Kaieteur News

PAGE 4

Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 27, 2019

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

Amazon vs. Rusal It could be criticized as comparing apples to oranges, but there are a few lessons in doing so, given what happened with mighty Amazon last week in New York City, and what is still ongoing with Rusal right over here in Guyana. There was Amazon: a corporate behemoth among many hubristic behemoths. It came with what has been described as a rich package of mouthwatering fare. Tell any politician about the creation of 25,000 jobs and the building of network infrastructures, and he or she is falling over self to seal the deal, to lock-in such a rare corporate suitor before it flies the coop to a competing place. That was what happened, until it became undone. On the plus side, the words were many jobs, billions in revenues, and much trickledown effects to community and businesses. On the opposition’s side of the equation were workers’ conditions, costs, and community deterioration. Bad all around. And then Amazon and the opportunity were gone. Rather than focus on who is right, the more progressive thing to do is to measure Amazon’s contexts with those now being experienced by locals at the hands of Rusal. First, an illustration. Give a beggar in the street a dollar bill and there is the risk of a verbal assault; better not give anything and keep moving. That 1% offer was the equivalent of the pittance extended to the penniless; rage comes instantly. And just like the enraged street inhabitant, bauxite workers screamed out through the protest of strike action; the 1% was bound to trigger hard feelings and harder actions. It might have been better to do nothing, and simply indicate a willingness to bargain. Normalcy and respect must return now. For the workers to be contemptuously ousted from worksite, shelter, and other amenities, corresponds to the treatment by Amazon of NYC brass and hopeful community. To add insult, Rusal insensitively decided that it was not attending any meeting with the (state) Ministry of Labour. Sounds and looks like shades of Jeff Bezos first circling his corporate wagons, and then distancing from a town of thorns in an exhibition of strong-arm muscle. Similarly, the marketing and presenting of Rusal’s strategy and goals were poorly handled. There was little oomph to any positives; thus, the minuses took over. A classic example of misreading the marketplace and what it is ready to take; and without conditioning the audience. In both instances, there was a common thread: a lack of comprehensive reasoning and the delicate balance that ensues from such. There was overreach and overkill. Instead of the emphasis being on what could be gained, it was all about what had to be given up, and to teach a lesson. There was too little thunder regarding the former; while in terms of the latter, there was too much hard anger. Both Amazon and Rusal reacted and unilaterally decided: get the hell out of my face. Don’t mess with me. And we are out of here. Locally, Rusal was too quick on the draw with each and every one of its decisions, be they the paltry 1%, or get off the premises, or no more cooking, or it is the end of the line, as in firing. And then to compound matters came that insulting absence from the table of conversation and conciliation with the Ministry of Labour, trapped in the very public roles as matchmaker and chaperone, as well as knitter and healer all in one. This is the 21st century; Guyanese must not be treated as beggars. While not undoable, the situation was clearly made more arduous given the tone and ill-feeling now surging and raging. Looked at closely, and it becomes clear that Rusal has presented Guyanese a rare common bone on which to chew in common contentment. National pride and dignity have been injured; both are inflamed. Things are beyond ‘eyepass’; Guyanese workers deserve way better. Normalcy it must be.

Rejection of the No Confidence Motion can cause economic sanctions DEAR EDITOR, The non-acceptance of the No Confidence Motion (NCM) particularly after March 21, 2019 can cultivate economic sanctions for Guyana along with elevated risk levels of compliance, sovereign risk ratings and further de risking. Hence, the first level of impact will be on the banking sector, which is the core segment of the financial system. The Banking sector can articulate a country’s economic progress as banks play an important role in the mobilization and allocation of financial resources within an economy. Further, given the current outlook for Guyana given the government’s myopic vision, global risk management teams attached to our local banking sector corresponding relationships will critically place more emphasis on enhance due diligence to rating scenarios correlated to “country risk

rating”. Additionally, this key rating consists of an examination of political factors and socio economic conditions that prevail within the country inclusive of adherence to the constitutional laws of the country. It therefore means that factoring this potential high risk at hand, corresponding banks can place a “freeze or stop “strategy on commercial banks in Guyana as they seek to mitigate their exposures. We must understand that these corresponding banks have a certain degree of limit tolerance for economies like Guyana where we have not made sustainable improvements on the corruption index, revamping of our legislation geared towards safer financial operational mode required in modern day business activities and most importantly, weak political governance.

Worse case, if a stop approach is determined then the implications will be significant as beyond what was experienced by some our local commercial banks in December 2016. This scenario can penetrate a “systematic risk “as banks and other financial money agents within Guyana would not be able to send or receive foreign currencies. As financial cross border transactions cease our financial system, industries and our people will feel the negative impact such as rising foreign exchange rates, deterioration of banks assets base, food and fuel shortages, limited assistance from donor agencies, pharmaceutical shortages and nonpayment for tuition fees to foreign universities, etc. The fact is that this will be “hard times” as our people will say. More so, the international community and global regulators will look at us

without any regard and empathy. Do we want this for ourselves, our country and an after effect, which will require significant resources to turnaround? Can we afford this set back to our economy given that we have a seismic emerging oil industry too at hand? It is time! Yes, a time to act responsibly and respectfully by abiding with the constitution coupled with taking a step back to fully understand the long-term detrimental effects this current action will have on international financial relationships, our economic activities and our people at most. To further highlight, Compliance and international regulators has no infinite boundaries or alliances, thus no government of the day in any country in a modern financial world is their boss. Yours sincerely, Concerned Banker

GAWU sets the sugar record straight DEAR EDITOR, Once again, the GAWU cannot allow the remarks of Vice President and Minister of Public Security and AFC Chairman, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, to be left unanswered lest his remarks related to sugar be considered truthful. The Public Security Minister, appearing on an online programme titled, ”Is there a Constitutional crisis looming?” that was broadcasted on the internet February 23, 2019 made, from our point-of-view, a number of incorrect statements regarding the sugar industry. The Minister, on the matter, said that the Administration had spent $36B during the first three years of its life. But what the Minister didn’t tell the audience was that the sum represented 3.7 per cent of aggregate expenditure. He also didn’t say that those monies supported the lives of nearly 70,000 Guyanese or 9.3 per cent of the population. Also, that some of those monies were used for consumption and therefore helped to support the lives of thousands more Guyanese. Undoubtedly, the Minister was disingenuous in what he was saying and clearly was speaking from one side of his mouth. The Vice President went on to say Government’s support to sugar was dragging the economy down. Well, now the

support has stopped and what we have is the significant curtailment of consumption of thousands of Guyanese who were linked to the now-closed Skeldon, Rose Hall, East Demerara and Wales Estates. In fact, the workers are experiencing such hard times that it was reported that at Skeldon they have resorted to catching fish and picking wildly grown vegetables in the backlands to feed their families. The NIS has also lost thousands of contributors, which must be taking a toll on the Scheme. The GRA also has lost many, many millions in income and value-added taxes associated with the workers. Moreover, the economy has lost several million US dollars in export earnings. In fact, for us, it was not unsurprising to read about the increased costs for foreign currency and to learn about shortages in the country as well. So we ask isn’t the vacuum created by the closure of the estates really dragging not only the economy but communities down too? Then Minister Ramjattan boldly said that about 4,000 workers lost their jobs. This again is completely a figment of the Minister’s imagination. Contrary to the Minister’s bold Continued on page 6

Lackadaisical behaviour at City Hall preposterous DEAR EDITOR, A letter appearing in the ‘Letters Column’ of the newspapers recently, purportedly written by the Public Relations Officer of the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown regarding the forfeiture of a US grant that was made available to repair the long defunct Stabroek Market Clock, but which has gone unspent for more than three years now, only accentuates further the high degree of incompetence and venality of the administration of the City Council. I can recall the former Mayor boasting that with the involvement of her Engineers that the clock would have been rehabilitated and changed since 2016 from its previous mechanical system

to a new electronic system that would be powered via solar energy, that would have coincided with ‘greening’ of the country. So why has this not happened? Of course, all of these grand ideas were just more idle pipe dreams with no concrete steps or diligent action being taken to fructify her reverie into reality. I think they were just too busy flying around the world on useless junkets, on sharing out inflated contracts to Tom, Dick and Harrylall without adherence to tender procedures and hiring friends and family to cushy jobs at the Council featherbedding all the while, to rehabilitate the clock. How is it that the Council is able to give out contracts overnight to clean the

cemetery? And how is it able to design the front of the Stabroek Market into a fancy “civic square” and the back where the wharf collapsed into a riverside esplanade and cannot simply rehabilitate a clock which was being fully funded? Is this not simply preposterous? Is the City Council capable of doing anything? Look at the Kitty Market rehabilitation? Look at the decrepit Abattoir building, the ruinous City Hall, which they occupy, look at the City Police Training School which has suffered from considerable theft and serious vandalism, look at the Incinerator Compound with heaps of garbage all around and the unfinished Solid Waste building. Although hundreds

of millions are being spent, everything is being left half done. Is this not a clear indication of the level of competency and trustworthiness of the Georgetown Municipality? If the silly excuse that is being given that before the clock could be repaired that the entire area that houses the clock needs to be rehabilitated, then why don’t they rehabilitate the clocks of the Kitty, Bourda or La Penitence Markets instead of returning the grant? It seems that the only real bankruptcy the Council is suffering from is a ‘Bankruptcy of Ideas’. The legacy of the ‘Fantastic Four’ continues to be felt at City Hall. Sincerely, Amber Valentine

Wednesday February 27, 2019

Is the Bertram Collins College targeting the right group? DEAR EDITOR, The media recently featured aspects of the Bertram Collins College at Ogle which sent me down memory lane. I was reminded of the ‘master strokes’ played by the iconic Harold B. Davis (Snr) who, as Head of Training and Staff Development and later as Director of Human Resources, initiated the switching of the building from being the residence for the Chairman of Bookers Sugar Estates Ltd to being the residential training centre for developing the management cadre responsible for the new generation of managers to replace the expatriate managers of the sugar

industry. As an early beneficiary of these programmes, I vividly recall with happy nostalgia, the many days and nights spent at this Ogle Management Development Centre along with the other ‘young turks’ like Earl John, Tony Downes, Abdul Baksh, Erwin Brewster et al. We were expected to develop, among other competencies, the psychosocial and managerial skills and finesse to facilitate a smooth transition from the then expatriate to the new Guyanese management of the sugar industry. I still recall the many lectures, discussion groups and case studies that helped

GPHC clears the air on doctors’ retreat DEAR EDITOR, The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) wishes to condemn several inaccurate, misleading and mischievous articles in the print and electronic media concerning the retreat of doctors from the Paediatric Surgery Department. The planned retreat is not a GPHC or Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) organised, sponsored or funded activity. In fact, it is a group of colleagues from the Paediatric Surgery Department getting together in a social gathering, during their off duty, at a mutually agreed venue to share their knowledge and experiences. Further, the articles erroneously suggest that the retreat is organised to examine the circumstances surrounding the recent death of three infants at the GPHC. Be informed that the Paediatric Surgery Department and doctors engaging in the retreat were not responsible for the treatment and management of those infants. We strongly object to the violation of the privacy of our employees who are committed enough to utilise their off duty and financial resources to further their development and ultimately improve health care at the GPHC and within Guyana. The GPHC again condemns the articles as malicious, mischievous, devoid of facts and designed to be injurious to the organisation and individuals who work within it. We ask media entities to desist from publishing inflammatory articles. Mitzy Campbell GPHC PR

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

to equip us with the tools and confidence to fully assume our respective leadership roles. Excellent case studies like the one titled “Vinay Aggarwal”, which opened with the Hindi words “Mayrayjewanaakkhelownahai, aaklarkakayhaath may” meaning: “my livelihood is now a toy in the hands of a boy”; the old lady in the weeding gang threw these words at Vinay Aggarwal, the newly appointed Field Superintendent who replaced the older expatriate with whom the old lady was apparently more accustomed and perhaps more comfortable as ‘the boss’. Her words were a poignant commentary on the socio-cultural changes taking place at the time; they obviously bothered Vinay who could not help pondering the double whammy he must now deal with in that he had to assert himself without ‘offending’ the workers with whom he grew-up and respected as elders in the community. The Management Development Centre at Ogle was the virtual laboratory in which such intricate, nuanced management issues had to be analysed and taught how they should be dealt with. Continued on page 6

Why do we lie all the time? DEAR EDITOR, We live in a world where lies and deception have become the order of the day. Lying has invaded the generation of the human race since the beginning of time. People from every religion, race, culture and creed lie daily to look good or to fool people. Politicians lie all the time, attorneys lie in court to defend criminals all the time, parents lie to children, husbands lie to wives and children teachers lie to students and the long list of pathological liars can fill a million British Museum of Encyclopedias. Lies have destroyed millions of marriages and relationships with good people friends and families. Why do people lie all the time? This is a question I wish to answer from a theological and philosophical standing point. Jesus informed us from the following passage of scripture: John 8:44 “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” Jesus spoke of the devil as the Father of lies he

referred to him as a murderer from the beginning. Why was that so? The Devil or Satan possessed the mind of Cain to kill his brother Abel then Cain said to God ‘’Am I my brother’s keeper?’’ Lying all the time! We can analyze from this discourse that Satan is the one who control the human minds for people to lie. Today we have so many compulsive liars in our society from the Highest Offices to the rogue on the street. If people can confess the truth our prisons will be empty the police won’t have to beat them to speak the truth and lawyers may not have jobs to defend criminals. We have a human conscience when we lie; it makes us feel bad and horrible on the inside. Mohandas Gandhi had this to say about Truth. ‘’The word satya (Truth) is derived from Sat which means ‘being.’ Nothing is or exists in reality except Truth. That is why Sat

or Truth is perhaps the most important name of God, In fact it is more correct to say that Truth is God than to say God is truth. And where there is Truth, there is also knowledge which is true. Where there is no Truth, there can be no true knowledge. That is why the word Chit or knowledge is associated with the name of God. And where there is true knowledge, there is always bliss (Ananda).’’ The philosophy of this great Saint is very profound. Gandhi a trained Attorney at Law refused to defend clients in court by lying for them he ended up doing farming at times and refused jobs of big money where lying is involved. And Jesus Said: ‘’I am the way the truth and the life no man comes to the Father but by me.’’ John 14:6 If we call ourselves followers of Jesus and God Our Father we should speak Continued on page 6

PAGE 6

Wednesday February 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

GAWU sets the sugar record... An explanation is needed GWI From page 4 assertion, it was approximately 7,000 workers lost their jobs. Firstly, 1,700 were pushed onto the breadline when Wales Estate was closed at the end of 2016. Then nearly 5,000 were sent home when Skeldon, Rose Hall and East Demerara Estates were closed at the end of 2017. The Minister’s sordid attempt to downplay the reality cannot stand scrutiny whatsoever. Regarding the payment of severance to the thousands of displaced workers, the Minister said that the Government hadn’t enough monies to offset the payments. This excuse has been used so many times that its repetition is now laughable. The fact remains that the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act required that the workers be paid their monies in full. This, the Government was well aware of yet it persisted to act contrary to the law. Eventually, as the public well knows, the matter was addressed by the High Court, which found the Government in the breach and awarded the workers interests on their outstanding payments. The argument about having insufficient monies, in our view, is irrelevant as the Government was well aware that thousands of workers had to be paid their severance payments since it decided, in the first place, to make them jobless. GuySuCo even informed the GAWU, in the latter part of 2017, that it shared with the Administration an estimated cost for those payments. To then turnaround and argue that monies were not available could only be seen as a futile attempt to pull the wool over

the Guyanese people’s eyes. The fact is when one considers the extravagance that permeates the Government today, monies could have been found but it is our view, that the withholding was yet another means of punishment. The Minister told the programme that Barbados had taken its sugar lands and converted them to golf courses, seemingly to insinuate that the island has ceased sugar production. Though the island-state may have put some sugar lands into alternative use, it didn’t throw the baby out with the bathwater as the country maintains on to now its sugar industry. The Minister in making the Barbados inference pointed to the need for diversification. But we ask what the Government has done in this regard? We should not forget that $30B has been borrowed towards diversifying the currently operable estates but that sum has largely remained locked away. Moreover, the GAWU strongly advocates that the industry’s sustainability was rooted in its diversification and the Union in its presentation of February 17, 2017 to the Government, which incidentally was led by Minister Ramjattan, outlined how the diversification thrust should be pursued. The Minister also accepted that the decisions on sugar had a socioeconomic impact. But when the necessity of a socioeconomic impact assessment was put to him during a meeting with the trade unions and the opposition – PPP/C – on February 03, 2017, he unambiguously told those present that the Government would not pursue such a study but the trade unions and opposition could do so if they so desire. To now turnaround and admit there was an impact but failing beforehand to ascertain what

that impact would be, gives rise to the view of whether the Government really had the people in mind and in heart before it took the decisions it ultimately did. Today, while the Minister seeks to offer a defence to the situation and conduct, which clearly is indefensible, the GAWU see its worthwhile to recall what Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan said about the sugar industry in his 2015 Budget address ”[t]he economic well-being of the sugar industry is critical to the protection of jobs and growth of the economy, as well as the contribution it makes to GDP, exports and foreign exchange”. We wonder what happened to such sentiments when the Administration resorted to its approach to the industry especially recognizing that its own Sugar Commission of Inquiry told it closure was not an option that should be considered. Therefore, today, while Minister Ramjattan seeks to justify the Administration’s approach, the reality is thousands of Guyanese men, women and children are the hapless victims, living in miserable circumstances and in difficult of times. Even more disconcerting is that the State rather than lending a helpful hand has instead turned its back on them. Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

A micron filter two days after instillation. DEAR EDITOR, Please allow me to bring to the attention of the Management of G.W.I what happens to a one micron filter after two days of instillation. G.W.I carried out a disconnection exercise in Kitty on the 17. 2 .2019 and it was made clear to customers that if no bill was received, it is the duty of the customer to visit the office.

So it is equally correct that it is the duty of G.W.I to provide quality water to its customers. Please note this customer last bill was due on the 15. 1. 2019 and it was paid on the 16. 1. 2019 and yet I was disconnected and was forced to pay a re-connection fee of $7,500.00. Could G.W.I say if that is correct? A G.W.I Customer

Why do we lie all the time? From page 5 the truth at all times even if we have to go to jail for it ;we will come out as a repentant sinner. Our courts is a place where truth become lies and lies become truth but we can lie to man to escape from a crime but can we lie to God? Our Parliament is a next home of Judases and compulsive

Is the Bertram Collins... From page 5 The Ogle Management Development Centre was ‘reserved’ for ‘management’ development i.e. to provide facilities and programmes aimed at developing managers who were required to go back to their respective locations armed with the skills and competencies to train and develop their subordinates; it was not for the rank and file staff to learn the basic skills of their jobs. The media reports suggest that the centre is being used for orientation and basic skills development among the entrylevel cadre, which to me is a misplacement of priorities since orientation and on-the-job training must be done by the trained managers at the job sites. Effective and beneficial training is better delivered in a ‘top-down’ mode whereby the top managers are trained first and they in turn are involved in the training and development of their subordinates, preferably on a continuous basis ‘on the job’. I believe much more mileage will be achieved if the Bertram Collins College were to focus on Management Training and Development. Nowrang Persaud

liars… The number one reason people lie when it just doesn’t matter is because they actually do think it matters. While everyone around them thinks it’s an inconsequential issue, the liar believes it is critically important. Often, people tell lies because they are trying to control a situation and exert influence toward getting the decisions or reactions they want. It may not feel like it to you, but people who tell lie after lie are often worried about losing the respect of those around them. They want you to like them, be impressed, and value them. They also want you to be like them the liar always move in groups because they need company to defend their wrong doing and they’re worried that the truth might lead you to reject or shame them. William Shakespeare the greatest of all poets and writers had this to say from his immortal play Hamlet the Prince of Denmark.

This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.” When we lie, we fool ourselves and try to deceive others. We must speak the truth at all times and I call on our political leaders and all the people of this land to speak the truth and be a people of integrity and morality. If we examine our lives carefully we can be perpetual victims of lies. I close this discourse with a scripture from the book of Revelation. Revelation 21:8 “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. God reserved ‘’all liars’’ last on this list of sinners because God hate liars. Regards, Rev. Dr. Gideon Cecil

Wednesday February 27, 2019

PAGE 7

Kaieteur News

Govt. not prepared to work hard for ...Comfortable collecting crumbs from what Guyana deserves ExxonMobil - Petroleum Consultant By Kiana Wilburg From all indications, it is quite clear that the coalition administration is still too focused on painting a rosy picture regarding the preparations for oil as opposed to addressing numerous difficult issues to secure Guyana’s future. Making this statement yesterday during an interview with Kaieteur News was Oil and Gas Consultant, Dr. Jan Mangal. His comments followed the presentations made by Business Minister, Dominic Gaskin and Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson yesterday morning in Houston, Texas at the Baker Institute Rice University. The topic of discussion was “Oil and Gas development in Guyana.” Other panellists included Newell Maurice Dennison, Commissioner of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC); Sean Herrera, Managing Director of the Caribbean component of Schlumberger; and Jamie McInerney, Senior Director at FTI Consulting. Gaskin, who was the keynote speaker, said that despite what the naysayers and preachers of doomsday may say, the government is of the firm view that oil and gas has the potential to transform Guyana. In this regard, he noted that the coalition administration is already making moves to improve the business landscape that will see a rush of interest from the looming oil sector. Also expressing similar sentiments was McInerney. He said that if one reads the local media reports, one would get the impression that the resource curse is imminent, when in

fact, the government is already taking steps to avoid this. Even Schlumberger’s Managing Director spoke glowingly of Guyana’s investment climate, while noting that there have been a few surmountable challenges. After attending the event which also was live streamed, the former Government Advisor, Dr Jan Mangal, told Kaieteur News that the objective of the participants was to paint a rosy picture of Guyana’s preparation for the oil sector. He said, “I completely agree that Guyana has a tremendous opportunity with oil, but we can only succeed if we recognise and address the risks, and the risks are overwhelming. It is in the second part, on risks, that the government is lagging. The government wants to portray a picture as if they are in charge and they have everything under control with elections coming up. Then for the oil companies and contractors, (like Exxon and Schlumberger) they will be

Oil and Gas Consultant, Dr. Jan Mangal doing the same, because they are investing a lot of money in Guyana, and they want their shareholders to think that everything is fine in Guyana.” The transparency advocate continued, “If Wa l l St r e e t and shareholders become worried about Guyana, they will be less inclined to acquire and hold shares in these companies. So all of the parties on this panel had an agenda, so we

should not expect to see a true representation of what is taking place in Guyana and discussion of the challenges and risks that Guyana is facing. (Be that as it may,) Minister Gaskin was quite frank on a number of issues, which was good.” Dr. Mangal added, “And then you can kind of hone in on that person from FTI Consulting...He is a former employee of Exxon and a spin doctor (public relations). Has his firm been hired by anyone in connection with Guyana, and is he a lobbyist for Exxon? We should ask those questions. Because on the panel he was interjecting and trying to make things look rosy as well and make excuses by saying Guyana is new to the

industry, but it is doing a great job so far, but he was not briefed on some basic facts.” The Oil and Gas Consultant also took Minister Gaskin to task on some of his statements. Dr Mangal said, “Gaskin referred to the naysayers, but those raising concerns are people who believe this is a big opportunity for Guyana, but who know that these opportunities are being forfeited all around the world. Look at all the countries which have an opportunity with oil and gas, most of them falter and fail. The naysayers Gaskin referred to are people who want the risks of this resource to be recognised and for the government to deal with the risks. The naysayers are

those who are doing the most to make Guyana succeed. The naysayers know that singing kumbaya and hoping for the best will not help Guyana.” Dr. Mangal added, “But right now, the government is not dealing with the risks and they are refusing to recognise the risks. When anyone brings up issues, the criticism is that you are too negative…” The Oil and Gas Consultant is of the firm view that the current administration just wants to ride on the coattails of Exxon and collect the crumbs the company is throwing to them. “They are not prepared to work hard for what Guyana deserves and what its people deserve,” the transparency advocate concluded.

PAGE 8

Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 27, 2019

Trade unions band together to fight Rusal - put all foreign companies on notice

The unions meeting yesterday to plan on how to deal with the worrying labour situation at Rusal.

In a strong signal of a growing anger, the country’s trade unions yesterday met to find ways to respond to the current ongoing crisis at Rusal, Upper Berbice, in Region 10. It would have been an

unusual setting at the Critchlow Labour College for a number of unions which traditionally had been at odds with each other. However, the situation with bauxite workers, scores who have been fired by

Rusal, has galvanized the unions, finding a common cause. According to the unions, the actions of Rusal’s subsidiary, the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BCGI), is a situation that

cannot be left unchecked, lest other foreign investors believe that they can treat local workers with the same disdain. Among the options being considered are picketing the Queenstown office of Rusal, engaging the Russian embassy and a visit to the Aroaima and Kurubuka mine site to check on the situation. Chairing the meeting yesterday was General Secretary of the Guyana

Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU), Lincoln Lewis. The other unions present were the Guyana Labour Union, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union, the Guyana Teachers’ Union and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees. Lewis’ union was derecognized by Rusal, which ran into trouble over a

week ago after it paid workers a one percent increase. The workers demanded a meeting, but Rusal ordered them back to work at the Kurubuka mine site. However, the workers stood down and the company’s management closed the mining operations. Two weekends ago, the company ordered its kitchen to stop cooking for workers and told 61 employees that their services were Continued on page 13

Wednesday February 27, 2019

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

Employers have the upper hand The bauxite workers at Rusal were dismissed because their employers had the upper hand. The laws of Guyana allow for persons to be terminated. And this is exactly what the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. did. Yet despite this, the media continue to carry reports that the bauxite company was in breach of Guyana’s labour

laws. But they are not stating just which laws were breached. The labour laws provide for persons to be terminated for just cause or with notice. These laws give employers the upper hand when it comes to firing and when it comes to hiring also. But it must also be recognized that employers are also faced

with challenges in filling vacancies. Last November, the University of Guyana, graduated another large batch of students. Last July, thousands of school leavers joined the ranks of jobseekers. Most of these university and school graduates are still hunting for jobs. But the problem is not just

DEM BOYS SEH

Who seh silence is golden? Dem politicians quiet all of a sudden. Fuh de coalition is only Li’l Joe and Trotty talking. And Trotty only talking because people seh how he got three house, two of dem since he tun Minister and dealing wid Exxon. He should know dat at dis time people does mek up stories bout everybody. Dem did mek up a story bout two Minister sons who shoot a man. But dem boys know dat dem didn’t have to mek up a story bout Cathy. She stand up big and bold last year and announce how she gon end de monopoly dat de big telephone company enjoy. Dem boys remember Jagdeo did try to do dat. He even go to parliament wid de matter and had to pull he brakes. Cathy now come and she talk more fat than Jagdeo. She even fix a date fuh when de monopoly would end. De 31st December come and gone and de monopoly still in place. And de woman ain’t utter a word. Is like if she never seh nutten. Now SARA announce how it file charges against al who own land at Pradoville. Jagdeo got de biggest land. Dat mean dat he now

getting charge. And since de charge announce, he get quiet. Dem boys she, he was de one who tease dem fuh charge him if dem believe dem got a case. Well dem charge him. He got to get lawyer and de only lawyer he can get is de Chat-3. But is de same Chat-3 who was running fuh de presidential candidate and Jagdeo blank him. But nuff of dem case wha SOCU bring don’t get nowhere. De magistrates does throw dem out and SOCU does get vex. But dem boys seh is dem own face dem vex wid. Odda things dat people should talk about, dem refusing to talk. Soulja Bai ain’t seh a word bout de elections, although de no confidence motion was dat he should call elections in 90 days. GECOM seh it ain’t ready to call elections in 90 days but it ain’t saying when it gon be ready. Nobody ain’t talking. ‘Soulja Bai seh he ready fuh elections dis year but GECOM ain’t tekking him on. Talk half and know dat silence is not golden in dis case.

the lack of jobs; it is also the lack of what the employers are looking for. About ten years ago, a manager of a city business wrote a letter to the media in which he explained his difficulty in finding suitable staff to fill a vacancy in his firm. His problem was not a shortage of certified workers. There were numerous applicants, most of whom had a number of subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations. Yet, the employer complained that most of them did not make the grade, despite having more than the academic requirements for the job. Certificates do not necessarily translate to marketability. In fact, many employers shy away from highly qualified persons. One of the foremost reasons for this is the fear that the highflyers are going to eventually fly away, either to another company or to greener pastures overseas. How can the employer be sure that the person, if employed, is going to stay for an extended period to justify the training and other investments the employer has

to make in this employee? Employment comes at a cost to the employer. The employer has to invest in training and provide benefits to the employee. In return, the employer wants a guarantee that the person is not going to eventually move on and thus force the employer to have to look for a replacement. This, in part, explains the reluctance of some employers to employ persons who have done exceptionally well. The employers may not wish to risk employing that person, because they know that the person will attract other offers. Migration is a problem. Close to half of the workforce in Guyana either have sponsorship papers being processed or hope someday to migrate. Employers also are not always necessarily looking for the brightest and the smartest. They are looking for the most effective. If you examine, for example, the staff of the Trump Organization, you would be surprised that many of the top people are not necessarily the brightest and most qualified. But they have proven their worth to their employers through getting

the job done. Not all employers are looking for persons with drive, initiative, ambition and special problem-solving abilities. They prefer simpler skills such as following orders, sticking to protocols, numeracy and literacy. They also value experience. Experience is also an unmistakable quality in demand and makes a big difference in performance. The problem, of course is, how is anyone new to the job market ever going to obtain experience if they are not finding a job. So, the next time you hear about persons complaining about not being able to get a job, you should ask them how many interviews they had and the outcome of these interviews. This may allow you to decide whether their problem is the lack of opportunities or simply the lack of the right mix of skills. Employers may have the upper hand in employment and dismissals. But it is not easy finding the right persons for the jobs.

PAGE 10

Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 27, 2019

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Kofi Kwayana says Buxton is the capital of Guyana On Sunday night, ACDA held a religious ceremony based on African traditions and rites, to honour Professor Rudy James who died last week. Performing the rites was the son of one of the greatest Guyanese ever – Eusi Kwayana. It was a learning experience for me. We had to sit in a circle while Kofi administered the service. After the ceremony, Vincent Alexander and I were chatting and Kofi came up to talk to me. As part of our discussion, I enquired about his siblings, and the topic of where he was born came up.

Kofi said, “I was born in Buxton, the capital of Guyana. Freddie, I want you to write that. “My response was; “Are you serious, you want me to write that in my column?” “Yes, write it,” he said. Well, here I am, publishing his words in my column. It was clear to me that he reveres his birth place, which is an expression you cannot miss in Buxtonians. Every Buxtonian I have met in the past has this unyielding emotion about Buxton. All, without exception, feel that Buxton is a special place in Guyana. Interestingly, since

Vincent was sitting next to me while Kofi was praising his hometown, I forgot to ask Vincent if Wortmanville has a special place in his heart. We are both from that ward in south Georgetown, born one block away from each other. Kofi Kwayana looks more like his mom and lacks the tallness of his father. He definitely has his mother’s smile. His infectiousness was on show. He certainly knows African culture and African religious traditions. He shaped that event with a unique style that I seldom see in any type of religious

service, be it Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Rastafari, Bahá’í, the Jordanites, etc. While pronouncing on the meaning of African culture and its worldview, he was able to spice his philosophical outpourings with constant humour that made the entire evening absorbing. There was a part of the rites that was very much intriguing. The entire James family had to gather in front of the attendees while Kofi administered eight different substances for them to taste, each representing a great value that all humans have to experience. One of those substances was very hot pepper, which according to Kofi, represents the bitter part of life that we humans have to face as part of our existence. When administering libation to the great ancestors of the African people, he told the audience that it is important that the names of the admirable ones who have passed on be proclaimed. His first pronouncement was Walter Rodney. There and then, a little chagrin pierced my mind. I didn’t see any of the remaining leaders of the WPA that Walter struggled with. I did see Rupert Roopnaraine at the service at Saint Paul’s

Anglican Church in Plaisance the next day. Kofi Kwayana acknowledged the great son of the African race in his religious service, but the teachings of Rodney are not promulgated in this country. Rodney reminds one of the inexplicabilities of Guyanese politics. I believe that Guyana’s society, politics and social make-up are the most complex and complicated among modern countries. Try making sense of this country and you will end up like Tantalus; forever grasping at what you want, but never being able to get it. If Rodney is acknowledged to be one of the great sons of modern Africa, then why is there no safeguarding of his legacy? It just confuses the mind. Burnham and Jagan have their legacies preserved. There is always publicity of the birth and death anniversaries of Burnham and Jagan. The country’s main international airport is named after Jagan. Last year, the PNC chapter of Atlanta in the US recommended to the government to add Burnham’s name, so it reads as the Jagan/ Burnham international airport. Linden was named after Burnham. The state-owned

Frederick Kissoon dental school has Jagan’s appellation. The East Coast village Melanie Damishana is for Burnham’s daughter so is Roxanne Burnham Gardens. There is, of course, the Cheddi Jagan Research Library, which in actuality is the former residence of Jagan when he was Premier in the sixties. Streets in New Amsterdam bear the title of both Jagan and Burnham. Housed in the former private residence of President Granger, are four foundations to perpetuate the legacy of Burnham. Vincent Alexander is chairman of the Burnham Foundation. We shouldn’t omit that the important Ogle airport was recently renamed after Eugenie Correia. So where is the preservation of Rodney’s legacy? Rodney’s party, the WPA is part of the grand coalition that administers Guyana. Two of Rodney’s very close friends are big wigs in that government. Strange, eh!

Wednesday February 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 27, 2019

Wednesday February 27, 2019

PAGE 13

Kaieteur News

President tells GECOM to prepare for elections President David Granger has instructed the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, (GECOM) Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson, to commence preparations for the General and Regional Elections. In his letter to GECOM, the President promised to initiate measures to provide the requested funds and to seek the approval of the National Assembly to ensure that an agreement can be reached, given both the Constitutional requirements and GECOM’s capability. “I have noted your statement to the effect that the Commission does not

President David Granger have the capability to deliver credible General and Regional

Elections within the three month time frame commencing 2018-12-21 and the additional funds appropriated by the National Assembly need to be provided,” the President said in a letter to GECOM chairman. The President noted further that the government is committed to doing everything possible to ensure that the Commission is provided with the financial resources and have sufficient time to conduct credible elections”. Granger ’s response comes days after GECOM had informed him that the

Trade unions band together to... From page 8 terminated. Rusal refused to meet Government while the bauxite union reps and Lewis were present. It did meet with government last week and was warned to reinstate the fired workers. However, as of Monday, the workers continued staying at the living quarters of the BCGI, at Aroaima, with neighbouring communities and Government sending in food supplies. In the absence of its workforce, Rusal has been using stockpiles of mined bauxite to run its operations. It has continued to send out bauxite in barges along the Berbice River. While initially 61 workers were sent home, the number of employees told to leave has grown to over 90 persons. Yesterday, the unions said that the situation was intolerable. Lewis disclosed that it is worrying that the Russians have derecognized a legitimate union, one that is recognized by Government. “Their actions do not buttress their statements. They have fired workers.” According to GAWU’s General Secretary, Seepaul Narine, the situation has to be taken control of, as a similar one happened with the Malaysian-owned Demerara Timbers Limited. He said that

the union was derecognized forcing a court action. Lewis noted that Rusal has a troubling track record of poor relations from Nigeria, Guinea, Jamaica and now Guyana. “The clear intent is not to treat with workers.” He urged the union to arrive at a concerted plan to send a strong message that such behaviour would not be condoned. In 2009, Rusal, just being a few years here, fired 57 workers without any sanctions from the government of the day. One decade later, the issue has not been resolved. He said that the strategy should be one that sends a clear message to all companies that are coming here, that it will not be tolerated. According to Lewis, it is worrisome that the Rusal has not been making a profit, with indications that transfer pricing and other tricky accounting is being used to hide profits. He said that the company would have benefitted from tax concessions. According to the union leader, the move will be to examine the official returns filed by BCGI and make comparisons of bauxite prices paid by BCGI as against world prices. GLU’s head, Carvil Duncan disclosed that from

indication there are about 90 workers sent home. The first priority would be getting those workers back to work. The union officials said that the Government erred in meeting the Russians last week without the workers’ representatives being present. “The strategy will have to be for the long haul. This is a struggle,” Duncan said. According to Komal Chand, President of GAWU, the priority has to be getting the fired workers back their jobs. The officials deemed the actions of Rusal as blatant “eyepass”. G B & G W U ’s L e s l i e Gonsalves disclosed that the company has poor infrastructure for workers, including vehicles that do not have brakes, and it cannot be business as usual. According to the Guyana Teachers’ Union’s Coretta Mc Donald, there should be a visit to meet workers at the Berbice sites. It is not just 61 workers, she said. The ripple effect would be three or four times this amount, a “disgusting” situation. The unions said that a joint statement will be issued and there are considerations to bring down even the children and wives of affected workers to send a clear message.

organization could not meet the three-month time frame for General and Regional Elections triggered by the successful no-confidence motion brought by the PPP in the National Assembly on December 21, last, and which is therefore Constitutionally due in March. The GECOM had previously announced that it would not be ready for General and Regional

Elections anytime soon. The Commission had voted in favour of having a fresh house-to-house registration as part of GECOM’s “normal work programme.” Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, had stated that if there is to be h o u s e - t o - h o u s e registration, General and Regional Elections cannot be held before February next year.

The GECOM official had noted that “We are not ignoring the no confidence motion. In relation to the motion, we said that we cannot do it in the stipulated time. There are routine things that GECOM is doing which will help in the preparation for elections, but they are not things that are voted for under an election programme.”

PAGE 14

Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 27, 2019

Granger would be shocked to learn about the rape of resources under his watch - Jagdeo By Abena RockcliffeCampbell Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo thinks that

President David Granger would suffer a severe shock if he is to be made aware of the “rape of resources”

occurring just beneath his nose. Jagdeo said this at a recent press conference.

This was as he repeated a claim of high levels of corruption at the Lands and Surveys Commission. Jagdeo told the media that A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) supporters would be shocked “when all of these matters are exposed”. Further, Jagdeo said that President Granger may be surprised to see his name on documents that serve to “give away” valuable resources to “certain known characters.” Jagdeo said, “Those documents they are issuing say, ‘I David Granger’ and he may not even know about the rape of resources that is taking place now. But, it is all done in his name.” Jagdeo said that Granger would do well to look into the matter very soon. He said, “I would like to ask him (President Granger) to request that all of the leases that have been issued (by Lands and Surveys) to be made available. (Granger should) ask Lands and Surveys to come and put those leases on his desk, he will be shocked. I am sure if he does that some of them may not be there.” Jagdeo claimed that he has seen some of the leases and a portion of what he saw were even backdated “a year or so.” Even before Jagdeo made those statements at his last presser, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) had put out a statement of similar effect. The statement read, “The reports by whistleblowers about the happenings at the

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo

President David Granger

Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission is cause for great concern, specifically since these reports expose a mad rush to allocate state resources to persons in the top ranks of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), as well as others who are involved in underhand dealings, including bribery, before the expiration of the constitutionally mandated March 19, 2019 deadline.” PPP further stated, “We have received information, thus far, of their illegal and corrupt transactions for lands at D’urban Park, Moca, Wyburg Caracas, Vreed-enHoop, Liliendaal, sugar lands on the East Coast of Demerara and at Number 19 Village on the Corentyne Coast (which was the site that was identified by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/ C) pre-May 2015 for the construction of the Deep Water Harbour).”

The statement continued, “We have been receiving information about similar transfers of state resources and licenses that were ‘hurriedly’ processed at the Gaming Authority and other state agencies. The People’s Progressive Party wishes to make clear that these questionable transactions will be reviewed by a PPP/C government, revoked and legal action will be taken against all involved. The Party urges all public servants at these agencies to remain vigilant and maintain meticulous records, moreso, if they are forced to act under political pressure. Where the APNU+AFC Coalition Government promised a better life for Guyanese, it would seem that only the interests of a select few in a corrupt cabal are being advanced. We must collectively reject this large scale ‘rape’ of our people’s resources before they demit office.”

Wednesday February 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

Mother, son answer to charge of wounding businesswoman

Victim Ann Narine after the incident.

Emanuel Barker

A mother and her son were hauled before the court on Monday and each slapped with a charge of unlawful and malicious wounding of businesswoman Ann Narine. They appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly. The two accused Fiona Rodrigues and Emanuel Barker denied the allegation which stated that on January 5, 2019 at Blygezight Gardens, they unlawfully and maliciously wounded Narine. Rodrigues and Barker were represented by attorney at law Patrice Henry who in an application for bail told the court that the number one accused, Rodrigues, is 37 years old and a real estate agent. On the other hand, the number two accused, Barker, is a 19-year-old student at Nations University. Police prosecutor Adunni Inniss had no objections to bail being granted to the defendants and Magistrate Daly granted same to the tune of $30,000 for each. They were instructed to make their next court appearance

Fiona Rodrigues

on March 12. According to reports, on the day in question, around 20:00hrs, the victim went to the aforementioned location, after being invited for a meeting with her fiancé. Upon arrival, Narine called out for her fiancé and was told he would be coming out shortly. However, the defendants along with two others allegedly ran out and attacked Narine. She was severely beaten and relieved of some articles, including a large quantity of cash. The alleged victim managed to escape where she drove to Sheriff Street near to the Guyoil gas station where it was well lit and populated, and her attackers in pursuit turned around and fled. Narine then headed for a private hospital where she was admitted and treated for bite marks and multiple lacerations that required stitches after allegedly being slashed with a broken bottle. A report was later made and investigations led to the current charges for the accused. The other two accomplices are expected to be charged pending further investigations.

PAGE 15

Appeal hearing on March 22 for businessman convicted of sodomy The Court of Appeal will, on March 22, commence hearing arguments from High Street, Georgetown businessman, Kevin Jordan, against his sodomy conviction. On October 12, 2015, Jordan, 60, of Republic Park, East Bank Demerara, was found guilty and sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment for sodomizing a sevenyear-old boy. The trial was conducted at the High Court in Georgetown. The incident occurred on November 2, 2007. When the allegations surfaced that same year, the seven-year-old - who attended a primary school located a short distance from the businessman’s establishment ‘Jordan’s Spare Parts’ at High and Broad Streets, Georgetown – had complained of a pain in his buttocks. The lad implicated Jordan who was eventually arrested and charged for the crime. Jordan had been tried before Justice Dawn Gregory.

Kevin Jordan

PAGE 16

Wednesday February 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

Govt. insists fired workers must be rehired …as Rusal threatens to close operations Government has warned Russian-controlled Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BCGI) to rehire almost 90 workers whose services have been terminated. During a fiery meeting at her Lamaha Street office yesterday, Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally told two senior officials that management is being unreasonable, and that Government will be keeping a closer eye on the bauxite operations in Region 10. Earlier in the meeting, representatives Vladimar Permyakov and Mikhail Krupenin described workers who are protesting and others backing them as instigators. The company has started disassembling three trucks to be taken out of the country. However, on the same

hand, the company is saying it will be willing to sign new contracts with workers who had continued their duties. It appears that Government is not too impressed at what appears to be a bluff. At the meeting also were Minister with responsibility for labour, Keith Scott and Chief Labour Officer, Charles Ogle. Minister Ally told the two officials to transmit the Guyana’s government stance on the issue to their superiors in Russia. “I believe that Rusal’s management is unreasonable. It is unthinkable for the position that you have taken on this issue. It is very clear that you do not want an amicable solution to this matter…very, very clear, because you have put on the

NO NONSENSE FROM YOU! Govt. officials meeting Rusal representatives yesterday. table issues which says take it or leave it. I believe it is very unreasonable for you to do.” She said that Government made it clear that it wanted workers who were fired a week ago to be reinstated. However, Rusal has placed conditions for their return.

According to the minister, she is unsure how this “gels” with the labour laws. At this, the Russians advised her to seek counsel from relevant documents before making statements. However, an unfazed Ally said that the issues that the company had, could have been dealt with once the workers had returned to work. “Then you have put conditions to returning workers…that is unthinkable.” Ally objected to workers being called instigators. “There is a problem, the union got involved, I don’t know if it is the thinking of management to penalize the union.”

Ally also noted that she is puzzled by assertions that while the company is disassembling some equipment, it wanted to hire new workers. “Why do you want to punish the existing workers instead of settling a dispute which is existing?” She said that government, which owns 10 percent of BCGI, Rusal’s local operating company, will be paying closer attention now to the operations. “Because this is unacceptable and not right to workers. I must say to you that we are going to be going to the length… the Government of Guyana… to examine this issue with

regards to operations…with regards to workers at this company.” She questioned the thinking of the company. “I mean is that done in any sane way? Arbitrarily? There is no consultation… no discussions…because you are management you come here and decide this is what I want and this is what I am going to get? No! This government of Guyana will not accept it. We are not going to accept that. We have to protect the rights of the workers as well as your rights.” She said that Government understands the issues and wants the matter to be settled Continued on page 26

Wednesday February 27, 2019

PAGE 25

Kaieteur News

QUERIES ON QUALIFICATIONS...

Irfaan Ali must quickly put this issue to rest; he owes it to the public - Ram resolve the issue, lest Guyana’s attention be taken away from matters of more national importance. The Lawyer said, “I do not see why there is any controversy over this. It is either he is or he is not (qualified). If he is, he should produce it (authentic certificates and transcripts) for the media. After all, he is a public figure, a presidential candidate, and I think he

PPP Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali By Abena RockcliffeCampbell Ten days have passed since this newspaper last spoke to People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Presidential Candidate, Irfaan Ali. This was when he promised to return a call within 30 minutes to an hour. He never did. Ali was contacted to speak about the authenticity of his academic qualifications given the great deal of concern and speculation in the public domain. Last Thursday—four days after Ali was last contacted—PPP General

Anti-Corruption and Transparency advocate, Christopher Ram Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo said that Ali would not be offering further comments on the issue until he is in possession of transcripts from the relevant foreign learning institutions. Anti-corruption and transparency advocate, Christopher Ram was recently asked his opinion on the matter, especially in consideration of the position taken by Jagdeo. While Ram did not offer specific comments on the connotations of Jagdeo’s statement, he said that it would be in the interest of all Guyanese for Ali to swiftly

First draft of Guyana’s REDD+ Strategy ready for national consultations The Ministry of Natural Resources announced yesterday that it will begin consultations on the first draft of Guyana’s National REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation) + Strategy from March 7-8, 2019 in Georgetown. Facilitated by the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF-REDD+) Project, this round of consultations include a national two-day workshop with representatives from all 10 administrative regions. It targets stakeholders from government, private sector, civil society, indigenous peoples and forestdependent communities. The Ministry indicated that the workshop will provide information on the design of Guyana’s REDD+ Strategy and get stakeholders’ input to improve the draft, as well as identify how they can participate in future implementation. Stakeholders will get the opportunity to express their ideas on what

the REDD+ Strategy options for Guyana could look like when implemented, and to identify gaps in current designs. The Ministry said that in coming months, the consultations will extend to Regions One, Seven, Eight and Ten, after which there will another round of national cluster workshops in Georgetown to verify the draft strategy. Last April, the Ministry contracted a consortium led by Winrock International and Conservation International to design Guyana’s REDD+ Strategy and Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) Report including Environment and Social Management Framework (ESMF). These are all critical components of Guyana’s REDD+ Readiness Preparation Plan (R-PP) that prepares the country to access future funding to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation.

owes it to the public to put this issue to rest.” Ram is one who has been quite vocal about the constitutional crisis in which Guyana finds itself. This is with regard to matters surrounding the December 21 passage of the no-confidence motion. Speaking to Kaieteur News, Ram said, “We have far bigger issues now, and it would be unfortunate if this

situation persists and we waste time on this, as opposed to a critical issue facing us with the constitutional crisis, which is staring us in the face.” It has been well over a month since Ali’s qualifications were deemed questionable. Yet, he has been unable to name the university where he did his first degree qualifying him for a spot at an Indian University

at which he pursued his Master’s Degree. After questions were raised about Ali’s qualifications, he released a number of certificates. One of these certificates—purportedly from the University of Sunderland—indicated that Ali attained a Bachelor’s degree in 2006 - three years after he got his Master’s from Continued on page 27

PAGE 26

Wednesday February 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

Developmental works taking shape in New Amsterdam - 956 street lights approved and to be installed FOR RENT

SERVICES

FOR SALE

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

475 acres of transported water front land at Hogg Island, Essequibo River, suitable for farming, cattle rearing etc #617-4004

CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS FROM $4000 & UP, SUV’S PER DAY- CALL:643-5122/6560087, ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL:225-7126/ 2263 6 9 3 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL @YAHOO.COM/ WWW.D OLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM

VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 Toyota Tacoma 2007 Extra Cab, Manual $4.5M Tel#6733988

Parfaite Harmonie $1.6M Dairy- with Foundation & Fence $2M Schnoord $4M Farm (East Bank) $3.5M Tel#656-0701/651-1969 Parfaite Harmonie (Transferable) $2.5M Parfaite Harmonie Business spot $2M $1.8M $1.6M Schnoord (140x66) Tushen Phase II $1.4M Call: 666-2326

EDUCATION

GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS) LEARN TO DRIVE N. Outar Driving School, Learn to Drive the right way @ Cuffy Square. Affordable package. Call: 644-5166/6912561

3 bedroom apartment selfcontain, Lot 2136 Parfaite Harmonie, West Minister #644-0931/665-8561 #2660858 after 2 pm

One Office Asst. Apply in person to R.P’s Enterprise, Area K Le Resouvenir ECD #220-3710

Electronic Course, Registering now, limited space available, One Farm Manager to work on Abdul Electronics Tel#226- Coconut Plantation in 6551/687-9992 Pomeroon River. Experience in Farming. Contact# 226-9768/ Extra lessons are available to 665-6082 your child from Grade 3-6 & Secondary School students in Business stream. Triumph One skilled Bobcat operator. Must have 5 years’ ECD. Call: 694-8231 experience. Call 609-0766, 2653024 PROPERTY FOR SALE

House and land available at Parfaite, Tuschen, Diamond etc. Contact Pacific Development Inc. 223-6035/ 604-4909 3 storey commercial building. Location- Lot 1486 Plot B Herstelling (2 Bridge) EBD. Suitable for school/ apartments. Contact #6093777/686-0522

The township of New Amsterdam is set to undergo several developmental works to improve its outlook. One major project which is expected to commence from Monday is the installation of 956 street lights throughout the areas Tucber, Angoy’s Avenue, Vryman’s Erven, Glasgow Village and Scheme, Stanleytown, New Amsterdam and Central New Amsterdam. According to Councillor Esaun Vanderstoop, who is attached to the New Amsterdam Town Council, “we have recently signed a contract to start the installation of street lights in the New Amsterdam areas,

1 bedroom apartment 288 Samatta point, Grove EBD #665-8561/644-0931 after 2 pm #266-0858

Urgently needed soursop leaves and stem from 50lbs to 1000lbs. Tel#609-8281

House for sale, Eccles Housing Scheme. 7 bedrooms, 3 toilets and bathrooms enclosed. $28.5M. Call 642-0391/ 001447587233657 TAXI SERVICE

One bedroom apartment Middle Rd La Penitence $40,000 monthly. Contact# 666-9534/614-7225

Two (2) Bedroom, 1 (3) Bedroom apt, fully furnished in Providence $ 4th Ave Diamond. Call: 672-1906/ 216Fabs Rental, Beterverwagting 2299 or 682-6238 ECD Cars from $4000 #6040883 WANTED

Bedford TL Truck GHH 6776, engine in perfect condition. Tacoma 2005, excellent condtion GTT 1295. Tel#6873146 LAND FOR SALE

1 two bedroom apt for rent, fully grilled, fully tiled, huge parking space. Located @ LBI $85,000 neg. Tel#2209463/646-0311 3 bedroom apt, unfurnished, can be used for storage. Rent Negotiable, Lusignan ECD #695-6550/656-9313

Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisement, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6006887: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

Male and Female Counter Staff, Kitchen Assistant, Apply Shanta’s 225 Camp St Skidder operator, Serviceman and Sawman. Contact#2183399 Waitress to work in Bar #6614863 HEALTH HERBAL REMEDIES: Diabetes, Hypertension, Infertility, Menstrual disorders, Enlarged prostate, Kidney,Gall stones & Arthritis etc. Call Sparman #676-5924

VACANCY Vacancy exist for (1) Manager to work at Hotel Purple Heart Restaurant & Bar on the Essequibo Coast #665-6082 Urgent 1 male & female with creole cooking experince to multitask, flexible hours. Contact X’s Grill and Cuisine #695-6550/656-9313 General Domestic, must know to cook & salesperson, Apply Keyfoood McDoom EBD General Domestic with cooking experience for East Bank #614-4358 Looking for a job & educational services? Contact The Job Centre 43 Croal & Alexander Street or call 6008457/683-8765 Male workers to work at Del Ice Company. Training provided. Call: 231-1408/6429191 Middle aged security guard to work at Private park in Houston. Call: 233-0654 8am to 5pm 1 Free Lance Videographer for a News company to report on Natural Resources in Guyana. #619-3430 1 Business research technician to gather info on the Natural Resource Sector in Guyana $40,000-$50,000 biweekly #619-3430 One experinenced Lorry/ Tractor Driver. Apply at Alabama Trading 65 Robb St Bourda One male Janitor. Apply at Alabama Trading 65 Robb St Bourda One female cleaner, Apply at Alabama Trading 65 Robb Street, Bourda

commencing on Monday. We know it has been long overdue and finally we got the go-ahead from GPL to install 956 street lights”. He explained that there will also be upgrades done by the Guyana Power & Light “to install more in the future, because at the moment the network can only take 956”. Mayor Winifred Haywood stated that three of the major constituencies in the town will have 136 lights installed, while the other constituencies will see 103 installed. It is a project done in collaboration with the Government of Guyana and the Town Council. Meanwhile, some other projects to be rolled off and are currently ongoing include the closure of the present dumpsite located in Burnham Park, New Amsterdam. This being done for a period of time until a new site can be located. Also being done in the town is the continuation of the Republic Road project which is being done in three

phases. Additionally, Tucber Park is expected to have a new recreational facility, inclusive of a new bleacher. Councillor Kirk Fraser explained that there will be land filling for the entire ground along with fencing, the construction of a washroom facility and the installation of lights to the facility. This, he said, will commence in a matter of days. Fraser also mentioned that the BERMINE Sports Ground located at Islington, New Amsterdam, that was slated to have rehabilitation works being done since 2013, will be restored under the ambit of the town council. The Councillor said, “we are hoping to get back first class cricket there. We completed the front fence for the ground and we are working on the pitch preparations, two pitches, and persons have started doing that”. He assured that the ground will be operable in three weeks’ time.

Govt. insists fired.... From page 16 amicably. “ Yo u h a v e 5 0 0 - p l u s workers at your company. Are you saying to me that there is no security of tenure for these 540 workers? That you can get up tomorrow morning and say, hello, I have no need for you? Get the hell out of here and I am gonna take new workers? We are not going to accept that. I am sorry. That cannot work my brothers… that cannot work.” She said that she is not sure whether the situation has been spurred by some other force external to the arrangements. “Between management and workers. I don’t know if is anything politically motivated, and I hope not.” This morning, Ally will be meeting with representatives from the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers’ Union (GB&GWU) to agree on the way forward concerning the dismissed workers. Yesterday, several unions met to decide to make a collective statement about Rusal.

Yesterday, GB&GWU in a statement said that the struggle with the Russian management is taking on an ugly and most dangerous turn that is the first of its nature experienced in the history of Guyana. “This is clearly not just an industrial struggle, it is a political struggle of a nature that requires a strong united front of all political parties, the business community, stakeholders and people of Guyana. We would have done this against Venezuela, and Rusal’s actions are a demonstration of no less aggression by hostile and greedy border forces over the years.” The union said that the actions of the Russian management violates the country in every way and must be seen as an act of declaring war against the working class and all Guyanese. Last evening, workers who were fired and refusing to move from Rusal’s housing area in Aroaima, blocked off the Berbice River, where the bauxite are loaded on barges.

Wednesday February 27, 2019

PAGE 27

Kaieteur News

Cops charged with robbing Brazilian of BLU phone, $1,200 at Lethem crossing “Why would these two fine young men ruin their career for a beat-up BLU stupid phone,’’ were the words of Attorney-at-Law Jerome Khan, who is representing two members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), who are charged with robbery. Daniel Kellman, 25, of 47 Constabulary Compound, Mackenzie, Linden and Sherwayne Spiers, 21, of 136 Parika, East Bank Essequibo, appeared yesterday before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. They pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on February 20, 2019 at Takutu International Bridge, while being armed with guns issued by the Guyana Police Force (GPF), they robbed Ronaldo Ferreira of a phone valued $38,000 and $1,200 cash. The men’s lawyer, in a lengthy bail application, told the court that Kellman and Spiers have served in the Guyana Police Force for seven and two years, respectively, and have never been charged or been in trouble with the law. The lawyer stated that on February 20, last, his clients were assigned to perform duties at the Lethem Bridge and were issued rifles. He added that sometime around 19:00 hrs, the two men, who were fully dressed in their uniforms, observed two persons, one of them being Ronaldo Ferreira, on the Lethem Bridge, and confronted them to inquire why they were there. The lawyer argued that due to Ferreira not being able to speak English, there were some communication issues and the two ranks took Ferreira’s phone, cash and a quantity of narcotics into their possession to lodge

the force rifles and placed on fixed point locations to perform duties around Lethem. However, the men went to Takutu International Bridge where they confronted Ferreira who was on the bridge. The court heard the ranks placed the man to lie face down on the bridge and robbed him of the articles mentioned in the charge.

Sherwayne Spiers

Daniel Kellman

same at the Lethem station. He added “Why would these two fine young men ruin their career for a beat-up BLU stupid phone. We will defend this charge.” However, Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that the police facts are significantly different from that of the

defence counsel. The Prosecutor opposed bail being granted to the law enforcement officers on the ground of the prevalence of the offence and the penalty the charge attracts. Facts presented by the prosecutor stated that on the day in question, the defendants were issued with

Irfaan Ali must... From page 25 the Indian University. Ali has been avoiding answering questions about his qualifications. He keeps saying that he is awaiting transcripts from the universities he attended. But according to the University of Sunderland, this issue could have been resolved a long time ago. The university says that it is committed to serving former students with transcripts. This is what is stated on Sunderland’s website, “From time to time you may need to provide confirmation of your degree. We offer a free service to confirm your qualification and give you a transcript to qualify your degree. Please allow time for our Student Records Office to source this information. For alumni who graduated when Sunderland was a polytechnic, these records are maintained in off-site storage and will take up to three weeks to process.” While the public is awaiting Ali’s transcripts, so is the PPP. This newspaper was told that over a month ago, Ali told PPP Central Committee that he is most certainly legitimately qualified. He promised to return with his transcript. He never did.

Ferreira then went and reported the matter to the Lethem Police Station and the two men were arrested. At the station, a search was carried out on their person and the articles mentioned in the charge were recovered. Magistrate McLennan released the men on $100,000 bail each.

Condition of the bail is that they report every Friday to the Lethem Police Station until the hearing and determination of the trial. She also instructed the men to not make contact with the prosecution’s witnesses. The matter was adjourned until March 5 at the Lethem Magistrate’s Courts.

PAGE 28

Wednesday February 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

Games continue with Hunting and killing of jaguars is unlawful telecoms liberalisation The move by Government to open up the telecoms sector appears to have stalled. Since coming into Government in 2015, the issue was high on the agenda of the Coalition Government to end the 28-year landline and international calls monopoly held by the US-owned Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT). It entailed talks between the Government and the company about taxes, concessions and other issues. The ending of the monopoly would have meant that new players, offering high-speed internet, mobile and data services and even internet TV services, would have been allowed to compete with GTT. Currently, only Irishowned Digicel is here and it is limited to mobile services. Yesterday, again GTT was asked about the liberalisation process. Chief Executive Officer, Justin Nedd, would only say that everything is progressing with “talks” continuing. “We are certainly committed in moving on with liberalisation. We’re talking and pushing to get it done.” His answer would raise questions about what exactly is happening in the sector. There have been growing complaints about the sloth of GTT rolling out services, especially landlines and fibre for data services. The quality of data services and absence of such from many parts of the country have been a major complaint. The story has been same from Government

– Wildlife conservationists

Minister Cathy Hughes

GTT’s CEO, Justin Nedd

officials…things are happening. It was promised mid-last year. Then the timeline for liberalisation was shifted to yearend. Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes said in January that a joint statement between Government and GTT would be forthcoming shortly. There has been secrecy over what has been described as negotiations. GTT is said to owe millions in taxes to the Guyana Revenue Authority. Seven years ago, in April 2012, the Donald Ramotar-led administration approved plans to sell its lucrative stakes in GTT. The 20 percent shares were sold in a US$30M deal to a Hong Kong-registered company. There is a US$5M still being owed, with the Coalition Government contemplating approaching a court in the United Kingdom

to collect it. The wheels for the socalled liberalisation were set in motion, then, for the Government of the day to start opening up the telecoms sector to allow new players to compete in the lucrative mobile and data market. However, over those seven years, key legislation to open the industry lingered with lawmakers before being passed over two years ago. Before the US-owned company gives up that monopoly, it wants some concessions, including bandwidth and reportedly tax breaks. Digicel, which is GTT’s competitor in the mobile market, has been piling on the pressure for the sector to be open. Digicel wants to land its own submarine data cable. The two companies have long been at it in a high stakes game involving billions of dollars in business, in a market that is growing.

Opposition party wins BVI elections TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands, CMC –Eight years after it was swept out of power, the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) headed by Andrew A. Fahie, won Monday’s general election, winning eight of the 13 seats at stake. The party, which formed the government between 2007 and 2011, won four district seats and four Territorial At-large seats, while the incumbent National Democratic Party (NDP) won three seats. The other two seats were won by the Progressive United (PU) and the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIMP). In the First District, Fahie, received 752 votes, easily defeating Sylvia Moses , 141 votes and Stephanie Brewley ,a mere 28 votes. Fahie, 48, is expected to be sworn in as the new Premier later on Tuesday. He was last December ousted as Opposition Leader following the split within the

then ruling NDP with Ronnie Skelton leading a faction and became the largest opposition party in Parliament. The VIP was one of four political parties that contested the elections held after Premier Dr Orlando Smith, decided to forego a byelection for the Fifth Electoral District that became vacant last October following the death of Representative Delores Chris Smith did not contest Monday’s polls, after having indicated in June last year that he would be stepping down and not contesting the next general election. Electoral officials said 25 candidates from four political parties as well as a lone independent, contested the election in nine districts, while 15 candidates contested the poll as At-Large Candidates. It is the first time in the history of the BVI that four political parties -the Progressives

Andrew A. Fahie United (PU), Virgin Islands Party (VIP), Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) and the NDPcontested an election here. The election was the first general election in the Territory to use electronically tabulated voting rather that manual counts.

In wake of the recent social media posting of a jaguar that was killed during a hunting trip, wildlife conservationists have reiterated the fact that it is against the law to hunt and kill an animal which falls under the protection of the law. The jaguar is Guyana‘s national animal, protected by the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act 2016. According to the legislation, collecting, holding in captivity, hunting, killing, or otherwise molesting ‘protected’ species is prohibited. A photograph which recently made its way on social media, of a large cat dead in a small boat, with what appears to be a man standing triumphantly over the animal, sparked public outrage, with some persons calling for the hunter to be sanctioned. The photograph was subsequently pulled down. Alluding to the scenario, wildlife conservationists such as Annette Arjoon have noted that there is still notable ignorance as it relates to the treatment of Guyana’s wildlife and national treasures. “It is sometimes just an ignorance of the law that causes these things.” She noted therefore the need for more public

The dead jaguar which was posted on social media. education on the importance of conserving the nation’s wildlife. The importance of this conservation was headlined at a high-level forum on jaguars that was held on March 1, 2018, at the UN Headquarters in New York. Minister of State Joseph Harmon had reportedly attended the forum, which saw representation from 14 countries, international and national partner organizations. The forum launched the Jaguar 2030 New York Statement. The statement recognizes that investing in the conservation of jaguars and their habitats can improve

broader efforts to manage natural resources, strengthen community livelihoods, and contribute to achieving the sustainable development goals The statement also highlights the need for range country governments and partners to explore options for a regional approach that promotes research, increases awareness, and scales up successful integrated conservation initiatives. It recognizes the need for greater investments in naturebased solutions for development challenges linked to Jaguars. A priority area for Guyana is the implementation of the New York Statement.

CXC worried at high rate of absenteeism

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC –The Barbados-based Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Tuesday said poor preparation during the January sitting of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) is due to the continued high levels of absenteeism.” While it is important for CXC to continue to expand access of its examinations through the January sittings, the rate of absenteeism for these examinations detracts from the critical objective of offering the opportunity to out-of-school and re-sit candidates to improve their qualifications. It is also a concern for the respective territories as it is a waste of resources,” said CXC Registrar Glenroy Cumberbatch. He said that with 89.5 per cent of absentees in the region being age 17 and over, this is a major concern that needs to be earnestly addressed. “CXC remains committed to supporting all students with our resources for better preparation using CXC’s website www.cxc.org or CXC’s Connect App at www.gocxc.org for easy access to past papers, syllabi, study guides and other materials. “We also facilitate online support from peers and other resource persons with CXC social media portals. These resources are easily accessible, secure and inexpensive. We will continue to reinforce that support with feedback on their performances, especially in

areas where they need the strongest assistance,” he added. CXC is also recommending stronger support for students from their respective Ministries of Education by making students aware of available resources for better preparation. The CSEC examination is offered in January where re-sit and private students make up the most number of candidates. However CXC said that the CSEC examinations in May/ June are written mostly by in-school candidates and private candidates. CSEC subjects are examined for certification at the General and Technical Proficiencies, which provides students with the foundation for further studies and entry to the workplace. CXC said it offered 13 subjects for this January sitting as had been the case last year. However, there was significant decline in the number of candidates this year with 14,233 entries compared to 20,194 candidate entries in 2018. CXC said 60 per cent of the candidates were women and candidates age 19 years and over dominated the January sitting. The subject entries remain consistent at 40,536 to that of 2018 when it was 40,654, with Mathematics once again as the largest subject with 9,196 entries, closely followed by English with 8,263 entries – similar to the entries of 2018.

Wednesday February 27, 2019

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

New road to be constructed to CJIA Departure Terminal The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) received nine bids, in the hundreds of millions of dollars, for the construction of a new road to make the Departure Terminal at Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) at Timehri more accessible. The project is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, which has also accepted proposals for roads to be constructed throughout Guyana. Bids for those road projects will featured in tomorrow’s Edition. Other major projects at yesterday’s NPTAB opening include GPL’s Fibre Optic Cable work at New Amsterdam and Linden, and new vehicles for the Guyana Prison Service. Ministry of Public Infrastructure Construction of New Road to Departure Terminal Building at CJIA, Timehri, Region 4

Ministry of Public Telecommunications - NDMA Supervision Services for the Construction of Data Centre - Liliendaal

Ministry of Public Health Consultancy for Audit Services for 2019

Ministry of Public Infrastructure - HECI Supply of Vacuum Circuit Breaker for Lethem Power Co. Inc.

Guyana Defence Force Procurement of Genuine Vehicle Spares Ministry of Natural Resources Supply and Delivery of One (1) Double Cab Pickup

Provision for Weeding and Pruning of Trees - Various Bases Guyana Marketing Corporation Rehabilitation of GMC Office Building & External Works at LBI Estate Compound ECD, Region No. 4

Procurement of Dry and Fresh Ration, Frozen Fish and Fresh Fruit Juices Ministry of the Presidency - DPS Supply and Delivery of Cooked Meals

Supply of Computers, Printers and Uninterrupted Power Supply

Procurement of Pharmaceutical, Medical Consumables and Devices, Dental, Laboratory and X-Ray Supplies

Guyana Elections Commission Procurement of Tyres

>>>> Continued on page 30 <<<<

PAGE 30

Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 27, 2019

New road to be constructed to... From page 29 Supply and Delivery of Stationery in Two (2) Lots

Ministry of Public Security Procurement of Tools, Office, Infirmary and Other Equipment, Lots 1-4

Procurement of New Vehicles - Guyana Prison Service

Ministry of Public Telecommunications - NDMA Installing and Laying of Fibre Optic Cables from Soesdyke to Ameliaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ward - Linden (Retender)

Interconnect to GPL Fibre along the Eastern Corridor and Delivery of Fibre Connectivity to New Amsterdam (Retender)

Regional Democratic Council Region 6 Rehabilitation of Roads in Region 6 Lots 1-4

Rehabilitation of Steve Main Street, Eastern and Western Sections, Canefield, East Canje Berbice

Wednesday February 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 31

PAGE 32

Wednesday February 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

Government says no plans to sell international airport BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – The Barbados government says it has no intention of selling the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) and that an earlier statement regarding the future development of the facility may have been misconstrued. “I tend to attribute to ignorance those things that other people would attribute to malice . . . . So, when I read in sections of the press that the airport is for sale, I say to myself ‘that can’t be malice that must be a case of people don’t understand’. So, I want to make it abundantly clear now,” said Tourism Minister, Kerrie Symmonds. Speaking at the launch of two new gates and waiting areas at the airport, Symmonds said it was unfortunate that his comments made at a function two weeks ago at the launch of a project to rehabilitate the airport’s pavement and expand its near 40-year-old terminal, was misconstrued. He said at the time that it was necessary to seek a worldwide tender as Barbados did not possess the technical knowledge for such an initiative. The Tourism Minister said that the government was also not in a financial position to develop the airport on its own and would therefore need assistance.

“It is known that we intend to work with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which is essentially the private sector arm of the World Bank and the world’s leading developmental institution, to give us the kind of technical expertise because Barbados does not possess it in a matter of this nature,” he said then. But he told the ceremony on Monday, “This partnership will see us find, by way of an international bidding process, a partner who will invest some money into this airport, who will design, who will construct, who will build and will operate for a period of 20 to 30 years. “This will be done so that the entity can get a return on his or her investment, and then at the end of that period, they will hand the operational control of the airport back to the Government and the people of Barbados,” Symmonds said.

He told the ceremony that such a partnership, for which the bidding process could begin in a matter of months, is expected to put the government in a better position to build out the airport to its maximum earning potential, and to realize key upgrades to the facility. Symmonds said that the plans to work with IFC were at an advanced stage. “I do not think I can make myself any clearer. There is no parting with the land. What we are doing is recognizing that for too long this place has needed substantial capital injection, for too long we have failed to recognize our maximum potential… “This entire process may take us 10 to 14 months depending on how nimble we are. Time is of the essence because we want to make sure that the airport is at maximum capacity and has maximum operational efficiency as soon as possible,” Symmonds added.

Barbados PM wants greater movement towards CSME BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, CMC – Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley yesterday warned that the future of multilateralism is being threatened at the “very time it is needed more than ever and urged Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries to put aside their differences and further develop the much heralded CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). The CSME allows for the free movement of goods, skills, labour and services across the 15-member grouping and Mottley, addressing the two-day CARICOM intersessional ,meeting said that the two-day special CARICOM meeting on the CSME in Trinidad and Tobago last December had achieved much in the way of putting the initiative back on the front burner. “The opportunity to have had two days of dedicated discussion has really made a fundamental difference in the trajectory that we can see now and the progress we can garner going forward., “The difficulty of course is that all of us returned to our countries and become consumed with the items that informed national development. But if we have learnt but one thing in the last few months it is that the future of multilateralism is threatened at the very time it is needed more than ever”. She said small states such as those in the region “will only survive, not just economically, but in the world of diplomacy

in the context of strengthening democracy” and that “more than ever we need to stay together whether it is in fighting the European Union with respect to the blacklisting issue…whether it is in respect to our position on Venezuela which ironically has become predominately the mainstream position of the world in that six weeks ago people were not calling for dialogue. Mottley said CARICOM has been the vehicle that has allowed regional countries to take “that principled decision. ‘The bottom line however is that our economies are not necessarily capable of surviving on their own in this difficult and turbulent world. We believe that there may be fights…(and) the disruption to the multilateral trading environment and dispute resolution mechanism are just the symptoms of the underlining war that is taking place in today’s world. She said this is a war where countries are fighting for technological dominance “because the next war is not going to be a la World War 11 or a la World War 1. The next war is a technological and cyber security war and the dominance of who will be there is going to be determined by who controls the technology. Mottley said that she is a “bit embarrassed” that having sat in Trinidad and taken decisions on the movement of agricultural workers and security guards, the tail appears to be wagging the dog.

Wednesday February 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 33

PAGE 34

Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 27, 2019

Pakistan vows retaliation after Paul Manafort’s lawyers say long Indian airstrikes, as hostilities rise prison term would ‘likely amount between nuclear powers to a life sentence’ for Trump aide New Delhi, India (CNN)Pakistan has promised to retaliate against India after the latter conducted airstrikes on an alleged terrorist training camp — which Pakistani officials say occurred outside the limits of the disputed Kashmir region — in a significant escalation of hostilities between the nuclear armed powers. “India has committed uncalled for aggression to which Pakistan shall respond at the time and place of its choosing,” Prime Minister Imran Khan’s office said in a statement. Indian authorities confirmed Tuesday its aircraft had crossed the line of control (LoC) to carry out airstrikes, but did not give details on where their planes went or where munitions landed. The apparent strike took place early Tuesday across the LoC, the de facto border between India and Pakistan in the disputed Kashmir region, and came in response to what India said was “credible intelligence” about potential terrorist attacks, Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale told reporters in New Delhi. Gokhale said the alleged camp was run by Jaish-eMohammed, the group India blames for a suicide car bomb attack in Pulwama in Indian administered Kashmir that

killed 40 Indian paramilitary soldiers on February 14. (Bloomberg) — It’s the biggest escalation between South Asia’s nuclear-armed rivals in decades and with a bitterly contested national election in India just weeks away, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was quick to exploit his military’s air strikes on a terrorist camp inside Pakistan Tuesday. Speaking to a huge, cheering crowd at an election rally in the state of Rajasthan, Modi twice stated that India was “in safe hands” and declared it a “glorious day,” without explicitly mentioning the attack. India’s fighter jets destroyed a major terrorist camp in Pakistan early Tuesday “in the face of imminent danger,” Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said in New Delhi. More than 300 people were killed in the air strikes on militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed, according to an Indian official speaking on condition of anonymity. Pakistan had its own version of events. After scrambling its jets in response to India’s earlymorning incursion across the border, it released photographs of missile remnants it said had fallen on unoccupied territory. Prime Minister Imran Khan’s office said Pakistan would respond

“at the time and place of its choosing,” rejecting India’s claim that it had hit a terror camp or inflicted heavy casualties. “Once again the Indian government has resorted to a self-serving, reckless and fictitious claim,” a statement from Khan’s office said. Facing the first major geopolitical challenge of his term, Khan directed the country’s armed forces and the public to “remain prepared for all eventualities.” With both nations able to demonstrate a show of military strength, it now gives diplomats a chance to try and ensure the situation does not further deteriorate. Relations between the two countries have been tense since a Feb. 14 suicide car bombing in Kashmir, claimed by the Pakistanbased Jaish-e-Mohammed, killed 40 members of India’s security forces. The question now is how will Pakistan respond. Yesterday’s strikes represent the worst escalation since 2001, when Pakistan and India moved ballistic missiles and troops to their border following an attack on parliament in New Delhi that was also blamed on Jaish-e-Mohammad. India and Pakistan have fought three major wars since partition and independence in 1947.

Dutch seize 90,000 bottles of vodka ‘bound for North Korea’ Acting on a tip-off, Dutch authorities boarded a ship and seized 90,000 bottles of vodka they believe may have been headed to the North Korean regime. UN sanctions levied on North Korea because of its nuclear programme forbid the importing of such luxury items. The ship’s destination was listed as China, but a Dutch foreign ministry source told BBC News they had suspected its real final port was Pyongyang. The haul was found last Friday aboard a Chinese ship in the port of Rotterdam. The vessel had a total of 8,000 to 9,000 containers on board, said customs official Arno Kooij. “One of those containers was the one we were looking for,” he said. The container in question was found hidden beneath an airplane fuselage being transported by ship. Despite fears that the fuselage could

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, pleaded Monday to avoid a lengthy prison term that would “likely amount to a life sentence” for his convictions in the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election. Manafort is scheduled to be sentenced twice next month, first by a federal judge in Virginia where he was convicted of tax and bank fraud; then a week later by another federal judge in Washington, where he pleaded guilty to conspiracy and lying to investigators. Together, those cases could produce what is effectively a life sentence for the 69-yearold political operative. Prosecutors working for special counsel Robert Mueller have described Manafort as a “hardened” criminal who “brazenly violated the law” through years of fraud and illicit lobbying work. They have urged both judges to order that he serve a significant prison sentence. Manafort, who pleaded guilty to two conspiracy charges in the District of Columbia, said the harsh descriptions of his crimes weren’t for “murder, drug cartels, organized crime, the Madoff Ponzi scheme or the collapse of Enron.” And the charges aren’t about “collusion” between the Trump campaign and Russia, which was the core of what Mueller ’s office is

investigating, his lawyers argued. Rather, Manafort pleaded guilty in Washington to crimes related to his lucrative lobbying work in Ukraine, failing to report it to the government and attempting to conceal it from the authorities, his lawyers argued in a 47-page filing late Monday. They said that in the past, the government has prosecuted such cases only rarely, and had not viewed them as particularly serious. Manafort faces a maximum of 10 years when U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson sentences him March 13. Manafort’s lawyers didn’t say exactly what sentence they think would be appropriate, but argued it should be “significantly below” the decade he could face. That sentence will come after U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis sentences March 8 in Virginia. Mueller’s office said in that case that federal guidelines call for him to spend 20 to 24 years in prison following his conviction on eight counts of bank- and taxfraud. Mueller’s office said in a court filing on Saturday that it might ask Jackson to serve first one sentence and then the other. But Manafort’s lawyers said if a prison term is imposed in Virginia, the D.C. term should run at the same time. The cases stemmed from when Manafort served as a political consultant for a pro-

Russian faction in Ukraine during the decade before he joined Trump’s campaign from March to August 2016. Manafort was a key figure in Mueller’s Russia probe because he was a top aide to Trump’s campaign who also had extensive connections to Russian interests. Manafort attended a Trump Tower meeting in June 2016 with Russians offering damaging information about Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. Manafort’s partner in the Ukraine work, Russian national Konstantin Kilimnik, also faces conspiracy charges in the D . C . c a se. Court filings described Manafort meeting more than he acknowledged with Kilimnik during the Trump campaign and sharing polling data. None of the charges against Manafort involve his work for the campaign. In August, Manafort was convicted in Virginia of hiding tens of millions of dollars in overseas banks and corporations, to avoid paying taxes. His guilty plea in September in D.C. dealt with conspiracy charges for failing to report lobbying for Ukraine and for tampering with witnesses to get them to change their stories. Manafort may find it difficult to pay the fines and restitution. He has already forfeited properties worth an estimated $27 million, including a $7.3 million compound in the Hamptons and a $3.8 million apartment in Trump Tower.

(BBC) President Donald Trump’s convicted former lawyer Michael Cohen is expected to accuse him of criminal conduct during a hearing on Capitol Hill. Speaking on Wednesday to a House of Representatives panel, Cohen will allege possible tax fraud and racist language by Mr Trump, say US media. The White House has questioned why lawmakers invited someone who has pleaded guilty to lying to Congress. Cohen was sentenced to three years and will begin his custodial term in May. On Tuesday, he was officially disbarred from practising law by the New York State Supreme Court, New York media reported.

The penalty came as he began three consecutive days of testimony in a closeddoors hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee. His Wednesday testimony to the House Oversight Committee will be public. The 52-year-old was convicted last year by New York federal prosecutors of campaign finance violations and tax evasion and by special counsel Robert Mueller of lying to Congress about Trump Organization plans in Moscow. Mr Mueller is nearing the end of a 21-month justice department investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 elections, which both Mr Trump and Russia have denied.

At his December sentencing Cohen, a former Trump loyalist, blamed his misdeeds on “a blind loyalty” to Mr Trump. Ahead of the hearings, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders called Cohen a “disgraced felon”, saying it was “laughable that anyone would take a convicted liar like Cohen at his word”. Mrs Sanders’ statement added it was “pathetic to see him given yet another opportunity to spread his lies” before Congress.

Michael Cohen ‘to accuse Trump of racism and lies’

be damaged, Dutch trade officials decided to extract the container. Mr Kooij, the customs official, said the seizure followed a tip-off from Hamburg - the ship’s last port of call - that the container might be in violation of the sanctions against North Korea. Economic sanctions have been in place against North Korea for more than a decade, severely limiting access to

many goods - consumer and military - in the politically isolated nation. Most ordinary citizens in the country live in poverty, but the wealthy manage to live in relative luxury despite the ban on imports. Mr Kim, in particular, is known to enjoy the finer things, including expensive cars, a luxury yacht, and a private government plane. Photo in Wednesday as vodka for north korea

A mini health check is the first step to donating blood

Wednesday February 27, 2019

PAGE 35

Kaieteur News

Eyes on Russell as Windies chase... Moeen to... Holder, Pybus thrilled... From page 37 Carlos Brathwaite’s place in the side under scrutiny, especially with returns of one wicket, and scores of 13 and three in the two completed ODIs so far. That apart, West Indies are expected to undergo little change for Wednesday’s game, with most of the top order firing and the bowling stacking up well in their 26-run victory in the second ODI last Friday. Holder pointed to the return of veteran Chris Gayle and the immediate impact of leftarm speedster Sheldon Cottrell as good signs for the unit. “I still think we’re tinkering around with the best combinations but it’s a good thing having some experience in the dressing room especially with the young talent that we have,” he explained. “It’s great to see a guy like Chris coming back into the team. He’s got the most runs in the series so far and then young guys like (Shimron) Hetmyer coming to the fore and

continuing his good form, and Shai Hope as well so I think it is a great mix. “It’s also good to see a guy like Sheldon Cottrell come in for his first game after not being selected in the initial squad, and coming in and having the impact that he has had, is tremendous for us. I just think it is a good energy that we have right now in the group and hopefully we can continue to build on the side.” SQUADS: WEST INDIES – Jason Holder (captain), Fabian Allen, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, John Campbell, Ashley Nurse, Carlos Brathwaite, Nicholas Pooran, Sheldon Cottrell, Andre Russell, Oshane Thomas. ENGLAND – Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

Wednesday February 27, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Today, Aries, you will probably have a ton of energy at your disposal for getting into all kinds of activities. Finish any work that still needs to be completed. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) This is an excellent day to express your natural creativity, Taurus. The arts will likely be very important to you. You may find that nothing brings you more pleasure on days like this. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) If you're feeling tired, Gemini, you may need to lie back, close your eyes, and listen to some soothing music. You work hard most of the time, so it can do your body and mind good to just relax and listen to your favorite music. CANCER(June21–July22) Today may bring up strong feelings, Cancer. This may not be new, as you have a tendency to feel things deeply. But it may be a bit tough to find a way to express this. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Today, consider that artistic expression can happen in many ways. It isn't always about drawing a picture, singing a song, playing music, or acting. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You may find that today brings great physical strength and energy to you, Virgo. Given this, you may really want to do some tough, challenging physical work. This is certainly the day for it, so why not go for it?

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Libra, it's prime time to get busy. Activities that require focus or creativity will be supported. Physical strength and energy will encourage you to do something active. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Some intense, revealing communications with a close friend or lover could reveal wonderful new things about your relationship. Perhaps you have more in common than you thought. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) If you've been feeling tired or sick lately, this will probably turn around for you, Sagittarius. You may often experience moodiness, and this can be a real drain. Your emotional state can affect how your body feels. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) You will probably be very busy today, Capricorn, which may suit you just fine. This can work in your favor if you have some work to catch up on. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Today, Aquarius, your ability to stand up for your decisions and not let others sway you may be enhanced. This will be especially true if you've arrived at a resolution that solves a problem. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You may feel a real need to get moving today, Pisces. Almost everyone prefers quiet activities, books, art, and even just sitting around to physical activity at times.

From page 40 including Climate Change, Importance of Education, HIV/ AIDS and Importance of Discipline. Over 80 Club Members, retired teachers, Law Enforcem e n t O f f i c e r s , Teachers of the Year and Students would be honoured during the Award Ceremony. A total of two million dollars worth of trophies, medals and prizes would be shared out. Asst Secretary/CEO Simon Naidu expressed gratitude to Ms Patricia Bacchus of Caribbean Containers Inc, Rajin Ganga of Bakewell and Colin Ming of Ming’s Products Services.

Seven more athletes... From page 35 the 1500M event to cop her second qualification of the day. The Lindener clocked a time of 4 mins 55s to qualify, while Austin failed to do so with a time of 5 mins 06s. The lone field event qualification of the day came to Anisha Gibbons in the Girls Under-17 Javelin event. The teen threw a distance of 42.45m. Lionel Marks of Hopetown Flames was also on fire on Sunday, qualifying for the sprint double. Marks clocked 10.55s in the Under-20 100m and 21.46s in the 200m dash to book his CARIFTA spot. He was joined by sprint sensation Daniel Williams in the 200m event. Williams, of Upper Demerara Schools, clocked 21.48s to book his spot. The seventh athlete that qualified on Saturday was Matthew Gordon of Hopetown Flames. The youngster clocked 9m 13s in the Under-17 3000m distance race to seal his qualification. So far, a total of nine Guyanese athletes in total have qualified for the Carifta Games.

Referee banned for... From page 37 sports or any other) at both national and international level,” the statement added. Match-fixing is often organised by betting syndicates who bribe players or officials to manipulate matches and make money by correctly gambling on the result. Last month, former international referee Ibrahim Chaibou from Niger was banned for life and fined 200,000 Swiss francs after being found guilty of taking bribes. FIFA did not give any further details on that case.

From page 40 addition to the squad, especially with the ICC World Cup on the horizon. “It’s great having him in the setup. Obviously he’s one of a kind. He adds greater depth,” said the Englishman. “We’ve got some great allrounders in the squad and that’s always lovely because that means competition for spots.” Russell has struggled with a chronic knee problem in recent years, resulting in his solitary Test and sporadic appearances in the shorter format. But Holder believes the upcoming two ODIs against England will provide the ideal gauge of the Jamaican’s capabilities. “He’s been struggling a

bit with his knees in the past but from all reports, he’s gotten a lot better so we’re expecting to get [him] back to full match fitness in terms of 50-overs cricket within time,” said Holder. “It’s obviously going to be a buildup for him, he’s been playing lots of T20 cricket. It will be a buildup for him slowly but surely but we’ve got him here for a reason to see what he can deliver over 50 overs and hopefully he can come in and make an impact in the series.” Pybus said workload management would be critical for Russell. “He’s going to give us overs … he’s had some issues in the last couple of years. We need to manage him carefully,” he stressed.

PAGE 36

Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 27, 2019

Norris fastest for McLaren, Sri Lanka’s Jayasuriya handed twoMercedes still slow year ban under anti-corruption code BARCELONA (Reuters) Formula One fired up its final fourday pre-season test yesterday with British teenager Lando Norris top of the timesheets for McLaren and Red Bull’s Pierre Gasly close behind while champions Mercedes still lagged near the bottom. Italian Antonio Giovinazzi had been fastest for Alfa Romeo at lunchtime with a fastest lap of one minute 18.589 seconds but Norris, 19, put in a 1:17.709 in the afternoon sunshine on the soft C4 tyres. The McLaren stopped twice on track, however, the first time due to an hydraulics issue. Fernando Alonso, Spain’s two times world champion who left McLaren and Formula One at the end of last year, was there to watch. Canadian Lance Stroll went third for Racing Point on the fastest C5 tyres, ahead of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel on harder C3 rubber. Five times world champion Lewis Hamilton was the second slowest, just behind Mercedes team mate Valtteri Bottas, with only Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg slower. Bottas, who took over for the afternoon, did only one lap before an oil pressure problem stopped the car on track. The reigning

champions then decided to swap out the power unit and he returned for six more. Mercedes, focusing on heavierfuel long runs, had a new front wing, nose and floor compared to those used last week and did plenty of aerodynamic testing. Gasly did the most laps of any driver (136), and set his quickest lap on harder tyres than Norris, and team principal Christian Horner said it had been a very productive day at the Circuit de Catalunya. “We’ve managed to get through our entire programme pretty much,” he said. “It doesn’t happen that often where everything you set out to do in the morning you have achieved by the afternoon. “Honda are obviously doing a super job. We’ve been nothing but impressed at all levels with the product so far. “There’s still progress we need to make to catch the lead guys but it’s certainly got off to a great start,” he said of the new partnership with the Japanese manufacturer after years with Renault. Williams had a more encouraging day, after missing most of the first test due to the late build of the car, with British rookie George Russell doing 119 laps. The season starts in Australia on March 17.

(Reuters) - Sri Lanka batting great Sanath Jayasuriya has been banned from all cricket for two years after breaching two counts of the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption code, the world governing body said yesterday.The ICC said the former captain had refused to cooperate with any investigation conducted by its anti-corruption unit (ACU) under Article 2.4.6 of the anticorruption code. It added in a statement that the 49-year-old had also been sanctioned for trying to conceal, destroy or tamper with evidence that could be crucial to anti-

corruption investigation under Article 2.4.7 of the code. “This conviction under the code demonstrates the importance of participants in cricket cooperating with investigations,” ICC General Manager Alex Marshall said. “Compelling participants to cooperate under the code is a vital weapon in our efforts to rid our sport of corruptors.” Jayasuriya played 110 tests, scoring 6,973 runs with 14 hundreds before his retirement from test cricket in 2007.But it was in the shorter form of the game that he stamped his name on cricket. In a formidable opening partnership with

wicketkeeper-batsman Romesh Kaluwitharana, Jayasuriya was a key member of Sri Lanka’s breakthrough 50-over World Cup triumph in 1996. In all, Jayasuriya scored 13,428 runs in 444 one-day internationals. In January, the ICC granted Sri Lankan cricketers a 15-day amnesty to report previously undisclosed information relating to corruption in the sport. “I am very grateful to those who participated in the amnesty and as a result of the information shared we now have a much clearer picture of the situation in Sri Lanka and our investigations are continuing,” Marshall added.

Decided to accept ban for love of cricket - Jayasuriya

Lasith Malinga, Upul Tharanga and Sanath Jayasuriya at a training session. (AFP)

Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi in action during testing. (REUTERS/Albert Gea)

Wawrinka edges Harrison to advance in Acapulco (Reuters) - Stanislas Wawrinka continued his recent uptick in form with a 6-4 7-6(6) win over Ryan Harrison on Monday to advance to the second round of the Acapulco International. The Swiss started the first set with a break to set the tone but had to battle to hold off Harrison in the second set where the American earned a break to even it at 4-4. Wawrinka clinched the match with his 26th winner of the night. A three-time Grand Slam champion, Wawrinka reached the final of the Rotterdam Open last week. He lost to Frenchman Gael

Monfils but it was his first appearance in a championship match since the 2017 French Open.Wawrinka’s recent run has returned him to the top 50 in the ATP singles rankings at 42nd. He will next face seventh seed Steve Johnson, who beat Mexican wild card Gerardo Lopez Villasenor 7-5 7-5.Eighth-seeded Australian John Millman defeated S p a i n ’s Marcel Granollers 6-3 6-4.World number two Rafa Nadal will open his bid for the title on Tuesday against Mischa Zverev. Second seed Alexander Zverev and third seed John Isner were set to begin their campaigns yesterday.

ESPNcricinfo Sanath Jayasuriya insisted he had not engaged in any corrupt activity but chose to accept the two-year ban imposed on him by the ICC’s anticorruption unit because of his “love” for the game. The former Sri Lankan captain was banned for failing to co-operate with the ACU, a charge that was laid on him last October when he wouldn’t hand over his mobile devices when he was asked for them. Under the anti-corruption code, the ACU can seek bank details, phone records and assets, including the immediate handover of the communication devices from players/match officials and administrators. If someone fails or refuses to do that, they can be charged. “I decided to admit the said charges at the first instance for the love of the Sport of Cricket, for the greater good and to protect the integrity of the Sport of Cricket,” Jayasuriya said in a statement released to the media immediately after the ICC made his ban public on Tuesday. The ACU found Jayasuriya guilty on two counts: failure to

cooperate with the investigation, failure to provide accurate and timely documentation, obstructing or delaying the probe by concealing, tampering with or destroying any documentation or other information that may be relevant to that investigation and/or that may be evidence or may lead to the discovery of evidence of corrupt conduct under the Anti-Corruption Code. In his statement, Jayasuriya said: “The purported finding of the ACU stems from an alleged failure, on my part, to cooperate with the investigation carried out by the ACU by not providing a sim card and iPhone immediately on demand to the ICC ACU Officials. It is clear that there were no Corruption charges, Betting charges or Misuse of Inside Information charges levelled against me under the Code.” Jayasuriya was given the option to contest the ACU charges in front of the ICC’s anti-corruption tribunal but he opted not to do so since that would only “exhaust” him mentally and physically in addition to costing a lot of money. “The circumstances surrounding the alleged failure, on my part, to

provide the sim card and iPhone to the ICC ACU Officials immediately on demand were very personal in nature and a full hearing before an Anti-Corruption Tribunal would have entailed an in-depth examination on whether these surrounding circumstances would amount to a compelling justification. “Although, I subsequently provided the sim card and iPhone to the ICC ACU, in light of the on-going war against Corruption and in recognition of the fundamental sporting imperatives as contained in Article 1.1 of the Code, I decided to admit the said charges at the first instance for the love of the Sport of Cricket, for the greater good and to protect the integrity of the Sport of Cricket.” Jayasuriya said it was “unfortunate” the ACU had still proceeded to charge him with the breach despite there being no “allegations of Corruption, Betting or Misuse of Inside Information” against him. “I reiterate the fact that I have always maintained a high degree of integrity throughout my cricketing career. I have always put country first and the cricket loving public are the best witnesses to this aspect.”

Wednesday February 27, 2019

PAGE 37

Kaieteur News

NBA roundup: Harden’s 30-point streak ends in win James Harden had his streak of consecutive 30point games end at 32, but he and Chris Paul helped the host Houston Rockets withstand a career night from Atlanta Hawks rookie guard Trae Young en route to a 119111 win on Monday. Harden posted 28 points despite finishing 0-for-10 from 3-point range. He had an opportunity to pursue an extension of the streak, the second longest in league history behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 65-game run in 1961-62, but he dribbled out the clock with the victory secure. Harden had sat out the Rockets’ previous game, a Saturday road win over the Golden State Warriors, due to a neck injury. Paul added 20 points, eight assists and six rebounds. Young paired 36 points on 8-of-12 shooting from 3-point range with eight assists. John Collins chipped in 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Hawks. 76ers 111, Pelicans 110 Tobias Harris scored 29 points while All-Star center Joel Embiid sat out his third consecutive game with a sore left knee as visiting Philadelphia held on to defeat New Orleans. After Julius Randle scored on a dunk to pull New Orleans within one point with 10.9 seconds left, Philadelphia’s Jonathon Simmons missed two free throws with 9.7 seconds to go, giving the Pelicans a chance to win. However, Jimmy Butler tipped E’Twaun

Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) reacts after a play during the second quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at Toyota Center. (Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports) Moore’s 3-point attempt, forcing a miss just before the buzzer. JJ Redick added 16 points for the 76ers. Jrue Holiday led the Pelicans with 22 points, and Randle had 19 points and 14 rebounds. Anthony Davis, who returned to the lineup after sitting out to rest Saturday night, had 18 points. Warriors 121, Hornets 110 Klay Thompson scored 26 points, and DeMarcus Cousins had 24 points and 11 rebounds as visiting Golden State beat Charlotte. The Warriors have now won 16 of their past 18 road games. Cousins might have had his best game since returning from an Achilles injury 14 games ago. He was

9 of 15 from the field and was on the court for most of the Warriors’ runs. Cody Zeller scored a career-high 28 points to lead the Hornets, hitting 13 of 14 from the field. The Hornets also got 23 points from Kemba Walker. Suns 124, Heat 121 Devin Booker scored 20 points and dished nine assists as Phoenix snapped a franchise-record, 17-game losing streak with a win at Miami. Booker, fouled by Josh Richardson with 17.3 seconds left, made two free throws to give Phoenix a 122-121 lead. Wade later missed a 3-point attempt to tie the score, and Phoenix escaped with its first win since beating the Denver

New Orleans Pelicans centre Julius Randle (30) and Philadelphia 76ers forward Mike Scott (1) goes for a loose ball at Smoothie King Centre. (Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports) Nuggets on Jan. 12. The Heat have lost six straight home games and haven’t won in Miami since that same date, Jan. 12, since they beat Memphis. Heat center Hassan Whiteside had 29 points and 11 rebounds. Timberwolves 112, Kings 105 Karl-Anthony Towns scored 34 points and collected 21 rebounds in his return from a concussion to lead Minnesota over Sacramento in Minneapolis. Towns played in 303 consecutive games before missing the past two due to the concussion. Derrick Rose added 20 points for the Timberwolves, who won for the fourth time in the past five

games. Tyus Jones contributed 16 points and eight assists as Minnesota overcame 22 turnovers. Marvin Bagley III recorded 25 points and 11 rebounds to notch his third straight double-double for the Kings, who finished 1-3 on a four-game road trip. De’Aaron Fox scored 23 points and Buddy Hield had 18 points and eight rebounds for Sacramento, which committed 20 turnovers. Grizzlies 110, Lakers 105 Mike Conley scored 30 points, and Memphis ended a four-game losing streak by beating visiting Los Angeles. Jonas Valanciunas had 20 points and 13 rebounds, Avery Bradley scored 15, and

Joakim Noah finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds off the bench for Memphis. LeBron James had 24 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists, Brandon Ingram scored 32 points, and Kyle Kuzma finished with 22 points for the Lakers, who went 0-2 on a brief road trip. James moved into the NBA’s all-time top 10 in assists, making him the only player on that list and the top 10 in career points. In other scores: Clippers 121, Mavericks 112 Pistons 113, Pacers 109 Nets 101, Spurs 85 Trail Blazers 123, Cavaliers 110 Bucks 117, Bulls 106 (Field Level Media)

Eyes on Russell as Windies chase win in 100th ODI Referee banned for life for ST George’s, Grenada, CMC – Boosted by the return of all-rounder Andre Russell, West Indies will continue their quest for their first series series win in five years when they face England in a now pivotal fourth One-Day International here today. The two teams shared the doubleheader in Bridgetown last week before rain dashed any hopes of action in the third match at the Grenada National Stadium on Monday. With only two games remaining, Wednesday’s match now proves critical, with the winner ensuring at least a share of the series. The contest will have some historic significance as the 100th ODI between the two teams, and captain Jason Holder said they would be going all out to make the occasion a winning one. “Hopefully if the weather stays away we should get a complete game … and

All-rounder Andre Russell … drafted in to the Windies ODI squad. obviously our objective is to win the game,” Holder told reporters here yesterday. “I’ve been told it’s the hundredth ODI between West Indies and England so there’s something special around it as well, so I guess all the guys are looking forward to it and hopefully we can start this game well and get some momentum going

into the last one.” Russell has been flown in to replace experienced seamer Kemar Roach who has been forced out of the series with a back injury. The 30-year-old’s presence adds a certain xfactor to the Windies lineup, with his ability to pulverise attacks with his aggressive lower order batting.

He has not played ODIs since limping out of the Bangladesh series last July after the first match, but Holder said he was focussed and up for the challenge of playing the world number one side. “He’s in a good frame of mind. I’ve had a few good chats with him and he’s really looking forward to getting back on the field for West Indies,” Holder said. “The last ODI he played for us was against Bangladesh and it wasn’t the best of occasions for him in terms of him not being able to fulfil his true potential in terms of his game. “But he’s looking forward to this challenge ahead and obviously England is a good cricket side and have been playing some really good cricket so he will want to do the best he can against the best team in the world.” Russell’s arrival brings (Continued on page 31)

manipulating matches

ZURICH (Reuters) Referee Oden Charles Mbaga has been banned for life and fined 200,000 Swiss francs (150,962 pounds) for accepting bribes to manipulate football matches, soccer’s governing body FIFA said yesterday. FIFA said in a statement that its ethics committee had found Mbaga guilty of accepting bribes in violation of the FIFA code of ethics following an investigation opened in July. In a subsequent email to Reuters, FIFA said that Mbaga “accepted bribes to manipulate several national and international matches between 2009 and 2012.” It did not give any further details over which matches were involved. Mbaga told Reuters in Dar es Salaam that he was questioned by FIFA in 2010 but had not heard anything

from them since and knew nothing about match-fixing. “This is a shocking news to me. I don’t know anything about me being banned to participate football activities for life. I really don’t know this,” he said. “I know FIFA was doing an investigation and the last time they came to interview me about the issue was in 2010. I told them openly that I don’t know anything about match-fixing and I have never heard anything from them since then. “For now, I cannot say anything as I don’t have clear information.” FIFA described Mbaga as a “referee affiliated to the Tanzanian Football Federation.” The ban excludes him from “from all football-related activities (administrative, (Continued on page 31)

PAGE 38

Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 27, 2019

GFF-NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power/Intra Association U-17 - “We are in for the long term” – NAMILCO’s MD, Bert Sukhai Season 2 Unveiled By Franklin Wilson There was lots of pomp during yesterday’s simple but significant ceremony to launch the 50th Anniversary which is the second edition of the Guyana Football Federation- National Milling Company of Guyana, Thunderbolt Flour Power, Under-17 Intra Association Tournament in the boardroom of NAMILCO, Agricola, East Bank Demerara. Sharing the head table were Managing Director of NAMILCO Mr. Bert Sukhai, Finance Controller Mr. Fitzroy McLeod, Operations Manager Mr. Ralf Hemsing, GFF President Mr. Wayne Forde, Technical Director Mr. Ian Greenwood and Competitions Director, Mr. Ian Alves. Chairing proceedings was the effervescent, Affeeze Khan. In feature remarks, Sukhai stated that this year’s edition of the tournament is special, given the fact that the company is celebrating 50years of existence in Guyana, having been born in 1969. He informed that the company originated out of the USA - Seaboard Corporation – NAMILCO being the second Mill outside of the USA to be constructed, the other being in Sierra Leone in West Africa, the former, still in operation. For this historic year, Sukhai noted that this U-17 tournament would be incorporated into most of the company’s activities. “I would say we did reasonably well in the first leg, I see some successes coming

out of it and I’m seeing now more of Guyana being on the international front playing games. It’s good to see that out of the under-17 we have footballers who are playing internationally and that was one of our objectives when we started.” Sukhai, offered commiserations to President Forde and his committed team for moving the game forward, pointing out that the strategic plan is being followed. “There will be hiccups along the way, I know our first leg didn’t go too smoothly but based on the assurance I’m getting now we will see things moving at a faster pace in the second leg. We have committed ourselves for fiveyears; NAMILCO is here for the long term and when we make a commitment, we keep it. I want to wish you guys well in terms of your planning and ensuring it’s executed properly down to lowest level. You have to be on top of things to keep it going, all your RMA’s have to be fully alert to what their responsibilities are and what we expect of them.” Pointing out that NAMILCO is the leading local investor in local football; GFF President reminded that the five-year partnership is worth over 30-Million dollars. He alluded that it is fitting that the game is taking center stage during such an auspicious year for NAMILCO. “At the GFF we understand very clearly that unless we invest consistently over time, we will

Managing Director of NAMILCO Bert Sukhai (3rd right) makes a point during his feature presentation during yesterday’s launch. Others in pic from right, Ralf Hemsing, Fitzroy McLeod, Wayne Forde, Ian Alves and Ian Greenwood. not be able to impact the development of football and development of our players to the extent that we wish to. The partnership with the NAMILCO is recognition of that fact.” Forde also stated that the relationship with the company takes on the status of pioneering, positing that the U17 tournament is the first multi-year contract in the history of Guyana’s football. “The GFF, NAMILCO Flour Power U17 League is the largest financial commitment from any corporate entity to football, thirty plus million dollars over the five-year period. This tournament was the first officially sanctioned tournament in region one where we played a male and a female version, last year.” He summed up that

several new grounds were broke with this competition pointing out that one of the benefits derived is that Guyana is now ranked at #18 among the 41-Concacaf members at the Under-17 age group level. “And now that we have a home of football, we’re going to do everything within our means to prepare the U-17 team that would be drawn from the intra association tournament so that when we come up against the teams that we are matched against for the world cup qualifiers, we can represent Guyana and the company that has made this all possible, with distinction.” Forde challenged all Regional Member Associations (RMA) to make use of the opportunity given them to develop players at

Gayle has made “resounding case” for World Cup pick: Pybus ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Interim West Indies coach, Richard Pybus, believes veteran opener Chris Gayle has made a “resounding case” for his inclusion in the World Cup squad later this year. Gayle emphatically announced his return to the Caribbean side following a seven-mont h break, slamming his 24th one-day hundred in the opening match of the ongoing fivematch series against England. Pundits, however, have questioned G a y l e ’s commitment and fitness but Pybus said the 39year-old would be an

enormous asset to the Windies side for the May 30 to July 14 showpiece in England. “I can’t speak on behalf of the selectors but I think Chris has put forward a very resounding case,” Pybus told reporters here Monday following the rained out third ODI. “He’s just class really. It’s always great having guys in your side who are quite scary for the opposition knowing full well what they can deliver. He’s been fantastic and he’s been great with the younger lads.” The left-handed Gayle is by far the most

experienced player in the c u r r e n t Wi n d i e s s e t u p , having played 287 ODIs and lies just 88 runs short of becoming only the s e c o n d We s t I n d i a n t o crest the 10 000-run mark behind the iconic Brian Lara.His 24 centuries are also a Windies record and his subtle off-spin has already earned him 165 wickets.Critics of his game point to his aversion to running singles and slow starts in the first power-play, now two crucial elements of the one-day game. However, as he showed in his 135 off 129 balls when he lashed a dozen sixes, no one in the contemporary game finds six-hitting easier. Pybus said he was not worried by Gayle’s approach

as the Jamaican possessed the ability to easily adapt his game. “Chris can play both [types of] games. In those first two games [in Barbados], I think he was really getting a feel for quite a spongy wicket batting first,” the Englishman explained. “Those who know Barbados, it can be game of two halves really. That early session can be quite different to the match later on so I think he was playing himself through. You guys know from T20s, Chris can attack that first powerplay brutally. “I think [it was] him just getting back into the squad. I think on good wickets he’ll be going hard pretty early.”

this level. “Clearly some of our members have seized the opportunity and they have delivered consistently on executing the programme, some have struggled and some require a little bit more support.” With a view to assisting RMAs to maximize on the opportunity, Forde disclosed that the GFF’s Technical and Competitions Departments have developed workshops that would be conducted before kick-off of the respective leagues where the competition organizers and other key personnel will be targeted to improve their knowledge and understanding of organising competitions. “We want to deliver a tournament that is worthy of the investment and the commitment that the National Milling Company has made and in order to do that, every member has to raise their game. Let me just say once more a heartfelt thank you to the management and staff of NAMILCO and I wish our partnership every success in years to come.” Alves, during his presentation shared that the first year of the tournament saw a total of 514 matches being played with 1033 goals scored at an average of two goals per match. “By all indications, this tournament contributed tremendously to youth development of football in Guyana. In one single tournament we were able to successfully influence Guyana’s performance at the youth level at international tournaments since the majority of players came from playing with the

national U17 tournament.” Alves pointed out that the company’s contribution is therefore immeasurable. Intra Association action will get cracking in the second week of next month and will run until July when the interassociation playoffs will take center stage where all the champions will meet to determine the national champion. TD Greenwood also shared remarks and focused on the GFF’s Youth Development Strategy and what the tournament means for youth development in Guyana. “The majority of our national U-17 players come directly out of the NAMILCO League and they have done very well. This year, we have the world cup qualifiers coming up in May and because Guyana is now ranked 18th in Concaca f w h i c h i s a massive jump up, means we’ve been pushed into the final rounds so in May we’re playing Haiti, Honduras and El Salvador. Obviously it’s a tough group but its shows the work that is being done at the U-17 level that has impacted our recent ranking.” This year’s NAMILCO Intra Association will present more opportunities for the GFF Technical Department to scout more talent to ensure the best players make up the national team for the WC qualifiers. “If we have these programmes running for four, five, six years we’re going to see a real conveyor belt of players being developed at every single age group and that is the only way that we’re going to really develop.”

Wednesday February 27, 2019

PAGE 39

Kaieteur News

UDFA president laments support for them at GT Beer presentation ceremony When the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) staged its presentation to the winners of the Sixth GT Beer year end football championship which was won by Eagles United FC on New Year’s Night, the turnout at the presentation ceremony held last Wednesday at the Mackenzie Sports Club Lounge was not what many anticipated, least of all the organisers the UDFA. However, the show went on and as President of the UDFA Terrence Mitchell had quipped, “It seems that when the monetary funds are passed, everything else is secondary. And I want to believe if we had that cheque here today we would have had a full house.” That was in reference to the fact that the prize money, which were compliments of the major sponsor Banks DIH Limited, had been delivered to the clubs, which included the champions Eagles FC who carted off the top prize of $1.2M at a special

MVP Colwyn ‘Buck’ Drakes on his new motorcycle and other winners of the UDFA GT Beer Championship. presentation staged by the beverage company ahead of the presentation by this UDFA of the various trophies and prizes.

Notwithstanding that, the occasion saw the Eagles United’s forward Colwyn Drakes rode off with his brand new motorcycle for being the

Most Valuable Player of the tournament along with other trophies. The UDFA head took time out to identify the reason

behind the late start of the programme which was set for 6.00pm he reminded, “What we are seeing is basically telling us how all of us think and we need to change that. Why we need to change that? If we need to go forward it means that we have to start with the internal discipline. So that when we call on you to do externally ones you will respond properly.” He said to those in the Lounge of the MSC that “Our mindset says, 6O’clock Guyana time. That is how we think. That drop back time is money, time is money. Time is success. You got be able to, take advantage and manage your time properly. We got to stop procrastinating. So we got to work on it. Our idea of this presentation was to be real big, huge. Initially it was the plan by the organizers that the presentation will be an awards ceremony and for performances done throughout the year and both on and off the field and we are still working on that and our players deserve real recognition and invite

persons.” ”But because with the necessary items we had to come down to this. I believe our players deserve proper recognition where we can sit down and recognise them properly,” Mitchell noted. Apart from the main sponsor Banks DIH, there were other sponsorship which helped make the tournament a success mainly Nigel Hinds Accounting and Consultancy, Monty Profitt’s GuyConstruction and Trophy Stall out of Georgetown. However, Mitchell said he was extremely pleased that several of the sponsors from Linden came on board and among them were Jermaine and Sons, Haynes Hardware Store, MB Construction, Mora Springs, Alkaline Water, Babaloo Car Rental, Broad Money Car Rental and Spare Parts, Foreign K8lLinks, Snooks Variety Store, Williams Hollow Blocks, Sports Plus, Kingdom Style Restaurant, J e r r y F a u c e t t , Wi l l s Electrical Store, Rite Care Pharmacy, Guyana Police Force and TWC Pest Control.

Dave West Indian Imports U-15 Inter-County cricket

Ramnauth’s unbeaten 147 powers B’ce to 257-run win over E’bo By Sean Devers at Lusignan Port Mourant’s opener Rampertab Ramnauth hit a record unbeaten 147 and shared in a 147-run second wicket stand with Tameshwar Mahadeo who made 54 before off-spinner Matthew Pattaya took 3-12 to give Berbice an empathic 257-run victory over Essequibo in the second round of the fifth annual GCB’s Dave West Indian Imports 50-over U-15 cricket encounter at Lusignan yesterday. The 14-year-old Ramnauth, followed-up his top score of 37 in Berbice’s upset defeat against Demerara at Bourda on Monday to bat through the innings in the masterful unbeaten 147 from 178 balls, 225 minutes. He reached the boundary 11 times as the defending Champions amassed 290-3 in 50 overs. Ramnauth registered the highest individual score in Guyana’s InterCounty 50-over U-15 cricket and shared in partnerships of 98 for the first wicket with Avishkar Persaud (28), 147 for the second wicket with Mahadeo, whose halfcentury included three

fours, and 34 for third wicket with Christopher DeRoop (8) as Berbice feasted on the Essequibo bowling in scorching heat, on an excellent track and fast outfield. Twelve-year-old Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club’s off-spinner Matthew ‘Sunil Narine’ Pattaya, watched by a small gathering which included his club’s President Hilbert Forster, the recent recipient of the Medal of Service award for his contributions and achievements in sport, followed-up his 4-27 against Demerara with 3-12 as Essequibo crumbled to 33 all out. Salim Khan (2-2) and Baskar Dhani (2-9) supported Pattaya, who now has seven wickets from two matches. Berbice will face the President’s X1 at Lusignan when the competition continues tomorrow after a rest day today. Berbice won the toss and Persaud, who played the role to the left-handed Ramnauth, batted without worry with Ramnauth executing an elegant cover drive which raced the boundary off Govinda Tulise in the second over of what turned out to be

- Pattaya (3-12) again among the wickets as E’bo crumble for 33 a one-sided contest. The free-flowing Ramnauth, pivoted and pulled Tulise for four more when he bowled short, while Persaud rotated the strike nicely as the 50 stand was posted in the 10th over. But with the partnership two short of 100 Persaud played around a ball from Civion Arokium and was trapped LBW for 28 in the 18th over. Mahadeo looked solid and along with in-form Ramnauth, who drove Gladwin Henry back past his ankles for a bullet-like boundary down the ground, grinded the Essequibians as their partnership took shape as Ramnauth reached his fifty before Albion’s Mahadeo soon registered his halfcentury.But with the score 245 and the stand three short of 150, Mahadeo played a slog-sweep off Henry and was taken at deep mid-wicket. Ramnauth continued to play his shots and soon reached his maiden ton as Christopher DeRoop was content to give him the strike before DeRoop (8) was stumped as Arokium struck again at 279-3.

Tameshwar Mahadeo made 54 in a 147-run 2nd wicket stand with Ramnauth for Berbice at Lugisnan yesterday. Needing three to reach his 150 off the final ball Ramnauth used his feet and hit the ball uppishley to deep mid-off but could only get a single and

Ramnauth, who hit most of his boundaries from pulls and slog sweeps, played several delightful cover drives and like most left-handers,

favoured the cut. Set a daunting 291 to win their first match after losing to the President’X1 on Monday at Everest, the lads from Guyana’s largest but least populated County started badly when Shassiff Mohamed was bowled Dhani for a duck at 6-1 before Dhani struck again with the score on 15 when Sarwan Bisram, the only batsman to reached double figures, hit a catch to mid-off. Without addition to the score, Rajendra Ramlall (2) was brilliantly taken at slip by a diving Ramnauth as he stretched forward and steered on the left of him off the seam for DeRoop. Three wickets tumbled with the score on 21; Arokium (2) was run out, Tulise (0) pushed forward to one from Pattaya and was stumped, while Aryan Doodnauth (0) was run out. A run later Deo Kanhai (3) fell to Salim Khan to leave the score on 27-7 before Pattaya, in his second year at this level, struck twice with the score on 29 before Khan ended Essequibo’s misery when he removed the last batsman.

PAGE 40

Wednesday February 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

Ming’s, Caribbean Containers Inc Simon returns as head LABA and Bakewell support RHTYSC for another two year term - Executive to meet tomorrow night to plan 2019 programme 2019 list of programmes

Bornique Jordan Meredith of Ming’s hands over cricket balls to RHTYSC Hilbert Foster. Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS plans for 2019 continues to attract support from Corporate Guyana. The Club has set itself a target of 700 activities for 2019 under a number of sub-headings including sports, cricket development, coaching, community development, education, charity, youth development, climate change among others. The latest donors to come on board were Ming’s Products Services, Bakewell and Caribbean Containers Inc. Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster stated that the ten cricket teams of the Club, it’s Over-35 Group and Management hopes to surpass the target of 700 activities by the 23rd December, 2019, when they would be hosting the 5th

Edition of the Rose Hall Town Christmas Village. Mr. Colin Ming of Ming’s Product Services donated a large amount of balls towards the RHTYSC Cricket Developmental Programme. The RHTYSC in 2018 totally dominated cricket in the Ancient County by winning thirteen titles and being runners-up in three others. Additionally, seventeen of its members represented Guyana or Jamaica at the Regional level. Foster stated that the balls would be used for matches at the junior levels and also for practise sessions in the afternoon. Caribbean Containers Inc made a financial contribution towards the Club’s highly successful Say No/Say Yes Campaign, which targets 60,000 youths in Berbice. The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club in 2019

would under this campaign organise school children rallies, educational competitions in schools, organise sporting events, youth inspiration forums, provide assistance to less fortunate students among others. Bakewell, a long time sponsor of the Club, donated financially towards purchasing of a case of trophies for the 29th Annual Award Ceremony which would be held on Sunday 28th April, 2019. Bakewell also contributed financially towards the 20th Edition of the RHTYSC Annual Youth Review Magazine. The forty pages magazine would highlight the work of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club in 2018, profile of several outstanding members and have articles of interest for youths on a wide range of topics (Continued on page 31)

After retaining the top post as President of the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) recently, Lawrence Simon has warned his fellow incoming executives: ”We have to change the mentality and approach to the sport,” as he recalled, “Let me go back to 2017 when we would have started well with tournaments and one of the challenges we would have faced then to now is based on sponsorship.” But he told the new body the challenges had been stretched “to the extent that commitment of clubs and commitment to an extent meant that with all of those limitations we would have still tried 2017 to 2018 to facilitate and do our utmost best.” He appealed to all, that there must be a radical approach to ensure the sport returns as one of the spectator attractions in the town of Linden. The Linden Amateur Basketball Association held their Annual General Meeting last Tuesday night at the Mackenzie Sports Club Pavilion. The other members of the LABA Executive Committee which will serve in office for the two year term are First Vice President is Dr. Karen Perreira, Allister Webster as Second Vice President, Joseph Chapman Secretary and Joel Webster the Treasurer, while the Assistant Secretary is June Harris, as Keith Sullivan will function as the Assistant Treasurer. Christopher Pollydore is the Organisng Secretary, while Nyamikky Johnson will serve as the Public Relations Officer. The Committee Members are Eusi Francis, Kevin Joseph, Kerwin Abrams, Kellon Nedd and Shane Lewis. Meanwhile, the association has formed a

Lawrence Simon Women’s Committee which is headed by Vice President Dr. Karen Perreira and involves two former senior national players in Nichola Jacobs and Shana Chester along with Chenelle Williamson, Danica Barker, June Harris and Nyamikky Johnson. Recently, Simon was elected as one of the Vice Presidents of the Guyana Basketball Federation while Chapman is the assistant Secretary/ Treasurer. The new LABA Executive Committee will be meeting tomorrow from 19.00hrs sharp or 7.00pm at the MSC Pavilion to discuss its 2019 programme of activities.

Holder, Pybus thrilled by Russell’s return ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Both captain Jason Holder and interim head coach, Richard Pybus, have hailed Andre Russell’s inclusion for the two final One-Day Internationals, as a massive boost to the side’s firepower. The 30-year-old allrounder was called up to the

14-man West Indies squad after missing the first three ODIs of the five-match series. “Obviously he’s an impact player for us,” Holder told reporters here yesterday. “He’s definitely built up a strong reputation of being a very destructive player with both bat and ball so he’s obviously an added boost to our side and we welcome him. Hopefully we can get the best out of him and he fits in nicely

with the group.” Russell has not played for the Windies since last August when he featured in a three-match home series against Bangladesh. Even though hosts lost the series, Russell showed his worth especially with the bat, producing a couple of cameos. Pybus agreed with Holder that Russell was a excellent (Continued on page 31)

Moeen to miss Windies T20s LONDON, CMC – Offspinning all-rounder, Moeen Ali, will join Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler on the sidelines for the three-match Twenty20 series against West Indies, after being granted time off. The 31-year-old, a key member of the England squad in all formats, featured in all three Tests and both One-Day Internationals of the ongoing series. He has been replaced by fast bowling all-rounder, Sam Curran, who played in the two opening Test against

the Windies with limited success. The 20-year-old is yet to make his T20 debut for England.Rest for the trio comes ahead of their campaign in the lucrative Indian Premier League which bowls off March 23. Moeen will turn out for Royal Challengers Bangalore while Stokes and Buttler will feature for Rajasthan Royals. Curran will be making his IPL debut in the upcoming season after being signed by Kings XI Punjab. Opener Jason Roy, current

a part of the ODI series, will also miss the Windies T20s as he is set to return home for the birth of his first child. England face West Indies in the opening T20I in St Lucia on March 5 before heading to St Kitts for the final two matches on March 8 and 10. SQUAD – Eoin Morgan (captain), Jonny Bairstow, Sam Billings, Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Dawid Malan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, David Willey, Mark Wood, Sam Curran.

Captain Jason Holder (left) shares a moment with Andre Russell during a game last year.

Wednesday February 27, 2019

PAGE 41

Kaieteur News

UCCA/BCB/Trophy Stall Under-19 Cricket Tournament

No. 73 Young Warriors edge Scottsburg United to win Championship When the number eleven batsman Kevin Persaud went in to bat, his team No. 73 Young Warriors needed nineteen runs to win against their rivals Scottsburg United who were just one wicket from as exciting victory in the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association’s Trophy Stall Under-19 Inter-Club Tournament. Persaud and his partner S. Kissoon calmly scored the required runs in seven overs to spark wild celebration from their teammates as No. 73 Young Warriors won their first ever championship title at any level. E a r l i e r i n t h e d a y, Scottsburg won the toss and elected to bat first in brilliant sunshine at the No. 72 Cut and Load Ground. A brilliant and elegant innings by Stephan Norah led them to a healthy 257 all out from 48 overs. Norah struck fourteen boundaries and six huge sixes in his 119. He received useful support from Akram Ali 31, Chandra Budram 19, Aktar Nahar 13 and Brandon Nandlall 12. Bowling for No. 73 Young Warriors, Anthony Jabbar took 3 for 40, Sarwan Chaitnarine 2 for 24 and Asteer Hussain 2 for 69. Trevon Sukhoo, Kevin

P e r s a u d a n d Ve t t o r i Latchman each supported with a wicket apiece. Needing to score 258 from 50-Overs to lift the title on the fast and small outfield, No. 73 Young Warriors were cruising at 170 for 2 in the 33rd over based on solid innings from Anthony Jabbar 33, Neon Singh 70, Sarwan Chaitnarine 30 and Vettori Latchman 26. The dismissal of Singh at 170 followed by Latchman at 175 for 4 brought Scottsburg back. No. 73 fought hard to reach 239 for 9 when the last pair came together. Asteer Hussain 11, Trevon Sukhoo, Brian Stuart 10 all contributed useful runs for No. 73. Scottsburg, who did not help themselves by contributing seven wides in the 10th wicket partnership between Kissoon and Persaud. Daniel Persaud 3 for 16, Stephen Norah 3 for 42 and Rudy Jamaladin 2 for 38 were the main wicket takers for the very disappointed Scottsburg United team. Stephen Norah was named Man of the Final despite ending on the losing side for his brilliant 119 and 3 for 42. President of the Upper Corentyne Cricket

The winning No. 73 team pose with Reps of the UCCA and the Trophy Stall. Association, Dennis De Andrade hailed the tournament as a great success and proudly stated that cricket in the Sub-association was on the move. He expressed gratitude to Mr. Ramesh Sunich and the Trophy Stall for sponsoring the tournament. President of the Berbice Cricket Board Hilbert Foster heaped praises on the outstanding work of the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association, which he described as a role model subassociation. A passionate

Foster urged the young players to develop a culture of hard work and dedication, while at the same time rejecting Satan and his evil world of drugs, alcohol and crime. He committed the Berbice Cricket Board to providing opportunities for all youths in Berbice to fulfill their potentials. Foster also express gratitude to the Trophy Stall for the sponsorship. Representative of the Trophy Stall Daniel Samaroo stated that the Company and

RHTYSC congratulates Hilbert Foster on being awarded the “Medal of Service” The Management and members of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS is extending congratulations to their Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster on being named in the National Awards list announced recently by the Guyana Government. Mr. Foster would be receiving the Medal of Service for his outstanding service to youth development, sports and making positive differences in the lives of others. Hilbert Foster at the tender age of 21 years founded the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club in 1990. The Club, which started as a mere cricketing one, has over the last twenty one years has grown into Guyana’s leading youth and sports club with an unmatched list of activities and achievements. The Rose Hall Town

Youth & Sports Club is the only youth and sports organisation in the history of Guyana to have received a National Award and every year organised over 700 events under a wide range of activities. Our Secretary/CEO has touched and changed the lives of countless youths on the cricket field, in other sporting disciplines, in the educational sectors and spearheading Guyana’s largest NGO’s Say No/Say Yes Programme. Over the years under his elder brother’s Presidency, he transformed Berbice Cricket and is currently doing so again in his capacity as President, a release from the organisation informed. Since his election as BCB President last year, he has singlehandedly raised over $12M for the development of the game, organised over 35 tournaments (the most in

Berbice history) and has spearheaded the rebirth of Berbice Cricket after a long period of it being dormant. The Township now enjoys a modern sports facility, all weather court, 175th Anniversary Monument, paved tarmac at the Rose Hall Town Primary School, Children Playfield among others due to Foster’s hard work. He also led the restoration of his former school, Lower Corentyne Secondary School, while spearheading the distribution of tens of millions worth of educational kits, sporting gears, cycles, clothing, medical assistance, footwear, stationery and food hampers. Berbicians can easily associate popular programmes like Rose Hall Town Christmas Village, Republic Bank Summer

Camp, Ansa Mcal Award of Excellence, Scotia Bank Children Mash Parade, Busta Champion of C h a m p i o n s , P a t r o n ’s Fund, Region 6 Mother of t h e Ye a r, Wa l t e r N e r o Father of the Year, Focus o n Yo u t h a n d S p o r t s Television Programme, Youth Information Booklet and Tribute to Teachers with the Hilbert Foster brand. All of us at the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club are very proud of our Secretary/CEO and of the fact that the Government of Guyana has recognized his unselfish and committed dedication to the development of Guyana. We would also like to acknowledge the support he has received from his friends, family and sponsors of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS, the release concluded.

Sunich were pleased to support cricket in the Upper Corentyne area. Samaroo stated that he was impressed with the level of cricket played by both teams, with over five hundred runs scored in the match. He expressed gratitude

to the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association for allowing Trophy Stall to sponsor the tournament. The winning team, runner-up and Man of the Final each collected trophies, medals and a cash prize from the organisers.

GMR&SC National Race of Champions

Powerline Automotive and B.M. Soat backs event A release from the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) has indicated that two companies, upon short notice have readily backed this Sunday’s National Race of Champions which is set for the South Dakota Circuit at Timehri. Yesterday, the release noted, Powerline Automotive and B.M. Soat Auto Sales confirmed their well received sponsorship for the one-day meet which has been packed with a 24-race programme. The correspondence noted the club’s pleasure in having so much support while guaranteeing that all systems are in place for an incident free day, this Sunday. Meanwhile, mechanics are working tirelessly to bring all the cars up to speed and everyone will be looking to outshine the GMR&SC’s best mechanic for 2018, Balram Mahadeo. Some of the confirmed drivers for the National Race of Champions include, two-

time reigning CMRC Champion; Andrew King, Nasrudeen Mohamed Jr., Peter Morgan, Shawn King, Raymond Seebarran, Danny Persaud, Shan Seejattan, Azaad Hassan, Motilall Deodass, Rameez Mohamed, Annand Ramchand and Vishok Persaud. Other confirmed sponsors of the event include, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Truck Master, Special Auto, Nexus, Cyril’s Taxi, Motor Trend Service Center, Prem’s Electrical, Windjammer Restaurant, A&R Printery, Trans Pacific Auto Sales and Spares, N&S Fuel Pump and Injector Services, Choke Gas Station, Miracle Optical, R. Kissoon Contracting Services, E-Networks and Supreme Ventures Enterprise. Admission to the venue on race day will cost $1000 for adults and $500 for children.

PAGE 42

Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 27, 2019

Milo Schools’ football tournament

Jodah, Campbell lift Demerara to QC thumps North Ruimveldt 6-1, comfortable victory over President’s XI

Saints and Bishops’ draw Two matches were played on the second match day of round two group matches of the seventh annual Milo Schools’ football tournament at the Ministry of Education (MOE) ground on Carifesta Avenue, on Monday. The feature clash of the afternoon didn’t disappoint as Queen’s College and North Ruimveldt matched skills to produce a ninegoal thriller which the latter lost 6-3. Ronniel Lord led the scoring with a brace in the sixth and 34th minutes, while Diarra Thomas, Ravaldo Vieira and Harrell Dossantos netted one goal each. North Ruimveldt was

unlucky to turn one into their net in the 41st minute which took the Thomas Lands’ school tally to six goals. Orlando Dickie (19th), Henry Leacock (23rd) and Shaquan Favourite (60th) each netted one goal for North in the losing cause. Meanwhile, in the opening game, The Bishops’ High and Saint Stanislaus College had to settle for a 1-1 draw. Josiah King found the back of the net for ‘Saints’ in the 58th minute before Malachi Richards had opened the scored for Bishops’ during the first half.Round two of the group phase will continue this weekend with six matches; three on Saturday and three on Sunday.

Please see fixtures for those games below. 3/2/2019 Round Robin Round 2 Day 3 Ministry of Education Ground Match # 12:00 hrs Charlestown Secondary v/s Tutorial Secondary 19 13:45 hrs Uitvlugt Secondary v/s Golden Grove Secondary 20 15:30 hrs Friendship Secondary v/s St John’s College 21 3/3/2019 Round Robin Round 2 Day 4 Ministry of Education Ground Match # 12:00 hrs Vergenoegen Secondary v/s Tucville 22 13:45 hrs Christianburg Secondary v/s Ann’s Grove 23 15:30 hrs St Cutbert’s Mission v/s Cummings Lodge 24

Close play between Lodge Secondary (on the ball) and St. Mary’s during round-robin action this season.

By Zaheer Mohamed A fine all-round performance from Zachary Jodah and a fluent half century from opener Jadan Campbell guided Demerara to a 168-run victory over the President’s XI when the Guyana Cricket Board/Dave West Indian Imports inter county U15 50-over tournament continued yesterday. Opting to bat at the Everest Cricket Club, Demerara lost opener Romeo Deonarain lbw to Sachin Balgobin for four with the score on 11 before Campbell and Mavindra Dindayal added 65 for the second wicket to set the foundation for challenging total. The pair played aggressively as they timed the ball well, accumulating at more than a run-a-ball. They hit several boundaries early in their innings with Dindayal being the only batsman in the match to clear the boundary ropes, doing so off Balgobin and Rezekiel Renee. Dindayal also struck four fours before he was lbw to Sanjay Algoo for 41, while Campbell and Alvin Mohabir continued to frustrate their opponents with a 43-run partnership. The fluent Campbell hammered 11 fours before he was run out for 81, while Mohabir was caught and bowled by Nityanand Matura for 21 which included a solitary boundary. Jodah continued to garner runs for his team with a

Jadan Campbell

Dhanesh Persaud

carefully constructed half century; his knock of 53 not out contained four fours, while Omari Lallbachan (14), Avinash Rajkumar (12) and Joash Charles (10*) lent support as Demerara rallied to 270-7. Balgobin, Ramnarine, Matura, Algoo, Nicholas Sheoprashad and Anthony Khan had one wicket each. Pacer Joash Charles disturbed the stumps of Altave Balman (00) to give his team the breakthrough as the President’s XI lost their first wicket with the score on one. Anthony Khan and Satya France put on 29 for the second wicket before Khan was bowled by Jodah for 10, while Balgobin was lbw t o Av i n a s h R a j k u mar without scoring as the President’s XI were reduced to 33-3. France played a number of attractive drives down the ground and added 26 with Algoo before their resistance was ended by Dhanesh Persaud; he uprooted the stumps of Algoo and had France caught

for a well played 34 which contained four fours. Surprisingly Persaud was not asked to bowl again after picking up his second wicket in his fourth over, while Rajkumar whose wicket came in the first over was only preferred for three overs in which he conceded 14. Whereas only one fast bowler was asked to bowl the new ball and shared it with a spinner in both innings, which also saw other fast bowlers being introduced later on; something which should not be encouraged at this level. Rather fast bowlers should be preferred at the commencement of the innings from both ends. No other batsman managed double figures as the Presdient’s XI were bowled out for 102 in 42.3 overs. Jodah claimed 3-23 from 8.3 overs, Persaud had 2-9 from four overs; there was one each for Charles, Krsna Singh, Rajkumar, Vishal Persaud and Omari Lallbachan.

Zachary Jodah accepts his man-of-the-match prize from Dave Narine of Dave West Indian Imports.

Wednesday February 27, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 43

Harold ‘Topgun’ Hopkinson places 5th Overall at Level 3 IPSC Shoot in Barbados Sixty-four year old Guyanese Super Senior Shooter, Harold ‘Topgun’ Hopkinson placed 5th Overall in the Production Division, beating the eventual Production Champion Adrian Marshall in Stage 2 when the Young Gunz Club of Barbados held a Level 3 IPSC match, called ‘The Showdown’ on Saturday last in the Land of the Flying Fish. The event, which was sanctioned by Regional Director Keven Grant of Barbados, took place at the Paragon Army Base which has hosted many Long Range battles where the Guyana National Rifle Association would have triumphed on numerous occasions. T h e 11 - s t a g e competition attracted 25 shooters from the host nation, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago. Hopkinson, the

GuyanaNRA’s Regional Director competed using a CZ Shadow 2 in the Production Division where shooters use out of the box firearms that have fivepound triggers pull. An Open Race pistol, which the ‘Topgun’ is accustomed to, has a 15-ounce trigger with electronic sights. Apart from the 5th place overall, Hopkinson notched a 4th place in Stage 4, a similar placing in Stage 5 and 5th in Stage 9. The young experienced and agile Marshall, won ten (10) of the twelve (12) Stages. Meanwhile, Hopkinson has indicated that a team of Guyanese competitors will leave for neighbouring Suriname next month to contest the Secure Innovations & Concepts Inc. 2019 Amazon Shoot set for March 19. Hopkinson who is the Managing Director of Secure Innovations &

CARIFTA Games Trials

Seven more athletes qualify for Easter Weekend’s Daniel Williams have qualified for the Easter track meet weekend’s Carifta Games

Seven of Guyana’s most promising athletes will have the opportunity to test their skills on a larger stage when the CARIFTA Games are hosted from April 20-22 in Grand Cayman Islands. Dozens of Athletes gathered on Sunday at the National Track and Field Center (NTFC), Leonora, to try and qualify for the biennial event. However, Keliza Smith was the first to successfully qualify, in the Girls Under17 400M sprint. The Running Brave athlete clocked 56.90s.

24

which will be competed in the Cayman Islands.

The Under-17 800M girls’ event saw two athletes in Adriel Austin and Shaquka Tyrel qualifying. Hailing from Running Brave athletics club and C h r i s t i a n b u rg Wi s m a r Secondary respectively, they clocked 2 mins 17s and 2 mins 18s. Tyrell later returned in (Continued on page 35)

Concepts Inc. also informed that the shooters would be undertaking training with the multiple IPSC Presidential Medal Standard Division winner, Jamaican and the World Renowned Grand M a s t e r, R o n a l d ‘ T h e Dragon’ Brown. The Guyanese shooters are Dr. Parvesh Harry, Andy and Mathew Phang of the Guyana Sports Shooting Federation.

Harold Hopkinson (2nd right) posing with some of the competitors following the conclusion of the shoot.

t r o Sp

GFF-NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power/Intra Association U-17 Season 2 Unveiled - “We are in for the long term” – NAMILCO’s MD, Bert Sukhai

Partnering For Youth Development and Success! GFF and NAMILCO officials following yesterday’s launch, from left, Ian Greenwood, Ian Alves, Wayne Forde (GFF President), Bert Sukhai (Managing Director NAMILCO), Fitzroy McLeod and Ralf Hemsing.

Dave West Indian Imports U15 Inter-County cricket

Ramnauth’s unbeaten 147 powers B’ce to 257-run win over E’bo Pattaya (3-12) again among the wickets as E’bo crumble for 33

Matthew Pattaya followed up his 4-27 on Monday with 3-12 as E’bo were dismantled for 33 yesterday at Lusignan.

Man-of-the-Match Rampertab Ramnauth batted all 50 overs to a record unbeaten 147 for Berbice at Lusignan yesterday. (Sean Devers photos)

Eyes on Russell as Windies chase win in 100th ODI Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.