Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News

PAGE 04

Wednesday February 20, 2019

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 diversity issue and certain occupations

T

he situations, observations, and accompanying whispers are out there in the public spaces. Albeit on a still muted and limited basis; but it is out there making some rounds. There is a problem at the Public Service College: it has, self-admittedly, a diversity problem. Reasonable thinking is that this institution would have attracted unwanted attention and much public comment already, given its state of affairs in this regard. Without a doubt, some of the comments, perhaps a great deal, would have been harshly critical, maybe justifiably so. Other national places have not been spared. It is alleged that GECOM has a diversity problem; some would share the same concerns about the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force, particularly their respective high commands. It is an age-old lament and groan. Similarly, the University of Guyana could come in for that criticism and complaint at its management levels. The list could extend indefinitely in a land that presents a broad canvas of even broader ethnic diversity. It is a nation where there is the increasing tendency towards numerical closeness in the two major races; and greater gains in higher education in those ethnicities that find themselves much lower on the demographic scale. Into this sensitive, controversial, and heaving milieu, there now comes the Public Service College. Observations are that the organization is, indeed, heavily populated with Afro-Guyanese. The issue at hand is: should this be considered deliberate, accidental, or the result of force of circumstances? Unuttered in any public media so far is whether there is a constructive (and instigated) boycott of this entity by other ethnicities in Guyana, especially IndoGuyanese. In some places, Indo-Guyanese have manifested keen interest and steady determination in being present and visible. Yet they are neither at the Public Service College. They are neither present nor visible in the student body or the teaching and administrative ranks; the upper ranks to be more precise. The question persists: is this purposeful or a consequence of events on the ground? A senior official of the same college has gone public to lament the response to advertisements and the rest. Unsaid was anything relative to the quality of those few (if any) who did demonstrate some interest. How far did they fall short? Did they even measure up to requirements and expectations? In the next instance, and this being Guyana the unthinkable is more than possible, it could be that there is a whispered campaign to bypass the Public Service College advertisement invitations and notices with a sinister objective in mind. It would then stand as the poster child (yet another) for the prejudices and discriminations of the agents of the incumbent administration, and the administration itself. As roaring siren and dazzling strobe lights go, this as good a way to achieve a nefarious goal. There are allegations that the equivalent of this has been done with monies earmarked for works in outlying areas where there are heavy Indo-Guyanese concentrations. The plan, allegedly, is to squeeze the constituency of the faithful, so that its members will be sufficiently dispirited and outraged to blank anything positive about the new people out of mind and consideration. Against these possibly contrasting contentions is the fact that the Cyril Potter College (teacher recruits) does draw a reasonably diverse grouping. In the meantime, the nursing schools and the profession tell their own story of culture, thinking, and the reluctances associated with that particular kind of career in the minds of many locally-based Indo-Guyanese. Which is in the case of the diversity situation of the Public Service College? That is the question.

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

No place for industrial terrorism…This is Guyana in 2019, not post-1917 USSR DEAR EDITOR, Something has to be made clear and straight: this is Guyana in 2019, and not the post-1917 USSR. The concerted line of attack against the workers in the bauxite industry by Rusal points to a premeditated remorselessness that has not a single thread of healthy labormanagement relations about it, or industrial relations best practices, or regard for basic human decency and human dignity. It reeks of the tyrannical and the intentionally degrading. I think it is time that this government develop some cojones and send unambiguous messages to those who are bent on sending tough and harsh messages of their own to local workers; indeed, those who have taken the lead in delivering such

without regard for protocols and processes.The government’s messages have to be: Don’t go down this unconstructive road. Don’t take these backward steps. And don’t mess with our people. For that is exactly what Rusal has unveiled in one calculating power play and squeeze-play after another, and all of which are intended to grind the faces of the bauxite workers into the dust. Not just their noses, but their whole heads are relentlessly locked in a relentless viselike escalation of tactics intended to bring them to heel and under the boots of their paymasters. It started with disincentivizing them (the paternalization and dismissal of 1%); then with demeaning them through the studied insult of: don’t let the door

Our labour laws must be respected DEAR EDITOR, Our labour laws must be respected, regardless who the employer may be, be they foreign or local. It is the responsibility of the Government to ensure that such laws are respected and that the rights of workers are not trampled upon. The current industrial dispute at Rusal has taken the issue of industrial relations to a new level where the company, according to media reports, has refused to meet with the relevant union and has even refused to meet with officials of the Labour Department.

This is a dangerous precedent which should not be tolerated under any circumstances.One is left to wonder whether the apparent disregard for our labour laws by Rusal has anything to do with the current political impasse in the country following the successful passage of the no-confidence vote. How else can one explain the dismissal of scores of workers and the treatment meted out to workers by the management team?The entire country is looking on to see how this matter will be resolved. Hydar Ally

At last the code of conduct for public transportation is here DEAR EDITOR, It is most welcome to note that the Minibus code of conduct for operators of public transportation in Guyana has been finally launched by the Ministry of Business in collaboration with the Guyana Police Force, Guyana National Road Safety Council and the United Minibus Association. This long awaited code of conduct comes at a time when drivers and conductors have to respect the traveling

public and let the safety, comfort and satisfaction be evident during their journey. The training for all operators is compulsory and without any further delay, tourism will certainly gain extra marks in our country. A copy of the five road ‘C’s, fare structure and code of conduct must be visible, along with strict enforcement, to make it a success. Respectfully, Parmanand Ram

strike you in the behind on the way out; and out was the order, as in get off these grounds; next, as a part of cutting off the air supply came that despicable decision of no cooking for you, no food for you - how lower can it get?); and last, in a lightning series of stunning slaps (more likely kicks) to the body of the reeling workers, were get out of the houses, and get off jobs p e r m a n e n t l y, a s i n terminated. Over. Out. Editor, I have to ask: is this the 21st century? Or is this some preindustrial age with robber barons roaming the land unchecked and free to pummel and disgrace worker, government, and nation? The fact that a foreign company does these things, without regard for the laws of Guyana, reeks of a new kind of either colonialist attitude or with distinctive vestiges of a plantation culture emanating from the top and meted out to the vulnerable and strapped, who are held hostage to the weapon of foreign investment, and then taken advantage of in the most alarming and demeaning manners. As the unfolding of events has arrested the attention, I must state that I also sense an insensitivity and callousness

that borders on the blatantly discriminatory. Look closely and objectively, and it becomes clear - too clear - that the chain of negative proceedings is highly indicative of the embedded contempt that characterizes master-servant arrangements and relationships. To state the matter with the candor it deserves, the thinking, decisions, and actions on the ground, as aimed by Rusal at the workers in one crippling fusillade after another, have been nothing short of the old slave system. Perhaps, it is not so old after all; and very much alive and well in the hearts of those who first invade and then trample upon and last terrorize. The heavy-handed, unilateral, provocative, and extremely hostile attitude of the Rusal management can only be accurately described as industrial terrorism. In aggregate, the objective is to bring the workers to their knees and then force feed them the scant bitter rations, which they must accept (no discussion, no negotiation), and ultimately submit. Or else, it is the humiliation of allowing tarring and feathering, and last being run out of the job, (Continued on page 6)

I am only an ordinary layman, but… DEAR EDITOR, If National and Regional Elections are not held by March 21, 2019 as ruled by the Chief Justice (ag) and there is no two-thirds majority (by the way what number is two-thirds of 65?) vote in Parliament for Elections to be deferred beyond the date stipulated above as outlined under Article 106 (7) of the Constitution of Guyana, will the new Elections be deemed unconstitutional? Will the new government formed by the party which wins the

Elections be deemed illegal? What will be the constitutional issue/s if any? I am no expert as it relates to Constitutional Law. I do not have the competence to debate complex legal issues. I am only an ordinary layman, but as a citizen of Guyana my conscious is pricking me. I am wondering. Perhaps, I am just a lonely wonderer. Let the confabulation continue. Yours faithfully, Clinton Conway Assistant Commissioner of Police (Retired )

About High Level Dual Citizenship DEAR EDITOR, All concerned parties would appear to have forgotten about the extended appointment of a Guyana High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, during the PPP/C regime. He retained his British citizenship throughout. Mr Ralph Ramkarran should know. Yours faithfully, A divorced citizen

Wednesday February 20, 2019

We must demand the President convene a meeting with the Leader of the Opposition DEAR EDITOR, We must call a spade a spade. Guyana has entered into a constitutional storm. Crisis is at hand. It is an emergency. The President is deliberately playing reckless games. His Cabinet is complicit in putting the country at high risk and placing the lives of the Guyanese people in precarious waters. The public demand for action to avert a constitutional crisis and to stop Guyana from moving backwards must be targeted to David Granger. He is the man with the power and the authority to act in defence of Guyana. So far he has stubbornly refused to act in the interest of Guyana. A meeting between the President and the Leader of the Opposition is needed now. The Leader of the Opposition has stated openly he is one phone call away, as

long as the meeting is intended to discuss a date for elections in Guyana. The President is playing games, making excuses, grandstanding. Political parties not aligned with APNU+AFC must show their worth by formally joining the call for David Granger to convene the meeting now. Civil society actors, like the Public Sector Commission must be unequivocal in demanding the President respect his mandate and convene the meeting now. This is not the time for false equivalency. An emergency meeting between the President and the Leader of the Opposition to discuss a date for election and matters relating to the elections must be held now. The Leader of the Opposition has openly said he is waiting for the call to have this meeting. The President has, on the other hand, made

excuses. CARICOM must demonstrate its commitment to democracy and its respect for the Guyanese people by formally encouraging the President to convene a meeting with the Leader of the Opposition to discuss a date for election. CARICOM has rightfully injected itself in the struggle for democracy in Haiti. CARICOM has constructively engaged in discussions at the OAS and other forums relating to the struggles of the Venezuelan people. Yet it is deafeningly silent when it comes to the serious assault on democracy right here in a country where the CARICOM headquarters sits. The ABC countries, which when the PPP was in government were not shy in injecting themselves in Guyanese affairs, are MIA, (Continued in on page 6)

I am ready to stand up for what I believe and what’s right DEAR EDITOR, I came forward with a horrific encounter I had with the police at Providence station and it went somewhat viral. There were a lot of comments from various persons about me taking this police matter further, the majority being supportive, while others felt I want attention and predicted (based on stats) that I will get no justice. Pondering on these comments, I cannot ridicule the persons who are not in favour of my move. It is what was taught to us from generations; you just can’t

win the police. They slowly developed a passive attitude towards the police and it’s what some of us inherited and willingly adopt. Again I empathize here, because not everyone is brave enough to be a Martyr, so to speak, amidst massive corruption. Maybe I was born a different breed, but I am ready to stand up for what I believe and what’s right. I’m confident that this will trigger a revolution and the officers who are at cloud nine with their ego will rightfully climb down. I must include that I’ve met some really polite and

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humble police, the recent being Inspector Hohenkirk at Brickdam complaints section. She is such a charismatic person, maybe she can offer some communication ethics training to persons in the Guyana Police Force who find it difficult to muster politeness and manners when speaking. Regards, Mahindra Narine

Get up Stand up, Stand up for your Right, Guyanese! DEAR EDITOR, I am so utterly upset at the glaring display of disrespect, disdain, and utter contempt by Rusal for our people, and by extension, government, I literally want to throw up. Where else in the world would these people be allowed to get away with their despicable display of contempt? No respected government anywhere would allow them to do what they are getting away with impunity.Sooner rather than later, concerned citizens must demand to know who is minding the store, who is in charge here? Is it the Government or are Guyanese now subject to the laws of Russia? To allow this situation to continue is an utter and total embarrassment to us and our country. Why have these people been allowed to put their foot up the behinds of our workers for so long? Both the previous PPP and present APNU administrations turned a blind eye to the glaring, lawless travesty of this enterprise? A columnist of the Kaieteur News rightly recalled

what transpired at the former McKenzie bauxite operations under the control of the Canadians. Having resided at Linden during those days of ignominy, I can attest to the accuracy of this shameful history when the only ones going in and out of Watooka were maids and yard people, Guyanese could not even think of taking a dip in the swimming pool. Those locals in the staff club were serving drinks to the expatriates. Former Presidents Jagan and Burnham put a screeching halt to that foolishness. Despite all of their shortcomings Guyana needs that kind of transformative, proactive leadership like yesterday. Politicians across the board and just about everywhere still follow the same old tired script, which, prior to needing the vote of the people, they show up with a cart full of promises only to suffer major dementia once in office. Guyana is no different; Ministers and those seekers of high office are miraculously available and can be seen just about everywhere making

those empty promises. Well the workers need your help NOW, in putting Rusal in their place. As reported in this paper, they are so emboldened by the silence of the Government they have now fired 61 of the striking workers. Enough is enough already! Politicians across the board MUST resurrect and dust off the Jagan and Burnham playbook and put these hoodlums under manners. On the flip side of this exercise steeped in national pride, citizens of Guyana must take time out to support these workers, show up in your numbers at Rusal’s headquarters and register your disdain for them. I mentioned in a recent letter, the example of Long Island City New York residents driving out Amazon from setting up shop in their community, despite the fact that Amazon would have brought over 2500 jobs to a community in need of those jobs. Grow a backbone Guyanese; grow a backbone for you and your country Respectfully, Claudeston G. Massiah

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Wednesday February 20, 2019

Changing Policy and Guyana’s ability to support Cuba DEAR EDITOR, This letter seeks to highlight a particular observation of a small area of Cuba’s macroeconomic disposition. In recent years, private individuals were given the opportunity to pursue business endeavours in and out of the country. This new policy sought to provide a road map to economic freedom that was so desired. This was a great strategic decision by the Cuban leaders. It allowed for the opening and regularization of what could have been considered as a “shadow economy.” There is a need for a number of products in that country. While businesses there are thriving, it only allows for the conversion of local commodities into goods and services. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of Cubans visiting Guyana. This increase was driven by the new policy and the wonderful relationship between the two countries. In addition to this harmony, there was the decision of the U.S. to only issue visas to the citizens of that country through their Guyana consulate. As a result, this did not only foster the opportunity for business and trade, but for the transition to

the U.S. This is a great opportunity for Guyana. It stands at the centre of helping to develop fragmented industries in Cuba and a path to immigration. Many Cubans from all walks of life are aware of this opportunity - the ‘bicitaxi’ rider, tour guide, hotel manager, restaurant host, and even the guy hustling cigars in the street. What does this mean for Guyana? The opportunity for trade and business operations should also help to develop local businesses. New policies and standards must be developed. They should parallel those in Cuba and aim to develop local, nationallyoperated businesses. There is a very unique opportunity to increase the wealth of Guyanese and Cubans if a strategic economic ecosystem is developed. Guyana’s leaders must look at this as a very strategic national interest that not only focuses on currency exchange, tax, and visitor metrics, but as a functional activity that has greater economic potential for Guyana. Our businesses must understand their interests and cater to operations that are profitable for all involved. The top inputs into the ecosystem are those basic activities such as

t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , accommodation, food, and wholesale purchases. Guyana does not own the airline that manages the route nor the agencies that cater to its operations. Guyana does not control or limit purchases or regulate the activity. There is a free economy. However, the majority of purchases are at non-national businesses. In Cuba, there is a policy that states that foreign businesses must enter into a 51/49% profit share. This clearly identifies that national interests are maintained in any business. While this may be considered differently based on opinion, it shows the interest the country has in developing their local economy. In contrast, businesses operate in Guyana without such conditions. Therefore, a foreign business in Guyana that supplies goods to Cubans is evading that situation, yet benefiting from a scale economy in this new ecosystem. What are the implications to Guyana? Top management in Guyana should perform a thorough analysis of this business environment. This analysis should not be limited to local activities, but the entire supply chain that supports the trade agreement signed between CARICOM and Cuba. In doing so, they

What’s going on at the National Park? DEAR EDITOR, My entire family goes on a regular basis to the National Park for a decent evening of family time and much needed exercise. I am certain that the founders of this muchneeded facility intended for it to be used with minimum fuss and difficulty for the patrons, and in a safe and secure environment. However, there are quite a few happenings with the National Park which often leave users frustrated and with a general impression that they are given very little thought when management makes decisions regarding its use.For starters, on a too frequent basis, regular users are locked out of the Thomas Lands car park because of some event or the other in the park stands. This is utterly frustrating, because those folks that come out in the afternoons to exercise have absolutely no interest in whatever is the event in the stands. All we need is a place to park, so we can go and have our relaxation in peace. We are then forced to park along the busy Thomas Lands road and then bundle our energetic kids along the hazardous road to get into the park. Can’t there be a plan which can benefit

both users of the park stands as well as those of us using the fields? Certainly a manager worth his salt can devise such a mutually beneficial plan. Do not wait until there is an accident, to act on something that simply needs a bit of common sense and understanding. Another point of concern is the access into the Carifesta Avenue car park. When the gov’t decided to upgrade Carifesta Avenue, they constructed a median which made it impossible for eastbound traffic to enter the gate of the car park without making a sharp U-turn into the westbound traffic. Those who use this road regularly know the high speed at which vehicles travel here. It is an absolutely high risk to maneuver this turn. The amount of glass shards on this turn is testimony of the risk to life and limb to make this turn. The only folks who do not see the risk are the management of the National Park who, in their infinite wisdom, only use one access gate, even though it is very clear that the gov’t made provision for the eastbound traffic by creating an opening directly in line with a second gate to the park.

Unfortunately this gate is never opened. So the U-turn is the only option. Again it must be asked, why does the management of the National Park put its users under such high risk? Why can’t both gates be opened? The simple act of opening that second gate will make life immeasurably easier and safer for users of the National Park.Finally, over the past few days my family has noted some shady-looking elements lurking in the dark near the manatee pond. We are not certain of their intentions, but it has made us aware of the lack of security measures in the park. There was once a time when security personnel traversed the park on All Terrain Vehicles. It made us all feel safer. However, it has been a while since these officers were seen patrolling. It is urged that they recommence this activity again, since signs are emerging that criminals may be lurking. I am sincerely hoping that the management of the National Park sees this letter of frustration and goes about implementing simple changes that will bring huge relief, safety and comfort to its patrons. M. Abraham

should look at cost structures and the profitability of conducting business with Cubans. They should focus on developing policies that not only benefit Guyana, but provide a better return on investment for those individual Cuban entrepreneurs. The reason why this should be done is because their invested capital is much greater when considering the cost of travel, food, and accommodation. In Cuba, this cost is calculated as a fraction of the price of the product sold. This is then transferred to the local Cuban customers who pay much more than us for a particular product. A classical example would be toothpaste. A tube of Colgate toothpaste costs US$1 in the Dollar Tree store in the U.S., about $395 in Guyana, and CUC$6 in Cuba, in a local individual shop. The Trade and Economic agreement falls short in defining this outcome to their

local economy. Their citizens may not have the purchasing power to buy this product. This means that, contrary to the agreement, there is little or slow return on invested capital, little expansion on trade, and slow liberation, in terms of economic and financial freedom of our Cuban family. The analysis should also parallel one of the considerations of President Donald J. Trump’s four policy objectives for Cuba. In laying the groundwork for the empowerment of the Cuban people, Cuba’s strategic management has evidently created the atmosphere for the development of economic liberty. This is indicative by the new policy mentioned above, the fact that there is trade activities, and the continuous growth of Cuba’s presence in Guyana. This means that Guyana, by proxy, is creating a favourable relationship between the U.S. and Cuba. However, while political

liberty is for citizens in a nation state to decide, we can clearly observe that there is a greater potential for increased economic liberty on the island. Guyana must put resources into ensuring that a very granular economic framework is developed, so that Cubans investing in shopping here have a greater return on investment, and that the customers in that country can afford these products at favourable prices. Similarly, Cuba has to ensure that taxation of these products offer both customer and investor satisfaction. In this year 60 of the Revolution, there has been great progress in advancing the macroeconomic disposition of the island. Currently, there is even greater possibility for obtaining individual financial freedom and the development of fragmented industries that may become consolidated overtime. VIVA! Dustin E. Fraser

We must demand the President... From page 5 missing in action, now. In asking the President to do his duty, no one is taking sides, but everyone will be respecting the Constitution and the Law. On March 21st, the 90th day since the No-Confidence Motion was passed by Parliament on December 21st, 2018, Guyana will have an illegal government. David Granger will become an illegitimate, illegal President. Moses Nagamootoo will be an illegal Prime Minister. The whole Cabinet will be illegal. There is only one way to stop the lunacy - the President must meet with the Leader of the Opposition to enforce Article 106(7) and that meeting must be held now. The Leader of the Opposition, Bharat Jagdeo, has on multiple occasions expressed his willingness to meet with the President to discuss the date for an election and what must be done to hold an election in accordance with Guyana’s Constitution. The ball is in the President’s court. Joe Harmon, the Minister of the Presidency, speaking on behalf of President Granger and the APNU+AFC Cabinet, mocked the Leader of the Opposition and declared emphatically that David Granger is the President of Guyana and will dictate when and what matters will be discussed if any meeting is to be held. The most urgent matter of national priority right now is to stop the constitutional crisis that is at hand, and that

can only be stopped by having a date for elections. Granger himself, or through his spokesperson, has not expressed any willingness to meet to discuss election matters, including a date for the election. In fact, he insists that he will carry on with business as usual. The Parliament has resigned the government, since December 21st, 2018. The Speaker was forced to reiterate on January 3rd, 2019, that the Parliament had validly resigned the government on December 21st, 2018. The Chief Justice confirmed on January 31st, there was a valid No-Confidence Motion that resigned the government on December 21st and elections are due by March 21st, 2019. The President and APNU+AFC now seek shelter through the Court of Appeal. But, as made clear by the Chief Justice when she refused to grant a conservancy order, this does not stop the calendar. It is unconscionable that Granger and APNU+AFC are now too busy making false

and extravagant promises across the country while plunging Guyana into turbulent waters. As Bharat Jagdeo has warned and as Ralph Ramkarran has eloquently articulated, in less than one month, Guyana will have an illegal government. Granger and his cabinet will be squatters in office. Their salaries and expenditure will be illegal. All government contracts will be illegal. International governments and organization can treat Guyana as a pariah state. Importantly, for the Guyanese people, Guyana’s development trajectory will be pushed back more than a decade. We are, therefore, on a reckless path, driven by greed and authoritarianism. The time for silence has long gone. The time for society to speak out is now. The time to stand up and resist is now. We must demand the President convene a meeting to discuss an election date with the Leader of the Opposition. It is his duty to act NOW. Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

No place for industrial... From page 4 the kitchen, the house, and then all the way out of town. Without a doubt, the workers are being sent up the river, and without a paddle. They should not be on their own. Mr. Charles Ogle, the Chief Labour Officer, has made the state’s position clear. In a word: improper; in another: unacceptable. That ought to be the opening salvo of a belated, but much-needed government presence and counterattack. This confrontation has already assumed the proportions of a battlefield context. Perhaps, it is timely. Perhaps, it is fitting. The die is cast. Let the chips fall wherever they may. Sincerely, GHK Lall

Wednesday February 20, 2019

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Guyana’s Constitution now made subservient to will of GECOM - PPP

- Notes that it is supposed to be the other way around The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has lashed out at GECOM over its decision to not prepare for election in keeping with the constitutionally mandated timeline. The Party sent out a missive to the media yesterday. PPP said that the “APNU+AFC Coalition Government-nominated Commissioners at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and the unilaterally appointed GECOM Chairman, James Patterson, demonstrated their illogical willingness to toe the Government line, and in so doing have made the Constitution of Guyana subservient to the will of GECOM.” The party reiterated that the provisions of the Constitution are clear on the consequences of the successful passage of the no-confidence motion in the National Assembly – the validity of which was upheld by the High Court following a ruling from the Chief Justice (ag). Further, the PPP cited Article 106 (6) of the Constitution which states: “The Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National As-

sembly on a vote of confidence.” PPP noted that Article 106 (7) goes on to state that: “Notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election.” PPP said that moreover, GECOM’s mandate, as stipulated by the Constitution, is also clear. In this regard, PPP cited Article 162 (1) of the Constitution. Article 162 (1) of the Constitution states, “The Elections Commission shall have such functions connected with or relating to the registration of electors or the conduct of elections as conferred upon it by or under this Constitution or, subject thereto, any Act of Parliament.” PPP said that the correct order of things, GECOM is subservient to the Constitution of Guyana, not the other way around.

PPP said that GECOM’s refusal to begin preparations for General and Regional Elections, after the December 21, 2018 vote on the no-confidence motion, finds it complicit in frustrating the timeline for the constitutionally due elections. Additionally, the party was keen to note that there has been no effort to make a decision on what obtains in the short-term. “There has also been no decision at the level of the Commission on when GECOM will be ready for elections. “Secondly, on the issue of funding, the PPP is of the view that this is the latest hurdle thrown up by the government-influenced parties at GECOM.” The first hurdle introduced was the call for new house-to-house registration – which has been exposed as unnecessary at this time, the PPP said. The PPP maintains that the laws of Guyana are clear on funding for constitutional agencies like GECOM. PPP said that the Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Act 2015, Section 80 B (8) – makes it clear that: “The appropriation of a Constitutional

Agency approved by the National Assembly shall be disbursed as a lump sum by the end of the month, following the month in which the appropriation was approved.” Further, PPP recalled that Section 80B (7) of the same act states that: “The annual budget of a Constitutional Agency approved by the National Assembly shall not be altered without prior approval of the National Assembly.” Given its citing, the PPP said that the law clearly prohibits the Minister of Finance from altering the appropriation to GECOM, as he is empow-

ered to do with the appropriations of non-constitutional agencies. However, PPP stated that the law does not prevent GECOM from utilizing the “lump sum” as it sees fit to carry out its functions. PPP thinks that GECOM’s action yesterday is intended to influence the court proceedings, set to continue today. PPP said that the Constitution makes clear that the judiciary cannot extend the deadline for which General and Regional Elections are constitutionally due; “rather such an act remains in the remit of the Legislature.”

PPP General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo

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Wednesday February 20, 2019

Lawyers file appeal in Compton Reid‘s no- confidence challenge Lawyers representing Compton Reid, the private citizen who challenged the noconfidence motion passed in the National Assembly on December 21, last have filed the grounds to appeal against the ruling of the Chief Justice, (CJ) in relation to the matter. According to the document issued by the Supreme Court Registry, Reid through his Attorneys, Rex Mc Kay, S.C Neil Boston S.C and Robert Corbin, expressed his dissatisfaction with the ruling of Chief Justice in relation to the case. Despite declaring that expelled Alliance For Change (AFC) Parliamentarian

Charrandass Persaud, who voted in favour of the no-confidence motion against the Coalition Government, is not qualified for elections as a member of the National Assembly on the basis of dual citizenship by virtue of his allegiance to Canada, a foreign power, Chief Justice Roxane George had ruled that his dual citizenship does not invalidate the no-confidence motion. The judge was responding to declarations sought by private citizen, Compton Reid, who had asked the court to set aside the no-confidence motion on the ground that Persaud holds dual citizen-

ship—being that he is a citizen of both Guyana and Canada. Detailing the reasons for her findings, Chief Justice George said that there was evidence before the court to support that Persaud was born in Berbice and is the holder of a Guyana Passport. She said that there is also evidence that Persaud is the holder of a Canadian passport, which he used to travel from time to time. The judgments of the CJ had come after Government faced an opposition-tabled no-confidence motion. In a shock vote, Government parliamentarian, Persaud

sided with the Opposition with his single yes triggering a Constitutional crisis. Government contended that the 33-32 vote which the Speaker ruled was carried could not have been a majority to have carried the vote. It also contested the fact that MP Persaud had dual citizenship and therefore could not have sat in the National Assembly.Government had said that it will appeal those judgments of January 31 and go all the way to the Caribbean Court of Justice. The Opposition has been upping the pressure for early election with a 90-day period as a result of the no-confi-

dence vote.In his grounds of appeal, Reid is arguing that the Chief Justice misdirected herself and erred in law when she held that she could not overturn the motion on the basis that Persaud’s invalidity as a member of the National Assembly, since proceedings were protected by virtue of Article 165(2) of the Constitution. The appellant noted that the Chief Justice had already determined that Persaud had disqualified from being a member of the National Assembly and by reason of that finding was incompetent to vote. Reid is arguing that no Election’s Petition was needed in his challenge to Persaud’s vote. He is claiming too that the CJ erred in

her consistency by failing to grant orders sought in the application when she had earlier granted declarations by the applicant for constitutional relief. “The judge misdirected herself by failing to consider false declaration made by Persaud in statutory declaration as a candidate on the list of the ruling coalition party.” In previous filings, the Attorney General cited similar dissatisfaction of the Government over the judgments. In their Notice of Appeal, it was argued that Government is dissatisfied with the ruling since the CJ “erred and misdirected herself in law when she ruled that on 21st December, 2018 the National Assembly of Guyana among other things.

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No elections until April 2020 No one, least of all the PPPC, should be surprised by the decisions of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), firstly that elections cannot be held within 90 days and secondly in favour of house-to-house registration. In a politically polarized society, these decisions were always on the cards. And most of the Commissioners had previously telegraphed their positions where they stood. It is no use trying to argue to the contrary to the unconverted. By now it should be that when it comes to political issues, reason is apt to become a victim of political interests, and no amount of rational arguments will convince those whose minds are already foreclosed to alternatives. No one is also going to advance the argument that in a seven-person commission, a majority is half plus one and since half of 7 is 3.5 this has

to be rounded off to four, and then add one, making a majority five instead of four. Even those who employed ‘strange’ mathematics in arguing that 34 is a majority of 65 will now contradict themselves and hold that four is a majority of 7. Elections are not going to be held until next year. If the urgency with which GECOM approached its preparation for elections, following the noconfidence vote, is anything to judge by, then house-tohouse registration will take at least one year. Do not expect to be ready anytime sooner. We are therefore looking at a timeline for elections by April next year. No amount of reasoning will change that. Neither will any shortening of this timeline reduce the fallout in public confidence in GECOM. Nonetheless, (please read conjunctively) there are issues to be resolved. For one, GECOM’s excuse for not being ready for elections is that

it does not have funds for elections. And second, it wants house-to house- registration for which funds have been approved. GECOM is one of the constitutional agencies which enjoy financial autonomy under the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act (FMAA). It receives a subvention from the government, based on proposals which it submits to government and which have to be approved by the National Assembly. Once GECOM receives a subvention, its spending cannot be dictated by the Ministry of Finance since the law allows GECOM financial autonomy. Incidentally it was the APNU+AFC which tabled that law which allows financial autonomy of certain constitutional agencies Parliament Office, Office of the Auditor General, Public and Police Service Commissions, Teaching Service Commission, Guyana Elections Commission, Supreme Court of

DEM BOYS SEH

De Creator guide that plane wha crash

When de Man above ain’t ready for you nobody can harm you. That is why people does give prayer of thanks when dem meet home safe at de end of de day. And even when dem ain’t meet home some does give thanks. Some church people got a plane and it does fly in de interior regular to conduct nuff mercy mission. Sometimes Guyanese pilots does fly it. But dem boys seh once is de work of de Creator then most times it does be alright.De odda night de plane lef to go in de interior pun a mercy flight. It was bringing out the body of a missionary who was climbing a mountain and he fall down. When people believe in superstition dem does come up wid all kinds of idea. Dem boys seh de plane was bringing out this man body when de pilot find out that it didn’t have fuel. Night set in suh nobody can see de ground below. De Creator was there watching over de pilot and de man who accompany him because de plane come down

in de only clear spot in de jungle. And de pilot could not see it suh it had to be a guiding hand that put de plane down. But dem boys got a couple of questions. A plane is not like a car wheh a man can travel wid a low fuel tank and top up when he meet a gas station. But this pilot believe he was driving a car. De plane got a fuel gauge plus de pilot does tek a dip stick and check de fuel in de tanks. Yet this pilot had low fuel when he lef and none when he come back. Of course de plane bruck up. Wheh it deh is not like a car that crash pun de road and can get tow to a workshop. De pilot in hospital along wid de policeman who go in de interior wid him. Both of dem will forever thank de Man above.Of course de dead man dead twice—once when he fall off de mountain and again when de plane crash. Dem boys believe that he did want company; that is why he mek de plane crash. Talk half and nobody can beat de Man above.

Judicature and the Office of the Office of the Ombudsman. In November 2018, the National Assembly approved $6.3 billion for GECOM whose budget included house-tohouse registration. The Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Act of 2015 provided that once allocations are approved, the appropriations are supposed to be paid out in a lump sum to the agency. What this means in practice, is that the Ministry of Finance cannot ration the appropriation approved for a Constitutional Agency. The law also provides that there can be no changes to the agency’s Budget without the prior approval of the National Assembly. This would mean that even though the agency enjoys financial autonomy in spending, it can only spend

in accordance with its approved Budget. The approved appropriations of GECOM would have included a hefty sum for house-to house- registration. But there was no allocation for elections, since GECOM could not have contemplated the intrigue of 21st December 2019. GECOM cannot use monies for house-to- house registration for elections, unless this is approved by the National Assembly. As things stand therefore, the only way elections can be held is if the National Assembly approves monies for the holding of elections. The Leader of the Opposition has made it clear since December last year that his party will only return to the National Assembly for election-related matters. Presumably, this includes extending

the timeline for the holding of elections and approving monies for holding elections. But it is almost certain that the government has no intention of approving any sums for elections until such time as house-to house registration is completed. And the Opposition will insist that elections can be held without the need for house-to house registration and therefore it sees no need for extending the life of government to allow for houseto- house registration. A constitutional crisis is now certain. Guyana is making history again and as usual for the wrong reasons.

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Wednesday February 20, 2019

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Harmon’s harmonica lacks harmony In the history of post Independence governments, Joe Harmon’s attitude to his foreign citizenship must go down as one of the most comical yet inscrutable things to have come out of the mouth of a senior Cabinet member. What Harmon said when asked about giving up his foreign citizenship has to go down as an embarrassing moment for this country.

Harmon told the media that the court judgement on foreign citizenship is yet to be pronounced on by the other two tiers of the court system – Guyana’s Court of Appeal and Caribbean Court of Justice – and when the court proceedings are exhausted then he would decide on his foreign status. Either Harmon’s harmonica is malfunctioning

or he is playing non-existent notes and so the harmony is lost in a cacophonous echo. There is no writ before the Court of Appeal on dual citizenship. That was settled by the judgement of the Chief Justice. That particular pronouncement is not being appealed. Let us help Harmon to play his harmonica so he could understand musical notes.

The government’s lawyer, Neil Boston, asked the court to declare Charrandass Persaud’s vote in the noconfidence motion null and void because as a Canadian citizen he had no right to sit as a parliamentarian because the constitution prevents persons with foreign citizenship to hold a parliamentary seat. The court agreed and its decision was that indeed Persaud and others with identical status cannot sit as members of parliament. What the Chief Justice went on to state is that she could not vitiate the ballot Persaud cast because the constitution states that an action by a member once done cannot be undone. So there are two things to note here. Persaud was sitting illegally in the House and others like him who are there cannot be there. The second thing to note is that the Chief Justice’s decision on upholding Persaud vote is not in any way connected to the dual citizenship argument. She said the constitution allows for a vote once taken to be counted. Now what is the appeal on this particular point? It is not about dual citizenship. That has been settled. The court is not being asked to decide on that issue. The appellate court is being requested to upturn the Chief Justice’s ruling on the validity of Persaud’s vote. It means if the higher court throws out the Chief Justice’s

decision it denotes that the opposition did not receive 33 votes. This is in no way connected to the clear constitutional requirement that a person can only sit in the House as a Guyanese and not have citizenship of another country. The government’s lawyer, Mr. Boston, and leader of the APNU list, Professor Lutchman have clarified the dual citizenship dimension by telling the media that all MPs who have foreign citizenship can no longer remain in the National Assembly because the Chief Justice has so ruled. The crucial question that journalists have to ask Harmon is why he is waiting on the ruling from the Court of Appeal before he relinquishes his American status since there will be no ruling on that question. If the government loses in Guyana and the CCJ decides in favour of the government, there still will not be a pronouncement by the court on the legality of dual citizenship. Once more to drive home the point to Harmon, that matter was not before the court. It was the government itself that requested a ruling on the legal propriety of a foreign citizen voting in the National Assembly. Lennox Shuman of the Amerindian-oriented party knows that he cannot sit in the House once he remains a

Frederick Kissoon Canadian. He said steps have been taken to give it up. Gail Teixeira of the PPP announced she is considering surrendering her Canadian nationality. Rupert Roopnaraine indicated that if he has to give up his British passport he will do so. None of these MPs have queried if the constitution allows them to have dual citizenship. It is either Harmon is playing the fool, playing politics or just couldn’t be bothered with adhering to the constitution. But there is a rude awakening in store for Harmon. Once elections are called, a person cannot be on the list of his/her party if they hold foreign nationality. There is no way Joe Harmon and Carl Greenidge could make APNU list. Even if they are placed there, a quick application for an injunction to remove them will be made by other contesting parties and the court will comply because the constitution is clear. The satirical column, “Dem Boys Seh” hilariously refers to Harmon as “Lil Joe” or Joe Shanlin.” How about a new one? “Harmonica Joe?”

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Muslim scholar on nine child rape charges for trial March 7 The office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has informed that Muslim scholar, Neezam Ali, who has been indicted on nine counts of sexual activity with a child by abusing position of trust with an alternative count of rape of a child under 16 years, will go on trial from March 7, before Justice Navindra Singh. In a missive, the office of the DPP said that the matter was called yesterday before Justice Singh at the High Court in Georgetown. The trial, however, did not commence after Stanley Moore, Attorney-at-Law for Ali, requested the March 7 date.

According to the statement, all the witnesses scheduled to testify in the matter were present in court. This development comes days after the mother of three of the victims alleged that she was offered $6M by a man, who is known to her, to settle the matter. The woman, who was seen at court yesterday, said that the individual visited her home last week and tried to convince her to accept the money. According to the woman, she was not a bit tempted to accept the sum and wants to see justice prevails since she has waited for years for Ali to be tried. “I‘ve waited years for this

case to be tried. I will not do anything to jeopardize the case at this point. All I need is justice for my sons,” she added. She said that her sons are now teenagers. “The police have launched their investigation and I hope they are able to arrest this man because I am fearful for my life,” the woman added. She has since dismissed the offer as “disrespectful.” Some seven years ago, Ali, also known as ‘Mufti’, an Imam, whose last known address is said to be at South Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, was charged after it was alleged that he

ALLEGED CHILD RAPIST: Neezam Ali raped nine boys, who took Quran and Arabic lessons from him. The victims alleged

that Ali had penetrative anal intercourse with them while they were attending classes at a Masjid on the East Coast of Demerara. Following a preliminary inquiry before Magistrate Alex Moore, Ali was committed to stand trial for the offences in 2013. Shortly after Ali’s committal in 2013, his lawyer, Nigel Hughes, filed an action in the High Court to have the committal overturned. However, this was rejected by the court. His application was made on several grounds, including that the Magistrate acted in excess of his jurisdiction when he failed to consider the expert opinion of Dr. Walter

Ramsahoye, who testified that it was impossible for Ali to commit the act, since he is impotent. This statement was the essence of Ali’s defence, one which he claimed was ignored by the prosecution and the Magistrate. But Magistrate Moore in response, noted that police witness, Inspector Hatty David, testified that Dr. Ramsahoye’s opinion was formed from information provided by Ali, and was not one which came as result of doctors treating and attending to a medical condition, which Ali reportedly suffered, over a period of time. Continued on page 36

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Steven Ramphal declared National Chutney Monarch 2019

Chutney Monarch 2019, Steven Ramphal

The finals of the National Chutney Monarch competitions, brought life and excitement back to the township of Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast, last Sunday. Artistes from across Guyana converged at the Anna Regina Centre ground and furiously battled in song for the Chutney Monarch title; and of course the grand Cash Prize of One Million Dollars and two tickets to any Caribbean Flight Destination. As the night aged a true mark of cohesion was reflected, as hundreds from all background gathered in support of their contesting artiste. The competition

was very tight as the nine artists battled against last year ’s chutney monarch, Chaitsingh Mohanlal a/k Bunty Singh. Steven Ramphal, was declared the Chutney Monarch for 2019. Ramphal hails from Enmore, East Coast Demerara. Last year’s chutney Monarch, Chaitsingh Mohanlal a/k Bunty Singh, secured the second prize with his song ‘Pholourie,’ which earned him 244 points. ‘Bunty Singh’ who hails all the way from the West Bank of Berbice took home $600,000. The Third prize of $400,000 was awarded to Pooran Seeraj. Seeraj who left

the West Coast of Berbice to participate in the competition, managed to score 232 points with his song ‘GT Ladki.’ The Fourth and final Prize went to an artist all the way from Mon Repos, Arjit Singh. Singh secured 228 points with his song ‘Ring on the Luknee,’ and won $200,000. As the competition concluded the show was not finished. The crowd was well entertained by Trinidadian artist Adesh Samaroo, who added the foreign spice and sauce to the entertainment segment. The crowd was also entertained by the local Guyanese Shakti Strings band.

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As ‘Bonus’ goes on trial for murder on Montrose granny…

Woman testifies to finding elderly mom in pool of blood The trial of Colin Allen, who is accused of the August 1, 2015 murder of 77-year-old Danrasie Ganesh, commenced yesterday before Justice Navindra Singh, before whom an emotional Basmattie Ganesh testified to finding her mother lying motionless in a pool of blood in the kitchen of her Lot 121 Montrose, East Coast Demerara home. Allen, also known as ‘Colis Williams’ and ‘Bonus’, has pleaded not guilty to the indictment which alleged that on August 1, 2015 in the county of Demerara, he murdered Ganesh, also known as, ‘Carmen’. The murder accused is being represented by Attorney-at-Law Rachael Bakker, while the case for the State is being presented by Prosecutors Tuanna Harding, Abigail Gibbs and Teriq

Mohamed. Following the empanelling of a 12-member mixed jury, Prosecutor Gibbs gave opening remarks during which she told the court that Ganesh lived alone at Montrose, East Coast Demerara. On the day in question she was visited by an unwanted guest, Allen, who was unknown to her, the prosecutor said. According to the prosecutor, Allen entered the woman’s house as though he knew her, and murdered her. Basmattie was the second of 12 witnesses called by the State. The woman told the court that she lived a few streets away from her mother at Lot 188 Montrose, East Coast Demerara. The witness said that her mother lived alone and that she was taking care of the property for some neighbours

MURDER ACCUSED: MURDERED: Danrasie Colin Allen called ‘Bonus’ ‘Carmen’ Ganesh who had migrated from Guyana. Further in her testimony, the daughter said that she last saw her mother alive was on July 31, 2015. On that day, she said, she gave her channa to eat. She added that some time

during the morning of August 1, 2015, she passed her mother’s house to go to the market and observed the kitchen window, which would normally be opened, locked. She said that she made nothing of the observation

and went looking for her mother at the market, which she frequents. She did not find her. Basmattie said that she later received a call from one of her mother’s neighbours who asked of her to check on her mother since she was not seen cleaning the yard which is something she would normally do. The woman told the court that she rushed over to her mother’s house where she saw a wrong key stuck in the padlock to the front gate. As a result, she said that her brother and nephew jumped over the gate to her mother’s yard from where they entered the house through a side door that was left opened. At this stage, Basmattie became emotional and starting sobbing. She recalled how she found her mother lying motionless in a pool of

blood inside the kitchen with a wound to her head. The police were summoned, she added. Once there, she stated that police ranks inquired of her if her mother was having problems with anyone and she replied in the affirmative. According to the witness, her mother had been involved in a land issue with some neighbours, but that matter was settled a long time ago by the courts. Further, she added that police ranks also inquired of her if the property had camera and she told them “yes.” After which ranks went to the upper flat of the building where they reviewed CCTV footage from which she saw the “bandit’s foot” She said she cried after seeing this and immediately ran downstairs. Rex Mangru, an engineer, and neighbour of Danrasie, (Continued on page 37)

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Wednesday February 20, 2019

Santa Rosa Village Council to seek legal action against two newspapers The Village council of Santa Rosa is seeking legal advice against two newspapers for a news article which the council dismissed as being false, inaccurate and being published with defamatory intentions. The Village council of Santa Rosa Village which is responsible for the Village commonly known as Moruca, dismissed an article which was published by one of the newspapers on February 17 under the headline “Santa Rosa residents called for removal of Toshao” . The council said that the article was aimed at ruining the reputation of Santa Rosa Village Council which is the council body of the largest Amerindian Village in Guyana. “The Toshao doesn’t make any decision as alleged by one newspaper. Major decisions are however made by all 22 councilors with each councilor representing a community of Santa Rosa Village. “Controversial decisions are however made by voting in council meetings. The Toshoa makes administrative decisions but none of these decisions are made concerning land, or controversial decision pertaining to village issue. The residents of Santa Rosa never called for the removal of the Toshoa but it was rather a family.” The Santa Rosa Village council said that “the reports made against the Toshoa, portrayed the council body

as being a rubberstamp and questions their integrity.” A picketing exercise took placed on February 15, last, in front of the village office located at Kumaka, because of a family from Kamwatta , a community of Santa Rosa Village, was displeased with a decision made by the council body concerning a land dispute. The family members wanted the Toshoa, Wanita Phillips, to declare a land document invalid and null. That document was signed by another Toshoa, John Atkinson, back in 1998. The village council refused to set a precedent that would have opened up a gateway that could have challenge thousands of residents’ land allocation document. The council body, by a majority vote, refused to declare the legal document invalid. The village council also made it known that the only way council would have had the power to declare a legal document null and void would have been if the land was abandoned or the person with legal claims renounces the land. But this was not the case. (Meishac Atkinson)

A mini health check is the first step to donating blood

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Region 4 security contract attracts billion dollar bids Local democratic organs for region four are procuring security service totaling over a billion dollars. Notable projects included two Primary schools in region 7. Regional Democratic Council Region 4 Provision of Security Services

Ministry of Education Supply and Delivery of Furniture Lot 1

Ministry of Public Security Construction of Officer’s Residence, Leonora - Guyana Fire Service

Ministry of Public Infrastructure Consultancy Services for the Optimization of the Canawaima Ferry Service Inc.

Consultancy Services for Conducting a Feasibility Study and Preparing Detailed Designs for the Construction of a New Stelling at Parika

Ministry of Communities Capacity Building for Local Government Reform Project

Ministry of Public Security Consultancy to Design and Support the Implementation of an Inmates’ Rehabilitation and Reintegration Model for the Guyana Prison Service

Ministry of Public Telecommunications - NDMA Supply and Delivery of Computer Hardware & Equipment

Design and Supervision Services for the Re-Construction of Ruimveldt Police Station

Ministry of Legal Affairs

Guyana Elections Commission Provision of Security Services 2019

Regional Democratic Council Region 7 Construction of Primary School at Kato, Upper Mazaruni, Cuyuni Mazaruni Region

Ministry of Public Infrastructure - HECI Supply of Line Hardware Materials for Hinterland Projects >>>>> Continued on page 39 <<<<<

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Under-pressure Rusal meets with Labour Dept. but remains defiant - workers block Kwakwani road

Protesting workers yesterday in Region 10. BCGI’s senior representative, Vladimir Permyakov Bauxite workers of the Russian-owned Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BCGI) yesterday blocked the main road linking Kwakwani, Berbice River, and Linden, even as a key meeting between management and

labour officials did little to change the situation. In Region 10, workers used logs and tyres to block the Kwakwani road which leads to the riverfront area at the Berbice River. The workers are

continuing, also, to stay in the housing area of Mapletown but are warned not to venture to the mine site area at Kurubuka. They were ordered to leave over the weekend with the company instructing its

Drinking buddies in love affair now charged with murder Khemraj Persaud and Heeman Gocool were charged and remanded to prison after being arraigned before a city magistrate for allegedly murdering their drinking buddy, Rohan Persaud, a handyman who was killed during a fight over a woman. The men, who appeared before Senior Magistrate Faith McGusty in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, were not required to plead to the indictable charge after it was read out to them. It was alleged that on February 13, 2019 at Samatta Point Grove, East Bank Demerara, they murdered Rohan Persaud. Police prosecutor Dominic Bess told the court that investigations are still ongoing and as a result he asked for a period of three weeks to report on the matter. Magistrate McGusty then remanded the men to prison and instructed that they return to court on March 12, 2019. According to reports, Persaud also known as ‘Ravi’ and ‘Khanhai,’53, of Samatta Point, East Bank Demerara, confronted the two accused who are said to be his friends after learning that a woman they drank with was also having sexual relationships with them. As a result of the confrontation, the men reportedly got into a fight. Police believe that Persaud was slain between 1:00hr and 6:30hrs on February 13, 2019 at Back Street, Grove, East Bank

Remanded Heeman Gocool

Remanded Khemraj Persaud Demerara. The body was found bearing a stab wound to the lower abdomen. Neighbours of Back Street, Grove Housing

Scheme, said that Persaud was seen around 18:00 hrs on February 12, 2019 drinking with two men at a nearby culvert.

kitchen to stop cooking. Yesterday, BCGI’s senior representative, Vladimir Permyakov, was blunt. The workers had had their chance to stop striking and return to work. Their future is not now assured as the company could give no commitments that the termination letters will be withdrawn from those 60 workers- one worker has returned to work, he said. Chief Labour Officer, Charles Ogle, was tight-lipped on any progress but said he has met with the union and now with management. There will be another meeting soon with the two. As of now, as far as the company is concerned, the workers remain fired. BCGI, a subsidiary of Russian aluminium giant, Rusal, has hired former Chief Labour Officer, Mohamed Akeel, to advise them. The company believes that it has done no wrong in sacking the workers who took strike actions. Yesterday, Minister with responsibility for Labour, Keith Scott, was not part of the meeting that involved Permyakov, Personnel Manager, Mikhail Krupnenin, and Akeel. Meeting with them was Chief Labour Officer Charles Ogle. At the end of the meeting at the Brickdam office of the Department of Labour, Permyakov noted that the Rusal operations in Region Ten demands huge investment, technical engineering skills, know-how and skilled employees. He said that the company is “unhappy” with the refusal of 60 workers to go to work, to perform their duties and abide by their own contractual obligations. “I am not happy today at all…not happy since last Friday morning after this big group of workers refuse to go to work. My colleagues met with this group of workers and sincerely expressed their

wish for workers to go back to work. We are not happy and I feel sorry.” The official said that workers were given the opportunity to resume their work Friday…now it is Tuesday- the fifth day without work. “We had very open and frank interaction with Ministry of Social Protection. I hope we shall find a solution…that we shall find a compromise…” Permyakov said that workers breached their contracts by being absent from work. “Do you believe that our professional managers would terminate somebody without consulting contracts, rules and company limitations? I don’t think so.” Asked about the possibilities of rehiring those sacked workers, he could not say. “It depends on some compromising decision. I want to be honest not to promise any golden rivers. I am very sorry that the situation happened and nobody from the group said guys lets go back to work and meet the managers and explain our concerns or demands.” According to the spokesman, strike is the worst form… It’s conflict. “…If one shift is not complete…if one group is absent the entire process becomes dangerous. It’s a matter of occupational safety if team of crusher or in the mines is not complete…60 people… it’s a breach of the technological chain.” Permyakov insisted that the one percent pay increase is a normal indexing that workers would have been seeing for a number of years now…It is tied to the inflation. For Rusal, everything depends on its production costs. He pointed to the cost of getting to the bauxite in Region Ten, with the material deep in the earth. “To excavate one million tonnes

of bauxite, our team has to move out four million tonnes of overburden. We are spending lots of diesel but in Guyana we have worked for 14 years. All our workers have decent social package. They’re not paid in such grey and black manner. “Our company is financially audited every year. We are not profitable but we are able to maintain 500 contractors every year…plus 00 contractors in the outlying areas.” Permyakov pointed out also that the company is providing four meals daily, and even subsidizing lights and cooking gas. With regards to the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union, the company yesterday said that it does not recognize the union as the process used to choose them was flawed. Meanwhile, Rusal, in a separate statement, said that the workers had not given any strike notice. No conciliation procedure had been followed or proposed, he Russians said. “As a result BCGI’s operations have been seriously threatened.” At the moment, Rusal said, BCGI has suspended the mining department operations with the mining vehicles and equipment transferred to the storage and put under security. “Other departments of BCGI are operating in a regular mode. However, BCGI will be forced to consider shutting down operations should the situation persist. Moreover, BCGI’s management will take appropriate disciplinary measures, in compliance with local laws, against the workers absent from workplace with no legal reason.” Separately, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), was highly critical of the decision by Rusal to fire the 61. “They, (Continued on page 33)

Wednesday February 20, 2019

From prison officer to fraudster now rape accused An ex-prison officer who was sentenced in 2017 for fraud, returned to court yesterday after he was accused of raping a 14-yearold girl. Edward Dowridge, 32, appeared before Senior Magistrate Faith McGusty in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court where the rape charge was read to him. It was alleged that Dowridge, between December 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018, engaged in sexual activity with a child under the age of 16. The accused who is currently a bus driver was not required to plead to the criminal offence. Senior Magistrate Faith McGusty granted bail to the defendant in the sum of $250,000. The matter stood adjourned until March 12, 2019 when Dowridge is expected to make his next court appearance. In 2017 Dowridge appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, and pleaded guilty to defrauding Yogetta Dookie of $157,000. It was alleged that the accused on August 22, 2017 at Main Street, Georgetown, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of $157,000 by falsely pretending that he was authorized by Guyana Power

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UNICEF donates rape kits to help tackle sexual crimes

Ex-convict Edward Dowridge and Light (GPL) to conduct duties. The facts of that charge presented by Police Prosecutor Richard Harris stated that the accused went to the victim’s home posing as a member of GPL, showing the victim a fake badge with his name and photograph. The court heard that Dowridge then told Dookie that he was at her home to remove some wires from her property because she owed GPL a large sum of money. He then told the woman that she could gave him a ‘small piece’ and he would settle the matter. Dookie then gave him $30,000 and he left his contact number with her.

The prosecutor added that on August 22, 2017 the woman and a relative met with Dowridge and reportedly gave him $157,000. He then made good his escape. Moreover, the matter was subsequently reported to the Brickdam Police Station and Dowridge was arrested and charged for the offence. Before he was sentenced Dowridge stated that, “For God’s sake, I would like to go at the bank right now and draw the money and give her. My mother is sick, don’t send me to jail.” Magistrate Daly then sentenced the ex-prison officer to 12 months’ imprisonment for his criminal act.

Crime Chief says no evidence Guyanese man wanted by US -granted bail on arms and ammo charge Crime Chief Lyndon Alves says the Guyana Police Force has received no information to suggest that businessman, Oudit Narain Seenarain, is wanted for any crime in the United States. “He was charged and he is on bail. There is nothing in our system to say that he is wanted,” Alves told Kaieteur News. “Certainly the US would have made a request for him (to be arrested). There is no request.” The US Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives website has listed Seenarain as being wanted for Rape, Failure to appear, and firearms violations. A police official indicated that this information was circulating since around 2007. Seenarine was arrested about a week ago after police allegedly found an illegal firearm and ammunition at his home. He reportedly resides at Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara. He was charged and released on bail for the offence. The US Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives website also stated that Seenaraine was wanted by the Sheriff’s Office in Henry County, Georgia for Strong Arm Rape, Kidnapping and Sodomy. According to a US Department of Justice report, on or about June 2005, Seenarain was

From Left: REO of Region Four, Pauline Lucas, UNICEF‘s Representative of Guyana and Suriname, Sylvie Fouet and RHO Dr Quincy Jones during the handing over ceremony The Regional Executive Officer,(REO) of Region Four, Pauline Lucas, was presented with 300 rape kits to help address crimes of sexual violence, particularly committed against women and children— a group deemed most susceptible to sexual crimes. The donation was made through UNICE. It was presented by UNICEF‘s Representative of Guyana and Suriname, Sylvie Fouet. Lucas and Regional Health Officer, Dr. Quincy Jones, were presen at the organization’s Brickdam Headquarter to collect the contribution. The donation valued at approximately $3M was donated to help address a number of women and children related matters as a result of the Venezuela migrant situation in

Army conducts risky extraction of... (From page 25) School in Guyana. It was disclosed that he fell off a mountain and was killed Monday morning, leaving a wife and two small daughters. “It was late before our missionary plane could get there to pick up the body of Christopher Matthews and fly it to Georgetown. We located Chris's parents and brother on a train between Romania and Turkey and got a chance to talk by WhatsApp with their two grand-

Oudit Narain Seenarain arrested for federal firearms trafficking. Seenarain failed to appear for his court hearing and the Northern District of Georgia Magistrate Judge issued another arrest warrant for him. In a March 2017 interview with Kaieteur News, Seenarain claimed that his name was removed from an INTERPOL list of wanted persons. He alleged that his name was placed on the list after an individual accused him of kidnapping and assaulting another. He stated that the alleged victim was taken into questioning and provided statements.

Region One. During a visit to Region One, earlier this year, it was disclosed that a number of children related issues were of critical importance to both local residents and Venezuelans. As such, REO Lucas along with Dr. Jones made the commitment to lend valuable support to their counterparts in Region One. At the simple handing over ceremony yesterday, UNICEF’s representative, Ms Fouet noted the kits will also be instrumental in helping the police to adequately investigate rape cases. In this regard, Ms Fouet said that UNICEF is by extension lending support to the work of the Sexual Offences Court, which was established in 2017.

children in the jungles. They requested that we pray for Chris to be restored to life if it was God's will and for His honor and glory,” the statement said. “Oh what a day. Were we to lose more workers in one day? But, thank the Lord the pilot was able to get through on the phone. Both he and the policeman were injured but conscious and very grateful to be alive. Landing a plane in the trees at night is the worst possible scenario.” The mission said that this is the second accident it had

in 22 years of flying in Guyana, with nearly 15,000 hours of flight time and no fatalities. Yesterday, the police force said it visited Constable Grimmond at the hospital and commended him for his bravery and heroism after. “The rank who is in high spirits, is currently warded at the St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital suffering from multiple fractures to his face and a lacerations about the body.” (Additional photos and reporting by Guyanese Critic)

Under-pressure Rusal meets with... From page 32 like all workers, are seeking better pay and working conditions especially taking account of the circumstances of life now-a-days. The workers are rightly demanding that their rights to Collective Bargaining be respected and have seen their principled position met with a most distasteful, and arguably illegal, response by the foreign-owned company.” FITUG said that it sees the high-handed approach by the BCGI as grossly disrespectful to workers, the laws, and all Guyanese. Workers took strike actions last week, saying that they are objecting by a unilateral decision by the company

to pay a one percent increase.The workers complained of workers conditions and said that the company is not recognizing its union.They were later told by management to evacuate the mines area. In 2009, BCGI had ended up in the news also with the sacking of 50-plus workers, including supervisors who were striking for better conditions and pay. That matter has never been resolved. There has been the accusation that consecutive governments have steered clear away from taking actions against Rusal, for one reason or the other.

PAGE 34

Wednesday February 20, 2019

Kaieteur News

Duo remanded to prison for attack on Skeldon Chinese national FOR RENT

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Chan Ji Wong, one cell phone. Additionally, it is also alleged that on the said day at Springlands, Corriverton, Adams and December unlawfully and maliciously wounded Jimmy Sung. Both charges were indictable and the duo was not required to plead. They were not represented by an attorney. Prosecutor, Inspector Orin Joseph, asked that bail be denied under the grounds that the victim, Jimmy Sung, had to return to the hospital for medical attention, since it is suspected that he suffered a fractured skull during the assault. He also stated that both December and Adams gave caution statements to the police during the time they were detained and questioned. Inspector Joseph also pointed out that when the men were captured at the roadblock, there was blood on December’s shoe. Adams, in his defense from the prisoner’s dock, shouted, “I gave no confession for stealing anything. I didn’t hold anybody or trouble anybody.” December also shouted, “It was not about stealing anything (cell phone). There was an altercation between us.” Bail was subsequently denied by Magistrate Moore pending a medical update of the wounded victim. The duo is set to return to court on April 8, 2019. On Thursday, last, Adams and December allegedly invaded the business place of Jimmy Sung and attacked him with a hammer. The men after carrying out the attack, escaped in a white Toyota Premio bearing license plate number PSS 8991. The police who acted swiftly based on information they received from eyewitnesses, set up roadblocks throughout Region Six. It was at the Continued on page 35

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 20, 2019

Duo remanded to prison for attack .... Govt. warns of heavy machinery driving on roads From page 34 Number 51 Police Station roadblock that the car was stopped with one of the men driving while the other was seen walking some distance away. They were both immediately apprehended and the car was lodged. Blood stains were found on the shoes of the driver of the white Premio, police had said. The men told police that they were from Lodge, Georgetown and that they

O

n Saturday, February 16, 2019 the Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s National Task Force Commission received a report of a bulldozer traversing the recently rehabilitated West Coast Demerara Highway opposite the Parika Full Gospel Fellowship. According to residents, the driver was asked to refrain from driving on the road with the bulldozer. The driver noted that the damage was small and he will fix it. “The Ministry of Public Infrastructure wishes to ask all heavy-duty machinery drivers to refrain from driving their bulldozers, rice harvesters and/or tractors directly on the road. This irresponsible behaviour leads to damage of valuable infrastructure and hinders much needed infrastructural development within the community,” the ministry said in a statement. “The Ministry of Public Infrastructure will impede and or prosecute persons found damaging the road. Residents

The damage done on second cross street in Parika, EBE are asked to contact the Ministry’s Public Relations Officer on 227-0799/614-3069

or the nearest Police Station when drivers damage the road.”

Amna calls out PPP for duping Annai ... (From page 26) that she was in receipt of credible information from multiple sources in Annai, that PPP activists in the area told several residents that she would host the meeting at the Annai Benab, at 11:00hrs on Monday. “Residents felt betrayed and duped. Many of them left and returned to their homes without listening to the PPP officials,” the minister said.

She is advising the people of Annai and the wider Rupununi and Guyanese at large, that at no time did she or her staff schedule a meeting in Annai for Monday, February 18, 2019. The Social Protection Minister stated that the meetings she held over the weekend were at Parishara and Hiawa on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Adding that this

weekend’s ministerial trip to the region was indeed historic, and as per schedule, Minister Winston Felix held a meeting in Annai and Minister Ronald Bulkan also visited the area over the weekend. “ I w i s h t o t hank the people of the Rupununi for their overwhelming turnout and look forward to engaging with them again very soon,” noted Minister Ally. (DPI)

borrowed the car from their employer in the city. While in police custody, the duo reportedly confessed to carrying out the attack. However, police sources had told Kaieteur News that the men stated that they were hired by a poultry businessman from Skeldon to “rough up” the Chinese National. They allegedly told police that they were promised a hefty sum to complete the

“job”. Additionally, the businessman had reportedly owed the Chinese a huge sum of cash for some window work that they did for him to install on his newly constructed houses, police said. The businessman was subsequently arrested on Sunday and released on $100,000 station bail on Monday. He denied the allegations made by the men while being questioned in custody.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 20, 2019

Bartica remembers the victims of the massacre

The Township of Bartica on Sunday hosted a Peace Walk around the Township as part of a Memorial Commemorative Programme in observance of the massacre that occurred in Bartica on February 17, 2008. On this date 11 Years ago marauding Gunmen invaded Bartica and killed 12 people, three of whom were police-

men. The Peace Walk commenced around 16:25 hrs. from the Bartica Town Cenotaph Area on First Avenue and Third Street, Bartica. It wended its way around the township towards the Monument of Hope located in the Bartica Park Venue on First Street where a Memorial Rally was then hosted. Most participants in this Peace Walk wore Black Tee Shirts with the words: “More than a Memory, Preserving the Past, Preparing the Future”, written on the front of these Black Tee Shirts and the Names of the 12 slain persons written at the back. The marchers also carried purple balloons in their hands as they wended their way around the Township of Bartica. Master of Ceremony for this Memorial Rally, was Mr. Holbert Knights, Deputy Re-

gional Executive Officer and former Regional Chairman. There were tributes to the relatives of the deceased, Cultural Presentations by pupils of Saint John the Baptist and Saint Anthony Primary Schools, and a presentation by Social Cohesion Officer, Mrs Elizabeth Moonsammy, for the Ministry of Social Cohesion. Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mr Oswald Pitt, Officer in Charge of the Bartica Police Station, also presented tributes on behalf of the Guyana Police Force. Mayor of Bartica Mr Gifford Marshall and Regional Chairman Mr Gordon Bradford presented their tributes in memory of the others killed. Mr Bradford declared during his presentation that “Bartica is up, Bartica has risen and Bartica will Continue to rise”.

Female relative, Guyanese detained at Trini airport for murder of doubles vendor The area where the chopping incident occuured.

Police have detained a close female relative and a Guyanese national in connection with the death of Chaguanas doubles vendor, Dharoop Jagessar. The 21-year-old man and

52-year-old woman were detained at the Piarco International Airport attempting to leave the country early Tuesday morning. The two, who were acting suspiciously, were held for

Muslim scholar on ... From page 12 However, in 2017, the matter was sent back to the Magistrates’ Court based on directive from the DPP. Then, it was reported that the medical reports and birth certificates, of the nine boys involved in the case had allegedly disappeared. In addition to remitting the matter to Magistrate Alex Moore to re-open the paper committals, the DPP also issued a directive to the Guyana Police Force to obtain certified copies of the original documents. Kaieteur News understands that those files have since been reconstructed. The following year, Magistrate Moore, again, committed Ali to stand trial. Ali is out on $1.3M bail pending the hearing and determination of his trial.

questioning by the Airport Authority officers. The Central woman told police that the man had chopped her male relative at his doubles stall near the Chase Village overpass late Monday night. The woman said she was then taken against her will. Airport Authority officers contacted officers attached to the Chaguanas police station who visited the scene and found Jagessar’s body at around 4.27a.m. He was chopped in the head and face. Jagessar, 66, was pronounced dead at the scene by a district medical officer. His female relative and the man were detained in connection with the crime. (Trinidad Express)

Wednesday February 20, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Labourer charged with Local Government Commission remains open attempted murder

T

he Local Govern ment Commission (LGC) will remain open despite reports that the commission lacks resources to fund its operations. Last week, reports emerged that the commission had closed its doors as a result of lack of funding. However in a statement yesterday, the Local Government Commission noted it will continue to serve the needs of the local government organs, public, and other stakeholders. Officials close to the Commission reported that the staff of the Local Government Commission (LGC), and its Commissioners have not been paid their salaries for January. Former Local Government Minister and Commissioner, Norman Whittaker, has issued a statement detailing that the issue is likely to hamper the operations of the duly constituted body. Whittaker accused officials attached to the Ministry of Communities of promoting an insidious parallel administration aimed at interfering with the work of the Commission by way of unauthorized interventions and directives. “As at January 31, 2019, the staff of the Local Govern-

ment Commission, and its Commissioners have not been paid their salaries because the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communities has either unilaterally decided or has been directed not to sign the cheque to facilitate such payment.” According to Whittaker, the issue not only stymies the work of the LGC but also denies the Commission staff the benefits to which they are entitled and which is provided for the Commission. “The Local Government Commission is rooted in the bowels of the Constitution of Guyana (Refer Article 78A of the Constitution); and is specifically provided for under the Local Government Commission Act No.18 of 2013. The LGC commissioner noted, too, that the law provides for the LGC to independently manage its affairs within the ambit of the Constitution and the Local Government Commission Act. “In this regard also, we are aware and do appreciate the requirement of accountability to the National Assembly. Sections 22, 23, 24 of the Local Government Commission Act 2013 allows the Commission to, inter alia, (a) em-

Woman testifies to finding ... From page 17 also testified. The man who told the court he resides at Lot 150 Montrose, East Coast Demerara testified to knowing the deceased for about 20 years. According to him, she was his western neighbour. Mangru told the court that on August 1, 2015 around 06:00hrs, he came out to clean his yard and did not notice Danrasie who would normally be out earlier cleaning her yard also. He said that a few hours elapsed and after not seeing or hearing from her, he phoned her daughter and asked her to check on her mother who was not responding to neighbours who had been calling out for her. According to the witness, the woman’s daughter came

over and the two of them along with other relatives rushed into the house where they found her lying in a pool of blood inside the kitchen. The prosecution is expected to call 12 witnesses. This trial is continuing at the High Court in Georgetown.

ploy necessary staff and to determine their remuneration and “other terms and Conditions of employment (b) determine its “own annual budget” for submission to the Minister of Finance and approval of the National Assembly…” However, according to Whittaker, the Local Government Commission is being treated as a subvention agency and is required, inter alia, to write to the Ministry for releases to meet approved expenditures. “It is our understanding that Constitutional Commissions like the Local Government Commission are required to function within their annual Budget approved in the National Assembly and subject to the same regulations as other Budget Agencies.” The Permanent Secretary’s refusal to sign the cheque to facilitate the payment of staff salaries of the Commission’s staff and its Commissioners for January 2019 must be a faux pas, which we place in the public purview with the expectation that it be corrected by the Minister and his Permanent Secretary,” he added.

A man whom the court heard was on the run for two years after chopping a man to his back, was yesterday charged with attempted murder. The man, John Ray, 29, of 3076 North Ruimveldt, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. The unrepresented man was not required to plead to the indictable charge which alleged that on October 9, 2017 at Honey Camp Backdam in the Mazaruni River, with intent to commit murder, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Devon Sheppard. Facts presented by Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield stated that on the day in question, Ray and Sheppard had a misunderstanding which ended into a scuffle. The court heard later that day, Ray who was armed with a cutlass, met the victim at a bar at Honey Backdam and chopped him to the right side of his head causing him to receive a fracture skull. He then dealt the victim a chop to his back. Sheppard was then rushed

Charged John Ray

to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he was admitted. The Prosecutor told the court immediately after the incident, Ray fled the area and it was only on February 16, 2018, the victim saw him in Georgetown and alerted the police. The Prosecutor opposed to bail being granted to Ray on the grounds of the serious nature of the offence.

The prosecutor added that the actions of the defendant suggest that he will abscond trial. The Magistrate after listening to the Prosecutor facts remanded Ray to prison on the grounds that he is a flight risk. She instructed him to make his next court appearance on February 28 at the Bartica Magistrates’ Courts.

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Kaieteur News

Shuman sues the Guyana Chronicle

GECOM votes to continue business ... (From page 3) registering that the “unilaterally appointed GECOM Chairman, James Patterson” voted with the APNU. Alexander said that the Chairman indeed voted in favour of the motions. However, he was keen to note that the Chairman voted in the “normal course of things.” Alexander said that the Chairman can vote in the normal course of things and is also empowered to cast a deciding vote. “(Yesterday) he did not have to use his deciding vote; he voted in the normal course of things.” WRONG DIRECT ION PPP Commissioner, Sase Gunraj is convinced that GECOM is heading in the wrong direction. He told Kaieteur News that the Commission recorded him as abstaining to vote on the first motion when that was not the case. He said that he voted no. Gunraj also claimed

Wednesday February 20, 2019

that house-to-house registration cannot be imminent. He said that there was no vote on the specific issue. However, as explained by Alexander, while there was no specific vote on house-to-house, it forms part of GECOM programme for 2019.Gunraj disputed this. “It does not have to be house-to-house because that is not the work plan that GECOM presented to us. There was no such vote by the commission that house-to-house must start. “There was supposed to have a continuous registration cycle.”Pointed to the fact that GECOM’s Budget sets aside money for house-to-house registration, Gunraj said, “but at this point there is no decision to start it and it was never GECOM’s intention to start house-to-house at this time.” Gunraj even noted that GECOM is behind where it is supposed to be in its “normal

work programme.” He said that the blame for this reality must be placed solely at the feet of the Chairman. “The Chairman was away from November 19 until January 22, last and as a consequence, no step could have been taken in relation to continuous registration which was planned.”Gunraj maintained that GECOM has a valid list which will expire on April 30. He reminded that that list was used three times in less than five years.

Leader of the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), and former Toshao Lenox Shuman, has brought a lawsuit against the Guyana Chronicle, accusing the State owned newspaper and its Editor –in Chief Nigel Williams, of libel. Shuman is suing the Chronicle for seven separate articles published over a period of 16 days from December 30, 2018 to January 14, 2019. Each of these publications were designed to defame and damage the Presidential Candidate, Mr. Lenox Shuman’s reputation and tarnish his character, the writ contends. In the High Court writs, Shuman is claiming in excess of $1M from the state machinery on the basis that it launched vicious, unfounded attacks on his character. Mr. Shuman had related “It is important that we do not permit the state media to be used in this abusive manner, it is not reflective of the tax payers’ interest. When in opposition, this

Leader of the Liberty & Justice Party (LJP), Lenox Shuman,

administration bitterly disagreed with the manner in which the PPP utilised state media as a propaganda machine. “It is a sad day when desperation and character assassination are used to distract the nation from their lack of vision and leadership. “This kind of blatant disregard for the use of taxpayers’ money and misuse of the treasury is indicative of the abuse of office that drove this nation into turmoil on December 21, 2018. It is our hope that this matter will be dispatched in the timeliest manner. “The Chronicle needs to

understand that they cannot embark on a character assassination campaign and publish incorrect information in an attempt to ruin a person’s reputation without being held to account. It would be in there and the Nation’s interest to update the populace on elections preparations and what is being done to avert the impending Constitutional crisis.”According to the document, at no time to this day has any effort been made to contact Mr. Shuman in relation to any of the seven articles before or after they were published.

Wednesday February 20, 2019

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Kaieteur News

PAHO finds men contract HIV three times faster than women …teenage pregnancy three times higher in Latin America

PAHO Director, Dr. Carissa F. Etienne. Approximately 6,000 women die from pregnancy-related causes each year in the Region, and more than 163,700 infants die. This has been detailed in the ‘2018 Basic Indicators’, a publication recently released by the Pan American Health Organisation [PAHO]. ‘The Americas’ is home to more than one billion p e o p l e . E v e r y y e a r, 1 5 million babies are born, and nearly seven million people die. In fact the document is one that shows that life expectancy is 80.2 years for women and 74.6 for men while more than eight in 10 people live in urban areas. The compendium, produced a n n u a l l y, p r e s e n t s PA H O ’s m o s t recent data from 49 countries and territories on the demographic and socioeconomic situation of the Americas, the population’s health status, risk factors, and coverage of health care services and health systems. “Indicators are an essential element in the production of evidence in health to inform decision m a k i n g , ” s a y s PA H O Director, Dr. Carissa F. Etienne, in the preface to the publication. Such evidence means that “decision-making will be better informed and lead to increased opportunities for more effective interventions that have a greater impact on health outcomes.” The publication also shows that women in the Americas have on average two children, while teenage mothers [ages 15 to 19]

have 48 newborns per 1,000 women, with sub-regional differences ranging from a low of 18 teen births per 1,000 women in North America to 61 per 1,000 in Latin America and the Caribbean. Non-communicable diseases—such as heart d i s e a s e , c a n c e r, a n d stroke—are the main causes of death in the Americas, the document further notes. It continues by pointing out, too, that region-wide, the death rate from non-communicable diseases is 427.6 people per 100,000 population, which is seven times higher than the death rate from communicable [infectious] diseases, at 59.9 people per 100,000 population. Wi t h regards to infectious diseases, in 2017 Latin America and the Caribbean reported approximately 580,000 cases of dengue [44 percent of this total were reported from Brazil], more than 31,000 cases of leprosy [nearly 90 percent from Brazil], and more than 13,800 cholera cases [99 percent from Haiti]. The HIV diagnostic rate was 14.6 people per 100,000 population region wide, and for every new HIV diagnosis among women, there were 3.6 HIV diagnoses among men. Data are also presented on risk factors [variables that increase the chances for ill health] and protective factors [which reduce that risk]. For example, breast milk is a p r o t e c t i v e f a c t o r, a s i t meets all a young child’s nutritional and

immunological needs. In the short term, it reduces the risk of disease and death from diarrhea, respiratory and ear infections, and sudden infant death syndrome. In the long term, it reduces the risk of dental malocclusion, overweight/ o b e s i t y, a n d d i a b e t e s mellitus. In women, it reduces the risk of i n v a s i v e b r e a s t c a n c e r, ovarian c a n c e r, overweight/obesity, and diabetes. Despite ample evidence that breastfeeding benefits children’s health, cognitive development and likely even their long-term economic prospects, the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding at six months varies considerably among countries, ranging from 2.8 percent to 68 percent. Regarding risk factors, about eight percent of newborns in the Region have low birth weight [less than 2,500 grams/5.5 pounds]. Chronic malnutrition affects 10 percent of children under five, and six percent of children in the same age group are overweight [data from 2012]. Rates of overweight and obesity are high among adults in the Americas: in 2016, 64 percent of men and 61 percent of women were overweight or obese. Additionally, 39 percent of adults do not perform enough physical activity. In the Americas, the document states, that it was found that 13 percent of adolescents consume tobacco, a percentage that varies across countries from a low of 3.8 percent in Canada to 25 percent in Chile and Dominica. High blood pressure affects 21 percent of men and 15 percent of women in the Region [latest available data from 2015], while diabetes mellitus affects nine percent of men and eight percent of women. Vaccination coverage in 2017 varies for different vaccines. This has translated to 94 percent of the target population of children in the Americas receiving the tuberculosis [BCG] vaccine; 90 percent receiving the vaccine for the first dose of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR1); 88 percent receiving three doses of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis [DTP3] vaccine; 85 percent receiving three doses of polio vaccine; and 73 percent receiving the last dose of rotavirus

vaccine. According to the ‘2018 Basic Indicators’, in the Americas, there are 18 doctors, 59.7 nurses and 6.7 dentists per 10,000 population. Public expenditure on health as a percentage of gross domestic product [GDP] is five percent on average region-wide [below the six percent recommended by PA H O ’s St r a t e g y f o r

Universal Access to Health and Universal Health Coverage]. The percentage in North America [eight percent] is twice that of Latin America and the Caribbean [four percent]. Out-of-pocket expenditure as a percentage of total health expenditure was 22 percent as of 2015. PA H O ’s s t r a t e g y o n universal health

recommends eventually eliminating out-of-pocket payments a l t o g e t h e r, because they constitute a significant barrier to access health services. Blood donation from voluntary donors, the safest way to collect blood, varied from 100 percent in North America to an average of 40 percent in the rest of the Region [data from 2015].

Region 4 security contract... From page 31 Construction of Timber Bridge at Kaburi 72 miles, Cuyuni Mazaruni Region

Construction of Primary School at Imbaimadai Upper Mazaruni, Cuyuni Mazaruni Region

Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs Supply and Delivery of Five (5) ATVs

Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs Supply and Delivery of Four New 19 Seat Minibuses for Indigenous Communities

Supply and Delivery of Five New Outboard Engines

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Wednesday February 20, 2019

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Hemraj unbeaten half century hands MP/Zeelandia Regal Sports...

Members of the victorious Maria’s Pleasure/Zeelandia team.

Wednesday February 20, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Your intuitive abilities are at an all-time high today, Aries. You should find it easier to tune into others' thoughts and feelings. It might be a good idea to control your reactions to them.

.LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Today you may feel the need to do a lot of work around the house, Libra. Perhaps you expect visitors or you simply want to get the place spruced up for your own enjoyment.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Today a deep concern for others' feelings could have you lending a sympathetic ear to those in need of some understanding.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Some intense, revealing communications with a close friend or lover could reveal wonderful new things about your relationship. Perhaps you have more in common than you thought.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Today you might complete a project that was difficult but important to your career. Acknowledgement of your dedication and hard work could find you more emotionally overwhelmed than makes you comfortable. CANCER(June21–July22) A long-awaited social event, perhaps a wedding or christening, could move you to tears, Cancer. You might feel the need to get away until the urge to cry has passed. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) An intense, emotional dream could move you so powerfully that you wake with the odd sense that the dream was real. Write it down, Leo. Maybe it is. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Emotional talks with your partner could move you to tears. If there have been difficulties in your relationship, you've overcome them and probably reached a new understanding. Any romantic relationship or friendship started or moved forward now shows lasting promise.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Ancient social traditions could be a powerful part of your day, Sagittarius. An emotional event concerning your family wedding, christening, or other milestone - could especially move you. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) You usually place a lot of importance on self-control, Capricorn. Today this will come in handy when you receive some wonderful news that might otherwise move you to tears. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Expect some great news regarding money, possibly involving professional advancement. You may have to control the urge to cry tears of joy, Aquarius. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Happy events involving your mother or another close female relative might have you feeling emotional, Pisces. It could involve a marriage or birth.

The runner up G Square Cavaliers. From page 46 and a similar number of sixes in a top score of 80 before he was caught off Jadookool while Nankoo was removed by Sitaram for 12. Following their separation, G Square Cavaliers lost wickets at regular intervals and were bowled out for 161 in 37.5 overs. Rickey Persaud claimed 3-26, Jadookool 3-27 and Sitaram 2-26. Rickey Persaud and Romesh Persaud added 42 for the opening stand to put their team on course before Rickey Persaud was caught off Marlon Dindyal for 14. Romesh Persaud and Hemraj took advantage of some wayward bowling as they frustrated their opponents with a third wicket partnership of 46. Persaud struck one four and one six before he was run out for 22. Following his departure, Maria’s Pleasure/Zeelandia lost a few quick wickets, however, Hemraj was supported by Sitaram and Ryan Atkinson to see their

team home as they finished on 162-6 in 33.4 overs. Sitaram made 16 while Munesh Ramdeo contributed 12 and Atkinson 10 not out. Hemraj made 56 with six fours and one six as Kumeshwar Persaud took 2-24, while there was one each for Marlon Dindyal, Venesh Narine and Tekeshwar Nankoo. Hemraj was named manof-the-match and also received a bat from the sponsor Regal Sports for being the tournament’s leading run scorer with 179 runs. Rickey Persaud with

nine wickets was the competition leading wicket taker and will receive a pair of bowling booths for his efforts. Secretary of the Wakenaam Cricket Committee, Nazeer Mohamed congratulated the winners and expressed gratitude to the sponsors adding that they are looking forward to their continued support. CEO of Regal Sports Mahendra Hardyal said he is happy to be associated with the game on the island and will continue to support the sport there.

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GBF announces team for... From page 41 GABF Executive is proud to produce its best possible squad, featuring our local and overseas based talent.” Singh added that, “Victory in Colombia will solidify our grip on Caribbean basketball, allow us to focus on the

Americup region which is higher than CBC basketball, as we join teams such as Dominican Republic and Bahamas, who do not play at CBC level.” Guyana’s participation is made possible through the sponsorship and support

received from the Government of Guyana , t h r o u g h t h e National Sports Commission, Minister David Patterson in his personal capacity, John Fernandes Limited, Alex Mendes, and NF Agriculture. The Guyana delegation leaves today for Tunja Colombia.

Wednesday February 20, 2019

Nasir Jamshed set to face bribery trial in December · ESPNcricinfo - Nasir Jamshed, the banned Pakistan batsman, is set to face trial in the UK after being accused of bribing cricketers in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). · Jamshed and two UK nationals, Yousef Anwar and Mohammed Ijaz, were arrested in February 2017 as part of an investigation into alleged spot-fixing by the UK’s National Crime Agency. · Jamshed, Anwar and Ijaz have been charged with conspiring to bribe players in the PSL to underperform. The offences are said to have taken place between November

2016 and February 2017. Anwar and Ijaz have also been charged with conspiring to bribe players in the Bangladesh Premier League, in late 2016. · On Monday, all three defendants entered not guilty pleas at Manchester Crown Court. Their trial is set to take place at the same court, starting December 2. All three were granted unconditional bail and told to attend a pre-trial review hearing on September 6. · In August 2018, Jamshed was given a 10-year ban by the PCB after being found guilty of five charges under its anti-corruption code.

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GBF announces team for Americup Qualifiers The Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) has announced the team selected to compete in Group B of the FIBA AmeriCup 2021 PreQualifiers. Qualified teams in Group B are Colombia (Host), Bolivia, Guyana, and Paraguay. The competition will be played February 22 to 24 in Tunja, Colombia. The top two teams from this group, along with the top two teams among Antigua, Bahamas, Belize, and Cuba, will join Argentina, Brazil,

Canada, Chile, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela and the Virgin Islands for the FIBA AmeriCup 2021 Qualifiers. The Guyana team includes both locally and overseas based players. 1. Adams, Harold 2. Belgrave, Travis 3. Burnett, Travis 4. Glasgow, Orlon 5. James, Delroy 6. James, Gordon 7. Moe, Anthony 8. Rose, Stanton

9. Tappin, Yonnick 10. Thompson, Timothy 11. Webster, Shaine 12. Wiggins, Kevon (Surnames listed first) Coach – Andrew Hercules Assistant Coach – Dennis Clarke Manager – Alex Graham After announcing the selected players, Head Coach Andrew Hercules said that, “The only thing that stands between this Guyana Basketball team and our dream is the will to try and the belief that it is actually

possible. If we do that, we will be victorious.” And in an invited

comment, recently elected GBF President Michael Singh said, “With a short time

allocated for us for funding and team preparation, the (Continued on page 40)

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Kares Engineering Fitness Challenge to unfold on March 31st, next - Registration closes on March 8

Part of the Male Competition at the Guyana Fitness Games 2018. Dubbed, ‘The Challenge’, the 2019 edition of the Guyana Fitness Games organized Kares Engineering Fitness challenge will be contested at the National Park Tarmac on Sunday March 31st, next from 13:00hrs. The best male and female athletes will be on show including the reigning and three-time Fittest Male athlete Dilion Mahadeo and 2018 Female winner, Delice Adonis. The event is set to create

a first in Guyana as all the competitors will be receiving a cash prize while there will be a Teen Challenge, featuring fit youths between the ages of 13-18. Interested athletes can call 227-6721 or 225-8044 for more information. Registration fee is $2500 with the deadline being March 8th. The Organisers (Guyana Fitness Games) have disclosed a few of the events that will test the athletes to the hilt. Event 2 – Double Trouble X3 (time cap 12 minutes); 3 rounds for time –

25 Double unders, 25 Single Arm KB Ground to Overhead 35/55, 25 Double Unders, 25m Sled Push. Event 3 – Weightlifting spring (time cap 5 minutes); in 3 minutes (9 snatches 65/9, 6 snatches 85/135, 3 snatches 105/155. *If reps completed before 3 minutes, the athlete must rest and await the 3 minute mark in order to the squat cleans. Then in 2 minutes, Max reps Squat Cleans 125lbs/ 175lbs.

Nelson’s Column takes centre stage... From page 47 matches), Headingley in Leeds (four matches), Lord’s in London (five matches, including the final), Old Trafford in Manchester (six matches, including the first semi-final), The Oval in London (five matches, inc l u d i n g t h e t o u r n a ment opener), The Riverside Durham in Chester-le-Street

(three matches) and Trent Bridge in Nottingham (five matches). The 10 teams in the tournament will play against each other in a single-league format, with the top four sides after 45 matches to qualify for the two semi-finals. England and Wales have previously staged ICC Cricket World Cups in 1975, 1979,

1983 and 1999. Australia is the most successful team in the history of the World Cup, having won events in 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2015. The West Indies won the first two editions in 1975 and 1979, while India won in 1983 and 2011. Other winners are Pakistan in 1992 and Sri Lanka in 1996.

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Hanoman cops Valentine’s Golf tourney overall title; Dr. Deo, Persaud triumph Respective prize winners following the tournament.

Robert Hanoman emerged as the overall winner of the Valentine Golf tournament which was contested on Saturday last at the Lusignan Golf Club, East Coast Demerara. Dr. Joaan Deo and Ravi Persaud also turned in outstanding performances to win their respective flights. Hanoman also won the 2228 flight with a score of 91 gross and 63 net ahead of Danny Mangra with 98/70 and Videsh Persaud 104/76 in that order.

Dr. Joaan Deo shot 85 gross and 70 net to win the 0-15 flight, while Patrick Prashad placed second with 80/71 and Richard Hanif third on 82/72. The 16-21 flight was taken by Ravi Persaud who had a gross score of 87 and a net of 70; Hilbert Shields took the runner up spot with 86/70 and Mahesh Shivraj was third on 88/71. Richard Hanif won the nearest to the pin and long drive titles, while Prashad took the best gross prize.

Wilbert Benjamin and FACC teams up for club’s first major cycling event of the year - Benjamin father’s 85 Birth anniversary event set for Saturday Former national cycling champion overseas based Wilbert Benjamin and the Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC) will be staging a major cycling event in observance of Benjamin’s father Sanko Benjamin, 85th birth anniversary. The event is set for Saturday February 23rd. It is not the first time that Benjamin will be staging a cycling event in observation of his father birth anniversary. Benjamin was a former nation junior and senior champion who represented Guyana at both levels and now resides in Canada and is expected home shortly to finalise arrangements for the event. Benjamin who still rides in his adopted home country has since opened a Cycle shop, sports store, fitness gym and car wash in his home village of Fyrish Corentyne, Berbice. He returns home on a regular basis to sponsor races and do other charity activities. The event is a 50-mile affair and is expected to pedal

Wilbert Benjamin off from in front of the Benjamin Sports Store at Fyrish, proceed to No 51 Police Station and back to the starting point. It is open to cyclists throughout Guyana and all the top riders have indicated that they will be in attendance. The elder Benjamin is expected to be on hand to send the riders on their way and help with the presentation of prizes. The race will be coordinated by Coach Randolph Roberts.

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Clinical execution crucial for Windies against dangerous England BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Captain Jason Holder has stressed the “clinical” execution of bowling plans as his inspired West Indies seek to build on their stunning Test series win with further success, when they face world number one England in the opening OneDay International of the fivematch series here today. The hosts find themselves up against a powerful England side unbeaten in their last nine

series and with 22 wins in their last 29 ODIs, and rightfully already installed as favourites to win the ICC World Cup at home later this year. And with a batting lineup which boasts the likes of captain Eoin Morgan, Jos Buttler, Alex Hales, Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy, Holder warned the Windies bowling group needed to be on their toes in the series. “I think we’ve got to be very, very clinical in terms of our bowling,” Holder told

reporters here ahead of the contest at Kensington Oval. “England pack a heavy punch in terms of their batting order. They bat very, very deep and they’re the topranked side for a reason, so we’ve got to be really precise with our bowling plans and make sure that we execute our plans and restrict them to as little as possible.” He continued: “I think the way one-cricket has gone in the last couple of years, 300, 320 is almost a par score so

we’ve got to be very, very strict with our plans and make sure we restrict England.” West Indies will boast a relatively inexperienced attack which feature the likes of quicks Oshane Thomas and Sheldon Cottrell, along with left-arm spinner Fabian Allen, who among t h e m h a v e played only 14 ODIs. It leaves Holder and fellow seamers Kemar Roach and Carlos Brathwaite to provide the bulk of the experience, with leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo the main spin option. Holder also pointed specifically to the Windies death bowling as an area which needed improvement in the coming matches. “It’s obviously been an area we’ve had some trouble with in the past and we’ve had long discussions about what we want to do in terms of our plans,” he explained. “And it’s very, very simple: keeping a very clear mind at the top of your mark and not being doubleminded. I think that’s one of the things that have probably hampered us in the past – just having a clear mind at the top of our mark – and executing and committing to our plans.” Written off before a ball

was bowled in the threeTest series, the Holder-led unit went on to crush England in the opening two Te s t s , t o r e c a p t u r e t h e coveted Wisden Trophy for the first time in a decade. A similar challenge now lies before the hosts in the shorter format. They have not beaten England in an ODI series in 12 years and their last victory over their opponents on Caribbean soil came 21 years ago. Further, the Windies are without an ODI series win in five years, their last success coming in against once lowly Bangladesh in the Caribbean. They are also currently ranked ninth in the world only above lightweights Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Ireland. But Holder said the Test series triumph had provided important momentum, and the return of veteran opener Chris Gayle had also strengthened the squad. “We’re pretty confident coming into the game. We’ve obviously had some momentum in this series from obviously winning the Test series, and we’ve got some experience within the dressing room,” the all-rounder pointed out.

“We pack a pretty heavy punch with how [our teams stacks up]. A guy like Chris is coming back into the team and we’ve got Carlos (Brathwaite) at the back end and we all know what these guys can produce. I’m really excited by the challenge.” Not for the first time, the Windies are being viewed as underdogs but it is a label Holder says they did not mind. “[Underdogs] is not a bad tag to have – obviously less pressure on us and more pressure on them,” he noted. “We’ve just got to go out there and play the cricket we want to play and execute whatever plans we come up with within the dressing room.” SQUADS: WEST INDIES – Jason Holder (captain), Fabian Allen, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, John Campbell, Ashley Nurse, Carlos Brathwaite, Nicholas Pooran, Sheldon Cottrell, Kemar Roach, Oshane Thomas. ENGLAND – Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

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Debutant Vreed en Hoop Secondary off to winning start in Forbes Burnham Windball tourney Action in the Forbes Burnham Foundation (FBF) - NSC, AL Sport & Tour Promotions 28th Annual E a s t e r Te r m S c h o o l s Windball Cricket Champions Trophy Region #3 Zone continued with play at the National Gymnasium. In the Females action debutant Vreed en Hoop Secondary got off to a winning start as they d e f e a t e d L’ Av e n t u r e Secondary. L’Aventure after been invited to bat made 711, with Nicklet Innis 31, Georgina Buttlers 28. Vreed en Hoop replied with 74-0, Footimah Wilson made 34. Goed Fortuin 77-1, Ashley Yard 39, Celine

Liverpool 28. La Grange reply with 20-1. Zeeburg Secondary sent in to bat scored a the highest opening partnership so far in this year tournament 142, Varuni Pitamber 79 (10x6s). Leonora Secondary 840, Hannah Edwards 32, Devi Persaud 32. La Grange beat Patentia Secondary. Patentia batted first and scored 35. La Grange 36. In the Male - Goed Fortuin 104 -1 Satesh Persaud 58, Kenaz Stephens 25. Vreed - en - Hoop replied with 55-4, Rashleigh John 25. La Grange 35-2. L’Aventure 41-0, Vishal

The teams assemble before the start of the action. John 26. Zeeburg Secondary 1013, Wazim Khadir 25 Andre Seepersaud 25. Leonora 972, Mark Mohabir 44, thodius Lovell 37. Patentia 60. La Grange 54.

Football being used as the vehicle to promote education - Pele Alumni

Patrick ‘Labba’ Barton Pele FC Alumini Director Two of the Pele Alumni Directors, Patrick ‘Labba’ Barton and Denis Carrington, both former Pele players who benefitted from scholarships to the USA has informed that the organisation is a proud partner and sponsor of the just concluded GFF/Pele Alumni/Frank Watson Memorial Under-15 championships. The duo stated that the entity is also happy that their joint venture with the GFF is using football as the vehicle to promote education which is vital for the rounded development of youths across the nation. Revealing that the vision of the Pele Alumni is clear when it comes to ensuring youths achieve their goals through Academics and Sports Development, Barton and Carrington noted that the tournament, which saw teams from nine (9) of the GFF Regional Members Associations competing as well as Atkinson Brothers of Moruca, is being used to pay homage to Frank Watson, the first President of Pele Football Club, “for his leadership to us as youths in the 1970’s.” “We are happy to contribute to shaping the lives of the youths in a positive way through this partnership with the GFF for the Intra Association national tournament.

Denis Ivor Carrington Pele FC Alumini Director It also shows respect for hundreds of Pele youth players from the 1970’s and onwards, many of whom have come through and are leaders in their own rights, today.” The duo believes that many of the players who have participated in the tournament will one day reflect on the opportunities afforded them through their exposure in the tournament which will no doubt lay a strong foundation towards their success. “Its’ more or less teaching of the right skills to the youths with a view of assisting them to develop the ability to inculcate the right attitude towards securing a good education and being responsible way beyond their high school years. We would like to express gratitude for the labour of GFF President Mr. Wayne Forde, the Rev. Ian Alves and their support staff in birthing our Alumni’s Sports Section Vision.” The Pele Alumni through the Academic Section has been investing in development of youths here over the years especially during the Easter season and that initiative will continues this year when over 90 youths would benefit from another Youth Development Programme. (Franklin Wilson)

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Wednesday February 20, 2019

Hamilton Green 9-a-side Inter Ward Cup set for March 31 start

T

Hamilton Green

Lennox Arthur

he Hamilton Green Cup Inter Ward/Village 9-aside Knockout football tournament will commence on March 31 and is set to conclude on April 14 with the final at the Den Amstel ground, venue for all the matches. Coordinator Lennox Arthur, the former National Football player and Coach, informed on the staging of the event, stating that teams will come from Georgetown,

East Coast, East Bank and Berbice and will collide over four playing days for a chance to claim the $200,000 first prize and trophy. The second placed team will take away $100,000, third $60,000 and fourth $40,000 along with the respective trophies. Arthur, who has been staging tournaments in recognition of former Mayor of Georgetown and Prime Minister of Guyana, Hamilton Green, indicated that several sponsors have already committed to the success of the event, but more assistance is needed. To date Techno mills, Ready mix, Sataur Gafoor, E C Ve i r a a n d B E V Enterprises are on board. He expressed gratitude to these businesses and also thanked those who have promised and are expected to come

forward officially shortly. The defending champion of this tournament is Charlestown who beat Uitvlugt to claim the $400,000 prize and Ministry of Citizenship Trophy. Uitvlugt took the John Fernandes Trophy and $200,000 for their efforts. With the involvement of the lead players emerging from the various areas and villages/wards, the event is playing its part in aiding Social Cohesion among the citizenry. The Opening salvo of matches on Sunday March 31 will see Vergenoegen vs Lilliendaal from 4:00pm, followed by Timehri vs De Kinderen, Bagotville vs Sophia, Zeelugt vs Charlestown, Den Amstel (Back Street) vs Soesdyke, Wales vs Kuru Kururu, Crane vs Plaisance, Sara

Lodge vs Sparta Family, Goed Fortuin vs West Side Masters, Pouderoyen vs Stewartville, Uitvlugt vs Jetty and Den Amstel vs West Ruimveldt. Other playing dates are April 7 and 14. Teams are asked to be at the venue one hour prior to the start of games. Four substitutions are permitted in this format which will see the games being run for 30 minutes broken into two halves of 15 minutes. The tournament will be played in the knockout format, winners advancing to the next round. Sudden death penalties will be used to separate the sides in the event of a draw at the end of full time. The no offside rule is also in effect. All other rules will come under the dictates of FIFA.

Hemraj unbeaten half century hands MP/Zeelandia Regal Sports U-19 title - Wakenaam By Zaheer Mohamed A courageous unbeaten half century from Kevin Hemraj guided Maria’s Pleasure/Zeelandia to a fourwicket victory over G Square Cavaliers when the final of the Wakenaam Cricket Committee/Regal Sports U19 40-over tournament was contested on Saturday last. Hemraj capitalised on the decent start by Rickey Persaud and Romesh Persaud to anchor the chase and shared in useful partnerships with Ryan Atkinson and Direndra Sitaram on their way to lifting the title at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground. G Square Cavaliers

Maria’s Pleasure/Zeelandia skipper Ryan Atkinson accepts the winning trophy from WCC Chairman Khemraj Surujpaul. opted to bat and lost Kumeshwar Persaud who

WCC Treasurer Devon Rambarran presents the bat to Kevin Hemraj (left).

was bowled by Mohendra Jadookool without scoring while skipper Romario Stephen was removed by Rickey Persaud for 11 who also sent back Anesh Persaud for one as they were reduced to 30-3. Marlon Dindyal and Sachin Dindyal added 41 for the fourth wicket before Marlon Dindyal was run out for 13 as Maria’s Pleasure/Zeelandia continued to maintain the pressure on their opponents. However, Sachin Dindyal played with maturity and added a further 51 with Tekeshwar Nankoo who played the supporting role well in the union. Dindyal timed the ball well and hammered four fours (Continued on page 41)

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Nelson’s Column takes centre stage in 100 days-to-go World Cup celebrations N e l s o n ’s C o l u m n transformed into a giant set of wickets as cricket takes over Trafalgar Square to mark 100 days until the start of the tournament. ICC Cricket World Cup Trophy Tour, driven by Nissan, commences 100-day tour of England and Wales and will be at over 100 locations and events before arriving back in London ready for the opening match on May 30. Managing Director, Steve Elworthy: “The tournament is within touching distance now and it’s amazing to see the takeover of the iconic London location of Trafalgar Square to mark 100 days to go! This really puts the tournament at the front of mind for the fans both here and around the world.” L o n d o n ’s i c o n i c Nelson’s Column played a central role in marking 100 days to go to the greatest ever ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. The famous monument in London’s Trafalgar Square became part of a set of giant wickets, as the countdown until the ‘world’s greatest cricket celebration’ officially began. An array of high-profile figures from the world of sport, governance, culture and entertainment – including Minister for Sport Mims Davies, Sir Alastair Cook, James Anderson OBE, Graeme Swann, Nasser Hussain OBE, Isa Guha, Rebecca Adlington OBE and two-time ICC Cricket World Cup winner Clive Lloyd CBE – were in attendance with celebrity fans Harry Judd and Chris Hughes as the 100-day Trophy Tour of England and Wales got underway. The unique celebration of cricket’s fifty over World Cup highlighted the once-ina-generation chance for cricket fans in England and Wales to see the world’s greatest players in action on home soil this summer. On July 14 the winning captain will lift the coveted trophy, but first, fans across the country will get the chance to see it first hand as part of the Trophy Tour. The tour began its 100-day journey of the country today transported in the 100% electric Nissan LEAF – Europe’s top-selling electric vehicle (EV)*- making this tour the first ICC Trophy Tour powered by an all-

electric vehicle. The Trophy Tour will comprise of over 100 events across 115 locations to ensure all fans get the opportunity to ‘get up close and personal’ with the trophy. In addition, the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup will make three extra special stops, as members of the public are given the chance to nominate deserving friends and family to receive a personal visit from the trophy. More information on how to get involved can be found here. ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 Managing Director, Steve Elworthy, said: “This ambitious launch demonstrates the lengths we will go to in making this tournament the most memorable ever – one that will inspire excitement among players and spectators alike around the world.” “To launch the domestic leg of our Trophy Tour in such a landmark location is fantastic, and we’ll visit many more memorable places as we engage with millions of people across England and Wales in the next 100 days.” ICC Chief Executive David Richardson added: “Years of planning goes into the delivery of an ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, but the excitement becomes real with 100 days to go and the arrival of the trophy on the shores of England and Wales. “Transforming one of London’s most famous landmarks into giant wickets is a wonderful way to kick start the celebrations for what I know will be the greatest ever celebration of cricket for hundreds of millions of fans around the world.” The Trophy Tour will be visiting every CWC19 Host City, including free to attend ‘Super Saturday’ events in Manchester (23 March), Birmingham (20 April) and Bristol (4 May), which will combine music, celebrity special guests, entertainment and a street cricket tournament involving local businesses, fan groups and the public. Former England spinner Graeme Swann was today named as the Official Trophy Tour Ambassador, when talking about the 100day tour Swann said: “I am proud to be part of a Trophy Tour that promises to deliver a glimpse of cricket’s biggest

prize to fans up and down the country and really build the excitement and expectation for the tournament. “This summer promises to be hugely exciting for cricket here in England and Wales and around the world. The World Cup is at the absolute heart of the action and it all starts now with the Trophy Tour!” The tournament will run from 30 May to 14 July. The semi-finals will be played at Old Trafford in Manchester and Edgbaston in

Birmingham on 9 and 11 July respectively, while Lord’s will host the final on 14 July. 11 venues across England and Wales will be used, namely Cardiff Wales Stadium in Cardiff (four matches), Bristol County Ground in Bristol (three matches), County Ground Taunton in Taunton (three matches), Edgbaston in Birmingham (five matches, including the second semifinal), Hampshire Bowl in Southampton (five (Continued on page 44)

The ICC World Cup Trophy

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Clinical execution crucial for Windies against dangerous England

(From left to right) Carlos Brathwaite, Shimron Hetmyer and Sheldon Cottrell go through their paces in warm-ups ahead of the opening ODI against England. (Photos courtesy CWI Media)

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