Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News

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Friday February 16, 2018

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

A Vision Deferred

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s we get ready to celebrate Mashramani in Guyana, we must remember the contributions of its two outstanding leaders, the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham. Both had aspirations of leading Guyanese to the promise land. However, that responsibility fell on Burnham. In October 1963, the British government ordered the electoral system in then British Guiana be changed from first-past-the-post to proportional representation and that new elections be held under the system in 1964. Unfortunately, Dr. Jagan’s party did not win the plurality of the votes; as a result, he was deprived of his aspirations that would have laid the foundations for the flowering of Guyana. Forbes Burnham became the Premier and led Guyana to independence on May 26, 1966 and to the first Cooperative Republic in the world on February 23, 1970. As Prime Minister, Forbes Burnham told the nation of his government’s goal to end racism, unite the races and develop the country. With characteristic modesty, many have grossly underestimated his achievement and those of the generation he led. In his development plan, Burnham created a blueprint for the industrialisation, diversification and expansion of Guyana’s economy. By the mid-1970s, he expanded the agriculture, manufacturing, mining and tourism sectors. Under Burnham’s leadership, education was revolutionised with free tertiary education and the doubling of the enrolment in high schools throughout the country. The modernisation of the curriculum in technical schools provided the skilled labour required in the manufacturing and mining sectors. The nationalisation of the bauxite and sugar companies increased the rate of earnings from the sectors for a short period which was known as the “golden age.” The trade deficit was eliminated and Guyana became an economically viable nation. The dynamism of economic growth and social policies including the creation of the Agricultural School and the Common Entrance Examination pulled many out of poverty and ignorance. Despite such unprecedented progress, Burnham was keenly aware that too many had been left behind, and the wealth had been concentrated in too few hands. His deepest regret was his failure to develop rural Guyana with a radical land reform programme as the basis for diversifying the economy. The collapse of the sugar and bauxite industries had lowered production and a reduction of foreign currency earnings. Guyana had to virtually depend on rice and small scale farming for foreign currency earnings and to boost the economy. Forbes Burnham realised that in order for Guyana to develop, the people must have access to land, credit, technology, and markets, thus making agriculture the centerpiece of development. Despite his passion and pioneering spirit, agriculture production grew by only 2.3 percent. Unfortunately, rural migration accelerated due to the creation of jobs in the cities, thus ending his agricultural revolution.However, there were some achievements due his programme to feed, house and clothe the nation. A sound constitutional and political order and a functional democracy were established even though some claimed that elections were rigged. In this period, our cultural, social and political life had a vibrancy second to none and has caught the attention of our neighbours in the Caribbean and beyond.Many believe that the Forbes Burnham government had carved out a place for Guyana in the international community with its pivotal role in the Non-Aligned Movement. While no one could deny Burnham’s quest for justice, equality and social rights, and his drive for higher education and modernisation, yet, today, 50 years after independence, poverty has risen and the economy is struggling. In terms of education, we are leaving behind some 50 percent of school-leaving cohorts without adequate certification to further their education and become productive citizens.We cannot be complacent, nor can we, as his political heirs give up on his vision of nationhood.

Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.

The Ogle Airport Inc. saga DEAR EDITOR, It is with some interest that I am following the saga involving Ogle Airport Inc. (OAI) and the monopoly position that is occupied by one family. What is happening is a failure of the trust, powered by greed. My understanding of the evolution of OAI revolves around what I described as one of the progressive experiments in public-private partnerships. Five operators who

benefited from the generosity of the state, through the use of the Ogle aerodrome, would form themselves into a company, and that company would have the facility to develop for the benefit of these operators and the industry as a whole. The state provided the land through a lease at peppercorn rent and the state also on-lent a two million Euro EU facility to the OAI, interest-free. In addition, the state invested millions of

dollars in equipment necessary for the proper operation of the airport. How one family has dominated the business activities and grown to have virtually total control of the Ogle Airport is a matter for the partners, who were all outmaneuvered. Government trusted that the spirit of the initial pact would be honoured. I also feel that the original partners operated with a great amount of trust among themselves. (Continued on page 5)

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Councillor Duncan’s arguments are unreasonable, inaccurate and misleading DEAR EDITOR, I refer to a letter which appeared in your newspaper issue of Wednesday February 14, 2018 headlined: “Royston King is bigger than the City Council” by Councillor, Sherod Duncan. Had it not been for the huge potential of this letter to mislead the public, I would have ignored this grossly inaccurate piece. However, my obligation to ensure that citizens are kept accurately and truthfully informed on all matters and issues at City Hall has influenced my response to his letter. Although I have the highest respect for the honourable Councillor, Sherod Duncan, I have to say that he has once again demonstrated a woeful lack of knowledge on the laws, by-laws, regulations, policies and rules that govern the specific and general operations of the Mayor and City Council. He has demonstrated this lack in his arguments on two matters - rights and privileges to Councillor Akeem Peter, who was elected to chair the last statutory meeting, and the extant circumstance surrounding a portion of land belonging to the council situate in the Bel Air Park. I shall now examine both matters. At the last statutory meet-

ing of the Council held Monday February 12, 2018, I announced to the Council that Her Worship, the Mayor of Georgetown, Mrs. Patricia Chase-Green and the Deputy Mayor, Mr. Lionel Jaikaran were out of the jurisdiction. I informed Councillors present that according to the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01: 17 (1) “During any period when the Mayor is for any reason unable to perform the functions of his office, those functions shall be assumed and performed by the Deputy Mayor. (2) If the Deputy Mayor is for any reason unable to perform the functions of the office of Mayor in accordance with subsection (1), The Town Clerk shall call a meeting of the councillors to elect a councillor to perform those functions; and the councillor so elected shall assume and perform those functions until such time as the Mayor or Deputy Mayor, as the case may be, is able to act. (5) In the event of the Deputy Mayor or a councillor performing the functions of the office of Mayor for seven consecutive days or more, the Deputy Mayor or councillor, as the case may be, shall, during such period, have at his disposal, in lieu of the Mayor, the funds placed

at the disposal of the said office in the manner specified for the payment of such funds.” I then asked councillors present, at that meeting, to nominate and elect a councillor to chair the proceedings of that Statutory Meeting. Honourable Councillor Akeem Peter was elected to chair that Statutory Meeting. Distilling the elements of what the councillor is attempting to make an issue, I wish to make the following points: (a) Councillor Akeem Peter was not elected Acting Mayor or to perform the functions of Mayor; he was elected to chair the proceedings of that statutory meeting of Monday, February 12, 2018. (b) There is no provision in the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01 for an acting mayor; in the event the Mayor is unable to carry out her functions, the Deputy Mayor or the councilor so elected must carry out the duties of Mayor. (c) The Deputy Mayor or the Councillor elected to carry out the duties of the Mayor must perform those functions for seven consecutive days or more before he or she is accorded the facilities assigned to the Office (Cotninued on page 6)

From page 4 Warning signals went unheeded; the challenges of one of the largest operators and its public spat with OAI are well documented in the media. The concerns of emerging operators who cannot have accommodation are also made public. In all of this, the state has a responsibility to ensure that OAI stays faithful to the spirit and letter of its agreement with the state. When the state makes concessions to allow businesses to grow and to power larger economic growth, it does so because it does not want to burden Guyanese businesses with huge, unaffordable initial capital outlays. To acquire that amount of land, and the investment in buildings and instruments, would have cost OAI more

than fifty million US dollars. These peppercorn leases were never intended to allow the lessee to extort huge supernormal profits by leasing at astronomical rents to others. Thus, the state has a provision that the lessee must have the state’s approval to sublet to others. If a citizen gets a house lot and wants sell it before x amount of years, the house lot owner/buyer has to pay a penalty to the state. I know that an element of market value is applied in calculating this penalty. I want to advance a formula to the Lands and Surveys Commission/ Ministry of Public Infrastructure where subletting at Ogle is concerned. Let OAI pay an annual processing fee for the subletted portions. The annual processing fee would

equal:– Proposed subletting rent per acre less (-) annual lease rental of $6 This way any exorbitant rental fee would come to the state. In addition, the state has to be concerned with maintaining a competitive market economy and guard against monopolies. We have to ensure that the smaller firms in any industry are not challenged with predatory practices. While we still have a long way to go to set and police general principles, we must deal condignly with the specific case that emerges. Moral suasion, while not a panacea, could be a mechanism to start with. Yours Sincerely, Manzoor Nadir

T he Og le Air por ... Ogle Airpor portt Inc Inc...

Three interrelated events DEAR EDITOR, I am writing on three interrelated events: namely the recent execution-type killing of a Guyanese man of Amerindian descent on the Guyana/Venezuela border, allegedly by the notorious gang known as El sindicato; the ongoing border controversy with Venezuela, and the two percent royalty which forms part of the contract between the government of Guyana; and oil giant Exxon Mobil, and which, has since become a great source of discontentment. In so doing, I will attempt to be as concise and succinct as possible, as space does not allow for definitive consideration. Crimes with Political

Aura:Aura is defined as a distinctive atmosphere surrounding a given source, a halo, that which influences, a symptom of, that which accompanies or that which proceeds; aura of authority, aura of influence - hence the term ‘political aura’. Crimes with political aura are not necessarily political crimes in themselves, as they are often carried out by rational non-state actors (criminal groups or gangs) who have over time become radicalized or politicized; and in so doing, seek to advance their own agendas by prosecuting the narrow self-interests of political, military or sectarian groups. (Note the brazen use and

graphic display on social media) which is reminiscent of terrorist (histrionic) attentionseeking behaviour, that is overly dramatic and emotional. It was also reported that Venezuelan outlaws are now living on Guyana’s shores, among Guyanese, and attack them like insurgents.An article published by the Carnegie New Delhi Program and titled ‘Why crime pays in Indian politics’ highlights the nexus between crime and politics in many countries of the world. It is my view, that many of the ghastly acts carried out on the Guyana-Venezuela border, as of late, falls into this (Continued on page 6)

Impediments to Guyana’s Growth – We need to separate our politics from business DEAR EDITOR, As I continue to evaluate the Guyanese society, on this occasion I would like to address the point of ‘impediments to our growth’. Many persons know that I hold a view that Guyana has the potential to become the ‘Singapore of South America’, however, on our way there, we have to make some fundamental changes. One major change has to be, to detangle our business and to some extent, the way we do development from our politics. As a people, we play politics, development and business on the same field, and essentially using the same rules. This is equivalent to playing cricket, basketball and lawn tennis on the same field or court, and applying the same rules. This approach will work to some extent, particularly if you are playing at the local community level, but if we are really aspiring to compete regionally and internationally, we would be required to play by the regional and international rules, particularly as it relates to the

way we do development and business mores. Our politicians have to realise that many of them are not development practitioners, many of them are not business-oriented either (and I am not talking here about buying and selling or a bit of trade, I am talking about serious business intelligence, and they do not have to be either, but they have to allow their thinkers and strategists in these areas to influence their decision-making. Professionals genuinely want to support, but their expertise has to be taken seriously. When politicians mix politics, development and business, politics (power) takes precedence over business and the way development is done. In this context, citizens are too often viewed as voting blocs, to enable that power, as against being viewed as a resource to be developed to contribute towards their individual growth or that of their communities and country. Citizens are the human resource of a country

and its development, and businesses will be as successful as the quality of its human resource (of course along with other factors). Even if our politicians do not wake up, our citizens need to wake up and realize that we are bringing about our own demise in many ways. Many of our citizens must desire to be more than and part of an electorate, but to equip and enable themselves to contribute to the growth of the economy so that Guyana can really be competitive. The time has come for us to seriously detangle our politics from the way we do development and particularly our business. The business sector is a part of an internal SYSTEM that will be more and more influenced by pressures and trends of the wider external SYSTEM where the rules for politics and development and business are becoming more and more different… very different. Yours faithfully, Citizen Audreyanna Thomas

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An attribute of political waywardness and wickedness DEAR EDITOR, As I read the missive penned by Councillor Sherod Duncan in the February 14 Edition of the Kaieteur News, I was deeply saddened. With the advent of long-awaited Local Government Elections, many citizens had great expectations that change would permeate the local government spectrum. Further, that the new breed of Councillor would formulate policies and programmes that would by and large transform local communities and elevate the status of the City. The very content of the letter suggests that there is a deliberate attack on the Offices of the Mayor and Town Clerk. The elections for Mayor and Deputy Mayor are around the corner. Hence, this is a definite political gimmick that seeks to tarnish the reputation of the Mayor and Town Clerk. This highlights the deep political distrust that exists between APNU and the AFC. My question is: why can’t Sherod Duncan sit with his political superiors and address issues in a civilized manner? I am curious, could somebody from the AFC or APNU tell the citizens what the requirements are to select Councillors for Local

Authority bodies? Because evidence before us suggests that the current formula has failed the people of the City. A senior Councillor, who served in the capacity of Mayor and Deputy Mayor, has the temerity to use the newspapers to quarrel for amenities that his colleague did not earn or deserve. I recall the days when Councillors gave their stipend to charity. It is clear that in those days, Councillors understood the meaning of volunteerism and served the city and its citizenry with dignity, diligence and decorum. To publicly attack the Mayor of Georgetown points to the lack of respect and political decorum. Moreover, it is an attribute of political waywardness and wickedness, which would not do well for the political future of Mr. Duncan. Mr Duncan’s missive is a travesty to local government democracy and local government reform. As a citizen I expect to read about the progress of the constituency which Mr. Duncan represents, not about who should benefit from certain amenities. Mortimer Thomside

Three interrelated... From page 5 group of criminal activity, and is directly related to the border controversy, the economic constraints currently facing Venezuela, and heightened oil exploration in Guyana. Background to the Border Controversy: The Guyana-Venezuela border controversy existed for more than half a century before settlement by arbitration, and approximately that same period after settlement .The British commenced discussions with Venezuela in January 1841 and the latter proposed the negotiation of a Treaty of Limits, which should precede the

survey and demarcation of the frontier. In 1843, the Venezuelan Ambassador in London requested the speedy conclusion of a Treaty to define the boundary between Venezuela and British Guiana. Then in a note of the 31 January 1844, he presented the first formal statement of the Venezuelan claim; that the territory of the Republic extended to the Essequibo River. The American government became so engrossed in the conflict that at one point they were prepared to go to war with Great Britain on behalf of Venezuela. It was even rumored internationally that the Ameri-

cans propagated the conflict to prevent the British from being able to access the vast petroleum reserves, which Guyana by then was believed to possess; another theory was that the Americans wanted to use the border controversy to checkmate Guyana for its alignment with the soviet bloc. Oil Jurisprudence: Ownership of oil and gas is a paramount topic in any discussion of petroleum. It is important because it defines the extent of interest and rights that any person, individual or body has in crude oil. Whatever the rationale for Venezuela seeking to annex most of Guyana, one could view the two percent royalty which Guyana has agreed to, as being part of a package with psychic benefits, the other being protection, since Venezuela has stymied the development of Guyana for decades, and Exxon Mobil has been able to keep the Venezuelans in their place so far. Clairmont Featherstone

Friday February 16, 2018

Councillor Duncan’s... From page 5 of the Mayor. This is in keeping with Section 17, subsection (5) of the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01. The Mayor travelled on Wednesday, February 7, 2018. Councillor Akeem Peter was elected on Monday, February 12, 2018 to chair that Statutory Meeting. The Mayor was expected to return to the jurisdiction on Thursday, February 15, 2018. By the time this letter is published, Her Worship, the Mayor of Georgetown would be back in the jurisdiction of the City of Georgetown. Therefore, the arguments of Councillor Sherod Duncan are not only unreasonable and inaccurate, but also seek to encourage the Town Clerk to act above and beyond the guidance provided by the Act on the course of action to be taken when the Mayor and Deputy Mayor are out of the jurisdiction. As Town Clerk I must act only on the basis of legal authority; to do otherwise would amount to an error. In doing so, I must focus only on the considerations spelt out in the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01 and other relevant and related laws and not on extraneous considerations. I cannot exercise discretions that are not accorded to my office by the law, even if an individual or councillor feels otherwise. The second issue is the matter that is engaging the attention of the courts that involves a portion of land owned by the City Council, situated in Bel Air Park. It would be wrong for me to pursue this matter in this reply because it is before the courts. However commenting on my action in relation to it, I would only note that, according to the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01, Section 6, “The City Council may sue and be sued by and in the name of Town Clerk of Georgetown.”

Again, the Sixth Schedule - Powers, Duties and Responsibilities of Certain Officers, Part I The Town Clerk: “(5) Subject to any general directions which the council may give, he shall have the charge and custody of, and be responsible for, all charters, deeds, records and other documents belonging to the council which shall be kept as the council may direct . (6) He shall have the duty of ensuring that the business of the council is carried out with order, regularity and expedition in accordance with the by-laws, resolutions and standing orders of the council. (7) He shall have the responsibility for the general correspondence of the council. (8) Where any document is required as a necessary step in legal proceedings on behalf of the council, he shall sign such document unless any written law otherwise requires or authorizes, or the council shall have given the necessary authority to some other person for the purpose of such proceedings.” Again, under the Act at Section 77: “(1) The Clerk shall be the chief administrative officer of the council of which he is the clerk and shall have the general responsibility of coordinating the whole of the work of the council. (2) In the discharge of the functions of his office the clerk shall have all the powers and duties conferred and imposed upon the clerk by or under this Act or any other law, and, in particular, but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, he shall have the powers and duties assigned to him by and be responsible for the matters specified in Part I of the Sixth Schedule, and such other duties as may be assigned to him by the council of which he is the clerk (3) The clerk or other officer authorized in writing by the clerk may, subject to the general or specific directions of the council, exercise the powers of the council, and all acts done by the clerk or such officer in the exercise of those powers shall be deemed to have been done by the council.” I would also note that similar legal matters were never taken to the Council for decision. Successive Councils understood that it is the responsibility of the Town Clerk to manage the legal arrangements of the Council. Again, there is no precedence in this area of administrative responsibility, at the Mayor and City Council.

Therefore, my action is based on custom and practice, my understanding of my responsibility and the Act, Chapter 28:01. I have presented the facts and a few of the relevant sections of the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01, and the truth about the matters raised in the letter signed by Councillor Duncan. I ask readers to judge for themselves. In conclusion, I wish to comment on two other matters raised in Councillor Duncan’s letter - the issue of change, and implied assertions of disregard for the views and instructions of the Honourable Minister of Communities. We, at the City Council, have always honoured and respected the views and wishes of the Honourable Minister we value his advice and wisdom. Beyond that, we continue to look to him for support and guidance as we lean forward together to advance the interest of the city. On the question of change, I have to refer to the numerous achievements of the Council under this new national and local leadership. We would be the first to admit that there is much room for improvement, in all areas of our work, as is the case with all public and even private corporations and organisations. That, notwithstanding, there is no gainsaying that there has been a noticeable improvement in the physical condition of the Council. The Council continues to push ahead with its restoration plan, which includes, inter alia, repairs to bridges, roads, dredging of canals and other waterways, upgrading existing open green spaces and creating new ones, designing and creating recreational facilities for our children and seniors, repairs and restoration to our municipal markets’ facilities, restoration of our cemeteries, improved solid waste management, improved environmental and public health services, regulation of vehicular traffic on the city’s roads and a host of others. Also, there has been change in substance and process in the way we manage the city. Local communities are benefiting from improved municipal service and facilities, and more citizens are involved in the governance and management of their neighbourhoods. It is clear that with the support of all of our citizens, we can lift Georgetown to a new plateau of beauty and excellence. Yours faithfully Royston King Town Clerk

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OIL SPILL RESPONSE/ PREPAREDNESS…

Develop your own contingency plan, form bilateral support systems - TT former Energy Minister By Kiana Wilburg Oil spill preparedness and the plans in place to safeguard the environment is one of the many issues which concerned citizens and even regional onlookers have been debating as Guyana inches closer towards becoming an oil producing nation. In fact, Trinidad and Tobago’s former Energy Minister, Kevin Ramnarine recently noted that it would be prudent for Guyana’s authorities to develop its own contingency plan as well as sign on to bilateral agreements with neighbouring territories which are likely to be affected by any possible oil spill here. Ramnarine said that this arrangement has been beneficial to Trinidad and Tobago over the years. The former Energy Minister stated, “We have had a lot of oil spills in the last five years and that is because we have a lot of old infrastructure that was not maintained for decades. But what we have in Trinidad is an arrangement with a company out of Fort Lauderdale called Clean Caribbean Americas. We pay them an annual fee and in return, they are on standby to respond to oil spills there (Trinidad and Tobago) should it be needed. We also have an oil spill contingency plan in Trinidad. But that was pretty outdated. And we were able to update it in 2013. Interestingly shortly after that update, we had a major oil spill…” Ramnarine also noted, “When we have an oil spill, the responsibility rests with the offending company to clean up the oil spill…Guyana should have an oil spill contingency plan and they are quite welcomed to look at what we have an improve on it and I think it might be good to consider having a contingency support like Clean Caribbean Americas. “I am not saying use them specifically, there are others. This is important because every country producing oil has had an oil spill at some point in time. It is something which

Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman you have to plan for.” AFFECTED COUNTRIES One of the casualties which may arise with developing an oil industry is that an oil spill in one territory can spread and affect other nations. As such, the governments of many nations have been cautioned over the years to form bilateral agreements which would ensure that provisions are in place to cover such circumstances. Ramnarine commented that Trinidad and Tobago was quick to have a bilateral oil spill contingency plan in place with Venezuela. He said, “We had an incident in 2017 where an oil spill from Trinidad did reach Venezuelan beaches. And it was also said that it reached as far as Aruba etc but, there was a joint clean up between TT and Venezuela…This in mind, I would encourage Guyana to have bilateral oil spill contingency plans with Suriname, Venezuela and with TT. In fact, given that all these countries are all oil producers, it might be necessary for all of us to get together on a regional contingency plan. And the end of the day, oil spill is something that requires effective preparation and a lot of effort.” LOCAL EFFORTS Like many members of civil society, Natural Resources Minster, Raphael Trotman, has indicated that oil spill prevention is a subject matter that he is concerned about. He has also given the assurance that

Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram the Government is working closely with other partners to prevent any kind of accident that would happen. The Minister stated, “I know there have been different interpretations but ExxonMobil has demonstrated that it is doing all that it can do and it has acquired the very best of technology that the world has to offer to date for design and construction of FPSO and various subsea architecture to deploy…We are also working with the Civil Defense Force (CDC) while preparing a national response plan.” Trotman continued, “I have seen a draft of it and it is in various stages of development. We are also seeking training from the US Coast Guards and speaking with other Governments for support…We are not at all taking this for granted. It is something that we are very concerned about…” CONFLICT While Trotman is optimistic about local efforts in place to address a possible oil spill, many commentators have expressed dissatisfaction with the actual oil spill provisions

TT former Energy Minister, Kevin Ramnarine of Guyana’s Production Sharing Agreement with ExxonMobil. In the Agreement, there is no provision regarding any adverse impact on fishing grounds and coastal communities or on neighbouring

countries. This alarming observation was recently pointed out by Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram and political Commentator, Ramon Gaskin. Ram in his recent writings noted that Article 20.2 of Guyana’s 2016 Oil Agreement deals with Insurance in respect of but not limited to assets, pollution, third parties and employees. The Attorney-at-law pointed out that the Agreement does not require any loss of production insurance as will apply in the case of any major disruption of production or environmental accidents. He said that while this provision is absent from the 2016 Agreement, the 1999 Agreement which was signed by the Jagan administration, allowed for insurance to be taken out by Esso Exploration and Pro-

duction Guyana Limited’s affiliate insurance company. Esso is a subsidiary of ExxonMobil. Ram stated, “That requirement has been changed and now allows the Contractor to have the right to self-insure against the risks identified. This is a major concession by (Natural Resources Minister, Raphael) Trotman on an issue that only specialist lawyers know about. “What it means in practice is that anyone seeking to make an insurance claim will have to lodge that claim against Esso, CNOOC/Nexen or Hess, all of which are external companies.” The Chartered Accountant said that those potential claimants must thank Minister Trotman for making their chances even more difficult to succeed.

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No penalties exist if ExxonMobil shirks Local Content responsibilities Guyana’s Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with US oil giant, ExxonMobil, has been criticised for having limited or rather, ‘mediocre” provisions in place for local content. But even with the inadequate provisions in place, no penalties exist if ExxonMobil turns out to be negligent in this regard. On the other hand, there are several nations which after experiencing the effects of such disregard by oil operators, opted to include in future PSAs, inescapable penalties. Uganda is just one of the many countries in this regard. Uganda’s move towards penalties was due to the findings and recommendations of the Global Witness in relation to PSAs there. The Global Witness is an international body that works to break the links between natural resource exploitation, corruption, and human rights abuses worldwide. According to the body, local content obligations in contracts and laws seek to ensure that companies employ nationals, train local staff and procure local services. It notes that the intention is that local industries benefit directly from the oil sector and that local people develop the skills to manage the oil sector in future. The Global Witness noted however, that none of

the contracts it examined prior to 2008 for Uganda, set benchmarks or penalties for failure to comply with the local content obligations. The International body noted that other countries have included stricter provisions for the procurement of local goods and services in their PSAs and required that they are verified by the relevant government agencies. After revealing this, the government of Uganda made swift moves to include penalties in PSAs for failure to comply with local content provisions. GUYANA’S LIMITED PROVISIONS Chartered Accountant and Attorney-at-law, Christopher Ram, was one of the first local commentators to denounce the provisions for local content in the PSA that Guyana has with ExxonMobil. Ram has highlighted several aspects of the contract which deal with Local Content. He noted that Article 18 of the contract which deals with local content has been subject to a number of modifications when compared with the 1999 Agreement. He said that one of the obvious changes one recognizes is that the activities regarding local content will be carried out not by the Contractor but by an Operator appointed by the three com-

panies making up the Contractor. The Three Companies that make up the Contractor ExxonMobil are: Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited, and Hess Guyana Exploration Limited. In respect of goods and services, Ram noted that Article 18 requires the Operator to give preference to Guyanese goods and materials of a quality and quantity, timely delivery and competitive prices. However, when it comes to Guyanese Sub-Contractors, Ram was careful to highlight that the contract says that preference is to be given “if they are commercially competitive and meet financial and technical requirements”. Furthermore, the lawyer points out that Article 18.2 requiring the Contractor to establish tender procedures remains unchanged for the acquisition of goods, materials and services which shall ensure that Guyanese suppliers and Sub-Contractors are given adequate opportunity to compete for the supply of goods and services. In this regard, Ram said that there is also a requirement in the petroleum agreement for the Contractor to train Guyanese suppliers and Sub¬ contractors in the procedures for participating in tenders and com-

peting for contracts to be offered in the Operations. Ram said that under the 1999 Agreement, “The old Article 18.3 required the Contractor, within 90 days of the end of the year, to provide the Minister with a report outlining its achievements in utilising Guyanese resources during that calendar year. That has now been replaced in 18.4 with a provision that requires the Contractor and the Minister (sic) to prepare a yearly plan for the utilisation of qualified Guyanese resources for the upcoming year.” “Further, the sub-Article requires the Contractor and the Minister to meet and consider the effectiveness of the plan (which they have prepared!). Within thirty days of each half-year, the Contractor is required to provide a report to the Minister outlining its achievements in utilising qualified Guyanese resources during the previous half-year and to make appropriate adjustments to the yearly plan to better accomplish the local content goal.” The attorney said that apart from the amateur drafting of this highly important Article, it seems that once again, Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman has gone outside of the legislation which requires proposals on local content to be part of the application for a prospecting

Chartered Accountant and Attorney-at-law, Chris Ram and a production licence. Ram stressed that these licences are usually issued on condition that such objectives are achieved. EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING Ram pointed out that Article 19 of the contract which speaks to Employment and Training has been amended. In this regard, Ram said that at Article 19.2 of the 1999 Agreement, the Contractor was required to employ to the maximum extent possible, employ, and encourage SubContractors to employ Guyanese citizens having appropriate qualifications and experience. He said that the words “maximum extent possible” have, rather unfortunately, been deleted while instead of encourage, the Contractor is required to “contractually obligate” sub-Contractors to hire appropriately qualified Guyanese. Additionally, Ram states

that Article 19.3 of the 1999 Agreement required payments ranging from US$30,000 to US$45,000 during each of the two phases of the Initial, First and Second Renewals to be applied to designated purposes. That sum has now been increased to US$300,000 annually to be paid “directly into bank accounts held and controlled by the Government.” The use to which this money can be put as set out in the Agreement are: (a) to provide Guyanese personnel nominated by the Government with on-the-job training in Contractor’s operations in Guyana and overseas and/or practical training at institutions abroad; (b) to send qualified Guyanese personnel selected by the Government on courses not exceeding one year at universities, colleges or other training institutions; (c) to send Guyanese personnel selected by the Government to conferences and seminars related to the petroleum industry; and (d) to purchase for the Government advanced technical books, professional publications, scientific instruments or other equipment required by the Government. The Chartered Accountant said, “It seems rather embarrassing for a Minister of the Guyana Government to repeat in the 2016 Agreement, the stipulation that the Contractor will provide funds to a sovereign Government to buy technical books for the Government. Clearly mendicancyis firmly planted in our emerging petroleum (Continued on page 9)

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Guyana holds an important card An uncanny letter appeared in yesterday’s edition of Kaieteur News. It was penned under the name of an official of the Ministry of Natural Resources, and accuses the publisher of this newspaper of misleading the readers of the newspaper News about the Production Sharing Agreement between ExxonMobil and the Government of Guyana. The letter is an infantile attempt at responding to the criticisms of the contract. It would have been much better if the Ministry had said nothing. Kaieteur News reported in its Valentine Day edition that the government had waived its right to access certain records which are usually held by the Contractor or its affiliated companies. The relevant provision of the agreement in Article 1.5 (E) of the contract reads as follows: “Nothing herein shall entitle the Minister or his auditors to have access to data and records which: (i) are subject to statutory restrictions on disclosure or (ii) do not relate to petroleum operations; or (iii) are not customarily disclosed in auditing practice in the international petroleum industry; provided however, that where the Min-

ister of his Auditors seek confirmation that charges subject to restricted access under (a), (b) and (c) above have been properly charged under the Agreement and Accounting Procedure, they shall be entitled to seek ( at their sole cost) from the statutory auditors of the Contractor or its affiliated companies, as the case may be, certification that such charges have been levied on a fair and reasonable basis.” There is clearly a typographical mistake in this section because (a), (b) and (c) relate to the conditions under which an audit can take place, while (e) deals with restrictions on information which does not have to be provided in the audit. Such information includes data which are subject to statutory restrictions. Some countries usually have legislation which limit what can be disclosed. This exists, for example, in the medical profession, a situation where the laws of some countries prohibit auditors from having access to the medical records of patients. Similarly, in certain sensitive industries, especially those relating to national security and high technology, there are usually restrictions on the auditors

having access to certain designs and plans, for obvious reasons. The petroleum industry is not that sensitive or a national security sector. There is therefore not many charges which ought to be subject to statutory restrictions on disclosures to the auditors, all the more so given the international outcry for greater transparency in oil contracts According to the provisions of its contract with Exxon Mobil, Guyana cannot demand, during an audit, information that is statutorily restricted from disclosure. Guyana has effectively waived its right to do this under the contract. What is it that Guyana has to pay for

under cost recovery but which Guyana’s auditors cannot have access to? The Ministry must tell this nation what charges are subject to restricted disclosure. Guyana should not be paying for anything which it cannot verify? However, the contract goes on to state that for those categories of data and records which are subject to statutory restrictions on disclosure , the government’s auditors can see certification( not access) from the auditors ( not the Contractor) of the Contractor of its associated companies. In other words, if government’s auditors want to verify something that is chargeable to Guyana but that information is subject to statu-

No penalties exist... (From page 8) sector. It also seems a paltry sum to pay for courses in training at universities… on the job training abroad and to send officials to conferences and seminars.” Furthermore, a new Article of the Contract, 19.4, requires the Contractor and the Minister to provide, within sixty days of a new year, a yearly plan for the utilisation of qualified Guyanese personnel for the upcoming year. Ram opined that in what appears to be a cut and paste job, the Minister and the Contractor will meet and consider the effectiveness of their plan, while the Contractor is required to submit half-yearly reports on how their plans are working out.

tory restriction on disclosure, it can simply ask the auditors of ExxonMobil to verify that what ExxonMobil has charged is true and correct. But it cannot verify this for itself. In light of this, which is contained in the terms of the contract between the government of Guyana and ExxonMobil, it is truly perplexing that the Ministry of Natural Resources can accuse Kaieteur News of being contradictory when it stated that“…the Government of Guyana agreed to relinquish all rights to go after documents in relation to operations here” while concluding that this proviso effectively limits the scope of any audit it may pursue. The conclusion is fully justified. If Guyana’s auditors are not entitled to demand data or records which

are subject to statutory restrictions on disclosure, and if in such cases all that can be done is to ask the auditors of the company which is being audited to certify the truthfulness of the costs, then does this not restrict the scope of any audit? It does because Guyana’s auditors will not be able to verify certain costs which Exxon may claim are subject to restrictions (statutory or otherwise) on disclosure. Exxon holds all the main cards under this agreement. Guyana holds the joker in the pack.

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Friday February 16, 2018

Central High School closure put on hold The Ministry of Education (MoE) has announced that any closure of the Central High School is on hold. The Ministry in a statement yesterday disclosed that it is currently exploring other avenues to have the children of that institution housed comfortably following a meeting with the Central High School Board, the ParentTeacher Association (PTA), representatives of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) and officials of the MoE. Last week, the PTA and Board of Directors of the Central High School protested the Ministry of Education, (MoE) over the impending closure of the institution. Chairperson of the school’s Board of Directors, Ruth Howard, said that the protest is part of the school’s effort to get the attention of the Ministry and other relevant authorities over reports that the Ministry

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- Education Ministry plans to have Central High School phased out of the public education system. She said that Board has credible information of the Ministry efforts to “phase out” the school. Howard noted that the fact that there were no new entries at the first form level of Central High at the beginning of the school term and recent move to have students relocated, has parents and the school board troubled. The Chairperson said that before taking steps to phase out the school, the Ministry should take into consideration Central’s performance at the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) exam has been exceptional for the past few years. Central High School has an over 80 percent pass rate at CSEC in the past three years. Accord-

ing to Howard, the rate has been climbing. “I don’t think it‘s a good idea to phase out a school that is performing; a school with a history of non performance maybe, but not Central High,” she added, noting that the issue came to the forefront after plans to close the school were raised by the Ministry, based on the need to renovate the building, which at present is in a state of disrepair. Kaieteur News understands, however, that the building which currently accommodates a student body of close to 1000 children is privately owned. Howard said parents of those students at the school are beginning to worry about the future of the school and their children. She had urged the ministry to meet with them and talk about the plans for the future.

Inquiries into massacres of 2000s will guide reform process President David Granger said that it is incomprehensible that no inquiries or inquests have been conducted into the killings of so many Guyanese citizens, including police officers, during the 2002-2010 era. Making reference to a Motion he tabled as Opposition Leader, in the National Assembly in five years ago, the Head of State reaffirmed that his intention is unchanged. “This Government will launch inquiries into the worst massacres, which took place during the ‘Troubles’,” he said at the opening of the Police Officers’ Conference, yesterday. “The ‘Troubles’ occurred during the darkest period in our country’s post-colonial history. The inability of the Police Force to curtail the criminal violence led to the emergence of a counterforce and assorted death squads. It revealed complicity between

- Pres. Granger security services and drug lords and the infiltration of rogue elements into the Force. It rendered the security services vulnerable, exposing their deficiencies,” the President said. He said that the Lindo Creek Commission of Inquiry (CoI), which was appointed on January 31, last, and which is scheduled to commence work shortly, is the first of several to be conducted with the aim of bringing muchneeded closure to a very painful and disturbing period. The Head of State named the massacres that occurred in Kitty; September 2002, Lamaha Garden; October 2002, Bourda; November 2002, Buxton-Friendship; June 2003, Prashad Nagar; June 2003, Agricola-Eccles; February 2006, La Bonne Intention; April 2006, Bagotstown-

Eccles; August 2006, Black Bush Polder; August 2006, Bartica; February 2008 and Lusignan; June 2008 as incidents for which there has been no resolution and which require investigation. “The lessons of the ‘Troubles’ must guide security sector reform. The Inquiry into the Lindo Creek massacre and the CoIs, which will eventually be commissioned are intended to improve the Force’s administration and operations. They are not intended to demoralise or destabilise the Force,” President Granger said. The Head of State also spoke of the link between the upsurge of corruption of the security forces and the upsurge in criminal violence, execution killings and the failure to eradicate narco-trafficking as interrelated and lamented the attempts of those in authority, to conceal what (Continued on page 15)

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Ex-cop slapped with carjacking, BrainCentral and Scotiabank launch inaugural Math Olympiad armed robbery charges Students of Grades Six and Nine will get a chance to test their knowledge of Mathematics and win a tablet with the BrainCentral-Scotiabank Inaugural Math Olympiad on March 3, 2018. BrainCentral, an online educational portal, and Scotiabank, Guyana’s most international bank, this week announced the event which is aimed at helping Grades Six and nine students and others who are preparing for examinations. The Math Olympiad is designed as a competition where participants go online on March 3, 2018 and simultaneously take two timed quizzes. These quizzes will be for students at the Grades Six and Grade Nine levels respectively. They will consist of 40 questions to be completed in 50 minutes. The top five winners will be selected and awarded tablets after the second and final round. Students are required to review the rules and sign up for the competition at www.braincentral.online. The top five students in each category will each win a tablet. Chief Executive Officer of

BrainCentral, Lance Hinds noted: “The BrainCentral educational portal is a convenient, online environment that helps students as they study for exams. It allows participants to test and improve their skills via quizzes, lessons and live tutorials. There are 45,000 plus questions ranging from Grade Four to Grade 11. “Participants also get to socialise with friends and compare experiences taking the many quizzes and related content that are available. It is available 24/7 and parents can be involved by sitting with the children as they go through the lessons and quizzes. A primary benefit of BrainCentral is that you can practice from the comfort of your home at any time.” BrainCentral has launched its app for Android phones and is currently testing the iOS version, which should be released shortly. This gives users even greater flexibility to access the portal from a smartphone. Scotiabank’s Marketing Manager, Jennifer Cipriani stated that she is excited about this partnership for

many reasons. “This event is the first of its kind in Guyana and we are very pleased to be associated with a trailblazing learning environment such as BrainCentral. It is also benefiting our youths in a topic area that has been problematic over the years – mathematics. Last, but not least, most of our youths are addicted to technology. This event is a great way to steer this addiction in a positive direction where they can improve and test their knowledge using technology.” In the second round, the top five participants from the first quizzes will be required to do a similar online quiz in a live exam environment and pass with a score that is no less than five per cent of the online quiz test score, to be declared winner. “We want the online quiz to be completed by students, without help from others, to keep it fair,” Hinds explained. The winners will be announced within two weeks of the completion of the classroom test. For more information go to www.braincentral.online.

An ex-police officer and a construction worker who were recently charged and remanded to prison after allegedly carrying out a series of armed robberies were yesterday back before a City Magistrate, this time slapped with six additional charges. The ex-policeman, Timothy Waldron, 39, and Shawn Archibald, 29, both of Unity Place, South Ruimveldt, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and were slapped with three joint charges. The first charge alleged that both of them on November 4 last, at Irving Street, Georgetown, while being in the company of each other and armed with a gun, they robbed Ryhann Shah of one Toyota Allion valued $4M, one phone valued $10,000 and $15,000 in cash, property of the said Ryhann Shah. It is also alleged that the duo on November 28, last, at Pere Street Kitty, Georgetown, while being armed with a gun, they robbed Nadir Williams of a cellular phone valued $120,000, one handbag valued $3,000, a wallet valued $10,000 and $10,000 cash, property of the said Nadir Williams. It was also alleged that on the same day in question and at the same location, while being armed with a gun robbed Nadir Williams of a white Allion motor car valued $2.9 M. The ex-policeman was also slapped with three separate armed robbery charges.

A mini health check is the first step to donating blood

Remanded to prison, Shawn Archibald

Remanded to prison, Timothy Waldron

The first charge alleged that on June 16, 2017, at Station Street, Kitty, he robbed Gregrick Layne of several phones valued $240,000, one television valued $100,000 and a quantity of clothing valued $280,000. It was further alleged that on the same day and at the same location, while being armed with a gun he robbed Roxanne Ramcharran, of $400,000 cash, and three Iphones valued $550,000. The last charge alleged that on November 28 at Pere Street Kitty, Georgetown, while being armed with a gun, he robbed Gregrick Layne of one Toyota Axio valued $2.5M, property of the said Gregrick Layne. Both men denied all the charges after they were read to them by the magistrate. Police Prosecutor, Gordon Mansfield strongly objected to bail being granted to both defendants citing the serious nature of the offence and the penalty the charges attracts. The prosecutor also based his objection on the fact that a gun was used to carry out the offences. The prosecutor added that the defendants were positively identified by one of the virtual complainants and if bail is granted they would not re-

turn to court for the trial. He added that the vehicles which were stolen were found in the defendants’ possessions. The court also heard that the defendants have several matters of a similar nature in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore. The prosecutor objection was upheld by the Magistrate and the defendants were both remanded to prison. They were both instructed to make their next court appearance on March 5 for statements. A few weeks ago, both defendants appeared before a City Magistrate and were remanded on a series of armed robbery charges. Waldron and the construction worker were reportedly captured on closed circuit television cameras gunbutting a miner and robbing him of several gold chains valued $740,000. The prosecutor had told the court that both men were positively identified by the victim. The cars that were used during the commission of the robberies were found with fake registration numbers. They were also charged for fraudulently using fake registration numbers.

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Customs Officers clear Guzzler juice as food; shipment seized Several hundred cases of Guzzler juices were seized this week from a city wharf after authorities got wind of a tax evasion scheme. According to officials, the incident occurred o n We d n e s d a y a t a Wa t e r Street wharf. Kaieteur News was told that container of juices came in this week but instead of being classified as beverage, which attracts higher taxes and duties, it was cleared as packages of food.

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) would have lost out on almost $1M in taxes had the scheme gone through. Kaieteur News was told that someone tipped off officials of the Law Enforcement and Investigation Department of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and a team headed down to the wharf. A truck was already packed and about to leave the wharf. It was reported that

checks on the documents revealed the Guzzler juice were split into at least three different transactions, and just under $30,000 paid in duties and taxes. Under normal circumstances, the juices should have attracted almost $1M in duties and taxes. Under the laws, the punishment for offences of tax evasion like this, is a fine of up to three times the duty value plus two years jail. There has been a number

E’bo labourer remanded for attempting to kill ex-wife A labourer of Westbury Essequibo Coast, who attempted to murder his reputed wife last Monday, was yesterday remanded prison. The accused, 36-year-old Leonard Grant, appeared before Magistrate Esther Sam, in the Suddie Magistrate’s Court. The charge read that Grant unlawfully and maliciously wounded his reputed wife, Shenella Marks, with an attempt to commit murder. Grant who appeared in court unrep-

resented, was not required to plead to the charge. The man was subsequently remanded to prison, and ordered to make his next court appearance on March 5, next. Kaieteur News was reliably informed that the suspect shared an abusive relationship with the victim, Shenella Marks for some nine years. Even with an eight year old child, the relationship increasingly became abusive, until Marks decided to part ways

with Grant about a month ago. Last Monday however, the man confronted Marks and her mother on the Charity waterfront, as the women were about to head home. Shortly after threatening the woman’s mother, Grant dealt Shenella multiple stabs about her body, before breaking the knife blade in her upper shoulder. She was rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital for emergency surgery, and remains in a stable condition.

Inquiries into massacres of... (From page 13) was happening rather than addressing it frontally and condignly. He noted, too, that of the necessary reform initiatives and recommendations, which have been implemented, the deaths of many civilians and policemen during the ‘Troubles’ could have been avoided. The President also called for a change at the level of citizens; particularly in terms to the relationship between the police and citizens. “It is apparent that trust between the public and the Police was damaged during the ‘Troubles’. Never before,

and never since, in the 179year history of this proud Force have so many policemen been slaughtered. Efforts must be made to rebuild public trust,” he said. During an interview with the media last month, President Granger said that the Lindo Creek massacre, which claimed the lives of eight miners in 2008, will lead to the unravelling of the criminal network and exposure of op-

eratives, who were responsible for the reign of terror, during the most deadly decade in Guyana’s history, while also ensuring that justice is served for the affected families. Between 2000 and 2008, Guyana witnessed its most intense sustained wave of criminal violence since Independence, which resulted in the death of 1,431 Guyanese. (DPI)

of similar cases in recent years. In the case of Guzzler juices, there are authorised distributors who are made to pay the correct duties and taxes. Had the juices slipped through, it would have hit the market, competing unfairly with the companies that are importing legitimately. GRA has been waging a major battle against smuggling and tax evasion.

In many cases uncovered, GRA has found collusion with staffers. Since mid 2015, under new management, more than 100 staffers were sent home for collusion and other wrongdoings. Only recently, a truckload of chicken that had been seized was detained while heading to an importer. It was reportedly taken without authorisation. In another case, a truck-

load of imported chicken from Suriname was seized after it passed the Customs port in Berbice. From under-invoicing, to non-compliance, it is estimated that GRA is not collecting at least 40 percent of the taxes it should. Legitimate businesses have been complaining bitterly of the impact of smuggling and under-invoicing to their operations…it is next to impossible to compete.

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UG students secure research grant for natural resource management

Three University of Guyana [UG] students have received research grants for natural resource management. This development was realized through strategic collaboration forged by UG with the University of Florida and the World Wildlife FundGuianas. The students benefiting from the research grants are Ms. Wilda Hungito, Mr. Mark Ram, and Ms. Nadia Hunte, who were identified for research awards in support of their graduate studies. The students became eligible after they made successful proposals that provided important information for natural resource management that will affect the livelihoods of many Guyanese. The grants were made under an academic programme to strengthen technical capacity for natural resource management in Guyana. The programme is funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation [Norad] under the title, ‘Achieving a Green State: Building human capacity for natural resource management in Guyana’. The project aims to place UG at the forefront of highimpact academic research on natural resource management with a strong emphasis on scientific publishing and policy development.

Ram’s project entitled ‘Impact of mangrove loss on fisheries’ is one that gives attention to the fact that mangroves provide important services for coastal communities in Guyana. Among Ram’s focus is that over the last decade Guyana has lost and continues to lose thousands of hectares of its mangrove forests, with potentially serious consequences for the US$55.4 million fisheries sector that employs over 6,000 Guyanese. Ram’s research aims to quantify how loss of mangroves affects fish abundance along the coast of Region Three [Essequibo Island West Demerara], Region Four [Demerara-Mahaica, Region Five [Mahaica-Berbice] and Region Six [BerbiceCorentyne]. As part of his project, Ram is expected to collect data on the abundance of different fish species in the areas that have lost mangroves and areas where mangroves are healthy. He will be working in collaboration with the Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project and the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute to quantify the benefits of mangroves to the fisheries sector. Hungito’s project on the other hand is one aimed at ex-

Grant recipients with members of staff from WWF-Guianas and UG. From left: Mr. Chuck Hutchinson [Protected Areas/REDD+ Lead, WWF Guyana Office]; graduate students, Mark Ram, Wilda Hungito, Nadia Hunte; Dr. Gyanpriya Maharaj [Director, Centre for the Study of Biological Diversity, UG], Ms. Aiesha Williams [Country Manager, WWF Guyana Office]. amining how trees grow after logging. The project takes into consideration that the forestry sector contributed 2.27 percent of Guyana’s GDP in 2016 and employed 20,000 persons. As such an important question for sustainable forestry management implemented in Guyana’s forests is the growth of trees after the fact. Moreover, Hungito’s study is expected to examine how branches of tree crowns on the edges of canopy gaps, created by the logging, respond to the changes to light during the first 23 years after logging.

The motivation for studying this phenomenon is that the range of angles over which trees with asymmetrical crowns [that is, when branches are located to one side of the tree causing heavy lean] can be felled is limited. The forest damage and the personal risk to chainsaw operators increases with crown lean, as directional felling, a foundation of reduced-impact logging, becomes harder to implement, Hungito has observed. Meanwhile, Hunte, the third grant recipient, has taken on the task of understanding the importance of trees in the capital city of Georgetown. As such, she has essentially been studying how urban development in Georgetown has led to loss of natural habitats. This has allowed the re-

searcher to determine that the loss of tree cover in Georgetown will have serious implications for the well-being of Georgetown’s population with a hotter climate. Part of her research has also seen her querying, “Have you noticed it’s always cooler under trees?” Trees in Georgetown, according to Hunte, receive little to no maintenance and many are being removed to erect residential and commercial buildings. For instance, the mahogany trees that long graced Regent Street, are now nearly gone, Hunte has observed. For this reason, she is on a mission to map historical and present-day location of trees using satellite imagery to understand where trees have been lost and where they still stand.

Her project will enable continuous monitoring of tree cover across the city and will serve as a baseline to monitor changes in tree diversity and abundance in the future. Hunte will also study how Guyanese connect with nature in urban spaces. The final output of her analysis will be a map of trees in Georgetown that could be used for urban planning. This project has been deemed important by Hunte, since protecting trees in Georgetown and other towns will support and promote biodiversity [important for Guyana’s budding bird tourism sector], recreate green spaces, reclaim the ‘Garden City Status’, and develop innovative green public spaces, while retaining the unique cultural and historical attributes of Georgetown.

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Forest reps complain about conditions, corruption at Amsterdam forum

Amsterdam- Fourteen leaders and human rights defenders from forest countries yesterday launched a call to action and a comprehensive report with civil society groups setting out measures needed to protect human rights defenders and putting forward rights-based solutions for stopping the destruction of forests and preventing climate change. In concluding a three-day forum on sustainable trade, indigenous and human rights and deforestation in Amsterdam, the delegation from 11 forest nations issued a statement warning the EU and its member states that the global trading system—in violation of pledges made at both ends of the supply chain—continues to produce and sell shoes, handbags, beef, animal feed, chocolates, gold and biofuels that are destroying the lives and livelihoods of forest peoples in forest countries. “Even the so-called legal industries are often linked to corruption, violation of communal land rights and impunity for environmental and human rights impacts, weakening local democratic institutions,” said the statement from a delegation made up of individuals from Colombia, Peru, Paraguay, Guyana, Suriname, Argentina, Liberia, Cameron, DRC, Malaysia and Indonesia. “Everywhere, around the world, our peoples are under increasing pressure; are being driven from their territories and abused and murdered by the henchman of international

commercial interests.” Members of the delegation spoke at two events in the Netherlands yesterday— at a press briefing in Amsterdam and at a special meeting with members of a parliamentary standing committee on foreign trade and development cooperation in The Hague. They will travel to Brussels and London next week to meet with European and UK policy makers and human rights and environmental groups. Invited by two civil society groups, the UK-based Forest Peoples Programme and Both ENDS, which is based in Amsterdam, the delegation arrives in Europe at a critical moment for the EU, which is facing stiff opposition from Malaysia and Indonesia to a proposal to implement the world’s first ban on an agricultural commodity sold in the EU—palm oil for biofuel. The two Southeast Asian countries—with growing stakes in palm oil plantations in Africa and Latin America— continue to lobby hard to weaken the proposed ban. A recent study by Rainforest Foundation Norway suggests that without the ban, meeting the global demand would result in the loss of 45,000 square kilometers (17,374 square miles) of forests, an area the size of the Netherlands, by 2030. “The answer is for the EU and member states to put in place binding regulations and to strengthen voluntary commodity certification schemes to better protect communities

and forests impacted by agribusiness development and trade in conflict commodities,” said Wilhemina Boahemaa Owusu Beyan of the Social Entrepreneurs for Sustainable Development (SESDev) from Liberia, who represented the delegation at the meeting with Dutch MPs. The new report shared by delegates with Dutch government decision-makers—a collaboration between FPP and leaders representing indigenous peoples and rural communities from Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia— concludes that the problems faced by forest peoples are universal, whether the threats come from agro-industries and trade in conflict commodities or anti-people forest conservation policies. “If this trend of deforestation goes on, our peoples and our culture will disappear,” said Shapiom Noningo Sesén, a leader of the Wampis Nation in the Peruvian Amazon. “Only if we offer resistance, can we survive. If European consumers are not sure where their products come from—it means the end of humanity. They must ask where the raw materials come from and demand changes from companies and governments. This is my conclusion.“ In their recommendations released, the delegation called on the EU and its member states to introduce and pass positive legislation that would close the legal loopholes and require strengthened human rights due diligence by business, traders and investors, for conflict commodity and

forest-risk supply chains. These currently allow companies and banks to avoid effective actions to prevent and eliminate human rights abuses, stop dispossession of land, and the destruction of forests fueled by agribusiness expansion into natural forests and the territories of indigenous peoples and local communities. The delegation called for urgent and targeted actions by governments, companies and civil society to strengthen protections for human rights defenders at the local, national and global levels. "If the goal is to save forests, any development proposal must effectively include indigenous and local communities and apply solid protections for their rights," said Mr. Jamer López Agustín, a leader of the Shipibo-Konibo people and a member of Federation of Native Communities of Ucayali (FECONAU) in the Peruvian Amazon. "We have been shown to outperform all other forest managers in conserving and sustaining tropical forests that hold the most carbon," he added. López Agustín and his fellow members of the delegation demanded as well that companies and investors be required to complete more robust human and land rights due diligence in their business, trade and investment operations, citing the resistance of national and local governments to giving forest peoples a say in determining the fate of their lands and resources. Mr. Franco Segesso of the

Land Workers Union (UTT) in Argentina said: “Countries like the Netherlands are major importers of soybeans and soy products, yet industrial soybean farming in my country is linked to forced displacement of communities, mass fumigation of rural communities by soy farmers, illegal deforestation and damage to aquatic ecosystems.” Industrial agriculture is the largest driver of tropical deforestation, yet finance for business-as-usual agricultural and monoculture plantation practices since 2010 has been nearly 40 times larger than finance for forest protection. According to news stories linked to a trade event in Kuala Lumpur over the last week, government officials from Sweden, France, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands have made statements that the Malaysian press framed as expressing opposition to the EU proposal. In relation to forest and climate projects and global climate funds channeling money into forest preser v a t i o n worldwide, the visiting delegates highlighted the need for much more effective rights-based policies and respect for forest community rights. “To make sure that climate projects do what they are supposed to do, we recommend that they be assessed and audited for human rights and land tenure compliance at every stage,” said Mr. Edisutrino the deputy director of TuK Indonesia, an organisation that supports

communities affected by corporate crimes that are linked to commodities, such as tree plantations (HTI), and other exploitative businesses. “And the entire process must be done with full transparency and the involvement of forest peoples,” he added. "We must make sure the projects that are meant to address climate change are adhering to safeguards that protect local peoples from displacement and loss of livelihoods," noted Mr. Jean-Marie Nkanda, acting coordinator of Réseau Ressources Naturelles, an advocacy organisation that supports the rights and interests of local communities and indigenous peoples in the management of natural resources. “But the obstacles are daunting,” he said. Throughout their visit, delegates are underlining the positive community efforts and grassroots proposals for sustaining the world’s last remaining forests located on their ancestral lands and customary territories. Ron James, of Southern Guyana in South America stated: “We have proposals for a major community forest covering more than one million hectares of old growth rainforest, which is sacred to our people. It is our forest mother. What we seek is recognition, legal land security and international support for our initiative that will benefit our peoples and future generations and provide life-giving benefits for all the peoples on Earth.”

Friday February 16, 2018

Kaieteur News

Opposition prepared to meet Govt. on ExxonMobil contract flaws The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) said yesterday it is prepared to discuss the flaws of ExxonMobil Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) should Cabinet decide to move forward with renegotiating the deal through a bipartisan approach. Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, made the disclosure at his weekly press conference, a day after President David Granger announced that the 2016 PSA has engaged Cabinet. “Assuming they review this contract and they have an approach on it and they want to approach it in a bipartisan manner, we would be willing to talk with [Government],” said Jagdeo. The Opposition Leader was not willing to state support for renegotiating the contract citing political implications of Government accusing the PPP of being against foreign investors. He said that two approaches can be taken once Government decides to renegotiate the contract. One is for an amicable route where both parties agree to renegotiate. The other approach ends in a dispute if one party does not agree to come back to the table. “In this circumstance, I believe an amicable approach is the best suited one,” Jagdeo noted. He stated that ExxonMobil has to do what is best for its shareholders, while the Government’s team must seek the best for Guyanese. Jagdeo stated that the government should first agree

Opposition leader, Bharrat Jagdeo that there are elements of the contract that they could have done better on by admitting also that they did a bad job negotiating the contract. According to Jagdeo, the problem is that Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, has repeatedly made ‘asinine defenses’ of the contract although Government incompetently sat at the table and was not prepared enough to negotiate the contract. He repeated a previously held view that expertise was lacking on Guyana’s side of the negotiating table, suggesting that Politicians should not be involved in the future management of the oil and gas sector. “That is why we called for a nonpartisan approach. Take all the politicians out of the Petroleum Commission. Let’s be arm length. The Petroleum Commission should be purely technically managed and that would be good for long term relations between the country

and ExxonMobil,” Jagdeo noted. He also noted that the PPP would support a Motion brought to the National Assembly which seeks to have the contract renegotiated. “We were elected to defend Guyanese; nobody else, and Guyana’s interest. The 800,000 or how many of us live in this country and those who live abroad too from the diaspora, we are elected to defend them. No one else! No company, nobody else and that would guide us on what is best for Guyanese and Guyana,” Jagdeo outlined. On Wednesday, Granger stated that further decisions on the matter will depend on what Cabinet arrives at. He further stated that the contract is an agreement between two parties and ‘these things’ have to be approached very carefully. Since the PSA was made public in December, there have been daily revelations in the media over clauses in the agreement that raise several burning questions relating to the offers ExxonMobil received, including 2% royalties, zero taxes on oil production, uncapped tax concessions on imports and the limited powers of related institutions and government agencies to effectively oversee Exxon’s operations. Social and political commentators have pointed to glaring flaws that led to the conclusion that Guyana got a poor, lopsided oil contract deal by international standards.

Paradise playground rehabilitated Youths in the Belladrum District, through the Profit – Rising Sun NDC, West Coast Berbice, are soon to benefit from improved playground facilities following the rehabilitation of the Paradise Playground. Last year, through a Social Cohesion initiative, the community received a grant for the rehabilitation of the playground facilities in Paradise. According to NDC Chairman, Mr. Emile Wilson, approximately $8 million was spent on erecting a fence around the ground. The next phase will see the sanitary facilities being rehabilitated, and bleachers erected to seat spectators. Mr. Wilson also said that the Paradise Playground which would have been the venue for a number of sporting activities throughout the years is in need of upgraded facilities. The fencing of the ground could be seen as the first phase of the rehabilitation of the facility. Plans are also in place for

the upgrading of the playing surface to bring it up to an acceptable standard and at the same time there would also be a remodeling of the surface which will allow for efficient drainage of the playfield as a whole. The Paradise playground would have been the home of a number of different sports teams: cricket, soccer, basketball, as well as volley ball, and Mr. Wilson is of the view that with improvement to the facilities at the ground, there would be improvement in the standard in the various sports discipline as a whole. The ultimate goal is to make whatever team that is fielded from the area, a dominant force throughout West Berbice and further afield. There are plans to secure the services of relevant coaches so that talent can be spotted and harnessed early thereby helping young people to realise as well as to maximise their potential, rather than to fade away early because of lack of exposure. Mr. Wilson added that

there is need for activities in the district to engage young people, so as to present to them wholesome alternatives rather than to allow them to become ensnared by the negative activities in the community which have destroyed the lives of many young people. He is of the view that the much improved facilities at the playground together with the fielding of the various sports teams could go a far way towards keeping some of the young people away from the negatives in the community. There would be programmes in place to attract more young people, and to provide them with the exposure which should keep them motivated. Funding for the completion of the project could be a challenge, according to Mr. Wilson. However, the committee is hopeful that agencies approached would recognise the needs highlighted, and assist the committee in realising their objectives.

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Kaieteur News

Friday February 16, 2018

Top Cop ready to part Appeal Court reduces sentence for company with Police Force cop convicted of killing girlfriend Unfazed and perhaps even eager is how Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud is viewing his journey to pre-retirement leave in a couple of weeks. Speaking at what would be his final Police Officers Conference, yesterday, Persaud shared, “I have had a wonderful journey but I do look forward to entering the next phase of my life.” But even as he prepares to part ways with the Force, Persaud said, “I have nothing but best wishes for the Guyana Police Force [GPF] and for Guyana.” He reflected on his stint at the helm of the GPF. He said that like every other year, 2018 has brought with it, its own challenges to the GPF. He, however, assured that the challenges were met by a Police Force that demonstrated nothing but resilience. In fact he did not hesitate yesterday to speak laudably of the work being continuously undertaken by the ranks within the Force. Efforts in this regard, he related, have produced tangible results, which for this year, have translated to a 23 percent reduction in serious crimes when compared to last year. The Police Commissioner revealed yesterday that at the end of last year the GPF serious crime statistics showed a decrease of 10 percent relative to the previous year. He said that over the last five years, when compared to the reported statistics of 2013, there was a 29 percent decrease. “I know that from time to time, this statistics is questioned but I wish to say that [while] there is reported statistics...there [are] always a number of crimes that are unreported [too]. Those are referred to as the ‘dark figures of crime’ and [are] not reflected in our statistics of reported crimes,” said Persaud. “For several reasons people choose not to report certain crimes. First and foremost, what jumps to mind are those crimes that we refer to as consensual crimes or vic-

- heartened by tangible results under his watch

Police Commissioner, Seelall Persaud timless crimes.” As he alluded to the various forms of crimes that go unreported, Persaud made it known that even those persons who buy, sell and/or consume illicit narcotics in so doing are guilty of criminal activities themselves many of which go unreported too. “They are participating in those crimes...” said the Commissioner as he continued by sharing that among the other reasons that some crimes go unreported is because “people measure the utility they will gain from justice against the time they will have to spend in order to achieve that justice....which one weighs out, will determine whether they will report or not.” The Police Commissioner made it clear that “public trust is a major issue; if people don’t believe that their matter will be treated with professionally and there will be a justified outcome then they will not be motivated to report it.” Notwithstanding, Persaud asserted that the statistics released by the GPF usually emanates from reported cases. Moreover, when the past two years of GPF statistics is taken into consideration, there was a 19 percent decrease in reports during 2017. There was 77 percent solution rate. “In countries like ours

with a small population, it is extremely difficult to hide murders. Murders get reported...people report; friends, relatives, neighbours report...We are not tolerant of persons killing other persons unlawfully; in Guyana our society is not tolerant of that so it gets reported.” The Commissioner noted that based on statistics, break and enter and larceny are the two most frequent serious crime reports the GPF is usually faced with. He, moreover, noted that while gun related robberies reflect a 13 percent decrease, break and enter and larceny between the past two years showed a 17 percent decrease. In relation to traffic, he said that there was an overall 13 percent decrease in road accidents and those included a 15 percent decrease in fatal accident, 10 percent decrease in serious accidents, seven percent decrease in damage accidents and seven percent decrease in minor accidents. Regarding capacity building throughout 2017, Commmissioner Persaud said, “We have recruited and trained and deployed 471 recruits, 572 ranks benefitted from in-service and overseas training and this included training conducted by the Justice Education Society with funding from the US Embassy.” The Commissioner also revealed that the Police Force was able to acquire 140 vehicles via a grant from the Chinese Government and 170 bicycles from the United States government. To properly undertake bicycle patrol, he noted, the US Government facilitated training for ranks. These measures, according to Persaud, have positioned the police force to realise greater impact on crime prevention, crime detection, traffic control and response time.

‘Do you fear me?’ Venezuela’s Maduro vows to gatecrash regional summit CARACAS (Reuters) Venezuela’s unpopular socialist president Nicolas Maduro said yesterday his right-wing Latin American counterparts showed intolerance by trying to exclude him from an upcoming summit in Lima - and he vowed to go anyway. P e r u ’s c e n t r e - r i g h t government this week said Maduro would not be wel-

come at the Summit of the Americas in April, reinforcing his growing diplomatic isolation during a crackdown on dissent and a brutal economic crisis in Venezuela. “Do you fear me? You don’t want to see me in Lima? You’re going to see me. Because come rain or shine, by air, land, or sea, I will attend the Summit of the Americas,” Maduro

said during a press conference with foreign journalists.Maduro also said Argentina’s centreright president Mauricio Macri, with whom he has regularly sparred, should call a meeting of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) group of Latin American nations with him. “Call a meeting, dare, don’t be scared of me, President Macri,” said Maduro.

The Court of Appeal has ruled in favour of reducing a sentence imposed Kevin Waterman for the unlawful killing of his girlfriend, Eleanor Jones. Waterman, an ex – policeman had appealed the sentence and manslaughter conviction. In 2013, he was sentenced to 31 years’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to killing Jones on July 7, 2007, at her Silvertown, Linden home. Jones, also a police rank, was attached to the Mackenzie Police Station. The two were involved in a relationship. Waterman had gone to her home on the day of her death and an argument developed between them after he accused her of infidelity. Waterman then pulled out a firearm from his waist, and Jones initially struggled with him before trying to run away. Waterman was charged for murder but pleaded to the lesser count when the matter came up for hearing before Justice Navindra Singh in January 2013. He was sentenced to 31 years. Obviously disappointed by the decision of the Court, Waterman moved to have the sentence overturned. On Wednesday, the Appellate Court broke down the 31 years sentence by seven years. The sentence was therefore reduced to 24 years. In 2013, Waterman was sentenced to 31 years in prison after a probation report on the accused indicated that

Kevin Waterman he was madly in love with the deceased, and murdered her in a passionate rage. Back then Justice Singh, told Waterman that love, and his disapproval of the lifestyle of the now dead woman, would never justify the crime of murder. The judge advised that if he couldn’t deal with it, he should have left. The Judge expressed disappointment at the probation which focused on the alleged promiscuous lifestyle led by the deceased.Following the guilty plea, a probation report was ordered upon request of the accused lawyer, George Thomas. It said that the accused had expressed remorse for his actions. He admitted to the probation officer that indeed he had the gun on the night in question, but that it was an accident when it went off. Most important, the officer had said that the ac-

cused was suicidal. Thomas expanded on some of the points the officer made but lingered on the remorsefulness of his client. He said that Waterman was the victim of dire poverty and lack of love. He said the accused poured out his heart to the deceased and he was met with promiscuity. His client, he said, did not waste the court’s time and concluded his submission with a request for minimum sentencing. State prosecutor Konyo Thompson however advocated for maximum punishment. Their general notion was that no matter the lifestyle of the deceased, the issue at hand was murder and no factor could justify the crime. Before handing down his sentence, the court said that some of the factors leading to sentencing were that Waterman was a policeman at the time, his victim was a police officer and that an illegal gun was used, which showed pre-meditation. Some of the mitigating factors were that the accused was 21-years at the time, that he was remorseful and the conditions under which he was raised should be considered. The accused was advised by the court that he will eventually be released; that he will get out of jail, but his time afterward should be used meaningfully as he would still have a chance to make a significant contribution to society.

Murder trial begins for American citizen, colleague...

Jury sworn in for de-scalping murder trial Two women, one of them a United States citizen, who are charged with murder in 2012, are on trial in the Berbice High Court. The women Hemwattie Abdulla, called “Annie” and “Anesa”; and Seerujnie Permaul, called “Surojnie” and “Usha” are on trial before Justice Sandil Kissoon and a mixed jury. After the mixed jury was sworn in the indictment was read to the accused .They are accused of between April 23 and April 27, 2012 in the county of Berbice murdered, Abdul Shakeel Majid called “Shakiel”. Seerujnie Permaul, called “Surojnie” and “Usha”, allegedly paid money to Pooran Jhadoo at the request of Hemwattie Abdulla called “Annie” and “Anesa” to commit the murder. The women are being represented by attorneys-at-law Murseline Bacchus and Nigel Hughes. Attorney-at-law Ganesh Hira who was a special prosecutor during the preliminary Inquiry will be prosecuting the matter on behalf of the state.After the indictment was read, attorney-at-law Bacchus asked that the matter be held over for continuation on Wednesday since the other attorney Nigel Hughes will be available then. It was earlier reported in the lower court that Abdulla, formerly of Albion, Corentyne, and of Ozone Park, Queens, New York, USA and Tirmaul of Belvedere New Housing

Scheme, Corentyne, Berbice are accused of murdering Majid, a citizen of the USA whose body was found with its scalp missing. They were committed at the end of a preliminary Inquiry conducted by Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the Springlands Magistrate court.

Tackling time a major priority – says Governor General KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – THE fight against crime remains a major national priority with the Government committing additional resources and support to the security forces for the 2018/ 19 fiscal year. This was disclosed by Governor General Sir Patrick Allen, who delivered the Throne Speech to open the new session of Parliament Wednesday under the theme ‘Continuing on the Path to Prosperity’. Sir Patrick noted that organised crime, along with the violence and homicide it produces, is the biggest threat to citizens’ security and continues to stymie the growth and prosperity of the country. The Governor General said the administration will be seeking approval for a number of legislative measures designed to improve crimefighting efforts and better enable law-enforcement agencies to interdict criminals. These include the Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Act, Fingerprints (Amendment) Act, Firearms (Amendment) Act, Criminal Justice (Suppression of Criminal Organisations) Act, Parole (Amendment) Act, and The Justice Protection (Amendment) Bill. In addition to the legislative measures, the Government will continue to focus on strengthening its administrative and technological capabilities, crime-prevention

Governor General Sir Patrick Allen and community safety measures, and rehabilitation and redemption.The Governor General said the justice system will also be given special attention in order to reduce the backlog of cases and improve efficiency and effectiveness.He added that the Government has committed to enabling growth and national development through a sound and predictable macroeconomic policy framework that maintains low inflation, a stable exchange rate and competitive interest rates; and improving revenue administration by creating a simple, equitable and competitive tax environment to enhance growth and ensure greater compliance. Other areas of focus include programmes to rehabilitate and make new investments in critical health infrastructure; accelerating con-

struction of affordable housing and providing greater access to funding; construction and maintenance of water and irrigation systems; commencement and completion of road projects to ease congestion and improve road safety and security; and scaling up progammes to reach more unattached youth. Concerning plans to establish a National Identification System (NIDS), Sir Patrick said these will be advanced with the National Identification and Registration Authority Regulations to be developed and tabled in the House by September 2018. He also said work will continue to digitise the records of the Registrar General’s Department (RGD); develop processes to link the records of births and deaths to prevent identity theft; commence transformation of the RGD into the National Identification and Registration Authority; and establish a National Address Database, which will indicate where all parcels of land are located within the island in order to support the enrolment of persons in the NIDS. The Government will also embark on an aggressive legislative agenda to support its strategic priorities to ensure food security, sustainable use of agricultural land and fisheries resources, and facilitate an enabling local business environment.

Muslim group hits out at US security officials

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC – Head of the Waajihatul Islaamiyyah, also known as The Islamic Front, Umar Abdullah, is lashing out against US security authorities who assisted local police officers in cracking down on the persons suspected of planning to disrupt Carnival proceedings with violence. Abdullah, who has been pushing for the release of the persons detained by the police, said the US should pay more attention to its own affairs, following Wednesday’s shooting at a Florida High School that left 17 people dead. “Instead of meddling in the affairs of other countries I strongly suggest the American security officials mind their own affairs and pay attention to what’s happening within their boarders. Apart from the 18 school shootings thus far this year,…Imagine this young man who murdered 17 chil-

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Kaieteur News

Friday February 16, 2018

Umar Abdullah dren and injuring 6, had telling signs on his Instagram and Facebook page as far back as 1 year but they failed to see it but they saw signs here that law abiding citizens who happens to be Muslims had plans to disrupt carnival 2018…..Go figure…” Abdullah said.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley told the media that the threat to Carnival was no joke. The Prime Minister said that while the operation was 100 percent led by local police, they usually liaise with international partners, including the US, on intelligence. According to Rowley, the twin island republic “still has very serious concerns about the security of the state” as law enforcement agencies continue their investigations into allegations of possible terrorist activities that were aimed at disrupting the Caribbean celebrations that ended on Tuesday. Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams said 13 people have so far been detained as a result of the ongoing investigations that first became public last Thursday forcing the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom to warn its citizens of a possible terrorist attack here.

Former student to stand trial in High Court for murder Murder accused, Davenend Dhandhari, called “Kevin”, 20, of Betsy Ground, East Canje, Berbice, has been committed to stand trial in the next sitting of the Berbice High Court on a charge of murder. Dhandhari is accused of murdering Omesh Seelall, called “Rovin” or “Short Neck”. The incident is alleged to have occurred on Sunday September 17, 2016 at Betsy Ground, East Canje, Berbice. The accused a farmer and a former student at the time of the act was committed following a preliminary inquiry conducted by Magistrate Mauricia Mittelholzer at the Reliance and Albion Magistrate’s Courts. Seelall, 21, a labourer of Betsy Ground Village, East Canje Berbice, was bashed in his head and died some six days after the act. The men were reportedly in a crowd of persons at a wedding house nearby. They were reportedly standing on the road when Dhandhari ran across the road and grabbed a piece of wood from the dray cart nearby and struck Seelall to his head flooring him instantly and rendering him unconscious. Seelall was picked up and rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital when he received emergency treatment, before being transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital in a critical condition. He was hooked up on a respirator since he was rushed to the hospital and never regained consciousness. The police had retrieved the piece of wood reportedly used in the attack. The case was prosecuted by Special Prosecutor, Attorney-at-law George Thomas who was retained by the family. The accused is being represented by attorney at law Murseline Bacchus.

Omesh Seelall

Murder accused, Davenend Dhandhari

GGMC shuns statutory responsibility for best interest of local miners Was Smartt outsmarted? That is what the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) was asked to look into since 2016. Almost two years later, the Commission is still to give Pauline Smartt a positive response. Australian company, Troy Resources, acquired rights to work claims listed in the name of Leslie Smartt, Pauline’s husband. Mr. Smartt accepted payment for the claims. However, Mr. Smartt died in 2013, leaving Mrs. Smartt as the legal heir. In 2016, GGMC invited Mrs. Smartt to officially transfer the claims, a process that has to be approved by Commission. Smartt was advised to have the Commission review the agreement to ensure that it was “fair and just” in accordance with the Mining Act of Guyana. The provision of the Mining Act introduced to Mrs. Smartt states, “Where any area which is subject to a prospecting permit, claim licence, mining permit, or special mining permit, in respect of gold is contiguous to, or is surrounded by, any parcel which is subject to a licence with respect to gold, the licensee may with the permission of the Commission, buy the rights of the person holding

the prospecting permit, claim licence, mining permit or special mining permit on such terms as may be agreed to between the purchaser and the seller. “The Commission shall not give the approval referred to in subsection (1) unless it is satisfied that the terms of purchase agreed to by the licensee and the holder of the prospecting permit, claim license, mining permit or special mining permit are fair and just so far as the latter is concerned. When Mrs. Smartt became aware of that provision, she sent a letter to GGMC in the first quarter of 2016 expressing a desire for the Commission to review the agreement before the transfer occurred. The Commission facilitated a meeting in the third quarter with Mrs. Smart, her consultant, and a representative of Troy Resources. At that meeting, Troy Resources’ representative asked whether the meeting was called to facilitate a request from Mrs. Smartt to have the contract reviewed. It was made clear that all Smartt wanted, at the time, was for GGMC to carry out its statutory duty. The meeting was adjourned without GGMC giv-

ing any commitment about when it will review the agreement. Kaieteur News understands that when subsequent queries were made, GGMC Commissioner, Newell Dennison, said that he was seeking legal advice. GMMC has so far neglected to contact Mrs. Smart in relation to the way forward. Meanwhile, Troy Resources continues to work the claims that have proven to be the largest and most productive. The total reserves in the property that Troy Resources acquired from the Smartts include 253,728 ounces of gold that the company will mine underground and 287,121 ounces of gold that the company will mine by open pit.

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Friday February 16, 2018

Kaieteur News

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2006 Audi A4 PRR Series. $2.5M. 623-3839

VACANCY Hair station & Barber station rental, New market street #6381106. Experienced persons preferable. Kitchen assistant for interior location. Job entails assisting cooks and generally cleaning. Call: 618-2020.

PROPERTY FOR SALE EDUCATION CXC adults classes (Business & Science subjects) Form 1-5 lessons, Grade 2-6 lessons (slow learners, personal tutor) #690-5008,618-0649 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. Electronic classes beginning March 6th. Enroll early, limited spaces. Abdul Electronics. Tel: 226-6551/225-0391. Studying in Canada/USA 100% acceptance. Micrographics, Vreed-enhoop #264-3057 Mash 2018 Computer package 9 course diploma $40,000 4 course computerized accounting. Micrographics Technology, Vreed-en-hoop #264-3057 PROPERTY FOR SALE Lot 15 Public road #2 Village. West Coast Berbice. 49ft by 10,314ft. $20M. Contact:6487109/686-4818

House and land available @ La Parfaite Harmonie, Providence, Etc. Financing assistance available. Contact Pacific Development: 223-6035/ 6044909 Riumveldt Public Rd (opp Massey) (6) bedroomed house on double lot. (2) apartments with all utilitiesparking, fenced. Call: 2258427/609-7766 Diamond EBD 2 storey concrete, 6 bedrooms, hot/ cold, secured parking, etc. Ready to move in. price negotiable. Call: 693-4890 166 4th street, Alexander Village. Tel#691-6201 Property for sale (1) 3 story building at 97 Sugarcane street S/Rvldt Gardens. Price US 1.5M neg. Tel: 695-1356 & 687-8445

Friday February 16, 2018

Busted carjackers stole over... From page 18 track down the vehicles, they even found a Bobcat that had been stripped of its parts. They also found a 'graveyard' of vehicle doors, and the shells of several vehicles. So far, at least two owners have identified their vehicles. One victim is a University of Guyana lecturer who was robbed last August, of his Toyota Allion in front of his Bel Air home. According to sources, some of the female accomplices assisted in the stealing of rental cars. The women would reportedly rent the vehicles and then acquire duplicate keys. After returning the cars, they would give the gang members the keys and the licence numbers and description of the vehicles. But investigators believe that the gang had assistance from individuals who helped them to procure documents such as bogus certificates of registration. Speaking to Kaieteur News following the opening of the Police Officers' Conference, Ministry of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan stated that some former members of the Force provided 'guidance' to the carjackers. “I understand that these carjackers were being advised

by former policemen. And you know when good cops turn bad, and are advisers to criminals, you will take a longer process to catch these carjackers. We have now broken it.” Ramjattan said that “community policing coming to the fore” assisted in dismantling the gang. “Those community members in and around the East Bank managed to get information, because they saw the cars parking up.” But he said that others in the communities “saw and did nothing. We understand that some of them were being paid, and this kind of thing, when you are being paid (and with) ex cops giving advice, it's going to be difficult, but we've cracked it and that's good.” On Tuesday, police ranks arrested two more persons. They also seized a black Premio PMM 6979, which is suspected to be stolen. The vehicles were found during searches at Yarrowkabra on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway. Shortly after, the team went to another location in Yarrowkabra and arrested a 39 year-old taxi driver on whose premises two dirt bikes were found. Also, a 22-year-old taxi driver of Chand Sand Road,

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Timehri, handed a beige Spacio motorcar # PPP 82, which he alleged was given to him to drive by an individual who is in police custody. Earlier in the week, 'A' Division ranks arrested the expoliceman who is an alleged ringleader and six others at Yarrowkabra. They also seized at least two cars and a truck laden with spares. The Canter truck that the police seized was loaded with the shell of a silver Toyota Spacio and a quantity of vehicle parts. A release said that a Barr Street, Kitty resident owns the truck. Tuesday's operation occurred just three days after police seized several stolen vehicle parts during raids at North Vryheid's Lust, East Coast Demerara and Monument Hill, Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke/Linden Highway. A former policeman, a husband and wife and four women were detained in that raid. At North Vryheid's Lust, the Major Crimes Investigation Unit arrested a 29-yearold taxi driver and his 25-yearold wife. There, the ranks retrieved several car mirrors, with engraved licence plate numbers; doors, lights, wipers and other vehicle parts for Toyota Allion, Spacio and Premio motorcars.

Teen arrested with coke in handbag at CJIA Officials off the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) working at Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on Wednesday conducted a search on a female passenger who was scheduled to travel to the US. They found a quantity of suspected cocaine concealed in her handbag. The passenger, 19, resides on East Coast Demerara. She was accompanied to the airport by her mother and family members. The total weight of suspected narcotics is 2.660 kg. Three persons including the young woman and her mother are currently in custody assisting with the investigation, CANU said. The suspected drugs was wrapped in silver tape and hidden between the walls of the bag. Persons have been finding ingenious ways to export drugs, including in vegetables, fruits, shoes, weaves, wheelchair and even in lumber and plywood.

The handbag that CANU said had the drugs.

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Kaieteur News

Friday February 16, 2018

No ‘bloody nose’ plan for North Korea - U.S. official, senators WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The senior U.S. diplomat for Asia, Susan Thornton, said yesterday she understood the Trump administration had no strategy for a so-called bloody nose strike on North Korea, but Pyongyang would be forced to give up its nuclear weapons “one way or another.” President Donald Trump’s administration says it prefers a diplomatic solution to the crisis over North Korea’s development of nuclear missiles capable of hitting the United States. But U.S. officials have told Reuters and other media that Trump and his advisers have discussed the possibility of a limited strike on North Korea that would neither knock out its programme nor overthrow leader Kim Jong Un’s government. Such talk of a “bloody nose” strike has alarmed Korean experts who said that this could trigger catastrophic retaliation, but it has died down since North and South Korea resumed talks last month and North Korea joined the Winter Olympics in South Korea. Two U.S. senators, a Democrat and Republican, who spoke at Thornton’s confirmation hearing for the post of assistant secre-

tary for East Asia, said they and other senators had been told by senior White House officials on Wednesday that there was no such strategy.Asked by Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen if the Trump administration had no “bloody nose” strategy, Thornton replied: “That is my understanding, senator, yes.” Republican Senator James Risch said the lawmakers had been told “by administration people, about as high up as it gets, that there is no such thing as a ‘bloody nose strategy.’” Risch added that the officials said they had never considered it or talked about it. Thornton, currently the acting assistant secretary for East Asia, said Washington was open to talks with Pyongyang but that North Korean denuclearisation would be the only issue.“Our preference is to achieve denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula through a diplomatic settlement, but we will reach this goal one way or another,” Thornton said.North Korea has repeatedly rejected calls to abandon its nuclear weapons programme.Thornton said the State Department was working “very hard” with the White House on a nomination for the post of U.S. ambassador to South Korea, which has been vacant for a year.

Go vt. a ppr oves plans ffor or oil Govt. appr ppro iner y and oil stor age ffacility acility ref efiner inery stora NASSAU, Bahamas CMC – Prime Minister, Dr. Hubert Minnis says his government has approved Oban Energies to commence an oil refinery and oil storage facility in Grand Bahama. The project is expected to create 600 direct jobs, 1,000 indirect jobs during construction and an estimated project cost of over US$4 billion. “My Government has recently completed negotiating the Heads of Agreement which paves the way for the commencement of this important project,” said Minnis in Parliament on Wednesday. “This Heads of Agreement articulates how this development can proceed.” The Prime Minister said the Heads of Agreement will be signed on Monday, and that over the following two weeks, two additional Heads of Agreements will be signed. “We are on the road to revitalizing both Grand Bahama and the entire Bahamas.” “I am advised that Oban Energies Management team has been involved in large energy infrastructure projects around the world and brings over 30 years of large, complex construction experience.

Prime Minister, Dr. Hubert Minnis Oban Energies has further advised that the first phase of the project will consist of four million barrels of fuel storage, a harbour, and deep-sea loading docks to service large vessels; and the construction of 50,000 barrels per day refinery.“In addition, Oban will build [an] up to 20 million barrel liquid bulk storage facility and a 250,000 barrel per day refinery. The oil refinery has an estimated project cost of up to US$4 billion and the terminal has an estimated cost of US$1.5 billion. “This is a very significant development for Grand Bahama.”Pointing specifically to some of the aspects of the Heads of Agreement, Minnis noted that the developer will contribute funds in the sum of US$100,000 per annum to be used for community projects and development of East Grand Bahama. The Agreement also calls for the establishment of a local Advisory Board who will determine the use of those funds and shall be comprised of four mutually agreed per-

sons to both the government and the developer. The Prime Minister further noted that the Developer has acknowledged the importance of the marine environment to the government and therefore has agreed to provide US$150,000 to accredited research institute, as may be mutually selected by the government and the Developer. “Such payment shall be made by the date – that is 12 months after the commencement of construction of the terminal and/or oil refinery,” said Prime Minister Minnis. “The Developer will use commercially reasonable efforts to use Bahamian materials, Bahamian professional services and other Bahamian services in connection with the implementation of the development plan.” Another aspect of the Agreement stipulates that the Developer shall operate with the Government to put in place and sustain during the course of the development multi-disciplinary onthe-job technical skills training and apprenticeship programs, designed to equip the developers’ Bahamian employees with a level of technical proficiency, reasonably necessary for the promotion and advancement. And shall render reasonable, periodic assistance towards curriculum development at the University of The Bahamas. “I think that this is great news for The Bahamas and the country will see more to come in the coming weeks,” the Prime Minister said.

Friday February 16, 2018

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Regulator Body starts monitoring TV, radio stations for abuse, breaches The country’s regulator for radio and television operations has started monitoring and recording programmes for possible abuse and breaches. The Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) yesterday disclosed that its special department to monitor is up and running. “One of the major functions of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) is to ensure that broadcasters comply with the Broadcasting Act, 2011 and its 2017 Amendment. This function is actively undertaken by the GNBA’s Broadcast Monitoring and Compliance Department which is now fully operational.” The authority disclosed that the department serves to critically analyse broadcast content. “It is also responsible for archiving content aired by local radio and television stations in keeping with the Act and Amendment as well as the guidelines for broadcasters

established by the authority. Members of the broadcasting sector and other stakeholders are reminded that these may be accessed on the website gnba.gov.gy.” It was disclosed, yesterday, that the department comprises a full complement of staff, trained and equipped as Broadcast Monitoring and Compliance Officers. “Its core objective is ensuring that broadcasters adhere to legal and other obligations under the law. Specifically, the department monitors and identifies all content contravening the Act, Amendment and Guidelines,” GNBA revealed. Among other things, the department will be looking at news reporting with close-ups of serious injuries; undignified images of the dead and those suffering or in distress; footage of persons in emergency situations; indecency; racial; ethnic or other forms of incitement, religious or sectional hatred and disaffection in

The GNBA’s department which will be monitoring and recording radio and television broadcasts for breaches. programmes “Where hosts of call-in programmes do not disconnect callers or disclaim statement(s) which contain indecent, racial, ethnic, religious or sectional hatred and disaffection, an infraction occurs,” it was pointed out. The department also monitors political broadcasts that are abusive or derogatory to race, colour, creed, religion or gender. “Included for monitoring

City Hall’s lack of resources is perennial City Hall seems to be in a deplorable state as it relates to the management of its resources and or the lack thereof. While nothing might be legally wrong with city’s hall’s intention to give out the “After Mash” cleaning to a contractor, the excuse of a lack of resources and unpaid contractors is becoming repetitive and overbearing in the ears of the citizens of this country. December 6, 2016, a popular online news source reported that $175 million was being sought by City Council from the Government to pay contractors, who threatened to withdraw their services since November 14, 2016; City

council did not have the resources. On July 8, 2017, the Mayor quoted in a newspaper, said that “we are in a crisis, we need all the help we can get”, as she referred to the lack of resources to pay the contractors. At that time, the Mayor was asking contractors to wait. Back in 2017 August 6, it was Cevon’s Waste Management and Puran Brothers Disposal Inc. who decided not to collect garbage anymore because “hundreds of millions” as was reported in another daily newspaper, was owed to them dating back to 2015. This was as a result of the council’s lack of financial resources.

Now in 2018 February, the council is saying again that it lacks the resources necessary to clean up the day after Mash and would have to get a contractor to do it. Mash is an every year event and not a happening, pulled out of thin air. With all the problems city hall has had in paying contractors, it begs the question, “Why wasn’t the same money that would be used to pay contractors, be used by city hall to get the job done?” Would this be another case of contractors being owed by the council because of a lack of financial resources to pay?

is suicide and self-harm presented as acceptable solutions or presenting domestic violence as desirable and acceptable. Advertisements transmitted during children’s programmes such as alcoholic drinks or trailers of films with adult content are strictly monitored including promoting public events containing explicit sexual overtures or exposing children to danger.” The broadcasting field has been widened with new radio stations licensed in recent years. According to GNBA, the department is currently using a colour code system to

categorise infractions. Yellow is used for minor infraction which can be easily rectified. Orange is for infractions with significant impact and effects and which is not easily rectifiable. Red is a fundamental breach of the Broadcast Licence, the Act, the Amendment or any combination, the authority noted. “The department forwards infractions to the Monitoring and Compliance Committee of the GNBA which advises the board of such infractions and procedures for dealing with them. According to section 38

(2) of the Act “Licensees are required to retain, for a period not exceeding five years, a recording of every programme included in the licensed service and are required to produce at the request of the authority, any such recording for examination or reproduction.” The authority also said that its Monitoring and Compliance Department is looking forward to a harmonious working relationship with all stakeholders as it endeavours to improve the standard of broadcast content across Guyana in compliance with the Act, Amendment and the Guidelines.

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Friday February 16, 2018

Ramaphosa elected President of South Africa, vows anti-corruption fight CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - Cyril Ramaphosa was elected as South Africa’s president in a parliamentary vote yesterday and pledged to tackle endemic corruption after scandal-ridden Jacob Zuma resigned on orders from the ruling African National Congress. The road back to prosperity and self-respect under Ramaphosa, 65, who became ANC head in December, will be long and hard in a nation still polarized by race and inequality more than two decades after the end of whiteminority rule. Still, Zuma’s departure late on Wednesday provided evidence of the strength of South Africa’s democratic institutions, from the courts to the media and the constitution. Ramaphosa, in brief remarks to parliament ahead of his first state of the nation address expected today, said he would work hard “not to disappoint the people of South Africa”. “The issues that you have raised, issues that have to do with corruption, issues of how we can straighten out our state-owned enterprises and how we deal with state capture (influence-peddling) are issues that are on our radar screen,” he said. Ramaphosa was elected unopposed as Zuma’s permanent successor by parliament and confirmed in the post by South African Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, who had earlier read out the former president’s resignation letter. He was sworn in yesterday

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa (Reuters photo) and is expected to make any changes to the cabinet after his address today. The rand, which has gained ground whenever Zuma ran into political turbulence, soared to a near threeyear high against the dollar on word of his resignation. South Africa’s main stock market index jumped nearly 4 percent and headed for its biggest one-day gain in more than two years as investors hailed Zuma’s exit after nine years in office rife with allegations of sleaze and mismanagement. Ratings agency Moody’s said it was closely monitoring developments in South Africa, focusing on the policy implications of Zuma’s political demise. The S&P Global agency said South Africa’s sovereign credit ratings and outlook will not be immediately affected by the change of the country’s leadership. UPHILL CHALLENGE

Ramaphosa, who will be president until elections next year, faces an uphill battle to earn back public and investor support.But his stated commitment to boosting growth and stamping out graft has gone down well with foreign investors and ANC members who felt Zuma’s handling of the economy could seriously damage the party in the 2019 election. Africa’s most developed economy needs faster economic growth if it is to reduce high unemployment - currently at 27 percent - and alleviate persistent, widespread poverty that aggravates inequality and stokes instability. The economy, Africa’s most advanced, remains largely under the control of whites who held power under apartheid.The 75-year-old Zuma said in a 30-minute farewell address to the nation he disagreed with the way the ANC had thrust him toward an early exit after Ramaphosa replaced him as party president, but would accept its orders.Zuma bowed out hours after police raided the luxury home of the Gupta family, the Indian-born billionaire allies of the former president who have been at the centre of corruption accusations against Zuma and his circle for years.Zuma and the Guptas have always denied wrongdoing.South African police said officers had arrested eight people so far in its investigations into highechelon influence-peddling revolving around the Gupta family.

Uganda to widen relief fraud probe to U.N. staff, pledges reforms KAMPALA (Reuters) Uganda said yesterday it was widening a probe of government officials who allegedly stole aid intended for refugees to include U.N. staff, amid concern the scandal may hold up donor cash needed for the country’s surging refugee population. Allegations that officials may have inflated refugee numbers to skim aid and engaged in other types of fraud have angered donors and embarrassed a country whose open embrace of a huge influx of refugees from South Sudan’s war has won global praise. The minister for relief, disaster preparedness and refugees, Hilary Onek, told a news conference: “We are investigating all, including the international community...whether there was connivance together with our staff.” Asked whether that cov-

ered the U.N.’s World Food Programme (WFP) and the U.N.’s refugee agency, known as UNHCR, he said: “All of them are going under scrutiny.” A UNHCR spokesman in Geneva, Babar Baloch, said the U.N. agency would cooperate with the Ugandan investigation. The UNHCR said last week the probe was initiated after it and WFP brought “grave misconduct by officials” to the attention of authorities. “UNHCR is encouraged to see Uganda’s resolve to fight fraud and corruption,” Baloch told Reuters yesterday. Uganda says it is hosting about 1.4 million refugees, more than a million of them from South Sudan, whose four-year civil war has uprooted a quarter of the country’s population. Others have flooded in

from neighboring Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Violence in the lawless, mineral-rich eastern DRC has reignited recently, and thousands of new refugees are arriving in Uganda daily. PRAISE, THEN PROBLEMS Uganda was widely praised for opening its borders, offering refugees a plot of land for cultivation and allowing them free movement and employment rights. But rising refugee numbers have overwhelmed the available funds, and the WFP had to reduce its food rations last year to cope. A senior Western diplomatic source in Kampala told Reuters that UNHCR informed donors in Geneva on Jan. 19 of allegations of relief mismanagement. The U.N. then notified the Ugandan government.

Kaieteur News

Friday February 16, 2018

Cariibean hits 30 million mark in stay over visitors BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC – The Caribbean set a record with 30 million in stay over arrivals for the first time in 2017, even as the region battled the effects of catastrophic hurricanes. The figures were released yesterday by the Barbados based Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO). According to the CTO’s acting director of research, Ryan Skeete, the visitors contributed US$37 billion to Caribbean economies during the 12-month period, up 2.6 per cent over 2016. The tourism researcher explained that stay-over arrivals were on track for a strong performance during the firsthalf of 2017, growing by an estimated 4.8 per cent, but growth was curtailed in the second half of the year by the storms, which were largely responsible for a1.7 per cent drop between July and December. “These outcomes resulted in an overall increase of 1.7 per cent in 2017, making it the eighth consecutive year of growth, albeit slower than the average global growth rate of 6.7 per cent. The CTO official explained that strong economic performance in the main markets helped spur the region’s performance, with some destinations recording strong double-digit growth, although the hurricane-affected countries were down between seven per cent and 18 per cent. The United States continued to be the primary market, growing by about 0.5 per cent

Ryan Skeete to reach an estimated 14.9 million visits to the region due mainly to solid economic growth, low unemployment and high consumer confidence; while the Canadian market rebounded strongly, recording a 4.3 per cent increase in arrivals, compared to a decline of 3.1 per cent in 2016.However, it was the European market that recorded the strongest growth rate, increasing by 6.2 per cent to 5.8 million visitors, with the United Kingdom up by 2.9 per cent to 1.3 million. The increase in arrivals was not reflected in hotel occupancy, which fell by 1.2 per cent, according to STR (formerly Smith Travel Research), a U.S. company that tracks supply and demand data for the hotel industry. However, both average daily rate and revenue per available room recorded increases, though slightly. “Notably, the hotel performance indicators excluded

most of the hurricane-impacted destinations at this time, due to the disruption in operations caused by the hurricanes,” Skeete said. The cruise sector also set a new high of 27 million passengers, 2.4 per cent higher than 2016, despite the hurricanes. “The cruise passenger performance mirrors the performance of tourist arrivals, as it grew strongly by 4.6 per cent in the first half of 2017, but contracted marginally – by 0.4 per cent – in the second half of the year. Indeed, cruise passenger arrivals fell dramatically in September by some 20 per cent. However, growth resumed in October, which saw a two per cent increase,” the CTO official said. The CTO said the economic conditions are expected to be favourable for further growth in 2018, therefore it predicts growth of two to three per cent in both stayover and cruise arrivals

Customs to Ramp up Efforts to Detect Contraband and Uncustomed Goods The Gleaner - The Governor General Sir Patrick Allen said the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) will this year ramp up its efforts to detect contraband and uncustomed goods through the procurement and deployment at various ports of entry, cargo imaging scanners. He said this forms part of the overall plan by the agency to drive economic growth through trade facilitation, revenue collection,

and border protection. He said customs would intensify its trade facilitation programme to improve service delivery.On the issue of public sector transformation, the Governor General said this exercise would continue this year with 18 public bodies slated to be rationalised. The creation of a central database of all Government employees is also to be done to allow for evidence-based decisions.

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Ex-Portsmouth owner jailed for stealing £5m from wife to buy club The man who owned Portsmouth for six weeks during an ill-fated spell in 2009 has been sentenced to five years in a United Arab Emirates jail for stealing £5m from his wife to fund the purchase. Sulaiman Al Fahim, who also fronted the Abu Dhabi United Group’s deal to buy Manchester City in 2008, was found guilty of forgery, using forged documents and aiding and abetting. He and an accomplice were found to have stolen the money used to buy Pompey from Sacha Gaydamak, with Al Fahim soon selling the club to Ali Al Faraj. Al Fahim, 42, did not attend the hearing and was sentenced in his absence. Prosecutors said that Al Fahim’s wife discovered the money was missing after the returns

she had expected from a high interest rate account she opened in 2009 did not come in. She said she contacted the bank’s accounts manager, but he “kept stalling” despite her asking him to move the account in September 2011. When she decided to visit the bank in person, she was told there was no money in the account. She then went to the bank’s legal affairs department, and when they failed to take action she reported the matter to the police. Dubai Criminal Court also convicted the bank manager of theft, forgery of official documents and use of forged official documents. He was also sentenced to five years in prison. At the time of Al Fahim’s ownership, Portsmouth were

in the Premier League but the club was also in financial difficulty and had struggled to pay players and staff. Four years later, Pompey had gone into administration twice, suffered three relegations and had seven different owners. In 2013, it was taken over by the Pompey Supporters Trust (PST), who sold it to former Disney chief executive Michael Eisner in August 2017. Last season the club was promoted from League Two to League One. They are currently ninth in the table. In a 2009 interview with Radio Solent conducted after he had bought Portsmouth, Al Fahim said: “To be realistic we need a new ground and we want to strengthen the squad and the academy. ”Hopefully we can have a new stadium in place by 2015

Friday February 16, 2018 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Your home might need some work today, Aries. You and other members of your household could decide to join forces and get everything done.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Visitors in your home, perhaps invited by others in your household, could put a crimp in your desire to be alone and hash out your thoughts today, Libra.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Expect a lot of letters and phone calls from lovers, close friends, or children today, Taurus. You might also want to make a few yourself.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You’re very intuitive by nature, Scorpio, and today you should be feeling especially so. Don't be surprised if you spontaneously tune in to the ideas and emotions of those around you

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Studying some paperwork involving your finances could bring a pleasant surprise. You’re better off than you thought, Gemini! Dividends or benefits of some kind might be forthcoming. .

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) his should be one of those days when you feel as if you could conquer the world. You feel strong and determined, Sagittarius, and willing to do whatever it takes to get wherever you want to be.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Today some information might come your way that inspires you to come up with some valuable new ideas, Cancer. Your own intuitive faculties are operating at a very high level

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) A business or love partner could bring opportunities for advancement your way today, Capricorn. You may decide to draft or execute legal papers that could be very important to your future.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Your intuition, physical and intellectual energy, and insight are at an all-time high today, Leo. You'll probably want to spend much of the day alone

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Today you’re likely to be feeling especially energetic and decide to give your house a thorough cleaning. Don't try to do this on your own, however. You need to conserve your energy. Get other members of your household to help!

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You could well be bubbling over with physical energy today, Virgo. You might want to spend your day visiting with friends. You could pick up some interesting information from them, which you might be able to put to work for you.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Insights that may come welling up from the past could be put to work for you in a positive way, Pisces. You could use them as inspiration

Sulaiman Al Fahim (right) was in charge of Portsmouth for six weeks in 2009. or 16. We would like to be a top-eight club by that time.” PST spokesperson Ashley Brown told BBC Sport the case “once again raises questions about how owners can purchase football clubs”. The Premier League has tightened its rules on ownership since Al Fahim’s brief spell, and stricter criteria now have to be met than at the time of his takeover - with changes introduced largely as a result of the club’s tumultuous ownership history. (BBCsport)

Inconsistent Woods From page 39 possession of the clubhouse lead while fellow American Sam Saunders was five-under through 11 holes. Former world number one Woods, playing in a high-profile group with four-times major winner Rory McIlroy (71) and reigning Player of the Year Justin Thomas (69), was forced to lean heavily on his short game given his struggles off the tee. Woods made birdie at his opening hole, the par-four 10th, but was inconsistent over the next seven holes that included a double-bogey, two bogeys and two birdies. The 14-times major winner started to steady the ship on his back nine, which he began with a birdie followed by a string of three consecutive pars that was broken at the par-four fifth where Woods opted for an iron off the tee. He pulled his tee shot left into thick rough and brought his ball back into play with his second shot but was still well short of the green. His pitch from about 40 yards bounced well past the hole en route to a bogey.

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Wozniacki and Halep ease into Federer closes in on world Doha quarters, Pliskova crashes out number one ranking Reuters - Roger Federer is one win from becoming the oldest world number one in ATP Tour history after beating Philipp Kohlschreiber 76(8) 7-5 in the last 16 of the Rotterdam Open yesterday. The 36-year-old needs to reach the semi-finals to overtake Rafael Nadal at the top of the rankings and reclaim the world number one ranking for the first time since November 2012. Kohlschreiber, 34, had not beaten Federer in 12 attempts but on his own service game proved a tough opponent for the Swiss, pushing him all the way to a first set tiebreak. The German even had two set points but could not convert them as Federer rallied and placed a forehand perfectly beyond Kohlschreiber to take the lead in the match after 54 minutes. The second set followed a similar pattern but with Kohlschreiber, ranked 36 in the world, more attuned to Federer’s serve and improving his return rate. He still had to save four break points without getting close himself to threatening the Australian Open

Roger Federer holds his Australian Open trophy as he is welcomed by fans upon his arrival at Zurich Airport, Switzerland January 30, 2018. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann. champion’s serve. Kohlschreiber’s resistance was finally breached in the 11th game as 20-times grand slam winner Federer overpowered his opponent and went on to comfortably serve out the set. Federer would surpass American Andre Agassi as the oldest world number one

if he wins his next match in Rotterdam and he would also set another record of the longest gap (five years and 106 days) between periods as number one. He already holds the record for most weeks spent at number one, having topped the rankings for a combined 302 weeks.

Reuters - Caroline Wozniacki and Simona Halep cruised into the quarter-finals at the Qatar Open yesterday, while defending champion Karolina Pliskova was knocked out by qualifier Catherine Bellis.World number one Wozniacki, who won the Australian Open last month, survived a topsyturvy opening set to beat Romania’s Monica Niculescu 7-5 6-1. Wozniacki raced to a 4-1 lead but then struggled against Niculescu’s crafty slices to lose four consecutive games.The Dane regained her composure and went on to drop just one more game to book a quarter-final spot after an hour and 30 minutes of play on center court. Earlier in the day, Halep shrugged off a slow start to beat Latvian Anastasija Sevastova 6-4 63, keeping her hopes of regaining the number one ranking alive this week. The 26-year-old Romanian rallied back from an early break and remained aggressive throughout, landing 29 winners to 21 unforced errors. She converted five of eight break point opportunities to

Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki with Romania’s Simona Halep. REUTERS/Edgar Su reach the last-eight in Doha for the first time since 2014. Should Halep finish the tournament with one win more than Wozniacki, she will reclaim the top spot she lost after the Australian Open on Monday’s ranking. Halep will next face American CiCi Bellis, who claimed the biggest win of her career after overcoming world number five Karolina Pliskova 7-6(4) 6-3. Bellis looked fairly comfortable against her Czech

opponent’s powerful serve, breaking her five times on her way to victory in an hour and 37 minutes. “This was huge for me,” 18-year-old Bellis, ranked 48 in the world, said. ”I think I played a really good match and just tried to track down as many balls as I could. Obviously, I’ve watched her play for many years and she’s one of my idols for sure. I‘m just really happy to was able to get through it.”

Arsenal ease to victory over Swedish minnows in Europa League last-16 first leg Surrounded by ice and snow, Arsenal managed to avoid one almighty slip-up in Sweden last night. By the end of the game, seven of the 14 players that appeared for the Gunners wore thermal tights. Every single one of them had gloves on. Questions remain over whether Arsenal have the fortitude to do it on a blustery night at Stoke. They can, however, do it on a glacial Europa League evening in Ostersund — Arsene Wenger’s men making light of the finger-numbing conditions to virtually guarantee a place in the last 16. Nacho Monreal got the ball rolling with his third goal in six games and Arsenal didn’t look back, scoring another two to ensure Wenger has the opportunity to rotate his squad for next week’s second leg — just four days before the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City. Ostersunds — on the biggest night in their 21 year history — will reflect on what might have been. Their crack at glory ruthlessly shot down by Arsenal. In the end it was men against boys — Tom Pettersson even missed an injury time penalty which would have given Graham

Potter’s side a glimmer of hope. But yes, they lost; the Swedes, though, were far from embarrassed and can head to the Emirates Stadium next Thursday night with their heads held high. For Arsenal, Thursday’s occasion seemed far more inconsequential. Wenger’s been involved in far more meaningful nights. But with a route into the Champions League at stake, there was more riding on this for Arsenal than first appeared. Their hopes of qualifying through the Premier League look dead in the water. If Wenger is to convince the club’s ever-changing hierarchy that he is worthy of another contract — or even see out his current one — returning to European football’s top table will act as a significant bargaining tool. The strength of Wenger’s starting XI was representative of the growing importance attached to the Europa League — Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan both starting. And in sub-zero temperatures, Arsenal breezed through a night where many expected them to fall flat on the backsides.

Nacho Monreal roars with delight after giving Arsenal the lead on 13 minutes with a close-range finish from a rebound. (Arsenal FC Via Getty Images) Danny Welbeck — starting in his preferred central striking position — squandered two good early chances before Monreal fired the Gunners ahead after 13 minutes.

The goal stemmed from Sotirios Papagiannopoulos clearing Mkhitaryan’s effort off the line following a dreadful defensive mix-up from the home team.

But Monreal scored from the resultant corner, tapping home after Ostersunds keeper Aly Keita meekly spilled Alex Iwobi’s effort. Credit to the Gunners, this was a fluent and

potent opening; albeit against a team who should consider themselves fortunate to even be on the same pitch as some of Arsenal’s players. (MailOnline)

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Friday February 16, 2018

Kaieteur News

Regional Super50 Festival

Jaguars without key players for do-or-die final group game against Scorpions tonight By Sean Devers in Antigua in association with Vnet Communications, Bounty Farm, Noble House Seafoods & Playter’s Enterprise Many Guyanese leave everything to be done at the last minute and this is no different with the National cricket team here in Antigua. On the back of three consecutive wins, the Jaguars have somehow managed to find themselves in a precarious situation of having to win their last game at all cost if they hope to qualify for the semi-final stage of the Regional Super50 Festival. Tonight at Coolidge, Guyana Jaguars and Jamaica will face-off in a must-win Day/ Night game for the Jaguars, which will be without their three leading players for this important clash. The Guyanese Franchise returned to the top of the table with 22 points made up of five wins from seven matches while Scorpions are second on 19 with four wins from six matches. The other match today pits Kent Spitfires (17 points - 4 wins from 6) against USA.

The English County team will oppose Hurricanes (out of the race) in their final game on Sunday when Scorpions take on the USA in their last match. Already without Raymon Reifer due to ‘A’ Team duties, the Jaguars will lose the services of their leading runscorer Shimron Hetmyer (284 runs - two fifties and a hundred at an Ave 47.33) and their leading wicket-taker Davendra Bishoo (14 wickets) due to Windies World Cup qualifiers. Kemo Paul (13 Wickets) also left yesterday for Jamaica where he replaces the injured Miguel Cummings for the second ‘Test’ against England Lions. Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie, Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Paul Wintz replaces the three players. Chris Barnwell, who replaced Rifer, has made an auspicious return to Regional Cricket with 159 runs from four matches at an Average of 53.00. The 31-year-old Barnwell has a highest score of 89, best bowling figures of 4-35 and two man-of thematch Awards. The Scorpions are missing Andre Russell (271 runs from 6 matches at strike rate of 112.45 with two fifties and a century. Russell left

yesterday for the T20 league in Pakistan. They are also without Blackwood (Windies ‘A’duties) along with Skipper Miller, Gayle and Rovman Powell (Windies WC qualifiers) and will depend on 32-Year-old Chadwick Walton who has 280 runs with a strike rate of 116.18 and blistering 169 against Hurricanes. Andrew McCarthy (289 runs – one fifty and a century) is Scorpions’ leading run scorer and second overall in the tournament and the Jamaicans will hope that he continues his fine form tonight and gets support from openers Steven Taylor, Guyanese Trevon Griffith, Fabien Allen and Brandon King. Scorpion’s seven-wicket win against Kent after recovering from 57-5 to reach 240-7 in the last over, sneaked them back into contention and whichever team wins tonight should join Kent as the teams going through from this zone. Without Miller and Russell, the Scorpions bowling will bank on left-arm spinner Christopher Lamont who has had frugal spells opening the bowling, Oshane Thomas, Odean Smith, Allen, McCarthy and Peat Salmon.

The Jaguars also won their last game against the Hurricanes but a painfully slow 48-ball 14 from opener Shiv Chanderpaul who has 103 runs in two innings but just 50 from the other five, contributed to Guyana not getting a bonus point in that match. Chanderpaul, whose strike rate is 52.58, could be replaced by his son Tagenarine Chanderpaul or Ricardo Adams for tonight’s crucial encounter. Without Hetmyer, Chanderpaul Hemraj could be charged with giving Guyana a quick start during the ‘power play’ overs while Skipper Leon Johnson must lead from the front with the bat in this do or die game. It is pleasing to see Barnwell take the attack to the bowlers like he does in local cricket, batting with a level headed approach which resulted in him fashioning one of his best innings for Guyana on Wednesday. Sherfane Rutherford, Anthony Bramble and Romario Shepherd can all hit the ball a long way and score quickly, especially on the tiny ground which once hosted Stanford T20 tournaments, but they need to display sensible aggression. At 31, Wintz returns to Regional Cricket for the first time in just over a year and is a capable replacement with

Chadwick Walton ©Getty Images both bat and ball for Paul and should be in the starting X1. The bowling will revolve around Shepherd, Rutherford, Barnwell and Wintz with spin being provided by Veerasammy Permaul, Motie and if required, Hemraj. Once Jaguars win tonight, they will move to 26 points and even if Scorpions beat USA with a bonus point, they will still finish two points behind Guyana. Guyana’s hopes of

reaching a final since 2015 when they were bowled out for their lowest ever total (65) by Trinidad & Tobago or winning a title since 2005 when Chanderpaul lead them to Championship honours, hinge on nothing less than a win tonight. With teams representing the Nations of the second and third largest populations in Antigua on a Friday night this game could have the largest crowd of the tournament so far.

CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield

GDF drawn in Group ‘B’; Dom. Republic to host inaugural tourney Miami – The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) announced yesterday that the Dominican Republic will host the inaugural edition of the CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield, scheduled to be played from April, 13 – 21, next. The Guyana Defense Force, the nation’s Elite League champions has been drawn in Group ‘B’. The newly launched championship forming the base of the CONCACAF club competition platform the Car-

ibbean Club Shield features twelve teams from twelve different Member Association leagues, all of which are working with CONCACAF’s Development Department towards a long-term vision to professionalise the club game across the region. The Dominican Republic was selected as host of the inaugural Caribbean Shield after a detailed regional evaluation process. ”CONCACAF is proud to announce that the Caribbean Shield will be launched in the Dominican Republic. It was of

the utmost importance to our team at CONCACAF to find the right stage for this developmental tournament, and provide a great environment to these twelve champion clubs to experience international football,” said CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani. “Along with on-going club licensing and league development efforts in the Caribbean, the Shield represents the Confederation’s ONE CONCACAF commitment and robust efforts to support and develop club football in the Caribbean.” The participating clubs for the 2018 Caribbean Shield are (in alphabetical order by Member Association): SV Deportivo Nacional, Aruba, Weymouth Wales FC, Barbados, SV Real Rincon, Bonaire, Bodden Town FC, Cayman Islands, RKSV Centro Dominguito, Curacao, Hard Rock Sports Club, Grenada, USR Sainte-Rose, Guadeloupe, Guyana Defence Force, Guyana, Club

Franciscain, Martinique, Cayon FC, St. Kitts and Nevis, Avenues United FC, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Inter Moengotapoe, Suriname. These clubs represent Member Associations with up-and-coming leagues, working their way towards full professional standards, following the CONCACAF league professionalisation roadmap. CONCACAF’s wideranging club licensing and league development programs are designed to raise the level of the club game throughout the region, creating more access and opportunity for development of players and officials, and resulting in further growth and an improved level of competition throughout the CONCACAF club competitions platform. In addition to meaningful competition on an international stage, the Caribbean Club Shield provides clubs from Member Associations

from across the Caribbean a direct pathway to the Confederation’s top regional club championships. Together with the Caribbean Club Championship, now underway and featuring eight professional clubs from the four club leagues in the Caribbean with the highest professional standards – the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago — the Caribbean Club Shield will serve as a qualifying tournament for the Scotiabank CONCACAF League, and open the door for wider participation of Caribbean clubs in Confederation championships at the highest level. The winner of the 2018 CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield, if it fulfills CONCACAF Regional Club Licensing criteria, will have the opportunity to face the fourth-place finisher of the 2018 Caribbean Club Championship in a playoff match, to determine the fourth Caribbean representative in the

2018 Scotiabank CONCACAF League. 2018 CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield - Clubs: 12 from 12 Caribbean Member Associations Group A: SV Deportivo Nacional (ARU), Inter Moengotapoe (SUR), Weymouth Wales FC (BRB) and USR Sainte-Rose (GPE). Group B: Guyana Defence Force (GUY); Avenues United FC (VIN); Hard Rock Sports Club (GRN) and SV Real Rincon (BOE). Group C: Cayon FC (SNK), Bodden Town FC (CAY), RKSV Centro Dominguito (CUW) and Franciscain (MTQ). Competition Format: The twelve participating clubs will be sorted into three groups of four for the Group Stage. After round-robin play, the three group winners, plus the best second-place finishers will advance to the semifinals. The semifinal winners will automatically qualify to the championship final.

Friday February 16, 2018

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Kaieteur News

GFF/Pele Alumini Frank Watson U15 League – EBFA

Timehri Red Ground to host seven games this weekend

Red Force forced to wait on semis spot after defeat Hampshire beat Marooners by nine wickets

Flashback! This Kuru Kururu Warriors player is being closely observed by his Grove counterpart with colleagues in pursuit on January 19 last at the Grove Playfield. Competitive football is set to make a grand return to the Timehri Red Ground tomorrow and Sunday when the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) leg of the GFF/ Pele Alumini Frank Watson U15 Intra Association League continues. The regular venue, Grove Playfield has been left in an unplayable state due to consistent rainfall well over one week now. Timehri Panthers

Football Club which has made a welcome return to competitive football in the EBFA has approached the association to host matches at the venue. A subsequent inspection of the remedial works being done, led by Adrian Gonsalves was made by EBFA officials and a decision made in the affirmative to schedule matches for that venue.

Saturday February 17th Match Day 6 Team Team Friendship vs Timehri Agricola vs Diamond Upsetters Grove vs Diamond United Sunday February 18th Match Day 7 Mocha vs Samatta Point/KV Herstelling vs Soesdyke Friendship vs Kuru Kururu Swan FC vs Timehri

Agricola Red Triangle head the point’s table with 9 followed by Grove High Tech (8), Samatta Point/Kaneville (7), Herstelling Raiders (6), Mocha Champs (4), Timehri Panthers, Friendship All Stars, Swan FC, Kuru Kururu Warriors and Diamond Upsetters all on 3 points apiece with Soesdyke and Diamond United yet to get off the mark. Following is the schedule of matches:

Time Venue 09:30hrs Timehri Red Ground 11:00hrs “ “ “ 12:30hrs “ “ “ 09:30hrs 11:00hrs 12:30hrs 14:00hrs

“ “ “ “

“ “ “ “

“ “ “ “

Big Domino Tournament set for Sunday in Linden The Linden community will come alive this Sunday when President of the Georgetown Dominoes Association Faye Joseph hosts a tournament at the Supervisors Club in the Mining Town, starting at 13:00hrs. According to Organising Secretary Mark ‘Jumbie’ Wiltshire, the event will see teams from Georgetown, Bartica and other regions converge in the Linden Township to battle the hosts in what is anticipated to be an enthral-

ling showdown for the prizes on offer as well as bragging rights.”It is another avenue to renew the long standing rivalry that exists between the communities and we are excited to go to Linden and beat them on their hometurf,” Wiltshire related via telephone. According to Wiltshire, the winning team will receive $ 175, 000, while the runnerup takes home 75,000 and 3rd place $ 35,000 along with trophies.Among the spon-

sors on board are: Faye Joseph, Tropical Reflections / Foreign Links, Dave and Celena, And 1 foreign products, Broad Money, Sports Rent and Car Rental, Ivor Hardware Store, Jermaine and Family Grocery Store, Hinds Gas Station and Rite Pharmacy.Teams interested in participating in the competition can contact Wiltshire on tele# 665-5855, Faye Joseph, Speedy or Arthur Chung also known as Swagga Boss in Linden.

Germany stay top as Iceland reach new heights Guyana is at 164 Iceland have climbed to an all-time high position of 18th in the latest FIFA/CocaCola World Ranking. The rise of the FIFA World Cup™bound Icelanders (18th, up 2) is one of the more notable changes in a February table left largely unaltered by a quiet period of international action.Just 34 international friendlies, 28 of which were in Africa, came into the equa-

tion, resulting in a static top 15 that is still headed by Germany, Brazil and Portugal (1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively, all unchanged). There was some significant movement further down the order, though, with Venezuela (48th, up 4), Hungary (49th, up 5) and Jamaica (50th, up 5) all entering the top 50 at the expense of Cameroon (51st, down 6), Ghana (54th, down 4), and Burkina Faso (57th, down 13).

Those losses by the African trio, and others in the continent, can be attributed both to results in the recent friendlies and to the devaluation of last year’s CAF Africa Cup of Nations in calculating points tallies. But there were gains as well as losses for sides in the Mother Continent, with Congo (88th, up 8) and Sudan (118th, up 6) among the biggest climbers. Guyana is at 164.

Lucas Street, Barbados, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago Red Force missed the chance to confirm their spot in the semi-finals of the Regional Super50, when they slumped to a surprise three-wicket defeat to Windward Islands Volcanoes here yesterday. Playing in their final Group A match of the competition at Windward Cricket Club, Red Force failed to defend 254 and will now have to wait on the outcome of Volcanoes’ final preliminary match against English County Hampshire tomorrow, before knowing their fate. The defeat, the third for Red Force, left them on 22 points and still favoured to advance to the final four along with title-holders Barbados Pride. Volcanoes, third on 17 points, need a victory and a bonus point from their final match – along with a superior net run rate – in order to eclipse Red Force. Sent in, Red Force got half-centuries from Tion Webster (58) and Captain Denesh Ramdin (50) as they got up to 254 for eight off their 50 overs. Left-handers Nicholas Pooran and Isaiah Rajah supported with 34 apiece as Red Force got themselves out of a hole at 184 for six in the 41st to reach a competitive total.Amir Jangoo (10) was an early casualty with Red Force on 34 in the 11th over but Webster and Rajah added 74 for the second wicket, to rally the innings. Webster stroked four fours and a couple of sixes in a 77ball knock while Rajah faced 60 deliveries and counted three boundaries.

Tion Webster @ CWI Media Red Force suffered a double blow when both batsmen fell in successive overs to leave the innings perched on 108 for three in the 29th over but Ramdin then produced a captain’s knock to prop up the innings. He stroked five fours and a six in a 44-ball stay at the crease, first adding 44 for the fourth wicket with Pooran, 30 for the sixth with Sunil Narine (15) before putting on a further 41 for the seventh with Roshon Primus (11). Former West Indies offspinner Shane Shillingford finished with three for 54 while pacer Obed McCoy picked up two for 28. A rejuvanted Volcanoes then produced a strong display with impresssive all-rounder Kyle Mayers top-scoring with 53 from 48 balls while aggressive opener Johnson Charles weighed in with 48. Veteran opener Devon Smith got 37 and Kavem Hodge, an important 32, as

Volcanoes reached their target with 21 balls remaining. Their start proved key with the experienced Smith and Johnson posting 58 off 43 balls for the first wicket before being separated. Smith faced 28 balls and belted a couple of fours and sixes while Charles cracked two fours and four sixes off 57 deliveries. But the peerless Narine accounted for both en route to figures of four for 42, triggering a collapse that saw five wickets fall for 66 deliveries. In turmoil at 124 for five in the 22nd over, Volcanoes were rescued by Mayers and Hodge who staged an enterprising 97-run, sixth wicket stand which took them to the brink of victory. The left-handed Mayers struck two fours and four sixes while Hodge was more sedate with two fours in a 66ball innings. Disappointingly, both perished in successive overs with the score on 221 in the 39th over but by then the momentum was with Volcanoes. Hampshire beat Marooners by nine wickets Hampshire defeated Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners by nine wickets in the day/night 34th match of the Regional Super50 at Kensington Oval yesterday. Scores: MAROONERS 124 off 33.3 overs (Kjorn Ottley 50, Kyle Corbin 31; Bradley Taylor 4-26, Gareth Berg 3-28) HAMPSHIRE 125 for one off 28 overs (James Adams 66 not out, Joe Weatherley 56 not out)

Inconsistent Woods five back of clubhouse lead at Riviera Reuters - Tiger Woods finished five shots back of clubhouse leader Tom Hoge after mostly struggling off the tee in the first round of the Genesis Open in Pacific Palisades, California yesterday. Woods, in his second start of the PGA Tour season after a year-long absence during which he had back surgery, shot a one-over-par 72 at Riviera Country Club in a roller-coaster round that included five birdies, four bogeys and a double-bogey. Hoge birdied the last to finish with a four-under-par 67 that left him in sole (Continued on page 36)

Tiger Woods. Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

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Friday February 16, 2018

Kaieteur News

Yadram cops EBSC cricketer of the year award, Albert is highest run scorer All-rounders Bhaskar Yadram and Vivian Albert dominated the awards when the when the Enterprise Busta Sports Club (EBSC) hosted its 2017 awards ceremony last weekend. Yadram, who represented West Indies in the ICC Youth World Cup in New Zealand this year, grabbed the Cricketer-of-theYear award among other prizes. The right-handed batsman was rewarded for making the Guyana Senior and the West Indies U19 Team that toured South Africa and Zimbabwe last year. Yadram who was one of the club’s centurions last season also carted off the Most Improved Player trophy. On the tour to South Africa, Yadram emerged as the Man-of-the-Series. He was the leading West Indies run scorer notching up 205 runs at an average of 41. He claimed five wickets at an average of 22.60. Yadram made his First-Class debut for reigning and four-time champions Guyana Jaguars in 2017 where he played against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes at Providence. Albert bagged four awards after an outstanding year with both bat and ball. He scored the most runs by an Enterprise batsman during the season, 637, and also captured the most wickets, 24.

The respective Enterprise Busta Sports Club awardees with their prizes. Albert recorded the highest individual score of the year 150 not out. Other centurions were Rajendra Chandrika, Kamesh Yadram and Ameir Habib. Pradesh Balkishun and Shelly Balkishun were rewarded for their selection on the national U17 and female U19 teams respectively.

Bishram Samaroo took the awards for the best bowling figures (4-14) and the best bowling average of 3.5- while Rajindra Chandrika batting average of 112.3 was the highest for the club. Seemangal Yadram, V. Gobin and Khalel Mohamed were recognised for their input in the smooth running of the club while Cu-

Tilku’s half century hands Christ Church seven-run win over Dolphin Secondary Ariel Tilku struck a half century to guide Christ Church to a seven-run win over Dolphin Secondary when the 27th Annual Easter Term Secondary schools fiveover Windball Cricket Champions Trophy commenced recently at the National Gymnasium. Tilku slammed six fours and five sixes in his 58 while Aaron Beharry made 20 as Christ Church managed 76 without loss batting first. Dolphin Secondary responded with 69-2, Shamar Yeawood got 38 and Jonathan

Adams 22. Cummings Lodge beat St. Winifred by 14 runs. Batting first, Cummings Lodge made 113-3. Damain Mohamed scored 32, Keshore Seepersaud 31 and Andrew Samaroo 24. St. Winifred replied with 99-2. Orlando Mc Donald slammed 52 (6x6) and Hemwant Sookram 22. In the female division, St. Mary’s overcame Bishop’s High by 10 wickets. Bishop’s High took first strike and got to 98-2. Kurseece King struck 58, Jessica Joseph 22 and Vashti Indarjit 10. Saint

Mary’s Secondary rattled up 104 without losing a wicket. In another game Brickdam Secondary got the better of El-Educational Institute by nine runs. Brickdam Secondary batted first posted 64-0; Tyra Atwell scored 34 and Glennis Stephens 26. Jos-EL Educational Institute scored 55-2 in reply. Carmel Secondary beat East Ruimveldt Secondary by 11 runs. Carmel Secondary managed 51-2, taking first strike. Siana Abrams and Shenella Ward scored 16 apiece while Selena Thom made 12. East Ruimveldt Secondary was limited to 40-1 in response. Cummings Lodge defeated Charlestown by 16 runs. Cummings Lodge batted first and rattled up 115-2. Cassey Charles stroked 53, Sarah Amin 25 and Amerisa Baithwaite 24. Charlestown replied with 99-2. Donna Lowe got 43 not out and Crystal Grant 14.

rators Chatterpaul Singh and Gobin received prizes. Club Secretary, Chandrapaul Tickaram, was also honoured by President Parmanand Dindyal for his dedicated work during the past season. The club presented trophies of appreciation to News Room Sport Editor/News Anchor Avenash

Ramzan, Guyana Times/TVG Sport Editor John Ramsingh and Kaieteur News Sport Reporter Zaheer Mohamed for their coverage of the club’s activities during the past 12 months.Dindyal in his brief remarks told the gathering that the club had an outstanding year on and off the field and hence the reason to show

appreciation to those who made it possible. The club also expressed gratitude to Muneshwar Hardware, R.P Construction, Star Sports, Rajesh Woodworking and Construction, Puran Lumber Yard, Harry Sanichara, Navin and Sons Construction, Factory Price, Trophy Stall and Super J’s Fashion.

Paradise Playground being rehabilitated Youths in the Belladrum District, through the Profit – Rising Sun NDC, on the West Coast of Berbice, are soon to benefit from improved playground facilities following the continued rehabilitation of the Paradise Playground. Last year, through a Social Cohesion initiative, the community received a grant for the rehabilitation of the playground facilities in Paradise. According to NDC Chairman, Mr. Emile Wilson, approximately 8 million dollars was spent on erecting a fence around the ground, and the next phase will see the sanitary facilities being rehabilitated, and bleachers erected to seat spectators. Mr. Wilson also said that the Paradise Playground which would have been the venue for a number of sporting activities throughout the years is in need of upgraded facilities, and so the fencing of the ground could be seen as the first phase of the rehabilitation of the facility. Plans are also in place for

the upgrading of the playing surface to bring it up to an acceptable standard and at the same time there would also be a remodeling of the surface which will allow for efficient drainage of the playfield as a whole. The Paradise playground would have been the home of a number of different sports teams: cricket, soccer, basketball, as well as volley ball, and Mr. Wilson is of the view that with improvement to the facilities at the ground, there would be improvement in the standard in the various sports discipline as a whole, and the ultimate goal is to make whatever team that is fielded from the area, a dominant force throughout West Berbice and further afield. There are plans to secure the services of relevant coaches so that talent can be spotted and harnessed early thereby helping young people to realize as well as to maximize their potential, rather than to fade away early because of lack of exposure.

Wilson also noted that there is need for activities in the district to engage young people, so as to present to them wholesome alternatives rather than to allow them to become ensnared by the negative activities in the community which have destroyed the lives of many young people. He is of the view that the much improved facilities at the playground together with the fielding of the various sports teams could go a far way towards keeping some of the young people away from the negatives in the community. There would be programs in place to attract more young people, and to provide them with the exposure which should keep them motivated. Funding for the completion of the project could be a challenge, according to Wilson, however, the committee is hopeful that agencies approached would recognize the needs highlighted, and assist the committee in realising their objectives.