Kaieteur News

Guyana’s notoriously poor building codes DEAR EDITOR, In several letters to this newspaper, I indicated that Guyana has poor building codes and virtually no enforcement procedures. The recent fire at Coldingen, at Supra International Furniture manufacturing complex, was indeed sad, but moreso, unprepared for. Gafoor’s Bond at Houston, followed by another fire at Fazia’s Collection building on Avenue of the Republic a year ago is ample testimony of this. It must be remembered that a mere eight months ago, a boarding house near the University of Guyana succumbed to a massive fire. Obviously the authorities are not cognisant of their mediocre standard of housing safety and building codes. Commercial buildings need sprinkler systems: a series of road-side connections for fire hoses which will distribute water inside a building in the event of a fire. Au-

tomated oxygen-retardant systems need to be installed inside, where an increase in temperature (say at 110°F) will trigger off the chemical spray. This (halogen) chemical will suck out the oxygen and the fire will be greatly contained. Smoke alarms are cheap and should be installed along corridors, which are the principal pathways for smoke. The owner, Mr. Keith Moonasar, indicated black smoke. This is indicative of hydrocarbon combustion, almost always, invariably, oil or petroleum products. Bonds need to be sectionalized, much like the compartments in ships such as oil tankers. Concrete separating walls with steel (fireproof) connecting doors must be the code for storage warehouses. This, coupled with periodic safety inspections, must be the way forward. Storage of cooking gas containers must never be inside a closed building. Propane is

highly flammable (after all people cook with it) and the tanks need to be stored outdoors: any leakage/explosion will dissipate harmlessly into the atmosphere. Same for motor oil and similar substances. The parking of forklift trucks after usage can cause fires as the heat from the engine, whether propane or battery-operated, can ignite paper, plastics, debris etc. Loose materials like sawdust, cardboard boxes and the waterproof wrapping plastic must be cleaned and placed in metal containers outside storage facilities. Moreover, many materials cannot be stored together. Cement (an alkaline limestone compound) cannot be in the same place with concrete (acid-based) cleaners. Any combination, say from spillage, (as any chemistry schoolboy knows) produces a massive amount of enthalpy. (Continued ona page 6)

Whither, West Indies cricket? Enough is Enough! DEAR EDITOR, A few years ago, Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Viv Richards, Wes Hall and Andy Roberts, uniting under the umbrella banner of Cricket Legends, met with Grenada premier Keith Mitchell, chairman of the Prime Ministerial Committee on the Governance of West Indies Cricket, which had appointed the CARICOM cricket review panel in the wake of yet another crisis that emerged following the West Indies’ withdrawal from India’s tour in October 2014. “During the last two decades, many different presidents and CEOs have led the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and yet, its performance has declined steadily with each passing year,” the Legends said in a joint media release. “The Board is an oligarchic structure that considers itself answerable to no one but itself. It is one of the few sporting institutions that have remained virtually unchanged in attitude and structure in the last 70 years or

more.”Roger Harper, Charlie Griffith, Deryck Murray, (who was also member of the CARICOM review panel), leg-spinner Dinanath Ramnarine, (previous president of the West Indies Players Association) and opening batsman, Desmond Haynes were only a few former stars who concurred with CARICOM’s recommendation that the WICB become accountable to CARICOM authorities, and that the board should “undergo structural adjustment.” Recently, a Cricket West Indies (CWI) press release confirmed that off-spinner Sunil Narine, batsman Darren Bravo and all-rounders Kieron Powell and Andre Russell, all refused to proudly don their West Indies flannels, preferring to participate in the Pakistan Super league instead of taking part in the ICC World Cup qualifiers in Bangladesh in March. The World Cup is cricket’s biggest stage. Former captains and star batsmen Chris Gayle, Ronnie Sarwan and the iconic Sir Viv

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Kaieteur News

Thursday February 22, 2018

Richards, Darren Sammy, and many other players have condemned similar complaints about the Board’s callous treatment of players in the past. Not only has the WICB/ CWI shown serial disrespect for great players like Sobers, Hall, Kanhai, Gibbs, Lloyd, Chanderpaul and others over the years, but their humiliation has become more pronounced with each succeeding generation of cricketers. Some quarters have complained that “some players have too much egos, and behave like mercenaries.” The grievances on both sides must be heard and addressed. The major complaint is that “the Board has been utilizing the ‘big stick’ approach in dealing with matters, and not having proper communication with all stakeholders, including the players.” Sarwan exposed his fallout with the WICB and Ottis Gibson, saying that Gibson verbally attacked him and dropped him, destroying him mentally. This led to his now (Continued on page 6)

Impose taxes on Exxon for them to renegotiate DEAR EDITOR, Guyana, as the new girl on the oil block, naively negotiated, and ended up with a deal that reveals Exxon as a predatory corporation that is willing to suck dry Guyana’s oil, without reasonable compensation. But that might just be business for the oil companies. Obviously, Exxon has its priorities in order while Guyana’s politicians are still floundering and playing the blame-game. Exxon has shown its cards with its one-sided deal. Instead of screaming and pointing fingers, we need to find legal and alternative ways to get Exxon to justly and eq-

uitably compensate Guyana. This is where we may want to examine our tax laws. Does Guyana have tax laws concerning the extraction and exportation of its oil? If not, it is time Guyana drafts laws that are independent of the “oil contract” to ensure Exxon pays the “fair” value for the oil. Have extraction tax and exportation tax on each barrel of oil. Levy a tax on everything that Exxon imports to Guyana — from the toilet paper to their machinery. There should be disposal taxes for the waste that Exxon produces and the equipment it discards. The tankers that

DEAR EDITOR, And once again the lemmings have hurtled themselves off the cliff. I’m hereby referring to yet another school massacre in the United States. Just like the lemmings, it seems American society is prone to these disasters every so often and quite as often are the manufactured responses of “thoughts and prayers” rolled out by the politicians.The need for change is usually talked about for a few days then it’s back to business in the gun trade. This time, with 17 high schoolers being slaughtered by some discontented nitwit, high school students in Florida are taking to the airwaves and roadways for their plight to be heard. They have drunk from the cup of life and have found a dead roach at the bottom of the cup. Not even a week after this massacre, the Florida state assembly met and refused to even discuss any motion, much less propose any laws to curb the gun violence plaguing the country. Everyone is appalled at this apparent insensitive and indifferent attitude of politicians in Florida. The problem is, no one is addressing the white elephant in the room. It is all

about money. The little white elephant is the NRA (National Rifle Association). This group, powered by gun manufacturers around the country, maintains that it is the constitutional right of each U.S. citizen to own firearms; from a handgun to an anti-aircraft gun. There are gun shows in some states that sell guns like vendors sell mangoes in Stabroek Market. Any nut can purchase a gun. If for some reason one cannot pass the punitive checks to qualify for purchasing a gun, one can have a qualified friend purchase it on one’s behalf. It boggles the mind to think what one hunts with an automatic gun that fires high calibre rounds at 30 per second. It’s not like animals are growing thicker hides. Shooting any animal with such a gun would render the meat useless; one is likely to get lead poisoning. The NRA is not about to have lower returns on its gun sales locally. It reserves the right to offer Americans the best and most destructive automatic weapons at a price, regardless of the resulting carnage.The larger white elephant is the bribery system which stymies any effort to

enter and leave Guyana’s waters should pay an entry fee and exit fee. Crude oil pumped by Exxon should match each tanker’s manifest and fines stipulated if they do not match.Look, I am neither a taxman, economist or politician; I have not read the contract of the giveaway Guyana deal, so I may be just another emoting Guyanese who wants Exxon to succeed and Guyana to get what is equitable. Let us hope that Guyana wins this fight for just equity and Exxon will accept Guyana as mutual partner in each other’s success. Stanley Niamatali

On yet another school massacre introduce meaningful laws to avert these disasters. This system is called lobbying. The NRA bribes…er…lobbies these politicians to ensure no laws are passed to hinder gun sales in the U.S. So what if a few people are shot up from time to time! Business must go on. It’s all about money. U.S. politicians would never vote for a ban on guns because they are all munching at the money trough of the NRA which makes them impotent in making any positive moves to curb the availability of guns to just about anyone. As long as the lobbying system remains, politicians will remain in the pockets of the NRA, and absolutely nothing will be done about keeping guns out of the hands of the gun nuts. This shooting will be in the news for a week or two, then the news will move on, probably to something dumb tweeted by the “smartest” president ever (according to him). To borrow from Britain’s famous literary son P.G. Wodehouse, this president has just enough intelligence to open his mouth when he wants to eat, but certainly no more. But that’s for another letter. M. Alves

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Kaieteur News

Whither, West Indies... From page 5 famous quote, “I didn’t know my front foot from my back foot,” a situation that caused him to flee from the game and not leave his house or his room for days, until the point when his father had an emotional breakdown over worry for his son. “I would not answer the call of the WICB if picked now,” is reflective of a seriously broken spirit. Sarwan’s disgust that “The CWI or WICB whatever name y’all come under, all the administrators, from 1990 onwards should go and play now and help the team qualify for the next World Cup,” is symptomatic of the fact that West Indies cricket is imploding, and not keeping, consolidating, unifying and managing its individual talents. His complaint that, “Now imagine the great WICB asking players to play. I would like to laugh but out of respect for the Caribbean people I won’t,” demands immediate action by CARICOM governments to address the problems in our cricket. CARICOM will do well to remind itself what cricket supremacy means in a global context to all Caribbean brothers and sisters, sons and daughters. It is best summarized by the former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Michael Manley, “The West Indies are Third World countries, but we belong and are in the first World of Cricket.” Cricket is not only a religion in the Caribbean, but it best defines the region in the highest context. Regional political integration has followed cricket as a unifying and defining force. In a deeper psychological and historical context, a West

Indian cricketer’s artistry and flamboyance is the product of the post-colonial era, where the psyche is the celebration and liberation from the bondages of imperialism and colonialism. It is a celebration of freedom. Our glorious successes lift marginalized people from our daily burdens, and takes us to flights of pride over our collective achievements, living in the ecstatic comfort of the superlatives that always follow. What cricket means to the typical Caribbean kid is best summarized by Nobel Laureate, Sir V. S. Naipaul, in ‘The Middle Passage’, pg. 44, “Cricket has always been more than a game in Trinidad. In a society which demanded no skills and offered no rewards to merit, cricket was the only activity which permitted a man to grow to his full stature and to be measured against international standards… The cricketer was our only hero-figure.” Cricket is simply the lifeblood of the Caribbean, and our greatest adhesive force. C.L.R. James, the renowned cricket scholar, in his work ‘Cricket in West Indian Culture’, at pg. 119 aptly noted, “From its beginning to this day cricket in the West Indies has expressed with astonishing fidelity the social relations of the islands.” In his seminal work, ‘Beyond a Boundary’, James puts cricket in perspective when he wrote, “Cricket is first and foremost a dramatic spectacle. It belongs with the theatre, ballet, opera and the dance.” Caribbean kids are still inspired to become world famous like Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Learie Constantine, George Headley, Sir Frank Worrell, Brian Lara, Sir Viv Richards, Rohan Kanhai and

other enduring West Indian icons so revered around the cricketing globe. They are the very embodiment of the West Indian dream, and inspirational figures. In fact, sportsmanship and professionalism were intrinsic parts of a cricketer’s development as his ability to flick the ball off the legs, late cut or hook a bouncer off the eyebrows. They prepared the Caribbean person to take his or her place amongst the best in the world, as so many have done academically, in sports, and in every facet of life and endeavour itself. Sarwan has called on the administrators of Cricket West Indies to “pad up” and take the field to help the West Indies qualify for the 2019 ICC World Cup. While they may not take up that challenge, CARICOM must do so now to save West Indies cricket! We do not need another King Louis XIV, who, in tyrannical stupor, claimed, “the state is myself!” We must lower the curtains on this Shakespearian tragedy, or hit Cameron out of the ground, and usher in a new era, reminiscent of the golden years of West Indian cricket. CWI has failed miserably to fulfill its Vision Statement “to establish and sustain West Indies cricket as the sporting symbol of the West Indies, and the West Indies team as the dominant team in international cricket,” and its Mission Statement, “to develop and promote West Indies cricket for the benefit and enjoyment of the West Indian people, its clients and other stakeholders by procuring a consistently high-quality, successful and international West Indian product.” Time to walk, Cameron! Albert Baldeo

Thursday February 22, 2018

Ownership and control of ... From page 4 is qualified. ‘A’ can also claim ownership of the oil and gas if he reduces them into possession. In the view of Atsegbua, this theory is derived from the concept of ferae naturae (i.e. wild animals); an analogy is often drawn between wild animals and petroleum.Since in law, wild animals are not capable of being owned until they are captured and reduced into possession, it is also argued that petroleum being similar to wild animals, cannot be owned until it is reduced into possession. This analogy is false and has been discredited in North America where it was first propounded, as there is no similarity between wild animals and petroleum. To Omorogbe this theory obtains in states such as California and Indiana in the United States of America. Under this theory the land owner is said not to have title to the oil and gas in situ ( Latin in the place of origin) because of the fact that he can be divested by drainage without consent and without any liability on the part of the person causing the drainage. However, he does have a property interest which is

more than a right of capture. All the landowners over a common reservoir are designated as collective owners, equal rights to take oil from the reservoir. The respective landowners do not have title to the specific oil and gas underneath their respective land. The effects of the two theories are similar in practical terms. In both the absolute and the qualified theories the land owner is not in fact entitled to oil and gas beneath his land. What he has are the rights to sink as many wells as he desires subject to good operating practices, and to extract as much oil and gas as he can produce. THE NON-OWNERSHIP THEORY This theory states that petroleum is not capable of ownership since it is fugacious. In essence, since petroleum is like a fluid that can move from one place to another it cannot be owned in the strict sense of the word. There is not much support for this theory as modern practice show that petroleum though may move from one place to the other, is still subject to ownership by the person or authority that captures it at

any particular point in time. THE DOMANIAL SYSTEM The Domanial Law System provides for the vesting of ownership rights in the sovereign. This is the most prevalent system of ownership of minerals. Practically every country, with the major exception of the United States, retains sovereign rights over all mineral deposits. In many of these countries this right is enshrined in their various legislations and constitutions, Guyana is included herein. Venezuelan oil has not permeated Guyana’s soil because that country produces extra heavy crude oil, which is highly-viscous oil that cannot easily flow to production wells under normal reservoir conditions. Heavy crude oil is closely related to natural bitumen from oil sands; it is expensive to extract, transport and refine. It is referred to as “heavy” because its density or specific gravity is higher than that of light crude oil, which is possessed by Guyana, the term “light” indicates that the crude has less impurities. Clairmont Featherstone

An opportune time to ...

From page 4 Development is all about people. Increase in a country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) means nothing if it does not translate into an enhanced quality of life for all. As Dr. Jagan reminded us so often, it is quite possible to have growth without development as happened in several oilrich countries in Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere. It is the responsibility of the government to manage the enormous resources at our

disposal for the benefit of all Guyanese, in particular the poor and the marginalized. History will not be kind to those entrusted with the management of our national patrimony and wealth if we continue to remain poor in the midst of plenty. This is the challenge before us as a nation. As we celebrate the 48th anniversary of Republican status, we should take the opportunity for some new and fresh thinking on the way forward. Hydar Ally

Guyana’s notoriously poor ...

From page 5 Perhaps the worst aspect of construction in Guyana is the electrical system, material and installation codes. This is in serious need of overhauling. Systems such as 100 Amperes distribution with flyback breakers are the standard for commercial buildings such as

warehouses, offices, shopping centres, night clubs and so on. This is virtually nonexistent. GFCI outlets (with built-in overload kick-out) rarely exist, while electric wiring is predominantly vinyl coated (easily combustible) copper wire. Additionally, old wiring, coupled with corroded fuses, which do not trip or ‘blow’, poses severe risk of fire.Finally, the government (and insurance companies) must shift gears into ebullience and rid itself of the existing thewless approach to-

wards safety and through a Bureau of Standards, must monitor the very poor quality of electrical fittings and accessories (mostly from China) that flood the Guyanese market. While they are definitely cheaper than their other counterparts, the consequences are often costly and fatal. Guyana cries out for an (OSHA) Occupational Safety & Health Act. Leyland Chitlall Roopnaraine Real Estate Builder (New York)

Thursday February 22, 2018

Kaieteur News

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GBTI contempt trial……

SOCU analyst testifies as proceeding wind down The final witness in the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) contempt trial yesterday commenced giving evidence before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The officials charged for the offence are Chairman, Robin Stoby S.C; and Directors, Edward A. Beharry, Suresh Beharry, Richard Isava, Carlton James and Basil Mahadeo, along with Chief Executive Officer (ag) Shaleeza Shaw and Kathryn Eytle-McLean. They all denied the charge which alleged that on September 7 at Georgetown, they failed to comply with production order granted by Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, for them to produce certain documents to head of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), Sydney James. The order was made on August 29. Testifying yesterday was Special Superintendent Sherronne James, who is stationed at the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU). James told the court that she is a forensic analyst and she is the holder of a Masters in Business Administration. She added that she works for 15 countries internationally looking at corrupt organisations and dealing with banks. James told the court that while she was conducting investigation at the Guyana Rice Board Development

(GRDB), she made certain findings involving several bank accounts. She then found out which organisation the bank accounts were at and the coowners of the bank. James then told the court that she found out that the main bank account was at GBTI. The court heard that based on her findings during her investigation, it caused her to make several court orders. James told that court that on August 29, 2017 a production order was granted by Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, to be served on the GBTI, the bank at which GRDB had held a US dollar account. She added that she was present when the order was served to the GBTI accoun-

tant who was acting on the behalf of GBTI. James added that on September 6, last she arrived at SOCU where she saw several persons and she collected four envelopes from her colleague. Upon checking the envelopes, she did not see any certification stamps on the documents. She added that between September 7 and September 13, she received six additional envelopes. James testimony was then suspended until April 10 when the defendants will make their next court appearance. The matter is being prosecuted by Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), Patrice Henry. SOCU, as part of a probe into US$500M that the Guyana Rice Development (Continued on page 11)

Security guard warns of criminal gangs in the shadows “Beware of those with illintent lurking in the shadows!” This is the warning of Vinet Persaud, a resident of Riverview, Ruimveldt, Georgetown. But Persaud was not referring to his home community; instead he was making reference to the streets of the capital city – Georgetown. Persaud is a security guard, has been for a few years, and is very familiar with the goings-on within the city. He confided yesterday that he has seen many persons robbed in such slick and effortless manner, it could almost be deemed professional. The sordid activities are known to occur during the course of day but become even more pronounced after sunset. He has become so familiar with the streets that he never imagined the day that he too would become a victim of the rogue elements plying their criminal trade from the dark corners. It all went down around 21:00 hours, Monday, as he

Security Guard, Venet Persaud, displays the phone he purchased yesterday after being robbed of one the day before. was on his way to work. Persaud was walking in a northerly direction along Longden Street, Georgetown when he felt the “heavy presence” of someone walking

too close behind. He swung to his right and saw a young man and immediately got the distinct feeling that someone else (Continued on page 12)

From left Suresh Beharry, Carlton James, Shaleeza Shaw, Robin Stoby and Basil Mahadeo

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Kaieteur News

Thursday February 22, 2018

Illegal foreigners in gold bush warned to get regularized

Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix The Ministry of Citizenship is granting temporary amnesty to illegal foreign national miners so that they can regularise their status in Guyana. “We are giving you a chance to come to the office in Georgetown with your passport and apply for your extension of stay. If you came to work and your initial visa was an employment visa you can have that extended as well as your work permit,” Minister of Citizenship,

Winston Felix assured foreign nationals working in the Mazaruni, Mining District Three. Minister Felix was part of a team led by Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, on Monday, to Puruni Landing. The team met with miners and business operators to discuss regularising operations in the area. Foreign nationals, particularly Brazilians, had raised the concern of legalising their sta-

Miners and business operators paying keen attention on Monday. tus with Minister Broomes on her previous visits to the landing. While they do not require a visa for entry into Guyana, they do need a landing permit and work permit. These permits are granted by the Ministry of Citizenship. A work permit is valid for three

years, however, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) has to submit applications to the Ministry for processing. It takes about three to four business days for the ministry to process the landing permit which begins upon legal entry to Guyana. Other foreign nationals who require a visa to enter Guyana legally have to apply for an employment visa on arrival and a work permit subsequently. All these transactions have to be

done at the Ministry’s office located at 146 Waterloo, Georgetown. The foreign nationals were also warned, by the Minister, that this application process has to be done in person. “Don’t allow anybody to take money from you to do it they can’t do it for you; you have to come and apply for your own registration, your visa; you have to come to do that…anybody who taking money from you is bad business,” Minister Felix

cautioned. Foreign nationals who overstay their time in Guyana are classified under prohibited immigrants’ status Minister Felix explained. This basically means they are illegal and could be brought before the courts and deported. “Like I said, we are not here to round up anybody and to get them out of the country, no, we are not doing that. We want to let you know what you need to do,” Minister Felix assured the miners.

Thursday February 22, 2018

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Kaieteur News

Time to act is now! Exxon’s problems are mounting. The company is facing a litany of lawsuits over allegations that it denied knowing about the findings of climate change scientists who are contended that the oil giant was aware a long time ago about the environmental dangers associated with the use of fossil fuels. It is also being sued by the state of a man who died in an oil field death in 2010, according to an Associated Press report. Interestingly, ExxonMobil is playing the victim. It is claiming that there is a conspiracy against it. In Guyana, Exxon has launched, what it no doubt believes is a public relations counteroffensive. But this

offensive is even poorer than that of the government of Guyana, which has failed to demonstrate that it knew what it was doing when it negotiated the Petroleum Agreement of 2016. In light of these developments, and the possibility of ExxonMobil losing, Guyanese must ask themselves whether Exxon is likely to unload its interests in offshore and deep sea oil production in Guyana. What is going to chase ExxonMobil out of many countries is not renegotiation of its contract. ExxonMobil is reeling from the effects of the numbers of multi-million-dollar lawsuits that it is facing. If these lawsuits are successful, they can deal a deadly

blow to Exxon’s global operations, including here in Guyana. It needs to be asked whether Guyana was aware of the legal challenges against ExxonMobil when it began its negotiations and whether Guyana’s negotiators did not think that handing the oil company more than half of the blocks in Guyana’s offshore waters, was not a risky venture. ExxonMobil is now reporting that it added a total of 2.7 million barrels of oil to its stock of proven reserves in 2017. Guyana was listed amongst that grouping, but so too is Abu Dhabi, Mozambique and the United States. ExxonMobil, therefore, is not as dependent on Guyana as some may feel it

Dem boys seh ...

Guyana hoping it don’t get rob People always boasting how Guyana got potential. De whole country keep hearing how Guyana is a rich country because it got gold, bauxite, diamond and now it got oil. De thing dat use to mek dem boys think is dat wid all de gold and bauxite and rice and sugar, people still use to send dem children to school wid empty lunch kit. De truth is dat de country got nuff hungry people. Some of dem hungry because dem got too much pickney and hardly anybody to help feed dem; some because de money dem earning barely enough to pay rent and some bills. De odda day when dem announce dat de oil

company find oil, dem same poor people couldn’t even smile because dem was so hungry dat dem mouth hurt dem. But some people telling de world dat although Guyana find oil de people mightn’t see a drop because de oil company gun rob dem blind. De truth is dat de oil company develop a reputation fuh robbing poor countries. All about deh go, deh cause problems. Then deh come to Guyana and telling dem boys how dem change; dat dem is good people. It might be true but dem boys seh when dog accustom to suck egg, it can’t stop. Dem pointing people to dem prisoners who go to jail fuh thiefing. Before de

sentencing, dem does tell de magistrate how dem wouldn’t do it again and how dem sorry. Dem end up in jail and when dem come out is de same thing dem gun do and is right back to jail dem going. De oil company is like dem thieves. Dis one smiling because it know dat in couple years, oil wouldn’t have so much meaning because people wukking wid alternative energy. Dem wukking wid solar and hydro and things like dat. De Man above send oil when things about to change but it should be to de good of de country, but only if it get its fair share. Talk half and hope de oil company be honest wid Guyana.

is. It therefore may not necessarily be in a hurry to proceed with development in its Stabroek block in Guyana’s waters. The evidence points to ExxonMobil being in the phase of building up its reserves. Therefore, Guyana has a narrow window in which to demand that ExxonMobil returns to the negotiating table to renegotiate the lopsided deal. Guyana does not have an eternity to try to get a new deal. It has to do so quickly by striking when the iron is hot. The criticisms of its contract with Guyana are mounting. The rate of royalty has been lampooned. The fiscal concessions contained in the agreement have been described as too generous. The Stability Clause has implications for national sovereignty. The tax regime deprives Guyana of an important source of profit oil revenues. Guyana’s has to bear cost recovery but its oversight of Exxon’s spending is seriously impaired under the agreement.

Cost recovery has been capped at 75%, when for a long-term investment a rate of 50% would have been ideal. The high rate of cost recovery means that despite Guyana gaining a reasonable 50-50 split on profit oil, the cost recovery would have already eaten into cost oil. The greatest insult is that even the Minister responsible for petroleum in Guyana has to give Exxon seven days’ notice before he can visit the rig. Exxon’s agreement with Guyana will not transform the country, yet it is said that it has been handed fifty five per cent of the exploration blocks. The agreement is poor on too many fronts. Some people are suggesting that Guyana can benefit if Exxon doubles its projected production thereby allowing Guyana’s benefit to also double. But if production doubles, it means that the oil reserves will be depleted faster, leading Guyana to be in a situation where it gets short-term gains for long term losses. Some critics in Ghana are describing the deal they

have with Exxon, which guarantees a 10% royalty to that country, as being the worst oil deal ever. They obviously have not read the terms of the agreement between Exxon and Guyana. They should. Guyana needs to use this opportunity to ask ExxonMobil to return to the negotiating table and to revise some of the conditions of the contract. It is Guyana’s interest to do this in light of the lawsuits faced by the company. If ExxonMobil does not go to production in 2020 because of its legal problems in the United States, Guyana will end up being stuck permanently with a contract which is not going to deliver the oil boom which many Guyanese expect.

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Thursday February 22, 2018

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

Ministry employees beat naked man of unsound mind on the seawall On Tuesday morning, I was walking on the Camp Street seawall with my dog. I was minding my own business when a large garbage truck pulled up about ten feet in front of me. The truck was in good condition, like seminew. It was of faded white colour with the following words painted in green, “Government of Guyana – keep the environment clean.” The licence plate is GRR 9604. Three men came out of the front seat, jumped onto the wall and accosted a man of unsound mind that I am accustomed to seeing on the wall. He harms no one, is afraid of my dog and rummages through the black gar-

bage bags outside the CID office on the seawall road. They began to beat him. He jumped onto the huge boulders that form the riprap sea defence structure. They went onto the riprap trying to catch him. He was far more agile because he was barefoot. But he lost his boxers in the process and was naked while manoeuvring on the riprap. A fourth man came out of the truck picked up a piece of wood about four feet in length and went after him. By this time he was in the ocean, pleading with them. It was the water that saved him. They were fully clothed and were at work so they chose not to go into the water. I went up

on them and told them they cannot beat a man of unsound mind. They showed no concern. They exclaimed to me; “He messing up de wall; we gat fuh clean it. He tekking all de garbage and throwing it all over de place.” I responded, “But you cannot beat a person of unsound mind, he doesn’t know what he is doing.” One of them replied, “unsound mind my sk…, he messing up de place.” After my encounter with them, they drove off heading eastward. I went to a dwelling house, the only one on the Camp Street seawall between Camp Road where the Eve Leary police head office is and the Pump Station at Clive

Lloyd Drive. There is an extended family that lives there with five dogs which are always attacking my dog when I pass there. A group of them came out and I told them what happened. I urge that they put a pair of trousers on him because he is naked. They agreed to do that. I drove to Eve Leary CID office, met Superintendent Halley. She put me on to CID detective, Sergeant Sewsanker. He took a statement. I asked for them not to be charged but to be admonished. If their bosses at Ministry of Public Infrastructure read this, I hope they are not suspended but just given a

stern warning. They acted illegally and irrationally when they attacked that helpless mental patient. Their actions were not only stupid but lacked commonsense. If he is throwing garbage on the seawall area then where is he getting the dirty stuff from? Obviously, from the same seawall area! So he is not the only one responsible for the dirty appearance of the ambience. Secondly, if he were conscious of what he is doing, then why is he taking food from the dustbins and eating it? That he is not in his right mind didn’t mean a thing to them. Thirdly, how is spreading the garbage affecting their work? If he spreads the garbage, then it cannot be more work for them because it is the same amount of stuff they have to pick up, admitting that, it will take them a longer time. But they work nine to five. So when five comes they leave and go back tomorrow. For a long time now, there has been a creeping disappearance of civilisation in this country. I cannot recall in my

Frederick Kissoon days growing up in Wortmanville, there were the kinds of bestial crimes that I am seeing in 21st century Guyana. A group robs a home in Berbice and sets alight the house with a crippled woman inside. What I am about to write is going to disappoint some people, I know but I have always spoken my mind and have lived with the consequences. I am a very openedminded person. I believe in total freedom with responsibilities, of course. But I also believe some cruel, depraved criminals are worthless creatures far below many lower animals. They are worse than some predatory animals. I am not sure if the death penalty should not be applied to them. Some criminals are not fit to live.

Thursday February 22, 2018

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Thursday February 22, 2018

Region 2 wants solar power for its health centres to save vaccines The Health and Sanitation Committee of Region Two [Pomeroon/Supenaam], is now making a request that all health centres in the Pomeroon be fully equipped with solar panels. This request was made due to the significant amount of vaccines, were recently

spoiled at various health centres in Region Two. The matter on the spoilage of vaccine was initially brought to the RDC just last month, when Chairman of the Health and Sanitation Committee, Arnold Adams, presented his report during the Region’s statutory meeting.

At that time, the circumstances surrounding the vaccines’ spoilage remained uncertain. During the statutory meetings of this month however, it became clear that the vaccines were spoiled on the basis of frequent power outages, and

interestingly, the negligence of various health workers. Adams explained to this publication that vaccines are usually preserved in cold storage. He noted however that health centres in the Pomeroon, have little to no means of electricity. Adams said that health

workers usually take the vaccines to another health centre, and at times even the Charity Hospital to be stored. This, he explained, can be an exhausting task, “They have to uplift it, take it to a health centre that has electricity, then go and collect the other day for work… workers who need to travel long distances to have the vaccines stored sometimes have to wait long periods before they are reimbursed with the money they spent to travel. So that is why sometimes, we see the health workers do not take the vaccines to be stored.”

Adams noted that Wakapoa is only health centre in the Pomeroon, which is presently equipped with a solar panel. Located miles in the Lower Pomeroon River, Wakapoa Health Centre is hardly accessible by the other health centres. Adams believes that if solar panels are installed at each health c e n t r e , t h e health workers will be able to store their vaccines right there. This he believes would aid tremendously in efficient health services being provided for the people of the region.

Harmon taken before Legal Practitioners’ Committee A matter involving Joseph Harmon is currently before the Legal Practitioners Committee (LPC) . Harmon, who is an Attorney-at-law and current Minister of State, had been taken before the LPC over an alleged failure to reimburse some $500,000 to UK-based Guyanese, Floyd Doris. The sum was part of an agreement for the sale of a property located on Hadfield Street. According to documents seen by this newspaper, Harmon was retained as an attorney to deal with the legal aspects of the sale of the property. In his application, Doris stated that in early 2008 a friend, Collette Britton-Harry, told him that her aunt had a property at Hadfield Street to sell and that “she would get it for me at a good price. Collette and I were friends and I had helped her before.” He explained that BrittonHarry took him to Mr. Harmon. “I explained what I wanted and he agreed to act as my attorney.”

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon. “The cost of the property was $1.5 million. Mr. Harmon told me the various fees which I paid to him. I arranged to send other money to him as well.” Doris said that monies were paid to Harmon through Collette Britton-Harry in various sums. He claimed too, that he did not know what the various (Continued on page 21)

SOCU analyst testifies as proceeding wind... From page 7 Board (GRDB) handled as far back as 2010, submitted files to the DPP recommending contempt charges against GBTI’s eight directors. This was after the bank and SOCU were locked in a battle over information concerning the GRDB accounts, since February. SOCU is contending that the bank failed or stalled. It gave all kinds of excuses, and even destroyed pertinent records relating to GRDB. SOCU reportedly argued that other banks complied, but it was finding it hard going with GBTI. SOCU received four court orders, including one from the high court, asking that GBTI hand over the information. In late August, the acting Chief Justice granted production orders to SOCU, giving the bank a week to hand over certain information. That deadline expired in early September, and the bank was reportedly granted some extra time. However, the deadline elapsed and SOCU prepared files recommending the charges of contempt against the directors. Under tough anti-money laundering laws, once court orders are granted, financial institutions are reportedly bound to provide information. In this case, the moneys are not from private accounts, but rather from the US-dollar and other accounts of GBTI, a state entity.

Thursday February 22, 2018

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

taken before Legal Practitioners’... Children’s Court to be established soon Harmon From page 11 -based Guyanese has taken Harmon before the

Authorities are working to establish a Children’s Court. Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards recently disclosed that with the passage of the new Juvenile Offenders Bill in the National Assembly, a Juvenile Court will be established. Justice CummingsEdwards argued that the judiciary is proactive and has implemented measures in preparation for the court’s opening. The new Juvenile Offences Bill is expected to be laid in the National Assembly shortly, according to the acting Chancellor. “We are not waiting until it is law; we have already started training our magistrates.” The two magistrates that will preside over the court have already been identified. In 2017, four magistrates including the Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, attended a study tour in another jurisdiction to observe the operations of the Children’s Court there, to learn the best practices and the pitfalls to ensure that when Guyana’s system is efficient and adheres to international standards. “We are getting assistance from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in this regard and we are going to start that court in a short

while,” Justice CummingsEdwards said. She noted that the existing legislation, the Juvenile Offenders Act also makes provision for the establishment of such a court. These matters are currently heard in camera, where the public is disallowed in the Chambers, but with the new court, there will be dedicated personnel “because our children need more than what obtains at present,” Justice Cummings-Edwards said. In relation to domestic violence cases, the acting Chancellor is assuring that these are being handled expeditiously by the magistrates in spite of the many constraints. She disclosed that in 2017, various agencies were engaged as well as Non-Governmental Organisations. They were given the opportunity to share their thoughts on how these matters can be handled effectively. “We have to see the situation from all angles, so we have had courses…The magistrates do their best but there are some persons who come to court and say they have made up with the perpetrator and they do not wish to proceed. That is their right.” Training is ongoing for

magistrates since the bulk of the domestic violence cases are dealt with in the Magistrates’ Court; however, those that result in felonious wounding, murder or manslaughter are handled at the High Court. Further, the acting Chancellor alluded to the fact that having specialised courts to deal with juveniles, sexual offences, domestic violence and other sensitive matters will eliminate re-victimisation and trauma for victims, as well as the speedy disposal of the cases. She said as an example, in any given session of the Sexual Offences Court there are over 100 cases to be tried. These are recommended by the chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). “There is also a component which comes through the Ministry of Social Protection and we are working with them in that regard for a Victims Support Unit and we are working with all stakeholders in relation to the Sexual Offences Court,” she added. A Trinidad specialist in child abuse and sexual offences cases will be in Guyana, within the next month, to provide psychosocial training to magistrates and judges.

fees were for, “save that I received a note from Mr. Harmon which sets out fees amounting to $79,800.” The claimant said that he later learnt that sale of the property was never completed. He said that he was informed by Britton-Harry that her aunt was unable to conclude the sale of the property due to an illness. “I was informed by Collette that her aunt was in America and she had cancer and could not travel to Guyana to complete the transaction.” As a result, Mr. Doris moved to have his monies refunded. He said that he wrote to Harmon on the matter in 2011 but did not receive a reply. In the document, Doris claimed that a second letter was sent to Harmon relating to the refund. That too received no response. Consequently, Doris said that he sent a friend, Edwin Watson, to ask Mr. Harmon about the money. “Mr. Watson said Mr. Harmon said he didn’t know me, nor had he received any money from me. I do not remember whether I had sent Mr. Watson before or after the second letter. I sent receipts to Mr. Harmon with Mr. Watson.” After several weeks of Mr. Watson visiting Harmon’s office, Doris said that Watson was eventually paid $500,000. “This was paid in the presence of my brother, Ingram Doris, in United States dollars.” “Another $271,000 was paid to Mr. Watson by Mr. Harmon on 5th February 2013. In April 2013, when I came back to Guyana I went to Mr. Harmon. He told me that he paid Collette Britton $500,000 and that she withdrew the (sale) from the Court through another attorney.” Doris, however contends he did not authorise Mr. Harmon to pay any money to Ms. BrittonHarry. It is over the outstanding sum that the UK

LPC. Harmon on the other hand, claimed that (Collette) Britton-Harry had instructed him that Doris was her cousin and that he was purchasing the property on her behalf. The lawyer admitted that Doris sent to my office by Ms. Collette Britton-Harry, the sum of $1,440,000. That a term of the agreement of sale of the property was for the Purchaser to pay the Vendor a deposit of $500,000 and the balance paid on the passing of the Transport. In his affidavit in response “that after all the documents were filed and before the passing of Transport the said Collette BrittonHarry without informing me, retained another Attorney and withdrew and discontinued the transaction and I am reliably informed, collected the deposit in the sum of $500,000 from the Vendor of the property.” “That after I was made of this development, I called upon Britton-Harry to explain her action but she became uncooperative.” Harmon claimed that he informed Doris about the status of the case that some $500,000 was paid to his cousin (Britton- Harry). The lawyer therefore contends that he does not owe Doris any money whatsoever. Hearings into the matter had concluded in 2015 before a previously constituted committee. However, a committee was dissolved before a ruling was made. The newly formed LPC panel is chaired by Attorney-at-law, Andrew Pollard S.C. Yesterday,Attorney -at-law, Ronald Birch-Smith appeared before a panel on behalf of Mr. Doris. The matter was heard briefly before the panel and is expected to continue in April for reports.

PAGE 22

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK;Guyanapassport application. G r a p h i c s design, advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6004212: We create A/works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Budhram’s Landscaping & Tree cutting service. Free advice, Free design, Free after care follow up. Tel#626-1044 Automotive servicing and repairs integrity reliability personalized attention Mondays-Fridays: 8:00am4:00pm Saturdays 8:00am2:00pm Checkered Works Garage #666-9719 Austin Powers Repairs & Services: Regas Fridges, Freezers, AC, Washer, Dryer & Wiring. Lot 114 Brushe Dam Friendship. E.C.D Tel#685-2588/613-1711

SALON Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. -CosmetologyCourses:$90,000 Nail Technician Course: $35,000. Call: 647-1773/6880009

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Unregistered DAF trucks: Dump trucks, Flat bed, Flat bed with crane & Hauler. Call: 659-3100.

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

WANTED

VACANCY

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620

1 maid for East Bank area. Call: 614-4358

Hair station & Barber station rental, New market street #638-1106. Experienced persons preferable.

2 & 3 bedroom fully furnished luxury apartments to rent, long & short term. #666-7820, 691-1432 Space for rent at Ashmin’s Building- suitable for salon or office- Call today! 683-7954 Vreed-en-hoop junction. Lessons place, church, storage bond, office, other. Call: 603-6400. Petboy shop at Howes & Ketley streets, Charlestown.

Video games and consoles at affordable price. Repairs to video game system .Call:6722566/265-3231

Residential & spacious two bedrooms lower apartment in Farm E.B.D. Three bedroom house in Eccles. Call: 616-7635

Plant-closing down sale: potting soil, plant pot, flower plant at Garden Centre, Plantation Schoonard WBD #615-2346/627-3443/15001600

3 bedroom upstairs for rent. Call: 666-6503, 684-7599

Supari palm, Lipstick, Royal, Foxtail. Exora 4 for $1000 Ficus 4 for $1000. Organic potting soil. Tel: 626-1044 Lenovo desktop with 17" Acer monitor, keyboard and mouse -$35,000. Call: 624-7155

Two bedroom bottom flat. EBD $44,000 monthly. 6873017 3 bedroom apartment top flat, Lusignan ECD. contact: 629-8240 Business place/Store for rent, located at Grove EBD.Contact 684-6331

Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665 Experienced dump truck drivers to work in the interior. Kindly contact: 223-7165 for futher details. Experience curry cooks, counter servers, drivers, roti/ puri cooks. Apply Hack’s Halaal. 5 Commerce St. Experienced Sand Truck Driver. Apply to Christine’s Variety Store, Lombard Street or Call 227-8529, 626-8003. Live in waitress to work in bar. Call: 604-6606/ 692-4649 Jet and Marack men to work in interior #672-3359 Seeking a live in caregiver preferably from the East Coast area. For more information call: 592-690-0122

(2) Lg red snapper fishing boats, fully equipped ready to work (1) New (1) 4 yrs old. $15,000,000 each. George #6528970 or 674-3735 1- Caterpillar skid steer 3.2M 1-Leyland daf cement mixer 2.2M 1-canter 3.6M Land at Blankenburg 2.9M Contact #650-0402/603-1402

VEHICLE FOR SALE VEHICLE FOR SALE Allion, Primo, Fielder Wagon, Spacio, Bluebird, 212 Carina, NZE, Honda CRV, Toyota IST, RZ & Pit-bull – Call: 650-7501 2006 Audi A4 PRR Series. $2.5M. 623-3839 1 Nissan Datsun pick-up, $500,000 (neg) contact #6611121,614-6511 Bluebird 2012- 2.6M Axio2.5M Tida-2.2M All vehicles unregistered and have reverse camera. #655-3400

Gold & Diamond for sale or percentage, Berbice river Mazaruni. #690-5300 or 6220036

Fielder wagon PTT 6514. Price $1.8 negotiable. Call: 227-3701, 644-9973

6000 pound ice box (1) 48 Yamaha engine 13.4 length fishing vessel. Four hundred pound sein. Tel#690-8089

Premio car- PNN series, leather seats, dvd front and rear. Asking 1.8M neg. #6850504

One Mitsubishi 4D32 engine complete with gearbox. Tel: 616-2175 / 659-2524

Super Custom bus- BVV series, dvd front and rear. Asking 2.5M neg. #685-0504

20 used panel steel doors 30"36" in good condition. Contact: 661-2998

1-Yamaha Virago 750ec motorcycle. $800,000. Contact: 661-2998

Room attendant, age 25-45 Tel#225-0198 or visit 233 South road, Lacytown. One hardworking, willing and literate personnel for Plant shop in Georgetown. Age 25 yrs & over. Tel#652-6837. Chef, Assistant chef, Cashier - Waiter call: 611-5615, 2257933 or visit us at 173 Sheriff street. KITCHEN ASSISTANT (HOUSEKEEPING DAYSHIFT) REQUIRED AT AAGMAN RESTAURANT. CONTACT: 219-0158 BETWEEN 9AM - 5 PM (WEEKDAYS) Experienced salespersons 2545 yrs needed for store on the East Coast Demerara. Call #642-1141

One accounts clerk, must have knowledge of QuickBooks. All applications must be sent to info@cevons.com Two Spanish speaking cooks to work. Contact Steve OLA Hotel. #690-6015

One champion generator 4500 KVA one portable air condition unit $120,000 (neg) #655-3400

Black/colour copy machines glass case call: 650-2582 7 transported house lots in Bella Dam W.B.D for sale. Contact#264-2495, 668-0484 Front lot Golden Grove. Tel# 671-2025

FOR RENT

New 2 Post car hoists for mechanic shop. Lifting capacity: 4.5 tons. Telephone# 222-1730

Richo/Minolta toner, Data card printer, marathon motor 71/2 hp transformer call: 2332725/2439

LAND FOR SALE

Thursday February 22, 2018

Kaieteur News

CAR RENTAL DOLLY’SCARRENTAL-CALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM PROGRESSIVE CAR R E N TA L : S U V F O R RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL:6435122/656-0087, ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807

EDUCATION CXC adults classes (Business & Science subjects) Form 1-5 lessons, Grade 2-6 lessons (slow learners, personal tutor) #690-5008,618-0649 Jean offers courses in Dressmaking, Curtains, Floral, Cake decorations. Barr St, Kitty. Tel#670-2653, 638-8449. Electronic classes beginning March 6th. Enroll early, limited spaces. Abdul Electronics. Tel: 226-6551/225-0391. F.WManagement Consultancy is conducting special education needs workshops for parents and teachers. Interested persons call 683-3887/696-3056 MASSAGE & HEALTH Hazel’s Herbal Store for Iridology services 26th February at 244 D’Andrade St, Newtown. Tele: 226-9136 Angels Massaging Spa. Come relax and be pampered. Call: 694-9775. New attendants available. TOLET

WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIALOFFERS! . CALL: 690-6494

Bachelor Apt (30,000) One bedroom (50,000) 3 month advance. Haley and Durban St. #622-0036/223-1273

Reliable rentals. Cars, SUV at low rate and security deposit special rates for long term. #227-2322/601-2622

Two Bedroom ($50,000) 3 bedroom ($75,000) 3 month advance ‘B’ Field, Sophia. #622-0036 / 675-8238

WANTED Experienced articulated dump truck drivers to work in the interior Contact telephone number 223-7165 Experienced General Manager to operate Stringer (String Gold) in the interior. Contact number 223-7165 PROPERTY FOR SALE Property for sale (1) 3 story building at 97 Sugarcane street S/Rvldt Gardens. Price US 1.5M neg. Tel: 695-1356 & 687-8445 Lot 15 Public road #2 Village. West Coast Berbice. 49ft by 10,314ft. $20M. Contact:6487109/686-4818 166 4th street, Alexander Village. Tel#691-6201 Anna Catherina, Seaview. Price $7M Contact: 276-0712 House and land available @ La Parfaite Harmonie, Providence, Etc. Financing assistance available. Contact Pacific Development: 223-6035/ 604-4909 Yorrowkabra, Linden Highway, House, Chicken pen, New foundation, Land 200' x 100' Fenced, water & light. 6.5M neg. Contact: 6867180

Thursday February 22, 2018

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Kaieteur News

12 homes for Mazaruni prison officers completed Security guard warns... An aerial view of the houses being constructed at the Mazaruni Prison.

Director (ag) of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels, has disclosed that 12 of the living quarters earmarked for prison staffers at the Mazaruni Prisons have been completed and a further eight are set for completion this year. “Twelve houses were constructed last year and an additional eight will be constructed in 2018. Last weekend, the advertisement went out for the first four of the eight houses. The tenders are supposed to be open this week so more than likely the contract would be awarded

soon.” In an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Samuels noted that along with the completed 12 houses, the installation of its new generator in 2017 and prospective solar panels in 2018, the Guyana Prison Service (GPS), also plans to increase the number of hours during which electricity is provided on the island facility. This, Samuels said, will not only make the officers’ stay a more comfortable one, but will also aid its electronic surveillance security system and increase the opportuni-

ties for its skills training programme. “It will increase our ability to be able to offer skill training to prisoners because most skill training requires power tools. It restricts the capacity of the prison to offer training in carpentry and other such areas that would require the use of power tools when powe r i s n o t a d equately available. We are also looking at the installation of solar panels which will complement the generators especially for our CCTV expansion that will be part of our 2018 project as well.”

According to Samuels, these upgrades are in keeping with the budget request of the GPS and the recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry (CoI). The state-run prisons in recent years have been taking a beating. From escapes to two fires, one of which left several inmates dead, the administration has fast-tracked moves for reforms. A fire last July at Camp Street levelled several buildings at the facilities, forcing relocation, and early releases and bail for remand prisoners.

From page 7 was around. Indeed, there were about two others too – one behind him and another, a short distance away. “The place was darker than usual because there was this blackout [power outage]...It hardly had people around; usually that’s the case at that hour,” related Persaud. One of the young men, he recalled, pushed something against his back which he suspected was a gun. Not comfortable with the ensuing situation, Persaud said that he attempted scan his surroundings. But this attempt was short-lived because as he did, “one vice [choke] me and actually lift me off the ground, then another one started pelting some punches behind my head and back...they started telling me don’t say nothing; don’t make no noise.” Following the instructions, one of the young men, Persaud recalled, started rummaging through his pockets and relieved him of his Samsung Duos cellular phone. The deed was not done until the one choking Persaud decided to toss him into a corner. The three made good their escape by running away. Persaud in retaliation pursued his attackers for about a block as he repeatedly shouted “thief” to attract the attention of others. No one came to his aid but some persons did observe what went down.

According to Persaud, shortly after being attacked by the gang of three he was pursued by another and had to run away as fast as he feet could carry him. Although he may not be able to pinpoint his attackers because of the dark of the night which was compounded by the power outage, Persaud is convinced that he has an idea of these “criminals” operations. “They have certain areas where they would be in gangs...sometimes at the bus parks and at some of the new fast-food places downtown and they trail people around.” Given the prevailing state of affairs, Persaud is convinced that a regular presence of police ranks is important in the downtown streets of Georgetown to ensure the safety of passersby. “These young guys are just roaming the streets just to rob people. I want people to be aware because I lost my phone and people have lost more too...People nee d to be aware and the police also need to really do something around there.” Persaud was able to make a report of the attack to a police patrol yesterday and was on his way yesterday to make another at the Brickdam Police Station. He took some time yesterday to purchase another phone and is hopeful that he will not be relieved of it too.

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Kaieteur News

Rates increase application...

Thursday February 22, 2018

GWI moves to write off $$$millions owed by customers

The second day of the public hearings into an application by state-owned Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) for increased rates got under way yesterday with the company announcing plans to sanitise its systems. During the hearings at Cara Lodge, Quamina Street, GWI’s head, Dr. Richard Van West Charles, disclosed that the company has found itself in a bind...it is unable to go after consumers, including home owners and businesses, who are owing more than three years ago. Under limitation laws, GWI cannot bill customers beyond three years in arrears. The company is now moving to determine what exactly it is owed. The sanitisation process will take some time. The issue of what is owed is highly pertinent to GWI’s application as there are arguments by consumers’ rights advocates that GWI don’t need any raise to the rates...rather, it should move to collect those outstanding

GWI’s Managing Director, Dr. Richard Van West Charles, make a point at the forum yesterday. monies. Consumers’ activists Pat Dial, George Cave, Ramon Gaskin and former GWI’s official, John Seeram, were among those who believe that GWI should put its house in order first. Gaskin, for the second day, is standing his grounds that up to date financials of

GWI should feature as part of the considerations for any rates increase. GWI’s financials for 2016 is now being audited. The Managing Director says he will be meeting with the board today on the possible release of the information as there are restrictions of released unaudited

“Stop boring me! Stop ... From page 13 Guyana on March 18, 2017, for Tortola, British Virgin Islands (BVI). The police witness said that there are no records to show that Constable Grant has returned to Guyana. Another Immigration Officer stated that on the above mentioned date, she was performing duties at the Eugene F. Correira Airport, Ogle, East Coast Demerara when Constable Grant handed her his passport along with an approved leave form signed by the Commissioner of Police. The Immigration Officer added that she made the necessary documentation in the police rank's travel document. Base on provisions made

in Section 95 of the Evidence Act, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Stephen Telford was permitted to read aloud a deposition signed by Constable Grant during the trial.ASP Telford stated, “I conducted the Preliminary Inquiry in the case of Police versus Kelvin Chisholm who is charged with murder committed on Timothy Lawson.” The senior police officer recalled that he took evidence from Constable Grant in the presence and hearing of the murder accused. According to ASP Telford, during the Preliminary Inquiry 14 coloured photographs taken by Constable Grant were tendered and admitted into evidence. These

14 photographs were also admitted as exhibits in the trial after there were no objections by the defence. Senior Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh testified in relation to a post mortem examination he performed on the remains of Lawson. He said that Lawson's body bore an incised wound just below the middle of the left collar bone. Dr. Singh stated that from the appearance of the wound a knife was used to inflict it. Lawson's cause of death was given as perforation of the heart and lungs due to a stab wound. The prosecution has exhausted all of its witnesses. This trial continues this morning with closing submissions from both sides.

New airport took St. Vincent into ‘the big leagues’ KINGSTOWN. St. Vincent - CMC – One year after the opening of the Argyle International Airport (AIA), Minister of Finance, Camillo Gonsalves says that St. Vincent and the Grenadines is now “playing in the big leagues because we have a big league airport”. He told a rally held to mark the first anniversary of the airport that Vincentians are living in times of miracles. Gonsalves said he could acknowledge the comments of opposition lawmaker, Member of Parliament for Central Kingstown, St. Clair

Leacock, that the realisation of the airport is a miracle. Gonsalves, who is also Minister of Economic Development, said that AIA is the cornerstone of attracting businesses to the country. He told the rally that a major fisheries investment is coming to St Vincent and lobster, conch, and fish will be exported as far as Japan because of AIA.The Finance Minister also disclosed that due to the presence of an international airport, as of March 6, a major hotel chain will be coming to the island. He also told the crowd

that call centres have expressed an interest in the island – this was also attributed to the airport. Gonsalves also said that AIA is the cornerstone of businesses importing more because of the larger Amerijet aircraft being used to service the destination. He said that the EC$700 million airport is a symbol of what Vincentians can do when they believe in themselves and work together. “Confidence breeds confidence; success breeds success; and optimism begets optimism,” he said.

figures. Dr Van West-Charles explained that although the company’s debt figure is high, collections alone cannot sufficiently finance the investments made to treat water for a growing economy. “When we apply the Limitation Act and look at the debt beyond the last three years,

there is no way if you collect that debt anyway, that you can cover the cost ...because nothing stands still. We’re having customers every day; we’re having new housing schemes; both private and public, we are looking at already existing schemes that do not have access, those that require an improvement of quality such as New Hope,” he said. He further highlighted that in the context of the strategic plan, maintenance of the system is necessary and the needs of the Hinterland regions as well as the improvement of water quality across the country must be taken into consideration. Dr. Van West-Charles stressed that globally, every company caters for some level of delinquency from customers who do not pay their debt, citing other utility and hire purchase entities. Additionally, the Managing Director said that while salaries are equal among staff, countrywide, so should the rates be.

During his presentation, it was also highlighted that since the last rate change 12 years ago, the cost for purifying water alone has increased by more than 100 percent, let alone the cost for equipment and manual labour, among other things. In this regard, Dr. Van West-Charles stated that the utility has since moved to employ and train staff in the necessary areas of expertise such as learning new drilling techniques and water quality improvements. GWI is proposing a change in rates and tariffs for residential and non-residential (metered and unmetered) customers and a new category for pensioners. The PUC has requested an unaudited copy of GWI’s 2016 financial statements to be presented at the next public hearing scheduled for March 14, 2018 at the same venue from 10:00hrs. GWI has promised to meet with its Board of Directors to seek permission on providing same.

Philippines ‘concer ned’ as ‘concerned’ ence ta gs Duter te U.S .S.. intellig intelligence tags Duterte a threat to democracy MANILA (Reuters) - Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte is not an autocrat and is taking seriously a report by the U.S. intelligence community that names the firebrand leader among the threats to democracy in Southeast Asia, his spokesman said yesterday.The report, produced by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, places Duterte alongside Cambodia’s Hun Sen, the Rohingya crisis and Thailand’s military-backed constitution as impediments to democracy.“We view this declaration from no less than the intelligence department of the United States with some concern,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque told DZMM radio.Democracy and human rights in many Southeast Asian nations will remain fragile in 2018 because of autocratic tendencies, rampant corruption and cronyism, the U.S. intelligence community said in its Worldwide Threat Assessment report of Feb. 13. “Duterte has suggested he could suspend the constitution, declare a ‘revolutionary government’, and impose nationwide martial law,” it said.Roque dismissed that assessment.“For one, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is no autocrat or has autocratic tendencies. He adheres to the rule of law and remains loyal to the constitution,” Roque said in a statement.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte There is no revolutionary government or nationwide martial law, which U.S. intelligence officials say Duterte might impose, he added. Duterte has publicly made such threats on several occasions, however. Philippine lawmakers in December approved a year-long extension of martial rule in the volatile southern region of Mindanao to suppress threats such as communist insurgents and Islamist militants. This is not the first time the United States has shown concern about Duterte, who is notorious for his defiance of international pressure. Duterte was infuriated by expressions of concern by

former President Barack Obama’s administration about drug-war killings in the Philippines. Obama’s successor, Donald Trump, praised Duterte for doing an “unbelievable job on the drug problem,” but refrained from expressing concern about the crackdown during a visit to the Philippine capital last November. More than 4,000 people have been killed in what police call legitimate operations against suspected drug dealers and users in Duterte’s signature war on drugs since July 2016. Rights groups accused police of summary executions, which authorities deny.

Thursday February 22, 2018

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Govt. has constitutional responsibility to publish all oil related data-Dr. Hinds By Kiana Wilburg In the interest of transparency, the Coalition Government should publish all necessary information related to the oil and gas sector and contracts therein. This point of view was recently posited by Executive Member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr. David Hinds, during an interview with Kaieteur News. The political commentator was at the time commenting on the call by some members of civil society for the Government to publish all sales and production data for public scrutiny. This would give citizens the opportunity to see for themselves, what the country is making. Dr. Hinds said that he not only agrees with this suggestion but stressed that the Government has a constitutional responsibility to do so.

He said that the Government may for political reasons, and in the interest of confidentiality, be tempted to again withhold some information. He noted, however, that such a move would only add fuel to the growing perception that the government is developing a culture of secrecy regarding the oil and gas industry. The Executive Member of the Working People’s Alliance said that increased transparency is the most effective way to counter that perception. ACCURATE REPORTING As Guyana inches closer to oil production, the systems for accurate reporting on the sector will be essential. In fact, Advisor to Chatham House on Oil and Gas, Mr. Anthony Paul, said that Guyana, like other new petroleum producers have done, will need to develop programmes for a robust oil and gas sector.

WPA Executive member, Dr. David Hinds

Advisor to Chatham House on Oil and Gas, Mr. Anthony Paul

He said that one of these programmes includes creating trusted individuals, agencies and channels for providing up-to-date information to citizens. The Chatham House Advisor was careful to note as well that having policies which may dictate the disclosure of data is not enough.

In the case of Ghana and Nigeria for example, there are policies which expressly state that petroleum data should be released. But in several instances, there have been criticisms where the data was said to be inflated. The Chatham House Advisor shared that Brazil has a very

Salary hike for public school teachers... Teacher-focus approach used Task Force to negotiate An approach with the in- the negotiations did not take terest of teachers in mind was a direction whereby “the gov- – GTU General Secretary required of the Guyana ernment can do this, or we Teachers Union [GTU] when it engaged discussions at the level of a Task Force established to fast-track the salary negotiations of teachers. This disclosure was yesterday made by GTU General Secretary, Ms. Coretta McDonald, during an interview. According to McDonald, “at first when we sat there, we were two sides, we were two separate entities but after the first week we recognised that education is everybody’s business and we could no longer see ourselves as two sides with one fighting for this and the other fighting for something else.” She said, “In order to boost our education system and to shout about an educated nation, we have to ensure that the persons who are facilitating the process that they are first comfortable and when they are comfortable then we can make demands of them.” Moreover, McDonald said that the GTU recognised from the inception of the negotiations that only if those involved in the process were motivated to work that the desired outcome could be forthcoming. This approach, McDonald said, saw the two sides becoming a single negotiating team with teachers’ interest as the focus. “We were able to look at the possibilities – long, medium and short term, with regards, especially to finances,” McDonald related. This was particularly important, the GTU General Secretary said, to ensure that

demand that the government should do this when we didn’t know for sure that they would be sustainable for one or two years.” McDonald disclosed that after taking into consideration a proposal that GTU would have submitted, as well as the preliminary report from a Commission of Inquiry [COI] into the education system, draft recommendations were presented to the Task Force. “Of course those recommendations are going to be based on salaries, benefits and how we can improve the education system generally,” McDonald asserted yesterday. The decision made, at the level of the Task Force, was that once the recommendations were accepted at the level of the Minister of Education, these would then be passed on to Cabinet for its approval. “At the end of that process, and I’m not sure how long that process will take in terms of how long Cabinet will take to respond to what is presented to them, but coming out of Cabinet’s decision, we will have the signing of the new multi-year agreement,” said McDonald. According to her, too, teachers might be concerned that a new multi-year agreement to fast-track a pay hike specific to public school teachers, “just the same way the union is concerned.” McDonald said, “We did not want to sit there and hurry through something because we wanted something to happen fast. We sat there and we

Coretta McDonald,GTU General Secretary went through the process and we are still going through this process just to ensure that what we put in there is going to be sustainable.” “We didn’t want to agree to figures and all kinds of other benefits when we were fully aware that we would not have been able to get them.” The GTU has been able to negotiate for two sets of multi-year agreements in the past but according to McDonald “we would have had quite a number of those conditions being unfulfilled.” She stressed the need for keen attention in this instance.In its proposal, the union has asked for, among other things, a 40 percent across the board increase for teachers for last year; 45 percent increase for this year and 50 percent for the following three years (20182020) for all categories of teachers. This publication, however, has not been able to ascertain whether the proposed percentage will be afforded the

teachers. There were reports that suggested that the union, during the negotiation, was required to justify the percentage outlined in its proposal. The negotiation up to its final stage was chaired by Permanent Secretary of the Education Ministry, Mr. Vibert Welch. Although the former Chief Education Officer [ag], Ms. Genevieve Whyte-Nedd was appointed to head the Task Force when it was set up last year, this publication understands that after failing to turn up for an initial meeting she hadn’t returned to chair further meetings. Other members of the Task Force include Mr. Marcel Hutson, Chief Education Officer, Ministry of Education; Ms. Adele Clarke, Permanent Secretary (ag), Ministry of Education; Ms. Jacqueline Simon, Human Resources Manager, Ministry of Education; Ms. Kelly-Ann Hercules, Legal Officer, Ministry of Education; Mr. Frederick McWilfred, Political Advisor, Ministry of the Presidency ; Ms. Gail Williams, Senior Personnel Officer, Ministry of the Presidency Department of Public Service; Dr. Hector Butts, Finance Secretary, Ministry of Finance; Mr. Emil McGarrell, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communities; Mr. Mark Lyte, GTU President; Ms. Coretta McDonald A.A., GTU General Secretary; Ms Samantha Alleyne, GTU Treasurer and Mr. Lancelot Baptiste A.A., GTU Administrative Secretary.

comprehensive system of collecting and reporting petroleum data. But it’s efficient reporting required “trusted individuals, agencies and channels…” Paul also stated that in the case of Trinidad and Tobago (TT), the nation’s regulations provide for the disclosure of oil information. Those regulations have been in place since 1970. However, TT is now about to put mechanisms in place to get “credible” data. The Chatham advisor noted that this was due to the fact that the regulatory capacity of Trinidad and Tobago was not where it should have been. OTHER CRUCIAL FACTORS The Oil and Gas expert also noted that there will be a need for other programmes to complement the aforementioned. In Guyana’s case, Paul said there would be a need for educating citizens, special interest groups and the media on the workings of the industry; providing platforms for engaging with civil society (two way conversations) and demonstrating that feedback is incorporated into management of the sector. Aware of the potential impacts of the “resource curse,” the Chatham House Advisor said that several international NGOs and multilateral agencies have been engaged in improving governance of natural resources in new oil and gas producing countries. Paul stated that the Natu-

ral Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) has been a leader in this respect and has developed a whole compendium of tools, including Natural Resource Charter, which provides a structured approach for developing countries to manage the multiple facets of resource governance for sustainable development. The Advisor noted that the Chatham House New Petroleum Producers Discussion Group (NPPDG) has been assisting Guyana. He noted, too, that the World Bank, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and several others have developed guidelines and tools that can be useful to government regulators and to Civil Society in developing their capacity to hold government accountable in managing the resources. Paul emphasised that there are lots of lessons that can be learnt from these interventions. GLOBAL WITNESS SUPPORTS The Global Witness is an international body that works to break the links between natural resource exploitation, corruption, and human rights abuses worldwide. It is one of many institutions, which has implored governments of oil nations around the world, to ensure that certain documents are released for citizens to scrutinise.

Victim refuses to testify; alleged shooter walks After being on remand for the past five months on an attempted murder charge, Kurt Kendall, 29 of Lot 477 Non Pareil, East Coast Demerara, had the matter against him discharged yesterday after the virtual complainant told the court that he was not going to proceed with the matter. It is alleged that Kendall while being together with others on February 3, at Mandela Avenue, discharged a loaded firearm at Christopher Marks, with intent to commit murder. He was not required to plead to the charge after it was read to him.Yesterday when the matter was called before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman, in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts the virtual complainant stood before the Magistrate and told her that he does not wish to proceed with the matter since he is thankful for life. Kendall was convicted in 2011and spent three years in prison on a robbery under arms charge. Kendall was also before the court on several robberies under arms charges. He was accused of

Kurt Kendall robbing Elizabeth Seepaul of $1.2M and a further $2.5M on May 29, 2015, at Thomas Lands, Georgetown. He was allegedly armed with a gun at the time of the robbery. The monies were the property of Wings Aviation and Fly Jamaica respectively. It was also alleged that on the same day in question, he robbed Christopher Ali at gunpoint and relieved him of $1.6 million, property of Fly Jamaica. He pleaded not guilty to those charges and the matters got dismissed against him due to insufficient evidence.

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Thursday February 22, 2018

Confidant of Netanyahu turns state witness in corruption case: media JERUSALEM (Reuters) A confidant of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to turn state’s witness in one of several corruption investigations posing a serious threat to the conservative leader’s political survival, local media said. Shlomo Filber’s decision to testify for the state against his former boss is a dramatic turn for Netanyahu, whose inner circle had so far seemed watertight. Filber’s change of heart could leave the tough-talking Netanyahu at his most vulnerable yet, with one critic writing him off as a “political corpse”. The development has also fueled speculation that Netanyahu, 68, will call a snap election to try to stall legal proceedings during the campaign and rally his right-wing power base behind him. Israel’s dominant political figure for a generation - in power since 2009 and for 12 years total since 1996 Netanyahu calls the allegations against him a “witch hunt” and has said he will seek a fifth term in a national ballot due in late 2019. Filber, who was appointed by Netanyahu to head the Communications Ministry, was arrested this week along with top executives at Bezeq Telecom, Israel’s largest telecommunications company. In unsourced reports, Israeli media said Filber has now agreed to testify for the state in the case, in which police allege that Bezeq’s owners offered favorable coverage on media they controlled in return for favors from regulators. Bezeq, its owners and executives deny wrongdoing. A spokesman for the police fraud squad declined to comment. Filber’s lawyer was not immediately available to comment on whether a deal had been reached. Police recommended last week that Netanyahu himself be indicted in two unrelated corruption investigations. The attorney-general must decide whether to

accept the police recommendation to charge him. In one he is suspected of bribery over gifts, which police say were worth nearly $300,000, that he received from wealthy businessmen. The other involves an alleged plot to win positive coverage in Israel’s biggest newspaper by offering to take measures to curtail the circulation of a rival daily. In another case revealed this week, one of Netanyahu’s former spokesmen is alleged to have tried to bribe a judge to block a case against Netanyahu’s wife for spend-

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (REUTERS/Amir Cohen)

Shlomo Filber (L) sits at the Magistrate Court during his remand in Tel Aviv, Israel, February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer ing state money on personal catering. A spokesman for the Netanyahu family called the allegation “hallucinatory”. So far, partners in his governing coalition have stood by Netanyahu, saying they were awaiting the attorneygeneral’s next moves. EARLYELECTION? “(Netanyahu) is presumed innocent until proven guilty, even if someone is trying to kick out the prime minister without elections,” Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel of the Jewish Home party, said on Israel’s Channel 13 after news of the state’s witness deal.Jewish Home has eight lawmakers in Netanyahu’s 66seat coalition in parliament, enough to topple the government if the party leaves.

An opinion poll published last night on commercial TV news said 50 percent of respondents thought Netanyahu should either resign or temporarily step aside during the investigation, while 33 percent said he did not have to. Another on Channel 10 television showed that with Netanyahu at the helm, his Likud party would garner 27 seats in the 120-seat parliament if elections were held now. Netanyahu posted an opinion poll on Facebook yesterday commissioned by Likud that showed that it would boost its representation in parliament from 30 seats to 34 if elections were held now.

Br azil Sena te gi ves ffinal inal a ppr oval Brazil Senate giv appr ppro to Rio security inter vention interv BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil’s Senate gave final approval late on Tuesday to a measure that authorizes the federal government to intervene in security in the crime-plagued state of Rio de Janeiro through the end of 2018.The decree, announced by President Michel Temer on Friday, gives an army general oversight of Rio security forces, as violence has escalated in the city. Its passage prevents Brazil from approv-

ing a key pension reform, because changes to the constitution such as those needed for the unpopular entitlements overhaul cannot be legally completed during a federal intervention.Its passage prevents Brazil from approving a key pension reform, because changes to the constitution such as those needed for the unpopular entitlements overhaul cannot be legally completed during a federal intervention.

Kaieteur News

Thursday February 22, 2018

Syria’s Ghouta residents ‘wait to die’ as more bombs fall

A man walks on rubble at a damaged site in the rebel held besieged town of Hamouriyeh, eastern Ghouta, near Damascus, Syria. (REUTERS/Bassam Khabieh) BEIRUT (Reuters) - Residents of Syria’s eastern Ghouta district said they were waiting their “turn to die” day, amid one of the most intense bombardments of the war by pro-government forces on the besieged, rebel-held enclave near Damascus. At least 38 people died yesterday. At least 310 people have been killed in the district since Sunday night and more than 1,550 injured, the Britainbased Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said.The eastern Ghouta, a densely populated agricultural district on the Damascus outskirts, is the last major area near the capital still under rebel control. Home to 400,000 people, it has been besieged by government forces for years.A massive escalation in bombardment, including rocket fire, shelling, air strikes and helicopter-dropped barrel bombs, since Sunday has become one of the deadliest of the Syrian civil war, now entering its eighth year. The Syrian government and its ally Russia, which has backed Assad with air power since 2015, say they do not target civilians and point to rebel mortar fire on Damascus. “We are waiting our turn

to die. This is the only thing I can say,” said Bilal Abu Salah, 22, whose wife is five months pregnant with their first child in the biggest eastern Ghouta town Douma. They fear the terror of the bombardment will bring her into labor early, he said.“Nearly all people living here live in shelters now. There are five or six families in one home. There is no food, no markets,” he said. Reuters photographs taken in eastern Ghouta yesterday showed men searching through the rubble of smashed buildings, carrying blood-smeared people to hospital and cowering in debris-strewn streets. An air strike warning system run by the Syrian Civil Defence, a rescue service in opposition areas, was by Wednesday afternoon sending alerts every few minutes, triggered when warplanes are spotted taking off from air bases. “The estimated arrival time for the plane to reach the most bombed parts of eastern Ghouta: ... Harasta: two minutes from now,” a typical alert sent at 4:41 p.m. said. Abdullah Kahala, a construction worker, was having breakfast with his wife and six

children when a huge explosion shattered the wall. “I saw Hala and Sara lying in blood with their mother hysterical and our other children shellshocked on the floor,” he said in a voice message. “Bombs were falling everywhere near our house. We have been spending the last week digging into the rubble of nearby areas with our bare hands,” he added. DENUNCIATION The United Nations has denounced the bombardment, which has struck hospitals and other civilian infrastructure, saying such attacks could be war crimes. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed yesterday for an “immediate suspension of all war activities in eastern Ghouta”. Speaking to the U.N. Security Council Guterres said residents were living in “hell on earth”.Guterres expressed support for a Swedish and Kuwaiti push for the 15-member council to demand a 30day ceasefire in Syria. Diplomats said the council could vote on a draft resolution in the coming days. But Assad’s veto-wielding ally Russia has called the proposal “not realistic”.

Caribbean Cement to restart exports KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – Caribbean Cement says it expects to restart cement exports following the completion of its US$50m modernisation programme. The programme also includes the commissioning of a new coal mill scheduled for the second quarter of this year, upgrades to both cement mills, a new packing line, and the upgrade and replacement of conveyor belts and dust collectors to boost production to 1.2Mta. “It must be noted that every step has been taken to ensure that the Jamaican market is well covered and

serviced during this period, a key ethos being the fulsome return to the export market with the resultant foreign exchange earnings,” said general manager Peter Donkersloot.“As it relates to return to exports,” he added, “we continue to assess the opportunities that are available within the Caribbean markets – both previous and new – as we look towards other opportunities within the wider region.” Caribbean Cement suspended exports in April 2016 to focus on supplying its home market. At the time, the cement

plant was also securing additional supplies from sister plants in the region to augment supplies to the Jamaican market. In 2017, the company’s cement exports fell 21 per cent to 119,098t, while clinker exports dropped 78 per cent to 39,540t. Export sales of cement were mainly to Suriname and Haiti, while clinker was supplied to Caribbean Cement’s sister plant in Barbados, as well as to Venezuela. Production at the Rockfort, Kingston-based plant in 2017 amounted to arou n d 910,000t.

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Bartlett takes tourism investments to Wall Street

Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett (left) joins Cheddar television hosts Kristan Scholar and Tim Stenovec for discussions on the developments of the Jamaican tourism industry. KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett yesterday visited the New York Stock Exchange, Wall Street, to participate in a series of meetings and media engagements to promote Jamaica’s tourism product as an ideal investment market. According to a release from his ministry, Bartlett disclosed that there has been a notable increase in activity emanating from Wall Street, which is influencing tourism growth in the Caribbean. He also shared that there is a growing interest globally to invest in Jamaica, because of the noted improvement in the country’s economy. “My visit here is to further establish that connection and to continue to make the point that tourism investment

is now moving away from the family structures and private equity and into the public space. This allows a larger group of people to be owners of the tourism industry through the stock markets and its activities. I therefore urge more Jamaicans to own tourism,” said Bartlett. Bartlett noted that the interest of the Wall Street in tourism should come as no surprise as the value of tourism globally is US$7.6 trillion. He also noted that the industry is now the second most important contributor to global GDP, representing some 10 per cent with nearly 400 million employed to the sector. This means approximately 11 per cent of employed individuals globally are in the tourism industry.

“Tourism has come a long way in terms of being recognised as a global driver of economic activity, creator of good jobs and also the cause of transformation and economic development within small and medium countries. It is indeed one of the fastest growing economic activities in the world today,” said the minister.Bartlett is currently visiting New York City to engage in a series of strategic meetings with tourism partners and members of the Diaspora.He is accompanied newly appointed Director of Tourism, Donovan White and by Senior Advisor and Strategist in the Ministry of Tourism, Delano Seiveright. The team is expected to return to the island on Friday. (Jamaica Observer)

Thursday February 22, 2018

Oxfam apologises to Government of Haiti

LONDON - CMC – British charity, Oxfam, has apologised to the government of Haiti after its staff was accused of sexual misconduct during a mission following the devastating earthquake of 2010. “We communicated that to the minister and we’e given as best as we can, explanations as to what happened in 2011,” Oxfam’s regional director Simon Ticehurst told reporters on Monday after meeting with Haiti’s minister of plannign and external cooperation, Aviol Fleurant. Earlier this month, reports surfaced that Oxfam employees paid sex workers while on an aid mission to the French speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country. According to Oxfam, seven employees have left the organisation based on an international probe carried out in 2011. It was also revealed that four members of staff were fired, and three others, including former country director Roland van Hauwermeiren, were allowed to resign over the allegations. During Monday’s breifing with reporters, Fleurant said his government was investigating a possible cover up. “Oxfam admits the use of prostitutes by their staff in 2011, they admitted with all the evidence,” he said. “They even used their offices for such activities. Now we are working to see if there was a cover-up, because their report never made it to the Haitian authorities,” he added. The scandal has dealt a devastating blow to the reputation of the organisation, and

Simon Ticehurst threatens to complicate the work of other charities. Oxfam’s funding in the UK is currently under review.On Tuesday, its executives were questioned by UK politicians over the charity’s handling of the allegations. Mark Goldring, the charity’s chief executive, said he was “sorry for the damage Oxfam has done both to the people of Haiti, but also to wider efforts for aid and development, by possibly undermining public support”. Goldring also said that the charity has received allegations of 26 new misconduct violations since the scandal broke out. He added that 16 relate to international programmes.

Kaieteur News

Thursday February 22, 2018

St Lucia achieves record breaking tourist arrivals in 2017 CASTRIES, St Lucia - CMC – St Lucia achieved a record breaking performance in tourism arrivals during 2017, with total visitor arrivals climbing to an all-time high of 1,105,541. Figures released by the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) reveal that the island also recorded the highest growth in 2017 among the CTO member countries, registering an 11 percent increase. For St Lucia, 2017 was characterized by sustained growth in the industry, with stayover arrivals at 386,127 and the cruise sector recording a 14 percent increase, reaching 669,217, an additional 81,264 visitors despite the 8-month closure of the Pointe Seraphine Berth 1. Commenting on the figures, Minister of Tourism Information and Broadcasting Dominic Fedee, said the tourism industry continues to be an incredibly important and vital part of the St Lucian economy. “We are happy with the levels of growth witnessed and as we continue our marketing efforts, we as well look to maximizing the impact of tourism on our economy”. He said the St Lucia Tourism Authority worked assiduously with the CTO and trade partners to overcome the indirect challenges faced by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, ensuring all markets that the destination was safe and

Dominic Fedee available for travel. At the close of 2017, the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) in Travel Trends Report for 2018, the most important document issued in the UK travel industry selected St Lucia as one of the top 12 destinations for 2018.

Kamla calls ffor or sunset clause on Anti-Gang Bill

Trinidad Guardian - The Opposition will support the Anti-Gang bill if Government includes a two year “sunset” clause when the legislation will end and its effectiveness will be reviewed. The Opposition presented that position Tuesday following criticisms by Government on lack of Opposition support for the bill. Both sides met last week on the Bill, but made little headway. Dismissing PNM accusations on lack of support, the Opposition Tuesday said one sticking point on the bill remains the Government’s unwillingness to budge on the length of time for the sunset clause, and subject the law and its actions to further review in 24 months. Following Monday’s protests in East Port- of- Spain, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad- Bissessar said, “Those events demonstrate the lack of competence and the inability of this administration to address the most serious problem facing T&T. The Government continues to play politics with crime by alleging that Monday’ events justify the passage of the Anti-Gang Legislation.” She said if the passage of the Anti-Gang legislation is Government’s panacea for crime, the administration should accept the Opposition’s offer of a twoyear sunset clause and proceed to the Parliament immediately on the Bill.

Kamla Persad- Bissessar She added, “The Opposition remains prepared to pass the Anti-Gang legislation and my team has provided advice to the Government to address deficiencies in the Bill. We’ve proposed a twoyear sunset clause to allow for parliamentary scrutiny of the operation the Anti-Gang legislation.” “Once the law is put into

effect and law enforcement demonstrates the proper exercise of the powers conferred by the Act, it is a fait accompli that the legislation would be extended at the end of the two-year sunset clause. Why does the Government refuse to subject the law and the actions of law enforcement to parliamentary scrutiny after two years?

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Thursday February 22, 2018

Thursday February 22, 2018

Australia beat New Zealand in T20 tri-series final AUCKLAND (Reuters) Australia claimed the transTasman Twenty20 tri-series after Glenn Maxwell and Aaron Finch helped secure a 19-run win against New Zealand under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method in the rain-affected final. Maxwell scored 20 while Finch was 18 not out as they combined for 37 runs after Australia had lost three quick wickets in the middle of their innings to give the hosts and their fans at Eden Park slim hopes of an upset victory. The Australians, who won all five of their matches in the series that also included England, were 121 for three when they were forced off for rain for the second time during their innings. They had restricted New Zealand to 150 for nine. “Right from the get go we

played superb cricket,” Australia captain David Warner said. “I just asked the guys to execute with energy in everything we did and they have. “People talk about us not taking T20 seriously, but this bunch have come... with superb form and I couldn’t be prouder of the guys. “It proves the great depth in Australia cricket.” Both sides had scored more than 240 runs each on the same pitch last Friday, but Australia ensured that would not happen again as they bowled a fuller length, cleverly changed their pace and set up the victory. The hosts had actually got off to flying start with Martin Guptill (21) and Colin Munro (29) smashing 48 from 4.3 overs before their dismissals in the space of five balls robbed the innings of

momentum. New Zealand were unable to establish any partnerships until they had been reduced to 110 for eight with 6.2 overs remaining. Ross Taylor (43 not out) and Ish Sodhi then put on 38 to ensure they saw out their full compliment. Left arm-spinner Ashton Agar, who ripped the heart out of New Zealand’s middle order, was man-of-the match after he finished with three for 27. Australia’s run chase was not affected by an injury to batsman Chris Lynn, who dislocated his right shoulder while diving in the field. The 27-year-old has had three surgeries on his left shoulder and appeared to be protecting it in his dive but landed awkwardly, jarred his right shoulder and was immediately assisted from the field and taken to hospital for

Thursday February 22, 2018 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) No sooner do you set foot in the office this morning than you begin to get pelted from all directions with various crises and problems, TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Today will be a lovely combination of harmony and passion. Make the most of it, Taurus. With things running so smoothly at work, there's no reason you can't leave the office early GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Your efforts on the domestic front have certainly paid off, Gemini. Your home is looking wonderful. Everyone who enters says so. Some unexpected visitors may stop by for a quick hell CANCER (June 21–July 22) Yo u r n e i g h b o r h o o d i s changing, Cancer, and the change is all for the better. Wonderful new neighbors may have moved in, or perhaps a small gourmet take-out shop has just opened up.

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LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Today is the final push to complete a very big project you've likely been working on for some time now, Libra. Even though your name won’t be on the cover of the book or business proposal SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) A pleasant outing could get delayed or cancelled due to an event entirely out of your control. Rather than having a fit, Scorpio, you and your friends could seize the opportunity to do something SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) There’s no question about it, Sagittarius, you’ve been working hard these last few weeks. As an approaching deadline looms, you may find yourself waking up CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Today, or rather tonight, is for romance and cozy intimacy, Capricorn. You pull out all the stops for your evening with that special someone.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Financial prosperity is just around the corner, Leo, especially with your recently acquired money-management skills.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Some interesting moneymaking opportunities are likely to come your way, Aquarius, either today or in the near future. It could be that it’s time for a new job

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) The significant other in your life needs your support not a lecture right now, Virgo. Let him or her know you’re available to listen and help in any way, but don’t smother your partner

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) There’s going to be so much to get done today that you might feel a little daunted about getting started. By midday you could even find yourself downright overwhelmed.

scans. “His shoulder was able to be put back into place at the ground and he was consequently sent for X-Rays which revealed no major bone injury,” Australia physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said in a statement. “He will return to Brisbane to undergo further scans and assessment and from there we will have a better understanding of the ongoing management, along with the return to play timeframes.” Openers D‘Arcy Short (50) and Warner (25) put on 72 runs to set the foundation before they fell in quick succession, but Finch and Maxwell settled the innings down to ensure victory after rain forced them off after 14.4 overs. “We didn’t assess as well as we could have,” New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said. “The wicket was quite different from the last game and I think another 20 runs could have made it competitive. Scores: Australia 121 for 3 (Short 50) beat New Zealand 150 for 9 (Taylor 43*, Agar 3-27) by 19 runs (DLS method).

Over 60... From page 36 Mourant Turf Club will be in effect at the meet. For more information, coordinator Campton Sancho can be contacted on telephone number 691-1174

Jaguars Face... From page 35 order for Anthony Bramble, Sherfane Rutherford, Ricardo Adams and Romario Shepherd to build on. Without Bishoo and Paul the bowling is depleted.Shepherd and Rutherford, both expensive in the last game, will have to be more consistent, while Barnwell’s spell could be an important one. Veerasammy Permaul will lead a spin attack that could include Rookie off-spinner Jamaican Ramaal Lewis, who bowled well on the small ground in his only match so far and took two key wickets. Adams and part-time left-arm spinner Hemraj could also play their part with the ball. The toss, weather and pitch conditions could prove important factors in the result. Plenty Guyana support is anticipated tonight as Jaguars aim for a place in the final which will be an ideal Mashramani gift for their Country which celebrates its 48th Republic Anniversary tomorrow.

Goggia upstages Vonn in downhill Omnisport - Lindsey Vonn fought to a third-place finish in the ladies’ downhill at the Winter Olympics as Italian Sofia Goggia claimed gold yesterday. Vonn, 33, created a piece of history by becoming the oldest female alpine skier to make the podium at the Games. In what was likely her last Olympic downhill, Vonn – the 2010 gold medallist in the event – was the seventh competitor out of 39 to compete. She came out aggressive and at the first split was 0.17 seconds behind Goggia, who took the initial lead after competing fifth. At the second split she was .40secs behind Goggia, ending her chances of victory. Vonn skied a safe run, but she did not take any risks with the lines she ran. Her time was one minute and 39.69 seconds, which gave her the bronze after Goggia

won gold with a 1:39.22 and Norway’s Ragnhild Mowinckel, who competed 19th, snuck into second with a 1:39.31. “I skied a great race,” Vonn said during NBC’s broadcast. “Sofia just skied better than I did. I thought I executed the line really well. Maybe I executed too well. I tried to stay on the perfect line. I have no regrets. I’m very happy.” Vonn became very emotional after Mowinckel moved into silver, but her team-mates were there to console her. “It was tough to contemplate this being my last Olympic downhill race,” Vonn added. “I struggled to keep the emotions together. But I’m proud of my performance.” Goggia, who has three World Cup downhill wins, gave Italy their first Olympic gold in the event.

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Kaieteur News

Russell reiterates commitment, available for Windies A DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC – Allrounder Andre Russell has dismissed claims about his lack of commitment to West Indies cricket, and has again reiterated his desire to represent the Caribbean side in the limited overs format. The 29-year-old was one of four Windies players, along with Darren Bravo, Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine, who was criticised after opting out of selection for the ICC World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe starting next month. However, Russell said he had explained to Cricket West Indies officials that having just spent a year away from the game serving an antidoping whereabouts ban, it was important he first worked his way into match readiness. “I’ve seen the comments bashing me, saying that I am not interested in playing for West Indies and [had] turned my back on the team. I would never do that. West Indies made me who I am at this moment and I’m not going to burn my bridges,” Russell told the India-based Firstpost. “I had reached out to the president, coach, directors, captain and I explained to them this is going to be the situation. “Because I’ve been out of cricket for 14 months and to be coming back in at a crucial point when West Indies need to qualify for a World Cup … I didn’t want to hinder someone else who would be more match-ready and disadvantage the team.” He continued: “So all suggestions out there that I purposely didn’t want to play for West Indies is not true. “I told them (board) that

West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell. further down in [the] year I would love to be back in [the] team in that colour and have that badge over my heart.” In announcing the squad for the March 4-25 qualifiers, chief selector Courtney Browne seemed to take umbrage with the quartet’s decision not to stand for selection stating, “[they] indicated that they were unavailable to help us qualify as their priority was playing in the Pakistan Super League.” Russell, one of the most sought after players in the international Twenty20 circuit, will turn out for Islamabad United in the PSL which bowls off Thursday. He will also feature for Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League starting April, and praised the franchise’s imput in his return to competitive cricket. “However I feel good to know that having been out for so long, I am still a top priority to the Caribbean [side]. It means a lot, but at the end of the day I am a fair person and I want to start off slow,” the Jamaican explained. “These Super50 games

I’ve played – it was good that KKR remained part of my comeback process and sent a sports therapist to assist me in the tournament to make sure I was in top physical condition and I thank them for that. “These are sort of things going on behind the scenes. If I was playing some competitive cricket before the squadselection, when they (West Indies selectors) approached me, then I would say yeah, I am ready for it (playing qualifiers).” Russell, however, stressed that his focus at the international level would be in the limited overs format as his dodgy knee would continue to make Test cricket difficult. And as a sign of his commitment, Russell said he had already made himself available for the West Indies A tour of England later this year. “From the six games I’ve played in Super50, I don’t see any change in my knee,” he noted. “In the year-out I have done work on my knees, trying to get stronger in my legs but it may be something I may have to retire with. “Test cricket I think will be too much,. Right now I just want to make sure I can handle white-ball cricket. So I won’t say I’m not interested in Tests, but that’s one to reevaluate in the future. “Yes, I made myself available for A team tour to England, if they pick me fine. I don’t have a problem using that platform before getting back into the senior team.” Russell has scored 985 runs and taken 64 wickets in 51 One-Day Internationals and also played 43 T20Is.

Cross-country skiing: Diggins delivers long-awaited U.S. gold PYEONGCHANG, South Korea (Reuters) - Kikkan Randall and Jessica Diggins delivered the first Olympic cross-country medal for the United States since 1976 with a stunning victory in a thrilling finish to the women’s team sprint relay yesterday. Diggins held off the challenge of Sweden’s Stina Nilsson in a furious sprint for the line to win gold and Norway’s Marit Bjoergen became the most successful winter Olympian of all time with 14 medals after taking bronze with Maiken Caspersen Falla. “It feels unreal, I can’t believe it just happened,” Diggins told reporters.

“In the final stretch I was just thinking, ‘Go, go, go, I‘m giving it everything I had and I’ve got someone who I really love and care about waiting for me at the finishing line and I just want to make her proud’,” she said of Randall. The Americans had not celebrated a medal in crosscountry since Bill Koch took silver in the 30km race in Innsbruck more than 40 years ago.“I had so much adrenaline as she was coming down, but if there’s anybody I’d have 100 percent faith in coming down that finishing stretch as f a s t a s p o s s i b l e , i t ’s Jessie,” said the 35-year-

old Randall who is competing in her fifth Olympics. “So that was just a wonderful feeling to take it all in and watch it happen.” Sweden and Norway were hot favorites for yet another gold medal in w o m e n ’s c r o s s - c o u n t r y skiing and the Nordic nations were at the head of the pack for almost the entire race.With the racers taking turns to speed around the 1,176-meter long track, Randall and Diggins fought to stay in touch with the leaders as the rest of the pack fell away after the halfway point.

Thursday February 22, 2018

Hand-in-Hand Insurance Company, Republic Bank support RHTY&SC Annual Award

Club Executives pose with Representatives of the Small Business Bureau The Plan by the Management of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS to host its 28th Annual Award Ceremony received a major boost on Thursday last when two long standing sponsors handed out donations to the event. Insurance giants, Hand-in-Hand Insurance Company and the Rose Hall Town Branch of Republic Bank donated trophies towards the honouring of outstanding members. Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster stated that preparation has started early with the formation of a planning Committee headed by him and Vice President Mark Papannah. The event would be held on the 15th April, 2018, at the St. Francis Training Centre, Patron of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS President David Granger has been invited to deliver the Feature Address at the Ceremony where a total of 65 Club Members, Law Enforcement Officers, Teachers, Students and Berbice Role Models would be honoured. Apart from its own Awards Ceremony, the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club will also be hosting the Tribute to Law Enforcement Officers, Bank of Nova Scotia Tribute to Teachers, Tribute to Outstanding Students and Tribute to Role Models Programme in what is Guyana’s largest Awards Ceremony. A total of six outstanding Guyanese would also receive the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club highest Award “The Dolphin Award of Excellence”. Among the Awards to be shared to Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club Members would be Most Promising Player, Most Committed Member, Under-15 Player of the Year - 2017, Under-19 Player of the Year, Female Player of the Year, Discipline Member of the Year, worker of the Year, Benefit Year and

Cricketer of the Year. The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club would also be making donations to several NGOs during the event and inducting a total of eighteen Honourary Members. A total of $2.5M worth of trophies, medals, souvenirs, gifts and donations would be handed out while winners of a Berbice wide Essay Competition for Primary and Secondary Schools would also receive their prizes. Foster, the long standing Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club Secretary/CEO, hailed the contributions of Hand-inHand Insurance and Republic Bank and described them as true friends of Guyana’s leading Youth and Sports Club. Hand-in-Hand handed over five trophies to honour junior cricketers of the Club, while Republic Bank continued its sponsorship of the Disciplined Player of the Year

Award. Meanwhile, Executives of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, its ten cricket teams and Over-35 Group on Tuesday last met with a team of Officials from the Small Business Bureau. The Bureau team informed the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club delegation on opportunities available to youths concerning the establishment of businesses and creation of jobs. Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster pledged the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club full support to the Small Business Bureau and would be working to promote its work among youths in Berbice. The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club and its parent body, the St. Francis Community Developers has also agreed to provide office space for the establishment of an office for the Bureau in the Lower Corentyne area.

Ravindranauth Kissoonlall and Simon Naidu receives the trophies from Hand-in-Hand.

Thursday February 22, 2018

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Kaieteur News

Clubs urged to prepare for packed 2018 Milo schools’ under-18 football tournament Business School and Chase’s Academy season by New BCB President After a two-year absence of any major Inter-Club Cricket action in the ancient county of Berbice, the newly elected President of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), Hilbert Foster, is urging all Clubs to prepare for a packed season. Foster stated that teams in the ancient county would be involve in tournaments at the junior, senior and female levels and he is urging all clubs to get their teams in shape, register with the Berbice Cricket Board and to make sure that their grounds are in order. Foster, who served as Chairman of the Berbice Cricket Board Special Events Committee from 2007 to 2014 disclosed that barring the weather, cricket matches would start by the mid of March, 2018 as the new executives are settled in, appoint the different committees and acquire sponsorship. The BCB in the space of 24 hours after the election, on Sunday last was able to receive commitment for six major tournament and many more are expected to come in by the end of February. Foster stated that cricket would be played at the Schools, Under-15, 17, 19 and 21. Also Female, Second Division, Intermediate and First Division levels, while tournaments would also be played in each of the Sub-Associations at the Second Division level in an effort to support the development of Village Cricket. The Sub-Associations that would benefit from Internal Cricket Tournaments

are Central/Upper Corentyne, Lower Corentyne, New Amsterdam/Canje, Berbice River and West Berbice. Cricket Committees would be established in each Sub-Association to assist the Berbice Cricket Board to run off the tournaments. The BCB would also be working with the Ministry of Education to organise tournaments and coaching programmes for Primary and Secondary Schools. Foster also stated that a comprehensive Coaching Programme including the hosting of a Berbice Cricket Academy is on the cards for 2018. The Under-15 tournament would be played two innings per game, while the Under-17, Under-19, Under-21 and Females would be 50-Overs per side. First Division would benefit from at least five cricket tournaments in 2018 at the 20/20, 40-Overs and 50Overs level while plans are also on stream for Berbice teams at the different levels to tour Guyana as part of a developmental programme. The BCB would also be putting together a pool of cricket coaches to visit different areas around Berbice to work along with Clubs to develop new talents. While the emphasis in 2018 would be cricket on the field, the BCB would also be undertaking several off the field activities including Annual Review Magazine, Cricket Academy, Award Ceremony, First Aid Clinic, Elite Training Programme and the publication of Cricket Educational

Materials. Foster, committed himself to being a President for all Berbicians and stated that under his leadership all Clubs, players and officials would be treated equally. Every youth in Berbice would be given a fair chance of playing for Berbice in spite of race, creed or the Club they played for. Noting, that the election is now finished, he issued an appeal for Unity as the sole purpose should be the development of Berbice Cricket. He welcomed ideas and recommendations from all stakeholders, while announcing that he and his Executives would be meeting with all Clubs and Officials shortly to listen to their ideas. Foster noted that he has the support of a dynamic team that includes a wide array of professionals who are all committed to lifting Berbice Cricket to an all time level. Foster, who is the serving Secretary/CEO of Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, predicted that within the next six months, all the complaining of no cricket being played would be memories of the past and Berbice Cricket would be the pride of Guyana. The new Executives of the BCB for 2018 are Hilbert Foster, President, Vice Presidents Jevaughn Stephens, Albert Smith and Qualis Winter, Secretary Rabindranauth Saywack, Asst Secretary Ameer Rahaman, Treasurer Dr. Cecil Beharry and Asst Treasurer Winston Roberts.

in good position to qualify for knockouts

Two matches were battled yesterday afternoon at the Ministry of Education (MOE) ground as group, roundrobin play continued in the 2018 Milo Schools’ under-18 football tournament. Chase’s Academic Foundation featured game was halted at halftime with the score 3-0 in favour of the defending champions against Annandale Secondary due to electrical problems that affected the floodlights. Meanwhile, The Business School won to cement their chances in qualifying for the knockout round. In the first match, Business School completed a last gasp 2-1 win over Charlestown Secondary. National Forward Jermaine

Padmore opened the scoring for the winners in the 27th minute and the lead was outlived until the second half when Charlestown equalized in the 64th minute. Raymond Budhy darted down the left flank and beat two defenders before finessing a rightfooted curler into the top right of Business School’s net. With the game appearing set for a draw with one minute remaining, Business School were awarded a corner which Padmore curled dangerously towards goal and poor defending accounted for an own goal that gifted the Brickdam road based school the lead and the victory. The Chase’s Academy versus Annandale Secondary game will be completed next

Business School goals corer and Captain, Jermaine Padmore. weekend in the tournament which is also being sponsored by the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) through the theme: “There is no excuse for violence.” (Calvin Chapman)

Kendall Union Sports Stars are Ramnarine Memorial T20 champs

Germany stun Sweden to gain seat at semis GANGNEUNG, South Korea (Reuters) - Germany shocked top-seeded Sweden 4-3 after Patrick Reimer scored in overtime yesterday, beating the Scandinavians for the first time ever in Olympic play and booking a spot in the semi-finals of the men’s ice hockey tournament. Reimer’s goal a minute and a half into the extra period came after a frantic comeback by the Swedes, who scored three third-period goals to tie the game at 3-3 at the end of regulation. “I just saw some space opening up towards the net, and I tried to take it there,” Reimer said of his goal. “It worked out, and somehow I got that extra bounce and worked it in.” The win places Germany in the medal round, where they face Canada, and offers a German national team the chance to win their first Olympic medal since the Innsbruck games in 1976,

when they claimed bronze. Since German unification in 1990, Germany had not beaten Sweden at the Olympics, going 0-5 heading into the Pyeongchang Games. Sweden had added to that record last week, beating Germany 1-0 in the preliminary round. Even before unification, the best result a German national team had earned against the Swedes in the Olympics was a 1-1 tie in 1984 at Sarajevo. East Germany were also winless, with a 0-1 record. Germany took the lead yesterday in the first period with goals less than a minute apart.Christian Erhoff scored on the powerplay with Sweden’s Dennis Everberg off for kneeing, and Marcel Noebels put the Germans two ahead 29 seconds later. After a scoreless second period, Sweden cut Germany’s lead to 2-1 on a third-period goal by Anton

Lander, assisted by defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, seen by many as the likely top pick in this year’s NHL draft. But Dahlin, who has seen limited playing time so far in the Olympics, turned the puck over a couple of minutes later and the Germans pounced as Dominik Kahun took the score to 3-1. However, the Swedes rallied and managed to level the game within four minutes. First, with Germany’s Felix Schutz off for slashing, Patrik Hersley capitalized on the powerplay, and then Mikael Wikstrand netted the equalizer shortly afterwards. Reimer was the match-winner, though, and said the Germans kept their cool despite losing the lead so late in the game. “We knew Sweden always had the chance to come back,” Reimer said. “They tied up the game, but we didn’t want to lose our heads, and we managed to not do that.”

Mukesh Appiah left, presents trophy to captain of the winning team in the presence of jubilant players and spectators. Under an overcast sky and on a moist pitch, the star studded Kendall’s Union Sports Stars emerged champions of the recently concluded Ramnarine ‘Brother’ Appiah T20 tournament played at the Kendall’s Union Cricket Ground, No 19 Village, Berbice. They beat arch rival Kendall’s Union Sports Club (KUSC) in a nail biting final by seven wickets in a game reduced to eight overs a side due to fading light. The tournament was sponsored by Mukesh Appiah and family in honour of his father. In the first semi-final, Seawell won the toss and took first strike scoring 71 for 9 wickets off their 10 overs allotment. Martin Baker and J. Chunilall with 15 runs each

were the only batsmen making double figures. Bowling for KUSC, Samuel Baker and Ravin Seecharran took two wickets apiece. In reply, KUSC raced to 74 for one off 7.2 overs with Daniel Baker leading the way with 45 not out consisting of four fours and four sixes. E. Garnett supported with an unbeaten 26. In the second semi-final, Kendall’s Union Sports Stars plundered Jai Hind bowling to amass 126 for 2 off 10 overs with former national under-19 player Khemraj Mahadeo making 47 not out. He got support from former national wicketkeeper/batsman Delbert Hicks 46 and Dasrath Debiden 23. In reply, Jai Hind struggled to 69 for 5 off 10 overs with Khemraj Sumair 22,

Balram Baldeo and Anil Beharry 14 (n.o) being the principal scorers. Joshua Tayah took two wickets for the winning team. In the grand final, KUSC batted first and made 60 for 3 off 8 overs with Errol Garnett scoring an unbeaten 23 and Seecharran 16. Tayah took two wickets. In reply, KUSS made 63 for 3 in the final over. The winning and runner up teams received cash incentives. Trophies were given to the winning team, Tayah, man-of-the-match in the final, Daniel Baker and Mahadeo, man-of-the-match in the two semi finals respectively. Mukesh Appiah thanked everyone who made the event possible to honour his late father.

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Region 5 Community organise 10/10 Mash Cup cricket and wash down in Berbice The Region 5 Community in collaboration with Innovation 360 will be staging a one day 10/10 Cricket competition for teams in Berbice. The competition is set for February Sunday at the Cotton Tree Ground, West Coast Berbice. Six teams have been invited to participate in the competition including Cotton Tree Die Hard, West Berbice Achievers, Universal DVD Port Mourant, D’ Edward Cricket Club, No 48 Cricket Club and Fairfield Cricket Club .According to a release from

the organisers, the Innovation 360 group is delighted to be a part of the initiative. They believe that investment in youths and sports represents investment for the future.They are urging their communities to come out and support the matches and enjoy the grand festivity. A number of gifts will be distributed to patrons in celebration of the Mashramani activities in Guyana. Musical entertainment will be in full swing and the atmosphere will be lived up

This launch is set for Saturday, at the GFF Secretariat commencing at 11:00hrs. Additionally, as part of their partnership with the GFF, Scotiabank will issue vouchers to select footballers who have excelled academically and are part of the ATCs. Visit schedule: 1. Friday 23rd of February - Arrival and dinner with the GFF President. 2. Visit to the Providence FORWARD site 3. Saturday 24th of February - Presentation of Scotia Bank Book vouchers to ATC players. 4. Saturday 24th of February - Launch of the GFF/ Kool Kidzs GRASS ROOTS programme. 5. Saturday 24th of February - Site visit to two ATCs (Georgetown and East Bank) 6. Saturday 24th of February - Site visit to a GFF/ Frank Watson game (Wales

Marlon Glean Community Centre Ground @ 1400hrs/16:00hrs) 7. Saturday 24th of February - Dinner with Exco. 8. Sunday 25th of February - City tour and ffootball venue/infrastructure examination. 9. Sunday 25th of February - Site visit an Elite League game. 10. Monday 26th of February - Departure.

Daniel Ricciardo crashes new Red Bull in first test BBC Sport - Daniel Ricciardo crashed Red Bull’s new 2018 Formula 1 car during its first test, it has emerged.The Australian damaged the RB14 during a private filming session, limited by regulations to 100km (62 miles), at a wet Silverstone on Monday. A Red Bull spokesman said the incident was “minor” and there would be “no issues” as regards being ready for the start of pre-season testing next week. The team did not mention the incident in footage re-

leased on the day. Ricciardo also did not talk about the crash in a statement released by Red Bull. “It’s hard to tell from a couple of laps but the initial feeling in the car is good,” he had said. “I can already feel that the rear feels pretty settled, even in these poor conditions. Those are encouraging early signs.” The autosport.com and motorsport.com websites reported that the incident had damaged the front of the car, floor and suspension. The team described these

McLeod, Thompson to lead World Indoors team

with cheerleaders for the finals and a grand after party. Innovation 360 will continue to support the development of communities within which it serves. Interested partners and sponsors are asked to come on board and support this initiative. For more information persons are asked to call 328-7977, 6879009 or 611-0055 or email lee.chan2015@gmail.com A number of sponsors including Ansa McAl Trading are already on board. (Samuel Whyte)

FIFA’s REGIONAL DIRECTOR TO VISIT GUYANA The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will host the newly appointed FIFA Regional Director, Mr. Marlon Glean, who is scheduled to visit Guyana from tomorrow to Monday. During his visit, Glean will meet with the President and Executive Committee, visit the GFF’s National Training Centre and participate in the youth development programmes – visit to twoGFF-Scotiabank Academy Training Centres (ATCs) and one GFF-Pele Alumni Frank Watson U-15 Intra Association Tournament. He will also visit a GFF Elite League Match. Among the highlights of the visit will be the launch of a partnership between the GFF and Guyana Beverages Inc., which will see bi-weekly “Kool Kidzs” grassroots programmes being held in vulnerable communities.

Thursday February 22, 2018

Kaieteur News

reports as “speculative”. Ricciardo did say, however, that he had had no problems with the new ‘halo’ head protection system, which has to be fitted to all cars this season to protect the drivers from impacts with large objects.“So far I can see fine with the halo. I’d only done a couple of installs with it before so it was pretty new today but I really didn’t notice it was there, which is pretty good,” he said. “Honestly, unless there’s stuff above, I don’t see any issues at all on a flat track.”

Elaine Thompson (left) and Omar McLeod. Jamaica Observer - Defending men’s 60m hurdles champion Omar McLeod and 60m bronze medallist Elaine Thompson, two of the three medallists from the most recent IAAF World Indoors Championships in Portland, Oregon, have been named in the 30-member Jamaican team to compete at the 2018 championships in Birmingham, United Kingdom, next weekend. Sixteen women and 14 men were named by the selection panel of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA), which will see Maurice Wilson as technical director with Michael Frater and Dion HemmingsMcCathy as the managers. The JAAA released the list early yesterday and also included shot putter Danniel Thomas-Dodd, who is ranked number two in the world after extending her national record to 19.05m two weeks ago. Thomas-Dodd, last year’s NCAA Division One champion and four-time national champion, just missed out on a medal at last year’s IAAF

World Championships in London, placing fourth. Kimberly Williams, who is ranked number eight in the world and a bronze medallist in 2014 in Sopot, Poland, is one of two female triple jumpers named in the team, along with Shanieka Ricketts. McLeod will seek to defend his title and will hope to extend his run to four straight global titles after winning at the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016 and at the World Championships in London last year. Natoya Goule, who at 26 years old is a veteran, is ranked number three in the world in the 800m with one minute 59.86 seconds and will be seeking to make her first major senior final. Thompson surprised herself in Portland two years ago as she gradually improved through the rounds on her way to a bronze medal and will join Remona Burchell in the short sprint. Asafa Powell, who won a silver two years ago in Portland, Oregon, in the USA, was not named on the team after

he pulled up in a race at the National Stadium last Saturday. Quarter-miler Dominique Blake, who was banned after the 2012 Olympic Games after failing a drugs test at the national trials, was also named in the team — her first national selection since her ban expired in 2016. The men’s team includes: Everton Clarke, Kimmari Roach, Omar McLeod, Javon Francis, Steven Gayle, Kemoy Campbell, Ronald Levy, Demar Forbes, Clive Pullen, O’Dayne Richards, Andre Clarke, Jermaine Gayle, Peter Matthews and Rusheen McDonald. The women’s team comprises: Remona Burchell, Gayon Evans, Elaine Thompson, Dominique Blake, Tovea Jenkins, Stephenie-Ann McPherson, Natoya Goule, Aisha Praught, Rushell Burton, Jeanine Williams, Shanieka Ricketts, Kimberly Williams, Danniel ThomasDodd, Tiffany James, Annastasia Leroy, and Janieve Russell.

Consumers triumph Consumers registered 79 games to win the quarter-final of the Police Headquarters inter department dominoes competition held recently at Police Sports Club, Eve Leary. FAPC finished second on 77 games and Immigration third on 66. Neville Cadogan who played through the sitting, made 32 games, while Nicola Lowenfield and Tusankine Thompson made 17 and 14 re-

spectively. Mark George scored 17, while Michael Profit and Rock Hutson got 13 each for FAPC. Immigration leading players were Aletha James and Neon James with 13 games apiece. The semi-final will be played on Monday with Consumers, SWAT and FAPC battling for supremacy; Mounted Branch drew the bye to the final.

West Berbice Cricket Association to host T20 The West Berbice Cricket Association in Collaboration with BENZ Entertainment will be hosting a T20 tournament for teams in the area. The tournament will be played on a round robin basis and the area will be di-

vided in two zones. Over 12 clubs will be participating and at stake are incentives for the first, second and third place teams as well as the best dressed team, player with the most runs and outstanding youth player.