Kaieteur News
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Wednesday February 26, 2020
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
An adoring society They need, use, and leverage each other for the high stakes of the bigger picture. It is a reciprocal backscratching society, this leadership couple forced to fight above their weights, and who somehow always seem to emerge from their self-inflicted wounds glowing and stronger. The two political battle cruisers are the President of the United States and the weighed down, slowed down, and falling down Prime Minister of the so-called largest democracy in the world, India.Though their relationship has had some ups and downs, with trade issues and sanctions controversies, it has been a convenient and mutually self-serving political partnership that, at times, could exhibit all the elements of a full-blown love fest. And that is precisely what happened on centre stage before a watching world anxious about coronavirus, but still intrigued and engaged enough to observe the raucous welcoming rally in the home state of the Indian Prime Minister. It was one more spectacular show put on by the careful and politically sharply calibrated Indian leader, who did the same for visiting leaders, such as China’s Xi Jinping, Japan’s Shinzo Abe, and America’s Barack Obama (Wall Street Journal, “Trump kicks off India visit with massive rally”, February 24). Once again, it should not surprise anyone if the host did heavily orchestrate the massive turnout from his base of countless multitudes. It is the fitting occasion to showcase to the world his seeming popularity, while it emphasizes the fervent religious hold that his politics, and increasingly his country, has found fit to prioritize upon, capitalize upon, and expand upon to the detriment and distress of formidable minorities in India. The leader of the Western world knows how to fuel immigrant fears and passions, and relishes sticking it to both those who come, and those who stand in his way within the United States. Nativist rages and energies are artfully harnessed and rechanneled against those who dare to object, who speak of the great precepts of liberalism, human rights, and similar such bracing dignities. For his part, his Indian counterpart has been a casebook study of first taking stock, then moving ruthlessly against by trampling upon, by slow and inexorable degrees, those who stand in resistance against his autocratic and heavy-handed ways. The hue and cry has come from inside India and some of the more tolerant and progressive segments of its far-flung diaspora. They have both been to little avail, since the man at the helm of the subcontinent has responded by putting his head down, which limits his hearing of what he does not want to hear, and continued along his chosen course of action by charging straight ahead. When the domestic programmes and actions of the two leaders are observed and compared, it becomes clear that they will not shrink from steamrolling forward. Regardless of how matters shake out, they resist internal opponents and critics, international watchdog agencies and foreign leaders, or the legacies being spawned, along with the still unknown and unintended consequences that come from such putdowns, comedowns, and throw downs. As in the United States, a huge number have been impacted, and not for the better. In fact, their lives have been made more miserable, through the imagined, if not lived, hells brought about by policies and processes that are draconian and lacking in any feel, any sympathy, for those on the receiving end of the disfigured results that rear ugly heads and frighten into submission and retreat. It is from circumstances such as these, which are tailormade for the retaliatory, that unchecked and undetected militancy rise to the fore and wreak havoc. The United States is concerned about origins and dilutions to its Eurocentric base, which is more than demographic, and definitely stained with deep concerns over ethnic taint. In India, the inclinations are less of racial bigotries and more of widening religious ones, no matter how denied. And this is what bonds the two leaders and the vast majority of their peoples: it is the fear of the rampaging outsider dictating terms and threatening by seepage and time to overwhelm and diminish. Both leaders see themselves as saviours of the homeland, as once known, as still envisioned. And therein comes a world of dissonance.
Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.
Private polling places – there should be none DEAR EDITOR, Are we mad? How long has this been allowed to exist? And how come nobody saw it fit to object strenuously and ceaselessly? I am talking about this matter involving private polling stations, as in the residences of individuals and families. At current count, they have been unilaterally reduced from 166 in 2015 to 92 for the 2020 elections (“Carter Centre did address the use of private polling stations in report”, KN February 25). I think that other than for unavoidable circumstances, there should be none of these ticking weapons of mass national passions. I label them that because they facilitate the emergence of speculations and suspicions about trickeries and deceptions, and this applies whether the residence used is that of a PPP person or of one from the PNC; and when those hard positions take hold, then it is down the tubes for us, with the usual endless
squabbling about who cheated whom, and who rearranged the voting situation to favour their group. Of course, it is inevitable, that matters would immediately assume a racial complexion and texture, which only adds the incendiary to an already bubbling toxic stew. The rest of Guyana could want this, support this, and holler for this, as the Private Sector did by expressing that it is ‘gravely concerned’ over polling place changes, and because of which it is urging Gecom to go back to what was (SN February 25). I always thought that I was the unsettled one around here; but now the erratic and suspect Private Sector looks most unhinged with such an exhortation. Nothing good could come of it, as it is a recipe for trouble, serious trouble. If I recall accurately, there was an incident in the 2015 elections involving a party activist and claims about spiriting away ballot material to his residence in Sophia; accurately or
not, it ended up rather distressingly and deplorably. I am sure that no sane Guyanese would wish for a repeat of this in 2020, and on a grander scale, now that the private polling places cat is roaming around in public. I don’t. Thus, I think that, partisan advantage aside, (and I don’t care to which group), this business about private polling stations should have been gone a long time ago. It certainly caught me by surprise. Clearly, they cannot be considered to be “neutral” as the Carter Centre pointed out a while back. In my book, neutral means not in any place that permits the usual disbeliefs; or which raises unmoving suspicions thereto; I would construe neutral to indicate open public places. If and when (and only then) there are no such spaces within a defined perimeter, as may be the case in some interior locations, only in those limited situations could I support the (Continued on page 6)
Appeal to GECOM Chair on Polling Places DEAR EDITOR, Madame Chair of Gecom Ret’d Justice Claudette Singh’s approval number is taking a beating over the decision to shut down polling stations that create hardship for tens of thousands of voters. Her reputation is being badly hurt. This is a major finding of an ongoing tracking opinion poll being conducted by this writer for NACTA. Too many voters are a f f e c t e d b y G e c o m ’s decision a week ago to reduce the number of polling stations. Some respondents in the poll describe the act as ‘mischievous’ and worse, a conspiracy ‘to manipulate’ the outcome of the election. Others see it as tied to skullduggery to influence the results of the election. There is much anxiety among voters on whether they will be able to exercise a constitutional right to vote. Many legal minds say the doctrines of fairness and equality of access to polling places are being violated by forcing voters out of their communities to cast ballots – creating unnecessary hardships and encumbrance t o v o t i n g . Vo t e r s a r e pleading on the Chair, a former judge herself, appealing to her sense of fairness, to reconsider the decision to reduce the number of polling stations and restore them, so as to facilitate easy access to their traditional place of voting.When Madame Ret’d
Justice Claudette Singh was appointed the Chair of Gecom last July, she started out on a very high approval rating in the 70th percentile. People described her as person of integrity they could trust and as someone who would deliver free and fair elections. They reposed confidence in her professionalism as a fair and neutral professional on electoral and judicial matters. Her approval rating was the highest for public officials in the country, way above the President and Opposition Leader. Since then, Chair Claudette S i n g h ’s f a v o r a b i l i t y numbers declined sharply to the 40th percentile by December as a result of some errors of judgment related to electoral lists. Her approval was on the mend reaching the 50th percentile by late January. People began to repose confidence in her again that she would deliver credible elections. And then came the decision a week ago to reduce the number of polling stations, that has the potential to disenfranchise tens of thousands of voters, by forcing them out of their communities to vote elsewhere, without any public hearing or consultations. Many don’t even know where they have to go to vote, saying they have not been informed. The nation at large, find the decision to close some
polling places inexplicable, with some saying it is ‘irrational’. This decision is hurting the Chair’s approval and favourability ratings (dropped to the 30th percentile) even among many who have been cheering her leadership ability. Gecom’s approval rating has also sunk to the 20th percentile in what voters describe as a poor decision at this late hour to close many polling stations creating undue hardship. Tens of thousands of voters are worried they would not be able to cast
ballots. They complain they are being inconvenienced, while other voters are not. They protest that they have to travel far distances to vote while others are voting in their communities, creating unequal conditions that can be ground for legal challenge. This, legal minds say, is a violation of the principle of equality. The latest act has the effect of damaging the Chair ’s credibility and reputation. Voters appeal to her to restore the polling places. Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram
For the current APNU-AFC administration, incumbency is a clear disadvantage DEAR EDITOR, The view being advanced by a leading member of the APNU-AFC coalition that incumbency is an ‘advantage’ in electoral politics should be viewed with concern to all who believe in a free, fair and transparent poll. In an environment of electoral fairness, it is important that all parties, whether in or out of government, should be given an equal chance of winning. In other words, the playing field, as it were, ought to be level. Taxpayers’ money should not be used to provide the ruling party with an advantage over the other competing political parties. D e m o c r a c y i s
compromised when state resources are utilized in a manner to exert undue influence over the electorate. It is clear that State resources are being used by the incumbent administration with a view to scoring political points. The State media hardly promote the views of the other political parties. Incumbency is not an advantage in an environment where the governing coalition has performed badly and has not lived up to the expectations of the electorate as is currently the case. In the case of the current APNU-AFC administration, incumbency is a clear disadvantage. Hydar Ally
Wednesday February 26, 2020
LAWLESS AND LEWD DEAR EDITOR, A custom of lawlessness and lewdness pervades the society. Over the years it has become normalized and acceptable, to the point where it is now a cultural phenomenon. The genesis of this behaviour may be from myriad sources, but it is the people who have allowed for it to be entrenched as popculture. Nowhere and no one is free of it. All sectors of society contribute or buy into it, willingly or unwittingly. Guyanese are subsumed in this culture of unadulterated bacchanalia, where music is enjoyed for how loud it is played as opposed to how melodious it may be. Often times, it is mostly disjointed noise full of vulgarity and indecent lyrics. And this excuse for music is played 24/7, with absolutely no respect for neighbours, children, elderly, churches, mosques or mandirs. Those who speak up do so to their peril and detriment. The decibels increase, the tin sheet roofs rattle, the houses vibrate and the inhabitants are shaken to the core. Police officers may respond. A temporary respite may be granted with the noise lowered, but subsequently ramped up to maximum. Recrimination is often meted out by violators, influencers, and those within the security apparatus. Bribery in the public service is blatant and pervasive. It is a “top up” for an otherwise meagre salary. It is how many survive. For others, grafting is a means to affording a more affluent lifestyle. Having a drink or a “sport” with relatives or friends needs no special reason or event. Consumption of alcohol is as common as having tea or
coffee in the morning. Over the recent years, the use of other recreational drugs has rivalled alcohol. Once inebriated, the tongue is loosened and the demons are out. Old grudges, pent up frustrations and the sudden but false sense of invincibility invariably give rise to heated expletive-laden arguments and fights. These things are like fuel-soaked rags. All that is needed is a spark. They escalate easily and get out of control quickly. In the olden days, pickets would be pulled off fences but the cutlass is most commonly resorted to. Broadsiding and chopping up result in horrific maiming and in many cases death. The abundant recklessness on the roadways by all and sundry is commonplace. Observance and enforcement of laws and rules governing vehicular traffic, speed limits, pedestrian passage, animals, parking of vehicles etc., are blatantly violated and/or ignored. Enforcement is laughable. Most violators take the easy way out bribery. Recently, on my way to the Mosque, a crowd was amassing at the market dam between the two villages. A school child had dashed across the road and a speeding vehicle tried to avoid hitting her. It was an unsuccessful maneuver. It struck the child on the roadway and hit two others on the parapet, along with another man a further distance away. The irate father showed up and threatened to douse the vehicle with gasoline and set it ablaze. Emotions are raw and locals give their own versions of what transpired, even if they were not on the scene. Yesterday, a local farmer was pulled over and the
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papers for his tractor were demanded by the police officers. They found nothing amiss. A frivolous charge was threatened, but was quickly settled with a $10,000 “topup”. Last Tuesday, a family was attending a birthday party away from home. They had taken a designated driver along, as they wanted to drink, and knew that they would not be able to drive after. On their way home, the driver was pulled over. The officers stated that they smelled vodka. They had no breathalyzer and threatened to arrest the driver. The nervous driver insisted on his innocence but against his pleas, he was hauled into the police station while the occupants of the car were ordered to remain. The driver returned a few minutes later. He had offered a $3,000 “top-up”, but the Officers insisted that since they were five of them, it should be $5,000. A political rally was held at Golden Grove. Things got nasty very quickly. Thugs and supporters of another party invaded the space with loud noise makers, bright lights and very colourful language, disrupting the rally. It would not be incorrect to conclude that the five police officers on hand were handcuffed. Early yesterday morning, I was looking at the local drainage and happened upon the carcass of a cat. What I saw was horrific and disgusting. The cat had no head, legs or tail. It quickly dawned upon me that some sadistic person(s) had committed a gruesome killing of a domesticated animal. Not even the animals are spared of the lewdness and lawlessness that grips the nation.The media is replete (Continued on page 6)
GNBS has its house in order DEAR EDITOR, With reference to the letter captioned “I suggest the GNBS puts its house in order” in the Kaieteur News dated Monday, February 24, 2020, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), as a Government Agency, would like to state that it has its house in order. The GNBS has always strived to maintain an orderly disposition through astute planning and execution of its activities to meet the need of its stakeholders. In this regard, as of February 01, 2020, the GNBS commenced the monitoring of imported electrical equipment and fittings for quality and labelling requirements based on thirtyone Compulsory National Standards. Monitoring by the GNBS is done only for products imported and offered for sale, and this is done at the ports of entry, warehouses and sale outlets. Therefore, the role of the GNBS is not to
monitor electrical items already in use or installed by contractors. Monitoring the installation and use of electrical equipment and fittings is a function of the Government Electrical Inspectorate (GEI), which falls under the purview of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. Hence, the GNBS strongly recommends that the writer of the above-mentioned letter seek a discourse with the GEI, so that the necessary steps could be taken to have his concerns addressed. For further information, visit the Guyana National Bureau of Standards at Exhibition Site, Sophia, or its website: www.gnbsgy.org or call 219-0062, 219-0065, 219-0066. Yours sincerely, Guyana National Bureau of Standards Lloyd David Public Relations Officer
Voting in Private Buildings and Residences aka ‘bottom houses’ DEAR EDITOR, A polling place is where voters cast their vote. Such a place is supposed to have adequate numbers of polling stations, security, accredited monitoring and observation personnel and polling day officials. Moreover, polling places are not supposed to be places associated with representatives, supporters and campaigners of political parties. Sadly in Guyana, this has been the case for decades. It is no secret that these locations are unsafe on a number of levels and more often than not, are prone to electoral fraud. Anyone that tells you otherwise, either is desirous of such fraud, does not understand the history of electoral fraud that took place at private residences in Guyana and/or is simply naïve and deliber a tely unaware. In fact, the 2015 Final Report compiled by the Carter Centre with inputs from
international observer missions among others stated, “On May 11, 2015, elections were conducted in 2,229 polling stations across the country, with a maximum of 400 voters per polling station. Because of the lack of establishment of state establishm e n t s i n s o m e areas, 166 (7%) of these stations were located in private buildings and residences. While the establishment of polling stations on private property did not seem to influence public confidence in the electoral process, The Carter Center recommends that GECOM take steps in future elections to ensure that citizens can cast their ballot in a neutral environment, free from intimidation.” I am alarmed, but not surprised, that known PPP campaigners, social media trolls and operatives pretending to be private sector and civil society representatives, have now
resorted to accusing GECOM, the Carter Centre and the various groups of international observers monitoring our elections.Readers, like many of you, I have always questioned the rationale of using private buildings as polling places; especially houses belonging to and associated with persons who openly or secretively campaign for political parties. Why in this day and age, do we continue to use private buildings, including bottom houses as we refer to them, as polling places? Sincerely Andrew Small
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In this current state we can only guess what will happen on March 2nd and beyond DEAR EDITOR, We are getting closer to the long overdue General and Regional Elections on March 2nd, and the electorate is still understandably worried about GECOM’s seeming inability to act in a fair and impartial manner since the successful passing of the No Confidence Motion. We are aware that GECOM is constitutionally obliged to act with impartiality and fairness in the execution of its duties (Article 162(1) [b]. The Constitution further states in Article 226 that GECOM shall not be subject to the direction and control of any other person or authority. Is that happening? It is no assumption to say that despite these legal assurances given and guaranteed by the Constitution, GECOM has so far done nothing to build the public confidence in its ability to function as an independent body. We have seen that despite the f a c t that the List of Electors can be refreshed using the Claims and Objections period, GECOM embarked on the House to House (HtH) Registration signed by a Chairman who was illegally appointed by President Granger. Was that
act to do HtH registration legal? Granger had justified the HtH registration by claiming that the List is bloated by 200,000 names and he wants credible elections and does not want to disenfranchise anyone. The list now has far more persons than before and now it is bloated, since it is filled with duplications and persons who have died. Why did GECOM go ahead despite the fact that there has been continuous registration and the List could have been sanitized using the Claims and Objections? On July 24th last year it was reported that the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) admitted that the Official List of Electors which expired on April 30th, 2019 could still be used to execute free and fair General and Regional Elections. But GECOM for some reason passed on that. Justice (rtd.) Claudette Singh had vowed at her swearing-in ceremony that, ‘there is only one way, in accordance with the law and in accordance with the constitution, and nothing else’ and everyone had thought then that here comes the ‘iron lady’ whose entry at
Lent begins today DEAR EDITOR, Allow me to express an important aspect of Christian calendar. Today, we begin the Season of Lent. It is one of the important seasons for many Christian denominations. Lent means ‘spring’; it is a springtime where we are renewed and refreshed through the Lenten observances. We are washed clean so that we enter into paschal mysteries of Christ’s death and resurrection. The Latin-based language uses the word “Quaresma” for Lent, which simply means 40 days. After the baptism, Jesus was tempted and tried in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights whilst he was in prayer and fasting. Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent. On this day, the faithful are imposed with ashes on their foreheads
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Kaieteur News
as a reminder for repentance and fragility of humankind. The four pillars of Lent, prayer, penance, almsgiving and fasting, help not only the people in need, but make us empathize with the poor and needy people. The Season of Lent ends when the Holy Week begins on Maundy Thursday leading up to the Easter Celebrations. Christians tend to keep fast on certain days in Lent or at least forgo something like meat, chocolate, sweets, and help the people who cannot afford such food. This is to benefit one’s spiritual and philanthropic growth. A crucial aspect of Lent is reconciliation and peace. Our world needs to be reconciled
G E C O M w o u l d e nd the drama. However, it would seem that Justice Singh’s appointment made no difference. There are instances other than the HtH registration, such as CEO Keith Lowenfield’s effort to work overtime to do as much HtH registration as possible after the Chief Justice had aborted it; the ID cards saga and trying to disenfranchise voters; the fiddling with the Claims and Objections period; the effort to merge the lists; the numerous ‘errors’ and duplications on the final Official List; the illegal transfer of voters to other polling places; and now the reduction in the use of private residences as polling places in a deliberate effort to create confusion and disenfranchising numerous voters, mostly in rural perceived PPP/C support bases. This last effort has been condemned by the Private Sector Commission and they have now concluded as well that the CEO appears to have acted unilaterally and on his own by changing the polling places without informing the political parties. Moreover, it would seem that only the leader of the PPP/C is fighting this battle against the illegality being perpetrated by GECOM. Where are the other parties who want to run this country? We have seen numerous illegal acts committed by the APNU/AFC which have f a l len on deaf ears in GECOM, such as misuse of State resources for Elections campaign purposes and others, and yet the deafening silence of the smaller parties. It is time that the GECOM’s Chairperson step up and deliver on her ‘pledge’ to ensure credible elections. In this current state we can only guess what will happen on March 2nd and after the results have been declared. I do hope the international observers can act NOW rather than later! Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf
LAWLESS AND ... From page 5 with reports of disrespect for educators by students. Of parents and teachers fighting; of bullying, beatings and stabbings amongst school children. This society has been losing its sense of decency, respect, manners and morals for a long while now. It is now spiralling downward into a dark abyss. And there is not much anyone can do to turn things around. It will take exceptional leadership and a future new generation to turn things around. I am reminded that God will not change the condition of a people until they change that which is within themselves.Guyanese must endeavour to first acknowledge the errors of their ways and then embark on redemption or face the reality of continued and increasing lewdness and lawlessness. God help us all! Jay Mobeen
I hope Guyana will somehow unwrap itself from this stifling shroud that is choking us DEAR EDITOR, In these last few days before general elections, things seem relatively quiet, despite the usual din of campaign jabberwocky. However, with the stakes being as high as they are now, one wonders if this is the calm before the storm in this our kafkaesque Guyanese world? I’m no pessimist, although that is about the easiest thing a Guyanese can become, but from past experience I wonder (again), what practiced plaintive howls will emit from the losers’ lips? For sure, if it is to be the Opposition, then they will yelp: “Rigged! Rigged! Rigged!” If it is to be the incumbent, then the bleating that will fill the air will be: “Bloated list! Bloated list! Bloated list!” With the action possibly spilling into the streets, the smaller parties will hold their heads and bawl: “See, I told you so: the two behemoths only seek the splinter the country!” Meanwhile, the watching
world will frown and shake their heads condescendingly and say:” Well, what did you expect anyway, this is Guyana.” And the multinationals will only squirm with glee, it does not matter who is at the helm, US dollars can do wonders! And we wholeheartedly welcome your disunity. All this will likely come to pass, you see, because the two Big Ones and their sorry goates... I mean, surrogates, have over the years normalized post-elections confusion.In fact, they did more than that. They invented this circuitous game that goes like this: Propose and oppose, Bicker! Tit for tat, Bicker! Propose and...etc. etc. They have become so obsessed with this game and the high it gives them, that they are oblivious to the stark fact that they themselves have become an integral part of the very problem they are attempting to solve, and so their efforts at finding solutions remain futile. As I said earlier, I’m no
pessimist; rather, I prefer to think of myself as an optimist. I keep clinging tenaciously to the hope that one day soon our beautiful, but seemingly perpetually jinxed Guyana, will somehow unwrap itself from this stifling shroud that is choking us, and out of the grey horizons someone, or something, will emerge and usher in a great, yet quiet storm that will transform our lives for the better. I also hope that our Nation will unite as one; that under honest, rational and caring leadership, Guyana will seize the chance to achieve genuine development peoplewise and economic-wise; that we will be respected internationally; that our resources will be prudently and wisely managed to ensure lasting prosperity; and that the cancer of racialism, corruption, incompetence, greed and other vices that have characterized our leadership over the years will be banished. That is my hope. Yours sincerely, Alvin Smith
It is prudent to postpone the elections for another month DEAR EDITOR, It is obvious that GECOM has been illprepared to accommodate voters to express their franchise in a free and fair manner, and one which is free from fear. By drastically reducing the number of polling stations and making it extremely difficult for voters in the opposition PPP strongholds, it appears as if the government is using this tactic to increase their chances of getting the majority votes in the country. Imagine – they are using the Lusignan prison as a polling station! This site is in a relatively distant isolated area – approximately two miles from the regular village dwellings. And, can you imagine voters wanting to go to a prison site to cast their votes? Many villagers, especially women,
would not dream to undertake such a journey. This use of tents, refusal to use private dwellings (including churches, mandirs and mosques) in PPP areas, and the converging of polling stations in special areas in targeted villages (such as Mon Repos and Annandale) are enough reasons to postpone the elections for another month. Elections were due in the early part of 2019, but Mr. Granger and supporters looked for every reason under the sun to delay the elections; voters could, therefore, wait another month to ensure a fairer playing field.At this juncture, the opposition has little option but to request a postponement of the election until voters have an equal chance to vote with ease, and free from fear. Yours truly, Dr. Devanand Bhagwan
Private polling places – there should be... From page 4 use of homes, and then only under the tightest of observations and with heavy precautions taken.How anyone could - Guyanese voter or observer or contributor, as well as overseas ones - bring themselves to stifle conscience and local electoral reality to suggest that this is acceptable is beyond me; or that it should be allowed to continue, because it is late in the game, and that it is unilateral as well. I sense angling for advantage, if not skullduggery. If I am this cynical, then just think about the diehards and loyalists out there in Guyana’s elections land, and rearing to claim foul from now. I will fault the people at Gecom for being late on the draw with this one, but it cannot be left alone, as the opportunity for mischief proliferates. And, even if there is an absence of any such perversity, the suspicions will not go away tamely and totally.These circumstances present customized openings to question, to cast doubt, and to unravel what might have been a clean elec-
tions process, come March 2nd, just by their mere existence. Now I am hearing the speciousness of “disenfranchisement” being bandied about freely and unthinkingly. Surely, these compatriots could not be serious! I am troubled that they would wish to allow and perpetuate any dark corner, from which there could be danger that the entire process is called into question. As is well known, national elections are increasingly razor-thin; all it takes is for one objection to be made with a couple of votes here from a few residences here and there, for the floodgates of disputes and endless controversies to invade and cloud whatever positives that may have been realized in the voting process. The last time around it was Statements of Poll. If I were involved, I might be tempted to make a living off the existence of these polling stations that simply have to go. My regret is that more of them, all of them, could not be discarded in one fell swoop. Sincerely, GHK Lall
Wednesday February 26, 2020
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Consultancy services procured Berbice porter dies after plunging for water sector governance into trench The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) yesterday opened—— four bids for two major governmental projects at its Ministry of Finance (MoF) office on Main and Urquhart streets. One notable project included the —-procurement of consultancy services for the strengthening of water sector governance. In May 2018, the Board of Directors of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)
had approved a loan of US$1.3 million to assist in upgrading the water sector in Guyana. The funds, provided to the Government of Guyana, will be used to provide consultancy services to develop a national water policy, as well as to provide designs and estimates for the construction of water treatment plants and the upgrade of related infrastructure. In laying the groundwork for the construction of water treatment plants and the up-
grade of existing infrastructure, under the Water Sector Enhancement Project, consultants will also conduct a study to determine the feasibility of using water from the Hope Canal for potable water purposes; prepare a national water policy, and develop recommendations for institutional strengthening. This phase of the project is expected to be completed within 18 months. Below are the companies and their bids.
The Ministry of Communities (MoC) Consultancy services for strengthening water sector governance
Consultancy services for the preparation of detailed designs for water supply improvement works and feasibility studies of Hope Canal as sustain potable water source.
Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Docking of GDF’s 1022 Barracuda
Repairs to fibreglass vessels
A 22-year-old porter attached to A. Ally and Sons in New Amsterdam took his last swim on Sunday after he plunged into the “Six Bridge” trench located in Edinburgh but had to be hauled out unresponsive. Jerome Andrews died the next day while hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital. According to the eldest sister of the young man, Nikita Henry, her brother whom she was with just an hour before he ventured to the location with friends to take a swim, made a daring
Dead: Jerome Andrews plunge into the water but never surfaced. The incident reportedly took place late Sunday afternoon.
Henry told reporters that she got the message around 16:00 hrs on Sunday that her brother was fished out from the trench. She stated that his friends who were with him became frantic after they did not see him surface in the water and they began searching for his body. Minutes later, one of the boys felt his foot beneath the water and the others swam over to assist in pulling him out. His body was fished out and placed on the dam and two of his friends tried resuscitating him by executing CPR. That however was unsuccessful and he was (Continued on page 12)
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Wednesday February 26, 2020
Despite 53 flagged passengers, Guyana remains coronavirus free News about the coronavirus has been trending in recent months, and with good reason too. The coronavirus, which has been classified by the World Health Organisation [WHO] as COVID-19, is said to be a novel strain which was first reported in Wuhan, China last December. There have been thousands of deaths linked to the virus there and its impact has been spilling over to other countries. Guyana has thus far reported no case of the virus and in order to maintain this status as far as possible, the local Ministry of Public Health has activated a tactical plan. This is according to Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, when he appeared on Kaieteur Radio’s [99.1, 99.5 FM] programme, Your Health Matters. “We always have a contingency plan, a national influenza preparedness and response plan [and] that has the basic elements...,” said Dr. Persaud.He revealed that the main focus is on the country’s points of entry – the two main airports, seaports, the Moleson Creek crossing and the Lethem crossing. Even as consideration is given to the possibility of persons using other gateways, Dr. Persaud spoke of an
increase of strategically placed port health officers. “We have beefed that up with some additional medexes; we have a doctor at the Cheddi Jagan [Int’l Airport], along with three medexes and they are screening all the persons who Immigration flags,” said Dr. Persaud. According to the CMO too, “Our point of contact would be anyone who has travelled to China within the last 21 days. We have extended even for persons coming from that region. “A lot of times persons may go through, because of travel routes and airlines and so on, Korea or Japan or to Singapore; there are varying ways, so we track those also.” These passengers are required to undergo health checks, including a temperature check. A detailed questionnaire is completed with them as a means of acquiring necessary information about their travels. Thus far, there have been about 53 persons who were flagged and screened upon entry, Dr. Persaud said. Testing for the virus can be done at the National Reference Lab and supported by the Caribbean Public Health Agency. “So far, of the 53, we have had four, including a child, who wasn’t well. [For]
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud those persons, we sent out medical teams directly to their homes wherever possible...,” said Dr. Persaud who assured that their symptoms were eventually ruled out as coronavirus. He added, “We had one person who was admitted to a private hospital and was screened and eventually the diagnosis was urinary tract infection.” During January, for the celebration of the Chinese New Year, a number of persons left Guyana for China. Some of these persons, Dr. Persaud said, have been returning. “[China] has a procedure of screening them for
14 days prior to leaving and even when they come back here, we are putting them on a further 14 days...We are really erring excessively on the side of caution.” Manifesting with flu-like symptoms including fever, cough and shortness of breath, the coronavirus can spread from person to person much like a cold. But in addition to using specified face mask, Dr. Persaud said persons can help safeguard themselves by being hygienic. By simply washing your hands could be a start “to reduce this going from one person to another...That is key to us staying healthy in Guyana.” The system that the Ministry is working with is one whereby “if we do have a suspect, that is, someone who has travelled...presenting with sign and symptoms, there are two areas, one at
Diamond and one at Georgetown [Public] Hospital that were prepared for isolation. There is also a small unit at Moleson Creek with two beds that we can actually hold someone until we are able to move them. At the Cheddi Jagan Airport, they have given us additional space,” related the CMO who has requested that all hospitals, regional and private, identify isolation spaces. Speaking of the virus, Dr. Persaud noted that although the virus can be found in various strains, it is in fact not new. “We might even have a couple of strains that are not disease causing...They occur in animals and things like that. So coronavirus is not uncommon, globally,” said Dr. Persaud. In defining the current strain of the virus [COVID19], WHO was able to ascer-
tain that it is a particularly aggressive strain that may have originated in a ‘wet market’. “WHO has been working with China to put all of the information together,” said Dr Persaud. “So far, we know from the EPI Centre in Wuhan, China, several persons were infected and later on more countries across the world have already seen imported cases mainly, and a few instances of local transmission.” As he appealed to the nation to not panic by news of the virus, the CMO made it pellucid, “Other than the US, only Canada, with nine cases, has confirmed coronavirus in the Americas. So far, none in South America, Central America or the Caribbean has confirmed any case.” Regarding the global situation, Dr. Persaud revealed that WHO has been providing daily updates of cases and as at Monday, there were 78,800 reported. “You might see in US media and so on a different figure reported but this is officially what they have. China has confirmed 77,042 and of those 2,445 deaths. This is since they have officially started to count. Outside of China itself, there are 1,769 cases in 28 countries and 17 deaths in all reported,” the CMO shared. Isolated cases have been reported across the Arab World and Europe but outside of China, where it originated, Dr. Persaud said that the figures show high rates of coronavirus infection in a few other countries including: Republic of Korea - 602 cases, Japan – 132 cases, Thailand and the United States -35 cases each, and Italy with 77. Given the growing number of cases in these countries, Dr. Persaud said, “That is where a lot of the attention is now and they have been linking it to persons who came back and mingled with communities.”
Wednesday February 26, 2020
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Kaieteur News
The use of private residences as polling stations In the 2015 elections, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) established a polling station in an interior village so as to facilitate five persons voting. The polling station was established so as to accommodate five voters who would have had to travel miles to get to the nearest polling station. At that polling station, only four persons voted. GECOM had also established a polling station for one person to vote at Kurotoka Landing. The person did not turn up and therefore no vote was cast at that polling station. It shows the extent to which GECOM had gone in the past to ensure that every eligible voters was able to cast his or her ballot. It therefore came as a shock to learn that at the “unholiest of hours”, GECOM has decided to no longer have voting at certain private residences, which it had previously designated as
polling stations. The PPPC is accusing GECOM of decommissioning a number of private residences as polling stations, particularly in PPPC strongholds. GECOM is saying that it is following the advice of the Carter Center. The Carter Center in its Observer Mission Reports on elections in 2001 and 2015 did not make a negative comment about the use of private residences as polling stations. In fact, the Center alluded to the fact that in the 2015 elections a total of 166 polling stations were located at private residences. There was no recommendation made in either of these two reports for the non-use of private residences as polling stations. It is true that, as reported in yesterday’s edition of the Kaieteur News, that the Carter Center, while concurring that the use of private residences did not appear to negatively
influence public confidence in the electoral process, it did recommend the use of ‘neutral’ venues. A recommendation for the use of neutral venues does not translate to the decommissioning of private residences as polling stations. The GPSU is a private building. The union is perceived by some Guyanese in certain way. Should the GPSU building not be used as a polling station because of this perception? The Carter Center recommendation about neutral venues was part of the Appendices to the Report and not part of the main recommendations. It constituted part of a Preliminary Statement, which the Center issued two weeks after the polls. It is instructive that the issue of neutral venues did not find its way into the Conclusions and Recommendations, which are provided on pages 56 to 58. GECOM would have
DEM BOYS SEH Guyana charging people fuh leffing de country Some people does use Guyana like a strainer. Dem come in at one end and pass straight through. When people stand up at de airport, dem does see nuff people coming in. Wha dem don’t see is de people heading straight fuh de border and straight to Brazil. Some of dem want pass through Guyana so fast dat dem don’t even tek de time to check wid de immigration people at de border when dem leaving. And dat causing problems. In fact, it costing dem same people more money dat dem coulda use to do something fuh demself. De odda day nuff of dem end up in court fuh leffing de country without telling people dat dem going. Now, dem boys believe dat a country would be glad if all de illegal people just pick up demself and go away. Donald Trump doing everything to get rid of de illegal people and he can’t. In fact, dem boys never hear anybody getting charge fuh leaving de US wid or without permission. But Guyana different. De police at de bor-
der see some people leffing de country and decide to arrest dem. Dat ain’t de problem. Is when dem decide to use taxpayers money to bring dem same people to Georgetown fuh charge dem and pass dem through de court. Dem boys believe dat it woulda be cheaper to just let de people go along dem way. If de Brazilians deport dem, dat is anodda story.One man believe dat Guyana want to mek de news just like how Trump mek de news bout de Mexican border. He don’t charge nobody fuh leaving to cross over into Mexico. Is when dem traffic moving de odda way.In any case, when Guyanese travel to Suriname backtrack and come back to Guyana without stamping dem passport people don’t even know. And don’t tell people dat de coronavirus is de cause because de virus can’t live in Guyana. Dat is why nobody in Guyana got it. In fact, nobody in de Caribbean got it. De Man above know people punishing enough. Talk half and lef de people to go when dem want.
known about the Carter Center reference to private residence when it compiled its list of polling stations in January of this year. How come it still went ahead and listed private residences as polling stations? GECOM, more than a month ago, announced the number of polling stations. Did GECOM not know then that private residences were to be used as polling stations? Did it not know then of the recommendation, which it says it is following? How can GECOM wait until the “unholiest hour” to decommission private residences as polling stations? And how did GECOM now determine which of the 92 private residences which it designated as polling stations for the 2020 elections were neutral. Is GECOM God? Does it have an inside track into the voting preferences of the owners of those properties? And how come only certain private residences were decommissioned as polling stations and not others? And what is a neutral venue? A private residence per se is not a non-neutral venue. Is a public building always a neutral venue? If a particular government established a building within a community for example, does that building not stand a symbol of performance of that government? Would it equally not be considered as not being
neutral? The election management body should also state what steps it is taking to comply with the observation, made in the 2015 Report by the Carter Centre Observer Mission that no arrangements were put in place for voting by prisoners and patients in public hospitals. One can understand if there are public buildings, in close proximity to where a private residence, which was to be used as polling station, that GECOM would opt for a switch. But surely you should not be decommissioning a polling station at a private residence in favour of public building which would force voters to have to travel a much longer distance. The ultimate aim of electoral arrangements is to enfranchise persons. Not to make it difficult for them to vote. The PPPC is complaining that in the Mon Repos area as many as 7,000 eligible voters will have to crowd into two contiguous schools in order to exercise their franchise. This obviously will discourage persons from voting. It is a form of disenfranchisement. The media needs to request that GECOM provides a list of all the private residences which have been decommissioned as polling stations, the areas where these residences are located and the number of eligible voters
which were originally assigned to each of these residences. The media would then be able to determine, through its own investigation, whether persons are going to be inconvenienced by this last minute decision. The PPPC has pointed to a number of its strongholds in which there is likely to be problems with voting because of the reduction of polling stations. It is not known how many APNU+AFC strongholds are affected but there are a number of areas in which schools are not centrally located and in which also there are no public buildings capable of housing a polling station. Some villages can be miles deep and thus persons will have to have to walk a long or travel a long distance to exercise their franchise. This is unacceptable. With less than one week to go before the elections, GECOM is giving the political parties headaches. It has once again thrown a spanner into the elections machinery with a decision, which is highly contentious and fractious. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday February 26, 2020
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
What Jagdeo wanted for himself, he denied me In a very learned judgement, Justice Gino Persaud denied Minister Ferguson an injunction that if granted would have prevented Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, from further commenting on the issue of her purchase of land and housing construction. The Minister sued Jagdeo for libel and applied for the restraining order. I would ask all Guyanese in and out the lands to read Justice Persaud’s reasons. When the application was first heard, the judge made it known that the courts are not inclined to prevent free speech on matters involving national issues. He said in circumstances of libel, injunctions are rarely given. He said the pattern in jurisprudence is not to grant the
order because it may hinder the right to free speech. The hearing concluded on Tuesday and in part of his delivery, the judge observed, “The importance of leaving free speech unfettered is rarely more evident than in cases involving political debate… “ But in 2011, President Jagdeo applied for an injunction restraining me from commenting on matters of national interests when he sued me and this newspaper. Chief Justice (ag) Chang granted the order. We applied for it to be lifted months after and Justice Ramlall upheld the restraining edict of Chang. The libel suit lasted nine years during which time the injunction stood. As 2019 drew to a close, the suit was withdrawn by Jagdeo. I am
contractually bound not to discuss the withdrawal, publicly. I could never repay Nigel Hughes. He never charged me a cent and if he had to, it would have run into millions of dollars. Guyana lost a very good politician when Nigel withdrew from politics. I would also like to thank Khemraj Ramjattan for his free defense of me. He left the case in 2011 to occupy himself with AFC politics and Nigel took it way into 2019. I am indeed grateful to Khemraj. We were friends for a long time but power does mysterious things to people. I would have liked to campaign for the APNU+AFC in 2020 as I vigorously did in 2015. But my country comes first. It is the place where I have my family.
If Guyana is destroyed, it has implications for people I love. Against the power insanity of the AFC, I had to part company with Khemraj. I could never forget what the PPP did to me and my family and I could never give that party my vote. But I cannot support APNU+AFC on March 2. Country comes first. I want to see a minority government so I will vote for a third party. Right now, I have chosen Lenox Shuman. How ironic that in the midst of an election, Jagdeo’s double standards are on display for the world to see. He asked a judge to restrict my right to free speech as a university lecturer and newspaper columnist. Two judges granted his request. But now, he has re-
quested a judge to uphold his right to free speech. He got his wish. It is timely that this case should come up days before an election because it puts Jagdeo and me in the spotlight. It also highlights the role of Ian Chang as Chief Justice. In Guyana (I don’t think it obtains in the rest of the world), there is the taboo of bad-talking the dead. In other countries when controversial people die, academics assess their legacies. In Guyana, you can only write positively of the dead. So I stayed away from publishing my analysis of Ian Chang. In my opinion, Chang did some damage to the image of the judiciary. I saw him as plainly biased in favour of the president. Apart from granting the injunction against me, he created history worldwide when he assigned a judge to the case that began eleven months after the writ was filed. I honestly believe that never happened before in any other country. Chang didn’t really care for my presence in Guyana. We had few exchanges and I read his intention towards me
Frederick Kissoon when he once said to me; “You write too much.” Chang declined to hear a writ of habeas corpus from Nigel Hughes on behalf of Mark Benschop and me. We were languishing in jail for three days on a traffic charge that did not carry a jail penalty. I hope the very young generation in Guyana read these notes because they form a valuable part of contemporary Guyanese political history. Do you know only Charles Ramson from the PPP since Jagdeo became president has apologised to me for disrupting my lecture on the Jagdeo presidency at the National Library in 2010. How about you, Bharrat? (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)
Wednesday February 26, 2020
Kaieteur News
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Wednesday February 26, 2020
Kaieteur News
21 years for Black Bush farmer who buried wife in backyard shallow grave The man who killed his wife and buried her body in a shallow grave at Black Bush Polder and then planted bora on the grave has pleaded guilty to killing the woman. Sunildat Balack, called “Redman”, 48, of Lot 117 Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder, was accused of killing his wife, Lilwantie Balack, aka ‘Darling’, 39, between September 6, 2016 and March 31, 2017 at the above address. He appeared before Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall on Tuesday in the Berbice High Court on the charge of mur-
der, but pleaded not guilty to murder. Instead, he pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter. He was sentenced to 21 years in jail. He was represented by Attorney-at-law Chandra Sohan. State Prosecutor Seeta Bisssondyal presented the Prosecution case. After some months had passed without knowing about the woman’s whereabouts, relatives made a missing person’s report to the police. The woman was last seen on Saturday, August 27, 2016. Lilwantie Balack’s plight
had come to light after her daughters, who had become increasingly suspicious, contacted the police. Sunildat Balack was subsequently arrested. After being interrogated, he confessed to committing the crime. He told investigators that that he had an argument with his wife that escalated into a physical fight. She had just returned from the US and wanted to return and he was not in agreement. During the fight, he choked her until she died. He then removed her jewellery
Sunildat Balack and his dead wife Lilwantie Balack and clothing before proceeding to drag her lifeless body
to the backyard of the home where he buried her corpse in
a shallow grave near to vegetable plants. Upon inquiring from Balack about the woman’s whereabouts, relatives were told different stories. He told them that she had run off with a man to the United States. She was in Cane Grove and somebody come pick her up in the night. Investigators were led by Balack to the spot where the woman was buried. After digging for some time, ranks came upon bones and a skull believed to be that of Lilwantie. But before the discovery, the man struck up a relationship with Oma Nathoo, 21. The two began living together in December 2016. She stayed with him up until the time he was arrested. He had given her his dead wife’s wedding ring to wear along with her clothes. Nathoo was also arrested but subsequently released. In a plea of mitigation, Attorney Sohan told the court that Balack was very remorseful for the act. He is a father of four and did not waste the court’s time. He said that he never meant to kill her. The situation escalated out of a misunderstanding. After the woman died, the man panicked and he buried her body. He asked the court to temper justice with mercy. Justice Morris-Ramlall in imposing sentence stated that she considered 35 years. She however took off his early plea and other mitigating circumstances. She also subtracted a further three years for the time spent in jail. Thus, the accused will have to serve a time of 21 years in jail.
Berbice porter dies after... From page 17 rushed to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital in an unconscious state. Andrews was subsequently transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he succumbed on Monday around 13:00 hrs.A post mortem examination is expected to be done on Thursday to determine his cause of death.
Wednesday February 26, 2020
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Kaieteur News
Minister fails to secure gag order against Jagdeo, Guyana Times Junior Minister of Communities with the responsibility for Housing, Annette Ferguson, has failed in her bid to secure an interim gag order against opposition leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, and the Guyana Times in the case filed against the two entities for libel. Ferguson had taken Jagdeo to Court over statements regarding her alleged acquisition of lands. In the civil action, she has asked for in excess of $10 M in damages from Jagdeo and the publication entity for the statements which she said are slanderous and untrue and have caused irreparable dam-
age to her character and reputation. In her application, Ferguson had asked the court to bar Jagdeo and Guyana Times from further publishing the same or similar content about her until the hearing and determination of the libel case. The Minister further asked the court to consider granting her an injunction to restrain the defendants, from further publishing, disseminating and circulating to the public and electronically publishing on the World Wide Web words similar to those listed in an article written under the caption of the Guyana
Times dated Wednesday, December 11, 2019, titled ‘Opposition Calls Out Minister For Lying About House Lots Allocation’. The preliminary ruling on issue of the interim injunction was delivered yesterday. During the hearing attended by Jagdeo‘s Attorney, Manoj Narayan , Guyana Times lawyer, Devindra Kissoon, and Minister Ferguson’s legal representative Latoya Roberts, Justice Persaud stressed the importance of free speech. The Judge noted that interim injunctions are only granted in the rarest of cases before a trial.
Farmers to benefit from $110M Onverwagt farm to market road
Onverwagt farm to market road being commissioned
T
he $110M rehabili tated farm to market road at Onverwagt , West Coast Berbice will now provide farmers in the area with hassle-free access to 40,000 acres of rice land and 10,000 heads of cattle. The road was commissioned by Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, during a commissioning ceremony at Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice.The 2.1 km road is expected to result in lower production and transportation costs during the harvesting
and land preparation periods for farmers. Before the road was upgraded, during the rainy season, the road would become impassable making it difficult for farmers and residents living along the banks of the Abary River to travel. Minister Holder stated that the construction of the road is more than just the development of agriculture in the region. He noted, “Roads like these are extremely important to get the necessary equip-
ment to farms and bring produce out during both wet and dry seasons. But also, to push development efforts in other areas like eco-tourism.” He further explained, “We want to be able to drive along and see these lovely rice fields all the way from here to the conservancy. We want to be able to have at the conservancy itself eco-tourism possibilities, guest houses right by the Abary area where people can go and do fishing and spend (Continued on page 28)
Mental patient found hanging in Psychiatric hospital The body of a resident at the National Psychiatric Hospital in Region Six was discovered on Monday hanging in the washroom at the facility. Officials stated that the female patient was identified as 36-year-old Simone Broodhogan, a former teacher of Don Robin, Corentyne. According to information received, the woman’s body was discovered by another patient at the facility around noon. Director of Health, Jevaughn Stephens, explained to Kaieteur News that the woman was a resident at the hospital for more than 12 years. From reports, the woman had asked the nurse in charge
for some sanitary napkins while she was tending to other patients. But it was said that the woman was only dressed in her underwear and was sent to get properly dressed. The woman left. Hours passed and another resident left to use to the washroom and the shocking discovery was made. The woman’s limp body was discovered with a pink cloth wrapped around her neck. Her body was removed and taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital Mortuary to await an autopsy. Kaieteur News was informed that Broodhogan was admitted to the institution since May 2008. She was a former teacher attached to the
Dead: 36-year-old Simone Broodhogan Bohemia Primary School on the Corentyne and the Trinity Street Primary School in New Amsterdam.
Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo
Minister Annette Ferguson
Persaud said that the Minister failed to prove that her case is rare and more so an exceptional one which favours the granting of the reliefs sought. Further, he held that the Minister’s application by her lawyers failed to produce case laws to support their contention of interim injunctions. Additionally, the Judge noted that at the time of an election when both the claimant and the defendant are running for office, freedom of speech must be upheld in the public’s interest. “I am conscious of the need to ensure the free expression of opinion by those who put themselves to the democratic process of election to the population at
large,” Justice Persaud said. The Junior Minister of Communities had filed a lawsuit against Jagdeo, and the Guyana Times claiming in excess of $10 M in damages for libel. The lawsuit stems from the publication of an article by Guyana Times that Ferguson used her office as Minister to acquire more than one parcel of land at Eccles. The article is based on statements made by Jagdeo during a press conference. Meanwhile statement of claim drafted by Ferguson’s attorney, Lyndon Amsterdam, states that on December 11, 2019, an article of the newspaper reported that Jagdeo made allegations against Minister Ferguson,
claiming that she has had a swift rise in wealth within two years of becoming a Minister. He insinuated that she used her office to acquire three plots of land in Eccles on which she is building a sprawling house. The applicant (Ferguson) is asking Jagdeo and Guyana Times to prove to the court, with evidence, that claims made about misappropriation, rise in wealth, and the Minister’s ownership of three house lots at Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD) are true. She is contending that the tenor and contents of the article suggest that as a Minister in Government, she acquired unexplained wealth by dishonest means. She is also contending that the contents of the article were deliberately written and circulated by the newspaper to tarnish her reputation as a Minister of Government and cause right thinking persons to think that she is a corrupt and dishonest person. Ferguson noted that the newspaper also used an aerial picture in support of the article to create the impression to the public that the claims were true that she has more than one parcel of land whilst that is not true.
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday February 26, 2020
Wednesday February 26, 2020
Kaieteur News
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Wednesday February 26, 2020
Kaieteur News
Toronto Diaspora celebrates Republic Day The Guyanese Canadian community in the Greater Toronto Area marked Guyana’s 50th Republic Anniversary with the hoisting of the Golden Arrowhead, and an Interfaith Service at the
Scarborough Civic Centre in Toronto, Canada. Led by Ms. Anyin Choo, Guyana’s Consul General in Toronto, this occasion was the first of a series of events planned to commemorate
Guyana’s Republic Golden Jubilee in 2020. The ceremony featured remarks and prayers by Guyanese faith leaders of the Christian, Hindu, and Muslim communities.
The audience was called on by these religious leaders to come together in national unity to celebrate Guyana and to support its development. Well wishes were extended to the Guyanese nation in the diaspora by Councillor Jim Karygiannis on behalf of the City of Toronto, and Councillor Ashmeed Khan on behalf of the Town of Ajax. Sentiments calling for unity and celebration were echoed by the Consul General of Guyana to Toronto, Ms. Anyin Choo, who called on Guyanese to remain unified as the country experiences a paradigm shift in socio-economic development with the dawning of the petroleum sector, and in light of the proceedings before the International Court of Justice regarding the nation’s territorial integrity. The Consul General urged the diaspora to remain engaged and invested in Guyana’s future. Amidst an enlivened atmosphere, the Golden Arrowhead was raised by veterans of the Guyana Defence Force. The gathering was led in the
singing of national songs by a Guyanese Canadian choir. The Planning Committee and the Consulate took the opportunity once more to invite members, allies and friends of the Guyanese community in Canada to join in the marking of this auspicious occasion by way of their attendance, partnerships and support for the remaining scheduled events which are planned for in the coming month.
These include GUYTALK (Guyana-Talk) on Sustainable Development in the Oil and Gas Era, which is held in partnership with the University of Toronto on March 28, 2020 at the George Ignatieff Theatre, University of Toronto. There will also be the Republic Golden Jubilee Concert which will include a Cocktail Reception, Cultural Showcase and Awards Ceremony on March 29, 2020 at the P.C. Ho Theatre.
Veterans of the Guyana Defence Force hoisting the Golden Arrowhead at the Toronto Republic Day flag raising and interfaith ceremony
Section of the Toronto Republic Day flag raising and interfaith ceremony’s attendees offering one another a sign of greeting and peace.
Wednesday February 26, 2020
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Kaieteur News
Accomplice sentenced to 29 years for murder of Hamson General Store owner The second accused in the unlawful death of Farouk Ghanie has been convicted and sentenced for murder. Kemo Evans was sentenced to 29 years in prison by Justice Sandil Kissoon after he was convicted for the offence on a unanimous guilty verdict of a mixed 12member jury. Evans was accused of the murder alongside Floyd Rammit, who was employed by the victim as a handyman. The duo was charged with the unlawful killing of Ghanie, the owner of Hamson General Store on Regent Street. The murder took place at Ghanie ‘s home in Nandy Park. The businessman was found dead in his home with stab wounds to his face and chest. He was reportedly murdered in the course of a robbery. His handyman (Rammit) and the accomplice (Evans) were later apprehended for the killing. Earlier this month, Rammit pleaded guilty to the crime and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Following deliberations by the jury panel yesterday, Evans was found guilty of the crime. He was sentenced to 29 years by Justice Snadil Kissoon. Before arriving at the sentence, the Judge took into consideration a number of factors raised by Evan’s attorney, Dexter Todd. Todd asked the court to
consider his client’s age at the time of the crime (17 years) and the fact this was his first offence. “He has no previous encounters with the law, your honour, and there is nothing to establish that he was a menace to society prior to this incident. Additionally, the lawyer noted that evidence before the court failed to show that his client was directly responsible for death of the businessman. State Prosecutor Tuanna Hardy urged the Court to consider that Evan has shown no remorse for the cruel and premeditated act. The prosecutor noted that Evans’s crime resulted in a great loss to a family and to society at large. Hardy called relatives of the deceased businessman to give testimonies on how they were affected by the tragedy. The Prosecutor then asked the court to impose a sentence that is consistent with the nature and gravity of the offence. Justice Kissoon’s judgment originally stood at 40 years but taking all the factors into consideration as well as the time served in prison on remand pending trial, he deducted 14 years off the sentence. At the commencement of the trial at the High Court in Georgetown earlier this month, Senior State Prosecutor Hardy, along with State
Guilty Kemo Evans
Murdered: Farouk Ghanie
Prosecutors, Tiffini Lyken and Nafeeza Baig, presented an indictment which revealed that Rammit, formerly of Kaneville, East Bank
Demerara, was employed by the businessman to care for his dogs. She said that Rammit lived at the businessman’s Nandy
Park, East Bank Demerara residence, but occupied a separate apartment. According to the prosecution, on the day in question, Rammit and Kemo Evans, went into the businessman’s home. Ghanie was later found in his home with a stab wound to the region of his heart. The prosecutor told the court that after the killing, Rammit fled to the interior and was only captured three months later; he took police to the home of Evans. A few months after Rammit was arrested and charged, police issued a wanted bulletin for Evans
who when arrested said that he wanted the matter to go to trial.Kaieteur News had previously reported that on April 15, 2015, the 56-year-old businessman also known as ‘Brother’, left his home and went to his place of business on Regent Street, Georgetown. Ghanie returned home around 18:00hrs on the said day. Around 20:00hrs, Rammit and Evans were reportedly seen in the man’s home. A while later, the men were reportedly seen by eyewitnesses hurriedly leaving the man’s home. The very next day, neighbours found Ghanie’s body.
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Wednesday February 26, 2020
Kaieteur News
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PROPERTY FOR SALE House and land available at Parfaite, Tuschen, Diamond etc. Contact Pacific Development Inc. 223-6035/ 604-4909 Golden Grove, EBD, 4 bedroom upstairs, Kitchen, Dining room downstairs. Tel#691-2921/220-9353 Broad Street, Albert St, Republic Gardens, Durban Street, Georgetown & Enmore East Coast, Zeelot. Contact Ray’s Realty# 627-9685 Modern home Georgetown, 3 self contain rooms upstairs, 2 rooms dopwnstairs, Automatic Garage & Gate. Contact Ray’s Realty # 6279685
Ransom (Concrete mixers), Scaffolding, Power washer, compactors, hire truck service etc, free delivery. Telephone: 610-5360. Email: dmdscaffolding@yahoo.com PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, G R A D U AT I O N , W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Lower unfurnished 3 bedroom home in Eccles. Spacious & Parking available $150,000/ USA $750. Contact Ajai #6297132/ USA# 281-739-6550 24 Light St, Alberttown, Top & bottom flat. Contact Dwight Morgan #617-2961/Priscilla Morgan #653-3049 High & Saffon St (Business) Office Space at High & Hadfield Street. Contact Ray’s Realty #627-9685 2 bedroom apartment for rent at Peter’s Hall. #698-5800/6481391 EDUCATION Learn Graphics and Video editing Coreldraw. Photoshop, Illustrator, After effects, Premier-pro, Indesign.#646-7494
CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS & SUV'SCALL:643-5122./ 656-0087 WEB: WWW .PROGRESSIVEAUTORENTA L.COM DOLLYSAUTO RENTAL CALL: 225-7126 & 2263693 -DOLLYS AUTO RENTAL@ YAHOO.COM/ W W W . D O L L Y SAUTORENTAL.COM
Moblissa, Soesdyke Linden Highway,Dalgin Eccles & Middle Road La Penitence Georgetown. Contact Ray’s Realty #627-9685 Transported land 11.6 acres, Lot 15 Public Road #2 Village W.C.B/ce 5 mins from B/ce bridge.Contact#686-4818/6487109. Prime residential house lot 100ftx50ft 20ft reserve, light, water, blaze internet. New Road $5M. Tel#627-0573 TO LET
VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 Suzuki Escudo.Excellent condition, Low Mileage (50,000Km).$3.4M Neg.Call #649-0956. 1 Allion PTT series new model for sale. Price $2,000,000. # 661-0075/682-5353
Decent working couples, One bedroom apartment in Georgetown, Parking & Telephone $45,000. Tel# 623-8759/ 675-7842 LEARN TO DRIVE N.Outar Driving School, Learn to Drive the right way @ Cuffy Square.Affordable Package.Call#644-5166/6912561/681-2808.
VACANCY Driver/Expediter, Accounts Clerk, Family to live & work on farm in Haruruni. Tel# 2310363 2 Vacancies- Clerk & Domestic, Live-in facilities for Berbicians & Essequibians. #219-5354
WANTED LAND FOR SALE
The members of the Guyana Defence Forces’ Artillery Unit who were injured in last Saturday’s fiery explosion at the Coast Guard wharf have been recovering well. So far, Staff Sergeant Otto Row and Cpl Isaiah Gordon have been released from the Burns Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital. The remaining ranks who were critically injured are said to be in stable conditions. Cpl Andrew Gordon Cornette who suffered severe burns and trauma injuries is said to be out of danger and recuperating well. This improvement in health brings some positive light to the situation after the team lost Cpl Seon Rose who succumbed to his injuries one day after the explosion. Rose, 31, of Plaisance, East Coast Demerara took the brunt of the blast and suffered
Maid. Requirements: person must be living on the East Bank. Contact# 600-6887
Office Assistant- Maths & English, Excel & Quickbooks. Apply to Mima Decor, 8 Sheriff St, G/town. Email: mimadecor12@gmail.com. Tel# 227-0186/227-0176
Wanted 1 Experienced cook. Call: 623-8654
Security Officers to work, preferably ex army, police or disciplined services.Age 2440.Contact#223-4172/6002271
1 Clerk, housekeeper, kitchen assistant, administrator, accountant, maintenance worker. Must speak English & Spanish. Hostal El Sol. #2278253/670-3149
R A Soda Factory, Rosignol Berbice #330-2399/656-7456/ 692-2981. Manager, Supervisor, Checkers Male & Female workers, Drivers for truck
Live-in Domestic, must know to cook 30-50 yrs, Salary $25,000 weekly. #648-7866
Vacancy for (1) Professional & Experienced Hairdresser & Nail Technicians @ Natural Beauty Salon & Spa. Located: Grove, East Bank Dem. #6525800
Experienced Pastry Maker/ Cake Decorator, Driver. Apply @ Hack’s Halaal Restaurant, 5 Commerce St. Drivers for route 42 minibus. Tel# 640-0626 Part time female models needed for Advertising campaigns- register @ www.markchand.com/call: 646-7494 VACANCY Domestic maid good in cooking. Call: 627-1154
VacancySales Representative. Apply in Person @ Wieting & Richter Ltd, 10-13 Water St, Georgetown. Tel# 226-6150-7/ 660-1226 Vacancy for labourers and maintenance workers @PSGCS. Call Office: 6157784/621-6969 between 8-4 hrs Mon-Fri 1 Hauler Driver. Contact# 6117088
Cpl Seon Rose severe burns to 90% of his body along with trauma injuries. While receiving medical attention, Rose also suffered a heart attack. The fiery explosion occurred at the Coast Guard
Base wharf in Ruimveldt while the 21-member team was offloading fireworks from a pontoon on to a nearby truck. The pyrotechnics were to be used for the 50th Republican Anniversary fireworks display that very evening. But, according to information received, while the men were unloading the explosives, a spontaneous ignition occurred resulting in the massive explosion. The ranks were forced to jump in the nearby Demerara River to escape the blaze as the explosion sent debris flying several meters in the air. The ranks were said to have all trained to handle the explosives. Meanwhile, Chief-of-Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Patrick West, has ordered that a complete Board of Inquiry (BOI) into the accident to ascertain what exactly caused the explosion.
Wednesday February 26, 2020
Vehicle linked to teen’s hit-and-run death found hidden in container - cops to issue wanted bulletin for suspect
P
olice believe they have located the car that struck down and killed 17-year-old Kwon Trotz at Farm, East Bank Essequibo last Friday. They are now making efforts to locate a 21-year-old man who was reportedly behind the wheel at the time. He is from St. Lawrence, East Bank Essequibo, and investigators were told that he sustained injuries. Police are preparing a wanted bulletin for the suspect. A senior police official said that the vehicle, which
was damaged on the left side, was found around 17:50 hrs last Saturday. It was stashed in a container at Da Silva Beach, East Bank Essequibo. Police were reportedly tipped off to the presence of the vehicle by CANU ranks who were carrying out an operation in the area. According to investigators, debris found at the scene appeared to have come from the same vehicle. “We questioned an individual who treated the injured driver, another person who al-
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legedly arranged for the vehicle to be placed in the container and the owner of the property where the vehicle was found,” a source said. According to reports, Kwon Trotz, a labourer was struck down and killed at around 23:00 hrs last Friday on Farm Public Road, East Bank Essequibo. The accident occurred a short distance from the young man’s home and the driver fled the scene. Trotz was pronounced dead on arrival at the Leonora Cottage Hospital.
Three-yr-old hospitalised after falling into trench
A
three-year-old boy is now hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) after he reportedly sustained injuries after slipping into a trench that is located at the back of his home. The incident reportedly occurred at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD). At the time of the incident, the child was reportedly left in the care of his grandmother. The lad has been identified as Kayden Prince. Kaieteur News understands that at the time of the
incident, the lad was reportedly left by his grandmother who was looking over him while at the same time attending to laundry. According to reports, the victim’s grandmother left the lad playing and went to hang the clothes on the line. However after returning, she realised that the lad was not there. She immediately went to the edge of the trench where she saw the lad floating on a piece of zinc that was in the trench. Due to the incident, the victim sustained cuts and bruises to his back and legs;
the palm of his left hand was also punctured by a nail after he held on to a piece of wood while desperately trying to stay afloat. He is now in a stable condition and is responding to medical treatment. The victim’s mother stated that her child is usually left in the care of his grandmother and this is the first time that anything went wrong. The woman further stated that due to the incident, the trench will be blocked off since it now poses a threat to the family’s wellbeing.
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Wednesday February 26, 2020
GECOM adds 12 more polling places, following discussion with Opposition By Kemol King Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, managed to convince the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) yesterday to add 12 new polling stations in areas the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) thought there was a congestion of voters. The decision of the Commission was relayed to reporters after a statutory meeting of the Commission last night. Jagdeo led a delegation at noon to the Commission’s Kingston office, to make a case to the Commissioners and the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, that the reduction of private polling stations was applied discriminatorily. By this, he meant that reductions in the use of private residences as polling places in PPP strongholds was not reflected by similar reductions in strongholds of the governing coalition, A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC). Jagdeo said he had cause to ask Lowenfield why the reduction in the use of private polling places was not reflected similarly in the Coalition strongholds, after
Lowenfield explained that it was the Commissioners who instructed him to reduce the use of private polling stations as much as he could. The CEO had told reporters just days ago that, where private polling stations remained, it was because GECOM could not find sufficient public polling places to substitute them. Subsequently, the former President made suggestions for an increase of at least 12 polling stations in key areas purported to be PPP strongholds, namely Mon Repos and Foulis, East Coast Demerara and Chesney, Corentyne. “We said we’re not telling [GECOM] where to choose,” Jagdeo said. “You select where they are… It can be anything. You can even put up tents but people have a right to vote in their own communities.” The Opposition had raised the concern that the reduction in the use of private polling places in the aforementioned areas would cause many people to have to travel longer distances to vote, something the party feared could have suppressed its voter base. The Federation of Inde-
pendent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) released a statement yesterday, sharing the view that the reduction in certain areas “could well be deemed as voter suppression”. It stated, “This is certainly not a positive development and we endorse calls for the GECOM to address this significant issue meaningfully in the interest of all Guyanese.” The Opposition Leader raised the claim by the GECOM Chair, Justice Claudette Singh, that the decision to reduce the use of private polling places was based on a recommendation of the Carter Center. The Private Sector Commission (PSC) had come out with a statement last Monday, condemning the Chair’s statement, alleging it to be false. Similarly, Jagdeo yesterday said that a meeting of the Opposition with the Carter Center led the party to understand that the Center did not recommend a reduction in the use of private polling stations. While the Carter Center did not directly make a recommendation on the use of private polling stations, it did
address the use of private polling stations in its final report on the 2015 general and regional elections. The report, titled ‘Final Report: Observing the 2015 Guyana Elections’, can be accessed from the following page on the Carter Center’s website: https:// www.cartercenter.org/news/ p u b l i c a t i o n s / election_reports.html#guyana On page 77 of the report, it is stated, “While the establishment of polling stations on private property did not seem to negatively influence public confidence in the electoral process, GECOM should ensure that citizens can cast their ballot in a neutral environment”. Again, on page 94, it is stated, “While the establishment of polling stations on private property did not seem to negatively influence public confidence in the electoral process, The Carter Center recommends that GECOM take steps in future elections to ensure that citizens can cast their ballot in a neutral environment free from intimidation.” GECOM is likely to have made its decision based on those statements. Late last night, Commis-
sioners emerged from the building and spoke to reporters outside the compound. Government-nominated Commissioner Vincent Alexander said that Lowenfield is now entrusted with the task of reviewing the list and determining mechanisms to be made “including the possibility of tentage” to reduce the congestion of polling stations. The process would entail moving some of the polling stations that are s a id to be congested, he explained, to new areas. Opposition-nominated Commissioner Sase Gunraj told reporters, “While I agree with a reduction [in the use of private polling places] – hopefully future elimination of use of private residences as polling stations
– logistics, efficiency and accessibility by voters cannot be sacrificed in that regard. I’m happy that these changes are being made to take that into consideration.” Lowenfield is expected to conduct the review, but is not expected to return to the Commission for it to deem the adjustment acceptable, according to Alexander. “I don’t think he has to come back to the Commission. I think we’re at the point in time where we just have to go on and do what we have to do.” It is expected that the list of polling places and stations will be gazetted soon after the adjustments are made. Gunraj hopes that such is done within 24 hours. The Commission meets again today.
Farmers to benefit from $110M... From page 7 weekends.”The rehabilitation of the road was facilitated by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA). The project was executed by Shereaz Bacchus General Contractor. Frederick Flatts CEO of the, NDIA, said that the hope is to continue the road to the Berbice River. Rice and cattle farmers explained that, “the road was very bad; you could not get access to your farm but right now, no problem about it.”
Sugar industry shuts down as workers protest for retroactive pay Yesterday, operations across the sugar industry were significantly affected as thousands of sugar workers from Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt Estates as well as the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Research Unit, stayed away from work to protest an unfair increase in pay being offered by the GuySuCo. Over the last three weeks, the GAWU and the sugar company have been engaged in negotiations regarding improvement in workers’ pay
rates which have been frozen since 2015. While the Union and the Corporation have been able to reach agreement on several matters, the state-owned GuySuCo has been insisting that the improvements be implemented from January 1, this year. The union and the workers, contend that any increase must be retroactive to January 1, 2019. This, the union explained, takes into account that the discussions have its roots in the Union’s claims for 2019
GuySuCo Protesters
and as such any agreement reached on the matter must
GuySuCo Protesters
be implemented from the beginning of the said year. Further, GAWU has stated that GuySuCo is well aware of this practice yet it continues to disregard it. “It appears to us that GuySuCo is attempting to impose the pay rise though it has not been fully endorsed by the workers and their unions…The insistence of GuySuCo for the workers to swallow a pay rise effective at the beginning of this year is really, in our view, a twocard trick.” While the Corporation may well believe its approach is novel, the workers have recognised that the company, by its desire, is telling the workers zero increase for 2019, the union added . At the same time, it will prevent them from bargaining from any further improvement for 2020 irrespective of
changes in the cost-of-living, among other things, a press release from the union stated. According to the union, retroactive payments based on the current proposal for last year will be in the vicinity of $400M. The retroactive payments would work out to just over $50,000 per worker. That is very much below the touted one-month’s pay public sector workers received as retroactive pay last year. The workers are seeking that the Administration engages GuySuCo to positively address their pay rise. A number of workers converged outside of the Ministry of the Presidency engaging in a picketing exercise to call on the President and his Government to address, meaningfully, their call. The protest outside Presi-
dent David Granger’s office was met with what seemed to be an attempt to minimise activity by the security forces. The rele a s e s t a t e d , “Prior to the commencement of the exercise, it was observed, that all the streets around the Ministry of the Presidency complex were barricaded and manned by a large number of police officers including what appeared to be a quite a few senior officers. “Officials of the Union were told by the officers that the Ministry of the Presidency was a deemed restricted area and the protesters would not be allowed to stage their picketing exercise in close proximity to the complex. “When we asked about who ordered such an elaborate exercise, we were met with silence.”
Wednesday February 26, 2020
Kaieteur News
Houston Estates sues City Council over accusation of tax fraud Houston Estates has taken the Mayor and City Council(M&CC) to Court over accusations of tax fraud leveled against the proprietors of the estate. The lawsuit is welcomed by City Mayor Ubraj Narine who last December publically accused the estates owned by the Vieiras of selling lands in Houston, East Bank Demerara area for billions of dollars without remitting to the Council its rightful taxes. Mayor Narine said that the article caused him to pull Council‘s records on Houston Estates. The Mayor said that to his surprise, the Houston Estates which is owned the popular Vieira family has not been paying its rightful rates. “This is not a mere act of deception; it is downright fraud. The issue which most concerned me is compliance and of the payment on land taxes. What, we found is that the Estate was using one account number for compliance from Council but selling multiple properties. “This is despite the fact that Houston Estates is subdivided in various sections. It is a large section of land to be sold. There is Houston, Rome North, South and so forth,” Narine added However, the representatives of the estate had denied all accusations claiming instead that the Council had agreed to waive the taxes in exchange for estate cleaning and desilting the canals at Houston and surrounding areas. The estate had promised to sue the coun-
cil. In the action filed last week, Houston Estates are asking the Court to quash the unilateral imposition of taxes by the Council. According to the lawsuit, the estate wants the Court to quash the decision by the Council as contained inter alia in its General Rate Demand Notices 2020 to the Applicant to charge against the Applicant in respect of its Properties situate at South Half Plantation Houston and North and South Halves Plantation Rome (‘the Properties’) rates as set out in the said Notices totaling $517,112,222.The group wants a declaration that the decision taken by the Council in 2005 to increase rates payable on the Properties from 40% their assessed value to 400% that value is unreasonable, and ultra vires the power of the Council under the provisions of the Municipal and District Councils Act, Cap. 28:01. They want the decision deamed “void and set aside.” Further, the estate is asking for a declaration that the respondent (M&CC) is and was at all material times bound by the representation contained in its letter of 16th December, 2005 that the applicant (Houston Estates) should pay and that it would accept rates in respect of the Disputed Properties calculated at forty percent, and that the decision by the respondent to resile from that letter and retracting that representation is unlawful, void, and ultra vires the power of the respondent under the Act. The group also wants an Order quashing or setting aside that decision.
Greenidge threatens to sue Ex-Presidential... From page 3 January and February 2020, based on statements by Mangal, which have hurt Greenidge. Greenidge also claimed that that Mangal, whose address is in Houston, Texas, resorted to using Facebook posts, which projected him to be unprofessional and inept and causing taxpayers’ loss and damage. In a Facebook post, Mangal allegedly had this to
say about Greenidge, the former Foreign Minister: “He was completely against getting a fair deal for Guyana by renegotiating the 2016 contract...I viewed Greenidge as one of the biggest hurdles to a successful oil and gas industry & to a successful Guyana...Is he so defensive of Exxon because he was the one who negotiated the awful 2016 contract?” The law firm demanded that Mangal immediately
cease and desist from further defaming its client. It said that if Mangal failed to do so, an immediate legal action will be pursued. “This letter is sent subject to our client’s reservation of all rights and for purposes of settlement only. We look forward to an immediate response complying with our demands, failing which we will have no choice but to take all necessary action.”
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Wednesday February 26, 2020
Kaieteur News
Guyana Mission in Geneva Celebrates 50th Republic Anniversary
Members of the head table engage the audience in discussions on the environment and energy. Pictured at the head table: Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to the World Trade Organization and European Free Trade Association, His Excellency Dagfinn Sørli, Ambassador of Guyana to the United Nations Geneva Institutions and to Switzerland, His Excellency John Deep Ford, and Trade and Environment Policy Analyst, WTO, Ms. Romain Williams A photographic exhibition and a conversation on the Environment and Energy interface in Guyana were the main features of a well-attended reception held at the Guyana Mission in Geneva. The occasion was a celebration of Guyana’s 50th Anniversary of becoming a Republic. The photographic exhibition was linked to promoting Guyana as an eco-tourist destination. It depicted scenes of Guyana’s biodiversity, flora and fauna, agriculture, historic buildings and lifestyle. The conversation with the Guyana diaspora in Switzerland, CARICOM Missions and friends of Guyana featured the opportunities and challenges Guyana faces as it pursues, simultaneously, the development of its petroleum sector and its commitment to being a Green Economy reliant on renewable energy. Ambassador of Guyana to the United Nations Geneva Institutions and to Switzerland, John Deep Ford, welcomed the guests to the celebration. He underlined the importance of the date and decision taken 50 years ago by the Guyana Government to become a Republic. He said that the date commemorates the historic slave rebellion started in 1763 in the then colony of Berbice, led by national hero, Cuffy against the Dutch. That event represents a critical moment in the history of Guyana’s struggle against
colonialism. February 23, 1970, is the date that Guyana severed its final link with the colonial era and the symbol of foreign rule, becoming fully in charge of our destiny. Guyana’s gift to the world in 1989 of almost one million acres of rainforest, the Iwokrama project, the low carbon development strategy developed in 2007, and the Green State Development strategy 2040 completed in 2019 were highlighted as testament to Guyana’s long commitment to sustainable development and a future based on renewable energy. Guyana’s new opportunity with continued exploration and recently started production and export of oil and gas was seen as bringing a number of wonderful possibilities but also some risks. The dominant view in Guyana’s discourse was described as being one that calls for using the windfall gain to consolidate Guyana’s longterm development goals and ensuring good governance and management of all Guyana’s resources to stave off the well-known perils of some oil economies. The Ambassador of Norway, Dagfinn Sørli, shared lessons from Norway’s experience, emphasizing the important role of the Government in owning, regulating and transparently managing its energy resources. He highlighted the importance of taxing private operators proportionately and continuously growing the sover-
The Mission held a photographic exhibition, which promoted Guyana as an eco-tourist destination and depicted scenes of Guyana’s biodiversity, flora and fauna, agriculture, historic buildings and lifestyle.
eign wealth fund while using only some of the interest to generate long-term wealth “for your country and benefit your entire society and citizenry.” The Ambassador of Guyana recognised Norway’s support for Guyana’s efforts over the past decade towards reducing deforestation and working towards sustainable development. The agreement between Guyana and Norway signed in 2009 was cited as one of the biggest forest conservation and sustainable development deals (US$250 million) ever signed up until then. It was intended to “provide the world with a working example of how partnerships between developed and developing countries can save the world’s tropical forests”. An important contribution to the evening was made by Guyanese Ms. Romain Williams, who recently graduated with a Master’s Degree in Energy and Environmental Law from the University of Aberdeen. In her presentation, she addressed the opportunities and the trade-offs between Energy and the Environment.She emphasized the importance of regulations, stable institutions and enforcement mechanisms to ensure that Guyana minimises the possibility of any environmental disasters and stays true to its commitment of pursuing sustainable development and being fully reliant on renewable energy in the future.
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Wednesday February 26, 2020
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Individual currently suing for wrongful arrest arrested again ‌ as GRA busts another smuggling operation An overhead view of the motor lorry with a quantity of smuggled chicken
Law Enforcement and Investigation Division (LEID) officers of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) detained a motor vehicle containing a large quantity of chicken and alcohol during an early morning operation on Thursday, February 20, 2020. The items were found stashed in a motor lorry at Dazzell Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara, where six persons were spotted. Five of them managed to escape. The LEID was however able to apprehend the sixth individual who was later identified as Mr. Fazaad Hameed. Mr. Hameed was apprehended during a previous operation at Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara where uncustomed goods were also confiscated. The Revenue Authority has initiated court proceedings against Mr. Hameed. In the course of operations, the LEID was also able to positively identify two other known smugglers
among the five escapees, both of whom were previously apprehended by the Revenue Authority for knowingly dealing with uncustomed goods. They are also facing charges in the Courts. Legal proceedings for these offences are in keeping with the provision of the Customs Act Chapter 82:01, with the overall objective being to curtail smuggling and similar activities that seek to defraud the state of revenue. In this relentless campaign, the Authority continues to encourage members of
the public to be forthcoming with information about persons and business involved, aiding or abetting in these il-
legal activities. Information can be reported to the LEID hotline 227-6060 ext 3204 - 12.
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ATP roundup: Djokovic strolls to win in Dubai opener Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, back in action for the first time in three weeks, didn’t get much of a test Monday in the first round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in the United Arab Emirates. The tournament’s top seed routed Tunisia’s Malek Jaziri 6-1, 6-2 in exactly one hour. Djokovic put 70 percent of his first serves in play and never faced a break point. Jaziri faced eight break points and lost four of them. In other opening-round action, Gael M o n f i l s continued his winning streak. The third-seeded Frenchman, who won
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in action during his match against Tunisia’s Malek Jaziri. (REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani) tournaments in Montpellier, France, and Rotterdam, Netherlands,
earlier this month, topped H u n g a r y ’s Marton Fucsovics 6-4, 7-5.
Wednesday February 26, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You could feel especially amorous today. If you're romantically involved, you could have an overwhelming urge for an intimate dinner with your significant other.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Falling in love at first sight is something you never thought would happen, but it could happen today. A romantic involvement may follow or not.
TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Necessary cleaning or repairs in the home could inspire you to go a bit further and do some redecorating. Get rid of old furniture or other castoffs to make room for new objects that make your home look more attractive.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Movies that involve a lot of special effects might be especially appealing to you now. You may decide to learn more about how such effects are produced. You might also want to try your hand at computer graphics.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Important new information could come your way, perhaps through classes, books, or conversations with friends. This might open new personal and professional doors for you.
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Life is an adventure. At least, that's the attitude you take today. Flush with past success and basking in the affection of friends.
CANCER(June21–July22) New learning and improved communication with friends and family add greatly to your sense of self-esteem. A task into which you've put some effort over the past several weeks has been completed successfully. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) An improvement in your relations with a love partner or close friend has you feeling optimistic about the future and even more so about the present. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) An unexpected raise could have you feeling especially generous toward those you love. Your gifts will be appreciated, but take care that you don't wipe out all you've gained.
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) A new unity and purpose could create a more positive atmosphere regarding your career. Recognition and an increased income are just over the horizon. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Optimism and excitement permeate any get-togethers that you're involved in today. You and those around you tend to see only positive trends for the future success with few obstacles. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Today you might be in the right mood to organize. High-tech equipment may be of help in this project, and so could the help of friends. An optimistic, enthusiastic attitude will sustain you through any tasks.
Sixth-seeded Andrey Rublev and seventhseeded Karen Khachanov, both of Russia, also posted straight-set victories. Chile Dove Men+Care Open Sixth-seeded Hugo Dellien of Bolivia held off Italy’s Marco Cecchinato for a 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 victory in the first round at Santiago, Chile. Dellien won 72 percent of his first-serve points despite serving just one ace. Cecchinati had 11 aces but offset those with seven double faults. He won just 60 percent of his first-serve points. Also moving into the second round were two wild-card entrants, Marcelo Tomas Barrios Vera and Brazil’s Thiago Seyboth Wild, as well as Roberto Carballes Baena, who won an all-Spanish s h o w d o w n with Jaume Munar. Mexican Open St a n Wa w r i n k a squandered three match points before getting forced into a third-set tiebreaker, but he emerged with a first-round win in Acapulco, Mexico. The third-seeded Swiss player posted 6-3, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (1) victory over the United States’ Frances Tiafoe. Wawrinka had a break point to win the match at 4-5 in the third set, then had three more break points to close it out at 5-6, but Tiafoe survived each time. The final tiebreaker was one-sided, though, as Wawrinka captured the final six points. In other first-round matches, Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic, France’s Adrian Mannarino and the United States’ Tommy Paul all registered three-set wins. (Field Level Media)
12 athletes and counting... From page 39 by one-thousandth of a second. Edmonds remained optimistic that Charles will be able to make the time and he has touted a team of no less than 15 athletes from the ‘land of many waters’ participating at the 49th CARFITA Games. Last year, in the Bahamas, a total of 17 athletes took part in the 48th edition of the competition, copping three gold medals. The Carifta Games are an annual Junior Track & Field competition founded by the Caribbean Free Trade Association. The Games started in 1972 serving as the premier junior regional championship for the Caribbean/Caricom region. (Calvin Chapman)
Wednesday February 26, 2020
Lady Jags beat Puerto... From backpage second half, the ‘Lady Jags’, which continued to press forward would be rewarded with the opening goal. Jenea Knight worked her way into the attacking third and crossed the ball via the aerial route, Puerto Rico’s goalkeeper, Cristina Roque went up to gather the ball but only succeeded in helping the ball into the back of the nets in the 54th minute to gift Guyana the lead. Guyana continued to press thereafter even as the Puerto Ricans searched for the equalising goal; they made two more subs in the 65th and 67th minutes but still did not come up with the elusive goal. Head Coach Ivan Joseph made his first sub in the 68th minute when Kiana Khedoo made way for Samantha Banfield. The second was made in the 80th minute, Tori DeNobrega replacing Shanice Alfred. One minute later, Guyana were able to double the advantage. An enterprising run from center back Anaya Johnson reaped the intended rewards when she squared the ball into the area which eluded a few defenders and goalie Roque but found an un-
marked Aubrey Narine who pounced on the loose ball to tuck it into the back of the nets in the 81st minute; Guyana 2 Puerto Rico 0. Two minutes later, Narine left the pitch having played her part she was replaced by Shamya Daniels. Puerto Rico continued to press forward and were able to halve the deficit three minutes to game time, Gabrielle Cimino holding off Johnson to place the ball past the advancing Guyanese goalkeeper, Anessa O’Brien. The Guyanese would play their final Group D match against Mexico tomorrow from 19:00hrs. The Mexicans played Nicaragua in last evening’s feature match. Guyana’s starting X1: 1. Anessa O Brien, 2. Anaya Johnson, 3. Jessica Myers, 4. Brianne Desa, 5. Jade Vuyfhuis (Captain), 7. Nailah Rowe, 10. Kiana Khedoo, 8. Serena McDonald, 11. Jenea Knight, 9. Aubrey Narine, 13. Shanice Alfred. Subs: 20. Raven Edwards-Doedall, 14. Hailey David, 18. Sydney Puddicombe, 6. Tiandi Smith, 12. Tori Denobrega, 15. Samantha Banfield, 19. Horicia Adams, 17. Makalya Rudder, 16. Shamya Daniels.
Wednesday February 26, 2020
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Kaieteur News
Kohli, Bairstow, Gayle named for Asia XI v World XI matches ESPNcricinfo - Virat Kohli is likely to be available for one match for the Asia XI side that will take on a World XI in the two-match T20I series in Dhaka next month as part of the nationwide celebrations to mark the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, often referred to as the father of the nation. Kohli is among six Indian players named in the Asia XI side, with KL Rahul also slated for a onematch appearance. Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Shami have been included for both the matches. BCB president Nazmul Hassan announced the names of the players in Dhaka on Tuesday, naming Faf du Plessis, Chris Gayle, Rashid Khan and Jonny Bairstow among the members of the World XI side. However, although BCB said Kohli would play one game, ESPNcricinfo understands the BCCI is still waiting for the India captain to confirm his participation. Workload management remains an issue with Kohli in particular, with India having a packed schedule. India’s second Test against New Zealand is scheduled to end on March 4, and their three-match home ODI series against South Africa runs from March 12 to 18. The two matches in Dhaka are slated for March 21 and 22, and the IPL starts on March 29. Hassan also explained that the squads didn’t include any Pakistan players because they would be busy with the PSL, with the tournament final scheduled on March 22. “We have already
received four names from India,” Hassan said. “We haven’t signed contracts but Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Shikhar Dhawan and Mohammed Shami are supposed to come. They have said KL Rahul and Virat Kohli will play one game each, but that hasn’t been finalised. “Players like Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman have finalised with us, from Afghanistan. Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane will play while from Sri Lanka, we will have Lasith Malinga and Thisara Perera. From Bangladesh, we will have Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mustafizur Rahman, Mahmudullah and Liton Das.” “I don’t remember all the names, but we will have three or four players from South Africa. Definitely, there will be the same number of players from West Indies. Australia and New Zealand will be playing but we will try to find some (players). Bairstow is definitely coming. Ngidi is coming. Chris Gayle is supposed to play. Faf du Plessis. We will have some of the best players around. We are uncertain about Pakistan since the PSL is will be ongoing. We will invite some of the cricketing greats.” While Hassan named all the players linked with the Asia XI, it has been learnt that the BCB is also contacting Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran, Sheldon Cottrell, Brendan Taylor, Alex Hales, Andrew Tye and Mitchell McClenaghan, apart from the names mentioned already. Tentative squads Asia XI: KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli,
Silver and bronze medals... From page 38 Championships played off on Sunday February 23, 2020 in Edmonton Alberta Canada. Last year Narayan got Bronze at Nationals in Men Singles. The Results were: Narayan Ramdhani-men singles (seeded no.2) Quarter-Finals: Defeated Beau Stephenson of Olds: 215, 21-7 Round robin for the top four: Defeated Tyson Tsen of Concordia: 21-9, 21-8 Defeated Troy Morgan of Olds: 21-5, 21-8 Lost to No. 1 seed Raymond Kim of NAIT: 2110, 21-17 Priyanna Ramdhaniwomen singles (seeded no.2) Quarter-Finals: defeated Kaitlyn Gee of NAIT: 21-4, 216 Round robin for the top four:
Defeated Kassidy Turcotte of Concordia: 21-6, 21-6 Defeated Kaylee Morris of Concordia: 21-12, 21-7 Lost to No.1 seed Takeisha Wang of Concordia: 21-10, 21-9 Priyanna Ramdhani & Layce Donaldson-Women Doubles Quarter-Finals: defeated Krisha Mejica & Cecilla Wolski of Kings: 21-15, 1621, 21-18 Round robin for the top four: Defeated Kaitlyn Gee & Connie Juang of NAIT: 2112, 21-18 Lost to Samantha Hsu & Ivy Ung of NAIT: 21-9, 21-7 Lost to Jasleen Kaur & Johnna Rymes of Concordia: 21-9, 21-6 The Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) is extremely happy with their consistent performances.
Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Rashid Khan,
Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mustafizur Rahman, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das, Sandeep
Lamichhane, Mahmudullah World XI: Alex Hales, Chris Gayle, Faf du Plessis, Nicholas Pooran, Brendan
Taylor, Jonny Bairstow, Kieron Pollard, Sheldon Cottrell, Lungi Ngidi, Andrew Tye, Mitchell McClenaghan
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Wednesday February 26, 2020
Kaieteur News
Guyana Boxing Association again fighting the financial battle The Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) has once again found itself fighting off the ropes a release from the association has indicated. The GBA could not meet a February 24 deadline to pay for accommodation and meals for a team of eight selected to participate at the Olympic Qualifiers in Argentina. GBA president Steve Ninvalle said that a request to Government for support received a negative response, while the Guyana Olympic Association had pledged US$5,000 to assist in airfares. “The National Sports Commission said it was unable to assist at this time as it has no budget, while president of the GOA Mr. K. Juman Yassin SC, AA had pledged US$5,000 for airfares,” Ninvalle said. Accommodation and meals in Argentina is just over US$11,000. Airfare per person is currently US$1,800. The GOA and the
Steve Ninvalle Government of Guyana combined to send a team of four boxers to Cuba for a three-month preparation leading up to the Qualifiers. Ninvalle added that he recently dispatched a letter to Mr. Yassin seeking clarification after it was revealed to him that sister CARICOM countries had their entire cost relating to participating at the Qualifiers footed by their respective National Olympic
Associations. “The boxing presidents of Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Lucia and the list goes on, have confirmed that they are participating based solely on input from their National Olympic Committees (NOCs). In view of this recent revelation, I have asked for a clarification on why Guyana seems to be the anomaly.” The GBA president, when contacted, explained that his letter to Mr. Yassin was merely seeking clarification and in no way an attempt to shirk responsibility or create a problem. It must be noted that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had suspended AIBA, the international boxing body, and had set up a task force to ensure that the various NOC’s were allowed to field their respective boxing teams to the prestigious games. As such the IOC’s Olympic Solidarity provisions, which provided funding for the athletes based on eligibility through AIBA, were frozen. With the IOC overseeing boxing at this year’s games, they met and
decided to unfreeze funding to the athletes. All NOCs can benefit from Olympic Solidarity support for their boxers as for athletes from other sports preparing and attempting to qualify for Tokyo, through the regular Olympic Solidarity Programmes. Under the release of funds as directed by the IOC, that
money must not transit through the National Boxing Federations. This means that NOCs are able to assist their boxing athletes through direct financial contributions or through the Olympic Solidarity office in Lausanne only. The Olympic Qualifiers are scheduled for Argentina
from March 26 to April 3. The Guyana Boxing Association has selected Colin Lewis, Desmond Amsterdam, Keevin Allicock, Dennis Thomas and Canadian-based Taveena Kum as boxers to represent Guyana. Coaches are: Terrence Poole MS, Sebert Blake and Francisco Roldan.
RFA Champions League/North Rupununi Leg
Challengers and Paiwomak (male) notch solid wins; Surama, Challengers (female) draw Challengers Football Club and Paiwomak Football Clubs recorded similar 4-0 wins in their respective male encounters when the North Rupununi leg of the Rupununi Football Association (RFA) male and female Champions League kicked off on Saturday last at the Kwatamang Sports Ground. The lone female clash resulted in a 1-1 draw between Challengers Football Club and Surama Football Club. Surama had taken the lead in the 39th minute through a Zela Allicock goal but that was eventually cancelled out six minutes to full time when Challengers responded via a
Simone Pedro strike. Surama were no match for Paiwomak in the male segment of the league, the latter, on account of a Von Harding brace romped to a 40 triumph. Clevon Jacobus and Garville Daniels were the two other players to ink their name on the score sheet. The other male clash also ended with a similar score line in favour of Challengers FC over Wowetta FC. Marcus Roberto hit in a brace in the 19th and 85th minutes, Nimrad Park (50th) and Jaibert Salty in the 64th minute also added to the victory effort. Meanwhile, RFA President Ryan Farias and his Second
VP, Norbert Williams were present for the kick off of the North Rupununi leg. Farias in opening remarks extended greetings on behalf of GFF President, Mr. Wayne Forde and his executive to all in the North district. Farias further thanked the Village Council and the people for their warm welcome, assuring that football will definitely unite the community, because the love for the game is evident. He also encouraged the clubs to continue the working relationship with the association to further develop the game and to grasp all opportunities extended by the GFF through the RFA.
Wednesday February 26, 2020
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Kaieteur News
Bel Air Rubis Service Station’s U-17 Inter-County 50-over cricket
Yearwood unbeaten 54 spurs Demerara U-17 to four-wicket win - B’ce beat E’bo at Enmore By Sean Devers Under a blue sky and with the Atlantic Ocean just beyond the Northern Sightscreen, Demerara U-17s defeated the National U-15 Select by four wickets in the opening round of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Bel Air Rubis Service Station’s U-17 Inter-County 50 overs cricket tournament, while defending Champions Berbice beat Essequibo by 142 runs at Enmore. The National U-15 Select could only muster 112 in 45.2 overs as nobody reached 20 although four batsmen reached double figures. Left-arm spinner Zachary Jodah had 3-12, Chanderpaul Ramraj took 3-15, Rudranauth Kissoon 2-18 and Romel Datterdeen 2-23 did the damage with the ball for Demerara U-17 who replied with 113-6 in 26.3 overs. Shemar Yearwood smashed four fours and four sixes from 70 balls in his unbeaten 54. The left-handed Yearwood added 46 for the fourth wicket with talented West Indies U-16 righthander Mavindra Dindyal,
Mavindra Dindyal added 46 with Yearwood for the 4th as Demerara U-17s beat Guyana U-15 select by 4 wickets yesterday at Everest. who looked a bit scratchy in his 12 after the pair had joined forces with their team on 113. Yearwood added another 43 for the sixth wicket with Kissoon who made 14 before he was bowled by Pottaya who also got rid of the elegant Dindyal at 63-4. Jaden Campbell (9) was caught and bowled by Alves
at 10-1, while Anthony Khan was run out for a duck at 11-2 before Nicholas Rajpat was bowled by Bruce Vincent without addition to the score. Yearwood played in positive fashion and pulled Alves over mid-wicket for six and hit him over long off for six more before reaching his fifty from 67 balls with eight boundaries which included
Reggae Girlz secure spot in second round of U-20 Championship
Jody Kimone Brown of Jamaica (right) scored two goals in the 4-1 win against El Salvador. SAN CRISTOBAL, Dominican Republic, CMC – Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz have progressed to the knockout phase of the CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship after a 4-1 win over El Salvador in their Group E fixture here on Monday. Jody Brown was quick out of the gates at the Estadio Panamericano, with goals in the second and 11th minute that gave Jamaica a 2-0 lead. El Salvador fought back to make it a onegoal affair right before halftime, thanks to a score from Mara Rodriguez. But Jamaica’s class would come to the fore in the second
half, as goals from Lacey Murray and Chantelle paced them to the victory. The group’s other game saw Guatemala and Canada battle to a 0-0 draw. Guatemala put on an impressive defensive display in limiting the dangerous Canadian attack, thanks also in part to the heroics of goalkeeper Ashley Avalos. The day’s results leave both Jamaica and Canada on four points, while Guatemala have two points and El Salvador have zero. Action resumes in Group E today with Guatemala taking on El Salvador, while Canada square off against Jamaica.
Joshua Alves has Alex Datterdeen LBW for a duck at Everest yesterday. four sixes. After Kissoon was dismissed, Jodah (0) and Yearwood saw their team to victory. Earlier on a good Everest track and fast outfield, the U15s elected to bat in sultry conditions and lost Avishkar Persaud (1) off Datterdeen at 9-1 before Matthew Pottaya (13) and West Indies U-15 Rampertab Ramnauth took the score to 28 when Datterdeen struck again by removing Pottaya. Just when the Port
Mourant left-hander Ramnauth was looking set for a big score he was removed by Ramraj for 18 at 47-3, while Sanjay Algoo (10) fell to Jodah at 71-4. Ramraj trapped Nityanand Matura (14) LBW at 81-5 before Datterdeen (2) fell to Kissoon at 83-6 and after Rezekiel Renee (8) was sent packing at 98-7 nobody else offered fight and the innings folded meekly. At Enmore Berbice, on the back of 58 from Mahendra Gopilall and 50 from Zeynul
Ramsammy, Berbice made 203. Essequibo were bowled out for 61 in 22.4 overs as Christopher Deroop and Jonathon Rampersaud picked up three wickets each, while West Indies U-16 Pacer Isai Throne supported with two wickets. The tournament continues tomorrow with second round matches, with Essequibo facing the U-15s at Bourda and Demerara and Berbice doing battle at Everest.
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Wednesday February 26, 2020
Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam spin Bangladesh to innings win ESPNcricinfo - Nayeem Hasan spun Bangladesh to a massive victory in the one-off Test in Mirpur, taking 5 for 82 in Zimbabwe’s second innings to give him a match haul of 9 for 152 and secure victory for the hosts by an innings and 106 runs. Hasan was well supported by Taijul Islam, the pair bowling in tandem for much of the day as dark, heavy clouds and the odd spot of drizzle enveloped the ground. Islam picked up four wickets of his own, removing No. 10 Charlton Tshuma to end the game before tea. The visitors started the day two wickets down, and their slim prospects of saving the game were almost immediately dented when opener Kevin Kasuza was squared up by one from Islam that spun across him, taking the shoulder of the bat and landing in the lap of Mohammad Mithun at second slip. Faced with the unlikely prospect of a two-day battle for survival, with rain around and the possibility of a curtailed game, Zimbabwe’s top order might have been
Nayeem Hasan celebrates a dismissal. (BCB) expected to dig in defensively, but their tactic was precisely the opposite. Whatever the thinking was behind their aggressive intent, the execution was lacking and a succession of batsmen fell to attacking aerial shots that were pouched at deep square leg, midwicket, mid-on and deep mid-off. The close-in fielders around the bat were not needed at all, despite the conditions and the quality of the spinners on show. As Zimbabwe’s senior
batsman, Brendan Taylor’s was the prized wicket for Bangladesh, and he gifted it to them when he top-edged a bold sweep in Hasan’s very first over of the morning. And the shots kept on coming. Sikandar Raza whipped Hasan through square leg with a one-handed sweep early in his innings, while Craig Ervine was even more proactive, repeatedly stepping out to hit Hasan over the top. Raza raised the fifty stand by powering Islam well over long-on for his first six, the runs in their
partnership having flowed at close to five an over, while Ervine raced into the 40s at virtually a run a ball. But Hasan kept probing, and might have removed Zimbabwe’s captain had Liton Das been able to complete a stumping opportunity 15 minutes before the lunch interval. Drawn out of his crease, Ervine was beaten by the turn and bounce, but so was Das, the ball rearing up to hit him on the shoulder. The error wasn’t a costly one. Moments before the
break, Raza tapped Islam towards point and the batting pair chanced a quick single. But Mominul Haque was onto the ball in a flash, hurling in a direct hit to catch Ervine short of his ground: the first time Ervine has been run-out in this format, coming in a situation where quick runs were distinctly not at a premium. While Timycen Maruma held up an end and kept the scoreboard ticking over with some bristling strokeplay, Bangladesh chipped away at the other end. Raza aimed a pull at Islam but didn’t keep it down, Mushfiqur Rahim leaping up from his position at midwicket to hold onto the chance. Next to go was Regis Chakabva, who settled in calmly and then, one ball before the drinks break, aimed a wild drive at Islam to chip a catch to Tamim Iqbal at mid-on. Ainsley Ndlovu slapped his first ball for four and played all around his second to be trapped lbw, and with the situation increasingly hopeless, Maruma then helped Hasan to his second Test five-for with a lofted
drive that only got as far as Iqbal at deep mid-off. Tailenders Victor Nyauchi and Tshuma briefly delayed the inevitable, and it was left to Islam to wrap things up as an arm ball got the better of Tshuma. While it was their spinners that closed out the game, Bangladesh shone with bat and ball alike over the last four days to storm to Haque’s first victory as captain after a string of heavy defeats and some significant changes in personnel. A new-look team cruised to Bangladesh’s second innings win in Tests, coming 450 days since their first, against West Indies in December 2018, a game which was also their last win in this format. On current form, they will likely be celebrating a few more victories in the one-day series to come. Scores: Bangladesh 560 for 6 declared (Rahim 203*, Haque 132) beat Zimbabwe 265 (Ervine 107, Hasan 4-70, Jayed 471) and 189 (Ervine 43, Hasan 5-82, Islam 4-78) by an innings and 106 runs.
Wednesday February 26, 2020
Kaieteur News
Cuba demolish Honduras in Group C battle
Katheryn Rodríguez (wearing #9) of Cuba celebrates with her teammates after scoring against the Hondurans.
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, CMC – Cuba secured a 6-1 victory against Honduras as action in Group C of the Wo m e n ’s U n d e r- 2 0 C h a m p i o n s h i p continued on Monday at the Estadio Olimpico Felix Sanchez here. Maristania Mengana opened the scoring for the Spanish side in the 21st minute before Analia Cespedes doubled the margin in the 44th. A Giselle Guzman own goal in the 53th minute stretched the lead to 3-0, but Honduras would pull a goal back a minute later, through Maylin Menjivar. However, any thoughts of a Honduras
comeback would fall by the wayside as a second goal from Cespedes, followed by goals from Katheryn Rodriguez and Cecil Aldana sealed the win for the Cubans. Earlier, in a battle of the opening match victors, the United States came away with a 4-0 win over the Dominican Republic. The US was aided by a quick start, as a pair of Mia Fishel goals in the third and twelfth minutes sandwiched a score from Rebecca Jarrett in the eighth. The four-time CUW champions then capped the day with a goal in the 65th minute from Brianna Pinto.
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday February 26, 2020
Narayan Ramdhani in action during the tournament.
Silver and bronze medals for Narayan and Priyanna Ramdhani at ACAC championships Narayan Ramdhani (The Kings University) and Priyanna Ramdhani (Olds College) were both selected to represent the Province of Alberta at CCAA (Canadian Collegiate Athletic
Association) national championships to be held at the University Of Toronto in Mississauga from March 38, 2020. They were selected for making it to the Finals where
Narayan won the Silver Medal in the Men Singles and Priyanna won Silver in Women Singles and Bronze
in Women Doubles at the ACAC Individual and Round Robin (Continued on page 33)
Priyanna Ramdhani in action during the tournament.
Kaieteur News
Wednesday February 26, 2020
12 athletes and counting for CARIFTA 2020
Keliza Smith and Randy Hamilton of Running Braves. Guyana will be sending at least a dozen athletes to the 49th Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) games which will be hosted in Bermuda this Easter weekend (April 10th – 13th) at the Bermuda National Sports Center following the completion of the second local trials on Saturday at the National track & Field Center (NTFC) on the West Coast of Demerara. A total of five athletes m a d e t h e C A R I F TA Standard (CS) on Saturday last when the athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) held their second CARIFTA Trials. The five athletes who have joined the initial seven that made the cut during the first trials in January include 2019 Javelin bronze medalist Anisha Gibbons, Lionel Marks, Attoya Harvey, Seon Booker and Okenoko Pascal.
Princess Browne.
Annalisa Barclay. Pascal qualified for the boys’ under-17 shot put, while Booker and Harvey will represent Guyana in the 1500m male and female races, respectively. Marks made the CS in the boys’ under-20 100m. The other seven athletes who qualified during the first trials are Wesley Tyndall, Randy Hamilton, Adriel Austin, Keliza Smith, Annalisa Barclay, Princess Browne and Trevon Hamer.
Anisha Gibbons.
Trevon Hamer of Mercury Fast Laners. Head coach of the team Guyana, Julian Edmonds, in an invited comment with Kaieteur Sport, noted that he expects to see a few more athletes making the CS at the third and final trials next month. South American Youth Games Gold medalist, Breanna Charles, came very close on Saturday, missing the qualifying time in the girls under-20 200m (Continued on page 32)
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Zachary Jodah took 3-12 for Demerara U-17s yesterday at Everest.
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Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship
Bel Air Rubis Service Station’s U-17 Inter-County 50-over cricket
Yearwood unbeaten 54 spurs Demerara U-17 to four-wicket win
Lady Jags beat Puerto Rico as they virtually seal round-of-16 spot Aubrey Narine
Shemar Yearwood cover-drives during his unbeaten 54 at Everest yesterday.
- B’ce beat E’bo at Enmore
Challengers and Paiwomak (male) notch solid wins; Surama, Challengers (female) draw RFA Champions League/North Rupununi Leg
RFA President and VP Norbert Williams take time out for a photo with some of the teams which played on the opening day in North Rupununi.
Guyana Boxing Association again fighting the financial battle
12 athletes and counting for CARIFTA 2020
Another solid performance by Guyana’s ‘Lady Jags’ along with an own goal propelled them to an exciting 2-1 victory over Puerto Rico yesterday afternoon in very humid conditions at the Olimpico Felix Sanchez stadium in the Dominican Republic when the Concacaf Wo m e n ’s U n d e r - 2 0 Championship continued with Group D play. Going into the match after recording their 5th successive win in this competition after winning Group A here, the ‘Lady Jags’ proved yet again that they belong with another h e a r t - w a r m i n g performance, their sixth consecutive triumph.
It was by no means an easy match as the #15 ranked Puerto Rico did their best to get the better of the #23 ranked Guyana but the Guyanese responded to the task play for play as the action ebbed and flowed at each end of the park. Already taking care of business against the #12 ranked Nicaragua on Sunday night (3-1), the ‘Lady Jags’ played patiently putting in a few good offensive runs and shots on goal in the first half which was an even affair; both sides creating opportunities but it ended 0-0. Puerto Rico had made one substitution at the half hour mark. Nine minutes into the (Continued on page 32)
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