Kaieteur News
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Friday January 11, 2019
Norway to help Guyana sharpen audit skills for Natural Resource Fund - Auditor General By Kiana Wilburg
W
i t h t h e passage of the landmark Natural Resource Fund Bill 2018, the Office of Auditor General, will be tasked with auditing Government's use of the Fund. During his preparation for this new responsibility, Auditor General Deodat Sharma told Kaieteur News that he has been forging relationships with “the best of the best.” The Auditor General said that Norway has been sharing key advice on this front with him. He added that his Office has begun sharpening its
skills for the oil sector, and in a sense, is already prepared for the audit of the Fund. He said, “You have to bear in mind that this will be strictly a financial audit because it is about money coming into the fund. Let us say you get $300M in the Fund, then you have to audit and see how it was spent. That is a normal financial audit and we have been doing that…” Even though his Office is familiar, to an extent, with what is required, Sharma said he is leaving nothing to chance hence steps were taken to contact Norway's Audit Office for advice. The Auditor General said, “I have been checking
Auditor General, Deodat Sharma
with the Audit Office of Norway in terms of how they audit their Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) and other aspects and that is an ongoing process…So basically, we are contacting the best of the best. I went there (Norway) for a meeting but I reached out and interacted with the Audit Office myself on this matter…” In spite of international advice, Sharma said he does not foresee the need to hire
any person or firm to assist his Office with the new responsibility. He said, “We do have some capacity issues but right now, I don't think there is a need for that.” A WRONG MOVE International agencies such as the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), is of the firm view that the appointment of Guyana's Audit Office as the External Auditor for the
Fund is a wrong move. The Fund made it clear that the Audit Office is subjected to applying for annual funding which is often subjected to cuts, thereby limiting its independence. Considering this and other factors, the Institute had called on the coalition administration to hire an internationally recognized and experienced auditing firm to be the External Auditor of the Natural Resource Fund. NRGI stressed that this move would not be an abnormal one since nations such as Alaska, Chile, North Dakota, Norway, Texas , Timor-Leste and Wyoming each require that an independent external auditor that meets international standards audit their funds. It suggested too, that financing for external audits could be part of the Fund's annual operating budget. The NRGI said that at this point, Guyana cannot afford to make mistakes or leave
anything to chance. It suggested that given the circumstances, Guyana would be placing itself in the best position by appointing an international firm as the external auditor for the fund and not the nation's Audit Office. During an interview with Kaieteur News on Sunday, Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, said that NRGI would not be the first to m a k e s u c h a recommendation. He said that the Commonwealth Secretariat had suggested same. He noted however that the Secretariat was informed that the nation's Constitution does not allow for this. He stressed that the Constitution makes it clear that the Auditor General is to be the External Auditor of all public funds. In addition to this, Jordan reminded that the Auditor General will have the financial support he needs, should he decide to hire the help of an international firm for auditing purposes.
Friday January 11, 2019
Joint statement on meeting…
Govt. and Opposition divided on parliament
The two parties at the meeting on Wednesday Almost three weeks after a no-confidence vote that rocked the country, a joint statement from the Government and Opposition has shown a sharp division on how parliament would function. The statement yesterday would come after President David Granger led a team to a meeting with Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, at the Ministry of the Presidency on Wednesday. Along with the President were Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo; Vice President, Carl Greenidge; Vice President, Khemraj Ramjattan; Attorney General, Basil Williams; Minister of State; Joseph Harmon; Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman and Minister of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally. For the Opposition team, Jagdeo was accompanied by Gail Teixeira; Anil Nandlall; Irfaan Ali; Juan Edghill; Dr. Frank Anthony; Pauline Sukhai and Odinga Lumumba. On Wednesday, following the meeting, there were separate statements from both sides. There was a promise of a joint statement. Yesterday, the joint statement made it clear that while Government and the Opposition were unified on the territorial integrity of the country, there were differences. “The parties met in an atmosphere of cordiality and iterated their emphatic commitment to work on all and any matters relating to the preservation and protection of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana; irrespective of any domestic political issues.” The parties agreed to discuss an agenda proposed by the President. It included Constitutional and Legal situation; Functioning of the National Assembly; Functioning of the Government; Public Services; Public Order and the Dissolution of Parliament. Also up for discussion were General and Regional Elections, the Role of the National Assembly; Operational readiness of GECOM; national registration
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and Public Information. According to the Government and Opposition, “The parties recognized the high importance of continuous engagements between the Government and Opposition, the importance they hold for the national interest and the elevated public expectation.” During the talks, Jagdeo insisted that the “no confidence motion” was validly passed and therefore there must be compliance with Articles 106 (6) and 106 (7) of the Constitution. He further stated that the timeframes prescribed by the two provisions of the Constitution must be rigidly observed, notwithstanding the pendency of the legal proceedings filed; and that Parliament must be dissolved unless otherwise agreed upon in accordance with Article 106 (7) of the Constitution. “Further, the Leader of the Opposition contended that while the Government remains in office in accordance with Articles 106(7) of the Constitution, its functions must be confined to the provision of essential services of the State and to matters in relation to preparation for General and Regional elections.” In addition, the Leader of the Opposition emphasized that the National Assembly should only meet to deal with issues connected with the provision of essential services by the State and all matters related to the preparation of General and Regional elections. On the other hand, President Granger emphasized that the Government is legal and that it must govern without any limitations on its authority. “His Excellency further stated that there is no provision in the Constitution which imposes limitation on the Government to perform its lawful functions. The President indicated that the Government and the Opposition, by agreement in the National Assembly, can enlarge the time beyond the 90 days contemplated by Article 106 (7) of the
Constitution.” According to the joint statement, the President further stated that it is lawful for the Government to engage the Court, to bring clarity to the provisions of Article 106 (6) and 106 (7) of the Constitution. “Pending the conclusion of the legal proceedings, Parliament remains functional. Both sides are committed to work towards the expeditious conclusion of the matters engaging the attention of the court. “The parties identified Ms. Amna Ally and Ms. Gail Teixeira to enquire into the readiness of GECOM. Both parties expressed their willingness to meet to ensure the management of the various issues facing the nation.” On December 21, last, Government MP, Charrandass Persaud, joined with the Opposition in voting yes on a noconfidence motion brought by Jagdeo against the three and half-year-old government. The vote was deemed carried by the Speaker but Government went to court questioning the validity of it. Persaud who was expelled by his party, the Alliance For Change flew out of Guyana the same night and was accused by officials of taking a bribe for his vote. The police are said to be investigating. Under the Constitution, elections have to be called within three months and the government has to resign.
No more plaster fixes, NIS needs refinancing - Ram Chartered Accountant and Attorney at Law, Christopher Ram, believes that Guyana’s National Insurance Scheme will not be able to fully escape financial trouble unless it is refinanced. Ram said this during a recent interview with this newspaper. The lawyer, who has been associated with NIS since 1979, said that the APNU +AFC government has demonstrated good will for the NIS but dealt too much with plaster fixes. He said that the best thing that Government has done for the NIS thus far was agreeing to pay the face value of what was lost by NIS through its investment in the now defunct CLICO (Guyana). This was under the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government. In September 2016, Government formalized a deal through which NIS will recover $5.6B. NIS is now set to recover its investment in CLICO through a debenture for an aggregated value of the $5.6B. CLICO (Guyana) collapsed in 2009 after its parent company, CL Financial, had to be bailed out by the Trinidad government and its sister companies experienced grave financial problems. This debenture signed by Finance Minister Winston Jordan will see the scheme recovering the sum over a 20year period. It is in keeping with Parliamentary Resolution 82 of 2009, which had called on the then PPP/C government to take “all possible actions to secure the investments made in CLICO (Guyana) by the NIS on behalf of contributors and beneficiaries of the Scheme to prevent any consequential loss in benefits to them.” The parliamentary resolution had been supported by the PNCR and the AFC, which
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
are members of the current governing coalition. The two parties had criticised the then PPP/C government over its handling of the CLICO (Guyana) collapse. Ram praised the government for helping NIS through the debenture. He said that that is not a plaster fix, “It is substantial, but everything else can be considered plaster work.” Ram said, “It is worrying how they looked to deal with plaster rather than causes. NIS needs refinancing. Since I was young I said this. (Former President, the late Linden Forbes) Burnham said, ‘Look you can only get five percent bonds. But this is while inflation is running at 30 and 40 and 50 and 60. We had over 70 percent inflation at one time in this country. Five percent cannot cut it.” Ram continued, “NIS is just structurally improper. NIS has nothing to do with increase in minimum pension.
Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram But we link NIS to old age pension. “What should happen is the government should say ‘We want NIS to carry this social cost and therefore we must allocate that money from the public treasury. If that was done then we would have been home and dry but the problem is that we do not have people who understand.”
Kaieteur News
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Friday Saturday 11, 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
Venezuela rattles the sabre over Exxon
V
enezuela now talks about remapping. Guyana torments itself with voting and electing. Remapping is almost certain to cast a wide arc, and infringe heavily on Guyana’s territory. Voting and electing here are sure to continue the national diminishment. According to a Bloomberg News article dated January 9 and titled, “Venezuela plans to remap its offshore oil territory escalating tension with Exxon”, Exxon means Guyana. An excerpt from that same article states: Venezuelan President Maduro said that the territory belongs to his country and has vowed to defend it “at any cost.” Strong words, vast, penetrating possibilities. Meanwhile, Guyanese leaders speak of “instability” and are fixated on perpetuating what has failed before and is destined to fail again. Oh, at any cost, too. Surely, Venezuelan leaders cannot be that wise and patriotic and Guyanese ones this narrow-minded and irresponsible. Do Guyanese leaders really care about husbanding and doing all that is required to ensure that this precious (still elusive, now threatened) wealth accrue to the benefit of all citizens? Do Guyanese citizens really care about all that is involved, including the powerful negatives, before this disputed bonanza proves to be the rich reality that it can be? Or are locals still so obsessed with percentages and agreements and such that this bird, almost in hand, may prove to be a mirage after all? For though this is the time to close ranks politically, emotionally, and mentally, it is still this debilitating, distracting business of one foot in parliament, the other in the polling station, and no eyes on that which matters the most right now. When Guyanese leaders and citizens should be rallying to one cry, one call, one vision, one single-minded objective, they are locked in the usual quest for power at all costs, and to the exclusion of the rest. It is at the sacrifice of the oil promise, and to the injury of the future. There is too much energy, too much circling around each other, too much sizing up each other, while the holes are being drilled in the walls and the safe is plundered, if not removed in its entirety and with its storehouse of accumulated assets. All of this bickering has generated internal exhaustion; all of this distraction has enabled external escalation and intervention, even aggression. After all the domestic arguments and quarrels, the selfserving and self-congratulatory debates, the only entity, the sole guardian and allystanding on the Guyanese side of the fence is Exxon. Much analyzed and much maligned, and not unjustifiably so at times, but Exxon (and its big Uncle) is the alpha and omega of Guyana’s accessing and capitalizing on that oil. It had better be cultivated sensibly. Clearly, the Venezuelan leadership has a careful and concerted plan of action. It is well-thought out, incremental, and indicative of serious focus and determination to not yield, but to raise the stakes directly and unmistakably. Slowly, but inexorably, this oil prize is assuming the character of a dogfight. It could be one step away from the unthinkable, perhaps the inevitable: a firefight. Nobody with a sober thinking strain desires to witness such a deplorable development. Still, there is an ominous ring to “at any cost” as issued by the Venezuelan leader. It should be noticed that there are no contradicting voices from across the border coming out against such a far-reaching pronouncement. It can only be interpreted as part threat, part promise, and total commitment. As the temperature slowly ratchets up, both Exxon and the US State department have been studiously reserved. This may be part of a strategy to not engage in saber-rattling in turn. Others watch and wait.
Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.
Venezuela’s military antics must be countered appropriately; its aggression is no coincidence DEAR EDITOR, Recently I saw one of the most ridiculous comments on social media regarding the threat to Guyana’s sovereignty. It was posted in response to an article carried by caribbeannewsnow.com, captioned “Venezuela edges closer to armed conflict over resource-rich territory”. The individual to whom I refer, commented that – it appears to be drawing attention from local conflicts to foreign affairs. Upon reading that comment, I became more aware about the damaged psyche of certain persons in this country. Why would a matter as important as the threat to a country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity not capture optimum attention? Why would the escalating threat from an aggressive foreign nation be construed as a distraction from a politically manipulative local event? The unfolding development of the Ve n e z u e l a n N a v y ’ s incursion into Guyana’s
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is no hoax. On January 8, 2019, Venezuela’s Vice President – Delcy Rodriguez – presented to Venezuelan media what she described as evidence that two Exxon Mobil seismic research vessels contracted by Guyana had allegedly trespassed into Venezuelan waters. Rodriguez went on to play recordings of what appeared to be radio communication between Captains of the respective Exxon Mobil vessels and the Ve n e z u e l a N a v y, culminating with the latter ordering the Exxon research vessels to leave the area in question. So, this issue is separate and a great hazard to our nationhood, whether we embrace the APNU, AFC, PPP or others. In a previous letter, I had suggested that Guyana seek external military support to assist in securing its territorial integrity at this critical juncture when the stakes and potential for its development is at an all-time
high. Coincidentally, within the same week, the newly elected Brazilian President – Jair Bolsonaro - voiced similar sentiments, saying he is open to hosting a United States (US) military base to counter Russian influence in the region. While Bolsonaro may have different motives, Guyana has a real threat that can be deterred by a superior military presence. Venezuela is cognizant of the socio-economic benefits that will be derived once Guyana’s production of oil advances unhindered, since projections indicate superior comparative per capita growth to theirs over time. Therefore, it is fair to say that Venezuela’s latest heightened aggression is deliberate. Unlike our inattentiveness and perhaps nonchalance, Venezuela pays keen attention to developments in Guyana. Ve n e z u e l a n s f l e e i n g economic hardship in their native country continue to flow into Guyana. Ve n e z u e l a ’s l a t e s t aggression came one day
after a controversial noconfidence motion against the sitting Guyana government in this country’s parliament. Guyana’s sitting government is openly disliked by Caracas. The PPP would be much favoured by Maduro. One would recall the Venezuelan reaction to Guyana in September 2015, shortly after the election of the incumbent government here. The Venezuelans amassed an extraordinary deployment of military personnel and equipment in border areas close to our Essequibo. Intuitively and prudently, the David Granger government went on an immediate diplomatic crusade internationally to whip up support for G u y a n a ’s c a u s e . O u r subsequent move to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) was a precise and effective move, pegging b a c k t h e Ve n e z u e l a n aggression temporarily. We must, however, be aware that some countries do not (Continued on page 6)
Why on earth should a country like Guyana with such vast resources be so blighted? DEAR EDITOR, Why on earth should a country like Guyana with such vast resources be so blighted? We ’ v e g o t g o l d , diamonds, timber, bauxite, sugar, rice and seafood, among other resources... and now, with God’s blessing, five-billion-plus barrels of recently discovered oil offshore, with ExxonMobil expected to begin the process of extracting it later this year. We’re over nineteen times larger than Jamaica and nearly forty-two times the size of Trinidad and Tobago with islands in our Essequibo River that are bigger than many Caribbean islands. For more than half a century, political parties have been seeking power through the artificiallycreated demographics of our society (with the exception of the widely-scattered preexisting indigenous community) with tremendous political, electoral and racial conflict, tension and other related difficulties. U n f o r t u n a t e l y, t h e unnecessary difficulties
political parties face, especially on the eve of elections, are generated by a conflict of interest and ‘existing, likely and imagined’ insecurities of the two ‘artificially-created’ major race groups in Guyana. T h e c u r r e n t constitutional dilemma created by the recent passage of a ‘no-confidence’ motion in the National Assembly is a classic example of the political fallout of a society largely consisting of, and polarized by two major race groups. It is time politicians start thinking ‘out of the box’ in the creative sense, and realize that ultimately the only way the nation can significantly resolve the abovementioned problems is by way of creative, wise and practical amendments to the Constitution - the supreme law of the land. One possible solution is to have a ‘rotational’ Executive President and political party, (the latter, traditionally representing in the ‘de facto’ sense, one of the two major race groups), being guaranteed an alternative
term of political power; while gracefully stepping out of office at the end of the allocated rotational period to allow the political party representing ‘de facto’, the other major race group, to govern for a term of 5 years (or 4 years, if a shorter term is considered more suitable for rotational presidencies). In this regard, Kenya must be commended for trying to assuage and minimize their tribal and electoral conflict, tension and difficulties by thinking ‘out of the box;’ as late last year, a few Members of Parliament requested the Speaker of their parliament to consider amending Kenya’s Constitution to allow for rotational presidency. While such a creative constitutional and electoral idea, if implemented, would restrict the democratic and electoral rights of Kenyan citizens (e.g., by depriving leaders of smaller political parties, new or old, from any hope of winning an election or from the possibility of gaining political power through the formation of a coalition
government), the system of presidential rotation could be seen here as a wise and practical ‘trade-off ’, in exchange for fostering the more important goals of national security, peace, the lessening of tribal (or ‘racial’ as in Guyana’s situation) and electoral conflict and tensions. This in addition to maintaining law and order, the security of a more stable system of governance and the encouraging of foreign investment, through the necessary amendments to the constitution; that will most likely, however, require a national referendum. While there is obviously no time in Guyana at the moment - in the light of the recent no-confidence vote, and the serious governmental dilemma it created - for considering the implementation of a system of presidential rotation, it is my hope that such an idea would seriously be considered in the future by all politicians. Sincerely, Faid Shahabuddeen, Mississauga, Ontario
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Friday January 11, 2019
The showdown involving the Central American migrant caravan has crystallized into a virtual Mexican standoff DEAR EDITOR, Almost unthinkingly, the throwdown and showdown involving the Central American migrant caravan has crystallized into a virtual Mexican standoff. Today’s focus is not on the latest development: fund wall to end US government shutdown, but on those hapless wretches trapped in no-man’s land at the edge of the land of milk and honey. This is today, but matters eerily remind of a precedent from before, way back. The precedent and close parallel was in the ashes and despair that came in the aftermath of World War II: the huddled masses were in what was euphemistically called
Displaced Persons camps. Prior to that, they were in prison and then refugee camps; and before that it was concentration camps. It was at Bergen-Belsen in Northern Germany that the Allied soldiers stumbled upon tens of thousands of hungry, fearful, trapped shadows of what were once human beings: the living, walking dead. Except that many could not even walk, so brutalized they were. Around this time the US immigration carousel commenced its usual incomprehensible gyrations. There was a bill before a Democrat-controlled Congress. President Harry Truman wanted to extend a
humanitarian gesture, do something, even though at this point, the full horror of the genocide was still unknown. A war of words promptly started. Here is a sampling: subversives, criminals, revolutionaries. One Congressman from the Deep South said that not only should those immigrants already resident in the US return to wherever they came from, but also that there ought to be an end to all immigration. Period. The time was in 1946 when, by far, the great majority of foreigners in the US (or in line for migrating to the US) were of European extraction. Yes, it was in a politically less
Generally I tend to ignore Robin Singh’s fifth columnist efforts in service to the PPP, but… DEAR EDITOR, Generally I tend to ignore Robin Singh’s increasingly transparent fifth columnist efforts in service to the PPP. When it was that I exposed and thwarted his insidious attempt to bait and switch youth engagement in 2015 towards Freedom House’s campaign, I considered Mr. Singh a spent force, and still do, despite whatever usefulness he has convinced Bharrat Jagdeo that he has. What I take offence to in his most recent submission is that he has now moved from creating a fake organisation in service to the PPP to trying to destroy what seems to be a genuine effort by young people, the Policy Desk, to organise themselves and make an independent contribution to the political space. Mr. Singh writes: “A simple examination of APNU+AFC roll call of Members of Parliament is all the evidence needed. These same forces are again funding and directing young people up that dead end street. Ruel Johnson and Sherod Duncan are once again leading the charge. Having watched the Alliance For Change self-destruct, they are members of a new
front organization, the Policy Desk, which seeks to use subterfuge and trickery to attract votes for APNU+AFC. The same promises made in 2015 are being regurgitated, with the hope of bags for Ruel and Sherod and nothing for the youth.” I’m not sure what is his reference to APNU+AFC “Members of Parliament” is but I can easily refute that I have any role in any existing political party in Guyana - indeed, I have never been a member of any. More to the point, I had absolutely no role in the organization of the Policy Desk’s youth engagement, nor do I have any whatsoever part to play in what the entity does. I have made no secret of encouraging young people in general to engage in critical thinking and developing a culture of participatory citizenship. I’m not sure how that translates in Mr. Singh’s mind to my leading the charge of a specific initiative, but this is the sort of absurd and crude sophistry people have come to expect from him.Far more dangerous is Mr. Singh’s attempt to link the policy to Alliance For Change executive member, Sherod Duncan. I have gone on record in pointing out the
serious credibility and integrity issues that Duncan is burdened with, particularly in relation to his ‘employment’ as General Manager of the Guyana Chronicle. To this date, after having been employed ahead of far more qualified candidates and not having the basic qualifications himself, Mr. Duncan remains, to all public knowledge, under investigation for unauthorised spending as Chronicle GM. This means that the chief officer of a stateowned company has, while being paid, spent more time under investigation than he has actually performing his job. I maintain that this makes a mockery of any serious claim to public accountability, and the Board of GNNL owes the public a detailed update on the status of the investigation. To seek to taint the effort of a group of young people with that sort of stain is indecent and unfair, but decency and fairness in public commentary has never been a major theme in the campaign strategy of Mr. Jagdeo, the man pulling Robin Singh’s strings. If this is Freedom House’s strategy to attract youth votes, I wish them well. Ruel Johnson
correct time, without the uninterrupted glare of satellite television and 24-hour saturation news feed, and no restraining talons of social media. At the same time, I should point out that President Truman also had a civil rights bill before the Congress. Double trouble, it was, and of the most unacceptable kind involving Jews in Europe and coloreds in the US. Now even though today there all those ever-present electronic constraints, as well as a more sensitive time, the record shows that when history changes, it does so by painful torturous degrees; and that nothing is really new under the sun. Consider the rhetoric from the leader today: criminals, rapists, drug traffickers, and terrorists in a continuous stream of such invectives doing well as identifiers. In 1946, the burgeoning fear and preoccupation of the American nation was communism; in 2018, it is about terrorism, which now has many paternities. Let it be said: those massed at the US border are not of pure Nordic stock, thus the necessary care to avoid offending is minimal. I suppose more could have been said (and not for the better), if speakers didn’t have to be careful, given the age. But in both instances identified here, such pungent rhetoric provokes swift passions and find ready recep-
tive hearts in a frightened doggedly hard-right audience.I venture further. For sure, be it in Germany or Central America, fraud, perjury, and forged papers will be kneaded into the mix. Guyanese can identify with such practices having resorted to the same during their own decades-long exodus toward the Promised Land. But just as surely, there are the fearful, pitiful, and hopeful usually forming the majority. It does not matter one whit. In politics, people are pawns in the calculations and moves of cold dispassionate chessmen. Hence, this proposed barter about ending shutdown by funding the wall. Pause for a minute, please, amidst the mounting cynicism. The US immigration system is arguably in its most terrible state ever. Admitting one caravan will serve as incentive for others to risk the grueling ordeals associated with such a trek for a shot at the rainbow waiting. Clearly, both Democrats and Republicans in the legislature and the Executive have to examine current and future demographics more thoughtfully and unselfishly, rather than only politically and superficially. I acknowledge this is easier said than done. There has to be less fear of winning or losing the electoral edge of the Hispanic bloc, now the largest minority group.
Similarly, there has to be less anxieties over the potential demographic time bomb of massive influxes by more and more mass Hispanic arrivals. It could be any other group from any other place, but they have the geography in their favour. All the nativist-oriented politicians know that the low birth rate of nativeborn Americans (read: white Americans) is not going to change dramatically, all other things holding equal. Editor, the sensible, pragmatic approach calls for (demands urgently that) Congressional leaders craft and compromise, then cooperate for consensus in a structured, orderly, and numerically-wise manner to fix an immigration machinery that is not just disastrous, but also increasingly tragic. Of course, nobody will be exactly thrilled with the final outcome, but everyone gets to claim partial credit, partial victory, and some satisfaction from participating tirelessly in what could be something that is truly historic and far-reaching. Think for the next few decades, or at least the breather of a few precious years. Part of the problem is a lack of leadership, and when that happens, the lesser equipped fill the vacuum with whatever suits their fancy. With the sad result that drags down and embarrasses a proud nation. Sincerely, GHK Lall
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Friday January 11, 2019
Government Shutdowns, Political Showdowns, Erected Walls and Contentious Calls DEAR EDITOR, The current government shutdown is nothing new. The unanswered question is –What will the Democrats and Republicans do— For while the Government plays Americans pay. As 2018 drew to a close, America, or better put, the American people, found themselves looking at 2019 from a partially closed or shutdown perspective, wondering about the future of their great nation. Although not alluded to, or even briefly mentioned, this is the third government shutdown, in the less than two years since Donald Trump assumed presidency. The barrage of media coverage regarding resignations, social media missteps, Russia probes, indictments, and the countless shenanigans, all served to lull everyone into an mnemonic aura— into a strange sense of forgetfulness that it was nothing new—just plain old déjà vu. Wake up America—you started 2018, with a government shutdown. Beginning January 20 to January 23, 2018 the issues of immigration and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) funding was contentious, as the Democrats contended that the funding be
included in the budget. Senate Republicans refused to include the issue, insisting that the deadline for both DACA and immigration was not until mid-March. A stopgap that would fund the government for four weeks passed the House of Representatives, and Republican Mitch McConnell proposed a three-week stop-gap. The government reopened on Tuesday, January 23. Next came the second government shutdown on February 9, 2018, an aftermath of the January shutdown, but it did not lead to any workers being furloughed, as it was satisfactorily resolved overnight. The third shutdown of 2018 (including the February 2018 funding lapse related to the January 2018 shutdown) commenced on Saturday, December 22nd with a Housepassed continuing resolution to fund the United States Government awaiting a full floor vote in the Senate. The point of contention or the crux of the matter was the inclusion of $5.7 billion in funding for a border wall that was a component of a Trump campaign promise. Throughout his campaign and as recently as November, the President has repeatedly
stated that Mexico would pay for his border wall. He further stated that it would cost about $33 billion. Specifically, the administration was looking for $18 billion for the physical wall, $5.7 billion for technology, $1 billion for road construction and maintenance, and $8.5 billion for staff. However, a few days ago, Trump’s acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney in essence acknowledged that Mexico would not in fact be paying for the border wall, which is now reported to increase in cost as much as an additional $40 billion dollars. To seemingly make matters worse, Trump was hedging on whether it is called a “wall” or “fence” and failing to acknowledge that there really is a difference between the two things. Now at this third shutdown, the President is insisting on $5 billion to reach a budget deal, but there have been leaks that the administration would accept $1.6 billion, while Senate Democrats have lowered the amount, they were willing to fund to $1.3 billion. Trump vehemently maintains that the wall is needed to secure the US southern border with Mexico and stem irregular immigration. There is no backing down on the part of the administration, and the shutdown, now in its twentieth day, is currently the sec-
Venezuela’s military antics must... From page 4 respect international laws and rulings. Therefore, preemptive measures against military aggression are often the best forms of communication. This recent Venezuelan incursion is one which, I believe, helps to solidify Guyana’s appeal to the ICJ for our territorial controversy to be resolved in a timely and judicious manner. It is also the basis for Guyana to seek the United Nations or our bilateral allies’ assistance in providing the necessary maritime support to help us secure our borders, since our own defence force lacks the technology and equipment to do so. It is no secret, that national sovereignty for some countries are mere formalities. Unfortunately, Guyana at this juncture, is one of them. We simply do not have the capability to resist the military might of a real Venezuelan offensive. We also have persons in our political sphere who are dangerously flirtatious with the Venezuelans and even prepared to cede portions of our territory to them because of socialist sentiments. Also, of great concern is Venezuela’s immediate alliance, military cooperation and partnership with Russia. The Russians, who are seeking to expand their political and military influence globally, have demonstrated that they do not always respect international laws nor the sovereignty of countries. Two examples that come to mind are Russian’s 1979 to 1989 invasion and war with Afghanistan, and their annexation of the Ukrainian Crimea region early in 2014. Venezuela, with their recent decision to have Russia set up a military base on La Orchila - an island just off Caracas, may very well feel empowered to make bolder military moves, perhaps even seeking to annex our
Essequibo region either prior or subsequent to any ruling by the ICJ, which is highly anticipated in Guyana’s favour. Venezuelan nationalism would be energized and used to bolster domestic support for the Maduro regime, which has been given a recent mandate to govern until 2025. Guyana would do well to encourage its key allies of Brazil, the United States and the United Kingdom to similarly increase military cooperation and the establishment of a permanent presence here, as counter measures to discourage any further Venezuelan ambitions and solidify Guyana’s territorial security. If this suggestion sounds farfetched, consider what was done in Djibouti. Djibouti is a small Franco-Arab country in the horn of Africa with a population with a few thousand more than that of Guyana. Djibouti recently permitted the Chinese People’s Liberation Army to establish a military base in that country as part of their bilateral and military cooperation. Djibouti also has an ongoing territorial claim against it by Eritrea. Eritrea had seized territory from Djibouti in 2008. Djibouti temporarily relied on Qatari military presence in 2010 to help occupy and recover their territory. Djibouti’s hosting of foreign military bases earns it over US$2.5 Billion for lease payments from the establishment of those bases in that country. After the unfortunate event on December 21, 2018 in the National Assembly, the Guyana government would do well to take nothing for granted or chance, but rather, be pro-active and preemptive in embracing the need for improved defence capacity and territorial protection against a persistent and determined aggressor. Yours faithfully, Orette Cutting
ond longest in U. S history, and if no solution is reached by tomorrow, Saturday January 12, 2019, it will be the longest gap in government funding in U.S. history. Recently Trump tweeted that most of those affected by the shutdown are Democrats, a fact which the Democrats should know. However, the sad reality that Republicans and Democrats appear not to know and understand is that the impact of a shutdown is bipartisan. On a much more provocative note, the president has also warned that he may go the route of utilizing a rarelyused option, by declaring a national emergency to build his border wall without congressional approval. Strangely enough, while such a thought may be in his mind, additionally the power to effect such a measure also lies in his hands. This shutdown, viewed in its entirety, is further adding to Donald Trump’s growing list of firsts. Putting aside the fact that the shutdown may soon be the longest in U.S. history, and the invoking of emergency powers may
evoke harsh criticism, of the 58 times that presidents have declared emergencies since Congress reformed emergency-powers laws in 1976, none has involved funding a policy goal after failing to win congressional approval. Is there a likely end in sight, while endeavouring to ascertain who’s wrong and who’s right? According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on January 8, an increasing number of Americans blame the president for the shutdown that will cut off paychecks to federal workers this week, although Republicans mostly support his refusal to approve a budget without taxpayer dollars for the U.S.Mexico border wall. President Trump has said there is a national security crisis at the border. As the shutdown drags on, there is mounting air travel fears, as airport security and air traffic controllers currently working without pay warned that security and safety could be compromised should the shutdown continue beyond today, Friday January 11, the date and day when some workers will miss their first pay cheques.
On a side note, the shutdown, while still playing out in the main arena, has taken on a life of its own—the tough negotiation prowess of Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, pitted against the inability to be pinned down of Donald Trump, President of the United States. Quo vadis? Where are both sides now? The shutdown has drawn national attention — and the spotlight has brightened since the start of the new year. Along with that, the rhetoric has become increasingly heated. On account of all of that, a deal that might have worked to reopen the government on, say, December 29, 2018, would no longer be workable or at least applicable today. The ultimate question however remains— Will there be a wall or a political fall? How long can government workers stay without receiving any pay? If the truth is to be told whether bought or basically sold, what lies behind this impasse is clear to see,— an ongoing game of cat and mouse now that the Democrats have regained the House. Yvonne Sam
Justice delayed in this instance will indeed be justice denied DEAR EDITOR, The Leader of the Opposition, Dr Bharat Jagdeo has once again displayed his trademark quality of astuteness and high class political maturity as he made a bold move to avoid not only a Constitutional crisis, but an economic one in the making as well. As he outlined in his Press Conference, it is the duty of both the Government and the Opposition to inspire confidence in society in the face of the mounting uncertainties being faced following the passing of the no confidence motion against the Coalition Government. He indicated that strong and mature actions by both parties are essential to remove such insecurities. The populace wants speedy justice. However, it is quite disappointing to the point of utter disgust that the State-owned newspaper continues to twist the outcome of the no confidence motion, and now the meeting between Jagdeo and Granger, to highlight in its front pages the claim that ‘Government rejects Jagdeo’s request to withdraw legal challenge to no confidence vote’. What should be highlighted is the fact that Dr Jagdeo stated that once the Government intends to pursue the course of legal action
then both parties must make a joint statement requesting the Court to deal with the matter expeditiously, since there is a Constitutional time frame given, which is 90 days. There is a famous legal maxim which says that ‘justice delayed is justice denied’ and this is exactly what the Leader of the Opposition was referring to. We have seen this being echoed by Guyanese diplomat and academic Sir Ronald Sanders, who said that the Courts must act expeditiously, since it is a matter of grave national importance, and should not take more than a week. He concluded that the political anxiety and tension is not a good thing, and the supreme law should not be vilified. The State-media is financed by taxpayers’ dollars and must be in the forefront to ease this type of tension, not to ignite and fuel it. Even in its dying throes this Government is squandering our monies. Moreover, it would seem that the State resources are now being used against Guyanese who want to preserve the sovereignty of our Constitution. Those resources should be directed towards a speedy resolution of the constitutional questions before the Court. The selfish attempts by
some members of the Coalition Government to brainwash Guyanese and hold them at ransom will only push them further down the precipice of ignominy to the point of no return. In addition, the AFC duo, Nagamootoo and Ramjattan, are now expressing hues and cries far above the normal decibels in a final effort to gain some recognition from the PNC. They failed at the recently concluded LGE. In conclusion, GECOM had signaled just after the passing of the no confidence motion that they are prepared for an early election within the Constitutional time frame. This was according to Public Relations Officer of GECOM Yolanda Ward, who was adamant that, ‘it is our constitutional mandate to conduct the General and Regional Elections and the Local Government Elections whenever they are constitutionally due; so whether it is in 90 days then it is GECOM’s responsibility to conduct elections’. This was published in the Guyana Chronicle on 27th December, 2018. I wish GECOM’s Chairman a speedy recovery to facilitate the electoral process in 90 days. Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf RDC Councilor Region 6
The land that time forgot DEAR EDITOR, Visit any office, whether it is government or the private sector, and one will be amazed at the amount of employees who arrive late for work; and those who arrive on time almost always, invariably, don’t start work on time either. This phenomenon has become an accepted norm in our society for decades, with no improvement forthcoming. Vehicular traffic, notably along the East Coast and East Bank highways is catastrophic, and rivals the traffic situation in New York City, which has 8 million people. Cities I have visited like Bangkok (population of 14 million) and Mumbai (15 million) boast of faster flows of traffic. In Guyana, it seems that no one has any solution to this nightmare. The roads of Guyana cannot cope with the current number of vehicles, and an additional 10,000 vehicles that are imported annually. Building modern highways with arterial roads and overpasses is the way forward to alleviate this horrific condition based on a road network built 100 years ago. Take for instance 3,000 vehicles, with an average of 3 occupants, idling for 2 hours per day: this yields a whopping 18,000 hours wasted
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daily. This is estimated to be roughly 300 working days per year, to the astronomical figure of 5.4 million hours annually! This state of affairs, along with the needless traffic pileup during the parliamentary sessions, is horrible, and has taken its toll on people’s mood and attitude, whose emotions range from attrition and anger to rage and resentment . It is situations like these that ultimately lead to violence. Then there is the Public Service with a litany of woes and a comedy of errors. Rarely anyone performs with zeal and responsibility in the Public Service. This type of ineptitude can only be matched by the immensity of patience shown by the public. The ink had been hardly dried on the pages of Independence when this system reared its ugly head. In this period of technology, that particular entity is stuck in the era of the steam engine. Such a poorly trained workforce cannot generate any form of efficiency. It is for these reasons why many persons return to Guyana from the US and Canada to find it difficult to adjust to the demands of punctuality and efficiency that exist in Western workplaces.
The Judicial System is archaic and clumsy. Trials for capital and other offences take as long as 7 years to be heard, while police investigations are sloppy. Many are languishing in prison for longer periods than the actual maximum sentence. At the public hospitals, doctors and nurses do not act with any semblance of alacrity, precipitating numerous fatalities in waiting rooms and other areas of the hospitals. This system has certainly damaged the psyche of almost all Guyanese and can only be attributed to mediocre leadership and indiscipline. With its forthcoming oil wealth, the country can prosper and its citizens obtain a comfortable life, if corrupt officials do not dip their fingers into the treasury. On the other hand, with the present state of political uncertainty in Guyana following the no-confidence vote, the country could implode and descend into chaos and mayhem. Guyanese have suffered for far too long under a succession of mediocre, horrible and visionless leaders. Perhaps one day, a true and visionary leader will emerge and lead the country to prosperity. Hopefully, this will happen sooner rather than later. Leyland Chitlall Roopnaraine
Cuban charged for forging Mexican visa appointment letter A man who allegedly forged a Mexican visa appointment letter and overstayed his time in Guyana was yesterday remanded to prison for the offences. Fifty-two-year-old Lazaro Pereira Alanzo, of 81 Robb Street, Georgetown, appeared before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Marcus-Isaacs who read three charges to him. It is alleged that on December 17, 2018, at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, he uttered to Iyana Harris, a General Clerk at the Ministry of Presidency, Department of Citizenship, a visa appointment confirmation letter, dated January 11, 2019, in favour of himself, purporting to show that same was issued by the Mexican embassy. It was further alleged that between September 29, 2018 and December 17, 2018, at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, he forged one visa appointment letter dated January 11, 2019, in favour of himself purporting to show
Remanded to prison Lazaro Pereira Alanzo that same was issued by the Mexican embassy. The last charge stated that between January 1, 2019 and January 8, 2019, at Georgetown, he failed to comply with conditions subject to which a permit was
granted permitting him to stay in Guyana from September 29, 2018 and December 31, 2018, he overstayed that said period. Alanzo, who spoke through an interpreter, denied (Continued on page 24)
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Guyana now moves to address data disclosure two years after World Bank advice By Kiana Wilburg More than two years ago, the World Bank submitted clear recommendations to local stakeholders that data disclosure rules and regulations must be addressed if Guyana is to see a smooth transition into the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). In a report seen by this newspaper, the World Bank specifically stated that for Guyana to prepare its bid for EITI, the authorities should assess how current data is being disclosed and how the current rules/regulations will impact the country’s ability to meet the requirements set by the new EITI Standard. The World Bank said that there are important limitations in the existing information available, including statement of revenues collected from Guyana Revenue Authority and its powers to release these, and disaggregated revenue data by licensees (mining companies) as collected by the Guyana Gold Board and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC). The nation is expected to submit its first report to the
Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative in April 2019. While officials of the local chapter have already initiated the process to prepare the document, it is only now reporting that it is facing some difficulties, the same difficulties it was urged to fix by the World Bank. According to Dr. Rudy Jadoopat, head of the GY-
EITI, the nation’s rigid tax laws are preventing some government agencies from submitting crucial data needed to prepare the report. During his interview with this publication a few weeks ago, Dr. Jadoopat had said, “Guyana’s report is expected to help promote open and accountable management of our natural resources. It is expected to contain information from companies on payments they make to the gov-
ernment that is then reconciled with data from the government which says how much they claim to have received from the said companies. “It is in this vein that we have had several engagements with government agencies. These include the Bureau of Statistics, Bank of Guyana, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Insurance Scheme.” But Dr. Jadoopat had said that not all the government agencies have submitted all the information needed. He said that this is the case with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). The official had said, “There are some obstacles which have been cited by the GRA which is that the law does not allow them to provide taxpayers names to us and their TIN and all of that. So that is an issue we have to deal with.” Dr. Jadoopat noted however that there are other jurisdictions which were able to overcome such issues. In this regard, the official pointed to Trinidad and Tobago. He had said, “The Income Tax Act and the Revenue Act of Guyana provides for how
this information can be made available and what are the exceptions. This information is needed to support the first report which is due in April 2019... “If you don’t know the names of the players who pay the government then we cannot do our reconciliation...So this is where we are right now. Hopefully the government can provide a waiver to the GRA to help this situation.” Dr. Jadoopat had said that the government committed to the EITI process and there should be no barrier in ensuring Guyana complies with the standard of the global body. He added, “If Government’s commitment is to be seen as real then it has to ensure that its agencies provide data for the report…” GUYANA/ EITI H I S T O R Y EITI is an international body that was established in 2003 with the aim of making it harder for governments and companies to hide the truth about the proceeds garnered from the extractive industries. The companies in the extractive sector report on what they are paying the government, and the government reports separately on what it received from the companies in the sector. A report is then prepared by a Multi-Stakeholder Group. The document, among other
G-EITI Head, Dr. Rudy Jadoopat things, will highlight whether the numbers data collected from the two add up, or if there is an irregularity. Dr. Jadoopat explained that Guyana must be praised for its efforts in recent years, which were all geared towards satisfying the EITI candidate sign-up requirements. The official noted that the Government of Guyana had announced its commitment to implement the EITI Standards since May 2010. He said that Guyana and EITI even signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2012, which paved the way for Guyana to be assisted with its preparation of EITI candidacy. He said that the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the World Bank and the Carter Center provided assistance to the Government and supported its efforts towards
EITI candidacy. Dr. Jadoopat said it is expected that this will c o n t i n u e . He added that the government, as stipulated in the International EITI Standard 1.4, has committed to working with Civil Society and Companies.”It has unequivocally and boldly announced its commitment to work with civil society and companies. Also, the government has agreed to ensure that there are no obstacles to civil society participation in the EITI processes. It agreed to refrain from actions which may result in narrowing of, or restricting of public debate in relation to the EITI implementation.” Dr. Jadoopat also took the opportunity to encourage all to consider it their civilian duty to actively participate in the activities and work of the Guyana-EITI.
F
uel is the largest con tributor to import duties. In 2017, the government collected over $21B in import taxes on petroleum and its by-products. No other commodity brings in this amount of import taxes. The downside is that the importation has to be paid for in foreign exchange. In 2017, Guyana imported US$394.5 M in fuel, twice as much as it did on food. The high import taxes on fuel and the importance of these taxes to Government revenues make fuel attractive for smugglers. Strict controls on the importation of fuel should therefore be a mandatory if fuel smuggling and tax evasion are to be curtailed. Strict controls are also necessary for safety since fuel is highly combustible. The storage of bulk fuel therefore requires importers to have bulk storage facilities which meet specified international safety and environmental standards. These bulk storage tanks are usually required to be located away from residential and business areas because of the risk of explosions and fires. The establishment of bulk storage facilities requires
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costly infrastructure investment, and that is why traditionally the importation of fuel was restricted to large multinational companies – Shell (now Sol), Texaco (now Rubis) and Esso – along with the state-owned oil company GUYOIL. It was only these companies which could afford to put in the infrastructure needed for bulk importation of fuel. The government has little worries with these companies. The foreign multinationals have reputations to protect and strict accounting standards. They hired large vessels to transport fuel and have storage facilities for bulk storage of fuel. They have always operated within the laws of Guyana. But while these companies were legally importing their fuel, there were persons smuggling on the high seas and across our borders. Guyana’s vast coastline and unmanned borders made it easy to smuggle fuel. This has resulted in massive revenue losses for the state. At Eteringbang alone, where the GDF has a base, the Guyana Revenue Authority estimates a loss of $20M per week. In order, to reduce the
massive loss of revenues from the smuggling of fuel, the PPPC government introduced a fuel marking system. The fuel marking system was however found to have deficiencies. A forensic audit by the government into the Guyana Energy Authority, the agency in charge of fuel marking system, found weak internal controls, lack of proper validation of fuel marking reports and problems associated with the dispensing of markers to the fishing industry. When in government, the PPPC tried to support the trawlers and seafood indus-
try by granting them permission to import and store their own fuel. This system set a dangerous precedent and opened the floodgates for private individuals to apply for fuel import licenses when the APNU+AFC took office. As this newspaper reported, a mere five weeks after assuming office, the APNU+AFC granted a fuel licence to a company which was only registered three months prior to the May 11, 2015 general elections. The grant of another licence months later, ignited a stinging rebuke from the Mirror newspaper which pointed
out to the speed with which these licenses were granted considering that an importer is normally required to have bulk storage tanks, obtain an environmental impact assessment and at least four other permits concerned with storage, transportation, safety and importation. The Mirror alluded to a period of nine months to obtain these permits, yet the licenses were granted in less than four months. Fuel licenses should not be granted unless the necessary infrastructure, facilities and safety and environmental standards are in place. The
government should undertake a review of the criteria that are used for granting licenses. These licenses can rightly be considered as property and therefore cannot be arbitrarily revoked unless there is misconduct or laxity in meeting the requirements to hold such a license. But at least a start should be made to ensure that the necessary requirements are being met.
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THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
Grab for power in Guyana the world must condemn I keep reading about the points both sides have in the crisis of the no confidence vote (NCM). Even if both sides have legitimate arguments, this columnist finds two advancements from the government and its supporters so asinine that they expose the government and supporters as power grabbers. The first one is the foreign citizenship of Charrandass Persaud. The polemic of the PNC and AFC is intellectually so bankrupt that it reduces Guyana to a joke in the eyes of the world. Here is that argument. Under the constitution, you cannot owe allegiance to a foreign country. Persaud is a citizen of Canada therefore he was legally disqualified from voting. This sounds good. But it becomes rotten egg as the counter argument begins. When did leaders in the PNC and AFC discover that foreign citizens sit as Guyanese MPs and thus can-
not vote? Not in 2015 when they won Parliament. Not with the 2016, 2017, 2018 budgets; not with the oil and gas legislation, only at the end of December 2018, when Persaud voted for the NCM. Really! Are rational minds going to accept this? Do rational minds not see the deviousness on this adumbration? Now if Persaud could not vote for the NCM because he has foreign citizenship, does his vote for past budgets and past Bills stand? If the court rules in the government’s favour then the NCM is invalid. But is this government telling the world that it will accept Persaud was at fault on one issue only – the NCM? Is the government saying it will live with all the Bills that were passed up to December 2018 in which Persaud sided with the government? If that is so, then morality has no place in life and the world. Normal humans will be inclined to say that AFC and the
PNC are not people worthy to be reelected because they have no moral guidance in their approach to the administration of a country. If the PNC and AFC win the court case based on Persaud’s foreign status and decides to continue in government without cancelling all the other motions and Bills that Persaud helped to bring into reality then I say such a group of politicians should not be reelected. Next is the bribery factor. This is bizarre, macabre, surreal, theatrical. The bribery dimension of the Charrandass NCM vote has exposed the foolish people in the PNC and AFC and has given the PPP a lifeline that will serve them handsomely in the forthcoming elections. Let’s go back to fifteen years of corruption under Jagdeo and Ramotar. As a long serving media operative, I have snippets of evidence of corruption by PPP ministers. I am still at a loss to find
out why a letter-writer by the name of GHK Lall finds the Kaieteur News such a gutter newspaper (must be personal) when in the context of Caribbean newspapers, the KN stands out as one of the most phenomenal journalistic investigators of governmental corruption. KN brought out a mountain of corruptibility by the presidencies of Jagdeo and Ramotar. The AFC, in particular, secured electoral success with its denunciation of kleptocracy under Jagdeo and Ramotar. One man had billions of dollars in his possession and his only source of business income was selling phone cards. One man became a minister and overnight he had a huge mansion and swimming pool on West Coast. Three years after APNU+AFC came to power, its anti-corruption arm,
SARA, is yet to galvanize the nation about its discoveries. A former minister, Westford, was tried and found not guilty. Nizam Hassan of the Rice Board was tried and found not guilty. But guess who is guilty of corruption? Charrandass Persaud. And guess how long it took for the government to investigate and find evidence of the conspiracy – literally days. Certainly not more than ten days. Here is what the PPP is going to do when the election campaign begins. It will tell its supporters that after fifteen years in power the APNU+AFC regime cannot bring solid evidence of corruption but in days they found proof of Persaud being bribed. The PPP campaigners will tell listeners at their meetings that there was never any corruption under Jagdeo and Ramotar because if they
Frederick Kissoon could find evidence of financial nastiness against Persaud within days why they could not find financial stench after three and a half years of investigating the PPP regime. The more the leaders of the PNC and AFC invoke asinine reasons for rejecting the NCM, the more they are exposing their power drunk mentality. The government’s rejection of the NCM in the opinion of this columnist is a grab for power which is endangering the fabric of this country.
DEM BOYS SEH
Jesus tun water into wine; de coalition want a miracle fuh 32 and 33
Jesus tun water into wine. That was one miracle. Then he feed 5,000 people wid five kakabelly fish. Soulja Bai is a church man and he know bout dem miracles but dem boys seh is time he tell ee members that no miracle dem perform can mek 32 bigger than 33. After all, dem don’t even know if Jesus coulda perform that miracle. Since there is no miracle that can change dem numbers he should call election and see if de coalition can pull off a miracle. De division inside de coalition might cause some problem. Some of dem want to postpone de election
thinking that anodda miracle gun happen. But de people prefer fuh Soulja Bai call elections and knock out some of dem who cause embarrassment to him and de coalition. If he don’t shock dem out is more division in de camp. Jagdeo already got he own division. Instead of separating de sheep from de goat, he putting de candidates against each other. Who he ain’t put against each other he put out de party. He got Anil and Irfaat who swear allegiance to him just like how people wid dual citizenship does swear allegiance to de farrin country. He name three man and
two woman in de race fuh de presidential candidate. None of de man is dem own man and none of dem woman is dem own woman. Jagdeo want all of dem as he own like how some people got a puppet or how a man does have he dog pun a chain. Everybody see how he had de chain round Donald Dumb neck, parading him all over Guyana. Dem boys hear when Jagdeo go to State House to meet Soulja Bai he think he was going to put a leash pun Soulja Bai neck. He nearly come out in handcuffs. Talk half and help all of dem pray fuh a miracle.
Friday January 11, 2019
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Region Ten CHWs exposed to skills enhancing training Even as national efforts are being employed to improve the delivery of health care, Region Ten has been exploring aggressive tactics to advance its health care services. Some 40 Community Health Workers [CHWs] from various health centres in Region Ten are currently attending a three-day Expanded Programme on Immunisation [EPI] meeting and training workshop. The two-pronged event, which is being held at the Len Conference room, forms part of the health services 2019 programme to further enhance the educational and technical skills of the targeted health workers. According to Region Ten’s Senior Health Visitor [ag], Ms. Karen King, the three-day review forum is
usually held on a quarterly basis. Such meetings, she said, are important since they give insight to better understanding the achievements and challenges that the health workers face. “For the three days we will be looking at several issues, among them the vaccination coverage for the health centres and health posts within Region Ten. We will also be doing a training workshop as we seek to improve the skills and knowledge of our Community Health Workers as they are our partners in addressing healthcare effectively within the region,” King informed. According to her, addressing shortcomings in the delivery of health care is pivotal if continued successes are to be realised within the region. King said that one of the major challenges facing several of the CHWs is the issue of effective reporting thus the workshop is aimed at improving their skills to better report on the tasks they are assigned. She noted that since several of the health workers’ reports are not done properly, in terms of how they should be submitted, deliberate efforts have been made to incorporate a segment to educate them on the appropriate format and style that should be adhered to. “We have found that several of the reports submitted by the CHWs are not done properly or to the standards that have been established. Therefore, we are hoping to use part of the workshop to ensure that we can inform and sensitize them on how they need to go about in doing their reports because it is very important,” King stressed. She added that enhancing their skills in report writing and compilation is critically, noting that it is the very report submitted by the various health centres and health posts that are used to compile the regional reports which are submitted to the Ministry of Public Health. This, she said, is done to ascertain the performance or status of the region nationally. With improved report writing, King said that it would certainly reduce several of the flaws and difficulties with the reports submitted. Meanwhile, Regional Executive Officer [REO], Orrin Gordon, stressed the need for the CHWs to continue enhancing and improving their education even as he re-
Senior Health visitor acting [ag] for Region Ten, Ms. Karen King. minded that they play a critical role within the health sector of Region Ten. He told the eager participants that they should remain cognisant of this fact. He went on to urge them to seize every possibility of improving themselves, noting that they need to continue increasing their education as it is the only way in ensuring that they remain effective and efficient. “You have a responsibility to help in delivering health care within the region and it’s important that you do not lose sight of this focus as health care is your sector and you are expected to be the best that you can be. “However, let me remind you that you must see the need and importance of improving your education. You must see the need and urgency of enhancing your professional outlook as when you see the need, you will take the appropriate steps in taking yourself to another level,” he told the CHWs. Gordon said that advancing one’s education does not necessarily mean physically attending an institution, but rather further empowering one’s self with knowledge and understanding. “Reading and research is important in advancing one’s education and this is very important as everyone should read a lot so as to keep themselves abreast with what is happening within their own field. As such, you don’t all have to be going off to university at once but remember education is important to your development,” the REO asserted.
Friday January 11, 2019
Smallie, Nero go on trial for ‘Mango Man’ murder A jury has been empanelled at the High Court before Justice James Bovell-Drakes for the murder trial of Mark Royden Williams, called, ‘Smallie’, and Sherwin Nero, called ‘Catty. The duo has been accused of the unlawful killing of Kumar Singh, also known as ‘Mango Man. The murder occurred on August 30, 2007 at Lot 51 Craig Milne, Cove and John, East Coast Demerara. A third man, Andrew Philander, called ‘Junior’ and ‘Gadget,’ was also charged for the murder, but he perished in a fire set by inmates at the Camp Street Prison in March 2017. Three years ago, the matter came up for trial but had to be aborted after Williams demanded a new lawyer, causing the one who had been assigned to him by the state to withdraw. As a result, Justice Navindra Singh, before whom the matter was set to commence, aborted the trial. He had, however, explained to Williams that it would have taken a lot of time to assign another law-
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Sherwin Nero, called ‘Catty.
Mark Royden Williams
yer to him. At the June 19, 2014 hearing, Justice Singh had asked Nero and Philander if they preferred to have their trial separate from Williams but they refused. The judge told them that it would push back the start of the trial. Williams is one of two persons convicted and sentenced to death for the February 17, 2008 Bartica
massacre in which 12 men were killed. A jury had found him guilty of seven of the 12 murders and guilty of manslaughter for the other killings. For the murders, he was read the death penalty and handed down life sentences on the lesser charges. Williams is believed to be the mastermind of the July 9, 2018 Camp Street prison fire and jailbreak.
Suspected Syndicato gang member killed in mining camp attack
The guns and ammo recovered A member of Venezuela’s notorious Syndicato gang was reportedly killed after members of a local security service came under attack Wednesday night. According to reports, the attack happened at around 22:00 hrs on Wednesday at a mining camp located in the Cuyuni Black Water Area, in Region Seven.
It was reported that six men surrounded the camp and began to open fire. However, quick response by the camp security, which is attached to the Sherriff Security Services, kept the attackers at bay. One of the attackers was shot during the crossfire but none of the miners in the camp were injured.
The body was still there yesterday afternoon. Three handguns were recovered from the scene with matching bullets, along with one magazine of AK 47 rounds. Commander of the ‘F’ Division, Senior Superintendent, Kevin Adonis, confirmed that the police are investigating the matter.
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Friday January 11, 2019
Kaieteur News
Senior police officers will be held accountable for their actions - President Granger tells ranks at opening of Police Officers Conference
Noting that a corrupt police force cannot guarantee the security of its citizens, President David Granger yesterday told the Force’s senior ranks that they will be held accountable if they are found to be untrustworthy. “Officers, the days of concealing security sector mistakes and misdeeds are over. The Force’s officers will be held accountable for the consequences of their actions and the instructions that they issue to their subordinates.” Granger issued the warning while addressing participants at the opening of Police Force’s Annual Officers’ Conference. The event was held at State House for the first time and the Head of State, undergoing chemotherapy while facing the prospect of early elections, quipped that the ranks will see him again in the next year. The three-day conference is being held under the theme of “Security Sector Reform Implementation – Enhancing Capacity Through Training, Infrastructure and Human Resource Management.” Describing 2019 as “a special year for the Guyana Police Force, which is celebrating its 180th year in existence, Granger said that the safety of citizens and the security of the state, and stability of the economy are of
President Granger and Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan during the march past paramount concern to the Government. “Security and stability can be guaranteed best by a strong police force. Guyana looks to the police force to ensure that its citizens are protected from crime and criminality…” “The Police Force, if it is to maintain public security, must ensure it enjoys public trust…” Emphasizing his commit-
ment to security sector reform, the Head of State noted that Government resuscitated the Police Service Commission and the Police Complaints Authority last year. “Security sector reform must be accelerated to strengthen this vital institution (the Police Service Commission) in 2019. Reform will revive the Force’s institutional frame-
work… “Security sector reform is being pursued, it is expected that the reforms will be carried out with the aim of restoring public trust in the Force, reinforcing the Force’s capability to fight crime and promoting men and women only of the highest integrity to become officers,” Granger said. “The PSC in particular has a role to play with its independent status in enhancing public trust in the Force, and boosting the morale of officers…. “The principles of merit, the principles of discipline; these principles, if applied fairly can
encourage probity and discourage misconduct. “The Commission’s support for the objective of security sector reform can ensure that there will be within the Force a corps of senior officers who are committed to effective police administration, operation, investigation and intelligence gathering, to ensuring sound leadership of subordinate officers and constables and …being capable of ensuring public trust. “The appointment of the Commission, a credible Commission, was essential to the efficiency of the Police Force and to the security of the state.” But Granger said that the existence of the PSC was not enough to guarantee that the Force is headed by officers who are “committed and uncorrupted.” “A Force which is contaminated by corruption cannot safeguard the security of its citizens. Service to the Force must be based on value and incorruptibility.” The head of state also noted the challenges that the Force faces, with its shortage of ranks and equipment. “The force’s membership of about 4,600 is inadequate and needs to be augmented. Our country of over 215,000 square kilometers—larger than England and Scotland combined— is challenged to maintain security everywhere. “Most parts are only accessible by aircraft, of which the Force has none; by boat, which the police have a few; or by foot…but the police have to go there.”
These geographical and demographical factors place a burden on the Force’s organisational and administration capabilities. Officers in this regard are selected, trained , promoted and tasked to command the Force’s manpower and manage its resources in this varied landscape. “The Force is not only for desk-bound and landlubbers. Officers have to get out of their offices into the regions. The more senior officers must inspect, must report and correct problems where they arise. Every bicycle, every book, every vehicle must be checked daily to ensure they are fit and proper…” Earlier, Commissioner of Police Leslie James said that the Force has been “demonstrating leadership through collective leadership.” Commissioner James noted that last year, he joined with his four deputies and visited all the police locations countrywide. He also spoke of an eleven percent decline in serious crimes in 2019. We will remain resolute and focused in our ideals as our mandate is very clear. Public security will be maintained. “Public trust has been an issue (in the past) but we have taken steps to ensure that our citizens and members of the public are treated fairly.” He added that last year’s Local Government Elections were incident-free. The conference ends on Saturday. Preparation for early General Elections is likely to be one of the key issues that will be discussed.
Kaieteur News
Friday January 11, 2019
PAGE 15
Bush Lot double murder/robbery...
Teen wanted by police for questioning, turns self in with Attorney - brother released on bail
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he teenager whose picture was released in a wanted bulletin by the Guyana Police Force in connection with the double murder/robbery of the Samaroo brothers of Bush Lot Village, Corentyne, Berbice, has surrendered to the police in the company of his lawyer Charlyn Artiga, his uncle Daniel Locknauth and his father. Romeo "Romie" Jeenarine, 18, walked into the Whim Police Station at 9:36 am yesterday. He was subsequently detained for questioning in relation to the murder of Harricharran Samaroo called "Tully" and Premcharran Samaroo called "Davo". Attorney-at-law Artiga explained that the matter is under investigation. "At this point we don't know what evidence they have but of course a wanted bulletin was issued but there was a confusion of the names." Artiga, who is also representing the teen's brother (Yujendra Jeenarine) who was arrested last Thursday and reportedly tortured in police custody, stated that he has since been released from police custody. Kaieteur News understands that a station bail of $100,000 was posted to allow for his release. Speaking with Yujendra Jeenarine, 25, whom the police arrested last Thursday at his parents' home in Bush Lot Village, he shared horrid details of the torture he endured at the
Yujendra Jeenarine who was released on station bail
hands of the ranks investigating the matter. A search spearheaded by B Division's No.2 sub-divisional head, Senior Superintendent Bhudnarine Persaud, on his parents' house turned up empty. That caused Persaud to instruct his ranks to take Yujendra with them. Yujendra stated that he was taken to the Whim Police Station and subsequently moved to the Central Police Station CID to have his fingerprints taken, and then to the Reliance Police Station. The next day he was taken back to Central where the torture took place. "When dem carry meh, dem bangle meh
Romeo Jeenarine walking into the Whim Police Station
back of me two foot, dem bangle me hand behind meh back and dem she, 'Tell me wa you know.' and me seh, 'Sir me na know nothing'. Then dem fit wan plastic bag over meh head, put a cloth inside meh mouth then put a next plastic bag over me head and then another plastic bag. “One ah dem put me to kneel down and one ah dem like dem stand up on the link the between the handcuff and one ah dem ah stifle me. One ah dem ah cuff me in me belly," the 25-year-old detailed. They questioned him about the whereabouts of his younger brother, Romeo, but after he stated that he did not know, the investigators continued to torture him. "Dem carry me in some shower and put a cloth in me mouth and open a pipe and lean me head pon the pipe, then dem pull me out back and bag off me again and me keep telling dem me na know nothing and me tell dem how dem lash me pon me side. “When dem done, dem give me $1000 fuh give the police at Sister's Police Station where dem binna carry me, the $1000 dem tell me fuh give the police fuh buy food fuh me eat," Jeenarine said. The young cattle farmer told reporters that he tried explaining to the police that when the murder/robbery took place he was at home with his wife and parents. "Me went (continued on page 16)
Kaieteur News
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Friday January 11, 2019
Lesbian remanded to jail for sexually assaulting 13-year-old girl
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w o m a n appeared in court on two charges of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl and was remanded to jail. The acts were reportedly committed since the girl was
10. Renisha Alexander, 18, of Patrick Dam, Mount Sinai, New Amsterdam, Berbice appeared before Magistrate Renita Singh in the Albion Magistrate's
Court. She is facing two charges of sexual assault, committed on a 13-year-old girl child. The case for the prosecution is that between December 24 and December 25, 2018 the accused took the child to a lonely area at Lot 56 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, and sexually
assaulted her by fondling her lips, breast and vagina. On January 2 and January 3, last, she again took the girl from her home and carried her to a lonely area at the New Amsterdam Basketball court when she again engaged in similar sexual acts with the child. The violation which
reportedly began since the child was 10 years old, started after the child began visiting her stepmother at Fort Ordinance Housing Scheme, East Canje. Berbice. The alleged perpetrator is the sister of the child's stepmother and she would use the opportunity to take advantage of the minor whenever she visits there. It was also reported that the woman is aware that her sister was committing the act but did nothing. The child's father is reportedly unaware of what took place. The love affair began to come to light after the child's mother began to notice her daughter's behaviour began to change. The woman started
making inquiries but nothing was forthcoming, it was thought that the two were just close friends. The accused however began to become more drastic and demanding and started to exhort control over the child. The child would be missing from home and the like. Her mother decided to report the matter to the relevant authorities and an investigation was launched. It was then that the child related what took place. The matter was reported to the police and the accused was arrested and charged. The matter has been transferred to the New Amsterdam Magistrate's Court for the 31st January when it is expected to continue.
Teen wanted by police for questioning, turns self in... From page 15 home, 7:30 me deh home ah house. Is till next morning me really know what happen," he added. A senior police source in the division related to the media via a phone call that they received no reports of such events occurring while the brother was in police custody. He advised that if there was, they would have to report it so the police can investigate the police. Relatives of the young man stated that they will be acting based on the advice of their attorney. On December 31, 2018, three armed and masked men stormed the home of Irene Samaroo at Bush Lot Village, some time around 19:30 hrs in the midst of a power outage. Present at the house, having a few drinks to usher in the New Year were Harricharran and Premcharran Samaroo, an overseas-based Guyanese. Another Samaroo brother, Dipnarine "sono-boy" Samaroo and Romeo Jeenarine were also there. Dipnarine "Sono-boy"
Samaroo confirmed to this publication on Tuesday that 18-year-old Romeo Jeenarine was at the house imbibing with them and had left to buy beers at the village supermarket, a 10- minute walk away from the house. Romeo, he said, had joined him at the supermarket shortly after and they both returned to the house, only to be met with confusion that his brother's were shot and the home robbed. Approximately $80,000 was stolen, inclusive of foreign currency during the unfortunate incident. A check with the supermarket staff confirmed that Romeo and Dipnarine were both at the shop purchasing beers. The police continue to investigate as they are still reportedly searching for the other individual published on the second bulletin, Kelvin Shivgobin of B e l v e d e r e Vi l l a g e , Corentyne, Berbice. Reports have indicated that he may have skipped the country to Suriname.
Kaieteur News
Friday January 11, 2019
PAGE 17
Supenaam Waterfront Project delays to accommodate $21M extension The riverfront before commencement of works
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ork on the Wa t e r f r o n t project at Supenaam has been delayed due to a variation order that sees its funding extending by $21M. Senior Engineer at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Jermaine Braithwaite, said that the project is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Communities and the Public Infrastructure Ministry. The project is for general improvements to the Supenaam river defences, making provisions for structures, which will include vendors and small businesses. In addition is the construction of a boat landing. This project will also include the construction of a promenade, decorative railing along the riverbank, landscaping, provisions for a park space to be constructed, and some related auxiliary works. A boat ramp will also be provided for those traveling between Supenaam and Parika. Drainage works for the area are also included. Total funding for the project is not $34M as was inaccurately reported, but $143,872,445. Disaggregated, $109,802,444 is being provided by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, while the remaining $34,070,001 is from the Ministry of Communities. Though a sign onsite mentions that the contribution by the Infrastructure Ministry is $88M, this publication understands that the ministry has had multiple consultations with stakeholders, which led them to conclude that a $21M variation order was necessary for the project. The funds will be spent on additional work for the
extension of the promenade, which will be executed by the primary contractor, Samaroo's Investment. So far, the contract total for that investor is $115,658,990. The other contractors are Doodnauth Construction and Supplies ($7,097,980), Fyffe Building and Contracting Works ($8,029,182), O&O General Contracting Service ($8,196,266), and Paramlall Goberdhan Contracting ($4,879,700). Miscellaneous expenditures amount to $1,193,398 for the purchase of equipment to be installed by the various Contractors, including lights, benches, outdoor umbrellas, etc. The disaggregated funds provided by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure for each contractor totals at $145,054,516, as opposed to the $143,872,445 allocated by the two ministries. Chief Sea and River Defence Officer, Kevin Samad, said that the promenade was initially meant to be 70m long. It has been extended to about 200m. This $21M will buy steel for railways, material for street lamps, a bigger landing, and other materials. Concrete drains were extended, as well, toward the construction of a culvert. The project, according to Samad, was initially slated to end in the beginning of November, 2018. However, it was extended to January 31. This publication understands that the contractors will not be able to meet that deadline. Hence, Samad's projection is that the project's first phase should be completed by March month end. Other expenses to be incurred will include minor works for the completion of the project after March, and the acquisition of land to accommodate the extension.
A simulation of the waterfront, after the project's completion
Kaieteur News
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Friday January 11, 2019
There was nothing to motivate and involve young people before HEYS - says Kako resident
S
ome 2,000 small, but successful businesses have been established under the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples' Affairs flagship youth programme, the Hinterland Employment Yo u t h S e r v i c e H E Y S initiative. This initiative commenced in 2015. Young people from across the hinterland have received the necessary tools to become financially independent, and bring much needed development to their respective communities and villages. Omay Sammy, 19, from Kako Village, Region Seven the proud joint owner of a Computer and Paper Shop said, “The HEYS programme empowered me. I was able to learn both theory and practical in various areas.
“I have mostly learned about ICT; now I have opened my small business. It is very beneficial to me and my village, especially teachers and school students.” According to Omay, “I do printing photocopying and scanning”. Reflecting on village life prior to the introduction of the HEYS Programme Omay said, “There was nothing to motivate and involve young people before HEYS. The young people were just playing football as part of exercise and recreation. “There was no real commercial activities that can create jobs for the young people. Fortunately there came a programme called Hinterland Employment Yo u t h S e r v i c e . T h i s programme really taught me
a lot and thanks to the Government who had proposed the programme and create jobs in every
community”. Last November, the churches that had gathered for the annual Upper Mazaruni Youth Congress (Seventh Day Adventist Youth Congress) would have given Omay's business their full.. Omay partnered with Dera, Gretchen and Maeria to ensure the business thrive. Sherry Austin, 27, from Chenowing Village, noted that “as a young person HEYS has taught me the skills that I can now apply to establish my business. During training I have learnt other skills that I am now practicing for the development of myself so I can be a better individual in my community.” “I have established my business named Sherry's Variety Store. I begin it from scratch and is now improving although there are challenges faced in transporting stocks from
Georgetown. However it is under control …and is beneficial to myself and my village,” Sherry testified. The youth programme also came in for high praises from 29-year-old Annicia Edwards from Phillipai Village, also in Region Seven. Annicia Edwards is the owner of Edwin's Mini Mart. “You know how it is sometimes. I have my business; the selling is kinda slow at times but it is still on. I plan to buy some more stocks. I also make handcraft and sell it back to the community from my shop.” Edwards said the programme has allowed them to build the capacity where they can utilize their skills effectively and as such has enabled her not only to be able to run the day to day affairs of her business, but to also provide support to her village. She noted, “As a young person during my training in the HEYS programme I have gained a lot and now I'm putting it into practice”. According to the young entrepreneur, the training has enabled her to practise good leadership skills and she has since been actively involved in voluntary community work. “At present I am working as a Phillipai Nursery Committee member and as the Community Emergency Response Team leader because I want to show my good values an qualities.” S h e w a s a l s o appreciative of the support received from her relatives, who during her absence, would take the reins and run the day to day affairs of her shop. Minister within the
Ministry Valerie GarridoLowe during her Budget 2019 presentation in the National Assembly said, “The Hinterland Employment and Youth Service, has provided one year of training to 3,795 youths in 222 villages over the last two years. “This training allows for capacity building, strengthening of life skills, bolstering literacy and numeracy skills, creating self-awareness and building esteem, strengthening individual vocational interests and entrepreneurial aptitudes.” Businesses range from cattle rearing, Poultry Rearing (Broilers, Layers and Ducks), Crop and Vegetable Farming, Nursery (Grafting of Fruit Trees), Fishing, Fish Farming, Sheep, Goat and Pig Rearing, Cassava Bread/ Quinches/ Cassareep Production, Honey Production, hardware stores, floating grocery store. “You name it and the HEYS are doing it,” the Minister pointed out. Government has invested some $2.3 billion for the development of youth in the hinterland. According to Minister Garrido-Lowe, “In the 2019 Budget, in order to ensure that these businesses grow in strength and flourish, a further $176.1 M is allocated for monitoring and mentoring, along with additional monetary support”.
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Entertainment POLICE THE
Friday January 11, 2019
E P
MASHRAMANI 2019 OFFICIALLY KICK STARTS THIS WEEKEND
All Stars Concert for Mabaruma, Steel band concert for Reg. 5
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he Central Mashramani Committee is kick starting Mashramani 2019 this weekend with a massive All Stars Concert set for Mabaruma, Region One on Saturday Jan 12th. After a number of pop up concerts throughout the country, this weekend marks the official start of a packed calendar of events crafted in celebration of Guyana's 49 th Republic Anniversary. The All Stars concert, slated for the Mabaruma Settlement Ground, will feature some of Guyana's best musical performers including Jumo “Rubber Waist” Primo, Michelle “Big Red” King, Brandon Harding,
Manoel “King Perai” Ferreira and Roger “Young Bill Rogers” Hinds. Simultaneously, a grand steel band concert is slated to be held at Park Square, Mahaicony in Region Five. This concert will feature some of the best steel-bands in the country, including a crowd favourite from last year's finals – the Mahaicony Secondary School Steel band. As reflected in the Calendar of Events, Mashramani 2019 will be taken to each of the 10 Administrative Regions. This is to ensure that the spirit of Social Cohesion is kept alive in ensuring equality and inclusion of all Guyana's peoples.
Kaieteur News
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Feature of the Week…
Understanding Sustainable Fashion
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ashion is one of the world's largest industries, however, it is also one of the most polluting. Gitika Bhardwaj speaks to Sarah Ditty about why the fashion industry urgently needs to change. Fashion plays a major role in the global economy with annual revenues totalling over £1 trillion. However, it is also one of the most resource-intensive industries in the world. What is sustainable fashion and why is it important? Sustainable fashion is about meeting today's needs while ensuring that the way we go about meeting those needs meet future needs as well. If you dig down a little deeper, sustainable fashion is also about benefitting the people involved throughout the fashion supply chain – from farmers to consumers to everyone working in end-of-life facilities such as recycling factories. Why is it so important? It literally is as simple as it's a matter of life or death. I know that sounds intense but fashion has such a significant impact on communities around the world. It also has a huge climate change footprint, and if we're going to tackle the existential threat of climate change, the fashion industry
WHATZ
Friday January 11, 2019
needs to urgently address its unsustainable practices. If we don't start to address the negative impacts of the fashion industry soon, we're not going to have an industry in the future. The fashion industry is one of the largest polluting in the world, however, some brands have recently announced that they are aiming to become 100 per cent 'circular' by 2030. Do you think it is possible to achieve a zero-waste fashion industry? It's essential that we work towards a fashion industry that is working in a sustainable way. However, I don't think zerowaste is going to be a panacea for all of the problems in the fashion industry. As an industry, and as a culture, that spans across the world we're going to have to look at reducing our consumption alongside moving towards more circular models of production. But the circular economy is an extremely exciting area that we need to be exploring further. This year, London Fashion Week prohibited designers using animal fur on its catwalks following pledges by brands such as Burberry, Gucci and Versace to go fur-free. Meanwhile, companies such as Adidas and GStar RAW have developed apparel made from
HOTTT this weekend!!!
Magic City open to all party lovers Lovers of the premium nightlife experience can now revel in pleasures to be had at the Magic City Club which recently opened its doors at Lot 139 Garnett Street, Newtown Kitty. The club which possesses a most inviting aura and deluxe setting also comes with a well stocked bar that promises to cater to your every need. The Club is open every night from 8PM. Stay tuned to Kaieteur Entertainment for more information about this new night club.
YORUBA SINGERS BAND PRESENTS AFTER WORK LIME TONIGHT One of Guyana's culturally iconic bands, the Yoruba Singers will be hosting this and every Friday, a grand after work lime at the Carifesta Sports Complex on Carifesta Avenue. Show time starts at 6pm and ends until midnight. For further details, patrons can make contact with band members on telephone numbers: 2257714, 6610902 or 6823878.
Aura Bar and Lounge at Pegasus Hotel pres. club night Saturdays Every Saturday, the Management at Aura will be providing an ambiance filled with quality service, delicious food and great music. Every Saturday should be a party to remember and the Aura is determined to give you that experience. The Lounge will be open from 8pm. Music will be provided by Guyana's most popular DJs. For reservations, you can make contact with management on : 225-2853 or 600-6912.
BRAZILIAN AFTER WORK LIME TONIGHT AT TOWER SUITES It is going to be a night of ultimate fun and pleasure at the ultra sleek and sophisticated Tower Hotel Suites as management prepares to launch its one of a kind Brazilian after work lime. The event promises to treat patrons to some of the finest roast beef, pork, chicken and fish along with a sumptuous serving of seasoned rice, farine and salad. There will also be specials on the caipirinha drinks. See you there.
Escape the after work traffic today at Palm Court As the Great Caribbean Singer, Father Fox says, "Who does go to work on a Thursday or even a Friday?" Well, unfortunately, most of us do! But that shouldn't stop you from "ducking" every once in a while when the pressure seems too much and you desire to have a little fun. Every Friday, one of Guyana's number one entertainment spots, Palm Court will be offering a light celebration called "Escape the after work traffic. The event gets started from 4:00pm to 7:00pm so see you there.
Pegasus Poolside pres. tantalizing BBQ Sundays Every Sunday at the Guyana Pegasus Poolside, patrons would be able to enjoy finger-licking BBQ Chicken accompanied with fries and salad from 5pm-8pm! For children, they would be able to enjoy the Bouncy Castle and Popcorn. Be sure to bring out your family and friends for a relaxing afternoon. For more information, contact 225-2853!
ocean plastic, with Adidas selling over a million from its 'Parley' range in 2017. Why is sourcing sustainable materials important? As you've mentioned, large numbers of the materials that are commonly used today in the fashion industry are resource-intensive. Cotton, for example, requires a huge amount of water and synthetic materials like polyester are made from non-renewable resources such as oil. Then there are other materials, like viscose, which on a massive scale is leading to deforestation and is therefore affecting the habitats of endangered species and ancient trees. So it's crucial that we move towards researching and developing more sustainable materials because it's critical to the future of the fashion industry as well as the planet. The truth is, we can't keep using resources the way we are because we won't have those resources left. It takes almost 3,000 litres of water to make one cotton t-shirt. How large is the problem of waste, particularly water waste, in the clothing sector and how can it be reduced? Waste is one of the most pressing problems in the fashion industry. 100 billion products are being pumped out of factories every year. We now buy more clothes then we have ever bought, before disposing of them in the bin. In North America alone, consumers throw out what is the equivalent of the Empire State building in weight every year. This waste is then either being burnt or going to landfills which is not a sustainable way of doing business. If you have to burn your product in order to dispose of it, that's extremely inefficient, and it shows you're not using your resources well. That desperately needs to change. We can't keep filling up our landfills either, or sending our second-hand clothes to other countries, because there is eventually going to be no space left. Waste is our collective responsibility and it has to be addressed quickly. Water waste is particularly an important issue. One of the most striking examples of this is the Aral Sea which was once the world's fourth largest lake but has essentially dried up largely because of cotton farming. Fortunately, there are now innovative ways to dye clothes without having to use water which is extremely fascinating. Some brands are doing simple things like accepting their old products in store which is great because it shows that these brands are taking more responsibility for the waste they are contributing to. There are also some new technologies being developed around recycling fibres although none of them are commercially viable yet but hopefully they will be soon. These technologies will be able to disrupt the way materials are used and eventually the way we buy clothing. For example, there are processes that are being trialled where fibres can be broken down to their original chemical components and then re-spun into different fibres to make a garment again at the same quality, meaning we don't have to keep relying on virgin fibres. Some companies are also developing new materials, like leather made from grape skins and orange skins, which means leather you can grow in a laboratory rather than relying on animals who are often subjected to horrible conditions. There are also lots of new business models too, for example, perhaps we don't have to own every piece of clothing that we wear but we could rent it or swap it? This is interesting as there is a growing market for second-hand clothes in the developed world. There are lots of amazing things going on
but we just need to move a lot faster. Over 300,000 tonnes of clothing were discarded in the UK(opens in new window) in 2016 and the UK Environmental Audit Committee has announced that it is going to''investigate the rise of fast fashion and its impact on the environment. With the global demand for clothing rising, how difficult is it to change consumer behaviour? It's not easy. We, at Fashion Revolution, love fashion because fashion is our chosen skin. It's fun, it's how you celebrate your individuality, it's the face you show to society and it says something about who you are as a person. We would never want to take that away from consumers. We want to continue to celebrate fashion in this way. The problem is that information about the impacts of our clothes is not readily available to us. We've had the organic food movement for such a long time but for clothes it's a relatively new topic. We're finding that most people just don't know about the issues, but once they do, they are likely to change their behaviour. I've had lots of people tell me that they started to think about sustainability when shopping after seeing information I posted on social media and now they ask themselves why they are buying a product, whether they really need it, do they know who has made it and do they trust that the brand that has made it has done it the right way. Once informed, these questions start to bubble up inside of them every time they go shopping. It's important to capture people's attention in a way that doesn't make them feel guilty because that's not fun. But it's hard because there's a lot of noise out there but hopefully we can inform people in a way that's digestible and visually compelling. If the growth of the fashion industry continues along its current trajectory, by 2050, it could account for 'around a quarter of the worlds total carbon emissions. How could water scarcity, land use challenges and climate change affect the future of the fashion industry? The fashion industry is one of the most globalized industries in the world in terms of the flow of goods, services and people but it's only over the past couple of years that the social and environmental impacts have been taken seriously by decision-makers because fashion always seems so frivolous. You see the catwalk shows thinking it's not a serious industry, but it really is, because we all engage with fashion due to the simple fact that we all wear clothes. Whether you work in the government or you are a fashionista we're all involved in the world of fashion. Climate change is here – and it's accelerating. Over 100 billion products are being pumped out of factories every year and many of those products are made from synthetic materials that frankly take hundreds of years to biodegrade. But we don't have hundreds of years to address climate change so we need to tackle unsustainability in the fashion industry now. We are starting to see sustainable fashion being discussed at the talking tables of decision-makers in many countries. There are a lot of leaders investing in innovation but there are also a lot of laggards. Unfortunately, I think the only thing that is going to get the laggards to act is to introduce regulation, although governments move a lot slower than businesses, which could prove a challenge. We also need more companies to put their heads above the parapet and start talking about these issues to their customers more. (https://www.chathamhouse.org/expert/c omment/understanding-sustainable-fashion)
Friday January 11, 2019
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Kaieteur News
M&CC officers summoned GTUC lauds govt. opposition cooperation before Local Gov’t Commission …calls for continued discourse and political maturity Wednesday’s meeting between the opposition and Government is a step in the right direction. This sort of discourse is best for the country at this time and should continue, the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) said yesterday. The union in a missive to the media welcoming Wednesday’s meeting, said that the meeting was a “good and necessary sign of the times to see the Coalition united in its approach to meet with the Opposition. “It is encouraging that they are engaging even as they await the court’s deliberation on matters brought before it on the confidence vote. Both Opposition and Government have a responsibility to ensure the day-today administration of the State where peace and order prevail and the governmental functions are executed.” GTUC said that it is reassured by President David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo’s agreement that the Executive and Parliament will continue
GTUC President, Lincoln Lewis to function, the Judiciary will be allowed to adjudicate the matter, they will ask their supporters to tone down the rhetoric and will continue to work together and engage GECOM. Further, the union opined that the meeting has opened the door for continued dialogue. It has presented an
opportunity to demonstrate political maturity and willingness to settle political dispute over the drawing table in a sensible manner. GTUC said that Government and opposition now have an opportunity break out of the path of pursuit of conflict. “They have an opportunity to go down in history to a peaceful process and resolution of our difference, down to the interpretation of the confidence vote. They have the opportunity to demonstrate to their supporters, the people of Guyana, and the world that we can change the course of history of un-necessary confrontation and conflict; that we recognise that power also lies in the arms of the Judiciary in whom we must place our trust at this time to adjudicate on matters pertaining to the confidence vote.” GTUC called on society to give the government a chance “to do what is right even as the Opposition is encouraged to remain vigilant, which (Continued on page 22)
Officers of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council,(M&CC) are scheduled to meet with the Local Government Commission, (LGC) today to respond to allegations contained in a COI report. Chairman of the Local Government Commission (LGC), Mortimer Mingo,‘ told Kaieteur News that the Commission will give the officers a fair hearing before proceeding with the recommendations of the report prepared by (ret’d) Justice Cecil Kennard. “It is in keeping with the rules of natural justice that the person cited in the report is given a fair hearing before any other course of action is taken. As such the officers were summoned and are scheduled to appear before us today.” Mingo said too that the Commission has been ensuring that proper ground work is done before implementation of action against officers of the Georgetown municipality. The Commission is deliberating on the 31 recommendations contained in the report. The CoI held last October found grounds for terminations and for criminal proceedings to be instituted, and investigations to be pursued against several
Chairman of the Local Government Commission, Mortimer Mingo 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 to be conducted 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 Town Clerk 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 cited 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 UmojoNewton 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.
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Friday January 11, 2019
Kaieteur News
ERC to launch harmony campaign FOR RENT
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Barring a court outcome quashing the no-confidence motion, General and Regional Elections are around the corner. This is usually the period in Guyana when racial tension is at its peak. While that time lurks, the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) is slated to launch the first part of its 2019 harmony campaign on Friday at the Grand Savannah Suite, Pegasus, Georgetown. ERC announced this yesterday.
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The commission said that Friday’s event will be packed with many activities. A national unity song is to be performed by Guyanese artistes Mark Ferdinand and Tshanna Cort. There will be “five harmony-themed public service announcements.” Four posters, a harmony “passport”, designs for two billboards and the Commission’s new website will be presented too. In addition there is a new stage-play, “I AM US”, which, ERC says, speaks to unity and which examines some societal factors that impact on social cohesion, will be launched. T h e p l a y, which will feature prominent Guyanese actors and actresses, is to be staged on March 2. ERC indicated that many other activities are planned for the campaign. ERC said that it firmly believes this campaign, which is in keeping with its constitutional mandate to promote harmony and good relations, is vital in helping to enhance the environment to foster unity among all Guyanese. “ERC said that it remains optimistic that “Guyanese will find useful the materials which will be made available and will be conduits to aid distribution countrywide.” The Commission has extended invitations to the government, the Opposition, the Diplomatic Corps, civil society, the media and other national stakeholders.
GTUC lauds govt... From page 11 is what they are elected and paid to do.” GTUC said that it looks forward to the broadening of the national conversation with the involvement of civil society. “As we call for the respect for the Constitution and its various articles, can we also call for and respect the importance of Article 13 which outlines the Principal Political Objective of the State that mandates an inclusionary democracy with citizens and their organizations? They will be involved in the management and decision-making processes of the State that directly impact their well-being. It is time to meet with civil society, the representatives of the people whose lives are to be directly affected by what is happening. They have concerns. Society must be included.”
Friday January 11, 2019
Kaieteur News
Clothes vendor granted bail pending sentencing A clothes vendor who admitted to removing a phone that was in a chair at the Georgetown Public Hospital was yesterday released on $100,000 bail pending sentencing. Shawn Smith, 42, of 68 Dennis Street, Campbellville , pleaded guilty. He sought to explain his actions that led to the charge which stated that on January 7, last, at New Market Street, Georgetown, he stole one cellular phone valued $100,000, property of Cathleen Bristol. Police Prosecutor Adoni Inniss told the court that the victim, who is a midwife at the Georgetown Public Hospital, was in the nurses’ room taking a rest. The court heard that when the woman woke up she discovered her phone was missing and she immediately alerted her colleagues and the security guards. While searching for the phone she was informed that a male was in the room. She then related the information to the guards. The guards then made checks around the hospital and they saw Smith sitting on a bench. A search was carried out on him and the phone was found in his pants pocket. The matter was reported to the police and Smith was later arrested and taken into custody. Smith in his explanation to the court stated “I went to the hospital to carry my pregnant wife and I saw the phone on a bench and decided to pick it up. I am sorry and it will never happen again.” Smith went on to tell the court that 15 minutes after he picked up the phone he was confronted by police officers and he willingly handed over the phone. Prosecutor Inniss told the court that Smith was previously convicted for an offence and
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Mason found dead at Number 70 Village The lifeless body of a 21year-old mason was found on the Middle Walk Dam at Number 70 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, yesterday Dead is Narindradat Bhawan, called “Altaf” or “Mice”, of Lot 54 Section ‘A’ Number 70 Village, Berbice. His body was discovered some time around 14:00 hrs. Reports are that Bhawan resided with his uncle, Mohamed Noordean, a hire car driver of the said address. He reportedly left home at 11:30 hrs yesterday without saying where he was headed.
Clothes vendor granted bail pending sentencing has a pending wounding matter. However, Smith denied ever been to prison and having a pending matter in court. Based on what Smith told the Magistrate, she instructed the Prosecutor to find out the date when he was sentenced and for what offence. The Magistrate released Smith on $100,000 bail pending sentencing on January 15.
Noordean told the police that around midday, an unidentifiable male showed up at his residence and told him that he had given Bhawan $5000 to purchase a bottle of alcohol but Bhawan had not returned with the item or the money. He then told Noordean, “When I see he I go kill he”.Shortly after, just around 14:00 hrs, a man by the name of “Drunkie” visited his home and informed him that his nephew was lying at the Number 70 Village Middle Walk Dam, motionless. Noordean told the police that
he rushed to the location with his car and discovered his nephew on the street lying face down.He said he immediately picked up his nephew and took him to the Skeldon Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. His body is presently at the Skeldon Mortuary awaiting a post mortem that is expected to be done today. Meanwhile, Kaieteur News received information from a resident in the area that two men were seen “beating the boy”. Police are investigating.
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Kaieteur News
Friday January 11, 2019
Cuban charged for forging .. From page 7 all the charges after they were read to him in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Police Prosecutor Adoni Inniss made serious objections to bail being granted to the defendant citing the prevalence of the offence and the fact that he is not a Guyanese. Inniss went on to tell the court that if bail is granted to Alanzo he would not return to court for the trial. According to information, Alanzo came to Guyana via the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), and was granted one month stay in the country. During his one month stay he applied and was granted an extension up to December 31, 2018. It was during that period that Alanzo applied to the Mexican embassy for a visa, however his request for a
Mexican visa was denied. Days after receiving the letter, Alanzo went into the Ministry of Presidency, Department of Citizen for an interview and it was discovered that the confirmation appointment letter that was issued to the Ministry did not originate from the Mexican embassy in Guyana. As a result, the police were contacted, an investigation was carried out, and he was arrested and taken into custody. Alanzo when given a chance to address the court stated, “I was tricked by the person who filled out the application.” Magistrate Isaacs after listening to both sides remanded Alanzo to prison. The father of two was instructed to make his next court appearance on January 14 for report.
Friday January 11, 2019
Kaieteur News
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Cubans want US consular ser vices recalled from Guyana services Cubans have reportedly said that they will appeal for US consular services to be returned to that country. Early last year, the US government took a decision for Cubans to travel to Guyana to uplift visas. This was after the office there reduced its services. According to the Prensa Latina, national coordinator of the Antonio Maceo Brigade, Andrés Gómez, announced on Wednesday that they will soon begin a campaign to demand the reopening of consular services in Cuba by the United States Government. The leader of the organization based in the US city of Miami, Florida, said that Washington’s reasons for making such a decision were invented, which he described as ridiculous and harmful to the interests of the Cuban family. With the argument of alleged incidents that affected the health of US diplomats in the Caribbean nation, and for which there is still no evidence, the Donald Trump administration removed most of the officials from its embassy in Cuba, and expelled from its territory a lot of the staff on the island. Also, the State Department recommended its citizens not to travel to the largest of the Antilles and in December the White House permanently closed its office of the Citizenship and Immigration Service in Havana. This closure requires Cubans interested in residing or traveling to the United States to go to third countries to receive the corresponding consular services. ’To definitively emigrate to the United States, Cubans have to go to Guyana and for temporary visits they must go to Mexico City, which is unacceptable’, Gómez stressed before the national press.
A number of Cubans are asking that the US restart its consulate in that Spanish-speaking country, instead of persons having to travel to Guyana. He added that, in addition to that measure, the migrant service of the northern country only granted six thousand visas last year, of the at least 20,000 agreed by the Cuban and American executives to achieve an orderly and safe migration between the two nations. He recalled that in the last caravan in Miami, the Alianza Martiana coalition - of which his organization is part - demanded the reopening of these services in Cuba and the right of American citizens to travel to the Caribbean nation, as well as the of the economic, commercial and financial blockade of the United States against the island. He also highlighted the growing relationship reached between Cuban emigration and the island as a result of the immigration reform carried out in the Caribbean nation of 2013 and the positive changes made subsequently. The U.S. Department of State last March announced that it has shifted the appointment and interviewing of Cuban immigrants to its local embassy in Georgetown. In the announcement, the department disclosed that since January, immigrant visa interview appointments for Cuban nationals have been scheduled at the U.S. Embassy, in Bogota, Colombia.
The decision to halt the processing of Cuban immigrants to the U.S. in Havana was due to a drawdown in staffing in Cuba to protect the safety of personnel. ”On April 1, we will begin transferring current immigrant visa applications and scheduling immigrant visa interviews for Cuban nationals at U.S. Embassy Georgetown, Guyana. Guyana will then be the primary site for processing immigrant visa applications for Cubans. The first interviews will take place in June.” According to the Department of State, as it transitions immigrant visa operations for Cuban nationals to Guyana, it will continue to communicate with applicants, so they have current information. ”No applicant should make travel plans until they have a scheduled visa interview appointment.” In determining an alternative location, now Georgetown, Guyana, the department said it considered a number of factors including availability of flights, visa requirements, space to accommodate additional applicant files, and availability of staff. ”Cubans do not need a visa to travel to Guyana. As before, Cuban applicants for routine non-immigrant visas may apply at any U.S. embassy or consulate outside Cuba.”
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Kaieteur News
Friday January 11, 2019
Friday January 11, 2019
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Kaieteur News
NBA roundup: Bucks end Rockets’... From page 28 Cameron Payne had 16 off the bench as the Cleveland reserves totaled 75 points. Jazz 106, Magic 93 Donovan Mitchell finished with 33 points and seven assists and Utah rallied from a 21-point, first-half deficit en route to putting away Orlando in Salt Lake City. Joe Ingles had 16 points and seven assists for Utah, which dominated the final 20-plus minutes. Rudy Gobert had 12 points and 14 rebounds, Kyle Korver scored 11 points and Raul Neto had 10. D.J. Augustin scored 23 points for Orlando, which lost the last four games to close a 1-5 road trip. Nikola Vucevic added 20 points and eight rebounds, Aaron Gordon registered 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Terrence Ross had 13 points.
Trail Blazers 124, Bulls 112 CJ McCollum scored 24 points as host Portland shot 56.6 percent from the field, including 11 of 26 from 3point range, in sending Chicago to its fifth straight loss. Jusuf Nurkic collected 18 points and eight rebounds, Seth Curry chipped in 17 points, and Damian Lillard contributed 16 points and 10 assists for the Trail Blazers, who won their third straight game. Portland’s Zach Collins also had 16 points. Wendell Carter Jr. scored 22 points for the Bulls. Zach LaVine added 18 points, and Kris Dunn and Bobby Portis had 15 apiece for Chicago on the first stop of a five-game road trip. Grizzlies 96, Spurs 86 Marc Gasol scored 26
points and pulled down 14 rebounds as host Memphis took charge in a dreary first half and then held on late to beat San Antonio and snap a six-game losing streak. JaMychal Green added 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Spurs, who entered the game on a season-high, fivegame winning streak but never found their stride, losing for just the fourth time in their past 17 contests. Marco Belinelli and Bryn Forbes led the Spurs with 14 points each. The Spurs’ 30 field goals and 14 assists were both season lows. Nets 116, Hawks 100 D’Angelo Russell scored 23 points as host Brooklyn staged its largest comeback of the season and defeated Atlanta for its 13th win in its last 17 games. Russell recorded his 19th 20-point game
Friday January 11, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) A friend or family member might act strangely and seem distracted. You may wonder if he or she is upset with you. This probably isn't the case.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Business transactions that could take place in your home or perhaps involve the home might seem a bit unclear today, Libra.
TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Too much reading might have you experiencing eyestrain and possibly headaches, Taurus. It might help to have your eyes checked, but it's probably just too much stress.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You might get a lot of mixed messages from friends, relatives, and colleagues, Scorpio. They may say one thing while you sense that they mean something else. Insist on hearing how they really feel.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Doubts about business and financial matters might weigh on your mind now, so much so that they invade your dreams. CANCER(June21–July22) A scheduling conflict may come up today, Cancer. A business engagement could interfere with a social event. You might doubt whether you can attend both, but if you plan carefully, it should be OK. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Confusing communications could be the pattern for today, Leo. Some paperwork you need to do for a task might be delayed - hung up in the mail or filed in the wrong place. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Today you could doubt the amount of money you might get from a business transaction. If you can, verify this before starting anything. You aren't being told something. Personal relationships, particularly love and romance, should be stable and rewarding now.
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Today you might not feel secure about your financial situation,and get a little nervous. Disconcerting information in the news about the general state of the world economy arises. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Some unsettling news about your work situation might reach you today and make you worried. You might question your future in this field and possibly consider a change. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You're a logical person. When insights come to you through ESP, you tend to doubt their validity. Don't do this. If a feeling is particularly strong, go with it. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Doubts about a friend's motives could plague you today, Pisces. This person seems to be acting strangely and isn't communicating. This probably has little if anything to do with you.
of the season by shooting 11 of 20 from the floor. DeMarre Carroll added 17 points while Spencer Dinwiddie and Joe Harris contributed 16 apiece for the Nets. John Collins posted his 16th double-double by matching a career high with 30 points and grabbing 14 rebounds, but the Hawks shot 36.4 percent overall and 31.8 percent to lose despite taking a 19-point lead. Rookie Trae Young added 17 points, and former Net Jeremy Lin finished with 16 as Atlanta lost for the fifth time in six games.
Zeelugt SC and Dynasty... From page 30 Husbands, Shaquille Brisport and Travis Smith took two wickets each. Rising Star were bowled out for 133 in reply. Brisport made 34 and Shane Persaud 29; Alim khalil had 3-2 while Tamesh Dass picked up 2-24. At Canal Number Two, Dynasty CC overcame Mc Gill Sports Club by 30 runs. Dynasty CC posted 175-6, taking first strike. Safraz Esau struck 40 while Ryan Shun made 36; Keshram Seyhodan had 2-28. Mc Gill SC threatened somewhat before they were sent packing for 145 in response. Daniel Basdeo made 48 and Travis Persaud 20; Ricky Persaud snared 3-18, Brian Persaud 3-20, Reaz Khan 2-12 and Shun 2-26. The competition continues on Sunday with Zeelugt SC hosting Dynasty A, Cold Fusion travelling to MetenMeer Zorg, Christ Ambassador facing Mc Gill at Canal number Two and Dynasty CC B versus Chris Ambassador B at Zeelugt.
Fruta Conquerors among 13 teams awaiting fate in 2019 Concacaf Caribbean Club Shield Draw... From page 33 Football Club (Saint Lucia), Rams Village Superstars (Saint Kitts & Nevis), SV Robinhood (Suriname). The 13 teams will be drawn into four groups and upon the completion of round-robin play, the group winners and runners-up will advance to the quarterfinals. The quarterfinal winners will automatically qualify to the semifinals, and the victorious teams from the semis will participate in the championship final. The winner of the 2019 Concacaf Caribbean Shield, provided it fulfills the Concacaf Regional Club Licensing criteria, will have the opportunity to face the fourth-place finisher of the 2019 Flow Concacaf Carib-
bean Club Championship in a playoff match to determine the fourth Caribbean representative in the 2019 Scotiabank Concacaf League. The 2019 CCCS will be the second edition of the tournament after a successful inaugural event in 2018 in which Club Franciscain emerged as champion thanks to a 2-1 victory over Inter Moengotapoe of Suriname in the Final. The Martinique side then went on to defeat Central FC of Trinidad and Tobago, 2-1, in the playoff match to qualify for the 2018 Scotiabank Concacaf League. Fans can follow all of the action and results from the Draw via Youtube. (Concacaf)
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Friday January 11, 2019
Kaieteur News
This is 40: Pacquiao taking it one fight at a time Los Angeles (Reuters) Manny Pacquiao, the Filipino multiple world champion who turned 40 last month, said on Wednesday that while he is focused on his title defense against Adrien Broner, he has considered life beyond the ring. The WBA welterweight champion knows he will have his hands full when he battles the hard-hitting Broner in Las Vegas on Jan. 19 and is not lining up fighters down the road. “At the age of 40, it’s hard to think about future fights,” he told Reuters ahead of a workout at Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood. “Just one at a time.” He dismissed concerns that he has lost the knockout power that made the “PacMan” the sport’s only eight-division world champion and among the best pound-for-pound fighters of all time. After a knockout drought, Pacquiao had a re-
turn to form in July when he stunned defending champion Lucas Matthysse with a seventh-round knockout in Kuala Lumpur to claim the title. ”I still have it,” said the soft-spoken Pacquiao, who is 60-7-2 with 39 knockouts in his career. ”God is good,” he said with a smile. Pacquiao knows, though, that Father Time is undefeated and hanging up his gloves would give him a chance to fully embrace his other passion — politics. Already a senator in the southeast Asian country, some believe the popular Pacquiao could take over from President Rodrigo Duterte when the election to replace him is held in 2022. “Well if God wants me to be, then why not?” he said when asked whether he would like the position. ”But I’m not thinking about that now.” Pacquiao said he supported the conservative
Duterte, who has come under fire for his hard line stance against drug dealers and users. “He did a lot of good things in the Philippines. Big, big accomplishments,” he said. One place you won’t find Pacquiao is in exhibition matches like the one his former rival Floyd Mayweather fought last month against Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa — a one-sided win for the American that was widely panned. “I won’t do that. If I’m Floyd I wouldn’t do that,” he said. “Exhibition match where you just knock him out. That’s not good for the fans.” Asked about his legacy, he said he had already proven himself in the ring and was more interested in connecting with the people. ”My legacy is already there,” he said. “I want to be an inspiration to the fans and the people not only inside the ring but also outside the ring.”
Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao trains ahead of his fight with brash American Adrien Broner. (AP)
NBA roundup: Bucks end Rockets’ home win streak G i a n n i s Antetokounmpo’s tip-in with 39.1 seconds remaining allowed the visiting Milwaukee Bucks to fend off a furious Houston Rockets rally and squeeze out a 116-109 victory on Wednesday. The Bucks, winners of 11 of 13, coughed up most of their 15-point, fourth-quarter lead before Antetokounmpo parlayed his 20th rebound into a six-point lead. Antetokounmpo finished with team highs in points (27) and rebounds (21), including four rebounds on the offensive end. James Harden paced the Houston rally with 42 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. The Rockets had their 10game home winning streak snapped despite shooting 18 of 48 (37.5 percent) on 3-point attempts. The Bucks dominated the interior, limiting Rockets center Clint Capela to 4-of-16 shooting. Capela totaled 18 points and 13 boards. Gerald Green scored 16 off the Houston bench. Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon added 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting. Lakers 113, Pistons 100 Second-year forward Kyle Kuzma poured in a careerhigh 41 points in just 29 minutes as host Los Angeles defeated Detroit to improve to 3-5 without LeBron James (groin). Kuzma posted his previous career high of 38 points against the Houston Rockets last season when he was a rookie. He made 16 of 24 field-
Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma (0) is defended by Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson (1) in the second half at the Staples Center. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports goal attempts Wednesday, including 5 of 10 from 3-point range. Michael Beasley had 19 points and four assists off the Los Angeles bench. Blake Griffin had 16 points and six assists for the Pistons, who have lost 15 of their past 19 games. Celtics 135, Pacers 108 Marcus Morris and Jaylen Brown scored 22 points
apiece as host Boston gradually pulled away from roadweary Indiana. Jayson Tatum was among five other Celtics scoring in double figures with 20 points as Boston completed a four-game sweep at home and extended its home winning streak to six. Playing on the second night in a row and in the fourth game of a five-game trip, the Pacers got a team-high 20
points from Domantas Sabonis, who also grabbed seven rebounds and handed out five assists. Mavericks 104, Suns 94 Rookie of the Year favorite Luka Doncic scored a game-high 30 points and got the best of No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton in leading host Dallas past Phoenix. Doncic, who on Tuesday was listed as probable with a back
issue, didn’t show any signs of injury. It was the fourth time he has hit the 30-point mark, and he added six rebounds, five assists, three steals and made 10 free throws, just five fewer than the Suns made as a team. Ayton didn’t get his lone field goal to fall until he slammed through an alleyoop pass to start the fourth quarter. He finished with six
points, five rebounds and five fouls. The Suns were led by T.J. Warren’s 20 points and seven rebounds. Wizards 123, 76ers 106 Bradley Beal scored 34 points and Otto Porter Jr. added 23 off the bench as host Washington earned a split of a home-and-home set after Philadelphia won in a rout on its home court a day earlier. Washington has won four of six. Beal, who shot 13 of 21 from the field, scored 14 straight Wizards points in the fourth quarter. Joel Embiid had 35 points and 14 rebounds for the 76ers, who had won four straight. Philadelphia has dropped nine straight games at Washington. Ben Simmons added 15 points and 10 rebounds while Jimmy Butler scored 23 points. Pelicans 140, Cavaliers 124 Anthony Davis scored 38 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as host New Orleans won its third game in a row, beating Cleveland for the second time in five days and sending the Cavaliers to their 11th straight loss overall. Frank Jackson added 19 points for the Pelicans. Jrue Holiday scored 18 and Julius Randle had 17 as did Nikola Mirotic, who was returning from a 12-game absence caused by an ankle injury. Jordan Clarkson came off the bench to lead the Cavaliers with 21 points. Matthew Dellavedova added 17 and (Continued on page 27)
Friday January 11, 2019
Serena mentor sees no crackdown on courtside coaching Melbourne (Reuters) Serena Williams’s coach Patrick Mouratoglou expects on-court coaching to continue virtually unchecked at the Grand Slams despite the furor during last year’s U.S. Open final when he attempted to guide her mid-match. Mouratoglou gestured to Williams in the stands during her tempestuous defeat by Japan’s Naomi Osaka at Flushing Meadows, leading to a code violation and sparking a heated row between the American great and the chair umpire. Williams, who denied seeing Mouratoglou’s signaling, was incensed at the official’s strict interpretation of the rule and said post-match that she felt a victim of sexism. The Australian Open has followed the U.S. Open’s lead by trialing on-court coaching during qualifying this year but the practice remains banned for the main draw events starting Monday. Mouratoglou, however, believes the rule will remain patchily enforced at Melbourne Park and the other three Grand Slams, and
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coaches will not feel extra pressure to comply. “As you know, 99 percent of the matches it’s tolerated,” Mouratoglou told Reuters in an interview at Melbourne Park yesterday. ”It’s something that people don’t even think about it, just do it every match. And it doesn’t make any problem. “If it becomes really, really obvious, (umpires) will call the player or tell her: ‘the coach is really coaching too much, can you ask him to slow down otherwise I will have to give you a warning.’ Everybody’s careful and it’s fine. ”So I don’t see any stress from players or coaches with coaching during the matches, to be honest.” Mouratoglou was speaking after promoting “Tennis Manager 2019” (www.tennismanager.com/), an app-based game that he helped create with French developer Rebound CG. SIMULATOR NICHE The game seeks to tap into the popular sports management simulator niche, which has spawned big-selling titles like the “Football
Serena Williams of the U.S. trains. REUTERS/Edgar Su
Manager” series for soccer and “Out of the Park Baseball”. Pointedly, “Tennis Manager” allows gamers to conduct on-court coaching to the tennis players they “manage” in their simulations to seek an edge during matches. Mouratoglou expects to see the practice eventually legalized at the real-world Grand Slams, which he felt would improve “the show” and help stoke interest among younger fans. However, the Frenchman is not holding his breath. ”It’s very difficult for the tennis reigning bodies to make change because this sport is very conservative so it will have to go step by step,” he said. “But I see progress. I feel that a lot of people would like on-court coaching, most of the players would like it also, because they like to exchange with their coach and they feel it would add (something) during the match.” Ironically, Mouratoglou said he and Williams had decided not to do any on-court coaching, even at the tournaments on the professional women’s WTA circuit where it is permitted. “It’s not that she doesn’t want (it),” he said of 37-yearold Williams, who is bidding for a record-equaling 24th Grand Slam title and eighth at Melbourne Park after missing last year’s tournament while on maternity leave. ”I think her number one quality is to be the best competitor ever, and I don’t want to think that suddenly she needs someone to be a better competitor. That would make her weaker. “So for me, it doesn’t make sense for someone like her.”
Legend Lloyd disappointed over Haynes snub for coaching role Bridgetown, Barbados, CMC – Legendary former captain Clive Lloyd has lamented the snubbing of fellow West Indies icon, Desmond Haynes, for the post of men’s head coach, and says it is unfortunate that great former players continued to be ignored for the position. Speaking in the wake of the controversial appointment of Englishman Richard Pybus, Lloyd said Cricket West Indies had tried foreign coaches over the years without much success, and needed to tap into the talents of homegrown stars. “I heard about it (the appointment of Pybus) but I thought they were quite a few names put forward and I think somebody had said that Desmond was one of those names,” Lloyd told the popular cricket radio show, Mason and Guests, here Tuesday. “What I would like to see in the future of our cricket that people like Gordon Greenidge, who has coached all over the place, and Desmond Haynes [given a chance]. These guys know about cricket and our cricketers and they are not getting a chance to show what talents they have, and I think it is about time we start to do something of that nature.” He added: “We’ve tried a lot of overseas coaches and we’re still at number eight [in Tests] and number nine [in one-dayers]. “ Haynes was one of several regional coaches identified by director of cricket, Jimmy Adams, to fill the post left vacant by the resignation of Australian Stuart Law. The 62-year-old Barbadian, who played 116 Tests and 238 ODIs, worked with the Windies side as a batting con-
Flashback: Desmond Haynes (right) speaks to Windies opener Kieran Powell during his previous stint as batting consultant. sultant eight years ago in a short stint. However, he was overlooked for the vacant head coach position in favour of South African Nic Pothas, who had also been shortlisted, before Pybus – who was not among the shortlisted group – was controversially approved by CWI. Well-respected CWI director, Enoch Lewis, lambasted the decision to appoint Pybus, accusing President Dave Cameron of “hand-picking” the high performance director, when he had not even applied for the position. Lloyd, a former Windies manager and chief selector, said West Indies cricket was suffering from a lack of strategic planning. ”I think what should happen is that we should have 12 or 14 people discussing West Indies cricket and how we can take it forward,” said the Guyanese, credited for moulding the great Caribbean sides
of the late 1970s and 80s. ”Australia had a problem and what did they do? They took about four, five of their successful captains, they sat down and they tried to get it sorted out. India did the same thing and I think it is about time [we did the same]. ”We ruled the world for 18 years or more … we played 29 Test matches without losing. We have a lot going for us, we cannot sit back and just hope for the best. We have to put things in place so that our cricket can go forward. That is what I would like to see. ”We have some very good players – make no bones about that – but we have to get them playing together.” West Indies are preparing to take on England in a full series of three Tests, five One-Day Internationals and three Twenty20 Internationals in the Caribbean. The opening Test bowls off at Kensington Oval here on January 23.
BDO World Youth Championship
Leighton Bennett, 13, becomes youngest winner Leighton Bennett becomes the fourth player, and only the second from England, to win the BDO World Youth Championship. (Getty Images
BBCsport - Thirteenyear-old Leighton Bennett became the youngest-ever winner of the BDO World Youth Championship when he beat Scotland’s Nathan Girvan. England’s Bennett beat his 16-year-old opponent 3-0 in the final at Lakeside, Frimley Green, ending on a 121 checkout which included a bullseye finish. It was Girvan’s second final defeat after also losing in the 2017 final. “I’m just over the moon,” said Bennett. “Winning this trophy
means the world to me. “Just being here is a dream come true, especially winning it. ”I knew how good a player he was and I just went up there to enjoy it. I’m only 13 so I’ve got plenty more years to do it.” Bennett finished the match
with an average of 86.65, compared to Girvan’s 76, and collected £5,000 for his victory. The competition has been held yearly since 2015 and Bennett is only the second English winner after Joshua Richardson won the 2016 final.
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Zeelugt SC and Dynasty CC triumph
Vishal Kissoon (left) accepts his man-of-the-match prize from Alim Khalil Zeelugt Sports Club and Dynasty Cricket Club recorded victories when the Dynasty Cricket Club T20 competition commenced on Sunday last on West Demerara. Led by half centuries from Vishal Kissoon and Vickash Dhaniram, host Zeelugt Sports Club defeated Rising Star by 41 runs. Zeelugt SC managed 1746, batting first with Kissoon and Dhaniram scoring 69 and 62 respectively. Christian (Continued on page 27)
Friday January 11, 2019
Kaieteur News
Safraz Esau
Ryan Shun
Ambris among six vying for Test spots St John’s, Antigua, CMC – A plethora of Test hopefuls will have their chance to impress selectors when they line-up in two twoday matches for Cricket West Indies President’s XI against touring England starting next week. The first match runs from January 15-16 and the second from January 17-18, with both fixtures carded for 3W’s Oval, UWI Cave Hill Campus. Batsman Sunil Ambris is the only player in the current Test squad included in the 12man unit being led by Jahmar Hamilton, and will be feeling the pressure of expectation after two underwhelming series. He managed only 68 runs in two Tests against India last October and 73 runs in another two-Test rubber against Bangladesh a month later. Ambris averages 15 from six Tests. He is one six players in the squad with Test experience with the likes of batsmen Jermaine Blackwood and Vishaul Singh, allrounder Raymon Reifer and fast bowlers Miguel Cummins and Alzarri Joseph all named. Blackwood has not played a Test in 15 months but remains in the selection frame while Vishaul played the last of his three Tests nearly two years ago and has also remained on the lips of selectors with prolific scoring in the domestic first class competition last season. All eyes will be on Alzarri Joseph who looked back to his old self in helping bowl Leeward Islands Hurricanes to an emphatic 245-run victory over Trinidad and Tobago Red
Sunil Ambris. Force on Monday. The 22-year-old has struggled for full fitness after recovering from a back injury last year, but has impressed with his pace and sharpness in three matches for Hurricanes that have yielded 15 wickets this season. Hamilton, meanwhile, has toured with the Windies of recent without breaking into the final XI and healthy scores against the England could put him in contention for a Test debut. Squad – Jahmar Hamilton (captain), Sunil Ambris, Jermaine Blackwood, John Campbell, Bryan Charles, Miguel Cummins, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Chemar Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Raymon Reifer, Vishaul Singh, Devon Thomas.
CWI directors clash over controversial Pybus appointment Bridgetown, Barbados, CMC – Cricket West Indies Directors, Enoch Lewis and Conde Riley, have sparred publicly over the recent choice of Richard Pybus for senior men’s head coach, further increasing the rancour surrounding the Englishman’s appointment less than two weeks before the opening Test against England. Lewis has been highly critical of Pybus’s selection and wrote to CWI last month lambasting the way the selection process was carried out, while also accusing President Dave Cameron of “hand-picking” Pybus for the job. However, Riley, the Barbados Cricket Association President, defended Pybus’s appointment, rubbishing Lewis’s claims and contending that CWI board had sanctioned the move. ”On the ninth of December, this whole matter was ventilated [at a board meeting in Trinidad]. It was put to the vote,” Riley said during a stormy exchange with Lewis on the popular cricket radio show, Mason and Guest, broadcast on the Starcom Network here. ”I do not know what more due process should be followed when a full board, including the 12 directors from the six territories – along with the two independent directors – voted. The president had one vote.” He continued: “The Board ventilated a whole thing as to who should be interim coach. There was a vote; the vote was 12-4 and that was how Mr Pybus became the interim coach. ”I am reading all of this thing about ‘due process’. It was a stop-gap thing so we could go back and as chairman of the HR committee, I can tell you that we sat down and discussed a whole lot of
CWI directors Enoch Lewis (left) and Conde Riley. things in terms of succession planning, looking at our franchise cricket, and we felt that the next head coach would be a West Indian once they applied for the job. ”Once the regional franchise coaches applied, all of them would be interviewed and given a fair chance. If you handpick any one of them and the other people who have not been coaches but are former Test players, this same discussion would be taking place – how did you arrive at it?” However, Riley’s assertion was rejected by Lewis, who said the issue lay in the fact the board, along with director of cricket, Jimmy Adams, and the CWI cricket committee, had been excluded from the recruitment of Pybus. Reiterating what he stated in his frank letter of complaint to CWI, Lewis said after Cameron had determined that negotiations with the boardapproved candidate Nic Pothas, had broken down, the Jamaican administrator had head-hunted Pybus, negotiated and concluded a deal including salary, without any prior authorisation from the CWI board. ”We were going to hire somebody from the existing coaching staff. That was approved by the board,” Lewis said, accusing Riley of “trying to mislead the public”. “We made no decision outside of that to contact anybody else. The board made no
decision. If that didn’t work out, what should happen is that matter should come back to the board and the board should then determine a process as to how we’re going to go forward. That did not take place. ”What happened when the so-called breakdown of negotiations took place, was that a single person reached out, contacted one person in this whole world. Not only contacted the person but negotiated with the person, including a salary and came back to the board and said ‘I have done this’. I am saying this is not due process.” He added: “That is indefensible. You cannot defend that. Trust policy and procedure – that’s all the Leeward Islands Cricket Board is saying.” However, Riley hinted that Lewis was simply frustrated he had not gotten his way at the December meeting, and this had prompted his public outcry. ”Because you put something on the table and do not win, you cannot say there was no due process when a whole board voted,” an annoyed Riley said. “I’m getting tired and sick of this nonsense. What I’m aghast about is [for Lewis] to come out and write this letter.” In the letter, Lewis had called for Pybus’s appointment to be rescinded, a request which was subsequently ignored by CWI.
GCA competitions set to resume this weekend The Georgetown Cricket Association’s (GCA) Friends of Cricket Under-17 (100) overs and New Building Society second Division 40-over cricket competitions will resume this weekend at several venues. Muslim Youth Organisation currently lead the points table in the U17 tournament with 95 followed by Georgetown Cricket Club 75, Transport SC and ECO Champs on 69 each, Malteenoes SC and Bel Air Rubis on 38 apiece and Everest CC 20. Zone A of the New Building Society second division 40-overs is being headed by MYO on 98, ahead of Gandhi Youth Organisation 74, Malteenoes SC 64, DCC 39, University of Guyana 28, Diplomats 21, GNIC
18 and Everest 12. GCC head Zone B on 76 while Transport SC is in second place on 65, GDF 57, Ace Warriors 27, Police SC 20, Third Class 14 and Sophia 6. This weekend fixtures for the U17 tournament; Saturday at 09:30hrs, DCC versus Everest CC at Queenstown and ECO Champs versus GCC at Bourda. On Sunday, Malteenoes SC will play GCC at Bourda and ECO Champs will take on DCC at Queenstown. In the New Building Society second division tomorrow from 10:30hrs, Diplomats SC will face UG at Camp Road, Malteenoes SC will host DCC and Sophia CC will play GDF at MYO. On Sunday, GNIC will journey to Everest CC and Ace Warriors will battle Third Class at Camp Road.
Friday January 11, 2019
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Kaieteur News
West Indies Championship 2018/2019
Bramble (168), Chanderpaul (71) 3rd wicket stand of 209 put Jaguars in control Volcanoes Story and photos by Sean Devers The opening of the fourth round West Indies Championship 2018/2019 match between Guyana Jaguars and Windwards Volcanoes at Providence yesterday belonged to 28-year-old Anthony Bramble who dominated a 209-run third wicket stand with the gritty 22-year-old Tagenarine Chanderpaul to leave the home side in good position on 307-6. Chanderpaul, batted the entire day to remain unbeaten on a carefully constructed 71 from 293 balls, 263 minutes with four fours. With him is Romario Shepherd on 5 after pacer Josh Thomas took two wickets in three balls to finish the day with 3-63. Bramble, in his 52nd FirstClass match since his debut against CCC in 2013, hit 17 fours and six sixes from 153 balls and 189 minutes and his brilliant innings took his aggregate to 290 runs. He shared in a partnership of 209 with Chanderpaul, they joined forces with the Jaguars in a spot of bother on 71-3 after the team won the toss and elected to bat on straw coloured track. Trevon Griffith who stroked Shermon Lewis for four and spanked Josh Thomas past cover for his second boundary, was the aggressor in the partnership with Tagenarine Chanderpaul who his usual ultra-cautious self. A small crowd watched in hazy sunshine as Thomas
Anthony Bramble pulls during his pugnacious century yesterday at Providence. broke the 22-run stand when he induced Griffith (14 from 17 balls) to edge one that left him to the Keeper. Skipper Leon Johnson (5) did not last long and after flicking Lewis for four, played a loose drive and was taken at gully, Lewis striking at 27-2 to bring the free flowing Shimron Hetmyer, the fourth left-hander, to the crease. The pugnacious batsman from Young Warriors in Canjie got going with a dismissive flick off Lewis which raced across the lush green and immaculately manicured outfield to the ropes before hitting Thomas for four. By lunch, the Jaguars were 70-2 with Hetmyer on 26 from 44 balls and Chanderpaul on 18 from 97 balls. After the
interval the 22-year-old Hetmyer played a lose cut to Ray Jordon and was caught behind without adding to his lunch time score to leave the score on 71-3. Bramble drove Jordon back past his ankles for four before edging the 24-year-old Vincentian over the slip cordon for another boundary. Chanderpaul, who made an unbeaten 84 when the Jaguars declared at 310-4 when these teams last met in St Lucia, continued to bat doggedly while Bramble with a century to his name in his last match in Barbados, flicked Lewis for four. Bramble from Skeldon in Berbice smashed left-arm spinner Larry Edwards for contrasting boundaries; he
Caribbean Junior Karting Trophy speeds off this weekend in Barbados Fifteen young racers from Guyana, Barbados and Jamaica will face off at Bushy Park Barbados tomorrow and Sunday when the inaugural Caribbean Junior Karting Academy Trophy (CJKAT) gets underway. Six Karters will be representing the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMRSC) and in addition to battling for the honour of becoming the first regional Champion, the grand prize of an entry in the Sunshine State Karting Challenge (SSKC) in Florida is also up for grabs. Added incentives include trophies for the top three finishers and medals for all participants while the Champion will win a fully-paid entry and X30 Junior Kart for one SSKC
weekend, valued at over US$3,000. Sponsored by Bushy Park Circuit Inc. (BPCI), Chefette Restaurants Limited, Sol Petroleum and Terra Caribbean, CJKAT will be contested by racers aged 11 to 15 years-old at three double-round meets with the first this weekend, the second on February 2nd and 3rd and final meet will be March 2nd and 3rd. CJKAT is modeled on the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy, which is the first step on the ladder of the Federation Internationale de l ’ A u t o m o b i l e ’s ( F I A ) single-seater path to F1 since 2010. Guyana’s participants are, Paige Mendonca - 60cc Kids
Cup, Rayden Persaud - 125cc X30 Junior, Zachary Persaud - Easy Cup Rookie, Elan Rahaman - 125cc X30 Junior, Nathan Rahaman - 60cc Kids Cup and Jeremy Tenpow who was the GMRSC Karting Championship 2018, overall winner. Each Meet will have four races while grid positions for the first race will be based on qualifying. In the second race the grid will be decided based on qualifying, with the top 10 places reversed and the rest of the field in order of qualifying. While the third race will grid the drivers based on their best lap time from Races 1 and 2 and the final race will be based on points scored in qualifying and races.
pulled him to the mid-wicket boundary before finding the ropes with a blistering cover drive off the next ball. Kaveem Hodge was introduced in the 35th over and the in-form Bramble delightfully swept him for four to rush past Chanderpaul’s score. With cotton wool-like clouds floating lazily over the Providence sward and strong breeze blowing across the ground, Chanderpaul got himself bugged down as he failed to find the gaps or rotate the strike. Bramble cut Edwards and hit him over cover to post his 50 from 52 balls, 61 minutes with eight four while the 100 partnership was posted in 23.4 overs with Bramble contributing 79 and Chanderpaul 18. Hodge was pulled for a six and a four off consecutive balls before the on-fire Bramble dumped off-spinner Alick Athanaze for a couple off sixes to his reach his third ton and second in two matches. His 100 came from 84 balls, 97 minutes with 11 fours and four sixes and his second 50 came from just 32 balls. At Tea the Jaguars were 212-3 with Bramble on 113 and Chanderpaul on 43. Bramble continued to pounce on the bad balls, pulled Jordon for four and flicked him for another while Chanderpaul continued to be like a wall as the
Bramble-dominated partnership. Chanderpaul, who executed several good shots that went straight to the fielders, finally found the gap when he square drove Hodge for a couple to move to 47 while Bramble savagely cut Thomas behind point and took a single off next ball to reach 150 from 131 balls,155 minutes with 16 fours and six sixes. Chanderpaul turned Tho-
mas for two in the next over to reach his eighth fifty at this level. His marathon half century lasted 233 balls, 277 minutes with two fours. From 2803 Jaguars slipped to 291-6 as Thomas struck twice by removing Bramble and Sherfane Rutherford (0) at 280, Kemo Paul (3) was run out. Shepherd joined Chanderpaul who displayed excellent temperament and saw their team to the close without further loss.
World Anti-Doping Agency gain access to Moscow lab BBCsport - A World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) team has gained access to the Russian AntiDoping Agency’s laboratory in Moscow, 10 days after an initial deadline. Wada’s inspection team had been denied full access to data after Rusada was set a 31 December deadline to comply. The visit was a condition of Wada’s controversial reinstatement of Rusada in September 2018. A Wada spokesperson told BBC Sport the three-person team had reported “no issues” with their work so far. Speaking to Russian media, the country’s sports minister, Pavel Kolobkov,
said the work should be completed within the next three days. ”Today the joint expert group got down to work. Work on setting up the equipment has begun, including on copying the databases,” he said. Russia’s failure to provide full access to the laboratory and data before the December deadline led to 16 national anti-doping bodies (Nados) and Wada’s athlete committee to call for the country to be suspended. The issue will be debated when Wada’s compliance review committee (CRC), an independent body, meets on 14 January, after which it will make a recommendation to
Wada’s executive committee (ExCo). A report from Professor Richard McLaren in July 2016 found Russia operated a state-sponsored doping programme for four years across the “vast majority” of Olympic sports. A subsequent report stated more than 1,000 Russian athletes benefited from doping and Russia was later banned from competing at the 2018 Winter Olympics. Wada had insisted Russia meet two criteria before Rusada could be reinstated to competition; accept the findings of the McLaren report, and grant access to Moscow’s anti-doping laboratory.
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Archibald and Baird highlight AAG Development Meet The Amateur Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) yesterday released their 2019 calendar of events, a day after their first Developmental Meet which was held at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ground. All the races of this event are odd distances. For instance, the track events were as follows, 60m, 150m, 300, 600m, 1000m and 2000m. However, the field events are unaltered. In the Open category, Emmanuel Archibald of University of Guyana (UG) copped a sprint double in the 150m and 300m races to go along with his win in the long jump while National Javelin record holder Leslain Baird surprisingly was the fastest across the 60m dash while expectedly dominating the javelin throw. Archibald, who has benefited from an Athletic scholarship at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Campus, ran an impressive time of 15.60 seconds in the 150m ahead of Davin Fraser (16.30) of Police Progressive Sports Club (PPYC) and Michael James (16.69) of GDF. In the 300m, Archibald (35.30 seconds) finished ahead of the ever improving Elton Bollers of New Amsterdam United (NAU) by seven hundredths of a second while Akeem Stewart of GDF was third in 36.32 seconds. Meanwhile, in the 60m, GDF’s Baird who ran 6.89 seconds, finished ahead of seasoned sprinters Tevin Garraway (UG) who ran 6.91 seconds and Owen Adonis (UG) third in 7.04 seconds. In the field events, Baird won the javelin throw with an impressive distance of 67.13m while Archibald won his favoured long jump
Emanuel Archibald event after leaping a distance of 7.82m. The under-18 age group saw some impressive performances from Kenisha Phillips of Running Braves Athletics Club (RBAC) who ran away with the 150m and 300m girls’ sprint double while Loneil Marks of Hopetown Flames Athletics Club ran a blistering time of 35.30 seconds to win the boys’ 300m dash. The Developmental Meets are used to evaluate the AAG’s athletes’ level of competitiveness heading into the new season. The second Meet of this nature is slated for January 26th at the Enmore Community Centre ground.
Big Boss Trucking Service supports Wiltshire dominoes
Mark Wiltshire (left) accepts the cheque from Lyall Gittens. Big Boss Trucking Service of Providence, East Bank Demerara has supported the Mark Wiltshire Birth Anniversary dominoes tournament which is set to start on Sunday at Turning Point. The tournament will attract some of the top teams locally and Organiser Mark Wiltshire is calling on teams that have not yet registered to do so soonest since no late entries will be accepted. He expressed gratitude to
the entity for their support while Lyall Gittens, a representative of the company, who presented the cheque to Wiltshire at Orange Walk, Bourda, said they are happy to be given an opportunity not only to be a sponsor but to also field a team in the competition. Gittens noted that dominoes has gained much popularity recently and lauded Wiltshire for his commitment. Entrance fee is $15,000
and the winning team will take home a trophy and $175,000. The runner-up will pocket a trophy and $75,000, third place a trophy and $35,000 and fourth place a trophy and $20,000. The MVP in the final will take home $10,000 while the best female player in the tournament will pocket $10,000. Action gets underway at 14:00hrs. Teams can contact Wiltshire on 665 5855 for registration.
GDF’s Leslain Baird who won the Javelin throw and 60m dash at the AAG’s first development meet on Wednesday last.
RHTY&SC congratulates Crandon on his appointment as CWI Assistant Coach The Patron, President and Management of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTY&SC) MS has extended congratulations to club member Esuan Crandon on his selection as the Assistant Coach of the West Indies Team. Crandon is another outstanding product of Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation’s Personal Development Programme which seeks to ensure that outstanding youths fulfill their potential leadership skills. Crandon joined the RHTY&SC in 1998 and was quickly identified as a leader of the future. His leadership of the club’s U19, Second Division and First Division Teams which were done in calm, dedicated and professional manner resulted in numerous successes on the field of play. The success story of the club is due to the foundation that Crandon and players the likes of his brother Royston, Assad Fudadin, Renwick Batson, Khemraj Mahadeo,
Esuan Crandon Delbert Hicks and Andre Percival laid for the younger generation to build on. At the tender age of 20, Crandon was working with youths at the clubs Cricket Academy, conducting practice sessions and serving as a positive role model and mentor to our members. The Management of the club is confident that Crandon’s calm influence and outstanding coaching skills would serve as one of the main reasons for the restoration of West Indies Cricket. “All of us at the club wish him
well and we recommit ourselves to making sure that more outstanding leaders emerge from our membership. The RHTY&SC strongly believes in allowing youths to excel once they show potential matched by dedication, honesty and hard work. Our 19 year-old Assistant Secretary/CEO Simon Naidu is a perfect example as he has taken over the daily operations of the organisation while the Secretary fulfills his duties as President of the Berbice Cricket Board. Young leaders like Jonathan Rampersaud, Mahendra Gopilall, Shivnarine Ramnarine and Jeremy Sandia are also playing prominent roles in the administration of the club. We wish to reassure Esuan of our love, support and prayers.” The RHTY&SC also congratulates our members, Assad Fudadin and Clinton Pestano on their performances so far in the CWI Four Day First Class tournament and wish them even more successes for the remainder of the tournament.
Kaieteur News
Friday January 11, 2019
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Young Warriors crowned 2018 Ivan Madray Memorial 100 -Ball Champs The presence of West Indies Test Star Shimron Hetmyer and a large crowd at the Albion Community Centre Ground inspired Young Warriors Cricket Club (YWCC) to their first major title in years. The club which was only reformed in late 2018 was playing their third consecutive final after being dormant for a long period. They had lost the final of the Busta 40-Overs and Pepsi 50Overs to Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets before turning the tables in the Ivan Madray Memorial 100-Ball Tournament, winning by 7 wickets. Play in the day/night match bowled off at 16:30hrs in bright sunshine with Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets batting first after winning the toss. Missing their two most senior players, Clinton Pestano and Royston Crandon, Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets was soon 1 for 2 at the end of the first over; National U-19 players Junior Sinclair and Kevlon Anderson dismissed caught and bowled by left arm spinner Trevlon Stanislaus for ducks. Veteran Jason Sinclair was then bowled by off spinner Linden Austin while the inform Kevin Sinclair was run out in a mix up with Eon Hooper to leave RHT Gizmos & Gadgets 28-4 in the 6th over. Hooper and skipper Shawn Pereira then added 43 for the 5th wicket before Hooper was brilliantly caught by Linden Austin off medium pacer Suresh Dhanai for 24. RHT Gizmos & Gadgets eventually limped to 93-6 off their allotment of balls with Pereira unbeaten on 21. Stanislaus ended with 2-20 while Suresh Dhanai, Linden Austin and Ishwar Singh ended with one wicket each. National U-19 player Alex Algoo got the Young Warriors CC reply off to a flying start when he pulled
The winning Young Warriors Cricket Club pose with the Chintamani family following their success.
Keon Sinclair for a boundary before his stumps were sent flying next ball to leave his team for 4-1. Hetmyer, making his first appearance in Berbice since his Test debut received a warm welcome from the large crowd but survived a loud LBW appeal first ball from the fiery Sinclair. The West Indies batting star was d r o p p e d o ff N a t i o n a l offspinner Eon Hooper before settling down to top score with 30 while Ishwar Singh 20, Linden Austin 15 and Seon Hetmyer 15 not out all batted well to guide their team home at 96-3 off 11.5 overs. Keon Sinclair ended with 2-25 from 3 overs. Berbice Cricket Board President Hilbert Foster at the presentation ceremony said the tournament was a fitting tribute to Berbice’ third Test Player and stated that the Board was proud to be associated with paying tribute to a cricket legend of the Ancient County. Foster stated that the historic final was the 24th to be hosted since his election in
February 2018, while over thirty (330) tournaments were started during the same period. Special gratitude was extended to Chandradat Chintamani, nephew of the late Test Player and the Madray family for sponsoring the tournament. Chintamani in brief remarks congratulated the BCB for organising a remarkable tournament and also announced to loud applause that the sponsorship would be renewed for 2019. Young Warriors CC Captain Suresh Dhani stated that his club was delighted to win the tournament as it would serve as an inspiration to greater success. Dhanai also heaped praises on the BCB for the outstanding work it was doing in promoting the game. Young Warriors collected $100,000 and the Ivan Madray Memorial trophy while Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets carried home $50 000.00 and the runner-up trophy. Player of the Final, Trevlon Stanislaus also received a financial prize and trophy.
Trevlon Stanislaus – Player of the Final receives his prize.
Fruta Conquerors among 13 teams awaiting fate in 2019 Concacaf Caribbean Club Shield Draw Miami, Florida – Guyana Football Federation Elite League Champions Fruta Conquerors is among thirteen (13) teams from around the Caribbean eagerly anticipating the results of the 2019 Concacaf Caribbean Club Shield Draw today at Concacaf Headquarters in Miami, Florida. The competition for
amateur Caribbean clubs will take place April 5-15 at the Ergilio Hato Stadium and D r. A n t o i n e M a d u r o Stadium in Willemstad, Curacao. By virtue of their championship-winning domestic seasons in 2017/18, the following teams qualified for the 2019 CCCS. Hoppers FC (Antigua & Barbuda), Dakota FC
(Aruba), Weymouth Wales (Barbados), SV Real Rincon (Bonaire), Scholars International Sports Club (Cayman Islands), Santiago de Cuba (Cuba), Jong Holland (Curacao), Fruta Conquerors Football (Guyana), Club Sportif Moulien (Guadeloupe), Club Franciscain (Martinique), Platinum (Continued on page 27)
This Fruta Conquerors quartet will hope to make an impact from right, Rushawn Ritch, Jermain Junor, Domini Garnett and Eon Alleyne.
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West Indies Championship 2018/2019
Bramble (168), Chanderpaul (71) 3rd wicket stand of 209 put Jaguars in control Volcanoes
Anthony Bramble celebrates consecutive tons yesterday at Providence (Sean Devers photo)
Tagenarine Chanderpaul defends during his dogged innings yesterday.
Caribbean Junior Karting Trophy speeds off this weekend in Barbados
The young Karters and their guardians/parents arrived in the land of the Flying fish on Wednesday ahead of this Weekend’s two-day race Meet. Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.