Kaieteur News
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Tuesday January 01, 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
An even worse nightmare A message bandied about by handpicked opposition veterans in selected neighbourhoods is gaining ominous traction. It is that there is only one man who could run this country. Opposition stalwarts cum aspirants should find that objectionable; if they don’t, it is to their discredit. On the other hand, that has to be considered insulting to conscientious, ethical, and forward-thinking Guyanese from every stratum of this society. The insistent fostering of such a position amounts to a rejection of the CCJ ruling. It signals a willingness and corresponding determination to return this country to the fascism and totalitarianism from earlier this century, and which so horrified this land. At this point, it is time to resurrect a Leninist maxim: anything is ethical once it advances the interests of the party. In this country there is a party that is a virtual oneman show; a trick show it has been; a trick show of legitimate (but dissenting) media being squeezed first, then blacklisted financially; of one favored contractor receiving many of the richer awards; of one corrupt bidding process; of one set of cronies with their hands in every public pie; of one army of mercenaries recruited for extrajudicial activities; of one huge underground economy facilitating the narcotics and money laundering trades; of one ruinous bridge; of one collapsed insurance company with many secrets; and one sinister world abundant in closely held secrets and many casualties. There were few limits. Do Guyanese really desire returning to that tragic paradise? If so, that is their call, and their right. Or for the great majority is that one-man powerhouse marketed recognized as the worst nightmare imaginable? One even worse than what went before, and as is only partially outlined here? It is difficult to believe that honest, decent, everyday Guyanese would really look forward to what has been so malicious, so vindictive, so destructive. The unanimous response ought to be: not today! Not tomorrow! Not ever again! Whatever it is that opposition unmoving loyalists prioritize, they should easily recall what occurred during Stalin’s Great Purge of 1936. The terrible fates of original, proven brethren named Grigori Zinoviev and Lev Kamenev (and a host of other faithful) should jar the memory as to the depths of megalomania then. Sober men and women in and out of the party must summon the quiet courage to ask: what is going on here? Is this not what has happened in different forms to different people to different degrees? The conclusion should be that no one is safe, none exempt. No one was exempt when a semblance of this visited Guyana from around the birth of this millennium and then forward. There were no conscientious objectors, only enemies. Today, there are more identified. There were no questioners and seekers of truth, merely challengers to be banished. Few dared to speak of witch hunt or whitewash, or the delusional guiding hand behind airtight compartmentalization.The corrective, objective, and subjective were all considered subversive. And a la Josef Stalin, there was only visualized a suspect, fevered world standing against and the corresponding Machiavellian solutions of plots, conspiracies, and solution final in intent and result. There was a Star Chamber functioning as judge and jury under the smooth all-purpose blanket of National Security. There were neither victims nor martyrs; only the collateral damage of traitors and enemies of the state. It was a ONE-MAN state. That was democracy at work then; constitutional freedoms ruptured, but casually denied or dismissed.However probed and addressed (and this has not happened here), the past cannot be undone; it is, indeed, past. The attendant ills remain through future generations as oral mythology, and with all the bottled rancor and antagonisms.
Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.
The Caribbean Court of Justice revisited DEAR EDITOR, I suspect that the primary reason why the people of Grenada and Antigua & Barbuda voted on 6th November 2018 not to accept the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as their highest national Court of Appeal is because – fundamentally – most of our people do not really know much about the Caribbean Court of Justice. And the truth is that we Caribbean people do not really know very much about the CCJ simply because the institutions and officials that should have been consistently informing and educating us about the CCJ and our other significant regional institutions over the years have not done enough. It is important that we fully grasp the fact that the CCJ is our organization. The Caribbean Court of Justice was established by the fifteen member nations of our Caribbean Community (CARICOM) – inclusive of the said Grenada and Antigua & Barbuda – and is therefore an “institution” of CARICOM. Indeed, the CCJ is one of
the twenty-odd institutions of CARICOM – a group of institutions that includes the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), and the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) among others. Many of these CARICOM institutions are outstanding organizations, but if I was challenged to select the very best and most excellent CARICOM institution of them all, I would have to go with the Caribbean Court of Justice. And let me now list the many reasons why – in my opinion – the CCJ stands head and shoulders above not only every other CARICOM institution, but also way above the British Privy Council:(1) First of all, the finances of the CCJ are as secure as the proverbial “Fort Knox”! You see, the CCJ is financed out of the income generated by a permanent US$100 Million Trust Fund that is administered by a
highly professional Board of Trustees drawn from or including the Heads of the Insurance Associations of the Caribbean, the Caribbean Institute of Chartered Accountants, the Association of Indigenous Banks of the Caribbean, the Organisation of Commonwealth Caribbean Bar Associations, the Caribbean Congress of Labour, the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce, the University of the West Indies and the CARICOM Secretariat. This excellent state of affairs is a tribute to the collective foresight of the CARICOM Secretariat, then Barbados Attorney-General, Mia Amor Mottley, and former St. Lucia Prime Minister, Dr. K e n n y A n t h o n y, w h o undertook responsibility for setting up the Trust Fund at the time of the establishment of the CCJ. (2) This fulsome and secure funding explains why the CCJ has been able to establish and maintain a first class, modern, state-of-theart headquarters and Court in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad &
Tobago and - unlike the Privy Council – to also institute the modus operandi of an itinerant Court, travelling and taking its services to Caribbean citizens in Barbados, Jamaica, Belize, Guyana and other CARICOM nations. (3) The CCJ also employs and maintains a panel of absolutely first class, experienced, and highly professional judges who – to date – have been drawn from the nations of Trinidad & Tobago, St. Kitts & Nevis, Jamaica, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, the United Kingdom, Barbados, the Netherlands Antilles, Guyana and Belize. Indeed, the Presidents of the Court have been such outstanding legal luminaries as Hon. Michael de la Bastide of Trinidad & Tobago, Sir Dennis Byron of St. Kitts & Nevis, and Hon. Adrian Saunders of St. Vincent & the Grenadines. (4) The CCJ judges are all appointed by a broadbased non-political “Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission” (Continued on page 6)
Guyanese must have an abiding interest in the rule of law DEAR EDITOR, Since the passage of the No-Confidence Vote in Parliament on December 21, 2018, there have been many persons calling for elections to be held in 90 days. The Guyana Bar Association is among this lot. Slight attention is being given to allegations that the defining vote may have been procured by a bribe. Even if a discerning mind wanted to dismiss the allegations as conjecture and propaganda, the surrounding facts demand otherwise. Just a few days before his tipping vote, Charrandass Persaud during the 2019 budget debate, was extolling the accomplishments of his colleagues and the coalition government. He simultaneously condemned the vileness and incompetence of the previous PPP/C administration. He also during this period sold his car and wrote a farewell letter to his son. Mr. Persaud also allegedly turned over his law practice to another lawyer.
After the vote, he was seen leaving Parliament with a leading member of the opposition and who had exulted in delight by pumping his right fist after Charrandass said “yes, yes, yes....” to the Clerk’s call for his vote on the NoConfidence Motion. Mr. Persaud then went to Ogle Airport where he boarded a LIAT flight to Barbados. One wonders how many of the grieving sugar workers, whose condition so pained him, could have availed themselves of a overseas trip soon after leaving the rigours of an ordinary day. Much more, to leave Guyana under a cloud of suspicion about conduct that might have serious legal ramifications. His convenient use of privilege runs counter to his claimed identification with the many workers and their families who were allegedly victimized by the members of APNU-AFC coalition government, of which he was a recent part. Once in Canada, he made
a video in which he asks scornfully “ even if I was paid, was it wrong to support the no-confidence vote... “ Looking at one of the several facts outlined may lead to the conclusion that Persaud ‘s vote was an ordinary and regular one. But when the facts are examined in their totality, you have to conclude that his vote warrants a searching and forensic second look. The far-reaching effects of his conduct on the fate of a country and a region further justifies an intensive evaluation of his action. Many are saying that the government should accept the outcome of the NoConfidence vote. All that matters to them is the outcome. The process underlying the outcome is meaningless. There was a vote in the National Assembly counted and tabulated by the Clerk. All consideration of this matter must end there, even if the result topples the duly elected government. The government is, however, duty bound to
uphold the law. It must, therefore, ensure that the result is bottomed on a strict adherence to the applicable rules and procedures. If there is credible evidence of chicanery or wrongdoing attending Persaud’ s vote, it must investigate. And it must do so, thoroughly and efficiently, and bring this information to the appropriate authorities. We are neither members of the PNCR, AFC, PPP/C or the WPA as we seek to take the right course of action. We are all Guyanese who must be beholden to the principles of fairness and justice as we aspire to build a stable democracy. Our partisan affiliations, racial biases and religious preference should not contaminate our collective effort to protect the Constitution of Guyana. In the end, the country would be better positioned to serve the diverse needs and expectations of its people. Respectfully, Derrick Arjune
Tuesday January 01, 2019
Parliamentary Majority - We are being burdened by a legal caterwauling DEAR EDITOR, We seem to be confused about simple things that even a schoolboy can understand and differentiate, much less our legal luminaries. In line with our Constitution, a majority is achieved when a party receives more than half of the 65 seats in Parliament: 33 seats. There are four types of majorities used in Parliamentary sittings: Absolute Majority, Effective Majority, Simple Majority and Special Majority namely:. 1. Absolute majority refers to a majority of more than 50% of the total membership of the House. But this majority is used during the general election for the formation of government. 2. Effective Majority of the House means more than 50% of the effective strength of the House. This implies that out of the total strength, we deduct the vacant seats at sitting. 3. Simple Majority refers to the majority of
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more than 50% of the members present and voting. This is also known as functional majority or working majority. The simple majority is the most frequently used form of majority in Parliamentary business. When the constitution or the laws do not specify the type of majority needed, the simple majority is considered for voting. 4. Special Majority refers to all types of majorities other than the absolute, effective or simple majority as stated in our Constitutional Clauses. As far as I can remember, special majority as indicated in our Constitution requires a majority of two-third members present and voting. This type of majority is used for most of the Constitutional Amendment Bills. As an ordinary Guyanese layman, I believe we are being burdened by a legal caterwauling Sincerely yours, Ed Singh
Do authorities really want to control the wildlife trade? DEAR EDITOR, The SN Dec 27/2018, article titled “Finches’ smuggler flies under cops’ radar” caught my attention. On Dec 8, 2018, US Customs and Border Protection agricultural specialists busted a Guyanese man trying to smuggle 70 live finches inside hair rollers in his duffle bag into the USA at the Queens airport. The smuggler was refused entry into the USA and was deported to Guyana where his whereabouts are unknown because he gave two different addresses to local officials. I’ve never received training in police work, but I’m pretty good at catching do-
mestic and wild animals. If I really wanted to catch the lost bird-smuggler, I would request his passport information (with contact information) from US officials and go from there. I would like to share with your readers what is happening on a regular basis in the uncontrolled bird trade, e.g. the Towa Towas. On Dec 13th 2018, I went to a bus service to send a parcel to someone in the Rupununi. I overheard a bus driver saying that he brought birds for a customer. I then asked what kind of birds and how many, he said 25 Towa Towas. He showed me the birds; the cage was covered and a real mess - in-
side 24 Towa Towas were packed like sardines for their 12-hour journey. I asked how much he got for their transport and he said $5000. That was the fourth time I personally saw large numbers of birds being sent in from the Rupununi by bus and by plane. If I really wanted to control the inhumane treatment of Guyana’s beautiful bird population, I would start by requiring special permits for their shipment by plane or ground vehicle. ‘I can find God in nature, in animals, in birds and the environment’ – Pat Buckley. Yours faithfully, Syeada Manbodh
The electorate should find other The hindrance of healthy discussions political parties to vote for on the No-Confidence developments DEAR EDITOR, Whether there are elections in Guyana early in 2019 or in 2020, the Guyanese people are faced with little to choose between the two major parties. The President and Prime Minister, having given their word, seem now to have decided that their word is definitely not their bond. The presidential hopefuls of the major opposition party have sworn fealty to an ex-President not known for being absolutely straightforward with the people of Guyana. This
should not surprise anyone acquainted with Guyanese political history. The two main parties in Guyana are Siamese twins separated a few years after birth. They both believe in powerful leaders; they both treat their opponents as enemies (the present constitution originally referred to the opposition as the “minority”); they both use fear at election time to get people to vote for them; they both claim to speak for the people but show little respect for them when in power; neither has been pre-
pared to amend drastically a constitution that gives the President inordinate powers; they both want oil riches while neither would be trusted with more than five Guyana dollars by most people in the country, much less many millions. The electorate should find other political parties to vote for, starting with the one representing the original inhabitants of Guyana, a people who have suffered more than any other. Yours faithfully, Peter D Fraser
DEAR EDITOR, Over the past week, there has been an eruption of views regarding the Parliamentary No-confidence Motion and with it, the ugly face of tribalism, racism and disunity.Debates pertaining to the welfare of the country are extremely important for citizens to partake in, but the obvious problem we seem to be having is that we are not of the emotional or intellectual maturity to dissect these matters, responsibly. We are not ‘issues-based’ enough and the moment someone attempts to bring an
objective view into the discussion, our instinct is to associate or label that view or person as belonging to ‘a particular tribe or political group’ at the expense of the bigger issues to be addressed. This particular situation is the result of decades of damage done by party politics which have mentally groomed us to be blind. It works quietly and subconsciously to ‘divide’, which facilitates a successful distraction from calls for public accountability and proper conduct of our public officials in the face of political uncertainty.
This is something we need to work on developing in ourselves as citizens. We need to recognise in ourselves, our inability to view an issue as an issue, and rise above the influence of party politics, whether PPP, APNU/AFC or any other political party. This approach is urgently needed to achieve an innovative Guyana that works in the interest of its people, as opposed to a traditional Guyana that works in the interest of its politicians. Yours respectfully, Sharon Lalljee-Richard Heal Guyana Founder
it did in the early 1990s when the PNC under Desmond Hoyte, despite initial resistance, was forced to agree on a number of electoral reforms which paved the way for free and fair elections in Guyana on October 5, 1992. Guyana is once again at a political crossroad. Despite what is widely perceived as a clear-cut and unambiguous statement on the part of our legislators for new elections, the government appears unwilling to accept the outcome and is employing all manner of delaying tactics to thwart the will of the Guyanese people as expressed through their elected representatives. I take this opportunity to call on the APNU-AFC administration to do the decent thing and resign forthwith. A date for new
elections, in keeping with the requirements of our Constitution, must be announced by President Granger without any further delay. The Constitution is the supreme law of the land and should not be trampled upon by way of political subterfuge, as appears to be the case on the part of the government. I hope that good sense will prevail. The entire world is watching. We have made significant democratic gains over the past few decades and we have as a nation an obligation not to do anything untoward that could tarnish our reputation. I wish to take this opportunity to wish all Guyanese a productive and prosperous New Year. HydarAlly
What Mr. Persaud did was cold, Do the decent thing and resign calculated, deliberate and nauseating forthwith
DEAR EDITOR, In the wake of former government MP, Mr. Charrandass Persaud’s action in the National Assembly recently, please allow me some space to discuss this issue, one of national importance. First of all, Mr. Persaud when he voted against the government in the no-confidence motion brought by the opposition Peoples Progressive Party, did same although he was an MP of the ruling administration. Editor, you cannot escape the reality that despite whatever dissatisfaction one might have with the APNU+AFC government, what Mr. Persaud did was cold, calculated, deliberate and nauseating. After fleeing the very next morning to Canada, where he is a citizen, the former MP is now chatting away at any opportunity he gets like a parrot.
In one of his commentaries, Mr. Persaud said something that struck me. “I took so much from the government, it drove me crazy”. Now the next logical question is, how an unstable individual can make a rational decision if he cannot think straight. This is not a new position I am putting forward, I am merely repeating what this man said. I am not sure what his endgame is, but every time this man speaks he puts his foot in his mouth. Additionally, the loquacious gentleman in responding to allegations that his vote was paid for, rhetorically asked ‘and even if I was paid, so what?’ Now you don’t have to be a scholar to realize that there is more to Mr. Charrandass Persaud and this story than meets the eyes. Now if this, ‘noble’ gentleman wanted to help the sugar workers and his ‘fellow
Guyanese brothers and sisters’ like he said, why did he run away the very next day. It clearly demonstrates that Mr. Charrandass Persaud is not forthcoming about many things. The Peoples National Congress member Aubrey Norton is alleging that his party has evidence that Mr. Persaud received an inducement for voting against the coalition government on Friday, December 21st, 2018. Notwithstanding what the constitution prescribes in the event of a successful no-confidence motion, such allegations cannot be swept under the rug. This is a serious allegation that must be investigated, and hopefully, the evidence can be passed on to the relevant authorities for the appropriate action. The government has signalled its intention to take the matter to court if need be, and (Continued on page 6)
DEAREDITOR, The dawn of a new year always brings with it a renewed sense of home and optimism. The no-conference motion which was passed in Parliament by a majority vote was a development that caught most Guyanese by surprise, but it also put to test our political maturity and our commitment to the norms of democracy and adherence to the rule of law. The APNU-AFC government has an obligation to do the right thing and hold fresh elections within the constitutionally due date. The majority of legal minds including the Guyana Bar Association are unanimous in their opinion that the motion was legitimately and legally carried, and on that basis, paved the way for new elections. The international community, in particular the United States, has a vital role to play in the preservation and consolidation of democracy in Guyana, as
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On the No-Confidence Motion DEAR EDITOR, As was to be expected, following passage of the NoConfidence Motion, certain court jesters have sprung up like ‘jumbie bubbie.’ Their aim is to chip away as fast, and as hard as they can at the legality of the No-Confidence Motion. Unlike jesters of medieval times who were bold enough to tell the truth, the modern day jesters are supportive of the coalition and prefer to engage in tomfoolery by advancing all kinds of shenanigans. Frantic efforts are being made to throw dust in the eyes of the Guyanese people with the aim of preventing the dust from settling and to move on in peace and good order within the meaning of the Constitution of the Republic. But on a more dangerous note, the public must know that there are other activities, covert in nature, that are taking place in villages known to be PNC strongholds. The intention of those involved is to stir up pockets of protests against passage of the No Confidence Motion.
Observers are left to wonder why, despite the assurances issued by President Granger to the effect that there is ‘’No cause for alarm, and there are no grounds for any form of disorder ...’’ some mischief makers within his camp are working overtime to turn back the clock. The President further declared, following passage of the No-Confidence Motion that ‘’government will abide by the ( constitutional) stipulations, which have been imposed on it.’’ In the circumstances, the public is very much aware that the single overarching stipulation enshrined in the Constitution of Guyana in this particular matter, and to which the government must abide, is that the government must resign and work with the parliamentary opposition on the steps to be taken thereafter. Notwithstanding acceptance of defeat by Prime Minister Nagamootoo who declared that; ‘while the outcome of the motion was not favourable, it must be respected’ and later, assurances by the President himself, it
appears that differing views on the motion’s passage have surfaced within the coalition resulting in the uncontrolled behaviour of some of his ministers. It is precisely this indisciplined behaviour of certain ministers of government that prompted Christopher Ram to remark that; ‘The Head of State offered very little leadership and allowed some of his ministers to run uncontrolled.’ It is these uncontrollable ministers who are engaged in frenetic forum shopping in search of a way to undo what was legally and Constitutionally carried by the majority in the National Assembly to facilitate the resignation of the APNU+AFC coalition administration. Moreover, the official announcement that ‘cabinet has established a sub-committee to examine all the legal options available and to advise on the legal and constitutional aspects of the vote and to report to cabinet on December 27, should be viewed as an intriguing development that should neither be overlooked
More about escaping the heavy hand of justice DEAREDITOR, These are exciting times, and interesting too, for what is now being fully revealed, following the motion of no-confidence brought against the government. Beginning with the PPP/C, it constituted their most desperate effort, to remove the coalition A Partnership for Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) government from office. And this must be seen against the background of the many court cases involving many of its former top brass and party supporters. It was imperative that a way be found to thwart the possible convictions. For the political opposition would have reasoned that the removal of the coalition government would lead to very early elections, and its possible defeat. Thus given what have been their baseless shouts of “witch hunting”, which means not accepting both the auditors’ numerous reports with their findings, subsequent police investigations, coupled with legal advice that mandated court action, it is quite plain what a PPP/C government would do – order the discontinuation of all the matters that both SOCU and SARA have initiated, with some already sent to court, and others being read-
ied for similar action. In the instance of the Pradoville 2 matter, those of its party members, obviously on the basis of legal advice, are reported to be settling their individual matters with the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA). Two of the PPP/C front runners for the party’s presidential nomination, are before the courts on criminal charges. A court conviction for either of them, would, in accordance with the Constitution, render both ineligible. And one must add the oil factor that is driving the entire leadership cabal of the PPP/ C, and some known public figures, loony. Guyana has never evidenced such desperation in its entire modern political history. Just think about the blow to social morality and the grievous injuries that it would inflict on the national psyche should such a scenario, as envisaged by the PPP/C, occur. It would represent thwarting the course of justice; but for the citizens, especially the young, it would accrue to sending contradictory messages about those who commit serious acts against the state. The no confidence vote was more about the PPP/C desperately seeking to escape the heavy hand of justice, rather than about the government’s performance since coming to office. Regards Dillon Goring
What Mr. Persaud did was cold... From page 5 rightfully so. Such a serious matter should be executed lawfully and transparently and Mr. Persaud’s action clearly indicates that such was not the case. If this man is serious about helping his country, he should return and do it from his place of birth. The media needs to grill him properly and they will find that his story has many
holes and he has an agenda. It is just a matter of time before we learn the naked truth about him and his suspected collusion to surreptitiously unseat a democratically elected government. I hope there are lasting consequences for such unpatriotic actions. From the pockets of discussions raging on since that dramatic night in Parliament, I have noticed that many
Guyanese are now wide awake and have indicated that they are ready to vote like never before to keep the APNU+AFC government in office. They have also said that despite some dissatisfaction with the government, voting the PPP back into office is not an option since that party’s dismal record in office speaks for itself. Yours Respectfully, Nigel Matthews
nor ignored. It is of public interest to know who are the members of that subcommittee and what is the nature of their recommendations, since it is to be assumed that their recommendations were already submitted and considered by cabinet. Should the APNU+AFC decide to ‘Dis’ the Constitutional provisions that advises them to perform to the ‘Bye, Bye Birdie’ musical parody, that would no doubt result in a Constitutional crisis of unimaginable proportions. Such a situation would throw our country back to the days of the early 1950’s when the constitution was suspended by the colonial authorities and a puppet interim government established to administer the affairs of the colony until elections were held in 1957. It was during this period that the activities of political parties were prohibited and their leaders’ movements within the colony restricted. Progressive and democratic-minded Guyanese at home and abroad would deem such a development an abomination of all the rights they struggled for and secured over the years since independence. Thankfully, there is an important saving grace; Guyana as a member of the United
Nations, the Commonwealth, the OAS, UNASUR and CARICOM, is state party to a slew of multilateral treaties, covenants and conventions that commit the nation to uphold universally shared beliefs and values, democratic governance as well as the fundamental civil, political and human rights of the Guyanese people. It follows therefore, that were the APNU+AFC to violate the constitutional provisions that require the coalition government to do the right thing and resign, such action would, beyond the shadow of a doubt, throw Guyana into a tailspin from which it would take years if not decades to recover. Invariably, our country’s reputation would be severely damaged to the extent of it becoming a failed state. The ball is therefore firmly in the court of the Granger administration to ensure that the political climate leading up to the dissolution of parliament and during the entire elections campaign remains politically stable and undisturbed by any untoward, centrally directed political intervention of a violent nature. This is not to say that the political opposition does not share any responsibility whatsoever to ensure that peace and good order prevails throughout the country. On
the contrary, it does. However, much depends on the actions of government, and the PNC in particular, at this critical juncture of our country’s political history. The Guyanese people have legitimate concerns which should be addressed not downplayed. At the same time, fueling conflict should be avoided at all costs. In this connection, the PPP provides a counter balance to the forces seeking to create confusion and uncertainty in their efforts to undermine the legitimate constitutional rights of the Guyanese people. Uncertainty must not become the nation’s companion. Uncertainty breeds unease, unease breeds restlessness, restlessness breeds confrontation and confrontation breeds violence. Hope must prevail over fear, and national pride over universal humiliation. Constructive solutions based on shared convictions must become the order of the day. The Guyanese people must be empowered and be given free rein to throw their weight behind the effort to create a renewed sense of confidence and optimism that allows them to open up a new chapter in our country’s political history. Yours sincerely, Clement J. Rohee
The Caribbean Court of Justice... From page 4 (RJLSC), comprised of selectees or representatives of the Council of Legal Education, the University of the West Indies and University of Guyana Law Faculties, the private sector Bar Associations of the CARICOM nations, the OECS Bar Association, the Organization of Commonwealth Caribbean Bar Associations, one CARICOM Public Service Commission and one Judicial Services Commission, and the Secretaries General of CARICOM and the OECS. You really cannot get more broad-based and politically independent than this. (5) The CCJ – unlike the Privy Council – is a final Court of Appeal for all types of civil and criminal cases – from the smallest civil claim of the average working-class Caribbean citizen to the high finance cases of the corporate elite. The British Privy Council, on the other hand, basically functions as an Appeal Court either for the murder appeals of persons on death row or for big civil cases. The Privy Council is not – in effect – a court that deals with the typical legal matters of ordinary Caribbean citizens.
(6) And one of the reasons why the British Privy Council – unlike the CCJ – is not really a Court for the masses of Caribbean people, has to do with costs. In order for a Caribbean citizen to take a case before the Privy Council in London, England, he or she not only has to get permission to do so, but he/she also has to pay expensive filing costs; retain expensive UK-based lawyers; and undertake the expensive venture of travelling to the United Kingdom. Indeed, legal experts estimate that a Caribbean citizen has to look for somewhere between US$57,000 and US$87,000 in order to pay for a civil appeal before the Privy Council. With the CCJ there is no such prohibitive cost. Furthermore, rather than the Caribbean citizen having to travel to the CCJ in Trinidad, the CCJ will often come to the citizen in his or her home territory, or permit the appeal to be heard via video conferencing. (7) Finally, unlike the Privy Council, the CCJ makes it a point of duty to “get on the case” of inefficient or dysfunctional national Courts of Law in our individual CARICOM member
states – constantly subjecting them to constructive criticism, advice, and even training, in order to get them to improve their standards. Clearly, the CCJ is one of the greatest accomplishments of our regional integration movement. Moreover, it is an achievement that we collectively accomplished through the application of our own initiative and native intellect, and that our citizens and taxpayers have independently underwritten and financially supported. It therefore goes without saying that we should all feel very proud about this outstanding Caribbean success story. At present, the CCJ serves 14 CARICOM member states as a Court of original jurisdiction with responsibility for interpreting and applying the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, but it only serves four (4) CARICOM states as a final national Court of Appeal – Barbados, Guyana, Belize and Dominica. Surely it is time for all of us in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to make full use of this first class Caribbean institution. David Comissiong Barbados’Ambassador to CARICOM
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Tuesday January 01, 2019
Motion Passed but PPP must be patient with Govt.-Dr. Hinds By Kiana Wilburg
E
ven though the Opposition’s NoConfidence motion was passed, the very opposition must exhibit patience with the government which is now seeking to explore the dynamics of the situation. This is according to Executive Member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr. David Hinds. Dr. Hinds noted that never in Guyana’s history have citizens witnessed a successful No-Confidence Motion. As such, he believes that “we need to ensure that we get it right…” The WPA Executive Member said, “Some are saying that it was not properly passed and I believe that we should examine that. I would argue that we should do nothing outside of the rule of law and nothing that violates the Constitution. At the end of the day, I don’t think we should have a government versus opposition position. We need consensus that we are doing the right thing.” “We also have to be conscious of the fact that PPP supporters are likely to feel that the government is trying to keep itself in office. And so, even as the government is exploring all the possibilities, it must bear that mind. “While the PPP is correct
that the motion was passed, it must be patient and let us ensure that we crossed all the T’s and dotted all the I’s. Both sides need to be patient.” Dr. Hinds expressed the view that success of the NoConfidence vote exposed the weakness of the coalition. “The government has to take full responsibility for what happened. With such a slim majority, they governed as though they had a super majority. All of the coalition members did not feel a sense of ownership of the government. So the entire management of the coalition was just filled with mistakes. “I have always said that when different parties come together, you have to be delicate. And with such a slim majority in the House, you need to be cautious about your policies…” Dr. Hinds said that there were those in Government who recognized that the coalition was crumbling, “but those in charge were so drunk and seduced by power they couldn’t see this Motion coming or its success.” The political commentator said that the WPA will have to make a decision on how it is going to move forward with the coalition. He said that his party has not been active with the APNU, nor has the APNU tried to be active with the WPA. Additionally, the political
WPA Executive Member, Dr. David Hinds commentator said that the success of the Opposition’s No-Confidence Motion comes as a blow to those who believe in coalition politics. He said, too, that the outcome exposes the fact that the coalition underestimated the political acumen of the PPP. He said, “When the coalition went to elections, the PPP was badly wounded. When the APNU+AFC Party got into power, the PPP was able to move from being a party that was battered and bruised to one bringing down the Government in three years. “And they were winning all the arguments; from wages to sugar to
Basil Williams is a raving lunatic – Opposition Leader Responding to comments made by Attorney General, Basil Williams, at a press conference hours before his, Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, told members of the media that Williams is “a raving lunatic”. He said that Williams is now making a horde of ridiculous statements to prop up his contention that the vote made by Charrandass Persaud, in support of the no-confidence motion, is null and void; that the motion which the Speaker of the House declared as carried, on December 21 last, should be reversed. Williams, had sought to, at his press conference, explain why his government took the position that the no-confidence motion required 34, and not 33 votes, to secure an absolute majority for it to be carried. Since the government had, immediately after the vote, announced they would accept its validity, Williams sought to explain why the government now moves in contradiction to that statement. He said that he, as well as the other government officials, stayed tightlipped about the motion requiring 34 votes because, if they had said so, the other moles on the government’s side would have been activated and would have given the opposition an absolute majority. Jagdeo, in disbelief, said, “[Basil Williams] believes that if he had spoken about the majority on the government, it might have activated other moles on the government benches. So, he is saying, now, that one was paid for, but that there may be other moles too, who would have been activated by the PPP, had he spoken at the moment, that 34 votes were needed. Nobody could take Basil Williams seriously. This is the ranting of a lunatic, not an
Attorney-General; a lunatic. They are making people laugh at us.”He further said that Williams is lying because he would have raised this contention immediately after the Speaker of the House declared that the motion is carried.“When the speaker said the motion is passed in parliament, 33-32, and the speaker ruled on it, he didn’t say immediately thereafter that you needed 34; that the passage of the no-confidence motion was invalid. He sat in a press conference - this is after the other moles couldn’t be activated - and the Prime Minister said it’s passed 33-32.” He also said that Nigel Hughes who, initially raised the contention that 34 votes are needed, cannot be trusted to be impartial in this matter because he bears a conflict of interest, in that his wife, Cathy Hughes, is a sitting minister of government. The Leader of the Opposition said that the government is scrambling to come up with multiple, ridiculous reasons why they General Elections should not be held, because they are afraid that criminal acts committed by them would be uncovered. “A lot is at stake for them, tens of millions of dollars of bribery.” Jagdeo said that should the PPP/C win the next general election, “One of the first things we will do, and I’m committing to do – is [to] hire a specialized company to trace all the assets of former Government officials as well as current ones…” He explained that such an investigation would also have a scope which includes Government officials from the previous Ramotar-led PPP/C administration. “Then you will see what they’re trying to protect.”
authoritarianism…They are probably the first political party in the Caribbean to do what they did.” The WPA Executive Member said that the Government has no one but itself to blame for its fall from grace. TAKEN FOR GRANTED For some time now, Dr. Hinds has lamented the fact that the Working People’s Alliance was taken for granted by its other coalition partners, particularly the People’s National Congress (PNC). He even said that the WPA’s role in government is minimal. “We have one Minister, one Presidential Advisor and Chairs of Boards of two state institutions, NICIL and GuySuCo. In addition, Dr. Clive Thomas heads the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU). “I think in each of those institutions, despite challenges, our representatives have been trying to bring to
bear WPA’s larger praxis of fairness, justice for the poor and the powerless and transparency.” Speaking to the performance of Professor Thomas thus far, Dr. Hinds commented that his presence in the policymaking set up at the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) brought some common-sense to the sugar industry. Despite some problems at the level of implementation, he contended that for the first time, the nation witnessed willingness from the leaders of the day to break out of the political stranglehold in which the sugar industry has been mired. He emphasized that clearly, Thomas’ leadership has made a difference in the larger vision for sugar. On the issue of State assets recovery, Dr. Hinds said that the SARU CEO has also led the way. “I think he has singlehandedly placed the issue on the front burner and put us on the brink of a major breakthrough in that area of government fight against public corruption,” expressed the University Professor. In the area of education, the political activist said that the Minister, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine has begun to move the education praxis in a more democratic direction whereby more emphasis is placed on the children at the bottom of the social ladder. He noted that the reintroduction of music into the schools is another way of ensuring that education is released from the narrow confines it had reached. But with all that said, Dr. Hinds said that the WPA
faces real challenges. He said, “We are part of a coalition within a larger coalition, and given our lack of proximity to core decision making, our influence on the vision and direction of the government as a whole is muted. “We also suffer from a simplistic view within the belly of the two bigger partners that since we did not ‘bring votes’ we should not be an influential player. That is a reality that we hav e no control over.” Despite some positive movement in recent years, the political activist said that the deep suspicion between the PNC and the WPA still exists. He said, “There are PNC people who have never forgiven us for contributing to the demise of the previous PNC government while there are many WPA people who have not forgiven the PNC government for orchestrating the assassination of Walter Rodney.” Dr. Hinds also stated that this thinking has influenced the leadership of the government to relate to the WPA as individuals rather than as a party. Except for the cabinet where the WPA has one voice, Dr. Hinds said that there is no other medium through which the WPA, as a party, can influence overall decision making. The Executive Member of the WPA said that the party is planning a general members meeting to address this and other burning issues, including morale among some of the members who have been shut out from participation in the government.
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Dual citizenship debate Attorney General challenges Charrandass Persaud’s right to sit as MP The no-confidence motion which was debated and passed by the National Assembly has brought into focus the issue of Members of Parliament holding dual citizenship. Charrandass Persaud was the single cross-over vote from the Government benches that supported the motion brought by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo. This provided the razor thin 33-32 margin that saw the passage of the motion on December 21. Persaud, the Government contends, holds dual citizenship to Guyana and Canada and as such is disqualified from serving as a MP. “As a citizen of both Guyana and Canada, Mr Persaud is disqualified to be an elected member of the National Assembly pursuant to Article 155 (1) (a) of the Constitution,” Williams indicated. Under the section of the Constitution quoted by Williams, no person shall be qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly who— is, by virtue of his own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state.
Charrandass Persaud It should be noted that there are other MPs who hold dual citizenships, but the Government’s focus is only on Charrandass Persaud. “It should impact, but in particular only Charradass Persaud’s issue is before the court,” Williams stated. The AG also indicated that it is the responsibility of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to verify the extracted members from the party’s list who will sit in Parliament. The Members themselves have to
make a statutory declaration to GECOM.“He has signed a candidate’s declaration that he knows the disqualification if he is a Canadian citizenship or he has dual citizenship,” Williams stated. He stated that he did not want to preempt any discussion on the impact dual citizenship will have on other MPs. Persaud has since been expelled from the Alliance for Change (AFC) which is the smaller partner in the Coalition Government.
Jagdeo says law not retroactive Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, sought to rubbish the pronouncement by Attorney General, Basil Williams, that former Member of Parliament, Charrandass Persaud, is unqualified to serve in the National Assembly because of his status as a dual citizen. Williams, in a press conference held hours before Jagdeo’s, cited Article 155 (1) (a) of the Constitution, which states: “No person shall be qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly who is, by virtue of his own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience, or adherence to a foreign power or state.” The Attorney General had said that this constitutional provision voids Persaud’s vote, which he cast on December 21, last. Persaud, who voted in favour of the motion of no-confidence against A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU/ AFC) government, is a citizen of both Guyana and Canada. Challenging the validity of Persaud’s vote in Parliament would also bring into question, the validity of judgments made by many other members of the National Assembly on both sides of the political divide, who also have dual citizenship. The government will only be challenging Charrandass Persaud’s vote, despite the precedent it will set.If the speaker of the house interprets the constitution to state that Persaud’s vote is null and void, the implication would be that the no-confidence motion would have to
Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo be reversed, allowing the government to carry its time in power to term, until General Elections in 2020. Jagdeo said that what must be considered is “…what it will do to all the legislation passed before. He said that if you invalidate his vote on this matter, then nothing would be valid that he voted on before. So, it has implications for all the budgets [and, by extension], the legality of all the government’s actions.” The Leader of the Opposition also said he was advised that there is a principle in law which states that these issues can’t be dealt with, retroactively. Jagdeo cited Article 165(2) of the Constitution, which governs Regulation of Procedure in Parliament, and states that “The assembly may act notwithstanding any vacancy in its membership (including any vacancy not filled when the assembly first meets after the commencement of this Constitution or after any dis-
solution of Parliament) and the presence or participation of any person not entitled to be present at or to participate in the proceedings of the Assembly shall not invalidate those proceedings.” “Even if you have someone there, in layman’s language, who may not have been legally there at that time, it does not invalidate the proceeding. I think it’s quite clear.”Because of the government’s protests of the no-confidence vote, Jagdeo said that the opposition will not be attending parliament when it reconvenes on January 3, 2019. The opposition, he stated, will be writing to the Speaker of the House, to notify him of the intended absence of the opposition. He further told the press that the opposition would only attend parliament if the proceedings relate to the progression of the country toward General Elections, as the constitution would dictate in the case of a carried no-confidence motion.
Tuesday January 01, 2019
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Kaieteur News
Govt has no legal limb, just buying time
G
overnment has no legal limb on which to stand on in its challenge to the constitutionality of the no-confidence motion. If therefore the government proceeds to challenge the no-confidence motion in court, all it will be doing is buying itself some time. The government’s support base has been galvanized since the no-confidence motion was passed on December 21, 2018. Court action will exhaust the energies which will be needed for elections. The government’s support base which is now animated will not be as mobilized if prolonged court action results. The government therefore has to make a decision.
Is it in its best interests to try to frustrate the holding of elections, or should it now go ahead and call the elections given the state of mobilization of its supporters? The coalition government has to also consider the chances of success of any court challenge? The government does not have a legal limb on which to successfully challenge the no-confidence motion. It seems to be at great pains to convince the public, including its supporters, that a majority of the elected members of the National Assembly is 34, instead of 33. The government will not get very far w i t h t h e p r e c e d e nts on which it is relying; these are as porous as a strainer.
Yesterday this column countered a new twist to the majority issue. The government is now contending that to pass a Bill or an ordinary motion in the National Assembly requires a simple majority – a majority of the total votes cast. However, it argues that to pass a no-confidence motion requires an absolute majority – the majority of the votes of all the elected members of the Assembly. As was pointed out in yesterday’s column, this argument fails to consider that when all the elected members of the National Assembly vote, a simple majority becomes the same as an absolute majority. The simple majority when every elected members
DEM BOYS SEH
If we didn’t tell you, yuh woulda never know.
“What you are is God’s gift to you, what you become is your gift to God.” De year done and dem boys vex bout nuff things and all dem politicians know it. One of de things is gifts. This year dem boys ain’t see no gift. The first couple years wid the PPP in office dem boys use to get gifts. But as soon as dem start exposing the skullduggery dem tun enemies and de PPP stop sending gifts. The coalition come and behave de same way. When dem get in office the first year dem send suh much gifts to the Waterfalls paper de staff had to hire trucks fuh fetch dem home. As soon as dem boys expose the cockishness of de coalition, starting wid de threatening letter wah BK send to dem and dem pay US$6M, de gifts stop coming. Dem boys expose so much fuh you de people, dem thought you woulda be li’l grateful and send at least a bottle of wine of a quarter Vodka. Is not that dem boys want it. Dem only expect fuh see some appreciation fuh all dem do. It isn’t the size of the gift that matters, but the size of the heart that gives it. But it seems you just like dem ungrateful politicians we got in Guyana. Now that 2019 come, dem boy want to refresh yuh memory of some of de things dem tell you. And if dem didn’t tell you, all of you woulda be in de dark, and
pay fuh you darkness too. Dem boys tell yaal how China is on the roll to put a finger or foot in every country of the world. De fuss thing dem does do is corrupt yuh leaders by throwing a few million dollars in dem pockets. That is how Jagdeo sign wid de Chinese to build an airport fuh US$150M that could have been built for US$40M. Dem Chinese give countries big loans wha dem can’t pay back. In short, dem entrap dem and end up tekking way parts of de people country. Dem boys report how New York City sue ExxonMobil, and others over climate change. Dem boys show how Exxon tek de people oil in every country dem go and lef de people wuss off than before. Dem boys also show yaal how Exxon give all dem shithole countries like Guyana, next to nutten but dem give de non-shithole countries a fair deal. Dem boys remind de nation that de only people who get an oil export licence until 2025 is a Chinese company approved for new oil. And while one company trying to export something de country doesn’t have, anodda one, Baishanlin, was busted for illegally logging in Berbice River. Aurora Gold Mines tell dem shareholders how dem spend US$30M on 100 lighting towers. One of dem towers does only sell fuh US$10,000. De shareholders start an
investigation. Dem hire a law firm to probe de company. That is de same company that bring them own plane and Guyana didn’t know. De plane was to fly de gold out de country. Is dem same boys expose de company that replace Jagdeo best friend, Ramroop. This company never did any drugs business but de PNC drop a $366M drug contract in ee lap without any tender. If wasn’t fuh dem boys Guyana woulda never know that it had to pay Exxon US$460M pre-contract cost. Now that same cost grow to US$900M; fuh wah? Only GOD in heavens knows. Dem boys find out and expose how Exxon was trying to secure land fuh hotel and helicopters at Ogle. Trees start to die suddenly on de 10 acres of land at Ogle that Exxon was getting. When dem boys ask, de Ogle people tell dem boys it was natural causes. It tun out different now. A few weeks ago, dem boys find out Harmon approve de land fuh Exxon. Y’aal woulda never know Royston King, de Town Clerk accepted 15 payments in cheques and cash totaling $6.8M fuh renting and selling city land. He deh home now. And you woulda never know Guyana getting a renovated airport fuh US$150M and counting. Anyway. Happy New Year to all you. Talk half and read much more in our next edition.
votes has always been 33 and this therefore is an absolute majority when every elected member votes. The government therefore cannot claim that the simple majority needed to pass Bills and motions was valid and at the same time deny that the absolute majority requires a different number of votes. The government’s supporters are therefore attempting to come up with new legal grounds. The latest ground being touted is that it was illegal for Charrandass Persaud to go against the wishes of the list which he represents. This argument is rubbish. There is nothing to prevent a member on the government side from not voting along party lines. A government parliamentarian is not obligated to vote in accordance with the wishes of his government or party.
There are consequences such as being recalled which can result but there is no law which dictates that a member on the government side cannot vote contrary to the rest of his or her colleagues. On July 30, 2018, AFC parliamentarians Khemraj Ramjattan and Dominic Gaskin abstained from supporting a motion moved by George Norton on behalf of the Committee of Appointments. It was the first time that the opposition was able to defeat a government motion after three years of the coalition government. Twenty six other APNU+AFC parliamentarians, including Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, were reported to have voted in support of the motion. The Minister of Finance was not present in the House at the time the motion was voted on even though he had been present earlier during the
debate on the motion. The idea therefore that a parliamentarian on the government side has to vote along party lines is not supported by law or by existing practice. There is nothing which prevents a parliamentarian from either abstaining or voting in accordance with his conscience. The government therefore has no legal limb on which to challenge the no-confidence motion. It is merely trying to buy some time in the hope that it will be ready for elections. But is that a safe strategy? Or is it like the “bring it on” challenge, yet another failed gambit by the coalition government?
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday January 01, 2019
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
What do you think will happen here in 2019?
I
once observed in these columns that no other profession in the world is more conscious of the passage of time than a newspaper columnist. As you keep writing, you are face to face with how time moves on. My finger typed in today, “January 1, 2019.” I am fully aware that I would not put 2018 on any other column of mine. Tennessee Williams once wrote in “The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore” that every step you take becomes the past right away. In the movie version, with the disastrous title, “Boom” which turned out to be a disastrous flop, Elizabeth Taylor in a deep, philosophical refection uttered those words to her lover, Richard Burton. How right Williams was. Time flies without your conscious knowledge and every step just recedes into the past. As the columnist’s finger moves on the keyboard, he/ she is so preoccupied with the moment in front of him/
her that each does not really see time ebbing. Then as your finger continues to strike the alphabet keys, you realize that all that you wrote has faded into the past. Where did 2018 go? I really don’t know. I wrote, sermonized, reflected, advised, internalized, criticized, lamented, wondered and despaired in my articles of 2018, but where did 2018 go? So here I am today, writing another article as I did the past thirty years, but in a brand new year. As your finger punched the number 2019, the inescapable thought is what it will bring. What is in store for Guyana and the world? We live in the world alright but we each live in a part of the world we call our country. English poet John Donne once wrote; “No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.” We are part of the world but Guyana is our home and
though through the interconnection of humanity we give the world and the world gives to Guyana, what happened in Guyana does not necessarily impact on the world. What happens in Guyana impacts on us, the souls who live here. Guyana has not had a viable physiology. It has been interrupted too many times by the vagaries, vicissitudes, visceralness, visinertia, viciousness, and viscosity of life. The viability and, visibility of a visionary horizon has tantalized this nation to the point where Guyana becomes a permanently bounded Prometheus. Heracles came onto the scene and freed Prometheus. No Heracles is anywhere near to Guyana. Can Heracles come in 2019? Are there signs of him somewhere on the horizon? If you look far enough you will not see Heracles but Tantalus and Sisyphus. The gods punished both Tantalus and Sisyphus.
The cruel treatment had no ending. Is Guyana the reincarnation of these two mythological figures in ancient Greek folklore? The situation is uncannily identical. We are forever doomed to have the fruits of life recede from us as we reach out to pick them. We are forever doomed to push a stone uphill. Will it be like this in 2019 or will Nietzsche’s Übermensch come to Guyana. Since the fifties we have been waiting for Heracles and the Übermensch. First it was the superb anti-colonial song of the two superstars – Cheddi Jagan and Fobes Burnham. Then, it was Forbes Burnham on his own in 1966. Then it was the revolutionary magic of Walter Rodney. Then, it was Cheddi Jagan on his own in 1992. Then it was the baby
face boy, Jagdeo that had no baggage in 1999. Then it was the romance of the multi-racial god, the Alliance for change in 2015. But Prometheus is still in chains; Tantalus is still drowning in the water; Sisyphus is still pushing his stone uphill. Nowhere in sight is Heracles. Nowhere in sight is the Übermensch. There is one thing I hate about the uncertainty of life in Guyana – the uncertainty of the fate of young, beautiful, talented, humane Guyanese. In the commercial banks, at the immigration department, in the police force, at the NIS, at the airport, at the supermarket counter, you meet young men and women who have the goodness of the heart in them. As you walk away after they have served you, you
Frederick Kissoon reflect on what will become of them in a country where the journey of Faust never ends and the fire of tears replaces the taste of music. I honestly don’t know what I will write on in 2019. The year has not started well. We are swimming in choppy waters the sharks are circling. As the French said in 1968, “God is dead, Marx is dead, and I’m not feeling too well myself.”
Persad-Bissessar says UNC is electable
Newsday - UNC political leader Kamla PersadBissessar has responded to the Opposition party’s critics who say the party is not electable by reminding them that the UNC was the only party to have increased its votes in the 2016 local government election. She said the party had done over 200,000 man hours of footwork, data analysis and gathering since it lost the 2015 general election and was now confident that it would win the next two elections by “evolving and ushering in a new generation of young people guided by sound political experience.” Local government election is due to be held in 2019 with the general election in 2020. She was addressing the party’s “End of Year celebration” at the Couva South Hall, Camden Road, Couva on Sun-
Kamla Persad-Bissessar day night. “I am deeply concerned about the direction which our country is heading under this (Dr Keith) Rowley administration. As for our part, we have engaged the people to hear their concerns and to develop working solutions to address the problems facing our country. “To date, I must let you know that over 200,000 man
hours of work, analysis and gathering data was carried out by your party – the UNC. The result of some of this analysis can be seen in the results in the 2016 local government election where the UNC gained the most votes in that election as compared to every other party. So when some may say to you the UNC is not electable, you hear lie, that is lie.”
Haiti establishes commission to monitor public policies PORTAU PRINCE, Haiti - CMC – Haiti has appointed a Presidential Commission for the monitoring an effectiveness of public policies. According to the official announcement signed by President Jovenal Moise a n d P r i m e M i n ister Jean-Henry Céant, the Commission will be chaired by a coo r d i n a t o r appointed by Presidential Decree and it will have a technical secretariat whose composition, powers and operating procedures will
be set by internal regulations. “Once established, the Commission will define its structure, its organization and operating method as well as its work plan,” the Order said, noting that the term of office of the Commission will be 30 months from the date of its establishment. “Every three months, the Commission will have to submit a detailed report to the President of the Republic on the monitoring and the effectiveness of the public policies implemented for the re-
alization of his campaign promises. This report will be made public.” The announcement stated that various stakeholders related to the National Public Administration will provide the Commission, in accordance with the laws, all the collaboration necessary for the accomplishment of its mission. “The State will place at the disposal of this Commission the human, material and logistical resources necessary for the accomplishment of its mission,” the announcement added.
Tuesday January 01, 2019
Kaieteur News
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Tuesday January 01, 2019
CJIA’s US$150M and counting…
This is what Guyana gets for US$42Million A 2011 contract with China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC) had pegged a brand new, twostorey terminal building for the Timehri airport at a hefty US$42M. However, local and overseas contractors, examining the costs, are convinced that the price was grossly inflated. “When we look at the figures, and square footage, you can come up with a reasonable price for building this terminal. What we are supposed to be getting should not cost more than US$15M, with all the bells and whistles,” one contractor said. He is involved in Government projects, locally, and has done work overseas. A number of other contractors have also expressed shock at some of the prices that the Bharrat Jagdeo administration, in late 2011 agreed to in its contract with CHEC. The shocker is that Guyana will not be getting that US$42M terminal which is supposed to house the departure and arrivals area. Rather it has been drastically modified. Instead of a two storey building, with glass roof and highlights, the building is now one storey, and almost completed. Instead of eight passenger bridges promised, the terminal will only have four. Government has not been explaining what happened to the savings or the reasons for
those modifications. There are reports that although the airport is not yet commissioned, the brand new, smaller terminal building where the arrivals section is, is challenged for space. Space constraints with the old airport were one of the main reasons why the airport expansion was undertaken. The administration has also gutted the old terminal building and renovated it, not part of the original agreement. The old building was supposed to razed or used for some other purpose. The project, one of the costliest in terms of infrastructure for the country, has been dragging on since late 2011. CHEC first proposed to the then People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), which was in Government that it wanted to build an airport. The project never went to tender. Jagdeo’s government then signed on to the contract, days before elections and when he would have ended his constitutional two terms in office. At the time of signing, the company had not even found the money. The financing agreement was inked a year later and construction started in 2013. It meant that CHEC did not even do any preliminary works which would have helped to determine its costs. Three governments have overlooked the project now. The Ministry of Public Infrastructure had committed to taking Kaieteur News on a
The terminal building that Guyana is getting for US$42M. tour but it never happened. Minister David Patterson was busy afterwards. There has been several stories published since then but the administration has remained silent on the project. In the project document, the cost for the two storey terminal, minus the passenger bridges and a car park, was US$42M with the runway and taxiway extension another US$58M. The costs include preliminaries, site investigations and design fees, for a total of US$138M. The US$12M was supposed to be coming from Government as its counterpart funding. In the “Background” of the agreement that the then government signed justifying the US$150M project, it was explained that the Government of Guyana has identified tourism as a priority in the country’s economic
So Obnoxious!!
Residents along Lamaha Street, between Vlissengen Road and Albert Street, Georgetown are not enjoying their holidays thanks to the operator of this excavator. He reportedly stopped the de-silting of the Lamaha Street Canal, as seen in this photo-
graph. Because of this development residents are forced to endure an obnoxious stench rather the usual sweet aroma from the various dishes that they are usually accustomed to at this time of year.
development plan and recognizes that improvement of Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) is of paramount importance in order to promote a sustainable tourism industry. It was specific on the space i s s u e . In fact, this is what the contract says on the justification, “The existing
airport terminal building is not currently capable of meeting peak traffic demand, or of expanding to meet the desired growth in passenger volume. It also cannot accommodate state-of-the-art airport terminal systems for passenger comfort, convenience and efficiency.” According to Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo,
recently, attempts to raise the matter in the National Assembly over time would have seen them being shut down by one-line answers by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, which is in charge of the project. He said that under a new government of the People’s Progressive Party, it will review what went wrong.
Speaker will not place his credibility on stake – Jagdeo
T
he Speaker of the House will not re verse the no-confidence motion because he would never do anything to place his credibility at stake. This is according to Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, who said at his press conference yesterday that he has faith that the speaker is a man of integrity. Even so, Jagdeo said that the speaker has no power of review. “It’s not the speaker who voted in parliament. Thirty three members on one side voted in favour of the motion, 32 against. The Speaker repor t e d t o t h e house that the motion has been passed. The clerk then notified me by way of a letter that it has been passed.” He said that, for the speaker to reverse this, “he has to come up with a new interpretation of what it would take… what is a majority. I doubt that our speaker will place his credibility at stake here.” “I think it’s quite clear to every sane Guyanese that the majority contemplated in the constitution was 33.” The former president chastised the government for its resistance to the motion, which was already declared as carried, and said that “citing irrelevant, obscure precedents will not
Speaker of the National Assembly, Barton Scotland
Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo
change that, and so the speaker has no power of review. The government has to resign now, in accordance with article 106(6). That article states that “The Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.” It provides the government with 90 days to facilitate the execution of General Elections and to resign, pending such elections. Jagdeo also urged public officials that they should not engage in any illegal acts by direction of the government.
“You’re dealing with a lame duck administration, a caretaker government. Be careful about what instructions you take from them because, in t h r e e m o n t h s time, they will move from caretaker status to being an illegal, illegitimate, unconstitutional government.” He said that he already made it clear to the international community and the private sector that “the moment that deadline passes, any act of this government will not be recognized by the People’s Progressive Party.” “If you engage with them, pay money or sign contracts, you do so at your own peril.”
Kaieteur News
PAGE 22
Tuesday January 01, 2019
GDF Captain surrenders after fatally shooting reputed wife A
G u y a n a Defence Force (GDF) Captain, Orwain Sandy, the Aide-de-Camp to the GDF Chief-of-Staff, in 2018 surrendered to police officers after he allegedly shot and killed his reputed wife, Reona Payne, a Travel Agent, in Alexander Village. According to reports, the incident occurred between 10:15 hours and 10:45 hours on the day in question [March 31] at First Street, Alexander Village in the vicinity of the Masjid. A police officer said that Sandy and Payne were in [Payne’s] car when the two got into an argument. He told Kaieteur News that Sandy took out his firearm and allegedly shot the woman several times, killing her. He said that Sandy then d r o v e h i m s e l f t o the Ruimveldt Police Station where he reported the matter to the Police. He was taken into custody and is currently cooperating with officers.
Captain Orwain Sandy and the late Reona Payne Payne was a mother of three; she worked as a Travel Agent at the Muneshwers Travel Service for a number of years. The two had recently moved into their home in Diamond-Grove, East Bank Demerara. They also recently launched their business, Prestige Taxi Service, at the Wedding Exposition, last week. According to a co-
worker, after noticing that Sandy was not at work when she was expected to be there, he called her cell phone. The co-worker told Kaieteur News that Payne answered that she was not in a position to speak but promised to call back. She never did. The co-worker said that during the conversation there was no indication, in Payne’s tone, that something was amiss; but the entire staff was
The body of Reona Payne after being fatally shot left in a state of shock when the news of her death began circulating on Social Media. The Guyana Defence Force, in a subsequent statement, said that Sandy is immediately interdicted from duty. It stated too that the
force is saddened by the incident but noted that Sandy’s action was not reflective of the values and standards of the GDF.The GDF further added that an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident was
launched. “The Chief-of-Staff has ordered the Inspector General of the Guyana Defence Force to conduct a Board of Inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Pregnant Soesdyke woman admits to Crash-landed Fly Jamaica aircraft… Elderly female strangling husband on Mother’s Day passenger who suffered head injury succumbs
R
A
lmost two weeks a f t e r s h e reportedly lied to the police about her husband’s death, 28year-old Melissa Silos told detectives that she strangled him on Mother’s Day [May 13]. Thirty-two year-old Julian Anthony Ribeiro called “Yankee” was laid to rest as relatives questioned the unexplained circumstances of his demise. The crime was kept a secret until the week of May 20th when questions were raised about the various statements given by the wife, which did not add up. She said the man had come home intoxicated on the evening of May 11th, fell and hit his head, while in another statement she said she tried waking him up from the bed and he was unresponsive. What raised eyebrows and blew the case wide open were the findings of the autopsy done by Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh, which indicated that the victim died of asphyxiation caused by compression injuries to the neck, in other words death by strangulation. There was no head injury listed on the autopsy report. Julian Ribeiro moved to lot 14 Soesdyke Back Road less than a year prior with
Strangled: Julian Ribeiro called “Yankee”
Suspect: Melissa Silos
his wife and two-year-old daughter. He got a job at Bounty Farms and was working to support his family. On the night of May 12th, he and a friend were having a few drinks before leaving for home at around 8pm. The landlady who resides at the same property said she heard quarrelling and cursing coming from the apartment justfour o’clock the next day, before midnight. Ribeiro placed a call to his mother to wish her Happy Mother’s Day, and the mother claimed she heard the reputed wife in the background saying that he would not live to see his daughter grow up. Around Ribeiro’s mom got the news that he died. The family who lives in
Florida was determined to get justice for their loved one and from the inception suspected the involvement of the wife in his death. The police initially made no statement on the matter for almost two weeks but within the last two days they were able to get a confession out of the woman.She told detectives after hours of interrogation yesterday at the Timehri Police Station that the two of them got into an argument and in her anger she strangled him. The reputed wife who is a few months pregnant will remain in custody and was set to be charged with the death of her husband. The two-yearold child will be placed in the custody of her grandmother, the victim’s mother.
ookhai Kalloo, the 86-year-old passenger who suffered a head injury while exiting the crash-landed Fly Jamaica aircraft, succumbed November 17. Kaieteur News understands that Kalloo, who had suffered a fractured skull, passed away at the Georgetown Public Hospital at around 13.00 hrs. She was initially being treated at a private hospital. Reports indicate that Mrs. Kalloo struck her head while coming down the emergency ramp of the aircraft. The elderly woman, her daughter, and granddaughter were among the passengers on the Canada-bound aircraft which was forced to land at the CheddiJagan International Airport two Fridays ago. According to officials, Fly Jamaica flight OJ256 had departed CJIA at 2:10 a.m. for Toronto, Canada. About 15 minutes into the flight, passengers said that the pilot reported that the Boeing 757 was experiencing problems with its hydraulic system and needed to return to CJIA. Onboard were 120 passengers, including two infants, and eight crew members, which included six Guyanese cabin members and two Jamaican
Dead Rookhai Kalloo pilots. In total there were 35 Guyanese, one Trinidadian, 82 Canadians, one Pakistani and 11 American citizens on board. The pilot, Captain
Basil Ferguson, is being credited with averting a major disaster after stopping the plane inches from a steep drop at the end of the runway.
Kaieteur News
Tuesday January 01, 2019
PAGE 23
Govt. Falls after AFC’s Member opposing vote
I
n a historic political move, Alliance For Change [AFC] m e m b e r , Charrandass Persaud voted with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) on a no confidence motion, a move that forces the collapse of the coalition Government and early General Elections. P e r s a u d ’s v o t e o n December 21 gave the PPP/C a 33-32 majority at the end of a fiery debate and a tense voting process. This is the first time that a Guyana Government has agreed to debate a no confidence motion and it is also the first time the Government has lost such a vote. Under the Constitution, the Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.Further, the Constitution states that notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members. During the vote count at the end of the debate on the Motion brought by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, all 32 PPP/C MPs voted in favour of the Motion. Persaud was the third member of the Government side to vote. When Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, first called Persaud’s name he replied, ‘yes’. His yes was followed by shouts of ‘no’ from the
- General Elections in three months
Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan [left] in discussion with Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo and other PPP MPs regarding security. Government benches. Then there was a momentarily pause. The Clerk then called Persaud’s name again and he replied ‘yes’ for a second time. The Clerk then stopped the vote count. The PPP MPs then objected to this delay. During that time, Government MPs, including People’s National Congress Reform [PNCR] C h a i r w o m a n , Vo l d a Lawrence, and AFC Leader, Raphael Trotman, were seen reaching out to Persaud. Lawrence then asked for a five-minute recess, but House Speaker, Dr. Barton Scotland, denied the request, pointing out that the vote process must continue. Isaacs then restarted the vote count of the Government MPs. When Persaud’s name was called for a third time, he replied, ‘Yes, yes, yes’. At the conclusion of the sitting, Persaud told the media that the AFC members
are sitting in Parliament as ‘yes men’ to the A Partnership for National Unit [APNU]. “We have not blended with the APNU. The other parties have. We have not. The Government is APNU/AFC. We have not blended. Why are we doing everything they want to do like passing Prime Minister Hamilton Green’s Pensions Bill. That man is getting favours from the PNC, not from us. “Why are we giving him taxpayers money? And we voted for that. We are not opposing anything; We are not saying no to anything,” Persaud told reporters on the corridors of Parliament. Persaud, an Attorney-atLaw, said that there are times when one has to vote according ‘to your conscience and not because of party affiliation’.“I am not a PPP member. I am not affiliated with the PPP. This is not because of the PPP.
This is because my conscience is now clear. My life may go; you know what? I would die a happy person with a clear goddamn conscience,” Persaud noted. He also took aim at Lawrence’s controversial comments, “I am PNC; my friends are PNC. I will give work to PNC’.”He said that he wrote to Trotman as the AFC Leader to indicate that the party needs to make a statement. “He [Trotman] defended Volda Lawrence for having said that…The Minister was overwhelmed because of the loss at the Local Government Elections. What did Volda Lawrence do, she apologised for having said something she should not have said. “Trotman looks like he was just pi**ed on by Volda Lawrence and I am taking all of that as a member of the AFC because we have no say. This is the one time that I
Alliance For Change [AFC] member, Charrandass Persaud in the National Assembly after voting with the PPP/C’s No Confidence Motion against the Coalition Government. have a say and I said it according to my
conscience,” Persaud pointed out.
Pres. Granger undergoing treatment after cancer diagnosis President David Granger has been diagnosed with NonHodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of cancer that originates in the lymphatic system, the diseasefighting network in the body. Granger had travelled to Cuba to meet specialist doctors where he underwent a ‘medical intervention’. According to a statement released by the Guyana Embassy in Cuba, subsequent to a series of medical tests, the President was diagnosed as suffering from NonHodgkin’s Lymphoma and was placed in the Centro de Investigaciones Medico Quirurgicas (CIMEQ) on November 1, where he underwent a surgical procedure. The statement did not indicate
the stage of the cancer.According to the statement, on Tuesday, November 6, the President, was discharged from CIMEQ and returned to his official accommodation. The statement noted that the President’s medical personnel started the second phase of treatment and was placed in CIMEQ for a short period of two to three days. “During this time, President has been working and resting in accordance with the advice he has been receiving from his doctors. He is in fine form and a good frame of mind. He is expected to fully recover under the supervision of his doctors,” the statement noted. The President arrived in Havana on Tuesday, October 30, initially, for a medical investigation
President David Granger which he deemed necessary because of an unusual physical discomfort. He was received by a
Cuban Medical Team which commenced the first phase of medical examination. “His Excellency, the President, wishes to express his deepgratitude to Guyanese in the Homeland and in the Diaspora, to the various Prime Ministers and Presidents, to the CARICOM Diplomatic Caucus in Cuba, to his friends and colleagues, and all those who sent their best wishes for his full and complete recovery – and his speedy return to Guyana,” the statement noted. The President had recently travelled twice to Trinidad and Tobago and had done his annual medical check-up in May and was given a clean bill of health. However, on his return to work, the President said that he started to experience certain symptoms,
which were persistent, and took the decision to travel back to Trinidad to revisit the tests that were done in May.According to cancer.gov, Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma grows and spreads at different rates and can be indolent or aggressive. Indolent lymphoma tends to grow and spread slowly, and has few signs and symptoms. Aggressive lymphoma grows and spreads quickly, and hassignsand symptoms that can be severe. The treatments for indolent and aggressive lymphoma are different. Many chemo drugs are useful in treating lymphoma. Often, several drugs are combined. The number of drugs, their doses, and the length of treatment depend on the type and stage of the lymphoma.
Kaieteur News
PAGE 24
Tuesday January 01, 2019
Berbice Bridge Shareholders hike toll, Govt. says don’t pay
A
standoff between the Berbice Bridge Company Inc. [BBCI] and Government commenced in October. This resulted after the company announced sweeping tolls increases from November 12, 2018, the same day Local Government Elections are being held. The announcement by the Berbice Bridge Company was made on October 16. Hours after the BBCI’s announcement which
includes a 365 percent for vehicular traffic and 745 percent for boats, Government, convinced that there are political machinations at work, said it will not be approving the increases and will be seeking legal advice on the way forward. Once hailed as a blessing for Guyana, the viability of the structure is now testimony to a number of controversial Private/Public Partnerships projects undertaken by the previous
government and which have been struggling. The other one that comes to mind is the Marriott Hotel. Government had taken over the bank payments. The bridge is now saying it cannot continue to run on the current rates and in any case its agreements with Government allow for tolls increases. In October, during a press conference at the studios of the state-owned National Communication Network [NCN], BBCI Chairman, Dr. Surendra
Persaud, insisted that the bridge company has rights under the current agreement with Government and will exercise those rights by increasing the tolls. The company claims that it is up to $6B in debts, including dividends to shareholders. The chairman said that the Board of Directors met with Minister of Public Infrastructure [MPI], David Patterson, on Thursday, October 11, 2018, to follow up on the Berbice River Bridge toll adjustments request, in accordance with the Berbice Bridge Act of 2006. During the meeting, the Minister made it clear that Government was not going to facilitate any increases that are covered under the “Public Private Partnership between the Government and the private investors in the bridge under the Concession Agreement.” The bridge was commissioned in December 2008, using almost 70 percent of financing from the National Insurance Scheme [NIS] and the rest from financial institutions, like the New Building Society, and companies including the Demerara Distillers Limited and Hand-in-Hand. Patterson, instead, proposed that Government undertake the responsibility, only, for servicing the bridge pontoons and offered to arrange a meeting with the Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, for further
consultation. However, according to Dr. Persaud, the options are outside of the contractual arrangements that exist within the Concession Agreement and are in breach of agreement. The bridge has maintained that it is a private company. Since being commissioned, there have been burning questions over how a few companies which invested less than NIS had managed to take control of the board and company. T h e p r e v i o u s administration, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, had refused to release details of the financial deal. What is known is that the rate of returns was very attractive between nine and 12 percent. On entering office in May 2015, the Coalition Government decreased tolls in an arrangement which saw an annual subsidy of over $150M being paid to the
bridge, based on audited traffic figures. Dr. Persaud maintained that the actual cost, in fact, of maintaining the bridge pontoons is a small part of the overall operational cost of the Bridge and would do nothing to improve the revenues. He said, “Let me take this opportunity to refresh everyone’s memory that the construction of this bridge would not have been possible without a partnership with the private sector in which private sector financing contributed G$5.1B [US$25M].” The bridge and its approach roads cost about US$40M. Persaud said that the company wrote the Minister since July 9, 2018, requesting that he implement a toll adjustment to the current toll charges for the bridge, in accordance with a prescribed toll formula.
Kaieteur News
Tuesday January 01, 2019
PAGE 27
GTU, Education Ministry sign agreement after “long haul”
Education Ministry Permanent Secretary, Ms Adele Clarke, and GTU President, Mr. Mark Lyte, display the signed agreement for a multi-year salary package for teachers. Also in photo are Chief Education Officer, Mr. Marcel Hutson, and GTU General Secretary, Ms. Coretta McDonald. Soon after inking an agreement with the Ministry of Education which will allow for teachers to receive salary increases for the period 2016 – 2018, President of the Guyana Teachers Union [GTU], Mr. Mark Lyte, was in October already sharing tactical moves for a new agreement. Although the union had started negotiations for a five-year agreement [2016 – 2020], Government in the end agreed to, and inked, an agreement on October 24, 2018 which only offered increases for a three-year period.But according to Lyte, the union is ready to move forward
with a new agreement in 2019. He anticipates that the union is in a better position to negotiate for more benefits for teachers. “I believe going forward we have learnt so many lessons that will prepare us better for the next phase of an agreement between ourselves and government,” Lyte told media operatives. Lyte, however, noted that while on this occasion the union was not able to get several of the things it negotiated for its membership, he is convinced that “it is a work in progress to go forward to a new agreement in the new phase in 2019 that we can have more benefits
given to our teachers.” The GTU President is nevertheless convinced that teachers will be satisfied with the package that the union has brokered for them.“We believe that we have been able to arrive at a position that will bring some level of satisfaction to the members of the GTU and the teaching fraternity in Guyana.” “Our teachers are going to benefit from outstanding clothing allowances, they will benefit from increases that date back to 2016,” said Lyte as he reflected on how “we were able to move away from where we were at the stage of
thinking about arbitration to come back with the Ministry to sit and amicably resolve our differences and to arrive at a consensus in terms of our position.”Regarding negotiating as a “long haul”, the GTU President added, “We want to assure our members out there that we fought very hard to ensure that all the benefits gained will reflect in a positive way on the lives of our teachers and we believe what has been gained today will result in our teachers being better able to service their classroom in a satisfied way; being able to satisfy their families in terms of the increases they will get.” As he considered the lengthy period it took before the realisation of a multi-year package for teachers, Lyte said, “I want to thank the members of the Guyana Teachers Union…for giving the support that they had given and our teachers across Guyana who have supported us even in our difficult time, and I also want to express gratitude to the media who were there for every stage of it.” Regarding the inking of the agreement as symbolic, Chief Education Officer, Marcel Hutson, said, “We consider the union to be an integral part of what we do at the Ministry of Education.” He took the opportunity, yesterday, to share his belief that the Ministry cannot function
effectively without the union and its input. The agreement inked will allow for public school teachers who work for below $100,000 to receive 12 percent for 2016 and those working for more being eligible for eight percent in the same year. The agreement also stipulates that the interim payment received by all public servants, including teachers in 2016, shall form part of the payment to be received for 2017 while all teachers will benefit from an across the board eight percent increase for 2018. Meanwhile, teachers will receive a lump sum of $350 million representing debunching monies owed for the period 2011 to 2018. Signing the agreement yesterday on behalf the Ministry were CEO Hutson and Permanent Secretary, Ms. Adele Clarke. Signing for the union were Lyte and GTU’s General Secretary, Ms. Coretta McDonald. Pic name agreement Caption: Education Ministry Permanent Secretary, Ms Adele Clarke, and GTU President, Mr. Mark Lyte, display the signed agreement for a multi-year salary package for teachers. Also in photo are Chief Education Officer, Mr. Marcel Hutson, and GTU General Secretary, Ms. Coretta McDonald.
NY-based company sole sourced in $366M drug contract -major local suppliers disqualified
Q
uestions were raised last year over a $350Mplus drug contract in 2017 to a New York-based company. The contract, valued at US$1,789,886.15 [$366,926,660.80] was awarded on sole sourcing to a company called HDM Labs Inc. While there is nothing much wrong with the award of contracts, there seems to be many question marks over this particular one. HDM Labs, according to sources at the Ministry of Public Health, apparently had little or no experience in supplying pharmaceuticals to the said Ministry. In fact, HDM Labs beat out a number of experienced suppliers - Ansa McAl Limited, International Pharmaceutical Agency, Global Healthcare Supplies Inc., Caribbean Medical Supplies and Meditron Inc. From indications, the contract was hurried through in a matter of days. According to documents of the Ministry seen by Kaieteur News, on June 19, 2017 Permanent Secretary, Collette Adams, wrote Berkley Wickham, Chairman of the National Procurement and Tender
Administration Board [NPTAB], Ministry of Finance compound, asking for sole sourcing approval. Under the rules, sole sourcing must meet criteria that the items are emergency in nature and that only that one company has the possibilities of supplying. The Permanent Secretary disclosed that the approval for sole sourcing was necessary to allow for the p r o c u r e m e n t o f pharmaceutical supplies that were omitted from the major tender of 2017. The letter, while not explaining the omission, sought approval for HDM to be awarded. The Permanent Secretary, in her justifications of the choice of HDM, said that the US-based company has “great capacity” in delivering supplies within two weeks to the Ministry and that it was recognized as an efficient supplier countrywide. She said that the c o m p a n y h a s pharmaceutical supplies registered with the Food and Drugs Department in both Guyana and the US; it has its own broker to expedite consignments. “Based on experience
HDM Labs Inc. has supplied pharmaceuticals to Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation [GPHC] using all Standard Operation Procedure.” Adams said that the reason for the sole sourcing was because the “Ministry of Public Health had a restrictive tendering process done which was opened at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board dated the 23rd May, 2017. An evaluation report was prepared and none of the bidders were qualified to be awarded a contract.” One day after writing NPTAB, the Ministry on June 20, 2017 wrote HDM Labs Inc, informing a Mr. Singh that his company has been awarded the contract. HDM address was given as 153 Kingston Blvd, Island Park, New York 11558. HDM’s principal is listed online as a Hardatt Singh who is said to the President and CEO of HDM. The issue of drug contracts and their awards has been a burning one over the years with billions of dollars involved and accusations of significant wrongdoings. There were supposed to
be overhauls by the Coalition Government with Minister of P u b l i c H e a l t h , Vo l d a Lawrence, reading the riot act in 2018 to staffers warning that she is calling in the police and state auditors. S i n g h ’s n a m e h a d surfaced in 2016 in relations to a $400M-plus fertilizer contract with Government.
HDM’s Chief, Hardatt Singh
PS Collette Adams
PAGE 36
Tuesday January 01, 2019
Kaieteur News
Wife killer appeals 83-year sentence FOR RENT
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A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
Arguing that Justice Navindra Singh should have recused himself from the trial, convicted wife killer Michael Persaud, 28, also known as ‘Mikey’, has appealed an 83year sentence imposed on him. In November 2014, Persaud was found guilty by a jury of killing his reputed wife, Maduri Padumdeo, called ‘Sharda’, at their Lot 8 North Sophia, Bel Air, Greater Georgetown residence on December 23, 2011. Padumdeo, who was 19, and a cane juice vendor, was discovered naked and dead with a piece of cable tied tightly around her neck in their home. Persaud was present at the time the discovery was made; he was found lying in the bed next to her corpse. A post mortem examination conducted on the body of the victim revealed that she died of ligature strangulation. Persaud was later charged for the offence. Persaud, through his Attorney-at-Law, Glenn Hanoman, has filed an appeal against the sentence and conviction. In grounds of appeal, the convict argues that Justice Singh failed to recuse himself from the trial after there was an interaction between his wife and the grandmother of the appellant (Persaud) which resulted in the judge directing that the grandmother be detained for approximately five hours without conducting a proper inquiry. He also argues that there was a material irregularity which resulted in a substantial miscarriage of justice when Justice Singh permitted persons wearing large buttons with the face of the deceased (Padumdeo) to be present in court in view of the juror during the summing up and verdict. A n d f u r t h e r, “ T h e Learned Trial Judge erred in law when he refused to accede to the request of the appellant (Persaud) for a sufficiently long adjournment to ensure the attendance of a legal representative of his own choice and erred by personally and unilaterally appointing and assigning counsel without the consent of the appellant.” According to Persaud, the mathematical formula utilized by the Judge in passing sentence is without legal basis. He failed to take into account established sentencing guidelines and passed a sentence that was inconsistent with the current guidelines. “The sentence was too
Michael Persaud severe in all the circumstances of the case. The Learned Trial Judge failed to explore the possibility of ordering probation report and to take other relevant factors into consideration.” Chancellor of the Judiciary Yonette Cummings-Edwards and two other appellate judges are scheduled to hand down a ruling early this year. At the announcement of the verdict, Persaud had pleaded his innocence. “Your honour I am innocent of this crime. While leading his defence, Persaud had told the court that he had no knowledge of the crime. He had said that he loved his wife and would never kill her. Persaud claimed that he was sodomised by his boss “Kaley” who was also in a relationship with his reputed wife. H o w e v e r, t h e St a t e Prosecutor told the court, “Another young woman has tragically lost her life at the hands of a man; a man who said that he loved her and was supposed to p r o t e c t h e r. I n t o d a y ‘ s edition (November 26, 2014) of the newspapers it is stated that 10 women have been killed at the hands of their partners this year. The court needs to send a strong message that this will not be condoned.” Before handing down sentence, the Judge had told Persaud that he deprived his child of both parents and has shown no remorse for his actions. P e r s a u d ’s original sentence stood at 60 years; 10 years was added for the evidence of premeditation, another 10 years was added for the cruel manner in which the victim met her demise and six years was added since it was a domestic violence related crime. However, the judge deducted three years from the sentence for the time Persaud had spent in the prison pending trial, hence the 83year jail term.
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The No Confidence Vote and the “Ides” of December By Rawle Lucas On Friday December 21, 2018 before the night could fully mature, many Guyanese got the news that the “NoConfidence” motion brought by the Opposition against the Government was successful. This piece of news was accompanied quickly by word of the person who had disappointed his Party and shattered the confidences of his colleagues in the National Assembly. It was not the Ides of March, but it must have felt eerily like that to the government when one man, not three as in the case of Julius Caesar, stabbed it in the back with the purpose of ending the life of the government. Despite the lag of six days, occurring in December and with a similar purpose of ending the rule of a leader, the biography of Mr. Charrandass Persaud could sufficiently refer to the event as taking place on the “Ides of December”. Ever since the action, some have hurriedly joined in condoning the dissenter’s action. Others have condemned it. There are those who are still wondering about the unequivocal bias in favour of a group that showed little or no mercy to most Guyanese when it wielded power for 23 years. Some effort must be made to comprehend the decision of Mr. Charrandas Persaud and the meaning and purpose of his vote. Mr. Persaud has sought to help this effort by giving context and rationale for his decision, even at one point portraying it as heroic and patriotic. His strenuous efforts were clad in a few strands of personal, political and economic reasons for bringing down the government that he was a part of. I do not intend to discuss Mr. Persaud and his vote in this article but
wish merely to provide information that readers could use to make their own evaluation of his decision and motives. One could start by observing that Mr. Persaud said many things that he claimed disturbed him. While he fussed about what others did or did not do, he gave no concrete evidence of his attempt to fix the many issues of his vexation before deciding to match the fate of his own government with that of Julius Caesar. A substantive reason he advanced for his vote was a remark made by the Chairperson of the PNCR, Mrs. Volda Lawrence, who expressed deep support for her Party’s members when, in this paraphrased version, she said that she would give jobs to them because she knows them. This subjective expression of Mrs. Lawrence occurred not too long before the No Confidence vote and was enough to overshadow three years of joint effort by the APNU and AFC to bring Guyana to the point of respectability again. Mr. Persaud took a diminished view of this remark and appeared only capable of assessing it in a very narrow racial context while conveniently ignoring the reality that the PNCR was a multi-ethnic party. This seemingly discoloured perspective about Mrs. Lawrence’s remarks was given greater weight by Mr. Charrandas Persaud than the well-publicized fact that the Leader of the Opposition described his Party, the PPP/C, as a “Coolie” people Party with the same attendant purpose ascribed to Mrs. Lawrence’s remarks. Despite the incongruence between the two remarks, Mr. Persaud was quite comfortable joining the Opposition to bring down his own government. Presumably, the con-
tradiction was self-satisfying enough for him to vote yes with one who showed such open racial bias instead of abstaining-a more evenhanded way of showing his displeasure. The economic reasoning that Mr. Persaud gave does not hold water either and leaves one more flabbergasted than ever. In the video presentation, he made much play of the condition of the sugar industry. Every Guyanese knew that the sugar industry had collapsed under the weight of 23 years of mismanagement and reckless spending of the PPP/C administration. Every Guyanese knew also that the PPP/C administration closed sugar estates and let workers go. In other cases, production was scaled down drastically affecting all sugar workers. With sugar production costs
knees faint and bleeding and could be laid level at any time by the burden of its high and unbearable costs. It did not appear enough to Mr. Persaud that the Coalition chose not to close down the entire industry but decided to restructure it instead. By its actions of not closing the industry, the Coalition saved about 12,000 jobs while having to let go of 6,000 workers. This is information that everyone in the National Assembly had on the night of December 21. Without offering an alternative position, it appears that Mr. Persaud preferred an all-or-nothing approach to the sugar industry and have everyone go down with it, including the economy of Guyana. This writer has to believe that responsible conduct in the National Assembly would include having most, if not all
Anyone in the National Assembly that night with a determination to see his or her government succeed would have taken the time to acquaint himself or herself with the trends in the key industries of the country. The story about sugar has already been presented. And so, one could ask what about rice? Rice took a hit when the PetroCaribe programme with Venezuela came to an end. But the rice industry was on the rebound and its performance in 2017 alone was better than any year between 2007 and 2014. Moreover, even a cursory look at the performance of the industry would have shown that output was 25 percent better in the four years of 2015 to 2018 when compared to the years 2011 to 2014 under the PPP/C. The dissenting member of the government took a swipe
support and robust government intervention unlike “Other” crops which has relied largely on the indigenous and ingenious efforts of Guyanese. The investment by ordinary Guyanese in “Other” crops is a true reflection of their private entrepreneurial spirit and the continued assertion of their independence. The seminal value of rice and sugar to the economy cannot be ignored, but every Guyanese can take satisfaction in the knowledge, and ought to be proud, that the self-made industry of “Other” crops continually outperform both sugar and rice in the fields and contribute to this country being a net exporter of food. The Table below shows the comparative physical output of the three industries in their raw state.
in Guyana way above world prices, Guyanese taxpayers, who were bailing out the sugar industry, were also helplessly subsidizing sugar consumption by the rest of the world through the export of the product. These were facts known to every Guyanese, including those sitting in the National Assembly. To rest his vote on sugar knowing that his government could ill-afford to subsidize the rest of the world puts paid to any claims of patriotism. It was common knowledge too that, by the time the APNU-AFC Coalition came to power, sugar was on its
the facts about the economic performance of the economy if one wanted to use it as justification to abandon one’s colleagues. Mr. Persaud acted like “Chicken Little” by claiming that the sky (the economy) was falling and leading Guyanese to believe that they were facing a fate of doom. In his video, he never shared with his intended audience that every economy has a goods and a services sector and that the services sector is often used to support the goods sector. The prominent goods industries are in agriculture, manufacturing and mining.
at the Minister of Agriculture and while doing so might have missed another sign of good economic measure in the wider agricultural sector. An important objective of the government was to expand the diversification of the agricultural sector. This effort is reflected often in the “Other” crops section of the economy. Rice and sugar are standalone crops while “Other” crops is a combination of several types of produce. It includes fruits of various types, ground provision of various types, cash crops and so forth. Rice and sugar have had years of colonial and external
In every year, the output of the “Other” crops industry was larger than sugar and rice. It continued its growth all the way through 2017 and is forecasted to maintain this progress in 2018. Further, average output was nine percent higher from 2015 to 2017 than it was from 2012 to 2014 under the PPP/C. One must further ask the question what is it that would lead one to doubt the economic efforts of your own government when plantain production exceeded previous years by over 2,200 percent under your own government’s management? (Continued on page 47 )
ERC engages Indigenous Peoples Commission
The Ethnic Relations Commission, (ERC), recently met the Indigenous Peoples Commission (IPC). Both sides gave firm commitments to collaborate during the New Year and to work towards finding solutions to issues affecting the indigenous peoples of Guyana. During the two-hour long consultation at the ERC office in Georgetown, members of the IPC discussed many challenges, including the language barriers, and social ills facing the indigenous peoples. The meeting was the last of its kind for 2018 involving the new ERC and many stakeholders, to which it has re-introduced itself, since it was resuscitated last February.
ERC officials meeting with representatives of the Indigenous Peoples Commission
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Today marks the first day of 2019 and we at Kaieteur News would like to thank all of our readers for your unwavering support throughout 2018. We pray that we can retain an untainted relationship with you as this New Year unfolds. Even as we look to the Creator for continued guidance to sustain the path that we trod as a member of the Fourth Estate, we also extend a prayer that you and your families will also benefit from the guidance of the Almighty going forward in 2019. A number of organizations have also joined in expressing New Year’s Day wishes some of which can be seen below.
PEOPLES’ NAT’L CONGRESS REFORM Happy New Year! May Prosperity come to every home, family and community in this our dear land of Guyana. The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) extends greetings for a Happy New Year to all Guyanese at home and in the Diaspora. As the Year 2018 fades into history we welcome in 2019, assured in the knowledge that the people of Guyana have confidence in our governing Coalition, to continue managing the affairs of this nation. The PNCR and its coalition partners in government, last year, faced many challenges. Thankfully, we are better together than asunder. This year we will work even more closely
together to eliminate armed robberies, contraband smuggling, money-laundering, narcotics trafficking and other crimes; to staunch the dropout rates and unemployment of our youth; and more importantly to defeat the Peoples’ Progressive Party (PPP) once again, whenever elections are held. As the New Year dawns, the PNCR calls on all Guyanese, regardless of race, ethnicity, political affiliation or religion, to participate in bringing about the transformation of our country so that Guyana’s vast resources may, at last, be made to serve the imperative for development and social advancement of all the people of Guyana. On this, the first day of the
New Year, it is our hope that all of us will realize a measure of prosperity in our personal lives and that each of us, wherever we may be, will endeavour to make some contribution, however small, to the development of our country. The PNCR, therefore, looks forward to participating, as it has successfully done in the past, in the continuing drive for the peaceful development of this dear land of ours. The Party wishes all Guyanese a very Happy New Year and looks forward to 2019 with optimism and hope. May God Bless our Nation as we strive to provide a Good life for all Guyanese!
PEOPLE’S PROGRESSIVE PARTY Once again a New Year is upon us and as we welcome it, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) joins with all others in extending best wishes for a peaceful, prosperous and productive 2019 to our Guyanese brothers and sisters here at home and in the Diaspora. The advent of a New Year is generally met with excitement by some who, among other reasons, may seek a new beginning or to continue to build upon the success achieved. For others, it is met with a sense of trepidation as uncertainty over what it may bring, prevails. No doubt, many would have good reasons to label 2018 as a challenging year with expectations that 2019 becomes much easier. Unfortunately, with each New Year, new challenges may be forthcoming. However, our people have proven their resoluteness in finding ways to mitigate and confront adversities. As customary, this time offers the opportunity for introspection to assess strengths and weaknesses which provide
guidance to aid in the sustaining of and the achievement of desired success. As the New Year dawns, our country is facing an unprecedented moment in its history causing some to harbour a feeling of uncertainty. As we traverse this period, our Party remains confident in the steadfastness of all Guyanese and in our collectively efforts which will strengthen us to address whatever challenges may lie ahead. This is a time that hope must not be lost and spirits not allowed to be broken as together we endeavour to work in the best interest of our country to unlock its potential for its advancement and that of all of its people. Let us in the New Year work assiduously to strengthen bonds of togetherness and brotherhood to aid in the realization of the fundamental value of our national motto and to engage in renewal of ideas for the attainment of success. Once again best wishes for a joyous New Year!
INDIAN ACTION COMMITTEE The Indian Action Committee [IAC] wishes all Guyanese a happy, prosperous and peaceful New Year 2019. The IAC is cognizant of the tensions in the country following the defeat of the APNU+AFC Coalition Government by way of a NoConfidence Motion on 21st December 2018 and is calling upon all citizens to exercise calm judgement in the current unsettled political situation in Guyana and do nothing to cause mischief and thereby disturb the peace. The IAC is also cognizant of the serious threat to the stability of the country caused by opportunistic Venezuelan aggression in which a Venezuelan warship violated Guyana’s sovereign territory and forced a vessel contracted by ExxonMobil
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and its partners to flee an area where the ship was carrying out lawful seismic geophysical activities on behalf of the private companies and the State of Guyana. The IAC is calling upon President Granger and the leadership of the political parties represented in the National Assembly to act quickly to prevent both internal and external turmoil, all of which will have devastating effects here. The IAC wishes to commend the courage of Mr. Charrandass Persaud in doing what he did at the National Assembly of the evening of Friday, 21st December 2018. The IAC hopes that the struggling national economy, with the help of political cooperation, can be made to
improve in such a manner as to alleviate the suffering of hundreds of thousands of impoverished Guyanese citizens including the dislocated sugar workers at Wales, Rose Hall and Skeldon. The IAC hopes that the new government will move swiftly to deal with these pressing socio-economic and diplomatic problems facing the nation. The IAC, having just successfully hosted its 2018 Christmas outreach at Hope Estate Primary School for approximately 200 children of all ethnicities, will have its first programme in 2019 on January 26 to remember the victims of the Lusignan Massacre which occurred almost 11 years ago in 2008. Happy New Year 2019.
CHAIRMAN OF CARICOM, DR. TIMOTHY HARRIS, PRIME MINISTER OF ST. KITTS AND NEVIS As the Caribbean Community enters this New Year 2019, it is with a renewed vigour and determination to maintain the momentum with which we ended 2018. This is the final year of our first five-year Strategic Plan and preparations have already begun for the second Plan which will build on the accomplishments of its predecessor. There is no doubt that the CARICOM Single Market and Economy is the linchpin of our efforts at sustainable growth and development and in the coming year we will be looking to further advance its implementation from what has been achieved in 2018. When we gather in St Kitts and Nevis in February for the Thirtieth Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference we will conduct a special session on Air and Maritime Transportation to focus on this critical aspect of integration as a whole and the CSME in particular. An efficient and affordable transportation system would be a tremendous stimulus to trade and intra-regional tourism thereby strengthening two critical aspects of integration. At the core of our thrust for growth and development is a well-educated and healthy workforce. Our Community’s
commitment to battle against the ravages caused by chronic non-communicable diseases is unrelenting. Our Ministers of Health have agreed on a programme called Caribbean Moves which seeks to create a culture of regular physical activity and healthy eating through exciting, fun and supportive programs where people live, work, study and play. It is a whole society approach that we must embrace to tackle this continuing threat to our greatest resource – our people. At a High-Level meeting at the United Nations we once again brought to the attention of the international community, the threat that chronic NCDs is posing to our sustainable development. Let us make 2019, the year that made the difference in combatting chronic noncommunicable diseases in our Community. We will also be making strides in implementing our Human Resource Development Strategy 2030 as we move to draft the new school curriculum with particular emphasis on Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics (STEAM). It is imperative that the young CARICOM citizens are adequately prepared both for the global environment and
for playing their part in helping the Region’s thrust towards sustainable development. 2019 therefore promises to be a year full of action for CARICOM. It is a year in which I look forward to us all being part of the celebration at CARIFESTA XIV which will be held during the period 16-25 August 2019, in Trinidad and Tobago, under the theme “The Tangible and Intangible – Connect, Share, Invest”. It is a celebration and promotion of our culture. It will bring together, song, dance, visual arts and other cultural expressions. It is always an event to cherish and I have no doubt that the festival will once again live up to its billing as the premier cultural exposition in the Region. As I assume the chair of the Community for the next six months, I would like to acknowledge the sterling leadership of my predecessor in the position, the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica. He has set a standard which, with the help of my colleague Heads of Government, the Secretariat and the regional Institutions I will strive to match. May we all have a Happy, Healthy and Productive New Year.
GUYANA PUBLIC SERVICE UNION In a few hours 2018 would be behind us and we will be embracing 2019 which from all indications would be a very challenging year for the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) and most certainly for all the inhabitants of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. Before endeavoring to share my thoughts on 2019 and the goals we will strive to achieve during the next year, I would like to take this opportunity to address the most essential aspect of our existence and also to reflect on our struggles and endurance of enormous and relentless abuses and displays of executive lawlessness. First, I am expressing my utmost appreciation to my members of the GPSU especially those who were unwavering in their maximum support of my stewardship as President of our Union, regardless of the sacrifice they made, they did so sincerely and willingly. Secondly, I would like to reflect on our past struggles against wicked and vindictive conspiracies to suffocate our Union and marginalize our members. We must be very proud of our endurance and valor, protecting our Union and safeguarding our members’ welfare while improving their conditions of service which was and still is our mission. I assumed the leadership of the GPSU in the midst of a struggle, the national nurses strike 1990 – 1991 (the second longest nurses industrial action in the world) and since then to-date, we have had to overcome challenge after challenge. During this period we have
experienced changes in our members’ employers from People’s National Congress Administration to People’s Progressive Party Civic regime to APNU-AFC coalition. Our fight was for fair treatment of our members and workers generally, for good governance and for the respect of trade union rights. As well, we took a leading role in our nation, building racial harmony and goodwill amongst our members and the people of Guyana as a whole. We did have some welcomed developments nonetheless – we recognize and applaud the respect shown in High Court decisions unlike our experiences with the contemptuous responses to the Clarence Chue High Court decision and the Marshals High Court decision. While 2018 has been a tremendously difficult year, we have even more difficult choices ahead of us in 2019. My members, I call upon you to be fair, responsible and mature in your thinking and decision making while being relentless in your demands that previous commitments are met. Finally, displaying sincerity that workers will value when treated even-handedly and fairly will build trust, be motivating and definitely contribute to the environment that is needed to move our nation forward in harmony. Such an environment the GPSU will wholeheartedly support and fully cooperate with. Best wishes to all for 2019. We must be mature in our conduct and show respect for each other towards the prosperity and development of Guyana.
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NEW GEOPOLITICAL ALIGNMENTS DEAR EDITOR, As 2019 dawns, there is no doubt that, perhaps, the single most important event in this global village is Brexit; the departure of Britain from the European Union. But what significance does this hold for the rest of the world and Guyana? New geopolitical alignments. I believe that a national conversation on this unfolding event would have great utility not only among International Relations scholars, but also other critical stakeholders, including corporations. It must be said that the European Union established since 1945 has facilitated peace more than any other arrangements or political projects in history. For sure, it has ended years of rivalry, strife and wars among nations in that part of the world. The United Kingdom made its first application to join in 1961. Apparently, there was the fear of political isolation within Western Europe. Also, Commonwealth states were rushing to do business and build relations with the new community. However, that application was turned down by the French Government in 1963. Again, a second application was barred by the French in 1967. In 1969 approval was
given to negotiations for British membership. The United Kingdom joined the European Economic Community on 1st January 1973. This proved controversial at the time. The Labour Party initially sought renegotiation of membership, but this was adjusted to requiring a referendum on whether the United Kingdom should remain part of the Community. This referendum was held in 1975 with a 67% vote in favour of continued membership. Now Britain will be leaving the Union it fought so hard to get in. In 2017 Britain stated negotiations for Brexit. This consists of a withdrawal agreement (settlement of accounts for the divorce) and a post-exit trade agreement. However, following this recherché event, it is very clear that, the British parliament is unable to make up its mind on the way forward. The Prime Minister, Mrs. Theresa May and her Brexit Plan (there is nothing else on the table), which of course contains the controversial backstop agreement, have been sorely beaten down by members even of her own cabinet. Nevertheless, with strength and conviction, the Prime Minister continues to solider on in the face of very daunting criticisms, fiery
speeches, and former Prime Minister Tony Blair’s travel to Brussels to push for another referendum. But what will it be: Prime Minister May’s deal, no deal or another referendum. The Prime Minister has been discouraging thoughts and words of another referendum. I agree with the Hon. Prime Minister because it, perhaps, would yield a similar result to the one held - that Britain must leave the EU - because the challenges and reasons which aroused the collective desire for Britain to leave the Union in the first place remain: the question of Britain’s sovereignty, the migrant crisis [which continues to affect not only resources but cultural values - perhaps, the loss, dilution or change of cultural values is the one that frightens the Brits the most because it has to do with their heritage and identity], economics - the Euro, single currency, appears to be a failure - unemployment, terrorism, and policies in areas such as agriculture which are not providing optimal benefits to British farmers. More than that, Britain believes in its independence. For hundreds of years, European rulers, Napoleon Bonaparte and Adolf Hitler have tried without any mea-
The No Confidence Vote and the... From page 45 What is it that would lead one to question his or her own government when pineapple production exceeded previous years by over 800 percent under your own government’s management? What is it that would lead one to lose confidence when citrus production exceeded previous years by over 418 percent under your own government’s management? What is it that would lead one to go against his or her own Party when bora and hot pepper production exceeded previous years by over 400 percent under your own government? Additionally, egg production, tomatoes, bananas, eschallot and other ground provisions, all exceeded previous years by over 200 percent each under the APNUAFC Coalition. In addition to rice and sugar, the Berbice Region, an area represented by Mr. Persaud, is a major commercial producer of high performing crops like eschallot, tomatoes, bora and boulanger. Readers must wonder why heads turned in the National Assembly and people felt a sense of shock when the performance of the “Other” manufacturing sec-
tor, the construction sector and the gold industry are factored into the decision of the one-time government supporter. The “Other” manufacturing sector has shown steady growth over time. Surely with annual manufacturing output larger by an average of 11 percent from 2015 to 2017 compared to the period 2012 to 2014 under the PPP/C, one must be surprised with the decision of Mr. Persaud. The construction sector too could not cause disappointment to anyone on the government’s side. It was an average of 15 percent larger from 2015 to 2017 over the period 2012 to 2014 under the PPP/C. For all the talk about disaffection in the gold industry no sector or industry came close to what it delivered for the country, growing its output 39 percent from 2015 to 2017 over the period 2012 to 2014. In the services sector of the economy, transportation and storage play a big role in supporting production. It was 24 percent larger than it was in the period 2012 to 2014. That the transport and storage industries grew consistently is a reflection of the meaningful progress of the goods industry and the active
nature of the economy. Mr. Persaud had a choice to make and he made it. I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt but after revisiting the evidence, it is proving difficult to do so. In light of the information presented herein, at best, one could have understood an abstention, not a yes vote against his government. Charrandass’s choice contradicts reality for the sky was not falling. Were there some intangibles that the government might have missed that were more important to Mr. Persaud than the evidence presented above? Maybe. He knows best. For sure, he clearly did not think that recalibrating the economy and putting it on a footing with which it could sustain its development was worth his time and energy. Returning to the lawless conduct and practice that characterized the PPP/C rule seems more acceptable to him. And so, the people of Guyana sit with the reality of the Ides of December, but still with a chance when elections are called to avoid ending up in the fox’s den and suffering the consequences of the naïve characters in the Chicken Little story.
sure of success to control Britain. Again, in the European Union, the Lisbon Treaty is regarded above Britain’s Magna Carta. And two powerful nations - Germany and France - appear to have greater sway over Europe, while Britain’s power appears to have been diminished. So, Prime Minister May is right, no need for another referendum, the British people want out, regardless of the circumstances. But I suppose that Members of parliament could make the case that because no one knew what Brexit would look like before the Prime Minister’s plan, for a deal, now that they know, to avoid a democratic deficit, it would be a good thing, nay necessary, to return to the people, by a referendum, and to find a sort of “centre” in terms of the final position of the British people on this issue. This argument is both plausible and pragmatic, but at the end of the day, the people trust their government to make the decision that represents their best interest. What is clear is that all things being equal or not, on March 21, 2019, Britain will leave the European Union with or without a deal [from all indications the European Union will not reconsider or renegotiate May’s Plan, because the European Union must take into account the interests of the remaining 27 countries in the Union, and in any event, it is Britain that is leaving the Union] It seems to me that there would not be a deal; both parties would agree to sustain post-Brexit relations based on WTO standards. Either way, deal or no deal, Britain appears to be the loser, and there could be catastrophic consequences that could affect all sectors of Britain’s economy, especially in the areas of employment, transportation, security, data collection and protection, and monetary systems. But the key question is what happens after Brexit? When that divorce occurs, it is likely that there would be new geopolitical alignments. Britain outside of the European Union bureaucracy will no longer benefit from trade and commerce as it had been doing in the Union. In April 2016, on a visit to the United
Kingdom, United States President Barack Obama commented on the question of a special UK-U.S trade agreement. He said words to the effect that America was focused on negotiating with a big bloc, the European Union, to get a trade agreement done, and the United Kingdom is going to be at the back of the queue. He said that it is better to have access to a big market with many countries than to try to do trade agreements piecemeal. So in the Union, the United Kingdom is seen as sufficiently significant enough to build relations as part of the whole, but outside of that bloc it perhaps is not seen as powerful enough to continue as a major partner in trade with the United States. Also, there will be lots of red tape and processes in the areas of travel and business. The current intricacies of the monetary systems of the European Union and the United Kingdom will, in the new dispensation, pose a very serious inconvenience and worry to corporations doing business across geographic lines. It would also affect family and social ties across Europe, particularly if individuals are unable to meet certain new requirements to qualify for visas and work permits to travel and work in different parts of Europe. And although, the European Union (unilaterally) and the United Kingdom would put in place measures to manage the fallout, those measures would not be able to fully mitigate the anticipated huge negative impact this divorce would have on corporations and ordinary people in the United Kingdom. On the political front, Britain will seek to strengthen relations with all of the countries, which were historically part of its world empire, and will seek to realign itself and re-establish itself as a dominant player on the world stage. Competition for natural resources, human resources and markets will be fierce. In that sense, Guyana, because of its huge reservoirs of oil, in particular, and other natural resources including water, and space that could be used as offshore storage for multinational corpora-
tions, will be of strategic importance not only to Britain, but also the United States of America and China. Our country would have an opportunity to participate in a more significant way, in this new global economy, as we are now seen as an attractive offshore production base for multinational corporations. However, we must continue to provide a relatively well-educated workforce, good infrastructure (electricity, telecommunications, transportation), political stability, and a willingness to play by market rules. If these conditions are in place, then multinational corporations will transfer through their offshore subsidiaries or to their offshore suppliers, production technologies and market linkages necessary to participate in the global economy. If we are able to sustain and improve on what we are doing, then we as a nation, and a member of the Commonwealth, stand to benefit from Brexit. On the other side, the European Union (with its single currency - the Euro - and recent calls by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, for a European Union Army) is likely to push ahead with the idea of a super state - the United States of Europe, with far-reaching influence across the global village. In 2016, Britain’s then defence secretary Michael Fallon said the UK would use its veto to stop the creation of any EU army. Now with Brexit, it will no longer have any say. Clearly then, with the Brexit this year, it now appears as though the central economic and motivational powerhouse of globalization in Europe will be placed, once again, in the hands of Germany. That notwithstanding, the remaining 27 countries in the Union would continue to work towards strengthening the collective, by enhancing old legislative frameworks and crafting new ones via the European Commission to allow for peace and prosperity, and to provide incentives to discourage others from going the way of the United Kingdom. Yours faithfully Royston King
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday January 01, 2019
Failure to hold public officials accountable for corruption bad news for oil money– Dr. Mangal By Kiana Wilburg Oil and Gas consultant, Dr. Jan Mangal, is of the firm conviction that the failure to hold public officials accountable for corruption only spells bad news for Guyana’s burgeoning oil and gas sector. Dr. Mangal insisted that Guyana would not benefit from the petroleum sector if corruption is not frontally addressed. Dr. Mangal said that corruption is why the development of oil and gas fails to have a positive impact in many countries. He asserted that it is one of the main factors that drive suboptimal outcomes in the oil and gas industry as such, it is important for Guyana to pay attention to corruption. Dr. Mangal said, “Look at how some oil blocks were awarded just prior to the last general election in 2015. Numerous blocks were awarded around the Stabroek Block just prior to Exxon drilling its
discovery well in 2015 and these awards are highly suspicious. Countries usually wait for the wild cat well to see if it is positive or negative before they award the blocks around it.” The former Petroleum Advisor to Government continued, “But it was in Exxon’s interest to get the other blocks removed from the market place for peanuts prior to them drilling and announcing their discovery in the Stabroek Block. “However, it is in the country’s interest to hold onto the blocks around the Stabroek Block because Guyana can demand more for the adjacent blocks after oil is found in the Stabroek Block. Guyana lost billions of US dollars by these awards.” He added, “So these awards by the last government are highly suspicious. I believe anticorruption should be a major focus for oil in Guyana. We cannot build this
new industry on a weak shabby foundation. “We have to root out corruption from the oil and gas industry so Guyana can move forward on a solid foundation, so Guyana has a chance to benefit from its oil, and so Guyana can finally develop in a manner that benefits all Guyanese.” COURTS HOLDING OFFICIALSACCOUNTABLE Dr. Mangal also addressed whether there is any evidence that the government is dealing with corruption properly. The Oil and Gas Consultant reminded that anticorruption was one of the coalition’s biggest items in its manifesto but the nation is not seeing any convictions. Dr. Mangal opined that citizens are quite frustrated and worried as to why they aren’t any convictions. He said, “And this is troubling because it could be that the system for investigating and prosecuting corruption does
not work. It might be corrupted itself. So if the courts and the system cannot hold officials to account, then that is a very bad sign for oil and gas.” THE WAY FORWARD If the government wants to salvage its reputation when it comes to the anticorruption fight, then Dr. Mangal asserts that it must do things differently going forward. Dr. Mangal said what the government needs to do to prove that it is serious about anticorruption, is make officials accountable for their actions, and make itself completely transparent. Dr. Mangal said, “Both PPP and coalition officials need to be made accountable for their actions. If we can’t rely on the local institutions then we should bring in people from outside to help with these cases. And the government is doing a bit of this. But the government does not have the expertise
Former Petroleum Advisor to Govt., Dr. Jan Mangal to understand how corruption occurs in the oil sector.” The Oil and Gas Consultant said that Guyana needs assistance from international Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that focus on corruption in oil and gas. He said that Guyana needs to work with these NGOs and give them access. In this regard, Dr. Mangal opined that an NGO like the Global Witness has tackled and uncovered corruption amounting to
many billions of US dollars around the world. “But is the government likely to do these things? I doubt it. As I said to the students at the University of Guyana concerning the unfair oil contract with Exxon, ‘Things will only change in Guyana when the people start becoming active and start demanding change. Change can only come from the bottom, not the top,” Dr. Mangal concluded.
Tuesday January 01, 2019
PAGE 51
Kaieteur News
NSC futsal Schools tourney set for Guyanese nominated for 4 International... January The National Sports Commission and AL Sport and Tour Promotions will be organising a inter Schools U19 Futsal scheduled to kick off in late January 2019. Schools will be invited
from Regions #10 Linden, #3 West Bank/West Coast Demerara East Bank Essequibo, #4 East Coast & East Bank Demerara, #5 West Coast Berbice, #6 New Amsterdam Canje/ Corentyne, #2 Essequibo Coast and Georgetown.
The tournament will be played as a 5-A-Side indoor with the format still to be work out. The venue for this tournament will be the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall with game to be played during the day and in the evening.
Net Rockers, Eagles United collide for $1/2m in clash of... From page 54 ‘Axeman’ skills has always felt that his team plays organized football and while they can run teams out of the ground with their pace and power, they would rather play according to the game plan.He must know how they faltered against Botofago last year 4-1 in the final and are looking past that loss. They have shown grace and speed if not when they face Winners Connection to qualify with a 21 win in the semifinals, but generally do.
The Rockers forward line has Clarence Huggins and the inform Denzil Pryce should pose problems for Eagles United. Orande Wills and Devon Caesar and Shane Luckie coming through the middle would be a threat at this level with Leonard Wilson; and with the defenders being a collective bunch with Omeion Wills, Deshawn Joseph and Mark McLean combining their efforts. Eagles must be on top of their game to beat this Rockers side which has in goal Compton Burnett.
Tuesday January 01, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You may not feel in sync with the day's energy. Something about it may not sit right with you. Your natural instinct to want to take the lead may be overshadowed by an unwillingness to even get up.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You may need to let go and release your control, Libra. You know what you want, so just trust your intuition. If you continue to let your brain do all the work, you will probably miss valuable information
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Issues regarding love and romance should be going well for you now. You will find that your natural tendency to ground and plan is working perfectly with your desire to find what you want in a mate.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) This is an excellent day for you, Scorpio. You will find that things automatically flow your way. You will receive more attention than usual and be the center of any social gathering.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You may want to escape into your dreams today. Trying to do something practical may be met with opposition, as the general mood of the day calls for things to be more ethereal and elusive.
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You may feel a bit lazy and unmotivated today. It could be hard to drag yourself out of bed. In terms of love and romance, there's apt to be some tension
CANCER (June 21–July 22) You will be able to find a greater connection to your inner soul today, Cancer. You will also find that you're more psychic than usual. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You may have many irons in the fire today. People and projects could demand your attention, yet you may feel so dreamy and unmotivated. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) This is going to be a great day for you, Virgo. Strangely enough, you will find that tension may help you get things done. There's an easiness today that will create openings for exploring creative outlets.
CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Love and romance are apt to be going quite well for you now, Capricorn. You should find that it's easier to be yourself in a partnership. Let your romantic side shine through. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You may feel a great deal of nervous energy today, Aquarius. Tension could come to you from all angles. Indecisiveness might be your biggest problem. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Issues having to do with love and romance are in your favor today, Pisces. You're more in touch with your emotions. You will find that your attitude toward love is more grounded than usual.
From page 56 awards will add to 10 other prestigious awards for his contribution to the Martial Arts International community. The previous awards are: *3X “Legends of Martial Arts Hall-of-Fame *WKU (World Karate Union) Hall-of-Fame *Action Martial Arts Magazine Hall-of-Honor *2X Masters of Martial Arts Karate & Kung Fu Expo *World 300 Martial Arts Gold Category award *Awarded membership CMAA (Caribbean Martial Arts Alliance) *Awarded membership International Board of Black Belts/ World Council of Black Belts. These added to the above described 3, totals 13 awards of appreciation from the USA, Germany, Trinidad, & Barcelona, Spain. On Easter Sunday April 21st, Mr. Massiah will be receiving his first award of recognition from his homeland, Guyana, when the United Bridge Builders Mission
Player, Official, Administrator and Coach... From page 57 National Bank Tournament in 2010 (playing unbeaten), as Assistant Coach and Statistician winning in Barbados and as well as wining the CARICOM Senior Championship in Suriname this year.” Clarke, who has undoubtedly made and continues to make an indelible contribution to the sport on and off the court, has already secured a place in the history books and whenever the GABA inaugurates its Hall of Fame, the name Dennis Clarke is bound to be considered. He was honoured in 2017 by the organizers of the Brusches Basketball Classic which takes place in Linden for Outstanding Service to the community over the years. Recently, Clarke who does not know about resting, continues gathering knowledge, participated in the FIBA Americas Regional Referee and Table Officials Training Camp (April 19-23, 2018) held in Guyana, Facilitated by Mr. Fredrick Brown - FIBA Americas National Instructor and Mr. Robert Vazques - FIBA Referee. In August last, Clarke held a three-week Clinic in Bartica for children between the ages of 9-19 apart from that he carried the whistle as a Referee in the 3 x 3 International Tournament held in Guyana in September as well as the Titan Bolt Youth Basketball Guyana tournament.
(UBBM) holds its Annual Awards Gala at the Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown. Mr. Massiah thanked Ms Bonita Montaque, CEO of UBBM, for her kind gesture to bestow upon him a first from Guyana, as he jokingly said he thought one day he may receive a postcard, but this is a valuable and pleasant surprise. Sensei/Master Max (as he is popularly called), holds a 2nd, 3rd, and 5th degree black belt rank in the styles of Shotokan, Mixed Martial Arts, and Maxido (respectively), after practicing & studying Martial Arts since 1972, at the age of 11. His Dojo (Martial Arts school) is located at 166 Waterloo St, in the compound where SWANSEA is located. The MAXIDO system was structured for business owners, professionals, Seniors, law-enforcement, Security, and especially females
who may be under threat of bullyism or physical assault, is strictly for adults 20 to 85 years of age. Females under 20 but over 16 are accepted. The Maxido system, (launched in the USA in 2017) designed for personal self-defense against modernday realistic attacks against the (seemingly) vulnerable is gaining rapid attention Worldwide for its no-nonsense, devastating effectiveness. Anyone who has witnessed the techniques or the dozens of Maxido students will easily confirm the efficiency of the technique applications, which are all done in UNDER 4 seconds. “The motto, “PAIN APPLICATION FOR BULLIES” is very applicable, once delivered to the evil-minded” he said. Sensei Max can be reached on 609-8132 for any info.
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Tuesday January 01, 2019
Kaieteur News
Jaguars hungry after Christmas break, Face Barbados from Friday
Vishaul Singh has two fifties and 168 runs for the Jaguars. By Sean Devers Four times defending First-Class Champions Guyana Jaguars beat Windwards Volcanoes in St Lucia and Leewards Hurricanes in Antigua in their first two matches in the 2019 season in December 2018 to head into the Christmas holidays with a 12-match unbeaten streak in Regional four-day cricket. Jaguars Head Coach Esuan Crandon said that while the festive season was about fun and frolic and the players had a rollicking time with their families, just after Christmas they were back in the trenches in preparation for the resumption of the tournament when they face Barbados in Barbados from Friday. “Well, after our last game
Veerasammy Permaul has 12 wickets from two so far. (Brooks LaTouche)
the players took a short break for the festive season. Time with family and friends and also time to reflect. They resumed training on Friday 28th to Sunday 30th and the sessions were based on strength and conditioning work, batting, bowling and fielding drills,” informed Crandon, who turned 37 on December 17. The Jaguars have lost just two matches since Barbados beat them in 2014 at Providence when they were blown away for a humiliating 66 to lose by two runs after controlling the game throughout the contest. But the Leon Johnson side will not be sitting on their laurels and are hungry after Christmas for more success. Crandon, who has 90
First-Class wickets from 38 matches between 2001 and 2011, does not know the Barbados squad as yet but is prepared for their best possible team. “We are expecting a highly competitive game of cricket and are anticipating a full strength Barbados squad with players returning from Windies duty,” said the Berbician who made his firstclass debut as a 19-year-old. Test players Raymon Reifer and Chanderpaul Hemraj come back into the side, while Trevon Griffith, Tevin Imlach and Akshaya Persaud have been dropped. Missing are Keemo Paul who injured his finger in Bangladesh, Devendra Bishoo who was still in the
Head Coach Esuan Crandon & Rayon Griffith have build this team into a winning team.
USA at the time of selection and Shimron Hetmyer,who has requested to be rested. “Our strength against Barbados would be our all-round ability. We have quality players who can win games for us with both bat and ball. But it will come down to individuals owning up to their responsibilities and assess the conditions in Barbados and apply the appropriate knowledge,” disclosed Crandon who is set to make his Windies debut as Coach this year. The last time the Jaguars lost a match was against the Hurricanes in the last match of the 2017 season. “Well, winning has become a habit for us and one thing for sure I can guarantee
you is that this team is very confident. However, we understand what it takes to win matches and we also understand that we can’t afford to be complacent,” said Crandon. But the Jaguars Head Coach is quite aware that teams don’t turn-up and win matches. “We will have to play hard cricket on a consistent basis and try and win more sessions and key moments of the game,” Crandon stated. Vishaul Singh made 75 in St. Lucia before top-scoring with 90 in Antigua to take his aggregate to 168 runs from two games. Johnson, Chris Barnwell and Clinton Pestano got fifties after Tagenarine Chanderpaul made 84 in St
Lucia but none of the batsman converted their good starts into tons and Crandon wants some centuries from his batsmen. Veerasammy Permaul has 12 twelve wickets. The Jaguars will depart Guyana tomorrow (Wednesday) for the Land of the flying Fish. The Jaguars squad: Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Leon Johnson, Vishaul Singh, Raymon Reifer, Christopher Barnwell, Sherfane Rutherford, Anthony Bramble, Romario Shepherd, Veerasammy Permaul, Clinton Pestano, Gudakesh Motie, and Keon Joseph, Head Coach Esuan Crandon, Assistant Coach/Manager Rayon Griffith.
Table tennis contingent returns from China training programme Guyana’s four-player contingent that benefited from a Table Tennis training programme at the Wo r l d renowned Hebei Zhengding Table Tennis in China arrived back home this past week and has described the experience as nothing short of remarkable according to a press release from the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA). The four players in Natalie Cummings, Joel Alleyne, Nigel Bryan and Elishaba Johnson spent one month in China and they noted that like the training, the Chinese hospitality was exceptional and expressed gratitude for the opportunity. The training was facilitated through the support of Government of the People’s Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China Embassy Guyana, and based on current technical and diplomatic engagements between our two na-
tions. In the correspondence, the GTTA noted that, “We truly believe that these engagements will provide key benefits to raising the level of performance of our players and in enhancing the cooperation between the peoples of China and Guyana. The Guyana Table Tennis Association would like to express its gratitude to the Government of the People’s Republic of China, the People’s Republic of China Embassy Guyana through His Excellency Ambassador Cui Jianchun and Charge de Affaires Mr. Chen Xillai and Mrs. Wang Quiyi for their input and support in the provision of critical high level table tennis training and other key initiatives and support programmes being offered to Guyana, aimed at supporting and improving the performance and development of Guyana’s Table Tennis.”
From left, Elishaba Johnson Natalie Cummings, Nigel Bryan, and Joel Alleyne pose for a photo at the Hebei Zhengding training facility in China.
Kaieteur News
Tuesday January 01, 2019
PAGE 53
GCA completes eight tournaments despite lack of venues - To focus more on Female cricket in 2019
Barnwell continued to dominate GCA’s cricket in 2018.
Renaldo Ali-Mohmmed scored consecutive tons and was also among the wickets. By Sean Devers At a time when the lack of real interest in Sports by the Government (both present and past), Chairman of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) competitions Committee Shawn Massiah hopes for Government support for cricket in the City to remain relevant. The unavailability of grounds due to a number of reasons is making it difficult for GCA tournaments being completed in the same calendar year. In addition to their eight competitions and a club outreach/clinic and seminar, the GCA intends to place more focus on young girls and Women’s Cricket in 2019. The disappearance of playable grounds began when the PPP/C were in power as they built schools on cricket grounds, while not maintaining several state owned grounds and the lack of playable venues in the GT continued with two state owned grounds in Thomas lands being left in an unplayable state; Public Service Union (where InterCounty cricket was played) and the Transport Sports Club (TSC). To c o m p o u n d t h e problem, the City Clubs (many with dwindling membership) rented their grounds for non-cricket events on cricket days. “It was a challenged to get competitions completed because grounds were unavailable for social activities, the inclement weather, Umpires Seminars and Local Government Elections which made the Police and GDF teams unavailable,” the GCA Executive informed.
Massiah listed a number of suggestions to help keep GT’s cricket alive starting with writing to the relevant Minister asking for assistance in upgrading grounds. “We have sand in galore, several grounds need upgrading one such is the Transport & General Sports Club Ground on Thomas Road Thomas Lands. This ground is unused since 2005, while Malteenoes needs sand and mud for their allweather practice facility to be completed,” Massiah stated. “Looking into the new year and onwards I would like to suggest a number of things: 1. All the clubs’ executives or Presidents to have a meeting and then write a letter to the Minister of Finance and Culture Youth and Sports asking them him for a waiver on your clubs Electricity and water bills remembering that all sports club are non-profit making organization. 2. Write to the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Culture Youth and Sport and the Director of Sports asking for help in employing grounds men and have them on their payroll and send at least two to each club to work two days per week to help in the up keep of grounds and pitches and send Coaches to the Schools. 3. Write to the Sports Minister and Director of Sports asking for the ministry to acquire much need machinery for each club such as Motorized Roller, Motorized Grass Cutter, adequate Rubberized Covers and other necessary tools and equipment so as to make the groundsmen’s work easier and quicker.
Gone are the days of pulling rollers to prepare pitches. 4. Write to the Minister of Finance asking him to include in his Sports budget for Clubs subventions to the tune of (1,000,000) one million dollars Per year to start with. Clubs in Georgetown are struggling to keep afloat with the heavy bills, Lunches, Tea, Balls, c u r a t o r ’s s a l a r i e s , caretaker’s salaries, staff salaries, weeding of their grounds on a weekly basis to help keep our children occupied in Sports which will keep them away from crime,” suggested Massiah . The drainage around DCC, Transport, MSC and GCC needs cleaning, while grounds in the East Ruimveldt, Hadfield Street, South Ruimveldt, Sophia and the University of Guyana are in desperate need of upgrading. “These non-functional grounds are hampering youths from being meaningful occupied. There is a lot more I can say on cricket grounds and youths. These are some of my suggestion and I would
really like to see the Government of the day do something soon,” lamented Massiah, who is also the Captain of TSC. This could be wishful thinking especially in a year that Elections could be held by March since Politicians will be busy campaigning. But it was not all doom and gloom as eight competitions (some which began in 2017) were completed in 2018 with several players, among them B e r b i c i a n s a n d Essequibians, registering outstanding performances in GCA matches. “We have seen several players who have performed in our GCA Competitions gone on by leaps and bounds to the highest level of cricket, some of these players started from our peewee league and under 15 competitions. The 2018/2019 NBS 2nd division 40-over competition, played with coloured clothing and the semi-finals and Final should be played under the lights at DCC. The Under 19 Competition will be played when the new season starts on January 12. Massiah said the GCA is the heart beat of Cricket in Demerara and produced quality players who represented Georgetown, Demerara, Guyana and West Indies in 2018. Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford (DCC) and Chanderpaul Hemraj (Everest) made their Windies senior debuts in 2018, while Vishaul Singh (GCC) played for Windies A. Leon Johnson (GCC), R a y m o n R e i f e r ( G C C ) , Ta g e n a r i n e Chanderpaul (Everest), Shiv Chanderpaul (Everest) Chris
Two-times-champions DCC celebrate afterbeating Police in the 2-day div 1 final.
MSC’s Nichosie Barker had a good GCA season with both bat and ball.
Barnwell (DCC), Trevon Griffith (DCC), Akshaya Persaud (Everest) and Ricardo Adams (Police) all played for the Jaguars in 2018. The DCC pair of Ashmead Nedd and Sachin Singh were among four Guyanese selected in a Windies U-19 Camp, while DCC dominated with six titles including the Carib Beer first division T20 at Bourda in March and GCA’s GISE, Star Party Rental & Trophy Stall Two-Day First Division at Eve Leary in November. A Man-of-the-Match performance from Raymond Perez, who hit five fours and a six in his 40-ball 54, led DCC to a six-run win as Robin Bacchus’s 40-ball 55 could only take GCC to 1497 when their overs expired. Akshaya Persaud and Barnwell (172) had the most runs, while Devon Lord and Trevon Garraway (7) had the most wickets in the tournament. At Eve Leary, Barnwell’s third century of the tournament and a match haul of 9-40 by left-arm back-ofthe-hand spinner Totaram
Bishun led defending Champions DCC to an Innings and 66 runs win against Police in the final of the Two-Day First Division Cricket tournament. Christopher Deonarine (GYO) scored the most runs (362 Runs avg. 120.67) while his club mate Trevon France took the most wickets (20 wkts avg 12). GCC’s Renaldo AliMohammed dominated the second division, while MSC Skipper was also among the outstanding all-rounders at that level. DCC also won the NBS 2nd division 40-over, the Toucan Industries U-15, the Guyana Diabetics Association’s U-17 and the G C A Tr i S t a t e U - 1 9 tournaments, while GCC took the Noble House Seafoods 2nd division 2-day, while TSC captured the Vnet U-13. Massiah thanked the Sponsors of GCA competitions and was high in praise of the members of the GCA and its Competitions Committee for their hard work and all those who have helped the GCA in any way during 2018.
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Tuesday January 01, 2019
Kaieteur News
GFF/ExxonMobil Futsal Festival
Roraima Galaticos cart off grand cash prize At almost 03:00hrs yesterday morning, the curtains fell on the first Guyana Football Federation (GFF)/ExxonMobil International Fustal festival with Brazilian side Real Galaticos De Roraima predictably emerging as the champions following a commanding 4-1 victory over Morvant Caledonia United from Trinidad & Tobago. With the win, Roraima carted off the grand $1.6 million cash prize, the championship trophy along with mini replicas for each player, while the islanders received $600,000. The final was closely contested with T&T being the better side during the first period of play but they failed to capitalise on the few but good chances they had to go ahead and, however, they were lucky to finish the half unscathed with a brilliant goal-line clearance in the dying seconds of the first 20 minutes of the 40-minute game. Five minutes into the second half, Caledonia’s custodian failed to keep out a powerful shot from Lucas Martins. Referee Abdulla Hamid rightfully awarded the goal but over exuberant protests from T&T’s Kerry Joseph left
Galaticos Raphael Lopes being marked closely by Caledonia’s Kevon Woodley. him no choice but to issue a straight red. After playing well, the goal dejected the men from the twin island republic and as they pressed for the equaliser, they were victim to the counterattacking style of the Brazilians with Maxivon Carvalho, Arckson Andreazza along with Raphael Lopes, who emerged as the tournament’s leading goal scorer, all netting once in the for the winners. Jamal Williams scored the consolation for the losing
side, five minutes from stoppage time. In the third place playoff, hat-tricks from Pernell Schultz, Jeremy Garrett and Gregory Richardson allowed Georgetown All-stars to a 137 victory over Guyana AllStars. The winner of that match enjoyed $300,000 while the losers collected $100,000. In the semifinals, the champions had beaten Georgetown 4-2 in the first, while T&T All-stars edged Guyana All-Stars 6-5 in the other. (Calvin Chapman story and photos)
Mayweather blitzes Tenshin in Japanese boxing exhibition (Reuters) - Floyd Mayweather came out of retirement briefly to score a lucrative victory in an exhibition boxing match in Japan over kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa that will do more for his bank balance than it did for the reputation of combat sports. The 20-year-old, who is unbeaten in professional kickboxing and mixed martial arts, was sent crashing to the canvas three times in the first round by Mayweather, leading the Japanese fighter’s corner to throw in the towel. The fight topped the bill for the prestigious New Year’s Eve event promoted by Rizin, one of Asia’s fast-growing mixed martial arts organizations, at the Saitama Super Arena, and though it has drawn international attention, it was little more than a shrewd branding move for all
concerned. But for Mayweather, it was about more than just entertainment - the 41-year-old American intimated on Instagram that he would be paid nine million dollars for the fight, which was scheduled for three rounds. Fought at a weight limit of 147 pounds, there were no judges in attendance and the fight does not count toward the professional record of either fighter.Mayweather’s August 2017 knockout victory in a boxing match against brash Irish mixed martial artist Conor McGregor ignited speculation that he would cross over into the world of MMA, but the Rizin bout was strictly limited to punches. There was less than an hour left in 2018 as first Tenshin and then Mayweather made their way
down the long ramp to the ring just after 11 pm local time, accompanied by their entourages and with loud music booming around the arena. Prowling the ring and smiling for the cameras as the American national anthem was sung, Mayweather continued grinning after the bout began.Although Tenshin connected with one early shot, he offered no real resistance as Mayweather used all his guile and enormous power to rip shots to the body and head at will. “It was all about entertainment - we had fun,” Mayweather said in the ring following his win. “The fans in Japan, they wanted this to happen, so I said why not. Once again, I’m still retired, I’m still 50-0, Tenshin is a great champion,” he added.
Caledonia’s Kerry Joseph (right) who was red carded later in the game tries to break up a counter attack by the Brazilians.
UDFA GT Beer final on tonight
Net Rockers, Eagles United collide for $1/2m in clash of the unbeaten 2018 clubs - Winners and Botofago tussle of 3rd place It’s up to one deciding game tonight, New Year’s Night, to crown a new champion when the Sixth GT Beer finalists collide as the Christianburg-based Eagles United face Net Rockers of Wismar for $1.2M at 21:00hrs, while the supporting game is between last year’s champions Botofago and Winners Connection for $600,000 at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground from 19:00hrs. Eagles and Net Rockers were joint points leaders when they ended unbeaten in the recent Senior League championship but the Eagles side were declared winners because of a better goal difference 16 to 15 and this loss has not been taken lightly by Net Rockers who feel they were the rightful winners having scored more goals, while allowing more also. This has left football fans divided because at the end of the day both sides had unblemished records. This will be answered tonight however as this tournament will see one team losing and the winner carting off bragging rights in addition to the top monetary prize. The Eagles side will continue their quest to be number one club and Coach Rawle ‘Jughead’ Huntley has changed up
Colwyn Drakes and Kellon Primo their formation to one that he feels supports a complete football game. Such has been his strategy that the promising young players have been given roles in this team. Most notable is that Omar Brewley who was accustomed to be attacking on the forward line is now tasked with controlling the middle of their defensive formation, while Kendolph Lewis has excelled in that department after previously playing the wing on the front line with Brewley while they dominated the Christianburg Wismar Secondary days at the top of the nation’s school football in recent times. But, this has worked for the Eagles United side and with Colwyn Drakes, another from the school system being thrown to the deep end of senior football duties, while not as sharp as he can be he has delivered some crucial goals for the Eagles
team. Deron Charter has stepped up and despite the likelihood of team leader Clive DeNobrega being on the sidelines unless needed, the Christianburg side still looks capable of rising to the occasion. They will have between the uprights Yannick Simon and while Huntley admits the seriousness of the former national schemer DeNobrega, he does not rule out him taking the field. Coach Huntley still thinks, however, his team’s total football game will see them emerging triumphant. In fact, he is very impressed with Lewis’ play and how Brewley has settled in at the back. It is now left to the team to execute according to him because they will be ready for this big clash. On the other hand Net Rockers Coach Eon (Continued on page 51)
Kaieteur News
Tuesday January 01, 2019
PAGE 55
Boxing Review: Guyana Boxers win Junior & Senior C’bean titles - 2018 was one of our best years’ says GBA’s President Steve Ninvalle By Sean Devers One of the changes in 2018 was the structured way in which support is offered to Associations and Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) should not be competing with private persons for support. Achievements of Associations should also be used as a variable when determining support. “2018 has been one of our best years. We were able to win both the Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors Title and the Senior Caribbean Title. It’s the first time and historic. We were also able to hold 12 Under-16 tournaments during the year, which was also a first and bares testimony to that fact that it was not bare talk when we said that our focus would be on the nursery of the sport,” declared President of the GBA Steve Ninvalle. The GBA hosted three international tournaments during 2018: The Patrick Ford Memorial in February, the Caribbean Schoolboys and juniors in July and the Caribbean Championship in December. Apart from the Guyana Cricket Board which hosted Regional and International tournaments including the Women’s World Cup, no other association held tournaments of that magnitude during 2018.
In 2018 Lawrence Assanah was officially certified as an AIBA One Star referee and this brought the total of Guyanese One Star referees to three. Next year the GBA will be attempting to produce Guyana’s only Two Star referee /judge. “For the first time in the history of Amateur Boxing a Senior International tournament was streamed live. We had thousands of persons from all over the world logging on to view the Caribbean Championships. As a matter of fact, I had a call from friends in France and Holland who watched live coverage of the tournament. They were impressed,” declared Ninvalle, appointed last year to the Association Internationale de Boxe Amateur (AIBA) EC Bureau.Of noteworthiness, The 2018 Caribbean Championship also marked the first time that the tournament had neutral referees in all fights. Guyana won its first boxing medals at the South American Games with Keevin Allicock and Colin Lewis wining bronze medals during a successful year and Ninvalle informed he has applied to AIBA for the Caribbean Championship to be made a qualifier for the
Colin Superman Lewis misses a big swing against TTs Michael Alexander.
Guyana’s Keevin Alicock was adjudged Best Boxer and too good for Bajan Ajayl Jones in their Bantamweight bout. Pan Am Games and anticipates a positive word early in 2019. Light Bantam Weight Leon Moore was the best Boxer in the Caribbean Schoolboys Boxing Championships. The highly skilful Leon Moore, the son of former PABA’s Super Bantamweight Champion Leon ‘Hurry-up’ Moore, enhanced his growing reputation with a devastating display of clean punching against Jamaican Ashwaney Lawes. The Hands in Glove Gym of Region 8, Lethem and another Gym in Region One became affiliated to the GBA in 2018, while another bright spot for 2018 was the development of sisters Abiola and Alesha Jackman. “The 14-year-old Alesha will be our pick for Junior Sportswoman of the Year. She won gold medals in two
international competitions within a five-month time frame,” stated the GBA top man. The need for more work to be done with the juniors was one of the challenges faced by the GBA in 2018. “We had a Cuban coach here who would have undertaken that department but he was sent back home. Our coaches are not paid but do voluntary work. I would be approaching the Government with the hope of seeing the return of the Cuban coach,” disclosed Ninvalle. “In 2019 we have several major International competitions. I can only hope that we receive the necessary support,” Ninvalle added. “If I were to give my association a score for work done and achievements during 2018 with regard to resources available, it will have to be 80 percent out of a
hundred. We will be trying even harder next year,” Ninvalle stated. Ninvalle said he will be applying to AMBC in 2019 for courses for Guyana’s Two Three Star Coaches and those desirous of becoming One Star.The Andrew Lewis National Novices, Terrence Ali National Open, Lennox Blackmore National intermediate are the main boxing cards held annually and have been named after the old stalwarts in Guyana’s boxing. The GDF maintained their dominance as the most successful Boxing Gym in Guyana during a year which had plenty of Boxing Cards, while the Caribbean’s highest ranked refereejudge, International Boxing Association (AIBA) threestar ranked James Beckles of T&T, visited Guyana in December to conduct a
GBA President Steve Ninvalle presents the Best Boxer trophy to Keevin Alicock as members of champions Guyana share the moment.
training programme for novice referees and officials visiting for the Caribbean Boxing Championships (CBC).Beckles, on his second visit here for the year, explained that the training is vital since it will cover the recently implemented AIBA rules; in addition, the training was not only subjected to participation from novice officials. The ex-Policeman covered topics such as refereeing techniques, ring control, ring management, administering of fouls, along with cautions and warnings. Ninvalle thanked the Guyana Olympic Association, AMBC, the National Sports Commission, the Boxers, Coaches, Referee /judges and members of his Executive for assisting in making 2018 a memorable year for boxing.
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Tuesday January 01, 2019
GUYANA KARATE COLLEGE YEAR END REVIEW
The end of the year is a time to reflect, take stock of the year past, and plan for the year ahead. For the Guyana Karate College the year that has passed, feels like a nanomoment since its last yearend reflection. As they enjoy the customary celebrations of the season and look forward to embracing a new year, the GKC has considered it important to take a moment to reflect, remember, and appraise the year that has passed in the context of quantifying that which has or has not been achieved, and laying out its plans and programmes for 2019. THE YEAR BEHIND What went well? In 2018 The Guyana Karate College’s Vice Chairman and Vice Chief Instructor Shihan Jeffrey Wong was able to earn his 7th Degree Black Belt also known as Shichidan— only one of two Shodan Karate Masters in Guyana under the International Karate Daigaku entitled to wear the award in this traditional Japanese style of martial arts. Wong credits the other Shotokan masters that came before including Shuseki
Masters Woon-a-Tai (right) and Wong performing a demonstration.
Shihan Frank Woon-a-Tai for what he considers the privilege of testing. Shihan Wong enjoys the philosophy of respect, selfimprovement and mind and body control that goes with Shotokan Karate. He said “Traditionally, you rest in place for a while and grow into the rank, life experiences and wisdom are part of the Shotokan
Guyanese nominated for 4 International Awards including 1st from Guyana Guyanese-born Mr. Max Massiah, Founder & Chief Instructor of the rapidly rising MAXIDO Adult SelfDefence System, has been nominated (by Host Sifu Alan Goldberg) for the “Ultimate Destination Action Martial Arts Magazine Hall-of-Honor” award during a 3-day event (Jan. 25th – 27th 2019) to be held at the Tropicana Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA. This will be the 2nd year in succession the veteran Martial Artist will be the recipient of this award. On February 17th in Orlando, Florida, he will be the 1st Guyanese to be inducted into the “Martial Arts History Awards Hall-ofFame”. The nomination came from the Chinese Shotokan Karate Federation. For the 3rd year, the softspoken and humble Master Max will be awarded the “Chinese Kung-Fu & Karate Expo 13” award at the Golden Nugget Casino, Atlantic City set for April 7th. This event consists of Masters/Senseis/Grandmast
Max Massiah ers who are each tasked with demonstrating their skills under the eyes of many great Martial Arts Teachers and practitioners. The nomination came from the host of the event, Sifu Cliff Kupper, who has over the past years enjoyed the Guyanese portrayal & teaching of his skills, which are based strictly on defensive techniques to result in either submission, dislocation, or breakage of the adversary’s limbs. These (Continued on page 51)
practice.” Additionally, three other senior Instructors of the Guyana Karate College were tested and upgraded to the rank of 6th Degree Black Belts also known as Rokudan and they are Senseis Dr. Guy Low, Aubrey Bettencourt and Terrence Nicholas. They achieved this level through continued practice of their
martial art skills for well over forty years as well as the practice of the tenets of the martial arts for the betterment of mankind. These tenets include humility, courtesy in all matters, charity in giving, h i g h m o r a l c h a r a c t e r, unconquerable spirit and certain victory. During this year several other Karatekas of the GKC
also earned their first, second and third degree black belts. In 2018 Karatekas from the GKC attended and competed in the International Karate Daigaku World Karate Championships, also known as the IKD Karate World Cup, the highest level of competition for karate organized by the International Karate Daigaku. The competition was held in Barbados with the Guyana Karate College earning fourth place, not as good as they had hoped or had done at the two previous World Championships in Toronto, Canada in 2012 and 2015, when they placed second on those two previous occasions. This they believe was due to the fact that there were some early injuries to some of their more skillful martial artists and the absence of some of their more capable and experienced karatekas who were unavailable for the tournament. For this year the GKC also progressed with the construction of its new Dojo and Headquarters located at Lilliendaal, by laying the floor slab of their new
edifice. This is in addition to the portal frame and roofing that was completed the year before. THE WAY FORWARD Plans for 2019 In the words of George Harrison: ‘And if you don’t know where you’re going any road will take you there’. The Guyana Karate College has an ambitious and progressive vision for Karate in Guyana during the next year and looks forward to bringing it to life. Their vision is to have more people positively engaging with Karate, in more places, more often – for life.
Trophy Stall dominoes on today in Wakenaam Dominoes teams will be in action today in Wakenaam when the Trophy Stall competition commences at 09:30hrs at Carlosh Sports bar in Good Success. The competition is expected to attract some of the top teams on the island; Good Success, Seawall Boys, Melville, V Net, Underdog, All Stars, Big 6, East Wakenaam and Belle Plaine. Kaieteur News’ Zaheer Mohamed, who hails from the village of Good Success in Wakenaam, was on hand to receive the prizes from Trophy Stall at their Bourda Market location. Mohamed expressed gratitude to proprietor Ramesh Sunich for his contribution towards the sport in the island. In an invited comment Sunich said he is happy to sponsor the tournament and wished the teams well. Captain of the All Stars team, Mohamed Kalam said an exciting tournament is anticipated and lauded Sunich for his contribution towards the development of sport in Guyana. The top two teams and MVP will receive trophies. Trophy Stall, which is Guyana’s leading trophy and
From left Lakeram Narine, Anisa Garnett and Zaheer Mohamed display the prizes.
engraving entity, also does plaques, stamps and awards of distinction, among other services, has set sights at Port Mourant. According to Sunich, the new branch at Port Mourant will be opened during the second week in January so as to facilitate its Berbice customers. Trophy Stall head office is situated at Bourda Market and has branches at City Mall and South Road. Sunich said that all the services that are available in
Georgetown will also be provided in Berbice and will be second to none. Apart from the aforementioned services, Trophy Stall is also one of the leading sports stores in the country and a leading light in sponsorship of sporting activities locally. Through the dynamic leadership of Mr. Sunich the business has become a household name in the country through its fantastic bargains and generosity.
Sunich said that due to the overwhelming support that he has been receiving from the Berbice community he saw it fit to expand his services to t h e A n c i e n t C o u n t y. According to Sunich, this is not only to serve but to give back to Berbice and he looks forward to working closely with the Berbice Community. Though not yet open, the entity is already sponsoring a U19 cricket tournament for teams in the Upper Corentyne area.
Kaieteur News
Tuesday January 01, 2019
PAGE 57
GFF/Stag Super 16 Final
Champions to be crowned tonight; Buxton United and Den Amstel to contest By Franklin Wilson
T
he champions of the 2018/2019 Guyana Football Federation / Stag Super 16 knock-out championship will be crowned tonight at the Buxton Community Center Ground when the home team, Buxton United take on the challenge of Den Amstel, the pride of the West Demerara. When the tournament kicked off on December 14 last it was anybody’s guess as to which teams would be contesting today’s final which has a top prize of Two Million Dollars at stake. The pundits would never have given these two finalists the nod to be the last two standing but they both played well and deserve the right to be engaging each other. Only one team will end the championship unbeaten following tonight’s clash but both will exit the arena smiling as the second place finisher is guaranteed One Million Dollars. The third place match will see beaten
Gavin Graham (right) and Desmond Hector - Den Amstel FC semi finalists Fruta Conquerors and Western Tigers facing off with $500,000 being the winner’s prize. Both finalists have downed some big guns in plotting their way to the final, Buxton United, a team with an average age of 21 has the distinction of playing the first match of the tournament against Rivers View of Bartica and won 6-0. They would hope to end on a similar high tonight. Their second match saw the East Coast side slaying the defending champions,
Guyana Defence Force 3-2 with 16 year-old Jamar Harrigon scoring the winner on Christmas Night. The lads from Buxton were not done yet and they went on to tame Western Tigers 2-1 in their semi final showdown at the same venue on December 28th. Den Amstel too put in the hard work and has reaped the reward of earning a place in the championship match. On their journey, they first took care of City side Santos 2-1 in the final match of the round of 16 which was the only match to be decided in
Ronaldo Fredericks (right), Shemar Fraser and Jamar Harrigon – Buxton United FC.
extra time. The West Demerara based club then went on to defeat Victoria kings 2-0 before taking care of business against Fruta Conquerors, 2-1. Tonight’s clash will by no means be a walk in the park for either team which have some exciting young players who are eager to prove for one more time that they can deliver the goods. Buxton will certainly have home court advantage and their fans are expected to be out in full numbers to
urge them on to victory. Captain and goalkeeper Jason Cromwell will lead his charges with the hope of lifting the championship trophy and cheque and will find able support from the likes of Jamar Harrigon, Ronaldo Fredericks, Shemar Fraser, David Wilson, Dillon Wright, Paul Kingston, Kifambo Goodman, Tyrone Harper, Jeremiah Thorne and Rayshaun Simon. Den Amstel on the other hand will turn to the likes of season campaigners Kester Jacobs, Gideon Payne,
Jason Cromwell Buxton United Captain
Jamal Harvey Den Amstel FC Kevin Dundas, Dwayne Wilson, Jamal Pereira, Jamal Harvey, Leo-Orion Lovell, Marvin Frank, Goalkeeper Ryan Hunte, Gavin Graham and Kevaughn Ward among others, to deliver the grand prize.
Player, Official, Administrator and Coach extraordinaire Dennis Clarke celebrates 40 years as Basketball Official The indefatigable Dennis Clarke who is well known in the basketball arena is celebrating 40 years as an official in a sport he fell in love with at the age of 12, represented Guyana as an 18 year-old and went on to be an administrator and coach. Clarke, who is still very much active on all fronts except being a player; reflects on a stellar career from the perspective of being an official. In looking back at my career from a holistic point of view, I would say it has been a rewarding journey which is still very much ongoing. The 69 year-old Clarke who will celebrate his 70th birthday on August 9th next, informed that he had to save his weekly pocket piece to buy a basketball back in 1961 which would cost between $8.00 to $12.00 dollars. ”My father told me I had to save and he would put the rest which he did (God bless his soul), likewise my Mother. I would wake up at 04:30 am, do all my chores, wake up the fowls and turkeys, clean the pens,
water the plants in the garden and then go to the basketball court in East Ruimveldt, turn on the lights and start to bounce and do the things I used to see the senior players at that time, doing.” ”I would also encourage my friends to join me on the court. I distinctly remember one morning we were on the court and this tall white guy, he looked like a lantern post, height I would say about 7’ 3", when he came on the court two of my friends ran away. The guy said he was watching us a couple of days and he would like to teach us the game. His name I could never forget, Martin Hipskey from the U.S.A., he was one of our Coaches and we formed a team in the neighborhood club and named it, Harlems Globe Trotters. I was named the Captain and we ended up being the only new team that did not get beaten by a hundred score 90-30.” Clarke recalled that at a very tender age he would frequent the Burnham Hard Court situated on Middle Street in the City which is still being used for the sport,
Dennis Clarke
it is actually the only outdoor facility around that can accommodate official matches in the city at the moment and Dennis; as he is fondly called, noted: “There is where I learnt to do everything in the box.” He migrated to the United States of America where he spent ten years from 1968 to 1978 and returned to Guyana following the death of his mother. Whilst in the USA, Clarke informed that he did a part time job at a high school in Brooklyn, New York through the assistance of an
African friend and it was whilst he worked there he developed the love for statics. ”This is so because whilst in the USA, I was privileged to able to attend numerous training programmes that the school held for officials. There were regular clinics for scorers, time keepers and statisticians at that time. Because I had developed a love for stats, I grabbed the chance to attend. On my return to Guyana, I imparted my knowledge to players, coaches and generally whenever I presided at basketball across the country.” Clarke, who has earned the respect from all and sundry in the fraternity for his unflinching service to the game spanning well over 40years has also served in various capacities at the Malta Pacesetters, Courts Pacesttters and Trinity Grid Pacesetters Basketball Clubs. As a player, Captain for the First and Second Division Teams, Coach as well as Chairman all in a
span of 50 years of yeomen service and still counting. Asked whether he is nearing the end of his service to the sport he has grown to love, Clarke said, “I can wake up one morning and decide to call it quits but for now, I will continue to serve as an official because this is what keeps me going, to God be the glory.” Backing up a bit on his years of sharing knowledge which Clarke believes is one of the essential things lacking in the development of sports in Guyana, he reminisced that after attending many official clinics abroad in 1978, he returned to train Table Officials in Georgetown, Linden, and Berbice. ”I have also been serving as a scorer, time-keeper, 24second operator and statistician. I was a time keeper and statistician at the CARICOM championships held in Guyana in 1981, 1988 and 1994. I was the chief statistician when Guyana won the Caribbean Female championship in Trinidad in 1996, also when Guyana hosted the Junior
Caribbean championship in 1999.” The never tiring Clarke also performed Chief O ff i c i a l d u t i e s a t a l l international tournaments held in Guyana including visits by the D.C Jammers of the USA, Antigua and Barbuda, and Suriname teams and clubs. He has carried the whistle as a Referee in countless tournaments in Georgetown, Linden, Berbice, Plaisance, Buxton, Melanie, Golden Grove, New Amsterdam, Rose Hall and Bartica at Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation and Association level sanctioned competitions. ”I also did refereeing at all school tournaments and even ran the East Bank Village tournament for five years on Burnham Court. Recently, I went to St. Lucia as Assistant Coach and Statistician winning all preliminary games and losing by one point in the final of the Caribbean 3x3 tournament in 2017. In addition, I won a gold medal in the Caribbean (Continued on page 51)
t r o Sp GFF/ExxonMobil Futsal Festival
Roraima Galaticos cart off grand cash prize
Galaticos captain Raphael Lopes collecting the Championship trophy from GFF President Wayne Forde in the presence of his teammates and officials of the tournament.
Mayweather blitzes Tenshin in Japanese boxing exhibition
GFF/Stag Super 16 Final
Champions to be crowned tonight; Buxton United and Den Amstel to contest UDFA GT Beer final on tonight
Floyd Mayweather knocks down Tenshin Nasukawa in the first round. (REUTERS/Issei Kato)
Net Rockers, Eagles United collide for $1/2m in clash of the unbeaten 2018 clubs - Winners and Botofago tussle of 3rd place
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