PAGE 4
Kaieteur News
Saturday January 05, 2019
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
From no confidence reality to enhanced political cooperation practicality From the slippery edge to the wide-open road; from the possibly perilous to the powerfully promising. Out of seemingly nowhere, these three not-so-little words: enhanced political cooperation emerged to make their grand appearance on the Guyanese political stage. Except that it has been anything but grand so far. The no-confidence decibel and pitch has been feverish and thunderous: 90 days; no parliament; elections now or nothing doing. So far, so good. And THEN WHAT? Razorthin margins favouring one (only one) of the major parties? The usual strident claims of fraud? Sharp, protracted controversies over SoPs (or the new equivalents)? A country on edge and seething? And when all the counting and declaring and celebrating are over, then WHERE TO? It is astonishing that high-octane intellects, seasoned politicians, and savvy observers still insist on hewing to the old lines, at this juncture, about constitution, elections, and courts. Guyanese are thinking too parochially; too antiquatedly; too narrowly. Political sweepstakes are higher with squalling and brawling about who will control the oil trust. Meanwhile, the trust threatens to slip its moorings. Again, local arguments reek of the traditional and the shortsighted. For in every national election in the past, the process and immediate aftermath have resulted in a simmering, antagonistic street raw with expectations, roiling with passions. To what end? It has been about the two major political parties (races really) casting about for a verdict that perpetuates the winner-takes-all or all culture. It is this even more unworkable reality where expert commentators and canny political operators drive Guyana towards. Again. Where, as always, Guyanese political, racial, and social expectations have been camouflaged and dissipated. That may have worked in the acrimonious, dispiriting yesterdays now lost for the foreseeable future. Not anymore.Today there is oil, lots of it. Today there is a multi-billion US dollar industry (and way of life) unfolding. Today the Venezuelans intensify their interest and claim. Today cannot be yesterday. The world of Guyana, that Guyanese have always known is gone. Obviously, this has not registered at the racial levels; hence, there is all this inane chatter surrounding the no-confidence fallout. Ignored is the fact that no multinational of any renown invests that kind of coin in a POLITICALLY UNSTABLE environment; or will acquiesce to the continuation of such instability. Local elections continue that kind of instability, and jeopardize carefully laid plans and objectives of corporate outsiders and vital US interests. Little Guyana, with its never-ending political squabbling, will be leaned upon, cajoled, influenced, and muscled to get to another place. That means enhanced political cooperation. A door is slightly ajar, through which this country must be prepared to walk politically; willingly or otherwise. Whether 90 days or nine months, this country’s parties and powers are compelled to be ready as in right now. Immediately. This foreign-influenced (as it has always been) alternative means that the business-as-usual electoral process, and now routine ensuing political and social instability must be made to cease; or at least be minimized. The other alternative is (in the highly unlikely event) that Exxon weighs anchor and retreats, so too will the goodwill and protective shield of the US government. Translation: Guyana is on its own with no one of substance, and nothing resembling a credible deterrent in its arsenal or corner. The Venezuelans are sure to be in a position to capitalize. Who and what would be there to stop them? The oil is no longer of myth and imagination. It is proven. It is Guyana’s for the taking, but only if the right cards are played in the right way at the right times. If this country is going to get anywhere, it has to be through the auspices of enhanced political cooperation (together); or else it is the usual political dysfunction (and nothing).
The Charrandass debacle – only time will tell DEAR EDITOR, The debate to decide Charrandass Persaud as hero or villain will depend upon events that are yet to unfold in the immediate future. It has shifted to the consequences of his vote, that is, the fall of the first genuine transitional government, and the failure of the government to use the democratic opening to move Guyana forward. The Charrandass vote may have stemmed from the best of intentions, or the worst of human impulse, but neither factor is important in the bigger picture. We can hypothetically select two other persons whom we can identify as being of the best and worst characters and assign to them the vote to bring down the government. This may help to clarify the matter, and possibly reveal that the individual is accidental or incidental to the matter at hand. What is fundamental is how to move forward the democratic process in Guyana. Guyana has suffered two long periods of unbroken oneparty rule, that of the PNC’s twenty-eight years from 19641992, and the PPP’s rule from 1992-2015. Despite shortened terms of the PPP on two occasions, there was continuity
in office. The coming to power of the APNU+AFC party as an organic entity, not as a coalition, was the first break in the continuity of long periods of governance by a single party. At this stage, it is uncertain whether the pattern of long periods is about to be broken or maintained. The APNU+AFC organic party, deemed organic because it was a unified whole that guaranteed access to the presidency, changed the 2015 elections. The 2011 elections had given the PPP the presidency despite not having the parliamentary majority. The APNU+AFC organic party was a dire necessity to avoid a repetition of 2011 in the 2015 elections. But to accomplish this goal, a dramatic step had to be taken, and this became known as “The Cummingsburg Accord.” The Cummingsburg Accord was a remarkable agreement. It came to fruition as the 2015 elections brought forth a new government. The AFC had declared that it would not “tie bundle” with APNU in the run-up to the elections. It made a remarkable turnaround with the Cummingsburg Accord, which guaranteed it forty percent of the government and the Prime Minister’s
Office. Upon coming to power, the PNC/R component of APNU began to make a shift in logic. It first claimed that the PNC/R was the major party and that the AFC had failed to deliver its fair share of the vote. This claim was staked on the Moses Nagamootoo side of the equation. Nagamootoo had been brought into the AFC as an outsider, and he was rewarded with the Prime Ministerial position. This was a compromise within the AFC, which felt that it could make a breach into the PPP/C stranglehold on the Indo-Guyanese community. The PNC/R component felt that the results of the elections did not substantiate the claim that the AFC had attracted any significant number of Indo-Guyanese to vote for it. The Burnhamists within the PNC/R began to assert their influence in the new government. The Granger/military component also sought to counter this with moves to develop a power base of its own. These two factions of the PNC/R began to reduce the power of AFC ministries in order to compensate for the “forty-percent” giveaway to
the AFC. The rest of the APNU components, the WPA, and the single candidate parties of Sydney Allicock, Jaipaul Sharma, and Keith Scott, were all ignored. The APNU+AFC organism had imploded into an assemblage of parts. The WPA, had surrendered its lien on the Prime Ministerial position, as witnessed in the Cummingsburg Accord. At the signing, when WPA’s Tacuma Ogunseye was asked for a response to losing the Prime Ministerial position, he claimed that the WPA had put the national interest above the party’s interest and had not made any claims on anything. This may have reflected the fact that the WPA had very little bargaining power and did not want to be a spoiler by showing any disunity, which in fact, translated into serving the national good. Furthermore, the WPA had not participated on its own name but as part of the APNU coalition in the 2011 elections, and did not have any electoral seats to barter. A significant price had been paid by the WPA in the process leading up to the Cummingsburg Accord. It (Continued on page 6)
Bharrat Jagdeo will be remembered as this country’s greatest political tactician and strategist DEAR EDITOR, All fair and just minded Guyanese knew that the Speaker would uphold the vote for the no confidence motion against the Coalition Government, since it was legally and constitutionally valid. The Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland, has made it clear that there is no ‘strong compelling grounds’ for him to reverse his decision. In other words, he did not accept Attorney General Basil Williams’ argument that 34 votes constituted a majority to uphold a vote of no confidence in the National Assembly. It is an accepted fact that Coalition was ruling with a one-vote majority, but Williams wanted the Speaker to disregard it. The other submissions of dual citizenship and allegations of bribery were not relevant to his decision, a majority of the members voted in favour of the no confidence motion, and that is relevant. The only way forward as far as Guyanese are concerned is for the Government to stop living in denial and give legal effect the Constitutional provisions clearly outlined in Article 106 subsections (6) and (7). The Coa-
lition Government must resign and hold elections within 90 days and this must be so, notwithstanding the court action now being proposed by Basil Williams in a deliberate effort to stall the calling of elections. The Constitutional provisions are clear and there is no legal authority to prolong the stipulated 90 days, unless such extension is agreed on by two-thirds majority of the House. I am sure that Williams will not be able to suggest another version of what constitutes a two-third majority! The 21st December, 2018, will leave its indelible mark in the annals of this country, as the date when the single most powerful statement was ever made in the National Assembly, in the face of the failure of a Government to live up to its campaign promises, but instead became inundated in mismanagement and corruption. This profound message will forever be etched in the psyche of our politicians that indeed the people can continue to speak through its elected representatives, and that is exactly what happened in former MP Charrandass Persaud’s case. Why would a political party expel a mem-
ber because he listens to the voice of his constituency, then recall him and replace him in the National Assembly? Moreover, Charrandass did not ‘defect’ to the PPP; all he did was to vote according to the dictates of his conscience. If the e-mail of the leader of the AFC is placed into context, it will be seen that the statements made by Charrandass intricately support that call made to members by Mr Raphael Trotman. He had wanted to use the 2019 Budget as leverage to get APNU to accede to the demands of the AFC, but since he ‘chickened’ out, it was up to Charrandass to do the honours, which he did. It must be recalled that the AFC’s many attempt to get APNU to revise the Cummingsburg Accord have failed and Granger had stipulated that the Accord would not be renewed until 2020 Elections. In the meantime, APNU continued to replace the AFC members - Dr Ramayya was replaced with Kim Stephens and Charrandass was replaced with Barbara Pilgrim - both APNU members. This again supports Trotman’s e-mail and Charrandass’ statements.
Would anyone have thought just over a month after the Local Government Elections on November 12 that the Coalition Government would have fallen? Even when the no confidence motion was filed by Dr Jagdeo a few days after, no one thought that it would have been successful, but the Leader of the Opposition was very optimistic, given the current state of the economy and the overwhelming win at the LGE. It is now an incontrovertible conclusion that the Leader of the Opposition, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo would be remembered as the greatest political tactician and strategist this country has ever seen, and that is now accepted even by his political opponents. The Coalition tried their best to keep off the presidency by running as far as the Caribbean Court of Justice, but that did not dampen the indomitable spirit of this great statesman, in fact he became stronger. What a legacy to leave behind. The fall of the Coalition is enough proof. Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf RDC Councilor Region 6
Saturday January 05, 2019
PAGE 5
Kaieteur News
Govt.’s propaganda cannot erase sugar workers’ pains and trials DEAR EDITOR, The Government in Action column titled “GuySuCo and Sugar creating a viable future” which appeared in the Guyana Chronicle of December 30, 2018, spent an inordinate amount of time in seeking to convince readers that the Administration’s actions regarding the sugar industry were correct. For the thousands of Guyanese who have been affected by the callous, immoral actions of the Administration, no amount of placating can really erase the pain, trials and tribulations that they have to now face up to. The column begins by invoking the industry’s indebtedness. It seems the Government has employed the trick whereby it seeks to repeat a fallacy, with the hope that it be accepted as reality. Our Union on several occasions has pointed out that using figures at our disposal, the industry’s immediately payable debt is really around $13B, and if sums owing to the GRA are written off – as has been done for other enterprises – debt would decline to just over $7B. The Government points to the opportunity cost of its investment in sugar, lamenting more monies could have been invested in other areas of the State. While the Government seems to decry its support to the industry, it seems not to recall that it was sugar that provided billions to the Treasury by way of levy that supported the nation in perilous times; that billions more were earned by taxes (direct and indirect); that scores of lowlying coastal villages benefit from its drainage and irrigation services; that thousands of Guyanese have a skill through the GuySuCo Training Centre; that the nation’s health care was augmented by the industry’s dispensaries, and that many Guyanese enjoy the industry’s recreational facilities that saw some rising to the highest ranks of international cricket.
We recall Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, speaking at the GAWU Conference on September 04, 2018, sharing that he himself benefitted from sugar’s contribution to his community. Today, what is the opportunity cost of not investing in sugar – thousands of unemployed Guyanese; depressed communities; higher incidences of criminality and other anti-social behaviour; more broken homes and family split-up, among so many other challenges. While not wanting to spend in sugar, the Administration is now forced to spend just for drainage in the closed estate areas - a billion dollars more, apart from monies that will have to be found to address the other difficulties that would arise. The column also says that Guyana received from the European Union (EU) $348.5B to support the local industry. This is yet another falsehood, as the July 05, 2017 Stabroek News reported that the EU delegation in Guyana said “…support to sugar by the EU… was €166.67 million, or GY$34.85 billion”. We wonder whether the multiplying of the sum by 10 times was inadvertent or purposeful. The public is told that GuySuCo had estimated that it would have required $17B per year for an unnamed fouryear period to keep the industry fully operable. This is again, in our view, another attempt to fudge the truth. The Corporation had told GAWU, NAACIE and the GLU at a meeting on September 29, 2016, it required $10B and not $17B as the column, obviously incorrectly, conveys. But, according to the column, the Government could not use 3 per cent of the 2019 Budget to keep thousands of Guyanese gainfully employed. Moreover, through the consumption of workers and their families, as GAWU pointed out previously, some
$100B in economic activity would have been generated. In other words, the Government, through taxes, would have recouped its investment and the economy would have been even more robust. The column then quotes Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder as saying “…[c]apital investment at $12 billion will be required over the next three years…” This statement comes when the Administration has borrowed $30B towards such efforts and has essentially locked it up. We are reminded of the horse that starves as the grass grows. The Administration then praises itself for the consultations which it held with the sugar unions and the political opposition. On this matter, the GAWU wishes to point out that the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) opined that “[i]n a matter of such national importance impacting such large number of workers the process could have been more extensive and more responsive to the concerns of the Applicants [GAWU and NAACIE]”. The Justices opined that “[n]otwithstanding the absence of a statutory obligation the Respondents ought to have given a considered response (whether written or oral) to the GAWU’s proposals explaining why they were not adopted”. It is hardly something that the Government should pat itself on the back for. The column next speaks about the January 2018 engagement between the Government and GAWU and NAACIE. The article quotes President David Granger as saying “[t]he Government and the union should engage until the issue is resolved”.
While the unions, in good faith, committed to working in the interest of the industry and more so the workers, since the inaugural meeting, now nearly a year ago, we have not heard from the Granger Government. Undoubtedly, it allows a little doubt as to the Administration’s ‘concern’ about the now jobless sugar workers. The Administration also takes, perplexingly, kudos for providing monies to offset severance payments to the workers, making it seem that the process was smooth and without difficulty. But as the public well knows, it was anything but that. The Administration, in the first place, did not budget for the severance payments and then, contrary to the law, proceeded to withhold half of
the payments to some workers. This forced our Union to approach the Courts, which agreed the workers were wronged and awarded interests to them. Similarly at Wales, the Government and GuySuCo denied severance pay to some 350 cane cutters in spite of the clarity of the law. It required again the Judiciary to intervene and right the wrong being committed against the beleaguered exworkers. The column also speaks about training opportunities and loans available through Government schemes. On this score, we hasten to ask how many redundant workers have really benefitted? How many with their training have been able to get a job? How many have opened businesses? While indeed there may be a few, the
reality is, however, that a large number of workers remain right there on the breadline, looking for the soft landing the President promised. Today, they remain caught between a rock and a hard place not knowing where next to turn, what new challenges tomorrow will bring, and how they will put food on their tables or send their children to school, among life’s other basic needs. Today, no amount of propaganda can give the Government the positive spin it so desperately wants. Thousands have been indelibly scarred and entire communities have been thrown into disarray. Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU
Majority in Pakistan similar to 34 in Guyana DEAR EDITOR, There are ample cases in Commonwealth countries in support of the argument that a “majority of all elected members” of the National Assembly in Guyana for a vote of confidence is 34, not 33. Article 91 (4) of the Constitution of Pakistan states that “The Prime Minister shall be elected by the vote of the majority of the total membership of the National Assembly”. The National Assembly consists of 342 Members, half
of which is 171 (therefore the majority is calculated as 172). This is calculated on the parliamentary practice that where this is an even-number total, add one to the results to find the threshold for the majority. Article 175 (12) of the Constitution of Pakistan provides for appointment of judges by a majority of the total membership of the Parliamentary Committee which
consists of 8 members. A majority is calculated as 5 members – that is 8 divided by 2 plus 1. In Guyana, a majority of elected members will be calculated as: 65 divided by 2 = 32.5, which is rounded up to the next higher number 33. The majority is 33+1 = 34 Regards, Earl Hamilton
PAGE 6
Kaieteur News
34 votes majority is supported by Kenyan Guideline DEAR EDITOR, Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Barton Scotland has stated that he has received information from other countries that raised doubt as to whether the no confidence motion was carried. The Speaker, an Attorney-at-Law, said that one of the issues raised was whether the motion needed 34 instead of 33 votes by which the motion was declared carried. The support for a majority of elected MPs in a Parliament of odd numbers being one
half (rounded up) plus one came from several countries, including Kenya. The Kenyan Speaker in a Guideline “Requirements for Vote of No Confidence Motion to Pass” said: “It must be clearly understood that it is the majority of all members of the House as distinct from those present and voting. As of today, there are 221 Members including an ex officio Member. One half of that is 110.5. Since there is no half Member, I will round it to the nearest whole number which is 111. A ma-
jority of votes for the purposes of Section 59 (3) of the Constitution is therefore 112” This supports the Guyana position where 65 MPs are the elected Members. A majority is one-half rounded up, plus one. This is 65 divided by 2 equal 32.5 rounded up to 33 + 1 = 34. This is not hard to understand and the Speaker is quite right in doubt as to whether the no confidence motion was passed with 33 votes. Regards, Carla Mendonca
The Speaker’s decision accords fully with the thinking of legal minds DEAR EDITOR, The decision by the Speaker of the National Assembly not to revisit the NoConfidence Motion was widely anticipated and accords fully with the thinking of legal minds, both in Guyana and abroad. The Government, through the Attorney General, has
now moved to the Court to prolong its life beyond that stipulated by the Constitution. This is a retrograde step from the perspective of parliamentary democracy. One can only hope that the Court action initiated by the Government will not result in any undue delay in the holding of elections within the time limit as dic-
tated by the Constitution. This, if allowed to happen, will be an aberration of a fundamental principle of the rule of constitutional law. Our democracy is on trial. Now that the legislative branch of Government has spoken, it is for the Judiciary to have a final say, and the sooner the better. Hydar Ally
Voting against one’s party is nothing new DEAR EDITOR, No gathering took place and not a drink was taken over the Holidays without the name, Charrandass Persaud being mentioned. And so the debate rages on: traitor or truthbearer; conspirator or conscience believer? Whatever conclusions one may arrive at, the salient fact perseveres: The Member of Parliament was disillusioned by the way he was treated as a backbench MP and the method of governance of the APNU/AFC Coalition. The President and Prime Minister along with the Speaker have both accepted the noconfidence motion, and now the nation is witnessing an amassing of legal intellect seeking to rewrite math formulas by stating that 33 is not the majority of 65 and only 34 votes in Parliament can topple the government. Just four years ago, the same APNU/AFC group successfully forced the PPP to dissolve Parliament and call elections with the threat of a no-confidence vote based on the composition of a 33:32 vote margin in favour of the coalition. At the time, no one came up with the idea that 34 votes would be required for the motion to pass. Now that the government has been toppled by the same 33-32 vote composition, it is crying wolf. However, voting against one’s Party in
Parliament is nothing new to politics. On 28 March, 1979 a vote of no confidence against the British Labour government of Prime Minister James Callaghan occurred, with many Labour MP’s voting against their own party. The vote was brought by Opposition leader Margaret Thatcher of the Conservative Party. The Labour Government lost by one vote— 311 to 310 and Prime Minister Callaghan was forced to call a general election which was won by Thatcher’s conservative party. Recently, in July 2017, Republicans Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski voted against their Conservative Party to cancel The Affordable Health Care Act, commonly called Obamacare. The vote count was 50:49 for the cancellation. The last person to vote was Arizona Senator John McCain, and in a most legendary vote, he voted no and Obamacare survived 51:49. No one called Senator McCain a traitor, a backstabber, a sellout or a bribe taker. Many believe that these terms emanate mostly from the Third World countries, including Guyana. The passage of the no-confidence motion on December 21, 2018 could not come at a worse time for the Granger-led administration. The vote not only stunned the nation, but it led to the defeat of the government and the calling for new elections at a time when the government was badly defeated by the PPP in the November 12 local government elections. Leyland Chitlall Roopnaraine
Saturday January 05, 2019
The Charrandass debacle – only... From page 4 had come into serious disagreements with the Rodney family on the timing of the WRCOI. Furthermore, there were serious internal splits within the party. But the bitter price that the WPA paid for its existence had forged unbreakable bonds that held it together. The blood of Walter Rodney was too valuable to lose sight of, and it coursed through the veins of the body politic of Guyana. It was assaulted by the major parties and many others for its alliance with the PNC/R but has remained steadfast in its resole to put Guyana first and foremost. The WRCOI placed the WPA in serious jeopardy in relationship to the APNU coalition. Both the differences with the Rodney family, and the hard-core Rodneyites meant that the WRCOI would have to do its work, regardless of the impact it made in the elections, by revealing the dirty work of the PNC in the assassination of Walter Rodney. The hard-core Rodneyites felt that it would liberate Guyana if the truth was told, claiming that the PNC/R was not the PNC. The moderates in the party felt it would be giving the PPP an unfair advantage, since the timing was dictated to by the PPP to coincide with the forthcoming elections. The hard-core Rodneyites argued that it was a now-or-never moment and had to be seized or be lost forever. The WRCOI set the stage for the APNU+AFC government and the WPA relations. The shutting down of the WRCOI by the new government indicated that the PNC/ R was unified in its opposition to the WPA, and would not countenance any criticism of its founding leader. The findings of the WRCOI have been relegated to the dustbin of history by the APNU+AFC government. The Charandass Persaud vote came in the wake of the results of the local government elections. It was an opportune moment for the PPP to call the vote, since the government seemed unpopular. The electorate’s discontent with the government stemmed from a slowdown in the economy and its inability to remedy some of the pressing problems of the society, such as crime and poverty. After the drubbing in the local government elections, a hard-core Burnhamist took the WPA to task for its criticism of the government, claiming that the WPA should have given the government unconditional support, and worked in the communities to build confidence in the government. She argued that it
was the WPA’s criticism of the government that was responsible for its poor showing. In effect, she was asserting that the WPA had serious political influence. The WPA has shown, at the official level, support for the government. At the unofficial level, members of the WPA have taken the government to task for any policy that they have deemed an attack on the working people. David Hinds has been outspoken, so much so that he has been removed as a columnist for the Chronicle. Hinds started out in the early days of the government claiming that both the PNC/R and the WPA were now on a common course. He went even further when he renounced his previous crusade for power-sharing, arguing that the PPP had done such misdeeds that it would have been immoral to share-power with them. His muted criticism of the government revealed the fragility of the PNC/R and AFC parties, so much so, that his banning from the pages of the Chronicle, which fell under the jurisdiction of AFC’s Nagamootoo, was not objected to by the PNC/R, since it was fully aware that the President so demanded. Tacuma Ogunseye, in the employ of the government, made the point that he would not criticize the government on certain issues, since it would unintentionally lend support to the PPP. He did not shy away from criticizing the government on issues that he felt was a serious breach to WPA’s political interests. Given the current situation, his fears were well justified, and he comes out with some credit for his stated position. Rupert Roopnaraine and Clive Thomas represented the public posture of the WPA. The handling of Roopnaraine by the government has bordered on the obscene. After being appointed as Minister of Education, he was removed and given another portfolio unceremoniously, supposedly based on matters of illhealth. His presence in the Cabinet has been a WPA rubber stamp for government policies, including the shutting down of the WRCOI. Dr. Thomas’ role has been rather more complex, since he has been working with assets recovery and has been subjected to the full assault of the PPP, given its vulnerability in that area. He has been blamed for some of the harsh treatment meted out to sugar workers, but has defended himself as not being the person who was responsible for the policies that he was blamed for. The Charrandass vote came at a critical moment in the life of the government, insofar that the local govern-
ment election indicated that the government had to get its act together. It came at the time when the transitional period was now over, and the government had to define itself and its accomplishment in preparation for the 2020 elections. It also came at a time when the WPA had to define itself in its role in the government. It was time for a cost/benefit analysis and a test of their true value to the APNU+AFC government. The Charrandass vote pre-empted the time frame of this exercise. It is interesting that Charrandass claimed that he wanted to bring down the government almost two years ago, according to a wellknown columnist who endorsed him as a person of integrity. It is a judgment call as to whether the integrity is in question, for knowing two years ago what his intentions were, or the fact he waited two years to ensure that his opinion of two years ago were vindicated by events that later transpired. If Charrandass did not conspire with the PPP beforehand, he gave them delight in the fact that the current government was exposing the PPP with the findings of the various inquiries that revealed the corrupt practices of the PPP/C government. In the current timeframe, it is unlikely that it will become an election issue. It also allowed for an aborted process in which no corrective actions could have been taken by the government had it erred and wanted to make amends. It also represents a loss of confidence in the ability of the other parties to have defended the democratic process in Guyana, belittling their role in bringing down the previous government. The government would have planned its course of action, and to have it aborted not by means of the will of the electorate, but by that of an individual who can only claim that he was acting in place of the electorate, is rather disturbing. By contrast, when the AFC brought down the PPP/C government, it was by the will of a party that had the mandate to do so as a party, not at the individual level. As noted earlier, the timing in the aftermath of the local government elections was also a critical element. On the other hand, the WPA has been given the opportunity to reconfigure itself in order to assert its identity in the current political debacle. Lurking in the background is the battle for oil dollars and the crisis in Venezuela. Yours sincerely, Rohit Kanhai
Saturday January 05, 2019
PAGE 7
Kaieteur News
WPA conveniently critical of APNU- Patterson By Kiana Wilburg The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) has on several occasions, expressed its dissatisfaction with the way it is treated by its coalition partners, particularly the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R). But the Alliance For Change (AFC) is of the view that the WPA is rather convenient with its criticisms. Voicing his opinion to the media on Thursday was AFC Executive Member, David Patterson. The Public Infrastructure Minister said, “…I want to say this, though, when it suits the WPA, they say to us that they are part of the APNU coalition, that they are one of five members... But when it is now (where you have the issue of the No-Confidence Motion), you hear they have no voice…So that is one of the weird things you hear from them…” In response to this criticism, Executive Member of the WPA, Dr. David Hinds, said that he does not feel Patterson’s statement is justifiable. He stressed that the
Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson WPA has not criticized anyone. The Kaieteur News columnist said, “I have criticized. The WPA should not be penalized for my criticisms of the government. The WPA seldom criticizes the APNU coalition. But in my independent capacity, I have been critical of them and I don’t think I have been convenient. “I would think that my criticisms have been consistent. And sometimes I have given the coalition praise where it is due. As for my criticisms of the AFC which I think he is alluding to, I respect the
Minister’s right to defend his party against criticisms and I do not want to get into any quarrel with the AFC.” Dr. Hinds added, “I must say, too, that now is not the time for coalition partners to be quarreling with each other. If the parties are going to contest the next elections as a coalition they should be engaged in building bridges and trying to improve inter-party relations. “I have made my criticisms and those were made as the situation arose but we are now past that. We should be looking towards winning
Govt passes Natural Resources Fund Bill - Public Accountability Oversight Committee to be appointed Government’s Natural Resource Fund Bill 2018 has been passed in the National Assembly with minor amendments. This passage follows the presentation of Government’s ‘Green’ paper titled “Managing Future Petroleum Revenues and Establishment of Fiscal Rule and a Sovereign Wealth Fund” to the National Assembly in August last year. During his presentation, Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, outlined strict measures in the proposed establishment of the “Public Accountability Oversight Committee” to ensure proper spending and management of resources derived from oil and gas. “This committee will ensure funds are managed in accordance with best practices,” Minister Jordan said. Last year, when the Minister introduced the Green Paper to the National Assembly, he had indicated that the document was being
issued by the government to present preliminary proposals to stimulate discussion. It also detailed specific issues and pointed out possible courses of action in terms of policy and legislation. On Thursday, the Minister outlined the importance of the committee, which will have 22 members from different sections of society to avoid mismanagement of the national patrimony. “So important is this committee that representatives will be from communities, women will be represented, members of the bar association, press association, the consumer association, Guyana Extractive industries, private sector and the 10 Regional Democratic Councils,” Minister Jordan stated. However, even as the government focuses on the development of its new natural resource - oil, the minister says measures will also be put in place to protect the non-oil sector. (DPI)
WPA Executive Member, Dr. David Hinds the next elections if we are going to go together as a coalition.” Dr. Hinds sought to remind that the record shows that the WPA has consistently pointed out that there are no forums outside of Cabinet to voice concerns. In several interviews with Kaieteur News, Dr. Hinds had addressed criticisms regarding the WPA’s independence or its conviction as an APNU member. As a collective, he insisted that members disagree strongly with some of the government’s actions. The University Professor had said that although his critiques are done in his own name and not the party’s, most of the time his views on the missteps of the Government are reflective of a majority within the WPA family. Dr. Hinds had said, “When the government changed, the WPA’s leadership decided to deliberately take a cautious approach towards public criticism of the government. We decided to remain quiet so as not to appear to be undermining the government.” The political activist noted that that there are four major considerations that informed WPA’s cautiousness when it comes to publicly critiquing the government. Firstly, the WPA Executive Member said that the Party had taken into consideration that partnership government in Guyana is a new phenomenon that requires each partner to resist against the temptation to impose its
views on the partnership. Secondly, Dr. Hinds said that the Party is committed to making the government work and not to undermining it. In this regard, he said that the Party’s primary concern is not to poison relations with its partners. The political activist said that given WPA’s history of radical critique of government and politics, most within the party structure are sensitive to the criticisms that “we cannot be trusted to hold things together.” The University Professor had said that the WPA feels strongly that as a party they should avoid doing anything to give comfort to the PPP and aid its stated objective of undermining and derailing the government. Dr. Hinds had said, “In a sense, the WPA muted its critical voice in the public sphere in the interest of the collective. In my view we took that
cautiousness too far and have become partly imprisoned by it.” The WPA Executive Member said that it was the party’s hope that it would air its concerns internally, but opportunities to do so were scarce. He said that the organs of the APNU meet infrequently and so far as the WPA knows, the partners of the Coalition do not meet outside of Cabinet. “The WPA has one voice and one vote in Cabinet. In other words, our party has very little or no voice in policy making. I am arguing that we got precious little for erring on the side of cautiousness.” The WPA Executive Member said that there is currently a raging debate inside the WPA family on the party’s silence on government action. He said, too, that there is a majority view that the party is hurting itself by not asserting its independence both inside and outside of government. “Many of our comrades feel very strongly that as a party, we have not done a good job at balancing our independence by upholding our traditional values with our commitment to making the Coalition work.” Dr. Hinds emphasized however that the party’s survival as a credible political influence is premised on striking that balance—the sooner the better.
PAGE 8
Kaieteur News
Saturday January 05, 2019
Govt. files writ against Speaker, Atorney General and CharrandassPersaud No -confidence vote challenge...
An application filed in the High Court by Compton Reid is asking that the No-Confidence motion against the Government to be quashed on the ground that expelled Alliance for Change (AFC) parliamentarian Charrandass Persaud, who sided with the Opposition, has been a Canadian citizen for almost 20 years. The court action was filed yesterday by Senior Counsel Rex McKay, Neil Boston and Attorneys-atLaw Stanley Moore, Robert
Corbin and Bretina Glasford. The Respondents have been listed as Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland; Mr. Charrandass Persaud of Betsy Ground, Canje, Berbice; and 12 Brambo, Markhan Avenue, Ontario L354K9, Canada; and the Attorney General’s Chambers. Among other things, the applicant is asking the court for an order setting aside the order of the Speaker that the No Confidence Motion, Resolution No. 101 was passed by
the National Assembly on December 21, 2018. And further, “An order staying the enforcement of Resolution No. 101 declared by the Clerk of the National Assembly on December 21, 2018.” The applicant is also seeking a conservatory order, preserving the status quo ante that the Government remains in office until the hearing and determination of the matter. The applicant has asked the court to make a declaration that Persaud is not quali-
fied for election as a member of the National Assembly by virtue of his own act and acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience and adherence to a foreign power— that is the Sovereign State of Canada, in contravention with Article 155 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana. Further, the applicant is asking for a declaration that Persaud is the holder of a valid Canadian passport No. AC773625 issued by the Government of Canada on October 25, 2017, which will expire on October 25, 2022 and was a replacement of the previous passport No. JX818124, which was issued to him on January 29, 2013 and expired on January 29, 2018. The vote c a s t b y Persaud is null, void and of no legal effect and by reason the unlawful “yes” vote cast by Persaud, the No Confidence Motion was not passed, is another declaration being asked for by the court. In the grounds of application, the applicant has argued that Persaud was not qualified for elections as a member of Parliament as required by Article 155 (1) (a) of
the Constitution of Guyana which states, “No person shall be qualified for elections as a member of the National Assembly who, (a) is, by virtue of his or her own act, under any acknowledgment of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state.” According to the court documents, Article 156 (1) (c) of the Constitution of Guyana provides as follow, “A member of the National Assembly shall vacate his or her seat therein— if he or she ceases to be a citizen of Guyana.” Contending that Persaud conspired with persons known and unknown to and voted in favour of the No Confidence Motion, the applicant is arguing that there were only 32 valid votes of “Yes” in favour of the No Confidence Motion and 32 against same. “Which did not amount to a majority of all elected members of the National Assembly as provided for in Article 106 (6) of the Constitution of Guyana. In the premises the motion of No Confidence is null, void and of no legal effect to de-
feat the Government on a vote of confidence in accordance with Article 106 (6) of the Constitution.” Article 106 (6) of the Constitution provides that the Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence. However, the applicant further contends that the current total elected members of the National Assembly is sixty-five (65) and that Article 106 (6) of the Constitution of Guyana requires a majority of all the elected members to lawfully defeat the Government of Guyana upon a vote of confidence. “In the premises the declaration that the motion of no confidence was passed in the National Assembly on the 21st December 2018 is null, void and of no legal effect to defeat the Government on a vote of confidence in accordance with Article 106 (6) of the Constitution,” the applicant further argues. The Court has to set a date for hearing to commence.
Classroom doors will reopen bright and early on Monday, January 7, 2019. Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry, visited a number of schools within the capital city, yesterday, to get a glimpse of the readiness of the learning Institutions. In her brief visit, Minister Henry went to the St. Joseph High, Richard Ishmael, Brickdam Secondary and the
North Ruimveldt Multilateral School.The minister explained the importance of her visits which she noted was to inspect the state of the school’s environs before the country’s young minds return for the new academic term.“There will be maintenance work to be done from time to time and schools are no exception. What I am looking at here is preparation
for the opening. It’s not the maintenance schedule for 2019,” Minister Henry said. She further explained that the maintenance schedule for 2019 is very long with provisions to execute several works drafted out by the Ministry of Education. The minister will continue her visits to several other schools around the city over the weekend. (DPI)
Schools “spic and span”, ready for new term
Saturday January 05, 2019
PAGE 9
Kaieteur News
WHEN ONE EQUALS TWO Guyanese have a way of making fun of situations. One of the jokes making the rounds around town is that the West Indies Cricket team which lost the One Day 50Overs cricket series against Bangladesh by two games to one should call for a review of the decision to award
Bangladesh the series. It is being contended that there is a new formula for calculating a majority, and under this new formula Bangladesh did not win an absolute majority of the matches played. As such the organizers of the 50Overs One Day Tournament
are being asked to reverse or review their decision. Those asking for the review are arguing that since three matches were played, half of that 3 is 1.5. But since you cannot have a half of a match, it means the 1.5 has to be rounded to 2. Therefore, in order for
Expose PPP corruption before you leave office- Jagdeo Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo is not the least bit afraid of what the release of more forensic reports can do to the image of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) during the upcoming campaign for General and Regional Elections. He said as much at a recent press conference held at his Church Street Office. Jagdeo exuded confidence that the government does not have any real dirt on the PPP. He said, “We have been calling on them to release all of the reports. They can release them. They could have released them yesterday; they can release them today or they can release them tomorrow.” “It doesn’t bother me,” Jagdeo continued. He said that it is well known that many of the reports were done by people who were on the APNU+AFC list of candidates for the last General and Regional Elections. Jagdeo said, “But even so, with all the reports they could not find the large scale cor-
Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo ruption that they talk about. Look at what they charge people for. So I would find it a miraculous thing that they had this big scandal and everyday they were just sitting on it, waiting for 2020 (when elections were originally slated to be held,) it stretches the imagination.” Jagdeo said that
Guyanese are not fools and would see through any more to release the reports now. He said, “Whether they are APNU, AFC or PPP, our people are smart, they see a dying desperate greedy cabal out there and so I do not have any worry about these reports, no doubt they will get more repressive.”
DEM BOYS SEH
Moses want tell de Man Above he mustn’t mek death suh easy When de new govt tek office Soulja Bai tell Moses that he must be responsible fuh constitution reform. Yesterday Moses give dem boys de biggest laugh. De constitution seh all it want is a majority of people in de parliament to dash out a govt. Moses now seh that de constitution should not mek it suh easy fuh anybody to dash out a govt. That sound like a Nancy story. Dem boys seh he had three years fuh mek all de changes and recommendations. But he sit down; fold he foot till he get de kick in he behind. Now ee eye open and he see de constitution want changing. Everybody remember is de same Moses who was using de same constitution fuh dash out Donald. It was good then fuh he and he party but now it
suddenly tun bad. Dem boys seh is a new trend wheh people shutting down Govt and is Donald who start it, not Donald Dumb. Is Donald trump set de trend. Now everybody following.De constitution is de law of de land. Things that wukking good, Moses now want to change. Dem boys wouldn’t be surprised if he wake up tomorrow and seh de Man above shouldn’t mek it so easy fuh people dead. Dem boys seh wha he should focus on in de constitution is how to mek it harder fuh government people to thief and walk free. Today, he got Jagdeo,
that scamp, who did de gods, when he was in office, challenging de president fuh expose all de corruption he and he govt do. And he telling dem to expose it before dem lef office. This is like a man who thief, got de loot in ee pocket, and go in front de police station and challenge dem to lock him up and charge him. When a man like Jagdeo can do that and nutten happen, it means de people who got to tek de action is doing de same or worse. Or it could be Jagdeo got secret fuh dem. Talk half and see if dem gun tek up Jagdeo challenge.
Bangladesh to have won the majority of the matches, they needed half plus one which is 2+1= 3. It is therefore being claimed that for Bangladesh to have been awarded the series, they needed to win all three matches. The formula has been subject to criticism. Those against it contend that all Bangladesh needed to do was to win one more than the West Indies to win the series. But supporters of the new formula have argued that this is not so since, according to them one is equal to two and therefore Bangladesh really needed
to win the series by two matches and not by a single match. Those calling for a review of a reversal of this decision to award Bangladesh the series have even gone to the trouble of proving that one is equal to two. Here is the proof as provided: If A=B, Then A2 – AB = A2 – B2. However, A2 – B2 = (A+B)(A-B). Therefore: A2 – AB = (A+B)(A-B) Factorizing the left hand side of the equation we obtain: Therefore: A (A-B) = (A+B)(A-B). Dividing both sides by
(A-B) gives A=A+B However since A is equal to B, it means that A=A+A or A= 2A. Dividing both sides by A gives 1 = 2 Therefore, one is equal to two. And if one more is needed for a majority, then, in fact, two more are really needed. As such, Bangladesh really needed to win the series by two matches to be declared the winners.
PAGE 10
Saturday January 05, 2019
Kaieteur News
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
Exactly 50 years ago, the government was illegal; it is now. In 1968, Guyana witnessed the rigging of the first general election after Independence. This is an event widely documented. This is an event for which historical evidence is abundant. This is an event of which no credible academic would damage his/ her scholarship to deny. Racially shaped persons, party partisans, and beneficiaries of the government since 1968 will deny that 1968 drama and subsequent rigged elections. For example, a wellknown Africanist in Guyana in reply to my politics and that of David Hinds, traced the evolution of rigged elections by the PPP and when he
reached to the PNC used the words, “stock propaganda” to the descriptions of rigged elections under the PNC government since 1968. Should the analyst really bother with such nonsense? Exactly fifty years ago in 1968 the government was illegal. It was not lawfully elected. Fast forward the tape to 2018 and we have a government that according to law and the constitution should be merely a caretaker government but has refused to accept that. The Speaker has ruled that the no confidence motion was passed effectively and properly. He had disal-
lowed the alternative submissions of the ruling APNU+AFC leadership. Who is the Speaker? First, he is a scholar. Secondly, there is no political baggage that one can find to accuse him of having a dubious political past. Thirdly, he was the selectee of the APNU+AFC after the 2015 election. Fourthly, he has no record of favouring the PPP side in the House. Fifthly, the PPP has said the most unflattering things about him that has no parallel in Guyana’s parliamentary history. Cheddi Jagan as Opposition Leader had volcanic exchanges with Speaker Sase Narine but the present crop of MPs from the PPP has virtually insulted the Speaker time after time. The lowest level of philistinism in the history of the House occurred when the Speaker asked Juan Edghill to leave the chambers. He refused and when security was called in, PPP philistines assaulted security personnel and keep shouting; “rape, rape, rape!” This was the treatment Dr. Scot-
land received from the opposition side of the Assembly. Fifthly, so terrible was the abuse that the Speaker made a dubious ruling that MPs cannot criticize the Speaker in letters to the newspapers. Dr. Scotland had no reason pragmatically to rule in favour of the Opposition last Thursday. Morally and legally he had an obligation to his country. He carried it out in a manner that puts him in the history books. We keep talking about the bravery of Charrandass (let me say here unambiguously; I support the yes vote of Charrandass and I think he was courageous) but we keep forgetting the phenomenal display of principles by Dr. Scotland. He rejected the improper and obnoxious request, advised by Raphael Trotman which was put by Volda Lawrence that the no-confidence motion be intercepted by a time out process. Had he granted that, then Charrandass may have been threatened viciously. So here we are fifty years
after the first illegal government in 1968 with the same reality. The Speaker has ruled. The APNU+AFC government needs to scale down and accept that a no confidence motion has been passed. The constitution is the most priceless document in any county. To have a government disregard it is to put the gear in semi-fascist overdrive. We cannot shape fate after fate has spoken. We cannot bring back the dead. We cannot bring back Desmond Hoyte. We cannot bring back Walter Rodney. We cannot bring back Bookers Ltd. We cannot give back Donald Ramotar the year his presidency was cut short by. We cannot bring back the days of banned wheaten four. We cannot bring back the days when only men had the vote. We cannot bring back the days when the banks only had nice Portuguese female tellers. We cannot bring back the days of Metropole, Astor and Globe in Guyana. In exactly the same context we cannot bring back the APNU+AFC in government.
Frederick Kissoon It fell to a no-confidence vote. Fate has spoken. The country must move on. Who says the PNC (I don’t mean APNU+AFC but the PNC) will not win the presidency in 2019? My take is that either the PPP or PNC will win the plurality and will need parliamentary exigency from smaller parties in parliament. But from what I have heard from diplomatic circles, a situation exists where after the 2019 poll, the likely results will force the PPP and PNC to work together. Stop cussing down Charrandass. He may have set into motion the dialectics for final racial and political accommodation between the great yet infamous PPP and PNC.
Saturday January 05, 2019
Kaieteur News
PAGE 11
PAGE 12
Kaieteur News
Saturday January 05, 2019
Ex-minister, Irfaan Ali, asks High Court to quash fraud charges
F
ormer Housing Min ister, Irfaan Ali, has moved to the High Court to quash several fraud charges he is facing for the controversial Pradoville Two scheme. The Fixed Date Application will be heard on February 5, 2019 before Justice Franklin Holder. The move would come as the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) gets ready to choose its presidential candidate. Ali was supposed to appear in the city’s magistrate court again as the matter of those fraud charges continue. Elections are expected later this year, following the shock December 21, 2018 “Yes”vote by Government parliamentarian, Charrandass Persaud, which saw the Government fall. Government has gone to court to challenge the vote on a number of grounds. Ali is said to be one of the presidential candidate con-
tenders with the PPP, a party that had been in continuous power since 1992 but was booted in May 2015 by voters. As Housing Minister, Ali allegedly played a key role in selling several plots of lands at Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara to his colleague ministers and other top officials, shortly before Bharrat Jagdeo ended his second term. Jagdeo himself benefitted from lands, on which he built a large mansion. Ali was arrested and slapped with 19 charges in late November by the police’s Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU). In court papers yesterday, Ali who was released on his own recognizance, named SOCU’s Detective Corporal, Munilall Persaud; the Commissioner of Police; Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack as the respondents.
He is asking the High Court for an order of Certiorari quashing the decision of the DPP to charge him with the offence of conspiracy to defraud contrary to common law on the basis that it was irrational, biased, and influenced by improper considerations and motives. He also wanted an order of Certiorari quashing the information of oath, of Munilall Persaud, Corporal of Police of the Special Organised Crime Unit, on the 19 charges. Among other things, the former minister is asking for an order of Prohibition restraining the Chief Magistrate or any other magistrate from hearing or attempting to hear the charges as filed by the Corporal; an interim order pending the hearing and determination of the application and restraining the Chief Magistrate or others to hear the matters. Ali also wanted a declaration that the particulars of the charges do not constitute an
Govt. will not resign “The country cannot be left without any government at all.” This was the assertion made by Second Vice President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, as he delivered remarks during a televised interview shared by the state owned Department of Public Security last evening. Ramjattan asserted that the possibility of the president or the government, for that matter, resigning is nonexistent. Ramjattan’s remarks come in wake of the recent no confidence motion which has caused many questions to be raised about the legality of the government. But Ramjattan sought to put all concerns to rest when he insisted that “a governance vacuum is never permitted” even in the face of a no confidence motion. According to the Public Security Minister, who also holds the portfolio of Chairman of the Alliance for Change [AFC] Party which together with A Partnership for National Unity [APNU] makes up the government, the passage of the no confidence motion does not mean government is without power. He insisted, “Government retains its full panoply of legal powers whether that be statutory, prerogative or common law and is with jurisdiction to exercise its legal authority.” Ramjattan preceded his disclosure by referencing the decision of Speaker of the
– Minister Ramjattan says
offence known to law and one that there is no statutory or common law duty to obtain a valuation prior to the sale of the property. Ali wants the court also to issue a declaration that the charges are vague and constitute an abuse of process. The former minister is accused of defrauding Government of over $174 M, by selling several plots of State lands, below the market value, to former ministers of the then PPP/C government. Representing Ali are attorneys Devindra Kissoon, Anil Nandlall, Priya Manickchand, Jaya Manickchand and Sase Gunraj. The charges against Ali stated that between the period 2011 and 2015, he conspired with persons unknown to defraud the Government, when he acted recklessly by selling19 plots of State Lands at Plantation Sparendaam and Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara. The lands which were sold for a mere $39.8M, are valued at $212.4M, according to SOCU. Ali is accused of ‘greatly underselling’ the 19 plots of State Lands to former President Bharrat Jagdeo, former Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon; Luncheon’s wife, Floreen Ramnaught; and former ministers Priya Manickchand, Dr. Jennifer Westford, Robert Persaud and Clement Rohee, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack; former army chief-of-staff Gary Best, and Fortune Developers Inc. Guyana. Ali is also accused of selling lands to former General
Ex-Minister Irfaan Ali Manager of the Guyana Gold Board and daughter of former President Donald Ramotar, Lisaveta Ramotar; former President of the Private Sector Commission, Ramesh Dookhoo and the son of former Labour Minister Dr. Nanda Gopaul, D r. Ghansham Singh; former Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Chief Executive Officer, Rajendra Singh; and former president of the Caribbean Development Bank, Dr. Compton Bourne. He is also accused of selling lands to Former Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission Safraaz Khan; former CEO of Guyana Water Inc, Shaik Baksh; along with George Halla and Dave Narine. Charges against Ali were recommended by SOCU after a forensic audit report was conducted and revealed that Ali acted illegally with the manner in which he distributed several large and expensive plots of land. It was reported that after five months of investigation,
SOCU completed its investigation into the allocation of lands at ‘Pradoville Two’ to Cabinet members of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic Administration and their close associates. The investigation into the lands came after a special investigation of the Sparendaam Housing Project referred to as ‘Pradoville 2’ was completed. The investigation was part of a larger probe of the financial operations of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), which was conducted by accounting firm Ram & McRae. The investigation revealed that the allocation of the lands was a clandestine arrangement that was handled personally by former housing minister Ali, and it was concluded that a criminal case for misfeasance can be made against the PPP/C Cabinet members who benefitted. The forensic audit, found that awardees grossly underpaid for the lots, while the (Conitnued on page 20)
Bush Lot brothers were shot Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan House, Barton Scotland, on Thursday to not review the no confidence motion as was requested by government. The Speaker instead ruled that the court should decide on the way forward. But according to Ramjattan, “I think that in the Speaker’s view, his uncertainty as to the number of members which constitute a vote of the majority of all elected members of the National Assembly namely whether it is 34 or 33, has caused his moving towards a judicial interpretation.” Ramjattan went on to add, during his televised deliberations, “Now there are some benefits about that...Such a judicial interpretation will bring finality to the matter for
all and sundry. What is clear is that in the mean time from what the Speaker ruled, Article 106 (7) must apply because there has not been a resignation of the president nor the government, and neither will there be a resignation of the president nor the government.” He continued by pointing out that “It is pellucid that the government of the day must remain in office for three months or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution, supported by not less than two thirds of the votes, of all of the elected members of the National Assembly and shall resign only after the new president takes the oath on the following elections.”
T
he two brothers Premcharan “Tully” Samaroo and Haricharran “Davo” Samaroo who were killed when bandits invaded their mother’s home at Lot 446 Bush Lot Village on Old Year’s Day were shot dead. That’s the findings of the Post Mortem Examinations conducted by Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh on the bodies. The men and an overseas based relative Munilall Robert Kumar, 71 were drinking at their mother’s, Irene, residence at Lot 446 Bush Lot Village on Old Year’s Day. They were all planning to usher in the New Year together. The post mortem was performed on Thursday at the Anthony Funeral Parlour, Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice. Nine pellets were removed
from the body of Premcharan Samaroo, 45, a labourer of Lot 446, Bush Lot Corentyne. The cause of death was given as “multiple shotgun injuries”. One bullet was recovered from Haricharran Samaroo, 46, a farmer of Bush Lot farm Corentyne, Berbice. The cause of his death was given as gunshot injuries to chest. The pellets and bullet were handed over to the police for further examination. The family was attacked by three armed and masked bandits carrying guns and cutlasses. They were described as young men. Premchand had visible injuries to his face, some of his teeth were missing; he reportedly died on the spot. Harrichand who was also beaten reportedly died at the hospital. The incident reportedly occurred around 20:00 hrs. Kumar, who came in the
country a few days prior to the incident, was sitting under the house with the others described the men as young. The men only demanded cash. The police recovered a number of spent shells at the scene. Over US$400 along with $75,000 in local currency were stolen. A number of persons were arrested as investigations continue. And the post mortem examination conducted on the body of Guyana Defence Force Lieutenant Mark Bagot, 26, of Lot 21 Phillipi, Corentyne, Berbice who was stabbed by a man following an argument, gave the cause of death as Perforation of lungs due to a stab wound. Bagot was stabbed during a heated argument at a liquor shop in Phillipi Village on Sunday around 20:30 hrs.
Saturday January 05, 2019
Kaieteur News
PAGE 15
Constitution should not allow for governments to be easily ousted – Nagamootoo It is absolutely ridiculous for the law to be set out in such a manner that allows the government to be easily ousted by the opposition, according to Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo. In a National Communications Network i n t e r v i e w, y e s t e r d a y, Nagamootoo sought to give further context to his government’s contention with the no-confidence
motion and the validity of Charrandass Persaud’s vote on December 21 last. He referred to the 2015 instance when the combined opposition sought to bring a vote of no-confidence against the then Ramotar-led PPP/C government. A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) had had 26 seats in the National A s s e m b l y, w h i l e t h e Alliance for Change (AFC)
Jet Blue in talks with Civil Aviation – Ferguson
J
etBlue Airways Corporation, styled as JetBlue, is currently in the process of securing the necessary documentation to operate in Guyana. Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson, told members of the media on Thursday last, that the airline, among a few others, had indicated its interest in serving the Guyanese market. She said “… They’re in contact with the Civil Aviation Authority to ensure that the necessary paperwork; documentation that they have to submit [is handed in]. So, that’s where we’re at.” The New York-based airline is the sixth largest airline in America, with a fleet size of 253. It operates in over 100 countries, including Barbados, Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago. JetBlue is lauded as one of the more affordable airlines. Following the announcement that high
quality petroleum reserves were found offshore Guyana, multiple airlines have indicated their interest in the Guyanese market. American Airlines joined the market in November 2018. G u y a n a ’s l e a d i n g airport, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), has been undergoing expansionary works by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), with a loan from the China Export Import Bank. A new terminal building, automated kiosks and other technological developments equip the airport to facilitate more airlines.
had 7 seats, giving them a combined 33 seats, as opposed to the 32 seats of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C). President Ramotar had prorogued and, consequently, dissolved the government to prevent that vote from being brought against his government. Notably, in this instance, Nagamootoo had been instrumental in bringing about this motion, intending to use 33 votes to bring down that government. Nagamootoo also referred to the Motion that was carried on December 21, 2018, with a similar matchup of 33-32 votes. He said that the Speaker considered some doubt over whether 33 votes were enough for the NoConfidence Motion to be carried and that the Speaker needed the court to give him advice on whether to reverse the motion. In actuality, the Speaker said that his consideration of the arguments against the motion were not compelling enough to cause him to reverse the vote, and suggested the court as a suitable avenue to settle the government’s contentions. Nagamootoo said that, if a party controls government
with 33 seats, then the opposition of 32 seats could “buy, induce or encourage someone by one form or the other to vote out the government.” He lamented the cost on the country’s finances to pay for an election so soon: “You just spent $6B to run an election and you have a vote of No-Confidence, and the government has to resign. That is what is being said. So you now have to prepare for another election.” “All Guyana will be doing if you have a one-seat majority 33-32 in the House, is to hold elections every other day, or every 3 months. This is absolutely ridiculous. No nation can tolerate a situation where you have instability, where you have uncertainty.” “You have to have an election every 3 months because these figures keep changing sides?” He stressed that the Constitution must be clear and unambiguous. It “has to tell us how this country should be governed and it cannot create a situation that is absurd and downright stupid.” He talked about how there must be a “simple language constitution,” as was iterated by former
Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo Attorney General, Keith Massiah. “Language must be so clear that even a child can read what it means in the Constitution. You shouldn’t have any room for two interpretations of the same provision of the Constitution. We don’t have the word ‘absolute’ in the Constitution, absolute majority, but we have provision in 168 that says “Save as otherwise provided by this Constitution, all questions proposed for decision in the National Assembly shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the members present and voting.” In this regard, Nagamootoo said that “otherwise” refers to Article 106(6) of the Constitution,
which governs the NoConfidence Motion. He said that some people are arguing that if the constitution [in Article 106(6) meant absolute majority, it should have had ‘absolute’. However, he said “you could have an absolute majority of all those who are present and voting,” and he believes that the language should be clearer. Notably, it is Nagamootoo who is responsible for Constitutional reform, and has been since the APNU+AFC government assumed office. There were provisions in each of the budgets approved by this administration for such reforms to be made. However, such reform is yet to be effected.
Kaieteur News
PAGE 16
Saturday January 05, 2019
Students, teachers urged to be ready for new term - Min. Henry
M
North Ruimveldt Multi-Lateral School
inister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry is urging all students and teachers to be prepared for the reopening of schools and the new term which begins on Monday. In an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Minister Henry expressed that it is important that students be focused and work hard to achieve their goals. She added that this is necessary as they seek to keep climbing the ladder of success in their effort to contribute greatly to t h e c o u n t r y ’s h u m a n resource pool. “The message is consistent, you must ensure you maximize the time in school. The education system stands to provide support to whatever is needed,” Minister Henry said. She further encouraged students to grab all the opportunities available to them as there is now a better pathway in the school system when compared to the
immediate the past. The minister also acknowledged the importance of teachers and urged that they keep up the good work. Government plans to invest a further $52.2Billion in the education sector, in 2019, a 15.6 per cent increase over the 2018 allocation. The sum will address disparities in the education s e c t o r. T h e s e i n c l u d e bridging the gap between coastal and hinterland education delivery; eliminating the shortage of books in the classroom for effective learning; and monitoring sector achievements. In 2019, $5.4Billion is allocated for the construction, rehabilitation, extension and maintenance of educational facilities across the country. The use of smart classrooms will be expanded throughout the country, with Santa Rosa and Paramakatoi Secondary Schools being among the priority schools for 2019.
Minister of Education Nicolette Henry visits one of the schools.
Saturday January 05, 2019
Kaieteur News
PAGE 17
Kaieteur News
PAGE 18
Woman gives spouse a second chance after he circulates sex tape The Chief Magistrate yesterday sent out a stern warning to a man who is accused of circulating a sex tape of his spouse to his whatsApp contacts.“Go and walk the straight and narrow road,” were the words of Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan before dismissing three matters against Hadaar London, who is accused of circulating a sex tape, assault and simple larceny.London, 26, of Christianburg, Wismar, Linden, was arraigned before the Chief Magistrate who read him three charges. It is alleged that on November 18, 2018, at Queenstown, Georgetown, for the purpose of exposure, he circulated obscene cinematographic videos by way of WhatsApp. The second charge stated that between October 1, 2018 and October 31, 2018 at Queenstown, Georgetown, he stole one gold chain valued $180,000, property of Cindy Glasgow. The last charge stated that between the same periods, he unlawfully assaulted Cindy Glasgow. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges after they were read to him by the Magistrate.The woman who was present in Court told the Magistrate that she and the defendant are expecting their
Saturday January 05, 2019
Diamond Secondary arsonist may have vendetta against school officials -cops to grill sacked staffer
Charged Hardaar London first child together, and she forgave him for what he did. A teary Glasgow added, “I don’t think he intentionally send the video to my child father so I forgive him.” The Magistrate who had a look of dismay on her face stated, “Well he did send the video to someone.” Facts presented by Police Prosecutor, Gordon Mansfield, stated that the victim and the defendant are in a relationship, and are expecting their first child together.The court heard that, on the day in question, the two had an argument, and he choked her. He then grabbed her chain from around her neck. Soon after, he sent his spouse’s sex tape to all of his WhatsApp contacts. The matters were
reported and, London was arrested and charged for the offence. After the Prosecutor finished reading the facts, the victim, with tears in her eyes, told the court that she does not wish to proceed w i t h t h e m a t t e r. T h e Magistrate, upon hearing the victim’s request, turned her attention to the defendant who was standing in the prisoner’s dock. “Go and walk the straight and narrow road. Do not go around circulating obscene photos and videos of persons.” She added that under the Cybercrime Bill, which was passed in the National Assembly, persons found guilty of such offences can pay a hefty fine, as well as a jail sentence, if found g u i l t y. H o w e v e r, t h e Magistrate was forced to dismiss the matter on the grounds that no evidence was being offered by the victim.She also placed London on a bond to keep the peace for 12 months, or in default, serve one month of imprisonment.
An overhead shot of the damaged building school compound)
D
etectives are preparing to question a recently-fired employee of the Diamond Secondary School as they seek to nab the arsonist behind the recent fire at the institution.Investigators suspect that the culprit may be someone who has a vendetta against officials at the school. Kaieteur News understands that the individual that police want to question was fired a few weeks ago. It was believed that the former staffer was involved in a recent theft at the school. The cash was removed from a safe for which only a few individuals had access to the keys. The fire, which occurred around 01.00 hrs on Christmas Eve, was set in the school’s administration building.
The headmistress and deputy’s offices, staff room, library and Information Technology laboratory, staff records, documents, tokens such as trophies and certificates were destroyed Investigators from the Guyana Fire Service have reportedly prepared a report which states that the fire appeared to have been set in two areas in the building, which had ample ‘flammable materials’.Police are also questioning the security guards who were on duty when the fire occurred. The guards appeared to have been unaware that the building was on fire until the blaze was almost out of control. According to a source, the guards are instructed to patrol the premises every hour. At least one guard reportedly smelt smoke on
two occasions, but did not notice anything amiss.Fire Chief Marlon Gentle had said that around 01.30 hrs, an onduty security guard informed ranks at the nearby Diamond Fire Station that the school w a s o n f i r e . While not at the time ruling out the possibility of it being an electrical fire, Gentle also said that the fire service had suspicions about how the blaze had occurred. He also spoke about the November 15, 2018 incident in which four teachers from Diamond Secondary School were taken into police custody over the disappearance of $107,000 from the school’s safe. The money was reportedly collected from the 2018 batch of graduating students for their certificates and gowns, and only two persons were in possession of keys to the safe.
Saturday January 05, 2019
PAGE 21
Kaieteur News
GBTI contempt trial….
Prosecution to reply to defence no-case submission
One month after lawyers representing top-ranking officials at the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI), presented no-case submission on behalf of their clients, yesterday Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) Prosecutor, Patrice Henry, replied to the lawyers’ nocase submission. The eight directors are currently before the court, charged with contempt over failing to hand over certain documents to the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU). The case involves Chairman, Robin Stoby S.C; and Directors, Edward A. Beharry, Suresh Beharry, Richard Isava, Carlton James and Basil Mahadeo, along with Chief Executive Officer (ag) Shaleeza Shaw and Kathryn Eytle-McLean. They all denied the charge, which alleged that on September 7, 2017 at Georgetown, they failed to comply with the production order granted by Chief Justice (ag) Roxanne George, for them to produce certain documents to head of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), Sydney James. The order was made on August 29, 2017. Yesterday, when the matter was called in the courtroom of Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, Prosecutor Henry replied to the seven grounds that were outlined by the defendants’ lawyers in their no-case submission. On the last occasion when the matter was called, one of the lawyers representing the defendants, Attorney-atl a w, E d w a r d L u c k h o o , handed over to the court a written submission on behalf of the defendants. In the submission, the lawyers highlighted seven key grounds for their nocase submissions and he argued that it is the defence’s position that any of the grounds by themselves would be sufficient for the court to uphold the submission; that there is no case which the accused ought
Richard Isava and Edward A. Beharry to be called to answer. The lawyer added that Prosecutor Henry was unable to establish that the defendants failed to produce documents in contravention of the production order. The lawyers went on to tell the court that the Prosecution team failed to provide to the court all the documents that they would have received from the defendants. The lawyer argued that if the prosecution did not tender all the documents received, then it would be difficult to determine whether or not there was compliance with the production order. He further went on to tell the court that the evidence led by the prosecution failed to prove that there was reasonable cause for non-compliance of the production order. Luckhoo noted that the production order must be clear and capable of being complied with in its entirety, before adding that the production order before the courts is flawed. The matter was then adjourned to February 4 after the lawyers representing the defendants asked the court for three weeks to reply to the Prosecution submission, if there is a need. According to information, from a probe into US$500M that the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) handled as far back
as 2010, SOCU submitted files to Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), recommending contempt charges against GBTI’s eight directors. This was after the bank and SOCU were locked in a battle over information concerning the GRDB accounts. SOCU is contending that the bank failed or stalled handing over certain banking records concerning GRDB. SOCU, an arm of the Guyana Police Force, also said that the bank gave all kinds of excuses, and even destroyed pertinent records relating to GRDB. SOCU reportedly argued that other banks complied, but it was finding it difficult with GBTI. SOCU received four court orders, including one from the high court, asking that GBTI hand over the information. Late August last year, the acting Chief Justice Roxane George, granted production orders to SOCU, giving the bank a week to hand over certain information. That deadline expired in early September 2017, and the bank was reportedly granted some extra time. However, the deadline elapsed and SOCU prepared files recommending the charges of contempt against the directors. Under tough anti-money laundering laws, once the
E’bo boat captain gets three years’ imprisonment, fined $22.7 million. Dhanraj Singh, who was busted with 42 kilograms of cannabis in January 2018, was yesterday sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. He was also fined $22.6M. Singh, who is a fisherman from Golden Fleece, Essequibo Coast, made his final appearance before Magistrate Esther Sam in the Suddie Magistrate’s court yesterday. The charge read that on January 7, 2018, Singh had in his possession 42 kilograms of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.
On the day in question, the car Singh was driving was stopped and search by police in a Golden Fleece back street. During the search, 42 bags wrapped with plastic and suspected to be cannabis was discovered in the car; which was also occupied by two other males. On January 12, 2018, Singh made his first court appearance and pleaded not guilty in the Suddie Magistrate’s Court. After a year-long defense by his attorney, James Bond, Singh was sentenced yesterday.
from left Suresh Beharry, Carlton James, Shaleeza Shaw, Robin Stoby and Basil Mahadeo court orders are granted, financial institutions are reportedly bound to provide
information. In this case, the money is not from private accounts,
but rather from the US dollar and other accounts of GRDB, a state entity.
PAGE 22
Saturday January 05, 2019
Kaieteur News LEGAL NOTICE
FOR RENT
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisement, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6006887: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Installations, Repairs and parts for AC, Fridge, Washing machine, Stove etc call Nick 627-3206, 630-1600 Eagle’s re-gas AC, Fridge, Washing machine & computer repairs, Gas stove, Plasma flatscreen, Electrical installation & more. Call: 6972969/646-0966 PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property in Regent street between Wellington & Camp street. Tel# 655-3332. Opposite Guyoil Gas Station House and land available at Parfaite, Tuschen, Diamond etc. Contact Pacific Development Inc. 223-6035/ 604-4909 2 Storey Building @ Prime location in Georgetown. Ideal for business & residence. 89 Robb Street, Bourda. #44-208-737-1598/ 225-8427/264-1130 Property for sale (1) 3 story building at 97 Sugarcane street S/Rvldt Gardens. Price US 1.5M neg. Tel: 695-1356 & 687-8445
FOR SALE Used imported glass showcase L72" x H39" x W24" 40,000 each. Tel 625-1514 1 Double Steel Wheel Roller, 1-9 Wheel Pneumatic roller, 2 Bitumen Kettle, 1- 3304 Di CAT engine. Tel#275-0367/ 683-7225 1-CAT 215 Excavator, 1 CAT 428 Backhoe, 1 Mack concrete mixer 8 Cu yds, 1 450 Honda Atv. Call: 275-0367/683-7225
Wholesale: Diesel Generators, Purple onions, Garlic, Bicycles, Lighters, Pain relief medicines, Tiger Balm available @ GT Wholesale #655-4303 1 (250KVA) gen set power by NT55 Cummings. Contact #269-0603/609-2350/644-1190 German Shepherd pups for sale. Contact Devi# 639-2828/ 225-3721 Short base super custom bus without engine & gearbox being sold for parts. #646-8748
FOR SALE/RENT American Pool table. Tel#2770578
One bedroom apartment for rent in Soesdyke. Phone #6047022 1 Bedroom for Rent $25,000. Contact #222-0618/644-2634
CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS FROM $4000 & UP, SUV’S PER DAY- CALL:643-5122/6560087, ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL:225-7126/ 2263 6 9 3 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL @YAHOO.COM/ WWW.D OLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM
VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 Leyland Daf 60, working condition. 658-4655, 618-4457 1 TOYOTA ALLION 2007 (WHITE) $2.5M PRICE NEGOTIABLE. TEL#6222527
EDUCATIONAL
Ultraviolet Driving School is offering a New Years' discount of $10,000 for 6 (1) hour classes. Call#676-8783 N. Outar Driving School, Learn to Drive the right way. Affordable package. Call: 6445166/691-2561
1) Experienced front end loader operator 2) Bulldozer operator. Contact #2235273,223-5274 One female domestic worker to work in Trinidad. Age 2535 yrs. Tel# 1868-386-5302 One (1) male ablebodied clerk. Tel: 231-2029, 616-5954 (1) Motor Grader Operator to work on road project in interior, must have experience. Contact #680-2702/682-8251
Cook wanted, 25-45 years old. Call: 231-8737 from Monday to Saturday Waitress to work in Bar. #6924649 Cooks, Apply @ Shanta’s- 225 Camp St Wanted experienced hire car drivers at Ramada Princess Hotel. Contact #616-5419/2657075 1 experienced cook wanted. Call: 623-8654 One Mechanic to work in the interior must know about Cummins engine. Contact #699-4718
PEN PAL Male seeking one single mature female for friendship or marriage. Ages 25-35. Whatsapp #692-6133
We buy land in Eccles, Herstelling, Farm, Parfaite Harmonie, Uivlugt, Zeelugt, Providence & Dairy Tel# 6117223/651-1969
1 Live-in Nanny/Domestic , must know to cook various foods, Age 38-50 #682-8251
1 Double Bunk, 10 Speed Bicycle, 1 LG Refrigerator, 1 Set chairs. #222-0618/6442634
LEARN TO DRIVE
GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 2257878 (24HRS)
1 bedroom apt for working couple/single person $40,000 monthly. Light and Water included. Lodge. Call: 6230076
Black German Shepherd pups, Riumzeight Gardens WCD. #269-0671/688-1656
FIRST AID/CPR COURSE. ST JOHN AMBULANCE BRIGADE TO COMMENCE LATER IN JANUARY, 2019. TEL# 225-9082
TAXI SERVICE
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620
WANTED
Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665/6493750 skidder operator and service man/welder. Contact #2183399 LEGAL NOTICE
NIGEL NILES and/or TIFFANY DAVID Attorneysat-Law c/o Guyana Water Incorporated Corporate Complex Vlissengen Road LAND FOR SALE and Church Street Bel Air, Farm (East Bank) $3.5M Eccles Georgetown, Guyana Tel: $7M Herstelling $4M & $5M (592) 227-8701 ext:264 Email: Schnoord $3M Dairy $2M & NigelN@gwi.gy $3M Tel#656-0701/648-1635 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF Transported land 11.6 acres. J U D I C A T U R E Lot 15 public road. #2 Village COMMERCIAL DIVISION W.C.B. Price $18M. Contact COURT FILE NO: 28/2018 – FDA 686-4818, 648-7109 BETWEEN: GUYANA TO LET WATER INCORPORATED, a company incorporated in 3 bedroom bottom flat Guyana under the Companies apartment WBD. Call: 689- Act 1991 of the laws of 3699/267-1446 One Nissan Juke, PWW series. Tel#697-8269
Guyana and having its principal place of business at Vlissengen Road & Church Street, Bel Air, Georgetown, Demerara. Applicant –andHECTOR CORNETTE Respondent TO: HECTOR CORNETTE Last Known Address 119 Clark Street, Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast TAKE NOTICE that on the 28th day of September, 2018, a Fixed Date Application was filed against you by the Applicant in the Supreme Court of Judicature, Essequibo Sub-Registry Office in Suddie, Essequibo Coast. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 14th day of December, 2018, the Applicant was directed to effect service of Fixed Date Application on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive issues in the Saturday editions of the Kaieteur News Newspaper, a newspaper of general circulation in Guyana. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorneyat-Law at the Registry of the High Court at Suddie, Essequibo Coast, where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Fixed Date Application together with all related documents. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Fixed Date Application, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Fixed Date Application, you must file a Defence in the Registry of the High Court at Suddie, Essequibo within 28 (twenty eight) days from the date of the final publication of this Notice. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that the Fixed Date Application is fixed for Hearing on the 1st day of March, 2019 at 9:00 am at the High Court in Suddie, Essequibo Coast.
VACANCY For Porters, Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb Street, Bourda. Gasoline and Light Diesel mechanic needed. Contact Brian Ten Pow at #592-6230318 1 Office Assistant. Send application to Pacific Development Inc. Lot 3 Church Street, G/Town or pacific.developmentinc @yahoo.com One General Domestic, must be able to ccok vegetarian food. Apply at Alabama Trading 65 Robb St Bourda One experienced female accounts clerk, Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb Street, Bourda Driver/Salesman, Accounts clerk with CXC Accounts, Gas Plant Trainee. Applicants preferred from East Bank Demerara. Tel#2664427 General Domestic with cooking experience for East Bank. #614-4358 Driver for taxi, driver for route 42 Minibus #664-0802 1 mature secretary, 1 male workshop cleaner, 2 trainees send applications to 1990 Festival City. Tel#218-0663 1) Doosan Mechanic must specialize in Doosan Parts 2) Receptionist to work @ Hotel 3) Land surveyor, must know to use GPS. Contact# 2235273/223-5274 Trainee mechanic needed. Call: 623-0318
Live-in Housekeeper for East Bank, must be able to cook AND FURTHER TAKE indian dishes & have a clean NOTICE IN DEFAULT of you police record. Call: 685-9668 filing your Defence, the Court may proceed in your absence General Cleaner & Bond Clerk, and may take may take any must have police clearance, Order it considers for more info call: 223-0090 appropriate. The Registry of the High Court is located at Chef, Assistant, Cook and the Law Courts (Suddie, night supervisor. Preferably Essequibo) The office is open carnegie trained. Call: 225to the public between 8:00am 7933/ visit 173 Sheriff Street and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to Looking for a job & services? 2:30pm on Fridays except on educational public holidays and on such Contact The Job Centre 43 other dates as the Registry is Croal & Alexander Street or call 600-8457/683-8765 closed. Dated the 17th day of 1 experienced male sales December, 2018 attendant, stocktaking knowledge. 1 General domestic (3 days work) Apply @ Keyfood McDoom with recommendation. Continued on the next page
Saturday January 05, 2019
GTT Makes Customer Service Experience Easy Customer service is about ensuring that customers’ needs are fulfilled by not only offering quality products and services, but also by building dependable relationships. Whether expressing grievances or praise, the voices of the customers should always be heard, their issues should always be addressed expeditiously and there should be continuing efforts to make access to services easier. You, our customers, gave us your feedback, and we have taken action to make doing business with us easier and more straightforward. With just a few clicks, you are able to manage your accounts, make enquiries and apply for services. Three new customerfriendly features include: MyGTT; GTT’s Support Page; Live Chat MyGTT My GTT has two components – the MyGTTmobile app and the MyGTT Web portal. The app can be downloaded from the Google Play Store or iOS App Store on any android and iOS device. And for those of you who may not have a smartphone, but have access to a tablet or computer, the web portal performs the same functions as the app and is simple to navigate using any web browser by typing http://bit.ly/mygttweb. Registering to use these services is very simple. All you need is an email address and go to http://bit.ly/ mygttweb. So why would you not make use of these services? With My GTT you have 24-hour access to their accounts from anywhere and are able to: - View and download current and previous bills.
- Manage multiple accounts in one view. - Pay bills using Visa/ MasterCard. - Set bill reminders. - Purchase c-point and Add-ons (bundles, SMS, data and voice). MyGTT empowers you. No longer do you have to wait untilyour billsare delivered via the postal service to find out what is owed. With 24-hour access,you are able to monitor usage which can result in savings. Being able to do this means that you can stay within their budget and also save time. The embarrassment of disconnection can also be avoided because bills are emailed and the option to set reminders is available; therefore, you are more likely to remember to pay on time. There is also no need to stand in lines to pay bills or to purchase c-point and bundles as all can be done through the web portal or the app. GTT’s Support Page We are living in an age where conservation is essential. Whether it is paper, plastic or metal, the less we generate the better it is for the environment and ultimately the preservation of the Earth. Consequently, the GTT Support Page provides a paperless channel for customers to do business with the company, as is also the case with MyGTT app and web portal. You can apply for Blaze, DSL and Landline services by using the Support Page. By visiting the website www.gtt.co.gy and clicking the support tab, you can start the process. In addition to being able to apply for services online, you can also report issues, discontinue service, change
internet plans, perform speed tests, transfer service and update their account information. And again, this can be done from anywhere at any time and after completing any transaction an email is sent and the status of one’s transaction can be checked at any time with the Live Chat Agents. Live Chat Live Chat is available seven days a week from 8am to 6pm. This system was set up as an alternative to calling or going to the store for queries of any sort. Live Chat does not only make it convenient for you to be in touch with GTT, it also reinforces how valuable you are to us and our commitment to ensuring that your voices are heard. And what is also noteworthy about Live Chat, is that differently abled persons, especially those who might not be able to call, can take advantage of it. And though it is available ten hours a day, after hours you can leave a message and a specialist will respond to your query the next business day. Live Chat is available on desktop, tablets and mobile devices by visiting www.gtt.co.gy. Just click on the blue widget that says Chat with GTT at the bottom of the page. We at GTT urge you our valued customers to utilize the features we have introduced to enhance your experience. We also appreciate your feedback. And we hope that if you are not yet a customer, that these advancements will encourage you to sign on. We are constantly working to improve our services and we value your business and your time.
Carpenter slapped with five charges for New Year’s Day robberies A carpenter found himself arranged in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly to answer five charges of robbery by use of violence. All allegedly took place on New Year’s Day. Colin Hooper appeared in court with a swollen face, torn and bloody clothing. In shackles and handcuff he limped to the prisoners’ box to answer to his charges. It was unknown as to how he got his injuries. He denied all the charges that were read to him by the magistrate. It was alleged that
Hooper on January 1, 2019, at Durban Park, Georgetown robbed Shane Hackett, Isaiah Moore, Ronald Dhanraj, Niko Devonish and Shevon Clarke of items totalling to $491,000 and at the same time immediately or after he used personal violence on the victims. Hooper was represented by attorney at law Clyde Forde who in his application for bail, informed the court that his client is 37 years of age, father of one and hails from East La Penitence squatting area. He added that the defendant is not a flight risk and he is ready to comply with any conditions laid
PAGE 23
Kaieteur News
down by the court. Police prosecutor Sanj Singh had no objections to bail although the age and address of the defendant mentioned in court were different from what was given to the police during investigations. However the prosecutor asked that conditions be attached to the bail. Senior Magistrate Leron Daly then granted bail to Hooper in the sum of $100, 000 for each charge under the condition that he report to the East La Penitence police station. Hooper was instructed to return to court on February 8, 2019.
Man gets two weeks’ imprisonment for breaking peace bond A 54-year- old man who lives on the Essequibo Coast, was yesterday sentenced to two weeks imprisonment after breaking a peace bond with his daughter in law on New Year’s Day. The convicted man, Mohan Ram Rombran, appeared in the Suddie Magistrate’s Court, yesterday, before Magistrate Esther Sam, charged with using abusive language. The allegations were made by the man’s daughter in law, who also
shares the same residence at Lot 24 Middlesex, Essequibo Coast. The court heard that the two were previously placed on a peace bond just last November, after Rombran was accused of physically assaulting his daughter in law. On New Year’s Day, the accused subsequently broke the peace bond when he hurled abusive remarks at his daughter-in-law. Though the accused
pleaded multiple times for a second chance, Magistrate Sam in executing decision explained that the default of the peace bond was two weeks’ imprisonment. HEALTH HERBAL REMEDIES: Diabetes, Hypertension, Infertility, Menstrual disorders, Enlarged prostate, Kidney,Gall stones & Arthritis etc. Call Sparman #676-5924
PAGE 24
Kaieteur News
Saturday January 05, 2019
Saturday January 05, 2019
PAGE 25
Kaieteur News
Auckland International: Venus Williams beaten by teenager Bianca Andreescu
Venus Williams had won two Grand Slam titles by the time Bianca Andreescu was born in June 2000. (Getty Iamges)
BBC Sport - Canadian teenager Bianca Andreescu says she “did the impossible” by beating seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams a day after defeating world number three Caroline Wozniacki. Andreescu, 18, won 11 games in a row on her way to a 6-7 (1-7) 6-1 6-3 win over Williams at the Auckland International. Ranked 152nd, she won three qualifying matches to reach the main draw and then beat Wozniacki on Thursday. Now she will compete in her first WTA semi-final on Saturday.
Saturday January 05, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Don't mess with superiors or people in authority today, Aries, or you might end up in some serious hot water. Take it easy and try not get bogged down by negative emotions. TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) You're going through a time of great preparation right now, Taurus, You're building the foundation for a major life project. This period isn't to be taken lightly. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) There's a sober feeling to the day that may leave you feeling a bit down, Gemini. There may not be any specific instance or situation that causes you to feel this way, so don't sweat it. CANCER (June 21–July 22) People may be extra stubborn today, so try to avoid any confrontations that could lead to full-scale war. Your emotions may feel restricted and restrained, Cancer. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Your freedom-loving nature may seem a bit dampened today, Leo, but don't let it get you down. Things might not be lining up perfectly, but that's no reason to get frustrated. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Today is a great day to get rid of the stuff that's cluttering up your life. Get to the heart of the issue and stop beating around the bush. Your emotions may feel a bit more negative than usual
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Don't sweat the small stuff, Libra. You may feel like something is restricting your otherwise light, witty nature, but don't worry about it. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) There are opportunities open to you now whether you realize it or not. It may be hard to be aware of them today, given the astrological weather. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Your emotions may feel restricted today, Sagittarius. You may feel bad about something you did in the past. Somehow your heart isn't able to let it go. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You're going through a period of major evaluation and assessment of certain life projects. Today's energies bring much of that tension into focus, and put it right in the place where it affects you most - your heart. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Try to stay disciplined and focused today. This may be easier said than done, but it's crucial for preserving your sanity. There's a restrictive, weighty air to the day that may put a damper on your jovial nature. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You're going through a time in which you have the opportunity to make tremendous advances. These rewards won't come without hard work and discipline, however, and this seems to be a focus of the day.
“My goal was only to qualify and maybe get a couple of rounds in but now I’ve beaten a couple of top players,” she said. “I believe that anything is possible and I think I did the impossible [against Williams]. It is such an amazing feeling. Andreescu will play Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei, who beat Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo in their quarter-final, in the last four.
Pybus formally... From page 31 region’s mind and we will be looking to use the England Series and Ireland Triangular to build into that.” Pybus’s last major coaching position was with Bangladesh in 2012 before quitting after just five months. He was subsequently overlooked for a couple other international head coach vacancies. West Indies welcome England for a full series of three Tests, five One-Day Internationals and three Twenty20 International beginning January 23.
Changes made... From page 30 Touch The Cash, Secret Flyer, Gold Again, Rosie, Uprising, Plane Land, Quarter Pharoah, Irish Boy, Touch Down, Mystery Man, Country Boy, Secret Flyer, Byron, The Rock and Jungle Prince. The Champion jockey, trainer and stable will all be rewarded with trophies and other incentives compliments of the Trophy Stall and the organisers. The Nand Persaud Group of Companies is among the premiere horseracing entities in the country and boosts a full package that includes racing track, promotional group, race horses, and stables and feed and other supplies for horses. The coordinator is Mohendra “Mohin” Persaud. Race time is 12:00 hrs. (Samuel Whyte)
Pybus appointment... From page 27 and transparent procedures i.e. the job being advertised, persons interviewed leading to a final candidate being chosen,” Lewis wrote. ”That good faith negotiations take place with Mr. Pothas and a reasonable offer be made to him, e.g. the same [compensation] that is being offered to the outside person rather than the [initial compensation] being offered … “That as initially decided by the Board, Mr. Pothas should be engaged until the
end of September 2019, or until such time as a new head coach is properly recruited.” Pybus has been appointed just weeks before West Indies face England in a full home series which includes three Tests, five One-Day Internationals a n d t h r e e Tw e n t y 2 0 Internationals. The controversial former CWI director of cricket will also oversee the Caribbean side’s ICC World Cup campaign in England, in a stint expected to run until September.
PAGE 26
Ponting slams Kohli boos as ‘disgraceful’
Virat Kohli wore colours fitting of the Pink-day Test. (Getty Images) ESPNcricinfo - Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has slammed the reaction Virat Kohli got from the Sydney crowd as “disgraceful”. Kohli walked out to a mix of cheers and loud boos from the SCG crowd on Thursday. He was subject of “Kohli is a w***er” chants in Melbourne, and was booed in Perth. “If it was booing then it’s absolutely disgraceful,” Ponting said on Seven. “I said that in the Perth Test as well. Show some respect.” Cricket Australia CEO Kevin Roberts wasn’t too happy with it either: “I don’t like seeing that,” he told SEN Radio. “We talk about making Australians proud, we talk about the fact our goal is to win but our non negotiable expectation is to compete with honour and I’d urge our fans to support the game with honour. It’s bigger than all of us, respect our visitors, give them the best possible experience of our country, hopefully beat them on the field, but in all seriousness we need to go about this with respect whether we are a player, administrator, fan, broadcaster. Respect is a really core foundation of the game and hopefully we can see that evident.” Commentator Tim Lane was more scathing of the crowd. “I must say I thought the reception he was given as he came out was poor and it was graceless in that he is the captain of a visiting team,” Lane said on Macquarie Sports Radio. “To welcome a visiting captain like that … is classless. He has not done anything wrong, he has just been too good… “We should be better
Saturday January 05, 2019
Kaieteur News
than that as a nation. I didn’t like it. All Kohli has been guilty of is leading his country in Australia and winning. If the people don’t like it, they should at least recognise it and applaud it.” Kohli has always polarised opinion, in Australia more than any country. On his first tour of the country, Kohli was photographed flipping the bird to someone in the crowd, which led to an ICC sanction. On his last tour of the country, he won over the crowds with four centuries and as co-captain of a side that gracefully made lastminute adjustments to schedules in the wake of Phillip Hughes’ tragic death. Even in this Test,
Kohli was so supportive of the Glenn McGrath foundation that he wore pink gloves; his bat had a pink grip on to go with the pink MRF sticker as well. Kohli, though, has also been mindful of the crowds in Australia. In the lead-up to the Test, he spoke of how much they get behind the home team. “It’s not only the team you are playing against, it’s the whole nation because they get behind the team so well,” he said. “When you walk in to bat, you feel there are 40,000 people who want your wicket, not just the 11 guys on the field. So we understand as cricketers how difficult it is and purely just to take that challenge on, we want to win here.”
Do not leave athletes in limbo: U.S. doping chief (Reuters) - The head of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) challenged the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on Thursday to not leave athletes in limbo and make a quick ruling on Russia’s failure to allow access to a data in a tainted Moscow laboratory. A WADA Compliance Review Committee (CRC) will meet at the agency’s Montreal headquarters on Jan. 14-15 where they will hear from the five-member inspection team that were not allowed to retrieve data from the laboratory. The CRC will submit a report to the WADA executive committee and could recommend that the Russian AntiDoping Agency (RUSADA) once again be ruled non-compliant and face new sanctions. “Let’s see if a decision on January 14th happens but let’s not forget that’s it’s just a recommendation that has to go to the WADA executive committee,” USADA chief Travis Tygart told Reuters. “Are they going call an emergency executive committee meeting on the 15th which is what they should do. “Being in limbo as a clean athlete is what is extremely frustrating about this process.” Russian authorities had indicated they were prepared to grant the inspection team access to the lab before a Dec. 31 deadline but then claimed the equipment being used to extract the data was not certi-
Travis Tygart, chief executive officer of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, speaks during Anti-Doping Intelligence and Investigation Seminar in Singapore February 11, 2015. (REUTERS/Edgar Su) fied under Russian law. The WADA executive committee voted in September to reinstate RUSADA, which had been suspended since November 2015 over alleged state-backed doping. That reinstatement, however, was conditional on Russia allowing access to the data in the Moscow lab. Already under attack from athletes groups and anti-doping organizations (NADOs) over RUSADA’s reinstatement WADA is now facing renewed pressure to act swiftly and find Russia noncompliant. WADA has no scheduled executive committee meetings until May but is expected to
either call an emergency meeting or a teleconference and rule on Russian compliance perhaps as early as Jan. 15 or in the following days. “When are we going to wake up, stop getting played by the Russians who perpetrated this scheme and put an end to it and at least give athletes a clear message that we have their back and their decision to compete clean is absolutely the right decision,” said Tygart. “Make no mistake it was nobody’s fault but the Russians that they attempted to pull off this original scheme to begin with.“They got away with. But now is the time to hold them accountable.”
Federer beats Tsitsipas to send Switzerland into Hopman Cup final (Reuters) - Roger Federer said beating Greek youngster Stefanos Tsitsipas in Thursday’s Hopman Cup clash felt like a win over his son but the joke may well serve as a reminder of his powers as the Swiss prepares to defend his Australian Open crown this month. The 37-year-old survived an early scare before outperforming Tsitsipas, 17 years his junior, during a 7-6(5) 7-6(4) victory that sent Switzerland into Saturday’s title clash against Australia or Germany. Vi c t o r y g a v e w o r l d number three Federer, the oldest player in the top 10, three wins from three singles matches in Perth as he geared up for the season’s first Grand Slam as a favorite alongside Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and Alexander Zverev.
“He could be my son,” 20-times major winner Federer joked about the age between him and Tsitsipas, before praising the world number 15. “He did a nice job. I think we both played well without too many mistakes. I learned about his game. From my game, I didn’t learn anything. “For me, it’s about maintaining a good level of play. I’m happy where my game is at. And I was impressed with what I saw from Stefan.” Greece, who needed a 30 win to progress at the expense of Switzerland, finished with a 2-1 consolation victory. The Swiss topped Group B having already beaten Britain (3-0) and the United States (2-1). Maria Sakkari beat Belinda Bencic 6-3 6-4 before Greece claimed the mixed doubles match.
Switzerland’s Roger Federer reacts during his semi final match against Germany’s Alexander Zverev. (Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge) Earlier, Serena Williams notched up another singles win but could not prevent the U.S. from losing 2-1 to Britain for their third defeat
that left them bottom of the standings. Following wins over Sakkari and Bencic, Williams made it three from
three with a 6-1 7-6(2) victory over world number 97 Katie Boulter. The 37-year-old will resume her quest for a record-equalling 24th major in Melbourne and was pleased with her preparations in hot and humid Perth. “It was perfect. It’s just like this in Melbourne. It’s the exact same sun and it gives me so many problems,” Williams, who competed in her first tournament since losing the U.S. Open final last September, said. “After you serve, you are blind for the next two points. It was good to play three matches here, singles, not to mention the mixed doubles.” Cameron Norrie defeated Frances Tiafoe 76(4) 6-0 to make it 2-0 to Britain before teaming up with Boulter to win the mixed doubles dead rubber.
Saturday January 05, 2019
PAGE 27
Kaieteur News
Harden drills OT winner as Paradise to clash with defending Rockets nip Warriors Champions Police after Monedderlust disqualified Candy Boss, GT Beer 8-a-side football competition
Paradise Invaders of West Coast Berbice will now clash with defending champions Police FC instead of Monedderlust FC in the final of the Candy Boss, GT Beer and Antics Promotion 8-a-side football competition in Berbice. This change of teams came about after Monedderlust of West Coast Berbice, who had earlier defeated Police, were disqualified for breaching the rules of the competition. They played a player who it was reported is a member of the Guyana Defence Force FC. Monedderlust had defeated the defending champions Police FC 1-0 through a Travis Henry goal in the 24th minute. The goal was evenly contested. However, the difference was the Henry strike. The defeat was the first for the Cops since the tournament started last year. However, at the conclusion of the game police drew the matter to the relevant authorities and an investigation was launched and the police protest was upheld. Paradise in the meanwhile earned their passage to the final by edging past Golden
Stars on penalty kicks (2-1) after the game ended 3-3 at the end of regulation time. Golden Star was first on the score sheet as Sunny Logan scored in the 5th minute. A Paradise own goal in the 28th minute made it 2-0 for Golden Stars. Paradise however were not daunted as Otis Mitchell pulled one back in the 29th minute, to leave the game 2-1 in favour of Golden Stars at Lemon time. Mitchell was again on target in the 35th minute as he tucked in the equalizer. Simon Emanuel sent Golden Stars in front in the 37th minute, but Delroy Ferdinand 42nd minute goal put things back on level footing for the 3-3 draw. The final and third place are set for today with Monedderlust and Golden Star meeting first in the third place playoff followed by the final between Paradise and Police. The winning team will collect $600,000 and the GT Beer trophy, while $300,000 is for the runner up and $200,000 for the third place finisher. The top teams and individuals players will also get trophies and medals. (Samuel Whyte)
Pybus appointment could impact CWI finances, contends director ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – There is major concern that “significant high cost” could result from the appointment of Englishman Richard Pybus as interim head coach of the West Indies men’s team. In arguing his case against the appointment, Leeward Islands Cricket Board president, Enoch Lewis, said the associated costs were “unplanned and unbudgeted”, and were unlikely to impact adversely on the already frail Cricket West Indies finances. “… a significant high cost to CWI is likely to arise out of the decision to hand-pick and appoint Mr. Pybus as interim Head Coach given the likely hiring of new coaches and conversely the termination of the existing coaching staff,” Lewis wrote in a letter to CWI, a copy of which was obtained by CMC Sports. “Most of whom are under contract until September 2019, and because this cost is unplanned and unbudgeted and happening at a time when CWI is experiencing serious cash flow challenges as reflected by the existing significant cash deficit, which has negatively impacted the company capacity to meet normal day-to-day expenses.” According to the candid letter last month, Lewis revealed that CWI president
Cricket West Indies director and LICB president, Enoch Lewis. had “hand-picked” Pybus for the top coaching role after making an independent determination that negotiations with the previously boardapproved choice of South African Nic Pothas, had broken down. Pothas had been offered nearly half of what the most recent head coach, Stuart Law, had been given for the role, and had argued for similar levels of compensation to his Australian counterpart. Lewis, a CWI director, said Cameron “without preauthorization and input from the Board” subsequently negotiated and concluded a deal with Pybus – for higher compensation than had been offered to Pothas. The CWI director de-
scribed the president’s actions as “unfortunate, unacceptable and unethical” and said he raised his concerns at the recent quarterly board meeting in Trinidad. As such, Lewis called for Pybus’s appointment to be rescinded and negotiations with Pothas to resume, so the head coach selection process could be guided by “integrity, fairness, due process, and established policies.” “The LICB therefore hereby demands the following: that the recent decision to hand-pick Richard Pybus as interim head coach be rescinded [and] that the process to identify a head coach be started immediately based on established (Continued on page 25)
James Harden shoots the winning basket in overtime. (Reuters) James Harden capped his second consecutive tripledouble by sinking a 25-foot 3-pointer with one second remaining in overtime Thursday night, giving the Houston Rockets a 135-134 victory over the Golden State Warriors in Oakland, Calif. After Stephen Curry put Golden State up by two with an 18-footer with 23.1 seconds to go, the Rockets got possession after a kicked-ball violation on the Warriors with 5.5 seconds left. The ball was inbounded to Harden, who was able to get off — and make — a heavily contested 3-pointer to provide the game-winning points and cap a game-high, 44-point night. Kevin Durant’s desperation 40-footer caromed off the rim at the buzzer, allowing the Rockets to win their sixth straight and 11th in their past 12.
In scoring 40 or more points for the fifth consecutive game, Harden also found time for 10 rebounds and a game-high 15 assists for his fifth triple-double of the season. He turned the ball over seven times. Curry led the Warriors with 35 points. The Rockets forced the extra session by scoring the last six points of the fourth quarter on a three-point play by Clint Capela with 1:03 to go and a 3-pointer by Harden with 51.4 seconds left. After Durant misfired for Golden State, Harden had the last shot of regulation but couldn’t connect from 32 feet, sending the game into overtime tied at 119-all. Thirty of Harden’s points came on 10 3-pointers as the Rockets went 21-for-54 from beyond the arc and outscored Golden State 63-42 on threes. Capela recorded a 29-
point, 21-point double-double for Houston, which beat Golden State for the second time this season after falling to the eventual champion Warriors in seven games in last year’s Western Conference finals. Austin Rivers added 18 points, Danuel House Jr. 17 and Gerald Green 16 as the Rockets rallied from as much as a 20-point, third-quarter deficit. Curry managed his 35 points despite just 5-for-15 shooting from 3-point range. The Warriors were 14-for-37 from long distance as a team. Durant and Klay Thompson finished with 26 points apiece for the Warriors, while Draymond Green flirted with a triple-double of his own with nine points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. The loss was Golden State’s third straight at home. (Field Level Media)
WTA roundup: Pliskova into Brisbane 0 in yesterday’s other Sabalenka of Belarus sent semis quarterfinal. fifth-seeded Maria Sharapova Fifth-seeded Karolina Pliskova made her third straight Brisbane International semifinals with a 6-1, 16, 6-1 win against Ajla Tomljanovic yesterday in Australia. “It was a very strange match today, but the beginning of the sets was very important,” said Pliskova. “I’ve never had a match like this, but I’m just happy that I’m back in the semifinals.” Pliskova, of the Czech Republic, overcame a rough second set to win in one hour and 23 minutes. Pliskova will face Donna Vekic of Croatia in the semifinals. Vekic dominated Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-2, 6-
ASB Classic Teenage qualifier Bianca Andreescu continued her stunning run in Auckland, New Zealand on Friday with a 6-7 (1) 6-1, 6-3 win over Venus Williams to reach the semifinals. The 18-year-old Canadian, ranked 152nd in the WTA rankings, was coming off an upset of top seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, 6-4, 6-4 the day before. Andreescu will face thirdseeded Su-Wei Hsieh of Chinese Taipei in the semifinals. Hsieh advanced with a 63, 6-2 win over Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain. Shenzhen Open Top seed Aryna
packing when the Russian retired from their quarterfinals match in Shenzhen, China. Sabalenka was leading 61, 4-2 when Sharapova called it quits, citing a left thigh injury. Next up for Sabalenka is Wang Yafan of China, a 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-1 winner over Romanian qualifier Monica Niculescu in the other quarterfinal. (Field Level Media)
PAGE 28
Saturday January 05, 2019
Kaieteur News
PCL Regional First-Class cricket
Hemraj hit maiden century as Jaguars reach 319-5 By Sean Devers A brilliant maiden century from Chanderpaul Hemraj and an unfinished 105-run sixth wicket stand between Anthony Bramble and Raymon Reifer put four-times defending Champions Guyana Jaguars in the ascendancy against Barbados Pride when the opening day of their third round PCL Regional FirstClass contest ended yesterday at the Kensington Oval. Hemraj, a 25-year-old f r o m t h e Vi l l a g e o f Strathavon in Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara, in his 20th game at this level, joined an elite few Guyanese batsmen to score at century at the Mecca when he made a delightful 144 decorated with 20 fours and four sixes from 172 balls, 241 minutes. The Everest left-hander, who made his First-Class debut against Trinidad as
Raymon Reifer © CWI Media/Philip Spooner an 18-year-old in 2012, shared in a responsible 134-run opening stand with Tagenarine Chanderpaul who contributed a carefully constructed 37 from
150 balls with six boundaries in 181 minutes. Bramble hammered 51 from just 53 balls in 85 minutes with 10 fours and a six, while Bajan Reifer has 53 from 76 balls, 103 minutes with nine fours in a stand already worth 105 runs as Jaguars reached 319-5 when bails were lifted. O ff - s p i n n e r A s h l e y Nurse took 2-77 for the Bajans who captured four wickets for 15 runs to trigger a middle order collapse as the Jaguars slumped from 199-1 to 214-5 before Bramble and Reifer joined forces in ‘operation rebuild’. Windies pacer Kemar Roach and Miguel Cummins kept the Jaguars openers on a tight leash on a track with a tinge of green in sunny conditions after the host had won the toss. Chanderpaul struggled to rotate the strike and played the supporting role
Ramballie bowls Essequibo Coast to narrow victory Rajendra Ramballie produced an outstanding spell as Essequibo Coast defeated Wakenaam by one wicket when the teams collided in an U15 40-over contest recently at Affiance Number one ground. Wakenaam batted first and managed 140 all out in 26.3 overs. Devon Ramrattan led with 30 while Mohandass Surujpaul made 27 and Ramesh Ramnarine 13. Ramballie was economical as he bagged 5-13. Essequibo Coast encountered some nervous moments in the chase before crossing the line in the penultimate over, ending on 142-9. Shazam Mohamed scored 21 not out and Shaun Dawson 16. Devendra Hansraj bowled well to grab 4-21, while Ricky Persaud
snared 3-18. Ramballie was named man-of-the-match. The game was organised by Coaches Forbes Daniels and Nandkishore Andrews to help with the development of the young cricketers in Essequibo. Andrews congratulated the teams and said a return fixture is billed for the Wakenaam Community Centre ground shortly. He extended gratitude to Hareshchand Ramballie, the Wakenaam NDC and Keemo Paul for their assistance. Daniels informed that training sessions for the players on the Coast continues on a daily basis at Zorg ground. He is calling on the business community to lend support so that these games can be played on a regular basis which will help to hone the skills of the youths as they prepare for other tournaments such as the inter county.
Man-of the-match Rajendra Ramballie accepts his prize from Coach Nandkishore Andrews.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul (37) added 134 with Hemraj for the first wicket yesterday to Hemraj who was also not allowed the score freely against the new ball. Chanderpaul flicked Off-Spinner Ashley Nurse for four before Hemraj sweetly stroked Cummins, in his second spell, past cover for four. Hemraj, dropped at second slip on 33 off the unlucky Cummins in the 21st over, made the Bajans pay for their lapse with an array of audacious shots after the floored chance had brought up the 50. Hemraj hit Nurse over cover for four and before pulling Cummins past midon for four to move into the 40s. Both openers batted responsible and took few chances but Hemraj, in his first match since returning for Windies ODI duties, capitalised on the bad balls and smashed Cummins for another four. While Chanderpaul was intent to block the spinners and leave balls that he did not have to play from the pacers, Hemraj reached his seventh fifty with a cut behind point for four when Jomal Warrican bowled short. Hemraj, with six ODIs to his name, celebrated the fifty with a spanking four and the first six of the match in an expensive over from Warrican. By Lunch the Jaguars had built a firm foundation with Hemraj on 62 from 92 balls and Chanderpaul on 18 from 91 balls with their team on 83-0 off 30 overs. After the interval Chanderpaul executed some nice shots but they went straight to the field-
ers as the son of the illustrious Dr Shivnarine Chanderpaul was kept in shackles. Yo u n g Chanderpaul lacks the temperament of his father to bat long and still score hundreds and got himself bugged down. The 22-year-old Chanderpaul, who made his debut in 2013 against the Leewards, showed rare aggression when he caressed Roach past mid-off for four to post the 100 in the 37th over. Hemraj pulled Cummins for four in overcast conditions and soon bettered his highest First-Class score of 90 before Chanderpaul hit Warrican to Jason Holder to give the left arm spinner his 13th wicket for the season at 134-1. Hemraj hit Holder for a boundary before reaching his maiden ton from 144 balls with 17 fours and a six when he stroked Roston Chase for two and celebrated with by clobbering the off-spinner for six. Skipper Leon Johnson (14) did not last long and was caught and bowled at 199-2 on the stroke of Tea by Holder, back in cricket after missing the Bangladesh tour due to injury. Hemraj joined Fredericks, Kallicharran, Lloyd, Hooper, Sarwan, Deonarine and Andrew Lyght (the only one not p l a y Te s t C r i c k e t ) a s Guyanese with hundreds at Kensington Oval. But when four short of 150, Hemraj was bowled by Nurse to leave the Jaguars on 201-3 before Chris
Barnwell (5) was run out as the Jaguars slipped to 2124 and when Guyana’s leadi n g r u n s c o r e r Vi s h a u l Singh was LBW to Nurse after struggling for 33 balls for nine, the visitors were 214-5 as the Bajans fought back in the final session. H o w e v e r, h o m e b o y Raymon Reifer was joined by Anthony Bramble and the small crowd watched as they revived the position with their entertaining sixth wicket stand as they disdainfully counter-attacked the bowlers. The Jaguars have won three of the eight matches between the two sides since 2015, including two in the Pride’s backyard and have not suffered a loss in their last 12 games. Scores: At Kensington Oval: Jaguars batted all day. GUYANA JAGUARS 319 for five (Chandrapaul Hemraj 144, Raymon Reifer 53 not out, Anthony Bramble 51 not, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 37; Ashley Nurse 2-77) vs BARBADOS PRIDE. Meanwhile, over at the Brian Lara Stadium: Hurricanes batted all day against Trinidad to reach 291-6 with Montcin Hodge 112 not out and Rahkeem Cornwall 65 leading their charge. Scores: LEEWARD ISLANDS HURRICANES 291 for six (Montcin Hodge 112 not out, Rahkeem Cornwall 65, Akeem Saunders 41; Shannon Gabriel 3-42, Imran Khan 2-99) vs TRINIDAD & TOBAGO RED FORCE.
Saturday January 05, 2019
Kaieteur News
PAGE 29
GMRSC 2018 review
Guyana’s bid to regain CMRC overall title unsuccessful The radical’s races didn’t disappoint the fans at South Dakota last November with Calvin Ming resetting the lap record twice.
GMRSC’s Vice-President Hansraj Singh (left) poses with CMRC group 4 champion Andrew King.
T
he Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club’s (GMRSC) wait to regain the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) overall title will continue after the Golden Arrowhead managed just a third place finish following the four action-packed legs across the Caribbean last year. Guyana last hoisted the championship trophy in 2015 and since then, team Trinidad & Tobago (T&T) has reigned supreme in the three following years. In 2017, Guyana were the runners up but in 2018, Barbados’ determination and good performances at their home leg at Bushy Park allowed them to usurp the Guyanese for the second place ranking. Guyana’s Andrew King became the second son of the soil to retain a CMRC title after proving that his Group 4 Awd class triumph in 2017 was no fluke with some outstanding driving in the final leg at the South Dakota Circuit last November to clinch the title at home. King’s teammate Mark Vieira was ahead of him on points heading into
the final showdown which was dubbed Ignite by the GMRSC but problems with Vieira’s machine coupled with King’s classy driving was good enough to see him get top honours. The GMRSC’s Ignite two-day event which served as the final leg of the national a n d C a r i b b e a n championships last November, was a well organised 43-race programme event. The local organisers saw the usual fantastic turnout by the Guyanese who were thrilled to witnessed SR3 radical series races at the Timehri motor racing track for the first time. The packed nine-car radicals’ racing grid wooed the fans and scorched the Timehri track. Sons of the soil, Calvin Ming won two of the three races competed, while former CMRC champion Kristian Jeffrey won the other. In his first win, Ming bettered Team Mohamed’s Enterprise Matthew Truelove circuit record time of 33.3 seconds by three thousandths of a second (33.297 seconds) to own the South Dakota inner circuit record.
Rameez Mohamed (left) and Anand Ramchand battling it out at South Dakota during the National Race of Champions in March.
A source close to Team Mohamed’s noted that their main aim will be to better Ming’s 33.297 seconds circuit record in 2019 since their superstock (bikes) challenge are usually a one horse race. Te a m M o h a m e d ’s Matthew Truelove copped the Superstock CMRC title for the first time giving his team a second triumph in the racing class after another amazing season on the track. Drag Racing Te a m M o h a m e d ’s Enterprise and their pair of Nissan GTRs continue to rule the drag racing strip at South Dakota which had a professional launch pad recently installed. Mohamed’s Nissan GTR remains undefeated after a fierce challenge from a rail car from T&T. It may be possible that fans may get an opportunity to witness a new and rumored faster motor car that sources close to the champions have shared with this publication. The GMRSC drag race meets also saw participants from Suriname and French Guiana and in 2019 there has been four scheduled meets
slated for February 17th, April 7th, July 6th, August 25th (International) and October 6th. Endurance Team Wreckers’ and their driver Adrian Fernandes ruled the roost during the Endurance series by emerging the overall winner in each of the three rounds. Behind the wheel of the Gillette sponsored car, Fernandes was a force to be
reckoned with and never faltered to edge out former champion Motilall Deodass by just one lap. President of the GMRSC, Rameez Mohamed, confirmed with Kaieteur Sport that 2018 was extremely successful for the club with all of the scheduled events being run off. He added that in the past 12 months, a lot of new and young drivers have emerged in the sport especially in the
age range of 8-16 with GT Motorsports and KFC Karting series. Despite featuring a thin touring contingent for the Jamaica, Barbados and T&T CMRC legs, Guyana’s third place finish is commendable. Mohamed further posited that a more competitors have confirmed their availability for all the CMRC legs this year, so a better showing is expected.
Team Mohamed’s Enterprise unstoppable trio of Superstock racers.
Mark Vieira leads Andrew King down the straight away during the group four action at the March’s National Race of champions.
PAGE 30
Saturday January 05, 2019
Kaieteur News
Pujara, Pant put Australia to the sword in Sydney SYDNEY (Reuters) Cheteshwar Pujara ground out a masterful 193 and Rishabh Pant smashed a magnificent unbeaten 159 as Australia’s hopes of winning the match and saving the series were washed away by a torrent of Indian runs on day two of the fourth test yesterday. Virat Kohli declared on 622 for seven an hour before the close of play when Ravindra Jadeja was dismissed for 81 and Usman Khawaja (5) and Marcus Harris (19) ushered Australia to stumps on 24 without loss. Pujara came up seven runs short of his fourth double century but there can be little doubt that his nine-hour, 373-ball knock will almost certainly deliver India’s first test series victory in Australia. After a beautifully crafted innings, Pujara went with a whimper rather than a bang before tea, scooping the ball back down the wicket to be caught and bowled by wily off-spinner Nathan Lyon. The 30-year-old’s centuries in Adelaide and Melbourne went a long way to giving India a 2-1 series lead and there was relief as well as admiration in the standing ovation he received from the crowd when he finally headed b a c k t o t h e M e m b e r ’s Stand.
Once he had departed, Pant and Jadeja initially maintained his circumspection before throwing off the shackles and hammering home India’s advantage with a partnership of 204. Pant had a bit of a scare six runs short of his second test century when he was close to being run out but made his ground safely and reached the milestone off 137 balls with his eighth four - the first Indian wicketkeeper to do so in Australia. Jadeja was soon twirling his bat in his trademark celebration of a half century, his 10th in tests, and for while it looked like Pant would overhaul Pujara with a maiden double century. “You’ve got to give India credit, I thought Pujara again was superb, he did what he always seems to do, he wore us down and was extremely disciplined, extremely tough to get out,” said Australia captain Tim Paine. “That sort of set the scene for Rishabh Pant to come in and show his skill. I thought they drove it into us pretty well.” A u s t r a l i a ’s much vaunted pace attack were exhausted after two days’ toiling for little reward in the Sydney heat and the wicket that finally precipitated the declaration came again from Lyon (4-178). Jadeja stepped down the wicket to try and domi-
nate the spinner but was deceived by the flight of the ball and bowled to end a 114-ball innings featuring seven fours and a six. The hosts had started the day with hopes of making major inroads into India’s batting order but were largely frustrated, e v e n i f Ly o n r e m o v e d Hanuma Vihari for 42 to break the 101-partnership with Pujara. P u j a r a ’s almost chanceless innings — he was dropped in the slips on 192 — featured 22 fours and took his tally over the series to 521 runs at an average of 74.42. Pant, whose innings featured 15 boundaries and one six, blotted his copy book in the final hour by dropping Khawaja behind the wickets but nothing was going to mar his day. “Every hundred I score is special as I’m just starting my career,” Pant added. “Everyone in the team has given me the freedom to express myself so every time I bat, I just enjoy myself, that’s the thing I love to do. “(Australia) were playing their level best but we did well so that’s why we got the score we did.” Scores: Australia 0 for 24 (Harris 19*, Khawaja 5*) trail India 7 for 622 dec (Pujara 193, Pant 159*, Jadeja 81, Agarwal 77, Lyon 4-178) by 598 runs.
Du Plessis ton puts South Africa in commanding position CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - South Africa captain Faf du Plessis led from the front with a hardearned century to give the hosts a commanding 205run advantage at the end of the second day of the second test against Pakistan at Newlands yesterday. Du Plessis failed to score in either innings in the first test in Pretoria last week, but made 103 in a 226-ball knock as South Africa piled up 382 for six in reply to Pakistan’s 177 all out on the opening day. Pakistan will be up against it on Saturday when South Africa resume with Quinton de Kock not out on 55 and Vernon Philander on six as they look to press home their advantage. Du Plessis had to toil for his ninth test century on an uneven pitch, hitting some superb shots through extra
cover but also surviving being dropped on 96 to an easy catch down leg that Pakistan wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed spilt. He was eventually out to a feint tickle off teenager Shaheen Shah, who finished the day with the best Pakistan figures of 3-112. Temba Bavuma, who saw two reviews go his way, made 75 and it was his 156-run fifth wicket partnership with the skipper that enabled South Africa to take the game away from their opponents after losing two wickets early in the day. “It was a challenging wicket but we tried to be as positive out there as we could be,” Bavuma said. “Any kind of lead on this wicket is massive. Our bowlers will be raring to go and looking to exploit it.” South Africa were on 1232 overnight but Hashim Amla
(24) and Theunis de Bruyn (13) departed in the morning session before Bavuma, having scored three, was reprieved by the third umpire after appearing to be caught in the slips. It was decided that the catch had been taken off the turf. He also survived an lbw decision with the review going his way to the exasperation of Pakistan. Bavuma was eventually caught by Sarfraz off Shaheen, who then also bagged du Plessis but only after another review, which this time went Pakistan’s way. De Kock hit fours off his first two deliveries and never looked back as he raced to his half century off 59 balls. Scores: South Africa 382 for 6 (du Plessis 103, Bavuma 75, de Kock 55*) lead Pakistan 177 by 205 runs.
Pant carried on to become the first Indian wicketkeeper to score a Test century in Australia ©Getty Images
Changes made to Nand Persaud Sky Plus Sprint Classic Horserace meet - Trophy Stall joins growing list of sponsors on board With one day to go before the much anticipated Nand Persaud Group Of Companies one day Sprint Classic horserace meet, one change has been made to the day’s programme and the Trophy Stall of Bourda Market has joined the growing list of sponsors offering assistance toward the successful staging of the meet. Gavin Persaud of the organisers recently collected the trophies as part of the sponsorship package from Proprietress Devi Sunich at the Trophy Stall Bourda Market location. The event, dubbed the “Karibee Rice Mega Sprint Classic Horserace meet”, will herald the start of the 2019 horseracing season. It will be held at the Company’s No.36 Village, Macedonia Estate, Corentyne, Berbice, Racing Facility and is being organised by the Company’s Sky Plus Promotion Group. Seven races are listed for the day with over $4M in cash, trophies and other incentives to be won. The races will see the horse running in a straight line over 880 and 660 yards or four and three furlongs respectively. Acceding to the numerous requests for a change the organisers have decided to replace the H class event with one for animals that are classified Cow Horses. The other events on the day’s card are for the 3 year
Gavin Persaud receives one of the trophies from Proprietress Devi Sunich recently. old animals for a winning take of $200,000 and trophy. There is an event for 3 year old animals for a winner’s stake of $200,000 and trophy. The event for animals classified J and lower is for a take home prize of $180,000 and trophy. The K class and lower animals will be competing for a first prize of $140,000 and trophy. The L class race for male horses. The L class race for female animals. The L class event for non-earners for 2018 all competing for a winner’s money of $100,000 and trophy over 3furlongs.
A number of sponsors are on board including Trophy Stall, Ansa Mc Al Trading, 4R Bearings and Belt and NTN Television among others. Some of the horse entered includes Perfect Return, Irish Boy, Touch Down, Touch the Cash, Gold Again, Uprising, Miss Anjali, Mystery Man, Secret Flyer Bruck Gun, 12 Karat Cat, Massapequa Dr, Miss Anjali, Red Region, Plane Land, Perfection, Humming Bird, Damage Control, Awesome Banner, Physical Disturbance, Careful Choice, Something Special, Perfect Return, (Continued on page 25)
Saturday January 05, 2019
Kaieteur News
PAGE 31
Sarwan’s Amazonia Mall coming to Providence in 2020
A
mazonia Mall, a state-of-the-art facility, will add to the changing East Bank Demerara landscape, offering a new experience to locals and visitors a release indicated. The project, spearheaded by one of Guyana’s most successful sportsmen, Ramnaresh ‘Ronnie’ Sarwan, is currently under construction at Providence, a stone’s throw from the National Stadium. The 38-year-old former Guyana and West Indies cricketer turned entrepreneur said this is phase two of a project he started several years ago.
Phase one included Massy Store, New Thriving Restaurant and Fitness53 Gym housed in one building. “Construction (of phase two) started a few months ago, and we’re at the stage where we’ve completed the foundation and the flooring. In another four weeks or so, we will start seeing the erection of steel and so on. This has been long in planning, and I’m really happy that it is coming to fruition,” Sarwan explained. Caribbean Cinemas, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Burger King, Pizza Hut and Optique Vision Care are the businesses already aligned to
the project. According to Sarwan, a Sports Bar and Lounge and a massive parking lot will also form part of phase two, which is expected to be completed by June 2020. The aim, the former Guyana and West Indies captain pointed out, is to provide a modern-day experience to Guyanese and tourists alike. “That was one of the main reasons we started the project and hopefully the way Guyana is going it will be able to modernise the country, and at least when people come to Guyana they would have good places to go and speak really good
things about our country,” Sarwan stated. “Obviously, you want to offer the best service and ensure that people are very comfortable when they come to the facility. I think, most importantly, you want people to experience the kind of shopping stuff they experience abroad and we’re going to try our best to bring that to everyone.” Further information on investment opportunities at the new facility can be obtained by calling 2657271, visiting the website www.amazoniamallgy.com o r e m a i l i n g info@amazoniamallgy.com.
Ramnaresh Sarwan stands near the site of the ongoing construction of the mall.
An artist impression of the new Mall being built by Ramnaresh Sarwan.
Pybus formally announced as head coach but controversy swirls ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Cricket West Indies has belatedly announced the appointment of Richard Pybus as interim head coach of the senior team, amidst a firestorm of criticism from one of its directors over the manner in which the Englishman was chosen. A week after news of the appointment was leaked, CWI said in a statement Friday that Pybus would take up the top role “with immediate effect”, a snub to Leeward Islands Cricket Board president, Enoch Lewis, who had called for the appointment to be rescinded in the interest of transparency, fairness and due process. “He will lead the technical team for the upcoming visit of England, the Triangular Series in Ireland, the 2019 Cricket World Cup (CWC) and the visit of India in July and August,” the CWI statement said. Lewis has slammed the appointment, claiming
Pybus was “hand-picked” by CWI president Dave Cameron. Former fielding coach Nic Pothas had been the overwhelming choice of the board but according to Lewis, Cameron terminated discussions with the South African after making an independent determination that negotiations were at a “stalemate”. Pothas had argued for the same level of compensation afforded previous coach Stuart Law, instead of nearly half the amount he had been offered According to Lewis, Cameron subsequently negotiated and concluded a deal with Pybus even though he had not been authorised to do so. “The negotiations conducted with Mr. Pybus by President Cameron was without pre-authorization and input from the Board,” Lewis contended in a strongly-worded letter to CWI last month. “None of the DoC (Director of Cricket), the
Englishman Richard Pybus … announced as interim West Indies coach.
Cricket Committee or the Te c h n i c a l C r i c k e t Committee were consulted on the initiative to engage or negotiate with Mr. Pybus.” Cameron’s decision, Lewis said, had sparked “heated debate and proved a very divisive issue amongst the Directors.” In yesterday’s statement, CWI said recruitment for a permanent head coach would be conducted shortly, with the hope of appointing P y b u s ’s s u c c e s s o r b y September. “The CWI Board of Directors have already
approved a succession planning program for regional coaches and will simultaneously be conducting a regional search in order to appoint a longterm head coach for the WINDIES Men’s team from September 2019 onwards,” CWI noted. In his letter, Lewis said director of cricket, Jimmy Adams, had recommended Pothas for the position from a list comprising Roddy Estwick, Floyd Reifer, Gus Logie, Desmond Haynes, Toby Radford, Andre Coley, Esuan Crandon, Stuart
Williams, Rayon Griffith and Robert Samuels. According to Lewis, Pybus had expressed no previous interest in the role. Adams, who replaced Pybus as director of cricket two years ago, said the new Windies head coach came armed with a “good working knowledge of both players and coaches.” “Richard comes into the role with previous international experience having worked with both Pakistan and Bangladesh,” said the former Windies Test captain. “Due to his current and previous involvement in CWI, he possesses a good working knowledge of both players and coaches as the team prepares for important home series against England and India with the 2019 World Cup to be played between those series.” One of Lewis’s concerns about Pybus was the fact he has not coached an international side over the past five years.
Pybus, who was suddenly appointed high performance director last February just over a year after leaving the post of director of cricket, said he was keen to get started on his latest assignment. “I am really looking forward to working with Jason (Holder) and the Test and ODI teams, as well as Carlos (Brathwaite) and the T20I team, as we continue to build Windies cricket,” he said. “We’ve got a great home series against England coming up. England are a high-quality side who will be an excellent test of the team in our home conditions. We then have an ODI Triangular Series against Ireland and Bangladesh in Dublin. “Ireland will be looking to make a statement after missing out on CWC qualification and Bangladesh have beaten us home and away in our recent ODI series. “The CWC is on the (Continued on page 25)
t r o Sp PCL Regional First-Class cricket
Hemraj hit maiden century as Jaguars reach 319-5
Chanderpaul Hemraj registered his maiden ton yesterday at the Mecca.
Anthony Bramble pulls during his attacking innings against Barbados Pride.
Pujara, Pant put Australia to the sword in Sydney Faf du Plessis leans into a drive. (Associated Press) Pujara marched on past 150 in Rishabh Pant’s company ŠGetty Images
Du Plessis ton puts South Africa in commanding position Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.