Monday January 07, 2019
PAGE 3
Kaieteur News
If Guyana falters now, the Caribbean community will be “worse off” By Abena RockcliffeCampbell Former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Bruce Golding thinks that the stability and strength of Guyana at this time is paramount to the well being of the entire Caribbean. In a column published in the Jamaica Observer yesterday titled “Guyana must carefully manage its constitutional crisis,” Golding wrote that Guyana cannot afford to falter at this time—when economic success is on the horizon. He stated that if the country does, the entire Caribbean community will be worse off. Golding’s comments were forthcoming in the face of the political climate in the aftermath of the successful passage of the No-Confidence motion against the APNU+AFC Government on December 21. The former Prime Minister said that with oil production expected to start next year, Guyana is in a position to become a significant oil producer — “several times greater than Trinidad & Tobago — with tremendous benefit to its economy, its people and the region, if properly managed.” The politician said that in such a scenario, political stability is a critical factor to ensure investor confidence not only in oil extraction but also in the wide range of downstream industries and enterprises that it would make possible.
- Former Jamaican PM
Former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Bruce Golding “CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS” Golding said that the prospect of that stability is now being tested by the “constitutional crisis” that has emerged after Alliance For Change defector, Charrandass Persaud voted with the People’s Progressive Party opposition to bring down his own government. Golding said that initially, the comments of President David Granger, Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo and Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo reflected political maturity and “those of us who are familiar with the turbulence of Guyana's politics in the past were comforted that this crisis would pass without any major dysfunction. We now find ourselves holding our breath.” LEGAL CHALLENGES Golding said that many are
now holding their breaths since the same politicians are now acting in a manner that does not necessarily display the same sense of political maturity as in the beginning. The government is putting up a fight, and the opposition boycotted a sitting of the National Assembly. Golding noted that the Government has since embraced Nigel Hughes’ opinion since one-half of the membership of parliament is 32½, 34 votes are required to secure a definitive majority — not 33, which exceed the one-half by only “half-a-vote”. The former PM noted that those were the grounds on which the Government sought a ruling from the Speaker to overturn the motion. “To the surprise of many who expected him to rule in favour of the Government, Speaker Barton Scotland last Thursday rejected the request and suggested that the matter be referred to the courts for a determination. The Opposition PPP boycotted the sitting — a troubling sign that the goodwill which initially penetrated the cloud of uncertainty is waning,” said Golding. “The matter has been further complicated by three other issues. Firstly, it is reported that Mr. Persaud holds Canadian citizenship, which would have made him ineli-
gible to sit in parliament. Whether such ineligibility would have invalidated his vote on the no-confidence motion is a matter that would have to be determined by the courts. Secondly, it has been alleged that he was paid a substantial sum to vote in support of the no-confidence motion — a charge that he has
that is vastly different from the constituency first-past-thepost system we have in Jamaica. Members are drawn based on the percentage of votes obtained by each party from lists of potential MPs submitted prior to the elections.” Golding noted that the Guyana constitution stipulates that a person shall cease to be a member of the National Assembly if he declares “in writing” that he will not sup-
“Guyana's leaders must rise above this. Too much is at stake… Caricom must stand ready to offer assistance, if needed, in a way that is acceptable to both the Government and the Opposition. Guyana cannot afford to falter at this time — not when it is on the cusp of a new horizon of hope and real possibilities. And if it falters, the entire Caribbean community is the worse off”- Former PM, Golding emphatically denied. This allegation would first have to be substantiated and then the courts would have to determine whether such an act, if it is proven, nullifies his vote on the resolution. Thirdly, it has been suggested that the constitution does not allow Mr. Persaud to vote against the party list from which he derived his membership in parliament. Guyana operates under a system of proportional representation
port the party list from which his membership was derived, or that he will support “another list”. Golding pointed out that no such declaration “in writing” occurred in this instance but the argument has been proffered that a declaration is implicit in the act of voting against his party list. The former Prime Minister said that it would take some time for the issues to be adjudicated in the courts — first through Guyana's Supreme
Court and Court of Appeal and, ultimately, the Caribbean Court of Justice. He noted that the Government has already signalled that, in order to facilitate this, it will be seeking the court's approval for an extension of the 90-day period within which elections must be held. The Opposition has countered that under the constitution the Court has no such authority. Golding said that a protracted period of uncertainty in its political arrangements is something that Guyana can ill afford, especially at this time. He noted that Guyana has struggled to overcome deeply polarising instincts, and “there is a worrying possibility that this issue could reignite them.” Golding was keen to note that the leaders must rise above this. He said that too much is at stake. “The private sector and the trade union movement must be prepared to constructively engage, grasp the big picture, and collaborate with the Government and Opposition toward a solution that will sustain confidence and stability and enable Guyana to get through this. Caricom must stand ready to offer assistance, if needed, in a way that is acceptable to both the Government and the Opposition. Guyana cannot afford to falter at this time — not when it is on the cusp of a new horizon of hope and real possibilities. And if it falters, the entire Caribbean community is the worse off.”
“I respect the party’s decision” - Ramson Charles Ramson Junior is officially out of the race to become the presidential candidate of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). He has accepted his fate but maintains “unwavering” support for his party. For the first time, the Executive Committee PPP decided to bar anyone who is not a member of the Central Committee from contesting to be the party’s presidential candidate. This new provision is likely to affect just one contestant—Ramson. Yesterday, Ramson told Kaieteur News that although he was keen to contest “I respect the party's decision and I do not want this issue to distract from the main objective which is to ensure that the People's Progressive Party wins the next General and Regional elections.” The Attorney at Law said that the question of a presidential candidate is bigger
than any one individual. He said, “As a personal principle, I am a believer in the collective.” Ramson noted the many suggestions that if he is sidelined, he should join another political party or start a new one. He said that neither is going to happen. “I am one of the leaders of People's Progressive Party. As a principle, you do not leave your group. My involvement in a collective is not predicated on getting my own way. If you are not prepared to have decisions go against you and be humble enough to remain committed then you are not mature and wise enough to lead.” Ramson said that he recognizes that even with him out of the race, PPP Central Committee has a tough decision to make “because the candidates are all assets who have their own appeal. The lesson from the 2011 and 2015 election is that the candidate matters
Former Member of Parliament, Charles Ramson given the changing demographics of our country and their access to information. In the end however that candidate must have our unwavering support from our party and its leaders and he or she will.” Those who remain in the race to be presidential candidate are Dr. Frank Anthony,
Gail Teixeria, Irfaan Ali, and Dr. Vindya Persaud, who are all Central Committee members. The Central Committee of the PPP has 35 members. The 35 are to vote on who will become the party’s presidential candidate for the next elections. Before the change, the process was expected to go in a manner where nominations are made, and then each member of the committee votes based on his or her personal preference. It has long been hinted that Jagdeo is not in favour of Ramson’s candidacy. But Jagdeo became more blatant in his remarks recently. At a recent presser, he even referred to Ramson as a “weak candidate.” Irfaan Ali, the former Minister of Housing, is said to be Jagdeo’s choice. And, at a recent presser, he stressed the need to provide “young leadership” for the country but was keen to say that this “young leader-
ship” must have experience. But, a force to be reckoned with would be former Minister Frank Anthony who is a favorite in the party. At the last congress, Jagdeo topped the list of elected Central Committee Members gaining 718 votes. Anthony came in second with 620 votes while Teixeira came in third with 583. The CCJ ruling on the twoterm presidency is the only thing stopping Jagdeo from
running as presidential candidate. Many, including party members, believe that since Jagdeo cannot be President, he prefers someone who will be his “puppet.” Jagdeo addressed this concern at the recent presser. He said, “Anyone we choose, they will call my puppet. They used to call me Janet’s puppet. So that is okay.” (Abena RockcliffeCampbell)
PAGE 4
Kaieteur News
Monday January 07, 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
IS THERE ROOM FOR A NEW PARTY? The passage of a no-confidence motion in Parliament on Friday December 21, 2018, which toppled the David Granger-led APNU+AFC government has hastened the formation of a new political party A New and United Guyana (NUG) party. At the helm of the NUG are former People’s Progressive Party (PPP) executive member, Senior Counsel, Ralph Ramkarran; former PPP government minister, Dr. Henry Jeffrey; former President of the Guyana Bar Association, Attorney-at-Law Timothy Jonas and wellknown city businessman, Terrence Campbell who is the franchise holder of companies in Guyana such as Fedex, Church’s Chicken and Mario’s Pizza. The quartet emphasized that their primary and immediate, though not sole objective of NUG is to reform the constitution to reflect inclusive, transparent and accountable governance, promote unity among the races, maintain stability, devise new government systems and structures to cope with and manage the petroleum and gas industries as Guyana prepares to become a major oil producer in the Americas in early 2020. The executives of NUG have pledged not to join in a coalition with either of the two major parties or sustain them in Parliament should NUG not obtain a majority or a plurality of the votes at elections. This was said against the background of the Alliance for Change (AFC) which prior to joining APNU, has stated that it will not join with the APNU because if it does, it would become “dead meat” in the eyes of its supporters. This is exactly what happened to the AFC three years after it joined with APNU in 2015. Describing themselves as four concerned Guyanese citizens, the NUG officials have stated that it became evident that the PNC and the PPP which governed the nation for 28 years and 23 years respectively and now APNU+AFC coalition government which has been in office for almost four years have failed to reduce or end the decades-old racial divisions, or have not delivered on their promise to reform the constitution, reduce crime and improve the lives of the masses. But given the more than six decades of two party dominance in the country, many are asking if there is room to accommodate a new party. While some believe that there is room for a new party, others felt that the time is not right. Fueling the need for a third party is based on the belief that a sizeable portion of the population has fallen, become disillusioned with the two main parties, and has embraced the idea that a new party is needed to solve the country’s problems. Indeed, the debut of a new political alternative would definitely widen the choices for the voters and would be a welcome boost for the democratic process in the country. The more political parties, the more choices, and the better it is for the voters who will be exposed to a wide range of perspectives on the issues. Public debate on competing ideas is the lifeblood of democracy which could be enriched by the presence of a new party that can contribute to a more balanced debate on the issues and decision-making in the public interest. However, there is evidence to prove that a new or third party does not stand a realistic chance of breaking the monopoly of the two-party system. The truth is, in theory, third parties have always appeared to the nation to be authentic, but in practice they are doomed to suffer the same fate as all previous third parties mainly because they have not been able to break the pattern of racial voting in the country. Furthermore, third parties have a limited shelf life in that they do not last more than two election cycles. The United Fore was effective in the 1964 and 1968 elections and the AFC in 2006, 2011 and in 2015, when it joined the coalition, which in essence is two election cycles. The survival of a new party would depend heavily on its viability as a political alternative and its ability to improve the lives of all.
JAMAICA IS CONCERNED ABOUT DEVELOPMENTS IN GUYANA DEAR EDITOR, Press reports concerning two recent meetings involving some members of the diplomatic and donor community caught my attention. The first was a meeting with the Parliamentary opposition, the other was with a government delegation. Regrettably, the entire diplomatic community was not part of these bilaterals; they were restricted to the ABC countries and the E.U. Be that as it may, at the meeting between members of the diplomatic community and the parliamentary opposition a case was made out with respect to the consequences following passage of the No Confidence Motion in the National Assembly. And at the meeting with government representatives and the diplomats including the Caricom Secretary General the invitees were told that the passage of the No Confidence Motion is of no legal effect. But the parliamentary opposition left no stone unturned. In light of the convening of a sitting of the National Assembly a letter was dispatched to the Speaker of the National Assembly drawing to his attention the unconstitutionality of the
sitting and that the parliamentary opposition will not participate therein. Copies of the letter were dispatched to the diplomatic and donor community including the Caricom Secretariat. Based on reports about the meetings with the Heads of ABC countries plus the EU Delegation and the Secretariat the messages conveyed to the public by both sides were diametrically opposed to each other. The presence of the EU Delegation and CARICOM Secretary General at the two separate meetings and opposition’s letter sent to the CARICOM Secretariat are instructive. What must be clear to the entire International community, is the message emanating from the National Assembly where the Speaker of the House rebuffed the request by the APNU+AFC for a review of the 33 - 32 vote. The gravity of the situation was recently highlighted in an editorial of the Jamaica Observer newspaper pointing out that; ‘The protracted period of uncertainty has all the ingredients to create a flash point that could roll back much of the advancement that Guyana has made in its political process.’ The Observer went on:
‘Caricom must standby to offer assistance, if needed, in a way that is acceptable to both government and opposition. Guyana cannot afford to falter at this time, not when it is on the cusp of a new horizon and real possibilities. And if it falters, the entire Caribbean Community is worst off.’ In the Revised Treaty of Chaguramas provision is made for; ‘A broad range of dispute settlement modes to address and resolve disputes at the national and regional levels, these include; including good offices, mediation, conciliation, consultations, arbitration and judicial settlement’ There is precedent within the region for one, or any combination of these modes to be applied either at the national and/or regional level. And notwithstanding the proviso that CARICOM is ‘by fact and by law an intergovernmental association of autonomous political and economic entities’ member states are committed to CARICOM’s Charter of Civil Society which is; ‘An important element of the Community’s structure to deal with matters such as a free press, a fair and open democratic process, the effective functioning of the parliamentary system, morality in public affairs,
respect for fundamental civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, accountability and transparency in government.’ Guyana is Party to the Charter and is obliged to uphold the principles enshrined therein. As far as the European Union is concerned, within the meaning of the Partnership Agreement between members of the ACP and the EU provision exists for political dialogue and consultative procedures. According to the Agreement; ‘The dialogue shall focus, inter-alia, on specific political issues of mutual concern or of general significance.’ The specific issues include; respect for human rights, democratic principles, the rule of law and governance. The Agreement stipulates that representatives of civil society as well as ACP Parliamentarians shall be associated with the dialogue. Thus, having regard to their respective mandates, both CARICOM and the European Union, have roles to play in the circumstances presently obtaining in Guyana once called upon by the relevant stakeholders. Yours faithfully, Clement J. Rohee
Venezuela should be cause for concern DEAR EDITOR, While Guyanese are focused on our domestic political situation, events on our western border should be cause for much concern. The recent visit to Venezuela by two Russian nuclearcapable supersonic bombers and the announcement of plans to build a Russian military base on a Venezuelan island does not bode well for peace in the Caribbean region. In addition, the recent announcement that Iran will be sending two warships to Venezuela further aggravates an already volatile situation. There must be increased diplomatic efforts by all leaders of the Caribbean including Guyana to ease the tensions
especially in light of the declining political situation in Venezuela where the Maduro regime may seek to increase opportunistic military actions into disputed territory including Guyana. With Guyana’s current uneasy political climate and oil production expected to commence later this year, it is vitally important that we solicit the assistance of the international community and friendly countries to maintain peace and stability in the region. The Caribbean region must not be used as a proxy for conflicts existing elsewhere or to extend the influence of other countries through military means. Thank you. Bishram Kuppen
Comparing Sh…t hole countries on NCM DEAR EDITOR, Is it a moral obligation for USA Trump to call out the Sh….t hole countries in public? Maybe so, because they don’t want to declare their identities. Are they embarrassed or just not interested in the stigma? Even Freddie took us on the wagon and labelled us a Sh…t hole country . Blame him? With all the letters , emails rhetoric and blame game on Charrandass, we will always be labelled Sh…t hole country . Have you seen who the comparison are aligned with? Pakistan and Kenya. How are these dummies
going to get better? If you really want to see how good you are, compare yourself with someone better not equal or worse. Author Ashlee Vance explains how Elon Musk uses his overwhelming curiosity to suck knowledge and insights from experts in fields he has little to no knowledge or experience in; all this so that he can become better. Let’s compare the assembly with Poland – 100 seats, Northern Ireland – 90 seats . Have you noticed the even numbers as well? Food for thought Always be mindful of
your critics, they are telling you something. Listen carefully; don’t chastise them. Nelson Mandela once missed the criticism he gets in his daily newsprint, so he called up the columnist that day and asked “Hello Jonathan, I’m calling to see if you’re well or any mishaps you may have encountered today.” Jonathan replied, “Why? I thought you hated me so much with all the criticism. Mandela replied, “Oh no, why should I? You just keep reminding me what I should or shouldn’t and I thank you. “Maybe our so called politicians should learn
something from a great leader Mandela. Again, who do they take their leads from …TRUMP? Certainly not Nelson or Mahatma. We placed them there to protect us, to care for us, to create opportunities for us. Instead, they misled, they stole and fill their own coffers just like the dark days of the latter seventies and eighties. Steve Jobs said, “We hire brilliant minds so that they will tell us what to do. We don’t, that’s why we hired them, “We hired you Moses, time for you to interpret and act not fire back. Harry B.
Monday January 07, 2019
Charrandass had to be a liar and pretender to make our democracy work DEAR EDITOR, The recent voting by Charrandass Persaud in favor of a no confidence motion brought about by the opposition was immediately accepted by PM Moses Nagamootoo and the entire parliament. Shortly after, President Granger did too. The reality of the vote that requires the resignation of the government and fresh elections in three months seems to have struck the party leaders as soon as they leave parliament. They immediately took refuge in the one place where they can hide their sorrows and put up a defense to continue to hang on to power- the Constitution. They swathe the constitution along any conceived line of weakness and bend it to suit their own purpose in a valiant attempt to make Charrandass “YES”
into a “NO”. Fortunately! The speaker of the house did not buy it! There was Rickford Burke, articulating article 153 which speaks of the resignation of an MP from a party list of candidates to construe that the Charrandass vote for the opposition was illegal, making the no confidence motion null and void. Burke is alleging that the framers of the constitution had intended that MPs on a party list of candidates are compelled to vote in unison with the party lines and any vote otherwise, like Charrandass’s vote, is null and void. Surely! If that was the intent of the framers of the constitution, they would have stricken the concept of a no confidence motion from the constitution on grounds that it would be virtually impossible to yield any result.
Moreover the state would have been administered by the auspice of a dictatorship. There would have been no need for a debate on any issue since any vote, not in favour or likes of the ruling party, from any of its members, would be null and void. Parliament would be totally irrelevant –a waste of time and money in that scenario. Nevertheless! It was always the narrow minded intent of both of the two major parties (PPP and PNC) to have it that way because together they made it possible, through legislation in parliament for a party to withdraw or dismiss an MP if it is perceived that he or she will not be in sync with the parties’ interest on an issue. So while Charrandass was complaining of having a crisis of conscience about being a “yes man” in parliament, he
should not be worried because all MPs are yes men for the whims and fancies of the political parties that put their names on the list. They are not at liberty to have a mind of their own and let the party have knowledge of that. This is the quintessential undoing of our democracy. This is the reason Charrandass had to lie and pretend to get an opportunity to strike his blow to make our democracy work. This should enlighten our people on how necessary it is for us to have CR. Our MPs need to be elected by popular vote in their constituencies and should not be removed by the whims and fancies of a political party but rather by popular vote in future elections. The list system must be done with. The people must have the right to elect their Continued on page 6
Ex-President Manuel Antonio Noriega Moreno of Panama Was, Why Not Bharrat Jagdeo, Ex-President of Guyana? DEAR EDITOR, I am initiating an enquiry titled: Ex-President Manuel Antonio Noriega Moreno (Manuel Noriega) of Panama Was, Why Not Bharrat Jagdeo, Ex-President of Guyana? Such an enquiry has a punitive component as its conclusion. Ex-president Manuel Noriega of Panama was arrested in his own country by orders of the president of the USA, extradited to the USA, charged and tried on eight counts of drug trafficking, racketeering, and money laundering in April 1992. (1). Why is ex-president Jagdeo at least, not taken before the courts and tried for his many alleged crimes and criminal associations, and associates? According to Wikipedia reports: “The 1988 Senate Subcommittee on Terrorism, Narcotics and International Operations concluded: “The saga of Panama’s General Manuel Antonio Noriega represents one of the most serious foreign policy failures
for the United States. Throughout the 1970s and the 1980s, Noriega was able to manipulate U.S. policy toward his country, while skilfully accumulating near-absolute power in Panama. “It is clear that each U.S. government agency which had a relationship with Noriega turned a blind eye to his corruption and drug dealing, even as he was emerging as a key player on behalf of the Medellin Cartel (a member of which was notorious Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar).” “Noriega was allowed to establish “the hemisphere’s first ‘narcokleptocracy’”.[12] One of the large financial institutions that he was able to use to launder money was the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI), which was shut down at the end of the Cold War by the FBI. Noriega shared his cell with ex-BCCI executives in the facility known as “Club Fed”. On the other hand Jagdeo’s alleged criminal associations are so farreaching and alarming that it
PAGE 5
Kaieteur News
motivated a senior official of the Colin Powell State Department (DOS) to regard him as a “Mafia” Head of State. Then US Ambassador to Guyana, Roland Bullen, in a 2006 cable to DOS stated that Guyana was believed to be “a narco-state” and that “If Guyana is a narco-state, then Khan is its leader” – An indication that Jagdeo was compromised and had surrendered governance of the country to Khan’s criminal enterprise. (2). By Richard Millington, Research Assistant – George Washington University Law School Jagdeo has offered facile denials of any association with Khan, which strain credulity. There is at least one tape, reportedly in the possession of US officials, which purportedly shows him meeting Khan. Moreover, a Guyanese businessman informed US officials that on one occasion when he had an appointment with Jagdeo at Guyana’s Presidential Complex, he was made to wait for hours. He
added that he was flabbergasted and got a stomach ache when he saw Jagdeo emerge from his office with Roger Khan. The sight of the President meeting with the country’s most notorious criminal incensed him and forced him to relocate from Guyana. Around 1999, Khan, at the urging of some members of Jagdeo’s regime, formed a gang nicknamed the “phantom death squad.” The phantom gang unleashed a reign of terror on the Guyanese nation. It received governmental support through Jagdeo’s then Minister of national security Ronald Gajraj. Telephone records show Gajraj was in constant communication with gang leaders before and after major murders and executions. It was later discovered that Gajraj was the co-leader of the gang. The phantom gang (a right-wing death squad) committed over four hundred murders for hire and executions of mostly young Continued on page 6
A misleading headline? DEAR EDITOR, Your headline on Saturday, January 5th, 2019 publication reads, “No-confidence vote challenge…Govt. files writ against Speaker, Attorney General and Charrandass Persaud” is misleading. The Guyanese public, I am sure will like some answers: 1. Who is Compton Reid? 2. Is he acting on behalf of the Government of Guyana (GOG)? 3. If he is acting on behalf of the GOG, who gave him that authority? 4. How much is the lawyers’ fee? 5. Who is paying the lawyers’ Regards. Charles Sugrim CPA
Guyana govt. wants two bites of the cherry DEAR EDITOR, The Guyana Government wants two bites of the cherry because in its Motion filed last Friday it only asks the Court to deal with one issue whether or not Charrandass Persaud, Canadian citizen, was not eligible to vote YES in the No Confidence Motion; if being the holder of a Canadian passport was eligible to be a Member of Parliament. In the pleadings the applicant Compton Reid did not seek a determination in connection with the number of votes required for the Motion to be passed. Attorney General, Basil Williams, said on Saturday that their grouse is twofold; Charrandass disqualification from voting given his Canadian citizenship and the other 34 rather than 33 votes constitute the majority required for the no confidence motion to be passed. It seems to me the government is splitting up the cause of action to prolong the issue as long as possible. I am not sure if there is any merit in the 26-page Motion filed. I have no doubt that lawyers for the PPP will scrutinize Reid’s claim with a view of filing a Motion to strike out the proceedings. The main point is that Persaud was chosen/elected by AFC, the junior partner of the APNU/AFC government and they should have ascertained that he was “fit and proper” to be a law maker. He has voted in several Bills and his vote was vital for them to be passed in the National Assembly. If the
Court now finds that he should not be a Member of Parliament it will put the government in a quandary as regards the laws passed because of Persaud’s vital vote. This will ultimately put the entire nation in chaos. It is written in stone that the Motion was passed there was no objection by the government lawmakers before the Speaker made his ruling. In fact both the President and Prime Minister then accepted the ruling. They cannot at this stage annul the Speaker’s ruling. Moreover the Judiciary has no jurisdiction to violate or extend any time frame prescribed by the Constitution since the Constitution is supreme and the Judiciary is subject to the Constitution and not vice versa. If the learned trial judge denies the Motion to strike out, the PPP lawyers should request a speedy trial hearing every day until a conclusion is reached. The same should apply if there is an appeal. Appeals in England and other Commonwealth nations like Fiji and Bangladesh can be leapfrogged to the highest Court, but I do not think that this is applicable in Guyana. Meanwhile the no confidence passed on December 21 remains valid and binding until it is invalidated by the Court. It is important to note that the PPP is contending that the Court cannot intervene; by doing so it will be sanctioning an illegality. Oscar Ramjeet
PAGE 6
Monday January 07, 2019
Kaieteur News
The coalition made Charrandass a hero DEAR EDITOR, A lot have been said about the Charrandass “Yes” Vote, to bring the gov’t down, whether he voted by conscience or inducement from the PPP. The coalition made him a hero. They continue to make him a super hero, by challenging the decision of Parliament and pretending that they do not understand that 33 is bigger than 32, theorizing with arithmetic, the same constitution prevailed for so many years, which set a precedence. They are destroying their chance of winning an election, so no more arithmetic. Show the voting public that you are ready to abide with the outcome of the no confidence vote and no more greed for power. You blew it. The PPP won. What I do not understand, at Charrandass budget speech, his body language, his psyche, the content of his speech shows that he is on his coalition side, but in a few days what gratification of his impulses, what inducements changed his mind to vote with the PPP? Is conscience so vulnerable, so fragile? The following are some of the reasons from the public, which the coalition is aware, that make Charrandass a hero and the coalition a replica of the PPP: 1)Power in the hands of the irresponsible is a highly volatile commodity. It blinds them to reality, thinks that they are above God and the people who supported them. 2)The power holders speak to the people who helped to put them there with a tone of disrespect. They knew everything better than anyone else, not open to weighing and considering, compare and contrast. Charrandass said to me about a year ago, that the front benchers are too far front; they do not listen, they know everything and that it looks like he is a Yes man. 3)The coalition did not only take power from the PPP, they took Jagdeo’s
arrogance, treat people like untouchables, took Jagdeo’s unruly horse, corruption, favoritism to a few friends, family and activists and those with integrity was branded with ‘arrogance’ 4) Dr Jagdeo worked for the PNC at the Ministry of Finance (MOF) before 1992. He knew the modus operandi and allegations of corruptions at MOF, because MOF deals with money ie Finance. Dr. Jagdeo kept all the PNC staff at MOF, and when the Coalition won the election, they keep all the PNC/Jagdeo staff and made Winston Jordan Minister of Finance. The same game because of the same players. This would explain why no one is being convicted on the forensic audit. The same players, the guys at MOF might be implicated. Further, Dr. Jagan borrowed me from the Gov’t of Canada to head the PEIP, an IDB programme which was approved in 1989 during the PNC govt, when Min Jordan was the Budget advisor. In my opinion, the US$52m for PEIP was about six times more than the scope of work. 5)The drug bond issue, a house, a place unfit and underused for drugs, was bought by a coalition activist with Government money, and the government is renting it for $12m per month from him. How shameful? To add, three members of the coalition investigated and approved the bond as a standby. 6) Min. Harmon was in China with a Jagdeo boy, B.K Tiwari, who previously had a truck selling food to pork knockers, struggling to live, became multi-millionaire and Min Harmon wants to make him an advisor to the Minister of Business. He advised the GRA not to charge duty on some trucks. Min. Harmon saw a cheque paid for the US$5m as balance of payment for GTT. He could not remember the name. He should be fired by a good manger, the President. 7) The procurement
commission left out known people of integrity, Guyanese, and imported a Jamaican. That uses Guyana’s limited foreign exchange. What happened to people of known integrity like Chris Ram and Anand Goolsarran? Should the people construe that integrity is not needed? 8) The IFMAS Min Jordan. We stood on Jagdeo stomach for not implementing the two modules that deals with Transparency and Accountability. What have the coalition done? Is it not urgent anymore? Is it because the coalition is a replica of the PPP? 9)What about the constitutional reform and the rest of the manifesto promises? 10) The oil is the peoples own. Why hide the contract like the PPP did? Why hide the US$18m signing bonus? Why not revisit the oil contract, a call of the people, especially that the reputation of the oil companies in other countries when the oil is gone and the people remain poor? Only the oil boom in the 70’s changed Trinidad a little, but still so many people are poor. May be corruption by the politicians and their friends and mismanagement, poor contract arrangement, because the politicians’ conscience are tied under the table. Dem boys probably unloose Persaud’s conscience. If he joins the PPP or speak for the PPP then he is a Harcati. 11)What about the Hamilton Green pension increase? A man who does not have a good reputation among the Indians and educated Afro Guyanese. These are voters Prez. 12) Creating a ministry of Citizenship by breaking up the Home Affairs Ministry, and failing to choose the GECOM Chairman from a list of 18 persons is politically incorrect and suicidal. The President technically sent a message that the election might be rigged. The challenge to the no confidence vote, is envisaged as buying time to set up the
rigging mechanics. 13) The present so called impasse on the no confidence vote, is further destroying the coalition. The people are saying that “the PNC does not want to give up power. Even a layman knows that 33 is higher than 32; it is better they vote for Jagdeo, because he give up power easy, although we know that all the politicians want to get their hands on the oil money”. 14) I fully support the increase of the ministers’ salary, because of their social status change and it cost a lot to be on stage. But the pension and salary of the President should be reduced, so should the salary for the PM and Attorney General. These are some of the items to be corrected when we win the elections. It did not happen.
17) The government is right to close the sugar factory. Sugar is failing in the world; people prefer healthy sweeteners, like beet etc. Trinidad closed their sugar factories like Brechin Castle, Caroni, St Madeline etc, but they provided for the workers, a four-day per week work, to assist to maintain government assets, to weed dams and trenches, clean and paint buildings etc. The coalition is criminal by dumping the sugar workers with nothing to do for survival and not even give them their severance pay. This is largely Indians workers, and it send a very bad message of racial decision. I know the decision was not a racial one. 18) When myself then Ramjattan then Ramkarran, criticized our own PPP at that time, for value for money and all the same reasons that
motivated Charrandass to vote ‘YES, YES, YES’, were we Judas? Were we Traitors or we cared for the people? I wrote an 11-page letter to Jagdeo then, appealing to him for his own reputation to act prudent, for people not to think he is corrupt, be transparent and accountable, live to Dr. Jagan ideals. Instead, I was technically fired. Dr. Jagan died March 6, 1997 and a letter dated March 7/1997 terminated my services. Charrandass took the same stand as us; his conscience speaks, whether motivated by inducements. He is called a Judas, traitor and fired, by the same people who had a conscience then. Does politics or power eat our conscience? Yours Sincerely, Joe Persaud P. ENG, CSCE,EIC
Ex-President Manuel Antonio Noriega... From page 5 African Guyanese men. It is also responsible for hundreds of kidnappings, including that of a US diplomat. The gang also assassinated then PPP Agriculture Minister Sash Sawh, as well as anti-PPP journalist Ronald Waddell. Sawh was locked in a bitter skirmish with Khan when he was killed. Waddell, a television talk show host, believed Jagdeo governed by ethnic supremacy and was unrelentingly critical of the PPP’s association with Khan. Jagdeo had also accused him of forming an alliance with Buxtonians who were resistant to the PPP government Phantom gang murder victim former Agriculture Minister Sash Sawh was a former Canadian citizen. Ronald Waddell was gunned down as he left his home in suburban Georgetown on January 30, 2006. During Khan’s trial in a New York federal court, Selwyn Vaughn – a former associate of Khan turned DEA and FBI informant, testified under oath that Roger Khan ordered Waddell’s execution. The source said that law enforcement
officials had information that Khan had a personal relationship with Jagdeo. Following the raid Khan threatened to “bring down” Jagdeo and his government if they didn’t get Felix “off his back.” The source said that Khan then instructed Jagdeo to get rid of Felix.” Within days of the operation, Khan, who had gone into hiding, published a full page ad in the Stabroek newspaper boasting of being head of the “phantom gang” and claimed he was “working in close association with the Jagdeo government to fight crime.” In light of the above revelations where Jagdeo and Noriega seem to be birds of the same feather, a call for the immediate arrest and trial of ex- President Jagdeo is well overdue. It is time that there should be Acknowledgement of the criminal involvements and responsibilities of exPresident Jagdeo as “a former Mafia Head of State” and of his collusion with others in making Guyana “a narco-state.” Jesus Gonzales 1. Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia 2. By Richard Millington, Research Assistant – George Washington University Law School
Charrandass had to be a liar...
From page 5 MP, not a political party. Another luminary (Nigel Hughes), enjoying the patronage of the coalition sought to throw a life line to the Coalition by delving into some form quantum mathematics to prove that 32.5 is equal to 33. In context of 33 being half of the MP’s then the total MP’s in parliament has to be 66-logics simplified. If Nigel is prepared to divide a person in two to make 32.5 as half of 65. I fail to see why another half of a person that is required to make 33 does not count as a majority, in his larger than half theory. It is funny! How political allegiance seems capable of driving even the learned into absurdity. The framers of constitutions all over the world decided on an odd number of representatives to avoid a deadlock on issues to facilitate continuity in governance structures. The oddity of total (65) depicts that the largest numerical number (eg.33) depicts a majority in a two-way component. (eg 33+32=65). Surely! Nigel would be aware that at the AFC congress last year, Trotman won the leadership over Ramjattan by one vote-
126 to 127. Nigel would have us believe that with an election that is ok and with a no confidence motion it is different. So Nigel goes shopping for precedents to subvert the orthodoxy of the meaning of majority but refuses to shop at the British parliament, from whence our constitution evolved. Nigel can take this one to the Bank! On the 28th March 1979, a no confidence motion was brought on the British Government of James Callaghan by opposition leader Margret Thatcher. It was passed in the house by one vote – 310 to 311. Will the coalition continue to ride Nigel’s hot air balloon? The speaker of the House stood tall in the eyes of the public on Thursday in parliament by not responding to the shenanigans of the coalition. The Attorney General was swift to announce his intent to go to the courts in pursuit of their so called “options.” Going to the polls seems inevitable. The coalition would be better served channeling its energies in that direction. Rudolph Singh
Monday January 07, 2019
PAGE 7
Kaieteur News
I am not a ‘yes man’ - Patterson Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson says that the vote by his former colleague Charrandass Persaud left him “hurt and in shock,” and that neither he, nor the AFC, are ‘yes men’ for the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). Patterson gave this heated response on Thursday when he was asked by journalists to address concerns that the Alliance for Change (AFC) became “YES men” in the APNU+AFC coalition. “Well, you see, that is [a] fallacy I wanted to address. If anyone is thinking that I am there sitting (in the House or at coalition meetings), and I am just going to be a YES man, they definitely don’t know me. I am not a ‘yes man.’” He expressed that, though Charrandas Persaud’s vote left him in shock, he could understand Persaud’s interests being compromised because, being in the sugar belt, he
...urges media to question Persaud’s apparent contradictory statements
Former MP and AFC member, Charrandass Persaud could be compromised by divergent political interests. “I do understand Charrandass being in the sugar belt, and that is what I consider…the PPP stronghold, and there is misinformation that will occur and all of that.” Patterson said “Charrandass used to tell us
what they are saying and we would address it.” He further explained that Charrandass Persaud’s vote and consequent criticisms of the government were particularly surprising, because Persaud would always tell him what was needed “in terms of roads, lights and bridges… and we sought to cater to those. But never did he raise other concerns about the party with me.” Patterson explained that he’s not faulting Persaud for exercising his right to dissent, but that he expects persons to be “absolutely honest” about why they’d make such a decision. Even then, he said that Persaud’s dissent has not hurt the relationship between the AFC and APNU.
“We had full and frank discussions on this matter. We made a collective decision on how to operate, and that is where we are…” In his interview, Patterson implored members of the media to question Persaud more about apparent contradictory statements. “But perhaps, you should ask him, what particular issues he thought he was muted on. Can’t be the Berbice Bridge. Can’t be the sugar workers.” AFC Member, Jermaine Figueira recently blasted Charrandass Persaud, for what he deemed as Persaud’s “naked misrepresentations”. This is due to the fact that Persaud made statements after the no-confidence vote that seemed to contradict his
statements before he made the vote. Notably, Charrandass had, in Facebook posts, sought to defend the government’s closing of the sugar estates. In a Facebook post on March 8, 2018, Charrandass chastised former sugar workers for keeping their children from school, saying that they could send their children to school, but that they choose not to, to please the PPP/C’s criticism of the government. Then after the vote, Persaud said that the closure of the estates is one of the mistakes the government made that left him disappointed. Figueira also spoke about Persaud’s statements during the budget debates, where the former AFC member spoke
Minister of Public Infrastructure and AFC Executive, David Patterson very strongly about the capital expenditure for the Berbice Bridge. Figueira, in a letter, asked “Why would someone, in justifying a vote of conscience and speaking about his own integrity, engage in such an easily disproved untruth to support his case?”
Youths should form pressure group to advance political interests - The Policy Desk By Kemol King The Policy Desk, a newly formed youth organisation, held its first session at the Theatre Guild, yesterday, with the formation of a political pressure group to advance the interests of that demographic high on its agenda. The three coordinators of the Policy Desk are Dennis Glasgow, Vishal Joseph and Eden Corbin. The Policy Desk, which aims at sensitizing young people about political and civic engagement, heard arguments from youth advocates about the formation of a political party for youth. Since the No-Confidence motion on December 21 last, politicians on both sides of the divide appear to have begun to pander to the youth demographic, the largest one there is. Persons at the Policy Desk’s forum were urged by the facilitators to be true to their own interests, and not be tokenized by political parties. Founder of Youth for Local Government party, Clayon Halley, said that youth do not have the capacity and experience to form a political party that would receive enough support and involvement to have enough power in the National Assembly. Halley’s Youth for Local Government party contested the 2016 Local Government Election. “I basically started that group because I feel young
Young Guyanese at the Theatre Guild, yesterday people need to get involved. My hope with that was for young people to use the local government process as an avenue to learn and understand the governance structure, and how things work, to better prepare themselves for central government.” Building from the inspiration that started that movement, Halley strongly advocates for the formation of a national youth pressure and lobbying group. Although youths, between 18 and 35, make up about 64 percent of the list of eligible voters, Halley said that a political party could wait and serve its purpose in the long term, while the Policy Desk forms a pressure group. Halley, 28, who is a husband and father, said that it’s
better for youths to start “looking at something that’s more realistic to have immediately, as [opposed] to something that I see happening long-term.” “I think that there are a lot of nuances about forming a political party, set with ideology and all of that. “If you go to parliament as a party, people will see you as a minority group with little power. Taking that position makes a group partisan. There is the likelihood that that party could alienate youth who identify with other parties. “You don’t need all the formalities to set up a pressure group. So, you can have a pressure group tomorrow; you pick areas of advocacy or issues that you want to deal with, and you could use that
as an avenue to lobby the government and see certain changes occur. You could host a press conference and say: ‘These are the issues we are looking at and want government to address.’ You are likely to get a response.” He explained that, if the group purports to form a political party, they would have to “set up a campaign, go to election and hope that you win seats so that you can get at the table to effect any change that you want to see. Also, your numbers might be in the minority, even if you get seats. So you might put something forward and it might be shot down by the others on the other side of the table. It’s better to look at the pressure group now, than a political
party. “So I think the pressure group would [sort of] serve as a majority if you get all young people to come on board and to advocate.” He said that such a group shouldn’t be relegated to just Georgetown but across the nation. “That’s why it’s important that what happened today is replicated in the other regions, so that we could get a regional
approach to pressure, rather than just a central approach to pressure. For me, [the pressure group] would yield immediate response, more than a political party.” The Policy Desk, for the purpose of building on these grassroots engagements, will be travelling to multiple regions and will develop a report for political parties to use for the advancement of youth interests.
PAGE 8
Monday January 07, 2019
Kaieteur News
Natural Resource Fund Bill not perfect By Kiana Wilburg Since the passage of the Natural Resource Fund Bill, there have been concerns that the advice of international and local experts on the loopholes contained therein for risky investments were not properly addressed. But Finance Minister, Winston Jordan has addressed these concerns by stating that there is no such thing as a perfect Bill. The economist said, too, that what is not contained in the Bill can be made into regulations. “And it is felt down the road that certain things need to be addressed then it can be amended,” added the Minister. Jordan also said that the Bill, which is expected to receive the President’s assent this week, has received the Commonwealth’s stamp of approval. In a correspondence seen by this newspaper, the Commonwealth Economic Adviser of its Natural Resources Division, Dr. Daniel Wilde, said that the passing of the Bill represents an important milestone in the effective management of petroleum revenues. Wilde said, “The Bill provides a strong basis for a Natural Resource Fund that will transparently manage petroleum revenues and conform to the Santiago principles. The Fund should also significantly contribute to economic stabilization, a fairintergenerational transfer of natural resource wealth and a sustainable fiscal policy.” He said, too, that it is very
…Amendments or regulations can be added later if needed - Finance Minister
Finance Minister, Winston Jordan impressive that the Finance Ministry sought to put the law in place for the Fund prior to petroleum production commencing. Wilde noted that many countries have significant oil production for many years before they establish such a fund. Additionally, the Finance Minister reminded that one of the key mechanisms in place to ensure the Fund managers do not engage in acts of corruption is the Public Accountability and Oversight Committee. This body which will see representatives from the Media, the Guyana Bar Association and Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. (TIGI), will be responsible for monitoring and evaluating the compliance of the government and other relevant persons when it comes to the principles of transparency; good governance; and international best practices, including the
Santiago Principles, when using the Natural Resource Fund. It will also be tasked with providing independent assessments on the management of the Fund and the utilization for withdrawals from the Fund. According to the Bill, the Committee is expected to consist of 22 members who are nominated in accordance with Part Three of the Bill and appointed by the President. The Committee will include a representative from civil society organizations and community based organizations, a nominee to represent women with the said person being nominated by civil society organizations, a nominee of the Bar Association of Guyana, a representative of the Guyana Consumer’s Association, a nominee of the Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a nominee of TIGI, a nominee of the Guyana Press Association, a nominee of most representative associations of trade unions, a nominee of the Private Sector Commission, one nominee from each of the 10 Regional Democratic Councils and a nominee from academia who is nominated by the governing council of the University of Guyana. The Bill is silent however on their being a seat at the
Oversight table for a member of the political opposition. Furthermore, the Bill points out that a person shall not be eligible for appointment if he or she is a Parliamentarian, an employee of the Ministry, an employee or owner of an organization who is engaged by the Minister or Governor of the Bank to assist with the management of the Fund, is a member of the Investment Committee established under Section 13 of the Bill or the Macroeconomic Committee that is established under Section 20 of the Bill. One is also not eligible to be on the committee if he or she is insolvent or is, or has been declared bankrupt, is of unsound mind or otherwise medically unfit, or has been convicted of any offence not minor in nature. The draft legislation notes that the President may terminate the services of any Committee member for a number of reasons, two of which include incompetence and misconduct. Additionally, the Government has paved the way for the Committee to have financial resources to carry out its functions. It is also expected to publish bi-annual reports of its activities on its website and that of Parliament’s. These reports will also be provided to the National Assembly as well as the President.
CRUCIAL ROLE OF OVERSIGHT BODIES Whether or not rules are in place, independent oversight bodies have important roles to play in holding governments to account for the management of Natural Resource Funds. This was recently endorsed by Chatham House, a non-governmental organization based in London whose mission is to analyze and promote the understanding of major international issues and current affairs. Chatham House explained that in many countries, the courts are explicitly mandated to determine the constitutionality of legislation and ensure government compliance with laws, including those governing natural resource fund management. Where the courts are free from political interference, Chatham House said that judicial review is a strong form of independent oversight insofar as courts are able to enforce their decisions on the government. Chatham House said, “Some countries are not brave enough to embrace this type of independent oversight. But the evidence is overwhelming to prove that this is an extremely powerful form of ensuring transparency and accountability in the operations of the NRF. In 2008, the TimorLeste Appeals Court found
that a $290.7 million withdrawal from the Petroleum Fund by the Government was illegal. The rationale was that it violated the 2005 Petroleum Fund Law requirements that the government provides a detailed explanation for the withdrawal and that petroleum revenues be managed for the benefit of current and future generations. The Court was able to order that the money be returned to the Fund.” Turning its attention to the importance of Multi-Stakeholder Groups, Chatham House said that some countries have established formal forms of these oversight bodies to reinforce and support the work of traditional bodies such as Parliament and the Judiciary or to provide an additional source of regulation. Chatham House said that in Chad, Ghana, and TimorLeste, civil society persons such as Chartered Accountants, trade unionists, traditional leaders, and central bankers, form formal oversight committees for their country’s NRFs. The transparency body said, “Ghana’s Public Interest and Accountability Committee, for example, is mandated by law to monitor the management of petroleum revenues as outlined in the Petroleum Revenue Management Act. TimorLeste’s Petroleum Fund Consultative Council, which consists of various civil society persons is mandated to advise Parliament on how the country views the operations of the fund as well as recommendations for improvement…”
Disgruntled with politicians…
Activists launch national discourse for youths By Trishan Craig The Policy Desk, founded by young activists, Vishal Joseph, Dennis Glasgow and Eden Corbin, on Saturday hosted an event aimed at fostering social and political engagements among the nation’s youths. Their main objective is to target young people who want to see their peers more involved on their behalf. They hope to educate youths about civic and political issues, and open doors for persons to come on board, and ensure that the interests of young people are best represented. Well over 200 youths filled the seats at the Theatre Guild, as they aired their views about politicians fully representing them, and to learn to be more open to involvement in political systems. Notable persons present included Directors of Youth and Sport, Melissa
Carmichael and Christopher Jones and Professor Paloma Mohamed, who is also chairperson of the board of the Theatre Guild. Persons from major political parties were also present at the gathering. One of the event facilitators, Vishal Joseph, has
fore beginning his speech; by simply stepping up to the podium, picking up the microphone, then stepping aside for a few seconds. He then gave context: “That is exactly how the youths of today behave when it concerns politics. They are there but suddenly step away
“You can learn and understand what is happening around you so you can hold these persons accountable for their vows to you, not allowing yourself to be pawns in a play…” - Youth activist Vishal Joseph worked on projects educating young Guyanese on the systems of government and what they can do to hold all political organizations accountable. He sought to highlight the major factor about the nation’s youths, when it concerns politics or burning social issues. He did a little scenario be-
when politics steps in, like it doesn’t concern them.” “That is wrong,” Joseph said. To change that, he urged the youths to step up and charge, not only the government, but the opposition, organisations and any other entities vowing to represent them.
The founders from left Eden Corbin, Dennis Glasgow and Vishal Joseph “You can use the very social media you are so much a part of on a daily basis to engage with persons. Learn and understand what is happening around you so you can hold these persons accountable for their vows to you, not allowing yourself to be pawns in a play.” Persons happily took up
the offer as they laid out what they expect from persons representing them, while hoping that they add these very concerns to their campaign manifestoes. Many persons took up the charge to take ownership of their position, when it comes to moving Guyana forward. They vowed to support the
team when it moves to other regions for the purpose of giving the young voices of Guyana a chance to reach the government, therefore, holding them accountable for whatever vows they make. The team stressed that they are not doing this initiative for any political party or organisation.
Monday January 07, 2019
DEM BOYS SEH
Speed is the deal Hardly a week goes by without some tragic road accident caused by speeding. Guyana’s roads are now one of the major causes of deaths. The more the government invests in improved highways, the faster the vehicles go and the deaths multiply. But behind all the speeding is an economic element. We have become a market-oriented world. In this world, time is money and therefore we have been culturally conditioned by the mass production line. The faster the line goes the greater the production. The greater the production, the better chances you have of retaining your job and getting a fatter bonus at the end of the year. Speed therefore counts. On the production line things cannot move slowly for slowness connotes a lack of progress. Speed is the deal. The production worker hurries off the line at the end of his shift and goes home. He has been conditioned to believe that
time is precious so as soon as he gets out of the factory it is straight to his preferred mode of transportation. No time to stop and look around and experience his environment. When he reaches home, he also does things quickly unable to break the rhythm of his work. To relax, he sits in front of a television and seeks to fill the emptiness that has been caused by a process that treats him like the product he is producing at work. To fill that void he has to seek more thrills. He needs thrills and thrills are usually fast-paced. The market fills these needs by providing products of excitement: movies that are filled with action and rapid twists of scenes, high-voltage entertainment and drinks that hype your energy; and of course recreational parks where flirting with danger is transformed into a fun activity. The need to flirt with danger becomes more acute because of the weather which denies outdoor activities for a substantial part of the year.
Thus when the weather is good, hay is made of the conditions. The need for thrill becomes a tonic to satisfy the disconnectedness caused by living in a consumer society. This is the culture that has penetrated Guyana because of the advent of television and the increased travel by Guyanese and those who come to Guyana. It is creating a culture of moving fast. It is leading to speed and trying to get things done. But that is not the traditional way of the Caribbean. Hard work does not mean fast work. And getting somewhere fast does not mean that you will end up better off. The hunger for speed is insatiable. People are not slowing down. They are racing to go to the market; racing to go to work; racing to get home; racing to get out of the house after they have gotten home. Even in cricket we have seen the popularity of a shortened form of a shortened version of the
President Granger urges media to fact-check before reporting The need for media operatives to uphold the tenants of journalism were hammered home yesterday morning by President, David Granger at State House. He was at the time, delivering remarks at his annual media brunch. The event was attended by representatives of several news agencies and Ministers. There, Granger said that the government will lend its support to ensure that some form of history about the 74year old Guyana Press Association (GPA) can be published. He said this would give young entrants to the profession a better understanding of what media operatives went through over the years. He also thanked the press corps for the sensitive
PAGE 9
Kaieteur News
…Commits to funding for training handling of his disease— Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma— for which he is still receiving treatment. Further to this, Granger insisted on the need for training of local journalists. He said that the money for this is available for the GPA to utilize. Granger also spoke to the need for journalists to be accurate with their reporting. He noted, too, that there is a need for self-regulation. In this regard, the Head of State stressed that the GPA is a guild, meant to regulate the behaviour of its peers and prevent them from excesses. Also offering remarks at
the event were Guyana Press Association Head, Nazima Raghubir and Executive Director of the National Communications Network (NCN), Enrico Woolford.
33+32=56
game, all because of the need to provide greater thrills rather than showcase greater skills. People are impatient to get where they are going even though when they get where they are going they seem to have a great deal of time on their hands. Guyana is addictively hooked to the fast-paced culture. We need that regular fix of speed to make us feel alive. We are speed junkies. The consequences we see are tragic. We are destroying our lives by this addiction to speed. We need to stop and take stock and ask ourselves whether this preoccupation with speed is improving the quality of our lives or whether it is doing just the opposite; making our lives less meaningful and satisfying. What we see happening on the roadways is part of a material culture that is wreaking havoc with lives. We need to stop and take note of this fact and to try to make sense of what is taking place within our society.
The three stooges was popular pun TV in de 1950s. Dem use to got de whole world laughing. All of dem dead but Guyana got anodda set and dem more funny than de old three stooges. This set been to a special school. Dem boys want to know which school, if in this day and age dem don’t know simple mathematics. 33+32=65 and 33 is greater. De whole world know that but de stooges in Guyana got a problem wid that Maths. One stooge think he smart. He seh he looking into bribery. Dem boys want to know how he coulda been deh three and a half years and he couldn’t see bribery and corruption. Now he going and look for see who bribe Charranrass. Why he didn’t look fuh see bribery with the drug warehouse on Sussex Street or de feasibility study on de bridge? Anodda stooge telling people on his FB page, “a gov’t can topple by arms or gold.” Dem boys want to know if he hinting that Charranrass tek gold for a bribe. And even if that is so none of de stooges can’t prove it for anodda twenty years. Look how much Bharrat and ee buddy tek an none of de stooges, even SOCU and SARA can’t even prosecute one of them. Dem boys seh tell de nation how Charranrass can get prosecute. But dem got anodda story. De stooges seh how Charranrass pledge allegiance to Canada and because a dat, he vote shouldn’t count. Well, dem boys want to know what happened wid all them time he vote. And wha happen wid de odda 26 who gat dual citizenship? Would you guys call back all dem votes? If de stooges can’t decide if 33 bigger than 32, how dem gun decide wha dem gun do wid all who got dual citizenship in de Parliament? Moses is anodda one. De coalition appoint him to fix de constitution. He sit down 40 months now, collect fat, fat salary and de only thing he fix was heself. Dem boys she de coalition better get dem head fix. If not dem gun mek Jagdeo look like Gandhi. Talk half and fix de constitution, quickly.
Monday January 07, 2019
Kaieteur News
PAGE 11
PAGE 12
Monday January 07, 2019
Kaieteur News
LGC divided on City Hall COI report recommendations - to meet with M&CC officers on Wednesday The Local Government Commission,( LGC) appears to be divided regarding their response to the recommendations that a Commission of Inquiry has made about the operations of City Hall. A source close to the LGC revealed that individuals on the eight-member commission have expressed divided views on the recommendations, and this has led to a delay in implementing the COI’s recommendations. The meetings have apparently become so contentious that at least one member, (Carol Sooba) was asked by Head of the Commission, Mortimer Mingo to recuse herself from a recent meeting. Tensions have mounted among the senior officials of the LGC as they deliberated on whether criminal charges should be filed against employees of City Hall. Kaieteur News understands that the discussions were so heated that at one point some of the officers were put out of the meeting. It was subsequent to this that members of the Commission were asked to vote to remove Sooba from the hearings. The ousted Commissioner
told this newspaper that she had willingly recused herself from any considerations that dealt with recommendations for her to be paid her benefits. However, she stressed that as a constitutional office-holder, the LGC has no authority to vote her out of the meetings dealing with other matters of the Council. “It was on the insistence of the Chairman, Mortimer Mingo and Vice-Chairman, Andrew Garnett and two others that I was instructed to remove some of the recommendations from the report as well,”Sooba said. “I’m a constitutional office-holder. I am a Commissioner. If I recuse myself from my matter, there is no issue on any other matter that I should recuse myself. “But I believe that they have an ulterior motive. They are trying to circumvent the recommendations and want me out of the way because as a former officer of the city council I have institutional knowledge, and if I am there I can interfere with the plans. ” Sooba believes that LGC is operating with a double standard since another com-
Members of the LGC with President David Granger after they were sworn in to serve at the Constitutional Body missioner reportedly has a personal interest in the issues being deliberated. However, she said that Commissioner was not asked to leave. “That officer is Andrew Garnett, former head of the Guyana Local Government Officers Union, (GLGOU). He has a sister Wendy Decuhna who currently serves as the President of the same Union which represents City Hall workers. She testified before the COI. Why is he not asked to recuse himself?” At present, Sooba is considering her legal options but is adamant that as a constitu-
Guyanese receive missed calls with Russia’s area code Have you received a call from a mysterious phone number with the country code, 7? If so, you are advised not to return such calls. Persons took to social media yesterday to voice their concerns about missed calls from telephone numbers with that extension, which happens to be Russia’s area code. Attorney-at-Law, James Bond, took to Facebook and issued a warning: “For the persons getting calls from Russian numbers, please note elections are in the air and someone has contracted experts to probably create a database. Expect text messages and emails next.” This contention builds on the back of similar claims that were raised against US President, Donald Trump, for whom millions of bot social media accounts, sourced back to Russia, spread pro-Trump propaganda, during the US election season.
tionally elected Commissioner, she should be able to perform her duties without hindrance. “I will fight for my rights as Commissioner. They have no authority to put me out of a meeting. I must be able to function and I will be attending the meetings,” she stated. Since November there has been no development on the recommendation from the public hearings. However, Kaieteur News understands that the LGC will be meeting with members of the Council on Wednesday. After that, it will be decided what action will be taken against the officers of the council. The CoI report prepared by lone Commissioner Justice Cecil Kennard (ret’d) to Chairman recommended that termination of embattled Town Clerk, Royston King, and in-
stitute criminal proceedings against him. Among them is a call for criminal investigations to be pursued against several senior city officials. The report obtained by Kaieteur News indicated that other senior officers be terminated for their poor management of the affairs of the city; and that where irregularities are found, criminal investigation and charges be laid against defaulting officers. In light of the findings, the CoI recommends that there be further investigations in the form of a forensic audit by the Audit Office of Guyana. The report calls for officers to be disciplined even as that audit is being conducted. The senior officers listed included, Royston King, who was sent on leave to facilitate the CoI. King is cited for gross misconduct, abuse of office,
recklessness, dishonesty, conspiracy, and misappropriation of funds. Also listed in the report are Acting Town Clerk, Sharon Harry-Munroe who is cited for dereliction of duty and incompetence; Assistant Town Clerk, Sherry Jerrick, for dereliction of duty and incompetence; Internal Auditor, Omodele Umojo-Newton for incompetence and conspiracy; Chief Constable, Andrew Foo for dereliction of duty and incompetence; Human Resources Manager, Paulette Braithwaite for incompetence; City Engineer, Colvern Venture for incompetence and dereliction of duty; and Rashid Kelman for conspiracy. Further, the report noted that City Treasurer, Ron Mc Calmont, should proceed on early retirement as he is unwell.
Youths must step up and air their views - former GPA President
Bond also said, “Additionally, these should be scammers, so please do not call back.” Reports of calls from mysterious foreign numbers have surfaced in America, Canada, South American countries and elsewhere, over the past five years, from countries such as Russia and Belarus. These were found to be one-hit
scams; a ruse with the intent of getting curious victims to return the calls, inadvertently agreeing to hefty rates being taken from their mobile credit. Former Guyana Press Association President, Gordon Moseley, said that persons should not call back because “it’s part of an international fraud.”
Former Guyana Press Association (GPA) President, Gordon Moseley, charged youths to be actively involved in politics and civic matters as he cited that they are not stepping up and airing their views on such issues. He made this charge last Saturday as the Policy Desk, an activist group, hosted their inaugural event. During the open discussion of the forum Moseley stated that, “You youths are not stepping up…you are saying it is hard for you to make a change. Look at Georgetown which has a 28 year old mayor and a 19-yearold councillor. “To say that young people are not getting involved, they are getting involved but not enough of them. Youths need to support
each other and see their efforts through.” According to Moseley, the young people are not reading or going to events to become aware about provisions for them to come forward in certain engagements. However, they are crying out that there are no initiatives set aside for them. “I go to political rallies and it is of no surprise that the people who fill the seats at these events are no other than the older folks. There are youth leaders seated at this gathering and many have failed to bring out the members of their groups.” “If you go through the budget estimates, almost under every ministry there are programmes and initiatives geared towards young people.” He further urged the
Former GPA President Gordon Moseley youths to step up and bring in their ideas and listen to others so that they can develop ways that are beneficial to them. Moseley advised the youths to explore avenues in which they can take the lead to see things through and get them done.
Monday January 07, 2019
PAGE 13
Kaieteur News
Guyana Shop, an invaluable space for agro-processors For over six years, the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC)-- the Marketing arm of the Ministry of Agriculture--through the Guyana Shop has provided a space for local Agro-processors to develop, stock and market their products to the Guyanese public and the Diaspora in a way that no other business or agency provides. Though the Guyana Shop recently celebrated six years of being reopened, the supermarket has been in existence for over 30 years. Prior to its name (Guyana Shop) the local supermarket was known only as the GMC Supermarket. During that period, it sold fresh fruits, vegetables and a variety of meats in addition to small-scale agro-processed items. After the supermarket reopened its doors as the Guyana Shop, the decision was taken to place emphasis on mainly marketing local agro-processed items in the local supermarket. The number of products in the supermarket, after it reopened its doors, has grown tremendously. “We have come a very long way where agro-processing is concerned, since the opening of the Guyana Shop in 2012,” said Kevin Macklingam, Guyana Shop Manager. Mr. Macklingam said that there were only 600 products on the shelves when the Guyana Shop reopened its doors to the public. But, to the credit of the diligent staff, who have been working assiduously to attract new agro-processors to the supermarket, the list of products on the shelves of the Guyana Shop has now grown to 1476 and continues to grow each year. Not only have the items increased, but the number of agro-processors has also increased. "The number of Agro-processors has already increased by 100 percent and the presentation of their products has changed rapidly," said Macklingam. He also indicated that there have been significant improvements as it relates to the quality and the overall presentation of the local product. Rodiekah De Freitas, who joined the Guyana Shop family with her line of spices (Diekah's Spices) just two months ago, is beginning to reap the benefits. "My products, since being placed in the Guyana Shop, are beginning to move," DeFreitas said, with a broad smile. "With the different activities that I have been a part of, I must say that they have opened doors for me to better market my products, especially the recently held Farmers’ Market Day where I was able to make meaningful linkages," she happily explained. Ms DeFreitas,
Porridge Sampling Sessions that were held at the Campbellville Health Centre through the Guyana Shop, was also introduced to other leading supermarkets in Guyana. She said because of GMC’s assistance she will soon be supplying the Bounty supermarket with Diekah's Spices. Meanwhile, Mr Aubrey John, owner of GT fruit wine, who recently returned to Guyana and introduced his products to the Guyana Shop, said he is enthusiastic about being part of the Guyana Shop family. "I know from experience, when I want something local I would go to the Guyana Shop to get it. Because of this, I know it would be the same thing for other persons who live overseas and would want to purchase local products," John said as he awaits the "unlimited exposure" his product would receive. In addition to marketing local-agro processed products in the Guyana Shop for the year 2018, there has been a plethora of marketing opportunities for agro-processors, many of which have led to meaningful linkages with farmers, exporters, local supermarket owners and persons who are interested in purchasing agro-processed items. Some of these invaluable opportunities for the year were the Porridge Sampling Sessions that were held at three Post Offices in region 4, Agroprocessors’ Exhibitions which took place in region 4 and 6 and the Emancipation Exhilaration that took place at Stabroek Square. Apart from these marketing opportunities, staff from the Guyana Marketing Corporation, when invited to other exhibitions, be it regionally or extra-regionally, would use the opportunity to promote local products available in the Guyana Shop. The products in the Guyana Shop are not only available in Region 4. It is important to note that beyond its Robb and Alexander streets location, the Guyana Shop has, over the years, been quite instrumental in securing space for agro-processed
products in local supermarkets in seven of the ten administrative regions in Guyana. These supermarkets include: G&P Jaigobin & Son Supermarket and Safeway Supermarket in Region 2; Ram's Supermarket in Vreed-enHoop, WBD, and L. Bukhan & Son Supermarket, Parika in Region 3; R. Prasad's Service Station (Mary), Mon Repos, Railway Embankment, E.C.D in Region 4; Right Choice Supermarket, in Region 5; Rambrich Gas Station, No. 41 village, Bengal, Corentyne, Spready's Supermarket, Port Mourant, Canawaima Ferry Stelling; Moleson Creek and B's Mart Supermarket, Main Street New Amsterdam, in Region 6; Williams Brother Supermarket, First Avenue Bartica, in Region 7; and Savannah Inn Supermarket, Lethem, in Region 9. In addition to that, Guyana Shop would also supply the Food Maxx Supermarket with local items. Further, the Guyana Shop stocks products from 9 of the 10 administrative regions in Guyana, with the exception being Region 7. The greatest concentration of products comes from Region 4. Products are sourced from communities as far as Rose Hall, Region 6; Hosororo Hill and Three Brothers Village, Re-
gion 1; North Pakaraimas, Region 8; Aranaputa Valley North Rupununi, Region 9; and Ameila's Ward, Region 10. Some of the items available in the Guyana Shop are jams, jellies, sauces, seasonings, several types of flours, porridge mixes, coconut oils, (Continued on page 19)
Guyana Marketing Corporation Manager, Richard Hanif showcasing a product
Guyana Marketing staff marketing agro processed items at an event held in Essequibo
A section of the wide variety of products at the Guyana Marketing Corporation
PAGE 14
Monday January 07, 2019
Kaieteur News
More baffling murders test cops in new year A couple stabbed to death in their bedroom…two brothers gunned down in an apparent robbery, a midwife beaten and strangled in her apartment, while her little daughter sleeps nearby... There are among the baffling new cases that will test investigators in the new year, along with a host of unsolved ones from 2017 and previous years. WHO IS ‘DELON?’ On the night of October 25, 2018, Paulette Wade’s sixyear-old daughter awoke to find the family’s Kwakwani Park, Region Ten home in darkness. Lying next to her three-year old brother and her mother, the child saw her mom, a 37-year-old midwife, struggling with someone, while crying out what sounded like the name “Delon.” It was too dark for Wade’s daughter to identify the attacker, and so terrified was she that the child shut her eyes and remained in bed. At around six-thirty the following day, Paulette Wade’s daughter got up and found her mom lying motionless on the bedroom floor. Wade’s daughter then ran to a neighbour’s house, and accompanied by a nine-yearold friend, went to the Kwakwani Hospital, some 200 metres away and told her mother’s colleagues what she had seen. The hospital staffers returned and found that Wade was indeed dead.
Harricharran “Davo” Samaroo
Paulette Wade
Alvin Blucher
Naco Malika Hale
Rainella Benfield
A post mortem revealed that Paulette Wade was beaten and manually strangled. But investigators found no sign of forced entry to the house. Baffling also, was the absence of a clear motive. The killer had apparently not taken any valuables. There was also no sign of an attempt at sexual assault. Investigators briefly detained Wade’s reputed husband, who was employed with a mining company. They also questioned a woman who had reportedly sent threatening messages to the midwife, and whose image Wade had allegedly seen in a mobile phone. Still working on the theory that someone was sent to kill Wade, investigators picked up a number of individuals, including some who were named ‘Delon.’
Among them was an individual who had reportedly once done work on Wade’s home. He too was released. Examining Paulette Wade’s house more closely during a second visit, the investigators discovered that there was a flaw with the back door, which could have enabled an intruder to enter the premises. They also found other clues that have caused them to detain a Kwakwani resident, also named ‘Delon’, whom they had questioned during the early stages of the investigation. The man lived a short distance from the slain midwife’s residence, and could reportedly use a track to reach her home. The man admitted to having known Wade, but police found nothing to implicate him in her death. A ‘LOCKED HOUSE’
MYSTERY How did someone sneak into a locked house, apparently locate the correct bedroom that a couple occupied, stab them repeatedly, and slip away unseen and unheard? That is apparently what happened on December 11, 2018. One of the four children of Alvin Blucher, 48, and Naco Malika Hale, 34, woke that day to find his parents dead in the bedroom of the family’s threebedroom house at Kuru Kururu, Linden/Soesdyke Highway. Each body bore at least 15 stab wounds. The couple’s four children, including a sixyear-old who had reportedly slept with the parents, allegedly said they had heard nothing unusual. The closest neighbours had reportedly heard no screams. At first, police believed that they were dealing with a murder-suicide, or that the victims had inflicted the mortal wounds on one another during an argument. They dispelled this theory when a postmortem indicated that the wounds on both victims were inflicted with a pair of scissors, which was left at the scene. The scissors had been in the house for some time. Investigators concluded that it was virtually impossible for one mortally wounded partner to have had the strength to wrest the weapon away and stab the attacker multiple times. Blucher was charged in August, 2018 for allegedly wounding the couple’s eldest son. He was due to return to court within a few days. Some investigators have come up with a shocking theory as to who committed the murders. GUNNED DOWN BROTHERS When Harricharran “Davo” Samaroo, 46, and his brother Premcharran “Tully”
Samaroo, ventured over to their mother’s residence at Lot 446 Bush Lot Village on Old Year’s Day for a family get together as they would every year, they could not have envisioned that they would not live to see the year 2019. “Tully” and “Davo” were both shot dead, allegedly by three masked individuals who had invaded the residence. The killers were described as “young men” believed to have “known the area well. Irene Samaroo, the mother of the slain brothers, recalled that there was a power outage around 20:00 hrs Monday night. She was upstairs, preparing to bring a flashlight to the bottom flat, when she heard a series of explosions. On going downstairs, she saw three men with guns and a cutlass. Two ran towards an overseas-based relative, and the third ran towards Samaroo. She said: “Dem ketch ah uncle and dem seh come bring all the money; come bring all the US but the man tell dem how dem spend out some money at Rose Hall fuh buy some things. Dem na want hear that. “Me had some US in me shirt and me tek am out and give dem and tell dem how we poor, we don’t really get much.” One of the men forced the woman to accompany her upstairs and hand over a bag containing more money. She allegedly offered the robbers her gold jewellery one of them said, “We na want gold, we na want gold” and he ran out. When the robbers had fled, Samaroo ventured downstairs and found “Tully” laying dead on the ground. The family found Davo’s body near the fireside. During a postmortem, nine shotgun pellets were removed from Premcharan Samaroo ‘s body,
One bullet was recovered from Haricharran Samaroo ‘s body, he was shot in the chest. Police have questioned several youths from the area but are apparently still to make a breakthrough. COLD CASES FROM 2017 AND EARLIER Investigators still face the challenge of solving cases from 2017 and earlier. One is the brutal killing of 18-year-old Rainella Benfield. In December, 2017, the receptionist was found dead in a cemetery at Triumph, East Coast Demerara (ECD). Her face was bashed in and the skin ripped from it. The gruesome discovery was made two days after Benfield, of Lot 99 Canterbury Walk, Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara, was reported missing. Investigators believe that Benfield was struck with a rock which was found near her body. Benfield’s boyfriend and five of her male friends were detained and released. Benfield’s father had come up with theories about the possible killers. He had pointed fingers at a ‘group’ to which his daughter had belonged, while urging the police to find the killers. But the investigation took a dramatic turn in 2018 when investigators detained three family members of the slain teen. It was now suggested that an individual known to the teen had intercepted, confronted and killed her while she was heading home. Since then, police appear to have made no progress with their investigation. The murders of three other women, who were found in cemeteries, also remain unsolved. The victims are 20-yearold Dioana Warrick, known as ‘Dee Dee,’ who, while pregnant, was stabbed and strangled in Le Repentir Cemetery in January, 2005; Patricia Younge, 19, murdered in a Bachelor’s Adventure, East Coast Demerara cemetery in February, 2014, and 40-yearold Afroze Ali, called ‘Aunty Lizzy,’ found strangled in a Zeelugt, east Bank Essequibo cemetery in January, 2012.
Monday January 07, 2019
PAGE 19
Kaieteur News
Revised 2018 Forest Policy…
Robust laws needed to increase transparency of timber allocation processes The Revised Forest Policy 2018 calls for robust legislation to increase the transparency of the timber allocation processes as well as other natural resources, and the continuous auditing of operations. According to the policy, this is necessary in order to ensure compliance with forest and environmental management standards, increase the delivery of goods and services at higher commodity prices, and ultimately contribute to the growth of Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product. The Policy also outlines initiatives to continuously strengthen forest allocation and management, such as the European Union Forest Law, Enforcement, Governance and Trade (EU-FLEGT) process. The aforementioned policy goals along with a few others, covers from last year to 2028, and will be reviewed in 2023 at the halfway stage of implementation. The Policy reflects Guyana’s movement away from valuing of forests for simply their wood and trees, and instead, treats forests as
part of the national patrimony, to be managed collectively. It notes that forests cover approximately 87 percent (18,483,000 hectares) of Guyana’s total surface area. It said that the country’s economic development and prosperity is therefore directly tied to the management and use of its forests and forested lands. Aside from the timber industry, the policy states that Guyana’s forests are key to tourism development, biodiversity conservation, wildlife management, bioprospecting, soil fertility and nutrient cycling, and other ecosystem services (water provisioning, carbon sequestration, etc.). Of the forestland, 12,249,000 hectares have been designated as State Forests and placed under the management of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) - 4,792,420 hectares (37.25%) of this land has been allocated to the forest industry for timber extraction. The revised policy notes that Guyana has made steady progress in the sustainable management and use of its forests and, more recently, has been leading international ef-
forts to more accurately value forests beyond simply their timber potential. Following the formulation of the last policy in 2011 the document notes that a number of significant changes have occurred with relevance to the sector. It should be noted that the 2011 revision of the National Forest Policy Statement (NFPS) and the Guyana’s National Forest Policy Statement (NFPS) came in response to the Co-
Pompeo to press Saudis on Khashoggi case ALJAZEERA - US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will call for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) unity and emphasize the need for accountability and credibility in the investigation of the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi during a trip to the Middle East next week, US officials said on Friday. The trip, scheduled for January 8-15, will take place less than a month after President Donald Trump's surprise decision to pull US troops out of Syria. The trip will include stops in eight countries, including Egypt, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, where Pompeo will discuss the "importance of a united Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in standing against" Iran, according to a State Department statement. The visit will come against the backdrop of the ongoing blockade on Qatar by Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt. In imposing the blockade in June 2017, the quartet accused Doha of supporting "terrorism", an allegation Qatar vehemently denies. Khashoggi murder probe While in Riyadh, Pompeo is scheduled to meet Saudi leaders to discuss Yemen, Iran
US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo and Syria. The State Department said in a statement that the top diplomat will also "seek an update on the status of the investigation into the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi". An official, speaking to reporters on the condition of anonymity on Friday, said Pompeo will raise the case with Saudi leaders and "continue to push for accountability and credibility from the Saudi leadership as they move through the legal process that began earlier this week". The official added that "from our point of view, that the narrative emerging from the Saudis throughout the legal process has yet to hit that
threshold of credibility and accountability." Khashoggi was killed on October 2 after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain documents for his upcoming marriage. After initially offering several contradictory statements, Saudi Arabia admitted that Khashoggi was killed inside the consulate. Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia said the 11 suspected killers of Khashoggi attended their first hearing in Riyadh. The prosecutor is seeking the death penalty for five of the suspects, the official Saudi Press Agency reported. The United Nations said on Thursday that it could not assess the fairness of the trial. It also called for an independent investigation "with international involvement". Pompeo's trip comes less than a month after the US Senate approved two resolutions that took aim at Saudi Arabia. The first called for an end to the US involvement in the Saudi-UAE-led military campaign in Yemen, while the second said that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is responsible for Khashoggi's murder. Politicians have vowed to take up the legislation again this year.
operative Republic of Guyana’s (CRG) promulgation of its Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) which established that Guyana would maintain its forest cover in order to offer climate services to the global community. The LCDS was being used to garner payments from the international community in return for the ecosystem services the country provided. The first Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the CRG and the Kingdom of Norway in 2009. Financial support for Guyana was linked to its suc-
cess in limiting greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and establishing institutions and practices to implement a REDD-plus Governance Development Plan (RGDP). This included the development of a Monitoring, Reporting and Verification System (MRVS) to provide a performance measurement framework for the REDD+ financing mechanism. The CRG, in recognizing the need for a holistic approach to the sustainable management of the country’s forests, released the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) framework in 2016. The Strategy envisions a
green, inclusive and prosperous Guyana that provides a good life for all its citizens based on a sound education and social protection, low-carbon resilient development, green and decent jobs, economic opportunities, individual equality and political empowerment. The policy noted that Guyana serves as a model of sustainable development and environmental security worldwide, demonstrating the transition to a de-carbonized and resource efficient economy that integrates the multiethnicity of our country and enhances quality of life for all Guyanese”.
Guyana Shop, an invaluable space... (From page 13) soaps, honey, crabwood oils, coconut cream, teas, a variety of wines, among others. Expressing her gratitude for the collaboration that has been forged with the Agroprocessors over the years, Ms. Ida Sealey-Adams, General Manager of Guyana Marketing Corporation noted that she looks forward to the continued support as the Corporation intensifies its effort to promote local products. She added that through the corporation's public private partnerships with supermarkets and other retail shop owners, they have benefitted from the allocation of spaces in their Supermarkets to market local Agro-processed products. Elaborating on future plans for the Guyana Shop, Sealey-Adams said: "It is envisaged that this ongoing re-
lationship will result in Guyana Shop corners in all ten administrative regions. Further, plans are in place to establish at least one Guyana Shop corner regionally and extra-regionally in the not too distant future. In this regard, in 2019 the Corporation will undertake missions overseas to pursue this venture." Ms SealeyAdams also thanked the supermarket owners who continue to support the Guyana Shop and agro-processors.
Sealey-Adams is also encouraging persons, locally and internationally to get on board and partner with the Guyana Marketing Corporation to support local agroprocessors. "Individuals and businesses locally, within the Diaspora, regionally and internationally who are interested in partnering with us, can contact us at the Guyana Marketing Corporation for any information they may need," Sealey-Adams said.
Public comes to aid of... (From page 17) around midnight on December 1, a senior medical official “told me that my wife gone from bad to worse and I should pray.” “At around five o’clock, I was going to the ward where they had her first, and before I could reach, a doctor looked at me and said that my wife passed away at around ten past four.” Meanwhile, the baby girl is healthy and has been released from hospital. The couple has a six-year-old daughter and a son, who is almost three.
PAGE 20
Monday January 07, 2019
Kaieteur News
Carjacker’s skeletal remains and body of tortured man found
Parts seized from suspected carjackers last year The skeletal remains of alleged carjacking mastermind Trevon Chung were found yesterday in the Kuru Kururu backlands, while the body of another man, with burns and other signs of torture, was found in a bush shed in the same Soesdyke-Linden community. Relatives said that they found Chung’s remains at around 11.30 hrs yesterday, a day after they received word that he had been murdered. A relative, who said they were accompanied by police ranks, stated that they identified the remains by a touque and other items at the scene. Kaieteur News understands that a pair grey threequarter pants, a pair of slippers and a cell phone battery were also near the remains. Because of the state of the body, police were unable to ascertain how the 48-year-old resident of Sandville, Kuru Kuru met his demise. However, there are reports of residents hearing gunshots in the area prior to the discovery. Relatives said that some individuals said that he had been shot. Earlier in the day, police
were summoned to another section of Kuru Kururu, after residents found the battered body of an unidentified man in a bus shed. Police sources said that the victim, who is of African ancestry and about six feet four inches in height, was clad in a pair of blue jeans, while his head was tied with a red bandana. A brown jersey was found near the victim, who was topless. Kaieteur News understands that the victim appeared to have been beaten and stabbed. There were burns and other signs of torture on the corpse. CARJACKING SUSPECT A brother of Trevon Chung, the other slain man, said that on Friday, a woman informed their mother that Chung was dead. Worried relatives then attempted to contact Chung by mobile phone, but received a voice message which indicated that the instrument had been turned off. Their concerns mounted when they visited the missing man’s home and found it empty and a pot of food “filled with worms” in his kitchen.
Family members then contacted the police and scoured area in Kuru Kururu without locating Chung. They continued the search yesterday and eventually located his remains. Chung was said to be one of the masterminds in a massive carjacking ring that had links in Georgetown and in areas on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway. The gang was dismantled last year, but Chung was never arrested. Police believe the carjackers stole hundreds of vehicles. Some of the stolen cars were ‘hired out’ to drivers. Police recovered the shells of several of the stolen vehicles and several individuals, including two of Chung’s relatives were charged for their alleged involvement. During the crackdown, police also seized several stolen vehicle parts at North Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara and Monument Hill, Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke/Linden Highway. Police had said that one of the key players was a former policeman, who allegedly rented out the stolen cars to young taxi drivers.
Govt. deemed illegal for failing to implement constitutional provisions with ‘all convenient speed’ Former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran is calling on the Government to be more mindful of the Constitutional provisions which follow a noconfidence vote. Ramkarran in a recent column cautioned the Executive of the illegality attached to the failure to observe the Constitution. The former Speaker stated that “Article 106(6) states that the Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by a vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence. Notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election.” He noted nonetheless in what appeared to be a response to comments made by Second Vice President and Minister of Security, Khemraj Ramjattan that President David Granger and Cabinet are unlawfully seeking to hold unto office by not resigning.
– Ramkarran Following the passage of the no-confidence vote which was passed in the National Assembly, Ramjattan had told the media that there has not been a resignation of the President or the Government nor will there be such a resignation. After failing in their efforts to have the no-confidence motion reviewed in the National Assembly a court case has been filed to set aside the vote. Government is challenging the vote on the grounds that Charrandass was invalid because he holds a Canadian passport. An order to stay the no confidence resolution is also being sought. The columnist stressed however that until the resolution is declared by the court to have been unlawfully passed, it remains valid and binding. Because Article 106(6) provides no time within which the resignation should take place, it should “be done with all convenient speed,” as provided by section 28 of the Interpretation and General Clauses Act. Not yet having acted in compliance with Article 106(6) by resigning, the Cabinet including the President are unlawfully holding on to office, he said. Meanwhile, the former Speaker said that the consid-
Former Speaker, Ralph Ramkarran eration would no doubt also be given to the right or power of a court to interrupt a constitutional process, set in train by a parliamentary motion, on which a vote was taken and deemed to have been carried. “If the power exists, should it be exercised, ad interim, upon an allegation that is prima facie answerable by article 165(2) and in circumstances where the national applicant, the Cabinet, is committing a continuing wrong by not resigning? “The question will no doubt be: How can a court allow a Cabinet to stay in office when the Constitution, a superior instrument to the court, by which the court is bound, says that it should resign?”
Constitutional compliance, Elections preparations to headline meeting with President - Jagdeo Opposition leader Bharrat Jagdeo has said that the compliance with the Constitution in relation to the no- confidence motion and preparation for free and fair elections will be the main issue on the agenda of the meeting with the President on January 9. His response came on the heels of a response from Government as it regards his request for a meeting with the President. In the letter, Minister of State Joseph Harmon had enlightened Jagdeo that “His Excellency the President will meet with you on 2019.01.09 at 11:00 hours at the Ministry of the Presidency.” In the letter, too, Harmon noted that “it would be appreciated if you indicate the matters you wish to place on the agenda for the said meeting.” The Opposition Leader had indicated his interest in meeting with the Head of State on the heels of the No Confidence motion of Friday December 21, 2018 which went in favour of the opposition 33 – 32. The motion of no confidence in the government
Opposition leader, Bharrat Jagdeo was submitted by Jagdeo himself. The opposition was able to clinch the victory over the government side owing to the fact that AFC Member of Parliament, Charrandass Persaud, opted to vote in support of the opposing side. Persaud has since been expelled from the Alliance for Change [AFC] party] which makes up the A Partnership for National Unity + AFC Coalition government. With the no confidence motion gaining traction fol-
lowing Government’s defeat, this means that constitutionally, new general elections must be called within three months unless a later date could be agreed upon. But Opposition Leader [Jagdeo] had expressed concern about the “integrity of the elections” should it be held within the given time frame and had thus stressed the need to meet with President Granger to deliberate on the way forward. In a statement on the issue, Jagdeo further accused the government of acting in bad faith and doing everything to undermine this collaborative approach. “The Government has since reneged on the public statements accepting the passage of the no confidence motion using the most ludicrous arguments - which a 34/ 31 votes…. We will however still keep an open mind on issues of governance despite the bad faith approach and concerted attempts by the Coalition to squander the goodwill for progress and mature, sensible behaviour, “the Opposition leader stated.
Monday January 07, 2019
Kaieteur News
Corentyne man defies restraining order and beats wife in church He was recently placed on a ban to keep the peace after assaulting his wife. Instead, Samuel Dyal, called “Rasta” defied that order and floored the woman in church. He must now serve 12 months on three charges. Dyal, a 32-year-old labourer of Letter Kenny, Corentyne, Berbice, committed the acts against his wife, Nikita Dyal, on December 19 at her parents’ home. He did so again on December 30, 2018 at the Letter Kenny Full Gospel Church, Corentyne. The other act was committed against his mother-in-law. He appeared before Magistrate Renita Singh in the Whim Magistrates Court. The state’s case as presented by Prosecutor Inspector Althea Solomon is that the woman had moved out of the home she shared with the accused and had returned to her parents’ residence after being consistently abused by him. On December 19, last, the man ventured
to his in-laws’ home. His mother-in-law locked the gate and was ‘bracing’ it from the inside when Dyal proceeded to push at the gate. In the process, the woman fell. He assaulted her before he proceeded inside and assaulted his wife. The matter was reported and he was arrested and charged. He was placed on a bond and told to keep 100 feet from the woman, pending the outcome of the matters. At about 08:00 hrs on Sunday December 30, the woman was among worshippers in church when Dyal approached her and floored her with a cuff to her face. He accused her of neglecting the family. He was arrested and charged with assault causing actual bodily harm. Dyal was sentenced to nine months in jail. He was also sentenced to two months in jail for assaulting her on December 19 and one month for assaulting his mother-in-law, Basmattie, on the said day. The sentences are to run consecutively.
The Millenial Perspective Young, Lazy and Entitled By Kemol King I have longed to see a revolution of young, passionate individuals mobilising against injustice and for the promotion of our best interests. Every now and then, a few young activists or advocates start a group and say that they want to advance this cause. They get impassioned and they huddle up together to talk about how powerful we are; how great we can be. Then, they lose momentum. They go back to their lives, where they felt voiceless before, and it all just fades away. We have a lot to blame for our failures, today. We can blame rapid technological advancement for making us anxious and lazy. We can blame our parents for raising us to think that we could become anything we want to be, then we can blame global capitalism for concentrating so much wealth into the hands of rich, old, white men that things pretty much became dim for the rest of us. There’s a point at which you have to stop and tell yourself that, regardless of the limitations, you have to stand up and take what you want, yourself. That’s not my way of saying that young, millenials aren’t doing that. There are many dynamic young people involving themselves in the systems that affect their lives, trying to make positive change. The problem isn’t that we’re not involved. The problem is that we expect much more from society than we’re willing to work for. We are lazy and entitled; a recipe for failure. I knew that in this current political climate, young people don’t have much of a voice. What we have is positions in various ministries and departments of government, and political parties, where we are used as tokens to advance the political agendas of our seniors. Don’t crucify me; there are few exceptions. I don’t think that youth are given a voice in Guyana’s political arena. We weren’t going anywhere when the PPP/C were in government, and it went even further downhill when the APNU/ AFC coalition took over. One of the first things the APNU+AFC government did when it took office was to minimise us by turning the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport into a mere department. Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry was responsible for the ministry, and she had come heavily under criticism for her handling of it. Then, in 2017, the President announced that the responsibility for the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport would shift from Henry to Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton. I’m not even sure whether the Ministry of Social Cohesion is actually a ministry, or just a department, because it comes under the mantle of the Ministry of the Presidency.
- do we have the staying power?
This is something that I had not realised until a young man, Matthew Gaul, rose this contention at a youth forum I attended on Saturday last. Gaul said that he wants the department of Culture, Youth and Sport to be returned to its former status as a ministry, or rather, The Ministry of Youth. To add to that, I had been ecstatic in 2016 when I found out that there’s a National Youth Policy, which was adopted in 2016. The Policy is quite progressive, in my opinion, and it stated that a National Youth Empowerment Action Plan would be formulated to guide the execution of the plan from 2016 to 2020. We’re in early 2019, and there is no such plan. The policy wasn’t even available online, until late November, 2018. There’s a lot more that I could say that made me feel small in the eyes of this government, but I’ll stop there and talk about this new forum that I went to, which I’m hoping will be the youth forum that doesn’t lose momentum. Dubbed “The Policy Desk”, the inaugural session was held at the Theatre Guild on Saturday last. For full disclosure, the coordinators are Vishal Joseph, Eden Corbin, and Dennis Glasgow, who is a close friend of mine. The young activists said that the activity is meant to “foster a new era of civic and political engagement amongst Guyanese youth, many of whom are displeased, disappointed and uneasy about the current political climate.” Building on disgruntlement with the current political climate, they galvanised a gathering of over 200 young people in a matter of days, and told them that their voices matter. Then, they handed the microphone over. The aim of this new movement is the involvement of youth across the different divisions of race and class, and have youth recognised as a powerful political force who could organise and make demands to leaders about our development. They intend to have regular sessions, countrywide, and then report those demands to all political parties. What I heard was the same rhetoric I hear from young people every time they group up to talk about youth empowerment. There is a likelihood that this will diminish with time, but I’m hoping that they are as angry as I am with our leaders. And if they are, The Policy Desk could be an enduring, political force. While that builds, I will be on their backs, to make sure that they are as diverse, transparent, democratic and honourable as they need to be to make this country great.
PAGE 21
PAGE 22
Monday January 07, 2019
Kaieteur News
Woman bites elderly father’s ‘family jewels’ during fight 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. Eagle’s re-gas AC, Fridge, Washing machine & computer repairs, Gas stove, Plasma flatscreen, Electrical installation & more. Call: 6972969/646-0966
FOR SALE 1 Double Steel Wheel Roller, 1-9 Wheel Pneumatic roller, 2 Bitumen Kettle, 1- 3304 Di CAT engine. Tel#275-0367/ 683-7225
One bedroom apartment for rent in Soesdyke. Phone #6047022
Black German Shepherd pups, Riumzeight Gardens WCD. #269-0671/688-1656
1 bedroom self-contained apartment for rent @ 12 Sussex St. Charlestown G/ town $35,000. Tel#689-8757/ 227-7353
1 (250KVA) generator power by NT55 Cummings. Contact #269-0603/609-2350/644-1190
Short base super custom bus without engine & gearbox being sold for parts. #646-8748
VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 Leyland Daf 60, working condition. 658-4655, 618-4457 One Nissan Juke, PWW series. Tel#697-8269 LAND FOR SALE Farm (East Bank) $3.5M Eccles $7M Herstelling $4M & $5M Schnoord $3M Dairy $2M & $3M Tel#656-0701/648-1635 Transported land 11.6 acres. Lot 15 public road. #2 Village W.C.B. Price $18M. Contact 686-4818, 648-7109
Nursery: Phonics & Aftercare. Prenursery & playgroup services. Grades 1-4 phonics & reading. Common entrance preparation. Rising Star Academy. Call 6770296
Parfaite Harmonie 1.3M 2M, Farm, Providence 4M 3.5M, Tuschen,Herstelling. Call 6662326
LEARN TO DRIVE Ultraviolet Driving School is offering a New Years' discount of $10,000 for 6 (1) hour classes. Call#676-8783 TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 2257878 (24HRS)
N. Outar Driving School, Learn to Drive the right way. Affordable package. Call: 6445166/691-2561
(1) Motor Grader Operator to work on road project in interior, must have experience. Contact #680-2702/682-8251 VACANCY 1 Live-in Nanny/Domestic , must know to cook various foods, Age 38-50 #682-8251
1 experienced cook wanted. Call: 623-8654
PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS FROM $4000 & UP, SUV’S PER DAY- CALL:643-5122/6560087, ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM
One Mechanic to work in the interior must know about Cummins engine. Contact #699-4718
DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL:225-7126/ 2263 6 9 3 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL @YAHOO.COM/ WWW.D OLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM HEALTH HERBAL REMEDIES: Diabetes, Hypertension, Infertility, Menstrual disorders, Enlarged prostate, Kidney,Gall stones & Arthritis etc. Call Sparman #676-5924
American Pool table. Tel#2770578 PEN PAL Male seeking one single mature female for friendship or marriage. Ages 25-35. Whatsapp #692-6133
3 bedroom bottom flat apartment WBD. Call: 6893699/267-1446 NEW HOUSE- unfurnished in Diamond, 4 bedrooms ( 2 selfcontained) 3 1/2 bathrooms. Call: 696-3915,668-9166,6669426 WANTED Waitress to work in Bar. #6924649
An unrepentant female security guard who continuously bit her father on his penis and other parts of his body during a fight has been jailed. Rovell Leitch, 38, a Security Guard and mother of four of Nurney Village, Corentyne, Berbice committed the act on Old Year’s Night on her father,
One female domestic worker to work in Trinidad. Age 2535 yrs. Tel# 1868-386-5302
CAR RENTAL
TO LET Land for sale in Eccles. Tel# 668-8403, 216-0644
1) Experienced front end loader operator 2) Bulldozer operator. Contact #2235273,223-5274
Wanted experienced hire car drivers at Ramada Princess Hotel. Contact #616-5419/2657075
FOR SALE/RENT
FIRST AID/CPR COURSE. ST JOHN AMBULANCE BRIGADE TO COMMENCE LATER IN JANUARY, 2019. TEL# 225-9082
We buy land in Eccles, Herstelling, Farm, Parfaite Harmonie, Uivlugt, Zeelugt, Providence & Dairy Tel# 6117223/651-1969
Cooks, Apply @ Shanta’s- 225 Camp St
German Shepherd pups for sale. Contact Devi# 639-2828/ 225-3721
House and land available at Parfaite, Tuschen, Diamond etc. Contact Pacific Development Inc. 223-6035/ 604-4909
EDUCATIONAL
1 bedroom apt for working couple/single person $40,000 monthly. Light and Water included. Lodge. Call: 6230076
1-CAT 215 Excavator, 1 CAT 428 Backhoe, 1 Mack concrete mixer 8 Cu yds, 1 450 Honda Atv. Call: 275-0367/683-7225
PROPERTY FOR SALE
Property for sale (1) 3 story building at 97 Sugarcane street S/Rvldt Gardens. Price US 1.5M neg. Tel: 695-1356 & 687-8445
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 One domestic worker between the age of 40-50 years old. Location E.B.D. Please call 641-7586 Wanted Land. Parfaite Harmonie, Eccles, Herstelling, Providence, Tuschen, Farm. Call 666-2326
1 Office Assistant. Send application to Pacific Development Inc. Lot 3 Church Street, G/Town or pacific.developmentinc @yahoo.com 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 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
Waitress for East Coast 18-25 yrs live in or out. $20,000 weekly. Tel No: 610-3974
Live-in Housekeeper for East Bank, must be able to cook indian dishes & have a clean police record. Call: 685-9668
1 Gardener/handyman between 21-30 years. Call 6751430 between 8:00am - 15:00 pm. $20,000 weekly. Police clearance required.
General Cleaner & Bond Clerk, must have police clearance, for more info call: 223-0090
VACANCY One general domestic/cook. Apply at Alabama Trading 65 Robb Street Bourda HEAVY DUTY MECHANICS & ELECTRICIANS, SMALL TOOLS SERVICE PERSONS, FIVE YEARS’ EXPERIENCE. CONTACT# 226-0573/6481249/659-0963 Experienced accounts clerk. Apply at Alabama Trading 65 Robb Street Bourda
Chef, Assistant, Cook and night supervisor. Preferably carnegie trained. Call: 2257933/ visit 173 Sheriff Street Looking for a job & educational services? Contact The Job Centre 43 Croal & Alexander Street or call 600-8457/683-8765 1 experienced male sales attendant, stocktaking knowledge. 1 General domestic (3 days work) Apply @ Keyfood McDoom with recommendation.
Roy Phillips, 72, a pensioner of the said village. The two lived in close proximity of each other. The woman appeared before Magistrate Renita Singh in the Whim Magistrate’s Court and was sentenced to three months’ in jail. The case for the Prosecution as presented by Inspector Althea Solomon, was that the two had a long standing dispute. About 20:00 hrs on the day in question, the woman left her phone to charge at her parents’ home and went out. She returned around 02:30 hrs the next day to collect the phone when she and her father got into an argument which developed into a fight. The man was topless and the woman bit his chest and he reportedly held on to her hair. Her mother tried to intervene and was tossed aside. The man fell and started to bleed through his nose. As they continued to scuffle, the woman got hold of the man’s penis and began to constantly bite it. The elderly man screamed until he was rescued. The man was rushed to the hospital in tremendous pain. The doctors in surprise asked, “What animal bit this man like this?” They were stunned when they were told that the act was committed by his daughter. He received emergency attention. The woman was arrested and charged. She told investigators that she got her satisfaction, because “she bit and grind and spit out and bit and grind and spit.” They were having a long standing family dispute over land. The woman is claiming that her father is discriminating against her by giving her other siblings lands and titles and not giving her. The man is contending that he is not giving her because of her hostility and disrespectful behaviour. In court, she showed no remorse. The woman had some time before to set herself alight.
Monday January 07, 2019
PAGE 23
Kaieteur News
Delay in speedboat waterfront project puts Supenaam residents in discomfort
The residents of Supenaam on the Essequibo Coast, continue to express their frustration over the delay of the Supenaam waterfront project. Reports reaching this publication indicate that the project which is estimated at some $34 M, is supposed to be completed by the end of this month. Based on the current rate of work, however, the project will clearly miss its deadline. This is according to councilor of the Regional Democratic Council [RDC], Arnold Adams. Kaieteur News understands that the Supenaam/Speedboat landing will include designated stands for vending, along with seating accommodation for passengers. The project also
catered for a special ramp, which will be constructed for persons with special disabilities, along with a parking lot for general purpose. The Good Hope/Pomona NDC temporarily relocated stall holders to a wharf, west of the construction site, about four months ago. Water taxi operators were also relocated to the vendor’s wharf. Hire car drivers on the other hand were relocated further north of the wharf, away from the construction site. Over the four months period, those who were relocated have grown quite impatient, according to Adams. He also claims that passengers who normally ply the Essequibo River via the water taxis, have difficulty boarding the water taxis, since
Some of the stalls under construction. the wharf presently in use was not designed for water taxis. Water taxi operators claim that there has been a tremendous decline in business.
France’s Macron reeling as tough stance against ‘yellow vests’ backfires
Protesters wearing yellow vests take part in a demonstration by the “Women’s yellow vests” movement in Paris, France, yesterday. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes PARIS (Reuters) - Emmanuel Macron intended to start the new year on the offensive against the ‘yellow vest’ protesters. Instead, the French president is reeling from more violent street demonstrations. What began as a grassroot rebellion against diesel taxes and the high cost of living has morphed into something more perilous for Macron - an assault on his presidency and French institutions. The anti-government protesters on Saturday used a forklift truck to force their way into a government ministry compound, torched cars near the Champs Elysees and in one violent skirmish on a bridge over the Seine punched and kicked riot police officers to the ground. The French authorities’ struggle to maintain order during the weekend protests raises questions not just over policing tactics but also over how Macron responds, as he prepares to bring in stricter rules for unemployment benefits and cut thousands of public sector jobs. On Sunday evening, Macron wrote on
Twitter: “Once again, the Republic was attacked with extreme violence - its guardians, its representatives, its symbols.” His administration had hardened its stance against the yellow vests after the protest movement appeared to have lost momentum over the Christmas holidays. The government would not relent in its pursuit of reforms to reshape the economy, government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux said on Friday, branding the remaining protesters agitators seeking to overthrow the government. Twenty-four hours later, he was fleeing his office out of a back door as protesters invaded the courtyard and smashed up several cars. “It wasn’t me who was attacked,” he later said. “It was the Republic.” Driving the unrest is anger, particularly among low-paid workers, over a squeeze on household incomes and a belief that Macron is indifferent to citizens’ needs as he enacts reforms seen as pro-business and favouring the wealthy.
According to Adams, there is a slow implementation of the project, allegedly because the Ministry has been making several changes to the design. “When they
come back they keep telling us we have some changes. They said that they will come back and keep consultations with the vendors, but yet they start building some small
things and the vendors already complaining that it has inadequate space and can’t even hold a freezer.” This publication understands that while the project is being executed directly by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, a committee was set up by the RDC to monitor the project. Arnold Adams was then appointed as the deputy Chairman of the said committee. Adams explained that while there needs to be a multi stakeholder approach, he was verbally insulted by a junior Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure while monitoring the project. According to Adams, “the minister said, you come out here again, this is ministry project what you doing here.”
Trump holds firm on border wall, offers steel option as compromise WA S H I N G T O N (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump yesterday pledged not to bend in his demand for a wall along the southern border with Mexico but said the barrier could be made of steel instead of concrete as a potential compromise with Democrats who refuse to fund the project. Trump’s comments came at the start of the third week of a partial government shutdown that has left hundreds of thousands of federal workers idled or without paychecks. Trump, a former New York businessman, said he could relate to the workers who would have trouble paying bills because of the shutdown and threatened, again, to declare a national emergency as an alternative way to build the wall, depending on the outcome of talks in the coming days. Democrats, led by new Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, consider the wall to be immoral and have declined to approve the $5.6 billion Trump wants to make good on the signature promise of his 2016 presidential campaign. Democrats, who took control of the House last week, passed a bill to reopen the government without wall funding. The debate was a “very important battle to win from the standpoint of safety, number one, (and) defining our country and who we are,” Trump told reporters at the
White House before leaving for a short trip to the Camp David presidential retreat. “The barrier, or the wall, can be of steel instead of concrete, if that helps people. It may be better,” he said. Vice President Mike Pence is leading a second round of talks with congressional aides yesterday about the issue, but Trump said he did not expect those talks to produce results. The White House warned again that the shutdown could last for some time while suggesting that the offer of a steel barrier was an olive branch to Democrats. Mick Mulvaney, Trump’s acting chief of staff, told NBC’s “Meet the Press” programme that agreeing to a steel separation would allow Democrats to stick to their refusal to fund a wall. “That should help us move in the right direction,” said Mulvaney, who is also the head of the Office of Management and Budget. Democrats would likely demand other concessions, like protections for immigrants brought to the United States as children, otherwise known as Dreamers, or changes to other spending provisions. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer did not show his hand when asked whether the White House offer to take a concrete wall off the table was evidence of compromise. “It’ll be discussed,” he said on NBC. Mulvaney, who took part in talks with Pence and
President Donald Trump congressional aides on Saturday, said technical requests bogged them down. “I think this is going to drag on a lot longer. I think that’s by intention,” he said. Large chunks of the federal government were shut down on Dec. 22 after lawmakers and the president hit an impasse over Trump’s demands to build a wall. About 800,000 government workers are either furloughed or working without pay. Trump is demanding that any funding to keep the federal government operational also include money to help build a $23 billion wall along the U.S. border with Mexico. Trump said on Sunday that he should not have to lower his demand for $5.6 billion, though he said he understood the impact the impasse was having on affected federal workers struggling to pay their bills.
PAGE 24
Kaieteur News
Monday January 07, 2019
Monday January 07, 2019
PAGE 25
Kaieteur News
PROBE LAUNCHED...
Atlantic Fuel also under-invoiced shipments from Morawhanna
The Commercial Invoice that was tendered to GRA with the US$0.25 cost. More Customs records of a fuel import company controlled by Dr. Richard Van West Charles, chief of the Guyana Water Authority (GWI), are indicating that a case late last year of underinvoicing to defraud the state of taxes was not an isolated one. The matter has now caught the attention of the Guyana Revenue Authority which sources say has launched an investigation. According to additional Customs documents seen by Kaieteur News, the underinvoicing also involves fuel that Atlantic Fuels Inc. was purchasing in the free trade border area at Morawhanna, North West District, Region One. Morawhanna is the gateway to Region One, with persons coming from Venezuela by water, expected to check in at the immigration operations there. Also there is a team of Guyana Revenue Authority officers. For a number of years, fuel has been brought to that area and local operators would make purchases, taking it to mining locations in the hinterlands and to the coastlands. The operators would pay taxes there. It appears that Atlantic Fuels, like a number of other operators, have been capitalizing on the fuel there which on average cost just US$0.50 per liter, a tad cheaper than Trinidad and other places. However, according to Customs documents, Atlantic Fuel presented GRA with a Commercial Invoice dated
September 25, 2018, which used a CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) price of US$0.25, half of the normal price. The amount of fuel was about 270,000 liters (71,326 US gallons). Atlantic Fuel declared that the cost was US$67,500 which caused GRA to collect
only $14M in taxes. The correct taxes should have been double that amount- which is almost $28M in taxes the state has lost. This latest disclosure comes on the heels of another shipment in September/ October last year by the same
company which was brought on a fuel ship, named “Century”. The shipment of 639,000 liters (170,000 US
gallons) was supposed to cost US$379,100. However, Atlantic Fuel’s director, Lear Goring, filed documents which pegged it at US$159,750. The state reported losses of $32M in taxes because of that. In Customs terms, the deliberate declaration of prices below what was actually the value or what was paid is known as underinvoicing. GRA uses the cost to assess taxes. Atlantic Fuel was controversially granted a licence in late 2015, months after the Coalition Government took office. Van West Charles, the sonin-law of former President, Forbes Burnham, received the licence for Atlantic Fuel in just over a month from the Guyana Energy Agency. Normally, licences take several months to be issued, because of stringent requirements, including environmental permits and time it takes to ready storage and other facilities. Several persons have
Altantic Fuel’s Director, Dr. Richard Van West Charles complained of the difficulties in the application process. Fuel trade is a highly lucrative business. It is one of the biggest earners for government, in terms of the taxes it rakes in. However, bribery and collusion, even involving GEA staffers, have been proving a problem. There have been complaints that while GRA has been squeezing small taxpayers, it seems to be not moving fast enough to tackle the tax evaders involved in the fuel trade.
Monday January 07, 2019
Newport, Barnet, Oldham produce classic FA Cup shocks LONDON (Reuters) Newport County completed a memorable day of FA Cup shocks as they stunned 2016 English champions Leicester City 2-1 on Sunday to follow fellow fourth-tier side Oldham Athletic and minor league Barnet into the fourth round. Humble Welsh club Newport had led from the 10th minute but their dream appeared to have been snatched away when Rachid Ghezzal smashed in a late equaliser, only for Padraig Amond to send the Rodney Parade faithful crazy with a penalty winner. Newport, who took Tottenham Hotspur to a replay last year, held on to beat a top-flight side for the first time since 1964. Oldham came from a goal down to defeat struggling Premier League Fulham 2-1 away at Craven Cottage while minor league Barnet won 1-0 at four-times Cup winners Sheffield United. Manchester City recorded their biggest FA Cup victory for 51 years, thrashing Championship side Rotherham United 7-0, but it was a day for the lesser lights, with bookmaker William Hill quoting odds of over 450,0001 for Newport, Oldham and Barnet all to win. Newport, 13th in League Two, set about Claude Puel’s Leicester side with relish and went ahead as Robbie Willmott raced down the right and crossed for centre forward Jamille Matt to glance home a header. Leicester, seventh in the Premier League after recent wins over Manchester City and Chelsea, eventually broke through in the 82nd minute as Ghezzal hammered a ferocious shot past keeper Joe Day who moments earlier
had denied Kelechi Iheanacho. There was a final twist, though, as Marc Albrighton, a stalwart of Leicester’s shock title-winning team, blocked a cross with his arm to gift Newport a shot at glory. Amond stepped up calmly to send his penalty past Leicester keeper Danny Ward, once a team mate at Morecambe. “He faced a few of my penalties in training so I was hoping he wouldn’t remember,” Amond said. The FA Cup has lost some sheen in recent years but Oldham and Barnet, along with third-tier Gillingham who beat top-flight Cardiff City on Saturday, revived the magic. Woking’s adventure ended in disappointment, however, as the sixth-tier club, the lowest-ranked survivors, succumbed 2-0 at home to Premier League Watford. CARETAKER MANAGERS Remarkably, both Oldham and Barnet have caretaker managers — Pete Wild and Darren Currie — who were taking charge of their respective teams for only the third time. There seemed little chance of an upset alongside the River Thames when Denis Odoi gave Fulham the lead in the second half but Sam Surridge equalised from the penalty spot. Fulham were awarded a soft penalty but Alexsandar Mitrovic, brought off the bench to take the kick, had his effort superbly saved by a Danish keeper Daniel Iversen. Callum Lang then sent 4,000 travelling Oldham fans wild with a headed winner in the 88th minute. “It’s Roy of the Rovers stuff. It is one you have to savour. I am the most proud
PAGE 27
Kaieteur News
man in Oldham, I can’t believe it,” Wild, in temporary charge after Frankie Bunn was sacked, said. Sheffield United began the day 84 places above Barnet but were outplayed by their lowly opponents for whom former Tottenham trainee Shaquile Coulthirst won it with a 21st-minute penalty after Richard Stearman brought down Ephron Mason-Clark. The victory was especially sweet for Currie, in charge after the retirement last month of John Still, as his uncle Tony was once a Sheffield United great and has a stand named after him. “I am really proud of them,” Currie, who made more than 100 appearances for the club just north of London, said. “(Sheffield United manager) Chris Wilder said we deserved it too. There were one or two scary moments but we came through it. I am proud as punch of the boys.” Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City joined Manchester United, Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal in the fourth round with a romp. Raheem Sterling scored early on and youngster Phil Foden’s first home goal for the club and Semi Ajayi’s own goal made the result a formality before halftime. Gabriel Jesus, Riyad Mahrez, Nicolas Otamendi and Leroy Sane completed the rout. Championship leaders Leeds United suffered a 2-1 defeat at Queens Park Rangers, third-tier Doncaster Rovers upset Championship side Preston North End 3-1, while Millwall beat Hull City 2-1.
Los Angeles Chargers hold off Baltimore Ravens to progress in NFL play-offs
Chargers running back Melvin Gordon scored his team’s only touchdown. (Getty Images) BBC Sport - The Los Angeles Chargers held off a late Baltimore Ravens fightback to win 23-17 and advance in the NFL play-offs. Rookie Mike Badgley kicked five field goals and his fifth, a 47-yarder, gave the Chargers a 23-3 lead in Baltimore with just over nine minutes left. Rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson threw two touchdowns to Michael Crabtree to move the Ravens within seven points.
But with 45 seconds to go, Chargers linebacker Uchenna Nwosu forced a fumble from Jackson to secure the win. The Chargers booked a second-round meeting next Sunday in New England against the Patriots while AFC top seeds the Kansas City Chiefs will host the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday. In defeat, Jackson became the youngest quarterback in NFL play-off history on the eve of his 22nd birthday.
Hodge, Cornwall leaves Red Force with tough final day
Off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall … grabbed four wickets.
Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic misses a penalty. (REUTERS/Eddie Keogh)
TAROUBA, Trinidad, CMC – First innings centurymaker Montcin Hodge fashioned an unbeaten halfcentury to follow up offspinner Rahkeem Cornwall’s four-wicket haul, as Leeward Islands Hurricanes left Trinidad and Tobago Red Force with a tall order today’s final day, to win their third round fixture in the Regional Four-Day Championship. Set 342 for victory at the Brian Lara Stadium, Red Force finished yesterday’s penultimate day on 26 without loss, still requiring a further 316 runs. They had earlier conceded a first innings lead of 173 after folding for 252 in their first innings. Resuming
on 146 for four, they lost opener Jeremy Solozano in the morning’s seventh over, caught at the wicket off Cornwall, after adding just two to his overnight 78. Two balls later, Cornwall trapped Yannic Cariah lbw without scoring to put Hurricanes firmly in charge at 154 for six. Cornwall continued to impress with the England series approaching, claiming four for 73 while West Indies speedster Alzarri Joseph also pressed his claim with three for three for 80. Three small partnerships then helped push Red Force past the 250 mark. First, Joshua Da Silva (19) and nightwatchman Daniel St
Clair (9) put on 29 for the seventh wicket and when Joseph removed both in successive deliveries, Bryan Charles (39) added 30 for the ninth wicket with Imran Khan (12) and a further 39 for the last wicket with Shannon Gabriel (11). Armed with a healthy lead, Hurricanes put Red Force under even more pressure in their second turn at the crease, courtesy of Hodge who stroked an unbeaten 77. He struck 10 fours off 131 balls in nearly 3-¼ hours, putting on 43 for the third wicket with Devon Thomas (19) and 39 for the sixth wicket with Cornwall who made 22. Scores: At Brian Lara Stadium: Red Force require a further 316 runs for victory with all 10 second innings wickets intact. LEEWARD ISLANDS HURRICANES 425 (Montcin Hodge 158, Rahkeem Cornwall 65, Jeremiah Louis 51, Akeem Saunders 41; Shannon Gabriel 3-54, Daniel St Clair 3-61) and 168 for six (Montcin Hodge 77 not out, Rahkeem Cornwall 22; Shannon Gabriel 3-35). TRINIDAD & TOBAGO RED FORCE 252 (Jeremy Solozano 80, Bryan Charles 39, Denesh Ramdin 31; Rahkeem Cornwall 4-73, Alzarri Joseph 3-80) and 26 without loss.
PAGE 28
Monday January 07, 2019
Kaieteur News
Nishikori, Pliskova crowned NFL play-offs: Dallas Cowboys Brisbane International champions & Indianapolis Colts advance
Japan’s Kei Nishikori celebrates with the trophy after winning the final against Russia’s Daniil Medvedev. (REUTERS/Patrick Hamilton) (Reuters) - Japan’s Kei Nishikori overcame Daniil Medvedev in the Brisbane International final yesterday for his first ATP title in nearly three years and the 12th of his career. Last year ’s finalist Nishikori, who prevailed 6-4 3-6 6-2, won 70 percent of points on his first serve and converted five out of 15 break point opportunities to snap a nine-match losing streak in finals. “This week was one of the best for me,” Nishikori, who beat Denis Kudla, Grigor Dimitrov and Jeremy Chardy this week, said. “I’ve never had a week like this to start the season, so it gives me a lot of confidence.” Wo r l d n u m b e r n i n e Nishikori started slowly, trailing 3-0 in the opening set but responded in typically determined fashion to win six of the next seven games for an early advantage. Medvedev saved four break points to take a 3-2 lead in the second set before dragging the match into a decider but his opponent, who lost their previous meeting in last year’s Tokyo final, was not to be denied again. Breaking Medvedev for a 3-1 lead in the third set, Nishikori held firm to seal the match in a little more than two hours for his first trophy since winning in Memphis in February 2016. “Great final today, I lost to him last year in the final in Japan, so I’m happy to get
revenge today,” Nishikori added. “I’m really happy that finally I’ve won this title, it’s been like seven or eight times at this tournament.” Earlier, former world number one Karolina Pliskova battled back from a set and a break down to beat Lesia Tsurenko 4-6 7-
5 6-2 and win the women’s title for the second time. Tsurenko served for the match at 5-3 in the second set but the tall Czech drew on all her experience to overcome her dogged opponent and regain the title she won at the Queensland Tennis Centre two years ago. The Ukrainian took an injury time out after rolling her ankle while being broken in the first game of the third set and was powerless to prevent the world number eight from storming to her 12th career title. “I think everything was against me today... I felt there is no chance I can win. I felt so far away from playing good tennis tonight,” Pliskova, who needed a pep talk from coach Rennae Stubbs to regain composure, said. “Rennae said ‘I am absolutely sure you can win this match,’ which gave me some confidence and belief that I can do it. “I just tried to change the things around a little bit and believed I was going to get a chance... I felt I was getting better with the time.” Victory meant Pliskova joined Victoria Azarenka (2009, 2016) and Serena Williams (2013-14) as the third woman to win the Premier event twice.
Quarterback Dak Prescott starred for Dallas Cowboys in their win. (Reuters) BBC Sport - The Dallas Cowboys overcame the Seattle Seahawks and the Indianapolis Colts were too strong for the Houston Texans as the NFL play-offs got under way. Quarterback Dak Prescott inspired the Cowboys to a 24-22 victory. Indianapolis quarterback Andrew Luck also starred, throwing for two touchdowns as his side won 21-7. In the wildcard games left, Super Bowl champions the Philadelphia Eagles visit the Chicago Bears, while the Baltimore Ravens host the Los Angeles Chargers. Saturday’s first result meant Luck’s Colts advance from the wildcard round to the American Conference divisional round and will face the Kansas City Chiefs on 12 January. The Colts had only one victory in their first six games this season but have produced a remarkable turnaround to win 10 of their past
11. Rusher Marlon Mack also played a key role as he carried 24 times for 148 yards and a touchdown, while the team held off a late rally from Houston. Looking forward to next week’s game, Luck said: “It’ll be fun. That’s a great team. It should be a great game.” Later, Prescott threw for 226 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score as the Cowboys made it past Seattle and into a second-round National Conference play-off game next weekend against either the New Orleans Saints or the Los Angeles Rams. Ezekiel Elliott ran for 137 yards and a touchdown for Dallas, who lost wide receiver Allen Hurns to a serious injury in the first quarter. Hurns was taken off on a stretcher after appearing to dislocate an ankle.
English footballer Rooney arrested in December in U.S. for public intoxication
Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova celebrates with the trophy after winning the final against Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko. (REUTERS/Patrick Hamilton)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - English football star Wayne Rooney was arrested in December at Dulles Airport outside Washington, D.C. for public intoxication, according to local police. Rooney, who has played for U.S. soccer team DC United since last year, was booked into the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center on Dec. 16, on a charge of public intoxication stemming from an arrest by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police, the local sheriff’s office said. Rooney, 33, was released later the same day on a personal recognizance bond, said Kraig Troxell, a spokesman for the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office. It was not immediately clear why authorities had delayed details of Rooney’s arrest for more than two weeks. Rooney’s agent could not be reached immediately for comment. DC United did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Rooney, England’s former captain and alltime top scorer, joined the Major League Soccer club in mid-2018 in a deal that was reportedly worth more than $12 million and made him the highest paid player in DC United’s history. Liverpool-born Rooney was the latest addition to an elite list of former England captains to hop across the Atlantic, following David Beckham and Steven Gerrard. Rooney burst into the consciousness of English soccer when he made his Premier
England’s Wayne Rooney during the match against USA at Wembley. (Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine/File Photo) League debut for Everton at age 16. He joined Manchester United for $35 million in 2004 and stayed there for 13 seasons - winning five English titles, one Champions League, one FA Cup, three League Cups and becoming the club’s all-time leading scorer with 253 goals.
Monday January 07, 2019
PAGE 29
Kaieteur News
NBA roundup: Curry, Warriors win 3-pointer battle with Kings Stephen Curry connected on 10 3-pointers as part of a 42-point performance Saturday night, helping the Golden State Warriors outlast the host Sacramento Kings 127-123 in a game that featured the most combined 3-pointers in NBA history. The Warriors went 21-for47 from beyond the arc while the Kings made a franchiserecord 20 in 36 attempts. The 41 3-pointers were one more than the previous record of 40 set in a game last season between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Cleveland Cavaliers. Curry, who finished 14for-26 from the field and 10for-20 on 3-pointers, scored 20 of his 42 points in the fourth quarter, none bigger than a three-point play off a Draymond Green assist that
put Golden State ahead for good at 123-121 with 2:03 to go. Kevin Durant backed Curry with 29 points and nine assists, while Klay Thompson added 20 points. Buddy Hield buried a careerhigh eight 3-pointers in 13 attempts to account for most of his scoring on a 32-point night for the Kings. Raptors 123, Bucks 116 Kawhi Leonard finished with 30 points, six rebounds, six assists and five steals as Toronto, which was coming off a disappointing loss at San Antonio on Thursday, defeated host Milwaukee. Pascal Siakam added a career-best 30 points for the Raptors, Serge Ibaka finished with 25 points and nine rebounds and Fred VanVleet chipped in with 21 points as
Toronto defeated the Bucks for the first time in three meetings this season. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 43 points and grabbed 18 rebounds for the Bucks, who had won five in a row and six straight at home. Trail Blazers 110, Rockets 101 Jusuf Nurkic scored 25 points and grabbed 15 rebounds as host Portland ended both Houston’s sixgame winning streak and James Harden’s five-game run of scoring at least 40 points. CJ McCollum scored 24 points, and Damian Lillard contributed 17 points and 12 assists for the Trail Blazers. Harden finished with 38 points after missing a layup in the closing seconds. Austin Rivers scored 21 points, and Clint Capela added
Maradona out of hospital after internal bleeding scare
Dorados coach Diego Maradona arrives at Alfonso Lastras stadium in Mexico. (REUTERS/Henry Romero) BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentine soccer great Diego Maradona was released from hospital after being admitted earlier on Friday with internal bleeding in the stomach which was discovered during routine examinations, his daughter Dalma said. “For those who were really worried about my dad I can tell you that he is well,” Dalma wrote on twitter after fears over her father’s health spread. “He is going home soon.” The 58-year-old was having a routine medical in his homeland before returning to Mexico, where he is coach of second division side Dorados
de Sinaloa, when doctors discovered the problem. However, a source close to the family told Reuters the problem was not serious and that the former Boca Juniors, Napoli and Barcelona midfielder, who famously led his country to the 1986 World Cup title, was not in any danger. Another source said Maradona, who left the hospital without talking to the media, may have to undergo more tests. Friday’s scare was the latest for Maradona, who has suffered frequent periods in hospital over the years, often due to the extravagant lifestyle that helped make him
one of the most admired and iconic footballers of the 20th century. He last fell ill at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where he was filmed passing out in an executive box at the Argentina-Nigeria game. Argentina won 2-1 to reach the last 16, where they were knocked out of the tournament by eventual winners France. Maradona was taken into hospital in 2004 with severe heart and respiratory problems linked to cocaine use. He later underwent drug rehabilitation in Cuba and Argentina before a stomachstapling operation in 2005 helped him lose weight. In 2007 he checked himself into a clinic in Buenos Aires to help him overcome alcohol abuse problems. In recent months he has walked with the aid of crutches due to problems with his knees. The unexpected news of his admittance to hospital on Friday came just hours after Maradona’s lawyer confirmed he would coach in Mexico for a second consecutive season. Maradona took over at struggling Dorados de Sinaloa in September and got them into the playoffs where they lost to Atletico San Luis. “Diego Maradona has arranged to continue with the Dorados de Sinaloa and will stay as coach of the team for the whole season,” his agent Matias Morla wrote on twitter. The club said his assistant Jose Maria Martinez would lead the team until Maradona returned.
13 points and 21 rebounds for the Rockets, who lost for only the third time in the last 11 meetings with the Blazers. Nuggets 123, Hornets 110 Nikola Jokic had 39 points and 12 rebounds, Paul Millsap scored 18 points and host Denver topped Charlotte. Gary Harris added 17 off the bench for Denver, which has won five straight and nine of its last 11. Kemba Walker led Charlotte with 20 points, while Marvin Williams, Bismack Biyombo and Malik Monk scored 16 apiece. Jazz 110, Pistons 105 Donovan Mitchell racked up 26 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals, and visiting Utah defeated Detroit. Ricky Rubio contributed 18 points, Joe Ingles had 16 and Derrick Favors added 13 for Utah. The Jazz erased an early 18-point deficit. Blake Griffin led Detroit with 34 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Reggie Bullock supplied 19 points and Andre Drummond, playing in his 500th career game, had 15 points and 18 rebounds. 76ers 106, Mavericks 100 Furkan Korkmaz buried a key 3-pointer with 1:34 remaining to stall a Dallas rally, helping host Philadelphia hold on for the win. Ben Simmons recorded a triple-double with 20 points, a game-high 14 rebounds and a game-high 11 assists while Joel Embiid provided a double-double with a gamehigh 25 points and 12 rebounds, leading the 76ers to a third consecutive win despite the absence of Jimmy Butler, who missed the game with an illness. Wesley Matthews
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) warms up before the start of a game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. (Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports) connected on four 3-pointers to account for a majority of his team-high 18 points for the Mavericks. Pelicans 133, Cavaliers 98 Jrue Holiday and Julius Randle scored 22 points each as visiting New Orleans handed reeling Cleveland its ninth consecutive loss. Seven Pelicans scored in double figures. Anthony Davis had 20 points and 10 rebounds, Elfrid Payton scored 13 points and E’Twaun Moore added 10. Randle also had 12 rebounds and eight assists. Jordan Clarkson led the Cavaliers with 23 points, Jalen Jones and Collin Sexton had 15 each, Cedi Osman scored 13 and Tristan Thompson had 10 points and 11 rebounds. Spurs 108, Grizzlies 88 Derrick White scored 19
points on 8-of-9 shooting from the floor, and LaMarcus Aldridge added 18 points as San Antonio bested visiting Memphis to earn its fourth straight victory. San Antonio led by 20 points at the half and by 8866 after three quarters and survived a 14-0 run by Memphis early in the final quarter before cruising to its 12th win in the past 15 games. Patty Mills added 15 points for the Spurs, with DeMar DeRozan and Jakob Poeltl scoring 12 and 11 points, respectively. Mike Conley led Memphis with 21 points while Jaren Jackson Jr. and Dillon Brooks added 15 each for the Grizzlies. Marc Gasol grabbed a gamehigh 11 rebounds while JaMychal Green pulled down 10 boards. (Field Level Media)
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) is fouled by Sacramento Kings guard Yogi Ferrell (3) at Golden 1 Center. (Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports)
PAGE 30
Monday January 07, 2019
Kaieteur News
Elliott, Prescott help Cowboys hold off Seahawks
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) rolls out against the Seattle Seahawks during the NFC Wild Card playoff football game at AT&T Stadium. (Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports) Dak Prescott guided two fourth-quarter touchdown drives as the Dallas Cowboys rallied to defeat the visiting Seattle Seahawks 24-22 Saturday night in the NFC wild-card
round. Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries, while chipping in four catches for 32 yards. Prescott completed 22 of 33 passes for 226 yards and a touchdown and also scored the decisive TD on a 1-yard run with 2:08 remaining. It was just the third playoff victory for the Cowboys this century, after they won wildcard round games in 2009 and 2014. If Chicago beats Philadelphia on Sunday, Dallas will visit New Orleans next Sunday in the divisional playoffs. If the Eagles beat the Bears, the Cowboys will visit the Los Angeles Rams next Saturday. The Cowboys’ defence limited Seattle’s league-leading rushing attack to just 73 yards on 24 carries. Russell Wilson completed 18 of 27 passes for 233 yards and a touchdown. That score was a 7-yarder to J.D. McKissic with 1:22 left. The ensuing two-point conversion — kicker Sebastian Janikowski was injured attempting a 57-yard field goal at the end of the first half — pulled the Seahawks within two. But rookie punter Michael Dickson’s onside drop-kick was recovered by the Cowboys and they ran out the clock. After the Seahawks took the lead late in the third quarter, Prescott guided a nine-play, 67-yard drive that culminated in a 1-yard Elliott touchdown run to give Dallas a 17-14 lead. Prescott hit Amari Cooper for a 34-yard completion on the drive. It appeared the Cowboys would build on that lead on their next possession when they drove into the red zone, but Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright made a juggling interception in the end zone to keep it a three-
90-year-old American cyclist to be stripped of title for failing drug test
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) runs past Seattle Seahawks linebacker Jake Martin (59) in the NFC Wild Card game. (Shane Roper USA Today Sports) point margin. The Cowboys all but put the game away with an 11-play, 63-yard drive, capped by Prescott’s 1-yard score, that took 5:14 off the clock before Seattle’s late TD. Seattle had forced Dallas into a third-and-14 from the 17yard line, but Prescott picked up 16 yards on a QB draw, and he surged in from a yard out on the next play. After trailing 10-6 at halftime, the Seahawks took the lead with the only score of the third quarter. Wilson capped a nine-play, 44-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown run around right end to make it 12-10. With Janikowski injured, the Seahawks went for a
two-point conversion, and Mike Davis reached the end zone on a run up the middle for a 14-10 advantage. The Cowboys took the lead on the first half’s lone touchdown, an 11-yard pass from Prescott to rookie Michael Gallup in the back right corner of the end zone with 24 seconds remaining in the second quarter. The key play on the seven-play, 75-yard drive was a 44yard run by Elliott on third-and-1. Cowboys wide receiver Allen Hurns left on a stretcher midway through the first quarter after a gruesome left ankle injury suffered while being tackled by Seattle’s Bradley McDougald. (Field Level Media)
South Africa ease to seriesclinching victory over Pakistan
Carl Grove, a 90-year-old American cyclist, won the men’s 90-94 sprint race at the U.S. Masters Track National Championships. (Photo courtesy of Bicycling) Yahoo Sports - Carl Grove, a 90-year-old cyclist, won the men’s 90-94 sprint race during the U.S. Masters Track National Championships last July. And for a man his age, that’s an incredible feat. Unfortunately for Grove, he recently tested positive for epitrenbolone. Because of the violation, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) will strip Grove of the record, according to BBC Sport. USADA released the following statement about Grove on its website Saturday: “USADA announced today that Carl Grove, of Bristol, Ind., an athlete in the sport of cycling, has accepted a public warning for his anti-doping rule violations.” “Grove, 90, tested positive for epitrenbolone, which is a metabolite of the prohibited substance trenbolone, as the result of an in-competition urine sample he provided on July 11, 2018 after setting a world record at the Masters Track National Championships.
While investigating the source of his positive test, it was also determined that a supplement Grove was using prior to July 11, 2018 was contaminated with clomiphene.” Grove claims consuming contaminated meat was “more likely than not” the reason why he tested positive. But before he consumed the meat, according to USADA, Grove took an incompetition test on July 10 and tested negative. However, “Before disclosing his consumption of meat on the evening prior to submitting his July 11 sample, Grove provided USADA with information about supplements he had used, none of which listed clomiphene or any other prohibited substances on the Supplement Facts label.” And since USADA collected the positive sample in-competition, “Grove has been disqualified from competitive results obtained on July 11, 2018, the date his sample was collected.”
CAPE TOWN (Reuters) South Africa reeled off their modest victory target of 41 runs early on the fourth day of the second test against Pakistan to clinch the series with a comprehensive ninewicket triumph at Newlands yesterday. Opener Dean Elgar scored an unbeaten 24 as the home side added to their victory in Pretoria last month and will be looking to sweep the series in the third match at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, starting on Friday. The Proteas will have concerns over their top-order batting, however, with opener Aiden Markram not taking to the crease in the second innings with a severely bruised right thigh and Hashim Amla retiring hurt after he was struck on the bicep. Added to that, middleorder batsman Theunis de Bruyn, deputising for Markram at the top of the order, continued his poor run when he was the only wicket to fall, caught by wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed off seamer Mohammed Abbas for four. “We played very well,”
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis, who was also named man of the match for a firstinnings century, said at the post-match presentation. “There is always something in the wicket here at Newlands and you need to be on form with the bat. We know if we get runs on the board, our bowlers will do the rest.” Du Plessis felt the key to victory was restricting Pakistan to 177 in their first innings in what was the most difficult time to bat in the test on day one. “I think day one was moving day in terms of the pitch, but it got easier to bat on and yesterday Pakistan were in a good position to bat on and get a 150 lead and then who knows what happens. “I still feel there was enough in it for batters and bowlers. At times it was difficult but that’s test cricket.” POOR START CRITICAL Pakistan will take positives from a test in which they avoided an innings defeat with a stout batting performance on Saturday to force the contest into a fourth day.
Shan Masood, Asad Shafiq and Babar Azam all scored half-centuries as Pakistan produced their best day of batting on tour and scored more than 200 runs in an innings for the first time in the series. They were eventually dismissed for 294, setting their hosts a modest target, which South Africa had hoped to knock off on Saturday but ran out of time and were forced to come back yesterday. Pakistan scored 177 in their first innings and were critical of the uneven bounce and cracks on the wicket at the iconic Cape Town venue but South Africa, with Du Plessis scoring 103, replied with 431. Touring captain Sarfraz admitted a bad start, in which they lost five wickets in the first session, proved their undoing. Scores: South Africa 431 (du Plessis 103, Bavuma 75, de Kock 59, Amir 4-88) and 43 for 1 (Elgar 24*) beat Pakistan 177 (Sarfraz 56, Olivier 4-48) and 294 (Shafiq 88, Babar 72, Masood 61, Rabada 4-61, Steyn 4-85) by nine wickets.
Monday January 07, 2019
Kaieteur News
PAGE 31
Rain delays ruthless India as Australia follow-on in Sydney
India’s Mohammed Shami (3rd left) celebrates with his teammates after taking the wicket of Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne on day three of the fourth test match between Australia and India at the SCG in Sydney, Australia, January 5, 2019. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts/via REUTERS SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia were forced to follow-on on home soil for the first time in 30 years after being dismissed for 300 as India went for the jugular in search of a maiden series triumph Down Under on the fourth day of the final test yesterday. Openers Usman Khawaja (4) and Marcus Harris (2) safely negotiated four overs until bad light and light drizzle forced an early end to an already heavily rain-disrupted day just before the re-scheduled tea break. Australia will resume on six without loss today, still without a century in the series and 316 runs adrift of India’s mammoth first innings effort of 622-7 declared.
The tourists, leading 2-1 in the four-test series, only need a draw to secure a breakthrough triumph in Australia but skipper Virat Kohli did not hesitate to send the hosts back in when they fell well short of the 423 runs needed to avoid the follow-on. “Yesterday, when they were about 150 for five, we looked at the weather forecast and decided would definitely enforce the followon if we could get them out,” India bowling coach Bharat Arun told reporters. “It’s a great opportunity for us to make it 3-1 and that’s a big motivation for us.” Play at the Sydney Cricket Ground finally got underway after a rain delay of almost four
Du Plessis suspended as South Africa guilty of slow over rate CAPE TOWN (Reuters) South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has been suspended for one test and fined 20 percent of his match fee after his side were charged with a slow over rate in the ninewicket second test victory over Pakistan at Newlands. Du Plessis will sit out the final match of the series starting in Johannesburg on Friday after match referee David Boon imposed the suspension having found South Africa to be one over short of their required number in the test. It is the second time in 12 months that Du Plessis and his side have been found guilty of a slow over rate after a test against India in Johannesburg that ended on Jan. 17. The rest of the side have also been fined 10 percent of their match fee. “In accordance with Article 2.22.1 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Players Support Personnel... players are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount,” the International Cricket Council said in a statement yesterday. Cricket South Africa accepted the decision but
India’s Ravindra Jadeja (left) celebrates with captain Virat Kohli after taking the wicket of Australia’s Marcus Harris at the SCG in Sydney. (AAP Image Dan Himbrechts via Reuters) hours with the hosts resuming on 236-6, and India needed just 80 minutes to take the remaining Australian wickets at a cost of 64 runs. Mohammed Shami set India on their way when he took the second new ball immediately and removed Pat Cummins’s off stump with the sixth delivery of the day to dismiss his fellow paceman for 25. KULDEEP CLAIMS FIVE Peter Handscomb, recalled for his ability to play spin, followed for 37 after adding nine runs to his overnight tally, dragging the ball onto his stumps to give quick Jasprit Bumrah his first wicket of the match. Nathan Lyon faced just five balls before he was adjudged lbw to fellow spinner Kuldeep Yadav for a duck, a decision Australia opted against reviewing despite a question mark over whether the ball would have hit the stumps. Josh Hazlewood was dropped by Hanuma Vihari off Kuldeep’s bowling when he had yet to score and he and fellow tail-ender Mitchell Starc (29 not out) fought a dogged rearguard to put on 42 for the final wicket.
Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep (5-99) finally got his man to secure a second fivewicket haul in his sixth test, though, trapping Hazlewood leg before wicket for 21, in a decision confirmed after a review. England were the last team to force Australia to follow-on at home in the drawn 1988 Sydney test, a result the hosts are unlikely to repeat unless the weather intervenes decisively. “It hurts mate, you never want to followon in any cricket match,” Handscomb said. “Huge for us to push for the draw tomorrow, we’ve obviously got a really good chance to shift some momentum back into our camp — not just for the one-dayers coming up but for the World Cup and the Ashes (against England). “This movement can really start tomorrow... if we can last this day and show the country, show the world, that we’re not far from being a really good team.” Stumps: Australia 300 (Harris 79, Kuldeep 5-99) and 0 for 6 trail India 7 for 622 dec. (Pujara 193, Pant 159*, Lyon 4178) by 316 runs.
Malinda Pushpakumara bags all 10 wickets in an innings
South Africa’s Dean Elgar celebrates with Faf du Plessis after winning the match. (REUTERS/Mike Hutchings) said “there could be a bit of flexibility given the fourpronged seam attack, taking 20 wickets within three days and playing a general positive brand of cricket, rather than trying to delay/slow down the match”. South Africa have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the
three matches series, but could field a much-changed batting line-up in the third test with the absence of Du Plessis, and injury concerns over opener Aiden Markram and number three Hashim Amla. A new captain will be named by the selectors in the next days, officials added.
ESPNcricinfo- Malinda Pushpakumara, the Sri Lanka left-arm spinner, has achieved the rare feat of taking all ten wickets in a firstclass innings. Bowling for Colombo Cricket Club in Moratuwa, Pushpakumara took 10 for 37 to bowl Saracens Sports Club out for 113 in a fourth-innings chase of 349. Pushpakumara took the new ball for Colombo, and bowled an unchanged 18.4-over spell in a Saracens innings that lasted 36.4 overs. He also picked up a six-for in Saracens’ first innings, and finished with match figures of 16 for 110. Pushpakumara’s figures of 10 for 37 are the joint 13th-best in first-class history, for matches with full scorecard details, and not including 12-a-side games. During the course of the match, Pushpakumara also went past 700 first-class wickets. The left-arm spinner, who has played four Tests and two ODIs since his international debut in August 2017, now has 715 first-class wickets from 123 matches, at an average of 19.19. The last bowler to take all ten wickets in an innings was another Test left-arm spinner with a mighty first-class record, Pakistan’s Zulfiqar Babar. Bowling for Multan in the 200910 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Zulfiqar took 10 for 143 in Islamabad’s first innings in a match that eventually ended in a draw.
Malinda Pushpakumara appeals for a wicket. (Associated Press) Two bowlers have taken all ten in an innings in Test cricket - the England offspinner Jim Laker took 10 for 56 against Australia at Old Trafford in 1956 and the India legspinner Anil Kumble picked up 10 for 74 against Pakistan at the Feroz Shah Kotla 43 years later.
PAGE 32
Kaieteur News
Monday January 07, 2019
Regional First Class Cricket
Jaguars in control despite fifties from Dowrich & Carter Shane Dowrich on the go during his innings for the Barbados Pride against Guyana Jaguars at Kensington Oval. © CWI Media/ Kerrie Eversley of Brooks LaTouche Photography.
A century partnership between Jonathan Carter and Shane Dowrich led a Barbados Pride fight-back against Guyana Jaguars on day three of their third round Regional First-Class match at the Kensington Oval yesterday, but the South American Franchise were still in the driver’s seat heading
into the final day today. Replying to the Jaguars 548, Pride began the penultimate day on 33-1 and were bowled out minutes before the close for 360, 188 runs adrift of Guyana’s total and more importantly 38 runs from avoiding the follow-on. Shane Dowrich’s 81 lasted 113 balls and 139 minutes and
included 11 fours and two sixes, while Carter made 68 from 127 balls, 196 minutes with nine fours. Braithwaite’s 43 came from 103 balls, 156 minutes with seven boundaries and Jason Holder who made 44 from 87 balls and 63 minutes with six fours, also contributed important runs. Veerasammy Permaul had 4-124 to take his wicket-tally to 16, while Clinton Pestano and Raymon Reifer took two wickets each. By Lunch Barbados had progressed to 164 after Skipper Shamarh Brooks was removed by Permaul at 106-2, Kraigg Braithwaite was LBW to Clifton Pestano at 118-3 and Roston Chase departed off Permaul, the tournament’s leading wicket taker. Carter and Dowrich joined forces with Pride on 123-4 after Chase’s demise and added 141 to keep the Bajans in the fight before Dowrich departed off Sherfane Rutherford at 264-5 and Carter, who reached his third fifty in three matches, fell to Permaul at 273-6 and by Tea Barbados were 278-6 with Jason Holder and Ashley Nurse at the crease. After the break Nurse (19) was LBW to Permaul at 315-7 before Kemar Roach (2) was
Real Madrid woes deepen with surprise defeat by Sociedad MADRID (Reuters) - Real Madrid’s nightmarish start to the New Year continued yesterday with a shock 2-0 home defeat by struggling Real Sociedad which left the European champions sitting outside the top four in La Liga. Willian Jose put the Basques ahead in the third minute and after Madrid missed a series of clear chances, had two penalty appeals waved away and saw Lucas Vazquez sent off, midfielder Ruben Pardo sealed their fate with a headed goal in the 84th. Many home fans flocked away early in dismay while others greeted the final whistle with deafening boos after Real Sociedad, in their first game under new coach Imanol Alguacil following Asier Garitano’s sacking, won at the Bernabeu for the first time since 2004. Madrid, who drew 2-2 with struggling Villarreal on Thursday, are fifth on 30 points after 18 games in the La Liga standings, seven adrift of leaders Barcelona
who were in action against Getafe later yesterday. Real Sociedad climbed from 16th up to 11th. Before kick-off, Madrid paraded the Club World Cup trophy they won last month for a third consecutive time but the celebratory mood was soon punctured when Real midfielder Casemiro was penalised for hauling down Mikel Merino in the box. Jose Willian smashed his spot-kick down the middle of the goal beyond Thibaut Courtois and although Real rallied with a glut of chances throughout they somehow failed to find the net. Karim Benzema missed a gilt-edged opportunity by firing wide of the far post with the goal gaping, while Vazquez struck the other post with what looked like an intended cross. Real spurned a triple chance immediately after the interval as Sociedad goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli thwarted Vinicius Jr. and Raphael Varane from close range, and their task was made all the harder when
Vazquez was dismissed in the 61st minute for a second booking. Argentine keeper Rulli later appeared to trip Brazilian teenager Vinicius in the area but no penalty was awarded, a decision which left the Bernabeu faithful incensed after Madrid captain Sergio Ramos had an earlier penalty shout turned down. “Everything went against us today, we had a terrible start, a very unfortunate play in the opening minutes and every error at this level is punished dearly,” said Real coach Santiago Solari after his second league loss since succeeding Julen Lopetegui at the end of October. “We did everything to turn it around, we had a lot of chances none of them went in and in football it’s the goals that count. We also had a penalty appeal which no-one can understand why it wasn’t given. “I give the benefit of the doubt to the referee for the first incident, but the second one is a penalty every day of the week.”
Guyana Jaguars celebrate a wicket on Day 3 of their third round match against Barbados Pride at Kensington Oval. © CWI Media/ Kerrie Eversley of Brooks LaTouche Photography. removed by Pestano at 328. Holder and Jomal Warrican took the score to 350 and with Holder still there as the Bajans stood a real chance of reaching the 398 to avoid the follow-on. However, Holder fell to Raymon Reifer at 355 and last man Miguel Cummins (3) was sent packing by Shepherd five runs later to leave Warrican unbeaten on 23. Scores: At Kensington Oval: Jaguars lead by 188 runs. GUYANA JAGUARS 548
(Chandrapaul Hemraj 144, Anthony Bramble 130 not out, Raymon Reifer 75, Sherfane Rutherford 54, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 37; Ashley Nurse 4-122) BARBADOS PRIDE 360 (Shane Dowrich 81, Jonathan Carter 68, Jason Holder 44, Kraigg Brathwaite 43, Shamarh Brooks 34; Veerasammy Permaul 4-124). Meanwhile, At Brian Lara Stadium: Red Force require a further 316 runs for victory with all 10 second innings wickets intact.
LEEWARD ISLANDS HURRICANES 425 (Montcin Hodge 158, Rahkeem Cornwall 65, Jeremiah Louis 51, Akeem Saunders 41; Shannon Gabriel 3-54, Daniel St Clair 3-61) and 168 for six (Montcin Hodge 77 not out, Rahkeem Cornwall 22; Shannon Gabriel 3-35). TRINIDAD & TOBAGO RED FORCE 252 (Jeremy Solozano 80, Bryan Charles 39, Denesh Ramdin 31; Rahkeem Cornwall 4-73, Alzarri Joseph 3-80) and 26 without loss.
THE newly-elected executives of the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club, under the presidency of Vemen Walter met recently and have named the Club’s various Sub-Committees, captains and vice-captains of the Club’s respective teams among others for the year 2019. The Club’s Selection Committee will be chaired by Walter and will include former Guyana Under-19 and Berbice Senior Inter-County offspinner Orvin Mangru and Omarnauth Outar, along with the captain of the team in question. Vice-President Imtiaz Baccus heads the Disciplinary Committee with Pooran Mangal and David Brijmokhan being the other members. Pawan Baldeo will chair the Cricket Development Committee with Brijmokhan and national left-arm-spinner
Gudakesh Motie making up the reminder of the committee. Treasurer Mangal is the chairman of the Fund-Raising Committee which also comprises of Baccus and Brijmokhan. This committee will be allowed to incorporate other members. West Indies left-armspinner Veerasammy Permaul was re-appointed as captain of the Club’s First Division Team with fellow West Indies spinner Davendra Bishoo as his deputy. In the event both Permaul and Bishoo being unavailable, Gudakesh Motie or Anthony Bramble will lead the team. Jousha Harichand will captain the Club’s Second Division Team with Devendra Latchman as his deputy. Former Guyana Under-19 batsmen Adrian Sukhwa will be the man captaining the club’s Under-21 Team with West Indies Under-19 selectee Kelvin Umroa being
his vice-captain. Umroa and Rayaad Karim are the captain and vicecaptain respectively of the Under-19 team while Karim will captain the Under-17 Team with Gouraf Ramesh as the vice-captain. Tameshwar Mahadeo is the Club’s Under-15 captain with Damien Cecil as the vicecaptain, while Tameshwar Mangal and Afraz Budhoo is the captain and vice respectively of the Club’s Under-13 team. The Club’s various teams will be managed by Outar with Brijmohkan and Walter providing assistance. Walter and Baccuswill be representing the Club at the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) level with Brijmokhan and Outarbeing the Club’s two representatives on the Albion Community Centre Council. Brijmohan was also appointed as the Club’s Public Relations Officer (PRO).
Albion name sub committees for 2019