Kaieteur News

Monday February 26, 2018

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Kaieteur News

Towards the Dawn of a New Era More watchdogs needed for local DEAR EDITOR, The officials of the German penal system have acknowledged that the reason for allowing murderers and other extreme antisocial criminals to live quite normal lives which include access to television, books etc., is that they recognise that man’s behaviour is to a very large extent influenced by his environment. As such, the crimes committed by these offenders were a result of societal conditioning and influence, versus an overt, deliberate attempt by these persons to commit a crime, or do ‘evil’. I could credit them with influencing my own thoughts on this subject, as I have come to the conclusion that man is first an animal. He is then given education and religion and conditioned in order to exist in society. Behaviors expected of him are therefore largely influenced by society’s norms, but sometimes much more so by his immediate environment. A quick check of any economics textbook would show that one of the major responsibilities of governments, even in socialist economies, is to adopt policies which support job creation and livable incomes. One of the obvious reasons for this is the maintenance of societal stability, or an environment where citizens can adequately provide for themselves and their families without recourse to anti-social behaviours which seek to extract such means of existence. The existing and more sophisticated illegal forms of income generation along with the recent surge in robberies therefore require little explanation as successive administrations of the former government consistently maintained an oppressive incomes policy, and the current PNC-led coalition, continuing along with this policy, has further established it is not its responsibility to provide jobs for citizens. As a quick reminder, Granger had advocated that we all become entrepreneurs. Recent attempts to address security are a weak public relations gimmick, as it should be clear that the coalition’s policies have very likely stimulated the upsurge in robberies. African Guyanese youths become the fall guys to a political system intent on victimising them as part of government’s wider policy of economic control, while ministers enjoy their salaries and their CoI buddies get bountiful handouts. It would seem obvious to move in the direction of creating more jobs and better incomes for citizens, but one would imagine that a satisfied and education population is immensely more difficult to govern because then incidents of corruption and incompetence would be more easily exposed. As we continue to search for common ground against the clearly anti-welfare policies of the coalition administration, we could do well to look abroad today. Although there is much about which to fault America’s President

Donald Trump, the one thing Americans can salute him for is his America First Policy. We could consider the adoption of a Guyana First policy, where our main focus is increasing our national wealth and the incomes of our citizens. Ask the woman selling eggball, puri and pickled mango, or the youths selling on the corner what they’re doing, and they’ll tell you: hustling, trying to make a dollar. It’s all about the money. Apparently the coalition hasn’t realised it has a country to run and citizens’ welfare issues to address. Guyanese have to start asking the coalition, “Where’s the money?” We also have to ask them, “What are you doing for me today?” GAWU has on more than one occasion pointed out that the administration’s nonpayment of sugar workers’ severance benefits is unlawful. Yet the coalition continues to break the law and disregard the sugar workers’ union and the welfare of sugar workers. It has been suggested that immediately before executing an extremely violent act, individuals briefly descend to a state of lunacy. The decision to withhold sugar workers’ severance is an act of economic oppression bordering on violence. The recent move to seize lands of distressed rice farmers without consultation constitutes an act of economic oppression. The continued denial of public sector workers, their demands for a living wage constitutes an act of economic oppression. The coalition is guilty of all of these. We should seriously consider that the policy makers in the PNC-led coalition are mad. The Minister of State’s recent observation of the apparent finality of the Exxon agreement should emphasised to everyone this Government is hardly concerned with the welfare of Guyanese as it willfully proceeds to forfeit potentially hundreds of millions, even billions of United States dollars in revenues, if lost tax revenues are considered, under the existing contracts. The arrogance of this position demonstrates that the now authoritarian stance of the coalition. The administration considers itself unaccountable for its actions. This stiffed-neck attitude is not unsurprising, and was one of the reasons the coalition was engineered to include the AFC. I have asserted in my book, a preview of which is available on Amazon, that the incessant bumbling of the Coalition should be considered a great opportunity. It took less than three years to dislodge the PPP which had been in power for close to twenty-three years. It should be much easier to form a new government to get rid what is clearly an incapacitated administration in its less than three years’ existence. Let us look forward to and create the dawn of a new era. Yours faithfully, Craig Sylvester

football’s real metamorphosis DEAR EDITOR, With the operations of the Guyana Football Referees Council (GFRC) undergoing much wanted scrutiny due to alleged sexual misconduct and harassment claims, the visit by FIFA’s Regional Director Marlon Glean could not be timelier. It will give the high ranking FIFA Officer an opportunity to not only get a glimpse of the positives within the football arena, but also the negatives which ought to instigate a comprehensive investigation, instead of an internal one only. The broader scope of the inquisition is to guarantee that the findings are not concealed and the actors punished. Investigations into the institution’s operations are long overdue, mainly because of the many alleged claims of sexual misconduct, harassment and mismanagement, traits that have been ignored for years. Following the disclosure of the allegations, a source close to the fraternity revealed that an investigation was conducted by highranking members of the Council and the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), and while one referee was struck off the list in light of the shocking revelations, it was further alleged that members of the Council were “advised” to remain mum on the findings. Now this stance is being viewed clearly as an act of injustice against the victims, all of whom are reported to be young girls, whose only aspirations was to be part of the sport. The GFF, with major responsibility for the good governance of the sport, has apparently failed these young girls by merely offering a ‘slap on the wrist’ to the alleged perpetrators of those acts and must in company with the Council be held accountable

for their apathetic attitude towards those girls. Many of them are no longer interested in being part of the sport, and this is manifestly in contravention of the call for more persons to be drawn to the officiating aspect of the sport. It is the wrong message to send to aspiring youths, since they may feel that in the event of some form of injustice being committed against them, the chances of a fair hearing is either imaginary or extremely slim. This is a sad day for the sport, and the GFF and the GFRC should not feel proud about their failings to protect those young girls who must be feeling a sense of abandonment by the powers that be. An investigation must be extended outside the corridors of the Federation, since the alleged perpetrators are still involved in the sport - some at the highest levels in the absence of justice. For there to be an investigation and the two Bodies that spearheaded that inquiry not see it fit to punish those found guilty, should leave no doubt about extending it beyond GFF’s Headquarters. Glean’s presence, though originally intended to have a firsthand look at the local operations, should now prompt a meeting with other stakeholders to hear their concerns as well. He has enough time to do so, and he should do the professional thing and urge the GFF to summon such a forum, especially when FIFA has warned all member associations about its intolerance to corruption, bad governance and lack of adherence to new and rigid statutes Those genuinely concerned about a positive way forward should raise their voices and let justice be served.

The fact that seventeen referees signed a letter on February 2nd 2018 calling for the removal of a colleague, citing unprofessionalism and incompetence among other concerns, is no coincidence, and should have served as a wakeup call for the GFF. This is an overwhelming majority and ought to have raised ‘Red Flags’ about the Council’s operations. As I’ve repeatedly stated, the football fraternity is a small one, and while some may feel protected not highlighting the imperfections that affect the sport, there are those who simply are not willing to do so. The Council seems to be in chaos, with rules set to accommodate certain individuals, while others are ordered to confirm or face the penalty for not doing so. It is clear for all to see the injustice meted out to referees such as John Callender and Wayne Griffith, who are being punished indefinitely for officiating in a tournament that does not fall under the jurisdiction of the GFF. Callender sometime back was asked to resign as a Committee member in order to continue his refereeing career, which according to Council hierarchy contravened its rules, while Lawrence Griffith was slapped with a three months suspension for a similar infraction. Conversely, referees with far more serious issues and damning allegations against them are being allowed to officiate in tournaments, an Continued on page 6

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Kaieteur News

DELIVERY OF HEALTH SERVICES IS POOR IN REGION SIX DEAR EDITOR, I would like to bring to the attention of the subject minister of health services some cases in less than a few days that is the actual reflections of the health system in Region Six. I was approach by an individual from New Amsterdam a few days ago and he said that on 18th Feb 2018 he visited the New Amsterdam Hospital emergency section with serious abdominal pains, the doctor on duty prescribed two Hytorix injections that was not available at the hospital and as such had to be purchased at a local pharmacy .After the person got the injection (Hytorix), he was told to return the next day for an ultra sound .Unfortunately, when he returned the next day, he was told that he had to wait until the 12th March 2018 .The person had to pay six thousand dollars privately to get this service. He was then diagnose with kidney stones was treated for the ailment privately with a sum attach .The patient’s problem is solved and today is only the 25th Feb 2018. This incident in question is the actually the “everyday situation” of the health system in Region Six. Another recent incident is a 13 year old who was in an accident since the 1st January 2018 and is still waiting on a date to correct his dislocated shoulder. The reason for not going to a private hospital is because he doesn’t have the resources to do so .The

young man is presently not going to school and is awaiting the surgery. Millions of taxpayers’ money is being spent and the health system continues to deteriorate rapidly. Let me congratulate these young men to come forward and exposed the deficiency in the Health sector. The national ophthalmology hospital is not functioning; to date it can’t do a cataract surgery and the government is not making any attempt to fix it. What is more worrying is when these issues are being raised, the excuses are many, so many that we remain the same way and the people continue to suffer. The excuses for not having drugs at all the government hospitals is that MMU is only supplying essentials drugs and when a drug is short irrespective of what drugs it is not an essential drug. We are demanding that the Minister makes the list of essential drugs public so that residents could be aware of the drugs available and what should be purchased. It must be concluded that health care services are not free anymore for residents while Ministers are being given foreign insurances to look after their health. It is time to hold these government officials responsible for the mismanagement of taxpayers’ money. Zamal Hussain Regional Councillors, Region Six

Burnham meant well and he was fun DEAR EDITOR, I read the recent ‘semi-ode’ to the late President L.F.S. Burnham. I agree he was a man for all seasons – and for all reasons. He was unassuming and at ease with himself. I remember him for his sense of humour, his sense of fun, from my days as a typist in the Government Probation Service, when, in between cases, he would sit at the side of my desk and chat with me, and it helped to make my day. Once, when I mentioned a “sparring partner” of his describing himself as an “intellectual giant”, he said “I believe him too”, then referring to the chap’s initials, he followed up with “He looks like an “F.L. in truth”. I was in stitches. As a Town Councillor, when the councillors were discussing arrangements for the Queen’s proposed visit to the Council, and mention was made of ‘dressing up” the entrance, he objected to stringing balloons and fairy lights along the way. “Why,” he asked, “Is she Christmas”? Years later, he seemed to be more ‘indulgent’. I was in London, and on the train one

afternoon after work, some colleagues and I were discussing the visit, and I told them about the ‘then and now’ in regard to that, and Mr. Burnham’s seeming change of heart, a politician’s ploy. When we looked around everybody was smirking - it was the same in the UK! When in power, I was so happy and proud when Mrs. Thatcher gave thanks to him for explaining the term “consensus decision”, as what you have when full agreement is not possible”. She was able to use the term later on during a visit to an industrialised country. I once saw a TV interview he gave while in the UK, and the look of admiration on the face of the male interviewer was something to behold. Mr. Burnham meant well, but the people to see his dream to fruition were all too young to cope with so great a burden. MY husband and I knew most of those chaps, and we were shocked as they died trying to cope with so much stress. The world of politics chews us up and spits us out. Geralda D.

Monday February 26, 2018

More Safety Measures Needed at Hospitals DEAR EDITOR, The editorial of February 8, 2018 is rather enlightening as it pinpoints various advances in the Health Care system in Guyana. However, many simple procedures seem to have been relegated to the dark end of the spectrum of cleanliness and safety. For example, at the West Demerara Hospital at Best, a stone’s throw away from any patients’ bed, there are pools of stagnant water, some of which have originated from septic systems and spill overs from wash sinks. Additionally, there are bushes as high as 10 feet in the same vicinity coupled with over spilling of garbage due to a lack of garbage containers. Mosquitoes abound! This scenario is commonplace in almost every hospital, especially in the rural areas of the country and the management is solely to blame as these conditions can easily be corrected. If this is not done, suffice it to say in Guyanese lingo: you go in the hospital with one disease and come out with another. In regard to safety, most of the 30 public and private hospitals could be in danger of not being up to par with building codes designed for hospitals worldwide. By this

I mean the conditions which encompass laboratory and diagnostic instruments and expensive chemicals as well as the safety of people — both patients and health care professionals. A cursory examination of many hospitals reveals that a few safety measures are urgently needed. 1. Storage bonds which contain billions of dollars of various medications do not have the requisite number of security guards and electronic surveillance needed for its protection. Some do not have the correct temperature and humidity required to preserve medicines which can precipitate the deterioration of dugs ahead of the expiry dates. 2. Many do not have the directional painted signs and markings needed to guide first time patients and visitors and thus prevent them from getting lost. 3. Floors also need directional arrows as poor lighting and constant blackouts could invariably lead to confusion. 4. Some do not have proper Exit (neon) signs, which in emergency situations could be a life saver.

5. Sprinkler systems which are virtually nonexistent Guyana and are a tremendous impediment for fires should be installed in all hospitals. 6. Early warning systems for fires such as smoke detectors are a dire necessity for High Occupancy Buildings (HOB). They should be placed hallways and staircases, the paths which smoke travels the fastest. 7. All hospitals must have their own generators as a back up to their regular source of power from GPL grids. Above all else, the aforementioned safety measures, along with education (which should be taught in schools) and TV infomercials, Guyana can progress to an era of acceptable health care. The government must do all within its power to make sure that safety saving of lives is a topmost precedent. The saying that “prevention is better than cure” holds true in this situation because, in the final analysis ‘ALL LIVES MATTER’. Leyland Chitlall Roopnaraine Real Estate Builder, New York

More watchdogs needed for local... From page 5 obvious signal that the playing field is not level, but more accommodating to some than others. This act of partiality and discernible vindictiveness will only serve to inflict more harm on the sport, and the blame ultimately has to be shouldered by the GFF and GFRC. The cultural effect it is having on the sport cannot be overstated, especially within Georgetown and its environs, where the participants are predominantly from a

particular grouping. Local football has been plagued by autocratic rule and corruption from time immemorial and this has ultimately affected the sport’s development. We have a situation right now where young players are no longer interested in playing for their country, many of them saying that there seems to be no plan in place to reward their efforts, therefore it is a waste of time to make the sacrifices associated with attaining the required level.

Footballers time and again have been sacrificed on the altar of self-interest by administrators who seemed more absorbed about the benefits they can derive while in office. The nonexistence of a players’ representative body has also had a negative impact on players’ holistic development and proper representation, while the continued absence of proper club structures - despite the strong appeal and support made by FIFA - is another enduring concern. The forecast for a brighter future for the sport seems dim, and this scenario has to be a major headache for the sport’s custodians. Only when there are more watchdogs prepared to hold the GFF accountable will a real metamorphosis in the sport be seen. Yours sincerely, Rawle Welch

Monday February 26, 2018

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Kaieteur News

Ministry of Communities staff undergo training for Local Govt. reforms Over 20 middle-management employees of the Ministry of Communities participated in a training exercise last week through the Caribbean Leadership Project (CLP). This exercise was facilitated by Executive Director of the Bertrum Collins College of Public Service, Randolph Leitch and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Women and Gender Equality Commission, Diana Swan-Lawrence. The three-day forum, which is being held under the theme “Leading for Results from the Middle” opened on February 13 at the Georgetown Club, continued on February 20 and is expected to conclude on February 27. The leadership seminar saw Heads of Departments and senior staff represented from the procurement unit, municipal and regional services, public relations, technical, administrative, personnel, special projects and engineering units. Tuesday’s session focused primarily on problem solving interventions, active listening and other critical components of collaborative leadership. The intervention forms part of the Ministry’s larger focus on capacity building and training of staff to better support the process of reform in the local government sys-

Permanent Secretary, Emil McGarrell during his brief address to the participants at the Leadership training. tem. The training modules focus on transformational leadership, creating trust through effective leadership skills and influencing leaders through effective communication. Permanent Secretary, Emil McGarrell who opened the sessions, urged the employees to participate as much as they can and transfer the knowledge garnered to their respective areas of responsibility. McGarrell also encouraged the participants to apply their newfound skills to achieve their goals and positively influence the people with whom they work and come into contact with on a daily basis.

Senior Staff of the Ministry of Communities form a circle during a group exercise. Delivering a message from the Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, the permanent secretary called on the employees to take full advantage of the training opportunity towards the enhancement of their personal growth and for realising cohesive, empowered and sustainable communities. The middle-management employees were selected since they are well-positioned between the top level leaders and line managers and have a critical role to play in the leadership development context. These managers are required to lead in operational challenges such as dealing with budget cuts in a context of rising demand for services, (Continued on page 22)

Senior Regional Development Officer, Christine Singh during her presentation.

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Monday February 26, 2018

Kaieteur News

Govt. not actively considering funding Auditor General’s scrutiny of oil sector The Government of Guyana is not currently looking to see how it can make finances available to the Office of the Auditor General to carry out additional investigations, particularly in the oil sector. Guyana is yet to begin audits of the sector in keeping with the country’s petroleum laws. At the most recent postCabinet press briefing, the media asked Minister of State, Joseph Harmon about special considerations for additional funding for the Audit Office. Harmon responded saying that Auditor General, Deodat Sharma “has to make his case.” Harmon said that the state does not interfere with or dictate the work of the Audit Office, “therefore the Auditor General must know how he is to fashion his application for funding for the work which he has to do; he has to identify in his framework what it is he

Auditor General, Deodat Sharma needs to do.” “If he (Sharma) needs to be auditing a new industry, then he has to make a case for new funding for that.” Harmon also said, “we were in an economy which was based on a few items and now we are moving to another type of economy and therefore all entities including the Auditor General must recognise that

and make their application at the appropriate time.” Auditor General Sharma is on record saying that the shortfall in the cash he requested will stymie the work of the office. This was following the approval of the annual allocations for constitutional agencies by Parliament’s Committee of Supply. The National Assembly approved a $783M allocation for the Audit Office for 2018. Sharma lamented the loss of more than $63M in requested funds for that Constitutional Agency, since it will hinder the preparation of the Office to audit the emerging Oil and Gas sector. “The reduced funds will directly affect my office since we have to shift to doing more work in the Oil and Gas Sector…if you cutting us, you affect us in doing our work including carrying out audits in the new sector.”

Embracing the Arts touted at Republic Anniversary lecture There is much more than meets the eye in the creative arts, and according to Dr. Natalie Hopkinson, Guyana can benefit significantly if investors pump capital into the industry. Dr. Hopkinson, a Howard University and University of Maryland graduate, was the guest speaker at this year’s Republic Anniversary Distinguished Lecture held today at the Umana Yana. “It doesn’t cost anything to be creative, but you do need some help outside,” she told the gathering. “They have been pulling all of the riches out of Guyana forever. So, it is a matter where you have to agitate and make it go to places that reflect your values.” Dr. Hopkinson delved extensively into Guyana’s pluralistic cultural society and

the richness of its diversity. “Art is about radical imagination, it is about imagining a future we cannot now see. It is not just about the poets and the painters; it is also for the women and men on the street. We are in trying times and we really need all-hands-on-deck, no voice and no vision should be left behind,” she emphasised. Cultural Policy Advisor at the Ministry of Education, Ruel Johnson explained that the Republic Anniversary has both a celebratory and reflective aspect. This year’s reflective aspect took the form of the public lecture, he related. Johnson said he wanted to explore the nexus between the creative arts, culture and the concept of citizenship within the Republic. Addressing the point raised by Dr. Hopkinson,

Johnson said he is interested in using oil revenue investment directly with the expectation that the “orange economy” is going to be a viable component of whatever future economic diversification that will come. Quoting the renowned Poet, AJ Seymour, Dr. Hopkinson said for the artist of Guyana, the revelation of a national identity is the most revolutionary possibility that exists. “The Guyana man has to recreate himself in his own image as an indispensable basis on which to realise the image of a national identity,” she said. The distinguished lecture was part of a series of activities organised by the Ministry of Education leading up to the 48th Anniversary of Guyana’s Republic. (A DPI feature)

Monday February 26, 2018

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Kaieteur News

EXXON SPRINTS AHEAD No one likes to get a bad deal. And Guyana has gotten a rotten deal from ExxonMobil. The deal amounts to highway robbery. To better understand what has happened, let us assume that you have a property and its market value is worth $100M but you do not know this because you did not go out and seek a valuation. So up comes a real estate agent, and he tells you that he will pay you $50M.

Now that sounds like a lot of money to you and you are so excited that you take it, not realizing that the agent knows that the property is worth double that amount. So you feel you got a good deal because you are rich but the fact of the matter is that what has happened to you constitutes highway robbery because you have only received half of what you have earned. Do you really think that when the truth hits

DEM BOYS SEH

home, you will ever feel good, knowing that you were robbed. So instead of leaving to your children and their descendants an inheritance of $100M, you are leaving to them a mere $50M. In other words, you are robbing future generations of your family. This is what has happened to Guyana. There is no doubt that things will improve with oil, all other things remaining equal. In fact, the IMF predicts GDP

Bandits playing dog and de bone Dem have some people like dogs. Dem only waiting fuh something dat people got. People who does mind dogs know dat once dem got something good in dem hand and de dog see it, it does jump all over you. If you got a stick is another story and dat is de case today when people go to de bank. Dem bandits like a hungry dog. As soon as dem see something dat look like if it got money is pounce dem does pounce. And some of dem does pounce like a real bad dog. Three people go to a bank and not long after dem come out, de bandits pounce. One man try to hold on to he money and he get shoot in he foot. Another nearly meet home and de next thing he know is dat a bullet go off behind him and he get shoot in he head. But dem had a case of a lady who come from de Ogle airport wid wha she had but he also had a stick which de

bandits didn’t see. Of course dem see de money and dem pounce. De lady stick come out; one of dem dead right pun de line top. De odda one couldn’t stand de bullet, he get suh he run to de hospital. Dem boys know dat once you go to de hospital wid a gunshot wound is de police you got to deal wid. He was a bad dog who get sick. Sometimes luck does mek some of dem same bandits get ketch. Dem boys remember de time when a man and he girl been in de Gardens. Dis bad man pounce but de man fight

up. He get wounded but he also wound de bandit. Both of dem end up in hospital in de same ward. When de man look round, he see de bandit on another bed. De bandit did tell de doctor how a man attack him so dem look after him. But when de man point him out, was another story. More and more it look like if people got to change from dealing wid nuff cash. Dem boys warning dem but dem ain’t listening. Talk half and listen to de warning because if you don’t have money, you can’t get rob!

growth skyrocketing when oil production begins. But interestingly, the revenues that Guyana will earn from oil within the first three years will not, on a per capita basis, be anything to shout about. The calculations have been done and they are staring the public in the face. The Peeper has used a US$65 per barrel price for oil and this works out to a mere US$40 per month for every Guyanese. This is small change for an oil producing country. In other words, each person in Guyana would be entitled, if the oil revenues are distributed within the population to a monthly allowance of eight thousand Guyana dollars. This is based on gross income of US$300M per year and production of 120,000 barrels per day. The IMF has used some more conservative numbers. They ought to know since they have experience in these sorts of matters. They have conservatively used an oil

price of US$ 55 per barrel and production at 100,000 per day for the first three years. Based on these numbers, they conservatively estimate that Guyana’s oil revenues (in Guyana dollars) will amount to G$27.4 billion dollars in the first year, doubling in the second year and increasing slightly to G$56.9 billion in the third year. When this is divided among the population, it works out to each Guyanese obtaining $3,000 Guyana dollars in the first year and $6,000 Guyana dollars in the second and third years. This is the ‘chicken feed’ that Guyana is expected to receive for its oil reserves. This is why the ExxonMobil deal is being described as a case of highway robbery. It is not that Guyana will not get anything. It is just that what it will receive is nothing near what it ought to have been receiving had a better deal been negotiated. Exxon has dealt Guyana a poor hand. It has taken

advantage of Guyana’s inexperience. Exxon is the largest publicly traded oil company in the world. The net worth of Exxon is worth more than that of Guyana. Exxon had no reason to treat Guyana in this way. It is unconscionable. Guyana ‘s oil reserves represent asset to Exxon. They have already earned millions in the form of stock value appreciation because of Guyana’s assets. The least they could have done was to be fair to Guyana. Instead they have shafted Guyana. The discovery of oil was seen as a God-send to Guyana. It has now, because of what has been negotiated, being seen as a case of devil taking the hindmost and in our case, it is the country which is taking up the rear position while Exxon sprints ahead.

Monday February 26, 2018

Kaieteur News

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Monday February 26, 2018

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Not a cent more for Guyana if oil price increases - ExxonMobil Oil Agreement NOTACENT MORE… That’s what Guyana will be getting if international oil prices rise, thanks to the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) the Government has signed with ExxonMobil. That agreement prevents the Government from taxing “higher than expected profits”, which is likely to occur when international oil prices are high. The contract’s ‘stabilization clause’ is what prevents Guyana from securing such “windfall profits” in the future. This clause insulates ExxonMobil from any new taxes or laws or fees not agreed to in the contract. But while the nation is prevented from fully benefitting from higher than expected revenues, ExxonMobil gets to profit from favourable changing conditions in the oil

market. This was also confirmed by Chartered Accountant and anticorruption advocate, Chris Ram. “The question of whether there should be a windfall or normal profit tax really revolves around the issue of the fiscal regime and the level of the government take…But the tax you talk of is prevented by the stabilization clause,” Ram said. “We lost out on that because of the stabilization clause…” ‘STRANGULATION CLAUSE?’ Ram in his recent writings has also deemed the Stability Clause to be a ‘Strangulation Clause’. The columnist said it is unthinkable that any government would sign on to an agreement which insulates an operator from any new law or

President David Granger

Minister of State, Joseph Harman

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman

Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram

tax that the Parliament approves. He also noted that the clause can even be deemed as anti-Constitution. Additionally, the Chartered Accountant said that when one compares the Janet Jagan Agreement to the 2016 Trotman Agreement, one no-

tices several worrying additions in the Trotman Agreement. Ram said that additions to the 2016 Agreement only serve the interest of ExxonMobil, as it limits the role of the government in applying new laws made in the petroleum sector. Ram revealed that if Guyana were to amend any of its laws which would affect the entity’s operations then the Government would have to restore the benefits that are lost.

Ram noted that the Stability Clause provides, inter alia, “that any delay by the government to respond to any notification from the contractor that they may have suffered any adverse effects can result in the contractor taking the matter to arbitration.” The Chartered Accountant added, “In such a case, the arbitral tribunal is authorised to modify the agreement to re-establish the economic benefits under the Agreement to the Contractor.

Where such restoration is not possible, the tribunal has the power to award damages to the Contractor that fully compensates for the loss of economic benefits under the Agreement, both for past as well as future losses.” While ExxonMobil was able to get Guyana to sign a contract with such rigid stabilization provisions, it was quite comfortable signing on to a deal with the African state, Ghana which had none.

Monday February 26, 2018

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Guyanese mother continues her fight to be reunited with Prime Minister Browne calls her Trinidadian-born children snap general election ST. JOHN’S, Antigua CMC – Prime Minister Gaston Browne Saturday night announced March 21st as the date for fresh elections in Antigua and Barbuda, three and a half years after his ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) won the last general election. “We have performed and that’s why we can stand here before you today and ask for your support,” he told supporters at a rally here dubbed “Rebuilding Together-Safer with Labour”. Browne said he had written to Governor General Rodney Williams on Friday asking him to dissolve Parliament today. “The following day, Tuesday, February 27, the writ of elections will be issued and I am giving them 21 days to give them 17-none. “So the date of the next general election will be Wednesday March 21,” Browne said to loud cheers from the supporters. He did not name the date for Nomination Day. In an immediate reaction, the leader of the main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) Harold Lovell said the government had failed to deliver on its 2014 promises, “deeply disappointing even the diehard supporters of the Labour Party. “Life is harder than ever after four years of this wicked government,” Lovell, a former finance minister said, telling supporters that a UPP government would provide a better standard of living for

Gaston Browne

Harold Lovell

all Antigua and Barbudans. “Use this election opportunity to vote wisely, consider what you had yesterday, how much you have lost today and whether you and your children will lose or gain tomorrow…,” Lovell said In the 2014 general election, Browne led the ABLP to a convincing 14-3 defeat of the ruling UPP led by then prime minister Baldwin Spencer, who earlier this week, formally bowed out of active politics. In that election, there were 41 candidates representing five political parties including the UPP, ABLP, the Antigua and Barbuda True Labour Party (ANTLP) the Antigua Barbuda People’s Movement (ABPM) and Missing Link VOP. “Our primary purpose for calling the election early is not about politics, it is about development,” Browne said,

indicating that in 2018, the government had already earmarked EC$1.5 billion (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) for projects, adding “we have to protect that. “We can’t allow the destructive forces to stymie the progress we have made,” he said, noting that the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) is projecting that economic growth here this year would be at 5.6 per cent. Browne said that in 2019, a further EC$1.5 billion in investment is anticipated, saying “what this country needs at this time is stability and continuity,” adding ‘to make any change is to reverse all the gains we have made…”. Browne urged supporters to “turn out in your numbers and to get the vote out on election day” adding “the UPP has nothing to offer this country”.

It has been almost two years since Shaniza Sampson last saw her three daughters after being denied entry into Trinidad and Tobago twice during a custody battle with her husband in a Trinidad family court. Sampson, who has high hopes of being able to see her children before the end of the year said not being able to return to Trinidad to visit them is the most difficult thing she is currently faced with. “I can’t hold them and speak to them; I can’t even get to see them grow,” she said. “Some nights, I would just cry because I think of them,” she added. After returning home in 2015, Sampson is now trying to rebuild her life in Guyana while preparing for when she will be reunited with her children; but for now, she settles for one Facebook call on Sundays. “When they visit my sister on Sundays, she would call me on Facebook and I would get to talk to them,” she said. “I have a job and I am hoping that one day I can get enough money to pay my lawyer in Trinidad to check up on my case,” she said. Sampson said her estranged husband is claiming that he was given full custody of all three of their daughters but said he has no documents to support such claims. Sampson said her husband does not allow her to call his phone to speak to their three children and she is afraid her youngest daughter,

Don’t cry over negative travel advisories Trinidad Guardian - Do not be beaten down by or cry over the various negative travel advisories being issued about this country, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has stated. Rowley made the statement Saturday as he spoke to members of the media following the official opening of the Carenage Home Work Centre and Police Youth Club on Constabulary Street, Carenage. On Thursday the United States Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago updated its travel advisory to this country warning of terrorism and prohibiting US Government personnel from visiting various areas in Port-ofSpain, including the interior of the Queen’s Park Savannah. That update came one day after top diplomats to this country met with Rowley. On Wednesday, Rowley met with British High Commissioner Tim Stew,

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley Australian High Commissioner John Pilbeam, Canadian High Commissioner Carla Hogan Rufelds and United States Chargé d’Affaires John McIntyre. Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia had all issued travel advisories warning of crime and terrorism in Trinidad and Tobago before Carnival when a threat to disrupt the celebrations was

announced by the Police Service. Rowley was asked if the Government was concerned about these advisories being issued. “We don’t have any control as to what other countries think of us but we do indicate to them our understanding of the situation and we expect that they would be understanding of our circumstances and if we were in the business of putting out advisories about other people’s countries we would have to put out similar ones like this,” he said. “We are not in this business and the world of 2018 wherever you are there are concerns of one kind or another so let us not be beaten down by it and what we don’t have control over we don’t cry over. “The way we deal with that is working as cooperatively as we can with those persons so that they can be assured that we are doing everything possible to protect our citizens and their

citizens within our borders 24/ 7,” he said. The old building that once housed the Carenage Police Station was renovated to create the Home Work Centre and Police Youth Club. It was done at a cost of $3.9 million. The project was handled by the Urban Development Corporation of T&T. Rowley said he hoped the centre showed that the police are in the business of working hand in hand with citizens for the betterment of this country. “Tensions in communities and the tensions between communities and the police are of concern but we have to try and ensure that people don’t see the Police Service or police officers as their enemy because the police relies very heavily on the cooperation of the public to bring about effective policing,” Rowley said. “I can tell you one of the areas of focus that we have is to rebuild the trust between the citizens and the police service.”

Shaneza Sampson who was taken away from her when she was just one year

old, may not remember her. Sampson returned to Guyana last year soon after she and her husband began experiencing marital problems. After trying to go back to Trinidad to see her children, she was told she was not allowed to enter the twin Island because she had overstayed her time. The 28-year-old lived in Trinidad for almost nine years and had begun her residency application; her application was placed on hold by her estranged husband after they began experiencing problems within their marriage.

From left: five-year-old Attia Walker, seven-year-old Mikayla Walker, and two-year-old, Shania Walker.

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Monday February 26, 2018

Kaieteur News

Ministry of Communities staff undergo training... FOR RENT

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK;Guyanapassport application. G r a p h i c s design, advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6004212: We create A/works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Budhram’s Landscaping & Tree cutting service. Free advice, Free design, Free after care follow up. Tel#626-1044 Learn to swim, classes for adults & children. Contact: 666-3882/ 223-2421/678-7067 Austin Powers Repairs & Services: Regas Fridges, Freezers, AC, Washer, Dryer & Wiring. Lot 114 Brushe Dam Friendship. E.C.D Tel#685-2588/613-1711

LAND FOR SALE 80 x 100 ft. Call: 692-3904 Sophia front 3.5, Corner 4.9, Herstelling front 5M. Land of Canaan 6 per acre. Call GME 231-2199, 618-7483. TOLET Spacious 2 bedrooms and 3 bedrooms top and bottom flats at Mon Repos ECD. Call: 645-2395/668-7986/629-5300. 2 Bedroom apartment in Eccles. Tel: 225-3234. 1 5-bedroom house 570 Good Hope ECD, 4 Self-contained rooms #225-3234

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

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Unregistered DAF trucks: Dump trucks, Flat bed, Flat bed with crane & Hauler. Call: 659-3100. Plant-closing down sale: potting soil, plant pot, flower plant at Garden Centre, Plantation Schoonard WBD #615-2346/627-3443/15001600 Supari palm, Lipstick, Royal, Foxtail. Exora 4 for $1000 Ficus 4 for $1000. Organic potting soil. Tel: 626-1044 Lenovo desktop with 17" Acer monitor, keyboard and mouse -$35,000. Call: 624-7155 One champion generator 4500 KVA one portable air condition unit $120,000 (neg) #655-3400 1- Caterpillar skid steer 3.2M 1-Leyland daf cement mixer 2.2M 1-canter 3.6M Land at Blankenburg 2.9M Contact #650-0402/603-1402 6000 pound ice box (1) 48 Yamaha engine 13.4 length fishing vessel. Four hundred pound sein. Tel#690-8089 20 used panel steel doors 30"36" in good condition. Contact: 661-2998 One miller welding generator, one diesel generator, 10 KVA one mig weld 240 V. Contact: 699-4300, 228-2734 1- 320 BL cat Excavator 1- 215 B cat Excavator 1- 428 cat Back-hoe 1- 450 Honda Atv. Contact: 275-0367, 683-7225 1 Double steel wheel roller 1Pneumatic roller 1- Leyland Daf truck 1- Hand spray bitumen kettle. Contact: 2750367, 683-7225 Gold & Diamond for sale or percentage, Berbice river Mazaruni. #690-5300 or 6220036

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PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Complete Building for business. Prime location in Lethem. #692-3573 Vreed-en-hoop junction. Lessons place, church, storage bond, office, other. Call: 603-6400. Petboy shop at Howes & Ketley streets, Charlestown. Call: 231-1851 Fully furnished two bedrooms apartment in providence & three bedroom in Diamond. Tel: 672-1906, 216-2299 3 bedroom upstairs for rent. Call: 666-6503, 684-7599 3 bedroom apartment top flat, Lusignan ECD. contact: 629-8240 Business place/Store for rent, located at Grove EBD.Contact 684-6331 Space for rent at Ashmin’s Building- suitable for salon or office- Call today! 683-7954

VEHICLE FOR SALE Bluebird 2012- 2.6M Axio2.5M Tida-2.2M All SALE vehicles VEHICLE FOR unregistered and have reverse camera. #655-3400 Premio car- PNN series, leather seats, dvd front and rear. Asking 1.8M neg. #6850504 Super Custom bus- BVV series, dvd front and rear. Asking 2.5M neg. #685-0504 1-Yamaha Virago 750ec motorcycle. $800,000. Contact: 661-2998

EDUCATION CXC adults classes (Business & Science subjects) Form 1-5 lessons, Grade 2-6 lessons (slow learners, personal tutor) #690-5008,618-0649 Jean offers courses in Dressmaking, Curtains, Floral, Cake decorations. Barr St, Kitty. Tel#670-2653, 638-8449. Electronic classes beginning March 6th. Enroll early, limited spaces. Abdul Electronics. Tel: 226-6551/225-0391.

WANTED 1 maid for East Bank area. Call: 614-4358 Experienced articulated dump truck drivers to work in the interior. Kindly contact: 223-7165 for futher details. Experience curry cooks, counter servers, drivers, roti/ puri cooks. Apply Hack’s Halaal. 5 Commerce St. Experienced Sand Truck Driver. Apply to Christine’s Variety Store, Lombard Street or Call 227-8529, 626-8003. Live in waitress to work in bar. Call: 604-6606/ 692-4649 Seeking a live in caregiver preferably from the East Coast area. For more information call: 592-690-0122 One accounts clerk, must have knowledge of QuickBooks. All applications must be sent to info@cevons.com Experienced Handyman, porter all below 40 years. Apply with written application. Keyfood McDoom Village. Do you need a good driver? very responsible and reliable, has an excellent driving record. Call:650-5913 Experienced General Manager to operate stringer (string gold) in the interior. Contact number: 223-7165 1 live in couple Duties wifelight domestic, husbanddriving, Georgetown area. Tel# 227-1830

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(From page 7) the need to create greater group or organisational efficiency, working in a context of continuous change, dealing with bureaucracy and increasing organisational performance. Also critical to level three managers is the ability to address strategic leadership challenges such as vision, mission, broad environmental factors that impact an organization, or strategic planning and developing of implementing HR systems and processes or dealing with human resource related issues and problems of work/life balance. The Caribbean Leadership Project is a seven-year programme funded by the

VACANCY Hair station & Barber station rental, New market street #638-1106. Experienced persons preferable. Room attendant, age 25-45 Tel#225-0198 or visit 233 South road, Lacytown. Chef, Assistant chef, Cashier - Waiter call: 611-5615, 2257933 or visit us at 173 Sheriff street. KITCHEN ASSISTANT (HOUSEKEEPING DAYSHIFT) REQUIRED AT AAGMAN RESTAURANT. CONTACT: 219-0158 BETWEEN 9AM - 5 PM (WEEKDAYS) Experienced salespersons 2545 yrs needed for store on the East Coast Demerara. Call #642-1141 Accounts clerk- knowledge of NIS,PAYE,VAT and QuickBooks. Call: 614-4358 Female cleaner for office in Eccles. Call: 233-2745 PROPERTY FOR SALE Lot 15 Public road #2 Village. West Coast Berbice. 49ft by 10,314ft. $20M. Contact:6487109/686-4818 166 4th street, Alexander Village. Tel#691-6201 House and land available @ La Parfaite Harmonie, Providence, Etc. Financing assistanceavailable. ContactPacific Development: 223-6035/ 604-4909 Yorrowkabra, Linden Highway, House, Chicken pen, New foundation, Land 200' x 100' Fenced, water & light. 6.5M neg. Contact: 6867180 2 story transported house for sale, located in a residential area, Atlantic Gardens ECD. Contact: 684-4936

Government of Canada with a view to enhancing the leadership capacity within the public sector and regional institutions in 12 Caribbean countries. As part of its mandate to support, Heads of Government and key regional institutions through the development of leadership capacity, the CLP is undertaking its 2nd Action Research Roundtable project on the Enabling Environment for Leadership Development and Practice in Caribbean Public Services and regional institutions. This aims to develop a deeper understanding of the enabling environment in which leadership is developed and practiced; increase organisational capacity to internally assess its enabling environment and develop and implement plans to make its internal environment more enabling for leadership development and practice. To this end, the CLP has developed an enabling environment assessment tool, based on its Caribbean-wide research on leadership development and practice. The Ministry of Communities has agreed to pilot the toolkit, as a part of its broader organisational change initiatives and strategic objectives. As a participating organisation, the Ministry will conduct an assessment and develop an improvement initiative for implementation in the Ministry. The pilot project began with an assessment to determine the extent to which the environment is enabling Transformational Leaders, and to assist in pinpointing key factors to address and provide tools and support to initiate organisational change through our pilot. Heads of Departments and Senior Staff participated in the pilot project, which was initiated with the completion of the online assessment which was then used to inform the direction of the pilot. On completion of the assessment, an “Enabling Environment Indicator (EEI) Organization Assessment Interpretive Report for the Ministry of Communities” was compiled. Based on the EEI assessment report the key areas in order of priority for immediate improvement were the development of leadership skills, providing necessary resources and sustaining leaders’ wellbeing.

Monday February 26, 2018

Kaieteur News

Gun lobby pushes back on Trump’s gun plans after Florida shooting WA S H I N G T O N (Reuters) - The National Rifle Association pushed back yesterday against modest proposals by President Donald Trump and other Republicans to change U.S. gun laws in the wake of a school shooting in Florida that killed 17 students and staff. The powerful gun lobby group does not support Trump’s proposals to raise the age limit for buying certain types of guns and to ban bump stocks that enable semi-automatic rifles to shoot hundreds of rounds a minute, a spokeswoman said on ABC’s “This Week.””The NRA doesn’t back any ban,” Dana Loesch said. Trump was endorsed by the NRA in his 2016 presidential election campaign and often trumpets his support for the constitutional right to own guns. But the Feb. 14 massacre at a Florida high school has mobilized high school students to push for restrictions on gun sales, spurred several companies to

President Donald Trump sever ties with the NRA and energized gun-control activist groups. As November congressional elections draw closer, Trump and Republicans are under pressure to show they are responding to concerns about school safety without angering supporters who oppose gun control. Since the Florida shooting, Trump has declared support for raising the age limit to 21 from 18 for buying rifles. The 19-year-old

shooter at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida had bought his AR-15 semi-automatic rifle legally. “That’s what the NRA came out and said, that’s correct,” Loesch said when pressed on whether the group opposes raising the minimum age. Trump also has asked the Justice Department to develop a regulation that would effectively ban the sale of bump stocks, an accessory used last year by a shooter who killed 58 people at a Las Vegas outdoor concert, the deadliest attack by a single gunman in U.S. history. Trump has also said he supports legislation to tighten background checks for gun buyers, although he has not provided specific details. Republican Senator Pat Toomey, a sponsor of a bill that would require background checks for weapons sold at gun shows and on the internet, said Trump’s support could help advance proposals that floundered in years passed.

Students who walked out of their Montgomery County, Maryland schools protest against gun violence in front of the White House in Washington. /Reuters

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Monday February 26, 2018

PM Nagamootoo could return April Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who is recuperating in the United States after bypass heart surgery, could return in April. Kaieteur News understands that doctors, who continue to monitor his recovery, have set a timetable of another six to eight weeks for his return. The Prime Minister departed Guyana on Saturday, February 3 for the US. In his absence, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, has been performing the duties of Prime Minister. On Saturday, it was announced that President David Granger will not be attending the Twenty-Ninth Inter-sessional Meeting of The Conference of Heads of Government of The Caribbean Community (CARICOM). “The Guyanese Head of State regrets his absence at the meeting but has opted to remain in Guyana to focus on domestic issues at this time,” a government statement said. The statement did not explain what the domestic issues were. Guyana’s threemember delegation to the meeting which commended yesterday in Haiti is being led by Greenidge. News of the Prime Minister’s health condition

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo came as a shock. The Prime Minister was advised by local doctors to seek further intervention following a routine medical examination in Guyana which revealed that he has ‘some cardiac issues’. Due to the recommendation from the local medial team, Nagamootoo brought forward a planned, private visit to the US. Guyana has expressed appreciation to the surgeons, doctors, nurses and other medical professionals in Guyana and in the United States who provided “excellent” care to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister continues to receive daily support of his wife, Sita Nagamootoo and other close relatives.

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Kaieteur News

NEW DATE SET FOR PRESIDENTIAL TERM LIMIT HEARING AT CCJ The appeal in relation the Presidential Term limit is set to be heard by the Caribbean Court of Justice, (CCJ) on March 12 at 10:00 am. The Court had previously set a tentative date for the hearing. However, the CCJ Website now has the hearing listed for March 12. The closely watched case was initially filed on behalf of Georgetown resident, Cedric Richardson, in February 2014. Richardson had argued that the Act 17 of 2001, which was passed by a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly, was 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. He also wanted the court to determine whether the amendment with a referendum should not have been held, instead of the twothirds majority in the National Assembly having the powers to decide to limit the number of terms. After several months in the court, former Chief Justice

Ian Chang 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. The Court of Appeal subsequently upheld a decision by former Chief Justice Ian Chang, ruling that the two-term presidential limit is unconstitutional. Former Chancellor of the

Judiciary, Carl Singh was supported by then Justice of Appeal, B.S. Roy in upholding Justice Chang’s decision. However, then Chief Justice (Ag) Yonette Cummings-Edwards, who also sat on the panel, gave a dissenting judgment. 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. The State later mounted a

challenge to CCJ following a ruling of the Court Of Appeal which upheld a decision by former Chief Justice Ian Chang, which rendered the two-term presidential limit unconstitutional. As the case reaches the CCJ, two Barbadian attorneys are likely to be part of the legal team representing Guyana. Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams S.C recently spoke of the likelihood of Government retaining the services of two Barbadian Queen’s Counsel, Ralph Thorne and Hal Gollop.

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Monday February 26, 2018

Kaieteur News

North Korea offers talks with US …White House - North must lead to ending nuclear programme

Kim Yong Chol, centre, vice chairman of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party Central Committee, arrives to attend the closing ceremony of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, yesterday. (Korea Pool/Yonhap via AP) SEOUL/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said any talks with North Korea must lead to an end to its nuclear programme after senior officials from Pyongyang visiting South Korea said yesterday their government was open to talks with the United States. The North Korean delegation, in Pyeongchang for the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics, met at an undisclosed location with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, and expressed a willingness to meet with the United States, Moon’s office said in a statement. The Pyongyang delegation said developments in relations between the two Koreas and between North Korea and the

United States should go hand in hand, according to the statement. The Olympics gave a boost to recent engagement between the two Koreas after more than a year of sharply rising tensions over the North’s missile programme and its sixth and largest nuclear test in defiance of U.N. sanctions. The United States announced on Friday it was imposing its largest package of sanctions aimed at getting North Korea to give up its nuclear and missile programmes. Yesterday, North Korean state media accused the United States of provoking confrontation on the Korean peninsula with the sanctions.

China sets stage for President Xi Jinping to stay in office indefinitely BEIJING (Reuters) China’s ruling Communist Party yesterday set the stage for President Xi Jinping to stay in office indefinitely, with a proposal to remove a constitutional clause limiting presidential service to just two terms in office. Since taking office more than five years ago, Xi has overseen a radical shake-up of the party, including taking down top leaders once thought untouchable as part of his popular war on deeprooted corruption. Sunday’s announcement, carried by state news agency Xinhua, gave few details. It said the proposal had been made by the party’s Central Committee, the largest of its elite ruling bodies. The proposal also covers the vice president position. Xi, 64, is currently required by China’s constitution to step down as president after two five-year terms. Nearing the end of his first term, he will be formally elected to a second at the annual meeting of China’s largely rubber-stamp parliament opening on March 5. There is no limit on his tenure as the party and

President Xi Jinping military chief, though a maximum 10-year term is the norm. He began his second term as head of the party and military in October at the end of a party congress held once every five years. Zhang Lifan, a historian and political commentator, said the news was not unexpected, and it was hard to predict exactly how long Xi could stay on in power. “In theory he could serve longer than Mugabe but in reality, no one is sure exactly what will happen,” Zhang said, referring to Zimbabwe’s former president whose four

decades in office ended in November, after the army and his former political allies moved to force him out. Though positive remarks filled the comments section under the pages of main state media outlets like the People’s Daily, the move was not welcomed by everyone on China’s Twitter-like Weibo service, “If two terms are not enough, then they can write in a third term, but there needs to be a limit. Getting rid of it is not good!” wrote one Weibo user. Constitutional reform needs to be approved by parliament, which is stacked with members chosen for their loyalty to the party - meaning the reform will not be blocked. There has been persistent speculation that Xi wants to stay on in office past the customary two five-year terms. The October party congress ended without appointing a clear eventual successor for Xi. However, the role of party chief is more senior than that of president. At some point, Xi could be given a party position that also enables him to stay on as long as he likes.

Monday February 26, 2018

Rashid Khan rises to the top of the T20 charts too

Rashid Khan scooped the Man-of-the-Match award. (Getty Images) ESPNcricinfo - Afghanistan legspinner Rashid Khan has risen to the top of the ICC’s rankings for T20I bowlers, to go with his joint No. 1 status in the ODI charts. Rashid claimed top spot in the T20 lists after taking five wickets at an average of 8.40 and economy of 5.25 in two matches against Zimbabwe in Sharjah. New Zealand legspinner Ish Sodhi is in second place, 59 points behind Rashid’s tally of 759. There were changes at the top of the charts for T20I batsmen and allrounders as well. New Zealand’s Colin Munro became the top ranked T20I batsman once again, after scoring 176 runs at a strike rate of nearly 210 in the Trans-Tasman Trination Series against Australia and England. And Australia’s Glenn Maxwellbecame the No. 1 T20I allrounder for the third time after scoring 233 runs and taking three wickets in the same tournament.

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Kaieteur News

Kohli, Dhoni and key bowlers rested for Nidahas Trophy ESPNcricinfo - Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni have been rested from the Nidahas Trophy, a T20I tri-nation series in Sri Lanka in March, also involving Bangladesh. Rohit Sharma was named stand-in captain of India’s 15man squad, with Shikhar Dhawan his deputy. India also rested several other limited-overs regulars in fast bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah, wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav and allrounder Hardik Pandya. Kuldeep had missed the three T20Is in South Africa with an injury. The five new inclusions in the squad were wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, allrounders Vijay Shankar and Washington Sundar, batsman Deepak Hooda and fast bowler Mohammad Siraj. “We’ve kept in mind the workload and upcoming schedule while finalising the team for Nidahas Trophy,” chairman of selectors MSK Prasad said. “The highperformance team has suggested that adequate rest should be given to our fast bowlers to help improve athletic performance, maximise rest and prevent injury. MS Dhoni was not available for selection as he had requested for rest.”

Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni have a chat. (BCCI) India have only just finished their first tour of a long away season. Some of the rested players had extremely heavy workloads in South Africa. Pandya played every game on the tour - three Tests, six ODIs and three T20Is - while Kohli and Bumrah missed only one T20I each. India’s next tour is in July, when they travel to England, but their players will play the IPL in April and May, and a home Test against Afghanistan in June. Pant returned to the side after enjoying success in India’s domestic limitedovers tournaments. He

was joint top-scorer during Delhi’s title-winning campaign in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament - in January, he smashed the second fastest T20 hundred and made a 93-ball 135 against Himachal Pradesh in the 50over Vijay Hazare Trophy. Pant had last played for India in July 2017, when he made a laboured 38 against West Indies. Baroda’s Hooda and Tamil Nadu’s Shankar have been regulars in India A teams over the last few years. Hooda was among the top-scorers in the Vijay Hazare Trophy this season, making 352 runs at

50.28, while Shankar is fresh off scores of 84 and 100. Both Hooda and Shankar have been part of India squads in the past, but neither of them is capped. Sundar and Siraj were both part of India’s team for the limited-overs games against Sri Lanka just before the South Africa tour. Siraj has had particularly good form since, picking up three five-wicket hauls in seven 50over matches for Hyderabad and topping the bowling charts with 23 wickets. The tri-nation series involves Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and begins on March 6. Each team will play the other twice, before the final on March 18. Squad Rohit Sharma (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik, Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Vijay Shankar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammad Siraj, Rishabh Pant Squad changes Out - Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav In - Washington Sundar, Vijay Shankar, Mohammad Siraj, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant

PAGE 30

South Korea brings curtain down on ‘Peace Games’ PYEONGCHANG, South Korea (Reuters) - South Korea brought the curtain down on its “Peace Games” y e s t e r d a y, w i t h w i n t e r sports athletes dancing and singing together at a vibrant closing ceremony, though there was little warmth between dignitaries from the United States and North Korea. South Korea President Moon Jae-in, who hopes to use these Games as an opportunity to engage with the North, warmly greeted U.S. President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka before offering a brief handshake to North Korean delegation leader Kim Yong Chol. Despite the cool body language, Moon’s efforts may be bearing fruit. The South’s presidential office said yesterday that members of the North Korean delegation had expressed the North’s openness to talks with the United States. Trump sat front and center, beside Moon’s wife, while North Korea’s Kim was seated a row behind, decked out in a long black jacket and furry hat. Sitting two seats along from him was General Vincent Brooks, the commander of U.S. Forces Korea.

Monday February 26, 2018

Kaieteur News

Kim’s appearance at the closing ceremony has been greeted with outrage by some in South Korea. The former North Korean intelligence chief is accused of having been behind a deadly 2010 attack on a South Korean warship. South Korean protesters tried to block Kim’s motorcade to the closing ceremony earlier in the day. Despite the divisions and distrust between the two Koreas, they agreed to have their athletes march together at both the opening and closing ceremonies under a banner of unification. They also fielded a unified women’s ice hockey team. International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach paid tribute to the athletes, saying they were an example to the world. “You have shown how sport brings people together in our fragile world; you have shown how sport builds bridges,” he said. “The IOC will continue this Olympic dialogue, even after we extinguish the Olympic flame. “In this, we are driven by our faith in the future.” During his speech, Bach invited several athletes to join him on stage, including

South Korea’s gold medalist skeleton rider Yun Sung-bin, North Korean figure skater Ryom Tae Ok, American skier Lindsey Vonn and Tongan flag carrier Pita Taufatofua. Bach signed off by calling upon the youth of the world to gather in Beijing in four years’ time for the 2022 Winter Games. With the ceremony showcasing cutting-edge South Korean technology and a remarkable drone show that dotted out the image of the Games mascot Soohorang, a white tiger, in the night sky, athletes marched into the stadium, many wearing their medals. The Russian flag, absent at the opening ceremony, was again nowhere to be seen after the IOC decided not to lift the suspension on their country. It was a bitter-sweet day for Russian athletes, who after savoring the high of winning a nail-biting men’s ice hockey final on Sunday then had to march without their flag. Russians were forced to compete as neutral athletes at Pyeongchang, an IOC punishment for years of drug scandals involving allegations that Russia ran a systematic, state-backed drug-cheating programme.

Petra’s third annual Corona Futsal Tournament

Future Stars win big, Tiger Bay upset Sparta Boss on opening night

Action between Channel 9 (left) and North East in Petra’s third annual Futsal tourney. The opening night of Petra’s third annual Corona Futsal tournament kicked off on Saturday at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue with six entertaining matches. This tournament which will carry a total prize purse of over $2million began with a nine-goal thriller, in the first group roundrobin encounter between Mocha and Plaisance which the former won 5-4. Steffon Ramsey bagged a brace to lead Mocha to victory, making Akeem Thomas’ similar brace for Plaisance a vain effort. In the feature match of the night, Tiger Bay displayed their potential to be one of the frontrunners for the $600,000 grand cash prize after defeating one of the tourney’s perennial favourites Sparta Boss 3-2. Alpha Fletchman netted a double, while Deon Alfred provided the finishing touch to erase Jeremy Garret and Sheldon Shepherd early goals. Meanwhile, Future Stars predictably made light work of Campbellville Extreme with an easy 6-0 thumping that was spearheaded by a

brace from Kareem Knights. Moses Griffin, Andre Webber and Melvin Ross each scored once as Albouystown defeated Y.M.C.A 3-1 in the third match at the Gymnasium on Saturday before Leopold Street and Alexander Village played to an entertaining 3-3 draw in the fourth match. Jermaine Beckles and Selwin Williams both scored twice for Back Circle as the team got past Broad Street 6-3 in the penultimate game of the night. More heated group matches are expected when the tournament continues tomorrow at the same venue due to the incentive for teams in the group stage; the top finishers will get an additional $40,000, second place $30,000, third place $20,000 and fourth place $10,000. Meanwhile, the runners-up $300,000 and third place $150,000, and the MVP of the tournament and a lucky patron will receive one motorbike each from part sponsors Rose Ramdehol through their hero brand. (Calvin Chapman)

See below tomorrow’s fixtures for the tournament which is also being sponsored by NAMILCO. 2/27/2018 Round Robin Day 2 Gymnasium Match # 19:00 hrs Tucville v/s Show Stoppers 7 19:50 hrs Alpha Warriors v/s Kingstown 8 20:40 hrs Bent Street v/s California Square 9 21:30 hrs Old School Ballers v/s New Market Street 10 22:20 hrs North East v/s Channel 9 11 23:15 hrs West Front Road v/s Sophia 12

Kenya’s Chumba reigns supreme at Tokyo Marathon (Reuters) - Kenya’s Dickson Chumba cruised to victory at the Tokyo Marathon, beating Japan’s Yuta Shitara who set a national record yesterday. Chumba, who previously won the event in 2014, sprinted clear from the lead pack near the 36-km mark and held off a late charge from Shitara to cross the line in two hours, five minutes and 30 seconds. Shitara was 41 seconds adrift as he finished ahead of Kenya’s Amos Kipruto, who timed 2:06:33. The 26-year-old Shitara’s 2:06:11 becomes the fastest time in history for a Japanese man ahead of Toshinari Takaoka’s 2:06:16 finish in Chicago in 2002. In the women’s category, Ethiopia’s Birhane Dibaba and Ruti Aga claimed the top two positions in 2:19:51 and 2:21:19,

Dickson Chumba of Kenya. (Daily Nation) respectively. American Amy Cragg came across in 2:21:42 to take third spot. Hiroko Yoshitomi was the first to cross the line among Japanese women, claiming sixth place in 2:30:16.

Monday February 26, 2018

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Manchester City thrash Arsenal to win League Cup final LONDON (Reuters) - Pep Guardiola claimed his maiden English silverware as his side thrashed Arsenal 3-0 in the League Cup final with Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany and David Silva all on target in a disappointingly onesided showpiece yesterday. The first meeting between the sides in a domestic final was no classic but Spaniard Guardiola will not care after his side’s class eventually shone through at a freezing Wembley Stadium. City, who will also win the Premier League title barring a monumental collapse, did not even have to hit top gear to lift the trophy for the third time in five years. Aguero’s 18th-minute goal gave City a halftime lead and Arsenal withered after the break as Kompany prodded in from close range after 58 minutes before Silva thumped home a left-footer seven minutes later. Arsenal’s fans left in droves in the final 20 minutes while City’s fans decorated the stadium with sky blue. After a trophy-less first season in charge of City, Guardiola’s career major trophy haul as a manager stands at 19, having won 11 with Barcelona and seven at Bayern Munich. “It’s important. We’re so happy, and a big congratulations to all of Manchester City, and our fans. This trophy is for Manchester City and not for me,” Guardiola, whose side’s bid for an unprecedented quadruple was wrecked by a shock FA Cup defeat by thirdtier Wigan Athletic on Monday, said. “The first half we were not good, there were a lot of mistakes, in the second half we played with a lot more courage and personality — we were outstanding.” Arsenal have now lost a record six League Cup finals

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany lifts the Carabao Cup at Wembley following their 3-0 victory over Arsenal. (Reuters) and it remains the only silverware manager Arsene Wenger has not won. “We self-inflicted our punishment,” he said. “We had an unbelievable chance at 0-0 and then gave them a goal.” Despite the 27 points separating the sides in the Premier League, Arsenal arrived at Wembley having won their last three domestic finals, all in the FA Cup. LOST CAUSE Their pedigree in knockout play offered hope of some salvation for another disappointing league campaign, but from the moment Aguero opened the scoring it looked a lost cause. For all City’s dazzling football this season, the breakthrough came from an old-fashioned 70 metre hoof forward by City’s keeper Claudio Bravo — who had kept his place in favour of usual keeper Ederson. Aguero got the better of

Ice Hockey: Russians sing... From page 32 hockey powerhouses Sweden and Canada, and they were not about to quit with the gold medal on the line. They came back twice from one-goal deficits and took the lead late on a goal by Jonas Muller, who beat Vasili Koshechkin between the legs, only to have their hearts broken by Gusev and Kaprizov. “It’s a little tough right now because we all felt we could have won that game, but that’s hockey, that’s just the way it is,” German coach Marco Sturm said. “We all thought we would sit at home and watch the final on the couch. But here we are. The boys are going to bring silver home and they should be proud.” Habits are not the product of one decision — They’re the result of repeated choices that eventually become automatic responses. How can you know your true spiritual condition? By the company you keep and the choices you make. When you’re free to go, where do you choose to go? Whose company do you prefer?

Shkodran Mustafi all too easily and as the Arsenal defender stopped and appealed for a foul that never was, Aguero calmly advanced to dink a delicate finish over David Ospina as Laurent Koscielny tried to cover. Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was in use for the first time in an English final and Wenger could have been

excused for wanting to have a second look just to clarify how his side had been opened up in such schoolboy fashion. Kevin de Bruyne volleyed into the side-netting before halftime but Arsenal barely conjured a chance apart from early on when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang somehow failed to beat Bravo from close range

after Mesut Ozil’s ball in. City raised their level after the break and Arsenal lacked a chronic lack of belief that they could turn things around and win the trophy for the first time since 1993. Kompany went close with a deflected effort and the next time the Belgian defender found himself in the Arsenal

box, he poked out a leg to divert Ilkay Gundogan’s low cross into the net. When Silva buried a low shot past Ospina from Danilo’s pass seven minutes later it threatened to get ugly for Arsenal. They were spared further torment but the thousands of empty red seats behind Bravo’s goal spoke volumes.

Lukaku is too much for old club Chelsea (Reuters) - MANCHESTER UNITED 2 CHELSEA 1 Former Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku scored and then created the winning goal against his old team at Old Trafford yesterday. The win put United back in second place in the Premier League, still 13 points behind neighbours Manchester City, while Chelsea drop below Tottenham into fifth place. The win was just about merited after a much improved second- half performance by Jose Mourinho’s side. Chelsea were the brighter team early on and Alvaro Morata, brought back into the side, volleyed against the bar after only four minutes. The Londoners deserved the lead that Willian gave them after 31 minutes, taking Eden Hazard’s pass and beating David de Gea at his near post. As United improved, Lukaku belied his reputation for not scoring against the big clubs by equalising before halftime, then crossed perfectly for substitute Jesse Lingard to head the winner in the 75th minute. Each manager had brought an expensive signing back into their starting XI with

Lukaku drew United level at 1-1 just before the half-time interval, but that was not his only major contribution at Old Trafford. (Reuters) Morata replacing Pedro for Chelsea and United’s record signing Paul Pogba picked, although youngster Scott McTominay kept his place. Morata was more influential initially, hitting the crossbar from Marcos Alonso’s volleyed cross. Alexis Sanchez failed to convert a good chance for United, who fell behind four minutes later. In the second half the goalkeeper was also troubled

by drives from Danny Drinkwater and Willian that bounced in front of him. Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois was more impressive in saving a spectacular effort from Lukaku from a pass by Sanchez. United were getting on top and Lingard had been on for only a few minutes when he headed in a perfect curling cross from the right by Lukaku, whose performance added to Chelsea’s frustration

at not having secured his return from Everton in the close-season. Their mood was not improved when Hazard had to come off and Morata’s late effort was ruled out for offside by the narrowest of margins. Their mood was not improved when Hazard had to come off and Morata’s late effort was ruled out for offside by the narrowest of margins.

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Monday February 26, 2018

Ice Hockey: Russians sing banned anthem after beating Germany to gold GANGNEUNG, South Korea (Reuters) - Kirill Kaprizov scored in overtime to lead the Olympic Athletes from Russia (OAR) past a feisty Germany 4-3 yesterday to win the men’s ice hockey gold before joining his team mates to defy a ban by singing the Russian national anthem during the medal ceremony. The Russians, competing as neutral athletes at Pyeongchang as punishment for a years-long Russian doping scandal, came back from one-goal down on a goal by Nikita Gusev with less than a minute left in regulation time to force overtime in one of the most pulsating finals in the history of Olympic hockey. At their medal ceremony, the players team sang the Russian anthem over the sound of the Olympic anthem at the Gangneung Hockey Centre despite being barred from having their flag raised or anthem played. The game was played hours after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided not to restore their delegation’s Olympic status, which would have enabled them to march under their flag at the closing ceremony later on Sunday. The team’s assistant captain Ilya Kovalchuk said the players had discussed beforehand whether to sing the anthem if they were to

The Olympic Athletes from Russia ice hockey team celebrate their dramatic win over Germany. (EPA) win, and they agreed they would. “We knew that we will do it if we win,” said Kovalchuk, the all-time leading Russian goal-scorer in Olympic play. Singing the Russian anthem on the field of play is a violation of the IOC’s rules on neutrality, which were imposed on Russia as part of sanctions punishing the nation over systematic doping across many sports. The victory marked the first time a team from Russia have won the gold medal in hockey since 1992, when the so-called Unified Team representing Russia and five other former Soviet republics beat Canada for the Olympic championship. “It means a lot. We didn’t

win Olympics since ‘92,” Kovalchuk said. “It was a while ago. That was our dream. That was my dream for when I was five years old, when I started playing. It’s great and it feels good.” WILD GAME The game was a thriller from the start and ended with flair, a perfect one-time slap shot from Kaprizov that ripped past German goaltender Danny aus den Birken with Germany’s Patrick Reimer off for high sticking. Kaprizov had been fed the puck by the other Russian hero of the game, Gusev, who netted two third period goals, including the one that tied it, sending the game to overtime with less than a minute to go and the Germans looking like

Archer burst hands Gladiators opening win

Barbadian Jofra Archer. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC – Barbadian fast bowler Jofra Archer continued to prove his worth in gold, producing an incisive spell to hand Quetta Gladiators their first win of the Pakistan Super League here Saturday. Opting to bat bowl first at the Dubai International Stadium, Gladiators restricted Lahore Qalanders to 119 for nine off their 20 overs, with

New Zealand star Brendon McCullum top-scoring with 30 and West Indies player Sunil Narine getting 28. The pair put on 46 off 21 deliveries for the first wicket and even when the lefthanded Narine sliced pacer Rahat Ali to point in the fourth over, Qalanders still managed to get up to 60 for no further loss. However, Archer then scythed through the innings

with three for 23 from his four overs as Qalanders lost their next eight wickets for just 46 runs. In reply, Gladiators motored to their target with six overs to spare, behind Australian Shane Watson’s 66 off 42 deliveries, to pull off an uncomplicated nine wicket victory. Meanwhile, Darren Sammy’s Peshawar Zalmi also notched their maiden win of the tournament when they beat Andre Russell’s Islamabad United by 34 runs at the same venue. Sent in, Zalmi rallied to 176 for six off their 20 overs with Pakistan’s Kamran Akmal hitting 53 and Bangladesh’s Tamim Iqbal scoring 39. Former Barbados and West Indies batsman Dwayne Smith smashed 30 from 21 deliveries. In reply, Faheem Ashraf struck 54 from 30 deliveries but Islamabad could only muster 142 for nine. Both Russell and his fellow Jamaica and West Indies teammate, Chadwick Walton, scored 11.

they were about to pull off a huge upset. Gusev finished as the Olympic tournament’s points leader with four goals

and eight assists. The Russians found themselves evenly matched by a German team who

surprised the hockey world by making it to their first Olympic final. With the loss, the Germans won silver, their best finish ever in Olympic ice hockey and their first medal since a bronze at the Innsbruck games in 1976. On paper the final shouldn’t have been a fair fight, but the Germans, playing hockey for a country primarily obsessed with football, skated evenly with the OAR, a team loaded with top home-grown talent from Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League, seen as the world’s second-best league after the NHL, and led by ex-NHL all stars Pavel Datsyuk, their captain, and Kovalchuk. The Germans had punched above their weight to get to the final, beating Continued on page 31

Cross-country skiing: Historic Bjoergen storms to mass start gold

Marit Bjoergen of Norway celebrates after taking gold in the 30km crosscountry skiing event. (AP) PYEONGCHANG, South Korea (Reuters) - Norway’s Marit Bjoergen stormed to gold in the women’s 30km mass start cross-country ski race, claiming her 15th Olympic medal in the final competition of the Pyeongchang Games yesterday. Bjoergen, the most decorated Winter Olympian of all time, broke early and kept up a relentless pace to finish almost two minutes ahead of silver medalist Krista Parmakoski of Finland, with Stina Nilsson taking the bronze for Sweden. The 37-year-old has been superb in Pyeongchang, writing history in almost every race, and the eighth Olympic gold of her career and fifth medal overall at these Games put her into two more select band of athletes. Bjoergen equaled the record of eight career golds at the Winter Games, matching two compatriots, biathlete Ole Einar Bjoerndalen and crosscountry skier Bjoern Daehlie. She also equaled the record of winning five medals

at a single Games, something 10 athletes have done, including Bjoergen herself in 2010. “I‘m really happy and it’s hard to understand what I have done from my first Olympics in Salt Lake until now,” she told reporters. Like Iivo Niskanen in Saturday’s men’s race, Bjoergen made an early break, gradually opening up a gap and never looking back. The chasing group of Sweden’s Charlotte Kalla, Finns Krista Parmakoski and Kerttu Niskanen and Teresa Stadlober of Austria would have hoped that Bjoergen would burn out and then fade away but instead she built up a lead of almost a minute by the halfway mark. A change of skis saw Kalla drop out of the chase briefly but it would make little difference to her chance of a gold medal with Bjoergen, rather than tiring, continuing to increase her lead. The Swede was left battling to get on to the podium. Kalla’s cause was helped when Stadlober took a wrong

turn on the tight, winding course but it was team mate Stina Nilsson who came out of the pack to battle for bronze as Niskanen also fell away. Bjoergen had the luxury of skiing at a leisurely pace over the line, waving a Norwegian flag, while Parmakoski cruised in almost two minutes behind her to claim the silver. Nilsson, who won the individual sprint medal and took silver in the team sprint, timed a late spurt to pass Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg, rounding her Norwegian opponent and beating her to the line for the bronze. Bjoergen’s emotions got the better of her as she crossed the line and the most successful Winter Olympic athlete of all time explained that she was thinking of her young son as she did so. “I think my feelings were that I could do it on this distance and also that I have been a mother and I have been three weeks away from Marius, and now I knew that I‘m finished and tomorrow I can see him,” she said.