PAGE 4
Kaieteur News
KAIETEUR NEWS Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
HIGHER GDP PREDICTIONS Recent data from the Inter-American Development Bank has shown that the small developing economies of the Caribbean, including Guyana, were the most adversely affected by the economic contraction experienced in 2015 and its immediate aftermath. Since then, economic growth in the Caribbean has remained very low, inconsistent and unsustainable. The average economic growth rate in the region in the last two years was less than one percent. Nearly all the countries continue to be seriously constrained economically by their high debt-to-GDP ratio, low production, high crime and unemployment rates, rampant corruption and ineffective leadership. Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago are still trying to cope with the fall in oil and commodity prices, with both countries still experiencing recessions. A drop in the number of tourists continues to affect Barbados, Jamaica, St Lucia and several other countries. Guyana is an exception because of good fortune. Even though its sugar and bauxite industries are actually insolvent, its economy is buoyed by strong gold prices and the prospect of income and tax revenues from oil extraction that is scheduled for 2020. Hopefully, traditional ethnic divisions will not derail that venture or the development of the country’s enormous and varied endowment of natural resources. Apart from Guyana, the economic outlook for the region is cloudy at best, given its small size. That being the case, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has stated that the economic prospects for the Caribbean are generally improving. It has forecast a modest growth rate of two percent for the region’s economies in 2018 and 2019. The IMF’s positive outlook is supported by higher commodity prices, and by the economic growth in the United States following the recent US tax reform, as well as recent trends in the world economy and financial markets. Growth in the region is also driven by the end of recessions in Argentina, Brazil and Ecuador. The IMF’s projection of a robust economic performance for the Caribbean for this year and next will depend on a number of factors, such as narrowing the wide divergences between countries, an expansion in international and regional trade, increase in investments, low oil prices compared to a few years ago, an increase in tourist arrivals in the region and a healthy flow of remittances. However, there are issues that could affect the IMF’s prediction. They include the upcoming general elections in Barbados and a few other countries, which could create economic and policy uncertainties and thus subdue the region’s potential economic growth rate. The creation of inward-looking policies that could lead to a retreat from trade and regional integration, global geopolitical tensions and natural disasters which over the years have negatively impacted the region’s economies. It is known that the Caribbean is one of the regions in the world that is prone to natural disasters on a perennial basis. The predicted higher levels of sustained economic growth for the Caribbean in the medium and long term will only happen if a number of factors are in place. The governments of the region must develop a policy framework to attract as well as retain local and foreign investment; establish meaningful public-private sector partnerships and end corruption and waste in the public sector, in order to gain the confidence of investors. They must improve trade among themselves; facilitate investment in the productive sectors of the economy; accelerate the process to expand, diversify and transform the economy from its dependence on primary products by expanding production of higher value-added goods and services. They should also harness their country’s natural resources, process their raw materials and develop manufacturing industries. Not to mention the increase in foreign currency earnings and exports that can be attained by an increase in production and a reduction in imports. But there must be the political will to achieve these goals.
Tuesday February 13, 2018
Rescind that oil contract DEAR MR EDITOR Please allow me space in your column to pen this letter with utmost disgust. I’m no politician, university graduate or a scholar, just someone with basic common sense and understanding; a common man. It makes me sick to my stomach when I read the contract that our honourable Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, and his team of well qualified experts that spent all those years at various colleges and universities made with the oil giant ExxonMobil. How could someone or persons of that calibre of intellect, with so many qualifications and degrees, people who spent so many years of studying at various reputable universities, sign a contract
so terrible? I doubt not even a fish vendor at Stabroek Market would negotiate such a deal. I think it hurts all soundminded and patriotic Guyanese. The royalty increase of 1% more than what the PPP/C signed in 1999 is more than ridiculous. It’s a slap in the face and a disgrace to all Guyanese. How much longer will it take you Guyanese to arise from your sleep and slumber wake up and smell the coffee? Or have you lost your courage to stand up for your rights, for what is rightfully ours and what belongs to all Guyanese and stop segregating ourselves? The only way things can go right is we have to demand it from our leaders because we are the ones that elect them.
I think we could and must do better than this. We shouldn’t have made any mistakes when it came to signing that contract. If only the experts that spent so many years in college had some common sense it might have been a little better. Why didn’t they review other oil contracts that other countries signed before they signed away our country’s wealth to foreign investors? It clearly shows that our elected officials haven’t been learning from the mistakes of other oil producing countries and that could be a tragedy. I hope we don’t end up like our other oil producing neighbours. It’s best we make use of the other resources that we’re already using and leave our oil where it is. Our past leaders of this
beloved land must be turning in their graves to see the people who we have elected to represent the best of our interest, sell out our country for less than 50cents. And our society seems so silent on the real issues that will affect them severely like they have lost their courage to stand up for their rights and demand what’s rightfully ours. The resources of this country belong to each and every Guyanese citizen and not people who we put to manage them. Don’t be fooled by the dreams that they sell us. Where will we really be as a country next 15 years. For better or worse the contract should be rescinded and renegotiated for the better of all Guyanese. O. HALLEY
Why was President Granger absent?
DEAR EDITOR, I watched the news reports pertaining to the recently held Oil and Gas Summit at the Marriott Hotel last week and could not help but notice the absence of our Head of State, President David Granger. I read the ideas and concerns coming out of the discussions and searched to read what our president had to say about the event. I later learned that President Granger never made the event. I thought this was strange that at our first ever oil and gas summit dealing directly with this new wealthy, nation-changing industry, the leader of our country was nowhere to be
seen. I am very surprised that the president did not attend the event. In fact, I would like to know why President Granger did not attend the summit. I would hate to think that the president allowed someone to give him such poor advice or even worst, he chose on his own not to go, at a time when Guyana is making baby steps toward this new and intriguing shift. Mr. President why did you, the face of Guyana’s leadership, not attend the Oil and Gas summit? Winston Mars
A most dysfunctional school DEAR EDITOR, I wish to bring to your attention the things that have been happening at a Mahaica Nursery School. For the past years the Headmistress (HM) seems to think she is above all; she does what she wants when and how she wants. She has been attending the University of Guyana (UG) for years now or at least that’s the excuse she gives for her ever so often absence. Whenever she is not there the other two teachers are at a loss as to what is going on. When she is there she blames the other two teachers for not wanting to take up the lead role. She seems to be in the habit of collecting cash and gifts from some parents from
time to time and does nothing for the school but rather pay more attention to the children whose parents support her. There is a Jehovah Witness teacher who takes the church to work. She teaches the children according to what her church requires and not what is set out by the Ministry. These children are not allowed to say prayers and the pledge and whatever else may be against her religion. She also beats these children with a ruler, slaps/hits them in the head with a book and tells them hurtful things. She should be teaching at a Jehovah Witness only school. When this was brought to the HM’s attention she did nothing because it
appeared that they keep each other’s secret because in front of parents she condones what this teacher does but in front of the teacher she speaks nicely of her. There is a young new teacher who has been trying her best with these children; always polite, always smiling. Kudos to her. This school also lacks exposure for these children. There are no activities that expose these children to the likes of society i.e Diwali, Phagwah, Mashramani, Easter, etc. Celebrations are not properly highlighted in school. These children are not given activities that can help them relate to these festivities. When the HM is ap-
proached in relation to this she gives two answers; either the teachers don’t agree to do any activities with the children because the Jehovah Witness teacher cannot go against her religion and the other teacher is new so she cannot do it alone; or that nursery school is not compulsory. School tours are also given the excuse that the places the Ministry sends the children to they do not learn anything and too many parents want to attend the tour. I wish to suggest that the Minister/Ministry look into the affairs of this school. Children at this age need as much exposure they can (Continued on page 5)
GWI bills us for our neighbour’s consumption DEAR EDITOR, From the beginning of 2013 we have been paying the GWI bills and now that the meter readers have come and noticed that we are not using large amounts of water but our bills are coming expensive they investigated it. Two addresses have one meter. We live opposite the house and our account number and meter in the ground is correct but the meter number on the bills is the other persons. So we have to be paying for others while their bills come low. We carried this matter since 11th of January to the Peter’s Hall branch of GWI. The clerk had a lot of attitude and when asked when will this matter be looked after, she said till after the surveys finish which is in about three months from now. We asked again if we have to keep paying our neighbours’
bill which sometimes comes at from $10,000 to $30,000. Many GWI surveyors have come and claimed to report this matter but up to now nothing has happened. No action is being taken to rectify the mistake that the GWI workers made and it is unfair that we can get no satisfaction. We cannot even be told not to pay any bills until they correct this matter. Over $100,000 would be spent on water bills in a year and they would always send disconnection workers to cut off our water even when we pay. They behave like dogs and show no mercy till we show bills that are proof we are paying our bills. The matter was discovered since last year and many meter readers are carrying in reports but no one has taken any action. Ariana Segura
What caused the name change DEAR EDITOR I note Nowrang Persaud’s letter on Saturday 3rd February, 2018 to your paper. I hope he would allow me to slightly correct some of the information he offered. The ‘Breakfast Sessions’ referred to were initiated by the National Personnel Officers Association – resulting from a motion moved by two young Asst. Personnel Officers – Emammudeen Khan and Earl John – at a Bookers Sugar Estates Personnel Officers Confer-
ence in 1965. Incidentally, there was a substantial presence of civil (public) servants at that time in the Association.It was because of the insistence of professionals of a range of disciplines who attended the sessions that it was agreed to change the name of the Association to the Guyana Institute of Management. J.E.H Adams was the first guest speaker at the initial ‘Breakfast Session’ E.B. John
A most dysfunctional ...
From page 4 while away from their parents. They should be able to match what they learn in school to what goes on in Society. When parents take them out they should be able to say boldly that they learnt it in school and should even be able to expound on it. The Minister/Ministry needs to have a firmer stance on teachers who are lackadaisical in their work and attitude. If they don’t need the job then they are others who are willing to give their time and energy. I hope for the new school term this school will be blessed with a functional Headmistress who has the children’s needs at heart. If UG is putting pressure on her then she should step aside and let someone else take up that role. And as for the Jehovah Witness teacher i think she should teach at her church instead of this school. What type of churchgoer is she who slaps children and hits them in their heads with the books and calls them names? Please Minister, I also suggest that teachers, especially head mistresses, should be rotated to different schools because when they get comfortable in their environment they tend to think they are above the law and own the school. We need to remember these children are our future and not the teachers pay package. Now I would like to know if this Headmistress is above the law since at the last PTA meeting, to my surprise, this HM said that she heard that some parents are planning to protest in front of the Ministry for her. Her response was that to they can go because she is not afraid of anyone at the Ministry since this is her job. The Ministry don’t run the school. This is the same head
PAGE 5
Kaieteur News
Tuesday February 13, 2018
teacher who likes to say that the Ministry sent out a circular stating that teachers should not be collecting monies for anything for the school yet she (HM) has resorted to taking a personal loan from the school funds and every time the issue of the financial position of the school is raised at meetings a proper report cannot be given. We are only told of an amount and vaguely, a sum of what was used. Never anything in writing to show what was brought forward from the previous years and what would be carried forward to the next year. Proper book-keeping would show when money is received or taken out and what was done with it but this school always begging for donations and doing fund raising. The HM also proudly says that the school doesn’t beg the ministry for nothing because they are good parents who contribute enough to sustain the school, is this right? Should parents pay for the weeding of the school compound, painting and the painter, etc. There is also a cleaner whom the HM said is too old to clean certain areas. I believe if this teacher is a professional she would inform the Ministry so they can send someone who is fit rather than having someone working and getting paid under false pretense so she expects the parents to go to the school to clean it, aren’t these the things the Ministry should be taking care of? And shouldn’t the cleaner be the first person to arrive at the school to ensure that
the school is in good condition before the children arrive especially since there are rats and roaches and lizards running around overnight? I would be grateful if someone from the Ministry can shed some light on this. Since the Ministry has cautioned the HM about the late opening of the school she has resorted to telling the parents not to send their children before 8:00 and that school starts between 8:00 8:30 am. After years of complaining to the ministry about the school not being opened early yet when children go after 8:00 am they still have stand outside until a teacher arrives. I am also wondering what measures are in place to monitor these teachers arrival and departure time to work. One of the setbacks is that majority of the parents are either illiterate or have only completed primary education so the HM tramples over them. What she says is gospel to them. Those that try to seek help are discouraged since they have no experience in the business world so they are not aware of what procedures to follow or measures need to be in place and how to get about it. Finally, I believe that this HM has friends within the Ministry since most times when complaints are logged at the Ministry this HM would take pride in informing all at the PTA meetings that someone went to report this or that about her even calling a few names and elaborating on the complaint. So again I ask is this teacher above the law? Concerned parent
That Farnum playground has an impressive history DEAR EDITOR, The Farnum playground in Subryanville, Georgetown, was once the nursery for the Packer Cricket Club. It was right there that the organisation formed. The ground was cared for by the National Parks Commission. In the early 1980’s, the late Mr. Bunny Fernandes, M.S, a resident of Subryanville, Executive Businessman and Chairman of the National Parks Commission, granted written permission to the Packer Cricket Club, to use the eastern part of the Farnum playground for cricket, the western part was already a football field and residents would have their daily exercises. The Club’s motto, was to inspire youths and they were all drawn from the areas of
Kitty, Subryanville, Campbellville and Prashad Nagar. They numbered forty members, who by self help laid a beautiful cricket pitch, supported by the residents of North and South of the ground. The Club engaged in practice sessions three afternoons per week and matches on weekends, the August holidays had packed schedules. When matches were played, the Farnum ground looked spectacular with green outfield, players dressed in whites, along with umpires and other officials. The spectators viewed from Sheriff Street and the residents sat in their veranda’s and enjoyed youthful games. The Farnum ground was the stepping stone for the
Packer Cricket Club. Its members were meaningfully occupied and that kept them away from all detrimental activities. After three years of developments, we became recognized, with a good and strong relation in Subryanville. The right time went by for us to play competitions, under the Guyana Cricket Board of Control and we had to move to a standard ground. Bidding farewell was emotional. Farnum playground must remain for generations to come and the Mayor and City Council should not remove history ‘’Keep the City clean, take your Garbage and encumberment away’’ Thank you. Yours -in- Sports Parmanand Ram.
Centennial for two outstanding men
DEAR EDITOR, This year marks the birth centenary of two outstanding men of history, the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan and Mr. Nelson Mandela both of whom were born in the year 1918 in the months of March and July respectively. Both men shared a lot in common in terms of political philosophy and world outlook. They were both imprisoned for standing up for what they believed in. Both later became Heads of State in free and democratic elections. But at a more fundamental level, they both had zero tolerance for corruption and extravagance. They led modest and unassuming lives
and never allowed the glare of power to interfere with their vision for a just and humane society. Regrettably, the African National Congress (ANC) is today in the midst of a deep leadership crisis with the current President Jacob Zuma, on the verge of being removed as President on allegations of corruption. He was recently removed as General Secretary of the ANC. Both men are today respected statesmen and role models whose ideas and vision continue to influence and shape the course of national and international politics. Hydar Ally
Politicians not qualified to lecture citizens
DEAR EDITOR, Those Ministers of Government who attempt to lecture citizens of this country on the virtues of ‘patriotism’ and ‘nationalism’, should ensure their brain is engaged before they put their mouth into gear. Never since the days of Forbes Burnham, has either political regime - PPP/C or APNU+AFC – demonstrated in any meaningful way, a patriotic and nationalist mindset or carried out policies that could be deemed patriotic or nationalist. Patriots and nationalists
do not allow the so-called ABC countries to meddle in every sphere of their country’s political and economic affairs, including determining election outcomes. They do not give away the national patrimony to foreign capital, and call it ‘investment’ and ‘development’. Real patriots and nationalists, unlike the fake ones, jealously and zealously protect the sovereignty and dignity of their country, and all
its citizens, and fight for economic freedom and true independence. It is time for PPP/C and APNU+AFC to move aside and let the true patriots and revolutionary nationalists do what has to be done. Sincerely, Gerald A. Perreira LeaderOrganization for the Victory of the People (OVP)
PAGE 6
Kaieteur News
Tuesday February 13, 2018
Tuesday February 13, 2018
PAGE 7
Kaieteur News
Teen electrocuted by fallen wire
Dead: Vevik Bridegmohan Seventeen-year-old Vevik Bridegmohan of Alliance, Canal #2, West Bank Demerara, was electrocuted on Sunday afternoon when a power line fell on him while he was talking with a friend not too far from his home. Bridgemohan’s father Nazir Azeez, said his son left home at around 18:00hrs (6pm) on Sunday to purchase a few items at a nearby shop. He said that on his way back, Bridgemohan stopped to talk to a friend - a few minutes into
Nazir Azeez points to the spot where his son was electrocuted. the conversation a live Guyana Power & Light (GPL) wire fell on Bridgemohan and electrocuted him. The distressed father of six said the death of his son has thrown his entire family into a state of mourning.
Fighting back tears, Azeez explained that he was informed of his son’s electrocution by the teen’s friend. The friend, Azeez said, had difficulty removing the wire when it fell on his son. “The boy come and tell me the
wire fall on my son and nobody went to help him and he (the friend) can’t take out the wire.” Without being fully dressed, Azeez said he drove to the place where his son was and made attempts to remove
Ministry collaborates to improve procurement and information systems capacity Deliberate moves have been set in motion by Government to improve the procurement and information systems capacity of the Ministry of Public Health. In this regard, Government has announced that it has granted its approval for the participation of senior personnel of the Public Health Ministry to participate in a study tour to the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation [PAHO/WHO] office in Washington D.C. The study tour spanned the period February 5 -9, 2018. Yet another study tour to Belize commenced yesterday and is slated to end on Friday. The PAHO/WHOorganised study tours announcement was made by Minister of State Joseph Harmon during last week’s post cabinet press briefing. He disclosed that the study tour to Washington dealt with the organisation of the health sector and placed emphasis on the study of human resources for health procurement and the PAHO strategic fund. The visit to Belize on the other hand, he explained, was intended to build capacity of key personnel of the Ministry in the areas of procurement and information systems. Among those who were identified for the crucial expo-
sure were: Mr. Chetram Phoenix, the Principal Personnel Officer; Mr. Phillip Bryan, Manager of the Procurement Unit; Mr. Cecil Jacques, Director of the Material Management Unit; Mr. Chris Squires, Acting Head Information System; Mr. Tameshwar Narine, Software Coordinator and Ms. Juanita Jaundoo, Manager, National Health Information System. Speaking during the debate ahead of the recent passage of the national budget, Senior Public Health Minister, Ms. Volda Lawrence, spoke extensively of measures that were being put in place to improve procurement within her Ministry. She spoke of moves to establish the procurement department which has the responsibility for the acquisition of drugs and medicines that meet prescribed safety and health standards at a cost effective price. The department, she said, has its full complement of staff; a USAID-trained and experienced Manager, Supervisors and Support Staff, who will ensure that the Ministry follows the guidelines stipulated in the Procurement Act and adheres to the principles of the segregation of duties. She had pointed out that in this way, the Ministry and the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation can withstand scrutiny, and function with transparency and integ-
rity. Moreover, she noted that great emphasis has been placed over the years on the purchasing of drugs, and less on the distribution of drugs. In other words, the Minister had observed that the arrival of the drugs at its final destination has not been efficiently
monitored, resulting quite often in so-called shortages of drugs. For this reason, she said that the Ministry was putting systems in place that will account for the transportation of drugs and medicines from the Bond until it arrives at its (Continued on page 10)
the wire. “When I meet there the only thing I had was a piece of wet wood with nails in it, I tried to move the wire with the wood but I had to drop it because it shock me,” he said. Insisting that he must remove the wire that was on his son to save his life, Azeez said he tried a second time and was able to successfully remove the wire but not without sustaining minor injuries to his right eye and his hands. “When I hold him, like he had no more life, current bun he all over,” Azeez recounted. He said that his son sustained severe burns to his arms and abdomen and he was lifeless. A disappointed Azeez be-
lieves that if neighbours had assisted, his son would have been alive. “People in their yard watching my son, but nobody come out to rescue him. If anybody [had] come out with a piece of dry wood or PVC pipe, my son would have lived,” he said. Up until yesterday at 14:30h (2.30pm), the live wire was still in the same position and the area was cordoned off with caution tape. Azeez said officials from GPL visited his home yesterday and promised to call him. The man said his son was friendly towards everyone in the neighbourhood and he was always ready to assist persons. Bridgemohan was the oldest of six children.
PAGE 8
Tuesday February 13, 2018
Kaieteur News
10 Barbadian companies exploring opportunities in Guyana Ten new Barbadian manufacturers and services exporters are exploring trade and market opportunities in Guyana. Those participating in this exploratory mission are
all recent graduates of the Barbados Investment & Development Corporation (BIDC)’s Export Readiness Training Programme, an initiative designed to equip new
and potential exporters with the knowledge, tools and strategies to successfully expand their businesses into new markets. The companies, accord-
ing to BIDC, are drawn from the food and beverage; information technology services (particularly for medical services); building and construction; garments and fashion; footwear; media publishing and health and wellness sectors. The BIDC said it has been working with Go-Invest in Guyana on the strength of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two agencies, which speaks to the exploration of market opportunities, agency collaboration and exchange. “Over the 5 years, 20132017 Guyana has received on
average US$23 million in exports from Barbados every year, with exports growing by some 7% since 2013. Guyana exports approximately US$13.7 million to Barbados, with export growth estimated at 44% over the corresponding five year period,” BIDC noted. The group, which is accompanied by three BIDC Officers, came Sunday and is expected to leave tomorrow. It is hoped that useful networks will be forged, excellent working relationships will be born and the foundation for new trade will be laid.
The Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC) is a statutory agency of the Barbados Government, with special responsibility for export development and promotion; the establishment and expansion of business enterprises. “Its aim is to contribute to the diversification and growth of the Barbados economy through new investment, increased exports and employment creation by fostering the development of competitive manufacturing and related services companies.”
“Why I have to go through this over and over?” - Murder accused “Grey Boy” asks after committed to stand trial Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman yesterday complied with the order of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and committed 39-year-old Regan Rodrigues called ‘Grey Boy’ to stand trial for the murder of political activist Courtney Crum-Ewing. Rodrigues, who was in and out of the courtroom anxiously waiting for his name to be called by the court orderly, finally got the call at around 11:15 hrs. Rodrigues then stood next to the prisoner’s dock and the Principal Magistrate told the courtroom “The court still maintains that there is not sufficient evidence for a case to be made out against you to stand trial at the High Court for murder, however the DPP appealed the matter and I have to comply with the Judge’s (Justice Brassington Reynolds) order and commit you for the murder.” After the Magistrate told Rodrigues that he was committed to stand trial before a judge and jury at the next practicable sitting of the Demerara Assizes, Rodrigues burst into tears and asked loudly, “Why I have to go through this over and over?” He had been discharged for the murder on three occasions. Particulars of the charge against Rodrigues are that on March 10, 2015 at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, he
Dead Courtney Crum-Ewing
Regan ‘Grey Boy’ Rodrigues
murdered Crum-Ewing. During the Preliminary Inquiry (PI), Magistrate Latchman had ruled that while the court was satisfied that Crum-Ewing was shot with a gun retrieved from a house at Riverview, Ruimveldt which was occupied by Rodrigues, there was no evidence that Rodrigues “used the gun, pulled the trigger and shot Crum-Ewing.” Crum-Ewing died as a result of haemorrhage and shock due to multiple gunshot wounds. This was supported by the evidence of Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh who testified that Crum-
Ewing received five gunshot wounds - one of which was at close range. The Magistrate said that the court believed that CrumEwing died as a result of gunshot wounds. Fourteen oral statements given to police by Rodrigues were admitted to form part and parcel of evidence in the matter by Magistrate Latchman. However, the Magistrate ruled that these oral statements did not implicate Rodrigues in the murder. Despite Magistrate Latchman having to comply with the order of the DPP, the matter which has been appealed by the Magistrate is still ongoing in the Appeal Court, and Rodrigues’ committal will not affect her appeal. Her reason was that there was insufficient evidence to commit. The Magistrate is contending that any law which seems to give the DPP that power is clearly an interference with the independence of the judiciary and such law ought to be declared null and void. She is being represented by Attorney-at-law Arud Gossai.
Tuesday February 13, 2018
PAGE 9
Kaieteur News
The audit provisions in Exxon’s contract are too restrictive The Exxon Agreement is one which provides for cost recovery. Exxon’s investment in producing oil will have to be recovered from the sale of oil. Since it is Exxon and its contractors which will be drilling and pumping the oil, it is in Guyana’s interest to be able to monitor closely the expenditure of Exxon to ensure that Guyana is not burdened with unlawful and unreasonable cost recovery. Too high a cost recovery will cut deeper into Guyana’s share of revenues. Guyana therefore has to put itself in a position where it should be able to call, at anytime, on Exxon to produce its books for auditing. This is extremely reasonable, because Guyana is not involved in the production of the oil but has to foot the cost. Therefore, for Guyana to ensure that it is not being robbed, it has to be in a position to inspect the books of Exxon at anytime and at short notice, including even conducting surprise audits. The right of Guyana to audit Exxon’s books is provided for under the Production Sharing
Agreement. However, this right, as this newspaper reported last Sunday, comes with a caveat. The Audit and Inspection Rights of Government clause contained in Annex C of the Agreement provides that before the Minister can undertake an audit, he has to give Exxon 90 days’ notice, conduct the audit at government’s expenses, and has to do so within two years from the end of the year of the accounts which are being audited. But even more shocking is the provision that the Minister is restricted to only one audit per year. As reported by Kaieteur News last Sunday, the Minister has the option to review items previously subjected to audit in earlier years. However, the contract stipulated that the review shall only be carried out in conjunction with the annual audit for any given year. This can happen “no sooner than twelve (12) months following the previous audit thereof; and only be for the purposes of verifying a matter arising in a later period, which relates to the earlier year(s) in question or as specified in Section 1.5 (b).” Like almost everything else
in the contract, the Audit provisions are stacked in favor of Exxon. Theoretically, it can do whatever it wants with its books during the 90 days’ notice period which the Minister has to give the company. It cannot be caught off guard since it has time to do what needs to be done. Guyana is being treated as secondary party in this agreement. Why should 3 months’ notice be given to the Contractor? And why should there be one audit per year. If Exxon is interested in transparency, it would not have imposed such a provision. The PSA also states that at the conclusion of each audit, ExxonMobil and the Government shall endeavour to settle outstanding matters and a written report will be issued to the Contractor within 60 days of the conclusion of such audit. “The report shall include all claims arising from such audit”. It is unreasonable for Exxon to ask the Ministry to issue a report to the Contractor within sixty days of the audit. This time is too short, because this is a multibillion-dollar investment
Dem boys seh ...
Exxon and GO-Invest panty showing Pizza does always confuse dem boys. It does come in a square box, yet when yuh open de box it round. And when yuh start eating is a triangle. Life and people just like a pizza. Look different, appear different, and of course behave absolutely different. Exxon, de money people of de world, is de wuss kind of people you got to put up wid. Is de wuss dem boys ever come across.. Dem done rob Guyana. Dem mek de govt. sign de wuss contract de world ever see. Not one line in de near 250-page contract in favour of Guyana. And when people talking dem vex. Dem reporters see dem face de odda day at de summit. Every time Chris
Ram talk, dem swell up dem face like when crappo puff up. If you think dem reporters lie, just look at de video footage of de conference. Wasn’t only dem face sour; dem action and reaction plus dem attitude stink to high heaven. Only yesterday dem boys hear de unthinkable and unbelievable that happen at de three-day oil conference that de taxpayers have to pay for. De conference break fuh lunch and when de reporters go to grab a bite, one of de hotel staffer seh that dem ain’t cater fuh de media, and wuss yet, de Kaieteur News. De woman seh GO-Invest and Exxon give specific instructions that de people from de Waterfalls paper shouldn’t even get a glass of water. No wonder Soulja Bai
didn’t show up. He mussy hear he wouldn’t a get food too. Dem boys want know how low can one sink. Everybody know you does give food and water to animals, much less a journalist who just trying to tell de truth. From de beginning dem boys know Exxon was a lowlife. Dem tek way milk from babies’ mouth all over de world. But dem boys never believe that Verwey, a born Guyanese, was a lowlife, too. De truth is this oil contract will not go away until Exxon revise it. Dem boys gun mek sure dem hold a protest, even if there is no food. Talk half and shame on Owen Verwey, of GO-Invest, and Rod Henson of Exxon.
GRA advertises for key staffers in Petroleum Audit unit With two years to go before commercial oil production starts for this country, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has started advertising for staffers for its petroleum unit. The unit would be key in monitoring Guyana’s proceeds from the production. According to GRA, it is spearheading an exciting and important phase of its development by enhancing its capacity in the oil and gas sector in Guyana. “We are seeking creative, innovative and exceptional professionals who want to be at the sharp end of this new phase in Guyana’s development.” The openings include one for Assistant
Commissioner, RS:12 level - Petroleum Revenue Audit, Large Taxpayers Department. In the same department, there is also an opening for Manager, RS:10 level. There are also positions available for a Senior Tax Auditor and Tax Auditor in the same department. With billions of dollars annually, the officials of that Petroleum Revenue Audit unit will have to ensure that Guyana is collecting what is due from the oil and gas production. There are several layers of monitoring expected to come into place in relation to oil production, with GRA expected to play a key role.
and it is unfair and unreasonable to ask any Auditor to produce a report a mere two months after the audit. In practice, it means that there is not going to be any substantive audit if a report has to be submitted within 2 months at the end of the audit. The agreement also provides that if within 60 days of the Minister’s further investigation, the Parties are unable to agree to the
disposition of the Minister’s audit claim, there shall be arbitration in accordance with the arbitration provisions of the contract.” What all of this implies is that Exxon continues to hold the upper-hand in the agreement. It is all the more reason for this contract to be renegotiated. Guyana cannot be financing cost recovery and yet be so constrained in its right to audit Exxon. The time
has come for the entire contract to be renegotiated so that there can be a more balanced agreement.
PAGE 10
Tuesday February 13, 2018
Kaieteur News
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
A country cannot be a democracy without having a heart and soul Government’s petroleum advisor, Dr. Jan Mangal warns that the people should not let politicians decide all by themselves how the oil industry is managed. His words on the involvement of the people have been a theme in his several deliveries in the oil industry. At the oil conference last week, a former Canadian politician made a statement that should penetrate the totality of this country; its echo may have been dissolved seconds after it was said. Ms. Alison Redford asserted that at the heart and soul of any demo-
cratic country is a functioning civil society. She went on to add that civil society must play an essential role in all the dimensions of the oil industry. The question to ask in accepting the advocacy of Mangal and Redford is that while their points are poignant, how well do they know Guyana? We have heard those themes sung by Mangal and Redford from all kinds of former foreign envoys, visiting professors, diaspora visitors yet Guyana remains unchanged. Ms. Redford comes from a country that would not re-
turn to Venezuela, a starving mother who sees Canada as a place of survival. If Canada does that, civil society will create a stink that will impact all the way to Alaska. In Guyana, we are not only turning away Venezuelans who are looking for food in bins. We arrest them, lock them up, fine them and keep them in a Diamond remand cell until they can find money to pay their passage back home. And civil society is simply silent or just couldn’t be bothered. Canada will never detain 11 people from Nepal indefinitely in the jail until they find
Ministry collaborates to improve... From page 7 final destination. In this way, the Ministry will be better positioned to account for the availability of specific drugs, Lawrence had explained. Further she’d disclosed how the Ministry was gearing to collaborate with PAHO/ WHO and E-governance, and is embarking on enhancing the health information system in order to effectively collect and retrieve timely and accurate data and reports, in keeping with the Ministry’s strategic Health Vision 2013-2020. It is the Ministry’s perception, the Minister said, that informed decisions can only be made on evidence-based data. The aim therefore, Minister Lawrence had informed,
is to strengthen the information system, by improving the data collection which will allow for the coordination and harmonisation of the various aspects of patient care towards effective resource allocation and care management in all public health facilities. Further, she added, was the move towards enabling standardized and complete documentation of patient’s health information in order to increase capacity for surveillance, reporting and decision-making activities. It is expected that with the exposure of the senior personnel, during the study tours, the Ministry will be in an even better position to address its procurement and information systems effectively.
money to pay their passage back home. We had such a case where the poor guys were in the remand for months after being ordered deported. It was a businessman who paid the air fares. Trinidad, a neighbour of Venezuela, has taken 4000 of those who are fleeing poverty. Guyana, another neighbour, I am not sure if we have taken in one. Dr. Mangal may have lived in countries where the voices of the people can change unpopular policies, but he is in for a rude awakening in Guyana. I am assuming that Dr. Mangal, who is from Guyana and whose father never migrated, would have visited Guyana from time to time. He would have seen that there is no people’s power that Walter Rodney so implored the Guyanese nation to show. There is a deeply disturbing heartlessness and soullessness in this country that will not stop an authoritarian government from managing the oil industry the way it wants to. I believe both Mangal and Redford issued their sentiments based on their own experiences on how citizens reacted to the wrong things their governments have done, and they must
have seen the resilience, energy and commitment of civil society in those countries. In Guyana, such spirits died a long time ago. No sad event, no hurtful tragedy, no horrible violation, no cruel act, moves the people of Guyana. Those disasters sell newspapers and provide conversations for people walking in the park or having lunch alfresco-style. That is all they do. They do not move people in Guyana to act to save the poor, the powerless, the violated, the wronged, in this soulless and heartless wasteland. Ms. Redford is gone. She came, said what was philosophically correct, and probably thinks it will happen. Will it happen? Will there be voices to stop the way the government will use oil income, or will use the Sovereign Wealth Fund? For it to happen, a democratic country must have a heart and a soul, and there must be a start long before the oil income comes and the fund is born. But where is the start? Will civil society and the rest of the country feel for the hundreds of school children whose labour of learning is done under atrocious conditions in public schools?
Frederick Kissoon Will the Guyana people look toward their conscience and say a sympathetic word for an ailing mother who shares a bed with two others at the Georgetown Hospital? Will they grieve for the poor citizen who died from a wound or an illness at a public medical institution that people no longer die from since the last century? Will they utter just one word of disappointment when an 18year-old goes to jail for the mere theft of a cell phone? Will they say enough is enough when employees at private security companies are paid slave wages and the Labour Desk at our government ignores their plea of redress? Long after 2020, Guyana will be the same.
Tuesday February 13, 2018
Kaieteur News
PAGE 11
PAGE 12
Tuesday February 13, 2018
Kaieteur News
Another court case filed to put ExxonMobil US$18M signing bonus in Consolidated Fund By Abena RockcliffeCampbell Further litigation to force the transfer of the US$18M signing bonus into the consolidated fund has been brought against the APNU+AFC Government. An application to this effect has been filed in the name of Former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall. The proceedings were filed yesterday and are fixed for hearing before the Chief Justice on the 13th of March. The court document seen by Kaieteur News notes that Nandlall is seeking a declaration from the court that the deposit of US$18M received from ExxonMobil as a Signature Bonus, pursuant to Clause 33 of the Petroleum Sharing Agreement into an account within the Bank of Guyana, designated in writing by the Minister of Finance and not in the Consolidated Fund, is contrary to and in
violation of the spirit of Article 216 of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and Section 38 (i) of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act, Chapter 73:02, Laws of Guyana and is accordingly, unconstitutional, unlawful and illegal. Nandlall also wants an order directing the Minister of Finance to “forthwith” transfer and deposit into the Consolidated Fund, the said US$18M The grounds of the application are that Nandlall is the former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs and that he is a Member of Parliament. It was noted that Nandlall’s parliamentary duties include “the scrutiny of actions and omissions of the Executive Government with a view to ensure that there is compliance with the Constitution and the laws of Guyana. The court document stated that Article 216 of the Constitution provides “All revenues or other moneys
raised or received by Guyana (not being revenues or other moneys that are payable, by or under an Act of Parliament, into some other fund established for any specific purpose or that may, by or under such an Act, be retained by the authority that received them for the purpose of defraying the expenses of that authority) shall be paid into and form one Consolidated Fund”. And, Section 38 of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act, Chapter 73:02, provides, “All public moneys raised or received by the Government shall be credited fully and promptly to the Consolidated Fund, except— moneys credited to an Extra budgetary Fund as stipulated in the enabling legislation establishing that fund; moneys credited to a Deposit Fund.” Nandlall said that the US$18M fall within the category of “revenues or other monies” contemplated by Ar-
ticle 216 of the Constitution as well as “all public moneys” contemplated by Section 38 (1) of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act, Chapter 73:02, and accordingly, must be credited fully and promptly pay into and form one Consolidated Fund. OTHERS WELCOME Yesterday, Nandlall told Kaieteur News that he thinks his application was necessary. He acknowledged that there were previous efforts of a similar nature made by Transparency Initiative Guyana Inc. (TIGI). Nandlall said, “My understanding, based on reports in the press, is that the learned Chief Justice felt that the proceedings filed were procedurally wrong and they were either dismissed or withdrawn.” When TIGI withdrew its case, it promised to re-file. Nandlall said that TIGI can also go ahead with its application, as the law does not prohibit multiple challenges
Attorney at Law, Anil Nandlall on the same illegality. “For convenience, the court may wish to hear them together.” Nandlall also said that TIGI is free to intervene as an interested party and join the cause. “I would welcome such an intervention, not only by TIGI, but any organization whose interest coincides with
ours.” Nandlall said that the government has had every opportunity to do the “correct thing which is to deposit the money into the consolidated fund as the Constitution and Fiscal Management and Accountability Act mandate. But the government refuses to do so. So these proceedings are intended to compel them to comply with the law and the Constitution.” The lawyers stressed that the government violated the constitution, and such violation should not be tolerated by any society “especially by those who, while in opposition, every day use to complain about unconstitutionality. The difference between now and then, is that we are challenging the unconstitutionality in the court. They used to speak about it in the press only, they never once filed any legal proceeding against any of the things they complained about. We challenge what we complain about.”
Don’t neglect food security in pursuit of oil – UG Vice-Chancellor The University of Guyana is keen to widen its educational offers to include the oil and gas sector, but in this pursuit ViceChancellor, Professor Ivelaw Griffith, has warned that there is a role for the university in maintaining Guyana’s food security. “We also recognize that we cannot neglect who we essentially are,” Professor Griffith told students at oil and gas presentation held on the university’s Turkeyen campus on Wednesday last He added, “We are an agricultural society and we will not do ourselves and prosperity well to neglect the agriculture sector.” According to Prof. Griffith, a feasibility team to look at establishing a food and nutrition institute at the university has been established. The team met for the first time in January to start the journey of ensuring that in partnership with other entities in Guyana and internationally, the university plays a vital role in food security. One of the international agencies supporting the initiative is the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) which has provided US$5000 to start the study. Prof. Griffith noted that the university wants to ensure that connectivity with natural science, agriculture, earth and environmental science and social science, will enable partnerships with
UG Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Griffith National Agricultural Research & Extension Institute (NAREI), Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), Ministry of Education and public health. “We don’t neglect food security, especially since there is an opportunity for Guyana, not only in regard to the Caribbean, but in regard to being part of South America where we have some competitive advantage, but we need to stop viewing it as potential and we need to actualize it,” Prof. Griffith stated. In relation to preparing the University for the oil and gas sector, Prof. Griffith said that they are ramping up what is being done across all faculties. He suggested changing the name of the faculty of technology while still catering
for current programmes such as industrial and mechanical engineering. “Whether you want to do simply petroleum engineering or as we have committed to not neglecting mechanical, electrical and civil, we’ve got to do better physics, we got to do better chemistry, we got to do better math. The investments, we are going to argue, will have to do the whole of the university,” Prof. Griffith pointed out. He outlined that the university is being proactive in its approach to the oil and gas sector by reaching out to other entities to establish partnerships. Prof. Griffith stated that he sent a member of the law department to an oil and gas seminar last year. In addition, last year, teams were sent to the University of Alberta, Canada and the University of the West Indies, Trinidad campus. “We cannot wait until all is available here for us to do what we need to do. We’ve got to partner. We have to develop and be prepared to offer relevant courses in the oil and gas industry,” Prof. Griffith stated. There are plans to engage experts in the oil and gas industry for a series of talks dubbed, Campus Conversations, which will aim to educate students and faculty members on the emerging sector.
Tuesday February 13, 2018
PAGE 21
Kaieteur News
Rates increase application‌
Consumer reps demand GWI financials be examined first It was supposed to be a routine application for an across-the-board increase for tariffs by the state-owned Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) to the regulator, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). But it was anything but boring yesterday at Cara Lodge, on Quamina Street. GWI’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Richard Van West Charles, leading of team of officials, was ready at 10am, and made a more than an hour-long case for the increases. At the end, consumer representatives Ramon Gaskin, Pat Dial and others insisted, in some tense moments with raised voices, that they first wanted to examine the financials of GWI before making pronouncements. They had concerns. The advocates are also calling on GWI to reveal figures which would show comparisons with what was charged before to what is being proposed now. This is to determine the percentage of the increase. The financials for 2016 are currently with auditors, but GWI is looking to release the figures, an unusual situation, before the next public hearings scheduled for February 21. Under regulations, those figures have to be audited before being released. The release is not likely before March month-end. GWI has to approach its board now. In essence, GWI is arguing that it has 14 domestic bands and no clear-cut parameters for applying
PUC officials led by Chairperson, Dela Britton (2nd left) yesterday. with customers - there are 180,000 of them complaining of discrimination. There are even instances where some domestic customers are required to pay a higher rate than commercial customers. It is a situation that cannot continue. On top, there are no fixed charges, similar to what other utilities in the world, have, GWI said. GWI is proposing that a fixed charge of $500 be applied to all customers except pensioners. The fixed charges for pensioners will be waived, GWI
said. According to the CEO, the water company has some serious challenges to bringing potable water to customers. With 180,800 customers, GWI is charged with overseeing 137 well stations and 24 treatment plants, with three more to be constructed. There are more than 900 staffers with 60-plus contractors and 220,000 Km of transmission and distrib u t i o n mains. However, despite investments, GWI is facing major problems with its energy efficiency, with stabil-
ity and reliability being major problems With GWI moving to introduce 24-hour operations, there will greater wear and tear on equipment and infrastructure and although greater customer satisfaction was realized, this does not guarantee greater revenue intake, officials argued yesterday. In addition, there are a significant number of aging wells, which are costly to maintain. Maintenance personnel amount was significantly increased to deal with the new challenges, and special-
ized training has to be sought to deal with these. In fact, in Georgetown, some 65% of the pipes are more than 40 years old. Less than half of the 180,800 customers are metered, with over 80 percent of revenues coming from domestic. For domestic customers with meters, GWI is proposing the monthly fix charges of $500 and with standard rates of $112 per m3. For pensioners, GWI wants to waive those fixed charges, but the pensioners have to pay $74 per m3. For residential unmetered, there is a $500
fixed monthly with a $1,500 monthly charge. GWI wants unmetered pensioners to pay no monthly fixed charges, but for $740 m3 for fixed charges. Significantly, GWI is proposing to get tough with tampering with a $50,000 fine for domestic customers and $100,000 for commercial ones. GWI said that it will need a minimum of three months from time of approval, as it has to make software changes, including automatic billing for VAT and creation of new tariffs for billing.
PAGE 22
Tuesday February 13, 2018
Kaieteur News
Kesaundra Alves continues as head of newly installed GPHC board FOR RENT
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK;Guyanapassport application. G r a p h i c s design, advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6004212: We create A/works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer-Call: 231-0655; 683-8734. Omar REPAIRS AT LOW COST: FRIDGES, AIR CONDITIONERS, WASHING MACHINES, FREEZERS,SALE OF AC’S TEL:6294946,225-4822 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezer-Call: 610-5846 or 661-8158 House plans and estimates. # 6 1 3 - 5 6 2 8 / sirachenterprises@gmail.com Budhram’s Landscaping & Tree cutting service. Free advice, Free design, Free after care follow up. Tel#626-1044
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY- $19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-2274754. All size solar pannel & batteries lowest price guarantee. check us out @ Boodhoo’s General store @ Parika EBE. Video games and consoles at affordable price. Repairs to video game system .Call:6722566/265-3231 6 weeks old, vaccinated dashund pups for sale. Call: 670-2653, 638-8449. Used strong American construction steel scaffle for sale. Call: 623-1615 for more information. Plant-closing down sale: potting soil, plant pot, flower plant at Garden Centre, Plantation Schoonard WBD #615-2346/627-3443/15001600 GL super pit-bull van- GTT 2891, Automatic, 2005 year, 2000cc, Double A/C, TV, CD & DVD player. Call: 684-5868 Supari palm, Lipstick, Royal, Foxtail. Exora 4 for $1000 Ficus 4 for $1000. Organic potting soil. Tel: 626-1044
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 2 & 3 bedroom fully furnished luxury apartments to rent, long & short term. #666-7820, 691-1432 Fully furnished apartment two & one bedrooms in Providence, apartment at Diamond East Bank Tel: 6721906/216-2299/682-6238
SALON Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. -CosmetologyCourses: $90,000 Nail Technician Course: $35,000. Call: 647-1773/6880009
TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 2257878 (24HRS) MASSAGE & HEALTH Angels Massaging Spa. Come relax and be pampered. Call: 694-9775. New attendants available.
DOLLY’SCARRENTAL-CALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM PROGRESSIVE CAR R E N TA L : S U V F O R RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL:6435122/656-0087, ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIALOFFERS! . CALL: 690-6494 AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807
Experienced curry cook, counter servers, drivers. Apply Hack’s Halaal, 5 Commerce St. Contract cars and Drivers. Contact: 231-0316, 231-0002
3 bedroom apartment at the back of UG, 2 bedroom in Diamond. Tel#680-5944/ 6564211
(1) Manager to work @ Hotel/ Club on Essequibo coast, previous hotel management an asset. Contact: 500-5923, 676-8764/646-3675 Wanted cashier/sales clerk at Nirva supermarket 49 Sheriff & Craig St C/Ville. Apply in person. Tel#227-5771.
Vreed-en-hoop junction. Lessons place, church, storage bond, office, other. Call: 603-6400.
American Variety Store 140 Regent & Light, Georgetown. Experience cashier, supervisor and salesgirls. apply in person
Space for rent at Ashmin’s Building- suitable for salon or office- Call today! 683-7954
Experience worker to work on the West Bank willing to work & carry out duties. Age 17-25 Tel 664-3853 Cashiers to work in Mahdia, must be computer literate. # 618-1838
VEHICLE FOR SALE Allion, Primo, Fielder Wagon, Spacio, Bluebird, 212 Carina, NZE, Honda CRV, Toyota IST, RZ & Pit-bull – Call: 650-7501 Nissan Pathfinder Jeep 4WD Excellent condition $1.4M negotiable. Call: 609-7766/2258427 2006 Audi A4 PRR Series. $2.5M. 623-3839 2 Fielder wagons. One 19 seater pitbull, never worked passenger. Tel:664-0802 PROPERTY FOR SALE
CAR RENTAL
WANTED Salesman, good verbal/ excellent attitude, knowledge in stocktaking, computer literate & team player. Keyfood McDoom.
3- Storey commercial buliding, land size- 120ft x 60ft, building size- 62ft x 30ft, location- Lot 1486 Plot B, Herstelling East Bank Demerara. Contact: #6093777/697-4557 Riumveldt Public Rd (opp Massey) (6) bedroom house on double lot. (2) Apartments with all utilities- parking, fenced. Call: 225-8427/6097766 House and land available @ La Parfaite Harmonie, Providence, Etc. Financing assistance available. Contact Pacific Development: 2236035/ 604-4909 Lot 15 Public Road, #2 Village, W.C.B. 49ft x 10,314ft $20M Negotiable Contact 648-7109/686-4818 Property for sale at 97 Sugarcane street S/Rvldt Gardens. Price US 1.5M neg. Tel: 695-1356 & 687-8445
EDUCATION CXC adults classes (Business & Science subjects) Form 1-5 lessons, Grade 2-6 lessons (slow learners, personal tutor) #690-5008,618-0649 First aid/CPR and home nursing courses. To enroll: St John Association 110 Cowan Street #225-9082 Register your child for after school classes for slow learners in Mathematics, Reading, Phonics, Spelling, etc. Call: 675-4379 Live & work in Canada? Become a certified support worker/ Caregiver. Care for Elderly & Children. Call 2274881 Jean offers courses in Dressmaking, Curtains, Floral, Cake decorations. Barr St, Kitty. Tel#670-2653, 638-8449. LEARN TO DRIVE Ultraviolet Driving School is offering a 6 days driving lesson for $7,500. Come and enjoy it! Call 676-8783. C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj Building- Call: 644-5166; 6222872; 615-0964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).
Ms. Kesaundra Alves
VACANCY Hair station & Barber station rental, New market street #6381106. Experienced persons preferable. Cashier (shift work 7am-3pm & 3pm-11pm) Submit application to: Shell Service Station Providence E.B.D or e m a i l : Shellramsburg@gmail.com Kitchen assistant for interior location. Job entails assisting cooks and generally cleaning. Call: 618-2020. We l d e r / f a b r i c a t o r , machinist,mechanic,store keeper, female cleaner. Must have technical back ground and 3 years’ experience. Call:233-2745 Log truck drivers. Tel: 6646062. Accounts clerk (knowledge of NIS, PAYE, VAT and quickbooks). Call: 614-4358 Hydraulic hose technician, Inventory clerk (must have technical background). Call: 233-2745 One surveyor to work in the interior. Contact: 223-5273 One foreman to work on interior roads. Contact 2235273 One yardman age 30 to 45. Contact: 223-5273 TOLET Furnished executive one or two bedroom suite in Diamond. Ideal for foreigners. Call: 600-2466. Lower two bedroom apartment in excellent location Farm EBD and three bedroom home in Eccles. #616-7635.
The appointment of a new Board of Directors for the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation [GPHC] has been recently approved by Cabinet. The Board will see a continuance of Ms. Kesaundra Alves as its chairperson and a number of other members who made up the former Board. At the most recent hosting of post cabinet press briefing, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, said that Cabinet has approved the appointment of the members of the Board of Directors of the GPHC for a period of one year with effect from February 1, 2018. He observed that the board members have pretty much remained unchanged. Those appointed, he said, are Alves as chairperson and members: Dr. Holly Alexander, Colette Adams, Sonya Roopnauth, Cleopatra Barkoye and Kemton Alexander. In addition to a Bachelor of Laws Degree and Legal Education Certificate, Alves is also the holder of a Master of Laws Degree from the Dalhousie University of Law located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. She also specialised in health law, ethics, policy and inter-disciplinary programme involving medicine, human rights, law and politics related to public health. Dr. Alexander has worked for several years in the public health sector and holds diplomas in education, public management, leprology (the study of leprosy and its treatment) and a Masters in Public Health. She has also been spearheading several aspects of public health over the y e a r s . Adams is the acting Permanent Secretary at the Public Health Ministry and Roopnauth holds the portfolio of Director of Budget and had also previously worked in the Ministry of Health too. The Nursing Council will (Continued on page 23)
Tuesday February 13, 2018
PAGE 23
Kaieteur News
Key actuarial review on state of NIS begins
NIS Chairman, Dr. Surendra Persaud (left) and his team meeting with Senior Actuary Georges Langis (second from left) yesterday. Yesterday marked the launching of the 9th Actuarial Review of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS). Conducting the review and representing the International Labour Organisation (ILO) is Sen i o r A c t u a r y, G e o rg e s Langis, who is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries and the Society of Actuaries respectively, NIS disclosed in a statement. “He also possesses a wealth of experience in conducting actuarial studies for many countries such as Trinidad, Grenada, Tanzania and Haiti to name a few. The Actuary’s first mission will last for a period of four days where he is expected to meet all key stakeholders of the National Insurance Scheme.” NIS is the state’s social insurance scheme which is involved in old age pension; eye-care, funeral and dependents’ benefits; and a number of other benefits. Langis also paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, at his office yesterday. He was accompanied by NIS’ General Manager, Holly Greaves and other officials of the scheme. The National Insurance
Scheme is one of the agencies that falls directly under the umbrella of the Ministry of Finance. As such, all investment decisions are guided and approved by the Minister of Finance. “The main purpose of the actuary’s visit is to learn about NIS Guyana and to collect data from all stakeholders to assist the Board of NIS in ensuring the long term financial sustainability of the scheme. The main objective of the project is to provide the Government of Guyana, the Board and the Management of the NIS with an analysis that will assist in the reform and strengthening of the scheme,” the NIS explained. Yesterday, the Actuary also met with the Senior Management of the NIS, and the Chairman and Directors of NIS Board, Dr. Surendra Persaud. He is also scheduled to meet with representatives of Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry (CAGI); the Chief Statistician, Government, Statistical Bureau; Leader of the Opposition, Office of the Opposition; Private Sector Commission; President of Consumers Advisory Bureau Ltd., and the Guyana Trades Union Congress. The Actuarial valuation is
mandated by statute and its report is also a public document.
its long term viability is in question after a number of investments, including at
CLICO, and falling collections from businesses, continue to erode its revenues.
Jury empanelled for 2014 granny murder trial Yesterday morning, at the High Court in Georgetown a mixed 12member jury was empanelled to decide on the evidence which will be led in the trial of Kevon Alfred, who has been indicted for the March 2014 murder of Joyce Lewis, the 75-year-old woman who was found partially nude and bound in her two storey-house Christiani Street, North Ruimveldt. The trial, however, will commence tomorrow. Appearing before Justice Navindra Singh, the accused also known as Sherwin Alfred, formerly of Crane housing Scheme, We s t C o a s t D e m e r a r a , pleaded not guilty to the charge. He will be represented by Attorney-at-Law Stanley Moore. Prosecutors Tiffini Lyken, Abigail Gibbs and Narissa Leander are representing the state. The state will be calling a total of 13 witnesses inclusive of police ranks and civilians. Initially, Alfred had been slated to go on
Kesaundra Alves continues as head... From page 22 be represented by Barkoye who holds a Masters in Nursing Education, among several other certificates. Kemton Alexander, the representative of the Guyana Public Service Union, comes with a background of a registered nurses and midwife. He also has a background of a registered nurse and midwife. The Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier George Lewis, is an ex officio member of the board. At their appointment to the Board last year, Minister of Public Health, Ms Volda Lawrence, said of its members, “From the outline of their experiences and their qualifications, I believe these persons are well put
NIS has been finding the going tough in recent years. While it has billions in cash,
together to address the several issues which confront the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, from policy to standards to vacancies, and in order to assist us in being able to achieve that vision of having the Georgetown Public Hospital operate in the manner in which it was set out, and that is our tertiary health institution, specifically as a referral hospital.” She had pointed out too, “The Board will be expected to carry out its full mandate as prescribed within the law.” Based on reports reaching this publication, a number of measures have been taken since the instalment of the board last year that are aimed at improving the operation of the premier health facility.
MURDER ACCUSED: Kevon Alfred
MURDERED: Joyce Lewis trial early last month. However when the case came up before Justice Singh, Alfred’s mother requested for the matter to be adjourned to a later date since she had been experiencing some financial difficulties in retaining a desired Attorneyat-Law to represent her son. The mother was afforded the adjournment. Joyce Lewis had been living alone at her 3630 Christiani Street, North Ruimveldt home since her husband, a former Police Inspector, passed away three years prior. On the morning of March 26, 2014, a relative ventured to Lewis’ house after she failed to answer several calls made to both her cellular and landline phones. It was then that her body was discovered. According to reports, there were marks on the pensioner’s neck which suggested that she had been strangled. Her underwear was par-
tially removed and her home was ransacked. It was believed that the perpetrator(s) gained entry into Lewis’s home by climbing through a bay window near the verandah. Police had confirmed that they found a “fresh” footprint on the window ledge. Crime scene detectives had found a large knife wrapped in a rag in the
woman’s front yard. It was five months after she was killed that the police arrested Williams. Reports are that Williams’ fingerprints were among several that investigators found in the slain woman’s house. Back in February 2014, Alfred was jail for four years for having an illegal semi automatic pistol in his possession.
PAGE 24
Kaieteur News
Jamaica and China sign framework agreement for multi-million dollar project KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – China is willing to invest up to six billion US dollars to develop an industrial park and a special economic zone in Jamaica, a senior Chinese official has said. Executive Vice- Governor, of Gansu Province in China, Huang Qiang, said Beijing was prepared to pump money into the facility alongside China’s State-owned Jiuquan Iron & Steel Group (JISCO)ALPART operations in Nain, St Elizabeth, south west of here. JISCO paid US$299 million to acquire ALPART, a modern, vertically-integrated production complex that includes bauxite mines and an alumina refinery and spent more than US$60 million to facilitate its re-opening last year. A government statement Monday noted that the announcement by Qiang came at the signing of a Framework Agreement last Thursday and follows closely on the heal of a Non-Binding Agreement of Intent (NAI) on September 21 last year, between Transport and Mining Min-
ister, Lester Henry and Governor of Gansu Province, Tang Renjian in China.. The statement noted that Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who witness the signing, is supportive of the project and has assigned Dr. Horace Chang, the Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, to work alongside Henry and their Gansu counterparts, to expedite the further development of the project. It said that the signing followed discussions between Prime Minister Holness and the 11-member Chinese delegation that came here “with the sole intent of returning with a signed Framework Agreement for the development of the Project. “The visiting party not only included the top brass from two of the world’s leading and largest construction and shipping companies from China, China Construction and COSTCO Shipping, but also The Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China to Jamaica, Niu Kin Bao , Chair-
man Chen Chun Ming of JISCO Group and top management of JISCO /ALPART,” the statement noted. It said that the size of the investment for this contemplated development is of major significance for both Jamaica and China, in that it is the largest investment ever contemplated in Jamaica and it’s the first overseas investment for Gansu Province. “It’s intended to move Jamaica from exporting raw materials to developing value added manufacturing and fabrication industries, led by the bauxite/mineral sector,” the statement said noting that Prime Minister Holness and his two other ministers are to attend the Premier Construction Conference in Gansu in September. “Jamaica and China have both agreed that the political, administrative and procedural preliminary activities will begin immediately, in order to be able to announce the next phase when the parties meet in China in September,” the statement added.
LIAT says it remains committed to serving region ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The cash-strapped regional airline, LIAT, Monday said it remains committed to serving the region as it moves to return flights to prehurricane levels in affected territories. In a statement, the airline gave no indication of its financial position, but said despite the major challenges from the recent hurricane season, it continues to provide a vital service in connecting the region. The airline, which is owned by the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, said that for 2018, the emphasis will also be on improving its ontime performance. “We recognised that there was a major need to work to-
wards improving our on-time performance so our passengers could get to their destinations on time,” said chief executive officer, Julie ReiferJones. The airline said it recorded on-time performance of 68 per cent last year, which it described as a “major improvement over the 2016 figure of 49 per cent”. Reifer- Jones said that performance in January 2018 was 81 per cent, adding “this means that today at LIAT, most flights are on time. LIAT continues to work towards the industry standard of 85 per cent and this is one of our highest priorities.” The chief executive officer acknowledged that the airline industry is very challenging and from time to time, operational issues especially
aircraft technical issues will occur and may result in delays and cancellations. She said that the complex nature of LIAT’s network presents challenges as aircraft perform several flights daily and any delays can have a knock-on effect in the network. But she pointed to the island’s safety record and said there was also need for improvement in LIAT’s customer service and communication with passengers when there are delays. She said that a Customer Service Programme is ongoing across the network and ‘the company will this year be continuously training in all areas of the operations so that passengers can receive a great LIAT experience from our staff.”
Education Ministry launches ... From page 14 announcement of concepts by Guyana's popular radio announcers is also a route in which the ministry will take to assist students. In her presentation, Henry said it is her dream that the national grade six candidates are fully prepared for and successful at their assessment. “I can guarantee you that we will fulfill our role in encouraging the use of this app and make it available to teachers, students, parents and all other stakeholders.” First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger, who was also at the launch, said she is excited about the study app, she further stated that the in-
tervention can only improve the lives of Guyana's children. She used the opportunity to encouraged parents and guardians to continue their partnership with the ministry for the benefit of their children. “Your success is our success and the Ministry of Education will do their utmost to ensure all avenues are explored to assist you in gaining that success,” said Henry. Local Director of STEM Guyana, Mr. Colin Sawh did a live demonstration of how the National Grade Six Assessment practice exam app can be used. The app is currently available in the Google Play Store.
Tuesday February 13, 2018
Senior Oxfam official resigns amid sex scandal involving aid workers in Haiti LONDON, CMC – The deputy chief executive officer of one of Britain’s largest charities, has resigned as the fallout continued from the allegations that some of its workers had engaged in paid sex while on a mission to help people affected by the earthquake in Haiti in 2010. “Concerns were raised about the behaviour of staff in Chad as well as Haiti that we failed to adequately act upon,” Penny Lawrence said as she accepted full responsibility. “It is now clear that these allegations – involving the use of prostitutes and which related to behaviour of both the country director and members of his team in Chad – were raised before he moved to Haiti.” Last Friday, Oxfam described as “totally unacceptable” the behaviour of the workers, noting that such al-
legations risked undermining public trust in charities. “The public expects charities to be safe and trusted environments that safeguard those who come into contact with them,” it said, noting that the “behaviour of some members of Oxfam staff uncovered in Haiti in 2011 was totally unacceptable, contrary to our values and the high standards we expect of our staff”. Oxfam said that “as soon as we became aware of the allegations we immediately launched an internal investigation”. The earthquake in Haiti killed more than 200,000 people and left millions homeless in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country and the allegations against the Oxfam workers were published in The Times newspaper. Oxfam said, however, that “allegations that underage
girls may have been involved were not proven” but acknowledged that four staff members of staff were dismissed as a result of the investigation and three others had tendered their resignation before the probe had ended. The European Commission has said it expects full clarity and maximum transparency from Oxfam, warning it is ready to “cease funding any partner not living up to high ethical standards”. The charity’s programme in Haiti received Euro1.7 million (One Euro=US$1.29 cents) in 2011 from the EU and Britain’s International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt said Oxfam had apologised for its “appalling” behaviour and that the government had not been told at the time the allegations involved sexual misconduct or beneficiaries.
$4.5 Million Bail for Antiguan Pilot on Dr ug Char ges Drug Charg ST JOHN’S, Antigua,– After two days behind bars on remand, an Antiguan pilot held in a drug bust at the V.C Bird International Airport has been released on EC$4.5 million (US$1.7 million) bail. As part of his bail conditions, Colin Murraine had to surrender all his travel documents and will only be allowed to leave the country with the court’s permission. He must also report to police headquarters daily. His case has been adjourned until April 25. The 31-year-old pilot had been denied bail when he first appeared in court on Monday charged with possession and exportation of cocaine, and being in concern with the supply of cocaine and drug trafficking. Murraine was arrested after a drug bust in which almost EC$1.7 million (US$629,634) worth of cocaine was found on a private plane. Last Friday, officers from Antigua and Barbuda’s Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy (ONDCP) intercepted a private charter plane that was preparing for takeoff.
Colin Murraine Their search uncovered 105 pounds of cocaine in several packages in two suitcases, with an estimated street value of EC$1,667,601 (US$617,635) on the aircraft. The pilot was among four people who were arrested. The other three were subsequently released.
CARICOM Commends Grenada’s Unwavering Commitment to Integration As it Celebrates Independence ST GEORGE’S, Grenada,– As Grenada celebrated its 44th Anniversary as an independent nation today, CARICOM SecretaryGeneral Irwin LaRocque commended its unwavering commitment to the 15-member organization. In a congratulatory message to the Prime Minister of Grenada, Dr Keith Mitchell, LaRocque lauded the commitment and leadership he demonstrated as CARICOM Chairman during the past unprecedented hurricane season. He also noted that Mitchell’s chairmanship of the World Bank’s Small States Forum 2017, heightened the visibility of the challenges facing the small state. “There is much for Grenada to be proud of as a nation,” Secretary-General LaRocque
said, adding that over the years the people of that island have demonstrated “great resilience as they charted a way forward to enhancing their standard of living”. And he said that the theme of this year’s independence celebration, ‘One People, One Country, Our Responsibility’, shows Grenadians’ collective willingness to work together for the country’s continued socioeconomic development. “The Community looks forward to Grenada’s continued active participation in the work of the Community, and importantly to its leading our efforts in Science and Technology, for which the country has responsibility within the CARICOM Quasi-Cabinet, a critical element of the Community’s Strategic Plan,” Secretary-General LaRocque said.
Kaieteur News
Tuesday February 13, 2018
Barbados Foreign Reserves At Two-Decade Low
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, – Barbados’ foreign reserves are dangerously low – lower than they have been in over two decades, Central Bank Governor Cleviston Haynes has disclosed. Days a f t e r r e g i o n a l economist Marla Dukharan reported that the reserves had dipped to BDS$482 million (US$241 million) or just under eight weeks of import cover, as at November last year, Haynes revealed they had dipped even further. In his 2017 economic review yesterday, he said that as of the end of December last year, the reserves stood at a 22-year low of BDS$410 million (US$205 million), or 6.6
weeks of import cover – almost half the recommended 12 weeks. Haynes pointed to weak private sector capital flows, net public sector outflows and the delay in the sale of some state assets as contributors to the low levels of reserves. And he reported that because of the foreign exchange crunch, commercial banks were no longer selling as much surplus funds to the Central Bank. “In some cases they have actually come to us to buy foreign exchange,” Haynes told journalists. However, the Central Bank Governor urged Barba-
dians not to panic about the situation. “We have challenges which we have to face, but it does not require panic. It requires us to address the issues which confront us, to do so frontally and do so quickly. I think that is what is within our powers to do. Panic won’t get us anywhere,” he said, adding that he was optimistic there would be adequate levels of reserves to meet payments during the year. Haynes added that significant public and private capital inflows are needed to restore the reserves to “at least in line with the 12-week benchmark”.
Dominica Gets First Major Cruise Call Since Hurricane Maria ROSEAU, Dominica,– Dominica recently welcomed TUI Cruises’ MV Mein Schiff 3, the first major cruise call to the island and the first vessel to sail into the Roseau Cruise Ship Berth since Hurricane Maria devastated the island last September. More than 2,000 passengers arrived as the ship made its first of six scheduled calls to Dominica for the 2017/2018 cruise season. So far, the government, through the Ministry of Tourism and Urban Renewal, has invested over $3 million on restoration of access, rehabilitation and upgrading of sites and clean-up of debris post-Hurricane Maria.
With support from the Ministry of Public Works and Ports, Forestry, Parks and Wildlife Division, National Employment Programme, Dominica Solid Waste Corporation, and other stakeholders in the public and private sector, the destination was prepared to cater for cruise ship passengers on many of the island’s shore excursions, including tours to the famous Emerald Pool, Trafalgar Twin Falls, Bois Cotlette Estate, Titou Gorge, Whale Watching tours and the unique, therapeutic black sand Mero Beach. A series of cultural performances were organized for passengers throughout the day of Mein Schiff 3’s arrival.
Government denies demonstration outside embassy in Haiti NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – The Bahamas government has described as “false” reports on social media that people had been demonstrating outside its embassy in the French-speaking Caribbean island of Haiti. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs said it had taken note of the information circulating via social media of the demonstration outside The Bahamas Embassy, but said it wanted to advise the “general public that this information is false and that there has been no such demonstration.
PAGE 25
PAGE 26
Kaieteur News
Tuesday February 13, 2018
ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi injured in airstrike last May, sources say CNN) ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was wounded in an airstrike in May last year and had to relinquish control of the terror group for up to five months because of his injuries, according to several US officials who spoke exclusively to CNN. US intelligence agencies have assessed with a high degree of confidence that the world's most wanted man was near Raqqa, Syria in May when the missile struck, the US officials said. Their assessment is based on reports from ISIS detainees and refugees in Northern Syria that emerged months after the airstrike, the officials added. Baghdadi's injuries were not considered lifethreatening but they did mean he couldn't continue to command the daily operations
of the group. At the time, ISIS was about to lose control of the Iraqi city of Mosul and its so-called capital Raqqa had been nearly encircled by US-backed forces.It is unclear whether Baghdadi was hit in a targeted attack or if he was "collateral damage." It's also unclear who fired the missile. US officials do not know the exact date of the strike so are unsure if a Coalition aircraft was involved, or whether Baghdadi's injury was the result of a Russian missile. "There have been isolated strikes by Russians in Raqqa, but as there's no timeline to it, we don't know if it's ours," a US official said. Russian airstrike? It's believed the airstrike occurred close to the date offered by the Russian military in June when they claimed to
have killed or injured the ISIS leader. At the time, Russia's Defense Ministry said it was investigating reports Baghdadi had been killed in an airstrike on May 28, on the outskirts of Raqqa, the group's primary stronghold, which US-backed forces took back in October. Analysts warned at the time reports of Baghdadi's death should be treated with skepticism given the high number of previous false reports.One US official said the Russian claim was a case of Moscow "making stuff up."Another US official, asked if the injuries meant Baghdadi had been able to return to his leadership role, albeit of a diminished organization, said: "Yes. I do not know how much Baghdadi is day-to-day running the shop."
South African lions eat 'poacher' (BBC) A suspected big cat poacher has been eaten by lions near the Kruger National Park in South Africa, police say. The animals left little behind, but some body parts were found over the weekend at a game park near Hoedspruit. "It seems the victim was poaching in the game park when he was attacked and killed by lions," Limpopo police spokesman Moatshe Ngoepe told AFP. "They ate his body, nearly all of it, and just left his head and some remains." Police have not yet established the victim's identity. A loaded hunting rifle and ammunition were found next to the body, South African
website Eyewitness News reports. Lion poaching has been on the rise in Limpopo province in recent years. The big cats' body parts are sometimes used in traditional medicine, both within Africa and beyond. Wildlife charity the Born
Free Foundation says lion bones and other body parts are increasingly sought-after in South East Asia, where they are sometimes used as a substitute for tiger bones. In January 2017, three male lions were found poisoned in Limpopo with their paws and heads cut off.
Trump's daughter-in-law opens letter containing suspicious substance New York (CNN) President Donald Trump's daughter-in-law opened a letter containing an unknown substance that was addressed to the President's son Donald Trump Jr., the New York Police Department said. The letter was sent to the couple's Manhattan apartment and opened around 10 a.m. ET Monday, authorities said. Vanessa Trump did not have an immediate reaction to the substance, which the NYPD said was deemed nonhazardous. Trump Jr. said on Twitter that his wife and children were unharmed. "Thankful that Vanessa & my children are safe and
unharmed after the incredibly scary situation that occurred this morning. Truly disgusting that certain individuals choose to express their opposing views with such disturbing behavior," Trump Jr. tweeted.Vanessa Trump sent a tweet Monday evening thanking organizations for responding to the incident, writing: "Thank you so much for all the help today in NYC! I appreciate all the quick response to make sure that I was safe ! Thank you @FDNY @SecretService @NYPDnews @NYPDCT @NewYorkFBI." White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said the President had spoken with his daughter-in-law on
Monday afternoon, and Trump Jr.'s sister and White House adviser Ivanka Trump addressed the incident on Twitter. "Thinking of @MrsVanessaTrump & wishing I was by her side today. No one deserves to be frightened this way. There is no excuse," Ivanka Trump tweeted. The Fire Department of New York said three people were transported to a local hospital with minor injuries, but did not provide additional information on the nature of the injuries or the victims. The Secret Service acknowledged that it was participating in the investigation but declined further comment.
Kaieteur News
Tuesday February 13, 2018
Liberian church massacre survivors seek US justice
Men, women, children, even babies - were shot or hacked to death inside the church The Monrovia Church massacre in 1990 was the worst single atrocity of the Liberian civil war. About 600 civilians, including many children, were killed while taking refuge in a church. Now, four survivors are bringing a claim for damages against one of the men they believe was responsible, reports Elizabeth Blunt who was a BBC correspondent in Liberia at the time. It was July 1990, and rebel fighters were advancing on the capital, Monrovia. President Samuel Doe was holed up in his vast, gloomy Executive Mansion. After dark bands of soldiers roamed the streets, looting shops and warehouses and seeking out people from Nimba County, the area where the rebellion had started. They dragged the men from their homes, beating
and often killing them. Hundreds of terrified families, looking for a safer place to sleep, took refuge in St Peter's Lutheran Church a spacious building in a walled compound. Huge Red Cross flags flew at every corner. But on the night of 29 July, Government soldiers came over the wall and started killing those inside. An estimated 600 people - men, women, children, even babies - were shot or hacked to death with machetes before the order was given to stop. A Guinean woman doctor, who was one of the first to reach the church the next day, described to me the scene of utter horror. Dead bodies were everywhere. The only sign of life was a baby crying. She describes having to walk over corpses to reach the child, but when she picked it
up and tried to comfort it, she said she suddenly saw a flicker of movement, and then another. A few children had survived, protected by the bodies of their parents, but only when they saw her, a civilian and a woman taking care of the baby, did they dare to come out. One of the child survivors is among those now suing for damages. American missionary Bette McCrandall was there, too, that morning - she had lain awake the previous night, listening to everything that was happening from the Lutheran bishop's compound close by. She says those events have stayed with her, even all these years afterwards, as they have with all the survivors. "The memories of that day and that night don't leave me," she says.
Baltimore police guilty of robbing citizens (BBC) A federal jury has found two Baltimore police officers guilty for their role in a sprawling police corruption case that involved robbing city residents. Daniel Hersl and Marcus Taylor were convicted of racketeering and robbery charges and cleared of others. They were part of an elite unit tasked with seizing illegal firearms. But instead the squad went rogue, stealing cash and guns and reselling drugs. Thousands of cases could have been affected by the unit's corruption. Baltimore Police Commissioner-Designate Darryl De Sousa issued a statement after the verdict, noting the trial uncovered "some of the most egregious and despicable acts ever perpetrated in law
enforcement". "Our job moving forward is to earn back the trust and respect of the community," he said, adding that it would "be a process".Baltimore police have struggled to regain public trust after Freddie Gray, a young black man, died in police custody in 2015. The city's police department is currently subject to federal monitoring as part of court-ordered reforms due to discriminatory and unconstitutional policing. The verdict follows three weeks of explosive testimony in a federal courtroom. Additional officers named in the testimony have either been suspended or announced their retirement. A jury deliberated on Thursday and Monday over a series of charges stemming from an FBI investigation of
the Baltimore Police Department unit, the Gun Trace Task Force (GTTF). In additional to the guilty findings, they cleared Hersl and Taylor on charges of possession of firearm in furtherance of crime of violence. They face a maximum sentence of 60 years.After the verdict on Monday State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby called the facts revealed at the trial "deeply disturbing" and said her office was "continuing to comb through the cases" potentially implicated by the officers' illegal acts. According to the Baltimore city's Office of the Public Defender, as many as 3,000 cases could have been affected by the GTTF. All but one member of the task force was indicted and arrested in March 2017.
PAGE 27
PAGE 28
Kaieteur News
Tuesday February 13, 2018
Tuesday February 13, 2018
PAGE 29
Kaieteur News
Winter Olympics Women’s slopestyle final ‘too dangerous’ as winds cause havoc BBC Sport - The conditions for the women’s slopestyle Olympic final were described as “too dangerous” after strong winds caused havoc in Pyeongchang. Defending champion Jamie Anderson of the United States won gold but all of the riders fell on at least one run. Bronze medallist Enni Rukajarvi said: “It was pretty bad. I’m happy to land my run and get a good score but I’m most happy that no one got hurt bad.” Britain’s Aimee Fuller came 17th and had a heavy crash on her second run. In slopestyle, riders perform tricks on a series of manmade jumps, rails and boxes with a panel of judges scoring each run. Rukajarvi added: “The weather was bad and too dangerous, and I got a lot of wind in my run, so that was bad,
too.” Asked whether organisers made the right decision to hold the final, she said: “It wasn’t. It was better in the practice, but then it got really bad, so they should have cancelled it, or moved it.” ‘Unfair competition’ Austria’s Anna Gasser started the slopestyle final at the Phoenix Snow Park as one of the medal contenders, but crashed on both runs and only managed 15th. “I don’t think it was a fair competition and I’m a little disappointed in the organisation that they pulled through with it,” she said. “I think it was not a good show for women’s snowboarding.” The International Olympic Committee maintained the safety of athletes was the organisers’ “number one priority”.
“The competition is run by the International Ski Federation,” spokesman Mark Adams added. “They know their athletes and they know the conditions they work in.” The men’s downhill and women’s slopestyle qualification were postponed on Sunday because of high winds, and the same fate befell the women’s giant slalom on Monday. Asked if the delays might cause the Games to be extended, Adams said: “It’s a bit early to discuss that. Nagano had the downhill five minutes before the closing ceremony, but it’s a touch premature at this stage.” GB’s Fuller crashes out of slopestyle final Fuller described the conditions in the slopestyle final as the “roughest” she had competed in, adding it was like “riding into a wind tunnel”.
Tuesday February 13, 2018 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) There is a rough stubbornness to the day that you may find hinders your progress, Aries. There may be undercurrents of opposition that are slowly wearing away at your psyche. TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) You’ll find that you’re able to check quite a few things off your list today. Think before you act and take a time-out to rest and regroup if you need to. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Missed connections and unfortunate misunderstandings will happen less frequently if you slow down and focus. Remember that you can do things yourself, Gemini. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Things that require restriction and discipline on your part may be causing tension and opposition in your world today, Cancer. The good news is that your mind is clear LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Your internal fire may be feeling a bit smothered by a fierce reality check today, Leo. Give people the benefit of the doubt. They are more perceptive than you may think. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You may not realize how your harsh words affect the people around you. Be more sensitive to the feelings of others. Focus and be brave in your actions.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) A little foreign culture could be the thing you need right now to spice things up a bit, Libra. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Some days it may be hard for you to get motivated, Scorpio, but if ever there were a day in which it was easier than others, this would be the day. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You may feel a bit of restriction working to hold you back from your current plans today, Sagittarius. It could be that your mind is feeling restless and that you’re anxious to go CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You’ll find that a sensitive mind that’s open to everything and every possibility is exactly the thing you need at this time in order to be successful in reaching all the goals you’re working toward, Capricorn. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Today is a good day to be receptive to other people's energies, Aquarius. You’ll find that a sensitive attitude toward the people around you PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) ou’ll find that your mind is sharp and penetrating today, Pisces. Make sure you stay focused and organized. You have the power of discipline behind you that will help you manifest quite a bit on a day like today.
“On the second run I got my speed right but once I was in the air it felt like I had a sail boat under my board,” the 26year-old said. “The wind ripped me sideways and there was not a chance I was going to land.” Fuller also said it was a “tough question” whether the event should have gone ahead. “It was the Olympic final and everyone wanted to ride,” she said. “If you were lucky with the wind there were calm windows but the majority was super inconsistent. “I don’t think it was a true reflection of women’s slopestyle which is a shame for our sport.” The Briton has another chance to win a medal when she competes in the women’s big air, which begins next Monday. ‘Luckily nobody was badly injured’ - BBC pundits react Briton Jenny Jones, the Sochi 2014 slopestyle bronze medallist, said it was an “absolute shocker” that the final was allowed to continue. “It was a total lottery of what was going to happen,” she told BBC Sport. “I won-
Champs... From page 35 Round of 16 action is seen below: Guinness Goal-(GG)-2 goals Game-1 West Side Ballers-2 vs Patentia Money Team-2 West Side won 1-0 on penalty kicks West Side Scorer Kevin Frank-32nd-(GG) Patentia Scorer Kenton Boyce-34th-(GG) Game-2 Boom Bang-0 vs Up-Like-7-0 Boom Bang won 2-1 on penalty kicks Game-3 Ballers Empire-0 vs Brothers United-0 Ballers won 2-0 on penalty kicks Game-4 Mocha-0 vs Hustlers-3 Kwame Holder-4th and 17th Sunil Logan-15th Game-5 ESPN-4 vs Parfaite Hardball0 Pernell Schultz-18th-(GG) Trevon Lythcott-14th Kevon Lythcott-17th Game-6 Harmony Warriors-0 vs Dream Team-1 Orville Stewart-14th Game-7 Zeelugt FC-0 vs Rising Stars1 Eon King-13th Game-8 Showstoppers-2 vs Harmony Ballers-0 Dexroy Adams-14th Stephon Jupiter-17th
der what went on in those conversations and why somebody didn’t say: ‘Let’s postpone this.’ In my mind, I would have wanted it to be postponed. “Of course it’s not safe. It’s an extreme sport. You’re jumping off a 60ft kicker and you’re almost sailing on your board. Luckily nobody was badly injured. I’d be asking why this whole thing carried on. “I think Aimee Fuller will be gutted. But she is in one piece. She stayed on her feet and almost made that last kicker, but the wind took her. There was nothing she could do. It wasn’t in her control.” BBC Sport commentator Ed Leigh said “serious questions” should be asked about
running the competition in such conditions. “It wasn’t about who was best on the day, it was about who could get the best of the conditions,” Leigh said. “It wasn’t about anyone’s best run, it was about who could survive and it’s no surprise two of the three medals were made up of the most experienced riders. “The thing I’m most pleased about is no-one got seriously hurt.” Anderson’s controversial win Qualifying for the slopestyle was cancelled on Sunday because of the winds, meaning all athletes progressed to the final - the start of which was delayed for over an hour.
PAGE 30
Kaieteur News
Tuesday February 13, 2018
Figure skating: Triumph after tears as Nagasu makes skating history GANGNEUNG, South Korea (Reuters) - Four years ago, American figure skater Mirai Nagasu was heartbroken after being left off the U.S. team for the Sochi Olympics in favor of a woman who ranked lower than she had at a key qualifying event. But yesterday, the woman whose Japanese immigrant parents run a sushi restaurant and mother hand-sewed her costumes, made skating history by becoming the first American woman - and only the third woman overall - to land the fiendishly difficult triple Axel jump at an Olympics. Skating a stellar routine in the women’s free skate portion of the team competition, Nagasu began with a clean triple Axel and then went on to nail eight other triple jumps, including a triple flip and triple Salchow combination as she helpedAmerica claim bronze. Clearly overjoyed, the 24-
year-old Nagasu, who was skating at her second Olympics, pumped her fists and grinned as she skated off the ice. “I feel really great,” she said after her performance. “Going into it, I was like a train, get on those tracks and get some speed. To nail it the way I did - and even out of the corner of my eye, I could see my team mates standing in excitement.” The only other women to land the jump in the Olympics were Japanese skaters Midori Ito and Mao Asada, and Nagasu joked that perhaps her ancestry had played a part. “Maybe it’s the Japanese genetics - but lucky for me I‘m American, so I’ll be the first U.S. lady,” she said after her performance. She was snubbed for Sochi in 2014 despite finishing third in the U.S. nationals as the selectors handed the Olympic berth
to Ashley Wagner, who finished fourth. “Four years ago I was crying with Adam Rippon because we both didn’t make the team,” she said, referring to the men’s singles skater. “So for both of us to be on the team... is super exciting.” Nagasu was born to Japanese immigrant parents who run a sushi restaurant in California, where she grew up. Her first name means ‘future’ in Japanese and she reportedly speaks a mixture of Japanese and English at home with her parents. She began skating at the age of five and idolized twotime Olympic medalist and skater Michelle Kwan. As her career took off, she said it was sometimes difficult to keep going on the income from a restaurant. HAND-SEWN COSTUMES “My mom also made a lot
Red Bull to present new car ahead of F1 rivals LONDON (Reuters) Former world champions Red Bull will be ahead of their Formula One rivals at least when it comes to showing off their new car, after announcing a Feb. 19 launch date yesterday. The team, who won four drivers’ and constructors’ championships in a row with Sebastian Vettel between 2010 and 2013, will unveil the RB14 a week before testing starts in Barcelona on Feb. 26. No details of the launch were given.Champions
Mercedes, with Britain’s Lewis Hamilton going for his fifth title, and 2017 runners-up Ferrari will both present their new cars on Feb. 22.Red Bull, with Dutch driver Max Verstappen and Australian Daniel Ricciardo, were one of the last Formula One teams to reveal their car last season and did so with an online launch on the eve of testing. Team boss Christian Horner said last year that Red Bull aimed to make the most of testing right from day one
in Spain after some teething problems last season. “We are focusing on a slightly earlier release target, which only involves about five days,” he said then. “But the design is so concertinaed and production schedules so tight, that those five days are actually pretty valuable in terms of being on the front foot rather than the back foot.”Red Bull won three of last season’s 20 races and finished the season third overall.
SPORTSMAX partners with DIGICEL to cover the Winter Olympics More than 13M customers across region will receive full HD coverage Kingston, Jamaica: In another move to bring customers closer to the things they love most, Digicel has partnered with SportsMax, the Official Broadcast Partner of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Games, to provide exciting sports coverage to over13 million customers. With 13 channels providing live and delayed content, customers will get the best in sports coverage on their TVs and on-the-go with the PlayGo app. Transforming the way the region experiences the winter games, SportsMax will be broadcasting in full HD and providing multiple viewership options across 25 countries through traditional cable TV, mobile and free-toair television. Digicel has the largest fibre to the home cable network and fastest internet speeds in the region, so this
coupled with the ease of access to TV for all PlayGo subscribers gives SportsMax phenomenal reach across the Caribbean. ”We know our athletes will carry their tropical spirit and sunshine to compete in PyeongChang and even though we don’t have winter here, our athletes are still able to compete on a global stage among the best in the world” said Peter Lloyd, Director of Marketing at Digicel Caribbean Limited. He added, “We’re very proud of them and what they’ve achieved so far, because just qualifying for the winter games is an impressive feat and we want to support them in the best way we can, and that is by providing our customers with the best viewing experience to cheer our athletes on.” Olly McIntosh, CEO of IMC and SportsMax said,
“As the official broadcast partners of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Games, we’re excited to bring the best coverage of the games to our viewers across the region. The partnership with Digicel has enabled us to reach everyone, whether they’re at home or on-the-go through the PlayGo app for all Android or Apple users, regardless of network provider.” In addition to the content from the games, SportsMax will produce and air daily shows, featuresand highlights covering all the activity. Smartphone users everywhere can download the PlayGo app from the Google Play store or Apple Store and watch the games no matter where they are. This puts the control in the viewers’ hands, allowing them to determine how and when they want to experience the games.
of my skating costumes,” Nagasu said on a conference call in January. “She also, like Michelle’s mom, sewed sequins on one by one and I would complain that they were not as shiny as the rocky crystals because we got ours at Target and Michael‘s.” Nagasu says that while in general she turns to comedy and laughter to reduce pressure at big events like the Olympics, overcoming the heartbreak of missing the Sochi team was tough. “I was very upset for a very long time. But I changed myself and became a better skater,” she told the conference call. “I honestly don’t think that I would have worked as hard on the triple Axel if I didn’t have that time to really contemplate.” Unfortunately, her parents weren’t there to see her make
Mirai Nagasu helped the United States take its second straight bronze medal in the team skate event. (AP) history. Nagasu has said that her sushi chef father rarely had the chance to see her skate because he almost never closed his restaurant, and now is no different.
“Three weeks is a long time, especially to leave work,” she said. “They’re only coming for the last week but I‘m sure they’re home now watching it. I can’t wait to see them.”
NBA roundup: James, retooled Cavs roll in Boston FIELD LEVEL MEDIA On the day the Celtics retired Paul Pierce’s number, LeBron James stole the spotlight, leading the new-look Cleveland Cavaliers to a 121-99 victory against former teammate Kyrie Irving and host Boston on Sunday. James had 24 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. Cleveland was playing its first game with a full squad after making a series of deadline-day trades to retool its roster, with George Hill, Rodney Hood, Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. all making their Cavs debuts. Clarkson finished with 17 points while Hood and J.R. Smith each added 15. Hill had 12 and Nance chipped in five to help the Cavs to a second straight win. Irving led the Celtics with 18 points and five assists. Marcus Morris was the only other player in double figures with 17 for Boston, which dropped its second straight. Rockets 104, Mavericks 97 Chris Paul guided host Houston to a victory over undermanned Dallas. Paul finished with 25 points, eight rebounds, nine assists and three steals, providing the spark down the stretch of the third quarter that enabled the Rockets to extend their winning streak to eight games. James Harden added 27 points, six rebounds and five assists, and Clint Capela posted a double-double (16 points, 11 boards) for Houston. The Mavericks left Dirk Nowitzki, Wesley Matthews and J.J. Barea back in Dallas following their home triumph over the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night. They re-
ceived 20 points from Yogi Ferrell and a 18 points and 12 rebounds from Dwight Powell. Thunder 110, Grizzlies 92 Paul George amassed 33 points, eight assists and three steals as short-handed Oklahoma City routed visiting Memphis. George helped the Thunder win without Russell Westbrook (sprained left ankle) and forward Carmelo Anthony (sprained right ankle), who missed each missed a second consecutive game. Marc Gasol led the Grizzlies with 18 points, but Memphis dropped its sixth straight. Raptors 123, Hornets 103 DeMar DeRozan scored 25 points and visiting Toronto wore out travel-weary Charlotte. CJ Miles posted 24 points off the bench and Jonas Valanciunas supplied 21 points for Toronto, which shot 56.3 percent from the field. The Raptors won their fifth game in a row, though the other four came at home. The Hornets had returned home Saturday morning after finishing a four-game West Coast trip with Friday night’s loss at Utah. A night earlier, they lost in overtime at Portland. Charlotte lost its fourth game in a row Sunday despite 23 points from Kemba Walker and 17 points and 13 rebounds from Dwight Howard. Timberwolves 111, Kings 106 Karl-Anthony Towns’ 22footer broke a late tie, and Minnesota went onto beat Sacramento in Minneapolis for its 13th consecutive home win. Towns led all scorers with 29 points for the Timberwolves, who snapped a two-game los-
ing streak. Jimmy Butler added 18 points, and Andrew Wiggins added 16 points to go with eight rebounds for Minnesota. Rookie De’Aaron Fox had 23 points for the Kings, who lost for the fourth time in five games. Hawks 118, Pistons 115 Dewayne Dedmon converted a three-point play that gave Atlanta a late lead and then knocked down a clutch 3pointer to help the Hawks beat visiting Detroit. Atlanta was down 107-104 with 2:24 play but mounted an 8-0 run, fueled by Dedmon, to take the lead. Dedmon grabbed an offensive rebound, hit a layup and made the ensuing free throw that put the Hawks in front. He followed with a 3pointer from the right wing as the shot clock was winding down on Atlanta’s next possession that put the Hawks up 112107. Dennis Schroder scored 23 points and went 6-for-6 from the foul line in the final seconds to seal the win for Atlanta. Dedmon finished with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Andre Drummond scored 25 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, and Reggie Bullock added 20 points for the Pistons, who have dropped two straight. Pacers 121, Knicks 113 Victor Oladipo scored 30 points to lead Indiana past New York in Indianapolis. Oladipo added nine assists and eight rebounds to go along with six steals. Bojan Bogdanovic had 20 points, and Thaddeus Young delivered a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Pacers.
Tuesday February 13, 2018
Khouri returned as GKF President following Biennial General Meeting Amir Khouri was returned as President of the Guyana Karate Federation (GKA) when the body held its Biennial General Meeting on Sunday afternoon last at the YMCA, Thomas Lands. Affiliated Associations attending the meeting were the Association do Shotokan Karate – Guyana (YMCA Dojo), Shotokan
Karate-Do of Guyana (Shokoguy\National Park Dojo), Berbice Shotokan Karate Dojo, National Martial Arts Association, National Shito-Ryu Karate Association and 3 Ryu Karate Club. The other members of the executive elected to serve for the next two (2) years are Roger Peroune First Vice President, Keith
B e a t o n – S e c o n d Vi c e President, Ms. Bernice Irving – Secretary, William Grant – Treasurer and Bhagwandin Persaud who will serve as Assistant Secretary/Treasurer. Performing duties as the Returning Officer was Former GOA Secretary General and now an Honorary Member of the body, Ivor O’Brien.
The new GKA Executive from right, Amir Khouri, Roger Peroune, Keith Beaton, Ivor O’Brien (Returning Officer),Ms. Bernice Irving and Bhagwandin Persaud.
Snatchers FC, Tabatinga FC, Guyana Rush Saints triumph Snatchers FC, Tabatinga FC and Guyana Rush Saints registered victories when the Rupununi Football Association (RFA) Champions league commenced recently at the Wadapna Centre ground, Lethem with four matches.
In the male division Snatchers FC beat Guyana Rush Saints 1-0, while Tabatinga FC and Gladiators FC played a 2-2 draw. In the female category, Tabatinga FC defeated Gladiators 2-1 and Guyana Rush Saints over-
came Snatchers 3-0.As the competition continues the RFA executive is seeking assistance to offset expenses in hosting the matches and anyone willing to assist can make deposits at Republic Bank account no. 695-538-9.
Ice Hockey: Korea fall to Sweden amid more unity displays GANGNEUNG, South Korea (Reuters) - Korea’s unified women’s Olympic hockey team suffered their second lop-sided defeat yesterday, as seven different players scored to lift Sweden to an 8-0 win on another night of jubilant displays of goodwill between the two Koreas. While the scoreboard may not have suggested it, the Korean squad gave their fans far more to cheer about than during their pummeling by Switzerland in their Pyeongchang Games opener, with extended stretches of pressure and a number of quality scoring opportunities. If anything, the crowd energy was even more electric than at Saturday’s game, an 8-0 loss to the Swiss, attended by South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s younger sister Kim Yo Jong. The Pyeongchang games have become a focal point of renewed diplomacy between the two Koreas, technically still at war after a 1953 armi-
stice. Chants of “We are one” echoed around the crowd of 4,244 at the Kwandong Hockey Centre. The spectators cheered loud and often for the Korean team, with roars of “Let’s go!” and “Good job!” in unison erupting regularly throughout.The festive atmosphere did nothing to slow down the Swedes on the ice, however. Maja Nylen Persson put Sweden up 1-0 with a powerplay goal in the first period. They added three more by goals by the end of the first period to carry a 4-0 lead into the intermission.Korea had early chances too, with Randi Heesoo Griffin and Park Yoonjung - both raised in the United States - getting quality shots in on Sweden’s Sarah Grahn. Pernilla Winberg made it 5-0, charging in on the left wing and lifting the puck o v e r S h i n ’s r i g h t l e g
PAGE 31
Kaieteur News
pad.But the Koreans pushed back later in the period, bringing persistent pressure during a pair of powerplays. The Swedes poured it on again in the third period, adding three more from Emma Nordin, Rebecca Steinberg and another from Winberg. As on Saturday, Korea coach Sarah Murray played just three North Koreans - Kim Un Hyang, Hwang Chung Gum and Ryo Song Hui. For a second straight game, North Korea’s official cheerleading team was in attendance, decked out in red snow suits and red and white beanies. “The North Korean beauties have come,” one South Korean spectator said. The Koreans next face their biggest Asian rivals Japan on Wednesday to conclude preliminary round play in the Olympic tournament. Japan fell in a 3-1 loss to Switzerland earlier on Monday, and both teams are 0-2 in Olympic play.
First century scored in Upper Corentyne Inter Primary School cricket competition -NO56 hammer rivals to advance to final stages The first century was scored in the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA) Inter Primary School cricket competition when play in the third and final zones was completed on Friday last. The day’s action which was for NO56, NO51 and No48 Primaries was played at the No51 Ground. The competition is sponsored by Davendra Ramgoolam of R and R Auto Rental Services of the Upper Corentyne. The teams have been divided into three zones/ clusters with each cluster playing on a separate Friday. In the two games that were played, NO56 primary made light work of their rivals to advance to the final stage. In the first game between No48 and No56 Primaries, NO56 was asked to bat first and bludgeoned their
opponents bowling to reach 154-5 from their 10 overs. Marvin Mohabir led the way with a swashbuckling 111. The hard-hitting batsman was merciless as he clobbered (15x4, 5x6). NO48 were bundled out for 52 to lose by 102 runs. In the final, No56 Primary asked No51 Primary to bat first and restricted them to 70 with Orlando 22(3x4, 1x6), Jeffery 15(2x4) and Randy 13(1x4) being their top scorers. NO 56 in reply reached 716 to win by four wickets with Shawn scoring 27. At the end of the day’s competition all the players were presented with exercise books, pencils and pens. The school received reading material, all compliments of Hilbert Foster CEO of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club MS. NO 56 Primary has now
joined Massiah Primary from Group two and Skeldon Primary from Group one to the grand final slated for this Friday at the Crabwood Creek Ground. At the end of the competition the winning team will receive $15,000 gift voucher, while the runner up will collect $10,000. These will go to the players to purchase stationary and school supplies. The winning and runner up trophies will go to the respective schools. There will also be trophies and other incentives for the outstanding individual players. The competition is being coordinated by the UCCA Competitions committee which is led by former national wicketkeeper batsman Sydney Jackman. (Samuel Whyte)
Report: NBC removes Ramo from Olympics coverage after Japan and Korea remarks Yahoo Sports - Just two days after NBC analyst Joshua Cooper Ramo’s incredibly questionable comments about the relationship between Japan and Korea during the parade of nations, it appears that his time as a Winter Olympics commentator is over. The Korea Times is reporting that Ramo has been removed from his role as Olympics commentator, according to an “NBC Sports spokesperson” who refused to be named.“It was possible for him to do more with us here; now it is no longer possible,” the official said. As Japan entered PyeongChang Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony on Friday, Ramo said
“every Korean will tell you that Japan is a cultural and technological and economic example that has been so important to their own transformation.” This set off a firestorm of criticism from Koreans around the world, many who pointed out that Japan brutally occupied Korea from 1910 to 1945, which led to untold suffering and the country splitting into to two parts. That split gave us North Korea and South Korea, and a long history of conflict between the nations that continues to this day. NBC officially apologized on Saturday, having anchor Carolyn Manno read a statement on the air. The statement specifically apologized to Ko-
reans who had been “insulted” by Ramo’s comments. The unnamed NBC Sports official told the Korea Times that NBC also sent a letter of apology to the PyeongChang Organizing Committee. Ramo, who is the co-CEO of consulting firm Kissinger Associates, has worked one other Olympics with NBC. He was added to the opening ceremony team of Mike Tirico and Katie Couric as an Asia expert, to help introduce viewers to an area of the world that might be unfamiliar to them. Instead, his comments angered a number of people, as well as the country hosting the Olympic Games. Ramo himself has yet to apologize for his remarks.
Sharapova knocked out of Qatar opener by Niculescu (Reuters) - Maria Sharapova looked out of sorts after surrendering an early advantage as she was stunned 4-6 6-4 6-3 by Romanian qualifier Monica Niculescu in the Qatar Open first round yesterday. Wild card Sharapova, playing in Doha for the first time since 2013, looked on course for victory after taking the first set but struggled to carry forward the momentum against a determined opponent and crashed out after two hours 38 minutes. Five-times grand slam
winner Sharapova was not helped by 11 double faults and 52 unforced errors while her opponent, who fired 12 winners, grew in confidence as the contest went on.Qualifier Niculescu, who used her slices to good effect and converted six out of seven break points in the match to oust Russian Sharapova, will take on Wimbledon semi-finalist Magdalena Rybarikova or local wild card Fatma Al Nabhani next. E a r l i e r, Dominika Cibulkova rallied past R u s s i a ’s Anastasia
Pavlyuchenkova 7-6(8) 6-4 as she progressed to a second round meeting with F r a n c e ’s s e v e n t h s e e d Caroline Garcia. R o m a n i a ’s M i h a e l a Buzarnescu eased past Lesia Tsurenko to set up a clash with sixth-seeded French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, while American qualifier CiCi Bellis advanced after Daria Kasatkina pulled out of their opener with an injury. Russians Ekaterina Makarova and Anna Blinkova aslo reached the second round.
PAGE 32
Kaieteur News
Tuesday February 13, 2018
Regional Super50 Festival
Barnwell, Hemraj lead Jaguars to fourth win as USA go down by seven wickets By Sean Devers in Antigua In association with Vnet Communications, Bounty Farm, Noble House Seafoods & Playter’s Enterprise A fine all-round performance from 31-year-old Chris Barnwell and an aggressive 64 from 24-year-old Chanderpaul Hemraj powered Guyana Jaguars to an emphatic seven-wicket win against the USA at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium yesterday to register their fourth win in six matches. Barnwell, back in the team to replace Reifer, bowled brilliantly to take 4-35 from eight overs, while Kemo Paul and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul captured two wickets each as the USA were bowled in 43.1 overs despite a carefully constructed 80 from 118 balls from Jaskaran Malhotra. But only former West Indies batsman, Jamaican Xavier Marshall (19) and Adil Bhatti (17) of the other batsmen reached double figures on a slow track and spongy outfield.Jaguars led by a 109run second wicket stand between Hemraj and the experienced Shiv Chanderpaul (39) and unbeaten knocks of 19 each from Skipper Leon Johnson and Barnwell, reached 150-3 to take a bonus point. West Indies batsman Shimron (5) was caught behind off left-arm pacer Saurabh Netravalkar before Hemraj and Chanderpaul joined forces, with Hemraj going after the bowling and
Xavier Marshall is bowled by a perfect Yorker from Barnwell.
Chanderpaul playing the supporting role. Chanderpaul, looking to accelerate after a cautious start, was next to go when he hit medium pacer Roy Silva to long-on at 94-2.Just after reaching his maiden fifty in this format Hemraj, who faced just 59 balls in his explosive 64, was taken at slip off of Tamil Patel at 114-3.Barnwell joined Leon Johnson and Barnwell belted the ball to parts of the ground before finishing the game with his second six.Earlier, after a 30minute late start due to seepage under the covers from early morning rain, Jaguars won the toss and invited the USA to bat in glorious sun-
shine but after one over; bowled Kemo Paul and with the USA on 1-0 the Umpires stopped play. And after lengthy discussions on the pitch between the Umpires and the Match Referee, the roller was summoned to roll a soft area on the pitch after the Jaguars team and the American openers had left the field.As soon as the repairs to pitch had been completed, a slight shower retuned and the Pitch was again covered.Play resumed at 11:00hrs and the overs were reduced to 44 and Sunny Sohal (1) was bowled by the 19-year-old Sherfane Rutherford in the second over with the score on one.
The 31-year-old Marshall and Malhotra added 39 for the second before Marshall, whose 44-ball 19 included a dismissive straight six off of Rutherford, was bowled by Barnwell who got both ways movement off the seam. The next three batsmen: Mrunal Patel, Skipper Ibrahim Khaleel and Roy Silva were all sent packing before they had scored and the USA were in a deep hole from which they never got out of as the Guyanese bowlers kept the shackles on the batsmen in a very strong breeze.Malhotra, who got going by pulling Paul for four, added 32 with Adil Bhatti (17), the only other batsman to reach double fig-
Jaskaran Malholtra hits Christopher Barnwell back during his 80 yesterday.
ures, before Bhatti was run out at 107 after Malhotra had reached his 50 from 86 balls.Malhotra and the big hitting Jamaica Elmore Hutchinson (9) took the score to 133 as Malhotra stepped on the gas towards the end of his innings before being taken at long-on by Barnwell, going after Devendra Bishoo at 141-9.Paul finished off the
innings by removing Netravalkar (3) brilliantly caught by a diving Hetmyer running in from long-on to end the innings.The Jaguars moved to 18 points with two matches to go and will play the Leewards Hurricanes in a day/night game tomorrow after the Hurricanes lost to Scorpions last night at Coolidge.=
Tuesday February 13, 2018
PAGE 33
Kaieteur News
Pride knock Red Force off top spot with convincing win BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Barbados Pride disposed of Trinidad and Tobago Red Force by 32 runs here late Sunday night, to complete the preliminary round double over their archrivals and return to the top of Group A in the Regional Super50. Choosing to bat first in a key day/night encounter at Kensington Oval, Pride were held to 235 for seven off their 50 overs, with Roston Chase stroking 46 and Shai Hope getting 45. Captain Kraigg Brathwaite gathered 34, allrounder Jason Holder struck 32 while Carlos Brathwaite chipped in with 31 and Jonathan Carter, 30. Fast bowler Shannon Gabriel led the Red Force attack with two for 43 while West Indies off-spinner Sunil Narine produced a miserly 10over spell which cost just 33 runs, and kept the brakes on the Pride scoring. Red Force, however, failed to make the most of a straightforward run chase and were
dismissed for 203 in the 49th over. Isaiah Rajah top-scored with 39 on his regional oneday debut while Imran Khan struck 33 and tail-ender Sheldon Cottrell, 30, but the visitors were always under pressure once they crashed to 127 for eight in the 37th over. Holder was excellent with the new ball, grabbing the first three wickets to fall to end with four for 38 while partner Kemar Roach finished with two or 34. The victory for the hosts was their second over Red Force in the competition following the opening day result, and it moved them to 23 points while Red Force remaining on 23 in second. Pride lost Kevin Stoute cheaply for five in the in the fifth over but Kraigg Brathwaite and Hope rallied the innings in a 53-run, second wicket stand. Brathwaite had faced 53 balls and struck five fours when he was caught at backward point off left-arm spin-
ner Khary Pierre but Hope added a further 47 for the third with Carter, to keep Pride going. Hope notched four boundaries in an 80-ball knock while Carter faced 46 deliveries and struck two fours, but both fell within close proximity of each other to leave Pride on 138 for four in the 35th over. Holder then featured in two key stands to get Pride up to their eventual score. The Windies Test and one-day captain first put on 35 for the fifth wicket with Chase who hit six fours and a six in a brisk 41-ball innings. Then, Holder helped forge a 53-run, sixth wicket stand off 47 balls with Carlos Brathwaite who belted two fours and a six in his 28-ball knock. Red Force endured a timid start to their run chase, slipping to 34 for three in the eighth as Tion Webster (10), Amir Jangoo (15) and captain Denesh Ramdin (3) all fell cheaply. Webster brushed a legside pull at Holder and was
Milo Schools’ Football tournament resumes after rain delay Omari Glasgow strikes four goals for Annandale Secondary yesterday Following inclement weather that forced last weekend’s play to be postponed, the 2018 Milo schools’ under-18 football tournament continued yesterday afternoon at the Ministry of Education (MOE) ground with three matches. In the first match which begun at 16:30hrs, Annandale Secondary added to the woes of the Caramel Secondary school team with a 10-1 drubbing. The East Coast based Annandale were led by Omari Glasgow who netted four goals in the rout after his
team-mate Marick Alli had given the side a early lead when he netted in the fifth minute. Jemar Robinson and Troni Semple were very much a part of the action and the duo netted double goals for Annandale, while Trevor Fiffee etched his named into the scoresheet with a solitary strike in the 29th minute. After Annandale had already plundered 10 goals, Darren Niles scored a penalty in the 63rd minute of the 70 minutes match to add consolation to Caramel’s cause. Caramel were also on the
receiving end of a 12-0 drubbing from three-time defending champions Chase’s Academic Foundation during the opening day of the tournament which is also being sponsored by the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) through the theme: “There is no excuse for violence.” Up to press time, Chase were 2-0 up against a battling performance from Friendship Secondary. The results of that game and the final fixture from yesterday’s play will be featured in tomorrow’s issue of Kaieteur Sport. (Calvin Chapman)
caught at the wicket by Hope, Jangoo lobbed a simple catch to Stoute at mid-on while Ramdin was lbw to one which came back a fraction. The innings was then propped up by a 58-run, fourth wicket stand between Rajah and Pooran, but the partnership was a slow one requiring 113 deliveries. When Pooran wafted at a widish one from Carlos Brathwaite and nicked a catch behind, Red Force were languishing on 92 for four at the end of the 26th over. His dismissal triggered a slide that saw five wickets tumble for 35 runs, and which left Pride in command of the contest. Imran Khan and Cottrell produced a rearguard effort in adding 59 for the ninth wicket but by the time Cottrell departed in 47th over, the required run rate had climbed to well over 12 an over, leaving Red Force needing a miracle which never came. Scores: PRIDE 235 for seven of 50 overs (Roston
All-rounder Carlos Brathwaite paddle-sweeps during his score of 31 against Red Force at Kensington Oval on Sunday. (Photo courtesy CWI Media) Chase 46, Shai Hope 45, Kraigg Brathwaite 34, Jason Holder 32, Carlos Brathwaite 31, Jonathan Carter 30; Shannon Gabriel 2-43).
RED FORCE 203 off 48.4 overs (Isiah Rajah 39, Imran Khan 33, Sheldon Cottrell 30, Nicholas Pooran 29; Jason Holder 4-38, Sulieman Benn 2-28).
CSA investigating racial abuse towards Tahir ESPNcricinfo - Cricket South Africa and the security team at the Wanderers are investigating an incident of racial abuse directed towards Imran Tahir during the pink ODI on Saturday. According to CSA, Tahir was “verbally and racially abused by an unknown man” in the crowd. He reported the incident to stadium security, who then escorted Tahir to identify the man and eject him from the stadium. A grainy video has emerged on Facebook, taken from the stands, which shows Tahir talking to fans. The only words that could be made out from Tahir was him saying “I have family too”. Several spectators could be heard accusing him of being a bad sports-
Imran Tahir is ecstatic after taking a wicket, New Zealand v South Africa, one-off T20I, Auckland, February 17, 2017 ©AFP man. CSA said they are “aware of the circulation of video footage,” and that Tahir “made no physical contact with the offender or any of the
children in the vicinity.” Racism goes against the ICC’s code of conduct and spectators can face further sanctions and criminal prosecution if found guilty.
France rugby players questioned after sex assault claim
Annandale secondary goal scorers, from left, Jemar Robinson, Troni Semple, Trevor Fiffee adnd Omari Glasgow.
BBC News - A number of France rugby players have been questioned by police at Edinburgh Airport after a report of a sexual assault during a night out in the capital at the weekend. In a Tweet the French Rugby Union confirmed some players have been spoken to by the Scottish authorities. Police Scotland said inquiries had established no
crime had been committed and no arrests were made. A report of sexual assault was made in the early hours of yesterday.The French rugby team’s plane was delayed during the questioning.It follows their defeat to Scotland in the Six Nations on Sunday. The team’s chartered Jet2 flight to Paris Orly was due to leave at 11:00 but left two
hours later. A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Following an initial report of sexual assault in Edinburgh city centre during the early hours of Monday 12 February, police conducted various lines of inquiry, including speaking to a number of potential witnesses. “These inquiries have established that no crime has been committed.”
PAGE 34
Tuesday February 13, 2018
Kaieteur News
GFF/Pele Alumini Frank Watson U15 League – Bartica FA kick off
Potaro Strikers and Rising Stars win on 20-goal opening day The Bartica Football Association (BFA) leg of the GFF/Pele Alumini Frank Watson U15 Intra Association League kicked off on Saturday last at the Bartica Secondary School ground with two matches. Potaro Strikers wasted little time in claiming full points from Beacons in the first match of the league romp-
ing to an 8-2 win. They were led to victory by national Under-15 player Kevin Reddy who blasted the nets in the 15th, 19th, 40th, 56th and 61st minutes. Kyle Caesar in the 24th minute and Kevon Hendricks in the 47th minute netted for Beacon in a losing cause. Rising Stars were in equally dismissive mood
Demerara based businessmen support Kendall’s Union SC
when they took on Lazio in the feature match which they won by a huge 10-0 margin. Rocking the nets for the winners were Keenan Harper in the 2nd, 11th, 28th, 41st and 65th minutes. Ian Gomes was on target in the 19th, 21st and 34th minutes, while there were one each for Tyrese Gomes in the 23rd and Marcus McKenzie in the 48th minute.
Potaro Strikers goal scorers. Albert Boodhoo (left) accepts the donation from Anil Beharry in the presence of players of KUSC. In a kind gesture, five Demerara based businessmen provided support for the Kendall’s Union Sports Club located on the Lower East Coast, Corentyne, Berbice. The businessmenRamchand Ragbeer of Ramchand Auto Spares, Sheriff Street, Surendra Nauth of Nauth Motor Spares of Sheriff Street, Lalta Gainda of Gainmart, UG Road and Bel Air Rubis, Rickey Deonarain of 4R Bearings, Duncan Street and Dharam Persaud of Ariel Enterprise, Regent Street presented an undisclosed sum of cash to the club recently. The donation will be used to help erect a children’s corner in the No 19 Village Cricket Ground.
The club’s President Albert Budhoo expressed gratitude to the businessmen and this will help to get the youths involved in sports and as a result, he and his executives came up with the idea to locate the project in the cricket ground so as to encourage them not only to play on the slides, swingers etc., but to get involve in love with sports, cricket in particular. Budhoo called on the public to support these businesses so that they can continue to contribute to the development of communities across Guyana. He also thanked Anil Beharry, who was born in the said village and started his cricket there, for his role in soliciting the
funds. Beharry in response, said that he is pleased to be a part of this very important project and thanked his Floodlights teammates for readily coming on board. He added that he is always connected to the village of his birth and commended Budhoo and his executive for this initiative. Beharry, who served as an executive member on the Berbice Cricket Board for a number of years, called on overseas based residents of the area, private citizens and Corporate Guyana to come on board and make the project a reality adding that such ventures always carries a positive impact on the society.
Entries coming in for Guyana Association of Women Police horserace meet
Marcus McKenzie (right), Tyrese Gomes, Ian Gomes and Keenan Harper – Rising Stars FC.
Skater Ireen Wust breaks records with 1500m gold BBC Sport - Ireen Wust became the most successful Dutch Olympian of all time as she won the women’s 1500m speed skating title at the Pyeongchang Games. It was her 10th Games medal which also meant she became the most successful Olympic speed skater. The 31-year-old posted a time of one minute 54.35 seconds but had to wait for six more skaters to race before she could celebrate. Japan’s Miho Takagi took silver and the Netherlands’
Marrit Leenstra was third. USA’s Brittany Bowe had set a competitive 1:55.54 that appeared hard to beat until Wust took to the ice. Wust paced her duel with Canada’s Brianne Tutt to perfection before pressing in the final 400m to post her quick time.World Cup winner Takagi was in the last pairing and looked on course to pinch the gold from Wust, but the Japanese skater faded in the closing metres. Wust’s gold was the fifth of her Olympics career and her
10th medal overall - one more than Germany’s Claudia Pechstein, who held the speed skating record, and also former Dutch equestrian rider Anky van Grunsven. The champion said: “It’s incredible. It’s 12 years since my first gold medal in Turin (2006 Games), my fifth gold medal, my 10th Olympic medal. “I started my own team three years ago with only one goal, win the gold in the Olympics again. It worked out this way and it’s incredible.”
Entries have been rolling in as Turfites and horseracing fans get excited to hear that the Port Mourant Turf Club in collaboration with the Guyana Association of Women Police has set the third edition of their grand one-day horserace meet for Sunday 25th February. The meet will have a total of seven races with total cash prize purse of almost $2million on offer.The G class and lower will be the feature race of the day, being competed over a distance of eight furlongs with a 1st place cash prize of
$350,000. The J class and lower which will be run over a distance of seven furlongs will attract a 1st place cash prize of $200,000, while the K class and lower and the L class open that will both be raced over a distance of six furlongs have been set 1st place cash prizes of $160,000 and $140,000 respectively. Meanwhile, the L class division 2 and the unclassified will both be battled over a distance of five furlongs with their respective 1st place cash prizes being $100,000 and
$90,000. Coordinator Compton Sancho has informed that the racetrack is in good competition already some 45 racehorses have been entered. The rules of the Port Mourant Turf Club will be in effect at the meet. For more information, coordinator Campton Sancho can be contacted on telephone number 691-1174. The Chairman of the Guyana Association of Women Police is Superintendent Yonette Stephens, while the Secretary in Inspector Althea Solomon.
Lewis Tapeball set for February 25 at NCC Tarmac Sports Organiser James Lewis and his team UN Entertainment will be hosting a 48th Republic Anniversary knockout Tapeball competition on February 25 at the National Cultural Centre tarmac starting at 09:00hrs. The competition is open to all Ministries and Government agency teams and at stake are trophies, medals and cash incentives for the winning and runner up teams. Entries will be closed on February 21 and teams can contact Lewis on 628-1656 or 666-5857. Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry Junior Staff will be hosting a knockout dominoes competition on February 16 at the Ministry’s parking lot starting at 16:30hrs. Teams have until tomorrow to register and no late entries will be accepted. At stake are trophies, medals and cash incentives; teams can contact Lewis for registration.