Kaieteur News

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City Town Clerks failure to NEWS hand over records hampers Council’s ability to track assets

Wednesday Edition

AIETEUR

January 15, 2020 - Vol. 15 No. 03

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EPA halts Bosai’s operations; imposes million dollar fine City Hall meets the people:

Mayor Ubraj Narine (right) and Acting Town Clerk Sherry Jerrick were among officials yesterday meeting residents in the first ever open day.

Several of the complaints and concerns were addressed on spot.

Fight between two women leaves one blind Man turns self in with lawyer in wedding house killing Woman kills man who had eyes for her friend

Carter Centre deploys Nine parties qualify to contest 2020 observer mission ahead of elections presidential elections Crime Chief says...

SOCU corruption probe file with DPP

Kaieteur News

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Wednesday January 15, 2020

Nine parties qualify to contest 2020 Presidential elections Commissioners attached to the Guyana Elections Commission, (GECOM) have confirmed that nine parties out of 13 have qualified to contest the general elections slated for March 2.

Speaking to the press outside GECOM head office in Kingston, yesterday, Opposition-appointed Commissioner Sase Gunraj told the media the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), A Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC), A New and United Guyana (ANUG), the United Republican Party (URP), Change Guyana, the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) and the People’s Republic Party (PRP)The Citizenship Initiative (TCI), The New

Movement (TNM) will all be contesting in the General elections.

The Federal United Party (FED UP) and Organization of Victory of the People, (OVP) had earlier indicated that they would only be contesting the regional polls.

Gunraj told the media that only two parties, the National Independent Party (NIP) and the Guyana National Service Party (GNSP) have failed to meet the requirements for the elections. As such, the Commissioner said that along fellow election commissioner, Charles Corbin, he is preparing to leave Guyana in the coming weeks to oversee the printing of ballots.

Gunraj’s statements were supported by Governmentappointed Commissioner

Opposition-appointed Commissioner Sase Gunraj Vi n c e n t A l e x a n d e r.

Alexander was specifically questioned on how GECOM intends to deal with the issue of false declarations.

Presidential candidates of both the LJP, Lenox Shuman, and United Republican Party

(URP) Dr Vishnu Bandhu, have indicated that they are yet to get clearance on the matter of their citizenship in foreign countries.

All candidates contesting the General elections were made aware of the articles in the Constitution of Guyana, which prohibits dual citizens from being elected a member of the National Assembly.

Shuman and Bandhu have both noted their intention to relinquish their dual citizenship but said that they have not received official word from their status.

At present, GECOM is deciding how to deal with the matter since the candidates would have signed a declaration form in the presence of a Justice of Peace (JP) declaring that they are only citizens of

Guyana and are aware of the articles in the Constitution of Guyana which prohibits dual citizens from being elected a member of the

National Assembly. “ We h a v e t a k e n decisions as to how that is to be dealt with,” Gunraj told the media yesterday.

EPA halts Bosai’s operations; imposes million dollar fine The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), on January 10, last, halted production and other operations under the Chinese-owned company, Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Incorporated, following a breach in their tailings pond.

This breach caused several houses down-slope in the Linden community of Noitgedacht to be flooded with a red bauxite-type waste water which can be harmful to humans.

Due to this infraction, the Chinese company, which is operating in Linden, was fined $1 million by the environmental agency, last Friday.

This would be the second sanctioned imposed upon the bauxite company in one month, the first dating back to December 24, 2019 when the company was immediately charged for discharging waste water into the Kara Kara Creek.

For that, the company was summoned to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and a cease-of-work order was imposed. The EPA arrived at its $1M maximum fine based on what is stipulated by the country’s legislation.

One of the residents explained that she and her family woke up to several inches of water in their yard. She did not suspect the flooding to be caused by rain, since it had not rained prior to or on that day.

However, Bosai opted to clean the yards and homes of the five residences affected by the wastewaters and promised to repair and/ or reimburse those affected.

Executive Director of the EPA, Mr. Vincent Adams, explained that Bosai could no longer wash bauxite stockpiles as their operations were immediately halted.

Dr. Adams did note, however, that Bosai would not be allowed to resume their operations until remedial works were completed and approved by the EPA. The Executive Director could not say of how long there had been discharges, since he only became aware of its knowledge until the residents made the report.

Wednesday January 15, 2020

SOCU corruption file sent to DPP The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is in possession of the damning report that highlighted alleged corruption that took place at the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) from 2016 to 2019.

Acting Crime Chief Michael Kingston made this disclosure yesterday, while stating that the file “has been sent back to the DPP.” The report appears to have reached the DPP last Monday, which is the same day that Kaieteur News reported that Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, had contacted Commissioner of Police, Leslie James, regarding the status of the investigation.

Ramjattan had made this response to Kaieteur News after receiving several questions from this newspaper last weekend.

Kaieteur News had highlighted that almost a year had passed since the Guyana Police Force Audit Department conducted an assessment of SOCU’s financial affairs.

The investigation reportedly revealed shocking levels of corruption from top to bottom of the agency.

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

The document which was seen by this newspaper stated that the former Head of the Unit, Sydney James, and several other officials such as Superintendents Robert Tyndall, Trevor Reid, Byran Vieira and Corporal Kevin Haywood from the Guyana Defence Force, abused the agency’s Operational Fund which benefitted from $1.5M on a monthly basis.

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

As it relates to some of the allegations of fraud and corruption, auditors observed that in June 2016, Reid, Tyndall and Vieira collected $600,000.00 each.

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

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

As for the entity’s former Head, there are allegations against him that he forged the signature of his successor,

Police probing “alleged robbery” of Skeldon moneychanger A moneychanger of Springlands, Upper Corentyne, is alleging that he was beaten and robbed of $3 million while he was making his way to work at the Skeldon Market.

According to Daneshwar “Peter” Panalall, 40, of Lot 114 Eliza Mary, Springlands, he was making his way out his street Monday morning around 7:30 on his motorcycle when he was pounced on by three men, one armed with a cutlass, at the head of the street.

“The men dem run up to me and start beat me up in meh head with the cutlass and I fall off from my motorcycle.

Dem beat me more and then dem push dem hands in my pockets and took what I had and run away”, he disclosed.

Panalall stated that after the men ran away, he gave chase and was trying to make contact with the police with his cell phone since they did not take that from him during the alleged robbery. “Dem seh the patrol coming. Nearly an hour later then they come,” he said.

According to the businessman, he is not satisfied with the way the police attached to the Springlands Police Station are handling the matter.

He disclosed that he was made to give five statements

Allegedly robbed: Daneshwar “Peter” Panalall to five different ranks when he was taken to the station.

He added that he then informed the ranks that he wanted to seek medical attention at a hospital and “they tell me sign and come back noon Monday”.

Panalall said he never returned because when he

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Kaieteur News

showed up at the hospital, he was given a document to have an x-ray and scans done but “the hospital x-ray not working”.

He said he was forced to do the x-ray at the Anamayah Memorial Hospital with a cost attached.

Meanwhile, Kaieteur News was informed by a police source in Region Six that while the incident was reported as a robbery, ranks are probing other theories since the alleged victim’s story is “not adding up”.

According to the source, Panalall told ranks that the money that was stolen was not his but rather someone else’s. However when that individual was contacted by the police, he denied that it was his money but rather Panalall’s.

The source also stated that Panalall told the police that he was beaten to the head but there “were no injuries to his head”.

Superintendent Althea Padmore, so that he could obtain almost $1.8M. Auditors also learnt that James claimed to have paid $1,719,000 on five occasions to repair motor vehicle PRR 2609.

It was discovered that this was not a police vehicle. In addition, the store he claimed to have made the payments to, A and F Auto repairs

- Crime Chief

cannot be located.

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

Also, the receipts had no letterhead or official stamps.

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

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

City Town Clerks failure to hand over records hamper Council‘s ability to track assets Failure by previous Town Clerks of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council(M&CC) to hand over pertinent records before departing their posts has left the officers of the Municipality in a peculiar position. They cannot track coiuncil assets.

On Monday, City Mayor Ubraj Narine, sought information from Town Clerk (Ag) Sherry Jerrick on the records of properties under the control of the Council.

The Mayor had recommended that the Council take stock to all the properties leased or otherwise under its control. He suggested it would be good for the Council to know exactly how much valuable assets it has.

“It seems as though the Council is very rich but without documents to support, it would be useless.” Responding to the Mayor’s request, Jerrick reminded the meeting of Councillors that the Council has an issue with record keeping.

Jerrick said that the Council that the issue may have stemmed from the failure by previous Town Clerks to hand over pertinent documents belonging to Council.

The officer said that failure to conduct a proper handing over dates to the previous Town Clerks Carol Sooba.

Jerrick told the Council that after Sooba was removed from the post, Royston King took over but he was also fired to make way for Sharon Harry-Munroe. Harry-Munroe is currently on leave.

Jerrick is currently acting in the position.

She clarified that she cannot say definitely which Town Clerk should be held responsible for the missing documents. Jerrick, nonetheless, asked the Council for permission to have the matter dealt with internally, in the absence of the media.

Last October, the Council dealt with a similar situation. A request for an asset register by the Local Government Commission (LGC) proved challenging. Officers of City Hall reported that they could not find the document.

Back then, Jerrick explained that the Commission had granted City Hall more time to submit the information but by now the assets register should be complete.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday January 15, 2020

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

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

EDITORIAL

A calculated leak?

The one about ‘economies of scale’ is a new one, a good one. Except that it is upside down, for it sounds more accurately like diseconomies of scale.

But where do these justifiers and defenders of the sleazy come up with these unconvincing things? And what about that audit report leaked all over the place, other than to the head of the entity scrutinised. That is not a leak, it is a well-timed flushing of the Guyanese septic tank.

The textbooks say that buy in bulk and usually sellers offer a discount. After all, the business is wished to be retained in-house. In other words, buy more, pay less, which is what applies in general terms. What is not so common, not at all, is that when lower amounts are purchased that the price rises to multiples of the larger bigticket quantities.

To be sure, there is a differential, but not several hundred percent more, or in instances involving two items ordered as much as sixteen times the lower bulk price (KN, January 11). Somebody played some games over there in East Berbice and succeeded in pulling a fast one. Now they are endeavouring vainly to pull the wool over the eyes of the unsuspecting and trusting.

The first clue that something is amiss, and does not add up, is when the usual ordering protocol through the Materials Management Unit (MMU) was bypassed, and remains unsettlingly unanswered. The second indicator is the many multiples of the original lower price. There can be-and should be-allowance for an increase in price for smaller amounts ordered, but not to the tremendous and glaring extent revealed.

It is just too high, and too much, way too much to accept as bona fide. And the third piece of selfincriminating development is when some intellect steps forward to palaver about ‘economies of scale.’ Obviously, somebody went to the wrong school, entered the wrong class. Now there is dirty water, hot water, spilled all over.

Then there was the audit report, which can also be described, rather accurately, as spilled all over the place, without the GRA principal knowing anything and left to lament publicly at what he must be wondering this land is all about.

This is the same Audit Office that has earned a reputation of not seeing anything, not knowing anything, and not finding anything.

Now it has come to life in a manner that should only be labeled as scandalous. One would expect, if not demand, a level of professionalism, the high, mandatory ethics associated with that calling, and the pride that comes from an unbiased department.

Clearly, little if any of these ingredients are present, when the media is privy upfront to findings, the public knows more than it needs to know, and what could only be termed calculated and strategic leaks, now turned into a flood, become the order of operations.

At least, as is the now undeniable case in this instance somebody should be made to answer for this weakness and pilloried publicly.

It should start with the head of that statutory agency and go right down the chain to the actual source, with penalties applied.

Things may not have been so untoward and unacceptable, if the Commissioner General of the GRA was in the loop. He is due that professional courtesy and the opportunity for what usually is part of standard and practice.

Now all that is breached, and egg is spilled on face and shirt and tie, not so much at Mr. Statia, but over in the Audit Office, through its management apparatus.

Something did not work, or somebody went off half-cocked.

That is dangerous, and especially around elections time.

One has to wonder, whether the leaks were not part of a larger canvas of ulterior motives.

It goes without saying that such will be denied vigorously, but most likely unpersuasively. Still, some damage has been inflicted, and there ought to be a price extracted from those responsible.

We are forfeiting most of our oil wealth; we should create an altogether different future DEAR EDITOR, As Guyana continues to avoid solving longstanding and ingrained problems; as the political and business elites of all stripes continue to keep the majority suffering and poor, all this forfeiting much value for future generations, I reflect on the last few years as Guyanese achieved first oil and are approaching elections.

Below are some of my notes and recommendations from mid-2017. This one concerns oil, elections and performance of government.

From mid-2017, written long before the no-confidence vote: “...Voter sentiment in 2020 with respect to first oil date, election strategies, and other issues. The margin in the 2015 election was in the range of noise. It is unlikely an incumbent government, somewhat bruised after five years in power, will benefit the same way it did when it

was new, untested, and full of promise.

A possible approach for the 2020 election for such an incumbent government: 1. Assume the chance of being re-elected is low.

2. Assume the swing voters in 2015 voted for the coalition because of its manifesto; its promise of change and especially its promise to make government accountable.

Hence immediately bring a laser focus to achieving the manifesto goals, and hold Ministers accountable. Set about 3-5 explicit targets for each Minister, with milestones for 3, 6 and 12 months, tied to the 2015 manifesto. Targets should be made public.

3. Assume the swing voters in 2015 did not vote for the coalition because they wanted it to bring oil by 2020, and because they felt the PPP could not bring oil by 2020, since either party

could equally bring oil by 2020.

4. Hence assume first oil by 2020 will not be a big factor with the voters in the 2020 election.

5. Assume the voters would like to see the government negotiating a fair deal with Exxon which maximises the benefit to the people of Guyana over the long term.

6. Assume the voters would like to see the government setting up the O&G industry in a way to insulate it from and reduce possible future mismanagement and corruption. And in a way which benefits the people, and not officials and businessmen.

7. Assume the voters would like to see some national development prior to 2020 in the form of infrastructure, education, healthcare, etc., which would require borrowing.

8.

Hence consider borrowing now to fund the start of national infrastructure development.

9. But more importantly, assume the voters would like to see robust long term strategic and tactical plans for developing Guyana using O&G revenue. These plans could include: significant pay raises for all public sector employees; extensive infrastructure and agricultural development (continuing on from the pre2020 projects); making UG the preeminent university in the Caribbean; making Guyana (and Iwokrama) the leading centre for research into rainforest and green issues; making Guyana a test case and leading research centre for dealing with rising sea level; making Guyana a cultural and commercial link between the Anglo Caribbean countries and Latin South American (Continued on page 5)

“Yuh ain’t nuttin but ah teaser…”

DEAR EDITOR, The West Indian composer of that song said it best with those lyrics that can still electrify: “yuh ain’t nuttin but ah teaser, ah dirty, dirty teaser...”

I am so energised that I am thinking I should have gone out and formed my own political party and joined the fun. Because that is what these most of these newcomers embody: the catchy, rhythmic lines from that pulsating song. They are also about fun in the sun when they announced that they were going to run.

At the beginning, I kept largely quiet, if only to give the benefit of the doubt and a hearing. This was due to them; it was fair and appropriate. There was some faint, guarded hope. Hope that they were serious and deep. Hope that they were different and could contribute on a principled and comprehensive basis. Hope that they could be spoilers and icebreakers and change agents for the good of the greater public. Well, that hope has largely dissipated and how quickly; and along with it, all the chatter about the priority of the national interest.

In a mere matter of less than a calendar quarter, perhaps as little as a few scant weeks, they are in disarray, split at the seams, and generally falling apart in an undignified and disheveled heap. Perhaps, that was where they belonged, in a heap of a certain kind that the Old

Testament - those harsher, blunter translations from earlier - condemned the erring; it had something to do with dung. The newcomers just can’t get their act together.

Already, they are tangling up themselves and falling over their feet and flat on their faces in one revealing sprawl after another. Truth be told, with what has unfolded in this camp and that one, they couldn’t tell their elbow from that other covered part of the anatomy; except that with the developments it is not longer clothed, but shiny with a bright nakedness, like that of a newborn. And that is how they emerge now, as newborn babies in the woods and out of their depth.

Some are scrambling around for partners; some can’t even get people to receive them and accommodate them; and some just can’t get their story straight, and when they think that have put out a persuasive one, nobody falls for the patented inanities that are hand-delivered to the Guyanese voter. I am uncertain and loathe to go near to one of the newest announcements, but I must essay a gentle lob, if only to caution: do not test the intelligence of the fickle Guyanese populace.

I would think that, given the publicity, hullabaloo, and fanfare over local elections (and parliamentary) criterion relative to who is a Guyanese, and who is eligible to compete, that all contestants

would-should-have known from the beginning that they have to reconsider, since they were going against the tide of opinion, and the settled; it is an offshoot of the noconfidence fiasco.

I would also think that individuals would be most familiar with their personal circumstances and determine very early that they have a restraining, negating factor that inhibits the kind of participation envisioned.

Thus, I believe that it is more than what is shared and stuffed down the voters’ throats. Like I said, there is more to it, and disgust from those may have considered casting a supporting lot on March 2nd.

It is becoming increasingly obvious that citizens went about this elections business halfawake, half-dressed, and halfassed. Now, during this week, there is going to be this spate of behind the scenes drama of who wants to marry whom, and who is seeking lodgings under any roof that they can find. This is the stark reality in arrivederci land; it is a barren space.

By Friday, January 17th, that territory would become even more desolate. In view of what we know today, I assert that any votes ventured in the direction of the new people amounted to a wasted ballot. It would have been better to not turn up, or deliberately create a spoilt ballot, or exercise the franchise to favour one of the two big dogs.

On another note, I am

asking myself this question: if there was no oil, would the new people be anywhere on the political and elections horizon? To ask and answer, I would say that more than half of them would be on the sidelines and silent and disengaged.

So, if the oil was the determining element, I am compelled to conclude that they were positioning for their own enriching dip in the gravy train, once they did mislead and get past the Guyanese voters. In effect, there would have been an extension of the PNC and PPP, and all their still suspect and, still unanswered, financial dealings across the board.

As I reflect on all of this, there is a sense of regret; regret that the very new, the relatively young, the supposedly fresh wave of the future have mostly petered out to this bedraggled, forlorn bunch that now has very little by way of believability, and less of traction or momentum. It was good, while it lasted, despite inner pings of concern about character, about authenticity, and about durability.

Well, it is back to the tried and the troubling and the torturing. Those two majors must be having a field day.

Like the singer cried: “yuh ain’t nuttin but ah teaser, ah dirty, dirty teaser...” And on this occasion, it is the implications of the song and not the singer.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Wednesday January 15, 2020

Some candidates repel rather than attract voters DEAR EDITOR, The electoral race is officially on as of last Friday.

It is too early to say what the odds are for each of the two major parties and of the minor parties to win seats.

But voters find several of the candidates for President and other offices as repulsive.

They are repellants. Voters can’t bring themselves to vote for them.

It is curious why they are on a party list. The leaders of parties and/or the candidates themselves would have known voters reject them. In a first past the post system, they would be defeated by

miles. Bharrat Jagdeo (although not a Presidential candidate) and David Granger, remain by far the most attractive political faces for voters.

They are the votecatchers for their respective parties. It would be a battle royale to see who pulls more voters.

Several candidates, not only those seeking the Presidency, but also some of those seeking to return to parliament or serving as Regional Councillors, repel voters. They should stay far away from voters if they want to help their parties.

What I found from an ongoing survey thru last week is that some 10% of the voters who normally vote for their tribal party say they will not vote because of candidates’ selection (choice). That would make for an interesting electoral outcome if such position prevails thru polling day on March 2.

Some minor parties have very good people but are not attracting significant support. They have to do more to earn the support of the voters.

Yours truly Vishnu Bisram

First Oil Cocktails DEAR EDITOR, On Friday, the 17th of January, the Department of Energy within the Ministry of the Presidency and the Stabroek Block CoVe n t u r e r s a r e h a v i n g a Cocktail party at the Marriott Hotel to celebrate ‘first-oil’. A new era of elitism is beginning right before our eyes in 2020 Guyana.

The Department of Energy (DoE) continues to compromise its integrity by allowing the oil companies to co-host; organise or fund activities in which it (DoE) is involved. These joint activities violate good sense and ethics.

It would seem that no lessons were learned from prior embarrassing misadventures. Caution has been thrown to the wind with the first heady whiffs of the petrodollar.

The type of event and the timing should be carefully noted by the Guyanese people. This is

the first look ordinary Guyanese will have what the ‘good life’ looks like with oil riches; us outside with noses pressed to the glass hoping for a glimpse as the elites make Champagne toasts to ‘our’ glorious potential inside.

David Granger recently said “there will be petroleum revenues but the revenues are not meant to fill the pockets of rich men” but Guyanese know actions speak louder than words and this event (and previous celebrations of discoveries) prove G r a n g e r ’s w o r d s i n December to be nothing more than platitudes; for this is the future envisioned for Guyanese

by Granger being brought

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to fruition by his minions.

There is an alternative vision where such celebrations would be held outdoors and all Guyanese, from every sphere of life, would be invited to participate.

I urge all Guyanese to come out to public meetings and rallies, listen to the plans, policies, and promises of the PPP/C before you make your choice on Election Day 2nd of March 2020.

Respectfully Robin Singh

Attacking the messenger rather than the message DEAR EDITOR, In responding to both Tony Vieira and myself on the subject of broadcast coverage of the political parties contesting the e l e c t i o n s , M r. E n r i c o Woolford has indulged in ad hominem attacks on Vieira and myself, attacking the messenger rather than the message.

I suppose that this will impress the party faithful, but it does not address the issue at hand.

To n y Vi e i r a , K i t Nascimento and Enrico Woolford are not the issue.

The issue is that both of the State owned and operated media, the National Communications Network (NCN) and the Guyana Chronicle, are being used by government

for political propaganda purposes, and this is patently obvious to even the casual observer.

In the period of a General Election, this is particularly pernicious. In the case of broadcasting which is supposed to be regulated by the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) to serve the public interest and convenience, it is particularly offensive and is in violation of the licence under which NCN is governed.

As I have stated in my letter, “a general election would be neither free nor fair if a contesting party is unfairly denied access to the broadcast media…or a particular party is favoured access to the broadcast

We are forfeiting...

From page 4 countries, i.e. the Switzerland of region (all Guyanese would become proficient in Spanish and Portuguese); etc; etc…”

The above note from mid-2017 is not a criticism of one dinosaur political party over the other, as I previously wrote that the other dinosaur is likely to be worse with respect to

oil. Also, I believe the important decision before Guyanese should not be a b o u t which dinosaur is worse, but it should be about how to break with the past to create a new and altogether different future.

This is especially critical now as we are forfeiting most of our oil wealth.

Regards, Jan Mangal

media”. The fact remains that the assets of NCN are being used to favour coverage of the APNU+AFC political rallies by comparison with the PPP/C. It matters not whether this is conducted through the means of public broadcasting on the airwaves or network streaming. It is wrong, it is indefensible and it should attract the attention of the GNBA and GECOM who are ultimately responsible for the conduct of a free and fair election.

Regards, Kit Nascimento

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Wednesday January 15, 2020

The current Administration’s attitude and level of openness towards the sugar industry is bleaky Dear Editor, Trade Unionist, Mr. Lincoln Lewis in his letter which appeared in the January 12, Kaieteur News weighed in on the attitude of the Government to sugar workers. Of course, as Mr. Lewis well knows, sugar workers have not been granted any rise in pay since this Government took office.

Even longstanding benefits have been suspended, which has only served to further erode their pay levels.

Added to that woeful situation, is the heavy rise in the cost-of-living which pushed their living standards even lower. Mr. Lewis queried whether the ”…attitude is

driven by some desire for political collateral, thereby allowing for the workers’ right to be trampled, with the intent of embarrassing the government.”

While we do not know the answer to the question, we would find it alarming were Mr. Lewis’ supposition the truth.

The longstanding unionist, goes on, to tell the public that ”[i]t is not being said the coalition government has done a stellar job in handling the sugar industry.”

We had to wonder where or what is this stellar job Mr Lewis speaks about. Was it “a stellar job” when 7,000

sugar workers were shown the door without any plan to deal with the social and economic implication of their joblessness? Was it also “a stellar job” when the Coalition decided to borrow $30B only to keep it largely locked away though the industry requires the investment?

Maybe it was “a stellar job” when this caretaker APNU+AFC Government approved the substantial stripping of GuySuCo assets without any consideration for the impact on the industry.

Could it have been “a stellar job” when sugar workers remain the only group of the State’s employees whose rates-of-pay are stuck at 2014

levels?

The reality is there is nothing at all that is “stellar” about the Government’s approach to the sugar industry. It has been just simply an attitude of destruction. Destruction of the industry! Destruction of people’s lives! Destruction of children’s future! Destruction of communities!

Mr. Lewis next moves to Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo. He asks why is it that Mr. Jagdeo didn’t offer a proposal to the Government to address the plight of the sugar workers. While we hold, obviously, no brief for the Opposition Leader and Mr. Jagdeo himself may

Why I stand with Ruel Johnson and The Citizenship Initiative DEAR EDITOR, I’ve known Mr. Ruel Johnson, local author and public figure, for about 15 years now. Our initial interaction stemmed from Ruel providing some critical reviews about the graphics on my website.

Naturally, I was not too pleased at the time, but in hindsight, I can say that his feedback was honest and objective, no personal vendetta included. In short, he was telling me as it is from his honest point of view so I could make the site better.

Johnson is often misunderstood as someone who likes to ‘skin-up’ people to achieve his own motives, but from personal experience over the years, I have found he is critical of any perceived wrongdoing, regardless of the nature.

He does this not with the intention of tearing things down, but rather to make them better and fairer. He has no intention or interest in acceding to a presidential position, and since the announcement of our female

presidential candidate, he has largely remained in the background, quietly doing the work necessary to build The Citizenship Initiative up.

I say this to try and dispel any false notions about his grand intentions that have been circulated by his detractors.

Ruel has shared his critique of both the PPP and coalition APNU+AFC governments over the years, and the funny thing is when he was critical of the PPP, his peers who support the Coalition were loving it and sang his praises.

Flip the script, and now that the shoe is on the other foot, suddenly Johnson is labeled as an upstart and written off as a bitter man who wants to push his own agenda.

As I got to know Ruel better, we became friends and I must admit that I was surprised at the friendship, given how our interactions started. When Ruel initially approached me to talk about forming a group that can seriously stand up to the

excesses of the two political giants, I was already fed up of the PPP and Coalition after having supported them both.

From a conversation, to an idea to what it is today, The Citizenship Initiative took root and began to grow.

Ruel’s simple honesty behind his motivations for proposing the group resonated with me and others, and here we are today, on the ballot for the next polls.

I am sharing these stories to try and dispel the dark clouds that have been painted over Johnson’s public image, as I want the public to understand his motivations.

I have sat next to Ruel Johnson when he responds to those who attack his character while he was a contracted worker of the government, and he would literally sit with a copy of the Constitution in his hands while replying to them.

He could have shut his mouth and continued to work for the government and enjoy his benefits, but instead, he chose to call it as it is and could no longer be a part of something that became the

monster he once stood against.

The Citizenship Initiative represents all of its founding members’ conviction to put aside our personal comfort zones and step up to challenge the political unfairness and skewered policy in our country.

The Ruel Johnsons of history are the ones who are often unpopular in public opinion, but end up being the ones who force tangible change to happen for the better.

L e t ’s n o t w r i t e o ff those who objectively seek to create an even playing field for all of us. Bringing about meaningful change is often hard, thankless work.

We started out with the intention to change the culture of political discourse in Guyana, and we welcome all Guyanese who want to help transform Guyana into a h a p p y, p e a c e f u l a n d rewarding nation for all.

L e t ’s n o t w r i t e o ff t h e messenger without taking in the message.

Sincerely, Shazaam Ally The Citizenship Initiative

choose to address Mr. Lewis’ question, we are aware that the Opposition Leader did offer some suggestions to the Government.

Mr. Lewis himself was present when Mr. Jagdeo addressed the GAWU oneday conference titled ”Sugar too big to fail” in September 2018. In his address, the Opposition Leader shared several proposals to turn the industry around. Present also during Mr. Jagdeo’s address, among others, was then Minister of State, Joseph Harmon.

The Opposition Leader was represented too during the three meetings held between December 2016 and February 2017 regarding the so-called consultations on the future of the sugar industry. At that time, the Opposition Leader, through his representative, made some proposals. Of course those of us there were taken aback when the chief Government representative, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan told us all that if we want a socioeconomic study, we should do it ourselves. That outlandish and outrageous statement by the now Prime Ministerial hopeful was captured in the transcript of that meeting and was a clear indicator of the Administration’s attitude and level of openness to suggestions and proposals.

But putting that aside, for the time being, our Union, which has an even more direct link with the industry, has offered the Government several suggestions. Apart from receiving a ‘thank you’

we have never ever heard from the Administration regarding our proposals. We have never ever been told that what we are saying is impossible or improbable. Of course such a response would be just as outrageous as Mr. Ramjattan, as our proposals have been based on several studies conducted with positive results.

Moreover, our suggestions were not dissimilar from those recommended by the Government’s Sugar Commission of Inquiry (CoI).

We wish to remind Mr. Lewis, that the President himself, when he engaged GAWU and NAACIE in January 2018, said that his Government and the Unions would work together until the situation of the displaced sugar workers was addressed. Despite the goodfaith intentions of the sugar unions, that was the first and last engagement.

The point we wish to make is that the Government was never prepared to hear or never had an open-mind to any suggestion, no matter how workable or justifiable it is and no matter where it came from. There was no sincerity but rather a closed ear, eye and mind to any solution.

In our view, the Government had a clear, jaundiced position to close estates notwithstanding the consequences or ramifications. It was almost a shoot first-ask questions later cavalier attitude that was and continues to be displayed.

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

Ministry responds to concerned resident DEAR EDITOR, Please permit the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MoPI) to respond to a letter published by Kaieteur News in the Tuesday, 14th January, 2020 edition which was inked by a concerned resident with regards to the Linden to Mabura road.

The Ministry would like to affirm the writer’s remarks that contracts were indeed signed for the maintenance of this road.

Given the special nature of the carriageway, in that, heavy laden trucks usually traverse this section for the purpose of transporting timber, among others for Natural Resources purposes, the MoPI has partnered with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), an arm of the Ministry of Natural Resources to assist in the maintenance of the road.

An assessment of the condition of the road was being carried out which will guide the way for the maintenance work which resumes today. So far, the

contractor has confirmed that sections of the road have deteriorated during the rainy season in December. This resulted in water lodging and further weakening the carriageway. To address this, the contractor has readily opted to commence maintenance works which will see the situation being rectified in a few days.

In December last, the private contractor who had conducted maintenance works on the specific corridor for the period 2018 to November 2019 was reassigned to undertake the works. His new contract will conclude at the end of this year.

The Ministry would like to apologize for any inconvenience caused to commuters during this time and reiterate, that our team is dedicated towards the development and enhancement of all our roadways.

Yours faithfully, Public Relations Officer Ministry of Public Infrastructure

Wednesday January 15, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Carter Center deploys observer mission across country ahead of elections The Carter Center has started work to observe Guyanas upcoming elections.

The announcement came six weeks before the March 2 general and regional elections. This would mark 28 years of work by the respected US-based Carter Center.

According to the center yesterday, following an invitation from the Government of Guyana, it has launched an election observation mission to observe the March 2 general election in Guyana.

“The mission will observe and examine key aspects of the electoral process, including the pre-electoral environment, status of the Guyana Elections Commissions preparations for elections, and campaigning.”

Already, the Center said, teams of long-term observers are currently deploying across the country and will later be joined by short-term observers and high-level lead-

ership to observe voting, counting, and tabulation procedures.

“The Carter Center will also follow the post-election process, including the tabulation of results and resolution of any legal disputes. The international election observation mission will build upon the work done by four factfinding delegations deployed by the Center in 2019 in the lead-up to election.”

Throughout the election season, The Carter Center said it will issue periodic statements on key findings.

“At the end of the mission, it will provide an independent assessment of the electoral process and its compliance with the countrys international commitments, national law, and standards for democratic elections. All statements and reports will be available at www.cartercenter.org.”

The Center disclosed that it has launched a Twitter ac-

count especially for this election observation mission @CarterGuyanaEOM. The Carter Center has been playing a critical role since 1992, helping to chart the way for what was deemed a free and fair elections.

Since then, it has been coming regularly for elections.

In 2015, its founder, former US president Jimmy Carter was in Guyana for the elections when he fell ill and had to be flown out.

The Carter Center is a nongovernmental, not-for-profit organization founded in 1982

by Carter. He and his wife Rosalynn Carter partnered with Emory University just after his defeat in the 1980 U.S. Presidential election According to the Centers statement, yesterday, its election observation missions are conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, which pro-

vides guidelines for professional and impartial international election observation.

The declaration was adopted at the United Nations in 2005 and has been endorsed by more than 50 election observation groups.

The Carter Center said it has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity;

preventing diseases; and improving mental health care.

The coming elections, brought on by a no-confidence motion on December 21, 2018 which saw the Coalition Government toppled, said

to be one of the critical in the short history this country.

At stakes will be control of a large deposit of oil, offshore.

Commercial production started last month.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday January 15, 2020

Shuman continues to be a dual citizen

Man turns self in with … Still seeks membership to national assembly laywer in wedding house killing Canadian

Presidential Candidate of the Liberty and Justice Party, Lenox Shuman, is a citizen of Guyana, as well as a citizen of Canada.

It is with this dual citizenship status that the pilot presented his name on his partys list of candidates to contest the General Elections of March 2, 2020. The Constitution of Guyana disqualifies dual citizens from election to the National Assembly.

In February 2019, Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George made it clear that by swearing allegiance to another State, an MP is not eligible to be elected to serve in the National Assembly.

The court ruling reaffirmed Article 155 (1) (a) of the Constitution of Guyana which 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.”

During a Kaieteur Radio interview on the show, Petroleum 101, on January 13, last, the LJP Presidential Candidate was asked to shed light on his dual citizenship status.

He confirmed previous reports that he had already started the application process to relinquish his Canadian citizenship. However, Shuman has not received any document verifying or confirming that relinquishment from the Canadian authorities.

He said, “Today [January 13], I was at the Canadian High Commission inquiring on one thing, because up until last week, I was assured that everything has been… all the requirements for that had been satisfied.”

He is confident that his Canadian citizenship will be relinquished.

“I am simply awaiting just a small document that confirms. And when I went in today, they gave me every assurance that that is already

Citizen, Lenox Shuman

dealt with and its on its way.”

The issue of dual citizenship has served as an issue for several small parties, not just LJP. Presidential Candidate of the United Republican Party, Vishnu Bandhu, also announced yesterday that he is a dual citizen. The politician has indicated that he has started the process of relinquishing his dual citizenship.

Co-founder of Change Guyana and former prime ministerial candidate, Nigel Hinds, has on the other hand, withdrawn himself from the political race. Hinds said in a statement that he would have relinquished his citizenship, had it not been for the fact that an unfortunate medical prognosis requiring him to seek better healthcare in the United States.

Police have issued a wanted bulletin for a suspect, while two others have turned themselves in with attorneys, following last Sundays beating death of Non Pareil, East Coast Demerara wedding house guest, Rudendra Persaud.

The wanted bulletin is for Errol Thapordeen, also called “Buffy, Bowie and Powie.”

Police gave no further details about the suspect.

Police also declined to say how the other individuals who turned up at a police station yesterday, are connected with the case.

They are reportedly being questioned at CID Headquarters, Eve Leary.

The new developments came even as Regional Commander, Assistant Commissioner Royston Andries-Junior, stressed that police are not treating the killing as a robbery.

Andries told Kaieteur News that the incident was more of a case of “disorderly behaviour at the wedding house.”

Rudendra Persaud, 26, of Foulis, Enmore, died at a Georgetown hospital on

Wanted: Errol Thapordeen Sunday, some hours after he was stuck on the head, allegedly by individuals who invaded a Non Pareil, East Coast Demerara wedding house.It is alleged that after fights broke out between the intruders and some guests, Persaud, said to be a cousin of the groom, intervened.

Police had stated that Persaud had left for home and was later found lying in a pool of blood.

He was then rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital and later succumbed.

Wednesday January 15, 2020

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Kaieteur News

PAY THE WORKERS A LIVING WAGE NOW! One of the candidates of the APNU+AFC has been telling the Coalition’s supporters that they must begin to think of themselves as billionaires.

He said that a lot of money will be coming the country’s way from oil.

I am not so sure. The first year revenues are expected to be around US$300M maximum. And by the time that goes into the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), not much is going to be left to be spent locally.

The purpose of a Sovereign Wealth Fund is to ensure that you do not spend all of your earning at any one. The SVF makes provision for savings to be set aside to benefit future generations.

Guyana’s oil wealth will not last forever. This was all the more reason why a better deal should have been had.

Up to now, it has never been asked of the government when Cabinet ever considered the contract which was signed with Exxon.

Guyana got shortchanged in the negotiations. As such, politicians should not be creating false expectations about unimaginable wealth coming the peoples’ way.

As if the agreement was not enough of a catastrophe, the government went ahead and sought international assistance to develop a SWF into which the oil revenues will be paid. Some countries do not spend the deposits into the fund; they only utilise the interest of these deposits.

In this way, they are certain that when oil production ceases, there will still be funds left to sustain development.

Guyana seems to have accepted uncritically the need for an SWF. Not because other countries have such funds, does it mean that it is in the nation’s interest to also have a SWF. Sovereign Wealth Funds are imperialist creations, which allow for oil money to be deposited into developed

countries. In other words, most of the money which is paid to us for our oil royalties and profit oil will end up back in foreign banks. These foreign banks will invest our money elsewhere and pay us an interest.

Guyana does not need an SVF at this stage. The sums, which will be earned over the next five years, will not be that great to require the establishment of an SVF. The oil revenues should have been used immediately to invest in paying teachers, nurses and the police better salaries.

The first year of oil revenues should have been used to triple the salaries of these categories of workers. When in opposition, the government had been complaining that workers were being underpaid. Here is the best chance to settle, once and for all times, a living wage for teachers, nurses and the police.

Money is no longer the problem. The first year of oil

DEM BOYS SEH

People thief and preparing to thief again Who got luck, eat pork.

Dat is a Guyanese saying. If some of de people who rule dis country did live in any odda country, dem woulda either deh in jail or dem woulda face de firing squad.

De president of Pakistan actually get a death sentence. Is de goodness of de Man above mek a court rule dat he mustn’t get killed.

All over de world, corrupt leaders getting arrested.

Dem boys remember when Marcos and he wife Emelda, had to face de jail. Dem boys remember how Emelda had more bags and shoes than even de queen of England.

De leaders of Malaysia deh facing de court fuh corruption. Right next door, in Brazil, Lula been to jail. Then some part of de law mek he

get release till all de appeals and everything done. He popular but de court got him fuh corruption.

Imagine some people end up wid mansions while dem in power.

Dem come out. If was any country dem woulda deh trying to eat dry bread and water because de people woulda jail dem. Then dem woulda convert dem same mansions to museums or tourist attractions.

And Guyana suh stupid dat de same people coming back to try to either get back in power or stay in power. Is like if de money dat dem got not enough.

Dem African leaders who believe in thiefing almost everything and leffing dem people hungry got some

things dem can’t even live in and cars dem can’t even drive. Dem boys remember when dem hold one wid a dozen watches.

Dem watches worth so much dat de politician son who own dem tell de people to sell de watches and pay any expense dat he tour party would incur. Guyana is not far from dem leaders.

Soulja Bai is not a crook but he got some crooks who does sit down next to him.

Dem boys ain’t talking bout nobody else because is election time and any wrong talk gon look like campaigning. But dat don’t mean dat dem boys wouldn’t look and talk bout all who thiefing.

Talk half and now is de time to halt corruption.

revenue will be sufficient to triple the salaries of teachers, nurses and the police. If this is not done now, it will never be done.

These are the promises, which the people at the road corners should be hearing.

They should be told that workers will be the first and primary beneficiaries of the US$300M per annum which will be coming Guyana’s way.

There is no need for SWF. Pay the workers the money and stop telling people nonsense that they should start thinking like billionaires.

There is not going to be any ordinary persons who

will become a billionaire.

Kaieteur News has been pointing to the situation in Nigeria, a large producer of oil which has high levels of poverty despite its oil wealth.

Oil wealth does not trickle down to the poor and politicians would have the people believe. The people have to demand their share of oil revenues and they have to demand it early because once it goes into that SVF, it will not be easy for the people to get their hands on it.

No political party is yet to call for a dissolution of the SWF. This columnist has no intention of voting but if I had

to vote, I would give my vote to a party, which will outlaw the Sovereign Wealth Fund and ensure that workers are immediately paid a living wage and that the public service minimum wage becomes the national minimum wage.

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

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday January 15, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Deceit in the AFC election list: Region Five rebels My PNC source was 1000 percent reliable so I did not need to check other sources.

On Sunday, I was informed that long standing AFC activist who is legal advisor in the Ministry of the Presidency, Gita Chandan, is on the topup list from the APNU and not AFC. Ms. Chandan signed her form at the Office of the President. What is mysterious about the list of the two formations – APNU and AFC— is that except for very wellknown names, the Guyanese voters do not know who were selected by which party.

Obviously, we know which section of the two formations, David Hinds, Cathy Hughes, George Norton, and Savitree Sharma came from.

Jaipaul Sharma resigned from the Justice For All Party (JFAP) to move to the PNC. He said the General-Secretary of JFAP, his mother, Savitree has replaced him. She then is on the list for the JFAP and not the PNC etc. But confusion still reigns in the list of both coalition members – APNU and AFC. For example, Imran Khan was virtually out of the AFC after he had a volcanic con-

frontation with Khemraj Ramjattan that spilt over into the press. The accusations were formidable and disturbing. That was in June. Since then Khan was a complete no-show. But Khan is on the top-up list.

Moses Nagamootoo’s last attendance of an executive meeting was in February last year. The unit that runs the affairs of the AFC is the Management Committee (MC) that meets every week.

Since February 2019, he has not attended any MC meetings.

Why February? Because it was after the executive meeting that month, Raphael Trotman told the Chronicle that the gathering had endorsed Nagamootoo as its PM candidate for 2020.

Ramjattan and his sup-

porters in the AFC leadership came out swinging. AFC issued a press release denying that the February confabulation at the Georgetown Club supported Nagamootoo for continuation as PM. In May last year, the final nail in the coffin in the relations between Nagamootoo and Trotman on the one hand, and Ramjattan on the other, was driven.

Trotman told the Guyana Times it would be counterproductive politics for the AFC to choose another AFC PM candidate. He said to do so signals dissatisfaction with the performance of the government. But Nagamootoo is on the top-up list.

I enquired of my AFC sources and was told that the names were selected from input by different leaders and Khan and Nagamootoo were insisted on by Trotman, not Ramjattan. Back to Chandan.

I called her for a comment but she said she will speak to me later. She hasn’t up to this time. I called her husband, Joel Edmond. Both Geeta and Joel are personal friends. I asked Joel if Geeta signed up on behalf APNU. These were his words, “Freddie, no comment” to which I retorted, “but Joel it has to be yes or

no.” He again said, “No comment.”

I inquired why he was not on the list since he is regarded as the most high-profile Indian after Ramjattan in the AFC now that Nagamootoo is on his way out of the AFC. Joel said, “Freddie no comment.” As our conversation ended the only other thing he said was that if I am writing, please refer to his wife as Mrs. Chandan-Edmond.

I called several of my AFC Region Five sources and got none of them on their cells. I decided to travel to Region Five because this story is explosive.

I took my dog with me. I stopped at Mahaica for her to pee. What I found out is shocking. Joel Edmond was recommended for the top-up list by Region Five AFC, signed the forms, but was dropped last Thursday.

AFC Region Five personnel told me on inquiries they were told that it is policy not to have man and wife on the list whether top-up or regional. They said they rejected that because Imran Khan and his wife are on the list – one regional, the other top-up.

I then informed them that Mrs. Chandan-Edmond was

Frederick Kissoon submitted by APNU not AFC. The reaction was furious. I was told to give them Monday night to sort out things and call them on Tuesday morning. I did. They told me that party leaders simply told them that of the 85 names tabled to GECOM, AFC was only allowed 25 and some activists had to be left out.

They believed Edmond was victimised because of his wife and Region Five AFC voters will rebel. One of them said, “Freddie, we gon lose dis election yuh know.” I then called Joel again. This was all he said, “Freddie, I like and respect you but leave it alone, please. I’m kindly asking you.”

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

Wednesday January 15, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday January 15, 2020

Wednesday January 15, 2020

BK Int’l wants $518M to repair sea defence in Region Six The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) yesterday opened -----six bids for five major governmental projects.

One notable project included the ---repairs to a sea defence project, which is set to be constructed from Sisters to Lonsdale Village in Region Six, East Bank Berbice.

The construction of a new sea defence follows after the September 29 to October 2, 2019 record- breaking high tide devastated not only those residents of Region Six, but

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Kaieteur News

the entire coastal Guyana.

Families living close to the shore struggled to keep their belongings from being further damaged by the salt water rushing in from Atlantic Ocean. At the time, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure had spearheaded works with A&S General Contractors and BK International to erect temporary sea defence, along certain points at the Mahaicony foreshore, which consisted of rocks and mud.

However, those efforts almost immediately served no relief.

Ministry of the Presidency (MOtP) - Department of Energy (DOE) Consultancy services for the Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) Project Implementation Unit

Consultancy services for an independent administrator to prepare Guyana s second Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Report for the fiscal year 2018

Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Cleaning, clearing and maintenance of sewage system

Ministry of Public Infrastructure Sea a river defense project- Lot Six: Sisters to Lonsdale Ville Region Six

Ministry of Legal Affairs Public awareness and education campaign on justice reform in Guyana

High Court Registrar strikes out bid to reverse ruling on Royston King’s dismissal The Registrar of the Supreme Court of Judicature has struck out an application filed by the Local Government Commission (LGC) which sought to overturn a judgment by High Court Judge Simone Morris-Ramlall. Justice Morris-Ramlall ruled the commission acted unlawfully when it sacked Royston King as Town Clerk of the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown (M&CC).

It was on September 13, 2019, that Justice MorrisRamlall handed down the ruling at the High Court in Demerara. Shortly after, the LGC filed a Notice of Appeal in which it proffered several grounds as to why the Judge’s decision should be quashed. However, the filings were not filed within the time stipulated under the New Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) of 2016.

As a result, it was struck out for non-compliance.

King, through his lawyers Maxwell Edwards and Patrice Henry, had sought several orders from the High Court; one being for him to be reinstated to the post of Town Clerk. The, judge, however, refused to grant such an order. The Judge’s ruling remains in force and King is still Town Clerk with the status quo being of September 21, 2018 when he was ordered to proceed on administrative leave.

King, who attains the statutory age of retirement this month, is still entitled to

Town Clerk: Royston King

all the benefits that come with the post. The LGC also has to pay him $200,000 in court costs.

Apart from ruling that the LGC acted unlawfully in firing King, the Judge ruled that it had no legal authority to delegate its investigator powers to a Commission of Inquiry (CoI), as the Commission of Inquiry is not part of the LGC or the local government body.

In the circumstances, the judge found that the setting up, investigations, findings and recommendations of the CoI are null, void and of no legal effect. Among other things, Justice MorrisRamlall, in her judgment, noted that the LGC acted blindly upon the recommendations of the CoI when it instituted disciplinary charges against King and later terminated his services.

The Judge said that there was no evidence to show that the LGC conducted any independent investigations.

The CoI was conducted from September 24, to November 30, 2018, and headed by retired Judge Cecil Kennard.

The CoI in its report cited King for gross misconduct, abuse of office, recklessness, dishonesty, conspiracy, and misappropriation of funds.

Among the recommendations made by the CoI was for King to be dismissed. King was sent on administrative leave on September 21, 2018, and subsequently had his services terminated.

In his Fixed Date Application (FDA) filed at the High Court, King, among other things, said that he protested the setting up and findings of the CoI. In court documents seen (Continued on page 26)

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Wednesday January 15, 2020

Kaieteur News

Most local lung cancer cases diagnosed very late

A

lthough there are a number of risk fac tors for lung cancer, the most common has long been recognised as exposure to cigarette smoke.

A person’s risk increases with the number of cigarettes they smoke per day, according to thoracic surgeon at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation [GPHC], Dr. Zoilo Placeres Leon.

“When you are smoking more than five cigarettes per

– Thoracic Surgeon day for more than five years, your risk [for lung cancer] starts rising,” he revealed during Kaieteur Radio’s Programme, Your Health Matters, on Monday.

He pointed out that out of every 10 patients diagnosed with lung cancer, nine are as a result of smoking.

The lung cancer situation here, Dr. Leon said, is no different from the rest of the world except for the fact that most cases are diagnosed at a very advanced stage.

According to the Thoracic Surgeon, “At that time, there is little that we can do.

Most of the time what we could do is diagnosis by doing a biopsy of the lungs, take samples, send to pathology, confirm the lung cancer and then send the patient to chemotherapy or radiation as a palliative treatment most of the time.”

As he continued to reference the late stage diagnosis situation, Dr. Leon revealed that “In the last five years, we were only able to do two lung resection [surgery] for lung cancer and we do 10, 15, 20 cases a year. So that probably means that (we do surgery on) less than 10 percent when the standard is around 20 percent,” said Dr. Leon.

This, he said, is due to the fact that the country does not yet have a strong primary

health care service.

“The problem is that the diagnosis most of the time is hidden by other pathologies.

Most of the doctors that work in the regions, and they are general practitioners, they treat patients at the beginning as TB because it is a very common pathology in Guyana.

“Sometimes they treat lung cancer as pneumonia so when these patients’ problems are not resolved, usually after months, they are referred to us,” said Dr. Leon.

Moreover, most patients with lung cancer are merely afforded palliative care.

“As a thoracic surgeon, you have a role in providing palliative care. Sometimes patients come with fluid between the lungs and the thoracic cage...When that fluid accumulates the lungs can’t work and usually the patient comes with shortness of breath,” Dr. Leon explained.

To address this, the thoracic surgeon revealed that a procedure called pleural effusion is conducted. It helps to prevent the fluid from returning. On other occasions, he said, “We have to place a catheter in the chest to drain the fluid.”

He added, “usually when you have a patient with stage four lung cancer without (Continued on page 25)

Passenger breaks tout hand for middle seat

A

minibus tout, who would usually ply his trade at the Route 47 bus park in the vicinity of Demico Ice-cream parlour, Georgetown, has more to worry about.

He was brutally assaulted by a female passenger, minutes after he reportedly stopped her from sitting in the middle seat of the bus. The incident occurred Monday around 09:00hrs.

As a result of incident, the victim is now a patient the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) nursing a broken left hand and bruises to the lower region of his back.

Kaieteur News understands that Monday morning, the tout was directing commuters to board a specific minibus when he saw a woman climbing into the bus and attempting to sit in the middle seat of the bus. Knowing that the middle seat was already taken up by someone who had to transport items, the tout told the woman that since the middle seat is already taken up, he will let her

sit in the seat behind the driver.

This however angered the woman who threw a blender at the tout and then pushed him into a pothole.

When visited by this publication at his bedside at the city hospital, the tout stated that after telling the woman not to sit in the middle seat, she started to argue with him.

He then reportedly turned his back to direct other road commuters into the bus when he was hit with something in his back.

He said that while trying to rub the part on his back that was hurting, he was then pushed by the woman into a pothole what is in the vicinity of the bus park.

“When she pushed me in that pothole, I feel when my hand slipped out I was in so much pain, I thought I would have faint away. Is my friends take me out of the pothole and take me to the hospital; because I started to cry.”

When contacted, a police sources stated that the matter was reported and it is being investigated.

Wednesday January 15, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Disciplinary Actions being considered - as probe into allegations against GPHC Nursing Director ends

N

ecessary disci plinary actions against all relevant parties are being considered as the probe into the allegations leveled against Director of Nursing Services of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Keith Alonzo, comes to an end.

This was related by GPHC’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Brig. George Lewis.Brig. Lewis pointed out that following the allegations against Alonzo, by several nurses, all parties involved were sent on admin-

istrative leave to facilitate an investigation into the matter.

That investigation has now been completed by the committee set up to deal with the matter and its findings have been shared to all the relevant parties.

This information has not been shared with the public since it is an internal matter.

Mr. Lewis noted that while the committee set up to deal with the matter has presented its findings, it was not allowed to recommend any disciplinary actions.

This is now being (Continued on page 25)

Director of Nursing Services, Keith Alonzo

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), George Lewis

Wednesday January 15, 2020

Massive transformation in Angoy’s Avenue in last four years Massive transformation has taken place in Angoy’s Avenue, (which was once known as Cow Dam) and was once considered the most depressed community in New Amsterdam, Berbice. This transformation has taken place over the past four years and they can expect even more in the near future.

Angoy’s Avenue has moved from one of the most depressed communities to one of the most thriving.

Those were words of Minister of Education Nicolette Henry during an engagement at Patrick Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice.

Minister Henry, a native of New Amsterdam, reminded those gathered that Angoy’s Avenue was once without basic amenities now boasts asphaltic roads, an ICT hub, potable water, electricity and street lights among others.

She added that in early 2019, over 1000 residents were granted titles for lands which they were occupying since the 1970s.

Minister Henry noted that these developments were all achieved under the Coalition in little less than four years.

“What we have done in our first four years is unmatched.

“Let me tell you, the road that you are standing on never happened before under the last administration; your land titles, water, electricity, ICT Hub and the hot meals programme for your children in schools, these things are real and we know what it means to put the people first,” she stated.

Minister of Education Dr. Nicolette Henry The Education Minister called on the residents to look at the examination results from the past four years.

Guyana topped the CSEC (CXC) in 2019. “… We have brought about changes in the lives of thousands of young people as we take them to the next step using technology. I know you have heard of the smart classrooms, ICT Hubs in many of our schools and technologyenabled learning.

“We will continue under the APNU+AFC government; a government that has introduced the youth innovation programme, the youth corps and we are committed to ensuring that no eligible Guyanese will ever again have to pay to attend the University of Guyana.”

Minister Henry emphasised that given the trajectory seen over the past few years, residents can expect more developments for their community and its environs.

Wednesday January 15, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday January 15, 2020

Money spent on elaborate election campaigns can be spent on supporters - URP Leader A small contingent waving white flags led

by Dr. Vishnu Bandhu exited the Umana Yana after presenting their list of candidates for the upcoming March 2 elections.

They were immediately approached by media personnel from the different media houses and questioned.

“Why do you consider your United Republican Party (URP) to be different from the rest?” This was one of the many questions thrown at Bandhu.

He explained that election campaigns have evolved to be an entertainment show.

Bandhu continued that the money spent on this carnival like rallies and festivities can be used to assist party supporters.

He said that even though his party can stage one of these big rallies, hire DJs, Artistes and rent trucks, it has chosen to use its funds to do outreaches for its supporters.

Bandhu made examples of the two major parties, A Partnership for National Unity+

Leader of the United Republican Party (URP), Dr. Vishnu Bandhu

Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) and the People’s Progressive party Civic (PPPC).

The URP leader said that these parties waste too much money on elaborate election campaigns.

Bandhu made reference to a foreign artiste hired to perform at the recently concluded launch of the APNU+AFC campaign.

He also spoke of the excess money spent on popular DJs and transportation to transport thousands of supporters.

Note was also taken of the amount of beers and beverages that were distributed to the supporters at the rallies and even on Nominations Day. Bandhu said that even though it is of

importance that one must invest in order to stage a good campaign, a number political parties often overspend for the wrong reason.

He reminded Guyanese that it is not about who has the best show, best jingles, best artistes and beautiful banners. “It is about what can be done for the country and supporters.”

The URP leader said that majority of these supporters live in poverty and can’t afford to put clothes on their backs or to eat a proper meal. He suggested that rather than making election campaigns super elaborate, it is better to spend this extra amount of money in doing outreaches for citizens and faithful supporters.

Wednesday January 15, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Wednesday January 15, 2020

Wednesday January 15, 2020

GTT recognises longstanding employees

Two long-servicing women received their GTT awards.

Fifteen employees at the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) were recognised for their stellar contributions to the company over the past 25 years.

The telephone company presented the longstanding employees with plaques and gift certificates of their choice from King’s Jewellery, Courts Guyana and Singers.

Among those being recognised were Petal

Burrowes, Mary Evelyn, H u g h H a r t l e y, D o n n a Moses, Stephnie Robertson, Jemel Jeffrey, Debra Boodie, Bonita Halley, Petal Adams, Virgil H a z e l , K u r b i n L ewis, Michelle Abel-Roberts, Adrian Adams, Terrence Robertson and Andre Greene.

GTT’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Justin Nedd, extended gratefulness to the employees for their commitment to the company

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Kaieteur News

for 25 years.

“Being the employer of choice means finding and retaining the right talent.

Tw e n t y - f i v e y e a r s o f service speaks not only to the dedication of those employed but to GTT already having hired and retained the right talent to ensure the vision and mission of the company are achieved.

We are honoured to have empowered, engaged and

happy employees and we look forward to building a stronger company with their continued efforts,” Nedd said.

The employees all shared their experience at GTT. They expressed gratitude to the company for its “interest in employee growth and development,” while noting how privileged they were to see the company’s transformation over the 25year period.

GPHC records laudable success rate in thoracic surgery With two thoracic surgeons within its employ, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation [GPHC] is currently able to cater to the treatment of illnesses or injuries in the oesophagus, lungs, heart and other structures inside the chest.

Dr. Cheetanand Mahadeo and Dr. Zoilo Placeres Leon are the two Thoracic Surgeons who are currently on a mission to develop this field of medicine as a speciality in the country.

This is a tactical move aimed at ensuring that Guyana will not be void of such expertise, as obtained in the past.

While Dr. Mahadeo is a Guyanese trained in Canada to become a Thoracic Surgeon, Dr. Leon is a Cuban national who, four years ago, adopted Guyana as his home.

Together they have been combining their expertise to ensure that patients have ready access to thoracic surgery.

On Kaieteur Radio’s [99.1 FM, 99.5FM] Monday Edition of Your Health Matter, Dr. Leon revealed the daunting state of affairs that once was.

Dr. Zoilo Placeres Leon, GPHC Thoracic Surgeon “If [patients] couldn’t go overseas to get surgery done, most of them died...or the treatment that they received from the general surgeons in the country was not the optimal treatment for them,” Dr. Leon related.

It was in recognition of this, he added, “For the last four years, what we have been trying to do is introduce this speciality in the country.”

Moreover, the plan is to have the thoracic surgeons periodically work along with Continued on page 25

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday January 15, 2020

Region Six Chairman accuses admin of toying with rice farmers The Region Six Chairman, David Armogan, has chastised the Regional Executive Officer, Kim Williams-Stephens, and the Superintendent of Works based at Whim, for dragging their feet on the affairs of the rice industry in Region Six. Armogan blasted the two officials and accused them of mismanaging the system.

Their lackluster approach to the current “crisis” in the rice sector in Berbice is putting pressure on the rice farmers, Armogan said, recently.

His statements were made at a press briefing yesterday at his office in New Amsterdam.

In the last quarter of 2019,

issues had arisen over the shortage of finances at the region to purchase fuel to work the irrigation pumps at the Manarabisi and Black Bush Polder farming areas.

But while Armogan said it is a developing crisis, Williams-Stephens had said there is enough fuel to last.

However, over the past few days farmers were once again caught in the middle and their crops are suffering.

According to Armogan, when the issues developed last year, he had insisted on his knowledge of the system and how it works.

“I know the capacity of these pumps and if you are pumping at full capacity (five

pumps), you will be burning almost 1200 gallons of fuel in the 24 hours at Black Bush Polder and about 600 gallons for 24 hours at Manarabisi, so it is quite a lot of fuel that has to be used”.

The REO and the Superintendent of Works who is stationed at Whim had insisted that there is enough money and there is enough fuel to last until the end of the year. They had anticipated that monies would be released in January to buy fuel so we can continue to pump water to the farmers. Knowing what he knows, Armogan said he spoke with the REO and the Works Superintendent and

tried to “make them understand” that funds are needed to purchase fuel but “they keep insisting that there is enough fuel to last”.

It was then that he made the decision to write President David Granger who “quickly responded to me,” he said.

A letter was sent from him to the Ministry of Finance and when the Ministry responded to assist “the REO and the Superintendent insisted that there were no additional needs to buy fuel” since what they had would last.

This decision, Armogan said, has now put the farmers in a difficult position because the fuel is limited, and the

Region 6 Chairman, David Armogan monies released by the Ministry of Finance has not been used to purchase more fuel.

The Chairman stated that he had another discussion with the REO and the Works Superintendent to explain to them that monies ($30 million) that he had requested from the President to help “would not even be adequate to run our pumps. So I don’t know how they are doing these calculations.”

“I do not understand how these pumps will be working but I gather that they believe that if you work two pumps at Black Bush and one at Manarabisi that would be enough for the farmers.

They do not understand the intricate details of the industry, I don’t think they have a good idea of what is happening in the rice sector, in fact I believe they have very limited knowledge of what is taking place in the rice sector,” he stressed.

Kaieteur News understands that the $30 million was released by the Ministry of Finance last year.

Armogan has said that he was under the impression that fuel would have been bought “towards the end of December or the first week in January” so that there would be enough fuel.

“Unfortunately, what has taken place is that they have waited until now when the fuel has almost run out of these pump stations. As I speak, only yesterday (Monday), they took in 500 gallons of fuel at Manarabisi and (yesterday), the Black Bush pumps will be cut off, they are operating two pumps which is inadequate to supply the roadside farmers with water,” Armogan said.

The Chairman is contending that fuel should be taken to the farmers in a timely manner because “you have to get water in time”. He stressed that the delays have cause major problems for rice farmers and is crippling the rice sector in the region.

“I don’t know if it’s a deliberate attempt to frustrate the rice industry or people do not understand what they are doing to ensure that the water keeps flowing into these different areas”, he said.

Armogan has said that the roadside farmers are those that are mostly affected presently and with them farming on almost 1800 acres, Black Bush Polder has about 1600 acres.

“Unless we get all these five pumps running almost immediately a lot of people will begin to lose their rice crop in the front land areas and that is a significant loss. If you know how farmers are operating from crop to crop because the money, they are making is not enough to take them for two-three years.

So, if they run into problems in one crop, they find difficulties with going back into the other crop,” he disclosed.

Armogan however, while empathizing with the farmers pointed out that although himself and the Vice Chairman are “in this position in the region, we do not control the money, the money is being controlled by the REO and she is taking advice from the Superintendent of works.”

He noted that when he tries to engage with Stephens she says to him that she has to consult with (the Superintendent) and when he engages with him he refers him to the REO. “So I am getting caught between this Superintendent responsible at Whim and who should be gauging as to how fuel should be diverted into these different areas. He is giving her advice and she is not listening to us.

“So as of now, if there is a crisis in the rice industry, the blame has to be put squarely at the feet of the REO and the Superintendent because they have mismanaged the system in such a way that even though the money was provided by the government they have failed to ensure that enough fuel are in those pumps so that we can pump continuously”.

He is pleading with farmers to understand that it is the REO that controls the “purse” and “she determines when money must be spent and how money must be spent”.

Armogan is of the belief that the two officials are putting farmers in a very difficult situation because of their “inefficiency”.

Wednesday January 15, 2020

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Kaieteur News

Life sentence for Grove man who fatally stabbed girlfriend 41 times

By Feona Morrison

S

hivanand Roopnarine, the Grove, East Bank Demerara man who stabbed his girlfriend 41 times, causing her death, was sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of becoming eligible for parole after 20 years.

Roopnarine, 26, appeared before Justice Sandil Kissoon when the January Demerara Criminal Assizes commenced yesterday. Roopnarine opted to plead guilty to a murder indictment which stated that on April 19, 2015, in the County of Demerara, he murdered 18-year-old Alicia McPherson.

Appearing for the State were Prosecutors Tiffini Lyken, Tuanna Hardy and Nafeeza Baig.

Prosecutor Lyken in presenting short facts told the court that Roopnarine, who was 22, when the killing occurred, was in a relationship with the young girl, a resident of Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

Prosecutor Lyken further told the court that on the day in question, McPherson, along with her friend, Lloyd

Mark, went to a party in Sophia. Roopnarine was also at the party.

According to the prosecutor, McPherson introduced Mark as a friend to her boyfriend. When confronted by her boyfriend about being sexually involved with Mark, McPherson denied. Shortly after, the prosecutor related that Roopnarine was seen pulling a black object from his pants. His girlfriend was later found lifeless near the toilet area at the party.

The young girl’s body bore 41 stab wound; her cause of death was given as shock and haemorrhage due to multiple stab wounds.

Roopnarine was captured some 12 months after the killing. Police were forced to issue a wanted bulletin for him.

Roopnarine’s lawyer, Siand Dhurjon, in a plea of mitigation told the court that his client is extremely remorseful for his actions. Not one day goes by that he does not miss his girlfriend.

Dhurjon said that at the time of the killing, his client was under the influence of alcohol.

Dhurjon is of the view that Roopnarine made a “big

MURDERED: 18-year-old Alicia McPherson mistake”, but is still deserving of a second chance.

Roopnarine, in his address to the court, rendered an apology to McPherson’s family members who were seated in the courtroom. They included the young girl’s mother and sister, who both could not hold back tears. A remorseful Roopnarine in speaking to the girl’s relatives said: “I am very sorry from the bottom of my heart; I am asking for forgiveness. I have

GPHC records laudable success...

From page 23 the health centres and the regional hospitals. The intent, Dr. Leon said, is “so that they can learn how to refer patients to us. Some doctors don’t know that they could refer the patients and generally the patients don’t know about the service [we offer]...

“Most of the time they have a referral for thoracic surgery, they are scared because they don’t know about it.”

Once patients are able to access treatment in a timely manner, their recovery is imminent. In fact, according to Dr. Leon, there has been quite a laudable success rate when it comes to thoracic surgery at the GPHC. The success rate, he explained, “depends on the pathologies; for example injuries to the heart. “We presented a paper last year in the Caribbean Conference of Surgeon (conference), and we have a successful survival rate of 75 percent.

“This means that for every four patients we see at the Georgetown Public Hospital with a stab wound to the heart or shot to the heart and they arrive alive, three will survive...”

A thoracic surgeon, either Dr. Mahadeo or Dr. Leon, is always on call at the GPHC. Speaking to the need for thoracic surgery here in Guyana, Dr. Leon said, “After a few months of running our

clinic we realised that a number of patients are coming every month to us...and we are doing five, six, seven complex surgeries per month.

“In total, we are treating 20 to 25 patients per month in Thoracic Surgery.”

In fact, according to Dr. Leon, “We usually have four, five new cases, plus 14 followups every week...Usually we book two, three [elective] surgeries every Thursday.”

Also the two doctors are expected to be prepared for just about any thoracic emergencies from across the country.

According to Dr. Leon, while in the first world 80 percent of thoracic surgery cases are linked to cancer, this has not been the case here in Guyana. The majority of thoracic cases, he quipped, are related to infectious diseases.

A few patients with tumours within their thoracic region are also seen at the GPHC. “In general, we are treating infectious problems of the lungs a lot, some amount of tumours...We perform the classical thoracic surgery and lung resection for lung cancer,” Dr. Leon informed.

Lung resection is a surgical procedure in which a section of a lung or the entire lung is removed in patients with a damaged or diseases lung.

The thoracic surgeons are

also able to treat patients with emphysema. Emphysema is a condition in which the air sacs of the lungs are damaged and enlarged, causing breathlessness.

The thoracic team at the GPHC is certainly poised to fully meet the thoracic needs of the nation. “We are opening the range of patients and now...we [are] treating, for example, patients with congenital lung disease...

“We did a surgery on a one month old, that wasn’t done before in Guyana, and [surgeries on] old patients who come in with infectious diseases,” Dr. Leon shared.

Thoracic procedures at the GPHC are done by using new techniques and technologies at the GPHC and at no cost to patients, he added.

Disciplinary Actions being...

From page 16 discussed among the relevant authorities within the Corporation.

All parties involved have since returned to work.

Late last year, the nurses expressed their concerns with the manner in which Alonzo usually treats junior members of staff. The allegations made on Facebook included accusations of Alonzo making derogatory remarks towards nurses and exercising an authoritative approach to them, including those who are pregnant and even unwell.

JAILED: Shivanand Roopnarine

changed my life; I am going to church.”

Roopnarine, who worked as a labourer, before he was incarcerated said that he is preparing to write the CXC exams.

State Prosecutor Lyken emphasized that Roopnarine committed a heinous crime.

McPherson’s mother, Denise, told the court that she misses her daughter every day.

She said that while her daughter’s death has affected her life badly, she is thankful that Roopnarine has accepted

responsibility. “Why you did that to my daughter? If there was a problem, why didn’t you come and complain to me?” a grieving Denise queried of

Roopnarine.

Justice Kissoon in imposing the custodial sentence reminded Roopnarine that he launched a brutal attack on someone he was in a relationship with. Though the Judge considered his early guilty plea and his expression of remorse, he pointed to several aggravating factors. For one, Justice Kissoon considered that McPherson was just a teenager when she met her untimely demise.

He also noted that a dangerous weapon was used to inflict the injuries on the young girl who a post mortem report revealed received over three dozen stab wounds.

The judge also took into consideration the degree of planning and premeditation.

He weighed these factors against Roopnarine’s good character, unblemished criminal record, and the length of time he spent in pretrial custody.

Most local lung cancer...

From page 14 treatment...and they have pleural effusion, they don’t live more than six months; survival is very low.”

According to Dr. Leon, even if persons stop smoking, their risk never goes down to that of the non-smoking population. Moreover, the thoracic surgeon emphasised that the best way to tackle lung cancer is through prevention.

“The best way to prevent lung cancer is to stop smoking,” he asserted.

PAGE 26

Wednesday January 15, 2020

Kaieteur News

Inniss to know fate soon

FOR RENT

VACANCY

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Daily Nation - Donville Inniss should know his fate by tomorrow as both the prosecution and the defence in his money laundering trial closed their cases yesterday.

The defence did not call any witnesses and Inniss did not take the stand.

There will be no sitting of the court today.

Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto informed the jury that tomorrow morning, both the prosecution and defence would give their final addresses, after which she will give them directions on the law and they will then retire to deliberate.

The trial entered its second day yesterday morning in the United States Eastern

District Court in Brooklyn, New York.

Inniss, a former Minister of Commerce and Industry, is charged with attempting to launder US$36,000 through the United States financial system.

American prosecutors allege it was a bribe paid to him between 2015 and 2016 by the Insurance Corporation of Barbados Ltd (ICBL) in exchange for helping the company secure insurance contracts.

Some present and former ICBL executives testified Monday before the 12-member jury as prosecutor Gerald Moody led the case before District Court judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto.

High Court Registrar strikes...

From page 13 by this publication, King said, “I attended the aforesaid Commission of Inquiry, under protest, since it was unlawfully appointed and in breach of the Local Government Commission Act (supra) Laws of Guyana. ”He argued that inadmissible hearsay evidence was acVACANCY Need a maid between the age of 42-48,must be from E.B.D call:671-2090 1 live-in domestic must know to cook. 25-45yrs $25,000 weekly. Tel#610-3974 Accounts clerk. Contact 2235273/ 223-5274 Driver/expeditor. Contact 2235273/ 223-5274 Immediate vacancies exist for male operators to work shifts @ Del Ice Co. Training provided. Call 642-9191, 2311408 Maid to work on the East Coast. Tel# 649-9359 Workers to work in Ice Factory Tel# 223-7165 Driver- must have sound secondary education, for more information. Please Call: 223-0090 Factory Workers- Must have sound secondary education, for more information. Please Call: 223-0090 Experience Goldsmith needed at Jacob’s Jewellery and Pawnshop. Address 16 Pike St, Kitty Georgetown.

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cepted and admitted in the CoI, which rendered his dismissal nugatory.

Among other things, King said that he was fired without being given a hearing by the LGC. He contended that the allegations leveled against him were criminal in nature, but unlike the universally unaccepted principle of equality, transparency and equity, the LGC acted as judge, jury and executioner in its own cause, as opposed to calling in the police and obtaining advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions, since state assets and monies were allegedly involved.

In an affidavit, King said that he began working at age 24 with the M&CC permanently and continuously from 1989, as an Environmental Health Assistant, up until he became Press Officer, then later Public Relations Officer, and finally Town Clerk at the time of his summary dismissal.

He added, “My last appointment in the municipality was on July 14, 2015 in the capacity of Town Clerk for the city of Georgetown.

While working in this capacity, many challenges would have confronted the Council and those which are relevant to my appointment.”

“I would devise all legal and lawful methods to discharge my functions earnestly, conscientiously and sincerely in the best interest of the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown.”

King, among other things, stated that since his unlawful dismissal, he was embarrassed, unemployed and deprived of his pension rights.

Further to this, he says that he is not a contracted employee and as such has a legitimate expectation to be treated fairly, equally and in conformity with Article 149A of the Constitution, otherwise his right to work will be violated.

Wednesday January 15, 2020

Don’t pay hiked late night fares- Minibus Union Head By: Anastacya Peters

P

resident of the United Minibus Union (UMU), Eon Andrews, is urging commuters to desist from paying the hiked fares that minibus operators would normally instill after 21:00hrs.

This comes after numerous reports and complaints were lodged at the union about some bus operators raising the fares to unusual prices at night.

In a recent interview, Mr. Andrews described such increase as a blatant and barefaced robbery being carried out on desperate and innocent road users trying to get home or to work.

Kaieteur News understands that drivers operating the 40, 41, 44 and 48 routes are accused of illegally hiking the regular bus fare during the night. This is widely criticised by commuters, especially those working the night shifts.

According to reports, commuters are complaining that before entering a bus they are being ordered by some minibus operators that they have to pay as much as an additional $100.

After 21:00hrs is usually described as the time when the minibus parks are crowded with passengers and knowing this, the operators jack up the fares.

Mr. Andrews is pleading with commuters not to fall prey to these bus operators and pay the extra fare. However, as the right thing to do, he is telling persons to document the registration number and the route of the minibus charging the higher fare and report the matter to the nearest police station or to the United Minibus Union (UMU) head office.

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Picture showing persons boarding minibuses at the bus park He also stated that there may be a need for other organisations to be involved, so that they will be some sort of price control to combat drivers from overcharging passengers.

“We have to get persons who can manage such issues and even arrest drivers found doing such; because on many instances the increases are

demanded from passengers and is usually followed by threats.”

When asked if the minibus operators had anything to say about the illegal hike in fares, Mr. Andrewss stated that the explanation reaching the union was that it is largely based on greed.

“The explanation is that a lot of minibuses would usu-

UMU Head, Eon Andrews

ally work in the day time and in order to make up for any losses during that time, the operators work during the peak hours and increase the fares.

This illegal hike in fares occurs despite the implementation of a new fare structure that was approved by the ministry of business in August 2018.

Fight between two woman leaves one blind

A fight between two women last year had left one blinded in one eye and the other before the court to answer to a wounding charge.

Charged is 29-year-old Shelly Allicock, a hairdresser of 23 Hill Street, Albouystown, who was arraigned on Monday, before Acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus, in the Georgetown Magistrates Courts.

Allicock is being represented by attorney-at-law Patrice Henry, who said that his client is a mother of four.

He then proceeded to make an application for Allicock to be released on a reasonable amount of bail.

The defendant denied the charge which stated that on September 25, 2019, at Hill Street, Albouystown, she unlawfully and maliciously wounded Cassie Blair, with intent to maim disable, disfigure or cause grievous bodily harm.

Police prosecutor Quinn Harris, made no objection to bail being granted to the defendant, but asked that both Allicock and Blair be placed on a keep-the-peace bond until the completion of the

Charged: Shelly Allicock being escorted from the courtroom matter.

The virtual complainant then told the court that since the fight with the defendant, the injuries she received had left her unable to see from her left eye, which is still swollen.

Acting Chief Magistrate Marcus adjourned the matter to February 10, 2020, and granted the defendant bail in the sum of $100,000.

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Wednesday January 15, 2020

Abu Dhabi approves US$8M loan from Abu Dhabi for 5.2Mw hinterland solar project Guyana is to build a 5.2 megawatt grid-connected solar system for the hinterlands, via a loan from Abu Dhabi.According to the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), they have selected a number of renewable energy projects in some countries, including in Guyana.Liberia and Togo have been also approved for funding by ADFD, a statement over the weekend said.”With ADFD committing US$350 million over seven funding cycles to the IRENA/ ADFD Project Facility since 2013, today’s announcement, during the Ninth Session of the IRENA Assembly, brings cumulative funding to date to US$245 million. The facility helps developing countries access low-cost capital for renewable energy projects to increase energy access, improve livelihoods and advance sustainable development.”The statement explained that the project in the hinterland regions is to reduce fossil fuel consumption and increase the reliability of electricity supply.

“An estimated 34,700 people in the target areas will

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson (r) during the Abu Dhabi conference a few months ago. benefit and around 120 direct and indirect jobs are set to be created throughout the project lifecycle.”

According to the fund, the projects selected this year will contribute towards meeting national energy access targets and will transform lives for the better.

IRENA Director-General Adnan Z. Amin said the projects “will take advantage of cost-effective renewable energy to help reduce poverty, enable incomegenerating activities, and

provide electricity to healthcare facilities and educational institutions, which will create jobs, empower women, and strengthen local communities.”

Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of ADFD, said: “We are proud of our result-oriented facility that has supported replicable, scalable and potentially transformative renewable energy projects set to benefit communities and improve their living conditions.

“Today, at the Ninth Session of the IRENA Assembly, we are pleased to have selected truly impactful projects valued at US$31 million for the sixth cycle of financing awarded by the Facility. Taking into account this cycle’s recipients, our cumulative expenditure to date is US$245 million, and we look forward to allocating the remaining US$105 million to awardees of the seventh cycle.”

In Liberia, the loan of US$8 million will contribute to the construction of a 2.1 MW run-of-river hydropower plant on the Gee River.

The project will benefit over 30,000 people through providing a clean, reliable and affordable source of energy to households, schools, health facilities and small businesses, enhancing living conditions and helping to reduce poverty.

In Togo, a 30 MW gridconnected solar PV plant will be constructed with the investment of a US$15 million loan. The project aims to bring clean, reliable power to around 700,000 households and small businesses and

reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 9,242 tonnes/ year. Local communities will benefit from greater access to

drinking water, education and healthcare as well as job creation that prioritises women.

Woman kills man who had eyes for her friend A 44-year-old East La Penitence resident is now dead after he was stabbed to the region of his heart on Monday about 03:40 hrs.

Dead is Richard Fresco, also called “Foots” of 23 East La Penitence, Georgetown.

The incident reportedly occurred at lot 65 Cross Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown between Hadfield and Leopold Streets.

Police reports say the dead man was stabbed by an unidentified male following an argument over money.

It was said that Fresco and the unidentified male were heard having a heated argument over money followed by a loud banging on a nearby zinc fence.

According to police, the victim was found lying next to the said fence and was reportedly later removed by

Dead: Richard Fresco also called “Foots” persons unknown and placed on the eastern cross street with what appeared to be a stab wound to his upper right chest.However, the man’s relatives relayed a different story as to how ‘Foots’ met his demise. According to the man’s sister, her brother was stabbed by a woman only known as ‘Susan’ for allegedly hustling her female partner.

Kaieteur News was told that the deceased visited the female partner’s home on multiple occasions much to the annoyance of Susan. The woman reportedly banned him from the yard but he continued to pursue her partner.

It was said that the man went to the woman’s home and again began harassing her on the night in question and it was there that Susan allegedly stabbed him once.

The body is currently at the Lyken’s Funeral Parlour awaiting a post-mortem examination. Investigations are still ongoing.

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City Hall ‘open day’ successful – Mayor Narine scores of residents take advantage of the initiative

His Worship Ubraj Narine and Acting Town Clerk Sherry Gerrick, assisting a resident.

To ensure the concerns of residents of Georgetown are addressed properly and promptly, the Mayor and City Council facilitated its first ‘open day’ yesterday.

Held in the compound of the municipality, residents from several communities across the Capital city took advantage of the initiative.

Notwithstanding the inclement weather, the scores benefited from an interfaith service which preceded the day’s activity.

Mayor of Georgetown, His Worship Ubraj Narine,

said that while there were numerous complaints raised by those attending the event, the majority of the issues were immediately addressed.

He said most of the concerns were focused around the Newtown area. “Those raised were about drainage and lights.

Another worry highlighted to the council is about rates and taxes… These people are seeing the development and the progress we are making and so they came today also to compliment us as well,” Pandit Narine re-

vealed.

The City Mayor also used the platform to call on all staffers at City Hall to continue working in the best interest of the citizenry.

“We need to return standards, principle and honesty to the organisation. These criteria are what our President David Granger makes his priority,” he stated.

Working alongside Mayor Narine was Deputy Mayor of Georgetown Alfred Mentore, Acting Town Clerk Sherry Gerrick, and other departmental heads. (DPI)

Berbice River man on trial for 2015 murder of Jamaican national A man who is accused of killing a Jamaican national during April 2015, up the Berbice River, is on trial for murder.

Quacy Walker, of Kimbia, Berbice River, is on trial before Justice Simone Ramlall in the Berbice High Court. He is accused of killing Michael Dillon, a Jamaican national, on April 27, 2015 at Kimbia Creek, Berbice River.

Attorney-at-law Seeta Bishundial is presenting the state’s case while attorney-at-law Charlene Artiga is representing the accused.

The state’s case is that the men were friends and were farmers together in the Kimbia area. The deceased reportedly cultivated marijuana and a kitchen garden.

Dillon was reportedly killed following a robbery. Dillon’s body was found days after he was killed at his camp. He was facing upwards, dressed in a pair of shorts, and his chest had a lot of holes, which appeared to be gunshots. When his body was found, it was badly decomposed and was buried in a shallow grave.

The accused along with some others were reportedly seen leaving the area in a boat. He along with others were arrested and taken into custody.

Testifying so far is Toshao Ecliffe Lindie of Kimbia Village. He found the body and arrested the accused and others and held them in custody until the police arrived. Detective

Murder accused Quacy Walker Assistant Superintendent Orin Cameron told the court that he led a party of policemen to the scene of the murder at Itcholoko Creek. A marijuana farm with plants measuring two to six feet in height were found and destroyed.

Also testifying so far were firearm and ammunition expert Corporal Floyd Hosanna and police photographer and Crime Scene Examiner Sergeant Leon George.

The matter is continuing.

Indigenous Company Brings January Cheers to Senior Citizens Mr. Dorwain Bess, CEO of SFB Petroleum presents one of the hampers to a senior citizen.

A number of senior citizens from the Belladrum community were brought good cheers Sunday last, compliments of SBF Petroleum.

SBF Petroleum is a Guyanese-owned business, under the directorship of Dorwain Bess, a native of Belladrum.

SBF Petroleum is involved in the bulk sale and retail of petroleum products.

With its main office in Georgetown, the company has bulk terminal facilities at Friendship, East Bank Demerara as well as at Christianburg, Linden, together with filling stations at Crane and Meten-Meer-Zorg,

West Coast Demerara.

Director and Chief Executive Officer of SBF, Mr. Dorwain Bess, said that it is part of the plan of management to give back to the community by bringing cheers to senior citizens. At present, the company is targeting 300 seniors. So it has delivered a hamper each and $5,000 to seniors in Linden. Having covered Belladrum, the plan, accordingto the CEO, is to be in the West Ruimveldt area shortly.

According to Mr. Bess, he was quite moved by the response of the seniors, and the company will be seeking to make it even better next time

around.

The original plan was to do the distribution in December, but the company was forced to make some adjustments which pushed the event to this month.

The seniors were loud in praise to Mr. Bess, and they all expressed the hope of receiving similar treat next year.

The businessman has indicated that he is currently examining the possibility of investing in the Belladrum district whereby the community and its environs may benefit from the services provided while at the same time providing employment opportunities for others.

Wednesday January 15, 2020

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Guyanese immigrant was left on street to rape, murder Queens woman, 92 ICE blames NYC sanctuary policy…

The NYPD ignored a federal request to surrender an illegal Guyanese alien busted for assaulting his father, leaving the twisted suspect free to rape and kill a beloved 92-year-old Queens woman six weeks later, federal officials charged Tuesday.

Accused murderer, Reeaz Khan, 21, remains jailed on Rikers Island in last weeks savage and deadly assault on Maria Fuertes as the helpless old woman scavenged for returnable bottles and cans to collect a few extra dollars.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials say they targeted Khan following the November attack on his dad with a broken coffee cup, only to get the cold shoulder because of the citys sanctuary policies.

“Clearly the politicians care more about criminal illegal aliens than the citizens, they are elected to serve and protect,” said Thomas Decker, field office director for ICEs enforcement and removal operations.

“It was a deadly choice to release a man on an active ICE detainer back on the streets, and now he faces new charges, including murder.”

Khan was arrested on November 27, last, by the NYPD for assault and criminal possession of a weapon after he went after his father with the ceramic mug, cutting his dad in the chest and the arm.

ICE officials quickly filed a detainer with city officials, asking for the surrender of the suspect for possible deportation.But Khan was instead arraigned and released, leaving him on the snow-covered streets of Queens at the same time that Fuertes was walking through Richmond Hills shortly after midnight on January 6.

His own brother called police to identify Reeaz as the suspect after a video of the horrifying incident was released by police.

The sobbing, sniffling suspect denied any part in the elderly womans death during an exclusive Rikers Island interview with the Daily News.

“Im crying about this too,” said the suspect in the heinous crimes. “I had a grandma that I took care of.

Id wipe her eyes, carry her, and take her to doctors appointments. I would never hurt an elderly woman.”

Decker said his agency filed a second detainer with the NYPD in hopes of taking Khan into custody following the murder arrest, adding that the suspect was an “unlawfully present Guyanese national” while taking a shot at city policy.

New Yorks sanctuary status “repeatedly protects criminal aliens who show little regard for the laws of this nation,” said Decker.

Maria Fuertes was strangled to death outside her Queens home. (Obtained by Daily News)

Reeaz Khan, 21, was arrested and charged with the death of Maria Fuertes, 92, on Friday after his brother called the cops and ratted him out.

(Gardiner Anderson/for New York Daily News)

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WNBA reaches tentative eight- MCC in favour of retaining five-day Test cricket year labour deal with players (Reuters) - The Women’s National Basketball Association and its players’ union yesterday said they reached a tentative eightyear labour deal that for the first time will see the average annual compensation for players hit six figures.

The agreement, which commences with the 2020 season and runs through 2027, will see players earn an average of $130,000 and allow women to collect a full salary while on maternity leave.

Under the new agreement, which runs

through 2027, the WNBA’s top players will be able to earn more than $500,000, which more than triples the existing maximum compensation.

Under the new deal, players with children will be provided with twobedroom apartments as well as comfortable, safe and private place at work for nursing.

The deal even includes improvements to travel, which means players will receive premium economy airline tickets and individual hotel rooms for road games.

The WNBA will also work with affiliated leagues, teams and sponsors to provide off-season job opportunities designed to prepare players for their post-playing careers, and will advance diversity in coaching initiatives for veteran players.

“I am pleased that this agreement gua r a n t e e s substantial increases in compensation and progressive benefits for the women of the WNBA,” WNBA C o m m i s s i o ner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement.

Wednesday January 15, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) The world is wide open to you today, so take advantage of all the great things it has to offer. Even though you may not realize it, you have a loyal fan club developing in the wings.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Today is your day to shine, Taurus, so give it your all. Be sure that you get the credit you deserve for all you do.

Try not to fall into self-pity.

Be yourself and people will naturally follow your lead.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Today is a day of contrasts, Gemini. Eat chocolate in the morning and go jogging in the afternoon. Sleep in late and go to bed early. It's also a day of grounding.

CANCER(June21–July22) The day doesn't begin until you clear your head and take stock of some pending personal issues, Cancer. You might be making mountains out of molehills.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Today you might feel especially creative and intellectually inspired, Leo. You could discuss your ideas with others. The process of communication could open up new doors in your mind VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) A close friend or member of your household could be having money problems, Virgo, and might want to draw upon your business sense in order to make sense of the situation and find ways to put it right.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Heightened intuition could lead to some interesting conversations. Others could be blown away by your insights into their thoughts, feelings, and desires.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) - Your intuition and inspiration could enhance your artistic talents. A powerful drive to express the stories, pictures, or music in your mind could result in your spending as much of the day as you can jotting down your thoughts and ideas.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Your mind is sharp as a tack today, Sagittarius. There's a great deal of power behind your thoughts, so use it wisely. Take this energy to work and see how much you can accomplish.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Inspiration is the key for today, Capricorn. You may feel highly motivated to move on with what others consider impossible. Impossibility has never stopped you before, and you aren't likely to let it stop you now.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) An increased understanding of different cultures as well as curiosity about the people who live there might spur you to learn more about those places.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) There's a powerful force urging you to act today. Someone may be working counter to your aims and trying to rub you the wrong way.

AFP - The influential Marylebone Cricket Club has thrown its weight behind fiveday Test cricket as debate swirls over the future of the longest form of the game.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) will in the coming months discuss a proposal to reduce Tests to four days as part of structuring the global calendar beyond 2023.

But the latest proposal, part of an effort to tackle the crowded international cricket schedule and save on costs, has divided players and fans, many of whom consider Tests the gold standard.

The ICC allowed four-day Tests in 2017 and they have been tried in one-off games between South Africa and Zimbabwe and England against Ireland.

But they are not allowed in the Test world championship, which is currently led by Virat Kohli’s India.

The MCC Cricket Committee and MCC World Cricket Committee both believe Test cricket should continue to be played over five days.

“MCC has noted the recent discussion regarding the future of Test cricket and the ICC’s desire to debate the introduction of four-day Test cricket to replace the current five-day format in the World Test Championship from 2023.

“The MCC Cricket committee and MCC World Cricket committee have recently discussed the issue and although they can see some benefits that four-day Test cricket could bring, both committees believe that Test cricket should continue to be played over five days.”

The MCC, founded in 1787 and based at its ground Lord’s in London, is the custodian of the laws of the game.

The body of Basil Butcher...

From page 39 was the cricket coach for MSC after being appointed by the Bauxite Industry DEMBA in 1965, while still a member of the West Indies team. He eventually took up residence with his family in the mining town where he played for MSC until the early 1980s.

Butcher was also instrumental in the making of Mashramani for Guyana’s Republic celebrations in 1970 along with the Mackenzie Jaycees. The same year he was named as one of Wisden’s Cricketers of the Year.

India captain Virat Kohli says Test cricket should be played over five days. (AFP/File/Dibyangshu Sarkar) Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations executive chairman Tony Irish last week

stressed there was “currently a lot of negative sentiment” concerning the four-day proposal.

Kaieteur News

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Wednesday January 15, 2020

NBA roundup: Gilgeous-Alexander notches historic triple-double

S

hai GilgeousA l e x a n d e r produced his first career tripledouble, finishing with 20 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 117-104 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night in Minneapolis.

Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder ’s second-year guard, hadn’t pulled down more than 10 rebounds in any of his first 121 career games.

At age 21 and 185 days, he is the youngest player ever with 20 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists in a game (topping a mark held

by Maurice Stokes since 1956), and he is the youngest with a 20-rebound tripledouble (breaking a mark set

by Shaquille O’Neal in 1993).

Danilo Gallinari led Oklahoma City with a season-high 30 points. The Thunder posted their 12th win in 15 games, while the Timberwolves fell for the third time in four games.

Rookie center Naz Reid scored a season-high 20 points off the bench to lead the Timberwolves.

M i n n e s o t a ’s R o b e r t Covington added 18 points.

Los Angeles Lakers 128 Cleveland Cavaliers 99 Avery Bradley ignited a third-quarter run with a 3pointer as host Los Angeles, after trailing the entire first half, blew past Cleveland for its ninth straight win.

LeBron James scored a game-high 31 points while Dwight Howard recorded 21

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Shabazz Napier (13) chase a loose ball in the third quarter at Target Center. (Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports) points and 15 rebounds off the bench as the Lakers snapped Cleveland’s twogame winning streak.

Kevin Love (21 points, 11 rebounds) and Tristan Thompson (17 points, 10 rebounds) had doubledoubles for the Cavaliers, who had opened a six-game trip with victories at Detroit and Denver.

Boston Celtics 113 Chicago Bulls 101 Jayson Tatum scored 21 points and Jaylen Brown chipped in 19 to lead host Boston past Chicago for its second straight victory following a three-game losing streak.

Chicago sputtered to its seventh loss in eight games despite a game-high 30 points from Zach LaVine.

Thaddeus Young scored 17

points for Chicago, while Tomas Satoransky (12) and Daniel Gafford (10) also produced double-figure totals.

Enes Kanter (15 points), Kemba Walker (14), Marcus Smart (12) and Grant Wi l l i a m s ( 11 ) p o s t e d double-figure scoring totals for the Celtics. Kanter grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.

Orlando Magic 114 Sacramento Kings 112 Nikola Vucevic scored 26 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, and Aaron Gordon added 19 points, including a three-point play with 1.1

seconds remaining, as Orlando pulled out a victory at Sacramento.

Evan Fournier scored 25 points and Markelle Fultz added 16 as the Magic earned the victory in a game between teams struggling with injuries. Gordon (calf) and D.J. Augustin (knee) each played after missing Orlando’s Friday loss at Phoenix.

Nemanja Bjelica scored a career-high 34 points and De’Aaron Fox added 31 for the Kings.

New Orleans Pelicans 117 - Detroit Pistons 110 (OT) Little-used Jahlil Okafor

had 25 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and three blocks as short-handed New Orleans handed host Detroit its third straight loss.

The Pelicans were missing three starters, including leading scorer and power forward Brandon Ingram (right knee soreness). Derrick Favors (right hamstring strain) and Jrue Holiday (left elbow contusion) were also sidelined. Detroit has been playing without three of its projected starters in recent weeks.

Nicolo Melli had 20 points and Lonzo Ball supplied 17 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists but also committed seven turnovers for New Orleans.

Derrick Rose led Detroit with 23 points and eight assists while Christian Wood supplied 18 points and nine rebounds.

Indiana Pacers 101 Philadelphia 76ers 95 Malcolm Brogdon scored 21 points in his return from a sore back and strep throat as Indiana posted a victory over Philadelphia in Indianapolis.

T.J. Warren also tallied 21 points, and Domantas Sabonis collected 10 points and 16 rebounds for the Pacers, who improved to 165 at home this season. Myles Turner and Justin Holiday each had 14 points for Indiana, which overcame an

11-point deficit in the third quarter to post its third win in the past four games.

P h i l a d e l p h i a ’s B e n Simmons scored 20 of his 24 points in the first half and finished with 14 rebounds for the game. Eastern Conference Player of the Week Josh Richardson scored 17 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter for the 76ers, who have lost six of eight overall and six in a row on the road.

Portland Trail Blazers 115 - Charlotte Hornets 112 Damian Lillard recorded 30 points and nine assists as Portland posted a victory over visiting Charlotte.

CJ McCollum added 27 points and Carmelo Anthony notched 17 as the Trail Blazers won for just the third time in the past 11 games.

Anthony Tolliver came off the bench to score 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting while also collecting 11 rebounds.

Devonte’ Graham made eight 3-pointers and had 27 points and 10 assists for the Hornets, who have lost five straight games and 11 of their past 13.

Terry Rozier registered 25 points and seven rebounds, P.J. Washington added 20 points and 11 rebounds for Charlotte, which lost its 12th straight game in Portland since last winning there on March 29, 2008.

(Field Level Media)

CWI completes first medical conference for a decade

S

T JOHN’S, Antigua- Cricket West Indies (CWI) in collaboration with UNICEF concluded the organization’s first medical conference in 10 years in December 2019.

This is the second major development initiative brought back by the Cricket department led by Director of Cricket Jimmy Adams under the Skerritt-Shallow administration, following last month’s appointment of Chris Brabazon as Coach Education Manager.

Persons in attendance included a range of professions from physicians, physiotherapists, strength and conditioning coaches, sports psychologists and sports nutritionists.

Specifically under the leadership of Dr. Oba Gulston, CWI Manager

Sports Medicine and Science, this medical conference coincided with the adoption of the new CWI fitness policy, which has the mantra of putting players first.

“At CWI, we have been placing increased emphasis on players fitness and health and this medical conference was an important development as we continue to drive the philosophy of putting players and cricket first,’’ said Gulston. “Every sporting body and cricketing nation will have meetings like this annually or biennial, where updates on policies, new science and standardization of practices are discussed because it is also crucial to receive feedback from practitioners.

He continued: “With the adoption of the new fitness policy the Board of Directors

also approved the central contracting of full time physios and Sports Science coaches for each franchise.

This is new for CWI and brings us in line with best practice around the world.

This conference brought together Science and Medicine professions who are currently involved in cricket and should form the base for these full time positions, providing an opportunity to update them on CWI policies, updates in cricket science whilst introducing them to each other and CWI’s medical Committee.”

The majority of this CWI medical conference was funded by UNICEF and they were instrumental in the child protection workshops, although it was not intertwined with all coaching education, science

and medicine education aspects. This is crucial because anyone in the CWI system who will be exposed to minors or persons with disabilities should be exposed to these workshops.

Director of Cricket Jimmy Adams further added: “This event was critical for CWI to achieve its objective of aligning all our medical, physical and mental support provided to our players across the region. CWI has, for years, needed to have our regional practitioners involved in standardized processes and protocols regarding our players, and conferences like this will go a long way to ensuring this is achieved. CWI is extremely grateful for the support that UNICEF provided to make the event possible as we seek to foster even stronger ties with them going forward.”

Wednesday January 15, 2020

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Britain bans betting on credit cards to fight gambling addiction

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O N D O N (Reuters) Britons will no longer be able to use credit cards to place bets under the latest move by the government to tackle problem gambling, hurting the owner of PaddyPower Betfair and its takeover partner Canada’s Stars Group.

Less than a year after Britain slashed the maximum stake that can be placed on popular fixedodds betting terminals, it said yesterday it would ban the country’s 24 million gamblers from using credit cards to bet online or offline to rack up debt.

According to trade body UK Finance, around 800,000 Britons use credit cards to gamble. The Gambling Commission believes a quarter of those are problem gamblers - people who are

addicted to gambling to try to win back their losses.

Shares of betting companies including 888 Holdings, Flutter Entertainment, the owner of Paddy Power Betfair and Wi l l i a m H i l l d r o p p e d between 0.9% and 2.5%.

Culture Minister Helen Whately said there was clear evidence of harm from consumers betting with money they don’t have.

“We will not hesitate to take any further action necessary to protect people from gambling harm,” she said in a statement.

Britain has a thriving g a m b l i n g i n d u s t r y. I t employs more than 100,000 people and made 14.4 billion pounds after paying out winnings in the 2018-2019 financial year.

But the government has sought to tighten rules in recent years by capping the

maximum stake on terminals, bringing in stricter age and identity checks for online gambling and expanding support for those who become addicted.

The new ban will come into effect on April 14 and apply to all online and offline gambling products apart f r o m o v e r- t h e - c o u n t e r lottery tickets.

The move would likely hurt Flutter Entertainment the most - it will have under just a third of the UK online gambling and gaming market once it buys Torontolisted Poker Stars operator Stars Group Inc (TSG), according to data from H2 Gambling Capital.

The online industry was worth an estimated 4.4 billion pounds in revenue in 2018, according to H2.

Davy Research analysts though said the ban would likely lead to a low single

South Africa seek lucky break with series poised

South Africa’s Faf du Plessis ducks a bouncer off the bowling of England’s Jofra Archer. (REUTERS/Rogan Ward) PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa (Reuters) South Africa captain Faf du Plessis will hope to finally win a toss that could be more crucial than most when his side host England in the third test of their four-match series starting tomorrow.

The wicket in Port Elizabeth is expected to take spin and reverse swing late in the game, which will make chasing even a modest target tricky with the teams locked at 1-1 after two games.

South Africa have lost five tosses in a row and 11 of the previous 16. Although they batted for 137 overs in the second innings of their 189-run second test loss at Newlands they will want to leave England facing the deteriorating wicket in Port Elizabeth.

Du Plessis feels their battling display as the shadows lengthened at Newlands will give his team confidence.

“Sometimes you will still lose by improving and that was the case for me. As a batting unit, we can take confidence from seeing guys like Pieter Malan and the way he played,” Du Plessis told reporters.

“There were some real good signs from a batting point of view.”

England will probably stick with specialist spinner Dom Bess after his fine display of control in Cape Town, but must find a replacement for experienced fast bowler James Anderson.

Jofra Archer, who missed the second test at Newlands with an elbow injury, will be

in contention, but Mark Wood could also be recalled to the test side for the first time since February.

“If you look at the data, spin tends to play a bit more of a part here than the other grounds,” England assistant coach Paul Collingwood said.

“But we’ll gauge it.

These pitches change so quickly over 24 hours. We’ll have a good look on Wednesday and see which combination is best to take 20 wickets.”

St George’s Park is a result ground, with 25 of the previous 30 tests at the venue having produced a winner.

England have a good record with only one defeat in nine previous visits, back in 1957. They have won five of those games.

A man is seen through a misty bus window passing a Betfred betting shop in London, Britain, December 8, 2018. (REUTERS/Kevin Coombs/File Photo) digit percentage drop in related revenues.

“The latest in a recent series of more onerous regulatory changes, it also acts as a further reminder that the UK opportunity is no

longer what it once was,” it said in a note to clients.

“However, it remains a very large, (still) growing and highly cash generative market for online gaming operators.”

Britons had a total of 72.1 billion pounds outstanding on credit cards in November, according to Bank of England data, down a little from a record 72.9 billion pounds struck in May.

Breathless Tomic eliminated in first round of Australian Open qualifiers (Reuters) - Australia’s one-time child prodigy B e r n a r d To m i c w a s eliminated in the first round of the Australian Open qualifiers in Melbourne yesterday, saying he couldn’t breathe because of bushfire smoke hanging over Melbourne Park.

The 27-year-old, who has earned over $6 million in prize money but seen his ranking plummet to 183 in the last two years, lost 7-6(4) 6-3 to American Denis Kudla.

Tomic first questioned the chair umpire about the regulations concerning match conditions when trailing 5-4 in the first set and

then took a medical timeout while trailing 1-2 in the second, where a doctor cleared him to resume playing.

“No air’s going in, I’m getting tired so easy,” Tomic told the trainer and doctor during the timeout. “It’s not like I’m the fittest guy... I just can’t breathe.”

No stranger to controversy, Tomic - who did not receive a wildcard for the year’s first Grand Slam simply appeared to stop running for points as Kudla wrapped up the encounter in 68 minutes.

Tomic, a rising star in the junior circuit who won the 2008 Australian Open boy’s

Australia’s Bernard Tomic in action during the match against Croatia’s Marin Cilic.

(REUTERS/Aly Song)

singles crown, once saved five match points as a 15year-old in the first round of the men’s qualifiers.

He was fined 45,000 pounds ($58,455) last year at Wimbledon for not playing to “required professional standards” when he lost in straight sets to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in a 58-minute first round match.

Tomic was not the only player to struggle with bushfire smoke though.

Slovenia’s Dalila Jakupovic collapsed in a coughing fit and retired from qualifying after smoke plunged Melbourne’s air quality to “hazardous” levels. ($1 = 0.7698 pounds)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 36

Wednesday January 15, 2020

Bangladesh to play two Tests in Pakistan A

FP - Pakistan yesterday announced Bangladesh will visit for three Twenty20s, a one-day international and two Tests across three trips, starting later this month.

The decision came two days after Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) initially refused to play Te s t s , s a y i n g t h e i r government had only allowed them to undertake a short tour of Pakistan for Twenty20 matches only.

But Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) offered Bangladesh a new proposal in a meeting held in Dubai on Tuesday to finalise the tour.

PCB said the agreement was facilitated by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

“PCB officials today reached consensus with the BCB on the upcoming series and the process was facilitated by the ICC chairman Shashank Manohar in Dubai,” a PCB statement said.

Bangladesh will play three T20Is in Lahore from 24-27 January before

returning to Pakistan for the first Test from 7-11 February in Rawalpindi.

They will visit again to play an ODI in Karachi on 3 April and the second Test from 5-9 April.

Both Tests are part of ICC World Test Championship, competed in by the world’s top nine teams.

PCB chairman Ehsan Mani said he was satisfied the matter was solved after a deadlock.

“I am pleased that we have amicably achieved a resolution that is in the best interest of this great sport as well as both the proud cricket playing countries,” Mani is quoted in the release.

BCB President Nazmul Hassan was also happy at reaching a consensus on the series.

“I must thank the PCB for understanding our position,” Hassan said in a statement.

“We are pleased that a mutually acceptable resolution has been reached and this is a prime example our sincere efforts at

Sri Lanka toured Pakistan last year. (AFP/File/Arif Ali)

respecting the ICC FTP commitments,” Hassan said.

International cricket has gradually returned to Pakistan in the last four years after it was suspended in the wake of terrorist

attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009.

Teams refused to tour over security fears, forcing Pakistan to play at neutral venues of United Arab

Emirates between 2010 to last year.

Pakistan hosted various limited overs series and matches of their Twenty20 league between 2015-19 before hosting two Tests

against Sri Lanka in December last year.

Since the two Tests against Sri Lanka, PCB had taken a strong stance of playing all its home matches in Pakistan.

Barty scrapes through for American teen Gauff aiming for much-needed win in Adelaide magical time at Australian Open Australia’s Ashleigh Barty in action during the final against Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina.

(REUTERS/Aly Song)

M

ELBOURNE (Reuters) World number one Ash Barty was staring at a second consecutive first-round exit from Australian Open warmup events yesterday before grinding out a 4-6 6-3 7-5 win over Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova at the Adelaide International.

Beaten by American Jennifer Brady in her Brisbane International opener last week, the Australian arrived at Memorial Drive looking to build confidence ahead of the season’s opening Grand Slam but was quickly on the back foot.

The 23-year-old dropped the opening set to Pavlyuchenkova before winning the second and storming to a 5-2 lead in the third, only to let the Russian claw back to 5-5.

Barty regained her composure, however,

and broke Pavlyuchenkova before closing out a the match in steamy conditions.

“I definitely was able to find a bit more of my kind of style tennis and control the match a little bit more in the third,” Barty told reporters.

“Credit to Anastasia ... We’ve always had very close ones. She pretty much controls the whole match. I’m just out here trying to do the best that I can.”

The Australian will meet the winner of the match between compatriot and qualifier Arina Rodionova and eighth seed Marketa Vondrousova, who lost to Barty in the final of last year’s French Open.

Rodionova, ranked world number 201, sprung the upset of the day by tipping former U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens out of the tournament 6-2 6-2 on center court.

M E L B O U R N E (Reuters) - A little magic may help Coco Gauff go a long way in next week’s Australian Open main draw, with the American teenager entering her first Grand Slam tournament solely on her own merits.

Gauff arrived in Melbourne on Monday after playing in Auckland with a world ranking of 66 and eligible for the main draw at Melbourne Park.

Her only other appearance at Melbourne was in the junior tournament in 2018.

“I’m really excited,” said Gauff, who was involved in a promotional event on Tuesday with actors from the Melbourne-production of ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which is based on J.K. Rowling’s fantasy books about a boy wizard.

“This is my first slam getting into the main draw without getting a wildcard or qualifying.

“I haven’t been back in Melbourne since I was 13 when I played juniors so I’m really excited to play on the big stage.”

The 15-year-old put her

Cori Gauff of the U.S. in action during her fourth round match against Romania’s Simona Halep at Wimbledon. (REUTERS/Tony O’Brien) first foot on the big stage last year when she stunned the tennis world by advancing out of qualifying to beat seven-times Grand Slam winner Venus Williams in the first round at Wimbledon.

Eventual champion Simona Halep, however, ended Gauff’s dream run in the fourth round.

Based on that performance, Gauff received a wildcard into the U.S. Open, where she advanced to the third round and then won her first WTA Tour title in Austria, beating 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in the final.

The American is the

youngest player with direct entry into the main draw at Melbourne Park.

Organizers hoped to tap into the appeal of teenagers like Gauff and compatriot Amanda Anisimova, by naming the second Monday of the tournament on Jan. 27 as ‘Harry Potter day’ to try and attract families and younger fans.

“This is a first for the Australian Open,” AO’s Richard Heaselgrave said in announcing the promotion, which will encourage families and children to dress as Harry Potter characters on the day.

The Australian Open runs from Jan. 20 to Feb. 2.

Kaieteur News

Wednesday January 15, 2020

PAGE 37

Samaroo is best batsman; Joseph takes best bowler prize at Ogle CC awards A

ndrew Samaroo a n d Ay o d h a Joseph took the best batsman and bowler accolades when the Ogle Cricket Club held its annual awards ceremony on Sunday last.

The ceremony, which was also held to commemorate the club’s 85th anniversary, saw a number of promising young cricketers receiving awards for their efforts throughout the year.

Samaroo, a former national U15 player scored 939 runs from 24 innings at an average of 44.7, with his best being 158 versus Strathavon; he also notched up seven half centuries.

Khemchandra Dindyal took the runner up spot in this category with 254 runs followed by Michael Deonarine on 242 runs.

Rudranauth Kissoon who scored 101 against Strathavon and Shivanand Gobin were rewarded for their all-round performances.

Joseph grabbed 33 wickets from 13 innings including a best of 4-7 with an economy rate of 3.8.

Kissoon placed second in this category with 24 wickets while Dambuka Ngqondo was third with 21 wickets.

Ngqondo (7-24 vs Lusignan), Dion Thomas (520 vs Transport SC), Ajay Gainda (5-23 vs Demerara) and Shankar Sahadeo (5-20 v s G a n d h i Yo u t h Organisation) were rewarded for taking five or

The award winners with the club’s President Ashmul Ali (left), PRO Lalta Gainda (2nd from left) and 2nd VP Fazal Kayume (far right). more wickets in a match.

Special awards were given to several players who represented Guyana at age group levels; Samaroo (U152016), Daveanand Khemraj (U15-2017), Shafeek Khan (U15-2018), Ajay Gainda (U15-2018), Omari Lallbachan (U15-2019), Ajay Gainda (U17-2019) and Cassie Charles (female U19-2019). Charles is the first female cricketer from the club to don national colours.

Receiving prizes as promising cricketers were; Danvir Singh, Matthew Geer, Arun Gainda, Alex Mangra, Vivek Sugrim, Davin Ramlall, James Persaud, Shazim Juman, Shahid Haniff, Rene Goberdan, Danpaul Mohan,

Tyriq Walters, Shankar Sahadeo, Nikel Cornelius, Shivanand Gosain and Tarick Haynes.

A number of players have made significant improvement during the year and were also given prizes; Mark Sukhai, Samaroo, Khemraj, Ajay Gainda, Kissoon, Daniel Goolab, Josh Alves, Joshua Alves, Rohan Sooknandan and Lallbachan. The club is being coached by David Harper.

President of the Club, Ashmul Ali said being able to observe the club’s 85th anniversary is a wonderful achievement.

He added that after some years of difficulty, the club is on the right track once again stating that this was only possible through the voluntary efforts of the current executive and membership.

“Our club has an excellent mixture of youth and experience whose collective talents combine to form a formidable group of cricketers and leaders.”

Cassie Charles accepts her prize from Ashmul Ali in the presence of PRO Lalta Gainda.

H e u rg e d t h e membership to remain resolute in their purpose as they strive to maintain standards of excellence on and off the field.

He expressed gratitude to all members and congratulated the national representatives.

Public Relations Office Lalta Gainda stated that over the past few years the club’s image and status have improved significantly, but there is a lot of hard work left

to be done.

He added that there is a dire need for the club to continue to contribute towards the development of cricket on the East Coast.

“No longer must we tolerate certain sections that deem us as a non-associated member when in fact we have a long decorated history.

We have been one of the founding members of East Coast Cricket when it gained recognition from the Guyana Cricket Board in the early

1960s, and has, ever since, been one of the most vibrant cricket clubs on the East Coast.”

Gainda said that they intend to take an active role in the management of East Coast Cricket. “We must now, henceforth, take our rightful place as far as management of East Coast Cricket is concerned.”

The PRO congratulated the recipients and thanked his fellow executive for their support.

West Indies Over-50s engage Clarke Road United Veterans in warmup games

C

Andrew Samaroo with his prizes.

ouva, Trinidad and Tobago – West Indies Over-50 squad of selectees continued their week of trials in Trinidad and Tobago with a 45-over per side match against Clarke Road United Masters yesterday at the Inshan Ali Park in Preysal.

However, on Monday the West Indies Over-50s selectees had their first opportunity on the park when Amin’s XI overcame Maraj’s XI by four wickets at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain Couva.

Batting first Maraj made 126-9

(33.2) with Azad Mohammed hitting the top score of 49, while Fareed Hosein was unplayable in grabbing figures of 6.2-1-17-4.

Amin’s XI replied with 127-6 (32.5) with Sudesh Dhaniram 42, Hanif Mohamed 29 and Zamin Amin15* all chipped in to reach the target with three balls to spare.

Azad Mohammed returned with the ball to claim 2/12 from seven overs.

The match originally set for 45 overs per side was reduced to 35 overs per side after overnight and early

morning rain forced play to begin two hours later at 11:30hrs.

The West Indies Over-50 Selectees are looking forward to good outing against a Clarke Road United Veterans side that boasts players who wore the Trinidad and Tobago national colours at the youth and senior levels in their hay day.

The objective of the trial matches in Trinidad and Tobago is to select the first ever West Indies Over-50s team that will take part in the upcoming Over-50s World Cup in Cape Town South Africa in March this year.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 38

Wednesday January 15, 2020

Warner, Finch tons help Australia pummel India by 10 wickets

Australia’s captain Aaron Finch, left, is greeted by David Warner after scoring hundred runs during the first one-day international cricket match between India and Australia in Mumbai, India, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020.

(AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) Mumbai (AFP) Openers David Warner and Aaron Finch struck dominant centuries in a record partnership to power Australia to a crushing 10wicket win over India in the first one-day international yesterday.

Warner blasted 128 while captain Finch made 110 as Australia chased down their target of 256 in just 37.4 overs in Mumbai to take a 1-0 lead in the threematch series.

Paceman Mitchell Starc also played a key part with three wickets that helped bowl out India for 255 in

49.1 overs after the tourists elected to field first in their first 50-over outing since last year’s World Cup. But it was the left-right batting pair of Warner and Finch that put together the highest partnership of 258 for any wicket in ODIs against India.

Warner raised his 18th ODI hundred in 88 balls with a boundary off Indian quick Jasprit Bumrah as he jumped with joy and kissed his helmet to celebrate the knock.

Finch completed his hundred in 108 balls but it was Warner who remained in

Australia’s Mitchell Starc, center, celebrates the dismissal of India’s Shreyas Iyer with his team players during the first one-day international cricket match between India and Australia in Mumbai, India, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) total control as he finished off with two of 17 boundaries. He also hit three sixes.

For India, KL Rahul, who made 47 in the Indian innings, kept wickets after regular stumper Rishabh Pant suffered a concussion following a hit on the helmet while batting.

It was the second-wicket 121-run stand between Rahul and Dhawan that put India on course for a big score but they slipped from

134-1 to 164-5 in the space of 35 deliveries.

The left-handed Dhawan smashed nine fours and one six in his 91-ball knock and was well supported by Rahul who made 47 before falling to Ashton Agar’s left-arm spin.

Pat Cummins was brought back from the other end to send Dhawan back to the pavilion after flicking the ball to cover where Agar took the catch.

Skipper Virat Kohli did not stay long, hitting Zampa for a six but was caught and bowled with the next ball for 16.

Pant and Ravindra Jadeja, who hit 25, made 49 runs with an attacking partnership. But Kane Richardson claimed Jadeja and Cummins got Pant for 28.

A short ball from Cummins hurried onto Pant who went for a pull, got a top edge onto the helmet and the

ball lobbed towards point.

Number 10 batsman Kuldeep Yadav made a useful 17 to take India’s score past 250 before being run out by a direct throw from Steve Smith.

The second ODI is on Friday in Rajkot.

Scores: Australia 258 for 0 (Warner 128*, Finch 110*) beat India 255 (Dhawan 74, Rahul 47, Starc 3-56, Richardson 2-43, Cummins 2-44) by ten wickets.

Good Success and Sans Souci register victories

Saga Jadookool Good Success and Sans Souci recorded victories when play in the Wakenaam Cricket Committee/Bel Air Rubis and Trophy Stall T20 competition continued on Sunday last at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground.

Good Success beat Zeelandia by 50 runs. Good Success were asked to bat and posted 164-9. Openers Mahase Ramnarine and Tu l s i e r a m R a m a d e e n

Devon Rambaran handed them a solid start as they capitalised on the power play overs.

Ramnarine struck six fours and two sixes in a top score of 39, while Ramadeen made 32 with four fours and one six. Following their separation, Zeelandia managed to pick up a few quick wickets, but Vickram Ramnarine and Davindra Hansraj propped up the total; Ramnarine scored 25 with one four and two sixes and

Wazir Khan

Seon Venture

Hansraj got 23 including two fours and a similar number of sixes.

Navishaul Pooran took 2-11, Saga Jadookool 2-19, Ronnie Gangaram 2-27 and Mohindra Jadookool 2-35.

Zeelandia responded with 114-5. Ryan Atkinson scored 20 and Saga Jadookool 18; Wazir Khan picked 3- 21.

Sans Souci defeated Sans Souci Jaguars by one wicket in their encounter.

Batting first, Sans Souci

Jaguars made 111 all out in 20 overs. Nokta Moses scored 24 and Zameer Zaman 22; Devon Rambaran captured 3-13, Seon Venture 3-20 and Cleon Venture 220. Sans Souci responded with 112-9 in 15.2 overs.

Oyono Sampson struck 22 while Jaggernauth Manbodh made 18 as Zaman claimed 3-18 and Sanjay Jairam 213.

The competition continues on Sunday.

Mahase Ramnarine (right) and Tulsieram Ramadeen

Kaieteur News

Wednesday January 15, 2020

PAGE 39

Shiv Chanderpaul All-Weather practice facility

GCB hands over facility to Everest, 3 more to be built

Everest President Mansoor Nadir (3rd from left) and GCB Secretary Anand Sanasie is flanked by GCB’s Salina Bacchus (right) and Colin Stuart and an Everest staff member.

GCB’s Anand Sanasie and Everest President Mansoor Nadir shake hands in a symbolic gesture to seal the deal.

By Sean Devers The rainy conditions yesterday at the Everest Cricket Club failed to put a damper on a simple but significant handing ceremony of the Shiv Chanderpaul all-weather practice facility by the Guyana Cricket Board to Everest.

The facility, which cost approximately $3.5Million, is a joint venture by the GCB and the Camp Road club which was formed in October 1913 as the East Indian Cricket Club before

the name was changed to Everest in 1970.

Present yesterday were GCB’s secretary Anand Sanasie, its Territorial Development Office Colin Stuart and GCB’s Salina Bacchus along which Everest’s President Mansoor Nadir.

Sanasie, one of the Directors of Cricket West Indies (CWI), said the building of an all-weather facility would benefit both the Cricket Board and Everest, which made its debut as a first Class venue in 1997 when England toured

the West Indies.

Sanasie noted that the facility will not only benefit the Everest players and Cricket Guyana Inc. (CGI) since the Jaguars Academy players conduct their training sessions at Everest, but also players in Georgetown and Demerara.

“The GCB plans to construct similar facilities in Bush Lot in West Berbice, Parika Saleem on the East Bank of Essequibo and Linden by December.

Bayrock was earmarked for this project but since another facility (an Athletics Stadium with Football pitch in the middle) has started there we will have find another plot of Land in

Archer qualifies for NJCAA indoor championships Overseas based Guyanese studentathlete, Joanna Archer, has gotten her season off to a fantastic start by resetting Monroe College’s 500m indoor record during her scintillating run at the University at Albany’s Great Dane Classic last Saturday at the Ocean Breeze Track & Field Centerin Staten Island, New York.

The Carifta games silver medalist shared with Kaieteur Sport that she was elated with her performance as she aims to continuing improving in 2020.

Archer placed third in the race after clocking 1m 14s in the 500m middle distance event, lowering her previous held school record and registering a new person best (PB) in the event.

The 1m 14s time has seen the former West Demerara Secondary School student qualify for the 600m event at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Championships later in the year.

T h e S o u t h A m e r i c a n Yo u t h Championship silver medalist made headlines here after becoming the latest Guyanese athlete to make it to the National

Joanna Archer

Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) circuit, being accepted to Texas Tech on a full scholarship following an outstanding twoyear stint with Monroe College both academically and athletically.

Linden,” explained Sanasie.

“All of these facilities will have the names of Administrators or players who have made a significant impact to the development of Guyana’s cricket. These facilities will be in addition to what will be a State of the Art Stadium at LBI when fully completed,” informed Sanasie.

Sanasie said that the Pavilion at LBI will be named after former West Indies great Lance Gibbs, who was the first bowler to take 300 Test wickets, since some of the wood from the Lance Gibbs stand at Bourda was used on its construction.

When asked about the Practice facility built through the Sanford development project on the GNIC ground, Sanansie revealed that it was

constructed to house the Demerara Board’s Head Quarters but the GCB progress was stalled due to land issues after the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) got involved.

Nadir, the President of the club which hosted seven First-Class and seven List A matches, said this facility will produce more cricketers for the club and thanked the GCB for their partnership with Everest.

“Sports do more for a Nation than most other things and while club members will get the first preference to use the facility, once it is available, groups of cricketers will be allowed to use it in a structured manner at no cost,” the former Minister of Labour in the previous Administration

informed.

“This (practice facility) will also help to improve Guyana’s cricket since this is the home of the Guyana Jaguars especially on days like this when it’s raining and we promise to properly maintain it,” Nadir said.

Stuart, a former West Indies Test pacer, spoke about the advantages that the practice nets can provide for the younger players at Everest.

“The GCB’s Cricket Development Committee knows that this will provide another option for the younger players who cannot get to practice in the ‘middle’ which would usually be used by the senior players in the afternoons,” said Stuart, who urged the players to make use of the facility and to practice in the right way.

Ahye banned for two years over ‘whereabouts violation’

LONDON, CMC – Reigning Commonwealth Games gold medallist Michelle-Lee Ahye has been slapped with a two-year ban over a “doping whereabouts” violation.

The Trinidadian sprinter, provisionally suspended last August when the matter first emerged, will now miss this year’s Olympics in Tokyo from July 24 to August 9. “ [ Wo r l d A t h l e t i c s ] Disciplinary Tribunal has banned Trinidadian sprinter Michelle Lee Ahye for twoyears for Whereabouts Failures with effect from 19 April 2019,” track and field’s world governing

body confirmed by Twitter yesterday.

Ahye missed three drugs tests during a 12-month period between 2018-19, which constitutes a violation of anti-doping regulation and carries a mandatory two-year suspension.

The World Anti-Doping Agency requires international athletes to disclose their location for one hour every day in order to facilitate out-ofcompetition testing.

Ahye, who missed last y e a r ’ s W o r l d Championships in Doha, will now also have her results between April 19 to

August 30 last year scrapped.

Trinidad and Tobago’s national record-holder in the 100 and 200 metres, Ahye won her first major title at the Commonwealth Games two years ago when she raced to victory in the women’s 100 metres.

The 27-year-old subsequently captured silver at the Pan American Games in Peru last July, behind Jamaican star Elaine Thompson.

Ahye was also a member of T&T sprint relay team which took bronze at the World Championships in Beijing five years ago.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 40

Wednesday January 15, 2020

Congratulations are in order for the GFF, Lady Jags and Technical Team

By Franklin Wilson The New Year (2020) which also welcomed the advent of a new decade has kicked off with welcome news for the Guyana Football Federation and the nation by extension with the elevation of the Under-20 ‘Lady Jags’ to the Group Stage of the 2020 Concacaf Wo m e n ’s U n d e r - 2 0 Championship set for February 22 to March 8 in the Dominican Republic.

A missive from Concacaf sent to the GFF conveyed the information that the Guyanese, which topped Group ‘A’ in Concacaf Qualifying last July here, would now be playing in the Group Stage due to the fact that two of the Confederation’s Member Federations, Costa Rica and Panama will co-host the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, in August of 2020.

The Concacaf Council met and decided that as a result of this FIFA decision,

both Costa Rica and Panama would be given automatic berths to the World Cup as host nations. Concacaf would have already been granted three slots at the FIFA World Cup and a fourth was granted which increased its quota of teams to four.

The final two slots to be filled by Concacaf for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup would be decided at the 2020 Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship, the two finalists would be given that honour.

Guyana (top ranked team in qualifying Group A) and Saint Kitts and Nevis (top ranked team in qualifying Group B) replaced Costa Rica and Panama for the group stage of the final championship.

This feat was previously achieved by the senior ‘Lady Jags’ back in 2010 when they qualified for the C O N C A C A F Wo m e n ’s World Cup Qualifying tournament which had

Head Coach of the ‘Lady Jags’ U-20 Team Ivan Joseph complimenting his charges following their 2-0 win over Bermuda on July 13th last at the Leonora Track and Field Facility, Leonora West Coast Demerara. (Franklin Wilson photo) served as the region’s 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers. Those qualifiers took place from October 28 to November 8, 2010 in Cancún, Mexico. Guyana had defeated Cuba in home and away playoffs.

Again in 2016, the senior ‘Lady Jags’ made it to another Concacaf finals, this time it was the CONCACAF Wo m e n ’s O l y m p i c Qualifying Championship which was another first for Guyana.

They made their debut at this competition on the back of a 2-1 win over regionalpower house Jamaica in Caribbean qualifying, ending third in their group with two wins one loss and a draw.

Kudos are in order for Head Coach Ivan Joseph, his Technical staff, Technical Director Ian Greenwood and the GFF for the investment and commitment towards this programme. Those persons in the Diaspora who have contributed must also come in for praise given this accomplishment as well as all the fans who came out to cheer on the ‘Lady Jags’ at

Leonora last July.

I t ’s n e v e r a n e a s y undertaking when a decision is made to compete at any level since the financial implications is huge but with results like this, it’s very much wroth the while. What this now means is that the GFF will have to go into overdrive in terms of affording the ladies every possible means to be fully prepared for the task at hand.

Guyana is presently ranked 23 out of 41 nations in Concacaf Women’s football and would be staking a claim for one of the final two slots for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup when they take on fellow Group D nations, Mexico (ranked #2 in Concacaf), Nicaragua (ranked #12) and Puerto Rico (ranked #15).

Concacaf’s #1 ranked team, the USA will play in Group C alongside host

nation Dominican Republic (#11), Honduras (#8) and Cuba (#14). Group E has Canada (#3), Jamaica (#6), Guatemala (#9) and El Salvador (#13) while Group F is made up of Haiti (#4), Trinidad & Tobago (#7), Saint Kitts & Nevis (#21) and Cayman Islands (#16).

Coach Joseph, no doubt has already commenced planning along with his technical team on how they intend to counter their opponents come next month when his charges play their first match against Nicaragua on February 23, a huge day for Guyana as it would be Mashramani (Republic Day); this year’s significance being the 50th year since the country became a Republic. A win to kick off proceedings then, would be the perfect gift for the nation setting the tone for World Cup qualification.

A section of the crowd cheering on the ‘Lady Jags’ against Saint Lucia at the Leonora Track and Field Facility on July 19, 2019. (Franklin Wilson photo)

Kaieteur News

Wednesday January 15, 2020

Turbo Football Tournament

GFC to face Rangers in replay of last year’s final

By Calvin Chapman It was decades since Georgetown Football Club (GFC); the mecca of football in the city, had won a senior football title, but their coach, Delon Cadogan, was confident that the duck would have been broken in 2018 when GFC met Northern Rangers in the final of the second annual Turbo Energy Drink Knockout Tournament, but it was not meant to be as Rangers orchestrated a come from behind win to lift the championship trophy in 2018.

Now, in the third edition of the Guyana Beverages Inc. sponsored competition, GFC along with Rangers have reached the semifinal stage of the ongoing tournament and they will face each other under lights on Sunday at the Ministry of Education (MOE) ground on Carifesta Avenue for a replay of the 2018 final.

Since then, GFC, after winning the GFA Stag Revival Cup in 2019, have broken a nearly 50-year drought of senior football silverware and under the tutelage of the youthful Cadogan who has hung up his playing shoes, GFC will look to exact revenge on the defending champions in this Petra Organisation promoted tournament.

A source close to the Rangers team explained that they didn’t get enough playing time heading into this competition that began with 10 teams in November 2019 but they have managed to defend their title so far.

Last Sunday’s quarterfinal triumph was a scrappy win against Riddim Squad; a match that was decided via kicks from the penalty mark after full and extra-time finished 0-0.

The anticipated GFC versus Rangers semifinal clash may be curtailed due to the fact that Santos Football Club has made an official protest challenging the ineligibility of three players from the GFC team that played the quarterfinal round, Sunday last.

Santos were knocked out

by GFC from the tournament after losing 2-1 in extra time and in a letter to the organisers of the tournament seen by this publication, the club is claiming that Gregory Stevens and Paul Fields of Grove Hi-tech and Deon Alfred of Beacon FC were not legally transferred to contest for GFC. A response from the organisers, based on their investigations, is being awaited.

Meanwhile, what is certain is that the other semifinal match this Sunday will see West Demerara’s

The body of Basil Butcher for viewing in Linden today The body of the late Berbice, Guyana and West Indies batsman Basil Butcher, who died on December 16 at age 86, will be at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) ground for viewing from 2.00pm to 4.00pm today. A wake was also held at the MSC Lounge last evening.

The Community is expected to pay their last respects to a man who helped to produce national players from the Mining Town at both the junior and senior levels with Dr. Vincent Adams being the first to make it to senior level.

Butcher, a classy right-

Basil Butcher hander from Port Mourant, made 31 centuries and 54 fifties from 169 First-Class matches at an average of 49.90. He made seven tons from 44 Tests with a highest score of 209 not out at an average of 43.11. Butcher (Continued on page 31)

Pouderoyen matching skills with Fruta Conquerors ramping youths from the capital city.

The champions of this tournament will pocket $400,000 with second place bagging $200,000, third place $100,000 and fourth place $50,000.

Northern Rangers’ Stephen Sankar jostles with a GFC player (right) during the 2018 Turbo final at the MOE ground.

PAGE 41

rt Spo

e facility Shiv Chanderpaul All-Weather practic

o t y t i l i c a f r e v o GCB hands t l i u b e b o t e r o Everest, 3 m

Mansoor Nadir and Anand Sanasie shake hand in front of the Shiv Chanderpaul practice facility as members of Jaguars team, a female Everest Staff and GCB’s TDO Colin Stuart share the moment.

Ahye banned for two years over ‘whereabouts violation’

Virat Kohli looks on as Aaron Finch and David Warner pile on the runs. (AFP)

Michelle-Lee Ahye.

Warner, Finch tons help Australia pummel India by 10 wickets

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