Kaieteur News

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AIETEUR NEWS

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

Judges, Magistrates who fail to declare assets will be named

Tuesday Edition January 15, 2019 - Vol. 12 No. 03

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Price $80

Online readership yesterday 137,773

Several govt. players

involved in multi-billion dollar fuel racket - Jagdeo 2,300 kilos coke find in Paramaribo…

Surinamese rice exporter found executed on 63 Beach

Big drug haul: The seized drugs in Suriname last week

TED: EXECU rawsingh r Oem Nitende

Crying chain Abu Dhabi US$8M Cop slapped Exxon modifies deal loan to build solar with six more with Norwegian seismic snatcher attracts Magistrate's power for almost charges in driver's company following sympathy 35,000 residents licence fraud Venezuelan incursion

Audit Office investigating

Guyana's preparedness for oil spill

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 15, 2019

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 15, 2019

PAGE 03

“Several Govt. players involved in multi-billion-dollar fuel racket” - Jagdeo

O

pposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo strongly believes that quite a few “top ones” in the government know of, and, are quite involve in the fuel “racket.”

Jagdeo, a former President, told Kaieteur News this during a brief interview last evening.

The most recent expose of racketeering in the fuel importation business surfaced when Atlantic Fuel Inc, of which Dr. Richard Van West Charles is a director, was accused of under-invoicing.

While initial reports reaching this newspaper suggested that Guyana is losing hundreds of millions of dollars as a result of fuel smuggling, Jagdeo said that it is more of a “multi-billiondollar racket.”

He told Kaieteur News, “This fuel smuggling racket did not start recently.”

Jagdeo said that the PPP has long been urging a

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo c o m p r e h e n s i v e investigation. Further, Jagdeo said that on several occasions, he called on President David Granger to launch a “Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the multibillion-dollar racket involving several senior members of his administration but he has refused to do so.”

Jagdeo said that he has other information which he

The GWI Chief and Director on Atlantic Fuels Inc, Dr. Van West Charles will volunteer at his next press conference.

Last year June, Jagdeo told the media that the APNU+AFC Government is neck-deep in corruption.

“They are basically grabbing because they know they are a one-term government. All of the m i n i s t r i e s a r e grabbing…Most of the ministers – maybe 90 percent of these ministers are

grabbing, Jagdeo alleged.

The politician made a call specifically to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, asking him to stop the “runnings” that purportedly exists within governmentcontrolled entities.

Jagdeo said, “What about the one with the fuel smuggling? Dig deeper and you will get all the connections. Then you will see how high it goes up into the government.”

The Opposition Leader said, too, that the fuel smuggling racket is the reason why the government refuses to change the prices at the pump station.

Kaieteur News had reported that along with the growing evidence of underinvoicing, there are indications that fuel importers have been colluding with Customs brokers and officers to record lower volumes.

In so doing, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA)

was denied collecting additional millions of dollars in taxes.

Atlantic Fuel Inc. got its import, storage and wholesale licence approved in late 2015, around the same time that Van West Charles was hired as the new chief of GWI. There has been intense scrutiny about the procedures.

Atlantic Fuels received its licence in just over a month after application, a rapid approval compared to the months that others have applied and had to wait.

According to officials, it is not unknown for the Guyana Energy Agency to grant licences and then these are rented out to importers by the holders of those licences.

According to insiders, GRA has been discovering incidents where fuel shipments, which came in gallons were recorded in the tax system as liters.

T h i s p l u s t h e u n d e r-

invoicing aspect has been helping to dent GRA's collections.

GRA, in order to collect its outstanding taxes from the under-invoicing, which are evidenced from Customs records, is likely to examine past shipments of Atlantic Fuel, going back to 2015 or 2016, to determine whether there were other instances of under-invoicing.

Dr. Richard Van West Charles in whose name the import licence for Atlantic Fuels was issued, was summoned to a meeting with G R A ' s C o m m i s s i o n e rGeneral Godfrey Statia last week after reports of a number of questionable transactions by Atlantic Fuels.

With regards to Atlantic Fuels, two transactions specifically brought it back into the limelight recently.

One of them was a shipment purchased in the free trade border area at Morawhanna, (continued on page 24)

Audit Office investigating Guyana's preparedness for an oil spill

By Kiana Wilburg

A

uditor General, Deodat Sharma, has initiated steps to probe Guyana's preparedness for an oil spill.

Sharma revealed that he has an officer in British Columbia (Canada's westernmost province) at the moment, who is expected to return in June to follow through with the Audit Office's investigation.

The Auditor General said, “She is working with the BC Audit Office on this.

We have started this since the person went over there and she is being guided by the staff there on this matter. We are hoping by the first quarter of 2020 to issue the report. So the process has started but will be completed when she returns…”

In addition to the efforts being undertaken by the Audit Office, the APNU+AFC Government is in the process of seeking international help on various issues, two of which include crisis management in the petroleum sector and boosting Guyana's preparedness for oil spills.

Specifically piloting efforts in this regard is the Natural Resources Ministry.

On its website, the Ministry noted that it is inviting proposals for Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment consultancy in compliance with the requirements of the Guyana Oil and Gas Capacity Building Project #166730, funded by the World Bank.

The Ministry explained that the Government will hire a consultancy firm to prepare a Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) for Guyana's new oil and gas sector to help meet longterm country development outcomes by integrating environmental, social (including labour), health, safety and security considerations in oil and gas policies, laws and sector growth.

Considering the ongoing and proposed development and capacity building activities for the oil and gas sectors, the SESA is expected to provide a comprehensive sector-wide examination of potential impacts, both positive and negative, and identify gaps in regulations, institutional c a p a c i t y, a n d p u b l i c consultation mechanisms.

Additionally, the SESA aims as being a strategic

framework for strengthening environmental and social sustainability of the oil and gas sector in Guyana, strengthening the country's ability to address health and safety issues in this sector, and to inform the preparation of an Indigenous People's Planning Framework (IPPF).

In the process, the Ministry said that the SESA will contribute to a more transparent understanding of environmental and social regulations, creating a more level playing f i e l d f o r private investors.

As part of the SESA, the consultant is expected to do several things, one of which includes the identification of Health, Safety, Environmental and Social (HSES) Issues and Risks. In this phase, the Consultant will identify the existing government agencies in Guyana with responsibility (defined mandates, roles and responsibilities), and existing built in capacity (or lack of) for contingency planning and responding to petroleum sector events such as oil spills. (SEE LINK FOR MORE DETAILS : https://motp.gov.gy/index.p hp/notices/terms-ofreference/3317-guyana-oil-

gas-capacity-buildingproject-p166730-terms-ofreference-tor-strategicenvironmental-socialassessment) The National Oil Spill Contingency Plan, one of the most critical documents that is supposed to be in place for any emerging petroleum producer like Guyana, is expected to be in place by March 2019. This was noted b y h e a d o f t h e Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams during an interview with this newspaper last year. Dr. Adams noted that the EPA had a chance to review the draft plan and

several comments were returned to the Civil Defense Commission (CDC) for consideration.

Dr. Adams described the Oil Spill Contingency Plan as “a work in progress” while noting that it needs a lot of details. The Environmental Engineer is also of the opinion that a proper risk assessment will be needed for the plan. He said that the risk assessment will identify the areas that are most vulnerable to an oil spill and the far reaching effects of such an eventuality.

The EPA Head said that the CDC may wish to hire someone to do the

Auditor General, Deodat Sharma assessment since it is a technical area and the document will be a most important one for Guyana's oil sector.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 15, 2019

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Guyana’s brain drain is crippling the economy Guyana’s brain drain is a harsh, well-known phenomenon with a multi-decade lifespan that manifests no signs of tapering off. It has been weakening to the point of national devastation. And yet, this country, though lamenting the continuing haemorrhage, has either not fully discerned or fully appreciated the far-ranging consequences of this massive exodus.

A while back, the authoritative World Bank reported that some 86% of Guyanese who finish at the tertiary education level are gone; have left; migrated. Goodbye.

It has been heard, read, absorbed, shrugged at and last shrugged off. My turn coming is all that matters.

That was the extent of passing individual and cumulative reactions. Now it is time to take a deep dive behind that stark, not contested, number of 86% of graduates off and out; and ascertain what it signifies at some rudimentary level.

This means that a mere 14% of graduates remain. It could be that, in time, a part of that remnant also departs depending on marital and family sponsorship down the road, making matters even worse. Still holding to that 14% residue, and giving due cognizance to Guyanese political and racial realities, as well as the associated hard divisions, this means that approximately seven per cent are entrusted, saddled with, and responsible for managing a whole country.

It is a country with myriad issues and challenges, and areas that too many times embody the insurmountable.

Proceeding a bit deeper, and being generous, Reasonably and realistically speaking, in that seven per cent, there is bound to be incompetents, the unindustrious, the corrupt, and the generally underperforming.

In view of the runaway corruption levels prevalent in this society that practically ousts a considerable fraction of the seven per cent utilized by one political group or another for managing, strategizing, leading, and delivering for the benefit of this nation.

At the risk of undercounting, it is put forward that the corrupt could be at a minimum, 50% of that now shrinking seven per cent.

That, if accepted for purposes of this position translates to about three per cent of the supposedly educated, trained, exposed populace doing the heavy lifting, thinking, and fulfilling the needs and requirements of this beleaguered, struggling nation.

It is not doable; it does not bode well for progress.

Hence, it is irrefutable evidence of where Guyana is and why it has been stuck there.

Almost forever. Where else can a young, poor, ruptured society find itself (or go) with three per cent of the learners at the helm and piloting the craft? As an aside, but in proximity to the primary thrust of this writing, several months ago there was the thought that this is a one per cent nation in many of the most crucial areas. The thinking today is that one per cent of contributors and performers is closer to the real Guyana.

This is driven home powerfully, when one considers the separate (still sometimes concentric) concentrations of pundits, politicians, and professionals available and involved to carry the torch.

The concentration of the commercial could be numerically higher, but only slightly; while that of the genuinely principled way less than one per cent.

No nation can stand on its feet, and carry its own weight under such an enormous human capital deficit. The fact that Guyana has managed to muddle along does says something, not much, but a paltry something.

The first recommendation is: fix the politics. The second is: address the race cancer. The last word is this: is anyone out there listening? Does anyone care enough to want to figure out and force a different mentality, a new spirit, and a more embracing motherland?

The inaudibility of the US envoys and plenipotentiaries at this time is perplexing DEAR EDITOR, The US has been mighty quiet of late. Too quiet and tellingly so. In spite of a lot of watchful interest (definitely concern) relative to political developments in Guyana, there has been almost nothing issuing forth from the Americans.

While the Canadians have some answers pending, and the British are diplomatically correct, the US envoys and plenipotentiaries and their pivotal pronouncements have been muted to the point of inaudibility, if not indecipherability. Looking around, this perplexes.

A quick superficial survey provides a snapshot that is alternately pregnant with possibilities and implications; while, in the next instance, it perpetuates a history that either comforts or repels locals, depending on which side of the dance floor is occupied.

In this country, it is a twoboom box affair, and each with their own lyrics and chants that energize and electrify.

The survey reveals that the main man Maduro in neighbouring Venezuela just got roundly condemned, almost unanimously in the region, for his power grab that reinforces a leftward tilt. From all accounts, it is a hard left.

One side of the domestic dance floor that is preparing,

waiting, and anticipating in Guyana is of the left, too. It is not of a soft putty variety.

For the sake of clarity, left is today’s deliberate synonym of choice for purpose of subtlety. But no one should be unenlightened.

Now Venezuela has an abundance of oil. Despite a recent upward adjustment of its reserves by the powerful Saudi Arabians, the largest proven quantity still belongs to the Venezuelans.

Meanwhile, Guyana’s own discoveries keep mounting, exciting, and stupefying.

Natives, that is. Taken together, this is a world of oil right here in the Americas, with much of it in leftist hands, and the specter of some of the rest following, since there are some with sharp heavy axes (already grinded) to wield against the Northern powerhouse. There is the smell of much trouble in the air. Hence, there is some perplexity (though recognition) regarding American silence.

As if the immense South American oil reserves and their political control are not unsettling enough, there is the rising Russian Bear. The Russians are now the commanding and controlling figure in OPEC. OPEC requires neither handshake nor preamble by way of introduction. Nor does the

judoka who dominates the Kremlin. That apparatus is over there (hint: don’t rule out the local one). When added together, matters coalesce to this: OPEC plus Venezuela plus Guyana could equal a leftward, left-sided, lefthanded world. In total, representative of not just grounds for quarrels; but alarming to a frightening degree. To repeat: that which is unprecedented and unparalleled for Guyana in terms of promise, holds exactly the same with respect to peril.

The creeping oil realities foster grim, if not disastrous, economic and superpower imbalance. The potential for dislocations and dominance would make prior OPEC actions look like cheap ransoms, real financial and social chicken feed. Because for the first time in the century that was the Petroleum Age, the oil scales point to a slipping away from the hegemony of the West. Read America.

It is why little, long ignored Guyana and its geography and black gold finds assume intensifying significance. This should not be minimized. There is sure to be concern if this country were to go anywhere but rightward. Even some form of a centre would be found acceptable and legitimate.

Reality has to be faced: despite strides in electricpowered vehicles and diversification efforts, the trillion-dollar oil industry would take more than a decade to dismantle and replace. Oil is still here, still king.

All things considered, a crack in the political armor here would help. A little cold shower of reality is needed to douse some of the election fevers (already at delirium pitch in these youthful days) and to rush citizens to their senses and some semblance of sanity. Call it real world, big power politics, muscle, and the influence that comes with that.

The silence of the Americans becomes ominous; it could also be meaningful, the point and counterpoint of dissecting and weighing every grain, every option. What will work? How to approach?

What to neutralize or manage or turn? In all of this, Guyana cannot represent a whiff of anything left leaning. There is too much of a preponderance of in that direction already. The middle of the road, as in the two ends blending is what hangs over the national head. Like it; work towards it; accept it.

Not else is permissible.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

The politics of duplicity and hypocrisy DEAR EDITOR, On the 21 December 2018, the APNU/AFC Coalition Government was defeated by a No Confidence Motion moved by the Opposition, PPP/C, in the National Assembly. The Government is refusing to resign and fix a date for National & Regional Elections which they are bound to do under the relevant provisions of the Constitution of Guyana.

Instead, they have decided to challenge the validity of the vote cast in favour of the motion by one of their own, Charrandass Persaud, on the grounds of his dual citizenship to Canada, and that 33 votes do not constitute the majority required to pass such a motion.

The matter is pending in the High Court. Therefore, I will refrain from commenting on the issues of law involved, but will address the lack of political morality so vital to democratic politics which underlies the legal challenges. I will deal with the dual citizenship argument in this article.

In another, I will address the 33 votes/ majority contention.

The provision in the Con-

stitution which prohibits a person who swore allegiance to a foreign state from becoming a Member of Parliament, has been in the Constitution, possibly, since Independence. However, over the years, every political party has deliberately turned a blind eye to it and persons with dual citizenship have always been extracted from the lists of political parties and permitted to sit in the National Assembly without objections from anyone. Of course, this includes the 11th Parliament of Guyana, which has such persons on both sides of the political aisle.

Charrandass Persaud is one such person. His name was placed on their list by the APNU+AFC and extracted from that list to sit in the National Assembly by the APNU+AFC. It must be assumed that they knew or ought to have known of his citizenship of Canada and the constitutional implications.

After the 2015 elections, they have used Persaud’s vote to pass every budget and every piece of legislation since, including the 2019 budget, which was passed in a matter

of days prior to the No-Confidence Motion.

Indeed, from all their public pronouncements prior to and during the debate of the No-Confidence Motion, it was abundantly clear that they were relying on Persaud’s vote to pass the very Motion. However, when Persaud voted against them, they now want to denounce the validity of that vote by relying on that provision of the Constitution in an attempt to disqualify him from being a member on the ground of his dual citizenship.

So, having agreed to the rules of the game, when they lose, they are refusing to accept the results by questioning the very rules by which they agreed to be bound.

This is not only duplicity and political hypocrisy at its worst, but it destroys the possibility of any political force, or indeed anyone, being able to genuinely trust and have any lasting political relationship or alliance of any type with APNU+AFC. It demonstrates their willingness to do anything and everything possible, regardless of its consequences to the welfare

of our people and the national interest, to satisfy their thirst for political power.

I must emphasize that if they succeed, it means that all the budgets passed since 2015 to now and all the Bills passed, were unlawful. The implications and consequences of this on the nation are both irreversible and immeasurable. But they seem not to care!

However, this is not a new ploy for the PNC. They have an undisputable track record of doing anything possible to keep political power. Their years of rigging elections, before 1992 , their refusal to accept the results of elections certified to be free and fair, post 1992, their agreement to the use of a voter ID card for the 1997 elections and then challenging the legal validity of those elections on the ground of the use of that very ID card, all exemplify this ploy as a permanent part of their political modus operandi.

The fact that the legal challenge is being brought in the name of a citizen and not in the name of the main political architects fools no one.

(Continued on page 5)

Tuesday January 15, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Settling the matter of dual citizenship once and for all DEAR EDITOR, One good thing that will come as a result of the confidence vote is the Court’s ruling on Article 155(1)(a) which addresses dual citizens sitting in the National Assembly.

This article expressly states, “No person shall be qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly who is, by virtue of his own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience, or adherence to a foreign power or state.” This article was inserted in the Constitution of Guyana as a result of the Constitutional Reform process of 1999-2000.

For quite some time, yours truly, the media and others have been addressing the issue of non-compliance with the article, and society was getting the royal runaround, finger pointing, excuses and denial from the politicians, when culpability exists on both sides of the political divide.

Lawmakers (Parliamentarians), including the President who assent to Bills passed by the National Assembly, have the greatest obligation to this nation and its citizens to uphold the Bills they passed, laws assented to, and oath taken to obey the laws. Laws cannot be cherry-picked, they have to be upheld in their entirety, and disservice is being done to the nation and citizenry when the principal custodians abrogate this duty and responsibility.

Imbalance in political attention and admittance does more harm than good for the society because the Rule of

Law is supreme and universal. It is an incomplete account of the violation on both sides as reflected in the Stabroek News’ report “Harmon’s dual citizenship underlines gov’t hypocrisy Nandlall” (14th January 2019).

Our journalists should not allow themselves to be preyed on to carry a onesided story, when it is crucial to the nation at this time and, particularly when we are navigating a matter of national import involving both sides. And as a matter of fact, the PPP/C government would have been culpable for violating this article before the coming of Minister Joe Harmon to the National Assembly.

When Anil Nandlall, former PPP/C Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, has taken the route to deceive, he must be held to account. He should have admitted his political party is not an innocent bystander nor has it been advocate or enforcer of the extant article.

Harmon has come clean, though belatedly, in his admittance. He should not have sat in the House with dual citizenship, and must now do the honourable thing.

Nandlall is being deceptive in his claim that the extant article was probably there since independence and all political parties are in violation, which gives the impression that this violation has been happening for more than 50 years. Not true.

The constitutional requirement came into effect in 2000. Since then successive PPP/C government and the Coalition government have been in breach of it. Sitting in

the Assembly on the Opposition side when the violation continues to occur, on either or both side(s), doesn’t exonerate the party or its Members.

What is being gleaned from Nandlall’s comment is that should the issue of dual citizenship be pursued it will create a serious constitutional crisis that can affect legislation passed during the Coalition and PPP/C governments. If this is how he feels or is thinking, the Court must be asked to adjudicate on this specific aspect, for his opinion is not that of the Court’s and should not be seen as definitive.

Let it be made very clear we cannot have different standards for the legislators and that for the wider society. For instance, if a man is caught with 2 grams of marijuana he will be placed before the court and face the full brunt of the law that deals with the violation of being in possession of this substance. Likewise, if the law states a person, based on constitutional description, cannot sit in the Assembly, he/she who violates same must face the requisite consequence. Society must remain vigilant and ensure the politicians do not now band together and move to invalidate the article because both sides have been

found guilty.

This nation is facing a legislative crisis created by those in the National Assembly. When persons with dual citizenship finish milking Guyana and leave, they have recourse and the protection of their adopted country, while we at home have to live and deal with the consequences of their acts and decisions. You cannot serve two masters at the same time, which informed the spirit and intent of the citizenship article.

Aside from the issues surrounding Charrandass Persaud and the confidence vote, what cannot be denied is that his exit from this country came with the protection of his adopted country. And as he presently resides abroad in some degree of comfort, he has left in his wake a nation tense, further divided, as we seek to navigate the consequences of his action and hold the fabric of nationhood together.

The issue of dual citizenship has dire implications for the nation’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, respect for the Constitution and Laws in its entirety, citizens’ rights and freedoms, international terrorism, and the exploiting of our resources to the benefit of Guyana and for all Guyanese.

In light of our territorial challenges, the potential wealth of oil and gas, what is

to stop any one of these persons ‘selling out,’ having the security and protection to leave. It is evident that many Guyanese can be easily bought, given the corruption level in government and by public officials. Having only Guyanese citizenship means any untoward conduct, using the people’s power in the legislature or executive, the person is guaranteed the protection of local laws. This is not too much to ask or expect if one is offering him or herself for leadership at this level.

We are a small, venerable nation, awash with natural resources. Article 155 ‘Disqualifications for election as members,’ plays a pivotal role in safeguarding us, at the Executive and Legislative levels, from being exploited by foreign forces, whose desire to influence and mould our destiny have never been extinguished.

History has shown such attempts were underpinned by a divide-and-rule policy that has rendered us asunder and our collective well-being and development hindered for far too long. We must no longer trifle with this serious issue, for such a policy continues to carry dire consequences for race, race relations, class and other diversity.

Article 155 is meant to

prove and secure the highest form of legislated patriotism.

It is not that persons of dual citizenship are not considered important or valued for their skills nor cannot serve Guyana at any other level or in any other form, but the Constitution stipulates restriction to be elected and serve as President and parliamentarian. It augurs well to secure the integrity of nationbuilding and nationhood giving due respect.

The National Assembly has not been properly seated since 2000 when the provision was assented to. Seeking the Court’s intervention allows the nation to settle this matter once and for all.

Lincoln Lewis

The politics of duplicity...

From page 4 The Attorney General is on record boasting about his and the Government’s role in these proceedings. In any event, the legal challenge to the 1997 elections was also done by a citizen at the instance of the PNC. So this is not new either.

Fortunately, this time around I do not think they will succeed, for the law is not on their side.

Mohabir Anil Nandlall, MP Attorney-at-Law

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Kaieteur News

Crime is destroying the society Dear Editor Serious crimes are rising in Guyana daily among very young people. Crime can be defined as:’’ any action or offence that defies a state or country and is punishable by law.”

Crime has many definitions. In fact, the most common thing about these definitions is that crime is punishable. Crime cuts across many disciplines such as sociology, psychology, and criminology.’’

As I watched the news I saw the High Court Judges in their magnificent parades. The news reporter gave a stunning report about rape cases topping the list and murder among many other heinous crimes in Guyana.

Then I saw a mind-boggling story of some guys in Berbice who gave a younger guy a $5000 to purchase a bottle of rum but he took the money and went away.

But he was murdered by the same guys who gave him the money.

For just $5000 people can kill a person because of their dishonesty.

I also discovered that dishonesty, lying, cheating, frauds, drug dealing, and family breakdown are contributing factors to crime. Dishonesty and lying are very rampant among people in high offices, and that leads to corruption.

I have had experiences where people told me they called me but never did my caller ID read zero; their texts or emails never arrived. Though we have crimes from street rogues, white collar crimes are fast infiltrating our nation among the elites.

Guyana is too small a country for so many rapes, murders, and robberies, and now rape is increasing among minibus drivers and taxi drivers. More police work needs to be done among drivers and bus conductors who move around with females on a daily routine.

I believe the family breakdown in Guyana is a key contributing factor to kids growing up without proper parents, without guidance, thus grow up illiterate and take to a life of crime and drugs.

Gun crime is rising; too many young people carry guns and drugs. More police and soldier patrols are needed. Just recently bandits took away guns from female security guards and stole a safe that belongs to NIS. It’s ridiculous these guards have guns and thieves without guns robbed a government entity, and we see that all the time.

We need to put our soldiers to guard government buildings. The GDF does nothing for Guyana, and they get paid for doing absolutely nothing.

Illiteracy has become a major problem in this country. In our prisons more than 60% of prisoners are illiterates or functional illiterates.

Most of these prisoners are from broken families, they have no education or skill to get a job, so crime has become a lifestyle for them.

The problem here is too much ‘live home’ and ‘tek up’ lifestyles - the sanctity of marriage and family values is thrown out the window. Many parents too are to be blamed, they never

teach their children to work or discipline them when they do wrong things, so they inculcate very bad habits.

I spoke to a headmaster recently, and he told me the children today are extremely rude and immoral, and parents help to contribute to the perpetual moral decline in society.

When persons start to lead a life of crime, it’s good for the police to investigate the family background of those persons.

Many people blame the government for not working. However the fact is a lot of people in this country are extremely lazy. They just want to dress fancy and hang by a night spot to rob people.

If the Courts impose stricter laws the crime will cease and I believe in the death penalty for proper justice to be delivered to those that are hurting. We need reform in the judiciary in Guyana.

I say so because many criminals have connections. They can commit heinous crimes and receive very light sentences or walk free.

We should have a ‘’no bail’’ system for many offences, because many of these criminals will commit more crimes once they are loosed. But we have the problem of overcrowding in the prisons.

Unemployment is a serious factor that influences crimes.

We also have had massive migration for the past fifty years. Our people our looking for jobs and better living conditions abroad, but we can change all that here with a proper, visionary plan to lead this nation.

Guyana needs young intelligent minds to lead the nation into contemporary circumstances.

Our old politicians failed us in job creation, they took away jobs but created none. Guyana is a nation too young to die, even as the half-educated are fighting for power again like crabs in a barrel.

Regards, Rev. Dr. Gideon Cecil

Tuesday January 15, 2019

Proposal for a Referendum instead of Elections, to Implement a ‘One Party’ Govt. from 2019-2023 DEAR EDITOR, Since the publication of the letter I wrote that was published in the Stabroek News on 10 January, 2019 and titled ‘Proposed Members of new ‘One Party’ Government from 2019 – 2023’, much discussion was generated and many persons are asking how would a ‘One Party’ Government be possible when our Constitution does not allow for such; since it states that the government is formed on the basis of the results of Elections and also to ensure that the process is democratic.

Having had further discussions with various individuals, etc., the following suggestions were made as to how this could become possible: The first step would require engagements with the President, Government and Opposition to agree on delaying elections, in the interest of fixing the issues in the country and channeling all of our energies and necessary resources into protecting our

sovereignty. Secondly, Government and Opposition could agree to approach the Judiciary (Courts) for a suspension of the aspects of the Constitution which states that the Government should be established based on the results from Elections.

Thirdly, an alternative to the Courts would be for Government and Opposition to agree to take the matter to the people for a vote through a referendum; specifically to suspend aspects of the Constitution which states that the Government should be established based on Elections and for a ‘One Party’ Government to be established from 2019 – 2023, to complete the Constitutional Reform process; develop an economic and development policy and mechanisms for its implementation through a consensus; and develop a strategy to implement same through institutional reform and mobilizing the society around the policy.

The No-Confidence Motion has created space which

would not have ordinarily been created for shared-governance to be facilitated.

Therefore, instead of holding Elections by the end of April; it is proposed that, the President, Government and Opposition could facilitate the establishment of a ‘One Party’ Government from 2019 – 2023; as a practical transition for the country, as well as to seriously address issues in relation to our sovereignty.

This proposal also provides Guyana with the opportunity to heal, design a sound economic pathway, strengthen its institutions, reorient the mindset of the people around a ‘One People, One Nation, One Destiny’ motto; while providing strong national, regional and international leadership.

Let’s see if our leaders will put sovereignty above party politics.

Yours faithfully, Audreyanna Thomas Accredited Partnership Practitioner

The time is now for Government Public Transportation.

DEAREDITOR, I wish to call on the head of the Guyana Police Force – GPF, Mr. Leslie James, Minister of Business, Hon. Dominic Gaskin and President of the United Minibus Union – UMU, Mr. Eon Andrews to work collaboratively for the immediate enforcement of the Code of Conduct for the current Public Transport System.

The reasons are evident and I have witnessed and experienced public embarrassment from minibus drivers and their conductors. If this code of conduct is not enforced immediately, the Government of Guyana must get into the business of Government Public Transportation System. The blatant disrespect and total insensitivity for commuters by these ill-mannered minibus operators must stop, and there must be some form of redress for victims.

I was awaiting a bus to head up to my destination – the community of Success, that is, on the

Line-Top. At around 7:30, a 45 route minibus, the driver of which is of East Indian heritage and conductor of African heritage and was covered in white and red colour, then decided to take passengers up the East Coast.

As the bus was loading, a lady who decided to stand at the door until the back of the bus was loaded was then deprived of entering preceding her explanation that she was coming off short at Kingston Seawall area.

The driver who was inconsiderate accelerated the bus at the point where the lady was boarding, she could have fallen but for her ability to hold on to the back of the conductor’s seat.

Thereafter the bus was loaded, mind you, overloaded, and pulled out of the park. It headed north on Avenue of the Republic, the bus came to a stop at the traffic light – that’s the junction of Regent Street and Avenue of the Republic. As the driver was awaiting the lights, he turned on the bass and music of the bus. Trust me, it was sudden and sharp. A senior citizen who was of African heritage and had dreadlocks pleaded with the driver to turn down the loud, vulgar sound. It was deafening.

It was at this point the driver asked the conductor to open the door and throw out the old man.

Further, he said, “I don’t have to take anybody. Anyone else who gah problem wid de music can get out” and he turned up back the sexual, vulgar music.

He then stated, “Is wha does do some banna? He in know I get a trophy fuh de most unruly music and driver.”

Why! Why Minister of Business? Why! Why Mr. Leslie James and Eon Andrews? Why must commuters face such public harassment and embarrassment from minibus operators?

I believe the Government should get involved in the business of providing Public Transport. All because we – the citizens don’t have another option in public (affordable) transport services we are faced with this sort of unprofessionalism and injustice.

Further to the issue, I joined the bus and, yes I did ask where and how far he was going, given he’s not a regular 44 bus, but due to the unavailability of buses I joined the bus with the expectation of getting dropped to Success Line Top, Gas Station Road, which was told to me was ‘okay’.

To my surprise I was not dropped to my destination.

Moreover, I was given short change. Before I could have asked for the rest of my money, the bus was up the road like ‘Speedy Gonzales’.

Robbery, harassment, and embarrassment are not good traits for Public Transport Services to have. It is time these operators are held accountable.

They must pledge their allegiance to the Citizens of whatever route they intend to serve before any zoning...

Regards D. McFarlane

Tuesday January 15, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 7

Goldfields’ production falls to 150,450 ounces in 2018

The Guyana Goldfields production has fallen last year to 150,450 ounces, the company announced yesterday.

CEO, Scott Caldwell Canadian-owned Guyana Goldfields Inc. which operates the country’s biggest gold mining operations in Cuyuni, Region Seven, has recorded a production of 150,450 ounces for last year, lower than in 2017. The production in 2017 was 160,500 ounces.8 According to the company in a fourth quarter and full year report, gold production was 42,750 ounces in the fourth quarter, representing the third best quarterly production to date.

That 150,450 ounces of gold, though the largest for any single producer in Guyana, would have been a revised annual production guidance.

The Canadian company started commercial production in early 2016, in the Aurora operations with several hundred staffers. However, it is facing problems now.

A number of shareholders have asked for a special meeting, which could be held in another few weeks, to move a no-confidence vote against the current board members.

One of the shareholders is Patrick Sheridan, a founder and former chief.

The shareholders are claiming mismanagement, misrepresentation of information, and the loss of share value to the tune of $1B C’dn over the past year.

The company itself has been coming under fire for honouring its obligations to Guyana, including local content issues.

The troubles would come when Guyana Goldfields is preparing to build an underground mining operation, the first for Guyana.

Authorities had halted the environmental permit, but the company has since been approved.

With regards to the performance, the company said yesterday that its mining rate averaged 69,200 tonnes per day in the fourth quarter, a new record and close to

double the tonnes moved in comparison to the first quarter of 2018. ”Record quarterly mill performance of 7,100 tonnes per day mill throughput has now increased 16% on an annual basis over the last two years while also achieving increased recovery rates over this period.”

The full year gold recovery averaged 92.0% in 2018, some 2.3% higher than in 2017 mainly due to increased retention time within the leaching circuit following completion of the Phase 1 mill expansion early in 2018.

“We had a strong finish to 2018 despite the challenges we faced,” said Scott A. Caldwell, President & CEO. “Not only did we achieve a record mining rate in the fourth quarter, but our mill enhancements delivered throughput levels well ahead

of design with gold recovery averaging over 2.0% higher than in 2017. Our mining contractor, Stratcon, reached its stride putting us in a much stronger position in terms of waste stripping.”

The company recently announced that it has hired former US ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway, as Senior Vice President, Strategy and Corporate Affairs.

There were also other appointments including Rene Marion as Non-Executive Chairman; Lisa Zangari as Chief Talent Officer and Ron Stewart as Senior Vice President, Technical Services and Corporate Development.

“These appointments, in combination with the departure of certain former executives, have increased the board independence, improved corporate governance, enhanced relations with the government of Guyana, reduced conflicts-ofinterest and provided a more streamlined, efficient and (Continued on page 22)

PAGE 8

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 15, 2019

Abu Dhabi US$8M loan to build solar power for almost 35,000 residents

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, attends sixth cycle of the IRENA/ADFD Project Facility in UAE. Communities in Guyana’s hinterland region are set to benefit from reliable and efficient electricity supply stemming from the installation of a 5.2-megawatt (MW) grid-connected solar PV system.

The systems will be funded through a recently approved low cost loan of US$8M from the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

Guyana has been named as one of the countries selected.

The other countries named are Liberia and Togo.

The funding will ensure the provision of energy access and advance sustainable development for selected hinterland communities.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, whose Ministry is responsible for the project, attended the sixth cycle of the IRENA/ADFD Project Facility inAbu Dhabi, UAE, over the weekend.

The installation of the 5.2megawatt (MW) grid-connected solar PV systems will in turn re-

duce fossil fuel consumption and increase the reliability of electricity supply.

An estimated 34,700 people in the targeted areas will benefit and around 120 direct and indirect jobs are set to be created throughout the project lifecycle.

The projects selected this year will contribute towards meeting national energy access targets and will transform lives for the better says IRENA Director-General Adnan Z. Amin.

“They will take advantage of cost-effective renewable energy to help reduce poverty, enable income-generating activities, and provide electricity to healthcare facilities and educational institutions, which will create jobs, empower women, and strengthen local communities,” says Amin.

Since the first cycle selection of projects in 2014, ADFD funding has been allocated to 24 renewable energy projects across the world, covering up to 50 per cent of the total project costs.

Funding is available for sustainable development projects that are backed by a government guarantee.

Tuesday January 15, 2019

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

No confidence and democracy It is utter trite to describe a no-confidence motion as an act of treason. It gets more galling when a foreign government is being accused of conspiring to remove the government simply because it provided a service, which it is duty bound to provide, to one of its citizens.

There is nothing illegal, treasonous or unusual about a no-confidence motion. The no-confidence mechanism, inserted into Guyana’s constitution with the support of both the PNCR and the PPPC, is a lawful, legitimate and democratic means of holding a government accountable to the legislative assembly.

It allows for the resignation of the Cabinet which no longer enjoys the support of the legislative assembly. A government can be lawfully removed either by elections or by the votes of those whom the people elected to represent their interests. The no-confidence motion is therefore a means by which a government is held accountable for its actions.

No-confidence motions are a feature of the Westminster political system.

Governments may be required to demonstrate that they enjoy the confidence of the legislature. Governments which do not enjoy the support of

the legislative assembly can be brought down, legally and democratically by a no-confidence motion.

In such cases, it is the Cabinet which has to resign collectively. The Cabinet is bound by the principle of collective responsibility to the National Assembly. That is, they “swim together or sink together”. Therefore, if a government no longer enjoys the confidence of the assembly, it is the Cabinet which has to resign; and notwithstanding that resignation, the government stays in office until elections are held and a new government elected.

The APNU+AFC had de-

Dem boys seh ...

Two fat cat watching Guyana like rat watching cheese From de time people hear that Guyana find oil is so dem start coming from all about. People who use to treat Guyana bad, suddenly trying to be nice to Guyanese.

Dem boys remember when Trinidad use to deport Guyanese. Barbados never even use to let Guyanese enter de country. Dem had a special bench called de Guyana Bench.

Wasn’t people alone who start coming to Guyana. Countries suddenly start coming.

Dem behave like dem children who does only play wid you when you got something dem want.

China done got a big foothold in Guyana.

Anywhere you walk is a Chinee business.

Then China start to lend Guyana nuff money.

It lend money fuh a sugar factory that never wuk; it lend money fuh de airport. It lend money fuh de East Coast Demerara road project.

Uncle Sam been helping Guyana long now. It give Guyana four li’l boats and China give Guyana two big boats.

Some organisation sit down and watch de

sparring. Dem see China winning suh dem now ask Uncle Sam fuh step in and help Guyana.

From de time dem boys hear that dem realize was six of one and half a dozen of de odda. Dem see that is a case of jumping from de frying pan and into de fire.

China already deh deep. It got a big share in de oil. It is in partnership Exxon, de oil company from Uncle Sam that rob every country it been in.

Now dem boys seh dem not sure who is worse. Of course if dem get a visa dem can go to Uncle Sam and buy property.

But if dem get a visa to China dem can never own anything. China don’t allow foreigners to own nutten. Dem can rent but only from de government.

Now if Uncle Sam got to watch China which watching Guyana like how cat watching milk, then dem boys sure China gun be watching Uncle Sam like how man does watch woman wid a view to cut a deal.

Guyana deh in serious trouble.

Talk half and watch how Guyana suddenly tun something wha cat and rat watching.

cided to bring down the PPPC government by means of a noconfidence motion in 2014.

The then President Donald Ramotar, aborted that attempt by proroguing parliament, a power which was within his constitutional remit but which without calling elections immediately was deemed to be not consistent with a democratic ethic. International pressure was brought to bear on Ramotar who was forced to call elections within five months of the aborted nonconfidence motion.

The no-confidence motion is not a legislative coup.

A coup is an unlawful usurpation of power. There has been no such maneuver in Guyana.

Treason involves overthrowing a government, an unlawful act not provided for by the Constitution, the law or democratic tradition. A noconfidence motion is not a means of overthrowing a government. It is a means of holding governments accountable. It is lawful and democratic.

In Latin America, the legislative arm, in recent times, has been used to impeach Presidents, rather than remove their governments. At least two sitting Presidents have been so impeached in

recent times. In one of those cases - involving President Fernando Lugo of Paraguay the heads of Latin American governments deemed it a legislative coup not because impeachment was unconstitutional but because of the inadequacy of the time provided to Lugo to offer a defence against the charges made against him. Lugo was given a mere two hours. Impeachment of a President has never happened in Guyana because it is more difficult to achieve than a no-confidence motion.

Guyanese must begin to accept the no-confidence motion as a democratic mechanism. The mere threat of a no-confidence motion is a means of ensuring that Governments correct their failings. What other democratic means are available for having a government lawfully face the electorate?

Why therefore the Guyana Police Force would be investigating whether bribery was involved in such a vote is beyond comprehension. The police must not allow themselves to once again become a political footstool.

There is nothing improper about someone voting in favor of a no-confidence motion even if it brings down

their own government.

If the APNU+AFC does not agree that a democratically- elected government should be removed by a noconfidence motion, it should place this on its agenda of constitutional reform. But it will have to answer questions as to why when it was in the opposition invoked such a means to attempt to remove the Donald Ramotar administration in 2014.

Governments who feel that it undemocratic for a legislature to remove a government, always have the option to reverting back to the people. If the no-confidence motion of 21st December, 2018 was undemocratic, what is to prevent the government from calling elections and having the people restore their mandate?

Or does the government feel that even the people have abandoned it and that it can no longer command a majority of the support of the electorate? In that instance, the government can hardly justify holding on to power.

PAGE 10

Tuesday January 15, 2019

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

Is Gail Teixeira fit and proper to be president?

There are five official presidential candidates in the PPP for the national elections to be held probably at some point in 2019 – Anil Nandlall, Irfaan Ali, Dr. Frank Anthony, Dr. Vindhya Persaud and the “old guardist”, Gail Teixeira. My preference is for Anil Nandlall. The last on my list is Gail Teixeira.

Theoretically, Vindhya Persaud should be given the nomination because this is the age of women and women need to lead countries the way men have the past few thousand

years. At the practical, pragmatic and realistic level, I think Nandlall has a f e w e d g e s o v e r D r.

Persaud. If there wasn’t Nandlall in the race, I would go for Dr. Persaud.

I only know two of the five –Nandlall and Teixeira.

Nandlall has been my student and friend. We fell out over the nature of the PPP government of which he was an essential part.

Khemraj Ramjattan had been a friend long years now. I don’t think we share the same degree of friend-

ship because the government he belongs to is not the right one for Guyana’s future.

My country is where my family is. My country’s well being transcends friendship. I believe Charrandass did what he did out of love for country.

When I am shown evidence to the c o n t r a r y, Charrandass will be condemned in these columns of mine.

Teixeira is someone I have interacted with from the seventies but she was never a friend. My suspicion of Teixeira as a closet Stalinist goes back to the eighties when we sat in the Patriotic Coalition for Democracy. I was one of the WPA’s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s .

She was a Cabinet minister from October 1992 to May 2015. She was a parliamentarian from 1992 and still is.

Ms. Teixeira has held many sensitive portfolios in the PPP itself since the seventies and several Cabinet posts. Her last Cabinet outing was governance advisor to president Jagdeo and Ramotar. If you are going to judge the suitability of Teixeira to be presi-

dent of Guyana, then her role as governance advisor would surely disqualify her.

Simply put, the presidencies of Jagdeo and Ramotar were not accompanied by the passion for democratic thinking. What did Teixeira really advise those two presidents on?

If you do a comparative analysis of Teixeira, you will find that she was always a dyed in the wool Stalinist apparatchik. She inherited that instinct from Mrs. Jagan with whom she shared a sister bond. Mrs. Jagan was an unashamed embracer of communist authoritarianism. I know of no academic that has written positively of the role of Mrs. Jagan (see Frank Birbalsingh, “The PPP, 1950 -1992: An Oral History,” pp 85-91).

Sadly or maybe tragically, for a woman who lived in liberal democratic Canada, Teixeira became a prisoner of the Stalinist thinking of the PPP. For this reason I think her presence among the other four contenders is incongruous. Frank Anthony has emerged as someone

who is a flexible PPP leader that comes across as a nice gentleman. Irfaan Ali has earned negative ratings but does not have the baggage Teixeira carries.

It would be indecent to favourably compare Teixeira with Dr. Vindhya Persaud for the presidency.

It is out of the question to think that Teixeira would be a better president than Anil Nandlall. In a clean voting system, Nandlall would win a landslide against Teixeira.

I knew Teixeira’s common-law husband, Fazal Khan (deceased) closely. I think he died a depressed and frustrated man over what the PPP had become as a government. Fazal was from the old school of the seventies where the influe n c e o f Wa l t e r R o d n e y penetrated and permeated people like him.

Why would the PPP’s central committee leaders choose Teixeira over the other four contenders when obviously, she belongs to an age where the thinking that dominated that era has become dangerous? Teixeira belongs to the school of “we versus them.” That kind of politics

Frederick Kissoon has destroyed Guyana.

We need the younger PPP leaders that have no connection with that sordid past. She lived in Canada for a long time but I don’t know if she is Canadian.

The question is of course why she put her name down.

I think Guyanese and the PPP leaders know that she doesn’t stand a chance. So why contest. I think she was incited to do so for vote splitting reasons. If she was not there, the preference of the old guards (Rohee, Ramotar , Luncheon, Bheri Ramsarran, Clinton Collymore, Pauline Sukhai) may go to a nominee that a certain person doesn’t want. With those six votes going to Texieira, it decreases the chances of that person winning. I hope not.

Tuesday January 15, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 15, 2019

Saphier Husain wants to join challenge against Charrandass Persaud’s right to vote as MP Attorney-at-Law Saphier Husain of Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, who says he is the leader of the National Independent Party which contested the 1997 and 2015 General Elections, has petitioned the High Court to join the proceedings filed by one Compton Reid, against the no-confidence which was

passed in the National Assembly.

Reid is asking the court for a declaration that the no-confidence motion against the Government be quashed on the ground that expelled Alliance for Change (AFC) parliamentarian Charrandass Persaud, who voted with the Opposition, has Canadian citi-

zenship.

Reid is asking for a declaration that the vote cast by Persaud is null, void and of no legal effect, and by reason the unlawful “yes” vote cast

by Persaud, the No Confidence Motion was not passed.

In the Fixed Date Application (FDA) which was filed

yesterday, Husain is also asking the court to submit point in limine and any such order and other reliefs that are deemed fit by the court.

In his grounds in support of his application, Husain said that he has been in practice for over 30 years and has developed expertise in Constitutional Law. He said that the

decision made by the court in the challenge brought by Reid will affect the next General Elections which his party wishes to contest.

According to him, he has been a part of numerous Constitutional and electoral matters in Guyana including the petition of Esther Perreira against the 1997 elections, the Herdmanston Accord interpretation of Article 162 of the Constitution of Guyana in 1992 and several other Constitutional issues.

Though he is not a Member of Parliament, Husain said that his party received votes from persons throughout Guyana in the last General Elections.

The Applicant said than once the court allows him to join Reid’s challenge he intends to submit that the High Court lacks jurisdiction to hear/grant a FDA under the New Civil Procedure Rules 2016.

He cited several orders, which according to him, are pursuant to Articles 64 and 163 of the Constitution of Guyana and rules made under the Constitution in the Election Validity Act cap 1:06 of the Laws of Guyana.

Husain added that his application refers to (i) the qualification of a member of the National Assembly and (ii) the disqualification of a member of the National Assembly and (iii) the qualification for a nomination of a candidate at a General and Regional Election which are requiring the court to act in excess/lack of jurisdiction because of Articles 64 and 163 of the Constitution of Guyana and the National Assembly (Validity of Elections) Act Rules.

According to him, Article 64 states, “All questions as to membership of the National Assembly shall be determined by the High Court in accordance with the provisions of Article 163.”

He stated that Article 163 states, (1) Subject to the provisions of this article, the High Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction to determine any question: (a) regarding the qualification of any person to be elected as a member of the National Assembly, (b) any member of the National As-

Attorney-at-Law Saphier Husain sembly is required under the provisions of Article 156 (2) and (3) to cease to exercise any of his or her functions as a member thereof.

Last week, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo asked the Court to be joined in the matter, since he is also a party of interest. In his application, Jagdeo noted that he wants to join the proceedings because “the main thrust of the proceedings filed” by Reid is to invalidate the no-confidence motion and to ultimately prevent its constitutional consequences” – resignation of the President and Cabinet, calling of general elections in 90 days or having the House extend that period by a two-thirds majority.

Jagdeo says that it is imperative that he “be permitted to join these proceedings not only to protect its integrity, but in order to protect and preserve the will of a majority of the elected members who voted in favour of the said noconfidence motion and also to protect and preserve the sanctity of proceedings in the National Assembly as well as the Constitution of Guyana”.

Further, the Opposition Leader said the matter raises not only issues of paramount constitutional and parliamentary significance, but also fundamental political issues, which may have far-reaching implications for national democracy, peace, order and good governance in Guyana.

This matter comes up for hearing this afternoon before Chief Justice Roxane George.

Tuesday January 15, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 13

Despite $10 bottle tax, Banks DIH profits rise $501M - to build multi-storied car park

M

akers of the Banks Beer and franchise holder of Coca Cola are reporting that a new $10 environmental tax has affected its competitiveness.

In its recently released 2018 annual report, for year ending September 30, 2018 Banks DIH Limited Group's Chairman and Managing Director, Clifford Reis, disclosed that the introduction of an Environmental Levy of $10 per unit for all PET and returnable glass containers was gazetted during the last financial year. “…this affected the selling prices and therefore the affordability of our soft drinks and bottled water products,” the official said in the annual report.

The group's third party revenue was $30.923B when compared with $30.006B in 2017, representing an increase of $917M or 3%.

The Trading Profit from Operations for the group was $6.837B when compared with $6.196 billion achieved in 2017, representing an increase of $641M or 10%.

P r o f i t a f t e r Ta x attributable to the shareholders of the parent company was $4.286B compared to $3.888B` in 2017, an increase of $398M or 10%.

According to Reis, in his Chairman's Report, revenue generated by the company was $27.863B compared to $26.548B in 2017, an increase of $1.315B or 5%.

The profit before tax for the company was $6.032B compared to $5.079B, an increase of $953M or 18.8%; profit after tax for the company increased from $3.584B to $4.085B by $501M million or 14%. “ M y f e l l o w shareholders, the improved results achieved were as a result of the increases in physical case sales of our Malt Products, XM Rums and Banko Wines; our Golden Harvest Bread and Baked goods and our Demico and Crème Select Ice-creams and Frostee products.

Additionally, benefits were also accrued as a result of efficiencies achieved from raw material conversion and 2018 improved production throughput arising from

capital expenditure investment over recent years.”

According to Reis, the improved results were also as a result of lower prices negotiated for several raw and packaging materials as well as from the prudent management of our financial resources.

During the financial year, in terms of recapitalization, the company rolled out state-ofthe-art technology through the medium of plant, machinery and equipment on all of the production plants and in all of the service departments, which enabled improved manufacturing and operational efficiencies.

“The new vehicle workshop and truck parking zone were commissioned along with the new offices f o r t h e Wo r k s h o p Administration, Environmental and Safety Departments and the Building and Property Departments.”

The Chairman disclosed that also included in that development was new PET and Plastics chipping equipment for the in-house generated plastics waste.

“Our solar energy expansion programme was continued with the installation of a PV/solar system at our OMG and Main Street Qik Serv facilities. These departments are now partially powered by solar generated electrical power.”

A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e company installed a new packaging line was installed on the Trisco Cookie and Cracker Plant and new production equipment was also installed in the Dairy and Novelty Ice Plant.

“Our distribution fleet was further enhanced through the acquisition of new trucks and forklifts. In the new year, our capital expenditure thrust will be focused on increasing our potable water storage capacity, the addition of increased fermentation and storage capacity for the Winery and the installation of a new CIP system for the Bottled Water Plant.”

This year, the company intends to continue transitioning to solar power.

“Additionally, my fellow shareholders, we will (continued on page 17)

Banks DIH Group is reporting almost half of a billion dollars in profit.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Tuesday January 15, 2019

Judges, Magistrates who fail to declare assets will be named S

everal Judicial officers, including Judges and Magistrate, are said to be in breach of laws of the Integrity Commission.

Chairman of the Integrity Commission, Kumar Doraisami, told Kaieteur News that the Commission has been working to compose a list of the names of persons from the Judiciary that are yet to declare their assets in keeping with the laws of the Commission.

Doraisami explained that the Commission will publish the names of those persons as prescribed by the Integrity Act. So far, the Integrity Commission Chairman said that the names of several top ranking Parliamentary officials including Ministers of Government has been released to the public for failing to declare their assets .

“We have been going through the list and publishing the names of public officials in the various categories.

“In this regard, the

Chairman of the Integrity Commission, Kumar Doraisami Commission has since identified persons from the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Revenue Authority, Audit Office of Guyana, the Guyana Forestry Commission and even the Bank of Guyana.

“Our next list will include names of persons from judiciary that have not adhered to our appeals to make the declarations.”

Though, he did not specify, Doraisami said that the list will likely comprise names of top judicial officers including Judges and Magistrates that are in contravention of the laws.

Over the weekend, the Commission released the names of 159 officials that did not make disclosures on the Official Gazette.

Among those named were Governor of Bank of Guyana, Dr. Gobind Ganga; Bank of Guyana Banking Manager, Joseph Lall; Audit Office (Ag) Director Audrey Badley; Audit Manager Claireann James, Audit Manager Rosamund Hall; Guyana Forestry Commission – Commissions Manager, Sonya Reece; Guyana Forestry Commission – Assistant Commissioner of Forests, Gavin Agard; and Corporate Secretary/Legal Officer Jacy Archibald.

According to the Integrity Commission Act, Part III – Financial Disclosure, Section 13, a person in public life, not

being a member of the commission, is required to file a declaration with the commission.

The officials are mandated to file their declarations with the Commission on or before June 30, each year.

If a public officer fails, without reasonable cause, to file a declaration with the Commission within the specified time or files an incomplete or false declaration shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine of $20,000 and to imprisonment for a term of not less than six months or more than one year.

Similar penalties apply to public officers who fail to comply with a request made by the Commission, or a tribunal. Where the offence involves the non-disclosure,

by the public officer of property, which should have been disclosed in the declaration, a Magistrate convicting the person shall order the public officer to make full disclosure of the property within a given time.

Failure to comply with the order of the Magistrate within a given time, the offence shall be deemed to be a continuing offence and the person shall be liable to a further fine of $10,000 for each day on which the offence continues.

As it relates to unaccounted wealth, the court will impose a fine equivalent to one and one half times the value of the property or pecuniary resource found to be in the possession of the public officer.

Every person in public

life who receives a gift worth more than $10,000 must declare it to the Commission stating the name and address of the donor, the description and approximate value of such gift and whether, in the opinion of the recipient, the gift is a personal gift or a State gift.

Last year, Doraisami had warned that persons who fail to declare their assets and liabilities to the Commission, after their names were published, would see legal actions being taken against them.

This Commission has since published its fourth list.

In 2018, the commission issued 1,400 declaration forms to the country's public office holders. The Commission has however only received 430 declarations.

Two arrested for ex-cop's murder

O

ne day after a body was found floating in the "Blacka" at the D'urban Back Lands, and identified to be that of a former member of the Guyana Police Force mounted branch, Cyril Novar Persaud, an autopsy report has revealed the pensioner died as a result of cerebral haemorrhage caused by blunt trauma to the head.

There were also signs of compression injuries to the neck, which suggests that the pensioner was murdered and dumped there.

And in the wake of the killing the police have arrested two persons, one of them being his adopted son. The other person is a woman related to the adopted son.

On Sunday morning, residents of a community aback of the Chinese Embassy on Sheriff Street, were made aware of a body floating in the "Blacka", also known as the Lamaha Canal, after a stench started emanating from the canal.

When Kaieteur News arrived on the scene on Sunday, the undertakers were removing the body that was unidentified at the time.

Residents of the community claimed not to know the pensioner, but police investigators were able to identify the body to be that of Persaud from documents found some distance from the pensioners' body.

Family members of Persaud had reported

DEAD: Cyril Novar Persaud him missing a few days before. This was also posted on social media. When Kaieteur News spoke to residents who found the body, the persons said they never saw the man before, and were only aware of the body from the smell that was coming from the area.

The pensioner seemed to have been thrown in the water just about where he was found. The man's documents were found some distance from where the body was found and not on his person. The autopsy has confirmed that the man's death was not of drowning.

Persaud's body being removed from the scene.

Tuesday January 15, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

New recruits to help boost service in Region Four Health Dept

W

i t h t h e addition of 33 employees, it is expected that the Regional Health Department of Region Four will be significantly boosted. At least this is according to Regional Health Officer, Dr. Quincy Jones.

His comments came when he addressed the new recruits at a recent orientation exercise held at the Triumph, East Coast Demerara Regional Democratic Council office. “ Ta k e y o u r j o b s seriously as this isn't just another job. Rather, it's something with which you can make a career as we all know that jobs are difficult to find. Therefore, the opportunity has presented itself to you and it would be eagerly welcomed and cherished by others, so recognise that it's your responsibility to keep your job.”

The new employees will be joining the Department in various capacities to further boost the health service delivery to residents within

Region Four.

Dr. Jones went on to call on all staffers within the Health Department to explore ways and avenues to further improve their education. He said that many p e r s o n s h a v e misconceptions about advancing their education when they have secured employment. Many are very comfortable. They believe that education is finished as there isn't a need to further their education, a myth he dismissed.

“With the growing age of technology and competition, no one should be satisfied with themselves at being comfortable, thus not seeing a need to further enhance their education.”

He noted that becoming complacent is the major challenge being encountered in the public service. This, he said, has resulted in mediocrity being offered by many.

As he emphasised the role of the new employees, Dr. Jones shared that they will be filling several positions as handymen and

Some of the new employees set to be deployed to various health centres within Region Four pose for a photo with [seated from L-R] Senior Personnel Officer, Kay Watson; RHO Dr. Quincy Jones and Coordinator of Health Standard, Dr. Anisah Yearwood. porters at the various health centres throughout the region. He noted too that with the new employees', difficulties and challenges that the Department was experiencing would certainly be something of the past.

The RHO extended thanks and appreciation to

the Regional Executive Officer, Ms. Pauline Lucas, for what he described as her timely intervention in ensuring that the various positions were filled.

“REO Lucas is certainly doing a great job as she ensured that these positions were advertised and properly filled and we at the health

department are continually grateful and thankful for her assistance,” he said.

Dr. Jones went on to issue a passionate appeal, especially to young people joining the Department, to recognise that education is critically important as competition today is much more intense than in years

gone by.

“Today I am talking to all of you to not settle at the level that you are entering at, but rather seek avenues and opportunities so that you can grow within the system, thus being a further asset to the Department and region.”

He continued, (continued on page 17)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 16

Tuesday January 15, 2019

2,300 kilos cocaine bust in Paramaribo‌

Surinamese rice exporter found executed on 63 Beach

A

Suriname rice exporter in whose containers authorities discovered 2,300 kilos cocaine earlier this month in Paramaribo, has been found dead in Guyana. Dead is Nitender Oemrawsingh, said to be the owner of Nivash Rice.

The businessman, said to be in his 30s and a father of two girls, was arrested by Surinamese authorities in what was described as the biggest ever drug bust in that neighbouring country.

However, he appeared to have been released hours after his arrest last Wednesday.

According to officials on the Corentyne, the body of a man, clad in sports gear, was found faced up with a gunshot wound to the forehead. The body was lying on Number 63 Beach, a popular hangout area.

Suriname news agencies quickly identified him.

Police immediately ruled out

EXECUTED: Nitender Oemrawsingh

Big drug haul: The seized drugs in Suriname last week the theory of a robbery since a small amount of US currency was found on his person.

Reliable sources in 'B' Division told this publication that the body appeared to be at the location for a few hours and based on initial investigations a .32 pistol is suspected to have been used to

carry out the crime.

Persons in the vicinity of that beach said that the body had to be dumped yesterday as it appeared fresh. Hours before, the rain had fallen, so it could not have been there long.

With a border that is easy to cross at Corentyne, from Suriname,

it would not have been hard for the businessman to have made his way here or brought to Guyana.

What is known is that last Tuesday, authorities in Suriname confiscated 2,300 kilos of cocaine from a rice shipment.

The coke bust was made at the Jules Sedney port, in the southern

district of the capital.

It was reportedly stashed in an eight-container rice shipment filled with rice, awaiting loading at the harbour. The shipment was destined for France, through Guadeloupe.

Security workers of the port stumbled upon the shipment during their regular controls.

They alerted the Narcotics Brigade of the police, in Suriname.

The rice was said to be from Oemrwasingh's factory.

A Customs broker and another rice exporter were also said to be arrested.

Inauguration of new city mayor

An inauguration ceremony was yesterday held for the newly elected city mayor, Pandit Ubraj Narine. He comes at a time when the council is under pressure to clean up the city and get its finance in order.

Tuesday January 15, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

New Region Two REO identified building to be used as migrant support centre

M

inister of Citizenship, Mr. Winston Felix, has said that the building to house the migrant support centre in the Pomeroon-Supenaam Region, (Region Two) was identified by newly appointed Regional Executive Officer (REO), Mr. Denis Jaikarran.

Minister Felix was at the time responding to statements attributed to Mr. Devanand Ramdatt, Regional Chairman of the said Region, in the Guyana Ti m e s N e w s p a p e r o n January 10, 2019.

Mr. Ramdatt, according to the article headlined, “No consultations held with regional administration – Chairman” said the regional administration was not consulted on the establishment of a migrant support centre, as announced at a meeting of the National Multi-Sectoral Coordinating Committee on January 7, 2019.

However, the Minister debunked the assertions made by Mr. Ramdatt noting that the identification of the building to serve as the centre was done with the full involvement of the region's new Regional Executive Officer (REO), Mr. Denis Jaikarran, who is essentially

the region's administrative clerk and is the second most important officer in the regional democratic architecture.

“It was with [Mr. Jaikarran's] assistance that the building in which the registration of migrants is to be done was facilitated. No migrant would be living in the building. It is Government's work that will be conducted in that building which was identified by the REO. The Chairman is now saying that no consultations were facilitated with the regional administration and that, I am saying is not true…As far as I understand it, the Regional Executive Officer is the clerk of the regional administration and he was consulted and it was with his assistance that the building was identified.

If the Regional Chairman is in disagreement with this position, then he should tell me who are the persons to be consulted in the future,” Minister Felix said.

Moreover, in October 2018, the Minister visited the Region and met with Mr. Ramdatt and the then REO, Mr. Rupert Hopkinson where they discussed the issues relative to the influx of migrants from Venezuela, both returning Guyanese and Venezuelans, in the Region.

New recruits to help boost service in Region Four...

From page 15 “Remember you can achieve whatever you want, or reach wherever you want, as I would always say that where you start is not where you have to end as it is a stepping stone. Unfortunately many people do not use it as a stepping stone but rather as a resting stone as they become comfortable immediately after joining the system.”

“You can become stars for the health sector; remember you must and should have goals and be prepared to diligently work towards those goals. Your story should show that you started at one level but moved up ultimately achieving greatness.

“There should be persons here who want to someday head a department or even be one of the most senior officials within the Region.

Dreaming and setting goals should not be something of the past but rather a regular feature as when you have goals it means that you will

be disciplined if you are going to achieve them,” Dr. Jones added.

The RHO declared 2019 as the year of achievement stressing that he foresees his department achieving all its set goals and targets. He noted that with the innovative and excellent leadership being provided by the REO, his department will continue to build on the successes of 2018.

He said that they are determined to ensure that the right persons are employed as he intends to ensure that every vacant position is filled.

“We are determined in ensuring that we get every vacancy filled as we recognise that there are persons out there with the right skills and knowledge to fill the various positions and we intend to ensure that we achieve this in 2019 so as to further boost out work programme as human resource is critically important,” he declared.

In this October 2018 photograph, Minister of Citizenship, Mr. Winston Felix (right) and Regional Chairman, Mr. Devanand Ramdatt discuss the influx of Venezuelan migrants “At that meeting, he told me that he had knowledge of some Venezuelans and Guyanese re-migrants in R e g i o n Tw o a n d h e promised to assist me and my officers to get these people properly documented. To this day, after several contacts with him, we have no idea as to where the returning Guyanese or Venezuelans are, so for him to come out

and say that he was never consulted is not within my style of operation.

If I go to a region, I visit the Regional Chairman's office first and let him know the purpose of my visit,” he explained.

In its efforts to continue to effectively manage the Ve n e z u e l a n m i g r a n t situation, the National Coordinating Committee recognised the need for a

centre that is situated closer to the point of arrival of the ferry.

“This was to correct a situation where arriving boats would be putting off passengers at different points prior to arriving at the Charity Wharf and consequently, those arriving passengers who were put off earlier, would not have benefitted from registration

by Immigration or

inoculation by officials of the Ministry of Public Health,” Minister Felix said.

He also took the opportunity to clarify that the facility that will be set up in Region Two is not a relief or refugee centre as was stated in the said Guyana Times article but rather, a support centre where migrants can access immigration and be administered the necessary vaccines. (DPI)

Despite $10 bottle tax, Banks DIH profits rise...

From page 13 commence the construction of a new multi-story car parking facility which will include space for planned future development.

This construction will be housed at the Demerara Park Area.”

In terms of Citizens Bank Guyana Inc., one of the companies in the group, Reis disclosed that the revenues of the

51% owned subsidiary was $3.160B. The profit before tax was $1.009B and the profit after tax was $602.3M. Net interest income was $2.24B. The loan assets of the bank decreased from $28.2B to $25.5B in 2018 and Customer Deposits were $40.9B compared to $40.6B in 2017.

“My fellow shareholders, within the recently concluded financial year,

we examined and evaluated new business models which are compatible with our existing business model to create wealth and value for our shareholders.

“These new business models will bring into our existing business portfolio, a new generation of products and services which will foster job creation and added value.”

Kaieteur News

PAGE 18

Tuesday January 15, 2019

- President Global Seafood CEO was a trailblazer Granger says - As country mourns Allison Butters-Grant’s passing

G

iven the fact that they shared i d e n t i c a l ailment, it is no surprise that President David Granger is among the first Government officials to express condolences over the passing of Allison ButtersGrant. Butters-Grant was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Global Seafood Distributors situated at 8 West Ruimveldt, Front Road, Georgetown.

She reportedly passed away some time Sunday in the United States where she had travelled to receive treatment for Non Hodgkin Lymphoma. Last year, President Granger too was diagnosed with this condition in Cuba, where he has been receiving treatment.

N o n H o d g k i n Lymphoma is a group of blood cancers that includes all types of lymphoma except Hodgkin's lymphomas. Lymphomas are types of cancer that develop from lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell.

Symptoms include enlarged lymph nodes, fever, night sweat, weight loss and tiredness.

As President Granger battles this disease, doctors

have recommended that the Head of State reduce his work load as he continues treatment. It is not clear how far along Butters-Grant infliction was at the time of her demise.

In his statement on her passing, Granger said that he is saddened even as he pointed out that “Mrs. Butters- Grant was greatly admired and respected as a female entrepreneur and trailblazer.”

Just last year, President Granger toured Global Seafoods Distributors and noted that the company's operations were “entirely in keeping with Government's food security policy.”

Recognising the colossal loss to not only the country but those even closer to her, President Granger has extended “heartfelt sympathy to her husband, children and other relatives.”

Butters-Grant was married to Kerwin Grant, the Managing Director of the company. She was mother to Tiffany and Tricina. She was also a proud grandmother to her only grandson, Declan.

Despite the advice of many, even her parents, Leslie and Alma Butters [both deceased],– since 1966 Butters-Grant, driven by her

inner patriot was determined to delve into Guyana' business sector.

She simply couldn't adhere to her parents' advice to steer clear of Guyana's business sector although she had migrated and remained in the United States for some 29 years. She returned to Guyana in 2014 and from literal nothingness was able to establish the Seafood Business which has ever since been a force to be reckoned with.

The business has over the years become known for not only producing high quality fish to the local market but these have also been well received on the international market as well.

“We were always big on quality and not so much quantity. If your product is not up to a certain quality and following certain standards, the quantity wouldn't matter because your market will not be sustainable,” Butters-Grant had shared during an interview with this publication.

S h e qu i p p e d t o o , “Quality is important to us!

Because of where we are coming from, this is expected…If we say we are giving you a quality product,

Allison Butters-Grant in the company of President Granger during a tour of Global Seafood Distributors last year. that is exactly what you will get, and we have been doing that. If you say it is fillet, there should be no bones; if you say it is skinless, boneless, you shouldn't find skin and you shouldn't find bones.

“Coming from a background of working in a variety of industries in the United States where the slightest mistake could cost

you money, we brought that same mentality to Global Seafood, and that has been wholly embraced by our staff.”

But the business has not only been about turning a profit for Butters-Grant, it has also provided employment to many, some of whom would have otherwise been employed.

In fact Butters-Grant had

over the years been keen in helping many of her employees elevate themselves academically.

Since word of her passing surfaced many have expressed shock and have been sharing their condolences with those who have been close to this outstanding entrepreneur who has left an indelible mark on the Guyanese society.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 15, 2019

PAGE 19

Corentyne residents protest new water rates

The protests yesterday.

C

lose to a hundred p e r s o n s yesterday morning picketed the Chesney, Corentyne office of the Guyana Water Inc. over bills they claimed had extreme charges for 2019.

Many complained that although they cleared what they owed to GWI for 2018 by paying at the office, they were still sent bills for December racking up to more than $10,000 for the first half of the month.

Rohini Manna said she paid the $3,500 she owed to GWI in the last quarter of last year from October to November. However, she received a bill stating that for the November-December period she owed $23,500.

She is questioning the reason behind such an exorbitant charge.

"Me want to know what me go do with all that water.

When I went in to query it, they told me that I have to pay it and wait until the next bill comes out.

“I had a meter for 10 years and has never paid so much, first time. I am a widow and I have a paralyzed 38-year-old son to see about."

She is appealing to GWI workers to check her meter or remove it "because I think I have some problem there".

Pitamdai Tamradwhah of Belvedere Village, whose bill is in someone else's name, had her water cut off on December 24, 2018 since on the bill it showed she owed $3,500.

According to her, she paid a reconnection fee of $7500 along with the $3500 and her water was reconnected on December31, but it was while she was at GWI paying the bill that she was told by a staff that she has an outstanding bill of $5400.

"When this bill come again it seh I still have an outstanding $5400 and me bill come $3500. Now me got to pay $9100. I am a

water".

When reporters ventured into the compound of the GWI Chesney Branch, they were immediately stopped by the guard who asked if they were reporters. After telling the guard who they were, she said, "You have to wait outside. The manager said he is not meeting with anyone and if you are a reporter you cannot go in

The water color has stained this container, a consumer complained widow. Me bill average is $1500.

“Another thing is you can't come give me my bill today and then tomorrow you go come and tell me you have to do your job and cut the water. But me tell dem that I have to query this bill and they tell me dem na got chance for that, we have to cut," Tamradwhah said.

Another frustrated Berbician, Omesh Swamba, of Lot 70 Area 'R' Ankerville, Port Mourant related that in October a bill was delivered to his house with charges of $2700 owed.

To make it easier on himself, he said he ventured to GWI office and paid $6000 instead, with the extra as an advance for the next month.

"I went in to GWI and pay $6000 which means I paid in advance for the next month which was November. They sent me a bill for $1300 in November. I did not pay that bill because I said I have excess money there. They sent me December bill here; they sent me a bill that I owe them $2800 and my December bill is $10,155.

“I don't know, I am not surprised with this because if the government don't know what Mathematics is I can't expect GWI to know Mathematics," Swamba

argued.

The Port Mourant resident also complained about the quality of water o ff e r e d b y t h e w a t e r company.

Look at the quality of water that GWI is supplying us with. They owe me $4,000 but they did not put it here.

Dem add more.

"My family is sick right now; My wife is sick; she is in bed. I take her to Port Mourant Hospital but they sending you to Pharmacy to buy drugs. I can't afford this.

The reason why I can't afford it is because since 2014 we did not have a raise.

“I am working at GUYSUCO. Now everything is going up. The water bill according to this, I will have to pay close to $25,000 per month because if you add, I have to buy two bottle of water per week for my children dem; that is 500 each.

“What are we doing in this country? We are getting frustrated and this is getting beyond our reach. We can't accept this. This is high class robbery".

Many residents brought out bottles of water to show the quality they consume and use for daily chores. They stressed that the charges placed on the bills are too much for such "terrible

there."

The reporters who were adamant on speaking with the branch manager, told the guard to inquire once again.

She subsequently returned and said, "You will have to leave all your recording equipment, the manager said, before you go in." The reporters did not comply and decided to leave.

In a release sent out by

GWI, the company stated that in response to the statements by protestors regarding the company's billing system, "GWI wishes to categorically state that Region Six boasts 97% bill delivery efficiency and recorded 100% bill distribution in December, 2018.

“GWI also wishes to take (continued on page 22)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Tuesday January 15, 2019

Judge misdirected jury on how to handle vital evidence

I

t is the contention of Attorney-at-Law Dexter Todd that Justice Navindra Singh misdirected the jury on how t o d e a l with evidence attributed to that of blood in the trial of Clive Knights.

Knights was convicted and sentenced to 57 years' imprisonment for the murder of Guyana and Trinidad Mutual Life (GTM) Insurance executive.

Ye s t e r d a y, To d d commenced arguments on behalf of Knights who has appealed the conviction and sentence against him.

In June 2015, a 12-

- lawyer argues member mixed jury returned a unanimous verdict for the offence.

On May 12, 2014, Knights murdered Bert Whyte, 44, a former resident of Lot 79, Phoenix Park, West Bank Demerara, and Assistant Company Secretary at GTM. According to the State Prosecutor then, on May 14, 2012, Whyte dropped his niece, Rayshawn, off at school before leaving for work. Later that evening, Whyte's brother received a

telephone call from a friend.

As a result, he went to the Accident and Emergency, (A&E) Department of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, (GPHC) where he found Whyte lying motionless on the bed.

He was dead with two puncture wounds to his chest and apparent blood stains on his clothing. Forensic Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh confirmed that Whyte had died from haemorrhage and shock due to the perforation of the heart and lungs as a

result of the stab wounds he sustained.

According to Todd, Justice Singh, during the summing up, misdirected the jurors on how to deal with the evidence presented by Assistant Superintendent of Police, David, who testified to visiting the crime scene at Palm Court, Main Street, Georgetown where he observed two spots of what appeared to be blood on the ground.

Todd submitted that Justice Singh failed to put to the jury that the police witness said that he saw “what appeared to be blood.�

Instead, Todd said that the trial judge told the jurors that ASP David said he saw blood, when there was no forensic evidence to support that conclusion.

Citing a case from the Privy Council, Todd stated that no forensic scientist testified on behalf of the prosecution to state whether the substance found at the crime scene was indeed blood, whether it was human blood and if it belonged to the deceased or some other person. The lawyer is also arguing that the sentence imposed by Justice Singh is severe. He is expected to expound on this ground when the appeal comes up for hearing again on February 5. Senior State Counsel Stacy Goodings is appearing for the prosecution.

During the trial before Justice Singh, a caution statement was admitted into evidence. Knights's statement was read aloud to

MURDERED: Bert Whyte the court by Detective Constable, Kester Cosbert.

In the document, Knights said that he met Whyte while they were both employed at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

According to the statement, Whyte had revealed to him that he was a homosexual and expressed a desire to be in a relationship with him. However, Knights declined the offer but decided to remain friends with the victim, since he believed that his way of life had nothing to do with him.

The statement outlined that some time later, both men left their job at the hospital but they continued to hang out. The convict in his statement related that on the day of the incident, he went to a Main Street bar with Whyte and they had a few beers.

In the statement, Knights said that he was tired, intoxicated and must have fallen asleep. According to

CONVICTED OF MURDER: Clive Knights the statement, the convict said that he remembered going to Whyte's car but he came to by himself, after he felt someone's finger at his anus. Knights said that he opened his eyes and found Whyte's head between his legs; he was performing oral sex on him.

The convict, according to the statement, said that he had an ice pick, which he said he used to stab Whyte before driving away with his car. He had, however, reportedly related to investigators that he was sorry for what happened since Whyte was his friend.

Knights was arrested at a roadb l o c k a l o n g t h e Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

At the road block, it is reported that the convict gave his name as Troy David. Initially, Knights's sentence stood at 60 years.

H o w e v e r, t h e j u d g e deducted three years for the time he spent in pretrial custody.

Guyanese escapee from Trini's immigration detention centre recaptured

Trinidad: A Guyanese man, Ryan Badal, is back in police custody after he and four others escaped from the Immigration Detention Centre last month.

The four others are still on the run, but police announced that Badal's re-capture occurred on Sunday in Gasparillo.

Officers of the Gasparillo Police Station were on mobile patrol just before 4am on Sunday when they observed him standing at

the side of the roadway, allegedly acting suspiciously. The IDC was contacted following his arrest.

Krishna Bailey, a 22-year-old Jamaican national; and three Venezuelan nationals; 24year-old Rodney Noel Reyes Mendoza; 27year-old Jose Luis Ramirez Yanez and 32year-old Luis Carlos Sifontes are still on the run and the manhunt for their recapture continues. (www.tv6tnt.com)

Tuesday January 15, 2019

Exxon modifies deal with Norwegian seismic company following Venezuelan incursion USA oil giant, ExxonMobil, has modified its deal with Petroleum Geo-Services (PGS), the Norwegian firm it hired to provide two vessels to conduct seismic work offshore Guyana.

Exxon opted to keep one of the two Ramform Titanclass vessels following the incursion by a Venezuelan military ship on December 22, last.

According to international media reports, (https:// www.offshoreenergytoday.com/ exxonmobil-drops-one-pgsvessel-from-guyana-surveyafter-incident-withvenezuelan-navy/), the deal for the two Ramform Titanclass vessels to conduct the 3D survey in South America was announced on November 14, 2018.

The vessels Ramform Atlas and Ramform Tethys were mobilized in early December 2018 for this survey. The contract had an estimated total duration of approximately 13 vessel months and an estimated value in excess of US$75 million.

However, PGS said recently that due to unresolved issues affecting the survey, both vessels have been on paid standby from December 23, 2018. PGS confirmed that while the Venezuelan incursion forced Exxon to pause the seismic exploration activities, drilling and development operations offshore Guyana were unaffected.

PGS said it was also informed by ExxonMobil that the Ramform Atlas was no longer required. The Norwegian firm said it will receive payment for mobilization, work performed, standby and demobilization.

PGS said, too, that it expects to deploy the vessel on a MultiClient programme or contract survey shortly, but will incur idle time relating to steaming and possibly standby before starting an alternative project.

PGS said it also understands that ExxonMobil plans to deploy the Ramform Tethys to acquire a 4D survey offshore Guyana. PGS said that the vessel will continue on paid standby until it starts the redefined programme. PGS expects the vessel to be operating in the area for at least three months.

Speaking with Kaieteur News yesterday, Exxon’s Head of Government and Public Affairs, Deedra Moe, confirmed that there are plans to deploy the PGS-operated vessel to the Turbot area to acquire 4D seismic data similar to the 4D campaign conducted in the Liza area in 2017.

“We are evaluating future

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

US$218,000 contract inked to facilitate upgrade of TVET facilities

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Ms. Adele Clarke and Vikab Managing Director, Mr. Hardat Punwasee, signing the contracts yesterday.

ExxonMobil’s Head of PR and Govt. Affairs, Deedra Moe seismic plans,” Moe added.

She noted, too, that safety and security remain top priorities for Exxon.

USA REJECTS AGGRESSION The U.S Department of State has made it clear that it has taken note of the fact that a Venezuelan Navy ship “aggressively” stopped ExxonMobil contracted vessels from operating under an oil exploration agreement with Guyana in its Exclusive Economic Zone. On this premise, Department’s Deputy Spokesperson, Robert Palladino said, “We underscore that Guyana has the sovereign right to explore and exploit resources in its Exclusive Economic Zone.” He also

called for Venezuela to respect international law and the rights of its neighbours.

The APNU+AFC Government have also rejected, and labeled as an illegal and hostile act, the Venezuelan navy’s interception of research vessels that were contracted by ExxonMobil.

Specifically making this comment was the Foreign Affairs Ministry. In a missive to the media, the Ministry said that the move once again demonstrates the real threat to Guyana’s economic development by its western neighbour. The Ministry also said that it is an act that violates the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.

A US$218,050 contract was inked yesterday, to facilitate the preparation of final designs and provision of construction supervision services for the expansion and refurbishment of three Technical, Vocational, Education and Training (TVET) facilities at the secondary level.

These facilities are located at Fellowship (Region Three), Beterverwagting (Region Four) and Hopetown (Region Five).

Inking the contract were officials of the Ministry of Education and Vikab Engineering Consultants Limited in association with Vikab (Guyana) Limited, and JAIN Consultants of Trinidad and Tobago Limited.

This undertaking is Lot

‘B’ of the Enhance Learning Component of the Guyana Skills Development and Employability Project (GSDEP).

According to Project Coordinator of GSDEP, Mr. Terrence Siebs, the project has been long in the making. It is now at the stage where there is an experienced design engineering consultancy firm on board.

He said that the GSDEP is a project funded by the Caribbean Development Bank through a loan and a grant agreement and funding from the Government of Guyana.

Explaining this phase of the project, Siebs said, “The scope is to create very detailed designs and one of the interesting things about this project is that it’s not a case

where the consultants prepare something and submit it to the Ministry.

“The Ministry prepared a very robust Terms of Reference after numerous consultations with different stakeholders. We already have a design review committee on board and apart from that, the consultant at each stage of the design has to do a presentation of the design.”

Explaining this phase of the project, Siebs said, “The scope is to create very detailed designs and one of the interesting things about this project is that it’s not a case where the consultants prepare something and submit it to the Ministry.

The Ministry prepared (Continued on page 23)

PAGE 22

Tuesday January 15, 2019

Kaieteur News

Rape accused walks free

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3 bedroom house ,2 living rooms, partially furnished, 3 bedroom apartment ECD. Contact #695-6550/656-9313

Wanted experienced hire car drivers at Ramada Princess Hotel. Contact #616-5419/2657075 One Mechanic to work in the interior must know about Cummins engine. Contact #699-4718 Able bodied drivers wanted at "D" Grill King, lot 4 Mandela Ave, Georgetown. Tel#6211220

VACANCY One 2 bedroom apartment General Domestic with located at North East La cooking experience for East Penitence. Contact#668-3259/ Bank. #614-4358 621-3762 1) Doosan Mechanic must PROPERTY FOR SALE specialize in Doosan Parts 2) Receptionist to work @ House and land available at Hotel 3) Land surveyor, Parfaite, Tuschen, Diamond must know to use GPS. etc.

Contact Pacific Contact# 223-5273/223-5274 Development Inc. 223-6035/ 604-4909 Chef, Assistant, Cook and night supervisor. Preferably Property for sale (1) 3 story carnegie trained. Call: 225building at 97 Sugarcane street 7933/ visit 173 Sheriff Street S/Rvldt Gardens. Price US 1.5M neg. Tel: 695-1356 & 687- Experienced cook, Apply to the Manager, Hermanston 8445 Lodge, Peter Rose & Lamaha St Transport property for sale, BB Eccles, EBD. Call: 616-9490 Cashiers - CXC required porters.

Survival supermarket 16 Vlissengen Transported property in Regent Street between Rd. Newtown Wellington & Camp Street.

Tel#655-3332 Opposite Guyoil Gas Station

Reliable Rentals: Top quality cars, SUV’s at very low rates.

Call: 227-2322/601-2622

Commercial Property, double lot next to Harbour Bridge,East Bank... must go #622-1957

LEARN TO DRIVE House lots for sale, 200k N. Outar Driving School, downpayment, 20k monthly Learn to Drive the right way. #622-1957 Affordable package. Call: 6445166/691-2561 WANTED

HERBAL REMEDIES: Diabetes, Hypertension, Infertility, Menstrual disorders, Enlarged prostate, Kidney,Gall stones & Arthritis etc. Call Sparman #676-5924

WANTED

1 bedroom apt for working couple/single person $35,000 monthly. Light and Water included. Lodge. Call: 6230076

House for sale, Eccles Housing Scheme. 7 bedrooms, 3 toilets and bathrooms enclosed. $28.5M. Call 6420391/ 001447587233657

HEALTH Private Customs Brokerage Certificate Training Course, starts this month end, Register now. Call: 694-8322/501-6931.

Job Opportunity Available

(1) Bedroom furnished apartment in Charlestown, monthly $70,000. Short & Long term. #225-1418/6011585

PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS FROM $4000 & UP, SUV’S PER DAY- CALL:643-5122/6560087, ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM

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

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

1 Live in or part time maid. 6955505/611-6364. Between 9:00am to 4:00pm Male and Female for the interior $80,000 monthly.

Tel#674-1767 General domestic with cooking experience. Age 3055. Call 616-6988

1 experienced male sales attendant, stocktaking knowledge. 1 General domestic (3 days work) Apply @ Keyfood McDoom with recommendation.

Looking for a job & educational services?

Contact The Job Centre 43 Croal & Alexander Street or call 600-8457/683-8765 General Cleaner & Bond Clerk, must have police clearance, for more info call: 223-0090 Gardener/Handyman, Apply to the Manager, Hermanston Lodge, Peter Rose & Lamaha St Urgent 1 male with cooking experience to work in multiple areas. Contact X’s Grill & Cuisine # 695-6550/ 656-9313 Experienced Cashier, Apply at American Variety Store.

Guyana 140 Regent & Light Street, Bourda Georgetown

Bisnauth Mohamed, called ‘Ricky’, walked out of the High Court a free man yesterday after a 12-member mixed jury acquitted him of a rape charge. The allegation against him had alleged that between September 1 and September 30, 2010, he engaged in sexual penetration with a five-year-old girl.

The verdict of the jury, which deliberated for close to two hours, was unanimous.

Giving a word of advice, Justice Jo-Ann Barlow told Mohamed that he should see this as a blessing, an opportunity to stay on the right side of the law. The trial judge also urged him to keep his head in the right direction and away from trouble.

Mohamed was represented by Attorney-atLaw Maxwell McKay, while

FREED: Bisnauth Mohamed the case for the State was presented by Prosecutors Lisa Cave and Sarah Martin.

Donations to Venezuelan migrants must be done through CDC The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has noted that some individuals and organisations are donating items directly to Venezuelan migrants as opposed to the official mechanism established via the Department of Citizenship.

According to a government statement, the Department of Citizenship and the CDC established a Multi-Agency Stakeholder Committee to manage the government’s response to the influx of the Venezuelan migrants here and has a mandate to ensure humanitarian support is provided to all of those migrants. ”As such, the CDC was identified as the lone authorized agency responsible for coordinating and ensuring supplies are delivered to the Venezuelan migrants,” the statement said yesterday.

The Government of Guyana said it is calling on all persons, groups and /or organisations desirous of making donations to the Venezuelan migrants to channel their donations through the CDC. “All contributed items are recorded and distributed to the migrants.”

Venezuela is currently experiencing major internal problems with skyrocketing inflation, food and basic shortages of supplies and political strife.

Thousands of Venezuelans have fled that neighbouring country in the last few months with over 4,000 of them reportedly here, the majority of them on the border area in Region One.

Corentyne residents... category of persons being exempted from paying the new fixed monthly charge of $250.

Metered pensioners now pay a charge of $74 per cubic meter (m3) for the first 10m3 and $86 for each m3 used thereafter.

Unmetered pensioners pay a rate of $740 per month, GWI said.

In relation to complaints by the protesters that the water is of poor quality, GWI said, "Water quality at the utility's facilities is continuously monitored to ensure that customers receive the best quality of water possible.

“More specifically, monitorWANTED ing of the #63 and #69 pump staLooking for experienced tions, which serve Number 61-74 cook to make soup daily. villages, has over the past two Good pay, flexible hours, months shown that the water Call: 225-6927 quality is within the World Health Organisation parameters.

VACANCY “Iron, which may be aesthetically displeasing, is not harmful 1 Fitter Machinist Contact# to health and the two pump sta225-2093 tions have over the past two months recorded low iron conCooks, Handyboys, Roti/Puri tent. Every effort is made to flush makers, Apply at Shanta’s 225 the pipelines on a weekly basis, Camp St so as to preserve water quality".

From page 19 this opportunity to highlight that its harmonisation of rates is an incremental one which took effect on October 1, 2018 and was approved by the Public Utilities Commission. This was done following three public hearings which saw members of the public being given the opportunity to raise their concerns."

According to the utility company, they have made special provision for pensioners in its harmonisation of rates, with that

Tuesday January 15, 2019

Brothers granted bail for damaging car Kishore Maraj and Komal Maraj were lucky to be placed on bail after denying an allegation against them for unlawful and malicious damage to property.

The charge alleged that on October 29, 2018 at Thomas Street, Kitty, Georgetown, they unlawfully and maliciously damaged a Nissan motor car valued at $880,000 property of Khemraj Hussain.

The brothers entered a not guilty plea after listening to the charge that was read to them by Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Kishore informed the court that he was 21 years of age and is a businessman from Lot 174 D’Abreu Street, Newtown. Komal

Komal Maraj

Kishore Maraj

stated that he is 30 years old and has one child. He further stated that he is self-employed and resides at Lot 184 Eccles Housing Scheme.

Police prosecutor

Adoni Innis had no objections to bail being granted to the brothers. Bail was then granted to the tune of $100, 000 each and the matter was adjourned until February 11.

Tucville resident caught with ganja during raid Christopher Cummings, 43, found himself before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus charged with possession of narcotics.

The food vendor who appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts denied the charge which alleged that on January 4, 2019 at Merriman Mall, Georgetown he had in his possession 109 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Cummings was represented by attorney at law, Bernard Da Silva, who in an application for bail, informed the court that the accused resides at Lot M 14-10, 59 Tucville Housing Scheme. He stated that Cummings has no previous charges or convictions and is not known to be engaged in such.

The facts of the charge stated that on the day in question ranks from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID)

Headquarters acting on information went to stall 82 at Merriman Mall Georgetown.

The ranks who were dressed in plain clothes approached Cummings and identified themselves as police ranks and told him why they were there. The ranks observed that he had a transparent bag in his hands with stems and leaves suspected to be cannabis. The bag was taken from him and a search was conducted on the stall however nothing was found. The bag was then shown to the defendant and he was told of the allegation. He was cautioned, arrested and taken to the CID Headquarters.

The alleged cannabis was photographed and weighed in his presence. He was taken into custody where further investigations were done and he was later charged.

Attorney Da Silva strongly

argued that the alleged narcotic was found in an old bucket in front of the stall where many persons traverse. The attorney stated that several persons were questioned however, because his client is a Rastafarian the police held on to him stating, “This must be you thing.” They later released the others.

He went on to say that according to the prosecutor’s facts of the charge, there was no need to show the suspected narcotic to the defendant if it was found in his possession.

After listening to both sides, Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus granted bail to Cummings in the sum of $100, 000 under the condition that he report to CID Headquarter every other Monday until the completion of the trial.

The matter was then adjourned until January 28, 2019.

Goldfields’ production falls to...

From page 7 accountable management structure. The strengthened team has better positioned the company to address challenges in a timely manner and advance the company to the next stage of its growth.”

This year, the company says it wants the first quarter of 2019 gold production to be approximately in-line with the fourth quarter 2018, assuming a similar grade.

The company also said it has submitted all materials to the Environmental Protection Agency in Guyana and provided further clarification to their information requests prior to recommencing construction on the underground exploration decline.

The EPA completed a site

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

visit to inspect the initial Mad Kiss portal blast for the exploration decline and the company expects to resume its construction early in the first quarter of 2019.

“The Company does not anticipate any delays to the previously disclosed development timeline given there was assumed downtime during the holiday season in the original underground schedule.

“All open pit operations, including surface mining and milling, remain in full operation and unaffected by this review.”

The underground exploration ramp will allow the company access to perform infill drilling at depth to delineate exploration targets and potentially add mineral re-

sources, as well as convert mineral resources to mineral reserves and further unlock value by potentially prolonging the mine life at the Aurora Gold Mine.

“The blast of the Mad Kiss portal marks the first-ever underground exploration programme in Guyana under the current administration.

The company continues to work closely with all regulating governmental agencies in Guyana and is helping facilitate the transition from open pit to underground mining.

The company remains optimistic of the long-term economic value that underground mining is expected to deliver.”

The company announced that it recently promoted 40 locals.

New measures to address sexual offences - CPA’s Director - will soon implement a Child Registry to target perpetrators of child sexual offences The Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) will soon implement a Child Registry to target perpetrators of child sexual offences.

This follows the launch, last year, of the sexual offences court through a collaboration of the local judiciary and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund - UNICEF. Director of CPA, Ann Greene, in an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), said that the Child Registry will introduce a broad Case Management System which will provide efficiency to tackle child sexual offences countrywide.

Greene said that the

Case Management System is functional. She noted that the agency is now working to extensively train staff onboard to ensure they are fully equipped.

“The Childcare and Protection Agency works to become an agency that will seek every possibility to fight sexual offences, especially where the child is concerned.

Our country has grown to ensure that measures are taken to provide justice in Court. It’s a must that we strengthen our Agency,” Greene noted.

The Child Abuse Registry will be helpful in providing information relating to a person’s biography. Persons will be able to access the requisite information about the offenders via the internet.

Greene added that the details of the perpetrators of sexual abuse will be publicised.

Speaking on the Child Registry, Greene said, “it is still being tested and worked on, it’s a registry, a whole new case management system being introduced.”

She said tha t t h e agency is at present working along with its legal counsel to put steps in place to have the registry available to the public before year end.

With assistance from UNICEF, staff will be trained to input data into the new case management system, she stressed.

The Social Protection Ministry first announced plans to establish this type of registry back in 2016. (DPI)

Crying chain snatcher attracts Magistrate’s sympathy A man who pleaded with the court for leniency after admitting to snatching a woman’s chain was yesterday sentenced to six weeks community service by a City Magistrate.

Shamar White, 20, was arraigned before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Marcus-Isaacs in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where a simple larceny charge was read to him.

White, who cried throughout the court proceedings, pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on January 12

at Hadfield Street, Georgetown, he stole one gold chain valued $300,000, property of Ashanti Khan.

Police Prosecutor Adoni Inniss, stated that on the day in question, the woman was standing on Hadfield Street, when she was approached by White who snatched her chain from around her neck, and attempted to make good his escape.

The court heard that an alarm was raised and public spirited persons in the area were able to apprehend White. Police subsequently arrived and arrested him.

A search was then carried out on White and the chain was found in his hand. White was then told of the offence to which he admitted.

A teary-eyed White when given a chance to address the court stated, “Please don’t sentence me Madame. Give me a second chance and I will go and work and be a better person. I will prove myself to you.”

He added “I had no right to snatch the woman chain. What I did was wrong and it will never happen again. The reason (Continued on page 26)

US$218,000 contract inked...

From page11 very robust Terms of Reference after numerous consultations with different stakeholders. We already have a design review committee on board. Apart from that, the consultant at each stage of the design has to do a presentation of the design.”

The design phase for the project is three months, after which there will be a tender phase followed by a construction phase for one year which should be rolled out in July.

Additionally, Siebs said that there is another component of the project which entails the training of teachers which will make the education system better.

He said that at present there is a programme at the University of Guyana where there are 24 young people who are being trained in different engineering

disciplines, engineering, civil and mechanical.

Two persons will also attend the Barbados Community College this year to study fine arts and graphic design.

When the three labs have been refurbished, the Project Coordinator noted, training will be offered in the subject areas of Masonry/Plumbing/ Steel Fixing, Electrical Installation, Furniture Making/Carpentry and Joinery, Garment Making, House Keeping and Graphic Design.

Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry, highlighted the importance of the project not only to the Ministry of Education but Guyana in its entirety regarding the issue of employability and skills development, both of which the Education Minister said are important.

Minister Henry said that it

was intended to have the project begin in 2018 but due to some delays it is now being executed.

She said, “I trust that the young people of this country will truly benefit from this project. I trust that we are able to keep up with the timelines and the demands of this project. I certainly look forward to the outcomes which would be beneficial to the entire country.” Representing the consultancy firm yesterday was its Managing Director, Mr. Hardat Punwasee. He said that his firm will ensure that the client, the Ministry of Education is not disappointed with the quality of work and promised to complete their work within the timeframe given.

Punwasee signed the contract on behalf of the consultancy firm while Permanent Secretary, Ms. Adele Clarke, signed on behalf of the Ministry of Education.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 15, 2019

Tuesday January 15, 2019

Trump: ‘I never worked for Russia’ WA S H I N G T O N (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said yesterday he never worked for Russia, his first direct denial after a media report that the FBI in 2017 investigated whether he acted against U.S. interests.

Trump also disputed a Washington Post report that he had concealed details about his meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and confisc a t e d h i s i n t e r p r e t e r ’s notes.

Congressional Democrats raised the possibility of subpoenaing the translator.

The New York Times reported on Friday that the FBI opened the investigation after Trump’s firing of FBI Director James Comey raised concerns that the president posed a threat to national security. After the report emerged, Trump attacked the FBI and the Times, but he did not issue a specific denial about working with Russia until yesterday.

“Not only did I never work for Russia, I think it’s a disgrace that you even asked that question because it’s a whole big fat hoax,” Trump told reporters as he left the White House for a trip to Louisiana.

Trump’s relations with Russia and Putin have clouded his presidency from the beginning and he has long dismissed the federal investigation into whether his 2016 campaign worked with Russia to sway the election as a hoax and a “witch hunt.”

The Republican president renewed those charges yesterday, saying the officials who initiated the FBI investigation were “known scoundrels” and calling Comey a “bad cop.”

Special Counsel Robert Mueller was appointed to take over FBI investigations involving Trump and Russia in May 2017 after Trump fired Comey. Several former Trump top aides, including national security adviser Michael Flynn and campaign chairman Paul Manafort, and several Russians are among dozens caught up in Mueller’s probe.

Comey confirmed the existence of an FBI counterterrorism probe related to the presidential

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Kaieteur News

China court sentences Canadian to death as diplomatic row deepens B E I J I N G / O T TAWA (Reuters) - A Chinese court yesterday sentenced a Canadian man to be executed for drug smuggling, prompting Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to accuse China of using the death penalty arbitrarily.

The ruling, and Trudeau’s reaction, could aggravate already sour relations between Beijing and Ottawa following the arrest of a senior Chinese execu-

U.S. President Donald Trump election in testimony before Congress in 2017.

‘NO BIG DEAL’ On Saturday, the Post reported Trump took notes that his interpreter made during a 2017 meeting in Hamburg with Putin that also was attended by thenSecretary of State Rex Tillerson. Trump also told the interpreter not to talk to other administration officials about what was said in the meetings, the Post said.

“I just don’t know anything about it,” Trump said yesterday of the interpreter’s notes.

He said he had a successful meeting with Putin, adding: “We have those meetings all the time, no big deal.”

Democrats said, however, they thought it was a very big deal and expressed concern about the report on the interpreter. “ I t ’s d i s t u r b i n g , o f course. If it’s true it’s disturbing and we want to get to the bottom of it,” U.S. Representative Eliot Engel said in an interview with CNN yesterday.

Engel said the House Foreign Affairs Committee he chairs is working with the Intelligence Committee to discuss a possible subpoena of the Trump-Putin i n t e r p r e t e r. H e s a i d h e would prefer not to do that, but added: “We may have no choice.”

“She has to be heard from, under oath, before our committee,” Representative Gerry Connolly, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said on CNN. Asked whether the committees also are considering asking Tillerson to testify, Engel said they were casting a wide net but no decisions had been

made.

Republicans and White House officials have defended Trump’s actions, saying he had been the victim of a number of leaks.

U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded Moscow led a propaganda and hacking campaign designed to tip the 2016 White House race to Trump. Russia has denied interfering.

Trump repeatedly berated his former attorney general, Jeff Sessions, from recusing himself from the Russia investigation because he had worked on Trump’s presidential campaign.

The president’s nominee to fill Sessions’ job, William Barr, will pledge to protect Mueller’s investigation, according to prepared testimony released before his confirmation hearings today and tomorrow.

tive in Canada and China’s subsequent detention of two Canadians.

The Dalian Intermediate People’s Court in China’s northeast province of Liaoning re-tried Rob e r t Lloyd Schellenberg, who had appealed his original 15-year prison sentence, and decided on execution, the court said in a statement.

Schellenberg was told in court he had the right to

appeal to Liaoning High Court within 10 days upon receiving the ruling, the intermediate court said in a second statement.

“It is of extreme concern to us as a government, as it should be to all our international friends and allies, that China has chosen to begin to arbitrarily apply (the) death penalty ... as in this case,” Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa.

“Several Govt. players involved...

From page 3 North West District, Region One. Morawhanna is the gateway to Region One, with persons coming from Venezuela by water, expected to check in at the immigration operations there. Also there is a team of Guyana Revenue Authority officers. For a number of years, fuel has been brought to that area and local operators would make purchases, taking it to mining locations in the hinterlands and to the coastlands. The operators would pay taxes there.

It appears that Atlantic Fuels, like a number of other operators, has been capitalizing on the fuel through Morawhanna and Curacao, which on average cost just US$0.50 per liter, a tad cheaper than Trinidad and other places.

However, according to Customs documents, Atlantic Fuel presented GRA with a

Commercial Invoice dated September 25, 2018, which used a CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) price of US$0.25, half of the normal price.

The amount of fuel was about 270,000 liters (71,326 US gallons).

Atlantic Fuel declared that the cost was US$67,500, which caused GRA to collect only $14M in taxes.

On the Customs documents, the address was listed in Meadowbrook, the same address as Van West Charles.

The other shipment was in September/October last year by the same company, which was brought on a fuel ship, named “Century”.

The shipment of 639,000 liters (170,000 US gallons) was supposed to cost US$379,100.

However, Atlantic Fuel's Director, Lear Goring, filed documents, which pegged it at US$159,750. The state reported losses of $32M in taxes because of that.

In Customs terms, the deliberate declaration of prices below what was actually the value or what was paid is known as under-invoicing.

Outspoken accountant and lawyer, Christopher Ram, was harsh about the issue.

“These are extremely serious and disturbing allegations and I would refrain from offering any comment other than to say that it requires an urgent and impartial investigation. The importation of fuel is the single largest Balance of Payment item with implication for tax revenues.”

According to Ram, it is never a healthy sign when a high party official with a full time job gets involved in a business activity which has for years been associated with corruption, tax evasion and other illegalities.

“It is for this reason that a multi-agency investigation should commence immediately.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 15, 2019

China court sentences Canadian to death as diplomatic row deepens B E I J I N G / O T TAWA (Reuters) - A Chinese court yesterday sentenced a Canadian man to be executed for drug smuggling, prompting Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to accuse China of using the death penalty arbitrarily.

The ruling, and Trudeau’s reaction, could aggravate already sour relations between Beijing and Ottawa following the arrest of a senior Chinese executive in Canada and China’s subsequent detention of two Canadians.

The Dalian Intermediate People’s Court in China’s northeast province of Liaoning re-tried Robert Lloyd Schellenberg, who had appealed his original 15-year prison sentence, and decided on execution, the court said in a statement.

Schellenberg was told in court he had the right to appeal to Liaoning High Court within 10 days upon receiving the ruling, the intermediate court said in a second statement.

“It is of extreme concern to us as a government, as it should be to all our international friends and allies, that China has chosen to begin to arbitrarily apply (the) death penalty ... as in this case,” Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa.

S c h e l l e n b e rg ’s a u n t , Lauri Nelson-Jones, said

the family’s worst fears had been confirmed.

“Our thoughts are with Robert at this time. It is rather unimaginable what he must be feeling and thinking,” she said in a statement to Reuters.

“It is a horrific, unfortunate, heartbreaking situation. We anxiously anticipate any news regarding an appeal.”

China-Canada ties turned icy in early December after Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, was arrested in Vancouver on a U.S. extradition warrant.

China warned of unspecified co n s e q u e n c e s unless Meng was released, and detained Michael Kovrig, a Canadian diplomat on unpaid leave from the embassy i n B e i j ing, and Michael Spavor, a Canadian consultant, on suspicio n o f endangering state security.

Beijing has not drawn a direct link between the detentions and the arrest of Meng, wanted by U.S. authorities for allegedly misleading multinational banks about Iran-linked transactions. Western diplomats in Beijing, however, say the cases are a tit-for-tat reprisal.

Lu Shaye, China’s ambassador to Canada, suggested in a newspaper article last week that the arrest of Kovrig and Spavor was “China’s self-defense,” but did not give details. Earlier yesterday, China’s government dismiss e d Trudeau’s statement that Kovrig enjoyed some form of diplomatic immunity.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman

said Trudeau should “earnestly study” the Vienna Convention governing diplomatic ties so as to “not become a laughing stock.”

Trudeau said Ottawa “will continue to engage strongly” with Beijing over Kovrig’s status and w h a t h e c a l l e d C h i n a ’s arbitrary use of justice.

Rights groups condemned the Schellenberg sentence while Guy StJacques, who was Canada’s ambassador in Beijing when Kovrig worked there, expressed concern at how quickly the courts had acted.

“The Canadian government will make representations in Beijing, but based on past experience I am not sure whether this will work,” he told t h e C B C . “ We a r e i n a very difficult place.”

222 KG OF METHAMPHETAMINE St-Jacques said Canada should immediately call for a top-level meeting of foreign policy and security advisers from the two nations “to impress upon the Chinese side that they have to abide by international law”.

Alex Lawrence, chief spokesman for Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, declined to comment.

William Nee of Amnesty International noted that drugrelated offences did not meet the threshold of the “most serious crimes” to which the death penalty must be restricted under international law. Drug smuggling is routinely punished severely in China. Beijing has previously executed foreign nationals convicted of drug-related crimes - a Briton was executed in 2009.

Crying chain snatcher attracts...

From page 23 why I am here is because of the bad company that I followed.”

Magistrate Isaacs after listening to the young man stood the matter down for a while for White to speak with a probation officer.

When the matter was recalled after lunch, the probation officer told the court that White is a school dropout and need to be guided by his family. However, the probation officer added that White recently moved out from his mother’s house and is now living with his sister and her family. She went on to tell the court that his sister does not know his whereabouts when he leaves home.

The Probation officer noted that while persons should be able to walk freely without being robbed, she told the court that counseling should be provided to White. This, she said, will help curb his behaviour.

The Magistrate after listening to the probation officer sentenced White to six months community service. She also ordered that he undergo six weeks’ counselling. Failing to attend the sessions or do the community service, White will be sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.

Tuesday January 15, 2019

Kaieteur News

PAGE 27

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 15, 2019

Cop slapped with six more charges in driver’s licence fraud

South America creating regional bloc to counter Venezuela: Colombia BOGOTA (Reuters) South American countries are developing a new diplomatic group to replace the Unasur regional bloc that is heavily influenced by increasingly isolated Venezuela, Colombian President Ivan Duque said yesterday.

The Union of South American Nations, or Unasur, was created 10 years ago by late Venezuelan socialist leader Hugo Chavez to counteract the influence of the United States in the region as a wave of leftist leaders held sway over the region’s politics.

But mounting criticism that Chavez’s successor, President Nicolas Maduro, is undermining democracy, as well as a general rightward shift in the region, led Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Peru to suspend their participation in the group.

The new group, called Prosur, would seek to counteract the influence of what countries in the region call a dictatorship in Venezuela.

“We’ve been advancing toward the end of Unasur and the creation of Prosur ... a South American

Colombian President Ivan Duque platform for the coordination of public policies, the defense of democracy, independent institutions, and market economies,” Duque said in a radio interview.

“It is very important that (Unasur), which has been a supporter of the dictatorship of Venezuela, be shut down,” Duque said.

Venezuela’s Information Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The troubled nation’s economic crisis has caused an exodus of 3 million people since 2015, according to the United Nations, the vast majority of which have gone to neighboring Colombia.

Maduro says the country is victim of an “economic war” led by political adversaries with the help of the United States, which has levied several rounds of sanctions against Maduro’s government and top officials.

Regional rating agency upgrades Barbados economy BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – The Trinidad-based Caribbean Information and Credit Rating Services Limited (CariCRIS) yesterday said it has upgraded the regional scale local currency rating of the Barbados government from CariD (Default) to CariBB, with a stable outlook. “ We h o w e v e r m a i n tain the regional scale foreign currency rating of CariD (Default) on the c o u n t r y ’s f o r e i g n c u r rency denominated debt,” it said in a statement, noting that the rati n g i n d i c a t e s t h a t t he level of creditworthiness of the Barbados government, adjudged in relation to other rated obligors in the Caribbean, is below average.

“Our decision to upgrade the rating on the local currency debt is driven by the closure of the exchange offer for domestic (Barbados dollar-denominated) debt. This marks the successful completion of the restructuring of BDS$11.9

billion (One Barbados dollar=US$0.50 cents in Barbados dollar-denominated claims on the government of Barbados and its public sector.”

CariCRIS, a regional r a t i n g a g e n c y, s a i d t h e restructuring is a central plank of the g o v e r n m e n t ’s c o m p r e hensive debt restructuring programme and the Barbados Economic Reform and Transformation (BERT) Plan.

“We have maintained our rating of CariD on the foreign currency debt as negotiations with foreign debt holders are not yet concluded. Upon successful completion of these negotiations, we will similarly revise up our ratings on the country’s foreign currency debt,” CariCRIS added.

Last week, the Mia Mottley government announced that it had put a temporary freeze on borrowing as it reporte d a n improvement in the island’s economic position.

“Over the next four years the Barbados gov-

ernment will not borrow a n y n e w f u n d s . To p u t the impact of that into context, over the past four years the government of Barbados has borrowed almost two billion dollars,” said Minister in the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Marsha Caddle, adding “that’s two billion dollars of new Barbadian savings that were drawn into and trapped by government debt”.

Caddle, who spoke at the 2019 planning conference for the Barbados Association of Insurance and Financial Advis o r s , s a i d t h e i s l a n d ’s debt had already declined from near 170 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in May last year to 124 per cent this year.

The announcement

by CariCRIS comes as the Central bank of Barbados (CBB) is preparing to review the perform a n c e o f t h e i s l a n d ’s economy last year and the prosepcts for this y e a r. T h e r e v i e w w i l l take place on January 30.

Months after three police ranks were hauled before the court to answer charges in relation to a massive fraud at a driver’s licence exams, six additional charges were instituted against one of the ranks.

The examinations were held last year April at the Felix Austin Police College. The new charges instituted are against Police Corporal Ry a n G r a y w h o w a s charged with 20 counts of misdemeanour.

Gray, 25, of 215 DaSilva Street, Newtown, pleaded not guilty to the 20 charges which stated that on April 12, 2018, at Georgetown, with intent to defraud the public, he conspired with persons to commit a misdemeanour, to which he uttered 20 questionnaires, knowing them to be forged, in that they were not written up by 20 persons, whose name they were in.

Yesterday when the matter was called in the courtroom of Principal Magistrate Sherdel MarcusIsaacs, the court heard that six of the 20 charges were withdrawn against Gray and six new charges were instituted.

However, Attorney-at-law

Patrice Henry who is representing the defendant told the court the new charges are in relation to the alleged scam. The lawyer added that the Prosecution is attempting to amend six names of six virtual complainants, hence he is of the view that the charges stay as is or be struck out.

The charges were not read to the defendant after Police Prosecutor, Adoni Inniss told the court that she was not in possession of the case file. She requested a short adjournment to reply.

The Magistrate after listening to both sides adjourned the matter until February 19 for a response from the prosecution.

Also before the court facing similar charges are woman Police Constable Shenese Fraser and Police Sergeant Alfred Park.

Fraser, 31, of 199 Section ‘A’ Field 7 South Sophia was slapped with 18 counts of misdemeanour.

It is alleged that Fraser, on April 12, 2018 at Georgetown, with intent to defraud the public, conspired with persons to commit a misdemeanour, to which she uttered 18 questionnaires, knowing them to be forged,

in that they were not written by the eighteen persons, whose name they were in.

Meanwhile, 50-year-old Alfred Park, of 1129 Diamond, East Bank Demerara, was slapped with 12 counts felony. It is alleged that on April 12, 2018, at Georgetown, with intent to defraud the public, he conspired with persons to commit a felony, to which he uttered 12 questionnaires, knowing them to get forged, in that they were not written by 12 persons, whose names they were in.

According to information, on April 12, 2018, a total of 174 candidates were slated to write the theoretical exam at the Felix Austin Police College, Georgetown. On the day of the examination, 106 candidates turned up at the training school to write the examination.

The court heard that on conclusion of the examination, it was discovered that 207 examination papers were submitted to the invigilators.

It was reported that after the examination, pastors who allegedly invigilated the examination reported to officers of the wrongdoing, hence an investigation was launched.

Latin America, Caribbean register highest exports in six years (CMC) The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) says exports from Latin America and the Caribbean, including Jamaica, hit their highest level in six years as a result of a 9.9 per cent increase in 2018, albeit amid growing downside risks in the future.

A new IDB report noted that the region exported US$1.08 trillion last year.

Exports from Jamaica increased 17.6 per cent year-onyear in the first quarter of 2018 after growing 9.0 per cent on average in 2017, said the report. It noted that the stronger expansion was due to increased exports of raw materials (excluding fuel) and machinery and transportation equipment.

“While this is the highest level since record exports in 2012, the rise fell short of the 12.2 per cent growth rate for 2017,” said the IDB, referring to the region in general. “The region’s performance also lagged a worldwide trade increase of 11.6 per cent for the January-September period compared to the same period the previous year,” it added.

Mexico and the Caribbean region were above-average regional export performers, with South America lagging, according to the latest version of the series Trade Trends and Estimates: Latin

America and the Caribbean, which analysed the region’s trade performance as well as its main subregions and countries.

The IDB report noted that a decline in mineral and agricultural product prices hurt export performance, which was only partially offset by higher oil prices.

“The evolution of exports from Latin America and the Caribbean continued to be positive,” said Paolo Giordano, principal economist of the Integration and Trade Sector at the IDB and the study’s coordinator.

“However, there is a slowdown trend taking place in the context of growing external risks that could weaken the export performance in the future,” he added.

The report noted that risk factors include a slowdown of the world economy, higher international interest rates, greater financial uncertainty, and more trade tensions involving major global players.

China continued to be an important driver of export growth for the region. Shipments to the Asian giant rose 24.2 per cent in 2018, above the increase in sales to the United States (8.6 per cent increase) and interregional exports (7.8 per cent). Sales to the European Union rose

an average 10.6 per cent for the year but flattened sharply in the second half of the year.

Among the subregions, exports from the Caribbean climbed 22.4 per cent in 2018.

South America saw its exports rise 8.9 per cent - a sharp decline from the 15.1 per cent increase registered in 2017.

Central America, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic chalked up an estimated increase of 10.6 per cent.

The IDB noted that last year reversed a trend of rising commodity prices that weigh heavily in the region’s export portfolio.

Downward pressure in commodity markets was driven by specific factors and, mainly, by a stronger dollar.

Copper saw its price drop 6.1 per cent in the JanuaryNovember period when compared to the same period in the previous year. Soy dropped 4.3 per cent in the same timeframe, coffee dropped 16.4 per cent, and sugar fell back 23.4 per cent.

Export volumes, which had risen by an average of 4.7 per cent in 2017, fell back significantly in 2018, with an estimated increase of just two per cent, according to available data for nine countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Tuesday January 15, 2019

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Kaieteur News

Saints hunt another Super Bowl after ending Eagles long run (Reuters) - Comeback kings the New Orleans Saints are hoping a return to the National Football Conference (NFC) title game next weekend will be a lucky charm.

The Saints, who overcame the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles for a 20-14 divisional victory on Sunday, took home the league trophy themselves the last time they made the conference championship in the 2009 season playoffs.

Drew Brees and company, the NFC top seeds, will meet the Los Angeles Rams in New Orleans next Sunday for the conference title with a shot at football’s biggest prize on the line.

The winners of that con-

test will face the AFC champion team, either the Kansas City Chiefs or the New England Patriots, in Super Bowl LIII on Feb. 3 in Atlanta.

On Sunday in New Orleans, Philadelphia and magical backup quarterback Nick Foles put the Saints in a 14-0 first-quarter hole but the Eagles were unable to get another point on the board.

Brees, the most valuable player in the Super Bowl XLIV triumph, shook off an early interception to throw for 301 yards and two touchdowns.

“We just had to find our rhythm,” said Brees, whose team finally took the lead at 17-14 on a two-yard pass from the quarterback to Michael Thomas late in the third quarter.

Foles, who stepped in for injured Carson Wentz to lead Philadelphia to the Super Bowl last year, was never going to give up and he had the Eagles at the New Orleans 27 in the fourth quarter before an interception ended their dreams.

The Rams, meanwhile, simply ran over the Dallas Cowboys to make the title game with a franchise playoff record 273 rushing yards in Saturday’s 30-22 divisional win in Los Angeles.

Veteran C.J Anderson pitched in with 123 yards and two scores, while Todd Gurley added another 115 yards as the Los Angeles offensive line dominated the Cowboys defense.

The NFC second seed, the

Rams will be seeking their fourth conference title but a first since moving back to Los Angeles from St. Louis in 2016.

Sunday’s Patriots-Chiefs game will match one of the league’s best young quarterbacks, Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes, against five-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady of New England.

OCTOBER SHOOTOUT The two locked up in a shootout in October with the Patriots winning a 43-40 thriller when Stephen Gostkowski hit a 28-yard field goal as time expired.

New England will be going for their eighth consecutive conference title - and 11th overall - while top-seeded Kansas City will be looking

Holder wants personal...

Tuesday January 15, 2019 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) This could prove to be a gratifying day, Aries. Recent success in business might now be making a positive difference in your financial situation. .

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) This is a great day to start a partnership of any kind, as it will prove cooperative, rewarding, and stable. Any legal papers executed today should definitely work for you, Taurus.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Business transacted today either in your home or concerning your home is likely to be successful and bring some extra money your way.

You probably feel especially optimistic about this.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Today your intuition should be sharper than usual. You might get a few calls involving possible business opportunities. You can use this heightened ESP to discern which ones might be successful.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Work you do today, whether related to your job or something you do on your own, could lead to a temporary boost in income, which is going to elevate your mood.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Today you should feel especially optimistic and enthusiastic, Sagittarius, although you may not know why, at least at first.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) You might toy with the idea of getting some kind of project or enterprise going with a close friend or love partner. If you're serious about it, Cancer, this is definitely the day to start.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) A new sense of closeness to those around you might have you feeling especially happy today. Your business and financial life should be going very well and your future seems bright.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Work that you're doing either at home or on your home is likely to go well today and bring you the results you're hoping for, Leo. Members of your household might want to pitch in and help.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Intuition plays a large part in your work, Aquarius.

You're apt to sense what others want or need and foresee the consequences of one course of action over another.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Today you're likely to feel especially communicative, Virgo.

You might want to get on the phone and run ideas for new projects by colleagues or perhaps make arrangements to complete current projects.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Information that you receive from far away could make doing business with a group you're affiliated with that much easier, Pisces. All looks promising for group activities and advancing your education.

From page 35 taking seven or eight wickets.

I’m willing to put up my hands for the sake of the team.“If we can get that attitude going throughout the team, the team would definitely be headed in the right direction.”

Holder missed the ill-fated tour of Bangladesh with a shoulder injury, as the Caribbean side suffered a devastating 2-0 whitewash.

He underwent successful rehabilitation and recently turned out for Barbados Pride in their third round match of the Regional first class championship against leaders Guyana Jaguars.

He managed only a single wicket and sent down 17 overs in Jaguars massive first innings total of 548, and did not bowl in the second innings with the visitors requiring only 45 runs to win.

Holder said his recovery had gone well and while he was not yet back to 100 per cent, he would be in match condition in time for the opening Test starting January 23 at the Oval.

“I felt the rehab went pretty well. I had four solid weeks in England doing some rehab and I’ve just got back into playing cricket,” he said.

“I’m still probably not a hundred per cent but hopefully come [the first Test] I’ll be there or thereabouts.”

He continued: “I felt the body held up pretty well. I have to keep building and keep the strengthening going and obviously keep my body active as much as possible.

“It’s been a long time away so you expect some stiffness and soreness after not playing for quite some time so it’s just a matter of negotiating that and keep pressing forward.”

for their second as the Chiefs line up in the conference championships for the first time since 1994.

Rookie Sony Michel had 129 yards rushing and three touchdowns to spur the faststarting Patriots to a 41-28 divisional win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.

The 41-year-old Brady added 343 yards passing and running back James White made it into the record book when he tied the NFL record for receptions in a postseason game, with 15 for 97 yards.

Kansas City’s defense clamped down on Indianapolis in the other divisional game on Saturday with Mahomes throwing for 278 yards and running for a touchdown in a 31-13 win.

The Chiefs also got plenty of help from running back Damien Williams who tore through the Colts defense for 129 yards.

Looking on next Sunday is expected to be a Good Samaritan named Dave who helped Chiefs guard Jeff Allen free his car from snow before Saturday’s win over Indianapolis.

Allen neglected to obtain Dave’s contact information and took to Twitter on Sunday in search for his last name.

Thousands responded before Dave, who had not realized Allen was an NFL player, was located and the offensive lineman was able to offer the “nice guy” tickets to the title game.

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Tuesday January 15, 2019

Kaieteur News

NBA roundup: Ibaka lifts Raptors over Wizards in 2OT

Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) is fouled while shooting the ball by Toronto Raptors forward Serge Ibaka (9) in overtime at Capital One Arena. The Raptors won 140-138 in double overtime. (Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports) Serge Ibaka’s 3-pointer with 15.2 seconds remaining lifted the visiting Toronto Raptors to a 140-138 doubleovertime win against the stubborn Washington Wizards on Sunday.

Washington rallied from 19 points down in the third quarter to force overtime and took a 138-136 lead on Thomas Bryant’s short jumper with 31.8 seconds left in the second overtime.

Kawhi Leonard missed on

a drive on the ensuing possession but got his own rebound and passed out to Ibaka, who hit from 28 feet.

Washington’s Otto Porter Jr. then missed a 3-point attempt, and Toronto’s Danny Green added a free throw with 2.8 seconds left. With no timeouts, the Wizards were unable to get off a final shot.

Leonard registered 41 points and 11 rebounds for the Raptors, who have won five straight to improve their

NBA-best record to 33-12.

Pascal Siakam had 24 points and 19 rebounds before fouling out.

Warriors 119, Mavericks 114 Stephen Curry scored a game-high 48 points — 24 in each half — and dropped the game-winning 3-pointer to allow Golden State to escape Dallas with a victory.

Curry, who scored 16 points in the first quarter, made 11 3-pointers and

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) looks to pass as Dallas Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson (13) defends. (Kevin Jairaj USA Today Sports) scored the final seven points for the Warriors in a game the Mavs led 113-108 with 3:51 to go in the game. Kevin Durant scored 28 points and Klay Thompson had 16 on an abysmal shooting night in which he went just 2 of 11 from beyond the arc.

Rookie of the Year favorite Luka Doncic led Dallas with 26 points, making 5 of 10 from beyond the arc and adding five assists and six rebounds. Forward Harrison

High jumper Famous breaks Bermuda women’s indoor record BIRMINGHAM, Alabama, CMC – Sakari Famous overcame a bout of nerves to break the Bermuda indoor women’s high jump record in her first outing for the University of Georgia at the weekend.

Famous, a multiple CARIFTA Games medal winner, finished second in her event at the UAB Blazer Invite at the CrossPlex facility here, with a leap of 1.77 metres to place second behind team-mate Aliyah Whisby, who had a winning jump of 1.80.

The freshman’s jump shattered the previous Bermuda record of 1.72 held by Latroya Darrell since February 2006. ”I was nervous at the start of competition, but it turned from nerves into

determination to get over the heights to reach 1.77,” said Famous, who has an outdoor best of 1.80. ”I did have to fix my approach a couple of times throughout the competition and it worked out to be enough to clear the heights I did.

I was almost 1.80. I just skimmed it. I know I’ll be able to jump 1.80 or higher throughout the season.”

Meanwhile, another Bermudian high jumper, Amelia Othman, gave herself an early birthday present when she qualified for her second CARIFTA Games.

Othman, who turns 15 on February 2, became Bermuda’s first qualifier along with US-based sprinter Caitlyn Bobb, who reached the standards in the 200 and 400 metres at the Franklin & Marshall High School Invitational Indoor Meet in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, just days before Christmas.

Othman’s qualification means she can now focus

Bermudian Sakari Famous. on fine-tuning her technique, according to her coach Rohaan Simons. The C A R I F TA G a m e s , t h e region’s annual junior athletics showpiece, will be held in the Cayman Islands in April. ”I try to get these guys to qualify as early as they can,” Simons said. “I was happy she qualified as it takes the pressure off.”

Famous won Bermuda’s only medal in the Bahamas last year when she cleared

1.79 to take the bronze in the under-20 division, her sixth CARIFTA medal in as many years.

Bermuda is set to host CARIFTA Games, first held in 1972, for the fifth time next year.

When Bermuda staged the event in 2004, Jamaica’s future superstar Usain Bolt became the first junior athlete to break 20 seconds in the 200 metres, winning in a time of 19.3 seconds.

Barnes scored 22, but as he was trying to get off a gametying 3-point attempt with five seconds to go, Barnes lost control of his dribble and helplessly watched the ball roll out of bounds.

Nuggets 116, Trail Blazers 113 Nikola Jokic had 40 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, Jamal Murray shook off an injury to score 24, and Denver snapped visiting Portland’s four-game win streak.

Jokic and Murray — who left the game briefly in the first half after an inadvertent shot to the mouth — combined for eight points in the final 67 seconds to put the Nuggets ahead for good after a tie at 108.

Damian Lillard scored 26, and CJ McCollum had 18 points for the Blazers.

McCollum drained a corner 3pointer with 27.7 seconds left to make it 114-113, but Lillard’s 33-footer at the buzzer missed.

76ers 108, Knicks 105 Ben Simmons totaled 20 points, a career-high 22 rebounds and nine assists as visiting Philadelphia never trailed, survived a shaky second half and extended its winning streak over New York Knicks to seven games.

Simmons finished with his 28th double-double this season and just shy of his eighth triple-double. Joel Embiid returned from missing Friday’s loss to Atlanta due to a sore right ankle and led the 76ers with 26 points while adding eight rebounds and a seasonhigh six blocked shots.

Rookie Kevin Knox scored a career-high 31 points, but the Knicks lost for the 17th time in 19 games and dropped their eighth straight home game.

Magic 116, Rockets 109

With Aaron Gordon leading early before several others stepped up late, Orlando rallied past visiting Houston in the fourth quarter, capping wins on consecutive nights against title contenders.

Terrence Ross, Evan Fournier, and D.J. Augustin sank 3-pointers on successive possessions to key a 162 run for a 114-107 lead with 1:21 left. Gordon and Nikola Vucevic scored 22 points each, as the Magic claimed a fourth consecutive home win, rallying from a 12-point deficit after doing the same in beating Boston on Saturday.

Rockets guard James Harden scored 38 points to match Kobe Bryant with his 16th consecutive 30-point game, the most in the NBA since 1972-73. However, Harden struggled mightily with his perimeter shooting, missing 16 of 17 3-point attempts. He shot 11 of 32 overall.

Bucks 133, Hawks 114 A night off worked wonders for Giannis Antetokounmpo, who scored 33 points to lead visiting Milwaukee over Atlanta.

Antetokounmpo was given Friday night off to help him deal with ongoing right quad soreness and a left hip contusion. He returned to lead the Bucks in scoring, shooting 9 for 17 from the field and surpassing the 30-point mark for the 18th time this season.

The win was the 30th of the season for the Bucks, who remain the only team in the league without back-toback losses, now 12-0 in games following a loss. The Bucks have won 12 of their last 15 and won their sixth straight meeting against Atlanta.

(Field Level Media)

Tuesday January 15, 2019

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Kaieteur News

GFF/Pele Alumini Frank Watson U-15 League – West Demerara

Eagles FC are champs; Pouderoyen end 2nd

WDFA President Orin Ferrier presents the winning trophy to Eagles FC Captain Romel Medas.

Eagles United of Stewartville emerged as the inaugural champions of the West Demerara Football Association leg of the GFF/ Pele Alumini Frank Watson U15 Intra Association League which concluded on Sunday last at the Den Amstel Community Centre Ground.

The league, which commenced in 2018, saw Eagles soaring to the title by defeating Den Amstel 3-1 in the final game. The win en-

Eagles FC, GFF/Pele Alumini Frank Watson U-15 Intra Association, WDFA League champions display their medals and winner’s trophy.

sured Eagles ended on 19 points to lift the champion’s trophy ahead of Pouderoyen which ended on 15 points followed by Den Amstel with 13 and Wales United on 6.

There was a combined team made up of players from Uitvlugt Warriors and Crane FC but they did not make it for a number of matches.

The goal scorers for Eagles in their victory on Sunday were Jomaley Kelmon in the

10th minute, David Chisholm in the 40th and Nashwan Livan in the 60th minute. Den Amstel’s consolation goal came off the boot of Jamaal Robinson in the 35th minute.

The joint leading goal scorers were Jomaley Kelmon and David Chisholm both of the champion club with three (3) goals each. Mikel White was named the Best Goalkeeper.

Eagles FC is the 9th and final winner to be crowned and they will join the other Regional Member Association winners in the National Playoffs.

The other winners are Timehri Panthers (EBFA), Rising Star (Bartica FA), Corriverton Lynx (Berbice FA), Dartmouth Dominators (EPFA), Milerock (UDFA), Atkinson Brothers (Region1), BV Triumph United (EDFA), Santos (GFA) and Tabatinga FC (RFA).

Fiery Olivier leads South Africa to series sweep of Pakistan JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) Fiery fast bowler Duanne Olivier took key early wickets as South Africa wrapped up a clean sweep of their series against Pakistan with victory by 107 runs on the fourth day of the third and final test yesterday.

Pakistan resumed their second innings needing a further 228 for victory with seven wickets in hand, but their chances faded when Olivier removed the dangerous Babar Azam (21) and captain Sarfraz Ahmed (0) in consecutive balls.

The home side chipped away at the wickets to bowl the visitors out for 273, with Olivier (374) and Kagiso Rabada (3-75) the pick of a hostile South African attack that has been key to the team’s success.

The teams begin a fivematch one-day international series on Saturday with the first game in Port Elizabeth. They will a l s o p l a y t h r e e Tw e n t y 2 0 matches.

“I’m extremely proud, a 3-0 series win is just what we asked the guys for,” stand-in South Africa captain Dean Elgar said at the post-match presentation.

“It’s a good way to start the year, we have set our goals and are halfway there with one more test series against Sri Lanka to come.”

“Our fast bowlers know what they want to do, which makes your life easier as a captain. They have worked out their game-plans and know how to execute,” he added.

Olivier was asked to open the bowling on the fourth morning and took his wicket tally in the series to 24 with two quick scalps.

The pace and bounce proved too much for Azam, who could only fend a vicious delivery to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock.

Pakistan’s in-form captain Sarfraz was bowled the very next ball, a double-strike that appeared to take the fight out of the visitors.

Faheem Ashraf (15) and Mohammad Amir (4) both steered Rabada deliveries to Aiden Markram at gulley, while Hasan Ali (22) became the latter’s third victim when he was caught and bowled.

Shadab Khan (47 not out) was impressive as he took the attack to the South Africans with some excellent stroke-play, but was denied a fourth test half-century when number 11 Mohammad Abbas (9) was run-out trying to pinch a quick single.

Olivier’s tally over the three games, the second highest by a South African in a three-match series, is just one behind recordholder Buck Llewellyn, who took 25 wickets against Australia in 1902.

Duanne Olivier claims another victim, South Africa v Pakistan, 3rd Test, Johannesburg, 4th day, January 14, 2019 (© Associated Press) “We were in a nice position after the first day (having bowled South Africa out for 262), but could not capitalise on that with our batting,” Sarfraz said.

“Their bowlers played really well and are very difficult on these wickets. Well done to them.

“Shan Masood played really well (with the bat) and Babar showed his class. Shan and Babar were the positives (from the series).”

South Africa won the first two tests by six and nine wickets respectively, their seam attack leading the charge to victory on wickets that

Pakistan’s vulnerable batting lineup found too spicy for their liking.

Scores: South Africa 262 (Markram 90, Ashraf 3-57) and 303 (de Kock 129, Amla 71, Shadab 341) beat Pakistan 185 (Sarfraz 50, Olivier 5-51) and 273 (Shafiq 65, Olivier 3-74) by 107 runs.

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Tuesday January 15, 2019

Kaieteur News

Champion Wozniacki through to Brave Murray bows out of Australian Open after epic comeback second round with comfortable win MELBOURNE (Reuters) - An emotional and drained Andy Murray left open the door to a return to Melbourne Park after falling to Roberto Bautista Agut in a gutwrenching, five-set epic in the first round of the Australian Open yesterday.

Having said the tournament could be his last as a professional due to his painful hip, Murray played as if it was indeed his swansong, rallying from two sets down before being denied 6-4 6-4 67(5) 6-7(4) 6-2 under the lights at a heaving Melbourne Arena.The former world number one whipped the terraces into a frenzy as he pushed the match into a deciding fifth set, then left fans with hope he might eventually produce an Australian encore.

“Maybe I’ll see you again, I’ll do everything possible to try,” the three-times Grand Slam champion said on court with a quavery voice.

“If I want to go again, I’ll need to have a big operation, which there’s no guarantee I’ll be able to come back from... but I’ll give it my best shot.”

Five times a runner-up at Melbourne Park, the Scot appeared doomed to a quick and painful finish after being broken early in the third set but he turned the match on its head with a pair of scintillat-

ing tiebreaks.It seemed the momentum was all his as he entered the decider, with the terraces stamping their feet and his mother Judy and doubles-playing brother Jamie standing in support.

It was all a mirage, however, as Bautista Agut rallied to break the Scot twice and motored to a 5-1 lead.

The crowd gave Murray a standing ovation and he raised his racquet to salute fans before starting his final service game.It only stalled defeat briefly as Bautista Agut served out the match to love.

MURRAYMUST MAKE SURGERY DECISION Murray now faces a Sophie’s choice: to live with severe pain until his hopedfor farewell at Wimbledon or to undertake another round of major surgery.The operation might improve his quality of life but also end his hopes of ever playing again.

He said he would make a decision within the week.

“But that’s what I was saying the other day, that this might be my last match,” he told reporters.“If I go ahead with the operation, I don’t recover well from it, then I don’t play again. I’m aware of that.”

Faced with a hostile crowd that barely murmured when he hit winners, Bautista Agut was majestic under pressure

and could discern little between the world-beating Murray in his heyday and the hobbled opponent across the net.

Though limping and grimacing between points, Murray returned serve with venom and scrambled for a slew of brilliant retrieves as he reeled in the Spaniard.

“Andy deserved this atmosphere,” said Bautista Agut. “It was an unbelievable match... I want to congratulate him on all he did for tennis.“Today was more than a tennis match, it was a match with a lot of emotions.”

Bautista Agut wasted no time subjecting Murray’s hip to a fierce examination and clinically claimed the opening two sets with one service break in each.

Murray would not go quietly, however, and he broke back in the third set before sealing the tiebreak by slapping a volley down the line.

The Spaniard was suddenly the man hanging on as Murray dragged him into a second tiebreak and charged to a 6-1 lead before claiming it with a monster first serve.

However, the promise of a fairytale win was quick to fade as Bautista Agut knuckled down to deny Murray a longer stay in what may prove his last trip to Melbourne.

Narayan Ramdhani begins 2019 on high note National Badminton Champion Narayan Ramdhani began the 2019 season on a high note when he won the men singles and placed fourth in the men doubles for the second time at the 2018-19 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Inter College/University Badminton Tournament, which was played at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) College in Edmonton Alberta Canada last weekend.

King’s UniversityEAGLES, Olds College-BRONCOS, Concordia University of Edmonton-THUNDER and Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) –OOKS where the four teams that participated.

The 20-year-old only last November won the ACAC Tournament, the first tournament which was played at the Kings University.

The circuit will continue with the ACAC’s third tournament on February 3 at the Olds College, followed by the ACAC Championships February 17 at the Concordia

University.

Four tournaments are held to see the overall university champions and before they are selected for nationals.

Ramdhani, who is scheduled to conclude his business studies in Canada in 2021, has now won the first two and is confident of doing well in the next one.

According to President of the Guyana Badminton Association and Vice President of the Caribbean Regional Badminton Confederation, Gokarn Ramdhani, told Kaieteur Sports from Jamaica that his son is balancing his Academics and Badminton quite well.

“Narayan’s successes are another wonderful achievement for Guyana’s Badminton and he is adapting quite well to living in Canada,” the GBA Head informed.

The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is the governing body for collegiate sports in Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1964, as the Western Inter-College Conference, the ACAC is represented by seventeen schools, including one in Saskatchewan, compete in ten sports.

The ACAC is a member of the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association, and provincial champions compete for national collegiate titles.

SINGLES RESULTS: Narayan Ramdhani seeded No.1 and representing The King’s Eagles defeated in the: Quarter Finals: Taab Khwaja - Nait: 21-3, 21-10 Semi-Finals: Joel Simrose - Kings [4]: 21-9, 21-6 Finals: Tyler Walsh - Nait [2]: 21-14, 21-9 DOUBLES RESULTS: Narayan Ramdhani & Joel Simrose (The King’s Eagles) Quarter Finals: defeated Emil John Aquino - Olds & Reece Taubert - Olds: 21-10, 21-12 Semi Finals: lost to No. 1 Seeds Nicolas Pittman Concordia [1] & Desmond Wang - Concordia: 21-8, 2110 Third/Fourth Placed Play Offs: Narayan Ramdhani (Kings) & Joel Simrose (Kings) lost to John Li - Nait [3] & Tyler Walsh - Nait: 2114, 21-10.

Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki reacts during the match against Belgium’s Alison Van Uytvanck. (REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon) MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Caroline Wozniacki launched her title defense at the Australian Open with a comfortable 6-3 6-4 win against Belgian Alison Van Uytvanck in the first round yesterday.

The third-seeded Dane broke Van Uytvanck once in each set and kept down her unforced errors to win the baseline battle in an hour and 33 minutes in the first match of the evening session at the Rod Laver Arena.

Van Uytvanck began well to set up a break point in the first game of the opening set but Wozniacki saved it with some big serving.

Wozniacki converted her fifth break point of the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead and took the first set when her opponent sent a service return into the net. In the second set, the break came in the third game for Wozniacki and it proved to be enough.

“I think it was a good match in general. I was surprised of the consistency that she had.

I think she played extremely well,” Wozniacki told reporters.

“She really stepped it up with her serves I feel like in the second set. I was just happy I

got the win. It was not an easy one.”

The 24-year-old Van Uytvanck, ranked 52, troubled Wozniacki with some well-disguised drop shots in the beginning but did not have enough to register her maiden win at Melbourne Park in her fifth appearance in both singles and doubles.

Former world number one Wozniacki, who is battling rheumatoid arthritis, was pleased she could reach the drop shots as the match progressed.“She surprised me in the beginning with a couple of dropshots, especially when she was standing behind the baseline and I wasn’t expecting it,” Wozniacki added.

“Then I was more alert on it.

“I was happy with even a couple of them.

I was like, ‘Oh, wow, these are really close to the net’. I’m like, ‘Wow, I actually got to them, hit it well’. I kind of complimented myself on a couple of them.”

Wozniacki sealed the match with a forehand winner on her third matchpoint and will next meet Sweden’s Johanna Larsson, who progressed after Vera Lapko of Belarus retired while trailing 7-6(5) 3-0.

Federer serves up dominant first-round win against Istomin MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Defending champion Roger Federer served straight through Denis Istomin to win their first-round encounter at the Australian Open yesterday, securing a 6-3 6-4 6-4 victory.

Istomin, of Uzbekistan, has twice reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam and proved to be a worthy combatant from the back of the court with his heavy, aggressive, baseline game.

But the Swiss third seed’s mountainous serve proved too big an obstacle for his opponent to climb and Federer was not seriously challenged in his own service games.

Federer will play British

qualifier Dan Evans, ranked 189 in the world, in the second round.

“I think I can trust my second serve in particular; when you trust your second serve, you can go after your first serve,” Federer told journalists.

“I started to feel that midway through the first set it was going to be difficult for Denis to get into my service games. That relaxes you from the baseline. Then good things really happen.”

Both players had their share of momentum in the largely baseline affair. Federer, however, did not face a single break point during the match, such was his serving domi-

nance.

Federer broke Istomin’s serve once in each set.

After a conservative first set, Fede r e r t i c k l e d t h e giddy crowd with an onthe-run, curling backhand pass in the third game of the second set which seemed to add rocket fuel to his groundstrokes for the remainder of the match.

The Swiss broke serve that game and Istomin never recovered.

Federer and rival Novak Djokovic are both in search of a record seventh Australian Open title in Melbourne and, with it, a winner’s purse of A$4.1 million ($2.96 million).

Tuesday January 15, 2019

PAGE 33

Kaieteur News

“Don’t change our recipe for success” Jaguars open up big lead to Crandon tells Coaching staff increase odds of fifth title - Jaguars Head Coach leaves tomorrow take up Windies Asst Coach appointment

By Sean Devers The 37 year-old Guyana Jaguars Head Coach Esuan Crandon will depart tomorrow to take up an appointment as Assistant Coach of the Windies Team for their home series against England and his advice to the team as leaves for higher duties is for them to continue striving for excellence.

“The success of the team didn’t just happen overnight a lot of hard work, dedication, commitment with strategic planning over the years have brought success to the team,” explained Crandon who was first appointed Guyana Coach in 2012.

The Berbician from Courtland Village, Corentyne, encouraged the coaching staff not to change the recipe for success but to reinforce and commit to the development of all players.

“It’s also important to create an environment where players are able to express themselves and always feeling welcome and appreciated,” said the most successful Guyana senior team Coach.

Crandon was first exposed to Coaching players when he was first division captain of Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club and took the responsibility of running the practice sessions.

“We didn’t have a club coach at that time so it was the responsibilities of the senior players to organize the net sessions,” Crandon explained.“I’m happy to be involved in the development of West Indies cricket and I will play my role and hopefully impact the performances of the team positively,” added Crandon who has Coached Guyana to four consecutive First

New Windies Head Coach Richard Pybus.

Class titles and an unbeaten 14 match streak.

Crandon is a former Guyana fast bowler who took 90 wickets from 38 First-Class games between 2000 and 2011. His best bowling figures is 7-125 against the Brian Lara led T&T side in South Trinidad.

Crandon will work along with Richard Pybus, West Indies’ high performance director who has agreed to take up the role of head coach, replacing the interim coach Nick Pothas.

Pybus’ contract should run until the 2019 Test series against India, which follows the ODI World Cup in England.

The position of West Indies head coach had been vacant since Stuart Law resigned from the position less than two years into his job.

Crandon also spoke about the Jaguars’ performance in their emphatic fourth round victory against the Volcanoes to stretch their winning streak to five (four this season and the last game in the previous season), Crandon said the effort from the players was tremendous.

“Conditions probably suit the batters more as our first innings total of 454 runs and Volcanoes’ second innings score of 361 runs would’ve revealed the nature and quality of the pitch and the batters.

“Again we saw the character of a quality batting line up after we would’ve lost three early wickets.

Bramble and Tagenarine’s partnership was the highlight of the first innings. I thought they complimented each other with one being the grinder, while the other took the attack to the opposition bowlers,” said Crandon.

“Having said so, I must give my bowlers a lot of credit for dismissing the opposition twice on that track. Kemo Paul was outstanding with the ball gathering ten wickets in the match and he was well supported by the other bowlers. Our catching was very good. We saw some brilliant catches in the slip cordon and two beautiful bowl and caught,” noted Crandon.

“Obviously, there are areas that we need to improve on going forward.

The bowlers need to be a little bit more patient and consistent with the ball. I would love to see more of our batters get among the runs when they get the opportunity,” concluded the Jaguars Coach who leaves with his team well set for fifth consecutive title.

Anand Sanasie, Secretary of CGI informed that Crandon’s replacement will be known by tomorrow.

The Jaguars face the Leewards Hurricanes from Thursday at Providence in the fifth round.

Brenessa Thompson off to fiery start on US Circuit Guyana’s sprint sensation, Brenessa Thompson, kicked off her 2019 season with a Gold and Bronze medal finish at the Ted Nelson Invitational that was hosted at the Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium, Texas, by her college, Texas A&M. Last Saturday’s event saw participation of eight teams including Abilene Christian, Baylor, Stephen F. Austin, Texas, Texas State, UT Arlington, and UT-San Antonio but no athlete matched Thompson in the 60m dash in which she blazed the track in 7.47 seconds to win.

Following closely behind in the quick race was Baylor University’s sophomore,

Sydney Washington, who was pipped on the line, while Thompson’s teammate Amber Ivy was third.

Thompson finished third in the 200m just behind her teammate Diamond Spaulding who ran 23.69 seconds; one hundredth of a second faster than the Guyanese. However, Kennedy Flannel won the race comfortably in 23.46 seconds.

The overseas based Thompson who represented Guyana at the Rio Olympics in 2016 is aiming to represent the Golden Arrow ahead once more at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

This win is certainly a step in the right direction as preparations for the event continues.

Four-time reigning champions Guyana Jaguars.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Guyana Jaguars have stretched their lead to well over 30 points in the Regional Four-Day Championship following their fourth straight win on Sunday.

The four-time reigning champions are sitting comfortably at the top of the six-team standings on 80.2 points, well clear of the second placed Leeward Islands Hurricanes on 43.6 points.

Jaguars trounced Windward Islands Volcanoes by eight wickets t o e x t e n d their impressive unbeaten form that has already put them on course for a fifth successive

title since the start of the franchise era in 2014.

For Jaguars, it was their second win of the tournament over the Volcanoes after pulling off a 125-run victory in the opening round back in December.

The Leon Johnson-led juggernaut have also registered wins over Hurricanes and arch-rivals Barbados Pride, the latter a dramatic six-wicket victory at historic Kensington Oval.

Volcanoes, meanwhile, lost their second match but remained third in the standings on 42.8 points, but are now only marginally behind neighbours Hurricanes.

Pride, who were not in action during the last round, remained fourth on 29.8 points with just a single win in three outings but are now under pressure from Trinidad and Tobago Red Force who beat luckless Jamaica Scorpions on Sunday to move up to 28 points in fifth.

Red Force made a rocky start to the tournament, losing to Volcanoes by 76 runs and to Hurricanes by 245 runs last week at home but recovered to outplay Scorpions at Sabina Park in Kingston.

Scorpions, meanwhile, have lost all three of their outings to be bottom of the standings on 14.4 points.

GUYANA RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION AGM set for January 29 The Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) has issued a notice of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) which is set for Tuesday January 29.

The GRFU is calling on all is member clubs to note the staging of the 2019 Annual General Meeting is on Tuesday 29th January 2019 at 17:00hrs at the Guyana Olympic Association Headquarters at Block XXX Lilliendaal, East Coast Demerara.

The AGENDA for the meeting is:

1. Call to Order 2. Welcome Remarks - President 3. Minutes of 2018 Annual General Meeting 4. Correction and Adoption 5. Matters Arising 6. Reports 1 Honorary Secretary 2 President 3 Honorary Treasurer 7. Any other Business

PAGE 34

Tuesday January 15, 2019

Kaieteur News

Ariel claim MSC fund raiser softball title

Zameer Hassan accepts the runner up trophy from Dawn Cato.

Tony Singh receives his man-of-the-match award from Dawn Cato.

Unnis Yusuf picked up six wickets in semi final.

By Zaheer Mohamed Ariel defeated Fisherman Masters by six wickets to win the final of the Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) organised fund raising softball tournament which was contested on Sunday last at Thomas Lands.

Batting first, Fisherman Masters lost the early scalp of Ramo Malone who was bowled by Tony Singh without scoring before Jagdesh Persaud and Unnis Yusuf stabilised the innings with a second wicket stand of 75 with sensible batting. Yusuf went for 15, while Persaud struck one four and five sixes in a top score of 45; Zameer Hassan and Baldeo Persaud made 12 not out and 11 respectively as Fisherman Masters were bowled out for 114 in 19.3 overs; Singh picked up 4-16 to earn the man-of-thematch award, while Rudy Meyers had 2-23.

Rawl Reid and Oslyn Batson set Ariel on course with an opening stand of 33 before Reid went for 21. Ron Ramnauth was then run out for eight, while Darmindra Mohabeer was dismissed without scoring as Ariel were restricted to 63-3. Batson hit one four and two sixes before he departed for 35, but Greg

De Franca and Richard Persaud saw their team home without further hiccups as they ended on 118-4 in 11.1 overs. De Franca slammed three sixes in scoring 19 and Persaud made eight. Zameer Hassan took 2-21.

Ariel beat HS Masters by six wickets in their semi final encounter. HS Masters scored 124 all out in 19.5 overs, taking first knock.

Danny Mohanram made 32; Troy Lewis got 24 and Andrew Sookram 23. Ariel responded with 125-4 in 14.3 overs. Ron Ramnauth slammed 40 while Oslyn Batson got 31 and Darmindra Mohabeer 24.

Fisherman Masters overcame Success Masters by five wickets in their match up.

Success Masters got to 136 all out in 20 overs, batting first. Hackim Majeed stroked 64 as Unnis Yusuf bagged 625. Yusuf then fashioned a fine 43 to lead Fisherman Masters to 137-5 in 12 overs.

Ramo Malone contributed 29.

Troy Lewis of MSC expressed gratitude to the teams and thanked Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall for coming on board with the trophies. The tournament was held to assist in the construction of an all weather practice facility at the venue.

The victorious Ariel team with their hardware.

Aurora Knightriders defeat Mashabo Tigers to take Community Cup An attractive half century (73) by Ravi Beharry and a five wicket haul by off spinner Reshad Ally guided Aurora Knightriders to an emphatic 60 runs victory over Mashabo Tigers last Sunday at the Mashabo Cricket Ground.

The T/20 contest, which was organised by the Mashabo community, saw the Knightriders winning the toss and electing to bat in sweltering heat infront a packed and colourful crowd which included the Village Captain and other community leaders.

After opener Deoraj Dindyal fell cheaply for 8, skipper Timur Gafoor (38) and ‘Mr. Consistent’ Ravi Beharry put together a solid 90 runs second wicket partnership with eye catching strokeplay.

When both fell to Orlando Abrams in the 14th over, Dellon De Costa and Gangabeharry Ramdhanie (18)

chalked up a quick fire 56, with De Costa hammering an unbeaten 44 (2x4,5x6) in the Knightriders’ 187-4 in their allotted overs.

Abrams claimed 2-38, while Melvern Adams had 1-40 and Trenton Daniels 1-36.

The Tigers got off to a positive reply with openers Decasey Williams and Orlando Abrams putting on 28 before off spinner Ally had both removed in the 5th over. Melvern Adams and Trenton Daniels tried to stage ‘operation rebuild’, but Ally who was only given one over, proved a handful as he returned to dismiss both batsmen with successive deliveries.

All the other batsmen found the going tough as the Tigers were all captured for 128 in 17.3 overs.

Ally claimed 5-19, Beharry 2-32, Gafoor 2-20, while Dindyal took 1-28.

Aurora Knightriders collected the winning trophy from Village Captain Mr. Selvin Raphael, while Beharry took home the Man of the Match award.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday January 15, 2019

PAGE 33

Guyana’s road to FIBA Americas tourney O continues next month

n Sunday, it was confirmed that G u y a n a ’s national men’s basketball team that won their first Caribbean Basketball Championship (CBC) last June, will begin the second step of their historic journey in qualifying for the 2021 International Basketball F e d e r a t i o n ’s ( F I B A ) Americup basketball championship, next month in Colombia.

According to Honourary Secretary of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), Patrick Haynes, the tournament will be played on February 22nd, 23rd and 24th in Spanish speaking nation and he expects the GABF team to arrive on the 20th and leave on the 25th with the Bogota being the more likely city to host the qualifiers.

Guyana has been placed in Pool B of the qualifiers alongside Bolivia, Paraguay and the hosts, Colombia, with the top two teams qualifying for the Americas tournament that will also see powerhouses United States and Canada participating.

The qualifiers will be contested in the round-robin stage with each team playing each other once.

Paraguay are the highest ranked in the pool at 69th followed by Colombia with a world rank of 73rd while the Guyanese who recently broke into the top 100 are positioned 95th with Bolivia

Guyana’s men’s basketball team (center) will be in action next month in the FIBA Americas qualifiers but will funding be an issue? being the lowest ranked at 124th.

However, the Antigua and Barbuda team that Guyana made light work of in the Caribbean Basketball Championship (CBC) final are ranked 75th.

There are only six weeks remaining until the team’s proposed departure date and with the GABF’s elections

set for this Saturday, the new executive will have to get straight to work since the projected travel costs alone is pegged at around $5million while accommodation, meals and travel within the city should be provided by the Colombian Basketball Federation.

Incumbent President,

Nigel Hinds, has indicated that he will not be contesting the elections at the GABF’s AGM this Saturday but he noted that current VicePresident Kenrick Thomas might succeed him since there hasn’t been any indication of any other candidate’s willingness to run.

Haynes noted to

Kaieteur Sport during an interview yesterday that the n ew G A B F E x ec u tiv e should be looking to prioritised the qualifiers participation.

The team should be encamped shortly according to Haynes while the Championship winning skipper, Stanton Rose, is currently attending

Jacksonville College in the United States, while stand out performer Anthony Moe is outfitted with a semipro side in Albany, New York.

Haynes explained that the two players shouldn’t have any problems being released to play in the qualifiers since the team will spend just six days in Colombia. (Calvin Chapman)

Holder wants personal success to mirror team achievement

GABF Secretary Patrick Haynes (right) bestowing the CBC MVP award last June to Guyana’s Captain Stanton Rose.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Captain Jason Holder says he is already eyeing another successful year in international cricket but also wants to see West Indies excel, starting with the upcoming series against powerful England.

The Barbadian allrounder was one of the leading bowlers in Tests for 2018, snaring 33 wickets at 11.87 – the best average by any bowler in a calendar year in 100 years.

He now lies 10th in the ICC bowling rankings and second in the all-rounders rankings but Holder said whatever his achievements, they needed to help drive Windies’ overall success.

West Indies captain Jason Holder.

“Obviously my goal is to be the number one allrounder but there is a bigger picture in front of me and that’s for us to lift this [Wisden] Trophy,” Holder told reporters here.

“We’ve had individual brilliance within the last two years so it’s a matter for us to

put it together. I would feel a lot better for us to put it together as a side than for me to continue [in my personal goals].

“I’ll do whatever it takes to compete and get the job done for the team, whether it is scoring a hundred or (Continued on page 27)

t r o Sp “Don’t change our recipe for .

29 success” Crandon tells - Jaguars Head Coaching staff Coach leaves P

tomorrow take up Windies Asst Coach appointment

Brenessa Thompson off to fiery start on US Circuit P. 29

Brenessa Thompson (facebook)2

Jaguars’ Skipper Leon Johnson wishes his Coach success in his new appointment after they beat Volcanoes at Providence.

Britain’s Andy Murray looks dejected after losing the match against Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut.

(REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson)

Narayan Ramdhani begins 2019 Brave Murray bows out of on high Australian Open note after epic comeback P.

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Narayan Ramdhani

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