Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News

PAGE 04

Saturday February 18, 2017

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 CRY FOR HELP In Guyana, children are quietly crying out for help against various forms of abuse, all of which seem to be on the increase. The nation can no longer sit idly by and allow this to continue. The year is barely a month and a half old, and there are more than a dozen reported cases of child abuse. Children are in serious danger. Physical and sexual abuse of children is occurring daily, with no solutions in sight. Child abuse has unfortunately become a common practice, especially in the rural areas. Children are suffering, but their cries have fallen on deaf ears. Sexual abuse is destroying our little ones and protecting them from predators should be a top priority, but it has not been Administrations both past and present have done little to break the vicious cycle of child sexual abuse. It is not an easy task. A summit should be held among all pertinent stakeholders to find answers. Historically, the most common child abuse was flogging and slapping. Now it has shifted to sexual abuse, which is depriving children of a normal life. Such abuse affects a child, his/her family and in the long term, undermines a nation. Studies have shown that it can be detected by changes in a child’s energy, motivation, conduct, schoolwork and eating habits. It is a long lasting trauma on children. While no universal definition of child abuse exists as the concept varies from country to country - it is generally understood and universally accepted that the human rights of a child should not be violated. Every child has a right to an education to realize his/her potential and share in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Child abuse is an act that endangers or impairs psychological physical health and development. It may be committed by individuals, individually or collectively, who by their age, status, knowledge etc. are in positions of power that render children vulnerable. Physical abuse of children consists of any nonaccidental form of injury or harm inflicted on them by a person, which includes beating, burning or wounding. Physical abuse is believed to be common in Guyana, where corporal punishment such as flogging and slapping etc. are in some cases still considered the norm. Corporal punishment that injures a child to the point where medical attention is required is unacceptable. It is not normal corrective discipline. It is sometimes difficult for even doctors to determine whether a child is the victim of an accident or whether the injury has been caused by physical abuse. Little girls appear to bear the brunt of sexual abuse. But the boys should not be forgotten. Several reports have indicated that a vast majority of the cases of child sex abuse are not reported; however, based on those that are, it is estimated that between 25 and 35 percent of girls have been sexually abused. It is a heinous act and many have resulted from incest by a blood relative. It may be the most common type of sexual abuse of children on account of the opportunities presented because of the predator being a relative. Another type of child abuse that is very prevalent in Guyana but generally goes unrecognized is child neglect or the failure to provide. It is the failure on the part of parents or caregivers to provide the basic needs such as food, nourishment, clothing and shelter to a child. It also includes a lack of adequate parental supervision to prevent injury, abandonment, failure to provide medical attention when required. Our children are crying for help. The responsible and capable among us must heed those cries.

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 police force must understand that criticism helps Dear Editor, I make reference to my letter in your newspaper of February 16, 2017 under the title, “”I have experienced “ghosting” in the police force.” Please allow for a continuation of my reply to the PRO of the police force by way of this second letter Those senior officers who crafted the response for the PRO were not on our senior management team when “ghosting” came to light so they may not have first hand information of what was reported. By the way the recent year end check of the police statistics discovered that divisions A and C that were showing a large percent of decrease in reports of certain serious crimes had an increase instead. I do not know if that was “ghosting.” It is now a well kept secret. They may be a denial. Perhaps it may be a case of simple arithmetic. Some persons did not add or subtract correctly. I am sure that it was not a case for the Office of Professional Responsibility to

investigate. I mentioned about serious communication issues and concerns at the apex of the management of the GPF. The PRO wrote about the Performance Group Meetings, the agenda and other irrelevant issues. It is sad to say that the communication between the number one and two men in the force is extremely strained if not acrimonious. Apart from group meetings, the communication is in writing. The other channels of communication are trickling if not blocked. There are some serious barriers to communication between the two men which are not yet for public consumption. Without effective communication, people do not know what is expected of them or how well they are doing. The situation is causing some quiet divisions among the senior members of the force. Cracks are emerging. Some explained to me that at meetings they are fearful to make contributions for fear of

being accused of taking sides. What does the PRO mean when he wrote, “ The fact is that the force in contemporary times underwent a lot of reforms in its management that makes it completely different from when Mr. Conway served. “ Where is the reform? The basic structure of the force remains the same as when I served. There was no “flatting” of the structure. The reporting system was changed a bit. They still have Annual Officers’ meetings. The police force is still a member of the Joint Services. Is changing the name of a meeting or events reform? Let us know of any substantial reform as compared to when I was serving at a senior level. Through the PRO we now know that the mission statement was crafted by United Kingdom consultants and implanted in the Strategic Management Department. Nothing was mentioned about consultation. No wonder it is greatly flawed. It states in

part; “To achieve this, we will work in partnership with communities, public agencies and private bodies to enhance and support an environment where all people are preventing crime and building a safer and secure Guyana.” All people are preventing crime and building a safer Guyana. It is unrealistic. It is not achievable. All cannot be involved in preventing crime and building a safer Guyana. The PRO is very silent on the contents of the mission statement. I have nothing but good will for the GPF. I want the police to deliver the highest quality of service to the citizens they swore to serve and protect. I praise them when they do well. I support and defend them on numerous occasions. I have been accused of being pro police. That is what I am. Whenever the police walk off the plank of professionalism I attempt to bring them back on the professional plank through my writings. Perhaps, that is (Continued on page 6)

Clive Thomas and the WPA have abandoned the Guyanese working class Dear Editor, I am adding to my letter in KN of February 16, 2017 with the title; “Nigel Hinds takes issue with DR. Clive Thomas on SARU.” Dr. Walter Rodney, when referring to the 1978 referendum in a speech stated: “the people are usually asked to vote on whether they would like to vote in the future and they invariably reply no…it’s an amazing trend in the world, however, after the Guyanese people voted no, according to the Government, 90% of us said no, although only 10% of us went to the polls”. Dr. Thomas and several others in the leadership of the WPA seem to have abandoned the working class of Guyana, some openly, others by hiding or writing in the margins on flippant matters or shadow boxing around the substantive and controversial issues of the day; always attempting to reference something worse that happened under the previous government, and never referencing the awesome and inspiring struggles of Rodney at the height of i l l e g a l i t y, b r u t a l i t y a n d disenfranchisement in Guyana. These “colleagues” of Dr. Rodney seem to have disavowed the doctrine of Walter Rodney, which is very relevant and much needed in Guyana today. American historian, playwright, social activist and political science professor, Howard Zinn in the Documentary about Democracy - You Can’t Be Neutral On A Moving Train noted “The racism that has been partly

extirpated in society, all of that was not done by government edict. It was not done by the three branches of government, it was not done by that structure, which we learn about in junior high school, which they say is democracy, it was all done by citizens movements, and keep in mind that great movements in the past have arisen from small movements from tiny clusters of people who have gotten together here and there, if you have a movement strong enough, it doesn’t matter who is in the white house, what really matters is what people are doing, what people are saying and what people are demanding.” Walter Rodney is our Howard Zinn and all Guyanese need to fully embrace the writings, pronouncements and sacrifice made by Walter Rodney, and resist the formation of oppressive institutions, division of our people and harsher living conditions before it is too late. The positions Dr. Clive Thomas has been assigned post May 2015 Elections are multiple: 1) Presidential Advisor, 2) Head of SARU, 3) Chairman of GuySuco and 4) Commissioner on the GuySuco Commission of Inquiry. Dr. Thomas is now deeply and comfortably entrenched in the bosom of the APNU/AFC government. No conflicts there that the blind can see. It seems to me that the powers that be in the coalition have an unhealthy fixation on Pradoville 2, particularly the property occupied by former Executive

President of Guyana, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo; the obsession goes beyond reason and logic and is divisive, counterproductive and to a large extent has brought the beast known as SARU into existence. It is inevitable that over time, if SARU ever becomes SARA, it will be an extremely powerful apparatus for witch hunting, persecution and be answerable to the beck and call of the politicians’ in power. We have already taken the exPresident to court on some wispy charge, considering all that obtains in Guyana during the pre-election period. Now to make him homeless! What an admixture of wasted energy, focus and resources; all with very bad intentions that will result in long term negative repercussions for Guyanese. In concluding, here is a nugget on the current wrecking of Guyana’s sugar industry: I would not go as far as the German Philosopher - Arthur Schopenhauer, who claimed the writings of another German Philosopher, Georg Hegel was written in a manner to deliberately obfuscate. Instead, I note that for decades Dr. Thomas has written about Guyana’s sugar industry and how it could be revitalized and made viable. Now with Dr. Thomas as Chairman of GuySuco, the crisis in the sugar industry has accelerated – it does cause one to wonder as to the usefulness of his research and lengthy writings. Nigel Hinds

Saturday February 18, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Minister Patterson can face the Committee of Privilege DEAR EDITOR, I thank your newspaper for my letters on the subject of GPL that have been published so far. Below is my conclusion. As with the case of the other two, I begin with a sub-heading. The Road to Electricity Loss Reduction GPL reduced losses from 45% in 2002 to below 29% by the end of 2014. Concerning the current PUUP (Power Utility Upgrade Programme) with a target of reducing electricity losses to 7% (5% technical and 2% commercial) in areas of earlier interventions we found that there were some Guyanese who set out to beat any “unbeatable” metering system installed and they were successful. We found that identifying various areas for commendation and others for shaming by the semi-annual publication of the losses

by geographical areas across the GPL network was very effective (commercial losses indicated as low as 3% in a few areas and as much as 40% in other areas), but the new administration has discontinued that approach. How serious are they in reducing losses? Taking Responsibility for GPL Finally we are concerned about the Hon Minister’s attitude to taking responsibility for GPL. On Sunday 12th February, much of Georgetown and the East Bank of Demerara and likely the entire Demerara Berbice Interconnected System suffered a power outage from about 8:00pm to 10:30pm and other areas from about 10:00pm to the next morning. Today, (Monday 13th February), as I write this at my office in the Office of the Leader of the Opposition (Church Street, between New Garden

and Peter Rose Sts.); I again suffered an outage from about 2:00pm to 3:00pm. I thought again of this presentation of the Hon Minister which did nothing to ease my concerns, concerns we felt obliged to share with our fellow customers of GPL, all of us citizens of Guyana wanting to develop our country. It is true as the Hon Minister said he did not receive in GPL “a silver plated company”: it is true that he did not receive a company already with the extent of redundancy that would be expected in an electric utility in a developed, rich country. But the Hon Minister should have been comforted with the fact that he received a tremendously improved company: with dependable generation increased from 30MW to about 130MW; with power extended to about 170,000

Minister Bulkan seeks clarification from Regional Chairman DEAR EDITOR, The following is a letter sent to Mr. Devanand Ramdatt, Regional Chairman of Pomeroon/Supernam. I am request publication of said in your newspaper. The letter follows: I am puzzled by your public pronouncement, made via a post on your Facebook page at 22:01 hrs on 2017.02.05. As you are aware, your post states, “The decision to bully vendors along the Anna Regina roadside “to remove” is not one made by the Mayor and the “majority” of Councillors of Anna Regina Town Council. No decision to remove vendors was made by the Council at its Statutory Meeting or at any other forum of the Council. We shall stand strong in support of the vendors and all working class people! Acts of dictatorship, like what is happening in Georgetown will not manifest itself here in our peaceful Region. There is no space for actors like Royston King here! . . .” The Facebook post was quoted in a report in another newspaper. The newspaper report also stated the following: Ramdatt added that the

People’s Progressive Party will stand strong in support with the vendors. Mr. Ramdatt, the minutes of statutory meetings of the council indicate the contrary. The following are indicated by the minutes: 1) On the 7th of April, 2016, it was approved at a statutory meeting that no permanent structure be allowed on the Anna Regina Roadside. 2) On the 4th of August, 2016, the council decided at a statutory meeting that it was approved that all permanent structures be removed within seven days. Additionally, the minutes of the meeting of April 7 were adopted without alteration regarding the relevant matter. 3) On the 1st of September, 2016, the said approval was iterated. Again, the minutes of the meeting of August 4 were adopted without alteration of the decision. I therefore require that you clarify: 1) On what basis or authority do you speak for the Anna Regina Town Council (ARTC)? 2) On what authority do you base your interference

with the workings of the ARTC? Mr. Ramdatt, be informed that you are a public officer who is expected to act within your mandate and authority, in the interest of citizens. Your position as Chairman is not a political office, but a public one. While you may, of course, speak in favour of the PPP as a private citizen; by virtue of your office, you represent the interests of all the citizens of the region. Therefore, you may be reasonably expected to confine your pronouncements to areas within your ambit. Similarly, one may expect that your actions, utterances and decisions would be guided by the needs of the citizens whom you represent rather than partisan interests. Chairman, I am of the view that your actions in this matter are unprofessional. I am further of the view that you tread on a slippery slope in politicizing your office.I urge that you change course and act with professionalism and dignity within the limits of your authority. I await your clarification. Ronald Bulkan Minister of Communities

customers from about 75,000 in 1992 whilst increasing the time the typical customer received electricity, from about 50% to more than 95%. We left GPL like much in Guyana, a great work in progress. In 1992 the PPP/C met a proposal to take the first step in advancing from the elementary long direct feeder line approach to installing three (3) substations in the network. In 1992 we considered the installation of new generators and the extensions of electricity to be the priorities. We were eventually able to arrange the financing for the Transmission and Distributor upgrade programme. Thus the GPL the Minister received, among other things, had recently completed the installations of nine (9) substations with twenty-seven new distribution feeders, a new control centre with modern control capability with the need recognized and arrangements initiated from additional substations. Vreed-en-Hoop PowerStation The Hon Minister spoke disparagingly about the sitting of the Vreed-en-Hoop station, in a swamp. He should be advised that many books speak about Georgetown and the devel-

oped Guyana coastlands being in an intertidal swamp, kept dry by the seawalls and kokers. He should be advised that the old (now abandoned) Versailles station was flooded by a number of high tides each year. He should have a look at what remains of the first power station at Kingston and be advised that to facilitate the delivery of fuel and to provide water for cooling many power stations are placed on the banks of rivers. The Vreed-en-Hoop location is a very natural and logical location. We of the PPP/C are ready to admit that as we Guyanese progress we find ourselves more and more in learning situations at the forefront of local experience and practice. There were a number of things learnt as we proceeded with the Vreed-enHoop power station. With respect to the contract for the fuel pipeline, subsequent to awarding the contract, we increased the pipe size (to reduce fuel discharge time) and laid it on piles rather than on the river dam and this incurred a worthy increase in cost. GPL had discussed the drawings with all the relevant parties but as the job progressed MARAD recognized that the ship unloading fuel would be in a channel and

called for changes to take the discharging ship out of the channel, creating the need for dredging and maintaining a discharging basin. Nearly every dock along the Demerara River requires periodic dredging. In his speech the Hon Minister seemed to be bemoaning the fact that only recently the dock had been put in use (GPL has been trucking fuel across the Demerara Harbour Bridge until lately). The Minister should be aware that he has been in the seat for some eighteen months now. Many of the things he bemoaned are now his responsibility, his challenge. He may be condemning himself. In conclusion: To the Committee of Privilege After giving this comprehensive response to the many misguided statements and misinformation provided by the Minister of Public Infrastructure particularly on the Wartsila contract and the AFHP appraisal, when the motion on GPL was debated it is expected that he either publically correct these misleading statements or we will seek to take him to the Committee of Privilege. Bishop Juan Edghill, PPP/ MP

Authoritarian rule has returned to Guyana DEAR EDITOR, There is an abundance of incontrovertible evidence that authoritarianism, has once again begun to spread its tentacles in an institutionalized fashion across the constitutional apparatus of the State. In previous essays, I have detailed systematic attempts by the Executive to undermine constitutional offices and institutions whose functional responsibility is to check, oversight and scrutinize the Executive and to guard against excesses and abuse of power. These include: the National Assembly, the Judiciary, the Judicial Service Commission, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Auditor General’s Office, the Public Service Commission, the Police Service Com-

mission, the Public Utilities Commission and the Police Complaints Authority. In each of these organizations, there have been documented attempts to interfere with, undermine, or publically assault officers, as they attempt to discharge their respective mandate. Fortunately, most, if not all, of these attempts have been made public. Some have resulted in litigation. In some instances, adverse rulings have already been made against the Government by the Courts. I am not naive to think that the interferences which have been made public are the only ones that have occurred. Indeed, I know of many that have taken place and continue to take place but officials have refused to divulge information

because of fear of reprisal. Dismissal, termination of contracts of employment and refusal to renew those types of contracts have been one of the weapons used by this Administration against those who have refused to dance to their tunes or from whom they suspect they cannot extract political loyalty. This brings me back to exactly where I started. Authoritarianism has returned in an institutionalized manner and it has brought with it its companion: fear. Again, the main source of this fear is the Government of the day. Ministers are regularly reported in the press, speaking about locking up, charging and jailing people. The activities of SOCU have (Continued on page 6)

Kaieteur News Not in any text books

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Saturday February 18, 2017

Minister Jordan clarifies on the issue of VAT on private education DEAREDITOR, I refer to the lengthy Editorial, “Minister Jordan’s response”, which appeared in Stabroek News, Friday, February 17, 2017. As an editorial, I recognise and accept a newspaper’s right to voice its opinion, which may not necessarily concur with the wider public. When the SN reporter approached me in the margins of Parliament, I readily consented to an impromptu interview on my reaction to calls for the removal of VAT on private tuition. Indeed, I responded that VAT was first and foremost a fiscal tool and that it was not a cure for social ills. I went on to add that it was the income from VAT that will be used to cure social ills. But SN conveniently omitted this from

its editorial because it would not resonate with what followed in the editorial. In that statement, I was stating a simple fact. It was not meant to display arrogance, hauteur and hubris nor a lack of empathy as SN was so quick to pronounce and declare. The general populace is aware that public education is not at the stage that it should be. Our Government has recognised this, too. As a result, during last year, Cabinet had lengthy discussions on improving education at all levels. In fact, your newspapers carried several articles on this matter. There is also a Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the state of education in Guyana, which is on-going. We await the Commission’s findings that would help us chart a new direction.

There were many changes to the tax system that were announced in the 2017 Budget, including a reduction of the corporate and personal income tax rates, increase in the income tax threshold, and a reduction in the VAT rate. Taken together, all of the measures were designed to broaden the tax base; improve tax efficiency, collection and administration; and improve equity. Based on our estimates of increased revenue collection, and our intention to borrow $38 billion to finance the excess expenditure over revenue in the 2017 Budget, we were able to increase the budgetary allocation for public education to $43.1 billion or 17.2 percent of the budget, the largest spending to be undertaken in any sector. This

Authoritarian rule has returned to... From page 5 driven fear in the business community. Draconian legislation which concentrate huge powers in the Guyana Revenue Authority to access people’s confidential financial information, raid their bank accounts and prevent them from exiting Guyana have had chilling sensations on the populace. The despotic SARA Bill, which creates an omnipotent monstrosity as a Director, is by far the most frightening piece of proposed law in the Caribbean, if not, in the entire Commonwealth. SARU, which is located in the epicenter of Executive power, the Ministry of the Presidency, has a person as its head, who regularly passes public verdicts on other persons without any investigations even commencing. In one of his reckless ramblings, he has identified the height of buildings as the basis for investigating their owners. Several dozen businessmen and women have been suddenly chosen for audits by the Guyana Revenue Authority, running into hundreds of millions of dollars. In this atmosphere of apprehension, I could not get a single businessman who was prepared to institute a legal

challenge against the VAT (Amendment) Act 2017, which empowers the Commissioner General of the GRA to prohibit persons from leaving the country whom he suspects owe VAT, although the VAT which may be owed have not yet crystalized into a final debt. Of course, I was prepared to act as a lawyer free of charge. I called several of them. They all confessed that while they believe that the law should be challenged, they were fearful to do so because of repercussions from the Government. In the end, I was forced to file the proceedings in my own name. It is against this backdrop of trepidation that I must salute those who have stood up resolutely against the authoritarians. The single-mothers whose corehomes were being taken away by Central Housing and Planning Authority stood their ground and filed legal proceedings. They were victorious. The rice farmers from Region 5, whose leases were capriciously revoked by the MMA/DA, launched legal proceedings. They won their cases as well. Then the President, himself, attempted to revoke their leases. Again, they stood up and filed legal proceedings. These cases are still pending.

When this Government attempted to hound Carvil Duncan out of office, he stood his ground and challenged them in Court. Those proceedings are still pending. When the Attorney General attempted to boot Zana Frank from her lawful appointment as Deputy Registrar of Deeds, she stood firm in resistance and challenged the unlawful interference in the High Court. She won her case. When the President attempted to expropriate the leasehold interest of the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre, they defied him; that matter is also pending in the Court. When the Attorney General attempted to intimidate and embarrass the Deputy Solicitor General and the Solicitor General, they both stood their ground and defended themselves, admirably, in the public domain, exposing his undeniable incompetence in the process. When the City Council attempted to, dictatorially, impose a punitive parking meter system in Georgetown, a group of civicminded citizens unleashed their wrath against it, putting the future of the project in doubt. In most of the examples cited above, the Judiciary, although under attack itself, rose to the challenge and has played its conceptual role as the bulwark of the citizenry against Executive excesses Anil Nandlall

signals the high priority and urgency given by this Government to improving the quality and delivery of public education. I refer the newspaper to pages 58-62 of the 2017 Budget Speech, where the many interventions that are contemplated are highlighted. Among them are: $1.9 billion for the school feeding programme, which has been expanded since this Government took office; $3.5 billion for the construction, rehabilitation and extension of schools and teachers’ quarters; $578 million to purchase textbooks; $424 million to provide free school uniforms to children in the public school system; $2.4 billion to improve learning outcomes at secondary schools; and $337 million for the Programme for Emergency Education Reform (PEER), specifically geared to tackle deficiencies in Mathematics and English. In addition, 481 trained teachers were added to the pool of qualified teachers in the public school system last year and 600 more are expected to graduate this year. One will not fail to notice that while the Government continues to expend millions on training its teachers, the private school system benefits immensely by merely offering a better salary to them - something they can afford to do by, for example, charging fees ranging from $40,000 to $60,000 at the nursery level. Further, our Government intends to distribute 9,500 laptops to improve classroom productivity. And, next week, I will be in Washington to negotiate a new loan for secondary education from the World Bank. So much more needs to be done, but we have begun a concerted effort to improve the situation in the shortest possible time. After all, public schools remain, by far, the

largest component of our education system. I wish to make a few additional points. First, prior to the recent amendments, educational materials were zerorated, meaning that private school providers had to claim refund of VAT imposed on a wide range of school supplies. Now, all of these items have been moved to the Exempt Schedule, which means that no VAT is charged and none has to be refunded. Please note that the entire list of educational materials in the previous Schedule has been retained in the new Schedule. This is important because there has been idle talk of geometry sets, dividers and textbooks, among others, now attracting VAT. This is totally false, as can be easily referenced from the Exempt List that was published on a number of occasions in all of the dailies. Second, no VAT is charged on the tuition fees paid to any public educational institution. However, with the new amendments, VAT is to be charged on the tuition fees paid to any private educational institution.As of 2016, there were fiftyfour (54) such institutions registered with the Guyana Revenue Authority, few of whom were tax compliant, including submission of yearly income and corporate tax returns. The imposition of the VAT on tuition fees falls on the payer (parent) rather than the payee (educational institution). The argument has been made, at least by Dr. Brian O’Toole, that some parents would not be able to afford it. Perhaps, this argument has some merit. But, is the solution the complete removal of the VAT or to find creative ways to overcome it? One such solution is the absorption of the 14% VAT

by GT&T. Note carefully, in this case, that though it appears altruistic, the absorption merely represents a reduction in the payment of corporate taxes due by the telephone company. A similar arrangement has been implemented by the CJIA, which has decided to absorb the VAT to be applied when parking at the airport. In like manner, the private educational institutions may wish to consider similar approaches. SN’s editorial is replete with statements such as “Minister Jordan does owe the public a more structured and properly articulated response ...” and “... may trigger a more considered and cerebral response by Minister Jordan...” Numerous and lengthy submissions were made during the debate on the VAT in Parliament. These were aired live and covered by all the newspapers. An accurate record of the proceedings can be found in the Hansard of Parliament. In addition, I have made several public pronouncements before, during and after the debate on VAT. Other officials, including the Commissioner General of Guyana Revenue Authority, have been doing their part to educate the public on the changes and the need for them. I have consistently indicated, virtually from Day One, that our Government intends to lower the VAT rate, in keeping with its manifesto promise, but to do so would have required a broadening of the tax base to include items of goods and services not covered previously. It took this Government two studies and 18 months after coming into office to keep its promise. We do not intend to stop there. As our economy improves, citizens can expect more benefits in the form of even lower taxes and better incomes. Minister Winston Jordan

The police force must understand that... From page 4 the issue that a few members of the force do not like. The studies that I quoted from in my original letter are international best practices. They are relevant to the Guyana Police Force and fit nicely into the Guyanese culture. By the way, did the police considered to what extent studies of crime in developing countries and the culture of the people in those coun-

tries are common and different from the culture of Guyanese before they sent 186 members of the force on overseas training, or accepted the international training conducted locally for 405 ranks? T h a t w a s t h e q u estion asked of me by the PRO when I quoted from the works of various overseas law enforcement experts. The PRO suggests that I

positively expend my energies in conducting surveys to determine citizens’ approval or disapproval of the performance of the police. Let me be clear; I do not have the time nor competence to do such surveys. If I do, PRO may again accuse me of cutting and pasting as he did in response to my letter to the editors. Instead of being reactive the PRO can be proactive by conducting some surveys on the public’s perception on the performance of the police. Clinton Conway Assistant Commissioner of Police (Retired)

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Govt. shall determine fate of SARA Pulling out of corresponding banks in region… Bill in National Assembly - Harmon CARICOM Finance Committee to oversee strategic plan roll-out

While there have been recent calls for the State Asset Recovery Agency (SARA) Bill to be sent to a parliamentary select committee for much needed work, the Government asserts that the way forward will be decided in the National Assembly come March 9. This is according to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon. During a post-Cabinet press briefing yesterday, he was asked by the media to state whether the concerns regarding the Bill have been taken to the level of Cabinet. Harmon made it clear that before the SARA Bill reached the level of Cabinet, it was subjected to wide consultations which were led by Attorney General, Basil Williams. The Minister of State acknowledged that there were some concerns regarding some aspects of the Bill. He said that those concerns were taken into consideration before the Bill was laid in the National Assembly. “In the house, it is expected that it will be debated on March 9 and at the end of it, if there are issues that have arisen that have propelled us in a certain direction, whether to pass it or send it to committee, then that is a decision that will be made then,” Harmon stated. He noted that the call by the Private Sector Commission for the Bill to go to a special select committee is a move that fundamentally seeks to give the public another opportunity to comment on it. Harmon maintained, however, that there were several opportunities before, for comments

to be made regarding the Bill. “But what I want to say is that when you get an opportunity to comment on things, ensure your membership gets an opportunity to speak, because you cannot keep legislation moribund… just waiting and waiting and waiting,” Harmon said. The Minister stressed that the Government is intent on moving the country forward. He said that the Bill will give the particular entity the legal coverage needed to go after those who, in some cases, stole state assets. “The Bill is a government Bill and Government will determine what happens to its Bill,” Harmon said. The politician reminded, however, that if it is found that some areas of the Bill still need much clarification, then that would be a strong motivator for it to go in the direction of the special select committee. UNCHECKEDAND UNCHANGED The Private Sector Commission has since expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that the SARA Bill which was laid in the National Assembly a few weeks ago is essentially the same Bill that was presented to stakeholders last year during consultations. The Commission stated that while the consensus of businesses is that there is a need for unlawfully appropriated assets of the State to be recovered, it was felt that the SARA Bill provides too much unchecked power to the Agency. The body believes that based on the Bill, the Direc-

tor of SARA supersedes the Courts, the Commissioner of Police and the CommissionerGeneral of the Guyana Revenue Authority. It said that the Bill will impede business progress as it allows for harassment and political victimization of legitimate businesses. The Commission commented that the Bill allows staff of the Agency to arbitrarily look at private accounts and financial information of citizens without due process. It also noted that the Bill should be recalled and amended to be consistent with the constitutional rights of citizens. MISUNDERSTANDING CEO of the State Assets Recovery Unit, Aubrey Heath-Retemyer recently told Kaieteur News that the changes proposed by the Commission were based on the fact that they did not understand several aspects of the Bill. The SARU Officer said that while the Commission was not alone in this boat, efforts were made to ensure that all misunderstandings regarding the Bill were clarified. He said, “I do recall their concerns with the Bill, but the truth is that the criticisms we received on the Bill were largely due to the fact that people did not understand it, and that was the case with the Commission.” Heath-Retemyer said that there were no “substantial” changes made to the provisions, but there was some “tightening of the language used.”

Following the consideration of the Strategy and Action Plan submitted by the Committee of Central Bank Governors to Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government, the Committee of Ministers of Finance with responsibility for Correspondent Financing, will now assume the oversight of its rollout. This was disclosed by Chairman of CARICOM and President of Guyana, David Granger, at a media conference as the two-day 28th Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM came to an end yesterday. The withdrawal of Corresponding Banking Relationships (CBR) was one of the focal points of the meeting. Caricom’s Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, during a media conference hosted at the Caricom Secretariat last Monday, said that the issue was one that continues to exercise the minds of CARICOM top officials. Correspondent banking is a bilateral arrangement, often involving a mutual cross-border relationship in multiple currencies. A correspondent banking arrangement involves one bank (the correspondent) providing a deposit account or other liability accounts, and related services, to another bank (the respondent), often including its affiliates. The arrangement requires the exchange of messages to settle transactions by credit-

ing and debiting those accounts. Correspondent banking enables the provision of domestic and cross-border payments. These relationships facilitate a range of transactions and services, including the execution of third-party payments, trade finance, the banks’ own cash clearing, liquidity management and short-term borrowing or investment needs in a particular currency. In the Guyana context, Bank of America, the largest correspondent bank in the United States of America dealing with local banks, severed ties with several commercial banks last August. Based on previous reports, additional problems have surfaced, with commercial banks and citizens both coming out with allegations of a foreign currency shortage. The nation has also seen

rapid fluctuations in the exchange rates, specifically as it relates to the United States Dollar. Granger said yesterday that the community recognized the need for a regional approach and continued concerted, urgent action: to address effectively the challenge posed by the de-risking strategies of the global banks which result in the withdrawal of correspondent banking services; to strengthen the integrity of the financial system in CARICOM Member States; and to attenuate the perception of the Caribbean as a high-risk Region. “We noted, particularly, the need to strengthen Member States’ compliance with the global regulatory standards with regard to AntiMoney Laundering/Counter Terrorism Financing (AML/ CTF) and Tax Transparency Information Exchange,” President Granger said.

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Saturday February 18, 2017

Kaieteur News

CSME protocols on travel for skilled persons priority for CARICOM Completing the protocols on procedures relating to the facilitation of travel for skilled persons within the Caribbean region will now be of high priority for CARICOM. This was highlighted during a press conference yesterday hosted by Chairman of CARICOM, President David Granger, CARICOM Secretary-General, Irwin LaRocque and the next Chairman of CARICOM, Grenada’s Prime Minister Keith Mitchell. According to Granger, following discussions on the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), for which a review was received, the matter of free movement of skilled persons was ventilated. As the curtains came down on the 28th Inter-Sessional Meeting of The Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean,

Granger said that the Conference agreed on priority areas to be addressed, including the completion of the protocol on procedures to facilitate travelling between member states. Historically, the idea of free movement within the region was birthed in the 1989 Grand Anse Declaration. However, the original initiative has been adjusted over time. Under Article 45 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC), member states have committed themselves to the goal of the free movement of their nationals within the region. Some of the categories of skilled persons catered for under the RTC are musicians, artists, graduates, media personnel and sports athletes. To facilitate entry into another member state, persons must have a Certificate of Recog-

nition of CARICOM Skills Qualification. Upon entry, a person should be granted an automatic six-month stay. Granger, in his opening statement stressed that during the course of the Conference, leaders reflected on the importance of the CARICOM ‘Brand’ and the pride persons should have in their citizenship, citizenry and membership. “Every citizen of this Community must count; every citizen of this Community has rights, and, wherever our citizens are, they have the right to be treated as Caribbean citizens. There is no such thing as a ‘stateless person’ in our Community. There should be no such occurrence as a citizen of a Caribbean state being treated as inferior in any jurisdiction in the Community.”

During his remarks at the opening session of the Conference, Granger said that the CSME has the potential to enhance private sector growth and competitiveness by providing access to a larger pool of resources, facilitating the movement of human capital, catalysing the establishment of regional

businesses and encouraging the free movement of goods. He urged leaders not to allow the CSME to become a victim of equivocation and procrastination. CARICOM SecretaryGeneral Irwin LaRocque had said during this Conference that considerable progress has been made in implement-

ing the CSME. According to him, this progress is evident in the legal and institutional measures and mechanisms put in place to support the free movement of goods, services, skills and cross-border establishment of business. However, he said that there is much more to be done.

Tain domestic worker execution…

Alleged female mastermind turns self in The woman who was wanted in connection with the murder of domestic worker and mother of four Leelawattie Mohamed of 149 Sixth Street, Tain Settlement, has turned herself in to the authorities at the Criminal Investigations Unit, Whim Police Station. According to Divisional Commander Ian Amsterdam, the woman, who owns a business, was accompanied by her attorney Chandra Sohan. She was immediately detained. Amsterdam also disclosed that investigators have in their possession surveillance footage of the woman at a hotel in New Amsterdam with one of the accused charged for the murder. She also reportedly admitted to being present at the hotel with the individual. The Commander further stated that ranks will be working around the clock to obtain more information from the female suspect within the 72hour time frame. She is currently under arrest assisting investigators. Initial reports had stated that the woman was the mastermind who hired and paid Andre James aka Tattoo Man, Oliver Permaul aka Barber, his wife Nazeema Permaul, Rohan Johnson aka “Jamaicee” to execute Leelawattie Mohamed, after she found out that her husband was having an affair with the now dead woman. She reportedly

Murdered: Leelawattie Mohamed promised $4 Million to complete the job, but only $400,000 was allegedly paid to Permaul and his wife to pay James and Johnson, a Jamaican National. Johnson, who is said to have been the gunman, after collecting his share reportedly made a visit to a furniture store to make a

down payment on an item with his girlfriend Shabiki Alert-Thompson. All of the accused were charged on Wednesday for the capital offence of murder, they were remanded to prison and will make their next court appearance on March 4. Investigations continue.

Saturday February 18, 2017

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Kaieteur News

A government’s vision is distorted by its own blinkers It will take a lot more than letter-writing for the government to erase the perception that there has been witchhunting and cleansing within the government. The media has refused to investigate the charges and responses which have been made on this issue. This media has refused to investigate whether there were ethnic, political or other factors involved in dismissals, forced resignations and retirements since the APNU+AFC coalition came into office. The failure is reflective of the poor quality of journalism in the country but also, in part, is due to the divisions which exist in society. This, of course, does not deflect from the concerns about the poor public relations of the Granger administration. The government has a whole bunch of young people running behind politi-

cal leaders, reporting on every syllable out of their months and deeming this as public relations. But the kids to whom this task has been assigned are not to blame. The leaders of Guyana have always been of the view that they know more about how to improve the public relations of the government than persons who are trained, qualified and experienced in the field. The leaders will accept that their public relations is in a mess, but they will tell themselves that they do not need help in putting it right. They will convince themselves and those around them that they, the leaders, have the answers to fixing the problem, because they know what needs to be done. A government’s vision is distorted by its own blinkers. What it thinks it sees is not

what others are seeing. What it thinks it sees is not what really exists. But do not tell it to the leaders. They believe they know it all. This trait is not peculiar to any government. The PPP persisted for years with one individual, even though it was clear that he was not getting the message across because people were no longer listening. The PPP engaged with boring and one-sided political debates about its many controversial projects seen, though it should have been obvious that the lack of balance in the panels was more a meeting of minds than a debate. APNU+AFC‘s PR problems are part of a bigger problem. That problem is the mistrust and division between APNU and the AFC. APNU has no respect for the AFC. Forget all the fancy talk about

Dem boys seh...

People lying and Jagdeo charging De strangest thing happening these days. Fuh one, every day somebody house ketching fire. How this happening people don’t know. Wha dem know is that de whole thing start wid a man who get jealous and bun down he house because he wife go out. Another one wait till he wife drop to sleep then he bun down de house.wid she inside. But dem have stranger things happening. City Hall keep a press conference to explain all de things that happening. Is nuff people protesting. People who never had de courage to go pun de road when Jagdeo was president suddenly get brave because dem know that nobody would call out

de police. But in Jagdeo time, since people line up was de police in riot gear to confront dem. Dem boys seh that freedom mek de parking meter people talk stupidness. De first thing dem do was to tell people how de Board of Directors fire Cush. That was no problem until dem boys realize that de Board had only two people which mean that Cush had to vote to fire heself. But de parking meter man seh how de Board got more than two people and how dem deh all over de world. Now dem boys want to know how much Smart City Solutions dem have. One reporter ask de people if he can name all de directors. De man better than Jagdeo when it come to se-

crecy. De man tell de reporter that she got to wait till he file de matter in de registry. But is de same registry seh how de parking meter company only got two people pun de Board. De parking meter people get ketch wid dem pants down. And dem boys seh if people think that is strange, wait till dem hear that Jagdeo planning to file criminal charges against some government Ministers. Old people got a saying that do fuh do is not obeah. Soulja Bai plan to charge Jagdeo and he Ministers but he tekking too long, suh Jagdeo gun charge he people first. There will be nuff confusion. Jagdeo might even charge dem boys. Talk half and wait fuh more strange happenings.

being committed to the coalition. There are deep suspicions within APNU about the AFC. APNU is afraid that the AFC-controlled information machinery will shortchange its ministers. The information portfolio should rightly be that of the Prime Minister. He is the Minister of Information. He should be responsible for all relations with the media and this includes post-Cabinet press briefings, which is a carbon copy of what the PPP had. The Prime Minister should also be responsible for reporting on the presidency. But this is not the case. The information portfolio, while it supposedly falls under the Prime Minister, has been split up. There is a Department of Public Information which falls under the PM. Then there is the post-Cabinet Press Briefing which is usually hosted by the Minister of State within the Office of the President. Then the same OP has its own information unit which is heavily staffed and is headed by an ex-army official. All of this

undermines the role of the Information Minister. And this is the reason why there is no coherent policy. It is not that one cannot be developed. It is simply a case in which the information portfolio is split up among different units, thereby resulting in the confusion and ineffectiveness which is now evident. The government will say that there is no need to fix anything; that it knows how to deal with the problem with changing the present arrangement. The government is

however blinkered. It is not seeing what the public is seeing, because it refuses to get an independent assessment of things. In the meantime, while its popularity is falling, it believes its own propaganda that all is well in the state of Denmark.

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Saturday February 18, 2017

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

Leaders influence ordinary men and women Rewind the tape to two months ago; the very American border officials that are harassing Canadians crossing into the US were not doing that. Two months ago what we had was the opposite position - American immigration at US borders were not manhandling visitors, questioning them for hours and refusing them entry. They

have not exempted even Canadians. How does one explain this 180-degree shift? Two months ago, American immigration and border agents were fully aware that their president, Barack Obama, had an open door policy. They acted according to what they perceived their president wanted. As of January 2017, the US has a president that is hostile to people from Muslim countries.

He wants his border agents to screen them extensively. I am contending that if Donald Trump goes tomorrow and a democratic president comes in and orders a reversal of Trump’s immigration policies, those very hostile border security personnel would conform to the wishes of the new president. What is the point? Leadership influences people to act. People will do the things assertive leaders want them to do. It has been like this since time immemorial. When Socrates was sentenced to death, his followers cried openly in the streets. Since then leaders have held the key to social change. The example that stands out in the entire history of the world is Nelson Mandela. When he became president, his attitude was made known to the South African people – no nationalization of white people’s business, no vendetta against white people by the new Black state, no harassment of white people anywhere in South Africa, no retaliatory vio-

lence, display of racial tolerance, mutual respect among the races etc. From 1994 to the present time, the State in SouthAfrica has not moved against white businesses and the Black employees in the State have not discriminated against white people or made life difficult for them. Black security officials do not victimize white people. You don’t see in South Africa Black policemen violating the rights of white South Africans. The opposite situation would have obtained if Mandela as president was constantly haranguing white people and invoking Black wrath against them. There is no doubt that violence and social disruption would have long followed. It is the same with Mikhail Gorbachev in the USSR. If Gorbachev had asserted the greatness of the USSR and spoken aggressively of preserving East Germany as a part of the USSR’s sphere of influence, perhaps Eastern European communism would have still endured. When he came to power, Gorbachev spoke about freedom and changes. The East Germans felt that Gorbachev was no longer interested in keeping East Germany as a satellite state. They were emboldened by Gorbachev’s emphasis of perestroika and glasnost. They

brought down the Berlin Wall, bringing down world communism in the process. People adhere to what their leaders want. Jean-Paul Sartre, the brilliant 20th century philosopher puts it this way; “the point is to affirm the specific character of the human act which holds fast to its resolves while traversing the social scene and which on the basis of given conditions transforms the world…within a certain field of possibilities man steps outside his historical and social limitations ... and succeeds in making of what has been made of him.” (Source; Franz Marek, Philosophy of World Revolution, Intl. Publishers: New York, 1969, p. 54) What Sartre is essentially talking about here is the power of the individual to change the course of history, in other words, LEADERSHIP. It is this kind of leadership that Guyana has not seen in dialectical and philosophical ways after Independence. Burnham, Jagan, Mrs. Jagan, Hoyte were able to move their country’s population to accept and implement the things they wanted for the country, but it was not fundamentally transformational. Burnham was charismatic, but the setback to his penetration was his obsession with power. In the end, his followers

Frederick Kissoon began to question his wisdom when Walter Rodney confronted him and attacked that wisdom itself. Jagan was equally charismatic, but Walter Rodney, too, exposed Jagan’s limitation by showing how weak a leader Jagan was. Hoyte was bold and daring, and as in the case of Trump; his edicts and enunciations were implemented, but he faltered when large sections found his approach to economics faulty. This is what is going to happen to Trump. His influence on State employees will remain, because those employees know what their leader wants, but as the excesses become widespread and uncontrollable, diminution of influence will emerge. Guyana is not going to make it in the future, even with overflowing oil money, if it doesn’t produce leaders that can influence people to act.

Saturday February 18, 2017

Kaieteur News

Finance Minister explains VAT on private education fees While on the campaign trail the coalition of A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC), made several promises to the nation if elected to office. Among the promises made was a reduction of Value Added Tax (VAT). Following the May 11, 2015 National and Regional Elections, APNU+AFC was elected to take over the reins of the nation. However, applying its VAT reduction promise has not been as simple as bellowing a slogan on the campaign trail. In fact, Finance Minister, Mr. Winston Jordan, in a missive sent to this publication yesterday explained that Government recognized that in order to lower VAT there was a need to broaden the tax base to include items of goods and services not covered previously. “It took this Government two studies and 18 months after coming into office to keep its promise,” Minister Jordan related. Among the items that now attract VAT are the tuition fees paid to private education institutions. This development has been cause for concern to many private education stakeholders. Several persons have been calling on Government to reverse this decision altogether. This issue was one that was brought to the attention of Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon, when he conducted this week’s post-Cabinet press briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency yesterday. Harmon was told that the 14 percent VAT that private education tuition fees now attracts has in fact caused a number of students to part ways with some institutions, thereby amplifying the call by stakeholders for Government to remove the tax. When questioned about Government’s view about the call to remove the newly implemented tax, Minister Harmon

said “it is engaging our attention.” He however asserted that “I don’t know what the figures are about dropouts, but Minister Jordan did allude to the fact that a number of these schools are private charter schools [that] do not pay taxes.” “I think the Ministry is going to come out with some information which basically will lay the case on the table,” said Harmon, as he noted that VAT is not applied to any public education fees, but only that which is collected by private education institutions. According to Harmon, he has seen some letters from private institutions relating concerns about the implemented tax. “I have received copies of those letters which we are addressing, and to the persons I have already acknowledged receipt of their letters.” “But certainly, anytime there is a tax there is always a little push back on it,” said Harmon, as he pointed out that often the implementation of some measures such as new taxes cause people to suddenly highlight issues. “I believe it is in the implementation of these measures that people might try to put pressure on you to say that so many persons drop out and so on,” Harmon considered. In his letter yesterday, Minister Jordan explained that the imposition of the VAT on tuition fees falls on the payer (parent) rather than the payee (educational institution). “The argument has been made, at least by Dr. Brian O’Toole [Director of School of the Nations], that some parents would not be able to afford it. Perhaps, this argument has some merit. But, is the solution the complete re-

moval of the VAT or to find creative ways to overcome it?” questioned Jordan. He continued, “One such solution is the absorption of the 14 percent VAT by GT&T. Note carefully, in this case, that though it appears altruistic, the absorption merely represents a reduction in the payment of corporate taxes due by the telephone company. A similar arrangement has been implemented by the CJIA, which has decided to absorb the VAT to be applied when parking at the airport. In like manner, the private educational institutions may wish to consider similar approaches,” the Finance Minister asserted. Prior to the recent amendments, Minister Jordan noted that educational materials were zero-rated, meaning that private school providers had to claim refunds of VAT imposed on a wide range of school supplies. Now, all of these items have been moved to the Exempt Schedule, which means that no VAT is charged and none has to be refunded. “Please note that the entire list of educational materials in the previous schedule has been retained in the new schedule. This is important, because there has been idle talk of geometry sets, dividers and textbooks, among others, now attracting VAT. This is totally false, as can be easily referenced from the Exempt List that was published on a number of occasions in all of the dailies,” Minister Jordan noted. As of 2016, there were 54 private education institutions registered with the Guyana Revenue Authority, and according to Minister Jordan, few of these “were tax compliant, including submission of yearly income and corporate tax returns.”

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Kaieteur News

Saturday February 18, 2017

Arrest Warrant and Sharing of Assets Treaties for July confab The ratification of the Arrest Warrant Treaty and the Sharing of Assets Treaty - two important instruments to tackle crime and security in the Caribbean - has been deferred until July of this year at the 38th CARICOM Heads of Government Conference. This was disclosed by CARICOM Secretary-General, Irwin LaRocque yesterday during a press conference following the end of the Twenty-Eighth Inter-Sessional Meeting of The Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean at the Guyana Marriott Hotel. LaRocque, responding

to a question on the status of the two Treaties attributed the delay to the fact that some organs of CARICOM have not been meeting in a timely manner to address these issues. “On the Arrest Warrant Treaty, when Heads met here last July, it was agreed that the appropriate officials would have met and finalised that Treaty, as well as the Sharing of Assets Treaty, to be signed by Heads at this meeting and this is one category that is being referred to that we are lamenting, especially given the importance of security to us.” He added that the Heads

of Government have once again given their assurance to do what is necessary so that officials do in fact meet to address the particular issues surrounding the two Treaties. “Those matters are still under some legal consultation. That’s why I mentioned to you that we have to address consultation at the national level and the regional level to speed up implementation of those decisions.” It was anticipated that some significant headway would have been made at this inter-sessional meeting since Guyana’s cabinet would have approved a draft (Ar-

rest Warrant) Treaty to be presented at the Heads of Government meeting. In July 2016, regional leaders had agreed to have this Treaty put in place before the end of the year. It was agreed by the Conference that urgent steps would have been taken to complete a number of critical security agreements. Then CARICOM Chairman, Prime Minister of Dominica Roosevelt Skerrit had said that the treaty would enhance law enforcement ability to address matters of cross-border crimes. The Treaty was first opened for signature in 2008.

So far, only Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago have signed the treaty. Political offences and matters under military law are not covered under the treaty. According to the document, the Treaty came about to address the difficulties experienced with extradition. Member states recognized that the current extradition framework among member states is complex, costly and limited, thereby disallowing a system of surrender of persons between judicial authorities. Meanwhile, during yesterday’s media briefing, Chairman of CARICOM, President David Granger had said that the unacceptable levels of crime in the region

had engaged the attention of the Conference. “We have resolved to do more to curb the scourge, including placing greater focus on the social determinants of crime, especially among the youth. Our Attorneys-General will take action to finalise Agreements which are essential to the implementation of the Regional Crime and Security Agenda.” Granger said that CARICOM will be seeking to take full advantage of opportunities for capacity-building to address existing and emerging threats, including those related to Cyber security and Cybercrime, Crime Prevention and Drug Demand Reduction.

Saturday February 18, 2017

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Kaieteur News

“Punishment will bring out the worst in people” -Vendor tells Mayor, Town Clerk

Conway Douglas (in black t-shirt) making a point as Town Clerk Royston King (standing at left) and Mayor Patricia Chase- Green (sitting in foreground) listen “Is this a monarchy or what?” asked Conway Douglas, a vendor representing his colleagues at yesterday’s public forum held by the Mayor and City Council in the compound of City Hall. Pouring cold water on Town Clerk Royston King’s opening speech about camaraderie and the need for vendors and council members to work together, Douglas exclaimed, “We are not friends.” His contention is that the

Mayor and City Council did not exercise any care for the people of Georgetown, when the infamous parking meter contract was being signed. “You talk about democracy. This is a democratic country, but up to now, after there were two bodies established to represent the vendors, one of which, I happen to be a member, we have never been given a hearing with the council, so that we can have this back and forth conversation that you speak

about, but don’t practice.” Douglas continued, “Had you (the Town Clerk and City Council) considered going that way, I promise you, that this fix that y’all in right now hanging y’all bellies over ‘plimpler’ with this parking meter - would never have never been.” The vendor’s representative warned the Town Clerk and Mayor Patricia Chase-Green that small decisions have the power to wreak havoc in small countries. As in the case of

A section of the public forum gathering at City Hall yesterday the controversial parking meter project, Douglas said, “We have to stand up. If we lay down now, we will not have a proper, conducive environment for our children to live. We are poor people; consider us when you make these decisions.” Douglas, supported by his colleagues with loud cheers, delved into some of the issues affecting vendors. He told King that City Hall has been quite unfair to small vendors plying their trade in the markets and on the streets, while large entities are allowed to continue paying

small fees to operate their businesses. “We started off at $500, then within a short space of time, it went to $1000, and then it went up fuh Christmas (another $500), and never came back down.” He continued, “The people who own these big properties pay $1,000 and $2,000…these measly figures and we, the vendors, you look at it as $1,500, but many times, we don’t have it. Sometimes we have to beg for some milk and some sugar and we are serious about

these issues.” Some of the other vendors, who have been selling in Georgetown for decades, also complained of poor security, unbearable sanitation, and the unfair confiscation of their goods by City Constables, among other issues. As the complaints continue, the Mayor and Town Clerk promised to look into the plight of the vendors, but did not address their concerns about the parking meter project. (Rehana Ahamad)

Berbice vendors protest smuggling of fish, shrimp from Suriname By Malisa Playter Harry Fishermen and seafood vendors in Berbice yesterday held a protest to highlight a burning issue that has been affecting them for some time now, the illegal importation of fish and shrimp from Suriname to Guyana. These protestors are arguing that they are finding it difficult to compete with the illegal shrimp and fish coming from Suriname that is being sold at a considerably cheaper price. They complained that it is costing them a lot in the industry, since many of them would have invested huge amounts. The fisherfolk are irate at the fact that they are in competition with persons who are conducting the illicit business. Suedat Persaud, Secretary of the East Berbice Aqua Culture Association told reporters that “we are protesting the illegal entry of shrimp and Tilapia from Suriname, large quantities are coming in daily and it is affecting local markets and overseas markets”. He underscored the need to have their voices

Fishermen and vendors during the protest yesterday

heard so that the relevant authorities would do something to assist them. “ We w a n t t o s e n d a message to the authorities that if we do not get any feedback or a solution, we will continue to protest and write letters in the press.” He stated that the products normally pass through the backtrack route from Suriname to Guyana by smugglers, but it is putting a dent in the fish and shrimp industry. “Our cost of production is high compared to

Suriname, they have a big shrimp pond where they go and catch freely and sell, we have to use excavators to construct farms, we have to hire watchmen, sellers, a lot of cost” . Another irate vendor who has been in the fishing industry for over nine years, Premwattie Deonauth of Number 50 Village, argued that, “when I go at the market I see sheer Surinamese shrimp on the line. They are selling for $4000 and $5000 we can’t sell that to make any

money. We have pay $1.2 million a year to rent a pond. When we sell for that we can’t pay workmen... we got children to send to school, we can’t go there and bring that here to sell, they jail you, but they can come and do it here because Guyana is a lawless country; we need justice”. The illegal trading across the border with Suriname has been an ongoing issue for many years, with this country losing millions in revenue. The Guyana Revenue Authority has made it its mission, to at least assist in curbing the

issue. Other illegal trading includes the smuggling of elec-

tronics, food items, agriculture chemicals, liquor and cigarettes among others.

Sparendaam Court re-commissioned... From page 18 and John Magistrate's Court, Mahaica Magistrate's Court, Mahaicony Magistrate's Court. All of these courts, including the Sparendaam Magistrate's Court, are housed in the compound of village police stations. Due to reconstruction, for over a year, court hearings for the Sparendaam Magistrate's Court were held

at the Better Hope Community Centre, East Coast Demerara. Many persons praised the facilities at the Better Hope Community Centre as being more spacious, breezier and soundproof, in comparison to the old building where court sessions were interrupted frequently due to noise from traversing vehicles on the Rupert Craig Highway.

PAGE 22

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Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigrant Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496; 662-6045

Landscaping: We design, supply and implement residential and commercial indoor & outdoor Landscaping. Call 648-1821

Goat Creek, Riverfront , 75 Acres land -$7M, Lanaballi River Front, 50 Acres -$9M. Call: 688-0087

1-Leyland DAF GRR Series; excellent condition. Call: 6804101 Quick Sale: Twin steer Leyland DAF 1260 truck immaculate condition, new tyres, batteries, price -$5M, credit available. Call: 6893616/ 650-0858 One Toyota double cab Diesel pickup (black) in superb condition, VV series -$2M. Credit available. Call: 689-3616/650-0858

Riviera Island: 145 Acres $30M, Tuschen property $5.8M, $6M, $15M. Call: 6880087

FOR SALE/RENT 2 Storey house for sale or rent $15M, rental -$20,000 each flat- Call: 672- 9428/ 684-0036 Ms Ramotar.

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

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Honda CBR 929 for sale; also land at Bushy Park, E.B.E – Call: 694-4609 1 Big music set, owner migrating. Call: 690-5225

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Brains Construction & Rental Service: we rent all types of equipment, excavator, bobcat, trucks, tools. Call: 2190904/601-5024

1 Professional music set (complete), 1 Jacuzzi whirlpool. Call: 253-3070/654-2732

Space for rent at Ashmin’s ideal for commercial, office and cafeteria use, no deposit. Call: 616-9660/ 671-1846

1 Marina 40HP outboard engine with 14 Aluminum boat, 1 Yamaha 75HP outboard engine in excellent condition. Call: 643-1622

Lot 14 Croal & Longden Street: 4 Storey building (infront Demico). Call: 6631876

Design & Make Aluminum windows, doors, stainless rails, showcases, rolling shutters, make & install automatic doors. Call: 2336818/677-5599/659-9999 1 Hilux Manual- GSS 5822, 1 Noah, excellent condition, GVV 5554. Call: 641-2763 Like new Apple I-Phone 6 and I-phone 6 plus 64GB $79,000. Call: 675-3062 1 Slate pool table- $275,000, Toyota Wagon -$175,000. Call: 661-5099 2-90 Drums- metal fuel boat. Call: 669-7276

Prime business place on Sheriff Street to rent only for offices. Call: 627-6740 or 2278644

Bottom flat house @ 25 North Road & Oronoque Street, fully furnished/ air condition/residence / business. Preferably with no children. Call: 226-7012

Customer Service Reps for Express International. Call 267-2992 or email jobs@expresstrucking corp.com.

Land at Faria’s Dream, East Bank Demerara -$3.8M. Call: 665-8995

CAR RENTAL CAR RENTAL

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

DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM

WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP REATES,SPECIAL OFFER FOR THE SEASON. CALL: 690-6494

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

La Harmonie - $1.4M, $1.8M, $1.6M, $1.3M, Uitvlugt -$2M, $4.5M, Herstelling -$5M, Tuschen (front) $2.5M, price negotiable. Call: 614-6802 La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.4M, $1.8M, $3.5M, Farm -$6M, Uitvlugt -$4.5M, Tuschen School Street -$3M, Herstelling -$5M. Call: 6046724

Experienced puri/roti cooks. Apply at Shanta’s The Puri Shop, 225 Camp & New Market Streets. Experienced cook & cashier to work in Restaurant & internet café; preferably from the West Bank or West Coast. Call: 678-3400 Annabel Bistro. Live in or live out babysitter/ domestic. Call: 223-7500 Monday-Saturday 8:15-4:15

We pay immediate cash for land in Eccles, Herstelling & Farm, all legal fees and cleaning. Call: 233-3006/6585897/ 651-1969

I.A.E Classes for CSEC June 2017: Mathematics, English A, Business & Science Subject for Students, Adults & repeaters. Call: 683-5742

Eccles (100ftX50ft) New Scheme -$6M, Uitvlugt $2.5M, la Parfaite Harmonie $1.3M, Bartica -$6M. Call: 233- 3006/658-5897/651-1969

One live in female supervisor for bar & grocery starting salary -$80,000 monthly, age 25-35yrs- Call: 610-3974

One 2 bedrooms apartment in Covenden, East Bank Demerara. Call: 623-1615

VACANCY

Land @ Soesdyke, 6 lots measuring 135’X175’. Call: 627-3334/696-8935, email:fcranmore@guyana voice.com

2 Labourers, 1 mason/carpenter. Monday- Friday, 8am-4pm- Tel:265-3586

One male to work on chicken farm in the interior, must have knowledge about chicken rearing. Call: 680-2702

EDUCATIONAL

LAND FOR SALE

WANTED One driver/porter & porter. From Diamond, Grove area. Call: 216-1043, 677-6620

Property for rent; 3 bedrooms top and bottom flat house on W.C.D, Canal No #2 Polder -$35,000 monthly. Call: 613-1860

1 RZ Minibus, 1 3Y minibusCall:601-4929, 664-5444

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

Saturday February 18, 2017

Kaieteur News

Cook & baker for Interior location. Call: 618-2020 Manager for Farm, Kuru Kuru Highway, must have van & lorry license, 35years & older. Call: 680-9898 TO LET Room for working couple/ single person. Light, water, bed included $30,000 monthly, $30,000 security @ South Ruimveldt- Tel:6230076 1 Female cleaner for office in Eccles and home- Call: 233-2745 One experienced pastry maker; one driver with 3years experienced; one sales clerk. Call: 681-3983 Drivers, Carpenters, Security Guards. Call: 266 4427

Maid must know how to cook & clean well, need reference, preferably from E.C.D – Contact: 677-4637 Waitress to work in bar, experience female office clerk; age 18-25, security guards. Call: 638-5303/ 227-7380 Body work man- Call: 6603004 1 Experienced Diesel Mechanic to work in G/town, apply in person. Call: 2271717 Ladies from Zeelugt/Meten Meer Zorg area to do cleaning. Call: 662-9341/ 6848231 Drivers for water truck to work on W.C.D $50 per bottle/ $26,000 weekly. Call: 662-9341/ 684-8231 Vacancy exists for one cashier to work at an ice-making facility. Must have Grade One to Grade Three in English in Mathematics. Serious applicants only. Excellent salary. Call 619 9180 VACANCY Admin Staff; must be computer literate, Diploma in Business Management; 5 CXC Subjects. Call: 2181156/ email: info@cevons.com 1 Cashier, 1 sales assistant with pleasant personality & police clearance. Apply: written application @ 232 Camp & Middle St. Ice Palace Igloo. Call: 225-3672 (Continued on page 23)

Saturday February 18, 2017

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Kaieteur News

US$25M programme to build low-income duplexes, townhouses announced

An artist’s impression of the duplex as released by Government yesterday.

In a major shift in the country’s housing programme, Government yesterday announced that it has approved a $5B (US$25M) plan to build over 700 duplexes and townhouses to meet demands of low income families in dire need. The approval was granted Tuesday by the Cabinet after an application by Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan. The 758 homes will include both townhouses and duplexes, according to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon. Harmon made the disclosure at the weekly postCabinet press briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency.

Int’l standards key to realising independence for National Lab – Min. Cummings Ensuring that the National Reference Laboratory meets international standards is a crucial measure for it to operate i n d e p e n d e n t l y. Achieving this not only requires that the facility has in place the necessary equipment but also the relevant trained personnel. Even as the Ministry is working towards ensuring that its personnel are adequately trained, it is also working to ensure that the necessary certification for a laboratory of excellence is fully in place. “We have certain criteria to meet and we are working with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) to do this,” said Minister Cummings during an invited comment to this publication. The National Reference Laboratory has for sometime been relying heavily on CARPHA to facilitate a number of its tests. “Normally our specimens will go to CARPHA and then are returned to us...so we are trying to ensure that we have

trained people and all the necessary requirements to decrease that delay,” said Minister Cummings. The expectation is that the Lab will have all of the necessary measures in place shortly to test for viruses including Chikungunya and Zika. According to reports out of the Ministry, at least two persons have been trained to conduct tests for Zika. But even with the addition of trained personnel recently, it was revealed that there was need for the equipment within the lab to be recalibrated. According to Minister Cummings, the laboratory has been working closely with CARPHA to ensure that the lab is of international standard. “It is a work in progress. The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) is our technical adviser and has been helping us too. They have been working with us in terms of capacity building...they are helping us ensure that we have the train-

ing to ensure that the work is done in the right way, and to ensure that we have people who can maintain the equipment that we have,” said Dr. Cummings. The Minister said that, already, the support that the Public Health Ministry has been gaining, has allowed it to start operating with some level of independence from CARPHA. “We are being empowered now to do things that we couldn’t do in the past,” said the Public Health Minister. Using the lab to test for the Zika Virus is currently a major priority for the Ministry. The Zika Virus became a major public h e a l t h threat during the course of last year. For the past year, Guyana recorded a total of 35 labora-

tory confirmed cases of the Zika Virus. The Zika virus is spread by infected Aedes mosquitoes that bite throughout the day into the evening and at nights. They are able to breed around homes especially in collections of fresh water such as open black tanks, tyres, roof guttering, plant containers and other vessels. The Aedes mosquito is also capable of transmitting other viruses including Chikungunya and dengue too. A total of 842 cases of dengue fever were confirmed during the past year and there were 135 cases of the Chikungunya virus recorded. The Ministry was faced with an outbreak of Chikungunya in 2015 and is continually faced with sporadic cases as well as that of dengue fever.

Harmon said that the initial pilot phase will see the units in seven regions - 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10. The minister noted that the $5B cost is but the first phase of a holistic programme to develop low cost housing targeting public sector employees, youths and low income earners. The project is expected to start almost immediately and it was anticipated that in the span of 12 months it will be completed, the minister disclosed. Another phase is expected to start within the next two years in several communities. According to the official, the important distinction in the initiative that Government wants to make is that it will not just be issuing house lots, but will be involved in building homes within the communities for the citizens. While the Ministry of Communities is expected to provide more details in the

coming days, Harmon noted that the application process for the units will be similar to what prevails for house lots. At the moment, the Central Housing and Planning Authority, which falls under the Ministry of Communities, has over 25,000 applications for house lots and turn-key homes. But there is very little land on the coastland that Government can find to allocate. Most of the lands are privately owned. For this particular phase, an initial 1500 families have been shortlisted as most critical, it was disclosed yesterday. The contracts will in all likelihood be going largely to local contractors with the idea to generate demand for local materials, Harmon said. He added that it will help to positively impact activities in the forest sector and other areas which have become dormant over time.

(From page 22)

PROPERTY FOR SALE Tuschen 5,8,6,2 bedrooms; Hope- 2 bedrooms $7.8M, Enmore Land -$1.8M, Hogg Island 20 acres $8M Call: 688-0087 2 Storey building located at 50 Durban & Halley streets, Wortmanville- Call:231-5108, 625-8884 Property @ 87E, Albert Street, Alberttown, front lot, size 80X20 prices $35Million. Call: 669-8701

SERVICES Repairs at low cost: Fridges, air- conditioners, washing machines, TVs, microwaves, freezers- Call:6294946 or 225-4822 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezer-Call: 610-5846 or 661-8158

FOR RENT LAND FOR SALE 60X200 Gibraltar Public Road, Corentyne. Call: 6296756/ 674-7832

FOR RENT Building for rent (75ftX24ft); convenient parking space (50ft), location- Parika. Contact Ramo: 660-1248

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Saturday February 18, 2017

Kaieteur News

Belizean jurist heading to Caribbean Court of Justice

Justice Denys Barrow Belmopan, Belize, CMC – A former judge of the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal, Denys Barrow, is to become a judge at the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), the

region’s highest court. Barrow, who also served as a Court of Appeal judge here, has confirmed his appointment was made by the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission.

He is likely to take up his new appointment in June and will replace the Trinidad-born Justice Rolston Nelson, who is retiring from the bench. The CCJ has not confirmed or denied the report regarding Barrow. The CCJ was established in 2001 to replace the London-based Privy Council as the region’s final court. It has both an Appellate and Original Jurisdiction and serves as an international Tribunal interpreting the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas that governs the 15-member regional integration movement. While most of the CARICOM countries are signatories to the Original Jusridtcion of the Court, only Dominica, Barbados, Guyana and Belize are members of its Appelate Jurisdiction.

US fugitive arrested in Jamaica after 15 years on the run KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Keemeit Melaun Hand, an American fugitive, who has been on the run for the past 15 years following his indictment by a federal grand jury in Atlanta, Georgia, has been arrested in Jamaica. “As soon as immigration proceedings can be completed, Mr Hand will be deported back to Georgia by the United States Marshals Service,” the United States Embassy here said in

a statement. It said that Hand, who had been indicted for possession with the intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, was arrested and placed on a bond pending trial. However, he failed to appear for a court proceeding and a warrant was issued for his arrest. The US Embassy said law enforcement officers believed that Hand had fled the United States and earlier this week he was de-

tained after investigators analysed suspicious records of one of Hand’s relatives which led them to investigate a residence in St Andrew. When he was detained o n We d n e s d a y, h e p r o duced identification that turned out to be fraudulent and the statement noted that during the interview with the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime (CTOC), he admitted that he was Keemeit Hand.

Heads of Govt. approve Draft... From page 3 for a single area code, as well as address spectrum and broadband matters. The draft roadmap was prepared by a highly technical team that was headed by the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) and was presented at the 28th Intersessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM which concluded yesterday in Georgetown. On behalf of the Heads of Government, CARICOM Chairman, Guyana's President David Granger, commended the CTU and the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) for making presentations and recommendations. Granger said that the

single ICT Space would be one of the driving forces for social and economic development of the Community. He stated also, that the initiative will enhance the environment for investment and production and provide an opportunity for innovation to flourish. The single ICT space, Granger said, will lead the community on to the path that will be a sustainable increase in growth and jobs. It will also enhance efficiency and increase access to public services. The Heads of Government have mandated the development of the Single ICT space by 2019 and have identified it as a key enabler for the formation of the CARICOM Digital economy.

The approval of the roadmap comes against the backdrop of Guyana now moving ahead with its E-Governance Project. The E-Government Network will be linked with the Smart City programme which is administered by the Ministry of Public Security. Several schools and Ministries have already been linked and are part of the Government's plans to ensure that the internet is available in facilities and communities across Guyana. The objective of the project is to improve the quality of social services, to fight crime, to boost the standard of education, to promote digital literacy, and provide an Information ICT path. Cabinet has already received and approved a request for a technical support and training programme for the E-Government Unit by the Huawei Technologies Limited Company.

CDB projects regional economies to grow by 1.7 per cent this year

Dr Warren Smith By Marie Claire Williams BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – The Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is projecting an average 1.7 per cent growth in its borrowing member countries (BMC) this year, followi n g l a s t y e a r ’s p e r f o rmance of a minus 0.9 per cent. The 2016 figure is in direct contrast to the 0.4 per cent growth experienced in 2015. Addressing the Bank’s annual news conference o n F r i d a y, D i r e c t o r o f Economics Dr Justin Ram said that the service-oriented economies recorded positive growth in 2016, while the predominant commodity exporters except Guyana, contracted. “Belize recorded a modest decline, while significant contractions were recorded in Trinidad and To b a g o where that economy declined by five per cent, and Suriname which declined by a further nine per cent,” Ram said. In his forecast, he noted that growth this year will largely be driven by increased tourism activities, as well as construction mainly related to the tourism industry. He said, however, that although the growth projection is better than 2016, it is still below where it needs to be to stimulate employment and reduce the persistently high debt levels.

Ram noted that foreign currency reserves fell below the benchmark levels in some BMCs in 2016. “Last year, Barbados’ foreign currency reserves fell below the equivalent value of the global benchmark of three months of imports. The Bahamas and Suriname saw improvements, but reserves also remained below the three month threshold. Foreign exchange reserves remained above the threshold in other countries. Trinidad and Tobago continued to accumulate the largest stock of foreign reserves,” he told the news conference. CDB President, Dr Warren Smith, called for a reversal of the pattern of d e c l i n e i n t h e r e g i o n ’s economies, saying the BMCs needed to be placed firmly on a path of sustained and inclusive income growth with discernible improvements in living standards. Smith pointed to what he said were “the two most pressing policy imperatives” for the region: offering services that promote efficiency and crosscompetitiveness while fostering inclusive growth and protecting vulnerable groups in society, and government activities financed by revenue systems that meet the sufficiency criterion while promoting equity and economic efficiency. “Regional fiscal perf o r m a n c e i s , h o w e v e r, caught in a vicious cycle. Because economic

Dr Justin Ram growth rates are so low, many Governments are unable to generate the primary balances needed to correct adverse debt dynamics, so public debt remains unsustainably high. “Emergency revenue measures implemented to stem fiscal deterioration following the global recession have had a perverse impact on competitiveness, further constraining growth,” he added. The CDB President said that unlike more diversified small states such as Mauritius and Singapore which have weathered recent global shocks well, Caribbean economies continue to exhibit the volatility that has kept average growth rates low; unemployment and poverty high; and living standards stagnant. Ram, meanwhile, believes the Caribbean needs an action plan which better enables it to participate in global supply chains and targeted social development assistance. “But policy makers must be prepared to set the right environment to tackle the obstacles to growth. That is to say the doing business environment including access to financing for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and labour market reforms, all of which could increase productivity and enh a n c e c o m p e t i t i v e n e ss.

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South Africa, India qualify for Women’s World Cup (From page 27) Opener Nipuni Hansika top scored with 48 off 96 balls, including six fours. “It was a very important match for us, not just to qualify but I think for us to keep the pressure off the next game as well,” Luus said after the game. “The pace bowlers set the match up nicely and the batters could just do their job. “Fielding is something we need to improve and we are busy working on it. We are a much better side than we are displaying at the moment. This [qualification] is what we have been working for. I think we are going to celebrate tonight but also not lose sight of what’s coming. We are playing Ireland next and hopefully

a final!” An unbroken 136-run stand between opener Mona Meshram (78*) and her captain Mithali Raj (73*) helped India Women canter to a ninewicket victory over Bangladesh Women at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo. After their bowlers, led by seamer Mansi Joshi’s 3 for 25, limited Bangladesh to 155 for 8, India aced the chase with nearly 100 balls to spare. The win assured India of a spot in the Women’s World Cup. Having opted to bowl, India made light work of the Bangladesh top order thanks to Joshi. Sharmin Akhter (35) and Fargana Hoque (50) then mounted

some resistance by adding 62 runs in 140 balls, but the rest of the batting line-up fell away. Deepti Sharma exited early in the chase, but Raj, who made her 43rd ODI halfcentury, and Meshram, who hit her second ODI halfc e n t u r y, p o w e r e d I n d i a home. Meshram, who the bagged the Player-of-thematch award, said: “Mithali’s experience helps when you bat with her. The pressure is released when she plays her shots.” Fifties from opener Nahida Khan and Javeria Khan led Pakistan Women to 271, a total they defended by 86 runs against Ireland Women at the Co-

Saturday February 18 , 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Be cautious while traveling to foreign countries. Get involved in groups and organizations that are of a distinguished nature. Your intuition will be right on. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) You will be entertained and intrigued by the logic foreigners possess. Get ready to do some fancy footwork when it comes to taking care of your financial situation. You must look into your options.

self in order to finish your work. LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Try to curb overindulgence today. Your romantic inclination should lead to a committed relationship. Get busy trying to make more money. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Drastic financial losses may be likely if you lend money. Take some time to change your house around. If you can't get away, make plans to do something special with friends or relatives.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Family outings that aren't expensive will be enjoyable and help strengthen ties. Restrictions may be difficult for you to live with. Focus on your own domestic problems.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You are best not to discuss your personal life with others. Be careful signing important contracts today. Invite friends over.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Do not sign contracts or get involved in any uncertain financial deals. Do not ruffle feathers if possible. Don't think the worst if you hear something negative about your partner.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) You can make gains if you look at long-term investments. You will be encouraged to get involved in a moneymaking venture. Resist the temptation to gamble. Risks will not be profitable.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Don't make any drastic changes or begin new projects today. Find a way to consolidate. Put your time and energy into travel, philosophy, and soul-searching.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Your ability to put a deal together will surprise others. It's time to get yourself back on track. Don't let others bully you into agreeing with them.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You will be full of good ideas, and your choice of activities may bring you enrichment far beyond your expectations. Discuss your objectives with partners or peers. Focus your efforts on details, and keep to your-

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You are best to avoid joint ventures, and whatever you do, don't lend to friends or relatives. Abrupt changes in your home may send you for a loop. Don't bother getting even; they'll make themselves look bad.

File photo - Mithali Raj struck her 43rd ODI fifty © ICC lombo cricket ground. Having opted to bat, Paki-

stan lost Ayesha Zafar early, but Nahida and Javeria took

the score to 155 before Javeria retired hurt on 65. She returned to add 25 more to her tally, while Nahida was dismissed for 72. Late cameos from Nain Abidi and captain Sana Mir then pushed the total past 270. In reply, Ireland were bowled out for 185 in 48.5 overs. Their major source of resistance came from a 74-run stand for the second wicket between Cecelia Joyce and Kim Garth. Apart from them, only Isobel Joyce passed 15. Nashra Sandhu, Sana Mir, and Sadia Yousuf picked up two wickets each for Pakistan.

Preparations completed for Nand... (From page 29) Paymaster among the runners entered. The L Class and lower contest is expected to be a heated affair with likes of Blue Lightening, Black Devil, Blacka, Blondie, and Easy Lion expected to make it difficult for the rest of the field over 880 yards for the first prize of $105,000 and trophy. There is also an event for

animals classifieds LL with the likes of Public Enemy, Lucky Lucky, High Moon, Physical Disturbance, and Golden Sang looking for their share of luck on race day also over 880 yards for a take home of $100,000 and trophy. The event will be run under the rules of the Sky Plus Incorporated. Among the major sponsors are Banks DIH Limited, Trophy Stall, 4 R Bearing and

Belts (Ricky) of Georgetown, Vimal Ganesh Service Station and Trucking Service, Ishmail Poultry Farm, Annirude Ramcharitar Constructions, Think About The Future Trucking Service, Jerry Outar Home of Rewinding, NTN television, Office Express Office Supplies, Prem’s Electrical Services and Little Rock Television Station. The Coordinator is Mohendra Persaud. (Samuel Whyte)

Scorpions to take inspiration ... would mean a lot to us. A lot (From page 30) American left-hander Steven of the big name players are Taylor who scored an aggres- not here including Chris Gayle sive 88. Test batsman Jermaine Blackwood stroked an unbeaten 108 in a rollicking 163run fourth wicket stand with Rovman Powell who blasted 95. Powell returned with his medium pace to take his maiden List A five-wicket haul to bundle Red Force out for 142, and pull off an emphatic 292-run victory. Walton said while the performance had been an exceptional one, Scorpions were aware the final meant starting over from scratch. “It was something special but we still can’t take anything lightly,” the wicketkeeper explained. “We still have a final to go and play and we still have to take it from ball one. This is history but we have to come now in the finals and start from the first delivery.” Jamaica last lifted the Regional 50-overs crown back in 2012 when they defeated Trinidad in the final of the tournament held in Guyana. That winning side featured the likes of superstar Chris Gayle and Andre Russell but with no plethora of stars available this time around, Walton said a victory today would be all the more special. “Victory for this team

and Andre Russell,” Walton pointed out. “So a victory for us would be [very good].”

Kaieteur News

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Saturday February 18, 2017

Exciting softball action Bounty Farm Ltd Handicap Tournament 2017 set for Lusignan today Nyron Joseph falters

on second outing

Seeraj Bhimsain The Lusignan Community Centre ground is expected to come alive today when the Mon Repos M a r k e t Ve n d o r s Development Committee (MRMVDC) hosts its inaugural Softball Cricket extravaganza featuring top players from Georgetown and East Coast Demerara. The days’ activities will commence at 14:00hrs with an Over-50 game between Georgetown and East Coast Demerara. This will be followed by a female and male Open and male Master’s competition that will conclude under lights. The event is being organised to raise funds for the refurbishing of the Mon Repos market which houses more than 1000 vendors. Each player will be rewarded with medals for

their participation while trophies will be given for outstanding individual performances. So far, 10 Masters’ teams have indicated their willingness to participate in the 10 overs a-side competition that has an entrance fee of $20,000. The Georgetown Over 50 team will come from; Ricky Deonarain, Ryan Singh, Ramesh Sunich, Laurie Singh, Richard Persaud, Mahendra Hardyal, Wayne Jones, Lakeram Singh, Divekanand Ramsaywack, Ramchand Ragbeer, Imtiaz Mohammed, Colin Greaves, Daram Persaud, Peter Persaud, Danny Mohanram, Longsford Klass and Ramjit Singh (Manager). East Coast Demerara Over 50 team reads; Eion Abel, David Harper, Vinod

Kishan Sarwan Lall, Wallack Joseph, Kennard Luke, Hakeem Majid, Satro Seeraj, L a k e r a m B a r l e o w, Raymond Karim, Vijay Baljit, Jaggarnauth Singh, Ishwer Parsram, R. Ramchand, Hemanchal Mangra, Jailall Deodatt, Sheik Mohamed and Ramesh Parsram (Manager/Player). Among the sponsors on board are Fitness 53, Why Pay More Trading, Guyana Stationery, Naresh Grocery, Chand’s Printery, Dovie’s Trucking Service, Noble House Seafoods, K&A Indian Fashion, Lambada Sports Bar, L. Mohabir Cambio and Ramo. Teams may contact MRMVDC chairman, Kishan Sarwan on 648-9772 or cricket co-ordinator Seeraj Bhimsain on 6472840 for more information.

The Guyana Squash Association (GSA) in collaboration with its corporate sponsor Digicel launched its 2017 season with its customary Bounty Farm Ltd Handicap Squash To u r n a m e n t a t t h e Georgetown Club Inc. courts. Play continued on day two with several closely fought matches. In the Open category there was another major upset when top seeded Nyron Joseph (-22) went down in straight games to Adam Alves (+7) 11 – 15, 12 – 15. Joseph had opened on day one with an easy victory against Jonathan Antczak (+7) 15 –13, 15-13. Veteran player Dennis Dias (+10) continued his good run with a hard fought victory over Mike Atherly (+10) 13 – 15, 15 – 8, 15 – 7, while top junior players Daniel Islam and Alex Cheeks both had straight set wins over their opponents. Daniel Islam (+3) defeated Johnathon De Groot (+11) 15 – 10, 15 – 12 while Alex Cheeks (+3) beat Theron Mohabeer (+7) 15 – 6, 15 – 11. Deje Dias (-2), the only player left in the Open

category with a minus handicap, defeated Johan Da Silva (+10) 15 – 13, 15 – 13. In category A defending champion Samuel InceCarvahal (-8) had a straight set win over James Mekdeci (+7) 15 – 12, 15 – 14 while Madison Fernandes (+5) was a comfortable winner over Zachary Persaud (+7) 15 – 3, 15 – 5. Kirsten Gomes (+5) was also an easy winner over Louis Da Silva (+9) 15 – 6, 15 – 5 while Abosaide Cadogan (+5) was also a winner against Nicholas Verway (+10) 15 – 6, 15 – 7. Results of the other matches played on the evening were as follows: Open category Javid Rahaman (+5) beat Narendra Singh (+10) 15 – 12, 15 – 12 Stephen Persaud (+9) beat Dominique Dias (+12) 8 – 15, 15 – 13, 15 – 11 Taylor Fernandes gained a walkover from Medhi Ramdhani Category A Osmond Mack (+11) beat Beau Fernandes (+11) 15 – 6, 15 – 7 Noah Rahaman (+13) beat Javed Saul (+13) 15 – 10, 15 – 14 Liam Carpenter (+10) defeated Isabella Ramjohn

(+12) 15 – 6, 15 – 8 Aliyah Persaud (+7) beat Jahcinta Adams (+11) 15 – 10, 15 – 7 Lucas Persaud (+13) beat Ashani Persaud (+13) 15 – 9, 15 – 8 Jason Gomes (+7) defeated Teija Edwards (+11) 15 – 7, 15 – 6 Haley Carpenter (+10) beat Nathan Rahaman (+10) 15 – 10, 11 – 15, 15 – 8 Dhiven Persaud (+13) beat Christiana Fernandes (+13) 15 – 8, 15 – 8 Chad De Abreu (+10) defeated Malia Maikoo (+13) 15 – 8, 15 – 6 Mohyryan Baksh (+7) beat Mikhail Persaud (+10) 15 – 6, 15 – 7 Open category plate Sarah Lewis (+10) defeated Andrea King (+10) 15 – 14, 10 – 15, 15 – 12 Jonathan Antczak (+7) beat Patrick Fraser (+5) 15 – 10, 15 – 5 Douglas De Groot (+7) beat David Fernandes (+10) 15 – 12, 15 – 10 Joe Mekdeci (+4) beat Juanita Fernandes (+13) 15 – 12, 15 - 12 Matches continue in both of the categories this morning starting at 11:00am then this evening starting at 6:00pm.

Dindyal is new President of Enterprise Busta SC

The newly elected Enterprise Busta SC executive committee with other members following their AGM. Parmanand Dindyal was elected President of the Enterprise Busta Sports

Club when the body held its Annual General Meeting recently.

Rajesh Bachan will serve as the Vice Chairman; Chanderpaul Tekarran is the

Secretary, Rohan Mangal Treasurer, Hansraj Sookdeo A s s i s t a n t

Secretary\Treasurer and Kavita Yadram Public Relations Officer.

The committee members are Pradesh Balkishun and Pradesh Kishore.

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Saturday February 18, 2017

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Colts, Ravens set up clash for GABA ‘League of Champions’ Division I title Current National Basketball Champions, Bounty Colts and the 2014 national champs, Dyna’s Ravens have set up a scintillating finale for the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) ‘League of Champions’ Division I title. Colts defeated Plaisance Guardians 66-56 with national players, guard, Shelroy Thomas putting up 19 points and centre Shane Webster adding 15. Jamal Weekes had a double-double 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Stanton Rose added 11 points. For Guardians, guard Nikkoloi Smith scored 12 points with Malcolm Powdar adding 10, to deny Plaisance another title bid at the Cliff Anderson Sports

-Best-of-Three Final starts tonight at Sports Hall

Dominic Vincente aHaHall Thursday night; guard, Marlon Chesney finished with nine points, while Trenton Woolford had eight. In the other semi-final

Shelroy Thomas game, Ravens’ raging hot offence continued to dismiss opposition with guard, Dominic Vincente pouring in 30 points for an 88-66 win against Pepsi Sonics.

Shane Webster N a t i o n a l g u a r d , Ry a n Stephney had 20 points, while Carlos Edwards added 13. For Pepsi, Trevor Smith scored 26 points, while Earl

O’Neil had a double-double 15 points and 13 rebounds. Junior Lovell scored 11 points and eight rebounds with Aubrey Austin finishing the game with

Ryan Stephney eight points. Colts and Ravens will now play in a best-of-three final that begins tonight at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall to decide the title.

St. Cuthbert’s Mission Secondary Man United legend Dwight Yorke overcome Diamond Secondary ‘DENIED’ access to Donald Trump’s USA due When action continued as they took the decision to Ferreira grabbed 4 for 28 in the 2016/2017 Guyana bat, when clearly their runs off 4 overs, Mark to ‘Iranian stamp in his passport’ Cricket Board/ Demerara approach to batting seemed Clenkian had 2 for 22 of 3.4, Mutual Life Assurance unprepared to set St. and Paul Henry 2 for 10 from Society/ Ministry Of Education/ National Secondary Schools’ Cricket L e a g u e (GCB/DMLAS/MOE/NSS CL), St. Cuthbert’s Mission Secondary continued their winning streak when they defeated the East Bank Demerara Zone Champions, Diamond Secondary, to secure the Upper Demerara/East Bank District title. Diamond Secondary, having travelled to the Bayroc ground in Upper Demerara, appeared somewhat unpremeditated,

C u t h b e r t ’s M i s s i o n Secondary a challenging t o t a l . T h e C u t h b e r t ’s Mission bowlers, once again went about their task in an assertive and professional manner, unsettling the Diamond Secondary batsmen and making scoring a very uncertain exercise. Diamond were sent packing for 111 in 19.4 overs from their allotted 30 overs. Romario Persaud and Joel Craig made 19 each with the former hitting two sixes and the latter three fours and one six. Bowling for St. Cuthbert’s Mission, Zak

South Africa, India qualify for Women’s World Cup ESPNCRICINFO - South Africa Women yesterday restricted Sri Lanka Women to 142 for 9 and chased the target down with nine wickets and 83 balls to spare at the P Sara Oval. The big win helped South Africa qualify for the Women’s World Cup to be held in England and Wales from 24 June to 23 July. Lizelle Lee and Laura Wolvaardt laid the platform for the chase with a 46-run opening partnership. The stand ended when Eshani Lokusuriyage had Lee caught by Chamari Atapattu in the ninth over. Wolvaardt and Suné Luus, however, hit unbeaten half-centuries to seal the win. Luus was at it with the ball too, taking 3 for 40 in 10 overs with her leg-spin. Dane van Niekerk, the other legspinner, complemented her with 2 for 14 in 10 overs, including four maidens. Sri Lanka lost wickets in a heap with only four of their batsmen reaching double-figures (Continued on page 25)

one over. In reply St. Cuthbert’s Mission reached their target with 2 wickets to spare off 19.4 overs. Zak Ferreira, turned in a good all round performance, by hitting 32 which included 4 fours and one six, while Elroy Dundas made 24 which included 4 fours and one six. Bowling for Diamond Secondary Joel Craig grabbed 4 for 25 from 5.4 overs, while Mavindra Dindyal took 3 for 23 from 6 overs. The win for St. Cuthbert’s Secondary meant that they will now face the winner of the West Demerara District on February 24 at Meten-meer Zorg between Saraswat Secondary and West Demerara Secondary. On Monday, Chase Academy will meet Charlestown Secondary to determine the Georgetown District champion; the winner will meet East Coast District Champion either Mahaicony Secondary or IBE. The match between East Bank Essequibo Zone Champions, Parika Salem and host Leguan Secondary was rained out without a ball being bowled. This match will now be played on February 22.

U K M i r r o r Manchester United legend Dwight Yorke was “denied entry into the US” under Donald Trump’s controversial travel ban after playing in a charity match in Iran. Former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys tweeted the former footballer had been prevented from passing through customs and immigration at Miami on a recent visit. Directing his anger towards the American President, Keys wrote: “Well done @realDonaldTrump. Man U ambassador Dwight Yorke denied transit access to Miami cause he has Iranian stamp in passport. #crazy”. Yorke, an Old Trafford ambassador, had played in a charity match in Tehran in August 2015. The former Aston Villa, Sunderland and Blackburn star played for the World Stars including Roberto Carlos, Luis Figo and Pauleta against a team of Iranian Internationals. Money raised from the game was donated to sufferers of multiple sclerosis. President Trump passed

a controversial executive order on January 27 banning entry to the States for travellers from seven Muslim countries including those who have visited those nations. The countries on the list were Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. Trump’s ban was to last for 90 days before he suffered humiliation when it was overturned first by a US district and then on appeal by a panel of three judges from the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals. Trump has vowed he will make sure his order goes through. Yorke was seen on Thursday night working as a pundit for beIN Sports during Manchester United’s 3-0 win against St Etienne in the Europa League. He joined Keys who works as the senior football

anchor for the Middle East based channel. Yorke, 45, has been a regular visitor to the States throughout his career playing in internationals for Trinidad and Tobago as well as a number of exhibition matches. After joining from Aston Villa in 1998, the father-ofone enjoyed a prolific four years under Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford, scoring 65 goals in 147 games in all competitions. He won three Premier League titles, one FA Cup and the 1998/99 Champions League title before moving on to Blackburn in 2002. Yorke had a high-profile relationship with Katie Price going on to have a son, Harvey, in May 2002. The couple endured a bitter break up with the footballer denying paternity until Price proved it by DNA tests.

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Saturday February 18, 2017

Tucville Secondary overcome Queenstown Secondary by two runs

Participating teams take time out for a photo during the event. Tucville Secondary defeated Queenstown Secondary by two runs when the Ministry of Education National Sports Commission Al Sport and Tour Promotion Windball tournament continued recently. Batting first in the male c a t e g o r y, Tu c v i l l e Secondary managed 69-1 with Godfrey Phillips scoring 46. Queenstown were limited to 67-5 in reply.

Jonathan Bacchus made 34 and Fidel Persaud 11. St. Stanislaus beat Lodge Secondary by 35 runs. St. Stanislaus took first strike and posted 89 without lost. Veeraj Persaud struck 59 while Rene Hutson got 29. Lodge Secondary made 54-1 in reply. Akeem Williams scored 26 and Omally Barton 18. Christ Church got the better of Central High School by 54 runs. Christ

Church Secondary scored 127 without lost, batting first. Alphius Bookie cracked 73 while Anel Tilku made 58. Central High School were restricted to 773 in response. Deonarine Tiwari and Shaquan Calib made 24 each while Indejit Nanan contributed 15. Valmiki Vidalaya High School beat St. Mary’s Secondary by six runs. Valmiki Vidalaya High took first knock and mustered 77-

2 with Jonathan Ramjattan scoring 58. St. Mary’s replied with 71-5; Stephon Wilson got 35. In the female category, Lodge Secondary overcame Carmel Secondary by three runs. Batting first, Lodge Secondary made 72-5. Timika Devonish got 22, Cia Dover 16 and Sheneisa Bowen 10. Carmel Secondary managed 69-4 in reply. Aliayha Johnson made 10.

Christ Church defeated Central High by 13 runs. Christ Church batted first and scored 83-1. Bibi Mohamed scored 37 and Keiara Phillips 32. Central High got to 70-4 in reply. Safisha Austin and Thanifo Quallis made 22 apiece. St. Stanislaus College beat Queen’s College by 43 runs. St. Stanislaus took first turn at the crease and rattled up 103-2. Omadvi Mango struck 42 and Cherub Arthur

34. Queen’s College made 60-5 in reply. Naiomi Sampson got 16. Annandale Secondary went down to President’s College by 37 runs. President’s College piled up 132-2, batting first. Otefa Alfred scored 44, Jennifer Parks made 32 and Gaitree 30. Annandale Secondary were restricted to 95-1 in reply. Shemika Edwards made 39 and Ruthann Griffith 28.

FIFA pleased with work of Forde and GFF - FIFA Director Véron Mosengo-Omba By Franklin Wilson Offering words of encouragement on behalf of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, FIFA Director of Member Associations & Development for Africa and the Caribbean, Mr. Véron Mosengo-Omba yesterday met with members of the core in Guyana at end of a brief two day visit to Guyana, his first of many. Mosengo-Omba noted that they are very supportive of the strides that Guyana has been making under Forde while stating that much would be achieved given the new and stringent policy measures t h a t F I FA h a s b e e n implementing especially when it comes to the Forward Programme formerly the Goal Project. T h e F I FA o f f i c i a l informed that the GFF has submitted all the documents required and the ball is now in FIFA’s half as they conduct final verification of same before making an announcement as regards commencement date.

Sharing the Head Table a t y e s t e r d a y ’s P r e s s Conference were GFF President Wayne Forde along with first and second Vice President’s Ret. Brigadier Bruce Lovell and Rawleston Adams. Forde in opening remarks stated that Mosengo-Omba has been very supportive of the federation’s developmental initiatives and they are happy with his presence here. ”There are quite a few items on our developmental agenda going forward from 2017 into 2018 and then to 2019 and much of the work that we have to do we have to do it through the office of FIFA’s development.” Forde noted that the Caribbean and Africa which falls under MosengoOmba’s purview are two of the most exciting parts of the world in terms of football development. The Forward Project which will see the GFF constructing its own football facility inclusive of an all weather field, dormitories and offices is anticipated to

get underway shortly. Mosengo-Omba noted that FIFA is in a transitional period and it will take some time to get the machinery up and running fully. “GFF, they have done their job and it’s us now, it will be delivered soon.” Infrastructure and youth development will be the focus of the federation in this and the coming years, Forde reminded. We are ultimately trying to lay a lasting foundation for football development but the priority is of course to get a home for football as you are all aware we have to rent various venues to run our programmes. The Providence facility will be the home for not just the GFF but for the entire football family.” Greenfield has won the contract to execute works. After achieving the goal of a home for football, Forde said they will then look at other areas to develop and Linden would be first on the agenda. ”The ultimate goal is to have one high quality

playing venue in each association. What we did early last year we had our members have a statutory meeting where the minutes and the recommendations for the venue that they want to have invested in was sent to the executive committee and we have those on record.” Surfaces would be developed along with stands and lights. The GFF head shared that the total investment that the federation would have access to in a calendar year is USD$750,000. ” We a r e e x p l o r i n g partnership with the government of Guyana and far it’s been very positive,

we’ve just wrapped up a very good meeting with Minister Harmon. The idea is to have a partnership between the G F F, F I FA a n d t h e Government in the development of these facilities. The federation by itself and FIFA alone would not be able to do the tremendous work that is required to bring these facilities up to standard.” Investment would also be need according to Forde, to access talent that is available in many of the hinterland regions as well as Berbice among other areas. The GFF he said would also be aiming to expand the pool of Youth Development

O f f i c e r s a n d Yo u t h Development coaches that have been employed by the federation to service the Scotiabank Academy Training Centers. Forde also informed that the GFF would be making moves to purchase its own transportation as they are too dependent on suppliers. ”We’re going to be tooling ourselves with buses and vehicles, we need to have some level of control over how we organise and execute our functions as a federation.” Mosengo-Omba once again noted that FIFA would be very supportive of such initiatives.

Strong Suriname boxing team arrive in Guyana A strong Suriname boxing team arrived in Guyana yesterday afternoon bent on returning to the Dutch speaking country with pride and glory. Four boxers and three officials are in the country to participate in the Guyana Boxing Association BrisMac

Promotions Nuff Cuff competition which will be held tomorrow at the National Gymnasium. Accompanying the Suriname team are president of the Suriname Boxing Association Remie Burke and secretary Ricardo Morris.

Admission to the fights will be $1,000 for the VIP section and $500 for general admission. Mr. Bristol further said that the organizers will place a high premium on punctuality and the first bell will be sounded at 20:00hrs sharp.

Saturday February 18, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Preparations completed for Nand Persaud Sky Plus one day Sprint Classic Horserace meet Preparations have been completed and all systems are in place for the one day Sprint Classic Horserace meet organised by the Nand Persaud Group of Companies through its Sky Plus Incorporated Promotion Group. The event, which is slated for tomorrow at the Company’s racing facilities at No36 Village, Macedonia Estate, Corentyne, Berbice has so far seen over 65 entries. The seven-race card has over $4M in cash, trophies and other incentives available. The meet which is dubbed the “Nand Persaud Karibee Sprint Classic” will once again see the horses running in a straight line from start to finish. The races will be 880, 660 and 440 yards. The events listed for the day will see horses competing in the feature D

Ms. Mohini Baker of the organising committee receives trophies as presented by sponsors to be contested for on Race day. and lower event over 880 yards for a winning purse of $400,000 and trophy. Among some of the horses entered so far are the likes of - Golden Blue Echo, Fire In Line, Climate Change, Release the Beast, Red and Lovely firing for the

top prize of $400,000 and trophy over 880. The event for animals classified E maiden and F and lower has the likes of Honey Flow, Light Up C a n a d a , Wi c h i e P o o , Passion For Song and Brave Sky in contention over 660

Ms. Mohini Baker of the Nand Persaud Sky Plus organising committee receives the Trophy Stall trophy for the champion jockey on show from a representative of the company. yards for a top prize of $320,000 and trophy. The H and lower 880 yards event for a winning take of $300,000 and trophy sees -Amazing Run, Quiet Storm, Miss Kristina, Jumbo’s Gift and Rant entered so far.

I 3 and lower gallop has the likes of She’s So Special, Plane Land, Royal Cash, Amazon Warrior and Red Region looking to heat up the track for a winning take of $240,000 and trophy over 660 yards. There is an event for 3

Years maiden and animals born and bred in Guyana and the West Indies as they match skills over 660 yards for a $200,000 top prize and trophy with Genuine Risk, The Rock, Miss Anjalie, Wichie Poo, and Royal (Continued on page 25)

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Saturday February 18, 2017

New Era Clash of the Energised Powell Champions at MSC geared up for Pride clash

All-rounder Rovman Powell hits out during his 95 against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in Wednesday’s first semi-final. (Photo courtesy WICB Media) ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Exciting all-rounder Rovman Powell has given the assurance Jamaica Scorpions will be ready for their clash with Barbados Pride in today’s final of the Regional Super50. The 23-year-old was one of the stars for his side as they clobbered two-time reigning champions Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in Wednesday’s first semi-final by 292 runs, to surge into the championship game. “We are focusing on what we have control over and how we as a team play and once we play good enough cricket – each and everyone in the team come to the party

– I think Jamaica Scorpions have a very good chance of lifting the title,” the West Indies player said. “It’s just for us now to regroup and come again. There’s not a lot a time before the final so it’s always important to keep that competitive edge about us going into the finals.” Powell produced a Manof-the-Match performance, slamming a scintillating 95 to help Scorpions amass a regional record 434 for four off their 50 overs at Coolidge Cricket Ground. Though opener Chadwick Walton (117) and Jermaine Blackwood (108

not out) struck maiden centuries, it was Powell’s astonishing exhibition of hitting that took Scorpions past 400. He faced just 45 deliveries and belted six fours and nine sixes, in an entertaining 163-run third wicket partnership with Blackwood. “I couldn’t ask for a better game. I think the team played well and the team gave me the [support] to come out and execute what I did so all kudos go to the team,” he pointed out. “It wasn’t easy. We came up against a lot of experienced bowlers in the Trinidad unit but the platform was laid for a person like me with a little bit of power and I think I did my talent and my team justice. “What I did was take a few balls first [before] I got going and after I got going, I could expand and go big.” Powell then returned with his varied medium pacer to snatch five for 36 and complete a brilliant allround performance, as Red Force crashed for just 142. The haul was his maiden five-wicket effort in 50overs competition and he said he had made use of a wicket which played to his strengths. “To be honest, the wicket suited me,” he noted. “It was not the fastest wicket and once the wicket isn’t fast, medium pacers who bowl a lot of cutters and use their fingers on the ball can get a lot of assistance because it’s not a fast wicket so some of the balls will grip and some will slide through. “It was a matter of coming out here and executing.”

Hard court today

Sparta Boss hunting championship glory

Gregory Richardson T h e N e w Entertainment/Eyefull Entertainment, Stag Beer Futsal Clash of the Champions continues today at the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard court with what is scheduled to be the grand finale of the two-night event. The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) approved event will see leading Futsal stars Sparta Boss hunting more glory as the look to

wrap up the championship with a win against Dave and Celena’s Hustlers when the pair collide in tonight’s main attraction. Sparta led by hattricks from Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson and Devon ‘The Tormentor’ Millington, brushed aside the Hustlers challenge 12-7 when the first leg of the finals was held in Georgetown at the National Gymnasium last weekend.

Devon Millington Other action tonight will see Silver Bullets versus Goods Sellers and Town Cars (Georgetown taxi drivers) take on Linden bus (Linden bus drivers) among others in the preliminary action. Both Sparta Boss and Hustlers have strong fan bases and many are expected to throng the venue to witness tonight’s action and support their favourites.

Bolt’s teammate Carter appeals against Olympic doping ruling - CAS

Scorpions to take inspiration from semis into final, says Walton ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Chadwick Walton hopes Jamaica Scorpions’ can use their recordbreaking semi-final performance in Wednesday’s semi-final as inspiration when they meet tournament favourites Barbados Pride in the final of the Regional Super50 here today. “This will lift the morale of the team. We were getting

starts and no one was carrying on. [In the semifinal] we had two centuries so I hope this will lift the morale of the team and we can take it from there,” said Walton who struck a careerbest 117 in that semi-final against two-time reigning champions Trinidad and Tobago Red Force. “The bowling was always good but the batting came to the party [in the

semi-final] and we will see if we can put a complete game on the park come the finals.” Sent in at Coolidge Cricket Ground, Scorpions piled up a massive 434 for four off their 50 overs – a record in regional 50-overs cricket. Opener Walton led the way with a 117 – his maiden List A hundred – in a 174-run opening stand with (Continued on page 25)

Jamaica’s Nesta Carter after competing. (REUTERS/Gilbert Bellamy) (Reuters) Jamaican sprinter Nesta Carter, whose positive doping test cost Usain Bolt a relay gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, has appealed to the Court of Arbritration

for Sport (CAS) asking that the Jamaican team be reinstated as 4x100m relay winners. Carter filed the appeal with CAS seeking to overturn the International

Olympic Committee’s Jan. 25 decision in which he was found to have broken anti-doping rules during the Beijing Games, CAS said in a statement yesterday.

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DCC partners with GFSCA for concrete pitches

Works being carried out at the concrete pitches at DCC.

Following the successful hosting of the Guyana Softball Cup 6, the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) has partnered with the Demerara Cricket Club for the construction of two concrete pitches which will be used during the rainy season.

The initiative, which is the brainchild of Ricky Deonarain, Vice President of the GFSCA, was also funded by the West Indies Cricket Board during its initial stage. The cost for the finishing pitches is being borne by the GFSCA and

DCC. President of the club Alfred Mentore lauded the GFSCA for their backing, adding that they have already contributed in a very tangible way with the erection of permanent lights at the venue. Mentore said that plans

are in the making to erect a housing and storage facility adjacent to the concrete pitches, but they would have to seek permission from the Georgetown Mayor and City Council. Meanwhile, DCC Head Coach Garvin Nedd said it was a wonderful gesture by

the two entities for which he is very grateful. “It’s a wonderful undertaking by the club and GFSCA. Definitely we know that the weather pattern is difficult throughout the course of the year so this would serve me well,” he added.

The strips which are located on the eastern part of the venue are being constructed at 66’ with a bowlers run up. It will also be built above the usual flood level to accommodate training in the raining seasons.

Milo football resumes today and tomorrow Action in this year’s Milo 18 and under Schools Football Competition resumes today and tomorrow with four matches planned for each day, at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue. In today’s fixtures, Richard Ishmael Secondary take on Brickdam Secondary at 11:00hrs and this will be followed by the clash between Christ Church Secondary and Cummings Lodge Secondary. South Ruimveldt Secondary then battle with Queenstown Secondary from 14:00hrs, before Sir Leon Lessons and Carmel Secondary square off in the final game of the day. In tomorrow’s fixtures, North Georgetown Secondary and Central High get things started, before Dolphin Secondary and School of the Nations lock horns in the game that follows. At 14:00hrs, Mae’s t a c k l e S t . G e o r g e ’s

Part of the action in this year’s Milo 18 and under Schools Football Competition.

Secondary, before Queen’s C o l l e g e a n d Tu t o r i a l Secondary engagement bring the curtains down for

the day. The top two finishers in each group will advance to the elimination round. The

championship is slated to conclude on April 23rd. Winner of the tourney will collect $500,000

towards a school project and the championship trophy, while the second, third and fourth placed sides will

receive $300,000,$200,000 and $100,000 respectively towards a similar endeavour and trophies.

t r o Sp Man United legend Dwight Yorke ‘DENIED’ access to Donald Trump’s USA due to ‘Iranian stamp in his passport’

Dwight Yorke has allegedly been denied entry to the US (Photo: Empics)

FIFA pleased with work of Forde and GFF - FIFA Director Véron Mosengo-Omba

Mr. Véron Mosengo-Omba (2nd right) makes a point during yesterday’s press conference flanked by GFF President Wayne Forde (2nd left), First VP Ret. Brigadier Bruce Lovell (left) and 2nd VP Rawleston Adams at right.

Strong Suriname boxing team arrive in Guyana

Here the Suriname team with president of the Suriname Boxing Association Remie Burke (left) and Secretary Ricardo Morris (right) pose for a photograph. Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210