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AIETEUR ExxonMobil's project NEWS

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Friday Edition January 03, 2020 - Vol. 22 No. 01

in Papua New Guinea is an economic parasite

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Guyana holds the cards for non-stop NY flights - Caribbean Airlines says it has met all regulatory requirements Five New Year's babies grace New 6,535 unverified Amsterdam Hospital registrants can have - Several more expected

The mothers with their New Year's babies. Somwattie Deonat (in purple), Taramattie Baijnauth (in pink) Towana Gravsande (in black) and Diannne Gonsalves (at back)

undue influence on elections outcome - Nandlall Foreign Ministry denies Ten-Pow resigned as UN Ambassador …Guyana takes over as chair of Group of 77

Fight over girl, 14, leaves one Two dead, dead, one hospitalised, one several injured remanded and one on the run in four accidents

IDB tempers Guyana's projected economic growth in 2020 from - echoes IMF that majority of 86% to 39% wealth will leave the country

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Kaieteur News

Friday January 03, 2020

Kaieteur News

Friday January 03, 2020

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IDB tempers Guyana's projected growth in 2020 from 86% to 39% - Echoes IMF that majority of wealth will leave the country

Projected growth of Guyana economy and portion of revenues going to Guyana (IMF)

By Kemol King

T

h e I n t e r A m e r i c a n Development Bank (IDB) has posited that Guyana will experience economic growth of 39 percent in 2020.

That figure stands starkly in contrast to the 86 percent projection by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in September.

The IMF report had caused much excitement when reported by some sections of the media.

The IDB's recent projection brought to light in its Caribbean Region Quarterly Bulletin for the last quarter of 2019, does not dispute the IMF's projection.

It rather provides a more accurate indication of just how much wealth will stay with Guyana.

The IMF's 86 percent projection is a growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), while the IDB's projection is a growth of Gross National Income (GNI).

The GDP takes into account the value of all the goods and services produced within a country's borders. In 2020, oil production in the Stabroek Block by ExxonMobil and its partners, Hess and CNOOC Nexen, will form the majority of Guyana's growth in GDP. Particularly noteworthy is that in a report on its Article IV consultation last y e a r, t h e I M F s t a t e d categorically that the direct impact on the economy of an

86% growth in GDP will be “mostly” offset by higher imports of oil extraction equipment and payments to the operators.

It is for this reason that when modeling the economics of countries h o s t i n g l a rg e f o r e i g n companies, the GNI exists.

This indicator considers the total value going to a nation's people and businesses.

In its report, the IDB states, “The GNI adjusts G D P f o r n e t labor/investment income.”

The GNI considers the GDP minus the investment income outflows i.e. the value that will leave the country with foreign companies.

These investment income outflows are useful to approximate Guyana's GNI, the Bank warns.

It posited that “… by subtracting net labour/investment outflows from GDP, economic growth is tempered to 39 percent in 2020.”

While the IMF report had noted that most of the wealth accrued from production on the Stabroek Block's Liza-1 and Liza-2 projects will not impact the domestic economy, it hadn't yet provided an alternative projection to the GDP that

would denote the value the country gets to keep.

Attached are two charts which demonstrate the IMF's message. It makes projections not just to 2020's end, but for the next 28 years.

The first chart shows

revenues making a slow increase to 2024, and a short drop in 2025.

After this, the revenues will experience a steep increase until 2027, after which it will be generally buoyant for a number of years.

The second chart shows the total value of the reserves assessed by the IMF on its mission. It should be noted that the assessment included only Liza Phase 1 and 2.

The gross total oil revenue, as a percentage of Guyana's 2018 GDP, is

calculated to be 1,178 percent.

Of that, 1,007 percent is projected to go to the private oil companies, 171 percent is projected to go to the Natural Resource Fund, and 114 percent is projected to be transferred from the Fund to the budget.

That means a total of 86 percent of the total value of the reserves will go to the oil companies, while Guyana will get 14 percent.

In November, Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, drew attention to an

article by Bloomberg which touted the 86 percent projected GDP growth, and asked the question “Does it mean it's all great news for Guyana?”

The former President said, “A lot of people, they're talking up the numbers [about] the growth in economy without talking up what will come to us … in the treasury.”

He shared his view that the conversation about Guyana's growth should focus more on what goes directly to the people.

Foreign Ministry denies Ten-Pow resigned as UN ambassador …Guyana takes over as chair of Group of 77

G

uyana has taken over as chair of the influential Group of 77 developing countries.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also disclosed that Ambassador Rudolph Michael Ten-Pow has not resigned his post.

On November 22, Guyana was elected chair without pre-conditions to the Group of 77 and China by the membership of the Group.

Guyana succeeded Palestine as chair of the group effective January 1, 2020 for a term of one year.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, arrangements for the transition to the new chair have been progressing smoothly both at the

Permanent Mission of Guyana to the United Nations in New York, and at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A t t h e m i n i s t r y, a secretariat has been established to provide support and oversight for the chairmanship.

“Contrary to recent allegations in the local media, Ambassador TenPow has not resigned his post as Permanent Representative to the United Nations and is fully engaged in preparations for the transition,” the ministry said in a release.

With 134 member states, the Group of 77 and China is the largest coalition of developing countries in the international system.

According to the

Elected: UN Ambassador Rudolph Michael Ten-Pow ministry, the group serves as a platform for the countries of the south to articulate and promote their collective economic interests and enhance their joint

negotiating capacity on all major international economic issues within the United Nations system, as well as to promote SouthSouth cooperation for development.

In 2020, the G-77 and China will represent the interests of its members in negotiations on a range of issues on the global development agenda, including climate change, financing for development, and implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

“The 2030 agenda includes the Sustainable Development Goals, with which our national development plan, the Green State Development Strategy (continued on page 14)

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Friday January 03, 2020

Kaieteur News

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

That 10,000 MMA lease The chairman said he did remove himself from the conversations relative to that MMA lease of some 10,000 acres. If nothing else, the man must be given the benefit of the positive.

Yet there is so much that troubles; so much that could have been avoided, if only our public servants take the time, and have the interest, to stay away from certain kinds of transactions.

Without in any way casting any aspersions, good sense, commonsense, and plain sense would necessitate that highly ranked professionals called upon to serve the state to not be a party to anything that even has the appearance of taint.

For even when there is none, the ordinary man, the reasonable man, may be prompted to assert that something is not right about these developments.

It is not the thing itself, but the appearance of the thing, the smell of it, and the sounds of it.

This paper, not too long ago, did question this business involving a minister submitting that there was recusal from matters where there appeared to be a conflict of interest.

To be brutally candid, it is far from enough. For in the time-honored way of savvy and sophisticated Guyana, men and women have learned to use that baton to beat a drum in their defense. It falls short, for it is an empty drum that fails to gather many believing citizens dancing to that rhythm.

Those who know better should do better, are held to a higher standard of comportment and professional distance.

This may be unfair, even unacceptable, but it should be the way.

It must be the way when anything and everything in Guyanese life rises to issues of credibility, to what makes sense, and what is questioned. For there is this first truth to be faced frontally: we all know one another (for the most part), are familiar with our stories (whether impeccable or sordid), since word gets around and takes on more lives than the proverbial cat.

To bring another perspective to stories of these types, nothing here functions in a vacuum. People know who’s who and what is what, or to state another way: what is going down or must come down. It is as open and shut as that.

No matter the recusal precautions that may be taken, it leaves a lot to the realm of conjecture, some of which may be unjustified.

For things have a habit-indeed, a culture-of coming and going in circles, as in the realities of Third World societies, where in the narrow circle, things boil down to you scratch my back today, and I scratch yours tomorrow.

All of this leaves a lingering unpleasant taste, that citizens find it hard to summon the thinking, the offering of a pass, to say that this one is on us, and count me among the persuaded.

Guyanese have been burnt, and badly, for many a long decade, that they are fearful, they are cynical, they are don’t believe anything and anyone anymore.

This might be the height of unfairness, where credible people are found guilty until proven innocent, but it is an indication of how our society has degraded and the terrible depths to which we fallen, where even the innocent have to prove that they are not guilty of anything underhanded.

It is why this publication goes on record, again, to encourage and exhort those in the public domain to demonstrate better judgment and to a consistent degree, too.

Because the one time, that something is slightly amiss, is that one time, when a mountain of bricks would descend upon them and leave them with having to deal with possibly irreparable harm to character and standing.

In sum, it is not worth neither the risks nor the reward.

And if one’s reputation is held in such an honorable manner, then that’s all that matters.

GGDMA’s power-drunk election strategy DEAR EDITOR, In his inaugural statement, newly-elected President of the Guyana Gold & Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) Andron Alphonso, at the end of November, openly challenged miners to use their electoral clout to determine the result of the next election.

“We are the swing vote”, he announced, claiming over 100,000 people are directly or indirectly involved with mining”. He pledged to fight “tooth and nail’ to protect the future of the industry against policies that will be detrimental to, or result in the ‘desolation’ of the industry.

Drawing attention to being the youngest GGDMA President in many years, he committed to recruiting more youth into the ranks of the GGDMA, stating: “We need the next generation to step up and … have meaningful participation in the direction in which this Association is going. That is something that we’re definitely going to be working on, to bring that younger element into the Association.”

He maintained silence over the fact that the environmental ‘desolation’ generated by his industry puts him at odds with the majority of the generation he

hopes to recruit.

The inter-generational narrative focuses attention on the phenomenal cost of goldmining to both the Guyanese population and the environment. According to ancient doctrines in many cultural traditions, natural resources, including rivers, fresh air, beaches, minerals and all manner of biodiversity - known as ‘commons’ - belong to all the population communally. Not only do they belong to everyone, but the term ‘everyone’ includes future generations.

The current generation are trustees for these natural assets to which future generations have the same ownership rights. The Constitution of Guyana recognizes this principle as well the links between inheritance and the environment: “The right of inheritance is guaranteed” (art.20) and “The state shall protect the environment for the benefit of present and future generations through reasonable legislative and other measures” (art. 149 J (2) Over the past forty years, the current generation has transformed the perception of commons - i.e. publiclyshared inherited assets - into commodities to be bought and

sold for private gain. The terminology we normally employ to discuss extractive assets e.g. ‘windfall profits’ deflects us away from the more accurate term of ‘depletion of assets’. This encourages us to see the wealth generated from the sale of oil, gas or gold, as pure profit. We never count the losses. Nor do we ensure that the assets irrevocably lost are replaced by assets of equal value to the present and future generations.

In the Guyanese context, gold-mining has been far and away, the largest contributor to squandering the shared inheritance that mineral wealth ought to represent.

According to official sources, a total of 11.1 million.ozs of gold have been extracted from Guyana in the forty-year period from 1980-2019. Based on yearly average prices over this period, the total value of gold extracted was valued at USD7.4 billion, or G$1.5 trillion dollars.

Confronted with resources of this magnitude, the only morally relevant question is what tangible benefits do the current generation of Guyanese enjoy as a result of this enormous fire-sale of their assets. Is there a well-funded insurance or pension scheme for miners?

Is there a well-appointed

housing scheme built by the industry comparable to extranuclear housing scheme for sugar workers? Do children of gold-miners routinely receive bursaries to take them through college and university studies? To say nothing of what the industry has not given back to the larger society.

As for the future generation, their bequest from mining is more readily counted in terms of decimated forests and polluted rivers. Were the cost of environmental restoration factored into the above statistics, the cost to the society would double. Would the GGDMA consider funding an institute to promote alternative technology to the use of mercury or to finance a restoration programme? The “truth and nail” pledge would suggest not.

The President of the GGDMA’s reference to the ‘100,000 people associated with the industry’ also disguises accumulation of vast areas under mining licences by a mere handful of very large, but misleadingly termed ‘medium-scale’ local miners, who hold thousands of acres under mining licences, landlorded out to others. The policies the (Continued on page 6)

We look forward to being your Caribbean airline of choice in 2020 DEAR EDITOR, Caribbean Airlines has taken note of the article appearing in the Chronicle Newspaper on December 31, 2019.

The airline considers it important to point out the following: (i) Caribbean Airlines and its predecessor BWIA International Airways have faithfully served Guyana since 1947. While other providers have come and gone, Caribbean Airlines has maintained its commitment to Guyana regardless of whether times are good or bad. (ii) Like all airlines in the current commercial climate, Caribbean Airlines faces intense competition and constant upward pressure on overall costs, while also trying to invest for the future. (iii) Caribbean Airlines has and continues to carefully manage ticket prices for the Guyana market. The airline’s pricing policies are done in line with its operational costs and not with a view to exploit any given market, so the claim of artificially high prices, based on a monopoly as stated in the article is respectfully wrong.

(iv) Ticket prices of foreign carriers operating into and out of Guyana are in fact regularly higher than Caribbean Airlines, particularly with respect to fares that include a checked bag. (v) Caribbean Airlines recently launched Caribbean branded fares which offer more choice and greater flexibility to all customers.

The fare options on the airline are now LITE, CLASSIC, FLEX, BIZ and BIZ FLEX, all with different features to cater to the specific needs of travellers. (vi) Guyana is the only market outside of Trinidad and Tobago which offers “Caribbean Layaway” which allows customers to use a payment plan to purchase tickets. (vii) The assertion that Caribbean Airlines is “using the Guyana market as a “cash cow” using the revenues to subsidize Trinidadians travel between Trinidad and Tobago by offsetting losses being incurred by the company through the Port of Spain to Tobago air bridges, which they say is haemorrhaging the airline” is

wrong.

The accounts and financing of the domestic air bridge between Trinidad and Tobago is not co-mingled with the airline’s international operations. And the revenues from international routes including Guyana are not used to offset losses on the domestic air bridge.

Caribbean Airlines has a clear arrangement with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago (GORTT) as it relates to the financing and management of the domestic air bridge which has nothing to do with revenues from any international routes.

Caribbean Airlines as an organisation has achieved an operating profit for the first time in many years. The airline is excited to be reinvesting in a new fleet, new routes, and improved services. This includes Guyana, where we launched the new service to Havana, Cuba, added additional flights on existing routes including New York, and have further expansions planned over the next few months and years, including the opening of additional ticket offices.

These are substantial investments in the Guyanese market, where Caribbean

Airlines already has a number of competitors and where there is always the threat of new entrants.

On a final note, we are quite aware of and are very deeply concerned about the continued inconvenience associated with the need to transit through Trinidad and Tobago on the way to the United States of America.

Caribbean Airlines has met all of the requirements, to facilitate non-stop travel between Guyana and the United States of America.

However, the final regulatory approval to permit such, lies within the jurisdiction of the Government of Guyana and the United States authorities to grant permission of same.

The airline is looking forward with much anticipation for this authorization to be granted.

Caribbean Airlines continues to be committed to faithfully serving Guyana and the region as a whole and takes this opportunity to wish all of our loyal customers a happy and successful new year and we look forward to being your Caribbean airline of choice in 2020.

Sincerely, The Caribbean Airlines Team

Friday January 03, 2020

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Kaieteur News

When will GTT upgrade its mobile data service in the North Rupununi?

DEAR EDITOR, For the longest while, cell phone customers in the North Rupununi have been getting the proverbial “shaft” when it comes to GTT’s mobile data service. In the North Rupununi, customers have to pay mobile data rates equivalent to those of users on the coast, despite the fact that data service in the North Rupununi is frustratingly slow.

So if cell phone users in the North Rupununi want to have access to Facebook, WhatsApp etc. they have to cough up various fees ranging from a daily fee of $449 for 300 MB of data, to a weekly fee of $1499 for 1500 MB of data to a monthly fee of $2699 for 2 GB of data.

These rates are good

value for money in Georgetown, for example, which benefits from 4G data service, but in the North Rupununi, users are getting the wrong end of the deal because the data service is much too slow.

So, for example, if a user in the North Rupununi subscribes for a daily data plan, all 300 MB of data allotted has to be used out within twenty-four hours from time of subscription. And as the users in the North Rupununi know all too well, that is not possible, because the data service is just too slow. So GTT provides the user with two unpalatable options when a data plan is close to expiration; sign up for a new data plan (and pay the relevant subscription fee) to

roll over all unused data to the new plan or allow your data plan to expire and lose all unused data as well as your money.

So basically users are caught between a rock and a hard place. They can either continue paying for a crappy and inefficient service or continue losing money by allowing unused data to go to waste.

And if that is not bad enough, for some reason newer model of phones, especially the Samsung brand perform very poorly in the North Rupununi. To send a WhatsApp message sometimes literally takes hours!

So it begs the question firstly of what causes new model expensive phones

to perform so poorly in the North Rupununi, and secondly, why is the data service so slow when in other hinterland locations such as Lethem and Mabura, the service is much faster. Could it be that the number of subscribers in the North Rupununi is too small for GTT to pay much heed in ensuring that a proper service is provided? Why does GTT, which makes millions of dollars in profit annually, not ensure equality of service throughout the country? As such, I am kindly asking the Minister of Public Telecommunications as well as the Public Utilities Commission to look into this matter with urgency.

I am humbly awaiting a response to the issues raised in this letter.

Yours Sincerely S. Fredericks

Let each of us endeavour to make ourselves the best human beings we could be DEAR EDITOR, As we look to this New Year of 2020, all of us are understandably wondering how our year- delayed elections would turn out, and how much of a boon would the recent commencement of the production of crude petroleum far off our shores, bring us. The answers to both questions lie in what our heads and hearts understand and what we make our hands do.

For me, I remain strong in advocating the PPP and the PPP/C in being the better team to be in service of all Guyanese and Guyana, opening up pathways of development which are better matched to our circumstances of an early-stage developing country, providing

opportunities for all from whatever their current positions maybe, and such safety nets which we as a society value and can provide.

Some may boast that this year-long delay in our elections demonstrates how smart they are, but for all honest, earnest Guyanese, knowing that there was really no question that elections were to be held within 90 days of the passage of the NCM on December 21, 2018, the succession of events of the year-long delay should demonstrate again the commitment of the PPP and PPP/C to keeping Guyana whole, avoiding paths that might lead to the reversal in the gradual coming together of our people.

We of the PPP and PPP/C have been putting our people and country first. We have invested more in people and country and therefore have more to lose in any failure of people and country. There shall be No failed people and country as far as we go.

I welcome without any reservations the discovery of and beginning of production of crude oil far-off our shores, and I do so as one who as Minister Responsible for the GGMC in the 1990s, welcomed Esso (and others) to explore for petroleum (and other) resources within our borders.

But I do so tempered with my experiences of one who as a child shared the awe in which we held our bauxite production, a goose laying golden eggs; and who as an

employee before and after nationalization from 1967 to 1992 and as Minister Responsible from 1992 to 2011, saw our bauxite operations from many sides and in various circumstances, and needing massive subsidies from the mid-1970s.

I can recall also the Trinidad and Tobago that I had learnt about in primary school, as the place of grapefruit and orange juice and of cocoa - the site of the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture; the rise of (Continued on page 6)

A salute to the leadership for keeping the legacy of the PPP alive and relevant DEAR EDITOR, The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) observed its 70th anniversary on January 1, 2020. This is indeed a significant milestone. The PPP was formed on January 1, 1950, under the leadership of the charismatic Dr. Cheddi Jagan, and went on to win a massive victory in the 1953 elections, the first to be held under universal adult suffrage.

The party continued to win successive elections until it was engineered out of power in 1964 by western vested interests in collaboration by local reactionary parties and groups.

All of that is now water under the bridge. Suffice it to say that the emergence of the PPP in 1950 introduced a new dimension in the politics of the country. For the first time, the status quo of the then colony was challenged in a radical and fundamental way. Indeed, it is no exaggeration to state that the PPP has been at the centre of every major political and constitutional development in the country. It was instrumental in the fight for universal adult suffrage; it played a leading role in the struggle for national

independence and for a democratic Guyana.

I have always held the view that the electoral and popular success of the PPP transcended the narrow appeal of race and ethnicity as is being suggested in some quarters.

Instead, it is the universalistic appeal of the PPP from its very inception as a party of the working class that is a major factor in its capacity to do so well electorally over the decades.

The PPP remains until today the largest multi-ethnic political party in Guyana. It has within its ranks people from all across the ethnic and cultural divide. Even though it has a predominant Indo-Guyanese support base, its political and ideological underpinnings are intended to create a socially-just society that transcends the narrow confines of race and politics.

As the country prepares for general and regional elections, the PPP is poised to once again be at the helm of the development processes of this country.

I salute the membership and leadership of the PPP, both present and past, for keeping the legacy of the PPP alive and relevant.

Hydar Ally

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Friday January 03, 2020

Kaieteur News

The State of Hope Coconut Industries Limited DEAR EDITOR, It is my firm belief that it is important for everyone to be aware of the fact that agriculture is currently the world’s leading employer and plays a vital role in the livelihood of 40% of its population. In Guyana, we are fortunate to have an agriculture sector that is both strong and well structured.

Credit must be given to the Government of Guyana and Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) in particular, which showed both commitment and wisdom in investing and creating favourable pathways for continued development of the sector over the past four years.

I am both pleased and impressed that the new management of Hope Coconut Industries Limited (HCIL) took advantage of the favorable environment that was created by the MOA to work towards making the estate sustainable and less dependent on Government’s subvention for its day to day management.

The major setbacks the estate suffered under mismanagement by the PPPled Government cannot be swept under the carpet. The estate was hemorrhaging badly and almost went bankrupt. Staff at one time were not paid their monthly salaries for months. All the

basic infrastructures were in a state of total collapse and corruption was rampant.

However, we should put these unfortunate occurrences behind us and look positively towards the future.

Currently, I must acknowledge the fact that the financial future for HCIL is bright. As a direct result of prudent management of its resources and systems put in place by the MOA, the annual income of the estate has leaped from G$17 million in 2015 to G$36 million in 2019.

This resulted in a 47% increase in income.

In its wisdom, the current government over the past 4

Translating talk to reality is where the Granger Administration has utterly failed time and again DEAR EDITOR, A January 01, article in another newspaper titled “President announces launch of development decade” referred to caretaker President David Granger New Year’s address. From the article, we learnt that the President and his Administration, which have lost the legitimacy to govern,

envisage that Guyana by 2030 will become a ”modern state”.

According to the President, an Administration led by him will at last deliver the now worn out ‘Good Life’. That Administration, he said, would be ”…eradicating extreme poverty…”, a goal, we believe, that is shared by all

GGDMA’s power-drunk...

From page 4 GGDMA are committed to protecting are neither capitalist nor socialist economics, but more akin to looting. On the one hand there is a constant clamour for subsidies and privileges from the Government to insulate this privileged group from the real costs of extraction, and on the other, they denounce reasonable regulation of the industry that protect the assets of those same citizens - all the while engaging in widespread tax avoidance.

The posture adopted by the GGDMA with respect to the upcoming elections viewed through the lens of

the biblical parable of the prodigal son, would have the son return home after squandering the assets bequeathed by his father, not to humbly beg forgiveness, but to bully the father into giving him the assets that belong to his brothers.

Were the younger generation indeed ‘to step up’ and assert the “meaningful participation” that Mr. Alphonso is looking for, the upsurge of climate-concerned youth we have witnessed this year, suggests the GGDMA might be in for a surprise.

Respectfully, Mike McCormack Policy Forum Guyana

Guyanese. Mr Granger went on to say that ”[t]he ultimate measure of the good life is happy communities, happy households and happy people.” The President is known for his lofty ambitions. However, translating that talk to reality is where the Granger Administration has faltered and utterly failed time and again.

The President and his Administration who will seek re-election in a few weeks’ time, will seek to convince voters that given another (Continued on page 30)

Let each...

From page 5 Petroleum and the construction of the Hilton Hotel in the 1950s; Prime Minister Manning talking at a shared table at a Petrocaribe Conference about challenges in finding the monies to keep the prices of oil products low in Trinidad and Tobago.

And again, looking at possibilities for employment at the newly built Interalumina Plant in Venezuela in 1980, hearing the local people swearing that the Bolivar was backed by oil and will always be 4.3 Bs to the USD. It is people and their social relations which matter most, their worldview, their sense of responsibility, their ability and their pursuit of the greater good. This is what I think Cheddi was working at in his NGHO (New Global Human Order) in his last year.

Whatever comes, let each of us endeavour our utmost to make ourselves the best human beings we could be.

Samuel A.A. Hinds Former President and Former Prime Minister

years, invested significant financial and human resources to improve the crippling infrastructure at Hope Estate. The aim of this intervention was to better serve farmers’ needs, most of whom are small producers and risk takers. As a direct result of these interventions, today the tides have turned for the better.

Several bridges, dams, main access road, the entire D&I system, extension and repairs of the main office building, establishing of a vibrant coconut nursery and coconut demonstration plot – to name a few, are now up and running for the benefit of stakeholder of Hope Estate.

The year 2019 was good for HCIL. Much needed improvements were made, especially in the area of improving its infrastructure.

It is important to mention that the estate has embarked on projects that are economically smart, environmentally safe and agronomically sound.

Its highly successful

coconut nursery, which continues to serve farmers’ needs and is currently one of HCIL’s main income streams as well as the extension of its Head Office Building, should be commended. The estate is expected to perform even better in 2020. This is because the MOA has in its plan to provide HCIL with a few critical pieces of equipment as well as an excavator which will be used full time to improve the D & I systems that are so critical for production.

In addition, a mechanical pump, which is currently under construction at a cost of over G$200 million is expected to become fully operational in the first quarter of 2020.

This will significantly reduce the occurrence of flooding at Hope Estate.

Farmers and stakeholders can be assured that these interventions will aid in the transition journey of the estate towards sustainability and improved services.

The Ministry of

Agriculture will continue to provide the necessary guidance to both the management of HCIL and farmers to bring back the estate from disarray and neglect to profitability. We are committed, and will work assiduously, to ensure the value chain at HCIL becomes more productive, efficient, profitable and, critically, more inclusive.

I wish to take this opportunity to encourage all producers to look seriously at adopting innovative agricultural technologies that are yield enhancing. This, if adopted and implemented correctly, can result in increased production and productivity. I firmly belief that with the required assistance, farmers would be incentivized to work both harder and smarter for their own benefit and the benefit of our agricultural sector, in particular, as well as the nation’s welfare in general.

Hon. Noel Holder M.P. Minister of Agriculture

I firmly believe that this was a “shakedown” operation DEAR EDITOR, A recent article published in the Kaieteur News spoke of some GGMC Mines Officers and instances of corruption. I would like to add some evidence to support same.

I am a shop owner at Puruni Landing and my place of business was visited recently by an official who claimed to be responsible for managing Trading Licences.

I was in Georgetown at the time doing business. The official, who is not stationed in the area, presented a notice to my shop attendant indicating that the trading in gold with the licence would be suspended from January 2020. However, if I wish to

continue doing business, one ounce of raw gold must be paid to him when he visits in January.

It is my understanding that the said person had made similar proposals to other shop owners. Upon return to the Puruni Landing two days after, I visited the GGMC’s office to enquire about the basis of the notice, and was told by the Mines Officer stationed there that he had no knowledge of such notice and would have to check with his supervisor.

He did acknowledge that the official who served the notice works at the GGMC, but in another department.

This act of corrupt intent must be highlighted in an

effort to remove those individuals who engage in such practices from the GGMC. I have interacted on a number of occasions with officers of the Commission and found many to be hard working and honest, however there are a few, such as the individual who give the notice, who must be investigated and the necessary action taken.

I firmly believe that this was a “shakedown” operation since the officer station at the Puruni Landing confessed that he was in no way connected to that individual.

Disgusted Puruni Landing shop owner

Minor parties experience difficulties to get on ballot DEAR EDITOR, Conversations with leaders and/or representatives of the newer small parties reveal that they are struggling with funding and meeting the requirements to appear on the ballot for the March 2 elections.

Everything seems to be going against the minor parties.

The deadline to file nominations, as announced

by Gecom, is January 10, some 40 days before the actual voting on March 2.

This is the longest period ever allowed before nominating

and voting day. The general trend was about 32 days in all previous elections. The smaller parties can do with the extra week to make the ballot, especially given the fact that the country is coming out of the holiday period when the public is not taking on politicians. No plausible reason has been offered by Gecom why it needs 40 days to prepare a ballot.

It is a heavy burden on small parties to qualify for the ballot, especially that they don’t have much funds to travel around to get

signatures to support their list and candidates. People are fearful to sign nominations; worried they will be victimized. The leadership of some minor parties I interacted with said people have told them that they will vote for them and even give them donations off the record, but they don’t to want be identified with the minor parties or sign their nominations for fear of losing their jobs or perks or contracts.

Yours truly, Dr Vishnu Bisram

PAGE 7

Kaieteur News

Friday January 03, 2020

Guyana holds the cards for non-stop NY flights -Caribbean Airlines says it has met all the regulatory requirements

Trinidad and Tobagocontrolled Caribbean Airlines (CAL) is calling on Guyana and the US to clear the hurdles which will allow nonstop flights to North America.

The airline yesterday insisted it has met all regulatory requirements.

The call was made in a statement which came days after a study recommended that Guyana explore the possibilities of a statesponsored airline which will help reduce high fares.

“Caribbean Airlines has met all of the requirements to facilitate non-stop travel between Guyana and the United States of America.

However, the final regulatory approval to permit such lies within the jurisdiction of the Government of Guyana and the United States authorities to grant permission of same.

The airline is looking forward with much anticipation for this authorization to be granted.”

For years, CAL and its predecessor, BWIA, have been capitalizing on the lucrative Guyana/New York route.

The route has been a major revenue earner for the airline but with the absence of competition, the criticisms of high fares have been many.

Yesterday, CAL indicated that the fact that passengers have to in-transit in Trinidad is a major inconvenience.

The reality is that that intransit was mandatory as under regulations CAL cannot fly from Guyana to the US directly. The US authorities have to green light those flights.

Guyana has to also file the necessary requests for that to happen.

In recent months, American Airlines, one of the biggest in the US, added New York to its flights from Guyana. This is in addition to the Miami route.

Within months, Eastern Airlines, which morphed from Dynamic, will start flying the New York also.

With the New York route a major revenue earner for CAL, the battle will be on for the airline.

According to CAL, in its statement, it has with its predecessor, BWIA, faithfully served Guyana since 1947.

“While other providers have come and gone, Caribbean Airlines has maintained its commitment to Guyana regardless of whether times are good or bad. Like all airlines in the current commercial climate, Caribbean Airlines faces intense competition and constant upward pressure on overall costs while also trying to

invest for the future.”

The airline said that it has, and continues to carefully manage ticket prices for the Guyana market. “The airline s pricing policies are done in line with its operational costs and not with a view to exploit any given market.”

CAL, in fact, argued yesterday that ticket prices of foreign carriers operating into and out of Guyana are in fact regularly higher, particularly with respect to fares that include a checked bag.

“Caribbean Airlines recently launched their Caribbean branded fares which offer more choice and greater flexibility to all customers. The fare options on the airline are now LITE, CLASSIC, FLEX, BIZ and BIZ FLEX all with different features, to cater to the specific needs of travellers.”

The airline said that Guyana is the only market outside of Trinidad and Tobago which offers “Caribbean Layaway” which allows customers to use a payment plan to purchase tickets.

“The assertion that Caribbean Airlines is “using the Guyana market as a “cash cow”, using the revenues to subsidize Trinidadians travel between Trinidad and Tobago by offsetting (sic) losses being incurred by the company through the Port of Spain to Tobago air bridges (sic), which they say is haemorrhaging (sic) the airline” is wrong.”

CAL denied that the accounts and financing of the

Caribbean Airlines says it has stood by Guyana and it is not true that it has taken advantage.

domestic air bridge between Trinidad and Tobago is comingled with the airlines international operations.

“And the revenues from international routes including Guyana are not used to offset losses on the domestic air bridge. Caribbean Airlines has a clear arrangement with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago (GORTT) as it relates to the financing and management of the domestic air bridge which has nothing to do with revenues from any international routes.”

CAL also disclosed that it has managed to achieve an operating profit for the first time in many years.

“The airline is excited to be reinvesting in a new fleet, new routes, and improved services. This includes (Continued on page 30)

PAGE 8

Kaieteur News

Friday January 03, 2020

MP sexual misconduct probe… Sensitization to help reduce teenage Lead investigator, other rank in pregnancy situation in Region One alleged cover-up transferred

A

police corporal who had spear headed the investigation into the alleged sexual misconduct of an Opposition Member of Parliament, is among two ranks who have now become the subject of an investigation.

Kaieteur News has confirmed that the ranks, who were stationed in Region Nine, were recently transferred to the Tactical Services Unit after being implicated in attempts to suppress evidence.

According to sources, the DPP has recommended charges against the MP for his alleged sexual misconduct with a teenage boy.

The two police ranks and others are also likely to face

charges.

Crime Chief Michael Kingston said, recently, that Commissioner of Police, Leslie James, has the report.

Police started the investigation last August, after the allegations of sexual impropriety were leveled against the MP. He was detained briefly before being placed on station bail.

But the probe took a disturbing turn, with allegations that some individuals were attempting to suppress evidence.

According to reports, the perpetrator met the teenager at a birthday party that was held for one of the MPs young relatives.

It was alleged that the MP first made advances toward

the teen at the party and later accompanied the teen to a nearby bar, where they were imbibing.

It was during this time that he allegedly made a second proposal to the teen.

In an interview, the accused MP had refuted the allegation, while suggesting that attempts were afoot to tarnish his character.

The man confirmed, nonetheless, that a group of teenagers had attended his relatives 16th birthday party.

The MP said that he was shocked to learn that there was a social media post, the next day, which implicated him as having indulged in sexual misconduct with one of the teens.

According to the MP, he met the alleged victim for the first time at the birthday party.

He said he later learned that some of the teens bought alcohol at a shop.

Aggressive moves are being kicked into motion to address a daunting teenage pregnancy situation in Region One. This is according to Regional Health Officer [RHO] of Region One, Dr. Latchmie Lall.

Dr. Lall, who recently shed light on the situation, assured that thus far, from a medical standpoint, “We have been doing our best”.

This, however, does not mean that more cannot be done since, according to the RHO, she and her staffers still have concerns about the prevailing situation.

It was initially reported that the teenage pregnancy situation was being fueled by the influx of Venezuelan migrants.

However, Dr. Lall has since ascertained that while some migrants are involved in the burgeoning situation, the majority of cases are Region One residents.

She disclosed that of the 259 reported cases of teenage pregnancies that occurred between the period January and November of 2019, only a small number were found to be from the migrant population.

The RHO said that from the accounts of several teenage pregnant mothers, unem-

Regional Health Officer of Region One, Dr. Latchmie Lall, ployment and economic challenges are the primary factors driving this social issue.

“There is evidently a need for serious attention to be placed on addressing this social challenge,” said Dr. Lall.

She added, “There is definitely cause for concern as with numbers like these with just a very small amount representing migrants, it tells you that definitely something is wrong and whatever it is we will have to address it.”

The RHO disclosed that while in 2018 there were 152

reported cases of teenage pregnancy, the 259 cases as at November 2019 suggests that there is a need for a concentrated approach in educating and sensitizing residents about teenage pregnancy.

“There is certainly a need to educate residents so that they can become aware that while there is a lot of teenage pregnancies going on around them that it shouldn’t be a trend that they should follow as there are a number of challenges that come with (Continued on page 9)

Construction worker stabbed at Plaisance Bus Park A resident of Westminster, West Bank Demerara (WBD) is now a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). He was stabbed several times while attempting to board a bus at the Plaisance Bus Park on Wednesday afternoon around 14:30hrs.

Relatives have identified the victim as 36year-old Gary Craigen.

Kaieteur News understands that Craigen was in the vicinity of Bank of Baroda when he was stabbed four times by an unidentified male.

According to reports, the suspect, armed with a sharp object, was involved in a scuffle with Craigen just as persons were boarding a minibus. The suspect escaped south along Avenue of the Republic after the incident.

Craigen was picked up in an unconscious state by Emergency Medical Technicians and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

When Kaieteur News visited the man at the city hospital where he is receiving medical attention for his wounds, Craigen who has regained consciousness was crying out for severe pain in his chest and shoulder where he was stabbed.

When asked if he had any idea who was the person that injured him, Mr. Craigen stated, “I am not a problem person; I was at the parking waiting to board a bus when I feel somebody grab me from behind. So I tried to fight off the person and that is when I got stabbed.

“When I woke up I was already at the hospital receiving treatment; but I think I know who stabbed me.”

A doctor at the city hospital told Kaieteur News that although the victim has regained consciousness his condition is still listed as serious because as a result of the stabbing one of his vital organs was pierced.

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

Friday January 03, 2020

Oil does end C

arl Greenidge in his Christmas Day let ter made a frantic attempt to debunk the link between oil and debt in Africa.

In so doing, he missed some important metrics.

For example, he argued that the external debt of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was a mere 13.6 % of GDP. But he totally ignored the relationship between that country’s debt and its revenues.

Like Guyana, the DRC was once a highly-indebted poor country. And like Guyana it benefitted from debt relief including from the World Bank and IMF. The IMF in September this year projected that in 2020, the DRC’s debt service would reach the threshold of 14%. The Fund also pointed out that the DRC’s low-level of government revenues undermine debt sustainability and limits external borrowing to finance the country’s future development.

The more telling assessment, however, was in relation to the country’s debt-carrying capacity – defined as the maximum amount of debt that a country can owe beyond which the country’s income or growth can no longer increase.

The IMF assessed the DRC’s debt-carrying capacity as being weak. It found that DRC remains at a moderate risk of external and overall debt distress, with limited space to absorb shocks.

In the case of Nigeria, the largest oil producer in Africa, Greenidge superficially argues that that country’s external debt is 3% of its GDP. I am not sure the source of his data. The IMF last April had placed Nigeria’s public external debt at 6.3% of GDP in 2017, and this was projected to climb to almost 9% by 2018.

Nigeria also has substantial private external debt.

Regardless of the accuracy of the numbers, the debt to GDP ratio can be deceptive.

Ike Brannon writing in Forbes in August 2019 made this very point about Nigeria. He alluded to Nigeria’s high dependence on oil and the associated risks.

In assessing a country’s debt risk, one cannot rely solely on per capita income and the debt to GDP ratio. The burden of repaying the debt and its relation to the country’s fiscal revenues are equally important considerations. Just yesterday, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, was reported as conceding that the country’s debt service to revenue ratio had been higher than desirable.

There is an ongoing spat between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Nigerian government over Nigeria’s debt. Obasanjo has expressed concern over Nigeria’s stock of debt.

Greenidge also referred to Trinidad and Tobago which he says has a debt of 76% of

Sensitization to help reduce teenage...

From page 8 teenage pregnancy,” she noted.

She continued, “We have seen as young as a 12-year-old giving birth and what it tells us is that a number of our young girls are sexually active from an early age.

As such, there is need for more education because several of these girls are challenged in their own way and with limited opportunities for them in many ways the end results of sexual intercourse may be pregnancy.”

Dr. Lall highlighted, too, the need for the collaboration of various stakeholders to ad-

dress this challenge. Moreover, her department has been working in collaboration with a number of agencies including the Child Care and Protection Agency.

Meanwhile, Dr. Lall said that the Region is continuing to keep its attention on the migrant population. According to her, registration and vaccination of the migrants is an ongoing process.

“We have been receiving great support and cooperation from the migrants getting vaccinated and registered and that process is moving along,” she said.

GDP, a per capita debt of US$15,700. No country should find any pleasure in having such a high per capita debt despite Greenidge’s claim that Trinidad and Tobago’s GDP per capita GDP of US$ 16,085 is nearly three and a half times that of Guyana.

Greenidge would recall that in 1992, the per capita GDP of Trinidad and Tonago was ten times greater than Guyana’s. That Guyana was able to close that gap to a mere three times and before oil production says a great deal about the economic achievements since 1992.

Because of oil, Guyana is

now in a position to overrun Trinidad’s per capita income.

Trinidad declining oil sector now places it at a distinctive economic disadvantage.

No amount of defensiveness on the part of Guyana’s Foreign Secretary will erase the downturn in the twin-island petroleum sector.

Trinidad and Tobago’s petroleum sector declined by 9.6% in 2016, 2.5% in 2015 and 4% in 2014.

PETROTRIN, the stateowned oil company, closed its refinery operation last November. Oil don’t spoil but oil does end.

And when it ends or suf-

fers cyclic fall in prices, a country has to be wary of the likely fallout and its impact on debt sustainability.

The experience of both Trinidad and Tobago and Africa should forewarn Guyana about the dangers of oil and debt.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)

PAGE 10

Kaieteur News

Friday January 03, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

I will never forget and forgive Jagdeo and Ramotar The election season hits the country once more. The five-year cycle is here. Election time is not a nice feeling for a nation that has had authoritarian rulers.

What triggers angry emotions in people is when autocrats take to the platform and serenade citizens with angelic portraits that when you tear off the layers, you see monsters lurking where they have

been cocooned all along. This is the PPP. I see the photographs of Jagdeo speaking endlessly about the wrongs of the APNU+AFC regime. He is right. His descriptions are there to see. But what about his wrongs that were gargantuan? What about the descriptions of him, 2001- 2015, painted by others that are so factually graphic?

I open the newspapers and I see a weekly letter from Ramotar bemoaning the lack of democracy under the present government. He is right. But there was no democracy under him when he was president.

I read all the time of Bibi Shadick and Robeson Benn lamenting undemocratic decisions by the GECOM Commission. Who or what made Benn and Shadick democrats?

I see letters published in the newspapers by Gail Teixeira referring to violations of citizens’ rights. I am getting on in age but my memory has not deteriorated into frag-

mentary parts. Ms. Teixiera was no democrat when her party ruled Guyana for 23 years.

The Dem Boys Seh satirical column in this newspaper referred to Ben as “Bruk Up Benn.”

These are memories of autocracy that a nation should lock deep inside the corridors of its mind and never forget and must always conjure up and invoke when the PPP takes to the campaign trail which they will do on Sunday.

What are they going to tell people on Sunday? That under Jagdeo and the man, Jagdeo picked to succeed him, Ramotar their rule was better? I say it was not.

Let me say out loudly people’s choice as to how they vote should be respected. I will always hold the negative feeling I have about Ronald Waddell when I heard him say on television during the post election violence of 1997 that Indians who voted for the PNC will be protected.

I don’t agree with a vote for certain leaders and I have a right to express that disagreement and I don’t agree that the PPP should be allowed to rule this nation again after 15 years of what I will interpret as a creeping fascistization.

The PPP has been given enormous space to recreate

itself because of terrible and horrible mistakes by the APNU+AFC regime. And it has used that space to obfuscate 15 years of violent oligarchy. If the Guyanese people want to forget about the excesses of Jagdeo, Ramotar and company and vote for the PPP, that is their right. People voted for glaringly terrible leaders in the US, the UK, Brazil, Italy, Poland, Hungary and other places. That was their right but undemocratic leaders can destroy a nation even if they are elected.I do not feel the PPP should be given the right to administer the affairs of this nation again. Others may think different. But I have memories and memories of violations must not be forgotten.

The PPP never forget that three of its supporters were gunned down in the 1973 elections. They talk about it all the time. The PPP never forget about the killing of Father Darke; they talk about it all the time. They talk about the death of Rodney all the time.

Others should continue to bemoan what the PPP did during those fifteen years. My memory still works. I remember the three treason accused.

I remember Courtney Crum Ewing. But let’s move closer to home – me.

I can forgive and forget many violations thrusted

Frederick Kissoon upon me as if they were minor ones. You have to expect that. But for those who think we have angels in Freedom House here is the justification for the title of this column.

Twice I was attacked; in one incident I could have lost my life. My UG contract was terminated five months before it expired. The GRA visited me constantly. Mr. Jagdeo sued me for libel, an act, presidents and prime ministers hardly do to newspapers columnists. It is rare in the democratic world.

Remember, the trench cleaning act of Robeson Benn? Juan Edghill asked a judge to commit me to prison for contempt because I commented on his tenure as the head of the Ethnic Relations Commission. Then there was the victimization of my wife at GOINVEST. They posted up a picture of two women making love and named my daughter as one. I end this column with one word I think best describe such rulers – evil.

Dem boys seh...

Corruption crippling rich Nigeria The World Bank find that de money Nigeria collect from selling its energy is only fuh a select few. Dem boys seh that energy money is Nigeria’s wealth.

Is de same World Bank helping Guyana develop its oil management capacity. Is de same World Bank highlight that 80% of Nigeria’s energy revenues only helping one percent of the population. And that is all because of Corruption.

Now when dem boys look at de situation dem see almost de whole of de country poor. Is widespread poverty.

Teachers, poor and policemen poor and dem boys know when policemen poor dem does mek everybody who drive pun de road poor.

Dem does stop every driver and demand a raise.

De teachers know parents want dem children get bright suh dem can get rich.

De result is that de teachers does demand extra from de parents. Who don’t have money must have some cow or goat or sheep.

De shameful thing is Nigeria is de biggest oil producer in Africa. But that is of

no use because de World Poverty Clock show that in June 2018, there were 86.9 million Nigerians living in poverty.

By de end of 2018, that number reach 90.8 million.

That happen because de teachers and de policemen and some of dem who dealing wid things like birth certificate and land transport decide to collect dem share.

Four million people get poor in six months. Imagine how many more get poor since then. And dem boys seh don’t believe things gun change when dem politicians living fuh tek dem oil money.

And de situation bringing tears to dem boys eyes.

Bloomberg, de big American newspaper seh corruption suh widespread that six people fall into de poverty line every six minutes—that is one every minute.

But de World Bank, Bloomberg and de World Poverty Clock is not the only international entities to shed light on the level of inequality in Nigeria.

De country mek mistake wid oil and gas. People paying fuh that mistake. Because of that mistake, 57 million Ni-

gerians lack safe water; over 130 million lack adequate sanitation, and the country has more than 10 million children out of school.

Without sanitation imagine how bad 130 million people does smell. Remember dem don’t have money to buy cologne.

De 10 million children out of school is de gunmen of tomorrow.

And all this happening while people got money to mek up dem bed. De richest man in Nigeria would have to spend US$1M a day for 41years to done his fortune.

And dem boys ain’t calculating de fortune also earning interest suh it gun tek anodda ten years of spending.

De wealth of Nigeria’s five richest men amount to US$29.9 billion—more than enough to end extreme poverty at a national level.

Between 1960 and 2005, about US$20 trillion was stolen from the treasury by public office holders.

Guyana know bout such thiefing and it still watching some people.

Talk half and watch dem politicians like hawks.

Friday January 03, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

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Kaieteur News

Friday January 03, 2020

Kaieteur News

Friday January 03, 2020

PAGE 13

GPF rings in new year with hundreds of promotions

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ommissioner of Police, Leslie James, DSS, DSM has announced the promotion of over 700 ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) The advancements were approved by the Police Service Commission (PSC) and fall within the ranks of officers, inspectors and subordinate officers.

Senior Superintendents Edgar James, Royston Andries-Junor and Paul Langevine were all promoted to Assistant Commissioners while Superintendents Phillip Azore, Adrin Simon, Michael Sutton and Woman Superintendent Charmaine Jones-Stuart, among others, rose to the ranks of Senior Superintendents.

Twenty-one Assistant Superintendents and Women Assistant Superintendents were promoted to Superintendents.

Corporal Stephen Harris was the lone cadet officer for this year.

Other areas of promotion include Chief Inspector, I n s p e c t o r, S e rg e a n t , Corporal and Lance Corporal.

In his new year's message, Commissioner James urged those promoted to “work collectively to advance the organization” which he acknowledged is at an important juncture in its history.

He said it is anticipated that by the first quarter of 2020, “a much-re-formed force” will be seen.

Ranks were also reminded of the important role of the Guyana Police Force encapsulated in its mission statement.

That is “the Mission of the Guyana Police Force and its Auxiliaries is to serve all citizens and communities of Guyana in a professional, pro-active and accountable manner.

“To achieve this, we will

work in partnership with communities, public agencies and private bodies to enhance and support an environment where all people are preventing crime and building a safer and

secured Guyana.”

Commissioner James noted that consultations from counterparts in the United Kingdom have led the GPF to embark on three pillars. These include

training, infrastructural development and human resources management.

“Our mission statement is buttressed with the positivism displayed by the leadership of the force. It

imbues the need for the rank and file of the force to emulate,” he said in his message.

Referencing the state of Public Security, Commissioner James

reported that the force was able to maintain public security as there have been decreases in serious crimes including gun-related robberies and fatal accidents. (DPI)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Friday January 03, 2020

Balwant Singh Hospital's lawsuit against Melly Mel continues March 23

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lawsuit filed by D r. B a l w a n t Singh Hospital against social media personality, Melissa 'Melly Mel' Atwell, is set to continue on March 23, 2020 before Justice Fidela CorbinLincoln at the High Court in Demerara.

Late last year, the hospital filed a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against Atwell for libel in relation to her posting via social media negative reviews by alleged patients

of the medical facility.

In its Statement of Claim, the hospital had asked the court to order Atwell to remove the post and to publish a suitable correction and apology on Facebook within seven days of the court order.

The hospital is also seeking special damages for libel at not less than $5,000,000; aggravated and exemplary damages at not less than $5,000,000; special damages at not less than

$100,000; costs and such other directions that seem fit by the court.

Atwell was arrested by police and detained for about 12 hours and then released on $200,000 station bail following posting on Facebook a series of comments against the hospital and its Director, Dr. Madhu Singh, alleging mistreating, misdiagnosing and misleading and in some instances overcharging patients. Dr. Balwant Singh Hospital has since refuted the allegations, and through its lawyer Devindra Kissoon, moved to the High Court where it filed the multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Atwell who is known for her advocacy against sexual abuse and domestic violence.

Atwell's lawyers, Sanjeev Datadin and Associates, contend that the lawsuit against their client has no merit since the onus is on the hospital to prove that the claims are untrue.

I n a n A ff i d a v i t i n Response to the hospital's Claim, Atwell said that she is aware of several complaints against the treatment and services provided to persons by the hospital. She said that persons sent the complaints to her as messages and she has communicated with each individual for confirmation.

She swore that while the persons who sent the complaints to her are in no way related, it's inevitable that all their stories have common threads in that they all spoke negatively about their treatment at the medical institution.

According to Atwell, she has personally witnessed adverse comments on the hospital's Facebook page placed by persons who alleged they were patients and that the administrator of the Facebook page

Melly Mel

subsequently removed the comments. The activist contends, “I am advised by Counsel and verily believe that without a single particularized allegation of falsity by the (hospital) the public has a right to know and hear of the experiences at a medical facility offering services to the public.”

She argues that her right to freedom of speech, as well

as that of the hospital militates against the granting of an injunction.

Atwell swears that she has done nothing wrong and that the public has a right to be made aware of the events for their own information and guidance.

She maintains, “I have done nothing illegal. I have shared the stories verbatim as I have received them.”

Foreign Ministry denies Ten-Pow...

From page 3 (GSDS), has been fully aligned.”

Guyana's Chairmanship of the G-77 and China in 2020 will also coincide with observances to mark the 75th Anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, the convening of the Third South Summit in Kampala, Uganda, and the commemoration of the Golden Jubilee of the Cooperative Republic.

The election of Guyana to head this coalition of

developing countries is for the second time. The first was in 1999, some 33 years after Guyana became a member of the United Nations, is on par with the election as President of the General Assembly during its 48th session (19931994) and as a nonpermanent member of the Security Council in 19751976 and again in 19821983, the ministry said.

“It reflects our full engagement in the work of the United Nations and is

testimony to the standing that Guyana currently enjoys among its peers in the Organization and in the broader international community.

The successful mobilization of support for the candidature of Guyana among key members of the G-77 and China will no doubt serve Guyana in good stead. Indeed, a number of development partners have already committed to providing tangible support for Guyana's Chairmanship.”

Kaieteur News

Friday January 03, 2020

PAGE 15

GWI to procure two drill rigs for coast, hinterland GWI said it will acquire two water well drill rigs to improve its capacity.

Tullow's recent find suggests high quality oil exists in Kanuku, Orinduik Blocks – report … Could mirror Stabroek Block discoveries

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ullow has discovered at Carapa-1 well in the Kanuku Block high quality oil that mirrors that of the Stabroek Block discoveries. Preliminary results of drilling, wire line logging, pressure testing and sampling of the reservoir fluid indicated that the oil is 27 degrees API with the sulphur content of less than one percent unlike the previous discovery of heavy crude.

A detailed laboratory analysis of the oil quality will follow in due course, but current results show a similar quality to the Stabroek Block's Liza crude.

Liza Crude bears a density of 32.1 degrees and sulphur content of 0.51

percent.

A release from Tullow indicates that the Carapa-1 oil discovery suggests the extension of the Cretaceous oil play from the Stabroek license southwards into the Kanuku license. The 27 degrees API oil supports the significant potential of the Cretaceous play on both the Kanuku and adjacent Orinduik license, it noted.

The Carapa-1 results are an important exploration outcome with positive implications for both the Kanuku and Orinduik blocks. The results of the three drilled exploration wells will be integrated in the adjacent licenses into Guyana and Suriname geological and geophysical models before the company

T

he Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) will be procuring two drill rigs in this year, to increase water access.

One will be used on the coast and the other in the hinterland This was highlighted by Managing Director of GWI, Dr. Richard Van West-Charles at the utility company's recent year-end press briefing.

“These drill rigs will arrive next month, one for the hinterland region and one for the coast, one will be coming via Lethem and the other via sea through Port Georgetown. This places GWI in a different position which enables us to have a greater capability of drilling wells in the Hinterland and on the coast,” Dr. Van WestCharles explained.

The Managing Director noted that the drill

can decide their future work program.

The total number of gross recoverable resource of the two wells which were previously discovered; Jetho Prospect and Joe Prospect in the Kanuku Orinduik block is 2.75 billion barrels of oil equivalent and a total of US$10 M. The Valaris EXL II jackup rig drilled the Carapa-1 well to a total depth of 3,290 meters in the 68 meters of water and the well will now be plugged and abandoned.

Repsol Exploration Guyana S.A, operator of the Kanuku block holds a stake of 37.5 percent and Tullow Guyana has a stake of 37.5 percent, with total E&P Guyana B.V holding the remainder of 25 percent.

rigs will significantly move Guyana forward in its objective to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6 - access to clean water and sanitation for all people - before the end of the first quarter of 2020.

The state-of-the-art drill rigs are equipped with backhoes, trucks, water tankers, 11 Canters, two pickups and other equipment.

For the 2018-2019 period, over 5,000 residents benefitted from first-time access to potable water, drilling of wells and installation of water distribution were done in Hinterland communities, such as Aishalton, Nappi, Parishara, Yupukari, Lethem and Moco Moco in Region Nine, Kamwatta, Whitewater and Baramita in Region One, among several other hinterland communities.

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

Friday January 03, 2020

GWI records highest growth in revenue collection for 2019

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he revenue collection by the Guyana Water Incorporated has moved from $3B in 2012 to $5.3B, in 2019. This is according to Managing Director, Dr. Richard Van West-Charles.

Dr. Van West-Charles told members of the press during an end-of-year press conference that under the last decade GWI has worked in collaboration with the government to shift development paradigm with a population with access to potable water to 97% in 2019 with the completion of three treatment plants.

“Development assistance totaled $1.6 B in 2019 for the sector under the IDB/EU Operation.

According to Dr. Van West-Charles, Guyana has achieved an improvement in ranking in terms of the quality of the human development index, looking at the quality and standard of living but the input to all of this is the SDGs Goals in which the population using at least basic drinking water sources.

“Since 2015 GWI started a water quality programme and has so far conducted

over 80,000 tests.”

Further, GWI released data promising that by the first half of 2020, the water company will reduce the use of Alum and lime by 50% with the use of PAC. “This is towards reducing our chemical cost by approximately $20M per month.”

By the end 2020, GWI will seek to reduce the total use of chemicals across the company by 70% with the use of Inline filters.

“Research using locally design inline filters will commence at pump stations across the country in January.”

Installation of online filtration system will begin in January at schools in Essequibo, Region Three, East Coast Demerara.

Intensified cleaning and treatment will be done on the wells to reduce the amount of dissolve iron in the water.

According to the information, GWI will be moving to start exploration drilling through the rocks in Essequibo, with the aim of finding a source of water with less dissolve iron.

“Drilling of multiple smaller diameter creating

well fields rather than single well per community will commence in 2020.

“This will see a reduction in well drilling cost by more than 25%.”

“The use of a remote monitoring system to predict blockages on the sewer distribution system will be piloted in the first quarter in 2020.”

Increased use of solar, wind system and other energy saving initiative will continue. Installation of a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system will begin in January of 2020. A target of four stations will be done per month beginning in Region Four.

GWI will also explore the use of Buck- Boost Transformers at its well stations to reduce the low voltages being currently experience.

The use of inline turbines on well station and treatment plants will be explore to power lights and other single phase loads at the pumping stations. The use of electric vehicles will be explored for crews in the city using inline turbines to charge these vehicles.

Thief finds honesty ahead of jail sentence

O

ne thief was yesterday sentenced to imprisonment while his alleged accomplice was remanded to prison after they reportedly robbed two Cuban nationals.

Akeem Morris and Samuel Shepherd appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan to have the charges read to them.

It was alleged that on December 29, 2019 at Longden Street, Georgetown, the men while being armed with a cutlass, robbed Jose Carlos Sequuea of one Samsung J7 cell phone valued $40,000 and $4, 000 cash.

On the same day and at the same location, the defendants also robbed Diego Bettencourt of one Samsung J3 cell phone valued $23,000.

Morris pleaded guilty to the first charge and denied the latter. His alleged accomplice pleaded not guilty to both charges. Both men were not represented by an attorney.

Morris told the court he is a 27-year-old clothes vendor of Laing Avenue, while Shepherd indicated he is 24 years old and resides at 548 'B' Field Sophia, and added that he is a labourer.

The facts of the charges stated that on the day in question about 08:30hrs the victims

were at the Stabroek Market area purchasing fruits.

The defendants allegedly approached them. Morris placed a cutlass to Sequuea's neck and relieved him of the articles mentioned in the charge.

Bettencourt was also allegedly robbed by the defendants before they made good their escape. However, the victims gave chase behind the men and shortly after they saw a police bicycle patrol and alerted them to what transpired.

The police were able to apprehend and arrest the defendants. A cutlass was retrieved from Morris.

Morris and Bettencourt were positively identified by the victims as the persons who robbed them but the stolen items were not recovered. Further investigations led to the present charges against the men.

Before sentence was handed down Morris said, “Please be just and lenient with your fellow man and as a citizen of Guyana. I fly in a passion and just broadside him. I plead guilty because you have to be truthful to yourself and others.”

He was sentenced to 18 months in prison and was placed on remand for the charge he pleaded not guilty to. However, his accomplice was remanded to prison on both charges. They were instructed to return to court on January 8, 2020.

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Friday January 03, 2020

Five in custody for Berbice beach double murder

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olice in Region Six (Upper Corentyne) have arrested five suspects in connection with the murder of the owner of the Sunsplash Hotel and Bar, Vivekanand Brijbassi, called “ Ve k a � , 7 1 , a n d h i s workman Harry Persaud Prashad, 59.

According to a police source, the suspects were arrested based on interviews done by investigators around the village where the murders took place (62 Village).

Autopsies conducted on

the bodies which were in an advanced state of decomposition revealed that they died from shock and haemorrhage due to multiple injuries.

The Postmortem was conducted by Government Pathologist, Nehaul Singh, at the Anthony's Funeral Home, West Coast Berbice on December 31, 2019.

Brijbassi and Prashad were found by a friend who ventured to the hotel located near the Number 62 Beach shoreline a week ago.

Their bodies were found in the upper flat tied up and

decomposed with parts of their bodies missing.

Some of Brijbassis toes and a foot for Prashad appeared to have been hacked off by the perpetrators who executed the beastly crime. The entire two-flat building was also ransacked.

The hotel owner, who was a Canadian citizen, had returned to Guyana in early December.

He was staying at his hotel with the worker who was employed as a watchman when Brijbassi was overseas. He had

Killed: Harry Prashad

Killed hotel owner: Vivekanand Brijbassi

returned to Guyana with the hope of refurbishing the building to make it operable again. His intentions were to install a security system as part of the new addition and upgrades.

B r i j b a s s i ' s s i s t e r, Krishna Boodram, told Kaieteur News that the last time she saw her brother was on December 16, last, when

he visited her at Number 63 Village, and they ate dinner together.

She said that her brother told her that he was going to stay at the hotel with two other friends, including Prashad.

It is unclear who the third person was and whether the police have located that individual.

West Berbice man remanded on attempted murder charge

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albert Mc Pherson, 19, a labourer of Lot 577 No 30 Village, West Coast Berbice, is spending the New Year in jail after he was remanded to prison on a charge of attempted murder.

He is accused of attempting to kill Odel Adams, 25, following an altercation which occurred on December 24, at No28 Village, West Coast Berbice.

Following the incident Mc Pherson was arrested and charged. He appeared in the Fort Wellington Magistrate

Court before Magistrate Peter Hugh and was not required to plead to the charge of attempted murder.

Bail was refused and he was remanded to jail until January 22, next.

A c c o r d i n g t o information the two men were involved in an altercation which led to a fight. It was during the fight that the accused reportedly inflicted the wounds on the victim.

The police were informed and the accused was arrested and charged.

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Friday January 03, 2020

Lombard Street residents to occupy Prospect Homes this month

Minister within the Ministry of Communities Annette Ferguson and CH&PA's CEO Lelon Saul with beneficiaries back in July

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w e n t y Broad/Lombard Street families will move into their brandnew homes at Prospect, East Bank Demerara before the end of this month Last July, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) in

collaboration with Food for the Poor Guyana Incorporated (FFTP), commenced the first phase of a relocation project, turning the sod for the construction of 20 twobedroom homes for the families. Minister within the Ministry of Communities,

with responsibility for Housing, Annette Ferguson, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CH&PA, Lelon Saul, turned the sod for the project.

On Monday, CH&PA's Director of Community Development, Gladwin Charles, explained that 20

houses have been completed. “We are working on the electrical installation and other finishing touches.�

The homes received 59 percent funding from the CH&PA, while FFTP Guyana contributed the remainder.

The beneficiaries were

required to oversee the installation of electricity and water to their homes and prepare the space for septic tanks. The Broad/Lombard Street project began in July 2017 when residents were re q u i r e d t o r e l o c a t e following a court order by the Gonsalves company.

The government immediately stepped in to bring relief to residents. Six families that lost their homes to fire in March were placed on the priority list.

Another 31 families will be facilitated at Cummings Lodge, East Coast of Demerara.

Kaieteur News

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Five New Year's babies grace New Amsterdam Hospital - Several more expected

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hile many were welcoming the New Year, the doctors and nurses at the New Amsterdam Hospital were kept busy as five babies made their entrance into a new decade.

First-time mother Taramattie Baijnauth was the first to give birth at 02:35hrs to a girl weighing 3.5 kg.

Baijnauth of Number 59 Vi l l a g e , E a s t B e r b i c e Corentyne said that she was not expecting to give birth when she did, but was very happy that the birth was a safe one. A happy and excited Baijnath said she is eager to return home so her family can spend time with their bundle of joy.

The second delivery of the d a y w a s t o To w a n a Gravsande, 19, of Bush Lot Village, West Coast Berbice who gave birth to a boy weighing 2.9 kg.

According to the young mother, her due date was a week away however, she was both surprised and delighted when she went into labour N e w Ye a r ' s m o r n i n g .

Gravsande's son was born at 6:40hrs.

Less than three hours later Somwattie Deonat, 21, of Number 50 Village delivered her third child, a boy weighing 1.9 kg.

Dianne Gonsalves, 38, of Cumberland Village was also among the joyful mothers who delivered on the first day of the New Year. Another mother who gave birth via Caesarean section was still in recovery.

Medical Superintendent of the New Amsterdam Hospital, Dr. Vasana Henry, noted that more babies were expected to be delivered before midnight. Officials from the Regional Health Services of Region Six were scheduled to make a presentation of hampers to the mothers, yesterday (DPI).

The mothers with their New Year's babies. Somwattie Deonat (in purple), Taramattie Baijnauth (in pink) Towana Gravsande (in black) and Diannne Gonsalves (at back)

Miner remanded for attempting to kill wife

K

eon Estreado, called “Mouse�, 32, a miner of Lot 2 Farm Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, has been remanded to jail on a charge of attempt murder.

He was charged with attempting to kill Samuette Hardcourt ,20, his common

law wife of Lichfield Village, West Coast Berbice.

The incident is said to have occurred on December 22, at Lichfield Village, West Coast Berbice.

The man appeared before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh in the Fort Wellington Magistrate

Court and was not required to plea. He was remanded to jail until the 23 January when the matter will be heard again in the Weldaad Magistrate's Court.

The accused and victim are in a common law relationship and were living at Mahaicony. On the day in

question the two were at Lichfield when a misunderstanding developed between them.

Estreado allegedly took a knife and stabbed the victim on her right breast. She was also stabbed under the said breast and chopped on her nose.

Her alleged attacker then ran away while the victim was taken to the Fort Wellington hospital by her uncles. She was later transferred to New Amsterdam.

The matter was reported and Estreado was arrested and charged.

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Friday January 03, 2020

The

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Do’s and Don't’s of Accessorizing

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ccessories can be your friend or your enemy. Too much can make you look like a Christmas tree and too little can make you disappear in a crowd. The wrong selection of accessories can spoil even the most jaw-dropping ensembles and the right pieces of accessories can make a simple dress appear to be more than what it is. That said, finding the right balance to make you an exemplary standout is the aim but it is no easy feat.

But not to worry; the Guyana Inc Magazine has you covered in this regard.

In this special edition, you will learn some of the key ways in which you can personalize and complete your look. And since the first rule of accessorizing is occasion appropriateness, below are some guidelines for three events.

or contrast with the selected attire. Let’s say you have decided on wearing a simple black dress. In this regard, you can choose shoes that set the colour theme. However, if the dress is shimmering, opt for shoes that have a similar colour and style. Remember, delicate shoes, like strappy sandals, add elegance to an outfit, while chunkier shoes with wedges for example, create a more casual look.

When it comes to bags, it is important to bear in mind that small bags or clutches give an elegant finish to your attire while a big or broad bag gives a casual feel. Also, be mindful to not wear a large bag when the size of your accessories is small. That distorts the structural theme of your outfit as well.

Friday January 03, 2020

Home Entertainment...

easy cocktails to make with Grey Gosse

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odka is one of the most essential cocktails ingredients – its subtle taste makes it a great way to add alcohol to fruit juices or other mixers without overwhelming their flavours. But just because vodka is a delicate flavour, doesn’t mean that it doesn’t effect the taste of your cocktail!

A quality vodka will be smooth and just a little bit sweet and will make for a finer tasting drink in the end.

Today, we’re sharing recipes for some simple, fruity vodka cocktails with one of our favourite vodkas – Grey Goose.

Grey Goose (which is distributed by Ansa McAL Trading Limited) is

Accessorizing for an Interview Accessories are just as important as the attire you select for a job interview. In this regard, there are several important rules you must pay attention to.

Accessorizing for a Party When you are accessorizing for a party, there is scope to choose your dress and accompanying pieces to achieve different looks. But once you have selected your attire then you have to decide on what becomes the showpiece. Ask yourself, “Is the dress a flashy one?” If it is, then there is no need to go overboard with the embellishments. For example, let’s say your dress is a short, shimmering gold sequin number with long sleeves and a plunging V-neckline. In this case, the dress can speak for itself; it without question becomes your showpiece.

Therefore, there is no need to accessorize with bracelets, a watch, a bedazzling chain and earring set. A simple pair of gold earring be it studs or hoops would do the trick. Remember, the key when it comes to flashy dresses is your accessories must be subtle, they should never look as though they are trying to overpower your already showy dress.

However, if you were to choose a similar dress, this time with no sleeves and a different colour, perhaps, then there is more room to have fun. In this regard, you get to choose if your showpiece will be the accessories.

Considering that it is a party, you can wear an elaborate necklace that falls comfortably into your cleavage with small studded earrings to suit.

As for your shoes, they should either balance

1) Earrings can either be a distraction or add a touch of elegance to your persona.

Therefore be sure to avoid dangling earrings which are more suitable for an evening look.

Instead take a classic approach by either, metal, pearls

using studs that are or gemstones.

2) Necklaces are always a charmer. Be sure to select a piece that is small, simple and yet classy. It is recommended that you choose a necklace with one focal point such as a pendant. Avoid necklaces that trail to your breasts or midriff.

3) Handbags play a great role in completing your look. It is advised that you use a handbag that is without much detail and not bright in colour (Black or White works perfect). In short, avoid a handbag that has the potential to steal attention away from you.

Mistakes to avoid when accessorizing 1) It is possible to wear a jewellery set.

However it must be with small pieces. Large matching pieces of jewellery adorning your body makes you look clunky.

2) If you are wearing a pink pair of high heels with a black dress, there is no need to accessorize with a pink purse. It is actually a fashion sin to have matching shoes and hand bag. The fashion rules dictate that with bright coloured shoes, lighter toned bags are required to give a better contrast.

3) If you are going to wear a colourful ensemble then hold the colourful jewels. It is either one or the other.

known f o r being one of t h e classiest vodkas, with a crisp and clear taste and a subtle hint of almonds. It makes for great cocktails, so try it in one of the drinks below and you’re sure to be delighted.

Cosmopolitan This tart, fruity classic is always a hit at a party. The combination of sweet orange Cointreau and sharp cranberry juice is delicious with smooth Grey Goose, and the little hit of citrus adds an acidic note. When in doubt, you can never go wrong with a Cosmo.

3 parts Grey Goose Vodka 1 part Cointreau 2 parts Cranberry juice Squeeze of lime juice Orange rind twist to garnish Pomegranate Martini This variation on a Cosmopolitan uses pomegranate juice for a distinctive sour, slightly floral taste which complements the sweetness of Grey Goose. If you’re feeling really fancy, you can even get a fresh pomegranate, chop it open, and drop a few of the seeds into your drink.

This cocktail can be mixed in advance, so if you have a bunch of vodka lovers coming round you can prepare a pitcher of this ready for drinking.

2 parts Grey Goose Vodka 1 part Cointreau 2 parts pomegranate juice Squeeze of lemon juice Orange rind twist to garnish Caipiroska This is a twist on a Caipirinha, the classic cocktail of Brazil – but this version uses vodka in place of the Brazilian cachaça. A vodka like Grey Goose is less sweet than cachaça, so you might want to up the amount of sugar that you use if you have a sweet tooth. You need to muddle the lime with the sugar – that means that you put them both in a class and crush them together to release the lime juices, before a d d i n g crushed ice and pouring the Grey Goose over the top.

Grey Goose

, Vodka, Lime wedges and Brown sugar Vodka Gimlet Gimlets are usually made with gin, but this version uses vodka for a crisp flavour. You can add more or less simple syrup depending on how sweet you want the final drink to be, but we’ve found that using less syrup allows the almond flavours of the Grey Goose to shine.

3 parts Grey Goose Vodka 2 parts fresh lime juice 2 parts simple syrup Lime wheel to garnish Sea Breeze This cocktail is a summer classic; just as refreshing as its name suggests and ideal for a hot day. Now spring is finally here we’re getting ready for the warm weather, and this drink is at the top of our to-do list! Grab the Grey Goose and start mixing pitchers for those summer picnics.

1 part Grey Goose Vodka 1 part grapefruit juice 1 part cranberry juice Lime wedge to garnish Happy Mixing this weekend Guys and remember to drink responsibly. (https://www.urban-drinks.co.uk/)

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Mechanical failures, strikes contribute to 17,000 tonnes sugar shortfall The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has confirmed that it has fallen short of its target last year by 17,000 tonnes.

“Reflecting on the year 2019 total of 92,246 tonnes of sugar was declared to be sold in the local, regional and international markets. Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt Estates produced 46,651, 23,325 and 20,270 tonnes of sugar respectively. This represents an underachievement of 17,000 tonnes from the estimated second crop production objective.”

GuySuCo blamed the shortfall on major mechanical failures in the Albion and Uitvlugt factories and from the latter half of October 2019, increasing industrial unrest in which Blairmont was most affected.

The advent of adverse weather from the last week of November also influenced the progress of harvesting.

“The second crop production was closed on December 21st 2019 with 1981 hectares that could not be harvested and will be carried over to the first crop of 2020.

The shortfall represents in excess of 80,000 tonnes of

cane from Albion, 60,000 tonnes of cane from Blairmont and 11,000 tonnes of cane from Uitvlugt that was not harvested.” ”The industry will continue to face challenges to achieving reliability in the factories if operation capital investments continue to be delayed.

However, on a more positive note, the productivity of cane fields continued to improve as reflected by cane yields that exceeded the crop estimate on all estates.”

Last year, the corporation pointed out that together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was successful in paving the way for the protection of white sugar produced in CARICOM by securing the commitment of COTED for the application of the Common External Tariff to all non-regional sugars.

“The feasibility study for the Plantation White Sugar Project was completed and the project was found to be feasible. The Corporation has commenced preparations to embark on this new venture in 2020. The addition of Plantation White Sugar and A grade molasses for the production of genuine Demerara Rum to the

Friday January 03, 2020

PI to commence for man who set girlfriend afire

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Corporations line of value added products will see an increase in revenues both regionally and internationally for the Corporation and all of Guyana.”

The corporation said it anticipates the expansion of its operations in the year 2020, with planned improvements in the fields and factories, as well as the commencement of preparatory works for the installation of a co-generation plant at Albion Estate.

“This is anticipated to support the supply of power to the East Berbice region.

The corporation thanks all of its employees for their commitment in the year 2019 and anticipates improvements and deepened co-operation for a successful and more productive 2020.”

GuySuCo has been reduced to three estates after four were closed in the last four years. They are up for privatisation and divestment.

he Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder of Olivia De Freitas will soon commence. This was after Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers yesterday told the court that the prosecutions file is complete.

Twenty-five-year-old Wazim Perreira of North Sophia, Greater Georgetown, is on remand for the murder. He was first charged with attempted murder. However, that was withdrawn and upgraded to a murder charge after the victim succumbed to her injuries.

He was before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates Courts. Perreira was not required to enter a plea to the indictable charge which stated that on October 10, 2019, at North Sophia, Georgetown he murdered Olivia DeFreitas.

Prosecutor Jeffers informed the court that the prosecution was awaiting the statement of an analyst

who tested a liquid substance, which was in a bottle, suspected to be gasoline.

Hence, Chief Magistrate McLennan transferred the matter to Principal Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus to have a date for the commencement of the PI. He was further remanded to prison until that time.

According to information, Perreira and his girlfriend, De Freitas, were at their home when they got into an argument. Perreira reportedly threw a mixture of gasoline and kerosene on his partner and then set her alight.

Neighbours, alerted by the womans screams, allegedly apprehended her attacker until the police arrived. De Freitas was admitted to the GPHC and later succumbed to the injuries.

When she was alive, De Freitas was receiving treatment for second degree burns to her face, chest, abdomen and back.

Region FOUR Health Services Dept.’s ramps up human resource capacity - fulfils FOUR crucial SDGs in process Recognising the importance of human resources to the efficient functioning of an organization, the Regional Health Services Department of Region Four during the past year ramped up its capacity with this in mind.

In fact the Department has been hiring practice with a focus of the Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs] as well.According to the Region’s Regional Health Officer [RHO], Dr. Quincy Jones, during the course of 2019, a total of 76 persons were employed. Dr. Jones stressed that human resources constitute an important health system component, noting that the work done in the sector is performed by, and for people.

“We at the Health Services Department Region Four, are cognizant of how important human resources are to enhancing and further improving the work that we do within the Region. As such, the health workforce is a group of highly skilled professionals and on average more than 50 percent of [our] health expenditure goes towards the health workforce,” Dr. Jones informed.

The RHO disclosed that his department views the health workforce as “all

people engaged in actions to enhance health.”

This approach, he said, is adapted from the World Health Report 2006. He added that it includes those who diagnose and treat disease, those who preserve and promote health, health management and support staff.

“The Health Services Department Region Four was aggressive in recruiting as we are cognizant of the value and importance of these new employees to further enhancing and improving our mandate of delivering a very high standard of health care to the public. “As the RHO, I remain confident that these new employees who have been employed to perform various tasks, as they have different skills set, will ensure that the standard and delivery of health care within Region Four continues to improve significantly,” Dr. Jones said.

The RHO stressed that since a ‘fit-for-purpose’ workforce is essential to deliver primary health care, over 70 percent of those hired have been placed at various health posts and centres.

He made it clear too that those hired were equitably distributed across the Region.

This, he said, has assisted greatly in further closing real

gaps in quality of care across the region. “It is important to understand that in a time when at least half of the world’s people still lack full coverage of essential health services, we at RDC Region Four lead the way prominently within Guyana through the strengthening of primary care services. This will best cover the majority of a person’s health needs throughout their life,” he noted.

The RHO pointed out that during the hiring process a strong focus was placed on the broader government aim to meet the Sustainable Development Goals [SDG]. This meant that the department not only sought to hire qualified persons but those who were most disadvantaged with a focus on economically empowering women. “I want to reiterate that by hiring single parent mothers and women from disadvantaged communities, we were able to take a go at SGDs One [No Poverty], Two [Zero hunger], Three [Good health and wellbeing] and Five [Gender Equality] which continues to be one of our critical objectives in ensuring that we maintain a balance staff,” Dr. Jones underscored.

“Despite having to fill mostly vacancies that are tra-

ditionally male dominated, such as handymen, porters and drivers, we were still able to hire 42 percent females,” he noted. According to the RHO too “We see the employment of 42 percent of the 76 new staffers as a step in the right direction, while demonstrating in a tangible way that gender equality will continue to be one of our hallmarks. Let it be known that the hiring of this amount of women is a genuine demonstration of our confidence and trust in their ability and skills,” he asserted.But according to RHO Jones, the department is (Continued on page 27)

Dr. Quincy Jones, Regional Health Officer, Region Four

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Kaieteur News

Friday January 03, 2020

Two dead, several injured in four New Year’s Day accidents

By Shikema Dey t appears as if the road madness from 2019 has seeped into the New Year. 2020 was met with four accidents; two of which were fatal and the reminder leaving several injured.

Those dead were identified as 60-year-old Donald Mootoo of 13 Bissoon Street, South Better Hope, East Coast Demerara; and 24-yearold Bhojram Hemraj of #67 Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

Both men died in a similar manner with Hemraj being the first road fatality for the year.

That accident occurred at around 22:00hrs on Tuesday evening.

According to information received, the young man was on his motorcycle bearing registration number MR 2 proceeding south along the eastern side of the Corentyne Public Road.

Hemraj, whilst in the process of negotiating a left turn, lost control of his motorbike and slammed into a wooden and metal sign board located on the northern grass parapet.

The young man was picked up by public spirited citizens and rushed to the Skeldon Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Donald Mootoo succumbed hours later on the Montrose Public Road, East Coast Demerara around 01:50hrs on Wednesday in a gruesome accident that left his limbs severed. ‘ Mootoo, a painter by profession, was on his motorcycle CH 7540 proceeding west along the northern driving lane on the southern carriageway of the public road.

Like Hemraj, he failed to negotiate a right turn, lost control of his motorcycle, and collided with the median in the center of the road.

This impact resulted in his body being flung onto a light pole in the center of the road.

He sustained severe injuries including severed lower limbs.

Mootoo was picked up in an unconscious state by public spirited citizens and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was

I

The totally destroyed Toyota Ram in the Crabwood Creek accident

Mukesh Seurattan’s pick-up being removed from the trench

Donald Mootoo lying unconscious at the scene of the accident

The motorcycle Mootoo was on at the time of the accident pronounced dead on arrival.

Meanwhile, a Region Two resident is counting his lucky stars after he narrowly escaped death.

Mukesh Seurattan is currently hospitalized. He was said to have lost control of his vehicle while negotiating a turn on the Capoey Public Road.

The accident occurred around 7:30am, New Year’s morning.

Kaieteur News understands that Seurattan was in his Ford pick-up when he alleged that a car drove into his

Region FOUR Health Services...

From page 26 still a long way off from having all the staff that it needs. In light of this state of affairs he said there has been continuous and overwhelming support from Regional Executive Officer, Ms. Pauline Lucas. Additional and continued support has also been forthcoming from the Ministry of Public Health and it was the Department of Public Service that ensured the employment of the 76 persons materialized.Dr. Jones disclosed that a greater number of new employees are expected to join the Department in 2020 even as he assured that all systems are currently being put in place to ensure that the department through the various health centres, health posts and hospitals in Region Four are fully staff. Among the vacancies filled during the past year were: handymen, porters, statistical clerks, pharmacy assistants, clinic attendants, community health workers, drivers and environmental health assistants.

The sign board Hemraj slammed into on the Corentyne public road path while approaching a turn.

The man tried swerving to avoid a head on collision but ended up crashing into a ‘crash bar’ resulting in the vehicle coming to a halt in the nearby trench.

Public spirited persons who heard the loud impact rushed to the man’s assistance and transported him to the Suddie Public Hospital where his condition is listed as stable.

Back in the ancient county, three persons escaped with mere scrapes and

scratches from a horrific crash that totally destroyed a Toyota Ram bearing registration number PNN7976.

The vehicle reportedly turned turtle and slammed into a utility pole on the Crabwood Creek Public Road, Corentyne.

Reports stated that the driver, a 22-year-old Seeram Ramdatt, fled the scene shortly after the accident which occurred at around 03:30hrs.

It was said that Seeram

was speeding along the main road on Wednesday morning when the car flipped after crossing the Black Water Bridge.

The vehicle then slammed into a Guyana Power and Light pole, splitting it from the bottom.

The runaway driver was subsequently arrested at his Crabwood creek home. It was reported that he took the vehicle and went for a joy ride without the owner knowing. Their conditions are all listed a stable.

Dead Bhojram Hemraj

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Kaieteur News

Chief Constable Foo dismissed

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iven his dismissal by the Local Gov ernment Commission, former Chief Constable attached to the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, (M&CC) Andrew Foo, has moved to seek legal advice from his attorneys.

In a brief comment, Foo told Kaieteur news that he is currently consulting with his lawyers on the issue.

Foo’s dismissal was finalized last week, some three years before he was scheduled to retire. The former Chief Constable will however leave the post with all his benefits intact, a source told Kaieteur News recently.

The decision to fire Foo was based on recommendations of the Georgetown Council. The Council had moved a no-confidence motion vote and expressed its dissatisfaction with the work of the former Chief Constable.

The councillors voted to have Foo dismissed from office during a statutory meeting held at City Hall last September.

Councilor Denroy Tudor brought a case against Foo for which 19 councillors voted in favour, two voted against and three abstained.

During his presentation, Tudor nonetheless requested a recommendation that Foo be terminated from duties with all of his benefits intact and that the recommendation be forwarded to the Local Government Commission, (LGC) for approval.

Several councillors around the horse shoe table at City Hall registered their

Former Chief Constable Andrew Foo dissatisfaction at Foo’s conduct as Head of the City Constabulary Department —a unit chiefly responsible for the security of the Council, the residents, commuters and businesses in Georgetown.

Tudor particularly commented on Foo laissez-faire approach to the work. According to him, Foo’s actions have had a negative effect on the entire department.

“We have seen what conspires in the constabulary.

This lax attitude is not just with Mr. Foo but it has translated to most of the city officers. There is a similar sort of nature that they all reflect.”

The Councillor, noted, therefore that it is imperative that the Council takes action to ensure that the City Constabulary Department is

shifted from a downward trajectory.

“For the past nine months, I have sat at this Council meetings, I have heard numerous complaints about the constabulary. I think it is time for that to change,” he added.

Councillor, Eketa Edwards, who spoke in support of the motion of no -confidence brought against Foo, asserted that as residents of Georgetown, people want to feel safe.

“There are several of these officers stationed throughout the city on a daily basis but I beg to question why they are there?”

“Residents and commuters are being targeted and robbed. Businesses are being broken into and sadly, no action is taken. The crime situation remains without redress.”

Added to the inaction on part of the constabulary to address crime in the city, Councillor Edwards pointed to the inability of the constabulary to craft a security plan to deal with the situation.

She pointed to instances where criminal activities were undertaken seemingly right under the noses of the City Constabulary.

She emphasized that the constabulary department should be capable of providing parallel police services to deter crime within the city.

Edwards was specific to mention the report of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into City Hall which concluded last year. The report had stated inter alia, Foo’s inability as the Chief Constable to lead his department.

Friday January 03, 2020

6,535 unverified registrants can have undue influence on elections outcome -Nandlall People‘s Progressive Party, (PPP) Executive Member and Attorney -at- law, Anil Nandlall, believes that the inclusion of 6,535 unverified new registrants on the Revised List of Electors,(RLE) can have undue influence on the outcome of the elections.

Nandlall‘s comments comes days after Guyana Election Commission, (GECOM) announced there are 661,378 eligible voters whose names will be published in the Revised List of Electors (RLE) on Monday for public vetting.In a social media post, the PPP member raised his objections about the decision.He reasoned that given the party’s position as well as GECOM‘s decision to verify the names of 16,863 “possible new registrants” emerging from the truncated house-to-house registration exercise, the decision to still include the names on the RLE is a matter of grave concern.

“Significantly, only 118 of this list of 16,863 new registrants were not visited. After going through with this entire verification ordeal, GECOM still ends up placing all the 16,863 on the RLE, including persons which GECOM itself has confirmed they could not find and the 118 who were not even visited,” he said.

Nandlall noted, therefore, that the Commission ‘s move to have those names included on the RLE of 661,378 eligible voters can eventually form the Official List of Elec-

PPP Executive member Anil Nandlall tors, (OLE) and impact the outcome of the regional and general elections slated for March 2.He reasoned, “Coincidentally, those 6,535 votes will constitute over one seat— the difference between APNU & the PPP at the 2015 elections.” The comments follow an announcement by GECOM’s Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Ward, that the RLE will be posted for 21 days for public scrutiny and corrections to be made to any erroneous information.“Where changes were not made, persons should visit the registration office in their area with the ‘pink slip’ from 4th January to inform and update accordingly,” Ward stated.Following the conclusion of the 21 days, GECOM will embark on preparing the Official List of Electors for the March 2, 2020 elections.

Last week, GECOM in a

majority decision agreed to conduct a house-to-house verification of new registrants, which number approximately 16,000 persons. The verification of the data was conducted over the next five days.Following the exercise, Ward disclosed that 6,534 of the purported new registrants from the truncated House-toHouse exercise have not been confirmed.

Ward informed reporters that the Commission had resolved to subject the data to a short verification exercise, since the House-to-House exercise came under dispute by the political opposition.

During that exercise, GECOM field staffers were accompanied by People’s Progressive Party (PPP) scrutineers.The verification exercise took off after it was noted that there were striking disparities in the crossmatched data that had returned from the overseas supplier.Gemalto, an international digital security company, was contracted by GECOM to cross-match the house-to-house data.

Both tranches of data were returned and they appeared to indicate that there are about 60,000 total new registrants.This unusually high figure prompted the Secretariat to conduct its own assessment of the crossmatched data. Of a list of 20,000 unverified new registrants, 4,020 of the persons were duplicates on the preliminary list of electors. That brought the list of new registrants to about 16,000.

Persons forced to evacuate as sewage overflows at G/Town Magistrates’ Court Police officers, reporters and persons attending the Georgetown Magistrates Courts yesterday had to either put up with or run away from the unbearable smell coming from overflowing sewerage.

In less than two months, the sewerage has overflowed three times and the contaminated water that surfaced blocked the entrance at the court lock-ups and the main access to Courts One and Two, the Drug Treatment Court and the Collecting Office.The overflowing sewage is located near the prisoners lock-up and next to one of the chutes on the ground floor of the two storey building.The constant overflowing of the sewage still poses a health hazard to scores of persons traversing the court daily.Many persons including reporters and police ranks stationed at the court have raised concerns about the situation which has become intolerable.

Persons that are unaware of the water on the ground being unhygienic walked right through and went about their business at the court.

Reporters from the various media houses were forced to remove from the benches in front of Court 6, to

the hall way of Courts 11 and 8 &9 to eat their lunch since the stench of the sewage water was high and very much unbearable.

While a police constable escorted a prisoner from the chute that is located near the sewerage opening, the prisoner said, “This is nonsense …Yall aint getting me to walk through all this sh*t water. Like yall crazy or wuh?”Persons working in the collecting office and others going to conduct business had to pass near the opening of the sewerage and inhale the stench of the dirty water that was on the ground.

The stench is unbearable and worst yet police officers had to remain in the filthy area to perform their duties.

Some of the ranks were also seen eating there because they cannot neglect their duties. An officer also placed pieces of cloth at the door of the prisoners lock-up to absorb and prevent the water from going into the lock-ups.

Over the past few weeks, workers were observed emptying the underground sewage system. But despite their efforts, the sewage keeps overflowing.

The opening of the sewage at the City Court and the contaminated water on the ground… while officers stationed there had to remain at their post despite the scent.

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

Friday January 03, 2020

ExxonMobil’s project in Papua New Guinea is an Economic Parasite -Former Australia senator (ExxonMobil PNG)

“Exxons Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project in the highlands of Papua New Guinea provides a distressing case study of large-scale economic parasitism.”

That is the view of a former Australia senator and columnist for The Guardian, who wrote on a project the oil major embarked on in Papua New Guinea, with the help of a loan from the Australian Government.

A 2018 report by the Jubilee Australia Research Centre titled “Double or Nothing: The Broken Economic Promises of PNG LNG” reveals how the results the LNG project produced for the Independent State of Papua New Guinea fell way below expectations, with one author positing that the country would have been better off if the project didnt happen at all.

Before then, it was introduced as one that would transform the countrys economy, with claims that the economy would be doubled.

Between 2014 and the time of the publication of the report, an Exxon-led consortium had already shipped about 7.9 million tonnes of natural gas per year from the gas fields of PNGs Hela region, the report notes.

But that did not transform the country in the way the

people were told it would. The actual results are daunting.

“Despite predictions of a doubling in the size of the economy, the outcome was a gain of only 10 percent and all of this focused on the largely foreign-owned resource sector itself.”

“Despite predictions of an 84 percent increase in household incomes, the outcome was a fall of six percent.”

“Despite predictions of a 42 percent increase in employment, the outcome was a fall of 27 percent.”

“Despite predictions of an 85 percent increase in Government expenditure to support better education, health, law and order, and infrastructure, the outcome was a fall of 32 percent.”

“Despite predictions of a 58 percent increase in imports, the outcome was a fall of 73 percent.”

It is stated that the results only exceeded the projection in one area: the export sector.

While the prediction was a 106 percent increase, the outcome was 114 percent, the report noted.

“This reflects the technical success of the project starting earlier than expected and producing at above design specifications.”

Yet, with this success, the authors held that the shortfall in the other economic pre-

dictions is even more remarkable.

It went on to add that the extremely low revenues got by the government could not be attributed to low gas prices because the actual revenues collected by the government were one-third of the projections of low gas prices.

Furthermore, it is stated that the project has had a negative impact on the countrys budget, and that

Fight over 14-year-old girl…

One dead, one hospitalized, one remanded and one on the run

A fight between four males over a 14-year-old girl has left one remanded to the juvenile holding center, one in hiding, one hospitalized and one dead.

Remanded was 17-yearold boy who was not required to plead to the indictable charge which alleged that on December 24, 2019, at Four Miles Port Kaituma, North West District, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Keon Hutson with intent to maim disable, disfigure or cause grievous bodily harm.

According to information, on Christmas Eve, around 22:00hrs the defendant was at a popular shop in Port Kaituma having a private conversation with a young lady, when Hutson and his friend, Neville Moonsammy, intervened.

It was then Hutson inquired as to why the 17-yearold was talking to his girlfriend. Hutson picked up a piece of wood and dealt the defendant several lashes to his body.

Dead: Neville Moonsammy The defendant ran away, contacted his friend who was some distance away, and caused the friend to arm himself with a cutlass and they then went back to the shop where Hutson was standing with Moonsammy.

An argument ensued between the four men. It then escalated into a fight during which the 17-year-old stabbed Huston to his face several times with a broken bottle. The defendants friend then stabbed Moonsammy multiple times about his face, neck and body.

Hutson and Moonsammy later managed to escape from their attackers, but they soon collapsed a short distance away. The defendant and his friend made good their escape.

The two injured men were rushed to the Port Kaituma Hospital, where Moonsammy was pronounced dead on arrival; Hutson was admitted in a critical state and later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

The matter was reported and the police acting on information went to the home of the 17-year-old defendant and apprehended him in the presence of his parents.

The defendant was then taken to the Port Kaituma Police Station for questioning in relation to the murder of Moonsammy and the stabbing of Hutson.

According to reports the teen denied stabbing Moonsammy, but reportedly admitted to stabbing Moonsammys friend, Keon Hutson.

that is not likely to change until 2024.

And whats worse is that Jubilee Australias study states that the total net revenues covering the 30-year

life of the project is estimated by the advocacy body to be a quarter of the scenario sold to the people with a low oil price scenario.

Why is it that the Exxon

PNG LNG project failed to deliver on the results the people thought it would?

Read the upcoming Kaieteur News Sunday Edition to find out why.

PAGE 30

Kaieteur News

Friday January 03, 2020

Police hunting for bikers who discharged round in Albouystown FOR RENT 2 Bedroom apartment for Rent- Semi furnished in Herstelling.Contact#2652171/675-8572.

SERVICES

LAND FOR SALE

Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040

Transported land 11.6 acres, Lot 15 Public road #2 Village W.C. B/ce 5 mins from B/ce Bridge. Contact# 686-4818/ 648-7109

ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6006887: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

Transported land for sale in Rose Hall Town.Call#603-1441

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, G R A D U AT I O N , W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer-Call: 231-0655; 683-8734. Omar Installation, Repairs and parts for AC, Fridge, Washing Machine, Stove etc. Call Nick 630-1600, 6273206 FOR SALE 49 Inch Curve TCL Smart Television $80,000.Call#6644666.

LEARN TO DRIVE N. Outar Driving School, Learn to Drive the right way @ Cuffy Square. Affordable package. Call: 644-5166/6912561/681-2808

VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 Suzuki Escudo.Excellent condition, Low Mileage (50,000Km).$3.6M Neg.Call #649-0956.

Nissan Bluebird (Silver) Series PXX for sale.Contact#2652171/675-8572.

Nissan Sylphy 2014 and 2016, low mileage, fog lamps, backup camera, $3.75M neg.

614-6948.

EDUCATION First Aid/CPR and home Nursing classes.Tel#2259082.St.John Association 110 Cowan St.Kingston for more info.

WANTED

AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL& TOW TRUCK SERVICE :PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE .#698-7807

One two bedroom house to let $60,000 per month.Call#6939999.

One bedroom & three bedroom apts for rent in Providence,Fully furnished.Call#672-1906/2162299/682-6238.

Bottom flat apt 2 bedroom with private B.R La Grange Independence St.for info call 592 663-1280.

TO LET

A businessman who resides at Broad Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, is now in police custody after he was reportedly found discharging a loaded firearm Wednesday around 06:15 hrs.

Kaieteur News understands that several police ranks on mobile patrol were on duty, patrolling the La Penitence area when they heard two loud explosions that appeared to be gunshot coming from the Broad Street

Large washbay in 1st Street Vacancies exists for Truck Alexander Village.Call#664- Drivers and Loader Operator.

0802.

Contact - 621-5282

One (1) Welder.Must know Grill work.Contact#625-5763.

Driver with Minibus License to work with Company.

Call#646-8748.

(1) Live in domestic for Georgetown.Boys & Girls to work at shop in the Interior.Contact#660-9093/ 682-5846.

One Soup cook,good pay, flexible hours.Call#225-6927.

Small space suitable for Restaurant in Georgetown.

Call#610-3988.

Night receptionist needed at the Millenium Manor Hotel come in with Application.

VACANCY

PROPERTY FOR SALE

1 Secretary 28-45 yrs old. #2310655/683-8734

Lot 89 Robb Street, Lacytown, Georgetown. Next door to Mike’s Pharmacy.Land size3431.25 Sq.ft. Phone: 617-5323, 666-8052

General domestic. 3 Days work. Must know to cook.

Apply with 2 references.

KeyFood McDoom village

Vacancy for (1) maid.Apply in One 3 Story building at 97 person to Alabama Trading.

Sugar Cane St, S/Rveldt Gdns. $125,000,000. Tel#674-9905/ Female Cleaner office & 695-1356/225-2971 home.Call#642-9823.

VACANCY

Maid to cook and clean for East Bank area.Call#615-9132.

Vacancy for (1) Sales Driver must be able to assist girl.Apply in person to Ala- in Workshop at Eccles, age 25bama Trading.

45, Car/Van license.Call#6429823.

Two Domestic maids required one should know cooking Vacancy for General Manager at Akash People’s Variety too.Call#618-1853 Store lot 4 Robb Street.Tel#656-3350.

Vacancy for (1) experienced Accouints Clerk.Must have Room Attendant,Desk staff passes in Mathematics and English.Apply in Person to 25-50 Years old.233 South Road Lacytown/225-0198.

Alabama Trading Experienced Salesgirls with 2 yrs experience. Apply @ Christine’s Variety, Lombard St. Contact: 227-8529

When ranks approached the motorcycle which was left behind, they found a silver coloured .45 Taurus pistol with four live .45 rounds of ammunition. The firearm was examined and it was observed that the serial number was filed off.

The firearm and ammunition along with the motorcycle were taken to the Brickdam Police Station where they were all lodged pending further investigations.

The matter is being investigated.

area.Upon arriving at the area the ranks saw the businessman with a black gun in his hand. It was then the businessman produced a license proving that he is the rightful owner of the weapon.

According to sources, the businessman was told of the allegation and was subsequently arrested. His firearm a .32 Taurus pistol was seized and lodged. The area was checked and two .32 spent shells were found and

lodged but the businessman has refused to have his hands swab and remains in custody assisting with the investigation.Police did not name the businessman or disclose the nature of his business.When contacted a police source told Kaieteur News that several youths who would normally be around the businessman claimed that the man had planned to discharge the gun since its the holiday season.

Guyana holds the cards ...

Rooms tolet, 1 bedroomworking people: $30,000, $32,000,$35,000, $40,000 monthly, 2 month security.

Call: 623-0076

Puri cooks , Kitchen Assistants.Apply@Shantas 225 Camp Street, G/town.

Car, Bus & Canter Drivers.

Call #225-3234/225-9223.

PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS FROM $4000 & UP, SUV’S PER DAY- CALL: 656-0087 / 643-5122 ,EMAIL:PRO_ A U T O R E N T A L @YAHOO.COM

Commercial Space.Linden #613-7039.

rider reportedly withdrew a firearm from the waist of his pants and discharged a round in the air. As a result, the ranks gave chase. However after realising that the police van was closing in on them the driver stopped the motorcycle.

According to source, after the rider stopped the motorcycle the pillion rider made good his escape in a southern direction through an alley leading to Punt Trench while the rider escaped in the opposite direction.

Intoxicated businessman arrested for discharging gun

One Bedroom apartment, bath & living room included.Preferably UG Student.Contact#222-0401

1 Maid Call#225-3234.

DOLLYS AUTO RENTAL CALL: 225-7126 & 2263693 -DOLLYS AUTO RENTAL @ YAHOO.COM/ W W W . D O L L Y SAUTORENTAL.COM

2 Bedroom semi-furnished apartment in Campbellville, suitable for students/persons working in G/Town for more info.Call#666-3213/668-0450.

Drivers with tractor,motor bus, minibus.Must have all three licences preferably living around Georgetown.641-5075/ 225-1429/624-1147.

Live in maid wanted between the age of 45-55.Bourda area.Call#658-0618.

CAR RENTAL

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

Police are hunting for two men who reportedly escaped on foot leaving their motorcycle behind after discharging a firearm along James Street, Albouystown, Georgetown.

The incident occurred Wednesday around 02:30hrs.

According to reports, several police ranks were on mobile patrol in the Albouystown community when they observed a black and red motorcycle CH9581 proceeding ahead of them.

Kaieteur News understands that the pillion

Security Officers to work, preferably ex army, police or disciplined services.Age 2440.Contact#223-4172/6396648.

From page 7 Guyana where we launched the new service to Havana, Cuba; added additional flights on existing routes including New York; and have further expansions planned over the next few months and years including the opening of additional ticket offices.

“These are substantial

investments in the Guyanese market where Caribbean Airlines already has a number of competitors and where there is always the threat of new entrants.”

The airline expressed concerns about the continued inconvenience associated with the need to transit through Trinidad and Tobago on the way to the US.

Translating talk to reality...

From page 6 chance they will deliver not only the ‘Good Life’ but a ‘modern state’ and that they will end poverty in Guyana.

But can we really and sincerely believe what Mr Granger and posse are saying and will repeat, we are sure, several times during the elections campaign.

Mr Granger says he will eradicate poverty. But let’s consider what he has done to the sugar industry. In less than five (5) years, he has put 7,000 Guyanese out of work and tens of thousands of his fellow countrymen, women and children closer to or beyond the poverty line. But to rub salt in that deep wound, Mr Granger has turned his back on these people who are

probably in the most miserable time of their lives.

Not once has he found the time to even interact with this group of now hard-pressed Guyanese.

So while Mr Granger will come again with fancy talk, big promises and grandiose plans, the reality is that his time in office has exacerbated than alleviated hardship in the country. His very decisions have pushed more into poverty and misery. His policies have burdened the Guyanese people with a growing cost-of-living while he and team live the Good Life.

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

PAGE 31

Kaieteur News

Friday January 03, 2020

$200M technical institute completed in Region Nine A $200M technical institute has been completed at Bina Hill, Annai (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and will be commissioned this month.

The Hinterland Green Enterprises Centre is a 20,000 square foot, two-storey, concrete and wooden structure, with eight classrooms, a modern computer and science laboratory, a large auditorium, and lecture room.

This was announced by Minister of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, Sydney Allicock during a recent interview with the DPI. The minister explained

that the institute would meet the demand for skilled personnel in the hinterland regions.

The institute is located in the same compound as the Bina Hill Youth Learning Centre and will accommodate 120 students from Regions 1, 7, 8, 9, and 10. It will offer a curriculum in sustainable enterprise leadership and an enterprise support unit.

Minister Allicock said the institute would also offer a two-year hands-on course in enterprise design and startup, management, sustainability, and leadership, as well as access to business

support services.

The projects main objective is to stimulate economic growth by creating and supporting innovative leaders with the capacity and know-how to lead businesses in the challenging hinterland environment while driving upstream demand for local products and services.

This project will be replicated in Regions 1, 7, and 8 with the feasibility studies done last year.

It is in keeping with the administrations effort to bridge the education gap between hinterland and the coastland.

The Hinterland Green Enterprises Centre, Annai, Region 9

PAGE 32

Kaieteur News

Friday January 03, 2020

GDF PROMOTION – OFFICERS

TO SUBSTANTIVE COLONEL: 99358 Lt Col Raul Jerrick TO SUBSTANTIVE MAJOR: 99595 Capt Andre Cush; 99687 Capt Kevaun Gray; 99697 Capt Fidel Fredericks; 99640 Capt Marvin Simpson; 99657 Capt Kevin Moore; 99712 Capt Damon Joseph; 99722 Capt Keith Watts; 99730 Capt Edmond Blair TO SUBSTANTIVE CAPTAIN: 99998 Lt Ekundayo Jeffery; 999126 Lt Shurlan Klass; 99965 Lt Jamaine Lovell; 999120 Lt Sherwin Collins; 999150 Lt Marvin Dey; 999151 Lt Godwin Cameron; 999154 Lt Akeem Kirton; 999156 Lt Wavon Samuels; 999159 Lt Stacey Codogan; 999164 Lt Godfrey Isaacs; 999165 Lt Seon Abrams; 999174 Lt Carlos Jordan TO SUBSTANTIVE LIEUTENANT: 999205 2Lt Kevin Sultan; 999314 2Lt Joshua Walcott; 999315 2Lt Brandi Johnson COAST GUARD TO SUBSTANTIVE LIEUTENANT (CG): 999171 Substantive Sub Lieutenant Czerda Frank GUYANADEFENCE FORCE RESERVE (GUYANA PEOPLE’S MILITIA) TO SUBSTANTIVE

CAPTAIN: 99947 Lt Shawn Legall; 99949 Lt Roderic Carrington; 99950 Lt Delon King; 99953 Lt Fabian Stuart; 99955 Lt Duarte Hetsberger; 99956 Lt Hubern Collins; 99957 Lt Germaine Watson; 99542 Lt John Chester-Innis; 99581 Lt Osei Manifold; 99535 Lt Ewal Mc Garrell TO SUBSTANTIVE WARRANT OFFICER CLASS ONE: 17217 Ag WO1 Christopher Harmon, 1 Inf Bn; 17335 Ag WO1 Dyanor Wilson ,DHQ; 17537 Ag WO1 Hesley Craig, BC(A); 17549 Ag WO1 Bryan Ferdinand, BC(S) TO ACTING WARRANT OFFICER CLASS ONE: 17392 Sub WO2 Kurt Trotman , 4 Engr Bn; 18232 Sub WO2 Selwyn Douglas, DHQ (Sig Corps) TO SUBSTANTIVE WARRANT OFFICER CLASS TWO: 18070 Ag WO2 Rudolph George Moore, Trg Corps; 18875 Ag WO2 Mirza Shah, Trg Corps; 18939 Ag WO2 Odellie Dos Santos, Trg Corps TO ACTING WARRANT OFFICER CLASS TWO: 17754 Sub SSGT Dwaine Clarke, DHQ (Sig Corps); 18019 Sub SSGT Husbort

Carmichael, Trg Corps; 18364 Sub SSGT Holman Denoon, 1 Inf Bn; 18512 Sub SSGT Kevorn Brandford, 1 Inf Bn; 18807 Sub SSGT Rayon Bailey, Trg Corps TO TECHNICAL WARRANT OFFICER 18969 Sub SSGT Baldwin Perry, Air Corps TO LOCAL WARRANT OFFICER CLASS TWO 18766 Sub SSGT Thomas Fortune, DHQ (MOTP); 20178 Sub SSGT Monique Skeete, BC(A) TO SUBSTANTIVE STAFF SERGEANT 17548 Ag SSGT Christopher Alleyne, 1 Inf Bn; 18668 Ag SSGT Mark Smith, BC(S); 18727 Ag SSGT Cliff Johnson, Trg Corps; 18811 Ag SSGT Tavis Collin, Air Corps; 18827 Ag SSGT Leon Martin, DHQ (G5 Branch); 19085 Ag SSGT Atto Cort, 21 Arty Coy; 19363 Ag SSGT Joel Paul, Air Corps; 19431 Ag SSGT Sherwin James, DHQ (Sig Corps); 19642 Ag SSGT Quincey Clarke, DHQ (Sig Corps); 19678 Ag SSGT Winston Couchman, 31 SF Sqn; 19852 Ag SSGT Devon Leitch, 5 SSB; 19931 Ag SSGT Deon Waldron, BC(A); 19992 Ag SSGT Rodwell Hamblin, DHQ (Sig Corps); 20157 Ag SSGT

Latisha Sampson, DHQ (G1 Branch); 20376 Ag SSGT Steve Punch, DHQ (Sig Corps); 20501 Ag SSGT Jason Khan, 31 SF Sqn TO ACTING STAFF SERGEANT 18839 Sub SGT Troy Morris, Trg Corps; 18942 Sub SGT Steve Forde, DHQ (Int Corps); 19323 Sub SGT Randy Pilgrim, BC(S); 19390 Sub SGT Ryan Tappin, Air Corps; 19412 Sub SGT Dwaine Moses DHQ (A&I Dept); 19413 Sub SGT Phillip Earle, BC(A); 19530 Sub SGT Brian Wishart , 1 Inf Bn; 19601 Sub SGT Alias Rapheal, DHQ (Med Corps); 19619 Sub SGT Juluka Lambert, 4 Engr Bn; 19650 Sub SGT Delroy Gibson, DHQ (COS Office); 19667 Sub SGT Micheal Holder, DHQ; 19901 Sub SGT Quasy Clarke, Trg Corps; 20063 Sub SGT Keron Joseph, 5SSB; 20064 Sub SGT Adrian Birch, 5SSB; 20168 Sub SGT Ann Marks, DHQ (Med Corps); 20128 Sub SGT Devendra Narine, 5SSB; 20623 Sub SGT Terry Milling, 5SSB; 21200 Sub SGT Esther Charles, Trg Corps; 21572 Sub SGT Elvis Haynes, 6 Inf Bn; 21746 Sub SGT Mark Critchlow, 1 Inf Bn; 21999 Sub SGT Shibekie Benjamin, BC(A); 22140 Sub SGT Herschel Gilead, 6 Inf Bn TO LOCAL STAFF SERGEANT 20490 Sub SGT Quacy Douglas, 31 SF Sqn; TO SUBSTANTIVE SERGEANT 18993 Ag SGT Eion Junor, 4 Engr Bn; 19101 Ag SGT Guy Nash, 31 SF Sqn; 19173 Ag SGT Samantha Yorrick, Air Corps; 19368 Ag SGT Travis Pollard, BC(S); 19376 Ag SGT Ashton Todd, DHQ (Sig Corps); 19567 Ag SGT Dwayne Schroeder, BC(A); 17621 Ag SGT Oswald Harris, Agri Corps; 19839 Ag SGT Russhel Cuffy, DHQ (GPD); 20238 Ag SGT Terry Evans, Trg Corps; 20419 Ag SGT Curt Zammett, Trg Corps; 20438 Ag SGT Delroy Cameron, BC(S); 20717 Ag SGT Devon Robertson, 1 Inf Bn; 20386 Ag SGT Delano Forde, 4 Engr Bn; 20389 Ag SGT Vaugh Stewart, 4 Engr Bn; 20714 Ag SGT Carl Stephenson, DHQ (Sports Corps); 20749 Ag SGT Dellon Young, DHQ (Sports Corps); 20759 Ag SGT Roylan Fraser, DHQ (Sig Corps); 20765 Ag SGT Kevor Williams, DHQ (Int Corps); 20846 Ag SGT Abigial Mentore, BC(S); 20867 Ag SGT Leon Younge, Band Corps; 20887

Ag SGT Demtre Tappin, Trg Corps; 20945 Ag SGT Clarence Jordan, Air Corps; 21097 Ag SGT Randy Brashaw,4 Engr Bn; 21245 Ag SGT Roberto Thomas, 4 Engr Bn; 21361 Ag SGT Rupert Perry, DHQ (Sports Corps); 21372 Ag SGT Stephon Timothy, 21 Arty Coy; 21453 Ag SGT Diana Cantzlaar, DHQ (G5 Branch); 21476 Ag SGT Kevin Moore, 1 Inf Bn; 21487 Ag SGT David Lindie, DHQ (Int Corps); 21526 Ag SGT Randolph Harry, 31 SF Sqn; 21682 Ag SGT Rock Watson, 31 SF Sqn; 21587 Ag SGT Keita Washington, DHQ (G4 Branch) TO ACTING SERGEANT 20873 ATW SGT Kevin Horton, 1 Inf Bn; 17885 Sub CPL Maxwell Hyles, BC(S); 17999 Sub CPL Eusi Pellew, DHQ (QMG Office); 18279 Sub CPL Lendon Braithwaite, BC (S); 18694 Sub CPL Cecil Johnson, Trg Corps; 19088 Sub CPL Ewart George, BC (A); 19932 Sub CPL Phillip De Putron, DHQ (Int Corps); 20197 Sub CPL Dodley Williams, 1 Inf Bn; 20850 Sub CPL Adrian Bagot, BC (A); 20884 Sub CPL Malika Lewis, 31 SF Sqn; 20935 Sub CPL Shelton Jones, 4 Engr Bn; 20941 Sub CPL J’Franz Johnson, Air Corps; 20956 Sub CPL Phillip Moore, DHQ (COS Office); 20997 Sub CPL Rayon Hamilton, 4 Engr Bn; 21025 Sub CPL Troy Glynn, DHQ (Sig Corps); 21192 Sub CPL Kevin Sampson, 1 Inf Bn; 21134 Sub CPL Wonnetta Wayne, 4 Engr Bn; 21309 Sub CPL Tavel Joseph, 21 Arty Coy; 21408 Sub CPL Desley Lewis, Agri Corps; 21576 Sub CPL Keysha Felix, 1 Inf Bn; 22794 Sub CPL Steve Samuels, DHQ (Sig Corps) TO LOCAL SERGEANT 19779 Sub CPL Welton Hazel, DHQ (Int Corps) TO SUBSTANTIVE CORPORAL 18687 Ag CPL Andrew Dover, 1 Inf Bn; 19065 Ag CPL Caswald Sullivan, DHQ (G5 Branch); 19979 Ag CPL Denosi Stewart, DHQ (G4 Branch); 20039 Ag CPL Claimont Gibson, DHQ (Sports Corps); 20547 Ag CPL Marlyn Peters, Trg Corps; 20746 Ag CPL Orin Blair, 1 Inf Bn; 20967 Ag CPL Bernard Rudder, DHQ (Med Corps); 21159 Ag CPL Kester Softleigh, Band Corps; 21950 Ag CPL Shundell Browne, Trg Corps; 22435 Ag CPL Alanto Watts, Trg Corps; 22151 Ag CPL David Watson, DHQ (COS Office); 21517 Ag CPL Theon London, DHQ (COS

Office); 22594 Ag CPL Leroy Phillips, BC(A); 21087 Ag CPL Kevin Ramsey, BC(A); 21105 Ag CPL Ayana Kyte, DHQ (GPD); 22654 Ag CPL Shimeik Romain-Lewis, DHQ (GPD); 221169 Ag CPL Clinton Carbon, DHQ (Int Corps); 22186 Ag CPL Amsel Allen, DHQ (Int Corps); 22226 Ag CPL Dennis Fung, DHQ (Int Corps); 22304 Ag CPL Keon Cort, DHQ (Int Corps); 22263 Ag CPL Phillip Benjamin, DHQ (Int Corps); 22578 Ag CPL Frankie Spellen, DHQ (Int Corps); 21971 Ag CPL Quincy Craig, DHQ (Sports Corps); 25518 Ag CPL Kenard Simon, DHQ (Sports Corps); 21471 Ag CPL Kevon Leitch, 6 Inf Bn; 22345 Ag CPL Osaffo Ragubeer, 6 Inf Bn; 22650 Ag CPL Andreasena Blackman,6 Inf Bn; 21336 Ag CPL Hans Boyle, 21 Arty Coy; 22522 Ag CPL Victor Low, 21 Arty Coy; 22469 Ag CPL Oakeley Mc Donald, 21 Arty Coy; 22535 Ag CPL Ivan Singh, 21 Arty Coy; 22551 Ag CPL Alston Mc Kenzie, 21 Arty Coy; 21389 Ag CPL Terrance, 21 Arty Coy; 22779 Ag CPL Kelsey Layne, DHQ (Fin Dept); 22656 Ag CPL Atricia Holligan, DHQ (Fin Dept); 21528 Ag CPL Denroy Cumberbatch, DHQ (QMG Office); 22127 Ag CPL Clyde Jacobs, 5SSB; 20624 Ag CPL Joel Cort, BC(S); 22795 Ag CPL Brian Homles, 31 SF Sqn; 22773 Ag CPL Wayne Campbell, 31 SF Sqn; 22365 Ag CPL Derrol Cummings, DHQ (G5 Branch); 22603 Ag CPL Kevon Davis, DHQ (MT Pool); 21755 Ag CPL Julious Bobb, DHQ (MT Pool); 21553 Ag CPL Dexter Reevers, DHQ (MT Pool); 21330 Ag CPL Patrick Gordon, Air Corps; 21889 Ag CPL Rondel Wilson, Air Corps; 22253 Ag CPL Tenisha Dorrway, Air Corps; 21541 Ag CPL Kascia Beaton, Air Corps; 21883 Ag CPL Cowin Lopes, 1 Inf Bn; 22079 Ag CPL Leon Mootoo, 1 Inf Bn; 22454 Ag CPL Ryan Jordon, 1 Inf Bn; 22503 Ag CPL Wendel Henry, 1 Inf Bn; 22552 Ag CPL Daniel Blair, 1 Inf Bn; 22214 Ag CPL Jamal Williams, 1 Inf Bn; 21839 Ag CPL Dillon Byass, 1 Inf Bn; 21711 Ag CPL Colwick Ward, 1 Inf Bn; 22223 Ag CPL Ackeem Hosannah, 1 Inf Bn; 22596 Ag CPL Ronald Nurse, Agri Corps; 22122 Ag CPL Daniel Peters, Agri Corps; 21180 Ag CPL Nyron Ross, 4 Engr Bn; 22807 Ag CPL Trevaughn Dooker, DHQ (Int Corps), 22817 Ag CPL Burnel Fraser, 1 Inf Bn; 22828 Ag CPL Noel Dunn, 1 Inf Bn; 22863 Ag CPL Daniel Murray, 31 SF Sqn; 22944 Ag CPL Fomba Ramsay, BC(S) (To be continued)

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Only Viv stood between Greenidge and all-time greatness: Holding BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Fast bowling icon Michael Holding believes only the sheer genius of Sir Vivian Richards prevented Gordon Greenidge from becoming the quintessential batsman of his generation.

Greenidge was recently honoured with a knighthood in the Queen’s New Year list for his “ser-vices to crick-et and the de-vel-op-ment of sport” and Holding, who played alongside the legendary opener, said there was never any doubt about the Barbadian’s immense status.

“Gordon was a great player,” Holding said in tribute to Greenidge during an interview on the popular

cricket radio show, Mason and Guest.

“He had one bad tour that I can remember and that was the first time he went to Australia in 1975-76 when he wasn’t the only one, but since then he just blossomed and became a great player.

“If it hadn’t been for Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards, everyone would’ve been talking about Gordon Greenidge.”

Greenidge, considered one of the finest technicians of the game, gathered 7558 runs at an av-er-age of 44 with 19 cen-turies.

He struck a cen-tu-ry in ei-ther in-ning of the 1976 Old Traf-ford Test, lashed two dou-ble hun-dreds on the 1984 tour of Eng-land, and

was a member of the West Indies side which won the first two World Cups in 1975 and 1979.

Sir Viv, widely considered the most dominant batsmen of his era, amassed 8540 runs with 24 hundreds at an average of 50.

His career-best 291 at the Oval in 1976 was one of two double hundreds on a tour when he thrice reached triple figures in a record aggregate of 829 runs. An imperious 138 in the 1979 World Cup final at Lord’s handed West Indies an historic second straight title.

Holding said of all the great innings by Greenidge, the one performance which had remained with him was the 226 at Kensington Oval in Barbados in 1991, when on

Friday January 03, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You have a lot of charm and tremendous social skills, Aries. This is an unbeatable combination, and is especially strengthened with the current astral energy.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Romance is very much highlighted today, Libra. All the planetary energies indicate that you and your partner are operating on precisely the same wavelength.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) This is a day when you could greatly benefit from spending some time outdoors in quiet reflection, Taurus. Even a halfhour's walk through a city park will help you feel more rested and grounded.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Anything you attempt to do today is likely to turn out really well, Scorpio. You have an ambitious nature, so by all means take advantage of these auspicious conditions to pursue your career-related goals.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You're a hard and conscientious worker, Gemini, and sometimes you work so hard that you neglect to take any time for yourself. This is admirable in the short run, but not so wise in the long run.

CANCER(June21–July22) Today may find you longing for some spots of color in your life, Cancer. Do what you can to brighten up your home environment. Even buying a few flowering plants.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Today you may discover that you have more in common with your neighbors than you thought, Leo. It's likely that some sort of local event has brought all your neighbors together under one roof.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You may receive some kind of windfall today, Virgo. It may be that a rich old relative dies and leaves you some unexpected cash. Or perhaps an investment is paying off better than you dared hope.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Today you'll likely find that you begin to make real progress on a project that may have been stagnating for a while, Sagittarius.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Today you'll likely awake, look around your home environment, and realize that there is much room for improvement. Fortunately, you are just the person for the job, Capricorn!

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You are a hard and conscientious worker, Aquarius, and certainly have been applying your skills and doing your best for some time now.

The time is ripe for you to reap some benefits from all your efforts.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You may find yourself thinking of looking for a new job in order to increase your income, Pisces. But there is probably no need to take such a drastic step.

the cusp of his 40th birthday, he carved out a defiant double hundred against Australia.

“I can remember one [inning] when he really applied himself greatly in Barbados when people were saying he had gone past his prime and he made a [double century] in that Test match,” Holding recalled.

“Gordon has played so many great innings and of course with his opening partner Dessie Haynes, they built so many foundations for West Indies in the past.”

Holding, now a wellrespected international television broadcaster, also praised legendary former captain Clive Lloyd who also received a knighthood for his “ser-vices to crick-et”.

“He was captain for almost all of my Test matches.

I played perhaps one or two series after Lloydy retired so he was my captain for most of my career, and I looked upon him pretty much as a father figure and I think most people thought of him as my cricketing father,” Holding pointed out.

“I remember once when I was still a youngster, he called my house in Jamaica … and my father answered the phone and shouted to me ‘Mikey, your father’s on the line’.”

The Jamaican added: “Clive Lloyd was a great

Sir Gordon Greenidge (inset) found himself overshadowed by the genius of Sir Vivian Richards. leader. When you look at the team that Clive Lloyd had, everybody would say ‘oh, he had so much talent’. He’s not the only one that has had talented cricketers under him but he knew exactly how to get the best out of his

players.

“He was a father figure to most of the players, people looked up to him, he respected the players, the players respected him and so that’s why we had so much of a great team.”

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Former NBA commissioner David Stern dies at 77 Yahoo Sports - Former NBA commissioner David Stern has died at 77 years old.

Stern died Wednesday, the league announced, after suffering a brain hemorrhage on Dec. 12 that required emergency surgery.

A titan of sports leadership, Stern took over as NBA commissioner in 1984 and oversaw the growth of the league from a struggling entity to an international powerhouse. When Stern took office, NBA playoff games were regularly broadcast on tape delay on CBS. By the time he handed the reins to his deputy Adam Silver in 2014, 30 years to the day after he took over, NBA basketball as a spectator sport was an international powerhouse with fans across the globe.

Stern’s tenure coincided with the rise of the Larry BirdMagic Johnson rivalry that saw the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers win a combined eight championships behind their two superstars from 1980 to 1988.

Stern took office the same year the Chicago Bulls drafted Michael Jordan, who would take over from Bird and Johnson as the face of the league and become a global icon as he won six NBA championships.

David Stern died after suffering a brain hemorrhage. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) NBA expansion under Stern Stern’s NBA seized on the popularity of those outsized players and personalities, expanding from 23 teams to 30 under his watch.

The late 1980s saw the league expand into four new markets, with the Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets joining the NBA in 1988 and the Orlando Magic and Minnesota Timberwolves coming into existence in 1989.

By the time Stern retired, the Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors and New Orleans Pelicans had also spawned through expansion and franchise movement.

A global league As the NBA grew

domestically under Stern, the league set footprints around the world with offices in Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Beijing, Mumbai and London among other international cities.

Stern aided the global growth of the league by helping organize the assembly of the Dream Team, the 1992 USA Basketball team led by Jordan, Bird and Johnson that took the Olympics by storm and became an international sensation.

The United States voted against allowing professionals to play in the Olympics in 1989. But when the international community

overwhelmingly approved the shift from amateurs, Stern and the NBA embraced it.

As the league looked outward, international players like Hakeem Olajuwon, Dirk Nowitzki and Yao Ming became stars in the NBA, further cementing its status as a global league.

Birth of the draft lottery Before Stern set his sights on global growth, he had big ideas about how teams should be built. During Stern’s second year in office, the league implemented one of the most exciting and controversial systems in sports — the draft lottery.

In an effort to deter tanking, Stern’s NBA set up a literal lottery to determine which teams would receive the top selections in the draft.

The initial year of the lottery in 1985 gave birth to one of the greatest conspiracies in American sports when the New York Knicks won the right to draft Georgetown center Patrick Ewing, who would go on to play for the Dream Team and become a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

That the center-desperate Knicks won the lottery in the NBA’s largest market birthed conspiracies that Stern rigged the game in New York’s favor.

In some circles that conspiracy lives on more than

three decades later.

Difficulties under Stern Stern also oversaw difficult times, genuine controversy and tragedy during his tenure.

Len Bias died of a cocaine overdose in 1986, days after the Boston Celtics made him the No. 2 pick in the draft out of Maryland.

In 1991, Johnson made the shocking announcement that he was retiring from the Lakers after he tested HIV positive. At that point in time, the diagnosis was widely viewed as a death sentence, but Johnson lives and thrives to this day.

Labor strife The NBA saw two significant instances of labor strife under Stern, with lockouts in 1999 and 2011 that threatened to drive fans away from the game.

The league lost regularseason games during both lockouts.

Gambling scandal In 2007, a gambling scandal centered around referee Tim Donaghy threatened the integrity of the game.

Long-held fringe beliefs that the league was rigged were given legitimate weight when reports pointed to Donaghy making calls to influence point spreads on games he had gambled on.

Donaghy eventually

pleaded guilty to two conspiracy charges related to the scandal and was sentenced to 15 months in prison.

Hornets controversy The NBA also made the unorthodox decision to buy the then-New Orleans Hornets in 2010 in an effort to keep the team in the city.

Stern’s decision to reject a trade of Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers while the league owned the Hornets in 2011 is a sore subject for Lakers fans to this day.

Legacy of growth But as each of those issues threatened the sanctity and popularity of the NBA, the league continued to grow stronger under Stern’s stead.

By the time he ceded power to Silver in 2014, the NBA was thriving in a new player era led by LeBron James and on the verge of the Golden State Warriors dynasty taking hold.

Upon his retirement, Stern was immediately inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014.

The growth and overwhelming popularity of the NBA that came into existence under Stern’s watch remains his legacy.

Stern is survived by his wife Diane and sons Eric and Andrew.

Cricketers to pay tribute to Australia firefighters, brace for smoke delays AFP - Australia and New Zealand cricketers will pay tribute to firefighters and bushfire victims during the third Test in Sydney, officials said yesterday, as they prepare for possible delays if air quality plummets due to smoke.

At least 18 people have lost their lives in one of Australia’s most devastating bushfire seasons which has seen blazes raging across the country, including on the outskirts of Sydney.

The match, starting today, will go ahead but play will be suspended at the umpire’s discretion, should smoke significantly affect air quality or visibility.

Tomorrow is shaping as of most concern, when another heatwave is expected to sweep across the country and create dangerous fire conditions.

“Like rain, the rules are in place to add time, to suspend play (for Tests). But what we’re finding is it (smoke) comes in quick but also goes quick,” Cricket Australia’s head of operations Peter Roach told cricket.com.au.

“It’s unlikely, we believe, it’ll be there for a full day.

“We might see some challenges across that day, but we’ll play it like rain or adverse weather. Time can be added on.”

Before play today both sides will take part in a minute’s applause for fire and emergency services workers and wear black armbands as a mark of respect for those who have died.

Cricket Australia also announced a fundraising drive for the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund during oneday matches between Australia and New Zealand in Sydney in March.

“On behalf of Australian cricket, we wish everyone fighting the fires across Australia a safe New Year,” Australia coach Justin Langer and captain Tim Paine said in a joint letter published in local media yesterday.

“We pray the conditions improve, the fires ease and the rains come.

And, above all else, we hope all Australians pull together and help each other through this incredibly difficult time.”

A bushfire broke out next to Perth Cricket Stadium during the Test match there last month. (AFP / Peter Parks)

The issue of smoke is a difficult one for cricket officials, who currently rely on a mix of air quality guidelines from the International Cricket Council, state governments

and the Australian Institute of Sport.

But there are inconsistencies on what is considered “unsafe”.

A Big Bash League match

in Canberra was abandoned this month because of toxic bushfire haze, but several have been played in Sydney since the season began two weeks ago.

At last month’s Australian Open golf in Sydney, players complained of stinging eyes and trouble breathing, and New Zealand’s Ryan Chisnall wore a face mask.

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Foo hits 60 as Adams’ XI make 244 in second practice match - Johnson’s X1 85-1 at close of day one

By Sean Devers Johnathon Foo made 60 on the opening day of the final two-day practice match yesterday at Providence as Anthony Adams’ XI were dismissed for 244 and by the close of play Leon Johnson’s XI were 85-1 in reply.

Foo stroked five fours in his 137-ball and 155 minute 60

and added 57 for the sixth wicket with Renaldo AliMohammed who hit 39 from 44 balls with four fours and two sixes.

Trevon Griffith who hammered four fours and six in 24 and Raymond Perez continued his good form with 46 from 73 balls in 120 minutes with four fours and two sixes,

featured in 55-run opening stand but only Akshaya Persaud, who reached the boundary five times in 32 and Quintin Sampson (15) reached double figures.

Left arm seamer Raymond Reifer, who missed the first match, had 3-18, while 20year-old off-spinner Kevin Sinclair took 3-53 and Left-arm

Holder rested for Ireland ODIs West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Former One-Day International captain Jason Holder has been rested for the first two ODIs of the threematch series against Ireland starting next week, as selectors move to manage his “heavy workload”.

The fast bowling allrounder is the only change to the Kieron Pollard-led squad which went down to India last month on the subcontinent, and chief selector Roger Harper said Wednesday Holder’s engagement in all three formats meant it was important he was afforded the opportunity “to recharge his batteries”.

“The decision was taken to rest Jason due to the heavy workload he has had over the last year,” Harper explained.

“With an important year ahead for West Indies cricket, we saw this as the best opportunity to give him a break to recharge his batteries and refresh his mind so he could be ready to perform at his best as our Test captain throughout 2020, as the number one ranked all-rounder in Test cricket and an important member of the team in the white ball formats.”

Holder led West Indies in ODIs for 4-½ years but was sacked following the series defeat to India in the Caribbean last August, which came in the wake of the Windies dismal campaign at the World Cup earlier in the

year.

He retained his spot in the side and also forced his way into the Twenty20 squad, after presiding over Barbados Tridents’ capture of the Caribbean Premier League title last October.

The 28-year-old has continued in charge of the Test side and has emerged as the world’s leading allrounder in the format, where he averages 32 with the bat and 26 with the ball.

Last year, Holder played five of West Indies’ six Tests, 27 of his side’s 28 ODIs and nine of their 12 T20s.

Meanwhile, selectors have resisted the temptation to make changes and have kept faith with the remainder of the squad despite the recent series loss to India which marked their 10th straight series defeat to the subcontinental powerhouses.

There was no recall for left-handers Darren Bravo nor Kieran Powell in spite of their heavy scoring in last November ’s Regional Super50, with fast bowler Oshane Thomas also overlooked despite his 17 wickets for Jamaica.

Harper said despite the recent result against India, the Windies had exhibited qualities which suggested that improvements were being made.

“The Afghanistan and Indian series told me that the team is making very positive

strides,” he pointed out.

“Winning the ODIs against Afghanistan, our first ODI series win for five years, followed by the very competitive performance in against India is testament to that.

The team demonstrated a determination to compete and gave it every effort.

“Against India the batting was consistent and while the bowling had its moments, it is clear that we have to improve our ‘death’ bowling.

However, the fact that the team played in such an organised and competitive manner consistently augurs well going forward.”

West Indies will face an Ireland side which has beaten them only once in 10 meetings but Harper labelled the series a “must win”.

“This series against Ireland offers us the opportunity to build on the performances in India, build confidence as a team and for individual players,” he stressed.

“Just like the series against Afghanistan, the Ireland series is an important one for us, one we must win.”

SQUAD – Kieron Pollard (captain), Sunil Ambris, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Keemo Paul, Khary Pierre, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh jr.

spinner Veersammy Permaul captured 2-72 for Johnson’s XI who lost Tevin Imlach (1) at 6-1 when he was LBW to Ali-Mohammed.

Chanderpaul Hemraj (46) and Skipper Johnson (27) were the not out batsmen, while their partnership has so far produced 79 runs.

Played before empty stands in scorching heat on a good track and fairly fast outfield, Griffith, who looked to counter-attack, was removed by Bajan Reifer before Perez who again looked set for a big score, was bowled by Chris Barnwell at 85-2.

Kemol Savory (4) was bowled by Permaul at 107-3 but Persaud and Foo took their team to 113-3 by Lunch.

After the interval Persaud was bowled by Bishoo at 1474, while Adams (3) was trapped LBW to Permaul at 156-5.

Foo, who reached his 50 from 117 balls and 116 minutes with five boundaries and AliMohammed, revived the position with their halfcentury stand.

Ali threw his wicket away with a poorly executed sweep to a ball outside leg stump from Sinclair and taken at leggully at 213-6 before Sinclair removed Sampson and Gudakesh Motie (0) in two balls with the score on 235-8

Chanderpaul Hemraj was unbeaten on 46 at Providence yesterday. before Foo got one that slanted across the righthander and edged a catch to the Keeper.

Reifer then wrapped up the tail when Nial Smith (2) was caught and bowled as he played too early to a slower ball.

After the early demise of Imlach, Hemraj who slashed

the first ball of the innings off the lively Smith for four, Johnson who swept offspinner Richie Looknauth for four, played some delightful shots to reduce the deficit to 159 with nine wickets in hand by the end of the day.

Play is scheduled to commence at 09:00hrs today.

Bravo to lead President’s XI against Irish BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Darren Bravo has been named to lead a Cricket West Indies President’s XI side to face Ireland in a 50-overs warm-up match here starting Saturday.

The left-hander headlines the 13-man squad which includes rookie West Indies speedsters Oshane Thomas and Romario Shepherd, and former Test and one-day opener Kieran Powell.

Bravo is seeking a comeback to international cricket after being dropped for the recent tours of Afghanistan and India due to poor form.

He returned to West Indies colours in November, 2018 following a wellpublicised spat with former CWI president, Dave Cameron, but struggled to recapture his form across all formats and averaged 13 from five Tests, 22 from 16 One-Day Internationals and 17 from eight T20 Internationals.

However, he plundered 481 runs at an average of 96 during last November’s Super50 Cup, to again catch

Left-hander Darren Bravo. the attention of selectors.

Shepherd, meanwhile, who was on Wednesday also named in the ODI squad for the first two matches against Ireland next week, will have the chance for crucial match practice while Thomas will get the opportunity to impress selectors after missing the recent tours of the subcontinent. The lefthanded Powell, a veteran of 40 Tests and 46 ODIs, was axed a year ago due to declining form but found his touch in the recent Super50 with 524 runs at an average of 58 with two hundreds.

Pacer Sheeno Berridge, who topped the Super50 wickets tally with 23, has been rewarded with a place in the squad as has fast bowler Akeem Jordan who finished with 16 wickets.

The fixture will be staged at Three Ws Oval, UWI Cave Hill Campus starting at 9 am.

SQUAD – Darren Bravo (captain), Sunil Ambris, Sheeno Berridge, Nkrumah Bonner, Dennis Bulli, Joshua DaSilva, Justin Greaves, Akeem Jordan, Brandon King, Yannick Ottley, Kieran Powell, Romario Shepherd, Oshane Thomas.

Friday January 03, 2020

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Kaieteur News

GMR&SC releases tentative calendar

Adrian Fernandes (211) speeds down the homestretch during Endurance meet round 1 last year March at South Dakota.

By Calvin Chapman The Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC), as has been customary throughout recent years, will begin the local racing calendar with round

one of the Endurance championship on January 26th at the South Dakota Circuit, Timehri.

The full details of this year’s Endurance series have not been released by the

The GMR&SC’s drag championship is set to rev off on March 15th.

GMR&SC but late last year it was being mooted for the race to be at least four hours long to test the mettle of the

The highly anticipated International circuit races is set for November 8.

Tropical Woods and Wood Products inaugural golf tournament on tomorrow Sstesh Tewari, GM of Tropical Woods and Wood Products, is pleased to partner with the Lusignan Golf Club in launching his inaugural tournament on the first Saturday of 2020. With the Grounds in great condition, golfers would be delighted to start the year on a bright note with this exciting tournament.

Tomorrow’s tournament will be played under the Medal-play format, and may be played either in Flights or in a non-Flight system, depending on the number of participants. Also prizes will

be awarded to the 1st to 3rd Best Net scores. (In the Flights system, all golfers are traditionally grouped into at least 3 Flights – handicap 09, 10-18, and 19-28/36, or a slight variation of these. In the non-Flight system handicaps 0-36 are played without any grouping.)

Tropical Woods and Wood Products of Lot D, Area C, Good Hope, East Coast Demerara, Tel: +592220-8063 / +592-643-9771 and Email: keshgy@yahoo.com, has been in the business of processing rough and dressed hardwoods for the

local market for over 16 years, and has in recent times generously supported wood products requirements of the Lusignan Golf Club.

The public is invited to visit the Club free of charge, as the golfers compete to be the New Year’s opening Championship.

All members of the public are also invited to learn more about the game of golf by visiting the Lusignan Golf Club, or by getting more information via us on Facebook lusignangolfclub or calling 220-5660.

local speedsters as some challenged the level of difficulty in racing for just two-three hours.

Drivers and mechanics alike are getting themselves in order for the battle of durability and all eyes will be on multiple-times overall champion, Adrian Fernandes, of Team Ramchand Wreckers.

Last season, the Endurance championship only had two rounds instead of three due to different circumstances. Round one revved off on March 3 and the event was threatened to be washed out and after five hours of precipitation, the relentless sunshine experienced in the ‘highlands’ dried the track and it was business as usual.

On March 3, 2019, Fernandes tallied 78 laps to narrowly defeat Sean Bacchus who finished with 77 laps, both in 1600cc and overall brackets in the twohour long drive. The overall results during last year’s competition appeared to be controversial in the eyes of some of the competitors and it was heavily protested before the final consensus was reached.

During round one action, the unlimited class was won

by Romeo Singh (72 laps) but Motilall Deodass (59 laps) surprisingly finished second ahead of Shan Seejattan.

Deodass’ Motor Trend

sponsored Starlet encountered problems from the start of the race so he had to race at a decelerated pace throughout the event.

Mohamed Ali (33 laps) was the best driver in the 2000cc class, while Roshan Ali (20 laps) finished second followed by Rafeek Khan in third with 19 laps.

In the 1500cc class, Narendra Mangar (73 laps) won followed by Richard Hamid (70) in second place and Mark Wong (69) in third.

Round two of the championship that was contested on April 28, 2019, was highlighted once again by the dominance of Team Wreckers.

Fernandes, who had a much smoother race, followed up his win in that s e a s o n ’s o p e n e r w i t h another top performance, registering a superior 81 laps in round two’s threehour race, behind the wheel of his Gillette sponsored Toyota Levin motorcar.

Fernandes’ teammate, Anand Ramchand, won the 2000cc class while coming in fourth overall with 72 laps.

The 1500cc class was won by Reeyaz and Richard Hamid who completed the race with 71 laps.

Motor Trend’s Deodass was slow and steady to finish the Unlimited class with the most laps; 53.

Seejattan, who registered

the fastest lap of day (1 minute 21 seconds), did not finish the race and only completed a meager 17 laps in the unlimited class.

The team of Azaad Hassan and Davin Panday who missed round one, finished second overall and second in the 1600cc class with 79 laps.

Meanwhile, Dawolu Harper in his Kinshasa Bakery sponsored Toyota Starlet was 3rd in the 1600cc and overall category with 77 laps. In round one, he also placed 3rd with an identical 77 laps completed.

Following this January 26th meet, the tentative schedule has the National Race of Champions Circuit showing set for February 16th, while the drag championship boosts off on March 15.

Circuit racing returns on July on the 5th with August 16th being the highly anticipated international drag racing meet.

Round two of the Endurance Championship is set for September 13 with the last round of Drag racing set for October 4th.

The highly anticipated International Circuit-racing event is set for November 8.

The GMR&SC strongly indicated that each date may be adjusted to ensure all systems are in place for the successful hosting of events.

Bikers will be very involved in the circuit and drag race events in 2020.

PAGE 40

Friday January 03, 2020

Kaieteur News

Coomacka falters from penalty spot 3-1 as Topp XX - Topp XX’s Gregory Hinds heroics capture UDFA Year End C/Ship hands him most valuable player award

In a tournament that was notable for its upsets, Topp XX broke that trend to walk away with a dramatic 3-1 shootout win over early giant killers Coomacka, when the final of the Upper Demerara Football Association’s yearend championship was played New Year’s Night at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

But, in front of a sell-out crowd which seemingly favoured another unlikely win for the team from the Mines area, this was not to be due to the heroics of the Topp XX man between the uprights, Gregory Hinds.

Both teams battled with the hope of a win in regulation play and even after extra time was ordered, there would not be at the breaker.

In the end would be heartbreak for the legion of supporters of the underdog side which had created upsets by beating the two top teams which entered this tournament in Net Rocekrs and Botafago.

But Topp XX, who had won similar tournaments before but not one of the recent Upper Demerara Football Association promoted championships, got their first taste for which was a bitter defeat for the Coomacka side.

Playing for the first time in a New Year ’s game,

Coomacka looked to assert themselves early after Topp XX initiated the first offensive foray. Coomacka would respond with the assistance of their goalkeeper Kellon Major who looked good in keeping out the early chances taken by Topp XX. In one of the best buildups and a great switch from inside right to the left flank Coomacka would end the play with as deft left foot drive by Wheatland Thom which pierced through to beat the Topp XX goalkeeper Gregory Hinds all ends up for a 1-0 advantage, four minutes before the first half ended.

That 1-0 lead would remain for the team with a heavy tag to bear coming into the second half of play.

Topp XX, meanwhile, remained resolute in putting together their formation as Coomacka did not miss a step in countering their more known rivals. However, in the 60th minute it would be Topp XX gaining the equaliser from their forward Shawn Daniels in what was a fine effort for a 1-1 score.

With the game truly on and an expectant crowd watching, both teams maintained their offensive mode and this left their men in goal to thwart such attempts.

By the end of the of regulation time the unseeded

Nigel Hinds presents the MVP trophy and Samsung galaxy Note 9 to Topp XX’S goalkeeper Gregory Hinds after the final.

Coomacka still had an even chance. They (Coomacka) would never recover from their opening miss and were always out of contention as Hinds would again and again make saves that ultimately gave his side the championship by a 3-1 score.

Hinds deservedly was name the Most Valuable Player and collected the $250,000 worth Samsung Galaxy Note 9 from businessman Nigel Hinds, who also handed over the Trophy Stall winners’ trophy and the Nigel Hinds Financial

Services $700,000 first place cash prize to Topp XX’S coach Troy “Boy Blue” Nelson at the end during the presentation.

Nelson said his side was confident going into the penalty shootout. He opined: “I had no fear going into the penalty shootout. I had all the confidence in my man between the uprights Gregory Hinds. It was for Coomacka to ensure they can score from the spot.”

Nelson offered: “This is top XX’s time after a long wait and now that the era of the 2020’s are here it links with my

Businessman Nigel Hinds presents the Trophy Stall trophy to Troy Nelson coach of Topp XX after their triumph. team’s name of Topp XX.” Captain of Topp XX Ryan Noel said, “I was very confident going into the penalty kicks as we had the momentum going into that aspect of the final. We fought for this for a long time and been up and down losing.

This bunch of players said we are going to war and after coming close with seconds and thirds, we are now able to win a big championship like this.”

In the third place playoff game, Botafago after being down 1-0 in the second minute

of play would rebound to inflict a 5-2 drubbing of Haynes and Lewis Winners Connection to grab the third place in the championship.

A Jamal Haynes double in the 44th and 89th minutes and single strikes by Floyd Headley in the 67th, Gary Velloza in the 73rd and Jashawn Moore in the 74th minutes accounted for Botafago’s goals, while for the Winners Connection it was Joel Bollers in the 2nd minute and Marmalaque Davidson in the 80th minutes.

All set for Hammie Green Birthday Inter-Ward football final Sunday at Leonora facility All is set for the final of the 9-a-side Inter-Ward Football Competition to commemorate the 85th Birth Anniversary of former Prime Minister and City Mayor Hamilton Green on Sunday at the Leonora Sports Facility.

Delayed from last year due to the weather and other events, Sunday’s action is set to get underway from 4:00pm with the quarterfinals, followed by semifinals and the resulting final.

The fixtures show Den Amstel Kings are down to battle with Soesdyke in the opening fixture followed by Uitvlugt against Wales, West Side Spartans versus Stewartville and Pouderoyen challenge Den Amstel. The winners play the semis and respective final and third place.

The winning team will take home $200,000 and the NAMILCO trophy, while second, third and fourth place finishers will receive $100,000 and the NAMILCO trophy,

$60,000 and the Christopher Jones trophy and $40,000 and the Andre Dazzel trophy respectively. The winning and runner-up teams will also receive hampers from Ricks and Sari.

The player with the most goals so far is Franklyn Stevens of Plaisance with three, but that team is no longer in contention and Delon Lanferman on 2 of West Side Spartans has the chance to take that accolade and prize.

Den Amstel Kings will look to Kobe Kingston, Christopher Nelson and Akimbo Henry to lead their charge against Soesdyke with Keley Benson, Alvin Adams and McKenzie Hope carrying their fight.

Uitvlugt will depend on Shomol Smith, Seon Bobb and Malcolm Dainty against Wales who have Kelvin Roberts, Seon Lynch and Kenton Boyce.

Trayon Bobb, Jamaal Harvey and Delon Lanferman

are the key men for West Side Spartans versus Stewartville who will depend on Reginald Nedd, Alvin Pollard and Charles Benn to withstand the charge of the favourites Spartans.

Pouderoyen with Kevin Humphrey, Keyon Kirton and Denzil Boyce will be hoping for an upset of the other favourite team in this stage of the competition, Den Amstel, who will field Leo Lovell, Kevin Dundas and Kester Jacobs in the forefront of their victory push. A riveting afternoon of football is anticipated.

Among the sponsors lending support are: NAMILCO, Cummings Electrical, International Pharmaceutical Agency (IPA), Guyoil, Gafoors, Ready Mix, Sterling Products, New Thriving, TecnoMills, E Networks, Ministry of Legal Affairs, Ministry of National Resources, National Sports Commission and the Guyana Police Force.

Delon Lanferman

Trayon Bobb

Jamaal Harvey

Kester Jacobs

Andre Hector

Leo-Orion Lovell

Friday January 03, 2020

PAGE 41

Kaieteur News

Guyana Defence Force crowned GFF Super 16 Cup 2019/2020 Champs, needle Conquerors - Santos come from behind to nail Police for third

By Franklin Wilson It was perhaps the most classiest end to a national tournament with all the pomp and ceremony and the confetti display as the champions of the 2019/2020 GFF Super 16 Cup, Guyana Defence Force lifted the trophy to usher in the start of a new year and decade on a high.

The Army lads, led by the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, Benjamin Opara who rode away with the Marics Honda 125cc Motor Cycle, scored the lone and winning goal which sealed the win over Fruta Conquerors in a match that produced a ding dong between the two sides, but it was the Army which came out all smiles at the end of combat earning them the first place prize of Two Million dollars, Conquerors collecting, One Million dollars.

On hand to witness a pulsating end to the eight (8) day, 16-team tournament were a number of dignitaries including Director General in the Ministry of the Presidency - Hon Lt. Col. (Ret’) Joseph Harmon, Minister of Social Cohesion, Hon. Dr. George Norton, His Worship Mayor of Bartica Gifford Marshall, GFF President Wayne Forde, GFF Vice Presidents Brigadier (Retired) Bruce Lovell, Rawlston Adams, Ms. Thandi McAllister and Executive Member, Dion Inniss.

Among the sponsors on hand were MACORP’s Managing Director Guillermo Escarraga, NAMILCO’s Managing Director Bert Sukhai, BACIF’s and General Manager of BACIF, Peter Pompey. Norton and Harmon did the ceremonial kick off in

GDF Captain Delwin Fraser receives the 1st place prize of Two Million dollars from GFF Vice President, Thandi McAllister. the presence of Forde and Lovell to signal the start of the championship match.

GDF’s custodian, Enoch Carmichael was named the Best Goalkeeper of the tournament and received the Ian DeVeira sponsored trophy. The first half, whilst exchanges were back and forth, neither team were able to score.

It was until the 59th minute when Benjamin Opara registered what was the most important goal of the tournament and his five (5), Opara was also named playerof-the-match and received a NAMILCO Hamper for his exploits. Conquerors’ Delon Lanferman who also ended the tournament with five goals was kept quiet on the night by the GDF’s backline.

It was a fitting climax to a wonderful tournament and it was witnessed by the largest crowd at a football match for

Fruta Conquerors Captain Vurlon Mills collects the 2nd place trophy and One Million cheque from GFF VP, Thandi McAllister in the presence of his teammates. quite some time which is a good indication that the sports is on its way back.

Best Goalkeeper, Enoch Carmichael receives his trophy from sponsor, Ian DeVeira.

GDF Head Coach, Joseph Wilson and his Technical Staff left the arena a happy bunch while Conquerors’ chief tactician, Sampson Gilbert and team left disheartened but not defeated as the reigning League Champs now have their eyes set on the Concacaf Club championship sometime in March this year.

The third place clash between Santos and the Guyana Police Force saw the continued resurgence of Santos which clawed their way back from being two goals down to beat the Police Force 3-2, a match that had to be decided in extra time.

Led by player-of-thematch, Orin Yarde, Santos exploded at the death to lift his team to a memorable win when it seemed they were down but certainly not out of the third place frame. Police had ran away early leaders when Trayon Bobb sent them flaying in just the 5th minute

with a well placed shot across goalkeeper Alex Murray.

It was by no means an easy walk for either team as the exchanges continued without relent. The second goal came but it was not in Santos’ favour, Police it was which doubled their advantage, this time the goal came from William Europe in the 71st minute.

By now, it was a foregone conclusion in the minds of many that it was all over bar the shouting for the Santos side, but they kept the belief that something still was going to happen for them.

And they were sure right; while their comeback was orchestrated by an opposing player didn’t matter to them.

Police defender, Trevon Lythcott it was who netted an own goal that sparked Santos revival and eventual win.

Lythcott’s 73rd minute goal knocked the wind out of the sails of the Police side,

which for the second match blew their early advantage by allowing the opposition to surge back and win. Santos’ constant barrage in the attacking third finally paid off when Yarde banged in the neutralising goal in the first minute of added on time.

Yarde’s goal sent the match into extra time, an additional half hour to decide the winner.

The extra time took its toll on the Lawmen as their ability to rebound gradually waned whilst Santos’ push for victory continued to gain traction.

In the 114th minute, it was Yarde who would have driven the final nail against Police when he blasted the shot past the outstretched hands of Kavis Fraser to seal up their hold on the $500,000 third place winner prize. The Guyana Police Force for their efforts walked away with a cheque for $250,000.

PAGE 42

Friday January 03, 2020

Kaieteur News

BCB and RHTYSC Cricket teams launches Guyana’s first ever Youth Cricketer Booklet Two of Guyana’s most vibrant and dynamic organisations, the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) and the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC), MS on Sunday last, launched the first ever youth cricketer educational booklet in Guyana.

The 40 pages booklet which was sponsored by the NonAlcoholic Brand of Ansa Mcal and 10 cricket teams of the RHTYSC, MS is one of the main achievements of the pro-active BCB for 2019.

President of the BCB Hilbert Foster stated that the publication of the historic booklet was a redletter day for the board. Foster who co-author the booklet with Public Relations Officer Simon Naidu, stated its main objectives was to educate youths on their role as role model/ambassador of Berbice, facts on Guyana and the numerous social ills that would affect them in life.

Among the topics covered in the booklet are Suicide, Teenage

P r e g n a n c y, HIV/AIDS, Importance of Discipline, Importance of Religion, Importance of Education, Public Speaking, How to handle on the job Interview, Manners in the classroom, respect for the elderly, Personal Hygiene and Appearance, how to behave during a public ceremony, table manners, importance of reading, general store etiquette and the sportsman as an ambassador.

It also includes facts about Guyana, Facts you should know about your country, Facts about Berbice Cricket, the National Pledge, the National Anthem, Do’s and Don’ts on Facebook also included in the booklet are messages from Foster in his capacity as BCB President/ RHTYSC/ CEO and Errol Nelson, Business Unit Head of Ansa Mcal Non-Alcoholic Beverage Division.

The very informative booklet also includes diagram of fielding positions, ways of dismissals in

cricket, umpires’ signals, and photographs of Berbicians who played test cricket among other cricket related articles.

The BCB President stated that every youth player in Berbice would receive a copy as the board strives to make every one of them educated about the game.

The BCB President disclosed that his board was open to assisting clubs from out of Berbice with a copy of the historic booklet, if they request same.

The BCB and RHTYSC would like to express gratitude to Mr. Eroll Nelson of Ansa Mcal for his cooperation in making the project possible. The ten teams of the RHTYSC, MS involved in the project were Poonai Pharmacy U 13, Farfan and Mendes U 15, Bakewell U17 and Second Division, Pepsi U 19 and Intermediate, Metro Female, Namilco Thunderbolt Flour U-21 and First Division.

Paul confident ahead of series against Ireland

By Zaheer Mohamed Guyana and West Indies all-rounder Keemo Paul remained confident ahead of the Colonial Medical Insurance One Day International Series against Ireland which starts on January 7 at Kensington Oval.

The Cricket West Indies selection panel, headed by Roger Harper has named the 14-man squad for the first and second One-Day Internationals; both day/ night encounters starting at 13:30hrs. The second ODI will be played on January 9 also at Kensington Oval.

The series provides the players with an opportunity to build on the performances in India and Paul told Kaieteur Sport that he confident of doing well.

“I feel a lot more confident, I was nervous when I first stepped on to the field. It’s going to be a good series and I want to put in some good performances and help the West Indies take the series,” he added.

Paul said that while his bowling has been good, there is always room for improvement. “I have been working with the coach to improve in this department and I would like to contribute more with the bat as well.”

The all-rounder is confident that the West Indies can take the series “We have a very good young team and we are improving day by day, we have a good leader

and things will happen,” he noted.

Despite the West Indies going down to India 2-1 in the ODI series, Paul who picked up 3-59 in the final game including the prize scalp of Virat Kohli, said there were a number of positives from that series. “Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer and Nicholas Pooran batted very well; they played mature innings in pressure situations. We have a team that is hungry and with a hungry team things will get better. The players are passionate and confident,” he posited.

Paul stated that there was some improvement on his part. “I always wanted to do well and there was some improvement on my part, there are some things I am working on and my desire to dominate international cricket.”

The 2020 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will be held in Australia from October 18 to November 15 and Paul indicated that while the West Indies have what it takes to defend their title, it’s about the players stepping up and make the opportunity counts.

“The guys are hungry and it’s all about doping well,” he pointed out.

The CWI Regional fourday franchise league will commence on January 9 and Guyana Jaguars will be looking for a record sixth consecutive title. They will begin their campaign against the Leeward Islands in

Copies of the BCB/RHTYSC Youth Information booklet.

Colin Mc Ewan Jr. crowned Pull-A-Rama champ Colin Mc Ewan Jr. emerged champion of the Pull-A-Rama dominoes competition which was contested on Sunday night last at Turning Point Sports Club.

Mc Ewan Jr. took home a trophy and $85,000 for his efforts, while John Chance took

the runner up spot and was given $40,000.

Third place Colin Winston received $30,000 and fourth place Rawl Cameron pocketed $20,000.

The competition was organized by Orrin Boston and Friends.

Keemo Paul Antigua and Paul is confident they can go all the way.

“Guyana has a good structure in place and I am confident they can successfully defend their title; I am always willing to play when available.”

Paul took the opportunity to wish all a prosperous 2020, on behalf of himself and family and the V Net family.

The match schedule for the Ireland tour reads; Jan 4: warm-up vs CWI President’s XI – Three Ws Oval, Barbados Tuesday, Jan 7: 1st Colonial Medical Insurance ODI – Kensington Oval, Barbados Thursday, Jan 9: 2nd Colonial Medical Insurance ODI – Kensington Oval Sunday, Jan 12: 3rd Colonial Medical Insurance ODI – Grenada National Stadium, Grenada Wednesday, Jan 15: 1st Sandals Resorts T20I – Grenada National Stadium Saturday, Jan 18: 2nd Sandals Resorts T20I – Warner Park, St Kitts Sunday, Jan 19: 3rd Sandals Resorts T20I – Warner Park

Colin Mc Ewan Jr. (3rd from left) accepts his prizes from Orrin Boston in the presence of (from left) John Chance, Colin Winston, Rawl Cameron and Mark Wiltshire.

Letter to the Sports Editor

Basil Butcher’s Ancestry Dear Editor, New Year greetings to you and your readers.

As Basil F. Butcher’s daughter, I have noted an inaccuracy regarding my father’s ancestry, which was recently publishing in your newspaper.

My father was Guyanese

to the bone, and as much as he would have been very pleased to be connected by blood to the first peoples of Guyana, my dad always told us that his mother (Guyanese) was black and that his father (Bajan) was mixed with black and East Indian - grandmother, on his

father ’s side, was East Indian from Trinidad and Tobago.

Therefore, for the benefit of your readers and for posterity, I will be grateful if you would publish this clarification.

Sincerely, Blossom Butcher-Sumner

Kaieteur News

Friday January 03, 2020

PAGE 43

‘Greatest success was completion of LBI facility’ - CGI’s Sanasie

The Awardees and (sitting Sanasie, Dr. Norton and Dr. Shallow at the GCB Awards function.

A worker makes a point to Sanasie and GCB TDO Colin Stuart at LBI last March.

By Sean Devers A Director on Cricket West Indies and Secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board, Anand Sanasie, says, CGI’s greatest success for 2019 was being able to compete the playing area at the LBI facility on the East Coast Demerara despite the financial and court challenges.

“The GCB realised many years ago that there was a need for a cricket special training venue, hence we built the Chetram Singh Centre of excellence, it took us five years to negotiate a lease on the entire LBI facility, in less than a year we have completed the playing

surface,” Sanasie explained.

It is understood that Guysuco has given CGI a 99year lease and Sanasie and GCB’s TDO Colin Stuart had explained plans for the venue in a visit by Kaieteur Sports during first quarter of this year.

They had said that while construction was ongoing on beyond the boundary the focus was completing the playing area and laying the pitches.

The installation of Lights was also among the plans to transform the venue, which hosted Senior Inter-County matches, into a state of the art facility which when completed would rented out for various Sporting and

Work in process in March last year on lifting of the ground to avoid flooding.

Cultural events to generate funding to help sustain the venue.

“Our intention is to centralize all training operations there with world class facilities. In three years we should be in a position to challenge any similar facility for regional fixtures and I can say that the LBI facility will do wonders for our development programme,” said Sanasie about the project which is his brain child.

Sanasie, who has as GCB Secretary since 2012, feels the local franchises system is growing year by year.

“It is a product in the making and its benefits can already be seen as we are able to unearth young talent every year to feed a robust cricket academy and regional talent pool. It offers opportunities to players and officials not available in the Inter County system,” said CGI Director.

The GCB Academy was set up a few years and the players are paid a month salary to train.

“The Academy setup has proven to be brilliant as our under 19 and fringe players to the regional squad can train together with their Senior counterparts and be prepared at a moment’s notice to represent Guyana,” said Sanasie.

The Guyana Jaguars under the leadership of the Region’s most successful

Captain, Leon Johnson, has won five First-Class titles in a row but only Keemo Paul and Shimron Hetymer were selected for the West Indies Test team during 2019.

Wicket-Keeper Anthony Bramble scored 580 runs including two centuries and had the most dismissals in the tournament but was not even picked for the ‘A’ team.

“It is my opinion that our players should put in consistent performances at CWI regional tournaments and ‘A’ teams and the result should be selection at the higher level.

Ye s ! t h e r e i s t h e perception that our players are not being given the opportunities but I would say to them keep beating on the door and speak with your onfield performance,” Sanasie stated.

The GCB Executive disclosed that he was satisfied with the development of the Regional players.

“Developing the Regional players has been our focus over the past five years, at all levels, and no other Territorial Board has been as successful as Guyana, despite the optic of who are actually selected to represent West Indies,”

noted Sanasie.

Sanasie informed that the biggest challenge to cricket in Guyana currently and for the past five years has been the numerous court matters filed against the Board by those that have little understanding of the GCB/CGI operations.

“In some cases, by individuals who are simply looking for a job without any consideration for the next generation of cricketers. The GCB has so far prevailed in ensuring the youths of Guyana have every o p p o r t u n i t y, ” S a n a s i e claimed.

With regards to Female Cricket, Sanasie disclosed that the Board has already started a robust female cricket development programme by having an Under-17 franchise tournament to feed the National Inter County tournament.

“Already we have seen a reasonable amount of interest and talent has emerged from that tournament.

Guyana is slated to host the senior regional women’s tournament for the next three years. So we are hoping to dovetail some more developmental initiatives to go along with a full franchise

tournament,” Sanasie said.

There is no functioning Demerara Board, but judging from talks in the Cricketing fraternity it is likely that the Essequibo Board will support the incumbent Board, while the BCB is looking for a change in the Administration.

When asked about the GBC Elections, Sanasie noted that notice for GCB election was published in Kaieteur News stating that the Elections are set for January 26, 2020.

“In the new year the GCB intends to foster relationships with its members while ensuring that the rules and regulations are followed, we are hoping to settle many of the perceived issues and put the cricket first, at least from our side,” concluded Sanasie, arguably the most influential person in Guyana’s cricket.

The Board ended the year with the first of two practice matches in preparation for their title defence which starts in Antigua on January 9.

The GCB also hosted t h e i r a n n u a l Aw a r d s Ceremony at which CWI Vice-President Dr. Shallow provided the feature address and was very impressed by the Franchise League.

The Players pavilion has been refurbished and will be named the Lance-Gibbs Pavilion.

GFF President Wayne Forde presents the BACIF manufactured winner’s trophy to GDF Captain Delwin Fraser in the presence of his teammates.

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Guyana Defence Force crowned GFF Super 16 Cup 2019/2020 Champs, needle Conquerors Santos come from behind to nail Police for third

GDF’s Benjamin Opara, GFF Super 16 Cup 2019/2020 MVP receives the keys to the Marics Honda 125cc Motor Cycle from GFF President, Wayne Forde.

Fans on hand at the GFC Ground to witness the GFF Super 16 Cup final and third place.

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