Monday February 12, 2018
PAGE 5
Kaieteur News
YOU BE THE JUDGE Freddie’s ‘When self pity
DEAR EDITOR, On Saturday 9th February my attention was brought to a letter published in The Letters to the editor column of one of our daily newspaper. The caption was “Lyrics of junior Calypso Monarch were vulgar”. Well! Being the writer of the song I was simply horrified at this bold face untruth. The extracts of the song as stated by the writer are totally inaccurate. This is what she quoted “Ah put meh dog in she cat” this is what the actual lyrics of the song say. “So I took out my dog and put licks in her cat.” But for one to get the gist of these lines it has to be taken in context.... Here are the lyrics of the song leading to the line I just quoted. ... “Because of the thieving in this country I had to get a weapon to protect me, it mek outa leather with some balls inside. I call it my dog, was my joy and pride, So late one night me neighba call out; she got some trouble inside she house. So I put my dog inside my waist and hurry ova to me neighba place, when I get deh she sweating bad and she have her cat inside a bag; she seh that the cat cause nuff worries and she want me to teach it a lesson please. You can do it what you want; ah just don’t mind cause this cat ain’t got place and time so go ahead and perform the act. So I took out my dog and put licks in her cat.” Her second statement is also incorrect “she put she salt fish in meh mouth” To cut a long story short. Here are the lyrics for the verses that contained the offending lyrics according to the letter writer, Molly GeorgeSimpson. Judge for yourself.
VERSE 1 Its five years ah sitting on the sidelines wanting to sing calypso Yes it’s been a long time long time ah sitting on the sidelines looking at the show Everybody tell me it’s a waste a time cause calypso lose its rhythm and rhyme No more double meaning no more craft no style The art of storytelling is left way behind So listen when ah tell yuh a story please listen attentively Because of the thieving in this country I had to get a weapon to protect me It mek out a leather with some balls inside I called it Ma Dog; was me joy and pride So late one night my neighba call out She seh she got some trouble inside she
house So I put MA Dog inside meh waist And hurry ova to my neighba place When ah get deh she sweating bad and she have her cat inside a bag She said that cat cause nuff worries and she want me to teach it a lesson please You can do it what you want I just don’t mind, cause this cat ain’t got place and time She said go ahead and perform the act So I took out ma dog and put licks in her cat VERSE Some people have a one track mind And only smut they hear in my lines Well listen I’ll tell you this is your interpretation of my lyrics You have to understand the genesis, how calypsonians have used their wit I pay tribute to Canary, and Kitch. Duke , Stalin, Chalkdust all great lyricists. So when sister Joan call me by she quick Cause she want me to taste her salt fish Is long time she in the fish business but now she into drying it People from all round does come by she but strange enough she neva see me So she seh me boy Jovinski make sure you come by sister Joanie So the next day ah went by she and she decide she was going to feed me I stood up there looking in disbelief cause so much salt fish staring back at me Fish drying all over de place an I must admit I like the taste I told her I believe and have no doubt I now get what she was talking bout She seh me boy eat and don’t spit it out and she kept putting the salt fish down in my mouth........(End of verse) Calypso is a fine art and most don’t understand the nuances of the genre which can lead to them making empty statements based on their own mind set. Molly GeorgeSimpson was obviously not privy to all the lyrics of the song but thought it best to launch a verbal attack on the Junior Calypso Monarch, the organizers and the public who liked the piece. Her rant was based on what she thought she heard and so she decided to publish those few snippets of fallacy and swear by it. Burchmore Simon
Continue the work of the UG Guild of Graduates DEAR EDITOR, Recently, the University of Guyana Guild of Graduates, Ontario (UGGGO), which has been active for more than 21 consecutive years but dormant for the past few, made a donation of $5,300 (Can.) to the Library of the UG. According to an acknowledgement of receipt from the Bursar of the university, this amount equates to $788,040 (Guyana). In an email to the UGGGO, Vice Chancellor of the UG,
Professor Ivelaw Griffith, writes “this new tangible expression of your support will go a long way in strengthening services in our library”. And in a letter, Ms. Gwyneth George, UG’s Librarian, expressed her thanks for this most recent support and states “this valuable donation will be used to enhance our collection which will add value to our holdings for research and teaching”. The UGGGO was formed
in 1993 and is perhaps the only chapter of the UG Guild that was active for more than 21 consecutive years. I have had the privilege of being the President of this organization since 1994 and I worked with a small, dedicated group of UG alumni from the 1960s and early 1970s to make our contribution to our alma mater. Over the years, the UGGGO contributed around $30,000 (Can) to a number of initiatives in Guyana and at Continued on page 6
turns into semi-fascism’
DEAR EDITOR, Freddie, I am a reader-fan of you and I make it a duty to ready your daily expositions. I should tell you that I get a lot of S**T from a lot of the folks I happen to engage in, to ‘gaff ‘about Guyana but that only arises when I mention your name or make references to parts of your writings. Some of those folks would loudly state that they stopped reading your stuff because ‘Freddie is antigovernment’. Of course I do not hold with them. However Freddie, sometimes you mis-write and sometimes you are ambivalent and sometimes there is no art to what you write. Being your reader-fan I can well see you penning a query ‘give me examples and not disappear behind your remarks!’ Well I will and leave you to think deeply on my comments. “I will never be a fan of Forbes Burnham.” … tut tut. A disingenuous start to an otherwise good article. Forbes Burnham is dead, gone, no longer around, so it
is a disingenuous start to your article. What does fan means in your context when your subsequent discourse highlighted the excellent attributes of the man , to wit, ‘But I honestly believe Mr. Burnham was philosophically, a rejectionist of capitalist or socialist or non-capitalist blueprints for democratic exercise of state power. “He was essentially a transformational autocrat. That is definitely an oxymoron but that was what he was. But Burnham had a personality make-up that I believe was more tolerant of people who opposed him. He had a personality style that allowed him to appreciate the positives in his detractors.” The point Freddie is that there is no need to be a fan to appreciate good qualities! Your opening sentence therefore was most inapt and a turn off for readers who do not like you as that sentence would cloud anything good thing you would later pen. Now before the editor feels that I am being too verbose let me conclude with
1. I was a not a fan of Cheddie as I disliked his wellknown political leanings; but I feel and am convinced that he was the most patriotic politician Guyana has had and so far no politician has come anywhere near to Cheddi’s patriotism. It was unfortunate that he was surrounded by a bunch of wealth garnishers and a foreign spouse. 2. I was not a fan of Forbes, but I feel and am convinced that he was the most astute politician Guyana has had and so far no politician has come anyway near to Forbes’ ability as a skilled articulate diplomatic politician. It was unfortunate that age caught up too early with him, causing him to be somewhat autocratic and f i n d i n g i t t r y i ng to be suffering too many fools 3. I am a reader-fan of Freddie and wish that he would take up the gauntlet and become an employee of the Government of Guyana, perhaps I daresay, in the diplomatic field! Carl Veecock 35 Eastwood Crescent Markham, Ontario
DEAR EDITOR, Please permit some space in your most informative newspaper to share my views which will surely help our struggling nation to live a more comfortable life.. I began attending Primary school in 1949 (The only school I’ve attended } and since the early 1950’s I was told about Eldorado the City of Gold, and that city is in British Guiana. In 2003 I had the great opportunity of touring the gold mining and processing facility of OMAI GOLD MINES where I’ve seen tons and tons of liquid gold spinning in several huge tanks. All the gold we’ve seen is gone and Guyana is still dirt poor with many families going to bed hungry (not the Politicians). When I was a child going to school, my mother and father were sugar workers and
during those days Booker’s was the owner of the sugar industry. Although sugar was King, Bookers used to provide lands for sugar workers to grow rice, cash crop and cattle rearing etc. Bookers also provide cane punts for the workers to transport their paddy from the fields to the public road because they understand the importance for food production (Agriculture). Today we are hearing so much about OIL and our Govt. is dreaming of the oil money as if it will fall like rain, failing to look east, to Suriname, north to Trinidad and west to Venezuela who are all oil producers but still suffering, because the oil money alone is not enough to buy food and improve the lives of their
citizens. Here we can produce food to feed ourselves, the Caribbean and export to other countries, and when oil comes that money be a plus but our Govt is neglecting the agriculture sector, and are sleeping and dreaming of oil money only, or maybe they are not Fit and Proper Persons ( FPP ) to look at the Past, Present and Future because all the civilized countries in this world have persons to move Agriculture to a higher level of production and Agro Continued on page 6
Guyana’s future should not end with oil
PAGE 6
NIGEL HINDS GOT IT WRONG DEAR EDITOR, Our attention was drawn to a letter published in the newspapers authored by Mr. Nigel Hinds, Auditor and Financial Consultant. We wish to clarify that the opinions expressed in that letter are not those of our company. We continue to hold Mr. Hinds in high professional esteem and he remains our auditor. However, we were advised by our investors to retain additional professional assistance for the purpose of satisfying the legal requirements for the Casino License for which we have applied. Our decision to retain additional professional assistance was therefore in no way at the instance of the Gaming Authority. Yours faithfully, Sleepin International Hotel and Casino Inc.
After GIPEX, what’s next? DEAR EDITOR, Organizers of the recently concluded International Petroleum Business Summit & Exhibition (GIPEX ) conference should be commended for attracting a diverse group of delegates some of whom have excellent credentials in the oil industry. But what’s next? Will the papers and ideas arising from the meeting stock the shelves as historical records? One hopes that the body of information gathered and the divergent views expounded, however controversial they may be, will be distilled in a blueprint for policy makers. In addition, such a blueprint should include the perspectives of uninvited guests and others with technical expertise in the petroleum field. Those with interest in the oil debate expect that ideas arising from the conference will soon be reflected in actual policies and project implementation. Dhanraj Bhagwandin
Continue the work... From page 5 the UG. Among these is the investment of over $14,000 (Can) in trust accounts in Guyana to fund 9 annual financial awards to outstanding students at the UG, irrespective of race, religion, sex, creed or political affiliation. These awards are funded by the interest earned annually on the accounts and thus, are likely to continue for the foreseeable future. Another noteworthy project was the publication of a book titled “Perspectives on the Early history of the University of Guyana”. This book offers the recollections of Professor Harold Drayton, the Deputy Vice Chancellor who set up the UG in 1963; Professor Alan Earp, the Vice Chancellor who saw
Monday February 12, 2018
Kaieteur News
the construction of the Turkeyen campus; and Professor Dennis Irvine, the Vice Chancellor who moved into the Turkeyen campus and led the university to international repute. Due to the aging of our executives, the UGGGO has been dormant for the past few years. However, we are planning to launch the autobiography of Dr. Harold Drayton, titled “An Accidental Life”, some time this Spring. Meanwhile, we are hoping that Dr. Paloma Mohamed, Deputy Vice Chancellor– PACE (Philanthropy, Alumni and Civic Engagement) will be able to generate interest among younger UG graduates in Ontario to continue the work of this chapter of the Guild. Harry Hergash
THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THAT UNPATRIOTIC ADVERTISEMENT
DEAREDITOR, There have been two comments in Kaieteur News about that advertisement advising investors not to invest in Guyana that bother me. One was a comment by the publisher of KN, asking or questioning a letter which called the ad “unpatriotic”, by asking if the ad did not represent “freedom of expression”. To which my reply was, yes it was “freedom of expression”. But “freedom of expression” also covered the letter writer and my and many other people’s right to deem it unpatriotic. The other comment was by your columnist Peeping Tom, who stated that “A call for investors to go elsewhere cannot be deemed unpatriotic”. One argument (I call it an excuse) offered by Peeping Tom is that there are still socialists in our midst who see foreign private investment as a form of robbery of poor states by rich capitalist states. Well, certainly powerful states have in the past robbed weaker states, and also undoubtedly they still do so today. However, those of us who deem the ad unpatriotic are not all socialists. And I may be wrong, but I do not think that socialism versus capitalism was the theme of that advertisement. On the contrary, I think that the basis of the ad was and is the extreme partisan politics that exists in Guyana. Peeping Tom defends the ad on the grounds that there is corruption in Guyana, and this could also be a
motivation for the advertisement: that it was warning investors to avoid investing in this corrupt country. Well, I have never noticed that investors have ever sought to avoid corrupt states; rather they seem to seek to use that corruption to their own advantage, but that’s another story. However, I would have thought that if this is the real concern of the producer of the advertisement, the individual/s concerned would be establishing community organizations to expose and fight that corruption. There is NO country that I have heard of in which NO corruption exists. But there are courageous citizens, newspaper publishers, journalists, etc., who stand up to expose the corruption wherever it occurs, and who fight against it. (Just look at the recent case of the sports doctor whose molestation of young athletes was exposed by newspaper journalists, after more than twenty years of the concerned organizations covering up the issue). In Guyana, on the other hand, with a few notable exceptions (Freddie Kissoon springs to mind), we all too often take a political attitude that if “is dem doing it”, then it’s corruption, but if “is we doing it”, then it is okay. There is no way we can get rid of corruption until we are prepared to expose and condemn it wherever and whenever it occurs.
Telling investors not to invest here will not cure the evil of corruption. (On the contrary, it will rather encourage the curse to continue; poverty and limited opportunities facilitate corruption because those who have few avenues to improve their lot are not likely to be willing to jeopardize what little they have by opposing those in power.) I cannot speak for the other citizens who have condemned this ad as being unpatriotic. But I do not think that the motivation for the ad was concern for the pockets or the moral well-being of prospective investors. I think that it was sheer political malevolence. Back to “is dem doing dis”. I do not think that had the oil project reached this stage during the present opposition’s time in power, whoever produced this ad would have done so; all would have been well, corruption or no corruption. And don’t get me wrong. I recognize that this is not something specific to supporters of the current opposition. There are supporters of the present government with exactly the same attitude. And we will get nowhere as a people until we recognize that this is indeed unpatriotic. Stop making excuses for the perpetrators, and get down to the hard and sometimes unrewarding task of building a better society. Pat Robinson Commissiong
Guyana’s future should not end with... From page 5 processing for local consumption and export. If Agriculture is to be placed on the front burner it will not only create employment in the fields but many of our women will be employed in factories and our young persons in offices. Who knows what will be the price of oil come 2020 and after, because the big countries are moving away from fossil fuel to other sources of energy. So why depend so much on oil? England have already announced from 2040 NO cars, SUV’s will be allowed to run on its roads using Gas or Diesel, which means they have already begun the change to alternative energy. We are
aware that almost everything changes, but for sure regardless of all the changes food will always be in demand and Guyana is blessed with fertile land and tropical climate all year. So why kill a bird we have in our hand ? I am aware the ministry of agriculture falls under the AFC and I have spoken to Minister Ramjattan when he was leader of the AFC and I have spoken to PM Nagamootoo about the very poor and disappointing performance of our Agriculture Minister. To date we have not seen any action to improve the sector in Region Six ,(Aunty Sheela must be turning in her grave to see how the AGRI sector is being neglected). Some Ministries that have little or no use have senior and junior
ministers only wasting taxpayers’ money. Why? For a country with a population of approx 750,000 to have 26 Ministers, works out to one Minister to about 28.846 persons young and old. This is too burdensome for a DONKEY CART ECONOMY (Mr. Nagamootoo’s words when he was in opposition ). In concluding, I hope the persons governing our beautiful land named Guyana grasp the opportunity and make Guyana one of the best countries in the world to live in because we have the resources. All we need are fit and proper persons to do the job and give us the good life we were promised before May 2015. Harri P. Beharry
This is the time for consolidation From page 4 It focuses our attention on the real substantive human rights, such as employment, decent housing, education and medical care; and it directs our attention to our rights and duty to be involved in the task of national development and to strive for the highest possible levels of production and efficiency to ensure the realization of these rights. The system of local democracy provides the mechanism and the scope for the people to their experience, expertise and initiative to the task of developing the rich resources in our communities and our regions. The upcoming local government elections to elected representatives to Regional Democratic Councils have ushered in the first phase of the system of local democracy which is so integral to the economic structure and objectives of the State. These events have already demonstrated the dynamic nature of the People’s Constitution and its inherent possibilities for extending inclusionary democracy as defined in Article 13,
releasing the creative energies of our people, liberating the productive forces in every region of our country and potentiating the development process. The National Assembly, constituted as it is, provides clear, cogent and irrefragable evidence that the people of this country have at last begun under President David Granger vision and Year of Consolidation the irreversible process of taking into our own hands and sharing our own collective destiny. Every improvement every gain, whether at an individual or national level, must be earned. It does not come by magic or wishful thinking. It comes from the expansion of our economy; and the expansion of economy can only be achieved by hard work, discipline and co-operation. Government’s broad policy objectives are clearly defined economic independence for Guyana and social justice for every Guyanese citizen. Now we are in the mood for the Year of Consolidation, we believe that all Guyanese now have a keener perception of Government’s philosophy and a clearer
perspective of Government’s policies. It will be patent that the philosophy and those policies eschew unnecessary conflict and are rooted in concepts of integration and co-operation. Government views the economy as unity which can, and ought to, pursue integrated policies to achieve national objectives. As we march forward, let us do so with confidence and in unity. There is no time for fear, doubts and unprofitable recrimination. We have a nation to rebuild. Our young people are impatient for a better life. We cannot afford to deter their dreams. Whatever our differences, let us find common ground in the need to advance Guyana. No citizen can legitimately excuse themselves from this national obligation. Let each Guyanese therefore, accept the challenge of their responsibility and dedicate themselves, in a spirit of earnestness and co-operation to the task of advancing Guyana. Yours sincerely, Sherwood Clarke
Monday February 12, 2018
Kaieteur News
PAGE 7
PAGE 8
Monday February 12, 2018
Kaieteur News
Trotman waives Guyana’s sovereign immunity in PSA with ExxonMobil By Abena RockcliffeCampbell The 2016 Petroleum Sharing Agreement (PSA) signed by Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, is far worse than the 1999 Agreement signed by former President Janet Jagan. This was expressed by Attorney-at-law, Christopher Ram, as he pointed out what he saw as another worrying provision in the 2016 agreement. Ram has turned his attention to Article 26 of the contract titled “Sole Expert and Arbitration.” Ram said that Article 26 has been subject to several changes. Those start with paragraph one which under the 1999 Agreement required the parties to make best efforts to settle disputes but which now only requires the parties to make “reasonable efforts”. This process can last for 60 days after which any party may proceed to have the dispute determined by arbitration. Ram also noted that refer-
Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman
Attorney-at-law, Christopher Ram
ences in Article 26.2 of the 1999 Agreement dealing with “sole expert” has been amended and the new Article 26.2 mandatorily requires that “Any claim, demand, cause of action, dispute, or controversy arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, including any question regarding its formation, existence, validity, enforceability, performance, termination, or alleged breach (“Dispute”) which cannot be settled amicably by negotiation shall be
resolved by arbitration.” Ram said that his interpretation of the amendment is that the role of a sole expert has been downgraded in the 2016 Agreement in favour of arbitration. “This is certainly a more costly option than sole expert and one must wonder about the reason.” The process requires approaching the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) for arbitration before three arbitrators.
Further, Article 26 requires the Government “to irrevocably waive any claim to immunity for itself, its agencies, its enterprises, and any of its assets”. According to New World Encyclopedia, immunity confers a status on a person or body that places them above the law and makes that person or body free from otherwise legal obligations such as liability for torts or damages, or prosecution under criminal law for criminal acts. There are various types of immunity, such as that given to sovereigns, parliament officials, diplomats, prosecutors, or witnesses to crimes. This exemption from an obligation or being penalised was formed for instances wherein the gravity of finding the perpetrators or the elements of a crime or situation far out-weighed the penalty for the individual who was being considered for immunity. Public benefits usually play an important role in decisions in the attempts to solve certain matters and a balancing act is created in favour of
the development. The Encyclopedia states that sovereign immunity is based on the idea that a sovereign is superior to all in authority and power. It prevents, in advance, a suit or prosecution against a sovereign, being a monarch, ruler, or government, without the sovereign's consent. While the origin of sovereign immunity derives from forms of government led by a monarch, it can nonetheless be applied to any sovereignty, where "sovereign" is understood as the supreme lawmaking authority. Thus, sovereign immunity may be applied to any government, preventing it from being sued without its consent. In the United States, where ExxonMobil is from, the federal government has sovereign immunity and may not be sued unless it has waived its immunity or consented to suit. Ram noted that immunity waiver is not usually taken lightly. “Here is another kicker. Under the 1999 Agreement,
the fees and expenses of the Sole Expert as well as the charges for the use of the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes or other facilities, were to be borne equally by the Contractor and the Minister. The role of the Sole Expert under Trotman’s Agreement seems hazy but what is not hazy is the provision of a new Article 26.8 that the ‘arbitrators shall assess the expenses incurred by the Parties, the fees and expenses of the arbitrators, the charges for the use of the facilities and any other costs related to the arbitration and shall decide by whom such costs shall be paid. “Given that Trotman would be terrified at the prospect of arbitration, the potential expenses and at an unfavourable ruling by the Arbitrators, makes one wonder why he would have agreed to some of these changes. The depth of the mystery makes the exploration by Anadarko in ultra-deep water look like a neighbourhood pool.”
Persons are coming forward to provide information on Lindo Creek deaths - Public hearings could start this week, CoI Chairman unfazed by criticism Retired Judge, Donald Trotman is pleased with the public response Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the 2008 deaths of eight miners, whose burnt remains were discovered at mining camp at Lindo Creek, in the upper Berbice region. Trotman, who was sworn in as the sole Commissioner of the CoI on January 31, told Kaieteur News that during the past week, several interviews were conducted with key persons, setting the stage for a visit to the Lindo Creek soon. “We have been getting persons who have indicated their willingness to come forward. Persons have been very responsive since the commission was established. Over the past week, we have conducted several interviews as we prepare for the next phases of our work,” Trotman explained. He disclosed that public hearings could commence this week at the Public Service Ministry building, Waterloo Street. The Lindo Creek incident is one of several that occurred over a ten year span starting in the year 2002 known as the
crime wave. Since President David Granger established the Lindo Creek CoI, there have been numerous criticisms. Among them is the Commission being political in nature, the timing and the decision to start with Lindo Creek as opposed to other incidents where there were multiple deaths during the crime wave period. Trotman said that he has observed some very adverse reponses about the CoI in the traditional and social media. “We are not fazed by it. We will press on. People must express themselves, except we do hope that they do so constructively. We are quietly having some positive responses. We are not concerned with the negative responses which have been appearing from time to time in the media,” Trotman stated. Previously, Trotman had told Kaieteur News that anyone that doubts the quality of work which will be produced from the CoI is welcomed to check his credentials, which show substantial experience in Guyana and the Caribbean region.
Lindo Creek victims The death of the miners sent shockwaves throughout Guyana during a period rocked by a spate of murders and robberies. DNA tests carried out on the remains found at the camp site confirmed the identity of the miners as Dax Arokium, Cedric Arokium, Compton Speirs, Horace Drakes, Clifton Wong, Lancelot Lee, Bonny
Harry and Nigel Torres. It is the view of the Coalition Administration that the period of the murders between 2000 and 2010 “must be investigated so as to provide answers to grieving families, whose quest for justice has not been realised, despite the number of years that has passed. The Lindo Creek CoI is the
first of many investigations which are likely to be undertaken by the government. The opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP), which was in government during the crime wave period, has called for a single, comprehensive CoI as opposed to separate investigations. Initially, the PPP committed to participating in the CoI,
promising to even testify at the hearings. With the establishment of this first CoI, the PPP is now wavering in its support, citing it as potential conflict of interest, as Justice Trotman is the father of Raphael Trotman, the Minister of Natural Resources and Leader of the coalition partner, Alliance For Change (AFC).
Monday February 12, 2018
PAGE 9
Kaieteur News
The Good Offices Process continues The following column was first published in the print version of the Kaieteur News on February 4, 2018. It did not appear, however, on the online interface homepage of Kaieteur News. It was posted in the Peeping Tom archives. But it did appear in the printed edition of this newspaper as the Peeping Tom column for that day. On February 6, 2018, this newspaper carried a column written by ‘Analyst’ which dealt with the same subject matter, that is, whether the International Court of Justice has jurisdiction to hear the matter involving Guyana and Venezuela in the absence of a consent regime. Peeping Tom is not using the pseudonym of ‘Analyst’. The Peeping Tom column of February 4 appeared before that of the column of ‘Analyst’ of February 6. It is therefore unfounded for Mr. Ralph Ramkarran to suggest in his Conversation Tree column of yesterday that Peeping Tom changed his identity to ‘Analyst’ so as disguise his
authorship of a previous column in November 2017 which had predicted that the good offices process would be continued and that the matter would not immediately be referred to the ICJ. There was concealment of authorship because Peeping Tom dealt with the SG’s ruling two days prior to the ‘Analyst’ column. This reprint of the Peeping Tom column of February 4, 2018 is dedicated to Mr. Ramkarran for his education and edification. During a ‘conversation’ hosted recently by the University of Guyana, the most important contribution actually came from the floor and not the panel of experts. It was Mr. Neville Bissember, a legal expert himself, who stood up and pointed out to the gathering that jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) requires the consent of the parties to the dispute. Guyana has been in a
semi-trance ever since the Secretary General of the United Nations decided that with respect to the border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela, the means of resolving this dispute should be the ICJ. Unlike what is being reported in the Guyanese media, the Secretary General did not refer the matter to the ICJ. He simply, under the Geneva Agreement of 1966, decided the chosen means by which both Venezuela and Guyana should settle this dispute. The media in Guyana has been so delirious over this decision that it either missed or is seeking to underplay the other important element of the Secretary General’s decision. The Secretary General (SG) has also decided that the good offices process will continue, but this time under the auspices of the United Nations. This may seem contradictory. On the one hand, the SG chooses the ICJ as the means of settlement and then, on the other hand,
Ex-cop’s son seeks probe into alleged drowning Relatives of a miner whose body was fished out of a stream at Mahdia are asking for his body to be exhumed, as they suspect that he may not have drowned as is being claimed. The body of the ex-police officer, 62-year-old Rory Fordyce, was found floating in the area on January 31, exactly one week after he was reported missing. According to the man’s son, Damion Fordyce, he received a phone call from his sister who informed him that their father was missing. The man added that one week later, he received another phone call from his sister, who said that their father body was found in the Mahdia River. Damion Fordyce then made contact with ranks from the Mahdia Police Station who informed him that they were in the process of burying his dad, since his body had started to decompose. He added when the police officer called him and told him that his father had drowned he was suspicious since his father was an excellent swimmer. “At the time when I received the phone call, I was in Bartica and I couldn’t have gone to Mahdia on the same day.” The man said that a few hours later, he received several photos of his father’s
The dead Rory Fordyce body. He alleged that the corpse appeared to bear suspicious injuries. The young Fordyce then made several calls to his father’s associates, who said that the day when his father went missing he was at the
“Black Water Landing” consuming alcohol with some friends. “They are so many unanswered questions. If my father was consuming alcohol in company of friends and workmates how come nobody ain’t see or heard anything? Everyone is quiet and something is not right.” While stating that his father was working with a mining company, he added that no one from the company contacted the family, and this is causing further suspicion. They are insisting that a post mortem examination should be conducted so they can get the exact cause of death. “I know when persons die mysteriously; a post mortem examination is always conducted. I don’t know how my father case is any different. I don’t know why the police buried him so fast. I need answers.”
still opts for a new good offices process. Why? The SG is aware of what Guyana seems to be trying to deny – that in order for the ICJ to hear Guyana’s case; Venezuela must consent to the jurisdiction of the court. Mr. Neville Bissember, speaking from the floor, made this point to the assemblage. He argued that the jurisdiction of the court has triggers, one of which is consent, and the other through agreements which provide for the jurisdiction of the court to hear contentious cases. He noted, quite correctly, that the Geneva Agreement makes no mention of the ICJ. The United Nations has produced a “Handbook on accepting the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice: Model clauses and templates”. The handbook states that to become a party to a contentious case before the Court, States must have access to the Court and accept its jurisdiction. The issue of access is not an issue, because access is provided to all members of the United Nations. Both Guyana and Venezuela have access to the court. But jurisdiction is based on consent of the parties to the case. A country can give consent by means of unilateral declarations (optional clause declarations), in treaties or through Special Agreement.
The Geneva Agreement of 1966 is not listed among the agreements which can trigger the jurisdiction of the Court. Guyana therefore needs the consent of Venezuela in order to activate the jurisdiction of the Court. Let me reiterate, Guyana needs either Venezuela to make a unilateral declaration accepting the jurisdiction of the Court or to enter into a Special Agreement granting the court jurisdiction to hear the matter. And it was probably with this understanding that the SG decided that the good offices process would continue. A member of the expert panel attempted to suggest that the ICJ may be able to hear the case even without the consent of Venezuela. Reference was made to the case between the Republic of the Philippines and the Republic of China, in which China did not participate, but which was still adjudicated. However, this case was not heard by the ICJ, It was adjudicated on by the Arbitral Tribunal constituted under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). As Guyana knows all too well, the consent of all parties to a case is not required to trigger the jurisdiction of the Arbitral Tribunal of UNCLOS. The reason for this is that Article 9 of UNCLOS provides that “the absence of
a party to defend its case shall not constitute a bar on the proceedings.” The tribunal in its ruling in the case held that China’s non-participation did not prevent the arbitration from continuing. Unfortunately, there is no similar provision under the ICJ statute. The statute of the ICJ is clear that there must be both access and jurisdiction, and that the latter requires the consent of parties in contention. The precedent of UNCLOS therefore cannot apply to the ICJ. These are two different courts with different rules. Guyana therefore has to be able to convince Venezuela to accept the jurisdiction of the ICJ. This is why the good offices process will continue. Venezuela, however, is not likely to want to do that in an election year. So Guyana has to wait on the outcome of those elections. In the meantime, Guyana should take note of Venezuela’s statement rejecting the SG’s decision. Venezuela ended by reasserting its claim to the Essequibo. It stated, “The sun of Venezuela rises in the Essequibo.” PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Peeping Tom is not The Analyst
Monday February 12, 2018
Kaieteur News
PAGE 11
Monday February 12, 2018
Kaieteur News
Oil may guarantee rapid GDP, but not human development - Professor Suresh Narine reminds that more elements needed to unlock the good life By Kiana Wilburg Angola, Tanzania, Nigeria, Uganda, Sudan, Yemen, Papua New Guinea, South Sudan, Chad, these are all oil producing nations. Due to substantial oil finds over the years, the GDP of these nations looks incredible on paper. (Attached to this feature is a chart showing further details on the 2016 GDPs of each country.) At first glance, some might deem these nations and their experience with oil to be a huge success; an economic bonanza! And the same is projected to happen here.
But let’s consider another measure of growth: The Human Development Index (HDI). The HDI was created to emphasise the point that people and their ability to live a better life should be the ultimate criteria for assessing the development of a country, and not “economic growth” alone. In fact, the oil producing countries mentioned earlier were all flagged as places of low human development in the latest HDI report. Guyana on the other hand, with its $3.4B GDP is in the medium human development bracket. On this basis, one can surely understand the notion that oil alone does not guarantee the “good life”. This very point was recently hammered home by scientist and head of the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST), Professor Suresh Narine. At the Guyana International Petroleum Business Summit (GIPEX) which was held last week, Professor Narine asked, “Will Guyana simply shoot to the top of the HDI by simply becoming producers of oil? And for how long shall we maintain this good life, if we are able
to attain it? Will it only be over the lifetime of our reserves? The answer to these questions lies not with our partners such as ExxonMobil, but from within.” Professor Narine articulated that if one closely examines the countries currently at the top of the HDI list such as Norway, Canada, the United States, Australia, etc., there are deeper implications. He stressed that none of these countries suffer from access to food, clean water, healthy environment and individual freedoms. He emphasised that energy on its own
doesn’t guarantee the good life. The world renowned scientist noted however that it can unlock the good life in the presence of all the very things that makes life good – the things that feed our bodies and our souls in an Continued on page 23
World Renowned Scientist and IAST Head, Professor Suresh Narine
PAGE 21
PAGE 22
Kaieteur News
Monday February 12, 2018
NY based group slams...
FOR RENT
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK;Guyanapassport application. G r a p h i c s design, advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535.
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY- $19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-2274754. One (1) female german shepherd dog for sale, one year old: contact #619-9203 All size solar pannel & batteries lowest price guarantee. check us out @ Boodhoo’s General store @ Parika EBE.
ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6004212: We create A/works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.
Video games and consoles at affordable price. Repairs to video game system .Call:6722566/265-3231
We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer-Call: 231-0655; 683-8734. Omar
6 weeks old, vaccinated dashund pups for sale. Call: 670-2653, 638-8449.
REPAIRS AT LOW COST: FRIDGES, AIR CONDITIONERS, WASHING MACHINES, FREEZERS,SALE OFAC’S TEL:6294946,225-4822
Used strong American construction steel scaffle for sale. Call: 623-1615 for more information.
EDUCATION CXC adults classes (Business & Science subjects) Form 1-5 lessons, Grade 2-6 lessons (slow learners, personal tutor) #690-5008,618-0649 First aid/CPR and home nursing courses. To enroll: St John Association 110 Cowan Street #225-9082 Register your child for after school classes for slow learners in Mathematics, Reading, Phonics, Spelling, etc. Call: 675-4379 Live & work in Canada? Become a certified support worker/ Caregiver. Care for Elderly & Children. Call 2274881 Jean offers courses in Dressmaking, Curtains, Floral, Cake decorations. Barr St, Kitty. Tel#670-2653, 638-8449.
TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)
Plant-closing down sale: potting soil, plant pot, flower plant at Garden Centre, Plantation Schoonard WBD #615-2346/627-3443/15001600 GL super pit-bull van- GTT 2891, Automatic, 2005 year, 2000cc, Double A/C, TV, CD & DVD player. Call: 684-5868
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 2 & 3 bedroom fully furnished luxury apartments to rent, long & short term. #666-7820, 691-1432 Fully furnished apartment two & one bedrooms in Providence, apartment at Diamond East Bank Tel: 6721906/216-2299/682-6238 3 bedroom apartment at the back of UG, 2 bedroom in Diamond. Tel#680-5944/ 6564211 Vreed-en-hoop junction. Lessons place, church, storage bond, office, other. Call: 603-6400.
VEHICLE FOR SALE Allion, Primo, Fielder Wagon, Spacio, Bluebird, 212 Carina, NZE, Honda CRV, Toyota IST, RZ & Pit-bull – Call: 650-7501 Nissan Pathfinder Jeep 4WD Excellent condition $1.4M negotiable. Call: 609-7766/2258427 One Toyota car- Spacio PPP series, never in hire-silver. #254-0454
2 Fielder wagons. One 19 seater pitbull, never worked passenger. Tel:664-0802
CAR RENTAL
DOLLY’SCARRENTAL-CALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIAL OFFERS! . CALL: 690-6494 AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807
Experienced curry cook, counter servers, drivers. Apply Hack’s Halaal, 5 Commerce St. Contract cars and Drivers. Contact: 231-0316, 231-0002 Hire car drivers. Call: 225-3234 Wanted experience hire car taxi driver at Ramada Princess Hotel. Tel: 265-7076. Cell: 6165419 (1) Manager to work @ Hotel/ Club on Essequibo coast, previous hotel management an asset. Contact: 500-5923, 676-8764/646-3675 Wanted cashier/sales clerk at Nirva supermarket 49 Sheriff & Craig St C/Ville. Apply in person. Tel#227-5771. American Variety Store 140 Regent & Light, Georgetown. Experience cashier, supervisor and salesgirls. apply in person
2006 Audi A4 PRR Series. $2.5M. 623-3839
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
WANTED Salesman, good verbal/ excellent attitude, knowledge in stocktaking, computer literate & team player. Keyfood McDoom.
SALON Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. -CosmetologyCourses:$90,000 Nail Technician Course: $35,000. Call: 647-1773/6880009 TOLET Rooms in Albertown. Call: 2253234 Furnished executive one or two bedroom suite in Diamond. Ideal for foreigners. Call: 600-2466. LEARN TO DRIVE Ultraviolet Driving School is offering a 6 days driving lesson for $7,500. Come and enjoy it! Call 676-8783.
Experience worker to work on the West Bank willing to work & carry out duties. Age 17-25 Tel 664-3853 PROPERTY FOR SALE 3- Storey commercial buliding, land size- 120ft x 60ft, building size- 62ft x 30ft, location- Lot 1486 Plot B, Herstelling East Bank Demerara. Contact: #6093777/697-4557 Riumveldt Public Rd (opp Massey) (6) bedroom house on double lot. (2) Apartments with all utilities- parking, fenced. Call: 225-8427/6097766 House and land available @ La Parfaite Harmonie, Providence, Etc. Financing assistance available. Contact Pacific Development: 2236035/ 604-4909 Lot 15 Public Road, #2 Village, W.C.B. 49ft x 10,314ft $20M Negotiable Contact 648-7109/686-4818 Newly built @ Craig E.B.D land size 91x50 feet; house 40x28, 3 rooms, 1 self contained. Call: 718-2136496/617-7691 Property for sale at 97 Sugarcane street S/Rvldt Gardens. Price US 1.5M neg. Tel: 695-1356 & 687-8445 VACANCY Hydraulic hose technician, Inventory clerk (must have technical background). Call: 233-2745 Accounts clerk (knowledge of NIS, PAYE, VAT and quickbooks). Call: 614-4358
(From page 15) treasury cannot be the only funding source for such acquisitions. The government has to be able to mobilise resources from the international community and sympathetic countries. Our diplomats around the world should be tasked with this responsibility,” Burke noted. He also called for Guyana’s criminal codes to be updated and existing penalties severely toughened to protect the nation from modern crimes and new criminal techniques. “Security services must dramatically increase patrols on the border and coastal waterways; as well as in the city and other population centres throughout the country. These and other measures will give citizens confidence that the government is competent and deserving of their support,” said Burke. He added that for a government that is dominated by former security officials, its dismal record on security as well as the lack of accountability for the numerous public safety failures is astounding and unfortunate. According to Burke, while the Guyanese society is advancing, the nation’s security infrastructure; including laws, assets, resources and the criminal justice system, remained relatively stagnant and antiquated. He posited that these are
challenging times for Guyana with high levels of crime and the Venezuela border dispute posing significant threats to stability and national security. Burke noted that hinterland communities are being terrorized by the murderous, Venezuelan gang, ‘Sindicato’. “Simultaneous with these threats to national security, is increased world focus on Guyana. Our international profile has been elevated because of imminent oil production. Hence, while the border issue is being addressed by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the government needs to aggressively tackle crime which has had a destabilising effect,” Burke pointed out. Burke was born at Bartica, Essequibo and served as a special assistant to former President Desmond Hoyte. He supported the view that overseas-based Guyanese are being excluded from finding solutions. “Persons who criticise overseas Guyanese for wanting to see Guyana develop are unenlightened and unpatriotic. There is a larger number of Guyanese who live outside than those who reside in Guyana. More qualified and skilled Guyanese live abroad than those who reside at home. Our political leadership needs to embrace and tap into the diaspora and ensure it is an integral part of national development,” Burke noted.
Nappi water reservoir... (From page 17) Technical Director, Curtis Bernard, while addressing future plans, said there will be meetings over the next two months
VACANCY Experience bartenders and cleaners. Call: 225-8572 between 7 am to 9 am Hair station & Barber station rental, New market street #638-1106. Experienced persons preferable. Cashier (shift work 7am-3pm & 3pm-11pm) Submit application to: Shell Service Station Providence E.B.D or e m a i l : Shellramsburg@gmail.com Kitchen assistant for interior location. Job entails assisting cooks and generally cleaning. Call: 618-2020. We l d e r / f a b r i c a t o r , machinist,mechanic,store keeper, female cleaner. Must have technical back ground and 3 years’ experience. Call:233-2745 Log truck drivers. Tel: 6646062.
with residents and stakeholders to discuss management of the reservoir. He noted that the management design for the catchment area coincides with the plans for regional and by extension national development. “If by building the reservoir the village is worse off because other things in the environment are not working, then that's not the plan. It must improve your livelihood, so the ministry is collaborating with CI to help you develop your management plan. We will also work to ensure that the ecological aspects of the catchment area are fine.” Ryan Pereira from Cataleya Energy Limited, in brief remarks stated the reservoir will significantly reduce vulnerability to drought and other natural hazards, not only in Nappi, but also surrounding communities. “My hope is that it achieves and even exceeds its purpose by also helping to build social and economic resilience in the villages. I hope it helps with agriculture and tourism industries,” Pereira said. Also in attendance at the event was Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs Valerie Garrido-Lowe who presented books and sports gear to the residents. (A DPI feature)
Monday February 12, 2018
PAGE 23
Kaieteur News
Oil may guarantee rapid GDP, but... PTA, Board to meet with Ministry official From page 21 environment of peace and security. According to Professor Narine, Guyana can help unlock the good life only if it focuses petroleum-generated capital on these factors in a manner which guards against haphazard, reactionary investment; in a manner driven by multi-stakeholder policy interventions. “How we manage this industry, how we deploy the proceeds from it, our enablement and careful stewardship of sustainable industries and attention to the sustenance, promotion and protection of our marvelous environmental and cultural diversity is entirely within our hands.” “Not only must we ask what the emergence of this industry will mean to our current generation – we must envision the Guyana we wish for the next and future generations and lay the groundwork now, as many of the decisions we make now will only affect the next generation in 25 years or so.” Additionally, the IAST Head said that while reports in the press are heavily focused on the Production Sharing Agreement that the Government of Guyana signed with ExxonMobil and its partners, there are certain matters which he believes should also be given due prominence. In this regard, he said that oil and gas conversation should be about Guyanese positioning themselves to understand and then determine how the proceeds from this industry can be used to further Guyanese ambitions and goals. He said that this topic is the essential fulcrum on which rests a collective approach to the nation’s development. “In 1776, Adam Smith wrote the evergreen treatise on development economics, the Wealth of Nations. As
over impending closure of Central High
valid then as it is now is the essential tripod for development and growth – Land, Labour, and Capital. The Caribbean region receives less than 0.3 percent of the World’s Foreign Direct Investment, not counting the recent investments in Oil and Gas in the Guyana Basin.” “As a result, Guyana’s immense potential for large scale and specialty agriculture, value-added processing and manufacturing, eco-tourism, sustainable energy development and the knowledge-based economy, especially the wealth of knowledge that resides among our Indigenous Peoples, remain latent. The advent of the Oil and Gas discovery and development will generate immense capital, as Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman had indicated.” If managed in a corruption-free, responsible manner, Professor Narine articulated that oil capital can transform Guyana’s sustainable sectors. As a latecomer to the Oil and Gas party, he noted that the examples of a lack of attention to diversification of the economy of oil producing nations into sustainable productive sectors are as glaring as they are terribly
Jamaica’s Ambassador to US attending World Government Summit KINGSTON, Jamaica - CMC – Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States Audrey Marks is representing the Andrew Holness led administration at the sixth annual gathering of World Government Summit being held in Dubai. The summit, which opened yesterday, under the theme “Shaping Future Governments”, will explore the future of governments in the coming decade led by the phenomenal advances of mankind. The World Government Summit is a global platform dedicated to the enhancement of governments around the world and will bring together over 3000 participants, world leaders, policymakers, international organisations and experts from over 130 countries. Jamaica is being represented at the summit for the first time by Marks who was invited by the Government of the United Arab Emirates. While in Dubai, Marks will have the opportunity to share her thoughts with world leaders who will be working to bring prosperity to their nations. The summit ends tomorrow.
sad. “One of the things that I am most against is for us simply to hand monthly checks to all Guyanese, as we begin to receive proceeds sometime in 2020. This is tantamount to handing our people a fish rather than teaching them how to fish and very importantly, how not to overfish.” “However, the timescale and cumulative size of the capital injection and its growth and stewardship in vehicles such as a Sovereign Wealth Fund are essential elements of ensuring that capital from the petroleum industry is available at a scale and timeline commensurate with the demands of our educational and sustainable sectors, in order to develop a sustainable and resilient economy. Statistically, once the key to solving timing of migration to timing of trap is established, historically in other basins, new discoveries follow quickly.” If and when this occurs in Guyana, Professor Narine said that citizens need to begin to think carefully of the pace of development and the role policy will play as a tool to regulate runaway inflation, measured capital inflows, on demand capital injections into sustainable industries, emergence of a local vertically integrated petroleum sector and workforce, and generational educational needs as we transform from a commoditised into a value added economy. Professor Narine concluded, “It is time that we begin to debate draft policies in agriculture, science and technology, renewable energy, taxation and investment, crop insurance, enabling infrastructure and a myriad of other crucial enablements. It is time, also that we have a Ministry of Innovation and Industry. For it is only through ensuring that we have access to good health, a clean environment, good food and nutrition, security and individual freedoms that we can use petroleum to unlock Guyanese access to the upper echelons of the Human Development Index.”
The building that currently houses the operations of Central High School. The Parent Teacher Association, (PTA) and Board of Directors of the Central High School are set to meet with Ministry of Education, (MoE) Officials this week over the impending closure of the institution. Chairperson of the school’s Board of Directors, Ruth Howard told Kaieteur News that the meeting scheduled for Wednesday is pursuant to protest exercise held last week. Last Wednesday, patrons of the Central High School held a peaceful picketing exercise outside the Ministry of Education on Brickdam. The protest is part of the school’s effort to get the attention of the Ministry and other relevant authorities over reports that the Ministry plans to have Central High phased out of the public education system. Howard told this newspaper that the Board has credible information of the Ministry efforts to “phase out” the school. Howard noted that the fact that there were no new entries at the first form level of Central High at the beginning of the school term and recent move to have students relocated; has parents and the school board troubled. The Chairperson said that before taking steps to phase out the school, the Ministry should take into consideration Central’s performance at the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) exam has been exceptional for the past few years. Central High School has an over 80 percent pass rate at CSEC in the past three years. According to Howard, the rate has been climbing.
“I don’t think it‘s a good idea to phase a school that is performing; a school with a history of non performance maybe, but not Central High,” she added, noting that the issue came to the forefront after plans to close the school were raised by the Ministry, based on the need to renovate the building, which at present is in a state of disrepair. Kaieteur News understands, however, that the building which currently accommodates a student body of close to 1000 children is privately owned. Howard said parents of those students at the school are beginning to worry about the future of the school and their children. She urged the ministry to meet with them and talk about the plans for the future. She said the board intends to protest every Wednesday for one hour until the Ministry makes a substantive decision on a positive and favourable future of the school. Officials of the school were informed that the ministry has plans to “phase out” the school but students and teachers were not told where they will be housed once the process commences. Previously, parents vehemently opposed the planned relocation of the institution to another secondary school, citing security concerns and the quality of education at that institution. Additionally, the school board and alumni are concerned about preserving the legacy of the 80-year old school. Guyana’s first Executive President, Forbes Burnham is among the past students of the High school.
Venezuela condemns US senator who says world would back a coup Caracas (AFP) - The Venezuelan government has sharply condemned the suggestion by US Senator Marco Rubio that “the world would support” an armed coup to remove President Nicolas Maduro, whom the American lawmaker denounced as a “dictator.” The Venezuelan armed forces are “committed to the constitution” and will defend the presidential elections set for April 22, said Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza. Arreaza suggested that Washington wanted to replace Maduro with a rightwing dictator like those who ruled regional countries with an iron fist in years past, someone like Augusto Pinochet of Chile.
Marco Rubio “But these are different times,” Arreaza, who recently toured Caribbean countries, told the Telesur network on Friday. Rubio tweeted on Friday that “the world would
support the Armed Forces in #Venezuela if they decide to protect the people & restore democracy by removing a dictator.” He added that “soldiers eat out of garbage cans & their families go hungry in #Venezuela while Maduro & friends live like kings & block humanitarian aid.” Rubio, who is of Cuban descent, chairs a Senate subcommittee dealing with democracy and human rights in the Western Hemisphere. US President Donald Trump said last year he would not “rule out a military option” in Venezuela amid the deepening unrest there. Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino called Trump’s remark an “act of craziness.”
PAGE 24
Monday February 12, 2018
Kaieteur News
Russian passenger plane crashes near Moscow; 71 dead
Emergency services work at the scene, yesterday. REUTERS/Sergel Karpukhin MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Russian passenger plane crashed near Moscow soon after take-off yesterday, killing all 71 people on board, and investigators said they were looking at all possible causes. Temperatures were around minus 5 degrees Celsius with periodic snowfall when the shorthaul AN-148 operated by Saratov Airlines took off for the city of Orsk in Orenburg region, about 900 miles (1,500 km) southeast of the capital. “According to preliminary information, nobody survived,” the Kremlin said in a statement. The office of Russia’s transport prosecutor said all 71 people on board had been killed. Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov confirmed there were no survivors and said DNA tests would be needed to identify the dead. TV images of the crash site showed
wreckage of the plane, including at least one engine, lying in fields covered with thick snow. Helicopters were at the scene as well as rescuers on snowmobiles. An official of the Emergency Situations Ministry said two bodies and a flight recorder had been found. Debris and human remains were spread over a radius of a kilometre from the crash site, investigators said. They said they had opened a criminal case into the incident. Among the possible causes they listed were weather conditions, human error and the plane’s technical condition. No distress signals had been received from the crew. The plane, manufactured in 2010, had been carrying 65 passengers and six-crew. It disappeared from radar screens shortly after taking off from Moscow’s Domodedovo airport.
India’s Modi in UAE to boost ties with Gulf Arab states
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi started the second day of his visit to the United Arab Emirates yesterday by unveiling a model of the first Hindu temple that will be built in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi, a testament to the stronger ties that both countries seek. Standing on stage at the Dubai Opera, Modi spoke before hundreds of diplomats and Indian expatriates about the historical ties linking India with the small, but oil-rich and increasingly influential UAE, where 3.3 million Indians reside — far outnumbering the c o u n t r y ’s o w n l o c a l population. Around half of the Indians living in the UAE are lower-wage migrant labourers. Many hold construction jobs, building t h e U A E ’s d a z z l i n g skyscrapers and shopping centers. The UAE is also home to wealthy Indian investors, some of whom run the country’s largest
Narendra Modi hospitals, schools and supermarkets. I n d i a ’s c u l t u r a l a n d economic influence on the UAE is so great that D u b a i ’s d a i l y E n g l i s h newspaper, Gulf News, created a video on its website titled: “How Indian is the UAE?” The video explains that, for example, the UAE used Indian rupees before the local currency, the dirham, and that many locals still refer to one dirham as a “rubiya”.
“Today, whether it’s the UAE or other countries in the Arabian Gulf, our relationship is no longer just that of a buyer and seller, it’s a partnership that’s been built,” Modi told the audience in Dubai. India and the UAE are key trading partners and seeking to boost investments. On Saturday, Modi and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan oversaw the signing of several agreements, including a $600 million deal awarded to a consortium of Indian companies for a 10 percent stake in a major Abu Dhabi offshore oil concession. The deal marks the first time Indian oil and gas companies will have a share in the UAE’s crude production. O n S u n d a y, M o d i unveiled the model of the traditional stone temple that will be built in Abu Dhabi, which is scheduled to be completed by 2020. The historically Muslim country already has one Hindu temple in the nearby emirate of Dubai.
Monday February 12, 2018
Kaieteur News
Iran displays missile, Rouhani says U.S. regional policy a failure ANKARA (Reuters) Hundreds of thousands of Iranians rallied yesterday to mark the anniversary of Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution, denouncing the United States and Israel as oppressors. President Hassan Rouhani, addressing flagwaving crowds on central Tehran’s Azadi (Freedom) Square, made no specific reference to Israel’s air strikes in Syria on Saturday which it said were aimed at air defense and Iranian targets. But he told the crowd: “They (U.S. and Israel) wanted to create tension in the region ... they wanted to divide Iraq, Syria ... They wanted to create long-term chaos in Lebanon but ... but with our help their policies failed.” Iran backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the civil war, supports Shi’ite militias in Iraq, Houthi rebels in Yemen and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. U.S. President Donald Trump, who sees Iran as a rising threat to regional stability in the Middle East,
Hassan Rouhani has pledged to work with Israel and Iran’s key regional rival Saudi Arabia to curb what they say are Tehran’s attempts to extend its influence in the region. Israel has warned about the increased Iranian involvement along its borders with Syria and Lebanon. Israel’s air strikes on Saturday which it said successfully hit air defense and Iranian targets represented the most serious
confrontation between Israel and Iranian-backed forces in Syria in the seven-year civil war. The Syrian army claimed to have brought down an Israeli F-16 after Israel reportedly shot down an Iranian drone which it said had entered Israeli airspace. Iran has denied the Israeli claim, saying its presence in Syria is only advisory. In a show of defiance of Western pressure to curb its ballistic missile programme, Iran put its Ghadr ballistic missile with a range of 2,000 km (1,240 miles) on display in Tehran’s central Vali-ye Asr street. Iran says its missile programme is solely defensive in nature and is not negotiable as demanded by the United States and the Europeans. Iranian State television said “tens of millions of people” rallied to support the revolution across the country of 81 million, which faced its worst domestic crisis in nearly a decade in late December.
South Africa’s ruling ANC to finalise talks on Zuma’s future
Cyril Ramaphosa and Jacob Zuma CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) leader Cyril Ramaphosa said yesterday the party’s executive body would meet today to finalise discussions on the future of President Jacob Zuma, who is under mounting pressure to step down. Speaking at a rally as part of celebrations marking 100 years since the birth of former President Nelson Mandela, he said Zuma’s exit should be undertaken in an orderly fashion just as the anti-apartheid icon would have handled it. The 75-year-old Zuma, in power since 2009 and mired in corruption allegations, has been living on borrowed time since Ramaphosa took over his other role as leader of the ruling party in December. Addressing ANC supporters in Cape Town, Ramaphosa, who is deputy president, said: “The National Executive Committee of the ANC will be meeting tomorrow to discuss this very matter, and because our people want this matter to be finalised, the NEC will be doing precisely that.” The party’s National Executive Committee has the power to instruct Zuma to resign.
Though he avoided mentioning Zuma by name, Ramaphosa spoke several times of a “transition of power” in reference to talks on Zuma’s future and said the ANC wanted to resolve issues around the “president of the country”. In a speech which also marked 28 years to the day since Mandela was released from an apartheid-era prison, Ramaphosa said the talks on Zuma’s future should be handled in an orderly, purposeful manner, “in Madiba’s way of doing things” - using Mandela’s clan name. Ramaphosa was at Mandela’s side, holding a microphone, when the leader addressed thousands outside Cape Town’s city hall on the same day 28 years ago after his release. Ramaphosa had earlier yesterday attended a service at Cape Town’s Anglican St George’s Cathedral. The ANC called off a special meeting of its executive body on Zuma scheduled for last Wednesday after the president and Ramaphosa agreed to hold talks on a handover of power. The party has only said that the talks were “constructive”.
PAGE 25
PAGE 26
Monday February 12, 2018
Kaieteur News
North Korea keeps mum on summit invite as its delegation completes South visit
Merkel defends painful coalition concessions, denies authority waning BERLIN (Reuters) - Angela Merkel yesterday defended “painful” concessions she has made to the Social Democrats (SPD) to win a fourth term as German chancellor and said criticism among her conservatives was not a sign her authority was waning. Asked whether she was planning to groom a successor to lead her conservatives in the next election, Merkel said she wanted a younger generation of her Christian Democrats (CDU) to fill ministerial posts in a renewed coalition with the SPD. In an interview with the ZDF public broadcaster, she commented on the rising displeasure among conservatives over her decision to give the SPD the powerful finance ministry. “I understand the disappointment,” said Merkel, who has led Germany for the last 12 years. “And now we need to show that we can start with a new team,” she added. “We have six ministerial posts to fill and from my point of view we need to
Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un, is greeted by South Korea’s Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon, as President of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly of North Korea Kim Young Nam looks on before a banquet in Seoul, South Korea yesterday. Yonhap via REUTERS SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea’s delegation sent to the Winter Olympics held “frank and candid” talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, the North Korean news agency said yesterday, but it made no mention of the North’s invitation to Moon to Pyongyang for a summit. The delegation, the highest-ranking to visit the South and led by the younger sister of the North’s leader Kim Jong Un, concluded its visit yesterday after charming and intriguing the South Korean public, but still faces deep scepticism over Pyongyang’s sincerity towards improving relations. Any summit between the two still-officially warring Koreas would be a coup for Moon, who has been pushing for a diplomatic solution to the standoff over North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes. In a rare honour for visiting foreign guests, Moon met Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, four times during the delegation’s three-day visit. Moon’s chief of staff held a farewell dinner for the delegation before the delegation attended a performance by a North Korean orchestra, the last item on their itinerary before heading home. “I never thought I would visit (the South) so suddenly and believed much would be strange and different but I saw many things that were similar or the same,” said Kim Yo Jong in a toast during yesterday’s dinner, adding she hoped to meet the “friendly faces” before her later in Pyongyang. Earlier South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon had hosted a lunch for the
Pyongyang delegation at a five-star hotel. On Saturday Kim Yo Jong “courteously” handed over a personal letter from the North Korean leader to Moon and told him of her brother’s “intention”, North Korea’s state news agency KCNA said, without elaborating what that was. South Korean officials said Moon had been invited to Pyongyang to speak with Kim Jong Un during the talks and lunch that Moon hosted at the presidential Blue House in Seoul on Saturday. Such a meeting, if it came about, would mark the first inter-Korea summit since 2007. Loud applause greeted the appearance of Moon, Kim Yo Jong and her delegation at the concert, attended by more than a thousand people. The North Korean orchestra will return home today after their second and last performance yesterday. North Korea’s nominal head of state, Kim Yong Nam, a member of the delegation, was seen wiping away tears with his handkerchief and at times clapping enthusiastically during the show. “Always stay healthy and please come and visit Pyongyang with President Moon,” Kim Yo Jong told South Korea’s First Lady Kim Jung-sook after the show ended. According to the Blue House, Kim Jong Un wanted to meet Moon “in the near future” and would like him to visit North Korea “at his earliest convenience”, his sister told Moon. Blue House spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom cited Moon as replying: “Let’s create the environment for that to be able to happen.”
Bankers: Act now to save our dollar
Donna Wellington
Daily Nation - Take decisive action now to preserve the BDS$2 to US$1 exchange rate and increase the foreign exchange reserves. That, essentially, is what The Barbados Bankers’ Association (TBBA) is urging the Freundel Stuart administration to do without delay to avoid any threat of devaluation. Further, the association, which comprises the island’s five commercial banks, wants Government to go to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to secure short-term funding to give an immediate boost to the foreign reserves, now at their lowest level in 22 years. “Like most people observing the developments in the Barbados economy, we are concerned that on the current trajectory the Central Bank will be unable to defend the currency peg and the Barbados dollar will devalue if nothing is done to stop the decline,” said TBBA president Donna Wellington.
ensure that not only the over-60s are considered but also younger people.” Merkel was weakened in a September election that saw her conservative bloc bleed support to a far-right party thrust into parliament for the first time by voters angry at her decision in 2015 to welcome more than a million immigrants. In November, her efforts to form a government with two smaller parties failed, leaving the country in political deadlock and prompting some members of her CDU party to demand a succession plan. Last week, she secured a deal with the SPD to renew a right-left alliance that has ruled Germany since 2013 after making painful concessions on Europe and fiscal policy as well as ceding the finance ministry. The coalition agreement has been criticised by some conservatives who feel the next government will have an SPD-stamped agenda.
Hundreds rally in show of support for…
Trinidadian immigrant rights activist
Rally in New York with immigrant rights activist Ravi Ragbir a day after he was granted a temporary stay of deportation. NEW YORK - CMC – Hundreds of supporters on Saturday rallied in lower Manhattan in demonstrating support for Trinidadian immigrant rights activist Ravi Ragbir, who faces deportation to his native land. Ragbir, 53, whose detention sparked several protests last month, will be able to stay in the United States for the time being, according to a court order issued in New York on Friday. Ragbir was detained one month ago after a routine check-in with US Immigrant and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a move that sparked protests throughout New York City from supporters who called Ragbir a pillar of the community. “They want to make America white again,” Ragbir told about 300 supporters during Saturday’s rally in Foley Square. “But America was never white in the first place. “Am I a national security problem? “Am I colluding with Russia?” Ragbir asked. “We know that there is a movement to remove people of colour, to learn that there is an ethnic cleansing being created by this administration. And it’s very hard words, but let’s be real about what we are seeing.” Ragbir, the executive director of the New York-based New Sanctuary Coalition, and several organisations supporting him filed a lawsuit against ICE, the US Department of Homeland Security and the US Department of Justice, alleging that he was targeted because of his activism. He was granted a stay of deportation to
allow for the briefing and consideration of the suit, according to AM New York. “Like so many people who are living in this country under the threat of deportation, I know how important it is to raise our voices against the injustices in the system,” Ragbir said in a statement. “This lawsuit is not just about me, it is about all of the members of our community who are speaking out in our struggle for immigrant rights.” The lawsuit seeks a preliminary and permanent injunction, restraining the government from taking further action to force a deportation order against Ragbir. It also seeks a preliminary and permanent injunction “restraining the government from selectively enforcing immigration laws against individuals based on protected political speech.” “ICE’s targeting of immigrant-rights activists based on their protected speech and political advocacy plainly violates the First Amendment,” said Sally Pei of the law firm, Arnold & Porter, in a statement. “We intend to put an end to this vindictive practice.” But ICE has denied targeting immigrants based on their advocacy work or comments, saying “any suggestion to the contrary is irresponsible, speculative and inaccurate. Ragbir and the other plaintiffs on the lawsuit will have until today to file additional paperwork, according to the court order. The defendants will have until March 1 to file a response and the plaintiffs must file a reply by March 14, according to AM New York.
Monday February 12, 2018
Kaieteur News
MAY TO SET OUT ‘ROAD TO BREXIT’ IN SPEECH LONDON (Reuters) Prime Minister Theresa May will attempt to unite her feuding cabinet and convince a sceptical European Union that Britain knows what it wants from Brexit in a series of speeches over the next few weeks. Britain is hoping to seal a transition deal next month to smooth its exit from the EU, and reach agreement on a long-term trade agreement later this year. However, Brussels said last week a transition deal was not a certainty and that London needed to clarify what it wanted from the EU. May’s government will aim to address that in a series of six speeches by the prime minister and other senior ministers in the next few weeks, which her office dubbed “The Road to Brexit”. “Brexit is a defining moment in the history of our nation,” a source in May’s office said. “As we move along the road to that future, we will set out more detail so people can
Theresa May see how this new relationship will benefit communities in every part of our country.” A BMG poll yesterday for the Independent showed 74 percent of Britons were unclear about May’s overall Brexit strategy. As well as facing pressure from Brussels, May also needs to unite a cabinet and Conservative party, still deeply split between those who voted for Brexit in 2016
and those who didn‘t, behind a single vision for Britain’s future outside the European Union.May’s first speech, to be delivered at a conference in Munich next Saturday, will set out the security relationship Britain wants with the EU. She will deliver another setting out Britain’s future partnership, although a date for that has yet to be confirmed. Foreign minister Boris Johnson, a leading Brexit advocate, will begin the ‘Road to Brexit’ series with a speech on Wednesday, described by May’s office as a “rallying cry to those on both sides of the Brexit debate”. Brexit minister David Davis will outline how Britain’s businesses can maintain their global reputation after Brexit in an as yet unscheduled speech. Trade minister Liam Fox and cabinet minister David Lidington will also give speeches. Chancellor Philip Hammond, seen as the most pro-EU member of May’s cabinet, will not give a speech.
CDB to enforce stricter supervision of projects
Daily Observer - Ahead of Antigua and Barbuda rolling out several projects financed by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), one of the institution’s senior executives has dispelled the notion of any “leakage” of the institution’s funds by the country’s governments over the years. Many residents have long feared that large, public sector capital projects easily give rise to funds being redirected to “non-approved” initiatives and even into the pockets of public officials as well as political lackeys. Daniel Best, director of projects told OBSERVER media after the CDB’s annual news conference in Barbados, Wednesday, that rigorous checks and balances ensure “every dollar” approved for, and disbursed to Antigua and Barbuda, as well as other borrowing member countries (BMC), is used for the intended purpose. “The money we move into a country is tracked very closely. Our officers are incountry ensuring that the work done aligns with the claims submitted or we would not disburse funds,” he stated. According to the CDB executive, the bank has a sizeable portfolio in Antigua and Barbuda – two road
Daniel Best infrastructure rehabilitation projects, an education project that provides training for teachers and school administrators, along with the rehabilitation and reconstruction project in Barbuda. He acknowledged that limited human resources and capital often make it challenging for governments across the region to deliver projects “on time”, so the CDB will focus its lens on
implementation. This calls for the bank enhancing its supervision, in country. “Our officers will be able to spend more time in the country, more time liaising with their counterparts on the project,” Best explained. “I feel confident the changes we are making will redound to far more timely implementation in countries.” And even if the Antigua and Barbuda government does not appreciate the supervision, residents who are to benefit from the initiatives will surely welcome it. Case in point: the road works project which has been touted since 2016, with it expanding from a U.S. $20 million project funded by a grant from the UK, into an initiative that required the Gaston Browne administration to borrow U.S $45.9 million from the CDB. That loan was approved since March 2017, but to date, the CDB has released approximately U.S. $3 million as an advance disbursement for the project, to the bank’s director of projects.
PAGE 27
PAGE 28
Monday February 12, 2018
Kaieteur News
Joy for Benitez as Newcastle stun Mourinho’s United, Liverpool cruise LONDON (Reuters) Newcastle United’s manager Rafa Benitez would have taken a victory against just about anyone yesterday, such was his side’s predicament, but a 1-0 win over Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United would have tasted that bit sweeter. Huddersfield Town’s 4-1 home victory over Bournemouth earlier in the day meant Newcastle started their home clash against United in the Premier League’s bottom three. Yet they responded with a gritty display, riding their luck at times to take the points courtesy of Matt Ritchie’s 65th-minute winner which propelled them from 18th to 13th. The result also left second-placed United a whopping 16 points behind leaders Manchester City and
looking anxiously over their shoulders in what looks like becoming a tense battle for the remaining Champions League places. Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 victory over Arsenal on Saturday had lifted the north London club to within four points of United and Liverpool sliced the gap to two after Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah scored in a nonchalant 2-0 win at Southampton in Sunday’s late kickoff. Fifth-placed Chelsea can move to within three points of United with victory at West Brom on Monday. There was a warm handshake between Benitez and Mourinho when the final whistle sounded at a tumultuous St James’ Park to confirm Newcastle’s first home league win since October.
Matt Ritchie wheels away in celebration after arriving in the box to fire the ball past David de Dea and give Newcastle the lead. (AFP/Getty Images) But their previous history has been marked by frostiness — a result of former Liverpool manager Benitez twice getting the better of Mourinho’s Chelsea in Champions League semi-finals. The fact that they have both managed Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter Milan, with
Windies could play T20 series in Houston: REPORT
Pakistan and West Indies … set to meet again in a series on US soil. LAHORE, Pakistan, CMC – West Indies are set to play a Twenty20 International in the American city of Houston for the first time later this year, as part of a Tri-Nations Series involving Pakistan and Bangladesh. An unnamed senior Pakistan Cricket Board official told the Indian Express newspaper the series, scheduled for August, had been finalised following discussions between PCB chairman Najam Sethi and Cricket West Indies president, Dave Cameron, on the sidelines of the recent International Cricket Council meeting in Dubai.
The series, which will also see matches also played in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is a reciprocal tour to follow on from the highly anticipated three-match tour carded for March/April when Pakistan are expected to host the Caribbean side. “It (US series) is an arrangement for this year and we will see how things pan out later on,” the official was quoted as saying. So far, every T20 International to be played on United States soil has been staged at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, with the most recent action being a two-
match series between the Windies and India two years ago. The proposal for a match to be hosted in the southern United States represents a further incursion into the lucrative North American market. Only last year, the PCB had announced a five-year agreement that would have seen the Windies tour Pakistan annually for a threematch T20 series, with Pakistan contesting reciprocal series in the US, involving the Caribbean unit. But the PCB said this year they had been forced to scrap the agreement because it would not have been financially viable. Meanwhile, the PCB have finalised the dates for the upcoming Windies tour, with matches scheduled for March 29 and 31, and April 1. “Venues will be decided later but initial plan is to hold them in Lahore,” the PCB official informed. The PCB are hoping to have international tours of Pakistan resume, following an eight-year break after the Sri Lanka team bus was attacked by militants on its way to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore back in 2009. Following a threematch Independence Cup series involving a World XI last September in Lahore, the ICC praised Pakistan for its handling of security, noting that the success of the event sent a positive message to the international community about safety in the country.
Mourinho enjoying a superior record, meant Benitez’s triumph on Sunday, only his second in the Premier League against Mourinho, had added meaning. Ritchie rifled a shot past David De Gea in the 65th minute to punish a profligate United side who wasted several good chances with Anthony Martial and Alexis Sanchez culpable. Newcastle dug deep for their manager and debutant keeper Martin Dubravka made several superb saves. “They fought like animals,” Mourinho said of Benitez’s side. “Newcastle’s players gave the sacrifices all
managers like to see. Were they lucky? Yes. But sometimes you deserve that luck. They fought for their lives and that’s a beautiful thing.” TOO SLICK Martial was denied by a great save from Dubravka and had two efforts cleared off the line after the break. Sanchez inexplicably failed to fire into an empty net after rounding Dubravka, shortly before Ritchie struck the winner. “We had games in the past when we conceded late. We got lucky with some shots, but we showed the character, the commitment and the desire today,” Benitez
said. Liverpool were too slick for a feeble Southampton as they condemned the south coast side to a place in the bottom three. Salah punished a mistake and squared for Firmino to score in the seventh minute and the livewire Egyptian then stroked home the second before halftime after a snappy passing move. United have 56 points, Liverpool 54 and Tottenham 52 with Chelsea on 50. It is equally tight at the bottom where the so-called trap door is looking more like a revolving door. Huddersfield escaped the bottom three on Sunday as they snapped a five-game losing sequence. Alex Pritchard fired Huddersfield in front after seven minutes and although Junior Stanislas leveled, the hosts were ahead again before the break thanks to Steve Mounie’s 27th-minute header from Aaron Mooy’s delivery. Beninese striker Mounie’s shot was deflected in by Steve Cook after 66 minutes and Rajiv van la Parra tucked away a stoppage time penalty to complete a satisfying afternoon for David Wagner’s side.
NBC apologizes to Koreans and Games for Japan comment
Team Japan enters the Opening Ceremony on Friday. (Getty Images) PYEONGCHANG (Reuters) - U.S. broadcaster NBC apologized to South Korea’s winter Games organizing committee yesterday after a commentator offended locals during coverage of the opening ceremony by straying into the sensitive issue of JapanSouth Korean relations. Former journalist Joshua Cooper Ramo, working as an analyst for NBC, said on-air during the Pyeongchang Games opening ceremony that all Koreans recognized that Japan had served as an important example in South Korea’s own economic transformation. Koreans around the world criticized his remarks on social media and a petition soon circulated online. Japan, which colonized the Korean peninsula from 1910 to 1945, has left a deep legacy of mistrust and ill-feeling in South Korea. Ramo, who has written books on China and is a director of Starbucks Corp and FedEx Corp, said as athletes paraded into the Games
stadium that “every Korean will tell you that Japan is a cultural, technological and economic example that has been so important to their own transformation”. Yesterday, an NBC spokesman said: “We apologized quickly both in writing and on television for a remark made by one of our presenters during Friday night’s opening ceremony. “We’re very gratified that Pyeongchang’s organizing committee has accepted that apology.” The organizing committee could not immediately be reached for comment. Ramo, who was also an on-air contributor for NBC during the Beijing Olympics, is coCEO of Kissinger Associates, an advisory firm of former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. NBC, a unit of Comcast Corp, is the exclusive U.S. broadcaster of the Olympics and is producing more than 2,400 hours of coverage over 18 days from Pyeongchang.
Monday February 12, 2018
PAGE 29
Kaieteur News
Mazdzer comes back from abyss to claim silver
Winter Olympics: History and comebacks on the medal stand
Chris Mazdzer competes during final heats of the men’s luge competition. (AP Photo) PYEONGCHANG, South Korea (Reuters) - Chris Mazdzer’s luge career was on a slippery slope only weeks before he put together a brilliant run to deliver the United States a long-awaited individual Olympic medal in the men’s event yesterday. Two seasons of frustration had brought the Saranac Lake, New York resident to the brink of an abyss which he felt he would plunge into with a poor result at the Pyeongchang Winter Games. Having shown his quality with a fourth-place finish at the 2016 world championships in Konigssee, Germany, he finished the last World Cup season 18th overall, driven to distraction by a misbehaving sled and clueless as to how to turn things around. The 29-year-old wrote of trying to find “a light somewhere in this dark cave” in a long post on Facebook, admitting he was close to despair. Then gradually, almost inexplicably, the worm turned in the weeks that followed that emotional confession on Jan. 21. “It was not exactly rock bottom but pretty bottom,”
Mazdzer told Reuters in an interview at the Olympic Sliding Centre in South Korea after finishing runner-up behind another surprise package in Austrian David Gleirscher. “You give your entire life to this sport and you know that mentally, physically you’re at the top of your game but the results just haven’t been there for two seasons, really. “And I didn’t know what to attribute that to.” It took help from team mates, friends and rivals in the close-knit luge community for Mazdzer to unlock a winning combination that would transform his sled into a chariot of glory on the hard ice track of Pyeongchang. He borrowed sleds, recorded videos of himself, changed his blades and suddenly a light began flickering in the cave. “I think I cashed in all my friendships from all the other countries,” he joked. “Even my rivals felt for me. So I was able to take other competitors’ sleds down the tracks and see how it felt.” The confidence that had been quietly accumulating exploded on Saturday, when
Venus puts holders... From page 32 “It gave me an opportunity to be able to close it out for the USA. It gave me a lot of pressure for me to close it out and a lot of pressure for her to stay in and I just handled it a little better.” In Prague, Petra Kvitova sent the Czech Republic into their 10th consecutive semi-final when she clinched the first round tie against Switzerland with a 6-2 6-4 win over Belinda Bencic in the third rubber. For Kvitova, who got the ball rolling for the Czechs on Saturday with a hard-fought win over Viktorija Golubic, this weekend marked her return to the Fed Cup for the first time since being injured in a knife attack at her home in 2016. Elsewhere, Kristina Mladenovic and Amandine Hesse beat Kirsten Flipkens and Elise Mertens in the deciding doubles rubber to put hosts France through to the semifinals for the third time in four years. In Minsk, Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Tatjana Maria beat Lidziya Marozava and Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in the deciding doubles rubber to put twice champions Germany into the semis for the first time since 2015. Germany will next face the Czech Republic.
Mazdzen came within a whisker of the medal positions after two solid runs in the preliminaries. But it was his blazing third run that set the platform to a breakthrough silver in his third Games, beating the track record that Germany’s defending double champion Felix Loch had set only moments before. WILD CELEBRATIONS It lifted Mazdzer to second in the standings, while wiping the smile off Loch’s face as he stood in the leaders’ booth. A small mistake on his last run allowed Gleirscher into the gold medal position but Mazdzer’s medal was guaranteed, triggering wild celebrations from an entourage of friends and family at the finish-line terrace. Their jubilation went up another notch when Loch struck out dramatically on his final run, stunning the German team that has virtually owned the sport for decades. “It was like a home track for me. We had a huge contingent here from the U.S. and the best part about them is they’re here for you no matter what,” said Mazdzer. “In between runs, I was just hanging out with them. It was so motivating.” His triumph had echoes of team mate Erin Hamlin’s breakthrough four years ago in Sochi, when she became America’s first individual Olympic luge medalist despite achieving little in the World Cup events prior to the Games. The light in the cave is now blinding for Mazdzer who will be able to continue his 16-year love affair with luge, for all its frustrations. “But it’s tough because you give your entire life for luge and when you don’t do well — if you’re not at the top you get nothing,” he added. “Now I‘m up there. Oh my God, honestly it came down to, I need to do well at the Olympics to keep going. “And now I can keep going.”
Gold medallist and new Olympic record holder Sven Kramer of The Netherlands, center, celebrates after the men’s 5,000 meters race. (AP Photo) Yahoo Sports – Another day of full action at the PyeongChang Olympics saw history made on the speed-skating and luge circuits, an epic cross-country skiing comeback and a 17-year-old snowboarder atop the medal stand in slopestyle. Two days after the Opening Ceremony, Norway currently stands atop the medal race with eight total medals, while the Netherlands comes in at second with five. Germany, Canada, the United States and the Czech Republic are the only other countries with multiple medals. Here’s everything you missed late Saturday night and early Sunday morning. Team USA notches win No. 1: It took the U.S. women’s hockey team a while to get in the swing of things, but they eventually woke up in force and dispatched Finland. The U.S. allowed a sloppy goal with just 5.8 seconds left in the first period, but goals from Monique Lamoureux-Morando and Kendall Coyne in the second put the Americans on top. An empty-netter at the end of the third period put it away, giving Team USA a 3-1 win. Sven Kramer three-peats: Sven Kramer continued his run of dominance in the 5,000m speed skate event, winning his third straight gold medal in the event. Kramer notched an Olympic record of 6:09.76 to win his fourth gold medal and eighth medal overall. That total makes him the most decorated male speed skater in Olympic history, and he can soon add to his legacy with the 10,000m and team pursuit events coming up. Chris Mazdzer makes American luge
history: Luge has been part of the Olympics since 1964, yet the United States entered the PyeongChang games without a men’s singles medal in the event’s history. That is no longer the case. Chris Mazdzer rode a dominant third run to the record books, winning a silver medal to finally break his country’s drought. Epic comeback in skiathlon: Seconds after the start of the men’s 30km skiathlon, Norway’s Simen Krüger was at the bottom of a pile of fellow skiers, one of his poles was broken and he would soon be in last place in a field of 68 athletes. He then proceeded to tear through the race and notch a gold medal in a Norwegian sweep of the medal podium. From broken bones to a bronze medal: It’s not often a 17-year-old winning gold isn’t the most interesting part of an event, but the bronze medal winner behind Red Gerard in the men’s slopestyle might have an argument. Canada’s Mark McMorris nearly met his end 11 months ago when he crashed into a tree on a jump, requiring surgery and painful physical therapy just to get back on the board. He got more than back on though. PyeongChang confirms Opening Ceremony hack: The IOC and PyeongChang organizing committee don’t quite have their stories straight on who perpetrated the cyberattack on Friday’s Opening Ceremony, but the PyeongChang officials indicated they know the source. Even if that’s true, we won’t probably won’t be finding out who prevented a sweet live performance of 1,200 drones anytime soon.
Norway’s Simen Krüger (No. 7) falls and breaks pole in pileup, before rallying to win gold medal in skiathlon. (Reuters)
PAGE 30
Kaieteur News
RUGBY - France drought continues with Scotland defeat EDINBURGH (Reuters) - France’s dismal run continued when they failed to win for the eighth consecutive time in a 32-26 defeat against Scotland in the Six Nations at Murrayfield yesterday. Scotland prevailed thanks to tries by Sean Maitland and Huw Jones with man of the match Greig Laidlaw adding two conversions and six penalties in a perfect kicking performance as France were penalised 13 times. Les Bleus, who have not won an international test in 329 days, scored two tries through the impressive Teddy Thomas, Maxime Machenaud adding two conversions and two penalties with replacement scrumhalf Baptiste Serin also scoring a couple of penalties. France, who lost influential flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert in last weekend’s 15-13 defeat by Ireland, were again hit by injuries as Machenaud had to make way for Serin at halftime after being hit in the shoulder. “If I could have stayed warm I would have been able to continue but it was halftime so I preferred to leave my place to someone fresh,” said Machenaud. Scotland, who were humbled 34-7 by Wales last weekend, trailed for 70 minutes but eventually had too much in store. “The resilience it takes to win a test match is huge. The fact we were behind for most of the game shows the heart of the squad,” said Scotland coach Gregor Townsend. “We were more direct and we got our rewards. We were up against a very good defence and it takes a huge effort (to break it).” France took a dream start as Thomas slalomed through the Scottish defence and touched down after a dazzling 45-metre run. Machenaud converted.
The scrumhalf added a penalty in the 10th minute to increase the lead as the visitors proved more aggressive. Thomas also defended well as he ran across the field to kick the ball out after Stuart Hogg had threatened with a clever through ball. However, the Scotland backs showed their talent with Maitland at the completing end of a well-worked try on the left side. Laidlaw converted to reduce the arrears to three points. But Thomas chipped the ball into space on his right wing and collected it after Laidlaw was deceived by the vicious rebound before touching down between the posts, setting up Machenaud for a routine conversion. Scotland responded when Jones burst through the defence after the hosts had unsettled France with some high-tempo moves. Although Scotland dominated, Machenaud opened a six-point advantage with a last-second penalty at halftime. Replacement Serin traded a couple of penalties with Laidlaw early in the second half. Laidlaw added another at the hour as Scotland breathed down France’s neck. The visitors lacked discipline under high pressure and Laidlaw slotted two other penalties to put Scotland ahead for the first time of the game. He added his sixth penalty with three minutes left, forcing France to go for a converted try in order to avoid a seventh defeat in eight games. That try never came as Scotland had the upper hand in a ruck in their 22 metres. They next host England on Feb. 24 as France will take on Italy the previous day in a game that might give the losers the dreaded wooden spoon.
Yacouba Camara (centre) of France in action against Scotland players Jones (left) and Tommy Seymour (right) yesterday. (EPA)
Russia’s Semen Elistratov dedicates... From page 31 team banner. After winning his bronze on the opening day of the Games in the 1500m shorttrack speed skating event the 27-year-old said: “I have difficulties to hold back my tears. I had said before that any individual medal will be a golden or platinum one for me. I am incredibly happy that I did it, in spite of all the circumstances around Russian sport. “I dedicate this medal to all guys that have been excluded from these Games in such a hard and unfair way. This medal is for you.” His comments are being investigated because they appear to break the rules over making political statements. Russia were banned because of statesponsored doping at the 2014 Games in Sochi. “We have a surveillance programme looking at the action and behaviour of the OAR team and
they will report back at the end of the Games to the executive board to see if not just the letter but the spirit of the law has been breached,” IOC spokesperson Mark Adams said. “It’s for that expert team to look at it.” To be eligible to compete athletes representing OAR must adhere to strict guidelines set out by the IOC, including to “respect the IOC Executive Board’s decision and spirit”. Other conduct guidelines include; only referring to the delegation as Team OAR, understanding that the team will compete under the Olympic Flag and that the Olympic anthem will be played at all ceremonies and also refraining from any public form of publicity, activity and communication associated with the national flag, anthem, emblem and symbol.
Monday February 12, 2018
CORDEIRO ELECTED AS U.S. SOCCER PRESIDENT
Carlos Cordeiro, a vice president and board member, was elected president of U.S. Soccer on Saturday.CreditRebecca Blackwell/Associated Press (Reuters) - Carlos Cordeiro will succeed Sunil Gulati as president of U.S. Soccer after being elected following three rounds of voting on Saturday at the organization’s annual meeting in Orlando, Florida. Cordeiro, a business executive with more than 30 years of experience in international finance, has been Gulati’s vice president since 2016. Gulati, who had been involved in U.S. Soccer for about three decades, decided last December against running for re-election. He has faced heavy criticism since the U.S. men’s national team failed to qualify for this year’s World Cup. Cordeiro won a majority vote in the first contested U.S. Soccer presidential election since 1998, prevailing in a field that featured
Paul Caligiuri, Kathy Carter, Steve Gans, Kyle Martino, Hope Solo, Michael Winograd and Eric Wynalda. “To those of you who didn’t vote for me, I‘m going to work to earn your support and trust over the next four years,” he said. “I promise I will work for all of you to bring us together as one soccer community.” Cordeiro clinched election on the third ballot, where he easily eclipsed the 50 percent threshold, winning 69 percent of the vote. He had received 36 percent and 42 percent respectively on the first two ballots, where he was involved in a tight battle with Kathy Carter, the on-leave president of Major League Soccer’s marketing arm. Caligiuri withdrew after taking just 0.5 percent of the vote on the first ballot while Michael Winograd and Steven Gans followed suit after the second. Former U.S. Olympic and World Cup goalkeeper Hope Solo, who was suspended from the women’s team for “unprofessional” comments made at the 2016 Rio Games, received less than 1.6 percent of the vote in each round. Cordeiro, born in 1956 to a Colombian mother and a Portuguese father, has served various roles with U.S. Soccer since being appointed as the federation’s first independent director in 2007. He has been treasurer, chaired the budget committee, and been director of the U.S. Soccer Foundation. In addition, he represents U.S. Soccer on the CONCACAF Council and FIFA’s Stakeholders Committee.
Former FIFA vice-president Chung’s ban cut to 15 months
ZURICH (Reuters) - Former FIFA vicepresident Chung Mong-joon’s five-year ban from soccer, over ethics violations in connection with South Korea’s unsuccessful bid to host the 2022 World Cup, has been cut to 15 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). CAS said yesterday that it had found “mitigating factors” to reduce the ban, which it said had been imposed for “improper lobbying”, and also annul a fine of 50,000 Swiss francs ($53,197.15). Although CAS said that Chung was guilty of ethics violations, it said it was to “a far lesser degree than found by the FIFA instances”. Chung, a billionaire scion of South Korea’s Hyundai industrial conglomerate who served as FIFA vice president from 1994 to 2011, has denied all wrongdoing. His ban in October 2015 came amid the worst graft scandal in FIFA’s history when dozens of soccer officials were indicted in the United States. FIFA president Sepp Blatter and European soccer chief Michel Platini were also embroiled when they were banned by the global soccer body’s own ethics committee. Both denied wrongdoing. Chung was initially banned for six years and fined 100,000 Swiss francs, torpedoing his plans to stand for the FIFA presidential election in February 2016. FIFA’s Appeals Committee subsequently reduced the ban to five years and cut the fine in half and the CAS decision means he is free to return to football immediately. CAS said that Chung’s “misconduct related to his lobbying activities was not minor considering his high and influential positions at FIFA”. It said he was both honorary president of a federation bidding to stage the World Cup and a member of the FIFA executive committee which was responsible for choosing the hosts. However, CAS said that it was “common
FIFA presidential candidate Chung Mong-joon speaks during a news conference in Seoul, South Korea, September 3, 2015. (REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji) for FIFA Executive Committee members to promote the bids presented by their national football associations”. It also took into account Chung’s “lack of any prior record of unethical behaviour, his public stance against corruption within FIFA, and the meritorious services he provided to FIFA and football over the years”. Russia was awarded the 2018 World Cup and Qatar the 2022 tournament in a single, secret vote in Zurich in 2010 amid persistent allegations of illegitimate attempts to influence the 22 voting FIFA executive committee members. A report by FIFA’s ethics committee made public last year made no suggestion that Russia or Qatar should lose the right to stage the tournaments, despite detailing numerous attempts to influence voting officials.
Monday February 12, 2018
Coughlin, Gubbins steady Lions after Cornwall burst
Off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall appeals successfully for an lbw decision against Nick Gubbins (partially hidden). (Photo courtesy CWI Media) FLORENCE HALL, Jamaica, CMC – Allrounder Paul Coughlin’s unbeaten halfcentury propped up England Lions after Rahkeem Cornwall’s three-wicket haul rattled them, on the opening day of the first four-day “Test” here yesterday. The visitors, asked to bat first at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium, ended the day on 233 for six which represented a recovery, after they had slumped to 182 for six. The right-handed Coughlin stroked a top score of 51 while Nick Gubbins gathered exactly 50 and captain Keaton Jenning, 49. Cornwall, the leading bowler in the last two A series, once again came to the fore with three for 64 – a spell which kept the hosts in the contest throughout. The off-spinner struck key blows for the Windies A and repeatedly forced the Lions to rebuild. Jennings put on 38 for the first wicket with Haseeb Hameed who made 13 in nearly an hour-and-a-half at the crease before falling lbw to left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican. Jennings and Gubbins then combined in a
PAGE 31
Kaieteur News
56-run stand which ensured there was no further loss before the break. The left-handed Jennings faced 125 balls in just shy of 2-1/2 hours at the crease and struck six fours while Gubbins also stroked six fours off 111 deliveries. Jennings and Joe Clarke (1) fell in the space of 14 balls after Cornwall had Jennings caught at slip by Jermaine Blackwood, as Lions slipped to 101 for three. Gubbins tried to rebuild in a 28-run stand with Liam Livingstone (21) but was also trapped lbw by Cornwall who then also accounted for Livingstone, bowled. Slumping at 149 for five, Lions were revived by Coughlin in an innings that came from 96 deliveries and included five fours. First, he put on 33 for the sixth wicket with Ben Foakes (16) before putting on a further 51 in an unbroken seventh wicket stand with Toby Roland-Jones, who was unbeaten at the end on 18. Scores: LIONS 233 for six (Paul Coughlin 51 not out, Nick Gubbins 50, Keaton Jennings 49; Rahkeem Cornwall 364) vs WINDIES A.
Russia’s Semen Elistratov dedicates medal to compatriots
UCCA secures sponsorship for Inter Secondary School cricket competition The Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA) has secured sponsorship for their annual Inter Secondary School cricket competition for schools in the Upper Corentyne and Black Bush areas. The competition which will begin shortly (at the end of the Inter Primary School competition) will be sponsored by businessman Seddarth D’Andrade of Upper Corentyne. The sponsor is the son of the President of the (UCCA), Dennis D’Andrade. According to information the family has been sponsoring the competition since 2013. Five schools are down to participate
namely Skeldon Line Path Secondary (SLPS), Skeldon High School (SHS), formerly (Skeldon Lutheran High), Tagore Memorial Secondary School (TMSS), Central Corentyne Secondary School (CCSS) and Black Bush Secondary School (BBSS). The rules and fixtures will be released at the official lunching during the week. The competition will be coordinated by the UCCA Competitions Committee. This committee is headed by former national Wicketkeeper batsman Sydney Jackman and includes former Berbice player Chatterpaul Lionel and Narendranauth Balram. (Samuel Whyte)
Nerveless McCoy delivers last-ball win for Volcanoes CAVE HILL, Barbados, CMC – Last man Obed McCoy smashed a six off the last ball of the match as Windward Islands Volcanoes snatched a dramatic onewicket win over Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners in a low-scoring encounter here yesterday. Chasing a hardly intimidating 173 for victory in their Group A fixture of the Regional Super50, Volcanoes tumbled from 105 for two in the 29th over to 153 for nine at the end of the 46th over, after losing seven wickets for 48 runs. But number 10 Larry Edward, who finished on 21 not out, and McCoy, unbeaten on 14, produced a valiant, unbroken last-wicket stand of 24, to push the contest into the last over at 3Ws Oval. Entering the final over requiring 10 for victory, the odds still rested with the home side but the pair played sensibly to deny them honours. McCoy slammed the first delivery from off-spinner Vikash Mohan to the cover boundary, failed to score off
the second before lofting to wide long on for a single. With five runs needed from the remaining three balls, Edward scrambled a couple to cover and then scampered a single to backward square, leaving Volcanoes to get two off the final ball. Displaying little nerves, the left-handed McCoy promptly deposited Mohan over the ropes on the leg side, to spark celebration among the visitors. Left-handed opener Devon Smith had earlier topscored with 40 while Kirk Edwards chipped in with 30, to give Volcanoes a strong start to their run chase. Left-arm spinner Ryan Hinds had Johnson Charles stumped for 14 at 19 for one in the fifth over but Smith added 33 for the second wicket with Andre Fletcher (20) before putting on a further 53 for the third with Edwards. Smith faced 65 balls and struck three fours while Edwards counted a four and a six in a 46-ball knock. Left-arm spinner Yannick Ottley claimed three for 21 while off-spinner Jameel Stuart ended with two for 28.
Sent in earlier, Marooners needed Mohan’s top score of 36 and Keron Cottoy’s 21 to get up to their eventual 172 all out off 50 overs, as leftarm spinner Kavem Hodge (326) and veteran off-spinner Shane Shillingford (3-19) ripped apart the innings. They were quickly in trouble at 39 for four in the 18th over after Hodge, handed the new ball, snatched three early wickets and it was left to Mohan and Hinds (15) to repair some of the damage in a 35-run, fifth wicket stand. When three wickets fell for 22 runs, Cottoy joined with wicketkeeper Carlos Maynard (18) to post an invaluable 47 for the eighth wicket, and allow Marooners breathing space. S c o r e s : MAROONERS 172 off 50 overs (Vikash Mohan 36, Keron Cottoy 21; Kavem Hodge 3-26, Shane Shillingford 3-19). VOLCANOES 177 for nine off 50 overs (Devon Smith 40, Kirk Edwards 30, Larry Edward 21 not out; Yannick Ottley 3-21, Jameel Stuart 228).
Semen Elistratov (right) won bronze in the 1500m short-track speed skating. (Getty Images) BBC Sport - A Russian speed skater dedicated his country’s first medal of the Winter Olympics to his compatriots who have been banned from the Games in “such a hard and unfair way”. Semen Elistratov, who won bronze for the Olympic Athletes from Russia(OAR) team, is
under investigation from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for his comments. Russia are banned from competing at the Winter Olympics but 169 of their athletes are allowed to compete as neutrals under the OAR Continued on page 30
Left-arm spinner Kavem Hodge (second from left), claimed three early wickets for Volcanoes. (file photo)
PAGE 32
Monday February 12, 2018
Kaieteur News
Stewart, Peters, Roberts, Raymond, Bright take top honours at Carifta games trials
Deron Roberts (left) wins the boys 14-16 100m. By Zaheer Mohamed Akeem Stewart, Tyrell Peters, Deron Roberts, Toyan Raymond and Chantoba Bright braved the weather to top their respective fields when the first day of the Carifta Games trials concluded yesterday at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora, West Coast Demerara. Stewart of the Guyana Defence Force out-sprinted his rivals to win the men’s +20 100m in a time of 10.53 seconds, while Davin Fraser of the Guyana Police Force placed second in 10.69; Titus Webster of Hopetown United was third in 10.91. Peters of Super Upcoming Runners (SUR) powered his way to victory in the boys 1719 100m clocking 10.89 seconds to finish ahead of
Lionel Marks of Hopetown Flames who placed second in 11.09 and third place Umkosi Vancooten of Running Brave 11.23. Roberts of Running Brave took the top podium spot in the boys 14-16 100m in a time of 11.31 while Osrick Pellew of Ruralites finished second in 11.39 and Denzel Forte of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) third in 11.45. Raymond of Dechallengers overpowered her rivals to take the girls 1719 100m in a time of 12.17 ahead of Kenisha Phillips of Running Brave 12.20 and Tiffauna Garnett of SUR in 12.74 in that order. Cassie Small of SUR won the girls 19-19 400m in 58.05 seconds while Kissanna Glen of Dechallengers grabbed the girls 14-16 1500m in a time of
5:22.42; her club mate Kellannie Glen placed second in 5:49.39. Upper Demerara athlete Bright maintained her dominance on the local scene by winning the girls 14-19 long jump leaping 6.04m, while Toyan Raymond placed second with a jump of 5.75m; Princess Browne of Running Brave was third after clearing 5.58m. The girls’ 14-19 Javelin throw went to Anisha Gibbons of Ruralites who cleared 30.23m ahead of Shontel Browne of GDF 24.75 and Alliyah Reid of Tytan United 19.93 in that order. Alita Moore of the Guyana Police Force took the women’s 20+ 400m in a time of 56.91 seconds, while Ruth Sanmoogan of the University of Guyana won the women’s
BCB members prepare for GCB Inter County Under-17 competition The active members of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) have embarked on an aggressive programme to identify suitable players to represent the county at the Guyana Cricket Board’s Inter County Under-17 competition slated for February 25, 2018. Over the past few weeks, players born on or after September 1, 2001 have been called to trials in their respective areas in order for them to undergo the selection process. The players will be divided into 4 zones and will play each other after which the final 14 will be selected.
The fixtures set featured the Western Berbice Zone taking on the New Amsterdam /Canje Zone at the Young Warriors Cricket Club Ground in Cumberland, while at the Port Mourant Community Center Ground, the Upper Corentyne lads will do battle with their peers from Lower Corentyne. The Active Members of the BCB, Albion Cricket Club, Port Mourant Community Center Cricket Club, Blairmont Community Center Cricket Club, Upper Corentyne Cricket Association, Rose Hall Community Center
‘Effective execution is now.... From page 33 posted,” said Stuart, who has 144 wickets from 52 FirstClass matches. The Jaguars’ Manager informed, while Gudakesh Motie and Tagenarine Chanderpaul should arrive by today, Hetmyer and Bishoo will be available for today’s game and the next one against the Hurricanes since they are scheduled to leave on February 15.
Cricket Club, Whim Cricket Club, Chesney Cricket Club, Western Berbice Cricket Association and Young Warriors Cricket Club have all joined together to ensure that the Under-17 youths are well prepared for the county competition, and have agreed to sponsor these games which will serve in the interest of cricket development in the county. The Inter Zone Under-17 Competition will continue on February 17, 2018. All games are scheduled to start at 10:00 hrs. The general public is invited to support the initiatives and programmes of the Berbice Cricket Board. Meanwhile, National Cricketer, Ms. Tremayne Smartt is currently conducting sessions and those that are desirous of representing Berbice in the Under-19 Inter County Competition scheduled for later this month can attend.
20+ long jump with a leap of 5.60m. The boys 14-16 400m went to went to Dennis Lewis of Running Brave in a time of 53.40m seconds, Kerron Clarke of the Guyana Defence Force finished second in 56.00 while Nilon Spencer of Hopetown Flames placed third in 56.01. Daniel Williams of Upper Demerara claimed the boys 17-19 400m in a time of 49.31 second ahead of Brain Romain of Running Brave in 50.18 and Shermar Garraway of Running Brave in 53.97. The boys 14-16 1500m went to Mathew Gordon of Hopetown Flames in 4:32.57 while his club mate Marvin Hamilton placed second in 4:45.92; Shomol Europe of the Guyana Police Force finished
third in 4:49.59. Ronell Newton of Upper Demerara grabbed the boys 17-19 1500m in a time of 4:17.44 ahead of Okemi Porter of Hopetown Flames in 4:19.74 and Arron Fraser of Super Upcoming Runnings in 4:43.13. Rickey Williams of Mercury Fast Laners captured the boys 17-19 5000m in 17:16.01, Daniel Harvey of Running Brave finished second in 18:00.60 while Weston Harry of Tytan United placed third in 24:16.20. Anthony Williams of the Guyana Police Force won the boys long jump event with a leap of 7.10m; Ronaldo Greene of Upper Demerara and Timmeon Spener of SUR finished second and third
with jumps of 6.88m and 6.40 m respectively. Randy Williams of Running Brave claimed the boys 14-19 javelin throw after clearing 48.54m. The men’s 20+long jump was taken by Lloyd Mc Curdy of GDF with a leap of 6.99m while his club-mate Damon Williams 6.87m took the runner up spot; Ameer Yussuf 6.51M of the University of Guyana was third. Guyana Defence Force athlete Leslain Baird took the men’s 20+ javelin throw after clearing 74.71m; Kleon Spellen of the GPF finished second with 57.18m while Tremaine Beckles of Upper Demerara was third; he managed a distance of 56.96m.
Venus puts holders U.S. into Fed Cup semi-finals
The Williams sisters (left) celebrate with the US team.
(Reuters) - Venus Williams put the United States into the Fed Cup World Group semifinals with a straight sets victory over Richel Hogenkamp of the Netherlands that gave the reigning champions an insurmountable 3-0 lead in their first-round tie yesterday. Williams’s 7-5 6-1 victory on the indoor hard court in Asheville, North Carolina, means the United States will travel to France, who beat Belgium earlier yesterday, for the April 21-22 semi-finals.
Williams had to fight off a determined Hogenkamp in the first set but dominated throughout the second when her 108th-ranked opponent, who spent nearly three hours on the court in Saturday’s loss to CoCo Vandeweghe, showed little resistance. “Honestly, I like to think that CoCo wore her (Hogenkamp) down some yesterday,” said Williams, who then took to the court with younger sister Serena for a doubles dead rubber. Continued on page 29