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AIETEUR NEWS

Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

Nigel Hinds steps

Monday Edition

down as Change Guyana

PM candidate

January 13, 2020 - Vol. 13 No. 02

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Price $80

- cites dual citizenship

Online readership yesterday 159,204

Ramjattan seeks update from Police Commissioner on SOCU corruption probe Vandals caused Leguan flooding

Staffers working to repair the damaged koker doors.

- Minister Sharma says several koker doors deliberately removed or damaged

PPP unaware of any copyright violation from using ‘Farmer Nappy’ rhythm in campaign jingle - Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall

Greater Georgetown residents left without water as another GWI main collapses

Energy Dept.’s intention to release oil sale details an excellent – University of start to transparency Houston Instructor

Kaieteur News

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Monday January 13, 2020

PPP unaware of any copyright violation from using ‘Farmer Nappy’ rhythm in campaign jingle

F

ormer Attorney General Anil Nandlall says that the people’s Progressive Party (PPP) is unaware that it violated any laws in its use of music from two songs by Trinidad Soca artist, Farmer Nappy during its elections campaign.

In a January 08 report in t h e Tr i n i d a d E x p r e s s , Country Life Music, Ltd, the label which represented Farmer Nappy, who was born Darryl Henry, signaled its intention of filing legal action against the PPP for using two of the singer’s songs without permission.

When contacted yesterday, Nandlall said that he is aware of the

- Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall

Former Attorney General: Anil Nandlall accusations. However, he said that the party is not in receipt of any correspondent from the singer’s lawyer.

Nandlall said that if and

w h e n a n y s u c h documentation is received, the party will address it and take the appropriate steps.

In the meantime, he said that the songs are still being used on the party’s campaign promotion.

The Trinidad Express reported that it contacted Henry’s manager, Katrina Chandler and she said, “Yes, we are taking legal action for both songs, ‘Hookin’ Meh’ and ‘So Long’, off the Purple Heart Riddim.”

The newspaper reported that while Nadia Batson wrote the song “So Long”, Henry’s name is attached to

it as he owns part of the master recording for the song.

Farmer Nappy was recently in Guyana to perform at the launch of the elections campaign for the coalition government at D’Urban Park, Georgetown.

He also did a campaign jingle for the Coalition for which he was paid, the Trinidad Express reported. It was during his stay here that the Trinidad Express stated that Farmer Nappy found out that his songs were being used without his approval.

Farmer Nappy’s manager further told the

Trinidad Express, “The PPP illegally used ‘Hookin’ Meh’ and ‘So Long’. We wrote it and they (the party) had someone else sing it. They used the entire Purple Heart Riddim, which is owned by Country Life Music Ltd.” There are reports that a local soca artist reworked the songs even though he was cautioned about copyright infringements.

Kaieteur News was informed that while Guyana does not have updated copyright laws as its own dates back to 1956, copyright laws exit within the common law precedents.

Trinidad Soca Artiste: Farmer Nappy (http://www.looptt.com/) Trinidad, on the other hand, has the Copy Right (Amendment) Act of 2008.

The act gives creators of Continued on page 3

Monday January 13, 2020

PAGE 3

Kaieteur News

Ramjattan seeks update from Police Commissioner on SOCU corruption probe Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan has contacted Commissioner of Police, Leslie James regarding the status of the investigation into a damning report on various acts of corruption that took place at the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) from 2016 to 2019.

Ramjattan’s confirmation to Kaieteur News was in response to several questions he received from this newspaper over the weekend.

Kaieteur News understands that a response to the questions posed are likely early this week.

The damning report is said to be with Acting Crime Chief, Superintendent Michael Kingston.

This newspaper recently highlighted that it almost a year has passed since the Guyana Police Force’s Audit Department conducted an assessment of SOCU’s

Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan

Commissioner of Police, Leslie James

Former SOCU Head, Sydney James

financial affairs which revealed shocking levels of corruption from top to bottom of the agency.

But to date, not a single charge has been laid against any of the individuals fingered in the report.

The document which was seen by this newspaper stated that the former Head of the Unit, Sydney James,

and several other officials such as Superintendents Robert Tyndall, Trevor Reid, Byran Vieira and Corporal Kevin Haywood from the Guyana Defence Force, abused the agency’s Operational Fund which benefitted from $1.5M on a monthly basis.

With the exception of a payment book, the audit

found that there is no record to rely on for a transparent and accountable financial process at SOCU. In fact, auditors said there is no remittance book, daily cash composition book, and no account and expenditure books.

As it relates to some of the allegations of fraud and corruption, auditors

Nigel Hinds steps down as Change Guyana PM candidate Co-founder of Change Guyana, Nigel Hinds, has stepped down as the party’s prime ministerial candidate.

Hinds notified the public of the decision in a release late yesterday.

The accountant cited his current dual citizenship status, revealing that he is a citizen of the United States of America.

Guyana’s Constitution does not allow dual citizens to assume a place in the National Assembly. Up until the December 21, 2018 No Confidence Motion, dual citizens from both major parties (APNU+AFC and PPP/C) had occupied places in the National Assembly, meaning that they had falsely declared themselves to be eligible candidates on their parties’ lists during the previous nomination day exercise leading up to the 2015 General Election.

This time around, Hinds was part of the Change Guyana contingent that entered the Umana Yana to present a list of candidates for that party.

When Kaieteur News contacted Hinds yesterday to find out whether he had withdrawn his name from the party’s list, Hinds said that his name was never on the list of candidates in the first place.

But the question remained: Why campaign as the party’s prime ministerial candidate if he knew that his dual citizenship would disqualify him, all along?

- cites dual citizenship

Accountant Nigel Hinds Some PPP and APNU+AFC members have revoked their foreign citizenship to throw their hats in the March 2020 race.

Hinds will not do so.

Citing a health condition, he

learnt about in November last, Hinds said that he had hoped subsequent diagnostic tests would be favourable.

Unfortunately, his prognosis beckons medical intervention that would be better sought in the United States, the statement explained.

Hinds told Kaieteur News that he will soon be leaving the country for the US, to begin said medical intervention.

He noted nevertheless that his campaign to have businessman Robert Badal elected as President, come March 2020, “remains undaunted”.

Hinds said that he will continue to work for the betterment of Guyana as a multiethnic, multicultural and multiracial society that focuses on inclusive and accelerated economic and social development.

PPP unaware of any...

From page 2 work the copyright and legal rights and ownership of their work. There have been many calls for Guyana to update its archaic laws in that regard.

In April 2018, the Department of Public Information (DPI) reported that steps were being made to update the country’s draft legislation which was prepared in 2005.

However, later that year, PPP, through its General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo, said that it was not in support of government’s move to update these laws.

Then, Jagdeo had said that Guyana is a poor developing country, and that the laws should be updated in the future when persons can afford to pay for copyrighted items.

observed that in June 2016, Reid, Tyndall and Vieira collected $600,000.00 each.

But in a scramble to prove that they could account for it, they produced several receipts from January to June to show that they spent $100,000 a month on intelligence gathering. But these receipts were found to be back dated.

It was further observed by the auditors that Haywood, who served as the secretary and not as an investigator, did no operational duties during the time of the assessment, but he still received a whopping $1,378,000.

As for the entity’s former Head, there are allegations against him that he forged the signature of his successor, Superintendent Althea Padmore, so that he could obtain almost $1.8M. Auditors also learnt that James claimed to have paid $1,719,000 on five occasions

to repair motor vehicle PRR 2609. It was discovered that this was not a police vehicle.

In addition, the store he claimed to have made the payments to, A and F Auto repairs cannot be located.

Another disturbing discovery for the auditors were records which showed that the SOCU official paid $10,300,000 to M. Ali for car rental. All the receipts were vague and had no vehicle registration numbers or the period they were rented for.

Also, the receipts had no letter head or official stamps.

The auditors were alarmed at the fact that the amount paid to Ali is 43.6% of SOCU’s expenditure for the audit period (2016 to 2019).

Kaieteur News understands that evidence for all the instances of corruption identified by the Audit Department has been handed over to the police for further investigation by the Fraud Squad.

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Kaieteur News

Monday January 13, 2020

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

Anti-crime strategy It is the elections circus with all the usual gaudy promises and still fancier rhetoric that flourishes at this time. One of the high-profile issues taking to the airwaves is this or that anti-crime strategy, compliments of the fiercely competing political groups. To not have one (strategy) amounts to fatal weakness, it is better to have one, no matter how shaky or porous. It is under sharp scrutiny from objective corners of the citizenry.

This paper immediately welcomes any anti-crime strategy worth its salt, which is the very least it can do, given the treacherous crime precipice into which is stared, if not lived. It is treacherous, because as KN had cause to remind this nation in a news caption (January 6), “Robbery, whiskey smuggling, rape, murder…Cases expose worrying levels of criminality in Joint Services.” As stark and troubling (if not alarmingly harrowing) is that headline, nobody in this country, certainly no responsible, genuine political leader or group could take offence at the message and implications embedded in that title. They cannot claim exaggeration or inaccuracy, since this is the reality, raw and piercing and frightening. Just ask residents anywhere and commuters everywhere, and there are the stories, the fears, and the deep discomforts.

It does not matter how robust or well-intentioned or different are the latest claims of anticrime strategies, some facts must be faced head-on and honestly, and first and foremost by the politicians. It is that, or nothing doing with any anticrime strategy, as it is going nowhere without such unambiguous admissions and truths. The first truth is that it is time to get past this nonsense, utter nonsense, that there are only a ‘few bad apples’ or a ‘a few rogue cops’ in the Guyana Police Force. That is a patented and palpable falsehood that cannot hold up before the facts and circumstances prevailing in the Guyanese criminal fields, many times killing fields. This has now seeped into the wider, larger Joint Services agencies.

This is real trouble, a source of serious agitation for citizens, and it ought to be, too, for political players, all of them, no matter what they have in mind behind their pious pronouncements about anticrime plans. Because when the arms of the law-not just its fingertips, which can be made allowances for, given human weaknesses-but its feet and brain and heart and its entire body are wracked by the disease of criminal corruption and characteristics and visions that are about ripping off the very people, it has sworn to protect, then there is trouble of the severest, if not unimaginable, magnitude.

To take this a little further, any society can manage and exist with a handful of thieves and wrongdoers in its official law enforcement ranks. But none can survive intact, or with any semblance of order and civility, when the people recruited and employed to counter crime are themselves perpetrators of one felony after another with numbing frequency. And, even as this is articulated, it must be understood and appreciated that these are only the ones that stumbled and ended up exposing and trapping themselves. In other words, there is the high probability that the iceberg-in its vastness and depth-is still to be revealed, maybe even contemplated at some levels in this nation.So, when this paper learns of anticrime strategy, it is interested, but it is also guarded. It is guarded (not skeptical) because, when all the blueprints and grand designs have been sketched and completed, they still have to be implemented and given life by human hands and human hearts. What kind can those strategies encounter, if not what is there? What is lurking within the ranks of the Joint Services, with particular emphasis on the Guyana Police Force, if not to attack and fleece (even maim or kill) the unwary and the vulnerable?

After all, like constitutions, policies, and procedures, they look good on paper, they ring resonantly when given voice, but it is men and women, who give them the warmth of life. Men and women of proven prowess, of a certain kind of character and patriotic outlook, who stand committed to deliver and do so constantly.

We laud any anticrime strategy, as we ask: where are the people?

There is no bottom to the political gutter in this country DEAR EDITOR, I refer to the frontpage headline in another newspaper on January 12th titled, “Western envoys call for peaceful, mature elections campaign -PNCR condemns Jagdeo, PPP ‘activists’ on president’s health.”

Talk about a glaring contradiction between the welltimed and well-received exhortation of foreigners and the ugly reality of that subhead, which is so indicative of the vulgar degradation of civility in political and social discourse in this society at these times. It is there in full colour for all to read and see.

How low can we get? I think there is no bottom to the political gutter that runs through the length and breadth of this country, that makes monsters of some of us, which brings out the absolute worst in so many. Today, we find it comforting and satisfying to attack a man’s a leader’s - health.

Tomorrow we will derive great pleasure to condemn his or her sexual orientation and his partner and mother and extended family; and the next day it would be gratifying to scorn the colour of his skin, maybe even his impoverished state, his want and hunger.

What kind of people are we, that nothing matters to us, but the barbarousness and swinishness that pervades?

Surely, there can be some limit, some line that we will not cross, some element of our existence that we will hold as sacrosanct, and not even

approach. The problem to my great alarm is that we have no such limit: not in mind, not to be practised, and not with any regard for our own standing.

I suppose it is the reality of no holds barred, and any depravity during elections.

I say this, because in the nasty, brutish political and social universe that is elections Guyana, we tactically and calculatedly observe no limits.

Truly, when we descend to these depths, when we cannot have the discipline to manage ourselves, or the keen interest to rise to the occasion, or the restraint that speaks to decency and dignity, then we might as well swallow the ballot boxes, and drink the oil to our fill, since nothing has any meaning to us, other than those two destructive essences that dominate local existence. It is on occasions like these that I am ready to disown my treasured Guyanese birthright, to distance from the overwhelming tawdriness.

Every time I think that we can’t go lower, we do, and it is not just for the questionable objective of a wellthought out election strategy.

For when a man’s public physical condition is considered fair game, then what is next?

More pointedly, I do not believe that any political group that actually possesses any wisdom could believe that it may gain some advantage, some benefit, from such actions.

I wonder where we will end up between now and March 2nd, and thereafter.

Because already, there have been reports of unacceptable conduct in Laing Avenue and Sophia by PNC supporters on the one hand; and, on the other, there is this now vile and sickening development relative to the president’s health by PPP followers.

The leaders from both sides, and all participating in the anticipated torrid elections contest, should-mustdemand of, and then set the standard, in language, in comportment, and in practice for their people to follow.

I understand that it is not the way that politics has ever been-or currently is-in this country.

Still, I am concerned enough to insist that we do not let the bottom of the bucket be blown away, because some are unheeding, and leaders and groups do not care.

All that this does is emphasize, embed, and extend the racial rancor, the social toxins, and the individual stupidities for another five years.

Nothing positive is gained; no constructive interest is served; no environmental ambience is achieved.

I don’t think that this is what we want, because then it would be more than winning or losing elections. It would be about deterioration to the simmer of the savaging, to the point of no return.

For all these reasons, I caution that temperance and

responsibility must prevail.

There ought to be no discussion on this, no departure tolerated.

Let us all of us-PNC leaders, PPP leaders, civic leaders, religious leaders-be about more than bland, mitigating words and deceptively attractive postures in the public domain, while we allow and encourage, even incite, supporters to do dirty deeds behind one sinister, but transparent, cover or another.

I am not fooled; the sensible in this land should not be, too. But the same cannot be said for those citizens, who need neither incentive nor hint, only the opportunity to carve out the space to deliver what can only be described as destructive.

If supporters and citizens have to be led by the hand, and things spelled out to the nth degree, as to how they must conduct themselves, then so it must be.

Leaders are responsible for instilling in supporters what is unacceptable; and leaders and citizens have an obligation to manage themselves better, toe an uninterrupted civilized line, if we are going to get anywhere, other than where we are now.

To be frank, I am not optimistic in the least, but I owe myself and the segment of the public that cares to share these thoughts. We are just one-step away from the barbarous. May saner minds take charge.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

GUYANESE VOTERS NEED TO WISEN-UP DEAR EDITOR, I write with reference to Joey Jagan’s letter published in KN, January 11, titled: “A Third Force Coalition will not make an impact in upcoming elections”.

This is a most barefaced, cheap propagandist letter by the son of the founder of the PPP – part propagandising for Mr. Granger (not PNC specifically) and part bile-ing against what he perceives as the Communist PPP. Joey should be reminded that if the PPP is still or was once Communist, so too is/ was the PNC. It was the PNC that established diplomatic, trade and cultural relationships with Cuba, North Korea and all the other Communist countries in 1976 and thereafter.

PNC also made much use of Marxist jargon in their party doctrines and literature.

In 1976, PNC government decreed the use of the word, Comrade, in addressing every citizen – in government correspondence as well as spoken. “Comrade” is an exclusively used word of Communist greeting.

Joey Jagan says: “Mr. Granger will win the next election handily because he is following a winning policy which will benefit our beautiful Republic”.

Joey did not say what that “winning policy” is. In any event, Guyana is still a place where there is not much of a Swing Vote.

The vast majority of the electorate (at least 94%) votes on the basis of race. Racial bloc voting cannot expand beyond what that finite number is.

In all Free and Fair Elections (1964 and post 1992), PNC has always polled between 40 and 42.3%, because that is the precise proportion of African vote that exists in Guyana. How would the PNC increase that tally of votes to 51%?

In 2015, PNC/AFC got 50.5% of the votes. Clearly, AFC brought in at least 10%.

There is a broad consensus now that AFC’s base of support has disappeared. I will say categorically that PNC could not have ascended to power in 2015 without the votes of AFC.

I have had many discussions with pollsters and knowledgeable folks in villages and towns of Guyana all have said there has been no shift towards PNC. A retired Judge (still employed by the government) told me: “If the elections are free and fair, PNC cannot win the election”. Asked to explain, he said simply, “Too many people have lost their jobs since 2015. Too many are suffering”. Note his conditioning phrase: “if the elections are free and fair . . .”

Is there a perception that a PNC government will be a better manager of the oil industry and oil revenues? Pollsters tell me there is a perception among broad sections of the Guyanese people that the PNC government may have willfully renegotiated a bad oil contract in 2016 and kept it hidden from the public - until it was forced to reveal it.

That Contract is a sell-out contract - no protections against padding of expenses (75% of revenue goes for Cost Recovery); 2% royalty is way below industry standards (royalty is paid on barrels

“produced and sold”; what happens if they are stored and/or refined?). Guyana’s share of the profits (on paper) is 14.5%, after expenses of selling Guyana’s share of the profit-barrels, Guyana’s take will be more like 10%.

With no ring-fencing (commingling of expenses between well-heads, no limit to carrying over expenses yearafter-year) there is little or no chance that Guyana’s share of oil profits will rise significantly above the nominal 14.5% in the years ahead.

Guyana is being sold a lie, namely, that as the Oil Company recovers its layout costs, Guyana share of oil profits will rise year-afteryear.

There is nothing in the Contract and no pro-forma financial statements to show that Guyana will so benefit.

I would say to the Joey Jagans of Guyana: if Guyana had a normal electorate, namely, one that has a sizable pool of Swing Voters, PNC would be rejected at the polls for simply signing a sellout contract - and refusing to (Continued on page 5)

Monday January 13, 2020

NCN IS A STATE OWN ENTITY, ALL GUYANESE OWN ITS ASSETS DEAR EDITOR, I refer to a recent article in the local newspaper, in which Enrico Woodford, currently the Chairman of NCN, is seeking to bamboozle the public with an explanation of why NCN had granted more than one hour coverage to the launching of the coalition’s political campaign for the 2020 election, compared to the one minute granted to the launching of the PPP’s campaign.

In trying to rationalise this inequity, Woolford referenced the Broadcasting Act of Guyana where he opined that, “broadcasting means the transmission of any programme whether or not encrypted and whether or not actually received, by wire or wireless medium or technology for reception by all or part of the general public, but does not include telecommunications. I am concerned with whether NCN covers broadcasts of events of a newsworthy nature and not the live streaming… As far as I am concerned, the live stream does not fall under the Broadcasting Act, but instead the Telecommunications Act.” Yeah Woolford and 34 and not 33 is the majority of 65!

Well first of all, as usual, Woolford does not know what he is talking about, since a definition of telecommunications in the online dictionary states the following “the definition of telecommunications means communication over a distance by cable, telegraph, telephone, or broadcasting”. You see it there Woolford? “Broadcasting” is a branch of telecommunications also.

Secondly, NCN is a state own entity, all Guyanese own its assets, not those in power owning more than the ones in opposition. It is the kind of hypocrisy and drivel we have had to listen to parading as legitimate explanations by this government and its functionaries.

In the Rambchan V Trinidad and Tobago Television landmark case in 1985 in the Trinidad High Court of justice, Judge Dyalsingh declared that state owned media means owned by all the people, not just by the party

in power. This case was challenging a fundamental constitutional breach to free speech, which was denying the opposition of having access to the State owned media, as a result of justice Dyalsingh’s excellent ruling, the Trinidadians adopted a policy whereby the opposition were entitled to time on the state media to answer any charge against them by the party in power, in keeping with the amount of seats they held in Parliament or to be granted time to present their side on any matter in which the government is obtaining coverage, so in the current instance and according to this precedent case in Trinidad, which would no doubt be upheld by the CCJ today, if the coalition gets 33 minutes of coverage on the state owned media, then the PPP must get 32 minutes. If the coalition gets one hour then the PPP is entitled to 58 minutes. The Trinidadians understood this since 1985, we are still struggling with it. Why? Even if Woolford’s ludicrous plea is acceptable, i.e. that the one hour was streamed on the Facebook page of NCN and is not in fact broadcasting, then whose internet connection was used to put it there? Whose cameras, microphones, transportation and personnel were paid to collect that footage, and stream them live to the internet? Who and how were the people who prepared and edited the one-hour coverage of the coalition’s launch, paid? In addition, isn’t the Facebook page of NCN, purporting to represent the entire National Communication Network philosophy? And who pays to keep the Facebook page on the internet operating? How can

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Woolford as Chairman of NCN dare to say that he is not preoccupied with what NCN puts on the internet? In that matter, has he granted them autonomy? And should not that philosophy be in keeping with the landmark ruling of the case in Trinidad since 1985? is the Facebook page of NCN supposed to have a different alter ego to the one which is broadcast locally? Is that Woolford’s concept of public ownership? I think not!

And are not all Guyanese entitled to view it to see their party launched, whatever their political persuasion?

Since they are all paying for it and are all owners of it.

Finally, editor it is not Woolford’s place or function to decide who and what will be of interest to the public in these political campaigns, since nearly 50% of our population will be more interested in what Mr. Jagdeo and Mr. Irfaan Ali have to say than what President Granger has to say.

I would like the public to note that I was invited to write this by a friend, before I became a member of the PPP/C list. So this is not a political statement, it is my personal view.

A political statement by me would be that since Enrico Woolford is advising the Minister of Telecommunications, that entity has turned out a totally unacceptable performance or lack of performance in telecommunications in this country, completely missing the liberalisation mini bus, denying all of us the advantages of a more competitive, cost effective and advanced telecommunication service; it would be very accurate to accuse it of doing nothing for nearly 5years.

Tony Vieira

GECOM has to be even-handed DEAR EDITOR, The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has to be even-handed in the manner in which it treats with all political parties contesting the General and Regional elections.

I get the feeling that was not the case on nomination day when the smaller parties reportedly took up positions much earlier than the APNUAFC but were not accommodated in keeping with the ‘first come, first serve prin-

ciple.’

I think GECOM owe the public an explanation for what appeared to be a departure from the above principle.

It is perhaps time for GECOM to revisit the existing mechanism and go instead for the alphabeti c a l m e t h o d which in my view is much more predictable and orderly. It will also eliminate room for bias as seemed to have been the case on nomination day The above having said,

GECOM must be commended for the professionalism it displayed during the nomination day exercise.

The police also did a fairly good job in maintaining peace and order despite the massive turnout of supporters for the two major parties, namely the PPP/C and the APNU-AFC. The presence of representatives from the diplomatic community was also a re-assuring and welcome development.

Hydar Ally

Guyanese Voters need to wisen-up From page 4 re-negotiate it.

I will say further that both PPP and PNC are not straight-up with the Guyanese people on these Oil Contracts. Both need assertiveness training to overcome their inferior complexes when negotiating with Oil Giants like ExxonMobil; both need to stiffen-up their spines and demand a Fair Deal Contract.

Guyanese Voters need to wisen-up and reject both PPP and PNC for willfully failing to protect their patrimony.

This past Wednesday evening, in New York, I sat down for dinner and talks with Mr. Lennox Shuman (leader of Liberal and Justice Party) and a small group of Guyanese patriots. I heard Lennox say in unequivocal terms: If he

wins a few seats in the upcoming elections, he will use his new-found influence in the chambers of power to demand a “review of the Oil Contracts”.

Now that’s a promise of a winning policy statement and a sure endorsement from Oil Activists.

Change Party’s leaders Robert Badal and Nigel Hinds have also committed to demand a Fair Deal Contract.

The #1 priority for the Guyanese nation in this election is to elect candidates who will commit to protecting their oil patrimony. Guyana received literally pennies on a ton of our bauxite ore, most of our gold had been smuggled out without paying royalties – now would our Oil resource meet the same fate?

Elect candidates who will make sure Guyana gets paid fairly – not cheated - for its oil patrimony.

Strangely, only Joey Jagan thinks Mr. Granger is good for Guyana’s Oil industry even though Mr. Granger has all but vowed not to renegotiate a demonstrably rotten contract.

Mike Persaud

It is wrong!

DEAR EDITOR, It is wrong for the opposition to bring the caretaker president’s health into the campaign foray.

Keep campaign to issues and not personalities or personal issues.

Shamshun Mohamed

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Kaieteur News

Monday January 13, 2020

A SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE EVENT DEAR EDITOR, A century ago yesterday, ‘Abdu’l-Baha the son of Baha u llah prophet Founder of the Baha’i Faith penned what has come to be known as the First Tablet to The Hague, an exploration of the profound societal changes required for the attainment of international peace. Marking this occasion, the Baha’i community of the Netherlands on Tuesday night held a special commemorative event at its National Center in The

Hague.

Attendees—among them religious leaders—discussed themes from the Tablets to The Hague. “Peace is at the heart of humanity and ‘Abdu’l-Baha in His letter is helping us see how we can reach it,” explained Marga Martens, a representative of the Netherlands’ Baha’i community. “Peace is inevitable, but we have to work hard to reach that state in the world.”

Addressing the Executive Committee of the Central Or-

ganization for a Durable Peace in The Hague, ‘Abdu’l-Baha writes in the Tablet’s opening lines, “Your intention deserves a thousand praises, because you are serving the world of humanity, and this is conducive to the happiness and welfare of all.”

In the tablet, ‘Abdu’lBaha explains that peace would require a transformation in human consciousness and a commitment to fundamental spiritual principles enunciated by Baha’u’llah, such as the abolition of all forms of prejudice, the harmony of science and religion, and the equality of women and men, among others.

While an English translation of the first half of the tab-

let was published in Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in 1978, the complete translation was prepared in May this year and presented on the Baha’i Reference Library.

A photographic chronology recently published on a website by Jelle and Adib de Vries in the Netherlands sheds light on events surrounding ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s Tablets to The Hague. The website describes how two Baha’is in Iran, Ahmad Yazdani and ‘AliMuhammad Ibn-i-Asdaq, wrote to ‘Abdu’l-Baha in 1915 about the Central Organization for a Durable Peace. He encouraged them to introduce the Organization to the Baha’i teachings on peace.

The Organization wrote to ‘Abdu’l-Baha in 1916, but wartime communications into the Holy Land were blocked.

The Organization’s letter reached ‘Abdu’l-Baha in Haifa three years later, in the aftermath of World War I. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá responded immediately, sending Mr. Yazdani and Mr. Ibn-i-Asdaq to deliver His message in person. According to Dr. de Vries’ research, they arrived in The Hague in May 1920 only to find that the Central Organization for a Durable Peace had virtually dissolved.

Nevertheless, the Organization replied to ‘Abdu’lBaha’s message, prompting Him to write what is known as the Second Tablet to The Hague. In it, he asserts that “our desire for peace is not derived merely from the intellect: It is a matter of religious belief and one of the eternal foundations of the Faith of God.” The goal of world peace is central to Baha’i belief. In 1867 and 1868, Baha’u’llah addressed an extraordinary series of tablets to the kings and rulers of the world, urging them to set aside their differences, to establish a system of collective security and move toward disarmament, to champion the cause of justice, to show the utmost care and consideration for the well-being and rights of the poor, and

to work toward a lasting peace.

From 1911 to 1913, ‘Abdu’l-Baha spoke extensively during His tour of Europe and North America about the imperative of peace and warned that Europe was on the brink of war.

In a letter dated 28 November 1931, Shoghi Effendi states that the oneness of humanity “calls for no less than the reconstruction and the demilitarization of the whole civilized world—a world organically unified in all the essential aspects of its life ….”

The Universal House of Justice the supreme Institution of the Baha’i faith, in October 1985 penned a significant message on the subject of world peace, known as The Promise of World Peace.

In January of this year, the House of Justice also released a message addressing contemporary challenges facing humanity, in which it states that “the establishment of peace is a duty to which the entire human race is called.” The House of Justice further states that although “world unity is possible—nay, inevitable—it ultimately cannot be achieved without unreserved acceptance of the oneness of humankind.”

“Unity, in its Bahá’í expression, contains the essential concept of diversity, distinguishing it from uniformity,” the House of Justice writes. “It is through love for all people, and by subordinating lesser loyalties to the best interests of humankind, that the unity of the world can be realised and the infinite expressions of human diversity find their highest fulfilment.”

Yours, Rooplall Dudhnath

Monday January 13, 2020

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Monday January 13, 2020

Energy Dept.’s intention to release oil sale details an excellent start to transparency

By Kiana Wilburg

The announcement by the Energy Department that it would be collaborating with the local chapter of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GYEITI) to release details on oil sales is an excellent start on the road to transparency.

Making these and other remarks was University of Houston Instructor, Tom Mitro.

The Senior Fellow at the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) said that this decision by the Energy Department helps to provide confidence that the oil is being sold at competitive market rates.

Mitro said, “Overtime, I would think that under typical EITI membership, more information than this would be required, such as: royalty and tax payments received from the concession holders, oil entitlement splits between the companies and the government.”

The official, who has over 35 years experience in the industry, was keen to note that these disclosures by the government would also be

University of Houston Instructor, Tom Mitro subject to independent verification and reconciliation with what the companies themselves disclose.

Mitro also noted that evolving trends within EITI are for more public disclosures of the text of the production sharing contracts themselves plus any side agreements with the companies.

The University of Houston Instructor said, “If you think about it, the production sharing contracts are very similar to tax laws in that they

establish the actual tax rules for the companies, and in addition, agree on the rules for computing the quantum of oil in lieu of taxes (the ‘production sharing’) that the companies must pay for the rights to produce and sell the oil of Guyana.”

He added, “I’m sure all would agree that tax laws should be published in full.

The same should be true of any agreement that have the same effect as a tax law.”

IMF’SADVICE The Energy Department’s decision to make public, all records in relation to how, when, and for how much the country’s crude oil is being sold, is in keeping with a key piece of advice that was offered to the government by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The financial institution had said that the sale of the Stabroek Block oil will require significant decisions to be made, all of which must be “transparent” and “undertaken in the public’s interest.” Its advice in this regard was outlined in a special report prepared mere months ago.

– University of Houston Instructor In that document seen by this newspaper, the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department said that since the sale of crude could bring significant revenue, establishing an optimal selling price is key. It noted, however, that this requires professional expertise, careful

understanding of the process, and oversight.

Expounding further, the Fund’s Department said that crude oil sales are made through a network of buyers who are known to the trader.

The trader then reaches out to potential buyers whom they have identified and are

familiar with.

The Fund was keen to note that the government must be vigilant and monitor as well as control the selection of buyers, terms of sale, and the transfer of revenues to ensure that those decisions and activities are transparent.

Greater Georgetown residents left without water as another GWI main collapses Residents of several areas in Greater Georgetown were forced to endure several hours without water from Saturday night after a main pipeline broke along Mandela Avenue.

The areas, which include East Ruimveldt, West Ruimveldt, Roxanne Burnham Gardens and surrounding areas, were affected by the water shortage.

According to a brief GWI online release, the water supply disruption was necessary to facilitate repairs to a broken 10 inch main on Mandela Avenue. GWI stated that technicians were working to rectify the issue and “restore water within the swiftest possible time.”

“This is a regular thing with them (GWI), I couldn’t even wash my children clothes because I don’t have an over head tank to save water. Yet still every month they are sending a water bill.”

Sasha Williams, a resident of East Ruimveldt lamented.

Another customer stated, “They (GWI) did not even tell us when the water will be back. That fixing could last till next year. I am scared to think about what could happen if there is a fire.”

“The water was coming by me but it was very slow. I had to fetch water from my yard pipe to my house in order to get my chores done.” Shirley Devonish, another resident of East Ruimveldt said.

Water disruptions have become a frequent inconvenience for persons solely depending on GWI’s potable water supply. Within a span of months, the Corporation has had repairs done on a number of broken mains, including a broken eight-inch main at Better Hope, damage on a 16 inch main located in front of the Indian High Commission, damage to six inch pipeline at Ice Road, Timehri, and frequent damage to a 14-inch

Damage to main along Church Street.

Damage to main along Cemetery Road. main pipeline along Cemetery Road.

GWI had asserted that the replacement of the transmission line for Cemetery Road will be catered for in the 2020 budget, since the line plays a crucial role for the water supply to the city.

Just a few months ago, Guyana Water Inc. Managing

Director, Dr. Richard Van West-Charles indicated that the Corporation was having discussions with the Ministries of Communities and Finance concerning the replacement of pipelines, which are over a century old.

Efforts to contact GWI’s Public Relation Officer, Leana Bradshaw proved futile.

Monday January 13, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Not much will change The PNCR and the AFC have failed to take advantage of the opportunity to make substantive changes to its future leadership team. If you scrutinise the national top-up list of the APNU+AFC, you will come to the conclusion that it is most likely that the present crop of Ministers will return if the Coalition is reelected.

The list of candidates of the APNU+AFC does not re-

veal many new competitors for Cabinet seats. Wholesale changes to the make-up of the Executive are therefore most unlikely. Most of the present crop of Ministers, barring a few who have already been sidelined, are likely to be returned.

Granger has been handicapped by a weakened supporting cast. He simply does not have the same number of quality Ministers which

Forbes Burnham and Desmond Hoyte commanded.

Within the present Cabinet, there are few persons with the talent of a Sonny Ramphal, Mohammed Shahabudeen, Hubert Jack, Vibert Mingo, Gavin Kennard, Frank Hope and Fred Wills.

Quite honestly, I do not believe that some of the Ministers within the Granger government would have ever been allowed to hold high of-

Taxi driver rescued from alleged carjacker

By Kemol King A taxi driver is expressing gratitude to public-spirited citizens of Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, who rescued him from a brutal attack on Friday January 3 last that landed him in the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Ricky Ramdannie, 44, of Section C, Block Y Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara, said he was soliciting passengers outside of the Republic Bank on Water Street at about 16:09 hrs, when he was approached by a “strapping young man,” who appeared to be in his thirties.

The man requested to be taken to Mon Repos, and Ramdannie agreed to take the job.

The taxi driver explained that as he began to drive up the East Coast public road, the passenger made several requests for him to drive on the “line-top” instead of on the main road. Two requests, he had refused, until a story about a police roadblock and construction work from his passenger, caused Ramdannie to turn on to the line-top around the University of Guyana area.

The passenger reportedly requested to stop at the Mon Repos Market, since he wanted to transact business with a woman.

As they reached Mon Repos, Ramdannie said that he was instructed to drive through small, lonely road, at which point he began to feel unsettled. One road at the side of the market held a police booth. Ramdannie said that, when Persaud saw the booth, he stepped out of the car to make sure that the booth was empty.

The passenger reportedly then asked Ramdannie to drive through a street, then stepped out as if looking for the ‘woman’ he said he wanted to meet.

A moment passed, and the man asked Ramdannie to lend him his phone to make a call.

After several apparent attempts, as Ramdannie moved to get his phone back, he told Kaieteur News that the man punched him to the neck and

Ricky Ramdannie , 44 tried to snatch his car keys.

The passenger reportedly began punching Ramdannie repeatedly.

At one point, Ramdannie allegedly fell and the man struck him with rocks, causing him to black out momentarily.

Fortunately for him, a woman heard his cries for help. She raised an alarm, prompting passersby to approach the scene.

On noticing the crowd, the taxi driver’s attacker reportedly tried to escape, but other drivers used their vehicles to block his path.

Eventually, the robber was arrested by Beterverwagting Police Station ranks, who were sent by Traffic Chief Linden Isles.

He was transferred to the Sparendaam Police Station, which holds male prisoners.

Because of his injuries, Ramdannie said he was unable to give police a statement that day.

He was treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, and released later that Saturday.

After being discharged from the hospital, the married father of five went to uplift his car at the Beterverwagting Police Station.

He was told to go to the Sparendaam Police Station on the following Sunday to give a statement and to have a confrontation with his attacker.

When he returned, a rank attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) facilitated the confrontation, during which the suspect was allowed to read out his statement and give a response. But the alleged robber reportedly refused to comment, save for telling him in the presence of several ranks that he would pay to be released.

But Ramdannie said he insisted that the man be charged.

The detective also reportedly refused to accept the bribe.

A report was reportedly sent to the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP), returning with a recommendation that the suspect be charged.

However, police received the recommendation after the suspect was already released.

He is expected to show up at the Sparendaam Magistrates Court today to be charged.

fice in either the Burnham or Hoyte administrations.

There is a shortage of skills within the government bureaucracy. The government is paying persons supersalaries. And yet the Green State Development Strategy had to have been outsourced to the United Nations Environmental Programme.

The foreign organization produced a document that is more a report than a strategy.

The government knows that what was handed over cannot be used as a strategy and therefore it has had to come up with new slogan called the Decade of Development.

It makes no sense having strategies and slogans unless there is the requisite implementation capacity. The government is being humbugged by an implementation deficit within government.

Poor implementation ratios have stymied the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP). It is utterly disgraceful that at a time when young people are crying out for jobs, large sums should be returned to the Consolidated Fund each year. These sums could have been used as investment to create jobs.

The problem of poor implementation has affected successive PNC governments. The government has paid a high price for stacking the public service with political appointees, many of whom do not have clue what they are about. The result has been a bottleneck to project

implementation. It is no coincidence that after 5 years, the APNU+AFC has been criticised for not undertaking any major, new developmental projects.

The greatest disappointment, however, has been governments economic policies.

The government has persisted with the same economic model developed by the PPPC. Therefore, it should not have expected different results.

The APNU+AFC has continued on the path of begging and borrowing both locally and internationally which was made famous by the PPPC. You cannot be doing the same thing, which the PPPC did and expect different results. There needs to be change in the economic direction of the economy but the list of candidates do not suggest that this likely if the APNU+AFC is returned to power.

Unfortunately, when you look at the names on the APNU+AFC list, it does not

inspire any confidence that there will be a change. And so we can expect the same old problems of a weak supporting cast, poor project implementation and the same old tired neo-liberal policies which continue to benefit the construction class more than it does the ordinary man.

It would be interesting if instead of only naming its Prime Ministerial candidate, the APNU+AFC can also give the public an idea of just what its Cabinet will look like after March 2020. You can bet that most of the present crop of Ministers are likely to be returned.

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

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Kaieteur News

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

2019: One of the most macabre years in Guyanese history TIME magazine has a fixed criterion by which it arrives at the PERSON OF THE YEAR. They do not include values, virtues, achievements etc. Its only requirement is “impact.”

Whether the impact is good or negative, it puts weight on the impact the person created. Based on this criterion, Donald Trump would easily beat out all others.

In 2019, Charrandass Persaud could be on the top of the list for Guyana. He created the absorption that riveted Guyanese in 2019. But that was all he did. He did not command an active presence in 2019.

In my opinion, President Granger could be a serious contender using the TIME magazine determinant.

One has to look hard to find in the past a Guyanese president that in one calendar

year composed so many concepts that were oxymoronic – dangerous yet laughable. The obvious one will always be conjured up when long from now Guyanese talk about President Granger.

It was simply unbelievable and incredible.

When the chairman of the Caribbean Court of Justice advised the lawyers for both opposition and government that they must work out an amicable solution to the GECOM chairman issue and compromise along the way, Granger said he interpreted that to mean that the CCJ ruled that he can select a list of his own.

Well since he could do that then it means he has to submit it to himself because it is the president that has to accept the chairman.

It was an acrobatic leap of

immense strides since the constitution of Guyana remained unchanged after the CCJ chairman made those words. And the constitution stipulates a list from the opposition leader handed in to the president not the other way around.

Granger summoned the heads of foreign missions and delivered his interpretation to them. For me, this was one of the lowest points in 2019.

I will analyse another disturbing faux pas of Granger in a separate column. He has a definition of fair reporting and concluded that state advertisements should be pinned to fair reporting.

No one has asked him if his criterion applies to the Chronicle which in case you are from another Planet and don’t know; that is not a

paper invested with private capital but operating with taxpayers’ money.

For me, the man of 2019 title was shared by Donald Ramotar and Bharrat Jagdeo.

One writes a letter each week in three daily newspapers, the other holds a weekly press conference. But there is no announcement of the words, “I’m sorry.”

I gave both men the title because of their rush to support the wife of Walter Rodney in her condemnation of government’s refusal to make the Commission into Rodney’s death public.

Why would Jagdeo and Ramotar commit selfdecapitation by supporting the public viewing of the report? Both presidents became close to persons who were involved in the planning of Rodney’s death.

Two of these persons

were named in the report.

These two persons have become stupendously rich through close affiliation with these two PPP presidents who knew of their involvement. You can say the year 2019 was the year of shame personified in Ramotar and Jagdeo. I truly feel sorry for Walter’s widow.

Nasty things happened in 2019 that made the egregiousness of that year stand out in the history of Guyana. A young woman from the WPA was made the Minister of the Public Service and within days fired three persons for allegedly giving out information about government’s business.

This young lady wasn’t born when WPA leaders in the seventies were receiving confidential information from state officials including army officers.

Her APNU leaders should tell her they too were receiving confidential files when the PPP was in government and APNU was in the opposition. But here is the thing. She had no proof against the trio and had no legal authority fire them. This

Frederick Kissoon barefaced woman has refused to apologise to Walter Rodney and the people of Guyana for a gargantuan act of stupidity.

I will continue to look at the Draculean tentacles of 2019 but I will end with the title of clown of 2019 – rejected Chairman of GECOM, Justice Patterson. I use the word, “rejected” because the CCJ ruled that he was illegally installed therefore he had to be removed.

Patterson told the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) that he voted against Vishu Persaud for the position of Deputy Chief Election Officer because he found him not trustworthy and shifty.

Guess what? Patterson never met or spoke with Persaud. Patterson never interviewed him. Patterson told the ERC that he arrived at his decision from a paper trail. Where is the paper trail?

There wasn’t any.

Monday January 13, 2020

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Taking back control…

Exporter of dried coconuts seeks regular suppliers More passengers reporting Even with the promised prosperity of the oil and gas, many local businessmen are determined to maximise opportunities within the agriculture sector. Increased production of other crops, including coconuts and high valued produce, agroprocessing, and access to export markets have made this sector more attractive.

In fact, accessing quality crops has seen swift competition between huskers, agro-processors, exporters and vendors.

Farmers have been taking advantage of this situation by setting favourable prices for their produce, especially those in high demand like coconuts.

Mr. Shook Shivmangal, Chief Executive Officer of Compass International, has been exporting coconuts from Guyana to the Dominican Republic since 2006. His company pioneered the exporting of large quantities of dried coconuts. Owing to the growing competition to access dried nuts, Compass International is trying to source suppliers with contractual obligations.

According to Mr. Shivmangal, “I have never signed a contract with any supplier guaranteeing supply or cost per nut.

But, I believe that Guyana’s export of dried coconuts and other byproducts could increase significantly if farmers and processors develop a new business culture, which includes supplying produce based on contractual arrangements.”

Initially, the businessman procured his nuts from mainly Pomeroon and Wakenaam.

However, he was forced to expand his suppliers’ list to include farmers operating on the East Coast Demerara and Berbice.

Although, the uncertainties of coconuts supply and price linger, Mr. Shivmangal has been able to

Mr. Shook Shivmangal load about five to six containers comprising over 200,000 dried coconuts weekly from January 1 to December 31. His company used to export about eight containers weekly. The market still exists for the eight containers but his company is facing competition from processors, water coconut vendors as well as other largescale buyers.

He explained, “We are aware that there are other players in the market. But farmers need to understand the difference with one time or two time big buyers and a consistent market. We cannot blame them if they want to earn extra when the opportunity arises but what happens throughout the year.

To supply the overseas market, our nuts have to be a particular circumference. I have shared this with suppliers, who have been trying to get the right size.

Our nuts go through a process at our warehouse located at Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara. We have 14 persons employed in the process.

Compass International has intentions of expanding their operations in Guyana to add value to the dried nuts.

The businessman is eyeing coconut flour production. He is in the process of securing

land. However, he is hoping that the Ministry of Agriculture or the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) to expose farmers to business training.

Dr. Oudho Homenauth, Chief Executive Officer of NAREI is optimistic that supplies to the company will increase given increasing local production of the nuts.

The CEO stated, “When we did our initial survey a few years ago, we were able to account for about 24,000 acres on the ground…That would include estates that are abandoned or semiabandoned by the owners mainly in the Pomeroon and the East Coast Demerara…To date, we have approximately 28,000 acres under cultivation in Regions One, Two, Three, Four, and Five. Clearly, we are on target for achieving our projection of 5,000 acres within another two to three years. This is because there is a demand for this commodity.”

In light of the international demand for coconut and its by-products, local and foreign companies as well as Government have been investing in the sector.

In 2017, the country earned in excess of US$7.5M from the export of dry nuts, bottled coconut water, virgin coconut oil among other byproducts.

Earnings from this industry are expected to significantly increase within the next three to five years.

“We expect within the next three to five years, it would be one of the leading contributors to the economy from the agriculture standpoint...It doesn’t mean that it would surpass rice and sugar…And, that is why the Ministry, through its agencies including NAREI, GSA, New GMC and the Hope Estate, has been putting a lot of emphasis on this sector,” Dr. Homenauth said.

lawless minibus drivers

By Shikema Dey In 2019, a flurry of headlines circulated, outlining the reckless behaviour of minibus drivers with a blatant disregard for human lives. A number of stories surfaced, telling tales of bus drivers who when asked to consider the safety of others, replied with explicit language, ignored appeals, or ordered passengers out of their vehicles.

Previously, it was said that many passengers chose death over speaking out against irresponsible drivers.

But it appears that no longer are citizens staying silent.

One complainant, Orette Cutting, relayed a story of one driver’s response to a simple request: turn down the loud music.

Cutting stated that on Saturday at around 9am, he boarded a route 42 minibus registration number BRR 8747 at Grove, East Bank Demerara. While in the vicinity of Herstelling, he asked the driver to lower his music so that he could answer his phone.

He stated that due to the lack of transportation available at the time, he made a choice to bear with the loud music being blasted through the speakers.

“I took the call with a client and even though I asked him to turn down the music, the caller could have barely heard me but nevertheless I got through it and the driver turned the music up again but this time, it was louder than before.”

Cutting stated that he told the driver “why you so disrespectful, I just come off the call and you turn up the music higher, and I notice you only lowering it when we passing police so that means you have no respect for anybody.”

The driver immediately began arguing with him demanding to know why he boarded the bus and continued to insult Cutting.

When the bus reached next to the stadium, he stated, the driver announced that he was not operating anymore and asked the passengers to ‘get out of his bus’.

“He pull in the corner and said he ain’t working no more, the bus has to go the mechanic shop so everybody must get out of the bus and there were people in there who needed to get to work and a woman with a young baby. We were all ‘thrown out’ of the bus and left to stand in the rain all because I asked him to turn down his music.”

Immediately after the incident, Cutting

The route 42 minibus reported the matter at the Providence Police Station with hopes that they will act swiftly and reprimand the driver.

Another citizen, Tishana Peters relayed her experience, allegedly with the same minibus operators.

This time, Peters claimed that the driver was smoking what appeared to be an illicit substance, while blasting his music.

The woman stated that after she complained about the smoke and loud music, the driver told her that she needed to “buy her own bus because passengers are not allowed to complain about what he does in his bus.”

According to Peters, other passengers began complaining and the driver did nothing but argue. She quickly exited the bus at the next stop because she was travelling with her daughter at the time.

Peters did not make a report, however but was thankful that she left the bus before something worse had occurred.

Meanwhile, the Traffic Chief Linden Isles had thrown his support behind persons who wish to make complaints against these very drivers.

“Regardless of who owns or who drives the bus, action will be taken.”

Isles stated that he himself is willing to take such reports and continues to encourage persons to speak out and report such matters.

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The Eteringbang Landing, Cuyuni Mazaruni

The lost generation in Guyana’s mines “Me na wan wuk gold; me wan be gunman, gunman does mek mo money me nah frighten fuh kill.”

Each time I ponder upon my expedition to the mining communities of Guyana, this phrase would surface again and again in my head.

This response of a 10-year-old boy who had never seen a classroom disturbed me greatly after I had asked him about what he would like to become in life.

I was given the opportunity to visit a few of the most popular mines in the hinterland regions of Guyana back in 2018.

The thought of getting a firsthand glimpse of Guyana’s mining industry excited me.

My first stop was at the “Big Creek” Backdam, located between Port Kaituma and Matthew’s Ridge, North West District, We arrived at noon and immediately booked a room located behind a shop.

Enjoying the adventure, I made my way down to a creek to freshen up, then returned to my room.

Being extremely tired from the long trip, I fell asleep but was awoken a few hours later by the pounding bass of loud soca music.

I ventured to the shop to investigate the party.

As I entered, I was greeted by the sight of drunken men and women dancing to the latest soca hits.

I bought myself a beer and sat at a table to observe the scenery but

then my attention turned to the sight of drunken boys who could barely stand.

This scene left me with tons of questions in mind, “Why are these kids in a place like this imbibing alcohol?”

Early next day, I awoke and opened my window. On doing so, I recognised the same boys leaving a nearby cabin. They appeared to be still intoxicated.

I saw one of them wrapping what looked like marijuana in a piece of brown paper.

The youths lit the freshly made ‘spliff ’ and shared it among themselves. They laughed and joked and soon disappeared from the area.

Later, as I prepared to check out the dredges with my guide, I enquired about the cabin.

My guide told me that, it is a called a “Kaiamu” a place where prostitutes work. I laughed and then enquired about the boys I saw leaving the cabin that morning.

I was told that they were teenagers who came from poor households and were forced to become miners at a young age.

I soon found out that the boys I had seen were only a fraction of the teenagers in “Big Creek”.

As we toured the mining camps, I saw many others working tirelessly on the dredges; including young girls who were cooks and a few who were prostitutes.

I did not get a chance to interview any of them, but what I

The waterfront at Port Kaituma, NWD

Angelica Sam and some of the kids she hopes to enroll in the new school.

saw was enough to convince me that there is a lost generation in “Big Creek.”

After leaving Big Creek, I visited two more mines in Region One, Five Star and Arakaka.

These mines were filled with brothels, rum shops and drugs and of course numerous children who lived a futureless life. Some have never seen a classroom in their lives but were already mothers and fathers.

Being teenaged parents without knowledge or hope of a brighter future, they are forced to raise their children in these violent and drugfilled areas.

My expedition to Region One eventually ended and I headed to Georgetown to prepare for a flight to Eteringbang, Region Seven, Cuyuni Mazaruni known as the “Big Bush” mines.

I had made friends with a young woman who hailed from that area.

She had a strong personality and appeared to be an education activist in her community.

Miss Angelica Sam asked me to pen some letters to the Government of Guyana on her behalf.

She envisioned having a school in the community for some 150 children.

I told her that such an investment in a mining community is a waste of money because they are often left as

a “white elephants.”

But she was determined, and bugged me daily to pen these letters for her.

“Why are you so eager to have a school built in a gold producing area?” I asked.

Her response was “I have hope that with a little bit of education, a partially lost generation can find a path to become an adult of value.”

This motivated me not only to pen the letters but to visit these areas to prove that indeed there is a lost generation in Guyana’s mines.

I arrived at Eteringbang for a two week tour and was immediately taken to meet the parents of the 150 children.

My discovery left me dumbfounded. Many of these parents were teenage moms who are still young enough to attend school.

After meeting the parents, I decided to take a night tour of the Eteringbang Landing called “Kaiamu.”

I was dismayed by the sight of boys as young as 12 smoking drugs and drinking alcohol at the various shops.

Later that evening, I sat outside a popular “disco,” watching a group of teenage girls standing at the Continued on page 23

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Monday January 13, 2020

Nature lover and budding entrepreneur seeks to fulfill family’s dream

Stephon Harding relaxing at home at Coomacka.

by Enid Joaquin

S

tephon Harding is a young man with a passion for nature, so much so that he was given the nickname “Nature.”

No wonder, as Stephon spends most of his time on the sprawling grounds of his parent’s nature resort and family fun park at Coomacka (Linden).

There, he occupies himself with keeping the facility clean, while also cultivating agricultural and flowering plants. Coconut trees line the walkway, and beautifully pruned plants add to the natural beauty of the grounds.

At 23, Stephon is preoccupied with transforming what was mostly undulating sand hills, punctuated by giant trees and shrubs, into a place where people from across the country and even further afield, can come to enjoy and revel in nature.

“We have the huts, plus tents and even sleeping bags, for those persons that would want to overnight”, Stephon declared.

The young, budding entrepreneur, who describes the Fun Park as a work in progress, said that he has been working on the facility since it was birthed about five years ago.

Pointing to a huge, natural pool, Stephon said that he helped his parents and another relative, to dig the facility by hand.

The water, he said, comes up from the earth in a continuous flow.

He admits that there is much more work to be done, but there is only so much that he can do on his own, as his father works at Bosai Minerals INC, and hardly has the time to assist.

Notwithstanding

insufficient labour and lack of financial resources, Stephon was able, to almost single handedly build three small huts, using raw lumber from the surrounding areas.

However, his father did most of the work on the huge benab at the resort.

His mother, Shevon Harding, said that although her husband is of Indigenous descent, he had no idea how to plait the troolie palm for the roof.

“It was actually another man that had to show them how to do it, and the funny part is, the man is not even Amerindian,” she admits in amusement.

But the lessons in troolie plaiting were enough, because Stephon boasts, that he can now actually roof a benab.

“There is so much to be done around here, but everything comes at a cost”, he declared.

According to Stephon, the Fun Park was established by his parents, entirely out of pocket.

Some of the amenities, like the solar lighting system and generator, cost a tidy sum, and so any further developments, would not be possible without external funding.

His mom Shevon, explained, “This project was long in the making.... it cost us a lot, and presently we’re not seeing any returns, so it’s kind of frustrating, but people are advising us not to give up.”

For Stephon, giving up is not an option, as he has found his niche.

“I love nature, and so naturally, I love this place, and I’m going to work hard to take it to the next level.”

He envisions in another five years that, “Rock Sand Resort and Fun Park”, will be among the most popular resorts in Guyana.

Monday January 13, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

PAGE 18

Kaieteur News

Monday January 13, 2020

Vandals caused Leguan flooding - Minister Sharma says several koker doors deliberately removed or damaged

Staffers working to repair the damaged koker doors.

A section of Success Village that is affected by flooding.

Minister in the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Jaipaul Sharma is blaming vandals for deliberately

tampering with several kokers in Leguan, causing severe flooding and million in losses. The Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MOPI) along with the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) is currently working to repair the damaged structures.

Sharma told Kaieteur News that he received a call informing him that there was flooding in an area in Leguan, due to the vandalism to a koker’s outer door.

According to the Minister, the information he received suggested that the door was removed to allow rice farmers to have access to water to irrigate their crops.

H o w e v e r, a f t e r t h e engineers visited the site, they were informed that not one, but several areas were affected since several koker doors were either opened or damaged.

“This seems to have been a deliberate act…since the doors were opened during spring tide…which would indicate that it was salt water coming in.” He added that this could not have been a coincidence since “several

koker doors were opened at the same time affecting so many different areas.”

Among the affected areas are approximately 20 households in Success Village, 30 households in Blenheim Village and six households in Amsterdam and Phoenix Village.

Among the causes of the flooding is the complete removal of the koker door at Phoenix, vandalism to the outer koker door at Success Village, the lifting of the koker door at Blenheim Village and tampering of the koker door at Amsterdam.

Thus far, three contractors have been mobilised to repair the damage.

These are S. Maraj Contracting, R. Maraj General Contracting and Khan’s Enterprise. Minister Sharma said all obstacles have been removed at Blenheim and the door is operational, allowing the water to drain off the land in that area, while a new door has also been installed at Success Village. Work is presently continuing in the affected areas.

(Shivanie Rampersaud)

Monday January 13, 2020

PAGE 19

Kaieteur News

GUYANESE HORROR FICTION KAMARANG…

She stares from the window

By Michael Jordan The area where the brothels were located seemed to hold a darkness of its own, despite the presence of the same intermittent streetlights that were characteristic of Georgetown. It was the same with the street where he now stood. He looked up at the building that they had once called The Ritz. He still wasn’t certain what had brought him here, only that he had felt drawn to the place the first time he had seen it, just a week ago.

He could hear music upstairs. He saw the silhouette of a woman at a window, a glowing cigarette dangling from one hand. And like that first time, he sensed eyes on him.

Michael Jones would later wonder whether he would ever have come to the old hotel-turned-brothel if he hadn’t broken up with Shonette.

He’d planned to stay the night; himself and Shonette in her bedroom in the old house in Bent Street; her big sister—knifed to death a year later—in another room with the boy that she sneaked in when her husband worked the night shift at Sproston’s wharf.

But Shonette was dressed to go out when he arrived. He suspected that she was going out with her exboyfriend, who played in a steelband, and who had blackened her eye once over him. He stuck around for a few minutes, mumbled goodbye, kissed her even as she turned her lips away, and left.

He thought of going to the movies, and he let the taxi stop in Charlotte Street opposite the Strand Cinema. But it was already ninethirty, which meant that the first show was almost done.

Dressed up and nowhere to go…

It was then that he remembered the place he’d seen for the first time a week ago.

He hadn’t thought that he would have found The Ritz so easily at night. With nightfall, the area approaching High Street seemed to take on a sordidness that he wasn’t conscious of in daylight. As he approached the end of Charlotte Street, heading to High Street, someone emitted a cat-call from an empty lot. He glanced in the direction of the sound, and found himself staring at two young men with tight shirts and broad-belted, bell-bottom pants hanging girlishly on their hips.

He glanced away quickly and hurried on. Further up, near the Avenue of the Republic, a grotesquely fat woman in a denim miniskirt sat on a fire hydrant opposite City Hall. Even in the semidarkness, he could see the knobs of fat on her thighs.

“Doing business, Reds?” she called to him in a hoarse voice.

What the hell was he getting himself into? He thought of heading to Stabroek Market, and catching a bus that would take him home. But he felt drawn on by a sense that something extraordinary was about to happen to him. He stepped into High Street and headed south. There were fewer streetlights now, and the ones that existed seemed to emit a

weak, yellow glow that the darkness absorbed. The sound of strident Indian music came to him from a large, two-storied building.

He walked further on… and there it was. The pagoda-style building on the opposite side of the road.

It wasn’t empty this time.

Someone was playing a corny old tune by Paul and Paula. The lights were on in the second storey. The door to the entrance was open.

Again, for the briefest of moments, he sensed someone watching him from that empty window at the top.

He took a deep breath, and stepped inside.

A brief flight of wooden steps

of the inner stairs.

He glanced at his watch, surprised to see that it was already eleven. His parents would want him in church tomorrow. Maybe he should leave after he finished his beer…

But then he heard light footsteps coming down the corridor, and the most beautiful woman he had ever seen stepped into the hallway, and he knew, somehow, that this was the woman who had stared at him from the brothel window. * The woman entering the brothel was about his height. She was fair, with long black hair, and high

took him to a hallway that had been converted into a sort of beer garden.

Men and women sat drinking at wooden tables and benches. A slim, tallish-looking woman with a low afro, and a dab of powder between her breasts, sat between two men.

An older woman with a similar hairstyle, and with a sulky mouth, dragged on a cigarette, while a man spoke to her. A fair-skinned woman, whom he estimated to be in her twenties, put ice into a glass; a sullen-looking man had an arm around her.

The music that he had heard came from a punch-box in a distant corner. To his right, a bearded man in a red, gold and green toque served drinks from behind a meshed-in bar.

Michael sensed eyes on him as he entered the brothel. To cover his self-consciousness, he walked over to the bar and ordered a beer. He then stood, bracing against the rail

cheekbones and eyes that marked her Amerindian heritage. She seemed to check her stride as their eyes met, and he thought he saw the hint of a smile at the edges of her lips. She passed close to him before she headed for the bar, leaving behind a faint, musky scent.

He sensed a perceptible lull in the now-familiar noises of the brothel; sensed eyes on the woman; furtive, hostile. He thought he heard someone suck their teeth.

The woman had a small handbag slung over her shoulder.

She opened it and handed the barman a dollar. He handed her a bottle of Woodpecker Cider and a glass of ice, and, without looking in his direction, but with that same hint of a smile, she headed to the other end of the hallway, disappearing in a corner that was concealed by the bar.

The older woman with the short

afro threw a barking, humourless laugh in the direction in which the girl had disappeared. A man who had punched another tune into the punch-box stared at the corner where the woman had disappeared, then moved to a table.

Again, he sensed that he was on the verge of some strange experience that was linked to this woman. He had sensed again, in that brief stare, the hint of a game being played.

Was she a prostitute? None of the men had even made a pass at her, though he sensed, from the way she had approached the bar, that she was not a stranger here. Was she alone? Was she waiting for someone? What was she doing in that corner?

Why not come and find out? a voice said in his head.

And if he went to her and she caused a commotion, maybe he could get thrown out. If he didn’t, however, he would never know the truth of this mystery.

He took out his handkerchief, wiped his face. He resisted the temptation to pat his afro. He took a deep breath and, feeling as if everyone was watching him, and knew what he was up to, walked on legs that seemed to be someone else’s, to the girl’s corner.

But he didn’t go directly to her.

He went to the punch-box, which was about twelve feet from the girl’s table. He peered at the selections, conscious of the girl to his right. Mr. Editor, by Brook Benton…I’m Aware of love…Jerry Butler…The Answer To Everything…Del Shannon….more oldies…some Ernie Smith reggae tunes that had gone out since he was in first form….no Donna Summer…nothing from Thank God It’s Friday…nothing from Bob Marley’s latest album…nothing from Max Romeo or…

Hotel California…The Eagles That was okay. He took a twentyfive-cent piece from his pocket, fumbled it into the slit at the side of the punch-box…listened to it tinkle, then heard the introductory guitarpiece for Hotel California. Heart thumping, he turned from the punch-box, as if he was about to return to his position by the stairs.

Then, as if suddenly changing his mind, he headed for the girl’s table.

She was staring out of the window.

“Ah…excuse me…”

She turned to him. Just stared.

“Excuse me,” he said again. “Is alright…if I sit here? I wouldn’t be disturbing you—” He thought he saw the hint of that same mocking smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

Finally, she said: “Is alright.” Not hostile; not welcoming, either. Her voice had a strange lilt. She turned back to the window.

He edged himself into the bench facing hers, sitting with his body turned slightly away from her. His legs were trembling, the way they had when he had first danced with a girl. He tapped his fingers on the table, a man just interested in music and a few beers…

He tried to not stare at her, but

her persona was magnetic. He watched her as she continued to stare indifferently out of the window.

She had a proud, haughty profile.

He sensed that she was older that he had first thought…twenty-five, at least. He saw tiny crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes and other lines on her long neck. Skin paler than he would have liked, as if she seldom saw sunlight. Her hair, loose and jet black, long past her shoulders, combed back from a high forehead. But the most arresting thing was her mouth. Full, pouting lips, made more prominent by her high cheekbones; a mouth that seemed to evoke several emotions at once: amusement, cruelty, sadness.

He could smell that strange perfume that made his thoughts spin, that made him want to reach across and touch the too-pale skin of this girl, who was staring outside at heaven knows what in Lombard Street.

But with that thought came an image of her screaming obscenities at him, and his humiliating exit from the brothel…

Something touched him under the table. Something soft, smooth and warm, touching his left leg just below the knee.

He felt his face becoming hot. It couldn’t be…He gave the girl a quick glance as he took a sip at his beer. She was still staring out of the window. He sensed that something was different, but could read nothing in the haughty profile.

He shifted his leg away slightly, while pretending to glance at his watch. Almost immediately, the leg was touching his again; and not just touching, but pressing and rubbing slyly against his. He stole a glance at her. Her right hand was griping the window-sill. Her eyes were almost closed. Her face seemed to glow with more colour.

He began to press his leg against hers, felt her pressing back.

He glanced at his watch. Eleventhirty. Now! he thought. He turned to the girl. “Ah…excuse me..”

The slanted eyes focused on him, yet, there seemed to be a strange blankness to them. Then she said: “Yes?” “Ah…can I buy you something to drink?” The words came out in a tone that was too high and tremulous—too anxious. He dropped his eyes from the girl’s, his face hot, braced mentally for a blunt refusal.

“Yes,” she said.

“Cider?”

Continued on page 20

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Monday January 13, 2020

SHE STARES FROM THE WINDOW From page 19 She nodded.

Michael returned to the bar, noticed the barman’s surprised and questioning look when he ordered the cider. He thought of buying another beer, but opted for an ale instead.

She smiled her thanks when he returned with the cider. He sat closer to her this time, and though she still stared out of the window, he still felt the slow, intermittent rubbing of their legs under the table. The play was burning him up.

She was staring at him now. “First time you up here?”

Again, he caught that strange inflection, almost as if she were speaking a language that was foreign to her.

“Yes,” he said.

“You from town?”

God, he could listen to that voice all night. “Yes,” he said again, and, thinking he should say something further added: “My name’s Michael.”

“Mi-kal,”she repeated thoughtfully. “Michael…”

Then, before he could ask, she said “I am Lucille.”

He had expected something more exotic; Spanish-sounding, perhaps.

But Lucille was okay, exotic in its own way.

“You’re from….?”

She seemed to hesitate, then said, “North-West.”

“Okay.”

Silence for a while, just staring, the touching of legs, his mind spinning at her closeness, wondering at this strange, coiled tension that he sensed behind the smile playing around the edges of that wide mouth; wondering where this was heading, thinking he knew; thinking why me? as he remembered the face at the window at the top of the Ritz; wondering at the dreamy and almost disquieting feeling of having done this before…

Suddenly she reached for her hand-bag. She stood, and he watched her head to the now-silent punch-box. She pressed the buttons, then returned to the table. From the punch-box came the crackling sound of a record that had been played too much, then the husky and wistful voice of Helen Shapiro floated to them…

Somewhere beyond the sea Somewhere waiting for me My lover stands on golden sands And watches the ships that go sailing He felt his skin break out in goosebumps.

An unbearable loneliness swept through him. Her hands were on the table, fondling her halfempty glass. He saw his right hand stretching out to hers.

He couldn’t stop it. It was as if it belonged to someone else.

He touched her fingers, held them, drew her hand

gently away from her glass.

Her fingers were damp, cool, the feel of her scattering his already jumbled thoughts.

Her fingers tightened around his.

“Come upstairs with me,” she said.

The words brought back the memory of the pale face at the window, and with that memory came a churning disquiet. But then she rose, and he was following her past the staring patrons, then to the end of the corridor, up long, dark, twisting uneven stairs, up one storey, then the next, then down a short corridor, and finally she stopped at a room at the middle of the corridor. She opened her handbag, pushed a large key into the door and entered.

The light was off, but some light filtered through the window facing Harel Street and the other small window to the east. In the light, he saw a chair, a warashi slung on a wall, a small bed, and a large and apparently new mirror, which seemed out of place in the sparsely decorated room.

As they entered the room, he heard a rustling sound rushing to his head. He ducked, and emitted a cry of surprise, as something that looked like a large moth fluttered close to his face, then darted to the eastern wall where the warashi hung. He heard the rustling of wings

for a moment, like cockroaches among old paper, then silence.

The girl laughed softly.

She stared towards the warashi and said something in a dialect that he couldn’t discern.

He joined in her laughter to cover his embarrassment, though his heart was thumping, and the incident brought back a niggling sense of disquiet. But then she moved to the bed, and everything that happened after that had the mixed-up quality of a dream… * Someone was shaking him. He awoke, to see a woman with a pale face and long, loose hair smiling down on him. For a moment, he wondered what this strange woman was doing in his bed.

Then the memory of his crazy night came back to him.

He sat up. How long had he spent here? He realised that he hadn’t removed his watch. The luminous hands said two-fifteen. Sunday, and here he was, lying in this brothel, with day-clean creeping up on him…his father had said something about church today…

“You going now,” she said.

The sound of her voice, the scent of her, brought back a surge of memories, and he thought of just lying there, maybe just for another hour…He kissed her, then,

reluctantly, sat at the edge of the bed. He peered in the darkness, saw his trousers and jersey, slung on the chair.

The girl rose, touched a switch near the door. He got a flash of the small, strange tattoo on her left thigh; something that looked like a scorpion with wings. Another surge of lust hit him as he watched her nakedness. She smiled as she caught him staring.

He stood, surprised as a sudden bout of dizziness struck him. He blinked, and the dizziness subsided. He went over to the chair and retrieved his clothing.

He pulled on his jeans, feeling the afro-comb in one of the side pockets, now remembering that he had walked with it in anticipation of his tryst with Shonette. He put on his jersey, combed his hair quickly in front of the mirror. He put on his Hushpuppies, then looked up to see the girl standing near him.

He felt a sudden wave of depression at the thought of leaving. He pulled the girl to him, hugging her tight, inhaling her scent. Her arms encircled him, and he caressed her back, pausing as his fingers encountered a small depression just above her left hip.

(A scar?)

She flinched away from his fingers. “I will follow you downstairs,” she said. She shifted out of his arms and headed to the bed. He watched her retrieve her clothes from the bed-rail, puzzled by the sharpness in her voice, the sudden shift in mood. But when she came over to him, fully dressed, she was smiling, the sudden, strange moodiness apparently gone. She caressed his face, then opened the door, and he followed her back down the long, uneven stairs.

She lingered at the bottom to give him a long, sweet kiss.

“I will see you soon,” she said. She stared after him as he made his way back down the corridor.

The hall was empty now, the barman nowhere in sight.

He half-wondered if he had dreamt it all, because when he looked back up the corridor, the girl was gone, too.

THE tiredness hit him as he turned into Lombard Street. His eyes burned; his legs felt heavy. Had he just left the bed of a beautiful prostitute, who had demanded nothing from him?

The feeling that he had dreamt it all returned. He felt the urge to turn back to see if the Ritz, and the girl, really did exist.

You crazy, dread. Of course, she was real. The scent of her was still on him.

The memory of her harsh breathing was still in his head.

As he passed the Pakarima Guest House near the end of Lombard Street, he saw a tall, square-shouldered man coming towards him. As they neared each other, the man fumbled in his shirt pocket and took out a cigarette. He stopped, patted his pockets, sucked his teeth, then stared at Michael.

“You got matches, friend?”

“Nah,” Michael said, and continued on his way, his thoughts only on sleep.

And so he failed to see the man turn to stare at him; sniffing the air, brow furrowed in what seemed like surprise and consternation.

The man, a pork-knocker named Vibert Sealey, stood for a moment longer, his unlit cigarette dangling and forgotten in his mouth. He sniffed the air again. Nothing now. But he could have sworn that he had smelt perfume. But not just any perfume. Her perfume. He had smelt it when he had passed the boy. He shook his head, trying to push away the sudden rush of dread, mixed, as always, with a stirring in his old loins.

Nerves, Vibert Sealey…just nerves!

He continued south down Lombard Street, then headed into Harel Street. Now the smell came to him again. He stopped. Yes, there it was…he had always had a keen nose. He looked around.

He was standing near The Ritz Guest House.

It was his old watering hole, before Josephine and his fight with Johnny Perreira.

Now he recalled that someone had told him that The Ritz had reopened.

Hadn’t the person also said something about it being a brothel now?

The windows were shut, the building in darkness, but now he suddenly sensed hostile eyes on him. He stared up at the building. Stared up both sides of the street.

Nothing.

So why was his skin crawling?

“The hell with it,” he muttered. “The hell with it.”

Then he hurried east down Harel Street, walking as fast as he could from those unseen eyes, and from that smell, that maddening smell…

(Taken from the supernatural novel Kamarang by Michael Jordan.

Copies of the illustrated edition of Kamarang will be on sale again this week at Austin’s Book Store.

Kamarang (Kindle and paperback, with illustrations) is also available on Amazon The author can also be contacted for autographed copies on +592 645 2447 or by email: kmarangnight@gmail.com)

Monday January 13, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 21

PAGE 22

Monday January 13, 2020

Kaieteur News

Britain, France and Germany urge Iran to stick to 2015 nuclear deal

FOR SALE (1) 320 CL Caterpiller Excavator low mileage. Never work interior. 15M Neg. 6851237,609-1237 SERVICES Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040 ICONIC MARKETING & PRINTING –TEL: 6006887: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.

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Monday January 13, 2020

Kaieteur News

Koker attendants who shirk their duty should be charged for criminal negligence

- Minister Patterson Minister of Public Infrastructure (MPI), David Patterson believes that koker attendants who neglect their duty should be charged for criminal negligence.

Patterson said that the post given to monitor a koker is very important and must not be taken lightly.

Guyanas entire coastline is below sea level and a simple mistake can have devastating effects especially at the “Spring Tide season.”

The minister emphasized that one major breach will not only cost Guyana billions in revenue but can also claim human lives and spread diseases.

He also made it clear that every time there is a breach, a significant amount of tax payers dollars is “forked out” to repair the damage.

If workers “pull up their socks”, said Patterson, not only will such major damage be prevented but a significant amount of money will be saved.

There have been reports of attendants becoming drunk and leaving their posts.

Minister in the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Jaipaul Sharma has also accused individuals of deliberately vandalising several kokers in Leguan (see other story).

Patterson said for some time now his Ministry has

A recently breached koker that caused major flooding in Leguan, Essequibo Islands recognised the “weakness” of the various Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) to penalise such workers for their irresponsibility.

As a result, the MPI had recommended that these workers be placed under the direct surveillance of the central government.

This means that these workers would be hired by the Central Government.

MPI and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) would then have the responsibly to monitor them closely.If they are found “wanting” on the job

then MPI and NDIA will have the authority to impose sanctions and penalize them for their short comings.

But Patterson said this recommendation that was endorsed by the Ministry of Communities and the Ministry of Agriculture was rejected by the Local Governments NDCs. “But we will try again if we win the upcoming elections,” Patterson said.

The Minister also indicated that he will also suggest that laws be put in place to criminally charge workers for their negligence.

The lost generation in Guyana’s mines From page 14 entrance with beers in their hands. One of girls caught my attention, she looked extremely young. I called her to have a chat and I discovered that she was only 13.Even though she was that young, she was working as a prostitute.She was reluctant to tell me her correct name and said “call me China.”I learned next day that she lived some miles down-river.I was told that she has eight siblings; her parents are alcoholics; her elder brothers are drug addicts and her sisters are teenage moms. I also met a 14-year-old boy who worked in one of the nearby backdams on a land dredge.

He told me that he had never met his father and that his mom had drowned in the Cuyuni River in an attempt to save her children after their boat had capsized.

His grandfather, Jonas Hunter, said that the young man’s mother had died when he was just a baby and his father, a Barbadian miner, had returned to Barbados.

When I asked the young man about his future plans, he responded “I want to be the best “jet man” so that I can be hired by the Brazilians, because they pay good and I want a girl friend.”

Mining pit at Big Creek During my stay, I would constantly get the same response from the children of Eteringbang.Some wanted to be boat captains, “marack men”, dredge owners and “detector man.”But there was one response that shook me greatly, it was the response of a ten year old lad who seemed to have deformity with his feet.

He dreamed of becoming a gunman and wasn’t afraid to kill people.

Some might say that he is only a child but activist Miss

Angelica Sam said that these lost kids are being influenced by what they see around them.The mines in Guyana have nothing else to offer but violence, drugs and alcohol.

Her plea for a school was finally acknowledged earlier this year and Eteringbang is on course to have its first school this year.

Miss Sam hopes that with the introduction of a school, the lost generation of Eteringbang can be recovered.

PAGE 23

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Kaieteur News

Monday January 13, 2020

Monday January 13, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Future of CCJ is uncertain – Oscar Ramjeet The future of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is uncertain, says veteran Attorney-at-Law Oscar Ramjeet.

Established in 2005, the CCJ now stands as the Court with original jurisdiction for member states of the Caribbean Community, and appellate jurisdiction for only four states, including Guyana.

The majority of member states have not yet adopted the CCJ as the Court with final appellate jurisdiction.

Majority of them still use the UK-based Judicial Privy Council (JPC) as their final court of resort. Recently, several referenda from Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines failed to abolish appeals to the Privy Council, leaving the adoption of the CCJ by those states to be uncertain.

Penning a missive to Kaieteur News, Ramjeet noted the Court’s 2019 ruling on Guyana’s No Confidence Motion, which ultimately determined Guyana’s APNU+AFC Government to have been defeated by the December 21, 2018 No-Confidence motion. The Attorney described the decision as lukewarm, as the Court, though ruling unanimously, did not specify a deadline for the holding of the General Election.

The APNU+AFC Government still remains in office, more than a year after being toppled by the motion.

All this Ramjeet asserted to buttress his argument about the uncertainty of the Court’s future.

Guyana’s use of the Court has been plentiful, with 2019

being the second consecutive year that Guyana topped the list of countries filing cases in the Court’s appellate jurisdiction. Guyana also accounted for the majority of all cases with the Trinidad-based Court. The other countries utilising the Court as its appellate jurisdiction include Barbados, Belize and Dominica. Outside of that four, the other member states are yet to pave the way for the adoption of the Caribbean Court.

Ramjeet said that only a few years ago, there had been some indication by about seven countries that they would have adopted the CCJ as their final Appellate Court.

“St. Lucia has backed off and Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have failed to secure referenda for the CCJ to be the final Court… Only Guyana, Barbados, Belize, and Dominica are on board with a combined population of 1.5 million as compared to 5 million from those eight countries that have not yet joined which included the two big countries of Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.”

Noting that there may

Atttorney-at-Law Oscar Ramjeet have emerged “grumblings” from those countries about returns from the Court’s rulings derived from its original jurisdiction given their financial contributions, Ramjeet opined that those countries have only themselves to blame for not taking advantage fully of the appellate division of the Court.

He added that the litigants could save a lot of money using the Trinidad based Court instead of traveling all the way to London.

Presently, even if no other (Continued on page 22)

Caribbean Court of Justice, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad

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Kaieteur News

Monday January 13, 2020

Iran’s only female Olympic medalist says she has defected

Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin (IRI) of Iran at the Rio Olympics Womens 57kg Taekwondo quarterfinals. (Reuters/Issei Kato)

DUBAI (Reuters) - Irans only female Olympic medalist has said on social media she had left her homeland because she had had enough of being used by its authorities as a propaganda tool.

Taekwondo champion Kimia Alizadeh, who won a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, implied in an Instagram post that she had moved to Europe. She wrote on an account she has used for some time, but it was not immediately possible to verify her location.

“No one has invited me to Europe and I havent been given a tempting offer. But I accept the pain and hardship of homesickness because I didnt want to be part of hypocrisy, lies, injustice and flattery,” she said.

Monday December 13, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Today you might want to concentrate on one of your private projects for which you have a lot of passion, Aries.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Memories from the distant past, perhaps as far back as early childhood, could keep popping into your conscious mind today, Taurus.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) An object that you treasure, perhaps a family heirloom, could be missing, Gemini.

Don't panic. It's probably somewhere in the house, although it may have slipped behind something or had a pile of other stuff put on top of it.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Today you might play detective, Cancer. Something or someone, perhaps a pet, has gone missing in your neighborhood and you'll be out there leading the charge.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Worries about money that plague you today could well be misplaced, Leo. To all appearances, the financial road might temporarily get a little rough, but probably all is not as dire as it seems.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Rational thought gets muddled today as everything seems to be happening to you at once, Virgo.

Everyone wants your advice, lots of people need favors, and those in authority have new tasks for you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) A strange communication could come from a person who doesn't leave a name and whose voice you don't recognize, Libra. It might, however, sound important and therefore could bother you throughout the afternoon.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) This is not the day to do in-depth research of any kind, Scorpio, whether it's an intellectual subject or how to put together a new computer system..

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) A friend you've known for years might suddenly shock you by saying some unkind things that you would never have expected of him or her, Sagittarius.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Have you just recently reached a cherished goal, Capricorn? If so, you might temporarily be confused as to what you're going to pursue in the future.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You might be introduced to a new colleague, Aquarius.

Don't be surprised if this person makes your flesh crawl.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Perhaps it's best if you stay away from your current love partner today, Pisces. Your friend is having some very draining hassles with family and on the job and won't be in the best of moods.

Mahin Farhadizadeh, a deputy Iranian sports minister, said: “I have not read Kimias post, but as far as I know she always wanted to continue her studies in physiotherapy,” the semi-official ISNA news agency reported.

Alizadeh said the Islamic Republics authorities had attributed her success to their management and the fact that she wore the Islamic veil, which is obligatory in Iran.

“I am one of the millions of oppressed women in Iran whom theyve been playing for years... I wore whatever they told me and repeated whatever they ordered. Every sentence they ordered I repeated,” she wrote.

“None of us matter for them, we are just tools.”

She said that while the

government exploited her medals politically, officials would humiliate her with remarks such as “It is not virtuous for a woman to stretch her legs!”Alizadeh said at the time of her medal in the 57kg category that it had made her happy for Iranian girls.

Yesterday she appeared torn by her decision.

“Should I start with hello, goodbye or condolences?

Hello oppressed people of Iran, goodbye noble people of Iran, my condolences to you people who are always mourning,” she wrote.

In the past week, 176 people, many Iranians with dual citizenship, were killed when the Iranian military mistakenly shot a Ukrainian airliner down, and at least 56 died in a stampede at the funeral

for an Iranian military commander killed by a U.S. air strike.Alizadeh is the third top Iranian sports person to stop representing the country in recent months.

In December, Irans Chess Federation said top rated chess champion Alireza Firouzja had decided not to play for Iran over its informal ban on competing against Israeli players.Three months earlier, the International Judo Federation said Iranian judoka Saeid Mollaei had refused to return home over fears for his safety after he ignored orders from his national federation to pull out of fights to avoid a potential final meeting with an Israeli.

Kipruto sets 10km road...

From page 32 fellow Kenyan Joyciline Jepkosgeis record set in Prague three years ago.

However, her official time was later confirmed as 29:46, making her the second fastest woman ever.

Rosemary Wanjiru and Norah Jeruto clocked identical times of 29:51 to finish behind Chepkirui and move to joint third on the world alltime list.

It was the first time three women finished had a 10km road race inside 30 minutes.

New Kid on...

From page 31 focus on how to improve my bowling. I believe batting is a talent and a skill and it also has a lot to do with self believe and mind. But I always believe I could handle myself with the bat,” Smith stated.

“I started to get away to go to the cricket field to train since I was little and since then I havent turned back. Ive always loved cricket plus my dad use to have me around the Guyana National team at a very young age and Ive always dreamt to play at this level since then,” added Smith.Smith plays for Lower Corentyne in the CGIs Franchise league and also plays Club Cricket in Trinidad.

“A lot of people have helped me in a lot of ways… too much to mention. But Ive taken advice from my dad, the Coaches in the teams I have played for and Ive worked hard coming into this tournament,” said Smith.

Smith ended by thanking everyone who has given him this opportunity. The selectors, Coaches, his teammates for their support and his dad, whom he says is always there to help and advise him.

Monday January 13, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Williams breaks three-year title ATP makes $500,000 donation drought to win in Auckland for Australian bushfire relief

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Serena Williams won her first title since the 2017 Australian Open with a 6-3 6-4 victory over Jessica Pegula at the Auckland Classic yesterday but was unable to complete the perfect week in New Zealand when she lost the doubles final.

The 38-year-old Williams, who said she would donate all her prize money to Australian bushfire relief funds, and good friend Caroline Wozniacki were beaten by American duo Asia Muhammad and Taylor Townsend 6-4 6-4.

The result meant that Wozniacki was unable to complete her own fairytale farewell to a tournament with which she has become synonymous, having played in New Zealands largest city every year since 2015.

The 29-year-old Dane, who was beaten by Pegula in the singles semi-finals, is retiring after the Australian Open, which runs from Jan 20 to Feb. 2.

“I have loved coming back here,” Wozniacki said after tournament organizers made a special presentation before the doubles trophy was given to Muhammad and Townsend.

“Serena, thank you playing doubles with me, it has been so much fun and the only regrets I have is that we didnt do this sooner.

“I have had such a blast and it is rare that I have this much fun on court and it was a really fun way to finish off

Serena Williams of the USA hits to Maria Sharapova of Russia in the first round on day one of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

(Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports) in Auckland.”

Williams singles victory, however, gave the American her 73rd WTA title and broke a near three-year drought, despite having appeared in five finals since she clinched her 23rd Grand Slam crown with a win at the Australian Open in 2017.

She is chasing Australian Margaret Courts record 24 Grand Slam singles titles, but has lost two Wimbledon and two U.S. Open finals since her 6-4 6-4 victory over elder sister Venus in Melbourne.

“It feels good, it has been a long time,” Williams said. “I played an incredible opponent in Jessica and honestly it was a great match.”

Williams had struggled for consistency earlier in the week, but sent an ominous message to the Australian Open field when she demolished promising teenager Amanda Anisimova 6-1 6-1 in their semi-final and then beat an impressive Pegula yesterday.

“I was definitely improving as the week went on and I needed to because I had some tough matches,” Williams said.

“I feel fortunate and blessed to be out here and to be healthy and to play. I have been playing for so long and been through so much and Im happy to be doing something I love.”

Macorps Miguel Oviedo dominates...

From page 33 (76/8) taking top honors away from William Walker (owner of Oasis Cafe) who shot (79/11).

William has been on a winning streak for several months now and continues to demonstrate his ability to perform under pressure, being in the winners circle many times in the past few months.

Patrick Prasad has been one of the most consistent golfers at the LGC over the years and undoubtedly has participated in more tournaments annually than any other golfer.

However, he is now being actively challenged by a tough group of contenders comprised of former Captain Brian Glasford, Patrick Prasad, William Walker and Former President Brian Hackett, who is returning after an absence following the sad loss of his Mom. But it was the 13-28 Flight that saw record performances.

Miguel Oviedo (62/27) 1st;

Carlos Carbo (68/28) 2nd; and Bholawram Deo (69/19) 3rd.

Other great performances in this Flight were offered by Ayube Subhan (70/14); Shanella London (70/15); Fazil Haniff (70/15); Robert Hanoman (71/28); Maxim Mangra (71/19).

Mike Guyadin, cricketer turned golfer Nirmaldeo Sarwan, Dr. Philbert London and Maurice Solomon, Rookie golfer ‘Curry’ Ganpat also performed credibly in yet another tournament. Miguel Oviedo added another record when he won the Longest Drive, while Fazil Haniff won the Best Gross and Shanella London won Nearest to the Pin.Macorp CEO Guillermo Escarraga expressed his satisfaction with the grounds (his company plays a major role in the development) and hinted that the Club would bring forward a similar point system to the FedEx Cup that would be a grand finale at the Macorp sponsored event in

November.

A&R Jiwanram Printery of 31 Back St. Bel Air Village, Georgetown, Tel: 226-5588, is a modern professional hi-tech Printing & Graphic Design Company that does a wide range of print jobs including banners, jerseys or clothing, calendars, books, wrappers, business cards etc. in small or large quantities as requested, with a general maximum turnaround time of 24 hours.

CEO of A&R Mr. Paul Jiwanram, who is also a professional Racing Car Driver, is a strong supporter of the Lusignan Golf Club, making available paper and print facilities for the Club at much reduced cost, and sometimes at no cost.

For more information on how you can be a part of the fastest growing sport in Guyana, please contact the LGC via Facebook lusignangolfclub or call 2205660/645-0944.

An Australian Army combat engineer from the 5th Engineer Regiment utilises a JD-450 Bulldozer to spread out burnt woodchip at the Eden Woodchip Mill in southern New South Wales, Australia, in support of Operation Bushfire Assist, January 11, 2020. (SGT Bill Solomou /Australian Department of Defence/Handout via REUTERS) (Reuters) - The ATP will donate $500,000 to the WWF Australian Wildlife and Nature Recovery Fund as part of the bushfire relief efforts, the governing body of mens tennis said yesterday.

The donation from players was announced by Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal after Serbia defeated Spain to capture the inaugural ATP Cup team event in Sydney.

The Australian bush has been burning for nearly three months and the fires have killed 28 people, claimed 2,000 homes and consumed millions of acres of land and wildlife.

“This donation with the ATP is on behalf of all the players and our thoughts and support go out to all those who have been affected,” ATP Player Council president Djokovic added in a statement released later.

“Australia is such an amazing and welcoming country and it feels like home for us at the start of each season.

To see the damage to wildlife and nature... has been devastating.”

As part of the #Aces4BushfireRelief campaign, several ATP and WTA players have pledged personal donations toward relief

and recovery efforts.

Serena Williams who donated her earnings after winning the Auckland Classic yesterday as well as Roger Federer and Nadal will feature in an exhibition match on Jan. 15 ahead of the Australian Open to raise funds.

Former Australia cricketer Shane Warne, who raised over $690,000 by auctioning off his prized “baggy green” cap, will play in a charity Twenty20 game next month for bushfire relief.

The Australian Open tennis tournament, the first Grand Slam of the year, starts in Melbourne on Jan. 20.

PAGE 28

Monday January 13, 2020

Kaieteur News

NBA roundup: Harden crosses 20,000-point mark James Harden became the 45th player in NBA history to score 20,000 career points, as the Houston Rockets rolled to a 139-109 victory over the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday.

Harden drilled a stepback 3-pointer with 6:30 remaining in the first half to reach the milestone and finished with 32 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. He also recorded 11 turnovers, all in the first half, but his wayward ball-handling did little to stem the offensive onslaught.

Houston has won 21 of its last 25 meetings with the Timberwolves, including 13 straight at home. The Rockets blistered Minnesota despite playing without center Clint Capela (heel) and losing

forward P.J. Tucker to a stinger early in the first quarter.

The Timberwolves were without center Karl-Anthony Towns for a 13th consecutive game. Josh Okogie paced seven Wolves in double figures with 16 points. Rookie Jarrett Culver added 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

Milwaukee Bucks 122 Portland Trail Blazers 101 Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded 32 points, 17 rebounds and six assists to help visiting Milwaukee roll over Portland.

Khris Middleton added 30 points, and Eric Bledsoe scored 29 as the Bucks won for the eighth time in the past nine games and reached the

halfway point of the season with a 35-6 record. That puts Milwaukee on pace to win 70 games and surpass the franchise-best 66-16 mark set by the 1970-71 squad led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Damian Lillard scored 26 points, and CJ McCollum added 20 as the Trail Blazers lost for the eighth time in 10 games.

Los Angeles Lakers 125 - Oklahoma City Thunder 110 Kyle Kuzma scored a season-high 36 points as Los Angeles won its eighth straight game.

The Lakers led by as many as 32 points in the second half, but the Thunder cut the lead to just 11 with less than three minutes remaining be-

Veteran Bravo recalled to face Ireland ST GEORGES, Grenada, CMC Veteran all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has been predictably recalled to the West Indies side for the threematch Twenty20 International series against Ireland starting here Wednesday.

The experienced 36-yearold has played 66 T20Is but the last of those came 3-¼ years ago in the troubled series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, in the wake of the controversial sacking of head coach Phil Simmons.Bravo called time on his career in October, 2018 citing the need to “preserve my longevity as a professional cricketer” but made a sudden about-turn last May following the change in Cricket West Indies administration.

Chief selector Roger Harper said yesterday Bravo would be a boost to the sides bowling stocks, while also serving as a mentor for the younger players.

“Dwayne Bravo was recalled with the specific intention of bolstering our death bowling which was identified as an area that really needs improving,” Harper said.

“His record in this department speaks for itself. He will also be able to act as a mentor to the other death bowlers and lend his experience wherever needed.”

Bravo is a former one-day captain, having led the side for 19 months before being sacked in 2014 following his central role in pay dispute with the board, which led to the controversial abandoned tour of India.

He remained part of the T20 setup, however, and was part of the squad which captured West Indies second T20 World title in India back in April, 2016.

Bravo contended last year in an interview that his continued non-selection had been based purely on “petty politics from some immature individuals”, but was prepared to end his retirement from the shortest format in the wake of Ricky Skerritts election to the CWI presidency.

And speaking this weekend about his latest call-up, Bravo said he was thrilled with the development and was anxious to help the younger players in the squad.

“Its a good feeling and I feel like a kid again … it was something on my mind since the change of leadership so Im just happy that I got the opportunity again to represent the region, and Im looking forward to doing my best,” he told i95FM. “What excites me is the young talent we have there now with all those players

Guyana Rugby Football Union AGM set for month end The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) has been fixed for Friday 31st January, 2020 at 17:00 hrs at the Guyana Olympic Association, Block XX Lilliendaal, East Coast Demerara.

The Agenda is as follows: 1. Call to Order 2. Welcome Remarks President 3. Minutes of 2019 Annual General Meeting 4. Correction and Adoption 5. Matters Arising 6.

Reports 6.1 Honorary Secretary 6.2 President 6.3 Honorary Treasurer 7. Election of Office Bearers (2020-2022) 8. Any other Business.

there. I just want to contribute and build on something that I think is very special in the making.”

Overall in T20s, Bravo is the most successful bowler with 490 wickets from 450 matches, and remains one of the most sought-after franchise players worldwide.

All-rounder Rovman Powell has also earned a recall to the Windies side following injury, last turning out for the Caribbean side nearly six months ago on Indias tour of the Caribbean.

The 26-year-old has been in excellent form since recovering from an injury sustained during last Septembers Caribbean Premier League, scoring over 400 runs at an average of 58 with two centuries for Jamaica Scorpions in the Super50 Cup last November.

“Rovman Powell is a genuine all-rounder who we believe can add impetus and up the strike rate at the back-end of the innings,” said Harper.

Test captain Jason Holder, who featured on the tour of India last year, has once again been rested as selectors continue to manage his workload, while all-rounder Fabian Allen has been ruled out with injury.

Twenty-one year-old fastbowling all-rounder, Keemo Paul, had been expected to feature but picked up a back injury during the one-day series against Ireland and has been sidelined.

Selectors will add a 14th player to the Kieron Pollardled squad today.

SQUAD Kieron Pollard (captain), Dwayne Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Khary Pierre, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Lendl Simmons, Hayden Walsh jr., Kesrick Williams.

fore Kuzma hit back-to-back shots to put the game firmly in control once again.

Rajon Rondo added 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers. Danilo Gallinari and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 24 points each to lead the Thunder, who lost for just the second time in nine games.

Mavericks 109 - 76ers 91 Luka Doncic and Dwight Powell scored 19 points each as host Dallas used a dominating third quarter to send Philadelphia to its fifth loss in its last seven games.

Dorian Finney-Smith scored 16 points as the Mavericks erased a 12-point deficit in the first half and recovered after trailing 50-41 at halftime by outscoring the Sixers 32-16 in the third quarter.

Tobias Harris scored 20 points, and Josh Richardson and Al Horford added 16 each as the Sixers fell to 1-1 without Joel Embiid, who is out for as much as two weeks following a finger injury that required surgery this week.

Boston Celtics 140 - New Orleans Pelicans 105 Jayson Tatum scored a career-high 41 points in three quarters as host Boston crushed New Orleans to snap a season-long three-game losing streak.

Tatum shot 16 of 22 from the field with a career-best six 3-pointers, and Enes Kanter added season highs of 22 points and 19 rebounds.

Frank Jackson had a teamhigh 22 points off the bench for the Pelicans, who lost for just the third time in their last 10 games. Rookie Jaxson Hayes scored a career-high 20 points, and Lonzo Ball (10

Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) reaches 20,000 career points scored with a basket during the second quarter Minnesota Timberwolves at Toyota Center. (Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports) points, 13 rebounds) fell an assist shy of a triple-double.

Cleveland Cavaliers 111 Denver Nuggets 103 Collin Sexton scored 25 points, Kevin Love had 19 points and 15 rebounds, and Cleveland won at Denver.

Tristan Thompson had 18 points and 13 rebounds, Cedi Osman had 11 points and 12 boards and Darius Garland scored 18 for the Cavaliers.

Jamal Murray scored 24 points, Nikola Jokic had 19 points and 12 rebounds and Will Barton scored 18 points for Denver, which trailed 8571 entering the fourth quarter but rallied to take a brief lead with about five minutes to go before Cleveland reasserted

control.

Bulls 108, Pistons 99 Zach LaVine had 25 points and six assists as visiting Chicago snapped a six-game losing streak by defeating Detroit.Chicago completed a sweep of the four-game season series for the first time since the 2011-12 season.

Detroit center Andre Drummond was ejected with 10:42 remaining in the third quarter. Chicago rookie Daniel Gafford scored an inside basket and was whistled for a technical after saying something to Drummond, who retaliated by throwing the ball off the back of Gaffords head.

(Field Level Media)

Warne, Ponting to play Twenty20 bushfire match, Serena donates winnings MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Former Australian cricketing greats Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne will temporarily come out of retirement to play in a charity Twenty20 match next month as sports organizations and athletes seek ways to raise funds for bushfire relief.

Since October, thousands of Australians have faced repeat evacuations as huge and unpredictable fires scorched more than 10.3 million hectares (25.5 million acres), an area roughly the size of South Korea.Current national coach Justin Langer will also play in the game on Feb. 8 along with former captain Michael Clarke and vice captain Adam Gilchrist, Cricket Australia (CA) said in a statement yesterday.“Im delighted to confirm the Bushfire Cricket Bash will be Cricket Australias major fundraising initiative to support Australians impacted by the recent unprecedented bushfire emergency,” CA Chief Executive Kevin Roberts said.The match will be played on the same day as a womens Twenty20 international between Australia and India in Melbourne and the mens domestic Twenty20 Big Bash final.The charity game would act as a curtain raiser for the Big Bash match, with the venue not confirmed until the

two teams for the final are determined.

Also yesterday, former world tennis number one Serena Williams said after she won her first title in nearly three years at the Auckland Classic that she would donate her prize money from the tournament.

She also donated her match-worn dresses to be auctioned to help raise money.Williams won $42,000 for clinching the singles title over American compatriot Jessica Pegula and was set to add to that tally after the doubles final with good friend Caroline Wozniacki.“Ive been playing in Australia for more than 20 years and it has been hard for me to be watching the news with all the fires,” Williams said at the on-court presentation. “So much has happened that I decided Id donate all my dresses from my matches and all my prize money for a great cause. So thank you guys.”She was one of many domestic and international athletes, from cricketers and tennis players to Australian NBA players, to have pledged to support the fundraising for bushfire victims.Warne raised more than A$1 million ($690,000) on Friday when he auctioned off his prized “baggy green” cap for bushfire relief efforts.

Monday January 13, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Titans strike quickly, stun Ravens; 49ers win in NFC (Reuters) - Tennessee quarterback Ryan Tannehill shocked the top-ranked Baltimore Ravens with two early touchdown passes as the sixth-seeded Titans upset the Ravens 28-12 in an NFL playoff game on Saturday.

Running back Derrick Henry then broke the Ravens backs with a jump-pass touchdown in the third quarter while dominating on the ground with 195 rushing yards.

The San Francisco 49ers also were winners, advancing to the National Football Conference (NFC) championship with a 27-10 win over the Minnesota Vikings.

But the stunner was the Titans American Football Conference (AFC) win over the Ravens and the way they did it.

Tannehill staked Tennessee to a 14-0 lead with touchdown passes first and second quarters and later ran for another.

In between, Henry worked his magic with his bruising runs and a three-yard jumppass touchdown to Corey

Davis that pushed the Titans lead to 21-6.

“We dont do too much talking,” Henry said. “We just go work and believe in each other. Thats our mentality.

“Were just locked in.”

The surprising Titans will meet the winner of yesterdays Houston Texans-Kansas City Chiefs game for the American Football Conference (AFC) title next Sunday.

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, the leagues likely most valuable player, passed for 365 yards but was intercepted twice.

TOUGHDEFENCE San Francisco will host Sundays Seattle-Green Bay winner for the NFC title on Jan. 19.

The Super Bowl between the conference champions is set for Feb. 2 in Miami.

Running back Tevin Colemans two short touchdowns and an aggressive defense powered the 49ers past the Vikings.

The top-seeded 49ers never trailed, their defense holding the Vikings to 21

yards rushing and 147 total yards.

Minnesota had only seven first downs as Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins could not get on track and was sacked six times.

Top Vikings running back Dalvin Cook was held to a mere 18 yards.

The 49ers offensive line also was effective, controlling the game up front.

“Those guys did very well, they moved the guys back, so I could have clear holes to run through,” Coleman, who scored on runs of one and two yards and rushed for 105 yards, told reporters.

“Its an amazing feeling.”

The proud San Francisco franchise had not been in the playoffs since the 2013 season.“Weve got some things to clean up, but we played well enough to win and thats all you can ask for,” said 49ers tight end George Kittle. “Playoff football anyone can win and we just made more plays today.”

Quarterback Jimmy

San Francisco 49ers running back Tevin Coleman (26) runs the ball against the Minnesota Vikings in the second quarter in a NFC Divisional Round playoff football game at Levi’s Stadium. (Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports) Garoppolo got the 49ers rolling, hitting Kendrick Bourne with a three-yard touchdown

Djokovic leads Serbia to ATP Cup glory SYDNEY (Reuters) Novak Djokovic inspired Serbia to victory in the inaugural ATP Cup team event in Sydney after defeating his long-term Spanish rival Rafael Nadal in singles yesterday before playing a pivotal role in the deciding doubles match.

With the final locked at 11, Djokovic partnered veteran Victor Troicki to beat Spains Pablo Carreno Busta and Feliciano Lopez 6-3 6-4, triggering celebrations that would not be out of place at a Belgrade football match.

The 16-times Grand Slam champion proved to be a calming influence throughout, especially after the Serbian pair fell behind early in the match.

He used his powerful serve and fleet-footed returns to haul his country back into the first set and create a momentum shift Serbia rode all the way to a victory completed in the early hours of this morning.

“We are filled with joy,” Djokovic said. “It was probably one of the best doubles weve played.”

For Spain, it was a lost opportunity to prove it has the worlds best mens tennis team, having recently won the revamped Davis Cup and boasting two top 10 players in its ATP Cup side.

Nadal, a capable doubles player who won the doubles Olympic gold at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, was substituted out of the Spanish

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning his Final singles match against Spain’s Rafael Nadal.

(REUTERS/Ciro De Luca)

combination in a surprise lastminute move he said was a team decision.

The world number one cited a gruelling tournament schedule and lack of energy as part of the reason.

BLUEPRINT Djokovic earlier beat Nadal 6-2 7-6(4), extending his dominance over the Spaniard on hardcourts, a surface Nadal has not beaten him on since 2013.

Djokovic has created the blueprint to beat the Spaniard on hardcourts, although he is one of the very few players good enough to follow the instructions.

The Serbian held his line, and was rarely pushed back deep into the court by the

Spaniards heavy spin, a position from which Nadal usually dictates terms.

“I was trying to take away as much time as possible from him,” Djokovic said. “Im just extremely satisfied with the way I performed.”

Djokovic broke Nadals serve in the first game, lighting up a near capacity crowd in the 10,500-person canopied-stadium. The noise from the flag-waving Serbian supporters between serves weighed on Nadal, who at one stage gave a sarcastic thumbs-up gesture to his rivals supporters.

The Spaniards reaction only enticed the crowd deeper into the contest as they bellowed Djokovics nickname -

“Nole, Nole”.

While Nadal is the undisputed king of clay, he hasnt taken a set off Djokovic played on a hardcourt in nine attempts since his 2013 U.S. Open victory.

After a dominant first set marked by Djokovics strong serving, the contest tightened. Nadal employed more attacking serve-volley tactics, and settled into a harderhitting rhythm.

Trailing 0-40 on his serve in the sixth game of the second set, Djokovic looked likely to crack, but the Spaniard was unable to convert.

The second set was decided in a tiebreak, ending when Nadal netted a forehand.

Earlier, Spains Roberto Bautista Agut completed a flawless tournament by defeating Serbias Dusan Lajovic 7-5 6-1.

The ATP Cup received mixed reviews from players.

They applauded the high standard of tennis while also questioning the wisdom of having back-to-back mens team events, with the Davis Cup completed just weeks before the Sydney event started.

But the victors said the ATP Cup victory was a career highlight. The Serbian team danced on the centre court, and promised to party with their fans through the night.

Djokovic quipped that he might also return to Serbia to celebrate and come back for the Australian Open, which starts next week.

pass during their opening drive.He completed 11 of 19 passes for 131 yards and one interception.

Minnesota came back to tie the score on Cousins 41yard pass to Stefon Diggs, but Colemans first touchdown put San Francisco ahead 14-7.

The teams traded field goals before the 49ers put the game out of reach 24-10 on Colemans second touch-

down run after Richard Shermans interception of Cousin.

Robbie Goulds second field goal for San Francisco, which covered 21 yards, ended the scoring at 27-10.

Cousins, who had led Minnesota to a surprising overtime win over the New Orleans Saints last weekend, passed for 172 yards this time, connecting on 21 of 29 attempts with an interception.

Pliskova outlasts Keys for third Brisbane title MELBOURNE (Reuters) Defending champion Karolina Pliskova prevailed in a three-set tug-of-war with Madison Keys to become the first three-time winner at the Brisbane International yesterday.

A day after clinching a nearly three-hour semi-finals duel with Naomi Osaka, the world number two overcame a mid-match blip to triumph 6-4 4-6 7-5 in the final at the Pat Rafter Arena.

Pliskova rode her big first serve to save two break points in the first set and converted on her first opportunity to surge ahead.

A set and break down, Keys broke back to level it 33 and went on to win the set and force a decider, in which the first six games stayed on serve before Pliskova broke the American in the seventh.

Keys refused to throw in the towel, however, and foiled the Czechs first attempt to serve out the match at 5-4.

Pliskova could not be denied though.

The 2017 and 2019 winner broke again for 6-5 and then

served it out to clinch victory in her first meeting with the eighth seeded American in a little over two hours.

“I think whats more special than winning is that I finally defend,” Pliskova said after her first successful title defense.

“Thats always harder.

But, yeah, it took me a couple of years to do it, but pleased with that.”

Pliskova, who has had considerable success indoors, made no secrets of her fondness for the Pat Rafter Arena.

“It feels more like an indoor court,” said the 21-yearold, whose 42 aces in the tournament will translate into $8,400 towards bushfire relief in Australia.

“The conditions are perfect for me indoors - no wind, no sun... so I can hit with full power.”Keys said she was surprised by Pliskovas anticipation.“Even if youd say movement isnt her strength, she covers the court really well which makes you start to go for a little more,” she said.

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Kaieteur News

Monday January 13, 2020

Lewis hundred seals Ireland whitewash ST GEORGES, Grenada, CMC Opener Evin Lewis made up for his heartbreak of six days ago with a third OneDay International hundred as West Indies completed a whitewash of Ireland with a straightforward five-wicket victory in the third ODI here yesterday.

Chasing a revised target of 197 off 47 balls after rain intervened in their initial pursuit of 203, the Caribbean side encountered little issues as they coasted home at the Grenada National Stadium.

Lewis, who was left stranded on 99 when West Indies won the opening game last Tuesday in Barbados, made amends with a superb 102 off 97 balls while fellow

left-hander Nicholas Pooran finished unbeaten on 43 from 44 deliveries.

Brandon King struck 38 off 43 balls as West Indies recovered from the cheap dismissals of Shai Hope (6) and Sunil Ambris (6) to complete their second series whitewash in the space of three months.

Leg-spinner Hayden Walsh jr had earlier snatched four for 36 as Ireland once again failed to post a challenging total and were dismissed for 203 off the first ball of the final over.

Speedster Oshane Thomas, a surprise inclusion after not being listed as part of the 14-man squad, finished with three for 41 while off-

spinner Roston Chase showed his worth with two for 53 after missing the second ODI in Barbados on Thursday.Captain Andy Balbirnie top-scored with a polished 71 from 93 balls but he found little support, with only Andy McBrine (25 not out) and Kevin OBrien (21) managing to get out of the 20s.

Thomas removed both openers cheaply, Paul Stirling (5) edging a pull behind in the eighth over and James McCollum (20), in his first match of the series, taken at cover by Lewis.

When William Porterfield missed a sweep at Chase and was lbw for 10 in the 18th over, Ireland were 51 for three and

Regional Four-Day Championship 4th day, 1st round Jaguars open with emphatic victory, Volcanoes also win ST JOHNS, Antigua, CMC The Guyana Jaguars started their Regional FourDay Championship campaign on an emphatic winning note when they crushed the Leewards Hurricanes by 10 wickets early on the final day of the first round of matches.

The Windward Islands Volcanoes fought to a 3 wicket triumph over the Barbados Pride, while the other game between Trinidad and Tobago Red Force and the Jamaica Scorpions petered out to a draw.

Resuming on their overnight 214-6, the Hurricanes were dismissed for 254.

Jahmar Hamilton finished 37 not out, while Veerasammy Permaul 3-55, Raymon Reifer 3-55 and Keon Joseph 2-34 led the wicket takers. Kieran Powell had earlier fell for 99 and Montcin Hodge 62 for the home side.

The Guyana team reached 25-0 to overhaul the required victory total.

Scores: At the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium

(NORTH SOUND): Jaguars won by 10 wickets.

JAGUARS 388 (Chris Barnwell 82, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 60, Leon Johnson 59, Chandrapaul Hemraj 52, Raymon Reifer 47, Devendra Bishoo 40, Vishaul Singh 25; Damion Jacobs 489) and 25 without loss.

HURRICANES 154 (Jahmar Hamilton 52, Kieran Powell 34; Nial Smith 6-55) and 254 (Kieran Powell 99, Montcin Hodge 62, Jahmar Hamilton 37 not out; Veerasammy Permaul 3-55, Raymon Reifer 3-55, Keon Joseph 2-34).

At Brian Lara Stadium (TAROUBA): The Match was drawn.TRINIDAD & TOBAGO RED FORCE 460 for four decl. (Joshua DaSilva 113 not out, Yannic Cariah 100 not out, Keagan Simmons 89, Jeremy Solozano 73, Darren Bravo 66; Derval Green 2-98).

JAMAICA SCORPIONS 278 (Rovman Powell 71, Derval Green 56, Paul Palmer 50, Aldaine Thomas 35; Akeal

Hosein 4-58, Bryan Charles 367) and 300 for eight (Paul Palmer 116 not out, Jermaine Blackwood 78, Assad Fudadin 34, John Campbell 28; Akeak Hosein 3-65, Yannick Ottley 2-51).

At Arnos Vale Stadium (KINGSTOWN): Volcanoes won by three wickets.

BARBADOS PRIDE 233 (Kyle Mayers 106, Jomel Warrican 49, Justin Greaves 20; Keron Cottoy 3-41, Josh Thomas 2-35) and 269 (Kraigg Brathwaite 72, Tevyn Walcott 40, Justin Greaves 36, Jomel Warrican 31; Shane Shilling 7105).

WINDWARD ISLANDS VOLCANOES 234 (Emmanuel Stewart 50, Keron Cottoy 38, Devon Smith 33, Desron Maloney 30, Kirk Edwards 27; Jomel Warrican 4-40, Jonathan Carter 2-16) and 272 for seven (Desron Maloney 83, Kavem Hodge 60, Kirk Edwards 35, Keron Cottoy 31 not out, Alick Athanaze 28; Jomel Warrican 3-68).

struggling to find momentum.

Balbirnie, batting at number three, then propped up the innings, first by adding 37 for the fourth wicket with OBrien and then in a 42-run sixth wicket stand with Simi Singh (10).

The right-hander struck six fours and a couple of sixes before finally perishing in the 38th over, becoming the second of Walshs wickets when he scooped an ordinary delivery to Chase at point.

His departure left signalled the end of any serious Ireland resistance as the last five wickets tumbled for just 50 runs.In reply, the Windies lost Hope in the sixth over with the score on 29, hit plumb in front by seamer Barry McCarthy and leaving the subsequent review as much an exercise in desperation as it was futility.

Ambris, in his first match of the series, edged a cut at off-spinner Simi Singh behind at the end of the ninth, giving Ireland their second wicket and hope of pulling off a surprise win.

But Lewis quickly put such aspirations to rest with an innings decorated with half-dozen fours and five sixes. He reached his halfcentury off 41 balls in the 15th over before completing three figures off 96 balls in the 35th over by pulling fast bowler Craig Young to the mid-wicket boundary.

Along the way, he posted 75 for the third wicket with King who counted four fours and a six, before adding a further 63 for the fourth wicket with Pooran who blasted five fours and a six.

By the time Lewis holed out in the deep one delivery after reaching his hundred, West Indies needed just five for victory but they lost Romario Shepherd (1) before Pooran raised victory with a savage pull for four off McCarthy.

AAG hosts first development meet

The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) held its first of three development meets of the year yesterday at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ground on Carifesta Avenue where the local athletes who are looking to make it at various regional and international meets took center stage to gauge their level of preparedness.

This event was the first meet of the year for the AAG and it saw over 150 athletes registering for the event to showcase their talents in the 60m, 150m, 300m, 600m and 2000m races, while the throws and jumps were also con-

tested.

Looking to qualify for the Olympics in Tokyo later this year, Davin Fraser and Akeem Stewart renewed their rivalry in the 60m and 150m male open races. Much to the delight of the fans who thought they wouldnt have seen the speedsters compete against each other.

Fraser drew first blood, exploding out the blocks to get the better of Stewart in the 60m. However, Stewart turned the tables on his arch rival to win the 150m by the 100th of a second.

Brianna Charles, a finalist in the Girls U-17 100m final at

CARIFTA Games last year, got her season off to a perfect start, winning the 300m female race. Charles who competes in the marquee 100m, 200m and 400m events, won the 300m in emphatic fashion.

Elsewhere on the field, CARIFTA Games triple jump bronze medalist, Princess Brown, as expected dominated in her event as she continues to fine tune her form for her return to the regional games this Easter weekend.

Next Sunday, the AAGs second development meet will speed off in Linden at the McKenzie Sports Club (MSC) ground.

Akeem Stewart (20) crosses the finish line in front of Davin Fraser (49) in the 150m race.

Monday January 13, 2020

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Kaieteur News

New Kid on the block shines on FC debut for Jaguars Nial Smith wants to take at least five wickets in every game

By Sean Devers On Thursday January 9 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, 24-year-old Berbician Nial Smith joined Kevin Darlington and Romario Shepherd as fast bowlers from Tucber Park (Formerly Bermine) to play First-Class Cricket when he made his debut against the Leewards in the first round of 2020 CWI Regional Four-Day Tournament.

This game, a Day/Night encounter, was played with a pink ball and Smith, the son of Guyanas most successful three-day youth Coach, Albert Smith, dismantled the Leewards batting with 6-65 from 16 impressive overs on his debut to become the first Guyanese pacer to capture six wickets in his first bowl in a Regional First-Class match.

Ironically, the first Day/ Night First-Class Pink ball game in the West Indies began on January 15, 2010 when Guyana opposed T&T in Antigua on this very ground.

Jaguars Head Coach Esuan Crandon bowled the first ball in that match which, ended in a draw but Smith said he found no big difference with the Pink ball and Red or White ones.

After bowling with frightening pace in the CGI local 50 over Franchise, the slimly

Smith bowled with good pace in the Practice games at Providence. build Smith was rewarded with a Super50 pick last November.

But despite not setting Trinidad on fire in the Super50, Smith, an intelligent young man and a fast leaner, bowled with incisive pace in the practice matches at Providence to earn a maiden callup for the five-times defending Champions.

With Shepherd, Ronsford Beaton and Keemo Paul unavailable, the lively Smith, also a competent lower order batsman, was given a chance and he grabbed it with both hands.

Nial Smith being presented with his National cap by Coach Crandon on his First-Class debut on Thursday in Antigua.

Smith informed that getting a six-wicket haul on debut felt great. “I couldnt ask for a better performance starting my first ever first class game. Im happy with this start and hope Ill continue to shine throughout and help us win a sixth straight title,” Smith said.The quickie explained the teams plan for him to bowl and informed that when Guyana started to bowl, the night conditions were very much situated for fast bowling.“The ball was carrying a bit more at pace so it was just for me to follow the team plan which was to hit

GRFU pre-season preparations scrums off on January 18 Ruggers in Guyana will be getting ready for what is anticipated to be a hectic 2020 when they get into pre-season mode from this Saturday with the traditional North versus South 15s match scheduled for the Athletics Field at the National Park, bully off time is 15:00hrs.

Pre-season action will continue the following Saturday at the same venue and time with a 10s match featuring the President and Vice President teams.

From Sunday January 26 training for the respective Under-19, Women and Senior teams will commence ahead of the annual matches against French Guiana which would be hosted by the French, the dates are to be confirmed.

Additionally, Guyana will commence its 2023 World XV International qualifier matches with a home game against old rivals Trinidad and Tobago in late March or early April in the Southern Zone.

This would be followed by

an away game in late April or early May, the Northern Zone is slated to commence in March. Winner of the Southern Zone will play the winner of the Northern Zone for the right to advance further. USA, Canada and Mexico continue to be the juggernauts of North American Rugby.

Meanwhile, international home games listed for Guyana may see GRFU having to forfeit same due to the lack of international size Rugby pitches, an official of the Union disclosed. Works would have commenced by the National Sports Commission to upgrade the Rugby Field at the National Park to international standards but the inclement weather and lack of materials would have stalled that project which does not have a definitive completion date as yet.

The GRFU, despite sterling efforts over the past two years which saw a substantial amount of debts being cleared, remains currently in the red due to unfulfilled

good areas and bowl close as possible to the batsman,” explained Smith, who was born on October 22, 1995 at the New Amsterdam Hospital.

Smith grew up in Tucber Park where he started playing for Tucber Park Cricket Club at age six and was asked what he did different from the Super50 tournament.“I think I trained much harder coming into this four-day tournament which led to my success in the practice game and now this first game for the Jaguars.

In the Super50 I was a bit nervous and wasnt mentally prepared… I guess,” Smith replied.Smith informed that his goal is to try and play all the games and take every game one at a time and keep taking wickets.“I wanna take at least five wickets against all the teams I play against,” disclosed Smith who says he wants to play both four-day and 50-overs formats.

I work on my batting, but (Continued on page 26)

Nial Smith takes a 5-wicket haul for Tucber Park in B’ce 1st division cricket.

Guyana to host SA under-23 championships Peter Green - GRFU President promises of assistance and commitments by both the Ministry of Social Cohesion as well as the NSC. Elections are slated for the end of this month and a new Executive is expected to be installed to guide the Union forward over the next two years. Current President, Peter Green has indicated that he will not be seeking re-election to the post but will remain available to the Union to guide and assist due to his vast knowledge of World Rugby gained over the years.

Head of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG), Aubrey Hutson, has confirmed with Kaieteur Sport that Guyana will be hosting the ninth edition of the biennial South American under-23 athletics championship this year.

The two-day competition, which Guyana has a total of three medals, inclusive of one Gold, Silver and Bronze medal each, will be contested at the National Track & Field Center (NTFC), Leonora on the weekend of September 26th and 27th.

Hutson, who revealed that the hosting rights was given to Guyana since 2018,

Aubrey Hutson, head of the AAG also explained that this is a great opportunity for Guyana to show that as a nation we

are capable of hosting high level competitions.

In 2017, the AAG hosted its first major games; the South American Championships with much success, so another good showing in 2020 will solidify the local bodys ability to organize events of this magnitude.

In Easter 2020, Guyana will host the Golden Jubilee edition of the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) games.

Hutson shared with Kaieteur that the AAG are working extremely hard to get everything in order for the 50th Carifta games and he earmarked the resurfacing of the NTFC track as one of urgent matters that needs attending to.

PAGE 32

Monday January 13, 2020

Kaieteur News

Canje Knights win Nigel Hinds Berbice Basketball final

Sharma leads Fisherman Masters to five-wicket win in GSCL Inc final

The victorious Canje Knights basketball team take a photo following their victory.

Canje Knights came away winners when the Nigel Hinds Financial sponsored Berbice Basketball Association championship concluded at the New Amsterdam basketball court on Saturday last.

In the final, Canje Knights defeated Rose Hall Town Jammers by 88 to 86 points.

The first quarter saw Jammers leading 20 to 16, while at half time Jammers were still in ascendency 44 to 38 points. They continued to lead into the third quarter 61 to 56. However, crucial plays resulted in the Canje Knights coming out on top by two all important points.For the Knights, Jomal Felix 27 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, Michel Bowen

22 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, Tyrone Dey 18 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds and 1 steal led the scoring. Leading Rose Hall Town Jammers effort were Shamer France with 26 points, 2 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals, Kwesi Mickel 17 points, 3 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steals, Jermaine King 14 points, 5 rebound, and Edmar Semple 11 points and 5 rebounds.

For their efforts Canje Knights claimed the first prize of $100,000, while Jammers collected the second place $75,000.

In the supporting game Georgetown based Plaisance Guardians Under-21 team defeated West Berbice Hopetown Steelers 73 to 71 in a crowd pleasing thriller.

Jacobs says UWI T20 could open CPL doors for players The Malteenoes All Stars has reached the Quarterfinals of this years UWI-Unicom T20 tournament at the Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Ground at UWI SPEC in Trinidad and aims to go one step further than DCC, who lost in 2017 final.

Apart from winning the Championship Trophy and the TT$40,000 prize money (approximately Guy $1 Million) Skipper Steven Jacobs feels Malteenoes participation in this tournament has many benefits for the Guyanese players.

“This is good exposure and experience for those players who have not made Guyana or Demerara teams, the GCA season has not yet started so this is excellent match practice for us, while outstanding performances here could open up CPL doors. Gajanand Singh scored heavily for DCC in this tournament and was picked for the Guyana Amazon Warriors so some of the players here are hoping to get CPL contracts,” said the 31-year old Jacobs who has played First-Class cricket for Guyana.

Jacobs, Malteenoes Sports Clubs First Division Captain, explained that this trip was organised by him and Travis Blyden who was in Trinidad and previously played in this tournament for UWI. Apart from Jacobs, who has played 46 T20s for the Guyana Amazon Warriors, Jamaica Tallawahs in the CPL and for the Vancouver Knights in the Canadian T20 tournament, the team includes Johnathon Foo, the hero of the 2010 Caribbean T20 when Guyana qualified for the Champions League T20 in South Africa and the leading scorer for Guyana in 2019 Super50 in Trinidad.

Trevon Griffith has played for both Guyana and Jamaica in the Regional Four-Day Franchise League and is the teams leading runscorer with 72 runs from two matches.

“This is a Malteenoes team with a few Guyanese guest players some of whom are playing club cricket in Trinidad so we have a strong team of professional Cricketers. Now that we have qualified for Tuesdays (tomor-

The victorious Fisherman Masters team.

Fisherman Masters started off the season on a positive note by defeating Regal Masters by five wickets to win the final of the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) Inc competition which was contested yesterday at the Ogle Community Centre ground.

Regal Masters took first strike and managed 85-7 off their allotted 15 overs. Eric Thomas struck four sixes in a top score of 34, while Eon Abel made 13. Jagdesh Persaud and Erie Sharma took two wickets each.

Fisherman Masters responded with 86-5 in 13.4 overs. Sharma led with 40 while, R. Ramsarran made 21. Thomas picked up three wickets and Laurie Singh two. Sharma was named man-of-the-match.

Earlier, Fisherman Masters beat Wellman Masters by eight runs. Fisherman Masters took first strike and posted 146-8 in 15 overs.

R. Ramsarran scored 47 and Jagdesh Persaud 24. Wayne Jones and Sheldon Perch took two wickets each.

Wellman Masters responded with 138-7.

Rawl Reid slammed 77, Troy Lewis got 22 and Suresh Ramdeen 17. Devanan Kanan took two wickets.

Regal Masters overcome Ariel Masters by nine runs. Regal Masters batted first and scored 147. Unnis Yusuf made 35, Mahase Chunilall 18 and Mahendra Hardyal 17. Ariel Masters replied with 139. Thomas and David Harper captured three wickets each.

Erie Sharma (left) accepts the man of the match prize from Wayne Jones

Kipruto sets 10km road world record in Valencia

Skipper Steven Jacobs is the leading wicket-taker for his team as he leads from the front. rows) quarterfinals we are confident we can go all the way,” the former West Indies U-19 Captain added.

“Playing together for the first time we have won our first two games, displayed good skill set in both batting and bowling. We have a Manager and a Coach and conditions are good here despite the rain on Friday night and we aim to get better and become the first Guyana team to bring home the Trophy after DCC ended as runners-up in 2017,” said Jacobs, who is his teams leading wicket-taker with eight scalps for two matches.

Jacobs said the standard of the tournament, which includes players like Dwayne Bravo, Sunil Narine, Denish Ramdin and Navin Stuart, is fairly high, while the ground at the UWI Campus is in an immaculate condition despite the weather. (Sean Devers)

(Reuters) - Kenyas Rhonex Kipruto set a new 10km road world record as compatriot Sheila Chepkirui won the womens race at the 10K Valencia Ibercaja in Spain yesterday.

World 10,000m bronze medalist Kipruto clocked 26 minutes 24 seconds to shave 14 seconds off the yet-to-be-ratified mark set by Ugandas Joshua Cheptegei six weeks ago at a different course in the same city.

The 20-year-old also bettered the 5km road world record by reaching the halfway mark of the World Athletics Gold Label event in 13:18.

He went even faster in the second half, clocking 13:06 but athletics governing body said in a statement that the latter effort would not be eligible for ratification.

Benard Kimeli made it a one-two for Kenya, coming second in 27:12 and Switzerlands Julien Wanders was third in a new European record of 27:13.

Chepkiruis time was initially reported as 29:42, which would have meant she bettered (Continue don page 26)

Kenya’s Rhonex Kipruto celebrates winning bronze at the World Athletics Championships - Doha 2019 - Men’s 10,000 Metres Final.

(REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson)

PAGE 33

Kaieteur News

Monday January 13, 2020

Macorps Miguel Oviedo dominates AR Printery Golf Open with net 62 Under excellent course conditions and golfing weather, Macorps Miguel Oviedo dominated the field to win the first tournament of his career, producing an excellent net score of 62, a record performance for himself, at the same time outdistancing all competition in the exciting A&R Jiwanram Printery Tournament of Saturday last.

The Macorp team has an internal rivalry among the players and Saturday’s win

by Miguel Oviedo will definitely set off a whole new wave of competition.

Winning in dominating fashion for the first time, Oviedo was ecstatic especially since the second place in his category went to his good friend Carlos Carbo of Saj Rice. Former Captain, veteran Patrick Prashad, went back to his winning ways and took top honours in the 0-12 handicap flight.

T h e H o n o r a b l e D r.

George Norton, Minister of Youth, Sports & Culture was on hand to present prizes to the winners in this second of over 55 events scheduled for

From Left: Carlos Carbo; Shanella London. Dunstan Andrews; Minister George Norton; LGC President Aleem Hussain; Miguel Oviedo, William Walker; Bholaram Deo; Captain Chen Deo; Former Captain Patrick Prasad at the presentation.

2020 at the LGC. Speaking to the large crowd at hand, Minister Norton stated, ”I am very pleased with the conditions of the grounds and the development of the sport in general and have discussed with Aleem several options for increased cooperation.

As a medical doctor, I am extremely interested in starting a pilot programme that will involve young women and children who are not particularly interested in team sports and whom may

be shy or introverted. I have seen first-hand what Mr. Hussain has done for the Club and sport and I want to say that our full support can be counted on for further development of the game in G u y a n a . ” President of the LGC Aleem Hussain, who retired injured, expressed his gratitude to the Minister personally and in his official capacity for the support he has given to the game, “Without Minister Norton’s continued support, much of what we have

accomplished would not have been possible.”

Hussain also thanked the many players and sponsors who have been supporting the club and development of the game over the past few years. “AR Printery has been there for us, as have many new sponsors in the past few years because they believe in what our vision is for the sport. Today we saw many players honing their game in anticipation of the upcoming Copa Airlines Invitational on J a n u a r y 2 5 t h . ”

Joining the Honorable Minister at the LGC for the first time and assisting with the prize presentation was Mr. Dunstan Andrews, formerly from St. Cuthbert’s Mission but now residing in Canada. Mr. Andrews was extremely impressed by the club, “I didn’t even know that our country had such a wonderful facility and I will definitely recommend it to everyone and return myself as often as possible.”

A former teacher in Guyana, Mr. Andrews said he saw

exactly why Minister Norton was excited by the sport as it offered many new opportunities for young children especially those in the hinterland regions of the country. The tournament was played under the Medal-play format in 2 Flights 0-12 and 13-28 handicaps. In the 0-12 Flight winners were Patrick Prashad (76/8) 1st and William Walker (79/11) 2nd. The 0-12 category saw veteran golfer and former Captain Patrick Prasad (Continued on page 27)

t r o Sp Hayden Walsh completes his action Š BCCI/file photo

Lewis hundred

seals Ireland whitewash

Man-of-the-Match Evin Lewis hits out during his third ODI hundred on Sunday. (Photo courtesy CWI Media)

Andy Balbirnie sweeps Š Getty Images/file photo

Veteran Bravo AAG hosts first recalled to face Ireland development meet Veteran all-rounder Dwayne Bravo.

Princess Brown leaps during the Long Jump event.

NBA : Harden crosses 20,000-point mark Canje Knights win Nigel Hinds Berbice Basketball final

Regional Four-Day Championship 4th day, 1st round Jaguars open with emphatic victory, Volcanoes also win Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8452, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.