Monday February 19, 2018
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Kaieteur News
Bel Air residents write Govt. over playground standoff with Town Clerk Residents of Bel Air have written to Local Government Minister, Ronald Bulkan regarding their standoff with Town Clerk, Royston King over a plan to convert a proposed playground into a housing project for senior council staff. A t t o r n e y - a t - L a w, Devindra Kissoon, who has been fighting the takeover of the land through the courts, thanked the Minister on behalf of the residents for his initial intervention via a letter to Mayor Patricia ChaseGreen dated January 29, 2018. Kissoon outlined that sadly, over the course of the one week construction works, the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) destroyed the Park, in a transparent attempt to render it uninhabitable, removing truckloads of soil, creating a swamp and making it a general eyesore. The recorded purpose for converting the playground was for housing for the Mayor and Town Clerk. Kissoon noted that much to the dismay and contrary to the stance adopted by the Government on green spaces, the cash-strapped M&CC also retained counsel and has made an application to the Court to set aside the ruling that blocked City
The park is mine!: The Bel Air playground Hall from utilizing the property. “This stance is particularly curious given the consent Order issued by Central Housing and Planning whereby it agreed not to approve any use of the Park for residential housing or for any other use than community use. No doubt, the continued action was filed to retaliate and harass Bel Air Park’s hapless residents, who are exhausted by this unnecessary battle waged against them by the very authority that is tasked with protecting their everyday lives,” Kissoon outlined. By letter dated May 16, 2017 to King, Terrence Taljit applied for permission to develop a portion of the playground for the purpose of constructing modern homes.
Town Clerk Royston King Subsequently, by a letter dated June 19, 2017 to members of the Investment and Development Committee (IDC) of the M&CC, King invited the members to an IDC meeting to discuss and ap-
prove Taljit’s application. It was revealed that the administration was desirous of building a Town House for the Mayor, Town Clerk, City Engineer & Medical Officer of Health. Kissoon noted that the Mayor and Town Clerk, both of whom stand to benefit from the conversion of the playground to housing, were present at this meeting. It was pointed out that at no time were there consultations held with residents. “Absent pre-emptive intervention by the residents, sadly, all rights to the playground would have been lost,” Kissoon stated. He expressed the hope that the playground is restored to a condition which can benefit the community, and all residents are willing to
Indigenous Affairs Ministry lobbies for Bina Hill Institute accreditation
Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock and Legal Advisor David James with the students The Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs is currently in consultation with the Ministry of Education to have the Bina Hill Institute Youth Learning Centre in Annai District, North Rupununi (Region Nine) fully accredited. Minister Allicock made this announcement during a visit to the institution on Friday, where he met and interacted with the students and staff. He explained that the aim is to raise the standard of
the institution, to one that is recognised both nationally and internationally. “We will also be engaging the Ministry of Health because we want to establish a medicinal farm at Bina Hill because all these trees around here have medicinal values,” Minister Allicock said. Plans are also on stream to establish a fruit farm. The Minister also added that his office is also in discussion with the University of
Guyana (UG) to have the Bina Hill Institute serve as a field station, where persons can conduct research and be given the opportunity to learn about the Rupununi and its people. The long-term plan, Minister Allicock explained, is to have the institution fully selfsufficient, where the students will be learning while earning a living. “While the students are here they don’t pay to come,
they are just required to full out a form and gain entry. They are engaged in both theory and practice, and the idea is to have them learn by doing and they would be able to generate their own funds from agricultural activities, both livestock, and crops. Part of the funds goes to the students and the other goes to the institution,” Minister Allicock further explained. The Bina Hill Institute is (Continued on page 12)
participate to make this a reality. The letter was copied to David Patterson, Minister of Public Infrastructure; Carl Greenidge, Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs; Khemraj Ramjattan, Vice President and Minister of Public Security; Joseph Harmon, Minister of State; and Raphael Trotman, Minister of Natural Resources. At present, plans are afoot to have Royston King removed as Town Clerk of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council after “a series of missteps”. Councillors from A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) are reviewing their options, including a no confidence motion to be moved at an upcoming council meeting. Former Deputy Mayor and AFC councillor, Sherod Duncan said there is a crisis of leadership at the council which has caused great embarrassment to the coalition Government. “There have been a series of missteps by the Town Clerk which have caused tremen-
dous embarrassment to the Council,” Duncan told Kaieteur News. He expressed belief in government to understand the urgency of the moment, noting the recent fiasco surrounding the Farnum and Bel Air playgrounds. “Coupled with the issues like the odious parking meter contract and the intervention of central government on several fronts, to do damage control, the situation has become untenable. He (King) has to go. The Town Clerk has disqualified himself, by his own actions, from playing any meaningful role in the city going forward. We must act,” Duncan stated. Earlier this month, Deputy Mayor Lionel Jaikaran warned that King’s pursuit of legal action in the Bel Air playground matter is without the approval of the M&CC.
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Monday February 19, 2018
KAIETEUR NEWS Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
The Forfeiting of Guyana’s Resources Governments have always been involved in a web of deception and scandals, but none could be worse than the US$18 million signing bonus and the contract between the government and Exxon Mobil. They have not only ensnared the government but also the entire country. By keeping the contract a secret for more than a year has undermined the fundamental tenets of transparency and democracy. It is poor judgement and a disdain for the rights of people not to know what is being done in their name. The refusal to disseminate information to the public is serious. The Minister of Natural Resources and by extension the government have deceived the citizens. It is foolish for the government not to know that what transpired behind closed doors will eventually be made public with an attentive opposition and a watchful media such as Kaieteur News. Are they so clueless not to know this? The secrecy surrounding the signing bonus and the contract is neither here nor there and could do lasting damage to the government. The people will likely lose trust in the government and it is possible that the public skepticism will greet all future contracts negotiated with giant multi-nationals by this government. The Minister of Natural Resources should have known better that hiding the contract could be disadvantageous for the government. He has denied the people’s right to know which shows his contempt for them. The government has been caught in a lie and there is little President Granger can do to restore public confidence in his government other than to accept responsibility for the deception which he did. But that is not enough. He should apologize to the nation. When in Opposition, the government has repeatedly promised to be transparent and accountable, but now in office, it has become so obsessed with the tenets power that both concepts have become meaningless to them. When the PPP was in power, several opposite members of APNU and the AFC who are now Ministers in this government have called for the prosecution of former Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh for violating Section 85 of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act. Today, they have done the same and even worst by breaching Article 216 of the Constitution by not placing the funds in the Consolidated Fund. Despite warnings from Kaieteur News and many foreign governments on the dubious practices of ExxonMobil, yet several Ministers have showered praise on and spoke glowingly of Exxon Mobile without doing due diligence on the company. The signing of such a flawed and oppressive contract by the government is a classic demonstration of the poor and inept judgement by the authority. Exxon Mobil is fully aware of the lack of expertise, skills, and incompetency by government officials to negotiate such a huge contract and have used them to its advantage. They are also aware that some ministers are compromised and that their conduct borders on dishonesty and corruption. The economy is struggling; our social system is falling apart; health care and education are in dire need, yet the government accepted a signing bonus of only US$18 million and a paltry two percent royalty from Exxon Mobil when the company gave hundreds of millions to other countries. Is this the worth of the more than1.4 billion barrels of oil discovered at the Liza oil field? The excuses provided by the government to accept the signing bonus and to hide such a flawed and oppressive contract from the public are very poor. It is the forfeiting or surrendering Guyana’s natural resources. The government’s commitment to repay Exxon-Mobil US$460M for its precontract operations; the cost for litigation brought against the company during its operations here; the two percent royalty which is low by world standards; the prohibition on increases in taxes and duties even if local laws are changed; and the prevention of unannounced visits to the ExxonMobil offshore operation are just a few examples of the misfortune the country faces in future.
THE EXXON CONTRACT REVEALS THE HANDIWORK OF THE PPP DEAR EDITOR, The media need to be commended for its continuous effort in bringing to the Guyanese people the truth as it relates to the contracts signed by the Government of Guyana with the oil companies. The little comparison done by Stabroek News in article “Ramotar signed oil contract with CGX nearly identical to Exxon” (February 18, 2018) has brought to the Guyanese public an opportunity of knowing who is speaking the truth or not. Members of civil society, like Christopher Ram and Ramon “Rambo” Gaskin, have communicated to us their interest in taking a laser beam on this matter as they dissect ExxonMobil contract and offer their opinions on whether Guyana is getting the best deal or not. As regards to the politicians the public debates between the two sides and the evidence unfolding bring into question what their real motives are.
The PPP/C Opposition decries the APNU+AFC Executive for the agreement it signed on behalf of the people of Guyana with ExxonMobil. Today the media is bringing to the public’s attention the similarities in the agreement signed by PPP/C Government with CGX and the APNU+AFC Government with Exxon. This nation will remember CARIFORUM negotiated an Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union (EU). Subsequent to this CARICOM commenced engagement to seal an agreement with Canada on an economic partnership. The Canadian Government used the CARIFORUM/EU Agreement as the template in engaging CARICOM. In negotiation, the first agreement sets the foundation for any that comes thereafter. There is a principle in negotiation that it is wise to seek to avoid starting wrong because you will end wrong. In the case of
the oil and gas agreements the first agreement will set the tone for others coming thereafter. While one is not aware whether the CGX can be considered the first, what is being gleaned that it was used as the template in negotiating with Exxon. Wherever Guyana finds itself at this juncture our political leaders, on both sides, need to take responsibility for the current agreements. There exists a political culture where the politicians believe they are the beginning and end of every idea, they know everything, even though they continue to prove every day their deficiencies in such regards. The conundrum with the oil and gas agreements brings home every day two critical points. One, we cannot accept the notion that when all the politicians and political parties are sitting in the Executive under some socalled ‘national unity government’ Guyana and the masses’ interest will be put first.
Two, the arrogance in continuing to disregard Article 13 of the Guyana Constitution that mandates inclusionary democracy means that this nation is being deprived of input from diverse groups, talents and skills in the management and decision-making processes of the State. Whatever we do the oil and gas industry will significantly alter our social, cultural, economic and political landscape and where this continues to be ignored we will all catch hell. Current revelations are bringing forcefully home the point of the importance of taking a nationalistic/inclusionary approach as against hugging issues of national importance within one group at the exclusion of others. Serious efforts must therefore be made to demand that the politicians act consistent with Article 13, and we must require this not after the fact but before and throughout. Lincoln Lewis
The Town Clerk is ignorant of the law DEAR EDITOR, The Town Clerk’s letter of February 16, 2018, “Councillor Duncan’s arguments are unreasonable, inaccurate and misleading” is a yet another demonstration of his disqualification for office. The orientation of his thinking underlines his continued ignorance of the law, and concomitantly his role and responsibilities. It is the core of why transparency, accountability and good governance are under threat at City Hall. Firstly, the Municipal and Districts Councils Act, Chap 28:01, Sixth Schedule, refers to “Powers, duties and responsibilities of certain officers” outlines that of the Town Clerk. In three instances
it gives specific guidance to the Council on the Town Clerk’s role on legal matters: (2) He shall advise the council and its committees on all matters upon which his advice is necessary, including the standing orders and bylaws thereof. The schedule expands, yet limits the Town Clerk’s role contextually, (11) He shall, where legally qualified so to do, give legal advice to the Council, and whether legally qualified or not, to local government officers in the service of the council on questions arising with regard to their official duties and obligations. Note, the Town Clerk’s advice to Council is predicated on where he is
Do more for firefighting DEAR EDITOR, Our country, Guyana is becoming populated, with housing and commercial drives. The Ministry of Public Security, which is the responsible body for the Guyana Fire Service, has built a few new fire stations around the country, but more will be needed, in the near future. Over a short period of time, the Guyana Fire Service have acquired modern firefighting equipment to deal with all types of fire and rescue operations. The citizenry will be comfortable, only if the
Ministry of Public Security, along with the fire department and the water authority, could have a work programme, to install more fire hydrants, at suitable locations, around the country, with the fire department being the main figure to pressure test all hydrants, once per month. Should the above measure be put in place, the capability boast for fighting fires, will severely reduce on time. Thanking you, for publishing my letter. Yours Faithfully, Parmanand Ram
“legally qualified to do so”. Chap. 28:01 Section 6, “The City Council may sue and be sued by and in the name of Town Clerk of Georgetown,” therefore does not put legal proceedings and matters of Council in the exclusive jurisdiction of the Town Clerk, but instead makes the Town Clerk the object of legal proceedings, least rationally, every Councillor or employee as servants of the Council be engaged in litigations individually and continually for Council business, hence affecting the efficient functioning of the body. Secondly, the Town Clerk quoted his favorite section, (77): (3) “The clerk or other officers authorized in writing by the clerk may, subject to the general or specific directions of the council, exercise the powers of the
council, and all acts done by the clerk or such officer in the exercise of those powers shall be deemed to have been done by the council.” The learned Town Clerk has never seemed to realize the authority “exercise the powers of the council” is not an unfettered discretion, but the very section curtails the power, making it, “subject to the general or specific directions of the council”. It is the Council that instructs the Town Clerk to act on its behalf and when he so does, it is deemed to be done by the Council. The Town Clerk also states, “I would also note that similar legal matters were never taken to the Council for decision. Successive Councils understood that it is the responsibility of the Town Clerk to manage the legal Continued on page 6
It’s time to move the capital DEAR EDITOR, There can be no denying that Guyana is prone to flooding, especially Georgetown which is below sea level. During heavy rainfall certain parts of the city floods. Flooding undermines your infrastructure, causes financial loss to people and brings with it the risk of water borne diseases. Isn’t it about time someone takes the initiative and decides to move our Capital into the interior as rising sea levels is likely to lead to more flooding or, maybe more investment is needed in irrigation and drainage to get the water off the land as quickly as possible. The alternative is to sit back and do nothing and await the next flood. Yours Faithfully, Sean Ori
Monday February 19, 2018
SORRY, YET NOT SORRY FOR FREDDIE KISSOON DEAR EDITOR, I regard Freddie Kissoon as having one of the keenest minds in political analysis. I find his reasoning on any matter on politics, in or outside of Guyana, as first rate. Freddie also has half a century of social activism. With those credentials how can Freddie believe his activism could have brought the type of politicians we have in power today and they would have sought him out? I am referring to words that he wrote in a letter I have just read in which he replied to Dr. Troy Thomas of Transparency International and the University of Guyana. Freddie stated that, “I probably would have ended up in jail or die from starvation if UG didn’t save me so UG has a special place in my heart. Unfortunately despite my twenty six years of successive service to UG, the powers that be have never seen it fit to even have a conversation with
me on UG much less ask me if there is any area in which I would be willing to contribute to U G ’s continuing existence. That attitude hasn’t bothered me though I can bravely say I gave Khemraj Ramjattan a piece of my mind when we sat to talk for almost an hour in his office.” I feel sorry that such a brilliant mind is not at UG after serving for so long and had his contract terminated. I am sure if a poll is taken tomorrow almost one hundred percent of the students would say that UG should have Freddie on the teaching staff. Freddie was well liked by students. My mind is in doubt as to if I should feel sorry for this great son of the soil. Freddie Kissoon was one of the persons responsible for putting into government the very people who have treated him this way. I agree that he had to remove the PPP but he cannot escape
ROOTS OF EMPATHY DEAR EDITOR, Influenced as I am and have been since my early career as a school teacher that the focus of our basic educational pursuits should be both academic and attitudinal, I was recently impressed by a publication I chanced upon in my daughter’s home in Toronto (she herself is a School Superintendent with the Toronto District School Board). It is titled: “Roots of Empathy”, subtitled: “Changing the World Child by Child” and written by Mary Gordon. The following reviews of the book provide a good synopsis of its essential messages which I firmly believe are quite deserving of attention by our own Guyanese educational community, and political leaders and parents: “Ever so often in the life of a civilization, there comes a book that can literally change the way we are in the
world. Roots of Empathy is such a book—With violence, anti-social behaviour, bullying and aggression among our young children escalating at a frightening rate, it is clear that we need to develop a new understanding of childhood”. “— In clear and lively language, Mary Gordon introduces us to the wisdom of babies and shows us how they can teach us —and our children—what it is to be human—I have learned that the human capacities for empathy and respect must be fostered from earliest childhood to reduce violence in the world and build a truly civil society”. “This book describes the extraordinary value— probably the best program of its kind to support optimal early childhood development and to help communities build tolerant pluralistic democratic societies” Nowrang Persaud
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blame that those he put in have no use for him just as the PPP did. I am not a PPP supporter. I voted for Ravi Dev in the past and the AFC. In fact it was people like Freddie that caused me to vote for the AFC. But at the end of the day, he has to take responsibility for what the government is doing. Being the decent man that he is, I appreciate his consistent criticism of the government. I am fascinated yet amused at how he assesses the WPA. I feel sorry for him because UG could have used should a great talent (the gentleman is a brilliant political evaluator) but I don’t feel sorry that he is aggrieved at how he has been derecognized though frankly knowing Freddie he wouldn’t care. That is what I like about him; he doesn’t care about what is said about him. I wonder if at any time in his campaign for the APNU+AFC, he stopped to think that he was putting in an exchange and not a change. It is not only what is taking place at UG that Freddie should be mad about but the new government is proving to be no better than the PPP. I live in the United States and I was back last year with my son. We were stopped by a traffic cop who said that I went through amber. I did but it changed after we got green. That happens all over the world. This policeman was rude. My son told him he would lodge a complaint, and he boldly told us to do whatever we wanted. We went to Brickdam station and the attitude was a replica of the cop that stopped us. What changes to the police force the APNU+AFC brought in? It was these kinds of things that the PPP Government did not stop. I see the same thing now. I am a strong admirer of Freddie Kissoon. He is the conscience of the nation. But he is also responsible for the mess we are now in S. Singh Maryland, USA
BEYOND THE GUNS DEAR EDITOR, It’s clear to see America is facing a crisis of responsibility. Once again America is engulfed in what she does best—mourn, the most recent reason being the senseless killing of 14 students and three faculty members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida——the 18th school shooting for the current year, and the 291st since 2013. To any concerned human, the revelation of such data sounds like a serious crisis that beggar’s immediate attention. Most troubling of all, is the fact that following each deadly shooting rampage, which by now can be considered almost routine, there is a rush to make each incident follow a familiar script, or a politically convenient template. Every possible cause for the epidemic of graphic violence has received consideration – from the nimiety of guns/ assault weapons, social media, antidepressant drugs violent video games and films, family and moral decline, the waning influence of churches and inadequate mental health policies. From a political stance, the liberals blame lax gun control and the conservatives attack tolerance towards terrorists groups, with neither side addressing the key issue— how to stop the killings. Of special note is the fact that after every incident, the mental health discussion is put in motion, but sadly gets nowhere. Pray tell, what balanced, well-adjusted, compos mentis person is capable of mass murder? Before anything much was known about the Parkland shooting, the usual simplistic solutions for curbing the “epidemic of mass slaughter in schools” were being proffered. The use of firearms in mass shootings is the common denominator, with variables such as political ideology, religious zeal and mental illness serving as motivating factors. Yes, there are other countries that have people suffering from mental illness, political and religious fanatics and discontented workers but none with a body count as remotely high as America.
The unchanging variable is that in America, virtually anyone can amass an arsenal of handguns and assault rifles, as the country also has some of the weakest controls over who may buy a gun and what sorts of guns may be owned. We’ve listened to the rhetoric: Guns don’t kill. People do. Of the 300 million of all kinds of guns currently in circulation in America, only an infinitesimal fraction are used by people to hurt other people. The one quirk that consistently flummoxes fans and critics alike is, “Why, they ask, does America experience so many mass shootings? There have been calls for the implementation of a national policy of putting metal detectors in every school. An answer is needed for this senseless loss of lives. The fact is clear; America has a serious problem with gun violence the statistics speak for themselves. Americans need to give a damn as it is blatantly obvious that so far they have not. Basically translated, giving a damn requires Americans to commit to solving the problem. Gun violence must become a personal, personal enough to make us change— Columbine, Sandy Hook, Aurora did not make us change 26 children and 6 adults
killed in Newtown, did not make us change. 49 young adults at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando , Florida 58 country music fans in Las Vegas 26 churchgoers in Texas and now 14 students and three faculty members in Parkland, Florida would not make us change either. In a few days after the plethora of remaining in thoughts and prayers sent, the news cycle will change and life will go on as usual, until the next call for mourning. While we do not have to agree on the causal factors behind any mass shooting, we must all agree that we want to solve the problem of mass shootings. We do not need to know how to solve the problem, but we just need to put our best minds to the task of solving it. Things will only change when enough Americans determine that they must. Something must be going on in American society that has changed the landscape and caused angry, evil or mentally disturbed young men to plan and carry out these mass shootings. If the flawed argument is still in play that Guns do not kill people; People do, then America answer the question—What type of people are you? Yvonne Sam
More questions surround the Finance Ministry annex DEAR EDITOR, I note the article: “Sod turned for $228M Finance Ministry annex” in Kaieteur News of Sunday, February 18, 2018. I note that the Minister says: “I know the Ministry of Finance very well.” I left home and went to look at the site. Could I, with respect, ask the Minister two questions, please? Firstly, where are the members of staff going to park? Secondly, where are the members of the general public who need to do business at
that office going to park? I note the architect’s impression of the new annex. Could I ask, again with respect, whether Kaieteur News is serious when it reports: “The building is set to be completed by the end of this year.” George N. Cave
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Monday February 19, 2018
The Town Clerk is ignorant of the... When it comes to the internet, From page 4 arrangements of the Council. Again, there is no precedence in this area of administrative responsibility, at the Mayor and City Council. Therefore, my action is based on custom and practice, my understanding of my responsibility and the Act, Chapter 28:01.” There is well established jurisprudence that is pellucid in articulation that preforming a function incorrectly or illegally for any period of time, protracted or otherwise, does not automatically transform such actions to a legality. This legal principle is best expressed in the Latin phrase ‘ignorantia juris non excusat’: ‘ignorance of law excuses no one’, which holds that a person who is unaware of a law may not escape liability for violating that law merely because one was unaware of its content. Thirdly, the election of a Councillor to execute the responsibilities of Mayor while both substantive Mayor and Deputy Mayor were out of the jurisdiction, is not a light matter, but has legal implications, as the process features in Chap 28:01. I am astonished by the Town Clerk’s ignorance, as he is condemned by his own words in his letter. Chap 28:01: 17 (1), says, “During any period when the Mayor is for any reason unable to perform the functions of his office, those functions shall be assumed and performed by the Deputy Mayor. (2) If the Deputy Mayor is for any reason unable to perform the functions of the office of Mayor in accordance with subsection (1), The Town Clerk shall call a meeting of the councillors to elect a councillor to perform those functions; and the councillor so elected shall assume and perform those functions until such time as the Mayor or Deputy Mayor, as the case may be, is able to act.” The Town Clerk also stated the period for which the Mayor was out of the jurisdiction. The Act is absolutely clear, “The Town Clerk shall call a meeting of the councillors to elect a councillor to perform those functions”. Did the Town Clerk discharge his function and call a meeting? Absolutely not. The Town Clerk deliberately waited for the regular Statutory Meeting to occur. Clearly yet another dereliction of duty. Subsection (3) of 17 refers precisely to manner in which that meeting must be called. The Act and subsection are clear. The Councillor is elected to perform the functions of Mayor, this is not restricted to chairing a Statutory Meeting, this is but one of the functions of the Mayor. The Act is clear that the person so elected “shall” perform “until such time as the Mayor or Deputy Mayor, as the case may be, is able to act.” The Town Clerk says in his letter stated, “The Deputy Mayor or the Councillor elected to carry out the duties of the Mayor must perform those functions for seven consecutive days or more before he or she is accorded the facilities assigned to the Office of the Mayor. This is in keeping with Section 17, subsection (5) of the Municipal and
District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01.” The Town Clerk, quotes the Section - 17 (5), “In the event of the Deputy Mayor or a Councillor performing the functions of the office of Mayor for seven consecutive days or more, the Deputy Mayor or Councillor, as the case may be, shall during such period, have at his disposal, in lieu of the Mayor, the funds placed at the disposal of the said office in the manner specified for the payment of such funds”. The Town Clerk interprets this to mean once the Mayor is out of the jurisdiction for less than seven days, there is no need for a Councillor to perform the duties of Mayor, or where there is necessity for someone to Chair the Statutory Meeting, there is no need for the privileges of the office of Mayor to be afforded the individual acting. The relevant subsection is specific that it is “the funds [which is] placed at the disposal of the said office” of Deputy Mayor or Councillor after seven days if the Mayor is unable to act. As a result of the Town Clerk’s misinterpretation he did not afford the said Councillor adequate protection, transportation and needless to say, relevant information for carrying out of the functions of the office to which he was then elected. Again, I remind the Town Clerk of Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan’s guidance to the Council: “There can be no doubt that the letter and spirit of the law contemplates that there must at all times, be a Mayor within the jurisdiction of the municipality and common sense would reveal that this would more so apply to the capital city.” Finally, the 2009 Amendments to the Principal Act, Municipal and Districts Councils Act, Chap 28:01, places on every Councillor a responsibility, among other things, to “Ensure that the municipality is managed in a professional and competent manner by a qualified Town Clerk.” I am profoundly concerned about the Town Clerk’s understanding of the workings of Chap 28:01, general domestic law, and the quality of his work overall. It is time we embrace the recommendations the City Hall’s Commission of Enquiry (2008) dubbed the Keith Burrowes Report. The Report recommended: “If one were to consider the reasons why it became necessary to establish a Commission of Inquiry, it may be a worthwhile proposition that a legal department of some prominence be set up in the administrative structure of the Council. Also, in light of the fact that the Town Clerk is required to “give general legal advice to the Council”, without explicitly suggesting that the Town Clerk should be a qualified Attorney-at-Law, perhaps, it may be necessary to include some legal training as a necessary aspect of the qualifications for the position of Town Clerk. Sherod Avery Duncan City Councillor
Guyana is linked to Venezuela DEAR EDITOR, A 2017 report along with a data chart in the largest and most influential broadsheet newspaper in the UK, the Daily Telegraph, has disgracefully given Guyana and Venezuela something in common to talk about, outside of their border issues. According to the data in the usually reliable national newspaper, both countries share a strange relationship as having the most unreliable and worst internet connection speeds in the developing world. Arguably side by side with Venezuela for the slowest in South America, Guyana also took the trophy as having the slowest internet connection in the entire Caribbean, with even Haiti enjoying internet speeds of almost three to four times faster than the average internet user in Guyana. Though not surprising, the reported data can still put a serious dent on all of the brouhaha and excitement over the promotion of high speed internet by lead telecommunications and data services provider GTT, whose claimed internet speed bandwidth has been greatly downplayed by US streaming TV giant Netflix, via its fast.com remote testing of GTT’s internet servers. The slow internet situation in Guyana can also significantly affect economic growth, educational development, and certainly slow down investors’ confidence in the country’s readiness to effectively embrace technology. With slow and disruptive internet service being a commonality in Guyana for years, customers have been repeatedly complaining about unexplained disruptions of their data services from GTT and Digicel. The situation at even some private internet service providers also did not offer
up anything that was much different from the internet service disruptions that GTT’s DSL customers were already experiencing. But even so, desperation has forced many to resort to any other means in order to fulfill their quest for a stable and bandwidth reliable internet connection. With 5G internet service being examined for introduction in the rest of South America and the Caribbean over the next 12 to 24 months, Guyana has still been struggling to realistically offer up even the basic 3G internet service in its real sense. At least one Member of Parliament is on record as describing the 3G service that was unveiled by both Digicel and GTT as worse than a 1G. Neither companies was offering a realistic 3G service at the time, and provided no explanation as to why they were selling their mobile internet packages as 3G, knowing fully well that it was not so. The only related explanation provided
basically said that they were in the initial stages of making the 3G service a reality, which still hasn’t been truly functional up to this day. For years now, Guyanese citizens have been repeatedly expressing their weariness at having to rely on one major data services provider, and have been pressing the government to quickly bring in real competition. However, APNU/AFC Telecommunications Minister Mrs. Cathy Hughes had dashed their hopes by insisting that a breakaway from GTT’s monopoly and telecommunications stranglehold on the economy is far from over, since there are several other outstanding issues to be addressed. As a result, many social commentators were quick to ask, whose side of the table the Minister is really on. It remains unclear as to whether any new major telecommunications or data service provider would be allowed into the market, even provisionally, in the near future. Rooplall Dudhnath
We need more GECOM centres DEAR EDITOR, With the unilateral appointment of the new GECOM chairman the commission is moving in a go slow or frustrated mode of work. The commission only opens the GECOM main centres in the country. This is causing serious inconvenience to persons who are accessing these offices especially in Region Six. Imagine doing a transaction at these GECOM offices you have to spend close to four hours or even more. This includes waiting time and the actual transactions. An individual who has to take time off to get this transaction done at GECOM is indeed losing time, money and depriving them of their rights to be registered or correct situations that can hinder them to be an eligible voter in any elections. GECOM is mandated with the responsibility to ensure citizens are tended to in a
timely and comfortable manner. The commission is trying to frustrate the citizens by using only the main offices to create a buildup of residents. This leads to frustration and as such cause them to leave by not completing their transaction. GECOM needs to put in more offices to take off the burden on the few centres so that residents could have their issues addressed in a timely and comfortable manner to ensure a person/ persons are not deprived of their rights to vote. So residents are asking that more centres be established immediately and allow residents to do their business with GECOM in a timely manner. My personal opinion is that this can be the first step to prevent people from voting in the next elections. I can be wrong if GECOM corrects this situation immediately. Zamal Hussain RDC Councillor Reg 6
Habits are not the product of one decision — They’re the result of repeated choices that eventually become automatic responses. How can you know your true spiritual condition? By the company you keep and the choices you make. When you’re free to go, where do you choose to go? Whose company do you prefer?
Monday February 19, 2018
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Kaieteur News
Foreign gold mining contract Politicians across the board have failed Guyana with oil contracts - Lincoln Lewis creates more benefits for Guyanese - commends media for highlighting oil contracts signed by past and present Govts. Trade Unionist, Lincoln Lewis has acknowledged that the contract that Guyana has with CGX bears a sticking resemblance to the contract the nation has with ExxonMobil. Lewis noted that two different governments signed those agreements. He said they all must take responsibility. Lewis expressed his concerns and made his views known in a letter to the media. He said that the media needs to be commended for its continuous effort in highlighting the truth as it relates to the contracts signed by Governments of Guyana with the oil companies. Lewis noted that members of civil society, “like Christopher Ram and Ramon “Rambo” Gaskin, have communicated to us their interest in taking a laser beam on this matter as they dissect ExxonMobil contract and offer their opinions on whether Guyana is getting the best deal or not. As regards to the politicians the public debates between the two sides and the evidence unfolding bring into question what their real motives are.” “The PPP/C Opposition decries the APNU+AFC Executive for the agreement it signed on behalf of the people of Guyana with ExxonMobil. Today the media is bringing to the public attention the similarities in the agreement signed by PPP/C Government with CGX and the APNU+AFC Government with ExxonMobil.” Lewis said that the nation should remember that CARIFORUM nego-
Trade Unionist, Lincoln Lewis tiated an Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union (EU). “Subsequent to this CARICOM commenced engagement to seal an agreement with Canada on an economic partnership. The Canadian Government used the CARIFORUM/EU Agreement as the template in engaging CARICOM.” Lewis said that the negotiation of the first agreement sets the foundation for any that come thereafter. He then noted that there is a principle in negotiation that it is wise to seek to avoid “starting wrong because you will end wrong. In the case of the oil and gas agreements the first agreement will set the tone for others coming thereafter. While one is not aware whether the CGX can be considered the first, what is being gleaned is that it was used as the template in negotiating with Exxon.” The trade unionist said that political leaders, on both sides, need to take responsibility for the current agree-
ments. He added, “There exists a political culture where the politicians believe they are the beginning and end of every idea, they know everything, even though they continue to prove everyday their deficiencies in such regards.” Lewis said that the conundrum with the oil and gas agreements brings home two critical points. One being that Guyanese should not accept the notion that when all the politicians and political parties are sitting in the Executive “under some so-called ‘national unity government’ Guyana and the masses’ interest will be put first. Two, the arrogance in continuing to disregard Article 13 of the Guyana Constitution that mandates inclusionary democracy means that this nation is being deprived of input from diverse groups, talents and skills in the management and decision-making processes of the State.” Lewis noted that oil and gas industry will significantly alter Guyana’s social, cultural, economic and political landscape “and where this continues to be ignored we will all catch hell. Current revelations are bringing forcefully home the point of the importance of taking a nationalistic/ inclusionary approach as against hugging issues of national import within one group at the exclusion of others. Serious efforts must therefore be made to demand that the politicians act consistent with Article 13, and we must require this not after the fact but before and throughout.”
than ExxonMobil, CGX contracts By Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell The contract signed by a gold mining company, Aurora Mining Inc outlined clearer and stricter direct benefits for Guyanese than the two public contracts that Guyana has with oil companies ExxonMobil and CGX. There has been public outcry regarding the controversial Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) between Government and ExxonMobil. Also, on Saturday, the government released the contract signed with CGX which is almost identical to the ExxonMobil contract. These contracts, which were signed in 2013 and 2016 respectively, make quite inadequate provisions for local content. They were signed after the Aurora contract which was agreed to since 2011. The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) was involved in the drafting and negotiation of this agreement as it was in the oil contracts of CGX and ExxonMobil. GGMC commissioner, Newell Dennison is refusing to provide answers on how the Commission failed to secure the same or better provisions. Local content refers to degree to which the natives of a particular country can
GGMC Commissioner, Newell Dennison
Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram
benefit from foreign investment. This is especially in relation to the investments that feed off of the natural resources of a country. The Aurora contract, seen by this newspaper, ensures the use of materials sourced in Guyana and, among other things, ensures local labour. The contract states, “the Company shall use all reasonable efforts to give preference, to the maximum extent compatible with efficient operations and good mining practices using standards applicable in the international mining industry, to products and services produced and offered in Guyana, provided these are offered at competitive terms and conditions.” Noteworthy is the fact that the term, “to the maximum ex-
tent possible” was included in the 1999 agreement that Guyana had with ExxonMobil. This was subsequently removed from the 2016 agreement. The Aurora contract states, “Without prejudice to the rights granted to the Company under articles 8, 9 and 10 hereof, the Company shall give preference to Guyanese construction enterprises and to the use of buildings which can be constructed by using materials and skills available in Guyana, to the employment of Guyanese subcontractors for road construction and transportation and to the purchase of household products and furniture in Guyana. The Company shall also require its contractors and their subcon (Continued on page 8)
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Gold mining contract... (From page 7) tractors to follow these policies.” Also, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of operations, “the Company shall, in the manner described in clause 3.3.1 hereof, submit a report to the Government setting forth (i) the relative percentages of foreign-sourced and Guyanese-sourced goods and services used by the Company, (ii) measures taken to enhance the role of Guyanesesourced goods and services in the Project and (iii), measures to be implemented so as to improve such performance.” Further, the contract states, “The report will show the performance of the Company in connection with its contribution to the economic development of Guyana over the years. The Company shall constantly use all reasonable efforts to improve such performance.” Attorney at Law and Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram has decried the weaknesses of the local content provisions outlined in Article 18 of the ExxonMobil PSA. He said that the words “maximum extent possible” have, rather unfortunately, been deleted while instead of encourage, the Contractor is required to “contractually obligate” sub-Contractors to hire appropriately qualified Guyanese. Ram opined that in what appears to be a cut and paste job, the Minister and the Contractor will meet and consider the effectiveness of their plan, while the Contractor is required to submit half-yearly reports on how their plans are working out.
Kaieteur News
Monday February 19, 2018
Guyana must be wary of inflated Petroleum Data By Kiana Wilburg As Guyana inches closer to oil production, the systems for accurate reporting on the sector will be essential. This point was recently made by Advisor to Chatham House on Oil and Gas, Mr. Anthony Paul. The Oil and Gas expert said that Guyana, like other new petroleum producers have done, will need to develop programmes for a robust oil and gas sector. He said that one of these programmes includes creating trusted individuals, agencies and channels for providing up-to-date information to citizens. The Chatham House Advisor was careful to note as well that having policies which may dictate the disclosure of data is not enough. In the case of Ghana and Nigeria for example, there are policies which expressly state that petroleum data should be released. But in several instances, there have been criticisms where the data was said to be inflated. The Chatham House Advisor shared that Brazil has a very comprehensive system of collecting and reporting petroleum data. But its efficient reporting required “trusted individuals, agencies and channels…” Paul also stated that in the case of Trinidad and Tobago, the nation’s regulations provide for the disclosure of oil information. Those regula-
...Chatham House Advisor says nation will need “trusted” agencies and individuals for oil sector tions have been in place since 1970. However, TT is now about to put mechanisms in place to get “credible” data. The Chatham advisor noted that this was due to the fact that the regulatory capacity of Trinidad and Tobago was not where it should have been. OTHER CRUCIAL FACTORS The Oil and Gas expert also noted that there will be a need for other programmes to complement the aforementioned. In Guyana’s case, Paul said there would be a need for educating citizens, special interest groups and the media on the workings of the industry; providing platforms for engaging with civil society (two way conversations) and demonstrating that feedback is incorporated into management of the sector. Aware of the potential impacts of the “resource curse,” the Chatham House Advisor said that several international NGOs and multilateral agencies have been engaged in improving governance of natural resources in new oil and gas producing countries. Paul stated that the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) has been a leader in this respect and has developed a whole compendium of tools, including Natu-
ral Resource Charter, which provides a structured approach for developing countries to manage the multiple facets of resource governance for sustainable development. The Advisor noted that the Chatham House New Petroleum Producers Discussion Group (NPPDG) has been assisting Guyana. He noted too that the World Bank, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and several others have developed guidelines and tools that can be useful to government regulators and to Civil Society in developing their capacity to hold government accountable in managing the resources. Paul emphasized that there are lots of lessons that can be learnt from these interventions. GLOBAL WITNESS SUPPORTS The Global Witness is an international body that works to break the links between natural resource exploitation, corruption, and human rights abuses worldwide. It is one of many institutions, which has implored governments of oil nations around the world, to ensure that certain documents are released for citizens to scruti-
Advisor to Chatham House on Oil and Gas, Mr. Anthony Paul nize. It notes that these documents should include Production Sharing Agreements for the oil and gas sector; Licence agreements; Safety inspection reports; Environmental Impact Assessments; and Approved development plans (with tightly defined exemptions). The anticorruption body believes that Governments should also ensure that company records are carefully recorded and published online. The Global Witness also stressed that the ultimate beneficial owner of companies bidding for contracts or participating in the extractive sector should be declared and published.
Monday February 19, 2018
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Kaieteur News
More concerns over ExxonMobil Concerns are being expressed over the agreement which the government of Ghana (not Guyana) has signed with ExxonMobil. That agreement provides for a 10% royalty. Yet it is being criticized as the worst deal possible for the people of Ghana. Guyana got a 2% royalty in its agreement with
ExxonMobil. Despite this, Guyanese are being advised to stop fretting about an agreement which will bring an average of US$1 M per day to the country. This will work out to each Guyanese receiving G$80,000 per year, a sum which cannot even buy the latest Samsung Model phone. We are told to stop
fretting since we have to accept the way that international business is conducted and how investment decisions are made by big corporations. In other words, Guyana is a ‘taker’ and it has to accept whatever ExxonMobil wants it to have. If that is the basis upon which countries negotiate with foreign firms,
DJ DIES AFTER NIGHT OUT WITH FRIENDS
Rafeek Mohamed A 20-year-old disc-jockey is now dead following an accident along the No. 6 Public Road, West Coast Berbice, while two others have been admitted at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital. Dead is Rafeek Mohammed of Cotton Tree Village. The injured have been identified as 16-year-old Tamesh Chamalla of Lot 15 Cotton Tree Village and Somath Jagdeo, also of Cotton Tree Village, West Coast Berbice. Police sources have revealed that the accident occurred at approximately 01:45 hrs yesterday. Jagdeo, the driver of the Toyota Hilux 4×4 bearing licence plate number GSS 6905 was
The vehicle in which Mohammed was travelling. reportedly proceeding East at a fast rate and was about to negotiate a turn when he lost control of the vehicle. The pick-up was reported to have flipped several times before ending up in a trench. Mohammed who was sitting in the front passenger seat endured the brunt of the impact. In a telephone interview, his step-father, Richard Charles, said that Jagdeo and Chamalla picked him and Mohammed up at approximately 18:30 hrs on Saturday. They dropped Mr. Charles off at an event in No.5
Village and told him they were going to Bushlot Village at Jagdeo’s relatives where there was a family gathering. At 02:00 hrs yesterday, he received a telephone call informing him that the friends were in an accident at No. 6 Village. He stated that he rushed to the scene and saw Chamalla and Jagdeo’ lying unconscious on the road, while his step-son was pinned in the front passenger seat. According to him, Mohammed died shortly after Continued on page 23
then almost every country which negotiates with big companies will be shafted. ExxonMobil came here under an agreement which it signed with the PPP/C government. Guyana did not know at the time that it had oil and therefore it signed an agreement which reflected its quest for exploratory investments. ExxonMobil is the one who when oil was found approached for a renegotiation. And what did the APNU+AFC do? Instead of using that opportunity to strike a fair deal for Guyana, it signed what can only be described as a give-away agreement. The fact of the matter is that other countries have signed deals which have yielded higher royalties. However, the APNU+AFC administration is asking critics not to nitpick the agreement but to look at the overall benefits which is 2% royalty and a 50-50 production sharing split. The bottom line is that that agreement will yield an amount which on a per capita basis will not allow Guyanese to buy a good smart phone each year. That is not a lot of money as Guyanese have
been led to believe. The argument is accepted that if ExxonMobil had not found oil they would have to shoulder the cost of their operations, with no burden to Guyana. But is that not why the royalty negotiated was 1% - because oil was not discovered? But when oil was found, the company is asking Guyana to shoulder 50% of cost recovery. Now that Guyana is bearing cost recovery, why should the royalty rates not be consistent with international practice? The 2016 deal is not sealed. It must be renegotiated. ExxonMobil signed an agreement in 1999. It did not strike gold until 2015. What was it doing with the blocks which it was handed by the Janet Jagan administration between 1990 and 2015? ExxonMobil was the one which wanted a new agreement. Guyana had a chance to get a fair deal. It squandered that opportunity. It has forfeited the future of Guyanese. There is no value-added under this agreement. This is a raw resource exploitation agreement. ExxonMobil will
drill our oil and take it out to be processed elsewhere. Guyanese will get crumbs under the present agreement. The monies earned are insufficient to transform the local economy. This is why some persons are suggesting that the government not use oil revenues to pay cash grants to its citizens. They know if this is done, Guyanese will realize the sell-out which has taken place because the check in the mail will end up being less than $G8000 per month based on earnings, as stated by the government, of US$1 M per day. Guyanese must not be lulled into believing that the agreement with ExxonMobil is not re-negotiable. The agreement is a contract and contracts can be renegotiated. No multinational wants to work in a country where the government or its people are at odds over the agreement. Guyanese do not have to accept this flawed agreement. Exxon asked for a renegotiated agreement and got it. Guyana can and must do the same.
Monday February 19, 2018
Kaieteur News
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Monday February 19, 2018
Kaieteur News
Teen caught in tree said he begged homeowner not to shoot - cops now able to interview hospitalised victim Police were finally able to interview 17-year-old Afzel Fazal of lot 17, track, ‘A’ Colidgen East Coast Demerara, who was shot in the upper left shoulder while picking coconuts in a business man’s yard, in Enterprise, East Coast Demerara, on February 6. The teen was reportedly only recently transferred from the Intensive Care Unit. He was interviewed yesterday because he was in no condition to give a coherent statement before. Fazal yesterday told Kaieteur News his version of events that led to him being shot. “I was home that day so I pick up my bicycle and collect my friend…we come back by me and collect the donkey cart and went riding about in the area.” While they were riding, Fazal said he noticed coconuts in a drain; without thinking anything of it, the two stopped and decided to take the coconuts. “When I look up I see more coconuts in the tree so I say I will go on the fence and pick some,” Fazal said. Soon after climbing to the top of the tree, Fazal said he noticed a silver van driving towards where his friend was standing and thought that must be the home owner. The man, who is a known
auto dealer in the area, Fazal said, came out of the vehicle and, without asking questions, shot him. “By the time he come out the vehicle I tell he ‘uncle don’t shoot me’ cause I done see he put he hand to he waist; I beg he to not shoot. The man did not even ask any questions, he just shoot me.” Justin Wilson, Fazal’s friend, who was standing close to business man when his friend was shot, said the man went over to his neighbour and within minutes came back and asked “Is where the boy get shoot?” Fazal, who lost his mother about three years ago, and his friend Justin, are known to persons in the area since they would sell coconut water and ‘pointer brooms’ in the community. Kaieteur News was told it took almost 15 minutes before Fazal was removed from the tree since no one came to help. “I had to call he brother to come and take he down from the tree because Justin couldn’t do it alone,” a family member said. The two both denied attacking the businessman, who told police that Fazal had attacked him with a cutlass. Fazal said he was in the tree and it was impossible for him to attack the man. Justin Wilson said he was still standing
Afzel Fazal
A relative lifts the injured lad close to the man when the police arrived on the scene. Wilson and the businessman were both taken to the police station where they gave statements. While Wilson was allowed to leave, the business man was kept in police custody, but released 72 hrs later. Fazal said, though his condition is improving, he may not be able to use his left arm again. “The doctor is not
really giving me an answer if I will be able to use the arm again or not,” he said. The lad
suffered a broken shoulder and a damaged artery. The family is hoping that
something can be done now that officers were able to take a statement from Fazal.
Shot, carjacked and left... (From page 2) King recalled. “The next thing I know, I wake up a day after in the (Georgetown Public Hospital’s) ICU.” It was then that King learnt how close to death he had been. A doctor revealed that he had lost 34 percent of his blood. The bullets had left his leg so badly shattered that the surgeons had wanted to amputate his limb. They had seen this as the only option to save his life. “The doctor told my wife ‘is either leg or life.’ She told them not to cut it off. “They also said that my heart had stopped while I was on the operation table.
“The bone was shattered and the artery carrying blood to my heart was damaged. “The next day they took a vein from the bottom of my foot and replaced the artery.” He remained in hospital for several weeks, “helpless and in pampers and feeding through tubes.” He would have to return to the hospital at least thrice for corrective surgery. This included removing four inches of bone from his hip to support the shattered bones in his leg. But, almost three months later, he still cannot walk. He’s already spent millions on medical treatment. He also
Indigenous Affairs... (From page 3) the lone residential tertiary institution located in the hinterland. It provides access to skills training programmes for indigenous youths who reside in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine. The students are tutored in natural resource management, forestry, wildlife, agriculture, tourism, business studies, life and traditional skills, basic computer skills, and Mathematics and English Language. They also have the opportunity to participate in local and overseas exchange programmes. Once the two-year programme is completed, the students then have the choice to either return to their communities and share their knowledge, create their own businesses or enroll in a higher institute of learning such as the University of Guyana (UG) or the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA). Over the past two years, the Government has invested millions of dollars to develop the institution. In 2016, some $46M was allocated in the National Budget for major rehabilitative works, followed by some $50M in 2017, to cater for the influx of students and further development of the curriculum. Works are ongoing on two additional male and female dormitories to the tune of some $60M.
has three children who all attend school. He is still to collect his insurance on his stolen vehicle, since “they say the police have to finish their report first.” But King is taking some comfort in the recent dismantling of a major carjacking ring, which is believed to have stolen at least 100 vehicles…including King’s first car. While watching a local television news broadcast, the face of one of the suspects was flashed on the television screen. King says it was the same man who had lured him to Meadowbrook in November, 2015. King believes that the same gang, aided by two women and a ‘baby,’ also shot him and left him for dead last year. “Definitely, I was a victim of that ring. ‘Ruthless’ is not the right word to describe them. They (almost certainly) have killed other people,” he added, referring to the many taxi drivers who have vanished over the years. Meanwhile, a friend of King’s is checking at the Brickdam Police Station to see if King’s two stolen cars are among those that have been retrieved He may never find his vehicles. But he has his life. “I am lucky to be alive, by Gods grace. “Every time I go to the clinic, the doctors say ‘boy, you lucky to be alive.’”
Monday February 19, 2018
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Kaieteur News
Granger says ‘counterforce’ Soldier, accomplices rob undermined security forces Chief Prison Officer President David Granger has said that that the inability of the security forces to curtail the criminal violence during the deadly period of the crime wave led to the emergence of counter-forces and death squads. In his address at the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Officers’ Conference on Thursday, Granger stated that the period of ‘the troubles’ between 2002 and 2008, revealed complicity between rogue elements in the security services and the drug lords. “It exposed the infiltration of rogue elements into the force. It rendered the security forces vulnerable and exposed some of its vulnerable members to unwarranted death,” Granger said. Convicted drug kingpin Shaheed ‘Roger’ Khan, who sits in a United States prison cell, had publicly claimed responsibility for ensuring security during the period, claiming to have kept the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in power. Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo said that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) did not need the help of drug lords during the crime wave. “We didn’t need 20 or 50 drug dealers to help us when we had the security forces,” Jagdeo said when asked about the counterforce. Jagdeo was president at the time when Khan reportedly operated a counterforce known as ‘the phantom squad’ that reportedly pursued groups holed-up in Buxton and other parts of Guyana. “They [phantom squad
- points to complicity between some security services personnel and drug lords during ‘troubles’
Self-confessed head of the ‘Phantom Squad’, Shaheed ‘Roger’ Khan members] were not pursing any government agenda. In fact, there were early linkages between the groups and I think they fell out like how you have guerilla warfare in other parts if the world; they fell out; that’s what the intelligence report I know suggested to me. They were not pursing a national agenda,” Jagdeo outlined. A document authorizing the procurement and importation of a high-tech phone-tapping and location tracking computer used by Khan’s squad, carried the signature of then Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy. “I don’t know of counterforces. People described different groups. Remember, one time, in the newspaper it used to be phantom; it’s been described as phantom counterforce. I know that there were criminals out there
who were killing ordinary people. They may have been other groups of criminals who had engagement with those criminals who escaped and resided in Buxton and then I know of the state trying to apprehend and deal with all criminals,” Jagdeo stated. Jagdeo noted that the state security resources that comprised over 6,000 persons were at his disposal as President to go after the criminals who were murdering people randomly of every single race, including police men. He stated that criminal gangs encountered support from a political force who described the security forces actions as criminal. “That political force was APNU [A Partnership for National Unity] who constantly talk about extrajudicial killings, who constantly held up some of these criminals as freedom fighters, who argued that for us to get peace in Buxton we had to spend $350 million in infrastructure; who were negotiating on behalf of the insurgence who were murdering people,” Jagdeo stated. President Granger, who leads the APNU faction of the coalition government, has announced plans to purse investigations into the dozens of deaths that occurred during the crime wave. The first such, is the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the 2008 deaths of eight miners whose burnt remains were discovered at their camp at Lindo Creek, Upper Berbice.
Police have arrested a Corporal of the Joint Services who allegedly robbed a 43year-old Chief Prison Officer at knifepoint at around 01.00 hrs yesterday. A release stated that the Chief Prison Officer was on the Soesdyke Public Road, East Bank Demerara awaiting transportation when he was attacked by four men, including one with a knife. The victim was relieved of a cell phone and $40,000. Another suspect has also been detained. The arrest of this joint services member comes one month after a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Lance Corporal was remanded to prison for a string of robberies carried out around Georgetown. Army Lance Corporal Jamal Hazel, 21, of Lot 490 ‘A’ Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown was in mid-January charged with three counts of robbery under-arms. Police said that Hazel confessed to carrying out a string of robberies in the city after trailing their victims on a motorcycle. He was remanded to prison. The first charge alleged
that on January 10 at North Road, Bourda, Georgetown, while being in the company of another and armed with a gun, he robbed Boodram Hemraj, of one weeding machine, valued $100,000. The second charge alleged that on January 11 at Pere Street, Kitty, Georgetown, Hazel, while being in the company of others and armed with a gun, robbed Andrea Purdessy of a cellular phone valued $210,000 and $400,000 in cash. It was also alleged that on the same day in question while being armed with a gun, he robbed Andrea Purdessy of $4.5M in cash. Additionally, it is alleged that on January 13 at Middle Road, La Penitence, Georgetown, Hazel had in his possession nine rounds of .38 ammunition and at the same time he had in his possession a .38 Pistol, when he was not the holder of a firearm licence. Last year, a number of army ranks were brought before the courts for armed robberies. One such case is that of Corporal Raul Jones, 29. It is alleged that on October 21, 2017 at B Field Sophia, while
CHARGED: Jamal Hazel being armed, Jones robbed a woman of a quantity of jewellery among other items—all totaling $341,000. Then, again, in September, GDF ranks Clive Seymour and Tumblus Richards were slapped with a robbery charge. Seymour of Enmore North, East Coast Demerara and Richards of Plum Park, Sophia, Greater Georgetown are accused of robbing Keron Welch of a BLU cellular phone valued $17,000 on September 12, 2017 at Timehri, East Bank Demerara. It is unclear whether they are still serving in the GDF.
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Monday February 19, 2018
Kaieteur News
Linden’s Brandon Harding GWI’s Parika office to takes Soca Monarch crown benefit 30,000 customers The finals for 2018 Carib Soca Monarch on Saturday proved to be a challenge for the judges as the contestants brought their ‘A’ game to the last round of competition. The enthusiastic audience cheered on the 15 semifinalists into the wee hours of Sunday morning, as they belted out tunes that covered a gamut of social and governmental issues. However, only one could be crowned the monarch and the title was awarded to Brandon Harding whose spirited song “Alive’ scored him 415.5 points. Melissa “Vanilla” Roberts copped second place with ‘We Run Things’ with a total of 405 points, while Diana Chapman’s rendition of ‘Get Ready’ earned her third with 403 points. Among the other semi-finalists who stood out were Alisha “Sasha Melody” Hamid, Colwin “Lil Colwin” Blair, Colwyn “Soca Colwyn” Abrams, Delon “Soca Del” Azore, Jonathan “Lil Red” King, Keron “Norek Mas” Sam, Quacy “Avalanche” Coates, Roger “Young Bill Rogers” Hinds, Roshauna Fraser, Samantha Grant, Shellon “Fluffy” Gally and Stanton “Cardiac” Lewis. Harding now joins other well-known names such as Adrian Dutchin, Shelly G and Jumo “Rubberwaist” Primo who have won the title in the past. The 2018 Carib Soca Monarch Competition which saw over 15 competitors was added to the Mash Calender after a two-year hiatus. Trinidad and Tobago’s conglomerate ANSA McAl and the Government of Guyana for the first time collaborated to host the $12.5M venture.
Brandon Harding
In an effort to become more customer-centric, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), commissioned its second sub-office in Region Three (Essequibo IslandWest Demerara.) This time, in Parika at the Lotus Mall. During the launch, GWI’s Managing Director Dr. Richard Van West-Charles said the new branch office will cater to 30,000 customers from West Bank Demerara (WBD), West Coast Demerara (WCD) Bartica and other areas. “This opens a gateway to Region Two, Leguan, Wakenaam, to Bartica, which allows us to be in constant communication, where we are looking at various options whereby customers can pay their bills, check their bills and their balance and report to us,” Dr. Van West-Charles stated The Manager Director noted that this initiative will also assist in the company recouping outstanding revenues much needed to improve the services provided to its Region Three and other customers. Dr. Charles said the utility company will continue to partner with the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and regional administrations to ensure a timely collection of revenues that will ensure the provision of quality service. He assured that GWI will work assiduously to respond
Jennifer Ferreira Dougall, Deputy Regional Executive Officer (DREO)
Dr. Richard Van West-Charles, Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI)’s Managing Director
to concerns customers may have regarding the proper functioning of meters and leakages. He also reminded residents of the company’s zerotolerance for illegality and called on them to report any instances of vandalism. The utility company is also in talks with the Guyana Telegraph and Telephone Company (G&TT) to make its Mobile Money application available to Parika residents to pay their bills online. There are also plans to open another branch office in Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), later this year.
Deputy Regional Executive Officer (DREO) Jennifer Ferreira-Dougall, noted that the establishment of the branch office is a timely one since residents were forced to travel to Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara (W.C.D) in order to pay their monthly water bills. “This initiative by GWI is fantastic for persons in Parika, in terms of not travelling to Pouderoyen, to pay their bills; this will help them to pay their bills on time. Hence, no one will be sent to cut their connection. This government is helping to bring great service to this region,” the DREO said.
Patricia Chase-Green, Mayor of Georgetown and Chairperson of GWI cuts the ribbon to officially open the office at Parika
Monday February 19, 2018
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Kaieteur News
Farming is an empowering career for Pulmattie Bisnauth Life in Little Biaboo, a rural farming community in Mahaica Creek, is simple. Rice and other crops such as plantains, bora, watermelon and coconut are the main crops grown there. Almost, every member of the household, particularly the womenfolk, contributes to the agriculture value chain. This has been so for generations without notice. In fact, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in a 2013 report on GENDER EQUALITY AND FOOD SECURITY Women’s Empowerment as a Tool against Hunger, highlighted how women’s role in agriculture is undervalued and constrained owing to limited access to resources. The FAO believes that women play a crucial role in agriculture from farm production to food preparation and distribution in the household. Twenty-seven-year-old, P u l m a t t i e ‘Shivannie’Bisnauth, is one such woman, who is integrally involved in her family’s business- farming. Eleven years ago,Shivannie got married to a farmer- Lenny Udai. Still in the honeymoon period, Shivannie commenced her career as a farmer. Like a true Guyanese woman of strength, Shivannie has embraced her many hats as wife, mother, daughter-in-law, farmer and vendor with glee. Way before the crack of dawn, Shivannie is up bustling about the kitchen to ensure her family is prepared to face the day. A lunch pack is prepared for her eight-year-old son, who attends school close to home. And, breakfast is placed on the dining table for Lenny by quarter to five. After breakfast, Shivannie and her husband journey to their 10-acre farm. “When we leave home it is dark so by the time we walk to the farm the sky clears…We start the day by picking our crops…We inter-
Hoisting a bunch of plantains crop plantains, watermelon, bora and a small amount of rice…So picking bora is sometimes the first thing we do on the farm every morning,” a giggly Shivannie said, clearly shy about being interviewed. At first glance, Shivannie looks incapable of being a farmer with her small frame. But, nothing is too big for her to handle. Shivannie can operate any farm equipment including the tractor. In fact, this is one of her main tasks on the farm. She drives the tractor so that Lenny could place sticks for bora. Plus he loads the trailer with crops which she moves from the farm. This is her favourite task. “I feel good driving the tractor…it is empowering…I never thought I could handle it but now I can drive anything…I also drive our pickup…this makes it easy on Lenny who has so many things to do,” she said. “I like driving the tractor more than picking bora…when you picking bora sometimes small snakes would be on the vines…and I’m terrified of snakes…Sometimes for fun just to see me run and scream. Lenny does tease me with the snakes.” Minus the snakes, it was
the opportunity for bonding with her love that resulted in Shivannie first visiting the farm. As a young bride, she wasn’t fond of the idea of being home while her husband was working in the blistering sun. Depending on the tasks to be accomplished, Lenny sometimes hires labourers. But, most times Shivannie is the only farmhand. Overtime, she had learnt about crop cycles and the various farming techniques. Some of her most important lessons were taught by the Extension Officers of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Services (NAREI). Besides routine visits, NAREI sometimes utilizes their farmland as demonstration plots. Always eager to learn, she is usually involved in these projects. These projects have introduced Lenny and Shivannie to different varieties of crops and good agricultural practices. As such, once good farming conditions exist, crops of good quality are produced on their farm. The crops are sold on Saturdays at the Mahaica Market. Here too, Shivannie is integrally involved. “We wake early every Sat-
All in a day’s work: Operating the tractor on the couple’s ten-acre farm
Pulmattie Bisnauth and Lenny Udai urday morning to load up…It takes a good time to get all the stocks in the vehicle…I look forward going to the market to sell…I love selling...this is why we work so hard…It is a very empowering feeling to
assist my husband in everything we do,” Shivannie said smiling. After a long day at the farm, Shivannie has to strike a balance between household chores and teaching her son.
Sometimes her husband and father-in-law assist in this area, allowing her to take a break from being superwoman. But, spending time with their child is the highlight of her day.
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Kaieteur News
Forthcoming US$120M shore base facility a prime example of making local content work – Oil and Gas Export Oil and Gas Advisor, Anthony Paul believes that the forthcoming US$120M shore base facility by entrepreneur Terry Singh is a prime example of how to make local content work. He recalled that Mr. Terry Singh, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Source One Supply, a subsidiary of the household name JAPARTS, is desirous of joining with local forces to develop a shore base initiative. This project would be able to service the needs of ExxonMobil during the first stage of the Liza One project and beyond as well as any other Oil Company. “This is the kind of thing that’s needed for local content to work; local entrepreneurs and professionals partnering with experienced practitioners to offer facilities, goods and services to the Sector. What I like about the approach that I saw from the display and video at the booth that was at the Guyana International Petroleum Business Summit, is that the company is thinking big…they can go very far.” “That will require access to good demand data, support by the local content regulator and the operating companies and their major suppliers. At the same time, there appears to be competing ventures to supply shore base facilities.” Additionally, the oil and gas expert said that while there’s likely to be a need for more than the one currently
Mr. Terry Singh, CEO of Source One Supply
Chatham House Advisor, Anthony Paul
operated to support ExxonMobil, care must be taken to ensure there isn’t over-investment. OFFSHORE PROJECT During a detailed interview Mr. Singh noted that the shore base plan, which is also representative of a Guyanese led initiative, will be called G-Port. The proposed location is Plantation Vreed-en-Hoop. The scale and magnitude of G-Port will be on an entirely new level; a superior provider of services and state of the art onshore oil and gas Facility that will put direct employment and capital injection into the economy. With such a massive investment and the involvement of international parts, Singh commented that it will not only create employment but also enhance the technical knowledge of our local workforce.
Singh shared that G-Port would be able to cater to the needs for the different phases of Exxon’s oil drilling. The project envisions providing a wide range of services which include: fresh water supply, fuel storage capacity, waste management services, a factory, a beverage warehouse, pipe yard and recertification services etc. Ultimately, Singh said that it is his intention to provide as much local content as possible. The entrepreneur noted that it would cost approximately US$90M to US$120M to establish the structure with the exception of four specialized commodities. He said that the US$120M budget caters for the setting up of the pier, warehousing amenities, the welding and fabrication department, the administrative building,
housing and accommodation for workers, and a grand training centre. He noted that the four specialized facilities he foresees having at the port include the fuel storage farm, the fresh water treatment plant, the mud plant and the purification oil distribution centre. The businessman noted that he is also seeking the intervention of the Government so that they can be able to operate another shore base facility in the Essequibo region. With the government’s
armed; changes to licensing and registration of some stakeholders; inclusion of advance cargo loading notice; as well as modifying the process of discarding goods received by the agency. Among the stakeholder groups represented were shipping; customs brokers; exporters; airline associations; used car dealers; and government ministries, departments and agencies. Senior Director, Legal Affairs at JCA, Hazel Edwards, said that “the idea behind all of the reforms is for government, customs, public sector partners, private sector partners to work together to create opportunities and to resolve the difficulties that we are having.” She said that the agency looks forward to feedback from the various stakeholders. The agency began consultations including meetings and presentations with stakeholders in late 2017.
Daily Nation - Jamaica may pull out of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) if a clear programme and definitive commitment to have it fully operational within the next five years do not materialise. Former Prime Minister of Jamaica Bruce Golding disclosed this during his remarks on the report of the commission to review Jamaica’s relations with the CARICOM and CARIFORUM frameworks on Friday at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica. “In the absence of a commitment by member states as outlined above, and its diligent execution, Jamaica should withdraw from the CSME, but retain its membership of CARICOM in a capacity similar to that of The Bahamas,” the report read in part. The commission consisted of 18 members, with Golding as chairman. They interviewed 26 people, received 25 written submissions and 33 recommendations.
An artist’s impression of the proposed onshore oil and gas facility at Vreed-en-Hoop. blessings, Source One Supply hopes to have the presence of various bodies at G-Port. He said these include but are not limited to the Guyana Police Force, the Central Immigration and Passport Office, Guyana Maritime Administration and the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU). The CEO said, “For Source One Supply, once we get the blessings of the government to start this project, we can commence in about two to three months and finish in about 26 to 30
months. I want the citizenry to understand that G-Port is not just one local Guyanese being involved. I want to incorporate or form a consortium of ‘Guyanese’ businesses; I want Guyanese to play a part in setting it up…” The sharp businessman stated, “The world will not wait on us. Hence, as Guyanese we must take our place in ensuring greater local investment and market share. This initiative is to ensure that from the outset we gain competitive advantage, local participation and content.”
Parliament to table Jamaica threatens to leave CSME amendments to Customs Act
KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – The Ministry of Finance says Parliament will make amendments will be made to the Customs Act at the end of next month. According to junior minister, Fayval Williams, the changes seek to make the rules clearer, heighten enforcement, and equip the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) with the tools to make trade flow more efficient. Williams was speaking at a recent stakeholder consultation to get feedback on the changes. Among the amendments being proposed are: inclusion of terms from the Custom’s Asycuda system into the legislation; changes in
Fayval Williams warehousing procedures; changes in enforcement to allow customs officers to be
Bruce Golding CARICOM was established in 1973 and remodelled in 2001, with the Revised Treaty Of Chaguaramas laying out a design for the region to be converted into a single market and economy. There are currently 12 registered CSME countries, three non-CSME countries and five “associate members”, with applications from Aruba, Curacao, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and St Maarten for associate membership. The
Dominican Republic’s application for full membership was suspended in 2013 because of the controversy surrounding the legal status of people born there to undocumented Haitian immigrants. Golding said the mandate that the commission was given could be broken down into three broad areas: to assess the impact that CARICOM had on Jamaica in particular, but across the region; to identify its shortcomings; and to make recommendations for the way forward. Based on questions posed to the commission, they concluded CARICOM made good sense and the region stood a better chance of advancing through economic integration. The objectives of CARICOM have not been met although there was some success in foreign policy and trade and while it was not doomed to fail, there was a general reluctance among member states to embrace the challenges of CSME.
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FOR RENT
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK;Guyanapassport application. G r a p h i c s design, advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6004212: We create A/works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer-Call: 231-0655; 683-8734. Omar Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 House plans and estimates. # 6 1 3 - 5 6 2 8 / sirachenterprises@gmail.com Budhram’s Landscaping & Tree cutting service. Free advice, Free design, Free after care follow up. Tel#626-1044 Automotive servicing and repairs integrity reliability personalized attention Mondays-Fridays: 8:00am4:00pm Saturdays 8:00am2:00pm Checkered Works Garage #666-9719 Austin Powers Repairs & Services: Regas Fridges, Freezers, AC, Washer, Dryer & Wiring. Lot 114 Brushe Dam Friendship. E.C.D Tel#685-2588/613-1711 LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj BuildingCall: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).
SALON Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. -CosmetologyCourses:$90,000 Nail Technician Course: $35,000. Call: 647-1773/6880009
Monday February 19, 2018
Kaieteur News
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY- $19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-2274754. All size solar pannel & batteries lowest price guarantee. check us out @ Boodhoo’s General store @ Parika EBE. New 2 Post car hoists for mechanic shop. Lifting capacity: 4.5 tons. Telephone# 222-1730 Video games and consoles at affordable price. Repairs to video game system .Call:6722566/265-3231 Plant-closing down sale: potting soil, plant pot, flower plant at Garden Centre, Plantation Schoonard WBD #615-2346/627-3443/15001600 Supari palm, Lipstick, Royal, Foxtail. Exora 4 for $1000 Ficus 4 for $1000. Organic potting soil. Tel: 626-1044 1 3pc Suite - $50,000 1 flat screen TV 42"-$80,000. Tel#662-9832. Lenovo desktop with 17" Acer monitor, keyboard and mouse -$35,000. Call: 624-7155 Yamaha outboard motor, 200, 225, 9.9, 40, crank shaft and double control box, all foreign use. Please call: 672-5830 One champion generator 4500 KVA one portable air condition unit $120,000 (neg) #655-3400 (2) Lg red snapper fishing boats, fully equipped ready to work (1) New (1) 4 yrs old. $15,000,000 each. George #6528970 or 674-3735 Enclose canter 3 ton for sale contact: 613-0830,666-2549 1- Caterpillar skid steer 3.2M 1-Leyland daf cement mixer 2.2M 1-canter 3.6M Land at Blankenburg 2.9M Contact #650-0402/603-1402 EDUCATION Mash 2018 Computer package 9 course diploma $40,000 4 course computerized accounting. Micrographics Technology, Vreed-en-hoop #264-3057 Studying in Canada/USA 100% acceptance. Micrographics, Vreed-enhoop #264-3057 Lessons: Phonics, reading & writing for kindergarten, Grades 1-5/ CXC English, Mathematics/Forms 1-5 lessons #690-9378/677-0296
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 2 & 3 bedroom fully furnished luxury apartments to rent, long & short term. #666-7820, 691-1432 Space for rent at Ashmin’s Building- suitable for salon or office- Call today! 683-7954 Vreed-en-hoop junction. Lessons place, church, storage bond, office, other. Call: 603-6400. Petboy shop at Howes & Ketley Streets, Charlestown. One bedroom apartment to rent located in Diamond. Seeta- #615-7209 PROPERTY FOR SALE House and land available @ La Parfaite Harmonie, Providence, Etc. Financing assistance available. Contact Pacific Development: 2236035/ 604-4909 Riumveldt Public Rd (opp Massey) (6) bedroomed house on double lot. (2) apartments with all utilitiesparking, fenced. Call: 2258427/609-7766 Property for sale (1) 3 story building at 97 Sugarcane street S/Rvldt Gardens. Price US 1.5M neg. Tel: 695-1356 & 687-8445 Lot 15 Public road #2 Village. West Coast Berbice. 49ft by 10,314ft. $20M. Contact:6487109/686-4818 166 4th Street, Alexander Village. Tel#691-6201
EDUCATION CXC adults classes (Business & Science subjects) Form 1-5 lessons, Grade 2-6 lessons (slow learners, personal tutor) #690-5008,618-0649 Jean offers courses in Dressmaking, Curtains, Floral, Cake decorations. Barr St, Kitty. Tel#670-2653, 638-8449. Electronic classes beginning March 6th. Enroll early, limited spaces. Abdul Electronics. Tel: 226-6551/225-0391. F.WManagement Consultancy is conducting special education needs workshops for parents and teachers. Interested persons call 683-3887/696-3056
WANTED Salesman, good verbal/ excellent attitude, knowledge in stocktaking, computer literate & team player. Keyfood McDoom. 1 maid for East Bank area. Call: 614-4358 Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665 (1) Manager to work @ Hotel/ Club on Essequibo coast, previous hotel management an asset. Contact: 500-5923, 676-8764/646-3675 Experienced dump truck drivers to work in the interior. Kindly contact: 223-7165 for futher details. Experience curry cooks, counter servers, drivers, roti/ puri cooks. Apply Hack’s Halaal. 5 Commerce St. 2 reliable responsible delivery guys for full time deliveries with own motorbikes- Call Tonya: #644-5884 Experienced Sand Truck Driver. Apply to Christine’s Variety Store, Lombard Street or Call 227-8529, 626-8003. Cashier to work interior must be computer literate. #6181838
VEHICLE FOR SALE Allion, Primo, Fielder Wagon, Spacio, Bluebird, 212 Carina, NZE, Honda CRV, Toyota IST, RZ & Pit-bull – Call: 650-7501 2006 Audi A4 PRR Series. $2.5M. 623-3839 19 seater pitbull, never worked passenger, 2 fielder wagons. Nissan Bluebird. Excellent condition. #664-0802 Nissan Pathfinder Jeep 4WD excellent condition $1.4M negotiable. Call: 609-7766/2258427 1 Nissan Datsun pick-up, $500,000 (neg) contact #6611121,614-6511 Bluebird 2012- 2.6M Axio2.5M Tida-2.2M All vehicles unregistered and have reverse camera. #655-3400
CAR RENTAL DOLLY’SCARRENTAL-CALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM
VACANCY Hair station & Barber station rental, New market street #6381106. Experienced persons preferable. Kitchen assistant for interior location. Job entails assisting cooks and generally cleaning. Call: 618-2020. One surveyor to work in the interior. Contact: 223-5273 One foreman to work on interior roads. Contact 2235273 One yardman age 30 to 45. Contact: 223-5273 Room attendant, age 25-45 Tel#225-0198 or visit 233 South road, Lacytown. One hardworking, willing and literate personnel for Plant shop in Georgetown. Age 25 yrs & over. Tel#652-6837.
LAND FOR SALE 7 transported house lots in Bella Dam W.B.D for sale. Contact#264-2495, 668-0484 Front lot Golden Grove. Tel# 671-2025
TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 2257878 (24HRS)
CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR R E N TA L : S U V F O R RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL:6435122/656-0087, ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807 WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIALOFFERS! . CALL: 690-6494 Reliable rentals. Cars, SUV at low rate and security deposit special rates for long term. #227-2322/601-2622
IDB calls for proposals to receive financing for projects in the Caribbean WASHINGTON - CMC – The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has launched the 2018 call for proposals for the Regional Public Goods (RPG) Initiative in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), which supports projects involving three or more countries. The Washington-based financial institution said the RPG initiative provides technical grants to finance solutions that resolve shared challenges through regional cooperation. Since 2004, the RPG initiative has financed 154 projects, investing more than US$112 million. The IDB said the proposals must involve a collective solution produced by at least three IDB borrowing member countries. “The initiative is open to the promotion of RPGs in any topic, alignment with the bank’ operational priorities is a selection criterion,” the statement said. It said the other two criteria are the value added of a regional (vs. national) approach to addressing a development challenge or opportunity, as well as sustaining the benefits of regional collective action beyond the support of the initiative. The IDB said past RPGfunded projects have included a protocol for joint procurement and quality of medicines in Central America, an action plan for the energy efficiency in the Caribbean hotels, support to the interoperability of foreign trade single windows, a framework for protection and registration of migrant workers in the Southern Cone and regional standards for school infrastructure across Latin America and the Caribbean, among others. All proposals must be presented in accordance with the general guidelines and must be submitted online on April 16, 2018.
Monday February 19, 2018
Kaieteur News
AFC, APNU to explore coalition for upcoming local Govt. polls It appears that the Alliance for Change (AFC) will not go it alone at upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE) as a coalition. The party has announced plans to commence discussions with the A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) to contest the LGE as a coalition. About a month ago, AFC Leader, Raphael Trotman said that the party was contemplating going to the polls alone, but did not entirely rule out contesting with governing partner, APNU. According to the AFC, its National Executive Committee (NEC) met on Saturday and mandated Trotman to write President David Granger outlining the party’s position on the way forward and specific issues that are of concern to the AFC. The NEC, the second highest decision-making organ of the AFC, has the mandate to make decisions for the party in between the party’s Biennial Conference. A statement from the AFC, noted that Saturday’s meeting discussed the Cummingsburg Accord signed with the APNU on Valentine’s Day, 2015. The AFC stated that members critically analyzed its operationalization and the
AFC Leader, Raphael Trotman
President David Granger
expectation of its members that this still relatively new arrangement will concretize a new era of good governance and development in Guyana,” “The meeting acknowledged that there are areas in the relationship that are working well and others that need to examined, clearly defined and strengthened,” the AFC pointed out. The party said that a team has been indentified internally to discuss areas of concerns with the APNU. The first review date passed on Wednesday, last. President Granger said that the AFC has not requested a review and that the accord is a sunset
agreement that could be reviewed as late as 2020 when Guyana is expected to return to the polls. AFC Leader Raphael Trotman told Kaieteur News that the party is encouraged by President David Granger’s words that ‘we are better together’. “Our opinions within the AFC’s leadership are that the Accord provided the best platform for a truly multilateral grouping at the time when it was signed. Both sides recognize that coalitions require special care and attention if they are to remain cohesive and effective,” Trotman stated. According to the AFC, the NEC meeting was attended by representatives from all ten administrative regions of Guyana, members of the party’s management committee, regional councilors, members of the diaspora and chairpersons of the Youth For Change and Women For Change. The meeting noted the sterling work being done by AFC ministers of government, councillors at the regional and municipal levels. The meeting reaffirmed its commitment to the coalition. Those at the meeting also extended warm wishes for a speedy recovery to the party’s elder, Moses Nagamootoo, who is in the United States recovering from heart bypass surgery.
Passenger held for robbing taxi driver at gunpoint A taxi driver who normally takes passengers from Rosignol to Ithaca on the West Bank of Berbice, is lucky to be alive after he was robbed at gunpoint by two men. According to information two suspects entered the taxi around 19:40 hrs yesterday and requested to be taken to Rosignol. Shortly after driving off, one of the passengers asked the driver to stop, since he had forgotten his phone. When the passenger exited the vehicle, the other placed a gun to the driver’s head and demanded that he hand over his valuables. The robbers relieved the taxi driver of his cellular phone, a gold ring and his wallet, which contained $12,000. It was reported that police acting on information received went to Number Four Settlement, West Bank Berbice, where they arrested one of the men who was positively identified by the victim. He is currently in police custody while the other suspect is being sought.
DJ dies after night out... From page 9 he was freed from the vehicle. Many friends and family members expressed shock and dismay on social media at the passing of the popular disc jockey. Meanwhile, a Bushlot, Corentyne labourer was struck down on Saturday by a black fielder wagon while returning home on his bicycle. Deodat ‘Bully’ Bissember , 40, of Lot 59 Bushlot Farm, Corentyne was rushed to the Port
Mourant Hospital in an unconscious state after he was struck on the Kildonan Village Public Road by a hire car. Bissember’s relatives disclosed that he regained consciousness at the Port Mourant Hospital Saturday night and was subsequently transferred to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where he was admitted. He was reportedly heading home on his bicycle when the accident occurred. At the time he was said to be
intoxicated while the driver of the car has since been arrested and assisting the police. This is the sixth road accident within Region 5 and 6. No one has been arrested as yet in connection with the accident at Number 72 Village that claimed the life of a Number 69 Village GuySuCo former employee. A pensioner also died recently on the Williamsburgh Public Road after being struck by a speeding car.
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Caribbean American congresswoman blames Trump for DACA crisis WASHINGTON - CMC – Caribbean American Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke has blamed US President Donald Trump for the crisis surrounding the fate of the so-called Caribbean and other “Dreamers”. Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) on Saturday that the President created “a crisis by ending DACA [Deferred Acton for Childhood Arrivals], (and) called on Congress to work together to solve it.” But Clarke, who represents the 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn, said Trump “continues to torpedo bipartisan deal after bipartisan deal, while offering an immigration framework that is cruel, vindictive and heartless. “Over 100 Dreamers are deported daily, and we are quickly approaching the March 5th deadline,” she said. “If Donald Trump cannot lead, he must get out of the way and let the Congress do its job in a bipartisan fashion, and save DACA.” March 5 is the day that Trump has set the DACA programme to expire. The programme protects about 690,000 Caribbean and other Dreamers from deportation and allows them to work, study or join the military. But Trump rescinded DACA, leaving it to Congress to find a replacement. After the week began with the promise of an extraordinarily open, free-ranging debate on immigration, senators on Thursday struck down
President Donald Trump
Yvette D. Clarke
measure after measure, leaving into question whether any solution on the Dreamers can be reached. In a rebuke to Trump, senators voted overwhelmingly, 39 to 60, against the White Housebacked bill, which would have committed US$25 billion for a wall along the border with Mexico, placed strict limits on legal immigration, ended the diversity visa lottery and offered 1.8 million Dreamers an eventual path to citizenship. Senators were 21 votes short of the 60 required to open debate, with the rejection of the president’s plan bipartisan: Democrats refused its get-tough approach to legal immigration, while many conservative Republicans derided it as amnesty. Before the vote on Trump’s plan, senators rejected two bipartisan measures, including one written by Senators John
McCain, Republican of Arizona, and Chris Coons, Democrat of Delaware, and another drafted by a broad bipartisan group of centrists calling themselves the Common Sense Coalition. The estimated 690,000 young, undocumented Caribbean and other immigrants have been protected from deportation, until March 5, by DACA, and another 1.1 million would be eligible. However, some Dreamers, many of whom have known no country other than the United States, are hopeful that the judicial system will protect them. Meanwhile, two federal courts have issued injunctions ordering the Trump administration to keep DACA in place for those already receiving its protections, but the US Justice Department has asked the US Supreme Court to intervene and overturn lower court rulings.
Gonsalves steps down from ECCB’s Monetary Council CASTRIES, St. Lucia – CMC - Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has been hailed for his contribution to the Monetary Council of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB). Gonsalves, one of the longest serving members of the Monetary Council has stepped down, paving the way for his son – the new Vincentian Minister of Finance Camillo Gonsalves, to take over. The Prime Minister’s departure was announced at the just concluded 90th meeting of the Monetary Council in St. Kitts Nevis. Chairman of the Authority of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Prime Minister Allen Chastanet indicated that PM Gonsalves’ tenure was characterized by sagacious advice and astute strategizing
Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves that has helped to preserve the integrity and strength of the Eastern Caribbean currency. “PM Gonsalves has the distinction of being one of the signatories of the Revised Treaty of Basseterre which
was signed on the 18th June 2010 and throughout his long tenure in office he has been an anchor of OECS regional integration and a Pillar of institutional continuity in the Monetary Council,” the OECS Chairman said on Saturday. “In his capacity as Chairman of the Ministerial Subcommittee on Insurance, Prime Minister Gonsalves led the Monetary Council response to the BAICO/ CLICO Insurance situation. “As a consequence well over $100 million have been paid to thousands of BAICO policyholders thereby bringing some much needed relief,” Chastanet observed. The ECCB serves as a Central bank for Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts-Nevis, Montserrat and Anguilla.
Monday February 19, 2018
Kaieteur News
Carnival threat cases far from closed…
Hunt for ISIS network head Trinidad Guardian Networks of the ISIS cell in T&T which Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley referred to in Parliament are spread from Aranjuez, Charlieville and Enterprise to Rio Claro among other locations, a national security official has said. They spoke on Friday night when asked by T&T Guardian to elaborate on Rowley’s earlier confirmation that there is an ISIS cell in T&T. Rowley made the comment in response to questions from United National Congress MP Bhoe Tewarie about whether there was anything that could be considered an ISIS cell or satellite locally. Rowley replied, “It’s common knowledge across the world that T&T citizens subscribe to some of the doctrines of ISIS and persons from T&T have travelled to areas of combat in Iraq and Syria. Many have been intercepted in Turkey and Britain, some have been returned to T&T. “Some are in custody in foreign countries—persons who seek to join ISIS. And in fact, as ISIS has dispersed in Iraq and Syria, that doctrine has now been spread to home-bound activities and therefore we have to be particularly concerned about such persons and the monitoring of such persons is an integral part of our national security. “... And the answer to the question is—yes.”
Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley in Parliament
The matter came to the fore following police investigations into a plot to disrupt Carnival 2018 activities days before Carnival. After days of searches and questioning people, police confirmed a total of 15 people—13 initially and two more—were detained in connection with the threat and were released between last Wednesday to Friday. A couple detained appeared before a Port-of-Spain magistrate on Friday charged with possession of firearm. The man was denied bail. His wife was granted $150,000 bail. Both are scheduled to reappear in court on March 16. Saturday, National Security agency officials leading the investigation said
probe of the threat to disrupt Carnival 2018 wasn’t closed following the release of some detainees—and won’t be closed—since more people were detained last Thursday even as some were released. An intelligence source said the genesis of the T&T cell began around 2012 when the first wave of people began joining ISIS. Just about then, ISIS had begun burgeoning beyond its 2004 roots— buoyed by Arab Spring fallout—offering large sums of money for recruitment. The source said those from T&T who were attracted were largely persons of criminal background, some of whom adopted Muslim leanings based on radical interpretation of the religion.
Leading SPD mayors back coalition with Merkel, poll shows BERLIN (Reuters) - Leading Social Democrat (SPD) mayors favour joining a coalition government with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives, a poll showed yesterday, boosting the prospects of the centre-left party backing the alliance in a ballot starting this week. The SPD’s 464,000 members vote in a postal ballot from tomorrow on whether their party should go ahead with the coalition agreement its leaders clinched this month to renew their alliance with Merkel’s CDU/CSU bloc. Newspaper Bild am Sonntag polled the mayors of the 35 biggest towns and cities ruled by the SPD and found that 26 of them said they would back the so-called ‘grand coalition’ - a re-run of the ruling alliance in power since 2013. Of the other nine mayors, seven declined to give a view and two could not be reached, the newspaper reported. Merkel turned to the SPD after her efforts to secure an alliance with the Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats failed in November. She had to make painful concessions to the SPD to break months of political deadlock after an inconclusive election on Sept. 24. The SPD’S leader-in-waiting, Andrea Nahles, is trying to convince members to back the coalition agreement ahead of the postal ballot, which will run through to March 2. The result, due to be announced on March 4, is wide open.
“I expect an intense debate here,” Nahles told Reuters TV before a meeting with party members in Kamen, near Dortmund in western Germany. “My impression is that here too ... we can achieve something by making good arguments.” Many in the party harbor misgivings about sharing power with Merkel, believing the party should rebuild in opposition after suffering its worst result in last September’s election since Germany became a federal republic in 1949. On Tuesday, the SPD appointed Hamburg mayor Olaf Scholz as interim leader and recommended Nahles as longer-term successor to Martin Schulz, who resigned as leader to try to end turmoil in the party since it agreed the coalition deal. The turbulence in the SPD has led to calls from some politicians in Merkel’s conservative bloc to drop the coalition plan and form a minority government instead. Nahles told Der Spiegel magazine in an interview published on Saturday she had no “Plan B” should SPD members reject the coalition deal. Such an outcome could result in new elections - likely an unfavorable scenario for the party. A survey by pollster Emnid for Bild am Sonntag showed support for the SPD down one percentage point on the week at 19 percent, with Merkel’s CDU/CSU bloc also down one point, at 33 percent.
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All 65 passengers, crew feared Stunned by massacre, U.S. students demand tighter gun controls dead in Iranian plane crash
Worried relatives of passengers gathered at Yasuj airport. DUBAI (Reuters) - All 65 passengers and crew were feared dead in a plane crash in central Iran yesterday after the domestic flight came down in bad weather in a mountainous region. A spokesman for Iranian carrier Aseman Airlines had told state television everyone was killed, but the airline then issued a statement saying it could not reach the crash site and could not “accurately and definitely confirm” everyone died. The airline had also initially said 60 passengers and six crew were on board the twin-engined turboprop ATR 72 that was flying to the southwestern city of Yasuj. But it later said there were a total of 65 people on board, as one passenger had missed the flight. The Aseman-operated plane crashed near
the town of Semirom after taking off from Tehran’s Mehrabad airport, emergency services spokesman Mojtaba Khaledi told ISNA news agency. As night approached, bad weather prevented helicopters searching the probable crash site but emergency workers were scouring the mountainous area by land, the television said. “It is getting colder and darker and still no sign of the plane,” said a television reporter accompanying rescue teams searching snowcovered areas in Mount Dena which has more than 40 peaks higher than 4,000 metres (13,000 feet). Media reports said the plane disappeared from radar screens 50 minutes after taking off from Mehrabad airport in the southwest of the capital. It mainly handles domestic flights.
PARKLAND, Fla. (Reuters) - Stunned by last week’s bloodiest high school shooting in U.S. history, students across the country were mobilizing yesterday for stronger gun laws, while Florida officials contemplated when to reopen their badly shaken school. Students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where a former student is accused of murdering 17 people on Wednesday, joined others on social media to plan rallies, a Washington march and a national walk-out aimed at getting the attention of an adult population many say has failed to protect them. “I felt like it was our time to take a stand, because, you know, we’re the ones in these schools, we’re the ones who are having shooters come into our classrooms and our spaces,” said Lane Murdock of Ridgefield High School in Connecticut. Murdock, a 15-old sophomore who lives 20 miles (32 km) from Sandy Hook Elementary School where 20 children and six adults were
shot dead five years ago, drew more than 36,000 signatures on an online petition yesterday morning calling on students to walk out of their high schools on April 20. Instead of going to classes, she urged her fellow students to stage protests on the 19th anniversary of the mass shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado. Last week’s massacre in Florida, which followed several other school shootings this year, inflamed the country’s long-simmering debate between advocates for gun control and gun ownership. Former student Nikolas Cruz, 19, faces multiple murder charges in the deaths of 14 students and three staff members, and the wounding of more than a dozen others, in a rampage that eclipsed Columbine as the country’s worst mass shooting at a high school. The charges can bring the death penalty, but prosecutors have not yet said if they will seek capital punishment.
Trump - FBI missed signs on Florida shooting due to Russia probe WA S H I N G T O N (Reuters) - President Donald Trump attacked the FBI and lawmakers probing suspected Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election and said an excessive focus on Russia led federal investigators to miss signs that could have prevented a deadly mass shooting at a Florida high school. In a series of tweets over the weekend sent from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Trump said congressional investigations and political “hatred” showed that Russia had succeeded in sowing “discord, disruption and chaos” in the United States. He accused his predecessor, President Barack Obama, of failing to do enough to stop Russian election interference. “They are laughing their asses off in Moscow,” Trump
Robert Mueller tweeted yesterday morning. On Friday, Special Counsel Robert Mueller charged 13 Russians and three Russian companies with conspiracy to tamper in
the 2016 U.S. election. Mueller’s indictment said the Russians adopted false online personas to push divisive messages and staged political rallies while posing as Americans. U.S. spy agencies concluded more than a year ago that Russia used hacking and propaganda to try to tilt the election in favour of Trump. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly denied that. In a tweet on Saturday night, Trump criticized the Federal Bureau of Investigation for missing warning signs in the case of Nikolas Cruz, 19, who is charged with killing 17 people on Wednesday at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, a Fort Lauderdale suburb.
Protesters attend a rally at the Federal Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to demand government action on firearms. (Photo: Mike Stocker/Sun Sentinel/TNS)
Gambia announces moratorium on death penalty BANJUL (Reuters) Gambian President Adama Barrow yesterday announced a moratorium on the death penalty as the West African country rebuilds its international standing following the removal last year of its longtime authoritarian ruler Yahya Jammeh. Capital punishment is on the decline across Africa, where governments executed 22 people in 2016 compared to 43 the previous year,
according to Amnesty International. “I will use this opportunity to declare a moratorium on the use of the death penalty in The Gambia, as a first step towards abolition,” Barrow said in a speech to mark the 53rd anniversary of the country’s independence from Great Britain. Jammeh, who fled Gambia a year ago after losing his latest re-election bid, drew international criticism in 2012
when his government abruptly executed nine prisoners by firing squad. Since taking office a year ago, Barrow has tried to repair damage done to Gambia’s reputation by Jammeh’s 23year rule, which was marked by human rights abuses and spats with foreign governments. Earlier this month, Gambia rejoined the Commonwealth, which Jammeh withdrew from in 2013, calling it a “neocolonial institution”.
India’s Reliance, global tech firms to Egypt sentences 65 Islamists invest $9.3 billion in industrial area to jail for incitement
MUMBAI (Reuters) - India’s Reliance Industries Ltd and global technology companies will invest 600 billion rupees ($9.34 billion) over 10 years to set up an integrated industrial area in the western state of Maharashtra, the company’s chairman Mukesh Ambani said. More than 20 global firms including Cisco, Siemens, Corning Inc., HP, Dell, Nokia and Nvidia had agreed to invest in the project with Reliance, India’s largest listed company
by market value, he said. “When we contacted globally reputed technology companies to participate in this initiative, we received an instant and enthusiastic response,” Ambani said. Reliance entered the telecoms business in September 2016, upending the sector with cut-price data and free voice service. Reliance has invested more than $30 billion in it telecoms unit Jio.
CAIRO (AP) — An Egyptian court has sentenced 65 members of the banned Muslim Brotherhood group to jail over alleged incitement against the state. The decision late Saturday by a court in the Nile Delta city of Zagazig also acquitted eight individuals. Prosecutors say the group was caught with inflammatory leaflets opposing the army and state institutions, and calling for violence. Of the group, 44 were
sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, while the rest received two years. Under President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, Egypt has waged its most sweeping crackdown on dissent in its modern history, a process that has intensified ahead of a March election in which el-Sissi faces no serious opposition. Most recently, police arrested AbdelMonaem Abul Fetouh, a senior Islamist leader, over his alleged links to the Brotherhood.
Monday February 19, 2018
Kaieteur News
Mexico’s Foreign Minister to visit St. Lucia CASTRIES, St. Lucia – CMC – Mexico’s Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray is scheduled to visit St Lucia early next month to discuss several projects being funded by his government. According to a Counsel official, the visit will also include Jamaica and possibly Grenada. Head of Corporation at the Castries Embassy Imanol Belausteguigoitia told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC), that while the Jamaican leg of the mission has been confirmed, the Grenada visit was still being arranged. He said however that the visit to St Lucia was a follow up to the state visit by Prime Minister Allen Chastanet to Mexico in October last year when Mexico agreed to fund a number of infrastructure projects for the island. “We are just completing a water treatment plant in the village of Dennery on the islands east coast, so the visit is essentially to review the infrastructure cooperation projects are undertaking. “When Prime Minister Chastanet visited in October he invited the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico to come to St Lucia and the Foreign Minister has had other invitations from other islands in the Caribbean as well,” the official told CMC. Concerning the pending trip to Grenada he said “it probably not going to be the same type of visit as the one
Mexico’s Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray to St Lucia, and we are still trying to find a suitable date,” but he declined to provide details of talks planned for Jamaica. When asked to comment on regional reports that the mission was part of efforts to abrade Venezuela’s influence in the Caribbean, he insisted that the trip was purely bilateral, with the Foreign Minister having agreed one month ago to an exchange visit to St Lucia. “It’s not a sporadic or spontaneous visit but one that we have been working on for quite some time,” he insisted. Videgaray’s visit comes on the heels a visit to Latin America and the Caribbean by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who announced plans to study how possible oil sanctions against Venezuela could be mitigated
in the Caribbean. Last June, Cancun, foreign ministers from the 34-member Organization of American States (OAS) failed to reach agreement on a resolution criticizing Venezuela, with only 20 countries backing the proposal. St. Kitts- Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Dominica voted against the resolution, while Grenada, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago and Antigua and Barbuda abstained. Jamaica and St. Lucia backed the proposal. Last week, Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness joined Tillerson in expressing disappointment with the actions of the Nicolas Maduro government that Washington has sought to isolate in recent years. Holness said Jamaica has always supported human rights as well as peace in the region “and Jamaica wants to see the people of Venezuela being able to enjoy their democracy. Holness takes over the chairmanship of the 15member regional integration movement (CARICOM) in July and said both Kingston and Washington agreed “that positive engagement between the government and the opposition in Venezuela is essential”. He said they both expressed regret that the attempts by the Organization of American States (OAS) to “promote dialogue have not been met with success.”
Belize contributes to ‘Dollar for the Caribbean Relief Fund’ BELIZE CITY, Belize - CMC – The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) has collaborated with tourism industry stakeholders in raising US$59,934 as part of the “Dollar for the Caribbean Relief Fund” campaign to assist victims of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, which severely devastated many Caribbean countries in September last year. The BTB’s Director of Marketing and Industry Relations, Karen Pike, presented the check to Hugh Riley, Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), during a recent virtual press conference hosted by CTO in Barbados. “When we got the news on the Caribbean Relief Fund Campaign, we embraced it immediately because it was not only the right thing to do but also because it brought all of us in the Caribbean once again – even closer together in a unified effort to assist those in need,” Pike said. “As part of the Dollar for the Caribbean Relief Fund campaign, the BTB reached out to the entire country of Belize, through the media, press releases, the BTB’s website and its news distribution network,” she added. As part of its Dollar for the Caribbean Relief Fund campaign, Pike said each participating tourism stakeholder donated a
US$1 for every guest. She said the BTB then contributed by donating US$1 for every tourist arrival for the month of October, thereby creating a multiplier effect. Pike said the BTB initiative was supported by the Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA), the Belize Hotel Association (BHA), Tropic Air, the Belize Airport Concession Company (BACC), Tour Operators, water taxis, and hoteliers, among others. During the first week of September, Category 5 Hurricane Irma pummeled several islands in the northern Leeward Islands and the northern Caribbean, leaving a long trail of devastation, Pike noted. She said many residents of these countries were left homeless, without food, power, water and basic essentials. Two weeks later, Hurricane Maria followed the same path, further exacerbating the level of destruction and throwing many of these countries in a severe state of despair, Pike said. She said the Caribbean depends on tourism as its chief means of survival, adding that “the devastation by both hurricanes has stalled the economies of countries affected, which may take several months, or perhaps years, to recover.”
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Kvitova beats Muguruza in Qatar Kumar rips through South Africa final to get back into top 10 to lead India to T20 victory (Reuters) - Twice Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova stormed back into the world’s top 10 for the first time since being stabbed just over two years ago when she beat Spain’s Garbine Muguruza in the Qatar Open final yesterday for her second title of the season. Coming into the tournament 21st in the WTA rankings, the Czech won 3-6 6-3 6-4 in two hours and 16 minutes to add to her triumph in St Petersburg earlier this month. Kvitova was in trouble as she trailed 5-0 in the first set with fourth seed Muguruza looking to snap the Czech’s winning streak at 12 matches. But former world number two Kvitova dug deep to take the contest into a decider and ground out the victory. Asked how she managed to turn the contest around, Kvitova said: “I have no idea. I just tried... It was a really tough match, a big fight and
Petra Kvitova
hopefully the people enjoyed it.” Kvitova was forced to take a break from tennis after being attacked by a knifewielding intruder at her home in 2016. She returned to action after surgery on her playing hand last year but fell short of the top 10, ending the season 11th. “It feels great (to be in the top 10),” Kvitova said. “I mean, first of all, I think that it feels much better right now because top 10 is the number. Of course, it’s such a great
achievement to be back there. “I couldn’t really dream about it one year ago when I was in (a) total different position trying to come back and play. And for me, it’s something that’s amazing. “I couldn’t really wish for more. I played great tennis, St Petersburg and here as well. So that means a lot to me.” Kvitova’s return to form will put her back in contention for majors this season. “That’s why I came back, to try to have great results in the grand slams and the big tournaments,” she said.
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar took career-best figures of 5-24 to help India ease to a 28-run victory over South Africa in the opening Twenty20 International of their three-game series at the Wanderers yesterday. Having been sent in to bat, India plundered 203 for five from their 20 overs on a flat batting wicket as opener Shikhar Dhawan hit a superb 72 from 39 balls. It is India’s highest innings total against South Africa in the shortest format of the game, with debutant seamer Junior Dala (2-47 in four overs) the most successful home bowler. South Africa were in the game until Kumar’s final over when he picked up the key wicket of Reeza Hendricks (70 from 50 balls), and then dismissed Heinrich Klaasen (16) and Chris Morris (0) in successive balls, before Dane Paterson (1) was the fourth wicket to fall as he was run out. The home side ended their innings on 175 for nine, continuing their struggles against the tourists in the limited overs matches on the tour having been thrashed 5-1 in the oneday international series. South Africa were dealt a blow before the start of the match as their best batsman AB de Villiers was ruled out of the series with a knee injury. The second Twenty20 clash will be played in Pretoria on Wednesday, with the final game
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s 5 for 24 limited the hosts to 175 for 9 and fetched him the Player-of-the-Match award ©BCCI on Saturday in Cape Town. Scores: India 203 for 5 (Dhawan 72, Dala 2-47) beat South Africa 175 for 9 (Hendricks 70, Behardien 39, Bhuvneshwar 5-24) by 28 runs.
Scorpions sweat on semis v Bahia abandoned after spot after thrashing USA Vitoria 10 red cards and eight yellows
Opener Trevon Griffith … top-scored with 80. NORTH SOUND, Antigua, CMC – Jamaica Scorpions easily disposed of USA Cricket by 80 runs in their final preliminary match of the Regional Super50 here yesterday but their spot in the semi-finals remained in doubt as English county Kent remained front-runners to take the final berth. Choosing to bat first at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Scorpions compiled 259 for eight off their 50 overs with Trevon Griffith stroking a top score of 80 and all-rounder Fabian Allen hammering an unbeaten 62. Steven Taylor scored 40 against his former team while left-arm seamer Saurabh Netravalkar claimed four for 45. Scorpions then bundled out USA for 179 off their 50 overs, despite Jaskaran Malhotra’s 70. Left-arm spinner Chris Lamont (2-17), offspinner Andre McCarthy (2-33) and pacer Odean Smith (2-39) all picked up two wickets apiece. Despite the win, Scorpions’ place in the
semi-finals now hinges on the outcome of yesterday’s final Group B match between Kent and and Leeward Islands Hurricanes at Coolidge Cricket Ground. Scorpions entered the contest in third position, two points behind Kent on 19 points, and the win saw them assume second position ahead of the county side. However, a Kent victory over the severely weakened Hurricanes will see them leapfrog Scorpions into the semi-finals. Scorpions lost captain Chadwick Walton cheaply for 13, lbw to Netravalkar in the fourth over with 28 on the board but the left-handed Griffith stitched up the innings with two key stands. He posted 35 for the second wicket with McCarthy (15) before adding a further 88 for the third wicket with Taylor, who counted three fours and two sixes in a brisk 50-ball knock. Griffith spent 102 balls at the crease and struck 10 fours and two sixes before becoming one of three wickets to fall for four runs, to leave Scorpions 155 for five in the 34th over. Allen came to his side’s rescue, however, punching six fours in a busy 56-ball innings, and anchoring an energetic 56-run, sixth wicket stand with Alwyn Williams (20). USA, with six defeats in seven outings, then crashed early to 32 for three before opener Malhotra dug deep to pull his side out of trouble with an innings requiring 106 deliveries and containing four fours and two sixes. He added 54 for the fourth wicket with skipper Ibrahim Khaleel (29) but once the latter perished in the 25th over, the last seven wickets tumbled for 93 runs. Scores: SCORPIONS 259 for eight off 50 overs (Trevon Griffith 80, Fabian Allen 62 not out, Steven Taylor 40; Saurabh Netravalkar 4-45, Prashanth Nai 2-16). USA 179 off 50 overs (Jaskararan Malhotra 70, Ibrahim Khaleel 29; Chris Lamont 2-17, Andre McCarthy 2-33).
BBC Sport - Ten red cards and eight yellows. Brazilian footballers are traditionally known for their skill on the ball, but there wasn’t much on show in the Bahia state championship match between Vitoria and Bahia. After a feisty first half featuring six bookings and Denilson’s goal for the hosts,
things really got out of hand after the break. Bahia were awarded a penalty in the 50th minute, and chaos ensued when Vinicius’ celebrated scoring it by dancing in front of the home supporters. Both sets of players piled in, punches were thrown, and - after a delay of 16 minutes to restore order - the referee
sent off eight players. Three red cards were shown to Vitoria players, and five to Bahia players, with Vinicius and three substitutes among those dismissed. The match continued, but when Vitoria had two further players dismissed 11 minutes from time, it was abandoned, with Bahia likely to be awarded a 3-0 victory.
German bobsled team crashes, slides on side over finish line to take gold medal position Yahoo Sports - What a way to take first place. The two-man bobsled competition began yesterday in PyeongChang, with the German team of Nico Walther and Christian Poser finding themselves in third place after the first of four runs. With his eyes on the medal stand, Walther took an aggressive line as the team’s pilot in run two. His aggression led to his sled tipping over and a slide across the finish line with his and Poser’s head exposed to the wall of the ice track while traveling at a high speed. It was a scary moment for the German coaches and onlookers at the Olympic Sliding Center as they could only watch and wait for the sled to stop to see if the bobsledders were OK.
Nico Walther and Christian Poser crashed across the finish line to take gold medal position in the second of four bobsled runs. (Reuters) After a tense few seconds, a celebratory Walther and Poser got out of the sled with some help and appeared no worse for wear from the crash. To make things better,
Walther’s risky driving paid off. He and Poser took over gold-medal position and will have the edge for the podium heading into today’s final two runs.
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Federer cruises past Dimitrov Marooners end campaign on to claim Rotterdam title a high as Pride stumble again (Reuters) - Roger Federer celebrated his return to the top of the world rankings with his second title of the season, swatting aside Grigor Dimitrov 6-2 6-2 in the final of the ABN AMRO World Tournament in Rotterdam yesterday. F e d e r e r, 3 6 , w h o guaranteed becoming the o l d e s t e v e r AT P w o r l d number one by reaching the semi-final, had won all six of his previous meetings with Dimitrov and was in command throughout Sunday’s 55minute final. He broke the Bulgarian opponent early in the contest and cruised to a one-set lead at the Ahoy Rotterdam. Playing flawless tennis, the 20-times major winner carried the momentum forward in the second set to
Roger Federer
seal a 97th career title and third in Rotterdam having won in 2005 and 2012. The Swiss, who won the Australian Open last month for the second year in succession, also improved his head-to-head record against world number five Dimitrov to 7-0. “It’s definitely one of those weeks I will never forget
in my life,” Federer, who last topped the standings in 2020, said. “It’s unbelievable to get my 97th title and get back to world number one. It’s very special.” Federer said he had expected a tougher afternoon against Dimitrov who will rise from five to four in the rankings.
Danny Garcia stops Brandon Rios in 9th round
Danny Garcia emerged triumphant after knocking down Brandon Rios in devastating fashion in the ninth round on Saturday. LAS VEGAS (AP) — Danny Garcia stopped Brandon Rios with a right hand in the ninth round Saturday night in their WBC welterweight world title elimination bout. Garcia (34-1, 20 KOs) beat Rios (34-4-1, 25 KOs) at Mandalay Bay Events Center to set up a potential rematch against WBC and WBA champion Keith Thurman or a fight against IBF champion Errol Spence Jr. Garcia fought for the first time since losing the WBC title in a unification fight with Thurman in March. “I felt the ring rust a little bit in the beginning,” the Philadelphia fighter said. “He’s a good inside fighter and he was giving me some good uppercuts. He came to fight. I came to box, and I did that. I came to bang, and I gave the fans what they
wanted — a knockout.” Rios was able to get back on his feet, but staggered toward referee Kenny Bayless, who waved off the fight at the 2:25 mark of the round. “I’m mad,” Rios said. “I don’t like going out like that. I’m a warrior, I got back up and I wanted to continue. I guess the corner stopped it but I’m mad. I’m mad because I got up still. I’m a warrior. I’m still in the game. I didn’t think he did much to hurt me.” Garcia, from Philadelphia, was the world champion for six years dating to his win over Hall of Famer Erik Morales in 2012 through the March loss. Rios, from Oxnard, California, is a former lightweight champion. David Benavidez (20-0, 17 KOs) defended his WBC super middleweight title for
the first time in a 12-round unanimous decision over Ronald Gavril (18-3, 14 KOs). The judges scored it 120-108, 120-108 and 119-109. The fight was a rematch of last September’s bout in which Benavidez won the world title. Benavidez, from Phoenix, landed 315 punches to Gavril’s 176 and connected on 41 percent of his power shots. “I knew he was going to come out aggressive,” Benavidez said. “I knew I could jab and box him all day. When I saw the opening I took it. I didn’t knock him out though. He’s a tough son of a gun.” In an undercard IBF 147pound title eliminator between two welterweight contenders, Yordenis Ugas (21-3, 10 KOs) stopped Ray Robinson (24-3, 12 KOs) in the seventh.
Captain Kyle Corbin gathers runs through the off-side en route to his halfcentury. (Photo courtesy CWI Media)
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners ended their Regional Super50 campaign in the same manner it began nearly three weeks ago, upsetting title-holders Barbados Pride by six wickets here Saturday night. In the final Group A match played under lights at Kensington Oval, Marooners chased down a modest 196 for victory, reaching their target in the 44th over and clinching only their second win of the tournament. Marooners had stunned Windward Islands Volcanoes in the competition’s curtainraiser when they pulled off a shock 115-run win. On Saturday in a contest holding precious little interest, they were guided by half-centuries from captain Kyle Corbin (66) and Yannick Ottley (54 not out) as they put their batting woes in the tournament behind them to end on a high.
The right-handed Corbin ensured a solid start to the run chase, in a composed innings which required 80 balls and contained nine fours and a six. He put on 31 for the first wicket with Kjorn Ottley (11), posted another 46 for the second wicket with Oraine Williams (15) before combining with Yannick Ottley in a 39-run third-wicket stand. When Corbin was stumped off leg-spinner Hayden Walsh Jr in the 27th over, Yannnick Ottley took responsibility for seeing Marooners home by anchoring a 56-run fourthwicket partnership with Vikash Mohan (26). Ottley faced 88 deliveries and struck six fours. Pride, without several senior players, struggled after choosing to bat and limped to 196 for nine off their 50 overs. Roston Chase top-scored with 48 and Kenroy Williams got 32, but no other batsman managed to really get stuck
in to the Marooners attack. The best stand of the innings came when Chase and William combined in a 45run, fifth wicket partnership to pull the innings around from 78 for four in the 22nd over. When Chase swept leftarm spinner Yannick Ottley (224) and was caught at short fine leg by Mohan in the 33rd over, Williams rallied the innings by adding a further 33 for the sixth wicket with Tevyn Walcott who made 16. Fast bowler Jermaine Levy, who made the initial breakthroughs, finished with three for 28. Pride topped the group with 27 points. Scores: PRIDE 196 for nine off 50 overs (Roston Chase 48, Kenroy Williams 32, Omar Phillips 24; Jermaine Levy 3-28). MAROONERS 197 for four off 43.3 overs (Kyle Corbin 66, Yannick Ottley 54 not out, Vikash Moham 26; Joshua Bishop 2-35).
Coleman breaks world record in 60 metres, runs 6.34 seconds
(Reuters) - World silver medallist Christian Coleman broke the world record in the 60 metres when he ran 6.34 seconds at the U.S. indoor national championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico yesterday. Fellow American Maurice Greene had held the record of 6.39 seconds for 20 years. “It feels like a blur,” said the 21-year-old Coleman, who won the 100-metres silver medal at last year’s world championships in London. Now he will lead the American team to next month’s IAAF world indoor championships in Birmingham, England. The performance at high
Coleman ran the fastest 100m of 2017 while still a student. (Getty Images) altitude in Albuquerque was particularly pleasing for Coleman after he had bettered Greene’s world record time with a run of 6.37 seconds last month in South Carolina, but was not ratified for
technical reasons. “I wanted to go get it,” Coleman said after the race. “I put a lot of work in my start and transition. It’s all paying off.”
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Kaieteur News
GFF Elite League Season 3
Forbes Burnham 3-Stage Memorial Cycle Road Race
Ann’s Grove needle Cougars; Victoria Kings defeat Buxton at home
Anthony (senior), Fraser (junior) and veteran Choo Wee Nam take first stage in Berbice Calculated riding form Michael Anthony, Donovan Fraser and Paul Choo Wee Nam resulted in them winning the first stage in the senior, junior and veteran categories when the annual three-stage Forbes Burnham Memorial cycle road race was contested yesterday in the Ancient County of Berbice. Sponsored by the Burnham Foundation and coordinated by the Flying Stars Cycling Club (FSCC), the cyclists began the demanding journey at Corriverton with their final destination being, Main Street, New Amsterdam. There was an early break away by John and Anthony from #63 Village but connecting with the duo at Macedonia village were Choo Wee Nam, Andrew Hicks, Paul DeNobrega, Shane Boodram, Marcus Keiler, Enzo Matthews and Jornel Yearwood. The bunch stayed together until they
entered #19 Village where Boodram dropped off the pace and he was joined by Keiler. Coming close to the finish line, Hicks unfortunately suffered a puncture at the New Amsterdam Hospital which put paid to his chances of finishing in the top flight. The second of three stages will be contested this Sunday pedaling off at 07:00hrs in the Bauxite Mining Town of Linden and proceeding to the National Sports Commission (NSC) Office on Homestretch Avenue in the City for the finish. The third and final stage will also be contested on Sunday commencing at 14:00hrs from Homestretch Avenue proceeding to Belfield on the East Coast of Demerara before returning to Homestretch Avenue for the conclusion. Following are the top three placing in the three categories:
Seniors Juniors Michael Anthony 1:54:01 Donovan Fraser 2:00:00 Paul De Nobrega 1:54:01 Briton John 2:01:15 Jamal John 1:54:01 Adealie Hodge 2:01:15
One of the many opportunities that Cougars FC (Burgundy) squandered yesterday in their 1-0 loss to Ann’s Grove. William Europe kept his cool and scored to help his side, the East Coast Demerara based Ann’s Grove Football Club needle Region six’s Cougar’s Football Club in round three play of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) 2017-18 Elite League at the Buxton Community Center ground yesterday afternoon. Europe, a current national forward and former left winger at the Alpha United Football Club, left it late until the 81st minute to break the deadlock at the cool and breezy sea-side venue. Cougars were rightfully disappointed with the loss after having the bulk of
chances in front of goal in addition to dominating possession but Europe’s clinical finishing trumped the Berbicians statistics as his team Victoria Kings added a valuable three points in their bid to dethrone champions Guyana Defence Force. In the feature match of the day, scores of fans that were mostly supporting the home side Buxton FC, had to stomach their team suffering a 2-0 loss at the hand of rivals Victoria Kings. Aubrey Gibson was the hero for the Kings and netted both goals during both periods of play in the match. His first came two minutes
before the first break and his second successful strike came two minutes after halftime. The win has resulted in Victoria Kings surging to the top of the points table with six points after winning their three games played, usurping last round leaders Den Amstel who lost to defending champions Guyana Defence Force on Friday’s match day. Matches continue Wednesday at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground with a double header. Admission is $500, women and children 12 years and under are free. (Calvin Chapman)
Cougar’s Derick Taylor (left) being challenged strongly by Buxton’s Chavez John during the 1-0 victory for Buxton yesterday.
Veterans Paul Choo Wee Nam 1:54:01 Junior Niles 1:59:42 Ian ‘Deaf Boy’ Jackson 1:59:42
Warrican undermines Lions again, but visitors fight back – 1st day, 2nd “Test” KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Jomel Warrican enhanced his claims for higher duty with a career-best bowling spell before the batsmen carried West Indies A to a narrow first innings lead in the second “Test” against England Lions yesterday here. The left-arm spinner exploited a helpful Sabina Park pitch to follow up his seven wickets in the second innings of the first “Test” with 8-34 from 20 overs, as the Lions were bowled out for 145 in their first innings about half-hour before tea, after they were put in to bat on the first day of the match. Windies A captain Kieran Powell then struck 59 and shared two significant stands with fellow left-handed opener John Campbell and Leeward Islands Hurricanes teammate Jahmar Hamilton to propel the hosts to 159 for four in reply at the close. Powell struck nine fours from 83 balls in close to two hours at the crease, but he was one of the batsmen dismissed, as leg-spinner Liam Livingstone snared 2-51 from 16 overs and left-arm spinner Jack Leach grabbed 2-53, also from 16 overs, to keep the Lions in the game. Campbell made 47 and shared 72 with Powell for the first wicket before he was caught at close in off Leach. The wickets of Jermaine Blackwood caught at slip off Leach for six and Shamarh Brooks bowled by Livingstone one saw West Indies A slide to 87 for three. But Powell dominated a stand of 41 with Hamilton, raising his 50 in the process, but just when it looked like he was set to get into higher gear, he gave a return catch to Livingstone. This left first “Test” centurymaker Shane Dowrich, not out 20, and Hamilton, not out 17, to bat through the remaining half-hour before the close. Earlier, success came hard for West Indies A, as Lions captain Keaton Jennings and Hameed Haseeb shared 56 for the first wicket. But once Warrican had Hameed stumped for 23 and Nick Gubbins caught at slip for a first-ball duck off successive deliveries in his first over, the floodgates open and wickets tumbled at regular intervals. Rahkeem Cornwall grabbed the scalp of Jennings lbw for 28 before Warrican bowled Livingstone for a duck and had Alex Davies caught at slip for four, as Lions reached 85 for
Joel Warrican took 8-34 against England Lions. (File photo) five at lunch. After the interval, Warrican struck with the fourth delivery, when he had Paul Coughlin caught at slip for a duck and he bowled unchanged until the innings closed. But he and the rest of the A Team’s bowlers found resistance along the way from Joe Clarke with 56 that included seven fours from 114 balls in a shade over two hours before he was the last man dismissed, when he was bowled by Warrican. Both sides made one change: West Indies A brought Jahmar Hamilton in to replace Vishaul Singh, and Lions swapped Ben Foakes for Alex Davies. West Indies “A” lead the three-match series 1-0, after winning the first “Test” which ended last Sunday by two wickets at the Trelawny Multipurpose Complex on the Jamaica north coast. Scores: ENGLAND LIONS 145 (Joe Clarke 56, Keaton Jennings 28, Haseeb Hameed 23; Jomel Warrican 20-6-34-8, Rahkeem Cornwall 2-44). WINDIES “A” 159 for four (Kieran Powell 59, John Campbell 47, Shane Dowrich 20 not out; Liam Livingstone 2-51, Jack Leach 2-53).
Monday February 19, 2018
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Kaieteur News
Demerara claim GCB female Inter County U19 T20 title
The winning Demerara U19 female cricket team along with their Coach take time out for a photo after the win. Despite going down to the President’s XI by one run in the final game of the competition, Demerara emerged champions of the Guyana Cricket Board female inter county U19 T20 tournament which ended yesterday at the Everest Cricket Club. Batting first the President’s XI were bowled out for 38 in 17 overs. Sheneta Grimmond top scored with nine, while extras
contributed 19. Lavern welcome had 2-3 and Mandy Mangru 2-4. Demerara fell for 37 in 19 overs in reply. Yougeeta Balkishun made 11 and Mangru nine. Kessica Munroe grabbed 4-11, Lafona Gilgeous 2-10 and Grimmond 2-3. Demerara beat Berbice by 15 runs in the opening fixture played on Saturday which handed them a better net run rate than Berbice. Grimmond was named player of the match.
New Zealand advance to final despite two-run loss to England (Reuters) - New Zealand advanced to the final of the trans-Tasman Twenty20 triangular series against Australia despite suffering a two-run loss to England at Seddon Park in Hamilton yesterday. New Zealand, who beat England by 12 runs in their previous match, advanced to the Feb. 21 final on net run rate. They had only needed to score 175 to have the superior run rate. The hosts ended on 192 for four after England had posted 194 for seven courtesy of a 93-run partnership between captain Eoin Morgan, who finished 80 not out, and Dawid Malan (53). Despite advancing to the final, Kane Williamson’s side should have won the game comfortably after Colin Munro (57) and Martin Guptill (62) blasted an impressive 78run opening partnership in 6.3 overs. The 30-year-old Munro smashed an 18-ball half century, which included seven sixes, before England’s spinners Adil Rashid, who dismissed Munro on his third delivery, and Liam Dawson choked off New Zealand’s scoring. Guptill and Mark
Chapman, however, saw off the threat of the two main spinners to add 64 runs in 5.2 overs and ensured New Zealand were within sight of the final before Guptill was bowled by Malan with his side 164 for three. Chapman, who was bowled by Chris Jordan in the penultimate over for 32 but then recalled as the bowler had overstepped, and Colin de Grandhomme, however, were unable to score the 12 runs needed from the final over from Tom Curran. Morgan, who had missed England’s last two games in the series due to a groin strain, proved he had not lost any form while sitting on the sidelines with a composed innings. The lefthander was on 37 when Malan departed with the score on 117 for three and then scored 40 of his side’s next 48 runs but was starved of the strike in the final two overs. Australia won all four of their games and are favourites for Wednesday’s final at Eden Park in Auckland. Scores: England 194 for 7 (Morgan 80*, Malan 53) beat New Zealand 192 for 4 (Guptill 62, Munro 57) by two runs.
Windies arrive to kickstart qualification bid HARARE, Zimbabwe, CMC – West Indies received a rousing welcome at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport here yesterday evening as they became the first team to arrive for the ICC World Cup Qualifiers starting next month. A traditional dance group put on a cultural extravaganza at the airport, with dozens of local cricket fans also on hand to greet the two-time former 50-overs World Cup champions. Members of the Local Organising Committee and government representatives also welcomed the Caribbean side. “We are really excited to be here. It’s a lovely place,” Windies captain Jason Holder said. “The last time we came here we had great success and hopefully on this tour we’ll have success again and qualify for the 2019 World Cup. “We are well supported here . . . the fans here adore cricket, they are big cricket fans, they love us and we love
West Indies captain Jason Holder. them so we have come here to put on a really good show for them, entertain them and make them happy.” Another batch of Windies players and officials are expected to touch down today. The Caribbean side are one of 10 teams down to do battle in the March 4-25
tournament, as they vie for the remaining two spots at the showpiece in England next year. West Indies open their campaign on March 6 against United Arab Emirates, who won the ICC World Cricket League Division 2 last week, to book their spot in the qualifiers.
They, along with Ireland, the Netherlands and Papua New Guinea comprise Group A while Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Scotland, Hong Kong and Nepal form Group B. The top three from each group will advance to the Super Sixes, where they will each play three matches against teams they did not meet in the preliminaries. The finalists will secure the final two berths at the ICC World Cup from May 30 to July 15 next year. Queens Sports Club and Bulawayo Athletic Club in Bulawayo, Harare Sports Club and Old Hararians Sports Club in Harare and Kwekwe Sports Club, Kwekwe, will share the 34 matches in the qualifying tournament, with Harare Sports Club staging the final. West Indies missed out on automatic qualification for the World Cup after finishing outside the top eight in the ICC one-day rankings at the September 30 cut-off date last year.
Half-centuries from Dawid Malan and Eoin Morgan helped England defeat New Zealand in Hamilton, however the hosts still did just enough to reach the final.
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2018 Milo schools’ under-18 football tournament
CWSS, Vergenoegen and Morgan’s wrap up weekend’s winners’ row
Coach Crandon expecting tough semi-final match By Sean Devers in Antigua In association with Vnet Communications, Bounty Farm, Noble House Seafoods & Playter’s Enterprise
Morgan’s Learning Center trounced Bishops’ High 7-0 yesterday during a round robin match in 2018 Milo schools’ under-18 football tournament. (Photo by Calvin Chapman) Last weekend’s play in the Milo/Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) schools’ under-18 football tournament concluded in fine style as Morgan’s Learning Centre smashed 7 past The Bishop’s High School net in the last match yesterday. The tournament which is being played under the theme “There is no excuse for violence” is currently in the group stage and Darien Dickson scored four goals in the big win for Morgan’s to put his team in a good position to enter the roundof-16 knockouts. He was assisted ably by Dorwin
George who netted a brace and Reuben Miller who netted the last goal for the winners who played throughout with much flair. Meanwhile, Christianburg Wismar Secondary School (CWSS) of Linden added their second win in as many group games after defeating Dolphin 5-1. CWSS found goals from five different scorers in Javier Smith, Andre Mayers, Mickel Adams, Lennox Richards and Akeem Caesar, who all netted one goal each. Akeem James’ equaliser for Dolphin in the 8th minute proved futile for the loser.
In the opening match yesterday, Ann’s Grove of East Coast Demerara lost to West Demerara school Vergenoegen 4-2. Ann’s Grove’s Carlos Cole and Seminar McPherson goals apiece could not stop the efforts of Vergenoegen’s Jermin Gill who netted a brace along with single successful strikes from Staroy Lee and Ronaldo Macey which completed the win. The tournament continues on Wednesday evening with two more matches with the first scheduled to kick off at 16:00hrs. (Calvin Chapman)
Petra’s third annual futsal tournament kicks off this Saturday The fixtures for the lucrative third annual Petra Futsal tournament which is being sponsored by Corona Beer and Namilco have been released with round-robin play scheduled to commence this Saturday at the National Gymnasium from 19:00hrs with six, very much anticipated matchups. The feature match on Saturday is a mouth watering encounter between Sparta Boss and Tiger Bay. The tournament will dole
Monday February 19, 2018
Kaieteur News
Fixtures released, Sparta Boss versus Tiger Bay to highlight opening night out in excess of two million dollars in cash and prizes. The winners receive $600,000, runners-up $300,000 and third place $150,000. The top two teams in each group along with the best four third place finishers will advance to the knockout round. Meanwhile, as an
See below the fixtures of the tournament. 2/24/2018 Round Robin Day 1 19:00 hrs Plaisance v/s 19:50 hrs Future Stars v/s 20:40 hrs YMCA v/s 21:30 hrs Leopold Street v/s 22:20 hrs Back Circle v/s 23:15 hrs Sparta Boss v/s 2/27/2018 Round Robin Day 2 19:00 hrs Tucville v/s 19:50 hrs Alpha Warriors v/s 20:40 hrs Bent Street v/s 21:30 hrs Old School Ballers v/s 22:20 hrs North East v/s 23:15 hrs West Front Road v/s
incentive for teams in the group stage, the top finishers will get an additional $40,000, second place $30,000, third place $20,000 and fourth place $10,000. In addition, the tournament is giving away one motorbike each to the MVP of the tournament and a lucky patron.
Gymnasium Mocha Xtreme Campbellville Albouystown Alexander Village Braod Street Tiger Bay Gymnasium Show Stoppers Kingstown California Square New Market Street Channel 9 Sophia
Match # 1 2 3 4 5 6 Match # 7 8 9 10 11 12
Since Sunil Narine’s mesmerising spell of 6-9 at the Queens Park Oval in Trinidad sent the Jaguars reeling for their lowest ever Regional 50over total (65) in the Final in 2015, this is the first time Guyana has been able to reach the semi-finals of a 50over tournament. With six wins from eight matches the Jaguars finished top of group B in the 2018 Regional Super50 Festival and will play Windwards Volcanoes in the second semi-final at Coolidge on Thursday in a day night game from 14:00hrs. Guyana has won nine titles since their first in 1980 when, led by 119 from Skipper Roy Fredericks, they beat the Leewards Islands right here in Antigua. But their last title was achieved 13 years ago when Shiv Chanderpaul led them to Championship honours with victory against Barbados. The four-times defending Regional four-day Champions have only won both titles in the same season twice. Clive Lloyd in 1983 and Roger Harper in 1993 and this is Leon Johnson’s chance to join the pair in winning the ‘double’. But first they must get past the Volcanoes on Thursday night if they hope to dethrone reigning Champions Barbados to claim their tenth regional 50-overs title. “It feels great to have reached the semi-finals. I think we played descent cricket to reach this stage of the competition,” said the 36year-old Jaguars Head Coach Esuan Crandon. It was not a perfect campaign for the Jaguars here in Antigua with only Test batsman Shimron Hetmyer scoring a century for Guyana, although Johnson, who has had an up and down tournament with the bat, was run out for 99. Without Hetmyer and Devendra Bishoo due to Windies World Cup duties and Raymon Reifer and Kemo Paul for Windies ‘A’ team commitments, their task of winning the ‘double’ for the first time in 25 years will be a tough one. “We are anticipating a very tough semi-final match from the Volcanoes on Thursday. There’s a lot of stuff we have to tighten up
JAGUARS’ FACE-OFF WITH VOLCANOES ON THURSDAY
Esuan Crandon on moving forward and we intend work on those areas at our next practice session on tomorrow (today),” the former Guyana fast bowler informed. After winning their first three games in succession, the Jaguars found themselves in a must win final game against Jamaica Scorpions, a game which they made harder than it should have been. Crandon explained that the team will be looking at the mistakes in the last match and during the tournament and trying to learn from them. “I thought we started poorly in the power play over in the last match…. giving the openers too many free boundaries early which give them the momentum. But Rutherford came on and along with Permaul and the other spinners bowled beautifully to bring back the game,” said Crandon, who hails from Rose Hall Town in Berbice. Crandon said the bowlers didn’t execute the plan to the lower order. Alwyn Williams and Odean Smith shared in an unfinished 59-run eight-wicket stand from just 25 balls to lift the Scorpions from 205-8. “I thought the last four overs we lacked clarity and basic awareness at that point of time and bowled in the areas that Williams and Smith wanted us to bowl, hence shifting the momentum back into the Jamaicans favour at
half time,” Crandon pointed out. “Brandon (Tagenarine Chanderpaul) and (Chanderpaul) Hemraj give us the ideal start until he (Tagenarine) gave his wicket away. The partnership between Hemraj and (Chris) Barnwell actually won us the match,” noted Crandon. “I thought the innings was well paced by both Hemraj and Barnwell making it easier for us at the end...it was unfortunate we lost six wickets in the process,” added the Coach. Johnson’s again demonstrated astute Captaincy, especially when he put in a shortleg for the off-spinner to the new batsman who gloved a catch to that fielder off the first ball he faced. “Well I have said it over and over that I think Leon is the best captain in the region and his field placements and tactical awareness were spot on,” informed Crandon. Crandon disclosed that everyone was happy to be back in a semi-final and is confident that if the team plays to its full potential they will be taking the US$10,000 and Championship Trophy back to Guyana as a Republic Anniversary gift to the Nation. Guyana will celebrate its 48th Republic Anniversary the day before the Final is played on February 24.
Hilbert Foster is president... From page 34 the words of Former United States President George Bush “You aint see nothing yet.” He plans to make the BCB the talk of Guyana and the Caribbean. The associations and clubs that participated at the electoral process were – Upper Corentyne, West Berbice and Berbice River Cricket Associations; Blairmont, Albion and Rose Hall Community Centers, Police, Mental Hospital, Mounts Sinai, Kildonan Sports Club, Bermine Sports Club, Port Mourant, Whim and Chesney Cricket Clubs. The associations had four votes each, while the clubs were afforded two votes each.
Monday February 19, 2018
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Kaieteur News
GFF/Pele Alumini Frank Watson U15 League – EBFA
Timehri jump to 3rd with another win, Soesdyke notch first, Warriors by WO Timehri Panthers capped a fine weekend and welcomed the return of competitive football to the Timehri Red Ground by winning their second match on the trot, downing Swan FC 2-0 when the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) leg of the GFF/Pele Alumini Frank Watson U15 Intra Association League was contested yesterday at the Timehri Red ground. Match day 7 also witnessed an exciting clash between Soesdyke Falcons which erased a two goal deficit to take full points from Herstelling Raiders on account of a hat-trick of goals from 14-year-old Tyrone Burnette; it was Soesdyke’s first points in four matches. This match also saw the talented Shoran James of Herstelling Raiders fame netting another double to take his tournament tally to 13 goals in four matches, but it was in a losing cause. The other match that should have been, ended with Kuru Kururu Warriors notching full points via the walk over route from Friendship All Stars. Timehri, in the main match of the day, put away the
Goal scorers jostling for the advantage, Herstelling Raiders’ Xavi Atkinson and Soesdyke Falcons’ Romuloo Khan with their peers in pursuit. challenge of a game Swan team with goals either side of the 70-minute clash. Tywell Lovell, who scored a double in their win over Friendship on Saturday, sent Timehri into the lead on 10 minutes, a lead which they enjoyed until the break. Sawn made a few moves in the Timehri defensive third but were not allowed to be effective owing to some solid defending led by Timehri’s Captain, Prince Forde. The second and final goal for the winners came off the boot of
Marlon Burnette in the 52nd minute which handed his team all three points which has taken them to 9 and third place on the table. The Herstelling / Soesdyke showdown produced end to end action from the first to the final whistle. Herstelling cantered to an early 2-0 lead by the 12th minute owing to goals from Shoran James and Xavi Atkinson (a fierce left footed shot) in the 8th and 12th minute. Up to that point, the
BIATHLON: Fourcade wins biathlon to make French record PYEONGCHANG, South Korea (Reuters) - Martin Fourcade became France’s most successful Olympian of all time yesterday with a brilliant display of shooting and skiing to win the men’s 15km mass start biathlon race in a photo finish at the Alpensia resort for his fourth Olympic gold. Simon Schempp of Germany lost out to the Frenchman in a furious sprint finish, coming in a fraction behind to take silver, while Norway’s Emil Hegle Svendsen took the bronze medal. Edged out for the gold medal in 2014, the Frenchman crossed the line and angrily slammed one of his ski poles into the snow, thinking that Schempp had beaten him, but his frustration turned to joy moments later when he was declared the winner of a thrilling race. “Four years ago in Sochi I lost by only three centimeters, so I thought the story was repeating again. Tonight it’s incredible,” he told reporters. “I’ve won a lot of competitions in my career and I‘m very proud about it but I also had big losses, like in the world champs in 2013 against
Martin Fourcade
(bronze medalist Emil Hegle) Svendsen, in the Olympics in 2014 with Svendsen as well,” he explained. “Being today in the first place after a tight sprint is something you dream of as an athlete, so I am proud,” Fourcade said. Fourcade, the 12.5km pursuit champion, got off to a bad start with a miss in the first shoot and, adding insult to injury, he hit the deck just after leaving his penalty lap, costing him even more valuable seconds. He faced stiff competition from the German trio of Schempp, Benedikt Doll and Erik Lesser, who took turns at the head of the pack with the 31-year-old from Perpignan.
Doll was in with a shout of a medal but a miss on the range sent him sliding down the field and his compatriots Schempp and Lesser were left to battle it out with Fourcade. Shoulder to shoulder at the final shoot, Fourcade and Schempp both had a single miss, with Lesser putting himself out of contention with his first two wayward shots of the night. Schempp stayed with Fourcade all the way on the final skiing lap but the wily Frenchman, who was runnerup in this race in 2010 and 2014, threw his ski across the line to claim the gold by the narrowest of margins and write his name in the record books.
Soesdyke players were still settling down but once they did, it was game on. The lanky Tyrone Burnette netted the first of his hat-trick on 20 minutes to reduce the Herstelling advantage but even before that, Indera Winter, standing in goal for Herstelling brought off some solid saves for her team. Seven minutes after halving the deficit, Burnette then delivered the equaliser for Soesdyke as the Herstelling defenders lost their focus and allowed him the requisite space to fire his shot past Winter. James was not intent to allow Soesdyke to come close and he handed his team the lead once again in the 33rd minute. There was a lull in the scoring up until the 50th minute when Romuloo Khan neutralised Herstelling’s advantage again to level the score, 3-3. With both teams now sensing that they were in with a chance to win, Soesdyke it was that had the momentum going their way and made it count for them when the dangerous Burnette bobbed and weaved his way past three defenders before tucking his shot into the back of the nets in the 57th minute to hand his team the lead and win. It was the first win for the Falcons in four encounters, matches will continue this weekend at the same venue. Latest Points Standings Team Agricola Grove Timehri Samatta Point/KV Herstelling Kuru Kururu Mocha Swan FC Diamond Upsetters Soesdyke Friendship Diamond United
P 4 5 4 3 5 4 3 3 4 4 4 3
Romuloo Khan (right) and Tyrone Burnette Soesdyke Falcons.
Marlon Burnette (right) and Tywell Lovell Timehri Panthers. W 4 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 0
L 0 0 1 0 3 2 1 2 3 3 3 3
D 0 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
F 13 9 10 5 21 2 4 2 2 6 5 1
A 2 4 2 2 11 5 4 5 6 10 10 20
GD Points +11 12 +5 11 +8 9 +3 7 +10 6 -3 6 0 4 -3 3 -4 3 -4 3 -5 3 -19 0
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Monday February 19, 2018
Kaieteur News
Hilbert Foster is president of BCB, promises to lead from the front Anand Sanasie praises process, to cooperate with new executives
BCB executives (from left sitting) Qualis Winter, Jevaughn Stephn, President Hilbert Foster and Albert Smith, (standing from left) Winston Roberts, Robby Swyack, Dr. Cecil Beharry and Ameer Rahaman. By Samuel Whyte After being relentlessly persuaded to rethink his decision to wash his hands of cricket in Berbice, the indomitable Hilbert Foster was yesterday elected President of the Berbice Cricket Board. The elections, which were held at the New Amsterdam Town Hall, were called to order by a representative of the High Court. Before voting began, Colin Bynoe and GCB
Secretary Anan Sanasie were nominated as returning Officers with Bynoe winning out 19-15. Barring some minor glitches, the elections were well conducted as set out by the order of Justice Navendra Singh in the High Court. Foster defeated Direndranauth Somwaru 1816 for the position as President. The hard working Foster, who is the secretary and CEO of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports, made
a last minute decision to accept the wishes of the stake holders to vie for the position. Foster, a man who wears many hats, has being looked at near and far for his untiring work in the education, sports, youth, culture, community development sectors among others. He has being credited as the force to his club being awarded the Medal of Service. Although voting was close the slate representing Foster Swept all the positions available with voting being
done over on two occasions due to ties. Businessman and Former National Coach Albert Smith defeated David Black 18-16, for the position of Vice President, after the first round of voting went 17 apiece. Jevaughn Stephen the Region 6, Director of Regional Health Services defeated Intiaz Bacchus 18-16 for another Vice President Position, while Head teacher Qualis Winter was elected unopposed as the other Vice
President. Businessman and farmer Rabindranauth Saywack is the Secretary after defeating Vickram Sieubarran 18-16 on the second round of voting. Doctor Cecil Beharry is the Treasurer winning 18-16 from Godwyn Allicock. Ameer Rahaman, a school teacher, takes up the position as Assistant Secretary after winning from Carol Nurse 1816. Businessman Winston Roberts defeated Leslie Solomon 18-15 to take up the position of Assistant Treasurer. Angela Haniff and Albert Smith with 20 and 18 votes respectively were elected BCB representatives to the GCB along with the President and Secretary. Returning Officer Bynoe, a retired Head teacher and CEO of the New Amsterdam Hospital, was commended for keeping things under control and doing a commendable job. After the elections Sanasie, who was invited to speak by Bynoe, stated that he was there in the capacity of an observer. He said that he, on behalf of the GCB is satisfied with the way the
elections were conducted. He promised the full support of the GCB and to work with the newly elected office bearers. Foster in short speech, said he had to break his own commitment, but assured all his supporters that he will not let them down. He had special words of thanks for Smith and Saywack for their untiring work. He promised to make the BCB the best in Guyana and ranking in the Caribbean. He said he will be a president for all and will strive to make sure that cricket is once again played throughout Berbice. Foster promised that, “…before the end of the year there will be about 15 competitions, from the U13 level right up to senior. We will be playing inter zone cricket to make sure that cricket is played at the grass root level.” Clubs are asked to get their grounds in order for the start of competition shortly. Foster promised to make the board as transparent as possible with regular financial statements and the setting up of a facebook page. Foster ended by Quoting Continued on page 32
Avinash Persaud wins BAL Yokohama Tires Inaugural Golf Tournament The weather was good, the Course was playable though a little tough after several days of on-andoff rain, but Avinash Persaud (8 times Guyana Open Champion,) put on a fine champion’s performance to beat the rest in a very competitive field to claim the first BAL Yokohama Tires Golf-tournament at Lusignan on Saturday last. Asked about his performance, Avinash said, “This was normal performance, I shot a net 71! Some players may have had a difficulty because the Course lacked bounce and roll today, but I mastered it and so was able to produce a good game.” One can wager that veteran golfers Patrick Prashad and Fazil Haniff, and even recovering from injury Pur ‘I love that winning feeling’ Persaud, did not think that the Course was a difficulty. In fact their 2nd, 3rd, and 4th places, (only 1 stroke behind Avinash), was a tie that had to be determined by the ‘Back 9’ count. This tournament marked the first Yokohama Tires of Beharry Automotive Limited – Guyana household name ‘BAL’ sponsored Golf Tournament, with a commitment for another tournament later in the year. BAL, associated with providing good customer oriented service, and proud to be Guyana’s leading supplier of quality Toyota
In picture, from left; Kassim Khan, Club President Aleem Hussain, Patrick Prashad, Avinash Persaud, Ms Ulex Sloth, Fazil Haniff, Patanjalee Persaud, and Vickram Amit, Sales Representative of BAL after the presentation. vehicles, spare parts and maintenance since 1st August, 1994, was est a b l i s h e d t h r o u g h t h e signing of a distributors agreement with Japan Toyota Company. BAL’s service centre, located at Industrial Site R u i m v e l d t since May 1995, provides expert service in mechanical, electrical and air conditioning for all categories of vehicles and since 2003, BAL
extended its product Line to include tyres such as Kumho and Yokohama. Marketing Officer of BAL, Ms Ulex Sloth, who was on hand to present the prizes on behalf of BAL, reiterated the Company’s support for golfing in Guyana. It is to be noted that BAL continually strives to give back to Guyana in the form of charitable work and sponsorships. Ms Sloth delighted those present
when she announced that in addition to the trophy, the Best Gross for the day attracted a prize of 4 brand new tyres of the winner’s choice. Tyres may be collected from the BAL showroom at 191 Wellington & Charlotte Streets, Lacytown, Georgetown, Tel (592)-227-2526, (592)-227-1349. At the end of the day’s play the winners were: Best Net 1st –
Avinash Persaud 71/2; 2nd - Patrick Prashad 72/9; 3rd - Patanjalee ‘Pur’ Persaud 72/20; 4th – Fazil Haniff 72/ 13; Best Gross – Avinash Persaud, 73; Nearest The Pin - Kassim Khan, 6 ft. Other golfers that scored in the top ten were Papo Haniff 73/6; Deanand Bissessar 75/22; Joaan Deo 75/18; Roy Cumming 77/11; Maurice Solomon 78/25; and Balgobin Ragnauth 79/18.