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AIETEUR

Three years later... Saturday Edition

NICIL transactional audit still incomplete Natural Resources Ministry did very little to prepare Guyana for Oil NEWS

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January 12, 2019 - Vol. 13 No. 02

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

Price $80

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… almost every decision favoured oil companies

- Ex Petroleum Advisor to Govt.

First Bauxite Corp. to inject US$387.3M into economy over 15-year period

First Bauxite Corporation is currently mining and processing at its facilities at the Bonasika Bauxite Project, Sand Hills, Region Three.

CJ orders Govt. Revise 'chicken Chief Whips to City residents meet with GECOM need to do more, to provide Office of feed' fees - Says agency must on preparedness cooperate with Commissioner of Info seek innovative ways to for elections council - Mayor with furniture, staff facilitate own increases

- Finance Minister tells EPA

Greenidge rubbishes

Venezuela's maritime claims Appointing AG as External Auditor for Natural Resource Fund a wrong move - NRGI

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Kaieteur News

Saturday January 12, 2019

Saturday January 12, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Natural Resources Ministry did very little … almost every decision to prepare Guyana for Oil favoured oil companies

By Kiana Wilburg

T

ime is one of the s t r o n g e s t negotiating tools a country could have against an oil company. But, according to former Petroleum Advisor to the coalition administration, Dr. Jan Mangal, Guyana forfeited that lever by being in a rush to first oil before General and Regional Elections originally scheduled for 2020.

What also made matters worse in Dr. Mangal's view is the fact that the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), which initially had full responsibility for preparing Guyana for the oil sector, seemed intent on making decisions which only favoured the oil companies.

The Oil and Gas Consultant made this pellucid as he sought to

provide some perspective on the role the Ministry played in Guyana now being unprepared for the oil sector.

“Firstly, Guyana lost negotiating leverage against Exxon, because Guyana was in a rush to get first oil before the originally scheduled elections in 2020.

Secondly, by Guyana rushing, Guyana also forfeited the opportunity to develop its institutional capacity for oil and gas. By rushing, Guyana was setting itself up to fail in its preparations for oil and gas,” Dr. Mangal asserted.

In this regard, the consultant highlighted the fact that for three years, the MNR did not hire a single oil and gas professional with appropriate experience in deepwater developments and production. “This is quite amazing, as the MNR and other ministries should

Ex-Petroleum Advisor to Govt., Dr. Jan Mangal have hired dozens of highly experienced oil and gas professionals.

But none were hired. This is a blatant sign that some Government officials were favouring the

interests of the oil companies, knowingly or unknowingly, over the interests of Guyanese, since the oil companies benefit when the country knows nothing about oil and gas,” Mangal emphasised.

He continued, “And there were other decisions.

The MNR hired a firm to review the Field Development Plan (FDP) for the Liza 1 Project, but the firm was a small facilities engineering firm which had probably never reviewed a whole FDP for a country.

The firm had no competence in geology and reservoir engineering, and the firm could not review the costs of the project.

Please remember, oil companies do not want countries to hire competent professionals and contractors, since these professionals might advance

- Ex Petroleum Advisor to Govt. the country's interests over the oil company's interests.”

Dr. Mangal added, “Then we saw suspicious things like the courtship of a Nigerian-American Oil and Gas billionaire whose company was caught up in illegal smuggling of gold in the Congo, and whose company was fined US$32 million by US authorities.

And the MNR proposed that Guyana consider sole sourcing the contract for oil sales to a notorious company named Glencore. The list goes on, but I will end it here.”

Further to this, the consultant said that some of the international donors and agencies, like the World Bank and Chatham House, were well aware of the situation “but I cannot recall any of them ringing alarm

bells.” Dr. Mangal said that this in particular, was an eyeopener for him, because previously, he held these international bodies in high esteem.

“But now I am convinced most of these international bodies are just along for the ride,” the former Government Advisor said.

Due to the lack of progress by the MNR in improving institutional capacity, preparing Guyana for oil, and due to sloth in some other ministries, Dr. Mangal said it was clear that Guyana needed a new entity responsible for all of energy (oil, gas, renewables, etc). It was on this premise, he pointed out, that President David Granger took the bold and critical decision to setup the new Department of Energy.

City residents need to do more, cooperate with council - Mayor T

he residents of the municipality of Georgetown have not been doing enough for the wellbeing of the city, to adequately support the work of the Mayor and City Council.

This is according to Mayor Ubraj Narine, who met with members of the media for the first time yesterday, after two weeks of being in office.

The Mayor said that the people expect difference, accountability and transparency, and that they will get that. However, he said that Mayor Elect of the people need to work more Georgetown, Ubraj Narine with the council, to bring their specific needs to the forefront the Mayor said that he will not make any pronouncements at the grassroots level.

“As a young politician, [I until his visits to them are see that] yes, there are things completed. Narine said that he that occurred before, but I feel has been putting the media off t h a t t h e c i t i z e n s f o r for a while, because he wanted Georgetown need to do more “a full visit to different offices in terms of cooperating with council. Come in. Let us have discussions. Let us see how we can help you, to waive your taxes, or how we can draft something so you can pay it, so we can have a better communication and understanding of what we're going to do.”

“We need to build walls, not bridges. If we've got that kind of cohesion between us, I want to indicate to the citizens of Georgetown that I am here to work with them, so we can have a better environment, and a better place.”

Asked about the statuses of the departments of City Hall,

and departments attached to council,” and that those visits are not yet over.

“The council has many different departments which I will go through phase by phase. I will not rush. I will not hurry because, as a young man, I believe in taking [my] time to do things.

He said that there are many projects he intends to prioritise, but declined to elaborate. He said that he would hold those off until the finance committee completes the 2019 budget.

“2019 budget was not prepared as yet by the finance committee. So when that budget comes to me, before it goes to council, I'll vet it.”

Usually, annual budgets are to be completed by November of the previous year. However, since the new committee only took up office early this year, the budget has been delayed. The mayor did not indicate when the budget would be completed.

Deputy Mayor Alfred Mentore said that it is difficult to answer, at this point in time, on the availability of a budget, and that the mayor has to depend on the various councilors to bring forward projects that are relevant to their respective constituencies.

“We will then dovetail those plans into a general plan, so our Mayor, then, will be able to give us an overall vision about where we're going to go as a council.”

The Mayor urged the public to be patient: “I will

approach things my way.”

Mayor Narine was elected to serve as Mayor of Georgetown, on November 30, 2018. He explained that his priorities include

environmental protection, thriving businesses, opportunities for the young, and services for the city's residents that are uncompromisingly excellent.

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Kaieteur News

Saturday January 12, 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

MAKING LIFE-SAVING DECISIONS Pretending that a reality does not exist because it should not exist does not mean it ceases to exist. One of the realities that exist in this country and in most other countries today is crime and gang violence.

While most criminals are well armed, our politicians seem not to have the tools to mount a sustained attack against them. It is a security dilemma that the state apparatus, the security forces and the people must deal with condignly before it gets worse.

The crisis that we face is that our current legal construct cannot facilitate a war against the hardcore criminals, and even with long-term imprisonment, many continue to direct their operations while imprisoned. The reason is because they are vicious and bold.

While the security forces have proven themselves effective in combat against the criminals, they do not receive the adequate assistance from the political directorate to rid society of this scourge.

The reason lies in rules.

The legal system has rules which are guided by our constitution, and that the police must follow. This document was written by those who had first-hand knowledge of corruption and State abuse of citizens. The constitution was geared to protect the citizens from State abuse, not from the hardcore criminals and gang domination that exist in the country today.At the time the constitution was written, there were hardly any gangs and well-armed criminals, who today see crime as a profitable business venture.

Simply put, the constitution in existence today did not account for this battle. Gangs were not as large and crime was not as sophisticated, other than a handful of ‘rude boys’ with a few small guns to scare their victims into handing over their belongings as quickly as possible without being harmed.

Some say that many of the crimes and murders were political creations, others believe they were social. However, they came about is immaterial. They are here and we cannot fight them with the rules of a bygone era constitution.

Once the Charter of Human Rights was established by the United Nations (UN), to which Guyana is a signatory, some laws such as the Detention Act and the Suppression Act, among others, that were repressive, were removed from the 1980 constitution to meet the UN requirements.

The citizens of this country have elected politicians to protect them, and to find a way to collaborate and make decisions in their interest to save their lives, if doing so would require the rewriting or amending the constitution.

But it seems that they are doing the opposite.

Almost every year, the murder and armed robbery rates keep creeping up, because those elected are not political mature enough to collaborate and make changes to the constitution to reduce the tragedy. Independence was achieved more than five decades ago, and the two main political parties continue to rival one another instead of working out their differences. They cannot even sit down and make decisions that will save hundreds of innocent lives. Neither party is capable of solving this problem, because one always blames the other and vice-versa, in the absence of a comprehensive crime plan. Elections are not won or lost on this issue, innocent lives are lost either way. Guyana is not the first country, which has had to introduce a change in the rules because of a deadly threat that did not previously exist. Prior to 9/11, the full impact of terrorism had not been felt in the U.S. But when it was, the Americans responded with the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, which provided the powers that were required to detain alleged would-be terrorists. It was not done through one party. Both sides supported and passed this legislation in Congress because they knew that steps had to be taken to save lives.

Like the U.S, our laws needed to be changed or modified to deal with the criminals and gang violence. This type of action is required from our politicians to save lives and end the frustration and anger of the people.

An appeal to all patriotic Government ministers -Put Guyana First!

DEAR EDITOR, Even with a small population as ours, the chance of one becoming a Member of Parliament is either slim or none.

But if you’re fortunate in your lifetime to have this great honour bestowed upon you, nothing matters more than putting the interest of Guyana and her people above all… above self.

Do the right thing and you will be forever respected as a patriot, a person of integrity, of high moral values, and a champion of the poor and downtrodden. With few exceptions, the ruckus behaviour of government MPs that completely drowned out the entire speech made in the National Assembly by the Leader of the Opposition on the Noconfidence Motion (NCM), clearly defines their characters and exposes the lowness of those who serve in the highest decision-making forum in government.

As a Member of Parliament, I am often embarrassed and appalled at the lack of decorum and unparliamentary language and behaviour displayed by some in the National Assembly.

Some have no ethics and etiquette. Yet these are the

people who represent us at international forums with world leaders and their representatives, and who are given the powers to implement laws that affect the lives of every citizen here.

Then there are others who now willingly betray the principles upon which the AFC was formed and shamelessly defend the transgressions committed by this government to protect the grandeur and perks they now enjoy as members of Cabinet.

Thankfully, not everyone fits this description. Some, I know, are genuinely concerned that Guyana is headed in the wrong direction, and would do a Charrandass if they weren’t so afraid for their own safety and the wellbeing of their families.

Just yesterday, it was reported in the Guyana Chronicle that Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge, who is often above the fray, wrote in a letter to the Canadian High Commissioner that he was “unaware of any threat” to Charrandass Persaud that would have even required consular protection.

Even this career politician who has now distinguished himself as an elder statesman after once presiding over the

worst economic period that helped bankrupt the nation during his tenure as the PNC government Minister of Finance and Planning, seems afraid to condemn his PNC colleague Jennifer Wade, the Region Five government MP, whose voice can be clearly identified saying, “Charrandass, you gon dead tonight.”

Surely, the Hon Carl Greenidge must have heard this distinct threat himself from the thousands of videos clips played over and over again in news reports and in the public domain on social media. But as decent as Greenidge is, he too must be afraid and too old to go up against the dangerous PNC to ruin his chances of becoming APNU’s Presidential Candidate to contest the upcoming elections.

For despite the earlier pronouncements by Volda Lawrence and Joseph Harmon, I really don’t believe President Granger will ever run again.

It is an undisputed fact that on that fateful evening of December 21, 2018, the Opposition motion was successfully carried and the government fell.

Now, like a drowning man,

they are desperately grasping at straws to cling to power.

Since then, Government has been stubbornly and shamelessly defiant of the constitution, pursuing a series of frivolous actions to stop the inevitable: The resignation of the Cabinet including the President and new elections within three months according to Article 106 (6) of the constitution. One cannot simply change the rules in his favour after the game has been played and loss.

The Charrandass vote in favor of the NCM has been totally ventilated. It is now time to move on. Regardless of which side of the political spectrum you’re on, the next few days will determine just how far one is prepare to go without compromising one’s integrity and political career.

The intent of government ministers will be scrutinized and characters questioned.

I am sure that if asked, every Guyanese would call himself a patriot. But how many like myself, would willingly risk their lives for this country? And to a lesser extent, how many would sacrifice their jobs, insecure though it may be at this time, to prevent Guyana from (Continued on page 5)

CHILD RAPE AND THE SEARCH FOR A SATISFACTORY SOLUTION DEAR EDITOR, The Kaieteur News of 7th December 2018, under caption “Man gets life for raping one year old.” Summed -up what a challenging year 2018 was for parents and children in Guyana. It represented the embarrassing frequency, the willingness of too many among us, to reach into cribs and primary schools and take advantage of the defenseless, to satisfy our depravity.

So, as a society and a region, we are forced to relook at our chosen responses employed thus far, for dealing with child rapist.

Generally, CARICOM countries predominantly rely on the creation of registers of sex offenders, counselling and the justice system to deliver us from this scourge. As can be deduced, these are all reactive approaches, and they have not been able to bring about substantial success, whether individually or collectively.

A single letter to the editor will not allow for a meaningful examination on why this failure, so some information from various CARICOM countries will have to suffice.

In Jamaica in 2012, an 18month old baby boy died of

internal damage after being raped by his uncle. In Trinidad and Tobago between May 2015 and February 2016, 10.1 percent of all sexual abuse cases against boys involved toddlers – boys three years and younger.

In a study of the situation in the Eastern Caribbean, the abuse of babies was reported.

In the developed west where there is reliance on similar responses to this plague, things are no way different.

In the United Kingdom and England specifically between 2016 and 2017, police recorded 6009 rape of children aged under 13 years. In Northern Island in October 2018, a two-week-old baby was in intensive care in a Belfast hospital after being raped.

Here in the USA, Dakota County in 2010 a nine-month old girl was brutally raped. In fact, a Bureau of Justice statistics for 1991-1996 revealed that of every seven sexual assault reported to law enforcement one victim was under age six.

And if you think this madness only affects the west and CARICOM, consider this, in South Africa in 2002, an eightmonth old was reported gang raped by four men and had to

under-go reconstructive surgery.

In India, with New Delhi likely numbered among the rape capitals of the world; after some of the more recent brutal and sadistic rape of toddlers Justice Kirubakaran in 2015 was forced to suggest that castration be considered as additional punishment for child rapists.

Since, we are forced to agree that all the well-used approaches have given us little reprieve from this abomination, perhaps more consideration should be given to Justice Kirubakaran’s suggestion. Indeed, he is not without support.

In recent times, it is this general dissatisfaction with the long tried approaches that has led to the developed countries adding a medical component to their arsenal of responses. Primarily this addition takes the form of increased use of chemical castration as an alternative sentencing measure for this crime.

In Britain, Matthew Hole house informs us that around 100 child sex offenders underwent this treatment. Similarly, this alternative sentence is offered in Canada and some states in the USA.

To date California, Florida, Georgia and Montana have chemical castration legislation laws.

In California in 2000, a sex offender – Shannon Coleman agreed to undergo chemical castration. Coleman had admitted to fondling a 12-yearold girl and masturbating and having sex with a 15-year-old.

Same was true in 2014 for Gordon Stuckless in Canada.

Stuckless was being sentenced for sexually abusing 18 boys – he also chose chemical castration over a long prison sentence. In all these countries, reports on its effects on reoffending figures/ rates have been favourable.

Studies in Europe and Canada have shown that with its use, repeat offenders rate has dropped from 80% to four percent. Reports from the Scandinavian countries suggest its use can cut rates among re-offenders from 40% to five percent.

And it is of some interest to note that the procedure is also in use in South Korea and that female parliamentarians in Zimbabwe are calling for its use.

Civil liberties groups oppose castration in any form (Continued on page 6)

Saturday January 12, 2019

Distorting the facts about Policy Desk DEAR EDITOR, The Policy Desk wishes to address a letter by Mr. Robin Singh of the Guyana Youth Movement, in the January 10, 2019 Edition of the Kaieteur News Daily Newspaper. The gentleman highlighted his apparent connection to GYM, implying that it is the only balanced organization that was constructed to ensure young people are politically engaged based on “logic”.

This is far from the truth as the Guyana National Youth Council (GNYC) advanced the #VoteLikeABoss Campaign to empower young voters across the political divide that voting is important, regardless of who you vote for.

Singh proposes that the recent launching of The Policy Desk’s #PROGUYANA Movement, is directly related to the Alliance for Change, A Partnership for National Unity government. He noted, “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.”

The Policy Desk is a nonpartisan civil society organisation which advocates for persons in need of and/or adversely affected by national policy. Our mandate is to be representative of the voice of those young people seeking the acknowledgement of their voices in greater state discourse, as allowed in the preamble of the constitution, of this, our Cooperative Republic.

We give credence to any and all voices that wish to be heard, regardless of race, creed or political persuasion.

We respect individual and collective freedom of expression and mandate and shall give credence to any and all non-partisan engagements but are in no way affiliated with any political party, nor are we, to the political machinations of Messrs. Sherod Duncan or Ruel Johnson.

As such, we therefore reprove the individual and collective sentiments in Mr. Singh’s writings and charge that he proves, without a

shadow of doubt, his allegations of partisan conduct by our organisation.

We do note his concerns, but do not give credence as he may be trying to stir up something to deter young people from coming out to our events in the future.

As a direct result of the movement we started, please note that we are receiving no large funding from any source and the funds we have are from our own pockets and from the pockets of other young people who want to ensure that our peers are educated about our civic and political engagement.

We are advocating that young people are represented on both sides of the house, by their peers who have been making strides in various community and party groups.

We are hoping that our well wishers look forward to more information regarding our next engagement in the township of Linden and to disregard false claims and libel being selectively leveled by “conscious” groups or individuals who clearly do not want to see young people work to advance the efforts of their peers.

Respectfully, The Policy Desk

The constitutional clock has begun to tick DEAR EDITOR, In examination of the noises caused by the strident, Yes! Yes! Yes! of Honourable Member of Parliament Charrandass Persaud that have now ebbed and flowed in the national space since the night of December 21, 2018, I am drawn to Edward Fitzgerald’s “The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ, Moves on: nor all your Piety nor Wit shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it.”

That a single sentence should encapsulate all that has transpired to date is to recognize the power of poetry and to understand the importance of literature to any society. Fitzgerald’s translation of Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyat speaks a pristine truth.

The National Assembly approved a resolution of noconfidence in the Government.

There is no going backwards on this vote. Indeed, there could not even be a pause in the proceeding. The finger had written and moved on.

We are witnessing the attempts to lure that finger back, witty use of mathematics; public wailing; gnashing of

teeth; invoking of piety; all to no avail.

The 90-day clock as prescribed by the Constitution, our supreme law, has begun to tick. As I write this, another day passes and the clock shows 69 days left before a General and Regional Election must be held as mandated.

On March 21, 2019, that countdown expires. This countdown is inviolate and is unhindered by any process or institution.

The Judiciary may well have matters in front of it that pertain to various interpretations of the Constitution, but they do not in any way affect this clock, any determinations can only apply to future Motions of Confidence.

The state of readiness of the Guyana Elections Commission is not a factor; it is the President who sets the date of the Elections. GECOM is provided billions of dollars in funding annually to be in a

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state of near readiness at all times in compliance with the vagaries of our Constitution.

That tail cannot wag the dog.

The Granger administration may shed tears, but they should also end the disingenuous attempts to mislead our nation.

We have no ‘constitutional crisis’. The conflicts of Article 106 (6) and (7) will soon be resolved by the electorate. At that point members of the APNU+AFC administration may well find acts that go beyond the description of ‘caretaker’ being examined by the judiciary for interpretation.

Editor, I hope this letter illustrates the need for the much-maligned Arts in our education system; life cannot be lived by mathematical formulas alone, that may well lead us to being half the men and women, which we are meant to be.

Respectfully Robin Singh

THE THINGS NOT SAID ABOUT SIR FENTON RAMSAHOYE DEAR EDITOR, I wish to join others in expressing my great admiration to my dear friend and mentor, Sir Fenton Ramsahoye. I know that a lot was written on the excellence of his legal career. Since I was away in Barbados for his funeral during past several days, I believe that only his excellence in law was addressed in the letters written on him so far, and not enough on his humility and his sense of humor.

I would like to focus on his utter humility.

Anyone seeing Sir Fenton and myself in the Survival, DSL or Bounty supermarkets as late as the beginning of 2018, in his short green pants and his groceries basket buying his weekly groceries, would never believe that they were serving such a great man.

It amused me very much to watch him manoeuvring between the crowd when he was in Guyana at his house in Canje Street, Campbellville, a house he owned since he was the Attorney General of Guyana in the early mid 60’s.

Sir Fenton never sought any nationality other than being Guyanese, even though he had property in the UK and Barbados for many years. He never stopped being a Guyanese citizen; his passport says so. And his understanding of law was so profound that he could explain it to me a layman with perfect clarity, since he always advo-

cated that if a lawyer cannot explain the law to a layman in terms which he can understand it, then he has no right to be a lawyer.

I wonder how many Guyanese know that Sir Fenton was one of the founders of the Hugh Wooding Law School. Anyway, as Mr. Patesh Satram has written in his letter to the editor, Sir Fenton could produce an airtight pleading, on any legal matter, within 24 hours.

The genius of Sir Fenton was not only his profound understanding of the law but his incredible street sense, which no doubt he learnt campaigning with Dr Jagan all those years ago. I will give one example. In Trinidad, the highest National Honor up to 2008 was called the Trinity Cross, which inevitably carried a Christian/religious significance.

The cross which is selfevident and the Trinity referring to the Christian understanding of GOD as a Blessed Trinity; there came a time when the award was given to a non-Christian man of Indian extraction in Trinidad, and given the circumstances Sir Fenton took the matter as a legal challenge.

The matter went to the Trinidad courts and Sir Fenton pursued it to the Privy Council in England where he, in addressing the law Lords of England, expressed the view that offering a Hindu or Muslim man the Trinity Cross

was akin to offering the winner of a race between a vegetarian and a meat eater, a prize of a leg of mutton.

Only a Fenton Ramsahoye could make such a comparison at such a forum. As a result of this case in 2008, the government of Trinidad and Tobago was forced to change the highest Trinidadian national award to “Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago”.

I write this letter not so much to offer accolades to Sir Fenton, since I see that many have so far been offered, but to tell his fellow Guyanese that this is a man who rose to the highest levels of the legal profession in the United Kingdom, who never sought to be anything other than a Guyanese (sadly his absolute genius was never celebrated by his homeland and was never presented with a national honour) and whose dying wish was that his ashes be brought back to Guyana, specifically to Blankenburg where he was born and where he went to school, and a small monument which will be built by his heirs, either in the school yard or the Anglican Church there), be left to remind our children that no matter where you are born, or where you went to school, you can go as high as you want to in this life if you apply yourself.

This is a man, one of five brothers, three of whom attended Queen’s College and (Continued on page 6)

An appeal to all patriotic Government ...

From page 4 turning into a pariah state?

For selfish reasons, I wager not many would do it. But I’m equally confident there are still good patriotic men and women whose loyalty to Guyana and her people is above reproach.

It is to those and other government ministers that I make this appea l t o p u t Guyana first.

Save our nation from a constitutional crisis that will result in lawlessness, chaos, and the embarrassment of being the laughing stock of the Caribbean and the rest of the world.

As an individual with a conscience, you can resign now to protect what’s left of your integrity, credibility and your political and professional career.

In a few short months, this government will be forced to demit office and Guyana will be under new management.

But you don’t have to go down like rats on a sink-

ing ship to avoid being called a “traitor” and other derogatory names.

You have a duty to put Guyana first. And with a clear conscience, justify your resignation from government as your patriotic duty to the pledge you took as a Member of Parliament.

HARRY GILL PPP/C Member of Parliament

PAGE 6

Improving the mental and physical competence of the police force DEAR EDITOR, The (Friday, 11/01/19) newspapers devoted much coverage on the recommendations for improving the Guyana Police Force by enhancing capacity through training, infrastructure and Human Resource Management.

Having regard to my lifelong involvement with Human Resource Management Development, I wish to compliment the Commissioner of Police and all those involved

in this vital pursuit. Also, I wish to suggest that in addition to the various forms of training being considered, the critical aspect of self-learning/ ‘self-development’ must not be overlooked.

The typical policeman/ policewoman is required to be, among other things, ‘physically fit’, a condition, which only he/she can control; a cursory observation of members of our police force indicates that too many of them are over-weight given

the size of their girth; as that is a good layman’s test of physical fitness. We can conclude that too many are not as fit as they should be; they should, therefore, be required to improve their physical fitness in the same way that attention is paid to their mental/conceptual development.

(As a young man, I used to enjoy looking at the drills being conducted regularly in each police compound; do they still have them?)

Nowrang Persaud

A LOOK AT THE CJIA AIRPORT DEAR EDITOR, Our ancestors’ many moons ago voyaged across the Atlantic on likes of the Elisabeth, Louisa Baillie, Whitby, Hesperus, Glentanner, among other vessels. With the advent of technology, we now have air travel, allowing us to access distant lands in a matter of hours.

The Cheddi Jagan International Airport previously known as the Timehri International airport is well known to all Guyanese.

This facility was opened to commercial traffic since 1946. Over the years changes and developmental works were done to modernize this airport. The PPP/C with a vision for the future of Guyana with new and developing sectors such as tourism and hospitality with our specific brand of eco-tourism; oil and gas; Guyana being a gateway to South America and the bridge that connects South America to the Caribbean understood the necessity for this transformational project.

This was not a standalone project; it was accompanied by investments in an international brand hotel like the Marriott; the provision of cheap electricity with the Amaila hydro-electric scheme which with the significant reduction in the cost of electricity would have stimulated agro-processing and manufacturing; the need to accommodate larger aircraft to lower

Saturday January 12, 2019

Kaieteur News

the cost of freight and to have access to wider markets for our many non-traditional exports.

This interconnected group of projects was totally misunderstood and incompetently handled by the APNU/ AFC administration when they came to office in May 2015. This has left us as a country with a situation where we are getting less and paying more.

This design and build fix priced contract had envisioned eight boarding gates (air bridges), a significantly extended runaway, new terminal buildings, state of the art check-in and communication facilities, adequate conveyor belts to accommodate simultaneous multi arrivals and concession areas to facilitate transit and other global travellers. This incompetent group renegotiated the contract, giving us two air bridges and has now found extra money from the national purse to buy another two at a higher price, in a most questionable manner. The PPP/C has already indicated that we intend to call for a “value for money” audit on this project. Are the Guyanese people getting the right value for their monies spent?

Regardless of all these questions, the biggest question I have today editor is the real completion date. On the Ministry of Public Infrastructure website, they have a lovely description of the

project and I quote; “The Cheddi Jagan International Airport Expansion Project will be a behemoth in infrastructural development.

With a new scheduled completion timeline of December 2018...”

The shock of 21st December may still be upon Minister Patterson and he may not have changed his calendar but we are in 2019. The project as of December 31, 2017 had spent US $111.79M (81%) of the US$150M allocated to the total project cost.

When is the projected really expected to be completed since another deadline has been missed? What will be the final price? Will they be attempting to appropriate further funding? These are all questions the already burdened taxpayers of this country need answers to, someone please help.

I call on the people of Guyana to pay close attention to this cabal during the lame duck period of governance where their caretaker status must be emphasized.

This must not be a case of taking a transformational project and turning it into a cash cow to facilitate campaign funding.

At the time of the PPP/C government, they said the project was overpriced and unnecessary. The APNU/ AFC with their visionless approach took it over and the world is now a witness to their mal-administration and incompetence. We have an incomplete, under-renovation smaller airport with fewer facilities at the time of penning this letter.

Yours truly, Juan A. Edghill

MATURE LEADERSHIP DEAR EDITOR, The maturity shown by the President and Opposition leader at their recent meeting is a breath of fresh air into the political life of this our lovely native land. This is exactly what the people of Guyana need to see, for there to be an end to the mistrust that have been sown into heart of the Guyanese society toward others of a different race by selfish political figures.

Those in civil society must take note and do likewise, that the perception of them being biased would be erased.

What Guyana needs in 2019 are people in public service who are concerned about the betterment of all Guyanese.

I also wish to rebuke those on social media, and others who claim to have the

nation’s interest at heart, but were very silent during those dark periods of our not so long history. Some of these individuals have been clearly publishing content that can only be described as propaganda to ignite racial divide.

Such people are nothing but old donkeys with distorted brays and their distasteful contribution cannot take Guyana where she is going in 2019 and beyond.

The promise of elections in the 2019 is a good one, but even though this is a pillar of democratic society, I am of the opinion that what Guyana need at this time, is for the President and the Opposition leader to sit together and make a public statement to the people of Guyana, that what so ever the results of the election may be, that they will work together for a better Guyana for all Guyanese.

This, I believe, will be a master move that will strengthen efforts to achieve social cohesion and send a strong message to those bent on dividing us that it will not happen again.

This however must not be used as a means to set up an elite political society, that will come together to make themselves Lord over the people.

Checks must be put in place to deal with those seeking to use their office to benefit supporters, friends and family. We must not be another Russia.

Finally, I call for those who know that they are citizens of other nations, and are the people’s representative in Guyana’s parliament to step down. Your service is needed but it must not continue to disrespect our constitution.

Thank you.

Apostle Adrian Wade

CHILD RAPE AND THE SEARCH...

From page 4 being used as an alternative sentencing. They argue it is a violation of prisoners’ civil rights. But a worthy response to this concern is offered by the British Psychologist – Dr. Lowenstein who noted that “a child’s right to protection is far more morally important than the freedom of pedophiles.”

So, what do I suggest our position on this issue be, here in Guyana?

It would seem to me that at least a discussion on the merits and demerits of introducing chemical castration as an alternative punishment for child sexual offenders in Guyana is warranted. We must ask ourselves – is it morally acceptable to use this option?

Does the use of this procedure make financial sense?

If we answer ‘yes,’ to both of these questions, we should move to implement same.

Further, I would suggest that at its inception this alter-

native sentence should not be mandatory for first time offenders. At sentencing, first time offenders should be given a choice – castration (sometimes coupled with short prison time) or lengthy imprisonment?

Chemical castration would allow for the guilty party to continue to work, take care of his family and make restitution to the offended party. Further, when given the option, those choosing chemical castration as against life imprisonment, must pay for the procedure.

Government will pay initially, but should be refunded when the convicted persons resume productive work or, if he has worth to the cost of the operation, same would be forfeited.

Thus, by so doing, hardworking Guyanese will be relieved of the burden of paying for the offender’s operation, upkeep, and for those members of his/her family who would otherwise need public

THE THINGS NOT SAID ...

From page 5 became Guyana scholars but who was proud to have gone to Blankenburg school and did not receive the Guyana scholarship.

I am asking that this request of Sir Fenton be considered by those who are able to help me to fulfill his dying wish.

There were two great man in my life who formed the way I think on many issues— my father and Sir Fenton.

I thank God to have had two such great men to guide the way I understand life and the laws, which guide it.

Tony Vieira.

assistance in his/her absence.

Mr. Editor, I am aware that as a human being, and especially if we hold, that as humans our first duty is procreation, one experiences a certain level of apprehension for the use of castration – physical or chemical. But the fact is, based upon our efforts thus far and the seeming rise in child rape, we have no choice but to consider the use of chemical castration, at least in the short term.

The permanent and more satisfying solution for bringing an end to this beastly act of child rape is for us to, as a society, find a way of stop raising predators. Recently, an honest observer mourned the fact that one of the things prevalent today is the seeming lack of empathy in many of us, we just don’t care how our actions affect others.

This lack of respect of others – child or adult, I think, is the father of this sin. If I am right, then the challenge for us is how do we reestablish this respect and concern for others in societies where alienation is prevalent, where people are constantly moving and relationships are fleeting.

But, even if we can envisage our adoption of a way of life that leads us to this much desired condition, its realization will take time – at least 30 years. Until then, chemical castration can offer us some reprieve over the short term.

Claudius Prince.

Saturday January 12, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Revise ‘chicken feed’ fees - Finance Minister tells EPA - Says agency must seek innovative ways to facilitate own increases

By Kiana Wilburg Finance Minister, Winston Jordan agrees that the salaries for employees at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are indeed poor. He said however, that instead of looking to the Government to make increases available from the national purse, the agency must seek innovative ways to do so on its own.

During an interview with Kaieteur News recently, the economist said that the EPA could start by revising its fees, some of which can be deemed “chicken feed.”

The Minister said, “The issue of poor salaries is one that is affecting all public servants…But I agree, the EPA does require a substantial movement in salaries.

I believe that can happen gradually, progressively, if we think outside of the box. The EPA, for example, can garner significant resources by charging (better) fees for their inspection, audits and so on.”

On this note, Jordan said that the agency needs to review its fees.

“Some of the fees are chicken feed and by doing so (reviewing the fees), I am sure they can make a significant dent into the whole issue of salaries. Every-

body seems to think you have to depend on the treasury, and yet still, the treasury gets some of its money from taxes. But nobody wants to see an increase in taxes…”

The Minister also stressed that the EPA is a semi-autonomous agency and that it does not have to subscribe to the salary scale used by the Public Service Commission.

MORE PAY NEEDED Head of the Environmental Protection Agency, Dr. Vincent Adams had told this newspaper that he would petition the Government for more funds in an effort to boost the paltry pay of his officers.

His reason for doing so is premised on concerns from local and international transparency advocates that the poor salaries of EPA officers make them more susceptible to the influence of corrupt oil companies.

Dr. Adams noted that this is a serious concern of his. He said too that he notes the importance of the issue, especially since the EPA will be one of the key regulators of the oil and gas sector.

The hydrologist said, “I have not brought this particular issue to the government as yet. But our Board is aware of it, the need to have the salaries increased.

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan When compared to the other ministries, the salar i e s a r e l o w. I w a n t t o change that. It must be priority for the EPA to work on retaining its workers…I have some employees who are on one-year contracts and one can’t really feel secure in such circumstances.”

Dr. Adams added, “Let me reiterate that I do agree with the concerns expressed. Bear in mind, too, that bribery is something you can never get rid of 100 percent. But given our circumstances, improving the salaries can help to make a difference. And I will be

asking the government for more funds in this regard…”

Poor salaries and the absence of a pension plan are just two of the major factors deterring much needed qualified personnel from joining the Environmental Protection Agency.

This was noted by Chartered Accountant and former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran.

In his forensic audit r e p o r t o n t h e a g e n c y, Goolsarran said the EPA needs about 160 professionals to be effective but the emoluments are not adequate to attract suitably qualified and trained personnel as salary scales are similar to those of the traditional public service.

In this regard, the Chartered Accountant highlighted that the position of a legal officer attracts a salary of $262,107 per month, while the Finance Officer who is professionally qualified earns $226,362 per month. The auditor also expressed concern about the fact that Ministry of Natural Resources is overly involved in the recruitment process.

Goolsarran said, “Although the agency is semiautonomous with its own legislation and a board, there is an overinvolvement by the Ministry of Natural Resources in the operations of the EPA, especially in the area of recruitment.

The agency responded by stating too that the Ministry of Finance requires that the Public Ser-

vice Ministry facilitate the final approval stages of recruitment which was previously handled by the Office of the President.”

In terms of retirement benefits, the former Auditor General said that the EPA does not have a pension plan.

“As a result, staff members are recruited on a contractual basis at the same public service salary scales, and obtain a gratuity every six months. However this can hardly be a substitute for a dedicated pension plan, whether contributory or noncontributory. Such a plan is likely to provide for a more settled organization in terms of staff recruitment and retention.”

Further to this, Goolsarran said that while most of the officers are required to be in the field, they do not benefit from duty free concessions to assist them to acquire their own vehicles. What is also worse in Goolsarran view is the fact that the agency has a limited number of vehicles that can be used to undertake field trips. Given the age of these vehicles, operating and maintenance costs are high, said Goolsarran.

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Kaieteur News

Saturday January 12, 2019

Three years later…

NICIL transactional audit still incomplete Three years ago, the coalition administration called on the Audit Office to conduct a transactional audit into the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL). But during a recent interview with this newspaper, Auditor General (AG), Deodat Sharma confirmed that the report is far from complete.

The transactional audit by the AG’s office was as a result of the damning findings stemming from a foren-

sic audit into NICIL by Chartered Accountant, Anand Goolsarran.

During the forensic audit, Goolsarran discovered that in relation to the expenditure on the 2007 Cricket World Cup, NICIL had transferred amounts totaling $650 million to the Local Organizing Committee, but failed in its responsibility of ensuring that there was proper accountability for the amounts transferred.

As regards the construction of the controver-

sial 44 High Street property, formerly home to the Guyana Broadcasting Corporation, the forensic auditor found that the contract was awarded in 2007, but at the time of reporting, the building remained substantially incomplete.

Goolsarran stated in his report that the building was abandoned, and the structure was expected to be torn down because the floors were not constructed to the required specifications. As the

“Project Executing Unit,” he said that NICIL’s role was to ensure that the works were executed according to the agreed specifications, and the entity had again failed to discharge its responsibility for this project, resulting in some $350 million of taxpayers’ funds being wasted.

Goolsarran, in his report, also stated that despite the size and complexity of its operations, NICIL does not have its own pro-

curement rules, which is a key requirement of the Procurement Act. In the circumstances, he said that it would have been more appropriate for NICIL to involve the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) in the assessment of tenders received for the award of contracts. Instead, the assessment of bids was done internally and would have lacked the level of independence, especially for large projects such as the Marriott Hotel.

Given the aforementioned findings amon g o t h e r s , Goolsarran recommended that Government commission a further independent audit to examine in detail transactions over the last six years under NICIL. He also recommended that the relevant authorities institute criminal/disciplinary actions against all

Auditor General, Deodat Sharma those responsible for other violations, including the failure to properly account for State resources under their control.

Saturday January 12, 2019

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

The weakening of service commissions If one person is better qualified than another and has more experience than the other, should that person not have a better chance of getting a job than the other person? Should having the right political connections allow one candidate to be favoured over another?

The service commissions were intended to ensure that every eligible person has a fair chance of being appointed to a public service position and to ensure their security of tenure. In other words, they were intended to act as a layer between government and its workers so as to prevent the politicization of appointments and dismissals within the state sector.

The main service commissions are the Police Service Commission, the Public Service Commission and the Teaching Service Commission. The Constitution provides that all three of these service commissions should be free of political direction.

There, however, remains uncertainty as to the effectiveness of constitutional commissions and whether in fact they are insulated from political direction. In many countries, service commissions have failed to prevent the politicization of appointments.

Part of the problem is because of the inadequacies of resources, service commissions have delegated some of their responsibilities to government agencies. In many instances, interviews are done by government ministries and departments and sent to the commissions for rubber stamping. This has eroded the protective insulation which the commissions were intended to provide.

Another source of confusion has been the fact that under colonial Guyana, the police service commission and the public service commission merely recommended appointments to the Governor. This has left the impres-

sion that it is the government which has the ultimate say in appointments. Recommendations were made to the Governor since appointments were made under his hand, and not by him.

The role of service commissions is to restrain the executive from politicizing appointments. Service commissions are also intended to act as an independent and impartial tribunal for disciplining and dismissing public servants. In this regard, the delegation of appointments by the commissions to the government ministries and departments, have carried the danger of undermining the professionalism and impartiality of the police, the public service and the judiciary.

The Public Service Commission should reclaim its role in selecting persons for appointment within the traditional public service. The Police Service Commission should do the same in relation

Dem boys seh ...

Everything going to de Chief Judge Rumsun was a good lawyer; he had nuff clients and he mek nuff money. But he didn’t satisfy so he get Jagdeo to give him a wuk where he didn’t had to do anything but was collecting a fat monthly tax free pay cheque.

He didn’t have no office and no staff.

Jagdeo know he didn’t need office or staff because he ain’t had nutten to do. Jagdeo never want any information to come out under he stewardship.

Dat was de main reason he put Rumsun deh. Dem boys hear Jagdeo give Rumsun extra money fuh stay home.

Moses come and upset de apple cart.

Dat is how Rumsun go to court fuh challenge de man who part de Red Sea. De Chief Judge hand down a ruling dat got Rumsun wondering whether he should get vex or whether he should smile.

And all de Chief Judge seh is de govt must provide an office and a staff fuh dat position Rumsun was holding.

Wha dem boys want to know is if dat ruling is a deliberate thing to insult de man or is to create better conditions fuh de next soulja who gon hold de post.

Is not Rumsun alone run to court.

Irfaat get about a million criminal charges.

He and all run to de court to ask dat same Chief Judge to stop de magistrate from continuing de trial.

Dis is a strange case and a strange development in de judicial system. De Chat-3 is de same thing. He get charge; de magistrate call on him to lead a defence and he too asking de Chief Judge fuh stop de magistrate.

Dem boys want to know since when such things can happen. Dem want to know how a man can get charge, place before a magistrate then in de same breath go to de Chief Judge fuh stop de trial.

Dem boys watching and if anything like dat happen, dem boys plan to test de system.

Dem gon stop do de newspaper business and start thiefing.

De first place dem would go is in de Ministry of Finance safe, carry way everything and when dem get charge, go to de Chief Judge and ask she to halt de trial.

Then de thiefing business would continue as normal. And every charge would go to de Chief Judge.

Talk half and see how de political animals trying to change de court system.

to the appointment of recruits into the Force. They should consider recalling all delegated responsibilities because of the dangers of politicization of appointments.

The government has established a new training college for public servants.

This college can become a filter for deciding who enters into the Public Service.

It can be perverted to become a conduit for political appointments to the public service. Recruitments of cadets are done centrally, and persons will have to enter the public service, first through the college. The Public Service Commission will have to rubber stamp these appointments. But should they do so when they have had no role in selecting those candidates?

Guyana must be careful not to return to the days of the political indoctrination of workers, or to the days when public servants were forced to swear fealty to

the ruling party. In the past, workers were forced to attend rallies, party congresses, and participate in marches which were intended to encourage loyalty and subservience to the ruling elite.

Institutions aimed at militarizing the society are also possible. The Guyana National Service is going to reemerge under a different name. The embryo of the original Guyana National Service was the National Youth Corps. This corps is being reestablished. It does not take a genius to predict what this will evolve into. Already the ideology of persons having to serve the state is re-emerging. The Guyana People’s Militia has been re-established.

Paramountcy is taking subtle forms. Already we see certain workers having to wear uniforms in the colours of APNU. The government was highly critical of contract employment within the public service under the PPPC. This practice has continued under

APNU+AFC. However the government has commendably begun to transition workers from contract to tenured employment. But this process should not be selective, and an audit should be undertaken to ensure consistency.

The service commissions are not likely to roll back the erosion of their involvement in appointments. They are not likely also to withdraw all delegated functions.

The commissions themselves are proving to be ineffective as a layer between the workers and the state. If they can longer be counted on to avoid political influence in appointments, they should be disbanded, because they are not serving their intended purpose.

PAGE 10

Saturday January 12, 2019

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

Copyright law in Guyana and China’s accusation of white supremacy Canada arrested one of the most prominent business figures in China, on the request of an arrest warrant issued by the US. The document accuses her of violating US laws in relation to sanctions against Iran. The charge at first glance appeared incongruous, given that it wasn’t a case of a serious criminal offence like stock market fraud, criminal embezzlement of money against registered companies in the US, espionage, physical assault, etc.

To arrest one of the most influential investors of a global superpower for sanctions violation against another country just doesn’t seem to be an action that will be dealt with outside of diplomatic circles. But Canada did arrest her. She was on remand. She is bailed and has to wear an electronic device.

What was Canada’s re-

sponse? It was simple and straightforward. It wasn’t an act of government. The Canadian government does not interfere with judicial proceedings. On the surface, this explanation looks plausible.

But if a top entrepreneur from a superpower, not an obscure nation, is locked up in Canada and it has consequences for global relations, then the government of Canada has to take an interest. No judicial proceeding in any country takes precedence over national security. But Canada stuck to its position – this is not a government to government imbroglio; the US had an international arrest warrant out for the lady and Canada complied with international treaties.

Last Wednesday, the Chinese Ambassador in a strongly worded column in a Canadian newspaper, given front page coverage in the

globally influential newspaper of the UK, the Guardian, accused Canada of white supremacy. He observed that Canada is calling on China to release two White Canadians, as if there is no law in China so the government could just release the men. He said it is double standards. Two white persons are more valuable than a Chinese woman.

Does the Ambassador have a point? Let’s see. Canada says it cannot interfere with the judicial system. Could and should the Chinese government interfere with their judicial authorities and order the release of the two accused? The Ambassador’s tone was trenchant. He reminded Canada that the lady violated no Canadian law. What about the accusation of white supremacy? There are a number of politicians from Africa that have been cited for crimes

against humanity and are charged before the International Tribunal. But the US lawmakers have refused to recognize this court. Why has the court not taken a look at similar accusations against Israel? Except for Serbia, only African politicians have been hauled before the court. There have been accusations that certain Sri Lankan officials during the Tamils’ secession war committed war crimes.

Are there white leaders who have committed crimes against humanity?\But let’s take the Chinese charge of white supremacy to another dimension. There is this tantalizing question – would Canada have arrested a white American, a white Briton, a white Frenchman, if the warrant was issued by say, Jamaica, or Tanzania or Fiji?

These are questions that Third World and non-white

people must reflect on as the world’s growing racial intolerance intensifies and racist populist government increases in Europe.

In my column of Saturday, September, 2018 captioned, “Ugly racist incident ushers in an ugly racist future,” I wrote, “Three Chinese tourists – a man and his elderly parents arrived from China at the Swedish hotel hours before their paid reservation began. They then asked hotel management to let them spend the remaining hours in the lobby. In the hospitality industry such a request is met with a commonsensical approval in any part of the world. Swedish management disallowed the Chinese tourists to remain in the lobby until it was time to check in. The Chinese refused to leave. The police were called in. The tourists were ejected and the po-

Frederick Kissoon lice forcefully took them some distance away from the hotel to a deserted section next to a cemetery. It is my inflexible opinion that if those three persons were White Americans or White Germans or White anything, the hotel would not have acted so insensitively.”

President Trump demanded that an American evangelist arrested in Turkey be immediately released or sanctions would be imposed. Weeks after, Turkey freed him. Would the US free a Guatemalan if the Central American country demands his release? Read the op-ed piece by the Chinese Ambassador and reflect on his charge of white supremacy.

You can peruse it on the online edition of a very fine newspaper – the Guardian.

Those who are pushing for copyright law here need to make the Ambassador’s piece compulsory reading. It should open their eyes as to how nations see their own interests.

Saturday January 12, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

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Kaieteur News

Saturday January 12, 2019

Myanmar court rejects appeal by jailed Reuters reporters YANGON (Reuters) A Myanmar court yesterday rejected the appeal of two Reuters reporters sentenced to seven years in jail on charges of breaking the Official Secrets Act, saying the defense had not provided sufficient evidence to show they were i n n o c e n t . Wa L o n e , 3 2 , and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were convicted by a lower court in September in a landmark case that has raised questions about M y a n m a r ’s progress toward democracy and sparked an outcry from diplomats and human rights advocates.

“It was a suitable punishment,” said High Court Judge Aung Naing, referring to the seven-year prison term meted out by the lower court.

The defense has the option of making a further appeal to the country’s supreme court, based in the capital Naypyitaw.

“Today’s ruling is yet another injustice among many inflicted upon Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. They remain behind bars for one reason: those in power sought to silence the truth,” Reuters Editor-in-Chief Stephen J. Adler said in a statement.

“Reporting is not a crime, and until Myanmar rights this terrible wrong, the press in Myanmar is not free, and Myanmar ’s commitment to rule of law and democracy remains in doubt.”

U . S . Vi c e P r e s i d e n t Mike Pence said in a message on Twitter that the

decision was deeply troubling and showed Myanmar ’s courts “failing a basic test in democracy.”

“In the name of free & independent press, the gov’t of Burma should release these journalists immediately. The world is watching,” Pence added.

In their appeal arguments last month, defense lawyers had cited evidence of a police setup and lack of proof of a crime. They asserted the lower court that tried the case had wrongly placed the burden of proof on the defendants.

The defense also said prosecutors had failed to prove the reporters gathered and collected secret information, sent information to an enemy of Myanmar or that they had an intention to harm national security.

Explaining his verdict, Judge Aung Naing said the reporters had behaved in a way that showed they intended to harm the country.

The judge cited meetings between reporter Wa Lone and members of the security forces as well as a notebook found at the j o u r n a l i s t ’s h o u s e t h a t contained the phone number of a member of the Arakan Army, an armed ethnic rebel group he had reported on while covering peace negotiations several years ago.

Wa Lone had testified during the trial that the phone number did not work and he did not have con-

Detained Reuters journalists Kyaw Soe Oo and Wa Lone are escorted by police as they leave a court hearing in Yangon, Myanmar. REUTERS/Ann Wang tact with the rebel group.

“Action can be taken against them if, judging by their behavior and characteristics, it appears they will harm the national security and interests of the country,” said Aung Naing.

He said the defense had failed to prove the arrests were a set-up by authorities.

“I lost all my hope,” a weeping Chit Su Win, the wife of reporter Kyaw Soe Oo, said after the verdict.

PERSONAL INTEREST

Britain called on Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi to look at whether due process was followed.

Asked about the case

by BBC radio, British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt urged Suu Kyi, a Nobel laureate, to “recognize that, as someone who fought for democracy in Burma, she should be taking a personal interest in the future of these two brave journalists.”

Myanmar government spokesman Zaw Htay was not available for comment.

Standing outside the court building in Yangon where the judgment was pronounced, Kristian Schmidt, the European Union ambassador to Myanmar, said the ruling was a “miscarriage of justice and it gives us great concern for the independence of the justice system of Myanmar”.

Defense lawyer Than Zaw Aung, speaking after the ruling, said his team would discuss the option of a supreme court appeal with the two reporters. “We

are very disappointed with the judgment,” he said.

Before their arrest, the reporters had been working on a Reuters investigation into the killing of 10 Rohingya Muslim men and boys by security forces and Buddhist civilians in western Myanmar ’s Rakhine State during an army crackdown that began in August 2017.

The operation sent more than 730,000 Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh, according to United Nations’ estimates.

Saturday January 12, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 13

Jamal Khashoggi and the Decline of 'America's Moral Voice'

- A memorial at the U.S. Capitol for the slain Saudi journalist produced vague calls for action, but no catharsis

more acerbic rendition of that same sentiment.

“When those murders [of journalists] or torture or imprisonment are ignored, whether they're directed by a supposed ally or an obvious adversary, whether by a Crown Prince or the Kremlin or the Burmese military or an ayatollah or an Egyptian dictator or some tyrant who purports to be a left winger or any other third-rate thug,” Doggett told the room,

By Scott Nover (Republished from The Atlantic) The touching memorial at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday for murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was marred only by the undercurrent of inaction it implied. With each speech, more than a dozen members of Congress heaped deservedly kind words upon Khashoggi, praised the enduring tenets of press freedom, condemned efforts to stymie voices like Khashoggi's, and demanded that Congress act.

In what way? For the most part, they did not say.

Tom Malinowski, the freshman congressman from N e w J e r s e y, w a s t h e exception.

Malinowski met Khashoggi just a few months before his murder in October at a small gathering in Northern Virginia, he said.

Khashoggi told the congressional candidate and former assistant secretary of state that he worried about the decline of “America's moral voice” in the world, particularly in the Arab world.

“We talked about what that might mean for the courageous democracy activists from Saudi Arabia to Egypt to Bahrain who could once count on America at least to try to restrain their regimes from persecuting them,” Malinowski said.

“In my own mind I was worried about the safety of some of the brave people I had met in those countries when I was an American diplomat. I was not worried about Jamal. He was here.

He was supposed to be safe.”

Malinowski, who was the State Department's top human rights official during the Obama Administration's second term, was previously the Washington director of the advocacy group Human Rights Watch—a crusader from the outside who exerted pressure on the U.S. government over domestic torture practices and U.S. diplomatic ties to foreign governments with questionable human rights records. In a recent interview w i t h F o r e i g n P o l i c y, Malinowski outlined a legislative agenda that, among other things, included “scrutinizing the U.S.-Saudi relationship amid Saudi Arabia's devastating war in Yemen and following the killing of

Jamal Khashoggi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.”

Only one week into his congressional tenure, Malinowski looked like a veteran at the podium. He c a l l e d o n t h e Tr u m p administration to use the Magnitsky Act to sanction Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman for ordering the killing of Khashoggi, saying “we have given the administration all of the tools that it needs to do what is right, to say to Saudi Arabia that while you may choose your own leaders you might wish to consider the consequences of giving the keys to your kingdom for the next 50 years: to someone who will be forever tainted by this crime.”

Malinowski pulled no punches in calling out the Saudi leader.

“If the administration will not do what is right, Congress can—and I think Congress will,” he said. “We can and we should wipe the smug smile of impunity off of Mohammed bin Salman's face and restore proper balance to our relationship with Saudi Arabia.”

The room hummed in agreement, but also with some surprise. Of the 14 members of Congress who spoke —including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senators Mark Warner, Amy Klobuchar, and Chris Van Hollen, and Representatives Adam Schiff, Will Hurd, Steve Chabot, and Eliot Engel—Malinowski was the only one to mention the Magnitsky Act. But, more significantly, he was the only one to mention the Saudi crown prince by name.

T h e t r u m p administration's response to Khashoggi's murder has been nothing short of

ambivalent. In a bizarre statement in November, the president took Mohammed bin Salman's word over the conclusion of the Central Intelligence Agency.

“It could very well be that the crown prince had knowledge of this tragic event — maybe he did and maybe he didn't!” Trump said in the statement. The White House position has consistently aligned with the judgment of Mohammed bin Salman, despite the fact that the CIA determined that the crown prince personally ordered the assassination of Khashoggi.

At the American University in Cairo Thursday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the former CIA chief, ignored the Khashoggi incident entirely in a wide-ranging speech on America's Middle East policy. Instead, he praised Saudi Arabia for its role in containing Iran and stabilizing the region.

“Saudi Arabia, too, has worked with us to counter Iranian expansion and regional influence,” said Pompeo, who has planned a stop in Saudi Arabia in the coming days. “We, the United States, commend each of these efforts, and we seek for all nations to continue the work to constrain the full array of the regime's malign activity.”

At the memorial, Pelosi q u e s t i o n e d t h e administration's logic. “If we decide that commercial interest should override the statements that we make and the actions that we take then we must admit that we have lost all moral authority to talk about any of the atrocities anywhere anytime,” she said.

Lloyd Doggett, Democratic congressman from Austin, Texas, offered a

“...the world becomes a little less safe for journalists. And indeed it becomes a little less safe for the rest of us.”

Despite a bitter January chill and unrelenting winds, the memorial drew a crowd.

A hundred chairs were not enough, not with 15 cameras hugging the back and sides of the room.

About two dozen stood for the proceedings, organized and emceed by

journalist and author Lawrence Wright—a friend of Khashoggi's who interviewed him for his book on Al Qaeda, “The Looming Tower” (Wright's heartfelt tribute in The New Yorker, where he works as a staff w riter, w as p u b lis h ed We d n e s d a y n i g h t a n d previewed the memorial).

The documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney and former FBI (continued on page 18)

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Kaieteur News

Saturday January 12, 2019

Ultrasound machines to help improve delivery of health care

Officials at the handing over ceremony yesterday.

E

ven as the public health sector strives to improve its delivery of health care, the Ministry of Public Health was yesterday the recipient of three ultrasound machines. The machines were handed over to the Public Health Ministry by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

Director of the International Desk at the Ministry of Public Health, Mr. Denroy Tudor explained that the ultra sound machines were contributions from the North York General Hospital, who donated them to the Guyan a Christian Charities Consulate in Toronto, Canada.

Tudor said the North York General Hospital had given four Ultra Sound Machines last year, with one intended for the privately-operated St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. Mercy Hospital however uplifted its amchine before Friday's official handing-over ceremony.

During the significant but simple ceremony held in the Public Health Ministry's Lot 1 Brickdam, Georgetown compound, Senior Minister, Mrs. Volda Lawrence, in making reference to the donated machines, said that one will be given to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre on the East Bank corridor, another will go to the C.C. Nicholson Hospital on the

East Coast of Demerara, and the other will be left in the care of the Ministry's Materials Management Unit [MMU].

It was revealed yesterday that the machine at the MMU will cater to future emergencies in the public health system.

Speaking at the ceremony yesterday too was Dr. Fiona Perry, the Deputy Director, Regional Health Services [DRHS], who pointed out that the donation to the C.C Nicholson and the Diamond Diagnostic Centre will improve health care delivery to patients, including those travelling from Kwakwani, East Berbice/Corentyne [Region 10] and other farflung locations.

Dr. Perry welcomed the donation which she described as timely, noting that the ultrasound machines “will decrease the patient load” of the service being offered specifically at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), by allowing patients to access the services at the Regional Hospitals, thus ending the need for them to seek the service at the usuallyovercrowded GPHC. Both Perry and Tudor agreed that the donation of the machines will afford patients, improved health services offered by the regional hospitals and serve as a boost to the novel smart hospital

initiative currently undertaken by the Public H e a l t h M i n i s t r y, w i t h technical and financial support from the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health O r g a n i s a t i o n [PAHO/WHO].

Guyana has moved to adopt the PAHO/WHOpromoted SMART hospital initiative which Minister within the Public Health M i n i s t r y, D r. K a r e n Cummings, has said is a “new way of delivering healthcare in the 21st century”.

The novel healthcare strategy seeks to improve the productivity and efficiency of hospitals in a bid to reduce their operational costs and, in the private sector, help to improve their margins.

The SMART hospital plan is rapidly becoming necessary, since patients are quickly evolving into consumers and are demanding optimal 'customer satisfaction'.

The purpose of this SMART environment is to improve existing procedures for the provision of advanced means of medical care, and to open up new opportunities for medicine.

Two years ago, Guyana embarked on the SMART hospitals programme, which includes retrofitting existing identified health structures, making them resilient to the vagaries of nature, including natural disasters.

Saturday January 12, 2019

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Saturday January 12, 2019

CJ orders Govt. to provide Office of Commissioner of Info with furniture, staff

A

lthough Guyana has been without a Commissioner of Information since March 2018, the Government was yesterday ordered by Chief Justice Roxanne George to provide the office of the commissioner with staff and furniture, so as to ensure its proper function.

Sacked Commissioner of Information Charles Ramson Sr., whose termination was announced in December last year, filed litigation against the Government arguing that he was unable to execute the functions of his office having been deprived of having the appropriate accommodation, staff, machinery and equipment.

This, Ramson had contended, was in violation of Article 149 (a) of the Constitution of Guyana.

According to that said article, “No person shall be hindered on the enjoyment of his or her right to work that is to say, the right to free choice of employment.”

Having reviewed the evidence, the Chief Justice ruled that the Government's action was in violation of Section 5 of the Access to Information Act 2011. And that there was no evidence presented by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Attorney General Basil Williams, who were listed as joint respondents in the matter, failed to provide otherwise.

According to the Chief Justice's order, “Having reviewed the evidence, it is hereby ordered that the Government of Guyana is to provide such furniture and staff as feasible within the budget of the Government of Guyana up to the termination of employment of Ramson when said termination is finally determined, either by the parties, or by a court of law.”

Sharing his comments after the Chief Justice's ruling, Ramson said, “Nagamootoo failed to provide any evidence that the appropriate provisions in Section 5 were complied with.

So the court made an order that the government shall provide me with accommodation, staffing and equipment for the purposes of the efficient functioning of this office.”

In relation to Ramson's

appointment, the court said that issues regarding his termination of employment whether lawful, constitutional or not, will not be dealt with in these proceedings, since it will serve to complicate a straightforward issue. In this regard, a Notice of Application filed by Ramson challenging his termination was refused.

Speaking on his termination, Ramson insisted that Minister of State Joseph Harmon has no authority to terminate his services. “My services can only be revoked, and I can only be removed from office, under Section 6 of the Access to Information Act.” On December 10, 2018, the Prime Minister announced that budget 2019 does not cater for the Office of the Commissioner of Information. He said that this was so because Ramson was dismissed for “rendering his office dysfunctional.”

Nagamootoo had said, “He (Ramson) has rendered no report to this National Assembly; has provided no account of what he has done”. Further, Nagamootoo had related that the Government and Ramson are before the courts in a “series of litigations” for monies which the commissioner claims are owed to him.

The Prime Minister had also said that the office of the Commissioner of Information is being “reexamined.” Ramson was appointed to the post in 2013 by then President Donald Ramotar. It was reported that Ramson was paid $1,418,000, along with other benefits to ensure that every citizen have easy access to information.

While it was only announced to the media that Ramson was sacked in December 2017, Ramson was relieved of his duties s in ce M ar ch 2 0 1 8 , b u t continued to receive his full salary.

In January 2017, Ramson sued the Government for a little over $5.5M in unpaid gratuity for December 2016, along with payment for the use and occupation of his property at East Street, Georgetown after government failed to provide him with suitable accommodation for his office.

Saturday January 12, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

First Bauxite Corp. to inject US$387.3M into economy over 15-year period

F

irst Bauxite Corporation (FBX) has commenced mining and processing at its facilities at the Bonasika Bauxite Project, Sand Hills, Region Three, and is expected to inject over US$387.3M into the local economy over a 15year period. This is according to the Ministry of Natural Resources.

In November 2017, FBX received approval from the Ministry and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission for export shipment of up to 40,000 metric tonnes of bulk bauxite material for testing and product development.

Yesterday, the Natural Resources Ministry said that FBX commenced actual mine production in the first quarter of 2018. FBX now mines the high quality, industrial minerals grade Bonasika bauxite deposit in the area. This high-grade deposit is unlike any other found anywhere else in the world.

The Ministry indicated that Bonasika Bauxite Project has a current mine life of 15 years at an annual production rate of 300,000 Metric Tonnes (MT), and is set to inject over US$387.35M into the local economy during these years.

The Ministry said that it is particularly pleased that over the past three years, it has worked with the principals of the company to the point of the formal announcement of the commencement of the project in 2018.

“To date, Guyanese have benefited from the job creation driven by the project's execution and continuing expansion. FBX currently provides jobs for approximately 238 Guyanese functioning as contracted, permanent, casual, expat and management staff, with over 25 originating from the Sand Hills community,” the Ministry said.

Further, the Ministry commended FBX for

Current First Bauxite Corporation mining operations

commitment to its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), as it has committed a total of US$1.259 million towards the development of the Sand Hills community.

The Ministry said that the sum will aid in the completion of 2019 community projects relating to the construction of a new school building, electricity reticulation to community houses, potable water supply, contribution to the new church building fund, along with secondary and

university student scholarship assistance.

“FBX also initiated a community investment programme in 2016 covering playground development, the installation of solar panels, library work, and placement water tanks and other infrastructure for the l o c a l s c h o o l .

Notwithstanding the fulfilment of their CSR, the company's projected payments to the Government of Guyana (GoG) will reach well above US$49.77

million over the 15 years.

This also bodes well with our country since Guyana Manganese Inc.'s US$10.63

million Manganese project at Matthews Ridge is set to commence production in the first half of this year which

will see that company paying a total of US$10.8 million per year in taxes to the GoG,” the Ministry said.

Kaieteur News

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Saturday January 12, 2019

City will take tax defaulters to court C

ity Hall intends to be stricter with regards to its tax collection approaches. High on the list of measures it will take to ensure taxes are paid diligently is the plan to take tax defaulters to court for what is owed, since the City is owed billions in taxes.

Acting Town Clerk, Sharon Harry-Munroe, indicated that persons who are not paying their taxes will not be given the same amount of leniency that they have been bestowed in the past. “We haven't been doing that as much as we should,

but we will commit to it.”

She said, “Over the years, we've had businesses owing the council large amounts of taxes. We have had a number of approaches to soliciting monies.

Recently, what we have done is have persons place them in the papers.

We've been getting a good response, whereby, we encourage persons to come in. Since then, we've been able to garner a number of taxes.”

“From the notices that we have served, we have had a good response, so we

From left, Deputy Mayor Alfred Mentore, Acting Town Clerk, Sharon Harry-Munroe and Mayor Ubraj Narine would not have taken any directly as yet, but we [have a list]” of about 20-30 persons to date, who have received.

The Commission of Inquiry into the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown (M&CC) had recommended among other things, that the council review its tax collection methods to garner monies to help offset expenses the council is currently facing.

In the report prepared by

retired Justice Cecil Kennard, the City was encouraged to review tax collection methods such as the granting of amnesty to defaulting ratepayers.

In fact, the report said that granting of amnesty is one which opens the floodgates for corruption.

Mayor Ubraj Narine said that it is important for all Georgetown businesses to pay up their taxes, because City Hall will not be able to

afford all of the expenses necessary to manage the city.

“The city runs by rates and taxes, where we need that money to execute [works] for the citizens of Georgetown. If we don't receive those taxes, what do you think will happen? If you do not eat food for an entire day, what will happen to you? Your head will hurt, you will go hungry.”

In addition to millions owed to several agencies and

individuals, the CoI had found that the Mayor and City Council racked up over $206M in debt to the National Insurance Scheme.

The new administration of the Mayor and City Council has acknowledged that it inherited an organization riddled with allegations of c o r r u p t i o n a n d mismanagement as well as lack of transparency, and has committed to mitigating those problems.

Jamal Khashoggi and the Decline of 'America's...

From page 13 special agent Ali Soufan were also behind the event, which was formally hosted by Warner, Schiff, and Chabot.

In addition to the members of Congress, speakers included press freedom advocates and Washington Post publisher Fred Ryan. They called for those responsible to be held accountable for killing Khashoggi. It's a New Year, and if the Saudis thought Washington would move on by now, it seems they are mistaken.

But, the state of affairs seems bleak: Congress says it wants action, but does not take

action; the White House absolves the Saudi crown prince of any and all guilt, and Secretary of State Pompeo has also chosen to ignore the CIA consensus rather than publicly contradict the president.

While follow-up action is not typically the byproduct of a memorial service, this memorial service was different.

It transpired to say, We're still here. We're still demanding answers. “[Khashoggi's] daughters probably said it best,” said Klobuchar, “and I quote, 'This is no eulogy, for that would confer a state of closure.

Rather this is a promise that his light will never fade, that his

legacy will be preserved within us.' That's our job right now in Congress not only for what's going on around the world but what's going on in our own country.” If nothing else, the memorial was a reminder that we are far from closure.

Before concluding, Schiff, who co-chairs the Congressional Freedom of the Press Caucus with Chabot, told the audience that he co-founded the caucus “with a congressman from Indiana, a backbencher named Mike Pence.”

The caucus, which sponsored the memorial, was founded in 2006. The world is a starkly different place 13 years

later. Schiff's admonishment was understood, the disappointment implicit. An audible sigh, maybe even a slight chuckle at the irony, emitted within the room.

Schiff did not need to say more. Heads shook in disapproval.

When the memorial ended, there was no catharsis.

Audience members, many of whom knew Khashoggi personally, stood up and chatted. Friends greeted old friends, introduced new friends, shook hands. But there was no feeling of accomplishment in the air, only the sense that there is much more work to be done.

Kaieteur News

Saturday January 12, 2019

PAGE 19

Court to decide on Irfaan Ali's request for stay of criminal matters next Thursday

J

ustice Franklin says he will rule next week Thursday on whether a stay of proceedings will be granted to Former Minister of Housing Irfaan Ali, for alleged land fraud charges against him.

Yesterday Justice Holder fixed next Tuesday, January 15, for Devindra Kissoon, who is among the lawyers representing Ali, to reply to submissions made by Leslyn Noble, Attorney-at-Law for the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU), who is acting on behalf of Police Corporal Munilall Persaud. It was Persaud of SOCU who filed the charges against Ali. In the court documents,

Persaud, along with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack, Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, and Commissioner of Police Leslie James, have been jointly listed as the Respondents.

Appearing on behalf of the DPP is Assistant DPP, Teshana Lake, while the Attorney General Chambers is representing the Chief M a g i s t r a t e a n d Commissioner of Police.

The 19 charges against Ali stated that between the period 2011 and 2015, he conspired with persons unknown to defraud the Government, when he acted recklessly by selling 19 plots

of State Lands at Plantation Sparendaam and Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara.

The lands which were sold for $39.8M are valued at $212.4M, according to SOCU. It is being alleged that as former Housing Minister, Ali played a key role in selling several plots of State lands at Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara, to his colleague ministers and other top officials, shortly before Bharrat Jagdeo ended his second term as President.

Ali is accused of defrauding Government of over $174M, by selling the land, below the market value, to former President

Chief Whips to meet with GECOM on preparedness for elections

Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira

M

inister of S o c i a l Protection Amna Ally, who is also the Government's Chief Whip in the National Assembly, has requested a meeting with the principals of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

The meeting is supposed to allow discussions on GECOM's readiness for elections possibility in less than three months.

Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira is also supposed to be present at the meeting.

The meeting was agreed upon by President David Granger and Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo.

Ally told the government's Department of Public Information (DPI) that she has already begun the process of setting up the meeting.

“Mr. (Keith) Lowenfield [Chief Elections Officer] said that he has no difficulty, but he has asked me to write to the Chairman, [Justice Retired] James Patterson of the elections commission.

Government's Chief Whip, Amna Ally

This, I did, speedily yesterday afternoon and the letter has been dispatched to the chairman of the elections commission as well as the chief elections officer, requesting a meeting to have us briefed on the matter of GECOM's preparedness for elections.”

The Government Chief Whip said she will be entering the discussion with an open mind. She said that what is vital, is to be fully

briefed on how prepared the commission is for an election. “Whether we are to have elections within 90 days, whether we are going to have elections after, I cannot anticipate them.

Whatever the commission tells us, then we are going to be in a position to brief our principal on the status quo of GECOM in terms of preparedness for the elections” the Minister stated.

Jagdeo and ministers of the then PPP/C government.

Ali, through his lawyers, is seeking an interim order restraining the Chief Magistrate, before whom the matters come up for hearing on February 6, or any other Magistrate from hearing or attempting to hear or determine the matter pending the hearing and determination of the application before the High Court.

Besides the application for a stay, Ali is asking the court to declare that the charges, which do not allege any underlying unlawful conduct, contravene Section 144 (4) of the Constitution of Guyana.

Among other things, Ali is seeking an Order of Certiorari quashing the decision of the DPP to charge him with the offence of Conspiracy to Defraud.

Former Minister of Housing Irfaan Ali Ali contends that the decision is irrational, a r b i t r a r y, c a p r i c i o u s , whimsical, malicious, biased, without any proper evidential basis, unreasonable, unlawful,

null, void, and without no effect.

Ali is asking the court to award damages and costs in an amount to be determined at trial, but not less than $100,000.

SOCU, an arm of the police force, spent several months investigating the allocation of lands at 'Pradoville Two' to Cabinet members of the People's Progressive Party (PPP), and close associates.

A forensic audit found that awardees grossly underpaid for the lots by a total, just short of $250 million, while the stateowned National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited, National Communications Network, and Guyana Power and Light Inc. were never reimbursed for millions of dollars spent to execute preparatory works.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Saturday January 12, 2019

Duo remanded for illegal CARICOM congratulates gun, ammo possession new Brazilian President

Lloyd Sadloo

A

construction worker and a carpenter, who both have previous matters in court, were yesterday charged and remanded to prison after being slapped with charges of illegal gun and ammo possession.

Lloyd Sadloo, 37, a construction worker, of 220 First Street, Mocha, East Bank Demerara and Seon Bourne, 24, a carpenter of 60 High Street, Georgetown, appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly who read two charges to them.

The first charge stated that on January 7, 2019 at Vlissingen Road, Georgetown, they had in their possession one .380 pistol when they were not licensed firearm holders at the time.

It was further alleged that on the same day and at the same location, the men had in their possession four live rounds of .380 ammunition when they were not licensed firearm holders at the time.

They both denied the allegations after they were read to them in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts.

Bourne was represented by Attorney-atlaw Adrian Thompson, who told the court that his client was merely a passenger in the vehicle where the gun and ammunition was found.

Meanwhile, Attorney-at-law George Thomas, who represented Sadloo, argued that his client should be granted bail, citing that he has no pending matters and no conviction.

Facts presented by Police Prosecutor, Sanj Singh, stated that on the day in question, police acting on information, went in the vicinity of the 1763 monument, where they observed a white Toyota bearing registration number PWW 5460.

The two defendants were seen sitting in the vehicle and a search was carried out.

During the search, a gun and ammunition were found in the car, under a seat.

Both men were then arrested and later charged.

The Prosecutor went on to tell the court that Sadloo has pending matters in court and Bourne is wanted by the police for two counts of robbery and a simple larceny charge.

The Magistrate after listening to both sides remanded the defendants to prison until February 15.

The Prosecutor made serious objections to bail being granted to the duo defendants citing the prevalence of the offence and the penalty the charges attract.

According to reports, on May 17th, 2016, Sadloo was sentenced to four years in prison

by Magistrate Judy Latchman for cannabis possession. He however appealed the matter and was granted bail pending pre-trial liberty.

Sadloo was also previously held for armed robbery, escaping custody, and charged in 2008 with murder.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro

(CMC) – The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) says it is looking forward to maintaining and strengthening its relationship with Brazil as it congratulated the South American country's new head of state.

“Our bonds have been strengthened and facilitated by political engagements at the highest levels.

The Community looks forward to maintaining and strengthening the relationship and the goodwill and cooperation which characterise CARICOM–Brazil

relations,” CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque said in a congratulatory message to President Jair Bolsonaro, who assumed office a week ago.

In his message, LaRocque said that “your election to your country's highest office attests to the confidence of the Brazilian electorate in your leadership “The people of Brazil have entrusted you with the critical task of leading the country on its continued path to sustained socio-

economic development,” LaRocque said, noting that the 15-member grouping “highly values the close and friendly relationship that it has forged with Brazil over the years.”

LaRocque told the Brazilian President that the Caribbean C o m m u n i t y extended its “best wishes” t o h i m a n d h i s administration “for a successful term of office as you lead your People to new levels of development and prosperity”.

Bolsonaro, a retired military officer, is the country's 38th head of state.'

Labourer charged for trafficking 23 lbs ganja

A

labourer was yesterday charged and remanded after being slapped with a trafficking in narcotics charge.

Seon Bartholomew, 45, of Charlestown, appeared before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Marcus-Isaacs in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts. It is alleged that on January 7, at Charlestown, he had in his possession 10,387 grams (approx 23 lbs) of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Bartholomew denied the allegation after it was read to him by the Magistrate.

Attorney-at-law Damion DaSilva, in an application for reasonable bail for his client, told the court that his client has never been charged before and has no pending matters.

The lawyer went on to tell the court that the alleged narcotics were not found on his client, rather, it was found under the staircase in the compound where his client lives with several other persons.

The lawyer further argued that at the time of the police search, his client was at the back of the compound, and the alleged narcotics were found at the front of the building.

However, facts presented by Police Prosecutor Adunni Innis stated that on the day in question, police acting on the information went to Bartholomew's home where they conducted a search around the premises and a bulky black bag containing a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis, were found under a staircase.

Remanded: Seon Bartholomew The Prosecutor added that contact was then made with Bartholomew, and he was arrested and taken into custody. The court heard that while in custody, the defendant gave a caution statement admitting ownership of the said narcotics.

However, his lawyer is contending that the caution statement was involuntarily obtained by use of trickery.

The Prosecutor opposed bail being granted to Bartholomew, citing the quantity of the drugs and the gravity and nature of the offence.

The Magistrate after listening to both sides told the court that no special reason was outlined to grant bail; hence, she remanded Bartholomew to prison. He was instructed to make his next court appearance on July 22.

Saturday January 12, 2019

Mayor commits to meeting with Market Vendors’ Union

Members of the market union, launched in 2016. At centre is President Eon Andrews Mayor Ubraj Narine says that he considers it his duty to meet with the President of the Guyana Market Vendors’ Union (GMVU), and that he will ensure he abides by that.

The union has been lobbying the city for meetings to be held so that they could air their concerns in the interest of those who felt they are being unfairly treated by the council. The Market Vendors’ Union President, Eon Andrews, said that for about 3 years, the Council has not met with him, since the union was rendered illegitimate.

Asked whether the council will meet with the union, Mayor Narine said, “Yes, I’m a politician but, sitting in this chair, it is my duty to call upon the Union President as a courtesy. I will work with him hand-inhand to build the city.”

“I will work with each and every citizen of Georgetown, to build Georgetown.”

For years, the city has received complaints that members of the council are not just treating them unfairly with regards to the

allocation of stalls, but that they are victimizing them because of personal grievances. Vendors have complained that their allotted stalls were abruptly moved, destroyed, or that their goods were taken away by City Police.

Vice President of the Guyana Market Vendors’ Union (GMVU) Carol Carter, in September last, had accused the Georgetown Mayor and City Council of ignoring complaints that she made, including some that were made against the council and its subsidiaries. She made the charges while giving evidence at the Commission of Inquiry into the Affairs of the Council.

Carter had shared what she said were her own experiences of having her stall at the Stabroek Market with being goods seized. She had written to t h e t h e n To w n C l e r k , Royston King, the chairman of the market committee, all of the city councilors and the then Mayor Patricia Chase-Green.

Carter believed that she was being persecuted be-

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Kaieteur News

cause of her membership on the Guyana Market Vendors’ Union.

Greenidge rubbishes Venezuela’s maritime claims Following the interception of an ExxonMobil-contracted exploration vessel in Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) by officers of the Venezuelan Military, Second Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge yesterday rubbished Venezuela’s claim of the vessel being in its territory.

While speaking at a symposium which focused on the continuous Venezuelan incursion into Guyana’s territory, Minister Greenidge said that the nature of the claim is “absurd”.

The Foreign Affairs Minister referenced the recent reports in the Venezuelan media and noted there are no disputes of the coordinates of where the seismic vessels were.

“In the Venezuelan press, they are publicizing the exchange between the two captains. You will hear the Venezuelan asking

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge the Norwegian their location, we don’t have any disputes about the coordinates. They are exactly where the Venezuelans said they are, but it is in the middle of Guyana’s EEZ.” The vessel, Ramform Tethys, was intercepted in the

EEZ and Continental Shelf of Guyana at an “approximate distance of 140 kilometres from the nearest point to the provisional equidistant line with Venezuela and some 250 kilometres from Punta Playa, the westernmost point on the land border of Guyana.”

Greenidge explained that the international body has moved from a point where everything, beyond the territorial sea, was international waters to a situation where each country is given an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). He noted that Guyana has the sovereignty to issue licences for the 200 miles in that area.

On December 22, 2018, the Venezuelan navy attempted to land a helicopter on board the Norwegian-flagged vessel which was performing exploratory seismic operations in the Stabroek Block on behalf of ExxonMobil.

PAGE 22

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Saturday January 12, 2019

Kaieteur News

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P. Outar and C. Persaud Driving School at Maraj Building. Call: 622-2872, 6150964, 681-2808

Parfaite Harmonie 1.3M 2M, Farm, Providence 4M 3.5M, Tuschen,Herstelling. Call 6662326

LEGAL NOTICE 1

LEGAL NOTICE 1 CONTD

LEGAL NOTICE 2 CONTD

Nigel Niles and/or Tiffany David Attorneys-at-Law c/o Guyana Water Incorporated Corporate Complex Vlissengen Road and Church Street Bel Air, Georgetown, Guyana Tel: (592) 227-8701 ext:264 Email: NigelN@gwi.gy IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF J U D I C A T U R E COMMERCIAL DIVISION COURT FILE NO: 28/2018 – FDA BETWEEN: GUYANA WATER INCORPORATED, a company incorporated in Guyana under the Companies Act 1991 of the laws of Guyana and having its principal place of business at Vlissengen Road & Church Street, Bel Air, Georgetown, Demerara. Applicant –andHECTOR CORNETTE Respondent TO: HECTOR CORNETTE Last Known Address 119 Clark Street, Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast TAKE NOTICE that on the 28th day of September, 2018, a Fixed Date Application was filed against you by the Applicant in the Supreme Court of Judicature, Essequibo Sub-Registry Office in Suddie, Essequibo Coast.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 14th day of December, 2018, the Applicant was directed to effect service of Fixed Date Application on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive issues in the Saturday editions of the Kaieteur News Newspaper, a newspaper of general circulation in Guyana.

appropriate. The Registry of the High Court is located at the Law Courts (Suddie, Essequibo) The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other dates as the Registry is closed.

within 28 (twenty-eight) days from the date of the final publication of this Notice.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorneyat-Law at the Registry of the High Court at Suddie, Essequibo Coast, where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Fixed Date Application together with all related documents.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Fixed Date Application, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Fixed Date Application, you must file a Defence in the Registry of the High Court at Suddie, Essequibo within 28 (twenty eight) days from the date of the final publication of this Notice.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that the Fixed Date Application is fixed for Hearing on the 1st day of March, 2019 at 9:00 am at the High Court in Suddie, Essequibo Coast.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE IN DEFAULT of you filing your Defence, the Court may proceed in your absence and may take may take any Order it considers

Dated the 17th day of December, 2018

LEGAL NOTICE 2 2018-HC-DEM-CIV-FD1482 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION PETITION NO. FD-1482 BETWEEN:- (De Souza) VERLINE nee GARRAWAY Petitioner – and- (De SOUZA) ANTONIO JARAON MARQUES Respondent TO: ANTONIO JARSON MARQUES De SOUZA (Last Known Address) Lusignan Grassfield Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara, Guyana TAKE NOTICE that on the 15th day of November, 2018 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by VERLINE DeSouza nee GARRAWAY the Petitioner in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 21st day of December, 2018 the Petitioner was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) Consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News Newspapers, a daily Newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana and on the Worldwide Web. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorneyat-Law at the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara

TAKE NOTICE that the matter is fixed for Directions Hearing on Monday 18th day February, 2019 at 3:30pm before the Honourable Mr. Justice Gino Peter Persaud in the Directions Hearing Room of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown.

IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce.

The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts (Georgetown, Demerara).

The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed Dated the 27th day of December, 2018.

WANTED One female domestic worker to work in Trinidad. Age 2535 yrs. Tel# 1868-386-5302 Wanted experienced hire car drivers at Ramada Princess Hotel. Contact #616-5419/ 265-7075 One Mechanic to work in the interior must know about Cummins engine.

Contact #699-4718 Wanted Land. Parfaite Harmonie, Eccles, Herstelling, Providence, Tuschen, Farm. Call 6662326 Cooks, Apply @ Shanta’s225 Camp St Male and Female for the interior $80,000 monthly.

Tel#674-1767 General domestic with cooking experience. Ages 30-50. East Bank area preferable. Call 616-6988 Continued on page 23

Saturday January 12, 2019

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

UG greenlights Food North R/veldt Science Degree programme man remanded for - Programme to be launched Jan. 23 The University of Guyana has given the green-light for the introduction of a Bachelor of Food Science Degree Programme. This recently approved study is a collaboration between the University of Guyana (UG), University of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), other universities, with local food science expertise.

Official launching of the programme expected on January 23.

The course offers the opportunity for integrated study of agriculture, biology and chemistry, and includes mathematics, physical sciences, organic chemistry, microbiology, calculus, physics, introductory food science courses, and nutrition.

In the latter two years, expected outcomes of applied food science courses in technology to the manufacturing sector, as well as sensory evaluation, storage, distribution, safety of foods and food ingredients will be targeted.

This dispensation may lead to students becoming more inclined to join sectors with specific goals, which would augur well for the expected outcome of executing such study.

Professor Verian Thomas founded the programme while serving as a visiting Professor to the University of Guyana. Professor Thomas has received excellent support from several distinguished local members of staff

Professor Verian Thomas at the University of Guyana during the conceptualisation phase.

Professor Thomas currently serves as Director of Agricultural Sciences in the College of Engineering Sciences, Technology and Agriculture (CESTA) at FAMU. She graduated from Leeds University, England with PhD in Food Science. She currently serves as advisor to Minorities in Agriculture Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) chapter at FAMU. Dr. Dindyal Permaul, who currently serves as Director of The Institute of Food and

Nutrition Security (IFANS), University of Guyana, will lead the programme implementation and management.

Food Science disciplines are much needed in the realization of a Green State Development Strategy (GSDS), Food and Nutrition Security and the Ministry of Agriculture Vision for Agriculture 2013-2020. The 2013-2020 strategy is based on five pillars from the Strategic Approach for Agriculture. One of the five pillars is to ensure that everyone in every community has equal access to food.

The strategy is in line with priorities for sustaining and expanding Agro-Diversity Policy of Guyana. It emphasises protection of natural resources and build resilience to climate change.

The programme will include Research and Development component for leading applied research agencies such as Guyana Livestock Development Authority.

The strategy also outlined Agro-Processing and Value Addition Chain Systems in realising the 2020 Vision for Guyana. The ability to find food leads to food and nutrition security as being coveted under the expected outcomes of the Food Science Programme.

In conclusion, the business of oil is just around the corner and Guyana is behind in its ability to meet the change required.

Man faces charge for threatening businessman, wife Heerall David yesterday found himself being charged for a second time in relation to allegations made by the family of prominent businessman Malcolm Panday.

Previously, in 2015, David, who was an employee of the Panday family, was charged for involvement in fraudulent dealings against the family. This time around, he is charged for using threatening language against the wife of Mr. Panday.

It was alleged that between October 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018 at Georgetown, David used threatening language against Anne Ramsood.

David pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read to him by Senior Magistrate Leron Daly in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

According to police

prosecutor Sanj Singh who presented the facts of the charge, the allegation made out against David in 2015 was withdrawn by the victim.

However, as a result of the allegation, the United States visas for David’s wife and children were not processed.

David then began to send threatening language via social media to Ramsood. He was arrested and under caution, admitted to committing the acts out of frustration.

The accused was represented by attorney at law Bernard Da Silva. According to Da Silva, his client resides in the United States and is a clerk. He informed the court that David is 44 years old and married with two children.

Moreover, the attorney stated that his client was taken off of a flight

destined for the US witho u t a c o u r t o r d e r. H e went on to say that David was in custody for three d a y s w i t h n o charges properly made out against him.

Da Silva further asked for early dates into the matter as the defendant is at risk of losing his job in the US. Prosecutor Singh had no objections to bail being granted to the defendant but asked that conditions be attached to the bail.

Magistrate Daly granted bail to David in the amount of $10,000 with the conditions that he report to Criminal Investigations Department (CID) every M o n d a y. H e w a s a l s o placed on a bond to keep the peace and be of good behaviour pending the completion of the matter.

The matter stands adjourned until January 18.

armed robberies Yesterday, Seon Goodluck, the alleged accomplice of Joel Leitch, who was charged on Monday last for armed robbery, made an appearance in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to his individual charges of robbery under arms.

The 23 year old Goodluck who is the father of two and resides at Lot 1227 North Ruimveldt, denied all the charges which were read to him by Senior Magistrate Leron Daly.

The first charge alleged that while in the company of another on January 4, 2019 at Trench Road, Mandela Avenue, armed with a gun, Goodluck robbed Ravon Thorman of one gold chain valued $75,000.

It was further alleged that on January 5, 2019, at Broad Street, Charlestown, armed with a handgun, he robbed Shazeer Latiff of two gold chains valued at $600,000.

It was also alleged that on January 9, 2019, at Market Street, East Ruimveldt, Goodluck armed with a handgun and in company of others, robbed Nashie Moe of one Samsung cell phone valued at $70,000 and $10,000 cash - property of the said Nashie Moe - and $70,000 cash, belonging to Massy

WANTED Wanted one salesgirl or boy. Call: 616-0499 Waitress for East Coast 1825 yrs live in or out. $20,000 weekly. Tel No: 610-3974 1 Live in or part time maid.

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According to police prosecutor Sanj Singh, an identification parade was done and each victim positively identified the defendant. The prosecutor objected to bail being granted to the defendant based on the fact that he is wanted for armed robbery and a gun was used in each of the robberies.

Magistrate Daly then remanded Goodluck. He is to return to court on March 1.

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VACANCY Driver/Salesman, Accounts clerk with CXC Accounts, Gas Plant Trainee.

Applicants preferred from East Bank Demerara.

Tel#266-4427 General Domestic with cooking experience for East Bank. #614-4358 1) Doosan Mechanic must specialize in Doosan Parts 2) Receptionist to work @ Hotel 3) Land surveyor, must know to use GPS. Contact# 223-5273/223-5274 Chef, Assistant, Cook and night supervisor. Preferably carnegie trained. Call: 2257933/ visit 173 Sheriff Street Experienced cook, Apply to the Manager, Hermanston Lodge, Peter Rose & Lamaha St Trainee mechanic needed.

Call: 623-0318 Vacancy exist for 2 experienced cooks @ People’s Choice Kitchen 88 James St Albouystown.

Tel#679-9449 Urgent 1 male with cooking experience to work in multiple areas. Contact X’s Grill & Cuisine # 695-6550/ 656-9313 Experienced Cashier, Apply at American Variety Store.

Guyana 140 Regent & Light Street, Bourda Georgetown 1 Fitter Machinist Contact# 225-2093 Cooks, Handyboys, Roti/ Puri makers, Apply at Shanta’s 225 Camp St

PAGE 24

Saturday January 12, 2019

Kaieteur News

US shutdown bites as Canada wants to welcome more than 1 million new federal workers miss payday Hundreds of thousands of public sector will go without funding until a budget is immigrants in the next three years workers have missed their first payday of the agreed, leaving 800,000 employees without (CNN)Remember when you said you wanted to move to Canada? Now is a good time to start packing your bags.

The Canadian Parliament has announced plans to add more than one million new permanent residents in the next three years.

That’s nearly one percent of the country’s population each year.

Canada welcomed more than 286,000 permanent residents in 2017 and projects that number could reach 350,000 this year. And 360,000 in 2020.

And 370,000 in 2021. That’s a lot of immigrants, eh?

“Thanks in great part to the newcomers we have welcomed throughout our history, Canada has developed into the strong and vibrant country we all enjoy,” said Ahmed Hussen, Canada’s minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC).

Hussen, himself an immigrant from Somalia, said the influx will help offset Canada’s aging population and declining birth rate while growing its labor force.

Canada’s friendly stance towards new residents comes as many other Western nations, including the United States, are adopting more restrictive immigration policies.

Canada is especially dedicated to offering protection to refugees. The United Nations Refugee Agency reported unprecedented levels of refugees in 2017, with the number of forcibly displaced people reaching 68.5 million.

IRCC has pledged $5.6 million to support global resettlement initiatives.

Ram Rahim Singh: India guru guilty of journalist’s murder An Indian guru who is already in jail for rape has been convicted for the 2002 murder of a journalist.

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, leader of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect, was given a 20-year sentence in 2017 for raping two female followers.

He will be sentenced for the murder on 17 January.

Newspaper editor Ram Chander Chhatrapati was

shot dead after exposing abuse at Dera’s headquarters in the north-western city of Sirsa.

Three other men were also convicted of Chhatrapati’s murder - Kuldeep Singh, Nirmal Singh and Krishan Lal. The self-styled holy man appeared at the court in Panchkula in Haryana state through a video link from his prison.

During the trial, security

was stepped up across the state and in parts of Punjab where most of Dera’s followers live.

Violence erupted after the sect leader’s rape conviction in August 2017, which resulted in the deaths of 38 people.

Soon afterwards, about 50 other women came forward with their own allegations about sexual abuse in the sect.

El Chapo trial: An epic narco drama unfolds in a New York courtroom New York (CNN) In the epic narco drama unfolding in a federal courtroom in Brooklyn, the defendant, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, delivered the usual wave and smile to his former beauty queen wife near the end of a devastating week.

On the stand, a pudgy, baby-faced computer geek from Colombia would soon describe an East German Stasi-like plan to infiltrate every single internet cafe in the capital of Guzman’s home state in Mexico.

R i v e t i n g a c counts of Guzman’s paranoia and ob-

session with the electronic monitoring of his wife, mistresses and associates captivated courtroom regulars this week, including socalled narco-tourists drawn to the Latin American soapopera atmosphere of the proceedings. David Crystal, the British linguist and academic, has calculated that there are three times more people learning English than there are native speakers of the language.

Why? At least one of the 18 jurors and alternates, though, nodded off now

and then.

Emma Coronel, Guzman’s wife, sat in the second row on the defense side of the vast courtroom.

She checked her shiny black hair for split ends and occasionally smiled at her husband as the witness recounted stunning lapses that eventually led to the drug boss’ downfall.

On the stand Thursday was an information technology specialist named Christian Rodriguez, a cooperating witness dressed in a metallic gray suit and dark tie.

The 32-year-old college dropout from Colombia ran a cybersecurity startup that catered to drug cartels looking for more secure communications.

Over two days, Rodriguez avoided eye contact with Guzman, who wore a blue suit Thursday and sat at the end of the defense table.

Rodriguez testified that he was barely 21 when he took an IT dream job that wound up leading to a number of nervous breakdowns and a spot in witness protection.

year as the partial shutdown of the US government bites deeper.

Many workers, such as prison guards and airport staff, have been working without any guarantee of pay since the shutdown began on 22 December.

President Donald Trump is refusing to approve a federal budget unless it includes funding for a border wall.

But Democrats say the $5.7bn (£4.5bn) he wants would be a waste of money.

About a quarter of the federal government

pay.

On Friday, government workers missed their first payday of this shutdown. Some shared their blank payslips on social media.

Oscar Murillo, an aerospace engineer at Nasa, posted his $0 cheque on Twitter and said he had actually lost money because of mandatory deductions.

Another Twitter user, Cat Heifner, shared what she said was her brother’s payslip which showed that he had been paid one cent for his work as an air traffic controller.

Delay Brexit if deal is rejected, Dominic Grieve tells Theresa May Conservative rebel Dominic Grieve has urged the prime minister to delay Brexit if her EU withdrawal deal is rejected by MPs next week.

Mr Grieve, who backs calls for another referendum, said she could remove the 29 March date from UK legislation and ask the EU for more time.

Cabinet ministers who oppose leaving the EU without a deal had a “duty to resign” if she refused to do so.

Ministers warn the UK faces Brexit “paralysis” if the deal is rejected.

And the prime minister’s spokesman said on Friday that the government wouldn’t extend Article 50, the legal mechanism taking Britain out of the EU on 29 March.

Mr Grieve, who tabled the amendment that led to a government defeat on Wednesday, has been at the forefront of cross-party efforts to ensure MPs have a say in what happens if Mrs May’s deal is voted down.

In those circumstances, another of Mr Grieve’s amendments means that the Com-

mons will then have a chance to vote on alternative policies - everything from a “managed no-deal” to a further referendum could be on the table.

MPs are widely expected to reject the withdrawal deal negotiated between the EU and UK in a key Commons vote on Tuesday, with more than 100 Conservative MPs among those opposing it.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt warned that the possibility of Brexit not happening at all had increased, with Parliament showing this week it would not accept leaving without a deal.

This he said would be an “incredibly damaging breach of trust and it would also be very bad for Britain’s reputation abroad”.

But former attorney general Mr Grieve, who earlier addressed a rally of people calling for another referendum, said he hoped that cabinet ministers known to be opposed to a no-deal Brexit would be “frank” with the PM, if - as expected - she loses next week’s vote.

“I think the options are

very limited and the reality in my view is that the only way out of this difficulty is go back to the public and ask for their opinion,” he said.

He said, if MPs reject the deal, the government should act immediately to strike the 29 March Brexit date from UK legislation before going to the EU to ask for an extension of the Article 50 process.

“I believe the EU will extend Article 50 for us but I think they would only do it in a very limited number of circumstances ... and we need to explore what those circumstances may be.”

If the prime minister would not agree to do so, he added: “If a cabinet minister feels the government is doing something they can’t accept, it is probably their duty to resign”.

“My feeling is that this will have its own dynamic and whilst I want to keep the government stable ... I hope the prime minister will listen carefully to what members of Parliament and members of her own government are saying to her.”

Huawei executive arrested in Poland on spying charges London (CNN Business) A Huawei executive has been arrested in Poland on charges of spying for China.

Poland’s counterintelligence service confirmed on Friday that a Chinese citizen suspected of spying had been arrested. Polish state media identified the suspect as Huawei’s sales director in the country.

China’s embassy in Poland named him as Weijing Wang.

Huawei is a Chinese telecommunications company that is viewed by US government officials as a national security risk.

Other countries have concerns too: It has been prevented from supplying next-generation 5G

equipment to Australia and New Zealand.

The company has attracted even greater scrutiny following the arrest of its chief financial officer last month in Canada.

Stanislaw Zaryn, a spokesman for Polish counterintelligence, said in a statement to the country’s official press agency that the Chinese citizen, identified as Weijing W., had been arrested along with a Polish citizen.

The homes of the suspects were searched on Tuesday, the statement said. A court has ordered the pair to be held for three months, and they face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Both have pleaded not guilty,

according to Polish state broadcaster TVP. Zaryn has not responded to CNN’s requests for comment.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy to Poland said the country was “highly concerned about this incident.” Poland had been asked to arrange a consular visit “as soon as possible” and to protect the “rights and interests, safety and humanitarian treatment of the person involved,” the spokesperson added.

Huawei is one of China’s leading tech companies. It sells more smart phones than Apple (AAPL) and builds advanced telecommunications networks in countries around the world.

Saturday January 12, 2019

Kaieteur News

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PAGE 26

Kaieteur News

Saturday January 12, 2019

Saturday January 12, 2019

PAGE 27

Kaieteur News

France investigates Japan’s Olympics chief on suspicion of corruption PARIS (Reuters) - The president of Japan’s Olympic Committee, Tsunekazu Takeda, is under formal investigation in France for suspected corruption related to Japan’s successful bid for the 2020 Olympic Games, a French judicial source said yesterday.

French financial prosecutors investigating a multi-million dollar payment made by Japan’s bidding committee to a Singaporean consultancy questioned Takeda in Paris and he was placed under formal investigation on Dec. 10, the source told Reuters.

In Tokyo, Takeda said no improper actions such as bribery had taken place in connection with Tokyo’s bid, and that he had not been charged by French authorities.

The International Olympic

Committee (IOC) said its ethics committee has opened a file on the case and would meet on Friday, adding that Takeda “continues to enjoy the full presumption of innocence.”

Under French law, a formal investigation means there is “serious or consistent evidence” implicating a suspect in a crime. It is one step closer to a trial, but such investigations can be dropped without going to court.

French investigators have led a years-long probe into corruption in athletics and in early 2016 extended their inquiry into the bidding and voting processes for the hosting of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.Prosecuting judge Renaud Van Ruymbeke now suspects Takeda - a former

Olympic showjumper, longstanding Olympics official and second cousin of Emperor Akihito - of paying bribes to secure his nation’s winning bid, the judicial source said.

Takeda, who also heads the IOC’s marketing commission, apologized for “the huge worries that have been brought to the people of Japan, who have given so much support to the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics...”

“In order to put every doubt to rest I intend to continue cooperating with investigations,” he said.

QUESTIONE D IN JAPAN IN 2017 The move against Takeda is linked to an investigation French prosecutors launched in 2016 into more than $2 mil-

Friday January 12, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Today you might have to do a lot of communicating with friends. Perhaps you need to make phone calls or catch up on correspondence. You may be on the verge of attaining a goal.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) A prominent male author whose work you enjoy might publish a new book.

You may consider doing some writing of your own, particularly if you have a story to tell.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Good news regarding writing, spe a k i n g , o r p u b lishing could come your way today. You might feel terribly bored with life and suddenly have the urge to get away for a while.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Paperwork regarding a bonus, settlement, or dividend of some kind might need to be executed today.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) trained nerves and trepidation about unpleasant tasks could have you on edge and likely to take your stress out on those closest to you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You might feel overworked toda y. Yo u r e n e r g y could be flagging, and you may even feel feverish.This is probably nothing more than s t r e s s , Vi r g o . M o s t likely you should take time out from your busy

life and relax.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Today you're apt to feel especially romantic. Novels, movies, and poetry about love will be appealing. If you're currently romantically involved, consider planning a special evening with your partner.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) A rush of activity at home is probably going to involve preparations for a journey or event. More than one visitor could arrive during the course of the day.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You may experience increased physical and mental activity today. Perhaps you will have to do a lot of reading or writing very quickly, make a number of phone calls, or run more errands than you have time for.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You might discover a hidden talent for writing, or if you already know this, you may find that your skill is greater than you suspected.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You might feel on edge today but not know why. You may jump at unexpected noises or think you see or hear things that aren't there.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You may wonder if you're losing your memory today.

You might have the strange feeling that there was something you had to do but can't quite remember what.

lion of payments by the Japanese bidding committee to consultancy firm Black Tidings, which was terminated in 2014.In 2017, Takeda and several others were voluntarily questioned by Japanese prosecutors at the request of French authorities in relation to the payments, Kyodo News agency reported at the time. Takeda and the others had denied any wrongdoing, Kyodo said.Japanese officials said at the time the two payments were legitimate consultancy fees. The first was made before Tokyo’s win and the other after, as has been common practice.

A panel commissioned by the Japanese Olympic Committee said in September 2016 that it had found the payments to be legitimate.

Tokyo governor Yuriko

Koike said she was “very surprised” by the news of the investigation.Takeda was placed under formal investigation on the same day Japanese authorities arrested nowousted Renault-Nissan alliance chairman, Carlos Ghosn, on suspicion he under-reported his income at Nissan.

Ghosn’s detention shocked France, strained the car alliance and complicated bilateral relations.Asked about the timing, a source close to the French investigation into Takeda said there “was no link between the two affairs”.

Takeda, 71, a great-grandchild of Emperor Meiji who competed in the 1972 and 1976 Olympics, has been a member of the Japanese Olympic Committee since 1987 and its president since 2001.

He has helped coordinate

Tsunekazu Takeda, President of the Olympic committee,.

(REUTERS/ Eric Gaillard) preparations for several Winter Olympics as a senior member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Takeda attended a ceremony in Tokyo yesterday along with former prime minister Yoshiro Mori, the president of Tokyo 2020, according to Mori’s office.

Power Lifting Federation VP...

From page 32 President of Power Lifting Federation, also works as a trainer at Interline Fitness Gym, consistently calls for the support from non-governmental organisations, government and international bodies to support gyms, particularly women whose career and health are the nation’s wealth.

She went on to say that, Guyanese have great potential to make centre stage and become role model for future generations, as she did but are not financially equipped to meet expectations. Several efforts and calls by her on behalf of the federation went ignored. More and more women are documented joining the power lifting federation and much needed help is paramount even if it is support from employers.

“Women, everyday comes to gym, from Parika Wales to tone, perform yoga, aerobics, and cardio exercises. Gym can transform another useful section of our beautiful women to empower, gain employment, meaningful recreation and provide avenues to serve. As a woman and role model I walked that journey and nothing has changed except the influx of interest and vigor I see in our youths, very young school children and women.”

Nadina Taharally was the first Guyanese athlete to compete in the Raw Masters 1 category. She had a best Squat of 130 Kilogram, Bench Press of 65 Kilogram and a 160-Kilogram Dead lift.

PAGE 28

Pollard half-century headlines Dynamites continued unbeaten run DHAKA, Bangladesh, CMC – West Indies Twenty20 star, Kieron Pollard, lashed a now rare half-century to end a poor run of form, as his Dhaka Dynamites edged Chris Gayle’s Rangpur Riders by two runs in a last-over thriller in the Bangladesh Premier League here yesterday.

Sent in at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dynamites posted a challenging 183 for nine off their 20 overs, with Pollard blasting a top score of 62 off just 26 balls.

In reply, Gayle failed with just eight but Riders still took it down to the wire, barely missing out after requiring 14 from the last over and four runs from the final delivery.

The victory kept Dynamites unbeaten in three matches and top of the standings with six points while Riders remained second on four points from two wins in four matches.

Dynamites were 33 for three in the fourth over before the revival began, first with captain Shakib-al-Hasan who made a patient 36 from 37 balls in a 31-run fourth wicket stand with Mizanur Rahman (15).

Pollard then arrived to add further impetus to the innings, striking five fours and four sixes, as he dominated a 78-run, fifth wicket partnership with Shakib, en route to a 21-ball half-century.

When Pollard and Shakib

NBA roundup: Aldridge’s 56 leads Spurs past Thunder in 2 OTs

Kieron Pollard … top-scored with 62 for Dynamites. perished in successive overs to leave Dynamites 161 for six at the end of the 17th over, West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell added the finishing touches with three sixes in a cameo 13-ball 23.

Riders then lost Gayle early in the run chase, thanks to a stunning effort by Russell and Pollard on the straight boundary.

The left-hander seemed set to clear the ropes with offspinner Shuvagata Hom but Russell raced around from long-off to haul in the catch while tumbling over of the ropes. He, however, let the ball go in time for Pollard coming around from long on to complete the catch.

Gayle was one of two

wickets to fall as Riders slipped to 25 for two in the fourth over but South African Rilee Roussouw came to his side’s rescue, stroking a superb 83 off 44 balls to nearly stun Dynamites.

He hit eight fours and four sixes, anchoring a 121-run, third wicket partnership with Mohammad Mithun who made an exciting 49 from 35 deliveries.

When Roussouw fell in the 16th over, the innings lost momentum and even though Shafiul Islam (10 not out) lashed two fours off the first two balls of the final over, Riders still came up short.

West Indies off-spinner Sunil Narine finished with two for 40.

ATP roundup: Seppi into long-awaited final Eighth-seeded Andreas Seppi reached his first finals in over three years at the Sydney International yesterday.

Seppi upset third-seeded Argentinian Diego Schwartzman 7-6 (3), 6-4 in a semifinal match that lasted one hour, 42 minutes.

Seppi, 34, will face the winner of the other semifinal match between fourth-seeded Gilles Simon of France and fifth-seeded Alex de Minaur of Australia.

Simon has beaten Seppi in all six of their meetings, while de Minaur has yet to face Seppi.

Seppi is seeking his first ATP title since October of 2012.

ASB Classic Wild-card Cameron Norrie of Britain is in his first ATP final, advancing in Auckland, New Zealand with a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 semifinal win over JanLennard Struff of Germany.

Norrie was born in

Saturday January 12, 2019

Kaieteur News

San Antonio Spurs power forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) dunks the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half at AT&T Center. (Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports) LaMarcus Aldridge poured in a career-high 56 points, and Derrick White had a huge bucket, a blocked shot and a steal late in the second overtime as the San Antonio Spurs outlasted the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder 154-147 on Thursday.

Even with Aldridge’s performance and a record showing by the Spurs from beyond the arc (hitting their first 14 3-point attempts), Oklahoma City never wavered.

The Thunder tied the game at 130 on a layup by Jerami Grant off a Russell Westbrook assist with 5.6 seconds to play in regulation.

Aldridge finished 16 of 16 from the free-throw line, and the Spurs made their final 23 foul shots to end up 26 of 29.

Aldridge made 20 of 33 fieldgoal attempts. White added 23 points for San Antonio.

Westbrook had his 13th triple-double of the season, with 24 points, 13 rebounds and a career-high 24 assists, also a season high in the NBA. Paul George led the Thunder with 30 points, while Grant finished with a career-high 25 points and 12 rebounds before fouling out

midway through the second overtime.

Nuggets 121, Clippers 100 Nikola Jokic finished with his second consecutive tripledouble — 18 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists — and Jamal Murray scored 23 points as host Denver beat Los Angeles.

Mason Plumlee had 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Malik Beasley scored 15 points for Denver, which has won seven of its past eight games. On Tuesday, Jokic put up 29 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists as the Nuggets won at Miami.

Tobias Harris had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers. Lou Williams scored 19 points, and Danilo Gallinari had 18 against his former team.

Heat 115, Celtics 99 Dwyane Wade scored a team-high 19 points off the bench as host Miami ended Boston’s winning streak at four.

Kyrie Irving led all scorers with 22 points for Boston, which also had its streak of least 30 assists end at five games. Miami had a season-

high 33 assists — 13 more than Boston.

The Heat had six doublefigure scorers, including Josh Richardson with 18 points.

Justise Winslow added 13 and a game-high and career-high 11 assists. The Celtics got 18 points from Marcus Smart and 17 points each from Marcus Morris and Jayson Tatum.

Kings 112, Pistons 102 Buddy Hield, De’Aaron Fox and Iman Shumpert hit 3pointers in a 13-2, game-opening flurry, and host Sacramento never trailed while handing Detroit its fourth straight loss.

Hield led seven Kings in double figures with a gamehigh 18 points. Sacramento took advantage of Pistons standout Blake Griffin having the night off to rest with an emotional meeting with his former team, the Los Angeles Clippers, set for Saturday afternoon.

Stanley Johnson had a team-high 16 points for the Pistons, who were playing the second half of a back-to-back after losing 113-100 in Los Angeles to the Lakers on Wednesday night.

(Field Level Media)

Serena still the force on Melbourne...

Andreas Seppi of Italy hits a shot against Kyle Edmund of Britain. (REUTERS/Issei Kato) Auckland despite now representing Great Britain.

Norrie, who was broken for the first time in the tournament in the second set, faces American Tennys Sandgren, who is playing in just his second final.

Sandgren advanced after beating Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany, 6-4, 6-2.

Norrie and Sandgren have only ever met on the ATP Challenger Tour, with Norrie winning all three meetings.

(Field Level Media)

From page 29 the world number two, who turns 31 during the first week of the tournament.

She looked sharp at the Hopman Cup, maintaining a 100 percent singles record, even though Germany lost to Roger Federer’s Switzerland in the final.

Defending champion Wozniacki has been battling rheumatoid arthritis but the 28-year-old Dane will remain a contender, as will 21-yearold Osaka, who jumped into

the spotlight with her ruthless victory over a fired-up Williams in New York.

Belarussian Aryna Sabalenka has emerged as a dark horse, with many observers, including American great Evert, tipping the 20-year-old to make her Grand Slam breakthrough in 2019.

Sabalenka surged up the WTA rankings last year with her first two titles and arrived in Melbourne fresh from winning another tournament in Shenzhen.

“I have no reason to believe that Sabalenka will not win more than one Grand Slam. Why? I see two things.

I see hunger and I see boldness,” 18-times major singles champion Evert said in a conference call looking ahead to the Australian Open.

“Whether that’s fearlessness or what. It’s tied up, the boldness, fearlessness, confidence. That’s her swagger, I see that. Like this girl wants it. You can see it in her eyes.

She’s pretty intense.”

Saturday January 12, 2019

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul suspended pending inquiry ESPNcricinfo - Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul have been suspended from all forms of cricket pending an inquiry into their controversial comments on a recently aired TV show. The Committee of Administrators (CoA) that is overseeing the functioning of the BCCI has sent fresh show-cause notices to the players, asking them for a response within seven days “as to why they should not be proceeded against for misconduct and indiscipline under Rule 41 of the BCCI Constitution”.

The pair will return to India and miss the remainder of the Australia tour and the upcoming limited-overs tour of New Zealand. The selectors are expected to name their replacements in due course.

“You are aware that the enquiry and proceedings against you for misconduct and indiscipline have been initiated under Rule 41 of the BCCI Constitution and the same are presently pending,” the show-cause notice, which ESPNcricinfo has accessed, read.

“In terms of Rule 41(6) of the BCCI Constitution, you are hereby suspended with immediate effect from participating in any matter whatsoever in any match or function or event or activity that is authorized, organized,

sanctioned, recognized or supported in any way by the BCCI, the ICC or any State Association, until final adjudication of the matter.”

The CoA has taken on board the recommendation of the BCCI’s legal team that Pandya and Rahul be suspended pending an inquiry.

This was the procedure the BCCI followed when its CEO Rahul Johri faced sexual harassment allegations last October.

The recommendation has the support of the CoA member Diana Edulji, a former India women captain, and the BCCI’s acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary, “Based on the legal opinion and till the time the final procedure is laid down to address this issue, will recommend that a communication be sent to the concerned players and the team immediately,” Edulji said in response to the legal team’s email on Friday morning, which has been accessed

by ESPNcricinfo.

“It will be imperative that the players be put under suspension till a further course of action is decided for this misconduct as was done in the case of CEO when he was sent on leave in the sexual harassment matter.”

Choudhary agreed with Edulji’s view in a separate

Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul celebrate a wicket. (AFP) email.In reply to the first show-cause notice issued by the BCCI earlier this week, both Pandya and Rahul had apologised for their conduct.

Both Pandya and Rahul have been part of India’s practice sessions in Sydney leading up to Saturday’s first ODI. On Friday, India captain Virat Kohli said their comments were not acceptable.

This latest controversy, coming immediately in the

Federer names Wimbledon as potential future farewell venue

(Reuters) - Swiss maestro Roger Federer has revealed that Wimbledon, where he won his first Grand Slam title, could be the ideal place for a farewell tournament when he decides to call time on his illustrious career.

Federer’s comments arrive at a time when the tennis world is celebrating the achievements of his long-time rival Andy Murray, who said next week’s Australian Open could his last as he struggles to recover from a hip injury.

Two-time Australian Open defending champion Federer said he does not have a “fairytale ending” to his own career in mind but he would like to leave the court in good health.“I have a lot of places that are very special to me, thankfully,” Federer told CNN. “I’ve been very fortunate. But yeah, sure, like a Wimbledon stands out as maybe a place.

“I don’t have the fairytale ending in my head saying it has to be another title somewhere and then I have to announce it big, I don’t have to have it that way.”

Federer, who turned professional in 1998, has col-

Switzerland’s Roger Federer poses with the Wimbledon trophy on court in Wimbledon - London, Britain - July 16, 2017.

(REUTERS/Daniel Leal-Olivas/Pool) lected an incredible 99 career singles titles, 20 of which have been Grand Slams.

He is not expected to hang up his racket before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where he will look to add an individual gold alongside his doubles triumph at Beijing 2008. “I think there is expectation from the media (that) it all has to end so perfectly. I’ve

given up on that a long time ago,” Federer added.

“As long as I’m healthy and I’m enjoying myself, I know it’s going to be emotional anyway... it should be a happy celebration day, not like a sad funeral type of day.”

Federer will begin his Australian Open campaign against unseeded Uzbek Denis Istomin on Monday.

wake of India’s triumph in the Test series in Australia, has once again split the BCCI and the CoA. Vinod Rai, the CoA chairman, had initially recommended a two-match suspension for the players, while Anirudh Chaudhry, the BCCI treasurer, had called for stricter

sanctions. Acting secretary Choudhary wanted the pair suspended “immediately”.

At Edulji’s behest, the BCCI’s legal team gave its inputs as to the way forward, and whether and how the players could be charged under the board’s new constitution, which came into effect in August 2018. The legal team ruled out charging Pandya and Rahul for violating the BCCI’s Code of Conduct, which applies strictly to onfield actions.

As per the new BCCI constitution, the power to sanction players for indiscipline or misconduct is to rest with the BCCI’s Apex Council. The constitution specifies that the BCCI CEO seek an explanation from the players through an initial showcause notice and the CEO’s report is to be forwarded by the Apex Council to an Ombudsman, who determines what sanctions are binding.

The BCCI, pending fresh elections, does not have either an Apex Council or an Ombudsman. The legal team has suggested that the CoA, as the authorised head of the BCCI currently, could sub-

stitute for the Apex Council.

The legal team also pointed out that CEO Rahul Johri’s initial show-cause notices to Pandya and Rahul had not included specific rules under which the pair could be charged subject to an inquiry.

The legal team suggested that Johri send fresh show-cause notices to both players and that he submit his final report within 15 days. The team also recommended that an ad-hoc Ombudsman, meeting the criteria set by the BCCI constitution, be appointed to adjudicate on the matter within the maximum prescribed period of 6 months from the date the player is charged.

“Considering that the inquiry process against the concerned players has commenced and is pending, it is open for the COA to suspend the concerned players (along with their privileges and benefits) pending enquiry and proceeding into the charges of misconduct until final adjudication,” the legal team said in its email to the CoA, the office bearers and the BCCI’s professional management.

Serena still the force on Melbourne return MELBOURNE (Reuters) Serena Williams was eight weeks pregnant during her 2017 Australian Open triumph and while she has failed to add to her tally of 23 Grand Slam titles, the American is still regarded as the dominant force in women’s tennis on her return to Melbourne.

The 37-year-old took a year off after the birth of her daughter Alexis Olympia in September of that year, before returning to action last season, when she reached the finals at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.

Her quest for another major fell at the final hurdle on both occasions, however, with defeats to Germany’s Angelique Kerber in London and rising Japanese star Naomi Osaka in New York.

The losses left Williams still seeking a 24th Grand Slam singles title to equal Margaret Court’s all-time record and she will have another tilt at that milestone during the Jan. 14-27 event, despite entering the tournament ranked 16th in the world.

While Williams achieved her victory over sister Venus in the final two years ago, the challenge this year is expected to come from a vast array of players.

Chris Evert has described trying to pick a women’s

Serena Williams of the U.S. trains at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia Thursday. (REUTERS/Edgar Su) singles champion in Melbourne as a “crapshoot”, with the last eight Grand Slam titles having been won by different players.

World number one Simona Halep has had a fractured lead-up to the tournament, with a back injury cutting short her 2018 season in September.

She will be without a coach for the first few months of the season after Darren Cahill left for “family reasons” and if that setback was not enough, she was outplayed by unseeded Australian Ashleigh Barty in the second round of the Sydney Interna-

tional.

The Romanian, who lost the 2018 Australian Open final to Caroline Wozniacki, could rue her lack of competitive matches but remained upbeat, while saying she had low expectations for the year’s first Grand Slam.

“I think I played a good level of tennis... No pain at all.

I’m happy about that. It’s a great sign,” Halep told reporters after her loss to Barty.

SABALENKA LURKS A second Australian Open title for Kerber, who denied Williams in the 2016 final, will be a perfect birthday gift for (Continued on page 28)

PAGE 30

Saturday January 12, 2019

Kaieteur News

2nd day Regional First-Class cricket

120 stand between Chanderpaul & Shepherd, late Paul burst keep Jaguars in Control

By Sean Devers

A

marathon century from Tagenarine Chanderpaul, an entertaining 72 from Romario Shepherd and a last session burst from pacer Kemo Paul put Guyana Jaguars in the ascendency against the Windwards Volcanoes when day two of their fourth round Regional First-Class match ended yesterday at Providence.

Chanderpaul, the 22-yearold son of illustrious former West Indies batsman Dr Shivnarine Chanderpaul, batted for just over nine and a half hours, faced 484 balls and reached boundary 10 times in his second century.

Chanderpaul added 121 with Shepherd who blasted six fours and two sixes from 142 balls and 167 minutes after joining forces when Paul was run out for a duck at 290-6 just before the close on Thursday.

Clinton Pestano weighed in with a cameo 20 with two fours and a six in a 32-run stand with Chanderpaul as Jaguars declared on 454-9.

Pacer Josh Thomas finished with 4-94 and got support from fellow quickie Ray Jordon who took 2-56 f o r t h e Vo l c a n o e s w h o stumbled to 99-5 by the close still 355 runs away from Guyana’s score.

The 20 year-old Paul from the Island of Saxcacalli in the Essequibo River, ripped out the first four wickets in an incisive fourover spell which produced figures of 4-24.

Left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul took the other wicket to fall.

The dangerous 37-yearold Devon Smith with 35 First-Class centuries to his name, was the first to go for 17 when Trevon Griffith at second held a good catch to leave the visitors on 38-1.

Roland Cato (14) and Skipper Kirk Edwards (4) fell in similar fashion to leave the Volcanoes on 634, while Kaveem Hodge was caught and bowled by Permaul without addition to the score to give the Berbician his 21st wicket, the most in the tournament.

Denis Smith, the nephew of Devon, was on three and with him was Alick Athanaze on 25.

Earlier, Jaguars in sweltering heat, resumed on 307-6 with Chanderpaul on 71 and Shepherd on five and by

Lunch the pair had extended their partnership to 118 as their team went into the interval on 403-6.

Shepherd showed his positive intent from the first ball of the day when stroked Shermon Lewis for four and repeated the dose two balls later, while Chanderpaul, who took no risks, looked a bit more positive than he did on day one.

Shepherd who plays for Tucber Park in Berbice cricket, mixed caution with aggression and was not afraid to play his shots as the partnership blossomed.

Chanderpaul stroked Thomas for four before edging him to third man for his second boundary of day before Shepherd reached his second fifty from 118 balls, 126 minutes with four fours when he hammered left-arm spinner Hodge for four and celebrated with a six in the same over.

Chanderpaul, who hails from the Village of Unity on the East Coast, clipped Lewis off his legs for a couple of runs to reach his second ton after spending close to 20 minutes on 98.

His hundred came up in 469 minutes off 424 balls and included seven fours and followed up his unbeaten 101 he made from six and half hours in January last year in Barbados.

By Lunch the Jaguars were in command at 403-6 with 97 runs coming in the first session with Chanderpaul, the rocksolid Everest batsman, scoring 30 of those runs from 130 balls.

After the interval Shepherd carried his score to 72 before he was taken at slip off the hard working Thomas, operating on a flat track, to break the stand with the Jaguars on 411-7.

Pestano counter-attacked and along with the gritty Chanderpaul took the score to 443-8 when Pestano was taken at longon as Jordon struck before Permaul (3) was removed

by Larry Edwards 10 runs later.

Once the Jaguars achieved their second 400 total in two matches the declaration was made 31 minutes before Tea as Chanderpaul carried his runs tally for the season to 275 from 1,114 balls faced.

“I have my own style. It’s four-day cricket you don’t

Romario Shepherd drives during his 71 yesterday.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul drives during his unbeaten 117 yesterday.

need to go swiping after everything.

You just need to take your time and bat since there is a lot of time. Every game is an opportunity and I just apply myself again, start new and try and get stuck-in and get some runs,” Chanderpaul said after his first ton. Nothing has changed in his approach to batting.

By Tea the Volcanoes were 19 without loss before Paul struck four times in the last session.

Today is the third day and play is scheduled to commence at 09:30hrs with Volcanoes with a mountain to climb.

Scores: JAGAURS 454 for nine decl. (Anthony Bramble 168, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 117 not out, Romario Shepherd 72; Josh Thomas 4-94).

VOLCANOES 99 for five (Alick Athanaze 25 not out, Taryck Gabriel 23; Keemo Paul 4-24).

Red Force (203) & 62-2 vs Scorpions (112) PROVIDENCE, Guyana, CMC – Trinidad & Tobago Red Force, leading Jamaica Scorpions by 91 runs, reached 62 for two in their second innings at the close on the second day of their fourth-round match in the West Indies Championship at Sabina Park here yesterd a y .

Scores: RED FORCE 203 (Yannic Cariah 22; Rovman Powell 3-30, Oshane Thomas 2-21, Nikita Miller 2-41) and 62 for two (Darren Bravo 20 not out, Kyle Hope 20; Nikita Miller 2-24).

SCORPIONS 112 (Chadwick Walton 35, Paul Palmer 26; Anderson Philip 3-26, Khary Pierre 2-7).

Josh Thomas had 4-94 for the Volcanoes Providence yesterday.

Good Success tackle SS Jaguars in second semi tomorrow Good Success will take on Sans Souci Jaguars in the second semi final of the Badri Prasad Memorial T20 tournament tomorrow at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground.

The winner will take on Sans Souci in the final.

Teams; Good Success: Imran Khan capt., Wazir Khan, Gurunauth Khemraj, Vickram Ramnarine, Nazeer Mohamed, Tulsieram Ramadeen, Shazam Mohamed, David Chalitar, Ejaz Mohamed, Shoaib Namaz, Mahesh Ramnarine, Bhumeshwar Ramkissoon, Charles Benjemin, Alex Hill and Devendra Hansraj.

SS Jaguars; Siddiq Mohamed capt., Nokta Moses, Beesham Moses, Safraz Mohamed, Imran Mohamed, Zameer Zaman, Derwin Daniels, Gladwin Henry, Chandreka Jairam, Afridi Mohamed, Gladwin Henry jr, Dellon Osborne and Sanjay Ramnarine. Action gets underway at 13:30hrs.

Saturday January 12, 2019

BCB/Nand Persaud Co. Female Cricket Tournament

Rose Hall Town Metro crowned Berbice Champion after crushing West Berbice by 110 runs A brilliant performance from all rounder Mariam Samaroo spearheaded Rose Hall Town Metro Female Team to an easy 110 runs victory over West Berbice in the Final of the Berbice Cricket Board/Nand Persaud Co. 25Overs Female Tournament.

The powerful Rose Hall Town Metro Team led by West Indies Female Player Shemaine Campbelle were never under any pressure in the final and in the opening round had defeated New Amsterdam/Canje to advance to the grand final.

Rose Hall Town Metro won the toss and elected to bat first on the lighting fast Hampshire Ground. West Indies training camp selectee Shabiki Gajnabi and Samaroo added 80 for the first wicket before Gajnabi was caught for a well played 68 which included seven boundaries and five huge sixes. Samaroo played within herself with a mature 44 (5 boundaries), while Oma Matadin 10 and West Indies batter Shemaine Campbelle 12 reached double figures as Rose Hall Town Metro reached 168 for 8 from their allotted overs. K. Fraser and Lafona Gilegous took 3 wickets apiece for 31 and 27 respectively, while Tremayne

layer of the Match - Mariam Samaroo collects her prize.

Smartt, playing as a guest player took 2 for 20.

West Berbice in response had very limited opportunities to score freely as the powerful Rose Hall Town

The Berbice Cricket Board is forging ahead with preparation for the GCB Under-15 Tournament. The Board has named a 21 man squad after successfully hosting two 50-Overs trial matches, the Berbice Cricket Board as part of its early preparation had also started the 2019 Mike’s Pharmacy Under-15 Tournament early as efforts are made to select players based on performances and talents.

The full squad selected to begin training under Coach Leslie Solomon and Manager Lakeram Latchman, are: Rampertab Ramnauth Mark Ramhalo Tuvraj Shaundeo Avishkar Persaud Sanjay Algoo Isaiah Thorne Devon Sobhai Kevin Samuels Tequan Samuels Satya France Altaf Balman Romeo Deonarine Thameshwar Mahadeo Damien Cecil Kumar Deopersaud Salim Khan Budram Lakeram Christopher Deroop Baskar Dhanai Matthew Pottaya Reyad Rahaman

UWI invitational indoor hockey

Supernova off to winning start

Omar Hopkinson takes a penalty corner strike for Supernova.

BCB names squad for U-15 preparations

a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h) i) j) k) l) m) n) o) p) q) r) s) t) u)

PAGE 31

Kaieteur News

- Port Mourant.

-do-do- Rose Hall Canje -do-do- Tucber Park -do-doBlairmont Community Centre -do-do- Albion Community Centre -do-do- No. 73 Village - West Berbice - Rose Hall Town -do-do-do-

Metro bowling attack bowled very few bad balls. They were restricted to 58 for 7 in their 25-Overs, with none of their batters reaching double figures. T. Solomon and L. Fraser both top scored with 9. Samaroo returned with the ball to take 2 for 5, while West Indies left arm pacer Erva Giddings had 2 for 11.

Plaffiana Millington, Dian Prahalad and Sherica Campbelle each took a wicket apiece.

Berbice Cricket Board President Hilbert Foster praised Rose Hall Town Metro for emerging the Berbice Female Cricket Champion in the three teams Tournament. Foster also hailed the support of the Nand Persaud Group of companies for their continued support of cricket in Berbice. Special mention was made of General Manager Mohindra Persaud, who was described as a true friend of sports in Berbice.

The BCB boss stated that while his Board was the only one in Guyana to organise female cricket in 2018, 2019 would see a minimum of three tournaments for females. He committed the Berbice Cricket Board to be very pro-active in promoting female cricket in the Ancient County and called on the female players to be more committed and discipline.

Guyana’s indoor developmental hockey team, Supernova, continued their good showing in Trinidad & Tobago on Thursday evening when they defeated Notre Dame 4-0 to make a winning start to the University of the West Indies (UWI) Indoor Tournament. The twelve man team, made up of 11 junior players and captained by senior national, Jamarj Assanah, has been surprisingly competitive against some quality senior Trinidadian club sides.

On Thursday night, it was 16-year-old Warren Williams who opened the scoring when he received a pass at the centre of the D and spun quickly to his left to wrap the ball around Notre Dame’s advancing goalkeeper Gregory Garraway in the third minute.

Another 16 year old, Samuel Woodroffe, made it 2-0 in the 12th minute with a clinical

penalty corner conversion. In the second half, the relentless pressure by the Guyanese produced some spectacular saves from Garraway, until the 20th minute when Kareem McKenzie converted another penalty corner. Omar Hopkinson put the icing on the cake with a penalty stroke conversion in the 24th minute to complete the 4-0 shutout.

In his post match assessment of the team’s performance, national coach Robert Fernandes said, “I’m pleased with the result, the facts that we kept a clean sheet and that our penalty corner unit seems to be firing, however, I’m not happy with certain aspects of tonight’s performance. We’re facing a different challenge in this tournament, because the boys have now been here for 8 days and they are more comfortable with their surroundings and more familiar with the

Omar Hopkinson teams. If you’re not careful, complacency starts to creep in and I saw a bit of that tonight. It’s all a new experience for most of them so I expect they will learn from this and take a different approach on Friday night against a strong UWI side.”

Fruta Conquerors drawn in...

From page 33 of the club in making Guyana proud. To let you know also that we have already been getting some positive feedback from some of the entities that we have approached.”

Meanwhile, the Executive Committee and members of the Fruta Conquerors FC is extending sincere thanks to Guyana Beverage Inc. through the Fruta brand for its continued support to the club and to the overall development of football in Guyana.

And, in the inaugural edition of the Concacaf Caribbean Club Shield, Club Franciscain of Martinique was crowned champion with a 2-1 victory over Suriname’s Inter Moengotapoe.

The Martinique club continued its outstanding 2018 interna-

tional season by edging Trinidad and Tobago’s Central FC 2-1 in the Flow Caribbean Club Championship playoff to secure a spot in its

first-ever Scotiabank Concacaf League, where it eventually fell to Nicaraguan side Walter Ferretti in penalties.

The groups for the 2019 Concacaf Caribbean Club Shield are as follows: Group A A1: Jong Holland (Curacao) A2: Scholars International Sports Club (Cayman Islands) A3: Fruta Conquerors Football (Guyana) A4: Santiago de Cuba (Cuba) Group B B1: Weymouth Wales (Barbados) B2: SV Real Rincon (Bonaire) B3: Club Sportif Moulien (Guadeloupe) Group C C1: Hoppers FC (Antigua & Barbuda) C2: Platinum Football Club (Saint Lucia) C3: Rams Village Superstars (Saint Kitts & Nevis) Group D D1: Club Franciscain (Martinique) D2: Dakota FC (Aruba) D3: SV Robinhood (Suriname)

PAGE 32

Power Lifting Federation VP calls for more support for women in the sport Two times gold medalist Nadina Taharally, 45, mother of two and grandmother of two, in an interview said that gym has the potential of being a major recreational facility given the challenges facing communities for space, maintenance and resource upgrading. “I started gym in my mid 20’s when I drew inspiration from Sean, my brother. In those days we had little clue about techniques. I started using different tools to motivate myself. After a while, Nezaam Haniff, Interline Fitness Gym Founder, approached me requesting center stage platform. I flew the scene for six months. I later drew inspirations from the late Fiona Harris, to showcase my skills and talent but getting support were very hard and still is…”Taharally, Vice (Continued on page 27)

Vice President of Power lifting Federation Nadina Taharally

BCB launches Shimron Hetmyer Intermediate Cricket Tournament

T

he large and colourful crowd at the Albion Cricket Ground during the Ivan Madray Memorial 100 Balls Final broke in loud applause when President of the Berbice Cricket Board Hilbert Foster announced the launching of the Shimron Hetmyer Intermediate Cricket Tournament.

They were clearly delighted that the Berbice born West Indies batting star had not forgotten his roots and was giving back to the county where it all began for him.

Foster and Hetmyer recently met to discuss the development of cricket in the county. Hetmyer readily agreed to sponsor the Intermediate Tournament as the Berbice Cricket Board strives to host thirty cricket tournaments in 2019 after successfully completing twenty five of the thirty tournaments it started in 2018.

The Intermediate Tournament would be opened to all teams in Berbice and would see teams being allowed to play four First Division Players per game. Only Berbicians would be allowed to play, while a player who has played more than three 40-Overs, 50Overs and GCB Franchise matches in 2019, 2019 shall be called a First Division Player.

Under-19 players shall be considered First Division, while a list with senior players have been debarred. They include Hetmyer himself, Veerasammy Permaul, Clinton Pestano, Romario Shepherd, Devendra Bishoo, Assad

Saturday January 12, 2019

Kaieteur News

Hilbert Foster

Shimron Hetmyer

Fudadin and Gajanand Singh.

Teams like Rose Hall Town Bakewell, Albion Community Centre, Port Mourant, Young Warriors, Blairmont Community Centre, Achievers, Tucber Park, Rose Hall Canje, Skeldon, Edinburgh and Mt. Sinai are expected to be part of the Tournament which would be played on a 50Overs Knockout basis. The BCB President heaped praises on Hetmyer for giving back to the county and urged him to continue being a positive role model to the thousands of youths in Berbice who looked up to him for inspiration. Foster committed his Board to organising a high class tournament with the Final scheduled after Hetmyer returns from the IPL Tournament in India.

Foster announced that 2019 would be another record breaking year for Berbice as the Berbice Cricket Board builds on the remarkable

progress made in 2018.

Cricket, he stated would be played at the Under-13, Under-15, Under-17, Under-19, Under-21, Female, Intermediate, Internal Zone, Primary School, Secondary School, Second Division, Double Wicket and First Division levels while dozens of developmental programmes would also be organised.

Hetmyer, the 18th male to play Test Cricket from Berbice stated that he was delighted to sponsor the tournament as he strongly believes in giving back. The Berbice Cricket Board, he stated was doing a great job at promoting the game and recalled playing a similar tournament during his early days at the Young Warriors Cricket Club.

He committed himself to playing a major role in the development of Berbice Cricket, while discussing other areas of interest with the BCB President.

Las Vegas police seek DNA from soccer star Ronaldo in sexual assault inquiry (Reuters) - Police in Nevada have formally asked Italian authorities to obtain a DNA sample from Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo in the investigation of accusations that he raped a woman a decade ago in Las Vegas, police said on Thursday.

Ronaldo, 33, widely regarded as one of the greatest soccer players of all time, has maintained he is innocent of rape and said through his Las Vegas lawyer on Thursday that the sexual encounter in question was consensual.

The matter came to light in September 2018 when Kathryn Mayorga sued Ronaldo in Clark County District Court in Nevada, accusing the athlete of raping her in a Las Vegas hotel penthouse suite in 2009, then paying her $375,000 in hush money.

Mayorga’s lawyers said in September she was now seeking $200,000 in damages and to void the non-disclosure agreement, which they said she was coerced into signing by “personal reputation protection specialists hired” by the soccer star.

Ronaldo said on Twitter after the suit was filed that his “clear conscience” would allow him “to await with tranquility the results of any and all investigations.”

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said at the time an incident report was filed with police on the night of the alleged assault,

Cristiano Ronaldo at the Zhukovsky Airport in Moscow Russia (Reuters Tatyana Makeyeva File photo)

and the case had since been reopened. But the police declined at the time to name Ronaldo as a subject of the investigation.

The Wall Street Journal, citing an unnamed law enforcement official with knowledge of the case, reported on Thursday that authorities in Las Vegas had sent a warrant seeking DNA from the soccer star to the court system in Italy, where Ronaldo plays as a forward for the professional soccer club Juventus. He also is captain of Portugal’s national team.

According to the Journal, investigators want to see if Ronaldo’s DNA matches a sample found on a dress of his accuser that belongs to someone other than her. , Responding to a Reuters query about the report, Laura

Meltzer, a Las Vegas police spokeswoman, said in an email the department is “taking the same steps in this case as in any other sexual assault to facilitate the collection of DNA evidence. We can confirm that an official request has been submitted to Italian authorities.”

In response to a similar query, Ronaldo’s lawyer Peter Christiansen appeared to confirm the DNA request in a separate statement.

“Mr. Ronaldo has always maintained, as he does today, that what occurred in Las Vegas in 2009 was consensual in nature, so it is not surprising that DNA would be present, nor that the police would make this very standard request as part of their investigation,” the attorney said.

Trophy Stall supports MSC 4-team Softball cricket tourney All roads lead to Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) ground tomorrow on Thomas Road, Thomaslands when a day of fun and frolic for the entire family when MSC host a four-team knockout softball extravaganza from 09:30hrs.

Three trophies will be at stake for the Winners, Runners-Up and player of the final. Registration fee is $15,000 per team.

Trophy Stall handed over the Championship Trophy to MSC Treasurer Troy Lewis at their Bourda Market location on Thursday.

Lewis thanked Trophy Stall for their support and informed that the Event was the first fund raiser for 2019 and part proceeds with go towards funding of the all-weather practice facility presently under construction at the MSC Pavilion. MSC is encouraging sponsorship to construct two concreate and a turf

Brian Sealy (left) of Trophy Stall hands over the Winner’s Trophy to MSC Treasurer Troy Lewis at their Bourda Market location. pitches in an enclosed area for not only club members but any GCA player or team to use for a small fee. Herstelling Masters, Success Masters, Fisherman Masters, Ariel

Masters will compete for the Trophy Stall Trophy.

The ground which cut Thursday is in top condition and liquid refreshments will be on sale for fans.

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120 stand between Chanderpaul & Shepherd, late Paul burst keep Jaguars in Control 2nd day Regional P. First-Class cricket 30

Tagenarine Chanderpaul raises his bat on reaching his 2nd century in marathon innings.

Alick Anthanaze fends at a short ball from Kemo Paul who took 4-24 in a late afternoon burst. (Sean Devers photos)

BCB/Nand Persaud Co. P. Female Cricket Tournament 31

Rose Hall Town Metro crowned Berbice Champion after crushing West Berbice by 110 runs

The winning RHT Metro Female Team.

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