K
AIETEUR NEWS
Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly
Cuban’s killers P.
Saturday Edition February 22, 2020 - Vol. 14 No. 08
Online: www.kaieteurnews.com
24
Price $80
known to cops
No restriction on
Online readership yesterday 142,874
- Shows law only affords confidentiality protection to petroleum data - Ram P3.
disclosing local content information
Former Chief Justice Ian Chang honoured by 21P. Full Court sitting
Attempted robber gets sound 24. thrashing P
e t o v s e c i v r e S Discipline See stories on pages 8, 9 and 18
First ever Immigration Office 11P. commissioned in Region Ten
GECOM firm on reduction of private polling stations 3. P
Turf war blamed on 2018 ‘massacre’ of fishermen - Too many boats; CoI recommends tracking devices, training P. 12
PAGE 02
Kaieteur News
Saturday February 22, 2020
Saturday February 22, 2020
Kaieteur News
PAGE 03
No restriction on GECOM firm on reduction disclosing local of private polling stations content information
T
- Shows law only affords confidentiality protection to petroleum data - Ram
U
pon noting the r e c e n t explanation by Energy Department Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe on the reason confidentiality clauses are part of Guyana's Local Content Policy, Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram says he has been thrown into a state of complete and utter disappointment. Dr. Bynoe had explained that drafters of the Local Content policy had to honour the contractual terms of Articles 18 and 19 in Guyana's current legally binding Petroleum Agreements. Those Articles speak to the Local Content requirements of oil companies. Dr. Bynoe subsequently highlighted that the said Articles do not call for disclosure but for the Operators meeting with the Minister on such issues. Irrespective of the foregoing explanation by Dr. Bynoe, Ram strongly contends that the disclosure of local content data is not subject to any restriction. During an interview, Ram said, “... Dr. Bynoe does not seem to know that the relevant
Confidentiality provisions are set out in the Model Agreement and are subject to Section 4 of the Petroleum Exploration and Production Act. Confidentiality protection is afforded to petroleum data but the Act expressly excludes from such a restriction disclosure 'for, or in connection with, any matter or purpose specified in a petroleum agreement.” Of significance as well, is the fact that Guyana's PSAs stipulate that such agreements “shall be governed by, interpreted and construed in accordance with the laws of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, and , consistent with such rules of international law as may be applicable or appropriate, including the generally accepted customs and usages of the international petroleum industry.” Three industry experts have confirmed that the use of confidentiality provisions in Local Content Policies is not a “generally accepted custom” in the oil industry. In fact, it is unheard of. Ram was keen to note
REPUBLIC ARCH RECOMMISSIONED
T
he Department of Social Cohesion yesterday recommissioned the Republic Arch on Church Street and Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo officiated at the ceremony . He said that the arch represents part of the Coalition Government's efforts aimed at restoring Georgetown to its former glory.
Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram during his interview that full disclosure of local content data is good for the country since the businesses may be incentivised to outdo each other in terms of utilising Guyanese goods, services and skills. With respect to Dr. Bynoe's talk of needing confidentiality, Ram said that this shows how slowly he is learning on the job. Ram opined, “It was the same kind of nonsense peddled by (Natural Resources Minister, Raphael) Trotman about the release of the 2016 Exxon agreement until he was corrected.” The lawyer added, “...The time may soon come when we may have to ask that Bynoe be replaced. We cannot have such a major sector being handled in such an incompetent manner.”
he Guyana E l e c t i o n s Commission (GECOM) yesterday responded to complaints by the People's Progressive Party (PPP) that the reduction of private polling stations for the March 2 General and Regional Elections could disenfranchise voters. In a recent statement, the Opposition party had stated, “We consider this latest development as yet another attempt by GECOM to frustrate voters, suppress and hinder voting and create possible confusion on Elections Day.” Chair of GECOM, Justice Claudette Singh, told media operatives during the joint services voting process yesterday that the reduction was prompted by the Carter C e n t e r , w h o s e representatives had questioned the use of private polling stations. Singh explained that the private polling stations have been reduced because they've been substituted by public buildings. “It's not that the polling stations are removed in the area. It's just the private residences; they're moving away from those,” the Chair said. “Why would you use private residences when you have a public place?” she
GECOM CEO, Keith Lowenfield asked. The private polling stations being used dropped from 166 in the 2015 elections to 92 for the 2020 elections. GECOM Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, said that in the cases where private stations were kept, it was unavoidable. “There is absolutely no public or other building that could have been used in these instances and therefore we had no choice. The residents of those particular divisions, sub-divisions have to vote,” Lowenfield told reporters. Leader of the governing Coalition, President David Granger, told reporters who approached him yesterday that there have been numerous abuses in the past when private, sometimes obscure residences were used because some of them were owned by “political advocates”.
GECOM Chair, Justice Claudette Singh The President agreed with the Commission's decision to reduce the use of private polling stations, “in its wisdom”, but noted that the Commission's decision was just that – a decision of the Commission. Hence, he posited that any complaints about the matter should be addressed to the Chairman. GECOM has proposed the use of 2,339 polling stations for the upcoming elections, up from 2,299 in 2015. The PPP's biggest contention was that the reduction in the use of private polling stations may be used discriminatorily, “since there are many private residences being used in Georgetown and along the East Bank of Demerara as polling stations.” GECOM has committed to examining the Opposition's complaints.
Kaieteur News
PAGE 04
Saturday February 22, 2020
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
The illegals and the job market It has been relentless pressure on immigrants since the current US President took office. With so many Guyanese in America, there is empathy for those struggling to make the grade, and their slippery grasp on the Great American Dream. Though it has increasingly assumed nightmarish proportions, there is no other dream, anywhere in the world, worth pursuing, or which is given the room to flourish. Yet, it seems that every new week brings more bad news from the US immigration front. More hardline developments designed to send home or aimed at keeping out. The hardliners in policymaking positions are there to finalise the visions and enforce the provisions. But even as this is unfolding without letup, the remorseless squeezing from the White House on down is starting to produce cracking at the seams, with screaming promised. The meat packing industry is suffering from a lack of workers. It is mainly in the Southwest (a Republican base) and the shortage is brought about by undocumented immigrants gone underground; the handicaps of owners saddled with onerous regulations that curtail their freedom to hire like before; and the reality that American born workers either shun the dirty, dangerous, low-prestige work associated with the meat industry or simply will refuse to work without satisfactory compensation. It has been the argument, and reality, that US citizens will not stoop so low as to slaughter animals for a living. The bottom line is that it is mainly bottom feeding foreigners, who will turn up for the job of putting a nice juicy prime cut on the table. Of course, that is after all the dirty work that came before was handled with aplomb and dispatched. On January 25, the global news agency, AFP, presented a stark and comprehensive picture of the downside of ongoing US immigration pressures. AFP tells the story under the caption of “Trump immigration clampdown may threaten Americans’ jobs, wages, economists say.” To support the story, a number of specific circumstances was highlighted. A bakery in California, a potato processing plant in Nebraska, and restaurant in New York all closed after immigration raids sent illegal workers scurrying for the exits and disappearing altogether. They are not coming back. Further, and as extracted from the AFP story, “Farmers…are planting less, turning to automation, eliminating some crops, leaving them to rot in the field or contemplating selling out of the business altogether -all because they cannot find enough immigrant labor.” Research indicates that the absence of immigrant workers leads to “lost jobs, lower wages, cancelled investments, and less affordable services.” The impact of these negatives touches native born Americans, too. The authoritative and prestigious National Academy of Sciences found “little evidence” that immigrants interfered with employment levels of Americans. And an economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, after a painstaking study, came to this rather ironic conclusion: “firms that hire unauthorized workers actually pay their legally authorized workers higher wages and stay in business longer.” Now that was in the state of Georgia, but one would be hard pressed to believe that no other state was not subject to the same set of circumstances. Further, economists at the Universities of Colorado and California found that during the period 2008 to 2015, when the US deported half a million immigrants, employment in those communities of legal US workers fell by 0.7 percent. The low skilled foreigner serves as an economically viable complement to the native-born American worker, enabling American businesses to prosper and hire still more workers. And still further, US Labor Department figures reveal that gardening and lawn care costs have spiraled by three to five times the rate of overall consumer inflation. The reason should not be surprising: the mainly migrant workers in those areas are no longer around, having fled for the borders.
Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.
Government must think big, project big, and guarantee big deliveries DEAR EDITOR, The Hon. Minister of Finance spoke of thinking about taxes and other incentives intended to boost activity in certain sectors, notably construction. I think those are encouraging, but they are deliberately vague (too much so) and stingily too small (too unacceptably) from the number hinted at to make much of a difference. I recognize that the government did implement a reduction in VAT last time around. But I assert that it was too sparse to be recognized, to be even felt by the little people. I didn’t recognize either its implementation or existence. I recognize, also, that prudent financial husbandry demands a little here and a little there, rather than a big splash that could turn out to be unaffordable and burdensome with the passage of time. But even as
I e x t e n d t h o s e understandings, I must submit that a 2% yesterday and another 2% today, barely registers on the scales of consciousness, if they do at all and, where they matter the most, on the balance wheel of the struggling Guyanese household. As I have said repeatedly, I do not know how people exist day to day in this country; and have existed in the years and decades before. In spite of all the vehicles and the flashing extravagances, there are still too many, who go hungry, cannot afford a roundtrip minibus fare, or are unable to obtain a card for a hundred dollars of cellphone credit (and that is weekly). All are just out of reach on a continual basis for too many for the longest while now. And no amount of statistics and projections by either government or opposition people are able to change that
unsparing reality. S o , w h e n t h e government, through its finance architect, steps forward to assure that reductions are in mind and coming, I say they are not enough. Think of this: spend a thousand dollars on VATeligible items and the sales taxes paid can buy a small pack of tennis rolls. The first problem is that too many do not have a thousand, while those at the bottom and lower tiers who do have, must do so without those rolls, because the spare change for them has been swallowed up by VAT. Matters are as simple and as complicated and final as that for too many folks in this country. It is why I say again that any examination of and action on VAT should not be of the ‘fine change’ variety. Two percent is not it; does nothing. If that is what is
contemplated, then shelve it. In fairness to the minister, he did include the qualifier of “at least” which signifies that a few more percentage points must be on the table. To make this have some needed oomph and actually be felt and then work for the people who need it the most, any VAT reduction has to be at least six percent. At a rate of eight percent, the small man should be able to flex a little buying power with his scarce dollars, and I am talking of survival instincts only. When that level of VAT is coupled with whatever other reductions/incentives are in mind for the construction industry, there is so much more productive activity that follows, through some combination of tax credits and the rest that should give a bigger bang for the dollar invested. I agree with (Continued on page 6)
Voters losing confidence in GECOM to hold free and fair elections DEAR EDITOR, With just over a week remaining before the electorate cast ballots in the general and regional elections, voters are increasingly losing confidence in and skeptical of the ability of Gecom to hold free and fair elections (FFE). This is one finding from an ongoing tracking opinion poll being conducted by the North American Caribbean Te a c h e r s A s s o c i a t i o n (NACTA). Voters are appealing to and hopeful that Madam Chair Ret’d Justice Claudette Singh and CEO Keith Lowenfield will address their concern and fear about FFE. The poll is also querying voters for their views on a host of other critical issues including on oil contracts, support for the political parties, and approval ratings of Gecom Chair and other public officials. I have undertaken this
exercise and have been conducting election-related opinion polls and other social science surveys in Guyana for over three decades. The ongoing survey interviews voters to represent the general demographics of the population. Based on the findings of the poll, a large chunk of voters don’t think the March 2nd elections will be free and fair and the outcome an accurate reflection of the will of the electorate. Voters are of the view that Gecom’s recently taken actions will make it difficult for large numbers of people to vote — that would ultimately create mayhem and suppress turnout, and in the process disenfranchise many that could impact on the results. Among concerns expressed are: 1. reduction in polling places in many communities that will lead to overcrowding and frustration that would
Immigration hardliners insist that the undocumented migrants drive Americans without high school diplomas out of the job market. It would be interesting to see how many of them would answer the call to pump gas, flip burgers, kill pigs, and all the other countless nasty and perilous jobs that nobody else wants, but the foodless, roofless, penniless immigrant seeking to make his mark at the bottom.
discourage people to vote; and 2. removal of names (non-appearance) on the final voters list (OLE) even though they appeared on the preliminary list of voters or on the list of new house to house registrants. It is noted that too many voters have been shifted into some polling areas that would result in overcrowding and inflamed tempers that would pose security challenges and attendant issues. Respondents in the latest NACTA poll believe that the above concerns would inevitably lead to, among other issues, mass confusion and frustration of voters, and may make it difficult, if not impossible, for them to cast ballots. Voters call on Gecom to immediately restore the original polling places and take steps to facilitate easier access to voting. Those voters whose names have been excluded on the OLE are urging Gecom to make amends so they can get to exercise their democratic right. Almost everyone polled is of the view that Gecom should urgently take measures to allay the concerns of voters, and that would lead to absolute
confidence in the electoral body to hold free and fair elections that would be an almost accurate reflection of the will of the electorate. In terms of polling numbers, asked if they feel the elections will be free and fair, 31% of those polled say yes with 61% saying no and 8% saying they are not sure. Are these numbers a trope or almost indicative of voting preferences? Asked if they approve of the job Gecom has been doing, 23% say yes with 67% saying no and 10% not offering an opinion. Voters are divided on whether Gecom will address their concerns and reduce the level of difficulty they have to face to cast their ballots in a once five-yearly democratic exercise. They are also divided on whether they think Gecom is partisan or biased. They call on Chair Claudette Singh to invoke her reputation of integrity, neutrality, and fairness to guarantee a FFE, and one that is free from fear and that will not disenfranchise voters or discourage people from voting. The findings of other aspects of the poll will be shared subsequently. Dr. Vishnu Bisram
Saturday February 22, 2020
APNU+AFC’S manifesto shows they are clueless on health DEAR EDITOR, There is no dispute, between 1992 and 2015, Guyana made tremendous progress in health. But the truth is that, in spite of five times increase in annual budgeting in the last five years, health has regressed. That 26 pregnant women died in 2019, with the Ministry of Public Health claiming 18 actual maternal deaths in 2019, is testimony not only has Guyana not made any progress in health in the last five years, but Guyana has regressed. Yet, Guyana spent minimum five times more in health in the last five years than for any other five-year period in our history. How come we spent greater than five times more in health and have nothing to show for it? Is anyone being held accountable? As elections loom, the party responsible for this scandal demonstrates total cluelessness in its manifesto in recognizing the problem and how to fix it. There is no question Guyana needs a Specialty Hospital. How the two main parties embrace and plan for such a hospital is informative. APNU+AFC voted against the Specialty Hospital in 2014 and then abandoned the project in 2015, begged India to approve utilization of the funds for investing in regional hospitals, insisted throughout the last five years the Specialty Hospital is a waste of time. Lo and behold, it is proposing in its 2020 manifesto specialty hospitals in all regions of Guyana. But this proposal is not made under health, it is made under investment promotion and job
creation. Nowhere under health is any such proposal made. Clearly, they were throwing darts, cutting and pasting from different sources, with no cohesive plan. In the meantime, the PPP has aggressively promoted the proposal that it will restore the Specialty Hospital as part of its health and development agenda. In the last five years, from 2015 to end 2019, APNU+AFC spent $125.8B on health, an average of $25.2B annually. The PPP/C between 1993 and end of 2014 spent a total of $122.2B on health, an average of $5.6B annually. Thus, APNU+AFC spent more in five years than the PPP spent in 23 years, but failed to achieve as much as the PPP did. The actual state of health in Guyana does not correlate with the amount of money spent. Money is needed, it is critical, but without a sound plan, throwing money at it is like throwing water on a duck’s back. This seminal wisdom was lost on APNU+AFC, since that is exactly what they did, spending money aimlessly. The PPP/C in its 23 years took a health sector that had collapsed and transformed it, improving the lives of citizens. It did so, not only by investing increasing amounts of money, but because it had a sound plan. The results are plain for people to see. Life expectancy increased from about 60 years at birth to more than 70 between 1992 and 2015. In addition to reducing overall deaths from greater than 14,000 annually, to less
PAGE 5
Kaieteur News
than 7,000, maternal, infant and child mortalities decreased in that period. In fact, from about 2,200 annual child deaths each year, by 1990, annual numbers of child deaths were reduced to under 200 by 2015. One reason for the dramatic reduction of child deaths was the 100% coverage for all the relevant childhood disease vaccines. Infectious diseases, like malaria and filariasis, were significantly reduced. Guyana reached elimination levels for filariasis and leprosy by 2015. Guyana’s HIV and TB Prevention, Treatment and Care programs became globally recognized for its robustness and effectiveness. Guyana became one of the first developing countries to attain universal access to HIV medicines and one of the first countries to be recognized for elimination of mother-to-child transmission. While primary health care truly became universal, a growing menu of quality secondary and tertiary health care became evident across the country. While a thriving private sector contributed to this success, the public sector took the lead in introducing advance care, such as open heart surgery, kidney transplant, brain surgery, dialysis etc. In addition, the government increased the number of doctors and nurses and other technical staff, such as medical technologists and pharmacists. The public sector also introduced graduate programs to increase the number of specialist doctors and nurses. Besides these tangible service improvements, the PPP
improved the infrastructure. Major hospital construction led to new hospitals in every region, including new hospitals in Georgetown, New Amsterdam, Linden, Mabaruma and Community diagnostic hospitals scattered around the country. Guyana’s first Ophthalmology Center was constructed in Port Mourant and a Cancer Centre, and new Blood Bank were constructed at the GPHC. Guyana’s, and one of CARICOM’s, first Public Health Research and Reference Labs was established. A State-of-the-art warehouse was built. From around 150 health facilities around the country, by end of 2015 there were 28 hospitals and 450 health centres. The diagnostic capacity also improved, with new labs, X-Rays and other imaging facilities. These were real advancements for the health sector, even as the government struggled to increase expenditure. In the last 5 years, in spite of massive spending, the health sector of Guyana has deteriorated badly under APNU+AFC. Not surprising, therefore, people are asking the present government - what have you gotten to show for spending five times more on health than the previous government? No new hospital has been built, few health centres have been constructed, very few have benefitted from maintenance work, very little new equipment, no dramatic change in staffing and extensive medicines and medical supplies shortages. Where did all the money go? Who can blame the average Guyanese for their suspicion that not all the $125B went to health? Dr. Leslie Ramsammy
New beginnings DEAR EDITOR, General Elections are now very near. Given the troubled history of elections and their aftermaths in Guyana, Guyanese at home and abroad may be worrying. I share their concern and I make a call for all to keep the peace. There should be a firm commitment not to resort to violence. A number of new parties have sprung up. That can only be good for democracy, so I wish them well. However, the trend so far has been that, come Election Day, miniparties evaporate like drops of water on a hot ‘tawa’. Will that pattern hold? We will soon find out. The elections might not be perfect, but should be free and fair. No cheating. The will of the people must be respected. On all sides, there are good, well-meaning and patriotic people. Inevitably, one side will win and the other will lose. There will be jubilation on one side and disappointment on the other. That’s the way it is.
The coalition has support, no doubt, but, from what I can see, the PPP has the momentum and is poised to return to power. Should there be a change of government, all parties need to accept that graciously. The ABC countries, Europe, the Commonwealth and the Caribbean should assist and encourage Guyana, not only with the elections but, in the event of a change, to facilitate a peaceful and smooth transfer of power. There have been calls for constitutional reform. Sometime ago, former Attorney General Mr. Anil Nandlall, one of Guyana’s leading lawyers, stated that, given the many changes made to the constitution, it can no longer properly be described as the 1980 Burnham constitution. He also stated that, while there is room for further improvement, the issue is not so much constitutional reform as it is constitutional compliance – or words to that (Continued on page 24)
Handouts just prior to elections DEAR EDITOR, Radio licences were the handed out just prior to a previous election. Now it seems priceless land is the handout just prior to this election. The difference is the licences were handed to locals, amidst allegations of friends and cronies, while some land is given to foreigners in the name of
investment. If this is investment, was due diligence done like a feasibility study? Shamshun Mohamed
PAGE 6
Saturday February 22, 2020
Kaieteur News
Don’t stifle your conscience DEAR EDITOR, Whenever there’s an argument to verify facts, the popular term mostly being used is “don’t stifle your conscience”. Looking at the actions of people presently as election is merely days away, I am mesmerised at their attitudes or their thinking. For starters, with the election marketing strategy, flags and billboards are among the main ingredients that are used - billboards being the biggest option for those in government, while flags are more prevalent. Traveling all over, from a distance you will notice the flags (mostly of the two main contesting parties), waving/ blowing gracefully with the wind as you pass without a problem. Seeing party flags in a somewhat straight line gracefully blowing with the wind is beautiful to look at, regardless of the party. Lo and behold, ignorance overtakes the architects of the late comers and the very same spot that houses a flag is the ideal place for them to put theirs, bigger or smaller is not the matter, but that exact spot. These ignorant persons would find this the best placement for the flag of the
party they are representing; the most convenient spot, thus two fabrics are placed to battle for supremacy. I’ve noticed the larger ones always suffer the most damage. My point is, despite the various flags, once they are lined properly/in sequence, it makes the area look beautiful. Why has ignorance overtaken us? That simple move makes foreigners think negatively of us and also motivates fools to do more arrogant things. Those actions show that we in Guyana will never be right thinking, we will always be divided. Editor, my observation above is my personal opinion, and it doesn’t end there. I’ve sacrificed and lost a lot, worked a lot to help this present administration get into power. Before the last general election, I was communicating with many people from the PNC, AFC, JFAP, giving pointers, advice on topics, hecklers and places people need to see them so that they could get an sense of confidence. However, miraculously, immediately after the announcement of the winners, these hypocrites
conveniently didn’t seem to receive my messages or find the time to reply. Traversing around, many that know me were surprised that I’m still unemployed. My response is that I wasn’t that much interested in rewards, but my ideas that I’ve used to mention to various persons and ideas I even wrote about are never considered. As a result, I got very disappointed because after many attempts. None was never considered, which I am quite sure would have made an impact. Finally, as a result of my constant criticism, many whom I knew personally are very annoyed at me, and friends have been lost because I defended my actions and their rebuttal always is, ‘give them time’. I cannot give any administration that has mostly experienced and elderly people and former ministers time, when their first duties were to reward themselves huge salaries, embark on a spending spree to beautify offices, buy luxury vehicles to travel in, impose heavy taxes on the nation, including pensioners, take
away the benefits that was in place by the previous administration, create massive unemployment, a n d m o r e i m p o r t a n t l y, neglect the youths with their promises. After four years, coming into power with a manifesto full of promises, this administration failed to even deliver on one, and again, another manifesto appears with more promises. Should we believe or live in hope with these new promises? No! Based on their record, they are not to be trusted because all that occurs under them are massive allegations of corruption, victimisation and making wrong decisions that affect all Guyanese. They are bad managers, and they don’t care, because they have benefitted while ruining Guyana. Guyana had many resources before the announcement of oil discoveries and looking on presently, they have all been neglected. The same has happened to our neighbour, Venezuela. Do you see a pattern? We could change that by doing the right thing. Forget race, just don’t stifle your conscious. Everyone joins to celebrate Mashramani, why does election have to separate us? Sahadeo Bates
I am voting out of tribe because I am rational DEAR EDITOR, Allow me to express a few words that summarize the results of a great catharsis that has occurred within me over the past year as I consider my political choices on the eve of our 50th Jubilee anniversary and the great impending election. In my opinion, both the two main parties have failed me. I am traditionally a PPP voter and respect Jagdeo’s competence, but the politics in this country is broken. We are trapped in a winner take all contest driven by race politics. The PPP is criticizing the failings of the APNU government’s first four years in power after their 23 year reign over the bloodiest and most corrupt period in Guyana’s post-independence history. The fact that this APNU government has not been able to prosecute anyone significant points to two possibilities - the previous PPP government was not corrupt or members of the present government are themselves compromised and are motivated to let sleeping dogs lie. What is clear from is that both parties are complicit in signing away the country’s oil wealth for a pittance and both
are claiming ignorance and incompetence instead of corruption. As much as I want to vote PPP again, I can’t bring myself to vote for a Jagdeo third term with his preferred candidate as a front man which I find offensive to our democracy. The voters in Guyana are split into two camps - tribal voters and rational voters. The tribal voters will vote tribe every election. Political choice is about having their tribe in power whether they are corrupt or incompetent. They will ignore and reason away any shortcomings of their tribe. They cannot change, for it means a change in personal identity, which is difficult for most. The rational voters are a minority and examine the leader’s qualities, the party’s mandate, their manifesto, and determine which party they feel is worthy of their support. The good news is the rational voters now have good and valid choices, and even one seat would have a significant influence in the running of parliament and the functioning of government. Nearly all of the parties are led by a new generation of rational leaders who are fed up with the politics of their (Continued on page 24)
Government must think big... From page 4 Minister Jordan that a “boom” is to be expected in that sector. With the cascades of people coming and oil money sloshing around, I do not foresee how it can be otherwise in the building trade. The man at Energy did say recently that some 5 million
barrels should come Guyana’s way; multiply that by anything and there is something. I think that what is big in the government’s thinking is that cash handouts/giveaways (whatever) is the biggest of big-ticket items, and that is where it plans to put much muscle and political
capital. Though I do not like it and I still disagree, it could hardly be found fault with as a surefire bestseller in any elections season, as there is no greater motivator. For pure political attraction, there is nothing sexier, more irresistible. For certainty, everybody mutters about better hospitals and schools and technologies, along with all those other exciting things like a new city and increased salaries. So, the reality is that, though there should be more cash to go around, there are so many areas and places that cry out for addressing and are competing for it. In effect, this means that what started out as plenty, suddenly assumes the stretch of sparseness, and this is only considering that the wisdom of prudent financial management prevails. Generally clean practices in that field, too. For all these reasons, I recommend that, instead of the piecemeal of nickels and dimes, the government is better served by identifying those meaningful things (to the masses) that it guarantees to deliver, and at a material level. Sincerely, GHK Lall
Kaieteur News
Saturday February 22, 2020
PAGE 07
Guyana's Production Sharing Agreements do not call for disclosure of Operators' Local Content efforts - Dr. Bynoe clarifies
F
ollowing the release of the 2020 Local Content Policy, Kaieteur News had exposed that the document contains confidentiality provisions. Such stipulations prevent the full disclosure of plans oil companies and their subcontractors submit to the government regarding their use of local goods, skills and services. The policy only allows for the responsible Minister to release a summary of the information received to Parliament. Furthermore, the policy states that confidentiality provisions are needed due to certain legal constraints. Because of the ambiguity of that explanation, this newspaper asked the Energy Department's Director, Dr. Mark Bynoe, for further explanations. By way of an email correspondence this week, Dr. Bynoe noted that drafters of the policy had to honour the contractual terms of Articles 18 and 19 in Guyana's current legally binding Petroleum Agreements. In yesterday's edition, Kaieteur News, carried this explanation in full, but in the headline, only the Exxon PSA was identified. Dr. Bynoe however did not point to
Articles 18 and 19 from the Guyana - ExxonMobil Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) Exxon's Stabroek Block PSA alone. He was careful to note that the Articles in question pertain to all of the PSAs Guyana has with oil
companies. As it relates to the Articles which speak to the Local Content (continued on page 23)
Kaieteur News
PAGE 08
Saturday February 22, 2020
Polling day for joint services closes in Region Two
Argument over fridge compressor lands woman in court
A
Members of the Guyana Police Force proudly display their inked index finger, after voting at the Anna Regina Polling Station
A
lmost every member of the joint services in the Pomeroon/ Supenaam region, turned up at their respective polling stations yesterday, casting the first set of votes in the 2020 National and Regional Elections. The polls opened at 06:00hrs yesterday, and ranks of the Guyana Defence Force [GDF] and the Guyana Police Force [GPF], were already prepared to cast their votes. There were three
polling stations across the region that catered for members of the joint services. These polling stations were the Anna Regina, Suddie and Charity police stations. During the early segment of the day, the polls were crammed with anxious voters. As the day progressed, however, the crowd eventually dwindled. This publication spoke with the Guyana Elections Commission [GECOM]
Region Two Returning Officer, Ms. Roxanne Smith, who explained that members of the joint services are an outstanding example of one exercising his or her right to vote. She said, “In terms of turn out, there is always a 95% turn out from the joint services, and yesterday's polling was no different.” Kaieteur News understands that there were approximately 300 members who were listed to vote. As Ms. Smith said there are
cases at times where ranks will not find their names on the voters' list. She went on to explain that this does not disqualify them from ever voting. “If a rank's name is not on the voting list, then he or she will be allowed to vote on March 2,” she said. The day ended peacefully on the Essequibo Coast, and GECOM's staff are already gearing up for the next segment of voting, which will be on March 2, 2020.
woman was yesterday fined $10,000, after she admitted to an assault charge, which according to her, started because of an argument over a fridge compressor. Melissa Hodge appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts, when the charge was read to her. It is alleged that on December 22, last, at Campbellville Housing Scheme she assaulted Keisha Burnette. After pleading guilty to the assault charge, Hodge asked to give an explanation to the court. Hodge said that the virtual complainant's husband collected a fridge compressor from her to sell. She said she told him that whatever it is sold for, she must receive half. The man agreed to the deal but after selling the compressor, he failed to make contact with the defendant. The defendant added that she then made contact
with the virtual complainant's wife and told her about the agreement for the selling of the fridge compressor. The court heard on the day in question, the man went to the defendant with an attitude and started to verbally abuse her. “After he verbally abused me, he hand me a fridge compressor and after I looked at it, I told him that's not my compressor because I know my compressor was bigger than that.” The defendant said that she then told the man that she didn't want that compressor and an argument ensued. According to the defendant, the virtual complainant then came and the two women got into a heated exchange of words, which led to a fight, resulting in Burnette being assaulted. After the defendant's explanation to the court, Senior Magistrate ordered the woman to pay the fine for the offence she committed.
Saturday February 22, 2020
Kaieteur News
PAGE 09
The government needs to speak to the man in the street
O
il revenues will not save this country. A sound economic model will. Unless the problems in the economy are fixed, no amount of oil revenue is going to make things easier for the small man. One of the disappointing aspects of the ruling APNU+AFC campaign, thus far, has been the scant attention which is being paid to the economy. And one has to ask why there is such Spartan discussion of the economic model and economic plan which is going to be used to spend oil revenues. The economic model pursued by the APNU+AFC is no different from that which was pursued by the PPPC. It is about taxing, borrowing and spending. The economy is said to have grown by 4.7% in 2019 but that growth was due mainly to the performance of rice, the Cuban arrivals and construction, the latter related to oil-related investments. In the meantime, concerns are being expressed about expenditure management. One letter writer pointed out that the government is spending $800M more on hosting national events. This could have built 200 houses for poor persons. The letter pointed out that $2.2B more is being spent on meals. This could
have built another 550 houses for the poor. The government is supposed to be going “green”, yet $1.3B is being spent on travel and transportation. This could have built an additional 300 low income homes for the poor. In fact, the letter writer pointed to an increase in spending of $92.6B. No one has disputed these numbers. Through judicious pruning in some areas of public expenditure, more than 2,000 houses could have been built each year for the poor. That would have been 10,000 in five years. Government spending is sapping public expenditure, resulting in a higher burden of taxes. The bureaucracy is expanding while the productive public sector is shrinking, as is evident in the large reduction in jobs in non-central government employment. For all its efforts, the government has only managed to create about 6,000 jobs in the public sector. That will not dent the unemployment problem. At the same time, the government has collected $27.8B more in taxes. The government surely cannot be expecting the public to believe that the bulk of this collection has been due to more efficient tax collection. If there is more efficient tax collection, then a strong case can be made about for
more than a 2% decline in VAT after the elections. The public will hardly be dissuaded from holding the view that much of these increases in taxes for 2019 had to do with the burden of increased taxation. Things are not as rosy as the government would have us believe. The small man is hurting and the election campaign should have involved less sermonising and listening to the people. The poor man is facing severe hardships. Prices in the markets are increasing. Housing rentals are now prohibitive and this is hurting your employees. The things that some female workers are earning just enough to pay their rents would surprise you; many cannot even afford one meal per day until the next pay day. It is true that salaries have increased and have been increasing each year but that has been the norm f o r y e a r s n o w. T h e APNU+AFC has been proud to boast that the public service minimum wages have increased from $34,000 to $70,000 from 2015 to 2019. However, they are yet to point out just how many, of the more than 30,000 public sector workers in 2014 of the more than 13,000 public servants, were receiving this $34,000 in 2014. This would allow for a better assessment of how
Dem boys seh...
Eye pass does lead to trouble
I
f is one thing people don't like is disrespect. Dat is why parents does insist dat children show respect for others from de time dem small. But some of dem although dem parents try to train dem, they does end up being very disrespectful. And is plenty things dat does cause dem to be disrespectful. If a man rich and he know people depending on him, he does show disrespect fuh de people. Dem boys seh dat from de days of colonialism de farrin people always disrespect Guyanese. Dat was because of dem colour. And it continue dat people wid coIour always disrespect de darker people. De farrin
people understand dis thing so good dat dem put couple local people to carry on de eye pass when dem gone. Dat is how dem people a t d e l o c a l telephone company get so powerful dat dem think dem can talk to de people who does regulate de telephone system. De leaders of dis company want to raise de money dem charging fuh phone calls. De regulators claim dat you can't get any increase unless situations change. De telephone people get vex. One time dem claim how WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger and even FaceTime robbing dem of dem overseas charges. But when de regulators point out dat de telephone company charging fuh high speed internet but using de
same landline. Dat mean dem collecting nuff extra money pon de landline. Dat is not de eye pass. De eye pass come when de boss gon tell de PUC talk all you want but hurry up and approve de increase. Dem boys seh nuff people see red dat day. De chairman of de regulators choke. Dat is when she decide to bruk up de coo-coo party. She tell de company how she suspect it does inflate its expenses and how she want see de books. When people eye pass you, dem don't believe you got any sense. Since de regulator chairman ask fuh see de books, not a word more ain't talk about increase. Talk half and don't encourage eye pass.
much real incomes have increased for the public servants on the lower wage bands. The bulk of employment in the country is in the private sector. And some private sector workers are receiving dreadfully low wages. Yet, the government says that it does not have the authority to increase the minimum wages of these workers. It does. The government can set a national minimum wage. Increasing the national minimum wage to $70,000
will bring great relief to the thousands of poor security guards and domestics in this country, many of whom struggle to survive on their monthly incomes and are in fact forced to work overtime just to make ends meet. Oil is not going to solve these problems. More money will be chasing fewer goods and services. The basic law of demand and supply suggests that this will result in higher prices. Things will get worse for the small man because rentals and the cost of living will
increase further. The poor man will not be able to survive in an oil economy under the present economic model. It is time for a rethink of the economic model, which both the PPPC and the APNU+AFC cannot seem to ditch. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)
GECOM dubs joint services vote a smooth one
Members of the GDF
T
he disciplined services turned out in their numbers yesterday to cast their ballots for the 2020 General and Regional Elections. Members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Guyana Police Force (GPF), and Guyana Prison Service (GPS) constituted the lot. GECOM had set up about 60 polling places across the country, with some 10,000 ballots extracted for the disciplined forces across the ten regions. Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) officials, led by Chair Justice Claudette Singh, visited several polling places to make sure that the process was running smoothly. She told reporters, after observation, that the voting process was going unfettered and smooth. Kaieteur News visited several polling places as well. It vis ited Bas e Camp Ayanganna, Eve Leary, the Camp Street Prison and the Brickdam Police Station. Military officers marched in the Camp Ayanganna
compound at 6 o' clock before heading to several polling stations within the compound to cast their votes. Army Chief of Staff Brigadier Patrick West told members of the media that he is satisfied with the way the process was undergoing. Leader of the governing coalition, David Granger, arrived at Camp Ayanganna at sunrise to observe the process. From there, he moved to several other polling stations. “The process is smooth; it is proceeding without interruption. I am very satisfied with the turnout and I think the people of Guyana can be assured that the disciplined forces are performing their civic duty. They are not being obstructed by the administration in any way and the administration of the elections commission seems to be functioning efficiently,” the incumbent President said yesterday. He was accompanied by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) frontbencher, Joseph
Harmon. Presidential Candidate for the major opposition party, People's Progressive Party (PPP), Mohamed Irfaan Ali, was also observed visiting several polling places, including the Brickdam Station. Prime Ministerial candidate Brigadier Mark Phillips also made some visits. Also out and about were electoral observers, including Carter Center officials. At Police Officers' Mess, Eve Leary, Kaieteur News spoke to Deputy Commissioner, Paul Williams, who said that the process was running just as smoothly as at the military camp. He said that the turnout was considerable. Another polling place this publication visited was the ExPrison Officers' Association on Bent Street, near the prison. The atmosphere there was quaint compared to the populous Eve Leary and Ayanganna bases. The day was eventful, but there were no disturbances of the electoral process.
Kaieteur News
PAGE 10
Saturday February 22, 2020
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
Irfaan's qualification: What is moral judgement?
I
once had a debate with a fellow Kaieteur News columnist, Stella Ramsaroop, over the question whether Raphael Trotman (then PNC parliamentarian), Khemraj Ramjattan (then PPP parliamentarian) and Sheila H o l d e r ( t h e n W PA parliamentarian) should resign their seats seeing that
they left their respective parties and were sitting as individual, independent members of the House (see my column, “What is Moral Judgement”, November 6, 2005). Stella passed moral judgement on the trio pontificating on the moral obligation to resign from their respective parties from which they were made
parliamentarians. For Stella, it was the morally right thing to do. In my response I wrote, “One of the great debates in philosophy is the triangular disagreement on what is morally right and morally wrong between Hume on the one hand, Kant on the other... and Jeremy Betham.” Using the texts of those three philosophers, I asked
Stella to define what is morally right and morally wrong in life. It is outside the scope of this column to regurgitate the thinking of these three philosophers on the subject. Suffice it to say, my point in that column fourteen years ago, was and still is that is it virtually impossible to delineate neatly, finely and persuasively what constitutes moral values or ethical standards. When you talk about morality, doesn't context automatically come into the picture? There is a court case that should be described as one of the most mysterious writs ever filed in the history of Guyanese litigation. Two private citizens want the court to compel the Opposition Leader and GECOM to request the first degree qualification of presidential candidate, Irfaan Ali. The writ was filed by the special assistant to Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, Dianne Rajkumar, and another person, so obviously there is a political angle clearly present in the decision to litigate. The writ is bizarre for three reasons. First, it should originate with someone who has more substantial locus standi –either one or all of Ali's election opponents or the Chief Election Officer. Why two private individuals? Secondly, why must the court compel the Opposition Leader to see Ali's first degree and for what purpose? Why can't the Opposition tell the court that he is not interested in seeing
the paper? Thirdly, the controversy is dead and gone because Ali now has a doctorate from a top university recognised by the world. There can no longer be any legal process anywhere in the world that can be resorted to abrogate his doctorate. He is now a qualified person. I know a former media personality in 1996 got into UG without the required five CXCs through the initiative of David De Caires. As a member of the Board of the Faculty of Social Sciences, I demanded to see her entry requirement but the then Dean, Bradley Soloman (deceased), refused. She did her economics degree and went on to do her Master's. Her UG entry requirement controversy is dead and gone. She has a Master's from a recognised British University that will get her a job right here in Guyana. The court case by the personal assistant to Minister Ramjattan is designed to invoke in people the question of moral propriety of Irfaan Ali, which Ali should laugh about and continue laughing until he grows old. Which person in Guyana with authority, with power, with status, with money, has moral propriety? What is moral propriety? How do you define it? How do you measure it? The rest of this column will end with questions, which I leave with my readers. I am not going to answer them. If Ali's moral
Frederick Kissoon standing is open to questioning, what about those who sign contracts involving Guyana's future and the contracts were horrendously lop-sided? Are they fit to be in government? A substantial number of people feel Burnham was a dictator. Should people elect politicians to rule the nation when those politicians were close to Burnham and see him as a hero? Do Indian and African politicians possess moral propriety to qualify them to be in government when they openly preach race hate? Racism is an uncivilised instinct. A person lacks moral propriety if he/she fills the atmosphere with race hate. Since 1957, almost 99 percent of our top politicians have been preaching the rhetoric of race. Should we accept in society persons who have no moral character in how they treat their employees and these mistreatments are openly published? For example, the workers have to buy their own toilet paper and hand soap. But these perpetrators are always seen at the cocktail circuit of the embassies. My advice to Ali is to tell his detractors to debate these questions. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)
Saturday February 22, 2020
Kaieteur News
PAGE 11
Kaieteur News
PAGE 12
Saturday February 22, 2020
Turf war blamed on 2018 'massacre' of fishermen Minister of State, Mrs. Dawn Hastings-Williams presents a copy of the report to Vice President and Minister of Public Security, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan as Dr. Rishi Thakur looks on.
- Too many boats; CoI recommends tracking devices, training
A
Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into a deadly attack on Guyanese fishermen off the coast of Suriname back in April 2018 that saw about 18 persons killed, with a number of them still missing, has found it to have originated from a
turf war. The report has pointed, also, to too many boats in the Corentyne fishing area and recommended more training for boat operators. The attacks had been described by President David Granger as a massacre. Authorities in both
countries collaborated to investigate the shocking case which left several families without their breadwinners. Several persons were charged in Suriname. Seven pirates were jailed for 35 years late last year. In Guyana, two accused, Nakool “Fyah” Manohar and
Premnauth “Sinbad” Persaud, were committed to stand trial in the High Court. Yesterday, Minister of State, Mrs. Dawn HastingsWilliams, received the 'Final Report of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the 2018 Piracy Attacks and the Death of Guyanese Fishermen off the Coast of Suriname'. The CoI was conducted by Dr. Rishi Thakur. A copy of the report was also handed over to Vice President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan. Dr. Thakur said during t h e i n q u i r y, i t w a s determined by extended findings that the piracy was organised, planned, systemic and executed open confrontation that has its origins in a turf war over fishing grounds. “ We w e r e a b l e t o establish that in no uncertain terms,” he said. Dr. Thakur also noted that during the inquiry, it was discovered that while there were 350 cabin cruisers or fishing vessels in the Corentyne, there is not a single registered crew or trained and licensed captain. A m o n g t h e recommendations was for the Chief Co-operative Officer to address the congestion and excessive number of fishing boats and the traffic in that area since it is seen as a source of tension among fishermen. The report called for an institution of fishing standards in the area with training and licensing of captains and fishing crews; a vessel monitoring system in accordance with the Fisheries Act and the transformation of the InterAgency Piracy Task Force into a permanent statutory body. According to Dr. Thakur, the Commission divided the
recommendations into two categories: what can and should be done immediately without prohibitive costs and those that can be done through long term planning and design. T h e C o I w a s commissioned by President David Granger in June 2019. He had described the attack on the fishermen as a “massacre” and declared June 25, 2018 a National Day Of Mourning in their honour. TASKED Minister HastingsWilliams said that the Commission was constituted to inquire into the circumstances surrounding the piracy attacks, which included violent criminal acts, hijacking of Guyaneseowned fishing vessels and the resultant deaths of Guyanese nationals. She noted that the Head of the COI, Dr. Thakur, was mandated by the President to investigate, determine and make findings of fact on all matters in relation to the piracy attacks; determine the number and the identities of the persons killed off of the Atlantic Coast of the Republic of Suriname, on or about April 28, 2018; determine the identities of the perpetrators and motives behind such violations, with a view of ensuring that those responsible are held accountable. He was also tasked with recommending actions to be taken against all persons and/or organisations that are deemed responsible for the deaths of those persons based on the determination of the findings; determine the role of the state agencies of Guyana in the security of fishermen in the area and report on a plan of action to guide initiatives to be (continued on page 21)
Saturday February 22, 2020
Kaieteur News
PAGE 13
PAGE 14
Kaieteur News
Saturday February 22, 2020
Saturday February 22, 2020
Methodist church celebrates birthday of Guyana's newest centurion By Anastacya Peters
T
he idea of living to be 100 years old is a mere figment of the imagination for some persons but in the case of Sybil Harte that is not so. She lived to celebrate her 100th birthday last Wednesday. With her being a member of the Trinity Methodist Church since June 1932, members of the congregation joined together to wish Ms. Harte happy birthday with prayers that she live many more decades to come. Ms. Harte was born February 19, 1920 and has outlived both her two children. Being a proud and outstanding member of the Methodist church, Ms. Harte held the post of Cradle Roll Secretary, Sunday School Teacher, Class Leader, and was an influential part of the Woman' League. She is also described as a very approachable and knowledgeable person especially when it comes to the affairs of the church. Members of the
congregation described Ms. Harte as a very patient individual who gets persons to commit to their responsibilities within the church. From a tender age to today, Ms. Harte is still guiding youths in and out of the Methodist church in their religious duties. Even though she would have suffered two strokes in the year 2012 that resulted in her not being able to walk and communicate effectively. Ms. Harte still continues to contribute to the life of the church through her many writings and letters of encouragement, which she sends to the congregation from time to time. During her effective years, she also served as a Chairperson of the Guyana Red Cross Society Senior Women's Group and was involved in organising fundraising among the other seniors. She also partakes in several other activities as a way to keep her active. Ms. Harte now resides in Roxanne Burnham Gardens with her great niece and nephew.
Kaieteur News
PAGE 15
Ms. Harte surrounded by friends and family at the celebration of her birthday
PAGE 16
Kaieteur News
Saturday February 22, 2020
Saturday February 22, 2020
Kaieteur News
PAGE 17
Kaieteur News
PAGE 18
Saturday February 22, 2020
"Hiccup free" voting for Joint Services in Berbice
S
enior officers from the disciplined services in Berbice led the way early yesterday morning to vote in the regional and general elections 2020. There were reports of the process being hassle free and smooth. Members of the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Defence Force and the Prison Service streamed into the locations at Central Police Station, Prison Officers Club (New Amsterdam, Whim Police
Station and Springlands Police Station) to cast their ballots. Media operatives who were out early awaiting the arrival of officers, caught up with Regional Commander, Calvin Brutus, minutes after he voted. Brutus, who proudly lifted his finger to show that he had voted, told reporters that the process was smooth. "Persons are not complaining about anything. They waited patiently to cast their ballots and then proceeded to do their regular
duties. Those who worked last night will proceed home," Brutus said. He said that there were some minor issues as it relates to names being on different lists in the division and out of the division but this, he said, "was facilitated”. “Systems were put in place to have police transportation available for those who (had) to vote in Georgetown. Those who (had) to vote at different areas around the region were facilitated to do so."
Ranks lined up at the Central Police Station awaiting their turn to vote. Udistair Holligan, Officer-in-charge of the N/A Prison
In addition, the Commander stated that his Division is "quite ready" for Elections Day on March 2 since there were extensive training sessions for his ranks. He noted that while they are not looking to "exhaust the training", they will continue to execute "refreshers" until E-day. Brutus added that all security arrangements are in place "so we are covering every aspect of it including boosting the prison security for that period," he
Commader Calvin Brutus after voting
explained. The Commander highlighted that the riverain areas and on the coastline have persons there with a stand-by public order unit. “This is a complete unit with full kit and trained already so we are just waiting now on the actual day to roll out.” Up to press time, lines at the various polling stations had decreased since ranks took the opportunity to vote early. Ranks from the Guyana Fire Service will be voting on March 2.
Saturday February 22, 2020
STRANDED SEA TURTLE RESCUED OFF KITTY SEAWALL
A
number of agencies and o rg a n i s a t i o n s working in the interest of protecting and safeguarding Guyana's national patrimony recently combined efforts to rescue one of Guyana's four marine turtle species. On Tuesday, it was reported that a juvenile green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) was caught by a few enthusiastic fisher folk in the vicinity of the Kitty Seawall. The marine creature which was trapped in a fishing net was subsequently r e s c u e d b y M r. S e a n
Gonsalves, an animal rights protector who immediately contacted the relevant agencies. The government agencies with responsibility for monitoring sea turtles, T h e G u y a n a Wi l d l i f e Conservation Management Commission (GWCMC) and the Protected Areas Commission (PAC), teamed up with the WWF- Guianas, G u y a n a M a r i n e Conservation Society (GMCS), University of Guyana and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast (continued on page 24)
Kaieteur News
PAGE 19
Kaieteur News
PAGE 20
Saturday February 22, 2020
First Bauxite opens Bonasika Bauxite Project
F
irst Bauxite LLC and its subsidiary Guyana Industrial Mineral Incorporated, (GINMIN), officially opened its Guyana operations on Thursday, formally becoming the third large-scale bauxite mining operation in the country. As of January 1, 2020, the company began production and exportation of bauxite from its Bonasika Bauxite Project located in Region Three. The Bonasika Bauxite Project has been in Guyana since 2008 conducting explorations at its mining site located between the Essequibo and Demerara Rivers. Addressing a simple ceremony to mark the official start of production, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, extended congratulations to First Bauxite LLC and GINMIN, noting that it was a moment worth celebrating. “I am happy to be here to share it with each of you,” Minister Trotman relayed to company executives and employees. He noted that that the positive impact of mining on the development of Guyana is undeniable, and more so, that of bauxite. The Minister opined that this will continue even as the country embraces oil production and the birth of a new economy.
“The mining sector, generally, and bauxite and gold, in particular, have played prominent roles in our economy alongside our forestry and agricultural sectors. As a government, we are committed to continuing forging ahead to ensure that all sectors remain a viable part of our future development,” Minister Trotman assured. Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, who also attended the event, said Thursday's opening signaled continued growth and stability for investment in Guyana. “I am looking forward to GINMIN's contributions in 2020 as we see bauxite growing, as we see the mining sector also taking off,” Minister Jordan noted. In the meantime, President and Chief Executive Officer of First Bauxite LLC, Bill Rice, thanked the government for its support from the inception of the project. “The Government of Guyana has been with us since day one which is now many years ago, starting with the ability to explore this area.” “And now, it is the highest quality bauxite in the world.” Rice declared. First Bauxite has 225 employees; 95 permanent staff and 130 contracted workers. Of this figure, eight are ex-pats and the remaining 217 are Guyanese nationals. (DPI)
Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, cuts the ribbon to mark the official start of mining at First Bauxite LLC and Guyana Industrial Mineral Inc. (GINMIN), Bonasika Bauxite Project in Region Three.
At the Bonasika site, Region 3.
Saturday February 22, 2020
PAGE 21
Kaieteur News
Former Chief Justice Ian Chang honoured by Full Court sitting
The late Chief Justice retired Ian Chang C.C.H S.C. A special hearing of the Full Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature was convened to pay tribute to the life and work of the late Chief Justice retired, Ian Chang C.C.H S.C. During the sitting, several distinguished officers of the Court reflected on Justice Chang‘s contribution to the nation’s legal fraternity and the Caribbean jurisprudence. Those in attendance included the Chancellor of the Judiciary Yonette CummingsEdwards, Justices of Appeal, Rishi Persaud and Dawn Gregory and Judges of the High Court.
A section of the gathering at the Full Court sitting yesterday. Director of Public Prosecutions, (DPP) Shalimar Ali- Hack, Chief Parliamentary Counsel on behalf of the Attorney General Charles Fung -A -Fat, Former Attorney General and Justice of Appeal, Charles Ramson SC, and Attorney-at-law Mayo Robertson were among the speakers of the yesterday’s event held at the Court of Appeal in Kingston. The speakers reflected on the former Chief Justice’s legal
career that spanned over three decades. He served in various capacities of the judiciary before his retirement in 2015. Chang was a former DPP, Justice of Appeal, (J.A) and Chief Justice (CJ). On November 16, 2019, Chang lost his battle to cancer at the age of 68. Mrs. Ali-Hack spoke of Chang’s indelible contribution to the offices of the DPP. She said that as young prosecutor,
she considered herself a student of Chang. The DPP noted that while occupying the office of DPP, Chang taught her in the disciplines of both in criminal and civil jurisdiction of the Courts. Further, the DPP said that Chang was especially strict in that a person’s fundamental rights are not to be breached. “He knew no discrimination. He was a simple person...not one for
Turf war blamed on 2018 'massacre' of... From page 12 undertaken both at sea and onshore to prevent and counter piracy and related activities, by addressing the root causes of this phenomenon. “I know that many of us have waited anxiously for this day, and I am glad that we are finally concluding this exercise, so that we can move forward, address the important issues and tasks that are required, bring an end to this scourge that has plagued mainly Region Six and bring closure to a very tragic incident,” she said. She reminded that the President in his address at the opening ceremony for the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) workshop for judges and prosecutors, in May 2018 said, “We are deeply grieved by the tragedy that occurred at sea, involving some of our citizens. It is a great massacre, a great tragedy”. The Minister of State said the Government is looking forward to principally executing the plan of action as recommended in the report, to guide initiatives to prevent and counter piracy and its related activities.
“I extend sympathy to the bereaved families. We have been very successful over the last couple of years, since this Government took office in curbing piracy. “On behalf of the Government, I extend my sincerest gratitude to Dr. Thakur and his team for accepting this task and mandate and completing this report in a timely manner. I thank you for your diligence and commitment. “I look forward to reading this report and wish to assure the nation, that this report in its entirety will be shared with my fellow Cabinet members for our deliberation,” she noted. Jailed In November, in Suriname, seven pirates were handed heavy prison sentence of 35 years each for their role. Chris Parsram, Rameshwar Roopnarine, Madre Kishore, David Williams, Ramdeo Persaud, Ray Torres and Ganesh Beharry, all Guyanese, were the ones jailed. Three others, Sureshdien N., Premnath P. and Doodnath M. were acquitted due to lack of evidence. The Magistrate, Marie Mettendaf, forfeited boats, shotguns and cutlasses.
Evidence presented to the court showed that 10 of the suspects were present when the act was carried out on April 27, 2018 while two were not. Manohar was said to be the mastermind behind the attack in retaliation for his brother's death. A third suspect, Alexander Denheart, still has his Preliminary Inquiry ongoing in the Magistrate's court in Guyana. According to the facts of the case, four boats with 20 crewmembers were attacked by sea pirates in April 2018 in Surinamese waters in the vicinity of the Wia Wia bank. Only four of the crew members, including a captain of one of the boats, managed to make it to shore. The rest are believed to have perished. The attack was in retaliation by pirates from Guyana for the shooting death of their leader, a Guyanese pirate called “Paddy” a few weeks before the attacks last year April. The pirates blamed the fishermen. The pirate leader was reportedly shot dead during an attack on fishing vessels. The fishermen were
thrown overboard or had to jump into the water themselves. One of the crew members could not swim and he disappeared. Another person's hands were tied, and a car battery was attached to his feet, after which he was thrown overboard. Still missing are Tilaknauth Mohabir, 50, also known as 'Kai'; Dinesh 'Vickey' Persaud, Ralph Anthony Couchman called 'Burnham', 19; Ramesh Sancharra, 48; Glenroy Jones, 21; Ramnarine Singh; Bharat Heeralall also known as “Record”, 49; Lalta Persaud known as “Paddock”, 42; Mahesh Sarjoo, 35; Rajkumar Bissessar; Looknarine Persaud; and Lokesh Decouite, 50. Four bodies were found. The attacks had galvanised the authorities in Guyana and Suriname with visits made by investigators and increased cooperation. Under the Dutch system, which Suriname operates, there are very little opportunities for the convicts to be paraded in public and for photographs as is the case in other jurisdictions.
push, pump and thrills of the legal profession. He preferred not to wear a tie or a suit.” Justice Chang was a hard worker and while he was a Justice of Appeal, he would go down to the High Court to sit in the criminal assizes to ease the backlog. “He loved the law. He played with the interpretation and application of the law.” Similarly in her overview of Justice Chang’s life, Chancellor CummingsEdwards commented on his passion for the law. “He was voracious reader and keen student of the law. His passion for the law caused him to go into deep thinking. He was a fountain of knowledge; his intellect was phenomenal.” The Chancellor
remembered Justice Chang as someone who loved challenging, complex and controversial issues; he presided over several controversial constitutional matters. She noted that Chang has written almost 400 judgments, an achievement no other past or sitting judge has accomplished to date. Yet, despite his many accomplishments, the Chancellor said that Justice Chang remained humble and was an avid animal lover. She said Justice Chang was someone who was always willing to take law to new frontiers. “Indeed Justice Ian Chang has left a rich legacy,” the Chancellor concluded.
PAGE 22
Saturday February 22, 2020
Kaieteur News
LEGAL NOTICE 1 CONTD
FOR RENT
VACANCY Accounts clerk for Eccles Office, English1, Mathematic-2, Quickbooks. Email application to: techserigy@yahoo.com
SERVICES
FOR SALE
Visa Forms Preparer. Tel#626-7040, Publish your Death Annoucements & In Memoriams online. Email: dthmemo@gmail.com
All Terrain fat tire bicycles/ Electric Bikes/Scooters. Contact# 655-4303 . Facebook-United China Caribbean Trading
ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6006887: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.
One Massey Ferguson 510 Rice combines, Price neg, One Massey Ferguson 510 tracks new reconditioned $6M. Call: 670-5980
Ransom (Concrete mixers), Scaffolding, Power washer, compactors, hire truck service etc, free delivery. Telephone: 610-5360. Email: dmdscaffolding@yahoo.com PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, G R A D U AT I O N , W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Lower unfurnished 3 bedroom home in Eccles. Spacious & Parking available $150,000/ USA $750. Contact Ajai #6297132/ USA# 281-739-6550
Outboard motors on sale, also construction tools. Call: 6993622/626-4430
1 bedroom fully furnished apt for rent in Providence. Call: 617-2666/682-6238
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, G R A D U AT I O N , W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 REPAIRS AT LOW COST: FRIDGES, AIR CONDITIONERS, WASHING MACHINE, FREEZER, SALE OF AC’S. TEL#629-4946,225-4822 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezer-Call: 610-5846 or 661-8158 We repair Fridge, Freezer, AC, Washer, Dryer-Call#231-0655/ 683-8734 Omar.
PROPERTY FOR SALE House and land available at Parfaite, Tuschen, Diamond etc. Contact Pacific Development Inc. 223-6035/ 604-4909 Golden Grove, EBD, 4 bedroom upstairs, Kitchen, Dining room downstairs. Tel#691-2921/220-9353
VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 Suzuki Escudo.Excellent condition, Low Mileage (50,000Km).$3.4M Neg.Call #649-0956. 1 Allion PTT series new model for sale. Price $2,000,000. # 661-0075/682-5353 LAND FOR SALE
CAR RENTAL DOLLYSAUTO RENTAL CALL: 225-7126 & 2263693 -DOLLYS AUTO RENTAL@ YAHOO.COM/ W W W . D O L L Y SAUTORENTAL.COM PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS & SUV'SCALL:656-0087/6435 1 2 2 , E M A I L : P R O A U T O R E N TA L @YAHOO.COM
Land for sale - 480 acres of transported waterfront land situated @ Hogg Island, Suitable for Cattle, Rice, Eco Tourism. Contact#617-4004 Transported land for sale in Rose Hall Town.Call#603-1441 1-5 Acre fruit bearing & coconut plantation for sale/ lease@WBD Oppos Timehri Wharf.Email:gzplayter@aol.com. Call: 604-4333
5 acre to lease, Coconut & AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL & other fruit trees on Demerara TOW TRUCK river. Call: 261-2988/604-4333 SERVICE:PICKUP,9-11 WANTED SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY Supervisor, Kitchen OUTINGS, CHEAPEST assistants & servers for RATE#698-7807. restaurants. 2 years ’experience and food handlers LEARN TO DRIVE permit. Call/Whatsapp #6087452 N.Outar Driving School, in Mahaica/ Learn to Drive the right way Wanted @ Cuffy Square.Affordable Mahaicony area, One Package.Call#644-5166/691- Domestic worker urgently. Call: 624-7087/258-0213 2561/681-2808.
Fully furnished airconditioned duplex in gated community, all utilities included. #265-7777/699-6891 Unfurnished house with 2 selfcontained, 2 bedrooms apartments in Queenstown. Call: 669-0698 One newly renovated apartment in Great Diamond EBD. Contact# 621-0352/6030067 1 & 2 bedrooms fully furnished apartments in Georgetown for students & single working. Tel#225-1418/ 601-1585/625-0266 WANTED Maid. Requirements: person must be living on the East Bank. Contact# 600-6887 Experienced Pastry Maker/ Cake Decorator, Driver. Apply @ Hack’s Halaal Restaurant, 5 Commerce St. Wanted 1 Experienced cook. Call: 623-8654 Looking for ackee trees. If you know where any are locatedplease call or whatsapp #6087452 Labourers for wood concession $5,000 per day. Call: 630-1831 One legal computer clerk. Call: 624-7087/664-7113 Drivers for route 42 minibus. Tel# 640-0626 Domestic help from Providence or nearby, three days weekly 9am to 3pm. Call Shiv #638-4111 1 able-bodied male clerk. Call: 225-2313/226-1497 Live-in Domestic, must know to cook 30-50 yrs, Salary $25,000 weekly. #648-7866 1 Clerk, housekeeper, kitchen assistant, administrator, accountant, maintenance worker. Must speak English & Spanish. Hostal El Sol. #2278253/670-3149
2 Vacancies- Clerk & Domestic, Live-in facilities for Berbicians & Essequibians. #219-5354 Office Assistant- Maths & English, Excel & Quickbooks. Apply to Mima Decor, 8 Sheriff St, G/town. Email: mimadecor12@gmail.com. Tel# 227-0186/227-0176 Security Officers to work, preferably ex army, police or disciplined services.Age 2440.Contact#223-4172/6002271 Vacancy for labourers and maintenance workers @PSGCS. Call Office: 6157784/621-6969 between 8-4 hrs Mon-Fri Maid to cook and clean for East Bank area. Call: 615-9132 Vacancy for One (1) Experienced Driver/Salesman @ Humphrey’s Bakery & Farm Products. Tel#225-7864 Driver/Expediter, Accounts Clerk, Family to live & work on farm in Haruruni. Tel# 2310363 Vacancy for two (2) experienced Pastry maker @ Humphrey’s Bakery & Farm Products. Tel# 225-7864/2278607 R A Soda Factory, Rosignol Berbice #330-2399/656-7456/ 692-2981. Manager, Supervisor, Checkers Male & Female workers, Drivers for truck Vacancy for (1) Professional & Experienced Hairdresser & Nail Technicians @ Natural Beauty Salon & Spa. Located: Grove, East Bank Dem. #6525800 VacancySales Representative. Apply in Person @ Wieting & Richter Ltd, 10-13 Water St, Georgetown. Tel# 226-6150-7/ 660-1226 LEGAL NOTICE 1 2019-HC-DEM-CIV-FD1446 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND M AT R I M O N I A L JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION PETITION NO. FD-1446 BETWEEN:SUKMANGAL (TARAMATIE) nee RAMPERSAUD Petitioner –vSUKMANGAL (KHEMRAJ) Respondent
TO: KHEMRAJ SUKMANGAL (Last Known Address) Lot 150 Montrose, East Coast Demerara, Guyana TAKE NOTICE that on the 28th day of November, 2019 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by TARAMATIE SUKMANGAL nee RAMPERSAUD the Petitioner in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 13th day of January, 2020 the Petitioner was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) Consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News Newspapers, a daily Newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana and on the Worldwide Web (Online). AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorneyat-Law at the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), an Answer and/ or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 28 (twenty-eight) days from the date of the Second and final publication of this Notice. TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Monday 16th day March, 2020 at 9:00am before the Honourable Madam Justice Damone Younge in the Directions Hearing Room of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown. IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/ Notice of Intention to Defend Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce. The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts (Georgetown, Demerara). The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed. Dated the 15thth day of January, 2020
LEGAL NOTICE 1 CONTD
LEGAL NOTICE 2 2019-HC-DEM-CIV-FD1525 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION PETITION NO. FD-1525 BETWEEN:(ETWAROO) DIANNE nee SKEETE Petitioner/ Applicant –and(ETWAROO) DESMOND Respondent TO: DESMOND ETWAROO (Last Known Address) Lot 55 New Road Vreed-enHoop West Coast Demerara, Guyana TAKE NOTICE that on the 20th day of December, 2019 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by DIANNE ETWAROO nee SKEETE the Petitioner in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 27th day of January, 2020 the Petitioner was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) Consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News Newspapers, a daily Newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana and on the worldwide web. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorneyat-Law at the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry) an Answer and/ or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 28 (twenty-eight) days from the date of the second and final publication of this Notice. TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Wednesday 15th day of April, 2020 at 9:00am in Family Court of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown. Continued on page 23
Saturday February 22, 2020
PAGE 23
Kaieteur News
Man charged for a spate of robberies Six months after he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts to answer three counts of robbery under arms charges, 23-year-old Antonio Maraj, was yesterday arraigned before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly. The defendant had two of the three charges dismissed against him that same day after two of the victims said they no longer wished to proceed with the matter against him. Maraj, who was unrepresented, also faced a charge which alleged that on February 8, 2020, at Leopold and Breda Streets, Georgetown, he assaulted police sergeant
Remanded: Antonio Maraj
John Mohamed to prevent the lawful apprehension of Kennedy Fraser. Police prosecutor Sanj Singh objected to bail being granted to the defendant and then highlighted that the defendant was charged multiple times before and that he is out on bail. When the Magistrate asked the defendant his address, he was unable to produce a fixed address to the court. The prosecutor then objected based on conflicting addresses and as such the defendant was remanded to prison by Senior Magistrate Daly and the matter was adjourned to March 20, 2020. Maraj was slapped with
three charges in August 2019. It is alleged that on August 12, 2019, at Hadfield and Breda Streets, Georgetown, while in the company of others and armed with a gun, he robbed Mark Whittaker of $86,000 in cash and a Samsung cell phone valued at $64,000. The second charge stated that on the same date and location, while in the company of others, and armed with a gun, he robbed Tavia Daly of a cell phone valued at $80,000, a silver chain valued at $10,000, and $2,500. The final charge stated, on August 17, 2019, at D'Urban Street, Werk-enRust, Georgetown, while in the company of others and armed
Coconut water is worth more than gasoline …Company to plant 1,000,000 - Dr. Raymond Harlall coconuts trees in the next 10 years Dr. Raymond Harlall's vision for Guyana is to promote Diversification, Capacity Building and Food Security in the Agriculture Sector through his Smart Green Sustainable & Profitable Communities Initiative. With businesses in North America and joint ventures around the world, Dr. Harlall is a Global Activist for the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals Agenda 2030. His movement is called “iEmpower Entrepreneurs.” Dr. Harlall is collaborating with Inter n a t i o n a l Organisations, the Government of Guyana, the University of Guyana (UG), National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited, (NICIL) Go Invest, Foreign and Local Investors, and local farmers to plant 1 million coconuts trees throughout the country by 2030. Yesterday, Dr. Harlall's organisation, National First
Guyana's Production Sharing Agreements do not call for disclosure of ... From page 7 requirements of oil companies, Dr. Bynoe clarified that they do not call for disclosure but for the Operators meeting with the Minister on such issues. He further noted that Government has taken substantial steps to disclose as much information as possible without contravening the stipulations of the PSAs. While Articles 18 and 19 of the oil agreements Guyana has, do not demand disclosure, whether in full or part, by the same token, it does not say that confidentiality provisions should therefore be included in the country's Local Content Policy.
Farmers Federation in collaboration with the Government of Guyana, Ministry of Agriculture and the University of Guyana, Berbice Campus, hosted the very first Guyana Agriculture Diversification Forum 2020. His company will be providing investments, specialised coconut palms, along with crop insurance and experts to assist farmers with the best practices in growing long and short-term crops together. Dr. Harlall said, “My company is on track to plant one million coconut tree in the next
10 years here in Guyana. It's good for the environment, ensuring local food security. “Most importantly, we are creating massive employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, bringing farmers together and collectively bargaining for export markers.” When asked about what he thinks the future holds for Guyana as an oil-producing nation, he said, “Guyana has won the jackpot. Our country has the largest hydrocarbon discovery of the decade and we have one
of the largest landmasses to population ratio. “Added to the vast diversity in both human capital and natural resources, we now have all the elements of a First World Nation. “When you compare the price of one litre of coconut water or coconut oil to one litre of gasoline (not crude oil, refined fuel), it costs the same or in some instances more. “So many health, environmental and economical benefits come from something we can all plant in our back yard.”
with a gun, he robbed Kester Peters of $40,000 in cash, a cell phone valued at $48,000, a gold ring valued at $127,000, a knife valued at $8,000, and two flash drives valued at $4,000. However, the virtual complainants of the first two charges, Whittaker and Daly, stepped into the witness box and under oath, said that they would no longer want to proceed with the matter against Maraj. Chief Magistrate McLennan then dismissed the first two charges against the defendant and he was granted bail in the sum of $100,000 with reporting conditions attached that every day at 08:00hrs he report to the Ruimveldt Police Station, until the completion of the matter.
LEGAL NOTICE 2 CONTD IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce. The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts (Georgetown, Demerara). The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed. Dated the 30th day of January, 2020
TO LET LEGAL NOTICE 3 Decent working couples, One bedroom apartment in 2019-HC-DEM-CIV-FDGeorgetown, Parking & Tele1423 IN THE HIGH COURT phone $45,000. Tel# 623-8759/ OF THE SUPREME COURT 675-7842 OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, AND LEGAL NOTICE 3 CONTD DIVORCE MATRIMONIAL certified copy of the Petition, JURISDICTION FAMILY you must file an DIVISION Acknowledgement of Service, PETITION NO. FD-1423 Notice of Intention to Defend BETWEEN:(CANDACY (Forms are available at the HILL Registry), an Answer and/or ROMONA) nee ANGUS Cross Petition in the Registry Petitioner of the Family Division of the –and- HILL (DARON PAUL) High Court at Georgetown, Respondent Demerara within 28 (twentyeight) days from the date of TO: DARON PAUL HILL the final publication of this Formerly of: Lot 198 Block E, Notice. South Sophia, TAKE NOTICE that the matter Guyana is fixed for Directions Hearing TAKE NOTICE that on the on Tuesday the 31st day of 22nd day of November, 2019 March, 2020 at 9:30am a Petition for Divorce was filed before the Honourable Madam against you by CANDACY Justice Damone Younge in ROMONA HILL nee ANGUS the Directions Hearing Room the Petitioner in the Family of the Family Division of the Division of the High Court in High Court at Georgetown. Georgetown, Demerara. IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/ AND FURTHER TAKE Notice of Intention to Defend NOTICE that as part of an Answer and/or Cross Petition Order made on the 4th day of the Court may proceed in your February, 2020 the Petitioner absence and may make any was directed to effect service Order it considers appropriate, of her Petition on you by including granting the publication of this Notice in two (2) Consecutive Saturday Divorce. The Registry of the Family issues of the Kaieteur News a daily Division of the High Court is Newspapers, Newspaper printed, located at the Law Courts (Georgetown, Demerara). The published and circulated in office is open to the public and around Guyana. between 8:00am and 3:30pm AND FURTHER TAKE Mondays to Thursdays and NOTICE that if you desire 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays you may appear or attend in except on public holidays and person or by your duly on such other days as the authorized agent or AttorneyRegistry is closed. at-Law at the Registry of the Dated the 6th day of Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, February,2020 Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the
PAGE 24
Kaieteur News
Saturday February 22, 2020
First ever Immigration Office commissioned in Region Ten
Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Mr. Joseph Harmon with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings, Minister of Citizenship, Mr. Winston Felix and Regional Chairman, Mr. Rennis Morian at the commissioning.
D
irector General, Ministry of the P r e s i d e n c y, Joseph Harmon, on Thursday, commissioned a spanking new $38M Immigration Office at I n d e p e n d e n c e Av e n u e , Mackenzie, Linden as the Government continues its quest to decentralise basic public services to citizens across the country. In his feature address, Harmon said President David Granger's vision of taking public services directly to the people in every region is becoming a welcomed reality. Noting that a similar office was commissioned in New Amsterdam, East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six) last week, he said G o v e r n m e n t i s demonstrating its commitment to making life easier for citizens. “We have committed ourselves to making life easier for citizens. We have committed ourselves to ensuring that Government services are taken to the people and ensuring that people don't have to go looking and searching for Government services. “We recognised very
early that there are certain things which affect the lives of every Guyanese and there had to be a decentralisation in governance and public services. “We have sought to decentralise services so that they are available where the people are. This passport office here is just one e l e m e n t i n t h e decentralisation process. We have decentralised the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission and the Guyana Revenue Authority,” he said. DG Harmon noted that the Government does not see communities based on their race, geographic location or their perceived political affiliation but rather, as Guyanese who need access to basic services that should be provided by the State. “This country is being developed in an equal and equitable manner and no community is being left behind. There are no `red' or `green' communities with respect to development. It is spread all across this country. “Our first priority is to satisfy the requirements of our people. I would like to congratulate the Minister and the Department of Citizenship for taking this
vision and making it a reality,” Mr. Harmon stated. Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix, said the need was identified for a Passport Office in Region Ten and in August 2016, the Government after discussions with the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), set up a temporary office at the Scheme's office to provide services three days per week. While this was taking place, he noted that the Department began to look for suitable land in the area. Once it was identified and permission received, the contract was awarded in December 2017 for construction of the office to commence. “On July 30, 2019, this building was put into service to test the equipment and the efficiency of the staff. They responded admirably to the task and have since accepted and processed 2,623 applications for passports. “Citizens are assured that their applications will be processed within eight days of the submission of their applications. In circumstances where the applications were made in Georgetown, the (continued on page 25)
The new Immigration Office in Linden
Saturday February 22, 2020
Kaieteur News
PAGE 25
PAGE 26
Kaieteur News
Saturday February 22, 2020
Saturday February 22, 2020
Kaieteur News
PAGE 27
PAGE 28
Kaieteur News
Saturday February 22, 2020
Cuban’s killers known to cops Attempted robber gets sound thrashing
Officers are closing in on the shooters behind the murder of Cuban national, 35-year-old Ofredis Duarte Campos, of 321 East Street, Georgetown. Campos was shot dead during an early morning attempted robbery on Thursday morning as he was making his way to his place of work, at the Rossignol Butchery located on Church Street, Georgetown. A senior police official when asked to provide an update on the investigations disclosed to Kaieteur News that “we know who we are looking for.” Sources further disclosed that the two suspects are known criminal characters who have committed a string of similar robberies in the past. The police have also obtained CCTV footage from
Dead: Ofredis Duarte Campos the scene of the crime to pin the suspects to the scene of the crime. The fatal shooting occurred shortly after 6:30 am. According to reports, Campos was walking along Cummings Street, between Middle and Quamina Streets, when two men rode up beside him and attempted to snatch his haversack. According to the official
police report, while on the western parapet proceeding south on Cummings Street, Campos was confronted by the suspects on a red and white XR motorcycle which came from the opposite direction. It was said that Campos put up a fight with the two men, refusing to let them take his belongings. This fact may have angered the thieves, as one of the men pulled out a handgun and shot Campos multiple times before riding off. He was shot three times; sustaining gunshot wounds to his right wrist, upper chest and under his chin. The suspects reportedly escaped with nothing, because all of the dead man’s valuables were found in his possession. The victim was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
I am voting out of tribe because I... From page 6 fathers. There are at least five new parties to choose from, all headed by persons of integrity with no shortage of good ideas. Three of them (LJP, ANUG, TNM) have created and signed the Joinders Memorandum to ensure that no vote is wasted, with mechanisms to protect against the dreaded third
force curse of being coopted, corrupted and betrayed. When I look at myself in the mirror, I cannot bring myself to keep repeating the same mistake election after election. I know that most of my countrymen are tribal and I will not blame them for it. I understand the tribal loyalties, but I feel that I must vote to save my country. I
must have the courage to be rational in my choice. And in that choice I want to support the LJP and its bright and courageous Indigenous leader with the kind smile, for they are a signatory to the Joinders Memorandum. The future of my children depends upon it. Yours Sincerely, Govind Hinds PhD
New beginnings From page 5 effect. I agree. How do you legislate integrity? How do you legislate conscience and the human heart? After a valid and successful noconfidence motion, the current caretaker administration has clung to power for over a year. I know of no precedent for that. The regime therefore qualifies for a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. Some advice for whoever wins. Do not discriminate. Do not witch hunt your political opponents. Take the road less travelled; treat them with kindness. Guyanese do not elect kings, they elect servantpresidents. It is a sacred trust. Be humble and be honest. Remember, “Who steals my purse steals trash…” Governing a plural, multicultural country like Guyana requires fairness, inclusiveness, empathy, sensitivity and a high level of emotional intelligence. Have a ‘Guyana First’ outlook. From the time you form the new government, be mindful of the next election. Do not squander the goodwill of the electorate; it is your political capital. Actions and policies which please the citizens and make their
lives better increase that capital. Actions and policies which are wrong and make their lives harder deplete that capital. Listen to the public. There is at least one big suggestion box. It is called “Letters to the Editor”. Read those and, where valid and doable, take criticisms and suggestions onboard. Freely acknowledge and give credit to the originators of ideas and suggestions, and act on them. You can even have a public “Problem, Solution” program, in which citizens would identify a problem, suggest the solution and work with the government to solve it. In this way, there would be ‘co-governance’ with the entire electorate, including – indeed, especially – those who did not vote for you. Do not tax people to death and spend like there is no tomorrow. Do not overburden the country with loans and do not deplete the treasury. Diversify the economy. It is good that oil revenue is on its way, but Guyana is basically an agricultural country. Use most of the oil money to uplift the poor. Be firm on crime, even severe when warranted. Create an Internal Security Force (ISF) with police powers; village-
based and staffed by paid professionals as well as volunteers. Domestic abuse and violence are huge and serious issues. Build at least one women’s shelter in each county, staffed by qualified personnel and made secure by guards. Televise the first half an hour of your first cabinet meeting. Let us hear the President laying out his vision and telling his cabinet ministers what he expects of them. Live stream it. So what if this has never been done in the Caribbean and further afield? Think outside the box! Keep cricket (of course!) and bring baseball to Guyana. Do not spurn the Guyanese diaspora. Welcome them. I cannot close without mentioning a young, bright and rising star; Susan Rodrigues, host of the “Making the case” TV program. Her parents must be so proud of her. In my opinion, she has the makings of a future President of Guyana. For now, it is Dr. Ali’s turn. We only occupy these human bodies for a short while. While we are in them, let us do the best we can. Yours faithfully, Sieyf Shahabuddeen
The screwdriver used Given the spike in snatching incidents in the city, shoppers are put on the alert when traversing the roadways conducting their daily business; to be wary of their surroundings, ensuring they are not the next victim. Apart from being on the alert, patrons are now fighting back. This was the case yesterday when shoppers on Regent Street put a sound thrashing on a would-be bandit who tried to relieve a young shopper of his bicycle. Wielding a screwdriver, he attempted to rob the teen but he did not count on the people nearby intervening. In broad daylight and unmasked, the young man clad in a blue shirt and black pants approached the young victim and placed the screwdriver to his neck,
The thief being restrained demanding that he hand over the bicycle. But another shopper witnessed his demand and immediately raised an alarm. The thief attempted to flee the scene but was nabbed a short distance away by publicspirited citizens who cornered him and started to beat him. The suspect was held captive until police arrived on the scene.
He was transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital after he complained of chest pains. He was treated and taken into police custody pending charges. “We fed up man. Is every day or every other day, they running about the place taking people things. In day time too. Is like no where you can’t go and feel safe,” one frustrated shopper said.
First ever Immigration Office... From page 24 applications are able to receive their passports in Linden within the same period,” he said. Minister Felix added that a similar office is currently under construction in Lethem, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region Nine). Others are planned for Mabaruma, Barima-Waini (Region One), Anna Regina, Pomeroon-Supenaam (Region Two), Bartica, CuyuniMazaruni (Region Seven) and Mahdia, Potaro- Siparuni (Region Eight). “The President has placed much effort in improving the lives of Guyanese
and spared no effort in ensuring that the residents of Region Ten benefit from this project, which has removed long and challenging journeys to Georgetown to stand in lines for hours in the sun to apply for a simple passport. “May this edifice continue to serve the residents of Region Ten with dignity and pride and with greater ease for residents,” he noted. Regional Chairman, Rennis Morian, lauded the Government for the initiative even as he noted that it will bring significant benefits to the residents of the region, not only financially but timewise as well.
He noted that the region had asked the previous administration in 2009 for a Passport Office but it was never delivered. “I am happy that when the Government took office that they recognised that development cannot be a selective process. This Government looks at development in a holistic manner and I am happy that each community could share in the bounties that are part of Guyana,” he said. The commissioning ceremony was also attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings. (MoTP)
STRANDED SEA TURTLE RESCUED... From page 19 Guard Unit to ensure the animal was rescued and released safely. The turtle was examined for injuries and a measurement of the carapace (shell) length was taken. It measured 62.23 cm. The turtle was then tagged for identification purposes and released approximately 2km off the Kitty Seawall away from fishing nets. The agencies expressed gratitude and a sense of pride that they were contacted and that the turtle was neither
harmed nor killed. This is encouraging and certainly indicates that Guyana and Guyanese are becoming aware of the importance of guarding not only our protected areas but also the country's wildlife resources. “This incident we hope will be a motivation to other citizens to help us look out for our wildlife as we all aim to ensure that our national patrimony is preserved for generations to come.” The WCMC and the PAC are also extremely thankful for
the longstanding support of WWF-Guianas and GMCS in providing financial and technical support to monitor marine turtles in Guyana better. The incidence of turtles being trapped in fishing nets will increase during this time of year, since the turtle-nesting season commenced in early February until August. Therefore, fishermen and the general public are urged to be on the lookout during this period and to report any sighting of marine turtles.
Saturday February 22, 2020
Ethiopia’s Yeshaneh smashes half marathon world record by 20 seconds
Yeshaneh’s previous best of one hour, five minutes and 46 seconds had stood as the Ethiopian record for five months between 2018 and 2019. (Getty Images)
(Reuters) - Ethiopia’s Ababel Yeshaneh smashed the half marathon world record by 20 seconds on Friday to win the Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) event in the United Arab Emirates yesterday. Yeshaneh crossed the finish line in one hour, four minutes and 31 seconds at the World Athletics Gold Label road race, eclipsing the previous record of 1:04:51 set by Kenyan Joyciline Jepkosgei in Valencia in 2017. Marathon world record holder Brigid Kosgei finished second, and her time was also two seconds inside Jepkosgei’s mark. B o t h Ye s h a n e h a n d Kosgei were wearing a
Saturday February 22, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Your heart may feel extra loving today, which is good, since you will probably need it. There is most likely someone close to you who needs a lift of some sort. TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) You may feel a bit protective today, Taurus, and with good reason. Others are likely to be aggressive when it comes to moving in on your territory. Be strong. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You may be a bit confused today, Gemini. More than likely, it will be hard for you to get an accurate read on your emotions. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Secure your emotions and make sure you're set in your mind before you take action today, Cancer. This is a terrific time to get things started. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Break through the potential moodiness of the day, Leo. Burst into song while walking down the street. Encourage others to sing back to you, as if your life were an opera. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You may be plagued with restlessness, to the point that you may not be able to get anything done. If you sense that this is happening to you even in the slightest degree, stop whatever you're doing and take a break. Your work isn't worth the sacrifice of your sanity.
PAGE 29
Kaieteur News
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Be careful of exerting your will too strongly toward someone who really isn't receptive to it. Be conscious of other people's feelings. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Overall, this should be a pretty good day for you, Scorpio, as long as you don't get overly sensitive about certain things. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) This is one day in which your heart pounds with excitement. For some reason, Sagittarius, there's a quiet voice inside warning that you may be getting yourself into a great deal of trouble. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Be more aggressive when it comes to your intentions in a romantic situation, Capricorn. It would be a great idea to impress your lover with a delicious home-cooked meal on a night like this. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) It would be a good idea to socialize with others today in a comfortable, open setting. Say what you feel instead of just concentrating on what you think. Be just as good a listener as you expect others to be for you. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Stick with what comes naturally, Pisces. If something feels difficult or abrasive, this is a sign that your energy is better used elsewhere.
version of Nike’s Vaporfly shoes, which have featured in several other track and road records in the last three years. Some earlier models of the shoe were banned by World Athletics last month, but the latest one launched by Nike complies with the rules to limit carbon plate usage and sole thickness for elite races. “I didn’t imagine this r e s u l t , ” s a i d Ye s h a n e h , whose previous best of 1:05:46 had stood as the Ethiopian record for five months between 2018 and 2019. Rosemary Wanjiru was third in a time of 1:05:34, and the next five women completed the race inside 67 minutes. K e n y a ’s Kibiwott Kandie won the men’s race in 58:58, 18 seconds clear of compatriot Alexander Mutiso in second place.
Upper Corentyne Cricket... From page 27 with gift vouchers. These vouchers will go to the players to purchase stationary and school supplies of their choice from a popular Store on the Upper Corentyne. The players will also receive school materials. The competition is being coordinated by chairman of the UCCA Competitions committee, former national wicketkeeper batsman Sydney Jackman. (Samuel Whyte)
India stun champions... From page 28 regained the early momentum and Australia would have been confident of reaching their target and taking charge of the group. “ We d i d n ’t q u i t e execute with the bat u n f o r t u n a t e l y, ” said captain Meg Lanning. “India bowled really well tonight and thoroughly deserved their victory. It’s not ideal, but if we win our remaining games in the pool we’ll still go through.” The top two teams in each of the two groups go through to the semi-finals on March 5, three days before the final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Scores: India 4 for 132 (Sharma 49*, Jonassen 224) beat Australia 115 (Healy 51, Yadav 4-19, Pandey 3-14) by 17 runs.
Guyana Dominoes League Mash Cup on today The Guyana Domino League will be hosting its Mash Cup dominoes tournament today at 76 Meadowbrook Gardens, starting at 16:00hrs. Entrance fee is $12,000 and according to organizer Mark Wiltshire $100,000 will be added to the pot. The competition will be played on a points system and interested teams can contact Wiltshire on 659-8672.
Rybakina sets up final... From page 26 Karolina Pliskova, showed maturity to recover from losing her first two service games. “First set it was not easy because she (Martic) plays really good. She has really good slices,” Rybakina said. “Her serve, it’s not flat like I played with Pliskova, for example. It’s a completely different style of game. It was
not easy to start against her. “But I tried to work every point. Second set, I was 3-0 down but I knew it was going to be easier to win this set than play a third one. I wanted to win the second so much.” Rybakina fired down six aces and 32 winners, many from her powerful forehand that had Martic chasing her returns in vain.
PAGE 30
Kaieteur News
Saturday February 22, 2020
Cricket association to seek resolution in Ramdin feud with coach and selectors PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago Red Force coach and chairman of selectors have denied a host of allegations levelled by outof-favour player Denesh Ramdin, even as the country’s cricket association says it is troubled by the public feud and will seek to resolve it. Ramdin, who was dropped for the team for the next match of the Regional Four-Day Championships, claimed earlier this week that head coach Mervyn Dillon wanted him and other senior players out of the team; that team members were uncomfortable because they did not believe their place on the squad was secure; and that the selectors, led by Tony Gray, have disrespected and ignored the senior players.
President of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board Azim Bassarath Dillon and Gray, hitting back at the former Red Force captain, dismissed his claims, with Dillon suggesting that he was “hurt” at being omitted from the team heading to St Kitts next week for the first sixth round match against the
Leeward Islands Hurricanes. In an interview with Newsday, President of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) Azim Bassarath said he was concerned about the situation, and would seek to meet with the relevant
STSC small goal football set for Monday South Turkeyen Sports Committee 5-a-side small goal and penalty shootout football competition will be held on Monday at the
Carifesta Sports Complex, commencing at 09:00hrs. Among the teams set to take part are Sophia, L o d g e , Vr y h e i d ’s L u s t , Plaisance, Belfield, Kingston and Kitty. Entrance fee is $5,000 and
at stake are cash prizes, trophies and medals donated by Trophy Stall, Te n t C i t y, Retired Brigadier Edmund Collins, Dexter Lord and Department of Social Cohesion among others.
Rybakina sets up final showdown with Halep in Dubai
parties. “The team flies out on Monday so there would not be any opportunity to meet with the guys before the team flies out, but it is something that is worrying and definitely I think I should have a word with the three people that are involved,” he said Thursday. Ramdin, in a telephone interview on the Mason and Guest radio in Barbados, had lashed out at Dillon and Gray after learning he would not be suiting up with the team in St Kitts. The wicketkeeperbatsman scored a total 16 runs in three innings in two matches he played for Red Force this season. He scored those runs in the first innings, but got a pair of ducks in the other two in last weekend’s game against Barbados Pride, which Red Force lost by 299 runs. Ramdin was one of five people axed from the team, with Gray blaming his omission on poor form. The others were Yannic Cariah, Keagan Simmons, Kissoondath Magram and Daniel St Clair, and five were replaced by Anderson Phillip, Imran Khan, Isaiah Rajah, Cephas Cooper and West Indies spinner Khary Pierre. Ramdin said he was “shocked and surprised” when Gray informed him he would not be in the squad for the next game. The former West Indies skipper further claimed that communication between the players and administrators was poor. “They’re not respecting our senior players…they are doing their own thing basically,” he had claimed. “Our system is very strange. They will call you and let you know when you get dropped, but when you get selected
you have to read it in the news. It’s very disrespectful.” But, in an interview the Trinidad Express newspaper, Gray said he was specific in his communication with Ramdin about why he was not in the squad, and had also been in contact with the other four who were not chosen. “I told him that the selectors think that you need some form and we would like you to play local cricket to regain the form,” Gray explained. “I called all the players that weren’t selected, including the young players like Magram, Keagan Simmons, Cariah, Daniel St Clair and Denesh Ramdin by phone and I told them exactly what the selectors were thinking. I told Daniel St Clair that because Anderson Phillip was fit again he would be replaced.” As for the contention that seam bowler Ravi Rampaul had been overlooked despite being available for the entire season, Gray said Ramdin was way off mark. “I communicated with him [Rampaul] to find out his availability at the start of the season…What Ravi Rampaul was saying was that he would not be available for the first game because he hadn’t played any cricket. Ravi Rampaul has always been honest and straightforward. After that, Mervyn Dillon would have been communicating with him,” the selector said, adding that Rampaul also had an issue with his passport. On the latter issue, Dillon explained that when contacted about his availability for the match against the Windward Islands Volcanoes, Rampaul said he had sent his passport away
for his visa, so he would be unavailable for two weeks. “After the Barbados game I called him again and he said to me he had some problems with his heel, he could hardly walk and that he was going to the doctor on Wednesday,” he was quoted as saying in the Trinidad Express. Dillon said another senior, uncontracted player, Evin Lewis had “declined” to play for the team against Barbados Pride. Dillon further denied wanting to see the backs of Ramdin and other senior players, and also rubbished the player’s claim that he “just wants a young group of guys that he can dictate (to) and use them to go forward”. “The idea of me not wanting senior players around is laughable. I feel silly to have to comment on these things because it’s ridiculous. Denesh is obviously hurt. I don’t know what he’s thinking,” the coach said. Red Force are currently in fifth place in the six-team Four-Day Regional Championships with 46.6 points, and Gray has called for unity to improve not only the performance in this tournament, but cricket in the twin-island republic in general. “Selectors are not infallible, we will make mistakes,” he said. “We are trying to improve Trinidad and Tobago’s cricket. If we are to improve Trinidad and Tobago’s cricket, then the attitude of everybody has to improve…which has to include administrators, selectors and players, because this is a concerted effort. It is not about a blame game.”
Upper Corentyne Cricket Association Price Is Right T20 starts tomorrow
Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina in action during her semi final match against Croatia’s Petra Martic. (REUTERS/Christopher Pike) (Reuters) - Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina marched into her fourth final of the season with a 7-6(5) 7-6(2) win over Petra Martic at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships yesterday. Rybakina came back from a break down in both sets and also saved set points in each to overcome the eighth
seeded Croatian in a little over two hours for her 19th victory of the year. In the other semi, topseeded Romanian Simona Halep was barely troubled by American qualifier Jennifer Brady, winning 6-2 6-0 in 62 minutes after converting five break points. Brady, playing for a
seventh straight day having got through three qualifiers, made 14 unforced errors to give the Wimbledon champion a chance to win her first trophy of the year. The 20-year-old Rybakina, having beaten Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin and second seed (Continued on page 25)
The Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA) in collaboration with the Price Is Right Supermarket has organised a T20 cricket Competition for teams in the Upper Corentyne and Black Bush Areas. The Price is Right Supermarket which is a regular sponsor of cricket competition in the area has branches located at No.79 Public Road, Corriverton and the Skeldon Market. The competition starts tomorrow with some 27 teams set to participate. The competition is being played on a knock out basis. The matches scheduled are as follows: No.70 Spartans
versus Yakusari Horizon at No.70 Ground; No.71 Sports Club play Scottsburg United at Scottsburg; Bomb Squad take on No.72 Cut and Load at No. 72 Cut and Load Ground; Crabwood Creek Sports Club meet No. 68 Darken d z a t C r a b w o o d Creek; No.72 All Star and All Family will play at No.72, No.69 Red Rose will be at home to Mibicuri St r y k e r s ; N o . 7 3 Yo u n g Warriors tangle with No.52 Survival at No.73; No.69 Eagles and No.43 Scorpions meet No.43; No.70 MYO travel to No.68 Turn Team for their game; Young Blood versus Skeldon Titans at No.70 MYO,
Yakasuri Caribs play No.69 Vikings at No . 6 9 ; Dukestown Wa r r i o r s challenge No.48 Challengers at No.48; No.64 Fighting Marines engage No.77 Cricket Club at No.64; No.73 Mandir has drawn the bye to the next round. Prizes will be awarded to the top two teams as well as outstanding individual performers. The UCCA is being led by businessman Dennis D’Andrade. The competition will be coordinated by The UCCA competitions committee which is being led former National wicketkeeper batsman Sydney Jackman. (Samuel Whyte)
Saturday February 22, 2020
PAGE 31
Kaieteur News
Raekwon, Seaton, Persaud, Lewis among gold medal winners on opening day at GASA Mash Meet By Zaheer Mohamed Noel Raekwon, Leon Seaton, Aleka Persaud and Shareefah Lewis were among the outstanding athletes when the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) Mash Meet commenced in Thursday at the National Aquatic Center. Raekwon of Dorado Swim Speed Club won the boys 1314 1500m freestyle in a time of 18:05.14 ahead of Stephen Ramkhelawan and Vladimir Woodroffe respectively. Representing the Silver Shark Aquatic Swim Club, Seaton took gold in the boys 15-17 100m freestyle in 57.54 seconds, such was his dominance in the race that his closest rival Andrew Skeete finished in 1:06.00 and third place Stephon Ramkhelawan clocked 1:06.77. Persaud of Orca Swim Speed Club carted off the girls 13-14 200m IM in 2:45.41 while Monique Watson of 2:56.84 placed second. Persaud fine form continued when she powered her way to victory in the girls 13-14 50m breaststroke in 39.09 and 1314 girls 100m freestyle in 1:04.36. Lewis of Sea Otters SC grabbed gold in the girls 9-10 200m IM in a time of 3:08.78; Jasmine Allen of Dorado SSC placed second and Delica George was third. Jeron Sookram of Dolphin Swim Speed Club won the boys 11-12 1500m freestyle in 23:30.14, Jonathan Sookram of Dolphin SSC took gold on the boys 15-17 1500m freestyle in 25:06.70, Akhiel McKoy of Dorado SSC won the boys 9-10 200m IM in 3:54.81, while Michael Thompson placed second in 4:10.83 and Micaiah Enoe finished third in 4:26.28. The girls 11-12 200m IM was taken by Zara Crane of Dorado SSC in 3:04.00; Kayla Hardy took the runner up spot
Aleka Persaud
Heaven Belony
in 3:15.37 and Krya Soares was third in 3:18.69. Hashem Mohamed of Dolphin SSC won the boys 11-12 200m IM in 3:02.76 while Aarav Singh placed second in 30:05.97 and Jeron Sookram was third in 3:06.12. The boys 13-14 200m IM was won by Elliott Gonsalves of Dorado SSC in 2:30.39; Ethan Gonsalves was second in 2:35.28 and Paul Mahaica third in 2:38.01. Andrew Skeete of Dolphin SSC grabbed gold on the boys 15-17 200m IM in 2:50.28, Darius Williams took the top podium spot in the boys 18 and over 200m IM in 2:56.80, Monique Watson won the girls 13-14 200m backstroke in 2:53.09 and Leah Terborg of Dorado SSC took the girls 15-17 200m backstroke title in 3:43.09. Raekwon was again in winners’ lane when he carted off the boys 13-14 200m backstroke in 2:27.63 and the boys 13-14 100m freestyle in 59.76. Paul Mahaica and Elliott Gonsalves placed second and third respectively in the boys 13-14 100m freestyle. The boys 18 and over 200m backstroke was taken by Fitzroy Thom of Torpedo SC.
Heaven Belony of Dolphin SSC won the girls 8 and under 50m breaststroke in 58.43, while Aydin Jackson of Orca SSC won the boys 8 and under breaststroke in 1:07.94. Lewis dominance continued as she won the girls 9-10 50m breaststroke in 45.09; Michael Thompson of Dorado SSC took gold in the boys 9-10 50m breaststroke in 54.98 and Zara Crane won the girls 11-12 50m breaststroke in 42.43. The girls 15-17 50m breaststroke was taken by Nikita Peters of Sea Otters SC in 47.03, while Safiya Foster or Dorado SSC won the girls 18 and over 50m breaststroke in 44.72. The boys 11-12 50m breaststroke was won by Darion Pereira of Silver Shark Aquatic SC in 38.45, Elliott Gonsalves took gold in the boys 13-14 50m breaststroke in 36.12; Stephon Ramkhelawan of Dorado SSC won the boys 15-17 50m breaststroke in 36.44; Andrew Jordan of Orca SSC took the top podium spot in the boys 18 and over 50m breaststroke in 33.79. The girls 8 and under
Milo Schools Football Tournament 2020 continues today and Monday Play in the Milo Schools Football Tournament 2020 will continue today and Monday at the Ministry of Education Ground on Carifesta Avenue with a total six matches over the two days. The Petra Organisation organised
tournament will see match day three featuring Charlestown and Annandale among the teams in action today while Friendship and South Ruimveldt are two of the leading teams in action on Monday’s holiday.
Full fixtures for the two days show: 2/22/2020 Round Robin Round 1 Day 3 MoE Ground Match # 12:00 hrs Charlestown Secondary v/s New Central High 7 13:45 hrs St John’s College v/s Uitvlugt Secondary 8 15:30 hrs Annandale Secondary v/s Christ Church 9 2/24/2020 Round Robin Round 1 Day 4 MoE Ground Match # 12:00 hrs Friendship Secondary v/s Carmel Secondary 10 13:45 hrs Canje Secondary v/s South Ruimveldt 11 15:30 hrs Vergenoegen Secondary v/s Tucville Secondary 12
From left Leon Seaton, Elliot Gonsalves, Reakwon Noel and Paul Mahaica Jr. 100m freestyle was won by Jessica Sookram of Dolphin SSC in 1:37.23 while Dimitri Phillips of Dorado SSC took the boys 8 and under 100m freestyle in 1:59.70. Lewis added to her tally when she copped gold in the girls 9-10 100m freestyle in
1:17.86. Ahkiel McKoy won the boys 9-10 100m freestyle in 1:31.73; Zara Crane took top honours in the girls 11-12 100m freestyle in 1:13.53 and Giselle Crane of Orca SSC won the girls 15-17 100m freestyle in 1:15.71. The girls 18 and over 100m freestyle
was taken by Dashawna Williams of Silver Skark SC in 1:34.73. Hashim Mohamed grabbed the boys 11-12 109m freestyle title in 1:14.06 and Darius Williams won the boys 18 and over 100m freestyle in 1:01.90.
GSHF commemorates 50th death anniversary of Rifleman The Guyana Sports Hall of representing Guyana. He was their respective sport, can Fame sends greetings to all Sportsman Ali of the year in 1960, and may, qualify for Hall of Guyanese, and especially to the Sports Fraternity, as we celebrate our 50th Republic Anniversary. The organization also takes this opportunity to recognize and commemorate the 50th death anniversary of legendary Guyanese rifleman Mohamed Ali who died on 29th January 1970, at the young age of 44 years old. Ali was an outstanding rifleman who won major competitions in Guyana, the West Indies and England while
and first runner-up in 1961. The Guyana Sports Hall of Fame Inc., which was established on April 20th 2017, has now begun work on the process of identifying candidates from all disciplines of Sport for possible induction to the Hall of Fame. Based on set rules and guidelines, Sports Men and Sports Women, as well as, Sports Broadcasters, Sports Journalists, Coaches and individuals who were seen as advocates and pioneers of
Fame Status. As the process unfolds, the GSHF expects to establish avenues of communication with the various Sports Organizations and Associations as regards the compilation of relevant information, records and statistics. There will also be timely releases to keep the Sports Public informed about this journey to recognize and honour our past and present Sports Heroes.
Upper Corentyne Cricket Association Inter Primary school cricket competition continues - NO. 71 Primary win Group two Play in the second round of the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association Inter Primary school cricket competition continues in the Upper Corentyne area which encompasses the Crabwood Creek to No43 areas. The schools have been divided into three groups or clusters. There was playing in cluster two which included No71, No68, New Market (64) and No59 Primaries. Results of the games played showed that No71 Primary defeated No59 Primary by 9 wickets. No59
Primary batted first and reached 55-9 in their 10 overs. No71 Primary made 58-1 in 4 overs with Davendra Persaud 31 Not Out. In another game No64 Primary defeated NO68 Primary by 8 wickets. No68 Primary 80-9 in their 10 overs with K. Singh 25 and K Bisnauth 20. NO68 Primary replied with 84-2 in 8.4 overs with C. Lakeram 47 Not Out. In the final game No71 Primary defeated No68 Primary by 2 wickets to win the zone. Scores were NO68 Primary 90-3 in 10 overs with
J. Smith 25 and C. Lakeram 14. No71 Primary responded with 91-2 in 8.4 overs with B. Heeran 38 and K. Alfred 26 the top scorers. The winner of each group will qualify to participate in the final on a date to be announced. The competition is being sponsored by the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association. At the end of the competition, the winning and runner up trophies, compliments of R and R Auto Rental Services, will go to the respective schools. The schools will also be presented (Continued on page 25)
PAGE 32
Kaieteur News
Saturday February 22, 2020
Golden Republic T20 Bash
Emrit, Hemraj lead Rutherford Renegades to 8-Wkt win - Regal All Stars sink Ariel Speedboat at Providence By Sean Devers A disappointing crowd saw Regal All Stars beat Ariel Speedboat by 14 runs in the Softball encounter before ontarget bowling from T&T’s Reyad Emrit and an unbeaten fifty from Jaguars opener Chanderpaul Hemraj powered Rutherford Renegades to an eight-wicket win over Hetmyer Hurricanes in Golden Republic T20 Bash last night at Providence. Emrit had 4-24 as Shimron Hetymer’s X1 were restricted to 139-9 off 20 overs with T&T’s Lendl Simmons hitting three fours and a six in 23, while Hetmyer (22) and Kevlon Anderson (19) passed 15. Set 140 to win Tevin Imlach hammered six fours and two sixes in a 29-ball 42 and added 63 for the first wicket with Hemraj whose unbeaten 58 lasted 29 balls. After Imlach hit Chris Barnwell to mid-off at 61-1 and Leon Johnson (17) fell to Nial
Smith at 94-2 before Raymon Reifer 23 not out from 16 balls with two fours and a six added 50 in an unfinished third wicket stand to see their team to 144-2 in 17.1. Earlier, Hetymer’s Hurricanes were asked to bat on a good track with some bounce under a clear night sky and Simmons deposited pacer Keon Joseph for an effortless six off the first ball of the match. But with the score on seven, Trevor Griffith played an impetuous shot off Joseph and top-edged the ball ‘miles’ into the air for the Keeper Anthony Bramble to hold the catch as Griffith departed for a first ball duck. West Indies U-19 batsman Anderson edged Joseph for his first boundary before hitting Anthony Adams for consecutive boundaries before he was bowled by Emrit for 19 off 18 balls with four boundaries to leave the score on 44-2 in the sixth over.
Regal with Minister Norton after their triumph at the presentation. Simmons counterattacked before he was bowled by Adams in the next over for 23 from 18 balls with three fours and a six without addition to the score.
Magnum Mash Cup Futsal champs to be decided tonight A new champion will be crowned this evening in the 3rd annual Magnum Mash Cup Futsal Championship, as former champion Bent Street tackle Rio All-Stars at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue. The narrative of the match pits a traditional giant in Bent Street against an emerging force in Rio All-Stars of Queenstown. The numbers also portray their own story, pitting the tournaments leading attack in Bent against Rio All-Stars, owners of the best rearguard. Littered with mercurial talents such as Daniel Wilson, Colin Nelson, Akel Clarke, Sheldon Holder, Jermaine Beckles and Adrian Aaron, Bent Street has recorded a whopping 23 goals. This resulted in wins against Mocha (round of 16 stage), Sophia (quarterfinal) and Kingston (semifinal). In terms of their defensive quality, Bent Street has allowed six conversions. On the other side, Rio AllStars despite all their attacking quality has dominated the opposition with staunch defending. The result of such an approach has only allowed four goals, with Cecil Jackman and Solomon Austin pivotal in this area. However, they have only been breached once in the
knockout round, following clean sheets against giants Back Circle (quarterfinal) and Future Stars (round of 16) as well as a 3-1 win over Leopold Street (semifinal). Offensively, 10 goals have been recorded by the likes of Jermin Junior, Kelsey Benjamin, Lennox Cort and Job Caesar. Troy Lambert, Manager of Rio All-Stars encouraged everyone to come out and view the finale, adding, “I expect a very competitive finale between the two teams, I expect this to be one of the best finals in the history of the event. We know of the quality of Bent Street and that they are the favorite, but we are not going to lie down easily and we are coming to win.” Prior to the commencement of the final, the third place matchup between Kingston and Leopold Street will occur. Nigel Denny, captain of Kingston, urged all the supporters of the team and members of the community to show up at the venue and show their support for the side. He further added that the team is confident of finishing the tournament on a positive note. Also, two exhibition matches will be staged to kickoff the evening’s festivities. Meanwhile, established sporting brand Woodpecker
Trophies and Sports, officially presented the trophies yesterday to the organizers of the event at their Alberttown location. Speaking at the simple presentation, Esan Griffith, San Sports Director and Coordinator of the tournament thanked the company for their contribution, adding, “This is the grand finale of the event and I expect keen competition and rivalry between Rio AllStars and Bent Street.” He added that while Bent Street is an established force nationally, “Rio has proven themselves a force in the shorter format of the game.” He further stated that the tournament is geared towards improving the fabric of social cohesion amongst the communities and that the match will be a grand showdown and exhibition of talent. Winner of the event will pocket $600,000 and the championship trophy, while the second place side will collect $400,000 and the respective accolade. On the other hand, the third and fourth place unit will receive $200,000 and $100,000 respectively and the corresponding trophy. Among the other sponsors of the event include the National Sports Commission and MVP Sports.
The 50 came up in the seventh over before the inform Barnwell (4) hit Rutherford to short midwicket at 51-4. Skipper Hetmyer who started cautiously, pulled Rutherford like a bullet across the lightning fast outfield for four while dabbed Emrit for four to third man as they added 37 for the fifth wicket before Savory (14) drilled Reifer to mid-off at 88-5. Hetmyer was caught behind as he drove loosely at
the first ball from Essequibian Quinten Sampson after making 22 from 25 balls with two fours and his demise left his team in some trouble. Renaldo Ali Mohammed and Gudakesh Motie who made 16 from 13 balls with a couple of boundaries staged a mini recovery before Emrit removed Motie, Ashmead Nedd (0) and Richie Looknauth (11) leaving Ali Mohammed (19) and Smith (2) not out. In the softball match,
Regal All Stars beat Ariel Speedboat by 14 runs after Keith Fraser (85) and Seewchand Budhu (55) took them to 186-3 in 20 overs with Richard Latiff taking 2-25 for Speedboat who could only reach 172-9 when their 20 overs expired. Wazir Hussain (39) and Greg Singh (36) offered resistance as Fazad Rayak and Roy Persaud had two wickets each. Regal collected $200,000, while Rutherford Renegades won $1 Million.
India stun champions Australia in explosive start to T20 World Cup SYDNEY (Reuters) - Legspinner Poonam Yadav bamboozled Australia as India opened the seventh edition of the Women’s Twenty20 World Cup with a stunning upset of the reigning champions and tournament hosts by 17 runs at Sydney Showground yesterday. Australia restricted India to 132 for four and looked on course to run down their victory target when a half century from Alyssa Healy got them nearly halfway there. But Yadav (4-19) removed the opener right after she reached the milestone and then, roared on by a crowd of 13,432 overwhelmingly backing the visitors, wreaked havoc with a string of “wrong’un” deliveries that the Australians were unable to pick. Rachael Haynes and Ellyse Perry were sent back in successive deliveries and Yadav was only denied a hat-trick when
wicketkeeper Taniya Bhatia was unable to take a difficult chance off the bat of Jess Jonassen. Bhatia made no mistake o ff y e t a n o t h e r Ya d a v “wrong’un” to remove Jonassen cheaply two overs later and Australia were reeling at 82-6. The four-times World Cup winners were unable to recover despite a dogged 34 from Ash Gardner, the righthander avoiding b e c o m i n g Ya d a v ’s f i f t h victim only after the umpires ruled the Indian’s looping delivery had bounced twice. Seamer Shikha Pandey (3-13) dismissed Gardner caught and bowled in the final over and Molly Strano was run out on the penultimate ball to end the innings on 110 all out. “It’s a great feeling, I’m really happy for our girls,” said India captain Harmanpreet Kaur. “We were just looking for 140 and then let our bowlers
win the game and that’s what happened. Our team is looking very nice and if we do well in this tournament we will definitely win this World Cup.” Australia had started the night by winning the toss but made a nervous start and their Group A rivals took full advantage, racing to 40 without loss in the first five overs. Teenager Shafali Verma was the main driving force and the 16-year-old opener smashed five fours, including one sublime cover drive, and a booming six in a 15-ball 29. Smriti Mandhana also started brightly but had only 10 runs on the board when she was trapped lbw by Jonassen and the onslaught stalled when the left-arm spinner dismissed Verma and skipper Kaur was stumped for two. Deepti Sharma (49 not out) and Jemimah Rodrigues (26) put on 53 for the fourth wicket but India never (Continued on page 25)
Kaieteur News
Saturday February 22, 2020
Courts Furniture Store annual Cycle road race set For Monday in Berbice
T
he cycling season is set to continue on Monday in Berbice when the Courts Furniture Store Berbice branch once again sponsors its annual Courts Cycle Road race in the Ancient County. The race is being organised by the Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC). The event is open to cyclists throughout the country and is expected to see all the top riders in the country in action. The 50 miles event is expected to ride off from in front of the Courts Furniture Store at Main and St Ann’s Street New Amsterdam, Berbice, proceed to Nand Persaud Business Complex at No 36, Village Corentyne before returning to finish at
its place of origin. On Wednesday, Courts Berbice Assistant Manager Shellon Amin along with Assistant Manager Inez Murray presented the sponsorship package to Coordinator Randolph Roberts of the FACC at the Courts Furniture store in New Amsterdam. Ms. Amin stated that the sponsorship is part of the C o m p a n y ’s c o n t i n u e d support for the community as a corporate citizen. There will be a number of cash, trophies and other incentives up for grabs for the top finishers in the respective divisions. Prizes will be awarded to the first eight finishers in the open category, the top three veterans the top three
Anthone Allen, Tenisha Hoyte impressive in latest FBF Schools Windball Cricket
Anthone Allen
Tenisha Hoyte
Anthone Allen and Te n i s h a H o y t e h i t enterprising half centuries in latest results of the Forbes Burnham Foundation (FBF), National Sports Commission (NSC) AL Sport & Tour Promotions sponsored “Hit It For 50” Schools Windball Cricket Organised by Sports Officer A. Munroe played at the National Gymnasium. In results from the Girls segment - Vreed En Hoop Secondary scored 160-2 with Denicia Singh 54 and Leahna Emmanuel 46 to defeat Brickdam Secondary who were held to 106-1; Ashanti Kennedy 36 and Ske Dawson 32 were the top scorers. East Ruimveldt Secondary & Richard Ishmael Secondary played to a tie. Richard Ishmael Secondary made 141-0, Akalla Rampatap 72 (6s-8), Akeilah Eastman 45. East Ruimveldt Secondary replied with 141-
3, Shania Kingston 53. University of Guyana complied 149-1 with Akaze Thompson 61 and Keisha Fraser 40. East Ruimveldt Secondary were halted at 117-1 with Shania Kingston 58. And Soesdyke Secondary rattled up 167-1 with Tenisha Hoyte hitting an unbeaten 96 (6s-12) to brush aside L’Aventure Secondary who were kept in check at 74-1 with Abigail Corbin hitting 54. Over in the Boys department - East Ruimveldt Secondary cantered to 129-1 with Anthone Allen not out on 93(6s-11). Richard Ishmael Secondary in reply were restricted to 103-3. Goed Fortuin Secondary reached 121-6, Satyanand Persaud 66 (6s-9); Zennis Woolford took 3 wkts. Queenstown Secondary replied with 93-0, Epham Carrington 34 to fall short in the contest.
juniors. There will also be eight sprint point prizes up for grabs. Starting time is 09:00 hrs and officials from The Courts Furniture store are expected to be on hand to start the race and distribute the prizes. The presentation ceremony will be held immediately after the completion of the event. (Samuel Whyte)
PAGE 33
Courts Berbice Branch Assistant Manager Shellon Amin presents the company’s sponsorship package to Organiser Randolph Roberts, while Assistant Manager Inez Murray shares the moment.
Kaieteur News
PAGE 34
Saturday February 22, 2020
Guadeloupe and Curacao remain unbeaten in Under-20 Qualifiers
W
I L L E M S TA D, Curacao, C M C – Guadeloupe and Curacao continued their winning ways in the CONCACAF Men’s Under20 Championship Qualifying as action in Group C continued here
Thursday. Guadeloupe kicked things off at the Ergilio Hato Stadium with a 4-1 win over Saint Martin. Josue Casimir notched a brace to give Les Gwada Boys their first two goals in the 29th and 45th minute, sandwiching a goal from Saint Martin’s Nailon
Edwards in the 41st minute. Late scores from Willcyd Janky in the 86th minute and William Pezeron in the 90th, sealed the three points for Guadeloupe. The second match of the day was one of the closest and most entertaining of CU20 Qualifying thus far, as
Curacao edged Belize 2-1. After Luchenthly Vrutaal gave Curacao a 1-0 lead, Belize responded in strong
fashion through Jesse August in the 54th minute to even the score 1-1. In the end, though,
Vrutaal would come through with the winning goal for the group hosts to see the game end 2-1.
Curacao’s Luchenthly Vrutaal celebrates with team mates after scoring against Belize.
Kaieteur News
Saturday February 22, 2020
PAGE 35
Getting it Right From left: Guy Griffith and Aasrodeen Shaw of the LGC and Mr Ramsey Ali and Mr Dellon Lynch of Sterling Products Ltd.
Sterling Products Inaugural Golf Tourney set for today CEO of Sterling Products Ltd, Mr Ramsey Ali, at a simple Press Briefing session at the Sterling Products headquarters - in the presence of Sterling’s Merchandising & Promotions Supervisor, Dellon Lynch, and LGC’s PRO Guy Griffith - handed over to LGC Treasurer Mr Aasrodeen Shaw a sponsorship cheque for Sterling Products’ inaugural golf tournament scheduled for today, Saturday 22nd February 2020. Mr Ali expressed his delight for the Company’s involvement with the Lusignan Golf Club, noting that though this is their first intervention, they have
already been making plans for more involvement in Tournaments during this year. The Sterling Products involvement was initiated by LGC Member Ramesh Dookhoo and followed up by President Aleem Hussain to fruitful action. Mr Ali also noted that they were pleased that the LGC has been taking steps to have schools involved in golfing and they do look forward to continued support of the LGC. Sterling Products, of Public Road, Providence, East Bank Demerara, Guyana. Telephone. +592265-7403, Email sales@sterlingguyana.com, has been a household name in Guyana since its inception. Sterling Products
Kaavia Couchman fund raising basketball on tonight - Top Linden clubs versus Georgetown double header at MSC Hard Court It’s a Linden versus Georgetown basketball affair this evening when two of Georgetown’s leading clubs invade the mining town of Linden to take on their Linden counterparts in what should be a grand occasion to raise funds for baby Kaavia Couchman whose father is one of Victory Valley Royals best players ever, shooting guard Stephen Couchman who has to go overseas for medical intervention. The venue of the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court should be buzzing from 18.30hrs when the first game brings together Amelia’s Ward Jets
against Ravens. That game will be followed by the Victory Valley Royals versus Kobras game from 21.00hrs. Both games should be hotly contested yet entertaining since basketball clubs are hungry to go at each other and Linden clubs would look to gain victories against their Georgetown counterparts knowing they are playing on home soil. More importantly the matches are intended to help raise much need funds that will ensure baby Kaavia Couchman gets the medical attention that is necessary at this time.
Limited was incorporated as a Public Limited Liability Company on October 15, 1954. It commenced operations with the production of Margarine, Lard, Ghee and Soap. Export of the products commenced with Golden Cream Margarine being exported to Dominica in November 1957. The production of detergent began in 1967 and Butter (Golden Dairy Butter) in 1969. Sterling Products is launching a new brand of ice-cream products at this time – the Igloo Premium Ice-creams.
Alesha Jackman and Coach Sebert Blake
C
aribbean Junior boxing champion Alesha Jackman will fight Canadian Chole Jenkins in Barbados this evening at the Ronald Wilson Memorial Tournament. The 14-year-old prodigy was caught going thought pad work
with Coach Sebert Blake in Bridgetown yesterday afternoon. This would be the first opportunity for the talented Jackman to meet a North American for and she is focused on returning home with a win.
Emrit, Hemraj lead Rutherford Renegades to 8-Wkt win
Golden Republic T20 Bash
rt
Spo
- Regal All Stars sink Ariel Speedboat at Providence
Winners Rutherford’ Renegades with Minister Dr George Norton after the presentation.
Magnum Mash Cup Futsal champs to be decided tonight
Maria Samaroo, representative of the Woodpecker Trophies and Sport, pose alongside tournament chief Esan Griffith (left), Kingston captain Nigel Denny (2nd left) and Rio All-Stars manager Troy Lambert (right) at the official trophy presentation ceremony.
India stun champions Australia in explosive start to T20 World Cup Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.