Kaieteur News

Monday February 13, 2017

Kaieteur News

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The burden of living in Guyana The clock of change in Guyana is ticking DEAR EDITOR, I have lived (and could live) overseas. And maybe one day, when I am again totally fed up, I will pack my traps and flee with my family to a ‘better place’. Maybe when I can take no more of the struggles of a permanent life in Guyana, I will, again, take my leave from this hellhole/banana republic. However, while I am here, I have deliberately submerged myself into the Guyanese context. I ride a motorcycle. I bathe with a bucket (because the water pressure is low where I live). Before I catch the minibus, I change my $100’s into $20’s because if you pay with your $100, you never get back your correct change and you could be assaulted if you ask for it. I take all the necessary prevention because of the chronic crime problem. I have to listen for the garbage truck in the wee hours of the morning, to take out my garbage because if I leave my garbage bin outside, the street people dump out my garbage and steal them (I have lost two in 6 months). As part of my patriotic contribution, I write letters to the newspaper. I speak publically on pressing issues. I have a TV program, addressing relevant issues. I offer to assist administratively in the political arena and the

religious/spiritual sphere. Let me tell you; it is a real struggle living in and with the realities of Guyana. A visit ever so often – like I used to do – is NOT sufficient to say you know what living in Guyana is like. The crime, the wanton “crookisness” of our leaders, the blackouts, the educational dearth, the lack of customer service, the reckless driving, the administrative backwardness, the bribery, the vagrancy, the lack of proper medical care, the poverty level, the political “bullyism,” the fear of political reprisals, the insufficient salary scale, et al. make for a very untenable living situation. To be subject to most all of those realities day-in and day-out is very taxing. And then when we rise up, or attempt to raise up, (depending on who you raise up against; PPP have their cronies and the PNCCoalition now have theirs). We hear from the (foreigner/ runaway) folks, that we are too hasty, that we are too impatient, that we are greedy, that we are ungrateful, that we are cursed, that we are freeloaders and nonprogressive, that we possess a slavery and indenturedservant mentality, and that we are destined to self-destruct. I think that you foreigners/runaways are trying to get bricks out of

straws. You talk of the barrels, crates, boxes and moneys you send back. Believe me when I say, TO HELL with all of that. COME BACK HOME! Reverse the curse of the brain drain you are a part of. Bring your brains and your energies! Bring your wisdom and expertise. Bring your wealth and your families. Return with your knowledge and transparency. Come let’s ALL put our shoulders to the wheel. Guyana is in the mess it is in because for many, many years, the blind has been leading the blind. They say; “one eye man is king in blind man country.” That is the reality of Guyana. We do not have sufficient mental capacity to undo the years of misdeeds by our leaders. The mere thought of what it will take to get us where we need to be, overwhelms and frustrates us. So rather than spit your sympatric rhetoric from the comforts of your foreignabode, or instead of lecturing us on the ground, while you hold your return ticket, safely nestled in your foreign passport, why not come live the Guyanese-life. Why not relocate and show, by example, how well we should live; that you profess to know so well how to live? Until then, give us a ‘lil’ break, please! We have our plates full. Pastor Wendell P. Jeffrey

DEAR EDITOR, The disrespect that leaders of the two major parties have for the Guyanese people is disheartening and sickening. Last week we emphasized that past President Donald Ramotar highlighted the corruption within the Granger-led administration and called for prosecutions, all the while ignoring the fact that corruption was ripe in the PPP and within his government. Yet he never called (neither is calling now), for prosecution for those culpable within his ranks. Now we have this indefensible rhetoric from the First Vice President and Prime Minister of the country, Mr. Moses Nagamootoo. In a speech in Parliament last week, Mr. Nagamootoo said that the increases that the PPP granted to their Ministers, Prime Minister and Presidents, over the last 17 years of their rule, were “unconscionable and disgraceful”. Let that sink in a while. Let the hypocrisy of that outlandish remark bare sway on your imagination for a moment. The PM must think that Guyanese are asses and not masses. Firstly, Mr. Nagamootoo was an executive member of the PPP for 15 of those 17 years and would have either suggested the said raises, argued in support of them, or indeed voted for them in parliament, Additionally, nowhere did we see or hear Mr. Nagamootoo decry the “unconscionable and disgraceful” increases when he was jostling to lead the corrupt PPP and hence continue to benefit from the said ‘despicable’ increases. How does he now say that the increases are so egregious when he was a beneficiary of ALL those increases? So let’s say that the reason he left the PPP was because of those kinds of those “unconscionable and disgraceful” acts. Let’s argue that Mr. Nagamootoo’s conscience could stomach no more of that kind of despicable behaviour and that that is one of the reasons he parted company with the PPP (of course we all know that the reason he left the PPP is because he did not and could never have gotten the Presidential top-spot in the party). But for argument sake, let’s say he left

on the grounds that the party had moved away from the honest, transparent, ideals of Dr. Jagan. Now Mr. Nagamootoo is with the Grangerled Coalition. He has a fresh start to do right by the country. He is now the second in command – 1st Vice President and Prime Minister. If Mr. Nagamootoo is so aggrieved by the years of “unconscionable and disgraceful” increases and if he thinks they were criminal, then can the PM please tell the Guyanese people, why he never sought to publically correct the PPP’s financial injustices perpetrated upon the Guyanese tax payers? After all, the Cummingsberg Accord, allows him the latitude to do, or undo, anything he (or his ever dying AFC party), think is in the interest of the Guyanese citizenry. Finally, why did he support and vote for a doubling of the salaries of all the Ministers, including his salary and the increase of the President’s? If indeed, Jagdeo and his PPP clan were “unconscionable and disgraceful” in substantially increasing their salaries, how then can Mr. Nagamootoo support a doubling of those already bloated salaries? The PM thinks that the Guyanese are fools: that he can tell us anything and we will believe it. Mr. Nagamootoo honestly feels that he can tell us whatever he thinks will fool us into believing the PNC-Coalition (PNC-C) is different from the PPP/Civic. Well, those days of misinforming and tricking the blinded, naive, Guyanese masses are slowly drawing to an end. The Guyanese public is waking up and the handwriting of a new day is on the wall. The PPP/C has irrevocably damaged the Guyanese psyche. The PNC was the first to lead us down that track of political brokenness. Now the PNC is back to continue its game of political misinformation and administrative propaganda. We know that these career politicians, from the two major parties, cannot help themselves. A tiger cannot change his spots. However, those tactics are getting old. The Guyanese people are wising up. The clock of change is ticking. The Masses are no longer appreciative of being treated as Asses. 2020 will be an interesting year. Dr. Vishnu Bandhu

DEAR EDITOR, The small mining syndicate would like to thank the President of Guyana, the Minister of Natural Resources and The Minister within The Ministry of Natural Resources for trying to create initiatives to improve the livelihood of small miners in Guyana. We would like to thank the Minister of Finance for committing to work with us smaller miners in our pursuit to become tax compliant, while extending to us the concessions that larger miners in the industry receive. We thank Minister Broomes and Mr. Statia of the GRA for making the time to meet with

us, to explain to us the tax measures and address our concerns as small miners. Mining is our business; this is all we know and this is how we support ourselves and families. We thank the Government of Guyana and in particular the Ministry of Natural Resources for the mining syndicate initiative through which we the smaller miners can now get access to mining lands. We will work with the government to become tax compliant, we will adhere to the mining rules and we will mine responsible so as to protect our environment. Garfield Wint Konwaruk Mining Syndicate

The constitutional reform process must be accelerated Small miners are grateful for assistance offered by Govt. DEAR EDITOR, I endorse the call by the Guyana Human Rights Commission for the Government to take immediate action to move the constitutional reform process forward which incidentally was one of its election manifesto promises to the nation. Apart from a committee which was set up over a year ago and a preliminary report submitted by that body, the contents of which were never made public, there has been no further development on this fundamental issue. A crisis of confidence is slowly emerging among a significant body of the Guyanese population due to a mismatch between what the APNU-AFC administration had promised during the elections campaign and its actual performance on the job. High on the list of broken promises is the failure to create an environment of national reconciliation and trust with the aim of establishing the framework

for shared and inclusive governance. In actual fact, the lack of trust and consensus has never been higher between the administration and the political opposition. Guyanese are crying out for a new kind of politics, one in which there is no ‘winner takes all’ and where every Guyanese feels that they have an equal stake in the national development effort. There is a fair amount of political alienation as a consequence of the current configuration of our body politic which can only be remedied by constitutional reforms aimed at deepening

our democracy and creating a climate of trust and confidence between the government and representative bodies including the political opposition. Guyanese are sick and tired of the current mode of adversarial politics and are becoming impatient over the inaction of those in authority to come up with a new governance paradigm which will put the interest of the nation and its people ahead of narrow sectarian and partisan considerations. Hydar Ally, PPP Central Committee member

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Kaieteur News

Monday February 13, 2017

Why try to fit 23,000 applicants in 1,000 lots? The past AFC DEAR EDITOR, Please permit me to voice my opinion on the above matter. Recently Ministry V. Patterson from the Ministry of Communities announced that there are 23000 applications in the system and enough lots are not available therefore they have “decided” to use the available lots for housing units instead of house lots. In addition, to this, there is an advertisement in the papers for private developers to indicate their interest in forming a public-private partnership with Government to develop lands and build apartments. As a concerned citizen of this country I ask this question; why try to fit 23,000 applications in an already congested area when we have abundant land in Guyana? I recommend that the Government conduct a feasibility study before they venture into such a project. A project of this nature cannot just be “decided”. Several factors need to be considered on such a project, such as; 1. Congestion on the Coastland (risk of flooding) Guyana is at an extremely high risk of flooding yet governments (past and present) continue to invest and develop coastal lands for residential and commercial purposes. This issue needs to be looked at. One thing that developed countries have in common is that their

population and industries are spread across the entire country. If a natural disaster was to hit Guyana’s coast the entire economy would be devastated since the essence of the economy lies on the coastland. This trend of development of the coastland needs to be put to a halt if leaders really have a vision for this country. More infrastructures and industries need to be developed at interior locations which will attract persons to take up residence there. 2. Congestion within the communities The current plan by the Minister will result in congestion within the communities and apartments. This is not Toronto or New York City where space is limited. We have so much land space. Why are we trying to congest people? 3. Traffic forecasts The areas listed for development are; La Penitence, Cummings Lodge, Little and Great Diamond. We already have a serious traffic congestion problem in Georgetown and on the East Bank and adding more housing developments will result in increased traffic. Has the projected increase in traffic after project implementation being taken into consideration? Where will all the additional vehicles drive? Will the bypass road from Diamond to Georgetown be needed to deal with the

increased traffic? Can the current EBD road offset the projected traffic volumes? 4. Impacts on adjacent communities What will be the effect of these housing units on the adjacent communities? Has any study or projection being done? Will all the additional traffic utilize the already narrow roads in the nearby communities as access to the major roads? 5. Parking Will parking be provided to tenants/owners of these apartments? Will the spaces be enough? What if an additional member of the household acquires a vehicle? Will there be such a space? 6. What about those who want their own plot and yard space? What about children? Have they been considered? We have seen that playgrounds are in most communities, but the governments (past & present) did nothing to maintain them so why will they do so now? I doubt it. People normally set aside play areas for children in their yard. What about a kitchen garden? What about people who want to live in their own private space? Was any consultation done with local residents about their views on this project? Will lands ever be developed again in plots or will we have to live congested from now on? I think it is a fundamental

breach of people’s right to force them to live in apartments when they prefer private plots. I personally remember moving into my own home and yard. It was so peaceful and I felt a sense of ownership and accomplishment. Since this government took office in 2015, I am not aware of a single plot of land developed by them. This is indeed a sad situation. In closing, the government needs to realize that people are not in a state of an emergency; they are not living in the streets. People who want homes live in rented apartments or with family. People can wait a bit until lands are developed. It is now almost two years since this government is in power. Thousands of lots could have been developed during this time but no effort is being made. Persons will still have to pay mortgage/rent if they live in the apartment or their own home. Please reconsider this project and ensure the relevant studies are done before you proceed. We have more than enough lands in Guyana to fit everyone. They just have to be developed. And the government complaining it doesn’t have money is ridiculous. Any government should know and be able to create income for a country. Concerned civil engineer

Windsor Forest citizen is complaining of harassment by NDC DEAR EDITOR, I sought some justice and to date there is no help so I decided to share my problem with your newspaper. My name is Harry Narine Dhanraj, and I have lived at Windsor Forest since 1993. I am being been discriminated against by a certain person with

authority in the NDC, since he took up his position. The issue is that I have a temporary shed on the government reserve in front of our home. I have no problem in removing it, however others occupy the reserve too and I am the only one being targeted. In 1998 I uplifted my area plan from Lands and Survey (see copy attached), the area plan clearly indicates or shows we have access in and out of the reserve. Lots 4 and 5 of the government reserve have been occupied by a religious group which has a shed, fence and building which should also be removed. On the 13th December, 2016 and 1st February, 2017 I received a notice to remove my shed which I think is unfair, since

the religious group was not informed to do the same. Why only me? Why about the other violators? Is there something unorthodox going on and how does this explain the unfair approach of the big wigs in the NDC? On the 19th December, 2016 I asked the NDC this question (see copy attached) and copied my letter to REO of Region 3 and his AREO, the Local Government Department R.D.0 and Leslie James, Commander Leonora Police Station. On the 24th October, 2016, I responded to the NDC’s notice dated the 19th October, 2016 by letting the NDC know I had invested several thousands of dollars to upgrade the street from lot 1 to lot 3 (see copy attached and copied to E Mc Garrell,

Permanent Secretary Ministry of Housing, the AREO Region 3, the Local Government Department R.D.0 and the Commander, Leslie James of Leonora Police Station). On the 30th April 2015 I responded to a notice from the previous NDC, prior to 2016 in which I indicated that there is a corrupt person in the NDC. I copied my letter to President Donald, Ramotar, Mr. Irfaan Ali Minister of Housing and Water, the R.E.O Region 3, and Station Sergeant. Den Amstel Police Station. I would like the public to be informed that the religious group occupies the government reserve too, a reserve that I developed, yet I am being asked to leave. This is discrimination against me. Harry Narine Dhanraj

leadership must be commended DEAR EDITOR, At the last AFC National Conference that was held on January 28th, 2017 in Region 3, we saw changes in the entire leadership of the party. We saw a new leadership being put in place along with the 12 National Executive Committee (NEC) members. I wish all those elected well and hope that they will serve in the best interest of the party so that it can move forward. But we must not forget those that were there before in the leadership and NEC that worked for the betterment of the party. We must remember the commitment shown by those in the past. We must remember the struggles and sacrifices they made before 2015 elections and also after. But in any political party that gets into power, there will be fight for leadership and positions. As I said before and will say again, that before 2015, only a few was interested in the leadership and NEC of the party. Why? Because the party wasn’t in government and they had to use their own resources and time to do the party work. But now we see people who are hardly known to the Guyanese have gain positions within the leadership of the party including the NEC. I must tell those elected that the task ahead is not easy. Seeing a man in the pond catching fish may look easy from the outside, but when you get in it is a whole different story. This is when the trouble starts because the fish may not come your way as expected. I will like to publicly thank a few that were in the leadership of the party before and after 2015 and are still there and have shown the commitment for the betterment of the party. But before I do so, let me say thank to the founders of the party for giving Guyanese hope towards a brighter future by forming the AFC. Firstly, I will like to take the opportunity to publicly commend the Minister of Public Infrastructure Hon. David Patterson MP for works he has done within the AFC as General Secretary. Secondly, I will like to thank the Minister of Public Security Hon. Khemraj Ramjattan MP for the strong, dedicated and reliable leadership he has provided to the AFC over the years. Your leadership qualities have rocked many in the political arena by being straight

forward with your nononsense personality in the work of the party. Thirdly, I must thank the Hon. Minister of Business Hon. Dominic Gaskin for providing the party with much needed assistance in the form of his expertise and work as the Treasurer of the party. I must also thank the Prime Minister Hon Moses Nagamootoo for bringing strength into the AFC and its Leadership. Since Mr. Nagamootoo came to the AFC many more people became committed and join the fight for change in Guyana. Mr. Nagamootoo has done us proud in the AFC and I wish that he will continue in the struggle for a better Guyana. Some of the other people that I know have done the AFC proud are; Hon. Cathy Hughes, Hon. Valerie Low, Mr. Nigel Hughes (former chairman), Dr. Ramayya (former executive and member), Mr. Neilson Mackenzie and MP, Michael Carrington. During their tenure in the various positions of the party, they have shown their dedication, use their resources and energy towards making the AFC strong and committed to the struggle for a better Guyana. Many may want their names to also be included but politics is not about getting your name and picture in the papers and on the newscast. It’s about the struggle, fight and commitment shown by being a foot soldier, by walking the walk and talking the talk, by standing up for the people that need representation. It’s about being yourself and speaking up for the people no matter what comes your way. It’s about reaching out to the people and standing with them. It’s about telling the leadership when they are wrong and what needs to be done. I have seen that in the people I mentioned. I have seen the zeal and passion in them before the AFC became part of a government. I personally had and still have ups and downs with some of them but that will not make me not want to thank them for their work in the party. I will continue to speak up for the people that need justice and representation. I hope that the new leadership is willing to accept my critiques at times. Politics is not a smooth road. Abel Seetaram Region 5

Monday February 13, 2017

Forensic audit report finds… Go-Invest doctored financial records to avoid returning unspent funds to Treasury Forensic auditors have discovered that the Guyana Office for Investment (GoInvest) has been doctoring its financial records so as to avoid returning unspent subventions to the national purse. The auditors, who are attached to Nigel Hinds Financial Services, said that this unsavoury practice by Go-Invest was a clear violation of Guyana’s financial laws, specifically the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act (FMA). The forensic auditors articulated that Section 43 of the FMA Act requires that all unexpended balances of public monies issued out of the Consolidated Fund be returned. Based on their investigations, the team discovered that Go-Invest avoided returning unspent funds to the Treasury through various means. These included the creation of accounts payable transactions, issued cheques on or before December 31 and subsequently cancelled the cheques in the following year or allowed the cheques to become stale dated to retain

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Kaieteur News

Former CEO of GO-Invest, Keith Burrowes access to funds that should have been remitted to the Consolidated Fund. Providing further details in this regard, the auditors said on December 30, 2011 Cheque#163189974 for the sum of $8,097,108 was written in favour of the Guyana Office for Investment. The auditors said that this cheque was eventually cancelled by way of JV# 35/12/2012 on December 31, 2012 reason being that the cheque was stale dated. In another instance, the auditors pointed out that on December 31, 2012 Cheque#16379221 for the

sum of $30,628,301 was written in the name of GoInvest. This cheque was cancelled on October 1, 2013, reason being that it was stale dated. The forensic auditors said, “The Bank Balances for both years were misleading. The 2011balance was $8M less than it really was, and the 2012 was $30.6M less that it really was. This is clear evidence of the management of Go-Invest manipulating its records to avoid unspent subventions from being returned to the Treasury.” The forensic team also found that during the period 2011-2014, the Agency received from the Consolidated Fund, a total of $412M in subventions. For the same period, the auditors said that unspent subventions refunded to the Consolidated Fund amounted to $3.89 million. Yet the balance in the Agency’s Bank Account at December 31, 2014 was $34.34 million. The auditors said that here again, there is clear evidence that the management of the Agency was not remitting unspent subventions.

Tain murder for hire…

Businessman in custody, cops still to find wife Police in B Division have now detained the businessman who is said to have been the paramour of Leelawattie Mohamed, who was shot dead at her Tain Settlement, Corentyne home last week. However Commander of ‘B’ Division, Ian Amsterdam, confirmed that investigators are still trying to locate the businessman’s wife, who is said to have hired the gunmen who killed Mohamed. The woman is believed to be in Guyana, despite initial reports indicated that she was overseas. Commander Amsterdam said investigators are taking steps to prevent her fleeing the country. Amsterdam also said that the police are still trying to ascertain what type of firearm was used to shoot Mohamed. Late last week, detectives

A mini health check is the first step to donating blood

arrested a Jamaican national from Rose Hall Town and a tattoo artist also from the same area. The tattoo artist reportedly provided information that led to the arrest of the Jamaican at Rose Hall. He is said to be the individual who shot Mohamed, allegedly while accompanied by the tattoo artist. Amsterdam said that police are making checks with Interpol to ascertain whether he is wanted for other crimes. The Commander also confirmed that the barber who was previously arrested and put on station bail was rearrested on Saturday. The

man’s wife is also in custody. It is believe that the detained businessman’s wife contacted the barber and his wife to inquire of possible candidates that would “do the dirty work” without her being implicated. The tattoo artist reportedly told investigators that he was contacted by the barber and his wife. He allegedly then contacted the Jamaican national. The men then proceeded by car to Mohamed’s house. After kicking open the door, they placed Mohamed on her knees and demanded cash to make it appear that the motive was robbery. The Jamaican allegedly then shot her under the chin.

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Monday February 13, 2017

Kaieteur News

We seem to have a modified PPP in office After analyzing the performance of the APNU+AFC since it assumed office, Executive Member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr. David Hinds is convinced that Guyana seems to have an administration that is a modified PPP in office. The political activist told Kaieteur News that his biggest issue with the present government is its inability to recognize its historical significance. In this regard, he said that the government is not close enough to the people, so it does not understand what its rise to office means for the hopes and aspirations of the people, particularly the poor and powerless and those who voted for it. The WPA Executive Member said that the coalition party has the opportunity to lift Guyana out of the mode of bad governance that has plagued the nation’s entire independence experience, but

it still seems unable to meet that challenge. Dr. Hinds commented that no government since the early independence administration has enjoyed the goodwill and opportunity to do something transformational for Guyana as the present one. But he said that with each passing day, the Government demonstrates a glaring incapacity and perhaps unwillingness to rise to the occasion. Dr. Hinds said that the government has even been unable to translate the energies of 2011-2015 into social transformation. “What big positive changes have occurred since May 2015? Sometimes it seems as if all we have is a modified PPP in office. There has been no alternative vision. The government has generally followed the same economic path of the PPP. There is not even an attempt to look for alternative approaches to the neo-liberal structural adjustment

- Dr. David Hinds medicine.” Dr. Hinds commented that indeed, there are some training programs and other initiatives aimed at helping the poor. He noted however that there is no overall economic vision for the country. The columnist said that the government is not thinking big. In a country like Guyana, Dr. Hinds said that one has to be aggressive at eradicating poverty through investment in education and job creation. He stressed that it is the only way out. EDUCATION In the area of education, Dr. Hinds said that with all due respect to the initiatives taken by his party leader, Education Minister Dr. Rupert Roopnarine, he does not see the required energy in the education sector which is pivotal to Guyana’s ability to rise above its inherited inadequacies. In this regard, Dr. Hinds said that the University of Guyana is still troubled. He said that there needs to be a complete overhaul at that institution to bring it up to speed. In this respect, he explained that this means attracting more lecturers with the necessary skills which in turn means paying them much better than they are being paid at the moment. “Reputable scholars will not go to UG to work for the pittance they pay. It’s the same with teachers at the lower levels. We will not attract and retain committed teachers on the salary that is being paid. There has to be a big education vision that

speaks to the eradication of illiteracy among our young people.” He said that Guyana cannot compete in the Caribbean and the world with the high level of illiteracy it has. In this regard, he said, “You see people trying to do things here and there in the communities. The President has been tackling transportation. The First Lady has spearheaded literacy projects in some communities. The Ministry is moving to deal with Math.” But Dr. Hinds stressed that there remains no overall vision. THE ECONOMY On the matter of the plight of the poor, the Executive Member of the WPA said that Guyana continues to witness the same worrying story. In this regard, he commented that the government has not done a particularly good job. He believes that the Government is not sensitive enough to the issue of u n e m p l o y m e n t , underemployment and low wages of the employed. “Where are the initiatives to put our people to work? In post plantation societies like Guyana, the government is all we have as far as creating jobs especially for poor people. With a limited private sector which generally does not manufacture things and with limited scope for expansion, the government remains the only way out.” The columnist argued that the government has to invest in its people both at the

WPA Executive Member, Dr. David Hinds level of education and training and the creation of decent paying jobs. He said that the Government has to put its young people to work very quickly or the country will explode socially and politically. GOVERNANCE On the issue of governance, the Executive Member of the WPA said that the Government’s performance has been mixed. He said that the nation has not seen the massive over-reach and authoritarianism of the previous government. He said that protestors are not beaten and killed in the streets and Opposition affiliates are not being thrown in jail for their politics. He even noted that there is a level of efficiency at some ministries. “But generally, nothing has changed as far as transforming the state and society is concerned. The anti-corruption drive has been crawling. The problem is that if you don’t go after entrenched corruption, you

eventually become infected by it. I would not be surprised to learn of corrupt practices in some high places,” expressed Dr. Hinds. The political activist said that official corruption is two way. He said that even if it is not initiated by the government official, he or she could be lured into it by the entreaties of the “big-monied” people. Furthermore, when it comes to the accessibility of Ministers, Dr. Hinds is of the firm belief that the coalition government has the worst record. He said, “They do not make themselves available to the people, except in politicallycontrolled environments. This has led to some reckless decisions that have served to alienate even supporters.” The political activist said that the vendors’ issue, the parking meter fiasco, the handling of wage increase for public service workers, the increase of Ministers’ salaries, the move to fire public servants because of their age and the heavy taxation in the recent budget are some of the wrongheaded decisions that arise from insufficient contact with the people. “They have to do better at talking to the people. Get out of Georgetown and go into the communities even if it’s only to listen to the people.” The columnist said that consultation is not just meeting with selected socalled stakeholders at the top. He stressed that the real stakeholders are the people in their communities.

Monday February 13, 2017

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Kaieteur News

The Guyana Youth Corps was a failure The Guyana Youth Corps, established under the People’s National Congress, was a monumental failure. If after seven years all it could have shown was the training of 1200 youths, then the corps can rightly be said to be an unmitigated disaster. There are Sunday schools out of which more persons pass through in seven years than the state-sponsored Guyana National Youth Corps. The corps was an attempt by the Forbes Burnham regime to mobilize young people for agricultural work. It failed because it was manipulated to mobilize support for the People’s National Congress. It was eventually dissolved into the Guyana National Service. This was more than forty years ago. Yet, we are now being told that the government is planning to reintroduce the Guyana Youth Corps. It would be interesting to learn

whether Cabinet has pronounced on this issue or this is going to be yet another of the ill-conceived wildcat initiatives which are being used as a palliative to rising youth frustration with this administration. Young people do not need organizations such as the Guyana Youth Corps. Public service trainees do not need a staff training college to help them integrate into the public service. These organizations belong to the Soviet era when persons had to be indoctrinated. Organizations such as the Public Service Staff Training College and the Guyana Youth Corps will end up having their original functions being perverted over time. They will become filters to help ensure that party supporters are manoeuvered into public service jobs. Palliative measures are being employed by a visionless government to help

appease young people who are frustrated by the lack of opportunities. There are only so few jobs which can be created through selfemployment. There are only so few jobs which can be created by people making plantain chips. There are only so few jobs which can be created through all the other measures which the government are promoting. Those measures will not make a dent in youth employment. What Guyana needs is investment. What Guyana needs are labour intensive industries. What Guyana needs is the establishment of factories What Guyana needs is for the government to stop crowding out the private sector. What Guyana needs are massive call-centers to be established. What Guyana needs is to assist existing businesses to expand by offering tax-breaks for reinvestment of profits. What Guyana needs is to reduce

Dem boys seh...

City Hall want grease De contract wha City Hall sign wid de Smart Solutions people so tight that it give everything to Smart City. In fact, de contract give de whole of Georgetown to de foreign people. Dem boys remember de days when de Dutch give away Manhattan to de United States fuh a piece of land somewhere. City Hall give away Georgetown fuh couple dollar which some people collect in Mexico when dem get a free trip. Was four of dem get de trip. Dem go and eat some Mexican food. Dem had to drink Tequila because de contract that dem sign could only be signed by drunk people. De contact seh that de parking meter people got a 98 year contract. That is more than some lease. It also get a deal which seh that if City Hall break de contract it got to pay Smart City all de money dem invest, including de money and food fuh de trip to Mexico, plus interest. Dem boys seh de contract wuss that a marriage certificate. Dem remember de man whose wife ketch him looking at de marriage certificate. When de lady ask de man wha he looking at he tell she that he looking fuh an expiration date. But in marriage people got a chance to get out. All dem got to do is divorce and de money dem got to pay one another is less than City Hall got to pay de parking meter people.

Another thing wid de marriage certificate is that it can mek people cry. A man trouble a gyal and de father tell him that he got to marry or he gun end up in jail fuh twenty years. De day come when de man tek up de marriage certificate and watch it and cry. When de wife ask him why he crying he tell she that if he did go to jail that was de day he woulda been free.

De thing that got dem boys thinking is how come City Hall could get satisfied wid only twenty per cent of all de money that de people collect. And de council ain’t getting de money fuh free. It got to put all dem constable and de other staff fuh wuk round de parking meter. City Hall get do in without grease. Talk half and get some grease fuh de council.

crime so that investors would be willing to expand their businesses. But these things are not happening. Instead a whole set of initiatives are being attempted which will place burdens on the treasury. It was, precisely the establishment of military and paramilitary united such as the Guyana Peoples Militia, the National Guard, the Guyana National Service which drove Guyana into recession in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s from which the country has never recovered. The State and state-sponsored organizations became a huge burden on the treasury and had to be shed. A lot of persons had a high experience in the

National Service and therefore they support calls for its reintroduction. But the bottom line is that the National Service was never profitable and represented a huge drain of public resources. Education, health and sports suffered because of the need of government to finance those things. It is not unusual that politicians should have a fascination with the things that were part of their growing up or with which they were associated before they entered politics. And perhaps this need to vindicate those things is what is driving APNU to make these leaps into the void. APNU is on a mission to vindicate Burnham by reinventing what he did in the

hope that it can be successful this time around. It is form of political revisionism. Guyana needs to be putting money into our schools. It needs to be putting money into education instead of trying to relive a fantasy. The reintroduction of the Guyana Youth Corps is a bad idea and as most bad ideas it comes with a hefty price tag. The proposed Guyana Youth Corps will fail. Young people have no time for such nonsense. It did not work forty years ago. It will not find traction with the present generation.

Monday February 13, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Hit and run driver Guyana Goldfields projects 170,000 kills bus conductor ounces for 2017 …plans afoot for US$70M expansion A 50-year-old mini-bus conductor was killed in a hit and run accident around 22:00hrs on Saturday at La Parfaite Harmonie, New Road, West Bank Demerara. The driver of Toyota Premio PTT 7010 is currently in police custody assisting with the investigation. The dead man has been identified as Kenrick Manichand, a route 42 minibus conductor, who resides at Belle West, Canal Number Two, West Bank Demerara. According to information received, Manichand was walking along the Parfaite Harmony, New Road when he was struck by the speeding car. The driver, who was accompanied by his wife, allegedly headed home without rendering assistance to the victim. He reportedly told his father what had happened and he was instructed to return to the scene and render assistance to Manichand. But on returning to the spot and not seeing the victim, he allegedly headed to La Grange Police Station, where he was arrested. A nephew of the victim said that he was at home

DEAD: Kenrick Manichand when he received a phone call from his uncle boss, saying that his uncle was involved in an accident and family members should go to the West Demerara Regional Hospital. On arrival, they were told that Manichand was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. Darryl stated that he and an uncle identified Kenrick Manichand’s body at a mortuary. Manichand is survived by his wife, Navita Manichand and his three children, ages two, seven and seventeen.

Guyana Goldfields Incorporated projects that it will produce 170,000 ounces of gold in 2017. Last year the company produced over 150,000 ounces from the Aurora Mine which it operates. This was revealed by the company’s Chief Executive Officer Scott Caldwell during a media brunch at the Guyana Marriott Hotel yesterday. He said that so far production was strong for January and has continued into February. “This year, we think we’ll make about 170,000 ounces of gold if everything goes the way we think it will. So far, one month down, things are looking pretty good.” The Company has built the biggest gold mining operation in Guyana and according to Caldwell, there is to be additional growth as exploration efforts are underway. He said that this is being handled by Violet Smith, the company’s Country Manager. “We’re going to start near the Aurora mine on some targets, hopefully extending the mine life there and slowly expanding to other targets in Guyana. We’re so confident

CEO of Guyana Goldfields, Scott Caldwell in our success on exploration we’ve bought another mill and we’ve imported most of the mill; we have some more parts to bring in. We’re storing it at our Buckhall facility, waiting for when we will deploy that mill. It’s a modular system, which could be set up very very quickly but the mill and power plant are all that has been purchased.”

According to Caldwell, the remaining parts will be in Guyana over the next few months. As it relates to expanding the Aurora mine, the CEO said that the company has just begun expansion at the location and plans to add a number of tanks and a ball mill. He said that the total cost for the expansion is approximately US$70M. “It will increase our production on an annualised basis from the 150,000 ounces level we’re at now, to about 200,000 to 210,000 ounces of gold per year. “We still have a very long mine life at Aurora. Between surface and underground operations, we have a 15 year mine life. Again, we are starting to look for more ore to add to that. We would like to expand; we intend to expand the mill. It’s a small expansion. Its relatively easy, nothing like the new one we have just built and the construction we just went through. We would only have about a 100 to maybe 80

people on the construction side of things.” Caldwell added that wherever necessary, the company is going to use local contractors to build the new mill. He said that infrastructure such as the truck shop will be fabricated here in Guyana similar to the dormitory that was just built on the site to accommodate workers. “We’re hopeful that we can do most of this construction with Guyanese contractors and not bring in a lot of expatriate foreign multinational companies like we did last time. If we can do it that way, we’re excited about that program.” In spite of the publicized effects of mining on the surrounding physical environment, the company through its environmental monitoring programme headed by Monique Williams, has begun recording animal populations, to ascertain if they are being affected by Continued on page 21

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Kaieteur News

Monday February 13, 2017

President to re-establish Guyana Youth Corps in 2018 President David Granger yesterday announced that he will re-establish the Guyana Youth Corps on January 1, 2018, to empower the nation’s youth and provide them with the skills needed to prepare them for the work force and equip them to aid in the development of Guyana. The Head of State made this announcement at the Graduation Ceremony for 57 young people, who successfully completed Module Two of the Youth Leadership Training Programme at the Madewini Training Centre. The Guyana Youth Corps was first established on January 1, 1968 as a means of solving the youth unemployment problem. It operated for seven years, during which time, approximately 1,200 youth benefitted from the programme. The Youth Corps was then absorbed by the National Service on January 1, 1975, which itself was dismantled in 2000. Due to a weakened education system over the past two decades, President Granger has lamented the fact that over 4000 children drop out of school every year in Guyana… In some Regions 90 percent of students fail English and Mathematics at the National Grade Six level. This leaves many young people disadvantaged and unable to develop their potential. “It will be the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the first Guyana Youth Corps and I will bring together some of the agencies, which are just nibbling at the edges of our youth enterprise in Guyana…so that young

President David Granger with the graduates of the Youth Leadership Programme, Presidential Advisor on Youth Empowerment, Mr. Aubrey Norton and other facilitators and officials people, who might have faced challenges in their education, can voluntarily come in and learn skills and prepare themselves for the world of work… so that we give our young people an opportunity. This will take place in the hinterland and the coastland,” the President said. The President said that such a move is critical to ensuring youth empowerment in Guyana and added that a good education is fundamental to reducing youth unemployment and preparing young people to lead in the development of a more technologically advanced ‘green’ Guyana. “I want to see a [country] of fuller employment, of greater empowerment, of wider equality and of progress for the young people of this country… I look forward to the establishment of the

Guyana Youth Corps when we can move thousands of children out of poverty and into prosperity,” he said. The Head of State commended the graduates for reaching this stage of the Youth Leadership Training Programme, and said that this signifies that they have now taken a step forward toward achieving Government’s vision of the good life. As such, the President said, the Programme is meant to help young people to holistically understand both their destiny and their legacy. He also acknowledged that there are many challenges facing young people. However, the President said that these challenges can be solved through ensuring equality, education, employment, empowerment and entrepreneurship opportunities for the nation’s youth.

“We have to deal with these challenges facing Guyanese society because you are the future of Guyana. My generation has to prepare this country for you and when your turn comes you have to do the same to bequeath this great country to your children and grandchildren,” he said. More importantly, the President said, young people between the ages of 15-25 take up about one third of the country’s population. “This is an important group for me because if you don’t make it successfully through that 10 year gap, it means that your prospects of having that good life would be severely impaired… That is why I am so concerned about giving children equal access to education. We have to do something about those 250,000 young people. Those are the young people of Guyana and those are the people who concern me most” he said. Meanwhile, some of the participants expressed their gratitude to the Government for investing in their development and aspirations in order to empower them and their peers to deal with their challenges. Mr. Shavez Hendricks, who hails from the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region Nine),

believes that the hosting of such programmes is one of the best ways of investing in young people in order to groom them to be leaders. “When you bring young people together from various backgrounds we learn from each other and we can use this experience to deliver to our people, encourage our people and share the knowledge in our communities and I think it’s a good investment by the government,” he said. Ms. Hadeeya Asgar from Lethem, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region Nine), said that the Programme helped to teach her good leadership skills and the lessons learned will enable her to motivate young people in her community. ”I am happy about this because it will help a lot of young people… We are the leaders of tomorrow. We need to be educated and know how we should be good leaders,” she said. Mr. Orin Nelson, who lives in Georgetown, Demerara-Mahaica (Region Four), said that he has been involved in youth groups for quite some time and was happy to be able to attend the course and benefit from the training. “It is important to learn these things at this age because it is easy to bend a

tree when it is young. I am happy that Government is investing in the lives of young people… I believe that what the government is doing is good and I applaud them for that,” he said. The training programmes are conducted by the Office of the Presidential Advisor on Youth Empowerment. Presidential Advisor on Youth Empowerment, Mr. Aubrey Norton said that Module Two of the Youth Training Programme, enabled the participants, who all participated in Module One of the Training, to think critically. “As we moved around the country we found that there was the absence of youth organisations and that many young people were never exposed to youth leadership training. It is in that context that we decided that we would develop a youth leadership training programme,” he said. Skills learned included writing reports and minutes, the formulation and implementation of policy, how to conduct meetings as well as social psychology and team building exercises. The course also included a mock parliament exercise where the youths were allowed to debate the contents of the National Youth Policy.

Monday February 13, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Few good options in Nigeria recovers $177M stolen state funds: ministry Trump arsenal to counter Reuters - Nigeria has recovered some $151 said in a statement. million and eight billion naira ($26.32 million) “The biggest amount of $136,676,600.51 in stolen state funds in less than two months was recovered from an account in a defiant North Korea as part of an anti-graft drive, the government commercial bank, where the money was kept

Reuters - Despite his campaign vows to take a tougher line with North Korea, President Donald Trump’s restrained public reaction to Pyongyang’s first ballistic missile launch on his watch underscores that he has few good options to curb its missile and nuclear programmes. The responses under consideration - which range from additional sanctions to U.S. shows of force to beefedup missile defense, according to one administration official - do not seem to differ significantly so far from the North Korea playbook followed by Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama. Even the idea of stepping up pressure on China to rein in a defiant North Korea has been tried - to little avail - by successive administrations. But Beijing is showing no signs of softening its resistance under a new U.S. president who has bashed them on trade, currency and the contested South China Sea. More dramatic responses to North Korea’s missile tests would be direct military action or negotiations. But neither appears to be on the table - the first because it would risk regional war, the latter because it would be seen as rewarding Pyongyang for bad behaviour. And neither would offer certain success. “Trump’s options are limited,” said Bonnie Glaser, an Asia expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank in Washington. Trump’s initial public comments on Saturday on the test launch of what was believed to be an intermediate-range Musudan-class missile were unexpectedly measured - and brief compared to earlier bluster about another U.S. adversary, Iran, since he took office on January 20. “I just want everybody to understand, and fully k n o w, t h a t t h e U n i t e d

said yesterday. The West African nation launched late in December a whistleblower scheme entitling those who help find stolen assets to up to five percent of the recovered sums, part of a drive by President Muhammadu Buhari to root out endemic corruption. Yesterday’s announcement was the first since the middle of last year to give an official figure for recovered assets. “The looted funds ... were recovered from just three sources through whistleblowers who gave actionable information to the office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation,” the Information Ministry

under an apparently fake account name,” it added. The other recovered funds were in dollars or naira. On Friday, Nigeria’s anti-corruption watchdog said it had seized $9.8 million in cash from the former head of the state oil company NNPC, a recovery also made possible under the whistleblower programme. Graft, particularly in the oil sector on which Nigeria relies, has taken large sums from the country’s coffers. Buhari rode to victory in 2015 on an anticorruption platform after widespread anger at the plundering of the state under his predecessor Goodluck Jonathan.

Muhammadu Buhari

Accused had allegedly pinned crime on... Donald Trump States of America is behind Japan, our great ally, 100 percent,” Trump told reporters in Palm Beach, Florida, speaking in a solemn tone alongside visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The U.S. president did not mention North Korea or signal any retaliatory plans for what was widely seen as an early effort to test the new administration. By contrast, Trump tweeted “It won’t happen!” in January after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said the North was close to testing an intercontinental ballistic missile. White House adviser Stephen Miller insisted on ABC’s “This Week” that Trump’s one-sentence statement was an “important show of solidarity” with Japan. He told “Fox News Sunday” the administration was going to bolster its allies in the region against the “increasing hostility” of North Korea. While no one can rule out that Trump might still take to Twitter with harsh rhetoric as he often does, some analysts said his relatively subdued initial statement could show that aides have convinced him not to be baited by Pyongyang into issuing threats that would be hard to carry out, especially while his North Korea strategy is still being formulated.

(From page 3) accused said that he was in Albouystown when he received a telephone call from his friend “Ray Ray.” He said that “Ray Ray” told about two men who had “a whole set of money” at a shop and he needed help to go and rob them. He said that he met “Ray Ray” in D’Urban Street, where they joined “Burnham” and another man nicknamed “X”. The accused told the police, that together he and his crew went down to the shop and proceeded to rob the men at the shop. But the accused said before they left the shop,” Burnham shoot up the shop wid the gun that he had to do the work.” Moore’s caution statement was the final of the three

accused persons to be admitted into the evidence. Earlier in the trial, Police Detective, Rodwell Sarrabo testified that accused murderer, Stephan Campbell called “Burnham”, had supplied investigators with a caution statement in which he told them that he had been on a robbery with his partners, but he never shot anyone. According to the statement, Campbell told detectives of a robbery plot. In the statement, Campbell noted that he and his friends travelled on motorcycles to commit the act. He said during the process of the robbery, ‘Hard Mouth’ (Fizal Moore) whipped out a gun and shot the man (Xavier). “I didn’t kill da man, me and ‘Hard Mouth’ go pun the

wuk…I didn’t know that ‘Hard Mouth’ woulda shoot the man.” The accused also told police that ‘Hard Mouth’ got $90,000 and a cell phone from the robbery, but didn’t give him any of the loot. Sarrabo later faced questions from lawyers on the defence team, but he maintained that all the necessary protocols were observed and the accused gave his statement freely and voluntarily. Sarrabo’s evidence was followed by the testimony of Ronald Nedd. Nedd, who is currently overseas, gave his evidence via audio/video technology. He told the court that he knew the deceased and that they were friends. Nedd told the court that

Guyana Goldfields projects 170,000... From page 11 mining. She said yesterday that the company is involved in a number of environmental activities to ensure the company complies with the Environmental Protection Agency regulations and the local environmental permit. According to Williams, probably the most exciting of all of the activities that the company is involved in is the bio-diversity monitoring. As a part of this programme, employees are required to report all animal findings. This is then matched against data recorded at the location prior to the commencement of operations. Further, Health and Safety Coordinator

Michael Williams said that the work which his department has done so far will be further improved by assessing the key performance indicators. He stressed that safety for employees, contractors, visitors and students is of utmost importance. One of the measures employed by the company is to ensure that each employee completes a training course before they are transferred to a specific department. Williams stressed that the company tries to ensure that each person is returned to their families regardless of what aspect of mining they are involved in. Thus far they have recorded zero serious incidents.

at the time of the incident, he was at a shop on D’Urban Street where he met Xavier and a friend. They were drinking. “We greeted each other and Glen (Xavier) and his friend went out on a bridge and continued drinking,” The witness recalled that he left the shop to purchase phone cards at another shop, close by. “I went over the road to purchase phone cards, when I heard explosions which sounded like gunshots.” Nedd said that he heard the explosions but he did not see what had caused them. He said that it was only after making his purchase that he came out of the shop and saw a cluster of people. “I saw my friend (Xavier) and his friend lying in a pool of blood. I inquired from the crowd about what happened and they said that they (the men) had just been shot and robbed. The witness said that he immediately went to the men’s rescue and assisted in transporting them to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

PAGE 22

LAND FOR SALE Land @ Soesdyke, 6 lots measuring 135’X175’. Call: 627-3334/696-8935, email:fcranmore@guyana voice.com SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620

SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 647-1773/6605257

Visa Application: U.S.A, C a n a da & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigrant Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496; 662-6045 Repairs & spare, fridge, freezer, A/C, washers, stoves – Contact Nick: 6831312, 627-3206 Repairs at low cost: Fridges, air- conditioners, washing machines, TVs, microwaves, freezers- Call:629-4946 or 225-4822 Landscaping: We design, supply and implement residential and commercial indoor & outdoor Landscaping. Call 648-1821 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158

VACANCY Glam & Co. Beauty Salon: New Market Street, GT Hair Station, available for rental. Call: 638-1106 Truck drivers for 6x6 TM & Model M trucks. contact 223-5273/4 One fast food supervisor, one dhalpuri maker, one dishwasher. Call: 225-0723 for more information. Customer Service Reps for Express International. Call 267-2992 or email jobs@expresstruckingcorp.com. The # 1 Plant Shop, is hiring general maintenance and sales staff. Persons 2030yrs call 643-7193 Cook & baker for Interior location. Call: 618-2020 One experienced computer legal clerk. Call: 226-4283, 624-7087/ 258-0213/ email:husainsaphier@yahoo. com FOR SALE/RENT 2 Storey house for sale or rent $15M, rental -$20,000 each flat- Call: 672- 9428/ 684-0036 Ms Ramotar.

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

PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461

Tuschen front (with fence) $2.8M, La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.6M, Zeelugt -$2M, Uitvlugt -$2M. Call:642-1252

1 Front building & a 2 storey building on 1 (lot) 180 Charlotte Street Bourda W30XL120 $55M negotiable. Call: 624-7341/ 227-6817/226-5183

Greater Georgetown Guyana: 253 DeAndrade St, N/Town, corner lot 0578 acres, 2517.76 sq. ft. - $14M negotiable. Call executrixon: 615-1100

Newly built @ Craig E.B.D land size 91X50feet; house 40X28, 3 rooms, 1 selfcontained. Call: 718-2136496/617-7691

Uitvlugt (100ftX50ft) -$2.5M & $2M, Diamond –$6.5M, Eccles - $4.5M, La Parfaite Harmonie - $1.3M. Call: 2333006/658-5897/651-1969

Transported property @ Grove/Diamond, 3 bedrooms, 1 self-contained, concrete fence, price $14M. Call: 660-1353/ 216-4338

La Parfaite Harmonie - $1.4M, $1.8M, $2M, Farm-$6M, Uitvlugt -$2M, Diamond $4M, Tuschen School Street -$3M, Herstelling -$5M. Call: 604-6724

Lot 704 House & Land at Zeelugt, Brother Dam W.C.D. Call: 616-5606/ 277-0281

La Parfaite Harmonie- 1.4M, $1.8M, $2M, $3.5M, Uitvlugt -$2M, $4.5M, Herstelling $5M, Tuschen (front) -$2.5M negotiable. Call: 614-6802 30 Acres of Land at Yarrowkabra, Linden, Soesdyke Highway, price $20M negotiable. Call: 6615033/663-5524 Mining lands available for sublet in the following areas: Northwest, Kaburi, Middle Essequibo, Waini / Buckhall. Contact 629-5070 & 687-5814 Transported corner lot with approved building plan @ 90 Garnett & Republic Streets, Newtown Kitty. Call: 6016000/227-3305 EDUCATIONAL I.A.E Classes for CSEC June 2017: Mathematics, English A, Business & Science Subject for Students, Adults & repeaters. Call: 683-5742 Private custom house broker certificate training course; March 6 th, 2017. Register early and get 25% discount. Call: 694-8322

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

Monday February 13, 2017

Kaieteur News

Friendship Public Road (house & land) -$22M, La Parfaite Harmonie (6 bedrooms; brand new house) -$25M. Call:233-3006/ 658-5897/651-1969 th

Property at 14 Avenue, Diamond, New Scheme, E.B.D -$23M negotiable – Call: 668-6940/601-1355 One concrete building (incomplete) in residential area. Price negotiable. Call: 699-4114 Goat Creek, Riverfront , 75 Acres land -$7M, Lanaballi River Front, 50 Acres -$9M. Call: 688-0087 Riviera Island: 145Acres -$30M, Tuschen property -$5.8M, $6M, $15M. Call: 688-0087 Tuschen 5,8,6,2 bedrooms; Hope- 2 bedrooms $7.8M, Enmore Land -$1.5M. Call: 688-0087

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. 1 3600 watts generator, 1 30HP motor 3PH, 1 Automatic switch 600A more electrical stuff. Call: 627-7835 1 Stembow Boat & Engine, 200HP Yamaha with Power Steering Kit. $1.6M Negotiable Call 658-5299/ 638-7748

320i BMW for sale. Call: 6381106

CAR RENTAL

PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 677-7827, 6435122, EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM

DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 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 REATES,SPECIAL OFFER FOR THE SEASON. CALL: 690-6494

AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MIN BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPOTR & FAMILY OUTING, CHEAPESTRATE . Call: 698-7807

MASH SPECIAL! 2010 TOYOTA AX10 - $2.6M, 2010 TOYOTA RAUM $2.3M – CALL: 642-7295 Ford Raptor-$8.5M, Audi A4$3.5M, BMW 318i-$2.5M, Toyota Ist-$1.9M, Honda S2000 Convertible-$3M. Contact#650-0402 1 RZ mini bus, late BNN series, VVTI -$1.3M negotiable. Call: 656-6852/ 231-6552

Wanted land to buy: La Parfaite Harmonie, Uitvlugt, Zeelugt, Tuschen. Call: 6579594 Office staff with 5 CXC subjects, must be computer literate. Also 1 MechanicTel:218-5105 One domestic to work in Trinidad, between ages of 25-35. Call 1-868- 683-1528 One driver/porter & porter. From Diamond, Grove area. Call: 216-1043, 677-6620

German Shepherd puppies for sale – Call: 682-5664

Drivers for water truck to work on W.C.D -$50 per bottle or $26,000 weekly. Call:6848231/ 629-4236

Puppies for sale – Contact: 671-9136 (whatsapp), 6704228/ 267-0205 75 Yamaha outboard engine, good condition. Call: 2590302 1 Big music set, owner migrating. Call: 690-5225 1 Professional music set (complete), 1 Jacuzzi whirlpool. Call: 253-3070/6542732 1 Complete set of salon equipment for sale with/ without rental contract in V/ Hoop area. Call: 676-9575/ 613-4025 Cool Tech Solution: 6754959/233-2008: New & used spare parts: fridge, freezer, washer, A/C, chill water system, ice makers. 1 Marina 40HP outboard engine with 14 Aluminum boat, 1 Yamaha 75HP outboard engine in excellent condition. Call: 643-1622

Design & Make Aluminum windows, doors, stainless rails, showcases, rolling shutters, make & install automatic doors. Call: 2336818/677-5599/659-9999

Allion, Premio, Blue Bird, IST, Honda CRV, Toyota Spacio, Fielder Wagon, 212 Carina, RZ & Pitbull bus – Call: 650-7501 CAR RENTAL

Cook & Cashier for snackette, attractive salary. Call: 697-5387/ 677-9279

Honda CBR 929 for sale; also land at Bushy Park, E.B.E – Call: 694-4609

Next to new 7 Land Ranger & Nordic Track Incline treadmill $79,000. Call: 673-9283

VEHICLE FOR SALE

WANTED

Urgently needed lands in Herstelling, Farm, Providence, Eccles, Zeelugt, Bartica & Florida. Call:2333006/658-5897/651-1969 We buy land in Eccles, Providence, Herstelling, Farm, Uitvluft, Zeelugt, La Parfaite Harmonie, Tuschen. Best Price Pay! Call: 614-6802 Experienced roti/puri, curry cooks, counter servers, cleaners, strictly day shift. Apply @ Hack’s Halaal, 5 Commerce Street. One skilled or semi skilled gasoline mechanic, attractive salary – Contact: 231-6587, 649-1290/ 671-8122 Experienced taxi driver at Princess Hotel @ Providence. Call: 616-5419 One General Live-in Domestic to work in Mahaicony River- Call: 6559419/ 225-6571 Talented Hairstylists and Nail Technicians needed. Overseas Employment, Tortola, BVI. Call (284) 5431410 or email bvisalonowner@gmail.com. Driver/Porter for water truck on the E.B.D- Call/Whatsapp: 682-1048 Corilla Bush (dried) in large quantities any amount. Call: 665-1397

TO LET 2 Bedrooms apartment close to PHG & Market -$50,000 monthly. Call: 223-9677 Two bedrooms bottom flat @ Diamond - $40,000. Call: 6973240/216-0266 WANTED Require to rent for keeping classes. Call: 665-2274

One live in supervisor for bar & grocery starting salary $80,000 monthly, age 2535yrs- Call: 610-3974 Bartender, receptionist, domestic, live in watchman. Hilton Restaurant, 12 Henry Street –Call: 225-9211 Experienced puri/roti cooks. Apply at Shanta’s The Puri Shop, 225 Camp & New Market Streets. Continue on page 23

Monday February 13, 2017

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OAS pledges cooperation to deliver We are monitoring them - Dillon digital classrooms to C’bean NASSAU, Bahamas CMC — The Organisation of American States (OAS) has pledged to cooperate with the Profuturo Foundation, an initiative of Telefónica and the “La Caixa” banking foundation, to implement in the Caribbean the ‘Digital Classroom Project’. The project offers “a technological solution to bring digital education to hundreds of thousands of children and young people in the Americas,” including the Caribbean. OAS – through its InterA m e r i c a n Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Commission (CITEL) and Executive Secretariat for Integral Development (SEDI) – and Profuturo on Friday formalised the cooperation through an agreement signed on Friday at the Ninth Ministerial Meeting on Education Ministers in the Americas in Nassau, Bahamas.

“CITEL and Profuturo are working hand in hand to improve the quality of education, through digital education in highly vulnerable areas in Latin America and the Caribbean,” said CITEL Executive Secretary, Oscar León. Also signing on behalf of the OAS was SEDI Executive Secretary Kim Osborne. Director General of Profuturo, Sofía Fernández de Mesa, said that the implementation of ITCs in education allows for a broader coverage, “which leads in turn to greater quality at lesser cost, while, at the same time, democratising access to information, and improving access to opportunities for all”. Through the agreement, the OAS and Telefónica has called on Caribbean countries to take part in the activities of the Digital Mobile Classroom, starting in January 2018. The programme is an

Oscar León offline platform that aims to improve quality education through digital resources that provide access to quality and transformational education, creating more inclusive spaces and focusing on the enhancement of teacher skills, methods and competencies through digital technologies, the OAS said.

Govt. exposed to shareholders Trinidad Express - There is no shareholders agreement in place between the Government and the CL Financial (CLF) conglomerate. It expired in October 2016. It means that Government is now exposed if shareholders want to take the conglomerate back, a source close to the working of the agreement explained. The shareholders agreement, which was signed in June 2009 for three years, came after the thengovernment’s bailout of CLF’s subsidiary CLICO in January of that year. The agreement allowed government to appoint

Major shareholder: Lawrence Duprey directors to secure and manage CLF’s assets to

ensure that billions of taxpayers’ dollars would be reimbursed. In April 2016, Finance Minister Colm Imbert noted the agreement was extended 16 times, and the Government owned 14 per cent of CLF in exchange for debt. However, Government is not the major shareholder of CLF—former chairman Lawrence Duprey is—and Government’s hold legally is the shareholders agreement. The Sunday Express was told that the last extension in April 2016, when the Government also nominated four directors to the board, expired in October with no extension in place.

Brazil’s president digs in ahead of corruption time-bomb Rio de Janeiro (AFP) - In the face of pending corruption allegations likened to a ticking bomb, Brazilian President Michel Temer is building himself a bunker. An embezzlement and bribery probe called Operation Car Wash has already shaken high level Brazilian politics for almost three years. But far from winding down, it’s expected soon to escalate. Prosecutors are looking into whether Temer and many others, often from his PMDB party, took part in a gigantic corruption network that embezzled from state oil company Petrobras and filled election campaign coffers with dirty money. The president and some of his allies are among those implicated in testimony given in plea bargains by 77 executives from Odebrecht, a construction firm that ran a whole

secret department just for bribing politicians. The testimony remains secret. But it could soon be released by the Supreme Court — and the president’s team is scrambling to take cover. According to leaked testimony, then vicepresident Temer asked Odebrecht in 2014 to give the centre-right PMDB millions of dollars in campaign funds. He denies doing anything improper and a sitting president cannot be prosecuted for crimes that allegedly occurred before his term began. But with large numbers of other politicians also expected to be implicated, the potential scandal could still be huge. For sitting politicians accused of crimes, it will be up to the Supreme Court whether to authorize further investigations and whether to go to trial.

Trinidad Guardian While T&T can do nothing about the impending deportation of millions from the United States, National Security Minister Edmund Dillon assured Saturday that those deportees with potentially dangerous military skills will be closely monitored by intelligence officials in T&T. Responding to the Sunday Guardian, Dillon denied that high-risk deportees with military training in explosive, firearms and other types of weaponry were no longer under watch by the Special Branch. Saying the United States always notifies T&T about the arrival of deportees, Dillon said based on their criminal record, law enforcement officers then take a decision on whether monitoring should be done. “Based on the information we get from the deportees, we put them in different categories because not all of them are criminal deportees who have committed a serious offence,” Dillon explained. Saying T&T will continue to keep potentially dangerous deportees under watch, Dillon added, “If the United States sends someone who is

involved in gang warfare or someone who has committed murder, we will definitely monitor those individuals. There is no question about that.” He noted, however, that Government had a duty to provide rehabilitation to the deportees so that they will not fall into a life of crime. “The Ministry of National Security will continue to support Vision on Mission and other social groups. We have to look at how we can rehabilitate and prevent them from continuing on a path of crime. We have to see how we can we reintegrate them in society.” He also said those deportees who are no longer of questionable interest to law enforcement officials will be removed from the radar. “We are also working closely with the minister of Social Development and VOM which comes under National Security to support their initiatives. We want to strengthen VOM and offer our assistance to their existing programmes because some deportees come here with no attachment whatsoever and we have to catch them as early as possible so they don’t enter into a life of crime,” Dillon added.

Edmund Dillon

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Marchers across Mexico vent anger over Trump, and their own president

Demonstrators hold placards that collectively read ‘No wall’ during a march to protest against U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed border wall, and to call for unity, in Mexico City, Mexico, February 12, 2017. REUTERS/ Ginnette Riquelme Reuters - Thousands of protesters in more than a dozen Mexican cities took to the streets yesterday to express their fierce opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump, portraying the new leader as a menace to both America and Mexico. Waving Mexicans flags and hoisting anti-Trump signs in both Spanish and English, some vulgar, many protesters also heaped scorn on their own president, deriding Enrique Pena Nieto as a weak leader who has presided over rampant corruption and violence at home. Trump and Pena Nieto have been locked in battle over their countries’ deep ties for months, even before Trump won the presidency with promises to get tougher on immigration and trade from Mexico. Mexico fears Trump’s policies could send Latin America’s second biggest economy into crisis. In a rare display of national unity, marchers and organizers came from across the country’s deeply polarized political factions,

encouraged in part by a promarch ad campaign by Televisa, the country’s dominant broadcaster. In the Mexican capital, two separate marches were set to converge on the iconic Angel of Independence monument on the city’s leafy Paseo de la Reforma avenue. “He’s such a bad man and he shouldn’t act the way he does,” said 62-year-old marcher Jorge Ruiz about Trump, who expressed particular anger at how the former reality TV star has insulted migrants. One marcher carried a larger-than-life painted Trump mannequin, portraying him as an outlandish cartoon character, while others carried piñatas resembling the U.S. leader wearing floppy Mexican hats bearing proMexico slogans. “Mexicans demand respect, we want bridges not walls,” read one banner carried by nearby marchers. “Trump you diminish America,” read another. Maria Paro Cassar, an organizer, said Trump has made Mexico and Mexicans in

the United States “his favorite target.” “His policies are a global threat that go against pluralism and diversity and they represent a particular threat to Mexico,” she added. Three weeks into his administration, Trump has vowed to move ahead with construction of his signature border wall, which he has repeatedly said Mexico will pay for, as well as signaling a new push to deport millions of unauthorized immigrants from the country. While organizers of the marches promoted them as non-partisan, many singled out Pena Nieto as a major obstacle. “We’re also marching today to demand that our own rulers put an end to corruption and so much loss of life here and actually look out for the good of the country, not just themselves,” said 28-year-old office worker Victor Robledo. Last month, a poll showed that Pena Nieto’s approval ratings had hit a record low at just 12 percent, the lowest level of support for any president in decades.

Venezuela now leads US asylum requests as crisis deepens BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Venezuelans for the first time led asylum requests to the United States as the country’s middle class fled the crashing, oil-dependent economy. Data from the U.S. government’s Citizenship and Immigration Services show that 18,155 Venezuelans submitted asylum requests last year, a 150 percent increase over 2015 and six times the level seen in 2014. China was second place, with 17,745 requests coming from citizens of that country. Venezuela first cracked the top 10 asylum-seeking nations following months

of sometimes bloody street protests in early 2014 seeking to oust President Nicolas Maduro. But back then, amid the widespread jailing and harassment of opponents of the socialist administration, fewer than 100 Venezuelans per month sought asylum. That compares with 2,334 requests in December, 2016, the last month for which data is available. The number of applicants has skyrocketed since December 2015, when the opposition took control of congress in a landslide election, giving hope to many that it could disrupt 17 years of socialist rule.

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Trump stays course on immigrants, undocumented workers Washington (AFP) - The courts may have halted his travel ban but that hasn’t caused President Donald Trump to shy away from planning new action on immigration in the name of keeping Americans safe. As thousands of Mexicans protested against Trump’s anti-Mexican rhetoric and vow to make the country pay for his “big, beautiful border wall,” the White House confirmed the president’s plans to weigh a new executive order to speed up deportations of illegal immigrants. His ban now frozen, Trump is “considering and pursuing all options” including a new executive order on the matter, his aide Stephen Miller told “Fox News Sunday.” The issue is sure to be at the top of the agenda when Trump meets today with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has made it clear in the wake of Trump’s ban that America’s northern neighbour welcomes with open arms “those fleeing persecution, terror and war.” While Trump’s restrictions on refugees and other travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries played out in the courts, a separate executive order prioritizing the deportation of undocumented migrants paved the way for the arrest of hundreds of p e o p le, many of them Latinos, this week. “As a result of the president’s order, greatly expanded and more vigorous immigration enforcement activities are taking place,” Miller said of the deportation decree. Earlier, Trump tweeted: “The crackdown on illegal criminals is merely the keeping of my campaign promise. Gang members, drug dealers & others are being removed!” Trump tweeted after raids on undocumented migrants this week. Over the past week, the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency rounded up undocumented individuals living in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and other cities in what it called “routine” operations. But Miller indicated yesterday that the raids, which follow Trump’s January 25 executive order prioritizing deportation of undocumented individuals convicted of or “charged with any criminal offense,” including misdemeanors,

Justin Trudeau were made more robust under the decree. “It is true that Operation Cross Check is something that happens every year. But this year we have taken new and greater steps to remove criminal aliens from our communities,” Miller said. The large-scale raids began in 2011 under then president Barack Obama. Many Democrats have called on the government to act in moderation, fearful that people without a criminal record will find themselves swept up and in the detentions. The case of a mother in Phoenix, Arizona who was expelled to Mexico on Thursday crystallized such worries, even among some Republicans. “There is a lot of worry here in Arizona by those who... are illegally here but they have not committed aggravated felonies,” said Arizona Republican Senator Jeff Flake, adding that the only hope for permanent change lies in major Congressional reform. Miller said the next step on Trump’s travel ban would be either filing an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court, defending the merits of the

order in lower courts or issuing a new one. The order that Trump issued abruptly in late January aimed to halt resettlement of all refugees for 120 days and that of Syrian refugees indefinitely. It also barred for 90 days the entry of nationals from seven predominantly Muslim countries. Miller insisted the president has the power to keep some people from entering the United States. “We are contemplating new and additional actions to ensure that immigration is not a vehicle for admitting people into our country that are hostile to its nation and its values,” Miller said. The ban was supposed to be in place while the government comes up with a new system of so-called “extreme vetting” of people seeking entry visas. This could include checks on their social media accounts, according to John Kelly, the secretary of homeland security. But a federal judge in Seattle issued a stay against the order on February 3. A three-judge appeals panel in San Francisco then voted unanimously against reinstating Trump’s ban. The idea of the White House issuing a modified immigration order that would survive scrutiny in the courts does not convince Democrats, who from the outset have charged that Trump’s decree is simply antiMuslim and plays into the hands of extremists. “It will be used as a recruitment for terrorist organizations. It will put Americans at greater risk traveling abroad,” said Democratic Senator Ben Cardin.

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Monday February 13, 2017

GOP lawmakers face angry, Barbados wants share of assets worried constituents at town halls Daily Nation - Having played its part in helping convict two money launderers in the United States, the Government of Barbados is seeking a share of the financial pie. Director of Public Prosecutions, Charles Leacock QC told the SUNDAY SUN his department would soon be making an official application to the US Government to recoup just under $500 000, part of which is contained in a local bank account which was frozen when the court case against Robert Bandfield and Gregg Mulholland started last year. The DPP also believes Barbados’ participation in the investigation and the subsequent conviction will go a long way in making the island a leader in transparency in the Eastern Caribbean, as well as improve its standing as a clean international business jurisdiction. “We will be asking for a substantial amount of the money which is in the account in Barbados,” the DPP said.

People gather outside the Brighton High School before Rep. Jason Chaffetz’s town hall meeting, in Cottonwood Heights, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — The voter identified himself as a cancer survivor, and he had something to say to Republican Rep. Justin Amash: “I am scared to death that I will not have health insurance in the future.” The comment earned 61-year-old retiree Paul Bonis a standing ovation from the crowd packed into a school auditorium in Amash’s Michigan district. And the congressman was booed for his response: That the Affordable Care Act has “hurt a lot of people,” and he supports his party’s plans to repeal and replace it, even though the GOP still hasn’t united around an alternative. It’s a scene that’s played out around the country over the past several weeks as Republicans and President Donald Trump have assumed control of Washington and begun moving forward on their long-held promise to undo former President Barack Obama’s health care law. In an echo of the raucous complaints that confronted Democrats back in 2009 as they worked to pass “Obamacare” in the first place, Republicans who want to repeal it now are facing angry pushback of their own at

constituent gatherings from Utah to Michigan to Tennessee and elsewhere, even in solidly Republican districts. And just as the protests in 2009 focused on health care but reflected broader concerns over an increasingly divisive new president and Democrats’ monopoly control over Washington, now, too, constituent complaints at town hall meetings appear to reflect more general fears about the Trump administration and the implications of one-party GOP rule of the nation’s capital. In a Salt Lake City suburb, GOP Rep. Jason Chaffetz faced irate constituents chanting “Do your job!” as they pressed the House Oversight Committee chairman to investigate Trump. Chaffetz struggled to be heard as he faced a litany of sharp questions and screams from a crowd of people who grilled him on everything from Obamacare to Chaffetz’s desire to overturn a new national monument in southern Utah. “Come on, we’re better than this,” Chaffetz protested over the hubbub at one point, practically pleading with the deafening crowd to let him speak.

Charles Leacock QC

Peru President’s approval rating slips to 38 percent amid graft probe LIMA (Reuters) Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski’s approval rating dropped five percentage points for the second month in a row in February, as a widening graft scandal entangled his former boss, an Ipsos poll showed yesterday. Only 38 percent of Peruvians now support Kuczynski, down from a peak of 63 percent in September shortly after he took office amid promises of modernizing Peru, according to the Ipsos survey published in the local newspaper El Comercio. Kuczynski’s disapproval rating climbed six percentage points to 51 percent, according to the poll of 1,291 people that had a margin of error of 2.7 percentage points. The survey was taken between Wednesday and Friday as prosecutors accused former president

Pedro Pablo Kuczynski Alejandro Toledo of taking $20 million in bribes to help scandal-plagued Brazilian builder Odebrecht win lucrative highway contracts. Kuczynski, who served as finance minister and prime minister during Toledo’s 2001-

2006 term, has denied any involvement in the alleged schemes in Peru. Kuczynski’s popularity has evaporated more rapidly than for Peru’s two mostrecent presidents, Ollanta Humala and Alan Garcia, both of whom enjoyed approval ratings of at least 50 percent at this stage of their terms. A majority of Peruvians believe Kuczynski, a 78-yearold former investment banker who narrowly won last year’s presidential election against a right-wing populist, lacks leadership and energy, Ipsos said. Top priorities for Kuczynski should be prioritizing aid for people affected by recent flooding and landslides and fighting street crime, the poll said.

Haiti PM Steps Down PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Haiti’s Prime Minister Enex JeanCharles has resigned to allow the country’s new president to form a new government. Jean-Charles, who was appointed in March last year by interim president Jocelerme Privert, submitted his letter of resignation last week, after Jovenel Moise was sworn in as the French-speaking nation’s new president. Moise has already begun consultations to choose a successor for Jean-Charles. Reports in the local media have indicated that businessman Olivier Barreau and former Senator Gabriel Fortuné are among those rumoured to be in the running. Moise does not need Parliamentary approval to choose a new prime minister, under a constitutional amendment that came into effect as he took office, although whoever is chosen needs the approval of the legislature for his policies. (Caribbean360)

Blue Mountains rocked by earthquake KINGSTON, Jamaica - CMC – An earthquake with a magnitude of 3.0 rocked the Blue Mountains, the longest mountain range in the island, Saturday. The Earthquake Unit at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, said the quake that occurred at approximately 5:33pm (local time) had a focal depth of 16.1 kilometres. The epicenter was located 12 kilometres north of Hagley Gap in the eastern parish of St. Andrew. According to the Earthquake Unit, it was also felt in the community of chancery Hall in the parish. Up to late, there were no reports of damage to property or injury to individuals as a result of the quake.

Monday February 13, 2017

Injured Davis Cup umpire undergoes surgery on fractured eye socket (Reuters) French umpire Arnaud Gabas has had surgery to repair a fractured eye socket after being hit by a ball from Canada’s Denis Shapovalov during a Davis Cup tie with Britain, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) said yesterday. “Chair umpire Arnaud Gabas has undergone successful surgery in France to repair a fracture of the orbital bone under his left eye,” the ITF said in a statement. “The fracture was detected when doctors performed X-rays upon Mr Gabas’s return from Ottawa, where he was unintentionally hit by a ball during the Davis Cup... tie between Canada and Britain on 5 February.” Gabas, who was initially sent to Ottawa General Hospital as a precaution, is recovering at home. “I am now concentrating on rest and rehabilitation so I can be back on court in the near future,” he said. Shapovalov, 17, was defaulted from his match with Kyle Edmund after unintentionally firing the ball at the umpire. He later apologised but was fined $7000. The tie was awarded to Britain.

Umpire Arnaud Gabas holds an ice pack to his eye after being struck by a ball. (REUTERS/Chris Wattie)

Lopez kicks France to 22-16 win against Scotland

France’s Gael Fickou scores a try as Scotland Stuart Hogg tries to stop him. (REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol) PARIS (Reuters) France lacked their usual inspiration and relied on the boot of Camille Lopez to labour to a 22-16 home win against Scotland in the Six Nations yesterday. Flyhalf Lopez kicked five penalties and converted Gael Fickou’s try while Scotland’s points came from tries by Stuart Hogg and Tim Swinson and a couple of Finn Russell penalties. The visitors’ hopes of a first win in Paris since 1999 were undermined when they lost scrumhalf Greig Laidlaw to an injury in the first half. “It’s an ankle injury, we’ll see tomorrow how bad it is,” said Scotland coach Vern Cotter. Victory left France in fourth place with five points from two games, ahead of Scotland who bagged a bonus point for losing by less than seven points. France next travel to Ireland and Scotland entertain Wales. Before kickoff there was a minute of applause in memory of former South Africa international Joost van der Westhuizen, who died of a motor neurone disease on Monday. France had shown a lot of attacking potential in narrow defeats to Australia and

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New Zealand last November, and in a 19-16 loss to England last weekend. But their failure to finish off some flowing moves was evident again against the Scots who arrived in bullish mood after a 27-22 defeat of Ireland last weekend. Guy Noves’s team took the lead thanks to Lopez’s first penalty after Scotland went off their feet at the ruck. The visitors responded when Hogg finished off a fine move on the right but their advantage was shortlived as Lopez kicked another penalty to give Les Bleus a 6-5 lead. Cotter’s side suffered a blow when Laidlaw had to be replaced by Ali Price after 25 minutes. Lopez struck the upright with another penalty attempt before a long spell of French possession ended with Fickou touching down in the right corner and Lopez adding the extras from a tight angle. Russell, who missed the earlier conversion as the ball went off the tee before he kicked it, reduced the arrears to two points with two penalties shortly before the interval after France were penalised for foul play on the ground.

Confident Dimitrov downs Goffin to win Sofia Open SOFIA (Reuters) Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov gave the roaring partisan crowd plenty to cheer about as he beat Belgian David Goffin 7-5 6-4 to win the Sofia Open for the first time yesterday. The 25-year-old, who reached the Australian Open semi-finals after winning the Brisbane International last month, claimed his sixth career title to the delight of 12,000 passionate fans. After a tight opening set, Dimitrov gave little breathing space to his opponent to take a 5-0 lead in the second set. But Goffin, who was hoping to win his first title since 2014, broke twice to make it 5-4. Dimitrov dug deep into his reserves to break again and conclude the final after his fourth championship point. He promptly collapsed to his knees, burst into tears and kissed the court. “Without you (the Bulgarian fans), I could never win this tournament,” Dimitrov said in a courtside

Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov celebrates after winning his Men’s singles quarter-final match against Belgium’s David Goffin. (REUTERS/ Thomas Peter) interview. “This title means a lot to me. Today, after the last point, I felt again like a kid playing in front of a home crowd.” Second-seed Goffin complained to the umpire about the hostile atmosphere in the hall at the end of the first set. The Belgian, ranked 11th

in the world, has now lost all three of his main tour meetings with the Bulgarian, including a straight sets defeat at the Australian Open. Former world number eight Dimitrov had seen his ranking plummet to 40 last July but has now emerged from that slump to climb back up to 13th.

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Chelsea extend lead but champions Leicester lose again

Chelsea’s Pedro celebrates scoring their first goal. (Reuters / Phil Noble) LONDON (Reuters) Chelsea were left disappointed but still extended their lead to 10 points at the top of the Premier League after Burnley held them 1-1 yesterday. Champions Leicester City,

however, sank deeper into trouble at the bottom, as a 2-0 defeat away to Swansea City left them a point above the relegation zone. Manager Claudio Ranieri agreed that the Welsh club, who moved three points

above his team, had been more determined and said that “it is not possible to continue this way”. Leicester remain in danger of becoming the first English champions to go down the year after winning the title since Manchester City in 1938. The current City side under Pep Guardiola have an opportunity to cut Chelsea’s lead back to eight points if they win at Bournemouth on Monday. In an entertaining game at Burnley played amid flurries of sleet and snow, Pedro gave Chelsea an early lead from a pass by Victor Moses but the home side fought back well and equalised midway through the first half with a superb curling free kick by Robbie Brady, making his full debut. Burnley, promoted last season, moved up one place to 12th and fully deserved a draw. They have earned 29 of their 30 points this season at home. They restricted the leaders to only two shots on target, including the goal,

Chelsea’s Eden Hazard in action with Burnley’s Ashley Westwood. (Reuters / Phil Noble) which led Chelsea manager Antonio Conte to conclude his team could have done better with their 71 percent possession. REWARD FOR BRAVERY “We must be disappointed with the point because I think this type of game we could win,” Conte said. “We started very well and created chances to score. We could have killed the game but it didn’t happen. “Now it is important to restart.” Brady’s equaliser was believed to be the first goal Chelsea had conceded from a

direct free kick in four years. “The lads were excellent and it shows what they’re about,” he told Sky Sports. Manager Sean Dyche said the result was a reward for bravery. “The mentality is the main thing I’m pleased with,” he said. “We wanted to do what we do. For the first 20 minutes we couldn’t get it right, but I was super-impressed with the reaction to their goal.” Leicester ’s poor run continued and they have now not won in 15 away games in the league since last April or scored in six league games in 2017.

Ranieri, who was given a vote of confidence in an official club statement last week, saw his team go two goals down to Swansea before halftime to defenders Alfie Mawson and Martin Olsson. They improved a little after he made two substitutions for the second half but Lukasz Fabianski still had little to do except make one save from Algerian striker Islam Slimani. Leicester now have a break for an FA Cup tie at Millwall and then a Champions League tie with Sevilla before league games at home to Liverpool and relegation rivals Hull City. “I wanted the start of a ‘new season’ today, but it is the same, it is unbelievable,” Ranieri said. “We have to speak together to find the solutions, it is not possible to continue in this way. “The machine is not broken but when you don’t play at a maximum level it is a difficult battle. They were more determined than us, that’s the truth.” Swansea have now won three of their last four games under former Paris St Germain, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich assistant manager Paul Clement. “We have worked hard on the training ground to get the basics right, nothing complicated,” he said.

Czechs make light of Kvitova absence to reach Fed Cup semis (Reuters) Champions the Czech Republic made light of the absence of Petra Kvitova as they eased into the Fed Cup semi-finals for a ninth year in succession with a 3-2 defeat of Spain yesterday. After the opening day of the tie in Ostrava had been shared 1-1, world number three Karolina Pliskova powered past French Open champion Garbine Muguruza 6-2 6-2 before Barbora Strycova beat Lara Arruabarrena 6-4 6-4. Strycova dedicated the win to double Wimbledon champion Kvitova who is recovering from a serious hand injury sustained during an attempted robbery at her home late last year. “Of course we are thinking about her every day and we were talking to her,” Strycova said. “Of course this was for her. We hope she comes back and we will welcome her with open arms.” Belarus also reached the semi-finals without the services of their top player Victoria Azarenka, who has just had a baby. They beat the Netherlands 4-1 with 18year-old Aryna Sabalenka securing the decisive point on her debut. They will face Switzerland in the semis after they beat France 3-1. The Czechs are waiting for the winner of the tie between the U.S. and Germany which has been delayed by bad weather.

Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova reacts during her Women’s singles quarter-final match against Croatia’s Mirjana Lucic-Baroni. (REUTERS/Thomas Peter)

Monday February 13, 2017

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Barbados International Beach Soccer Showcase

Captain Joseph leads from the front as Jaguars beat B’dos 4-3

Kennard Simon has the Bajan defence on their knees and beats the Keeper to give the Golden Jags a 2-nil lead.

Keon Sears (left) Kennard Simon and Skipper Deshawn Joseph (2) were the stars as Jaguars beat Barbados 4-3. By Sean Devers in Barbados Skipper Deshawn Joseph netted a brace while Kennard Simon and Keon Sears found the back of the net once to give Guyana’s Golden Jaguars a 4-3 win against host Barbados on night two of the Barbados International Beach Scorer Showcase at Brandon’s Beach on Saturday night. The Guyanese team suffered a 5-2 loss to Trinidad & Tobago before going down 5-1 to England on Friday but had the Bajans on the back foot from the inception on Saturday night. Barbados, who replaced Guatemala in next week’s COCACAF World Cup qualifier in Bahamas, seemed surprised by the pace by the smaller, faster Guyanese and never came to terms with being forced to change their

usual style of playing the ball in the air as the Jaguars employed plenty of cross running and penetrated with lots of movements. In strong wind and with a good sized crowd watching, the Bajans were never allowed to use their height to play the ball with their head or chest as the visitors enjoyed more possession. The Jags, who had an early morning practice session on Saturday, displayed improved skill level and their Custodian Ethan Spearman threw his body around a lot more than he did on the opening night when their defensive end let them down. Joseph, who netted against T&T on Friday, scored with a free kick in the 8th minute to give the Jaguars an early lead which they never relinquished throughout the contest.

GFF’s TD Ian Greenwood, Jags Manager Mark Young and Coach Hamid pay attention as GFF’s Exco Member Keith Ojeer (centre) talks to the players after their win on Saturday night.

The Jaguars wasted a few opportunities as Bajan Keeper Clarke made a few outstanding saves as both Goalkeepers were on top of their game. A free kick by Joseph was shot wide of the mark as the Guyanese continued to attack. After the first 15-minute period ended 1nil, Simon, who scored against England, the best team in the tournament, on night one, give Guyana a 2-nil lead when he found the back of the net in the 4th minute of the second period. With pulsating ‘Crop Over’ Soca being played and urged on by the partisan crowd, Reshawn Boxhill provided Barbados with their first goal as the second period ended with Guyana leading 2-1. Jamar Grazette capitalised on defense error infront of the goal mouth and fired one past Spearman in the 11th minute of the final period to level the scores but Sears’ goal put the inexperienced Golden Jaguars back in the lead. Joseph, Guyana’s leading scorer so far, pushed his team to a 4-2 lead with his second goal of the match. Daniel Rowe netted in the dying stages of the contest for Barbados and the match ended 4-3 with Guyana getting their first three points in the tournament which was scheduled to conclude last night. The victorious team was given pep talks by GFF’s Technical Director Ian Greenwood

and Exco Member of the GFF Keith Ojeer who arrived in Barbados on Saturday morning. An elated Jaguars Coach Abdulla Hamid said the guys are motivated by the win since they were able to make the necessary adjustments from the first day and are all confident moving forward. “At our practice session we made some adjustments on the defensive end and learned from watching how Antigua played against them (Barbados). The standard of the Caribbean teams is not too bad and this is a developmental process going into the qualifiers. More of these tournaments are needed in the Region to help raise the standard of Beach Soccer in this part of the world,” added the Coach from Linden. “From tonight (Saturday) the games have been given ‘Tier one’ status and this win will move us up the rankings,” Hamid concluded. Guyana was set to play Antigua & Barbuda last night. They depart for the Bahamas on Friday. The Golden Jaguars play the last game on the opening night (Feb 20) of the CONCACAF Qualifiers against the host team. In the other matches played on Saturday night, England drew 5-5 with Antigua & Barbuda while Barbados lost their second game of the night when they were mauled 6-2 by T&T, one of the top teams in CONCACAF.

Germans outraged as U.S. plays wrong version of their anthem (Reuters) German tennis has responded with outrage after the United States Tennis Association (USTA) made the embarrassing error of playing the Nazi-era version of Germany’s national anthem during a Fed Cup tie in Hawaii. The version played included the first stanza, beginning “Deutschland, Deutschland uber alles,” which was used as Nazi propaganda. It was dropped after World War Two. “I thought it was the epitome of ignorance, and I’ve never felt more disrespected in my whole life, let alone in Fed Cup,” Germany’s Andrea

Petkovic said, adding that she considered walking off court before the singles match against Alison Riske. She later said her first comments had been somewhat emotional but that was because the incident happened before her game and she was left stunned. “We were left shocked and did not know how to react,” Petkovic said. German team coach Barbara Ritter said the mistake was “an absolute scandal, a disrespectful incident and inexcusable”. German tennis federation chief Ulrich Klaus said his American counterpart had apologised for the mistake. “Our American hosts at

the Fed Cup opening in Hawaii made a mistake that should not happen,” Klaus said in a statement. “The fact that in the year 2017 a wrong anthem can be played that is associated with the horror of the past was for players and staff and the officials present both shocking and disturbing.” “The USTA through its president Katrina Adams has apologised officially in writing and in person and deeply regrets the blunder.” Riske won the opening rubber to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead. Bad weather prevented any further play on the opening day of the tie.

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Kaieteur News

Blake opens with laboured 5th place 400m finish at Camperdown Classic

Jamaica’s Yohan Blake (right) struggles home in 47.42 seconds and was fifth in heat one of the men’s 400m won by Racers Zharnel Hughes (second left) of Great Britain in 46.58 seconds. Annsert Whyte (second right) was third in 46.85 ahead of Emmanuel Callender (left) of Trinidad and Tobago in 46.85 and Jowayne Hibbert of the UWI in 47.26. (Bryan Cummings) Jamaica Observer Jamaica’s 100m World champion Yohan Blake laboured to fifth on his seasonal debut in the 400m in 47.3 seconds at the Camperdown Classic at the National Stadium Saturday. The race was won by his Racers teammate Zharnel Hughes of Great Britain running out of lane six in 46.58 seconds. Jamaica’s 400m specialist Annsert Whyte was second in 46.85, the same time as Emmanuel Callender of Trinidad and Tobago. Blake, who has a personal best of 46.32 seconds, started well and was on par with Hughes and company up to the 300m mark where it appeared as if a huge bear jumped on his back as he struggled home at the back of the pack in heat one. It was a mammoth task for Blake, who is more accustomed to the shorter 100m and 200m sprints, and he suffered terribly at the end, even as he tried to recuperate. Blake’s Racers teammate Kemar Bailey-Cole, the 100m Commonwealth Games champion of 2014, was fourth in heat two in 47.20. The race was won by the relatively unknown Kavon Nelson of

Akan Track Club in 46.54 seconds — the fastest of the day. World Youth hurdles champion Jaheel Hyde of Cameron Blazers was second in 46.67 seconds, and was third fastest overall. Meanwhile, patrons got a glimpse of the powerful Calabar High School Class One sprint machinery as Tyreke Wilson, Dejour Russell, Orlando Bennett and Colin Anderson cruised home to an effortless victory in the 4x100 relay in 40.38 seconds. Interestingly, this was done without the input of Class Two 100m champion Michael Stephens, the incomparable Christopher Taylor and Xavier Angus. The existing champs record is held by Calabar since 2015 at 39.08 seconds with one Michael O’Hara in his prime. Wolmer’s Boys’ School took the Class Two 4x100m in 41.65, while St Jago overturned a huge lead by a second-string Kingston College (KC) team in Class Three and won in 44.10. KC clocked 44.17. Calabar returned for their second relay victory in the Class Four event easily in 46.44. In the girls’ 4x100m relays, St Jago showed their

dominance by capturing three of the four relays. The Monk Street girls won Class One in 46.38; Class Two in 46.15, and Class Four in 48.09. Excelsior High won the Class Three in 46.80 seconds. St Jago’s Lushane Wilson leapt to an impressive 2.10m to win the Class One high jump just ahead of Calabar’s Gabriel Allen on the count back with KC’s Michael John Davis third with 2.00m. Calabar were at it again as Corey Ottey won the Class Three high jump ahead of the St Jago pair of Kymani Thomas and Shane York with 1.75 and 1.70m, respectively, while Damar Marshall of St Jago took the Class Two event with 1.95m Spaulding High’s Kimone Campbell took the Class Two 800m in 2:15.31 minutes, well ahead of Michela Lewis of The Queen’s School with 2:18.20. Camperdown’s Ramone Hylton won the Class Two high jump with 1.65m, while Aaliyah Lindsay of Alpha took Class Three with 1.60m. Malaika Cunningham of Wolmer’s leapt to an impressive 1.80m to easily win the Class Four high jump. The outstanding Britnie Dixon romped home in 2:13.11 minutes to win the Class One 800m with Jezelle Shaw of Spalding second with 2:13.84. Shantay Chamberlain of Mavis Bank High continued her dominant form winning the Class Three 800m in 2:20.16. Jody-Ann Petrie of St Jago won the girls’ 400m hurdles open with 1:01.70 minutes, while Calabar’s Aykeeme Francis took the boys’ equivalent in 53.60 seconds ahead of his teammates Malik James-King and Damane Dixon with 53.78 and 54.15, respectively.

Monday February 13, 2017

India need seven wickets for victory on final day (Reuters) India’s spinners sent back the top three Bangladesh batsmen in the second innings of the one-off test at Hyderabad yesterday to keep the hosts on course for victory. Chasing an improbable target of 459 in four sessions for a win, Bangladesh reached 103-3 at stumps on the fourth day of their maiden test in India, the world’s top-ranked nation. Shakib Al Hasan was unbeaten on 21 for Bangladesh with Mahmudullah nine not out at the other end. Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who during the day became the fastest to reach 250 wickets in tests, dismissed Tamim Iqbal (3) and Mominul Haque (27) while spin partner Ravindra Jadeja picked up the wicket of Soumya Sarkar, who made 42. Sarkar and Mominul added 60 for the second wicket but both left-handers were out in the space of 14 deliveries, dampening the touring side’s hopes of saving the test match. Cheteshwar Pujara hit an unbeaten 54 off 58 balls as India declared their second innings on 159 for four at tea. The hosts batted for 29 overs and scored at a rate of more than five runs per over with useful contributions from captain Virat Kohli (38) and Ajinkya Rahane (28). Paceman Taskin and Shakib shared the four Indian wickets. In the morning session, Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim registered his fifth test hundred before his side were bundled out for 388 as the hosts took a firstinnings lead of 299. The 29-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman was the last man out for his side on 127 with Bangladesh’s innings ending shortly before lunch. Kohli opted against enforcing the follow-on after his bowlers needed almost an entire session to pick up Bangladesh’s last four wickets. Resuming on 322-6, the visitors got off to a bad start as seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar breached the defence of half-centurion Mehedi Hasan with the fourth ball of the morning without a run being added to their overnight total. Paceman Umesh Yadav, the most impressive of India’s bowlers, got Taijul Islam to glove one back to wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, raising fears for

R Ashwin and Virat Kohli are elated after a wicket, India v Bangladesh, one-off Test, Hyderabad, ©AFP Mushfiqur that he could run out of partners before reaching three figures. However, Taskin Ahmed stayed with his captain for a 39-run ninth-wicket stand, during which Mushfiqur scored freely. The diminutive righthander top-edged Ishant Sharma for a six and then reached his century when the lanky bowler miss-fielded near the boundary to allow a four.

He was finally out, caught down the leg side to Ashwin, who reached 250 test wickets with the dismissal. Umesh finished with three wickets, while Ashwin and Jadeja picked up two wickets apiece. Scores: Bangladesh 388 (Mushfiqur 127, Umesh 3-84) and 103 for 3 (Ashwin 2-34) need another 356 to beat India 687 for 6 decl. and India 159 for 4 decl. (Pujara 54*).

Mushfiqur Rahim grins after completing his hundred, India v Bangladesh, one-off Test, Hyderabad, ©Associated Press

Kent beat Under-19s by six wickets – 39th game NORTH SOUND, Antigua, CMC – Kent Spitfires defeated West Indies Under-19s by six wickets in their Regional Super50 Group A game at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium here yesterday. Scores: UNDER-19s 191 for eight off 50 overs (Keemo Paul 73 not out, Kirstan Kallicharan 48, Shamar Springer 26). KENT 194 for four off 44.5 overs (Adam Rouse 66 not out, Sean Dickson 52).