Kaieteur News

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

Friday February 02, 2018

Exxon did nothing wrong, we Pitch doctoring and whimpering just ain’t cricket! should blame our representatives DEAR EDITOR, South Africa’s admitted doctoring of the recent Third Test pitch, which backfired on them and ended in their defeat while India scored a glorious triumph, was just “not cricket.” Giving South Africa the benefit of the heavy roller on the morning of the last day, in addition to using it at the beginning of South Africa’s second innings, compounded the umpires’ bias and indecisions in this game, not least their efforts to facilitate a premature draw to this test. Captain Faf du Plessis brazenly confessed to ordering pitches, to the point of wanting someone to oversee national grounds so they can work on a “common strategy.” Faf has learned that old lesson that, “you have to be careful what you wish for.” Allowing host teams to overreach and escape responsibility and accountability in overdoing pitch preparation is wrong. Cricket is a gentlemanly sport, and must be played in the right spirit, especially at the highest level. Trying to

wrest the No. 1 test ranking from another side, which is what South Africa tried to heist from India, is no excuse for the unsportsmanlike and deceitful conduct they employed. The ICC, including its umpires, must make this clear to all host countries - you will be responsible for the pitches you prepare and what is good for the goose is good for the gander! Moreover, any consideration of abandoning the test by the umpires and officials should have been considered before India batted in the second innings. Instead, they made it clear that they were more concerned about the welfare of the South Africans than they were of the Indians who batted on the same wicket a second time, in an obvious attempt to save South Africa the improbable ordeal of having to make the highest innings total to win the test! Many people felt it was curry favouring with the home team, perhaps a reflexive relic of the perverse, yet still extant, vestige of apartheid. Since South Africa pre-

These security personnel should stop harassing the public DEAR EDITOR, Around 4:00 pm this afternoon, I used the ATM at the Republic Bank (Rosignol Branch) leaving my vehicle in the parking area. I proceed to pick up a drink at the shop opposite the bank, only to be hailed out by a security guard who informed me that I can only park my vehicle there if I am conducting business with the bank. I pointed out to him that my vehicle was the only one in the parking area so I would not be inconveniencing anyone. The land in front of the bank happens to be the Government reserve which Republic Bank Limited has no proprietary rights over. Therefore the bank must desist from controlling public usage over such. The development of the reserve is mutually beneficial

for both the public and the bank. Therefore, the bank should inform their security personnel of this fact and stop harassing the public. Displeased customer

pared a bowler-friendly surface to favour their own attack, they should also bat on it. Cricket is the great equalizer. Worse yet, South Africa, after its barrage of bouncers and toe-crushing yorkers from their fearsome quintet of pace bowlers consisting of Morkel, Philander, Rabada, Ngidi and Phehlukwayo, had inflicted some serious pain and bruises to the Indian batting line-up, started whimpering and looking for excuses when their turn to bat came. This was against India’s Kumar, Bumrah, Sharma, Shami and Pandya - bowlers of lesser pace and hostility than South Africa’s, but who utilized accuracy and moving the ball both ways, rather than intimidation as their trump card. India played bravely, and they deservedly won. South Africa and cohorts waxed hypocritical when they tried to avoid facing the music, without surrendering the match in defeat to India, which should have been the only logical option, since one side (India), had already (Continued on page 6)

DEAR EDITOR, The negatives of the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with Exxon continue to unravel on a daily basis. Recently it was disclosed that the Bill for Exxon’s search for oil, which makes the amount given as signing bonus look like a molehill beside a mountain, is awaiting repayment from our share of the pie. Litigation costs from any oil spill or of any other nature will be booked there too. Despite the call from luminaries in society for Exxon to correct these injustices done to Guyana, the Government remains mum. Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, speaking of the PSA recently said that, “I am not presently advised that government has any intention revisiting that agreement”. Being the one responsible for the agreement - it’s a clear picture from the horse’s (Govt.) mouth. The Government’s silence is indicative that they have learned the number one PR trick from Exxon when faced with the ugly truth - don’t try to debunk it and raise a hornet’s nest, just be silent

and watch it dissipate in time. The Government is now trying to imitate Houdini - the great illusionist - by institutingCommissions of Inquiry for extra-judicial killings and the Lindo Creek massacre in an attempt to divert attention from the PSA. Our society has seen so many atrocities come and go without any resolution. This unorthodox PSA will just be remembered in the annals of our history as the one that heralded the resource curse.While a lot of people will support KN’s Jan 29th front page comment-”Exxon Mobil has an obligation to correct the injustice perpetrated on this nation”- I am definitely not in that category. If I were the one negotiating on behalf of Exxon, I would have done the exact thing - get the best deal for the Company and its shareholders. It was up to the other side to defend their vested interest – it’s not war, its negotiation - no one is pointing a gun at you. This idea that we are new to oil and gas so we were taken advantage of is nonsense. So too is KN’s comment -”some

of these experts, rather than provide sound advice to first oil countries, side with the large oil companies.” There are so many PSAs in oil and gas from around the world from which the Minister could have accessed to copy, compare and drawn insight from - the dumbest person entrusted with the responsibility to deliver a PSA in oil and gas would have refrained from signing that piece of crap (PSA) that Guyana got. If it is your responsibility to negotiate an agreement as intricate and complex as a PSA in oil and gas for a nation, it is expected that you hire help in the form of experts. Prude n c e s h o u ld have dictated that the first draft be circulated for consultation amongst the citizens. Why should the true beneficiaries be left out? When you put your signature on an agreement, it’s a done deal. I would not want to think that one can get a distinction in negotiation at Harvard without knowing that! (Continued on page 6)

PAGE 6

Kaieteur News

A subterranean killing ... From page 4 put himself in some form of association with the PNC(R), within and without Parliament, writes in a recent column that: “This Friday will mark the 20th anniversary of the January 12th, 1998 Ethnic Riots, when more than 200 Indian-Guyanese wer e beaten and assaulted in the streets of Georgetown by members of the AfricanGuyanese community, in full view of the police, yet no arrests were made. The riots followed PNC protests against the PPP’s v i c t o ry in the Dec 1997 elections”. Following the 2001 jai l b r e a k and their projection by key political factions as ‘Freedom Fighters’, the attacks on assumed supporters of the PPP/C were taken to a higher level. When the national security forces showed remarkable inability to apprehend them, it was inevitable that a similar irregular counter-force emerged. We have been reminded by our President about th e s e e m i ng compelling evidence about one of my colleagues, sitting with me at Cabinet, obtaining and providing high-tech equipment to the phantom force. We could be reminded similarly about that conversation (illegally taped, yes) between a then ViceChairman of the PNC and the Commissioner of Police in which the then PNCR Vice Chairman thanked the then Commissioner of Police for a

number of things, and made revealing comments about the killings at Agricola. When that tape surfaced, my colleague, Ms. Gail Teixeira, then the Honourable Minister of Home Affairs, was assailed by our Cabinet, enquiring what the then Commission of Police was saying about that conversation. She reported that he did not refute that the voice was his, but that he was playing along the VC to learn what the PNC knew and was thinking . And today that former Commissioner of Police and that former PNCR Vice Chairman are in President Granger’s cabinet as Minister of Citizenship and AttorneyGeneral, respectively. Editor, most of us Guyanese have been focused, for decades, on making a steadily better living and would be hard put to recall every significant event, every turn during this period in correct sequence. Hopefully, any of us, would be able to put hands on storages of our four newspapers, which taken together should give a fair picture of events as they occurred.We, PPP/C, stayed away from holding a Commission of Inquiry, waiting on a time when it could have been healing. And we would have expected that such a COI would ha v e b e e n structured similarly to the one established by our Government in consultation with the then opposition, to enquire into the 2012 disturbances in Linden, with international Commissioners and nominees

of various national stakeholders. There is a common saying in an eastern country, that the east wind is blowing and the west wind is blowing and who knows which will prevail? All through this period the winds for division were blowing strong, but we, the PPP/C have been heartened that all along this period, too, there have been occasions when Indo-Guyanese have acknowledged assistance and protection from AfroGuyanese and vice-versa. The sense of being Afro or Indo or Amerindian or whatever, though slowly, is gradually and steadily being encompassed in the sense of being Human and being Guyanese. Enough said. Yours truly, Samuel A. A. Hinds

Friday February 02, 2018

Pitch doctoring and ... From page 5 batted and endured the pitch for the second innings. Such abandonments of matches rob the spectators of their money and a good game, cricket of its sporting legacy and spirit, and create a dangerous precedent where teams can manufacture excuses to evade international responsibilities. We were taught as boys to play the game in the right spirit, accept defeat with grace and applaud the winning side.Moreover, whimpering is just not cricket. What would the South Africans have done if they had to face bowlers like Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Colin Croft, Malcolm Marshall, Courtney Walsh, Joel Garner, Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson, Fred

Exxon did nothing... From page 5 Forget about the secrecy clause! Was Exxon going to sue the Government or walk away from 3.2 billion barrels of crude if a first draft was leaked? I think not. I am certain that Harvard don’t teach people how to “smell a rat” or when you have traitors on board. Here is where your gut instinct comes in as a negotiator. Despite all that was written about the wiles of Exxon in KN, the minister shared what seemed like fond memories of someone from Norway, where the experts were hired from, telling him that “Guyana is lucky to have Exxon.” Was he bamboozled by the experts? I think not. The audacity of the PSA, coupled with the Government’s silence and their reluctance to “revisit that agreement” (PSA) sets the logical mind to think of sinister motives being perpetuate on Guyana. Who knows what the take is? Not that the opposition would have done better – if so, they would have demanded more than their compatriots. Remember they were the ones to install the secrecy clause and make 60 blocks into 600. I am happy to be far away from all these scoundrels. Rudolph Singh

Trueman, Harold Larwood, Richard Hadlee, Bob Willis, Imran Khan and company with the new ball? As Sir Don Bradman, Sunil Gavaskar, Rohan Kanhai, Roy Fredericks, Conrad Hunte, Hanif Mohammad, Majid Khan, and such brave batting maestros had to do without flinching or scampering for cover, without the luxury of helmets - each demon bowler coming at them one after the other, bouncing to their noses and bowling at almost 100 mph consistently? Do you think they dared run away from a fight, or hide behind any excuse not to bat? What would they have done had Larwood been bowling his deadly bodyline thunderbolts to them, as he did to get rid of Bradman by any means - injury or otherwise? Indeed, these gladiators faced more hostile bowlers, and reduced them to the ordinary -on worse pitches. Roy Fredericks showed batsmen how to blunt pace bowling way back in 1975 when he famously bludgeoned Australia’s Lillee, Thomson and Gilmour at the then lightning-fast Perth pitch, thrashing 169 off only 145 balls, as the bowlers kept targeting his body with short balls. Fredericks hooked and pulled them mercilessly and magnificently in retaliation. Lillee and Thomson had combined figures of 37-0-251-5, and Fredericks’ attack proved to be the better part of defence.India’s cricket has developed by leaps and bounds, while other countries, like the West Indies, have sadly declined from its golden years.

In 1977, India surrendered the Sabina test on a treacherous pitch to the West Indies, after Anshuman Gaekwad was hit on the left ear and had to spend two nights in hospital; Gundappa Viswanath had his finger both fractured and dislocated; Brijesh Patel was required to have stitches after being hit in the mouth, and none of them could take any further part in the match. With six wickets down for 306 and two batsmen being forced to retire, Indian captain Bishan Singh Bedi was forced to declare India’s first innings. Trailing by 85 runs after West Indies made 391, and without the services of three top batsmen, India were soon reduced to 5 for 97. With five Indian batsmen absent in the second innings due to injury, and Michael Holding in the middle of a hostile spell of short-pitched bowling, Bedi once again declared the innings with a lead of merely 12 runs on the board, and conceded that the Indian innings should be recorded as completed, thereby allowing the West Indies to make the 13 runs to defeat India, and go on to win the series. Issues were raised about the “unfair tactics” of the West Indies, but Bedi sportingly acknowledged defeat.Now, in addition to their trademark mystery spinners, India produces pace bowlers, independently capable of winning tests without bowling any of these much vaunted spinners, to complete a unit richly blessed with brave world class batsmen, as the South Africans experienced to their chagrin. Albert Baldeo

Friday February 02, 2018

PAGE 7

Kaieteur News

There is no sharing in Exxon’s Production Sharing Agreement - Have some compassion and renegotiate - says Accountant, Nigel Hinds By Abena RockcliffeCampbell If one adds the collective losses from contracts that were mismanaged; investments that fell through, like the glass factory under Burnham and the Skeldon Factory under Jagdeo as well as the Marriott; if you also consider all that was given in bailouts and loans to agencies that had to be written off; those losses will pale in comparison to what we have given away with this single Exxon oil contract. That is the perspective offered by Accountant, Nigel Hinds. Hinds said that there is no sharing in what is being called a Production Sharing Agreement. He said that it seems like every line in the agreement favours ExxonMobil. “This is a lopsided, onesided agreement. Calling it a PSA is virtually insulting and demeaning the meaning of sharing. “If you have an entire cake and you give someone the crumbs you cannot then say you shared it,” said Hinds. The Accountant said that Guyana will still be better off when oil starts to produce but not as good as it could have been if Guyana had a fair agreement. “I would have rather an agreement that, at least when you examine it, is respectful of the intellectual capacity of Guyanese. We are not focusing on who might have gotten what benefit under the table. “That does not come into play. It is just that the con-

Chartered Accountant, Nigel Hinds tract itself is so offensive to your senses. We have people who know better. What caused them to sign onto this contract is baffling.” Hinds said that there are many issues in the contract. He point to a few. He noted that litigation is to be included in cost recovery. “You cannot put a value on the fact that we are responsible for litigation. Those are things that are meaningful and could result in losses occurring.” Hinds said that the two percent royalty is “ridiculous” and the US$18M signing bonus is “horrendous” The accountant noted the “Stability of Agreement” clause in the contract ensures that even if Guyana modifies its financial laws or introduces more taxes, ExxonMobil

will not have to confirm to any of those changes. Zeroing in on the signing bonus, Hinds said, “Exxon pays about US$12B a year in dividends but we receive from them, US$18M for a discovery that is expanding almost quarterly. We have in our waters approximately10 percent of Exxon’s identifiable recoverable reserves. The US$18M is an insult to intelligent Guyanese minds as well as to the people of Guyana who are depending on our more learned citizens to represent the nation’s best interest. “This contract is bad from almost every angle. And, it reflects very badly on the competence of the administration…There are Guyanese businesses that

Jamaican utility official named new GPL Chief The state-owned Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) has named a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) after more than 18 months of search. According to outgoing Chairman of the Board of Directors, Robert Badal, the new CEO, Albert Gordon, has significant experience in the public utility space at senior levels, in the water and electricity supplies companies in Jamaica. “Mr Gordon holds a BSC in Electrical Engineering and an MBA,” Badal explained. Gordon officially started work yesterday. He was, in March 2011, named as President of Jamaica’s National Water Commission (NWC). In October, he was reported as a senior engineer with multi-sector industry experience, as being appointed Director General of the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR). Senior official, Renford Homer, has been performing (Continued on page 12)

- new equipment now online will reduce number of trips- outgoing Chairman

GPL’s outgoing Chairman, Robert Badal, welcoming new CEO, Albert Gordon.

could have given US$18M.” Hinds said that the “open ended concessions” are a concern to him. He noted also that ExxonMobil’s affiliates can get the same concessions it is getting. Hinds called on ExxonMobil to at least “have some compassion” and consider renegotiating the contract. The accountant said that the contract represents an abuse of power. “They took advantage of a neophyte administration. Exxon is a global conglomerate touching all continents.” He said that he is well aware that ExxonMobil is not in the charity business. “They are hardcore business people but they need to see the wrong and have compassion.” Hinds continued, “What happened here was horrendous; it is terrible. Anybody with commonsense would tell you the two percent royalty and 75 percent cost recovery a year cannot go together. Hinds said that Guyana’s contract is poor even when compared to that secured by countries like Ghana and Angola. He said that the pro-

nouncements made about the contract by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) tell a worrying story. ExxonMobil has to reconsider, Hinds said. He continued, “Even businesses have obligations to be proper; they must know that.” Hinds said that ExxonMobil knows the lucrative nature of the find. “Our oil is described as light crude, sweet oil. It is cheaper to process; you can get a good price; it is not heavy oil.” The Accountant said that knowing what it is getting, ExxonMobil should have at least been a little kind. Hinds said that there is no indication that Guyana’s representatives made a single input that would benefit the nation. “It seems as if ExxonMobil just drafted the contract and we just signed it. I cannot believe anyone with a vision, and I mean literally vision; someone who can see, would actually sign a contract like that. It is the worst.” Hinds said that he thinks Guyana went to the table unprepared. “Instead of going prepared for a test match, we went in, prepared for a game in the little league, a grade school operation.”

Hinds continued, “You do not put donkeys in the Derby; you cannot compare our negotiators with what Exxon represents. Exxon is a pillar of the United States. It is an empire. “ExxonMobil is taking on the US Justice Department. It has got its tentacles in every sphere of the US government, from the congress to all those private environmental organisations in different countries. “We are talking about mass leverage. Exxon is too big to fail. Guyana is a third world country with rookie ministers, people with no background in negotiating and operating at this scale.” Hinds said that he is not “bashing Exxon but I think if they have any conscience at all they would stabilise this contract and make it a bit more palatable to the Guyanese people. In its current form, this is a disastrous contract.” Hinds also said that the international community and the local press “should make every effort to force renegotiation of this contract. “Everything has been given away. I am not calling the Marriott good or bad but when you look at the Marriott give-away, it pales in comparison.”

PAGE 8

Friday February 02, 2018

Kaieteur News

Bel Air Park playfield

Council seeks to have Court Order set aside The Georgetown Mayor and City Council,(M&CC) has approached the Court in a bid to have a ruling by Justice Gino Persaud pertaining to a plot of community land located at Bel Air Park, Georgetown, set aside. Attorney for the M&CC, Roger Yearwood, filed proceedings requesting that the

judgment be set aside and a stay be granted against the execution of the order. Based on the application made, a hearing is set to take place before the said Judge (Gino Persaud) at the High Court on February 12, 2018. In the notice of application, Yearwood is claiming that the procedure that ob-

tains in relation to the order granted was somehow breached. The lawyer essentially based his application on the ground that the council was not given sufficient time to prepare for the action brought against it by Attorney-at-law, and resident of Bel Air Park, Devindra Kissoon.

The land at the centre of the contention is located along Eping Avenue, Bel Air Park Georgetown and was earmarked as the community playground. However Kissoon, a founding partner of London House Chambers (Law Firm), sued the M&CC and Central Housing and Planning Authority after attempts were made the Council to develop community reserve property for the purpose of housing. Justice Gino Persaud had handed down a decision which essentially blocked the M&CC intention to sell or lease reserved community lands to a private developer. However, the Council through its lawyer is contending that Court order was granted and the Council was allowed sufficient time to prepare a defence. Yearwood claims that on all occasions there was a break down in efficiency regarding the timely sending of the document to the Council’s legal advisor (himself). To further back up claims that he was not apprised and given sufficient time to prepare a defence in the matter, Yearwood said when the judgment was delivered on January 8 last, he was only notified after a Marshal of the High Court announced the matter in a loud cry. On January 8, a legal advisor to council Roger Yearwood was on the corridors of the Georgetown Supreme Court when a Marshal of the High Court announced the matter in a loud cry and asked if there was anyone there on behalf of the Council and Royston King.” Yearwood is said to have indicated that he usually represents the Council but was not aware of the matter. He said he was eventually invited into the Judge’s Chambers where he met with attorneys representing the other side. He then indicated to Court that he needed time to communicate with the Town Clerk, (Royston King) and apprise himself before making a defence on behalf of the

Town Clerk, Royston King Council. Yearwood said his request was met with objections from the opposing team who claimed that the Town Clerk was notified on two occasions. He said that the Court therefore granted the Order. It is on that ground, however, that Yearwood believes that the Court Order, infringes on Council rights under Article 142 of the Constitution of Guyana. The lawyer is therefore contending that he believes that the universal and constitutional law that no man should be deprived of his right to his property unless afforded a reasonable opportunity to be heard was contravened. According to court documents, the Council had intended to sell or lease reserved community lands to a private developer. The Council was in negotiations with local housing developer, Terrence Taljit, to transfer to him prime community lands to him despite a restriction on the transport of the property for use as community purposes only. The plot of land is earmarked by the Council to construct housing for top members of

the City Administration. Court documents revealed that the property historically existed as an open space, first as an air field then as a horse race course and thereafter was maintained by the M&CC and Housing Department from the 1960s through the 1990’s as a park, used by residents as a playground and cricket field. However, the land has since been taken over by weeds and overgrown. In his ruling on January 8, last, Justice Persaud declared that the M&CC is permanently restrained from using a community reserve property in Bel Air Park for housing. Central Housing consented to an order that the land is reserved for community purposes and Justice Persaud restrained the M&CC. Justice Persaud also ordered that the Council had a duty to maintain the property. Residents in the area had expressed disgust that the Town Clerk and Mayor would vote at a council meeting to take community land for personal housing, despite the existence of the covenant and despite the obvious conflict.

GRDB defendants served with over 2,000 statements The Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) matter yesterday continued in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman. Yesterday when the matter was called, Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) Prosecutor, Patrice Henry served the defendants with 2,000 copies of statements. The two officials charged are former General Manager of the Guyana Rice Board Development Board, Jagnarine Singh, and former Deputy General of GRDB and People’s Pro-

gressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Member, Madanlall Ramraj. It is alleged that between 2011 and 2012, at Lot 16-17 Cowan Street, Kingstown, they omitted to enter, or to make true entries of over $4.2M into the company’s ledger, knowing that it was contrary to standard operation procedures. Other charges state that during the same timeframe, the two officials are alleged to have fraudulently taken $5.1M or applied the money (Continued on page 9)

Friday February 02, 2018

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

Exxon and economic development When investors come to developing countries to court investment opportunities, they are fond of saying that they are here to contribute to the country economic development. They like to say that their investment will be good for the development of the country. This was line that Exxon peddled when it an-

nounced that it had discovered oil. It claimed that this would help in the development of the country. But the more one examines the agreement between Exxon Mobil and the Guyana Government, the more it is clear that Exxon has missed the idea of development and gone for a straight-out business deal. An investor adds to a

c o u n t r y ’s d e v e l o p m e n t through its contribution to growth, revenue and employment. This is the most fundamental metrics for measuring how investors contribute to national development. There is no doubt that if Exxon starts production in 2020, it will almost double economic growth, but that growth is not nec-

Dem boys seh ...

Trump seh Guyana get de PSA it deserve - Proper Shithole Agreement Old people does always seh, never leh people wash dem mouth pun you. Bad things does happen to you and you children dem. Exxon better tek note. Decent people does try to avoid dat. Soulja Bai is de one who seh Exxon decent and how it wouldn’t do anything to spoil its reputation. Well is everybody washing dem mouth pun Exxon fuh dat contract wha it sign wid Guyana. Dem boys seh a blind man couldn’t do wuss than whoever sign dat contract fuh Guyana. De contract talk bout a Production Sharing Agreement known as PSA. A big economist seh dat he search and he still can’t find de sharing in de production agreement. Everybody who read de agreement finding a new meaning fuh PSA - one man seh it mean Presumptuous Stealing Agreement. Exxon robbing Guyana! Another man seh de agreement should be de Pacoo Shortchange Agreement.

Dem boys seh if dem ask Donald Trump to describe de agreement, he would seh it is a Proper Shithole Agreement, meaning is a proper agreement fuh a shithole country. When everybody jump and criticize dat oil company, dem boys seh de decent thing fuh them to do is allow de pickney in de shithole country to get li’l milk in dem tea and butter pun dem bread. Dat is wha everybody calling fuh. One economist admit dat de people of Guyana gun get something but if de contract was better, dem woulda been so much better off. Dat contract is de difference between living comfortable and living well off. Guyanese deserve to live well off. Dis same economist seh when Exxon sign dis lopsided contract it was like dem tek de whole cake and give de crumbs and call dat sharing. Talk half and Soulja Bai please wake up and read de contract wha dem scamp sign.

GRDB defendants served with... From page 8 for their own use and benefit or any use and purpose, other than that of the GRDB. Yesterday when the matter was called in Magistrate Latchman courtroom, the prosecutor told the court that the investigation into the matter was completed and that he will be serving both defendants with statements. The prosecutor had to be assisted with getting the reams of statements into the courtroom since there were several parcels. The defence lawyer, Glen Hanoman, upon seeing the reams of statements said “The prosecutor intention is for this trial to go on until 2020.” Before the statements were handed over to the defendants, the Magistrate clerks spent over two hours going through and numbering the statements which were about three feet thick. The two defendants then collected their statements and exited the courtroom with some assistance. The Magistrate adjourned the matter until February 13 when the defendants will appear before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. Last month when the matter was called, the prosecutor had told the court that he was

given instructions by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to amend the 34 fraud related charges. Eighteen charges will now read “It is alleged that the two between 2011 and 2012, at Lot 16-17 Cowan Street, Kingstown, they fraudulently took $5.1M for or any use or purpose, other than that of the GRDB.” While sixteen of the charges will now read “It is alleged that between 2011 and 2012, at Lot 16-17 Cowan Street, Kingstown, they omitted to make true entries of over $4.2M into the company’s ledger, knowing that it was contrary to standard operation procedures.” Already, in one case, six former high-ranking officials of GRDB, including Jagnarine and Ramraj, have been charged and placed on $500,000 bail each for allegedly failing to make a proper entry into a register of a company with the intent to defraud $362M from the entity’s Republic Bank account.

The six officials also included General Secretary of the Producers Association (RPA) and PPP/C Member of Parliament, Dharamkumar Seeraj; former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs and PPP/ C Member of Parliament, Nigel Dharamlall; former General Manager of the Guyana Oil Company Badrie Persaud; and the Deputy Permanent Secretary, Finance Ministry of Agriculture, Prema Roopnarine. The accused all pleaded not guilty to the charges which alleged that between January 1 and December 31, 2012, with intent to defraud, they omitted or concurred to be omitted $77.3M from the general ledger of the GRDB’s Republic Bank account. Similarly, between 2013, 2014 and 2015 with intent to defraud the entity, they are alleged to have omitted or concurred to be omitted from the said Republic Bank account, $9.7M, $130M and $145M for three respective years.

essarily going to result in increased direct employment. The revenue projections are a bit ambitious. We are told that Guyana will earn US$1M per day. So from the revenue side and the growth side, Exxon’s production is expected to contribute to national development. But that is until 2020 the earliest and there is no investment in a refinery. However, the real measure of development is not growth or revenues but jobs. And without a refinery, there will be limited job growth. The more one reads the contract signed between Exxon Mobil et al and the Government of Guyana, the more one is confirmed in the view that the oil multinational used its superior negotiating experience to take advantage of Guyana and in so doing degraded Guyana’s future developmental expectations. The government, on the other hand, has tried to

present this agreement as an upgrade to the 1999 contract negotiated by the PPPC. Nothing could be further from the truth. The government had the leverage to negotiate a new contract. Exxon could do nothing unless it has valid prospecting licences in place. The company used this as the basis to extort generous concessions from the government. Instead of the government squeezing Exxon for a better deal, it surrendered itself to a give –away agreement which will leave Guyanese, who were expected to be soaked in riches come 2020, frustrated. Exxon has got its prospecting licence for four years with options to renew for up to an additional six years. By that time, Exxon would have drilled all its exploratory wells and would be daubed in oil wealth while Guyanese scramble for the

crumbs thrown at it. For any government not to recognise the opportunity which was presented to it to seal a fair deal for Guyana because of the need of Exxon for prospecting licences, is regrettable. Exxon has taken advantage of this and has signed a one-sided agreement. Exxon is not investing in an oil refinery. It is not obligated under the contract to do so. Guyana has been pushing for value added to its resources and this was a good opportunity for Exxon to demonstrate good faith and to commit to investing in a refinery. Instead development will be limited to crude production.

PAGE 10

Friday February 02, 2018

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

A missing page, justice and a failed state Aren’t the people with power watching? Aren’t they worried about justice contortions and justice corrugations in such a small population like Guyana where everyone knows about all the unlawful, lawless and unjust things that occur every passing day? The trouble with people with political/state power is that they are no longer on the ground to assess the thinking of the ordinary citizen. The man who digs the drain, the lady who does wash-room cleaning, the waterfront labourer, are not the unintelligent folks we think they are. They are not so by a long way. If we mix with those people you would see that they know about the secret, invisible skullduggeries that envelope this society. The reason is that you cannot keep a secret in a small town and Guyana is a small enclave. The ordinary folk in Guyana feels that justice is not for the poorer classes and that the humans in the upper brackets are given untouchable status. Let us look at the circumstances surrounding a magistrate’s decision to free a city attorney of death by dangerous driving. The magistrate dismissed the charge

because vital documents that should have been available to the prosecution could not be found. Prosecution witness, Constable Kewsi Carmichael’s testimony had to be curtailed because of a missing page from his original statement. The magistrate also ruled that it was unnecessary for police photographer, Corporal Rockcliffe, who photographed the scene of death to give evidence because of other missing documents. So that’s it! The defendant was freed because documents requested by the state for a successful prosecution were missing. The defendant, attorney Keisha Chase, had to be freed as a matter of law because you could not have prosecuted her if vital documentary evidence is not submitted for the courts to examine. The issue here is not Ms. Chase. The question here is the nature of this country that I have classified as a newspaper columnist with three leading media houses for about thirty years, as a failed state. What will the ordinary citizen say when he hears about

this court case. First, they will point to the status of the accused – she is a lawyer. Then they will wonder about the vanished paper trail. Then they will make this conclusion – these things would not have happened if it were a taxi driver, or mini-bus driver or some poor car owner. This does not mean Ms. Chase did anything wrong in relation to the missing documents. There was nothing in the case to cause one to think did she. But whether she likes it or not, people will talk. People will say she was freed because she was a lawyer. They will not bother with the lack of evidence that led to her acquittal. They will carp on the fact that she is a lawyer. They may cite the case two weeks ago where the wash-bay boy at Texaco gas station on Vlissengen Road was jailed for three years for the same offence. The concern every citizen should have in this court matter are the vanished papers including the mystery of a single, disappeared page. Carmichael’s testimony was stopped because a certain page in his multiple-paged statement

that he composed during the time of the investigation could not be found. How can a single page go missing? I could understand the entire statement being misplaced. Death by dangerous driving is a serious criminal charge. The trend for the past three years is a long jail term if found guilty. In fact, there has only been one case in recent times, of a fine. A pastor did not halt at a stop sign at Quamina and Camp Streets and killed a teacher and severely injured his daughter. Magistrate Mc Lennan imposed a $100,000 fine. There have been three

cases for the past two years where the relatives of the dead victims accepted compensation. In the case of the dead dance instructor because of compensation, all other charges were withdrawn including being an unlicensed driver without insurance (for details, see my column of Wednesday, April 12, 2017 with the heading, “Magistrates Fabayo Azore and Ann McLennan and the price of life.” In this country when one refers to the price of life, one must analyse whose life we are talking about. I have lived my entire existence in this country except for study abroad. I know Guyana. I live

Frederick Kissoon here and I study the territory. Life is very cheap here. You are poor, you die at the Georgetown Hospital. You are poor, you go to jail. Excuse me! I forgot! Which nations Trump referred to as shithole countries?

Brothers charged after stolen Marriott lights surface on Facebook Tw o men were yesterday arraigned before a City Magistrate for allegedly stealing a quantity of lights valued at $677,000 from Marriott Hotel. Adrian Foster, 20, and Andre Foster, 19, both of Lot 10 Triumph East Coast Demerara, appeared before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and denied the charge which alleged that between November 1 and November 30, last at Marriot Hotel Bond, Kingston, Georgetown, they stole a quantity of lights worth $677,000, property of Yumin Zong. Both men were represented by Attorneyat-law Adrian Thompson. The lawyer in his application to secure bail for his clients told the court that his clients were not

aware that the articles were stolen but the articles were found in their possession. H o w e v e r, facts presented by Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore, stated that on December 24, a report was made after it was discovered that the lights were missing. The prosecutor added that an investigation was carried out and Andre was arrested after he posted the articles on his Facebook page seeking sales. The ranks then carried out a search at their home and the stolen articles were found. Andre was arrested. The mother after hearing that Andre was arrested went to the station and handed over Adrian to ranks at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) after hearing that he was wanted for questioning.

The court head that when Andre went to CID, he admitted to removing the articles because the Hotel owed him money. The file was then sent for advised and charges were instituted. While the prosecutor had no objection to bail being granted to the defendants, he asked that it be in a substantial amount and that conditions be attached. Bail was then granted to the defendants in the sum of $150,000 each. They were also instructed to report to the CID Headquarters every Friday until the completion of the trial. The defendants will make their next court appearance on February 7 where they will appear before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for assignments.

Friday February 02, 2018

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Friday February 02, 2018

Kaieteur News

Jamaican utility official named new GPL... Banks DIH E’bo Branch records From page 7 the duties of CEO at GPL over the past year and a half. Both Colin Welch and Bharat Dindyal lost their jobs as CEO in a major shakeup when the Coalition Government took office in 2015. Welch was chosen as new CEO but there were questions about his qualifications. The CEO position at the electricity company is seen as the hot seat with consecutive Governments unable to keep up with the growing demand for power amid mushrooming housing schemes and new industries. Alongside this is the aging distribution and transmission network system that GPL is attempting to change out. There is a major project to install new transmission lines, build more sub-stations and introduce smart meters. However, there are no reports how well this is working. Badal is a businessman with holdings in the hotel and in the manufacturing sector. The Coalition Government brought on to turn the fortunes of GPL around. The businessman said that he cannot continue as his tenure has come to an end and he needs the time

40

to focus on his companies’ expansion plans. “I am now awaiting the appointment of a new board by the Minister of Public Infrastructure to execute a smooth hand over,” he said after announcing the name of the new CEO. “It was indeed a pleasure to give the past 25 months of my time and expertise to building a new strategic direction for GPL. The board I led together with the management and staff has achieved significant improvements in the operations of GPL over the past two years.” During this tenure, Badal said, the board and management were able to transform GPL into a financially strong and stable company adding in excess of $8 billion to its free cash flows. “The Power Utility Upgrade Programme is on schedule and the Infrastructural Development Programme is soon to get off the ground. These and other internal measures would bring further improvements in operational efficiencies,

build management capacity, reduce losses and ensure a reliable and competitive electricity supply.” New generating assets for Bartica (Region Seven), Anna Regina (Region Two) and Canefield (East Canje) have been procured and will soon be commissioned replacing existing units that are more than 33 years old.” Badal noted that a new strategic policy direction has been unveiled requiring the use of natural gas in electricity generation to replace all retiring generating assets currently based on heavy fuel. “In this regard an expression of interest from the private sector for a 50MW (facility) had just been closed. All further replacements would follow this route to allow GPL to focus its resources on the building of a modern grid.” Badal admitted that there were some challenges along the way including the disruption of the submarine cable, linking Kingston and Vreed-enHoop and the same disruption at Garden of Eden as well as a shortfall in generation at Skeldon. “These events have caused significant outages to the displeasure of many of our customers. On every instance, the management and technical staff reacted well to restore power in the shortest possible time. The age of the national grid requires constant maintenance which has been intensified recently. New equipment fully tested over a few months and now on full implementation should remove the frequency of trips and a major part of power outages.”

$12.2M increase in profits The year 2017 can be deemed a productive year for Banks DIH, Essequibo Branch. The branch concluded its year with increased profits of over $12.2 million. This announcement was made last Sunday by the company’s chairman, Clifford Reis. At the time in which the announcement was made, Reis was addressing his fellow shareholders at the company’s 62nd Annual General Meeting. Reis noted that the Essequibo Branch, Airy Hall, achieved total sales revenue of some $1.3 billion. The branch also made as profits for the year, $18 million - an increase of over $12.2 million. Speaking on the number of products sold, Reis noted that 843,000 cases of units were sold for the year 2017- an increase of 43,000 from the previous year. During a brief interview with Kaieteur News, Reis credited this increase to the company’s distribution services. The chairman explained that the company has been distributing on a more regular basis. Reis added, “We don’t want our customers to run out of stocks, the more we supply to our customers, the less stock the company would hold. If we can supply our customers twice a week, it means better cash flow and a faster turn over for us.” It would appear that the demand for Banks products on the Essequibo Coast is now on the increase. Over the years, businesses both large and small have been established in this small

Bank DIH Chairman, Clifford Reis farming community, thereby propelling the demand for various good and services. In an effort to keep up with the growing distribution of Banks products, however, Reis noted that this year, more trucks would be acquired to fast track local distribution. The Chairman also revealed to this publication that more money would be allocated for the Banks wharf--also located at the company’s Airy Hall Branch. Reis said that the wharf is used generally to bring in products. As such, it is an integral investment which must be undertaken. Reis also underlined the fact that in an

effort to further increase distributions, the Banks’ team must be involved in more merchandising and field studies. At the conclusion of the company’s Annual General Meeting last Sunday, a thrilling revelation was madethe announcement of a new Branch Manager for Essequibo. It was announced by Reis that Premaul Ritney was appointed Branch Manager. Reis noted that Premaul, who is now the successor to Gavin Jodham, is expected to maintain, and even accomplish more in the interest of the company.

Friday February 02, 2018

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

Region Two now back to frequent power outage

The three new Caterpillar generators at the Anna Regina Power Plant. (second generator from left is one of the old ones). The blackout woes seem to be back on the Essequibo Coast, as frequent power outages continue to plague the region. Residents claim that the service provided by the Guyana Power and Light [GPL], has seen little or no improvement since the start of the New Year. At the moment, residents have no choice but to cope with these frequent blackouts, which continue to plague the Essequibo Coast both day and night. As was related to this publication, a series of communities would simulta-

neously experience a power outage. These power outages would sometimes last as long as one hour every day, in various communities. During the course of last year, Region Two suffered tremendously at the hands of GPL- one community was even left without electricity for as long as five days. At that time, GPL claimed that both Caterpillar engines, which were installed at the company’s Anna Regina Plant, were severely worn. During the latter part of last year, the company acquired

three brand new additional Caterpillar generators. The then Chairman of the GPL board, Robert Badal, said that these generators were to once and for all, put an end to blackouts on the Essequibo Coast. The reality today, however, is that blackout still persists on the Essequibo Coast. Residents are bitter that they are not even provided with a power outage schedule. It is believed that the power outage is somewhat linked to an upgrade in the Region’s power grid. Residents are thus ap-

GTT ‘high-speed’ internet service criticised by Essequibians. The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph company [GTT], is once again been pilloried by its Essequibian customers. The company, about one year ago, unveiled in Essequibo for the first time its LTE 4G service. During the unveiling of the new service on February 27, 2017, the company’s CEO, Justin Nedd, said that the LT E 4 G i n t e r n e t i s t h e ‘highest speed’ and ‘most affordable’ internet on the Essequibo coasts. N e d d ’s w o r d s t o d a y prove to be very untrue, according to many disappointed customers. They are now describing the service as being the most sloppy internet service on the Essequibo Coast. As it relates to the aspect of ‘high-speed,’ many today find it challenging to stream a video, or browse the internet at certain hours. Initially, the service was indeed the fastest on the Essequibo Coast. Sadly as the months increased the internet speed gradually

reduced. As it relates to affordability, residents on the Essequibo Coast are paying between $8,000 and $10,000 per month, for a capped data supply of 50 Gigabytes. Customers believe that GTT should urgently upgrade its service, to help them keep track of their data balance. T he internet plays an integral role in the business community, as it fosters developmental research and connect markets. The Essequibo Coast is a business community which l i k e m a n y, i s h i g h l y dependent on the internet. Commenting on this issue was President of the Essequibo Chambers of C o m m e r c e [ E C C ] , M r. Deleep Singh. Singh told this publication during an interview yesterday, that he recently met with the manager of GTT’s Anna Regina Branch. “I asked the manager at Anna Regina directly how is the internet service so slow? All he said is that he’s only concerned with operations

on the ground. “I asked how to check my data balance? He said I gotta call the calling center.” Like Mr. Singh, most customers are interested in checking their data balance, since they claim something ‘fishy’ happens in the billing process. Customers, who seldom use the service, are often surprise when their data is diminished before its due date. Singh, who is one of such customer explained, “I have the service both at home and in the business. More people at the business are using the service and less people are using it at home, yet the same day of the month, both of the data finish.” As president of the ECC, Singh is calling on the Minister of Telecommunications, to expedite the process of liberalising the telecommunication sector. He concluded by saying it is unfair for Essequibians to pay $10,000 per month for a capped data, and a service that hardly works.

pealing that GPL pay careful attention to their present upgrade, and the possible side effects. Some claim that following the recent upgrade of the power grid [from the 50 hertz to 60 hertz], many elec-

trical appliances have lost their lives. Multiple individuals had related to this publication, that specific appliances such as microwaves and refrigerators are no longer in a workable state.

Some have even been moved to replace the ballast of their florescent lamps. All efforts made by this publication to contact the company’s public relations officer, Ms. Shavian Pierce, proved futile.

PAGE 22

SERVICES

FOR SALE

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY- $19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.

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. We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer-Call: 231-0655; 683-8734. Omar

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 needed. #609-1040 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL 450 4matic SUV, like brand new, under 20,000 miles. Call: 6741781. Serious inquires only.

Repairs at affordable prices: 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 Drawing of house plan, or if you need estimates, call: 216- One residential houselot (East 0671/622-0267/692-8464 Bank) Brand new air condition unit, brand new rattan 4 piece set $3.6M. Tel: 656-0701/6117223 Video games and consoles at affordable price. Repairs to video game system .Call:6722566/265-3231 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 AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807

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 1-1 bedroom apartment, 1- 2 bedroom bottom flat 1 furnished 3 bedroom upper flat. Uitvlugt Housing Scheme. Call: 698-2802, 6933340, 254-1801. 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 will be considered. 2 bedroom downstairs house 613 East Front road. G/Town 43,000 a month. Contact: 6521234

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

Register your child for after school classes for slow learners in Mathematics, Reading, Phonics, Spelling, etc. Call: 675-4379

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

1 Porter to work on vehicle in the interior 18-25 years old #699-4718 Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665 We would like to buy 20 ft & 40ft containers. Contact: 6876072 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

(1) Manager to work @ Hotel/ Club on Essequibo coast, previous hotel management an asset. Contact: 500-5923, 676-8764/646-3675

Allion, Primo, Fielder Wagon, Spacio, Bluebird, 212 Carina, NZE, Honda CRV, Toyota IST, RZ & Pit-bull – Call: 650-7501 CXC adults classes (Business & Science subjects) Form 1-5 lessons, Grade 2-6 lessons (slow learners, personal tutor) #690-5008,618-0649

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

Counter persons, Puri/Rotimakers. Apply @ Shantas 225 Camp St.

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

Fielder Wagon. Tel: 664-0802 PROPERTY FOR SALE Nissan Pathfinder Jeep 4WD Excellent condition $1.4M negotiable. Call: 609-7766/2258427 2009 Toyota Premio, low mileage, owner leaving country;price negotiable, contact: 669-2518/645-4085

WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIALOFFERS! . CALL: 690-6494 LAND FOR SALE

Friday February 02, 2018

Kaieteur News

Lot 15 Public Road, #2 Village, W.C.B. 49ft x 10,314ft $20M Negotiable Contact 648-7109/686-4818 3- Storey commercial buliding, land size- 120ft x 60ft, building size- 62ft x 30ft, location- Lot 1486 Plot B, Herstelling East Bank Demerara. Contact: #609-3777/697-4557 Newly built @ Craig E.B.D land size 91x50 feet; house 40x28, 3 rooms, 1 self contained. Call: 718-213-6496/ 617-7691

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

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

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

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 Backhoe operator, woodmizer moulder and edger operator, experience logging truck driver, call Richard: 609-7675/ 674-1705/233-2614

Vacancy exists for 1 LEARN TO DRIVE experienced pharmacy technician to work part time @ a reputable pharmacy Ultraviolet Driving School is offering a 6 days driving Georgetown- Call: 227-0630 lesson for $7,500. Come and Security guard, Pastry maker, enjoy it! Call 602-2583 Cashier. Persons can submit C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving applications to Beacon Cafe School formerly Soman & (127 Quamina & Carmichael Sons Driving School @ Maraj Building- Call: 644-5166; 622St) Tel: 225-9409/691-6348 2872; 615-0964; 689-5997 Needed porter boys at Stretch (affordable packages). your dollar store/good salary, Robb Street #223-5897 TOLET Driver from Age 22 and above, One business space, located must have police clearance, at 177 Charlotte & Alexander for more info, call: 223-0090 St. Kindly call: 644-3555,689Cook/Baker & Excavator 3462, . Serious enquiries only. operator for interior location. must be experienced. Call: Rooms in Albertown. Call: 2253234 618-2020

Friday February 02, 2018

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

Men accused of driving through roadblock charged with ganja trafficking

Accused: Anthony Carmicheal

Accused: Leon Burneet

A West Coast Berbice duo was on Wednesday remanded to prison for possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking. Leon Burnett, 22, a labourer of Lot 5 Onverwagt Village, West Coast Berbice; and Anthony Carmichael, 30, a taxi driver of Lot 2 Bennett Dam, Rosignol appeared before Magistrate Rhondell Weaver at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court where they were charged jointly. The charge read that on Monday 29 January, the two men were found to have in their possession a quantity of cannabis -9.165 kilograms- for the purpose of trafficking. Both men pleaded not guilty to the charge. Attorney-at-law, Horatio Edmonson, who represented Burnett requested bail on be-

half of his client. The prosecution, however, objected to bail for both the accused. Magistrate Weaver denied bail for both men and they were remanded to prison. They will return to court on February 21 for report. Reports are that a speeding car busted through a police roadblock along the public road of the Fort Wellington Police Station Monday morning. In a police press release issued by the Guyana Police Force, it detailed that ranks were forced to take evasive action to avoid being struck down. The vehicle which was pursued by police was discovered crashed into a tree located in Number 23 Village, West Coast Berbice. It also stated that when the ranks were approaching the vehicle,

The cars the men were driving when they were caught. two occupants were seen exiting and entering another vehicle that sped away. Ranks reportedly chased after the second vehicle, which veered into a street at Number 27 Village, West Coast Berbice and landed into a nearby trench. The two males were seen exiting the vehicle making good their escape in a nearby street, while the driver of the vehicle was arrested while in the process of attempting to dispose of the suspected cannabis. The driver, 23, of Onderneeming Village, West Coast Berbice is said to be employed with a water company. The items were later weighed and amounted to in excess of 20 lbs.

Sheep thief jailed for six months Rawle La Fleur, 24, who is well known to the police and had an arrest warrant out for him on an earlier charge of simple larceny, was captured and jailed for six months on another charge of larceny of animals. He was charged with stealing three sheep from Lester Farley on Monday January 8, last, at Main Street Cumberland, East Canje. La Fleur who gave a number of addresses including Lot 10, Public Road, Cumberland Village, Speculation Village and Adelphi Village, all East Canje, Berbice

villages, appeared before Magistrate Renita Singh at the Reliance Magistrate’s Court and pleaded guilty to the charge of larceny of animals. According to Prosecutor, Corporal Winston Poliah, around 20:30 hrs on the day in question, the police were on mobile patrol when they noticed La Fleur in a yard with three sheep tied together. The man was approached and when questioned, he could give no reason how he came to be in possession of the animals. He was arrested and along with the sheep was

taken into custody. Farley a cane harvester and farmer had earlier loosed his animals. During the night, he did not see them return. He was subsequently called to the Reliance Police Station where he identified the animals as his. La Fleur subsequently admitted to stealing the animals and pleaded guilty in court. He was sentenced to six months in jail. This sentence will run consecutively with the three months sentence imposed and caused him to be on the run.

PAGE 24

Kaieteur News

Tillerson raises prospect of Venezuela military ouster of Maduro AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson raised the prospect yesterday that the Venezuelan military could decide to oust President Nicolas Maduro, but said he did not know whether that would happen. In a speech at the University of Texas ahead of a fivenation Latin American tour, Tillerson insisted the Trump administration was not advocating “regime change” in Venezuela, but said it would be “easiest” if Maduro chose to leave power on his own. Tillerson predicted there would be change of some kind in Venezuela and said the United States, which has had steadily worsening relations with the country’s Socialist government, wanted it to be a peaceful one. Maduro, whose approval ratings are low amid a collapsing economy, runaway inflation and rising malnutrition in the oil-producing country, is seeking re-election in a vote that must be held by the end of April. “We have not advocated for regime change or removal of President Maduro. We have advocated that they return to the constitution,” Tillerson said when asked during a question-and-answer session whether the removal of Maduro was necessary or the United States would play a role in it. He then suggested the possibility, however, that internal forces might take ac-

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro holds a document as he speaks during a meeting with ministers in Caracas on Tuesday. Miraflores Palace/Handout via REUTERS tion, although he offered no evidence the United States had intelligence backing the notion that the military might turn against Maduro. “In the history of Venezuela and in fact the history in other Latin American and South American countries, often times, it is the military that handles that,” Tillerson said. “When things are so bad that the military leadership realizes that it just can’t serve the citizens anymore, they will manage a peaceful transition,” he said. But he added: “Whether that will be the case here or not, I do not know.” CARACAS SEES RIGHTWING CONSPIRACY The United States and other Western governments accuse Maduro’s government of violating political and

human rights in Venezuela and have imposed economic sanctions. Critics at home say Maduro, who succeeded Hugo Chavez in 2013, has wrecked the economy and skewed the election system to perpetuate power for his Socialist Party.Maduro’s government, which is allied with Cuba’s Communist leadership, says it is fighting a U.S.led right-wing conspiracy determined to end socialism in Latin America, hobble Venezuela’s economy and steal its oil wealth. The Venezuelan government did not respond immediately to a request for comment. “Maduro should get back to his constitution and follow it,” Tillerson said. “And then, if he is not re-elected by the people, so be it.”

Friday February 02, 2018

Stalled hospital project ... From page 2 this publication the money was transferred to the CIOG on April 28, 2014. Fazia noted that while the cost of the facility was pegged at £500,000, her father opted to donate £90,000. She said that her father was aware that the CIOG was also poised to receive funding from the Islamic Development Bank. In a statement sent out by the hospital in March 2012, the CIOG announced that it had secured financing for the construction of a medical facility to be built in the city. Described as a “fully functional hospital,” the CIOG said that the facility is expected to provide obstetrics and gynaecological services and be linked to an in-patient building. A renal dialysis unit, it said, was also being considered for part of the health care facility. In highlighting the Islamic Development Bank as its source of financing, the CIOG in an advertisement asked for expressions of interest for a consultant pointing out that “It is intended that part of the proceeds of this financing be applied to eligible payments for the design and supervision of construction consultancy services for the establishment of the facility.” It added, “This request for expressions of interest is open to all eligible building consultants for possible short listing to submit technical and financial proposals for the execution of consultancy services. Construction will be either under a single contract or phased.” The fact that her father was not mentioned as a donor was brought to the attention of the CIOG but accord-

ing to Fazia nothing was done to fix this discrepancy. But added to this, Fazia said that for the following, her father visited to ascertain the progress of the project. In addition to being told of an astronomical architecture fee [which she claimed was not tendered for], Fazia said that her father also later learnt that her father's representative was eventually sidelined from the discussion with the CIOG officials altogether. It eventually became clear to the Ouhlas that the project was entirely stalled. “This has been going on for too long; we are now in 2018... We have asked for a breakdown of what they have spent the money on...nothing. There is no point in continuing because we don't know what's going on,” said Fazia. She continued, “If we knew this is how they are, we could have given the money to somewhere else. There is the Georgetown Public Hospital and I'm sure they could have done a lot with that money or we could have given it to some Government organisation such as the Ministry of Health...It is unfortunate that we were directed to the CIOG by the High Commissioner.” Given the state of affairs, the Ouhla family has been looking to recover the donated money legally to the CIOG. But Fazia recalled how the first lawyer that her father retained recused himself from the matter after doing nothing for close to one year because of a reported conflict of interest.Currently armed with a new lawyer, Fazia said that her father is prepared to move full speed ahead with legal action to regain the money he donated.

“We tried to negotiate with them without having to go to court but it is as if they are above the law. They probably think because we live overseas, we are not going to bother with it and we are just going to let £90,000 disappear. “We won't let it go! There is a principal...people from overseas want to help the country; by now there should have been a brand new hospital in Georgetown, which should have been free to those who can't afford it and a small fee for those who can afford it,” said Fazia. But an official at the CIOG is refuting the non-disclosure claims levelled by the Ouhla family. The official in question, who claimed to be the acting General Manager of CIOG, acknowledged that while Mr. Ouhla indeed donated towards the construction of the facility, information has always been made available. This, of course, has been categorically denied by Fazia. “I am aware of them, Mr. Ouhla and his daughter...Indeed, he has contributed to the project and I really can't understand how he could be saying otherwise,” said the CIOG official. “We are still in the process of finalising the paper work and getting the permit and so forth. As soon as that is finalised then we will be proceeding.” “You have to get certain documentation in place before you could proceed with a project like that,” said the official who further pointed out, “The Islamic Development Bank is on board with us but we are yet to get certain documents from Government before we proceed and that is exactly where we are at this point.”

Kaieteur News

Friday February 02, 2018

Dutch Govt. to help tourism firms on storm-hit Caribbean islands

AMSTERDAM - CMC – The Dutch government yesterday unveiled a US$3 million plan to compensate tourism businesses on two Caribbean islands, left reeling after last year’s hurricane. “I saw with my own eyes the devastating effect that Hurricane Irma had” on the islands of Saba and Sint Eustatius, deputy interior minister Raymond Knops said. Under the scheme, businesses which relied entirely on tourism such as hotels, restaurants and bars, taxi services and even diving schools, could claim up to 25 percent of their expected annual turnover in compensation, reported Expatica, an online news and information portal that specifically serves English-speaking expatriates and the international commu-

nity founded by Canadian Bram Lebo in 2000. “The tourism sector is an important provider of jobs and income for many families,” Knops said in a statement, referring to the islands which are part of the Kingdom of The Netherlands. The scheme would help affected companies “to bridge this difficult period during reconstruction.” In November, the Dutch government announced in November that some 67 million euros will be given to the two small islands to help with reconstruction, according Expatica. It said power lines were downed, trees uprooted and buildings torn apart when Irma whipped across the islands, including St. Martin, as a rare Category Five storm in

September. According to figures from the national statistics body, 11,000 tourists visit St. Eustatius annually, while 9,000 visitors travel to Saba. Both islands are popular diving spots, Expatica said. It said eligible companies must lodge a claim by April 25 for the period from September 2017 to February 2018. They must also provide turnover figures from 2014, 2015 and 2016. Plans to help the Dutch part of St. Martin been have bogged down amid a row over the disbursement of some 550 million euros in aid, which forced the resignation of the territory’s prime minister.Elections for a new Sint Maarten government are now due to be held in late February.

Taiwan to assist St Lucia in crime fight CASTRIES, St. Lucia CMC - Taiwan has agreed to assist St. Lucia government in efforts to fight crime in all its forms. On Wednesday, both governments signed a Bilateral Police Co-operation Agreement that will bring several benefits to the Royal St. Lucia Police Force and strengthen the organisation in key areas of national security. Major upgrades in equipment and technology, training, personnel visits, and knowledge sharing are expected to be borne out of the latest collaboration. National Security Minister Senator Hermangild Francis signed the Memorandum of Understanding in the presence of Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Dr. Lee TaWei who is on an official visit of St. Lucia. Also present were Prime Minister Allen Chastanet and other Cabinet members.

Hermangild Francis Francis says he is looking forward to the collaboration as it marks a new milestone in relations between the two countries. He also joined the Prime Minister in expressing immense gratitude to the Gov-

ernment and People of Taiwan for assisting the Government of St Lucia in the area of national security; a groundbreaking step in the longstanding diplomatic relationship shared by the two countries.

PAGE 25

PAGE 26

Kaieteur News

Friday February 02, 2018

EU, ECLAC discuss deepening of bilateral cooperation BRUSSELS - CMC – The Economic Commission Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) says its executive director, Alicia Bárcena, and Federica Mogherini, the European Union’s (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, have been discussing the deepening of bi-regional cooperation. ECLAC said during a meeting here, both representatives talked about the economic situation in Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as the uncertainties posed by the global economy. They also explored the different channels for joint cooperation, “and shared broad and comprehensive regional visions,” ECLAC said. Also participating in the event were Enrico Petrocelli, member of Federica Mogherini’s cabinet; Mario Cimoli, ECLAC acting Deputy Executive Secretary, and Edita Hrdá, Director of the Second Round of Negotiations for Modernization of the EUChile Agreement. During the meeting, ECLAC said Bárcena recalled

Alicia Bárcena the “long-standing strategic alliance between the European Union and the UN regional Commission, with a view toward supporting biregional dialogue and cooperation, particularly in light of the challenges posed by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.” In this regard, she underscored the recent achievements of that strategic alliance, including the successful implementation of the EUROsociAL program (20122015) and the Alliance for the Information Society – @LIS (2001-2013). She also praised the

project Social Innovation: Engine for Social Change (2014-2017) and the LEARN – Leaders Activating Research Networks (2015-2017) initiative. Bárcena invited the EU High Representative to follow the work the countries of the region will do leading up to the Second Meeting of the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development, to be held April 1620 in Santiago, Chile, as well as ECLAC’s 37th Period of Sessions, scheduled for May 7-11 in Havana, Cuba. She also underscored the activities prepared for the commemoration of ECLAC’s 70th anniversary, which will be celebrated throughout 2018. ECLAC said both officials agreed to continue working and collaborating to deepen relations between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean, and reaffirmed their commitment to collaborate on a new summit between the European Bloc and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).

Kaieteur News

Friday February 02, 2018

Opposition leader says no to meeting with PM on appointment of police commissioner PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC – Leader of the main opposition United National Congress (UNC), Kamla Persad-Bissessar has declined an invitation by Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley to discuss the parliamentary appointment of a police commissioner. The prime minister’s request for the meeting was issued on Tuesday. He indicated due to matters surrounding the selection process a meeting was needed before it was received by Parliament.However, in a release issue yesterday, Persad-Bissessar said the meeting will not be productive at this time.She noted that the present constitutional arrangements do not allow the Government or the Opposition to compel the Police Service Commission to disclose the

Dr. Keith Rowleya and Kamla Persad-Bissessar details of the process which was engaged in selecting the proposed nominees. She said that meaningful dialogue could only occur if there is full disclosure to both Government and Opposition of the details of the process employed by the commission in selecting the proposed nominees.

To achieve this, PersadBissessar suggests the president be approached to have the Police Service Commission make full disclosure. She also suggested a Special Select Committee of the House of Representatives should be established to inquire into and report to the house on this matter.

‘Don’t rule out’ going to IMF for help Daily Nation - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) should not be ruled out as an option to help Barbados.However, Central Bank Governor Cleviston Haynes said Government had to decide if that was the option it wanted to pursue. Wednesday in a statement on its 2017 Article IV Consultation with Barbados, the IMF’s executive board said “a stronger macroeconomic framework and bolder structural reforms are needed to achieve fiscal and debt sustainability, address the large financing needs, build adequate international reserves, and boost growth”. In the recent past, the IMF also offered its assistance to Barbados. Speaking during his review of the economy’s performance last year, Haynes said: “We need foreign exchange to drive this economy forward and the IMF has always been an op-

Cleviston Haynes tion that is available to the Government. “One of the advantages of the IMF approach is that it helps to unlock resources from other financial institutions, possibly also from the private sector. So it is in that respect there are advantages in taking an approach to the IMF.” He stressed that it was a

decision which the Government “will have to consider and to take”. “What we need, I think, is to be able to move quickly in order to boost our reserves. That to my mind is where we have to focus. We cannot allow our reserves to continue to decline. Therefore, we have to work towards getting those capital flows that will enable us to rebuild the reserves to the levels which people feel comfortable [with].”Haynes also said the Central Bank would continue to minimise the printing of money to finance Government, another issue the IMF raised concern about Wednesday. “There are some underlying structural issues over and beyond the Central Bank lending that have to be addressed. Clearly one of them is to address the fiscal deficit, but we also have to recognise there is a high level of foreign debt service which we have independent of the debt itself,” he added.

PAGE 27

PAGE 28

Kaieteur News

Friday February 02, 2018

Friday February 02, 2018

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

Carter, Chase take down Hampshire as... Exclusive: Blatter... From page 31 the 47th over, and follow up their convincing win over Trinidad and Tobago Red Force on Tuesday’s opening day. Left-hander Jonathan Carter, adjudged Man-of-theMatch, was at the forefront of the run chase, stroking a classy unbeaten 92 while Chase was also in fine nick with an unbeaten 87. The pair put on 168 in an unbroken fourth wicket stand which pulled Pride around for the discomfort of 63 for three in the 16th over. Sent in earlier, Hampshire rallied from 29 for three in the 14th over to reach 227 for seven off their 50 overs, with Zimbabwean Sean Ervine topscoring with 63, Joe Weatherley getting 51 and Lewis McManus, 47. Fast bowler Miguel

Cummins extended his excellent wicket-taking form with three for 27 from eight overs. Hampshire had a less than ideal start, losing Calvin Dickinson (9), Thomas Alsop (12) and James Adams (3) cheaply inside the first 15 overs.However, Ervine and Weatherley combined in a 112-run, fourth wicket parntership to prop up the innings and push the visitors towards a competitive total. Ervine struck five fours and a pair of sixes in a positive 68ball knock while Weatherly faced 78 balls and belted two sixes. Pride clawed their way back into the contest when they removed both in successive overs. Ervine pushed a return catch back to off-spinner Chase while Weatherley cut veteran left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn to Chase at

point. Tottering again on 147 for five at the end of the 37th, Hampshire were revived by McManus and Bradley Taylor (20) who put on a valuable 48 for the sixth wicket. McManus struck three fours and sixes in an entertaining 42-ball innings before becoming one of two wickets to fall to Cummins in successive overs late on. Pride then suffered an early setback in their run chase when Kevin Stoute nicked a catch behind off seamer Bradley Wheal, to fall for two with five on the board in the second over. Captain Kraigg Brathwaite added 33 with Shai Hope (34) but failed for the second straight innings, bowled middle stump by former West Indies speedster Fidel Edwards for 12 in the 10th over.And for the sec-

Friday February 02, 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-inhand, 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.

ond successive innings, Hope got a start but failed to carry on and was caught at cover in the 16th over, driving left-arm seamer Christopher Wood. However, Carter arrived to put any linger doubts about the result to rest, dominating the Hampshire attack in an innings which required 113 balls and contained seven fours. Playing with quiet assurance, the out-of-favour Windies limited overs batsman brought up his half-century off 67 balls with three fours in the 30th over, but ran out of time with three figures beckoning. Chase, meanwhile, was no less authoritative, counting seven fours and two sixes in a 93-ball innings. Pride will chase their third straight win when they take on Windward Islands Volcanoes in their third match at Kensington Oval, tomorrow. Red Force beat Marooners by nine wickets – Group A - Bridgetown, Barbados, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago Red Force defeated Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners by nine wickets in the sixth match of the Regional Super50 at Kensington Oval here yesterday.Scores: Marooners 101 off 25.4 overs (Ryan Hinds 32; Sunil Narine 5-12, Sheldon Cottrell 3-40, Khary Pierre 2-15). Red Force 102 for one off 11.1 overs (Evin Lewis 70 not out).

ESPN, Up... From page 35 spot kicks.The closeness of matches continued throughout the night as Young Ballers and Jetty Ballers also could not muster a goal in regulation time, but latter won 1-0 on penalty kicks. Match time goals returned when Collin McCalmont 6th minute goal led Ballers Empire to a 1-0 victory over Mocha while Up Like-Seven were on top against Nismes Ballers, winning 3-0 due to Terry O’Brian (18th) and Anthony Darlington (9th) efforts.Police ‘B’ failed to awaken Dream Team from their sanctuary and were hammered 0-4. Dellon John (19th) and Kester Dorris (20th) ensured there was no need for spot kicks. Additionally, both Asylum Youths and Patentia Money Team won 2-0 on sudden death penalty kicks against Agricola and Bagotville after both of their matches ended in goalless stalemates.The tournament which is being run in collaboration with Colours Boutique will continue tonight at the same venue with teams looking to seal their passage to the knock-out phase.

From page 31 an appeal in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the suspension. CAS ruled that Blatter had authorized payments to Michel Platini, then the European football boss, worth over $2 million that amounted to “undue gifts” and therefore violated FIFA’s code of ethics. Blatter had resigned in June 2015 after several dozen football officials, including FIFA executive committee members and former members, had been indicted in the United States on graft charges, along with two sports marketing firms. The former FIFA president was not among those indicted, but became embroiled in scandal when he was banned from all football-related activity the following December by FIFA’s Ethics Committee along with Platini. The men were banned, initially for eight years, over a payment of 2 million Swiss francs ($1.98 million) that FIFA made to Platini in 2011, with Blatter’s approval, for work done a decade earlier. The bans were reduced to six years by FIFA’s appeals committee in February 2016. Blatter, who has denied all charges against him, had compared the FIFA Ethics Committee investigation to “the inquisition”. In 2015 Swiss prosecutors opened a criminal investigation into Blatter on suspicion of criminal mismanagement and misappropriation but no charges have yet been brought. The man who headed FIFA from 1998 to 2015 says he intends to attend June’s World Cup in Russia after a personal invitation from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

PAGE 30

Friday February 02, 2018

Kaieteur News

Mayweather drops another hint LeBron James ‘willing to listen to offers from Golden State Warriors at MMA debut and Conor McGregor rematch on Instagram Floyd Mayweather’s MMA debut is now a matter of when rather than if after he sent out yet another teaser with an Instagram video. ’Money’ hasn’t fought since coming out of retirement, for the first time, to take on UFC’s Notorious Conor McGregor, a knockout victory that secured his perfect 50-0 boxing record. However, while that fight was supposed to be his last, the 40-year-old has dropped what can no longer even be considered a ‘hint’ at this point at returning the favour to McGregor.’2018. Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather. MMA. What are the odds Paddy,’ he said on the video which picked up over half a million views within an hour of being uploaded. It was, quite obviously, an announcement made in partnership with Paddy Power -judging by his shorts - as he rubbed his hands standing in the centre of the alien octagon-shaped ring that he could soon be calling a home from home. It seems only polite for Mayweather to return the favour to McGregor of stepping into his opponents back yard, after the Irishman happily did the reverse for the American. Last year, UFC president Dana White had insisted that he was in the process of arranging a rematch between the pair, but it was a statement that was inevitably laughed off. However, this isn’t the first time Mayweather has hinted at the comeback. As recent as Tuesday, the boxing legend was

Mayweather hinted at a potential debut - and Conor McGregor rematch - in the video. filmed hopping into the octagon to get a feel for his surroundings, which McGregor quickly followed up.’Hahahaha very good. Keep up the good work my son. Yours sincerely, Senior,’ McGregor wrote on Twitter in response. It’s a potential showdown accompanied with the buildup reminiscent of the last. One teases, the other responds, all that awaits now is the inevitable McGregorMayweather showdown. (MailOnline)

Court of Arbitration for Sport clears 28 Russian athletes banned by IOC The Court of Arbitration for Sport has upheld the appeals of 28 Russians were who banned by the International Olympic Committee for doping at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi. Sport’s highest court partially upheld the appeals of 11 others, reducing their life bans to suspensions which cover this month’s Winter Games in Pyeongchang. The decision to clear so many of the banned Russians is a huge blow to the IOC’s approach to the Russian state-sponsored doping scandal and will be greeted with fury by athletes and anti-doping groups around the world. Among those now cleared of cheating at Sochi 2014 are men’s Olympic skeleton champion Aleksander Tretiakov, the current women’s European and World Cup skeleton champion Elena Nikitina and Olympic cross-country gold

Current women’s European and World Cup skeleton champion Elena Nikitina was also Cleared. medalist Alexander Legkov. Aleksandr Zubkov, the double Olympic bobsleigh champion and Russian flagbearer in Sochi, is among the 11 whose anti-doping rule violations have been upheld, though, as have those of three members of the Russia’s second unit in the men’s fourman bob in 2014, which means Great Britain’s upgrade to bronze is confirmed. The 39 appeals were heard in two batches in Geneva last week, with all but two athletes attending in per-

son. They were heard via video link. Also appearing via video were their two chief accusers, the former head of the Moscow anti-doping laboratory Dr Grigory Rodchenkov, who fled to the United States in 2015 and has become the main whistleblower in the Russian doping scandal, and Professor Richard McLaren, the legal expert who examined Rodchenkov’s claims on behalf of the World AntiDoping Agency. (MailOnline)

Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James could be tempted into a sensational move to Golden State Warriors in the off-season, should the NBA champions make the necessary room within their budget. The Warriors have £95million tied up in their payroll, the highest in the league, but could be interested in shifting some of that money around to make room for the four-time MVP. And, according to ESPN, Golden State are currently exploring ways to create the required allowances in order to finance a deal for the 33-yearold small forward. An audacious move for James could bring about a sign-and-trade deal, which may see the Warriors offload the likes of Klay Thompson and Shaun Livingston. Another pressing matter for Golden State would be try-

LeBron James could be tempted into a sensational move to Golden State Warriors. ing to convince Kevin Durant to take a pay cut from his sizable £18m-per-year salary. James’ frosty relationship with Cavs owner Dan Gilbert is well documented, meaning a move to the ambitious west

coast outfit could well be on the cards. That, coupled the Warriors besting the Cavs in two of the last three NBA finals, could be enough to lure James to California. (MailOnline)

F1 chiefs continue to tinker with rules as they move races back 10 minutes Formula One’s new owners continued to tinker with the sport yesterday by moving race starting times back to ten minutes past the hour. A day after announcing their controversial decision to dispense with grid girls, Liberty Media moved away from onthe-hour starts, as well as delaying European and the Brazilian grands prix by an hour and 10 minutes. The British Grand Prix is now scheduled for 2.10pm on July 8 – rest day in the middle of Wimbledon fortnight and the afternoon after the World Cup quarter-finals. ‘Usually, broadcasters go on air precisely at the hour hence they miss the tension and emotion that characterise the minutes before the start of each grand prix,’ said Liberty, referring to the custom around large parts of the world but not in the UK.

Race times have been pushed back 10 minutes, with chiefs saying it will allow fans to see more. ’Thanks to this change, television spectators will be brought closer to the teams and the drivers and fully enjoy the spectacle offered just before the red lights go off.’ They said moving the European and Brazilian races back an hour and 10 minutes (to 2.10pm BST, in the case of

the European rounds) is prompted by research that indicates a wider TV audience watches races later in the afternoon.Although most grands prix have traditionally started on the hour, the Monaco Grand Prix was a notable exception, for a period starting at half past. (Mailonline)

Exclusive: Blatter considering legal action against FIFA Manchester, England (Reuters) - Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, currently serving a ban from the sport, told Reuters yesterday he is considering legal action against the global football body in an attempt to clear his name. Blatter, who led FIFA for 17 years, was handed a six-year ban for ethics violations, imposed amid the biggest corruption scandal to shake world soccer’s governing body in 2015. The 81-year-old Swiss said that while “for the time being there is no legal action”, he and his lawyers were working on a poten-

tial case. ”My aim is to look into the decision of FIFA’s Ethic-Committee in view of informations, and even evidences that I have received, in the meantime, in connection with my suspension,” Blatter told Reuters via email. “We are working on this case – and looking forward for development.” It is likely that any legal action from Blatter would take place in the Swiss civil courts. FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In December 2016, Blatter lost (Continued on Page 29)

Friday February 02, 2018

PAGE 31

Kaieteur News

Regional Super50 Festival

Jaguars battle USA today By Sean Devers in Antigua in association with Vnet Communications, Bounty Farm, Noble House Seafoods and Playter’s Enterprise These teams had contrasting results in the opening round with Guyana Jaguars beating Kent by 35 runs while USA suffered a 162-run defeat to host Leewards Hurricanes. Although in the last two seasons Americans played as part of the ICC Americas which included players from Canada and Bermuda, this is a full US National team and it’s not their first trip to a West Indies Regional 50over tournament. They participated in 1998, 2000 (when the late Guyana batsman Neezam Haffiz came with the team and they beat Barbados) and 2008 when they came with a depleted side without Skipper Guyanese Steve Massiah, among others, due to work commitments. This is their first tournament since touring the UAE and Oman in December and they will want to rebound from their loss on Wednesday when they were bowled out for 136 in 35.5 overs in reply to Hurricanes’ 298-8. Only Jaskaran Malhotra (43) and former West Indies player Xavier Marshall (40) showed fight.At 35, Jamaica left-arm pacer Elmore Hutchinson (344) and his new ball partner 26-year-old Indian left-arm Seamer Saurabh Netravalkar (3-43) troubled the Hurricanes batsmen before Rakeem Cornwall (132&3 wickets) made the difference. On the other hand, the Jaguars were bowled out for 233 in 49 overs as only Shiv Chanderpaul, who has the most runs in Regional 50-over cricket, reached a half-century with 67. Anthony Bramble (39) and Sherfane Rutherford (38) made shotfilled cameos, after Jaguars had stumbled to 33-3. Kent was marching to victory at 129-2 before Veerasammy Permaul (4-46) and Davendra Bishoo (3-34) befuddled the Englishmen who made 198 in 46.3 overs. This could be Jaguars’ easi-

Xavier Marshall could be to key to USA’s success. est match today but cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties and Jaguars cannot afford to be complacent. The USA will be led by 35year-old Wicketkeeper, Indiaborn Ibrahim Khaleelandthe, 31-year-old Marshall who played seven Tests, 24 ODIs and last played for Jamaica in 2013 before migrating to New York. Marshall joins Guyanese Sew Shivnarine, Faoud Bacchus, Clayton Lambert and Neil Mc Garrell along with Hamish Anthony, Adam Sanfordand Jermaine Lawson as West Indies Test players to play for the USA. Two former India U-19 players (Saurabh Netravalkar and Sunny Sohal) are also in the USA squad. Their batting will depend heavily on Marshall, Sohal, Jaskaran Malhotra, Khaleel, Nisarg Patel and Timil Patel. Sohal, 30, played for India U-19s in 2007 and has three centuries in 21-FirstClass matches for Punjab. He represented Kings XI Punjab in the inaugural IPL in 2008 and played 22 matches in four seasons with Kings XI and Deccan Chargers. Netravalkar, who played for India in the 2010 U-19 World Cup in New Zealand, could cause problems with the new ball, especially if the pitch plays like it did in the game against Kent. Hutchinson could also be a

threat with the new ball. Left-arm spinners Nosthush Kenjige and Timil Patel could also be threats to the Jaguars batsmen. Both teams practiced yesterday on a hot day here and the Jaguars are likely to play an unchanged side from their opening game and could use Chanderpaul Hemraj to open the batting with Chanderpaul, who will once again be required to bat deep and allow the other more aggressive batsmen to bat around him. Hemraj scored the most runs for Guyana in the last First-Class competition as an opener and Test batsman Shimron could come at ‘three’ and temper his aggression a bit while Skipper Leon Johnson needs to contribute more with the bat. The Jaguars batting line-up is full of power-hitters and is strong on paper. Test all-rounder Raymond Reifer and Kemo Paul bowled well against Kent and once Rutherford and Romario Shepherd produces economical spells, Bishoo and Permaul will have the luxury of bowling in ‘attack’ mode. The game starts at 09:00hrs today. Jaguars: Shimron Hetymer, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Shiv Chanderpaul, Leon Johnson (Capt), Ricardo Adams, Sherfane Rutherford, Anthony Bramble, Raymond Reifer, Kemo Paul, Davindra

Carter, Chase take down Hampshire as Pride win again Cave hill, Barbados, CMC – Jonathan Carter and Test batsman Roston Chase carved out half-centuries as title-holders Barbados Pride

marched to their second win of the Regional Super50 with a comfortable seven-wicket victory over English County Hampshire here yesterday.

Asked to chase an uncomplicated 228 at 3Ws Oval, Pride overcame a stuttering start to reach their target in (Continued on page 29)

Bishoo, Veerasammy Permaul, Ramaal Lewis, Romario Shepherd and Clinton Pestano. USA: Ibrahim Khaleel

(Capt), Adil Bhatti, Elmore Hutchinson, Nosthush Kenjige, Jaskaran Malhotra , Xavier Marshall, Prashanth

Nair, Saurabh Netravalkar, Mrunal Patel, Nisarg Patel, Timil Patel, Usman Rafiq, Roy Silva, Sunny Sohal.

PAGE 32

Corona Beer/Petra’s 3rd Annual Futsal Tournament Unveiled Local football promoting organisation, Petra, is at it again with yet another event following the launch of their Corona Beer sponsored, 3rd Annual Futsal tournament which has attracted twentyfour teams. All the action is set to unfold at the National Gymnasium from February 24 with a total prize purse of over $2million at stake. During yesterday’s which was held at the Top Brandz Head Office, Broad Street, it was noted that the winners of the competition will receive $600,000, runners-up $300,000 and third place $150,000.The tournament will be contested using the round-robin knock-out format with groups of four engaging each other. The top two teams from each group along with the best four third place finishers will advance to the knockout round. Meanwhile, as an added incentive for teams in the group stage, the top finishers will get an additional $40,000, second place $30,000,

Friday February 02, 2018

Kaieteur News

third place $20,000 and fourth place $10,000. In addition, the tournament is giving away one motorbike each to the MVP of the tournament and a lucky patron. Co-Director of Petra Organisation Troy Mendonca explained during the launch that the tournament is aimed at being community based: “A decade ago we conceptualised a football tournament that involved these community teams, we went into the communities and sought out individuals and sold an idea to them” he told media operatives during brief remarks. ”I said that to emphasise the role sport plays in your communities. It creates leaders, social cohesion and helps to develop individuals as a whole,” he added. The tournament, which is expected to culminate with a grand final on March 31st, will feature Alpha Warriors, Pro Kleaners Campbellville, Show Stoppers, Mocha, Agricola, Plaisance, Sparta Boss, Old

School Ballers, Leopold Street, Albouystown, Kingstown, North East La Penitence, Back Circle, West Front Road, North Ruimveldt, Tiger Bay, Broad Street, Channel 9, Bent Street, Tucville, Alexander Village, Future Stars, NK Ballers and Sophia. Corona Beer Brand Manager Marvin Wray contended that the company is onboard with the tournament because of the community based approach which is in line with the company’s vision for 2018 which is to give back. Wray posited that, “Because of the direct approach to community development, we saw this not only as an opportunity to be part of the event, but an avenue to be a part of the everyday life of the community.” ”We’ve been partnering with Petra for a few years and we have been pleased with how they organise themselves. They are an effective, organised company that manages the workload,” Wray continued.

Big Bash League

Hobart Hurricanes beat Perth Scorchers to reach final Hobart Hurricanes beat holders Perth Scorchers by 71 runs to reach their second Big Bash League final. Matthew Wade led the Hurricanes with 71 in Perth and Ben McDermott was 67 not out as the visitors finished on 2104. Seamer Tom Rogers (3-31) then removed the Scorchers’ top three inside six overs before Dan Christian claimed 417 to bowl the Scorchers out for 139. Yorkshire all-rounder Tim Bresnan starred for the Scorchers, taking 2-40 before hitting 43 as they fell short. The former England Test player, 32, took the wickets of George Bailey (17) and opener

Wade before Christian was run out for 37 from the penultimate ball of the Hurricanes’ innings. Sussex all-rounder Jofra Archer has caught the eye for Hobart in this season’s competition after being a late replacement for England’s Tom Curran, but this time the Barbados-born seamer - who will qualify to play for England by residence in 2022 - was outshone by Rogers and Christian. The Scorchers, who have won the Big Bash three times in the last four years, rallied with Bresnan’s knock but he had little support from the tail. Hobart will play either

Adelaide Strikers or Melbourne Renegades in the final on 4 February. They face each other in the second semifinal at Adelaide Oval today. Before that game, the Strikers will face Sydney Sixers for a place in the Women’s Big Bash League final alongside Perth Scorchers, who beat Sydney Thunder by 27 runs in the first semi-final in Perth. Scores: Hobart Hurricanes 210-4 (20 overs): Wade 71, McDermott 67*; Bresnan 2-40. Perth Scorchers 139 (17.5 overs): Bresnan 43; Christian 4-17, Rogers 3-31. Hobart Hurricanes won by 71 runs. (BBCsport)

Olympics: Nigeria bobsledders welcomed home in Lagos ahead of Games Lagos (Reuters) - Three women set to make history by becoming the first people to represent Nigeria in the winter Olympics arrived in Africa’s most populous country yesterday amid final preparations ahead of the Games. The trio, all raised in the United States, make up the Super Eagles women’s bobsleigh team who will compete in this month’s Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The participation of team members Seun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omeoga will not just be a first for Nigeria. No African nation has ever competed in an Olympic bobsled event. ”Representing Nigeria and Africa is an honor, it is so humbling,” Adigun, the driver, told a news conference in the southern commercial capital, Lagos, attended by around 100 people. The journey to South Korea began in a Texas garage in 2014, where Adigun, born in the United States to Nigerian parents, made her dream start to take shape by hammering together a makeshift sled out of wood and scraps that she named the “Mayflower”. A former sprinter who competed in 100 meters hurdles for Nigeria at the 2012 London Olympic Games, Adigun developed a love for

Tom Rogers (centre) took 3-31 to set Hobart Hurricanes on course for victory.

Grenada FFA A to launch Pure Grenada Cup in March Three women set to make history by becoming the first people to represent Nigeria in the winter Olympics. bobsleigh as a brakewoman in the U.S. bobsled program. She recruited brakewomen Onwumere and Omeoga. ”The reaction has been amazing,” said Omeoga of the reception they had received in Lagos. “A lot of people have been talking and sharing the information, sharing the news as they have been supporting us since day one,” she added. The team have repeatedly been compared with Cool Runnings, the 1993 film about a Jamaican bobsleigh team that competed in the 1988 Winter Olympics. Adigun said the comparison was a compliment.

”It is an honor because these are men who started something that was impactful and even 30 years later, to know that we can be put in that same type of legendary pedestal is amazing,” she said. The team split their time between training and fundraising. Adigun has previously estimated that the Olympic bid will cost about $150,000. They covered their costs through a combination of fund-raising efforts that included boot camps, dances, a crowd-funding website and sponsorship by Team VISA, which has backed 52 athletes from 20 countries in 15 sports.

St. George’s, Grenada – The Grenada Football Association plans to build on the foundation of a successful 12-month period by kicking off 2018 with a series of activities. One of those initiatives is the introduction of the Pure Grenada Cup. The inaugural competition — scheduled to be contested from March 17 – May 5, 2018 — will feature 200 of the country’s best players and involve the island’s six parishes, sister isles Carriacou and Petite Martinique, as well as the Under-20 national team. ”There is a big buzz about this tournament throughout Grenada and we are all excited about plans as they unfold since it will capture the interest of the entire island,” said Chairman of the Pure Grenada Cup, Alvin Clouden, who also was the chairman of the Local Organizing Committee as Grenada hosted its first ever CONCACAF event — the 2015 CONCACAF Under-17 Women’s Championship. Clouden also added that one of the benefits realized from the U-17 tournament was the empowerment of human resources, enhancing Grenada’s ability to stage large sporting events. Additionally, the Pure Grenada Cup is intended to boost the sporting aspirations of the Spice Island’s footballers. ”We are hoping to invite some scouts to the tournament with a view of having them

Cheney Joseph take a look at our players,” said GFA President Cheney Joseph. The eight teams participating in the tournament are: St. Patrick (Crown City Strikers), St. Mark (Western Stars), St. John (Dolphins), St. George (Royal Canons), Carriacou and Petite Martinique (Maroons), St. Andrew (Big Parish Stars), St. David (Top Strikers) and the Grenada under-20 national team (Young Gunners). (CaribbeanLife)