the airport at the point of clearance.

PAGE 27

PAGE 28

Kaieteur News

Thursday February 01, 2018

Thursday February 01, 2018

Striker says he quit Vietnamese club because of racism LONDON, CMC – Welltravelled Bermudian striker Jonté Smith has told a British newspaper he left a Vietnamese club because of racial discrimination only four days after being offered a lucrative contract. Smith, 23, the son of Bermuda national cricket coach Clay Smith, says he was offered £15,000 (about US$21,000) a month to play in Vietnam in 2016, but was shocked when he and the club’s other black players were made to warm up away from the rest of the team. Smith, who now plays for English non-League side Lewes, and the two other black players were also ordered to eat separately after the training session. Smith spoke of his ordeal to The Guardian as part of a group of athletes discussing racism, sexism and inequali-

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

Bermudian striker Jonté Smith. ties in sport. They included Lewes women’s goalkeeper Faye Baker, javelin thrower Goldie Sayers, former world champion badminton player Gail Emms and wheelchair racer Anne Wafula.

“I got an offer to play in Vietnam when I was 20, 21, for a ridiculous amount of money – £15,000 a month after tax,” Smith said.“I left after four days. The very first day I went to warm up with the rest of

Thursday February 01, 2018 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Your heart is apt to beat much more rapidly than usual, Aries. Love is in the air, the trees, and the people around you. TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) More than likely there was at least one time in your life in which you felt like the ugly ducking, Taurus. Perhaps this had something to do with your weight. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Duels of love and romance are apt to come to a critical climax, Gemini, and you’ll find that the person who is challenging you has quite a bit of gunpowder at his or her disposal. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Your extremely overpowering emotions are apt to scare people off today, Cancer, especially when it comes to matters involving intimate relationships. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) While long-term trends in your life may not be going exactly the way you want them to, Leo, you certainly have plenty of short-term pleasures to enjoy, especially today. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You may be anxious to fit things in your life into pigeonholes, Virgo. When it comes to matters of love and romance, this may be hard to do, especially on a day like today.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You may feel like going back to being a student in junior high, Libra, just going through puberty and joining the other kids in animated discussions about who likes whom and who’s going out with whom. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Be careful about getting caught up with people who are careless or fickle, Scorpio, especially when it comes to matters of the heart. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Your luck has just turned with regard to issues of love and romance, and wow! Has it turned for the better, Sagittarius! You should be sitting on cloud nine today when it comes to matters of the heart. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Romance is in the air, Capricorn, and all of a sudden you notice that all around you couples are walking hand-in-hand, exchanging longing gazes. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Your upbeat and active nature is exactly what turns people on to you, Aquarius. Attention is apt to turn in your direction today when social acquaintances realize what an incredibly capable person you are. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Gather information so you know best how to proceed on your own when the weight has lifted. It will happen soon.

the team, and I was told I had to warm up over there with two other African players. “It gets worse. After the game, I pick up my food and sit down with them and they say, ‘No, you have to sit over there with the African players’. “I wouldn’t have stayed for anything.” Smith is now paid £200 a week for Lewes, who play in the Isthmian League South Division, the seventh tier of English football. The Sussex club, a semiprofessional outfit, were the first in the country to pay its male and female teams equally, with Smith and Baker both proud of the club’s groundbreaking initiative. “There are now more young girls coming in to train,” said Smith, a secondhalf substitute in a 1-1 draw at home to Walton Casuals at the weekend. “And that’s how you start.” Smith rejoined Lewes last season from National League side Welling United. Since being released by Crawley Town in 2014, Smith has played for five different teams in three different countries.

Arsenal... From page 27 nod to lead the line ahead of his new team mate, Aubameyang has shown in the past that he is capable of troubling defenders from the wings. Aubameyang, 28, is Gabon’s record goalscorer with 23 goals from 56 matches and was named the African Footballer of the Year in 2015. He was named Bundesliga player of the year in 2016 and last season was the league’s top scorer with 31 goals. “Apart from the unimpressive results of the last few weeks, we can remember that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s history with BVB has been a success story for more than four years,” said Borussia Dortmund’s sporting director Michael Zorc.Dortmund agreed to the sale as it closed in on a loan deal for Chelsea’s Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi.

RHTY&SC... From page 31 attend matches on a regular basis to support their sons and the tireless efforts of our cricket Manager Ravindranauth Kissoonlall. The Management of the Club would like to reassure all of our members that we would continue to work beyond the call of duty to make sure that they fulfill their full potential on and off the cricket field.

Formula One to ... From page 27 even if not as scantilyclad as in the past, has been increasingly criticized in a sport that is now under U.S.based ownership following Liberty Media’s takeover last year.Liberty, who ousted former supremo Bernie Ecclestone a year ago, have been looking to make the prerace show more of a feature with the emphasis on entertainment for fans and promotion. “Formula One considers the time spent by teams and drivers on the grid before a race as one of celebration, where guests and various performers can add to the glamor and spectacle of the Grand Prix,” the statement said.It added that the change would allow promoters and partners “to showcase their

countries and products”. Ross Brawn, Formula One’s managing director for motorsport, gave notice last December that the use of female models on the grid was under review for the season starting in Australia on March 25. “There’s a lot of people respect the tradition of the grid girls and there’s people who feel that it has become a bit dated, so we’re addressing that,” he told the BBC at the time.In 2015, men were deployed in place of the women at the Monaco Grand Prix — a move welcomed by some fans and deplored by others. That same year, the FIAsanctioned World Endurance Championship announced an end to the practice at the Le Mans 24 Hours sportscar race.

PAGE 30

Kaieteur News

Thursday February 01, 2018

ICC launches investigation over Fox pays over $3 billion for Thursday ‘irregular activities’ in private UAE league Night Football rights: Source (Reuters) - Twenty First Century Fox Inc’s Fox Sports has agreed to pay over $3 billion to broadcast the National Football League’s “Thursday Night Football,” for the next five seasons, a source familiar with the situation told Reuters yesterday. The agreement, which was announced yesterday morning without financial terms, demonstrates how Twenty First Century Fox is aiming to be a leader in sports after it closes its deal with Walt Disney Co. In December, Disney announced a $52.4 billion agreement to buy the bulk of Fox’s assets, leaving sports and news to the remaining Fox company. “These opportunities come very infrequently,” said Peter Rice, president of 21st Century Fox on a media call Wednesday. “You either have the rights to the most watched content in media and if you lose that action and don’t take that opportunity, this won’t come up for another five

years.” Fox shares were down 2.52 percent or 97 cents at $37.49 in late morning trade. Under the five year deal, Fox will be paying about $60 million per game, up from the $45 million per game CBS Corp and Comcast Corp’s NBC was paying for broadcast rights this season, according to the source. The source was not permitted to speak to the media and so wished to remain anonymous. Executives at Fox and the NFL declined to comment on financial terms of the deal in a call Wednesday. The NFL and Fox are looking for a digital partner to livestream the games, Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner said on the call, noting that it had received multiple bids and expects an announcement soon. The NFL has not yet decided on how long a digital deal would be, he said. Fox is taking on Thursday night football at a time of de-

clining ratings and advertising. Advertising revenue declined 1.2 percent during the 2017 regular NFL season, according to Standard Media Index. Despite this, Fox is optimistic Thursday night football will help Fox grow its business, Rice said on the call. “Every deal we have done, people have said that we overpaid and every single point we have built up our business,” Rice said. “I think we get tremendous value here.” The five-year deal allows Fox Sports to broadcast 11 games between weeks 4 and 15 (excluding Thanksgiving night). It will be simultaneously broadcast via NFL Network and will be distributed in Spanish on FOX Deportes. In addition, NFL Network will exclusively broadcast seven games next season, with FOX producing the full slate of 18 games.

No Love for Cleveland after Cavs forward breaks hand (Reuters) - Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love can expect an extended spell on the sidelines after he suffered a broken bone in his left hand against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday. Love was jostling for position on an entry pass under the basket during the first quarter but stooped over after failing to control the ball, grabbed his injured hand and jogged to the locker room to assess the injury. “He received X-rays at the arena which revealed a non-displaced fracture in his left hand fifth metacarpal,” the Cavaliers said in a statement. The team said Love would be evaluated further yesterday before updating his status. The Cavaliers (29-19) lost the road game 125-114 to extend their recent struggles, which include a much-publicised team meeting where Love was a target for the group’s frustration. The 29-year-old was averaging 18.2 points and 9.6 rebounds ahead of Tuesday’s encounter but will now likely miss next month’s AllStar Game after being named on the roster for a fifth time. “It’s a huge blow for our team, obviously,” Cavs small forward LeBron James told reporters. “Any time you lose an All Star, or anybody (that‘s) part of your crew. We’re already limited in our bigs anyway, so we even get a lot smaller now.”

ESPNcricinfo - A private cricket league in Ajman, UAE, has come under the spotlight for suspected ‘irregular activities’, as the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) AntiCorruption Unit (ACU) launched an investigation. The tournament, named the All-Time Ajman league, had to be called off on its second day after local cricket authorities refused to allow them to continue using the ground. The venue, Ajman Oval, a popular cricket ground in the country, has been suspended with immediate effect. The tournament was a private one and since it is not sanctioned, it does not come under the purview as such of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) or the ICC. But the ICC took notice after a video went viral in which batsmen appeared to be doing their best to get dismissed. Efforts to return to the crease after charging the bowler were virtually non-existent, while suicidal attempts at runs and a lack of urgency and intensity raised eyebrows. The tournament involved expatriates from a number of South Asian countries, and a few former international players. One of the recruiters, acting as a player agent, was also involved in the tournament in Uganda that ended up being overshadowed by a pay dispute. The ICC confirmed it had taken up the case. “There is currently an ICC Anti-Cor-

Ronnie Flanagan, head of the ICC’s AntiCorruption Unit, speaks to reporters in Lahore. (AFP) ruption Unit investigation underway in relation to the Ajman All Stars League held recently in Ajman, UAE,” Alex Marshall, the ICC general manager, Anti-Corruption, said in a statement. “The ICC ACU works to uphold integrity in cricket, and in keeping with that role we are talking to players and officials and will not make any further comment at this time.” The Ajman Oval has, over the last few years, emerged as a potential cricketing venue owing to facilities that are of international standard, including floodlights. But any cricket that takes place there has to be approved by the local cricket council. The secretary general of the Ajman Cricket Council Shaji Ul Mulk told ESPNcricinfo that this tournament wasn’t sanctioned by any cricketing authority. “The tournament wasn’t

approved and we only came to know about the activity on day two,” Mulk said. “There are procedures and when my staff asked them to go by the rule book, they dispersed and never came back again. Meanwhile, we found the Ajman Oval breaching the code more than once and hence we have suspended their affiliation. We have a zero tolerance policy towards corruption and are cooperating with the ICC in their ongoing investigation.” Cricket in the UAE is mainly regulated by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) with Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Dubai and Ajman the most popular venues in the country. UAE is an associate member at the ICC whose club and department cricket actives are regulated by four major councils under the ECB’s watch.

US prosecutors investigating global sports corruption - NYT

Kevin Love (Reuters)

Hurricanes beat United States by 162 runs – Group B ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Leeward Islands Hurricanes defeated United States by 162 runs, in their day/night Group B game of the Regional Super50 at the Coolidge Cricket Ground here yesterday. Scores: HURRICANES 298 for eight off 50 overs (Rahkeem Cornwall 132 not out, Montcin Hodge 58, Jeremiah Louis 30; Elmore Hutchinson 3-44, Saurabh Netravalkar 2-45, Timil Patel 2-76).USA 136 off 38.5 overs (Jaskaran Malhotra 43, Xavier Marshall 40; Akeal Hosein 5-26, Rahkeem Cornwall 3-27).

(Reuters) - U.S. federal prosecutors are conducting an extensive investigation into global sports corruption, including at FIFA, the world governing body for soccer, and the international and U.S. Olympics organizations, The New York Times reported yesterday, citing a grand jury subpoena. As part of the probe, the Justice Department is looking at possible racketeering, money laundering and fraud charges related to two track and field world championship events and the business executives who have consulted on bids for various other elite competitions, according to the subpoena, the Times reported. The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York in

Brooklyn, which has previously investigated FIFA and systematic doping in Russia. A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s office declined to comment on the report. The subpoena, one of a number that were delivered in January, solicited documents, testimony and financial records dating to 2013, the Times reported. Since then, the United States has won bids to host the 2021 track and field world championships in Eugene, Oregon and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The subpoena did not explicitly refer to the Los Angeles Olympics bid, but did focus on the world governing body for track and field, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the

newspaper said. The IAAF awarded the sport’s 2019 world championships to Doha, Qatar, and the 2021 event to Eugene. The people asked to provide information, including personal and corporate bank records, were expected to appear in federal court in Brooklyn as soon as this week, the Times reported. A spokesman for the United States Olympic Committee declined to comment on Wednesday and a spokesman for the International Olympic Committee did not immediately respond to a request, the newspaper reported. A spokeswoman for the IAAF said it had not been contacted by U.S. investigators.

Thursday February 01, 2018

Utah Jazz stun Golden State Warriors SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr was disgusted by his team’s effort in a 30-point blowout on Tuesday night. For the Utah Jazz, it was the best win of a disappointing season. Ricky Rubio scored 23 points and handed out 11 assists as the Utah Jazz stunned the Golden State Warriors 129-99. “I saw one team get their (tail) kicked,” Kerr said. “Our hearts weren’t in it. At this level, if your heart’s not in it, I don’t care how much talent you have. You’re going to lose. ... It happens. It’s the NBA. It’s a long season. “Our guys will tell you, that was a pathetic effort out there. That was disgusting basketball.” The loss ended a threegame winning streak for the Warriors, who had won seven of eight before facing the Jazz. It was their largest loss of the season. Utah now has a threegame win streak for just the third time this season. “When you play against the champs, you always get that extra energy,” Rubio said. “But we got to bring it every night. It was a great night to see where our level can be and we got to bring it every night.” Joe Ingles led a 3-point barrage by the Jazz that gave the team a 13-point lead at halftime that was extended to 18 at the end of the third quarter. The Aussie knocked down a career-high six triples, finished with 20 points and

Arbitration court to announce verdicts in Russian athletes’ doping appeals today ZURICH (Reuters) - The verdicts on appeals from 39 Russian athletes who were given lifetime Olympic bans for doping violations at the 2014 Sochi Games will be announced today, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said in a statement yesterday. CAS said that its secretary general Matthieu Reeb would make a statement at 1700 local time (3.00 a.m. ET) in Pyeongchang, South Korea, where the tribunal has set up a temporary office for next month’s Winter Olympics. The decisions will also be issued on its website, CAS said. The athletes were disqualified from their events, banned from participating in future Olympics and in some cases stripped of their medals following the International Olympic Committee’s investigation of widespread doping in Sochi. Russia has repeatedly denied any state involvement in the doping which was exposed by an independent report commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Utah Jazz guard Joe Johnson (6) shoots the ball against Golden State Warriors David West. (Photo: Russell Isabella, USA TODAY Sports) the Jazz shot 50.0 percent from behind the arc. Rubio continued his recent run of strong play and tied his season-high assists. Derrick Favors added 18 points and 10 rebounds while rookie Donovan Mitchell scored 20 The Jazz hit a season-high 58.2 percent of their shots from the field, the highest the Warriors have allowed under Kerr. “Shooting is an equalizer,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. “I thought when we came out, Joe Ingles set the tone with the confidence with which he shot the ball. “You aren’t able to beat

those guys if you don’t shoot it well and we haven’t been able to beat them and it’s because they’re that good.” Rudy Gobert anchored a defense that cut off a lot of Golden State drives to the basket and the Warriors never put together one of those offensive runs that typically buries their opponents. Kerr seemed to wave the white flag with more than six minutes left in the game, pulling his starters. He lamented the lack of energy from his squad. Klay Thompson led Golden State with 27 points and six rebounds while Kevin

Durant finished with 17. Durant and Stephen Curry were a combined 1 for 12 from 3-point range. “The issue tonight was just defense,” Curry said. “I asked Draymond (Green) on the bench in the fourth quarter if he could remember that bad of a performance that we’ve had in recent memory? Really can’t. ... Can’t just show up, especially on the road, and expect to win. That’s kind of cheating the game.” Warriors: Travel to face the Sacramento Kings; while Jazz: Travel to face the Phoenix Suns tomorrow.

Formula One to stop using female models on the grid LONDON (Reuters) - Formula One is ending the use of female models who parade and stand with the drivers’ name boards before every grand prix, with immediate effect. The sport announced the decision in a statement yesterday and said the change would also apply to all support series on the programme. “While the practice of employing grid girls has been a staple of Formula One grands prix for decades, we feel this custom does not resonate with our brand values and clearly is at odds with modern day societal norms,” said commercial manager Sean Bratches. “We don’t believe the practice is appropriate or relevant to Formula One and its fans, old and new, across the world,” he added.

PAGE 31

Kaieteur News

Arsenal sign Aubameyang in club-record transfer (Reuters) - Arsenal have bolstered their attacking lineup by signing striker PierreEmerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund on a longterm contract for a club-record fee, the Premier League club said yesterday. British media reported that the London club paid about 56 million pounds, eclipsing the 46.5 million pounds spent last year to land striker Alexandre Lacazette from French side Olympique Lyonnais. Aubameyang links up with former Dortmund team mate Henrikh Mkhitaryan after the Armenia midfielder joined the Gunners from Manchester United last week, with Chile forward Alexis Sanchez going the other way. Aubameyang, who scored 98 goals in 144 Bundesliga games for Dortmund, expressed his delight at the deal and his hope

of emulating Arsenal’s record goalscorer Thierry Henry. “I‘m happy to be here in this great team,” Aubameyang told the club’s website. “I think the club have such a big history with great players like Thierry Henry, so it’s an example for us strikers... he was fast and scored a lot of goals. I have to work to be like him, but I will do.”A cool finisher like former France international Henry, Aubameyang will add acceleration, power and a dose of unpredictability to Arsenal’s attack. Aubameyang is most effective as a lone centre forward but with Lacazette currently occupying that position, it remains to be seen if Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is willing to tweak his formation to accommodate both forwards. Should Lacazette get the (Continued on page 25)

Grid girls line up for the Canadian Grand Prix in 2005. (Getty Images) Formula One has not had a woman race driver on the starting grid since the 1970s but is far more mixed off the track, with female engineers

and mechanics as well as in media and marketing. Two of the 10 teams have had female bosses, including former champions Williams,

and Formula One management has a number of women in senior positions. The use of female models, (Continued on page 25)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored 21 goals in 24 games in all competitions for Dortmund this season. (Getty Images)

PAGE 32

Thursday February 01, 2018

Kaieteur News

Local officials to officiate in Mominul 175*, Mushfiqur Caribbean Club Championship 92 flatten Sri Lanka Two locally-based FIFA referees have been appointed match officials for the Caribbean Club championship being held in Trinidad and Tobago from January 31 – February 4. Guyana’s Gladwyn Johnson and Kevin Stephens are among 12 match officials appointed by the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) to serve at the event. In an invited comment, Johnson said he was happy for his first appointment of 2018: “I really appreciate this appointment. It’s always a pleasure to officiate, doing what I love... I’m looking forward to having a wonderful tournament officiating as I strive for excellence as I go along in my refereeing career.” Stephens, for his part, considers this appointment as a step to achieve his goal of officiating at the FIFA World Cup: “I will continue to strive for excellence and to develop an attitude and habit to that of a professional referee since my goal is to officiate at the FIFA world cup. With this, I’m hoping to pave the way for other young aspiring referees to follow in my footsteps and bring more glory to our beautiful Guyana.” Among the other match officials include representatives from Jamaica, Mexico, St. Kitts and Nevis, Cuba, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America, Cayman Islands, Curaçao and El Salvador. Johnson and Stephens are among eight locally-based FIFA-accredited match officials retained by CONCACAF

Kevin Stephens

Gladwyn Johnson

for 2018 – three male and one female referee along with four Assistant Referees. The lone female official, Maurees Skeete, is listed as a CONCACAF Tier 2 referee. Johnson maintained his status in the CONCACAF Targeted Advanced Referee Program (TARP), while Stephens regained his status as a CONCACAF Tier 2 Assistant Referee and Sherwin Moore maintained his status as a CONCACAF Tier 3 referee. According to Stanley Lancaster, Head of Guyana

Football Federation’s (GFF) Refereeing Department, the list of referees re-nominated to the FIFA 2018 panel is encouraging. However, he was disappointed that it also signals a reduction to the number of locally-based FIFA-accredited match officials: “The team of re-nominated referees has been consistent in their performance over the past year and signals the confidence the governing body has in the locally-based match officials.

The total list of re-nominated referees are: MALEREFEREES Sherwin Moore Gladwyn Johnson Sherwin Johnson MALEASSISTANT REFEREES Venton Mars Kevin Stephens Trevor Porter Kleon Lindey FEMALEREFEREE Maurees Skeete (GFF release)

Tottenham ease to win over Manchester United in front of record crowd (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur solidified their top- four credentials with a dominant 2-0 win over Manchester United in front of a Premier League record crowd at Wembley yesterday.Christian Eriksen gave the hosts the

lead after 11 seconds, the second fastest goal in Premier League history.United’s woeful defending was exposed again for Tottenham’s second, Phil Jones turning the ball into his own net after 27 minutes.

Tottenham enjoyed a dream start to proceedings when Christian Eriksen fired them ahead after just 11 seconds. (Andy Hooper/Daily mail)

ESPNcricinfo - Mominul Haque, focused, fluent and scintillating, hoisted Bangladesh to an authoritative position in the Chittagong Test. Having put on a 236-run third-wicket stand with Mushfiqur Rahim, Mominul has not quite batted Sri Lanka out of the game, but the visitors will find it difficult to win from here. Though they struck twice with the second new ball, there is plenty of batting to come from Bangladesh yet, not least from Mominul himself, who was unbeaten on 175 off 203 balls at stumps. Sri Lanka were occasionally wayward - 20-year-old Lahiru Kumara especially

was Mominul’s progress against the spinners that was most impressive. Soon after lunch, he struck successive boundaries off Sandakan - the first a handsome lofted off drive, the second a whip over midwicket. As the middle session wore on, even Herath began to ail against Mominul, who eased him wide of midon to complete a half-century off 59 balls. Though runs came at pace, at no stage did Mominul appear rushed. All through day one, he was defined by timing, placement and grace. Though occasionally helped by poor groundfielding Kumara a particularly sloppy presence in the field - at no

ternoon, began to assert himself in the third session as well, often favouring the offside when he ventured the more expansive strokes. His fifty came off 121 balls, but the next 42 runs were faster. By the time Lakmal had Mushfiqur caught behind with the second new ball, the Bangladesh pair had taken their side from a comfortable position to a truly commanding one. That Liton Das was bowled shouldering arms to Lakmal’s next delivery, which jagged in off the surface, will give Sri Lanka mild satisfaction, but their day, nevertheless was dispiriting, virtually from start to finish.

Mominul Haque slices behind point (Associated Press) guilty of leaking runs in the morning - but the spinners, largely, were neutered for large periods of the day. This surface is expected to take turn later in the game, but there was little help for the finger spinners once the morning’s moisture had dried up. Herath and Dilruwan Perera bowled 44 overs between them, and gave up 198 runs for only one wicket. Leftarm wristspinner Lakshan Sandakan was the only bowler to gain appreciable turn. Having come in just after Tamim Iqbal’s breakneck fifty had ended, Mominul was fluent from the outset, placing a sumptuous drive through the covers early in his innings, then hitting a beautiful aerial cut behind the wicket before lunch. Having skipped to 26 off 39 balls by the end of the first session, his pace quickened in the afternoon. Though never less than assured against the quicks, it

stage did Mominul offer a chance. He spent no more than eight balls in the nineties, hitting Sandakan for two more consecutive fours to move to triple figures off the 96th delivery he had faced. Usually an undemonstrative player, Mominul wiped tears and gestured animatedly on this occasion, having been in and out of the Test side over the past year. His hundred was the second-fastest for a Bangladesh batsman, behind Tamim’s 94-ball ton at Lord’s. If his rapid progress in the afternoon befitted a young player proving he belonged at this level, then in the evening Mominul was measured and mature. In response to more defensive fields from Sri Lanka, Mominul settled into a diet of runs into the outfield, though the boundaries were never scarce either. Mushfiqur, who had largely played a supporting act to Mominul in the af-

Tamim had hit successive fours in the second over of the day, and that salvo did not relent, as he progressed to a 46-ball half century. His opening partner Imrul Kayes perhaps should have been out in the sixth over, however. His miscued hook off Kumara hung long in the air, but Lakmal ran a poor line towards it at the fine leg fence, and failed to even attempt the catch. Tamim was bowled by a beautifully flighted Perera delivery that wriggled between his bat and pad. Kayes batted well with Mominul after Tamim’s departure, but failed to read a Sandakan googly that struck him on the pad. Projections showed that that ball would have passed over the stumps however; Kayes would have been reprieved had he reviewed. Stumps Bangladesh 374 for 4 (Mominul 175*, Mushfiqur 92, Lakmal 243)v Sri Lanka.

Thursday February 01, 2018

PAGE 33

Kaieteur News

Regional Super50 Festival

Shiv, Permaul, Bishoo, Shepherd spearhead Jaguars to 35-run win over Kent By Sean Devers in Antigua In association with Vnet Communications, Bounty Farm, Noble House Seafoods & Playter’s Enterprise Four-time Regional FourDay defending Champions Guyana Jaguars beat English County Kent by 35 runs in the opening round of the Regional Super50 Festival at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium yesterday. A resolute 67 from veteran Shiv Chanderpaul, who shared in a 53-run fourth wicket stand with Raymon Reifer (16) and 58 for fifth with Anthony Bramble (39) and a rear guard 38 from Sherfane Rutherford rallied the Jaguars to a disappointing 233 all out. The 43-year-old Chanderpaul hit five fours and a six in his 101-ball innings, while Bramble’s 34-ball 39 was decorated with three fours and two sixes. Rutherford hit two sixes and a four in his 38 from 44 balls but nobody pushed on to get a big score. Seamers Mitchell Claydon (5-30), Ivan Thomas (2-62) and Will Gidman (2-37) did the bulk of the damage for Kent, who made their Regional 50over debut last year. Kent, in reply, were bowled out for 198 with 21 balls to spare despite a 73 ball 55 from Zak Crawley who shared in 58-run first wicket stand with Daniel BellDrummond (28). But only Sean Dickson (34) offered any resistance to the spin of Veerasammy Permaul (4-46), Davendra Bishoo (3-34) and pacer Romario Shepherd (243) as they lost their last nine wickets for 79 runs. When Kent began their reply, Bell-Drummond hammered Shepherd past mid-on for four before a dismissive hook raced to the square-leg boundary as he and Crawley provided a firm foundation with both batsmen scoring freely and taking a liking to pacer Shepherd. Just when the openers seemed set for big scores, Bell-Drummond was bowled by Permaul for 28 to leave Kent on 58-1 to bring Dickson to the crease. Crawley smashed Permaul through point for four, while Dickson danced into Bishoo and hit him over cover. But Bishoo and Permaul kept things tight before Permaul was rewarded with the scalp of Dickson after a partnership of 61 to leave the score 119-2 as the spinners began to pull things back. When Crawley was

Sean Dickson punches Bishoo during his 61 runs starnd with Zak Crawley yesterday. bowled by Bishoo for an even fifty and Adam Rouse was run out for a duck as both wickets fell at 129, Jaguars were right back in the game. Bishoo soon struck again when he bowled Will Gidman (16) and all of a sudden the pendulum had swung Guyana’s way with Kent slipping to 148-5. It was soon 153-6 when Alex Blake (9) was sent packing by Bishoo and with 10 overs left, the required rate had climbed to seven runs per over with four wickets in hand and 70 needed a couple of ‘tight’ overs from Shepherd and Reifer kept the shackles. Permaul was brought back and James Tredwell (10) missed a mighty swing and was bowled at 169-7, while Imran Qayyum (4) was stumped by Bramble off Permaul at 175-8. A diving catch at cover by Leon Johnson off Shepherd’s bowling accounted for Calum Haggett (16) and at 183-9 and the required rate close to 10 Kent had squandered a very good position. Earlier, Kent opted to bowl on a seaming track which looked more like a Test pitch than one prepared for a 50over game and 35-year-old Claydon and Thomas, who got one to bounce awkwardly to Chanderpaul and floored him, both began with maidens. Shimron Hetymergot going with an off-driven boundary when Claydon overpitched in the third over and hammered Thomas for three more boundaries as he counter-attacked the short lifting deliveries on a spongy outfield. But when on 19 from just 18 balls and fighting fire with fire he hooked the lively Thomas to short mid-wicket at 31-

1. Chanderpaul Hemraj (0) fended at short ball and popped a return catch to Claydon, who produced prodigious lateral movement off the seam. Without addition to the score Johnson (0) got one that left him from Claydon and was taken at slip as two wickets fell at 33 in sultry conditions. Reifer joined the experienced Chanderpaul who was weathering the early storm with resolute batting. The pair brought up the 50 from 86 balls and Chanderpaul edged a cut over the slips and gloriously cut Thomas behind point in the same over to move into the 30s. Off-spinner Tredwell, who played the last of his two Tests against West Indies in 2015, was bang on target and operated with plenty of guile

before Chanderpaul, who revels in such situations, swept him fine for four. Reifer was looking more and more comfortable with each ball he faced and slowly but surely the partnership between the past and present Test left-handers, began to gain momentum and reached 50 from 98 balls. But shortly after Reifer (16) fell to Gidman to leave the Jaguars on 88-4 in 25 overs. The pugnacious Bramble joined Chanderpaul, who edged Gidman to third man to post his 25th regional one-day fifty from 86 balls. Left-arm spinner Qayyum was introduced in the 29 th over and Bramble clobbered him for four while Chanderpaul swept him for four more. Bramble pulled Haggett four before he got one that jagged back and kept a trifle

Reifer & Chanderpaul scamper a single during 53-run stand yesterday.

low and was LBW for 39 at 146-5 before Chanderpaul was trapped LBW to Gidman eight runs later. Paul (16) was caught behind at 176-7 off Thomas, who was hooked for six by Rutherford. Shepherd (14) was next to go when he missed a

big swing and was bowled by Claydon 218-9. Bishoo (5*) and Permaul, who was last out for nine off Claydon, added 15 for the last wicket before Permaul tried to clear long-on and was caught to give Claydon his fifth wicket.

PAGE 34

Thursday February 01, 2018

Kaieteur News

USA Gymnastics says all directors Doping: No need for panic action over testing bottles, says anti-doping group have resigned after abuse scandal (Reuters) - USA Gymnastics, the sport’s U.S. governing body, said yesterday all its remaining directors have now resigned following revelations that the longtime team doctor had sexually abused numerous athletes under his care. A USA Gymnastics spokeswoman said on Friday last that the full board intended to resign. The U.S. Olympic Committee had threatened to revoke the organization’s governing authority if the full board had not stepped down by Wednesday, following the sentencing of former team doctor Larry Nassar to up to 175 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to sexual assault charges.“We are in the process of moving forward with forming an interim board of directors during the month of February, in accordance with the USOC’s requirements,” USA Gymnastics said in a statement. “USA Gymnastics will provide information

about this process within the next few days.” The USOC has urged USA Gymnastics to name an interim board of directors by the end of February. About 150 of Nassar’s victims, including Olympic gold medal-winning gymnasts Aly Raisman and Jordyn Wieber, testified at a sentencing hearing last week for the doctor. Nassar is back in court on Wednesday for the start of a sentencing hearing on a separate set of sex abuse crimes to which he pled guilty. The revelations of the long-running abuses have prompted at least four wideranging investigations into possible sex abuse at U.S. athletic federations and schools, with the USOC, both houses of Congress and the U.S. Education Department opening probes. Victims and their attorneys have also called for investigations into the USOC itself, to see if anyone there

Larry Nassar knowingly overlooked claims against Nassar. Raisman, one of the bestknown faces of the sport in the United States, vowed on Friday to keep the pressure on sports organizations to see who else knew about Nassar’s abuse. Nassar worked for the federation through four Olympic Games, but the allegations did not become public until 2016 in an investigative report by the Indianapolis Star.

Wins for Enterprise SC, Ogle CC and Lusignan CC

The Enmore Community Centre Cricket Club in association with East Coast Cricket Committee and D&E Tent Rental 10/10 competition got started last weekend with three matches at the Lusignan Community Centre ground. Enterprise defeated Mahaica Cavaliers by eight wickets. Batting first Mahaica Cavaliers were bowled out for 36 with Vivian Albert taking a hat-trick in his two overs. Enterprise then knock off the target in 6.3 overs for the loss of two wickets with Arif Habib unbeaten on 24. In game two, Ogle CC got the better of Helena #1 and 2 by seven wickets. Helena #1 and 2 amassed 87 for 5 in their 10 overs with S. Khan scoring 41. Andre Gomes and A. Joseph picked up two wickets apiece. Ogle CC replied with 91 for 3 in 7.3 overs with Waslim Haslim scoring 36 and Anthony Ifill 34 not out. Host team Lusignan CC defeated Mahaica SC by nine wickets in game three. Mahaica SC were bowled out for 44 in nice overs, with Gajanand Suknanan and T. Motieram picking up three wickets for 10 runs and 2 for 7 runs respectively. In reply Lusignan CC won by five wickets. Meanwhile, the other matches slated for the Enmore Community Centre ground were postponed due to the ground being affected by inclement weather.

(Reuters) - Anti-doping officials do not need to take panic actions over a potential integrity issue with new doping sample collection bottles, the global group of national anti-doping organizations told Reuters yesterday. The new generation bottles, introduced after the 2014 Sochi Olympics doping scandal, are being investigated after the accredited laboratory in Cologne said it had discovered they might be susceptible to manual opening on freezing. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Monday it was very concerned about the issue just ahead of next month’s Pyeongchang Winter Games, where the bottles are due to be used. But Graeme Steel, chief executive officer of the Institute of National Anti-Doping Organizations (iNADO), downplayed the severity of the problem. “While there is apparently a potential for a small proportion of sample bottles which have been frozen to be opened, without evidence, there is no immediate need to take panic measures,” Steel

told Reuters via email. “Any problem is easily discovered and, if it comes to it, the result management process should ensure that athletes cannot be found to have committed rule violations if the integrity of the sample can be brought into legitimate doubt.” He said iNADO was continuing to gather information on the bottles and would issue more complete advice to its member organizations shortly. SIMPLE WORKAROUND Travis Tygart, chief executive of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), said there was a simple workaround for the collection bottles and no major changes were needed for the Winter Olympics, which begin on Feb. 9 in South Korea. “I think the simple solution for the Games is that they just don’t freeze any of the samples until the full analysis is completed,” Tygart told Reuters in a telephone interview.“Based on what we understand that will cure this problem.” The bottles are used to collect and store urine and/or blood samples when an ath-

lete undergoes a doping control test. “What we have been able to verify is it is a very rare occurrence in the bottle caps, and it happens to some bottles but not all,” Tygart said. “When those bottles are frozen for a period of time at less than -5 degrees Fahrenheit, the caps can come loose. “If the bottle has been frozen, and the cap is one of the rare ones that becomes unsealed, that may have created a technicality for a doped athlete to walk,” Tygart said. “On the one hand it is extremely frustrating,” he said of the problems with the bottles, “but on the other, it is a good thing when potential holes in the global antidoping system are exposed so that they can be fixed.” The manufacturer, Berliner Special AG, told the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) it was unable to replicate the issue when the security bottles were handled according to the product’s instructions, WADA said. WADA added that it would be updating relevant stakeholders shortly on what its investigation had found.

Chelsea stunned 3-0 at home by buoyant Bournemouth (Reuters) - Bournemouth stunned Chelsea with three second-half goals in a 3-0 Premier League victory yesterday, inflicting on the champions their first home defeat in four months.The visitors scored on the break in the 51st minute after midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko lost the ball and Callum Wilson played a neat one-two with Jordan Ibe before slotting home. Wilson was also involved in the second goal, when he pushed the ball to Junior

Stanislas who flicked it into the net off sprawling goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in the 65th minute.Former Chelsea midfielder Nathan Ake made it three barely three minutes later, prodding the ball in from a Stanislas shot. Chelsea’s first home defeat since Sept. 30 exposed the London side’s lack of firepower, with Alvaro Morata injured, Michy Batshuayi on his way to Dortmund on loan and Olivier Giroud signed from Arsenal only a few hours before kickoff.

Vivian Albert Action continues this weekend with the final games of round one at the Enmore and Ogle Community Centre grounds. At Enmore, Match #1(11:00 hrs) - Golden Achievers vs Fairfield SC, Match #2 (1:00 PM) – Paradise SC vs Strathavon SC, Match #3 (3:00 PM) – Enmore CCCC vs Beehive SC; at Ogle Betterhope CC vs Goodhope SC (1:00 PM) and L.B.I vs Lusignan East (3:00 PM).

ESTWICK JOINS WINDIES “A” FOR TOUR AGAINST ENGLAND LIONS Cricket West Indies (CWI) Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams yesterday confirmed that Roddy Estwick will not be travelling with the WINDIES Team to the ICC World Cup Qualifiers in March. “We have decided that Roddy Estwick, will join the WINDIES A coaching team for the 6week tour against the England Lions. Roddy is a highly regarded technical coach working within Cricket West Indies and his experience will be invaluable to our A team as they compete against a strong England Lions side over the next few weeks in Jamaica and Antigua.” The England Lions are now in the region and will play three four-day matches and three one-day matches before departing the Caribbean on March 12.

Junior Stanislas beats Thibaut Courtois to double Bournemouth’s advantage and leaves Stamford Bridge stunned into silence yesterday. (AFP/Getty Images)