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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 HE LIVES IN OUR HEARTS February 23rd marked the 47th republic a n n i v e r s a r y. I t i s a s i g n i f i c a n t m i l e s t o n e . A l l c o l o n i a l t i e s w i t h B r i tain were severed. Becoming a republic was supposed to have ushered in change for a better Guyana, or so the nation was led to believe. The leaders spoke of the need to develop the country and to improve the lives of a l l . T h e d e c l a r a t i o n o f R e p u b lic resonated with the people who placed their confidence in the government. However, indecisiveness by successive governments have caused distrust among the people. I n c e l e b r a t i n g t h e r e p u b l i c a n n i v e r s a r y, we should remember our comrade leader for b r i n g i n g s u c h c h a n g e t o t h e nation and for his outstanding political acumen. The name Forbes Burnham is synonymous with the country’s republic status. Far from receding into obscurity, Burnham has retained an amazingly strong presence in the minds of Guyanese. He lives on through the relevance of his transformative ideas; inspiring vision; insightful leadership and the efficacy of humble and selfless service to the nation. Forbes Burnham took over the leadership of Guyana at a critical juncture. In the midst o f r a c i a l s t r i f e , h e b rought unity and transformed the lives of many for the better. Guyanese were fortunate to have him as their President because of his humility and vision for a prosperous Guyana. He was by nature, plainspoken, sometimes brutally honest, which made his opponents fearful of crossing his path, but there was a cool side to him. He did not suffer fools gladly or waste a n y o n e ’s t i m e . F o r h i m , g r e a t n e s s m a t t e r e d b u t h i s h u m i l i t y m a t t e r e d more. Here was a leader who had faults and made mistakes, and who it was alleged, rigged elections, but through it all, he was a patriot and a nationalist who had a common touch with people and did not consider himself too important or too aloof to offer advice to anyone. The great affection which Guyanese had for Burnham was revealed in their o v e r w h e l m i n g g r i e f a t h i s p a s s i n g i n 1985. Many wept in the streets because he made them feel good about themselves, about being Guyanese first and their ability to achieve greatness on a world stage despite the limitations and small size of the country. He left many better off than he found them. Guyanese gratefully appreciated the f a c t t h a t h e g e n u i n e l y c a r e d about them and the country. Burnham believed in the political philosophy that emphasized equality and social justice for all. His policy to feed, house and clothe the nation and provide free education at the tertiary level were grounded in his belief to make the small man a real man. Despite his flaws, he had a conscience. He was a selfless leader who would have p r e f e r r e d t o b e p e n n i l e s s t h a n to be dishonest or corrupt. Many were poor prior to becoming Ministers but seem to delight in their wealth shortly after their appointment. Any government which is serious about nation-building should make Burnham s p e e c h e s r e q u i r e d r e a d i n g s i n e v e r y secondary school. I t i s i m p o r t a n t f o r t h e y o u t h s o f t o d a y, who are the leaders of tomorrow to have s u c h e x p o s u r e t o a c q u i r e a n understanding and appreciation of the ideological foundation that Forbes Burnham laid for Guyana. He was in our time, but he was also above all time. He was truly a leader for all seasons and w o u l d c o n t i n u e t o l i v e i n t h e h e a r t s o f m a n y. Happy Republic to all.
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Friday February 26, 2016
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Along came the APNU-AFC coalition with hopes and promises Dear Editor, This an appeal and a clarion call to all Guyanese of conscience to organize and take a stand against 50 years of what the man in the street would refer to as “Eye Pass”. For over 50 years the Guyanese people have been deceived, mistreated and marginalized by the two major political parties. First we endured 28 years of dictatorship by the PNC. We watched Guyana become the poorest nation in the western hemisphere as the country spiraled downward plagued by economic stagnation and abject poverty. Institutionalized bullying and hooliganism became the order of the day. It was the era of kick-down-thedoor bandits and long lines.. A long line
for sugar, rice and flour, and another long line at the embassies where well to do Guyanese stood in line stealthily seeking an escape from Mr. Burnham’s hell. Following this period, the country enjoyed a brief moment of respite presided over by President Hoyte, and to a lesser extent President Jagan. Following the death of both Jagans, the country once again became haunted but this time by a different monster thievery, corruption and extra judicial killings. We witnessed a young President Jagdeo and the PPP inaugurate the most corrupt administration in Guyana’s history. This group stole and pillaged all the wealth of the nation. They ushered in a new class of nouveau rich and of freshly minted millionaires on the backs
of the poor and working class, This PPP also brought us, extra judicial killings, the Bartica and Lindo Creek massacres, and the assassination of a sitting minister and the now infamous phantom squad. To date no one has been brought to justice or held accountable for these crimes committed against the Guyanese people and against the state. Along came the APNU-AFC coalition with hopes and promises for a renewed Guyana, a new dispensation, and once again the Guyanese people have been deceived. Since Mr. Granger has neither the genius of Mr. Burnham nor the cunning of Mr. Jagdeo, his administration has been a combination of the worst in both. The coalition’s brand of petty bullyism and amateurish (Continued on page 5)
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Rise and fall of Ifa Kamau Cush of the parking meter project DEAR EDITOR, Allow me to share with your readers in this the first of two letters (the other forthcoming) my reflections on what I wish to describe as the “rise and fall” of Mr. Ifa Kamau Cush, I think that this is a fair conclusion to arrive at, given his role in the parking meter project, which he was instrumental in bringing to Guyana, and his eventual booting out of Smart City Solution INC (SCS). 1I have known Cush for many years beginning from when he first surfaced in Guyanese public consciousness in the mid-90s after he returned home and led a grass-roots movement in the African Community that was re-
sponsible for restoring the 1763 monument. I cannot recall all the circumstances that led to his exit from Guyana shortly after that successful endeavor. If my memory is anything to go by, his hasty departure in part had to do with the hostility directed against him by the then PPP government. In his recent return to Guyana, he emerged not as an African activist but instead as a businessman promoting INVESTMENTs which took the form of convincing leading officials from the Georgetown City Council to sign on to a parking meter project with Smart City Solutions INC (SCS). In spite of the fact that Cush tried to give the impression that he was the insti-
gator and leading financier of the project it became increasingly clear as time went by that he was in fact, the front man for the company. Cush’s success with the 1763 monument might have played a role in him winning over key Council Officials to ink the contract with his business interests, thereby sidelining Mr. Saratu Phillips and his Astroloble Technology Inc. that had a contract with the Council since 2007 for the establishing of parking meters in Georgetown. While this observation I am now about to make is not directly related to the parking meter project, I think it is worth making since it will help
in developing an understanding of the rise and fall of Cush. In my view, he made some impact on public consciousness when he appeared as a guest on a television programme. In that interview, he shocked the moderator and many viewers by his passionate support for Mr. Donald Trump and more so, his eventual prediction – to the dismay of the interviewer - that Trump would win the US Presidential elections. As matters turned out he was proven correct. Knowing Cush as I do and taking into consideration his personality, I am convinced that he consciously sought to exploit the renewed attention he got in
Along came the APNU-AFC coalition with hopes... From page 4 corruption is made worse by the sheer incompetence of the actors. President Granger’s cabinet will no doubt, go down as the most unqualified and inexperienced team ever to lead Guyana. In fact the names of some of our ministries tells a better story about the current state of affairs in our country - Social Cohesion, Social Protection, Public Security, and Public Health to name a few. Taken together it all sounds like a nation badly in need of an intervention. In the meantime, way past his intellectual prime, the president prides himself as an incremental thinker in a world that demands exponential thinking. A world governed by Moore’s law where change is rapid and exponential. For
his part, the President struts his hour upon the stage and can be seen happily sleepwalking through one questionable deed after another like the proverbial ostrich with his head in the sand. His demeanor screams loudly “OUT OF TOUCH” As our nation continues to teeter on the brink, where are the voices of dissent and accountability, the voices claiming to represent the people, those voices that were so loud when the coalition was in the opposition? Eric Phillips has gone silent, he is on the government’s payroll, David Hinds is at best nuanced, he too is on the government’s payroll, Freddie Kissoon has written a few articles but seems much more concerned with psychoanalyzing the PPP. He has re-
sorted to doing exactly what he berated Ravi Dev for doing when the PPP was in power, “fiddling while Rome burns”. On the other hand criticism from the PPP and their supporters can hardly be taken seriously. Former presidents Jagdeo and Ramotar presided over the fleecing of the nation. They cannot speak. Anil Nandlall, Hydar Ally, Ralph Ramkarran and Clement Rohee et al were all complicit and co-conspirators. There is no moral high ground from which they can speak. As such they all lack the requisite legitimacy and
credibility to be taken seriously Editor, perhaps it is time for Guyana to look for something radically different. Perhaps a new class of non-politicians from among civil society deserves a chance. For starters, apprenticeship or active membership in any of the major political parties should be an instant disqualifier. Such a person or persons seeking leadership should categorically be rejected as unfit. The country can no longer afford to recycle the past. Gary Thompson
local political circles, after his interview engagement and successful prediction of a Trump victory in the US Presidential elections. In some quarters, he was now seen not only as Kamau Cush, an African nationalist, but also as Kamau Cush a US/ Guyanese businessman and member of the powerful Republican Political Party with possibly strong connections in Washington. Given the above I was not surprised that he continued to find favor with the powers that be, both in City Hall and presumably, by some in Central Government, and this in spite of the controversy which had already emerged over the parking meters contract. The parking meter fiasco has been mired in controversy from the inception. Its existence is characterized by secrecy and lack of transparency. The details of the contract were never made known to the full council or to the public whose interest the
Council was charged with protecting. Only Mayor Patricia Chase-Green, Town Clerk, Royston King, Oscar Clarke, Chairman of the Finance Committee, and Councillor, Junior Garrett knew the full extent of the commitments made in the contract. It is clear that these four officials of the City’s administration, in keeping the details of the contract to themselves in the early stage of the project, have done a serious disservice to the citizens of Georgetown who they have sworn to serve faithfully. This approach to the Council’s and City’s business resulted in opposition in the Georgetown City Council to the behavior of the four. Led by Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan, demands were made on the Town Clerk and Mayor to make the contract available to councilors. It is widely known that this met with resistance from the Mayor and her Town Clerk. Tacuma Ogunseye
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Wales sugar workers entitled to severance benefits Procurement procedures at DEAR EDITOR, Fareed Zakaria reminded us of a quote from Alfred Montapert which states; “Do not confuse motion and progress. A rocking horse keeps moving but does not make any progress”. This Granger administration is shaping up to be nothing but a rocking horse administration, one that talks progress but has provided little evidence to show actual progress on many fronts. Today, I refer specifically to the industrial relations fronts. Workers are entitled under the law to severance pay once their contracts have been changed, discontinued, or the role they previously played no longer exists, at their location of employment. It was the Ministry of Agriculture in a public statement in January 2016 that made the decision that it shall be closing Wales Sugar Estate (WSE) because the management was unable to make the operations of that estate “viable”. This decision materially changed the contract of employment between the
workers and Guysuco and discontinued their role at WSE. Under the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act (TESA), in this instance, the workers have a right to a severance package because the location and condition of employment have materially changed. Only an unreasonable person will want to do otherwise. Under Section 12 (2) (b) of TESA, it is Guysuco that choose to discontinue the services of the workers at WSE in a planned closure decided upon by management. These facts cannot be wished away. It was Guysuco (as the employer) that choose to discontinue the operations at WSE; not the workers. In such a situation, the workers deserve their full severance pay and any other path is a clear violation of their human rights as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as prescribed by the United Nations. In the protest line, one sugar worker said; “give we (the workers) what we deserve, we want nothing more or nothing less”. This is a fair request and in an era of such a
blatant violation of the workers’ human rights, there can be no shame or indignity in mass street action against this decision not to pay the workers fair redundancy benefits. To expose this hypocrisy in this era of state insensitivity, how can a government find over G$75 million per year to pay just three persons in its sitting Cabinet but does not have the moral fortitude to fork out some $58 million for a one-time payment for the 900 sugar workers who are ready to leave the sugar industry because of this foolish decision from the Minister and the management of Guysuco? Therefore, I salute the workers on the protest line because there is a real strength in numbers and the time is upon us where all lawabiding citizens ought to stand with these sugar workers. I would like to genuinely borrow the words of Ricky Singh this time around and ask all Guyanese to “light a candle” for our sugar workers. It is clear as day that since May 2015, Prime Minister Moses Nagamotoo has op-
portunistically blown his candle out as his administration continues to attempt to intimidate and blackmail the sugar unions into subservience. If the sugar workers fall today, the Guyanese people will fall tomorrow, because the bicycle of the Granger administration has no brakes. They are reckless and continue to administer the affairs of state as if this is some personal show. We are all in this boat together against the oppressive broadside from the Granger Govt. I am happy with what I am seeing as more and more people are openly choosing a side on the issues since this is not politics; this is basic humanity. The Ministers in the Granger administration should take a 15% pay-cut on their collective G$392 million annual salaries for 2017 and fund the severance payout for the sugar workers if they cannot find the funds to pay the workers. How about that for a solution? After all, I have not even counted allowance and fringe benefits as yet for the power-holders Sase Singh
Employees together with the vendors are fighting back DEAR EDITOR, Is seems to be a ‘Friday Thing’ with the Council whenever the fantastic four are in trouble, to see them erect a large white tent in the Compound at City Hall and have meetings with staff, vendors etc. Earlier when the new government took up office, City Hall was in celebratory mood for well over one year plus, and then came the Local Government Elections, and the tempo continued
with pomp and ceremony nonstop. At every public meeting the patriotic songs were heard on the loud speakers for staff members and passers-by to be serenaded. What was amazing is that recent staff members were again asked to meet at the City Hall compound, under the guise of a salary increase. But mind you; there wasn’t any patriotic songs played, but this time around it was songs from our famous late brother
Bob Marley (‘Every little thing is going to be alright’). After the usual rhetoric they were then asked to be the foot soldiers for the infamous parking meters. So they would be able to enjoy the salary increase from the parking meters (whenever that is). Then came another Friday, this time the vendors were called in to congregate under this big white tent at City Hall. But this time the vendors were ready for the fantastic four; more so Pat and Roy. They told them that under no circumstances are they going to accept their lies, their bullyism. One man even told ‘King Roy’ about his Monarchy. Two things to note: Of late, salaries were increased without the knowledge of the entire Council, for a few big wigs officers, of course by the fantastic four. The Human Resource Officer
should be called in to answer to this. Why just a selected few? Then, the constables working with the Parking Meter were not paid their $78,000.00 since December, even though they were allegedly told that same was settled by the contractor. Ironically they were told not to speak with the media. Something has got to be amiss here. If one is to have a one and one with the municipal staff one would be surprised to hear their disgust with the management of the City Council. It is time that the Minister of Communities and the Government do something about that place. Be sure that neither the staff nor the vendors are prepared to sit back and take the Council’s bullyism any longer. These are changing times! Riley Matthews
City Hall need investigating DEAR EDITOR, When one looks at the spontaneous and passionate response by civil society to the parking imbroglio it shows clearly that all of Guyana wants to see transparency, accountability and more so a level playing field in the tendering process in place at the Georgetown Municipality, something that is severely lacking there. In fact, the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown make a complete mockery of the Public Procurement Commission of Guyana, a body which has as its objective the reduction or prevention of corruption in procurement in Guyana. The municipality completely ignores this commission and the guidelines it has set out as they purchase goods and services on behalf of the citizens. This is shameful! If the growing allegations regarding the parking meter initiative are to be believed, then it is logical to assume that corruption there is much more general and widespread in the awarding of cleaning contracts, in the procurement of other goods and services, all of which need to be urgently audited. Article 212W of the Constitution provides that the purpose of the Commission is to monitor procurement and the procedures to ensure that the procurement of goods, services and the execution of
works are conducted in a fair, equitable, transparent and cost effective manner. Its functions are widespread. They include monitoring and reviewing all procurement systems; procedures of ministerial, regional and national procurement entities and project execution units; monitor performance with respect to adherence of regulations and efficiency in procuring goods and services and execution or works; investigate complaints; investigate irregularities; initiate investigations and more. The Government should therefore intervene at the Georgetown City Council. So why is the Georgetown Municipality for which corruption is a major source of concern to all and sundry - not under the guidance of the Public Procurement Commission? It is baffling that with all the controversies that have arisen over the years at the Council that the Ministry of Communities would not want to get the issue of corruption out of the way at that entity The Public Procurement Commission (PPC) consists of five members with experience of procurement, legal, financial and administrative matters that the Council does not have available to them but so badly needs; so why aren’t they using this resource for the benefit of the citizens? Sambu Jacobus
Civilization and what it is not DEAR EDITOR, I read the recent ‘The Freddie Kissoon column’ about our countrymen losing respect and consequently “civilization”; please allow me to relate something I noticed since the 1970s days of charter flights between our country and the UK. A young woman whom I helped to look after since her early childhood came to spend one such holiday with my 3-person family, contributing no money, doing no work, etc. She bought a pair of stockings which needing dyeing a darker shade, moaned about
it, and then one day while I was out, dyed her stocking in my rice pot! She did not scrub the pot thoroughly, and when I cooked rice and it turned brown and I could not understand why, she stopped eating my rice and bought takeaways instead! She could have poisoned my family without a word. I realised after she had left for Guyana what had happened and thought “how sad”. I wish this letter could be published, so that others could realise what being civilised is NOT! Geralda Dennison.
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The Guyanese people need to speak out more on poor services DEAR EDITOR, If I were to say that I am fed up with the “supposed” services provided by our service providers in Guyana, it would be an understatement. I’m sure I am not the first to be dissatisfied with services offered by Digicel and GTT. We live in a modern world; a world in which it is quite necessary to have proper communication channels available. This is where companies like those mentioned above come into play. Their job is to bridge the gap between lack of communication and of course communication. Their job is providing proper channels as well, for this to be done. As a result, we rely on their phone service, internet, mere enjoyment and whatever else may be needed to communicate. Of course, if we wanted to remain in the era where technology didn’t play such a big role, their services would not be needed. As such, we apply to have phone lines installed; we activate
data plans and so forth. For these companies’ sake it must be noted that their ‘services’ are not provided freely. We pay for said services. If we are paying for these ‘services’, they should at least be good, right? This is not the case. Rarely do we actually try to deal with these problems. So we settle and murmur amongst ourselves. It has become so bad that as soon as a concern is raised about an issue in this country, the common response is “well this is Guyana.” So basically, we have to put up with the nonsense, because our needs are not catered to; because the ‘services’ provided aren’t really services; because many have become so comfortable and used to the nonsense going on that it is mistaken for good. Why is it that if you activate a 4G weekly plan with Digicel, you get 900MBs, but when you activate the monthly plan you get 2355MBs; just about 600MBs
over what you receive if you were to activate your internet for two weeks. This means that Digicel is setting the people up to use the data offered with the intention that we would have to participate in the add-on offers. It means that at the end of a month, they know that we will spend more than the $3,500 we pay for a month’s plan. Is this really what constitutes proper ‘service’? Exploiting the very people ensuring sustenance of your business in Guyana? Is this really what we signed up for? Additionally, when we do sign on to any of the plans, the data given is deducted without reason. I am aware of the services offered in Guyana, and until I got internet at my home, I didn’t allow myself the luxury of streaming videos on YouTube, or spending an enormous amount of time of Facebook and similar sites so as to ensure that my data was not used recklessly, thereby
West Indian cricket selection is not based on a fair approach DEAR EDITOR, The news that Dave Cameron and Emanuel Nathan have been unopposed for President and Vice President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) raised eyebrows in several quarters because the two were severely criticized by some players, administrators, and fans for their failure to improve the summer game in the region. The question was asked why no one has come forward to oppose the Jamaican and Dominican. Some say people are losing interest since there is too much of “cliquism” and “partialism” and the right people for the jobs are not forthcoming. Clive Lloyd and Joel Garner who should have been at the helm did not throw their hats in the ring for obvious reasons. In the meantime fans are losing interest because of the poor performance of the players and the constant conflict
between the players and officials and the unfair selection of players in the senior team. It is not a secret that the turn out at games is poor and one wonders why the Board officials fix so many matches in the small islands which do not attract many spectators. Emphasis should be placed in the four big countries, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Barbados as well as Antigua which have proper facilities and attract large crowds. Fans can hardly keep track of the players because of the constant changes. One of the most reliable players, all rounder Marlon Samuels, has been omitted from the 15 man squad to oppose England next month. This is unbelievable. Samuels played 71 tests and 187 ODIs, and was recently cleared by the ICC to bowl following a 12 month suspension for illegal action. Moreover the Indian Premier
League and other high paying tournaments attract our players and have an adverse effect on the teams’ performance. There is confusion in some member countries among local officials. In Guyana for instance, the same office bearers have been in office for a long time and there is so much conflict that the issues have reached the Courts and even then the problems continue. The Berbice Cricket Board - an affiliate of the Guyana Board - also has its problems and as a result nothing much is being done to promote the sport in the ancient county. This is so unfortunate since Berbice is known as a cradle of international cricketers starting with John Trim and later Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher, Joe Solomon, Ivan Madray, Roy Fredericks, Alvin Kalicharan and others. Oscar Ramjeet
resulting in the buying of their add-on offers. As such, it made me question why my data was being deducted. Therefore, I would call their customer care service to query this and they would always have an excuse. At one time, one of their agents claimed that “big chunks of data” were being used during a time period when I was in an area known to have limited signal. Of course, I made it my duty to be reimbursed the data stolen from me, but I will not always have the energy or the time to do so. It is very saddening that we’re the ones pushing the company forward and yet they still feel the need to manipulate us and lie in the process. As if the poor service is not enough, they now decide to tax the data plans because for them, it matters not what they do to get the money, just as long as they do. Then there is GT&T, the only landline provider in Guyana. For areas like Linden,
this company is the only one to provide internet services. They were in effect created in 1990 and there have been some ‘improvements’? However, there is still a need for one to have a landline in order to have internet. Have we really improved? The other issue is that when you do apply for the landline, there is a long waiting process. If you are not persistent, they just do not follow up and follow through. I know of one instance where someone waited one year before a line became available. With an individual, the landline was not even installed, but she received a bill stating that she owed them money. There was another instance where they installed the landline but outgoing calls were not possible. When visited by the individual, the supervisor stated that she would record the complaint and have the issue checked out. One week later when the problem still existed, the indi-
vidual called to find out why no one responded to the complaint, she was told there was no listing of the complaint in the system. Anything that happens in Guyana happens because we as citizens allow it to happen. If the government is not doing their job, if GT&T or Digicel are not doing their jobs, it is because we as citizens allow it to happen. We have the power to effect change, but it cannot be done unless we work together, stop the murmuring and get up and make things happen. Both companies fail to understand what their jobs entail. It is either that or they just do not care. With that being said, I hope something is done swiftly to cater to these issues we face as citizens, because what they are doing is a disservice to us. Each of us has to remember that we deserve the best and we will not receive the best unless we demand it. Sherrade Stewart
Great expectations after the Coalition to feel the pulse of the now, to many today it seems an won in 2015 ings people. I do not feel this is a case elusive dream. DEAREDITOR, When the Coalition took office there were great expectations among supporters and even non-supporters who recognized a change had come. They longed to meet those Ministers of Government and Presidential Advisors in their communities to share their hopes, dreams and aspirations for the promised Good Life. These new leaders must walk the streets of those villages to see the degradation of the social amenities; playfields are over grown with bushes; unemployed frustrated young people asking the question - where are the Ministers and Advisors to the President. What advice are they offering to HIS Excellency President David Granger? When will they come to the ghetto to meet the people and discuss their problems? They have separated themselves and hold themselves aloof, a recipe for political disaster. I remember those days when President Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham and his ministers held regular town hall meet-
of being fearful of being harmed, because when it is election time these same people are up and around in the communities campaigning for votes. Let the campaigning begin now. Let the young people know where they can go to be trained to be employable, especially those who are without academic qualifications and are unskilled. They want to know in their situation how they can acquire house lots. They dream of better days but
Do not leave the people guessing. Let them be aware of the Government’s programs and policies; only then can they begin to play their roles, because we all have roles to play in national development. Do not take us for granted, President David Granger is doing his best. He needs the commitment and dedication of his close aides to ensure the good life. RAS Aaron Blackman Social Worker
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Police probe West Dem Hospital drug procurement fraud ...pharmacist and wife in police custody Two persons are currently in police custody assisting with an investigation into the allegations of drug procurement and supply fraud at the West Demerara Regional Hospital. According to reports that have been substantiated by the Ministry of Public Health by way of a statement, Puran Bipath, a pharmacist attached to the West Demerara Hospital, and his wife, have been taken into police custody. The couple, according to information out of the Ministry, is employed at the hospital and is suspected of being involved in drug procurement and supply fraud after irregularities were discovered by a team from the Ministry. Reports are that the team, acting on the instructions of Senior Minister of Public Health, Ms. Volda Lawrence, had been conducting a factfinding mission which uncovered the discrepancies during the course of this week. Mr. John Adams, Member of Parliament representing Region Three, in an invited comment on Friday, said that the team visited on Wednesday and found that there were some inconsistencies in the
record keeping for pharmaceuticals. Following internal investigations, a report was made to the Guyana Police Force and the Ministry of Public Health is cooperating with authorities. Officials at the Ministry’s end of year press conference assured that deliberate moves were apace to ensure that recurring issues of the unavailability of drugs and medical supplies will become a thing of the past this year. And the key to achieving this ambitious goal in the public health system will require embracing a procurement process that is data-driven. Former Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton, revealed that the government is on a mission to improve the public health sector and by extension the wellbeing of the Guyanese populace. In so doing, he revealed that moves are being made to advance public health care by allocating 12.5 per cent or $31.2 billion of the 2017 National budget for the public health sector. “Adequate health infrastructure, a challenge faced by healthcare providers and the general public in the past,
will be a top priority in 2017, such as equipping and upgrading of district hospitals to deliver the full suite of mandated services,” said Dr. Norton. He added that this move will essentially allow the public health sector to provide inclusive health care to the nation. Part of the improvement measures slated for the public health sector this year is the construction of a National Psychosocial Rehabilitation Complex as well as a mental health unit. These, according to Dr. Norton, will allow the public health sector to further address the high rate of suicide as well as the high incidence of mental illnesses. Among the other areas of focus for the Ministry this year will be efforts at “bringing our laboratory facilities up to a modern and international standard.” The Ministry will also seek to further improve maternal health through a recently approved Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) loan. The loan, according to Dr. Norton, will also cater to the training of some 300 health workers in the area of Mental Health.
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Decline in IDB loan approvals worrying – Jordan The decline in loan approvals by the Inter-Development Bank (IDB) remains a concern for the region. This “worrying trend”, which was first observed in 2010, continues today, said Guyana’s Finance Minister, Winston Jordan. The Minister was at the time delivering an address on behalf of the Caribbean Constituency, at the sixth preAnnual General Meeting at the IDB’s Headquarters in Washington, D.C United States of America (USA) on Tuesday last. Present at the meeting were Governors from the Caribbean, President and Members of the Senior Management Team of the IDB; Executive Director and Members of the Caribbean Constituency Office of the IDB; and Representatives from Caribbean Member States of the Bank.
Finance Minister, Winston Jordan
“We remain concerned with the Bank’s loan approvals for our constituency members, in 2016. Excluding Suriname, there were nine loans approved for a total of US$264 million, less than twothirds of the amount ap-
proved in 2015,” Jordan told the attendees. He added that loan approvals to Jamaica declined by 57 percent while no loan was approved for Trinidad and Tobago. This “worrying trend”, the Guyanese Minister said, was first observed in 2010 and continues today. He stated that $900 million was approved in 2010 and by last year this had fallen “drastically” by 70% to $264 million. “And while the total approvals for the period 2010 to 2016 was $3.5 billion, 77% of this amount went to two countries and a mere 7.5 percent went to the poorest member of the constituency,” Jordan told the attendees. Jordan said that the perspective expressed by many donor countries is not ‘wholly incorrect’ when they opine that the Bank has suffered some strategic drift, and that
Dem boys seh...
Soulja Bai paying Jagdeo bill All dem wrong things Jagdeo, that scamp do, got Soulja Bai paying and de man can’t seh nutten. Jagdeo was a man who bully everybody and tek wha he want because he tell heself that he would remain in power all de time. Dem boys hear when he seh that he gun never lose any election again in Guyana but de people buss he bubble. In fact, he had a plan to put in Donald then he woulda tek over again just like wha Putin did in Russia. He had these things in mind when he refuse to pay de Suriname company de money he tek as tax. Soulja Bai had to pay all that money, more than US$6 million. De thing is that if anybody did owe Jagdeo dem woulda have to fork over de money or live in hell. Try owing Babbie, he best friend and some others who he like. Dem boys know de story bout de man who tek Jagdeo father land. De man did not expect that de same boy would tun president one day. De man did not know that Jagdeo is also de most vindictive man in Guyana. Jagdeo never forget de story bout de man and he father land but he tell people how he never go after that man. But people who know him and know de story tell dem boys that Jagdeo didn’t only tek back de land, he run
de man out of de village. To this day de man can’t go back. Then he tek de land at Port Mourant and seh he building a branch of UG. He tell de world that he had de power to tek de land by compulsory acquisition. He tek de people land, never pay dem and stifle de matter in court fuh 17 years. Yesterday, a judge bring de matter to an end and award de people de rightful value fuh dem property. And Soulja Bai got to pay this one again. Dem boys always know and dem gun dead knowing that Jagdeo living a dishonest life. That is why dem boys seh not one word of truth, ever come out he mouth, much less a sentence. Putting up wid such an individual was never easy. Just like de English language. Jagdeo should fill de blanks wid ‘YES’ or ‘NO’ suh de nation would know exactly who this scamp is. 1._____ I don’t have a brain. 2______ I don’t have sense 3______ I am stupid 4______I am a thief 5______Jagdeo can’t tell de truth Talk half and if get dem answer from Jagdeo.
its role has evolved into focusing on increasing prosperity in Latin America and the Caribbean rather than decreasing poverty. “But what is regrettable is that the perspective that the Bank is not very focused on eliminating poverty, is, also, not easily defensible.” The Minister added that a quick review of the net flows between the Bank and the Caribbean constituency members does ‘little to debunk’ this view. “Overall, again excluding Suriname, the region received total disbursements of $367 million, and paid principal, interest and fees totalling $263.6 million – implying a positive net inflow to the region of $101.7 million. However, a disaggregation of the numbers is quite revealing: The only Group D member – Guyana, an FSO (Fund for Special Operations)-eligible country –
- 70% decline over six-year period paid the Bank 131 percent more than it received in disbursements,” Jordan noted. The Minister said that comparing the interest income received by the Bank with disbursements to Guyana, shows that the Bank made a ‘handsome profit’ of almost US$1M. This, he opined is good business if the IDB is commercial bank, but ‘very disappointing’ for an institution focused on development. Jordan said that it is easy to get into a blame game for this result of last year’s operations and posited that this is the reality of last years’ interaction with the Bank. “And even as we try to avert any recriminations, just a glance at the 2017 OPR (Operational Programme Report) points to the great likelihood
of a continuation of this trend, given that Guyana has zero funds programmed. Changing this situation and breaking the trend requires using the creativity, innovation and wisdom that we know the Bank possesses. But it is important that the Bank identify specific areas for attention. If we continue along the same path, we may be better served to cease borrowing and ask to be paid dividends on our shareholdings from the Bank’s profits – certainly Guyana would be better off.” Last year, Guyana was preparing to host the Pre- AGM meeting but this was aborted and reverted to Washington because the Bank was short of funds. “This is the second year Continued on page 13
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Kaieteur News
Sunday February 26, 2017
Landmark ‘Cost of Fishing’ study in the region concludes A landmark study to look at the impact of rising cost factors on fishing operations in the Caribbean has been concluded. The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), in collaboration with Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations (UN), will convene a two-day validation workshop to review the findings and chart the necessary course of action to be taken. The event will commence tomorrow at the United Nations House in Christ Church, Barbados. At the upcoming event, CRFM Executive Director, Milton Haughton, will present a general overview of the project and explain what the workshop is expected to achieve. The background, findings, conclusions and recommendations of the study will be presented by Claudia Stella Beltrán Turriago, economic consultant, for final refinement. The study, carried out in
select CRFM Member States, focused on factors such as capital, labor, maintenance and energy costs. At tomorrow’s meeting, participants will review and finalize the formal report on the findings of the study, as well as propose workable policy options and strategies to improve efficiency, productivity and sustainability in the fisheries sector. The broader aim is to improve competitiveness and profitability at the local, regional and international levels. The initiative will also inform strategies to protect against future economic shocks, reduce barriers to market access, and compensate for price fluctuations for fisheries produce by building on the value-added dimension of the industry. Last May, the CRFM convened a meeting of fisheries experts in Barbados to create a roadmap, including the best methodology for the study. They also selected the
Guyana’s Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder (Third from right); flanked by a CRFM technical team and officials of the Ministry during an engagement last year beneficiary countries targeted for fieldwork and remote surveys, which entailed surveys of smallscale and industrial fishers, suppliers, traders and exporters. Later that same month, the consultant commenced field visits to Belize, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Remote surveys were also conducted for Guyana, Grenada, Colombia, and Trinidad and Tobago. All 17 states which are members of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism, as well as countries covered by a UN/ FAO project on the Sustainable Management of Bycatch in Trawl Fishing in Latin America and the Caribbean (the REBYC-II LAC), funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), are expected to benefit from the broader application of the
study’s findings. The CRFM will prepare a policy brief for action by Caribbean leaders, to highlight the major findings and recommendations, including policy options and strategies to increase efficiency, productivity and sustainability of the fisheries and aquaculture sector, while reducing economic risks. Earlier this year, Guyana’s Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, disclosed that for 2016, Guyana’s fisheries sector grew by 11 percent. This, he said, was due to
the increased focus on aquaculture – which he touted, will become necessary as a substitute for seafood as the marine resources become challenged. Minister Holder said that there was more detailed planning in 2016 by the Fisheries Department which falls under the Ministry of Agriculture, especially as it relates to aquaculture and small scale fisheries which has seen over 20 new aquaculture farms come on stream.
Sunday February 26, 2017
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Kaieteur News
2011 assault on Mark Benschop…
Court hears how Kwame McCoy, others damaged vehicle Social activist Mark Benschop was fearful for his life after he was allegedly attacked by Kwame McCoy and one of his workers, on March 5, 2011. This was revealed to City Magistrate Annette Singh during a SKYPE video call testimony by Benschop, who is residing in the United States of America. Early last year, McCoy, a former PPP Liaison Officer, was slapped with three charges in relation to an alleged attack on the social activist. The first charge against McCoy alleges that on March 5, 2011 at Diamond New Scheme, East Bank Demerara, he damaged a motor vehicle belonging to Benschop. It is further alleged that on March 5, 2011 at the same location, he stole an Acer laptop valued $120,000 property of Benschop. And the final charge alleges that on the same day at the said location McCoy unlawfully assaulted the social activist. McCoy, who is being represented by Attorney Euclin Gomes, has been released on a total of $275,000 bail. During his testimony yesterday, Benschop told the court that on the day in question, he and two individuals went into the area to carry out a probe on huge house being built with a swimming pool. The property was allegedly owned by an individual working at the then Office of the President. Benschop said that he held an audience with the men carrying out works on the building during which he inquired about the owner for the property. According to the witness, he was recording the conversation on camera, since the workers were very cooperative. About 10 minutes into the conversation, he recounted seeing a burgundy-coloured vehicle stopping in front the property. He said that McCoy exited the vehicle, approached him and attempted to grab the camera from his hand. He further said that McCoy was unable to relieve him of the device and subsequently held onto his shirt, during which one of the workers commanded “kill him!” Benchop related that he and McCoy, who is a licensed firearm holder, ended up in a scuffle but he managed to maintain possession of the camera. The witness added that his shirt was ripped and in his bid to escape he ran through a yard opposite the property allegedly owned by McCoy. “Based on what I saw and heard, my life was threatened,
Social Activist: Mark Benschop so I scaled a fence and sought refuge.” Benschop told the court that he was picked up by a trucker and transported to a nearby taxi service base, where he boarded a car and headed for Georgetown. On his way to the city, the witness said he phoned Kaieteur News, Stabroek News, Julia Johnson, Frederick Kissoon and Prime News to inform them of what had transpired. The social activist added that he later returned to the scene of the attack to uplift his vehicle worth approximately $4M and observed that it was vandalized. He disclosed that the windscreens were shattered and his laptop and a few documents were missing. According to the witnesses, he pleaded with police ranks to search the
CHARGED: Kwame McCoy home of McCoy, but they were reluctant to do so. He said that Jason Abdulla and others whom he presumed were associates of McCoy were also present at the scene. Further on in his testimony, the witness stated that he was taken to the Diamond Police Station, where he gave a statement which resulted in McCoy being arrested. He further stated that he was taken to the Diamond Hospital for a medical and later referred to the Brickdam Police Station. McCoy who was present in court was seen murmuring when Benchop provided answers to suggestions put forward by his lawyer, during cross examination. According to reports, the incident allegedly occurred outside McCoy’s home while
Benschop was attempting to take photographs of the residence. It was reported that at the time of the attack Benschop was running an online radio and a website. He was investigating reports that McCoy was building a house worth $100M. Benschop had alleged that while he was taking the photographs, McCoy and two other individuals assaulted him. He said that the defendant (McCoy) was one of the individuals who smashed his vehicle window and made off with his
computer and other valuables from the vehicle. In an invited comment, Benschop had told Kaieteur News that it appears he will be getting justice now that the matter has come up (in court). He had said that it is not about any sort of political victimization or witch hunting. “…Nobody wants to victimize him (McCoy); he has victimized so many people in Guyana”, Benschop added. Reflecting on the incident that occurred five years ago, Benschop recalled, “McCoy and his henchmen damaged my
vehicle; they assaulted me and they stole items from my vehicle.” The activist stated that police back then had refused to do their jobs because of political intimidation from the then Office of the President. Benschop had made appeals in 2016 for investigations to be reopened into his claims that McCoy and associates had assaulted him and vandalized his vehicle. Police were however unable to locate the file and took new statements. This trial continues on March 2.
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Sunday February 26, 2017
Kaieteur News
Small miners ‘syndicate’ flexes muscles on exploiting ‘landlords’ Scores of miners are reportedly opting for a government-backed establishment of syndicate which will not only allow them to access lands but also fight against landlordism. The National Mining Syndicate explained yesterday that its formation will not only eliminate conflicts but deal with exploitations and disadvantages at the hands of these landlords.
The formation would come after weeks of meeting recently with teams from the Ministry of Natural Resources, including Minister within the Ministry, Simona Broomes. “Small miners in Guyana can now comfort themselves with the introduction of this new era of ‘Hope and Empowerment’ through the syndicate system. We the Mining Syndicate must commend the Ministry of
Natural Resources through the Honorable Minister Simona Broomes, in its efforts at empowering small miners, by awarding much needed mining lands to syndicate groups – a great asset in mining,” the group said in its statement. It is unclear who is heading the group. “This will eliminate the conflict, exploitation, and disadvantages suffered by small miners at the hands of
landlords. It is well known in the mining sector that land owners use this playground for exploitation in the history of mining in this country, where demands for unreasonable tributes were demanded from small miners in their daily quest for survival.” In recent weeks, there were reports of a fringe group of miners who are refusing to acknowledge the Guyana Geology and Mines
Commission (GGMC) which they said is only looking at the interests of few big miners. “Ownership of productive mining land is a giant step in the right direction. There are many testimonies of miners being evicted unfairly and relocated due to conflict and breach in agreement of miners and landowners. “Moreover, however hard the truth is, 9.5 out of every 10 cases, small miners are the
victims. This brings us to the point of making the public aware and to understand why so many small miners are either out of business or bankrupt to the point of no return.” The statement explained that the syndicate system is a collective effort where small miners will work collaboratively in the best interest of all miners, while honoring the mining (Continued on page 72)
Minister Simona Broomes meeting with miners in Bartica recently.
Sunday February 26, 2017
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Kaieteur News
After 17 years....Court says government to $30M for Berbice campus land A $30M judgment was recently awarded by the High Court in Berbice against the Government of Guyana in a matter where the previous administration had taken away private lands on the Corentyne to construct the University of Guyana Berbice campus. The matter was filed in the High court on November 6, 2001 by attorney-at-law, Mursaline Bacchus, on behalf of applicants-The Berbice Bharati Saywah Sangha, a
public company whose registered office is at Lot 10 Johns Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice, and other applicantsJaikissoon Sukhdeo, Harold Lall Bahadur Singh, and Utille Burke, the Trustees of the Johnsville Senior Citizens’ Home. Attorney-at-law Bacchus based his application for redress on the Constitution of the Republic of Guyana, Chapter 1:01, citing the contravention of the applicant’s fundamental rights which is
Functions of Bid Protest Committee need amendingProcurement Commission It is the view of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC), that both the provisions of the Act and the Regulations which deal directly with the appointment and functioning of the Bid Protest Committee need “immediate” revision, given the fact that they overlap with that of the Commission. In this regard, the entity pointed out that a bidder whose tender or proposal has been rejected and is aggrieved may submit a written protest to the procuring entity in the manner and time-frame specified in Section 52 of the Act. The Commission said that that bidder may later make the protest to the PPC under section 53 of the Act. The Commission said that Section 53, however, needs clarification and possible amendment, as its provisions, unless revised; appear to run directly in conflict with the provisions of Articles 212AA. (1) (h) and (i) of the Constitution, which place the authority to investigate complaints from suppliers, contractors and public entities, as well as investigate cases of irregularity and mismanagement, with the PPC. “For example, Section 53 (6) of the Act states that the decision of the Bid Protest Committee shall be final and immediately binding upon the procuring entity and clause 13 (9) of the Regulations states that the award of the Bid Protest Committee shall not be open to administrative review. Until these apparent conflicts are resolved the Commission will be constrained from effectively carrying out its constitutional mandate.” The Commission also noted that the primary impediments to the full operation of the PPC are the absence of appropriate office accommodation, adequate budgetary resources, transition of functions from the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) and
requisite staffing of the Secretariat of the Commission. The body said that these issues have affected the accessibility of the PPC to the full range of stakeholders that it is intended to serve and restricted its ability to fully execute its functions in a stable and appropriate environment. With regard to the NPTAB, the Commission also noted that it has been in talks with respect to the transition of functions. According to a missive to the media, Section 17 (2) of the Procurement Act enables the Tender Administration to carry out certain functions of the Commission until its establishment. These functions, which include making regulations governing procurement to carry out the provisions of the Act, are listed in Section (2) (a) to (f) of the Procurement Act. However, the Commission pointed out that Section 17 (3) clearly identifies that these functions shall be the responsibility of the PPC, once it is established. The PPC disclosed that it has already held discussions with the Minister of Finance, as well as, officials within the Ministry of Finance and the National Procurement and Tender Administration with respect to the transition of these functions to the PPC.
Decline in IDB loan... From page 9 that this Meeting is being held in Washington without any clear indication as to when the Meetings will return in the Caribbean. We would like to see these meetings return to the Region, and for hosting to revolve among our members as had been the understanding when these meetings were first conceived.” Jordan said.
guaranteed by Articles 40, 142, 149 and 153 of the Constitution of the Republic of Guyana. The contention was in the manner of the compulsory acquisition by the Government of Guyana under the Acquisition of Lands for Public Purposes Act, Chapter 62:05. The previous PPP government had taken away the land called area ‘E’ being portion of Johns, Corentyne Coast, in Berbice. The administration had confiscated the land and erected the Berbice Campus. According to application the land was defined on a plan by Sworn Land Surveyor,
I.S. Mohamed, dated August 24, 1965 and deposited in the Deeds Registry, Georgetown, on August 10, 1973. The matter finally came up before Justice Sandra Kurtzious in the Berbice High Court. It was first filed on November 6, 2001 and came up for hearing on the 28th day of September, 2016. The Judge after hearing Attorneys-at-Law for the Plaintiffs/Applicants and for the Defendant/Respondent and upon the evidence presented by the witnesses’ and after examination of the Acquisition of Lands for Public Purposes Act Chapter 62:05, granted judgment to the
Plaintiffs/Applicants on the 24th of January, 2017; which was entered on the 6th February, 2017. The judge ordered and found that the Plaintiffs/Applicants are entitled to compensation. They were previously paid $3 million, thus the court ordered that the Plaintiffs/ Applicants be paid the sum of $17.8 million as full and final compensation for the compulsory acquisition of their property. It was also ordered that interest on the said amount at six percent per annum be paid from the date of filing until the said sum is fully paid and satisfied.
Attorney-at-law Mursaline Bacchus
The Government was further ordered to the pay cost to the Plaintiff/Applicants in the sum of $75,000.
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Sunday Feburary 26, 2017
Kaieteur News
Contract awarded to repair Kitty Seawall sinkhole A contract has finally been awarded to fix the sinkhole which emerged at the Georgetown- Kitty seawall. Chief Roads and Bridges Officer of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Ron Rahaman, said that the contract was awarded to Colin Talbot Contracting Services. The sinkhole had developed last December and a few days
holes had emerged nearby which also require fixing. He said that the contract will be signed soon and works will follow. Rahaman was however unable to say when works will commence or how long they will take. It was reported in the media previously that $142M had been set aside to repair the underlying pipes and to
might be further damage than initially estimated. This would need to be addressed and more pipes would have to be changed. While the work is being completed, the Carifesta Avenue, Rupert Craig Highway and Vlissengen Road junction will be closed. Traffic travelling west along the Kitty Public Road would then be
Water being pumped through the underground pipes at the Kitty seawall sinkhole yesterday.
later, two smaller holes also appeared in the vicinity. Rahaman had recently reported that three pipes feeding the Kitty pump station failed. He added that the one located at the seawall had the worst impact, causing the sinkhole. In addition to that sinkhole, a number of smaller
replace the road. Head of the Ministry’s Work Services Group, Geoffrey Vaughn, had reported in the media that the project should take about two to three months to complete. He had said that besides replacing the pipes, after getting under the road, there
diverted to Queen Street and exit on David Street. The Kitty Pump station is a critical infrastructure to drain water out of the city. When Kaieteur News visited the area on Friday around 13:30hrs, water was being pumped through the underground pipes into the Atlantic Ocean. Heavy rainfall which began early Thursday morning had caused a number of areas in Georgetown to be flooded and the water level to rise in drainage canals and trenches. Some residents of South Ruimveldt even woke up on Republic Day to find their homes inundated by floodwaters. It was reported that the Georgetown Mayor and City Council was awaiting funds from the Ministry to begin repairs on the site. However, this was clarified by Rahaman who said that the works will be completed utilising funds catered for in the Ministry’s 2017 budget. Provisions for miscellaneous roads and urban roads and drainage were estimated to the tune of $1.1B and $1.05B respectively.
Sunday February 26, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Opposition party says threat of charges is political vindictiveness NICIL Fraud investigation ...
The opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) has responded to an article in Kaieteur News on Saturday, which stated that “Former Ministers among those to be charged next week” by indicating that such sentiments is nothing new. Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, told this newspaper on Friday that former ministers are among the lot that will be hauled before the court this week for suspected malfeasance in public office. Speaking on behalf of the opposition party, former Attorney General Anil Nandlall said that the current administration has pontificated multiple positions on the forensic audit of National Investments and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) and on what the outcome will be. According to Nandlall, “The nation is well aware that this is nothing new. But, we note the inconsistencies in the utterances emanating from the government.” The former Attorney General said that President David Granger is on record on numerous occasions saying that the forensic audits have not produced evidence upon which criminal charges can be instituted. However, the governing administration had indicated that the findings of the audit would attract the attention of the Special Organised Crimes Unit (SOCU) if irregularities have been found and they will decide if criminal charges are to be brought. Nandlall went further saying that the Public Security Minister is putting forward a different position, “Khemraj Ramjattan, himself, has been quoted in the press only last month as saying that the forensic audits were merely a stock taking excise. Now, the nation is being fed a different story.” Nandlall posits the view that the government is using this issue to distract from all the issues that the ruling administration has failed to address. He believes that the pressures that are being exerted on the administration have caused them to find a ‘juicy’ issue to distract the populace. “Guysuco is collapsing; the parking meter fiasco is escalating; and the economy continues to contract, cost of living continues to skyrocket; criminal activities continue unabated.” These and a number of other issues continue to go unchecked and the government seems starved of
Former Minister of Government, Anil Nandlall ideas to solve them, he said. “The Government appears impotent to deal with unemployment and a lack of job creation opportunities; massive laying off of employees in the private sector at Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) and Barama as a result of the economic conditions further compound the situation”, Nandlall stated. The former government minister said Kaieteur News has pressured Ramjattan by dragging the ‘outlandish and extravagant’ statement from him. According to Nandlall, Ramjattan has been instructed to bring the wine and bread to the circus and Kaieteur News is the ready and willing amphitheater. This, he believes, is all part of a political and propagandistic
ploy. He stated that the ruling party is usurping the powers of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and that this body is bound by the constitution to address such undertakings. “If a government cannot even understand its role and functions, how can it ever competently discharge them?” Nandlall wondered. He is of the view that if ever these charges are brought, they will not be the product of professional investigation but the manifestation of political vendetta and witch-hunting. In a strongly worded statement Nandlall challenged the Alliance For Change (AFC) to answer to allegations that millions of dollars in bribes are being paid for gun licenses and tint permits. “ Minister David Patterson, should come clean about the multi-billion-dollar scandal at Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) in relation to the meter contract and the millions of dollars that contractors claims are extracted from them as bribes for contracts which do not go to public tendering.” The Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, was not spared. Nandlall said that Nagamootoo should explain how his son-in-law became involved in the privatization of Skeldon Estate; and explain the role that the said played in the purchase of the two planes acquired by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).
According to him there is an agenda of revenge, political vindictiveness and vendetta, on the part of the
ruling administration and he believes that those that will be charged will not receive a fair trial.
According to Nandlall, needless to say if and when the charges come they will be strenuously defended.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday February 26, 2017
Cop detained for alleged sexual assault of colleague’s daughter A police corporal is under close arrest as officials investigate reports that he sexually assaulted the 14year-old daughter of one of his colleagues at his home. The incident allegedly occurred last Thursday at the policeman’s home, a short distance from where he is stationed. ‘C’ Division Commander, Charles Chapman, confirmed that an investigation is underway. Kaieteur News understands that the policeman and his female colleague hail from the same village, and that the girl knows the accused. It is alleged that the teen was at a police station, when the police corporal took her to his home, where he allegedly had sex with her. She reportedly confided in another rank and the corporal was detained, after he and the teen gave statements. The girl also underwent a medical examination. The rank’s arrest follows that of another policeman who is being investigated over the alleged sexual harassment of two female physicians. A senior police official said that the complaints were filed last week by two doctors from the Lethem Hospital and that the rank, who is a corporal, has been placed under close arrest. Both parties have been questioned and a file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutors (DPP).
Unidentified man fished out of Good Hope canal The lifeless body of an unidentified man was yesterday morning fished out of a canal separating Mon Repos and Good Hope, East Coast Demerara. His body was located in the canal at the corner immediately before the entrance to the Good Hope Crematorium. This newspaper understands that the man would have gone to collect his pension and might have proceeded to consume alcohol. It is suspected that he might have been in a drunken state before falling into the waterway. It is being reported that the man’s body bore no marks of violence however; police investigation is underway to ascertain exactly what might have transpired resulting in the man’s demise.
Sunday February 26, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Volunteerism - can we truly embrace it? By Sharmain Grainger In some countries volunteerism is a way of life. As the word suggests, it entails the act of volunteering one’s time and effort towards activities, mainly for the upliftment of the society, without looking forward to any form of material compensation. But for some individuals, right here in our homeland, it is perhaps a tall task to embrace this notion. In fact many of us, especially the young members of our society, may never be able to accept this concept of availing one’s self to a worthy cause without expecting something in return other than the smile on a beneficiary’s face or to hear a heartfelt thank you. In fact there are many young people, some graduates of the University of Guyana (UG), who are barely willing to accept the beginner’s salary offered by some organisations. Not that we all shouldn’t aspire for the best at whatever we put our efforts to, but sometimes the key factor in our evolution is to ‘learn as much as we can’ before we can ‘achieve as much as possible’. Many youths in other countries, especially the developed world, understand all too well the concept of ‘learning as much as you can’ through volunteerism. It was just this opinion that struck me recently when a batch of Peace Corps volunteers from the United States was welcomed to our shores. Although young in age, many of them are already educated well beyond their years when compared to the locally acceptable standard for our local youths. However, these volunteers are still aspiring to
advance their knowledge before delving into a fullfledged career. Moreover, they’ve opted to take a break to engage in some volunteer work here so that they can further embellish their résumé to make it all the more enticing to their future employers. But what was particularly surprising was the disclosure of Peace Corps Guyana Director of Programming and Training, Ms. Melanie Ingalls - that the volunteers have all graduated from universities in the United States and some of them already have achieved Masters Degree. “Several of them have brought some extraordinary skills and know-how,” said Ingalls of the members of the batch of volunteers. They have chosen to come to Guyana to volunteer for two years within the education and health sectors and, from all indications, they have no inclination to be placed in top level positions, although their qualifications could easily outstrip some of our local personnel. Twenty-one of the 38 volunteers will lend support to the health sector and the remainder will assist in education, and they will all be placed throughout our vast country. I couldn’t help but ask Ingalls how exactly volunteering here could help this batch of very qualified individuals who more than likely will return to practice in their respective areas of expertise in their developed country. Without thinking (it seemed), Ingalls replied, “Collaboration with a country like Guyana is a huge honour and privilege for the volunteers. Through this programme they are given the opportunity to think of health care in a global way.”
The Baccoo Speaks Cell phones continue to be a magnet for criminals, but these days stealing a phone is not a good idea. A man would steal a phone during a snatch on the streets and would be surprised when the police turn up at his home. He would initially deny because he thinks that by removing the SIM he would have removed all traces. He is going to get a rude awakening. ** A scandal is never far away. It would not come as a surprise when a school teacher is arrested for inappropriate behaviour with his students. He would be in the rating for a porn star just as some of his students were a few short months ago.
** The waters in the rivers are going to claim another life. The police are going to fish a body out of a waterway on East Coast Demerara. The man would simply collapse under the influence of alcohol, but rains and swollen canals and rivers do not take such things into consideration.
Some of the Peace Corps Volunteers who will lend their support for the next two years here in Guyana According to her too, “A partnership like this allows them (volunteers) to really get on the ground and get people to help them understand the reality of some of the things they have been studying. For them, this is a tremendous benefit, and we hope that for Guyana it is a tremendous benefit too.” As if the foregoing was not enough to convince even a volunteerism detractor, Ingalls further pointed out that by working with local individuals, it will give the volunteers an opportunity to not only gain additional experience, but help them to understand some things from a totally different perspective, even as they share what they already know. “Sometimes it is just an extra set of hands or eyes on a problem that is needed to have the ability to solve a problem and think of creative responses,” said Ingalls, as she noted that “[issues such as] teenage pregnancy, suicide or any number of things, perhaps [require] another set of eyes and ears, and someone who has the time and energy to work one on one with young people...”
But while the service offered here by overseas volunteers is undeniably of tremendous benefit, it begs the question: ‘what about our own?’ I do recall local Non Governmental Organisation, Youth Challenge Guyana (YCG), has over the years been extending the call for the service of volunteers to lend support to the delivery of public education in some outlying areas. A number of retired head teachers, who have already racked up years of experience, have been answering this call. But the majority of our young people are looking for a “paying” job and can easily make a case for not having the time to engage in volunteer work. However, given the fact that many of our youths are ill-prepared for many of the professions that they seek after, even with their UG degrees, maybe a national initiative could be implemented to encourage volunteerism, by offering youths an opportunity to volunteer in various fields, so
that they can gain ample experience that could add to the academic qualifications they have. This move could possibly allow them to not only produce a well rounded job application that shows that they not only understand issues theoretically, but also in the practical sense, which essentially is what most jobs require. According to one theory, “Volunteers are the most important resource community organizations have. The ability of people to work willingly together for the betterment of their community and themselves is a valuable resource”. A volunteer could by extension become a very crucial asset to any workforce, since they are instilled with the desire to make a difference and not simply earn. As she applauded the willingness and desire of the Peace Corps volunteers to give their service in a foreign land, Minister of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings, amplified the importance of volunteers with a quote from
Sherry Anderson: “Volunteers don’t get paid because they’re worthless, but because they’re priceless.” She added, “You come from many different backgrounds; you have many different life experiences; and yet you all have at least one thing in common: your willingness to give your time to help others. It takes a special person to make this kind of offer.” In continuing her remarks which suggested that she too was in awe of the whole volunteerism process, the Minister added, “I am humbled by your generosity of spirit and your compassion for your fellow human beings. It is all of you who would so generously give your time, your warmth, your humour and your caring, that contribute to making this world a significantly better place.” It may not at all be farfetched to speculate that a national initiative could be fasttracked by the very Public Health Minister because, based on her speech, she gets the ‘awesomeness’ of volunteerism.
Sunday February 26, 2017
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Kaieteur News
== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==
Sometimes the past returns with Draculean vengeance When the Democrats had a majority in the Senate in Obama’s first term, to prevent the Republicans from delaying the confirmation of Obama’s Cabinet selections, the Democrats changed the rule of two-thirds for confirmation to a simple majority. They naturally wanted to help their Democratic President. People never think far ahead when they makes rules and laws to help bolster their power. The past comes back to haunt you. If you change the rule to allow you, as CEO, to determine the salary of your deputy because he is your cousin, then one day your successor will bring in his girlfriend and pay her whatever she wants. It is best to let impersonal rules govern life. The Democrats never imagined that one day the US would have a president who is far below any leader of a tenth-rate banana republic. It now has one. A simple majority in the Senate has allowed for all of Trump’s Cabinet choices to go ahead. This is where the PPP is facing Norman Bates, and the dagger in Norman’s hand isn’t a tiny penknife.
Frederick Kissoon Sensing that juries will free political victims that the PPP charged, the PPP changed the law to allow the State to appeal against criminal convictions in the High Court. It meant if Mark Benschop or the Munroes or Oliver Hinckson or Ronald Waddell was freed by a jury, the State could still keep them in jail by appealing the verdict. So what we have in Guyana today is a man or woman being freed after a judge’s summing up and jury deliberations but because of the route of the appeal, that person can be denied bail or still languish in jail if the bail is unobtainable. I haven’t done the research but if other countries have such a law, I beg to disagree. Either you
abolish the jury system but if you still have it, then you must accept it for what it is worth. Dr. Cheddi Jagan and PPP, when they were in opposition went from one end to the other of the vast territory of Guyana, denouncing what they described as the Burnham constitution. The PPP took power in 1992; its hegemony lasted until the first two weeks in May 2015. That was a long time –about twenty-three years. That was sufficient time to replace what they call the Burnham constitution. The 1980 constitution does not allow for post-election coalition. Let us suppose that this section of the constitution was changed during those twentythree years and it accommodated post-election coalition, could it not be possible that the PPP could still have been in power. Suppose it had enticed the AFC with the job of Prime Minister and fifty percent of total power, that is, Cabinet positions and public sector headships. Who knows? Politics is strange and unpredictable. The AFC may have gone for it. It looks like some Ministers on top of the PPP’s pyramid during its domination of Guyana
– 1992 -2015, will face the High Court for criminal offences involving larceny of state funds. Would it not be poetic justice that as the jury returns a not-guilty verdict, the prosecutor jumps up and says: “Your Honour, the State will appeal, we ask that bail be refused because the accused is a flight risk.” That may very well happen. And if and when it does, the knife in Norman Bates’ hand was put there by the PPP itself. We see so many institutions in Guyana where the laws where changed to bolster the PPP’s power base. Perhaps one of the most egregious of these changes
was the amendment to the University of GuyanaAct in 1995. Under that amendment, the Council must have a member from each of the following; the Amerindian communities, trade unions, women groups, the medical profession, the Private Sector Commission and two lawyers from the legal professions. Horribly missing is any representative from the engineering profession or the scientific community or the agricultural sector. One would think given the nature of our landscape an economy such people would dominate the
Council. I cannot think of any university in the world that has such stipulations as to who should be in their governing council. In life, should you not use the talent that is available to you? Why not a representative from City Council? Royston King or her Worship, the Mayor, could have added his and her voice to UG matters. The Coalition have three more years; will they learn the lessons of history and scrap the PPP’s laws that were driven by personal motives or will they too become victims of the Draculean past?
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Kaieteur News
Sunday February 26, 2017
MY TURN: THE CRIES IN THE CITY By Prime Minister Moses V. Nagamootoo For weeks now we have been hearing the cries of our citizens protesting the implementation of metered parking in Georgetown. From any vantage point, the fees for parking are unconscionably high. Our Citizens have boycotted the parking zones. For many days there were only somber streets instead of what we’re accustomed to - a lively, even boisterous town. The machines that were meant to assist with the restoration of order, cleanliness and pride of our Garden City, have instead been cynically dubbed “the green monsters”. The Georgetown Metered Parking By-laws which came into effect on January 17, 2017 include “excessive immobilization” or clamping fees, towing fees, impoundment fees and storage fees. It would cost $34,000 plus VAT to recover one vehicle that is subjected
to all four stages of the enforcement process. A further imposition of up to $100,000 would attend legal proceedings in a case where the vehicle owner is fined for a parking violation. The final bit of salt in the wound is the requirement for the impounded vehicle to be sold at auction after six (6) months if the owner fails to repossess same after notice of the intended auction is published. A TORRENT OF PROTEST I am disappointed that in spite of the torrent of protests, the Mayor of Georgetown announced the resumption of the Parking Meter system from January 20. What had started as a public protest against high fees and the clumsy clamping of wheels at a time when citizens understood little about how the metered parking system was supposed to work, developed into a full-blown objection to the agreement between City
Hall and the metering company, SCS. The subsequent reduction of fees by half, turned out to be just a palliative instead of a remedy for the distress of our citizens who voted the City Elders into office less than a year ago. I have reviewed all that has been said about the metered parking project and have been paying keen attention to the protests against the measures and the methods used to ram this project down our unwilling throats. City Hall may have lost the opportunity to address what are very legitimate concerns. AN OLD IDEA Metered parking is not a new idea. In the 1990’s while I was Minister of Local Government, similar proposals were canvassed by Mayor Ranwell Jordan and later by Mayor Hamilton Green. There was also talk of introducing a Container Tax and a toll on vehicles entering the city. The PPP Government at the time had decided that these proposals would not help their political fortunes so I gave them a “stiff back”. However, over the years, the revenue base of the City contracted as the area expanded; their earnings were totally inadequate for the growing needs of the Council. Today, the Council’s sources of revenue are general property rates and
municipal market fees. Even these reduced over the years resulting in a depletion of municipal services that manifested in periodic flooding, waste pile-ups and general insanitary conditions that gave Georgetown the title “Garbage City”. We even had to endure the shame from the equally putrid comment by a PPP Minister which suggested that he didn’t care if the citizens were afflicted by an epidemic. So, when push came to shove and elections were looming a few years ago, and while the city was starving from inadequate subventions, billions $$ were misdirected to the Ministry of Works to undertake clean up operations that should have been done by City Council. Even so, the Jagdeo-ites did not really want the burden of running the city. They were only interested in the benefits from hefty state allocations and dirty procurement services. REVIEWAND RECONCILE Metered parking has to be seen within the historic context of the neglect of the City and the callousness of now opposition politicians. Whilst I cannot support the manner in which it was introduced, I still believe that there probably is a body of opinion that favours a wellstructured, parking system. I believe that the
Agreement between City Hall and Smart City Solutions was intended as a private-public partnership. I also believe that the MAPM should be brought into the arrangement as an equity partner representing civil society. Consideration ought to be given to transparent negotiations for better terms which could be achieved if the Agreement, last amended on 18th September 2016, is reviewed. The review ought to reexamine the terms of reference of the contract including: * The 20-year contract term that can be renewed for another 20 years * The 20% of gross metered parking fees to the City for 2,500 parking spaces in the first 9 years, and 25% for the remaining contract period * Special arrangements for construction of parking garages * The revenue accrued from clamping, towing, impounding, enforcement services, etc. CITIZEN BUY-IN Citizens are entitled to full explanations of the by-laws. Whatever format the Parking Meter project takes, citizens must be told and shown the locations of properly marked out zones, lanes and parking spaces for mini-buses, taxis and motorcycles in residential areas, schools, hospitals, bus stops, etc. The executors of
the project should also consider issuing parking permits for regular users of such public places as the courts, hospitals and police stations, and exempt all emergency service vehicles including ambulances, fire engines, and vehicles used by the armed forces, the judiciary, the state and parliament. The emphasis should be on commercial parking. If properly planned, designated parking spaces could bring order to our current chaotic free-style parking, anywhere and anyhow. It did not go unnoticed that after the meters were erected, many citizens voluntarily started to use parking spaces in business compounds and in driveways. Even when the fees were suspended, citizens were parking in an orderly manner, in single file. The parking meter system was supposed to achieve exactly this, but on the basis of affordability. None of us expected that it would have been dragged into our city like a Trojan horse with a horde of what President Granger described as “burdensome measures” concealed in it. What we have seen so far are protests against the high charges. If the citizens’ reasonable request to review and reconcile is refused, no one could complain when they up the demand to revoke the Agreement.
Sunday February 26, 2017
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Kaieteur News
My column
When our differences spark antagonism People always welcome a new lease on life. I remember meeting Odinga Lumumba in hospital a few years ago after he had been involved in a horrific accident. His driver crashed the vehicle and I am willing to swear that Mr. Lumumba saw death. When I met him in the Intensive Care Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital he was in pain, but thankful to be alive. There and then he told me that he was turning to the Lord, that he was going to become a born again Christian. Perhaps he is but then again, old habits die hard, because I have seen him going about his life in pretty much the same way he did prior to his accident. He is not the only one to see the light after a horrific experience. A few years ago I happened to be chatting with a doctor about the AIDS situation in Guyana. The doctor described it as horrific and horrifying. He said that too many people were being afflicted with the virus for which there is no known cure. He then said something stunning to me. He said that the church has the highest percentage of AIDS victims. This merely means that the afflicted person believes that he or she is close to death and that he or she would use the remaining days to be good people. I would suppose that all of them then turn to the Lord beseeching him to cure them in one way or the other. They would also promise to avoid the same mistake. But not everyone is of that mould. I read about
criminals who would step out of jail only to return. There are people who have been shot only to put themselves in the position to be shot again.
Adam Harris This does not make sense. There is the old adage that one should not make the same mistake twice but then again, this may only apply to some of us. A careless road user is less likely to be as careless if he gets involved in an accident. However, in the courts at this time is a young man who reportedly killed three people on the roadways in Berbice in separate incidents. He is of a different mould and perhaps would remain one of the incorrigible few. These past few weeks I have seen people in the protest line, fighting against the parking meters in the city. These people have come out in their numbers in the broiling sun. Some of them have never been known to protest, perhaps afraid of the
then administration. To them, talk of democracy and the right to protest did not matter, but today they are not afraid to come out on the streets. One young man actually said to me that people have found their voice and they are not about to lose it. This says a lot about the Guyana in which we now live. It also says a lot about the politics of the land. These are people who are calling on the government to intervene, although the government has said repeatedly that the City Council is an independent body and not an arm of the government. This seems to say that the government is the controller of everything in Guyana. Perhaps people cannot understand that there are things over which the government should have no control. This is the case in the metropolis. The Mayor of New York is a powerhouse who does not need to listen to the President. Mayor Rudy Giuliani was a powerful man, powerful enough to order the release of a man who was detained by the immigration for returning to New York. This man was sixteen when he had sex with a girl of fifteen. He was charged with statutory rape and penalized. Nineteen years later he travelled to his native Dominican Republic and was returning when he was detained. There were the protests and for seven months the man languished in the detention centre. In the end, Mayor Giuliani ordered
his release and no government could stop him. In Guyana, the protest would have been directed at the government. I have not seen any, but I have heard of posting on social media that I have been paid by Smart City Solutions, simply because I chose to interview the main players in the parking meter issue. No one can say that I professed any support for the project. Instead I asked the questions that are being asked, but my presence at the interview was enough to make people arrive at whatever conclusion they chose. Many people the world over have said that if everyone was of the same mind, then the world would be a boring place. In that stream there is a government and an opposition, supporters and opponents. The list goes on. Some of us support the death penalty and others don’t. There was a bitter protest when the government sought to legalise abortions. The churches held one view. In the end the National Assembly voted to legalise abortions, but there was a caveat. Public
institutions that relied on public funds could not perform them. These institutions could only get involved in cases of complications arising from the abortion process. It was the same with the Bill that sought to give rights to people of varying sexual orientations. In the National Assembly there was a conscience vote—people did not have to vote along party lines. The Bill was passed, but the then President, Bharrat Jagdeo, perhaps out of fear of the opponents, never assented to that Bill. I have no problem with the parking meters, because I hate having to drive around looking for parking and sometimes having to park illegally, hoping that I do not get towed. Some may say that I can afford it, but I don’t think this has anything to do with money. Most people who earn lower down the scale would be seen spending a few hundred dollars a day on meals rather than cooking at home and taking their food along. One of my colleagues said that it is a matter of choice, and I agree. Let me
spend my money on what I choose. I mentioned some time ago that many of us would give $100 to a beggar without blinking, but would refuse to pay that same sum for a half hour parking, complaining that it is exorbitant. I know that people from out of town, from places like West Berbice don’t mind the parking meters. And those businessmen who say that the meters have led to a decline of between 40 per cent and fifty per cent in their businesses may not be telling the truth. With such losses they would have closed their doors. Suffice it to say that if I have to pay to park, then there must be the requisite security for my vehicle. And this cannot be assured, because I have parked and not paid because there was no one to catch me. If you can’t see me park, then you can’t guarantee me security.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday February 26, 2017
Solid Waste and the Green Agenda Solid waste management is an essential component of Guyana’s green agenda. Every Guyanese can play a part in reducing the amount of waste that goes into our landfills every single day by reusing products where necessary and learning how to recycle home, office and industrial waste. The time has come for a national education campaign on the three R’s - reduce,
reuse and recycle. This campaign will have as it goal, teaching citizens the benefits of reducing, reusing and recycling. The three R’s all help to cut down on the amount of waste we throw away. They conserve natural resources, landfill space and energy. Plus, the three R’s save land and money communities must use to dispose of waste in landfills.
REDUCE The best way to manage waste is to not produce it. This can be done by shopping carefully, making different choices and being aware of a few guidelines: · When you can afford it, buy products in bulk. Larger, economy-size products or ones in concentrated form use less packaging and usually cost less per ounce. · Avoid over-packaged
goods, especially ones packed with several materials such as foil, paper, and plastic. They are difficult to recycle, plus you pay more for the package. · Avoid disposable goods, such as paper plates, cups, napkins, razors, and lighters. Throwaways contribute to the problem, and cost more because they must be replaced again and again. · Buy durable goods -
ones that are well-built or that carry good warranties. They will last longer, save money in the long run and save landfill space. · At work, make two-sided copies whenever possible. · Maintain central files rather than using several files for individuals. · Use electronic mail or main bulletin board. · Remove your name from the mailing lists of materials you no longer want to receive. · Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins. · Use a dish cloth instead of paper towels. REUSE It makes economic and environmental sense to reuse products. Sometimes it takes creativity: · Reuse products for the same purpose. Save paper and plastic bags, and repair broken appliances, furniture and toys. · Reuse products in different ways. Use a Tupperware container to pack a lunch; use plastic microwave dinner trays as picnic dishes. · Sell old clothes, appliances, toys, and furniture, or donate them to charities. · Use resealable containers rather than plastic wrap. · Use a ceramic coffee mug instead of paper cups. · Reuse grocery bags or bring your own cloth bags to the store. Do not take a bag from the store unless you need one. RECYCLE Recycling is a series of steps that take a used material and processes, remanufactures, and sells it as a new product. Begin recycling at home and at work: · Buy products made from recycled material. Look for the recycling symbol or ask store managers or salesmen. The recycling symbol means one of two things - either the product is made of recycled material, or the item can be recycled. For instance, many plastic containers have a recycling symbol with a
numbered code that identifies what type of plastic resin it is made from. However, just because the container has this code does not mean it can be easily recycled locally. · Consider purchasing recycled materials at work when purchasing material for office supply, office equipment or manufacturing. · Speak to store managers and ask for products and packaging that help cut down on waste, such as recycled products and products that are not over packaged. · Use recycled paper for letterhead, copier paper and newsletters. For the final R (recycle) to be practiced effectively, the culture of recycling must first be developed in Guyana. Most of the waste that we send to our landfills can be recycled. Municipalities and local democratic areas must educate r esidents on the benefits of recycling, teaching them how to recycle while engaging waste management companies that recycle with new contracts and dumping the ones that simply dump our waste.
Solid waste companies must buy into the concept of recycling, realizing the environmental and economic benefits. Companies must be encouraged to invest in equipment that facilitates compartmentalization of waste. New industries must seize the opportunity to make money out of recycled items, like paper, aluminum, glass and plastic. Municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils should be encouraged to set up collection centres and curbside pickup services for separated waste. These can include metal cans, newspapers, paper products, glass, plastics and oil. Businesses must be encouraged to recycle, for it is the easiest and most effective way to save money and contribute to a sustained future. In the short term recycling conserves natural resources. In
the long term, it offsets higher transportation costs by reducing business waste sent to the landfill.
Sunday February 26, 2017
Kaieteur News
Ear Wax Blockage: An awful condition with an easy fix By Dr. Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
I am a bit surprised by the increasing amount of patients that are presenting with ear wax blockage. It can usually be a very painful condition that leads to an uncomfortable period in one’s life. Today we will discuss what happens when your ear gets blocked by wax. Hopefully this will help to reduce the amount of cases of ear wax blockage. WHAT IS IT? In the outer part of the ear canal, cells produce a wax called cerumen that traps particles of dust and dirt. The wax also repels water, protecting the delicate eardrum from damage. The wax is moved outward gradually by the lining of the ear canal, carrying any dirt it
has trapped. Eventually, the wax dries and falls out of the ear in small, unnoticeable flakes. Normal production of earwax is healthy and good for your ears. If too much wax is being produced, it can block the ear, but more commonly, the ear becomes blocked because of improper ear care and ear cleaning. If you push cotton swabs, pencils, your finger or other objects into your ear canal to try to remove wax, the force can push the wax further into the ear and compress it against the eardrum. Earwax blockage, also called cerumen impaction, is a common cause of temporary hearing loss.
· You may have hearing loss that gradually worsens. · Some people also experience earache or ringing in the ear (tinnitus). · You may have a persistent earache which worsens over time. · Our ears help with balance. Sometimes ear wax can impair this causing you to have dizziness.
WHATARE SYMPTOMS OF EAR WAX BLOCKAGE? · Your ear may feel stuffed or full, similar to the feeling some people get when they travel by airplane.
CAN EAR WAX BLOCKAGE BE PREVENTED? Most of them can. Never put any objects into your ear canals. Cotton-tipped swabs should be used to clean the
HOW CAN IT BE DIAGNOSED? If the symptoms are familiar to you, you may be able to diagnose your earwax blockage yourself. If you visit a doctor, he or she will shine a light in your ear to see if wax is causing your problem.
outer ear only. Do not place them in the canal. Placing a few drops of olive oil regularly in your ears will also help to prevent blockage. HOW IS IT TREATED? If you have had earwax blockage previously and recognize the symptoms, you can try treating the blockage at home before seeing a doctor. Several over-thecounter earwax removers are available. If you think you may have a hole or tear in your eardrum, or if you have ever had surgery on your ear, do not try removing the blockage yourself because you could cause an infection. Tip your head so the ear points toward the ceiling. Using a dropper, fill the ear canal with liquid- olive oil is a very good option. Keep your head tipped for at least five minutes, then cover your ear
with a towel and straighten your head so the liquid drips out. Repeat this process one to two times a day for the next few days. If this does not remove the wax, visit your doctor. If you go to your doctor to have the wax removed, your doctor may flush, scrape or vacuum your ear, or he or she may prescribe an earwax softener that you can use at home. In rare cases, you may need to visit a specialist to have the wax removed. WHEN SHOULD YOU VISIT YOUR DOCTOR? If you have never had ear wax blockage and are unsure what is causing the problem, visit your doctor. Other common causes of hearing loss include: · Exposure to repetitive loud noises, such as gunshots or trucks · Aging · A tumour on the hearing
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Dr. Zulfikar Bux nerve called an acoustic neuroma. Your doctor can help when home treatments fail to relieve a wax blockage. If you have had a ruptured eardrum in the past, then its best to avoid home remedies and let your doctor manage your ear blockage. Ear wax blockages usually can be removed, and don’t cause any lasting problems. Some people may have torn or perforated eardrums that require different treatment. Your ears play a vital role in everyday life. Do not allow ear wax to take away that role.
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SUNDAY SPECIAL $1B OVER THE ENGINEER’S ESTIMATE…COURT RULES IN FAVOUR OF GOVT IN GPL US$23M CONTRACT CASE Months of battle in the press and now in the court has ended with the High Court on the evening of February 17 discharging a temporary order halting a multi-billion-dollar state project to run new low and medium transmission lines and introduce over 25,000 smart meters. The discharging of the order means that Chinese contractor, China National Machinery Import (CMC) and its partner Export Corporation and China Sinogy Electric Engineering Co. Limited Consortium can now collect its advance and start work. However, the court case will continue to raise lingering questions about the procurement laws after it became clear that the track record of the Chinese contractor was not taken into account during the evaluation of the bidders. That and the fact that it was decided after tenders were opened that the Chinese contractor will be paid more than $1B over the engineer’s estimate. At least two independent reports have criticized the work of CMC with regards to seven sub-stations and a submarine cable it has built, to the tune of US$40M. The bids for the contract were opened since February last year.
Kaieteur News
After months of questions, Government finally admitted late last year that Cabinet has granted its no-objections to the contract. The award was objected to by Fix-It Depot which teamed up with Colombian-owned Enrique Lourido for the contract During the emergency session on February 17, Chief Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards in a late evening session discharged the Order Nisi issued in favour of Paul James of Fix It Depot who had asked the court to grant orders to quash a decision to award a contract for the rehabilitation of 328 km of GPL’s electricity distribution network. The court had previously issued the Order Nisi halting the award decision with a return date of March 6, 2017. Less than 24 hours after the order was issued, the Court brought the matter forward to Thursday, February 16, 2017 ordering the parties to serve their respective affidavits by Friday, February 17 and putting the matter down at 4 pm. Attorney General Basil Williams himself appeared for the state and urged the court to discharge the order, alleging that the application had no merit, that Fix It had failed to disclose that the Procurement Act does not apply, but rather IDB procurement rules apply; that Fix It should have challenged the bid rules before the submission of the tender and that Fix It failed to write the IDB in accordance with the established rules. ATTACKS ON COMMERCIAL BANK CUSTOMERS… EX-COURTS EMPLOYEE TRAILED, TARGETED, ID’D THEM FOR GUNMEN - SAYS CRIME CHIEF The hunt is on for a former Courts Furniture Store employee, who has allegedly been pointing out potential victims to the gunmen who have been robbing commercial bank customers. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum made this disclosure on February 17, during a week that indicates that police are making some headway in tracking down some of the major players in these attacks. ”We are looking for an ex-employee of Courts, whose role was to trail the commercial bank customers and alert the actual robbers,” Blanhum told Kaieteur News.
”He is known to the group only as ‘Courts Man from over the river.’ His modus operandi is to enter the bank and act in a clandestine manner and then trail his victims on a lady’s motorcycle as they exit the banks.” The Crime Chief did not say whether the suspect has been operating in specific commercial banks, and how investigators managed to identify him. All commercial banks have security cameras, which should enable police and bank security personnel to detect any suspicious activity. Recent attacks suggest that the gangs were focusing primarily on branches of Republic Bank, particularly the Water Street branch. This had raised concerns that some bank employees might be colluding with the gangs. However, Blanhum has said that there was “no evidence that bank tellers are involved.” MONDAY EDITION THOSE ‘PAY TO KILL’ CASES…‘HIT MEN’ COULD GET REDUCED SENTENCES FOR EXPOSING THOSE WHO HIRE THEM The Guyana Police Force appears determined to ensure that the ‘intellectual authors’ of those socalled ‘pay to kill murders’ face the same justice as the hit men they hire.
Sunday February 26, 2017
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum disclosed recently that the Force, with guidance from its legal advisors, has been encouraging these killers to testify against their bosses. ”‘Pay to kill’ murders involve a different dynamic, and investigators do not only focus on the actual perpetrators, but also on the intellectual authors and the financiers, the Crime Chief told Kaieteur News. ”The detectives are cognizant that the whole objective of those ‘pay to kill murders’, commonly referred to as contract killings, is for the intellectual authors to go undetected. ”The GPF, together with the legal advisors, have from time to time explored the legislative provision that allows these paid killers or hitmen to enter into a plea bargain arrangement, where in exchange for their testimony against the intellectual authors, they are offered a reduced sentence.” There have been cases in which the alleged ‘hit men’ have received lengthy prison sentences, rather
than identify their paymasters. One such case involved the June 30, 2011 gunning down of 72-yearold Clementine Fiedtkou-Parris in her Lot 42 Robb Street home. It was suggested that the elderly woman was slain over a property dispute she had with a wealthy individual. During the trial, a caution statement provided by one of the accused outlined there was a plot by someone to murder the elderly woman, who lived adjacent to Trans Pacific Auto Sales on Robb Street. The caution statement had also outlined that there was suspicion that the plan to execute the elderly woman was hatched by someone attached to the prominent local auto dealership. In November 2015, four men were given a combined sentence of 324 years for Mrs. Parris’ murder. Orwin Hinds, called “Red Man,” Kevin October called, “Troy,” Cleon Hinds, and Roy Jacobs called “Chippie” or “Black Boy,” were each sentenced to serve 81 years in (Continued on page 33)
Sunday February 26, 2017
(From page 32) prison. The alleged ‘intellectual author’ was never charged. In another case, two men, Lennox Wayne, called ‘Two Colours’, and Elroy Doris were charged with the July 19, 2014 killing of Lusignan cosmetologist Ashmini Harriram, who was gunned down while heading to her home. However, the individual who allegedly hired the men has not been charged. A third case, which police suspected was a ‘pay to kill’ murder collapsed. The victim, Bibi Rafeena Saymar, a 23-year-old hairdresser, died from multiple stabs she sustained in her two-bedroom flat at Hague, West Coast Demerara on May 29, 2010. TUESDAY EDITION COPS THWART ALLEGED PRISON ESCAPE PLOT …AFTER ARRESTING WOMAN WITH GRENADE, NARCOTICS Swift action by police ranks led to the arrest of a woman after a grenade and a quantity of marijuana was found in her home. Police later learnt that the 27year-old woman was planning on smuggling the contraband into the Camp Street prison for Mark Royden Williams called ‘Smallie’ who was recently handed the death sentence after being convicted on eight counts of murder over the February 17, 2008 Bartica massacre. It is suspected that they might have been planning a prison esc a p e . The woman, Kelly Ann Martin, a mother of two of 288 Ram Singh Street, Sophia, Greater Georgetown was arraigned before Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Courts. An unrepresented Martin denied the first charge which alleged that on February 16, at ‘B’ Field Sophia, she had a hand-held counter-strike (CS) smoke grenade in her possession, without being the holder of a licence. It was further alleged that on February 17, at the same location, she had 130 grams of cannabis sativa (marijuana) in her possession, for the purpose of trafficking. Martin, a Taxi Service dispatcher, pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded to prison until March 27, for reports. The court heard from Police Prosecutor David Goodridge, that police ranks acting on information went to the home of the defendant and told her that they suspected she was hiding the illegal items in her abode. According to Prosecutor Goodridge, ranks conducted a search in Martin’s home and found the grenade and marijuana hidden in her bedroom. Prosecutor Goodridge related that in a caution statement, Martin admitted to police that she was taking the items for ‘Smallie’. The pros-
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ecutor disclosed that the defendant told police that she collected the grenade from an unknown person and intended to carry it to the penitentiary for the prisoner. The prosecutor further added that it appeared as though the parties were planning a prison escape. REO EJECTED FROM PARLIAMENT CHAMBERS FOR ‘LYING’ TO PAC ON OVERPAYMENT ISSUE …SAYS IT WAS AN OVERSIGHT The Regional Executive Officer of Region one, Barima-Waini, Leslie Wilburg was ejected from Parliament Chambers Monday for lying to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC); it is likely that he will now be sanctioned. Wilburg was at the time responding to questions from the PAC about overpayment to the value of $30M made to eight contractors between 2010 and 2011. Wilburg said that the contractors were written to in March 2016, informing them about the monies owed and that failure to repay would result in legal action being taken to recoup the funds. According to Wilburg, the contractors did not respond and no legal action was taken. When more clarity was sought by the committee on the issue, the REO was not clear in his response and he was pressed further. PAC Chairman Irfaan Ali at this point started to become impatient with Wilburg’s responses, “REO you have overpayment of $30M and you will address this based on the magnitude of the problem that is before you”. The Chairman told Wilburg he did not want to know about letters that were written to the contractors, but rather, he should tell the committee all that has happened: what is the current status on the matter and who should be sanctioned. The Chairman wanted to know if any of the contractors were still under the employ of that region. ”REO, are any of these persons who were overpaid still working with the region?” Ali asked. Wilburg responded “No sir”. Ali asked again, “Are you absolutely sure?”, “Yes sir,” Wilburg replied.
In his defence, Wilburg said that he has sent several reminders to the contractors but is still awaiting a response. Further, the REO said that he sought legal advice from Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communities, Emile McGarrel. It was at this juncture that the interaction with the REO and the PAC started to spiral in the wrong direction. Through PS McGarrel, the PAC found out that the REO had simply carbon copied a letter he had sent to the contractors to the PS, but had not actually sought legal advice from that Ministry. PAC member Nigel Dharamlall said that it was clear the REO was not forthcoming with the PAC – and had also misled the Auditor General who found the deficiencies in his
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region – so he could safeguard himself. Chairman Ali said that Wilburg was trying to hide behind the PS, but stressed that such will not be tolerated. The Chairman again asked the REO if any of the contractors are still working with the region, and that he should think carefully about his response, because the PAC would do its independent check to verify that these contractors are indeed no longer doing work for that region. Realizing that he needed to be forthcoming, based on what he heard, the REO admitted that two of the contractors that were overpaid still work for the region. Rhetorically, Ali asked “Two of them still working with the region?” the REO replied “Yes sir”. “REO please
leave the chambers,” the Chairman stated. WEDNESDAY EDITION FORENSIC AUDIT REPORT REVEALS…QUESTIONS OVER $$M DISBURSED FROM BANK ACCOUNTS TO GPL EXECUTIVES A report of a forensic auditor into the operations of the state-owned Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) between November 2011 and May 2015, has found problems with the system used to pay executives. The report is now recommending that the new Board of Directors set clear guidelines for the operations of the Executive Payroll and ensure that both internal and external auditors are given access to all company documents for the purpose of conducting their audits. Had proper systems been in place before, there would not have been a situation where former Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Aeshwar Deonarine, transferred around $30M to his personal overseas bank account without being authorised to do so. Deonarine, who has since fled the jurisdiction and is said to be living in the US, is facing fraud charges in Guyana over that matter. Forensic auditor, Nigel Hinds Financial Services, disclosed in its report that it examined the Executive Payroll for the period 2011 to 2014 and the bank accounts through which those payments were made. ”We noted that there was a lack of documentation – bank statements, returned cheques and debit memos to verify payments.” For example, statements and other documents were not provided for the following years: Account # 654-441-5 -2011- for 10 months; 2012 – 8 months; 2013- 9 months and 2014- 9 months. For Account # 2-091-7, in 2011, 2013 and 2014 there were no records for those years. There were, however, records for a mere two months in 2012 pertaining to transactions to that bank account. Another account, # 483-332-3, saw auditors unable to access (Continued on page 34)
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(From page 33) records for 11 months in 2012. The situation was similar for Account # 688-743-4 where for 2012 only records for one month was available while 2013, there were some details for four months and in 2014, for three months. It appeared that while spending was happening in the bank accounts, GPL appeared not keen in
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providing much details. ”We also noted that no bank reconciliation was provided for any of the accounts listed. Without reconciliations, it is difficult to determine whether these accounts were used for purposes intended.” Auditors also examined the credit card used by former Chief Executive Officer, Bharat Dindyal, but found only two statements were provided for the year 2013 and four
statements for 2014. $46.6M REHAB COMMENCES ON HOPE BRIDGE Less than two years after its commissioning, Government has to now plug millions of dollars more into repairing the crooked $350M Hope Canal Bridge, which is one of the three main components of the Northern Relief Channel constructed at Hope/Dochfour, East Coast Demerara, at a cost of $3.6B. The Ministry of Public Infrastructure has already awarded the contract for repairs, to H. Nauth & Sons Civil Engineering Contractors. The project to remedy the eastern and western approaches of the bridge will cost the Government some $46,571,074. Head of the Work Services Group, Geoffrey Vaughn told Kaieteur News on Tuesday that the contractors have already been mobilized, and that preparatoryworks have commenced. Speaking on behalf of the contracted firm, Julian Archer, an engineer, said that the company has already submitted a new design for the approaches, to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. ”We are monitoring the settlement while we wait on a response from the Ministry in relation to the design for the elevation,” Archer said. NURSING STUDENTS FINALLY RE-SIT STATE FINAL EXAM – HEALTH MINISTERS VISIT TO LEND MORAL SUPPORT Nursing students, whose results
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were affected following allegations of the leaked Professional Nurses State Final examination which was conducted in October of last year, were finally able to re-sit their exam Tuesday. The test was conducted at the Critchlow Labour College in Woolford Avenue, Georgetown. Senior Minister of Public Health, Ms. Volda Lawrence, at a press conference earlier this month had said that, based on the advice of the Nursing Council, approximately 150 students were slated to participate in Paper One of the Clinical and Functional examination. Ahead of the sitting Tuesday, students were graced with a visit from Minister Lawrence and Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr. Karen Cummings.
When Ministers Lawrence and Cummings made the surprise visit to the examination centre, they both affirmed their confidence in the integrity of the freshly prepared examination and the intellectual uprightness of the students. ”We know you will have good success, we are here to give you moral and spiritual support and we have full confidence in you,” Minister Lawrence told the group of student nurses. The students from four nursing establishments, representing the counties of Demerara and Berbice, were forced to retake the exams following the discovery of a breach after the State Finals last year. WORKERS’ UNION PROMISES ‘RIGID’ACTION AGAINST GTT ...TO PROTECT MEMBERS’ INTERESTS Following the announcement that the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company will be laying off about 120 of its employees over the next 12 months, the Guyana Postal and Telecommunication Workers’ Union (GPTWU) - which represents the majority of the workers - has committed to take ‘rigid’ action to protect the interests of its members. This assertion was made by General Secretary of the Union, Eslyn Harris, who did not go into detail as to what specific action the Union will take in light of the pronouncement by the company. Harris was at the time addressing members of the GPTWU on (Continued on page 35)
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(From page 35) Tuesday at a meeting held at the union’s East Street Headquarters. Union president Harold Shepherd was also present. According to the General-Secretary, the excuse given by the company to ‘reorganise’ operations would take workers along a certain path. However, she recalled that some time last year there was talk about ‘re-designation,’ starting with employees of the call centre. Harris said that reorganisation encompasses a holistic approach. According to her, the company “cannot reorganise the floor employees and not the management”. Additionally, she said that the company went about informing employees of the move in the wrong way, violating common industrial relations protocol. The company had apparently sent out an email to all its employees informing them of the changes to take place. According to Shepherd, the union learnt of GT&T’s move through the media last Wednesday. The union president said that the announcement can impact any of the over 700 workers which the company employs. He told those in attendance that the union has a role to play to represent the interest of its members. According to Shepherd, the u nion understands the level of frustration and uncertainty being felt by employees. Shepherd said that although the company has announced it wishes to part ways with 120 workers, the possibility exists that the company may want to go beyond that number, which is another cause for concern. The company had justified the move by saying that positions are becoming redundant. According to Shepherd, employees do not become redundant, rather the positions become redundant. Thus far, six employees
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have been laid off. THURSDAY EDITION PRESIDENTIAL TERM LIMIT…. APPEAL COURT UPHOLDS JUSTICE CHANG RULING BY SPLIT DECISION -MATTER TO REACH CCJ The Court Of Appeal on Wednesday upheld a decision by former Chief Justice Ian Chang, ruling that the two-term presidential limit is unconstitutional. With a decision of two to one, the court dismissed the appeal made by Attorney General (AG) Basil Williams to overturn the judgment of the former Chief Justice (CJ), which essentially stated that an elected President can run for more than two terms. Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh was supported by Justice of Appeal, B.S Roy in upholding Justice Chang’s decision. Chief Justice (ag) Yonette Cummings-Edwards, who also sat on the panel, gave a dissenting judgment. The former CJ’s ruling was based on a Constitutional challenge, filed on behalf of Georgetown resident, Cedric Richardson in February, 2014.
The applicant argued that Act 17 of 2001, which was passed by a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly, unconstitutionally curtailed and restricted his sovereign and democratic rights and freedom as a qualified elector to elect former President Bharrat Jagdeo as the Executive President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. Richardson had contended that the limit was unconstitutional and illegal. He also wanted the court to determine whether the amendment with a referendum should not have been held, instead of the two-thirds majority in the National Assembly having the powers to decide to limit the number of terms. After several months in the court, the former CJ ruled in favour of Richardson’s argument, setting the stage for Jagdeo to have a third term as President. However, the decision did not sit well with Attorney General Basil Williams and the APNU/AFC administration. Williams moved to the Court of Appeal to overturn the decision. In his Appeal, Williams posited that Justice Chang “erred and
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misdirected himself in the law” in ruling that the National Assembly which passed Act No. 17 of 2001 is unconstitutional and of no effect as it failed to comply with Article164 (2)(a) of the Constitution. The Attorney General said that he believed that Justice Chang also erred in ruling that the Act in question, in substance and effect, diminishes the democratic right of the electorate in electing a person of their own choice as President. Williams also posited that Chang erred in law in not satisfying himself that the Court has jurisdiction to grant the reliefs sought. Meanwhile in his representation of the appellant Attorney-at-Law Roysdale Forde, outlined the respondent, (Richardson) contended that Act No. 17 of 2001, though it purported to amend Article 90 of the Constitution of Guyana by adding two Clauses to the said Article 90, had the effect and consequence of curtailing and diminishing the electorate’s choice of Presidential Candidate, by rendering ineligible the candidature of any person who had been re-elected once as President.
Following the decision, Attorney General Basil Williams asserted that while the Court has made a ruling, the decision is not absolutely final. Williams noted that his legal team has up to thirty (30) days to file action with the Caribbean Court of Justice. BUSINESSES SHUT DOORS IN PROTEST OF PARKING METERS A number of businesses in Georgetown protested against the parking meters Wednesday by closing their doors for one hour – between noon and 13:00hrs. The Movement against Parking Meters (MAPM) had encouraged companies to show support in this manner through their social media outreach. Among the businesses closed were included Coffee Bean, Graphic Master, Universal Travel, Clairans and Outdoor Store on Church Street; Beepats and M. Phagoo and Sons on Regent Street along with Muneshwers Limited on Water Street, Narine’s Liquor Store and Digicom on Robb Street and Kojac Marketing on Quamina (Continued on page 36)
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Kaieteur News
untary Separation Programme opening on 1st March 2017,” Digicel said in its statement. Up to 2008, the company had over 5,500 staffers.
(From page 35) Street. The closure was a last-minute move according to Dr. Rahaman. He said that the MAPM had wanted to have the businesses closed for next week’s demonstration. ”Next week is when we plan to do that fully, because we’re just working on social media, so we’re not reaching a whole lot of people as much as we want to, but we’re planning to actually get on the ground a bit more and do more interaction.” Wednesday marked the fourth silent protest organised by the apolitical group, which was attended by a growing number of supporters from a wide cross-section of businesses, their employees and civil society members.
FRIDAY EDITION SOME CITY STORES CONTINUE TO DODGE TAXES …BY NOT ISSUING RECEIPTS
DIGICEL TO SLASH QUARTER OF WORKFORCE WORLDWIDE – TO CONCENTRATE ON DATA, CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE The telecoms landscape is expected to see some major changes in the coming months. Not only are Digicel and the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) expected to use less staffers, but the focus will be heavily on the customer experience. One week after US-owned GTT announced that it will be sending home up to 120 staffers in another 12 months in a cost-cutting measure to tighten up on its operations, Digicel seems set along a similar path. On Wednesday, Digicel announced that its Digicel 2030 global transformation programme promises customers a completely new communications and entertainment experience made possible by a “more agile, customercentric application of resources and investment”. Digicel also announced that it has signed a global partnership agreement with ZTE – a leading global provider of integrated telecommunication solutions – for an ongoing multi-year network upgrade programme. ”These initiatives occur as telecoms providers across the globe move to benefit from significant technology advances and manage changing customer needs in terms of data usage and competitive threats from unregulated OTT operators.” The announcements by Digicel would come as Guyana prepares to entertain other players in the telecoms field to compete in data, landline and mobile services. GTT has been here for over two decades, with Digicel its main competitor. With Government now negotiating with GTT to break its monopoly on landline and international calls, Digicel has already signalled intentions to land its own internet fibre optic cable to compete in the data arena. Digicel insisted Wednesday it has become “one of the first communications and entertainment
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providers in the world to initiate a wide scale transformation agenda. The core elements of the Digicel 2030 transformation see it undertaking a complete re-design of its organisational structure; putting customers in control and making a commitment to deliver a superior superfast network experience.” Disclosing some of the plans, Digicel said its future organisational structure will comprise a small number of regional hubs (two for the Caribbean and Central
America regions and two for the Pacific region) housing back office centralised functions and delivering shared services, allowing staff in Digicel’s 31 markets to focus on sales and enhanced service delivery – and ensuring that resources and investment are prioritised to drive competition and innovation. This will mean some staffers will have to be sent home. “This will result in an approximate 25% reduction of the global workforce over the next 18 months with the first step in the process being the offer of an Enhanced Vol-
Several complaints have been received by this publication regarding a number of businesses within the city of Georgetown not giving receipts to customers who make purchases. This newspaper was informed that such businesses are refusing to issue receipts so as to under report income in order to avoid paying the necessary taxes. Only last week, a Kaieteur News staffer purchased a pair of slippers at a Water Street store and was not given a receipt even after asking for the bill of sale. One shopper said that she had made a purchase of deodorant, disposable razors and soap powder at a downtown store but was not given a receipt. This is a problem which seems to continue plaguing the economic sphere of Guyana whereby income taxes by some businesses are manipulated to reflect a lower amount of total sales. Equally worrying is that some stores are charging VAT on items but are not remitting that to the Guyana Revenue Authority. Five years ago this newspaper had reported on a number of businesses who were flouting tax laws by not issuing receipts. Businesses apparently keep two books to fool the revenue collection agency. According to some members of the private sector, foreign-owned businesses in particular were doing everything in and out of the books to rob the country of taxes due.
In 2014 the Commissioner General of GRA Khurshid Sattaur had urged shoppers to request a receipt from any store they would have purchased items. He pointed out that tax payers play a vital role in helping to police the laws and ensure that taxes are collected. Failing to do so would give business owners who are higher income earners immunity from the law. When the current Commissioner-General of GRA, Godfrey Statia, was contacted on the matter he said that once provided with the names and addresses of the businesses, an investigation would be launched. GUYANABECOMINGAMORE SOCIALLY COHESIVE NATION -PRESIDENT GRANGER’S REPUBLIC MESSAGE President David Granger believes that the country is improving when it comes to tolerance and peace among its people. ”The Republic is becoming a more socially cohesive country, one that works towards the well-being of all its members, fights exclusion and marginalisation, creates a sense of belonging [and] promotes trust,” the Head of State said in his message on the country’s 47th Republic Anniversary. Granger also acknowledged the contributions of Indian indentured immigrations who he said made significant contributions economically and socially to the country. The full statement: The forty-seventh anniversary of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana is a happy occasion to celebrate the uniqueness of our nationhood. The achievement of Independence on 26th May 1966 gave us the opportunity to remember that the majority of our fore-parents were brought to these shores (Continued on page 45)
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(From page 36) either as enslaved workers or indentured labourers, to toil on the plantations. Independence reminded us, also, that it was their struggles – their resistance, revolts and riots on the plantations – which helped to make their descendants a free people and to make this country a free state. The establishment of the Cooperative Republic on 23rd February 1970 intensified our efforts to unite our peoples into a plural nation under the inspirational motto – ‘One people, One nation, One destiny’. We, the Guyanese people – the descendants of the indigenous Amerindians and of those who were brought here from Africa, Asia and Europe – have welded our country, irreversibly, into a plural society. The Republic guaranteed greater cultural freedom, encouraged diverse beliefs, respected differences of creed, culture, race or religion and entrenched constitutional protection to proscribe discrimination. The Republic started the task of shaping a society that was culturally plural by promoting the unhindered celebration of the Christian, Islamic and the Hindu festivals. The Republic aspired to ensure that we would live together in harmony free from racial and religious conflict This year is a particularly significant celebration for all Guyanese. It is the 100th anniversary of t h e ‘ A b o l i tion’ of Indian indentureship. It is an opportunity for the nation to celebrate the contributions of the Indian community. Indian indentured immigration was introduced into British Guiana in 1838 and endured for nearly eight decades.
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Almost 240,000 persons were transported to these shores as immigrants, mainly to work on the sugar plantations, during this period. Most of the indentured immigrants remained to make our country their home at the end of their contracts of service. They invigorated our cultural life with devotional festivals, colourful dress, tasty foods, vivacious dance, vibrant music, two great world religions – Hinduism and Islam – and other cultural retentions. Indian indentured immigration reshaped our economic landscape by making an indelible mark on the cattle, coconut, fishing, rice and sugar industries. The Indian impact is visible on every aspect of national life – the arts, business, diplomacy, educat i o n , e n g i n e e r i n g , i n d u s t r y, jewellery, law, media, medicine, politics, the public service and trade unionism. The Republic is committed to eliminating extreme poverty, eradicating inequalities; expanding the space for cultural diversity and enhancing the sense of national belonging. SATURDAY EDITION NICIL FRAUD INVESTIGATION… FORMER MINISTERSAMONG THOSE TO BE CHARGED NEXT WEEK - KHEMRAJ RAMJATTAN Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan says that criminal charges will be brought against a number of officials, including People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) former Government Ministers, next week. In an interview with Kaieteur News, Ramjattan said that the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) has completed its investigation into the operations of the
National Investment and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL). He said that SOCU’s recommendations and that case file are now attracting the attention of the special prosecutors who are perusing the documents and will now recommend who is to be charged. When asked about the names of the suspected fraudsters who are on the cards for the court, Ramjattan said that although he knows who those persons are, he was not going to disclose the information, since he did not want to prejudice the investigation. But he was adamant that a number of high ranking PPP/C officials will be hauled before the courts soon. Additionally, Ramjattan said that the former head of NICIL, Winston Brassington, has been fingered in corruption, but the special prosecutors will address that as they deem necessary. THREEILLEGAL MINING OPERATIONS ORDERED SHUT A visit to the Region Nine communities of Karasabai and Yurong Paru, and Monkey Mountain in Region Eight from last Monday to Wednesday, by a team comprising Ministry of Natural Resources, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency. The visit resulted in the shutting down of three illegal mining operations. Acc o r d i n g t o t h e Ministry of Natural Resources, the visit resulted from a directive issued by Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, following a letter written to him by Bryan Allicock,
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Region Nine Chairman in early February. The letter raised the issue of alleged illegal mining activities which were suspected to be the cause of water pollution. The team, which was led by the Compliance Division of the Ministry of Natural Resources and included environmental officers from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), found that the turbidity levels in the Echilibar River exceeded 30 ntu (Nephelometric Turbidity Unit), the recommended limit in the mining regulations. It was also determined by the officers on the ground that the turbidity levels were as a result of illegal mining operations. “It was found that those operations were ongoing without the requisite permission from the GGMC. It was determined too that the persons working the operations were doing so after receiving verbal permission from a ranger employed by the claimholder – a violation of the GGMC’s regulations,” the ministry said in its statement on Friday. As a result, the GGMC issued Cease Work Orders to two operations in one location on the left bank of the Echilibar River and to one other operation farther inland. “The mining activities were all taking place in the drainage basin of the Echilibar River, which discharges into the Ireng River that borders Brazil.” LAW DOES NOT ALLOW PROCUREMENT COMMISSION TO TAKE OVER CABINET’S “NO OBJECTION” ROLE The recently established Public Procurement Commission (PPC) has decided to set the record straight on what effect its existence will have, if any at all, on Cabinet’s “no-objection” role. In a missive to the press Friday,
the Commission said that it felt compelled to clear the air on the matter given recent media reports. Those reports suggest that the continued role of Cabinet is linked to the PPC being “operational and functional.” However, the Commission said that this line of thinking is not only inaccurate but also misleading. In fact, it stressed that neither the Constitution nor the Procurement Act provides for the Commission to take over the “no-objection” role function from Cabinet.
The body said that the Constitution empowers the PPC to carry out “oversight” of the procurement system in Guyana and its functions are clearly outlined in this regard. The Commission stressed that none of those functions provide for a ‘No Objection to Contracts’ role for the PPC. The Commission said, “Indeed, it is the view of the Commission that such a role would entrench the PPC as an integral part of the procurement process, which it is intended to monitor and regulate.”
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Sunday February 26, 2017
OECS examining new options for reducing broadband prices CASTRIES, St. Lucia (CMC) – The St. Luciabased Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission says it is taking steps to introduce new options for reducing broadband prices and increase the quality of service in the nine nation grouping. The Commission has formed a special ICT Strategy Group chaired by the
OECS Director General, Dr. Didacus Jules to consider the sub region’s options for using technology more effectively to facilitate its integration agenda. Jules said that the group has been established to ensure that the region is positioned to take full advantage of the digital revolution by removing obstacles and creating new digital opportunities for people and businesses.
He said the group is comprised of government ministers, telecom regulators, ICT experts and senior policy makers and builds on work already underway in the Eastern Caribbean to address some of the barriers to greater adoption of technologybased services. “The future prosperity of our region is hinged to how well we leverage information and communications technol-
ogy to enable the seamless movement of people, goods and capital in the sub-region. The OECS has already made significant strides in this regard. “However, there is still more to be done. We must now take steps to ensure our institutions and industries adapt, and that our citizens are able to make full use of the potential of digital services and goods,” he
added. He said that the group has been tasked to accelerate the region’s move to a single market by systematically reducing regulatory obstacles and predatory market practices. “The group will also help ensure that the OECS is aligned with the recently announced Caribbean Single ICT Space,” Jules said, adding that strategies
being developed include targeted actions to be implemented within the next 12 months. “It is built on three pillars: affordable access for consumers and businesses to digital goods and services across the OECS; a level playing field for digital networks and technology-enabled services to flourish; enabling strategies for catalysing growth of the digital economy. “A digitally enabled, fully functional OECS Economic Union will contribute significantly to the region’s economy and create a host of new jobs and opportunities,” Jules said. The OECS groups the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Montserrat, St. Kitts-Nevis, The British Virgin Islands and Anguilla.
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Kaieteur News
Single Regional ICT Space…
Champions required at highest levels of governments – CTU Head Bridgetown, Barbados (CMC) – The Secretary General of the Trinidad-based Caribbean Telecommunication Union (CTU), Bernadette Lewis, says the establishment of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Single ICT Space is a complex undertaking, which presents many challenges. But she believes these can be overcome through regional and institutional collaboration and cooperation. “It requires champions at the highest levels of governments and their commitment to collaborate nationally and regionally; creativity and innovation; and strengthening of the CARICOM institutions responsible for its implementation,” Lewis said. Guyana’s President David Granger, the CARICOM chairman said that the regional leaders at the inter-sessional summit held in Georgetown last week had approved the draft road map for a Single ICT Space and commended the CTU, the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) and the officials who had prepared the document. He said the Single ICT Space would be one of the driving forces for social and economic development of the Community. “It would enhance the
Secretary General of the CTU, Bernadette Lewis. environment for investment and production, provide an opportunity for innovation to flourish, support a sustainable increase in growth and jobs and enhance efficiency and increase access to public services.” Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell, who has lead responsibility for ICT within the quasi CARICOM Cabinet said, “it will also protect our citizens on the whole issue of where cyber security is concerned, ensuring that the best legal and regulatory framework is available to support our citizens in the digital economy.
Lewis, who addressed the regional leaders, said that the new initiative also “entails public awareness and education as there are many technological solutions for the challenges we face as a region and that we need to expose all sectors of the society to them, from Governments to the man on the street; appropriate planning; and the political will and commitment to drive the process”. She said the vision for the CARICOM Single ICT Space includes an ICT-enabled borderless space that fosters economic, social and cultural integration for the betterment of Caribbean citizens. She defined it as an ecosystem of regionally harmonised ICT policies, legislation, regulations, technical standards, best practices, networks and services. The Single ICT Space will allow for harmonisation of ICT and other legislative framework in member states; the removal of roaming charges; the encouragement of digital entrepreneurship; equip all citizens as Digital citizens; and establish ICT as a means of financial solutions among other regional benefits. It is anticipated that the initiative will also provide for a single area code, as well as address spectrum and broadband matters.
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Kaieteur News
COI probe of GPHC’s Matron...
Report highlights Matron’s view that nursing should be void of interference “Nursing is a profession in its own right with a set of dedicated rules and there should be no interference either from the administration or the medical practitioners.” This has been the vocalised conviction of embattled Director of Nursing Services (Matron) at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Sister Collene Hicks. But it was this very view embraced by the Nursing Director that created a protracted conflict at the premier health institution. Based on an investigation conducted by a Committee that was appointed by the former GPHC Board, it was found that “the Director appears indifferent to the need to foster teamwork between the medical practitioners and the nurses, so vitally neces-
sary, indeed indispensable, to the delivery and enhancement of quality patient care.” The Committee detailed in a report, which this publication was privy to that “because of the Director’s attitude to stoutly defending and protecting “turf” any attempt by the administration and the medical practitioners to influence her to find a compromise arrangement between the need to rotate nurses periodically on the one hand in order to gain all-round experience, and some measure of flexibility for nurses to specialise in order to foster teamwork and team spirit on the other hand, was not only frowned upon but was also aggressively resisted.” Consequently, the Committee revealed in its re-
port, there has been a stand-off between the Director and the medical practitioners which resulted in the signing of a petition by 149 staff members comprising consultants, medical practitioners and nurses. Of importance, the report noted, concerns were already expressed by 19 consultants and senior doctors spanning a period of almost one year. Apart from the fact that there is no documented policy regarding the rotation of nurses, the Committee, in its report, said that the situation has been exacerbated by the severe shortage of nurses as well as their general attitude to work, including a lack of professionalism, lateness and absenteeism, for which
there was little evidence of any disciplinary action being taken. It was reported that several witnesses testified about the removal of nurses from specialty areas, including the Diabetic Food Centre, Accident and Emergency Unit, Paediatric Unit, Cardiology Unit and Psychiatry Holding, among others, without any form of consultation with the concerned doctors. To this extent, there has been some undoing of progress made by the previous Director of Nursing Services in fostering teamwork and team spirit between the consultants and the medical practitione r s t o e n a b l e nurses to follow their passion for serving in specialised areas. This publication understands that a total of 52 employees testified before the Committee. And the Committee has outlined that “From the testimonies of the consultants, medical practitioners, nurses and other employees of GPHC, as well as from a review of the various correspondences, difficulties were experienced in accessing the Director of Nursing Services.”
Embattled GPHC Matron, Sister Collene Hicks Examples cited in the report included that “doctors were instructed to make an appointment with the Director’s Secretary...One doctor testified that he was made to wait 90 minutes outside of the Director’s office and had to leave without seeing her.” In fact, it was disclosed that there is conclusive evidence that the Di-
rector of Nursing Services routinely breached protocols and written agreements, including the failure to follow instructions. Several examples have been cited in the report to support the allegations of these breaches. “Of particular note is a letter from the Chief Executive Officer to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Health, outlining the acts of insubordination on the part of the Director. This resulted in the termination of her services which was put on hold following the intervention of the Guyana Public Service Union and a member of the GPHC Board,” the report stated. From the testimonies as well as from examination of various correspondences, the Committee said that it unanimously concluded that “the continued engagement of Ms. Collene Hicks in her capacity as Director of Nursing Services would not be in the best interest of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.” Former Senior Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton had shared that Cabinet was expected to determine the way forward. However, the current Senior Minister of Public Health, Ms. Volda Lawrence, in an invited comment asserted, “The Board will be expected to carry out its full mandate as prescribed within the law.” “I expect that given the gamut of issues which presently exist at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation that the Board [will address these issues]. I intend when I meet with them to outline several of those issues and ask that they fashion their agenda to address those issues,” Minister Lawrence underscored. It is therefore expected that the issue concerning the Nursing Director will be among the top priorities of the recently installed GPHC Board of Directors.
Sunday February 26, 2017
Kaieteur News
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Global Fund donates ATVs to Health Ministry Guyana’s fight to eradicate tuberculosis (TB), HIV/AIDS and malaria got the proverbial ‘shot in the arm’ on Friday last with a donation of three All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) from Global Fund. The ATVs will be used in Regions One (Barima/ Wa i n i ) ; E i g h t ( P o t a r o / Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper/Essequibo) Mr Trevor Thomas, Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Public Health said during the handingover ceremony at the M i n i s t r y ’s B r i c k d a m , Georgetown headquarters. Global Fund provides grants to brace several health sector initiatives
here to counter TB, HIV/ AIDS and malaria pandemics. Officials in the three beneficiary Regions were cautioned by PS Thomas to “be careful how we use these gifts for these programmes. Take care and monitor this equipment”. Thomas also echoed the concerns of PAHO/ WHO Representative Dr. William Adu-Krow, who earlier this month raised the issue of abuse of donor gifts to the sector by some Health Ministry employees. “These gifts must be used for their intended purposes,” Thomas emphasized.
From left: Dr Jeetendra Mohanlall, National TB Programme Manager; Mr Gavin Gounga, Deputy Region Executive Officer (DREO) Region Eight; Dr Vishal Ramjas, Region One; PS, Mr. Trevor Thomas; Region Nine REO [ag] Kerwin Ward and Dr Maurice Edwards of the Health Sector Development Unit (HSDU).
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Kaieteur News
Sunday February 26, 2017
Eating fruits and vegetables reduce lung disease risk
The health benefits of eating a range of fruits and vegetables are well documented; reams of research has already made this clear. For instance, increasing their consumption helps reduce cardiovascular risk, maintain a healthy blood pressure, and stave off cancer, to name but a few. Recently, there have been a number of studies demonstrating that consuming fruit and veg might also protect lung health. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a range of conditions characterized by a narrowing of the airways, including emphysema and bronchitis. Worldwide, COPD currently affects more than 64 million people. The major risk factor for COPD is smoking, and the World Health Organization (WHO) predict that, by 2030, it will become the third leading cause of death on a global basis. Some earlier studies have found that dietary factors might play a role in COPD. To delve into this question in more detail, a group of researchers tracked the respiratory health of more than 44,000 Swedish men. Aged 4579 at the start of the trial, the participants were followed for an average of 13.2 years, up to the end of 2012. Each participant completed a food frequency questionnaire that collated how often they ate 96 different food items in 1997, the first year of the study. Other factors were also
collected, including height, weight, education level, physical activity, and alcohol consumption. The participants were asked how many cigarettes they smoked, on average, at ages 15-21, 21-30, 31-40, 4150, and 51-60. Overall, 63 percent had smoked at one point in their life, 24 percent were current smokers, and 38.5 percent had never smoked. Occurrences of COPD were registered across the time period; there were 1,918 in total. The rate of COPD in those who ate fewer than two portions of fruits and vegetables per day was 1,166 per 100,000 people in current smokers and 506 per 100,000 in former smokers. However, for those eating five portions per day, the equivalent numbers were 546 and 255, respectively. This means that individuals eating five daily servings of fruits and vegetables had a 35 percent reduced risk of developing COPD compared with those eating two or less portions. When the reduction in risk was split into current and former smokers, the percentages were 40 percent and 34 percent, respectively. Each extra serving of fruits and vegetables was associated with a 4 percent lower risk of COPD in former smokers and an 8 percent lower risk in current smokers. Compared with individuals who had never smoked and who ate five or more portions of fruits and vegetables, current and former smokers who ate fewer than two daily portions were 13.5 times and six times more likely to develop COPD, respectively. The authors conclude: “The present findings confirm the strong impact of cigarette smoking on the development of COPD and also indicate that diet rich in fruit and vegetables may have
an important role in prevention of COPD. Nevertheless, nonsmoking and smoking cessation remain the main public health message to prevent development of COPD.” As part of the analysis, the researchers assessed which particular foodstuffs were most effective at reducing the COPD risk. They found that green leafy vegetables, peppers, apples, and pears had the strongest influence on reducing risk. However, berries, citrus fruits, bananas, root and cruciferous vegetables, tomatoes, garlic, onions, and green peas did not exert a significant effect. Because smoking increases oxidative stress and inflammation, both of which are potentially involved in COPD, the antioxidants present in fruits and vegetables might help reduce their negative impact. Although the study was conducted on a large scale, it still needs replication. An editorial, released in the same publication, written by Dr. Raphaelle Varraso and Dr. Seif Shaheen, argues that because this study is observational, no firm conclusions can be drawn regarding cause and effect; however, they write: “[I]t could be argued that there is nothing to be lost by acting now. We would argue that clinicians should consider the potential benefits of a healthy diet in promoting lung health, and advocate optimizing intake of fruits and vegetables, especially in smokers who are unable to stop smoking.” So, although more research will be needed before conclusions can be definitively drawn, quitting smoking and eating more fruits and vegetables is still the best course of action for overall health. http:// www.medicalnewstoday.com.
Sunday February 26, 2017
Kaieteur News
Beyoncé pulls out of Coachella 2017, will perform in 2018 after pregnancy Sad news, Beyoncé fans: The speculation has turned into reality—the singer, who is pregnant with twins, will not perform at Coachella this year after all. The news was announced Thursday on the the annual music festival’s official social media pages. The singer pulled out of the event under doctor’s orders. She will, however, headline the event in 2018. “Following the advice of her doctors to keep a less rigorous schedule in the coming months, Beyoncé has made the decision to forgo performing at the 2017 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival,” read a message posted on Coachella’s Facebook page. “However, Goldenvoice and Parkwood are pleased to confirm that she will be a headliner at the 2018 festival. Thank you for your understanding.” It was announced in early January that Beyoncé would perform at the 2017 event, on both weekends in April, marking the first time she would perform at Coachella. A month later, she posted a baby bump pic on Instagram, revealing that she and Jay Z were expecting twins. The two are parents to 5-year-old daughter Blue Ivy. Beyoncé has not revealed how far along she is, but looks
to be in her second trimester at least. Many fans had feared the singer would end up canceling her Coachella gig as a result of her pregnancy. A source had told E! News earlier this month that the singer planned on going ahead with her set as scheduled but that her health will come first and her participated would depend on
how she feels and the doctors’ orders at that time. Hope was restored when she performed at the 2017 Grammys two weeks ago. An alternative 2016 Coachella headliner to replace Beyoncé has not been announced. Previously announced big acts include Radiohead and Kendrick Lamar. http:// www.eonline.com.
Meryl Streep wanted to get paid to wear Chanel to the 2017 Oscars Meryl Streep is famous for creating award-winning drama on the silver screen, but that drama might be seeping into her closet. With just days until the 2017 Oscars, where the actress will be a 20th time nominee, the actress allegedly left one gown by the wayside because of money, according to Chanel creative director Karl Lagerfeld. As the designer’s version of the story goes, Streep had her eye on an embroidered gray silk gown from Lagerfeld’s most recent collection for Chanel and planned to wear it for Sunday’s ceremony. However, she asked that the dress’ neckline be higher, so the Chanel camp got to work—but not for long. “I made a sketch, and we started to make the dress,” Lagerfeld told WWD. Days later, someone from Streep’s team allegedly r a n g . “ ‘ D o n ’t c o n t i n u e t h e d r e s s . We f o u n d somebody who will pay us,’” Lagerfeld described the phone call to the magazine. While Streep has sported Lanvin gowns to the Academy Awards in recent years, Lagerfeld blamed the brand’s unwillingness to pay the star for her last-minute change. “After we gift her a dress that’s 100,000 euros [$105,000], we found later we had to pay [for her to wear it],” he told WWD. “We give them dresses, we make the dresses, but we don’t pay.” “A genius actress, but cheapness also, no?” he added to the magazine. Considering the extreme publicity the Oscar red carpet affords, it has become increasingly common for actresses to get paid to wear any element of their award look. Still, Streep’s camp denies that money was the culprit. “This is a completely untrue story,” the rep told E! News in a statement. “Ms. Streep would NEVER wear anything in exchange for payment.” http://www.eonline.com.
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Sunday February 26, 2017
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Kaieteur News
Sunday February 26, 2017
Trial to start for travel consultant charged for fraud Charged Adriana Onoja
The travel consultant who is accused of swindling a customer of over $500,000 will appear in court on Tuesday for the commencement of the trial. Adriana Onoja, 27, of Lot 290 Section A Block X Diamond, East Bank Demerara, pleaded not guilty on her first appearance before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. Between October 10 and November 1, last year, at Georgetown with intent to defraud, she obtained $630,000 from Otiko Ikechukwu, by falsely pretending that she was in the position to get him a two-way plane ticket from Lagos, Nigeria to Georgetown, Guyana, knowing same to
be false. According to information the defendant is a travel consultant at Delight Travel Service, North Georgetown. Ikechu k w u w e n t t o t h e defendant on October 10, last, to purchase a return ticket for his brother who wanted to travel to Guyana. The court heard that the victim’s brother was denied boarding a flight from Nigeria because the travel consultant did not pay for a return ticket. When the relevant authorities were contacted they were told that there were issues with Ikechukwu brother’s ticket. The travel consultant is currently out on $75,000 bail.
Sunday February 26, 2017
By Dr. Neromini Fagu Over the last few weeks we have spoken about fillings and some of the options available. This week I would like to discuss indications for a filling and the factors that will affect the cost of the procedure. Do you have to get a filling done? Well, the easiest answer is no - it is a personal choice. There is an old saying in dentistry, “You don’t have to brush all your teeth, only the ones you want to keep.” I suppose we can extrapolate this to fillings - you only need to fill those teeth that you want to keep. Your dentist can only advise you on your options but the ultimate decision is yours. Some people are quite content with keeping their teeth for as long as possible and extracting them when the time comes, without previously paying any mind on how to care for them and how to keep them. As I have discussed before, prevention is one of the keys to great oral health and while your dentist can assist you in maintaining your oral
Kaieteur News
health, a lot of work is required on your part. You are responsible for getting regular check-ups, and following through with any dental work that is needed. There are a number of indications for fillings pertaining to dental caries and existing restorations. However, you should be careful and not jump to conclusions if you experience some of these problems as they may be a consequence of other dental issues. Your dentist will do a thorough exam before making a final diagnosis. Some of the indications that you may need a filling are: Tooth discolouration: Darkened areas on a tooth may be a result of tooth decay. Depending on the depth of the decay, the tooth may be restorable or you may have to consider other treatment options. Tooth sensitivity: Sensitivity to cold and hot temperatures, pressure, or sweet things. Toothache: Sharp or throbbing pain, or pain present on biting or chewing. Visible hole:A hole, even in the absence of decay, should be filled as the hole may eventually lead to decay if it is not cleaned properly.
FILLINGS: DO YOU NEED THEM?
Half- moon appearances: This type of decay is found on front teeth. Unfortunately, the decay normally starts in between the teeth and extends to the back surfaces. By the time the decay reaches the front surfaces, treatment may be more complicated. This is why regular check-ups are important because you dentist will examine the back surfaces of your teeth for signs of problems. Lost or broken filling:Compromised fillings should be replaced. What factors determine the cost of your filling? Each dentist will have his or her own fee structure and this may depend on: Size of the cavity: Larger cavities will take longer to prepare and fill and require more material. Number of surfaces to be filled: Some cavities may extend to several surfaces of a single tooth. This is especially so for back teeth (molars) which have five surfaces. Filling material: Amalgam (silver) fillings are cheaper than composite (white) fillings. Pins and posts:Large fillings may need to be secured
STANDARDS IN FOCUS
PRACTISE CARE OF YOUR TYRES The care and use of tyres should be of paramount concern to drivers and vehicle owners to ensure safety and prolonged usage. Generally, the cost of tyres care is negligible when compared to repair or replacement costs. The level of maintenance and the manner in which tyres are used on vehicles demonstrate care or a lack of it. For many years, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) has been monitoring new and used tyres under its Standards Compliance programme to ensure that they meet the requirements of national standards. Monitoring is done by Inspectors at ports of entry and at bonds and warehouses, and involves the examination of the commodity to ensure compliance with labeling and quality requirements. However, monitoring by the Bureau is not enough to ensure safe tyres are used on our roadways. Frequent examination and care by users go a far way to guarantee that their tyres take them a long way, safely. As drivers, simple actions like checking your tyre pressure to make sure that they are properly inflated can make a real difference in how long your tyres last. Under or over-inflated tyres don’t wear evenly and won’t last as long. For example, a tyre that is constantly 20% underinflated can last 20% less in use. That means, a new tyre that could last approximately 95,000km would be worn out by 75,000 km. In addition, since the front and rear axles and the right and left side of vehicles wear down tyres differently, rotating your tyres regularly between the different positions will ensure they wear evenly and last longer. A visit to the experts is not necessary to determine the ideal requirements for optimal performance of yourtyres. Usually tyres are adequately labelled with the information needed to guide users as to their size, pressure and load requirements, which must be complied with to ensure safety and to avoid the loss of lives due to road accidents. The
following are some tips which will help in the care and use of tyres: TYRE PRESSURE a. Check the air pressure of each tyre at least fortnightly. Incorrect tyre pressure can lead to the inside of the tyre being damaged, resulting in tyre problems or even a blowout. b. Tyres must be inflated to specified pressures. The pressure inside warm tyres is naturally higher and must be reduced, and on cooling, can fall below the minimum tyre pressure. (Driving, especially at high speeds, causes heat build-up in tyres). c. Incorrect tyre pressure causes premature and uneven tyre wear. Under-inflated tyres have a higher rolling resistance, which means higher fuel consumption. TYRE DAMAGE a. If a tyre is visibly damaged (that is, it has a fracture or a cut that exposes the carcass) or has an unusual wear pattern, the tyre must be taken off and examined as quickly as possible by a tyre specialist. b. Driving over curb-stones or over potholed roads may cause internal damage to tyres, leading to failure at high speeds. c. Check tyres regularly for damage as, sharp stones, nails etc. can penetrate the tyre thread. Theseneed to be removed. Check also if there are bulges or cuts on the sidewall. d. For virtually all vehicles, rotating the tyres from one axle to the other is permitted. In certain cases, changing them crosswise/diagonally can also be advantageous. This does not apply to directional tyres.It is also advisable to have the alignment checked at 10,000 km intervals. e. Harsh acceleration, braking with locked wheels and fast steering movements shorten the service life of tyres. TYRE REPAIR a. Thread damage or cuts that extend to the breaker, belt or beyond must be repaired by the hot vulcanization process. Repairs using cold temporary repair measures, such as Continued on page 69
in place with pins or posts. Qualified dentist or nonqualified person (quack): A quack will sometimes charge less, but the resultant overall cost might be higher than going to a qualified dentist, not to mention the risks involved in being treated by someone who is not qualified. It is up to you to do your research. As with most things, if it is too good to be true, then it probably is, and also the easy way is not always the best way. Safeguard yourself and your health - go to a qualified dentist. Dental insurance: If you are fortunate to have private insurance or work for a com-
pany that provides dental insurance then your out-ofpocket expense will be less. Find out the details of your coverage from your insurance provider. How will my dentist know that I need a filling? Your dentist will ask you questions and do a check-up. Any suspicious areas may be lightly probed to determine if it is something to be acted upon or simply monitored until your next recall appointment. Your dentist may confirm a diagnosis for a filling with a dental x-ray. If your dentist recommends a filling for a tooth you should not wait too long to act as the decaying process will continue
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Dr. Neromini Fagu and by the time you are ready to do the procedure it may become more costly or too late to save the tooth. For more information contact OMNI DENTAL at 295 Quamina Street, Georgetown Tel: 227-0025, Parika Tel: 260-3133 or send emails to nerominifagu@hotmail.com.
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VEHICLE FOR SALE Allion, Premio, Blue Bird, IST, Honda CRV, Toyota Spacio, Fielder Wagon, 212 Carina, RZ & Pitbull bus – Call: 650-7501
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, C a n a da & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Repairs at low cost: Fridges, air- conditioners, washing machines, TVs, microwaves, freezers- Call:6294946 or 225-4822 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezer-Call: 610-5846 or 661-8158 Trade in your old empty printer ink cartridges for a new full one and pay HP $1,500, Canon $2,000- Call: 690-3883 Building Contractor Estimates, house plan to be drawn give us a call: 216-0671/ 692-8464/622-0267 Brian Moe @ 642-3543: Computer Technician, FB: Brian.Moe.165; Home and office visits at your comfort!!
PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461 6 Bedrooms property at Onderdeeming, West Bank Demerara - $25M. Call: 6567590/663-3602 Property @ 87E, Albert Street, Alberttown, front lot, size 80X20 prices $35Million. Call: 669-8701 House for sale & removal at Campbellville 23ftX40ftContact Ganesh: 614-6202 10 Minutes away from Georgetown, you can own your own home, now in construction, 3 bedrooms, 2 bath, concrete house. Call: 675-1510 Property @ 3rd Street Montrose, East Coast Demerara: Two story property with business on the lower flat. Call: 677-1310 Melani 2 bedrooms - $10M, Mon Repos -$30M; Mon Repos -$12M. Call:688-0087 Tuschen 5,8,6,2 bedrooms; Hope- 2 bedrooms $7.8M, Hogg Island 20 acres $8M Call: 688-0087 Riviera Island: 145 Acres $30M, Tuschen property $5.8M, $6M, $15M. Call: 6880087 Goat Creek, Riverfront , 75 Acres land -$7M, Lanaballi River Front, 50 Acres -$9M. Call: 688-0087 Property @ 715, 16th Street Diamond E.B.D. Call: 6909550
CAR RENTAL WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP REATES,SPECIAL OFFER FOR THE SEASON. CALL: 690-6494 PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 677-7827, 6435122, EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MIN BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPOTR & FAMILY OUTING, CHEAPESTRATE . Call: 698-7807
Sunday Feburary 26, 2017
Kaieteur News
10 Minutes away from Georgetown, you can own your own home, now in construction, 3 bedrooms, 2 bath, concrete house. Call: 6751510 Property @ lot 11 Middleton street, Campbellville, Georgetown- Please contact owner Tel:301-593-2429, 240605-8877
TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)
1-Leyland DAF GRR Series; excellent condition. Call: 6804101 Nissan Pathfinder Jeep; Toyota Vigo pick-up. Call: 609-7766 One Tundra for sale -$1.2M – Call: 682-8236 Mitsubishi Canter Truck, GMM high off the ground, ready to work, needs new home, negotiable. Call: 671-9042 One new model 212 series; HC - $1.050M negotiable. Call: 264-2954/ 664-1759 2005 Toyota Hiace (pit-bull bus) excellent working condition, owner leaving country -$2.5M negotiable. Call: 653-3187
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.
Brains Construction & Rental Service: we rent all types of equipment, excavator, bobcat, trucks, tools. Call: 2190904/601-5024 Lot 14 Croal & Longden Street: 4 Storey building (infront Demico). Call: 663-1876
Three new industrial singer sewing machines. Call: 6616076/ 689-5743
Prime business place on Sheriff Street to rent only for offices. Call: 627-6740 or 227-8644 Property for rent; 3 bedrooms top and bottom flat house on W.C.D, Canal No #2 Polder -$35,000 monthly. Call: 613-1860 Bottom flat house @ 25 North Road & Oronoque Street, fully furnished/ air condition/ residence /business. Preferably with no children. Call: 226-7012 Upper flat for rent 3 bedrooms in Atlantic Gardens- Call: 2274377/227-0613/624-6013
LAND FOR SALE Land @ Soesdyke, 6 lots measuring 135’X175’. Call: 627-3334/696-8935, email:fcranmore@guyana voice.com Transported corner lot with approved building plan @ 90 Garnett & Republic Streets, Newtown Kitty. Call: 6016000/227-3305
One bedroom in Eccles (7 minutes drive to town) $30,000 – Call: 610-4081 or 629-1805
Grease rags, any amount $200 lbs, white spandex cloths 60’’ width, thousand of yards contact Lall’s Garment Enterprise Tel:266-2700,6819130
7840 Ford Tractor, Rome plough chipper, NZE Corolla, complete music set- Call:2282551, 613-3175
33 Acres of land for agricultural purpose at Kuru Kururu. Call: 619-0673
LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj Building- Call: 644-5166; 6222872; 615-0964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).
Clean Garden Earth, builders waste, delivery to spots, also excavating, grading and levelling done. Call: 616-0617 or 663-3285
2 Bedrooms house for rent with A/C and pressure pump system at lot 33 Somerset Court Herstelling, E.B.D – Call: 661-4849
1 Flat house for rent, fully tiled with parking space @ La Parfaite Harmonie, W.B.D – Call: 615-4916
East ½ 84 David Street, back lot for sale- Contact: 84davidstreet@gmail.com
Almost New! EB6500 Honda Generator, construction series, only 16hours. Call: 261-2988/ 682-5241
1 14 feet Aluminum Boat, 1 15 HP Yamaha Outboard Engine (Short Foot), 1 Cummings-10 KVA Generator Call: 664-5807
Space 70ftX22ft for rent suitable for storage or office space. Call: 673-7541/ 226-5396
Land at Tuschen Housing Scheme, near school, 3 minutes away from main road. Call: 261-2988
Brand new heavy duty electric treadmill - $97,000 and slightly damage treadmill $70,000- Call: 673-9283
Three bedrooms upper flat at ‘BB’ 296 Eccles Housing Scheme. Call: 233-2306
Uitvlugt New Scheme (100ftX50ft) with Reserve $3M, La Parfaite Harmonie $1.3M-Call: 233-3006/ 6585897/ 651-1969
5 Acres coconut and other fruit bearing, no chemical, lease or sale – Demerara River across Timehri docks. Call: 261-2988
One complete sawmill situated at Yarrowkabra Industrial Site Soesdyke/ Linden Highway. Call: 6441190/ 609-8041
1- One bedroom A/C apartment @Ogle E.C.D $35,000. Call: 628-8667 Building for rent (75ftX24ft); convenient parking space (50ft), location- Parika. Contact Ramo: 660-1248 Executive 2 Bedroom Apartment in exclusive residential area close to Ogle Airport with all modern amenities. Tele: 622-5725.
EDUCATIONAL I.A.E Classes for CSEC June 2017: Mathematics, English A, Business & Science Subject for Students, Adults & repeaters. Call: 683-5742
WANTED One driver/porter from Diamond, Grove area. Call: 2161043, 677-6620 Live in or live out babysitter/ domestic. Call: 223-7500 Monday-Saturday 8:15-4:15 Body work man- Call: 6603004 1 House to buy in La Parfaite Harmony/ West Coast Demerara $4-6M with legitimate papers. No agents! Tel: 628-4854, 628-4879 Experienced salesgirl @ Christine’s Variety Store, Lambard Street. Call: 2278529 Experienced Boat Captain to work in Bahamas; experience mechanical background; general maintenance. Email:lightbourneseafoodGB@ outlook.com/ Call: 1-242-6464989 General Domestic to work 2 days per week. Call 638 6891. Arc/Acetylene welder / fabricator; live in couple, driving and mechanical experience is an asset. Call: 227-1830 Experienced bar/shop worker & handyman for interior, must have ID, Age 18-40 years Call 231-0363 between 9am-4:30pm. Domestic help in Kitty, must have ID, NIS, TIN, Age 1840 years Call 231-0363 between 9am-4:30pm
TO LET
SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 647-1773/6605257 Register Now! Cosmetology, Nails & Wig designs courses, classes commence February 20th 2017. Call: 618-2417 EARN A CERTIFICATE IN CERTIFICATE IN COSMETOLOGY AT ARTEE’S BEAUTY SALON (W.C.D) - $75,000 & WATCH REPAIRING SERVICES .CALL: 2750267/ 680-0156
Two- one bedroom selfcontained apartments, situated at Public Road Timehri, E.B.D – 3 minutes from the airport. Call: 664-6000 One and two bedroom furnished apartment. Call: 231-4432/ 681-4275 Lodge (Vlissengen/ Durban): Professional/ Office/Business (no food retailing) space. Call: 6687687/ 677-9638/697-6421 Lodge apartments (Vlisssengen/Durban): furnished (visitors) USD$600-$1,000 monthly, unfurnished 1 bedroom $55,000, studio -$40,000 monthly- Call:668-7687/ 6779638/697-6421 1-2 Bedrooms, spacious semi-furnished home at La Parfaite Harmonie. Call: 6806137/ 628-3889 Apartment, Great Diamond EBD Contact Thandeka 6030067, Ronique 643-9286 Continued on page 69
Sunday February 26, 2017
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Kaieteur News
CONSUMER CONCERNS
Children’s success in life depends on parents’ guidance and help PAT DIAL Many parents from time to time have spoken with the members of the Committee of the Guyana Consumers Association expressing their worry at the future of their young children. Their complaints concern such matters as the poor showing of their children at school, the lack of interest of their children in religion and ethics, their unconcern about money and the economic aspects of life and their lack of ambition to qualify in or even choose a profession. All these matters could be successfully dealt with by parents showing and exercising greater parental control and guidance over their children, by specifically encouraging them to be associated with their mandirs (temples), masjids and churches and also taking measures to economically socialize them. In this article we shall mention a number of actions parents could take to avoid their children turning out to be delinquents or flaneurs: Parents must take a deeper interest in the lives of their children and show love and understanding of them so that children could communicate freely with them. They should not leave it all to teachers or peers. In their school studies children should be encouraged and helped and praise and acknowledgement should be given anytime they do well. If they do badly, they should not be criticized but help and encouragement should be proffered to them. Parents should never forget that children are highly sensitive and suffer in silence and an insult or hurtful word would oftentimes live with them for the rest of their lives. In their school work, parents must see to it that their children read and study their text-books and complete their assignments on time. Wide reading is a necessity for any educational advancement and the younger the child starts the greater will be his chances of success. Greater use should be made of the public library facilities and if there is a school library, the child should be encouraged to use it. There are books written for young people and these
should be first read. Such would be, for example, Grimm’s and Anderson’s and other fairy tales, Greek and Indian mythologies or the Potter books. Later they would be introduced to the classics. In this effort, TV addiction should be discouraged and in particular computer games; the TV educational programes should however be introduced. Mathematics tends to be the weak subject with a large percentage of children. This is so not because of any innate ineptitude of the child but simply because the subject was not properly taught and the child was not given the necessary foundation. Arithmetic is the best foundation and most parents could assist their children in this. Such assistance could be ensuring children learn the tables, the four rules and doing some problems. In the last generation, children in the villages and the city, with the encouragement of their parents and teachers, always aspired to some profession they would like to enter whether it would be a trade such as mechanics, carpentry, tailoring or even less popular ones like taxidermy or even air-traffic control officers. Others would think of Law, Medicine or Engineering. Those who came from business backgrounds inevitably went into business. The overwhelming majority of the professional classes, even the “learned professions” came from very humble backgrounds. Albouystown, for example, produced a fair share of the lawyers, doctors and engineers. Parents and teachers must again play this constructive role of helping children to choose professions and this would certainly eliminate the aimlessness which affects so large a proportion of the adolescent population. Religion was a great stabilizing force in the Society. In the villages established by African freedmen and Indian indentured servants, religion bound the community together and gave a great deal of moral strength and fortitude to them. There was very little crime and people were able to achieve what they had set out to do, overcoming
whatever adversities may afflict them. The belief in God provided a guiding force and resulted in much mental and spiritual strength. In the last 20 or 30 years people have moved away from religion and as such have subtracted a valuable segment from their lives. Parents should take their children, or at least insist that they attend their mandirs (temples), masjids and churches. They should insist that their children participate in the religious ceremonies asking the pandits, moulvis and pastors to explain the rational bases of such ceremonial. They should be encouraged to have reverence for all religions for by so doing, their reverence for their own would be firmer. If parents bring up their children to be God-fearing, they would be giving them a gift for their future success and happiness. Knowledge of money and the earning and accumulating of it is one of the most useful skills to have in successfully navigating through life. If
children are socialized in this skill from the earliest ages, parents would be bequeathing an invaluable gift to their children. Parents should involve their children in all domestic chores since such skills, once learnt, would always be useful in life and would also save money. Many a student studying abroad, for example, thank their parents that they were taught those survival skills. Children should be taught to use various goods such as clothes and equipment to their full life-span since if they do this, they would in effect be earning. If one has a cursory look at the rubbish dumps of Georgetown, one would see quantities of usable shoes, clothes, electrical equipment and even books thrown away. In past generations, this was never the case. This culture of using purchases to their full life-span must be resuscitated since it would be a money earner and eventually improve standard of living. Children should be taught to save: Give them a small tin
or bottle and have them deposit in it a few cents from their allowance every day. At the end of the year they would be surprised how much money they have when they open the tin. This would be the first step in saving. Take them shopping and let them look for the best price and quality for any item to be purchased. If this is done with some frequency, they would learn the value of money. And lastly, if a child wishes to buy a particular high-priced item, parents should resist the temptation of buying it but tell him or her that there is not enough money, but it could be bought if money is saved to buy it. Let the child begin to save, probably increasing his allowance for him/her to be able to raise the money quicker and after a period the item could be bought. The child would have learnt two lessons - one has to live within one’s means and savings are made by sacrificing the gratification of to-day for the greater benefit in the future.
From page 68
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Attendants.
Experienced bartenders and cleaners. Call: 225-8572 between 7am-9am One experienced computer legal clerk. Call: 624-7087/ 2580213/ email:husainsaphier@ yahoo.com 1 Fashion Designer, 1 Factory experienced surger (cover edge person) & 1 floor girl. Call: 696-4397/ 622-4386/2278538
PRACTISE CARE OF YOUR TYRES From page 67 plugging, are used as emergency means to take you home and should be rectified immediately without any delay. Proper care and use will extend the life of tyres and reduce the incidence of accidents due to tyre damage or “blowout”, so drivers are urged to monitor and properly use their tyres to ensure safety on the road. For further information, kindly contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 219-0065, 219-0066 or 219-0069 or visit the website: www.gnbsgy.org.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday February 26, 2017
GPHC has a nursing deficiency of more than 300
Although an authorised total of 1,026 nurses is required to cater to the patient care needs at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), the facility is deficient of as many as 300 of these health care
professionals. This state of affairs was uncovered following an investigation conducted at the GPHC by a Committee of Inquiry that was tasked with probing allegations levelled against the hospital’s Director
of Nursing Services. The inquiry was conducted during the latter part of last year. The Committee in its report outlined that while “the authorised staffing of the nursing services is 1,026,
actual staffing at the time of the inquiry was 726, giving a vacancy rate of 29.23 per cent.” Moreover, the Committee has described the situation at the GPHC as a “severe shortage of nurses”.
Part of the investigation was intended to ascertain whether the Director of Nursing Services, during the period September 15, 2015 and July 20, 2016, transferred nurses without due regard to the best interest of the
institution and the provision of health care, and whether the transfers affected the quality of medical care at the hospital. It was therefore the task of the Committee to ascertain whether the (continued on page 72)
Sunday February 26, 2017
Kaieteur News
Auditors erroneously target Courtney Benn Construction Services, Guyconstruct
East Coast Demerara highway under construction The auditors may not have been thorough or even fair in their reporting on issues they were hired to investigate. This is the view shared by construction magnate, Courtney Benn of Courtney Benn Constructing Services Limited. He said that the auditors have accused him of being overpaid and of walking away from the two contracts he had for the East Coast Demerara highway e x p a n s i o n p r o j e c t . M r. Benn was awarded two lots along the East Coast Demerara highway expansion project. The contract for one lot was $349 million. The other contract went to Guyconstruct, another company managed by Mr. Benn, for $322 million. The project involved widening the roadway, constructing drains and bridges and refashioning the embankments. There was also the ne e d t o r e m o v e u t i l i t y structures such as tele-
graph poles and electricity poles. For contracts, the executing agency is paid a mobilization fee upon procuring a performance bond. This mobilisation fee was set at 35 per cent given the cost of removing and replacing the utility struct u r e s . Wo r k s M i n i s t e r Robeson Benn and Head of t h e Wo r k s D i v i s i o n , Geoffrey Vaughn, found that this cost was too high. However, the mobilization fee was already paid. Mr. Benn said that on review, the Works Ministry unilaterally slashed the contract awarded to Courtney Benn Construction company and the other awarded to Guyconstruct by $100 million each. With the final contract cost now lower, the question of overpayment was bound to arise. But the companies executed all that was required under the original contract. The utilities were not re-
moved. He said that the auditors were wrong to contend that the contracts were terminated. “In fact, they were executed to completion. The roadway was widened, the drains were fashioned and sheet pilings were erected to prevent slippage into the drains.” On the issue of the overpayment, Mr. Benn said that he has already started to repay the excess money he collected. He said that had the auditors contacted him or even the parties involved in the projects awarded by the Works Ministry they would not have arrived at the conclusion they did about the companies. “And sadly, there would not be any apology or retraction. The wider society will conclude that Courtney Benn walked off the project without completing what he was paid to execute.”
Barbados denies social media rumours that boy contracted HIV from pineapple BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — Barbados health authorities have dismissed as untrue a report on social media that a 10-year-old boy was infected with the HIV virus after eating pineapple purchased from a vendor who was himself infected. The report on the WhatsApp platform alleges that the vendor had a cut on his finger and blood was transferred to the fruit while he was cutting it. The child became sick immediately after ingesting the fruit. Senior Medical Officer, Dr Anton Best, in a statement said “it is virtually impossible for the blood of an infected person to contaminate food and place someone at risk for HIV. It is highly unlikely for HIV to be transmitted via ingestion of any food item”. He condemned the story as one “without factual basis,” adding “it is laden with misunderstandings about how HIV may be
acquired, and how the health system in Barbados works.” Best explained that when people were newly infected with HIV they did not get sick immediately as was described in the story. “Many people may experience a flulike illness two to three weeks after infection, thus making the story even more preposterous. “The Barbad o s h e a l t h c a r e s y s t e m prides itself on confidentiality of medical information of patients. Thus, it is highly unlikely that such detailed patient information would be divulged from a credible source,” he added. The senior medical officer urged Barbadians to educate themselves about HIV and STIs – how they could be contracted; how to protect themselves from becoming infected; and the treatment services available if diagnosed.
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Sunday February 26, 2017
Kaieteur News
Vacancies exist at Court of Appeal with retirement of appellate judges
The Court of Appeal, Kingston Georgetown With Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh, and Justice of Appeal, B.S Roy entering retirement, there will be openings for judges to manage the affairs of the Court of Appeal. At present Chancellor (acting) Carl Singh who was due to retire on Friday, has been granted a brief extension of time in office. The Chief Justice (ag) is Yonnette Cummings-Edwards. She has not been confirmed since being sworn in by the Coalition Government in December 2015. But, the Chief Justice is the most senior judge in the High Court According to the Court of Appeal Act, the Appellate Court has been conferred with the jurisdiction to hear and determine appeals from the High Court and matter connected therewith. Simply put, the Appellate Court (Court of Appeal) is the only Court in the land with the power to overturn or uphold a decision made in the Magistrates’ Court and the High Court. The critical aspect of the judicial arm of governance was established to function with a
complement of five judges. But for the past few years, the highest court in the land has been under the management of the three judges; the Chancellor, Justice B.S Roy and Chief Justice Yonette Cummings –Edwards. Justice Cumming-Edwards who currently sits in the High Court, will likely be the only Appellate Judge left to function. Indeed, the Appellate Court has the power to recruit Puisne Judges to sit. The appointment of Judges is based on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). But the President is responsible for the approving the recommendations of the JSC. The issue of vacancies at the Court of Appeal was raised with the Government since last year. Attorney- at-law and Opposition member, Anil Nandlall, has commented extensively on the issue. Efforts made to contact Attorney General, Basil Williams on the matter has proven futile. Nandlall nonetheless told this newspaper that the JSC recommendations were made to the
President since May 2016. “But the President has either willfully or by neglect failed to act on these recommendations,” Nandlall asserted. He contended that any person seeking relief through the Appeal Court will not be able to do so, a blatant dishonesty. Puisne judges, among them Justice Diana Insanally, have sat on the Appellate bench Last month, the Supreme Court of Judicature had published a vacancy notice for the positions of Chancellor and Chief Justice in Kaieteur News. According to the vacancy notice, under the constitution, both positions have to be appointed by the President, after obtaining an agreement from the Leader of the Opposition. But the Opposition Leader and the President have not been able to agree on the nominees for more than a decade. It is unlikely that this will change any time soon. A panel has been set up to seek replacements for the Chancellor, the Chief Justice and other judicial appointments.
GPHC has a nursing deficiency of more than... From page 70 promotion of nurses was based on merit. But compounding the already existing nursing shortage is a situation whereby the majority of the senior nurses that were trained and placed in strategic departments at the GPHC were being removed and replaced by less qualified personnel. According to the report of the inquiry, “Shifts are now filled with inexperienced nurses who are having a difficult time managing the overwhelming situation at the Accident and Emergency department...These nurses are often left unsupervised,” the Committee concluded based on its findings. According to a petition that stressed the importance of skilled nursing, which was brought to the attention of the Committee, “nursing practice varies throughout various clinical specialities and subspecialities. It requires nurses who have specialised knowledge and competences...
clearly adequate and appropriate experience, proficiency, efficiency and confidence cannot be expected when nurses are routinely rotated in and out of various departments.” It continued, “The cost benefit of specialised nursing care is many and include reduced waiting times, reduced hospitalisation stays, reduced patient treatment dropouts, improved innovation and reduced morbidity and mortality, among others.” Also brought to the attention of the Committee was that “Routine insertion of novice nurses into clinical care teams is a recipe for disaster. Nurses should be allowed to follow theirpassion for a particular area of nursing thereby encouraging their commitment and dedication.” There are reports emanating from the hospital that the Director of Nursing Services, ahead of being sent on administrative leave early last year to permit an investigation, had promoted a number of individuals within the
hospital’s nursing services to supervisory positions. The outcome, this publication was informed was that “the general nursing staff has been unfairly treated…They are moved, demoted, and are now totally demoralised.” “No one in administration seems capable of improving things and patients continue to suffer and die because of the existing incompetence,” an official close to the institution told this publication. It was revealed that the situation has the potential to become disastrous for the country’s premier hospital. It is the firm belief of an official close to the operation of the hospital that “some of the people who were promoted by the Director of Nursing Services have run the nursing services into the ground.” It is the expectation of Junior Minister of Public Health, Dr Karen Cummings, that with the continued training of nurses the nursing deficiency could soon be addressed.
Sunday February 26, 2017
Kaieteur News
Iraqi forces push deeper into western Mosul as civilians flee
World Bank pledges $60 million to help fill Gambia’s empty coffers Reuters - The World Bank’s Vice President for Africa, Makhtar Diop, said yesterday he had agreed to give Gambia $60 million in budget support after government allegations that former ruler Yahya Jammeh took tens of millions of dollars in public money, leaving it heavily indebted. Diop told reporters after meeting with the new government that he had pledged to give $40 million before June with the remainder to follow later. Jammeh fled into exile last month after regional leaders convinced him after marathon talks that he should accept defeat in a December election. Since then Gambia’s new pro-Western gov-
Rapid Response forces members cross farm land during a battle with islamic state’s militants south west Mosul, Iraq. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra Reuters - U.S.-backed Iraqi forces pushed deeper into western Mosul yesterday, advancing in several populated southern districts after punching through the defences of Islamic State’s last major urban stronghold in Iraq a day earlier. About 1,000 civilians walked across the frontlines, the largest movement since the new offensive launched last week to deal the ultrahardline Sunni Muslim group a decisive blow. In the capital Baghdad, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir met Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in the first such visit in more than a decade between Sunni Muslim-ruled Saudi Arabia and Shi’ite-led Iraq. The new push in Mosul comes after government forces finished clearing Is-
lamic State from the east of the city last month, confining the insurgents to the western sector across the Tigris river. Commanders expect the battle there to be more difficult, in part because tanks and armoured vehicles cannot pass through the narrow alleyways that crisscross ancient districts. But Iraqi forces have so far made quick advances on multiple fronts, capturing the northern city’s airport on Thursday, which they plan to use as a support zone, and breaching a three-metre high berm and trench set up by Islamic State. The advancing forces are less than three kilometres (two miles) from the mosque where Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared a caliphate spanning Iraq and Syria in 2014, spark-
ing an international military campaign to defeat the group. Losing Mosul would likely deal a hammer blow to the militants’ dream of statehood, but they still control territory in Syria and patches of northern and western Iraq from where they could fight a guerrilla-style insurgency in Iraq, and plot attacks on the West. Federal police and an elite Interior Ministry unit known as Rapid Response have recaptured Hawi al-Josaq along the river and begun clearing the Tayyaran district north of the airport, said Brigadier General Hisham Abdul Kadhim. Islamic State resisted with snipers and roadside bombs, he said. A Reuters correspondent saw two militants’ corpses outside a mosque in Josaq.
Small miners ‘syndicate’ flexes muscles... From page 12 regulations. “As is known, many miners operate in isolation and as such were vulnerable to their own encounters. However, with the syndicate system this would be a thing of the past.” The Mining Syndicate assured that it is a structured, organized group of competent and experienced persons, which will be managed by a board, to ensure fairness and compliance in every regard to the laws and proper mining practice relative to Guyana. “Small miners who suffered over the years can now regain hope and assurance that there is indeed a silver lining behind every dark cloud.” The syndicate said that it will advocate with boldness to bring an end to abuse and exploitation of small miners by local “mining monarchs”, bring ownership and renewed hope for small miners with proper
representation and equality for all levels of mining. “Finally we wish to state that there are many benefits of a compliant mining industry, both micro and macro levels. From a small miner’s perspective, Guyana stands to benefit from taxes remitted from mining which in turn can be used to develop hinterland infrastructure.” The absence of proper infrastructure can be a burden and many times incur high cost on miners and an opportunity for transport service providers’ exploitation of small miners, the syndicate noted. “This era marks the end to many atrocities endured by small miners, including the end mark for groups who deceived the public into believing it represented the interest of all miners. “We also wish to clearly state that a compliant mining industry will see benefits for
all miners, which includes the many concessions from the government that were withheld from small miners.”
PAGE 73
ernment has alleged that Jammeh committed fraud on a massive scale including siphoning off tens of millions of dollars in public money into various bank accounts not in his name but from which he withdrew cash, including at the central bank. “All parastatals, especially the National Water and Electricity Company, GAMTEL (telecommunications) and Gambia Public Transport, are bankrupt and the government coffers are empty,” said finance minister Amadou Sanneh, who was one of more than 100 political prisoners pardoned at the end of Jammeh’s rule. “We need real help from donors to sustain the country,” he added.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday February 26, 2017
Sunday February 26, 2017
Kaieteur News
Natura Milk lends support to proposed... (From page 79) believes that hard work certainly yields benefits. “We will continue to give back irrespective of the size as we remain steadfast and confident that sports is critically important for national development of any country,” she argued. She added, “If youths are not given opportunities to showcase their talent and abilities then development would be stagnated while reducing options thus resulting in many youths turning to crime as an alternative. We cannot afford this and thus is why we readily jumped on board to help NPSCA in its drive to enhance and develop its sporting plans for the region,” she declared.
The o f f i c e m a n a g e r noted that they also provided several packets of the Natura Milk Powder for distribution in the region. She said the milk, which originates from New Zealand and is very high class. “We have been giving out some o f t h e m i l k t o b e used as samples as we want the general public to be aware of the benefits of using this milk,” she said. Meanwhile, representative of the North Pakarimas Sports and Culture Association Samuel Thornton expressed sincere thanks to Natura and Dabi’s Variety Store for his gesture. He noted that the support given will further enhance their efforts in entrusting
the holistic sporting development for the region into the hands of a qualified and competent consultant. “We have identified a consultant who we are having discussion with before announcing their name. This support will help us in garnering the required resources that we need to ensure that we can cover the associated cost and put the relevant things in place as we are determined to have our own Football Association accredited by GFF like everyone else,” Thornton declared. He gave the assurance that the monies would be utilized properly while expressing an invitation to other companies and individuals to follow suit in supporting them.
Sunday February 26, 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Taking on too much won't help the situation. Children may be difficult to deal with. Don't get involved in uncertain financial ventures. A change in position could be better than you thought. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Your lover may feel rejected. Romantic encounters will be full of excitement. Love could develop at social events that are work related. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Promote your ideas now. You will be entertained and intrigued by the logic foreigners possess. Opportunities for love will develop while traveling or while attending religious functions. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Be sure to double-check the house on your way out. You may need a physical outlet that will help you relieve your tension. Try to enlist the support of your coworkers first. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Take part in stimulating debates that will allow you to show off your intelligence. Avoid any petty ego confrontations; they could lead to estrangement if you aren't careful. Difficulties with females you live with could cause emotional stress. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Take care of the needs or responsibilities of elders. Education may be the answer. Travel could bring
you the adventure and excitement you require. LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Your nerves are frazzled. Unexpected bills will be impossible for you to pay. You are best to be discreet. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Avoid friends or acquaintances who drink too much. You should be trying to clear up legal contracts that have been pending. Put your energy into moneymaking ventures. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Get involved in activities that will be fun for the whole family. Bring work home if it will help you get caught up. Do your own thing without drawing attention to it. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Don't gamble unless you can afford to lose. You can make career moves that will bring you a much higher income. You should consider getting your whole family involved in a project at home. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Problems with females you live or work with will try your patience and cause temper flare ups. Involvement in groups of interest will bring you in touch with important individuals. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Put in some extra hours and finish those careful jobs before you move on to some fun and games. Sort situations out as best you can. Watch your spending habits. Don't trust a deal that looks too good, or a lover who appears to have it all.
PAGE 75
All set for BVA beach volleyball competition today All is set for the Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA) one day beach volleyball competition today at the popular No.63 beach. The competition has so far attracted over 40 teams with all of the top clubs, both east and West Berbice, slated to take part. Teams are expected from
as far as Orealla/Sipartua up the Corentyne River to, Upper, Central and Lower Corentyne, New Amsterdam/ Canje and West Berbice. The day’s action is expected to see play in the senior males, females and junior males category. The top teams in each category along with outstanding
individual players will be presented with incentives included cash, trophies and other memorabilia. Over 30 pairs are expected and the first ball is expected to be served at 09:00 hrs. The Coordinator is BVA president Levi Nedd. (Samuel Whyte)
Mayor, Regional Chairman elated... (From page 75) Bartica for sports and between 1-5 miles there is need for such a facility as we need a playfield in that area and we have identified it.” Marshall said that with the required facilities he is confident that sportsmen and women from what he described as ‘Guyana’s best town’ will excel further in the various sporting disciplines. “The major project as it relates to sports is the Bartica Community Centre ground. The ground that we refer to as the Scheme Field,” he noted. He added that plans are afoot as they continue working closely with the Ministry on ensuring that lights are adequately placed in the ground thus being able to use it both in the day and night. “We want to work with the ministry to put lights in place on that ground and develop it into a certain standard,” he declared. Meanwhile, Regional Chairman Gordon Bradford said that the news is timely and well needed, noting that it’s been a number of years now that the RDC has indicated the urgency of having such a project addressed. He expressed gratitude to the Ministry and the National Sports Commission, stating
that he is happy that Mr. Jones has sought to address it rather than just talk. “This is a well needed project and I want to thank both the Ministry and the National Sports Commission as we here in Bartica and its environs will certainly see continued progress as itrelates to sports development,” he stressed. The regional chairman gave the assurance that whatever investment that is made in the people of Bartica will resound into great and long term benefits for all. He said that he is proud by the level
of enthusiasm that the people of Bartica and Region 7 as a whole has towards sports, declaring that sports is a passion for many and with such facilities being constructed will result in increased passion and most importantly determination to excel. “We as a community are passionate about anything that we are involved in, therefore, with such facilities being given, the people of Region 7 can only result in one thing and that is continued success at whatever sporting discipline that we are involved in,” he said.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday February 26, 2017
Phillips, McKoy, Caesar, Headecker impressive at AAG National Youth and Junior Championships By Edison Jefford Kenisha Phillips, Claudrice McKoy, Compton Caesar, Anfernee Headecker and Daniel Williams were equally impressive in their respective events yesterday when the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) hosted day one of its
National Youth and Junior Championships at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora. The prodigious Phillips was made to work extra hard in the last 40 metre of the Girls’ Under-18 100m race owed to a rocket-like start from Onasha Rogers that pushed her ahead of the field for most of the race until Phillips’s bottom-end power overhauled Rogers. The 15-year-old Phillips won in 12.00 seconds with Rogers second in 12.11s and Cassie Small third in 12.30s. The Under-18 girls’ race was much faster than the U-20 contest. Toyan Raymon won the Under-20 event in 12.50s ahead of Alissa Grant (12.89s) and Tonya Rawlins (13.04s) respectively. Mark Solomon won the Under-18 Boys’ 100m in 11.30s from Jermaine King and Loneil Marks, who ran 11.33s and 11.36s for second and third respectively. Compton Caesar separated his class in the Under-20 race with a comfortable victory in the end. Caesar, a double C o m m o n w e a l t h Yo u t h finalist, overcame a loaded field that also included rival, Tyrell Peters with a 10.49 seconds performance. Peters ran 10.69s while Ryan Bramble was third with 10.88 seconds. Claudrice McKoy clearly came with a plan to race against the clock in the Under-18 Girls 1500m when she established a lead from the first whistle and improved her pace throughout with a much improved technique that is giving her appropriate results. McKoy pumped her arms to perfection and used her stride to trounce a good field of female middle distance athletes in 4:48.79s. Joanna Archer was second in 5:06.91 while Shaquka Tyrell (5:13.95) was third. McKoy’s time was even better than the Under-20
girls’ race, which, through Kezra Murray, had posted a time of 5:07.51. Delicia Tinnis (6:01.50) was second. The two U-20 girls were placed in the same race with the U-18 girls. Anfernee Headecker also maintained a proper technique in the Under-20 Boys’ 1500m to win in 4:08.14. Headecker was smooth throughout and looked unhindered even with a minor challenge from Mathew McKenzie, who was second in 4:09.63; the two athletes separated themselves from the field with Okemi Porter (4:20.64) finishing a distant third. Dave Torrington won the U-18 race in 4:26.00 with Murphy Nash (4:26.39) second and Ronaldo Wishart (4:26.50) third. The 1500 metre was the only middledistance race that was held on day one of the two-day competition that continues today. Daniel Williams, a CARIFTA Games standout, who would have had a silver medal if he had not stepped on the line of the lane, cruised to victory in the 400m Under-18 race in 50.05 seconds, as Gladwin Humphrey (50.64s) and Brian Roman (50.84s) was second and third. Williams, perhaps the country’s most naturally talented athlete who is a South American Youth silver medallist, raced to the win after clearing a height of 1.88m to win the U-18 High Jump. It is likely that Williams will compete in the 200m race today. Laurindo Prince won the U-20 Boys’ 400m in 50.54 secs with Devas Samall (50.96s) and Nigel Gonsalves (51.09) second and third respectively. Williams’ time was faster than his more senior counterparts. Deshana Skeete ran 1:00.07 to win the Under-18 Girls quarter mile ahead of
Daniel Williams
Kenisha Phillips
Compton Caesar Ta n d i k a H a y n e s a n d Jasmine Assanah, who posted 1:01.08 and 1:02.57 for second and third in that order. Meanwhile, Collia Rowe won the U-20 race in 58.55 seconds with Latoya Perriera (1:06.71) second; the race was yet another with just two competitors.
Anfernee Headecker leads Mathew McKenzie around the final bend in the Boys’ U-20 1500m yesterday.
Sunday February 26, 2017
Kaieteur News
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CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship
Costa Rica halt Guyana’s winning streak with 5-2 win; Turks & Caicos Is. achieve first win Photos and story by Franklin Wilson in the Bahamas with the compliments of Ringbang, Crown Mining Supplies, Fazia’s Collection, Fitness E x p r e s s , G e r m a n ’s Restaurant and Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club. The two-match winning streak of Guyana’s golden Jaguars of the beach was halted by the experienced Costa Rica who romped to a 5-2 win as the playoffs for seeding among the bottom eight teams of the 16 team CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship continued yesterday at the BFA Soccer Stadium at Malcolm Park here in Nassau, Bahamas. Contesting the 9th place Playoff match, Costa Rica drew first blood when goalkeeper Niels Fallas Beita scored against his counterpart from Guyana
Ethan Sparman in just the 3rd minute. Guyana started on the defensive against a side which ended the group stages as the best third place team just ahead of Guyana in second, losing two matches the same as Guyana but ended with a +3 goal difference to Guyana’s -3. As the opening quarter progressed and the Guyanese got warmed to the task they played more cohesive and ran the Costa Ricans down but were not able to score, the lone goal standing when the whistle went to end the quarter. Costa Rica started the second quarter on the attack and on 14 minutes, a shot by Deyber Villegas Guerrerro bounced over the outstretched hands of Sparman and settled in the back of the nets for their second goal. Sparman again brought
off some excellent saves that kept the score line down as the Costa Ricans were relentless in Guyana’s defensive third forcing multiple corners. A hand ball by Captain Deshawn Joseph in the 16th minute resulted in a penalty which William Leon Cruz sent wide of the upright much to the relief of the Guyanese. However, in the 18th minute Joseph brought down an opposing player in the area with the resulting penalty hammered home by Heimo Kastner Gomez to put his team up 3-0. The usually offensive minded Golden Jaguars of the beach were not too much interested in that style of play rather opting to be more defensive against the experienced and always threatening Costa Ricans. Jermaine Grandison hit the side nets in the 24th
Guyana’s Jahshawn Moore (#3) scores the first goal against Costa Rica yesterday at the BFA Soccer Stadium at Malcolm Park, Nassau, Bahamas.
minute in one of the rear collective offensive moves by the Guyanese as the half ended with Costa Rica comfortably ahead, 3-0. Three minutes into the final quarter good work between Captain Joseph and Jahshawn Moore brought Guyana its first goal of the match.
Mayor, Regional Chairman elated with Sporting Complex investment… Government donates $50 million The Mayor of Bartica has expressed gratitude and thanks to the Director of Sports, Christopher Jones with the recent announcement that a Sporting Complex would be constructed later this year in his community. Mayor Gifford Marshall said that with the project being funded through the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, augurs very well for the youths of Bartica who he said are very talented but lacks the required facilities to showcase their talent and skills. “This is very good news for the town council
and most importantly the residents of Bartica as we are aggressively pushing ahead with sports development because we recognize the pivotal importance that it plays within our society,” Mayor Marshall said. Pointing out that the Community Centre is currently in a deplorable state, the Mayor said that the town council sought to have it as their top sporting priority due to the integral role that sports plays in the holistic development of youths. He said, “We are working towards the Bartica Community Centre and with
the 50 million dollars that we got from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports it certainly will boost our efforts in repairing the facility which has been in a deplorable state.” He continued, “As a matter of fact we have no good ground in Bartica and between 1-5 miles there is no playing field and the secondary school is between there. So we need a play field between that area, so this year we have identify that spot to take it to a reasonable and acceptable standard. There is no good ground in (Continued on page 73)
Mayor Gifford Marshall
The ball was tucked into the back of the nets past Niels Fallas Beita by Moore who was well positioned close to the Costa Rican goal; Guyana 1 Costa Rica 3. Still in with a chance of reducing the Costa Rica goal tally, Guyana pushed forward but their eagerness was short lived as Costa Rica banged in back to back goals in the 27th and 28th minute compliments of William Leon Cruz and Javier Angulo Mora which took the score to 5-1. Unfortunately, Mora was stretchered off the field after scoring as he suffered what seemed to be a head injury after a collision with a Guyanese player. Guyana were able to get on the score sheets yet again when Kennard Simon fired past Beita. In the end, Costa Rica prevailed by a 5-2 margin to halt Guyana’s winning streak, the Guyanese who will play their final match of the tournament, today. Canada hammered Antigua and Barbuda 6-2 in their Playoff for 11th place. The Canadians were always in control as they scored two goals in the opening quarter and four in
the third and final quarter. Antigua scored in the second and third quarter. A hat-trick off the feet of Marlon Neptaly Meza led Belize to victory over Barbados coming from two goals down to win the match 6-2 in their Playoff match for 13th place. Tu r k s a n d C a i c o s Islands, featuring the youngest team with an average age of 19 and a 16 year-old goalkeeper Pendieno Brooks recorded their first win at this level when they whipped the United States Virgin Islands 4-1 in their Playoff match for 15th place. Herby Magny led Turks and Caicos with a double with one goal each for Billy Forbes and Captain James Rene. In the 7th place Playoff match between USA and Jamaica saw the Americans taking the win 7-2. The Bahamas went up against Tr i n i d a d a n d Tobago in another Playoff match, which was followed by the two semifinals which featured Panama against El Salvador and defending champions Mexico against Guadeloupe.
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Sunday February 26, 2017
GT Motorsports / GMR&SC Karting Extravaganza
Electrifying performances highlight G/town Grand Prix -Jeffrey, Vieira, Singh, Ten Pow, Persaud among top performers By Rawle Welch Another capacity crowd was on hand to witness some electrifying performances when GT Motorsports held its inaugural Georgetown Grand Prix Karting Extravaganza on Friday night, at the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC). Headlining the night’s activities was Kristian Jeffrey, who has once again proven that he is the best driver in both car and karts in Guyana and this opinion may also extend itself to the Caribbean, while Superbike ace Stephen Vieira, making his first appearance in this segment of the sport was magical as well as Jeremy Ten Pow, Mikhail Persaud, Trinidad and Tobago’s Bridget Singh and Shan Seejattan. However, the night belonged to Jeffrey, who blazed the track in commanding style to register three wins from as many starts in the Shifter Pro Cup category to relegate the promising Elliott Vieira to two seconds and a third place, while Barbados’ Orry Hunte, also failed in his bid to stop the fast and furious drive by Jeffrey, settling for a second and third place finish. Apart from Jeffrey’s dominant performance, the nerve racking action was reserved for the 4-stroke Easy Cup (Light) category
which featured Vieira , T&T’s Ravi Singh, Shan Seejattan and the Canadian maestro Darryl Timmers and the four drivers treated the fans with some breathtaking action that kept them clinging to the fence in awe of the superb exhibition that unfolded. In the opening race, Singh and Vieira went neck a neck for almost the entire duration of the event, before the former held off Vieira and Seejattan for the win. Vi e i r a , h o w e v e r, returned in the second race and in a similar display turned the table, racing to victory ahead of Singh and Seejattan. That left the final race to decide the king of the division and this time it included the Canadian Timmers and what a race it was. Singh and Vieira were locked in a ferocious battle from the start with Singh having the lead in the early part of the race, before Vieira made a daredevil move on the back end which forced a mistake from Singh that effectively erased his chance of winning. With the lead putting him in command, Vieira‘s next challenge was to stave off the fast approaching Timmers as they raced side by side, before the experience of Timmers came to the fore as he took full advantage of a wide turn by
Karters battle in fiercely contested duel during Friday’s successful event. Vieira coming into the homestretch with about two laps to go. He came out of the turn with a slim lead and held his nerve to assume the ascendancy into the clubhouse turn and subseq u e n t l y s t r e a k e d away to deny Vieira the v i c t o r y, b u t m a n y concluded it was breathtaking stuff. Rain eventually forced the cancellation of the remaining races, but the event was deemed a successful one. Some of the major sponsors on board were Secure Innovations & Concepts, Banks DIH under its Monster Energy Drink, Ansa McAl under its Stag Beer brand, E-Networks, Continental Group of Companies under its Sunburst Juices brand among others.
Singh re-elected unopposed as Everest CC President By Zaheer Mohamed Rajesh Singh was reelected unopposed as President of the Everest Cricket Club when the organisation held its Annual General Meeting and elections on Friday night at the club’s pavilion. Johnny Azeez was elected Vice President and Saheed Mohamed Jnr Vice President. Carmachand Rambarran was retained as Secretary while Reuel Sumair will serve as the Assistant Secretary. Prakash Balgobin was elected as the Treasurer and Ryan Bissessar the Assistant Treasurer. The
Club Captain is Mitchel Caesar while the committee members are Satyendra Khemraj, Alison Mohamed, Roland Fanfair and Ravin Balkarran. John Ramsingh was retained as the Public Relations Officer; the internal auditors are Anthony Rampersaud and Bhesham Persaud while the external auditor is Nizam Ali and Company. Prior to the elections the club rewarded a number of players for their outstanding performances for the past year. U15 player Ronaldo Mohamed was given the award for emerging player of the year, Javed Rasheed
Saheed Mohamed received the best second division bowler of the year
prize with 42 wickets, Khemraj Ramdeen took the best second division batman of the year accolade with 602 runs from 10 innings. Saheed Mohamed with 560 runs from eight innings and 26 wickets was voted the best all-rounder of the year in the second division category. In the first division category, special mention was made of Tagenarine Chanderpaul (205 versus Police), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (169 vs Guyana Defence Force), Ashkaya Persaud (5-60 vs GCC), Saheed Mohamed (98 from 42 balls vs Transport SC) and West
Indies U19 player Bhaskar Yadram. A number of U15 players were given medals for outstanding performances in recent tournaments while the club bestowed honorary life membership to former President Mark Singh. Speaking with Kaieteur Sport following the elections, Singh who is also the captain of the Masters’ team thanked the general membership for their continued trust. He said that cricket in 2016 has been good and he hopes that this can continue in 2017. Singh who also played first division cricket
for the club related that they will continue with their self help projects and called upon the members to support. “The installation of lights at the venue will be very much a reality in the near future and we hope to have an all weather cricket facility in place by the end of the year,” he said. Singh pointed out that Squash, Table Tennis, Softball cricket, cards and dominoes were well supported by the club in 2016 and he hopes that 2017 will be even better. He urged his executive to work together for the development of the club.
Sunday February 26, 2017
Kaieteur News
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Limacol Round Robin / Knockout Football Competition
Finalists will be decided this evening at GFC Which two teams will make it to the final of this year’s Limacol Round Robin / Knockout Football Competition will be known this evening following the completion of semi-final action, at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground. In the feature clash, Western Tigers square off against Santos in what is already being predicted as a sizzler, while the Guyana Police Force will lock horns with Linden’s Winners Connection, an affair that smells like the age old Georgetown versus Mining Town rivalry. The two encounters are box office by any standard with the feature clash a matter of one team trying to maintain its supremacy over the other, while the other is host attempting to make it an all-Georgetown affair for the final at the expense of bitter rivals Linden. Tigers have shown that they can backup the strong on paper view with on-field performance and have already beaten Santos in a
-Guyana’s future stars will be on display
Rene Gibbons final this year so they will definitely be feeling confident that they could repeat that feat. The players whose responsibility it will be to ensure that their dominance continues are Andrew M u r r a y J n r. D e v o n Millington, Joshua Britton, Jumane Somerset, Randolph Wagner, Jamal Pedro and Linden Picketts. On the other hand,
Andrew Murray Jnr. Santos could very well be feeling buoyed by their improved performances since with the hallmark being how resilient they are now. Players such as O’Kenie Fraser, Keith Caines, Job Caesar, Dominique Bobb and Orin Yarde have come a long way since that defeat and clearly revenge must be on their minds. These two sides have a
Quincy Holder cadre of young, talented players and it would be interesting to see how the enmity unfolds today. In the opening fixture, Police under the leadership of Captain Dwain Jacobs, a former ‘Golden Jaguar’ has evolved as a potent team and a serious threat to any opposition. Quincy Holder has been the architect of many of their victories and could be the
Santos’ Dominique Bobb (left) and Orin Yarde. player whose performance will determine the outcome of the skirmish. The evergreen Rawle ‘Boney’ Gittens is Milerock’s talisman and a player who relishes the spotlight and this kind of scenario so watch out for his offensive pursuit to get his team to the final. His support will no doubt come from the likes of Rene
Gibbons, Garey Thompson and Sedrick Hunte and should these two players play to potential it could be a long night for the Lawmen. The four teams are loaded with talent and fans should take advantage of the opportunity to see the future of Guyana’s football exhibit their skills in a major competition. Kick off time is 18:30hrs.
RHTY&SC Cricket Teams hosts successful Scotia Bank Say No Mash Parade The small township of Rose Hall was on Thursday last transformed into a sea of colours when the eight cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, M.S hosted their annual Scotia Bank Children Mash Parade. The parade was held under the Club’s highly successful Say NO/Say Yes Campaign and featured students from nine schools, members of the RHTY&SC and hundreds of residents who turned up to offer support along the entire route from Belvedere to the Area ‘H’ Ground in Rose Hall Town. Coordinator of the Parade and Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster hailed the event as a smashing success despite the rains which fell heavily during the early hours. Hundreds of students from the New Amsterdam Secondary School, Corentyne Comprehensive S e c o n d a r y, L o w e r Corentyne Secondary, J.C. Chandisingh Secondary, Rose Hall Town Nursery, Rose Hal Town Primary, Tain Primary, Belvedere
Scotia Bank Say No to Drugs Message.
Primary and Port Mourant Primary took part in the massive parade. T h e p a r a d e ’s m a i n objectives were to promote Guyana’s 47th anniversary as a Republic, to promote social cohesion among residents, to advise youths to Say No to Suicide, Drugs, Alcohol, Crime and to Say Yes to Education, Life and Sports. The parade was also attended by members of the RHTY&SC Cricket teams led by West Indies female
Cricketers Shemaine Campbelle and Erva Giddings, national female cricketers Sheneta Grimmond, Plaffina Millington, Dian Prahalad, Marian Samaroo, Akeema Arokuim and National Junior Cricketers Sylus Tyndall, Kevlon Anderson and Kelvin Sinclair. Members of the Rose Hall Town Seventh Day Adventist Church Band, the Council of New Amsterdam Musical Band along with
true Family Music Set provided music for the parade which included dozens of posters and banners advising youths on the Say No/Say yes Message. Members of the eight Cricket teams displayed the fifty two major trophies they have won over the last twenty years in an effort to encourage youths to get involved in sports as an alternative to a Life on the road. Foster in a passionate
Feature address at the end of t h e p a r a d e u rg e d t h e attentive students to stay in school and to make sure they complete their educational background. The long serving Club Secretary spoke widely on the importance of Saying No to Drugs, Crime while he urged youths to get involved in their respective place of worships. He also congratulated the many parents who turned up to be a part of the parade and urged
them to be the best role model in the lives of their children. The RHTY&SC, whose Patron is H.E President David Granger, would continue to invest heavily in the lives of youths and Foster expressed gratitude to Scotia Bank and its Marketing Executive Ms. Jennifer Cipriani for sponsoring the event. The Cricket teams would also like to express gratitude to Terry Pike, R. Nauth, Belo Welding Shop, Sunil Madrimootoo, L. Johnny Grocery Shop, Deonarine Shane, Royston Crandon, Collis Butts, DTV-8, LRTVS CH 10 and the Guyana Police Force for their support of the Parade. The eight Cricket teams organising the event were the Farfan and Mendes Under 15, Bakewell Under 17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under 19 and Intermiade, Metro Females, Gizmos and Gadgets Under 21 and First Division teams. The Club has so far completed 106 of its projected 500 programmes/activities for 2017.
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Sunday February 26, 2017
NATIONAL UNDER-17 TEAM ENCAMPED Georgetown: Encampment for the National Under-17 team has commenced with an eighteen-man squad in preparation for their participation in the “Tournoi Paul Chillan” in Martinique from March1 – 5, 2017. The tournament will feature six countries including Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti and Martinique. The eight-day camp, which began on the 21st February, consists of nine players from the Georgetown Football Association (GFA), two each from the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) and East Demerara Football Association (EDFA) and one player each from the Berbice Football Association (BFA), Rupununi Football Association (RFA) and Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA). There is also one overseas-based player from the United States of America (USA). Among them are two goalkeepers, six defenders and midfielders each and four forwards. They are supervised by a six-man technical squad headed by Technical Director, Ian Greenwood and Head Coach Bryan Joseph. Among the other technical team members are Team Manager Carlos Bernard, Assistant Coach Gilbert Sampson, Goalkeeping Coach Eon De Veira, Physiotherapist Seulear Hope-Ross and Referee Kenisha Prescott.
– Prepares For Martinique Invitational Tournament
National U-17 Team and coaching staff as they prepare for their Martinique sojourn.
Inclement weather forces postponement of Guyana Cup rematch horserace meet again
LABA/ Hamid U23 basketball final round matches on tonight
Golden Blue Echo was all set for the occasion. For the second time the inclement weather has forced the organisers if the Guyana Cup rematch horserace meet to cancel the event which was set for today at the Rising Sun Turf Club, Arima, Park, West Coast Berbice. The race meet was first rescheduled from the 1st January to the 26th February due to the inclement weather. It was then cancelled; however it was put back on the rooster. Now with the rain still continuing to fall the organisers have decided to cancel the activity. That is the word from organiser Nazrudeen (Jumbo Jet) Mohammed Jr
of the Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and Racing Stables. According to Mohammed, it would be too risky to continue with the event and risk injury to the people and the animals, since the rain is still falling and the venue is inundated. Eight races were set for the day with total prize money of over $7M. The feature event was for animals classified D and lower for a whopping $1M and trophy over 1800M. The other events were for animals classified E1 and lower West Indies bred non earners for 2016 and E3 US and Canadian bred non earners for 2016. The event
for four years old West Indies Bred and animals classified G3 and lower: a race for horses classified H and lower; The race for three years old West Indies bred and I1 and lower horses; an event for three-year-old West Indies bred maiden horses; the race for three and four-year -old Guyana bred maiden horses, one for animals classified J2 and K and another event for the L and lower animals. The organisation will still be staging the Guyana Cup Fever and the Guyana Cup Horserace extravaganzas and a few other meets during this year. (Samuel Whyte)
Giving up an unbeaten record may not hurt Kwakwani tonight weather permitting, as if they fail to show for their final Group B clash with Amelia’s Ward Jets set for 18.30hrs, then the mindset will be for the winner in the final Group A encounter between number one seed Half Mile Bulls and Retrieve Raiders would send them to face this Kwawkani side in the knockout semifinal Game as the Linden Amateur Basketball Association / Hamid Foundation Under 23 championship preliminary round comes to an end. Bulls may want to end their round play as the team
to beat and remain unbeaten but as they think about the next match, they are likely to meet a Kwakwani lineup which has shown tremendous form and may be a stumbling block at this semifinal stage for either Bulls or Raiders. So what will be the thought process of these two teams since from the result in the first game where Kwakwani are set to not show because of financial constraints, then Jets are highly favoured to go through as the top team in their group and Kwakwani second because of this result. It therefore means that some kind of performance will be seen between these
two teams which could determine if they want to meet Kwakwani by winning their group. The organisers have already planned to have Christianburg Pistons and Bankers Trust Falcons play the first game should Kwakwani not turn up and basketball fans are hoping to watch a good clash when Bulls and Raiders meet at 20.30 hrs. But the results might be anybody’s guess ahead of next Saturday’s semifinals. The Bulls and Kwakwani are unbeaten so far, while the Raiders also with an unbeaten record may not be that happy with a win to meet Kwakwani after all.
Sunday February 26, 2017
Kaieteur News
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Linden ‘Stag bowl’ football to highlight Town week By Sean Devers All roads lead to Linden in April, the busiest time of the year for residents in Region 10 and the hundreds of visitors expected flock the Mining community for its annual Town week activities and this year they are in for an extra treat as the annual celebrations will also showcase the best of Linden’s football talent in an e i g h t - t e a m i n t e r- w a r d tournament. The CBR Hotshots Entertainment is a group of present and National Sports personalities from Linden and is headed by Marlon Wa s h i n g t o n , R i c k l a n d ‘Tallo’ Hutson and Clive Nobrega. This promotion group will host what is expected to be an action packed ‘Stag Bowl’ InterWard Football tournament which is sanctioned by the
Nobrega from Blue Berry Hill, Travis Waterton from Amelia’s Ward and Rawle Gittens from half mile /one mile combined,” Washington informed. He added that Ansa McAl is the major sponsor under their Stag Beer brand but disclosed that talks are being held with other prospective sponsors. “We are giving back to the Communities since $200, 000 of the winner’s purse will go to a project for a Charity,” Washington concluded. Hutson, a former National Footballer, ex Guyana Table Tennis player and a National Rickland ‘Tallo’ Hutson Football Coach is also looking forward to being a part of this tournament the organization will hold a draft night to give each team which he hopes will be an a National player. Among annual competition in the the top players expected to L i n d e n To w n We e k ’s be on show will be Clive calendar of Events.
Champion team to collect $1.2 million
UDFA and has the blessing of the Linden Town Week Committee. The tournament, which will be played under floodlights, is being played under the auspices of the Eagles United Football Club and will be contested on Saturday April 15, Thursday (20th), Monday (24) and concludes on Wednesday (26) and includes eight teams playing at the McKenzie Sports Club ground. Each night will see a double header with the first
game kicking off at 18:30 hrs and the fans will be entertained off the field by pulsating music from the Sound System which will be present every night. Central McKenzie, Amelia’s Ward, Blue Berry Hill, Christiansburg, Block 22/Wisroc, Half mile/one mile/Scheme, Silver city/ Va l l e y ’s A l l e y s , Silvertown/Clovers’ City and West Watooka will battle for the winner’s prize of $1.2 million and a beautiful Trophy. The runners-up will take home $500,000 and a Trophy while the third placed team gets $300,000 with the fourth placed side collecting $150,000. A c c o r d i n g t o Washington there will be prizes for the MVP, best
Marlon Washington Defender, best Goalkeeper, leading Goal scorer and best Midfielder. “Each team is entitled to three guest players, while
Natura Milk lends support to proposed Region 8 Football Association Natura Milk brand owned and operated by Dabi’s Variety store of Robb Street has boldly given financial support for the proposed formation of the Region 8 Football association. The financial assistance is expected to boost the efforts of the North Pakarimas Sports and Culture Association in its drive to ensure that footballers in both sub regions 1 and 2 of region 8 can effectively compete in a number of national football competitions. Managing Director of D a b i ’s Va r i e t y S t o r e , Seearam ‘Dabi’ Dabicharran said that while he loves sport he firmly believes that lending needed assistance to the youths primarily from the hinterland community is his primary focus. He noted that his vision is similar to those within the hinterland community of seeing players from there making national teams. “I am certain that we have a number of youths in various parts of the hinterland region who has the ability to excel nationally, however creating the right encouragement coupled with the required resources can make that a reality,” he said. He pointed out that while significant financial and technical assistance are
Samuel Thornton of NPSCA collects cheque from Office Manager Navita Dabicharran in the presence of staff and other officials. provided to a number of groups, organizations and associations based in the coastal areas, little and in some cases nothing is done for those in riverrain communities. “We cannot continue like this because we would not achieve nothing much, sports is expensive and its private sector individuals like myself who will have to look beyond publicity and or revenue generation if we are going to achieve progress,” he noted. Dabi pointed out that businesses usually invest into events, activities and or
projects that demonstrates avenues for mileage and benefit. He however noted that he has chosen to get involved for completely different reasons, stressing that his focus is on building avenues and platforms for youths in those communities thus providing other avenues for growth and development,” he said. The popular businessman disclosed that he firmly believes that with his input that it can help in addressing several social ills plaguing the youths of this country. While admitting that he is no football fan, Dabi
disclosed that with football being one of three passionate sports in the hinterland community he firmly believes that holistic development and ultimate exposures would be achieved. He commended the North Pakarimas Sports and Culture Association for what he dubbed as a timely and noble gesture, stressing that with proper implementation and planning, the region has the ability to have the best set of footballers. “Region 8 certainly has talent, however with proper planning and implementation and
ultimately with the kind of people that I am seeing leading the charge to develop sports I am confident that success would be achieved,” he stressed. Manager of Dabi’s Variety, Navita Dabicharran, who presented the cheque, urged the organization to continue its efforts while issuing a call to other businesses to get involved. “There are many businesses who give back as they are genuinely interested in seeing development like us,” she said. “However, I would like to urge them and others to
expand the support that they give to sports and in cases whereby they have no more money to expand, I would suggest that they rotate their support thus ensuring that more people and communities benefit. Give whatever you can to various sets of groups so that you (businesses) can evaluate as to whether your contributions has been making meaningful contributions,” she added. The young office manager said that her father has a passion for growth and development as he firmly (Continued on page 73)
t r o Sp GT Motorsports / GMR&SC Karting Extravaganza
Electrifying performances highlight G/town Grand Prix -Jeffrey, Vieira, Singh, Ten Pow, Persaud among top performers
The champion performers pose with their respective trophies following the completion of the presentation ceremony Friday night.
CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship
Costa Rica halt Guyana’s winning streak with 5-2 win; Turks & Caicos Is. achieve first win
Guyana’s Captain Deshawn Moore in control against Costa Rica yesterday in Nassau, Bahamas. Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210