Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 03, 2016

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 GUYANA THEN AND NOW When the Golden Arrowhead replaced the Union Jack, most of the country’s institutions and infrastructures were in immaculate condition. Georgetown was clean, drains unclogged, and the few street lights in existence were functional. Education and health care were intact, teachers were well trained and students were performing extremely well at both the ordinary and advanced levels of the General Certificate of Education. Our roads were in good shape and we inherited a railway system that connected Rosignol to Georgetown and Vreed-en-Hoop to Parika. Agriculture, mainly rice and sugar were flourishing and were primary foreign currency earners. Driver’s permits recorded one’s driving record, permits were required for dogs, and bicycles were inspected at the local police station before being given a tag to be used on the nation’s roadway. Forests were patrolled by forest rangers, water wastage and leaks were monitored, the streets were policed, sanitation inspectors visited homes and properties to ensure that the environment was kept clean. Children’s health was monitored by health officers who visited the homes and schools and it was a serious offence for children to be away from school. Communities were maintained by a local government structure of counties and wards that ensured that drains were kept clean and street signs, bridges and roads were maintained. Crime and corruption existed but there were no metal bars on windows and doors. Relationship between the police, post office, magistrates’ courts, the warden’s office and the communities was cordial. The performance of these offices was not dependent on who was the Prime Minister; there were rules and regulations that governed how one performed. By now one ought to get the picture of a structured government that functioned well. Today most of the structures we inherited have fallen apart. It seems that their functions were not fully understood by those upon whom independence was thrust.The railway system has been dismantled, agricultural especially rice and sugar; once our primary foreign currency earners are in disarray, a large portion of the farmlands are uncultivated, the roadways have degenerated and some of the waterways are clogged. And there exists a local government structure that is totally not in sync with what is required to build and sustain a community. Fifty years after independence, youths are still exposed to a poor education and health care system, a dilapidated infrastructure, an increase in crime, and a sense of hopelessness that pervades society. Those responsible for maintaining law and order have themselves become the lawbreakers.The justice system is woefully slow and government services are unreliable.The notion of intolerance is toxic, having the potential to fuel conflict. There is no national development strategy that is rooted in medium to long-term committment, underpinned by active cross-party involvement and support. And there are no formal political arrangements to guarantee genuine participation across party lines in the decision-making process. Today, there is disaffection in the country linked to a growing disconnect between the public and the leaders. To prevent further decay and decline in the quality of life for our citizens we must first respect one another, nurture tolerance and restore hope in a society that seemingly is in disarray. We must urgently put in place an appropriate structure of governance that meets specific objectives. Among them must be the reduction of crime, rebuilding of communities, repair of our infrastructure and a traffic management plan that reduces traffic accidents and fatalities on the roadways. We must develop a robust agricultural and industrial plan and a new model for economic growth and sustainability.The government must no longer, under the guise of regulations, apply political muscle to restrict potential rivals or debar legitimate opposition from participating in the political process and advancing their ideas.

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.

Freddie Kissoon owes K. Juman Yassin an apology Dear Editor; I have stayed silent up to this point because I wanted to see how things would play out. I knew K. Juman Yassin would have won the presidency of the Guyana Olympics Association and that he could have done that without help. In fact all during the criticism he received, he stayed honourable. Now that he has won, I want to express how I feel. The catalyst against Ya s s i n ’s e l e c t i o n w a s Freddie Kissoon. I want to it make it clear; I regard Freddie Kissoon as a national hero. In the circle that I move in, he is regarded as such. This country owes Freddie a great debt. But I think Freddie has to recognize who he is, how he is seen and behave accordingly. Freddie’s rant against Juman Yassin was uncalled for. This is one venture of the great educator, activist and columnist that was a terrible mistake. Sports officials and sports performers should not be fooled by the

commentaries of Rawle Welch and Edison Jefford against Yassin. They were simply echoing the theory of Freddie Kissoon. It was Freddie who initiated the focus on Yassin’s reelection. Freddie started it with a column on longevity in office and from there on Welch and Jefford picked it up. They picked it up because they were diplomatically supporting their icon. It is quite known to every reader of Freddie Kissoon who his friends are. He mentions who his friends are and Welch and Jefford are high up there The Yassin conspiracy was a departure for Freddie but why he chose Yassin is because he has a revulsion against people staying long in office. There may be a point there but why pick on Yassin? And for this I feel bitterly disappointed in this fine Guyanese mind that is so brave. Why single out Yassin. If and when I meet Freddie I will ask him. I am delighted that K. Juman Yassin survived the learned

mind of Freddie. Freddie becomes dangerous when he puts you on the spotlight because this guy is the most influential voice in Guyana. This is why I ask for more responsibility from him. If Freddie says a policeman took a bribe, people believe him. If he says a politician is corrupt, people believe him. If he says a business treats its workers badly, people believe him. This guy writes a daily column, something that few commentators can do. His columns are very influential. There are few people living outside Guyana that do not read the Freddie Kissoon Column. My son would chat with his parents from Texas on the phone and he would ask us for more information on something Freddie wrote. What Freddie does not know is that Mr. Yassin sees him in a positive light. Why put this solid sports administrator under his focus? Even if Freddie believes people stay in office for too long, I keep asking;

why single out Yassin? I say without fear of contradiction that K. Juman Yassin has been the best performer as a sports administrator in Guyana the past ten years. Please Freddie, name me one, just one challenger to K. Juman Yassin. Our main sports are cricket and football. What passes in this country for sports administration in cricket and football will never be tolerated in other country. I will make contact with Freddie privately and share information on cricket and football administration with him, information which should be in the possession of the police Crime Chief. Freddie, with due respect, you owe K. Juman Yassin an apology. Do not throw away your fine legacy by unbridled passion against certain people that have done great service in sports for Guyana. Please Freddie, do not soil your legacy by these silly ventures. You ought to know better. I will expect better from you. Harri Narine Singh

This man is an incorruptible political activist Dear Editor; There is a third letter in which Sasenarine Singh has hurled completely baseless comments about the character of Tacuma Ogunseye. Mr Singh has an absolute right to make criticisms of Ogunseye’s political and social views and policy positions but it is quite obvious, on the basis of his wild accusations that he does not know Ogunseye, the person. Ogunseye is a well-known market vendor, politician

and civil rights fighter. His legendary honesty, frankness, organizational ability and fearless defence of African dignity while espousing multiracial unity has made him the object of controversy but on account of his public decorum he has gained the respect of friends and foes alike. Let me state unambiguously to Sasenarine Singh that Ogunseye, a close colleague of Walter Rodney, was

in no way, shape or form responsible for his assassination. Secondly, I know that among WPA activists and other Guyanese colleagues there is widespread acclaim that Tacuma Ogunseye is perhaps the most incorruptible political activist apart from Eusi Kwayana that we have known. I do hope Mr Sasenarine Singh can take the high road in future exchanges with Ogunseye. Nigel Westmaas

I keep saying; APNU+AFC is repeating the mistakes of the PPP Dear Editor; Having observed PPP/C Member of Parliament Anil Nandlall’s letter “The Government’s consultation is cosmetological” (KN December 29, 2016) in speaking to issues of governance, including referencing Article 13 and 38A in the Guyana Constitution, those who have read it can definitively conclude that the PPP/C when in government knew what was right. Nandlall served as Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister during the Donald Ramotar administration, and this nation must no longer be in doubt that the positions he articulated were known to that administration, yet in

many instances it operated contrary. As legal adviser to the PPP/C government had he insisted on enforcing the Constitution, including taking recognition of feedback to Bills brought before the public and National Assembly, the processes of consultation and inclusionary democracy would have been advanced. In principle there is agreement with the position that the APNU+AFC administration should be receptive to feedback from the public and Opposition Members in the National Assembly. The principle is guided by two factors: i) none has the monopoly on ideas and knowledge and when persons ignore listening to diverse views the

nation is robbed the benefit that comes from such engagement; and ii) it is a constitutional requirement. The Principal Objective of the political system of the State is to establish an inclusionary democracy (Article 13 of the Constitution). The criticisms of the APNU and AFC when in opposition that the PPP/C government treated them with contempt, ignored their voices/input in governance, and trampled on the tenets of the Constitution were well deserved. Having condemned the PPP/C for not upholding the constitution the APNU+AFC government has a greater responsibility to uphold this supreme

instrument. Additionally respect for this instrument formed an important component in the APNU+AFC elections campaign. A nation that has suffered through alienation and petty divisive politics rallied behind the APNU+AFC and gave them the mandate on 11th May 2015 not only to manage the business of the state but also to avoid repeating the wrongs of PPP/C governments. The growth and development of this nation are reliant on maturity, will and commitment from its political leadership. This would see respect for the people and their institutions (Continued on page 6)

Tuesday January 03, 2017

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Kaieteur News

AMAILA IS ANOTHER APNU+AFC SCANDAL; THEY CONTINUE TO FIB DEAR EDITOR; Truth is truth. When you deliberately twist the truth to misrepresent it, it is lying. I use the word FIB in the title for this article only because editors discourage using the word LIE. But APNU+AFC has lied about AMAILA since they were in opposition and everything they say about AMAILA has been one lie after another. The Report reaffirms the PPP’s position that the BOOT arrangement is the preferred option for financing the project. The report does make reference to certain technical flaws in the design of the project, but pointed out these were previously identified and were in the process of being revised. The retendering process is supported by the PPP and it is the responsibility of those in charge to seek better financial arrangements, if these are possible. It is clear from the report, however, that the cost estimation is similar to other projects of this scale. The Report also supports the PPP’s position that AMAILA alone cannot meet Guyana’s long-term requirements. In that regard another similar sized hydropower project will be neces-

sary. In accordance with the PPP’s position wind and solar power are important adjuncts, but by themselves could not secure an emission-free status. Had APNU+AFC in opposition and in government supported this transformative project, Guyana today would have been on the verge of reliable, cheap energy now and there would have been no need to subsidize GPL. From the initial moments, APNU+AFC maximally impeded the project. When the investor requested a consensus position from Parliament, APNU+AFC rejected the motion to support the construction of AMAILA in 2012. They presented one scurrilous objection after another, but the only pertinent reason remains APNU+AFC’s fear that AMAILA promised a monumental transformation of our country and the lives of our people. They feared AMAILA was too richly endowed with the footprints and DNA of Jagdeo and the PPP. Our people once again became collateral damage in the political mischievousness of the PNC/APNU+AFC nexus. With AMAILA all of Guyana’s immediate needs for

electricity would be met and with AMAILA we can lower our electricity cost from about $US0.40 to under $US0.10 per KWH of energy. This would mean not only lower costs for households, allowing them a better standard of living, but also lower costs would make industries more productive, efficient and profitable. Guyana’s industries would lower cost of production and become more competitive with similar industries from other countries. We will be more competitive on the local and international markets. More industries and more employment would be created. Furthermore whether we call it LCDS (PPP) or “the green economy” (APNU+AFC), an emissionfree electricity system is critical. Wind power and solar power are important elements in the mix to produce an emission-free electricity system, but without hydropower, we would never be able to achieve an emission-free electricity grid. The Norway Report confirms that AMAILA is an imperative in our pursuit of an emission-free status. The Report is unambiguous and conclusive on this.

Silk for Justice George is unprecedented DEAR EDITOR; After two decades, nine lawyers including three women have been elevated to senior counsel, and it is the first time in the history of the country and the Caribbean, maybe in the Commonwealth that a sitting judge has been elevated to the Inner Bar. As far as I am aware advocates should be offered Silk and the elevation of Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire is certainly unprecedented. She is a brilliant and fair judge and highly respected, and if the government wanted to recognize her magnificent work they should offer her a high national honour such as Order of Roraima or Cacique Crown of Honour Trinidad and Tobago tried to award silk to its Chief Jus-

tice Ivor Archie and a Court of Appeal Judge Kangaloo but had to pull it back following protests by lawyers. Historically outstanding lawyers were invited to apply to be members of the inner bar but that tradition has changed over the years. Moreover senior counsel or Queen’s Counsel were not allowed to appear before a Judge without junior counsel and it was not the practice for them to appear in the Magistrate’s Court. The system has changed. The Desmond Hoyte administration appointed two Solicitors; Sase Narain and Eric Clarke as Senior Counsel after the profession was fused in 1980 when solicitors became attorneys at law and Desiree Ber-

nard, a solicitor who became attorney, was appointed a Judge - the first female judge in Guyana. If the Guyana government saw it fit to appoint a sitting judge senior counsel, why were the acting Chancellor Carl Singh and acting Chief Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards by passed? The current Attorney General, Basil Williams was elevated and so was Charles R a m s o n . W h y, A n i l Nandlall was overlooked? There are a few outstanding lawyers who were not considered including Murseline Bacchus, Fitz Peters, Nigel Hughes and Stephen Frazer, but a 91 year old former Solicitor, LLewelyn John is among the nine new silks. Oscar Ramjeet

President Granger lost the moral high ground DEAR EDITOR; I believe the handling of the CJRC’s lease revocation demonstrates poor judgement on the part of President Granger and his administration. Irrespective of the legality of the Government’s decision, a matter which is for the courts to decide, I believe President Granger, with the timing and demand of the announcement, lost the high moral ground on this matter. To announce the lease revocation in the midst of this the season of peace and goodwill, was certainly insensitive to nearly half the population who see Cheddi Jagan as their hero. Worse yet, to publicly announce the lease revocation on December 29 and request the lessee remove contents, and vacate the premises by December 31 was totally unrea-

sonable. It is difficult to understand what urgency necessitated the Government’s action at this time. Also troubling are reports that inaccurate information was provided to the Honourable Chief Justice by the Attorney General (AG) to support the Government’s position, as she (Madame Chief Justice) listened to the request for a conservatory order by the PPP. Contrary to what the AG is reported as saying, it appears the building was still occupied by the CJRC at the time of the petition. If the reports accurately present what transpired, this is great cause for concern as the Attorney General is the highest legal officer in the land. And this follows the recent misleading of the Legislature by the Minister of Health. Harry Hergash

Moreover, Guyana’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) at the 21st Session of the Conference of Parties (COP21) in Paris in 2015 committed to achieving zero emission and contribute 52M metric tons to the global carbon dioxide mitigation efforts by 2025. Neither of these commitments are even remotely plausible by 2025 if Guyana does not immediately restart AMAILA. Indeed, at the present rate, and particularly if oil becomes part of the economic picture in Guyana, we might very well be one of the few countries that increased our emission, rather than achieving reduced emission and rather than reducing carbon dioxide by 52M metric tons, we might well increased it, unless we build AMAILA. Besides all of this, Guyana has already invested major resources on building the roads to AMAILA and Guyana does not have to invest a single dollar in the construction and operation of AMAILA. We simply have to purchase the energy generated at an agreed cost starting from about half of what we generate energy at presently and then up to 66% savings. In addition, the annual subvention of more than $9B

to GPL would end, freeing up these resources for community development projects and initiatives. Our highways and streets could be affordably lighted up everywhere in Guyana. But there are other pressing reasons for AMAILA. In May 2014, the Caribbean Development Bank held its Annual General Meeting in Guyana. The President of the CDB alluded to the need for the Caribbean to frontally reject fossil fuel-based energy and to embrace a new energy paradigm. Dr. Warren Smith insisted that energy cost and reliability rank as among the greatest barriers confronting development in CARICOM. Indeed, energy cost is an albatross weighing CARICOM countries down and stifling our development. More than 90% of CARICOM’s energy is fossil-fuel dependent today. For two major reasons CARICOM countries must pursue a new paradigm: one is purely economics for all the above reasons and the other is environmental and climate change. APNU+AFC’s rejection of AMAILA repudiates the CDB’s position. The high and volatile price of electricity is “sucking the blood” out of CARICOM economies. Elec-

tricity prices in the Caribbean are among the highest in the world, and they fluctuate greatly with the global price of oil. The primary cause of the high cost of electricity is that most Caribbean countries use diesel and heavy fuel oil for electricity generation. Trinidad and Suriname at about 6 US cents per kilowatt hour are among the lowest cost and similar to charges in the USA. But Antigua at 42US cents and other countries that pay more than 30 US cents pay tariffs that are unsustainable. Guyana’s tariff rates are at about 40US cents per kwh. Additionally, oil-based energy systems contribute to CARICOM’s carbon footprint. In Guyana, hydroelectricity and solar energy can displace more than 90% of fossil fuel-based energy by 2025. It is in this context that AMAILA looms large. Terminating AMAILA disregards these realities and the pursuit of a new energy paradigm for Guyana and CARICOM. More than anything else, Dr. Smith’s call for a new energy paradigm in CARICOM in May 2014 was an endorsement of Guyana’s energy strategy under the PPP and of AMAILA. Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

The banned Khemraj Rai was close to the PPP DEAR EDITOR; It is very interesting to read in other sections of the media that the IDB has banned persons and companies for a number of years for wrongdoing. Banned is Mr. Khemraj Rai who was very close to the PPP/Civic administration and headed a number of Government Agencies. A

Google search shows that he sued your paper for $100 M in 2013 over the same matter. Did you have to settle with him? I just hope the IDB will also investigate the GPL tender award to CMC with the same thoroughness. It just seems that corruption is prevalent, whichever Government is in power. John Simmond.

I agonize over the closure of Wales Estate DEAR EDITOR; I couldn’t agree more with Lincoln Lewis’ letter to another section of the media on December 25 captioned “Wales Estate workers needed to be treated with respect”. Lewis quite eloquently, in his usually wellarticulated letters, made clear his criticism on the way the government and management of GuySuCo treated the workers at Wales by denying them any information whatsoever on the future of their lives. Lewis, quite rightly, traced the sacrifices and struggles that our forebears made to guarantee us the respect and dignity we deserve from those that serve and govern us. Editor, when I read the comments and sentiments offered by workers and their spouses and carried by your newspapers on the closure of the estate, I could feel their pain, anguish and hopelessness. In this season of yuletide blessings, we should all pray for the happiness and prosperity

of these people. Despite the Prime Minister, in his budget summary speech in the National Assembly just two weeks ago admitted that his government “slipped” in not informing the sugar workers in advance on the closure of the estate, they still could not find the time to offer some comfort to the Wales Estate community on what future plans are there for them on their employability. What was even more depressing was the company’s CEO rather than reaching out to the affected workers, reportedly

went off on a foreign vacation on the very day that the last bundle of canes was lifted on the estate. I don’t think, apart from the days of bondage and slavery, has it ever occurred that such large amount of people have been occupationally displaced without consultation on the future. It is indeed as Lewis put it a transgression on the Wales’ workers “inalienable right to be treated as equals with dignity and respect”. It is an unforgiveable act by the government and GuySuCo. Selwyn Narinedatt

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The NTA was bypassed when Ralph Ramkarran applied for the lease DEAR EDITOR; The National Trust Act (NTA) was absurdly bypassed altogether when CJRC principal, Ralph Ramkarran, still then a PPP member, would ‘successfully’ – a few months after the 2011 election – apply for a lease under Cap 59:01, a manouevre which, while clever, could only be validated if either there was explicit ministerial permission granted (from either Ramotar, or Anthony as designated by him) under the NTA, or Red House was at some point stripped of its national heritage site designation and could no longer be considered protected under the NTA. It should be noted that none of the PPP’s legal luminaries, Anil Nandlall in particular, have dared to mention the issue of Cap. 20:03 since it is inherently fatal to whatever public argument they are trying to make, and certainly would be to any such representation in a court of law. Whatever the mechanism, the transfer of a national heritage site to a political party’s front company was a massive betrayal of both the National Trust, the entity responsible for built heritage preservation, and the national trust, the implicit responsibility of government to protect national patrimony. This deceit did not merely include PPP as a party but also government officers whose responsibility was to uphold the tenets of both. Jagdeo might have refused to offer his permission under the NTA because he does not like to get his hands dirty, but to the effect that he did not quash the original application outright, he is complicit. Gail Teixeira, whose failures as a Minister of Culture are increasingly apparently, however well-disguised, would have been the responsible Minister under whose tenure this travesty was originally perpetuated. Her effective successor,

Dr. Frank Anthony, under whose incompetent management we saw the accelerated degradation or outright destruction of prime built heritage sites, from City Hall to the Umana Yana to the New Amsterdam Hospital, was the sitting Minister at the time the 2012 lease would have been issued. And Donald Ramotar of course, at all times being a party to this travesty, is equally responsible. Most insidious however, and herein we have evidence of a deliberate conspiracy to perpetuate Red House under effectively eternal PPP control, would be the role of Dr. James Rose. At the time the CJRC would have been established, Rose was serving as Executive Chairman (1999-2000) of the National Trust. At the time that Ramotar as director of CJRC would have been applying for Jagdeo to sign off on a lease agreement between the National Trust and CJRC management, Rose would not only have been a principal of that entity, but would also have been simultaneously serving as Chairman of the Board of the National Trust. At the time the 2012 lease would have been issued to CJRC Inc, he would have been serving as Director of Culture (DOC), operationally responsible not only for the National Trust, but for heritage protection and preservation policy in g e n e r a l . Herein we have a textbook conflict of interest operating as business as usual, something that should have resulted in Rose’ immediate dismissal as DOC since this issue was first raised over a year ago, an oversight that has fortunately since been corrected. The illicit transfer of Red House, a national heritage site sitting on several lots of prime real estate, has nothing to do with perpetuating the memory of a man known for his frugality and humility. It has everything to do with the Jagdeoite PPP

using that memory as a fig leaf for the appropriation of valuable state property at the expense of national patrimony, something the current administration would have failed to recognize when it entered into ‘negotiations’ with CJRC/PPP over a year ago. While I was in disagreement with that approach, I applaud His Excellency, President Granger on now taking swift and decisive action in not only retaking control of Red House but in assigning it to house the National Trust, the very institution that was deliberately bypassed in this fiasco. I believe, going forward, that the state should support the establishment of a Cheddi Jagan Research Centre in an apt location, whether a new facility funded by his indecently wealthy successors or as part of a general complex dedicated to our past presidents. Any negotiation at this point with the PPP however should simply be about taking precaution in moving Dr. Jagan’s papers and other artefacts to a safe and suitable location in a timely manner so as the facilitate the movement of the National Trust into Red House – I’m sure there is adequate temporary space in Dr. Jagdeo’s seaside mansion compound. In closing, for the record, while I understand the PPP’s desperate false opprobrium vigil/protest, predictably led by Jagdeo and Teixeira, any counter-protest involving opposing political party supporters is not only a recipe for disaster but it does precisely what the PPP wants, which is to obfuscate the issues at hand and project this as some extension of the apparently eternal struggle between the PPP and the PNC. This does a disservice to the decision taken by President Granger and diminishes what is the sort of strong, moral, ethical presidential action his critics have accused him of not engaging enough of in the first place. Ruel Johnson Cultural Policy Advisor Government of Guyana

I keep saying; APNU+AFC is... From page 4 established to manage their business. The people cannot continue living in an environment of zero-sum politics and unaccountable governance.

Tuesday January 03, 2017

Kaieteur News

This nation has had enough of leaders who say one thing when in opposition and do the opposite when in office. The APNU+AFC government must stop repeating the

mistakes of the PPP/C government. And the PPP/C opposition, if serious about making Articles 13 and 38A real, should now develop Bills to be placed in the National Assembly to put laws in place. Article 171 (1) of the Guyana Constitution makes provision for any member of the National Assembly to introduce any Bill, propose any motion or present any petition. Lincoln Lewis

Are police exempted from the tint requirement? DEAR EDITOR; Thank you for permitting me a space in your newspaper to air my concern. About 4 weeks ago I was stopped by a certain officer in front of the Leonora Police Station. After showing him the necessary documents he pointed out that the tint on my car was too dark. Mind you, I had 50% tint on the glass of my two front doors. He asked me to remove my tint which I did; after all who am I to argue since it’s the law. He proceeded to write up a recognizance to send me to court. Mind you had I already removed my tint. He stated that he still had to charge me since I had the tint on in the first place. This letter is not to bash those officers who are doing their job. This officer was very

professional in carrying out his duties. He was very prompt after I pointed out that I had an emergency meeting at the hospital. The purpose of this letter is to ask the Honorable Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, if the police officers’ privately owned vehicles are exempted from this tint removal exercise. Are family members and close friends of police officers exempted as well? Do these officers have tint permit for their privately owned vehicles? Why is it that we cannot see into their cars from whatever angle we stand? Why are they allowed 5% tint or any percentage of tints on the glass of all four doors, as well as the back and front windscreens? I know this current exercise is to assist in identifying criminals so my

question is; are the police and their family members and close friends hiding the criminals in their darkly tinted cars? The police don’t know who the criminals are even if they walk up and kiss them on their cheeks. Are these police and their compatriots who blatantly break the law untouchable? Or does quicksilver run in their veins? I refuse to bribe any police. If I break the law I shall have my day in court. I request the Honorable Minister Khemraj Ramjattan to enforce this law on the police as well. Charge and drag them to court along with the civilians. Civilians are scared to bring to light the issue as it relates to darkly tinted police private-owned cars, for fear of victimization. Honest Citizen

Tit for Tat Politics in Guyana How do the politicians in APNU/AFC defend the indefensible? Why seek to seize assets legitimately owned in some cases or controlled by the PPP/C or their representatives or supporters? When these assets amount to a drop in the ocean compared to the other resources and assets available for ownership, control and management by APNU/AFC in the ocean of Guyana -Exxon Mobil findings included. These actions were not part of the platform that APNU/AFC promised pre-election, yet here we are acting as if we are two nations with two destinies. Why do our politicians have to inflict deep and unnecessary divisions amongst the Guyanese people? Does this not take us backwards to intense hatred and an urge to rebel against a fairly elected coalition government? The PPP/C was duly elected and used their tenure of office to not only contribute to the development of Guyana, providing a period of economic growth never seen in Guyana’s history; even as the hierarchy of the party and major supporters used the government structure to enrich themselves, politically speaking there is nothing unusual about their conduct. Machiavelli noted that “A ruler never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise” and indeed the APNU/AFC can find multiple legitimate reasons to seize Red House from PPP/C, but is this action good of Guyana – with the resulting animus, ven-

d e t t a m e n t a l i t y, a n d pillarizing of racism; this is clearly not the route to take. As much as I supported APNU/AFC preelection, my groundings with brothers and supporters of PPP/C has grown post elections, as acts of folly and hypocrisy have obtained far too frequently from the coalition. It is always easier to meet with the opposition than those who carry the titles. One of the great mistakes of the populace is to judge politicians by their intentions rather than their results – with apologies to Milton Friedman. Invariably in politics, friends become pawns, mere creatures to manipulate and use whenever convenient. Politicians tend to have interests only and those who occupy the halls of power often believe the titles they carry represent a divine right to rule with hubris, insolence, arrogance and the gravy of egotism. Of course, there is a timeline to all this pomposity. Now here we are in 2017 – with Red House under threat of seizure; Properties in Pradoville mostly owned by the PPP/C hierarchy being targeted for repricing; sugar estates being unjustifiably placed on the chopping block for auction or divestment; leadership in the National Assembly seemingly hellbent on suspending an attorney over tablets or tattle; skilled technocrats (W. Brassington and A. Singh to name two) fleeing from Guyana for fear of be-

ing persecuted and possibly jailed; the NICIL non case; these backward-looking stratagems are so damaging to the Guyanese psyche that one sees only self-destruction ahead. We are damning our country to failure. The party in power should be seeking with all hands-on deck to find ways to continue the development of Guyana and avoid the futile, backward, and dangerous practice of focusing on the rear-view mirror, while trying to go forward. Doing so will only lead to more divisions, divisiveness and vendettas when the other party inevitably takes power. Those in power tend to think it will last forever or deceive themselves into believing it will be so; history has exposed this fallacy. Even the blemished Trump will not prosecute or persecute Ms. Clinton. Let bygones be bygones…let sleeping dogs lie… let all things past, pass… Why spend much needed resources, energy and human capital to undo our heritage, instead we should work to replicate, increase, improve and perfect numerous assets in other locations, using the vast resources available for development in the ocean of Guyana. “Nothing can destroy a government more quickly than its failure to observe its own laws, or worse, its disregard of the charter of its own existence” – Tom C. Clark, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Nigel Hinds

Tuesday January 03, 2017

NICIL still owed billions; takes debtors to court By Abena RockcliffeCampbell The National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL) has finally made moves to recover huge sums of money owed to the entity. NICIL’s Officer in Charge (OC), Horace James, informed the media of this at the first press conference held since Winston Brassington lost control of the company almost two years ago. The Forensic Audit into the affairs of NICIL had revealed that the company was owed more than $2B by several companies collectively. James said that NICIL has started trying to collect the money. He told the media, “We have quite a few (companies) in court.” Further, he said that NICIL has started repossession of some of the lands sold for which monies are still outstanding. “We even hired special lawyers who will be chasing down those who owe us. We got judgment in one case in Berbice and we are progressively pursuing those who owe us.” The OC indicated the struggling Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) owes NICIL a large sum. He said that GuySuCo owes just about $61M for the rental of 199 Camp Street property. James told the media that

NICIL’s Officer in Charge, Horace James NICIL has tried to recover the money. “We wrote to (Finance Minister Winston) Jordan outlining those Government agencies which owe us. We didn’t take them to court at first and we thought it was wise to go to the Minister at first. He did indicate he would meet our board to discuss those matters.” James said that the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) owes NICIL $74M for works done at Sparendaam. This is for upgrades at Pradoville. These were paid for by NICIL. But, the entity was supposed to be reimbursed by CH&PA. The Ministry of Public

Infrastructure also owes NICIL $174M. NICIL had paid for works done on Battery Road leading up to Marriott. The Ministry of Infrastructure is yet to repay this sum. James said, “There are other agencies that owe us and they amount to about 30; which are just normal transactions.” The forensic audit conducted by Anand Goolsarran indicated that companies such as Scady Business Corporation, Hong Kong Telecom, Guyana Stores, Guyana National Industrial Corporations, Linmine Secretariat, BK International and AMC Receivables owe huge sums of cash. The amount of $1B (equivalent to US$5 million) owed by Hong Kong Telecoms relates to the sale of GT&T shares which were sold for US$30 million in 2012 of which US$25 million was received. The balance of US$5 million was due and payable before the end of 2014. In 2008, NICIL sold 4.7 acres of land (Tract RU) to Scady Business Corporation for $115 million. According to NICIL’s publication, “Privatization in Tables: Phase II – 1993-2011”, this amount was paid to NICIL. However, an amount of $15.014 million remained outstanding for over eight years.

Presentation of M&CC 2017 revenue estimates

New by-laws, upgrading laws on infrastructure on agenda The Georgetown Mayor and City Council, (M&CC) is getting ready to present its annual estimates of revenue and expenditure to the citizenry of Georgetown by the end of January. This is according to a statement released by the Georgetown M&CC. The Georgetown M&CC budget for 2017, contemplates regulating reform, the intro-

duction and implementation of new by-laws and upgrading of old laws on infrastructure, substantial improvement in environmental and public health services, capacity building to improve required competencies of staff and to upgrade council’s technological capabilities, good corporate governance and financial management, green urban development.

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In addition, the Council will be working with local communities to promote the concept of Green communities which include implementation of an integrated Solid Waste Management Strategy in Georgetown. So far, the estimates were discussed at finance committee, and full council, where senior officers presented their (Continued on page 10)

Over 9,000 cases of malaria recorded in 2016 - as strategic efforts made to control vector borne illnesses

More than 9,000 new cases of malaria were recorded across the 10 administrative regions during the course of last year. The majority of cases were detected in Region One. This is according to Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton, who during his Ministry’s year-end press conference last Friday revealed that the number of new cases recorded has amounted to some 9,415. In 2015 about 8,000 cases of malaria were recorded by the Ministry of Public Health’s Vector Control Services Unit. This suggests that there has either been an increase in cases or the Ministry has been able to improve its surveillance capacity in order to detect more cases. Malaria is transmitted by the female anopheles mosquitoes. Its symptoms include: shaking chills that can range from moderate to severe, high fever, profuse sweating, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and anemia. In its efforts to heighten detection of malaria during the course of the past year,

Minister Norton said that a pilot project was rolled out in 2016 which saw the training of miners in Region Eight to use malaria rapid testing kits and to administer treatment for uncomplicated cases of malaria. Ninety-six miners from mining areas such as Black Water, Jumbie Creek, Micobie, and Konawaruk were trained. Operations Training Officer of the Vector Control Services Unit of the Public Health Ministry, Keith Moore, had during the past year revealed that the Ministry embraced the initiative to train miners with a view to having malaria diagnosed quickly. This move, he said, translated to miners being taught how to do rapid malaria tests and also to take blood smears. “We train them to treat according to the diagnosis. We will give them the drugs to treat, we will teach them how to treat and we will give them everything they need to do that work,” Moore said. He, however, asserted that “we are looking for one

type of treatment so this service is not going to be extended to children and pregnant women.” The initiative, according to Moore, was deliberately designed to help ensure that miners in particular are diagnosed early and treated early. This is important, Moore noted, since it has been proven that once patients are subjected to early treatment they have a better chance of recuperating properly. The camp that the Ministry has used to pilot the initiative is one that is owned by a miner Ian Best, in whose care all equipment, drugs and other materials to deal with malaria are kept. The camp, Moore said, is situated in Region Eight beyond Mahdia thus miners who become inflicted with malaria will no longer have to wait to be taken to the Mahdia Hospital for treatment since they can now be treated immediately. However, reports of cases, Moore said, are still being sent to the Mahdia Hospital and it is entered into the system there. According to Moore, “the initiative has (Continued on page

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Kaieteur News

Whistleblowers demand forensic audit into IAST - accuse senior official of abusing, wasting hundreds of $$millions

Calls are being made for a forensic audit into the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST) with accusations of abuse of resources and funds being leveled against a top official. The organization, based in the University of Guyana, is tasked with developing technologies for local use. However, despite hundreds of millions of dollars being plugged into the entity over the last decade, very little success has been seen, it is being claimed. In recent months, there has been a number of scathing letters appearing in Kaieteur News and other media, regarding the operations of IAST and its current Director, Professor Suresh Narine. A number of internal documents handed over to

Kaieteur News by whistleblowers in IAST - also complaining about the situation - indicated that President David Granger was written to last May. Details of spending indicate that accounts have been manipulated to cover-up what appeared to be many trails of wrongdoing. For several weeks now, Kaieteur News has been attempting to meet with Professor Narine, who happens to be a lecturer at Trent University, Canada, and a senior official at CGX Resources, an oil exploration company that has concessions in Guyana, but to no avail. According to documents, IAST between 2009 and 2014 was granted almost $500M to do research on various projects. One allocation had to do

with a $100M project relating to Coconut-Derived High Value Chemicals. Four years later, critical equipment for this project has not been completely installed and work has not commenced. It was alleged that in 2009, nearly $29M was spent on an “old” rubber recycle plant purchased from a friend of a senior IAST official. The plant was repainted and placed into operations for a short while. The plant was supposed to cut old tires to produce asphalt using a mobile plant costing in excess of $24M. The asphalt was supposed to be used to cover nearly 1,500 plates on the Demerara Harbour Bridge. However, after 300 plates, the equipment was left idle with the old tire mincing machine unable to compensate for the fuel it was consuming.

In 2010, it was alleged that $70M was spent on establishing a Rainforest Bio-Prospecting research laboratory. Six years on, it is unclear what happened to this project. In 2014, the spending continued. Some $50M was allocated to research alternatives to mercury in the gold recovery process. Instead, some of the money totaling $14.5M was reportedly used to buy a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado and a Nissan Xtrail for the use by two senior IAST officials. Some five years ago, it was alleged that CGX and IAST agreed to construct a Hall of Residence for $50M. A sod-turning exercise was held at IAST compound, Turkeyen, and monies were deposited in a bank account. This project is at a standstill. According to the leaked documents, there are many instances of spending for personal reasons but these were registered in IAST accounts as routine business. It is alleged, also, that Prof. Narine, while a full-time employee of a Canadian University, collects an honorarium of more than $600,000

IAST office, UG compound.

Professor Suresh Narine tax free monthly for being the director of IAST. He shares his time between the Trent University and Guyana. President Granger was written to and told that IAST was made to authorize at least 12 first class plane tickets from Canada to Guyana annually from 2005 to the present; these plane tickets are not part of the conditions of employment of Professor Narine, but were recorded under the budget line item “Overseas Conferences and

Official Visits”. While his contract mentions a government housing allowance which normally amounts to no more than $30,000, IAST has been paying Narine $242,000 monthly, from 2006 to the present. As a matter of fact, IAST paid him $242,000 monthly for about eight months in 2015during time his house at Herstelling, East Bank Demerara was completely dismantled and rebuilt. He was, during these months, reportedly living in the CGX building, in the city. Kaieteur News saw documents in which it was alleged that a senior IAST official even paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for vacation trips with family members to Annai and Paramakatoi and these were recorded as research work in the accounts. Since taking office in May 2015, the Coalition Government has launched several forensic audits into the operations of state entities. A number of the reports have been referred to the police for further investigations against a number of government officials.

Rose Hall celebrates 46 years of Township in 2016 - presented with recreational play park Rose Hall town Corentyne, on September 2016 celebrated 46 years as a township. Rose Hall became a township on the September 20, 1970. The Town was presented with a recreational play park by the Rose Hall Sports Club in collaboration with the Nand Persaud Company. According to the Secretary of Rose Hall Sports Club, Hilbert Foster, permission was sought and was granted by the Mayor and Town Council of Rose Hall for the construction of the play park. The park has slides, see saws, swings, curve walker, flower garden and seating in the making. Named after the

first patron of the Rose Hall Sports Club, former President of Guyana, the park is called the “Hugh Desmond Hoyte Memorial Family Park”. For the Town’s 46th anniversary, the Mayor and Town Council under Mayor Vigale Ramroop decided that the Rose Hall Sports Club would coordinate the Town’s celebration last year; among the activities that were held were an opening ceremony and march pass, medical outreach, public exhibition, dancing competition and steel band concert, educational events namely, essays, spelling bee, feeding of the poor, launching of the Town’s magazine and the history of Rose Hall,

career fair, public concert and a day of sports. Present at the launching ceremony for the recreational park was the Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence, who said, “I believe the focus on the babies— the young ones— to provide a safe space for them would have put a smile on (Hugh Desmond Hoyte’s) face.” The Minister of Social Protection added, “I am happy that all the particulars used to make the play instruments are all locally made. I look at the thoughtfulness at how we can use the tyres when they cannot be used or they ought not (Continued on page 10)

Tuesday January 03, 2017

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PRINCIPLE OR INTEREST? People must be careful about the causes they support. They could be supporting causes which can turn around and bite them. The political divisions in our country make hypocrites of many an otherwise principled person. The political

divisions force us to make principle secondary to that of interests. What is in the interest of my group or that which I support is far more important that the principles which I would have otherwise defended and embraced. Imagine that you have

decided to rent a building from a landlord. You take up possession of the building only to later find out when there is a change in the landlord that the former landlord did not concur with some legal requirement of the rental agreement. Is it fair that the tenant

Constables on narcotics charge further remanded

Remanded: (l) Bharat Shattapaul and (r) Delroy Fraser The two constables who were remanded to jail on a joint narcotics change have been further remanded to jail when they reappeared before Magistrate Mauricia Mittleholzer on Friday in the Albion Magistrate’s Court. The Constables who were attached to the Central Police Station, New Amsterdam are charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking. Bharat Shattapaul, 28, of

45 Princeton, Corriverton, Berbice and Delroy Fraser, 24, of 31-32 Belladrum Village West Coast Berbice, had pleaded not guilty when they first appeared in the Whim Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Charlene Artiga. Their case has been rescheduled for January 16. Shattapaul is being represented by attorney at law Mursalene Bacchus while Fraser is being represented by attorney at law Kim Kyte.

Shattapaul, who has been a serving member of the Guyana Police Force Traffic Department for the past eight years, and Fraser, who only joined last March, were reportedly returning to Region Six using the force vehicle (bus) on December 19, 2016, when it is alleged that the driver, Constable Shattapaul, in the company of Fraser, received two parcels from an unidentified individual on (Continued on page 23)

Dem boys seh

Basil confusing Soulja Bai Somebody advising Soulja Bai to do all de wrong things. In fact, dem boys believe that this person advising Soulja Bai to mek bad friends. De other day he appoint some senior counsel. This is a big thing in de legal profession because it does set one lawyer apart from another. When de news come out dem boys notice some people who should get de ‘Silk’ ain’t get. One man seh that Nigel didn’t get it because Soulja Bai think that because de man wife is a minister de opposition would accuse him of only playing to party people. But dem boys seh if that is de case how come he give Basil de Willie? This man is de party chairman. Is then somebody whisper that .is de same Basil de Willie who mek de rec-

ommendations. If that is de case he really bareface to pick heself. That is like de boy who got de cricket bat. He got to bat first. De same Basil ignore some people who been in de line up before he. Then he put up a judge who been good. Now de lady ain’t got friends because Basil put dem very friends against her. De Chancellor get ignore and de CJ get bypass. People now arguing that Basil should know better than to recommend a sitting judge. De one good thing is that de award

don’t bring in more money. But it surely carrying bad name and all because of Basil de Willie. It carry a nice gown too. All who is senior counsel does wear a special gown. Dem boys seh is a pity de title don’t carry a big gold chain like how de mayor got a gold chain. This is de same Basil de Willie who sport Old Year’s Night. He eat chowmein and throw up fry rice because he stomach just as confusing as he. Talk half and hope dem got another award ceremony soon.

should be punished for the failure of the landlord to keep his end of the agreement? Almost all Guyanese would deem it an injustice for a tenant to be penalized for the mistake oversight of a landlord. They will argue in a real life tenant and landlord case that if it is the landlord who failed to do something that is required under law, then the tenant should not have to bear the consequences of the landlord’s mistake. Almost all Guyanese will stand on the side of the principle that the innocent should not pay for the guilty. Yet if you transpose the above facts and make the tenant the PPP, there will be tens of thousands of prejudiced minds who will invert the very principle which they stand for and argue vehemently that the tenant, the PPP, is not entitled to any rights as a tenant of the State and should be punished for the failure of the State to do something which the State alleged was not done and which was required to be done by the State. The government is arguing that certain legal requirements in relation to the lease granted to the PPP/C were not satisfied. This column does not concur with this argument

made by the government. But for the sake of argument, let us assume that the State in granting a lease for Red House, omitted to satisfy certain legal requirements. Let us accept what the government is saying. Let us assume that there were legal defects in the agreement. Does this give the right of the government to punish the group who in good faith would have entered into that agreement only to discover later than certain requirements were not fulfilled by the landlord, in this case the State. Should someone in de facto lease of a State facility be expelled because the landlord failed to do what was legally necessary? Should a tenancy be squashed simply because the landlord failed to make good on his commitments. These are the legal questions which are likely to be determined by the Court in the case of the Red House. These are not simplistic legal questions. They go to the heart of our understanding of the rights of tenants and the remedies which can be pursued. The politics of Guyana is sadly reduced to a zero sum game. A win for the PPP,

means a loss for the PNC and vice versa. But there are times when a win for one actually can mean a loss for the entire nation. The Red House case is fraught with such implications. It has deep implications not just for the possession of Red House but for the rights of all tenants. If a landlord can simply quash a tenancy agreement on the grounds that the agreement made in his name was not properly executed and therefore null and void, then the rights of all tenants are threatened. If the landlord can give a tenant a mere 42 hours notice to remove then consider what this means for tenants throughout Guyana. Those who are waving the anti-PPP banner in this present dispute may find themselves supporting a cause which has wider implications for all persons who are renting properties, be it from the State or private individuals.

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=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

I’m afraid of what they will do to me at the Berbice Bridge I read the story last week as told by a 68-year-old outgoing passenger. She was stripped search at the Timehri airport. The police did not find any proof of criminal violation. When her description of ill-treatment flowed, I felt nothing. I wasn’t angry. I wasn’t emotional. I was human. And by that I mean that humans adapt. The mind adapts. The mind becomes accustomed to its constant battering so it no longer reacts. The ordeal of the 68-

year-old woman I have read about under different governments over decades and decades. So shouldn’t the mind become numb? The woman said the security officials were rude to her and did not offer a reason for the search. It is possible that the security ranks that treated the woman that way were the same people who have done that several times and were never upbraided so they feel they have a license to do that? What is wrong with this

country that keeps it to the lowest level of a banana republic? It is the unadulterated dishonesty and total insensitivity of the people who had administered this country since the colonials departed. Take a deep, studied look at the faces and expressions of our leaders going away back right up to the present time when they open a business, a conference, an exhibition, are at an ambassadorial party, or a cocktail for visiting dignitaries.

Rose Hall celebrates 46 years... Children enjoying a moment on the see saws at the Hugh Desmond Hoyte Memorial Family Park

From page 8 to be use on vehicles and I think that is another way of using our minds of utilising what is around and within our community to make our community look better”. In addition, Minister Lawrence said, “I call on the teachers to bring the pupils out here as much as possible for too many times we focus on keeping the children in the classroom, bring them out where they can enjoy clean air and also the instruments provided. “Also I want to encourage parents to come off your cell phones for a little bit and bring out the babies out here some afternoons. I believe that you all should be proud of this work that was done here, not only by the club but

also the fact that your private sector sought to join hands with you because they see it as a good purpose and development for the young minds of Rose Hall.” Mahendra Persaud, Chief Executive Officer of Nand Persaud Company, and one of Guyana’s leading businessman said that it is important for parents to get their kids out on the field not only for physical fitness but also for communication and building young capacity whereby children can reach out to other children and share ideas and play together so as to get them to understand different cultures. Persaud further said, “And that is why playgrounds like this must be fully utilised for physical fitness

and for the enhancement of kid’s communication. As a company we would always want to do things and assist in things that would make people happy.” Mayor of Rose Hall, Vigale Ramroop, said that despite many criticisms about the project they were able to successfully complete it. “When you look at the characters that make the criticism you have to judge them, where you come from, where you are and where you are going to be”. Mayor Ramroop concluded, “This play field would be welcomed for the children at this Christmas season. Where development is, and once you can keep persons from drugs and crime, I am with you. “We have done a lot so far and we can achieve more, but we need the unity of the people to understand that the life of people is important for us.”

It is the look of satisfaction and psychological enjoyment. That is because those things stimulate them. They live for these things. Our leaders do not miss an official cocktail function. If a president should come to power in Guyana and ban his/her ministers from these sybaritic circuits, he/she would get resignations en masse. You are taking away the things that make these people tick. I normally advise my friends who cannot get to see the big ones because they are never in their offices to get into the cocktail reception and you will see them. They will talk to you. That is the ambience they love to chat in. They will listen to you while holding their glasses. They are dishonest in the sense that they show no concern when their subjects are violated but when the violation hits home then you see the madness. Remember the saying; “Who feels it knows it.” You want to see how quick this country would be emptied of insane, homeless people pelting objects at citizens, let the victim be the wife or husband or mother or father or child of one of the big ones. They will import an aircraft carrier to transport those

crazy people to the far recesses of the Atlantic. I am willing to bet that if it was the puppy of the wife or daughter of a minister that was promptly put to death at the Eugene Correia Airport that vet would have been charged for treason and the trial would have taken place the same day, the sentence carried out the same day. Do you know then Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, walked into Kaieteur News one evening and went straight to the desk of Adam Harris. His complaint was that the papers did not properly put the side of his son when the police arrested him. Remember the saying; “who feels it knows it.” Do you know the number is countless of young men that the police treated the way Robeson Benn said his son was treated? Excuse me for some chauvinistic display but I must mention how irate I was when Benn walked in, that we had a confrontation that necessitated Adam and the late Dale Andrews to intervene to cool me down. Benn came to Kaieteur News to complain that the police mistreated his son; I repeat his son. Do you know the DPP

Frederick Kissoon wrote the police high command to have police officer, Maurice Smith dismissed because at the airport he searched her suitcase and that of her husband. Attorney Nigel Hughes produced the letter in court after Smith was charged for drug trafficking. Strange country! The officer searched the DPP’s luggage and he ended up being charged for trafficking in cocaine. The court ruled in his favour. Let’s return to the 68-yearold woman. She said she is not coming back. At least she will be comforted in the fact that she doesn’t have to live with dishonest and insensitive leaders. My fear for 2017 is that at the Berbice Bridge they are going to seize my dog and put her to death when I leave Region 4 to go to Region 6 if I do not have a vet clearance.

New by-laws, upgrading laws on infrastructure on agenda The Georgetown M&CC is preparing for presentation of its 2017 budget estimates

From page 07 budgets and programme of works for their respective departments and sections, for 2017. The budget was finalized and approved by full Council and signed by the City Treasurer Ron Mc Almont. The Finance Committee Chairman, Councillor, Oscar Clarke, will present the budget to citizens at a special session as stipulated in the Municipal and District Councils Act Chapter

28:01 section 155(2), which states that copies of the estimates a p p r o v e d b y t h e Council shall be submitted to the Minister and copies shall be opened for public inspection. At the budget presentation stakeholders inc l u d i n g P r i v a t e S e c t o r, Government and NonGovernm ental Organizations, religious, community leaders and citizens would be invited to participate in the session.

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NICIL is 100 percent shareholder in Marriott Hotel - But yet to earn a single cent on investment –Officer in Charge By Kiana Wilburg Even though the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) has invested millions of dollars in the Marriott Hotel, the entity is yet to draw back a single cent from the business venture. This is according to Officer in Charge of NICIL, Horace James. During NICIL’s end of year press conference on Friday, the officer was asked that given the state of affairs, why is there a strong interest in moving forward with the completion of the Entertainment Complex for the Hotel. The Casino and Entertainment Complex of the facility was proposed at an additional US$16M. James said, “We attended the Annual General Meeting for the Marriott Hotel and the Board still believes that it is the way to go. The members believe that once they go through with that, they will be able to get over the financial hurdles being faced now.” The NICIL Officer said that the Marriott Hotel is able to generate finances to remain

operable. He emphasized however that the company is yet to make enough to service its debt. He said, too, that the decision to go forward with the Entertainment Complex is hinged on the fact that the feasibility study for the hotel supports its establishment. James was asked to identify who is going to fund the Entertainment complex. He said, “There is still some outstanding money from Republic Bank that might be possible. The board in charge of the Hotel will obviously have to revise its plan to the Bank and I believe that it is working on that aspect.” The official confirmed that NICIL would be held liable for that loan as well. James was also asked who is going to repay the loan if Marriott has found itself in a position where it is only able to break even. The Officer in Charge of NICIL said that the entity has written to the Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, requesting help in this regard. He said that Atlantic Hotel Inc. (AHI), the Special Pur-

pose Company established to own the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown, has also written the Bank on the matter. This issue is yet to be resolved. “Most of the money that we had was utilized in Marriott hotel. We have purchased shares in the hotel to the tune of US$4M ($800M) and that gives 100 percent ownership. We have the subordinated bonded shares with US$15.5M. There was also some bridge financing done by NICIL which was done prior to June 2015.” Additionally, the NICIL Officer was asked to say if there were any preferential buyers outside of NICIL for the Marriott Hotel. In this regard, James said, “I am not certain. I know a loan was taken in the name of AHI. NICIL stood as the guarantor and that is a problem…But it is correct to say we are the 100 percent shareholder in the Marriott.” It was only last year that Finance Minister Winston Jordan said, that if the price is right, Government would be willing to rid itself of the

President David Granger New Year’s message as CARICOM’s Chairman - focus on arrest warrants, assets forfeiture Message of the Chairperson: I extend to all best wishes for a bright, prosperous and productive New Year as we enter 2017, the Forty-Fourth Year of our Community. This year marks the midpoint of our Five-Year Strategic Plan for the period 2015-2019, a foundational element in the Community’s Reform Process. That process is geared towards ensuring that our people feel the impact of the integration movement in their daily lives. Integration is not merely about systems and institutions. It is mostly about people. It is in the interest of developing our people that we are taking steps to ensure that they are fully equipped to address the requirements of the 21st Century economy and society. Our Commission on Human Resource Development is developing a Regional Education and Human Resource Strategy with special attention to ICT in Education and Human Resource Development. Convinced as we are that the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) is the vehicle through which we can achieve the growth and

President, David Granger development, timely assessments will serve to ensure that we maximise its benefits for our citizens. Notwithstanding the substantial progress that has been made, Heads of Government will review its operations and identify ways to improve its delivery. Our nations are well endowed with the requirements for pursuing a Green Economy including sources of renewable energy and forests that harbor a significant amount of carbon. As noted by the Rio+20

United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, “the green economy can be seen as a lens for focusing on and seizing opportunities to advance economic and environmental goals simultaneously”. The effects of climate change continue to bedevil our countries as exemplified by Hurricane Matthew. The need to conserve and protect our environment, therefore, becomes even more pressing. Such actions will also give us the opportunity to leverage the abundant forests and wetlands as well as the marine resources with which our Region is blessed and utilize them creatively to launch new pathways to social and economic development. This can be accomplished while ensuring that we help in the global commitment to limit the rise in global temperature to below 1.5 degrees. The people of this Region have also made a considerable contribution to the global community in the sphere of culture. Later this year, our premier cultural exposition, the Caribbean Festival of the Arts (CARIFESTA), will be held in Barbados. The 13th edition (Continued on page 23)

Officer in Charge of NICIL, Horace James Marriott Hotel. At the time, Jordan was asked to provide an update on what Government has decided to do with the Hotel it inherited from the previous regime. He recalled that the government has made it clear on several occasions that it has no intention of being competitively involved in the hotel industry. When asked about the possibility of Government

selling the hotel, Jordan responded, “Let me put it this way, if Government gets a credible offer or buyer, it will divest itself of the hotel.” The Finance Minister said that Cabinet has established a subcommittee that is looking at the issue and the best way of relieving the government of any responsibility in owning the hotel. He noted that the Committee includes members such as Business Minster, Dominic

Gaskin and Junior Finance Minister, Jaipaul Sharma. The Finance Minister reiterated, “Government is determined not to own the hotel.” Junior Finance Minister, Jaipaul Sharma, has since expressed the belief that any serious attempt to sell the Marriott Hotel would perhaps see the Government pushing for the completion of the hotel’s casino and entertainment complex. In a recent interview, Sharma said that this was one of the issues raised during a meeting with the members of the subcommittee set up to plan the way forward for Government regarding the future of the Marriott. AHI had initially approached Republic Bank to secure a loan from a consortium of investors to raise US$27M. However, this was cut short as a result of court action filed by then opposition Member of Parliament, Desmond Trotman. That court action resulted in only US$15.3M being transferred from Republic Bank to Atlantic Hotel Inc for the multi-million dollar hotel. Sharma noted that the case, according to his information, has been dropped. Now AHI has access to some US$11M, the remainder of the $27M loan from Republic Bank.

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Tuesday January 03, 2017

80-year-old Plaisance resident who died at Berbice bus park identified The elderly man who collapsed and died on Saturday (Old Year’s Day) at the minibus park has been identified as 80-year-old Plaisance resident, Ulric Harold Beresford. The man’s daughter, Simone

Beresford, of Lot 780 Glasgow Housing Scheme, reported on Monday morning at the Central Police Station that she had identified the body as that of her father. The man had reportedly

travelled from his home in Plaisance and spent the day by his daughter. He was reportedly on his way back to his Plaisance home when he collapsed and died. It was reported that he suffered

from diabetes. Beresford was at the New Amsterdam Rosignol Bus Park. He had an umbrella and a bag in his possession. He reportedly walked up to one of the minibuses and rested

his bag on the seat. He was about to step onto the bus when he fell backwards into the arms of the bus driver who was standing next to the passenger’s door. The driver of the bus subse-

quently rested the man on the ground in an effort to revive him but he seemed to have died. Several calls to the New Amsterdam Hospital went unanswered. The police were summoned and responded p r o m p t l y . The police had checked his belongings and found medication and slip issued by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) with his name Ulric Harold Bedsford. His body was taken to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital Mortuary where it is awaiting a post mortem examination. Investigations are continuing.

Tuesday January 03, 2017

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Kaieteur News

Haiti observes 214th anniversary of political independence PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) – Haiti marked the 214th anniversary of its political independence acknowledging that after so many years “we are still unable to feed our people, educate our children, provide care health care to our compatriots and to rebuild the infrastructure necessary for the economic development of our country”. The celebrations come amidst growing tensions in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country where citizens still await the official results of the November 20 last year presidential and legislative elections. Last weekend, the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) released partial final results and the posting of decisions of Office of the National Electoral Litigation (BCEN) concerning disputes of candidates for the legislative elections. But that did not prevent violent incidents in several communes including in Marigot, south east of here, where the town hall was burned and destroyed. “Unidentified individuals set fire to the building….There is nothing left,” said the Mayor, René Danneau, adding also that a discotheque was also burnt down and two other houses damaged by fire. Vandals also attacked the house of the deputy mayor who has since promised to cooperate fully with the police and the judiciary in the investigation even though he was unable to identify those involved in the incident. In his address to mark the independence anniversary on Sunday, Interim President Jocelerme Privert said Haiti has a historic place in the shared struggle for independence in the Western Hemisphere. “In spite of the accidents of our history which brought us humiliations, the date of 1st January carries for us a particular density of emotions and feelings, through the asperities of the path travelled. “January 1st find us each year to this pilgrimage to the heart of the spirit in the authentic time of Gonaives the pole of all the patriotic convergences where the ancestors for obvious reasons have chosen to lay the foundation stone of the national edifice.” But he acknowledged that for 213 years “our country has faced a series of challenges and conflicts which should no longer

frighten the descendants of 1804. “We are still unable to feed our people, educate our children, provide care health care to our compatriots and to rebuild the infrastructure necessary for the economic development of our country. “The night would be long and the day too short for a complete declination of our needs, we have already tried a wide range of forms of government and yet we have tumbled over the decades of the status of Pearl of the Antilles to the shameful label of the poorest country of the Americas.” Privert, who came into office after President Michel Martelly left in February without an e l e c t e d s u c c e s s o r, s a i d that he does not intend to give lessons to anyone, on how “we are all responsible, we are obliged to agree, to do our mea culpa so that we move forward. “We are all Haitian, we must accept with humility that every Haitian has his contribution to bring for the search for the solution. We must create a better tomorrow for all our children”. Privert said when he left prison he “realized that the best way for this country to move forward is to learn how to forgive, to sit with one another. “ To d a y I a s k t h e Haitian people to sit together. Let us analyze, agree on what is good for the country, because 2017 is the year when the country has to take a leadership,” he said, adding “for the crisis to end, for the instability to end, we have to be tolerant, we have the ability to listen to the other, to sit together, we can have different positions, but we can find good solutions for the country”. He acknowledged that it would be a difficult task “to forgive but we must remember that without forgiveness there would not have been the Archaie Congress leading to the proclamation of independence. “Today we are in a delicate situation, the Fathers of the Nation looks at us, they reproach us, they rebuke us because today, after 213 years of independence we have foreign soldiers on our territory, because the conflicts have reached us and we cannot sit together to manage them.” Privert urged Haitians to make an effort “to put ourselves together to finish

Interim President Jocelerme Privert once and for all with the presence of foreign soldiers on our territory. “On the eve of handing over power to an elected President my concerns about the future of the country are big out I know that coming out of the tunnel of poverty

and instability is within the reach of citizens who cultivate in the highest degree the love of the common and immortal homeland.” President Privert added. Meanwhile, the United States and Venezuela sent congratulatory messages to

Haiti with Washington noting that nearly one million people in the United States are of Haitian ancestry. “Our shared pride in that heritage resulted this year in the designation of Little Haiti as an official neighbourhood of Miami, Florida. The vibrancy of Little Haiti is a symbol of the community’s advocacy for historic preservation and a testament to its incorporation intothefabricofU.S. culture and society. “As Haiti rebuilds from the impact of Hurricane Matthew in the country’s southwest, the United States reaffirms its unwavering friendship for the people of Haiti. We view 2017 as an opportunity to continue to work together in support of the full renewal of Haiti’s democratic institutions and the seating of a new

president elected by the Haitian people,” US Secretary Of State John Kerry said. President Nicolas Maduro said that it was in Haiti that Liberator Simon Bolivar found support and support in the most difficult times for the emancipation of the ‘Patria Grande’. “The Bolivarian R e p u b l i c o f Ve n e z u e l a reiterates to the people of Haiti their determination to build a more integrated, fair and supportive Caribbean by strengthening PetroCaribe and the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of our America and the Peoples Trade Treaty (ALBA -TCP) and continue on the road together for the victory and independence of our America.”

Jamaica acknowledges crime severely impacting economic growth KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – Prime Minister Andrew Holness says Jamaica has been able to “achieve a seamless and uninterrupted transition” to a new International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme and maintain fiscal discipline while stimulating some measure of economic growth. But he acknowledged that crime remains “the greatest threat to our economic independence”. Holness in a New Year message said the dream of his administration which came to office in February last year “is to see every Jamaican economically independent, thriving and fulfilled and not just surviving” He said in 2017 the government will continue its focus on the transformation of the economy, adding “we cannot do it alone, we need all hands on deck”. Holness said that the Economic Growth Council and the Economic Programme Oversight Committee will continue to play critical roles in ensuring the nation is informed, buys in, and stays connected to the economic transformation programme. The latest growth figures for the third quarter of last year show two per cent growth in gross domestic product (GPD) and Holness sad employment also grew in the last quarter; both total employment and, particular youth employment. Growth in tourism has been record breaking. From January to October last year,

the island recorded 5.2 per cent growth, with total visitor arrivals reaching over 3.1 million.

Cruise ship arrivals increased by 9.1 per cent and, this winter season, Jamaica has secured in

excess of 4,000 new seats from the United States, compared to last winter.

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VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 Toyota Allion PVV series: TV Camera, HID, lights, alarm & remote start $2.2M negotiable Call: 649-0956 Leyland DAF 65 (sand truck). Call: 623-3895 SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620

SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 6471773/660-5257

Visa Application: U.S.A, C a n a da & UK; Guyana p assport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Repairs & spare, fridge, freezer, A/C, washers, stoves – Contact Nick: 6831312, 627-3206 Repairs to refrigerator, gas stove, A/C units, washing machines. Call Lindon: 6411086/ 694-2202 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer-Call: 231-0655; 683-8734. Omar

Toyota Vigo pick-up and Nissan Pathfinder, cheap. Call: 609-7766 Nissan Duke in immaculate condition, lady driven, PTT series, low mileage, price negotiable. Call: 653-0018/6667748 (serious inquiries only) Pearl white Raum -$850,000 negotiable, owner migrating. Ralph: 613-9390/ 662-5052

Popular East Coast Gas Station (Non-Pareil) Day/ Night: pump attendants, sales clerk & office assistant. Contact: 610-9182/ 695-9880 Articulated hauler/dump truck operator for interior location, applicants must be experienced with verifiable references. Call: 618-2020 Cook/Baker and Kitchen Assistant for interior location. Applicants must be experienced, for details call: 618-2020 Office Assistant/Customer Representative. Contact Pacific Development Inc, Lot 3 Church Street, G/Town.

LANDSCAPING: We design, supply and implement residential and commercial indoor & outdoor landscaping. Call: 648-1821

1 Male janitor to clean and take care of dogs. Apply in person at Alabama Trading, Georgetown, Ferry Stelling.

Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigrant Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496; 662-6045

1 Nanny to look after a one year old boy, must be able to feed, teach & care for a baby. Call: 641-8144 Female Accounts clerk, 4 years experience, apply in person with written application @ Alabama Trading Georgetown Ferry Stelling Able body workers for Ice Factory, age 18 & older. Call: 642-9191/ 231-1408

LAND FOR SALE Land at Eccles and Diamond, Cheap. Call:609-7766

Cargo trawler- Call: 682-8724, 616-5954 Dredge mining operation: excavator, dredge, camp, truck, ATV bike, welding set with gas bottle. Call: 676-7943 Communication towers, Guy towers, self supporting. Call: 602-6706

German Shepherd pups for sale -$100,000 7 weeks old, fully vaccinated with clinic card. Call: 699-6006

Live in waitress to work in a bar- Call: 604-6606;692-4646 FULL TIME WAITRESS/ WAITER TO WORK AT AAGMAN RESTURANT, SHERIFF STREET. CALL: 219-0158/ 219-0161 Need dry cow mold average 400bags –call: 643-7193 1 Live in nanny/domestic to take care of children & home, must know to cook various dishes, 38-48yrs. Call: 600-1898 One Floor Manager, must have at least five (5) years, experience in Hardware Store. Contact # 650-0402 1 Live in nanny/domestic to take care of children & home, must know to cook various dishes 38-48yrs. Call: 600-1898

Great Deals on video games & all gaming consoles. PC, video games & repairs – Call: 672-2566; 265-3231

One transported house lot in Tuschen, WCD. Call: 6934667/ 277-3743

PALMS: Any variety, all sizes, we deliver and plant anywhere. Call: 643-7193

PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461

House lot at Herstelling. Call:614-2377

Adult Rottweiler dogs, 1 male, 1 female, German Shepherd pups. Call: 2202277/629-1471/220-8904

House & Land available for sale. Contact Pacific Development Inc: 223-6035/ 227-8274

One complete sawmill situated at Yarrowkabra Industrial Site Soesdyke/ Linden Highway. Call: 6441190/ 609-8041

Two buildings on lot at180 Charolotte Street Bourda (W30XL120). (Price negotiable). Call:624-7341/ 227-6817/226-5183

TO LET Rooms in Alberttown, 2 bedrooms apartment in Eccles. Call: 225-3234 Two bedrooms house, parking, tiled bathroom, kitchen. Call Joy: 649-9059/ 621-1088

Design & Make Aluminum windows, doors, stainless rails, showcases, rolling shutters, make & install automatic doors. Call: 2336818/677-5599/659-9999 FOR RENT

Three bedrooms bottom flat @ South Ruimveldt Park. Call: 628-7496/ 617-0560 FOR SALE/RENT American Pool Table. Call: 277-0578

CAR RENTAL

CAR RENTAL

PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM

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WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP REATES,SPECIALOFFERFOR THESEASON.CALL:690-6494

Organic Potting soil -$900, lawn grass -$1400, Ficus, Exora, Crotons, Foxtail palm, Supari palm, Ashok trees. Call: 626-1044

WANTED Live in waitress. Call: 6439007

Gold & Diamond mining block in Puruni, Ekereku, Siparuni area. Call: 668-3100

C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj Building- Call: 644-5166; 6222872; 615-0964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).

EDUCATIONAL Private Custom Brokerage, certificate training course in Jan 2017, Register & get 50% discount for Christmas. Call: 694-8322/671-9603

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.

Milking cow with calves and breeding bull for sale. Call Faizad: 265-4333/ 654-0507

VACANCY

Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158

LEARN TO DRIVE

Tuesday January 03, 2017

Kaieteur News

AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MIN BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPOTR & FAMILY OUTING, CHEAPESTRATE . Call: 698-7807

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 One 3 bedrooms, downstairs house, fully fenced, parking @ Lot 28 Church Street Stanleytown, W.B.D. Call: 662-9633/630-9556 Three bedrooms bottom flat @ Lamaha Gardens. Call: 2258084/ 689-6001

DRESSMAKING Turn your flair for fashion in an excellent career or hobby, classes starts in January. Call: 626-2629/ 676-6312 Working suits and more, professionally made within 3 days. Call: 626-2629/ 676-6312

Self contained room- working single couple @ Aubrey Barker Road, S/Ruimveldt Georgetown - $30,000 monthly + $30,000. Call: 623-0076 Available Now! Apartment to rent @ 1st Bridge West Minister; all utilities to bus route. Call: 674-5779

Tuesday January 03, 2017

Constables on narcotics... From page 09 West Coast Berbice.It was revealed by police sources that after returning to Region Six, Shattapaul instructed Fraser to drive his (Shattapaul’s) car, bearing license plate number HC 3179, to Vryman’s Erven, New Amsterdam, where the contents were transferred from the bus to the trunk of the car. The car was then driven back to Coburg Street, in front the Central Police Station and parked. Shortly after, acting on information, the acting Commander of B Division, Errol Watts, together with other senior ranks ventured to the Constable’s car parked on the street, and both ranks were asked to report to the location as well. The keys were requested from Shattapaul, to which he re-

fused. Both ranks denied knowledge of where the car keys were, following which the Commander instructed that a window of the car be smashed to allow access to the door and further access to the trunk. The trunk was eventually unlocked and two parcels wrapped in tape were discovered. Closer inspection of the contents revealed that it contained seeds, stems and leaves, confirmed to be marijuana. Both parties were present when the trunk was searched. They however denied any knowledge of the contents. It was later weighed and amounted to five kg of cannabis sativa (marijuana). The ranks were immediately placed under close arrest and later charged.

President David Granger New Year’s message ... From page 11 of this grand festival, bringing together the peoples of CARICOM as well as the wider Caribbean, will take place under the theme ‘Asserting our Culture: Celebrating Ourselves.’ We certainly look forward to widespread participation to make the event a tremendous success. The safety and security of our people and the Region is of paramount importance. As we move forward with implementing a regional Crime and Security Strategy, we will be building on the platform already established by concluding legal agreements with respect to Arrest Warrants and Asset Forfeiture, for example. As Guyana assumes the Chair of CARICOM, I would like to thank the Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit, the Prime

Minister of Dominica for his able leadership of the Community for the past six months. As I receive this baton, I will continue to guide our Community in the path of sustainable development which serves the interest of all its people. 2017 holds great promise for us to advance our integration process which can only be possible through the involvement and participation of all. Let us resolve to play our part in strengthening our Caribbean Community and to making regional unity a living, breathing experience. Let that be one of our main resolutions as we celebrate the incoming year with family and friends and strive to make it a happy and prosperous 2017. Once again a Happy New Year to all.

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Kaieteur News

Over 9,000 cases of malaria recorded... From page 7 been working...we are getting the reports. I have been there and I have seen people being treated.” He noted that while the work being done at the ‘pilot’ camp has already been accepted “we need to have it done on a wider scale.” The initiative, according to Moore, will essentially help to take pressure off of the public hospitals in terms of malaria treatment. Meanwhile, Minister Norton at his recent press conference disclosed that efforts towards fighting malaria in Guyana continued during the past week with the training of health care workers in malaria case management. Seventy-nine persons from Regions One, Seven and Eight were trained and training is currently ongoing in Region Nine. Twenty-two health workers were trained from the remaining regions of Guyana. Training of health-care workers at the Georgetown Prison was also conducted. According to Minister Norton, the Mission of the Vector Control Services Unit is to improve the control of vector-borne illnesses throughout Guyana by implementing tools such as vector surveillance, early diagnosis and treatment, information, education and communication, among many others in an effort to have a healthier nation. But in order to be as effi-

cient as possible, Minister Norton revealed Friday that the Vector Control Services Unit has three subprogrammes in place. These are Malaria, Aedesborne illnesses and Neglected Infectious Diseases. Minister Norton explained that the Malaria subprogramme has a targeted focus on the fight against the Anopheles mosquitoes ranging from vector control interventions to diagnosis and treatment. As part of the efforts to advance the fight against malaria last year, Minister Norton said that routine distribution of long-lasting insecticide nets at public health facilities in the malaria endemic regions continued in 2016 as well. In 2016, there was increased public awareness of Malaria, which saw measures such as the designing and erecting billboards in Regions Seven and Nine, designing and printing pocket guides on the use of the malaria rapid tests, printing and distribution of colouring books on malaria prevention and control for school-aged children in the malaria endemic regions. And there were some notable achievements under the Malaria subprogramme including the reduction in the number of recorded Malaria cases from 13,245 in 2015 to 11,149 in 2016, the launching and monitoring of the Region Eight Pilot Project

for miners and the recognition of health workers involved directly in malaria case management both centrally and regionally. For the Aedes-borne illnesses sub-programme, in 2016 surveillances continued for the Aedes Aegypti larva and other species of mosquitoes breeding, which transmit dengue, malaria and yellow fever, according to Minister Norton. In fact he revealed that a verification and treatment cycle is in progress, whereby eliminating the larval stages (aquatic stage) of the vector, with the use of Temphos insecticide is being done. Other activ i t i e s c o n ducted in 2016 to fight Aedes-borne illnesses included educating persons in households about the importance of keeping their houses and surroundings free from mosquito breeding grounds and the inspection of incoming vessels/ships for mosquito larvae. In the Neglected Infectious Diseases subprogramme moves were made to look at several illnesses with particular foc u s on improving health awareness and designing programmes to facilitate their elimination in cases where it may be possible, according to Minister Norton. These diseases, he said, included Leishmaniasis, Chagas, Lymphatic Filariasis, Soil Transmitted Helmithiasis and Leprosy.

The main achievement of this sub-programme in 2016, Minister Norton said, was the conducting of the Mass Drug Administration (MDA) exercise which saw pill distributors going house to house to distribute the DEC and Albendazole pills to protect against Filaria. The exercise was conducted in Regions Four and 10 from September 5-19 and in Regions Three and Five from September 19 to October 3. A mop up exercise was also conducted during all the weekends of October as well as a few week days, according to Minister Norton. A total of 276,968 persons were treated during the MDA exercise in the aforementioned regions. This was the first time that the MDA was implemented in Region Ten. Mi n i s t e r N o r t o n r e vealed, too, that 868 pill distributors, 96 field officers and four field supervisors were trained to execute the distribution exercise for the MDA. Under this programme, the regions have been invited to play a more meaningful role in the execution of campaigns. Apart from the MDA, the Public Health Minister said that 178 patients were seen and treated as a part of the surveillance component of the Lymphatic Filariasis programme in 2016. Of these persons, 20 had Lymphodema.

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Tuesday January 03, 2017

Kaieteur News

Brazil drug gangs spark Cuba puts on show of prison riot, at least 56 dead strength as Trump inauguration nears

(Reuters) - A prison riot has left at least 56 dead, with decapitated bodies thrown over prison walls in the bloodiest violence in more than two decades in Brazil’s overcrowded penitentiary system, officials in the Amazon city of Manaus said yesterday. The security chief for Amazonas state, Sergio Fontes, told a news conference the death toll could rise as authorities get a clearer idea of the scale of the rebellion sparked by a fight between rival drug gangs. Fontes told reporters several decapitated bodies were thrown over the prison wall, and most of those killed came from one gang. “This was another chapter in the silent and ruthless war of drug trafficking,” he said. Pedro Florencio, the Amazonas state prison secretary, said the massacre was a “revenge killing” in a feud between criminal gangs in Brazil. The riot began late

Sunday and was brought under control by around 7 a.m. AMT (1100 GMT) yesterday, Fontes said. Authorities were still counting prisoners to determine how many had escaped, he added, with reports that up to 300 fled. Just as the riot began in one unit of the Anisio Jobim prison complex, dozens of prisoners in the second unit started a mass escape in what authorities said was a coordinated effort to distract guards. Overcrowding is extremely common in Brazil’s prisons, which suffer endemic violence and what rights groups call medieval conditions with food scarce and cells so packed that prisoners have no space to lie down. The Anisio Jobim prison complex currently houses 2,230 inmates despite having a capacity of only 590. Hours after the Anisio Jobim prison revolt ended, prisoners at in an adjoining detention center began a riot and attempted to escape.

Authorities said the situation was quickly brought under control. Watchdog groups sharply criticize Brazil for its prisons where deadly riots routinely break out. “These massacres occur almost daily in Brazil,” said Father Valdir Silveira, director of Pastoral Carceraria, a Catholic center that monitors prison conditions in Brazil. “Our prisons were built to annihilate, torture and kill.” The violence was the latest clash between inmates aligned with the Sao Paulobased First Capital Command (PCC) drug gang, Brazil’s most powerful, and a local Manaus criminal group known as the North Family. The Manaus-based gang is widely believed to be attacking PCC inmates at the behest of the Rio de Janeirobased Red Command (CV) drug gang, Brazil’s second largest. BROKEN TRUCE Security analysts have said that a truce that held for years between the PCC and CV was broken last year.

(Reuters) - Cuba paraded troops and hundreds of thousands of citizens through its emblematic Revolution Square on Monday in a traditional show of nationalist fighting spirit in the face of steep economic and diplomatic challenges. The event marked the 60th anniversary of the landing of the Granma yacht which brought the Castro brothers and their bearded rebels from Mexico to Cuba to start their revolution against a U.S.backed dictatorship. Troops wielding automatic rifles marched in lock step behind a replica of the Granma on Monday, followed by a sea of banner- and flag-waving Cubans, many bussed in and organized through their workplaces and neighborhoods. “This is an important message of unity and strength,” said Rene Lazo, 66, who, like most, got up well before the crack of dawn to participate in the parade. “This is going to be a difficult year but we will keep working hard to bring our people forwards”. Communist-ruled Cuba fell into an economic recession in the second half of last year, its

first since the collapse of the Soviet Union a quarter century ago, as its strategic ally Venezuela floundered. Meanwhile its historic detente with the United States came under threat with the election of Donald Trump as President. Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, has said he would unravel attempts to normalize relations unless he gets a “better deal”. All this is taking place as Cuba is also coming to terms with the loss of its revolutionary leader, Fidel Castro. While “El Comandante” had handed the presidency over to his younger brother Raul in 2008, he remained a key figurehead. Some of those marching held up images of Castro or banners reading “We are Fidel”. While the parade normally takes place every five years on Dec. 2, it was postponed a month due to his death in late November. “He may not be present physically but he is in all our hearts,” said Natalia Gonzales, who had painted “I am Fidel” on the foreheads of her three grandchildren. Raul Castro and his family watched and waved at those marching from the foot

of the towering monument to independence hero Jose Marti in the center of the square. The mood on Monday was of defiance although many Cubans said they hoped there would not be a return of Cold War-era politics. “We are braced for conflict with the USA, we always have been,” said 70-year-old Marcial Garcia. “But I hope Trump will instead follow the path...towards normalization. Trump’s threat to gradual and still fragile detente could not come at a worse time for Cuba. A tourism boom in part sparked by looser travel restrictions on Americans failed last year to offset dwindling oil shipments from Venezuela and less cash for Cuban doctors and other professionals working overseas. “Everything is just very uncertain at the moment, so there’s more propaganda,” said Antonio Sosa, 50, an engineer who chose not to attend the parade. “You don’t see news on the news broadcast anymore, just speeches Fidel gave 30 years ago.”

Soldiers march to mark the Armed Forces Day in Havana, Cuba, yesterday. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghin1

Tuesday January 03, 2017

Kaieteur News

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Tuesday January 03, 2017

Tuesday January 03, 2017

Smith calls time on Pride... (From page 26) see that camaraderie.” Smith’s international career has been over for some time. He has not played a One-Day International or T20 International for West Indies in two years, and said he had accepted this reality even though nothing formal had been communicated. He made 1560 runs in 105 ODIs and 582 runs in 33 T20s. “I know for sure I’m not

g o i n g t o p l a y f o r We s t Indies anymore, I know that for sure – judging from the selections that have gone on before. But I’m not too bothered about that because I have a life to live,” he stressed. “It’s just for Dwayne Smith now to move on. I’ve had a very good career with Barbados cricket, probably could have been better. “I had some very fun moments playing with the likes of Corey Collymore, Sherwin Campbell, Philo

Wallace … Pedro Collins, Fidel Edwards, Sulieman Benn and then coming along with the youngsters like (Kevin) Stoute, Jason Holder, Shamarh Brooks, Shane Dowrich, Kraigg Brathwaite.” He added: “My thing was to play for Barbados, finish a good year and let the youngsters take over. But it’s been good for me so I’ll just hope the youngsters continue to do the good work that Barbados has been doing over the years.”

Tuesday January 03, 2017 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Talk to someone with experience about budgets or consolidating debts. You can open up to your mate and let them know what you expect out of this relationship. Need some adventure in your life? Exotic destinations beckon you. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Enjoy some socializing today. Sooner or later your partner will have had enough. You can make a difference if you offer your help at functions that involve children.. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Self-improvement could bring amazing results. Curb the impulse to make lavish purchases and maybe spend some time with good friends. Avoid lovers who already have a relationship, even if it is a bad one. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Someone you work with could try to undermine you. Catch up on any correspondence you've neglected. Your partner will be emotionally unable to cope. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) There could be disappointment regarding investments. You will be full of energy and you need to find something constructive to do. Someone you live with will be quite unreasonable today. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Emotionally you won't see things accurately. Your ability to be a self starter will help get things done and motivate others. Look into physical activities that will help get rid of some of that tension you may be feeling.

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Kaieteur News

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You will be up and down emotionally. Your ability to be practical in business will help. Your colorful conversation may attract new mates. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) New interests are preoccupying your time. Control your anger. Don't let friends convince you that you should contribute to something you don't believe in. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Your lover probably won't put up with your behavior. Children may be demanding, and entertainment could cost a lot more than you can really afford. Pushy people must be kept at arm's length. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Your sensitive, affectionate nature will capture the heart of anyone you are attracted to. Changes in your home are apparent, and you must be willing to bend if you don't want to find yourself alone. Develop some of your good ideas. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Get into fitness programs to keep in shape. Your ambitious mood may not go over well with loved ones. You will enjoy interacting with those who come from different backgrounds. Some of the best opportunities will crop up if you keep an open mind. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You may be tempted to get involved in secret affairs or love triangles. Do your work at home, if you can. Someone may be trying to make you look bad. Look into making changes to your personal papers and don't neglect those bills that have been piling up.

GBC three-day League good concept... (From page 30) Providence in a first-class game for the first time in two years when the Jaguars played the Red Force. Chanderpaul scored his 73rd FC ton (143) and second in successive matches, while Johnson supported with 69 as the Jaguars reached 378 in reply to the 162 made by the Red Force. Permaul (4-31) and Reifer (3-32) bowled well as the Red Force made 235 in their second innings with Permaul taking his 20th five-wicket haul. Motie and Joseph had two wickets each. Set 20 to win the Jaguars reached 21-0 with Hetymer hitting two fours and a six in an unbeaten 17. West Indies Women’s t20 World Cup: Shemaine Campbell and Tremayne Smartt were the Guyanese on the team which won the event in India by

beating Australia in the final. West Indies Test Team: West Indies played nine Tests in 2016 (Australia (1-0), India (2-0) and Pakistan (2-1), losing five of them and drawing three. Their only win was against Pakistan in the UAE. Chandrika, Bishoo and Johnson were Guyanese to play Test cricket this year. Bishoo had a good series against Pakistan taking 18 wickets including 8-49 in the first Test. Chandrika played against Australia and India before being replaced by Johnson for the Pakistan series and both batsmen struggled for runs. Bishoo played against India and Pakistan. West Indies ‘A’ team: Eight Guyanese were selected in the West Indies ‘A’ team which toured Sri Lanka. Singh (vice-capt), Chandrika, Hetymer, Motie and Joseph were selected for the First-

Class matches while Assad Fudadin, Permaul and Ronsford Beaton were a part of the limited overs series. WICB Officials: Guyana Jaguars Manager and Chairman of the National Selectors former Guyana pacer Rayon Griffith was appointed Assistant Coach for the ‘A’ team, while former Guyana and West Indies batsman Travis Dowlin was a surprise inclusion on the We s t I n d i e s s e l e c t i o n panel. The 77-year-old Reds Perriera retired from FirstClass Radio Commentary after a 50-year career with his last match being Jaguars versus Pride at Providence. Johnson and West Indies women’s player Shemaine Campbell were adjudged Male and Female Cricketer of the year respectively at the GCB annual Awards Ceremony on December 29.

Hinterland players can boost... (From page 27) miles away from each other and because of the terrain many of the villagers have to walk to a central location where they will be housed to hold tournaments and this is

very costly and unfortunately many of our country’s businesses are not interested in supporting unless they see a direct benefit to them,” he said. He also added, “No longer it’s about the youths and what

development it will bring to our youths but what we as business people will get out of it and unfortunately this isn’t the approach that we should take if we are truly seeking to bring about holistic development.”

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Tuesday January 03, 2017

Guyana Boxing Association Changing courses to retain its course (From page 31) might just be tempted to reduce the caustic tone especially since many other changes within the (amateur) boxing structure might have contributed to a large extent on the existing status quo. There is a popular idiom that say, ‘all’s well that ends well’ and the fact that our amateur boxers have ended the year on a high, as the champions of the Caribbean, might suggest that indeed, the situation is not as dire as the naysayers may want to project. However, when one examines the quality of local boxers as against their (international) returns, the reality should be sobering and propel GBA administrators to employ corrective initiatives if they are truly resolute on retaining our rich boxing tradition. There is absolutely no doubt that our boxers are the best in the Caribbean. This was established since 1985 when the sport was introduced at the Carifta Games in Bridgetown Barbados and Guyana came away with two gold medals, one silver and one bronze. Since then, our pugilists have dominated at this level,

that is, until latter eighties and early nineties when Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, to a lesser extent began to assert themselves by taking the honours during those years. Shortly after Guyana’s success at the Carifta Games, the (Caribbean) boxing administrators enacted the Caribbean Amateur Boxing Association (CABA) boxing tournament which, in essence, was merely a new tab for the Carifta Games. It appears that the CABA failed to impress the hierarchy of the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) and after a few years, devoid of the requisite support of the world body, the CABA tournament died a natural death. It was around that time that the Presidents of the territorial associations felt obliged to pool their ideas and other resources towards the resuscitation of the glory days of Caribbean boxing. President of the Barbados Amateur Boxing Association, Anthony Jones, had voiced concern over the state of affairs and had said that the time has come for territorial associations to

unite towards a common cause if they are to see improvement among Caricom nationals at high profiled tournaments. Determined to improve the lot of boxers in the Caribbean, Mr. Jones said that he had attempted to strengthen the Caribbean Amateur Boxing Association (CABA) but was given the thumbs down by officials of the parent body, the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA). Mr. Jones said that after disbanding the entity, AIBA did an about turn and said that permission would be granted for reenactment provided that CABA officials were prepared to meet the costs and criteria. “We were being asked to foot an astronomical bill and even before that, we were required to engage in a bidding process among Caribbean countries,’ explained the Barbados boxing president. He said that upon closer examination no Caribbean country could have conformed to such draconian criterion and so the CABA became defunct. Mr. Jones had had also adumbrated a return to the

Smith calls time on Pride 50-overs career BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Dashing former West Indies batsman Dwayne Smith will retire from domestic one-day cricket for Barbados Pride, ahead of this month’s Regional Super50. The 33-year-old said he was no longer a part of the selectors plans and though he was hurt by not being able to finish his career at home in this year’s 50-overs tournament, he had little choice but to call it quits. Barbados and Antigua are the hosts for the 2017 Super50 which runs from January 24 to February 18. “I basically have to make one big decision now for sure and that’s I’m going to send in my resignation from 50-overs cricket for Barbados Pride, banking on the back of not being given the opportunity to finish my career at home,” Smith told Line and Length Network. “I really wanted to, I’ve asked the selectors, I’ve

spoken to them but obviously they had their different plans and I guess I didn’t fit in. “It was touching, it hurt me a lot because I really wanted – even if it was one game I played in the 50overs competition coming up – I would have been happy.” Smith has garnered 3500 runs from 183 List A games at an average of 23 but had a disappointing outing in last year ’s Super50 when he managed just 116 runs from eight innings at an average of 14. Pride reached the final before losing out to eventual champions Trinidad Red Force in the final. The right-handed Smith, a fixture on the international Twenty20 circuit, said he had been encouraged to end his Pride career at home and was hurt he could not bow out in this way. “A lot of the youngsters had asked me to finish in

Barbados because I had told them I was not going to continue but they really, really wanted [me to finish at home],” said Smith, who quit first class cricket two years ago. “I really wanted to finish at home seeing that I knew the tournament was going to play at home but life goes on, I can’t really dwell on that.” He continued: It’s very touching for me because it hurt me a lot but I think I’ve had a lot of good times with Barbados cricket. I can say I’m one of those who are very patriotic. I love Barbados and I would do anything for Barbados cricket and I will hope that the youngsters go on and continue the good work because we’ve been doing some good work. “For the last two years or so, the team they have put together have been gelling well together and I love to (Continued on page 25)

Steve Ninvalle at the AIBA Congress in South Korea. old strategies where the Caricom region would pool resources and organize domestic tournaments to garner valuable activity for the boxers and thus, more lucrative engagements. He had purported that the fortunes of Caribbean pugilists would only be improved when the territorial associations lock horns towards one cause. His views had instigated several meetings among the Caricom (boxing) family following which the Caribbean Development Boxing Tournament was born. Guyanese dominance at this tournament has served to endorse the wider belief that we have reached our zenith at the Caribbean level and must now extend our dominance to further territories. President of the GBA, Steve Ninvalle, is cognizant of this and has uttered similar sentiments upon the return of the successful Barbados entourage. Common sense and a developmental mind dictate that he must now cast his vision to the Latin Americas to ascertain a more realistic picture of the quality of local pugilists. Further, recent efforts to bridge the foreign policy gap between Cuba and the USA may just present an opportunity for broad based exchange programmes among those superior nations as was enjoyed during the late seventies/early eighties. The time might also be just right to revitalize the Cuba/Guyana exchange programmes of that era. One cannot help but notice that Guyanese boxers were most prolific during the period of keen interaction with the Cubans at the Cardin Games

as witnessed by Michael Parris’ Olympic bronze medal feat in Moscow 1980. Amidst such speculation, nothing will be achieved devoid of the requisite finance and there must be efforts by the GBA administration to bridge this void. (Junior) Minister of Sports, Nicolette Henry, recently disclosed that Government has allocated a larger portion of the budget towards sports development. What she did not say was how those funds would have been disbursed. Obviously, some associations will be in greater need than others and would definitely receive a larger portion of the budget based on their achievements and projections. Even a m i d s t t h i s r e a l i t y, stakeholders must be informed of the method and/or systems utilized in determining financial allocation. Former Minister of Sports, Frank Anthony, once beseeched the executives of the various sports bodies to submit their plans and projections for the fiscal year in order that he (Anthony) be guided in the disbursement of funds. Strangely, only a handful of those entities affirmed to the request. To my mind, such a ploy should be embraced if only to provide the current subject Minister with a guide as to the funds needed for the individual association’s yearly budget. Associations/ Federations must also responsibly employ methods and strategies to strengthen their financial base by fund raising efforts. It simply means that these sports entities must now place a stronger focus in this department and mandate a

competent team to bolster their funds. These individuals will be required to employ robust fund raising and public relations strategies that falls outside the ambit of the routine Barb-Ques and take away lunches; these initiatives are way too run of the mill and seems to be the strategy employed by all of the competing sports bodies thus diminishing the profit margin. Over the years, there have been instances of indiscipline and the disciplinary committee has been somewhat lenient, employing mild sanctions to those found guilty. However, recent allegations of gross indiscipline by a boxer and an official on the team to the recent tournament in Barbados, is still to be addressed by the GBA executive. Mr. Ninvalle must be cautioned on his approach to such a serious infringement of protocol and take a hands on approach towards a practical resolution; the cordial relations among the Caricom family could easily be adversely compromised. When the New Year broke at 12 midnight, Guyanese, as is customary, would have solemnly uttered their resolutions. Amidst such expectancy, one would envisage the President and other affiliates of the GBA voicing theirs. Naturally, their wishes for a prosperous New Year would extend to the local boxers under whose charge they have been placed. And from us here at Kaieteur Sport, we wish you a successful year while extending a hand of friendship for a productive year working together.

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Hinterland players can boost Guyana’s football team’s performance – Hinds President of the North Pakarimas Sports and Culture Association (NPSCA), Roger Hinds f i r m l y believes that if more hinterland residents are given an opportunity to try out for the National Football team it will help in boost Guyana’s performance. Hinds made this assessment recently stating that the Hinterland communities possess a number of very skillful and talented players but noted that owing to lack of both exposure and investment, they are unable to reach their true potential. The businessman who made a decision to assist in the establishment of a sporting and cultural association stressed that he has been working towards facilitating this process for a number of players in Region 8. ”Our association, with the blessings of CDC (Community Development Council) through its National Director Eugene Gilbert organised a major sporting championship dubbed Summer Fiesta and which attracted some 34

teams last year and we were able to witness first-hand the very high level of talent that our indigenous brothers and sisters possess. The reality is that many of them can hold their own against any of the major teams in Georgetown or across Guyana but because of lack of opportunities they are unable to be shortlisted for our national teams. This cannot continue any longer and through the association, coupled with the support and assistance of a number of others, we intend change this,” he declared. Hinds noted that there needs to be meaningful opportunities created thus affording talented players irrespective of where in Guyana they resides, gain access into the national teams like any other. ”We can no longer see only those players from Georgetown, Linden, Berbice or East and West Bank making national teams. Opportunities must also be afford players from the hinterland communities that have the right skills, talent and attitude. They must be afforded

equal opportunities to get unto the team. If players who possess the right qualities and abilities from these parts of Guyana cannot make the national team then we are saying that sports at the highest level is only restricted for those coming from the coastline only and that is certainly not the message that we want to send,” he opined. Hinds stressed that sports isn’t cheap whilst noting that most of those persons involved in sports in the hinterland and far flung communities are doing so because of their genuine passion and love and is not motivated in any way by money. ”We do not have money to reward performances and teams up here, so everything is done because of the undying love and passion for sports. I firmly believe that a more open selection process must be adopted by the selection panel when selecting players for national teams,” he argued. He noted that some months ago after selecting the national Under-17 team a key official of the delegation

was in Region 8 and was in awe with the level of skills and ability of several of the players questioning why these players were not invited at the national trials for possible selection to the team. ”The official was amazed at the quality and talent that we have right here in this little region but how can the rest of Guyana know if extended and widespread scouting is not done. Selectors must be made to travel far and wide with the view of selecting the very best and not just what they have available on the coast,” he said. According to Hinds, sports development in Region 8 is on the decline thus his decision to join with others in establishing an association. “We live here so we must do whatever it takes to save whoever we can from falling victims to social ills and as a concerned resident and official of this sporting association I am appealing to the Guyana Football Federation to see how and in what ways they can help us as together we can aid in the holistic development and performance of our national

teams,” he said. T h e p o p u l a r businessman who admitted that he has been investing his own funds in a number of sporting disciplines with the view of keeping sports alive in the region said that the indigenous people are desperately in need of help as many young players dream of one day playing for Guyana. He admitted that he has several initiatives which if taken on board can see a change of fortune for national teams, stressing that their association has already begun discussion with one of the associations affiliated with the GFF with the view of bringing it in line for possible membership with the GFF. ”Bartica is an association, East Bank, East Coast, West Demerara are all associations within the GFF so we will be exploring the possibility of having either a Region 8 or an Hinterland Association and to this end we have already been having discussions with our friends in Region 9 who have been experiencing similar challenges and difficulties

like us with a view of securing the services of a Consultant in moving us forward,” he said. ”Just like the players in the other associations who have a fair or an equal opportunity to make the national team thus making their association and ultimately their country proud, we want to have the same for our players here in the North Pakariams Sports and Culture Association (NPSCA) as we are determined to get it done, irrespective of if it has to be done as a region or collectively as hinterland regions coming together it will be done,” Hinds declared. Hinds added that based on his interaction with the many villagers in Region 8 they all have been organising themselves with a view of streamlining a more recognised and effective association as they have all recognised the benefits and opportunities of being in an association. ”Running football competitions in Region 8 is very expensive as many of the villagers are some 40 (Continued on page 25)

Supreme Court removes Thakur, Shirke from top BCCI posts (From page 28) December 15, before breaking for the winter holidays, the court had reserved its order in response to the Lodha Committee’s status report, which recommended that all ineligible BCCI office bearers be removed and an observer be appointed to o v e r s e e t h e b o a r d ’s operations. On Monday, the threejudge bench comprising Chief Justice of India TS Thakur, and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud, approved the Lodha Committee’s view of the BCCI’s office bearers. “The Committee has in its status report dated 14 November 2016 drawn the attention of the court to the fact that several office bearers both of BCCI and the State Associations continue to hold posts although they stand disqualified in terms of the above norms which have been accepted by this Court,” the order read. “Persons who have a vested interest in continuing in their positions in spite of the

norms noted above have ensured that the writ of the court is obstructed and impeded. “We need to emphasise that the turf of the cricket field is not a personal turf or fiefdom. We must hence order and direct that no person shall hereafter continue to be or be entitled for appointment as office bearer of BCCI or a State Association in breach of the above norms. All existing office bearers of BCCI and of the State Associations who do not fulfill the above norms shall with effect from the date of this Order stand disqualified. “The course of events indicates that though sufficient opportunities have been granted to BCCI to comply with the judgment and order of this Court, it has failed to do so. The President and Secretary and office bearers of BCCI have o b s t r u c t e d t h e implementation of the final directions of this Court on the basis of a specious plea that its State Associations are not willing to abide by the

BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke with BCCI president Anurag Thakur Mumbai, May 22, 2016 ©AFP

directions. This Court having furnished sufficient opportunities to BCCI to comply, it is constrained now to take recourse to coercive steps to ensure that the directions contained in its final judgment and order are not left to be a writ in sand.” Former Chief Justice of India RM Lodha, the chairman of the Lodha Committee, said the court order was “the logical consequence” of the position the BCCI had taken. “Once the recommendations were accepted by the court, it had

to be implemented,” he said. “There were obstructions, there were impediments ... obviously this had to happen, and it has happened. The Supreme Court itself has ensured that its order of 18 July is now enforced. “It’s a victory for the game of cricket and it will flourish. Administrators come and go, ultimately it is for the game.” The Lodha Committee was formed in January 2015 to determine appropriate punishments for some of the officials involved in the 2013

IPL corruption scandal, and also to propose changes to streamline the BCCI, reform its functioning, prevent sporting fraud and conflict of interest. In January 2016, the committee released its r e p o r t , w h i c h recommended an exhaustive overhaul of the BCCI’s governance and administrative structures. On July 18, the Supreme Court approved the majority of the recommendations and directed the Lodha Committee to supervise the BCCI’s implementations of the same. However, despite the Lodha Committee laying out timelines and other directives, the board did not cooperate because its state associations objected to the recommendations. I wish them all the best Anurag Thakur In a video on Twitter, Anurag Thakur said he had fought for the autonomy of the BCCI and not a personal battle. “Over the years, Indian cricket saw its very best in terms of

administration and development of the game. BCCI is the best-managed sports organisation in the c o u n t r y, w i t h d e f i n e d procedures. India has the best cricket infrastructure, built and maintained by the state associations with the help of BCCI. India has more quality players than anywhere in the world. “I respect Supreme Court as any citizen should. Supreme Court judges feel that BCCI could do better under retired judges, I wish them all the best. I’m sure Indian cricket will do well under their guidance.” Shirke said he wasn’t too concerned by the development. “If I am removed, there is absolutely no issue. I will go back to my work,” he told CNN News from the UK. “The enforcement of the order is not in my individual control. The members decide. They have accepted many recommendations. Now that the Supreme Court has settled the matter, let the new dispensation carry on the good new work.”

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Tuesday January 03, 2017

UDFA GT Beer Christmas football final

Adams last minute strike lifts Shattas to 1-0 title victory over Eagles Botafago edge Winners Connection 2-0 for third place

Robin Adams fired a late ripper to hand the UDFA GT Beer title to Silver Shattas. Silvers Shattas were able to claim their first major title with a last ditch shot from on top the 18-yard box which cannoned to the cross bar and hit beyond the goal-line to score, as they claimed the $1M first prize from Eagles United of Christianburg 1-0 to end the Upper Demerara Football Association’s (UDFA) GT Beer football championship on New Ye a r ’s N i g h t a t t h e Mackenzie Sports Club ground in front of a grand crowd. That 93rd minute strike for the Shattas uncorked a

tough win for the Shattas in front of an expectant crowd that saw a dramatic ending to a tournament which was played on its best ground conditions of the championship, even though it was a bit heavy. Watched on by President of the Guyana Football Federation Wayne Forde, Mayor of Linden Carwyn Holland, Chairman of Region 10 Renis Morian, President of the UDFA Sharma Solomon and Banks DIH officials GT Beer Manager Geoff Clement, Outdoor Events Manager

Officials meet the teams prior to the start of the final contest in this year’s tournament. Mortimer Stewart and Linden Branch Manager Ms. Shondell Easton, the final was well received as both teams never let up in their search for a victory. Shattas, last year’s losing finalist were pegged back somewhat by the energetic play of the Eagles United side as the first shot fired to goal was by the Christianburg based side; as the Shattas goalkeeper Kellon Major was called into play in the 5th minute. A nice

play by Michael Wilson, Silver Shattas were able to respond in kind, even though it went harmlessly over the crossbar. But the Eagles were up to the test and they were able to jolt the thoughts of Shattas when a shot knocked the cross bar in the ensuing minute of play. However, Shattas knew that they were in a battle to cash in on the top prize of $1M and their dependable striker Colwyn Drakes slammed a shot into the left

Supreme Court removes Thakur, Shirke from top BCCI posts ESPNCRICINFO - The BCCI’s existing power structure has been dismantled by the Supreme Court of India in a landmark order, which directed the removal of the board president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke from office with immediate effect. The order was the culmination of a long-standing impasse between the BCCI and the Lodha Committee: the board had resisted implementing the m a j o r i t y o f t h e c o m m i t t e e ’s recommendations despite being told to do so by a Supreme Court order on July 18. The court also ordered that other office bearers of the BCCI and state associations who did not meet the eligibility criteria set by the Lodha Committee shall “cease to hold office” immediately. According to the committee’s recommendations, an office bearer should be a citizen of

India, should not be 70 years or older, should not be a government servant or minister, should not hold office in another sports organisation, should not have held office with the BCCI or state association for more than nine years, should not be insolvent or of unsound mind, and should not have a criminal record. All existing office bearers who fulfilled the eligibility criteria were permitted to continue in their roles, but were asked to file an “unconditional undertaking” in the Supreme Court within four weeks from January 2 that they would implement the Lodha Committee’s recommendations. To fill the gap created by Thakur and Shirke’s removal, the court said the most senior vice-president of the BCCI would perform the duties of president in the interim, and the joint secretary Amitabh Chaudhary - will perform the secretary’s role.

The court also said that a committee of administrators would be appointed on January 19 to supervise the functioning of the BCCI through its chief executive officer. The committee will also oversee the functioning of the BCCI and states’ office bearers and ensure that the Lodha Committee recommendations approved by the Supreme Court order on July 18 are implemented. Amicus Curiae Gopal Subramanium and senior counsel Fali S Nariman were asked by the court to suggest names of persons having “integrity and experience in managing a similar enterprise” for the committee of administrators. “We request the learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the parties to also place their suggestions before the Court so as to facilitate a considered decision,” the court said. At the previous hearing on (Continued on page 27)

upright to the dismay of his supporters. After that Eagles through their prolific forward Yonnick Hercules Simon would show some grit and determination as they pressed forward to see his shot held by Major in the 27thminute. Then Shattas through a one-two combination between Wilson and Kenny Benjamin in the 31st minute failed to score and the first half would end without either team being able to get on the scoresheet. Four minutes into the second stanza of this final Hercules Simon in another good run down the right wing sent a good shot that was a bit too high. Then Major in the 53rd minute was called upon to execute a save as the Eagles began to gain their momentum with some timely offensive forays. Consecutive shots fired goal wards by the Eagles United players in the 68th minute failed to break the 00 deadlock from close in and a follow-up one on one opportunity was also m i s s e d b y t h e inexperienced Eagles side one minute later. But the Shattas were standing well to the pressing exploits from their youthful opponents and a left foot

shot from Deshawn Freeman was cleared by the Eagles goalkeeper. Drakes of Shattas was also probing forward and as he made his way inside right his drive in the 76th minute was cleared by the Eagles goalkeeper Shamar Gittens. Still the Eagles were clawing their way into the goal mouth and a shot on goal was unable to score after a rebound outside in the 84th minute. In the 88th minute a long ball was kept in touch by Kwesi Quintin of Eagles and his cross was held firmly by the Shattas custodian. However, the knockout shot came in the 93rd minute when from just outside the 18- yards box on the inside right, Robin Adams’ rasping drive seared through to collide into the cross bar and rebound over the goalline to register for a 1-0 win when referee Maureese Skeete blew for game to the excitement of the fans of the Silver Shattas bringing them their first title in years. Botafago had earlier scored a 2-0 over Winners Connection through a brace from Kellon Primo. The official presentation is expected to be done on Saturday in Linden.

Tuesday January 03, 2017

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Beating the Odds - Amy Grant, a Role Model to her Peers ”Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a f a c t , i t ’s a n o p i n i o n . Impossible is not a declaration, it’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” Muhammad Ali. Amy Grant has been living the words of her idol The Great Muhammad Ali by making the impossible possible. Grant, who turned 15 two weeks ago started 2016 the same way she finished 2015 at the Trinidad and Tobago Swimming Championships (ASATT). The multi talented Grant, who recently gained a distinction in playing the piano and is also a budding singer, left Guyana as well as could be expected in December 2015 but a few hours later in Trinidad she had to visit the emergency department At West Shore Medical Private Hospital due to red and swollen eyes. Antibiotics were prescribed to ease the problem and enabled her to enter the water. Grant’s first competition for 2016 was supposed to have been the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA)

Republic Meet in February but she was forced to miss it due to illness and she had to wait for the Independence Meet in May which was the National Long Course Meet which also marked the end of the Long Course season. Grant’s fitness was not the best and she had to scratch a few events due to a viral infection. The young athlete who has a never say die character entered the 2016 Olympic Day Sprint Triathlon in July and successfully defended her championship title in the female category. Her participation was as a result of her ability to battle and a desire to claim the champion title as a repeat of 2015. She defied the odds to realise her dream. As the year progressed, Grant was to face yet another illness in September just after qualifying for the Schools National Swimming Championship. She was told that she can run but to take care not to stress herself and there was to be no swimming until approval was given by her doctor. Grant who is not a club runner, ran the 800m at her Inter Schools Championship then went on to win at Zones and at the Champion of Champions where she cemented a spot at the National Stadium for the 2016 National Schools

Athletic Championships and came out 5th in the Finals. Grant’s challenging times followed her and antibiotics were used weeks leading up to the 2016 National Schools Swimming Championships which she entered with a very weakened body but with a strong mind and desire to succeed. Grant was victorious as she swam away with the Girls Under-16 National Schools Swimming Champion title which she had lost in 2015. Despite all the complexities and limitations Grant faced all year, her coach believed she had the ability to take on other swimmers at ASATT 2016 in Trinidad and Tobago. Her focus then was to build endurance for the competition since she could not taper due to all the adversities faced over the previous eighteen months. Her never say die attitude saw her landing the Gold medal in the 13-14 Girls 1500m freestyle and a 5th place ribbon in the 800m freestyle whilst also setting National records in both events. She did not medal in the other events she entered but she did personal best times. Grant swam unattached in Trinidad after representing Silver Sharks Swim Club for the past five years. Nothing

Amy Grant (left) U-16 Champion Girl at the National Schools Championship with her friend Jade Atwell who won two Golds and a Silver in girls U-18 Swimming.

is set in stone because where there is a will there is a way.

Amy Grant’s New Year’s resolution is that she

would like to stay fit and healthy.

Pollard poor run continues as Strikers lose third

Kieron Pollard … made just 11.

HOBART, Australia, CMC – Kieron Pollard and Chris Jordan both failed as Adelaide Strikers slumped to their third loss of the Big Bash League with an eightwicket defeat to Hobart Hurricanes here yesterday. Sent in at Bellerive Oval, Strikers were dismissed for 143 off their 20 overs and Hurricanes wasted little time in overhauling the target with 14 deliveries remaining in the innings. The result left Strikers one from bottom of the eightteam standings on two points from their lone win in four outings. Only reigning champions Sydney Thunder – who boasts West Indies allrounder Andre Russell in their ranks – have a worse record, as they are winless in four games. On Monday, captain Brad Hodge top-scored with 55 from 45 deliveries to give

Strikers a lift while opener Ben Dunk hit 31. Pollard, batting at number six, scored a run-a-ball 11 to continue his struggles in the competition. He has managed a mere 45 runs from four innings. He was fifth out in the 18th over, bowled by left-arm spinner Clive Rose after missing a big off-side shot. Jordan, the Barbadosborn England-all-rounder, lasted two balls for his one before holing out to long on off England teammate Stuart Broad. In reply, Hurricanes were propelled by opener D’Arcy Short’s 60 off 39 balls and captain Tim Paine’s 41. The pair put on 105 for the first wicket which put the result beyond doubt. Jordan’s three overs leaked 30 runs while Pollard’s solitary over cost seven runs.

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Tuesday January 03, 2017

2016 cricket review (Part 2)

GBC three-day League good concept with some flaws By Sean Devers Guyana’s senior team dominated last year but slipped a bit since then and suffered their first loss in 18 matches when the Hurricanes won by four wickets as they successfully hunted down a 33-year old record run chase in St Kitts. The GCB three-day League was a good concept but the standard was diluted with too many teams, indiscipline and Umpires reluctant to enforce rules. Six teams would have been good enough. But it was not all doom and gloom as West Indies ‘A’ team pacer Keon Joseph and Bajan left-arm speedster Raymon Reifer ended the first half of the Digicel FirstClass tournament as the leading pacers with 16 wickets each. At 42, Shiv Chanderpaul provided the young guns with a batting lesson, scoring 447 runs and was the only Guyana batsman to reach a century, which he did twice. He also had scores of 91 and 81 not out to be the only Guyana batsman to reach 300. The Jaguars finished second with 64.6 points behind Jamaica’s 67.8 points. All of their first seven batsmen reached fifty but only Chanderpaul converted his into centuries while in addition to Joseph and Reifer, Permaul (27) and Motie (16) were also among the leading bowlers. In the GCB three-day league, West Demerara’s Romario Shepherd (34), Reifer, the most successful All-rounder (434 runs & 28 wkts) and leading run scorer Tagenarine Chanderpaul (635), helped their team to the runners-up spot and $300,000 behind ‘double’ champions Lower Corentyne who won $500,000. NAGICO Super50: January Guyana topped group ‘B’ in St Kitts with 18 points to qualify for the semi-final against T&T. Fudadin batted from start to finish to score an unbeaten 103 with eight fours and fours sixes, while Jamaican Andrew McCarthy (118) and T&T’s Evin Lewis (102*)

were the only other centurions. In the semis Guyana lost to T&T by 54 runs after Daren Bravo’s 95 spurred T&T to 259 and Guyana replied with 205 despite 51 from Anthony Bramble. The tournament was won by T&T who beat Barbados by 72 runs. Regional Female Super50: July: Host Guyana finished fifth in the rain affected tournament which was won by T&T after the final at Everest was washed out without a ball being bowled. The GCB was criticized by the T&T Coach for not using Providence for the final. Regional Female t20: July Guyana ended fourth as T&T captured the ‘double’ when they got past Jamaica in the final at Providence. GCB three-day Franchise League After seven rounds, the inaugural League concluded with Lower Corentyne dominating with six wins and a draw. Lower Corentyne’ Jonathon Foo scored 150 and 127 in the first two rounds, while Seon Hetymer (215) and Surujnarine Kandasammy (212) scored double centuries in the same innings when L/C’tyne rattled up the highest total of 649-9 declared against West Berbice at Port Mourant. Chanderpaul Hemraj (250), Seon Hetymer (215) and Kandasammy (212) scored double centuries while Foo (2) Baskar Yadram (2 in 1 match) and Assad Fudadin (2) had the most hundreds, while Tagenarine Chanderpaul (635), Kandasammy (607), Foo (580), Hemraj (562), Baskar Yadram (514) led the runs aggregate. Eon Hooper (44) Gajanand Suknanan (42), Shepherd (34), Kasim Khan (30) and Reifer (28) were the leading wicket-takers with Shepherd (8-49) recording the best bowling figures while Hooper had the most five-wicket hauls (5) which earned him a FC debut against Jamaica. The top players were inserted into each team, thus strengthening the weaker teams while 104 players,

Senior team not as convincing as last year Shiv Chanderpaul

Tagenarine Chanderpaul eight Coaches and eight Managers were paid $5,000 per day for the 21 days with $12.6 Million spent on salaries. Another positive is that games were played in all three Counties which provided fans in the rural communities an opportunity to see the best cricketers compete. The emergence of 21 year-old Shepherd and 18year-old Kemo Paul as quality all-rounders and the consistency of 20-year-old Tagenarine Chanderpaul, 23-year-old Hemraj, Foo, B a s k a r Ya d r a m , Kandasammy, Akshaya Persaud and Sherfane Rutherford were all positives for the future of Guyana’s cricket, while at a time when quality off-spinners are hard to find the success of Hooper and Suknanan is encouraging. All of the leading wicket takers were spinners (except Shepherd & Reifer) which exposed the inadequacies of the local batsmen to play spin. Shepherd and Reifer took 62 wickets between them. The high scores were due to a combination of decent batting, inconsistent bowling, faulty catching and questionable field placings. Better pitches are needed since poor pitches gave bowlers a false sense of accomplishment and cause batsmen to lose confidence. Few batsmen show the temperament to bat ‘long’ on

Shemaine Campbell

s l o w pitches which prohibits stroke-play. Bowlers were allowed to operating with suspect actions, players arguing with each other and Umpires were common occurrences and it’s imperative that due to the age of the players, the GCB organize Clinics dealing with etiquette, leadership skills, dress code and dealing with the Media. GCA Cricket: The Carib Beer t20 tournament was the only first division competition played for 2016 when DCC beat GCC in the final in Queenstown. This match saw the return of live NCN Radio coverage at club level but this was short lived and never happened again for the year. CPL t20: July The Amazon Warriors played four matches at home and lost the Final to Jamaica by nine wickets with 48 balls to spare after the Warriors fell for 93 in 16.1 overs. WICB PCL four-day Franchise: The Jaguars continued from where they left off in the first half of the tournament in 2015 by remaining unbeaten in their final four matches to retain the title, amassing 149 points with eight wins and two draws. They began 2016 by beating the Red Force by 105 runs in February with Vishaul Singh stroking an accomplished 104 before

drawing with Barbados as Shai Hope and Jonathon Carter scored hundreds to deny Guyana v i c t o r y. Ta g e n a r i n e Chanderpaul (69), Johnson (50) and Chandrika (49) batted well for the Jaguars. The Jaguars travelled to St Lucia and defeated the Windwards Volcanoes by six wickets with Skipper Johnson leading from the front with 107. The Jaguars finished off the 2016 season with a tense draw in fading light in Antigua to capture back-toback titles. Johnson became the only Guyana Captain to lift consecutive trophies to give Guyana their ninth Regional four-day Championship. He joined Kanhai (1), Lloyd (2), Roger Harper (2), and Hooper (2) as winning Captains. Johnson was the tournament’s leading run scorer with 803 runs while Singh was second in the runs aggregate. The 2017 tournament commenced in November 2016 and the Jaguars finished the first half of season in second place after five games. After extending their unbeaten streak to 18 with a first round 181-run win against Jamaica Tallawahs at Providence with Chandrika (86) and Shiv Chanderpaul (91) carrying the Jaguars to 298; Singh (71), Johnson (69), Hetymer (47), Motie (4wkts) and Permaul who took five in the first innings,

helped the Jaguars to an emphatic win. Chandrika (64), Chanderpaul (81) and Hetymer (53) took Guyana to 293 against the Leewards Hurricanes in St Kitts. Barnwell (61) and Reifer (46) led the Jaguars to 233-8 in their second innings before they declared leaving the hosts to get 367 in 115 overs. Monchin Hodge (114) and Kieron Powell (54) powered their team to victory to end Guyana’s unbeaten streak. Two days were lost to rain in St Lucia as pacers Reifer (6-82), Joseph (2-50) and Barnwell (1-25) took nine wickets in the first innings. Bramble’s 58 took Guyana to 219 before rain washed out the contest with the Volcanoes 90-4 in their second innings. Chanderpaul’s even 100, Hetymer’s 60 and Singh’s 40 spurred the Jaguars to their first 300 (311) total against Barbados Pride in the rain ruined fourth round encounter which ended in a draw at Providence. Permaul (4-68) and two wickets each from Joseph and Motie restricted the Pride to 288 but Hetymer’s second fifty (67) in the game failed to prevent the host from falling for 137 as no other batsman reached 15. Set 161 to win the visitors were 23-1 when the game ended prematurely. In the final match for the year, lights were used at (Continued on page 25)

Tuesday January 03, 2017

Kaieteur News

PAGE 33

Last year was a good one for rugby

Peter Green By Rawle Welch Even though the sport has not returned to the dizzying heights that it once enjoyed not so long ago, no one could dispute the fact that Rugby made significant strides last year. Among the noteworthy achievements was the men’s return to the top of regional rugby after winning the Rugby Americas North Sevens title, dethroning n e m e s i s Tr i n i d a d a n d Tobago in the process and earning qualification for the prestigious 2017 Hong Kong Sevens, while the reemergence of the women’s team at the regional level was another bright spark for the year. The present executive must come in for commendation, especially President Peter Green, who despite the many setbacks, including the consistent

Guyana Rugby players have kept the Golden Arrowhead aloft for many years. burden of procuring sponsorship for teams travelling to international competitions, never lost sight of promises made to return Guyana to the top of regional rugby in both segments (men and women) as well as having a strong developmental programme at the junior level. Another important feature that stood out during the past year and one that had beset the Union even during some of its best years was the sense of dissatisfaction at the executive and players levels, but this feeling seemed to have disappeared to a large extent and both parties have since operated

with a level of agreement and professionalism that is needed for continued success. Green, who was elected to serve a second term of office, seems to have won the confidence of the sport’s stakeholders and this could be due to his unswerving commitment to ensuring that teams are rewarded for their hard work and sacrifice towards the sport. He had made a pledge to vigorously pursue the resuscitation of women’s rugby which had been reduced to sporadic sightings for a couple of years despite our enviable success on the regional circuit.

This goal was achieved, while a similar undertaking to have a steady flow of replacements for aging players such as Theodore Henry, Claudius Butts, Richard Staglon, Ronald Mayers and Ryan Gonsalves, has started as well. The new executive seems to be working in harmony and this is not to say that everything is perfect, especially when the constant problem remains financial viability, but gratefully the Union did not allow that to hinder its programmes or plans. Green is considered by many as a tough-minded individual, who is not easily impressed by lip service, but

someone who leads from the front and this might be the kind of characteristic that is needed to ensure that the sport continues to receive the kind of support that will allow it to achieve the sort of success that is usually associated with it. This is a sport that has placed Guyana in a special bracket of sporting achievements at every level and this is despite the disappointing assistance it receives. While the general review would give the sport and its management a passing grade, there must have been a few areas of concern and one that stands out immediately is the noticeable dearth of new

players entering the women’s segment. It is one of the areas that generally provide the Union with a headache, but accordin g t o r e l i a b l e sources within the Body, the plan this year is to unfurl a strategy that could capture a new nucleus of players and broaden the base of clubs. One could only hope that the strides made in the past year is maintained and even expanded which would then guarantee continued success at the local, regional and international levels. Last year was a solid one for the sport, but could this year be one of glory for rugby.

Guyana Boxing Association Changing courses to retain its course By Michael Benjamin The year 2016 is now behind us and after experiencing a roller coaster ride, the collective sighs of relief emanating from administrators of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) are indeed deafening. Despite this the officials of the GBA will be required to change courses even as they continue along the course of development Boxing has experienced mixed fortunes during a year of hectic activity. Last year has been an Olympic year and whiles the many challenges and sacrifices of local boxers have not translated into commendable world

accolades at that level, those pugilists have closed off the year on a high after dominating the recently concluded Caribbean Development Boxing Tournament in Bridgetown, Barbados with 10 gold medals and one silver. While the uninitiated would want to chuck a chest in the air over this achievement, those boxing pundits of the late seventies and early eighties would scoff while reminiscing on the feats of their counterparts of that era. Those knowledgeable of the sport, and who would have experienced the gripping encounters of boxers the likes of Darius Forde, the late Winston

The successful GBA team after their successful haul of medals in the Caribbean tournament is greeted by various officials on their return. Richards and John ‘The Beast’ Brummell, Anthony Barrow and the Davis clan,

Robin, Forbes and Pascal among other notable punchers, would hardly be

impressed by what passes for action packed encounters these days.

Notwithstanding the disparity in standards, one (Continued on page 26)

t r o Sp UDFA GT Beer Adams last minute strike lifts Shattas to Christmas football final 1-0 title victory over Eagles

Botafago edge Winners Connection 2-0 for third place

The champs Silver Shattas hoist the championship trophy in the presence of several Banks DIH, GFF and Regional officials.

Smith calls time on Hinterland players can boost Guyana’s Pride 50-overs career football team’s performance – Hinds

Dashing opener Dwayne Smith … will call time on Barbados Pride 50-overs career.

Businessman Roger Hinds (left) with Honourable Minister Ronald A. Bulkan. Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210